In a sweet but serious case that has gone viral, confectionery giant KitKat has confirmed the theft of approximately 12 tonnes (around 4,13,793 bars) of its chocolate from a truck in Europe last week, just ahead of the Easter festival. The consignment, belonging to a new range of KitKat products (reportedly including a Formula 1-themed line), was being transported from a Nestlé factory in central Italy to Poland when the entire truck went missing during transit. The incident was first reported widely on March 30 and has since sparked massive interest online. Taking a light-hearted yet proactive approach, the official KitKat account on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday posted: “Help us find them. Use the Stolen KitKat Tracker. Link in bio.” The brand clarified that the theft is “100% legit” and not an April Fool’s prank. In a follow-up reply, KitKat stated it is working closely with authorities and supply chain partners to investigate the matter. Help us find them. Use the Stolen KitKat Tracker. Link in bio. pic.twitter.com/VLknwiHbGf — KITKAT (@KITKAT) April 1, 2026 A company spokesperson earlier remarked with classic KitKat humour: “We’ve always encouraged people to have a break with KITKAT – but it seems thieves have taken the message too literally and made a break with more than 12 tonnes of our chocolate.” Key details of the heist Quantity stolen: Approximately 12 tonnes or 4,13,793 individual KitKat bars Route: From central Italy factory towards Poland (distribution across Europe) Timing: Occurred last week (around March 26, 2026) Traceability: Each bar has a unique batch code that can help identify if it belongs to the stolen lot. KitKat has urged the public to check the batch numbers on any newly purchased bars using their newly launched Stolen KitKat Tracker. Consumers who come across suspicious stock are requested to report it to the company or local authorities. While the company has assured that overall supply is unlikely to be severely affected, the theft has raised concerns about possible shortages of the new range in stores ahead of Easter. The incident has also triggered a flood of memes, jokes and creative “sightings” on social media, with users humorously speculating about the whereabouts of the missing chocolates. This unusual “chocolate heist” has captured global attention, turning a routine cargo theft into one of the most talked-about stories of the week.
01 April,2026 11:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTehran was shaken by a new series of explosions on Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran might end within two or three weeks. The West Asia conflict began in January after the United States (US) and Israel carried out airstrikes across Iran, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It rapidly escalated into a wider regional war, driving up oil and gas prices and raising fears for the global economy. Trump, whose rhetoric has alternated between aggressive and conciliatory, said late Tuesday that the fighting could be over in "two weeks, maybe three". The White House announced he would deliver "an important update on Iran" to the nation at 9 pm Wednesday (0100 GMT Thursday). Tehran has maintained that no negotiations are underway and says it has not responded to a reported 15-point proposal from Washington aimed at ending the war. However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the Islamic republic has the "necessary will" to end the conflict—provided its adversaries guarantee it will not resume. With diplomacy uncertain, Iranian state television reported fresh attacks on Tehran on Wednesday, with explosions heard across the capital. An AFP journalist said strikes hit an area near the former US embassy—now a museum known as the "Den of Spies" and a symbol of longstanding hostility between Tehran and Washington. According to Iranian media, strikes also targeted steel facilities in central and southwestern Iran, causing "significant damage and destruction". The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strikes and said it intercepted an Iranian missile attack that wounded 14 people, including an 11-year-old girl. Israel also reported that its air defenses intercepted a missile launched from Yemen—the third such attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels since they joined the conflict over the weekend. Lebanon: Seven killed in strikes The conflict has killed thousands across the region and displaced millions. In Lebanon, the health ministry reported that seven people were killed in strikes near south Beirut on Wednesday. The Israeli military said it had targeted a senior Hezbollah commander. Lebanese security and Hezbollah sources told AFP the strike killed Yousef Hashem, Hezbollah’s top commander for Iraq military affairs. AFP correspondents at the scene described a street covered in debris and charred wreckage. "Nobody knows what's happening," resident Hassan Jalwan said, adding that "displaced people have been sleeping in the open". Lebanon was drawn into the conflict on March 2, when the Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel. Israel has responded with extensive airstrikes and a ground offensive that Lebanon’s health ministry says has killed more than 1,200 people. US allies in the Gulf have also been affected, with Iran launching retaliatory attacks on countries it accuses of supporting strikes against it. A Bangladeshi national was killed in the United Arab Emirates by falling shrapnel from an intercepted drone. Kuwait reported that its international airport was hit by an Iranian drone attack that caused "a large fire" at fuel storage tanks. The National Bank of Kuwait said it would close its headquarters for two days "in the interest of everyone's safety". In Bahrain, authorities said a fire broke out at a business facility "as a result of the Iranian aggression", while Saudi Arabia reported intercepting several drones. A tanker was also struck in waters off Qatar, according to a British maritime security agency, which reported damage but no casualties. "Every day, we hear the sound of drones," said Waad Abdulrazaq, a 31-year-old truck driver near Iraq’s Erbil international airport, an area frequently targeted by pro-Iran groups. "We hear them in the morning, and we hear them at night. We can no longer sleep or live in peace." West Asia conflict: Economic fallout Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Average US gasoline prices rose above $4 per gallon this week for the first time in four years, while inflation increased in Europe and governments globally began rolling out support measures. Markets reacted positively to Trump’s remarks about a possible end to the war, with oil prices falling on Wednesday and stock markets rising across Europe and Asia. The US has not disclosed who it is communicating with in Iran, which denies any formal negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that he continues to receive messages from US envoy Steve Witkoff, "directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations". Earlier in the week, Trump warned that if Iran refused a deal, US forces would "obliterate" its oil infrastructure, including wells, the Kharg Island export terminal, and possibly water desalination plants. Britain said Wednesday it would host a meeting of around 35 countries this week to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz. (With AFP inputs)
01 April,2026 07:18 PM IST | Tehran | mid-day online correspondentAn American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iran-backed Iraqi armed group, the US Department of State confirmed, raising fresh concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in the region. The State Department said it is actively working to secure the journalist’s release at the earliest, reported IANS. “The US Department of State is aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, Iraq. The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them, and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible,” Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, said in a post on X. He further stated, “An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities.” US urges Americans to leave Iraq amid journalist abduction According to IANS, Johnson also reiterated that Iraq remains under a Level 4 travel advisory, cautioning that Americans should not travel to the country under any circumstances and advising those present to leave immediately. “The State Department strongly advise all Americans, including members of the press, to adhere to all travel advisories,” he added. Earlier, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the journalist had been abducted by “unknown individuals” in Baghdad, according to the Iraqi News Agency. Security forces have arrested one suspect and seized a vehicle allegedly used in the kidnapping following a pursuit operation, the ministry said, adding that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved and ensure the journalist’s safe recovery, reported IANS. Freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson abducted in Iraq As per IANS, the abducted journalist has been identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter, by media advocacy organisations and Al-Monitor, one of the outlets where she has contributed. Kittleson is known for her extensive reporting from conflict zones, particularly in Syria and Iraq, and has been working as a freelancer in the region for several years. In a statement, Al-Monitor said it was “deeply alarmed” by her abduction and called for her “safe and immediate release.” “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work,” the organisation said, reported IANS. According to the International Women’s Media Foundation, Kittleson is a “legitimate journalist” with significant experience in the Middle East and is currently based in Rome. (Inputs from IANS)
01 April,2026 02:49 PM IST | Baghdad | mid-day online correspondentSupreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has pledged continued support for resistance movements against the US and Israel in a message written to Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, according to Iranian State Media Press TV. The message, according to Press TV, reaffirmed that the Islamic Republic's policy remains rooted in "ongoing support for the resistance against the Zionist and American adversary", Hezbollah said, citing the message forwarded by Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to Sheikh Qassem, reported ANI. Khamenei noted that the policy follows the path laid by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Hezbollah's former chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. He emphasised that "standing firm and steadfast in the face of the fiercest enemies of the Islamic Ummah (Nation), namely the United States and the Zionist regime, was among the most outstanding characteristics of the martyred Imam," referring to his predecessor. Khamenei praises resistance figures, cites Soleimani and Nasrallah According to ANI, the Iranian leader also highlighted the continuation of the resistance path over the years, citing figures such as Qassem Soleimani, Iran's former top anti-terror commander, along with other members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. Khamenei further described figures such as Nasrallah and Seyyed Hashem Safieddine, the late head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, as "true examples of this steadfast path." According to Press TV, he also expressed appreciation for Qassem's message of condolence following the death of the former Iranian leader, and acknowledged the support expressed by Hezbollah fighters towards Iran, reported ANI. According to Press TV, calling the current moment "sensitive" for the resistance, Khamenei said Hezbollah's chief "bears the responsibility of leading the movement." "[We] trust in his wisdom, intelligence, and courage to thwart the plots of the Zionist enemy, bring about its destruction, and restore honour and prosperity to the people of Lebanon," he added, as quoted by Press TV. Meanwhile, praising the "enormous accomplishments" achieved in the conflict with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the combined Israel-US effort was "systematically crushing" the Tehran government while eliminating existential hazards to the Jewish state. Netanyahu warns Iran, hints at new alliances amid soldier deaths Addressing the public in Hebrew on Tuesday evening before the Passover festival, Netanyahu emphasised that "sooner or later" the Iranian administration will collapse. He noted that Israel is simultaneously forging "new alliances with important countries in the region" to counter the collective threat posed by Iran. While the Prime Minister did not name specific nations, he remarked that he hoped "soon, I will be able to tell you more about these vital alliances", reported ANI. Earlier, the IDF confirmed on Tuesday that four IDF soldiers died while fighting in Southern Lebanon, Jerusalem Post reported. According to ANI, the military shared the names of three of the soldiers, Captain Noam Madmoni, Staff Sergeant Ben Cohen, and Staff Sergeant Maxsim Entis, while the fourth soldier's name is still under wraps, as per the Jerusalem Post. During the incident, two additional soldiers were wounded, one in serious condition and the other with moderate wounds. The families of all affected soldiers have been notified, the military said. Nine IDF soldiers have been killed fighting in Lebanon since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion on February 28, as per the Jerusalem Post, reported ANI. (Inputs from ANI)
01 April,2026 02:48 PM IST | Tehran | mid-day online correspondentA Russian military plane crashed in annexed Crimea, killing six crew members and 23 passengers on board, Russian news agencies reported in the early hours of Wednesday, citing the country’s Defence Ministry. The An-26 military transport aircraft was on a scheduled flight over the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, the reports said. The military lost contact with the plane at around 6 pm on Tuesday. Russian news agency Interfax quoted the Defence Ministry as saying that the crash was likely caused by a technical malfunction and that there was no “external interference” with the aircraft. The plane crashed into a cliff, sources at the site told state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti. The An-26 is a Soviet-designed military transport turboprop aircraft. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 12:04 PM IST | Moscow | APThe UAE has barred Iranians from entering or transiting the country as the war rages, three major airlines said on Wednesday. The long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, as well as the lower-cost airline FlyDubai, made the announcements on their websites. Entry rules can sometimes be opaque in the autocratic United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven sheikhdoms. But the airlines' websites all displayed the order. It said holders of Golden Visas, 10-year residency permits in the country, could still enter. Authorities offered no official comment. But the change comes as Dubai has already shut down the Iranian Hospital and Iranian Club in the city, two institutions in the city-state dating back to the time of the shah. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 10:39 AM IST | Dubai | APUS President Donald Trump plans to sit in on Wednesday's Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, making him the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation's highest court. The Republican president's official schedule, sent out by the White House, included a stop at the Supreme Court, where justices will hear Trump's appeal of a lower court ruling that struck down his executive order limiting birthright citizenship. The order, which Trump signed on the first day of his second term, declared that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. It's an about-face from the long-standing view that the Constitution's 14th Amendment and federal law since 1940 confer citizenship to everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions. It's not the first time Trump has considered showing up for a high court hearing. Last year, Trump said that he badly wanted to attend a hearing on whether he overstepped federal law with his sweeping tariffs, but he decided against it, saying it would have been a distraction. On Tuesday, however, Trump seemed more sure he'd be in court for Wednesday's hearing while he spoke with reporters in the Oval Office. "I'm going," Trump said, when the upcoming arguments in the birthright citizenship case were mentioned. To a follow-up question clarifying that he planned to go in person, Trump said, "I think so, I do believe." Trump went to the Supreme Court in his first term for the ceremonial swearing-in of the first justice he appointed, Neil Gorsuch. Two other justices he appointed - Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett - also sit on the court. Other presidents have dealt directly with the court, but don't appear to have done so while in office. Richard Nixon argued a case between his time as vice president and president, and William Howard Taft served as chief justice after his presidency. Trump, asked to whom he would be listening most closely, went on a lengthy detour Tuesday describing a court he viewed as mostly partisan, between justices appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents. "I love a few of them," he said. "I don't like some others." The citizenship restrictions are a part of Trump's broader immigration crackdown, but they have not yet taken effect anywhere in the country after being blocked by several courts. A definitive ruling from the Supreme Court is expected by early summer. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 10:28 AM IST | Washington | APIsrael said early Wednesday it struck a plant supplying Iran's theocracy with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, to allegedly use in a chemical weapons programme. Iran acknowledged the strike on Tofigh Daru factory, but insisted it only supplied "hospital drugs" used in medical operations. The strike happened Tuesday, both Israel and Iran said. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted a picture of the factory in Tehran, writing on X: "The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies." Hospitals extensively use fentanyl to treat severe pain. But a small amount of the drug can be fatal. Both Israel and the United States have warned in recent years Iran was experimenting with fentanyl in munitions. The US previously pointed to Iranian academic research studying how Russia likely used a fentanyl derivative during the 2002 Moscow theatre hostage seizure by Chechen militants. Israel alleged Tofigh Daru supplied fentanyl to an advanced research institute in Tehran, known by its acronym SPND. The US alleges SPND has conducted research and testing that could be applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices and other weapons. Meanwhile, a tanker came under attack off the coast of Qatar early Wednesday, authorities said. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre announced the attack happened, saying a projectile slammed into the side of the ship. It said no environmental damage was done and the tanker's crew was safe. On Tuesday, a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker came under attack off Dubai. Over 20 ships across the Persian Gulf have been attacked by Iran since the war began. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 10:17 AM IST | Dubai | APA new study shows that minerals inside asteroid Bennu are organised into three clearly different chemical groupings. These patterns provide important clues about how liquid water once altered the asteroid. As the samples haven’t been exposed to Earth’s atmosphere, they offer a rare, untouched record of how water, minerals, and organic compounds interacted in the early Solar System. The team examined a sample known as OREX-800066-3, collected during NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission and delivered to Earth in September 2023. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 08:38 AM IST | Texas | AgenciesIndonesian search teams rescued 21 people from a raft on Tuesday morning, a day after their boat — Nazila 05 — sank in rough seas. Everyone on board was found safely. Officials earlier reported that 27 people were missing, but survivors reported that six people listed on the manifest had cancelled their plans to join the trip. Rescuers found the survivors, who were mostly fishing crew, on a raft about 46 km from the place where the boat sank in the northern waters of Taliabu Island. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 08:36 AM IST | Bali | AgenciesScientists in South Korea have identified an ally in the fight against plastic pollution inside the human body. Researchers report that the kimchi-derived lactic acid bacterium — Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 — can latch onto nanoplastics in the gut, helping carry them out of the body before they spread further. Nanoplastics, which measure less than 1 micrometre (one-thousandth of a millimetre, about 0.00004 inches), are formed as larger plastics break down in the environment. They are widely detected in food and drinking water, and because they are so small, may pass through the intestinal lining and accumulate in organs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 08:33 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1775030622975_d.png "Pic/Pixabay")
-1775032291966_d.png "Mojtaba Khamenei. File Pic")
