Satellite imagery, accessed by Reuters, has confirmed damage to port infrastructure on Iran's Qeshm Island following US-Israeli strikes earlier this week amid the West Asia conflict. According to Reuters, citing imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-2, smoke was seen rising from a port area on the island on Thursday. Reuters reported that it had verified the location by matching the port's layout with existing file images and satellite data, while the timing was confirmed through corroborating satellite imagery and local media reports. According to Reuters, citing authorities from the Qeshm Free Zone, parts of the Bahman commercial port and the Doha fishing pier sustained damage during what they described as US-Israeli attacks targeting port facilities between the evening of April 1 and midday April 2. Iran's Mehr News Agency also reported that no casualties were recorded in the incident and added that Mansour Azimzadeh Ardebili, deputy head of the Qeshm Free Zone, stated that the Bahman port is a fully commercial facility and that any attack on it would constitute a violation of international norms. Meanwhile, at least eight civilians have been reported killed, and 95 others sustained injuries following US-Israeli strikes targeting Iran's B1 bridge in Karaj and its surrounding area, Iranian state media Press TV reported. According to Press TV, the victims of the strike reportedly include "Iranian travellers" and "residents of the local village" who were near the infrastructure at the time of the attack. The toll also included "families who were in the area for Nature Day", a time when many people were outdoors. US President Donald Trump also confirmed the strike on the "biggest bridge in Iran", warning the Islamic Republic to enter into a deal amid escalating tensions. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again -- Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY! President DONALD J. TRUMP." 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.
03 April,2026 03:52 PM IST | Tehran [Iran] | ANIIranian drones struck Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery on Friday, sparking fires at the facility. The state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. issued a statement on the attack and said firefighters were working to control the blazes. There were no injuries reported, the company said. Kuwait operates three oil refineries. Mina al-Ahmadi has come under attack multiple times in the war. Refineries are key to Kuwait's oil production because, without them, oil wells would have to be shut down for lack of a destination for the oil. Restarting refineries is extremely time-consuming for safety reasons, and those wells would remain largely inactive until refineries are back online. 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.
03 April,2026 02:26 PM IST | Dubai | APThe White House is set to release President Donald Trump's 2027 budget Friday, a sweeping blueprint that could boost Pentagon spending to USD1.5 trillion, the largest of its kind in decades, as the US focuses on military investments rather than other domestic programs. Even before the US-led war against Iran, the Republican president had indicated he wanted to bolster defense spending to modernize the military for 21st-century threats. Separately, the Pentagon last month proposed USD200 billion for the war effort and to backfill munitions and supplies. Trump, speaking ahead of an address to the nation this week about the Iran war, signaled the military is his priority, setting up a clash ahead in Congress."We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care," Trump said at a private White House event Wednesday. "It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare - all these individual things," he said. "They can do it on a state basis. You can't do it on a federal." The president's annual budget more broadly is considered a reflection of the administration's values and does not carry the force of law. The massive document typically highlights an administration's priorities, but Congress, which handles federal spending issues, is free to reject it and often does. With the nation running nearly USD2 trillion annual deficits and the debt swelling past USD39 trillion, the federal balance sheets have long been operating in the red. About two-thirds of the nation's estimated USD7 trillion in annual spending covers the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs, as well as Social Security income, which are essentially growing - along with an aging population - on autopilot. The rest of the annual budget has typically been more evenly split between defense and domestic accounts, nearly USD1 trillion each, which is where much of the debate in Congress takes place. The GOP's big tax breaks bill that Trump signed into law last year boosted his priorities beyond the budget process - with at least USD150 billion for the Pentagon over the next several years, and USD170 billion for Trump's immigration and deportation operations at the Department of Homeland Security. This year's White House document, prepared by Budget Director Russ Vought, is intended to provide a road map from the president to Congress as lawmakers build their own budgets and annual appropriations bills to keep the government funded. Vought spoke to House GOP lawmakers on a private call Thursday. Congress still fighting over 2026 spending The president's budget arrives as the House and Senate remain tangled over current-year spending and stalemated over DHS funding, with Democrats demanding changes to Trump's immigration enforcement regime that Republicans are unwilling to accept. Trump announced Thursday he would sign an executive order to pay all DHS workers who have gone without paychecks during the record-long partial government shutdown that has reached 49 days. The Republican leadership in Congress reached an agreement this week on a path forward to fund the department, but lawmakers are away on spring break and have not yet voted on any new legislation. Last year, in the president's first budget since returning to the White House, Trump sought to fulfill his promise to vastly reduce the size and scope of the federal government, reflecting the efforts of billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. As DOGE slashed through federal offices and Vought sought to claw back funds, Congress did not always agree. For example, Trump sought a roughly one-fifth decrease in non-defense spending for the current budget year ending Sept. 30, but Congress kept such spending relatively flat. Some of the programs that Trump tried to eliminate entirely, such as assisting families with their energy costs, got a slight uptick in funding. Others got flat funding, such as the Community Development Block Grants that states and local communities use to fund an array of projects intended mostly to help low-income communities through new parks, sewer systems and affordable housing. Lawmakers have also focused on ensuring the administration spends federal dollars as directed by Congress. This year's spending bills contained what Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, described as "hundreds upon hundreds of specific funding levels and directives" that the administration is required to follow. 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.
03 April,2026 02:25 PM IST | Washington | APFrench President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed on Friday to work together to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease global economic uncertainties caused by the war in the Middle East. Their summit in Seoul came as US President Donald Trump slammed allies for not supporting the US and Israeli war against Iran. Macron was making his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2017 as part of an Asian tour that already has taken him to Japan. Macron told Lee at the start of the meeting that the two countries can play a role in helping to stabilise the situation in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz, according to South Korean media. At a joint televised briefing afterwards, Macron underscored the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the strait and de-escalate Middle East animosities, while Lee said the two affirmed "their resolve to cooperate to secure the safe shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz." The two leaders did not take questions and did not elaborate on how they would help reopen the strait, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Lee said he and Macron agreed to expand cooperation in technology, energy and other areas. South Korean and French officials also signed agreements to cooperate on nuclear fuel supply chains, jointly invest in an offshore wind project in southern South Korea and to collaborate on critical minerals. Macron's Asia trip comes as Trump has ramped up his frustration with allies. In a speech on Wednesday, Trump said Americans "don't need" the Strait but the countries that do "must grab it and cherish it." "Let South Korea, you know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm's way over there, right next to a nuclear force - let South Korea do it," Trump said. "Let Japan do it. They get 90 per cent of their oil from the Strait. Let China do it." Macron has said reopening the Strait of Hormuz through a military operation was unrealistic. South Korean officials have said they were in contact with Washington on the issue and that Seoul wasn't considering paying Iran transit fees to secure fuel shipments through the strait. The United States stations about 28,000 troops in South Korea, not the 45,000 stated by Trump. The US troops' deployment in South Korea is meant to deter potential aggression from North Korea. 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.
03 April,2026 02:24 PM IST | Seoul | APIran on Thursday claimed its drafting a proposal with Oman to 'monitor' the Strait of Hormuz. The comments by Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian diplomat, quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency, described the proposal as "intended to facilitate and ensure safe passage and provide better services to ships passing through this route." Iran's attacks on shipping in the region, as well as reportedly demanding as much as USD 2 million for passage through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, have created a stranglehold on the route. It is unclear what the proposal would mean. Oman did not immediately acknowledge it. The strait runs through Iranian and Omani territorial waters but is considered an international waterway that should freely allow ships to pass. "Naturally, when we face an act of aggression, navigation encounters serious problems, and this is the result of the aggressive act," Gharibabadi said. "We are currently at war and cannot expect pre-war rules to govern wartime conditions." 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
03 April,2026 11:52 AM IST | Dubai | APThe crew of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission on Friday successfully cleared Earth's orbit and is now on course toward the Moon, marking a historic step in humanity's return to deep space exploration. According to NASA, the Orion spacecraft executed a critical translunar injection burn, igniting its main engine for approximately six minutes to propel the crew beyond Earth's gravitational influence and set them on a trajectory for a lunar flyby. The manoeuvre generated about 6,000 pounds of thrust, placing the spacecraft on a precise path toward Earth's nearest celestial neighbour. NASA confirmed that the Artemis II mission management team gave a unanimous "Go" for the burn, which lasted five minutes and 49 seconds. The successful execution of this manoeuvre officially puts the astronauts on course to travel around the Moon for the first time since the historic Apollo 17 mission in 1972. In a statement shared on X, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, "Nominal translunar injection burn complete. The Artemis II crew is officially on the way to the Moon." Isaacman further described the milestone as a defining moment for the space agency, stating, "America is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon. This time, farther than ever before." The Artemis II crew comprises NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The four astronauts began their first full day in space with routine mission activities, including preparations for the engine burn and onboard exercise sessions designed to maintain physical fitness in microgravity. Mission control marked the start of the crew's day by playing the song Green Light, setting the tone for a day of critical operations aboard the spacecraft. The Orion spacecraft's service module engine, capable of delivering significant thrust, ensured the precise acceleration required to send the crew toward the Moon. The upcoming lunar flyby will test critical systems needed for future missions, including those aimed at landing astronauts on the lunar surface under NASA's Artemis program. Earlier on Thursday, NASA's Artemis II mission was successfully launched, sending astronauts on a historic journey around the Moon for the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. The agency's Artemis II mission lifted off aboard the Space Launch System rocket from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Upon completion of the lunar flyby, an approximately 10-day mission, the crew is expected to return to Earth, concluding the mission with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. 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
03 April,2026 11:48 AM IST | Florida | ANICalling for resumption of talks to resolve the ongoing conflict in West Asia, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that it would be "unrealistic" to conduct military operation to liberate the Strait of Hormuz. "There are those who advocate for the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz by force through a military operation, a position sometimes expressed by the United States. It is unrealistic because it would take an inordinate amount of time and would expose anyone crossing the strait to coastal threats from the (Iranian) Revolutionary Guards, who possess significant resources, as well as ballistic missiles, (and) a host of other risks," Euro News quoted Macron as saying during his State Visit to South Korea. "This can only be done in concert with Iran. So, first and foremost, there must be a ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations," he added. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has raised concerns over regional stability and global energy markets, particularly due to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route. Macron accused US President Donald Trump of creating confusion by repeatedly contradicting himself on the West Asian conflict. "You have to be serious. When you want to be serious, you don't say the opposite every day of what you said the day before. And perhaps you shouldn't talk every day." He also accused Trump of undermining North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) by creating "daily doubt" about the US commitment to the alliance, Euro News reported. "If you create daily doubt about your commitment, you hollow it out," Macron said, adding that there is "too much talk ... going off in all directions." Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO, questioned its relevance in modern conflicts, and suggested the alliance may not support the United States in a major war. Speaking at a White House Easter lunch on Wednesday, Trump said recent military operations exposed deep weaknesses within the transatlantic alliance. “We’ve had some very bad allies in NATO,” he said, adding that the bloc had failed to step forward when asked. He described NATO as ineffective in real conflict situations. “They’re a paper tiger,” Trump said, asserting that the US did not need the alliance’s help during ongoing operations. Trump said he had reached out to multiple NATO members seeking support but received little commitment. “Many of them said, we’ll be there after the war is completed,” he said, criticising what he described as delayed and symbolic backing. The US President said that this response reinforced his concerns about NATO’s reliability. “NATO won’t be there if we ever have the big one,” he said, warning that the alliance may fail in a major global conflict. Trump also pointed to what he described as an imbalance in burden-sharing. He said the US had spent “trillions of dollars on NATO” while receiving little in return when support was sought. In his remarks, as per the video posted by the White House on its YouTube channel, Trump singled out key allies, including France and the UK, suggesting they were unwilling or slow to provide assistance. The video was later reportedly pulled out from YouTube by the White House. 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.
03 April,2026 10:39 AM IST | SeoulThe Chief of Staff of the US Army, General Randy George, has stepped down and retired with immediate effect after reportedly being asked to do so by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The sudden move highlights a broader leadership shake-up within the Pentagon, reported the IANS. A statement issued by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that General George would retire with immediate effect from his role as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, the news agency reported. The US Department of Defense expressed gratitude for his decades of service and wished him well in retirement. General George has been replaced on an interim basis by General Christopher LaNeve, who will serve as acting chief pending Senate confirmation of a permanent successor. George, who assumed the post in September 2023, had approximately 18 months remaining in what is typically a four-year tenure. Wider leadership changes reported The reshuffle extends beyond a single position. Reports indicate that two other Army generals, including senior officials overseeing training and chaplaincy roles, were also removed as part of the ongoing changes, according to the IANS. General George is the latest senior military leader to exit since Hegseth assumed office, signalling a broader reorganisation within the defence establishment. The development has drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Eugene Vindman, who described George as a “tremendous public servant and soldier”. Vindman expressed concern over the decision, suggesting that experienced leadership was being sidelined, and criticised Pentagon leadership over the move. The leadership change comes amid wider tensions within the US military. Defence Secretary Hegseth recently drew attention after intervening in a case involving an Apache helicopter crew, lifting a suspension and stating publicly that no punishment or investigation would follow. Chief's role The position of Army Chief of Staff is one of the most senior uniformed roles in the United States, responsible for overseeing training, operational readiness, and overall functioning of the Army. Such high-level changes are typically subject to extensive consultation and Senate oversight, as per the IANS. The Pentagon has not disclosed specific reasons behind General George’s removal, and no immediate response has been issued on his behalf. (with IANS inputs)
03 April,2026 10:16 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentAt least eight civilians were reportedly been killed and 95 others were injured following US-Israeli strikes in Iran, according to state media, reported the ANI. The attack is said to have targeted the B1 bridge in Karaj, causing significant casualties in the surrounding area. Reports indicated that those affected included travellers, local villagers, and families who were outdoors observing Nature Day. The presence of civilians near the site at the time of the strike contributed to the high number of casualties. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran remains resolute in defending itself against what he described as American and Israeli aggression. He reiterated that the country would utilise all available capacities to respond to the ongoing conflict, the news agency reported. Talks with Azerbaijan During a telephone conversation with Ilham Aliyev, Pezeshkian said that Iran had been engaged in indirect negotiations with the United States when the strikes began. He also outlined the impact of the conflict, including damage to vital infrastructure, as well as reported strikes on schools and hospitals, according to the ANI. Aliyev expressed concern over the implications for regional security and stability, and voiced hope for a swift restoration of peace. The two leaders also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation. Beyond the security situation, the two leaders also explored avenues to "boost Tehran-Baku cooperation in various fields." Diplomatic engagements continue Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held discussions with Maria Teresa Lazaro. Araghchi stated that Iran’s actions to restrict vessels linked to adversaries from passing through the Strait of Hormuz were in line with international law, as per the ANI. He added that such measures were intended to safeguard security in the strategic waterway and prevent further military escalation, while allowing safe passage for non-hostile vessels. Calls for peace amid rising death toll Lazaro conveyed condolences over the deaths of Iranian citizens and officials, including former leader Ali Khamenei, and called for an immediate end to the conflict. According to Iranian health officials cited by state media, more than 2,000 people, including women and children, have been killed since the conflict began over a month ago, the news agency reported. (with ANI inputs)
03 April,2026 09:53 AM IST | Tehran | mid-day online correspondentKeralam’s ruling LDF has unveiled its Assembly election manifesto, promising a mix of welfare and development measures aimed at improving people’s lives across the state. The document was released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Its highlights include a commitment to eliminate absolute poverty in the state, a hike in welfare pensions to Rs 3000 per month, and efforts to boost healthcare and support systems at the local level. 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
03 April,2026 08:29 AM IST | Kozhikode | AgenciesA machine uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to sort used clothes by composition at high speed, showing how AI could reduce the impact of synthetic textile waste. The Fastsort-Textile machine was one of Time magazine’s ‘Best Inventions of 2025’. “We can make use of textile waste and reduce the amount incinerated, which will be a great help to recycling resources,” DataBeyond CEO Mo Zhuoya said. 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
03 April,2026 08:25 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
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-1775204852233_d.png "French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) during their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. Pic/AFP")
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