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NASA has successfully launched the Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed journey into the moon’s vicinity since the Apollo programme concluded in 1972. The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off at 6:35pm ET (22:35 GMT) on Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending the Orion crew capsule on a 10-day mission. Towering at the height of a 32-storey building, the rocket rose into the early evening sky before large crowds gathered near the launch site. The crew are now on a mission that will take them around the moon and back to Earth. Originally targeted for launch as early as February 6 and later March 6, the mission faced delays after a hydrogen leak forced NASA to roll the rocket back to its vehicle assembly building for further inspection. The mission had previously been scheduled for November 2024, but NASA announced a delay due to technical investigations, particularly involving the Orion’s heat shield. Who is part of the Artemis II mission? All three NASA astronauts are veterans of Earth-orbit science expeditions to the International Space Station, while the lone Canadian joining them on a voyage around the moon and back is a spaceflight rookie. • Reid Wiseman, 50, commander: The NASA veteran and former International Space Station commander is leading the Artemis II mission. A test pilot-turned-astronaut, he has leadership and deep spaceflight experience. • Victor Glover, 49, pilot: The US Navy aviator is the first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar mission and flew on SpaceX Crew-1. • Christina Koch, 47, mission specialist: The record holder for the longest single spaceflight by a woman at 328 days is a veteran of multiple spacewalks and has scientific and deep-space mission expertise. • Jeremy Hansen, 50, mission specialist: The first Canadian set to travel to the moon is a former fighter pilot. His presence represents international collaboration in deep space exploration. With inputs from Al Jazeera  

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain will host an international diplomatic conference this week focused on exploring ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer says 35 countries have signed a statement committing to work together on restoring maritime security to the key oil transport route. He said Wednesday that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead a conference on the issue, and military planners are also working on plans for security once the Iran war ends. Starmer said “a united front of military strength and diplomatic activity” is needed to restore stability.

A Russian military transport aircraft crashed in annexed Crimea, killing 29 people on board, including crew members and passengers, according to Russian media reports citing the Defense Ministry early Wednesday. The An-26 aircraft was on a routine flight over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, when contact with the plane was lost around 6 pm on Tuesday. According to state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti, the Soviet-era turboprop aircraft crashed into a cliff. Russia’s Investigative Committee said there were seven crew members and 23 passengers on board, though it was not immediately clear if any crew member survived. Authorities have opened a criminal investigation into possible violations of flight safety rules. Rescue operations are ongoing in a mountainous and forested area in the Bakhchisarai district where the crash occurred. Interfax, citing the Defense Ministry, reported that a technical fault is believed to be the likely cause of the crash, adding there was no indication of external interference. Military aviation accidents in Russia have occurred repeatedly since the country launched its military offensive in Ukraine. In recent incidents, an An-22 transport aircraft crashed in the Ivanovo region in December, killing seven crew members. A MiG-31 fighter jet went down in the Lipetsk region in October, while a Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in the Irkutsk region in April 2025. Earlier, in October 2022, a Su-34 bomber crashed into a residential area in the city of Yeysk near the Azov Sea, triggering a major fire and killing 15 people.

Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have restarted negotiations in China, where Beijing is acting as a mediator to help secure a lasting ceasefire following weeks of clashes, according to two Pakistani officials on Wednesday. Another source familiar with the mediation process said the discussions are focused on ending the ongoing hostilities. Officials, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to brief the media, said delegations from both sides are meeting in Urumqi, a city in northern China. China has yet to make any official statement on the matter, while Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has neither confirmed nor denied the talks. However, sources indicated that the negotiations are seen as a hopeful step toward easing tensions affecting millions of people in both Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistan has long alleged that Afghanistan shelters militants responsible for cross-border attacks, particularly members of the Pakistani Taliban. While the group is distinct, it maintains close ties with the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led forces. Kabul has consistently rejected these accusations. Relations worsened last month after Afghan authorities claimed that a Pakistani airstrike struck a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul, leaving more than 400 people dead. The United Nations said the casualty figures are still being verified. Pakistan denied targeting civilians, asserting that it struck a weapons depot. Earlier, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the country had targeted only militant infrastructure and not civilian facilities, emphasizing that operations were directed at Taliban-linked military and terrorist setups. Although both sides observed a temporary ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr, hostilities resumed afterward, albeit at a lower intensity compared to the heavy fighting seen in February and March, when Pakistan conducted repeated airstrikes on militant positions and Afghan sites. The conflict has intensified in recent years. In February, Pakistan declared it was in a state of “open war” with Afghanistan. The violence has raised concerns globally, especially as groups like al-Qaida and Islamic State remain active in the region. Sources said the latest talks were initiated after both countries agreed to China’s mediation offer. Tensions have persisted for months, with recent clashes also undermining a Qatar-brokered ceasefire reached in October that had previously halted fighting which killed dozens, including civilians and security personnel. Earlier negotiations held in Istanbul in November also failed to produce a lasting peace agreement.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to strike Iran’s power plants, oil wells, and possibly water desalination facilities if a deal is not reached soon, while insisting that diplomatic talks are ongoing. Trump’s warning came during a White House briefing by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said the US has already hit more than 11,000 military targets in Iran, including naval and ballistic missile infrastructure. She added that diplomacy remains Trump’s first choice but warned that military options remain ready if Iran refuses a deal. Leavitt said private talks with Iranian officials are progressing, despite Iran publicly denying negotiations. She described the Iranians the US is engaging with as “more reasonable behind the scenes” than previous leaders. The White House confirmed that a 10-day pause has been issued to postpone planned strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. Leavitt said the pause gives Iran a “once in a generation” chance to reach an agreement. On the military front, Leavitt said the US has crippled Iran’s navy, destroyed more than 150 vessels, and reduced missile and drone attacks by about 90 percent. She added that core objectives include dismantling Iran’s defense infrastructure and preventing nuclear weapon development, while reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains a priority. Regarding ground troops, Leavitt said Trump has “declined to rule out” a boots-on-the-ground operation in Iran, but no final decision has been made. She emphasized that any action would follow US law and respect Congress. Meanwhile, the conflict has affected global energy markets, with oil prices reaching $115 per barrel and petrol prices rising in the UK.   With inputs from BBC

Gunmen killed more than 70 people in South Sudan over a gold mining row on the outskirts of the capital over the weekend, police said Monday. A video of dozens of bodies lying on the ground was shared online, and a local journalist said many other victims are believed to have fled to the bushes. The gold mining site at Jebel Iraq in Central Equatoria State has in the past been the site of violent clashes involving illegal miners. Gold mining in South Sudan is largely unregulated, with state governments operating their own sectors independently of national authorities. Police spokesperson Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc said he would share more information about the attack once he gets more details. “All I know is that unknown gunmen attacked Jebel Iraq at a gold mine. There are more than 70 dead and many more injured,” he said. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition, or SPLM/A-IO, condemned the attack on Monday and blamed government forces, known as the SSPDF. “Jebel Iraq lies within a zone that is entirely under the exclusive control of the SSPDF. Consequently, full responsibility for the massacre rests with the SSPDF forces that control the area,” a statement from the opposition said. The army spokesperson told The Associated Press he couldn’t comment on the incident. A local civil rights group, the Nile Institute for the Study of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, condemned the attack and called for “effective governance and oversight in resource-rich areas.” “This horrific act represents a grave violation of the fundamental right to life and highlights the continued vulnerability of civilians in areas affected by a weak security presence and unregulated resource exploitation,” the group wrote in a statement. Human rights activist Edmund Yakani urged the authorities to address the emerging trend of communities competing for natural resources. “My appeal is to the government to intervene and stop this culture of illegal gold mining across the country,” he said.  

Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the Iran war, the defense minister said Monday, marking another step in the government's opposition to U.S. and Israeli involvement in the conflict in the Middle East. The country had already said that the U.S. couldn't use jointly operated military bases in the Iran conflict, which Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described as illegal, reckless and unjust. Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday that the same logic applied to the use of Spanish airspace in the conflict. “This was made perfectly clear to the American military and forces from the very beginning. Therefore, neither the bases are authorized, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorized for any actions related to the war in Iran,” Robles told reporters. Spain’s government under Sánchez, one of Europe's most prominent left-wing leaders, has been Europe’s loudest opposing voice against U.S. and Israeli military actions in the Middle East. He has called on the U.S., Israel and Iran to end the war, saying earlier this month: “You cannot respond to one illegality with another, because that’s how humanity’s great disasters begin.” After Sánchez's government denied the U.S. use of the Rota and Morón military bases in southern Spain, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade with Madrid. It was the latest flare-up between Spain and the U.S., which made trade threats against the European nation last year, too, when Sánchez said that his government wouldn't increase its defense spending in accordance with a ramp-up agreed to by other NATO members following pressure from Trump. At the time, Sánchez's government said that Spain could meet its military commitments by spending 2.1% of gross domestic product on defense, instead of the 5% the rest of the 32-nation military alliance agreed upon. Sánchez was also among the most vocal critics of Israel's actions in the war in Gaza, which invited criticism from Israel's government on several occasions. “I think everyone knows Spain’s position; it’s very clear,” Robles said, calling the war in Iran “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine designed for weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, describing it as a major step forward in strengthening the country’s strategic military capabilities, state media reported Sunday. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim observed a ground jet test of an engine built with composite carbon fiber material. The report said the engine produced a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, up from around 1,970 kilonewtons recorded in a similar test in September. However, the agency did not specify the time or location of the test. Teen daughter Kim Ju Ae set to succeed Kim Jong Un in North Korea The development aligns with Pyongyang’s goal of building more mobile and less detectable missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. Solid-fuel missiles are easier to transport and conceal compared to liquid-fuel systems, which require fueling before launch. KCNA said the test is part of a five-year weapons program aimed at upgrading “strategic strike means,” referring to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Kim called the test significant for elevating the country’s military strength. Some experts, including Lee Choon Geun, questioned the claim, noting missing technical details such as combustion time, suggesting possible exaggeration. Analysts say North Korea still faces challenges in developing reliable ICBMs, despite years of testing and claims of progress.

Disney has opened its much-anticipated “World of Frozen” attraction at Disneyland Paris, marking a major milestone in the company’s multi-billion-euro expansion and the first major international appearance of its new chief executive. The immersive themed land, inspired by the popular animated franchise, opened to visitors on Sunday as part of a €2 billion ($2.18 billion) redevelopment project at the resort. The expansion also includes renaming Walt Disney Studios Park to Disney Adventure World, as part of broader efforts to revamp the Paris complex. The inaugural programme several global celebrities were in attendance. The development is the largest in the 34-year history of Disneyland Paris and forms part of Disney’s almost $60 billion global investment across its parks, resorts and cruise businesses. New CEO Josh D’Amaro, who assumed office on March 18, took center stage at the event, highlighting the importance of storytelling across Disney’s operations. “Storytelling remains at the heart of everything we do,” he told the audience, describing the new attraction as a “transformational moment” for the company. The parks division — long a key revenue driver — accounted for more than half of Disney’s segment operating income last year, helping propel D’Amaro to the top leadership role. French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the resort ahead of the opening, described Disneyland Paris as Europe’s leading tourist destination and a major contributor to the national economy. He said the latest expansion would create around 1,000 new jobs, adding to the more than 20,000 people already employed at the resort. Once criticized at its launch in 1992 as “Euro Disney,” the park has since evolved into a major economic asset, attracting hundreds of millions of visitors over the decades. The new “Frozen” land recreates the fictional kingdom of Arendelle, featuring themed rides, character experiences and a Scandinavian-style village built around a central lagoon. Among the highlights is a boat ride experience with advanced animatronics, as well as interactive attractions and live entertainment shows. The revamped park will also feature new dining options, a large central lake, nighttime drone shows and additional themed areas, including a planned “Lion King” land currently under construction. Disney said more than 90 percent of the park’s attractions will be redesigned as part of the transformation, with the overall مساحة expected to nearly double upon completion. The opening underscores Disney’s continued focus on its parks business, which remains one of its most stable sources of revenue despite recent shifts in its streaming operations.  

Egypt has instructed shops, restaurants and cafés to close earlier than usual as part of temporary measures to tackle rising energy costs driven by the ongoing Iran war. Under the directive, retail outlets and dining establishments must shut by 9:00pm local time each day for a month starting Saturday officials said. The government described the move as “exceptional measures” aimed at easing pressure on energy consumption. Additional steps include dimming street lighting and billboard advertisements, as well as introducing one day of remote work per week in April for many employees. Egypt has been significantly affected by the Middle East conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The country’s dependence on imported fuel has made it particularly vulnerable to supply shocks. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Saturday that Egypt’s fuel import bill had surged to $2.5 billion in March, more than double the figure recorded in January. Hotels and tourist attractions will be exempt from the restrictions, as tourism accounts for roughly 10 percent of the country’s economy. However, some hotels have procured generators to cope with possible power outages and will keep their restaurants open for guests. Essential services, including hospitals, schools and factories, will also remain outside the scope of the work-from-home directive. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled following Iranian threats targeting vessels, disrupting a route that typically carries around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply. In response to the crisis, Egypt has already increased fuel prices and public transport fares. The government is also slowing down large energy-intensive projects and cutting fuel allocations for state vehicles to manage public spending. Source BBC