NASA successfully launched the Artemis-2 mission on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts toward the Moon for the first time in 54 years. The crew includes three Americans—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—and one Canadian, Jeremy Hansen. The launch took place at 6:35 p.m. local time, drawing cheers from NASA staff and spectators after years of delays and budget increases.

Before liftoff, the astronauts delivered brief remarks, with Hansen emphasizing that the mission represents all of humanity. Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson addressed the crew, highlighting the global partnerships and the hopes of a new generation carried by the Artemis team.

The mission’s first phase will test the spacecraft’s safety and reliability. Over a roughly 10-day flight, the astronauts will orbit the Moon without landing, while also testing manual control capabilities during docking simulations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has turned his frustration toward NATO as the Iran war intensifies, raising new concerns about the alliance’s future. European allies have refused to provide military support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and, in some cases, denied U.S. aircraft access to their bases. In an interview with the British newspaper The Telegraph, Trump called NATO a “paper tiger” and said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from the alliance.

The tension is not new. Trump has previously labeled NATO “obsolete” and threatened to withhold protection from members that fail to increase defense spending. The situation has deepened as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington might reconsider its NATO ties if European nations continue to block base access. Former U.S. ambassador Ivo Daalder said the crisis has shaken the alliance’s trust, calling it potentially NATO’s biggest challenge in history.

Despite the rift, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed full commitment to NATO, and Secretary-General Mark Rutte argued that Trump’s pressure has strengthened the alliance. The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara this July is expected to test the alliance’s cohesion amid growing calls in Europe for greater defense autonomy.

Bangladeshi Islamic scholar Mizanur Rahman Azhari has rejected a British media report claiming that the Australian government canceled his visa and ordered him to leave the country. According to the Daily Mail, Azhari was touring Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra as part of the 'Legacy of Faith' series when his visa was revoked on Tuesday, leaving him awaiting departure from Australia.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Azhari stated that he had been in Australia for five days at the invitation of the local Muslim community and that the report was a misinterpretation of facts. He said the claim that his visa was canceled due to recent remarks was false, as he had not delivered any speech in Australia. Azhari alleged that certain interest groups and atheist factions had misused old, isolated statements to influence administrative decisions, similar to incidents he faced in the United Kingdom.

He reaffirmed his belief in communal harmony and peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that these values are evident in his previous discussions.

US President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of targeting Iran’s water purification facilities as part of the ongoing conflict with Tehran, alarming several Gulf allies. These countries expressed deep concern that such attacks would constitute war crimes under international law, which prohibits strikes on civilian infrastructure. Regional sources told CNN that Gulf states have privately warned the Trump administration against such actions, fearing devastating retaliatory attacks.

Andrew Friedman, director of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), cautioned that even threatening actions that could amount to war crimes unsettles allied nations, as they do not want to be complicit in such acts. The report noted that Iran has previously retaliated against US allies in the Gulf following US-Israeli strikes, and many Gulf nations rely heavily on desalination plants for drinking water.

Experts warned that if Iran responds by attacking Gulf desalination facilities, it could trigger a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite private warnings, no Gulf state has publicly opposed Trump’s stance, leaving the regional conflict increasingly volatile and complex.

More than a month after the joint US-Israel attack on Iran, US Defense Secretary Hegseth publicly acknowledged that Iran’s ballistic missiles do not pose a threat to the American mainland. Speaking at his first press conference since March 19, he said the missiles cannot reach US territory, contradicting the White House’s repeated characterization of Iran as an ‘imminent threat.’

Hegseth explained that the ongoing conflict is aimed at protecting US assets and allies in the region, adding that President Trump expects European partners to take reciprocal action. He also expressed frustration over the lack of support from allied nations, noting that assistance requests are often met with hesitation and obstacles.

The day before Hegseth’s remarks, President Trump urged the United Kingdom via Truth Social to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, calling on allies to show greater resolve in defending their own interests.

US President Donald Trump has said he is seriously considering withdrawing the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He made the remarks in an interview with the British daily The Telegraph, according to a BBC report. Trump described NATO as a 'paper tiger' and claimed that the United Kingdom no longer has an effective navy. He added that he was never influenced by NATO and that Russian President Vladimir Putin also knows the alliance is weak.

When asked whether he would reconsider US membership in NATO amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Trump replied that the matter had gone beyond reconsideration. In the same interview, he mocked the UK's military capabilities, saying its navy was outdated and its aircraft carriers were not functioning properly.

Analysts believe Trump's comments could reignite international debate, as NATO has long been regarded as the cornerstone of military cooperation between the United States and European nations.

A United States Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jet crashed near Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, March 31. The incident occurred about 25 miles northeast of Indian Springs within the controlled airspace of the Nevada Test and Training Range. Authorities confirmed that the pilot ejected safely, sustaining only minor injuries, and is currently under medical care.

According to the public affairs office at Nellis Air Force Base, the crash site lies within a restricted military zone, ensuring that no nearby civilian areas were affected. Emergency response teams quickly reached the location and carried out rescue operations. Officials stated that the cause of the crash remains unknown and that an investigation is underway.

The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter developed under the Joint Strike Fighter program. It is designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.

New York City Mayor Zohra Mamdani has criticized the United States and Israel’s war against Iran, saying it should be opposed from every perspective. In an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, she stated that the conflict has already cost 23 billion dollars, despite Americans facing a crisis of affordable living costs.

Mamdani, who campaigned on a promise to reduce living expenses in New York City, argued that such a vast amount of money could have transformed the lives of working-class Americans if invested in Medicare, education, or student debt relief. She said that by pursuing another regime-change war, the government has thrown away opportunities to improve domestic welfare.

Her remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, highlight growing concerns about the financial and social costs of foreign military engagements amid economic challenges at home.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent briefings on the ‘Epic Fury’ strategy toward Iran reflect ideas similar to those proposed by Italian General Giulio Douhet more than a century ago. Douhet, in his 1921 book ‘The Command of the Air,’ argued that future wars would be decided by large-scale aerial bombardment targeting not only military forces but also civilians, infrastructure, and supply systems. Hegseth’s emphasis on destroying Iran through airstrikes echoes this early 20th-century doctrine.

Although Hegseth has described his approach as a new American strategy, the resemblance to Douhet’s concepts suggests it is not an innovative war policy. The US official has also spoken about breaking civilian morale, stating that their mission involves killing enemies and undermining their will to fight. He expressed hope that the Iranian people would seize what he called an extraordinary opportunity, aligning with President Donald Trump’s message that “now is your time.”

The report highlights that the belief in easy victory through air power may be a misconception, as history shows the limits of such strategies.

A Mexican immigrant died while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Los Angeles, bringing the total number of deaths in ICE detention to 14 during the first three months of 2026. ICE confirmed the death on Monday, stating that security staff at the Adelanto Detention Center found José Guadalupe Ramos unconscious in his bunk. He was taken to a local hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

ICE reported that Ramos had been arrested on February 23 in Torrance, California. He had prior convictions in 2025 for drug possession and theft. Medical examinations at the time of his detention revealed diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. In 2025, at least 31 people died in ICE custody, the highest number in two decades, and the figure continues to rise. Critics have described the detention policy as deadly for detainees.

Mexico’s foreign minister said the government will raise the issue of migrant detainee deaths with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

A Russian military transport aircraft crashed in Crimea, killing 29 people, according to the country’s defense ministry. The incident occurred on the evening of March 31 near a mountain peak close to the Black Sea. The ministry confirmed that the victims included six crew members and 23 civilian passengers. The aircraft, identified as an AN-26, disappeared from radar around 8 p.m. Moscow time while on a scheduled flight within Crimea.

Russian authorities have not clarified the total number of people on board, but no survivors have been reported. State news agencies TASS and RIA cited defense officials as saying that preliminary investigations suggest a technical malfunction caused the crash.

The AN-26 model has been in service since the 1960s and is primarily used for cargo transport. Several previous accidents involving this aircraft type have been recorded, according to the report.

A new Reuters and Ipsos poll reveals that about two-thirds of Americans believe the United States should quickly end the Iran war, even if its stated goals have not yet been achieved. The survey, conducted from Friday to Sunday, found that 66 percent of respondents favored a rapid conclusion to the conflict, while 27 percent supported continuing the war until objectives are met. Six percent did not respond to the question.

The poll also highlights divisions among supporters of former President Donald Trump’s Republican Party. Around 40 percent of Republican respondents favored ending the war soon, whereas 57 percent believed the U.S. should remain engaged until its goals are fulfilled. The survey, which included 1,021 participants, indicates that public support for the war is steadily declining among the general population.

According to the report, the findings suggest growing war fatigue among Americans and increasing pressure on policymakers to reconsider the duration and objectives of U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a national address on the ongoing war against Iran, according to White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt. In a post on the microblogging platform X, Levitt said Trump will speak to the nation at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday to share important information about Iran.

Earlier, Trump told reporters at the White House Oval Office that U.S. attacks in Iran would conclude within two to three weeks and suggested a possible agreement with Iranian authorities. However, the conflict has continued beyond that timeframe, with the situation becoming increasingly complex.

The war began after a joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran on February 28, which prompted retaliatory attacks from Tehran. The upcoming address is expected to clarify Washington’s current stance and next steps in the conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will need to reconsider its relationship with NATO once the Iran war ends. Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, Rubio questioned the value of decades of heavy spending and troop deployments if the US is denied access to allied bases when needed.

He argued that it is time to assess whether the alliance still serves American interests or has become one-sided. Rubio noted that while the US continues to defend Europe, some allies refuse to allow the use of their bases and airspace during critical moments. He described these as legitimate questions that Washington must now confront.

NATO, formed in 1949, currently has 32 member states and is tasked with ensuring the political and military security of its members, according to the report sourced from The Guardian.

The Australian government has cancelled the visa of Bangladeshi religious preacher Mizanur Rahman Azhari and ordered him to leave the country. According to a report published by the Daily Mail on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Azhari was touring Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra as part of his ‘Legacy of Faith’ series when the decision was made. His visa was revoked on Tuesday, and he is currently awaiting departure from Australia.

The report noted that Azhari had previously faced restrictions on entering the United Kingdom and delivering public sermons in Bangladesh. Australian Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam told the Senate that several groups, including the Australia-based Federation for Ethnic and Religious Minorities, had warned lawmakers about Azhari’s visit. The Daily Mail also cited a 2023 event in the United States where Azhari allegedly made antisemitic remarks, praising Hitler and describing Jews in derogatory terms.

Duniam stated in the Senate that Azhari has been accused of spreading ethnic hatred globally, referencing the UK’s 2021 decision to bar his entry over alleged anti-Hindu rhetoric.