The ‌Artemis II crew, flying in their Orion capsule since launching from Florida last week, are due to awake around 10:50 a.m. ET on Monday for their sixth flight day. By 7:05 p.m., they will reach the mission’s maximum distance from ​Earth of roughly 252,757 miles, 4,102 miles beyond the record held by the Apollo 13 ​crew for 56 years.

As NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch ⁠and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen approach the distance record, they will be sailing around the moon’s ​far side, witnessing it from roughly 4,000 miles above its darkened surface as it eclipses a basketball-sized Earth ​in the distant background.

The milestone is a climactic point in the nearly 10-day Artemis II mission, the first crewed test flight of NASA’s Artemis programme.

The multibillion-dollar series of missions aims to return astronauts to the moon’s surface by ​2028 before China and establish a long-term U.S. presence there over the next decade, building a ​moon base that would serve as a proving ground for potential future missions to Mars.

Officially starting at 2:34 p.m. ET, ‌the ⁠lunar flyby will plunge the crew into darkness and brief communications blackouts as the moon blocks them from NASA’s Deep Space Network, a global array of massive radio communications antennas the agency has been using to talk to the crew.

The flyby will last about six hours, during which the astronauts will ​use professional cameras to take ​detailed photos through ⁠Orion’s window of the silhouetted moon, showing a rare and scientifically valuable vantage point of sunlight filtering around its edges in what will effectively be a ​lunar eclipse.

They will also have the chance to photograph a rare moment ​in which their ⁠home planet, dwarfed by their record-breaking distance in space, will rise from the lunar horizon as their capsule emerges from the other side, a celestial remix of a moonrise seen from Earth.

A team of dozens ⁠of lunar ​scientists positioned in the Science Evaluation Room at NASA’s Johnson ​Space Center in Houston will be taking notes as the astronauts, who studied an array of lunar phenomena as part of mission ​training, describe their view in real time.

The victims — identified as Mazhar Hussain, Atif, Haroon, Hamza, and Jafar — had left Pakistan four months ago in pursuit of better job opportunities abroad. They had reportedly sold their savings and livestock to finance the journey.

According to family members, each individual paid between Rs4.5 million and Rs5 million to agents to facilitate travel to Europe via Saudi Arabia and Libya, with Italy as the intended destination.

The boat carrying the migrants overturned in rough waters near Libya, leading to their deaths.

However, one companion, Imran Sher, survived after boarding a separate vessel and has reportedly reached Italy safely.

The deceased belonged to different villages of Hafizabad, including Bagh Kehna, Kot Nizam, Tahli Goraya, Behak Muqeemuddin, and Chohdu Khunian.

News of the tragedy has left families and communities in deep grief, with mourning reported across the affected villages.

According to the PDMA spokesperson, rain is expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Gujranwala.

Other districts, including Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab, and Mandi Bahauddin, are also likely to receive rainfall.

Further showers are predicted in Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Layyah, and Dera Ghazi Khan, along with surrounding areas.

Director General Irfan Ali Kathia has issued directives to commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province to remain on alert.

Citizens have been advised to stay in safe locations during thunderstorms and avoid open areas during lightning.

Farmers have been urged to take precautionary measures to protect crops, while tourists travelling to northern areas have been advised to exercise caution.

Authorities also advised the public to contact the PDMA helpline 1129 in case of emergencies.

The State Bank of Pakistan is scheduled to announce its policy on April 27, with projections suggesting the benchmark rate could climb to between 12% and 14%.

Analysts say rising petroleum prices are likely to fuel inflationary pressures, prompting the central bank to tighten monetary policy to stabilise prices and the exchange rate.

However, experts noted that the anticipated release of the third loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund could ease external financing pressures and support foreign exchange reserves.

Despite this, economists believe a rate hike remains a strong possibility as authorities seek to contain inflation and maintain macroeconomic stability.

The signing ceremony was held at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, where Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Kadir Ozkaya formalised the agreement.

The MoU outlines collaboration in judicial training, exchange of best practices, and the use of modern technology to improve the justice system. Both sides also agreed to establish a joint working group and enhance professional training at the district judiciary level.

Chief Justice Afridi termed the agreement a significant step towards deeper institutional cooperation, noting that judicial systems cannot operate in isolation in an increasingly interconnected world.

He also highlighted Turkiye’s advancements in adopting artificial intelligence within judicial frameworks.

Justice Ozkaya emphasised the need to modernise judicial systems and said mutual learning would help improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together on judicial reforms, rule of law, and strengthening judicial independence.

Had the vessels successfully ‌crossed the strait, it would have been the first transit of LNG cargoes through the waterway since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.

Data ​from analytics firms Kpler and LSEG showed the vessels, Al ​Daayen and Rasheeda, loaded their cargoes in late February. The ⁠data also indicated that the Al Daayen tanker was signalling ​for China at the moment.

Additionally, Kpler data showed both tankers as controlled ​by QatarEnergy.

QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Previously, a Japanese LNG tanker, the Sohar LNG, managed to cross the strait, its joint owner Mitsui ​O.S.K. Lines said on Friday.

The tanker, however, was empty, and ​a company spokesperson declined to disclose when the passage took place or whether ‌any ⁠negotiations were involved.

It has been more than five weeks since the US and Israel began striking Iran in a war that has killed thousands and damaged economies by driving up oil prices, with tanker traffic ​through the Strait ​of Hormuz choked ⁠by the fighting and retaliatory attacks on a route that carries about a fifth of global oil ​and LNG flows.

Qatar is the world’s second-largest exporter of ​LNG, ⁠with shipments mostly going to buyers in Asia.

Iranian attacks, however, knocked out 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, with repairs expected to sideline 12.8 ⁠million ​tonnes per year of the fuel for ​three to five years.

A major portion of the obligations includes $3.45 billion owed to the United Arab Emirates, to be paid in three tranches.

Payments include $450 million due on April 11, $2 billion on April 17, and $1 billion on April 23.

Additionally, Pakistan’s 10-year Eurobonds worth $1.3 billion are set to mature on April 8.

Officials said arrangements for this repayment have also been finalised, underscoring efforts to maintain credibility in international financial markets.

Authorities noted that more than $5 billion in funding assurances have been secured from friendly countries to support these repayments.

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves remain stable, with the State Bank holding approximately $16.4 billion, which officials consider sufficient to meet upcoming obligations without destabilising the external account.

Officials said timely repayments would help sustain investor confidence and financial stability.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting reviewing the financial impact of escalating fuel costs.

Officials said this marks the fourth increase in jet fuel prices, prompting urgent cost-control measures.

Under the new policy, all fare discounts will be withdrawn, except for concessions for children and infants.

A PIA spokesperson confirmed that flights to Beijing and Kuala Lumpur will be suspended from April 11 and April 14, respectively.

Operations to Gulf countries will also remain suspended until the end of April, while flights to the United Arab Emirates will be limited to 16 per week.

The airline said it cannot pass the entire burden of increased fuel costs onto passengers, necessitating administrative adjustments.

Officials expressed hope that global fuel prices would stabilise soon, allowing restoration of affected routes.

Sources said the pacer suffered the injury while bowling and was forced to leave the field due to discomfort.

Team management later confirmed that he has been declared unfit and will miss the remainder of the tournament for an indefinite period.

In an official statement, the franchise expressed full support for their star player during his recovery.

Officials added that there remains hope for his return in the latter stages of the competition, subject to rehabilitation and fitness clearance.

The development comes as a significant setback for Rawalpindi, with Naseem regarded as a key component of their bowling attack in the ongoing PSL season.

Preparations for the rollout have been completed, with authorities moving into the final stages of implementation.

The system will digitally monitor fuel distribution at petrol pumps through dedicated mobile devices.

According to sources, the Ministry of IT has completed testing of the smartphones to be deployed at fuel stations.

The National IT Board (NITB) has also verified the quality and operational performance of the devices.

Testing of the fuel management application has been finalised, and all relevant details have been shared with the Cabinet Division.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has directed oil marketing companies to ensure procurement of the devices.

Each handset, estimated to cost around Rs36,000, will be financed by oil marketing companies.

The NITB will procure the devices and hand them over to the companies for distribution to fuel stations.

Officials said the system will strictly enforce fuel quotas, with no citizen allowed to purchase petrol beyond the assigned limit.

The quota mechanism will be implemented through a mobile application developed by the Pakistan Digital Authority.

Authorities say the initiative is aimed at ensuring transparent fuel distribution, strengthening monitoring systems, and preventing potential misuse.

The sisters were referenced in a December 2015 email exchange between the convicted sex offender and an unidentified individual.

In the emails, the person asked Epstein about the sisters’ modelling success, writing, “How did the Hadid sisters become models and make so much money?! I don’t understand…”

Epstein replied, “You know,” to which the individual responded, “The father paid the agency.”

Epstein refuted this, stating, “No,” and later added, “Because they follow directions, it’s that simple.”

These emails were part of the millions of documents released earlier this year by the US Department of Justice as part of its investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019.

Gigi addressed the matter on Instagram after a fan commented that they had unfollowed her because she had not publicly responded.

In her now-deleted comment, the 30-year-old said the emails “made me sick to my stomach” and described the experience as “horrible to read someone you’ve never met speak about you that way. Especially in this context.”

She added that she had refrained from commenting initially to avoid overshadowing the voices of Epstein’s real victims.

Gigi also acknowledged her privileged upbringing, noting that her parents, Dutch model Yolanda Hadid and property developer Mohamed Hadid, helped her secure meetings with modelling agencies, leading to her signing with IMG Models in 2012.

She stressed, however, that she “worked hard every moment since.”

Concluding her statement, Gigi emphasised that she was around 20-21 years old when the emails were written and firmly stated, “I have never had any affiliation with that disgusting human being.”

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.

Citing a senior Iranian official, Al Jazeera reported that Tehran has made it clear it will not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary ceasefire.

The official told Reuters that Iran believes Washington is not serious about a permanent ceasefire, and therefore, Tehran is unwilling to commit to a short-term arrangement that would allow access to the critical maritime passage.

Earlier, Iranian authorities confirmed they had received Pakistan’s proposal for an immediate ceasefire and were reviewing it, but stressed that Tehran would not bow to pressure to make a decision under a fixed deadline.

Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told a weekend briefing that the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical oil artery — cannot be weaponised, stressing that its security is not a regional bargaining chip but a global economic imperative.

“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be held hostage by any country,” said Gargash, adding that freedom of navigation through the waterway “has to be part and parcel of the settlement of any ​conflict with clear agreement on that.”

Gargash said the UAE wants the war to end, but warned against a ceasefire that leaves the root causes of instability unresolved.

“We don’t ​want to see more and more escalation,” he said. “But we don’t want a ceasefire that fails to address some of the main issues ⁠that will create a much more dangerous environment in the region…notably (Iran’s) nuclear programme, the missiles and drones that are still raining down on us and on other countries.“

Worst-case scenario unfolding

Gargash said the United Arab Emirates was ready to join any ​US-led international effort to secure shipping through the strait.

Gargash said that for decades, the most unlikely worst‑case scenario for the UAE had been a full Iranian attack — a scenario that is now unfolding.

Despite that, he said, the country was coping well, demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness under pressure.

He said the UAE’s economic fundamentals remained strong and positioned the country for a recovery, though he acknowledged it ​would require effort.

Gargash said Iran’s strategy was likely ​to harden the Gulf’s security alignment ⁠with Washington rather than reduce it, entrenching the US military role in the region and amplifying Israel’s footprint.

He said the US would remain the UAE’s core security partner and that Abu Dhabi would double down on that relationship as regional threats intensify.

Iran’s strikes on Gulf energy facilities ​and shipping lanes were seen by regional officials as a calculated attempt to raise the costs for Washington’s Gulf Arab allies.

By ​hitting oil facilities, ports ⁠and key waterways — including the Strait — Iran banked on Gulf states, alarmed by economic shock and regional spillover, to press the United States to halt its campaign.

Gargash said Iran’s leadership was fighting to preserve the “regime, not the country”, arguing that no normal government ​would accept such destruction simply to claim it had resisted.

He said the UAE did not seek hostility with Iran, but warned that trust was impossible under the current Tehran government.

The UAE was grateful, he said, for the international ​support it has received, singling out France as a steadfast partner and praising Washington for its exceptional backing, particularly in strengthening the UAE’s air‑defence capabilities.

US President Donald Trump, in ⁠an expletive-laden Easter Sunday social media post, threatened ​to target Iran’s power plants and bridges ​on Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

When asked by Reuters about Trump’s remarks, Kremlin ​spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that ​Russia had seen them but that the Kremlin preferred ‌not ⁠to comment directly.

“We note that the level of tension in the region is growing and continues to grow,” Peskov said.

“In fact, the ​entire region ​is on ⁠fire. These are all very dangerous and negative consequences of the ​aggression that was unleashed against Iran.”

“The ​geography ⁠of this conflict has expanded, and now we are all aware of the consequences that ⁠we ​have, including very, very negative ​consequences for the global economy.”

According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association, the price of gold per tola rose by Rs1,100, reaching Rs491,462.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold increased by Rs943 to Rs421,349.

In the international market, gold prices also edged higher, rising by $11 to $4,687 per ounce.

The association reported that the price of silver per tola fell by Rs50 to Rs7,744 in the local market.

In a statement issued on Monday, the IRGC said Khademi was killed in what it described as a “criminal and terrorist attack” carried out by the United States and Israel in the early hours of the day.

The IRGC paid tribute to Khademi, highlighting his long service and role in Iran’s intelligence and security operations.

The statement said he had played a significant part in countering foreign threats and safeguarding national security over several decades.

Later, Israel acknowledged responsibility for the strike.

Israel Katz said he had been briefed on the operation during an assessment with military chief Eyal Zamir.

Alexander Otroshchenko, commander of the 45th Army of the Northern Fleet’s ​Air Force and Air Defence, died in the ​crash, Andrei Chibis, governor of the northern Murmansk ⁠region where the fleet is based, was quoted ​as saying.

The An-26 military transport plane crashed into a ​cliff in Crimea on March 31. Russia’s Defence Ministry said shortly afterwards that the preliminary cause was a technical malfunction.

The An-26 has ​been in service since the late 1960s and ​has also been used by airlines to carry freight, but the ‌model ⁠has been involved in a number of deadly crashes over the last decade.

A Ukrainian An-26 crashed during a flight in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region in 2022, ​killing one ​person.

Another ⁠aircraft crashed on a training flight in northeastern Ukraine in 2020, killing all but ​one of the 27 people on board.

Eight ​people, ⁠including five Russians, were killed when an An-26 crashed in South Sudan in 2020.

Four of 10 people ⁠on ​board were killed when an ​An-26 crashed on landing in Ivory Coast in West Africa in 2017.

The board administration said the delay was caused by the late submission of exam forms by schools, particularly private institutions.

Thousands of forms were submitted with late fees in recent days, putting pressure on the admit card system and raising concerns among parents and students.

A spokesperson for the Board of Secondary Education Karachi explained that the delay also coincides with the board’s transition from a manual to a digital system.

The large volume of data caused a temporary overload in the software, which the IT team is working to resolve.

Parents and students said that while obtaining admit cards was straightforward last year, this year they are struggling and spending valuable time chasing the process instead of focusing on exam preparation.

Officials said the decision to postpone the exams ensures admit cards can be issued on time and that the annual exams are conducted in an organised, stable, and transparent manner.

A framework to end hostilities has been put together by Pakistan and exchanged with Iran and the US overnight, the source said, outlining a two-tier approach with an immediate ceasefire followed by a ​comprehensive agreement.

“All elements need to be agreed today,” the source said, adding the initial understanding would be ​structured as a memorandum of understanding finalised electronically through Pakistan, the sole communication channel in ⁠the talks.

Axios first reported on Sunday that the United States, Iran and regional mediators were discussing a potential 45-day ​ceasefire as part of a two-phase deal that could lead to a permanent end to the war, citing US, ​Israeli and regional sources.

The source told Reuters that army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has been in contact “all night long” with US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Under the proposal, a ceasefire would take effect immediately, ​reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with 15-20 days to finalise a broader settlement.

The deal, tentatively dubbed the “Islamabad Accord,” ​would include a regional framework for the strait, with final in-person talks in Islamabad.

There was no immediate response from the US and ‌Iranian officials. ⁠

Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi declined to comment.

Iranian officials have previously told Reuters that Tehran was seeking a permanent ceasefire with guarantees that they will not be attacked again by the US and Israel.

They have said Iran has received messages from mediators, including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt.

The final agreement is expected to include Iranian commitments not to pursue ​nuclear weapons in exchange for ​sanctions relief and the ⁠release of frozen assets, the source said.

Two Pakistani sources said Iran has yet to commit despite intensified civilian and military outreach.

“Iran has not responded yet,” one source said, adding ​proposals backed by Pakistan, China and the United States for a temporary ceasefire ​have drawn no ⁠commitment so far.

There was no immediate response from Chinese officials to requests for comment.

The latest diplomatic push comes amid escalating hostilities that have raised concerns over disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil ⁠supplies.

US President ​Donald Trump has in recent days publicly pressed for a rapid end ​to the conflict, warning of consequences if a ceasefire is not reached within a short timeframe.

The conflict has heightened volatility in energy markets, ​with traders closely watching any developments that could affect flows through the strait.

On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the … Strait, you crazy …, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!” He later added a deadline: “Tuesday, 8:00 PM Eastern Time!”

Responses from Iranian diplomatic missions included:

• The Iranian Embassy in South Africa referenced the 25th Amendment, Section 4, saying: “Seriously think about it.”
• In Bulgaria, the embassy urged, “Take it easy, tiger. Keep your cool.”
• The embassy in Austria criticised the rhetoric as desperate and warned that targeting civilian infrastructure is a war crime, adding: “Shield all minors under 18 from exposure to #Trump’s rhetoric.”
• The United Kingdom mission quoted: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt,” calling the threat a “sign of weakness & sickness.”
• Zimbabwe’s embassy posted a guide to “presidential decorum,” emphasising respectful and measured language.
• In India, the embassy wrote: “Swearing and throwing insults are how sore loser brats behave. Get a grip on yourself, old man!”

The reactions highlight the global attention and ridicule generated by Trump’s aggressive and profane warnings over the strategically critical waterway.

The milestone came four days, six hours, and two minutes into the mission, when the crew was roughly 39,000 miles from the moon and 232,000 miles from Earth.

The next key phase will see the astronauts travel to the far side of the moon later on Monday, venturing deeper into space than any humans have before, according to a report in the Guardian.

“We’re all extremely excited for tomorrow,” said Lori Glaze, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission, on Sunday.

“Our flight operations and science teams are ready for the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years.”

The Artemis II astronauts are the first humans bound for the moon in over half a century, continuing the legacy of the Apollo programme, which last sent humans there in 1972.

While Apollo missions flew roughly 70 miles above the lunar surface, Artemis II will approach just over 4,000 miles, providing a complete view of the moon, including its polar regions.

During the approximately six-hour flyby, the crew will observe the moon with both the naked eye and onboard cameras, capturing views of the far side that were previously difficult or impossible to see.

When Orion passes behind the moon, the spacecraft will enter a planned communications blackout of about 40 minutes, as the lunar surface blocks radio signals to Earth’s Deep Space Network.

“I think it’s important to remember that we don’t always know exactly what they’re going to see,” said Kelsey Young, lead scientist for Artemis II, during a Sunday press conference.

If all goes according to plan, Americans Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen could set a new record for the farthest humans from Earth.

The crew has already captured unprecedented lunar imagery. Early on Sunday, NASA shared a photo taken by Artemis II showing the moon’s Orientale basin, sometimes called the “Grand Canyon of the Moon.”

“This mission marks the first time the entire basin has been seen with human eyes,” NASA said, noting that previous images were taken only from orbiting spacecraft.

On day five of the 10-day mission, Orion was nearly 215,000 miles from Earth and 65,000 miles from the moon, according to NASA’s online dashboard.

Former astronaut Charlie Duke, who walked on the moon during Apollo 16 in 1972, gave the ceremonial wake-up call, sending encouragement to the crew and praising the continuation of the Apollo legacy.

The astronauts have conducted a manual piloting demonstration, reviewed their lunar flyby plan, and studied surface features to photograph and analyse.

Nasa chief Jared Isaacman emphasised that the mission is also focused on testing the spacecraft’s life-support systems, noting, “This is the first time astronauts have ever flown on this spacecraft. That’s what we’re most interested in getting data from.”

The crew has also tested their bright orange “survival” suits, designed for takeoff, re-entry, and emergency scenarios such as cabin depressurisation.

While the astronauts will not land on the lunar surface, they are expected to set a record for the farthest distance from Earth during their orbit.

“Over the next day, they will be on the far side of the moon, they will eclipse that record, and we’re going to learn an awful lot about the spacecraft,” Isaacman said.

The data collected will be vital in preparing for future missions, including Artemis III in 2027 and the planned lunar landing of Artemis IV in 2028.

The soldier went missing after his F-15E jet was shot down over southern Iran, marking the first loss of a US aircraft since the start of the war and the first since the 2003 Iraq invasion.

The rescue came amid intense competition between US forces and Iranian authorities, with Tehran reportedly calling on the public to capture the airman and offering a $60,000 reward.

Iranian nomadic groups were shown in state media footage searching the mountainous southwest region and firing at US helicopters during the mission.

Trump described the operation on Truth Social as “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History,” saying dozens of aircraft carrying “lethal weapons” were deployed to retrieve the airman, who evaded Iranian forces for two days before being safely extracted.

The officer sustained injuries but is expected to recover.

The incident occurred as the US and Israel continue strikes in Iran, and Tehran has reportedly lost at least five people in related attacks in Khuzestan province.

Iranian authorities also claimed two C-130s and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the operation, though the US has not confirmed these reports.

Analysts say the rescue removes a major strategic risk for Washington, allowing President Trump to continue pursuing his broader goals in the war, including imposing a 48-hour deadline on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Observers called the mission a significant test for the US military, reflecting the priority placed on recovering personnel behind enemy lines.

The most recent attack on Saturday hit a location near the plant, killing one security guard and damaging a side building, according to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation (AEOI).

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Bushehr has now been “bombed” four times since the war began on February 28 and criticised what he described as a “lack of concern” for nuclear safety by the United States and Israel.

Experts warn that a direct hit could release radioactive isotopes like Caesium-137, contaminating air, soil, water, and food for decades, with health risks including burns and cancer.

The Russia-built plant, located in the coastal city of Bushehr, has one operational reactor providing around 1,000MW to Iran’s national grid.

Two additional units are planned by 2029. Hundreds of Russian staff work at the site, some of whom were evacuated after recent strikes.

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has repeatedly warned against attacks on Bushehr.

Director-General Rafael Grossi said any strike on the reactor or its fuel storage could trigger a regional catastrophe, requiring evacuations, iodine distribution, and monitoring of food and water supplies for hundreds of kilometres beyond Iran.

Regional concerns include Gulf waters, where radioactive contamination could disrupt marine life and halt desalination, a key source of drinking water for countries like Qatar.

Officials there warned that a Bushehr strike could render seawater unsafe, potentially causing water shortages within days.

International law prohibits attacks on civilian nuclear facilities.

Article 56 of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions forbids targeting installations containing dangerous forces, including nuclear materials, while IAEA guidelines require the protection of staff and systems critical to preventing reactor meltdown.

Iran has criticised the muted response from Western nations compared to international reactions to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, which faced heavy artillery attacks in 2022.

In that case, the UN, NATO, and the EU issued statements condemning the strikes and coordinated monitoring efforts.

Past nuclear disasters underline the stakes: Japan’s Fukushima reactors melted after a 2011 earthquake, prompting mass evacuations, while the 1986 Chornobyl explosion caused widespread radiation exposure, thousands of cases of thyroid cancer, and long-term displacement of over 300,000 people.

Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said North Korea had not sent weapons or supplies so far to Iran since the conflict started on February 28, and did not issue public condolences upon the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in air strikes, said lawmaker Park Sun-won, who attended a closed-door briefing held by the NIS.

Pyongyang also sent no congratulatory message when Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was selected as the new supreme leader, Park said, citing the NIS.

While China and Russia had frequently issued statements on the conflict, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry had only issued two toned-down statements so far, consistent, the NIS said, with North Korea’s recent tendency to avoid direct criticism of US President Donald Trump.

The NIS assessed this restraint as preparation to secure new diplomatic space after an anticipated May summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump, the lawmaker said.

North Korea was also facing significant economic strain related to the Middle East crisis, with disruptions to the procurement of industrial supplies, rising prices, and a surging exchange rate, the NIS told lawmakers.

North Korea was also trying to secure Russian oil supplies, the NIS said.

At North Korea’s Ninth Workers’ Party Congress in late February, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared to leave an opening for talks with Washington, saying there was no reason the countries “cannot get along well,” if the US recognised North Korea’s status as a nuclear state and withdrew its hostile policy.

The NIS assessed that Kim had made the remarks in his own voice as a deliberate signal, aimed at keeping relations with Trump in good standing and positioning Pyongyang for a new diplomatic chapter once the Middle East conflict subsides, Park said.

Characters like “Strawberina,” “Melonita,” and the muscular “Bananito” navigate love triangles, emotional re-couplings, and other classic reality show twists, all hosted by a green apple narrator.

The most popular clip, Episode 15: New Dates… New Doubts has been viewed 39 million times in two weeks.

The series, created by the anonymous account “Ai Cinema” in mid-March, has inspired copycat accounts and prompted the removal of some original videos.

While some dismiss the content as low-quality AI “slop,” media experts note it fulfils a demand for brief, humorous escapes amid a flood of stressful online content.

Ludmila Lupinacci, a digital media lecturer at the University of Leeds, said the AI quirks add to the appeal, making the show funnier and more engaging despite visual inconsistencies.

Episodes feature absurd, often comedic dialogue, like a watermelon woman joking with a dragon-fruit date over fruit cocktails.

Fans and commentators alike enjoy the surreal humour, even pointing out AI glitches, such as inconsistent colouring on characters’ limbs.

The series is part of a larger trend of fruit-themed AI parodies, including “Fruit Paternity Court” and other meme-based content, often satirising formulaic reality TV.

Experts say the appeal lies in its simplicity and exaggeration of reality TV clichés, with AI quirks enhancing the bizarre entertainment.

“Fruit Love Island” shows how AI-generated media can captivate audiences, provoke humour, and even encourage “hate-watching” while reflecting the absurdity of modern reality television.

In a statement on X, he said the government is closely monitoring reports of Pakistani citizens among the wounded in the incident at Khorfakkan Port and is praying for their swift recovery.

“We are committed to providing all possible assistance to those affected and are in close contact with UAE authorities to support our citizens,” the prime minister said.

Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of the UAE, describing the two countries as “brotherly nations.”

He also emphasised the need for patience and restraint to reduce tensions in the region.

Agilian Technology, which makes products mostly for Western brands, saw its US ​orders — accounting for more than half its revenue — frozen for months, and clients demanded it set up production outside China.

Tariffs brought chaos to many Chinese companies; the country’s official purchasing managers’ index contracted for ‌much of last year, with April 2025 being its weakest reading since December 2023.

But Beijing’s retaliation — export controls on minerals and metals that US firms need and are difficult to source — reduced the levies.

In March, China’s official PMI grew at its fastest pace in a year.

This allowed Agilian, a $30-million-a-year business, to recover and appreciate its foothold, which it sees as crucial for growth — though it has pursued offshoring.

A recovery in China’s manufacturing sector might surprise Trump following the anniversary of his “Liberation Day” tariff rollout, given that he campaigned on using levies to reindustrialise the American economy and ​project US power.

“The data confirms that Trump’s tariffs indeed haven’t derailed the momentum that we’ve seen in China’s manufacturing sector,” said Nick Marro, principal economist for Asia and lead for global trade at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

He ​added that levies “resulted in a restructuring of trade linkages and supply chains.”

China’s trade surplus for the first two months of 2026 rose to $213.6 billion, official data showed, from $169.21 billion a ⁠year earlier.

And in 2025, China grew its trade surplus by a fifth to a record $1.2 trillion — equivalent to the GDP of the Netherlands.

But exports to the US slumped 20% in 2025, hurting manufacturers that rely on the market, said Agilian CEO ​Fabien Gaussorgues.

Gaussorgues, speaking at his factory in the southern city of Dongguan, wondered whether Trump would make a breakthrough when he visits China in May.

“The best we can hope for is probably a pledge for both sides to keep talking and maybe ​some type of framework to keep trade tensions from boiling over like they did last year,” Marro said.

Economists and industry executives expect Trump’s visit to extend a detente between the two rivals.

He Yadong, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, said the two countries should implement what they agreed to in previous meetings and subsequent rounds of talks.

“China has shown the rare earths (are) a leverage of mass destruction,” said Denis Depoux, the general manager of consultancy Roland Berger. “It’s a nuclear weapon of trade.”

Preparing for the worst

Today, Agilian executives view Trump’s tariff policies as guideposts for how to ​deal with future flare-ups.

In 2024, as Trump was rising in election polls, Agilian’s clients wanted to get ahead of tariffs and asked the firm to ship products to North American warehouses.

Other US importers had similar ideas, and storage prices went “crazy,” ​said Renaud Anjoran, the firm’s vice-president.

Shortly after Trump was re-elected, post-midnight calls from “panicked” clients became frequent.

One customer with family in Penang, Malaysia, urged Agilian to set up a production base there.

Agilian had set up an entity in India, but most clients pushed back on operating there, ‌worried about slow ⁠production and customs delays.

“India takes time,” Gaussorgues said.

“It took us one year to have the official company.”

Trump takes office

After Trump was inaugurated, two tariff hikes on China totalling 20% concerned clients, but they stuck around.

Then on April 2, tariffs on Chinese exports rose another 34 percentage points.

For Agilian customers, “this was a disaster” and many cancelled orders.

Soon after, pallets of goods piled up inside the 12,000-square-metre Dongguan factory.

China retaliated. Escalations pushed the levies above 100% on both sides before the end of the month. “Things were frozen,” said Anjoran.

The company decided to go with Penang and found a factory to partner with.

It was preferred because it was removed from the South China Sea, where military conflicts cannot be ruled out.

Agilian also scouted industrial rental space in Dharwad, India, ​and even looked at moving production to the US.

But it ​found that supply chains there were incomplete, leaving it reliant ⁠on tariffed Chinese components and higher labour costs.

Plan B failure?

By mid-2025, Agilian’s India team found a 4,000-square-metre industrial building and was discussing which products could be made there.

Embargo-like conditions with China made India more palatable for clients as well.

But then a May Washington-Beijing deal removed most of the tariffs imposed on China.

In August, with the Dharwad factory still not ready, Trump ​hiked tariffs on India by 50% to force it to stop buying Russian oil.

But Anjoran pressed ahead: “We want to be a multi-country manufacturer. Focus on the long arc of time.”

Pre-production ​runs in Penang also started in ⁠the middle of the year, with the team learning that “everything takes way, way, longer” than in China.

Tariff climbdown

Through the summer, China’s export controls exposed US dependence on materials processed almost exclusively in China, squeezing autos, defence and other industries.

An October meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping brought tariffs down by 10 percentage points. By then, Agilian’s clients had stopped asking about levies and offshoring.

Agilian said the second half of 2025 was its busiest ever in terms of production hours, rising 29% from the first half. With tariffs steep ⁠but acceptable, clients ​unfroze orders and placed new ones.

Anjoran says if 100% tariffs returned, his US-exposed customers would freeze production and put shipments on hold.

Agilian will keep developing ​facilities in India and Malaysia “as an insurance policy,” Gaussorgues said.

But the falling cost and rising quality of Chinese components made its base in Dongguan indispensable.

He hopes to grow the company’s revenue 30% in the next three years, though he fears Trump could get in the way again.

“I started in January ​saying, okay, this might be a good year and then the Iran war started,” he said.

Reuters could not immediately verify ​the report.

The White House and the US ​State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

The mediators are discussing the terms ​of a two-phased deal, the report ​said, adding that the first phase would be a ‌potential ⁠45-day ceasefire during which a permanent end to the war would be negotiated.

The second phase would be an agreement on ​ending the war, ​the ⁠report said.

The ceasefire could be extended if additional time was required ​for talks, the report said.

US ​President ⁠Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Sunday that his deadline for Iran to ⁠open ​the Strait of Hormuz ​or face attacks on critical infrastructure is Tuesday evening.

The report said the chances of reaching even a partial agreement within 48 hours were considered slim, but described the effort as a last attempt to prevent a sharp escalation, including potential strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and retaliatory attacks on energy and water facilities in Gulf states.

A spin-off of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, the series follows Kitty as she travels to Seoul to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend Dae, only to face misunderstandings that set off a journey of self-discovery.

As the story unfolds, Kitty builds new friendships and navigates complicated relationships, particularly with Minho, whose slow-burning romance with her becomes central to the latest season.

Their relationship, long anticipated by fans, finally takes focus with emotional highs, heartbreak and reconciliation.

The new season leans heavily into themes of young love, trust and personal growth, while maintaining a softer tone where characters are not portrayed as unnecessarily harsh, making their emotional arcs more relatable.

Beyond romance, the series highlights strong friendships, especially Kitty’s bond with Yuri and her close connection with Q.

A major conflict between Kitty and Q stands out as one of the most intense moments of the season, showing the importance of friendship alongside romance.

While the show continues to face criticism for narrative inconsistencies and underdeveloped side characters, it shows growth in both storytelling and performances.

The cast portrays more emotional depth as the characters deal with decisions about their future and feelings of self-worth.

Overall, the latest season focuses on simple but relatable themes — love, mistakes and healing — offering viewers an easy yet engaging watch.

President Trump earlier set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face raids on its power plants and bridges.

The Iranian military responded to Trump’s threat with air and drone strikes on US and Israeli assets in the region.

According to a report in Al Jazeera, an Iranian missile hit a residential building in Israel’s Haifa, killing at least two people and wounding four others. Two more people remain missing.

Israel’s Ynet News outlet said that a 34-year-old woman has been “seriously injured” by interceptor missiles in Petah Tikvah following the latest Iranian attacks on central Israel.

It said there are “at least 15 crash sites” across central Israel and that a building in Tel Aviv was damaged.

The Channel 2 broadcaster published images of smoke rising over Gush Dan and Bnei Brak, as well as a video of minor damage to a building in Tel Aviv.

Iran’s military also fired rockets and drones at power, water desalination and oil plants in regional countries, including the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.

A Ghanaian national in Abu Dhabi sustained “moderate injuries” from falling shrapnel, according to the city’s media office.

The incident occurred at the Rinn Systems Company in Musaffah after a successful interception by air defences, according to the media office.

“The competent authorities urge the public to obtain information from official sources only and to avoid circulating rumours or unverified information,” the office said in a post on X.