A 19th-century painting by renowned Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma has set a new benchmark in the global art market, selling for 1.67 billion rupees ($17.9 million) at an auction in New Delhi on Wednesday, April 2, 2026. The sale marks the highest price ever achieved for an Indian artwork, surpassing the previous record held by a work from modernist painter MF Husain. The painting, titled Yashoda and Krishna, is an oil-on-canvas masterpiece created in the 1890s, during the peak of Va

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Thursday, April 2, 2026, that he plans to sign an executive order to compensate Department of Homeland Security employees who have gone without pay during a partial federal government shutdown that has now stretched to 48 days. The announcement was made in a social media post, where the president criticized Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing impasse while thanking Republican leaders for efforts to resolve the standoff. The proposed actio

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has taken a major step toward becoming a publicly traded company, filing confidentially for an initial public offering on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The move could position the aerospace and technology firm among the most valuable companies globally, with an expected valuation exceeding $1 trillion. The IPO filing allows SpaceX to begin discussions with regulators while keeping detailed financial disclosures private during the early stages. Reports indicate the c

India’s government on Thursday, April 2, 2026 (IST), said there have been no discussions with Iran regarding the imposition of tolls on Indian ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing recent reports circulating amid heightened tensions in West Asia. Speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that no such proposal has been discussed between the two countries, countering speculation that had raised concerns over shipping c

The first open sale of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has revealed sharply increased prices, with some seats for the final reaching as high as $10,990, making them among the most expensive in football history. The tournament, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is already drawing attention not only for its expanded format but also for rising costs faced by fans. Initial projections in the tournament bid suggested final tickets would peak at around $1,

Tesla reported its first-quarter 2026 vehicle production and delivery figures, revealing a mixed performance as deliveries fell short of expectations while showing modest year-over-year growth. The company delivered 358,023 vehicles during the quarter and produced 408,386 units, according to its latest report. Analysts had projected approximately 370,000 deliveries, while a company-compiled consensus published on Wednesday, March 26, 2026, estimated 365,645 deliveries. Following the r

The United States has lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, signaling a significant shift in diplomatic relations between the two countries. The decision follows a series of developments after US forces removed former leader Nicolás Maduro from power in a military operation in Caracas and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Rodríguez, a longtime ally of Maduro and former vice president, had been under US sanctions since 2018 ov

 powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Molucca Sea near Indonesia’s Ternate island at 06:48 AM local time on Thursday, April 2, 2026 (22:48 GMT on Wednesday, April 1, 2026), leaving at least one person dead and prompting widespread panic across the region. Authorities confirmed that a 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died after being crushed by falling debris, while another individual was injured after jumping from a building during the tremors. The earthquake, whic

The US Supreme Court is reviewing a major legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. During a hearing on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, justices examined whether the policy aligns with the US Constitution and federal law. Birthright citizenship is based on the 14th Amendment, which states that anyone born in the United States is automatically a citizen, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. This principle

Gulf nations are accelerating discussions on building alternative oil and gas pipelines after Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted a critical global energy corridor, halting exports from most countries in the region and cutting off roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply. The blockade has exposed the region’s heavy dependence on the narrow maritime route, prompting officials and industry leaders to reconsider long-term infrastructure strategies. Saudi Arabia ha

LONDON — The United Kingdom on Thursday, April 2, 2026, convened a virtual meeting of foreign ministers from roughly 35 nations to address escalating disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper sharply criticizing Iran’s actions as a threat to global economic stability. Speaking in opening remarks broadcast before the closed-door session, Cooper accused Iran of “hijacking an international shipping route” and warned that such actions were effectively h

FIFA has come under heavy criticism after ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup final surged to over Rs 10 lakh in the latest sales phase, sparking widespread backlash among fans. The tournament, scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has seen rising ticket costs amid FIFA’s dynamic pricing model. Premium tickets for the final have reportedly climbed to $10,990, up from around $8,700 in an earlier phase, raising concerns over affordability for regu

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday, April 2, 2026, delivered a primetime address from the White House seeking to justify the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran, but he provided few new details about the conflict’s trajectory or conclusion. The speech came at a pivotal moment both domestically and internationally, as the administration continues to expand executive authority in directing the war effort. In his remarks, Trump emphasized that preventing Iran fr

Mizoram police have successfully dismantled several drug smuggling operations, seizing narcotics worth ₹25.01 crore over the past week. The drugs, primarily heroin and methamphetamine, were recovered in multiple locations across the state. One of the major operations took place on March 25, when a CID team intercepted a truck near Tuirial Bridge, Aizawl. The driver, a 23-year-old from Champhai district, was arrested. Between March 27 and 29, police seized 4.46 kg of hero

Indian boxers Vishvanath Suresh and Sachin Siwach advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 after impressive performances on Day 3 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In the men’s 50kg category, Vishvanath Suresh displayed excellent control and technique to register a dominant 5-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan’s Bekzat Ergeshov. He will next face Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay, the reigning world champion, in a high-stakes quarterfinal bout. In the men’

The Allu Arjun Fans Association (AAFA) has taken a significant step in supporting the HPV vaccination drive, inspired by the words of Icon Star Allu Arjun. Allu Arjun encourages his fans to do at least one good deed every year, and AAFA has embraced this philosophy by launching awareness programs to educate the public about the importance of the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine, which can protect young girls from Cervical Cancer, is available for free to girls and women

U.S. stock markets closed weaker as investors reacted to escalating geopolitical uncertainty. Major indices, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq, fell following comments from U.S. leadership that the conflict with Iran will continue in the coming weeks, which kept risk sentiment subdued. The S&P 500, which tracks 500 of the largest U.S. companies, declined nearly 0.9% on the day. Broader equity benchmarks weakened as stock buyers remained cautious

The Heart of Tulip Country: Bollenstreek The most famous tulip-growing region is the Bollenstreek, also known as the “Bulb Region,” located between Haarlem and Leiden and stretching toward the North Sea. During peak bloom, this region becomes a patchwork of bright colors—reds, yellows, pinks, and purples arranged in perfect rows. This area attracts thousands of visitors every year. Yet, as Panis-Ringersma notes, locals are used to the flowers—it’s often the tou