In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed a strict ultimatum to Tehran, threatening the "complete destruction" of Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday evening, US time.
Speaking to journalists at the White House, President Trump warned that the United States is prepared to obliterate Iranian power plants and bridges, claiming the military could bring about the country's total destruction within just four hours if the deadline is ignored. The ultimatum follows Iran's rejection of a 45-day ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, with Tehran insisting on a permanent end to the war. An Iranian military spokesperson dismissed the ultimatum, stating that the "rude, arrogant rhetoric and baseless threats of the delusional US President" would not deter Iran's military actions.
The four astronauts aboard the Artemis 2 mission have made history by traveling farther from Earth than any previous human expedition. According to NASA, the Orion capsule came within approximately 6,545 kilometers of the moon. During their seven-hour close-proximity observation, the crew witnessed unprecedented views of the moon's far side. As anticipated, the maneuver resulted in a 40-minute communication blackout with NASA's control center. The record-breaking crew is scheduled to return to Earth on Saturday.
Ahead of Hungary's highly contested parliamentary elections this Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Budapest on Tuesday. Vance is slated to speak alongside Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at a sports center rally in the evening. While the White House characterized the visit as an affirmation of a "rich" bilateral partnership, it is widely interpreted as a political boost for the right-wing nationalist Orbán. Recent polls show Orbán's Fidesz party lagging significantly behind the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar.
Across Germany, tens of thousands of citizens participated in the traditional Easter Marches, advocating for peace and disarmament at over 100 locations. Demonstrators focused their protests on the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, the rearmament of the German Bundeswehr, and the potential reinstatement of compulsory military service. A major concluding rally in Frankfurt am Main on Monday drew roughly 5,000 attendees to the Römerberg, where speakers strongly criticized the reduction of social welfare benefits to fund military expansion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has extended a targeted ceasefire proposal to Moscow, focusing exclusively on energy infrastructure. Delivered via US mediators, Zelenskyy stated in his evening video address: "If Russia is ready to stop attacking our energy sector, we are ready to do the same." The proposal comes amid relentless Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian power grids, and retaliatory Ukrainian drone attacks that have severely crippled Russian oil refineries and export terminals.
In Russia, Alexey Smirnov, the 52-year-old former governor of the western Kursk region, has been sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony on corruption charges. After admitting guilt in court, Smirnov was also ordered to pay a fine of 400 million rubles (approximately 4.3 million euros) and received a 10-year ban from holding public office.
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