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Lead: In April 2026 Nvidia began beta-testing an “Auto Shader Compiler” in the Nvidia App that can precompile game shaders while a PC is idle, aiming to cut the need for runtime shader compilation after driver updates. The feature is rolling out alongside DLSS 4.5 Multi Frame Generation additions and requires GeForce Game Ready Driver … Read more

Lead: Iran’s foreign ministry on Wednesday rejected a social-media claim by US President Donald Trump that Tehran had asked Washington for a ceasefire, calling the statement “false and baseless.” The denial followed Mr Trump saying a “New Regime President” had sought a halt in fighting; Iran’s government says no such request was made. The episode … Read more

President Donald Trump will speak to the nation at 9 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday with what the White House called “an important update” on the month‑long war between the U.S., Israel and Iran and their proxy partners. On Tuesday Mr. Trump said he expected the conflict to end in “two to three weeks” and suggested … Read more

Lead: On a crowded morning outside and a tense session inside the Supreme Court, President Donald Trump left oral arguments over whether the 14th Amendment guarantees automatic citizenship to most people born on U.S. soil. The case — brought by the ACLU and stemming from an administration move to limit birthright citizenship — reopened a … Read more

Lead U.S. stock futures opened higher on March 31, 2026, as growing optimism that the U.S.-Iran war could be winding down lifted risk appetite across global markets. Futures tied to the S&P 500 climbed about 0.8%, Nasdaq 100 futures gained roughly 1%, and Dow futures added about 371 points (around 0.8%). At the same time, … Read more

Lead — Late on Wednesday evening, up to 400,000 people gathered along Florida’s space coast as NASA prepared to launch Artemis II at 6:24pm ET, the agency’s first fully crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since December 1972’s Apollo 17. The four-person crew — commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen … Read more

Lead: President Donald Trump told reporters the United States will withdraw forces from Iran “very soon,” saying military action could end in “two or three weeks,” while Tehran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, told European leaders Iran has the “necessary will” to end the war if certain guarantees are met. The announcements came amid fresh strikes across … Read more

Lead: U.S. stock futures advanced modestly overnight as investors digested comments from President Donald Trump that American operations related to Iran could conclude in “two or three weeks.” Trump said he will address the nation Wednesday night. Separately, reports say the United Arab Emirates has signaled willingness to assist efforts to keep the Strait of … Read more

On March 31, 2026, Bosnia and Herzegovina eliminated Italy from the FIFA World Cup playoff in Zenica after a penalty shootout, sending the Azzurri out of the tournament for a third consecutive cycle. The match was level after extra time and decided 4-1 in penalties for Bosnia. Earlier and parallel playoff fixtures produced decisive outcomes … Read more

Lead If launch proceeds as scheduled, NASA’s Artemis II will send four astronauts on a nearly ten‑day round trip around the Moon, marking the first human deep‑space voyage since the Apollo era ended in 1972. The flight aims to validate the Space Launch System, the Orion crew capsule and mission procedures while carrying a package … Read more

Lead U.S. pump prices climbed past an average of $4.00 per gallon on Tuesday, the first time motorists have seen that national level since 2022, as the war linked to Iran has pushed global crude above $100 per barrel. The motor club AAA reported a national regular-gasoline average of $4.02, about $1.00 higher than before … Read more

NASA is targeting a two-hour launch window that opens at 6:24 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1, for Artemis II, a crewed 10-day lunar flyby that will travel roughly 685,000 miles (1.1 million kilometers) and return with a Pacific Ocean splashdown. The agency currently cites an 80% chance of favorable weather for the planned Wednesday … Read more

U.S. drivers faced a sharp pump-price milestone this week as the national average for regular gasoline rose to $4.02 per gallon — the first time it has topped $4 since 2022. The increase occurred after the Feb. 28 escalation of hostilities with Iran, which has disrupted crude flows and prompted production cuts in the Middle … Read more

Lead: On Day 31 of the widening Middle East conflict, a Kuwaiti crude tanker — the very large crude carrier Al‑Salmi — was struck by a drone off Dubai, raising spill and shipping‑security fears, while President Donald Trump renewed a threat to strike Iran’s energy infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened. … Read more

Lead On March 30, 2026, the women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four was finalized in Phoenix as No. 1 seeds South Carolina and Texas won their Elite Eight games to join UConn and UCLA. Texas routed No. 2 Michigan 77-41 in Fort Worth while South Carolina beat No. 3 TCU 78-52 in Sacramento. The result means, … Read more