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World | Anthony Albanese won in the Australian general election: From his emotional victory speech to democracy sausages, a look at Australian poll day in pictures

Voting in swimsuits to democracy sausages: Australian election and victory of Anthony Albanese | In Pics

Russia is pushing large numbers of troops into battle, but their progress in Ukraine is slowing sharply due to extremely high losses, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). 
The Washington-based think tank says President Vladimir Putin appears to be ignoring these growing losses in his push for more territorial control to pressure Ukraine in ceasefire negotiations.
So far in 2025, Russia has lost an average of 99 soldiers for every square kilometre of land gained. This is a sharp rise compared to 59 casualties per kilometre during the last four months of 2024.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-russia-needs-to-be-dealt-with-differently-after-meeting-with-zelensky-9005354" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Putin doesn&rsquo;t want to stop the war': Trump says Russia needs to be 'dealt with differently' after meeting with Zelensky</a>
<h2>Putin's aim to pressure Ukraine despite peace efforts</h2>
The ISW says the scale of Russia&rsquo;s troop deployment shows that Putin is still focused on taking full control of Ukraine and undermining NATO, regardless of international peace efforts. This includes those led by the United States and former President Donald Trump, who has recently pushed for a peace deal.
Although Trump signed a minerals deal with Ukraine this week, the U.S. has warned it could walk away from the negotiation process if progress isn't made soon.
<h2>Ukraine holding the line with drone power</h2>
Despite Russia&rsquo;s aggressive push, Ukrainian forces are holding strong. The ISW&rsquo;s assessment emphasises that Kyiv&rsquo;s defences remain intact, partly due to their effective use of drone technology.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-ukraine-peace-talks-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-russia-zelensky-putin-9027333" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Dealmaker in chief&rsquo; or dealbreaker? Is Trump walking away from Ukraine peace talks after sealing key minerals deal?</a>
<h2>The cost of war: Russia&rsquo;s losses in numbers</h2>
According to Ukraine&rsquo;s data cited by the ISW, Russia has gained around 1,627 square kilometres of land in 2025, including areas in Ukraine and Russia&rsquo;s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August last year. However, these gains have come at the cost of 160,600 Russian troop casualties, averaging 99 per square kilometre.
In comparison, between September and December 2024, Russia captured 2,949 square kilometres but lost 174,935 soldiers, about 59 casualties per kilometre.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putins-palace-has-a-throne-for-his-personal-use-his-apartment-in-kremlin-is-equally-flashy-9028471" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Putin's Palace has a 'throne' for his personal use. His apartment in Kremlin is equally flashy. See video</a>
<h2>Low-quality troops hindering Russian operations</h2>
The think tank said these figures reflect how Russia is now relying on &ldquo;low quality&rdquo; soldiers, which has made complex battlefield operations more difficult and slower. Despite this, Putin is continuing his efforts, hoping to use any progress to force Ukraine into making concessions during negotiations and increase internal pressure on Kyiv.
The ISW believes these challenges also give the United States a chance to use Russia&rsquo;s weaknesses to its own advantage in future talks.
<h2>Washington cools expectations as war drags on</h2>
US Vice President JD Vance recently told Fox News that the war is unlikely to end soon. The ISW says this may indicate that the Trump administration is pulling back from its recent push to broker a peace deal.
Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-trump-claims-china-controls-bagram-air-base-pledges-to-reclaim-it-9030025" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">US President Trump claims China controls Bagram air base, pledges to reclaim it</a>
Meanwhile, CNN reported that senior US officials remain doubtful that Putin has softened his stance. Even if a deal is struck, many fear he may simply use it as an opportunity to regroup and launch further attacks on Ukrainian territory.

World: So far in 2025, Russia has lost an average of 99 soldiers for every square kilometre of land gained. This is a sharp rise compared to 59 casualties per kilometre during the last four months of 2024.

Russia is pushing large numbers of troops into battle, but their progress in Ukraine is slowing sharply due to extremely high losses, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Washington-based think tank says President Vladimir Putin appears to be ignoring these growing losses in his push for more territorial control to pressure Ukraine in ceasefire negotiations. So far in 2025, Russia has lost an average of 99 soldiers for every square kilometre of land gained. This is a sharp rise compared to 59 casualties per kilometre during the last four months of 2024. Also read: 'Putin doesn’t want to stop the war': Trump says Russia needs to be 'dealt with differently' after meeting with Zelensky Putin's aim to pressure Ukraine despite peace efforts The ISW says the scale of Russia’s troop deployment shows that Putin is still focused on taking full control of Ukraine and undermining NATO, regardless of international peace efforts. This includes those led by the United States and former President Donald Trump, who has recently pushed for a peace deal. Although Trump signed a minerals deal with Ukraine this week, the U.S. has warned it could walk away from the negotiation process if progress isn't made soon. Ukraine holding the line with drone power Despite Russia’s aggressive push, Ukrainian forces are holding strong. The ISW’s assessment emphasises that Kyiv’s defences remain intact, partly due to their effective use of drone technology. Also read: ‘Dealmaker in chief’ or dealbreaker? Is Trump walking away from Ukraine peace talks after sealing key minerals deal? The cost of war: Russia’s losses in numbers According to Ukraine’s data cited by the ISW, Russia has gained around 1,627 square kilometres of land in 2025, including areas in Ukraine and Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August last year. However, these gains have come at the cost of 160,600 Russian troop casualties, averaging 99 per square kilometre. In comparison, between September and December 2024, Russia captured 2,949 square kilometres but lost 174,935 soldiers, about 59 casualties per kilometre. Also read: Putin's Palace has a 'throne' for his personal use. His apartment in Kremlin is equally flashy. See video Low-quality troops hindering Russian operations The think tank said these figures reflect how Russia is now relying on “low quality” soldiers, which has made complex battlefield operations more difficult and slower. Despite this, Putin is continuing his efforts, hoping to use any progress to force Ukraine into making concessions during negotiations and increase internal pressure on Kyiv. The ISW believes these challenges also give the United States a chance to use Russia’s weaknesses to its own advantage in future talks. Washington cools expectations as war drags on US Vice President JD Vance recently told Fox News that the war is unlikely to end soon. The ISW says this may indicate that the Trump administration is pulling back from its recent push to broker a peace deal. Watch: US President Trump claims China controls Bagram air base, pledges to reclaim it Meanwhile, CNN reported that senior US officials remain doubtful that Putin has softened his stance. Even if a deal is struck, many fear he may simply use it as an opportunity to regroup and launch further attacks on Ukrainian territory.

‘Low quality troops, high casualties’: 99 Russian soldiers die for every kilometre gained in Ukraine and Putin doesn’t seem to care

Harry Kane and Bayern Munich will have to wait for another day as a stoppage time goal from Yussuf Poulsen denied them the title on Saturday (May 3). Playing at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Bayern needed to win the match to lift the Bundesliga title as early as matchday 32. While they looked on course with a 3-2 lead heading into the stoppage time, a late goal from Poulsen saw the match end in a draw, meaning Bayern were not able to seal the title mathematically. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Kane denied title late on<o:p></o:p></h2>
Playing against Leipzig, Bayern needed a win to seal the Bundesliga title but found themselves 0-2 down at the break with Benjamin Sesko scoring in the 11th minute. The lead was doubled in the 39th minute when Lukas Klostermann scored for the home side. The scoreline meant, both Bayern and Harry Kane needed three goals to win the title if they had to seal the title on Saturday. <o:p></o:p>
Head coach Vincent Kompany would then make tactical altercations at break which led the Bavarians back into the contest. Eric Dier in the 62nd minute pulled one back and moments later from the restart Bayern equalised as Michael Olise scored in less than 60 seconds. The game was turned on its head in the 83rd minute when Leroy Sane scored to give Bayern a 3-2 lead.
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The result meant Kompany&rsquo;s side was winning the Bundesliga title heading into stoppage time only for anticlimax to strike. In the 94th minute, virtually on the final kick of the match, Yussuf Poulsen scored to mathematically deny Bayern and Kane the title. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When can Bayern win Bundesliga?<o:p></o:p></h2>
While the title race is not over, it could officially come to an end on Sunday if Bayer Leverkusen fail to win against Freiburg. Any other result than a win for Leverkusen will see Bayern as champions on Sunday. In case Xabi Alonso&rsquo;s side wins on Sunday against Freiburg, then a home win or a draw for Bayern on May 10 against Borussia M&ouml;nchengladbach will seal the title. They will also lift the title on that day as it will be their final home game of the season.<o:p></o:p>

Harry Kane and Bayern Munich will have to wait for another day as a stoppage time goal from Yussuf Poulsen denied them the title on Saturday (May 3).  World | Sports

Harry Kane and Bayern Munich will have to wait for another day as a stoppage time goal from Yussuf Poulsen denied them the title on Saturday (May 3). Playing at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Bayern needed to win the match to lift the Bundesliga title as early as matchday 32. While they looked on course with a 3-2 lead heading into the stoppage time, a late goal from Poulsen saw the match end in a draw, meaning Bayern were not able to seal the title mathematically. Kane denied title late on Playing against Leipzig, Bayern needed a win to seal the Bundesliga title but found themselves 0-2 down at the break with Benjamin Sesko scoring in the 11th minute. The lead was doubled in the 39th minute when Lukas Klostermann scored for the home side. The scoreline meant, both Bayern and Harry Kane needed three goals to win the title if they had to seal the title on Saturday. Head coach Vincent Kompany would then make tactical altercations at break which led the Bavarians back into the contest. Eric Dier in the 62nd minute pulled one back and moments later from the restart Bayern equalised as Michael Olise scored in less than 60 seconds. The game was turned on its head in the 83rd minute when Leroy Sane scored to give Bayern a 3-2 lead. ALSO READ | IPL 2025: Kagiso Rabada serving suspension after testing positive for recreational drug The result meant Kompany’s side was winning the Bundesliga title heading into stoppage time only for anticlimax to strike. In the 94th minute, virtually on the final kick of the match, Yussuf Poulsen scored to mathematically deny Bayern and Kane the title. When can Bayern win Bundesliga? While the title race is not over, it could officially come to an end on Sunday if Bayer Leverkusen fail to win against Freiburg. Any other result than a win for Leverkusen will see Bayern as champions on Sunday. In case Xabi Alonso’s side wins on Sunday against Freiburg, then a home win or a draw for Bayern on May 10 against Borussia Mönchengladbach will seal the title. They will also lift the title on that day as it will be their final home game of the season.

Anticlimax! RB Leipzig score stoppage time goal as Harry Kane and Bayern Munich made to wait for Bundesliga title

Anthony Albanese has secured a resounding second term as Australia&rsquo;s prime minister, breaking the so-called &ldquo;incumbency curse&rdquo; with a decisive win for his Labor government. 
While final vote counting will take days, it&rsquo;s already clear that Labor has significantly increased its majority, while the conservative Liberal-National coalition has suffered heavy losses nationwide.
&ldquo;Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values: for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all; for the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need,&rdquo; Albanese said in his victory speech.
Coalition leader Peter Dutton, who lost his seat after 24 years, accepted &ldquo;full responsibility&rdquo; for the defeat and apologised to his colleagues.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-ma8d07v3-nvc3j06c-y4d1394d">
Thank you, Australia. <a href="https://t.co/GTjL6QwPzV">pic.twitter.com/GTjL6QwPzV</a>
&mdash; Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1918645709965787470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Who is Anthony Albanese?</h2>
Albanese, 61, joined the Labor Party in his twenties and was elected to parliament in 1996. Since then, he&rsquo;s become one of Australia&rsquo;s longest-serving MPs, often referred to as a &ldquo;working-class hero&rdquo;.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-election-result-anthony-albanese-secures-historic-second-term-as-labor-party-set-to-retain-majority-9029587" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Australia Election Result: Anthony Albanese secures historic second term as Labor Party set to retain majority</a>
He has been a vocal supporter of universal healthcare, LGBT rights, and the idea of Australia becoming a republic. 
He became a senior minister during Labor&rsquo;s 2007 victory and remained a key player through the party&rsquo;s turbulent leadership swaps between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. As leader of Labor&rsquo;s left faction, Albanese has since moved closer to the political centre after becoming party leader in 2019.
He has said he is driven by the desire to build a better world for his son, Nathan. He divorced his wife in 2019 and is set to marry his fianc&eacute;e Jodie Haydon later this year.
Albanese became prime minister in 2022, ending nearly ten years of coalition rule. He took office promising to revive the post-Covid economy, improve international relations, ease the cost of living, and hold a referendum on Indigenous rights.
Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-election-result-pm-anthony-albanese-wins-second-term-labor-makes-history-9029837" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Australia election result: PM Anthony Albanese wins second term, Labor makes history</a>
Under Albanese, ties with China improved after years of friction. His administration ended several trade tariffs and held top-level talks with Beijing for the first time in years. He also mended relations with France after the submarine contract fallout under his predecessor and reassured Pacific nations about Australia&rsquo;s climate commitments.
While Albanese has avoided major scandals, one incident that drew attention was his purchase of a multimillion-dollar seaside property, criticised as poorly timed by some within his own party.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-canada-mark-carney-election-win-51st-state-us-canada-trade-war-9026857" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;51st state&rsquo; threat, trade tensions: Trump, Canada&rsquo;s Mark Carney to meet after 'anti-Trump' election win | What&rsquo;s at stake</a>
His biggest political blow came with the failed 2023 Voice referendum, which aimed to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create an advisory body. Despite early support, the referendum failed after months of bitter debate. 
Before the election, Labor promised major investments in Medicare, including making GP visits free for most people, along with modest tax cuts and reduced student debt.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-marco-rubio-us-secretary-of-state-national-security-adviser-usaid-9029823">From Trump's rival to Trump&rsquo;s problem solver: How Marco Rubio landed four top roles; critics say he did it by &lsquo;becoming a doormat&rsquo;</a>

World: Albanese, 61, joined the Labor Party in his twenties and was elected to parliament in 1996. Since then, he’s become one of Australia’s longest-serving MPs, often referred to as a “working-class hero”.

Anthony Albanese has secured a resounding second term as Australia’s prime minister, breaking the so-called “incumbency curse” with a decisive win for his Labor government. While final vote counting will take days, it’s already clear that Labor has significantly increased its majority, while the conservative Liberal-National coalition has suffered heavy losses nationwide. “Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values: for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all; for the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need,” Albanese said in his victory speech. Coalition leader Peter Dutton, who lost his seat after 24 years, accepted “full responsibility” for the defeat and apologised to his colleagues. Thank you, Australia. pic.twitter.com/GTjL6QwPzV — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 3, 2025 Who is Anthony Albanese? Albanese, 61, joined the Labor Party in his twenties and was elected to parliament in 1996. Since then, he’s become one of Australia’s longest-serving MPs, often referred to as a “working-class hero”. Also read: Australia Election Result: Anthony Albanese secures historic second term as Labor Party set to retain majority He has been a vocal supporter of universal healthcare, LGBT rights, and the idea of Australia becoming a republic. He became a senior minister during Labor’s 2007 victory and remained a key player through the party’s turbulent leadership swaps between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. As leader of Labor’s left faction, Albanese has since moved closer to the political centre after becoming party leader in 2019. He has said he is driven by the desire to build a better world for his son, Nathan. He divorced his wife in 2019 and is set to marry his fiancée Jodie Haydon later this year. Albanese became prime minister in 2022, ending nearly ten years of coalition rule. He took office promising to revive the post-Covid economy, improve international relations, ease the cost of living, and hold a referendum on Indigenous rights. Watch: Australia election result: PM Anthony Albanese wins second term, Labor makes history Under Albanese, ties with China improved after years of friction. His administration ended several trade tariffs and held top-level talks with Beijing for the first time in years. He also mended relations with France after the submarine contract fallout under his predecessor and reassured Pacific nations about Australia’s climate commitments. While Albanese has avoided major scandals, one incident that drew attention was his purchase of a multimillion-dollar seaside property, criticised as poorly timed by some within his own party. Also read: ‘51st state’ threat, trade tensions: Trump, Canada’s Mark Carney to meet after 'anti-Trump' election win | What’s at stake His biggest political blow came with the failed 2023 Voice referendum, which aimed to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create an advisory body. Despite early support, the referendum failed after months of bitter debate. Before the election, Labor promised major investments in Medicare, including making GP visits free for most people, along with modest tax cuts and reduced student debt. Also read: From Trump's rival to Trump’s problem solver: How Marco Rubio landed four top roles; critics say he did it by ‘becoming a doormat’

Who is Anthony Albanese? Australia’s re-elected PM who broke the ‘incumbency curse’

FBI director <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-violating-laws-secret-memo-reveals-ice-officials-can-break-into-homes-without-a-warrant-9008582">Kash Patel</a> is said to be seen more in nightclubs than in his office. Former FBI counter-intelligence official Frank Figliuzzi on MSNBC's Morning Joe program said Kash Patel is spotted more at nightclubs and less at the office, but people are not complaining because they probably think that things could be bad if he would run the office.
Yeah well, reportedly, he's been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building," Figliuzzi replied. "And there are reports that daily briefings to him have been changed from every day to maybe twice weekly," he said.&nbsp;
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"So this is both a blessing and a curse, because if you, if he's, really trying to run things without his experience, without any experience level, things could be bad. If he's not plugged in, things could be bad. But he's allowing agents to run things so we don't know where this is going," he added.
Figliuzzi also revealed that the FBI headquarters is chaos as nobody knows what's happening from day to day. "People don't know what's happening from day to day."
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He said that Kash Patel has been allegedly working from his home in Las Vegas. &nbsp;"There's also been reporting, I believe, from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, that Patel spent a lot of his time at his home in Las Vegas &ndash;&ndash; he's been sort of working remotely for at least part of the week," Figliuzzi said.
This revelation on Patel comes after Senate Democrats demanded a formal probe into Patel&rsquo;s use of FBI resources, particularly the agency&rsquo;s private jets. CBS News reported that the U.S. Government Accountability Office may soon investigate the nature and costs of Patel&rsquo;s travel, and whether any personal trips were improperly charged to taxpayers.
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World | Former FBI counter-intelligence official Frank Figliuzzi on MSNBC's Morning Joe program said Kash Patel is spotted more at nightclubs and less at the office

FBI director Kash Patel is said to be seen more in nightclubs than in his office. Former FBI counter-intelligence official Frank Figliuzzi on MSNBC's Morning Joe program said Kash Patel is spotted more at nightclubs and less at the office, but people are not complaining because they probably think that things could be bad if he would run the office. Yeah well, reportedly, he's been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building," Figliuzzi replied. "And there are reports that daily briefings to him have been changed from every day to maybe twice weekly," he said. Read More | 'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump "So this is both a blessing and a curse, because if you, if he's, really trying to run things without his experience, without any experience level, things could be bad. If he's not plugged in, things could be bad. But he's allowing agents to run things so we don't know where this is going," he added. Figliuzzi also revealed that the FBI headquarters is chaos as nobody knows what's happening from day to day. "People don't know what's happening from day to day." Read More | From Trump rival to Trump’s problem solver: How Marco Rubio landed four top roles; critics say he did it by ‘becoming a doormat’ He said that Kash Patel has been allegedly working from his home in Las Vegas. "There's also been reporting, I believe, from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, that Patel spent a lot of his time at his home in Las Vegas –– he's been sort of working remotely for at least part of the week," Figliuzzi said. This revelation on Patel comes after Senate Democrats demanded a formal probe into Patel’s use of FBI resources, particularly the agency’s private jets. CBS News reported that the U.S. Government Accountability Office may soon investigate the nature and costs of Patel’s travel, and whether any personal trips were improperly charged to taxpayers. Read More | 'Retire, resign or be fired': FBI agents who investigated Trump under the sword amid reports of mass firings

'Both blessing & curse': FBI boss Kash Patel spends more time in nightclubs than office and people are relieved, here's why

Once dismissed by Donald Trump as &ldquo;Li&rsquo;l Marco&rdquo;, Marco Rubio is now one of the most powerful figures in the Trump administration, holding not just one, but four top jobs. His transformation from political lightweight to presidential fixer has surprised many in Washington.
<h2>Trusted by Trump</h2>
Under President Trump&rsquo;s second term, Rubio has taken on a much larger role than expected. Initially seen as a weak player in Trump&rsquo;s circle, he has now become someone the president turns to when things need to get done.
Speaking in the Rose Garden on Thursday, Trump said, &ldquo;When I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved.&rdquo;
Rubio, a former Florida senator, currently serves as secretary of State, interim national security adviser, acting administrator for USAID, and acting archivist of the United States.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-to-add-his-own-city-starbase-to-his-empire-spacex-texas-heres-all-you-need-to-know-9029598" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;He&rsquo;s trying to colonise&rsquo;: Elon Musk to add his own city, &lsquo;Starbase&rsquo;, to his empire - Here&rsquo;s all you need to know</a>
<h2>What changed?</h2>
Rubio&rsquo;s rise seems tied to his ability to win Trump&rsquo;s trust by abandoning many of his earlier views and backing some of the president&rsquo;s most hard-line policies. He has managed to work well with other key figures in the administration, including Vice President JD Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Special Envoy&nbsp;Steve Witkoff.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-waltz-un-ambassador-national-security-advisor-donald-trump-signal-john-bolton-9027090" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Doesn&rsquo;t compare&rsquo;: Mike Waltz&rsquo;s UN posting is a demotion, not a promotion, says the guy who&rsquo;s held both jobs</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="US President Donald Trump gestures as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on, during a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington" src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/1920x1080/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/05/03/y0WVSB73NSQiD69MA6Ur.png" style="width: 1920px;">
<figcaption>US President Donald Trump gestures as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on, during a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington Photograph: (Reuters)</figcaption>
</figure>
&nbsp;Senator James Risch, Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Politico, &ldquo;When you take a job like this, you are no longer a free agent like you are when you're a United States senator&hellip; you commit to make happen what your boss wants to happen, and he has real ability to do that.&rdquo;
While Rubio&rsquo;s influence has grown, critics argue he&rsquo;s paid a steep price for it. Many believe he&rsquo;s abandoned core beliefs to stay in Trump&rsquo;s good graces.
&ldquo;Once you let yourself get trampled on, you lose respect, you lose cache, you lose your future in Washington, and Rubio is a doormat,&rdquo; said Adam Ereli, a former US ambassador to Bahrain.
<h2>Shedding his past positions</h2>
Rubio used to champion human rights and democracy programmes abroad. But now, under pressure from Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;America First&rdquo; agenda, and his MAGA supporters who see such efforts as wasteful and &ldquo;woke&rdquo;, Rubio has rolled back many of these programmes.
He once supported firm action on authoritarian regimes, spoke out for U.S. military involvement where needed, and was a strong backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But as secretary of State, he has softened his stance, pushing Ukraine towards peace talks instead of continued resistance.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-mocks-elon-musk-after-white-house-exit-9026163" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Kissing my a**': Trump mocks 'buddy' Elon Musk after his alleged White House exit</a>
<h2>On immigration, a sharp turn</h2>
Rubio, who once spoke proudly of his Cuban immigrant roots, has now fully embraced Trump&rsquo;s tough anti-immigration policies. He has backed measures to revoke student visas and approved plans to send migrants to a prison facility in El Salvador.
At a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Rubio was asked whether he had requested El Salvador to send back a man the U.S. mistakenly deported. &ldquo;I would never tell you that. And you know who else I&rsquo;ll never tell? A judge,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;The conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president of the United States and the executive branch, not some judge,&rdquo; he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rubio-speaks-to-jaishankar-and-pak-pm-shehbaz-sharif-tells-islamabad-to-cooperate-in-unconscionable-pahalgam-attack-and-condemn-it-9020448" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rubio speaks to Jaishankar and Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif, tells Islamabad to cooperate in Pahalgam attack probe and condemn&nbsp;it</a>

World: Rubio, a former Florida senator, currently serves as secretary of State, interim national security adviser, acting administrator for USAID, and acting archivist of the United States.

Once dismissed by Donald Trump as “Li’l Marco”, Marco Rubio is now one of the most powerful figures in the Trump administration, holding not just one, but four top jobs. His transformation from political lightweight to presidential fixer has surprised many in Washington. Trusted by Trump Under President Trump’s second term, Rubio has taken on a much larger role than expected. Initially seen as a weak player in Trump’s circle, he has now become someone the president turns to when things need to get done. Speaking in the Rose Garden on Thursday, Trump said, “When I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved.” Rubio, a former Florida senator, currently serves as secretary of State, interim national security adviser, acting administrator for USAID, and acting archivist of the United States. Also read: ‘He’s trying to colonise’: Elon Musk to add his own city, ‘Starbase’, to his empire - Here’s all you need to know What changed? Rubio’s rise seems tied to his ability to win Trump’s trust by abandoning many of his earlier views and backing some of the president’s most hard-line policies. He has managed to work well with other key figures in the administration, including Vice President JD Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Also read: ‘Doesn’t compare’: Mike Waltz’s UN posting is a demotion, not a promotion, says the guy who’s held both jobs US President Donald Trump gestures as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on, during a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington Photograph: (Reuters) Senator James Risch, Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Politico, “When you take a job like this, you are no longer a free agent like you are when you're a United States senator… you commit to make happen what your boss wants to happen, and he has real ability to do that.” While Rubio’s influence has grown, critics argue he’s paid a steep price for it. Many believe he’s abandoned core beliefs to stay in Trump’s good graces. “Once you let yourself get trampled on, you lose respect, you lose cache, you lose your future in Washington, and Rubio is a doormat,” said Adam Ereli, a former US ambassador to Bahrain. Shedding his past positions Rubio used to champion human rights and democracy programmes abroad. But now, under pressure from Trump’s “America First” agenda, and his MAGA supporters who see such efforts as wasteful and “woke”, Rubio has rolled back many of these programmes. He once supported firm action on authoritarian regimes, spoke out for U.S. military involvement where needed, and was a strong backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But as secretary of State, he has softened his stance, pushing Ukraine towards peace talks instead of continued resistance. Also read: 'Kissing my a**': Trump mocks 'buddy' Elon Musk after his alleged White House exit On immigration, a sharp turn Rubio, who once spoke proudly of his Cuban immigrant roots, has now fully embraced Trump’s tough anti-immigration policies. He has backed measures to revoke student visas and approved plans to send migrants to a prison facility in El Salvador. At a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Rubio was asked whether he had requested El Salvador to send back a man the U.S. mistakenly deported. “I would never tell you that. And you know who else I’ll never tell? A judge,” he said. “The conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president of the United States and the executive branch, not some judge,” he added. Also read: Rubio speaks to Jaishankar and Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif, tells Islamabad to cooperate in Pahalgam attack probe and condemn it

From Trump's rival to Trump’s problem solver: How Marco Rubio landed four top roles; critics say he did it by ‘becoming a doormat’

Leeds United&rsquo;s Manor Solomon scored a stoppage-time winner as they won the Championship (second division of English football) title on Saturday (May 3). Playing against Plymouth Argyle, Leeds needed to match Burnley&rsquo;s result to win the title and needed a 91st minute winner while their rivals won 3-1 against Millwall. Interestingly, Burnley were winning the Championship title until Solomon scored and now settled for the second spot.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🏆 CHAMPIONS AGAIN OL&Eacute; OL&Eacute;!!! <a href="https://t.co/jO7WQdmbrO">pic.twitter.com/jO7WQdmbrO</a>
&mdash; Leeds United (@LUFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1918661473082949679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Leeds seal Championship title <o:p></o:p></h2>
On a scintillating Saturday, Leeds United needed to match Burnley&rsquo;s result to keep hold of the Championship title. However, those plans were dashed when no-relegated Plymouth Argyle headed front in the 18th minute as Sam Byram scored an own goal. This meant Burnley had the Championship title in their hands heading into half time as they were drawing 1-1 against Millwall at Turf Moore. <o:p></o:p>
In the 53rd minute of their match, Leeds scored an equaliser meaning they matched Burnley&rsquo;s result and were winning the title. However, Jaidon Anthony&rsquo;s 63rd minute goal for Burnley saw the Lancashire side take a 2-1 lead and pole position in the title race.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ipl-2025-kagiso-rabada-serving-suspension-after-testing-positive-for-recreational-drug-9029754" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025: Kagiso Rabada serving suspension after testing positive for recreational drug</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Stoppage time drama<o:p></o:p></h2>
Heading into the final few minutes of the normal season, Burnley&rsquo;s 2-1 lead saw them in control of the Championship title while Leeds United needed to win. While all eyes were on Turf Moore for potential title celebrations for Burnley, Leeds&rsquo; Solomon scored the winners against Plymouth and won the title. Solomon, on loan from Tottenham, was yellow carded for his celebrations. <o:p></o:p>
In the end, both Leeds and Burnley ended with 100 points each as the former won the title on goal difference. In consolation, despite failing to win the title Burnley will be playing in the Premier League having finished in the top two. <o:p></o:p>
On the other hand, Hull City survived on goal difference as Luton Town were relegated after their 5-3 defeat to West Brom. Luton were relegated on goal difference and have now suffered back-to-back drops. In the promotion playoff battles, Coventry beat Middlesbrough 2-0 and held to the fifth spot while Bristol&rsquo;s 2-2 draw did no harm to them as they finished sixth.<o:p></o:p>

Leeds United’s Manor Solomon scored a stoppage-time winner as they won the Championship (second division of English football) title on Saturday (May 3). World | Sports

Leeds United’s Manor Solomon scored a stoppage-time winner as they won the Championship (second division of English football) title on Saturday (May 3). Playing against Plymouth Argyle, Leeds needed to match Burnley’s result to win the title and needed a 91st minute winner while their rivals won 3-1 against Millwall. Interestingly, Burnley were winning the Championship title until Solomon scored and now settled for the second spot. 🏆 CHAMPIONS AGAIN OLÉ OLÉ!!! pic.twitter.com/jO7WQdmbrO — Leeds United (@LUFC) May 3, 2025 Leeds seal Championship title On a scintillating Saturday, Leeds United needed to match Burnley’s result to keep hold of the Championship title. However, those plans were dashed when no-relegated Plymouth Argyle headed front in the 18th minute as Sam Byram scored an own goal. This meant Burnley had the Championship title in their hands heading into half time as they were drawing 1-1 against Millwall at Turf Moore. In the 53rd minute of their match, Leeds scored an equaliser meaning they matched Burnley’s result and were winning the title. However, Jaidon Anthony’s 63rd minute goal for Burnley saw the Lancashire side take a 2-1 lead and pole position in the title race. ALSO READ | IPL 2025: Kagiso Rabada serving suspension after testing positive for recreational drug Stoppage time drama Heading into the final few minutes of the normal season, Burnley’s 2-1 lead saw them in control of the Championship title while Leeds United needed to win. While all eyes were on Turf Moore for potential title celebrations for Burnley, Leeds’ Solomon scored the winners against Plymouth and won the title. Solomon, on loan from Tottenham, was yellow carded for his celebrations. In the end, both Leeds and Burnley ended with 100 points each as the former won the title on goal difference. In consolation, despite failing to win the title Burnley will be playing in the Premier League having finished in the top two. On the other hand, Hull City survived on goal difference as Luton Town were relegated after their 5-3 defeat to West Brom. Luton were relegated on goal difference and have now suffered back-to-back drops. In the promotion playoff battles, Coventry beat Middlesbrough 2-0 and held to the fifth spot while Bristol’s 2-2 draw did no harm to them as they finished sixth.

Unbelievable! Leeds United's Manor Solomon scores stoppage time goal to win Championship title, Burnley settle for second spot

World | Israeli has confirmed that the massive wildfire that erupted near Jerusalem had been largely brought under control after more than 30 hours 

Israel's wildfire 'under control' after over 30 hours but risk of reignition remains | In Pics

A group of unidentified armed men launched a series of coordinated attacks in Balochistan&rsquo;s Kalat district on Friday. This group of masked men captured the Mangochar town, torched several government buildings, and occupied the Quetta Karachi Highway.
According to a report by Dawn, the armed group interrupted traffic along the national highway, stopping several vehicles, private cars, and passenger buses. They carried out searches and brought the traffic to a halt.&nbsp;
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The attackers then rushed to the Mangochar Bazar and started to set fire to government establishments such as the offices of Nadra, Judicial Complex, and National Bank of Pakistan.
Additionally, the main base of the Pakistan military has come under attack with intense gunfire and explosions.
An official said that an operation was launched in the Mangochar area to neutralise the armed men, and the traffic was restored at night.
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/wion-originals-0/nation-stand-with-you-on-india-but-not-on-afghanistan-fazl-ur-rahman-launches-scurrilous-attack-on-pakistani-establishment-9026321" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/wion-originals-0/nation-stand-with-you-on-india-but-not-on-afghanistan-fazl-ur-rahman-launches-scurrilous-attack-on-pakistani-establishment-9026321" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Nation stands with you on India but not on Afghanistan': Fazl ur Rahman launches scurrilous attack on Pakistani establishment</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">A series of attacks </h2>
In a separate occurrence, armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire at a levies checkpost near Kot-Langove, and killed a Levies official named Haq Nawaz Langove. Nearby in a related incident, the Levies' official reported an explosion under a bridge on the Quetta Karachi Highway near the Rahimabad area of Kalat district. The explosion damaged a part of the bridge but did not result in any casualties.
Elsewhere, six people- including a woman and two children- were injured when gunmen fired at a passenger coach in the Khudokocha area of Mastung.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/house-of-horror-uncovered-in-spain-9025029" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'House of horror': Children aged 8 and 10, prisoned by parents since Covid, rescued</a>
According to the local outlet, the Balochistan Post, there has been a significant increase in helicopter and drone patrols in the Mangochar town since last night. According to residents, these flights are not only a sign of surveillance but also a sign of preparations for possible military operations. The administration has imposed a curfew today, the locals are asked to remain confined indoors.
This latest attack appears to be a continuation of the series of attacks by two pro-independence groups Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), against the militarisation and exploitation of Balochistan infrastructure linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
&ldquo;Across Balochistan, the colonisers are constructing roads under the guise of development to facilitate the movement of their forces and accelerate the plundering of local resources,&rdquo; said BLF in a statement.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-election-result-anthony-albanese-secures-historic-second-term-as-labor-party-set-to-retain-majority-9029587" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Australia Election Result: Anthony Albanese secures historic second term as Labor Party set to retain majority</a>
&nbsp;

Armed men attacked Balochistan's Kalat district, capturing Mangochar town, torching government buildings, and blocking the Quetta-Karachi Highway | World

A group of unidentified armed men launched a series of coordinated attacks in Balochistan’s Kalat district on Friday. This group of masked men captured the Mangochar town, torched several government buildings, and occupied the Quetta Karachi Highway. According to a report by Dawn, the armed group interrupted traffic along the national highway, stopping several vehicles, private cars, and passenger buses. They carried out searches and brought the traffic to a halt. Also read: US gives initial clearance of $3.5 billion missile sales to Saudi Arabia The attackers then rushed to the Mangochar Bazar and started to set fire to government establishments such as the offices of Nadra, Judicial Complex, and National Bank of Pakistan. Additionally, the main base of the Pakistan military has come under attack with intense gunfire and explosions. An official said that an operation was launched in the Mangochar area to neutralise the armed men, and the traffic was restored at night. Also read: 'Nation stands with you on India but not on Afghanistan': Fazl ur Rahman launches scurrilous attack on Pakistani establishment A series of attacks In a separate occurrence, armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire at a levies checkpost near Kot-Langove, and killed a Levies official named Haq Nawaz Langove. Nearby in a related incident, the Levies' official reported an explosion under a bridge on the Quetta Karachi Highway near the Rahimabad area of Kalat district. The explosion damaged a part of the bridge but did not result in any casualties. Elsewhere, six people- including a woman and two children- were injured when gunmen fired at a passenger coach in the Khudokocha area of Mastung. Also read: 'House of horror': Children aged 8 and 10, prisoned by parents since Covid, rescued According to the local outlet, the Balochistan Post, there has been a significant increase in helicopter and drone patrols in the Mangochar town since last night. According to residents, these flights are not only a sign of surveillance but also a sign of preparations for possible military operations. The administration has imposed a curfew today, the locals are asked to remain confined indoors. This latest attack appears to be a continuation of the series of attacks by two pro-independence groups Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), against the militarisation and exploitation of Balochistan infrastructure linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “Across Balochistan, the colonisers are constructing roads under the guise of development to facilitate the movement of their forces and accelerate the plundering of local resources,” said BLF in a statement. Also read: Australia Election Result: Anthony Albanese secures historic second term as Labor Party set to retain majority

Armed men attack the government buildings, block the Quetta-Karachi highway in Balochistan

Residents in a small part of southern Texas are voting on whether to turn their neighbourhood into a brand-new city, one that would give Elon Musk&rsquo;s SpaceX something close to its own government. The new city would be called Starbase, and it sits right where SpaceX carries out its rocket launches in Texas.
<h2>What the vote is about?</h2>
The election is being held among a few hundred people living in what is now known as Boca Chica. If passed, the vote would officially create a city government, allowing the area to make its own local rules.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-mocks-elon-musk-after-white-house-exit-9026163" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Kissing my a**': Trump mocks 'buddy' Elon Musk after his alleged White House exit</a>
Most of the people eligible to vote are SpaceX employees and their families, which makes the outcome almost certain. Starbase is expected to be approved.
<h2>How would this benefit Musk?</h2>
By creating Starbase, Musk gains a level of control rarely seen in modern-day business. While he won&rsquo;t technically be in charge, the town would be run almost entirely by SpaceX staff. That means the company, and by extension, Musk&nbsp;would have significant influence over how things are done in the city.
It also gives SpaceX more freedom to manage day-to-day operations, including road closures during rocket launches, without relying as much on outside authorities. According to statements submitted by SpaceX workers, this new setup would improve &ldquo;logistics and coordination&rdquo;.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ice-cream-lincoln-bedroom-video-games-elon-musks-100-days-in-trump-admin-amid-reports-of-his-white-house-exit-9023602" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Ice cream, Lincoln bedroom, video games: Elon Musk's 100 days in Trump admin amid reports of his White House exit</a>
<h2>Who&rsquo;s running the town?</h2>
Starbase would be led by people already high up at SpaceX. The candidate for mayor, Bobby Peden, is the vice-president of test and launch operations and has been with the company since 2013. He is running unopposed.
Two others from the company, an engineering manager and a senior director of environmental health and safety, are running for city commissioner roles. Like Peden, both are standing without opposition.
<h2>What does Starbase look like?</h2>
Starbase is a small area near the Mexican border, close to the Gulf of Mexico. It&rsquo;s lined with palm trees, prefabricated homes and shiny airstream trailers. A massive golden bust of Musk, nine feet tall, stands in the middle of it all. A plaque below calls him &ldquo;ELON aka Memelord&rdquo;.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-tesla-ceo-regrets-supporting-donald-trump-in-united-states-9029278" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump</a>
Not everyone is impressed. Vandals recently damaged the statue, peeling off parts of the foam and fibreglass.
<h2>Local concerns over Starbase</h2>
Although the town is likely to be created, not everyone is happy about it. Locals have raised concerns about rising living costs and reduced beach access during rocket tests. Since SpaceX moved into Cameron County about ten years ago, rents have gone up nearly 15%.
Community organiser Bekah Hinojosa spoke out against the plan, telling Politico, &ldquo;They&rsquo;re claiming they&rsquo;re bringing economic incentives, but the rent is going up, the roads are crumbling.&rdquo;
&ldquo;It is getting harder to live here,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;All this seems to benefit is fancy restaurants with SpaceX clientele.&rdquo;
Hinojosa said, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the richest man on the planet using us as a testing ground. Elon Musk is on his way to colonising Mars. First, he&rsquo;s trying to colonise this community.&rdquo;
Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tesla-board-searches-for-a-new-ceo-to-replace-musk-wsj-report-9023876" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tesla board searches for a new CEO to replace Musk: WSJ report</a>
<h2>A new kind of company town</h2>
If the vote succeeds, Musk&rsquo;s influence over Starbase will look a lot like the company towns of the Gilded Age, where businesses controlled everything from housing to local laws. Though Musk won&rsquo;t have an official role, his company will effectively run the town.

World: By creating Starbase, Musk gains a level of control rarely seen in modern-day business. While he won’t technically be in charge, the town would be run almost entirely by SpaceX staff.

Residents in a small part of southern Texas are voting on whether to turn their neighbourhood into a brand-new city, one that would give Elon Musk’s SpaceX something close to its own government. The new city would be called Starbase, and it sits right where SpaceX carries out its rocket launches in Texas. What the vote is about? The election is being held among a few hundred people living in what is now known as Boca Chica. If passed, the vote would officially create a city government, allowing the area to make its own local rules. Also read: 'Kissing my a**': Trump mocks 'buddy' Elon Musk after his alleged White House exit Most of the people eligible to vote are SpaceX employees and their families, which makes the outcome almost certain. Starbase is expected to be approved. How would this benefit Musk? By creating Starbase, Musk gains a level of control rarely seen in modern-day business. While he won’t technically be in charge, the town would be run almost entirely by SpaceX staff. That means the company, and by extension, Musk would have significant influence over how things are done in the city. It also gives SpaceX more freedom to manage day-to-day operations, including road closures during rocket launches, without relying as much on outside authorities. According to statements submitted by SpaceX workers, this new setup would improve “logistics and coordination”. Also read: 'Ice cream, Lincoln bedroom, video games: Elon Musk's 100 days in Trump admin amid reports of his White House exit Who’s running the town? Starbase would be led by people already high up at SpaceX. The candidate for mayor, Bobby Peden, is the vice-president of test and launch operations and has been with the company since 2013. He is running unopposed. Two others from the company, an engineering manager and a senior director of environmental health and safety, are running for city commissioner roles. Like Peden, both are standing without opposition. What does Starbase look like? Starbase is a small area near the Mexican border, close to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s lined with palm trees, prefabricated homes and shiny airstream trailers. A massive golden bust of Musk, nine feet tall, stands in the middle of it all. A plaque below calls him “ELON aka Memelord”. Also read: 'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump Not everyone is impressed. Vandals recently damaged the statue, peeling off parts of the foam and fibreglass. Local concerns over Starbase Although the town is likely to be created, not everyone is happy about it. Locals have raised concerns about rising living costs and reduced beach access during rocket tests. Since SpaceX moved into Cameron County about ten years ago, rents have gone up nearly 15%. Community organiser Bekah Hinojosa spoke out against the plan, telling Politico, “They’re claiming they’re bringing economic incentives, but the rent is going up, the roads are crumbling.” “It is getting harder to live here,” she added. “All this seems to benefit is fancy restaurants with SpaceX clientele.” Hinojosa said, “It’s the richest man on the planet using us as a testing ground. Elon Musk is on his way to colonising Mars. First, he’s trying to colonise this community.” Watch: Tesla board searches for a new CEO to replace Musk: WSJ report A new kind of company town If the vote succeeds, Musk’s influence over Starbase will look a lot like the company towns of the Gilded Age, where businesses controlled everything from housing to local laws. Though Musk won’t have an official role, his company will effectively run the town.

‘He’s trying to colonise’: Elon Musk to add his own city, ‘Starbase’, to his empire - Here’s all you need to know

A recent report by Democracy Defenders Fund reveals that there is a significant conflict of interest between President Trump&rsquo;s financial involvement in cryptocurrency during his administration.
The report illuminates how the Trump family&rsquo;s crypto venture World Liberty Financial, Inc. (WLFI), the $TRUMP meme coin, and the $WLFI governance token have rapidly increased the wealth of his family by billions.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">Trump&rsquo;s growing crypto wealth</h2>
Trump's crypto assets include $TRUMP and stakes in WLFI, comprising a major portion of his net wealth, approximately 40 per cent. WLFI, which is owned 60 per cent by an entity affiliated with President Trump and his family members, released a stablecoin named USD1 and is expected to further boost Trump&rsquo;s wealth.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
$TRUMP Meme Coin-&nbsp; Launched just before his inauguration, it is highly volatile and its value swings depending on his policy decisions and social media promotion. Trading fees from $TRUMP have generated tens of millions of dollars for Trump however, the exact figure is unclear due to the opaque ownership structure.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
$WLFI Governance Token- Raised $550 million investment from Chinese investors like Justin Sun. Trump and his family, via affiliated entities, hold significant equity and rights to protocol revenue.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
USD1- It's marketed as fully backed by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, and always valued as $1. But the use of the USD 1 code may lead potential investors to believe it's backed. There are concerns related to its transparency. WLFI has announced that an independent auditor outside the firm will audit the reserves. However, they have not named the auditor or mentioned the frequency of such audits.&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/wion-originals-0/nation-stand-with-you-on-india-but-not-on-afghanistan-fazl-ur-rahman-launches-scurrilous-attack-on-pakistani-establishment-9026321" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Nation stands with you on India but not on Afghanistan': Fazl ur Rahman launches scurrilous attack on Pakistani establishment</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Policy action and conflicts in government</h2>
The report states that President Trump had issued an executive order on 23rd January to establish a regulatory framework promoting digital currencies and private sector stablecoins while rejecting the development of central bank digital currency. The policy directly aligns with the Trump family&rsquo;s business interests and could directly benefit their crypto holdings.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directed the Justice Department to relax criminal charges related to digital assets unless they are related to unlawful conduct by drug cartels, transnational criminal organisations, foreign terrorists or specially designated global terrorists. Thus, potentially reduces regulatory oversight.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-tesla-ceo-regrets-supporting-donald-trump-in-united-states-9029278" rel="dofollow">'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump</a>
Several Trump appointees, such as David Sacks and Steven Witkoff, have direct financial interests in WLFI and its partners.&nbsp;
Even though the White House released a statement last month that President Trump&rsquo;s assets are in a trust managed by his children, his active involvement in the promotion and profit of this venture significantly undermines the purpose of such trusts. 
The President is not a subject of the criminal conflict of interest statute like other executive branch employees. This gap in legality allows him to participate in crypto-related policymaking that directly impacts his financial interests.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trumps-ally-who-once-likened-him-to-jesus-slams-him-on-x-is-us-presidents-leadership-in-trouble-rift-republican-party-marjorie-taylor-greene-9029212" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump's ally who once likened him to Jesus, slams him on X.; Is the US president's leadership in trouble?</a>

Learn about the Trump family's crypto ventures, including World Liberty Financial Inc., which has substantially increased their wealth. | World | Business & Economy|

A recent report by Democracy Defenders Fund reveals that there is a significant conflict of interest between President Trump’s financial involvement in cryptocurrency during his administration. The report illuminates how the Trump family’s crypto venture World Liberty Financial, Inc. (WLFI), the $TRUMP meme coin, and the $WLFI governance token have rapidly increased the wealth of his family by billions. Also read: US gives initial clearance of $3.5 billion missile sales to Saudi Arabia Trump’s growing crypto wealth Trump's crypto assets include $TRUMP and stakes in WLFI, comprising a major portion of his net wealth, approximately 40 per cent. WLFI, which is owned 60 per cent by an entity affiliated with President Trump and his family members, released a stablecoin named USD1 and is expected to further boost Trump’s wealth. $TRUMP Meme Coin- Launched just before his inauguration, it is highly volatile and its value swings depending on his policy decisions and social media promotion. Trading fees from $TRUMP have generated tens of millions of dollars for Trump however, the exact figure is unclear due to the opaque ownership structure. $WLFI Governance Token- Raised $550 million investment from Chinese investors like Justin Sun. Trump and his family, via affiliated entities, hold significant equity and rights to protocol revenue. USD1- It's marketed as fully backed by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, and always valued as $1. But the use of the USD 1 code may lead potential investors to believe it's backed. There are concerns related to its transparency. WLFI has announced that an independent auditor outside the firm will audit the reserves. However, they have not named the auditor or mentioned the frequency of such audits. Also read: 'Nation stands with you on India but not on Afghanistan': Fazl ur Rahman launches scurrilous attack on Pakistani establishment Policy action and conflicts in government The report states that President Trump had issued an executive order on 23rd January to establish a regulatory framework promoting digital currencies and private sector stablecoins while rejecting the development of central bank digital currency. The policy directly aligns with the Trump family’s business interests and could directly benefit their crypto holdings. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directed the Justice Department to relax criminal charges related to digital assets unless they are related to unlawful conduct by drug cartels, transnational criminal organisations, foreign terrorists or specially designated global terrorists. Thus, potentially reduces regulatory oversight. Also read: 'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump Several Trump appointees, such as David Sacks and Steven Witkoff, have direct financial interests in WLFI and its partners. Even though the White House released a statement last month that President Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children, his active involvement in the promotion and profit of this venture significantly undermines the purpose of such trusts. The President is not a subject of the criminal conflict of interest statute like other executive branch employees. This gap in legality allows him to participate in crypto-related policymaking that directly impacts his financial interests. Also read: Trump's ally who once likened him to Jesus, slams him on X.; Is the US president's leadership in trouble?

Trump’s crypto empire blurs the line between presidency and personal profit

<div data-testid="paragraph-0" class="text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__small__1kGq2 body__full_width__ekUdw body__small_body__2vQyf article-body__paragraph__2-BtD">Australia&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-general-elections-albanese-vs-dutton-amid-trump-chaos-9011981">Anthony Albanese</a>&nbsp;won a historic second term in Australia on Saturday (May 3), marking the first time in 21 years that an Australian prime minister has won a second consecutive term. His centre-left <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-election-result-anthony-albanese-secures-historic-second-term-as-labor-party-set-to-retain-majority-9029587">Labor</a>Party is poised to retain its majority government, with projections from the Australian Electoral Commission showing the Labor Party holding 70 seats.&nbsp;</div>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-ma87uolc-q7hmvub4-pz6lkywp">
Voting for lower taxes, stronger Medicare, affordable housing and 20% off your student debt. Voting Labor. <a href="https://t.co/sOALurqked">pic.twitter.com/sOALurqked</a>
&mdash; Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1918525517415748018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australias-labor-party-signals-an-increase-in-student-visa-fees-ahead-of-polls-9015697">Peter Dutton</a>, leader of the conservative Liberal party, conceded defeat and lost his own seat - similar to the fate of Canada's conservatives and their leader whose&nbsp;election loss&nbsp;days earlier was also attributed to a Trump backlash. Dutton conceded defeat, saying, "We didn&rsquo;t do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that." "Earlier on, I called the prime minister to congratulate him on his success tonight. It&rsquo;s an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that," he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Albanese on his victory and said that he is looking forward to strengthening India-Australia ties.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-ma8849jc-cud9uecy-qqt9wp37">
Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlboMP</a> on your resounding victory and re-election as Prime Minister of Australia! This emphatic mandate indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership. I look forward to working together to further deepen the India-Australia&hellip;
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1918648523781750914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-pakistan-tensions-escalate-anti-terror-operations-in-kashmir-9029621">India-Pakistan tensions escalate: Anti-terror operations in Kashmir</a>
In 2007, Albanese became a senior minister when Labor swept to power and remained an influential figure. He also served as Deputy PM in Kevin Rudd&rsquo;s brief second stint as prime minister, then ran for opposition leader in 2013. In 2019, he became the leader of a demoralised Labor Party after its unexpected election defeat. &nbsp;He became the PM in 2022, ending a decade of rule by the Liberal-National coalition.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australians-vote-in-election-overcast-by-prices-trump-tariffs-9028721">Australians vote in election overcast by prices, Trump tariffs</a>
<h2>Australian Election campaign</h2>
The 36-day campaign was largely based on issues regarding high living costs and US President Donald Trump's tariffs but there were a few moments of unscripted levity. Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Economic concerns have dominated the contest for the many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol. A few important issues of this election are:
<ul>
<li>A primary concern for voters was the soaring cost of living.&nbsp;Inflation&nbsp;has driven up prices of essentials&mdash;eggs rose 11% last year according to&nbsp;AP&nbsp;data, and rent increases are biting hard.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Housing affordability remained a flashpoint, with multiple Australian cities ranking among the world&rsquo;s least affordable. Both major parties have proposed housing reforms&nbsp;</li>
<li>Energy policy and Australia&rsquo;s transition from fossil fuels was another point of difference between two parties</li>
<li>Trump and his policies were also a major issue. The next government must navigate an increasingly unstable geopolitical reality. China remains Australia&rsquo;s top trading partner, but Donald Trump&rsquo;s threat also looms.</li>
</ul>
</div>

World | Australia’s Anthony Albanese won a historic second term in Australia on Saturday (May 3), marking the first time in 21 years that an Australian PM has won a second consecutive term.

Australia’s Anthony Albanese won a historic second term in Australia on Saturday (May 3), marking the first time in 21 years that an Australian prime minister has won a second consecutive term. His centre-left LaborParty is poised to retain its majority government, with projections from the Australian Electoral Commission showing the Labor Party holding 70 seats. Voting for lower taxes, stronger Medicare, affordable housing and 20% off your student debt. Voting Labor. pic.twitter.com/sOALurqked — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 3, 2025 Peter Dutton, leader of the conservative Liberal party, conceded defeat and lost his own seat - similar to the fate of Canada's conservatives and their leader whose election loss days earlier was also attributed to a Trump backlash. Dutton conceded defeat, saying, "We didn’t do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that." "Earlier on, I called the prime minister to congratulate him on his success tonight. It’s an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that," he added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Albanese on his victory and said that he is looking forward to strengthening India-Australia ties. Congratulations @AlboMP on your resounding victory and re-election as Prime Minister of Australia! This emphatic mandate indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership. I look forward to working together to further deepen the India-Australia… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2025 Read More | India-Pakistan tensions escalate: Anti-terror operations in Kashmir In 2007, Albanese became a senior minister when Labor swept to power and remained an influential figure. He also served as Deputy PM in Kevin Rudd’s brief second stint as prime minister, then ran for opposition leader in 2013. In 2019, he became the leader of a demoralised Labor Party after its unexpected election defeat. He became the PM in 2022, ending a decade of rule by the Liberal-National coalition. Read More | Australians vote in election overcast by prices, Trump tariffs Australian Election campaign The 36-day campaign was largely based on issues regarding high living costs and US President Donald Trump's tariffs but there were a few moments of unscripted levity. Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football. Economic concerns have dominated the contest for the many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol. A few important issues of this election are: A primary concern for voters was the soaring cost of living. Inflation has driven up prices of essentials—eggs rose 11% last year according to AP data, and rent increases are biting hard. Housing affordability remained a flashpoint, with multiple Australian cities ranking among the world’s least affordable. Both major parties have proposed housing reforms Energy policy and Australia’s transition from fossil fuels was another point of difference between two parties Trump and his policies were also a major issue. The next government must navigate an increasingly unstable geopolitical reality. China remains Australia’s top trading partner, but Donald Trump’s threat also looms.

Australia Election Result: Anthony Albanese secures historic second term as Labor Party set to retain majority

Tesla CEO <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ice-cream-lincoln-bedroom-video-games-elon-musks-100-days-in-trump-admin-amid-reports-of-his-white-house-exit-9023602">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;was recently asked in an interview if he regrets supporting Donald Trump, to which he responded with affirmation, before bursting into laughter and clarifying that he was joking.&nbsp;
In an interview with Fox News, Musk was asked if he regrets supporting Trump, and doing what he has done for President Trump, to which he quips,&nbsp;"Yes...No..cut that part...I was trying to be funny... You caught me!"
"I think it is essential for Trump to win so that America remained a great ...that we would reach greater heights...Some very basic things needed to happen - secure borders, and safe cities where we can walk around without fear of being attacked, we need to strive to do great things to exceed what we've done in the past."
He also added that if Donald Trump had not won and the Democrats had won the elections, illegal immigration and unfair trade policies would have been common. He even said, "Democrats would convert America into a one-party state."
Read More |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/autonews/elon-musk-poised-to-become-gop-megadonor-as-he-steps-back-from-white-house-role-9010986" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon Musk poised to become GOP Megadonor as he steps back from White House role</a>
<h2>Musk gives insights about his 100 days in the White House</h2>
Earlier, in his remarks to reporters, Musk provided the most detailed overview of DOGE. Musk, who spent roughly a quarter billion dollars to fuel Trump&rsquo;s White House victory last November, said his future work for DOGE would still be conducted from a tiny perch inside the West Wing, what he calls a &ldquo;micro-office&rdquo; with a window that offers just a &ldquo;glimmer of sunlight&rdquo; but no real view, Bloomberg reported.
&ldquo;It has a view of nothing &mdash; it has a window but all you see is, like, an HVAC unit, which is fine because it&rsquo;s harder to shoot me,&rdquo; Musk told reporters in the Roosevelt Room. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s not a good line of sight.&rdquo; Musk, who&rsquo;s also the CEO of SpaceX, said.
Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/musk-denies-reports-that-tesla-might-replace-him-as-ceo-9023402" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Musk denies reports that Tesla might replace him as CEO</a>
Musk also offered an extraordinary glimpse into his status as a trusted Trump ally &mdash; one marked by occasional video games in his West Wing office as well as overnight stays in the Lincoln Bedroom, where he said he slept at Trump&rsquo;s invitation. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll be on Air Force One or Marine One and he&rsquo;s like, &lsquo;Hey do you want to stay over?&rsquo; I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Sure,&rsquo; and he sends me to the Lincoln Bedroom,&rdquo; Musk recalled. &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t requested it &mdash; to be clear.&rdquo;&nbsp;
With the president&rsquo;s encouragement, Musk said he&rsquo;s also gotten ice cream from the White House kitchen &mdash; eating &ldquo;a tub&rdquo; of rich caramel Haagen-Dazs&nbsp; &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t tell RFK,&rdquo; Musk quipped. Musing on the persistence of the name &ldquo;DOGE&rdquo; &mdash; now adopted by caucuses in the House and Senate &mdash; Musk reminded reporters the title started as a meme coin, as per Bloomberg.
Read More |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/british-woman-named-worlds-oldest-at-115-has-an-indian-connect-heres-what-it-is-9023633" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British woman named world's oldest at 115 has an Indian connect. Here's what it is</a>

World | Tesla CEO Elon Musk was recently asked in an interview if he regrets supporting Donald Trump, to which he responded with affirmation, before bursting into laughter

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was recently asked in an interview if he regrets supporting Donald Trump, to which he responded with affirmation, before bursting into laughter and clarifying that he was joking. In an interview with Fox News, Musk was asked if he regrets supporting Trump, and doing what he has done for President Trump, to which he quips, "Yes...No..cut that part...I was trying to be funny... You caught me!" "I think it is essential for Trump to win so that America remained a great ...that we would reach greater heights...Some very basic things needed to happen - secure borders, and safe cities where we can walk around without fear of being attacked, we need to strive to do great things to exceed what we've done in the past." He also added that if Donald Trump had not won and the Democrats had won the elections, illegal immigration and unfair trade policies would have been common. He even said, "Democrats would convert America into a one-party state." Read More | Elon Musk poised to become GOP Megadonor as he steps back from White House role Musk gives insights about his 100 days in the White House Earlier, in his remarks to reporters, Musk provided the most detailed overview of DOGE. Musk, who spent roughly a quarter billion dollars to fuel Trump’s White House victory last November, said his future work for DOGE would still be conducted from a tiny perch inside the West Wing, what he calls a “micro-office” with a window that offers just a “glimmer of sunlight” but no real view, Bloomberg reported. “It has a view of nothing — it has a window but all you see is, like, an HVAC unit, which is fine because it’s harder to shoot me,” Musk told reporters in the Roosevelt Room. “There’s not a good line of sight.” Musk, who’s also the CEO of SpaceX, said. Watch | Musk denies reports that Tesla might replace him as CEO Musk also offered an extraordinary glimpse into his status as a trusted Trump ally — one marked by occasional video games in his West Wing office as well as overnight stays in the Lincoln Bedroom, where he said he slept at Trump’s invitation. “We’ll be on Air Force One or Marine One and he’s like, ‘Hey do you want to stay over?’ I’m like, ‘Sure,’ and he sends me to the Lincoln Bedroom,” Musk recalled. “I haven’t requested it — to be clear.” With the president’s encouragement, Musk said he’s also gotten ice cream from the White House kitchen — eating “a tub” of rich caramel Haagen-Dazs “Don’t tell RFK,” Musk quipped. Musing on the persistence of the name “DOGE” — now adopted by caucuses in the House and Senate — Musk reminded reporters the title started as a meme coin, as per Bloomberg. Read More | British woman named world's oldest at 115 has an Indian connect. Here's what it is

'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump

You get on a bus or the metro train to go to work, bag a spot, take out your phone and just start scrolling or watching a TV show or a movie. This is how a regular commute on public transport is like these days. Even when devices weren't there, people would often read or just go to sleep.
However, Gen Z are commuting in a new way, making several people uncomfortable. A new trend has seen them go gadget-free while commuting. Known as "barebacking", the trend has the youth travel absolutely without any devices or books. So no phones, no earbuds, no e-books, no tablets and iPads, nothing.
This lack of anything has made travel time uncomfortable for other commuters who don't know how to act when these Gen Z travellers are simply sitting or standing, doing nothing. They have nothing to do but stare out blankly.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donkey-milk-for-cheese-yes-dogs-milk-no-400-year-old-manual-reveres-cheese-9028756" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">400-year-old quirky cheese manual: Don't use dog's milk, fish gut and other suggestions</a>
<h2>'Barebacking', travelling without staring at devices</h2>
The term "barebacking" was recently coined by podcaster Curtis Morton while he and co-host James Hacking ranked the most hated travel habits. "Barebackers, number one," Morton said. Hacking enquires about it, to which Morton says, "You've done this commute a hundred times. Why are you sitting there without a phone, without a book? Just looking around? Looking at me? Do something!"
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nazi-secrets-hidden-in-previously-locked-up-documents-will-soon-be-exposed-9025718" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">80 years ago, Hitler died. But some secrets remain buried. Bombshell report will reveal them</a>
Experts say this is mainly because of the way things have become post-pandemic. Commuters today are embracing "barebacking", minus the scrolling and other distractions.
<h2>Return to office driving this strange behaviour</h2>
Some think they are trying to claim their time after they were ordered to return to the office. Amanda Augustine, a certified career coach at Resume.io, told Fortune, looking at phones might prompt them to respond to work calls and emails while they are still on their way to the office. So they decided to completely ditch their devices, letting them use the commute time just for themselves and their thoughts.
She stresses that returning to the office is challenging for several people, so Gen Z is using their commute time to "mentally prepare for the day ahead or decompress after work."
Besides, it is a nice way to have a screen detox, since work today mostly involves looking at screens all day.&nbsp;
Gen Z is known to have a different work attitude as compared to millennials and other generations. Surveys suggest that they are not willing to stay in a job that makes them unhappy, and they are not willing to give in to demands that seem unreasonable to them.

Gen Z has chosen to travel without staring at their phones, while simply doing nothing. Some believe it is a way to stay away from work when they are not at the office. World Trending

You get on a bus or the metro train to go to work, bag a spot, take out your phone and just start scrolling or watching a TV show or a movie. This is how a regular commute on public transport is like these days. Even when devices weren't there, people would often read or just go to sleep. However, Gen Z are commuting in a new way, making several people uncomfortable. A new trend has seen them go gadget-free while commuting. Known as "barebacking", the trend has the youth travel absolutely without any devices or books. So no phones, no earbuds, no e-books, no tablets and iPads, nothing. This lack of anything has made travel time uncomfortable for other commuters who don't know how to act when these Gen Z travellers are simply sitting or standing, doing nothing. They have nothing to do but stare out blankly. Also Read: 400-year-old quirky cheese manual: Don't use dog's milk, fish gut and other suggestions 'Barebacking', travelling without staring at devices The term "barebacking" was recently coined by podcaster Curtis Morton while he and co-host James Hacking ranked the most hated travel habits. "Barebackers, number one," Morton said. Hacking enquires about it, to which Morton says, "You've done this commute a hundred times. Why are you sitting there without a phone, without a book? Just looking around? Looking at me? Do something!" Also Read: 80 years ago, Hitler died. But some secrets remain buried. Bombshell report will reveal them Experts say this is mainly because of the way things have become post-pandemic. Commuters today are embracing "barebacking", minus the scrolling and other distractions. Return to office driving this strange behaviour Some think they are trying to claim their time after they were ordered to return to the office. Amanda Augustine, a certified career coach at Resume.io, told Fortune, looking at phones might prompt them to respond to work calls and emails while they are still on their way to the office. So they decided to completely ditch their devices, letting them use the commute time just for themselves and their thoughts. She stresses that returning to the office is challenging for several people, so Gen Z is using their commute time to "mentally prepare for the day ahead or decompress after work." Besides, it is a nice way to have a screen detox, since work today mostly involves looking at screens all day. Gen Z is known to have a different work attitude as compared to millennials and other generations. Surveys suggest that they are not willing to stay in a job that makes them unhappy, and they are not willing to give in to demands that seem unreasonable to them.

Gen Z is 'barebacking' to tackle back to office mandate

Two commercial flights en route to the Ronald Reagan National Airport were asked to do &ldquo;go-arounds&rdquo; on Thursday (May 1) due to an Army helicopter. The incident came just three months after a mid-air collision that killed 67 people.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/luxury-and-lifestyle/rs-35-lakh-rolex-sparks-airport-drama-for-dubai-businessman-in-jaipur-heres-what-happened-8997438">Rs 35 lakh Rolex sparks airport drama for Dubai businessman in Jaipur! Here's what happened</a>
The US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Friday (May 2) that he would seek answers from the Pentagon about the Black Hawk helicopter flight that forced the Delta Air Lines and Republic Airways planes to abandon their landings. &nbsp;
"Unacceptable. Our helicopter restrictions around DCA are crystal clear," Duffy took to the social media platform X. He was referring to the airport by its Federal Aviation Administration location identifier.
"We just lost 67 souls! No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber - besides most VIPs have black car service," he added.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/average-delay-of-24-minutes-obstruct-250-flights-at-igi-airport-passengers-frustrated-8988381">&lsquo;Average delay' of 24 minutes obstruct 250 flights at IGI airport, passengers frustrated</a>
The incident occurred in the afternoon, and no one was injured in the incident.&nbsp;
US Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib said, "The incident is currently under investigation. The United States Army remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/delta-plane-catches-fire-before-takeoff-at-orlando-airport-passengers-evacuated-via-emergency-slides-8988016">Delta plane catches fire before takeoff at Orlando Airport, passengers evacuated via emergency slides</a>
She said the helicopter was "conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control"&nbsp;
Both the commercial flights were directed to go around rather than land to ensure no conflicts in the airspace, she said.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/flight-from-jeddah-makes-emergency-landing-at-delhi-airport-all-404-onboard-safe-8987503">Flight from Jeddah makes emergency landing at Delhi airport; all 404 onboard safe</a>

World | Two commercial flights en route to the Ronald Reagan National Airport were asked to do “go-arounds” on Thursday (May 1) due to an Army helicopter.

Two commercial flights en route to the Ronald Reagan National Airport were asked to do “go-arounds” on Thursday (May 1) due to an Army helicopter. The incident came just three months after a mid-air collision that killed 67 people. Also read: Rs 35 lakh Rolex sparks airport drama for Dubai businessman in Jaipur! Here's what happened The US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Friday (May 2) that he would seek answers from the Pentagon about the Black Hawk helicopter flight that forced the Delta Air Lines and Republic Airways planes to abandon their landings. "Unacceptable. Our helicopter restrictions around DCA are crystal clear," Duffy took to the social media platform X. He was referring to the airport by its Federal Aviation Administration location identifier. "We just lost 67 souls! No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber - besides most VIPs have black car service," he added. Also read: ‘Average delay' of 24 minutes obstruct 250 flights at IGI airport, passengers frustrated The incident occurred in the afternoon, and no one was injured in the incident. US Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib said, "The incident is currently under investigation. The United States Army remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures." Also read: Delta plane catches fire before takeoff at Orlando Airport, passengers evacuated via emergency slides She said the helicopter was "conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control" Both the commercial flights were directed to go around rather than land to ensure no conflicts in the airspace, she said. Also read: Flight from Jeddah makes emergency landing at Delhi airport; all 404 onboard safe

2 commercial flights were ordered to ‘go around’ because of an army aircraft conducting flight operations at DC airport

In a dominant performance that further solidified her status among the best of her era, Good Cheer was unbeaten in the 151st Kentucky Oaks on May 2, 2025, at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/churchill-downs" rel="dofollow">Churchill Downs</a>. Running through a rain-affected, muddy track, the Godolphin-owned filly remained undeterred by the conditions, rallying mightily down the stretch under jockey Luis Saez.
Trained by Brad Cox, Good Cheer built her flawless record to seven for as many lifetime starts, cementing her domination of the 3-year-old filly division. The win also was the third career Kentucky Oaks victory for Cox, coming on the heels of Monomoy Girl's win in 2018 and Shedaresthedevil's 2020 success.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exclusive-ipl-2025-plan-is-to-just-keep-it-simple-says-gujarat-titans-rashid-khan-as-team-eyes-top-two-spot-9028711">Exclusive | IPL 2025: 'Plan is to just keep it simple', says Gujarat Titans' Rashid Khan as team eyes top two spot</a>
The filly came into the race as 6-5 favorite, courtesy of a string of strong performances in the buildup to the Oaks. She had already won the Grade II Rachel Alexandra Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks, both comfortably. With three previous victories at Churchill Downs, including a very strong debut, Good Cheer's familiarity with the track was established from the outset.
Aided by a sluggish break and traffic early in the race, Saez hung back patiently. Steering her to a wide swing on the far turn, Good Cheer passed her rivals, leading away convincingly in the stretch. Her time indicated both speed and versatility, important attributes which have enabled her to win all seven of her starts by a combined total of more than 44 lengths.
The filly's owners are now considering their next move, with rumors building of a possible Belmont Stakes or other top summer stakes bid. Her Oaks performance has only fueled expectations for what may be a historic season.

World, Sports: The unbeaten filly rallied on the outside through the slop to overtake Tenma by the final furlong and win the 151st Kentucky Oaks by 2 1/4 lengths

In a dominant performance that further solidified her status among the best of her era, Good Cheer was unbeaten in the 151st Kentucky Oaks on May 2, 2025, at Churchill Downs. Running through a rain-affected, muddy track, the Godolphin-owned filly remained undeterred by the conditions, rallying mightily down the stretch under jockey Luis Saez. Trained by Brad Cox, Good Cheer built her flawless record to seven for as many lifetime starts, cementing her domination of the 3-year-old filly division. The win also was the third career Kentucky Oaks victory for Cox, coming on the heels of Monomoy Girl's win in 2018 and Shedaresthedevil's 2020 success. Also Read: Exclusive | IPL 2025: 'Plan is to just keep it simple', says Gujarat Titans' Rashid Khan as team eyes top two spot The filly came into the race as 6-5 favorite, courtesy of a string of strong performances in the buildup to the Oaks. She had already won the Grade II Rachel Alexandra Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks, both comfortably. With three previous victories at Churchill Downs, including a very strong debut, Good Cheer's familiarity with the track was established from the outset. Aided by a sluggish break and traffic early in the race, Saez hung back patiently. Steering her to a wide swing on the far turn, Good Cheer passed her rivals, leading away convincingly in the stretch. Her time indicated both speed and versatility, important attributes which have enabled her to win all seven of her starts by a combined total of more than 44 lengths. The filly's owners are now considering their next move, with rumors building of a possible Belmont Stakes or other top summer stakes bid. Her Oaks performance has only fueled expectations for what may be a historic season.

2025 Kentucky Oaks result: Filly Good Cheer stays unbeaten, rallying in mud to win

Australians voted Saturday in a general election shaped by inflation woes and Trump tariffs, with a string of polls pointing to victory for left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Hungry voters munched on barbecued "democracy sausages" after casting their ballot &ndash; a polling day rite of passage &ndash; while others in bright swimwear crammed into booths after taking an early morning plunge.
Millions of Australians will choose between Labor leader Albanese, 62, or his conservative challenger Peter Dutton.
US President Donald Trump has loomed over the vote since its earliest days, and there is keen global interest in whether his tariff-induced economic chaos will influence the result.
"The holy grail is back-to-back wins that we're aiming for today," Albanese told Channel Seven.
"I'll leave nothing on the field over the next three years if I'm re-elected as Australia's prime minister."
Though trailing by a few percentage points in the polls, Dutton said "quiet Australians" could yet deliver a surprise.
"I think they're going to go into the polling booth and say: 'You know what? I am not going to reward Anthony Albanese for the last three years'," he told Channel Nine.
<h2><hl2>'Mad as a cut snake'</hl2></h2>
Before the first vote was even counted, speculation was already mounting over whether Dutton could survive an election loss.
"I am 54. I am still very young, and I've just got a burning passion for this country," Dutton replied, when asked if he would stay on as opposition leader.
The first polls opened at 8:00 am (2200 GMT) on Australia's east coast, followed later by the country's western cities and far-flung island territories.
A total of 18.1 million voters have enrolled for the election. About half of them cast an early ballot, the election authority said.
Voting is compulsory, enforced with fines of Aus$20 (US$13), leading to turnouts that top 90 percent.
A result could come as soon as Saturday night, unless the vote is very tight.
Albanese has promised to embrace renewable energy, tackle a worsening housing crisis, and pour money into a creaking healthcare system.
Liberal Party leader and former police officer Dutton wants to slash immigration, crack down on crime and ditch a longstanding ban on nuclear power.
Some polls showed Dutton leaking support because of Trump, who he praised this year as a "big thinker" with "gravitas" on the global stage.
"I mean, Donald Trump is as mad as a cut snake, and we all know that," said voter Alan Whitman, 59, before casting his ballot on Saturday.
"And we've got to tiptoe around that."
<h2><hl2>High prices&nbsp;</hl2></h2>
As Australians soured on Trump, both Dutton and Albanese have taken on a more pugnacious tone.
"If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump or any other world leader, to advance our nation's interest, I'd do it in a heartbeat," Dutton said in April.
Albanese condemned Trump's tariffs as an act of "economic self-harm" and "not the act of a friend".
Economic concerns have dominated the contest for the many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol.
"The cost of living -- it's extremely high at the moment. So, taxes as well, is also another really big thing. Petrol prices, all the basic stuff," human resources manager Robyn Knox told AFP in Brisbane.
Small business owner Jared Bell had similar concerns.
"Our grocery shops are definitely way more expensive than they were a couple years ago," he said.
<h2><hl2>Campaign stumbles</hl2></h2>
Coal-mining superpower Australia will choose between two leaders with sharply contrasting ideas on climate change and emissions reduction.
Albanese's government has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, warning of a future in which iron ore and polluting coal exports no longer prop up the economy.
Dutton's signature policy is a US$200 billion scheme to construct seven industrial-scale nuclear reactors, doing away with the need to ramp up renewables.
The 36-day campaign was a largely staid affair but there were a few moments of unscripted levity.
Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football.

Australians head to the polls amid economic concerns, with inflation and Trump tariffs shaping the election, as Albanese seeks re-election against Dutton's challenge.

Australians voted Saturday in a general election shaped by inflation woes and Trump tariffs, with a string of polls pointing to victory for left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Hungry voters munched on barbecued "democracy sausages" after casting their ballot – a polling day rite of passage – while others in bright swimwear crammed into booths after taking an early morning plunge. Millions of Australians will choose between Labor leader Albanese, 62, or his conservative challenger Peter Dutton. US President Donald Trump has loomed over the vote since its earliest days, and there is keen global interest in whether his tariff-induced economic chaos will influence the result. "The holy grail is back-to-back wins that we're aiming for today," Albanese told Channel Seven. "I'll leave nothing on the field over the next three years if I'm re-elected as Australia's prime minister." Though trailing by a few percentage points in the polls, Dutton said "quiet Australians" could yet deliver a surprise. "I think they're going to go into the polling booth and say: 'You know what? I am not going to reward Anthony Albanese for the last three years'," he told Channel Nine. 'Mad as a cut snake' Before the first vote was even counted, speculation was already mounting over whether Dutton could survive an election loss. "I am 54. I am still very young, and I've just got a burning passion for this country," Dutton replied, when asked if he would stay on as opposition leader. The first polls opened at 8:00 am (2200 GMT) on Australia's east coast, followed later by the country's western cities and far-flung island territories. A total of 18.1 million voters have enrolled for the election. About half of them cast an early ballot, the election authority said. Voting is compulsory, enforced with fines of Aus$20 (US$13), leading to turnouts that top 90 percent. A result could come as soon as Saturday night, unless the vote is very tight. Albanese has promised to embrace renewable energy, tackle a worsening housing crisis, and pour money into a creaking healthcare system. Liberal Party leader and former police officer Dutton wants to slash immigration, crack down on crime and ditch a longstanding ban on nuclear power. Some polls showed Dutton leaking support because of Trump, who he praised this year as a "big thinker" with "gravitas" on the global stage. "I mean, Donald Trump is as mad as a cut snake, and we all know that," said voter Alan Whitman, 59, before casting his ballot on Saturday. "And we've got to tiptoe around that." High prices As Australians soured on Trump, both Dutton and Albanese have taken on a more pugnacious tone. "If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump or any other world leader, to advance our nation's interest, I'd do it in a heartbeat," Dutton said in April. Albanese condemned Trump's tariffs as an act of "economic self-harm" and "not the act of a friend". Economic concerns have dominated the contest for the many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol. "The cost of living -- it's extremely high at the moment. So, taxes as well, is also another really big thing. Petrol prices, all the basic stuff," human resources manager Robyn Knox told AFP in Brisbane. Small business owner Jared Bell had similar concerns. "Our grocery shops are definitely way more expensive than they were a couple years ago," he said. Campaign stumbles Coal-mining superpower Australia will choose between two leaders with sharply contrasting ideas on climate change and emissions reduction. Albanese's government has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, warning of a future in which iron ore and polluting coal exports no longer prop up the economy. Dutton's signature policy is a US$200 billion scheme to construct seven industrial-scale nuclear reactors, doing away with the need to ramp up renewables. The 36-day campaign was a largely staid affair but there were a few moments of unscripted levity. Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football.

Australians vote in election overcast by prices, Trump tariffs

A 112-page manuscript entirely dedicated to cheese from the 1580s doles out advice on all things related to the sometimes stringy, sometimes chewy and at other times crumbly food item. The oldest known book on cheese is titled A pamflyt compiled of Cheese, contayninge the differences, nature, qualities, and goodness of the same.
The manuscript was never published, but it offers an insight into how much cheese was revered even in the 16th century by food lovers. It talks about how to make the right cheese, which kind of milk to use, what to pair it with and more.
Its previous owners include a physician to Queen Elizabeth I, a member of parliament, and a member of another parliamentary family. The book was extremely special to the owners, with the MP noting that the book should be returned to after being "perused."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/centuries-old-algebra-conundrum-solved-by-getting-rid-of-a-pesky-detail-9024852" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Polynomials to the fifth degree? No problem! Mathematician presents simple solution</a>
The vellum-bound manuscript was acquired by the University of Leeds at an auction in 2023. "I&rsquo;ve never seen anything like it," author and food historian Peter Brears said in a statement.
<h2>A Cheese manual: What to do, what not to do&nbsp;</h2>
The book has some interesting suggestions about cheese. One of them is about using the right milk and how the wrong milk can trigger unwanted consequences. It suggests using milk from camels, donkeys, and horses to make cheese. However, it warns that if cheese made from a dog&rsquo;s milk is consumed by a pregnant woman, she might have early contractions and give birth early.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-man-quit-job-to-care-for-baby-ended-up-divorced-and-with-post-partum-depression-9022713" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Chinese man quit job to care for baby, ended up divorced and with post-partum depression</a>
For some strange reason, the writer also talks about women's milk, and that he isn't aware if someone uses it to make cheese. Alex Bamji, associate professor of early modern history at the University of Leeds, says that people in the 16th century also seemed to be aware that cheese is not everyone's cup of tea.&nbsp;
The book also tells the right time to eat cheese. &ldquo;Generally, the view was that it was best towards the end of a meal," Bamji said.
One of the portions talks about how to curdle milk, suggesting the use of fish guts, and the best method to make hard cheese.
The author of this cheese manual remains a mystery. However, Brears says it is possible to decode that by looking at "handwriting style, evidence of regional dialects, which modern locations are actually being referred to".&nbsp;
He wants somebody to undertake a Ph.D. on it to figure out the writer.
&nbsp;

The book has some interesting suggestions about cheese. One of them is about using the right milk and how the wrong milk can trigger unwanted consequences. World Trending

A 112-page manuscript entirely dedicated to cheese from the 1580s doles out advice on all things related to the sometimes stringy, sometimes chewy and at other times crumbly food item. The oldest known book on cheese is titled A pamflyt compiled of Cheese, contayninge the differences, nature, qualities, and goodness of the same. The manuscript was never published, but it offers an insight into how much cheese was revered even in the 16th century by food lovers. It talks about how to make the right cheese, which kind of milk to use, what to pair it with and more. Its previous owners include a physician to Queen Elizabeth I, a member of parliament, and a member of another parliamentary family. The book was extremely special to the owners, with the MP noting that the book should be returned to after being "perused." Also Read: Polynomials to the fifth degree? No problem! Mathematician presents simple solution The vellum-bound manuscript was acquired by the University of Leeds at an auction in 2023. "I’ve never seen anything like it," author and food historian Peter Brears said in a statement. A Cheese manual: What to do, what not to do The book has some interesting suggestions about cheese. One of them is about using the right milk and how the wrong milk can trigger unwanted consequences. It suggests using milk from camels, donkeys, and horses to make cheese. However, it warns that if cheese made from a dog’s milk is consumed by a pregnant woman, she might have early contractions and give birth early. Also Read: Chinese man quit job to care for baby, ended up divorced and with post-partum depression For some strange reason, the writer also talks about women's milk, and that he isn't aware if someone uses it to make cheese. Alex Bamji, associate professor of early modern history at the University of Leeds, says that people in the 16th century also seemed to be aware that cheese is not everyone's cup of tea. The book also tells the right time to eat cheese. “Generally, the view was that it was best towards the end of a meal," Bamji said. One of the portions talks about how to curdle milk, suggesting the use of fish guts, and the best method to make hard cheese. The author of this cheese manual remains a mystery. However, Brears says it is possible to decode that by looking at "handwriting style, evidence of regional dialects, which modern locations are actually being referred to". He wants somebody to undertake a Ph.D. on it to figure out the writer.

Donkey milk or dog milk? 16th century British revered cheese, and this quirky textbook is proof

The US State Department has given initial approval to the sale of $3.5 billion worth of missile to Saudi Arabia. The sale primarily comprises AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). This is the latest proposed arms deal ahead of the first official visit of US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s second administration.
The proposed deal was announced by the Pentagon&rsquo;s Defence Security Cooperation Agency in a statement released on Friday (May 2). As part of the deal, Saudi Arabia had requested 1000 AMRAAMs, 50 AMRAAM guidance sections, missile containers, spares, and a range of logistic and support services.
The deal has been formally notified to Congress; however, the statement also specified that there was no indication of signing a contract. Upon the congressional approval, RTX Corp will be the main contractor responsible for the missile-related support.
<h2 dir="ltr">Military partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia</h2>
This is the latest in the series of military deals signed between the two nations. According to the US military sales figures between 2022 and 2025, these two nations have signed deals worth approximately&nbsp; $16.4-$20.4 billion. This includes,&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
$1.05 billion worth of combined sales of AGM-114R3 Hellfire II missiles and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles in October 2024
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
$2.8 billion worth of system logistics and sustainment support for various aircraft in July 2024
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
$1 billion worth of a comprehensive military training programme in December 2023
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
$500 million worth of Cooperative and Logistics Supply Support Arrangement Programme in September 2023.
</li>
</ul>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-plots-double-financial-strike-on-pakistan-to-stifle-terror-funding-jittery-islamabad-reacts-9027446" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">India plots double financial strike on Pakistan to stifle terror funding, jittery Islamabad reacts</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Strategic and economic significance</h2>
With the ongoing tariff war, sectors like automotive and electronics have experienced a decline. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported a Manufacturing PMI of 48.7 for April 2025, down from 49.0 in March 2025. This is the second consecutive month that the PMI has fallen below the neutral threshold. However, companies like RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin and Boeing have reported 6-10% Y-o-Y revenue growth partly due to foreign sales in 2023-24.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/wion-originals-0/nation-stand-with-you-on-india-but-not-on-afghanistan-fazl-ur-rahman-launches-scurrilous-attack-on-pakistani-establishment-9026321" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Nation stands with you on India but not on Afghanistan': Fazl ur Rahman launches scurrilous attack on Pakistani establishment</a>
US defence exports act as a buffer against the backdrop of a broader industrial decline. Between 2022 and 2024, it accounted for $205 billion in sales globally. Among which Saudi Arabia accounts for over 8 per cent of the US foreign military sales.
Saudi Arabia plans to invest $600 billion in the US in the next four years. This is likely to reduce the trade deficit and maintain a trade surplus in Saudi Arabia. 
Saudi Arabia already boasts the largest fleet of F-15 fighter jets after the US.
With the ongoing sporadic drone strikes of Yemen-based Houthi rebels and continued expansions of Iran&rsquo;s missile arsenal, the US feels the need to utilise its defence sales to support the foreign policy goals in the region. It plans to strengthen its allies and contribute to the political stability of the region.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/house-of-horror-uncovered-in-spain-9025029" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'House of horror': Children aged 8 and 10, prisoned by parents since Covid, rescued</a>
&nbsp;

Discover how the US State Department's approval of a $billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia marks a strategic move in their partnership | World | Business & Economy

The US State Department has given initial approval to the sale of $3.5 billion worth of missile to Saudi Arabia. The sale primarily comprises AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). This is the latest proposed arms deal ahead of the first official visit of US President Donald Trump’s second administration. The proposed deal was announced by the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency in a statement released on Friday (May 2). As part of the deal, Saudi Arabia had requested 1000 AMRAAMs, 50 AMRAAM guidance sections, missile containers, spares, and a range of logistic and support services. The deal has been formally notified to Congress; however, the statement also specified that there was no indication of signing a contract. Upon the congressional approval, RTX Corp will be the main contractor responsible for the missile-related support. Military partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia This is the latest in the series of military deals signed between the two nations. According to the US military sales figures between 2022 and 2025, these two nations have signed deals worth approximately $16.4-$20.4 billion. This includes, $1.05 billion worth of combined sales of AGM-114R3 Hellfire II missiles and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles in October 2024 $2.8 billion worth of system logistics and sustainment support for various aircraft in July 2024 $1 billion worth of a comprehensive military training programme in December 2023 $500 million worth of Cooperative and Logistics Supply Support Arrangement Programme in September 2023. Also read: India plots double financial strike on Pakistan to stifle terror funding, jittery Islamabad reacts Strategic and economic significance With the ongoing tariff war, sectors like automotive and electronics have experienced a decline. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported a Manufacturing PMI of 48.7 for April 2025, down from 49.0 in March 2025. This is the second consecutive month that the PMI has fallen below the neutral threshold. However, companies like RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin and Boeing have reported 6-10% Y-o-Y revenue growth partly due to foreign sales in 2023-24. Also read | 'Nation stands with you on India but not on Afghanistan': Fazl ur Rahman launches scurrilous attack on Pakistani establishment US defence exports act as a buffer against the backdrop of a broader industrial decline. Between 2022 and 2024, it accounted for $205 billion in sales globally. Among which Saudi Arabia accounts for over 8 per cent of the US foreign military sales. Saudi Arabia plans to invest $600 billion in the US in the next four years. This is likely to reduce the trade deficit and maintain a trade surplus in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia already boasts the largest fleet of F-15 fighter jets after the US. With the ongoing sporadic drone strikes of Yemen-based Houthi rebels and continued expansions of Iran’s missile arsenal, the US feels the need to utilise its defence sales to support the foreign policy goals in the region. It plans to strengthen its allies and contribute to the political stability of the region. Also read | 'House of horror': Children aged 8 and 10, prisoned by parents since Covid, rescued

US gives initial clearance of $3.5 billion missile sales to Saudi Arabia

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed lives of 26 people, Pakistan on Saturday (May 3) conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces - &nbsp;the test was done to "ensure the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, &nbsp;including the missile&rsquo;s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features."
The surface-to-surface missile known as the Abdali Weapon System has a range of 450 kilometers.
Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic organisations witnessed the launch.
This comes just after the Indian Navy test-fired missile capable of hitting targets inside Pakistan.
The Indian Navy successfully test-fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile INS Surat against a sea-skimming target in the Arabian Sea on Thursday (April 24)
Jointly developed with Israel, the latest guided-missile destroyer, INS Surat, has a 70-km interception range.
About 75% of the guided-missile, named after a city in Gujarat, is indigenously built with features like AI integration, BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, and advanced radar systems. Commissioned in January 2025, it is also the fourth Visakhapatnam-class stealth destroyer of the Indian Navy.
<h2>The Pahalgam attack</h2>
In one of the deadliest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, 26 people were gunned down by terrorists having links to Pakistan, in the Baisaran meadow on April 22. Known as &lsquo;mini-Switzerland', Baisaran is located at a distance of 5 kilometres from the main centre of Pahalgam.
The meadow is accessible only by foot or ponies and is also a popular trekking location. The rugged, steep, difficult to traverse terrain made it a likely target by terrorists. Also there were no vehicles available nearby and no structures to hide when the attack unfolded.

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed lives of 26 people, Pakistan on Saturday (May 3) conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile.

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed lives of 26 people, Pakistan on Saturday (May 3) conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces - the test was done to "ensure the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features." The surface-to-surface missile known as the Abdali Weapon System has a range of 450 kilometers. Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan’s strategic organisations witnessed the launch. This comes just after the Indian Navy test-fired missile capable of hitting targets inside Pakistan. The Indian Navy successfully test-fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile INS Surat against a sea-skimming target in the Arabian Sea on Thursday (April 24) Jointly developed with Israel, the latest guided-missile destroyer, INS Surat, has a 70-km interception range. About 75% of the guided-missile, named after a city in Gujarat, is indigenously built with features like AI integration, BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, and advanced radar systems. Commissioned in January 2025, it is also the fourth Visakhapatnam-class stealth destroyer of the Indian Navy. The Pahalgam attack In one of the deadliest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, 26 people were gunned down by terrorists having links to Pakistan, in the Baisaran meadow on April 22. Known as ‘mini-Switzerland', Baisaran is located at a distance of 5 kilometres from the main centre of Pahalgam. The meadow is accessible only by foot or ponies and is also a popular trekking location. The rugged, steep, difficult to traverse terrain made it a likely target by terrorists. Also there were no vehicles available nearby and no structures to hide when the attack unfolded.

Pakistan claims to successfully conduct test of ballistic missile amid tensions with India over Pahalgam attack

It is no secret that Russian President Vladimir Putin lives a lavish life. The $1.32 billion palace he lives in was reportedly once decked up with a striptease stage, pole-dancing hookah hall, casino, gaming room and an "aqua disco". However, all of that is gone now, as per leaked videos, and has been replaced with a church that also has a "throne" for Putin's personal use. The revelations were made by Russian investigative outlet Proekt last year.
Now the world is getting a peek at his Kremlin apartment, where he has been living for the past three years, with gold as its theme. A video shows Putin talking to a reporter outside his residence before he opens the door for him and lets him in. "Yes, this is the apartment," he tells the reporter named Zarubin.&nbsp;
They go inside a grand hall, and the viewer can easily notice a pattern going on. The door is gold-plated, the walls are gilded, there are mirrors with gold frames and gold chandeliers. He also has a few plants that add contrast to the room. A portrait of Russian Emperor Alexander III is seen on a table. The sofas are a shade of beige, with a huge white piano in one corner.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-announces-easter-truce-in-ukraine-conflict-orders-military-to-halt-fighting-8980135" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Putin announces &lsquo;Easter truce&rsquo; in Ukraine conflict, orders military to halt fighting</a>
The apartment also has a dark-wood-lined library, two bedrooms, and a small "home church."&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-ma7vwnfw-ddqqkpux-2dyya6cz">
Room tour of Putin's apartment: the Russian president showed his Kremlin home for the first time. He has been living in an apartment in the center of the capital for the past three years. Here Putin received Xi Jinping and talked with him by the fireplace over a cup of tea 1/ <a href="https://t.co/kslS3hrEpR">pic.twitter.com/kslS3hrEpR</a>
&mdash; ☦️Jacob🇷🇺Charite☦️ Иагов (@jaccocharite) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaccocharite/status/1918377249663021072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
In 2023, Putin said in an interview that he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal meeting in this apartment. He revealed at the time that he spends a lot of time at this apartment in the Kremlin. "I work here and spend the night very often, so we moved there and, sitting by the fireplace and drinking tea, talked about everything slowly," Putin said.
<h2>Putin's $956 million palace was revamped&nbsp;</h2>
Putin found himself at the centre of controversy when a probe revealed details about the Gelendzhik castle, also known as Putin's Palace. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation released documents stating that the grand palace was built for Putin's personal use. It cost a whopping US$956 million to construct the palace at the time. Putin denied that the palace belonged to him, and later, the Kremlin claimed that it belonged to his childhood friend Arkady Rotenburg.
Last year, videos showing an audacious revamp of the palace, which has a 16-storey underground complex, leaked. As Putin told Russians to embrace traditional values, he got the kinky stuff removed from his palace as well. He got rid of the casino, the stripping pole and everything that was gold.&nbsp;
The church was installed, complete with an altar and images of sacred religious icons.&nbsp;
While Putin lives a grand life, his soldiers continue to die on the frontline in the country's war against Ukraine. According to British intelligence, a total of 250,000 Russian soldiers have died since February 2022, with 900,000 overall casualties. "Putin and the Russian military leadership [is] highly likely to prioritise their military objectives over the lives of Russian soldiers," it stated.

Putin's Kremlin apartment is filled with all things golden - the door, the windows, chandeliers, mirrors and more. The video gives a peek into the Russian president's luxurious life. World Trending

It is no secret that Russian President Vladimir Putin lives a lavish life. The $1.32 billion palace he lives in was reportedly once decked up with a striptease stage, pole-dancing hookah hall, casino, gaming room and an "aqua disco". However, all of that is gone now, as per leaked videos, and has been replaced with a church that also has a "throne" for Putin's personal use. The revelations were made by Russian investigative outlet Proekt last year. Now the world is getting a peek at his Kremlin apartment, where he has been living for the past three years, with gold as its theme. A video shows Putin talking to a reporter outside his residence before he opens the door for him and lets him in. "Yes, this is the apartment," he tells the reporter named Zarubin. They go inside a grand hall, and the viewer can easily notice a pattern going on. The door is gold-plated, the walls are gilded, there are mirrors with gold frames and gold chandeliers. He also has a few plants that add contrast to the room. A portrait of Russian Emperor Alexander III is seen on a table. The sofas are a shade of beige, with a huge white piano in one corner. Also Read: Putin announces ‘Easter truce’ in Ukraine conflict, orders military to halt fighting The apartment also has a dark-wood-lined library, two bedrooms, and a small "home church." Room tour of Putin's apartment: the Russian president showed his Kremlin home for the first time. He has been living in an apartment in the center of the capital for the past three years. Here Putin received Xi Jinping and talked with him by the fireplace over a cup of tea 1/ pic.twitter.com/kslS3hrEpR — ☦️Jacob🇷🇺Charite☦️ Иагов (@jaccocharite) May 2, 2025 In 2023, Putin said in an interview that he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal meeting in this apartment. He revealed at the time that he spends a lot of time at this apartment in the Kremlin. "I work here and spend the night very often, so we moved there and, sitting by the fireplace and drinking tea, talked about everything slowly," Putin said. Putin's $956 million palace was revamped Putin found himself at the centre of controversy when a probe revealed details about the Gelendzhik castle, also known as Putin's Palace. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation released documents stating that the grand palace was built for Putin's personal use. It cost a whopping US$956 million to construct the palace at the time. Putin denied that the palace belonged to him, and later, the Kremlin claimed that it belonged to his childhood friend Arkady Rotenburg. Last year, videos showing an audacious revamp of the palace, which has a 16-storey underground complex, leaked. As Putin told Russians to embrace traditional values, he got the kinky stuff removed from his palace as well. He got rid of the casino, the stripping pole and everything that was gold. The church was installed, complete with an altar and images of sacred religious icons. While Putin lives a grand life, his soldiers continue to die on the frontline in the country's war against Ukraine. According to British intelligence, a total of 250,000 Russian soldiers have died since February 2022, with 900,000 overall casualties. "Putin and the Russian military leadership [is] highly likely to prioritise their military objectives over the lives of Russian soldiers," it stated.

Putin's Palace has a 'throne' for his personal use. His apartment in Kremlin is equally flashy. See video

Donald Trump, in his latest crazy move, is all set to fire over 1,200 people from various spy agencies in the US, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and others.&nbsp;The White House is all set to cut the staffing at the CIA, while other agencies are also likely to lose thousands of personnel, the Washington Post reported. &nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-unveils-163-billion-budget-cut-in-new-2026-blueprint-prioritises-defence-security-funding-9027781">Trump unveils $163 billion budget cut in new 2026 blueprint; prioritises defence, security funding</a>
The report further claimed that the Trump administration has notified the members of Congress the job cutting will be done in parts and for several years. To achieve this goal, the administration will reduce the hiring.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-recession-now-historic-boom-later-claims-us-in-a-transition-period-us-president-trump-says-recession-is-ok-as-us-economy-shrinks-promises-greatest-economic-boom-in-history-9027759">Trump 'OK' with US recession says 'anything can happen,' claims US will have 'historic boom' later</a>
When the agency was asked about teh latest cut in the job, CIA issued a statemet saying its director &nbsp;John Ratcliffe was working to align the agency with Donald Trump&rsquo;s national security priorities.&nbsp;
&ldquo;These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position CIA to deliver on its mission,&rdquo; CIA's statement read.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-skinny-budget-slashes-163-billion-from-federal-programs-even-his-own-party-is-alarmed-heres-what-it-means-9027437">Trump&rsquo;s 'skinny budget' slashes $163 billion from federal programs, even his own party is alarmed - Here's what it means</a>
The office of the &nbsp;Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard - that oversees and coordinates the work of 18 agencies that collect and analyse intelligence - did not respond on the report.&nbsp;
Earlier this year, the CIA became the first US intelligence agency to join a voluntary redundancy program initiated by Donald Trump. The US president has vowed to radically downsize the federal workforce in the name of efficiency and frugality.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-ukraine-peace-talks-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-russia-zelensky-putin-9027333">&lsquo;Dealmaker in chief&rsquo; or dealbreaker? Is Trump walking away from Ukraine peace talks after sealing key minerals deal?</a>
&nbsp;

World | Donald Trump, in his latest crazy move, is all set to fire over 1,200 people from various spy agencies in the US, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and others.

Donald Trump, in his latest crazy move, is all set to fire over 1,200 people from various spy agencies in the US, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and others. The White House is all set to cut the staffing at the CIA, while other agencies are also likely to lose thousands of personnel, the Washington Post reported. Also read: Trump unveils $163 billion budget cut in new 2026 blueprint; prioritises defence, security funding The report further claimed that the Trump administration has notified the members of Congress the job cutting will be done in parts and for several years. To achieve this goal, the administration will reduce the hiring. Also read: Trump 'OK' with US recession says 'anything can happen,' claims US will have 'historic boom' later When the agency was asked about teh latest cut in the job, CIA issued a statemet saying its director John Ratcliffe was working to align the agency with Donald Trump’s national security priorities. “These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position CIA to deliver on its mission,” CIA's statement read. Also read: Trump’s 'skinny budget' slashes $163 billion from federal programs, even his own party is alarmed - Here's what it means The office of the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard - that oversees and coordinates the work of 18 agencies that collect and analyse intelligence - did not respond on the report. Earlier this year, the CIA became the first US intelligence agency to join a voluntary redundancy program initiated by Donald Trump. The US president has vowed to radically downsize the federal workforce in the name of efficiency and frugality. Also read: ‘Dealmaker in chief’ or dealbreaker? Is Trump walking away from Ukraine peace talks after sealing key minerals deal?

'Holistic strategy': Trump targets US spy agencies in latest move, set to fire 1,200 personnel of CIA

An Army veteran who has just gotten married died by suicide a day after returning from his honeymoon. The newlywed bride is shocked by her husband's death and says she is not aware of any reason why he would take his own life. The woman from North Carolina, United States, adds she never noticed any signs of depression in her husband.&nbsp;
Isabel Coles met her husband Christopher on a dating app and tied the knot 18 months later in September last year. The 32-year-old said both of them were thrilled to be married. For their honeymoon, they chose to go to a beachfront music festival. Coles says it was the "perfect" honeymoon.
But things took a dark turn only a day after they returned. The 28-year-old army veteran walked out of the home into the woods with a handgun. He shockingly shot himself, leaving his near and dear ones devastated.
Isabel recalled that Christopher started acting strangely after returning from the honeymoon. He didn't want to speak to her and appeared to be a different person. She tried to stop him from leaving the house, but he didn't listen and left.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nazi-secrets-hidden-in-previously-locked-up-documents-will-soon-be-exposed-9025718" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">80 years ago, Hitler died. But some secrets remain buried. Bombshell report will reveal them</a>
"In the morning, he was folding laundry, and things were a little weird. I asked him what was wrong, and he said 'nothing'. He went downstairs and tried to get out. I stood at the front door and asked what was going on," Isabel said.
<h2>Christopher went to the woods with a gun</h2>
The next day, Isabel was told that Christopher had done the unthinkable. Isabel had a hard time wrapping her head around the news. She failed to understand what prompted her husband to kill himself, as just a day before, he was doing regular chores in the house.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strange-hum-on-scottish-island-is-making-people-dizzy-its-source-is-a-mystery-9024537" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">What's that noise? A hum is driving residents of a Scottish island crazy</a>
Her heart burst with sadness when she received flowers from Christopher after his death. He had booked the flowers to be delivered on this day months before.
Isabel is trying to pinpoint the signs she may have missed about his struggle with mental health. "My husband was very successful and very driven and motivated, and he was such a good person, so looking back, I think, 'were there signs?'"
"He was very hard on himself, always pushing himself. There were no signs, it did take me really off guard."
However, she admits there must be something going on with him that led him to take the extreme step. "He was obviously fighting demons," she said.
Meanwhile, Isabel has people around her blaming her for his death. "I know it's not true, my husband and I were very happy. No one can change that or take that away from me."
&nbsp;
If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602
WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

Isabel recalled that Christopher started acting strangely after returning from the honeymoon. He didn't want to speak to her. World Trending

An Army veteran who has just gotten married died by suicide a day after returning from his honeymoon. The newlywed bride is shocked by her husband's death and says she is not aware of any reason why he would take his own life. The woman from North Carolina, United States, adds she never noticed any signs of depression in her husband. Isabel Coles met her husband Christopher on a dating app and tied the knot 18 months later in September last year. The 32-year-old said both of them were thrilled to be married. For their honeymoon, they chose to go to a beachfront music festival. Coles says it was the "perfect" honeymoon. But things took a dark turn only a day after they returned. The 28-year-old army veteran walked out of the home into the woods with a handgun. He shockingly shot himself, leaving his near and dear ones devastated. Isabel recalled that Christopher started acting strangely after returning from the honeymoon. He didn't want to speak to her and appeared to be a different person. She tried to stop him from leaving the house, but he didn't listen and left. Also Read: 80 years ago, Hitler died. But some secrets remain buried. Bombshell report will reveal them "In the morning, he was folding laundry, and things were a little weird. I asked him what was wrong, and he said 'nothing'. He went downstairs and tried to get out. I stood at the front door and asked what was going on," Isabel said. Christopher went to the woods with a gun The next day, Isabel was told that Christopher had done the unthinkable. Isabel had a hard time wrapping her head around the news. She failed to understand what prompted her husband to kill himself, as just a day before, he was doing regular chores in the house. Also Read: What's that noise? A hum is driving residents of a Scottish island crazy Her heart burst with sadness when she received flowers from Christopher after his death. He had booked the flowers to be delivered on this day months before. Isabel is trying to pinpoint the signs she may have missed about his struggle with mental health. "My husband was very successful and very driven and motivated, and he was such a good person, so looking back, I think, 'were there signs?'" "He was very hard on himself, always pushing himself. There were no signs, it did take me really off guard." However, she admits there must be something going on with him that led him to take the extreme step. "He was obviously fighting demons," she said. Meanwhile, Isabel has people around her blaming her for his death. "I know it's not true, my husband and I were very happy. No one can change that or take that away from me." If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602 WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

28-year-old veteran kills himself after honeymoon, sends wife flowers from beyond the grave

Donald Trump on Friday (May 2) shrugged off growing fears of an American recession, saying that the short-term pain is OK as his policies take root.
Appearing in a clip of a pre-recorded interview with NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker" released on Friday, Trump shrugged off recession fears. This comes despite new government data confirming that the US economy, in the first three months of Trump's second presidency, contracted unexpectedly in the first quarter.
<h2>A 'transition period'</h2>
Striking an upbeat tone, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/trump-0">Trump</a>&nbsp;insisted that his economic blueprint &mdash; including aggressive tariffs &mdash; would eventually spark "the greatest boom in history."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-tone-deaf-disrespectful-behaviour-at-popes-funeral-ignites-online-hate-moron-embarrassed-us-on-world-stage-9006273">'Tone-deaf' Trump's disrespectful behaviour at Pope's funeral ignites online hate: 'Moron embarrassed us on world stage'</a>
"This is a transition period. I think we're going to do fantastically," he told NBC News. The full interview is due to be released on Sunday (May 4).
<h2>Recession fears vs Trump's optimism</h2>
Asked directly whether he was "comfortable with the country potentially dipping into a recession for a period of time" if he were able to achieve his long-term goals, the US president evaded a direct answer and instead said, "Some people on Wall Street say that we're going to have the greatest economy in history. Why don't you talk about them?"&nbsp;
When pressed about whether he worried about a recession, Trump replied, "Anything can happen".&nbsp;
Aslo read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/justkilled-dapope-vance-jd-vance-calls-meeting-pope-francis-before-his-death-pretty-crazy-internet-agrees-9000099">'Justkilled DaPope Vance': JD Vance calls meeting Pope Francis before his death 'pretty crazy' &mdash; internet agrees</a>
"But I think we're going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country. I think we're going have the greatest economic boom in history," he added as per excerpts of the interview.
His comments come amid growing unease on Wall Street and in global financial circles, with economists warning that a recession &mdash; triggered by Trump's tariffs &mdash; is increasingly likely.&nbsp;
According to Apollo Global's chief economist, Torsten Slok, the chances of such a "Voluntary Trade Reset Recession" now stand at a staggering 90 per cent.
<h2>Markets rattle, jobs hold steady</h2>
Financial markets have been volatile since Trump ordered sweeping tariffs on imports. While stock prices saw a minor rebound on Friday, buoyed by a stronger-than-expected jobs report, analysts, as per reports, remain cautious.

Discover Trump's optimistic outlook on the US economy amid recession fears as he discusses a transition period leading to a historic boom in a recent interview.

Donald Trump on Friday (May 2) shrugged off growing fears of an American recession, saying that the short-term pain is OK as his policies take root. Appearing in a clip of a pre-recorded interview with NBC's "Meet the Press with Kristen Welker" released on Friday, Trump shrugged off recession fears. This comes despite new government data confirming that the US economy, in the first three months of Trump's second presidency, contracted unexpectedly in the first quarter. A 'transition period' Striking an upbeat tone, Trump insisted that his economic blueprint — including aggressive tariffs — would eventually spark "the greatest boom in history." Also read | 'Tone-deaf' Trump's disrespectful behaviour at Pope's funeral ignites online hate: 'Moron embarrassed us on world stage' "This is a transition period. I think we're going to do fantastically," he told NBC News. The full interview is due to be released on Sunday (May 4). Recession fears vs Trump's optimism Asked directly whether he was "comfortable with the country potentially dipping into a recession for a period of time" if he were able to achieve his long-term goals, the US president evaded a direct answer and instead said, "Some people on Wall Street say that we're going to have the greatest economy in history. Why don't you talk about them?" When pressed about whether he worried about a recession, Trump replied, "Anything can happen". Aslo read | 'Justkilled DaPope Vance': JD Vance calls meeting Pope Francis before his death 'pretty crazy' — internet agrees "But I think we're going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country. I think we're going have the greatest economic boom in history," he added as per excerpts of the interview. His comments come amid growing unease on Wall Street and in global financial circles, with economists warning that a recession — triggered by Trump's tariffs — is increasingly likely. According to Apollo Global's chief economist, Torsten Slok, the chances of such a "Voluntary Trade Reset Recession" now stand at a staggering 90 per cent. Markets rattle, jobs hold steady Financial markets have been volatile since Trump ordered sweeping tariffs on imports. While stock prices saw a minor rebound on Friday, buoyed by a stronger-than-expected jobs report, analysts, as per reports, remain cautious.

Trump 'OK' with US recession says 'anything can happen,' claims US will have 'historic boom' later

President Donald Trump has unveiled a bold new budget proposal that aims to slash federal government spending by over $160 billion, targeting a wide range of non-defence programmes while keeping military funding largely unchanged. The move has already stirred unrest among Republicans in Congress, who are growing uneasy about the scale of the cuts.
<h2>What all is facing cuts in Trump's budget proposal?</h2>
The proposed 2026 budget, often referred to as a "skinny budget", outlines sweeping reductions to domestic spending. Key areas facing cuts include:
<ul>
<li>Public health: Millions would be stripped from agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the CDC.</li>
<li>Education: Grants supporting low-income students, teacher training, and preschool development could be axed.</li>
<li>Environment: Environmental Protection Agency programmes&mdash;particularly those linked to environmental justice&mdash;are in the crosshairs.</li>
<li>Housing and labour: The Departments of Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, and Labour could each lose over 30% of their current funding.</li>
<li>Foreign aid: USAID and the U.S. Institute of Peace may be eliminated entirely.</li>
<li>Scientific research: NASA&rsquo;s space science initiatives and funding for the International Space Station would see major reductions.</li>
</ul>
At the same time, the Trump administration wants increased investment in border security, rail and air safety, and law enforcement.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-ukraine-peace-talks-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-russia-zelensky-putin-9027333" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Dealmaker in chief&rsquo; or dealbreaker? Is Trump walking away from Ukraine peace talks after sealing key minerals deal?</a>
<h2>How are GOP and Democrats reacting?</h2>
The reaction on Capitol Hill has been swift&mdash;and mixed.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) criticised the proposal for lacking detail and for holding defence spending flat at $893 billion. &ldquo;I have serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defence funding,&rdquo; she said, adding that cuts to biomedical research and support for low-income households were also deeply concerning.
Former GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell, now leading the Senate&rsquo;s defence funding panel, echoed those concerns. He accused the White House of using &ldquo;OMB accounting gimmicks&rdquo; and warned that the proposed defence budget was &ldquo;not a substitute for full-year appropriations.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-id-like-to-be-pope-breaks-internet-as-world-awaits-new-vatican-head-video-9016996" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Donald Trump's 'I'd like to be pope' breaks internet as world awaits new Vatican head - Video</a>
Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) added that the proposal would &ldquo;shred to the bone our military capabilities.&rdquo;
House Republicans have been more cautious. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said lawmakers had &ldquo;a better understanding of what can pass and what can&rsquo;t&rdquo; than the administration.
<h2>Could Congress push back?</h2>
Although Congress often sets its own funding priorities, Trump&rsquo;s administration is signalling that it may withhold funding lawmakers approve. A senior White House official did not rule out using &ldquo;impoundment&rdquo; powers to block spending decisions by Congress.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-waltz-un-ambassador-national-security-advisor-donald-trump-signal-john-bolton-9027090" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Doesn&rsquo;t compare&rsquo;: Mike Waltz&rsquo;s UN posting is a demotion, not a promotion, says the guy who&rsquo;s held both jobs</a>
This sets the stage for a clash between the White House and Capitol Hill, especially with Republicans needing some Democratic votes to pass any budget. Without bipartisan support, the risk of a government shutdown increases, with a deadline looming on 30 September.
<h2>What are Democrats saying?</h2>
Democrats have come out strongly against the proposed cuts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump&rsquo;s budget &ldquo;a betrayal of working people&rdquo; and &ldquo;morally bankrupt.&rdquo; He pledged to oppose the plan with full force.
With memories of the March spending battle still fresh, Democrats are under pressure to resist further compromises.
<h2>What does the budget really mean?</h2>
While presidential budgets are typically symbolic, this year&rsquo;s proposal has more weight. Trump has already frozen billions in spending without Congress&rsquo; approval, drawing multiple lawsuits and watchdog investigations. This budget signals how aggressively he intends to reshape government spending.
It also reflects Trump&rsquo;s broader political goals. White House budget director Russ Vought framed the proposal as a push to return power to states and families. &ldquo;The Federal Government has intruded on matters best left to American families,&rdquo; he wrote.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/national-security-adviser-mike-waltz-using-signal-day-before-he-was-ousted-by-donald-trump-9025760" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Caught on camera! Mike Waltz photographed using Signal the day before he was ousted by Trump - Who was he texting?</a>
The administration&rsquo;s full budget, with more detailed agency-by-agency plans, is expected later this month.

World: US President Donald Trump has unveiled a bold new budget proposal that aims to slash federal government spending by over $160 billion.

President Donald Trump has unveiled a bold new budget proposal that aims to slash federal government spending by over $160 billion, targeting a wide range of non-defence programmes while keeping military funding largely unchanged. The move has already stirred unrest among Republicans in Congress, who are growing uneasy about the scale of the cuts. What all is facing cuts in Trump's budget proposal? The proposed 2026 budget, often referred to as a "skinny budget", outlines sweeping reductions to domestic spending. Key areas facing cuts include: Public health: Millions would be stripped from agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the CDC. Education: Grants supporting low-income students, teacher training, and preschool development could be axed. Environment: Environmental Protection Agency programmes—particularly those linked to environmental justice—are in the crosshairs. Housing and labour: The Departments of Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, and Labour could each lose over 30% of their current funding. Foreign aid: USAID and the U.S. Institute of Peace may be eliminated entirely. Scientific research: NASA’s space science initiatives and funding for the International Space Station would see major reductions. At the same time, the Trump administration wants increased investment in border security, rail and air safety, and law enforcement. Also read: ‘Dealmaker in chief’ or dealbreaker? Is Trump walking away from Ukraine peace talks after sealing key minerals deal? How are GOP and Democrats reacting? The reaction on Capitol Hill has been swift—and mixed. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) criticised the proposal for lacking detail and for holding defence spending flat at $893 billion. “I have serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defence funding,” she said, adding that cuts to biomedical research and support for low-income households were also deeply concerning. Former GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell, now leading the Senate’s defence funding panel, echoed those concerns. He accused the White House of using “OMB accounting gimmicks” and warned that the proposed defence budget was “not a substitute for full-year appropriations.” Also read: Donald Trump's 'I'd like to be pope' breaks internet as world awaits new Vatican head - Video Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) added that the proposal would “shred to the bone our military capabilities.” House Republicans have been more cautious. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said lawmakers had “a better understanding of what can pass and what can’t” than the administration. Could Congress push back? Although Congress often sets its own funding priorities, Trump’s administration is signalling that it may withhold funding lawmakers approve. A senior White House official did not rule out using “impoundment” powers to block spending decisions by Congress. Also read: ‘Doesn’t compare’: Mike Waltz’s UN posting is a demotion, not a promotion, says the guy who’s held both jobs This sets the stage for a clash between the White House and Capitol Hill, especially with Republicans needing some Democratic votes to pass any budget. Without bipartisan support, the risk of a government shutdown increases, with a deadline looming on 30 September. What are Democrats saying? Democrats have come out strongly against the proposed cuts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump’s budget “a betrayal of working people” and “morally bankrupt.” He pledged to oppose the plan with full force. With memories of the March spending battle still fresh, Democrats are under pressure to resist further compromises. What does the budget really mean? While presidential budgets are typically symbolic, this year’s proposal has more weight. Trump has already frozen billions in spending without Congress’ approval, drawing multiple lawsuits and watchdog investigations. This budget signals how aggressively he intends to reshape government spending. It also reflects Trump’s broader political goals. White House budget director Russ Vought framed the proposal as a push to return power to states and families. “The Federal Government has intruded on matters best left to American families,” he wrote. Also read: Caught on camera! Mike Waltz photographed using Signal the day before he was ousted by Trump - Who was he texting? The administration’s full budget, with more detailed agency-by-agency plans, is expected later this month.

Trump’s 'skinny budget' slashes $163 billion from federal programs, even his own party is alarmed - Here's what it means

Formula One has agreed a 10-year extension with Miami Grand Prix organizers ensuring the race will continue until 2041.
South Florida Motorsports, a subsidiary of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, are hosting their fourth grand prix this weekend at the track which surrounds the team's Hard Rock Stadium.
<h2>Formula One extends deal to keep Miami GP</h2>
The current deal was due to expire in 2031 but Formula One president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said they were keen to lock-down the event for the long term.
"Extending this agreement until 2041 is a strategic milestone of enormous importance, which strengthens our presence in America and consolidates the ever-deepening bond with our fan base there, which is constantly growing and passionate like never before," he said.
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Miami Grand Prix managing partner Tom Garfinkel said the extension was a huge vote of confidence from F1 in the event.
"To have been granted this extension after only our third event speaks to what we have felt from the very beginning -&ndash; the Miami Grand Prix is here to stay," he said.
Last year's Miami Grand Prix attracted the largest US television audience of all time for an F1 race with 3.1 million viewers.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Miami Grand Prix managing partner Tom Garfinkel said the extension was a huge vote of confidence from F1 in the event and will now continue until 2041. Formula 1 | World | Sports

Formula One has agreed a 10-year extension with Miami Grand Prix organizers ensuring the race will continue until 2041. South Florida Motorsports, a subsidiary of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, are hosting their fourth grand prix this weekend at the track which surrounds the team's Hard Rock Stadium. Formula One extends deal to keep Miami GP The current deal was due to expire in 2031 but Formula One president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said they were keen to lock-down the event for the long term. "Extending this agreement until 2041 is a strategic milestone of enormous importance, which strengthens our presence in America and consolidates the ever-deepening bond with our fan base there, which is constantly growing and passionate like never before," he said. ALSO READ | Sai Sudharsan on Shastri's preferred list for away England tour; ex-coach also backs left-arm quicks for selection Miami Grand Prix managing partner Tom Garfinkel said the extension was a huge vote of confidence from F1 in the event. "To have been granted this extension after only our third event speaks to what we have felt from the very beginning -– the Miami Grand Prix is here to stay," he said. Last year's Miami Grand Prix attracted the largest US television audience of all time for an F1 race with 3.1 million viewers. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Formula One extends deal to keep Miami GP until 2041 ahead of the latest edition

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