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Pentagon schools in the US and across the globe are suing US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Twelve students have picked up the baton to fight the ban on books by Hegseth, whose aim is to remove titles on gender and race from their reading material in the libraries.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit has been lodged on behalf of the students on Tuesday. It argues that the decision attacks the first amendment rights are can cause irrepable harm and may be in a hinderance in the learning process.
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-vs-ivy-league-showdown-escalates-harvard-says-federal-demands-violate-academic-freedom-8969747">Trump vs Ivy League showdown escalates: Harvard says federal demands violate academic freedom</a>
The censorship has been applied on all Pentagon schools. In the larger scheme of things, it will be refusing children acess to critical information on biology, abuse, health and hygience among other things.
&ldquo;The quality of children&rsquo;s education, their exposure to ideas and the preparing of citizens in the next generation are all being harmed by this censorship,&rdquo; Emerson Sykes, the ACLU&rsquo;s senior staff attorney and the lead counsel in the case was quoted in the news outlet Guardian.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/should-india-allow-the-streaming-of-netflixs-adolescence-in-indian-schools-like-keir-starmer-has-in-the-uk-8929116">Should India allow the streaming of Netflix&rsquo;s Adolescence in Indian schools, like Keir Starmer has in the UK?</a>
&ldquo;This is not how public schools are supposed to work &ndash; students have a right to learn and to access information that should be above the political fray," he added.
The suit also brought to light that children&rsquo;s yearbook entries have begun to be rid of content related to gender. A circular by the school management read: "Student yearbooks are not to include any visual depictions, written content, or editorial choices that would directly or indirectly support the instruction, advancement, and/or promotion of &lsquo;gender ideology&rsquo; and/or &lsquo;social transition."
And the Pentagon schools students staging protests against this move have been warned that they could face disciplinary action.
&nbsp;

Twelve students have picked up the baton to fight the ban on books by Hegseth, whose aim is to remove titles on gender and race from their reading material in the libraries. World

Pentagon schools in the US and across the globe are suing US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Twelve students have picked up the baton to fight the ban on books by Hegseth, whose aim is to remove titles on gender and race from their reading material in the libraries. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit has been lodged on behalf of the students on Tuesday. It argues that the decision attacks the first amendment rights are can cause irrepable harm and may be in a hinderance in the learning process. WATCH | Trump vs Ivy League showdown escalates: Harvard says federal demands violate academic freedom The censorship has been applied on all Pentagon schools. In the larger scheme of things, it will be refusing children acess to critical information on biology, abuse, health and hygience among other things. “The quality of children’s education, their exposure to ideas and the preparing of citizens in the next generation are all being harmed by this censorship,” Emerson Sykes, the ACLU’s senior staff attorney and the lead counsel in the case was quoted in the news outlet Guardian. Also read: Should India allow the streaming of Netflix’s Adolescence in Indian schools, like Keir Starmer has in the UK? “This is not how public schools are supposed to work – students have a right to learn and to access information that should be above the political fray," he added. The suit also brought to light that children’s yearbook entries have begun to be rid of content related to gender. A circular by the school management read: "Student yearbooks are not to include any visual depictions, written content, or editorial choices that would directly or indirectly support the instruction, advancement, and/or promotion of ‘gender ideology’ and/or ‘social transition." And the Pentagon schools students staging protests against this move have been warned that they could face disciplinary action.

Pentagon students sue Pete Hegseth for banning THESE books

President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration sued Maine on Wednesday, escalating its conflict with the state for refusing to ban transgender athletes from participating in women&rsquo;s and girls&rsquo; sports. The lawsuit alleges that Maine is violating Title IX, which affords legal protection against sex discrimination, by allowing transgender female athletes to participate in girls&rsquo; and women&rsquo;s sports. The lawsuit cites two instances in which transgender athletes won girls&rsquo; competitions, including a pole vaulter who won the state indoor track and field state championships in February. When asked whether it&rsquo;s worth the department&rsquo;s resources to sue Maine over two athletes, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi replied, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care if it&rsquo;s one. I don&rsquo;t care if it&rsquo;s two. I don&rsquo;t care if it's 100.&rdquo; Bondi said the department is also probing transgender issues in other states, including Minnesota and California. &ldquo;We are also considering whether to retroactively pull all the funding they have received for not complying in the past,&rdquo; the AG added.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-ongoing-tariff-war-china-accuses-us-of-cyberattacks-issues-arrest-warrants-for-3-nsa-agents-8964606">Amid ongoing tariff war, China accuses US of cyberattacks, issues arrest warrants for 3 NSA &lsquo;agents&rsquo;</a> Maine Governor Janet Mills said in a statement on Wednesday that the suit was an example of Trump trying to impose his will on state governments. &ldquo;This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law,&rdquo; Mills said.&nbsp; &ldquo;Let today serve as warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the Federal government in this way, but we will not be the last.&rdquo;
Trump frequently railed against transgender athletes while on the campaign trail and signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women&rsquo;s sports. He prominently clashed with Mills, a Democrat, over the issue at a February White House meeting. Proponents of Trump&rsquo;s action say it protects the fairness of competition, while opponents say it excludes young transgender people from important physical and social activity.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-threatening-china-warns-after-us-slaps-beijing-with-whopping-245-tariffs-donald-trump-trade-war-imports-8968395" rel="noopener" target="_blank">'Stop threatening': China warns after US slaps Beijing with whopping 245% tariffs</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-threatening-china-warns-after-us-slaps-beijing-with-whopping-245-tariffs-donald-trump-trade-war-imports-8968395" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a> The majority of Americans do not support transgender athletes competing in girls&rsquo; and women&rsquo;s sports, polling shows. Just 26% of respondents to a February Reuters/Ipsos poll agreed that they should at the elementary and high school level, with 55% opposed and the rest unsure. Just 19% supported the idea of transgender women competing in elite-level women&rsquo;s sports, like college, the Olympics and professional leagues, with 65% opposed. Maine is expected to see competitive House and Senate races in next year&rsquo;s midterm elections that will help determine control of Congress.
<h2>Funding fight</h2>
The lawsuit comes five days after the administration tried to cut off all of Maine&rsquo;s federal funding for public schools and its school lunch programme over the issue. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified Maine on April 2 that it was freezing school lunch funding, citing Title IX violations.
A U.S. District Court judge temporarily blocked the USDA from choking off funds after Maine sued the federal government. Earlier on April 2, the Department of Education announced that it was cutting off the state&rsquo;s $250 million in K-12 public education funds as part of an administrative proceeding. The Justice Department on April 7 also pulled more than $1.5 billion in federal grants from Maine&rsquo;s Department of Corrections.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/type-5-diabetes-finally-recognised-after-decades-afflicts-young-what-we-all-need-to-know-8968796">Type 5 Diabetes finally recognised after decades, afflicts young. What we all need to know</a>
Maine&rsquo;s assistant attorney general, Sarah Forster, told the U.S. Department of Education in an April 11 letter that the state would not sign a proposed draft resolution or any revisions. &ldquo;Nothing in Title IX or its implementing regulations prohibits schools from allowing transgender girls and women to participate on girls&rsquo; and women&rsquo;s sports teams,&rdquo; she wrote. &ldquo;Your letters to date do not cite a single case that so holds.&rdquo; Out of 510,000 athletes competing at the collegiate level, fewer than 10 publicly identify as transgender, NCAA President Charlie Baker said in January. Transgender people are a small portion of the overall U.S. population. More than 1.6 million adults aged 18 and older and youth between the ages of 13 through 17 identify as transgender in the United States, according to a 2022 report from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. A large percentage of transgender adults have also attempted or contemplated suicide, according to a 2023 report from the same group, which found that 81% of transgender adults in the United States have thought about suicide and 42% have attempted it.

World: Trump frequently railed against transgender athletes while on the campaign trail and signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. He clashed with Mills, a Democrat, over the issue at a meeting.

President Donald Trump’s administration sued Maine on Wednesday, escalating its conflict with the state for refusing to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports. The lawsuit alleges that Maine is violating Title IX, which affords legal protection against sex discrimination, by allowing transgender female athletes to participate in girls’ and women’s sports. The lawsuit cites two instances in which transgender athletes won girls’ competitions, including a pole vaulter who won the state indoor track and field state championships in February. When asked whether it’s worth the department’s resources to sue Maine over two athletes, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi replied, “I don’t care if it’s one. I don’t care if it’s two. I don’t care if it's 100.” Bondi said the department is also probing transgender issues in other states, including Minnesota and California. “We are also considering whether to retroactively pull all the funding they have received for not complying in the past,” the AG added. Also Read | Amid ongoing tariff war, China accuses US of cyberattacks, issues arrest warrants for 3 NSA ‘agents’ Maine Governor Janet Mills said in a statement on Wednesday that the suit was an example of Trump trying to impose his will on state governments. “This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law,” Mills said. “Let today serve as warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the Federal government in this way, but we will not be the last.” Trump frequently railed against transgender athletes while on the campaign trail and signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. He prominently clashed with Mills, a Democrat, over the issue at a February White House meeting. Proponents of Trump’s action say it protects the fairness of competition, while opponents say it excludes young transgender people from important physical and social activity. Also read | 'Stop threatening': China warns after US slaps Beijing with whopping 245% tariffs The majority of Americans do not support transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports, polling shows. Just 26% of respondents to a February Reuters/Ipsos poll agreed that they should at the elementary and high school level, with 55% opposed and the rest unsure. Just 19% supported the idea of transgender women competing in elite-level women’s sports, like college, the Olympics and professional leagues, with 65% opposed. Maine is expected to see competitive House and Senate races in next year’s midterm elections that will help determine control of Congress. Funding fight The lawsuit comes five days after the administration tried to cut off all of Maine’s federal funding for public schools and its school lunch programme over the issue. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified Maine on April 2 that it was freezing school lunch funding, citing Title IX violations. A U.S. District Court judge temporarily blocked the USDA from choking off funds after Maine sued the federal government. Earlier on April 2, the Department of Education announced that it was cutting off the state’s $250 million in K-12 public education funds as part of an administrative proceeding. The Justice Department on April 7 also pulled more than $1.5 billion in federal grants from Maine’s Department of Corrections. Also Read | Type 5 Diabetes finally recognised after decades, afflicts young. What we all need to know Maine’s assistant attorney general, Sarah Forster, told the U.S. Department of Education in an April 11 letter that the state would not sign a proposed draft resolution or any revisions. “Nothing in Title IX or its implementing regulations prohibits schools from allowing transgender girls and women to participate on girls’ and women’s sports teams,” she wrote. “Your letters to date do not cite a single case that so holds.” Out of 510,000 athletes competing at the collegiate level, fewer than 10 publicly identify as transgender, NCAA President Charlie Baker said in January. Transgender people are a small portion of the overall U.S. population. More than 1.6 million adults aged 18 and older and youth between the ages of 13 through 17 identify as transgender in the United States, according to a 2022 report from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. A large percentage of transgender adults have also attempted or contemplated suicide, according to a 2023 report from the same group, which found that 81% of transgender adults in the United States have thought about suicide and 42% have attempted it.

Trump admin sues Maine over its refusal to comply with order banning transgender athletes

US President Donald Trump, who once again slammed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/Harvard%20research%20programs%20get%20%22stop%20work%20orders%22%20after%20$2.2%20billion%20funding%20freeze" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Harvard University</a>&nbsp;for hiring "radical left idiots" and "birdbrains", now says they are capable of teaching "FAILURE to students".
US Vice President JD Vance to visit India and Italy from April 18 to April 24 along with family, the White House announced on Wednesday.
UK Supreme Court declared transgender women are not legally women. This landmark judgement was announced on Wednesday
Click on the headlines for more
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harvard-is-a-joke-trump-slams-ivy-league-for-hiring-birdbrains-and-leftist-dopes-warns-to-cut-federal-funds-donald-trump-us-8968947">'Harvard is a JOKE': Trump slams Ivy League for hiring 'birdbrains' and 'Leftist dopes', warns to cut federal funds</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/1280x0/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/15/qruEPjbqJiDA1vY2H7YW.png" alt=" US president warns Ivy league will be 'taxed' Photograph: (Reuters/Wion web team) " style="width: 1280px;">
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (April 16) once again criticised Harvard University for hiring "radical left idiots" and "birdbrains", saying that they are capable of teaching "FAILURE to students".&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-meet-pm-modi-jd-vance-to-visit-india-with-second-family-personal-visit-or-talks-on-tariffs-unleashed-by-trump-8969834">&lsquo;To meet PM Modi&rsquo;: JD Vance to visit India with second family &ndash; personal visit or talks on tariffs unleashed by Trump?</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="US Vice President JD Vance (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, at the residence of the US Ambassador to France, in Paris, on February 11, 2025." src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/99b5w1cb4HJqWuNOMuH0.jpg" style="width: 1280px;"><qb-highlighter contenteditable="false" style="display: none;"><qb-div spellcheck="false" class="qb-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 1280px !important; height: 22.3889px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 640px 11.1944px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 730.389px !important;"><qb-div class="qb-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 1280px !important; height: 22px !important;"></qb-div></qb-div></qb-highlighter><qb-highlighter contenteditable="false" style="display: none;"><qb-div spellcheck="false" class="qb-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 1280px !important; height: 22.3889px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 640px 11.1944px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 730.389px !important;"><qb-div class="qb-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 1280px !important; height: 22px !important;"></qb-div></qb-div></qb-highlighter>
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&nbsp;US Vice President JD Vance will visit India and Italy from April 18 to April 24 along with the second family, the White House announced on Wednesday (Apr 16). Vance will discuss matters concerning economic and geopolitical priorities with the leaders from both nations. This comes amid the global trade war unleashed by US President Donald Trump.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-supreme-court-says-trans-women-are-not-legally-women-in-landmark-ruling-8969184">UK&rsquo;s Supreme Court says trans women are not legally women in landmark ruling</a>
<figure class="image"><img alt="Susan Smith (L) and Marion Calder (3R), Directors of For Women Scotland, celebrate with Maya Forstater of 'Sex Matters' outside Britain's Supreme Court in London on April 16, 2025, following the court's ruling on how to define a 'woman'." src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/ZGGtfUkkxqjE9sHGs3Vw.jpg" style="width: 1280px;"><qb-highlighter contenteditable="false" style="display: none;"><qb-div spellcheck="false" class="qb-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 1280px !important; height: 22.3889px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 640px 11.1944px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 730.389px !important;"><qb-div class="qb-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 1280px !important; height: 22px !important;"></qb-div></qb-div></qb-highlighter>
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Britain&rsquo;s highest court has declared that transgender women are not legally women in a landmark judgement on Wednesday (Apr 16).
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-7000-bank-accounts-seized-dozens-detained-in-major-cyber-fraud-case-in-jammu-kashmir-8968616">Over 7000 bank accounts seized, dozens detained in major cyber fraud case in Jammu &amp; Kashmir</a>
<img alt="bank" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/h4mMaSrqCsOWCrG5bay3.webp" style="width: 1280px;">
Over 7000 bank accounts were seized and dozens arrested in a major cybercrime case in the Kashmir Valley. Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified operations against cybercrime and have over 20,000 such bank accounts on their radar.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/300-year-old-folk-getting-social-security-biden-pokes-fun-at-trump-administration-musk-responds-with-data-on-vampires-8969454">'300-year-old folk getting Social Security': Biden pokes fun at Trump administration, Musk responds with data on 'vampires'</a>
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<figure class="image"><img alt="Biden Musk" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/WBhkMQG5Hsr8aqh51G7R.png" style="width: 1280px;"><qb-highlighter contenteditable="false" style="display: none;"><qb-div spellcheck="false" class="qb-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 1280px !important; height: 18.6667px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 640px 9.33333px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 728.444px !important;"><qb-div class="qb-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 1280px !important; height: 18.6667px !important;"></qb-div></qb-div></qb-highlighter>
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Joe Biden addressed the American people for the first time since his departure from the White House. The former president spoke of Social Security and how his administration made things better and the current regime is pulling things down.<qb-div style="all: initial !important;"></qb-div>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangadesh-pakistan-india-pak-foreign-secretary-in-bangladesh-fm-ishaq-dhar-to-visit-bangladesh-liberation-war-story-8967710">Remember, remember the war of December: Bangladesh to host foreign minister of Pakistan, from which India helped its liberation | The irony</a>
<div style="all: initial !important;"><img alt="bangladesh" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/xAdrhFMz5Y0a7W4LDVxj.webp" style="width: 1280px;"></div>
Bangladesh is expected to receive the Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in the last week of April. Ahead of Dhar's trip, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch is visiting Bangladesh on Wednesday (Apr 16), for the first such bilateral engagement in 15 years.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hostages-parents-express-frustration-over-netanyahus-lack-of-efforts-witkoff-cried-israeli-pm-didnt-even-know-our-son-was-wounded-8969152">Hostage's parents express frustration over Netanyahu's 'lack of efforts'; 'Witkoff cried, Israeli PM didn&rsquo;t even know our son was wounded'</a>
<img alt="collage" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/ao20x9voosVyAYX7lyLb.webp" style="width: 1280px;">
<qb-toolbar contenteditable="false" id="qb-toolbar-container" style="display: none;"><qb-div class="qb-toolbar__wrapper" style="left: 1243px; position: absolute !important; top: 4450px !important; bottom: auto !important; z-index: auto; opacity: 1 !important; pointer-events: all !important;"></qb-div></qb-toolbar>The parents of two hostages, on Tuesday (Apr 15), expressed their frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that the Israeli Prime Minister wasn't doing enough to secure the release of their sons from Hamas' captivity.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/she-humanises-us-us-senator-brings-bulldog-to-senate-hearing-sets-up-mic-for-her-watch-8968970">'She humanises us': US Senator brings bulldog to senate hearing, sets up mic for her- WATCH</a> 
<img alt="Senator" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/xrVsutYAXrS03dt9ag9n.webp" style="width: 1280px;">
In a lighthearted moment, Senator Jim Justice was accompanied by his adorable pooch, Babydog the English bulldog, at a Senate Energy Committee hearing on Thursday, according to the New York Post. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/blake-lively-named-as-titan-in-time-magazines-100-most-influential-people-in-world-list-8969408">Blake Lively named as &lsquo;Titan&rsquo; in Time Magazine&rsquo;s 100 Most Influential People In World List</a>
<img alt="blake" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/McDNFGPyoJm1wpa9xhFW.webp" style="width: 1280px;"> Blake Lively has been named in Time Magazine&rsquo;s 100 Most Influential People In the World List for 2025. The list features Blake under the &lsquo;Titans&rsquo; category along with celebrities like Ted Sarandos, Serena Williams and Mark Zuckerberg, among others.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/cricket-ipl-2025-explained-how-insurance-giant-lic-has-earned-more-than-500-in-csk-over-six-years-8968550">IPL 2025 | Explained: How insurance giant LIC has earned more than 500% in CSK over six years?</a>
<img alt="cric" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/oxjqT3Ni3yTSrD2XhH1h.webp" style="width: 1280px;">
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennai Super Kings</a>&nbsp;(CSK) are arguably one of the most successful teams in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Premier League</a>&nbsp;(IPL) with 12 playoff appearances, 10 finals, and five titles under their belt.&nbsp;
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&nbsp;

Here are the top 10 stories from across the world. World

US President Donald Trump, who once again slammed Harvard University for hiring "radical left idiots" and "birdbrains", now says they are capable of teaching "FAILURE to students". US Vice President JD Vance to visit India and Italy from April 18 to April 24 along with family, the White House announced on Wednesday. UK Supreme Court declared transgender women are not legally women. This landmark judgement was announced on Wednesday Click on the headlines for more 'Harvard is a JOKE': Trump slams Ivy League for hiring 'birdbrains' and 'Leftist dopes', warns to cut federal funds US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (April 16) once again criticised Harvard University for hiring "radical left idiots" and "birdbrains", saying that they are capable of teaching "FAILURE to students". ‘To meet PM Modi’: JD Vance to visit India with second family – personal visit or talks on tariffs unleashed by Trump? US Vice President JD Vance will visit India and Italy from April 18 to April 24 along with the second family, the White House announced on Wednesday (Apr 16). Vance will discuss matters concerning economic and geopolitical priorities with the leaders from both nations. This comes amid the global trade war unleashed by US President Donald Trump. UK’s Supreme Court says trans women are not legally women in landmark ruling Britain’s highest court has declared that transgender women are not legally women in a landmark judgement on Wednesday (Apr 16). Over 7000 bank accounts seized, dozens detained in major cyber fraud case in Jammu & Kashmir Over 7000 bank accounts were seized and dozens arrested in a major cybercrime case in the Kashmir Valley. Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified operations against cybercrime and have over 20,000 such bank accounts on their radar. '300-year-old folk getting Social Security': Biden pokes fun at Trump administration, Musk responds with data on 'vampires' Joe Biden addressed the American people for the first time since his departure from the White House. The former president spoke of Social Security and how his administration made things better and the current regime is pulling things down. Remember, remember the war of December: Bangladesh to host foreign minister of Pakistan, from which India helped its liberation | The irony Bangladesh is expected to receive the Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in the last week of April. Ahead of Dhar's trip, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch is visiting Bangladesh on Wednesday (Apr 16), for the first such bilateral engagement in 15 years. Hostage's parents express frustration over Netanyahu's 'lack of efforts'; 'Witkoff cried, Israeli PM didn’t even know our son was wounded' The parents of two hostages, on Tuesday (Apr 15), expressed their frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that the Israeli Prime Minister wasn't doing enough to secure the release of their sons from Hamas' captivity. 'She humanises us': US Senator brings bulldog to senate hearing, sets up mic for her- WATCH In a lighthearted moment, Senator Jim Justice was accompanied by his adorable pooch, Babydog the English bulldog, at a Senate Energy Committee hearing on Thursday, according to the New York Post. Blake Lively named as ‘Titan’ in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People In World List Blake Lively has been named in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People In the World List for 2025. The list features Blake under the ‘Titans’ category along with celebrities like Ted Sarandos, Serena Williams and Mark Zuckerberg, among others. IPL 2025 | Explained: How insurance giant LIC has earned more than 500% in CSK over six years? The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are arguably one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 12 playoff appearances, 10 finals, and five titles under their belt.

Top 10 world news: Trump slams Harvard for hiring 'birdbrains'; JD Vance to visit India, and more

US Vice President JD Vance will visit India and Italy from April 18 to April 24 along with the second family, the White House announced on Wednesday (Apr 16). Vance will discuss matters concerning economic and geopolitical priorities with the leaders from both nations. This comes amid the global trade war unleashed by US President Donald Trump.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-vances-relationship-hits-new-low-us-vp-hits-back-after-ukraine-accuses-us-of-siding-with-russia-8965615">'Sort of absurd': Zelensky, Vance&rsquo;s relationship hits new low; US VP hits back after Ukraine accuses US of siding with Russia</a>
Vance will first travel to Italy this week and then to India, a spokesperson for the vice president confirmed. He will be accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, and three children &ndash; Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel &ndash; during the week-long trip.
<h2>Vance&rsquo;s trip to India</h2>
Vance will hold meetings with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the statement released by the White House. He will visit three locations in India, including New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/college-football-watch-video-us-vice-president-jd-vance-fumbles-osu-national-championship-trophy-white-house-visit-then-says-i-decided-to-break-it-8965107">WATCH - US vice president JD Vance fumbles OSU's national championship trophy then says 'I decided to break it'</a>
Meanwhile, Indian officials are working to wrap up tariff talks with the US in six weeks, Bloomberg News reported, citing a senior New Delhi official.
Although Vance&rsquo;s visit to India is likely to be more of a private trip, it will also carry official components, the report added.
The vice president and the second family will also take part in activities at the cultural sites of India.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oops-video-shows-moment-vance-dropped-college-football-trophy-so-i-decided-to-break-it-8962625">Oops! Video shows moment Vance dropped college football trophy: '...so I decided to break it'</a>
<h2>Vance to meet Italian PM Meloni</h2>
The US vice president is also set to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome before heading to meet the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. He will participate in ceremonies ahead of Easter Sunday.
Following Meloni&rsquo;s meeting with Vance, she will head to Washington to meet Trump at the White House on Thursday (Apr 16). The talks will be focused on securing tariff relief for the European Union.
Watch | India-US trade: Phase-1 talks advance, in-person in May
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1604_US_930AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1604_US_930AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=114&amp;tags=us, india, trade" title="India-US trade: Phase-1 talks advance, in-person in May" id="PL_iframe_block-m9k42qif-7ieamyag-6bo0iph8"></iframe>
Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on major trade partners of the US, sending shockwaves in global markets. However, he announced a 90-day pause for several nations, giving them a chance to negotiate deals. A lower 10 per cent rate is in place for most nations.

Meanwhile, Indian officials are working to wrap up tariff talks with the US in six weeks, Bloomberg News reported, citing a senior New Delhi official. World | India News

US Vice President JD Vance will visit India and Italy from April 18 to April 24 along with the second family, the White House announced on Wednesday (Apr 16). Vance will discuss matters concerning economic and geopolitical priorities with the leaders from both nations. This comes amid the global trade war unleashed by US President Donald Trump. Also read | 'Sort of absurd': Zelensky, Vance’s relationship hits new low; US VP hits back after Ukraine accuses US of siding with Russia Vance will first travel to Italy this week and then to India, a spokesperson for the vice president confirmed. He will be accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, and three children – Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel – during the week-long trip. Vance’s trip to India Vance will hold meetings with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the statement released by the White House. He will visit three locations in India, including New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. Also read | WATCH - US vice president JD Vance fumbles OSU's national championship trophy then says 'I decided to break it' Meanwhile, Indian officials are working to wrap up tariff talks with the US in six weeks, Bloomberg News reported, citing a senior New Delhi official. Although Vance’s visit to India is likely to be more of a private trip, it will also carry official components, the report added. The vice president and the second family will also take part in activities at the cultural sites of India. Also read | Oops! Video shows moment Vance dropped college football trophy: '...so I decided to break it' Vance to meet Italian PM Meloni The US vice president is also set to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome before heading to meet the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. He will participate in ceremonies ahead of Easter Sunday. Following Meloni’s meeting with Vance, she will head to Washington to meet Trump at the White House on Thursday (Apr 16). The talks will be focused on securing tariff relief for the European Union. Watch | India-US trade: Phase-1 talks advance, in-person in May Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on major trade partners of the US, sending shockwaves in global markets. However, he announced a 90-day pause for several nations, giving them a chance to negotiate deals. A lower 10 per cent rate is in place for most nations.

‘To meet PM Modi’: JD Vance to visit India with second family – personal visit or talks on tariffs unleashed by Trump?

The World Trade Organization has slashed its forecast for global trade this year amid the turbulence over the sharp spike in US tariffs and consequent uncertainty that has battered market sentiments and stock indices.
The latest Global Trade Outlook released by the World Trade Organization on April 16 says US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s tariffs will force a 0.2% contraction by volume in global trade in 2025, instead of the 2.7% growth that was projected otherwise. The Geneva-based WTO further warns that if Trump lifts the pause on his earlier announced reciprocal tariffs, it would amplify the problems, and the contraction could be even much bigger.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Together, reciprocal tariffs and spreading trade policy uncertainty would lead to a 1.5% decline in world merchandise trade in 2025,&rdquo; the WTO said in its report Wednesday. North American trade will be hardest hit, while Asia and Europe will see a modest rise in growth, it added. Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-threatening-china-warns-after-us-slaps-beijing-with-whopping-245-tariffs-donald-trump-trade-war-imports-8968395" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'Stop threatening': China warns after US slaps Beijing with whopping 245% tariffs</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-threatening-china-warns-after-us-slaps-beijing-with-whopping-245-tariffs-donald-trump-trade-war-imports-8968395" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;</a>
The economic disruption unleashed by Trump tariffs is likely to lead to a global growth loss of 0.6 percentage points. World GDP is now expected to grow at 2.2% instead of the baseline 2.8% in 2025, the WTO said.
&ldquo;The disruption in US-China trade is expected to trigger significant trade diversion, raising concerns among third markets about increased competition from China,&rdquo; the WTO outlook added. &ldquo;Unprecedented nature of the recent shift in trade policy poses a challenge for economic forecasters since there has been no directly comparable event in recent history,&rdquo; the report said.
The ramifications are likely to be far and wide. 2024 was the first year since 2017 (excluding the pandemic rebound) when global trade (2.9%) grew at a faster rate than global GDP (2.8%). Now, global trade will shrink by 0.2% in 2025, and the world will grow slower at 2.2%. WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-gdp-growth-defies-expectations-tariff-risks-loom-8967252" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China's GDP growth defies expectations, tariff risks loom</a>
The trade forecasts released by the WTO are deemed highly tentative given the volatile situation.
&ldquo;If realized, reciprocal tariffs would reduce global merchandise trade volume growth by 0.6 percentage points in 2025 while spreading trade policy uncertainty could shave off another 0.8 percentage points. Together, they would lead to a 1.5% decline in world merchandise trade in 2025,&rdquo; the report says.
However, not everyone will suffer the same disruption because of Trump&rsquo;s tariffs. The WTO expects North America to be the biggest negative drag (1.7 percentage points), while Asia&rsquo;s contribution to global trade growth is expected to halve to 0.6 percentage points. Services trade will also be hurt. The WTO now sees commercial services growing by 4% this year, compared to 6.8% last year.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-opens-to-talks-with-us-amid-tariff-war-wants-trump-admin-to-show-respect-8968109" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China opens to talks with US amid tariff war, wants Trump admin to show respect</a>
The global trade realignment could open up some opportunities for Less Developed Countries to substitute some of China&rsquo;s exports to the US, but they will also have to deal with a surge of Chinese imports. China is expected to face a 77% fall in its exports to the US because of Trump tariffs.
&ldquo;There is a risk that the tit-for-tat tariff increases between the two biggest economies of the world could spread. The economic costs of a split into two blocs would be substantial,&rdquo; it said.

Business & Economy | World: The Geneva-based WTO further warns that if Trump lifts the pause on his earlier announced reciprocal tariffs, it would amplify the problems, and the global trade contraction could be even much bigger.

The World Trade Organization has slashed its forecast for global trade this year amid the turbulence over the sharp spike in US tariffs and consequent uncertainty that has battered market sentiments and stock indices. The latest Global Trade Outlook released by the World Trade Organization on April 16 says US President Donald Trump’s tariffs will force a 0.2% contraction by volume in global trade in 2025, instead of the 2.7% growth that was projected otherwise. The Geneva-based WTO further warns that if Trump lifts the pause on his earlier announced reciprocal tariffs, it would amplify the problems, and the contraction could be even much bigger. “Together, reciprocal tariffs and spreading trade policy uncertainty would lead to a 1.5% decline in world merchandise trade in 2025,” the WTO said in its report Wednesday. North American trade will be hardest hit, while Asia and Europe will see a modest rise in growth, it added. Also read | 'Stop threatening': China warns after US slaps Beijing with whopping 245% tariffs The economic disruption unleashed by Trump tariffs is likely to lead to a global growth loss of 0.6 percentage points. World GDP is now expected to grow at 2.2% instead of the baseline 2.8% in 2025, the WTO said. “The disruption in US-China trade is expected to trigger significant trade diversion, raising concerns among third markets about increased competition from China,” the WTO outlook added. “Unprecedented nature of the recent shift in trade policy poses a challenge for economic forecasters since there has been no directly comparable event in recent history,” the report said. The ramifications are likely to be far and wide. 2024 was the first year since 2017 (excluding the pandemic rebound) when global trade (2.9%) grew at a faster rate than global GDP (2.8%). Now, global trade will shrink by 0.2% in 2025, and the world will grow slower at 2.2%. WATCH | China's GDP growth defies expectations, tariff risks loom The trade forecasts released by the WTO are deemed highly tentative given the volatile situation. “If realized, reciprocal tariffs would reduce global merchandise trade volume growth by 0.6 percentage points in 2025 while spreading trade policy uncertainty could shave off another 0.8 percentage points. Together, they would lead to a 1.5% decline in world merchandise trade in 2025,” the report says. However, not everyone will suffer the same disruption because of Trump’s tariffs. The WTO expects North America to be the biggest negative drag (1.7 percentage points), while Asia’s contribution to global trade growth is expected to halve to 0.6 percentage points. Services trade will also be hurt. The WTO now sees commercial services growing by 4% this year, compared to 6.8% last year. Also read: China opens to talks with US amid tariff war, wants Trump admin to show respect The global trade realignment could open up some opportunities for Less Developed Countries to substitute some of China’s exports to the US, but they will also have to deal with a surge of Chinese imports. China is expected to face a 77% fall in its exports to the US because of Trump tariffs. “There is a risk that the tit-for-tat tariff increases between the two biggest economies of the world could spread. The economic costs of a split into two blocs would be substantial,” it said.

Trump tariffs: WTO warns of economic turbulence ahead, slashes global trade forecast figures

The European Union's space envoy Marjolijn van Deelen has commended India's space program and initiatives and hopes to work much more with Delhi in the domain. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, she said, "What India did with the landing on the moon, on the South Pole two years ago was just fabulous". She pointed to India's space agency ISRO helping EU member states in space launches. India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) have been used to launch European Space Agency (ESA) satellites, with cost effectiveness and reliability being the main advantages.
The EU envoy also hopes for more cooperation with India in keeping space demilitarised. She said both sides have "mutual interest" on the issue because "we are both top-tier space-faring nations or regions". The EU aims to collaborate closely with India to develop these &ldquo;rules of the road,&rdquo; balancing legally binding treaties with urgent, practical measures to safeguard space for future generations. India has in the past emphasised that outer space should be used for peaceful purposes, in line with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST), to which it is a party.
<h3>Sidhant Sibal: What is the EU's view in making space safe and secure?</h3>
Marjolijn van Deelen: In the EU, we have realised that space is a strategic domain, and we've come to rely on it a lot. I think everybody who uses a mobile phone uses space, and we're not necessarily always aware. So, we really believe it is important for our societies, for our people, and for future generations. We make sure that space is safe and secure. How do we do that? It doesn't make sense to do that alone. Space is for everyone, and all nations have access to space if they have the capability. And if they don't have it now, they might have it in the future. So, we are working in the context of the United Nations, where all countries are at the table to look together on how we can make a better framework on how states behave in space. There is only one treaty that exists, the Outer Space Treaty, but it's from the 1960s and you see how much we have evolved since then, especially in space with so many different actors, so many more high tech companies involved. We really need to make a new framework. So, we do that in the context of the United Nations. We work closely with the Indian counterparts in that context. But we'd like to do that even more.
<h3>Sidhant Sibal: You mentioned about working with the Indian counterpart on a framework. So, if you can perhaps talk about the specific framework that the European Union is working on?</h3>
Marjolijn van Deelen: So, there are two approaches to this. One is&hellip;I want more treaties and that is what many countries focus on. The focus of the EU is more on, how do we make sure that everybody that acts in space does so in a responsible way, that is in a way that doesn't give me or doesn't provide a threat to me, and that doesn't create any escalation. So, that will be a framework of norms and rules and principles of responsible behaviour. And those two approaches, they're not mutually exclusive. As the EU, we really think we can also come to legally binding instruments, but that will take too long, and we really need to act now. And also in space, it's really hard to define what the weapon is. Well, you recognise one if you see one, but there are also many assets in space or even on the ground, the ground stations, that can be used as a weapon. But these are not in practice. So, there are many dual-use items, and with a dual-use asset, it depends on what you do with it. It could be for entirely peaceful purposes, and that's we're all for it. But if it's used by a malicious actor to hurt ours or India's satellites, then that's another thing. So we want to have a set of rules of the road. Is it okay if your satellite comes very close to my satellite without saying anything, or without notification, snooping around. Is it okay to create debris? This type of rules of the road we hope to develop in the international framework.&nbsp;
<h3>Sidhant Sibal: Do you worry about space militarisation?&nbsp;</h3>
Marjolijn van Deelen: Yes, we have, and we are very worried, exactly, because we see a number of actors being either developing aggressive technologies or being very opaque about them, so we don't really know what they're up to, and that poses a potential threat to us. So this is something that we talk with, with a lot of other countries around the world, with a few, we have a more intensive dialog to also see whether other countries perceive these threats in a similar way, because very recent, different areas of the globe, you might look at things in a different way. So it's good to be aware of threat perceptions. If you ask about weaponisation in space, well, there have been weapons in space for a long time. The question is more that we need to make sure that all of us can continue to operate our assets in space, our satellites, for our navigation, for our Earth observation, for environmental use, all these civilian uses that we have, and also the same uses for our defence organisations. We need to be able to continue to have access to those.&nbsp;
<h3>Sidhant Sibal: How can India and EU work together in making sure that there is no further militarisation of space, and even if it is used, the space is used for military purposes, it is for the common good of humanity.</h3>
Marjolijn van Deelen: India and the EU have a lot to discuss on this, because we are both top tier space-faring nations or regions. As you know, the EU has its own space program. You might have heard of Galileo for navigation, Copernicus for Earth observation, and that is on top of what individual member states of the EU have. And India, of course, has seen a fantastic rise of this as a space power in the last maybe decade, or even less. So there, I think we very much have a mutual interest that we need to talk about in more depth.&nbsp;
<h3>Sidhant Sibal: How do you see Indian space initiatives? India has taken a major leap. India has been launching satellites as well, including many countries from Europe, European Union and Europe as well. India is taking an initiative, the Gaganyaan Initiative, where India plans to send a man in space as well. So how do you see the Indian initiatives when it comes to the space domain?</h3>
Marjolijn van Deelen: &nbsp;India has seen fantastic growth and is very high tech indeed. The space launch capacity is fabulous, and member states of the EU have used that capacity, and that provides a very good basis for a corporation. But what India did with the landing on the moon, on the South Pole two years ago was just fabulous.
<h3>Sidhant Sibal: &nbsp;Areas where India and EU can cooperate, not in the military domain, which we have already spoken about in the domain of maybe, for example, when it comes to disasters, HADR. How can both sides work together in space and perhaps give real time information that can save lives?</h3>
Marjolijn van Deelen: Our Copernicus program is an Earth observation program that was designed, really, for these environmental observations and for emergency management, and we already have a framework to cooperate with India. What we really would like is to make that even more operational and to cooperate much more closely on that, to bring it to life, really, because it's something that is key for our societies, especially environmental monitoring, has repercussions worldwide, and we, I think we have something we can bring to the table, and so does India. So this will be, indeed, a key area that we could maybe jump start.
<h3>Sidhant Sibal: One opportunity in space and one challenge in space. As the EU envoy on space, if you can talk about it..?</h3>
Marjolijn van Deelen: I think the big opportunity is to really set out space as a global commons, because that's what it is in theory. But if we see now how many countries are becoming space faring nations, how all countries in the world rely on it, we need to get this straight in our generation. So I think that's the opportunity that we have to contribute to that. Few 100 years they set this out for the high seas, this, this is our moment. The one key challenge is to increase the transparency in space. What are, what are countries doing, and how do other countries feel about that, so that we can avoid escalation. So maybe avoiding escalation is the big challenge.
&nbsp;

The European Union's space envoy Marjolijn van Deelen has commended India's space program and initiatives and hopes to work much more with Delhi in the domain. World

The European Union's space envoy Marjolijn van Deelen has commended India's space program and initiatives and hopes to work much more with Delhi in the domain. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, she said, "What India did with the landing on the moon, on the South Pole two years ago was just fabulous". She pointed to India's space agency ISRO helping EU member states in space launches. India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) have been used to launch European Space Agency (ESA) satellites, with cost effectiveness and reliability being the main advantages. The EU envoy also hopes for more cooperation with India in keeping space demilitarised. She said both sides have "mutual interest" on the issue because "we are both top-tier space-faring nations or regions". The EU aims to collaborate closely with India to develop these “rules of the road,” balancing legally binding treaties with urgent, practical measures to safeguard space for future generations. India has in the past emphasised that outer space should be used for peaceful purposes, in line with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST), to which it is a party. Sidhant Sibal: What is the EU's view in making space safe and secure? Marjolijn van Deelen: In the EU, we have realised that space is a strategic domain, and we've come to rely on it a lot. I think everybody who uses a mobile phone uses space, and we're not necessarily always aware. So, we really believe it is important for our societies, for our people, and for future generations. We make sure that space is safe and secure. How do we do that? It doesn't make sense to do that alone. Space is for everyone, and all nations have access to space if they have the capability. And if they don't have it now, they might have it in the future. So, we are working in the context of the United Nations, where all countries are at the table to look together on how we can make a better framework on how states behave in space. There is only one treaty that exists, the Outer Space Treaty, but it's from the 1960s and you see how much we have evolved since then, especially in space with so many different actors, so many more high tech companies involved. We really need to make a new framework. So, we do that in the context of the United Nations. We work closely with the Indian counterparts in that context. But we'd like to do that even more. Sidhant Sibal: You mentioned about working with the Indian counterpart on a framework. So, if you can perhaps talk about the specific framework that the European Union is working on? Marjolijn van Deelen: So, there are two approaches to this. One is…I want more treaties and that is what many countries focus on. The focus of the EU is more on, how do we make sure that everybody that acts in space does so in a responsible way, that is in a way that doesn't give me or doesn't provide a threat to me, and that doesn't create any escalation. So, that will be a framework of norms and rules and principles of responsible behaviour. And those two approaches, they're not mutually exclusive. As the EU, we really think we can also come to legally binding instruments, but that will take too long, and we really need to act now. And also in space, it's really hard to define what the weapon is. Well, you recognise one if you see one, but there are also many assets in space or even on the ground, the ground stations, that can be used as a weapon. But these are not in practice. So, there are many dual-use items, and with a dual-use asset, it depends on what you do with it. It could be for entirely peaceful purposes, and that's we're all for it. But if it's used by a malicious actor to hurt ours or India's satellites, then that's another thing. So we want to have a set of rules of the road. Is it okay if your satellite comes very close to my satellite without saying anything, or without notification, snooping around. Is it okay to create debris? This type of rules of the road we hope to develop in the international framework. Sidhant Sibal: Do you worry about space militarisation? Marjolijn van Deelen: Yes, we have, and we are very worried, exactly, because we see a number of actors being either developing aggressive technologies or being very opaque about them, so we don't really know what they're up to, and that poses a potential threat to us. So this is something that we talk with, with a lot of other countries around the world, with a few, we have a more intensive dialog to also see whether other countries perceive these threats in a similar way, because very recent, different areas of the globe, you might look at things in a different way. So it's good to be aware of threat perceptions. If you ask about weaponisation in space, well, there have been weapons in space for a long time. The question is more that we need to make sure that all of us can continue to operate our assets in space, our satellites, for our navigation, for our Earth observation, for environmental use, all these civilian uses that we have, and also the same uses for our defence organisations. We need to be able to continue to have access to those. Sidhant Sibal: How can India and EU work together in making sure that there is no further militarisation of space, and even if it is used, the space is used for military purposes, it is for the common good of humanity. Marjolijn van Deelen: India and the EU have a lot to discuss on this, because we are both top tier space-faring nations or regions. As you know, the EU has its own space program. You might have heard of Galileo for navigation, Copernicus for Earth observation, and that is on top of what individual member states of the EU have. And India, of course, has seen a fantastic rise of this as a space power in the last maybe decade, or even less. So there, I think we very much have a mutual interest that we need to talk about in more depth. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see Indian space initiatives? India has taken a major leap. India has been launching satellites as well, including many countries from Europe, European Union and Europe as well. India is taking an initiative, the Gaganyaan Initiative, where India plans to send a man in space as well. So how do you see the Indian initiatives when it comes to the space domain? Marjolijn van Deelen: India has seen fantastic growth and is very high tech indeed. The space launch capacity is fabulous, and member states of the EU have used that capacity, and that provides a very good basis for a corporation. But what India did with the landing on the moon, on the South Pole two years ago was just fabulous. Sidhant Sibal: Areas where India and EU can cooperate, not in the military domain, which we have already spoken about in the domain of maybe, for example, when it comes to disasters, HADR. How can both sides work together in space and perhaps give real time information that can save lives? Marjolijn van Deelen: Our Copernicus program is an Earth observation program that was designed, really, for these environmental observations and for emergency management, and we already have a framework to cooperate with India. What we really would like is to make that even more operational and to cooperate much more closely on that, to bring it to life, really, because it's something that is key for our societies, especially environmental monitoring, has repercussions worldwide, and we, I think we have something we can bring to the table, and so does India. So this will be, indeed, a key area that we could maybe jump start. Sidhant Sibal: One opportunity in space and one challenge in space. As the EU envoy on space, if you can talk about it..? Marjolijn van Deelen: I think the big opportunity is to really set out space as a global commons, because that's what it is in theory. But if we see now how many countries are becoming space faring nations, how all countries in the world rely on it, we need to get this straight in our generation. So I think that's the opportunity that we have to contribute to that. Few 100 years they set this out for the high seas, this, this is our moment. The one key challenge is to increase the transparency in space. What are, what are countries doing, and how do other countries feel about that, so that we can avoid escalation. So maybe avoiding escalation is the big challenge.

EU space envoy praises India’s space achievements, seeks deeper collaboration

April 13, 2025 could have been remembered as the day when multiple discus throw records were broken at a meet in the United States. But now, it may go down in history as the day a new term entered the spotlight: weather doping.&nbsp;Doping traditionally meant the use of performance-enhancing drugs or PEDs, to gain an unfair edge.
<h2>What exactly is 'weather doping'?&nbsp;</h2>
It is a term which was used by Scandinavian commentators and coaches at the Continental Tour Bronze event at Ramona, Oklahoma. It gained attention after Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna, the 2024 Olympic silver medallist, smashed his own world record and became the first man to pass the 75-metre mark with a throw of 75.56m.
Also Read -&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tennis-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-british-player-harriet-dart-on-her-stinky-comments-about-lois-boisson-8968951" aria-label="'Have a lot of respect for...,' British tennis player Harriet Dart on her STINKY comments about Lois Boisson">'Have a lot of respect for...,' British tennis player Harriet Dart on her STINKY comments about Lois Boisson</a>
In total, five men cleared the 70-metre mark at the same event for the first time.
Meanwhile, in the women&rsquo;s section, Olympic champion Valarie Allman set a new U.S. record with a throw of 73.52 metres &mdash; the longest by a woman in 36 years.
Simply put, 'weather doping' means using the weather conditions to someone's advantage. On Sunday, the weather forecast suggested windy conditions in Ramona, Oklahoma, with wind speed close to 30mph throughout. The discus throwers used it to their advantage to send their discuses to a farther distance.
Now, the Millican Field, where the event was held has several throwing circles facing different directions. According to the Scandinavian commentators the extraordinary performances were enabled by the venue's engineered design, which allows athletes to better adjust depending on the conditions. The likes of Alekna and Allman just made the most of the situation.
Unlike various track and field events, the discus throw has no restrictions on wind assistance when it comes to records. Thor Gjesdal of the Norwegian Athletics Federation said 'the weekend results would be ratified and more wind-assisted throws can be expected, despite the criticism.'
"It is more difficult to quantify the benefit of wind in the same way as in running," he said. "It will be difficult to change the rules now."
"I don't know whether to laugh or cry," Swedish commentator Mats Wennerholm said. "It just becomes ridiculous in a competition boosted by gale-force winds. Weather doping should be added to the banned list."

Simply put, 'weather doping' means using the weather conditions to someone's advantage. It is a term which was used by Scandinavian commentators and coaches at the Continental Tour Bronze event. Sports World

April 13, 2025 could have been remembered as the day when multiple discus throw records were broken at a meet in the United States. But now, it may go down in history as the day a new term entered the spotlight: weather doping. Doping traditionally meant the use of performance-enhancing drugs or PEDs, to gain an unfair edge. What exactly is 'weather doping'? It is a term which was used by Scandinavian commentators and coaches at the Continental Tour Bronze event at Ramona, Oklahoma. It gained attention after Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna, the 2024 Olympic silver medallist, smashed his own world record and became the first man to pass the 75-metre mark with a throw of 75.56m. Also Read - 'Have a lot of respect for...,' British tennis player Harriet Dart on her STINKY comments about Lois Boisson In total, five men cleared the 70-metre mark at the same event for the first time. Meanwhile, in the women’s section, Olympic champion Valarie Allman set a new U.S. record with a throw of 73.52 metres — the longest by a woman in 36 years. Simply put, 'weather doping' means using the weather conditions to someone's advantage. On Sunday, the weather forecast suggested windy conditions in Ramona, Oklahoma, with wind speed close to 30mph throughout. The discus throwers used it to their advantage to send their discuses to a farther distance. Now, the Millican Field, where the event was held has several throwing circles facing different directions. According to the Scandinavian commentators the extraordinary performances were enabled by the venue's engineered design, which allows athletes to better adjust depending on the conditions. The likes of Alekna and Allman just made the most of the situation. Unlike various track and field events, the discus throw has no restrictions on wind assistance when it comes to records. Thor Gjesdal of the Norwegian Athletics Federation said 'the weekend results would be ratified and more wind-assisted throws can be expected, despite the criticism.' "It is more difficult to quantify the benefit of wind in the same way as in running," he said. "It will be difficult to change the rules now." "I don't know whether to laugh or cry," Swedish commentator Mats Wennerholm said. "It just becomes ridiculous in a competition boosted by gale-force winds. Weather doping should be added to the banned list."

What is weather doping: A new term getting traction in athletics and is it really unfair?

Joe Biden addressed the American people for the first time since his departure from the White House. The former president spoke of Social Security and how his administration made things better and the current regime is pulling things down. This triggered a response from DOGE chief Elon Musk.
Biden emphasised on dignity and respect and how America is about dignity and diversity. 'It is who we are as Americans'.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9k01jxz-9w5mh5ks-s5wy5b39">
According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/ltb06VX98Z">pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1891350795452654076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
Biden further highlighted Social Security and how his administration protected it and made it stronger. Talking about the Trump administration, he said, &ldquo;In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction.&rdquo;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-biden-warns-of-social-security-collapse-after-trumps-major-cuts-8968308">US: Biden warns of social security collapse after Trump&rsquo;s major cuts</a>
"The demand forSocial Security increased significantly. We made it easier for people to get help, and we fixed the appeal system. We strengthened the anti-fraud measures to protect people's identities."
"And to make sure benefits are going to the people they actually belong to," he added.
Poking fun, he said, &ldquo;By the way, those 300-year-old folk who are getting Social Security, I want to meet them. Because I would like to figure out how they did that."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harvard-is-a-joke-trump-slams-ivy-league-for-hiring-birdbrains-and-leftist-dopes-warns-to-cut-federal-funds-donald-trump-us-8968947">'Harvard is a JOKE': Trump slams Ivy League for hiring 'birdbrains' and 'Leftist dopes', warns to cut federal funds</a>
His audience broke into laughter, and he continued. &ldquo;Hell of a thing, man, I'm looking for longevity because it's hell when you turn 40.&rdquo;
Taking to his social media account, Musk wrote, "According to the social security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!"
"Maybe twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security," he added.

In his 1st address post his exit, Joe Biden spoke of Social Security and how his administration made things better, and the current regime is pulling things down. World

Joe Biden addressed the American people for the first time since his departure from the White House. The former president spoke of Social Security and how his administration made things better and the current regime is pulling things down. This triggered a response from DOGE chief Elon Musk. Biden emphasised on dignity and respect and how America is about dignity and diversity. 'It is who we are as Americans'. According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025 Biden further highlighted Social Security and how his administration protected it and made it stronger. Talking about the Trump administration, he said, “In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction.” WATCH | US: Biden warns of social security collapse after Trump’s major cuts "The demand forSocial Security increased significantly. We made it easier for people to get help, and we fixed the appeal system. We strengthened the anti-fraud measures to protect people's identities." "And to make sure benefits are going to the people they actually belong to," he added. Poking fun, he said, “By the way, those 300-year-old folk who are getting Social Security, I want to meet them. Because I would like to figure out how they did that." Also read: 'Harvard is a JOKE': Trump slams Ivy League for hiring 'birdbrains' and 'Leftist dopes', warns to cut federal funds His audience broke into laughter, and he continued. “Hell of a thing, man, I'm looking for longevity because it's hell when you turn 40.” Taking to his social media account, Musk wrote, "According to the social security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!" "Maybe twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security," he added.

'300-year-old folk getting Social Security': Biden pokes fun at Trump administration, Musk responds with data on 'vampires'

Amid the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-puts-over-6000-immigrants-in-death-file-to-push-self-deportation-8950842">immigration crackdown</a>, US President Donald Trump said that he would launch a "self-deportation" programme, offering money and air tickets to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the US.&nbsp;
In an attempt to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave America, Trump during an interview with Fox Noticias, incentivised 'Leave America', by offering them money in return.&nbsp;
"We're going to give them a stipend. We're going to give them some money and a plane ticket, and then we're going to work with them &mdash; if they're good &mdash; if we want them back in, we're going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can," the US president said.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harvard-is-a-joke-trump-slams-ivy-league-for-hiring-birdbrains-and-leftist-dopes-warns-to-cut-federal-funds-donald-trump-us-8968947">'Harvard is a JOKE': Trump slams Ivy League for hiring 'birdbrains' and 'Leftist dopes', warns to cut federal funds</a>
Trump said the plan would also provide a pathway for returning &ldquo;good&rdquo; individuals legally.
This shows Trump's softer stance on illegal immigrants' crackdowns. However, earlier, he had a harder stance on the immigration issue.&nbsp;
<h2>Focus on deporting 'murderers'</h2>
He said that the current focus is on deporting "murderers" and that others in the country without legal status would be encouraged to leave on their own.
However, the details of the proposed plan, including the timelines and implementation, were not specified.&nbsp;
During the interview, a clip was played, showing a Mexican man who entered the US over two decades ago and has children who are American citizens.&nbsp;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-crackdown-on-indian-immigrants-indians-deported-from-us-narrate-ordeal-8730612">US crackdown on Indian immigrants: Indians deported from US narrate ordeal</a>
The man showed support for Trump and said that individuals who commit crimes should be sent back to their home countries.&nbsp;
Trump responded to the clip, saying, "I look at this man. I say, this is a guy that we want to keep," and added, "I'll probably take heat for saying it."&nbsp;
When asked if he would be deported or not, Trump said, "I don't think he's in any danger of it."
Amid Trump's immigration crackdown, the US administration has been pushing immigrants to self-deport themselves and were introduced to the CBP Home app, to make the process easier.&nbsp;
The app allows undocumented immigrants to declare their intent to leave the country voluntarily, which could potentially streamline the self-deportation process.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/treat-this-like-a-business-ice-head-wants-deportations-of-immigrants-to-be-like-amazon-prime-but-with-human-beings-8944571">'Treat this like a business': ICE head wants deportations of immigrants to be like 'Amazon Prime, but with human beings'</a>

In an attempt to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the US, Trump incentivised 'Leave America', by offering them money in return. WORLD

Amid the immigration crackdown, US President Donald Trump said that he would launch a "self-deportation" programme, offering money and air tickets to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the US. In an attempt to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave America, Trump during an interview with Fox Noticias, incentivised 'Leave America', by offering them money in return. "We're going to give them a stipend. We're going to give them some money and a plane ticket, and then we're going to work with them — if they're good — if we want them back in, we're going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can," the US president said. Also read: 'Harvard is a JOKE': Trump slams Ivy League for hiring 'birdbrains' and 'Leftist dopes', warns to cut federal funds Trump said the plan would also provide a pathway for returning “good” individuals legally. This shows Trump's softer stance on illegal immigrants' crackdowns. However, earlier, he had a harder stance on the immigration issue. Focus on deporting 'murderers' He said that the current focus is on deporting "murderers" and that others in the country without legal status would be encouraged to leave on their own. However, the details of the proposed plan, including the timelines and implementation, were not specified. During the interview, a clip was played, showing a Mexican man who entered the US over two decades ago and has children who are American citizens. WATCH | US crackdown on Indian immigrants: Indians deported from US narrate ordeal The man showed support for Trump and said that individuals who commit crimes should be sent back to their home countries. Trump responded to the clip, saying, "I look at this man. I say, this is a guy that we want to keep," and added, "I'll probably take heat for saying it." When asked if he would be deported or not, Trump said, "I don't think he's in any danger of it." Amid Trump's immigration crackdown, the US administration has been pushing immigrants to self-deport themselves and were introduced to the CBP Home app, to make the process easier. The app allows undocumented immigrants to declare their intent to leave the country voluntarily, which could potentially streamline the self-deportation process. Also read: 'Treat this like a business': ICE head wants deportations of immigrants to be like 'Amazon Prime, but with human beings'

'Leave US, get money in return': Trump's offer to immigrants opting to self deport, says focus is on deporting 'murderers'

Kyiv said on Wednesday that it had made &nbsp;&lsquo;significant&rsquo; progress in the long-running and fraught talks with Washington over a minerals deal intended to secure further US support for Ukraine. Kyiv and Washington had planned to sign a deal on extracting Ukraine&rsquo;s strategic minerals, until a clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky temporarily derailed work on the agreement.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-soldiers-fighting-for-russia-against-ukraine-warn-of-death-racism-and-endless-contracts-8954687" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t come, there&rsquo;s nothing good here&rsquo;: Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia warn of death, racism, and endless contracts</a>
&ldquo;Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement, and there is significant progress,&rdquo; Ukraine&rsquo;s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on social media. She said that the Ukrainian side had &ldquo;adjusted several items within the draft agreement&rdquo; and that the two sides would sign a &ldquo;memorandum of intent&rdquo; soon. The Ukrainian parliament would vote on any final accord, she added.
&ldquo;It will create opportunities for investment and development in Ukraine and establish conditions for tangible economic growth for both Ukraine and the United States,&rdquo; Svyrydenko said.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-just-got-here-trump-insists-russia-ukraine-war-not-his-war-slams-zelensky-biden-for-absolutely-horrible-job-8961927" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;I just got here&rsquo;: Trump insists Russia-Ukraine War &lsquo;not his war,&rsquo; slams Zelensky, Biden for &lsquo;absolutely horrible job&rsquo;</a>
A senior official with knowledge of the talks earlier said talks were moving forward &ldquo;quite fast&rdquo;.
Trump wants the deal&mdash;designed to give the US royalty payments on profits from Ukrainian mining of resources and rare minerals&mdash;as compensation for the aid given to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-is-bidens-war-eu-convenes-emergency-talks-after-trump-calls-russian-strike-on-ukraine-a-mistake-8960870" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;This is Biden&rsquo;s war&rsquo;: EU convenes emergency talks after Trump calls Russian strike on Ukraine a &lsquo;mistake&rsquo;</a>
The source told AFP that newer drafts of the accord appeared not to recognise US aid as a debt owed by Ukraine. That assessment echoed an earlier report from Bloomberg News that said Washington had eased a demand that Kyiv pay back aid delivered since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
It reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said in Argentina on Monday that a deal could be signed as early as &ldquo;this week&rdquo;.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-threatening-china-warns-after-us-slaps-beijing-with-whopping-245-tariffs-donald-trump-trade-war-imports-8968395">'Stop threatening': China warns after US slaps Beijing with whopping 245% tariffs</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-threatening-china-warns-after-us-slaps-beijing-with-whopping-245-tariffs-donald-trump-trade-war-imports-8968395">&nbsp;</a>

World: Trump wants the deal—designed to give the US royalty payments on profits from Ukrainian mining of resources and rare minerals—as compensation for the aid given to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Kyiv said on Wednesday that it had made ‘significant’ progress in the long-running and fraught talks with Washington over a minerals deal intended to secure further US support for Ukraine. Kyiv and Washington had planned to sign a deal on extracting Ukraine’s strategic minerals, until a clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky temporarily derailed work on the agreement. Also read: ‘Don’t come, there’s nothing good here’: Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia warn of death, racism, and endless contracts “Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement, and there is significant progress,” Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on social media. She said that the Ukrainian side had “adjusted several items within the draft agreement” and that the two sides would sign a “memorandum of intent” soon. The Ukrainian parliament would vote on any final accord, she added. “It will create opportunities for investment and development in Ukraine and establish conditions for tangible economic growth for both Ukraine and the United States,” Svyrydenko said. Also read: ‘I just got here’: Trump insists Russia-Ukraine War ‘not his war,’ slams Zelensky, Biden for ‘absolutely horrible job’ A senior official with knowledge of the talks earlier said talks were moving forward “quite fast”. Trump wants the deal—designed to give the US royalty payments on profits from Ukrainian mining of resources and rare minerals—as compensation for the aid given to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden. Also read: ‘This is Biden’s war’: EU convenes emergency talks after Trump calls Russian strike on Ukraine a ‘mistake’ The source told AFP that newer drafts of the accord appeared not to recognise US aid as a debt owed by Ukraine. That assessment echoed an earlier report from Bloomberg News that said Washington had eased a demand that Kyiv pay back aid delivered since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. It reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said in Argentina on Monday that a deal could be signed as early as “this week”. Also read | 'Stop threatening': China warns after US slaps Beijing with whopping 245% tariffs

Ukraine signals ‘significant progress’ in minerals talks with US

The parents of two hostages, on Tuesday (Apr 15), expressed their frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that the Israeli Prime Minister wasn't doing enough to secure the release of their sons from Hamas' captivity.&nbsp;
One father even compared Netanyahu's apparent lack of effort to the more emotionally invested approach of US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.&nbsp;
Twenty-two-year-old soldier Matan Angrest was abducted from a burning tank while battling militants on October 7, 2023, whereas 24-year-old civilian musician Alon Ohel was kidnapped from the Nova music festival.
They have both been held captive by Hamas for nearly 500 days and were not released in previous sets of hostage releases.
Matan's mother, Anat Angrest, wore her son&rsquo;s army uniform on Tuesday and said that "the prime minister of Israel isn&rsquo;t fighting for him.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m wearing his uniform to call attention to the fact that the soldiers haven&rsquo;t been included in any deal &mdash; neither the wounded soldiers nor the bodies of soldiers, including Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held there for 10 and a half years,&rdquo; she said at a demonstration, according to The Times of Israel.
&ldquo;We demand from the Israeli government that in the next release of hostages, the soldiers will be returned &mdash; not because of US citizenship,&rdquo; she said, referring to soldier hostage Edan Alexander, who is a dual Israeli-American citizen, &ldquo;but because of their blue-and-white citizenship. They belong in Israel and need to be returned here.&rdquo;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-hamas-claims-it-has-lost-contact-with-group-holding-edan-alexander-8966674">Israel-Hamas war: Hamas claims it has lost contact with group holding Edan Alexander</a>
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1604_HAMAS_730AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1604_HAMAS_730AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=251&amp;tags=israel, hamas, hostages, war, prisoners, middle-east" title="Israel-Hamas war: Hamas claims it has lost contact with group holding Edan Alexander" id="PL_iframe_block-m9jxmluz-7lbazqw8-5a8rxoam"></iframe>
<h2>'He cried when I showed him the video'</h2>
Matan&rsquo;s father, Hagai Angrest, compared US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff's reaction to that of Netanyahu, saying that the Donald Trump adviser "cried" on watching the video of lynching that Matan went through on the day he was abducted.
&ldquo;He cried when I showed him the video of the lynching that Matan went through on the day of his abduction,&rdquo; Hagai said, referring to Witkoff.
&ldquo;We know that Matan has also gone through aggressive interrogations, with electric shocks, but when we spoke with Netanyahu, he didn&rsquo;t even know that Matan was wounded,&rdquo; he said.
<h2>Hamas releases video showing Matan Angrest alive</h2>
Earlier in March, the Palestinian militant group released a video showing Israeli hostage Matan Angrest alive.
In the footage, Angrest, who turned 22 in November, calls on the Israeli authorities to implement the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
"We are shaken by the video we just saw, in which we see our Matan looking drained and desperate after 518 days in Hamas's tunnels," the family said in a statement issued by the Israeli campaign group, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Angrest in the video can be heard saying that it has been 511 days since he has been held in Hamas' captivity.
His family said that Angrest had been "tortured" by the militants.
"Beyond the severe psychological state evident in the footage, his right hand is non-functional, his eyes and mouth are asymmetrical, and his nose is broken -- according to testimonies from those who have returned," the family said.
"All due to interrogations and torture in captivity. What more proof is needed to understand that time has run out?"

World news: Matan’s father, Hagai Angrest, compared US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff's reaction to that of Netanyahu, saying that the Donald Trump adviser "cried" on watching the video of lynching that Matan went through on the day he was abducted.

The parents of two hostages, on Tuesday (Apr 15), expressed their frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that the Israeli Prime Minister wasn't doing enough to secure the release of their sons from Hamas' captivity. One father even compared Netanyahu's apparent lack of effort to the more emotionally invested approach of US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Twenty-two-year-old soldier Matan Angrest was abducted from a burning tank while battling militants on October 7, 2023, whereas 24-year-old civilian musician Alon Ohel was kidnapped from the Nova music festival. They have both been held captive by Hamas for nearly 500 days and were not released in previous sets of hostage releases. Matan's mother, Anat Angrest, wore her son’s army uniform on Tuesday and said that "the prime minister of Israel isn’t fighting for him.” “I’m wearing his uniform to call attention to the fact that the soldiers haven’t been included in any deal — neither the wounded soldiers nor the bodies of soldiers, including Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held there for 10 and a half years,” she said at a demonstration, according to The Times of Israel. “We demand from the Israeli government that in the next release of hostages, the soldiers will be returned — not because of US citizenship,” she said, referring to soldier hostage Edan Alexander, who is a dual Israeli-American citizen, “but because of their blue-and-white citizenship. They belong in Israel and need to be returned here.” WATCH | Israel-Hamas war: Hamas claims it has lost contact with group holding Edan Alexander 'He cried when I showed him the video' Matan’s father, Hagai Angrest, compared US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff's reaction to that of Netanyahu, saying that the Donald Trump adviser "cried" on watching the video of lynching that Matan went through on the day he was abducted. “He cried when I showed him the video of the lynching that Matan went through on the day of his abduction,” Hagai said, referring to Witkoff. “We know that Matan has also gone through aggressive interrogations, with electric shocks, but when we spoke with Netanyahu, he didn’t even know that Matan was wounded,” he said. Hamas releases video showing Matan Angrest alive Earlier in March, the Palestinian militant group released a video showing Israeli hostage Matan Angrest alive. In the footage, Angrest, who turned 22 in November, calls on the Israeli authorities to implement the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. "We are shaken by the video we just saw, in which we see our Matan looking drained and desperate after 518 days in Hamas's tunnels," the family said in a statement issued by the Israeli campaign group, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Angrest in the video can be heard saying that it has been 511 days since he has been held in Hamas' captivity. His family said that Angrest had been "tortured" by the militants. "Beyond the severe psychological state evident in the footage, his right hand is non-functional, his eyes and mouth are asymmetrical, and his nose is broken -- according to testimonies from those who have returned," the family said. "All due to interrogations and torture in captivity. What more proof is needed to understand that time has run out?"

Hostage's parents express frustration over Netanyahu's 'lack of efforts'; 'Witkoff cried, Israeli PM didn’t even know our son was wounded'

Britain&rsquo;s highest court has declared that transgender women are not legally women in a landmark judgement on Wednesday (Apr 16).
The United Kingdom&rsquo;s Supreme Court ruled that a woman is defined by &ldquo;biological sex&rdquo; under the equality legislation. It noted that trans individuals would not be disadvantaged by the significant decision that could impact sex-based rights across Scotland, England and Wales.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/army-called-in-uk-to-clear-trash-birmingham-declares-major-incident-as-waste-crisis-escalates-8960980">Army called in UK to clear trash? Birmingham declares 'major incident' as waste crisis escalates</a>
The judgment related to whether a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate is protected as a woman under the Equality Act. The verdict marks the end of a long-running legal battle.
The top court sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which argued that sex-based protections should only apply to people who are born female. It challenged guidance issued by the Scottish government that said a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate was legally a woman. It had accompanied a 2018 law aimed at increasing the proportion of women on public sector boards.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-uk-minister-says-bangladesh-arrest-warrant-politically-motivated-smear-campaign-8962042">Former UK minister says Bangladesh arrest warrant &lsquo;politically motivated smear campaign&rsquo;</a>
The Supreme Court&rsquo;s ruling in favour of For Women Scotland came following an appeal last November. The group had lost in the Scottish courts.
<h2>What did the court say?</h2>
&ldquo;The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms &lsquo;women&rsquo; and &lsquo;sex&rsquo; in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex,&rdquo; Deputy President of the Supreme Court Patrick Hodge said.
&ldquo;But we counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph for one or more groups in our society at the expense of another - it is not,&rdquo; he added.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-uk-passed-emergency-law-to-save-its-last-virgin-steel-plant-the-british-steel-bill-explained-8955843">Why UK passed emergency law to save its last virgin steel plant? The British Steel Bill: Explained</a>
Scottish legal critics said that its definition could affect single-sex services for women like refuges, hospital wards, and sports.
However, transgender campaigners had highlighted that if the court ruled in favour of For Women Scotland, it could lead to discrimination against those with gender recognition certificates, especially regarding employment issues.
Watch | UK wildfires: 24,500 hectares of land scorched this year, as per satellite data
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1504_UK_1230PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1504_UK_1230PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=107&amp;tags=uk, wildfires, satellite data" title="UK wildfires: 24,500 hectares of land scorched this year, as per satellite data" id="PL_iframe_block-m9jxtxl6-dlo3yidx-1ngcc6sn"></iframe>
&ldquo;The correct interpretation of the EA (Equality Act) as referring to biological sex does not cause disadvantage to trans people, whether or not they possess a gender recognition certificate,&rdquo; Hodge said.
&ldquo;Trans people have the rights which attach to the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.&rdquo;

The court noted that trans individuals would not be disadvantaged by the significant decision that could impact sex-based rights across Scotland, England and Wales. World

Britain’s highest court has declared that transgender women are not legally women in a landmark judgement on Wednesday (Apr 16). The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled that a woman is defined by “biological sex” under the equality legislation. It noted that trans individuals would not be disadvantaged by the significant decision that could impact sex-based rights across Scotland, England and Wales. Also read | Army called in UK to clear trash? Birmingham declares 'major incident' as waste crisis escalates The judgment related to whether a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate is protected as a woman under the Equality Act. The verdict marks the end of a long-running legal battle. The top court sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which argued that sex-based protections should only apply to people who are born female. It challenged guidance issued by the Scottish government that said a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate was legally a woman. It had accompanied a 2018 law aimed at increasing the proportion of women on public sector boards. Also read | Former UK minister says Bangladesh arrest warrant ‘politically motivated smear campaign’ The Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of For Women Scotland came following an appeal last November. The group had lost in the Scottish courts. What did the court say? “The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms ‘women’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex,” Deputy President of the Supreme Court Patrick Hodge said. “But we counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph for one or more groups in our society at the expense of another - it is not,” he added. Also read | Why UK passed emergency law to save its last virgin steel plant? The British Steel Bill: Explained Scottish legal critics said that its definition could affect single-sex services for women like refuges, hospital wards, and sports. However, transgender campaigners had highlighted that if the court ruled in favour of For Women Scotland, it could lead to discrimination against those with gender recognition certificates, especially regarding employment issues. Watch | UK wildfires: 24,500 hectares of land scorched this year, as per satellite data “The correct interpretation of the EA (Equality Act) as referring to biological sex does not cause disadvantage to trans people, whether or not they possess a gender recognition certificate,” Hodge said. “Trans people have the rights which attach to the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.”

UK’s Supreme Court says trans women are not legally women in landmark ruling

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (April 16) once again criticised <a href="Harvard%20research%20programs%20get%20&quot;stop%20work%20orders&quot;%20after%20$2.2%20billion%20funding%20freeze" rel="dofollow">Harvard University</a> for hiring "radical left idiots" and "birdbrains", saying that they are capable of teaching "FAILURE to students".&nbsp;
Slamming the Ivy League, Trump said that Harvard has "lost its way" and said that the university hired the most incompetent mayors in the history of US history.
"Everyone knows that Harvard has &ldquo;lost its way.&rdquo; They hired, from New York (Bill D) and Chicago (Lori L), at ridiculously high salaries/fees, two of the WORST and MOST INCOMPETENT mayors in the history of our Country, to &ldquo;teach&rdquo; municipal management and government," the US president said in a Truth Social post.&nbsp;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-trump-calls-for-removing-harvards-tax-exempt-status-8966769">US President Trump calls for removing Harvard's tax-exempt status</a>
He further stressed that Harvard has been hiring "almost all woke radical left and idiots."&nbsp;
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<script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

"These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil. Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and &ldquo;birdbrains&rdquo; who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called &ldquo;future leaders," Trump added.&nbsp;
He continued to bash the Ivy League, saying that Harvard should not be considered on any list of the World&rsquo;s Great Universities or Colleges.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vs-harvard-us-president-warns-ivy-league-will-be-taxed-if-it-continues-to-support-terrorist-inspired-sickness-8965712">Trump vs Harvard: US president warns Ivy league will be 'taxed' if it continues to support 'terrorist inspired sickness'</a>
"Many others, like these Leftist dopes, are teaching at Harvard, and because of that, Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World&rsquo;s Great Universities or Colleges. Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds," he stressed.&nbsp;
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump warned Harvard University that it might lose its "Tax Exempt Status" if it continues to push political and terrorist-inspired "sickness".&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harvard-university-widener-library-has-a-strange-link-to-the-titanic-8966557">Harvard library donated by man who died on the Titanic has 92 kilometres of bookshelves</a>
He added that Harvard might have to pay tax as a political entity.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Slamming the Ivy League, Trump said that Harvard has "lost its way" and said that the university hired the most incompetent mayors in the history of US history. WORLD

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (April 16) once again criticised Harvard University for hiring "radical left idiots" and "birdbrains", saying that they are capable of teaching "FAILURE to students". Slamming the Ivy League, Trump said that Harvard has "lost its way" and said that the university hired the most incompetent mayors in the history of US history. "Everyone knows that Harvard has “lost its way.” They hired, from New York (Bill D) and Chicago (Lori L), at ridiculously high salaries/fees, two of the WORST and MOST INCOMPETENT mayors in the history of our Country, to “teach” municipal management and government," the US president said in a Truth Social post. WATCH | US President Trump calls for removing Harvard's tax-exempt status He further stressed that Harvard has been hiring "almost all woke radical left and idiots." "These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil. Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and “birdbrains” who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called “future leaders," Trump added. He continued to bash the Ivy League, saying that Harvard should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges. Also read: Trump vs Harvard: US president warns Ivy league will be 'taxed' if it continues to support 'terrorist inspired sickness' "Many others, like these Leftist dopes, are teaching at Harvard, and because of that, Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges. Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds," he stressed. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump warned Harvard University that it might lose its "Tax Exempt Status" if it continues to push political and terrorist-inspired "sickness". Also read: Harvard library donated by man who died on the Titanic has 92 kilometres of bookshelves He added that Harvard might have to pay tax as a political entity.

'Harvard is a JOKE': Trump slams Ivy League for hiring 'birdbrains' and 'Leftist dopes', warns to cut federal funds

In a lighthearted moment, Senator Jim Justice was accompanied by his adorable pooch, Babydog the English bulldog, at a Senate Energy Committee hearing on Thursday, according to the New York Post.
Babydog was held aloft at the microphone to deliver a unifying message. Her "testimony" was even admitted to the Congressional Record "without objection".
&ldquo;This little r*scal has done something that I think is really important to all of us. All of us on this committee &hellip; all of us across this city. She humanises us,&rdquo; Justice said as he held Babydog up to the mic, and she panted away, looking adorably serious. Her wrinkled face seemed to underscore the senator's words, making for a hilarious and heartwarming moment.
Justice then recounted how Babydog had become an integral part of his life, especially when he was serving as the Governor of West Virginia.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t intend in any way to be hauling a bulldog around. No way on Earth. We never owned a bulldog before. She&rsquo;s not supposed to like everybody, but she does. And with that being said, how can a message be any better?&rdquo; he continued.
&ldquo;She would say just this: If you&rsquo;re rich or poor, or a kid or an adult, or, God forbid a Republican or a Democrat, she still loves you,&rdquo; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m9jw554c-62haphd4-o2ouf4pg">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/BabydogJustice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BabyDogJustice</a>&rsquo;s testimony will be admitted into the record without objection. <a href="https://t.co/5RkG64IN5P">pic.twitter.com/5RkG64IN5P</a>
&mdash; Senate Energy GOP (@EnergyGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnergyGOP/status/1910365004487934074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Babydog's rise to fame</h2>
Babydog was a gift from Justice's children in 2019 and quickly grew into a popular figure in West Virginia politics.&nbsp;
She'd often accompany Justice at public events, press conferences, and even state addresses, charming audiences with her adorable presence. One notable moment was during the COVID-19 pandemic when Justice used the slogan "Do It for Babydog" to boost vaccination numbers, making Babydog a household name.&nbsp;
Her popularity has since soared, with appearances at the Republican National Convention and even a waterfall in Babcock State Park being renamed "Babydog Falls" in her honour.&nbsp;

World news: Babydog was a gift from Justice's children in 2019 and quickly grew into a popular figure in West Virginia politics. She'd often accompany Justice at public events, press conferences.

In a lighthearted moment, Senator Jim Justice was accompanied by his adorable pooch, Babydog the English bulldog, at a Senate Energy Committee hearing on Thursday, according to the New York Post. Babydog was held aloft at the microphone to deliver a unifying message. Her "testimony" was even admitted to the Congressional Record "without objection". “This little r*scal has done something that I think is really important to all of us. All of us on this committee … all of us across this city. She humanises us,” Justice said as he held Babydog up to the mic, and she panted away, looking adorably serious. Her wrinkled face seemed to underscore the senator's words, making for a hilarious and heartwarming moment. Justice then recounted how Babydog had become an integral part of his life, especially when he was serving as the Governor of West Virginia. “I didn’t intend in any way to be hauling a bulldog around. No way on Earth. We never owned a bulldog before. She’s not supposed to like everybody, but she does. And with that being said, how can a message be any better?” he continued. “She would say just this: If you’re rich or poor, or a kid or an adult, or, God forbid a Republican or a Democrat, she still loves you,” he added. .@BabyDogJustice’s testimony will be admitted into the record without objection. pic.twitter.com/5RkG64IN5P — Senate Energy GOP (@EnergyGOP) April 10, 2025 Babydog's rise to fame Babydog was a gift from Justice's children in 2019 and quickly grew into a popular figure in West Virginia politics. She'd often accompany Justice at public events, press conferences, and even state addresses, charming audiences with her adorable presence. One notable moment was during the COVID-19 pandemic when Justice used the slogan "Do It for Babydog" to boost vaccination numbers, making Babydog a household name. Her popularity has since soared, with appearances at the Republican National Convention and even a waterfall in Babcock State Park being renamed "Babydog Falls" in her honour.

'She humanises us': US Senator brings bulldog to senate hearing, sets up mic for her- WATCH

British tennis player Harriet Dart drew severe social media backlash for the 'stinky' comments she made on her opponent Lois Boisson during Rouen Open on Tuesday (Apr 14). Dart, who lost the match 6-0, 6-3, had asked the chair umpire during the changeover to tell Boisson to put on deodorant.
The comment by Dart was picked up during the broadcast and she was called out by fans for her statement.
"Can you ask her to put on deodorant? She smells really bad," Dart was heard saying to the umpire against the Frenchwoman.
Also Read -&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2025-kkr-sunil-narine-and-anrich-nortje-bats-fail-gauge-check-in-loss-vs-pbks-8968125" aria-label="IPL 2025 | KKR's Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje's bats fail gauge check in loss vs PBKS - WATCH">IPL 2025 | KKR's Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje's bats fail gauge check in loss vs PBKS - WATCH</a>
After the backlash, however, Dart apologized for her comments and put up a post on social media platform Instagram which read: "It was a comment made in the heat of the moment and I truly regret it. It's not the way I want to behave and I take full responsibility," Dart wrote. "I have a lot of respect for Lois and the way she competed today. I'll learn from this and move on."
Dart's counterpart Boisson, however, was rather chill about the comments and took it lightly. She also put up a story post on Instagram with deodorant brand Dove. She used a Dove deodorant image over hand and wrote "apparently need a collab." Have a look at the post below:
<figure class="image"><img alt="boisson" src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/481x767/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/16/2nFKFZ0PaMZwcn6814Xi.JPG" style="width: 481px;">
<figcaption>Lois Boisson was too cool about stinky comments Photograph: (Instagram)</figcaption>
</figure>
The win also was sweet for Boisson, who is ranked 303rd in world and was making a comeback after the injury break. Dart, on the other hand, is ranked 62 in the world but her games wasn't up to the mark at all.
The Brit had six chances to win break points in the two-set match but failed to convert any one of them to her advantage.&nbsp;

After the backlash for her comments about Boisson, however, Dart apologized for her comments and put up a post on social media platform Instagram. Sports

British tennis player Harriet Dart drew severe social media backlash for the 'stinky' comments she made on her opponent Lois Boisson during Rouen Open on Tuesday (Apr 14). Dart, who lost the match 6-0, 6-3, had asked the chair umpire during the changeover to tell Boisson to put on deodorant. The comment by Dart was picked up during the broadcast and she was called out by fans for her statement. "Can you ask her to put on deodorant? She smells really bad," Dart was heard saying to the umpire against the Frenchwoman. Also Read - IPL 2025 | KKR's Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje's bats fail gauge check in loss vs PBKS - WATCH After the backlash, however, Dart apologized for her comments and put up a post on social media platform Instagram which read: "It was a comment made in the heat of the moment and I truly regret it. It's not the way I want to behave and I take full responsibility," Dart wrote. "I have a lot of respect for Lois and the way she competed today. I'll learn from this and move on." Dart's counterpart Boisson, however, was rather chill about the comments and took it lightly. She also put up a story post on Instagram with deodorant brand Dove. She used a Dove deodorant image over hand and wrote "apparently need a collab." Have a look at the post below: Lois Boisson was too cool about stinky comments Photograph: (Instagram) The win also was sweet for Boisson, who is ranked 303rd in world and was making a comeback after the injury break. Dart, on the other hand, is ranked 62 in the world but her games wasn't up to the mark at all. The Brit had six chances to win break points in the two-set match but failed to convert any one of them to her advantage.

'Have a lot of respect for...,' British tennis player Harriet Dart on her STINKY comments about Lois Boisson

A German doctor providing medical attention to palliative care patients has been charged with 15 murders. The doctor is said to have been killing his patients between September 2021 and July 2024.
Public prosecutors have ordered the exhumation of bodies, and an investigation is also underway. The death toll could increase as the probe proceeds. The victims who succumbed to the doctor's malicious intent were aged between 56 and 94.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doctor-smashes-wifes-head-with-a-rock-tries-to-throw-her-off-1000-foot-tall-cliff-for-refusing-to-click-pictures-with-him-hawaii-8895887">Doctor smashes wife's head with rock, tries to throw her off 1,000-foot-tall cliff for refusing to click photos with him</a>
The 40-year-old doctor allegedly used an anaesthetic induction drug and then administered a muscle relaxant to the victims. All this was done without a medical need for the injections. The patients or their kin had no knowledge of this, nor was their consent taken. The combination of the injections paralysed the patients' respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and ultimately death in a few minutes.
When the doctor did not execute this long procedural method, he resorted to setting the victims' houses on fire and with that, the evidence of the crime was also moved to ashes.
The doctor, whose identity has not been revealed yet, has been in custody since August 2024. He has not commented on the charges so far. The prosecutors are looking for a lifelong professional ban on the doctor. He had been actively practicing in several German states until his criminal intentions were highlighted.
Germany's privacy laws do not allow revealing identities, and so he has not been named officially. It was the suspicion over four deaths last year that led to the investigation. This came to the fore after he torched the houses of his patients. It was then that the doctor's involvement in other such deaths came to be highlighted as well.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

A German doctor providing medical attention to palliative care patients has been charged with 15 murders. The doctor is said to have been killing his patients between September 2021 and July 2024. World news

A German doctor providing medical attention to palliative care patients has been charged with 15 murders. The doctor is said to have been killing his patients between September 2021 and July 2024. Public prosecutors have ordered the exhumation of bodies, and an investigation is also underway. The death toll could increase as the probe proceeds. The victims who succumbed to the doctor's malicious intent were aged between 56 and 94. Also read: Doctor smashes wife's head with rock, tries to throw her off 1,000-foot-tall cliff for refusing to click photos with him The 40-year-old doctor allegedly used an anaesthetic induction drug and then administered a muscle relaxant to the victims. All this was done without a medical need for the injections. The patients or their kin had no knowledge of this, nor was their consent taken. The combination of the injections paralysed the patients' respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and ultimately death in a few minutes. When the doctor did not execute this long procedural method, he resorted to setting the victims' houses on fire and with that, the evidence of the crime was also moved to ashes. The doctor, whose identity has not been revealed yet, has been in custody since August 2024. He has not commented on the charges so far. The prosecutors are looking for a lifelong professional ban on the doctor. He had been actively practicing in several German states until his criminal intentions were highlighted. Germany's privacy laws do not allow revealing identities, and so he has not been named officially. It was the suspicion over four deaths last year that led to the investigation. This came to the fore after he torched the houses of his patients. It was then that the doctor's involvement in other such deaths came to be highlighted as well.

German doctor kills 15 patients, ongoing investigation may reveal more murders

Officials at the US Defense Digital Service (DDS), the Pentagon's elite tech unit, are resigning over the next month after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).&nbsp;
Almost every staffer at the DDS will resign in the coming month, the program&rsquo;s director Jennifer Hay and three other current members of the office said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The best way to put it, I think, is either we die quickly or we die slowly,&rdquo; Hay said, according to a Politico report. She is planning to leave by May 1.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-doge-falsely-lists-6100-migrants-as-dead-in-social-security-death-master-file-8958311">'Devastating, illegal&rsquo;: Elon Musk's DOGE falsely lists 6100 migrants as dead in Social Security &lsquo;death file&rsquo;</a>
The unit, dubbed as the Pentagon's "SWAT team of nerds", was created in 2015, with an aim to modernise defence operations with fast tech fixes and digital tools for the military.&nbsp;
It has also built rapid response tools for the military during the Afghanistan withdrawal, databases to transfer Ukrainian military and humanitarian aid, drone detection technologies and more.
Also, DDS was one of the department's earlier efforts to inject Silicon Valley ethos into its massive bureaucracy.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-tesla-china-orders-frozen-musk-feels-pain-of-trump-tariff-war-why-is-china-big-for-musk-evs-and-lithium-batteries-8950911">Elon Musk's Tesla freezes orders in China: DOGE chief is feeling the pinch of 'boss' Trump's tariff war</a>
Moreover, the resignations by the team will effectively shut down the decade-old program after the end of April.
Along with Hay, eleven other employees are planning to take Trump's deferred resignation package by then. The two remaining staffers are also leaving.
Hay said her staff initially expected to be part of Musk&rsquo;s efforts to automate the Pentagon&rsquo;s operations and adopt AI.
&ldquo;The reason we stuck it out as long as we have is that we thought we were going to be called in,&rdquo; said Hay.
However, instead of this, they were sidelined by DOGE's efforts.&nbsp;
One former senior Pentagon official, on the condition of anonymity, described DOGE&rsquo;s wider incursion into the Defense Department as damaging and unproductive.&nbsp;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/as-elon-musk-completes-100-days-as-doge-head-us-citizens-review-his-performance-8940888">As Elon Musk completes 100 days as Doge head, US citizens review his performance</a>
&ldquo;They&rsquo;re not really using AI, they&rsquo;re not really driving efficiency. What they&rsquo;re doing is smashing everything,&rdquo; the former official said.
Meanwhile, not just DDS, the US Digital Service, which helped the government modernise its technology and attract tech talent, has now been subsumed by DOGE.&nbsp;
Moreover, a program called 18F, a technology unit within the GSA, was also eliminated by DOGE.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shame-on-you-trump-americans-gather-for-hands-off-protest-against-us-president-musk-say-dont-be-doge-bag-8930270">'Shame on you Trump': Americans gather for 'Hands Off' protest against US president, Musk; say 'don't&nbsp;be&nbsp;DOGE&nbsp;BAG'</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

Almost every staffer at the DDS will resign in the coming month, the program’s director Jennifer Hay and three other current members of the office said. WORLD

Officials at the US Defense Digital Service (DDS), the Pentagon's elite tech unit, are resigning over the next month after clashing with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Almost every staffer at the DDS will resign in the coming month, the program’s director Jennifer Hay and three other current members of the office said. “The best way to put it, I think, is either we die quickly or we die slowly,” Hay said, according to a Politico report. She is planning to leave by May 1. Also read: 'Devastating, illegal’: Elon Musk's DOGE falsely lists 6100 migrants as dead in Social Security ‘death file’ The unit, dubbed as the Pentagon's "SWAT team of nerds", was created in 2015, with an aim to modernise defence operations with fast tech fixes and digital tools for the military. It has also built rapid response tools for the military during the Afghanistan withdrawal, databases to transfer Ukrainian military and humanitarian aid, drone detection technologies and more. Also, DDS was one of the department's earlier efforts to inject Silicon Valley ethos into its massive bureaucracy. Also read: Elon Musk's Tesla freezes orders in China: DOGE chief is feeling the pinch of 'boss' Trump's tariff war Moreover, the resignations by the team will effectively shut down the decade-old program after the end of April. Along with Hay, eleven other employees are planning to take Trump's deferred resignation package by then. The two remaining staffers are also leaving. Hay said her staff initially expected to be part of Musk’s efforts to automate the Pentagon’s operations and adopt AI. “The reason we stuck it out as long as we have is that we thought we were going to be called in,” said Hay. However, instead of this, they were sidelined by DOGE's efforts. One former senior Pentagon official, on the condition of anonymity, described DOGE’s wider incursion into the Defense Department as damaging and unproductive. WATCH | As Elon Musk completes 100 days as Doge head, US citizens review his performance “They’re not really using AI, they’re not really driving efficiency. What they’re doing is smashing everything,” the former official said. Meanwhile, not just DDS, the US Digital Service, which helped the government modernise its technology and attract tech talent, has now been subsumed by DOGE. Moreover, a program called 18F, a technology unit within the GSA, was also eliminated by DOGE. Also read: 'Shame on you Trump': Americans gather for 'Hands Off' protest against US president, Musk; say 'don't be DOGE BAG' (With inputs from agencies)

'Either we die quickly or slowly': Pentagon's 'SWAT team of nerds' resigns over clashes with Musk's DOGE

A new form of diabetes that affects lean and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low- and middle-income countries has been officially recognised as a distinct form of the disease after decades, and named &lsquo;Type 5 Diabetes&rsquo;.
The World Diabetes Congress, organised by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in Bangkok, Thailand, recently, officially recognised malnutrition-related diabetes distinct from both type 1 and type 2, and named it &lsquo;Type 5 Diabetes&rsquo;. The vote took place on April 8 at the World Diabetes Congress. The term &lsquo;Type 5 Diabetes&rsquo; was proposed by IDF president Prof Peter Schwarz. The vote took place after a panel met in India in January this year to draft a consensus statement about the condition, due to be published soon, Meredith Hawkins, MD, professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, told Medscape Medical News. In 2022, a study published in Diabetes Care by Dr. Hawkins and her colleagues at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, demonstrated that malnutrition-related diabetes is fundamentally different from types 1 and 2.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/now-a-simple-blood-test-could-detect-parkinsons-disease-long-before-symptoms-emerge-8957415" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Now a simple blood test could detect Parkinson&rsquo;s disease long before symptoms emerge</a> &ldquo;People with this form of diabetes have a profound defect in the capacity to secrete insulin, which wasn&rsquo;t recognised before,&rdquo; said Dr. Hawkins. &ldquo;Malnutrition-related diabetes has historically been vastly underdiagnosed and poorly understood&hellip;The IDF&rsquo;s recognition of it as &lsquo;type 5 diabetes&rsquo; is an important step toward raising awareness of a health problem that is so devastating to so many people,&rdquo; Hawkins said. Malnutrition-related diabetes was first identified in Jamaica in 1955. It was most common in lean and undernourished young adults in low- and middle-income countries who have a low body mass index. They were misdiagnosed as having type 1 diabetes, but despite high blood glucose levels and high insulin requirements, they don&rsquo;t develop ketonuria or ketosis.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/researchers-breach-brain-blood-barrier-deliver-medicine-precisely-via-nanoparticles-8957682">Researchers breach brain-blood barrier, deliver medicine precisely via nanoparticles</a> Then in 1985, the World Health Organization officially classified &ldquo;malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus&rdquo; as a distinct diabetes type, but 14 years later, in 1999, dropped the category, citing a lack of evidence that malnutrition or protein deficiency causes diabetes.
Type 5 diabetes patients have a significantly lower BMI, often of less than 18.5 kg/m2 and insulin secretion is also severely reduced, much lower than in Type 2 diabetes but just above the levels in type 1 diabetes.&nbsp; Unlike Type 2 diabetes, the liver&rsquo;s production and release of glucose into the bloodstream is lower, and body scans reveal a much lower percentage of body fat compared to Type 2 cases.&nbsp;
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/prostate-cancer-surgery-innovation-reduces-odds-of-post-op-erectile-dysfunction-8886130" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Prostate cancer surgery innovation reduces odds of post-op erectile dysfunction</a>
Type 5 diabetes causes pancreatic beta cells to function abnormally, leading to insufficient production of insulin, while in Type 2, the body resists insulin action despite producing it.&nbsp;
Nutrition, both in the womb and after birth, plays a major role in diabetes. If a foetus does not get the right amount of nutrition while growing, the baby has a higher risk of developing diabetes later. In contrast, if a baby is under- or overnourished before birth and then gains too much weight later, it can lead to Type 2 diabetes.&nbsp; Type 5 diabetes, or malnutrition-related diabetes, affects those who are undernourished both before and after birth.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/new-lower-back-pain-drug-hailed-as-gamechanger-brings-hope-to-sufferers-8903987" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New lower back pain drug hailed as &lsquo;gamechanger&rsquo;, brings hope to sufferers</a>
A working group, to be co-chaired by Dr. Hawkins, has been tasked with developing formal diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for type 5 diabetes over the next 2 years.
However, experts say that a high-protein diet is important, and depending on the patient&rsquo;s BMI and physical activity, an adequate amount of carbs and fats are needed to ensure weight gain. Anti-diabetic medicine or insulin is considered on the basis of blood glucose levels and therapeutic response on an individual basis, they advise.

Health and Wellness | Science & Technology | World: In 2022, a study published by Dr. Hawkins and her colleagues at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, demonstrated that malnutrition-related diabetes is fundamentally different from types 1 and 2.

A new form of diabetes that affects lean and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low- and middle-income countries has been officially recognised as a distinct form of the disease after decades, and named ‘Type 5 Diabetes’. The World Diabetes Congress, organised by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in Bangkok, Thailand, recently, officially recognised malnutrition-related diabetes distinct from both type 1 and type 2, and named it ‘Type 5 Diabetes’. The vote took place on April 8 at the World Diabetes Congress. The term ‘Type 5 Diabetes’ was proposed by IDF president Prof Peter Schwarz. The vote took place after a panel met in India in January this year to draft a consensus statement about the condition, due to be published soon, Meredith Hawkins, MD, professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, told Medscape Medical News. In 2022, a study published in Diabetes Care by Dr. Hawkins and her colleagues at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, demonstrated that malnutrition-related diabetes is fundamentally different from types 1 and 2. Also Read | Now a simple blood test could detect Parkinson’s disease long before symptoms emerge “People with this form of diabetes have a profound defect in the capacity to secrete insulin, which wasn’t recognised before,” said Dr. Hawkins. “Malnutrition-related diabetes has historically been vastly underdiagnosed and poorly understood…The IDF’s recognition of it as ‘type 5 diabetes’ is an important step toward raising awareness of a health problem that is so devastating to so many people,” Hawkins said. Malnutrition-related diabetes was first identified in Jamaica in 1955. It was most common in lean and undernourished young adults in low- and middle-income countries who have a low body mass index. They were misdiagnosed as having type 1 diabetes, but despite high blood glucose levels and high insulin requirements, they don’t develop ketonuria or ketosis. Also Read | Researchers breach brain-blood barrier, deliver medicine precisely via nanoparticles Then in 1985, the World Health Organization officially classified “malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus” as a distinct diabetes type, but 14 years later, in 1999, dropped the category, citing a lack of evidence that malnutrition or protein deficiency causes diabetes. Type 5 diabetes patients have a significantly lower BMI, often of less than 18.5 kg/m2 and insulin secretion is also severely reduced, much lower than in Type 2 diabetes but just above the levels in type 1 diabetes. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, the liver’s production and release of glucose into the bloodstream is lower, and body scans reveal a much lower percentage of body fat compared to Type 2 cases. Also Read | Prostate cancer surgery innovation reduces odds of post-op erectile dysfunction Type 5 diabetes causes pancreatic beta cells to function abnormally, leading to insufficient production of insulin, while in Type 2, the body resists insulin action despite producing it. Nutrition, both in the womb and after birth, plays a major role in diabetes. If a foetus does not get the right amount of nutrition while growing, the baby has a higher risk of developing diabetes later. In contrast, if a baby is under- or overnourished before birth and then gains too much weight later, it can lead to Type 2 diabetes. Type 5 diabetes, or malnutrition-related diabetes, affects those who are undernourished both before and after birth. Also Read | New lower back pain drug hailed as ‘gamechanger’, brings hope to sufferers A working group, to be co-chaired by Dr. Hawkins, has been tasked with developing formal diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for type 5 diabetes over the next 2 years. However, experts say that a high-protein diet is important, and depending on the patient’s BMI and physical activity, an adequate amount of carbs and fats are needed to ensure weight gain. Anti-diabetic medicine or insulin is considered on the basis of blood glucose levels and therapeutic response on an individual basis, they advise.

Type 5 Diabetes finally recognised after decades, afflicts young. What we all need to know

The US-China trade war, now raging with 145 per cent US tariffs on Chinese goods and 125 per cent retaliatory tariffs from China as of April 2025, is sending shockwaves through the global economy. This escalating conflict, described as a &ldquo;monumental split&rdquo; by The New York Times, is not just a tussle between two superpowers&mdash;it&rsquo;s a crisis that threatens to reshape trade, prices, and growth worldwide. For India, caught in the crossfire with its massive trade ties to both nations, this war brings both golden opportunities and daunting challenges. As an Indian, I see this as a moment for us to navigate carefully, balancing ambition with caution.
The global economy is reeling from this trade war. The US tariffs, which CNBC reports as effectively 145 per cent on Chinese imports, and China&rsquo;s 125 per cent counter-tariffs, are making goods costlier. From electronics to raw materials, prices are climbing, stoking inflation fears. Reuters notes that consumer inflation expectations in the US have hit a 40-year high, with fears of &ldquo;tarifflation&rdquo; pushing prices up further. Supply chains, heavily dependent on China&mdash;the world&rsquo;s factory&mdash;are in chaos. Shortages and delays are looming, as CNN Business warns, disrupting everything from car manufacturing to smartphone production. Financial markets are jittery too. India Today reports a $180 billion wipeout in Indian stocks in early 2025, reflecting global investor panic. If this continues, economists warn of a possible recession, with the IMF flagging a potential 0.5 per cent hit to global GDP, translating to billions in lost output.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-opens-to-talks-with-us-amid-tariff-war-wants-trump-admin-to-show-respect-8968109">China opens to talks with US amid tariff war, wants Trump admin to show respect</a>
India, with its US$118.40 billion trade with China in FY24 (IBEF), feels the heat acutely. As China&rsquo;s top trading partner, surpassing even the US (Trading Economics), India relies heavily on Chinese imports&mdash;US$117.68 billion worth in 2023 alone. These include critical components for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and machinery. With tariffs driving up costs, Indian businesses and consumers could face higher prices. For instance, smartphones and medicines, heavily dependent on Chinese parts, may become pricier, as India Today points out. Rising oil prices, spurred by trade tensions, could further inflate India&rsquo;s import bill, adding to inflation woes. India warns that this could weaken demand for Indian goods, especially in labour-intensive sectors like textiles and gems, already hit by global slowdowns.
Yet, there&rsquo;s a silver lining. The trade war is pushing companies to rethink their supply chains, and India stands to gain. The Tribune highlights how firms like Apple and Tesla are shifting manufacturing to India, drawn by its large workforce and growing infrastructure. This could boost jobs and foreign investment, aligning with the &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo; vision. Wright Research notes that India&rsquo;s electronics sector, especially telecom equipment like iPhones, has already seen a tenfold rise in US import share since 2017. If India secures trade deals with the US, as CNBC suggests, it could replace Chinese goods in American markets, boosting exports. China&rsquo;s restrictions on US markets may also redirect its exports to India, offering cheaper goods for Indian importers, per Wright Research.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ball-is-in-chinas-court-on-beijing-to-make-tariff-deal-with-him-8967865">Trump says 'ball is in China's court' on Beijing to make tariff deal with him</a>
But seizing these opportunities isn&rsquo;t easy. India&rsquo;s exporters, particularly in metals, are at risk. Wright Research reports a 5.6 per cent plunge in the Nifty Metal Index in just three trading sessions in 2025, a sign of global trade contraction. India Today recalls how past trade wars hurt Indian exporters, and this round could be worse. Infrastructure bottlenecks and red tape, as The New York Times notes, hinder India&rsquo;s ability to fully replace China as a manufacturing hub. Geopolitically, India must tread carefully. The US is a key ally in security and technology, but Indian Express quotes Chinese calls for India to stand against US &ldquo;tariff abuses.&rdquo; Balancing these ties while protecting trade interests is a tightrope walk, as The Tribune emphasizes.
So, what should India do? First, it must fast-track reforms to attract foreign investment. Easing business regulations and improving infrastructure, as CNBC suggests, could make India a magnet for companies fleeing China. Second, boosting domestic manufacturing is crucial to cut reliance on Chinese imports. The &ldquo;Make in India&rdquo; push needs more momentum, with incentives for local production in electronics and pharmaceuticals. Third, India should ramp up diplomatic efforts. The Tribune notes ongoing talks with the US for a trade deal by autumn 2025, aiming for $500 billion in two-way trade by 2030. Exploring deals with other nations, like the EU or Vietnam, could diversify trade and cushion global shocks.
This trade war is a wake-up call for India. The global economy faces turbulent times, with inflation, supply chain woes, and recession risks looming large. India, with its strategic position, can turn this crisis into a chance to shine as a manufacturing and trade hub. But it must act swiftly&mdash;streamlining policies, strengthening industries, and navigating geopolitics with finesse. As Reuters warns, the world is watching a trade war that could redefine economic power. For India, the choice is clear: adapt and thrive, or risk being swept away by the storm.

The global economy is reeling from this trade war. The US tariffs, which CNBC reports as effectively 145 per cent on Chinese imports, and China’s 125 per cent counter-tariffs, are making goods costlier. World | India news

The US-China trade war, now raging with 145 per cent US tariffs on Chinese goods and 125 per cent retaliatory tariffs from China as of April 2025, is sending shockwaves through the global economy. This escalating conflict, described as a “monumental split” by The New York Times, is not just a tussle between two superpowers—it’s a crisis that threatens to reshape trade, prices, and growth worldwide. For India, caught in the crossfire with its massive trade ties to both nations, this war brings both golden opportunities and daunting challenges. As an Indian, I see this as a moment for us to navigate carefully, balancing ambition with caution. The global economy is reeling from this trade war. The US tariffs, which CNBC reports as effectively 145 per cent on Chinese imports, and China’s 125 per cent counter-tariffs, are making goods costlier. From electronics to raw materials, prices are climbing, stoking inflation fears. Reuters notes that consumer inflation expectations in the US have hit a 40-year high, with fears of “tarifflation” pushing prices up further. Supply chains, heavily dependent on China—the world’s factory—are in chaos. Shortages and delays are looming, as CNN Business warns, disrupting everything from car manufacturing to smartphone production. Financial markets are jittery too. India Today reports a $180 billion wipeout in Indian stocks in early 2025, reflecting global investor panic. If this continues, economists warn of a possible recession, with the IMF flagging a potential 0.5 per cent hit to global GDP, translating to billions in lost output. Also read | China opens to talks with US amid tariff war, wants Trump admin to show respect India, with its US$118.40 billion trade with China in FY24 (IBEF), feels the heat acutely. As China’s top trading partner, surpassing even the US (Trading Economics), India relies heavily on Chinese imports—US$117.68 billion worth in 2023 alone. These include critical components for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and machinery. With tariffs driving up costs, Indian businesses and consumers could face higher prices. For instance, smartphones and medicines, heavily dependent on Chinese parts, may become pricier, as India Today points out. Rising oil prices, spurred by trade tensions, could further inflate India’s import bill, adding to inflation woes. India warns that this could weaken demand for Indian goods, especially in labour-intensive sectors like textiles and gems, already hit by global slowdowns. Yet, there’s a silver lining. The trade war is pushing companies to rethink their supply chains, and India stands to gain. The Tribune highlights how firms like Apple and Tesla are shifting manufacturing to India, drawn by its large workforce and growing infrastructure. This could boost jobs and foreign investment, aligning with the “Make in India” vision. Wright Research notes that India’s electronics sector, especially telecom equipment like iPhones, has already seen a tenfold rise in US import share since 2017. If India secures trade deals with the US, as CNBC suggests, it could replace Chinese goods in American markets, boosting exports. China’s restrictions on US markets may also redirect its exports to India, offering cheaper goods for Indian importers, per Wright Research. Also read | Trump says 'ball is in China's court' on Beijing to make tariff deal with him But seizing these opportunities isn’t easy. India’s exporters, particularly in metals, are at risk. Wright Research reports a 5.6 per cent plunge in the Nifty Metal Index in just three trading sessions in 2025, a sign of global trade contraction. India Today recalls how past trade wars hurt Indian exporters, and this round could be worse. Infrastructure bottlenecks and red tape, as The New York Times notes, hinder India’s ability to fully replace China as a manufacturing hub. Geopolitically, India must tread carefully. The US is a key ally in security and technology, but Indian Express quotes Chinese calls for India to stand against US “tariff abuses.” Balancing these ties while protecting trade interests is a tightrope walk, as The Tribune emphasizes. So, what should India do? First, it must fast-track reforms to attract foreign investment. Easing business regulations and improving infrastructure, as CNBC suggests, could make India a magnet for companies fleeing China. Second, boosting domestic manufacturing is crucial to cut reliance on Chinese imports. The “Make in India” push needs more momentum, with incentives for local production in electronics and pharmaceuticals. Third, India should ramp up diplomatic efforts. The Tribune notes ongoing talks with the US for a trade deal by autumn 2025, aiming for $500 billion in two-way trade by 2030. Exploring deals with other nations, like the EU or Vietnam, could diversify trade and cushion global shocks. This trade war is a wake-up call for India. The global economy faces turbulent times, with inflation, supply chain woes, and recession risks looming large. India, with its strategic position, can turn this crisis into a chance to shine as a manufacturing and trade hub. But it must act swiftly—streamlining policies, strengthening industries, and navigating geopolitics with finesse. As Reuters warns, the world is watching a trade war that could redefine economic power. For India, the choice is clear: adapt and thrive, or risk being swept away by the storm.

A trade war’s ripple effect: How the US-China tariff clash shakes the world and India

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg thought about deleting everyone's Facebook friends and wanted to create a feed consisting of only ads, The Verge reported. He made the revelation during the antitrust trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission that started on April 14. The FTC alleges that Meta, Facebook at the time, illegally monopolised the market for "personal social networking services" by buying Instagram and WhatsApp.
Zuckerberg's testimony was attended by only a handful of media personnel. He talked about how competition from other platforms got to him, and he had some "crazy ideas", including wiping clean users' friends list and buying Snapchat as he tried to build his social media empire.
<h2>Zuckerberg wanted to "wipe off" everyone's Facebook friend lists&nbsp;</h2>
The Verge reported that Zuckerberg revealed that in 2022, he came up with an idea to get people to use Facebook more. He thought that if everyone's friend lists were deleted and they had to "start again", it could get them to engage more with the platform.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mark-zuckerberg-instagram-sale-trial-at-ftc-vs-meta-not-first-time-zuckerberg-court-cases-house-senate-testimonies-timeline-updates-8963294" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">The 9 lives of Mark Zuckerberg: Every time Meta CEO faced scrutiny. Will he survive 'sell Instagram' trial this time? A timeline</a>
Zuckerberg felt that Facebook&rsquo;s "cultural relevance is decreasing quickly", which led him to come up with the plan that he wanted to use in a staggered manner. He proposed starting the plan with a smaller country and seeing how it went.
&ldquo;Even if [Instagram] and [WhatsApp] do well, I don&rsquo;t see a way for our company to succeed in the way we need if FB falters, so we need to get this right," he said in the Washington, DC courtroom.
<h2>Zuckerberg wanted to make Instagram a separate entity&nbsp;</h2>
He also revealed that at one point he considered "spinning Instagram", that is, making it a separate entity. In a 2018 email to his executives, Zuckerberg wrote that, ​​"while most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they&rsquo;ve been split up," The Verge reported.
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1604_META_830AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1604_META_830AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=186&amp;tags=meta, zuckerberg, court, instagram" title="Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg denies Instagram acquisition was to kill competition " id="PL_iframe_block-m9jt5dqd-euma9uiq-6532clem"></iframe>
The FTC alleges that Facebook was showing more and more ads to users, knowing fully well that they had nowhere else to go. Zuckerberg responded that users "think ads are as good as regular posts", and the company thought about making "a feed full of only ads."
<h2>Zuckerberg's offer to buy Snapchat</h2>
Meta also wanted to buy Snapchat, and in October 2013, he told his executives that news might leak that they offered $6 billion to acquire Snapchat. &ldquo;I delivered the offer to Evan [Spiegel, Snapchat&rsquo;s CEO] and he seemed to take it well,&rdquo; Zuckerberg wrote. However, Spiegel declined the offer 5 hours later, saying that he wanted to build it himself.
Zuckerberg stated that had he accepted the offer, the platform would have grown much faster.

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg wanted to delete everyone's friend lists once each year. This was a "crazy idea" he had in 2022, amongst a few others. World Trending

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg thought about deleting everyone's Facebook friends and wanted to create a feed consisting of only ads, The Verge reported. He made the revelation during the antitrust trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission that started on April 14. The FTC alleges that Meta, Facebook at the time, illegally monopolised the market for "personal social networking services" by buying Instagram and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg's testimony was attended by only a handful of media personnel. He talked about how competition from other platforms got to him, and he had some "crazy ideas", including wiping clean users' friends list and buying Snapchat as he tried to build his social media empire. Zuckerberg wanted to "wipe off" everyone's Facebook friend lists The Verge reported that Zuckerberg revealed that in 2022, he came up with an idea to get people to use Facebook more. He thought that if everyone's friend lists were deleted and they had to "start again", it could get them to engage more with the platform. Also Read: The 9 lives of Mark Zuckerberg: Every time Meta CEO faced scrutiny. Will he survive 'sell Instagram' trial this time? A timeline Zuckerberg felt that Facebook’s "cultural relevance is decreasing quickly", which led him to come up with the plan that he wanted to use in a staggered manner. He proposed starting the plan with a smaller country and seeing how it went. “Even if [Instagram] and [WhatsApp] do well, I don’t see a way for our company to succeed in the way we need if FB falters, so we need to get this right," he said in the Washington, DC courtroom. Zuckerberg wanted to make Instagram a separate entity He also revealed that at one point he considered "spinning Instagram", that is, making it a separate entity. In a 2018 email to his executives, Zuckerberg wrote that, "while most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they’ve been split up," The Verge reported. The FTC alleges that Facebook was showing more and more ads to users, knowing fully well that they had nowhere else to go. Zuckerberg responded that users "think ads are as good as regular posts", and the company thought about making "a feed full of only ads." Zuckerberg's offer to buy Snapchat Meta also wanted to buy Snapchat, and in October 2013, he told his executives that news might leak that they offered $6 billion to acquire Snapchat. “I delivered the offer to Evan [Spiegel, Snapchat’s CEO] and he seemed to take it well,” Zuckerberg wrote. However, Spiegel declined the offer 5 hours later, saying that he wanted to build it himself. Zuckerberg stated that had he accepted the offer, the platform would have grown much faster.

'Crazy, crazy idea': Zuckerberg wanted to delete everyone's Facebook friends lists. Here's why

Three Russian Navy warships, namely &lsquo;REZKIY&rsquo;, &lsquo;Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov&rsquo; and &lsquo;PECHENGA&rsquo;&nbsp; docked at Bangladesh&rsquo;s Chittagong Port this Sunday and will leave today, in what both countries described as a&nbsp;"goodwill visit". This comes days after Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed&rsquo;s visited Moscow. "The goodwill visit will further strengthen bilateral relations, exchange views on professional matters, and create opportunities for future training and mutual cooperation between the naval officers and sailors of the two countries," Bangladesh said in an official statement.
On reaching the Bangladeshi waters, the Bangladesh Navy ship &lsquo;Banouza Khalid Bin Walid&rsquo; welcomed the warships. The incident signals a growing military relationship between the two countries amid a major diplomatic realignment in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina's exit.&nbsp;
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-pm-modi-yunus-meet-turn-the-tide-for-india-bangladesh-relations-in-post-hasina-era-what-analysts-say-8934952">Can PM Modi-Yunus meet turn the tide for India-Bangladesh relations in post Hasina-era? What analysts say</a>
<h2>What unfolded in these four days?</h2>
On the arrival of the warships at the Chattogram port, the Chittagong naval region chief staff officer welcomed the ship&rsquo;s officers and sailors. Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, military, air and naval attach, and the Russian honorary consul in Chittagong, along with local high-ranking officials of the Navy, were present.
According to a press release by Inter-Services Public Relations, a Russian delegation, including the captains of the visiting ships and the Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, would pay courtesy calls on Commander Chittagong Naval Area, Commander BN Fleet and the chairman of Chittagong Port Authority.
The officers and sailors of the visiting ships will lay a wreath at the Redkin Point inside the Naval Academy and visit the Navy training base and ships, BN Ashar Alo School for the special children. Additionally, members of the Bangladesh Navy and students of schools run by the Navy will visit the Russian ships as part of the programme.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/controversial-statements-by-indian-courts-on-sexual-abuse-cases-women-say-sensitisation-necessary-8964602">Controversial statements by Indian courts on sexual abuse cases: Women say 'sensitisation necessary'</a>
<h2>Should India and China worry?</h2>
As per&nbsp;Economic Times, the visit is an indication that Bangladesh is looking beyond China for its military needs. According to SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) data, China accounted for nearly 74% of Bangladesh&rsquo;s total arms imports between 2018 and 2022, making it the country&rsquo;s dominant military supplier. This dependence gave China considerable strategic leverage, however, Dhaka's growing ties with Russia &mdash; a former Cold War-era defense partner &mdash; especially in naval diplomacy, signals a significant shift in the Indo-Pacific region.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-meets-bangladeshs-muhammad-yunus-on-bimstec-summit-sidelines-8924239" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">PM Modi meets Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus for the first time on BIMSTEC Summit sidelines</a>
As far as India is concerned, Moneycontrol reported that&nbsp;New Delhi may welcome Russia&rsquo;s growing visibility in South Asia as a way to counterbalance China's influence in Bangladesh. Moscow remains one of India&rsquo;s top arms suppliers and considering its close military and defence ties. However, a naval warship in the Bay of Bengal region might also be seen as a threat to regional stability and India may keep its close eyes at the Bangladesh-Russia mdefence equation, more so, because the Bay of Bengal region has been dominated by India and is increasingly patrolled by China in the past few years.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sheikh-hasina-vows-to-return-to-bangladesh-calls-yunus-unfit-to-govern-bangladesh-8735410" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sheikh Hasina Vows To Return To Bangladesh, Calls Yunus 'Unfit' To Govern Bangladesh</a>

World | Three Russian Navy warships docked at Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port this Sunday, in what both countries described as a "goodwill visit". What does it mean for India, China

Three Russian Navy warships, namely ‘REZKIY’, ‘Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov’ and ‘PECHENGA’ docked at Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port this Sunday and will leave today, in what both countries described as a "goodwill visit". This comes days after Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed’s visited Moscow. "The goodwill visit will further strengthen bilateral relations, exchange views on professional matters, and create opportunities for future training and mutual cooperation between the naval officers and sailors of the two countries," Bangladesh said in an official statement. On reaching the Bangladeshi waters, the Bangladesh Navy ship ‘Banouza Khalid Bin Walid’ welcomed the warships. The incident signals a growing military relationship between the two countries amid a major diplomatic realignment in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina's exit. Read More | Can PM Modi-Yunus meet turn the tide for India-Bangladesh relations in post Hasina-era? What analysts say What unfolded in these four days? On the arrival of the warships at the Chattogram port, the Chittagong naval region chief staff officer welcomed the ship’s officers and sailors. Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, military, air and naval attach, and the Russian honorary consul in Chittagong, along with local high-ranking officials of the Navy, were present. According to a press release by Inter-Services Public Relations, a Russian delegation, including the captains of the visiting ships and the Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, would pay courtesy calls on Commander Chittagong Naval Area, Commander BN Fleet and the chairman of Chittagong Port Authority. The officers and sailors of the visiting ships will lay a wreath at the Redkin Point inside the Naval Academy and visit the Navy training base and ships, BN Ashar Alo School for the special children. Additionally, members of the Bangladesh Navy and students of schools run by the Navy will visit the Russian ships as part of the programme. Read More | Controversial statements by Indian courts on sexual abuse cases: Women say 'sensitisation necessary' Should India and China worry? As per Economic Times, the visit is an indication that Bangladesh is looking beyond China for its military needs. According to SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) data, China accounted for nearly 74% of Bangladesh’s total arms imports between 2018 and 2022, making it the country’s dominant military supplier. This dependence gave China considerable strategic leverage, however, Dhaka's growing ties with Russia — a former Cold War-era defense partner — especially in naval diplomacy, signals a significant shift in the Indo-Pacific region. Read More | PM Modi meets Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus for the first time on BIMSTEC Summit sidelines As far as India is concerned, Moneycontrol reported that New Delhi may welcome Russia’s growing visibility in South Asia as a way to counterbalance China's influence in Bangladesh. Moscow remains one of India’s top arms suppliers and considering its close military and defence ties. However, a naval warship in the Bay of Bengal region might also be seen as a threat to regional stability and India may keep its close eyes at the Bangladesh-Russia mdefence equation, more so, because the Bay of Bengal region has been dominated by India and is increasingly patrolled by China in the past few years. Read More | Sheikh Hasina Vows To Return To Bangladesh, Calls Yunus 'Unfit' To Govern Bangladesh

Russian warships docked at Bangladeshi waters for four-days now: What it means for India, China

Amid Trump's intensifying <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-economy-grew-54-in-first-quarter-but-us-tariffs-putting-pressure-on-economy-trade-8966732">trade war</a>, China is now facing tariffs up to 245% on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions, according to a White House statement.&nbsp;
This comes after China instructed its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets, in response to US President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs.&nbsp;
However, now, as it sums up, China now faces up to 245% tariffs on imports to the US as the two nations keep on imposing retaliatory tariffs, with no mood to negotiate.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Trump has paused tariffs on more than 75 nations, which he claims, has contacted him and the US representatives for negotiations.&nbsp;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-gdp-growth-defies-expectations-tariff-risks-loom-8967252">China's GDP growth defies expectations, tariff risks loom</a>
<h2>China responds&nbsp;</h2>
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded to an inquiry about the 245% tariff report, saying "You can ask the US side for the specific tax rate figures".&nbsp;
China further warned that it was "not afraid" to fight a trade war with the US and reiterated calls for dialogue.&nbsp;
"If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit," Lin Jian said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-opens-to-talks-with-us-amid-tariff-war-wants-trump-admin-to-show-respect-8968109">China opens to talks with US amid tariff war, wants Trump admin to show respect</a>
After China pulled out of the Boeing agreement to take delivery of aircraft it committed to, Trump took to Truth Social, saying, "Interestingly, they just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will &lsquo;not take possession&rsquo; of fully committed to aircraft.&rdquo; He also criticised the Biden administration, saying, &ldquo;They had ZERO respect for the Crooked Biden Administration, and who can blame them for that?&rdquo;
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump is open to making a trade deal with China, but Beijing should make the first move.&nbsp;
"The ball is in China's court: China needs to make a deal with us, we don't have to make a deal with them," Leavitt told a press briefing. "China wants what we have ... the American consumer, or to put another way, they need our money," Leavitt said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ball-is-in-chinas-court-on-beijing-to-make-tariff-deal-with-him-8967865">Trump says 'ball is in China's court' on Beijing to make tariff deal with him</a>

World: This comes after China instructed its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets, in response to US President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs.

Amid Trump's intensifying trade war, China is now facing tariffs up to 245% on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions, according to a White House statement. This comes after China instructed its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets, in response to US President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs. However, now, as it sums up, China now faces up to 245% tariffs on imports to the US as the two nations keep on imposing retaliatory tariffs, with no mood to negotiate. Meanwhile, Trump has paused tariffs on more than 75 nations, which he claims, has contacted him and the US representatives for negotiations. WATCH | China's GDP growth defies expectations, tariff risks loom China responds China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded to an inquiry about the 245% tariff report, saying "You can ask the US side for the specific tax rate figures". China further warned that it was "not afraid" to fight a trade war with the US and reiterated calls for dialogue. "If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit," Lin Jian said. Also read: China opens to talks with US amid tariff war, wants Trump admin to show respect After China pulled out of the Boeing agreement to take delivery of aircraft it committed to, Trump took to Truth Social, saying, "Interestingly, they just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will ‘not take possession’ of fully committed to aircraft.” He also criticised the Biden administration, saying, “They had ZERO respect for the Crooked Biden Administration, and who can blame them for that?” On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump is open to making a trade deal with China, but Beijing should make the first move. "The ball is in China's court: China needs to make a deal with us, we don't have to make a deal with them," Leavitt told a press briefing. "China wants what we have ... the American consumer, or to put another way, they need our money," Leavitt said. Also read: Trump says 'ball is in China's court' on Beijing to make tariff deal with him

'Stop threatening': China warns after US slaps Beijing with whopping 245% tariffs

China has reportedly said that it will be open to talks with the United States (US) but wants the US&nbsp;administration to show more respect amid disparaging remarks by members of its cabinet. This comes even as US President Donald Trump's administration announced a sweeping new tariff of up to 245% on Chinese imports, sharply escalating the trade conflict between the United States and China.&nbsp;
Other conditions include a more consistent US position and a willingness to address China&rsquo;s concerns around American sanctions and Taiwan, as per a report in Bloomberg.
Read More |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/open-to-a-deal-trump-optimistic-about-striking-a-deal-with-china-amid-tariff-row-8952798">'Open to a deal': Trump 'optimistic' about striking a deal with China amid tariff row</a>
Earlier on Friday (Apr 11), US President Donald Trump said that he is now "optimistic" about striking a deal with China. Furthur, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement that she said Trump had dictated: "The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them." Meanwhile, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told the head of the World Trade Organization that US tariffs will "inflict serious harm" on poor nations.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-gave-85000-visas-to-indians-this-year-8966876">China says gave 85,000 visas to Indians this year</a>
<h2>China-US tariff war&nbsp;</h2>
China had a pre-existing 67 per cent tariff on US goods, while the US charged 10 per cent. However, on 'Liberation Day', US President Donald Trump announced &lsquo;reciprocal tariffs&rsquo; and imposed 104 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods. China hit back with 84 per cent tariffs as a retaliatory measure in place of 34 per cent that it had already announced. On April 9, Trump paused tariffs for all countries for 90 days but increased China's tariff to 145%.&nbsp; In retaliation, China slapped fresh tariffs of 125 per cent on April 11 and said that it would "ignore" further tariff hikes by Trump.&nbsp;
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-hits-back-with-125-per-cent-tariff-at-us-says-will-ignore-further-retaliation-from-trump-admin-8950598">China hits back with 125 per cent tariff at US, says will ignore further retaliation from Trump admin</a>
Previously, in February, the US announced 10 per cent tariffs on China. Beijing retaliated with a 15 per cent tariff on US coal and liquefied natural gas products, and a 10 per cent tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-displacement cars.
The US then raised tariffs by another 10 per cent, bringing levies against Chinese imports to 20 per cent. China retaliated by imposing a 15 per cent tariff on US chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, and a 10 per cent tariff on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-to-wto-head-us-tariffs-will-inflict-serious-harm-on-developing-countries-8955884">China to WTO head: 'US tariffs will inflict serious harm on developing countries'</a>

World | China said that it will be open to talks with the US but wants the US administration to show more respect amid disparaging remarks by members of its cabinet.

China has reportedly said that it will be open to talks with the United States (US) but wants the US administration to show more respect amid disparaging remarks by members of its cabinet. This comes even as US President Donald Trump's administration announced a sweeping new tariff of up to 245% on Chinese imports, sharply escalating the trade conflict between the United States and China. Other conditions include a more consistent US position and a willingness to address China’s concerns around American sanctions and Taiwan, as per a report in Bloomberg. Read More | 'Open to a deal': Trump 'optimistic' about striking a deal with China amid tariff row Earlier on Friday (Apr 11), US President Donald Trump said that he is now "optimistic" about striking a deal with China. Furthur, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement that she said Trump had dictated: "The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them." Meanwhile, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told the head of the World Trade Organization that US tariffs will "inflict serious harm" on poor nations. Read More | China says gave 85,000 visas to Indians this year China-US tariff war China had a pre-existing 67 per cent tariff on US goods, while the US charged 10 per cent. However, on 'Liberation Day', US President Donald Trump announced ‘reciprocal tariffs’ and imposed 104 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods. China hit back with 84 per cent tariffs as a retaliatory measure in place of 34 per cent that it had already announced. On April 9, Trump paused tariffs for all countries for 90 days but increased China's tariff to 145%. In retaliation, China slapped fresh tariffs of 125 per cent on April 11 and said that it would "ignore" further tariff hikes by Trump. Read More | China hits back with 125 per cent tariff at US, says will ignore further retaliation from Trump admin Previously, in February, the US announced 10 per cent tariffs on China. Beijing retaliated with a 15 per cent tariff on US coal and liquefied natural gas products, and a 10 per cent tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-displacement cars. The US then raised tariffs by another 10 per cent, bringing levies against Chinese imports to 20 per cent. China retaliated by imposing a 15 per cent tariff on US chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, and a 10 per cent tariff on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Read More | China to WTO head: 'US tariffs will inflict serious harm on developing countries'

China open to talks with US amid tariff war, wants Trump admin to show respect

The Pentagon has reportedly placed two top officials on administrative leave on Tuesday as part of an investigation into leaks at the Defense Department.&nbsp;
A US official told news agency Reuters that one of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leading advisers, Dan Caldwell, was escorted from the Pentagon on Tuesday after being identified during the probe.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-explores-legality-of-sending-us-citizens-to-el-salvador-jail-trump-says-would-love-to-8967599">White House explores legality of sending US citizens to El Salvador jail: Trump says 'would love to...'</a>
Caldwell was placed on administrative leave for "an unauthorized disclosure," the official told the agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The investigation remains ongoing," the official. Details about the nature of the alleged disclosure, including whether it was made to a journalist or to someone else, have not been revealed.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-accuses-donald-trump-of-taking-hatchet-to-social-security-in-first-post-presidency-speech-8966579" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden accuses Trump of taking 'hatchet' to social security in first post-presidency speech</a>&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Politico reported that Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, was also placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.&nbsp;
Earlier, a probe was launched into Hegseth's use of the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive information about military operations in Yemen.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-trying-to-beat-trumps-tariffs-iphones-worth-2-billion-airlifted-from-india-ahead-of-us-import-duties-8966192" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple trying to beat Trump&rsquo;s tariffs? iPhones worth $2 billion airlifted from India ahead of US import duties</a>&nbsp;
Watch: US-Iran talks: Trump envoy demands Iran must stop enrichment in apparent u-turn
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1604_US_11AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1604_US_11AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=183&amp;tags=iran, us, trump, worlld news, wion, khamenei" title="US-Iran talks: Trump envoy demands Iran must stop enrichment in apparent u-turn" id="PL_iframe_block-m9jr2vv7-rl3c6y45-rebv7tir"></iframe>
<h2>Signal chat leak</h2>
Senior members of the Trump administration, including Hegseth, used Signal chat to discuss air strikes on Yemen. On Trump's orders, the US launched an attack on Yemen's Houthi rebels in a bid to curb their attacks on commercial shipping and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/does-us-want-to-dismantle-irans-nuclear-programme-or-cap-uranium-enrichment-read-details-8963178" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does US want to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme, or cap uranium enrichment? Read details</a>
The chats came to light after they were accidentally leaked when Jeff Goldberg, who is the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, was inadvertently included in the Signal in which officials including Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Hegseth discussed details of air strike timings and intelligence.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World news | Trending news | Senior members of the Trump administration, including Hegseth, used Signal chat to discuss air strikes on Yemen

The Pentagon has reportedly placed two top officials on administrative leave on Tuesday as part of an investigation into leaks at the Defense Department. A US official told news agency Reuters that one of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leading advisers, Dan Caldwell, was escorted from the Pentagon on Tuesday after being identified during the probe. Also read: White House explores legality of sending US citizens to El Salvador jail: Trump says 'would love to...' Caldwell was placed on administrative leave for "an unauthorized disclosure," the official told the agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The investigation remains ongoing," the official. Details about the nature of the alleged disclosure, including whether it was made to a journalist or to someone else, have not been revealed. Also read: Biden accuses Trump of taking 'hatchet' to social security in first post-presidency speech Meanwhile, Politico reported that Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, was also placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Earlier, a probe was launched into Hegseth's use of the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive information about military operations in Yemen. Also read: Apple trying to beat Trump’s tariffs? iPhones worth $2 billion airlifted from India ahead of US import duties Watch: US-Iran talks: Trump envoy demands Iran must stop enrichment in apparent u-turn Signal chat leak Senior members of the Trump administration, including Hegseth, used Signal chat to discuss air strikes on Yemen. On Trump's orders, the US launched an attack on Yemen's Houthi rebels in a bid to curb their attacks on commercial shipping and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Also read: Does US want to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme, or cap uranium enrichment? Read details The chats came to light after they were accidentally leaked when Jeff Goldberg, who is the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, was inadvertently included in the Signal in which officials including Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Hegseth discussed details of air strike timings and intelligence. (With inputs from agencies)

Signal chat leak: Two top Pentagon officials put on leave as part of probe, say reports

<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">France will expel 12 agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France and will recall its ambassador to Algiers for consultations, the French presidency said on Tuesday.&nbsp;The move comes after Algeria's decided to expel 12 French consular staff members. Algeria&nbsp;protested&nbsp;France's detention of an Algerian consular agent suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian opposition activist.&nbsp;</div>
<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"></div>
<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"><iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1504_FRANCE_9AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1504_FRANCE_9AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=116&amp;tags=france, algeria, world news" title="France-Algeria diplomatic tensions soar as officials expelled over indictments " id="PL_iframe_block-m9jpzvn2-ojere3af-aokzdi7n"></iframe></div>
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<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"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sudan-g7-urges-both-sides-to-engage-in-meaningful-negotiations-8968048">Sudan: G7 urges both sides to engage in meaningful negotiations</a></div>
<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"></div>
<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">France's relations with Algeria, a former colony, have long been complicated, but took a turn for the worse last year when President Emmanuel Macron supported Morocco's position over that of Algeria over the disputed Western Sahara region. But only last week, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had said that ties between the two countries were returning to normal.</div>
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The order was in response to&nbsp;charges filed in France on Friday against an Algerian consular official, accused with two other Algerians of taking part in the kidnap of an opposition dissident in the Paris suburbs a year ago.&nbsp;Algiers chose to see the arrest of the official as "a flagrant contravention of the immunities and privileges that attach to his (diplomatic) functions".
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ball-is-in-chinas-court-on-beijing-to-make-tariff-deal-with-him-8967865">Trump says 'ball is in China's court' on Beijing to make tariff deal with him</a>
According to the official Algerian state-run news agency APS: "This unprecedented judicial incident... has not come about by chance. Its purpose is to scupper the relaunch of bilateral relations agreed by the two heads of state."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/major-sandstorm-triggers-health-crisis-in-iraq-8967867">Major sandstorm triggers health crisis in Iraq</a>
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.
</div>

World | France will expel 12 agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France and will recall its ambassador to Algiers for consultations

France will expel 12 agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France and will recall its ambassador to Algiers for consultations, the French presidency said on Tuesday. The move comes after Algeria's decided to expel 12 French consular staff members. Algeria protested France's detention of an Algerian consular agent suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian opposition activist. Sudan: G7 urges both sides to engage in meaningful negotiations France's relations with Algeria, a former colony, have long been complicated, but took a turn for the worse last year when President Emmanuel Macron supported Morocco's position over that of Algeria over the disputed Western Sahara region. But only last week, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had said that ties between the two countries were returning to normal. Europe faces worst flooding in decade amid fastest warming trends The order was in response to charges filed in France on Friday against an Algerian consular official, accused with two other Algerians of taking part in the kidnap of an opposition dissident in the Paris suburbs a year ago. Algiers chose to see the arrest of the official as "a flagrant contravention of the immunities and privileges that attach to his (diplomatic) functions". Trump says 'ball is in China's court' on Beijing to make tariff deal with him According to the official Algerian state-run news agency APS: "This unprecedented judicial incident... has not come about by chance. Its purpose is to scupper the relaunch of bilateral relations agreed by the two heads of state." Major sandstorm triggers health crisis in Iraq 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.

Diplomatic tensions escalate as France expels 12 Algerian agents, says will recall ambassador

US President Donald Trump said "the ball was now in Beijing's court" to make a tariff deal with Washington.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement that she said Trump had dictated: "The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them."
"There's no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger, and China wants what we have, what every country wants, what we have -- the American consumer -- or to put another way, they need our money," the statement added.&nbsp;
This comes as China ordered airlines to halt Boeing jet deliveries in response to the US increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 per cent.
In a post on his Truth Social handle, Trump, on Tuesday (Apr 15), "Our farmers are GREAT, but because of their GREATNESS, they are always put on the Front Line with our adversaries, such as China, whenever there is a Trade negotiation or, in this case, a Trade War. The same thing happened in my First Term. China was brutal to our Farmers, I these Patriots to just hold on, and a great trade deal was made. I rewarded our farmers with a payment of $28 Billion Dollars, all through the China deal. It was a great transaction for the USA, until Crooked Joe Biden came in and didn&rsquo;t enforce it."
<iframe width="600" height="" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114342518862792060/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>

"China largely reneged on the deal (although they behaved during the Trump Administration), only buying a portion of what they agreed to buy. They had ZERO respect for the Crooked Biden Administration, and who can blame them for that? Interestingly, they just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will &ldquo;not take possession&rdquo; of fully committed to aircraft. The USA will PROTECT OUR FARMERS!!!," he added.
WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-china-trade-war-china-to-suspend-aircraft-related-purchases-from-us-firms-report-8966250">US-China trade war: China to suspend aircraft-related purchases from US firms: Report</a>
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1504_ARJUN_TARIFF_9PM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1504_ARJUN_TARIFF_9PM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=247&amp;tags=US, China, Trade War, World News, WION" title="US-China trade war: China to suspend aircraft-related purchases from US firms: Report" id="PL_iframe_block-m9joq55m-m7t6atug-hwieja04"></iframe>
<h2>Trump alleges China-Vietnam talks aimed at undermining US interests</h2>
Trump suggested that China's efforts to strengthen economic ties with Vietnam was likely a strategy to &ldquo;screw&rdquo; the United States.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t blame China. I don&rsquo;t blame Vietnam. I don&rsquo;t. I see they&rsquo;re meeting today. Is that wonderful? That&rsquo;s a lovely meeting &hellip; like trying to figure out, how do we screw the United States of America?&rdquo; he told reporters in the Oval Office, claiming that Joe Biden had lost &ldquo;trillions of dollars&rdquo; in trade to China.
Trump's comments came while discussing tariffs and potential exemptions for automobiles and auto parts.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t blame President Xi,&rdquo; he said in the Oval Office during a joint news briefing with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. &ldquo;I like him. He likes me. I mean, you know, who knows?&rdquo;
Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Monday, met Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and To Lam, the nation&rsquo;s Communist Party general secretary.
He said, &ldquo;We must strengthen strategic resolve, jointly oppose unilateral bullying, and uphold the stability of the global free trade system as well as industrial and supply chains.&rdquo;&nbsp;

World news: US President Donald Trump suggested that China's efforts to strengthen economic ties with Vietnam was likely a strategy to “screw” the United States.

US President Donald Trump said "the ball was now in Beijing's court" to make a tariff deal with Washington. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement that she said Trump had dictated: "The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them." "There's no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger, and China wants what we have, what every country wants, what we have -- the American consumer -- or to put another way, they need our money," the statement added. This comes as China ordered airlines to halt Boeing jet deliveries in response to the US increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 per cent. In a post on his Truth Social handle, Trump, on Tuesday (Apr 15), "Our farmers are GREAT, but because of their GREATNESS, they are always put on the Front Line with our adversaries, such as China, whenever there is a Trade negotiation or, in this case, a Trade War. The same thing happened in my First Term. China was brutal to our Farmers, I these Patriots to just hold on, and a great trade deal was made. I rewarded our farmers with a payment of $28 Billion Dollars, all through the China deal. It was a great transaction for the USA, until Crooked Joe Biden came in and didn’t enforce it." "China largely reneged on the deal (although they behaved during the Trump Administration), only buying a portion of what they agreed to buy. They had ZERO respect for the Crooked Biden Administration, and who can blame them for that? Interestingly, they just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will “not take possession” of fully committed to aircraft. The USA will PROTECT OUR FARMERS!!!," he added. WATCH | US-China trade war: China to suspend aircraft-related purchases from US firms: Report Trump alleges China-Vietnam talks aimed at undermining US interests Trump suggested that China's efforts to strengthen economic ties with Vietnam was likely a strategy to “screw” the United States. “I don’t blame China. I don’t blame Vietnam. I don’t. I see they’re meeting today. Is that wonderful? That’s a lovely meeting … like trying to figure out, how do we screw the United States of America?” he told reporters in the Oval Office, claiming that Joe Biden had lost “trillions of dollars” in trade to China. Trump's comments came while discussing tariffs and potential exemptions for automobiles and auto parts. “I don’t blame President Xi,” he said in the Oval Office during a joint news briefing with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. “I like him. He likes me. I mean, you know, who knows?” Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Monday, met Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and To Lam, the nation’s Communist Party general secretary. He said, “We must strengthen strategic resolve, jointly oppose unilateral bullying, and uphold the stability of the global free trade system as well as industrial and supply chains.”

Trump says 'ball is in China's court' on Beijing to make tariff deal with him

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