Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of major US cities on Saturday to oppose the divisive policies of President Donald Trump, in the largest demonstrations since his return to the White House.
Opponents of the Republican president's policies -- from government staffing cuts to trade tariffs and eroding civil liberties -- rallied in Washington, New York, Houston, Florida, Colorado and Los Angeles, among other locations.
"I am so angry, I'm so mad, all the time, yes. A bunch of privileged, white alleged rapists are controlling our country. It's not great," said New York painter Shaina Kesner, 43, joining a crowd marching through the heart of Manhattan.
In Washington, thousands of demonstrators -- many traveling from across the United States -- gathered on the National Mall where dozens of speakers rallied opposition to Trump.
"We have about 100 people who have come down by bus and van from New Hampshire to protest against this outrageous administration (that) is causing us to lose our allies across the world, and causing devastation to people here at home," said Diane Kolifrath, 64, a bike tour guide.
"They're gutting our government."
In Los Angeles, a woman dressed as a character from dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale" waved a large flag with the message: "Get out of my uterus," a reference to Trump's anti-abortion policies.
In Denver, Colorado, one man in a large crowd of protesters held up a placard reading "No king for USA."
The rallies even extended to some European capitals, where demonstrators voiced opposition to Trump and his aggressive trade policies.
"What's happening in America is everyone's problem," Liz Chamberlin, a dual US-British citizen told AFP at a London rally.
"It's economic lunacy... He is going to push us into a global recession."
And in Berlin, 70-year-old retiree Susanne Fest said Trump had created "a constitutional crisis," adding, "The guy is a lunatic."
In the US, a loose coalition of left-leaning groups like MoveOn and Women's March organized "Hands Off" events in more than 1,000 cities and in every congressional district, the groups said.
<h2><hl2>Anger&nbsp;</hl2></h2>
Trump has angered many Americans by moving aggressively to downsize the government, unilaterally impose conservative values and sharply pressure even friendly countries over borders and trade, causing stock markets to tank.
"We're out here to stop the, honestly, fascism," protester Dominic Santella told AFP in Boston. "We're stopping a leader from... jailing his opponents, stopping him from jailing just random people, immigrants."
Many Democrats are irate that their party, in the minority in both houses of Congress, has seemed so helpless to resist Trump's moves.
At the National Mall, just blocks from the White House, thousands heard speakers including Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat who served as impeachment manager during Trump's second impeachment.
"No moral person wants an economy-crashing dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing," he told the crowd.
Activist Graylan Hagler, 71, also addressed the protest, saying: "They've woken up a sleeping giant, and they haven't seen nothing yet."
"We will not sit down, we will not be quiet, and we will not go away."
Saturday's demonstrations were largely peaceful. An upbeat atmosphere prevailed on a mild day in Washington, with protesters ranging from the elderly to young couples with infants in strollers.
A Women's March shortly after Trump's first election in 2016 drew an estimated half-million protesters to Washington.
Organizers for the latest Washington rally had predicted a turnout of 20,000 but by Saturday afternoon said the number appeared considerably larger.
As Trump continues upending Washington, his approval rating has fallen to its lowest since taking office, according to recent polling.
But despite global pushback to his sweeping tariffs and bubbling resentment from many Americans, the White House has dismissed the protests.
The Republican president, still popular with his base, shows no sign of relenting.
"My policies will never change," Trump said Friday.
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.

World news: In Los Angeles, a woman dressed as a character from dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale" waved a large flag with the message: "Get out of my uterus," a reference to Trump's anti-abortion policies.

Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of major US cities on Saturday to oppose the divisive policies of President Donald Trump, in the largest demonstrations since his return to the White House. Opponents of the Republican president's policies -- from government staffing cuts to trade tariffs and eroding civil liberties -- rallied in Washington, New York, Houston, Florida, Colorado and Los Angeles, among other locations. "I am so angry, I'm so mad, all the time, yes. A bunch of privileged, white alleged rapists are controlling our country. It's not great," said New York painter Shaina Kesner, 43, joining a crowd marching through the heart of Manhattan. In Washington, thousands of demonstrators -- many traveling from across the United States -- gathered on the National Mall where dozens of speakers rallied opposition to Trump. "We have about 100 people who have come down by bus and van from New Hampshire to protest against this outrageous administration (that) is causing us to lose our allies across the world, and causing devastation to people here at home," said Diane Kolifrath, 64, a bike tour guide. "They're gutting our government." In Los Angeles, a woman dressed as a character from dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale" waved a large flag with the message: "Get out of my uterus," a reference to Trump's anti-abortion policies. In Denver, Colorado, one man in a large crowd of protesters held up a placard reading "No king for USA." The rallies even extended to some European capitals, where demonstrators voiced opposition to Trump and his aggressive trade policies. "What's happening in America is everyone's problem," Liz Chamberlin, a dual US-British citizen told AFP at a London rally. "It's economic lunacy... He is going to push us into a global recession." And in Berlin, 70-year-old retiree Susanne Fest said Trump had created "a constitutional crisis," adding, "The guy is a lunatic." In the US, a loose coalition of left-leaning groups like MoveOn and Women's March organized "Hands Off" events in more than 1,000 cities and in every congressional district, the groups said. Anger Trump has angered many Americans by moving aggressively to downsize the government, unilaterally impose conservative values and sharply pressure even friendly countries over borders and trade, causing stock markets to tank. "We're out here to stop the, honestly, fascism," protester Dominic Santella told AFP in Boston. "We're stopping a leader from... jailing his opponents, stopping him from jailing just random people, immigrants." Many Democrats are irate that their party, in the minority in both houses of Congress, has seemed so helpless to resist Trump's moves. At the National Mall, just blocks from the White House, thousands heard speakers including Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat who served as impeachment manager during Trump's second impeachment. "No moral person wants an economy-crashing dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing," he told the crowd. Activist Graylan Hagler, 71, also addressed the protest, saying: "They've woken up a sleeping giant, and they haven't seen nothing yet." "We will not sit down, we will not be quiet, and we will not go away." Saturday's demonstrations were largely peaceful. An upbeat atmosphere prevailed on a mild day in Washington, with protesters ranging from the elderly to young couples with infants in strollers. A Women's March shortly after Trump's first election in 2016 drew an estimated half-million protesters to Washington. Organizers for the latest Washington rally had predicted a turnout of 20,000 but by Saturday afternoon said the number appeared considerably larger. As Trump continues upending Washington, his approval rating has fallen to its lowest since taking office, according to recent polling. But despite global pushback to his sweeping tariffs and bubbling resentment from many Americans, the White House has dismissed the protests. The Republican president, still popular with his base, shows no sign of relenting. "My policies will never change," Trump said Friday. 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.

Tens of thousands march in US against Trump 'devastation'

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, on Saturday (Apr 5), strongly condemned Israel's detention of two UK lawmakers, describing it as "unacceptable," "counterproductive," and "deeply concerning".
The detained MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, both members of the Labour Party, were denied entry to Israel due to suspicions that they planned to document security forces' activities and spread anti-Israel sentiments.&nbsp;
They flew from London to Israel but upon landing were blocked from entering the country and deported, according to British media reports.
"It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities," Lammy said in a statement.
"I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support.
"The UK government's focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza."
Israel resumed military operations in Gaza, aiming to capture territory and pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages.
<h2>Israel kills Hamas 'commander' in Lebanon strike, expands ground offensive in Gaza</h2>
Israel claimed to have killed a commander of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday (Apr 4) in a strike in the Lebanese port city of Sidon. The strike reportedly also killed his adult son and daughter. The Israeli military also announced the launch of a new ground offensive in Gaza City to expand the security zone. Israel has pushed since the collapse of a short-lived truce in the war with Hamas to seize territory in Gaza. Tel Avid calls it a strategy to force the militants to free hostages still in captivity.&nbsp;
In a statement, the Israeli military said, "Overnight, the (army and the domestic security agency Shin Bet) conducted a targeted strike in the Sidon area, eliminating the terrorist Hassan Farhat, commander of Hamas's western arena in Lebanon."&nbsp;
Israel alleged that Farhat was responsible for multiple attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians in the aftermath of the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023. The attacks included rocket fire on the Israeli town of Safed on February 14, 2024, that killed an Israeli soldier.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World news: Israel resumed military operations in Gaza, aiming to capture territory and pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, on Saturday (Apr 5), strongly condemned Israel's detention of two UK lawmakers, describing it as "unacceptable," "counterproductive," and "deeply concerning". The detained MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, both members of the Labour Party, were denied entry to Israel due to suspicions that they planned to document security forces' activities and spread anti-Israel sentiments. They flew from London to Israel but upon landing were blocked from entering the country and deported, according to British media reports. "It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities," Lammy said in a statement. "I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support. "The UK government's focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza." Israel resumed military operations in Gaza, aiming to capture territory and pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages. Israel kills Hamas 'commander' in Lebanon strike, expands ground offensive in Gaza Israel claimed to have killed a commander of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday (Apr 4) in a strike in the Lebanese port city of Sidon. The strike reportedly also killed his adult son and daughter. The Israeli military also announced the launch of a new ground offensive in Gaza City to expand the security zone. Israel has pushed since the collapse of a short-lived truce in the war with Hamas to seize territory in Gaza. Tel Avid calls it a strategy to force the militants to free hostages still in captivity. In a statement, the Israeli military said, "Overnight, the (army and the domestic security agency Shin Bet) conducted a targeted strike in the Sidon area, eliminating the terrorist Hassan Farhat, commander of Hamas's western arena in Lebanon." Israel alleged that Farhat was responsible for multiple attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians in the aftermath of the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023. The attacks included rocket fire on the Israeli town of Safed on February 14, 2024, that killed an Israeli soldier. (With inputs from agencies)

'Unacceptable': Britain strongly condemns Israel's detention of two woman UK MPs

Thousands of protesters have gathered various cities across the US, as "Hands Off protest" begin on Saturday (April 5), demonstrating against President Donald Trump and his closest ally Elon Musk.&nbsp;
Protesters gathered in Boston, Massachusetts to stand against the Trump administration's policies and Elon Musk.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
HAPPENING NOW: Thousands of protesters have gathered in Boston, MA for the worldwide "Hands Off!" protests against Elon Musk and Donald Trump 👇🏻<a href="https://t.co/jUBVJu1nak">pic.twitter.com/jUBVJu1nak</a>
&mdash; Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcoFoster_/status/1908535169016791079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
Meanwhile, Jamie Raskin, Democratic representative of Maryland addressed the crowd in Washington DC, calling out Trump, saying "Hands off Canada, that&rsquo;s an independent country. Hands off Panama, that&rsquo;s an independent country. Statehood for Washington, DC!&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hands-off-protests-anti-trump-demonstrations-to-be-held-across-us-tomorrow-everything-you-need-to-know-8926838">'Hands Off' protests: Anti-Trump demonstrations to be held across US tomorrow | Everything you need to know</a>
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got the right to protest for what is right without being arrested, deported or fired. We have the right to read the books we want, including 1984 and The Handmaid&rsquo;s Tale&hellip; We&rsquo;ve even got the right to call the president deranged from crashing our economy, destroying $6 trillion of wealth and turning our 401Ks into 201Ks and the press has the right to call the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico.&rdquo;
One of the protesters was carrying a placard saying, Elon don't be a DOGE BAG', signalling Musk's work heading DOGE.&nbsp;
The predominantly white protestors were chanting, &ldquo;Hey hey, ho ho, Trump and Musk have got to go." These protesters hoisted a variety of colorful placards that left little doubt about where they stand on the topic of Donald Trump.
&ldquo;I did not elect Elon Musk," some said, while others emphasised the protestors&rsquo; anxieties about the future of democracy in the US.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ai-donald-trump-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-deepseek-us-stock-market-reciprocal-tariffs-8930105">&lsquo;Blame China&rsquo;s AI, not Trump&rsquo;: US Treasury Secretary claims DeepSeek responsible for tanking stock market,&nbsp;not&nbsp;tariffs</a>
&ldquo;Hands off democracy,&rdquo; declared one placard. &ldquo;Stop being Putin&rsquo;s puppet,&rdquo; enjoined another.
&ldquo;This is an assault on our democracy, on our economy, on our civil rights,&rdquo; said Jennifer Heit, a 64-year-old editor and resident of Plantation who toted a poster that read, &ldquo;USA: No to King or Oligarchy.&rdquo;
"Hands Off" is a "national day of action" that will bring members of Congress, community leaders and "everyday people" together to call on President Trump and his advisor Elon Musk to take their hands off the programs that the middle class and working families rely on.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-china-tariffs-trade-war-8929697">'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won&rsquo;t be easy'</a>
More than 1,100 rallies, visibility events and meetings were scheduled in all 50 states as of Wednesday.&nbsp;
The protests are being organised by advocacy groups, including Third Act - an environmental group led by environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, Reproductive Freedom for All, and the 50501 Movement.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cant-stomach-trumps-absurd-tariff-math-trumps-treasury-secy-looking-for-exit-door-after-tariffs-ruin-his-credibility-8930074">'Can&rsquo;t stomach Trump&rsquo;s absurd tariff math': US treasury secretary 'looking for exit door' after tariffs ruin his credibility</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: “I did not elect Elon Musk," some protesters said, while others emphasised the protestors’ anxieties about the future of democracy in the US.

Thousands of protesters have gathered various cities across the US, as "Hands Off protest" begin on Saturday (April 5), demonstrating against President Donald Trump and his closest ally Elon Musk. Protesters gathered in Boston, Massachusetts to stand against the Trump administration's policies and Elon Musk. HAPPENING NOW: Thousands of protesters have gathered in Boston, MA for the worldwide "Hands Off!" protests against Elon Musk and Donald Trump 👇🏻pic.twitter.com/jUBVJu1nak — Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) April 5, 2025 Meanwhile, Jamie Raskin, Democratic representative of Maryland addressed the crowd in Washington DC, calling out Trump, saying "Hands off Canada, that’s an independent country. Hands off Panama, that’s an independent country. Statehood for Washington, DC!” Also read: 'Hands Off' protests: Anti-Trump demonstrations to be held across US tomorrow | Everything you need to know “We’ve got the right to protest for what is right without being arrested, deported or fired. We have the right to read the books we want, including 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale… We’ve even got the right to call the president deranged from crashing our economy, destroying $6 trillion of wealth and turning our 401Ks into 201Ks and the press has the right to call the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico.” One of the protesters was carrying a placard saying, Elon don't be a DOGE BAG', signalling Musk's work heading DOGE. The predominantly white protestors were chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, Trump and Musk have got to go." These protesters hoisted a variety of colorful placards that left little doubt about where they stand on the topic of Donald Trump. “I did not elect Elon Musk," some said, while others emphasised the protestors’ anxieties about the future of democracy in the US. Also read: ‘Blame China’s AI, not Trump’: US Treasury Secretary claims DeepSeek responsible for tanking stock market, not tariffs “Hands off democracy,” declared one placard. “Stop being Putin’s puppet,” enjoined another. “This is an assault on our democracy, on our economy, on our civil rights,” said Jennifer Heit, a 64-year-old editor and resident of Plantation who toted a poster that read, “USA: No to King or Oligarchy.” "Hands Off" is a "national day of action" that will bring members of Congress, community leaders and "everyday people" together to call on President Trump and his advisor Elon Musk to take their hands off the programs that the middle class and working families rely on. Also read: 'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won’t be easy' More than 1,100 rallies, visibility events and meetings were scheduled in all 50 states as of Wednesday. The protests are being organised by advocacy groups, including Third Act - an environmental group led by environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, Reproductive Freedom for All, and the 50501 Movement. Also read: 'Can’t stomach Trump’s absurd tariff math': US treasury secretary 'looking for exit door' after tariffs ruin his credibility (With inputs from agencies)

'Shame on you Trump': Americans gather for 'Hands Off' protest against US president, Musk; say 'don't be DOGE BAG'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered a formal investigation into the leak of a recent US proposal concerning profits from Ukraine&rsquo;s energy and mineral assets, the Financial Times reported. The probe, led by Ukraine&rsquo;s domestic security service, includes the use of polygraph tests on government staff, according to officials.
The leak comes as tensions grow between Kyiv and the Trump administration over the conditions of a proposed agreement involving critical energy and mineral resources.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-zelensky-weak-us-response-russian-strike-kills-9-children-8929974" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'They are afraid to say Russian': Zelensky blasts 'weak' US response after Russian strike kills 9 children in his home city</a>
<h2>Trump accuses Zelensky of stalling on asset deal</h2>
US President Donald Trump recently claimed that Zelensky was &ldquo;trying to back out&rdquo; of the agreement and warned that he would face &ldquo;big problems&rdquo; if he did not sign it soon.
Ukrainian officials told the Financial Times that lie detector tests have been carried out across several ministries. They did not specify how many people were tested or share further details. While the reliability of polygraph tests is disputed, Ukraine regularly uses them in investigations and military screening.
<h2>Opposition MP reveals details of US draft proposal</h2>
The draft agreement was made public on 26 March by opposition MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who claimed to have obtained a copy. Speaking at a press briefing on 28 March, Zelensky called the leak &ldquo;strange&rdquo; and questioned how the information had been passed on. &ldquo;I wonder who is transmitting this information,&rdquo; he said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ai-donald-trump-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-deepseek-us-stock-market-reciprocal-tariffs-8930105">&lsquo;Blame China&rsquo;s AI, not Trump&rsquo;: US Treasury Secretary claims DeepSeek responsible for tanking stock market,&nbsp;not&nbsp;tariffs</a>
<h2>New US proposal expands on earlier deal with Kyiv</h2>
The leaked document outlines a new US proposal that goes beyond a previous framework agreed upon in February. That deal was later dropped following a fallout between Zelensky and Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance, during a meeting at the White House.
Despite the broader terms in the latest proposal, it still offers Ukraine no formal security guarantees, a sticking point for Kyiv.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cant-stomach-trumps-absurd-tariff-math-trumps-treasury-secy-looking-for-exit-door-after-tariffs-ruin-his-credibility-8930074">'Can&rsquo;t stomach Trump&rsquo;s absurd tariff math': US treasury secretary 'looking for exit door' after tariffs ruin his credibility</a>
<h2>Trump administration sees investment as deterrent to Russia</h2>
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has claimed that security guarantees aren&rsquo;t necessary, suggesting that American investment in Ukraine&rsquo;s mineral sector alone would discourage future Russian aggression. However, Ukrainian officials have expressed strong disagreement with this view.
Trump&rsquo;s plan ties into his wider strategy to bring an end to Russia&rsquo;s invasion and to reclaim what he sees as billions owed by Kyiv for previous US military support.
<h2>Kyiv rejects repayment demands, seeks revised deal</h2>
Last week, Zelensky pushed back against Trump&rsquo;s claim that US military aid should be treated as a loan to be paid back through the proposed deal.
The current draft suggests creating a joint supervisory board to oversee revenues from major oil, gas, and mineral projects, a condition that Ukrainian officials fear could weaken the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and clash with its ambitions to join the EU.
&ldquo;We cannot accept any arrangement that undermines our EU path,&rdquo; Zelensky said.
<h2>Ukraine prepares response ahead of Washington talks</h2>
Speaking from his office on Friday, Zelensky said Ukrainian officials and legal teams are working on a new version of the proposal, which they hope the Trump administration will consider. A Ukrainian delegation is expected to travel to Washington next week for further discussions.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: US President Donald Trump recently claimed that Zelensky was “trying to back out” of the agreement and warned that he would face “big problems” if he did not sign it soon.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered a formal investigation into the leak of a recent US proposal concerning profits from Ukraine’s energy and mineral assets, the Financial Times reported. The probe, led by Ukraine’s domestic security service, includes the use of polygraph tests on government staff, according to officials. The leak comes as tensions grow between Kyiv and the Trump administration over the conditions of a proposed agreement involving critical energy and mineral resources. Also read: 'They are afraid to say Russian': Zelensky blasts 'weak' US response after Russian strike kills 9 children in his home city Trump accuses Zelensky of stalling on asset deal US President Donald Trump recently claimed that Zelensky was “trying to back out” of the agreement and warned that he would face “big problems” if he did not sign it soon. Ukrainian officials told the Financial Times that lie detector tests have been carried out across several ministries. They did not specify how many people were tested or share further details. While the reliability of polygraph tests is disputed, Ukraine regularly uses them in investigations and military screening. Opposition MP reveals details of US draft proposal The draft agreement was made public on 26 March by opposition MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who claimed to have obtained a copy. Speaking at a press briefing on 28 March, Zelensky called the leak “strange” and questioned how the information had been passed on. “I wonder who is transmitting this information,” he said. Also read: ‘Blame China’s AI, not Trump’: US Treasury Secretary claims DeepSeek responsible for tanking stock market, not tariffs New US proposal expands on earlier deal with Kyiv The leaked document outlines a new US proposal that goes beyond a previous framework agreed upon in February. That deal was later dropped following a fallout between Zelensky and Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance, during a meeting at the White House. Despite the broader terms in the latest proposal, it still offers Ukraine no formal security guarantees, a sticking point for Kyiv. Also read: 'Can’t stomach Trump’s absurd tariff math': US treasury secretary 'looking for exit door' after tariffs ruin his credibility Trump administration sees investment as deterrent to Russia US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has claimed that security guarantees aren’t necessary, suggesting that American investment in Ukraine’s mineral sector alone would discourage future Russian aggression. However, Ukrainian officials have expressed strong disagreement with this view. Trump’s plan ties into his wider strategy to bring an end to Russia’s invasion and to reclaim what he sees as billions owed by Kyiv for previous US military support. Kyiv rejects repayment demands, seeks revised deal Last week, Zelensky pushed back against Trump’s claim that US military aid should be treated as a loan to be paid back through the proposed deal. The current draft suggests creating a joint supervisory board to oversee revenues from major oil, gas, and mineral projects, a condition that Ukrainian officials fear could weaken the country’s sovereignty and clash with its ambitions to join the EU. “We cannot accept any arrangement that undermines our EU path,” Zelensky said. Ukraine prepares response ahead of Washington talks Speaking from his office on Friday, Zelensky said Ukrainian officials and legal teams are working on a new version of the proposal, which they hope the Trump administration will consider. A Ukrainian delegation is expected to travel to Washington next week for further discussions. (With inputs from agencies)

Mole inside Zelensky’s inner circle? Ukraine breaks out 'lie detectors' after Trump' mineral deal draft leaks

President Donald Trump is redefining the foreign and trade policies of the United States, with a focus on business, profits, tariffs, and deals. While the US-Ukraine deal on critical minerals is still hanging in limbo, Senior Bureau Official (SBO) for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Eric Meyer, will soon be leading an interagency delegation to Islamabad for attending the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum to advance US interests in the critical minerals sector. As per a note from the US Department of State shared on Saturday, Meyer will be in Islamabad from April 8 to 10, and will meet senior Pakistani officials to expand opportunities for American businesses in Pakistan and promote the deepening of economic ties between the two countries.&nbsp; SBO Meyer will also engage with senior officials to highlight the importance of continued collaboration on counterterrorism.
The US-Pakistan ties, largely based on a security-centric focus till now, may be transformed as Islamabad aims to draw the Trump administration with stakes in its critical mineral reserves and other business ventures.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jklf-chief-yasin-malik-facing-trial-in-terror-cases-tells-sc-i-am-a-political-leader-not-a-terrorist-who-is-he-8925990">JKLF&rsquo;s Yasin Malik, facing trial in terror cases, tells SC, &lsquo;I am a political leader, not a terrorist&rsquo;. Who is he?</a>
The upcoming visit of Meyer will be a sigh of relief for Pakistan, which is worried about Washington&rsquo;s diminished interest in the country since the withdrawal of US forces from bordering Afghanistan that shrank Islamabad&rsquo;s strategic relevance, besides Washington&rsquo;s focus shifting to the Indo-Pacific. US investment in its mineral sector could provide Pakistan a much-needed economic boost, create jobs, and enhance infrastructure development.&nbsp; Pakistan has vast mineral wealth like the Reko Diq mine in Balochistan, while Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are said to have lithium reserves, critical for renewable energy technologies. However, in order to get US investment, Pakistan must prove its worth as a reliable partner and make some changes in its foreign policy by bringing down its reliance on China. Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sam-altman-shares-his-ai-generated-cricketer-avatar-in-india-jersey-internet-sees-biz-strategy-roasts-him-8929622">Sam Altman shares his AI-generated cricketer avatar in India jersey; internet sees biz strategy, roasts him</a> The importance of minerals has changed geopolitics in the last few years as the demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper, used in batteries, will jump significantly in the coming years.&nbsp; Critical minerals are extremely important for the US military, as its drones, robots, and weapons will run on batteries. Unlike the traditional engines, electric vehicles operate silently and don&rsquo;t leave a thermal signature. All this fits perfectly in the US plans to have a non-tactical fleet that runs entirely on batteries, and hence critical minerals rank high in US national security priorities.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepal-making-a-u-turn-ex-maoist-guerrilla-leads-fight-for-return-of-monarchy-hindu-nation-8911280" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nepal making a U-turn? Ex-Maoist guerrilla leads fight for return of monarchy, Hindu nation</a> China currently dominates critical mineral supply chains and commands global battery cell production with access to mines across Asia, Latin America, and Africa.&nbsp; Pakistan's economy is struggling, and its foreign debt has skyrocketed, and hence its critical minerals offer it an avenue for growth.

World: US investment in its mineral sector could provide Pakistan a much-needed economic boost, create jobs, and enhance infrastructure development.

President Donald Trump is redefining the foreign and trade policies of the United States, with a focus on business, profits, tariffs, and deals. While the US-Ukraine deal on critical minerals is still hanging in limbo, Senior Bureau Official (SBO) for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Eric Meyer, will soon be leading an interagency delegation to Islamabad for attending the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum to advance US interests in the critical minerals sector. As per a note from the US Department of State shared on Saturday, Meyer will be in Islamabad from April 8 to 10, and will meet senior Pakistani officials to expand opportunities for American businesses in Pakistan and promote the deepening of economic ties between the two countries. SBO Meyer will also engage with senior officials to highlight the importance of continued collaboration on counterterrorism. The US-Pakistan ties, largely based on a security-centric focus till now, may be transformed as Islamabad aims to draw the Trump administration with stakes in its critical mineral reserves and other business ventures. Also Read | JKLF’s Yasin Malik, facing trial in terror cases, tells SC, ‘I am a political leader, not a terrorist’. Who is he? The upcoming visit of Meyer will be a sigh of relief for Pakistan, which is worried about Washington’s diminished interest in the country since the withdrawal of US forces from bordering Afghanistan that shrank Islamabad’s strategic relevance, besides Washington’s focus shifting to the Indo-Pacific. US investment in its mineral sector could provide Pakistan a much-needed economic boost, create jobs, and enhance infrastructure development. Pakistan has vast mineral wealth like the Reko Diq mine in Balochistan, while Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are said to have lithium reserves, critical for renewable energy technologies. However, in order to get US investment, Pakistan must prove its worth as a reliable partner and make some changes in its foreign policy by bringing down its reliance on China. Also Read | Sam Altman shares his AI-generated cricketer avatar in India jersey; internet sees biz strategy, roasts him The importance of minerals has changed geopolitics in the last few years as the demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper, used in batteries, will jump significantly in the coming years. Critical minerals are extremely important for the US military, as its drones, robots, and weapons will run on batteries. Unlike the traditional engines, electric vehicles operate silently and don’t leave a thermal signature. All this fits perfectly in the US plans to have a non-tactical fleet that runs entirely on batteries, and hence critical minerals rank high in US national security priorities. Also Read | Nepal making a U-turn? Ex-Maoist guerrilla leads fight for return of monarchy, Hindu nation China currently dominates critical mineral supply chains and commands global battery cell production with access to mines across Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Pakistan's economy is struggling, and its foreign debt has skyrocketed, and hence its critical minerals offer it an avenue for growth.

Senior US official heads to Pakistan with focus on critical minerals deal

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (April 5) downplayed the effect of China's retaliatory tariffs, admitting that "China has been hit much harder than the USA."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the US for what he called a "weak" reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, killing nine children and nine adults.
Click on the headlines for more
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-china-tariffs-trade-war-8929697" rel="dofollow">'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won&rsquo;t be easy'</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/04/9Ngqkgd7AY6pHP2PcwJH.png" alt=" US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping Photograph: (Reuters) ">
US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sent-in-error-trump-administration-accidentally-tells-ukrainian-refugees-to-leave-us-in-email-blunder-8928424" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Saturday downplayed the effect of China's retaliatory tariffs, saying that "China has been hit much harder than the USA." Taking on Truth Social on Saturday, the US President said, "China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly."&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-zelensky-weak-us-response-russian-strike-kills-9-children-8929974" rel="dofollow">'They are afraid to say Russian': Zelensky blasts 'weak' US response after Russian strike kills 9 children in his home city</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/03/19/MMnHUc9c1Ce99Mv5ohHU.png" alt=" US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Photograph: (Reuters/Ukraine president website) ">
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (April 05) criticised the United States for what he called a "weak" reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih that claimed the lives of nine children and nine adults.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ai-donald-trump-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-deepseek-us-stock-market-reciprocal-tariffs-8930105" rel="dofollow">&lsquo;Blame China&rsquo;s AI, not Trump&rsquo;: US Treasury Secretary claims DeepSeek responsible for tanking stock market, not tariffs</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/05/zWRcr3JmQQiStAXHwf1q.png" alt=" DeepSeek, US President Donald Trump Photograph: (AFP, WION Web Team) ">
Despite a steep drop in the US stock market last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cant-stomach-trumps-absurd-tariff-math-trumps-treasury-secy-looking-for-exit-door-after-tariffs-ruin-his-credibility-8930074" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Donald Trump&rsquo;s</a>&nbsp;new tariff plans aren&rsquo;t the real reason behind the fall.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cant-stomach-trumps-absurd-tariff-math-trumps-treasury-secy-looking-for-exit-door-after-tariffs-ruin-his-credibility-8930074" rel="dofollow">'Can&rsquo;t stomach Trump&rsquo;s absurd tariff math': US treasury secretary 'looking for exit door' after tariffs ruin his credibility</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/05/lHrfLh3vODQC1J6GrfBP.png" alt=" US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and President Donald Trump Photograph: (Reuters) ">
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is looking to leave the Trump administration following the US president's massive tariff rollout, which damaged his "credibility", claimed US media MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/big-warning-for-canadians-travelling-to-us-border-officers-might-check-your-electronics-experts-suggest-using-burner-phones-8929992" rel="dofollow">BIG WARNING for Canadians travelling to US: Border officers might check your electronics; experts suggest using burner phones</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/05/OPx8fSwwgXwYinKTiQMG.png" alt=" Representative Image Photograph: (Reuters) ">
Once again, Canada has updated its travel advisory for people travelling to the United States, warning that they should be prepared for scrutiny from border patrol officers as they might check their phones and laptops.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-second-most-prolific-serial-killer-alexander-pichushkin-admits-to-11-more-murders-claims-he-took-32-lives-8929651" rel="dofollow">Russia's second most prolific serial killer? Alexander Pichushkin admits to 11 more murders, claims he took 63 lives</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/05/P40qkM0ukAh0RaH7lwLC.png" alt=" Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin Photograph: (Reuters) ">
Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin, who was in prison for killing 48 people, has now claimed to have killed 11 more people, according to Russia's prison service.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-did-russias-slush-fund-head-kirill-dmitriev-become-putins-mouthpiece-to-trump-8929564" rel="dofollow">How did Russia's 'slush fund' head Kirill Dmitriev become Putin's mouthpiece to Trump?</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/05/sZpqTODGcoJambBR9OSQ.png" alt=" Russian President Vladimir Putin, Head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev and US President Donald Trump Photograph: (Reuters) ">
The Head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev has become a prominent figure in the Kremlin's outreach to the US President Donald Trump administration.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-might-go-back-on-tariffs-on-vietnam-heres-why-8929795" rel="dofollow">Trump might go back on tariffs on Vietnam, here's why</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/04/wnVTa3f7SJzgazCyikrD.png" alt=" US President Donald Trump and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam Photograph: (Reuters) ">
Nike's stock price soared on Friday (Apr 5), after US President Donald Trump announced a "very productive call" with Vietnam's leader, boosting investor confidence.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/amitabh-bachchan-rajpal-yadav-zayed-khan-and-more-pay-last-respects-to-screen-legend-manoj-kumar-8929169" rel="dofollow">Amitabh Bachchan, Rajpal Yadav, Zayed Khan and more pay last respects to screen legend Manoj Kuma</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/amitabh-bachchan-rajpal-yadav-zayed-khan-and-more-pay-last-respects-to-screen-legend-manoj-kumar-8929169" rel="dofollow">r</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/05/RVIe4u93FpB3VAa7BLbp.png" alt=" Manoj Kumar funeral Photograph: (WION Web Desk) ">
Amitabh Bachchan, Rajpal Yadav, Zayed Khan, and others attended the funeral of Indian cinema icon Manoj Kumar in Mumbai to pay their respects. The actor passed away on Friday at the age of 87 due to chronic heart-related complications.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-will-ms-dhoni-retire-after-match-vs-dc-fans-speculate-as-csk-legends-parents-present-at-chepauk-8929381" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Will MS Dhoni retire after match vs DC? Fans speculate as CSK legend's parents present at Chepauk</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/05/KMmxFntQtWIrEH43Arjy.png" alt=" Screenshot from the video grab Photograph: (X) ">
The presence of Pan Singh and Devika Devi, parents of the former CSK captain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mahendra-singh-dhoni" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MS Dhoni</a>, added a special emotional touch to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chennai-super-kings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennai Super Kings</a>&rsquo; IPL clash against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on Saturday. Remarkably, this marked the first time Dhoni&rsquo;s parents had attended an IPL match in Chennai since his association with CSK began back in 2008.

World: Zelensky slammed the US for what he called a "weak" reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, killing nine children and nine adults

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (April 5) downplayed the effect of China's retaliatory tariffs, admitting that "China has been hit much harder than the USA." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the US for what he called a "weak" reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, killing nine children and nine adults. Click on the headlines for more 'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won’t be easy' US President Donald Trump on Saturday downplayed the effect of China's retaliatory tariffs, saying that "China has been hit much harder than the USA." Taking on Truth Social on Saturday, the US President said, "China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly." 'They are afraid to say Russian': Zelensky blasts 'weak' US response after Russian strike kills 9 children in his home city Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (April 05) criticised the United States for what he called a "weak" reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih that claimed the lives of nine children and nine adults. ‘Blame China’s AI, not Trump’: US Treasury Secretary claims DeepSeek responsible for tanking stock market, not tariffs Despite a steep drop in the US stock market last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that President Donald Trump’s new tariff plans aren’t the real reason behind the fall. 'Can’t stomach Trump’s absurd tariff math': US treasury secretary 'looking for exit door' after tariffs ruin his credibility US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is looking to leave the Trump administration following the US president's massive tariff rollout, which damaged his "credibility", claimed US media MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle. BIG WARNING for Canadians travelling to US: Border officers might check your electronics; experts suggest using burner phones Once again, Canada has updated its travel advisory for people travelling to the United States, warning that they should be prepared for scrutiny from border patrol officers as they might check their phones and laptops. Russia's second most prolific serial killer? Alexander Pichushkin admits to 11 more murders, claims he took 63 lives Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin, who was in prison for killing 48 people, has now claimed to have killed 11 more people, according to Russia's prison service. How did Russia's 'slush fund' head Kirill Dmitriev become Putin's mouthpiece to Trump? The Head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev has become a prominent figure in the Kremlin's outreach to the US President Donald Trump administration. Trump might go back on tariffs on Vietnam, here's why Nike's stock price soared on Friday (Apr 5), after US President Donald Trump announced a "very productive call" with Vietnam's leader, boosting investor confidence. Amitabh Bachchan, Rajpal Yadav, Zayed Khan and more pay last respects to screen legend Manoj Kumar Amitabh Bachchan, Rajpal Yadav, Zayed Khan, and others attended the funeral of Indian cinema icon Manoj Kumar in Mumbai to pay their respects. The actor passed away on Friday at the age of 87 due to chronic heart-related complications. IPL 2025: Will MS Dhoni retire after match vs DC? Fans speculate as CSK legend's parents present at Chepauk The presence of Pan Singh and Devika Devi, parents of the former CSK captain MS Dhoni, added a special emotional touch to the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL clash against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on Saturday. Remarkably, this marked the first time Dhoni’s parents had attended an IPL match in Chennai since his association with CSK began back in 2008.

Top 10 world news: Trump admits trade war 'won’t be easy'; Zelensky blasts US over Russian strike, and more

Despite a steep drop in the US stock market last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cant-stomach-trumps-absurd-tariff-math-trumps-treasury-secy-looking-for-exit-door-after-tariffs-ruin-his-credibility-8930074" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Donald Trump&rsquo;s</a> new tariff plans aren&rsquo;t the real reason behind the fall.
Instead, Bessent pointed the finger at DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence platform launched earlier this year, claiming that its release had a bigger impact on investor confidence than any political decision.
&ldquo;For everyone who thinks these market declines are all based on the President's economic policies, I can tell you that this market decline started with the Chinese AI announcement of DeepSeek,&rdquo; Bessent said during an interview with Tucker Carlson posted on Friday.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-china-tariffs-trade-war-8929697" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won&rsquo;t be easy'</a>
<h2>'I'd say it's more a Mag 7 problem, not a MAGA'</h2>
DeepSeek, which rivals platforms like ChatGPT, introduced its latest version in January. According to Bessent, it triggered the downturn in the share prices of leading US tech firms, often referred to as the &ldquo;Magnificent 7.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I'd say it's more a Mag 7 problem, not a MAGA problem,&rdquo; Bessent told Carlson.
Bessent, a former hedge fund manager before becoming Treasury Secretary under Trump, explained, &ldquo;If I were to analyse in my old hat, and this is the only time I'm going to talk about it ... what's happening with the market, I'd say it's more a Mag 7 problem, not a MAGA problem.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-just-taxes-its-a-safety-net-why-india-has-sky-high-tariffs-8929246" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Not just taxes, it&rsquo;s a safety net': Why India has sky-high tariffs?</a>
The &ldquo;Mag 7&rdquo; includes seven top-performing technology companies whose success has heavily influenced the stock market&rsquo;s recent highs. &ldquo;MAGA,&rdquo; meanwhile, refers to Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;Make America Great Again&rdquo; slogan.
US markets have fallen by roughly 10% over two days since Trump introduced a global 10% import tax, with even steeper tariffs for certain countries. But signs of weakness were already visible earlier in the year when DeepSeek&rsquo;s free AI assistant launched, boasting lower data use and cheaper running costs. That launch led to a massive selloff &mdash; including a record $600 billion loss in market value from AI chipmaker Nvidia, one of the Magnificent 7.
<h2>Trump officials play down market concerns</h2>
Bessent is not the only Trump official downplaying the market reaction. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has also dismissed concerns, suggesting the market response is unrelated to Trump&rsquo;s tariff announcement.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-to-meet-trump-in-washington-this-week-first-foreign-leader-to-discuss-tariffs-in-person-8929092" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: DeepSeek, which rivals platforms like ChatGPT, introduced its latest version in January. According to Bessent, it triggered the downturn in the share prices of leading US tech firms, often referred to as the “Magnificent 7.”

Despite a steep drop in the US stock market last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that President Donald Trump’s new tariff plans aren’t the real reason behind the fall. Instead, Bessent pointed the finger at DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence platform launched earlier this year, claiming that its release had a bigger impact on investor confidence than any political decision. “For everyone who thinks these market declines are all based on the President's economic policies, I can tell you that this market decline started with the Chinese AI announcement of DeepSeek,” Bessent said during an interview with Tucker Carlson posted on Friday. Also read: 'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won’t be easy' 'I'd say it's more a Mag 7 problem, not a MAGA' DeepSeek, which rivals platforms like ChatGPT, introduced its latest version in January. According to Bessent, it triggered the downturn in the share prices of leading US tech firms, often referred to as the “Magnificent 7.” “I'd say it's more a Mag 7 problem, not a MAGA problem,” Bessent told Carlson. Bessent, a former hedge fund manager before becoming Treasury Secretary under Trump, explained, “If I were to analyse in my old hat, and this is the only time I'm going to talk about it ... what's happening with the market, I'd say it's more a Mag 7 problem, not a MAGA problem.” Also read: 'Not just taxes, it’s a safety net': Why India has sky-high tariffs? The “Mag 7” includes seven top-performing technology companies whose success has heavily influenced the stock market’s recent highs. “MAGA,” meanwhile, refers to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. US markets have fallen by roughly 10% over two days since Trump introduced a global 10% import tax, with even steeper tariffs for certain countries. But signs of weakness were already visible earlier in the year when DeepSeek’s free AI assistant launched, boasting lower data use and cheaper running costs. That launch led to a massive selloff — including a record $600 billion loss in market value from AI chipmaker Nvidia, one of the Magnificent 7. Trump officials play down market concerns Bessent is not the only Trump official downplaying the market reaction. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has also dismissed concerns, suggesting the market response is unrelated to Trump’s tariff announcement. Also read: Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person (With inputs from agencies)

‘Blame China’s AI, not Trump’: US Treasury Secretary claims DeepSeek responsible for tanking stock market, not tariffs

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is looking to leave the Trump administration following the US president's massive tariff rollout, which damaged his "credibility", claimed US media MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle.&nbsp;
During her presence on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Ruhle said Bessent is looking for an exit door to try to get himself to the Fed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Some [sources] have said to me, he&rsquo;s looking for an exit door to try to get himself to the Fed because, in the last few days, he&rsquo;s really hurting his own credibility and history in the markets,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;
Trump slapped a universal 10% tariff on all US imports as well as reciprocal tariffs on 180 countries.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-might-go-back-on-tariffs-on-vietnam-heres-why-8929795">Trump might go back on tariffs on Vietnam, here's why</a>
<h2>'Absurd tariff math'</h2>
Ruhle suggested that Bessent, who built his $521 million fortune managing massive hedge funds, can&rsquo;t stomach Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;absurd tariff math".&nbsp;
Some of the critics have also slammed Trump's tariffs as a "kindergarten-level understanding&rdquo; of international trade."
Trump is "not listening" to his treasury secretary, "the odd man out" in the president's inner circle, according to Ruhle's sources.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-china-tariffs-trade-war-8929697">'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won&rsquo;t be easy'</a>
&ldquo;[Bessent] actually understands how the markets work and, what&rsquo;s happening right now, is only going to hurt markets," she said.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Bessent called the use of sweeping tariffs &ldquo;maximalist&rdquo; positions in October 2024 when he was an economic adviser in Trump&rsquo;s campaign.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s escalate to de-escalate,&rdquo; Bessent told the Financial Times at the time. He further warned countries not to retaliate.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-to-meet-trump-in-washington-this-week-first-foreign-leader-to-discuss-tariffs-in-person-8929092">Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person</a>
&ldquo;Sit back, take it in, let&rsquo;s see how it goes. Because if you retaliate, there will be escalation. If you don&rsquo;t retaliate, this is the high-water mark,&rdquo; he said on Wednesday.
Trump after announcing tariffs told the crowd that &ldquo;April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn,&rdquo; insisting that for decades, the US had been &ldquo;looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered&rdquo; by foreign nations.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-just-taxes-its-a-safety-net-why-india-has-sky-high-tariffs-8929246">'Not just taxes, it&rsquo;s a safety net': Why India has sky-high tariffs?</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Ruhle suggested that Scott Bessent, who built his $521 million fortune managing massive hedge funds, can’t stomach Trump’s “absurd tariff math".

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is looking to leave the Trump administration following the US president's massive tariff rollout, which damaged his "credibility", claimed US media MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle. During her presence on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Ruhle said Bessent is looking for an exit door to try to get himself to the Fed. “Some [sources] have said to me, he’s looking for an exit door to try to get himself to the Fed because, in the last few days, he’s really hurting his own credibility and history in the markets,” she said. Trump slapped a universal 10% tariff on all US imports as well as reciprocal tariffs on 180 countries. Also read: Trump might go back on tariffs on Vietnam, here's why 'Absurd tariff math' Ruhle suggested that Bessent, who built his $521 million fortune managing massive hedge funds, can’t stomach Trump’s “absurd tariff math". Some of the critics have also slammed Trump's tariffs as a "kindergarten-level understanding” of international trade." Trump is "not listening" to his treasury secretary, "the odd man out" in the president's inner circle, according to Ruhle's sources. Also read: 'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won’t be easy' “[Bessent] actually understands how the markets work and, what’s happening right now, is only going to hurt markets," she said. Meanwhile, Bessent called the use of sweeping tariffs “maximalist” positions in October 2024 when he was an economic adviser in Trump’s campaign. “It’s escalate to de-escalate,” Bessent told the Financial Times at the time. He further warned countries not to retaliate. Also read: Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person “Sit back, take it in, let’s see how it goes. Because if you retaliate, there will be escalation. If you don’t retaliate, this is the high-water mark,” he said on Wednesday. Trump after announcing tariffs told the crowd that “April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn,” insisting that for decades, the US had been “looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered” by foreign nations. Also read: 'Not just taxes, it’s a safety net': Why India has sky-high tariffs? (With inputs from agencies)

'Can’t stomach Trump’s absurd tariff math': US treasury secretary 'looking for exit door' after tariffs ruin his credibility

Once again, Canada has updated its travel advisory for people travelling to the United States, warning that they should be prepared for scrutiny from border patrol officers as they might check their phones and laptops.&nbsp;
The updated advisory stated that the US authorities can check electronic devices like phones and laptops and advised the travellers to comply with them.&nbsp;
"US authorities strictly enforce entry requirements. Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices," the advisory read.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/old-relationship-is-over-canada-hits-us-with-25-tariffs-on-american-made-cars-over-3000-autoworkers-laid-off-8922496">'Old relationship is over': Canada hits US with 25% tariffs on American-made cars; over 3000 autoworkers laid off</a>
"Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry. you could be detained while awaiting deportation," it added.
It further read, "We have obtained the information on this page from the US authorities. It can, however, change at any time."
This is the second advisory issued by Canada. The first came after the US made it mandatory for all Canadians staying in the US for more than 30 days to register with the US administration. The new rule will be effective from April 11.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-donald-trump-spare-canada-and-mexico-from-the-latest-round-of-tariffs-white-house-reveals-truth-8920512">Did Donald Trump really spare Canada and Mexico from latest round of tariffs? White House reveals truth</a>
This comes as US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office, directing the Department of Homeland Security to ensure non-citizens comply with the Immigration and Nationality Act.&nbsp;
The law requires &ldquo;all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a US visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer&rdquo; to do so, according to the USCIS website.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-annexation-plans-for-greenland-and-canada-run-into-resistance-8902384">Trump&rsquo;s annexation plans for Greenland and Canada run into resistance</a>
<h2>What do experts have to say?</h2>
An immigration lawyer and a privacy lawyer said that travellers who are concerned about their privacy should understand border patrol officers' powers and decide how much risk they're comfortable taking before they leave their homes.
Meanwhile, Heather Segal, an immigration lawyer and founding partner of Segal Immigration Law in Toronto, told CBC News that her inbox is flooded with questions.
"There's been much more heightened security and heightened investigations at the border," she said. "There is just tremendous fear, fear for numerous reasons. First of all, there's fear of getting detained. There's fear of not getting into the United States."
Two of the experts suggested travelling with a burner phone and leaving their actual phones at home.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deportation-gay-el-salvador-donald-trumps-fan-joe-rogan-slams-us-president-for-horrific-deportations-venezuelans-8921736">'F***ing crazy to deport gay hairdressers': Trump's fan Joe Rogan slams US president for 'horrific' deportations</a>
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: The updated advisory stated that the US authorities can check electronic devices like phones and laptops and advised the travellers to comply with them.

Once again, Canada has updated its travel advisory for people travelling to the United States, warning that they should be prepared for scrutiny from border patrol officers as they might check their phones and laptops. The updated advisory stated that the US authorities can check electronic devices like phones and laptops and advised the travellers to comply with them. "US authorities strictly enforce entry requirements. Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices," the advisory read. Also read: 'Old relationship is over': Canada hits US with 25% tariffs on American-made cars; over 3000 autoworkers laid off "Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry. you could be detained while awaiting deportation," it added. It further read, "We have obtained the information on this page from the US authorities. It can, however, change at any time." This is the second advisory issued by Canada. The first came after the US made it mandatory for all Canadians staying in the US for more than 30 days to register with the US administration. The new rule will be effective from April 11. Also read: Did Donald Trump really spare Canada and Mexico from latest round of tariffs? White House reveals truth This comes as US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office, directing the Department of Homeland Security to ensure non-citizens comply with the Immigration and Nationality Act. The law requires “all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a US visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer” to do so, according to the USCIS website. Also read: Trump’s annexation plans for Greenland and Canada run into resistance What do experts have to say? An immigration lawyer and a privacy lawyer said that travellers who are concerned about their privacy should understand border patrol officers' powers and decide how much risk they're comfortable taking before they leave their homes. Meanwhile, Heather Segal, an immigration lawyer and founding partner of Segal Immigration Law in Toronto, told CBC News that her inbox is flooded with questions. "There's been much more heightened security and heightened investigations at the border," she said. "There is just tremendous fear, fear for numerous reasons. First of all, there's fear of getting detained. There's fear of not getting into the United States." Two of the experts suggested travelling with a burner phone and leaving their actual phones at home. Also read: 'F***ing crazy to deport gay hairdressers': Trump's fan Joe Rogan slams US president for 'horrific' deportations (With inputs from agencies)

BIG WARNING for Canadians travelling to US: Border officers might check your electronics; experts suggest using burner phones

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (April 05) criticised the United States for what he called a "weak" reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih that claimed the lives of nine children and nine adults.
The missile, launched from the Taganrog region, hit a residential area near a children's playground in the central Ukrainian city on Friday evening.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/russia-ukraine-war-trumps-ukraine-peace-plan-isnt-about-peace-its-a-pr-stunt-8862762" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump&rsquo;s Ukraine &lsquo;peace&rsquo; plan isn&rsquo;t about peace. It&rsquo;s a PR stunt</a>
In a post on X, Zelensky named each child who lost their life: &ldquo;Three-year-old Timofey, unfortunately, died today in the hospital. Seven-year-old Radyslav. Arina, who will forever be seven as well. Nine-year-old Herman. Fifteen-year-old Danylo. Fifteen-year-old Mykyta. Fifteen-year-old Alina. Kostiantyn, who will forever be sixteen. Nikita &ndash; seventeen.&rdquo;
The attack left 72 people injured, including 12 children. Local officials have declared three days of mourning.
<h2>'Such a weak reaction'</h2>
Zelensky voiced frustration at the US Embassy&rsquo;s reaction, saying it failed to directly name Russia as the aggressor. &ldquo;Unfortunately, the reaction of the American Embassy is unpleasantly surprising: such a strong country, such a strong people, and such a weak reaction,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;They are even afraid to say the word &lsquo;Russian&rsquo; when talking about the missile that killed the children,&rdquo; he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-18-including-9-children-killed-in-zelenskys-hometown-moscow-says-was-targeting-military-8927675" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military'</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com"></a>In a separate message, Zelensky confirmed that he had spoken to US President Donald Trump about the need for more air defence systems. &ldquo;We are counting on our agreements with the President of the United States, who promised to help with the search for additional Patriots,&rdquo; he said.
Zelensky also condemned the use of drones during rescue efforts, calling it an act of "deep cynicism, meanness, and hatred of people."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-mineral-deal-details-will-be-ready-next-week-says-ukraines-zelensky-8927624" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">US mineral deal details will be ready next week, says Ukraine's Zelensky</a>
The Ukrainian leader was responding to a post by US Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, who wrote on X, "Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant." Brink, who was appointed under President Joe Biden, added, &ldquo;This is why the war must end.&rdquo;
Zelensky ended his statement by calling on the international community to speak clearly and truthfully: &ldquo;We must not be afraid to call things by their proper names.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-accuses-zelensky-of-trying-to-back-out-of-rare-earth-deal-8910941" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'He&rsquo;s got big, big problems': Trump accuses Zelensky of trying to 'back out' of rare earth deal</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: “Unfortunately, the reaction of the American Embassy is unpleasantly surprising: such a strong country, such a strong people, and such a weak reaction,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (April 05) criticised the United States for what he called a "weak" reaction to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih that claimed the lives of nine children and nine adults. The missile, launched from the Taganrog region, hit a residential area near a children's playground in the central Ukrainian city on Friday evening. Also read: Trump’s Ukraine ‘peace’ plan isn’t about peace. It’s a PR stunt In a post on X, Zelensky named each child who lost their life: “Three-year-old Timofey, unfortunately, died today in the hospital. Seven-year-old Radyslav. Arina, who will forever be seven as well. Nine-year-old Herman. Fifteen-year-old Danylo. Fifteen-year-old Mykyta. Fifteen-year-old Alina. Kostiantyn, who will forever be sixteen. Nikita – seventeen.” The attack left 72 people injured, including 12 children. Local officials have declared three days of mourning. 'Such a weak reaction' Zelensky voiced frustration at the US Embassy’s reaction, saying it failed to directly name Russia as the aggressor. “Unfortunately, the reaction of the American Embassy is unpleasantly surprising: such a strong country, such a strong people, and such a weak reaction,” he said. “They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed the children,” he added. Also read: Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military' In a separate message, Zelensky confirmed that he had spoken to US President Donald Trump about the need for more air defence systems. “We are counting on our agreements with the President of the United States, who promised to help with the search for additional Patriots,” he said. Zelensky also condemned the use of drones during rescue efforts, calling it an act of "deep cynicism, meanness, and hatred of people." Also read: US mineral deal details will be ready next week, says Ukraine's Zelensky The Ukrainian leader was responding to a post by US Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, who wrote on X, "Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant." Brink, who was appointed under President Joe Biden, added, “This is why the war must end.” Zelensky ended his statement by calling on the international community to speak clearly and truthfully: “We must not be afraid to call things by their proper names.” Also read: 'He’s got big, big problems': Trump accuses Zelensky of trying to 'back out' of rare earth deal (With inputs from agencies)

'They are afraid to say Russian': Zelensky blasts 'weak' US response after Russian strike kills 9 children in his home city

Nike's stock price soared on Friday (Apr 5), after US President Donald Trump announced a "very productive call" with Vietnam's leader, boosting investor confidence.&nbsp;
Shares of sportswear brand Lululemon, footwear designer Skechers, and furniture company Wayfair surged as investors anticipated a favorable impact on companies with significant manufacturing operations in Vietnam following Trump's statement.
After a call with the country&rsquo;s president To Lam, Trump said that he is willing to cut Vietnam's &ldquo;tariffs down to zero&rdquo;.
The US President's latest move would be a major reversal, after he announced plans to impose 46% tariffs on Vietnam as a "reciprocal" measure just days ago.
Vietnam is a key manufacturing hub for major sportswear brands, producing around 50% of Nike's shoes and 39% of Adidas' footwear, according to regulatory filings. Both companies rely heavily on Vietnam as their largest footwear supplier. Nike has warned of a significant decline in its gross margin this quarter, partly due to US tariffs on imports from China and Mexico.
<h2>'Productive call'</h2>
Vietnam on Friday (April 4) asked the US to cut their tariffs down to ZERO, during Trump's call with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam.&nbsp;
"Just had a very productive call with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who told me that Vietnam wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S. I thanked him on behalf of our Country, and said I look forward to a meeting in the near future," Trump said in a social media post.&nbsp;
Earlier in the day, the Vietnamese government said that it had asked the US to postpone by one to three months its reciprocal tariff rate of 46% on imports from Vietnam to allow time for negotiations.
(With inputs from agencies)

World news: Vietnam is a key manufacturing hub for major sportswear brands, producing around 50% of Nike's shoes and 39% of Adidas' footwear, according to regulatory filings. Both companies rely heavily on Vietnam as their largest footwear supplier. Nike has warned of a significant decline in its gross margin this quarter, partly due to US tariffs on imports from China and Mexico.

Nike's stock price soared on Friday (Apr 5), after US President Donald Trump announced a "very productive call" with Vietnam's leader, boosting investor confidence. Shares of sportswear brand Lululemon, footwear designer Skechers, and furniture company Wayfair surged as investors anticipated a favorable impact on companies with significant manufacturing operations in Vietnam following Trump's statement. After a call with the country’s president To Lam, Trump said that he is willing to cut Vietnam's “tariffs down to zero”. The US President's latest move would be a major reversal, after he announced plans to impose 46% tariffs on Vietnam as a "reciprocal" measure just days ago. Vietnam is a key manufacturing hub for major sportswear brands, producing around 50% of Nike's shoes and 39% of Adidas' footwear, according to regulatory filings. Both companies rely heavily on Vietnam as their largest footwear supplier. Nike has warned of a significant decline in its gross margin this quarter, partly due to US tariffs on imports from China and Mexico. 'Productive call' Vietnam on Friday (April 4) asked the US to cut their tariffs down to ZERO, during Trump's call with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam. "Just had a very productive call with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who told me that Vietnam wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the U.S. I thanked him on behalf of our Country, and said I look forward to a meeting in the near future," Trump said in a social media post. Earlier in the day, the Vietnamese government said that it had asked the US to postpone by one to three months its reciprocal tariff rate of 46% on imports from Vietnam to allow time for negotiations. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump might go back on tariffs on Vietnam, here's why

Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin, who was in prison for killing 48 people, has now claimed to have killed 11 more people, according to Russia's prison service.&nbsp;
Also known as the "chessboard killer", Pichushkin was imprisoned for life in 2007 after he confirmed killing 48 people, reported Reuters, citing Russia's penal service.&nbsp;
He told investigators that he was ready to admit to 11 more murders, after authorities suspected that he had killed more than 48 people.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-did-russias-slush-fund-head-kirill-dmitriev-become-putins-mouthpiece-to-trump-8929564">How did Russia's 'slush fund' head Kirill Dmitriev become Putin's mouthpiece to Trump?</a>
50-year-old Alexander Pichushkin targeted his victims, many of which were homeless, alcoholics or elderly, around Bitsevsky Park in Moscow.
He was on his murder spree from 1992 to 2006 and then was tried and jailed in 2007. Now, he has spent the last 18 years in the Polar Owl prison in the remote Arctic northern region of Russia.&nbsp;
The serial killer claimed that he killed 63 people, however, prosecutors have only confirmed 48 of them and charged him with 3 attempted murders as well.&nbsp;
Moreover, if his confession turns out to be true, it would bring his count to 59 murders and would make him Russia's second most prolific serial killer on record.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taxing-penguins-but-not-putin-russia-wasnt-on-trumps-tariffs-list-heres-what-we-know-8929296">Taxing Penguins but not Putin? Russia wasn't on Trump's tariffs list. Here's what we know</a>
<h2>Why was he called 'chessboard killer'</h2>
Russian media nicknamed him "chessboard killer" because he told detectives that he had planned to place a coin on every square of a 64-square chessboard for each of his victims.&nbsp;
He killed his first victim in 1992 when he was just 18 years old, the Guardian reported. But he got arrested when he was 33 years old and was working in a supermarket, often spending time at Bitsevsky Park or home playing chess.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/butcher-of-delhi-who-is-chanderkant-jha-serial-killer-from-bihar-who-murdered-18-people-8633616">Butcher of Delhi: Who is Chanderkant Jha, serial killer from Bihar who murdered 18 people</a>
Currently, the most dangerous serial killer in Russia is Mikhail Popkov, a former policeman who was convicted of 78 murders.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-ukraine-election-why-has-ukraine-not-held-elections-since-russian-invasion-know-details-russia-war-8928128">Why has Ukraine not held elections since Russian invasion? Know details</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Known as "chessboard killer", Pichushkin was imprisoned for life in 2007 after he confirmed killing 48 people, reported Reuters, citing Russia's penal service.

Russian serial killer Alexander Pichushkin, who was in prison for killing 48 people, has now claimed to have killed 11 more people, according to Russia's prison service. Also known as the "chessboard killer", Pichushkin was imprisoned for life in 2007 after he confirmed killing 48 people, reported Reuters, citing Russia's penal service. He told investigators that he was ready to admit to 11 more murders, after authorities suspected that he had killed more than 48 people. Also read: How did Russia's 'slush fund' head Kirill Dmitriev become Putin's mouthpiece to Trump? 50-year-old Alexander Pichushkin targeted his victims, many of which were homeless, alcoholics or elderly, around Bitsevsky Park in Moscow. He was on his murder spree from 1992 to 2006 and then was tried and jailed in 2007. Now, he has spent the last 18 years in the Polar Owl prison in the remote Arctic northern region of Russia. The serial killer claimed that he killed 63 people, however, prosecutors have only confirmed 48 of them and charged him with 3 attempted murders as well. Moreover, if his confession turns out to be true, it would bring his count to 59 murders and would make him Russia's second most prolific serial killer on record. Also read: Taxing Penguins but not Putin? Russia wasn't on Trump's tariffs list. Here's what we know Why was he called 'chessboard killer' Russian media nicknamed him "chessboard killer" because he told detectives that he had planned to place a coin on every square of a 64-square chessboard for each of his victims. He killed his first victim in 1992 when he was just 18 years old, the Guardian reported. But he got arrested when he was 33 years old and was working in a supermarket, often spending time at Bitsevsky Park or home playing chess. Also read: Butcher of Delhi: Who is Chanderkant Jha, serial killer from Bihar who murdered 18 people Currently, the most dangerous serial killer in Russia is Mikhail Popkov, a former policeman who was convicted of 78 murders. Also read: Why has Ukraine not held elections since Russian invasion? Know details (With inputs from agencies)

Russia's second most prolific serial killer? Alexander Pichushkin admits to 11 more murders, claims he took 63 lives

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sent-in-error-trump-administration-accidentally-tells-ukrainian-refugees-to-leave-us-in-email-blunder-8928424" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> on Saturday downplayed the effect of China's retaliatory tariffs, saying that "China has been hit much harder than the USA."
Taking on Truth Social on Saturday, the US President said, "China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly."&nbsp;
"We have been the dumb and helpless 'whipping post,' but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN," Trump said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-to-meet-trump-in-washington-this-week-first-foreign-leader-to-discuss-tariffs-in-person-8929092">Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person</a>
Trump also seemed to backflip from his earlier claim that the US doesn't need to worry about the impact of 'tarrifs', saying, "HANG TOUGH, it won&rsquo;t be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
<h2>China imposes tariffs on the United States</h2>
Beijing on Friday (April 04), announced steep retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to President Donald Trump&rsquo;s sweeping trade measures.
Starting April 10, China will impose 34% tariffs on all imports from the United States. In a strongly worded statement, China&rsquo;s State Council Tariff Commission described the move as a direct response to what it called Washington&rsquo;s aggressive and unfair trade actions.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-touch-with-india-and-two-other-nations-to-negotiate-trade-deals-that-could-revise-tariffs-report-8927592">Trump in touch with India and two other nations to negotiate trade deals that could revise tariffs: Report</a>
&ldquo;This practice of the US is not in line with international trade rules, seriously undermines China&rsquo;s legitimate rights and interests, and is a typical unilateral bullying practice,&rdquo; the Commission said.
Trump quickly reacted on Truth Social, accusing China of misjudging the situation.
&ldquo;CHINA PLAYED IT WRONG, THEY PANICKED - THE ONE THING THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO!&rdquo; he wrote, slamming Beijing&rsquo;s decision to retaliate.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Taking on Truth Social on Saturday, the US President said, "China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly."

US President Donald Trump on Saturday downplayed the effect of China's retaliatory tariffs, saying that "China has been hit much harder than the USA." Taking on Truth Social on Saturday, the US President said, "China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly." "We have been the dumb and helpless 'whipping post,' but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN," Trump said. Also read: Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person Trump also seemed to backflip from his earlier claim that the US doesn't need to worry about the impact of 'tarrifs', saying, "HANG TOUGH, it won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" China imposes tariffs on the United States Beijing on Friday (April 04), announced steep retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade measures. Starting April 10, China will impose 34% tariffs on all imports from the United States. In a strongly worded statement, China’s State Council Tariff Commission described the move as a direct response to what it called Washington’s aggressive and unfair trade actions. Also read: Trump in touch with India and two other nations to negotiate trade deals that could revise tariffs: Report “This practice of the US is not in line with international trade rules, seriously undermines China’s legitimate rights and interests, and is a typical unilateral bullying practice,” the Commission said. Trump quickly reacted on Truth Social, accusing China of misjudging the situation. “CHINA PLAYED IT WRONG, THEY PANICKED - THE ONE THING THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO!” he wrote, slamming Beijing’s decision to retaliate. (With inputs from agencies)

'China has been hit much harder': Trump downplays Beijing's retaliatory tariffs but admits trade war 'won’t be easy'

Social media is ruthless and spares no one, and many learn this the hard way. The latest name in the list is that of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Altman shared his cricketer avatar that he created using OpenAI&rsquo;s chatbot ChatGPT, and the anime-style image it rendered was him wielding a bat in the Team India jersey.&nbsp;
Altman shared in an X post that he fed ChatGPT the prompt: &ldquo;Sam Altman as a cricket player in anime style&rdquo;. The bot generated an image of Altman holding a bat in a blue India jersey.&nbsp;
Altman&rsquo;s post sent social media users into a tizzy.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m947u6b1-g1qbmbk3-56au3i79">
prompt: sam altman as a cricket player in anime style <a href="https://t.co/kgflS6dT6o">pic.twitter.com/kgflS6dT6o</a>
&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1907531078581272931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
Some Indian social media users were elated to see Altman in their team&rsquo;s colours, but many wondered about his motives for sharing the image.
&ldquo;Sam trying hard to attract Indian customers,&rdquo; one user said.
&ldquo;Now awaiting your India announcement. How much are you allocating out of that $40bn to India,&rdquo; another user asked in comment referring to the record funding recently secured by Altman for his firm, OpenAI.
Since India is a populous nation where the craze for cricket is immense, ChatGPT may have learned this during its training, but social media users didn&rsquo;t give Altman any benefit of the doubt.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-outpacing-the-world-openai-ceo-sam-altman-lauds-ai-adoption-wave-in-india-8918916" rel="dofollow">'India outpacing the world': OpenAI CEO Sam Altman lauds AI adoption wave in India</a>
Another user shared the pattern he spotted in Altman&rsquo;s recent social media posts and popped a question that seems to be on many users&rsquo; minds.
&ldquo;Over the past few days, you&rsquo;ve been praising India and Indian customers a lot. How did this sudden love for India come about? It feels like there&rsquo;s some deep strategy going on behind the scenes,&rdquo; he wrote on X.
Altman had recently praised India&rsquo;s adoption of AI technology, and said it was &ldquo;amazing to watch&rdquo; and that it was &ldquo;outpacing the world&rdquo;.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m947xw66-9gtsrlhb-pgt6cz29">
what's happening with ai adoption in india right now is amazing to watch. we love to see the explosion of creativity--india is outpacing the world.
&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1907451374809624813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
One Reddit user said, while sharing Altman&rsquo;s post on X, &ldquo;Can someone tell me what Sam Altman is talking about here in his tweet?&rdquo;
Just a few days earlier, Altman had retweeted Studio Ghibli-style images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that had been shared by the Indian government&rsquo;s citizen engagement platform.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/studio-ghibli-style-images-ai-tools-other-than-chatgpt-to-transform-your-photos-for-free-8913617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studio Ghibli-style images: AI tools other than ChatGPT to transform your photos for free</a>
Now, for those who may question why Altman needs to pander to India when his firm and its chatbot are doing well, the reason may lie in his past views on India&rsquo;s AI capabilities that had left many ruffled.
During his 2023 visit to India, Altman had been dismissive of small Indian start-ups making AI tools that could compete with OpenAI&rsquo;s creations.
At an event, when he was asked how a small, smart team with a low budget of about $10 million could build substantial AI foundational models, the OpenAI CEO had replied that it would be &ldquo;totally hopeless&rdquo; to attempt this.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-not-for-sale-sam-altman-calls-elon-musk-competitor-who-is-not-able-to-beat-us-8711753" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'OpenAI not for sale': Sam Altman calls Elon Musk 'competitor who is not able to beat us'</a>
Altman visited India again in February this year, but with very different views, as he expressed eagerness to collaborate with India on making low-cost AI models
He met Indian minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and praised India for its swift pace of adopting AI technologies. He revealed that India was OpenAI&rsquo;s second-largest market, and the number of users had tripled in a year. Technology analysts say that India is a huge AI market, and social media users have seen other CEOs woo India because of its massive user base and its perceived profitability.
In January this year, Aravind Srinivas, the founder of AI search engine Perplexity, said in a post on X that he was willing to invest both $1 million and five hours of his time every week to &ldquo;make India great again in the context of AI&rdquo;.
And since AI models like Grok and Gemini are also becoming popular in India, Altman may have been driven by pure business interests and nothing else.

Altman shared in an X post that he fed ChatGPT the prompt: “Sam Altman as a cricket player in anime style”. The bot generated an image of Altman holding a bat in a blue India jersey. Trending | World

Social media is ruthless and spares no one, and many learn this the hard way. The latest name in the list is that of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Altman shared his cricketer avatar that he created using OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT, and the anime-style image it rendered was him wielding a bat in the Team India jersey. Altman shared in an X post that he fed ChatGPT the prompt: “Sam Altman as a cricket player in anime style”. The bot generated an image of Altman holding a bat in a blue India jersey. Altman’s post sent social media users into a tizzy. prompt: sam altman as a cricket player in anime style pic.twitter.com/kgflS6dT6o — Sam Altman (@sama) April 2, 2025 Some Indian social media users were elated to see Altman in their team’s colours, but many wondered about his motives for sharing the image. “Sam trying hard to attract Indian customers,” one user said. “Now awaiting your India announcement. How much are you allocating out of that $40bn to India,” another user asked in comment referring to the record funding recently secured by Altman for his firm, OpenAI. Since India is a populous nation where the craze for cricket is immense, ChatGPT may have learned this during its training, but social media users didn’t give Altman any benefit of the doubt. Also Read | 'India outpacing the world': OpenAI CEO Sam Altman lauds AI adoption wave in India Another user shared the pattern he spotted in Altman’s recent social media posts and popped a question that seems to be on many users’ minds. “Over the past few days, you’ve been praising India and Indian customers a lot. How did this sudden love for India come about? It feels like there’s some deep strategy going on behind the scenes,” he wrote on X. Altman had recently praised India’s adoption of AI technology, and said it was “amazing to watch” and that it was “outpacing the world”. what's happening with ai adoption in india right now is amazing to watch. we love to see the explosion of creativity--india is outpacing the world. — Sam Altman (@sama) April 2, 2025 One Reddit user said, while sharing Altman’s post on X, “Can someone tell me what Sam Altman is talking about here in his tweet?” Just a few days earlier, Altman had retweeted Studio Ghibli-style images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that had been shared by the Indian government’s citizen engagement platform. Also read: Studio Ghibli-style images: AI tools other than ChatGPT to transform your photos for free Now, for those who may question why Altman needs to pander to India when his firm and its chatbot are doing well, the reason may lie in his past views on India’s AI capabilities that had left many ruffled. During his 2023 visit to India, Altman had been dismissive of small Indian start-ups making AI tools that could compete with OpenAI’s creations. At an event, when he was asked how a small, smart team with a low budget of about $10 million could build substantial AI foundational models, the OpenAI CEO had replied that it would be “totally hopeless” to attempt this. Also read: 'OpenAI not for sale': Sam Altman calls Elon Musk 'competitor who is not able to beat us' Altman visited India again in February this year, but with very different views, as he expressed eagerness to collaborate with India on making low-cost AI models He met Indian minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and praised India for its swift pace of adopting AI technologies. He revealed that India was OpenAI’s second-largest market, and the number of users had tripled in a year. Technology analysts say that India is a huge AI market, and social media users have seen other CEOs woo India because of its massive user base and its perceived profitability. In January this year, Aravind Srinivas, the founder of AI search engine Perplexity, said in a post on X that he was willing to invest both $1 million and five hours of his time every week to “make India great again in the context of AI”. And since AI models like Grok and Gemini are also becoming popular in India, Altman may have been driven by pure business interests and nothing else.

Sam Altman shares his AI-generated cricketer avatar in India jersey; internet sees biz strategy, roasts him

A mobile phone video released by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has raised serious questions about the Israeli military&rsquo;s version of events surrounding a deadly attack on March 23 that killed 15 emergency workers in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-to-meet-trump-in-washington-this-week-first-foreign-leader-to-discuss-tariffs-in-person-8929092">Gaza</a>.
The footage, recorded in the dark, shows a convoy of ambulances and a fire truck moving with both headlights and emergency lights switched on. Moments later, the vehicles come under heavy fire. According to the PRCS, the video was found on the phone of a paramedic who died in the incident.
This directly challenges Israel's earlier claim that the vehicles were unlit and may not have been recognised as medical units. After the video became public, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/naim-qassem-slams-israeli-attacks-on-lebanon-says-hezbollah-will-be-forced-to-take-other-options-if-8905527">Israel Defense Forces</a> (IDF) told the BBC, &ldquo;All claims, including the documentation circulating about the incident, will be thoroughly and deeply examined to understand the sequence of events and the handling of the situation.&rdquo;
One paramedic who survived the attack had already told the BBC that the vehicles were clearly marked as ambulances and had both internal and external lights turned on.
The PRCS said the video was also shown to members of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-accuses-israel-of-genocidal-warfare-in-gaza-citing-mass-casualties-starvation-776256">UN Security Council</a>. It captures the ambulances coming to a stop with lights still flashing and emergency responders stepping out wearing reflective uniforms. The sound of gunfire follows soon after. The man filming can be heard praying before the video ends. He was later confirmed among the dead.
His body, along with those of other victims, was recovered from a shallow grave near the wrecked vehicles nearly a week after the attack. The dead included eight PRCS paramedics, six members of Gaza&rsquo;s Civil Defence, and one UN staff member. International organisations had to wait several days before they were allowed safe access to the area.
Israel has claimed that the ambulances were carrying fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad but has offered no evidence. The IDF maintains its stance, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar saying, &ldquo;The IDF did not randomly attack an ambulance.&rdquo;
The military has said it will carry out a full investigation, especially after survivors and families of the victims questioned its account.
<h2>What was their crime for them to be killed like this?</h2>
Bilal Moamer, the brother of 45-year-old <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-accuses-israel-of-systematically-blocking-access-to-aid-in-gaza-694466">Red Crescent</a> paramedic Saleh Moamer, told The Guardian, &ldquo;When the bodies arrived, they were wrapped in white shrouds with their names written on them. I was the one who uncovered my brother&rsquo;s face, and I began to wonder if it was really him.&rdquo; He said the body was confirmed to be his brother by the ring on his finger.
&ldquo;There were marks from restraints on Saleh&rsquo;s wrists where the Israeli army had bound him. His fingers were also broken,&rdquo; he added. Two other witnesses said some of the victims had been found with hands or feet tied.
Bilal also criticised Israel&rsquo;s claim that the victims were militants. &ldquo;These paramedics were providing humanitarian services. They did not pose any threat or carry weapons. What was their crime for them to be killed like this?&rdquo; he said.
Sobhi Bahloul, 63, was one of the relatives who rushed to the morgue at Nasser Hospital to look for his son Mohammad, a Red Crescent volunteer.
&ldquo;We never expected this to happen &ndash; not even in our worst nightmares,&rdquo; he told The Guardian. &ldquo;They went to save lives, only to become victims themselves,&rdquo; Sobhi added.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Israel has claimed that the ambulances were carrying fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad but has offered no evidence. Middle East

A mobile phone video released by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has raised serious questions about the Israeli military’s version of events surrounding a deadly attack on March 23 that killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza. The footage, recorded in the dark, shows a convoy of ambulances and a fire truck moving with both headlights and emergency lights switched on. Moments later, the vehicles come under heavy fire. According to the PRCS, the video was found on the phone of a paramedic who died in the incident. This directly challenges Israel's earlier claim that the vehicles were unlit and may not have been recognised as medical units. After the video became public, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC, “All claims, including the documentation circulating about the incident, will be thoroughly and deeply examined to understand the sequence of events and the handling of the situation.” One paramedic who survived the attack had already told the BBC that the vehicles were clearly marked as ambulances and had both internal and external lights turned on. The PRCS said the video was also shown to members of the UN Security Council. It captures the ambulances coming to a stop with lights still flashing and emergency responders stepping out wearing reflective uniforms. The sound of gunfire follows soon after. The man filming can be heard praying before the video ends. He was later confirmed among the dead. His body, along with those of other victims, was recovered from a shallow grave near the wrecked vehicles nearly a week after the attack. The dead included eight PRCS paramedics, six members of Gaza’s Civil Defence, and one UN staff member. International organisations had to wait several days before they were allowed safe access to the area. Israel has claimed that the ambulances were carrying fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad but has offered no evidence. The IDF maintains its stance, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar saying, “The IDF did not randomly attack an ambulance.” The military has said it will carry out a full investigation, especially after survivors and families of the victims questioned its account. What was their crime for them to be killed like this? Bilal Moamer, the brother of 45-year-old Red Crescent paramedic Saleh Moamer, told The Guardian, “When the bodies arrived, they were wrapped in white shrouds with their names written on them. I was the one who uncovered my brother’s face, and I began to wonder if it was really him.” He said the body was confirmed to be his brother by the ring on his finger. “There were marks from restraints on Saleh’s wrists where the Israeli army had bound him. His fingers were also broken,” he added. Two other witnesses said some of the victims had been found with hands or feet tied. Bilal also criticised Israel’s claim that the victims were militants. “These paramedics were providing humanitarian services. They did not pose any threat or carry weapons. What was their crime for them to be killed like this?” he said. Sobhi Bahloul, 63, was one of the relatives who rushed to the morgue at Nasser Hospital to look for his son Mohammad, a Red Crescent volunteer. “We never expected this to happen – not even in our worst nightmares,” he told The Guardian. “They went to save lives, only to become victims themselves,” Sobhi added. (With inputs from agencies)

'Went to save lives, only to become victims': Video contradicts Israel's version of Gaza ambulance attack. Were they marked?

The Head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev has become a prominent figure in the Kremlin's outreach to the US President Donald Trump administration.&nbsp;
Currently, the US is awaiting Dmitriev to report to Russian President Vladimir Putin before taking any next steps in Ukraine peace talks, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the discussions.&nbsp;
Earlier this week, Dmitriev met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. On April 2 and 3, he also met with US officials in Washington on behalf of Putin.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taxing-penguins-but-not-putin-russia-wasnt-on-trumps-tariffs-list-heres-what-we-know-8929296">Taxing Penguins but not Putin? Russia wasn't on Trump's tariffs list. Here's what we know</a>
Dmitriev also lauded the Trump administration for its constructive and respectful dialogue with Russia and said the two nations plan to restore and deepen their ties.&nbsp;
He was also involved in early US-Russian negotiations which took place in Riyadh in February.&nbsp;
<h2>Who is Kirill Dmitriev?&nbsp;</h2>
The 49-year-old Kirill Dmitriev was appointed by Russian President Putin as special envoy for economic affairs in an attempt to interest Washington in joint economic ventures in return for a favorable peace deal.
Dmitriev got his degree from the US universities and has served in the American business world.&nbsp;
Born in Kyiv in 1975 in Soviet Ukraine, Dmitriev's education and professional debut makes him a perfect person for an up-and-coming member of Russia's technocratic elite.&nbsp;
He was one of the first Soviet exchange students who travelled to the US, &nbsp;where he studied at Fооthill College in California, at the age of 14.&nbsp;
He went on to graduate with honors from an economics program at Stanford University and received his MBA at Harvard.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-ukraine-marco-rubio-putin-russia-ceasefire-8926410">'Trump not interested in delay tactic on Ukraine': Rubio warns Putin, says Russia must &lsquo;decide if it&rsquo;s serious about peace&rsquo;</a>
<h2>Friend of Putin's daughter?</h2>
Dmitriev got entry in Russia's inner circles with the help of his wife Natalia Popova and a business associate of Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova, according to Kyiv Independent.
Popova works as Tikhonova's deputy at her Innopraktika fund, where Dmitriev sits on the board of trustees.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-missile-strike-kills-12-in-ukraine-leaders-home-city-8927168">Russian missile hits Zelensky's home city, kills 12 injures 50</a>
<h2>Head of Russia's 'slush fund'&nbsp;</h2>
He was then appointed CEO of the new Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in 2011.&nbsp;
RDIF is a state-controlled fund launched to foster partnerships with foreign investors and invest in Russian companies.
During Dmitriev's tenure, &nbsp;the RDIF oversaw $40 billion in investment across 100 deals, building relationships with funds from France, Italy, Japan, China, and the Gulf states.
"Recently designated Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of cronies have long relied on RDIF and Dmitriev to raise funds abroad, including in the United States," the US Treasury Department said.
It added, "While officially a sovereign wealth fund, RDIF is widely considered a slush fund for President Vladimir Putin and is emblematic of Russia's broader kleptocracy."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-ukraine-marco-rubio-putin-russia-ceasefire-8926410">'Trump not interested in delay tactic on Ukraine': Rubio warns Putin, says Russia must &lsquo;decide if it&rsquo;s serious about peace&rsquo;</a>
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: Dmitriev lauded the Trump administration for its constructive and respectful dialogue with Russia and said the two nations plan to restore and deepen their ties.

The Head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev has become a prominent figure in the Kremlin's outreach to the US President Donald Trump administration. Currently, the US is awaiting Dmitriev to report to Russian President Vladimir Putin before taking any next steps in Ukraine peace talks, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the discussions. Earlier this week, Dmitriev met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. On April 2 and 3, he also met with US officials in Washington on behalf of Putin. Also read: Taxing Penguins but not Putin? Russia wasn't on Trump's tariffs list. Here's what we know Dmitriev also lauded the Trump administration for its constructive and respectful dialogue with Russia and said the two nations plan to restore and deepen their ties. He was also involved in early US-Russian negotiations which took place in Riyadh in February. Who is Kirill Dmitriev? The 49-year-old Kirill Dmitriev was appointed by Russian President Putin as special envoy for economic affairs in an attempt to interest Washington in joint economic ventures in return for a favorable peace deal. Dmitriev got his degree from the US universities and has served in the American business world. Born in Kyiv in 1975 in Soviet Ukraine, Dmitriev's education and professional debut makes him a perfect person for an up-and-coming member of Russia's technocratic elite. He was one of the first Soviet exchange students who travelled to the US, where he studied at Fооthill College in California, at the age of 14. He went on to graduate with honors from an economics program at Stanford University and received his MBA at Harvard. Also read: 'Trump not interested in delay tactic on Ukraine': Rubio warns Putin, says Russia must ‘decide if it’s serious about peace’ Friend of Putin's daughter? Dmitriev got entry in Russia's inner circles with the help of his wife Natalia Popova and a business associate of Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova, according to Kyiv Independent. Popova works as Tikhonova's deputy at her Innopraktika fund, where Dmitriev sits on the board of trustees. Also read: Russian missile hits Zelensky's home city, kills 12 injures 50 Head of Russia's 'slush fund' He was then appointed CEO of the new Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in 2011. RDIF is a state-controlled fund launched to foster partnerships with foreign investors and invest in Russian companies. During Dmitriev's tenure, the RDIF oversaw $40 billion in investment across 100 deals, building relationships with funds from France, Italy, Japan, China, and the Gulf states. "Recently designated Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of cronies have long relied on RDIF and Dmitriev to raise funds abroad, including in the United States," the US Treasury Department said. It added, "While officially a sovereign wealth fund, RDIF is widely considered a slush fund for President Vladimir Putin and is emblematic of Russia's broader kleptocracy." Also read: 'Trump not interested in delay tactic on Ukraine': Rubio warns Putin, says Russia must ‘decide if it’s serious about peace’ (With inputs from agencies)

How did Russia's 'slush fund' head Kirill Dmitriev become Putin's mouthpiece to Trump?

King Charles held a secret meeting with the Duke of York to discuss his future, including plans for a Chinese investment project allegedly linked to a suspected Beijing spy, revealed a recent document, according to The Telegraph report.
The King was reportedly aware of an investment fund that directly involved Yang Tengbo, an individual alleged to be a spy, as stated in a witness statement provided to the immigration tribunal by Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew.
Hampshire stated that he and the Duke were smuggled into Windsor Castle twice for secret meetings with the King, during which they discussed the Eurasia Fund.
The fund was focused on investing Chinese capital in African renewable energy projects and was reportedly intended to generate income for the Duke after his public downfall.
According to sources, the investment fund failed to launch and never traded. However, it appears to be connected to Eurasia Global Partners, a management consultancy firm incorporated in November 2022.
In the same document, Hampshire disclosed discussions about the project not only with the King but also with key advisers to the late Queen Elizabeth II. He further claimed that the Duke served as a crucial link to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Hampshire also acknowledged that the Duke's reputation was "irrecoverable" after his infamous Newsnight interview.
The document states, &ldquo;I have had two meetings with the Duke and His Majesty to discuss what the Duke can do moving forwards in a way that is acceptable to His Majesty. It is also of note that, amongst other topics, the Eurasia Fund and Aidan Heavey were discussed on both occasions with His Majesty. (For both these meetings with His Majesty, despite less media interest in the Duke, we took all precautions to get in and out of Windsor Castle without being seen.)&rdquo;
This comes after Buckingham Palace insisted on Friday evening that the King had no information about the Duke&rsquo;s dealings with Yang.
&ldquo;While His Majesty met with the Duke and his adviser to hear outline proposals for independent funding over the past year, the individual known as H6 was not mentioned at any time or in any way as part of these discussions,&rdquo; said a palace spokesman.
(With inputs from agencies)

World news: Hampshire stated that he and the Duke were smuggled into Windsor Castle twice for secret meetings with the King, during which they discussed the Eurasia Fund.

King Charles held a secret meeting with the Duke of York to discuss his future, including plans for a Chinese investment project allegedly linked to a suspected Beijing spy, revealed a recent document, according to The Telegraph report. The King was reportedly aware of an investment fund that directly involved Yang Tengbo, an individual alleged to be a spy, as stated in a witness statement provided to the immigration tribunal by Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Prince Andrew. Hampshire stated that he and the Duke were smuggled into Windsor Castle twice for secret meetings with the King, during which they discussed the Eurasia Fund. The fund was focused on investing Chinese capital in African renewable energy projects and was reportedly intended to generate income for the Duke after his public downfall. According to sources, the investment fund failed to launch and never traded. However, it appears to be connected to Eurasia Global Partners, a management consultancy firm incorporated in November 2022. In the same document, Hampshire disclosed discussions about the project not only with the King but also with key advisers to the late Queen Elizabeth II. He further claimed that the Duke served as a crucial link to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Hampshire also acknowledged that the Duke's reputation was "irrecoverable" after his infamous Newsnight interview. The document states, “I have had two meetings with the Duke and His Majesty to discuss what the Duke can do moving forwards in a way that is acceptable to His Majesty. It is also of note that, amongst other topics, the Eurasia Fund and Aidan Heavey were discussed on both occasions with His Majesty. (For both these meetings with His Majesty, despite less media interest in the Duke, we took all precautions to get in and out of Windsor Castle without being seen.)” This comes after Buckingham Palace insisted on Friday evening that the King had no information about the Duke’s dealings with Yang. “While His Majesty met with the Duke and his adviser to hear outline proposals for independent funding over the past year, the individual known as H6 was not mentioned at any time or in any way as part of these discussions,” said a palace spokesman. (With inputs from agencies)

King Charles facing scrutiny over Prince Andrew’s Chinese spy allegations: Report

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appeared as a guest on Nikhil Kamath&rsquo;s podcast and spoke about why Indian entrepreneurs should consider investing in his country.
"We as a country, to lift the collective living standards of New Zealanders, need to attract more foreign investment. Someone who can bring in not just capital for an investment, but also bring knowledge, the know-how and skills, and access to markets is valuable to New Zealand businesses. We've just launched, actually, what we call the Active Investor Visa, which offers a pathway to residency in three years. This is a great opportunity to get that connectivity in New Zealand," he said.
The New Zealand PM opened up about the challenges of public scrutiny, his personal life, and whether "entrepreneurs, artists, and business minds be the future of politics."
"Despite our distance and where we are placed in the world, we are not an inward-looking people, we're very outward-looking people. We are very engaged in the world, despite our remoteness at times or our geography," he added.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-likely-to-travel-to-saudi-arabia-this-month-8927212" rel="dofollow">PM Modi likely to travel to Saudi Arabia this month</a>
Nikhil Kamath also asked Luxon about his social media bio. He points out Luxon has written his social media bio as, "Husband, father, brother, and son" before mentioning "Prime Minister". Luxon explained that his job title does not define his identity.
"Who you are and the relationships that you have is what life's ultimately all about. If you put all of your identity into a title and into some perceived status, that will come and go. At some point, I will no longer be Prime Minister of New Zealand, and I absolutely love this job, but I'm not defined by the job," he said.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-national-stabbed-to-death-in-canada-suspect-held-indian-embassy-8927732" rel="dofollow">Indian national stabbed to death in Canada, suspect held: Indian embassy</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-meets-bangladeshs-muhammad-yunus-on-bimstec-summit-sidelines-8924239" rel="dofollow"></a>
<iframe width="600" height="400" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tlicx3KKzmQ?feature=oembed" title="Nikhil Kamath x NZ PM Christopher Luxon | People by WTF Ep #7" class="publive-iframes-block publive-YouTube-block" id="PL_iframe_block-m944uok9-z519kgls-yq76d2x1"></iframe>
Read More |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-meets-bangladeshs-muhammad-yunus-on-bimstec-summit-sidelines-8924239" rel="dofollow">PM Modi holds first bilateral meet with Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus on BIMSTEC Summit sidelines</a>
<h2>Christopher Luxon visited India&nbsp;</h2>
Christopher Luxon visited India from March 16 to 20 and said that New Zealand is lifting its ties with India and called the Indian government "incredibly generous and very welcoming" to New Zealand. He was the chief guest at the 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue.&nbsp;During his visit, Luxon was seen playing a friendly game with children in Delhi. In the pictures, the New Zealand PM and former international cricketer Ross Taylor could be seen playing gully cricket with children.
During his visit, Luxon humourously spoke about India's ICC Men&rsquo;s Champions Trophy final. "I really appreciate that PM Modi didn't raise New Zealand's Champions Trophy loss to India, and I didn't raise our Test victories in India. Let's keep it that way and avoid a diplomatic incident."&nbsp;
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-18-including-9-children-killed-in-zelenskys-hometown-moscow-says-was-targeting-military-8927675" rel="dofollow">Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military'</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

world, trending | New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon appeared as a guest on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, tells why Indian entrepreneurs should consider investing in his country

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appeared as a guest on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast and spoke about why Indian entrepreneurs should consider investing in his country. "We as a country, to lift the collective living standards of New Zealanders, need to attract more foreign investment. Someone who can bring in not just capital for an investment, but also bring knowledge, the know-how and skills, and access to markets is valuable to New Zealand businesses. We've just launched, actually, what we call the Active Investor Visa, which offers a pathway to residency in three years. This is a great opportunity to get that connectivity in New Zealand," he said. The New Zealand PM opened up about the challenges of public scrutiny, his personal life, and whether "entrepreneurs, artists, and business minds be the future of politics." "Despite our distance and where we are placed in the world, we are not an inward-looking people, we're very outward-looking people. We are very engaged in the world, despite our remoteness at times or our geography," he added. Read More | PM Modi likely to travel to Saudi Arabia this month Nikhil Kamath also asked Luxon about his social media bio. He points out Luxon has written his social media bio as, "Husband, father, brother, and son" before mentioning "Prime Minister". Luxon explained that his job title does not define his identity. "Who you are and the relationships that you have is what life's ultimately all about. If you put all of your identity into a title and into some perceived status, that will come and go. At some point, I will no longer be Prime Minister of New Zealand, and I absolutely love this job, but I'm not defined by the job," he said. Read More | Indian national stabbed to death in Canada, suspect held: Indian embassy Read More | PM Modi holds first bilateral meet with Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus on BIMSTEC Summit sidelines Christopher Luxon visited India Christopher Luxon visited India from March 16 to 20 and said that New Zealand is lifting its ties with India and called the Indian government "incredibly generous and very welcoming" to New Zealand. He was the chief guest at the 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue. During his visit, Luxon was seen playing a friendly game with children in Delhi. In the pictures, the New Zealand PM and former international cricketer Ross Taylor could be seen playing gully cricket with children. During his visit, Luxon humourously spoke about India's ICC Men’s Champions Trophy final. "I really appreciate that PM Modi didn't raise New Zealand's Champions Trophy loss to India, and I didn't raise our Test victories in India. Let's keep it that way and avoid a diplomatic incident." Read More | Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military' (With inputs from agencies)

New Zealand PM answers why Indians should invest in his country in podcast with Nikhil Kamath

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 10% tariff on exports to the US from uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands - remote regions where no one lives other than many seals, penguins and other birds.&nbsp;
"The tariffs are so poorly planned that he's taxing penguins, not Putin, because the tax is levied on the Heard and McDonald Islands, where only penguins live," Schumer said as he also pointed out that Russia wasn't on the tariff list. North Korea, Cuba and Belarus were not on the list. But why?&nbsp;
"Donald Trump slapped tariffs on penguins and not on Putin," posted US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, referring to the fact that Russia was not on the US tariff list.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-to-meet-trump-in-washington-this-week-first-foreign-leader-to-discuss-tariffs-in-person-8929092">Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person</a>
<h2>What did the US say?&nbsp;</h2>
In defence, the White House said sanctions on Russia over President Vladimir Putin's war meant that there was no "meaningful" trade on which to impose tariffs.&nbsp;
In a statement, a White House official told The Hill that the four nations "are not subject to the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order because they are already facing extremely high tariffs, and our previously imposed sanctions preclude any meaningful trade with these countries."&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sent-in-error-trump-administration-accidentally-tells-ukrainian-refugees-to-leave-us-in-email-blunder-8928424">'Sent in error': Trump administration accidentally tells Ukrainian refugees to leave US in email blunder</a>
The official also added that Trump has "recently threatened to impose strong sanctions on Russia" to further explain leaving out Moscow.&nbsp;
A report by The Wall Street Journal mentioned that Russia has a running trade surplus with the US of $2.5 billion. Moscow was left, but many nations that have much smaller trade imbalances with America were still slapped with tariffs.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-will-never-sink-our-ships-again-trump-shares-video-of-us-airstrike-on-houthis-says-no-attack-by-terror-group-now-8927677">'They will never sink our ships again!' Trump shares video of US airstrike on Houthis, says no attack by terror group now</a>
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the West, including the US, imposed numerous rounds of sanctions, but Russia still sells enriched uranium and some chemicals to America.&nbsp;
The Trump administration is currently undergoing a significant rapprochement with Moscow that may result in a massive reset in relations since the fall of the Soviet Union. It is assumed that Trump may have greater negotiating power if he excludes Russia from the tariff attack.&nbsp;
Trump also said last month that he is weighing additional sanctions and tariffs on Russia as a way to bring Moscow to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-touch-with-india-and-two-other-nations-to-negotiate-trade-deals-that-could-revise-tariffs-report-8927592">Trump in touch with India and two other nations to negotiate trade deals that could revise tariffs: Report</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trump said last month that he is weighing additional sanctions and tariffs on Russia as a way to bring Moscow to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 10% tariff on exports to the US from uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands - remote regions where no one lives other than many seals, penguins and other birds. "The tariffs are so poorly planned that he's taxing penguins, not Putin, because the tax is levied on the Heard and McDonald Islands, where only penguins live," Schumer said as he also pointed out that Russia wasn't on the tariff list. North Korea, Cuba and Belarus were not on the list. But why? "Donald Trump slapped tariffs on penguins and not on Putin," posted US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, referring to the fact that Russia was not on the US tariff list. Also read: Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person What did the US say? In defence, the White House said sanctions on Russia over President Vladimir Putin's war meant that there was no "meaningful" trade on which to impose tariffs. In a statement, a White House official told The Hill that the four nations "are not subject to the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order because they are already facing extremely high tariffs, and our previously imposed sanctions preclude any meaningful trade with these countries." Also read: 'Sent in error': Trump administration accidentally tells Ukrainian refugees to leave US in email blunder The official also added that Trump has "recently threatened to impose strong sanctions on Russia" to further explain leaving out Moscow. A report by The Wall Street Journal mentioned that Russia has a running trade surplus with the US of $2.5 billion. Moscow was left, but many nations that have much smaller trade imbalances with America were still slapped with tariffs. Also read: 'They will never sink our ships again!' Trump shares video of US airstrike on Houthis, says no attack by terror group now When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the West, including the US, imposed numerous rounds of sanctions, but Russia still sells enriched uranium and some chemicals to America. The Trump administration is currently undergoing a significant rapprochement with Moscow that may result in a massive reset in relations since the fall of the Soviet Union. It is assumed that Trump may have greater negotiating power if he excludes Russia from the tariff attack. Trump also said last month that he is weighing additional sanctions and tariffs on Russia as a way to bring Moscow to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine. Also read: Trump in touch with India and two other nations to negotiate trade deals that could revise tariffs: Report (With inputs from agencies)

Taxing Penguins but not Putin? Russia wasn't on Trump's tariffs list. Here's what we know

'Tariffs' has become THE BUZZWORD of the year so far, with US President Donald Trump using it without hesitation since the onset of his second term and even before. 
India&rsquo;s reputation as the world&rsquo;s &ldquo;tariff king&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t going away anytime soon. With duties like 50% on apples, corn, and motorcycles, and 100% on coffee, raisins, and walnuts, it&rsquo;s no wonder the US President gave India an honourable mention in&nbsp;so many of his speeches about tariffs. But behind these steep import taxes lies a bigger story: One of protection, politics, and a push for self-reliance.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-india-pm-modi-8919189" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump&rsquo;s reciprocal tariffs hit &lsquo;tariff king&rsquo; India: Could they cost PM Modi his next term?</a>
<h2>Not just taxes: It&rsquo;s a safety net</h2>
India&rsquo;s love for tariffs isn&rsquo;t just about blocking foreign goods; it&rsquo;s about shielding its own. For decades, the country has used high import duties to protect its local industries, especially agriculture and manufacturing, from being crushed by cheaper international competition.
Take dairy, for instance. With tariffs reaching up to 60%, Indian farmers get a fighting chance against big global dairy exporters. Companies like Amul argue that slashing duties would destroy livelihoods. The same logic applies to other farm goods like meat and processed foods. Drop the tariffs, and the market could be flooded with cut-price imports, leaving small-scale producers in the dust.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-first-to-fall-in-face-off-trump-tariffs-will-other-countries-follow-8926949" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow?</a>
<h2>Cash cow for the government</h2>
Tariffs also keep India&rsquo;s treasury full. In the 2026 financial year alone, the government expects to rake in ₹2,40,000 crore from customs duties. Lower tariffs might win a few friends abroad, but they&rsquo;d also punch a hole in public revenue, and that&rsquo;s a tough sell at home.
What&rsquo;s more, if India cuts tariffs for one country, trade rules often mean others get the same deal. That&rsquo;s a chain reaction the government isn&rsquo;t in a hurry to trigger.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-first-to-fall-in-face-off-trump-tariffs-will-other-countries-follow-8926949" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow?</a>
<h2>Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Self-reliance over global deals</h2>
Then there&rsquo;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s flagship vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or Self-Reliant India. Under this plan, tariffs are being used as a tool to boost local manufacturing, particularly in sectors like electronics and solar energy.
For Indian businesses, this strategy is a win. Fewer global players at the table means less competition. It&rsquo;s a protectionist playbook, yes, but one that aligns with both political messaging and economic goals.
<h2>So, why won&rsquo;t India budge?</h2>
To outsiders, India&rsquo;s high tariffs might seem like a barrier to free trade. But at home, they&rsquo;re seen as requirement for protecting jobs, feeding government revenue, and supporting an ambitious domestic agenda.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-donald-trump-us-weapon-production-reciprocal-tariffs-f-35-jet-nato-8927034" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Pentagon will pay': Did Trump shoot US weapon production in foot with reciprocal tariffs? F-35, NATO partnerships&nbsp;at&nbsp;risk</a>

World: India’s love for tariffs isn’t just about blocking foreign goods; it’s about shielding its own.

'Tariffs' has become THE BUZZWORD of the year so far, with US President Donald Trump using it without hesitation since the onset of his second term and even before. India’s reputation as the world’s “tariff king” isn’t going away anytime soon. With duties like 50% on apples, corn, and motorcycles, and 100% on coffee, raisins, and walnuts, it’s no wonder the US President gave India an honourable mention in so many of his speeches about tariffs. But behind these steep import taxes lies a bigger story: One of protection, politics, and a push for self-reliance. Also read: Trump’s reciprocal tariffs hit ‘tariff king’ India: Could they cost PM Modi his next term? Not just taxes: It’s a safety net India’s love for tariffs isn’t just about blocking foreign goods; it’s about shielding its own. For decades, the country has used high import duties to protect its local industries, especially agriculture and manufacturing, from being crushed by cheaper international competition. Take dairy, for instance. With tariffs reaching up to 60%, Indian farmers get a fighting chance against big global dairy exporters. Companies like Amul argue that slashing duties would destroy livelihoods. The same logic applies to other farm goods like meat and processed foods. Drop the tariffs, and the market could be flooded with cut-price imports, leaving small-scale producers in the dust. Also read: Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow? Cash cow for the government Tariffs also keep India’s treasury full. In the 2026 financial year alone, the government expects to rake in ₹2,40,000 crore from customs duties. Lower tariffs might win a few friends abroad, but they’d also punch a hole in public revenue, and that’s a tough sell at home. What’s more, if India cuts tariffs for one country, trade rules often mean others get the same deal. That’s a chain reaction the government isn’t in a hurry to trigger. Also read: Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow? Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Self-reliance over global deals Then there’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or Self-Reliant India. Under this plan, tariffs are being used as a tool to boost local manufacturing, particularly in sectors like electronics and solar energy. For Indian businesses, this strategy is a win. Fewer global players at the table means less competition. It’s a protectionist playbook, yes, but one that aligns with both political messaging and economic goals. So, why won’t India budge? To outsiders, India’s high tariffs might seem like a barrier to free trade. But at home, they’re seen as requirement for protecting jobs, feeding government revenue, and supporting an ambitious domestic agenda. Also read: 'Pentagon will pay': Did Trump shoot US weapon production in foot with reciprocal tariffs? F-35, NATO partnerships at risk

'Not just taxes, it’s a safety net': Why India has sky-high tariffs?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Colombo on Saturday that India will assist in the renovation of the highly revered Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee. The PM also promised support in the construction of the sacred city in the Anuradhapura Mahabodhi temple complex and the Sita Eliya temple in Nuwara Eliya.
In his address, PM Modi said, &ldquo;There are centuries-old spiritual ties between India and Sri Lanka. I am extremely happy to announce that the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha found in 1960, in the Aravali region of my home state Gujarat, are being sent to Sri Lanka for an exposition.&rdquo;
&ldquo;India will assist in the renovation of the Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee. India will also provide support in the construction of the sacred city in the Anuradhapura Mahabodhi temple complex, and the Sita Eliya temple in Nuwara Eliya,&rdquo; he added.
The Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, is regarded as the greatest building of its age for its architecture and elaborate sculptural bas-relief. Its multiple gold-plated gopuram towers were expanded in the medieval period. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-sri-lanka-ink-key-defence-pact-after-pm-modis-meeting-with-president-dissanayaka-8928462" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India, Sri Lanka ink key defence pact after PM Modi's meeting with President Dissanayaka</a>
Earlier, PM Modi was awarded &lsquo;Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana&rsquo; by President Anura Disanayake.
&ldquo;It is a matter of great pride for me to be awarded the &lsquo;Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana&rsquo; by President Disanayaka today. This award does not only honour me, but also honours 140 crore Indians. It is a tribute to the historic ties and deep friendship between the people of India and Sri Lanka,&rdquo; Modi said. &ldquo;I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the President, the Sri Lankan Government and to the people of Sri Lanka, for this honour.&rdquo;
<h2>India inks trilateral pact with UAE, Sri Lanka to turn Trincomalee as energy hub</h2>
India, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop Trincomalee, located on Sri Lanka&rsquo;s northeastern coast, as a regional energy hub.
The MoU was exchanged in Colombo in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Dissanayake.
The agreement was formally signed by the Energy Secretary of Sri Lanka, the Indian Foreign Secretary, and the UAE Ambassador to Sri Lanka, representing the UAE government.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sri-lanka-holds-special-place-in-indias-neighbourhood-policy-says-pm-modi-8929065">'Sri Lanka holds special place in India's neighbourhood policy,' says PM Modi</a>
India and Sri Lanka will also begin work on a joint venture solar power plant in Sampur. PM Modi and President Dissanayake virtually performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. Trincomalee Harbour, located in Trincomalee Bay, is one of the largest natural deep-water harbours in the world and is considered a geo-strategic asset. It is the closest Sri Lankan port to Chennai, and plays a crucial role in India&rsquo;s Indo-Pacific strategy and is viewed as a counterbalance to the Chinese presence at the Hambantota Port. Trincomalee can accommodate warships, aircraft carriers, and large merchant vessels. Trincomalee has long been a strategic interest for major powers. During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Trincomalee in 1942, sinking three British warships anchored there.
<h2>PM accorded grand welcome at historic Independence Square</h2>
Earlier, PM Narendra Modi was accorded a grand ceremonial welcome at the historic Independence Square in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital, in perhaps the first such honour given to a foreign leader. The PM was received at the Square by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Officials said it was the first time a foreign leader was accorded such a welcome at the Independence Square.
The prime minister&rsquo;s visit to Sri Lanka comes at a time when the island nation is showing signs of recovery from economic stress. The country was reeling under a massive economic crisis three years back and India extended financial assistance worth USD 4.5 billion.
PM Modi is also scheduled to lay a wreath at the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) memorial later in the day.

World | India News: India will assist in the renovation of the Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee and also provide support in the construction of sacred city in the Anuradhapura Mahabodhi temple complex, and the Sita Eliya temple in Nuwara Eliya.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Colombo on Saturday that India will assist in the renovation of the highly revered Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee. The PM also promised support in the construction of the sacred city in the Anuradhapura Mahabodhi temple complex and the Sita Eliya temple in Nuwara Eliya. In his address, PM Modi said, “There are centuries-old spiritual ties between India and Sri Lanka. I am extremely happy to announce that the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha found in 1960, in the Aravali region of my home state Gujarat, are being sent to Sri Lanka for an exposition.” “India will assist in the renovation of the Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee. India will also provide support in the construction of the sacred city in the Anuradhapura Mahabodhi temple complex, and the Sita Eliya temple in Nuwara Eliya,” he added. The Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, is regarded as the greatest building of its age for its architecture and elaborate sculptural bas-relief. Its multiple gold-plated gopuram towers were expanded in the medieval period. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also Read | India, Sri Lanka ink key defence pact after PM Modi's meeting with President Dissanayaka Earlier, PM Modi was awarded ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’ by President Anura Disanayake. “It is a matter of great pride for me to be awarded the ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’ by President Disanayaka today. This award does not only honour me, but also honours 140 crore Indians. It is a tribute to the historic ties and deep friendship between the people of India and Sri Lanka,” Modi said. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the President, the Sri Lankan Government and to the people of Sri Lanka, for this honour.” India inks trilateral pact with UAE, Sri Lanka to turn Trincomalee as energy hub India, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop Trincomalee, located on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast, as a regional energy hub. The MoU was exchanged in Colombo in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Dissanayake. The agreement was formally signed by the Energy Secretary of Sri Lanka, the Indian Foreign Secretary, and the UAE Ambassador to Sri Lanka, representing the UAE government. Also Read | 'Sri Lanka holds special place in India's neighbourhood policy,' says PM Modi India and Sri Lanka will also begin work on a joint venture solar power plant in Sampur. PM Modi and President Dissanayake virtually performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. Trincomalee Harbour, located in Trincomalee Bay, is one of the largest natural deep-water harbours in the world and is considered a geo-strategic asset. It is the closest Sri Lankan port to Chennai, and plays a crucial role in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and is viewed as a counterbalance to the Chinese presence at the Hambantota Port. Trincomalee can accommodate warships, aircraft carriers, and large merchant vessels. Trincomalee has long been a strategic interest for major powers. During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Trincomalee in 1942, sinking three British warships anchored there. PM accorded grand welcome at historic Independence Square Earlier, PM Narendra Modi was accorded a grand ceremonial welcome at the historic Independence Square in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital, in perhaps the first such honour given to a foreign leader. The PM was received at the Square by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Officials said it was the first time a foreign leader was accorded such a welcome at the Independence Square. The prime minister’s visit to Sri Lanka comes at a time when the island nation is showing signs of recovery from economic stress. The country was reeling under a massive economic crisis three years back and India extended financial assistance worth USD 4.5 billion. PM Modi is also scheduled to lay a wreath at the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) memorial later in the day.

India to help renovate Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee: PM Modi

When the German police were informed about a naked female "dead body" in the woods, little did they know it would turn out to be something unimaginable. A murder inquiry was initiated, and the demolition site where it was found was cordoned off.&nbsp;
A dog walker found the "dead body" in a secluded area in a small German city and immediately called the police. Within minutes, homicide and forensic officers, along with pathologists with a bunch of equipment descended on the so-called crime scene. Investigations continued for five hours. Someone then touched the body and realised it wasn't a real human but a sex doll.
The incident was reported in the city of Rostock at 8 pm on Saturday (March 29). Police officers and others investigating the crime scene came with drones and a specialist 3D scanner.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rowdy-female-passenger-bites-flight-attendant-following-body-odour-brawl-8925515" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">Rowdy female passenger bites flight attendant following 'body odour' brawl</a>
All the formalities linked to a murder scene began. The evidence was collected and photographed. The "dead body" was measured using a ruler, and people were told to stay away. A funeral director was also hired to transport the body to a morgue.
After five hours of work, one of the officers touched the "body" and realised it wasn't real. It seemed to have been made with synthetic material, and so they realised what they were dealing with.
Whoever dumped the sex doll had burned it and stuffed it into a blue bag. It looked so real that the officers didn't notice that what they had been investigating wasn't a real human dead body. The funeral director was informed about the discovery and asked to leave.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-town-offers-680000-salary-free-rent-car-to-doctor-8916424" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">'1/2-a-million-dollar job no one wants': Why an Australian town is struggling to find a doctor</a>
German outlet Nordkurier reported that investigators believe the doll was burned and disposed of in a public place deliberately. Everyone who was working at the scene was baffled to see a human-like doll and agreed this was the weirdest case they had dealt with in their entire careers.
<h2>Sex doll found on Thai beach</h2>
 A similar incident occurred in Thailand in 2022 when beachgoers spotted a "naked body" in Bangkok. It only had a t-shirt over its head. Police received several calls about it and rushed to the site. But the "naked body" turned out to belong to a $604 sex doll.

A sex doll was found in the woods in a German city, which was initially mistaken to be the dead body of a female. It came as a rude shock to the police. World Trending

When the German police were informed about a naked female "dead body" in the woods, little did they know it would turn out to be something unimaginable. A murder inquiry was initiated, and the demolition site where it was found was cordoned off. A dog walker found the "dead body" in a secluded area in a small German city and immediately called the police. Within minutes, homicide and forensic officers, along with pathologists with a bunch of equipment descended on the so-called crime scene. Investigations continued for five hours. Someone then touched the body and realised it wasn't a real human but a sex doll. The incident was reported in the city of Rostock at 8 pm on Saturday (March 29). Police officers and others investigating the crime scene came with drones and a specialist 3D scanner. Also Read: Rowdy female passenger bites flight attendant following 'body odour' brawl All the formalities linked to a murder scene began. The evidence was collected and photographed. The "dead body" was measured using a ruler, and people were told to stay away. A funeral director was also hired to transport the body to a morgue. After five hours of work, one of the officers touched the "body" and realised it wasn't real. It seemed to have been made with synthetic material, and so they realised what they were dealing with. Whoever dumped the sex doll had burned it and stuffed it into a blue bag. It looked so real that the officers didn't notice that what they had been investigating wasn't a real human dead body. The funeral director was informed about the discovery and asked to leave. Also Read: '1/2-a-million-dollar job no one wants': Why an Australian town is struggling to find a doctor German outlet Nordkurier reported that investigators believe the doll was burned and disposed of in a public place deliberately. Everyone who was working at the scene was baffled to see a human-like doll and agreed this was the weirdest case they had dealt with in their entire careers. Sex doll found on Thai beach A similar incident occurred in Thailand in 2022 when beachgoers spotted a "naked body" in Bangkok. It only had a t-shirt over its head. Police received several calls about it and rushed to the site. But the "naked body" turned out to belong to a $604 sex doll.

Murder of a sex doll: 5hr probe reveals 'dead body' was not what German police thought

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance at a summit for Black women leaders in California. She has reportedly hinted at staying active in political life in what is being termed as her first public appearance after the 2024 poll debacle.&nbsp;
"We can&rsquo;t go out there and do battle if we don&rsquo;t take care of ourselves and each other...I&rsquo;ll see you out there. I&rsquo;m not going anywhere," she told the audience at the Leading Women Defined gathering, reported The Hill.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-national-stabbed-to-death-in-canada-suspect-held-indian-embassy-8927732" rel="dofollow">Indian national stabbed to death in Canada, suspect held: Indian embassy</a>
In a nearly eight-minute address, Harris did not name US President Donald Trump, but spoke about the "fear" that the people of United States are witnessing "in these last few months."
"Fear has a way to be contagious. When one person has fear, it has a way of spreading to those around...we are witnessing that. But I say, courage is also contagious," she added.
Watch the video here:
<blockquote class="instagram-media publive-iframes-block publive-Instagram-block" contenteditable="false" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIBHCk9RPIU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m942nfr3-xow52ss9-pnarfaoi">
<div style="padding: 16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIBHCk9RPIU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
</a>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIBHCk9RPIU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Pop Base (@popbase)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-pm-netanyahu-travels-to-hungary-in-open-defiance-of-icc-arrest-warrant-8919304" rel="dofollow">Israeli PM Netanyahu travels to Hungary in open defiance of ICC arrest warrant</a>
The Hill report also revealed that Harris will make her decision about representing California in the Senate this summer. Reports have earlier projected Harris as a possible candidate to replace Gavin Newsom as he is barred from running again due to limits.&nbsp;
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-18-including-9-children-killed-in-zelenskys-hometown-moscow-says-was-targeting-military-8927675" rel="dofollow">Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military'</a>
<h2>Kamala Harris in politics</h2>
Kamala Harris lost the 2024 US Presidential election to Donald Trump, who secured more than 270 electoral college votes to reclaim the presidency for the second time. In 2020, Kamala Harris had been Joe Biden's running mate. Biden had stepped aside in July last year from the race to the presidency and the Democrats picked Harris as the face to run against Republican Trump. In 2020, Harris became the first Black vice president of the United States and the first woman to hold the post.
Read More |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-kills-hamas-commander-in-lebanon-strike-expands-ground-offensive-in-gaza-8925247" rel="dofollow"> Israel kills Hamas 'commander' in Lebanon strike, expands ground offensive in Gaza</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Former US Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance at a summit in California and has reportedly hinted at staying active in political life

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance at a summit for Black women leaders in California. She has reportedly hinted at staying active in political life in what is being termed as her first public appearance after the 2024 poll debacle. "We can’t go out there and do battle if we don’t take care of ourselves and each other...I’ll see you out there. I’m not going anywhere," she told the audience at the Leading Women Defined gathering, reported The Hill. Read More | Indian national stabbed to death in Canada, suspect held: Indian embassy In a nearly eight-minute address, Harris did not name US President Donald Trump, but spoke about the "fear" that the people of United States are witnessing "in these last few months." "Fear has a way to be contagious. When one person has fear, it has a way of spreading to those around...we are witnessing that. But I say, courage is also contagious," she added. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pop Base (@popbase) Read More | Israeli PM Netanyahu travels to Hungary in open defiance of ICC arrest warrant The Hill report also revealed that Harris will make her decision about representing California in the Senate this summer. Reports have earlier projected Harris as a possible candidate to replace Gavin Newsom as he is barred from running again due to limits. Read More | Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military' Kamala Harris in politics Kamala Harris lost the 2024 US Presidential election to Donald Trump, who secured more than 270 electoral college votes to reclaim the presidency for the second time. In 2020, Kamala Harris had been Joe Biden's running mate. Biden had stepped aside in July last year from the race to the presidency and the Democrats picked Harris as the face to run against Republican Trump. In 2020, Harris became the first Black vice president of the United States and the first woman to hold the post. Read More | Israel kills Hamas 'commander' in Lebanon strike, expands ground offensive in Gaza (With inputs from agencies)

Kamala Harris returns to public stage after 2024 US election, hints at staying in politics

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump this week in Washington, an Israeli official told the Kan public broadcaster.&nbsp;
According to the officials, the two leaders are expected to discuss sweeping reciprocal tariffs.&nbsp;
However, Netanyahu's office has not confirmed the visit yet. However, three Israeli officials confirmed it to Reuters.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-kills-hamas-commander-in-lebanon-strike-expands-ground-offensive-in-gaza-8925247">Israel kills Hamas 'commander' in Lebanon strike, expands ground offensive in Gaza</a>
It will mark Netanyahu's fourth trip to the US since the war began in Gaza, and his second since Trump took office in January.&nbsp;
It would also make Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to negotiate the sweeping tariffs in person with Trump.&nbsp;
Trump on April 2, his "Liberation Day", announced sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" on several nations. The US president imposed a 17% tariff on Israel.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-touch-with-india-and-two-other-nations-to-negotiate-trade-deals-that-could-revise-tariffs-report-8927592">Trump in touch with India and two other nations to negotiate trade deals that could revise tariffs: Report</a>
The 17% rate Trump set for Israel was based on the significant U.S. bilateral trade deficit.
While Trump called these tariffs &ldquo;reciprocal,&rdquo; he admitted they&rsquo;re only about half of what other countries charge the US.
"We will charge them approximately half of what they are and have been charging us," he said.
&ldquo;I could have done that, yes, but it would have been tough for a lot of countries. We didn&rsquo;t want to do that,&rdquo; he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-first-to-fall-in-face-off-trump-tariffs-will-other-countries-follow-8926949">Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow?</a>
Instead of going full force, Trump said his approach is more "kind reciprocal," a softer hit that still sends a message. It's like giving other nations a taste of their own medicine, just not the full dose.
Moreover, Trump and Netanyahu are also expected to discuss the Iran nuclear crisis and the war in Gaza.&nbsp;
Trump suggested Netanyahu come to the White House, without setting a clear date. Several hours later, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Netanyahu would be visiting Washington soon, "maybe even next week."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-qatargate-netanyahu-questioned-as-two-top-aides-arrested-as-probe-deepens-8911346">What is Qatargate? Netanyahu questioned, two top aides arrested as probe deepens</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: It will mark Israeli PM Netanyahu's fourth trip to the US since the war began in Gaza, and his second since Trump took office in January.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump this week in Washington, an Israeli official told the Kan public broadcaster. According to the officials, the two leaders are expected to discuss sweeping reciprocal tariffs. However, Netanyahu's office has not confirmed the visit yet. However, three Israeli officials confirmed it to Reuters. Also read: Israel kills Hamas 'commander' in Lebanon strike, expands ground offensive in Gaza It will mark Netanyahu's fourth trip to the US since the war began in Gaza, and his second since Trump took office in January. It would also make Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to negotiate the sweeping tariffs in person with Trump. Trump on April 2, his "Liberation Day", announced sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" on several nations. The US president imposed a 17% tariff on Israel. Also read: Trump in touch with India and two other nations to negotiate trade deals that could revise tariffs: Report The 17% rate Trump set for Israel was based on the significant U.S. bilateral trade deficit. While Trump called these tariffs “reciprocal,” he admitted they’re only about half of what other countries charge the US. "We will charge them approximately half of what they are and have been charging us," he said. “I could have done that, yes, but it would have been tough for a lot of countries. We didn’t want to do that,” he added. Also read: Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow? Instead of going full force, Trump said his approach is more "kind reciprocal," a softer hit that still sends a message. It's like giving other nations a taste of their own medicine, just not the full dose. Moreover, Trump and Netanyahu are also expected to discuss the Iran nuclear crisis and the war in Gaza. Trump suggested Netanyahu come to the White House, without setting a clear date. Several hours later, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Netanyahu would be visiting Washington soon, "maybe even next week." Also read: What is Qatargate? Netanyahu questioned, two top aides arrested as probe deepens (With inputs from agencies)

Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington this week, first foreign leader to discuss tariffs in person

German dictator Adolf Hitler is believed to have killed himself at the end of World War II because he did not want the Western forces to catch him. However, documents declassified by the CIA show that the hunt for him continued for at least another 10 years, the Daily Mail reported. South American agents suspected that Hitler was still alive and so continued to look for him.
According to the documents, the CIA tried to hunt him down just months after the Second World War ended. They suspected that he was living in South America under a false identity. The agency reportedly even found a photo in Colombia of a man who looked strikingly similar to Hitler.
Notably, in April 1945, Allied forces found a burnt body that was said to belong to Hitler. According to the documents, American officials weren't sure that it was Hitler and initiated a search for him.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-admires-hitler-is-like-a-fascist-who-would-rule-like-a-dictator-says-john-kelly-769969" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">Trump admires Hitler, is like a 'fascist' who would rule like a dictator, says John Kelly</a>
The search continued for the next 10 years till 1955. The CIA is said to be in contact with informants in hopes of uncovering Hitler's secret hiding place. The informants reportedly knew that Hitler had escaped in 1945 and was living somewhere in Argentina. This is where the paper trail ends, and it isn't clear what happened afterwards.&nbsp;
<h2>Why would Hitler choose Argentina?</h2>
Reports suggest that Argentina was notorious for giving refuge to former Nazi party members. Hitler knew a family there that he is said to have lived with. Documents suggest that the owners of a spa hotel in La Falda, Argentina were Nazi supporters.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-ban-us-donald-trump-china-8927302" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">TikTok stays, for now: Trump 'saves' TikTok from 'going dark' in US, offers to 'work with' China to close a deal</a>
They made monetary contributions to propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels and were friends with Hitler.&nbsp;
<h2>Hitler was friends with a family in Argentina</h2>
He spent time with the family on vacations at the hotel and so, the CIA was convinced that he would escape to Argentina and reunite with the family if he lost the war or was removed as leader of the Nazi party.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-maps-users-see-teleportation-device-near-giza-pyramids-8913680" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">Google Maps users think they have spotted a 'teleportation device' near Giza pyramids</a>
The US War Department contacted the FBI and told them about the spa hotel in Argentina, which might have been his secret hideout. A &nbsp;secret CIA document released in 2020 is accompanied by a photo that shows a man similar in looks to Hitler sitting with a friend in Colombia in 1954.
<h2>A photo of man resembling Hitler was found&nbsp;</h2>
An October 3, 1955, report mentions a US intelligence operation that worked to confirm whether Adolf Hitler really died or survived and secretly escaped to South America.
Also Read: <a title="Post View" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/safest-ship-in-the-world-sank-in-1892-133-years-later-a-mystery-has-been-solved-8843070" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">'Safest ship in the world' sank in 1892. 133 years later, a mystery has been solved</a>
It talks about an informant known as CIMELODY-,3 who told a friend who served Hitler in Europe. The friend told him about a man named Phillip Citroen, a former SS trooper, who told him that Hitler was alive and living in Colombia. He said that he spoke to the Nazi leader regularly. The friend managed to steal the photo showing him with a man who resembled Hitler.
No other documents were available to suggest what happened to the investigation after 1955.

Did Hitler really die after World War II, or did he manage to escape alive and fool the world? Was the charred body found by Allied Forces really his? World Trending

German dictator Adolf Hitler is believed to have killed himself at the end of World War II because he did not want the Western forces to catch him. However, documents declassified by the CIA show that the hunt for him continued for at least another 10 years, the Daily Mail reported. South American agents suspected that Hitler was still alive and so continued to look for him. According to the documents, the CIA tried to hunt him down just months after the Second World War ended. They suspected that he was living in South America under a false identity. The agency reportedly even found a photo in Colombia of a man who looked strikingly similar to Hitler. Notably, in April 1945, Allied forces found a burnt body that was said to belong to Hitler. According to the documents, American officials weren't sure that it was Hitler and initiated a search for him. Also Read: Trump admires Hitler, is like a 'fascist' who would rule like a dictator, says John Kelly The search continued for the next 10 years till 1955. The CIA is said to be in contact with informants in hopes of uncovering Hitler's secret hiding place. The informants reportedly knew that Hitler had escaped in 1945 and was living somewhere in Argentina. This is where the paper trail ends, and it isn't clear what happened afterwards. Why would Hitler choose Argentina? Reports suggest that Argentina was notorious for giving refuge to former Nazi party members. Hitler knew a family there that he is said to have lived with. Documents suggest that the owners of a spa hotel in La Falda, Argentina were Nazi supporters. Also Read: TikTok stays, for now: Trump 'saves' TikTok from 'going dark' in US, offers to 'work with' China to close a deal They made monetary contributions to propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels and were friends with Hitler. Hitler was friends with a family in Argentina He spent time with the family on vacations at the hotel and so, the CIA was convinced that he would escape to Argentina and reunite with the family if he lost the war or was removed as leader of the Nazi party. Also Read: Google Maps users think they have spotted a 'teleportation device' near Giza pyramids The US War Department contacted the FBI and told them about the spa hotel in Argentina, which might have been his secret hideout. A secret CIA document released in 2020 is accompanied by a photo that shows a man similar in looks to Hitler sitting with a friend in Colombia in 1954. A photo of man resembling Hitler was found An October 3, 1955, report mentions a US intelligence operation that worked to confirm whether Adolf Hitler really died or survived and secretly escaped to South America. Also Read: 'Safest ship in the world' sank in 1892. 133 years later, a mystery has been solved It talks about an informant known as CIMELODY-,3 who told a friend who served Hitler in Europe. The friend told him about a man named Phillip Citroen, a former SS trooper, who told him that Hitler was alive and living in Colombia. He said that he spoke to the Nazi leader regularly. The friend managed to steal the photo showing him with a man who resembled Hitler. No other documents were available to suggest what happened to the investigation after 1955.

Did Hitler really die or did he escape? CIA documents reveal hunt for the dictator

From dust-filled days of the Industrial Revolution to becoming a manufacturing hub in Britain to shining on the showbiz map with 'Peaky Blinders' to now being dubbed as the 'garbage capital', Birmingham has come a long way!
The streets in the UK's second city are filled with approximately 17,000 tonnes of trash as workers announced 'bin strike' last month.&nbsp;
<h2>What is the 'bin strike' and why is it happening?</h2>
As per a BBC report, the members of the union in Birmingham announced a 'bin strike' after a dispute with the city council over plans to scrap the role of Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO). The union said that the move would lead to pay cuts.&nbsp;It added that about 170 affected workers faced losing an average of &pound;8,000 (10,308 USD) a year due to the decision.
The union claimed that the removal of WRCO would not allow them "a fair path for pay progression". It alleged that the city council is planning to downgrade the pay of other non-management roles in the service.
The 'bin strike' started with walkouts that were planned in phases. The first such walkout happened on January 6. However, the union said that the decision to move to an all-out strike was because the authority hired temporary labour during their 'walkout protest'.
The workers have been on strike since March 11 after striking intermittently since January.&nbsp;
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-national-stabbed-to-death-in-canada-suspect-held-indian-embassy-8927732" rel="dofollow">Indian national stabbed to death in Canada, suspect held: Indian embassy</a>
<h2>What has the Birmingham City Council said?</h2>
Birmingham City Council said that the WRCO role was not industry standard and did not exist in other councils, as per BBC. It added that the change was part of the waste collection service restructure to make sure the workforce could meet the challenges of delivering a modern waste service.&nbsp;
The authorities also claimed that affected staff would lose an average of &pound;8,000 per year was incorrect.&nbsp;While the council declared the dispute a major incident earlier this week, it is causing misery for the residents who say they face a public health crisis.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-scraps-golden-visa-programme-after-12-years-whats-behind-the-move-8924232" rel="dofollow">Spain scraps golden visa programme after 12 years, what's behind the move</a>
<h2>What is a 'major incident'?</h2>
A major incident is a situation that requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agencies.&nbsp;The declaration of a 'major incident' means the council can increase its street cleaning operation, extend opening hours and fly-tipping removal and bring in extra vehicles and crews. It also allows the Labour-run council to "work with partners to better manage the risks the city is facing."
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-18-including-9-children-killed-in-zelenskys-hometown-moscow-says-was-targeting-military-8927675" rel="dofollow">Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military'</a>
Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said that the announcement was made in response to public health concerns by the residents and the struggles of the authorities to clean the trash all over the city.
"I respect the right to strike and protest, however, actions on the picket line must be lawful and sadly the behaviour of some now means we are seeing a significant impact on residents and the city's environment. Unless we declare a major incident and deploy the waste service's contingency plan, then we would be unable to clear the backlog of waste on the streets," Cotton was quoted by BBC.
<h2>Negotiations and Government's response</h2>
Negotiations and talks between the union and the city council have not yielded results with the union announcing on Friday (Apr 3) that the strike would continue.
The matter was also raised in the UK Parliament with Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemning the bin strike as "completely unacceptable". Starmer said he supported the Labour-run city council's decision to declare it a major incident.
Read More |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-likely-to-travel-to-saudi-arabia-this-month-8927212" rel="dofollow">PM Modi likely to travel to Saudi Arabia this month</a>
His reaction came after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of not wanting to talk about Birmingham. Independent MP Ayoub Khan also blasted Starmer over Labour's "disgraceful" Birmingham bin strike failures.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner blamed the previous Tory government for the build-up of rubbish in Birmingham. However, the Birmingham City Council has been ruled by the Labour Party since 2012.
(With inputs from agencies)

World, trending | Birmingham, UK's second city, is filled with approximately 17,000 tonnes of trash as workers announced 'bin strike' last month.  What is 'bin strike'

From dust-filled days of the Industrial Revolution to becoming a manufacturing hub in Britain to shining on the showbiz map with 'Peaky Blinders' to now being dubbed as the 'garbage capital', Birmingham has come a long way! The streets in the UK's second city are filled with approximately 17,000 tonnes of trash as workers announced 'bin strike' last month. What is the 'bin strike' and why is it happening? As per a BBC report, the members of the union in Birmingham announced a 'bin strike' after a dispute with the city council over plans to scrap the role of Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO). The union said that the move would lead to pay cuts. It added that about 170 affected workers faced losing an average of £8,000 (10,308 USD) a year due to the decision. The union claimed that the removal of WRCO would not allow them "a fair path for pay progression". It alleged that the city council is planning to downgrade the pay of other non-management roles in the service. The 'bin strike' started with walkouts that were planned in phases. The first such walkout happened on January 6. However, the union said that the decision to move to an all-out strike was because the authority hired temporary labour during their 'walkout protest'. The workers have been on strike since March 11 after striking intermittently since January. Read More | Indian national stabbed to death in Canada, suspect held: Indian embassy What has the Birmingham City Council said? Birmingham City Council said that the WRCO role was not industry standard and did not exist in other councils, as per BBC. It added that the change was part of the waste collection service restructure to make sure the workforce could meet the challenges of delivering a modern waste service. The authorities also claimed that affected staff would lose an average of £8,000 per year was incorrect. While the council declared the dispute a major incident earlier this week, it is causing misery for the residents who say they face a public health crisis. Read More | Spain scraps golden visa programme after 12 years, what's behind the move What is a 'major incident'? A major incident is a situation that requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agencies. The declaration of a 'major incident' means the council can increase its street cleaning operation, extend opening hours and fly-tipping removal and bring in extra vehicles and crews. It also allows the Labour-run council to "work with partners to better manage the risks the city is facing." Read More | Ukraine war: 18, including 9 children, killed in Zelensky's hometown, Moscow says was targeting 'military' Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said that the announcement was made in response to public health concerns by the residents and the struggles of the authorities to clean the trash all over the city. "I respect the right to strike and protest, however, actions on the picket line must be lawful and sadly the behaviour of some now means we are seeing a significant impact on residents and the city's environment. Unless we declare a major incident and deploy the waste service's contingency plan, then we would be unable to clear the backlog of waste on the streets," Cotton was quoted by BBC. Negotiations and Government's response Negotiations and talks between the union and the city council have not yielded results with the union announcing on Friday (Apr 3) that the strike would continue. The matter was also raised in the UK Parliament with Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemning the bin strike as "completely unacceptable". Starmer said he supported the Labour-run city council's decision to declare it a major incident. Read More | PM Modi likely to travel to Saudi Arabia this month His reaction came after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of not wanting to talk about Birmingham. Independent MP Ayoub Khan also blasted Starmer over Labour's "disgraceful" Birmingham bin strike failures. UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner blamed the previous Tory government for the build-up of rubbish in Birmingham. However, the Birmingham City Council has been ruled by the Labour Party since 2012. (With inputs from agencies)

Birmingham is filled with trash: what is 'bin strike', why is it happening

world

World, News on World, stories on World, articles on World, World stories at Wion, World news, World latest news