The US Congress has approved bipartisan legislation which seeks to combat the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery, sometimes called “revenge porn”, by putting in place stricter penalties. The bill, known as the 'Take It Down Act', will be headed to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. 
In the wake of the deadly cross-border terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy held discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The talks focused on the increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, with both parties addressing the security situation in the region, including the role of cross-border terrorism.
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 Indian tourists, a senior official of the Pakistan Army was caught on camera making threatening gestures toward the protestors in London. The gesture came as members of the Indian community held a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in London on Friday, condemning the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. 
US President Donald Trump has asked Russia and Ukraine to meet for "very high-level talks", as he asserted that both countries are "very close to a deal" on ending the bloody three-year war. Trump, who arrived in Rome for Pope Francis' funeral, posted on Truth Social, "They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to finish it off." Notably, his envoy, Steve Witkoff, had visited Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
Speaking for the first time on the Pahalgam terror attacks, US President Donald Trump said that tensions between the two nations on the border have been ongoing for a long time. Terming the attacks as 'bad one', the US President expressed confidence that both sides will resolve the issue as he emphasised his close ties with India and Pakistan. 
Following the meeting of Pakistan's National Security Committee (NSC), Islamabad has asked all Indian nationals in Pakistan to return to India by 30 April 2025. In a press release, the Pakistani PMO said, "Those who have crossed with valid endorsements may return through that route immediately but not later than 30 April 2025."
In a bold move on Sunday, US President Donald Trump released an eight-point list targeting what he calls "non-tariff cheating" by foreign nations -- a warning he said could impact diplomatic and trade ties with the United States. The announcement came days after Trump declared a 90-day pause on his broad tariff strategy for all nations except China.
An earthquake of 5.9 magnitude hit the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border on Saturday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The epicentre was at 71.38°E, 36.13°N, with a depth of 86 km. The tremors were also felt in some parts on India, including Kashmir and Delhi NCR.
At least 25 Indian tourists were injured on Saturday when the bus ferrying them to Nepal's Pokhara met with an accident in the neighbouring country's Dang district, police said. According to the police, 19 tourists were admitted to the community health centre in Uttar Pradesh's Tulsipur, which shares a border with Nepal. Three of the injured passengers are in critical condition as they undergo treatment in a hospital in Nepal.
After India shared its concerns with Sri Lanka, Colombo has cancelled the proposed military exercise with the Pakistan Navy in the strategic waters of Trincomalee, news agency PTI reports, quoting sources. According to the sources, the Sri Lanka and Pakistan navies planned to carry out the exercise off Trincomalee, which was in line with their regular engagements. The plan did not go through after India apprised its apprehensions over the exercise to the Sri Lankan side. 
Tajikistan Earthquake: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Tajikistan on Sunday morning, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) as saying. The tremor occurred at a depth of 16 km (10 miles), impacting the central region of the country.
The state of Georgia, in a historic move, has proposed a bill to formally recognise Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice. If the bill gets passed, Georgia will become the first US state to formally introduce legislation to recognise Hinduphobia. The Senate Bill 375, which was introduced by a group of Georgia state senators, seeks to define Hinduphobia explicitly and include it under laws which prohibit discrimination based on religion, colour, caste, or natural origin.
The envoys of the United States and Iran began talks in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme on Saturday. While no immediate agreement is likely to be reached, the stakes involved in the talks are high for both the nations closing in on half a century of enmity. In recent times, President Donald Trump has been threatening Iran if it fails to reach a consensus with the US over its nuclear programme.
The Trump administration has decided to replace the portrait of former President Barack Obama in a White House hallway with US President Donald Trump's pop-art painting, which shows him pumping his fist after he narrowly escaped the assassination attempt last year on the campaign trail in Butler, Pa. While the shuffling of portraits is not a new practice, some presidential historians have raised questions over the latest move, claiming they could not recall another president, apart from Trump, hanging a painting of himself.
US President Donald Trump's sharp increase in tariffs on Chinese products brings Washington's additional rate on many items to 145 per cent, and it took effect on Thursday, the White House confirmed. On Wednesday, Trump announced a 90-day pause in his sweeping tariffs on most countries, except China, with a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese products. The 125 per cent tariff soars to 145 per cent, given the 20 per cent duty introduced earlier this year, citing Beijing's alleged involvement in the fentanyl supply chain. A man is facing serious accusations following a disturbing incident aboard a New York City subway. Police report that the suspect is wanted for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with the corpse of a homeless man on a southbound R train near the Whitehall St subway station in Lower Manhattan. The incident took place around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Authorities state that the suspect did not appear to know the deceased, who is believed to have died from natural causes prior to the crime. The individual is wanted on charges of sexual misconduct.
The unidentified suspect, accused of necrophilia, is being sought by the NYPD for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a deceased man aboard an R train around 11:45 pm on Tuesday, according to police sources.
"WANTED - SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: On 04/09/2025, at NYPD1pct / TD2, an unidentified individual had sexual contact with an unconscious and unresponsive adult male aboard a southbound 'R' train near the Whitehall Street subway station. If you have any information, call us at 800-577-TIPS," the NYPD Crime Stoppers posted.
The suspect was last seen wearing a blue baseball cap, a black hooded jacket, a yellow hooded sweatshirt, jeans, red and white sneakers, and was carrying a backpack.
According to NYpost report, the dead man had boarded the subway around 8 p.m., and the suspect got on about three hours later - although it's not clear exactly where, sources said.
Around 11:45 p.m., security footage showed the twisted suspect engaging in sexual acts with the deceased victim. He got off the train around 12:08 p.m., sources said.
China on Thursday responded to US President Donald Trump's decision to raise the duties on Beijing to 125 per cent and exclude it from the 90-day tariff pause mechanism, as it said it does not seek confrontation. In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's spokesperson said that China's position is clear, adding, "If the US wants to talk, our door remains open, but dialogue must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and equality." 
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) announced a 90-day pause in his sweeping tariffs on the majority of the nations, with the exception of China. Trump's decision came after he raised the duties on Beijing to 125 per cent following China's retaliatory tariffs of 84 per cent on all US imports. Amidst the global market meltdown, Trump posted on Truth Social that since "more than 75 countries” had reached out to the US government for trade talks, he "authorised a 90-day pause", adding that the Reciprocal Tariff will be substantially lowered.
Following the barrage of tariffs on China, the Chinese Embassy in India urged New Delhi to stand together against the US-imposed tariffs. Referring to the American tariffs as 'abuse' that harms developing economies, China called for global cooperation to resist the US 'unilateralism and protectionism'. In a post on X, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, Yu Jing, described the India-China trade relationship as 'mutually beneficial', urging India to 'stand together to overcome the difficulties' in the wake of US tariffs. French MPs have criticised "endemic" abuse in the entertainment sector after a months-long inquiry into sexual violence that saw stars and other actors reveal instances of bullying and assault.
The inquiry, led by feminist Greens MP Sandrine Rousseau, was spurred by allegations from Judith Godreche, who accused two French directors of abusing her when she was a teenager.
In a final damning report, seen by AFP ahead of its release on Wednesday, the inquiry accused the entertainment sector of being a "talent grinding machine" and made 86 recommendations to better protect actors and children on set.
"Moral, sexist, and sexual violence in the cultural sector is systemic, endemic, and persistent," read a conclusion from Rousseau, who has overseen six months of hearings that saw testimony from 350 people in the film, theatre and TV sectors.
The report follows the sexual assault trial last month of screen legend Gerard Depardieu, who is the highest-profile figure to face criminal accusations following the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to speak out against violence.
#MeToo was publicly resisted by some in the French entertainment sector when it first emerged in 2017, including actress Catherine Deneuve, who saw it as a puritan American import that encouraged the airing of unsubstantiated allegations.
Depardieu, who faces accusations from around a dozen women, was backed by 60 film and art figures in a 2023 petition, while President Emmanuel Macron has called him a "towering actor" who "makes France proud".
Depardieu denies the allegations and told his trial that he "adored" women and was not a "groper". A verdict is due on May 13.
The report questions the prevalent view in France that abusive behaviour by top cultural figures can be excused in the name of art.
"The 'cultural exception', but at what price?" it asks.
"In our country, there's a cult of talent and creative genius," Erwan Balanant, a centrist MP on the commission, told AFP.
Saying 'no'
Some of France's biggest stars agreed to testify to the parliamentary inquiry including Juliette Binoche, Jean Dujardin and Pierre Niney, but usually behind closed doors and sometimes on condition that their remarks were not made public.
Some of the strongest testimony came from Godreche, 53, who railed against the "impunity" in the film industry and the "inaction" of its leading lights.
"There's not a single person from my past with an established role in the cinema world -- and therefore, in positions of power ... who has written to me since I spoke out," said the actress who appeared in "The Spanish Apartment", "The Man in the Iron Mask", or "Potiche", which featured Depardieu.
Fellow actress Sara Forestier described in November how she had repeatedly said "no" to directors who wanted to sleep with her and who threatened to take roles away if she refused.
"Until the day I said 'no' one too many times -- and I paid the price for it," she added, recounting how she had to leave a shoot in 2017 after allegedly being slapped by an actor, who was later identified as Nicolas Duvauchelle.
Crossing the line?
Jean Dujardin, an Oscar winner in 2012 for his turn in "The Artist", conceded that some male actors might have failed to denounce abuse in the past, but that attitudes were changing.
"We don't see everything -- and perhaps we don't want to see," Dujardin, 52, said, according to a transcript published last month.
He added that "we no longer say what we used to say 10 or 15 years ago, and we won't say the same things in 10 years either... I feel that sexist reactions and clumsy remarks are gradually disappearing".
In mid-March, veteran celebrity agent Dominique Besnehard challenged some of the testimony from actresses about sexual abuse, leading to a clash with Rousseau, who accused him of making "derogatory remarks".
"When I was an agent, I saw some actresses cross the line a little. You don't go to a hotel with a director," Besnehard said.
Gilles Lellouche, a widely admired French star who voices Obelix in the Asterix films, recounted an experience involving a woman director who tried to "seduce" him.
"I didn't feel violently attacked -- it was things like hands under my shirt. If I had done the same to a woman, it wouldn't have been okay," he said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the premiere episode of her new podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan Markle opened up about a frightening health experience following childbirth-postpartum pre-eclampsia, a rare but serious medical condition that can develop after delivery.
Describing the condition as "so rare" and "so scary," the Duchess of Sussex reflected on the emotional toll it took. "You're still trying to juggle all these things, and the world doesn't know what's happening. Quietly, you're still trying to show up for people," she said. "Mostly, you're trying to show up for your children. But those moments are huge medical scares."
While Meghan did not disclose whether the diagnosis occurred after the birth of her son Archie, 5, or daughter Lilibet, 3, her revelations shed light on a condition that is often overlooked, the BBC reported.
Postpartum pre-eclampsia is linked to high blood pressure and typically occurs within the first week after birth, though it can appear up to six weeks later. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, symptoms can include severe headaches, vision changes, pain under the ribs, vomiting, and sudden swelling in the face, hands, or feet. If left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications such as seizures, stroke, and organ failure.
This candid health confession marks a powerful start to Meghan's podcast journey, following her recent ventures including the Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her new brand As Ever.
With her latest platform, Meghan aims to create a space for honest conversations about womanhood, leadership, and the often-hidden challenges faced by women-including those that unfold long after the cameras are off.
Gujaratis have emerged as a major bloc, even as Punjabis remain a force to be reckoned with in Canada's political sphere, as immigrants of Indian origin steadily gain ground in the North American country which will hold federal elections later this month.
The Indian diaspora in Canada is vibrant and diverse - from Punjabis and Gujaratis, to Bengalis and Malayalis. While most migrants within the Indian-Canadian community are either students or highly-skilled employees, Gujaratis and Punjabis usually have a business background.
Over the last two decades, Punjabis were the only ones who ventured into the political arena, but come 2025, Gujaratis are making a debut. Brampton in Ontario and Calgary in Alberta, both with a sizeable Indian-Canadian population, have emerged as battleground cities as four Gujarati-origin candidates are contesting for parliamentary seats.
Most of the Gujarati-origin candidates are first-generation immigrants. While Punjabis have a clear advantage in terms of numbers, representation, and a history in Canadian politics - from MPs, to ministers, some as senior as a Cabinet rank, Gujaratis have spent decades at the grassroots, laying the groundwork with an enterprising outlook and community service. They have also significantly gained ground in terms of social leadership.
The four Gujarati-origin Indian-Canadians contesting in Canada's 45th federal election, scheduled on April 28, 2025 are Jayesh Brahmbhatt, Sunjiv Raval, Ashok Patel, and Minesh Patel.
Jayesh Brahmbhatt, contesting the parliamentary election from Brampton Chinguacousy Park, moved from India to Canada in 2001. A civil engineer by profession, Mr Brahmbhatt went on to become a successful real estate developer in Canada. Living in Canada for almost quarter of a century now, he ventured into politics and has been given a ticket by the People's Party.
Speaking to Times of India, he said, "We stand for freedom, responsibility, fairness and respect for all, and somewhere it resonates with me", adding that he is confident of a win in the upcoming polls. "I have spoken to a lot of people, and they seek change from this election," he said.
Acknowledging the rise of the Indian community and regional sub-communities in Canada, Mr Brahmbhatt said, "Political parties in Canada are now identifying Indians as an important community in the political arena, and sub-groups such as Gujaratis are making the most of this opportunity to be represented and be heard."
Sunjiv Raval, another Gujarati-origin Indian-Canadian, is contesting the parliamentary election from Calgary Midnapore. He has been given a ticket by the Liberal Party of Canada. Mr Raval is a successful businessman who owns a chain of stores. Since moving to Calgary more than 20 years ago, he has been actively involved in community work and has represented several Indian community groups.
Acknowledging the cost of living issue much talked about by Canadians, Mr Raval said, "We are fighting on issues faced by the middle class, who have been demanding better infrastructure and sports facilities, affordable housing and work opportunities for all." He added that the other political issue - immigration - requires a balanced approach. "The country needs immigrants, but there must be a balance. We hope to restore it with the right policies. We have a voice now," he said.
The third person of Gujarati descent contesting the Canadian election this month is Ashok Patel. He and Minesh Patel, the fourth Gujarati entering Canadian politics, are contesting as Independent candidates. While Ashok Patel is contesting from Edmonton Sherwood, Minesh Patel has filed his nomination papers from Calgary Skyview. Both are from a business background and are now looking to serve fellow Canadians by becoming lawmakers.
The Conservative Party of Canada had picked a fifth Gujarati as one of their candidates briefly. His name is Don Patel, a successful realtor from Gujarat's Anand. He was considered for a ticket from Etobicoke North, but didn;t make the final cut.
This marks a massive shift in Indian community representation in Canada. From being dominated by Punjabis, the rise of Gujaratis in Canada's political landscape has led to diversity in representation, thereby giving the Canadian voters a greater choice. Gujaratis are not replacing or competing with Punjabis, but are adding to the Indian community's political base. It is also a welcome move as culturally diverse values will now shape policy.
Speaking to Times of India about the rise of Gujaratis in Canada's politics, Hemant Shah, the Director of International Trade at Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), said he saw this coming. It isn't a surprise, he added. "Canada is home to more than 1 lakh Gujaratis. The community is present in almost all major cities, but more so in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver. Many came to the country as immigrants whereas many more arrived as students and settled here. I have been in Canada for over four decades now, and in this election, we are perhaps witnessing the highest number of candidates of Gujarati origin. Irrespective of their win, it is a significant step in ensuring representation of the community, which is the second largest after Punjabis," he said.
The Punjabi representation in Canadian politics has been known for a while now. Some of prominent names include Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party and the first Sikh leader to head a party in Canada; Anita Anand, who is currently the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry; Kamal Khera, the current Minister of Health; Sukh Dhaliwal, a Liberal Party MP, and Bardish Chagger, the former minister of diversity, inclusion, and youth.
The Indian Navy's frontline warship INS Trikand sprang into action to provide urgent medical assistance to a Pakistani crew member in the Central Arabian Sea. As per the Navy, the incident occurred on Friday (April 4) when the stealth frigate, currently deployed on a mission in the region, intercepted a distress call from an Iranian fishing dhow named Al Omeedi.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, becoming the first foreign leader to personally plead for a reprieve from stinging US tariffs that have shaken the world.
Netanyahu and Trump are also set to discuss Gaza, where a short-lived US-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas has collapsed, and growing tensions with Iran.
Trump greeted Netanyahu outside the West Wing and pumped his fist, before the two leaders -- both wearing dark suits, red ties and white shirts -- went inside for a meeting in the Oval Office.
A planned press conference between the two leaders was canceled at short notice without explanation in an unusual move. During his last visit, Netanyahu and Trump both spoke to reporters in the Oval and then held a press conference.
The Israeli premier's visit is his second to Trump since the US president returned to power and comes at short notice -- just days after Trump slapped a 17 percent tariff on Israel in his "Liberation Day" announcement last week.
Trump refused to exempt the top beneficiary of US military aid from his global tariff salvo as he said Washington had a significant trade deficit with Israel.
Netanyahu said on his way to Washington on Sunday that they would discuss "the hostages, achieving victory in Gaza, and of course the tariff regime that has also been imposed on Israel."
"I'm the first international leader, the first foreign leader who will meet with President Trump on a matter so crucial to Israel's economy," he said in a video statement.
"There is a long line of leaders who want to do this. I believe this reflects the special personal relationship and the unique bond between the United States and Israel, which is so vital at this time."
Netanyahu met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Sunday night soon after his arrival, according to his office.
The Israeli premier also met Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday.
Trump told reporters on Sunday that "We're going to talk about trade, and we're going to talk about the obvious subject."
"There's a lot of things going on with the Middle East right now that have to be silenced," he added.
Attack on paramedics
Israel's war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack, and the fate of the Israeli and US hostages still held in Gaza will be a major subject of discussion.
Israel resumed intense strikes on Gaza on March 18, and the weeks-long ceasefire with Hamas that the United States, Egypt and Qatar had brokered collapsed.
Trump has so far backed Israel to the hilt, accusing Hamas of failing to release the hostages.
The United States has also brushed off an incident in which 15 medics and rescuers were killed by Israeli forces last month in Gaza, sparking international condemnation.
Israel's army chief on Monday ordered a "deeper" investigation into the attack.
France's President Emmanuel Macron said Monday he had organized a call to Trump with the leaders of Egypt and Jordan during a visit to Cairo, with the leaders also calling for an immediate return to the truce.
The leaders also insisted that the Palestinian Authority alone must be in charge of the post-war governance of the Gaza Strip -- rejecting Trump's plan for the US to "own" the enclave after the war.
On Iran, Trump has been pressing for "direct talks" with Tehran on a new deal to curb the Islamic republic's nuclear program.
But Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said Tehran's proposal for indirect negotiations was "generous, responsible and wise."
There has been widespread speculation that Israel, possibly with US help, might attack Iranian facilities if no agreement is reached.
Netanyahu arrived direct from a visit to Hungary where Prime Minister Viktor Orban pulled his country out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) because the court issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over the Gaza war.
Both leaders also spoke by phone with Trump on Thursday.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Anti-Trump protests: Angry protesters rallied against US President Donald Trump and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, on Saturday in several American cities. Crowds of people gathered to protest against the way Trump is running the country. The protesters, dubbed 'Hands Off' demonstrators, were organised in more than 1,200 locations across all 50 US states by more than 150 groups, which included civil rights organisations, labour unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The rallies remained peaceful with no reports of arrests so far. 
Flooding and tornadoes in the US have claimed 16 lives so far as the South and Midwest in the US faced another round of torrential rain and flash flooding on Saturday, which are already waterlogged by days of severe storms that also spawned deadly tornadoes. Among the 16 dead in weather-related deaths, 10 belong to Tennessee. According to the National Weather Service, dozens of locations in multiple states are likely to reach major flood stage, with extensive flooding of structures, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure possible.
An Indian national was fatally stabbed in Rockland, a town near Canada's capital, Ottawa, the High Commission of India confirmed on Friday. The identity of the victim has not yet been made public. In a post on social media platform X, the Indian High Commission stated, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of an Indian national in Rockland near Ottawa due to a stabbing. Police have stated a suspect has been taken into custody."US tech-billionaire Elon Musk said on Saturday he hoped in future to see complete freedom of trade between the United States and Europe, speaking days after US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on trading partners.
Musk, a Trump adviser who has been working to eliminate wasteful US public spending, spoke via video-link at a congress in Florence of Italy's right-wing, co-ruling League Party.
"At the end of the day, I hope it's agreed that both Europe and the United States should move ideally, in my view, to a zero tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America," Musk said.
Under Trump's plans announced on Wednesday, Italy, which has a large trade surplus with the United States, will be subject to a general tariff of 20% along with other European Union countries.
Interviewed by League leader Matteo Salvini, Musk, who has repeatedly expressed support for right-wing parties across Europe, said he also hoped to see greater freedom of movement between Europe and the United States.
"If people wish to work in Europe or wish to work in North America, they should be allowed to do so in my view," Musk said, adding that this "has certainly been my advice to the president."
Musk, who has been close in the past to Italy's rightist Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers of Italy party, has also expressed support for Salvini's League.
Both groups have a hard-right agenda based on law-and-order, tax cuts and cracking down on irregular immigration.
Italy's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who is from the League, said earlier on Saturday the government wanted "de-escalation" with the US following Trump's tariff announcement, and warned against imposing retaliatory tariffs.
Musk last month expressed gratitude to Salvini after the League chief said Italy should pick his Starlink company to obtain a system for satellite communications.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
China's state-run media has taken to the internet with AI-generated videos, featuring dancing robots and fraught consumers, to chide US.President Donald Trump and tariffs they say threaten high inflation and economic distress for Americans.
"'Liberation Day', you promised us the stars. But tariffs killed our cheap Chinese cars," an automated female voice sings in a video on the website of China's CGTN, a state-run English-language broadcaster, over a shot of a woman at a kitchen table staring at an empty fork.
The two-minute, 42-second clip, referring to Trump's use of "Liberation Day" for the day of his tariff announcement, was captioned with a warning: "Track is AI-generated. The debt crisis? 100 percent human-made."
Another video posted on the X.com page of state-run news agency Xinhua, also generated by artificial intelligence, shows a robot named TARIFF that chooses to self-destruct rather than follow its creator's orders for high tariffs that bring "trade wars and unrest".
China has sharply criticised the US tariffs, which have triggered the biggest stock market rout since the pandemic, and retaliated on Friday with import duties and export curbs of its own.
Economists say consumers are likely to see higher prices due to the trade war and that the US economy could enter a downturn, while some US trade partners are putting their own levies on American products - effects that Trump has called a "disturbance".
The CGTN video, which displays lyrics in English and Chinese over images of car factories and humanoid robots dancing in burned-out streets, makes a more dire assessment.
"You taxed each truck, you taxed each tire. Midwest burnin' in your dumpster fire," the automated voice sings.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the sidelines of the 2025 BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit in Bangkok. The two leaders held productive talks, focused on strengthening the multifaceted bilateral relationship between India and Nepal.
In what can be seen as India's response to Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus' remarks on northeast states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his meeting with the Chief Advisor, underlined that any rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided. He also emphasised that strict enforcement of the law and prevention of illegal border crossing, especially at night, is necessary for maintaining border stability and security, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.The first week of April was always going to be a big one for Donald Trump with his much-hyped announcement on global tariffs -- but that was just one part of another frenetic seven days at the White House.
Tariffs and penguin memes
Unveiling the new tariffs in the White House garden, Donald Trump held up a table of figures that the world strained to read.
Alongside China, India and EU were unexpected names such as the Heard and McDonald Islands, a barren sub-Antarctic Australian territory inhabited by penguins but no humans.
One widely shared meme image showed a penguin in place of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office during his recent spat with the US president and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump-branded golden visa
Donald Trump unveiled the first "gold card," a residency permit to be sold for $5 million each to attract investors and employers to the United States.
Flying on Air Force One, he showed off a prototype that bore his face and an inscription "The Trump Card" and said the special visa would be available with weeks. "Pretty exciting, huh?" he added.
The president has suggested revenue from the visa could be used to reduce the US national deficit, and that one million cards may be for sale.
A 25-hour anti-Trump speech
A Democratic lawmaker shattered the record for the longest speech in Senate history, staying on his feet for 25 hours and 5 minutes to deliver a fiery, if long-winded, protest against Donald Trump.
Senator Cory Booker's endurance -- to hold the floor he had to remain standing and could not even go to the bathroom -- beat Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
"This is a moral moment. It's not left or right. It's right or wrong," Booker said as he wrapped up, adding "I'm going to deal with some of the biological urgencies I'm feeling."
Musk to return to the day job?
Elon Musk made a failed effort -- including cash giveaways and personal appearances -- to swing a vote to choose a Wisconsin Supreme Court judge.
Elon Musk has led Donald Trump's efforts to slash federal government, but his days of taking a starring role at cabinet meetings were reported to soon be over as he is set to return to Tesla, SpaceX and his many other interests.
Factors in play could be Tesla's slumping sales, friction with other Trump officials and his rather public setback in Wisconsin.
'Free Le Pen' says Trump
Donald Trump rallied to defend French far-right leader Marine Le Pen after she was found guilty of embezzlement and banned from running for public office for five years.
She had been seen as a leading candidate in the 2027 presidential election "and now, just before what would be a Big Victory, they get her on a minor charge," Donald Trump said.
"It is all so bad for France, and the Great French People, no matter what side they are on. FREE MARINE LE PEN!"
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
India's new envoy to Israel, JP Singh, received a unique welcome from the Israeli Foreign Ministry earlier this week as it organised the screening of the movie 'The Diplomat', which is based on a real crisis that India's new envoy was involved in solving. Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, met Singh and wished him a successful tenure ahead. The Israeli Foreign Minister expressed regret over his inability to watch the movie, as he got an urgent call from the Prime Minister's office.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, sat side by side during the official dinner hosted by the Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for the visiting Heads of States and Head of Governments on Thursday attending the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok.
The official X handle of Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh posted screen grabs of both leaders sitting side by side at the dinner table as the Thai PM welcomed the BIMSTEC leaders.
Local media in Bangladesh quoted Chief Advisor's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad as saying that both leaders "met each other" during the official dinner.
The interim government has been keen on holding first-ever bilateral talks between the two leaders on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok.
The BIMSTEC chairmanship will be officially handed over to Bangladesh on Friday.
Chief Advisor's High Representative on Rohingya and Priority Issues Khalilur Rahman said on Wednesday that the leaders of BIMSTEC member states will discuss their future works with Yunus and there is a scope to hold the meeting between Yunus and PM Narendra Modi.
"We requested India to hold this talk (between the leaders of two countries)...there is enough possibility of holding this meeting," Rahman said, addressing a press briefing in Bangladesh ahead of the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand.
Last week, PM Modi had written a letter to Yunus on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh, highlighting the significance of mutual sensitivity while referring to the Bangladesh Liberation War as a "shared history".
"We remain committed to advancing this partnership, driven by our common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity, and based on mutual sensitivity to each other's interests and concerns," wrote PM Modi.
New Delhi has been worried about the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh under the current interim government. The Yunis regime has been criticised severely for acquitting extremist elements and exonerating many Islamists since the fall of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
"We support a stable, peaceful, inclusive and progressive Bangladesh in which all issues are resolved through democratic means and by holding inclusive and participatory elections. We remain concerned about the deteriorating law and order situation, which has further been exacerbated by the release of violent extremists who were sentenced for serious crimes," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has stated on several occasions.
As Bangladesh slid into abyss following the fall of Awami League government, the Yunus-led regime has been accused of giving a free hand to the Islamist forces in the country and also relaxing comprehensively the policy of mandatory security clearance required for Pakistani citizens seeking visas, thus facilitating easy return of many notorious terror suspects who had earlier fled to the safe havens in Pakistan.
With no end still in sight to attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, particularly on members belonging to the Hindu and Ahmadiyya communities, the MEA has repeatedly highlighted the serious issue and the interim government's botched up investigations that have so far been just an eyewash.
"We have repeatedly underlined that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus and other minorities, as well as their properties and religious institutions. As seen so far, only 1254 out of 2374 reported incidents between August 5, 2024, and February 16, 2025, have been verified by the police. Further, 98 per cent of these 1254 incidents were deemed political in nature. We expect Bangladesh to thoroughly investigate and bring all perpetrators of killings, arson, and violence to justice without making such distinctions," the MEA spokesperson has mentioned in the past.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain in Muscat, conveyed that it is important that Bangladesh should not normalise terrorism.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Canada said it would impose a 25 percent tariff on some autos imported from the United States, retaliating against President Donald Trump's levies that came into affect on Thursday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced "25 percent tariffs on all vehicles imported from the United States that are not compliant with CUSMA," using the Canadian acronym for an existing North America free trade agreement.
Carney did not immediately offer detail on how many vehicles could be impacted by Canada's retaliation, but called his response "focused and calibrated."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Matt Whitaker confirmed as Trump's NATO ambassador: The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed Matt Whitaker as the US President Donald Trump's US ambassador to NATO. The development gains as Trump remains sceptical towards the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, as he asks other countries to contribute a greater share of their budgets to their own defence, rather than relying on the US. During a confirmation hearing, Whitaker assured senators that the Trump administration's commitment to the military alliance was “ironclad”.
In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar, leaving destruction in its wake across Mandalay and the Sagaing region, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has stepped in with critical support. Through its advanced satellite technology, ISRO has provided invaluable insights into the scale of the damage. The Cartosat-3 satellite, launched to capture high-resolution images, has been instrumental in documenting the aftermath, offering detailed before-and-after visuals of key landmarks and infrastructure. These satellite images have allowed authorities to better assess the situation, plan rescue efforts, and direct relief where it is most urgently needed.French far-right leader Marine Le Pen insisted Tuesday that her movement could still win 2027 presidential elections after she was banned from standing for office as part of an embezzlement conviction.
She was given a prison term and fine on Monday after being convicted of a fake jobs scheme at the EU parliament, a verdict that sparked an international echo including from US President Donald Trump.
But the most serious part of the conviction was a five-year ban -- effective immediately -- on standing for office, which eliminates her from the race.
Addressing her lawmakers on Tuesday, Le Pen, who considered herself the favourite in the 2027 election where President Emmanuel Macron cannot stand again, accused "the system" of rolling out "the nuclear bomb" in a bid to end her presidential hopes.
"If they use such a powerful weapon against us, it's obviously because we're about to win an election," said Le Pen, 56. "We won't let this happen."
Le Pen has said she will appeal the "political decision", though a new trial is not expected to take place for at least a year.
Should that fail, there is also a "plan B", a candidacy by her protege and RN party leader Jordan Bardella, a 29-year-old with a slick television and social media presence.
'Leading candidate'
Le Pen's conviction sparked angry reactions from far-right figures across Europe but also from the Kremlin, X owner Elon Musk and Trump, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed concern.
"She was banned from running for five years and she is the leading candidate. That sounds like this country," said Trump, comparing her conviction to the "lawfare" he says was waged against him before becoming president.
But the French government and prosecutors hit out against attacks on the judiciary and in particular against Benedicte de Perthuis, 63, the judge specialised in financial crimes who issued the verdict.
Analysts said the court decision could deepen France's political crisis. Her National Rally (RN), which is the largest single party in parliament, can complicate life for Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who does not have a majority in the lower-house National Assembly.
"Guilty," French daily Liberation said on its front page, calling the ruling a "political earthquake".
"No one is untouchable: she made a mistake, she must pay for it," Nathanael Fichou, a waiter, said in the southern port of Marseille.
Nicole Prolhac, 78, said she was "annoyed" because Le Pen represented millions of French voters.
"But can we let someone who has committed embezzlement lead the country?"
'Wounded, not dead'
Bardella said the party would seek to organise "peaceful" rallies this weekend.
Speaking to Europe 1 radio, Bardella said that Le Pen had been judged with "brutality and violence" and that her only mistake was to "have the capacity to take the national camp to victory".
"Everything will be done to prevent us from coming to power," he said.
He added that the situation could boost the fortunes of the RN.
"I tell the French do not lose hope. I think that what is happening will make millions of people who do not vote for the RN, vote for the RN," he said.
"We are wounded. But we are far from being dead."
'Not a political decision'
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin denounced "unacceptable" threats made against the judges while France's prosecutor general Remy Heitz said the verdict was "not a political decision but a legal one".
Le Pen took over the former National Front (FN) from her father Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2011 and has since sought to clean up its image. Her father, who died in January, was often accused of making racist and anti-Semitic comments.
After three unsuccessful presidential campaigns in 2012, 2017 and 2022, polls had shown Le Pen to be on course to easily top the first round with a chance of winning the presidency in the second round run-off.
She was given a four-year prison term by the Paris court. Two years were suspended and the other two would be served outside jail with an electronic bracelet.
Le Pen was convicted for a scheme where the party was found to have eased the pressure on its own finances by using European Parliament monthly allowances to pay "fictitious" parliamentary assistants, who actually worked for the party.
Twenty-four people -- including Le Pen -- were convicted, all of them RN party officials or assistants.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)