Leaders from the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, and Italy expressed their condolences and condemned the terrorist attack in Kashmir that claimed 26 lives. US President Donald Trump pledged support to India in the fight against terrorism and offered prayers for the victims and their families. Russia President Vladimir Putin promised to bring those responsible to justice. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italy President Giorgia Meloni also expressed their sympathies and support for India.
US Vice President JD Vance has declared that the US and India have officially finalized terms for the trade negotiation during his address to a gathering in Jaipur. This move is seen as a vital step towards realizing the goal set by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi to reach a $500-billion annual bilateral trade target within the next five years. The two countries are currently in talks to strike a trade deal before the 90-day pause imposed by Trump ends, but are hopeful of reaching an agreement before the deadline. Vance also highlighted the two countries' shared priorities of creating jobs, building supply chains, and achieving prosperity for their respective workers, as well as their close military relationship.
Gold prices have reached a historic high, surpassing Rs 1 lakh per 10 gm in India and $3,400 per troy ounce in New York due to escalating global market uncertainty caused by Trump's plans to revamp the Federal Reserve. The US dollar, which was already weakened due to the ongoing US-China trade war, suffered further losses as Trump criticized Fed chief Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates. The surge in gold prices is also fueled by geopolitical tensions, central bank demand, and inflation concerns, making it the preferred safe-haven asset for investors.
President Donald Trump has taken to the social media platform Truth Social and issued a White House statement recognizing the importance of Holy Week and Easter for Christians. He wished believers a happy holiday and called for the protection of religious liberty in public policy. Trump also reflected on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and the promise of everlasting life through his resurrection.
After finalizing the terms of reference for the bilateral trade agreement, India's delegation is set to visit Washington, D.C next week to iron out any issues before beginning official negotiations. The trade pact between India and the US is aimed at boosting bilateral trade from the current $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030. The negotiations will be led by Rajesh Agrawal, who is expected to become India's next Commerce Secretary. Discussions on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) also took place during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to meet US President Donald Trump. Both countries are working towards developing the project that will connect India, GCC, Israel, Italy, and the US, and is said to be one of the biggest economic integration and connectivity projects of the century.
As President Donald Trump addresses a group of faith leaders at a recent prayer service and dinner, he reaffirms his commitment to preserving America's Christian values. In his speech, Trump touts his accomplishments in line with Christian beliefs and vows to never let the country's motto of "In God We Trust" be changed. He also takes a swipe at previous administrations for not standing up for persecuted Christians around the world, promising that things will be different under his leadership.
In the latest clash between the Trump administration and higher education, Harvard University has been hit with a freeze in federal funding of $2.2 billion. This comes after the university rejected a list of demands from the White House to crack down on anti-Semitism on campus. Despite the warning, Harvard's president has vowed to defy the government and protect the university's independence and constitutional rights. The Trump administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism responded with a statement announcing the hold on funding and contracts.
The United States and China are locked in a high-stakes trade war, with tensions reaching a new peak on Thursday. Trump has raised tariffs to 125 percent on Chinese imports, while China’s tariffs on US imports went into effect. Both sides show no signs of backing down, raising concerns about a global recession and the potential economic fallout.
The world is bracing for a potentially devastating trade war between the US and China after President Trump threatened to impose tariffs of over 100 per cent on Chinese goods. This has sparked concerns of a global recession and could lead to a more divided world. While China has vowed to fight back, experts fear the US's aggressive actions could ultimately backfire and hurt its own economy. Despite mounting pressure, Trump shows no signs of backing down as he continues to escalate the tariff threats.
Chinese officials have responded to Vice President JD Vance's recent comments on the Trump administration's tariffs, denying the claim that the US borrows money from Chinese peasants to buy goods manufactured by Chinese peasants. Vance made the remark while discussing the effects of the tariffs, stating that the US economy is based on incurring huge amounts of debt to import goods from other countries. Chinese officials called Vance's words lacking in knowledge and respect.