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Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia to begin ambitious Asia-Pacific tour

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Jakarta, Indonesia (Reuters) – Dozens of excited Indonesians waved on Tuesday as a motorcade carried Pope Francis through the capital as he began the first leg of an ambitious Asia-Pacific tour expected to urge global action on climate change as part of his longest trip yet.


The 87-year-old pontiff, who will also visit East Timor, Singapore and Papua New Guinea over the next 10 days, was seated in a wheelchair as a lift disembarked him from a chartered aircraft at Jakarta airport.


READ MORE : Pope Francis meets at Vatican with relatives of Israeli hostages and Palestinians living in Gaza

Two children in traditional clothes presented a bouquet of local produce before the pope was greeted by Indonesia’s religious affairs minister, its Vatican envoy and several of its bishops on a red carpet flanked by honour guards.
Francis then drove off in a waiting car, waving and smiling. As his motorcade passed through Jakarta towards the Vatican embassy, where he is staying, small crowds of people were seen waving excitedly.

“I’m so happy, I feel so blessed,” said Enny Rahail, 52, who travelled 3,000 km (1,860 miles) to Jakarta from her home in southeast Maluku before standing for two hours in mid-day heat to wave to the pope outside the embassy.
“As Indonesians we are happy because the Catholic leader comes to our country,” said Enny, who called Francis an “advocate for peace” and said she cried as the pope arrived.
The ageing pope was not set to attend any public events on Tuesday, to allow him time for rest after the 13-hour overnight flight from Rome.

Pope Francis waves at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport during his apostolic visit to Asia, in Tangerang near Jakarta, Indonesia, September 3, 2024. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawa

But shortly after arriving at the embassy, Francis held an informal meeting with a group of refugees living in Indonesia.
The Vatican gave few details, but said the group included persons from Somalia, Sri Lanka and members of the persecuted Rohingya minority from Myanmar.
The pontiff is set to travel nearly 33,000 km (21,000 miles)on the 12 days of the Asia-Pacific tour, before he arrives back in Rome late in the evening of Sept. 13.
At the beginning of his flight to Jakarta, Francis spent roughly half an hour individually greeting the accompanying journalists, leaning on a cane as he walked slowly around the back of the aircraft, chatting and shaking hands.

He offered only a few words about the trip, saying the coming days would represent his longest voyage abroad.

DIVINE BLESSINGS

Francis, who is not only the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics but also the Vatican’s head of state, wired customary greetings to every country he crossed on the way to Indonesia, including Iran, India, Pakistan and Turkey.
He offered prayers of peace, hopes for prosperity, or divine blessings, in messages varying with each country.
An address to Indonesia’s political leaders on Wednesday will be the pope’s first official event. The following day, he will participate in an inter-religious meeting at Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque.
Francis, who pushed for the 2015 Paris climate pact, is expected to continue voicing appeals to confront the dangers of a warming globe.
Jakarta, the Indonesian capital home to at least 10 million people, is vulnerable to climate change, as it tackles chronic flooding and sinking land. The government is building a new capital, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo.
Just 3% of a population of about 280 million is Catholic in Indonesia, which is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
“This is a very historic visit,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo told reporters before the pope’s arrival, offering Francis a warm welcome on a long-planned visit that had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Indonesia and the Vatican have a similar commitment to cultivate peace and brotherhood as well as ensure prosperity for the people.”
(This story has been refiled to add the dropped word ‘who’ in paragraph 5)


Reporting by Joshua McElwee and Stanley Widianto; Additional reporting by Willy Kurniawan, Ananda Teresia and Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez FOR Reuters

Netanyahu Meets Trump at White House, Seeks Tariff Relief Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

Washington, D.C.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, becoming the first foreign leader to personally appeal for relief from sweeping new American tariffs that have roiled global markets.

The visit, arranged on short notice, comes just days after Trump imposed a 17% tariff on Israeli goods as part of his “Liberation Day” trade overhaul—a move that surprised many given Israel’s status as a top U.S. ally and the largest recipient of American military aid.

Netanyahu’s arrival marks his second meeting with Trump since the U.S. president returned to office. The two leaders, dressed nearly identically in dark suits, red ties, and white shirts, were seen exchanging greetings outside the West Wing before heading into the Oval Office for closed-door talks.

Tariffs, Gaza, and Iran on the Table

While the central topic of discussion is expected to be trade, the leaders are also grappling with the fallout from the collapsed ceasefire in Gaza and growing tension with Iran. A previously planned joint press conference was abruptly canceled without explanation—a sharp departure from their usual post-meeting format.

Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu said the trip would focus on “the hostages, victory in Gaza, and of course the tariff regime that has now been imposed on Israel.”

“I’m the first international leader to meet with President Trump on such a critical issue for Israel’s economy,” he said in a video statement. “There is a long line of world leaders waiting. This reflects the special relationship between our nations.”

High-Level Talks and Diplomatic Maneuvering

On Sunday night, shortly after arriving in Washington, Netanyahu met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. On Monday, he also held talks with Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

Trump told reporters that the meeting would address “trade, and the obvious subject,” alluding to broader Middle East instability. “There’s a lot going on right now that has to be silenced,” he added.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had arranged a call with Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah to push for the immediate restoration of the Gaza ceasefire. The leaders also emphasized that the Palestinian Authority must govern the post-war Gaza Strip—rejecting Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. assume control.

Iran Looms Large

Iran remains a key point of contention. Trump has renewed calls for “direct talks” with Tehran on a new nuclear deal, but Iranian officials have rejected the proposal, instead offering what they describe as a “generous and responsible” plan for indirect negotiations.

Amid rising tensions, there is growing international speculation that Israel—possibly with U.S. support—could launch strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails.

Controversy at the ICC

Netanyahu arrived in Washington following a visit to Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Hungary’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. The move came in protest of the ICC’s recent arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza—a charge Israel has strongly denied.

The Israeli premier’s visit underscores the complex web of diplomacy, trade, and conflict now converging in Washington, as both leaders navigate domestic pressures and global challenges.


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King Charles and Queen Camilla Arrive in Italy for Official State Visit

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Rome, ItalyKing Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Italy on Monday for a four-day state visit, marking the British monarch’s first overseas trip of the year and a significant diplomatic moment as he continues treatment for cancer.

The royal couple’s visit—Charles’ 17th official trip to Italy—comes at a poignant time, coinciding with their 20th wedding anniversary. The King and Queen were married on April 9, 2005, in a ceremony that followed years of public attention and occurred just a day after Charles, then Prince of Wales, paid his respects at Pope John Paul II’s funeral in Vatican City.

Now, two decades later, they return to Rome not only as husband and wife but as sovereign and consort, blending statecraft with personal celebration.

Address to Parliament Highlights Diplomatic Agenda

A central highlight of the visit will be King Charles’ address to the Italian Parliament—a rare moment of royal oratory aimed at reaffirming the United Kingdom’s enduring ties with Italy. The King, who ascended the throne in November 2022, has scaled back many public duties due to his health challenges but remains steadfast in advancing diplomatic relations and cultural exchange.

The royal itinerary is expected to include meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as cultural engagements that underscore the shared history and contemporary partnership between the UK and Italy.

Symbolism Amid Global Instability

The royal visit arrives at a moment of heightened global tension, following a week of market volatility and mounting geopolitical friction. Against this backdrop, the presence of the British monarch in Italy offers a dose of continuity, ceremony, and tradition—a symbolic anchor in a rapidly shifting world.

Buckingham Palace has emphasized that the trip will be conducted at a measured pace, allowing for the King’s health needs while maintaining the formal significance of the engagement.

A Personal and Public Journey

As the King and Queen embark on this latest chapter of their international role, their arrival in Rome blends the personal with the political—a testament to resilience, diplomacy, and the enduring power of royal symbolism.


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Dimon Issues Trade War Warning After Wall Street Executives Meet with Commerce Chief Lutnick

New York, USA — JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) CEO Jamie Dimon warned Monday that escalating trade wars could deliver lasting blows to the U.S. economy, stoking inflation, slowing growth, and jeopardizing America’s global alliances.

The stark caution, detailed in his annual shareholder letter, followed a brutal market rout last week that erased trillions from global stocks and came days after he and other banking titans pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on the administration’s sweeping new tariffs.

RELATED NEWS : Markets in Europe sink 6% following Asia’s collapse, sparking renewed global recession fears

The tariffs—a 10% baseline on all imports, with sharper levies aimed at China and the EU—were unveiled last week by President Donald Trump, sparking immediate backlash. On Thursday, Dimon, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, and other Wall Street leaders met Lutnick in Washington, hosted by the Financial Services Forum, to probe the policy’s fallout, a source familiar with the meeting said. Lutnick defended Trump’s plan to “bring wealth back to America,” but faced pointed questions as markets spiraled—Hong Kong’s Hang Seng crashed 13.22% Monday, and U.S. futures sank 4%.

“The quicker this resolves, the better—negative effects compound over time and become harder to unwind,” Dimon, 69, wrote in his letter, published amid growing economic unease. “The economy is facing considerable turbulence (including geopolitics). We are likely to see inflationary outcomes … Whether or not the menu of tariffs causes a recession remains in question, but it will slow down growth.” JPMorgan economists now peg the odds of a U.S. and global recession this year at 60%, up from 40%.

Wall Street Titans Sound Alarm

Dimon wasn’t alone in his concern. Billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman, a Trump backer during the 2024 campaign, warned on X that the tariffs could trigger an “economic nuclear winter” if imposed this week. “We are heading for a self-induced disaster,” Ackman wrote, urging Trump to pause and renegotiate trade deals. He argued the levies would choke business investment, consumer spending, and “severely damage” America’s reputation for years—a rare public break from a former ally.

Elsewhere on Wall Street, major bank CEOs, including Dimon and Moynihan, held an emergency call Sunday to grapple with the tariffs’ repercussions, sources told Reuters. Convened by the Bank Policy Institute, the discussion underscored mounting anxiety among financial leaders as markets braced for more volatility.

Tariffs Threaten Stability

In his letter, Dimon—a towering voice in corporate America—listed a cascade of risks: persistent inflation, high fiscal deficits, volatile asset prices, and shaken economic confidence. He warned of retaliatory measures from trading partners, disruptions to capital flows, and pressure on corporate profits and the dollar. “I am concerned about the United States’ long-term economic alliances,” he added, a nod to fraying geopolitical ties

The tariffs also cloud the outlook for interest rates, Dimon noted. While a weaker dollar has recently pushed rates down, slower growth and fading risk appetite could drive them higher, evoking the stagflation of the 1970s. “We enter this time of uncertainty with high equity and debt prices, even after the recent decline … Markets still seem to be pricing assets with the assumption of a fairly soft landing. I am not so sure,” he wrote, challenging expectations that the U.S. will dodge a recession.

A Chorus of Doubt

Ackman’s dire forecast amplified Dimon’s unease. “Business leaders are losing confidence in Trump,” he wrote, signaling a shift among the president’s one-time supporters. The warnings come as JPMorgan prepares to report first-quarter earnings Friday, following a record profit last year. Dimon, often tapped by policymakers in crises and briefly floated for roles like Treasury secretary in 2024, has stayed at the bank’s helm, wielding outsized influence

As global markets reel—Monday saw Europe’s Stoxx 600 shed 5.7% and Brent crude hit a four-year low of $63 a barrel—pressure mounts on Trump to rethink his trade gambit. With Dimon, Ackman, and Wall Street’s elite ringing alarm bells, the tariff fight risks not just economic turbulence, but a deeper erosion of trust in America’s financial future.


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Over 50 Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks in last 24 hours

Gaza City – Israeli attacks over the past day in different parts of the Gaza Strip caused the death of at least 53 Palestinians, the enclave’s Ministry of Health reported Monday.

In the north of the Strip, Israeli artillery hit the besieged area of Jabalia, killing four people in the Abed Rabbo neighborhood.

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Israeli troops also conducted operations in the northern Gaza City, where an airstrike on a home killed a father and daughter in the Zeitun and Shujaiya neighborhoods. Ten others were killed in another attack.

In the centre of the Strip, the Health Ministry recorded at least ten deaths, five of them in an Israeli attack on a house near the Yafa Hospital in Deir Al Balah.

The southern part of the enclave recorded the most casualties, with about 25 deaths, all of them from Israeli attacks on the city of Khan Younis.

Among those killed in Khan Younis were at least two children that lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes targeting their homes, according to the Health Ministry.

Nearly 500 children have been killed since Israel broke the ceasefire on Mar.18, according to the latest figures updated by the Hamas-held government of the enclave.

Israel also went back to bombing tents housing displaced people in the humanitarian zone of Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, over the past day. 


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Markets in Europe sink 6% following Asia’s collapse, sparking renewed global recession fears

Madrid, Spain — European stock markets cratered on Monday, plunging nearly 6% across major indices, as a global selloff intensified amid fears of a looming worldwide recession and escalating U.S.-China trade tensions.

RELATED NEWS : Asian markets fall as Trump’s tariffs roil global trade

The steep declines followed massive losses in Asia, triggered by Wall Street’s worst day since March 2020. By 09:30 GMT, Milan led Europe’s downturn with a 6.7% drop, trailed by Paris (-6.3%), Frankfurt (-6.19%), and the Euro Stoxx 50 (-6.24%). Madrid’s IBEX 35 fell 5.94%, while London’s FTSE 100 lost 4.86%. The Stoxx 600 slid 5.7%. Though markets clawed back some losses later, technology, industrials, and energy stocks bore the heaviest blows.

Sector Carnage Deepens

The Stoxx 600’s tech, industrials, and energy sectors each shed around 6%. Germany’s Auto1 Group plummeted over 12%, the day’s worst performer, while only Frontline (+1.56%) and Qiagen (+1.27%) ended in the green.

Wall Street’s Ripple Effect

Friday’s U.S. selloff—Dow (-5.5%), S&P 500 (-5.97%), Nasdaq (-5.82%)—set the tone, with futures down 4% Monday. The trigger: China’s retaliation to new U.S. tariffs with a 34% levy on American imports and curbs on rare earth exports. President Trump defended the trade war, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed recession fears as “overstated.”Asia’s Historic Collapse.

Asian Markets Reel from Worst Losses in Years

Asian markets reeled, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng crashing 13.22%—its worst since 2008—and Taiwan logging a record 9.57% drop. Tokyo fell 7.75%, Shanghai 7.34%, Shenzhen 10.79%, Seoul 5.57%, and Sydney 4.23%. Chinese officials hinted at emergency stimulus to stem the bleeding.

Assets in Freefall

The euro slipped to $1.0956, Germany’s 10-year bond yield dropped to 2.457%, Brent crude hit $63 a barrel (down 3.93%), gold dipped to $3,025.50, and Bitcoin fell 3.2% to $76,300.
As volatility grips markets, investors brace for more turbulence, questioning the global economy’s ability to withstand escalating trade and geopolitical shocks.


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Asian markets fall as Trump’s tariffs roil global trade

Hong Kong Asian markets plunged on Monday following last week’s two-day meltdown on Wall Street, and President Donald Trump said he won’t back down on the sweeping new tariffs he announced on April 2 that have roiled global trade.

Countries are scrambling to figure out how to respond to the tariffs, with China and others retaliating quickly.

Trump’s tariff blitz fulfilled a key campaign promise as he acted without Congress to redraw the rules of the international trading system. It was a move decades in the making for Trump, who has long denounced foreign trade deals as unfair to the U.S.

RELATED NEWS : Escalating Trade Tensions Threaten to Overlook the Poor and Vulnerable

The higher rates are set to be collected beginning Wednesday, ushering in a new era of economic uncertainty with no clear end in sight. China projects confidence, saying ‘the sky won’t fall’
Beijing struck a note of confidence on Monday even as markets in Hong Kong and Shanghai tumbled.

“The sky won’t fall. Faced with the indiscriminate punches of U.S. taxes, we know what we are doing and we have tools at our disposal,” wrote The People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official mouthpiece.

China announced a slew of countermeasures on Friday evening aimed at Trump’s tariffs, including its own 34% tariffs on all goods from the U.S. set to go in effect on Wednesday.

Australian dollar drops to levels last seen early in pandemic

The Australian dollar fell below 60 U.S. cents on Monday for the first time since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The drop reflected concerns over the Chinese economy and market expectations for four interest rate cuts in Australia this calendar year, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

“What our modeling shows is that we expect there to be big hits to American growth and Chinese growth and a spike in American inflation as well,” Chalmers said.

“We expect more manageable impacts on the Australian economy, but we still do expect Australian GDP to take a hit and we expect there to be an impact on prices here as well,” he added.

The Trump administration assigned Australia the minimum baseline 10% tariff on imports in the the United States. The U.S. has enjoyed a trade surplus with Australia for decades.

Indian stocks tumble as selling pressure intensifies


Indian stocks fell sharply on Monday, seeing their biggest single-day drop in percentage terms since March 2020 amid the pandemic.

The benchmark BSE Sensex and the Nifty 50 index both dropped about 5% after trading opened but then recovered slightly. Both were later trading down about 4%.

Shipping containers are stored at Bensenville intermodal terminal in Franklin Park, III., Sunday, April 6, 2025. Photo : AP/Nam Y. Huh

Trump says he’s not backing down on tariffs, calls them ‘medicine’ as markets reel
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he won’t back down on his sweeping tariffs on imports from most of the world unless countries even out their trade with the U.S., digging in on his plans to implement the taxes that have sent financial markets reeling, raised fears of a recession and upended the global trading system.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he didn’t want global markets to fall, but also that he wasn’t concerned about the massive sell-off either, adding, “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.”

His comments came as global financial markets appeared on track to continue sharp declines once trading resumes Monday, and after Trump’s aides sought to soothe market concerns by saying more than 50 nations had reached out about launching negotiations to lift the tariffs.

Asian markets plunge as tariff fallout intensifies

week’s two-day meltdown on Wall Street, and U.S. President Donald Trump said he won’t back down on his sweeping tariffs on imports from most of the world unless countries even out their trade with the U.S.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost nearly 8% shortly after the market opened on Monday. By midday, it was down 6%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 9.4%, while the Shanghai Composite index was down 6.2%, and South Korea’s Kospi lost 4.1%.

U.S. futures also signaled further weakness.

Market observers expect investors will face more wild swings in the days and weeks to come, with a short-term resolution to the trade war appearing unlikely.


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Kurdish Fighters Withdraw from Aleppo Under Deal with Syrian Transitional Government

Aleppo, Syria Around 500 fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew from the northern city of Aleppo on Friday, marking the beginning of a phased pullout under a negotiated agreement with Syria’s transitional government.

Local officials confirmed that the remaining SDF fighters are expected to leave in the coming days, pending the completion of a prisoner exchange.

“The prisoner swap will be carried out in two phases in the coming days. After that, the Kurdish forces will completely withdraw from Aleppo’s neighborhoods,” said Mohamed Arhim, spokesperson for Aleppo’s newly established city administration.

The agreement, finalized earlier this week, stipulates a full SDF withdrawal from the predominantly Kurdish districts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. These areas, long controlled by Kurdish forces, are geographically isolated from the SDF’s main strongholds in eastern Syria.

On Friday, the transition of authority officially began, with the first convoy of Kurdish fighters departing the city and heading east of the Euphrates River under the supervision of the Syrian Ministry of Defense. “The neighborhoods will now be administered by the General Security Forces and the Ministry of Interior,” Arhim added.

Temporary Arrangement Reflects Shifting Power Dynamics

The withdrawal comes after years of strained relations between Kurdish factions and the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in December. The country’s transitional authority took over governance at the end of March.

Both Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh have witnessed repeated clashes and sieges over the past decade, emblematic of the broader conflict between Kurdish forces and state-aligned militias.

Zana Amedi, a spokesperson for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), confirmed the retreat via social media.

“Our forces are leaving Aleppo, handing over the areas to our allies in the Asayish,” Amedi posted on X, referring to the Kurdish internal security force. A video accompanying the post showed YPG and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) vehicles exiting the city to applause from local residents.

Although full security control will ultimately be handed to Damascus, the transitional agreement permits the Asayish to maintain two operational centers within the neighborhoods. A joint committee has been tasked with evaluating future governance structures in the area.

The first phase of the prisoner exchange took place on Thursday, with Kurdish sources reporting that 146 SDF-affiliated detainees and 97 government-aligned prisoners were released.

Just two weeks ago, the SDF and Syria’s transitional authorities reached a broader political agreement aimed at ending years of division, including the integration of some Kurdish fighters into state institutions.

Understanding Syria’s Kurds

The Kurds are a stateless ethnic group spread across Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. In Syria, they are primarily concentrated in the northeast, where they established a semi-autonomous administration following the outbreak of the civil war in 2011.

The SDF—backed by the United States during the campaign against the Islamic State—is a multi-ethnic coalition largely made up of Kurdish fighters from the YPG and YPJ.

The withdrawal from Aleppo marks a pivotal shift in Kurdish strategy and could reshape the balance of power in northern Syria amid an ongoing political transition.

While they gained international recognition for defeating ISIS, relations with Damascus remained tense due to their demands for autonomy.

The recent agreement marks a significant shift in Syria’s political landscape as the new transitional government works to restore centralized authority and end over a decade of fragmentation.

Syrian Foreign Minister Assad-al-Shaibani expressed hope that growing international support for the new administration would lead to the lifting of long-standing sanctions.

“There is hope these unjust sanctions will be lifted, allowing Syria to rebuild and recover,” he said earlier this week.

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Modi’s Visit to Sri Lanka Strengthens Bilateral Ties with Key Defense and Energy Deals

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Colombo, Sri Lanka — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reinforced New Delhi’s growing influence in Sri Lanka by inaugurating the construction of a joint solar power plant and overseeing the signing of key defense and energy agreements during a high-level visit to Colombo.

The visit marks a significant step in consolidating India’s position in the island nation, which has seen growing Chinese involvement in recent years. Sri Lanka’s location along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes gives it strategic importance in the Indian Ocean region—an area India considers vital to its national interests.

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During his visit, Modi met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The two leaders jointly inaugurated, via video link, the groundbreaking of a 120-megawatt solar power plant funded by India. The project, a bilateral joint venture, symbolizes deepening cooperation in sustainable energy and infrastructure development.

The agreements signed span both energy collaboration and defense cooperation, signaling a shift toward greater strategic alignment between the two nations. While details of the defense deals remain under wraps, analysts view them as part of India’s broader push to counterbalance China’s influence in South Asia.

China has invested heavily in Sri Lanka over the past decade, funding large-scale infrastructure projects through billions of dollars in loans. However, Sri Lanka’s economic collapse in 2022 reshaped its geopolitical orientation, providing India an opportunity to step in with substantial financial aid and diplomatic support.

Still, Sri Lanka continues to rely on China for loan restructuring and long-term financial negotiations—making Colombo’s balancing act between the regional powers a delicate one.

Members of the Frontline Socialist Party shout anti Indian slogans during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Sri Lankan state visit in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, April 5, 2025. : Photo : AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Modi’s visit, however, is seen as a clear message: India is ready to play a leading role in Sri Lanka’s recovery and development, and to forge stronger ties grounded in mutual strategic interests.

Sri Lanka, grappling with a severe power crisis in 2022 due to unpaid oil and coal imports for its electricity plants, is now pushing to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Against this backdrop, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed new agreements on defense and security cooperation with Sri Lanka during a recent bilateral meeting.

Modi highlighted the joint commitment to enhance security in the Indian Ocean through the Colombo Security Conclave, a regional grouping that includes Bangladesh, Maldives, and Mauritius. “I am grateful to President Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India’s interests,” Modi said. “We share interconnected and co-dependent security interests.”

Emphasizing India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy,” Modi underscored Sri Lanka’s special role and India’s support during its past struggles. “We have fulfilled our duties as a truly friendly neighbor,” he added, signaling deeper collaboration ahead.


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Microsoft Employees Stage Pro-Palestinian Protest at 50th Anniversary Party Over Israel Contract

Redmond, Washington – A pro-Palestinian protest by Microsoft employees disrupted the company’s 50th anniversary celebration Friday, marking the latest backlash against the tech industry’s role in supplying artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military.

The demonstration unfolded during a high-profile event at Microsoft’s headquarters, attended by co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella—the first joint public appearance of the trio since 2014.

The protest erupted as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman presented product updates and a long-term vision for the company’s AI assistant, Copilot. Employee Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted the speech, walking toward the stage and shouting, “Mustafa, shame on you! You claim that you care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty thousand people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.”

Suleyman paused, responding, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” as Aboussad continued, declaring that Suleyman and “all of Microsoft” had “blood on their hands.” She then threw a keffiyeh scarf—a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians—onto the stage before security escorted her out. Moments later, a second employee, Vaniya Agrawal, briefly disrupted another segment featuring Gates, Ballmer, and Nadella, amplifying the dissent.

The unrest centers on Microsoft’s $133 million contract with Israel’s Ministry of Defense, which has faced criticism following reports that AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI were used to select bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon. An Associated Press investigation earlier this year linked such technology to a 2023 Israeli airstrike in Lebanon that killed three young girls and their grandmother, fueling accusations of civilian harm.

The protest echoes a February incident where five employees were removed from an internal meeting with Nadella for opposing the same deal. Friday’s demonstration, broadcast via livestream, drew broader attention, with some staff also rallying outside. Aboussad later told reporters she and Agrawal lost access to their work accounts after the event, suggesting potential retaliation.

Microsoft responded in a statement: “We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard. Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption.” The company declined to address specific disciplinary measures.
The clash overshadowed what was intended as a milestone celebration of Microsoft’s 50-year legacy, highlighting deepening divisions within the tech giant over its military ties.


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Escalating Trade Tensions Threaten to Overlook the Poor and Vulnerable

Geneva, Switzerland – As major economies prepare to roll out sweeping new tariffs, the global trade system is teetering on the edge of a critical phase, warns UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The escalating disputes threaten to derail growth, investment, and development progress, with the heaviest toll falling on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable economies.

RELATED NEWS : Trump sets 10% global tariffs, hikes rates for Asia and EU

“This hurts the vulnerable and the poor,” said UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. “Trade must not become another source of instability. It should serve development and global growth.”

The rising tensions, marked by tit-for-tat measures and stalled negotiations, are driving up the cost of essentials like food and medicine, hitting low-income communities hardest. For businesses and policymakers, the unpredictability in trade and investment has become a serious barrier to planning and growth.

Vulnerable Countries Bear the Brunt

While just 10 of the nearly 200 U.S. trade partners account for almost 90% of its trade deficit, the fallout is disproportionately affecting smaller players. Least developed countries and small island developing states—responsible for a mere 1.6% and 0.4% of the deficit, respectively—are seeing their economies squeezed. These nations, UNCTAD notes, will neither resolve the trade imbalance nor generate significant revenue from the tariffs, yet they face severe consequences.

In many low-income economies, a “perfect storm” is brewing: worsening external conditions, unsustainable debt, and slowing domestic growth. Disrupted imports are straining fragile healthcare systems, while small-scale farmers struggle with shrinking export markets.

A Call for Dialogue Over Escalation

UNCTAD acknowledges the need for trade reform to address imbalances, concentrated gains, and outdated rules. However, the agency insists that solutions must emerge through dialogue, not escalation. “This is a time for cooperation,” Grynspan emphasized. “Global trade rules must evolve to reflect today’s challenges, but they must do so with predictability and development at their core, protecting the most vulnerable.”

The agency has issued an urgent plea to decision-makers: reconsider tariffs that disproportionately harm vulnerable countries. Without swift action, these measures could inflict profound suffering on millions, exacerbating inequality and instability.

As trade talks remain deadlocked, advocates warn that the focus on geopolitical victories risks overshadowing the human cost. For the world’s poorest, the stakes could not be higher.

The Impact of Trade Imbalances on the U.S. Economy

American trade policy contributed to a $1.2 trillion trade imbalance in the U.S. last year—an economic gap that some experts argue must be addressed to safeguard the nation’s long-term economic stability.

However, many economists point out that the trade deficits targeted by former President Trump stem from more complex factors than just foreign tariffs or protectionist policies. They argue that relying solely on trade deficits to justify tariffs overlooks key drivers like strong U.S. consumer demand for imported goods.


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