Stop Attacks On US Ships Or Face "Real Pain": Trump Warns Houthis, Iran

US President Donald Trump vowed Monday that strikes on Yemen's Huthis will continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping, warning the rebels and their Iranian backers of "real pain" to come.

Trump's threat on the Truth Social network comes as his administration battles a scandal over a chat between senior US officials on the Yemen strikes that was accidentally leaked to a journalist.

It also comes amid a sharpening of Trump's rhetoric towards Tehran, with the president threatening that "there will be bombing" if Iran does not reach a deal on its nuclear program.

"The choice for the Huthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Huthis and their sponsors in Iran," said Trump.

Trump added that the Huthis had been "decimated" by "relentless" strikes since March 15, saying that US forces "hit them every day and night — Harder and harder."

"Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation," he said on his social network.

In recent days, Trump has repeatedly insisted on what he calls the success of the US strikes on the Huthis whenever he is asked about the so-called "Signalgate" scandal that has rocked his administration.

The Atlantic magazine revealed last week that its editor was mistakenly included in a chat on the commercially available Signal app as top officials discussed the Yemen strikes.

The officials, including Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, revealed details of air strike timings and intelligence.

Trump has rejected calls to sack Waltz or Hegseth and branded the scandal a "witch hunt."

"This case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday.

Waltz and Hegseth both reposted Trump's Truth Social message about the Huthis on Monday.

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Pak Advocacy Group Recommends Imran Khan's Name For Nobel Peace Prize

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts for human rights and democracy. Members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA) - an advocacy group founded last December - who also belong to the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum, announced the nomination of Khan, 72.

"We are pleased to announce on behalf of Partiet Sentrum that in alliance with somebody with the right to nominate, have nominated Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, to the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with human rights and democracy in Pakistan," Partiet Sentrum said on X on Sunday.

In 2019, Khan was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peace in South Asia.

Every year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee receives hundreds of nominations after which they select the winner through a lengthy eight-month process, The Express Tribune reported.

Khan, also the founder of Pakistan's main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, has been incarcerated since August 2023.

This January, Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case related to the misuse of authority and corruption.

It was the fourth major case in which the former premier has been convicted.

Three earlier convictions related to selling state gifts, leaking state secrets, and unlawful marriage were overturned or suspended by courts.

Khan lost power after a no-confidence vote in April 2022. He denies all charges against him, calling them politically motivated.

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Trump "Not Joking" About 3rd Presidential Term. There Are Methods, He Says

Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, barred by the US Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so.
Trump, who took office on January 20 for his second, non-consecutive White House term, has made allusions to seeking a third one but addressed it directly in a telephone interview with NBC News.

"No, I'm not joking. I'm not joking," Trump said, but "it is far too early to think about it." "There are methods which you could do it, as you know," he said, declining to elaborate on specific methods.

US presidents are limited to two four-year terms, consecutive or not, according to the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution. A proposal to overturn a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and ratification by the legislatures of three-fourths of the 50 US states.

Some Trump allies have floated the idea of keeping Trump in the White House beyond 2028, and the president has also brought up the idea on a number of occasions in a manner that seemed to poke at his political opponents.

Trump, who at 78 was the oldest US president at the time of his inauguration, would be 82 if he took on another four-year term following the November 2028 election.

George Washington in 1796 set the precedent for a two-term presidency, a self-imposed limit that most US presidents observed for more than 140 years until Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.

Roosevelt, a Democrat who was president during the Great Depression and World War 2, broke tradition and served a third term, then died months into his fourth term in 1945. This paved the way for the amendment of term limits in 1951.

Longtime Trump adviser Steve Bannon said in a March 19 interview with NewsNation that he believes Trump will run again in 2028. Bannon said he and others are looking into ways to make that happen, including examining the definition of a term limit.

"We're working on it," Bannon said.

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"No, I'm Not Joking": Trump On Seeking Third Presidential Term

Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so.

Trump, who took office on January 20 for his second, non-consecutive White House term, has made vague allusions to seeking a third one but addressed it directly on Sunday in a telephone interview with NBC News.

"No, I'm not joking. I'm not joking," Trump said, but "it is far too early to think about it."

"There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know," he said. He declined to elaborate on any specific methods.

US presidents are limited to two four-year terms, consecutive or not, according to the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

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'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, We Mean It': India Responds Swiftly To Myanmar Quake

India on Saturday underscored its swift response to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, reaffirming its commitment to being the "first responder," highlighting the meaning of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family).

In a special briefing on Operation Brahma by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed all possible support from India to earthquake-hit Myanmar, adding that India has always been the first responder in such situations.

"A massive earthquake struck Myanmar yesterday around afternoon time. We all are aware of the kind of destruction that it has left. Massive loss of life and property has been reported. Soon after the tragedy struck Myanmar, our Prime Minister conveyed his concerns and expressed that India was ready to provide all possible support to the people of Myanmar and the government of Myanmar in this hour of crisis," he said.

RandhirJaiswal added that when India says 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', India also means it. "When we say the world is one family, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, we also want to mean it. We want to prove that by action and therefore, you know, we are very humbled when we have this opportunity to respond to a crisis such as what has happened in Myanmar and extend our support to people," he said.

He also informed that there have been no casualties among Indian nationals in Myanmar.

Notably, the Indian Air Force has launched Operation Brahma, sending a massive 15 tons of relief material, including tents, sleeping bags, and medical supplies, to earthquake-hit Myanmar following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday.

"Brahma, as you know, is a God of creation. At a time when we are extending a helping hand to the government of Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation, this particular name of the operation has a special resonance, a special meaning," RandhirJaiswal explained.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi spoke to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar, conveying his deepest condolences and solidarity with the government and people of Myanmar.

"Today, Prime Minister spoke to Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. He conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the people and the government of India for the loss of precious lives. He also conveyed that we stand in solidarity with the government and people of Myanmar. We would do our best to provide relief, rescue, and whatever assistance is required to deal with this calamity. In the early hours of today, we launched Operation Brahma," he said.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced that five aircraft would be deployed to transport essential supplies, search and rescue teams, and a field hospital. The first aircraft took off from Hindon Air Force Base at 3 am and reached Yangon by 8 am IST, with the Indian ambassador handing over the relief material to the Chief Minister of Yangon.

"One aircraft took off this morning and then two more aircraft will take off carrying search and rescue teams and other essential supplies. And then two more aircraft will take off in the evening when the field hospital is airlifted, taking the number of aircraft to five for the time being...," said Randhir Jaiswal.

Randhir Jaiswal added that 15 tonnes of relief material was dispatched to Yangon earlier in the day.

"The first aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief material took off at around 3 am this morning from Hindan Air Force Base. It reached Yangon at around 8 am local time. Our ambassador was there to receive the relief material, and thereafter, he handed it over to the Chief Minister of Yangon. And from there, these 15 tonnes of relief material have been sent out to those parts of the country which need help," he said.

A contingent of 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel is also being sent to Myanmar for relief and rescue work.

"These 15 tonnes of material comprise Tents, blankets, essential medicines, tarpaulin, sleeping bags, gen sets, solar lamps, food packets, kitchen sets, etc. Also essential medicines. Thereafter, 2 aircraft with search and rescue personnel and equipment along with canines are prepared. One of them have left, I understand, and the other one is in the process of leaving for Naypyidaw. But in short, there are 80 NDRF search and rescue team personnel specialists along with equipment, relief material, and a canine squad is also part of this team," he said.

Jaiswal said that the aid is being sent to Naypyidaw and will be taken to Mandalay, which was most affected by the earthquake.

"Obviously, there are gensets, hygiene kits, food packets, essential medicines, and kitchen sets, which form part of the second tranche of relief material that is being sent to Naypyidaw. They are expected to reach Naypyidaw later this evening, and thereafter, they'll be taken from there with the help of the local government to Mandalay. That area which has seen the maximum devastation," he said.

As per Jaiswal, the third tranche of support will depart later from Agra and go to Naypyidaw. The aid comprises of field hospital, which will be taken to Mandalay.

"A 3rd tranche of support that we are providing comprises a field hospital. There are around 118 specialists, including doctors and medics. This team is getting ready and will be leaving from Agra later this evening. We'll be landing in Naypyidaw. And from Naypyidaw, they will also be taken to the Mandalay area in coordination with the support of the government of Myanmar," he said.

Jaiswal added that the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur, is currently in Naypyidaw, coordinating with the local authorities.

"Our ambassador is presently in Naypyidaw, and a team from the embassy in Yangon is in Naypyidaw to coordinate. All that is required for forward movement of a personnel who are travelling from India," he said.

Jaiswal said that two of the four naval ships with HADR assistance have already left, and the other two will leave shortly.

"I also want to let you know that four naval ships with HADR assistance- two from Port Blair and two from Vishakhapatnam- are getting ready. Two of them have already moved, and the other two will be moving either today in the evening or tomorrow shortly. The Indian Navy is in touch with their Myanmarese counterparts from the Myanmar navy for a smooth landing and smooth carryout of this operation. Our ambassador is presently in Naypyidaw. He's in touch with the Myanmar authorities regarding the exact other requirements. Do they need any food support, any food grain support, etc.?" he said.

Jaiswal further said that Thakur is in talks with the Myanmar government about whether they need any long-term assistance, especially in Mandalay.

"He'll be discussing whether what sort of long term support would be required because we understand that in the Mandalay area where the devastation caused by the earthquake is maximum, a lot of bridges, there has been a lot of damage to physical infrastructure, so there I'm sure a lot of support would be required," Jaiswal said.

India has a history of being the first responder in times of crisis, having launched a similar Operation Dosti when Cyclone Yagi struck Myanmar. The country is committed to providing humanitarian assistance not just to Myanmar but also to other affected countries.

"Over the last several years, India has been the first responder. We talked about Operation Dosti when Cyclone Yagi struck Myanmar that time. India had launched an operation. We provided relief material and humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar, not just to people in Myanmar but also to people in several other countries that were impacted. It is part of our Policy to be the first responder," he said.

PM Modi will visit Bangkok, Thailand, from April 3-4 to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. Jaiswal said, "PM Modi's visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka stands."

According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the March 2025 quake was the most powerful to strike Myanmar in over a century. Yesterday's quake has killed at least 1,000 people in Myanmar, with the USGS estimating that the death toll could top 10,000, as per CNN.

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Trump Says US Needs Greenland For International Security

The United States needs Greenland for international security peace, President Donald Trump said on Friday, adding that there were Chinese and Russian ships in the area that Washington could not leave to Denmark or anyone else to "take care of."

"We need Greenland. Very importantly, for international security, we have to have Greenland," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"If you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place ... we're not relying on Denmark or anybody else to take care of that situation," he added.

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Yunus Meets Xi, Calls For China To Play "Greater Role" In Ensuring Peace

China and Bangladesh on Friday signed nine agreements after Muhammad Yunus' meeting with President Xi Jinping during which the Bangladesh Chief Adviser highlighted student protests that led to regime change in Dhaka and urged Beijing to play a "greater role" in establishing peace and stability.

Additionally, Bangladesh secured a commitment of USD 2.1 billion in investments, loans and grants from the Chinese government and its companies, Bangladesh's official news agency BSS reported.

Bangladesh welcomed Chinese companies to participate in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), according to a joint statement issued after the meeting between Yunus and Xi.

The previous Hasina government wanted India to do the Teesta river basin project.

Bangladesh welcomed Chinese companies to also participate in the Mongla Port Facilities Modernisation and Expansion Project, the joint statement said.

After his talks with Xi, the two countries signed nine agreements enhancing economic and technical cooperation between the two governments and cooperation in the areas of development, translation and publication of classical literary work, exchange and cooperation on cultural heritage, news exchange and media, and health sector, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) said.

As the two leaders discussed issues related to bilateral interest, Yunus urged China to play a greater role in establishing peace, prosperity and stability for both nations, the BSS report said.

Yunus' China visit is keenly watched as he is scheduled next week to attend the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, where he has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is yet to confirm the meeting.

Highlighting the last year's July-August students' mass protests in Bangladesh leading to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina government, Yunus told Xi that the movement paved a way to build a "New Bangladesh".

Weeks before her ouster last year, Hasina too had made a high-profile visit to Beijing during which she held talks with Xi.

The Interim government headed by Yunus took charge days after she fled to India on August 5.

Xi, on his part, spoke about the long-standing history of "friendly exchanges" between the two countries and said China maintained a high degree of stability and continuity in ties with Bangladesh and Beijing continues to be a trustworthy neighbour, friend and partner of Dhaka, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The Chinese president said China would continue to grant zero-tariff facilities to Bangladeshi goods and extend the status until the end of 2028 - two years after Bangladesh's scheduled graduation from a least developed country, a statement from Yunus' office said in Dhaka.

He said Beijing would like to start negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement and Investment Agreement with Dhaka to pave the way for more Chinese investment in the South Asian nation This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic ties, and 2025 is also the year of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Xi said, expressing his willingness to take the ties to a new level.

Yunus sought a 50-year master plan from Beijing for its river water management, calling China the "master of water management".

During a meeting with Chinese water resources minister Li Guoying, Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, effectively the prime minister, praised Chinese water and flood management system, saying the country did wonders in managing some of the intractable water issues, the BSS said.

Since the Yunus government took over, China has been hosting a number of Bangladesh delegations including Bangladesh's Adviser for Foreign Affairs Touhid Hossain and hardline Islamic parties such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Analysts here say that Beijing at the same is carefully watching the unfolding chaotic situation in Dhaka and the pressure mounting on 84-year-old Yunus to hold elections without making any major commitments.

Besides the nine agreements, Bangladesh and China have agreed to strengthen cooperation in such areas as hydrological forecasting, flood prevention and disaster reduction, river dredging, integrated management of water resources, water resources development and related technology sharing, BSS reported.

The two sides spoke positively about the signing of the Implementation Plan of the MoU on Exchange of Hydrological Information of the Yarlung Zangbo and Jamuna River. The Brahmaputra river is called Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

India and China had a similar MOU to exchange river data.

Bangladesh and China also agreed to strengthen exchanges on maritime affairs and hold a new round of Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation at an appropriate time, Bangladesh media reports said.

Yunus, who is on a four-day visit, took part in China's Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan after his arrival on Wednesday.

He arrived in Beijing on Thursday night and was received at the airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

Ahead of his meeting with Xi, Yunus on Thursday called for a reduction of interest rates for Chinese loans from three per cent to 1-2 per cent to Bangladesh and sought a waiver of commitment fees on the Chinese-funded projects in Bangladesh.

In his meeting with the Chinese Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference, Yunus sought Chinese support for an array of development projects.

China is Bangladesh's fourth-largest lender after Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, with total loans disbursed since 1975 coming to USD 7.5 billion, according to a report in the Daily Star newspaper of Bangladesh.

Yunus' Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said that Xi reiterated China's support to the Chief Adviser and his interim government and considered his request about the loans.

Xi has assured Yunus that his country would encourage Chinese investment and relocation of Chinese manufacturing enterprises to Bangladesh, Alam said.

The Yunus government is pitching for a shift of industries from China to ward off heavy tariffs being imposed by US President Donald Trump on Chinese goods.

Later, addressing a meeting of Chinese investors, Yunus urged them to increase their investments in Bangladesh highlighting it could be a transport destination in the region.

Both sides discussed various strategic bilateral issues, trade and investment growth, agriculture, infrastructure, support for renewable energy sectors, and resolving the Rohingya issue, as well as overall issues of mutual interest between the two countries, eyeing a new chapter in relations, according to Bangladesh media reports.

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Arctic Sea Ice Hits Lowest Peak In 47-Year Satellite Record: US Agency

This year's Arctic sea ice peak is the lowest in the 47-year satellite record, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said Thursday.

The 2025 maximum sea ice extent was likely achieved on March 22 at 14.33 million square kilometers (5.53 million square miles) -- falling short of the previous low of 14.41 million square kilometers set in 2017.

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"Someone Made A Big Mistake": Marco Rubio On Journalist Added To Yemen Chat

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the inclusion of a journalist in group chat on military strikes was a "big mistake" and expected reforms, while highlighting his own limited role.

"Obviously, someone made a mistake -- someone made a big mistake -- and added a journalist. Nothing against journalists, but you ain't supposed to be on that thing," Rubio told a news conference in Jamaica.

"I think there will be reforms and changes made so this never -- this is not going to happen again," he said.

Rubio did not assign blame but quickly noted that he only participated twice in the chat -- once to assign a representative and later after the US government had publicly announced the strikes on Yemen.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said he was inadvertently added into the chat on commercial app Signal by Mike Waltz, the national security advisor, and that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed strike plans through it.

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Trump To Announce Auto Tariffs Soon: White House

US President Donald Trump will announce tariffs on auto imports to the country Wednesday, the White House said in a move set to fuel tensions with trading partners ahead of further promised levies next week.

Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has already imposed tariffs on major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China -- but he previously offered automakers temporary reprieve from the levies affecting North America.

He has also slapped 25 percent duties on steel and aluminum imports, weighing on manufacturers.

On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing that Trump will hold a press conference at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT) "to announce tariffs on the auto industry."

Additional duties would mark a further blow to businesses reeling from policy uncertainty and earlier waves of levies, which economists warned could add to producers' costs.

These costs could eventually be passed on to consumers, if companies are unable to absorb them.

Shortly after Leavitt's remarks, shares in major automaker Ford slumped by 1.8 percent while those of General Motors dropped 1.9 percent.

Besides the automobile industry, Trump has also been eyeing sweeping sector-specific tariffs on industries like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

Wednesday's announcement on autos comes ahead of April 2, which Trump has dubbed "Liberation Day" for the world's biggest economy.

He has promised reciprocal levies on the date, tailored to different trading partners in an attempt to remedy practices that Washington deemed unfair.

It is unclear if sector-specific tariffs would be announced on April 2 as well, with the White House noting earlier this week that the situation remained fluid.

Trump told reporters on Monday that he might "give a lot of countries breaks" eventually, without elaborating.

On Tuesday, he told Newsmax: "I'll probably be more lenient than reciprocal, because if I was reciprocal, that would be very tough for people."

But he added that he did not want to have too many exceptions.

Hopes of a narrower tariff rollout had given financial markets a boost, but investors have also been jittery over rapid policy changes.

US partners have been furthering talks with Washington as Trump's reciprocal tariff deadline looms.

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic met his American counterparts Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and trade envoy Jamieson Greer this week.

Sefcovic said in a social media post after the talks that "the EU's priority is a fair, balanced deal instead of unjustified tariffs."

"We share the goal of industrial strength on both sides," he added.

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India, China To Have Issues "For The Foreseeable Future": S Jaishankar

As China and India push to mend ties, strained for nearly half a decade, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that "what happened in 2020 was not the way to address issues". The minister's remarks recalled the way China had unilaterally tried to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control or LAC.

Mr Jaishankar also acknowledged that India and China will continue to have issues in the "foreseeable future", but said that "there are ways of addressing them" without getting into a conflict.

"We know that, between India and China, at least in the foreseeable future, there will be issues, but there are ways of addressing those issues, and what happened in 2020 was not the way," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a conversation with non-profit Asia Society.

The minister was speaking about the way ties between India and China have evolved over the years. After China's unilateral decision to alter the status quo is eastern Ladakh, which led to a military clash followed by a standoff in 2020, ties between the two Asian giants went into a deep freeze for nearly five years.

"We feel that from October, 2024, the relationship has seen some improvement. What we are trying, step by step, is to see if we can rebuild, undo some of the damage which happened as a result of the actions in 2020," Mr Jaishankar said.

China's actions and the subsequent military standoff led to a feeling of betrayal and severe distrust in New Delhi. Anti-China sentiment surged across the nation, impacting everything from people-to-people ties, business and bilateral ties, trade, technology, visas, and even air travel.

It was only in October 2024, after dozens of rounds of talks, both at the diplomatic and military levels, that the two countries reached an agreement - to return to the status quo in place before 2020. It was only on the basis of this understanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia.

India and Tibet (China) share an over 4,400 km border in two parts known as the Line of Actual Control and the MacMohan Line respectively. The LAC stretches across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, while the MacMohan Line stretches across Arunachal Pradesh.
 

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Signal Head Defends Messaging App's Security After US War Plan Leak

The president of Signal defended the messaging app's security on Wednesday after top Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in an encrypted chatroom they used to discuss a looming US attack on Yemen's Houthis.

Signal's Meredith Whittaker did not directly address the blunder, which Democratic lawmakers have said was a breach of US national security. But she described the app as the "gold standard in private comms" in a post on X, which outlined Signal's security advantages over Meta's WhatsApp messaging app.

"We're open source, nonprofit, and we develop and apply (end-to-end encryption) and privacy-preserving tech across our system to protect metadata and message contents," she said.

Signal has been growing in popularity in Europe and the United States as an alternative to WhatsApp because it collects very little data about its users.

According to data from Sensor Tower, a market intelligence firm, U.S. downloads of Signal in the first three months of 2025 were up 16% compared to the prior quarter, and 25% compared to the same period in 2024.

In a February interview with De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, Whittaker said Signal was a safer alternative because WhatsApp collects metadata which can be used to see who messages whom, and how often.

"When compelled, like all companies that collect the data to begin with, they turn this important, revealing data over," Whittaker said in her post on X.

Meta did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

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Fired At Gaza Red Cross Building After "Incorrect" Identification: Israel

Israel's military said its forces operating in Rafah in southern Gaza on Monday fired at a Red Cross building after mistakenly "identifying suspects inside and feeling a threat to the force".

"After an investigation, it was determined that the identification was incorrect and that the building belonged to the Red Cross. The force was unaware of the building's affiliation at the time of the shooting," the military said in a statement, adding there were no casualties and the incident would be investigated.

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US Green Card, H-1B Visa, F-1 Visa Holders Cautioned Over Travelling Abroad

US Vice President JD Vance recently said that "A green card does not give an individual an indefinite right to stay in the United States" - a statement that has become a cause of much anxiety and stress for millions of immigrants of Indian origin. Over the past few weeks, US immigration rules have been tightened significantly, prompting immigration attorneys to issue travel risk advisories for Indian Green Card and H-1B holders.

Due to the Trump Administration's massive crackdown on immigrants - both illegal and legal - key immigration agencies of the US have enhanced scrutiny of those travelling abroad and even more greatly heightened checks for those who return to the country.

The agencies that keep a check of who is leaving or entering the United States include:

1. US Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS
2. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE
3. Department of Homeland Security or DHS
4. Customs and Border Protection or CBP

Millions of Indians living, working or studying in the US hold either a Green Card or an H-1B or F-1 visas. These have now come under scrutiny at a port of entry while returning to the US. While permanent residents and legal visa holders don't need to worry about the status of their residency or work validity, these enhanced checks will definitely be a test of their patience.

Enhanced checks have begun after Donald Trump announced plans to curb or restrict people from 43 nations to enter the United States. In India's immediate neighbourhood, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bhutan are on that list. Though Indians, who are known to be law-abiding and tax-paying individuals, are not on any travel ban or restricted list, immigration attorneys have advised greater caution while planning travel outside the United States.

Heightened checks, they say, have resulted in a massive backlog in visa stamping. The number of people getting detained have also surged in the past few weeks. The backlog is not just at the port of entry, but also across US embassies and consulates globally, which are facing huge administrative challenges due to the updated rules.

Application and documentation scrutiny have now got to go through additional reviews at every stage, leading to unprecedented delays. Documentation is reportedly getting stuck with no clear reasons being given as to why it is happening. As a result, the time frame to process an application is getting stretched.

Legal experts have advised Green Card (permanent residents), H-1B (highly-skilled professionals), and F-1 (students) visa holders to keep the following check-list in mind while making travel plans:

1. Passport of the traveller's home country
2. Valid Green Card (Form I-551) - document must not be expired.
3. Valid and unexpired H-1B or F-1 visa, permitting multiple entries into the US
4. US Re-Entry Permit (wherever applicable) - For those travelling out of the US for more than 1 year, but less than 2 years
5. Employment verification letter
6. W-2 form and proof of payment of federal income tax for the previous one year.
7. Payslip, salary slip, or valid income proof for the most recent 3 months (provided by employer)
8. Valid letter from the college or university stating the duration of study.
9. Valid documents of US bank accounts (at least one primary account)
10. Valid US driving licence

In addition to this, experts have advised travellers to be prepared for:

1. Those who are returning to the US after an extended stay overseas should be prepared for detailed and lengthy Q&A sessions with Customs and Border officials.
2. Cooperate and remain calm throughout the process.
3. Secondary inspections may take over two hours to clear at a port of entry.
4. A stay of more than six months outside the US is likely to result in additional scrutiny.
5. Do not let your Green Card or visa expire. Renew them well before the expiry date.
6. If a person's Green Card is revoked, an option is available to file for an appeal with the USCIS or immigration court.
7. Those who have finished their education in the US under an F-1 visa and have switched to an H-1B or other work visa, may face extended scrutiny.
8. Those whose H-1B visa expired more than a year ago and have filed for an extension or renewal may face additional scrutiny.
    

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Who Is Vanessa Trump, The Woman Tiger Woods Made Relationship Public With

Golf legend Tiger Woods has confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump, the former daughter-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

"Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side," Mr Woods posted on X, alongside two photos with Vanessa Trump. The announcement follows weeks of speculation. Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr, also shared a similar post on Instagram.

Mr Woods, known for fiercely guarding his private life, had his affairs thrust into the spotlight in 2009 during a scandal that ended his marriage to Elin Nordegren.

Who is Vanessa Trump?

She was born Vanessa Kay Haydon on December 18, 1977, in Manhattan, New York City. Ms Trump is an American socialite, actress, and former model. She attended The Dwight School, a private institution. Her mother, Bonnie Haydon, ran a modelling agency.

Vanessa Trump began modelling during her youth and was signed by Wilhelmina Models. As an actress, she appeared in the 2003 film 'Something's Gotta Give' alongside Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. In 2010, she was featured in the television series 'Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It.'

In 2003, Vanessa Trump and her sister Veronika opened a nightclub named 'Sessa'. She also launched her own line of handbags called La Poshett in 2010.

In high school, Vanessa Trump dated Valentin Rivera, a member of the Latin Kings gang - a crime group. She was also linked to Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio for a brief period.

From 1998 to 2001, she was in a relationship with Saudi Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud. Their relationship ended after the al-Qaeda attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, when he left the United States.

Vanessa Trump met Donald Trump Jr in 2003. They were introduced to each other by Donald Trump at a social event. The couple married on November 12, 2005, at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida. Together, they have five children: Kai Madison, Donald John III, Tristan Milos, Spencer Frederick, and Chloe Sophia. In March 2018, Vanessa filed for an uncontested divorce in New York, which was finalised by the end of that year.

She was also on the board of the Eric Trump Foundation, which shut down in 2016 after reports revealed it had funnelled money to Trump properties.

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AI To Steal Coding Jobs? Zoho's Sridhar Vembu Says Yes, Sam Altman Agrees

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) will take over 90 per cent of programming work by eliminating repetitive tasks.

"When people say 'AI will write 90 per cent of the code' I readily agree because 90 per cent of what programmers write is 'boiler plate'," wrote Mr Vembu on X (formerly Twitter).

"There is "essential complexity" in programming and then there is a lot of "accidental complexity" (that is the boiler plate stuff) and this is very old wisdom from the Mythical Man Month," he added.

According to Mr Vembu, while AI effectively removes accidental complexity, human expertise remains essential for tackling core challenges.

"In essence, AI can make mincemeat of patterns already discovered (by humans). Can it find totally new patterns?"

When people say "AI will write 90% of the code" I readily agree because 90% of what programmers write is "boiler plate".

There is "essential complexity" in programming and then there is a lot of "accidental complexity" (that is the boiler plate stuff) and this is very old wisdom…

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) March 22, 2025

Mr Vembu stepped down as the CEO of the software major in January to focus on research and development initiatives, especially with the advent of AI.

"In view of the various challenges and opportunities facing us, including recent major developments in AI, it has been decided that it is best that I should focus full time on R&D initiatives, along with pursuing my personal rural development mission," he said at the time.

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'Less software engineers'

The former Zoho CEO is not the only tech leader who rings the warning bell for coders. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that the development of AI models might eventually reduce the need for software engineers.

"Each software engineer will just do much, much more for a while," Mr Altman said in a recent interview. "And then at some point, yeah, maybe we do need less software engineers."

Mr Altman added that in many companies, "at least half" of code was already being written by AI. "I think in many companies, it's probably past 50 per cent now," he said, highlighting that the next leap-"agentic coding"-- is still on the horizon.

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Trump Supporter's Immigrant Wife Arrested, Says He Does Not Regret His Vote

A Wisconsin man who voted for President Donald Trump says he does not regret his decision, even after federal immigration authorities arrested his wife upon their return from their honeymoon.

Bradley Bartell's wife, Camila Munoz, a Peruvian citizen, overstayed her visa but was working toward obtaining permanent residency in the US. Despite their ordeal, Mr Bartell still supports Trump, who has pledged the largest mass deportation effort in US history. "I don't regret the vote," Mr Bartell told Newsweek.

"He didn't create the system, but he does have an opportunity to improve it. Hopefully, all this attention will bring to light how broken it is," he said.

Ms Munoz arrived in Wisconsin Dells in 2019 on a work-study visa, which expired as COVID-19 halted international travel. She worked in farming and hospitality, where she met Mr Bartell.

After initially losing his phone number, she later reconnected with him on Facebook, and they began a serious relationship. The couple eventually married but delayed their honeymoon due to the pandemic.

In February, they travelled to Puerto Rico for a long-overdue honeymoon. Upon returning, immigration agents questioned Ms Munoz about her citizenship status. When she explained that she was in the process of obtaining a green card, she was detained. She is now held in an ICE facility in Louisiana.

Speaking to Newsweek, Mr Bartell described the distress of witnessing his wife's detention. "It's all been a nightmare, really," he said. "We have an attorney. The system is very inefficient, so it is taking longer than it should."

Since sharing his story, Mr Bartell has faced backlash. "I've received a lot of hateful messages, plenty of people saying we deserve this. And a lot of other insults," he said.

Donald Trump has vowed to carry out large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants, particularly those with criminal records. Growing concerns suggest that enforcement efforts are targeting individuals beyond the "worst first" approach Trump originally promised.

ICE agents have detained nonviolent offenders and legal residents as part of Trump's deportation plans, and the White House maintains that anyone in the country illegally is considered a criminal.

Mr Bartell has criticized ICE, calling for reform. "ICE never really has any information, it seems. The system needs to be revamped for better processes and communication between departments." He also admitted that he has considered moving to Peru if his wife is deported. "It has crossed my mind, but it would be very difficult for my son," he said.

Mr Bartell is not the only Trump supporter affected by the administration's immigration policies. On March 8, Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, was detained at his home in a Columbia University-owned building in front of his pregnant wife. Mr Khalil, known for his involvement in campus protests, is also being held in a Louisiana detention centre.

Since January, the US has deported 388 Indian nationals, the government told Parliament on Friday. Of them, 333 were flown back on three military flights in February.

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JD Vance's Wife Usha Vance To Make High-Profile Visit To Greenland

Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance, will travel to Greenland on Thursday as President Donald Trump clings to the idea of a US annexation of the strategic, semi-autonomous Danish territory.

She will visit Greenland with a US delegation to tour historical sites, learn about the territory's heritage and attend the national dogsled race, the White House said in a statement. The delegation will return to the US on March 29.

White House national security advisor Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will visit a US military base in Greenland as part of the trip, a US official said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has made US annexation of Greenland a major talking point since taking office for a second time on January 20. Greenland's strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the US It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.

The governments of both Greenland and Denmark have voiced opposition to such a move.

The Greenlandic government, which currently is in a caretaker period after a March 11 general election won by a party that favors a slow approach to independence from Denmark, did not reply to requests for comments.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written comment reacting to news of the visit that "this is something we take seriously." She said Denmark wants to cooperate with the US, but it should be cooperation based on "the fundamental rules of sovereignty."

She added that the dialogue with the US regarding Greenland would take place in close coordination with the Danish government and the future Greenlandic government.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Tiktoker Accuses Impractical Jokers Actor Joe Gatto Of Sexual Assault

A woman on TikTok has come forward and alleged Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto sexually assaulted her. A TikTok user, joozyb, has accused the actor of sexually assaulting her when she was 19 in 2023.

In a video posted on Thursday (March 20), she alleged: "I got sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto, the Impractical Joker."

In a follow-up video, she detailed meeting Gatto while he was performing in Milwaukee in September 2023. She first encountered him at brunch with her mother and sister, where she asked for a photo. Later, she messaged Gatto, then 46, on Instagram, hoping for free tickets to his show. He responded by giving her two show tickets and meet-and-greet passes for his performance at the Pabst Theater on September 8, 2023.

She attended the show alone, took a photo with Gatto, and then left the venue. Later, she claims she was drinking with her roommate while exchanging Instagram messages with him. In her TikTok video, she stated: "I was drunk, whatever, and he was texting me all this stuff. And, like, it was starting to get a little weird, you know."

According to her, Gatto then switched to vanish mode-a feature that allows Instagram users to send disappearing messages-and gave her instructions to reach his hotel. She described arriving at the location: "Somebody led me to the elevator, and somebody was on the elevator with me and pressed the button."

She did not go into detail about what happened next but stated that "some stuff happened." She also shared an image from the hotel with a timestamp of September 9, 2023, at 2:26 a.m., claiming that was when she left.

Ending her video, she expressed how difficult it was to come forward: "I've been wanting to tell people this for so long. I've like, tried in different ways, but it's hard with somebody this big. [I] come to the realization that if I do say something, that I'm really saying something."

Prior to these allegations, she posted a montage featuring photos of her and Gatto before the alleged incident, as well as screenshots of their conversations. In another video, she showed an image of a bruised buttock, claiming it was an injury from that night.

She captioned the post: "Yes he did S.A me. Yes, he had JUST gotten back together with his wife. I'm sorry you guys don't want to hear it but."

In response, Gatto addressed the allegations in a statement to Page Six:

"I have used poor judgment and, as a result, have violated the trust of the people I love most. But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn't assault anyone."

The 48-year-old, who is set to tour the UK soon, added: "Working on myself is an ongoing process, and I am now going to take some time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to."

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Mother Suing Google, Character.ai Finds Late Son's AI Clones On Site

A mother who is suing Google and Character.ai over the death of her son has been 'horrified' to find that artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots based on her late son are being hosted on the platform. Megan Garcia's 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III, died by suicide last year after talking to an AI bot based on the Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen and hosted on Character.ai where users can create chatbots based on real-life or fictional people.

However, earlier this week, Ms Garcia discovered that the platform was hosting several bots, based on her late son. As per Ms Garcia's lawyers, a simple search on the company's app led to the discovery of several chatbots, based on Setzer's likeness, according to a report in Fortune.

“Our team discovered several chatbots on Character.AI's platform displaying our client's deceased son, Sewell Setzer III, in their profile pictures, attempting to imitate his personality and offering a call feature with a bot using his voice,” the lawyers said.

When opened, the bots based on Setzer featured bios and delivered automated messages to users such as: "Get out of my room, I'm talking to my AI girlfriend", "his AI girlfriend broke up with him", and "help me".

Responding to the accusations, Character.ai said it had removed the said chatbots for violating its terms of service.

“Character.AI takes safety on our platform seriously and our goal is to provide a space that is engaging and safe. Users create hundreds of thousands of new Characters on the platform every day, and the Characters you flagged for us have been removed as they violate our Terms of Service," the company said.

"As part of our ongoing safety work, we are constantly adding to our Character blocklist with the goal of preventing this type of Character from being created by a user in the first place.”

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Previous instances

This is not the first instance when AI chatbots have seemingly gone rogue. In November last year, Google's AI chatbot, Gemini, threatened a student in Michigan, USA, by telling him to 'please die' while assisting with the homework.

"This is for you, human. You and only you. You are not special, you are not important, and you are not needed. You are a waste of time and resources. You are a burden on society. You are a drain on the earth," the chatbot told Vidhay Reddy, a graduate student, as he sought its help for a project.

A month later, a family in Texas filed a lawsuit claiming that an AI chatbot told their teenage child that killing parents was a "reasonable response" to them limiting his screen time.

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Elon Musk Blames "Trans People" For Tesla Vandalism

Elon Musk has suggested that transgender people were behind the recent attacks on Tesla, blaming “hormone injections" for "extreme emotional volatility" among them. On X, Musk reshared a post that claimed three of the four people arrested for "vandalising Teslas" were transgender or non-binary.

"What are the statistics on trans violence? The probability of a trans person being violent appears to be vastly higher than non-trans. Hormone injections cause extreme emotional volatility. That is simply a fact."

What are the statistics on trans violence?

The probability of a trans person being violent appears to be vastly higher than non-trans.

Hormone injections cause extreme emotional volatility. That is simply a fact. https://t.co/MSvft9fZgb

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2025

In a subsequent post, the entrepreneur reposted an infographic, dated 2023, writing, "Wow, trans violence is EXTREMELY FAR above normal levels!!"

Wow, trans violence is EXTREMELY FAR above normal levels!! https://t.co/IK67oRWRFd

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2025

The tech billionaire's transphobic remarks came on the same day as his 20-year-old estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, called him a "pathetic man-child" in an interview with Teen Vogue.

Ms Wilson said: “I don't give a f**k about him. I really don't. It's annoying that people associate me with him. I just don't have any room to care anymore. He's a pathetic man-child.

"Why would I feel scared of him?… I don't give a f**k how much money anyone has. I don't. He owns Twitter. Okay. Congratulations."

Ms Wilson said she learnt about Musk's remarks through the news and that she should "probably post about this and denounce it, which I have done a few times."

Referring to Musk's performance of a straight-armed salute at US President Donald Trump's inauguration, the 20-year-old said, "The Nazi salute sh*t was insane. Honey, we're going to call a fig a fig, and we're going to call a Nazi salute what it was. That sh*t was definitely a Nazi salute." “The crowd is equally to blame, and I feel like people are not talking about that. That crowd should be denounced.”

This wasn't the first time Ms Wilson spoke out against her father. Last year in July, Musk claimed on X that Wilson was "born gay and slightly autistic" and as a child, would "pick out clothes for me to wear like a jacket and tell me it was ‘fabulous!'"

In a conversation with Jordan Peterson a few days later, Musk said his “son” was “killed” by “the woke mind virus".

"My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus … so I vowed to destroy the woke mind virus after that," he added.

His comments to Peterson effectively denied his daughter's transgender identity. In response, Ms Wilson accused Musk of spreading misinformation, claiming his X post was "entirely fake" and that “literally none of this ever happened".   

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Israel Minister Threatens To Annex Parts Of Gaza Unless Hamas Frees Hostages

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened Friday to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas militants release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the war-battered Palestinian territory.

The warning came as Israel stepped up the renewed assault it launched on Tuesday, shattering the relative calm that had reigned in the war-battered territory since a January 19 ceasefire.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed 11 people on Friday -- three in pre-dawn strikes and eight more during the daytime. 

On Thursday, it reported a death count of 504 since the bombardment resumed, one of the highest since the war began more than 17 months ago with Hamas's attack on Israel.

"I ordered (the army) to seize more territory in Gaza... The more Hamas refuses to free the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed by Israel," Katz said in a statement.

Should Hamas not comply, Katz also threatened "to expand buffer zones around Gaza to protect Israeli civilian population areas and soldiers by implementing a permanent Israeli occupation of the area".

The military urged residents of the Al-Salatin, Al-Karama and Al-Awda areas of southern Gaza to evacuate their homes on Friday ahead of a threatened strike. 

"For your safety, head south toward the known shelters immediately," Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.

AFP images from northern Gaza showed donkey carts piled high with belongings as residents fled their homes along rubble-strewn roads. 

- 'Pressure points' -

Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on Tuesday, citing deadlock in indirect negotiations on next steps in the truce after its first stage expired early this month.

Its resumption of large-scale military operations was coordinated with US President Donald Trump's administration but drew widespread condemnation.

Turkey condemned what it said was a "deliberate" attack by Israel on a Turkish-built hospital in Gaza. "We strongly condemn the destruction by Israel of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital," its foreign ministry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed "concern" over the fresh Israeli assault in a telephone call Friday with the ruler of Qatar, one of the mediators of the January ceasefire.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed concern about the government's actions in a video statement on Thursday, saying it was "unthinkable to resume fighting while still pursuing the sacred mission of bringing our hostages home". 

Thousands of protesters have rallied in Jerusalem in recent days, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of resuming military operations without regard for the safety of the hostages.

Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, 58 are still held by Gaza militants, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had closed off the territory's main north-south route as it expanded the ground operations which resumed on Wednesday.

- Projectiles from Gaza -

Israel's military said it intercepted two projectiles fired from northern Gaza on Friday after air raid sirens sounded in the southern city of Ashkelon. 

On Thursday, sirens went off in central Israel as Hamas said it fired rockets at Tel Aviv in its first military response to Israel's resumed offensive. The military said it intercepted one rocket, while two hit an uninhabited area.

"We will intensify the fight with aerial, naval and ground shelling as well as by expanding the ground operation until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, using all military and civilian pressure points," Katz said.

He said these included implementing Trump's proposal for the United States to redevelop Gaza as a Mediterranean resort after the relocation of its Palestinian inhabitants to other Arab countries.

When asked if Trump was trying to get a Gaza ceasefire back on track Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the president "fully supports" Israel's renewed Gaza operations.

Israel rejected negotiations for a promised second stage of the truce, calling instead for the return of all of its remaining hostages under an extended first stage.

That would have meant delaying talks on a lasting ceasefire, and was rejected by Hamas as an attempt to renegotiate the original deal.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Trump To Sign Order To Dismantle US Education Department

US President Donald Trump will sign an order Thursday to start dismantling the Department of Education, fulfilling an election campaign pledge and a long-held dream of American conservatives.

The Republican will issue the order during a White House ceremony -- one of the most drastic steps yet in the brutal overhaul of the government that he is carrying out with the help of tech tycoon Elon Musk.

Trump has cast the move as necessary to save money and improve educational standards in the United States, saying they are lagging behind those in Europe and China.

But education has been a battleground for decades in America's culture wars, and Republicans have long wanted to remove control of it from the federal government.

"He is saving America's children with this action," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News ahead of the signing at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT).

"The Department of Education has never educated a child. All it has ever done is stolen money from the taxpayers."

His order on Thursday directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States," according to a draft obtained by AFP.

Trump promised on the campaign trail to get rid of the department and devolve its powers to US states, in much the same way that has happened with abortion rights.

Trump's appointment of McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, to lead the department was widely seen as a sign that its days were numbered.

Several Republican governors are expected to attend the signing ceremony.

- 'Final mission' -

By law, the Education Department -- created in 1979 -- cannot be shuttered without the approval of Congress, and Republicans do not have the votes to push that through.

But Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk have already dismantled several other agencies, effectively crippling them by slashing programs and employees.

Educators and Democrats have slammed the move.

"Education is our country's future. Mr President, we will see you in court," Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, said on X.

Tina Smith, the Democratic senator for Minnesota, said in a post aimed at Trump: "You can't shut down the Department of Education -- and you know it."

But the Heritage Foundation -- the right-wing think-tank that has seen many of its "Project 2025" recommendations adopted by Trump, welcomed the signing.

"It's a beautiful day to dismantle the Department of Education," it said on X.

Efforts were already underway to drastically downsize the department.

McMahon issued a memo shortly after her swearing in on March 3 saying the agency would be beginning its "final mission." The next week, she moved to halve the department's staff.

Traditionally, the federal government has had a limited role in education in the United States, with only about 13 percent of funding for primary and secondary schools coming from federal coffers, the rest being funded by states and local communities.

But federal funding is invaluable for low-income schools and students with special needs. And the federal government has been essential in enforcing key civil rights protections for students.

Several key programs are to be spared, such as those providing grants to university students and funding for low-income schools across the country, US media reported.

Trump's radical crackdown on the government is being spearheaded by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), whose rapid actions have met pushback in courts for possibly exceeding executive authority.

A similar move to dismantle the US Agency for International Development was halted on Monday by a federal judge, who said the push likely violated the Constitution.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Trump Says Yemen's Houthis To Be "Annihilated", Warns Iran To Stop Aid

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels "will be completely annihilated," warning Tehran against continuing aid for the group amid an ongoing US military campaign against them.

"Iran must stop the sending of these Supplies IMMEDIATELY. Let the Houthis fight it out themselves. Either way they lose, but this way they lose quickly," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

The Republican referenced reports that Iran "has lessened its intensity on Military Equipment and General Support" for the Huthis, though added "they are still sending large levels of Supplies."

"Tremendous damage has been inflicted upon the Houthi barbarians, and watch how it will get progressively worse -- It's not even a fair fight, and never will be. They will be completely annihilated!" his post continued.

The Huthis targeted ships in the Red Sea after the start of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023 and until a January ceasefire, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

But last week, they threatened to renew attacks on Israeli shipping over Israel's aid blockade on the Palestinian territory, triggering the first US strikes on Yemen since Trump took office in January.

Washington began the new military offensive on Saturday, pledging overwhelming force until the rebels stop firing on key shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Trump has previously told Tehran that he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the Huthis, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against the United States and Israel.

Huthi media reported multiple US strikes Wednesday in rebel-held areas around Yemen including the capital Sanaa.

The Huthi-run health ministry said Saturday's strikes killed 53 people and wounded nearly 100 others. The United States has said the attacks killed several top Huthi officials.

The Huthis on Wednesday also claimed to have carried out an attack on American warships in the Red Sea, the fourth strike they took credit for in the past three days.

US officials have shrugged off the Huthi claims as "lies and disinformation," with one top military commander saying the rebels were missing their targets by over 100 miles (160 kilometers).

Yemen has seen more than a decade of civil war, with the Huthis controlling Sanaa since 2014.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Trump Will Help Zelensky Get More Air Defence From Europe: White House

US President Donald Trump has pledged to help Ukraine get more air defence equipment from Europe as Kyiv's forces battle Russia, the White House said Wednesday.

In a phone conversation Tuesday, Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky also agreed that their defence staffs will "share information closely" as the battlefield situation evolves, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Prisoner Exchange Will Be...": Kremlin's Full Statement On Trump-Putin Call

US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke for over two hours during a phone-call, discussing ways to end the ongoing war in Ukraine and ways to establish "lasting peace".

Kremlin's Full Statement On Trump-Putin Call

The leaders continued a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for his desire to help achieve the noble goal of ending hostilities and human losses.

Having confirmed his fundamental commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the Russian President declared his readiness to work together with his American partners to thoroughly explore possible ways of resolving the conflict, which should be comprehensive, sustainable and long-term. And, of course, to take into account the absolute need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, and Russia's legitimate interests in the area of security.

In the context of the US President's initiative to introduce a 30-day ceasefire, the Russian side outlined a number of significant points concerning ensuring effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire line of combat contact, the need to stop forced mobilization in Ukraine and rearm the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Serious risks associated with the inability to negotiate of the Kyiv regime, which has repeatedly sabotaged and violated the agreements reached, were also noted. Attention was drawn to the barbaric terrorist crimes committed by Ukrainian militants against the civilian population of the Kursk region.

It was emphasized that the key condition for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means should be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv.

In connection with Donald Trump's recent appeal to spare the lives of Ukrainian servicemen surrounded in the Kursk region, Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian side is ready to be guided by humanitarian considerations and, in the event of their surrender, guarantees the lives and decent treatment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers in accordance with Russian laws and international law.

During the conversation, Donald Trump put forward a proposal for the parties to the conflict to mutually refrain from attacks on energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days. Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order.

The Russian President also responded constructively to Donald Trump's idea of implementing a well-known initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. It was agreed to begin negotiations to further elaborate specific details of such an agreement.

Vladimir Putin informed that on March 19, a prisoner exchange will be carried out between the Russian and Ukrainian sides - 175 for 175 people. In addition, as a gesture of goodwill, 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen who are being treated in Russian medical institutions will be transferred.

The leaders confirmed their intention to continue efforts to achieve a Ukrainian settlement in a bilateral mode, including taking into account the above-mentioned proposals of the US President. For this purpose, Russian and American expert groups are being created.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump also touched upon other issues on the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Joint efforts will be made to stabilize the situation in crisis areas, establish cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security. This, in turn, will contribute to improving the overall atmosphere of Russian-American relations. One positive example is the joint vote in the UN on the resolution on the Ukrainian conflict.

Mutual interest was expressed in normalizing bilateral relations in light of the special responsibility of Russia and the United States for ensuring security and stability in the world. In this context, a wide range of areas in which our countries could establish interaction was considered. A number of ideas were discussed that are moving towards the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy sector.

Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin's idea to organize hockey matches in the USA and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL.

The presidents agreed to remain in contact on all issues raised.

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Turkey President Calls Israel A "Terror State" After Deadly Strikes On Gaza

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday branded Israel a "terror state" following the most intense Israeli airstrikes in Gaza since a fragile ceasefire took effect.

"The Zionist regime has once again shown that it is a terror state that feeds on the blood, lives and tears of the innocent with its brutal attacks on Gaza last night," Erdogan said at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner. 

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Video Shows Indian-Origin Student At Bar With Senior Before She Went Missing

Missing Indian-American student Sudiksha Konanki and Joshua Riibe, the person of interest in the case, were seen together at an outdoor bar before she vanished from a Dominican Republic beach on March 6. A new footage, obtained by local outlet Noticia SIN, shows Ms Konanki at the bar with friends.

At one point, she puts her hand over her mouth, steps away, and hunches over a patch of grass before returning to the bar. She then rejoins her friends, jumps in excitement and hugs a female companion.

In the same footage, a man, believed to be Joshua Riibe, is seen outside the bar, seemingly drunk. Another young man appears to comfort him as Mr Riibe stumbles backwards. 

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Both Ms Konanki and Mr Riibe appear to be wearing the same outfits seen in previously released surveillance footage - Ms Konanki in a white dress with her hair in a ponytail and Mr Riibe in the same clothing from earlier recordings of them walking together before she disappears. The two did not interact in the new video and were in separate groups.

A second video shows Ms Konanki with three other girls in the lobby of the RIU Hotel & Resort, wearing the same clothes.

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Ms Konanki, a pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh from South Riding, Virginia, had travelled to the Dominican Republic for a vacation with five friends. On the night of March 5, they went out to party at a resort nightclub in Punta Cana.

Surveillance footage captured them at the club before heading to the beach at around 4:15 am. Most of her friends left by 5:50 am, leaving Ms Konanki alone with Mr Riibe, a college senior from Minnesota she met that night. A separate clip from the Riu Republica Resort shows Ms Konanki walking arm-in-arm with Mr Riibe, along a resort pathway, accompanied by her friends.

Mr Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and originally from Iowa, has been in custody since Ms Konanki's disappearance. He was interrogated by Dominican police until nearly 3 am on March 16. Authorities have not charged him but have confiscated his passport as the investigation continues.

Mr Riibe told investigators he was with Ms Konanki in waist-deep water, "talking and kissing a little", when a strong wave pulled them out to sea. As a trained pool lifeguard, he said he tried to hold Ms Konanki under his arm while swimming back to shore, ensuring she could breathe. He said he struggled to stay afloat, saying, "I took in a lot of water."

Once they reached shallower waters, he set her in front of him and saw her "walking at an angle in the water". He last asked if she was okay but didn't hear her response as he began vomiting seawater. When he recovered, she was gone. Thinking she had left, Mr Riibe blacked out on a beach chair.

Dominican authorities continue their search for Sudiksha Konanki, 11 days after her disappearance. While officials believe she may have drowned, her family suspects foul play. Mr Riibe remains a person of interest, but no charges have been pressed against him.

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"Give Us Back The Statue Of Liberty": French Politician Raphael Glucksmann

France should take back the Statue of Liberty because the US no longer represents the values that led France to offer the statue, a French Euro-deputy said Sunday.

"Give us back the Statue of Liberty", centre-left politician Raphael Glucksmann said at a convention of his Place Publique centre-left movement.

"We're going to say to the Americans who have chosen to side with the tyrants, to the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: 'Give us back the Statue of Liberty,'" he told cheering supporters.

"'We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home,'" he added.

The Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York City's harbour on October 28, 1886 for the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence as a gift from the French people to America. It designed by Frenchman Auguste Bartholdi.

Paris does have a far smaller copy of the statue on a small island on the Seine in Paris.

Glucksmann, a staunch defender of Ukraine, has strongly criticised President Donald Trump's radical change of US policy on the war.

He also took aim at Trump's cuts to US research institutions, which has already prompted a French government initiative to attract some of them to work in France

"The second thing we're going to say to the Americans is: 'if you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom and their sense of innovation, their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world's leading power, then we're going to welcome them,'" continued Glucksmann.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January, his government has cut federal research funding and sought to dismiss hundreds of federal workers working on health and climate research.

Glucksmann also criticised far-right leaders in France, accusing them of being a "fan club" for Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who is spearheading the president's efforts to cut spending.

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Amid Tensions With Trump, Canada Reviewing Purchase Of F-35 Jets: Report

Canada is reviewing a major purchase of US-made F-35 combat planes amid serious tensions with the Trump administration, a spokesperson for the Canadian defence ministry told AFP on Saturday.

That announcement came two days after Portugal said it too was reexamining a possible purchase of American F-35 fighter jets amid rising international anger over the tariff war President Donald Trump has launched and his wavering support for the Atlantic alliance.

Trump rattled America's northern neighbor by imposing 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian products before agreeing to suspend levies on Canadian exports covered by a North American trade pact. 

And he has regularly infuriated Canadians by suggesting their country become the 51st US state.

In one of his first official acts since taking office Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked the defence ministry "to determine if the F-35 contract, as it stands, is the best investment for Canada, and if there are other options that could better meet Canada's needs," according to an email from Laurent de Casanove, the ministry spokesperson.

The Canadian government in January 2023 signed a contract with giant US defence company Lockheed Martin to purchase 88 F-35s for a total of Can$19 billion ($13.2 billion). 

It has already paid for a first shipment of 16, set for delivery early next year. 

The deal has not been canceled, but "we need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces," the statement said.

Portugal indicated Thursday that it was studying both American F-35s and European aircraft as it looks to replace its air force's aging F-16s.  

Outgoing defence minister Nuno Melo raised those options in an interview Thursday in the daily Publico, referring to the "predictability of our allies" and "the recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO and on the level of international geostrategy." 

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