Gold Soars Over 1% as U.S.-China Tariff War Heats Up, Investors Rush to Safe Haven

Gold prices surged more than 1% on Thursday, buoyed by a flight to safety after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated tariffs on China, raising fresh concerns over inflation and global growth. Despite a temporary tariff pause for other countries, the move intensified the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies. 🔥 Tariff Tensions Reignite Demand for Bullion Trump announced a tariff increase on Chinese imports to 125% from 104%, prompting investors to seek refuge in gold, a traditional hedge during economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The latest tariffs overshadowed the administration’s decision to temporarily ease duties for other nations. “If we enter a slow growth period, which is our base case, we think rates will eventually head lower and push gold higher,” said Edward Meir, analyst at Marex, adding that $3,200/oz could be reached “by month-end, if not earlier.” 📈 Factors Fueling the Gold Rally in 2025 Gold has already gained more than 18% this year, fueled by: 📊 Fed’s Balancing Act Minutes from the Fed’s latest meeting reveal that most policymakers are concerned about the economy facing “higher inflation alongside slower growth.” This puts pressure on the Fed’s future rate decisions, with possible trade-offs looming. Gold, which yields no interest, typically underperforms when rates are high. However, its role as an inflation hedge keeps it attractive amid uncertainties. 🔍 What’s Next? Investors are now eyeing key U.S. data: These indicators could provide further clues on inflation trends and Fed policy direction. 🪙 Other Precious Metals

Zelensky Accuses China of Supplying Fighters to Russia: 155 Chinese Nationals Allegedly Involved

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a significant and controversial claim that at least 155 Chinese citizens are currently fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war in Ukraine. His statement follows the recent capture of two Chinese fighters in the eastern Donetsk region—marking Kyiv’s first official accusation of China providing manpower to Russia. “We Have Names and Passports” – Zelensky Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has documented evidence, including passport data, of these individuals. He stated that his intelligence agencies have been tracking these developments and that “there are many more” Chinese nationals involved than publicly acknowledged. Zelensky claimed: “Russia is actively recruiting Chinese citizens through social media platforms, providing them with training in Moscow, migration documents, and financial incentives before deploying them to the frontlines.” China Denies Allegations, Urges Caution In response, China’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged that they are in contact with Ukraine to verify the claims but dismissed the idea of state-sponsored involvement. Spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that: “The Chinese government always instructs its citizens to avoid areas of armed conflict and prohibits participation in any military operations.” He also urged Ukraine to “correctly view China’s constructive role” in seeking a political resolution to the conflict. Rising Concerns Over China-Russia Military Ties This incident comes amid growing Western scrutiny of China’s role in the Ukraine conflict. The U.S. State Department called the reports “disturbing,” reflecting rising concerns over China’s indirect support to Russia. The U.S. has previously accused China of: China’s Balancing Act China has long maintained that it is a neutral actor in the war, denying any transfer of lethal military aid to Moscow. It insists that all trade complies with international laws and internal regulations on dual-use goods. North Korea Also in Focus The fresh allegations against China come shortly after Ukraine captured two injured North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, pointing to what Kyiv believes is a broadening coalition of nations—directly or indirectly—supporting Russia’s war effort. With global tensions already high, Zelensky’s public claims regarding Chinese involvement mark a new flashpoint in the geopolitical dimensions of the war, potentially straining China-Ukraine and China-West relations further. All eyes will now be on Beijing’s response, as well as any further evidence Kyiv might release.

Finance Department Tightens Project Implementation Rules: Cabinet Nod Now Mandatory

In a move aimed at curbing unregulated budgetary expenses, the Finance Department has issued a circular mandating cabinet approval for all new projects, including those sponsored by the Central Government. The new directive makes it compulsory for all departments to seek formal clearance before initiating any project or scheme. Multi-Tier Approval System Introduced Before seeking cabinet clearance, departments must first get their project proposals vetted by the Cost Screening Committee, to be chaired by the respective department head. Following this, projects will be assessed based on their financial scale through various finance committees: If any project’s cost escalates by more than 10%, additional approval must be obtained from the relevant finance committee. Deadline and Duration of Project Validity The circular also states that projects running until March 31, 2026, must obtain fresh approval to continue. Additionally, all such projects must aim for completion by September 2025, or face discontinuation of funding beyond March 31. The order coincides with the upcoming term of the 16th Finance Commission, which will function from 2026 to 2031. Approvals given under the current framework will remain valid throughout this period. This revised process marks a significant tightening of fiscal controls and is expected to enforce greater transparency, discipline, and accountability in public spending across departments.

Apollo Hospital Bilaspur Served Notice Over Quack Doctor Allegations Involving Former Speaker’s Death

The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Bilaspur district has issued a formal notice to Apollo Hospital, Bilaspur, seeking clarification and documentation regarding the alleged employment of a quack doctor, Dr. Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, who reportedly posed as Prof. N John Camm. The case has drawn serious attention due to the involvement of former Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla, who died shortly after undergoing surgery at the hospital in 2006. The CMHO has demanded a comprehensive report from the hospital within three days, focusing on several key aspects of Dr. Yadav’s employment. These include the duration of his tenure, his position and responsibilities, registration status with the Chhattisgarh Medical Council, educational qualifications, and details about the cardiology procedures he performed—including success and mortality rates. The hospital must also provide a copy of Dr. Yadav’s appointment letter and disclose whether any complaints were previously filed regarding his medical qualifications or practice. If any such concerns were raised, the CMHO has directed the hospital to explain the nature of the actions taken. This notice follows an FIR lodged on April 5 in Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh, by CMHO Dr. M K Jain, alleging that Yadav performed angiography and angioplasty without valid medical registration. He was subsequently arrested in Prayagraj and presented before a local court. The spotlight on this case has intensified due to Shukla’s political stature—he was a serving Congress MLA from the Kota Assembly constituency at the time of his death and had served as the first Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2003. The development has sparked demands for a thorough investigation into potential lapses in medical scrutiny and hospital accountability.

India Pushes for Faster Trade Deal with US Amid Tariff Shifts and Global Uncertainty

India is accelerating efforts to finalize a trade agreement with the United States after US President Donald Trump temporarily paused reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including India, while significantly raising duties on China. The move, seen as part of Trump’s ongoing pressure strategy against China, saw tariffs on Chinese imports hiked to 125%. In contrast, the reciprocal tariff rate for Indian goods remains steady at 10%. India and the US had previously announced their intention to conclude the first phase of a trade deal by autumn 2025, aiming for a bilateral trade volume of $500 billion by 2030. The recent pause on tariff implementation comes as a relief to Indian exporters, particularly those in the shrimp industry, a government official told Reuters. The official added that India was among the first countries to initiate trade talks with the US and has remained committed to the agreed timeline. Just a day after imposing high tariffs that shook global stock markets, Trump provisionally reduced duties for key trading partners, including India. The tariff volatility has prompted countries to re-evaluate their global trade strategies. India is also open to allowing zero-duty imports from the US in several sectors, including those under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, according to a report by The Economic Times. The PLI scheme covers 14 sectors such as electronics, drones, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, and specialty steel, backed by a budget of ₹1.97 lakh crore. A broader Indian offer could help fast-track the trade deal. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly planning to expand iPhone manufacturing in India—a potential shift influenced by Trump’s stricter tariffs on Chinese goods. Amid this global economic flux, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a cautious step to support growth by cutting the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6%. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra flagged growing risks to India’s GDP due to rising trade tensions. “The recent trade tariff-related measures have exacerbated uncertainties clouding the economic outlook across regions, posing new headwinds for global growth and inflation,” he stated in the monetary policy announcement. As global economic policies shift unpredictably, India finds itself navigating a complex trade and economic landscape while trying to safeguard its growth trajectory and global trade partnerships.

Sunny Deol’s ‘Jaat’ Roars at the Box Office: Netizens Call It a “Mass Rampage”

Sunny Deol is back, and he’s louder, stronger, and more intense than ever. After the historic success of Gadar 2, Deol returns in the hard-hitting action-packed drama Jaat, which opened in cinemas today—and the buzz online is simply electric. 🔥 Early Reviews: A Total Mass Entertainer Fans and critics alike are raving about Jaat, calling it a perfect “paisa vasool” movie for single-screen lovers and action movie buffs. From powerful punchlines to explosive fight scenes and high emotional stakes, audiences say it delivers vintage Sunny Deol magic. “FULL-ON POWER! Sunny Deol is back with a bang in this mass entertainer! Heroism, whistle-worthy dialogues, and smashing action—fun, crowd-pleasing ride. #JaatReview” Another fan posted: “#Jaat – a full-on mass entertainer! Sunny Deol’s action packs a punch, Randeep Hooda shines as the villain. Paisa vasool cinema at its best!“ 🆚 Comparisons With ‘Sikandar’ In a bold move, netizens didn’t shy away from calling Jaat “better than Salman Khan’s Sikandar,” branding it the mass film Sikandar should have been. “This movie will be much better than that flop overrated #Sikandar.“ 🧨 Randeep Hooda: The Menace We Needed While Deol brings the fire, it’s Randeep Hooda as the film’s antagonist who has left audiences spellbound with his gritty performance: “Randeep Hooda is in his absolute menacing form. What screen presence alongside Sunny!“ 💬 Dialogue of the Year? “Sorry Bol” Joining the ranks of “Dhai kilo ka haath” and “Tareek pe tareek”, Jaat has gifted fans a new viral dialogue—“Sorry bol.” “Sorry bol… sorry bol dena chahiye, warna kabhi kabhi baat bahut aage badh jaati hai.“It’s already trending with memes, reels, and fan edits exploding across social media. 💪 Sunny Deol: Age Is Just a Number At 67, Sunny Paaji is setting new benchmarks. Speaking to ETimes, Deol shared: “I haven’t really thought about how old I am… I take life like sports. That’s just the way I am.“ Not only did he perform all his own stunts in Jaat, but he also continues his 5 AM discipline and maintains peak fitness levels—cementing his place as Bollywood’s original action hero. 🎭 Supporting Cast Shines Too The ensemble cast, including Regina Cassandra, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher, and Ramya Krishnan, adds depth to the high-octane action. Audiences lauded the collective performance: “@iamsunnydeol and @randeephooda Paaji nailed it ❤️😍 Superb presentation of Sunny Paaji by @megopichand!“ Verdict: Jaat is a mass rampage of a film that fans of old-school Bollywood action have been waiting for. With fiery dialogues, intense stunts, a villain to remember, and the lion-hearted Deol at the helm, it’s safe to say: Sunny Deol is BACK, and how! 🔥 Early Reviews: A Total Mass Entertainer Fans and critics alike are raving about Jaat, calling it a perfect “paisa vasool” movie for single-screen lovers and action movie buffs. From powerful punchlines to explosive fight scenes and high emotional stakes, audiences say it delivers vintage Sunny Deol magic. “FULL-ON POWER! Sunny Deol is back with a bang in this mass entertainer! Heroism, whistle-worthy dialogues, and smashing action—fun, crowd-pleasing ride. #JaatReview” Another fan posted: “#Jaat – a full-on mass entertainer! Sunny Deol’s action packs a punch, Randeep Hooda shines as the villain. Paisa vasool cinema at its best!“ 🆚 Comparisons With ‘Sikandar’ In a bold move, netizens didn’t shy away from calling Jaat “better than Salman Khan’s Sikandar,” branding it the mass film Sikandar should have been. “This movie will be much better than that flop overrated #Sikandar.“ 🧨 Randeep Hooda: The Menace We Needed While Deol brings the fire, it’s Randeep Hooda as the film’s antagonist who has left audiences spellbound with his gritty performance: “Randeep Hooda is in his absolute menacing form. What screen presence alongside Sunny!“ 💬 Dialogue of the Year? “Sorry Bol” Joining the ranks of “Dhai kilo ka haath” and “Tareek pe tareek”, Jaat has gifted fans a new viral dialogue—“Sorry bol.” “Sorry bol… sorry bol dena chahiye, warna kabhi kabhi baat bahut aage badh jaati hai.“It’s already trending with memes, reels, and fan edits exploding across social media. 💪 Sunny Deol: Age Is Just a Number At 67, Sunny Paaji is setting new benchmarks. Speaking to ETimes, Deol shared: “I haven’t really thought about how old I am… I take life like sports. That’s just the way I am.“ Not only did he perform all his own stunts in Jaat, but he also continues his 5 AM discipline and maintains peak fitness levels—cementing his place as Bollywood’s original action hero. 🎭 Supporting Cast Shines Too The ensemble cast, including Regina Cassandra, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher, and Ramya Krishnan, adds depth to the high-octane action. Audiences lauded the collective performance: “@iamsunnydeol and @randeephooda Paaji nailed it ❤️😍 Superb presentation of Sunny Paaji by @megopichand!“ Verdict: Jaat is a mass rampage of a film that fans of old-school Bollywood action have been waiting for. With fiery dialogues, intense stunts, a villain to remember, and the lion-hearted Deol at the helm, it’s safe to say: Sunny Deol is BACK, and how! Sunny Deol is back, and he’s louder, stronger, and more intense than ever. After the historic success of Gadar 2, Deol returns in the hard-hitting action-packed drama Jaat, which opened in cinemas today—and the buzz online is simply electric. 🔥 Early Reviews: A Total Mass Entertainer Fans and critics alike are raving about Jaat, calling it a perfect “paisa vasool” movie for single-screen lovers and action movie buffs. From powerful punchlines to explosive fight scenes and high emotional stakes, audiences say it delivers vintage Sunny Deol magic. “FULL-ON POWER! Sunny Deol is back with a bang in this mass entertainer! Heroism, whistle-worthy dialogues, and smashing action—fun, crowd-pleasing ride. #JaatReview” Another fan posted: “#Jaat – a full-on mass entertainer! Sunny Deol’s action packs a punch, Randeep Hooda shines as the villain. Paisa vasool cinema at its best!“ 🆚 Comparisons With ‘Sikandar’ In a bold move, netizens didn’t shy away from calling Jaat “better than Salman Khan’s Sikandar,” branding it the mass film Sikandar should have been. “This movie will be much better than…

Caste and Gender Bias Alleged in Tamil Nadu School: Class 8 Dalit Girl Made to Write Exam Outside

A disturbing case of alleged caste- and gender-based discrimination has emerged from Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district, where a Class 8 student belonging to the Arunthathiar (Scheduled Caste) community was reportedly forced to write her school examinations outside the classroom. The incident took place shortly after the girl had attained puberty, raising concerns about both menstruation stigma and caste bias in educational spaces. The student, enrolled at Swamy Chidbhavanda Matric Higher Secondary School in Senguttaipalayam village near Kinathukadavu Taluk, was made to sit outside the classroom during her Science exam on April 7 and again for her Social Science paper on April 9. After the student informed her mother about the discrimination, the mother visited the school and recorded a video of her daughter sitting outside, separated from her peers. The footage quickly spread on social media, leading to public outrage and widespread condemnation. Following the viral video, the student’s family approached education officials, and villagers in the area are expected to meet with the Pollachi sub-collector to demand accountability from the school management. Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar confirmed that the Coimbatore rural police have initiated an investigation into the matter. The inspector of matriculation schools has been asked to submit a comprehensive report. “Stringent action will be taken against the school if found guilty,” said the Collector. Dalit rights activists have decried the incident as a grave violation of the girl’s dignity, citing it as both a gender and caste atrocity. “This isn’t just about menstruation; it’s about systemic oppression. The school must be held accountable,” said one activist. The Tamil Nadu education department is expected to issue a formal response after reviewing the findings of the inspection report. Meanwhile, the incident has reignited debates around entrenched societal prejudices and the urgent need for sensitisation in schools regarding both caste and menstrual health.

Barcelona Crush Dortmund 4-0, Take Giant Step Toward UCL Semifinals

CAMP NOU — Barcelona delivered a statement performance in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal, thrashing Borussia Dortmund 4-0 on Wednesday night to all but secure a semifinal berth for the first time since 2019. ⚽ Scorers: 🔥 Key Highlights: 🗣️ “We are confident, but not overconfident,” said Xavi post-match. “It’s only half the job done—we still have to perform in Dortmund.” 📊 Match Stats: 🎯 Tactical Brilliance: 🚨 Injury Concern: 🏆 Quadruple Hopes Alive: With La Liga leadership, a place in the Copa del Rey final, Spanish Super Cup already secured, and now a foot in the UCL semis, Barcelona’s quadruple dream remains very much alive.

Gunfights Erupt in Udhampur and Kishtwar as Security Forces Engage Terrorists

Fresh encounters broke out between security forces and terrorists at two separate locations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur and Kishtwar districts on Wednesday, following specific intelligence inputs about militant movement in the region. In Udhampur district, the gunfight began in Jopher Marta village, located in the Largar area of Ramnagar. Acting on inputs regarding the movement of a group linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, a joint team of security forces launched a search operation in the dense forested area. As the advance party of security personnel moved into the suspected zone, they came under sudden fire from terrorists who were hiding in the vicinity. This led to an intense exchange of gunfire. According to sources, the operation is still in progress, with additional reinforcements deployed to the area to assist in the ongoing engagement. The Udhampur police confirmed the development in a statement on social media, stating that contact with terrorists had been established in the Jopher area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Ramnagar police station. Initial search operations had already raised suspicions of terrorist presence, as gunshots were heard earlier in the day. It is believed that two to three terrorists are currently trapped in the area. Soon after the confrontation in Udhampur, a second encounter erupted in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district. Security forces have reportedly surrounded two to three terrorists hiding near the Chatroo forest. The gunfight at this location is also ongoing, as personnel continue to comb the terrain in search of the militants. Both operations remain active, and security forces are on high alert across the region.

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