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Bengaluru (PTI): Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Friday said there was a broad consensus among the three services on the concept of ITCs. Integrated Theatre Commands in India are a major defence reform aimed at integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force under a single unified commander for specific geographical regions. He added that certain implementation aspects were still being worked out, underscoring the need to enhance efficiency in modern warfare. Interacting with reporters at the end of the two-day ‘Ran Samvad’ seminar, he said the proposed structure was aimed at separating force generation from force application to deal with the increasing complexity of warfare. “This whole idea of the greater command concept is to separate force generation from force application. Till now, both these responsibilities resided within a single service,” General Chauhan said. He stressed that modern conflicts demanded structural reforms within the military. “Warfare is becoming very, very complex, and equally complex is force generation,” he said. He added that separating the two functions would improve efficiency in both processes. General Chauhan said there was complete consensus among the Army, Navy, and Air Force on the concept of integrated commands, though some implementation issues remain. “There are hundreds of connected questions, but I think these issues can be resolved as we implement this particular plan. And whatever we do is not really cast in stone; it is amenable to change,” he said. He said the theatre command structure would involve the creation of joint headquarters integrating operations, intelligence, and logistics functions. “We are going to converge a lot of capabilities and centralise them,” he noted, adding that regional commanders would continue to function under the new arrangement for operational and administrative roles. Earlier, General Chauhan described ‘Ran Samvad’ as a key platform for shaping military thought and preparing the armed forces for future challenges. “Ran Samvad is a landmark initiative on military matters, at least in South Asia,” he said. He said ‘Ran Samvad’ promotes new dialogue on war and warfighting. According to him, the initiative aims to make the armed forces future-ready in “thought, capability, and action,” while also promoting awareness of strategic issues among citizens. “Thoughts, as you all know, are the backbone of any capability development. Original thought, I think, is at the cutting edge of combat,” he said. Emphasising a whole-of-nation approach, General Chauhan said, “The armed forces may be the last instrument or resource, but they are not the only instrument. The whole nation has to get involved in this.” On future warfare, General Chauhan said rapid technological changes made it difficult to predict long-term requirements. “War and warfare are evolving so fast that it is very difficult to give a precise answer to what will be suitable for us in the long run. Each is producing a different kind of lesson for us,” he said. He noted that decisions on specific platforms and capabilities must emerge from within the services. On multi-domain operations, he described it as an evolving concept with multiple models. Responding to queries on timelines, he said final decisions on the structure and location of theatre commands would be taken by the government. “That is the prerogative of the Government of India. I have concluded my discussions with the service chiefs, and we have achieved consensus; now we are ready to take it forward,” he said. He also highlighted the changing character of warfare, distinguishing between traditional and emerging domains. “Warfare in older domains like land and maritime is slow, brutal, and gradual. Warfare in new domains—cyber, the electronic spectrum, and space—is smarter, faster, and unpredictable,” he said. He emphasised that India must prepare for both traditional and emerging domains. He described the ongoing transformation as a “multi-pronged initiative” involving the services and various government departments, and said its success would become more visible over time.

New York (AP): The centerpiece of US President Donald Trump's economic policy – sweeping taxes on global imports – is under legal assault again. The US Court of International Trade, a specialised court in New York, heard oral arguments on Friday in an attempt to overturn the temporary tariffs Trump turned to after the Supreme Court in February struck down his preferred choice – even bigger, even more sweeping tariffs. In his first attempt to impose global tariffs, the president last year invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), using the law to declare America's longstanding trade deficit a national emergency and to impose double-digit worldwide taxes on imports to combat it. He interpreted the law broadly to justify tariffs of whatever size he wanted, whenever he wanted to impose them, on whatever country he wanted to target. The Supreme Court struck those tariffs down on February 20, saying IEEPA did not authorise the use of tariffs to counter national emergencies. But Trump had alternatives to IEEPA. The quickest option was Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose global tariffs of up to 15 per cent for 150 days, after which congressional approval is needed to extend them. After his defeat at the Supreme Court, Trump quickly announced 10 per cent Section 122 tariffs. He said he'd raise them to the maximum 15 per cent but hasn't yet done so. The tariffs are scheduled to expire July 24. Two dozen states and some businesses quickly challenged the new tariffs in court. Friday's hearing lasted more than three hours as a three-judge panel tried to assess a provision that had never been used before to impose tariffs and to analyse congressional decisionmaking from more than a half century ago. The judges intensely questioned lawyers for both the plaintiffs and the government about what certain terms mean, including what precisely the term “balance-of-payments deficits” meant when it was used in the Trade Act of 1974 and what it means today. “I think the judges asked tough questions from all sides and were genuinely trying to find out what Congress meant when it passed Section 122,” Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel and director of litigation for Liberty Justice Centre, which represents some of the plaintiffs, said. “I would be stunned if the challengers prevail,” trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at King and Spalding law firm and a former US trade official, said. The trade court's judges, he said, are likely to defer to the president and allow the Section 122 tariffs to stay, considering that they will expire in three and a half months anyway. “I just don't see them sticking their neck out on this one, given how temporarily it's in place and how much discretion these courts give to the president,” he said. Section 122 is aimed at what it calls “fundamental international payments problems”. At issue is whether that wording covers trade deficits, the gap between what the US sells other countries and what it buys from them. The provision arose from the financial crises that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s when the US dollar was tied to gold. Other countries were dumping dollars in exchange for gold at a set rate, risking a collapse of the US currency and chaos in financial markets. But the dollar is no longer linked to gold, so critics say Section 122 is obsolete. Awkwardly for Trump, his own Justice Department argued in a court filing last year that the president had needed to invoke IEEPA because Section 122 did “not have any obvious application” in fighting trade deficits, which it called “conceptually distinct” from payments problems. Awkwardly for the plaintiffs challenging his use of the temporary tariffs, the trade court itself wrote last year in its own decision striking down IEEPA tariffs that Trump didn't need them because Section 122 was available to counter trade deficits. Last May, the trade court issued a decision striking down Trump's IEEPA tariffs about two weeks after hearing oral arguments in the case. Attorney General Dan Rayfield of Oregon, one of the states challenging Trump's latest tariffs, is eager for another speedy ruling. “We are hopeful to get a result sooner than later. When the president continues to do an unlawful action and takes money out of the pockets of Americans, we want a response as quickly as we can from the courts,” he said.

London (AP): A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in Africa to honour his late mother, Princess Diana, has sued him for defamation after he stepped down as a patron last year. Sentebale, which supports young people living with HIV in Botswana and Lesotho, filed the suit last month in London's High Court, according to court records viewed Friday. Online filings show Harry and his friend, Mark Dyer, a former trustee at the charity, are being sued for either libel or slander. No documents were available. “The charity seeks the court's intervention, protection, and restitution following a coordinated adverse media campaign conducted since March 25, 2025, that has caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners,” Sentebale said Friday in a statement on its website. A spokesperson for Harry and Dyer said the pair “categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims”. The lawsuit puts the Duke of Sussex in an unaccustomed position as a defendant in the high court. Over the past three years, he has repeatedly been on the other side of litigation as the leading claimant in invasion of privacy suits against Britain's most prominent tabloids over allegations of phone hacking and unlawful snooping by journalists and the private eyes they hired. Harry co-founded Sentebale, which means “forget me not” in the language of Lesotho, about 20 years ago in memory of his mother, who was a prominent advocate for treatment of HIV and AIDS and helped reduce stigma around the disease. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho was the co-founder. Disagreements at the charity surfaced in 2023 over a new fundraising strategy, and the two founders stepped down as patrons in March 2025 in support of trustees who had quit. At the time, they said the relationship between the board and its chair, Sophie Chandauka, was beyond repair. Chandauka later accused Harry of orchestrating a campaign of bullying and harassment to try to force her out. As the dispute unfolded, Chandauka told Sky News that filming for one of Harry's Netflix programmes had interfered with a scheduled fundraiser for Sentebale and that an incident with his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, became a source of friction. The Charity Commission for England and Wales investigated and criticised both sides for allowing the issue to become public and damaging the organisation's reputation, but found no evidence of widespread bullying or misogyny at Sentebale. “Sentebale's problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity's reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity's ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve,” commission CEO David Holdsworth said in a statement last August. Harry's spokesperson had criticised the commission's report while Chandauka welcomed it.

By EDITH M. LEDERER United Nations (AP): The gap between rich and poor nations is growing even wider as actions agreed to by many countries last year, including overhauling the major global financial institutions, remain unfulfilled promises, a UN report concluded. The report assessing the blueprint adopted in Seville, Spain, last June to narrow the gap and achieve UN development goals for 2030 was issued ahead of next week's spring meetings in Washington of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the main global financial institutions promoting economic growth. The managing director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, said it had been prepared to upgrade global growth, but the Iran war has now darkened the outlook for the world economy. Li Junhua, the UN undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, said the geopolitical tensions were compounding the struggles of developing countries to attract financing. “This is an extremely perilous time for international cooperation, as geopolitical considerations are increasingly shaping economic relations and financial policies,” he said. The report pointed to rising trade barriers and repeated climate-related shocks as also adding to the growing gap. At last year's conference in Seville, the leaders of many nations, but not the United States, unanimously adopted the Seville Commitment, which was aimed at closing the USD 4 trillion annual financing gap for development. It called for scaling up investments in developing countries and reforming the international financial architecture, including the World Bank and IMF. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly called for major changes to the two institutions, saying the IMF has benefited rich countries instead of poor ones, and the World Bank has failed in its mission, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which left dozens of countries deeply indebted. His criticisms echo those of outside critics who cite frustration in developing countries with the US and its European allies dominating decision-making at financial institutions. The UN report on implementing the Seville Commitment said it represents “the best hope” to close the widening financial gap. But in 2025, Li said 25 countries decreased their development assistance to poorer countries, leading to a 23 per cent overall drop from 2024, the largest annual contraction on record. The biggest decline – 59 per cent – was from the United States, he said. Based on preliminary data, Li said, a further decline of 5.8 per cent is expected in 2026. The report said tariffs – including those imposed by the Trump administration – have had a major impact on developing countries. Average tariffs on exports from the world's poorest nations surged from 9 per cent to 28 per cent in 2025, the report said, and for developing countries, excluding China, average tariffs increased from 2 per cent to 19 per cent.

Houston (AP): Artemis II's astronauts returned from the moon with a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific on Friday to close out humanity's first lunar voyage in more than a half-century. It was a triumphant homecoming for the crew of four whose record-breaking lunar flyby revealed not only swaths of the moon's far side – never seen before by human eyes – but a total solar eclipse. They emerged from their bobbing capsule into the sunlight one by one. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen hit the atmosphere traveling Mach 33 – or 33 times the speed of sound – a blistering blur not seen since NASA's Apollo moonshots of the 1960s and 1970s. Their Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, made the plunge on automatic pilot. The tension in Mission Control mounted as the capsule became engulfed in red-hot plasma during peak heating and entered a planned communication blackout. All eyes were on the capsule's life-protecting heat shield that had to withstand thousands of degrees during reentry. On the spacecraft's only other test flight – in 2022, with no one on board – the shield's charred exterior came back looking as pockmarked as the moon. Like so many others, lead flight director Jeff Radigan anticipated feeling some of that “irrational fear that is human nature”, especially during the six-minute blackout that preceded the opening of the parachutes. The recovery ship, USS John P Murtha, awaited the crew's arrival off the coast of San Diego, along with a squadron of military planes and helicopters. The astronauts' families huddled in Mission Control's viewing room, where cheers erupted when the capsule emerged from its communication blackout and again at splashdown nearly 2,000 miles (3,219 km) away. “A perfect bull's-eye splashdown,” Mission Control's Rob Navias reported. Artemis II's record flyby and views of moon Launched from Florida on April 1, the astronauts racked up one win after another as they deftly navigated NASA's long-awaited lunar comeback, the first major step in establishing a sustainable moon base. Artemis II didn't land on the moon or even orbit it. But it broke Apollo 13's distance record and marked the farthest that humans have ever journeyed from Earth when the crew reached 252,756 miles (406,771 km). Then in the mission's most heart-tugging scene, the teary astronauts asked permission to name a pair of craters after their moonship and Wiseman's late wife, Carroll. During Monday's record-breaking flyby, they documented scenes of the moon's far side never seen before by the human eye along with a total solar eclipse. The eclipse, in particular, “just blew all of us away”, Glover said. Their sense of wonder and love awed everyone, as did their breathtaking pictures of the moon and Earth. The Artemis II crew channelled Apollo 8's first lunar explorers with Earthset, showing our Blue Marble setting behind the gray moon. It was reminiscent of Apollo 8's famous Earthrise shot from 1968. “We are back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon, bringing them back safely and to set up for a series more," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Friday from the recovery ship. "This is just the beginning.” Their moonshot drew global attention as well as star power, earning props from President Donald Trump; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney; Britain's King Charles III; Ryan Gosling, star of the latest space flick “Project Hail Mary”; Scarlett Johansson of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; and even Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner of TV's original “Star Trek”. Artemis II was test flight for future moon missions Despite its rich scientific yield, the nearly 10-day flight was not without technical issues. Both the capsule's drinking water and propellant systems were hit with valve problems. In perhaps the most high-profile predicament, the toilet kept malfunctioning, but the astronauts shrugged it all off. “We can't explore deeper unless we are doing a few things that are inconvenient,” Koch said, “Unless we're making a few sacrifices, unless we're taking a few risks, and those things are all worth it.” Added Hansen: “You do a lot of testing on the ground, but your final test is when you get this hardware to space and it's a doozy.” Under the revamped Artemis program, next year's Artemis III will see astronauts practice docking their capsule with a lunar lander or two in orbit around Earth. Artemis IV will attempt to land a crew of two near the moon's south pole in 2028. The Artemis II astronauts' allegiance was to those future crews, Wiseman said. “But we really hoped in our soul that we could for just for a moment have the world pause and remember that this is a beautiful planet and a very special place in our universe, and we should all cherish what we have been gifted,” he said

New Delhi (PTI): Army veteran Col Sonam Wangchuk (retd), who received a Maha Vir Chakra for his gallantry in the 1999 Kargil war, passed away on Friday, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailing him as a "proud son of Ladakh" whose heroics during Operation Vijay inspired Army personnel in the demanding high-altitude conditions. The Indian Army offered deepest condolences at the veteran's demise, saying the force stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief. In a post on X on Friday, Singh paid glowing tribute to Col Wangchuk describing him as a highly decorated officer of the Army, renowned for his gallantry, resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to duty. "A proud son of Ladakh, he exemplified the spirit of the region -- resilient, steadfast and deeply rooted in service to the nation, while standing as a symbol of India's unity in diversity. His courageous actions of leading by personal example during Operation Vijay inspired his men under the most demanding conditions in high-altitude," he said. Singh expressed deep sadness on the passing of the Maha Vir Chakra awardee. The defence minister said the Kargil war hero's life remains a testament to courage, sacrifice and national integration, and his legacy will continue to inspire coming generations. The Army in a post on X recalled him as a brave soldier, a committed leader and a son of Ladakh whose life "embodied courage, service and unity" and asserted his legacy will continue to inspire generations. The Army also shared excerpts from the citation of his gallantry award in its post. The Maha Vir Chakra is the second-highest military decoration in India after the Param Vir Chakra, awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. "On May 30, 1999, Major Sonam Wangchuk was leading a column of the Indus Wing, Ladakh Scouts as a part of ongoing operations during Operation Vijay in the Batalik Sector. The column was tasked to occupy Ridge Line on the Line of Control in a glaciated area at a height of about 5,500 metres. This was essential to pre-empt its occupation by the enemy and any subsequent infiltration," it says. While moving towards the Line of Control, the enemy ambushed the column by firing from a vantage position. In the process, one NCO of Ladakh Scouts sustained fatal injuries. Major Wangchuk held his column together and in a "daring counter ambush", led a raid on the enemy position from a flank, killing two enemy personnel. The officer also recovered one heavy machine gun and one universal machine gun, ammunition, controlled stores, it added. For this act of exceptional bravery, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. Tributes have poured in from early morning as the news of his demise became public. Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps in a post on X said, "GOC Fire and Fury Corps and all ranks express profound grief on the untimely demise of Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Maha Vir Chakra (retd) and extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family." A distinguished veteran of the Kargil War, he is remembered for his exemplary courage and inspiring leadership in the Batalik Sector. His indomitable spirit and military acumen contributed significantly to the nation's success in the most challenging high altitude operations. His legacy of leadership, patriotism and unwavering commitment to duty will continue to inspire generations, it added. The Army shared the post and further wrote: 'General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, and all ranks of the Indian Army pay heartfelt homage to Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Maha Vir Chakra -- a brave soldier, a committed leader and a son of Ladakh whose life embodied courage, service and unity. His legacy will continue to inspire generations," offering deepest condolences with the bereaved family.

Khargone (MP) (PTI): The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on Friday confirmed that a young woman from Madhya Pradesh who became famous due to her viral videos during the 2025 Maha Kumbh has been found to be a minor after an inquiry. Citing the findings of an inquiry panel set up by the commission, local BJP leaders alleged that her interfaith marriage in Kerala last month was a case of "love Jihad", and sought legal action. While the panel had submitted its report in March, ST commission chairman Antar Singh Arya confirmed its findings to the PTI on Friday. A case for alleged kidnapping and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has already been registered against her husband, a Muslim man, at Maheshwar on the basis of the inquiry findings, police said. The girl gained national fame after her videos while selling garlands and rudraksha at the Maha Kumbh went viral on social media and also earned her a role in a film. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes set up an inquiry panel after receiving a complaint on March 17 from Pratham Dubey, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, that she was a minor and was being exploited. Maheshwar BJP MLA Rajkumar Mev and BJP mandal president Vikram Patel, armed with documents, told reporters on Friday that her marriage in Kerala was a case of "love Jihad" and she should be brought back home. 'Love jihad' is a term used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into marriage to convert them to Islam. Police said an investigation is underway, and further action would be taken accordingly. The girl, who belongs to the nomadic Pardhi community, got married at a temple in Kerala in March. The interfaith marriage drew angry reactions from rightwing Hindu groups. Her family members and film director Sanoj Mishra -- who had offered her a film role after she became famous -- too alleged that it was 'love Jihad'. As per the inquiry conducted by the ST commission, records at the Maheshwar government hospital showed the woman's date of birth as December 30, 2009 which meant she was 16 years and two months old at the time of marriage, said Dubey, the complainant. On a complaint filed by her father, police registered a case against the girl's husband at Maheshwar police station on March 25 for alleged kidnapping and under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police sources said that a separate case was also registered on March 24 under section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (taking a minor from lawful custody of guardian without their consent) based on the the commission's findings.

Dubai (AP): US President Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the two-week ceasefire over Iran's continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, while Kuwait accused Iran and its proxies of launching drone attacks despite the ceasefire. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard denied launching attacks Thursday night on Persian Gulf states. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a potential boost to ceasefire efforts in the region when he said he had approved direct talks with Lebanon. The Lebanese government has not responded as of Friday morning. The announcement came after Israel's pounding of Beirut on Wednesday killed more than 300 people. The negotiations are expected next week in Washington, according to a person familiar with the matter. Questions remained over what will happen to Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium at the heart of tensions, how and when normal traffic will resume through the Strait of Hormuz, and what happens to Iran's ability to launch future missile attacks and support armed proxies in the region. Talks between the United States and Iran on a resolution to the conflict are expected to start Saturday in Islamabad, with the White House saying Vice President JD Vance would lead the US delegation. Here is the latest: Beirut residents sift through the wreckage of their homes In the Ain al-Mraisseh neighbourhood along Beirut's coastal corniche, where an Israeli strike on Thursday wiped out the bottom floors of a multi-story building, causing a partial collapse, stunned residents tried to salvage whatever furniture and personal mementoes they could find in the rubble. Although now homeless, some men at the scene expressed gratitude that they lost only their apartments, not their loved ones. The strikes killed more than 300 people and wounded over 1,800, authorities said. “There is no substitute for family,” said Wissam Tabila, 35. “Everything else can be replaced. The house and other things can be replaced, but parents, children, or a wife, this is the most important.” WHO: Israel pledges not to attack 2 key Lebanese hospitals The World Health Organisation said Israeli forces had previously issued an evacuation order for Beirut's Jnah area, which includes the Rafik Hariri — the main public hospital in the city — and Al Zahraa Hospital. WHO's top representative in Lebanon said Friday that Israel provided “assurance” after late-night talks with UN officials that Israeli forces would not attack the hospitals as they continue military action against Hezbollah. Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, speaking to reporters in Geneva, said UN officials “got some assurance back saying that these two hospitals will not be attacked.” Separately, Abubakar said Israeli forces warned that “ambulances will be attacked.” An Israeli army spokesman wrote on X that Hezbollah is “deliberately using ambulances for terror purposes.” Abubakar said WHO was not able to independently confirm those claims. An Iranian official says over 3,000 people have been killed in the war A top medical official in Iran has put the death toll in the war with Israel and the United States at over 3,000 people. The state-run IRAN daily newspaper quoted Abbas Masjedi, head of the Legal Medicine Organisation, as saying, “More than 3,000 people were killed in enemy attacks.” Masjedi did not elaborate on the breakdown in civilian versus military casualties. Iran's government has not provided any definitive death toll from the weeklong war. South Korean president shares 2024 video of Israeli soldiers dropping a body off a roof South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared on his X account what appeared to be a 2024 video showing Israeli soldiers throwing a body from a rooftop in the occupied West Bank, and wrote: “humanitarian law must be observed under any circumstances.” Lee, in his posts on Friday, did not make a direct comment on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East or Israel's current war operations, but said: “lessons marked on the painful wounds of the past must not be repeated as recurring tragedies.” Lee said the video, which he reposted from another account, was from a “shocking” incident in September 2024 that was also investigated by Israeli authorities. Lee's office did not immediately provide an explanation for why he posted those messages. Lee's government earlier on Friday said it was sending senior diplomat Chung Byung-ha as a special envoy to Iran to discuss the safety of its citizens and Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Singapore rules out restrictions on fuel exports Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the island state will not restrict fuel exports from its refineries due to the Iran war disruptions. Singapore was Australia's largest supplier of refined petroleum products. “We do not plan to restrict exports. We didn't have to do so even in the darkest days of COVID, and we will not do so during this energy crisis,” Wong said at a news conference with his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese. “It's hypothetical. It won't happen,” Wong added. Albanese said Wong had given the same assurance in their bilateral meeting. “The prime minister's just as confident in private as he is in public,” Albanese said.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABERAP Washington (AP): Soaring gas prices are expected to produce a spike in inflation when the government reports consumer prices for March on Friday, likely unnerving the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve and heightening the political challenges of rising costs for the White House. Inflation probably rose to 3.4 per cent in March compared with a year ago, economists estimate, which would be a sharp increase from February's 2.4 per cent increase. On a monthly basis, prices are forecast to have risen 0.9 per cent in March from the previous month, according to a survey of economists by data provider FactSet. That would be the largest monthly increase since 2022. Until now, there had been a slight moderating trend in inflation since last fall. A reading of 3.4 per cent would be the highest in nearly two years and is far above the Fed's 2 per cent target. “There is going to be a headline sticker shock here,” said Michael Metcalfe, head of macro strategy at State Street, which produces PriceStats, a measure of inflation culled from millions of online prices. Their data suggests inflation could leap by 1.5 per cent just in March from February. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices are projected to have risen 2.7 per cent in March from a year earlier, up from 2.5 per cent in February. From February to March, core prices are expected to have risen 0.3 per cent, a faster pace than is consistent with the Fed's target. Gas prices soared about 20 per cent in March, a move that saps consumers' ability to spend on other goods and services and, as a result, could also slow economic growth. At least in the short run, many Americans can only make limited changes to their daily driving habits, which are largely determined by where they live, shop, and work. As a result, most people will pay higher prices for gas and potentially cut back elsewhere. Gas prices averaged USD 4.17 a gallon nationwide Thursday, up 69 cents from a month ago. The big question for consumers and the economy is whether the surge in oil and gas prices will create a sustained, broader inflation shock, similar to what occurred in the aftermath of the pandemic in 2021-2022. Inflation reached a peak of 9.1 per cent in June 2022, as COVID-19 snarled supply chains and several rounds of stimulus checks pushed up consumer demand. Prices soared for groceries, furniture, restaurant meals and many other goods and services. This time, economists say the job market and consumer spending are weaker, and there are no large government stimulus checks being issued to spur demand. The unemployment rate is low, at 4.3 per cent, but companies aren't scrambling to hire the way they were when the economy emerged from the pandemic, which led many firms to offer sharp pay increases to attract and keep workers. Rapid pay increases and solid income growth helped consumers weather the higher prices that resulted from the pandemic's supply chain disruptions, and fueled spikes in demand that led many companies to raise prices further. “That's where this really differs, is that we aren't seeing anywhere near the strength of demand,” Alan Detmeister, an economist at UBS, said. In 2021 and 2022, income growth “was increasing really strongly. We aren't seeing that now,” he added. Detmeister thinks the better comparison will likely be to 1990-91, when higher oil and gas prices stemming from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait contributed to a recession, but didn't lead to a jump in inflation, in part because of weaker consumer spending. The gas price spike's impact on inflation is, in some ways, similar to President Donald Trump's tariffs, in that their effect will depend largely on the size and duration of the increase. For now, economists expect that in March and April the impact will largely be confined to energy-intensive industries, such as airlines, package delivery services and public transportation. Overall, the US economy is much less dependent on oil and gas than it was in previous decades. Still, the large jump in inflation — which is almost certain to continue for several months — has already shifted the debate at the Federal Reserve, which began the year expecting to cut its key interest rate at least a couple of times. But a growing number of Fed officials are now willing to consider hiking rates instead if core inflation doesn't cool noticeably. Most officials are almost certain to support keeping the Fed's key interest rate unchanged in the coming months, at about 3.6 per cent, as they evaluate how the economy evolves. Investors now don't expect the Fed to cut rates until late 2027. Higher gas prices are tricky for the Fed because they can also slow growth by weighing on consumer spending, potentially causing layoffs. The Fed would typically cut its rate to encourage more spending if unemployment rises, while it raises rates to combat inflation. More expensive oil and gas will also likely lift grocery prices, creating more pain for consumers who have already absorbed a roughly 25 per cent jump in food costs since the pandemic. Nearly all groceries are shipped by diesel-fueled trucks, and diesel fuel prices have risen even more than those for regular gas. Still, analysts don't expect food prices to accelerate for another month or two.

By Sagar Kulkarni Washington (PTI): India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, marking the start of the second stage of its nuclear programme, has drawn praise from global atomic regulator IAEA. The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said the first criticality achieved by the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, was a key step forward in fuel sustainability and the future of nuclear energy. “The @IAEAorg will continue supporting the safe and secure development of India’s nuclear programme. Congratulations, Prime Minister @narendramodi,” Grossi said in a post on X. “Impressive progress by India in achieving criticality of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, a key step forward in fuel sustainability and the future of nuclear energy,” Grossi said. India’s PFBR, which was over two decades in the making, is only the second such reactor in the world after Russia. The US and Japan gave up efforts to master the complex technology several decades ago. The International Energy Agency (IEA), based in Paris, also termed the first criticality milestone achieved by the PBFR an “important technological achievement”. “Congratulations to India, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to the scientists and engineers on this important technological achievement after many years of development,” the IEA said in a post on X. It said the PFBR, which achieved first criticality on April 6 at 8:25 pm IST, will use much less nuclear fuel than other reactors and lay a pathway towards a closed fuel cycle. Over the next few months, scientists will carry out low physics experiments and gradually increase power production before it is connected to the grid. The PFBR is the first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor to use plutonium-based mixed oxide as fuel and liquid sodium as coolant. It will also utilise the spent fuel of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, which form the mainstay of nuclear power in India at present. While the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) operates nuclear power plants in India, the PFBR is developed by the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI). PFBRs are critical for India's nuclear programme as the spent fuel from these reactors will be used to power the thorium-based reactors that form the third stage of the closed fuel cycle. The vision of the nuclear closed fuel cycle was laid down by Homi Jehangir Bhabha, who pioneered India’s atomic energy programme, with an aim to reduce nuclear waste. The Indian government has announced a nuclear energy mission that aims to produce 100 GW electricity through nuclear power. At present, India's installed nuclear power capacity stands at 8.7 GW. An additional 6.40 GW nuclear energy projects are under construction or commissioning and 7 GW have been sanctioned and are currently undergoing pre-project activities. Upon completion of these projects, India's nuclear power capacity is expected to reach 22.48 GW by 2031-32. Beyond this, the NPCIL plans to add another 15.40 GW through indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors and 17.60 GW through Light Water Reactors with foreign cooperation, bringing the total installed capacity to 55 GW. Additionally, BHAVINI is expected to contribute 3.80 GW through Fast Breeder Reactors while the remainder of the capacity will come from Small Modular Reactors, Bharat Small Reactors, and other advanced nuclear technologies developed with private sector collaboration.

By DIDI TANG, AAMER MADHANI and FARNOUSH AMIRI Washington (AP): With a fragile ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran holding for now, China is calculating its role in helping find a durable endgame to the war in the Middle East. After prodding China, which is more reliant on Persian Gulf oil than the US, to get involved in reopening the choked-off Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump told French news outlet Agence France-Presse this week that he believed China played a part in encouraging Iran to agree to this week's temporary truce. Three diplomats who were familiar with China's behind-the-scenes efforts also confirmed that Beijing, the biggest purchaser of Iranian oil, used its leverage to urge the Iranians back to the negotiating table. It was a major moment for Beijing, which had decried the US and Israel's war against its economic partner Iran as misguided before getting directly involved in the push to call off the fighting, including discouraging strikes by Iran. Talks between the sides are expected to begin in Pakistan this weekend. With the precarious truce hanging in the balance, China will now need to make a careful calculation about whether it will tread deeper into the waters of diplomacy as it weighs the impact that a long-lasting war could have on the global economy. Middle East turmoil goes against Beijing's interests, while its efforts may boost its global standing and strengthen its hand in negotiating thorny trade issues during Trump's visit to China next month. “Beijing is not in the business of expending its leverage as a favour to others or for the greater good,” Danny Russel, a former senior diplomat in ex-US president Barack Obama's administration, said. Iran war puts pressure on China's economy Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters this week that China “has worked actively to help bring about an end to the conflict”. The Chinese economy is already feeling pressure from Iran's effective shuttering of the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20 per cent of the world's crude normally flows. The blockade is having an enormous impact on Asia, a factor that seems to have informed the Chinese government's efforts to consult with Pakistan to help mediate a two-week ceasefire. China does not appear interested in providing guarantees for Iran's long-term security as part of a deal to end hostilities, something Tehran has hoped for and sees as critical to deterring the US and Israel from carrying out strikes in the future. Iran's ambassador to China suggested this week that its two closest allies – China and Russia – as well as the United Nations ensure the guarantee, which Tehran has sought before without success. Asked about that possibility, Mao would only say that “we hope that all parties will resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation”. Still, Chinese officials are cognizant that a lasting war threatens to have a real impact on Beijing's bottom line. Premier Li Qiang announced last month that the government was projecting relatively modest 4.5 per cent to 5 per cent economic growth this year during a property slump and growing uncertainty around the globe. It's the lowest growth target since 1991. Ultimately, China's foremost goal is “growth and development”, according to one of the diplomats familiar with Chinese deliberations on the war. The diplomat, who like the others was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, added that a continued closure of the strait ran counter to that interest. It not only limits the flow of a significant supply of crude to China but also cuts off an important shipping lane for Chinese exports to the Mideast. How Iran diplomacy could play into Trump-Xi meeting Trump will likely underscore that argument to Chinese President Xi Jinping during their much-anticipated Beijing summit next month. The talks, which were originally slated for this month, were pushed back so Trump could oversee the US bombardment of Iran. “That the United States and Iran have at least temporarily edged away from the precipice of a catastrophic escalation owes in part to China's support for the ceasefire that Pakistan brokered,” Ali Wyne, a senior research and advocacy adviser for US-China relations at the International Crisis Group, said. “Even if short-lived, that breakthrough affords Beijing another opportunity to present itself as a stabilising force and Washington as a reckless one.” To be certain, China's view is shaped by a heavy measure of skepticism. Some in Beijing see Trump's decision to launch the Iran war, as well as the military operation in January to capture then-Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, as being at least partially motivated by his strategy at containing China, diplomats say. Beijing was a major customer and investor in the South American country's oil industry. Privately, the Chinese have made clear that the US and Iran would have to show compromise for a deal to coalesce. Beijing is also looking to press Trump to remove sanctions on Chinese companies doing business with Iran as part of a potential settlement, diplomats say.

New York (AP): Underlining Iran's continued control of the Strait of Hormuz, a Botswana-flagged liquified natural gas tanker called the Nidi attempted to travel out of the Persian Gulf via a route ordered by the Revolutionary Guard but suddenly turned around and headed back early Friday, ship-tracking data showed. On Thursday, four tankers and three bulk carriers crossed through the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the total number of ships passing through since the ceasefire to at least 12, according to the data firm Kpler. However, other ships not transmitting their locations may have passed through as well. The strait typically saw well over 100 ships passing through it daily in peacetime. On Thursday evening, US President Donald Trump appeared to be casting doubt on the effectiveness of the ceasefire that has halted the Iran war. “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote on his social media site. “That is not the agreement we have!” The post came after Trump posted earlier that “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait – They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!” The White House supports reopening the strait as part of the ceasefire deal, but says that Trump opposes Iran's military, which continues to control the waterway, from seeking to raise revenue by charging tolls on passing ships.