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Representational image (Photo Source: World Archery)

BHOPAL: Sohit Kumar is just 11, but he already has a national archery record to his name. Competing against athletes older than him, the Jabalpur boy shot an exceptional 710 out of 720 points at the Under-15 National Archery Championship in Guntur on Wednesday to clinch gold and etch his name into the history books.
Back home in Jabalpur, his father — who uses crutches and sells vegetables from a pushcart — was overcome with joy. “No one in the family was ever a sportsman. This is God’s blessing and my boy’s hard work,” he said.
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Sohit, a compound archer, is jubilant and already has his sights set on the 2028 LA Olympics, where the ‘compound’ category will be introduced. “Soon, there will be trials for the International Youth Championship, and I want to perform well and represent the country,” he told TOI.
A Class 7 student, he trains at the MP Archery Academy in Jabalpur. At just 10, Sohit even competed for Madhya Pradesh in the Senior National Championship in Jamshedpur last year. Though he couldn’t win a medal, the keen-eyed boy among men was quickly noticed.
He went on to win gold, silver, and bronze medals at the SGFI School National Games in Gujarat in 2024, and a gold at the Open National Archery Tournament in Uttarakhand the same year.
Sohit’s family, originally from Aligarh, moved to Jabalpur 15 years ago. His father was earlier a farm worker for Rinku Chaudhary, an army physiotherapist. When Rinku relocated, the family moved too.
After losing a leg in a road accident 15 years ago, Sohit’s father continued to provide for the family, selling vegetables on a pushcart while on crutches. Sohit has inherited the same grit and resilience.
Rinku spotted Sohit’s potential early and introduced him to coach Ricchpal Singh at the archery academy. Although the academy typically accepts students aged 12–16, Ricchpal was so struck by Sohit’s raw talent that he made an exception.
“I felt if he wasn’t given a chance now, his talent would go to waste. That’s why I gave him admission — and he proved himself,” said Ricchpal. “Scoring 710 out of 720 in the 40-metre event has never been achieved in this age category,” he added

Representative Image (AI)

NEW DELHI: A 24-year-old man from Bareilly’s Izzatnagar area allegedly died by suicide at his home, reportedly following a marital dispute, police said on Thursday.
The deceased, Raj Arya, was found hanging in his room on Wednesday.
Family members alleged that Arya took the extreme step due to harassment by his wife, Simran (23), whom he had married in a love marriage in April 2024. The couple had welcomed a baby girl just 45 days ago.
According to police, both Raj and Simran were working in private firms at the time of their marriage, but had recently lost their jobs. Tensions had reportedly been escalating between the two for some time, and about 10 days ago, Simran left their home after a major argument and returned to her parental house.
On Wednesday morning, Simran allegedly posted two status updates on Instagram. In the first, she wrote, “He will be in jail by 10:30 am” — indicating that she had filed a police complaint against him. In a second post, she added, “Now go to jail.”
Later that evening, Raj died by suicide.
His mother told police that just before the incident, Raj had said, “Maa, I’m going to sleep forever.” Initially not grasping the seriousness of his words, she became concerned and soon discovered him hanging from a ceiling fan.
Police have sent the body for post-mortem examination.
Circle Officer Ajay Kumar confirmed the incident and said legal proceedings would begin once a formal complaint is received from the family.

MS Dhoni (left) speaks to CSK head coach Stephen Fleming during the practice session. (PTI)

Stand-in captain MS Dhoni will lead Chennai Super Kings against Ajinkya Rahane’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match no 25 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. CSK are currently placed at the ninth place, whereas KKR at the sixth position on the point table.
On the eve of the match, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming has revealed that an elbow injury has ruled out Ruturaj Gaikwad from the tournament.
An MRI confirmed that Gaikwad, 28, has an elbow fracture, Fleming said, adding that Dhoni would take over as captain for the remainder of the IPL.
“Unfortunately, Ruturaj Gaikwad is going to be ruled out of the tournament,” Fleming said. “(Gaikwad) got hit in Guwahati. He’s been operating with an amount of pain.”
Dhoni, 43, led Chennai from 2008 until 2024, when he handed the captaincy to Gaikwad.
He had also handed the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja in 2022, but took back the leadership midway through the season after a string of disappointing results. Under Dhoni, CSK have won five IPL titles, the last in 2023, as well as two Champions League trophies. The team however had a dismal start to the current season, losing four of their first five matches.
KKR on the other hand, will be smarting from their narrow loss against Lucknow Super Giants three days back, and will look to get back to winning ways before it gets too late for the defending champions.
CSK vs KKR: Chepauk pitch report
The Chepauk pitch is anticipated to be slow and difficult for batting, requiring careful adjustment. Spinners will be a major factor, with both teams possessing strong spin attacks. Recent results suggest batting first will be preferred.
CSK vs KKR: Playing XI team prediction
CSK predicted XI: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Khaleel Ahmed,
Impact: Matheesha Pathirana
KKR predicted XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora
Impact Sub: Varun Chakravarthy
CSK vs KKR: Squads
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Varun Chakaravarthy, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali, Rovman Powell, Mayank Markande, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Chetan Sakariya.
CSK vs KKR: Head-to-head
Matches played: 30
CSK won: 19
KKR won: 10
No Result: 1
CSK vs KKR: Chennai weather report
According to Accuweather.com, the weather in the morning is expected to be pretty warm, rising to 36 degrees. It is expected to come down to 30 at the time of the match with clear, breezy weather while the temperature will drop to 26 at night.

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of Indian Premier League 2025 due to an elbow injury. In his absence, it will be MS Dhoni, who will be leading the five-time champions in the ongoing season. This came as a big blow for CSK as Gaikwad had also been valuable for the team as a consistent and reliable batter. Gaikwad sustained the blow when he was hit by a short ball from England and Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer on March 30. After that he went on to play two games. “He got hit in Guwahati (vs RR). He’s been operating with an amount of pain. We got an X-ray, which was inconclusive, and we had an MRI, which revealed a fracture in his elbow, in the radial neck,” said CSK head coach Stephen Fleming while sharing the news.

While Gaikwad is already out of the tournament, a video of his playing football has gone viral on social media. NDTV could not verify whether the video has been shot recently or it is an old one.

In the surfaced clip, Gaikwad could be seen playing football during CSK training. The video saw many fans questioning the injury of the player.

“Forcefully dropped?” asked a fan. “Old video,” claimed another fan.

Watch it here:

Injured Ruturaj gaikwad playing football currently. pic.twitter.com/dNJgQ7Dn4S

— Juylov Vladislav (@juylov_vlad) April 10, 2025

While Gaikwad played through pain against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, the CSK medical team could only get his MRI done after the swelling subsided.

“So we’re disappointed and feel for him. We appreciate the efforts that he’s gone to in terms of trying to play, but, he will be out of the tournament,” said Fleming.

The head coach also said that Gaikwad wanted to “continue” but the call to replace him had to be made.

While Gaikwad has easily been the best batter in the last five games, he has often been left frustrated by a floundering top order and below-par show by the middle order, where CSK haven’t been able to chase anything in excess of 180.

CSK doesn’t have too many options now apart from bringing back Rahul Tripathi in the top-three although he has looked terribly out of place so far.

Deepak Hooda, one of the seasoned CSK players, can come in the middle order.

CSK can also look at the untested Delhi boy Vansh Bedi to do some power hitting.

The Chennai team is entitled to a substitute player and it could be Mumbai teenager Ayush Mhatre filling in that slot. 

(With PTI Inputs)

Hundreds of employees have been reportedly laid off from Google.

When a special plane touched down in Delhi Thursday evening, a team from the anti-terror body National Investigation Agency (NIA), flanked by elite National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, escorted Tahawwur Hussain Rana – the Pakistani-origin Canadian national accused of playing a role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks – to a court where he was formally remanded to 18-day NIA custody. 

Within hours, he was moved under high security to the anti-terror agency’s heavily guarded headquarters at the CGO complex. Rana, who was arrested under a US extradition warrant and had exhausted every available legal avenue to avoid facing Indian justice, will now be probed over the next few days. 

Inside Rana’s Interrogation

According to sources, Rana has been kept in a 14×14 cell on the ground floor of the NIA headquarters. This cell is equipped with CCTV cameras, a bed and a toilet. Multiple layers of digital security has been placed, as well as a retinue of 24-hour guards. Only 12 NIA officials are allowed to enter this cell. 

At 10 am today, the first round of interrogation begins. Inside a sealed, CCTV-monitored interrogation room, equipped with video-recording equipment, a team led by NIA officers of Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent rank will begin the probe. A daily interrogation diary will be maintained, detailing every exchange and answer. At the end of the 18-day custody period, a comprehensive disclosure statement – legally admissible – will be prepared as part of the case diary.

Rana’s legal team in the US had cited multiple life-threatening medical conditions – including chronic asthma, Parkinson’s disease, heart ailments, suspected bladder cancer, and cognitive decline – in a last-ditch attempt to block his extradition. They warned that Indian custody would effectively amount to a death sentence. But both the US federal courts and ultimately the US Supreme Court rejected the argument, clearing the path for his return to India.

A medical check-up will be administered every 48 hours to monitor his health and ensure compliance with human rights standards. Special precautions are being taken to prevent any possibility of self-harm in case Rana attempts to escape accountability by compromising his safety.

Establishing Identity and Intent

According to NIA sources, the first leg of Rana’s interrogation will focus on his personal and familial background. Investigators will probe details about his upbringing, education, family, and career, including his transition from a trained medical doctor to an alleged conspirator in international terrorism.

In particular, they will ask why he brought his wife with him during his 2008 visit to India. Did his family know about his alleged links to David Coleman Headley – another accused in the Mumbai attacks case, who is currently in jail in the US – or his role in planning the 26/11 attacks?

26/11 Mumbai Attacks

The next and most critical rounds of interrogation will focus squarely on the Mumbai attacks – a series of coordinated shootings and bombings carried out by ten terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group that left 166 people dead and more than 238 injured over four harrowing days. Rana is accused of facilitating reconnaissance missions, aiding Headley’s fake visa applications, and liaising with LeT terrorists.

According to NIA sources, among the key questions that will be put to him are:

1. Where was he physically located on November 26, 2008, when the attacks began?
2. Why did he travel to India between November 8 and November 21 of that year? Where did he go, and whom did he meet during this window?
3. When did he first learn about the impending Mumbai attacks?
4. What was the extent of his relationship with David Headley, and why did he help procure a fake visa for him?
5. What kind of information did Headley relay to Rana during his visits to India?
6. What was the nature of Rana’s conversations with Headley? Did they involve detailed planning of the attacks?
7. What direct or indirect role did Rana play in selecting and surveilling potential targets?
8. How did he assist Headley in gathering actionable intelligence for Lashkar-e-Taiba?
9. Was he involved in any logistical planning or funding of the operation?
10. Did he liaise with operatives beyond Headley – including individuals embedded in the LeT and Pakistan’s ISI network?

Lashkar-e-Taiba Connection

From the Mumbai attacks, the interrogation will pivot to Rana’s alleged links with Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to sources, officials want to determine:

1. How and when did he meet LeT chief Hafiz Saeed?
2. What was the nature of their relationship?
3. Did he provide logistical or financial support to Lashkar? If so, what did the group provide in return?
4. Can Rana identify other members of the LeT by name, face, or role?
5. What is his understanding of the LeT’s hierarchy, recruitment methods, and funding sources?
6. Who supplies the group’s weaponry, and which countries are allegedly involved?
7. What role do the Pakistani Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) play in training, funding, and selecting targets?
8. Does Rana have knowledge of training camps run by LeT and HuJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami)?
9. How many ISI officers are involved in this process, and what exactly is taught during these training modules?
10. Who makes the final decisions about executing attacks? Are instructions relayed directly by ISI officers or routed through LeT intermediaries?
11. What psychological conditioning is employed to ready young men for suicide missions?
12. How many individuals are involved in the operational planning of a typical attack, and what specific roles do they play?

The Pakistan ISI Nexus

Investigators are also expected to probe Rana about his alleged links to the Pakistani intelligence agency. According to NIA sources, some of the questions that may be asked are:

1. Did Headley introduce Rana to the ISI, or was it the other way around?
2. What was the ISI’s objective? Were the Mumbai sites the only intended targets, or did plans exist to strike other Indian cities?
3. Were senior ISI officials – besides Major Iqbal and Sameer Ali, both of whom are on NIA’s most wanted list – also involved in coordinating with Headley and Rana?
4. Who was responsible for financing the logistics of the attack?
5. Was the ISI operating with knowledge or tacit approval from the Pakistani government?
6. Who issued instructions during the attack – a real-time communications link was discovered during the siege. Does Rana know who was on the other end?

NEW DELHI: Asian markets on Friday slumped with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 nosediving over 5.6% in early trade, as investors reacted to mounting fears that the US-China trade war is spiralling out of control.
The fresh jitters come a day after Wall Street erased much of its historic rally, triggered earlier in the week by President Donald Trump’s temporary suspension of tariffs on several allies—excluding China.
By late morning, Japan’s benchmark index was down 4.7% at 32,969.95. South Korea’s Kospi shed 1.6% while Australia’s ASX 200 lost 2.1%. The yen climbed sharply, with the dollar falling to 143.48 yen from about 146 yen on Thursday, a clear signal of investors rushing to safer assets. Gold also touched a new high as risk-off sentiment spread.
The renewed sell-off was sparked after the White House clarified that Chinese imports will now face a 145% tariff rate, once earlier layers are included. Beijing swiftly responded with 84% tariffs on US goods and announced plans to reduce the number of Hollywood films imported—shaking stocks like Warner Bros. Discovery, which plunged 12.5%.

US markets suffered their worst single-day drop in months on Thursday, effectively erasing the optimism sparked by earlier trade pauses. The S&P 500 slid 3.5%, closing at 5,268.05, while the Nasdaq suffered an even steeper fall of 4.3%. The Dow Jones tumbled 2.5%, shedding over 1,000 points to end at 39,593.66. The selloff was broad-based, with tech, financials, and consumer stocks all taking heavy hits. The plunge reflected deepening investor anxiety over rising tariffs, recession risks, and the possibility of a global slowdown.

President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that his administration will move forward with a massive 145% tariff package on Chinese goods, significantly higher than the 125% figure floated earlier. While the White House recently paused tariffs on allies like the EU, Japan, and the UK, Trump framed the China move as a “necessary correction” to decades of unfair trade practices. “We’re bringing the jobs back. It’s tough love, but we’ll win,” he told reporters. Businesses and economists warned the steep duties could raise consumer prices and disrupt supply chains, particularly in electronics, automotive, and machinery sectors.

Beijing responded swiftly to Trump’s tariff escalation, slapping 84% tariffs on key American exports including agricultural goods, electronics, and semiconductors. The Chinese government also announced a sharp reduction in the number of American films allowed to screen in China, a move that dealt a heavy blow to Hollywood. Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery plunged 12.5%, while Disney fell 6.8% amid fears of long-term market access losses. Analysts said the film industry, already grappling with streaming disruptions, could face major revenue hits if Chinese market access continues to narrow.

Gold prices hit an all-time high as nervous investors piled into safe-haven assets amid deepening market turmoil. Uncertainty over global trade, equity volatility, and weakening currencies fuelled demand for the precious metal. Meanwhile, oil prices moved in the opposite direction. US crude fell 37 cents to $59.70 a barrel, while Brent crude dipped to $63.03. Traders pointed to concerns over potential demand destruction from slowing global growth and rising tariffs.

The European Union said it would suspend its planned $22.4 billion in retaliatory tariffs against the United States for 90 days, offering a diplomatic window for negotiations. However, EU officials issued a stern warning, saying they are prepared to use their newly-adopted “anti-coercion instrument” — dubbed the ‘bazooka’ — if talks collapse. This tool gives the EU sweeping powers to impose countermeasures against economic bullying. While the pause was welcomed by business groups, Brussels made it clear that its patience has limits.

Amid mounting market losses and global backlash, President Trump remained defiant, describing the economic upheaval as a “transition problem” necessary to achieve long-term prosperity. “We’ve been taken advantage of for decades. This is the correction — and when it’s over, it’ll be beautiful,” Trump said. He dismissed concerns about short-term pain, insisting that the tariff strategy would ultimately boost American manufacturing and reduce reliance on China. Critics, however, argue that Trump is underestimating the ripple effects on consumers, businesses, and global stability.
(With inputs from agencies)

The idea of owning part of the Moon is like science fiction fantasy, but today it is possible to purchase lunar land from various online companies. With the fast pace of space exploration and with ongoing missions to the Moon, owning a piece of lunar real estate has become a fascinating investment. Whether you are an astronomy buff, a collector, or an individual with an interest in future settlement and exploration activities, purchasing land on the Moon is possible.

When one buys land on the Moon, there are specific places to purchase, and each has its own appeal. Some of the most popular locations are:

It is known for its flat, plain-looking areas, and it’s generally considered a favorable location for lunar land claims. It gets its name from the crescent-shaped bay that it takes on, which can be viewed from Earth. It’s an intriguing location to own land due to its scientific and historical significance.

The Sea of Rains is one of the largest locations where lunar land is available. This enormous dark basaltic plain on the Moon has been a target for many lunar missions. It’s one of the most dramatic and historically significant features of the Moon.

If you are in India and wish to purchase lunar land, it is a rather easy process. There are several companies and websites that accept lunar land purchasing globally, and the most desired spot among Indian buyers is the Bay of Rainbows. Here’s how you go about purchasing it:

To buy land on the Moon, visit a site like Bay of Rainbows. Such websites have step-by-step instructions and interactive tools that walk you through the buying process.
On the website, you will need to fill in your personal details, like your name and address. This makes sure that your lunar land claim is processed properly.
Once you have entered your information, you will be directed to a payment gateway where you can make the payment. There are various payment modes supported, from credit/debit cards to bank transfers and even cryptocurrency on some occasions.

The cost of land on the moon varies with how many acres you are interested in purchasing. One of the most popular places to purchase land is Bay of Rainbows, and they set their lands so that the more land you buy, the less you pay per acre. These are the prices:

Tiered pricing systems translate to buyers being rewarded with deeper discounts the more property one acquires, saving money the more one buys.
Apart from the Bay of Rainbows, the Sea of Rains is also a location where lunar land can be bought. Prices here are similar to what can be found in the Bay of Rainbows. While specifics vary slightly between organizations, land here is typically available at prices similar to other places on the Moon, making it a popular choice for prospective buyers.

There are a number of reasons why people would be interested in purchasing land on the Moon. These reasons tend to include the excitement of space travel, potential for future human colonization of the Moon, and an interest in being one of the first people to do something so historic.
As there is continued advancement in space exploration, both from NASA and other space agencies, land ownership on the Moon could be a unique tie to the future of space travel.

With every new leap in space missions, planning towards future settlement on the Moon is gaining firmness. The Moon land could prove to be of long-term use as the human species eyes establishing a permanent base on the Moon. It could also be part of resource exploitation endeavors, such as mining of rare minerals.
Lunar land is also, in some people’s minds, a specialty collectible product. For collectors and enthusiasts, owning a piece of the Moon is a means of possessing something that is out of this world.

India’s recent Chandrayaan-3 mission success has generated a boom in interest for lunar land buying. As India continues to pioneer new frontiers in space travel, the masses are now more fascinated than ever with lunar real estate. That the mission did not fail shows the world that India does, indeed, earnestly exist in space, and to many of us, it has generated that desire to possess land on the Moon as a component of that greater excitement for going around exploring the Moon.
Due to the increased demand for purchasing lunar land, companies selling these services have reported significant delays in processing and fulfilling orders. The large volume of transactions can cause backlogs, i.e., taking longer than normal to receive your lunar land certificate or complete ownership. If you are interested in buying land, be prepared for delays and ensure that the company you choose is solid and able to deliver on the increased demand.
Also Read | NASA alert! A massive 370-ft asteroid as big as a 35-storey building set to pass Earth tomorrow – know more about the speed and time

A sightseeing trip over New York turned tragic on Thursday after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing six people — including a high-profile executive of Siemens, one of Europe’s largest technology firms.
Agustín Escobar died in the crash alongside his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11, ABC News reported. The pilot also lost his life.
Escobar had led Siemens Spain since 2022 and also served as the Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, according to a company press release.
Siemens is a German-based multinational company that operates in sectors including energy, industry, transport and healthcare technology. Its rail and mobility division, where Escobar held a global leadership role, is involved in projects related to rail systems, infrastructure, and transport technology in various countries.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Escobar had over 25 years of experience running international operations across the US, South America, Germany, and Spain. Based in Barcelona, he had landed in New York with his family only hours before their flight with New York Helicopter Tours.
Miguel Ángel López, the former head of Siemens Spain, said Escobar’s contributions had been “key” to the company’s transport and mobility success. “With Agustín Escobar we have the best possible successor to lead, from now on, the company in Spain,” López said in a previous statement, reports ABC. “In recent years his work has been key to Siemens’ success in the field of mobility and transport.”
Photos from just before takeoff show the family smiling and warmly dressed for the weather, according to the New York Post.
The Bell 206 helicopter took off from Wall Street Heliport shortly after 3 pm and made it as far as the George Washington Bridge before things went wrong. Eyewitnesses told the Post that a section of the rotor broke off mid-air. The chopper spiralled and crashed into the freezing waters of the Hudson River near Pier 40 in Manhattan. Rescue teams found it upside-down, submerged in the river.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
New York Mayor Eric Adams and US President Donald Trump offered their condolences to the victims after the crash.

President Donald Trump speaks at a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that his tariff policy would come with a “transition cost,” as markets dropped again due to ongoing uncertainty around the trade conflict.
“There will be a transition cost, and transition problems, but in the end, it’s going to be a beautiful thing,” Trump said. The US president is aiming to change the global economy by encouraging manufacturers to operate from the United States.
His comment came shortly after the White House said that tariffs on China would rise to 145 per cent on some products. This includes a previous 20 per cent tariff on those making the drug fentanyl.
Despite the tensions, Trump said he still hopes to make an agreement with China. “I think we’ll end up working something out that’s very good for both countries. I look forward to it,” he said.
Markets continued to show signs of trouble on Friday, after Trump’s earlier announcement of a 10 per cent tariff on all countries except China.
On Wednesday afternoon, Trump said that for 90 days, the US would apply a flat 10 per cent tariff on all countries except China, instead of setting different “reciprocal” tariffs for each country.
Trump also paused a plan to impose tariffs as high as 50 per cent on countries he described as the “worst offenders.” However, the trade dispute with China remains.
Meanwhile, China has increased its retaliatory tariffs on American goods to 84 per cent .
In a televised cabinet meeting, Trump said, “There would always be transition difficulty,” but added that “it was the biggest day in history in markets.”
He said investors were pleased with how the US was managing its trade policy and that the country was “trying to get the world to treat us fairly.”
He also said, “everybody wants to come and make a deal” to lower tariffs.
US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, who was also at the meeting, said several countries were entering talks and bringing “offers they never would have” if not for Trump’s trade actions.
“We’re getting the respect we deserve now,” Lutnick said. “I think you’re going to see historic deals one after the other.”
Moreover, Trump also said the US would “love to be able to work a deal (with China)” and added that he had “great respect for President Xi.” He also said he thought they would “end up working something out that’s very good for both countries.”
He repeated his claim that China had “taken advantage” and “ripped off” the US “more than anybody” for a long time.
Meanwhile, China announced that it would reduce the number of American-made films in its cinemas. It also said that the trade dispute had lowered interest in Hollywood movies among Chinese audiences.
Currently, China allows up to 34 US films each year. Local movies are becoming more popular.
The European Union said it would pause its planned countermeasures against the US for 90 days. These were scheduled to start on April 15.
On Wednesday, 26 out of 27 EU countries — all except Hungary — voted to apply tariffs in response to the US 20 per cent tariff.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that the EU wanted “to give negotiations a chance.”