The US Department of Energy has given final approval for a US company, Holtec International, to jointly design and build nuclear power plants in India. The approval comes after nearly two decades of negotiation and fine-tuning of blueprints. Under the India-US civil nuclear deal signed in 2007 by Manmohan Singh and George W Bush, US firms could export reactors but not design or manufacture equipment in India. Now, Indian companies Larsen & Toubro Limited, Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd, and Holtec Asia will jointly manufacture Small Modular Reactors with US firm Holtec International. The deal is seen as a big win for Indian diplomacy, allowing the country to build nuclear power plants with more advanced technology.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/india-us-to-jointly-design-manufacture-nuclear-reactors-in-india-8054762#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstoriesA panel of experts has expressed confidence in India's economic choices in the post-WTO world, citing a sound strategy that balances trade agreements with domestic needs. The panel, which includes Ashwani Kumar, suggests that India's approach to global trade is prudent and will help the country navigate the complexities of the new trade landscape.
https://www.livemint.com/economy/global-trade-policies-us-india-trade-donald-trump-world-trade-organisation-bilateral-talks-protectionist-trade-policies-11743253593050.htmlIran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has condemned US President Trump's remarks as a threat to Iran, warning of a "swift and decisive" response if any aggression is carried out. Iranian military officials, including General Amirali Hajizadeh, have issued direct threats against US assets in the region, citing at least 10 US bases and 50,000 troops present in the area.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/597957-iran-warns-of-no-choice-but-to-acquire-nukes-if-attacked-says-khamenei-adviserThe Israeli military has concluded an inquiry into a March 23 incident where troops opened fire on ambulances and fire trucks approaching without coordination or signals, killing several Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters. The site of the bodies was described as a "mass grave" marked with emergency lights from a crushed ambulance. A UN spokesperson stated that the burial site resembled a large mound of sand created by machinery, not an explosion. This incident is the deadliest attack on Red Cross or Red Crescent workers since 2017.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2025/04/01/bodies-of-15-rescue-workers-recovered-from-grave-in-gaza-un-officials-sayExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Netherlands Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp in New Delhi on April 1, discussing growing bilateral cooperation in trade, investments, innovation, and water, as well as new possibilities in semiconductors.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/eam-jaishankar-meets-netherlands-fm-caspar-veldkamp-discusses-new-possibilities-in-semiconductors/A recent forum hosted by Takashi Shiraishi, chancellor of the Prefectural University of Kumamoto, highlighted concerns that nuclear deterrence is not an effective or sustainable form of security. The International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons emphasized the need to prioritize disarmament and alternative solutions to ensure global peace.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250401/p2g/00m/0in/011000cBrazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva plans to attend Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9 and participate in the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum on May 12, marking his first official trip to Moscow and second to China during his third term as president. The visit comes amid a global trade war sparked by US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. Lula has expressed concerns over the impact of Trump's tariffs on free trade and multilateralism, while Brazil's economy is heavily reliant on trade with China, which accounted for 28% of its exports in 2024.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/brazils-lula-to-meet-putin-and-xi-amid-global-trade-war-fears/article69398123.eceA mass grave was discovered in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, where the bodies of Palestinian medics who were killed while on a rescue mission were found. The incident is the deadliest attack on Red Cross or Red Crescent workers since 2017. Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, described the site as a "mass grave" marked with emergency lights from a crushed ambulance. At least 1060 healthcare workers have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive in October 2023.
https://channelnewsasia.com/world/bodies-palestinian-medics-recovered-grave-gaza-un-officials-say-5035971Myanmar's death toll from the earthquake has reached 2,065 with over 3,900 injured, according to state media, while the opposition claims it is at 2,418. The military government has declared a week-long mourning period and warned that the number of fatalities could rise. Relief efforts are underway, with China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia sending aid and personnel to the country. The United Nations is rushing relief supplies to survivors in central Myanmar, while the US has pledged $2 million in aid through humanitarian organizations. The earthquake has exacerbated existing chaos in Myanmar, which is already reeling from a civil war that intensified after the military ousted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Critical infrastructure across the country is damaged, slowing humanitarian efforts and leaving many without access to basic necessities like food and healthcare.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2025/04/01/signs-of-life-detected-in-quake-struck-bangkok-skyscraper-death-toll-tops-2000