Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has expressed readiness for any format of negotiations that could lead to a ceasefire and full peace talks. He mourned the deaths of nine civilians after a Russian drone struck a bus, calling for an immediate, complete, and unconditional ceasefire. The US had proposed this six weeks ago, but Ukraine and some Western European governments accuse Russian President Putin of delaying the proposal as his army tries to capture more Ukrainian land.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-says-zelenskyy-is-prolonging-war-in-ukraine-by-resisting-calls-to-cede-crimea-to-russia/article69484470.eceBritain's finance minister Rachel Reeves has stated that her government is not rushing to secure a trade deal with the US, and she ruled out making concessions on food standards in talks. Reeves hopes to make progress towards reducing US import tariffs while attending IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington this week. The US wants Britain to lower its levies and non-tariff barriers on goods like beef and automotive imports, but Reeves said the UK will not relax its food standards. She also declined to comment on tariff discussions and pushed back against suggestions that the UK was under pressure to give ground on non-tariff barriers in key sectors.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40359173/uk-wont-rush-to-reach-trade-deal-with-us-finance-minister-reeves-saysThe US State Department is reorganizing under a new office for foreign assistance and humanitarian affairs, replacing functions that were significantly reduced during the Trump administration. The new office will oversee a bureau on democracy, human rights, and religious freedom, shifting from its current focus on labor. Senator Rubio criticized previous work in this bureau, citing "slash-and-burn" approaches that led to policies against Israel and nations like Poland and Hungary. In contrast, Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the reorganization. The State Department plans to reduce overall offices from 734 to 602, with secretaries tasked with reducing personnel by 15% within 30 days.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/us-state-department-to-cut-positions-rights-offices/article_6e02bf6b-bd8d-50c6-a050-ed21b000d3e3.htmlU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism for a de-escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions, but warned that negotiations with Beijing would be challenging and time-consuming. This comes as investors grow increasingly concerned about a global economic slowdown, which has been exacerbated by the imposition of trade tariffs on crude futures.
https://www.emirates247.com/business/energy/oil-prices-rise-nearly-1-as-u-s-sanctions-iran-trump-softens-fed-and-china-rhetoric-2025-04-23-1.738860China's Foreign Ministry has criticized the US for its approach to trade talks, saying Washington must stop "threats and coercion" if it wants a deal with Beijing. The ministry's spokesman, Guo Jiakun, stated that exceptional pressure is not productive and is not the right way to deal with China. The US has raised tariffs on Chinese imports significantly, threatening a further increase of up to 245%, which China describes as "irrational". Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed concerns about tariffs and trade wars during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Beijing, stating that they undermine global economic order.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/966206-deadlock-china-warns-trump-must-stop-threats-immediately-if-he-wants-to-make-a-dealThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its global growth projections for 2024 and 2025, citing a stable yet underwhelming economic performance. However, in a shift, governments worldwide are reordering their policy priorities, potentially altering the economic landscape.
https://reason.com/2025/04/22/imf-report-trump-trade-war-will-hurt-both-u-s-and-global-economies/The IMF warns that the US tariffs have sent shockwaves through global markets, causing bond yields to surge and increasing borrowing costs for vulnerable countries. The Fund notes that emerging market economies are already facing high financing costs and may struggle to refinance debt at higher rates. Geopolitical risks, including military conflicts, also pose a threat to financial stability. In contrast, the IMF emphasizes the importance of central bank independence, citing its role in achieving price and financial stability, particularly with US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's leadership under attack from President Trump.
https://www.forbesindia.com/article/news/trump-tariffs-have-increased-financial-stability-risks-imf/95844/1India has taken punitive diplomatic measures against Pakistan in response to a deadly attack on civilians in Kashmir, accusing Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism. The attack killed 26 men, including one Nepali, and marked a shift towards targeting civilians and the tourism industry. India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar warned that Islamabad will respond in kind, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to bring those responsible to justice. The attack has raised concerns about a potential new crisis between the nuclear-armed neighbors, with analyst Michael Kugelman describing it as a "very serious risk".
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/india-targets-pakistan-with-diplomatic-moves-after-kashmir-attack/article_40c498f5-9944-551d-b03b-f00f33e2b790.htmlIndia has taken punitive diplomatic measures against Pakistan after a deadly attack on civilians in Kashmir, accusing Islamabad of supporting "cross-border terrorism". The attack, which killed 26 men, including one Nepali, has plunged relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours to their worst levels in years. India has suspended a key water-sharing treaty and closed its main land border crossing with Pakistan, amid fears that this may be just the beginning of a series of steps leading to military action.
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3307668/india-and-pakistan-rivalry-boils-after-deadly-kashmir-attack?module=top_story&pgtype=section