US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details of a March attack on Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a private message group that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. The revelation comes at a sensitive time for Hegseth, following the ousting of senior officials from the Pentagon as part of an internal leak investigation. Hegseth has denied sharing classified information, but his brother is a Department of Homeland Security liaison to the Pentagon. The incident raises questions about security protocols and trust within the Trump administration.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2025/04/21/trump-stands-behind-hegseth-after-attack-plans-shared-in-second-signal-chat-white-house-saysRussian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct peace talks with Ukraine for the first time in years, saying he is open to more ceasefires. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv will send a delegation to London to meet representatives from the US and other Western countries on Wednesday, following a meeting in Paris last week. The Easter truce, announced unilaterally by Putin, was largely dismissed by Ukraine as a stunt, with both sides accusing each other of violating it.
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3307369/putin-proposes-direct-peace-talks-ukraine-says-he-open-more-ceasefires?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionRussia launched 96 drones and three missiles at Ukraine on Monday, targeting the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions, but were largely repelled by Ukrainian air defence units. The attacks came hours after a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin ended. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his forces would mirror Russia's actions, leading to a symmetrical response from both sides.
https://www.news18.com/world/russia-resumes-strikes-on-kyiv-after-easter-ceasefire-ends-says-ukraine-9307280.htmlUS President Trump has expressed desire to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, citing a need for lower interest rates. However, Powell does not directly report to Trump and can only be removed through formal procedures. Analysts believe the president could undermine the perceived independence of the Fed by creating a perception of change, rather than immediate action. This move is seen as part of a broader strategy to weaken the dollar, which has been hit hard due to uncertainty over trade policies and tariffs imposed by Trump. The dollar slid against major currencies, including the euro, yen, and Swiss franc, while the euro reached a three-year high.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358687/dollar-weakens-on-concerns-about-feds-independence-under-trumpUK Labour MPs have been privately lobbying Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to avoid criticizing US President Donald Trump openly, as they seek to minimize tariff pain and secure a trade deal. The UK is under pressure to finalize the deal before May 19, a key moment in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's "EU reset" when he will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14632343/Changed-minds-Labour-frontbenchers-including-David-Lammy-railed-against-Trump-addressing-Parliament-state-visit-MPs-launch-fresh-bid-block-him.htmlUS Vice President JD Vance begins a visit to India on Monday amidst a global trade war sparked by President Donald Trump. The trip holds both political and personal significance for Vance, who will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting. The talks come as the US is threatening to increase tariffs on Indian exports from 10% to 26% if no deal is reached within the 90-day pause.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/21/world/politics/trump-trade-war-vance-india/Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed willingness to move forward with peace talks, following discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. However, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Washington may walk away from the talks if progress is not made within days. Russia's demands include Ukraine ceding land claimed by President Vladimir Putin, which Ukraine sees as a surrender. Despite this, Russian officials remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement, with President Putin saying he hopes for results from ongoing talks with the US and Ukrainian forces reporting nearly 3,000 ceasefire violations along the frontline.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358766/putin-says-he-is-open-to-direct-peace-talks-with-ukrainePrime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will visit Ankara on Tuesday for high-level talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as part of a deep-rooted strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye. The two leaders will review bilateral relations and discuss regional and global developments, building on the tradition of regular high-level exchanges established through the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which was co-chaired by Sharif and Erdogan in February 2025.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40358759/pm-shehbaz-to-depart-for-turkiye-tomorrow-for-official-visitChina has warned that it will retaliate against countries cooperating with the US in ways that compromise Beijing's interests, amid a trade war between the two largest economies. The warning comes as the US is reportedly planning to use tariff negotiations to pressure its partners to limit their dealings with China. US President Donald Trump's administration has paused major tariff increases on other countries for 90 days while hiking duties further on goods from China to 145%. China's Ministry of Commerce stated that it will not accept any deal at the expense of its interests and will take reciprocal countermeasures, describing US actions as "abusing tariffs" and "unilateral bullying".
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/business/money-report/china-vows-retaliation-against-countries-that-follow-u-s-calls-to-isolate-beijing/3547711/