An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 struck Taiwan early Wednesday, triggering alarms in Taipei. Initial reports confirmed no damage. Positioned on the Ring of Fire, Taiwan is experienced in handling frequent seismic activities.

Strong quake shakes Taiwan

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook Taiwan on Wednesday, with initial reports indicating no damage. Located on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' the island's preparedness includes frequent earthquake drills and swift alert systems.

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan early Wednesday, felt in Taipei. No damage was reported. Positioned on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' Taiwan is no stranger to quakes, prompting robust preparedness measures.

An earthquake struck Taiwan early Wednesday, activating alarms across the capital, though initial reports indicated no damage.
The tremor registered at a magnitude of 5.8 according to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration, with a brief shake felt in Taipei.
However, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at a magnitude of 5.0, pinpointing its location approximately 21 kilometers (12 miles) south-southeast of Yilan along the island's northeast coast.
It was situated 69 kilometers (43 miles) beneath the surface. While deeper earthquakes like this one are typically felt over broader areas, they usually inflict less damage compared to shallower ones.
Positioned on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a path of seismic activity encircling the ocean from Chile to New Zealand, Taiwan frequently experiences earthquakes.
The island's most devastating modern earthquake occurred in 1999&mdash;a magnitude 7.7 event that claimed 2,415 lives, caused widespread destruction, and prompted significant enhancements in building regulations, emergency response coordination, and public education on earthquake preparedness.
Earthquake drills are regularly conducted in schools and workplaces, and mobile devices receive alerts following the detection of strong quakes.

The US Supreme Court has denied 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana's appeal to stay his extradition to India, moving him closer to being handed over for his alleged role in the Mumbai terror attacks.

US Supreme Court rejects Tahawwur Rana’s plea against extradition to India in 26/11 case

The US Supreme Court has denied 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana's appeal to stay his extradition to India, moving him closer to being handed over for his alleged role in the Mumbai terror attacks.

The US Supreme Court has rejected 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana's appeal seeking a stay on his extradition to India, moving him closer to being handed over to Indian authorities to face justice.
Rana, 64, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged at a metropolitan detention centre in Los Angeles.
He is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks. Headley conducted a recce of Mumbai before the attacks by posing as an employee of Rana&rsquo;s immigration consultancy.
Rana had submitted an &lsquo;Emergency Application For Stay Pending Litigation of Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus' on February 27, 2025, with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit Elena Kagan.
Kagan had denied the application earlier last month.
Rana had then renewed his &lsquo;Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus previously addressed to Justice Kagan&rsquo;, and requested that the renewed application be directed to US Chief Justice John Roberts.
An order on the Supreme Court website noted that Rana's renewed application had been &ldquo;distributed for Conference&rdquo; on April 4 and the &ldquo;application&rdquo; has been &ldquo;referred to the Court.&rdquo; A notice on the Supreme Court website Monday said that &ldquo;Application denied by the Court.&rdquo; Rana was convicted in the US of one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the terrorist plot in Denmark and one count of providing material support to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashker-e-Taiba which was responsible for the attacks in Mumbai.
New York-based Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra had told PTI that Rana had made his application to the Supreme Court to prevent extradition, which Justice Kagan denied on March 6. The application was then submitted before Roberts, &ldquo;who has shared it with the Court to conference so as to harness the entire Court&rsquo;s view.&rdquo; The Supreme Court justices are Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
In his emergency application, Rana had sought a stay of his extradition and surrender to India pending litigation (including exhaustion of all appeals) on the merits of his February 13.
In that petition, Rana argued that his extradition to India violates US law and the UN Convention Against Torture "because there are substantial grounds for believing that, if extradited to India, the petitioner will be in danger of being subjected to torture." "The likelihood of torture in this case is even higher though as petitioner faces acute risk as a Muslim of Pakistani origin charged in the Mumbai attacks,&rdquo; the application said.
The application also said that his &ldquo;severe medical conditions&rdquo; render extradition to Indian detention facilities a &ldquo;de facto" death sentence in this case.
The US Supreme Court denied Rana's petition for a writ of certiorari relating to his original habeas petition on January 21. The application notes that on that same day, newly-confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio had met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington on February 12 to meet with Trump, Rana&rsquo;s counsel received a letter from the Department of State, stating that &ldquo;on February 11, 2025, the Secretary of State decided to authorise&rdquo; Rana&rsquo;s "surrender to India,&rdquo; pursuant to the &ldquo;Extradition Treaty between the United States and India&rdquo;.
Rana&rsquo;s Counsel requested from the State Department the complete administrative record on which Secretary Rubio based his decision to authorize Rana&rsquo;s surrender to India.
The Counsel also requested immediate information of any commitment the United States has obtained from India with respect to Rana&rsquo;s treatment. &ldquo;The government declined to provide any information in response to these requests,&rdquo; the application said.
It added that given Rana&rsquo;s underlying health conditions and the State Department&rsquo;s findings regarding the treatment of prisoners, it is very likely &ldquo;Rana will not survive long enough to be tried in India".
During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Modi in the White House in February, President Donald Trump announced that his administration has approved the extradition of "very evil" Rana, wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, "to face justice in India&rdquo;.
A total of 166 people, including six Americans, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani terrorists laid a more than 60-hour siege, attacking and killing people at iconic and vital locations in Mumbai.

Tensions soar as China vows to fight Trump’s aggressive tariff hike, triggering global market turmoil and fears of recession.

China vows 'fight to the end' as Trump warns 50% more tariffs

Tensions soar as China vows to fight Trump&rsquo;s aggressive tariff hike, triggering global market turmoil and fears of recession.

China vowed on Tuesday to "fight to the end" against fresh tariffs of 50 percent threatened by US President Donald Trump, further aggravating a trade war that has already wiped trillions off global markets.
Trump upended the world economy last week with sweeping tariffs that have raised the spectre of an international recession, but has ruled out any pause in his aggressive trade policy despite a dramatic market sell-off.
Beijing -- Washington's major economic rival -- responded by announcing its own 34 percent duties on US goods to come into effect on Thursday, in a showdown between the world's two biggest economies.
The swift retaliation from China earned a new warning from Trump that he would impose additional levies if Beijing refused to stop pushing back against his barrage of tariffs -- driving the overall levies on Chinese goods to 104 percent.
"I have great respect for China but they can not do this," Trump said in the White House. "We are going to have one shot at this... I'll tell you what, it is an honour to do it."
China swiftly hit back, blasting what it called "blackmailing" by the US and saying it would "never accept" such action.
"If the US insists on going its own way, China will fight it to the end," a spokesperson for Beijing's commerce ministry said on Tuesday, adding that Trump's threat "once again exposes the US's blackmailing nature".
"If the US escalates its tariff measures, China will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests," the ministry said.
The ministry reiterated that it sought "dialogue" with the United States, and that there were "no winners in a trade war".
 - Market turmoil -
Trump's tariffs have already had a dramatic impact on markets in the last days, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng collapsing by 13.2 percent on Monday -- its worst day since the Asian financial crisis -- before paring back some of those losses in opening trade on Tuesday.
Wall Street stocks finished lower following a volatile session, with both the Dow and S&amp;P 500 ending down.
Trillions of dollars have been wiped off combined stock market valuations in recent sessions.
Trump doubled down again on Monday, saying he was "not looking" at any pause in tariff implementation.
He also scrapped any meetings with China over tariffs, but said the United States was ready for talks with any country willing to negotiate.
After equities took a huge hammering in Shanghai on Monday, China's central bank issued a statement before trading resumed Tuesday to underline it was standing behind a sovereign fund as it buys up exchange traded funds to stabilise the market.
With investors seeking any relief from the ruinous trade war, stocks in Tokyo leapt on Tuesday after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested in an interview with Fox News that Japan would get "priority" in negotiations over the US tariffs "just because they came forward very quickly".
A 10 percent "baseline" tariff on US imports from around the world took effect Saturday, and a slew of countries will be hit by higher duties from Wednesday, including the levy of 34 percent for Chinese goods as well as 20 percent for EU products.
Scores of countries have sought talks, Bessent told Fox News, adding "through good negotiations, all we will do is see levels come down".
While meeting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first leader to lobby Trump in person over the levies, the US President said: "There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations, because there are things that we need beyond tariffs."
EU trade ministers were in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the bloc's response, with Germany and France having advocated a tax targeting US tech giants.
"We must not exclude any option on goods, on services," said French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin.
The 27-nation bloc should "open the European toolbox, which is very comprehensive and can also be extremely aggressive", he said.
 - Inflation? Recession? -
While markets continued its wild ride, Trump told Americans: "Don't be Weak! Don't be Stupid!".
The 78-year-old Republican believes that the tariffs will revive America's lost manufacturing base by forcing foreign companies to relocate to the United States, rather than making goods abroad.
But most economists question his theory and say his tariffs are arbitrary.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned of coming inflation, adding "whether or not the menu of tariffs causes a recession remains in question, but it will slow down growth".
US Senator Ted Cruz -- a staunch Trump loyalist -- expressed widespread concern among Republican lawmakers over the impact on ordinary voters.
He warned of a jobs crunch and rising prices, saying a recession would mean a "bloodbath" for Republicans in mid-term elections next year.

Investor panic spreads worldwide after Trump defends tariffs and China hits back, fueling fears of a global recession and economic instability.

Global markets plunge as Trump refuses to soften tariff stance

Investor panic spreads worldwide after Trump defends tariffs and China hits back, fueling fears of a global recession and economic instability.

Panic selling gripped global markets on Monday, as US President Donald Trump refused to budge on his swingeing tariffs despite China retaliating and global recession warnings growing louder.
Countries across the world have been scrambling to blunt the edge of the new US tariffs, but Beijing signalled it was taking the levies head on, escalating the trade war between the world's two biggest economies.
Trump doubled down on his demand to slash deficits with the US' trading partners, saying he would not cut any deals unless that was resolved.
"Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something," Trump said on Sunday.
He told reporters aboard Air Force One that world leaders are "dying to make a deal."
Trump announced last week a baseline 10-percent import tariff on goods coming into the United States and higher rates for many countries including allies the European Union, Japan and Taiwan.
Most countries have stopped short of retaliating but China announced on Friday -- after Asian markets closed -- retaliatory tariffs of 34 percent on all US goods from April 10.
"(This) is blunt-force economic warfare," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
"The market's telling you in plain language: global demand is vanishing, and a global recession is on the cards and coming on fast," Innes said.
Trillions of dollars have been wiped off stocks worldwide, and on Monday Asian equities took an even heavier hammering as investors moved to safer assets.
In Japan the Nikkei was off an eye-watering 6.5 percent, falling almost eight percent in early trade.
In Hong Kong the Hang Seng plunged almost 10 percent and the Shanghai Composite more than four percent.
Taiwan's main index -- like in Hong Kong and Shanghai closed on Friday -- plummeted almost 10 percent and Singapore 8.5 percent.
Futures contracts for the New York Stock Exchange's main boards were sharply down Sunday, suggesting more pain for battered Wall Street stocks when markets open Monday.
US oil dropped below $60 a barrel for the first time since April 2021 on worries of a global recession.
 - 'Deals and alliances' -
Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel -- which has been hit with 17 percent tariffs, despite being one of Washington's closest allies -- was due Monday to become the first leader to meet Trump since last week's announcement.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned in a newspaper op-ed that "the world as we knew it has gone," saying the status quo would increasingly hinge on "deals and alliances."
Trump's staggered deadlines have left space for some countries to negotiate, even as he insisted he would stand firm and his administration warned against any retaliation.
"More than 50 countries have reached out to the president to begin a negotiation," Kevin Hassett, head of the White House National Economic Council, told ABC's This Week on Sunday, citing the US Trade Representative.
Vietnam, a manufacturing powerhouse that counted the US as its biggest export market in the first quarter, has already reached out and requested a delay of at least 45 days to thumping 46 percent tariffs imposed by Trump.
 - 'Bad actors' -
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also told NBC's Meet the Press that 50 countries had reached out.
But as for whether Trump will negotiate with them, "I think that's a decision for President Trump," Bessent said.
"At this moment he's created maximum leverage for himself... I think we're going to have to see what the countries offer, and whether it's believable," Bessent said.
Other countries have been "bad actors for a long time, and it's not the kind of thing you can negotiate away in days or weeks," he claimed.
Peter Navarro, Trump's tariff guru, has pushed back against the mounting nervousness and insisted to investors that "you can't lose money unless you sell," promising "the biggest boom in the stock market we've ever seen."
Russia has not been targeted by the latest raft of tariffs, and Hassett cited talks with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine as the reason for their omission from the hit list.
On Wednesday a White House official suggested the reason for Russia's omission was because trade was negligible thanks to sanctions.
Trump has long insisted that countries around the world that sell products to the United States are in fact ripping Americans off, and he sees tariffs as a means to right that wrong.
"Some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!" Trump wrote on Truth social Sunday.
But many economists have warned that tariffs are passed on to US consumers and that they could see price rises at home.
"I don't think that you're going to see a big effect on the consumer in the US," Hassett said.

Over 250 Virgin Atlantic passengers, including Indians, were left stranded at Turkey's Diyarbakir airport for more than 24 hours after a medical diversion caused their London-to-Mumbai flight to land unexpectedly.

Over 250 Virgin Atlantic passengers stuck in Turkey; airline looking for ways to fly them to Mumbai

Over 250 Virgin Atlantic passengers, including Indians, were left stranded at Turkey's Diyarbakir airport for more than 24 hours after a medical diversion caused their London-to-Mumbai flight to land unexpectedly.

More than 250 Virgin Atlantic passengers, including Indians, are stranded at an airport in Turkey for over 24 hours after their Mumbai-bound aircraft from London was diverted to Diyarbakir airport.
Virgin Atlantic on Thursday said it was exploring all options, including operating an alternative aircraft, to fly the passengers to Mumbai.
In a statement, the airline said the VS358 flight from London's Heathrow to Mumbai on April 2 was cancelled due to an urgent medical diversion to Diyarbakir in Turkey.
After landing at the airport, the An A350-1000 aircraft suffered a technical issue, which is being worked on.
"We are actively exploring all options, including the operation of an alternative aircraft, to ensure customers can reach Mumbai as soon as possible," it said.
A stranded passenger told PTI that all of them were sitting on the floor and there were no blankets available.
"Also, there is no vegetarian food available," the passenger said on the condition of anonymity.
In an updated statement, Virgin Atlantic said passengers were being provided with overnight hotel accommodation and refreshments in Turkey.
A passenger posted on X that over 300 Indians and British citizens were trapped in Turkey in an "awful situation."
The user, Hanuman Dass, said his family is among the stranded.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Over 300 Indians and British citizens are held trapped in Turkey in an awful situation. <a href="https://twitter.com/VirginAtlantic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirginAtlantic</a> Doing nothing to help the people, 1 toilet for 300 people and held in a confined space for over 15 hours. <a href="https://twitter.com/VirginAtlantic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirginAtlantic</a> staff nowhere to be seen. My family is caught up. <a href="https://t.co/aANXY5l07I">pic.twitter.com/aANXY5l07I</a>
&mdash; Hanuman Dass (@HanumanDassGD) <a href="https://twitter.com/HanumanDassGD/status/1907747155902685554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"Doing nothing to help the people, 1 toilet for 300 people and held in a confined space for over 15 hours. @VirginAtlantic staff nowhere to be seen. My family is caught up," he said in a post.
In another post, he said passengers have no information and it has been 27 hours since they left London.&nbsp;

President Trump announces reduced reciprocal tariffs on India and China, targeting 26% and 34% respectively, aiming to bolster U.S. industry.

Trump's Discounted Tariffs: India 

Trump targets India and China with discounted reciprocal tariffs aiming to protect U.S. jobs and industry. India sees 26%, China 34%.

Trump announces tariffs, targeting India at 26% and China at 34%. Other nations face varying rates. Measures aim to boost U.S. jobs and economy.

President Donald Trump has declared significant reciprocal tariffs targeting India and China, suggesting these are merely half of what these nations impose on the United States.
Labeling them as "discounted reciprocal tariffs," Trump stated the U.S. will implement a 26% import duty on India and a 34% duty on China.
Addressing the tariffs imposed by India, Trump described Delhi's policies as "very, very tough." He remarked on his recent meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he called a "great friend," but expressed discontent over India's 52% tariffs on American goods.
"You're a friend, but you've not been treating us right," Trump reportedly told Modi, hence the U.S.'s decision to impose a matching tariff of half that rate.
In addition to India and China, the President unveiled tariffs on other major economic partners: a 20% levy on European Union imports and a 10% duty from the UK. Japan, another key ally, will see a 24% tariff on its goods.
These measures, outlined by the White House, add to a base import duty of 10% applicable to all foreign products entering the United States. However, President Trump did not provide specifics on how these tariffs would be distributed across various industries.
The announcement, made amid loud applause at the White House Rose Garden, was celebrated as "Liberation Day" by Trump. "For far too long, other countries have looted and plundered us, while taking advantage of our policies.
But no longer," he declared. "By doing this we will reclaim our jobs, we will reclaim our industry, we will reclaim our small and medium scale businesses... and we will make America wealthy again." Trump anticipates these tariffs will boost domestic employment and industry.
The White House conveyed that due to a "national emergency" linked to security concerns from ongoing trade deficits, a "baseline" 10% import tariff will be enforced starting at 12:01 am local time on April 5th. The increased country-specific tariffs will be enacted from April 9th at the same local time.

Senator Cory Booker delivers a record-breaking 25-hour speech in the Senate, protesting against Donald Trump’s policies and warning about threats to US democracy.

US senator smashes record with 25-hour anti-Trump speech

Senator Cory Booker delivers a record-breaking 25-hour speech in the Senate, protesting against Donald Trump&rsquo;s policies and warning about threats to US democracy.

A Democratic US lawmaker shattered a record for the longest speech in Senate history Tuesday, staying on his feet for more than 25 hours to deliver a fiery protest against President Donald Trump's "unconstitutional" actions.
Senator Cory Booker's display of endurance -- to hold the floor he had to remain standing and could not even go to the bathroom -- recalled the famous scene in Frank Capra's 1939 film classic "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
The longest Senate speech on record before Tuesday was delivered by South Carolina's Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Booker, only the fourth Black senator to be popularly elected to the body, blew past that deadline, his voice still strong but emotional as he topped out at 25 hours and five minutes.
"Strom Thurmond's record always... really irked me," he later told broadcaster MSNBC.
"That the longest speech on our great Senate floor was someone who was trying to stop people like me from being in the Senate."
The public galleries of the Senate chamber gradually filled as the moment he broke the record approached, with more Democratic lawmakers joining the session -- although Republicans largely stayed away.
"This is a moral moment. It's not left or right. It's right or wrong," Booker said as he wrapped up.
He also quoted his mentor John Lewis, a 1960s civil rights movement leader, who urged campaigners to get into "good trouble," before finally pronouncing "Madam President, I yield the floor."
The 55-year-old New Jersey native had found a moment for some humor as he passed the record, joking: "I want to go a little bit past this and then I'm going to deal with some of the biological urgencies I'm feeling."
- 'Foundations of democracy' -
Although Booker's talk-a-thon was not actually blocking the majority Republican Party from holding votes in the Senate, as would be the case in a true filibuster, his defiance quickly became a rallying point for beleaguered Democrats.
Booker, a former presidential candidate, seized command in the chamber at 7:00 pm (2300 GMT) Monday and finished at 8:05 pm Tuesday.
He lashed out at Trump's radical cost-cutting policies that have seen his top advisor Elon Musk, the world's richest person, slash entire government programs without consent from Congress.
The senator said Trump's aggressive seizing of ever-more executive power had put US democracy at risk.
"Unnecessary hardships are being borne by Americans of all backgrounds. And institutions which are special in America, which are precious and which are unique in our country, are being recklessly -- and I would say even unconstitutionally -- affected, attacked, even shattered," Booker said.
"In just 71 days the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans' safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy," he said.
But he had words of encouragement for Trump opponents, saying as he concluded that "the power of the people is greater than the people in power."
- Cramps and sore throat -
Booker later went into detail about how he withstood the physical demands of the speech.
"My strategy was to stop eating. I think I stopped eating Friday and then to stop drinking the night before I started on Monday," he told reporters in the Capitol.
The approach "had its benefits and had its really downsides... different muscle groups start to really cramp up" with dehydration, he added.
In a statement sent by his office, Booker added that he was "tired and a little hoarse."
Democratic lawmakers, in the minority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, have struggled over how to blunt Trump's efforts to downsize government, ramp up deportations and shred much of the country's political norms.
"I just want to thank you for holding vigil for this country all night," Senator Raphael Warnock told Booker on the floor.
Booker dedicated much of his speech to criticizing Trump's policies, but to pass the time he also recited poetry, discussed sports and entertained questions from colleagues.
"If you love your neighbor, if you love this country, show your love. Stop them from doing what they're trying to (do)," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to unveil new tariffs, sparking concerns of a global trade war. Markets remain on edge as nations prepare retaliatory measures against the sweeping trade policies.

Donald Trump set to unleash 'Liberation Day' tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to unveil new tariffs, sparking concerns of a global trade war. Markets remain on edge as nations prepare retaliatory measures against the sweeping trade policies.

US President Donald Trump is poised to unveil sweeping new "Liberation Day" tariffs on Wednesday, but kept the world guessing until the last minute about the scope of an onslaught that could spark a global trade war.
Trump will roll out the measures flanked by cabinet members in the Rose Garden of the White House at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT) -- after Wall Street markets close -- promising that they will stop America being "ripped off" and will deliver a new "golden age" of US industry.
But while Trump insisted he had decided on the reciprocal tariffs hitting countries that have targeted the United States, the White House admitted he was still ironing out the details with less than 24 hours to go late Tuesday.
The Republican billionaire has had a long love affair with tariffs, insisting in the face of economic experts that they are a cure-all that will tackle America's trade imbalances with friends and foes alike.
Critics say that not only will US consumers bear the brunt as importers pass on the cost, but that they could increase the risk of a damaging recession at home and abroad.
Global markets have been jittery for days ahead of Trump's announcement, while the countries most likely in the crosshairs have called for talks -- even as they ready retaliatory measures.
- 'Very kind' -
The move also underscores the growing and profound gulf between Trump's America and many of its closest allies, not only on trade but on security, defense and almost everything else.
But in typically unpredictable fashion, the 78-year-old US president is keeping the details close to his chest.
Trump has trailed the measures for weeks, initially suggesting that the tariffs would simply match whatever levies other countries impose.
On Monday, he merely said that he would be "very kind" -- but gave little away.
As the deadline drew near US media said he had also been considering blanket 20 percent tariffs -- and then that he was looking at a third option where some countries would get preferential treatment.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was meeting his top advisors on the eve of the announcement, "perfecting it to make sure this is a perfect deal."
The tariffs would come into effect "immediately" after Wednesday's roll-out, she added -- effectively ruling out any delays for negotiations with other countries.
Trump has wobbled on several other tariff announcements since returning to office in January, blinking at the last minute with allies such as Canada and Mexico.
His plans have however sparked growing fears of a damaging trade war around the world that could drive up prices and cause widespread disruption.
- 'Couldn't care less' -
Major economies including the European Union and Canada have vowed retaliation.
"We are going to be very deliberate in terms of the measures we take, to fight for Canada," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday.
The European Union, which Trump has accused of trying to "screw" the United States, said Tuesday it still hoped to negotiate a solution -- but that "all instruments are on the table" to retaliate if necessary.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Trump on "productive negotiations" towards a UK-US trade deal. Vietnam said on Tuesday it would slash duties on a range of goods to appease Trump.
The former property tycoon has used tariffs as a foreign policy weapon ever since his chaotic first term from 2017-2021.
Trump insists they will bring a "rebirth" of America's hollowed-out manufacturing capacity, and says companies can avoid tariffs by moving to the United States.
Sweeping auto tariffs of 25 percent that Trump announced last week -- saying he "couldn't care less" if prices of foreign cars went up -- are due to come into effect on April 3.
A 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum from around the world came into effect in mid-March.
China was hit in March by additional 20 percent tariffs on all goods, triggering retaliatory duties from Beijing. The EU has unveiled its own measures to start mid-April.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams calls India "amazing" from space, expresses eagerness to visit her father's homeland, and shares excitement about India's growing presence in space exploration.

India is amazing from space: Sunita Williams

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams calls India "amazing" from space, expresses eagerness to visit her father's homeland, and shares excitement about India's growing presence in space exploration.

India is amazing from space, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams said and voiced optimism that she will visit her &ldquo;father's home country&rdquo; and share experiences about space exploration with people there.
Sunita made these remarks during a press conference Monday. She was responding to a question on how India looked from space when she was in the International Space Station and on possibility of her collaborating with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on space exploration.
"India is amazing. Every time we went over the Himalayas, and I'll tell you, Butch got some incredible pictures of the Himalayas. Just amazing,&rdquo; Sunita said.
The 59-year-old NASA astronaut and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore addressed reporters at their first joint press conference days after they returned to Earth as part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, having been stranded in space for over nine months.
"And you can see, like I've described it before, just like this ripple that happened, obviously when the plates collided, and then as it flows down into India. It's many, many colours," she said.
"I think, when you come from the east, going into like Gujarat and Mumbai, the fishing fleet that's off the coast there gives you a little bit of a beacon that here we come, and then all throughout India, I think the impression I had was it was just like this network of lights from the bigger cities going down through the smaller cities. Just incredible to look at at night as well as during the day, highlighted, of course, by the Himalayas, which is just incredible as a forefront going down into India,&rdquo; she said.
Sunita added that &ldquo;I hope, and I think for sure, I'm gonna be going back to my father's home country and visiting with people and getting excited about the first, or not the first, but the Indian national who's going up on the Axiom Mission coming up, pretty awesome,&rdquo; she said.
She made those remarks while referring to the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) commercial astronaut mission to the International Space Station that will include Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India.
Lucknow-born Shukla will be India&rsquo;s second astronaut after former Indian Air Force officer Rakesh Sharma to go to space since 1984.
"They'll have a hometown hero there of their own that will be able to talk about how wonderful the International Space Station is from his perspective. But I hope I can meet up at some point in time, and we can share our experiences with as many people in India as possible, because it's a great country, another wonderful democracy that's trying to put its foot in the space countries, and we'd love to be part of that and help them along,&rdquo; she said.
Sunita's father Deepak Pandya hailed from Gujarat and came to the US in 1958 where he did his internship and residency training in Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.
She was born in Ohio to Deepak and Ursuline Bonnie Pandya.
When Wilmore asked Sunita if she plans to take her crew members on the trip to India with her, she replied with a laugh "Absolutely. You might stick out a little bit but that's okay. We'll get you all primed with some spicy food, will be good.&rdquo; Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed Sunita and her fellow Crew-9 members as they returned to Earth after the prolonged mission to the International Space Station, saying their unwavering determination will forever inspire millions.
&ldquo;Welcome back, Crew9! The Earth missed you,&rdquo; Modi said in a post on X.
NASA astronauts Sunita, Nick Hague and Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth March 18 onboard SpaceX&rsquo;s Dragon spacecraft, which splashed down in the sea off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida.
For Sunita and Wilmore, test pilots for Boeing&rsquo;s new Starliner capsule, an eight-day mission stretched to more than nine months as a series of helium leaks and thruster failures deemed their spacecraft unsafe. The spacecraft returned without them in September.
&ldquo;Theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions,&rdquo; Modi had said.
He had said space exploration is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream and having the courage to turn those dreams into reality.
"Sunita Williams, a trailblazer and an icon, has exemplified this spirit throughout her career,&rdquo; the prime minister said.
&ldquo;We are incredibly proud of all those who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. They have demonstrated what happens when precision meets passion and technology meets tenacity,&rdquo; Modi had said.&nbsp;

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in over 1,700 deaths. Damaged infrastructure and ongoing civil conflict have hindered relief efforts.

Myanmar Earthquake: 1,700 Dead, Rescue Challenges

The severe earthquake in Myanmar has led to over 1,700 casualties. With ongoing rescue operations, damaged infrastructure hampers aid distribution amid persistent civil unrest.

Myanmar's 7.7 magnitude earthquake claims over 1,700 lives, causes infrastructure damage, and disrupts relief efforts.

The death toll from the earthquake that hit Myanmar has risen to more than 1,700 as more bodies have been pulled from the rubble, the country&rsquo;s military-led government said Monday.
Government spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told state-run MRTV that another 3,400 have been injured and more than 300 were missing.
He did not provide more specific figures. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit at midday Friday, causing widespread damage, including in the capital Naypitaw and the second largest city, Mandalay.
The earthquake, whose epicenter was near Mandalay, brought down scores of buildings and damaged other infrastructure like the city&rsquo;s airport. Relief efforts have been hampered by buckled roads, downed bridges, spotty communications and the challenges of operating in a country engaged in a civil war.
In neighboring Thailand, the quake rocked much of the country and killed at least 18 people, many at a construction site in Bangkok where a partially built high-rise collapsed.

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Donald Trump's US Senate trial will begin in the second week of February, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday. The Senate leaders struck a deal to delay the substantive portion of the trial for two weeks so that the chamber may conduct other critical business, including confirmation of President Joe Biden's cabinet nominees. The House of Representatives impeached Trump for a historic second time on January 13, just one week before he left office. Members will deliberate whether to convict Trump on what the US Constitution describes as "high crimes and misdemeanors" for his incitement of Capitol Hill violence.
&nbsp;

Trump's impeachment trial to begin in 2nd week of Feb

Donald Trump's US Senate trial will begin in the second week of February, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday

Donald Trump's US Senate trial will begin in the second week of February, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday. The Senate leaders struck a deal to delay the substantive portion of the trial for two weeks so that the chamber may conduct other critical business, including confirmation of President Joe Biden's cabinet nominees. The House of Representatives impeached Trump after the Capitol violence&nbsp;for a historic second time on January 13, just one week before he left office.

Donald Trump's US Senate trial will begin in the second week of February, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday. The Senate leaders struck a deal to delay the substantive portion of the trial for two weeks so that the chamber may conduct other critical business, including confirmation of President Joe Biden's cabinet nominees. The House of Representatives impeached Trump for a historic second time on January 13, just one week before he left office. Members will deliberate whether to convict Trump on what the US Constitution describes as "high crimes and misdemeanors" for his incitement of Capitol Hill violence.
&nbsp;

U.S. extradites Tahawwur Rana to India for trial over 2008 Mumbai attacks. Accused of aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba in planning assaults.

U.S. Extradites Tahawwur Rana for Mumbai Attack Trial

Tahawwur Rana extradited to India for role in 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He is accused of facilitating Lashkar-e-Taiba's deadly operations.

Tahawwur Rana extradited to India, accused of aiding 2008 Mumbai attacks. Supported Headley's operations, major U.S. legal efforts.

Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana allegedly said the Indians &ldquo;deserved it" and commended the nine LeT terrorists killed during the attack, suggesting that they should be given "Nishan-e-Haider&rdquo;, Pakistan&rsquo;s highest gallantry award, according to the US Department of Justice.
The US on Wednesday extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai that killed 166 people, including six Americans.
"Rana&rsquo;s extradition is a critical step toward seeking justice for the six Americans and scores of other victims who were killed in the heinous attacks," the Department of Justice said in a statement.
India alleges that Rana facilitated a fraudulent cover so that his childhood friend Headley, a US citizen born Daood Gilani, could freely travel to Mumbai to conduct surveillance of potential attack sites for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
After the attack, Rana allegedly told Headley, one of the main conspirators of the assault, that the Indians &ldquo;deserved it", the statement said.
"In an intercepted conversation with Headley, Rana allegedly commended the nine LeT terrorists who had been killed committing the attacks, saying that &ldquo;they should be given Nishan-e-Haider&rdquo;-Pakistan&rsquo;s highest award for gallantry in battle, which is reserved for fallen soldiers," the statement said.
India alleges that Headley received training from LeT members in Pakistan and was in direct communication with the terrorist outfit about plans to attack Mumbai.
Rana agreed to open a Mumbai branch of his immigration business and appoint Headley as the manager of the office, despite the latter having no immigration experience, it said.
On two separate occasions, Rana allegedly helped Headley prepare and submit visa applications to Indian authorities that contained information the former knew to be false. Rana also supplied, through his unsuspecting business partner, documentation in support of Headley&rsquo;s attempt to secure formal approval from Indian authorities to open a branch office of his immigration business.
"Over more than two years, Headley repeatedly met Rana in Chicago and described his surveillance activities on behalf of LeT, LeT&rsquo;s responses to Headley&rsquo;s activities, and LeT&rsquo;s potential plans for attacking Mumbai," the statement said.
Between November 26 and 29, 2008, ten LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks in Mumbai.
LeT terrorists infiltrated the city by sea, dispersing to multiple locations in teams. They attacked a train station, two restaurants, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and a Jewish community centre.
Hundreds of people were injured in the attack and Mumbai sustained more than USD 1.5 billion in property damage.
"The attacks were among the most horrific and catastrophic in India&rsquo;s history," the statement said.
The US statement also noted that India&rsquo;s pending proceedings against Rana are not the first proceedings in which he has been accused of conspiring to commit violent acts of terrorism.
In 2013, Rana was sentenced to 14 years in prison following his trial conviction in the Northern District of Illinois for conspiring to provide material support to LeT and to a foiled LeT-sponsored terrorist plot in Copenhagen, Denmark.
As part of those same criminal proceedings, Headley pleaded guilty to 12 federal terrorism charges, including aiding and abetting the murders of the six Americans in Mumbai and later planning to attack a Danish newspaper, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, the statement said.
In June 2020, the United States acted on a request for Rana&rsquo;s extradition submitted by India, which Rana contested for almost five years. On May 16, 2023, a US magistrate in the Central District of California certified Rana&rsquo;s extradition to India. Rana then filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which the US District Court in the Central District of California denied on August 10, 2023.
On August 15, 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed that decision.
The Supreme Court similarly denied Rana&rsquo;s &ldquo;petition for certiorari&rdquo; on January 21, 2025.
The Secretary of State issued a warrant ordering Rana&rsquo;s surrender to Indian authorities. Both the district court and the Ninth Circuit denied Rana&rsquo;s application for a stay of extradition, and on April 7, the US Supreme Court denied Rana&rsquo;s application for a stay of extradition.
On April 9, the US Marshals Service executed the Secretary&rsquo;s surrender warrant by surrendering Rana to Indian authorities for transportation to India, the statement said.
The statement also named US officials who handled the extradition litigation.
The US Marshals Service and attorneys and international affairs specialists in the Justice Department&rsquo;s Office of International Affairs provided support to this extradition, it added.
The FBI&rsquo;s Legal Attach&eacute; Office in New Delhi also assisted, the statement said.

Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana has been extradited to India by the US to face trial for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

26/11 attacks shocked entire world; America supports India's pursuit of justice: US on Rana extradition

Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana has been extradited to India by the US to face trial for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

The 26/11 terror attacks shocked the entire world and America has long supported India's efforts to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, the US has said, as Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana was extradited to India to face justice for his involvement in the Mumbai carnage.
On April 9, the United States extradited Rana, 64, to India "to face justice for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks,&rdquo; US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Thursday.
&ldquo;The United States has long supported India's efforts to ensure those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice, and as President Trump has said, the United States and India will continue to work together to combat the global scourge of terrorism,&rdquo; she said.
Rana is in India&rsquo;s &ldquo;possession and we are very proud of that dynamic,&rdquo; she said.
Bruce added that some people may not remember the attacks that resulted in the tragic loss of 166 lives, including six Americans, that shocked the entire world.
&ldquo;I encourage you to look them up and to find out exactly how horrible this was in the importance of this situation today,&rdquo; she said.
Earlier, a spokesperson for the US Department of Justice said in a statement to PTI that Rana&rsquo;s extradition is a &ldquo;critical step toward seeking justice&rdquo; for the victims of the heinous attacks.
The DOJ spokesperson said that the US extradited the convicted terrorist and Pakistani-Canadian citizen to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
&ldquo;Rana&rsquo;s extradition is a critical step toward seeking justice for the six Americans and scores of other victims who were killed in the heinous attacks,&rdquo; the spokesperson said.
A team led by NIA authorities landed in India late Thursday with Rana who will now face justice in the country for his role and involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks carried out by Pakistan based LeT terrorists.
The multi-agency team from India had gone to the US and all paperwork and legalities to bring Rana back to India were completed.
The hugely significant development comes just days after Rana&rsquo;s last-resort attempt to evade extradition to India failed after the US Supreme Court justices denied his application, moving him closer to being handed over to Indian authorities to face justice in the dastardly attacks.
Rana was lodged in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles and had submitted an &lsquo;Emergency Application For Stay Pending Litigation of Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus' on February 27, 2025 with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit Elena Kagan. Kagan had denied the application earlier last month.
Rana had then renewed his &lsquo;Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus previously addressed to Justice Kagan&rsquo;, and requested that the renewed application be directed to US Chief Justice John Roberts.
An order on the Supreme Court website had noted that Rana&rsquo;s renewed application has been &ldquo;distributed for Conference&rdquo; on April 4 and the &ldquo;application&rdquo; has been &ldquo;referred to the Court.&rdquo; A notice on the Supreme Court website Monday said the application was "denied" by the court.
In his emergency application, Rana had sought a stay of his extradition and surrender to India pending litigation, asserting that if extradited to India, he will be "in danger of being subjected to torture&rdquo; and "the likelihood of torture in this case is even higher though as petitioner faces acute risk as a Muslim of Pakistani origin charged in the Mumbai attacks&rdquo;.
The application also said that his &ldquo;severe medical conditions&rdquo; render extradition to Indian detention facilities a &ldquo;de facto" death sentence in this case.
It cited medical records from July 2024 that confirm Rana has multiple &ldquo;acute and life-threatening diagnoses&rdquo;, including multiple documented heart attacks, Parkinson&rsquo;s disease with cognitive decline, a mass suggestive of bladder cancer, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, and a history of chronic asthma, and multiple COVID-19 infections.
Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks.

Pakistan claims Tahawwur Rana is a Canadian citizen as the U.S. clears his extradition to India in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case.

Pakistan denies links to Tahawwur Rana, calls him Canadian amid extradition to India

Pakistan claims Tahawwur Rana is a Canadian citizen as the U.S. clears his extradition to India in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case.

Pakistan has distanced itself from Tahawwur Rana, one of the accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, asserting that he holds Canadian nationality. Rana is currently being extradited to India, where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to take him into custody upon arrival.
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was convicted in the United States for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the proscribed terror organization responsible for the coordinated attacks in Mumbai that left more than 174 people dead. His involvement included providing material support to LeT operatives.
In response to media queries about Rana&rsquo;s extradition to India, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, stated, &ldquo;Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades. His Canadian nationality is very clear.&rdquo; Although Pakistan allows dual citizenship for those who have migrated to Canada, the government has made it clear it no longer recognizes Rana as a Pakistani citizen.
The U.S. Secretary of State signed the surrender warrant approving Rana&rsquo;s extradition to Indian authorities on February 11. However, Rana&rsquo;s legal team filed an emergency stay motion challenging the decision. On April 7, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition, clearing the path for his extradition.
India has long pursued Rana&rsquo;s extradition, with the case gaining renewed momentum following the recent U.S. court decision. According to the NIA, the agency registered a case on November 11, 2009, under various Indian laws related to terrorism and conspiracy.
The NIA clarified, &ldquo;As per the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs order No. 11034/10/ 2009-IS.VI dated 11/11/ 2009 National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case on 11/11/2009 at NIA Police Station, New Delhi as Case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI under sections 121A of IPC, Section 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 6(2) SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act against 1) David Coleman Headley @ Daood Gilani (US Citizen), 2) Tahawwur Hussain Rana (Canadian citizen) and others.&rdquo;
The agency added that both Rana and Headley had been taken into custody by U.S. law enforcement in connection with this case. &ldquo;NIA sent Extradition Requests to USA for extradition of accused persons David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, which are still pending for execution by the authorities of USA. A letter Rogatory (letter of request for assistance in investigation) has been furnished to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and a reply is awaited from them,&rdquo; the NIA noted.
&ldquo;After completion of investigation, charge sheet has been filed in the Court of Hon'ble Special Judge, NIA, Patiala House, New Delhi on December 24, 2011 against all 9 accused persons under sections 120 B, read with 121, 121A, 302, 468 and 471 Indian Penal Code and sections 16,18 &amp; 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,&rdquo; the statement added.
Rana&rsquo;s extradition is seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to deliver justice to the victims and families affected by the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Global markets rally as Trump pauses most tariffs for 90 days, but tensions rise with China as both nations raise import duties in escalating trade war.

Trump stuns with tariff backtrack but hikes China rate to 125%

Global markets rally as Trump pauses most tariffs for 90 days, but tensions rise with China as both nations raise import duties in escalating trade war.

US President Donald Trump abruptly paused tariffs on most countries, sparking euphoria on global markets Thursday, but upped the ante on a brutal trade war with superpower rival China.
After days of turmoil, stocks on Wall Street and across Asia saw huge surges in reaction to Trump's announcement that he was halting a levy hike for almost all nations for 90 days.
But Trump also said he was raising tariffs on China to 125 percent because of a "lack of respect."
Beijing hit back with retaliatory tariffs of 84 percent on US imports, which came into effect at 12:01 pm (0401 GMT) on Thursday, the latest salvo in an escalating standoff between the world's two largest economies.
Trump has denied that he backtracked on the tariffs, telling reporters that "you have to be flexible."
"People were jumping a little bit out of line, they were getting yippy, a little bit afraid," Trump said. "Yippy" is a term in sports to describe a loss of nerves.
He said he had been watching the "very tricky" state of the crucial US bonds market before his decision.
"I saw last night where people were getting a little queasy," he said, as US bond yields rose during the stocks sell-off -- a major economic red light as American sovereign government debt is normally seen as a safe haven for investors in troubled times.
Trump also predicted that trade deals will be made with all countries, including China, which has for now refused to roll back retaliatory tariffs on US goods.
"A deal's going to be made with China. A deal's going to be made with every one of them," Trump said, adding however that China's leaders "don't quite know how to go about it."
Trump also said that he "can't imagine" increasing Chinese tariffs more than he has.
 - China duel -
Markets have been on a rollercoaster ride since Trump's announcement of sweeping global tariffs one week ago on what he called "Liberation Day" before his dramatic pause on Wednesday.
Trump had imposed 10 percent baseline tariffs on all countries which came into effect on Saturday, and higher rates on key trading partners such as China and the European Union that he accused of cheating the United States, which activated on Wednesday.
But as markets swayed yet again, Trump said in a surprise announcement on his Truth Social network that "I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE" on the higher tariffs, while the baseline 10 percent would remain.
He said that he took the decision after more than 75 countries reached out to negotiate and did not retaliate.
Japan -- which had been slapped with 24 percent under the so-called reciprocal tariffs -- said it welcomed the news but still "strongly" demanded that Washington reconsider other levies on its steel and auto exports.
The European Union had earlier launched its own counterattack, announcing measures targeting some US products from next week in retaliation for American duties on global steel and aluminum exports.
The 27-nation bloc will hit more than 20 billion euros' worth of US products, including soybeans, motorcycles and beauty products.
But the EU notably did not retaliate against the separate "Liberation Day" tariffs of 20 percent that came into effect on Wednesday.
 - 'BE COOL!' -
Wall Street stocks rocketed on Trump's pause announcement.
The S&amp;P 500 surged 9.5 percent to 5,456.90, snapping a brutal run of losses over the past week.
Markets in Asia also rallied Thursday, with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, Australia, Indonesia and Singapore sharply higher.
Stocks in Chinese economic powerhouse Shanghai were also up, despite Trump's decision to further hike tariffs.
Before his pivot, Trump said world leaders were rushing to negotiate "tailored" deals with the United States, with Japan and South Korea among those sending delegations to Washington.
"I'm telling you, these countries are calling us up kissing my ass," Trump told a dinner with fellow Republicans on Tuesday night.
Trump believes his policy will revive America's lost manufacturing base by forcing companies to relocate to the United States.
The billionaire former property tycoon has particularly raged against China, accusing it of excess production and "dumping" inexpensive goods on other economies.
With the trade war between the world's two biggest economies showing little signs of abating, China told tourists on Wednesday to "fully assess the risks" before travelling to the United States.
Separately, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned against Chinese "threats" as he visited Panama, whose canal is at the center of a row between Beijing and Washington.

US President Trump escalates trade war with China by imposing 104% tariffs, triggering market sell-offs and global economic fears.

Trump's new tariffs take effect, with 104% on Chinese goods

US President Trump escalates trade war with China by imposing 104% tariffs, triggering market sell-offs and global economic fears.

US President Donald Trump's punishing tariffs on dozens of economies came in force Wednesday, including over 100 percent in levies against Chinese goods, dramatically ramping up a devastating global trade war.
Following the imposition of sweeping 10 percent tariffs have rocked the global economy since coming into force over the weekend, rates on imports to the United States from exporters like the European Union or Japan rose further at 12.01 am (0401 GMT) Wednesday.
China -- Washington's top economic rival but also a major trading partner -- is the hardest hit, with tariffs imposed on its products since Trump returned to the White House now reaching a staggering 104 percent.
Trump said Tuesday his government was working on "tailored deals" with trading partners, with the White House saying it would prioritize allies like Japan and South Korea.
His top trade official Jamieson Greer also told the Senate that Argentina, Vietnam and Israel were among those who had offered to reduce their tariffs.
Trump told a dinner with fellow Republicans on Tuesday night that countries were "dying" to make a deal.
"I'm telling you, these countries are calling us up kissing my ass," he said.
But Beijing has shown no signs of standing down, vowing to fight a trade war "to the end" and promising countermeasures to defend its interests.
China's retaliatory tariffs of 34 percent on US goods are due to enter in force on Thursday.
The US president believes his policy will revive America's lost manufacturing base by forcing companies to relocate to the United States.
But many business experts and economists question how quickly -- if ever -- this can take place, warning of higher inflation as the tariffs raise prices.
Trump said Tuesday the United States was "taking in almost $2 billion a day" from tariffs.
- China 'wants to make a deal' -
He originally unveiled a 34 percent additional tariff on Chinese goods.
But after China countered with its own tariff of the same amount on American products, Trump piled on another 50 percent duty.
Counting existing levies imposed in February and March, that would take the cumulative tariff increase for Chinese goods during Trump's second presidency to 104 percent.
Trump has insisted the ball was in China's court, saying Beijing "wants to make a deal, badly, but they don't know how to get it started."
Late Tuesday, Trump also said the United States would announce a major tariff on pharmaceuticals "very shortly".
Separately, Canada said that its tariffs on certain US auto imports will come into force Wednesday.
 - China 'confident' -
After trillions in equity value were wiped off global bourses in the last days, markets in Asia opened down again on Wednesday, with Hong Kong plunging more than three percent and Japan's Nikkei sinking 2.7 percent.
The foreign exchange markets also witnessed ructions, with the South Korean won falling to its lowest level against the dollar since 2009 this week.
China's offshore yuan also fell to an all-time low against the US dollar, as Beijing's central bank moved to weaken the yuan on Wednesday for what Bloomberg said was the fifth day in a row.
Oil prices slumped, with the West Texas Intermediate closing below $60 for the first time since April 2021.
The European Union has sought to cool tensions, with the bloc's chief Ursula von der Leyen warning against worsening the trade conflict in a call with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
She stressed stability for the world's economy, alongside "the need to avoid further escalation," said an EU readout.
The Chinese premier told von der Leyen that his country could weather the storm, saying it "is fully confident of maintaining sustained and healthy economic development."
The EU -- which Trump has criticized bitterly over its tariff regime -- may unveil its response next week to new 20 percent levies it faces.
In retaliation against US steel and aluminum levies that took effect last month, the EU plans tariffs of up to 25 percent on American goods ranging from soybeans to motorcycles, according to a document seen by AFP.
 - 'Tailored deals' -
Wall Street's major indices closed lower Tuesday, with the broad-based S&amp;P 500 falling 1.6 percent.
In one public sign of friction over tariffs, key Trump ally Elon Musk described senior White House trade advisor Peter Navarro as "dumber than a sack of bricks."
Musk, who has signaled his opposition to Trump's trade policy, hit out after Navarro described his Tesla company as "a car assembler" that wants cheap foreign parts.

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