Breaking News Live Updates: 6.1-magnitude earthquake in Iceland

Stocks, oil slump as China retaliates and Trump digs in heels

Equities and oil prices extended a global rout for markets Friday after China hit back over President Donald Trump's tariff blitz with its own mammoth levy on US goods, inflaming global trade war fears.

Despite the market turmoil, Trump insisted: "my policies will never change".

Wall Street stocks fell more than two percent at the start of trading, with the blue-chip Dow falling below 40,000 points for the first time since August, a day after the S&P 500 experienced its largest drop since the Covid pandemic in 2020.

"Sentiment is so fragile right now," Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, told AFP.

"Investors are firmly in the 'get me to cash now' phase, on fears that other nations will follow China's lead, and of course that the US president will respond to China's tariffs with even more charges.

"This trade war is like nothing we've seen for years, perhaps decades," Beauchamp added.

Cabinet approves Vibrant Villages Programme-II for developing villages along international land borders

Cabinet approves the Vibrant Villages Programme -II (VVP-II) as a Central Sector Scheme (100% Centre funding), furthering its commitment to ‘Safe, Secured & Vibrant land borders’. The Programme would help in the comprehensive development of the villages located in the blocks abutting international land borders (ILBs), other than the Northern border already covered under VVP-I

Union Minister Jitendra Singh launches indigenous 'Trainer Aircraft' technology for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) and announces the decision to involve the private sector to collaborate in the manufacture of this aircraft

Trainer aircraft - HANSA-3 (NG) - is a two-seater aircraft

This will cover all border areas except that of China as the first phase covered villages close to China border

Cabinet approved second phase of Vibrant Villages programme with investment of Rs 6,800 crore, Ashwini Vaishnaw said

Cabinet approved 3tkrd and 4th line of Sambalpur-Jharsuguda rail corridor with an investment of Rs 1,181 crore

Cabinet approved 3rd and 4th line between Jarapada-Sambalpur with investment of Rs 3,900 crore

Cabinet approved doubling of Gondia-Ballarsah in Maharashtra with an investment of Rs 4,819 crore

Cabinet cleared multi tracking of Kharsia-Parmalkasa Railway projects worth Rs 8741 cr. This will be one of the biggest project

Uttarakhand CM calls waqf amendment ‘historic’, says bill will protect rights of deprived muslims

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has welcomed the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in both houses of Parliament, calling it a "historic" step. In posts on X and Facebook, Dhami praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, saying the bill would help protect the rights of underprivileged Muslims, especially women and children. He added that the law aims to bring transparency and legal clarity to the management of Waqf properties.

Dhami clarified that the bill is not against any community but is meant to stop false claims and ensure Waqf properties are used fairly for public benefit.

Uttarakhand Madrassa Board Chairman Mufti Shamoon Qasmi also hailed the bill as "historic", thanking both the Prime Minister and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. He said the reforms would ensure Waqf properties are used for the welfare of poor and needy Muslims. He also criticised the Congress, accusing it of misusing Waqf land during its rule.

At least 40 killed in central Nigeria intercommunal clashes, says official

'I am truly sorry': Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol apologises

South Korea’s ousted president, Yoon Suk Yeol, apologised on Friday after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment over a failed martial law declaration, removing him from office immediately.

"I am truly sorry and heartbroken that I could not meet your expectations," Yoon said in a brief statement after the court’s unanimous ruling.

Woman killed, daughters injured as drunk CISF driver rams vehicle into their auto in Mumbai

A woman was killed and her 2 daughters were injured after a drunk CISF driver hit their auto with his CISF vehicle. The auto driver also sustained injuries.

Tree felling case: Telangana govt forms committee of ministers to hold talks with stakeholders

"Telangana Government has decided to constitute a committee with group of ministers Bhatti Vikramarka, Sridhar Babu Garu and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to consult with Hyderabad Central University executive committee, JAC and civil society groups, students delegation and all stakeholders to resolve and give a way forward in Kanche Gachibowli land issue," tweets Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy.

Father of IAF pilot who died in Jaguar crash remembers son

The Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who died in a fighter jet crash in Gujarat's Jamnagar was a "brilliant student" and died while saving a life, the deceased pilot's father said on Thursday, remembering his only son.

Flight lieutenant Siddharth Yadav was from Haryana's Rewari. Another pilot sustained injuries in the Jaguar fighter jet crash and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, where his condition is reportedly stable.

6.1-magnitude earthquake hits Iceland

Earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale hits Iceland's Reykjanes Ridge, at a depth of 10 km.

Suspected terrorists spotted in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur

Two suspected terrorists have been spotted in the Majalta forest belt of Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting security forces and police to launch a cordon and search operation to track them down, officials said on Thursday. The two suspected terrorists reportedly took away food and a mobile phone from a family in a village in the district.

"The suspects were spotted last night. Their sighting has been confirmed in the Chor Panjuan area adjoining Kathua. A search operation has been launched," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Udhampur-Reasi range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat, told reporters in Udhampur. (PTI)