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Trump remains defiant as world markets collapse on ‘Black Monday’

LONDON: Stock markets and oil prices collapsed on a black Monday for world markets, as US President Donald Trump stood firm over his tariffs , despite fears of a global recession. Trading floors across the globe were overcome by waves of further selling after last week’s sharp losses, with Trump telling Americans to “be strong, courageous, and patient,” minutes before the New York stock market opened to drops of over 3pc. Wall Street was wracked by volatile trading, bouncing into positive territory on hopes of a 90-day pause in tariffs, only to sink lower when those were dashed by the White House. Trillions of dollars have been wiped off combined stock market valuations in recent sessions. Hong Kong collapsed by 13.2pc, in its worst day in nearly three decades. Taipei stocks suffered their worst fall on record Monday, tanking 9.7pc. Tokyo closed down by almost eight percent. Frankfurt fell as much as 10 percent in early trading before paring back losses to end the day down 4...
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Lahore Police book singer Salman Ahmad under Peca law

The Lahore Police have booked musician and former PTI member Salman Ahmad under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (Peca) for allegedly sharing content against state institutions and figures online, it emerged on Monday. A first information report (FIR) was registered at Lahore’s Defence A Police Station on April 4 on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Ikram Hussain under Sections 11 (hate speech) and 20 (offences against dignity of a natural person) of Peca and Sections 500 (punishment for defamation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505-1(C) (statement conducing to public mischief with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The FIR said some “malicious” elements had been using social media to “spread false and defamatory information” about government figures and institutions. “This false campaign is often ...
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Shutter-down strike observed in Karachi to express solidarity with Palestinians

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A shutter-down strike was observed in Karachi on Monday on the call of traders in connection with the global strike call given by Hamas to show solidarity with Palestinians and denounce the genocide in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, Israel started bombarding Gaza in retaliation to an attack by Hamas, killing more than 50,695 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry. A ceasefire was introduced in January, but Israel resumed hostilities last month. Almost all major markets were closed in Saddar, old city areas, Tariq Road, Clifton and other areas. A visit to the main markets in Saddar bazaars showed that a few shops were open while major markets were closed. Only guards were seen outside some shops while the commercial centres were closed. Speaking to Dawn.com , Head of All City Tajir Ittehad Association — an organisation of hundreds of markets — Sharjeel Goplani said that traders were given the call by leaders of religious parties last night, adding that Hamas h...
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Have Imran’s blessing to open channel for talks, claims Swati

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan is still ready to come to the table, if the establishment is prepared to negotiate, party leader Azam Khan Swati has claimed, adding that he had the PTI founder’s blessing to initiate talks to secure his freedom. In a lengthy video message released to — in his words — clear the air following his recent meeting with the party founder in Adiala jail, Mr Swati criticised “certain vloggers and anchors for selling a false story”, without naming anyone. In the midst of a widening rift between the party’s ranks in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Mr Swati also backed KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI KP leader Junaid Akbar and party general secretary Salman Akram Raja, saying that they were “picked by Imran Khan himself”. Recounting his interaction with Mr Khan and Bushra Bibi in prison, he said he had repeatedly told the party founder he had “khotay sikkay” (counterfeit coins) in his pocket. He also recounted a meeting with Mr Khan where, he claimed, the party leader had tasked him t...
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Afghanistan wants gradual repatriation under joint mechanism: spokesperson

Afghan officials on Sunday called on Pakistan to prepare a joint mechanism for the gradual repatriation of refugees, adding that forced deportation is in neither country’s interests. The interior ministry, in a statement on March 7, had stated “All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before 31 March 2025; thereafter, deportation will commence wef 1 April 2025.” Mufti Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, said that bringing the refugees back is official Afghan policy, but it should be under a joint mechanism with Pakistan so that refugees are returned gradually and with “honour”. “But if Pakistan unilaterally sends refugees, we are fully prepared to receive them,” the spokesman told the Taliban’s Hurriyat Radio . “We have held meetings with Pakistani officials on the issue and are still in contact with them,” he added. “Our demand is that they (Afghan refugees) should not be forcibly deported, as ...
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Analysis: Stern penalty, no victim liability proposed to curb human smuggling

• Amendments to two bills to stem illegal exodus awaiting Senate nod • Organised beggary made criminal offence on request of Gulf countries • Experts say harsher sentences ineffective without reforms in monitoring, prosecution mechanisms On February 17, five bills were passed by the National Assembly without any debate on the floor. Two of these bills pertained to a pressing humanitarian, legal and diplomatic crisis facing Pakistan — human trafficking and smuggling. More than a month later, the Prevention of Traffi­cking in Persons (Amend­ment) Bill, 2025 and the Prevention of Smu­ggling of Migrants (Ame­nd­ment) Bill, 2025 have yet to become laws as they are pending approval from the Senate. The government has propo­sed changes to the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 and the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018 at a time when hundreds of Pakis­tanis, over the past few years, perished in the Medi­ter­ranean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean while trying to reach...
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‘Hang tough, it won’t be easy’: Trump defiant on tariffs

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US President Donald Trump on Saturday doubled down on sweeping tariffs he unleashed on countries around the world, warning Americans of pain ahead, but promising historic investment and prosperity. The comments came as Trump’s widest-ranging trade measures took effect in a move that could trigger retaliation and escalating economic tensions, with the British and French leaders saying “nothing should be off the table” in response. Trump, acknowledging global turbulence, urged Americans to be patient. “We have been the dumb and helpless ‘whipping post’ but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before,” he wrote on Truth Social. “This is an economic revolution, and we will win,” the Republican president added. “Hang tough, it won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic.” A 10 per cent “ baseline ” tariff came into place just after midnight, hitting most US imports except goods from Mexico and Canada, as Trump invoked emergency economic powers...
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