In a rare gesture of recognition, President Dissanayake conferred the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana—the island nation’s highest honour for foreign leaders—on Prime Minister Modi. The award was instituted in 2008 and is reserved for heads of states and governments for their contributions to friendly relations.

“Prime Minister Modi highly deserves this honour; that is what we firmly believe,” said President Dissanayake, speaking during a joint press conference.

India and Sri Lanka on Friday signed a landmark defence cooperation agreement—marking the first such pact between the two neighbours—following high-level discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo.

PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Independence Square in Colombo—a rare honour for a visiting head of government. The venue holds historical significance as it commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule in 1948.

“PM @narendramodi was welcomed by President @anuradisanayake with a ceremonial reception at the Independence Square in Colombo,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X. He added that bilateral talks focused on “fostering a partnership for a shared future and mutual prosperity.”

PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka followed his participation at the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok and comes at a time when Sri Lanka is recovering from a severe economic crisis. India had extended a financial assistance package worth $4.5 billion during the peak of Sri Lanka’s financial turmoil three years ago.

The latest visit reinforces New Delhi’s commitment to regional cooperation and rebuilding trust through economic, strategic, and humanitarian assistance.

At Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, the company’s AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was interrupted by an employee protesting the tech giant’s alleged involvement in military activities linked to Israel. The protest, which unfolded during Suleyman’s speech about Microsoft’s AI assistant, highlighted growing internal dissent over the company’s partnerships amid the Israel Gaza conflict.

Protester disrupts speech, accuses Microsoft of complicity

The protesting pro-Palestinian employee, Ibtihal Aboussad, interrupted Suleyman’s presentation with strong allegations, shouting, “You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide.” In response, Suleyman calmly replied, “I hear your protest, thank you,” before the employee was escorted away from the event.

AI use in military targeting raises ethical concerns

Earlier this year, an investigation by The Associated Press reported that AI models developed by Microsoft and OpenAI had been used in Israeli military operations to identify bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon. These revelations have added fuel to ongoing global debates about the role of tech firms in armed conflicts.

The protest also comes amid a broader wave of dissent across corporations and academic institutions, with students, employees, and civil society groups voicing concern over affiliations with Israel during its military campaign in Gaza.

Gaza crisis and mounting accusations

The latest round of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began in October 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on Israel that resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources. Israel’s subsequent military offensive in Gaza has reportedly led to over 50,000 Palestinian casualties, widespread internal displacement, and severe hunger, according to Gazan health officials. Israel has denied accusations of genocide and war crimes.

In a recent report, the United Nations has revealed that at least 100 children are being killed or injured every day since Israel resumed its military operations on March 18.

Microsoft employee says accounts locked after protest

Following the incident, The Verge cited an internal email from Aboussad justifying her actions to fellow employees. She reportedly stated that she and another participant in the protest lost access to their work accounts afterward.

In a statement, Microsoft emphasized that it supports open expression but expects employees to raise concerns through non-disruptive channels: “We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard in a way that does not cause business interruption.”

In a sharp escalation of the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies, China on Friday announced a 34% retaliatory tariff on all goods imported from the United States, effective April 10. The move follows the US decision to impose similar steep tariffs on Chinese products earlier this week.

Beijing’s finance ministry confirmed that this additional tariff will be levied on top of the current applicable tariff rates already in place. The announcement marks another chapter in the worsening trade tensions between the two nations, with global economic ramifications.

Rare earth export curbs signal broader pushback

Alongside the tariffs, China’s Commerce Ministry unveiled export controls on seven rare earth elements, including gadolinium and yttrium, which are critical in medical imaging and consumer electronics. The restriction on these materials could impact industries heavily reliant on Chinese supply chains.

The move is widely seen as a strategic countermeasure, given China’s dominance in the global supply of rare earth minerals, which are vital to several high-tech sectors.

Legal battle looms at WTO

Further intensifying the standoff, China announced plans to file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging the US-imposed tariffs. The complaint is aimed at defending China’s trade interests and international rights under WTO regulations.

Triggered by US tariff hike under Trump

This rapid escalation was sparked after US President Donald Trump imposed 10% tariffs on a wide range of imports and introduced additional duties of 34% specifically on Chinese goods. The new tariffs are part of a broader protectionist strategy, but they risk triggering a global trade disruption.

In response, Beijing has vowed to implement “countermeasures” to safeguard its economic interests. The tit-for-tat measures highlight the deteriorating trade relationship and could have lasting impacts on global markets and supply chains.