"You're War Profiteer": Pro-Palestinian Employee Interrupts Microsoft AI CEO

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman's remarks were interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protesting employee during the technology company's 50th anniversary celebration on Friday over the firm's ties with Israel.

"You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide," Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad said at the event in Redmond, Washington, while interrupting Mr Suleyman who was talking about the company's artificial intelligence assistant product.

An employee disrupted Microsoft's 50th anniversary event to protest its use of AI.
“Shame on you,” said Microsoft worker Ibtihal Aboussad, speaking directly to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. “You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide. Stop using AI for genocide in… pic.twitter.com/cfub3OJuRv

— PALESTINE ONLINE ?? (@OnlinePalEng) April 4, 2025

Mr Suleyman responded by saying: "I hear your protest, thank you." The protesting employee was then escorted away.

An investigation by The Associated Press revealed earlier this year that AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI were used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing targets during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

Various other firms and educational institutions have also faced protests over their ties with Israel as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from Israel's military assault has mounted.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023, when Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gazan health officials, while also triggering accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The assault has internally displaced nearly Gaza's entire 2.3 million population and caused a hunger crisis.

The Verge tech news website quoted an email that Aboussad, the protesting employee, sent to other Microsoft employees justifying her protest.

Microsoft said it provided many avenues for all voices to be heard in a way that does not cause business interruption.

Aboussad was cited by AP to be saying that she and another protesting employee lost access to their work accounts after the protest.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Toddler Discovers 3,800-Year-Old Egyptian Treasure During Family Outing

A three-year-old girl in Israel has gained overnight popularity after unearthing an ancient treasure during a family outing. The toddler, Ziv Nitzan, was visiting the archaeological site of Tel Azekah in southern Israel with her family when she found a scarab amulet believed to belong to Canaanite communities, dating back as far as 3,800 years.

"We were walking along the path, and then Ziv bent down - and out of all the stones around her, she picked up this particular stone," said Omer Nitzan, the toddler's sister.

"I called my parents to come see the beautiful stone, and we realised we had discovered an archaeological find."

The family then reported the finding to Israel's Antiquities Authority (IAA) which awarded a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship to little Ziv.

"Ziv, and her family, deserve praise for handing over the find to the National Treasures of the state of Israel. Thanks to her, everyone will be able to see it and enjoy it. In honour of Passover, we will present the seal in a special exhibition set up by the Israel Antiquities Authority," said Eli Escusido, IAA director.

Notably, Tel Azekah has biblical significance as it is believed to be the site of the infamous battle between David and Goliath.

Professor Oded Lipschits, director of the Tel Aviv University archaeological dig, who even came to meet Ziv and her sisters at the tel said his team had been excavating in the region for almost 15 years.

"The excavation findings show that during the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze Ages, here in Tel Azekah, thrived one of the most important cities in the Judean Lowlands," said Mr Lipschits

"The scarab found by Ziv joins a long list of Egyptian and Canaanite finds discovered here, which attest to the close ties and cultural influences between Canaan and Egypt during that period."

Also Read | World's Tiniest Pacemaker, Smaller Than Grain Of Rice Developed

As per IAA, the scarab relic was most likely created in Egypt and then found its way to modern-day Israel, thousands of years ago. This beetle, considered sacred in the eyes of the ancient Egyptians, was a symbol of new life, because of the dung ball it created and then laid its eggs into it, from which new life would hatch.

"Scarabs were used in this period as seals and as amulets. They were found in graves, in public buildings and in private homes. Sometimes they bear symbols and messages, that reflect religious beliefs or status," said Dr Daphna Ben-Tor, an expert in ancient amulets and seals.

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Donald Trump To Hit Brown With $510 Million Funding Freeze: Report

The Trump administration is poised to block $510 million in federal grants and contracts for Brown University over the school's response to antisemitism on campus, the New York Times reported.

Following the report, Brown Provost Frank Doyle said in an email that the school couldn't substantiate the information but was aware of "troubling rumors" about federal action against its funding. The potential freeze follows similar moves by the US government against Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, Brown's Ivy League peers.

Brown is particularly vulnerable to any funding disruption because its finances are already strained. The school has dipped into its endowment as increases in financial aid and staff salaries pressure its budget, an approach it has said is unsustainable. Brown operates a medical school and school of public health that draws federal research grants.

President Donald Trump has hammered colleges for their handling of antisemitism after students protests roiled campuses following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and the Jewish state's retaliatory response in Gaza. The crackdown has stirred concerns among faculty and students that the government is suppressing free speech and academic freedom, and risking damage to research and innovation.

In March, the Trump administration canceled $400 million in funding for Columbia and threatened $9 billion in grants and contracts at Harvard. Princeton said earlier this week that dozens of research grants were suspended.

The government also froze $175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania, citing policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports.

Brown, based in Providence, Rhode Island, was one of a handful of colleges that negotiated with student protesters who took over parts of campuses last year. It also agreed to consider a proposal to exclude holdings tied to Israel from its $7.2 billion endowment, although its trustees rejected the proposal. Brown has the smallest endowment among the eight Ivy League schools.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Here Are Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs By Country. Topping List At 50% Are...

The following is a partial list of reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump during his April 2 press conference.

All nations will be subject to at least a 10% tariff going forward, while dozens of countries listed below that the administration identified as having high barriers on US goods will be subject to higher "reciprocal" rates. The new levies stack on top of existing tariffs, like the 20% fentanyl-related tax Trump previously imposed on Chinese goods. A previous exemption for short-term goods is also being closed.

There are some exemptions, including Canada and Mexico, which are subject to previously announced tariffs. Certain goods from key industries - including steel, aluminum, automobiles, copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber - are also exempt from these rates. Instead, they'll be tariffed at rates either already determined or soon to be determined by the president.

Country/Region	Country/Region Tariff*	US Reciprocal Tariffs
Afghanistan	49%	10%
Albania	10%	10%
Algeria	59%	30%
Andorra	10%	10%
Angola	63%	32%
Anguilla	10%	10%
Antigua and Barbuda	10%	10%
Argentina	10%	10%
Armenia	10%	10%
Aruba	10%	10%
Australia	10%	10%
Azerbaijan	10%	10%
Bahamas	10%	10%
Bahrain	10%	10%
Bangladesh	74%	37%
Barbados	10%	10%
Belize	10%	10%
Benin	10%	10%
Bermuda	10%	10%
Bhutan	10%	10%
Bolivia	20%	10%
Bosnia and Herzegovina	70%	35%
Botswana	74%	37%
Brazil	10%	10%
British Indian Ocean Territory	10%	10%
British Virgin Islands	10%	10%
Brunei	47%	24%
Burma	88%	44%
Burundi	10%	10%
Cabo Verde	10%	10%
Cambodia	97%	49%
Cameroon	22%	11%
Cayman Islands	10%	10%
Central African Republic	10%	10%
Chad	26%	13%
Chile	10%	10%
China	67%	34%
Christmas Island	10%	10%
Cocos (Keeling) Islands	10%	10%
Colombia	10%	10%
Comoros	10%	10%
Congo (Brazzaville)	10%	10%
Congo (Kinshasa)	22%	11%
Cook Islands	10%	10%
Costa Rica	17%	10%
Cote d'Ivoire	41%	21%
Curacao	10%	10%
Djibouti	10%	10%
Dominica	10%	10%
Dominican Republic	10%	10%
Ecuador	12%	10%
Egypt	10%	10%
El Salvador	10%	10%
Equatorial Guinea	25%	13%
Eritrea	10%	10%
Eswatini	10%	10%
Ethiopia	10%	10%
EU	39%	20%
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)	82%	41%
Fiji	63%	32%
French Guiana	10%	10%
French Polynesia	10%	10%
Gabon	10%	10%
Gambia	10%	10%
Georgia	10%	10%
Ghana	17%	10%
Gibraltar	10%	10%
Grenada	10%	10%
Guadeloupe	10%	10%
Guatemala	10%	10%
Guinea	10%	10%
Guinea-Bissau	10%	10%
Guyana	76%	38%
Haiti	10%	10%
Heard and McDonald Islands	10%	10%
Honduras	10%	10%
Iceland	10%	10%
India	52%	26%
Indonesia	64%	32%
Iran	10%	10%
Iraq	78%	39%
Israel	33%	17%
Jamaica	10%	10%
Japan	46%	24%
Jordan	40%	20%
Kazakhstan	54%	27%
Kenya	10%	10%
Kiribati	10%	10%
Kosovo	10%	10%
Kuwait	10%	10%
Kyrgyzstan	10%	10%
Laos	95%	48%
Lebanon	10%	10%
Lesotho	99%	50%
Liberia	10%	10%
Libya	61%	31%
Liechtenstein	73%	37%
Madagascar	93%	47%
Malawi	34%	17%
Malaysia	47%	24%
Maldives	10%	10%
Mali	10%	10%
Marshall Islands	10%	10%
Martinique	10%	10%
Mauritania	10%	10%
Mauritius	80%	40%
Mayotte	10%	10%
Micronesia	10%	10%
Moldova	61%	31%
Monaco	10%	10%
Mongolia	10%	10%
Montenegro	10%	10%
Montserrat	10%	10%
Morocco	10%	10%
Mozambique	31%	16%
Namibia	42%	21%
Nauru	59%	30%
Nepal	10%	10%
New Zealand	20%	10%
Nicaragua	36%	18%
Niger	10%	10%
Nigeria	27%	14%
Norfolk Island	58%	29%
North Macedonia	65%	33%
Norway	30%	15%
Oman	10%	10%
Pakistan	58%	29%
Panama	10%	10%
Papua New Guinea	15%	10%
Paraguay	10%	10%
Peru	10%	10%
Philippines	34%	17%
Qatar	10%	10%
Reunion	73%	37%
Rwanda	10%	10%
Saint Elena	15%	10%
Saint Kitts and Nevis	10%	10%
Saint Lucia	10%	10%
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	99%	50%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	10%	10%
Samoa	10%	10%
San Marino	10%	10%
São Tomé and Príncipe	10%	10%
Saudi Arabia	10%	10%
Senegal	10%	10%
Serbia	74%	37%
Sierra Leone	10%	10%
Singapore	10%	10%
Sint Maarten	10%	10%
Solomon Islands	10%	10%
South Africa	60%	30%
South Korea	50%	25%
South Sudan	10%	10%
Sri Lanka	88%	44%
Sudan	10%	10%
Suriname	10%	10%
Svalbard and Jan Mayen	10%	10%
Switzerland	61%	31%
Syria	81%	41%
Taiwan	64%	32%
Tajikistan	10%	10%
Tanzania	10%	10%
Thailand	72%	36%
Timor-Leste	10%	10%
Togo	10%	10%
Tokelau	10%	10%
Tonga	10%	10%
Trinidad and Tobago	12%	10%
Tunisia	55%	28%
Turkey	10%	10%
Turkmenistan	10%	10%
Turks and Caicos Islands	10%	10%
Tuvalu	10%	10%
Uganda	20%	10%
Ukraine	10%	10%
United Arab Emirates	10%	10%
United Kingdom	10%	10%
Uruguay	10%	10%
Uzbekistan	10%	10%
Vanuatu	44%	22%
Venezuela	29%	15%
Vietnam	90%	46%
Yemen	10%	10%
Zambia	33%	17%
Zimbabwe	35%	18%

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Trump's Tariff Timeline: What Was Announced And When It Takes Effect

US President Donald Trump has reignited a global trade war, imposing sweeping tariffs on China (34 per cent), the European Union (20 per cent), and retaliatory ones on India (26 per cent). The move targets key sectors such as automobiles, dairy, steel, and electronics.

Declaring the tariff rollout as "Liberation Day," President Trump said, "For decades, our country has been looted and plundered. Today marks the rebirth of American industry." His administration argues that the new tariffs level the playing field by countering unfair foreign trade barriers.

Trump's Trade War: A Timeline Of Tariffs And Retaliations

January 20 - United States to the World

America First Trade Policy memo released, outlining US trade priorities.

February 1 - Canada to the US (Retaliation)

Canada imposes tariffs on food, appliances, apparel, and vehicles in response to US actions.

February 1 - US to Canada, Mexico, China

Trump announces 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 per cent on China, which came into effect on February 4.

February 3 - Mexico to the (De-escalation)

Mexico reaches a deal to pause US tariffs for one month.

February 3 - Canada to US (De-escalation)

Canada agrees to pause US tariffs for a month.

February 4 - China to US (Retaliation)

China imposes 10-15 per cent tariffs on US agricultural products.

February 4 - US to China

US enforces the 10 per cent tariff announced earlier on February 1.

February 5 - US to China (De-escalation)

US amends tariff rules, restoring duty-free treatment for low-value imports.

February 10 - US to the World

Trump announces 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

February 13 - US to the World

A memo outlines plans to counter nonreciprocal trade agreements.

February 21 - US to the World

US issues a memo detailing plans for foreign investment handling and concerns over digital services taxes affecting US tech firms.

February 25 - US to the World

White House requests an investigation into copper imports and their impact on national security.

March 1 - US to the World

The US launches an investigation into timber imports and their national security risks.

March 4 - Canada to US (Retaliation)

Canada imposes 25 per cent tariffs on 155 billion Canadian dollars worth of US imports, some taking effect immediately.

March 4 - China to US (Retaliation)

China announces new tariffs on US farm exports and launches investigations into US companies.

March 4 - US to Canada

US enforces 10 per cent tariffs on oil and energy imports and 25 per cent on other imports.

March 4 - US to Mexico

US imposes 25 per cent tariffs on all Mexican imports.

March 4 - US to China

White House raises China tariffs from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

March 6 - US to Canada (De-escalation)

US exempts Canadian imports meeting USMCA origin requirements and lowers potash tariffs.

March 6 - US to Mexico (De-escalation)

Similar to Canada, Mexico's USMCA-compliant imports receive exemptions and lower potash tariffs.

March 12 - European Union to US (Retaliation)

EU announces "rebalancing" tariffs on US imports in response to American tariffs.

March 12 - US to the World

US tariffs on steel and aluminum officially take effect.

March 20 - US to the World

Trump signs an executive order to boost domestic mining and mineral processing.

March 25 - US to the World

US announces secondary tariffs of 25 per cent on third-party importers of Venezuelan oil, effective April 2.

March 26 - US to the World

White House confirms a 25 per cent tariff on imported automobiles and parts, effective April 3.

April 2 - US to the World

Trump announces "reciprocal tariffs", mirroring foreign tariffs at half their imposed rate. A universal 10 per cent tariff applies to all imports and will come into action starting April 5. The higher country-specific tariffs would begin from April 9.

Upcoming Tariffs On Auto Parts

A separate executive order announced that a 25 per cent tariff on auto components would take effect before May 3.

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Elon Musk "Hater" Charged For Carving 'Swastika' On Tesla Owner's Car

A self-described Elon Musk "hater" is facing multiple charges in Pennsylvania after he allegedly carved a Nazi symbol, which bears resemblance to swastika, on a Tesla and was confronted by its owner. Chadd Ritenbaugh, 55, was captured on camera apologising for his actions after the Tesla owner approached him outside a Doylestown Planet Fitness where he had parked his white SUV on March 24.

First, the Tesla video caught an intruder parking his vehicle next to it, abruptly jumping out, looking around and crouching to scribble something on the car.

The footage showed a 5'9" white male suspect with brown hair, spectacles, and a grey hat, the police said. He was seen wearing sweatpants, a black puffer coat, a light-coloured undershirt, and a blue and red bag with white stripes.

Mr Ritenbaugh exited his silver Lexus, ducked behind the car, and used an unidentified object to scratch into the side of the Tesla, according to Central Bucks Regional PD.

Next, cell phone footage showed the Tesla owner confronting Mr Ritenbaugh repeatedly before he was detained, asking if he had used a key to scratch a 'swastika' onto the vehicle.

Mr Ritenbaugh apologetically said, "I'm sorry, I have nothing against your car, and I have nothing against you." He remarked, "Obviously, I have something against Elon Musk."

Upon returning home, the victim noticed new damage to their Tesla that looked like "scratches in the shape of a swastika," The New York Post reported.

The suspect was reportedly identified by Planet Fitness employees based on his membership when he entered Planet Fitness at 09:24 on March 24, with the same bag and dressed in the same attire.

Mr Ritenbaugh has been charged with criminal mischief, harassment, and disorderly conduct.

This was only the most recent in a string of vandalism incidents targeting Tesla businesses and owners worldwide.

Elon Musk's appointment as US President Donald Trump's chief cost-cutter with the Department of Environmental Efficiency (DOGE) has been a major contributing factor to the hostility against electric vehicle manufacturer.

Tesla owners are trading in their cars at never-before-seen prices. According to Edmunds, March marked the largest percentage of Tesla trade-ins ever, with owners choosing to buy new or used vehicles from other manufacturers.

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Over 300, Not 74, Workers Trapped Under Bangkok Skyscraper Rubble: Sources

Signs of life were detected in the ruins of the 30-story skyscraper that collapsed in Bangkok following the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck neighboring Myanmar last week. According to official figures, as many as 74 people are feared to be still buried in the rubble, however, sources told NDTV that the number can be as high as 300 to 400.

So far, 13 bodies have been pulled out from the rubble of the unfinished tower, which was being built for Thailand's State Audit Office by a Chinese company and a Thai construction firm. Rescuers were continuing search and rescue efforts on Tuesday to find people trapped three days after a massive quake in Southeast Asia that killed at least 2,000.

Officials and locals, who did not wish to be named, told NDTV that most of the construction workers buried under the debris are from neighbouring Myanmar, which has been ravaged by four years of civil war sparked when the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in 2021.

#TheBreakfastShow with @divyawadhwa | Quake crushes 30-storey building, 13 dead at collapse site @VishalV054 reports pic.twitter.com/BWGe4n83Tr

— NDTV (@ndtv) April 1, 2025

"At least 50-60 people trapped in the rubble are Burmese. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Asia, and a lot of workers come to  Bangkok for menial jobs," they said.

Meanwhile, Thai authorities have started investigating a Chinese-backed company over the collapse of the skyscraper, the only Bangkok building to completely crumble by the massive tremors. Thailand's anti-corruption watchdog had earlier flagged to authorities irregularities it found in the construction of the building before it collapsed.

A Reuters report said that tests have found that the materials gathered at the site indicated the presence of substandard steel among the wreckage, which has been sent for further analysis. A report on this is expected to arrive this week.

Construction of the building began in 2020 and is being carried out by a joint venture between Italian Thai Development PCL and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd, a local unit of China's state-owned China Railway Group.

The construction has been on a halt for a long time and restarted recently. The government had threatened to cancel the project in January due to delays and potential corner-cutting.

Thai police on Sunday detained four Chinese nationals, who were employed by the construction company, trying to remove important documents from their office at the collapse site.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Scanning machines and sniffer dogs have been deployed at the unfinished skyscraper, and Bangkok's Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej said rescuers were urgently working out how to access an area where signs of life had been detected, three days on from the quake.

Realistic chances of survival diminish after 72 hours, she said, adding: "We have to speed up. We're not going to stop even after 72 hours."

In central Myanmar, rescuers freed four people, including a pregnant woman and a girl, from collapsed buildings in the city of Mandalay near the epicentre of Friday's earthquake.

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