Witkoff meets Putin as Trump urges Russia to 'get moving' on Ukraine ceasefire

US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday, as Donald Trump urged the Russian president to "get moving" on a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said the assembly endured for more than four hours and centered on "viewpoints of a Ukrainian settlement", according to BBC.

Trump has communicated disappointment with Putin over the state of talks.

On Friday, he composed on social media "Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere [sic] DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war."BBC reported.

It comes as Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg denied suggesting the country could be partitioned.

China files lawsuit with WTO following latest US tariff hikes

China has filed a lawsuit against the US with the WTO after the US issued an executive order on Thursday (US time), announcing a further increase in the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" imposed on Chinese products exported to the US, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said Friday.

The spokesperson said that the US taxation measures are typical unilateral bullying and coercion practices, which seriously violate WTO rules and seriously undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order, according to the Global Times.

Tinkune incident premeditated: Home Minister

Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has said the arrests of those responsible for the violent demonstrations by pro-monarchists on March 28   continue to take place. 

During a meeting of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, the House of Representatives today, the Minister said the main accused in the demonstrations, Durga Prasai, has been apprehended. 

He added that the Council of Ministers has already decided to ensure free treatment for those injured in the demonstrations. "The government will bear the cost if the need to buy medicines outside the hospital pharmacies," he said. "I have visited the injured at hospitals." 

According to the Minister, the process has been initiated to provide compensation of Rs one million each to the families of two killed in the demonstrations. He described the Tinkune demonstrations as a violation of the Constitution. 

He further asserted that there is a space for expressing dissatisfaction in the constitutional and democratic system, but there is no excuse for seeking an alternative to democracy and for the regression. 

The government has taken the Tinkune incident seriously. Such incidents must not recur, he added. "We are clear that the incident was predetermined and is a crime capable of spreading terror and anarchy."

 

Court remands Durga Prasai to 12-day judicial custody

The Kathmandu District Court on Friday remanded Durga Prasai to 12 days in custody for his alleged involvement in the violent pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune on March 28.

A single bench of Kathmandu District Court Judge Shishirraj Dhakal remanded Prasai and his associate Deepak Khadka to 12 days in custody.

According to police, investigation will be conducted against both of them on the charges of committing crime against the State and organized crime.

Durga Prasai, who was arrested from Assam, India, was brought to Kathmandu this afternoon.

He was brought to Kathmandu by Buddha Air from Bhadrapur Airport, who was earlier brought to Jhapa via Kakadbhitta border point directly from Assam.

Prasai, who had led the violent pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune on March 28, was apprehended from Assam with the help of Indian police and brought to Jhapa this morning.

Before bringing him to the airport, he was kept at the District Police Office, Jhapa.

Prasai’s bodyguard Deepak Khadka, who was detained along with him, was also brought to Kathmandu.

Controversial medial entrepreneur Prasai, who played a key role in instigating violence in the name of royalists in Tikune on March 28, claimed that he has surrendered to the Indian police.

He claimed through social media that he has turned himself in to the Indian police.

A few days ago, a team of Nepal Police had left for India to search Prasai.

He mentioned on social media that he surrendered to the Indian police at 9:13 pm after the guarantee of safety.

The pro-monarchy supporters had vandalized and torched commercial buildings and also attacked the office of Annapurna Media Network and other media outlets.

Two persons—photo journalist Suresh Rajak and Sabin Maharjan of Kirtipur had lost their lives and 129 others were injured during the violent protest.

Police have rounded up dozens in connection with the violence including Rastriya Prajatantra Party Vice Chairman Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Shamsher Rana.