'Trauma is written on the faces of the evacuees'

By Jayne Secker, in Los Angeles

On a normal Saturday the Westwood recreation centre in Los Angeles is packed with people sweating through spin classes and circuits.

Today however its gym is crammed with neat rows of camp beds, each with a pillow, blanket and small pile of belongings at one end.

The American Red Cross – seen in so many international disaster zones – is now helping its own.

Spokesman Nicole Maul explained how the trailers lined up outside are full of the basics – toothpaste, soap, sanitary products – for those who now have nothing.

In the reception area new arrivals are greeted with warm smiles and tables of donated food. So much is being brought to the shelter from those who live nearby and want to help.

A large TV screen carries a local rolling news channel with wall to wall coverage of the blaze. For many though it is just too much.

Outside I spoke to one man sitting quietly on a bench. He has lost his home in the Pallisades blaze. He said the images were just too upsetting.

He has tried twice to get back to his street. Twice the authorities have turned him back, telling him it is still not safe.

He has nowhere else to go.

In the car park a local acupuncture clinic has sent up a tent offering free treatments to help relieve stress. Suddenly one of the practictioners leaps up and leaves. She'd received a call. The wind had changed and her house was now at threat.

A stark reminder of how unpredictable these fires are.

By the afternoon on the astro pitch outside, young girls practise their football drills, while a man honed his golf swing.

Normal life for some, cheek by jowl with those entirely uprooted from theirs.

There is so much goodwill here, but the trauma the evacuees are continuing to go through is written on their faces.

They have no idea how long they will have to stay here.

This place is a refuge, but it is certainly not home.

Wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles, with at least 16 people killed in the blazes and 153,000 people under evacuation orders. The public health authority has urged people to stay indoors due to the high levels of smoke and ash in the air.

LA fires latest: Fire deaths rise as weather conditions to worsen; prisoners 'deployed to fight blazes'

Numerous programs initiated regarding women empowerment: Azma Bukhari

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari says government has initiated numerous programs focused on women empowerment

In an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan correspondent Zunera Khalid with reference to International Women's Day, she stressed women should be acknowledged every day, not merely on a singular occasion.

The Minister recognized the important contributions of women, whether they are homemakers, professionals or public servants, asserting that they are contributing toward society to make it more prosperous.

Azma Bukhari mentioned that Maryam Nawaz, as Punjab's first female Chief Minister, is devoted to empowering women and addressing their issues while prioritizing women's empowerment and overcoming their challenges.

She commended women for their greater diligence and commitment in every sector. The Minister also outlined various initiatives launched by the Punjab government, including the Pink Button initiative to combat harassment issues and the establishment of virtual police stations, which provide services to women, who may be reluctant to visit traditional police facilities.

She pointed out that women in Punjab are actively participating in various roles without facing discrimination, highlighting that many Assistant Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners working in the province are women, a significant achievement in the province history.

Azma Bukhari encouraged all women to recognize their strengths and to contribute positively to their families, communities and the nation, whether they are at home or in the workforce.

Numerous programs initiated regarding women empowerment: Azma Bukhari

ALBAWABA - Renowned Hollywood actor Val Kilmer, best known for roles such as Iceman in "Top Gun," Batman in "Batman Forever", and many more, has passed away at 65.

According to an email sent by Kilmer's daughter to AP, the actor passed away on Tuesday in his LA house, surrounded by his friends and family, after battling a case of pneumonia. Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer, and despite defeating it back in 2014, his diagnosis still required him to undergo a tracheotomy procedure.

The tracheotomy procedure altered his voice as witnessed during his recent performances, including his comeback as Iceman in 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick."

Top Gun star Val Kilmer dies at 65

Val Kilmer, ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Batman Forever’ actor, has died at 65. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told ‘The New York Times’ that her father died of pneumonia on Tuesday.



He is survived by his children, Jack and Mercedes. pic.twitter.com/TiMQuL91CZ April 2, 2025

Starring as American singer Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's 1991 biography "The Doors," became one of Val Kilmer's most popular roles in Hollywood and was highly regarded by audiences and critics alike for his performance.

While the actor didn't receive many awards during his career, a critic named Roger Ebert recognized Kilmer's talent and wrote, "If there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Val Kilmer should get it."

He added, "In movies as different as Real Genius, Top Gun, Top Secret!, he has shown a range of characters so convincing that it's likely most people, even now, don't realise they were looking at the same actor."

Renowned Hollywood actor Val Kilmer, best known for roles such as Iceman in Top Gun, Batman in "Batman Forever", and many more, has passed away at 65.

Top Gun star Val Kilmer dies at 65

Iran says it is ready for nuclear deal if US stops military threats

2 hours ago Share Save David Gritten BBC News Share Save

AFP A mural on the wall of the former US embassy in Tehran depicts the Iranian government's view of negotiations with the US

Iran is ready to engage with the US at talks on Saturday over its nuclear programme "with a view to seal a deal", its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said. But US President Donald Trump must first agree there can be no "military option", Araghchi said, and added that Iran would "never accept coercion". He also insisted the negotiations in Oman would be indirect, contradicting Trump's surprise announcement on Monday that they would be "direct talks". Trump, who pulled the US out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers during his first term, warned that Iran would be in "great danger" if talks were not successful.

The US and Iran have no diplomatic ties, so last month Trump sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader via the United Arab Emirates. It said he wanted a deal to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to avert possible military strikes by the US and Israel. Trump disclosed the upcoming talks during a visit to the White House on Monday by the Israeli Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that both leaders had agreed "Iran will not have nuclear weapons" and added "the military option" would happen if talks dragged on. Iran insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and it will never seek to develop or acquire nuclear weapons. However, Iran has increasingly breached restrictions imposed by the existing nuclear deal, in retaliation for crippling US sanctions reinstated seven years ago, and has stockpiled enough highly-enriched uranium to make several bombs.

Watch: Iran, tariffs and hostages - key moments in Trump meeting with Netanyahu

The US president told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that this weekend's meeting in Oman would be "very big". "I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious," Trump said. But he also warned that it would "be a very bad day for Iran" if the talks were not successful. In an opinion piece published by the Washington Post on Tuesday, Iran's foreign minister declared that it was "ready to engage in earnest and with a view to seal a deal". "We will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect negotiations. It is as much an opportunity as it is a test," Araghchi said. Iran harboured "serious doubts" about the sincerity of the US government's intentions, he noted, citing the "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions that Trump restored soon after starting his second term. "To move forward today, we first need to agree that there can be no 'military option', let alone a 'military solution'," he said. "The proud Iranian nation, whose strength my government relies on for real deterrence, will never accept coercion and imposition." Araghchi insisted there was no evidence that Iran had violated its commitment not to seek nuclear weapons, but also acknowledged that "there may exist possible concerns about our nuclear programme". "We are willing to clarify our peaceful intent and take the necessary measures to allay any possible concern. For its part, the United States can show that it is serious about diplomacy by showing that it will stick to any deal it makes. If we are shown respect, we will reciprocate it." "The ball is now in America's court," he added.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran will "never accept coercion" ahead of Saturday's talks in Oman.

Iran says it is ready for nuclear deal if US stops military threats

DECLAN RICE had played in more than 400 matches as a professional footballer and never scored a direct free-kick.

In fact, Arsenal’s £105million man has barely ever taken aim at goal with a dead ball in almost two seasons at the Emirates.

10 Declan Rice scored two sensational free-kicks that stunned Real Madrid Credit: Getty

10 Rice incredibly bent his first around the wall and beyond Thibaut Courtois Credit: Getty

10 His second was even better, straight into the top corner Credit: Getty

10 Mikel Merino then added a third to surely send Arsenal into the semi-final Credit: Getty

So how about this then? In a Champions League quarter-final against the reigning, and 15-time kings of Europe, Rice decided to score two of them inside a dozen minutes.

And both from 25 yards. Both mugging off Thibaut Courtois, one of the finest keepers in the world.

As the Emirates erupted in an ecstatic bedlam - bodies everywhere like some kind of an orgy - Arsenal’s non centre-forward Mikel Merino lashed home a third and Mikel Arteta’s men had secured a commanding lead to take into the Bernabeu next Wednesday night.

Real Madrid are never knowingly beaten before a tie is over but the Gunners are in touching distance of a first Champions League semi-final in 16 years.

And they have already beaten both of their potential last-four opponents, Paris St Germain or Aston Villa, this season.

What a night this was. The best the Emirates has ever known in its 19-year history - better even than the night when Jack Wilshere once skewered Lionel Messi’s Barcelona.

Real, with the starriest cast list on planet football, were utterly shell-shocked - blown away by three goals in 17 second-half minutes.

And Rice was simply magnificent. He ought never be employed as a passive holding midfielder again, as he has often done for England.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK

10 Rice proved he is worth every penny of the £105m fee paid Credit: Getty

10 Rice had never scored a free-kick before tonight Credit: Getty

He very nearly had four goals in this match - a header thwarted by a brilliant Courtois save and a fierce shot cleared off the line by his England midfield partner Jude Bellingham, who was a spectator for large parts of this feverish evening.

Arteta’s mission was simple - to defeat the most famous club on the planet without a recognised striker and without a first-choice centre-half.

'Now everyone's calling me it...' - Declan Rice reveals hilarious new nickname

Real had no such issues. Four players, including Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, who had been threatened with a ban for shaking their wotsits at Atletico Madrid fans after the last round all avoided serious punishment to the surprise of precisely no one.

Luka Modric at 39, old enough to have played in the classic 4-4 North London Derby here 17 years ago - was fossilising, looking a weak link for the visitors.

The former Ballon d’Or winner tripped Bukayo Saka on the edge of the box early on, then was the beneficiary of some generous refereeing from the Bosnian Irfan Peljto, who looked in awe of Arsenal’s visitors and gave them plenty.

Real, shoddy on the domestic front of late, were not looking themselves at all - Antonio Rudiger’s attempted clearance cannoning off Eduardo Camavinga and almost costing an own goal.

After Myles Lewis-Skelly drifted into central midfield and kippered Modric, Thomas Partey had a shot pushed out by Courtois.

Vinicius pinged one wide after the referee failed to give Arsenal an obvious free-kick, the Emirates howling with rage.

10

10

It took half an hour before Real decided to join in. Bellingham moonwalked around Jurrien Timber and slipped a pass to Mbappe whose shot was smothered by David Raya.

Mbappe was beginning to get footloose but it was more meme content than genuine goal threat.

Saka fired a couple of low centres across the face of goal but, as we thought we knew, there was no centre-forward.

Shortly before the break, Courtois had to earn his corn. Rice’s downward header was pushed out instinctively before Gabriel Martinelli’s follow-up shot was blocked by the towering Belgian keeper.

Arsenal went into the interval heartened yet there was still anxiety around the place. With Real, you never know when the ignition switch will flick.

Early in the second half, Ancelotti started performing keepy-uppies in his technical area. The old dude won this thing twice as a player, not just five times as a manager, in case anyone had forgotten.

But then the party started. Saka dribbled infield and was upended by David Alaba and for once Peljto gave Arsenal a free-kick to the ironic cheers of the home crowd.

There was a lengthy confab between four Arsenal players before Rice was given the honours, ahead of Saka or Martin Odegaard.

Rice sized it up, wrapped a foot around the ball and curled it with power around the wall and past a flailing Courtois. Wallop.

There was a minor earthquake in the stands and Arteta’s men scented blood.

Now every Arsenal challenge, every pass, was cheered.

10

Soon, Lewis-Skelly released Martinelli, whose shot was pushed out brilliantly by Courtois, who then defied the false nine Merino.

From the following corner, Bellingham cleared off the line from a fierce Rice drive.

The £105million man had the devil in him. And then Saka was fouled again, 25 yards out, as if Real hadn’t learned their lesson.

This time Rice went for height and dip, with the same result - Courtois is 6ft 7in, he dived full stretch and didn’t get remotely near it.

Soon, it became ridiculous. Lewis-Skelly, full of it, cut inside from the left and fed Merino who whipped a first-time effort past Courtois.

It was the Spaniard’s sixth goal since taking over his makeshift striker duties.

Arteta’s men were pedal-to-the-metal. Real Madrid - the actual Real Madrid - were roadkill.

DECLAN RICE had played in more than 400 matches as a professional footballer and never scored a direct free-kick.In fact, Arsenal’s £105milli

Arsenal 3 Real Madrid 0: Sensational Rice scores first TWO free-kicks of his career as Gunners have one foot in semis

Declan Rice bagged a sensational brace against Madrid

Declan Rice stole the show as Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night to put themselves in control of the Champions League quarter-final tie. The England international produced two incredible free-kicks to put the Gunners in complete control of their quarter-final tie. Rice whipped a glorious strike around the towering Madrid and beyond Thibaut Courtois to send the Emirates Stadium into a frenzy after 58 minutes. He then produced an even better strike just 12 minutes later when smashing a fierce effort into the top corner.

Mikel Merino then put the game to bed in the 75th minute when curling a neat finish into the bottom corner whilst on the turn. Here is how Express Sport rated the Arsenal players… Arsenal player ratings vs Real Madrid (4-3-3) David Raya - 7 Made a routine stop to deny Kylian Mbappe in the first half and answered every question that was asked of him, especially in possession. Jurrien Timber - 8 (90', White) Strong display to prevent Vinicius Jr from leaving any sort of mark on the match. Was smart in his offensive play too, drifting inside to leave Bukayo Saka one-on-one against his man. William Saliba - 8 Monstrous performance from the centre-back. Marshalled his backline well and stepped in to read the danger on several occasions when Madrid threatened on the counter. Jakub Kiwior - 7 Stepped up well in the absence of Gabriel and coped well with the pace and energy of the Madrid frontline.

Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed against Madrid

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 9 Did well to minimise the threat of Rodrygo and made some smart passes forward to pick out teammates in the final third. The 18-year-old showed maturity beyond his years to make an impact at both ends of the pitch, bagging an assist for Merino’s goal with a neat pass. Thomas Partey - 7 Made several key challenges but lost his man on the counter on occasions in the first half which could have proved more costly on another night. Covered a lot of ground to allow Rice and Odegaard to push forward and pin Madrid inside their own half. Booked. Martin Odegaard - 6 A quiet performance from the skipper. Favoured simple passes out wide over looking to unpick the Madrid backline himself, ultimately preventing Arsenal from creating chances centrally. Capable of a lot more and will be fortunate that his teammates stepped up around him. Declan Rice – 9 (80’, Tierney) A great performance from the England international, with his goal, of course, being the highlight. The midfielder drifted wide well to cause problems down the left, and he was unfortunate not to have opened the scoring sooner with a smart header which was clawed away by Courtois. Bukayo Saka – 9 (74’, Trossard) The England international produced a performance which David Alaba will have nightmares about for a very long time. Saka weaved his way to the byline on countless occasions to deliver dangerous crosses, and he may feel unfortunate not to have registered at least one assist on the night.

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ARSENAL 3-0 REAL MADRID: The Gunners ran riot against Carlo Ancelotti's side at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal vs Real Madrid player ratings: Three 9/10s as Champions League glory edges closer

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer takes his seat upon arrival at the start of a Senate Finance Committee hearing on President Donald Trump's trade policies

Jamieson Greer's appearance in Congress came with Republicans ringing alarm bells over Trump's escalating trade war and Wall Street clamoring for clarity on the president's plans after a historic market sell-off.

The US trade representative argued that the strategy was "already bearing fruit."

"Nearly 50 countries have approached me personally to discuss the president's new policy and explore how to achieve reciprocity," he told the Senate Finance Committee.

Several countries -- including Argentina, Vietnam and Israel -- had offered to reduce their tariffs, Greer said, while auto manufacturers were canceling layoffs and companies had announced $4 trillion in new investment in the United States.

The annual hearings on the president's trade policies are often staid affairs.

But they have generated more interest this year after Trump last week announced a baseline tariff of 10 percent and extra levies of up to 50 percent on dozens of countries exporting more to the United States than they buy.

Greer told senators the country had shed five million manufacturing jobs and 90,000 factories in the last 30 years, since a trilateral free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada was enacted.

America's "large and persistent trade deficit" will not be resolved overnight, he cautioned.

"But all of this is in the right direction," he told senators.

"We must move away from an economy based solely on the financial sector and government spending, and we must become an economy based on producing real goods and services," Greer added.

Senior Republican lawmakers have pledged to allow Trump time to see how his tariff gambit plays out, but are desperate to see progress on trade negotiations they believe will calm markets.

'No clear message'

Wall Street stocks surged higher early Tuesday after a three-day rout as global markets rallied in hopes of trade agreements.

But rank-and-file lawmakers remain jittery about the effect of the tariffs and have been demanding briefings on the strategy, with some even seeking to remove Trump's authority to raise import levies.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is leading a bipartisan effort to require congressional approval of tariffs within 60 days, although it is not expected to get a floor vote.

Four Republican senators voted with Democrats last week to pass a symbolic resolution to undo Trump's tariff on Canada that does not have the force of law.

Trump himself ruled out any pause in his aggressive new global trade policy on Monday, and threatened to slap an additional 50 percent tariff on China over its retaliation.

He also dismissed the possibility of a trade deal with the European Union and called his critics on trade "weak and stupid" while pledging to veto Grassley's bill, which is backed by at least seven Republicans.

Democrats were expected to press Greer on the impact of tariffs on prices and the broader economy.

The party's top senator on the finance committee, Ron Wyden, assailed the White House for having "no clear message" about how Trump picked his tariff targets and how long he plans to keep them up.

He suggested Trump was deliberately tanking the economy to bring down interest rates, making borrowing cheaper for the rich.

Greer's appearance was the first of two annual hearings on the president's trade policies. He will be grilled by the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.

© 2025 AFP

The top US trade official on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on nearly every other nation, telling US senators almost 50 countries had reached out to make a deal.

Trump's trade representative says tariffs 'bearing fruit'

Ata mārie and welcome to your Tuesday summary of international business and political news from overnight.

We start again with tariffs and multiple media outlets continue to cover events as they unfold around the world.

US President Donald Trump has threatened China with an extra 50% tariff from Wednesday if it doesn't remove its retaliatory tariffs of 34%, the Guardian reported.

“Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.

Meanwhile, the European Commission proposed counter-tariffs of 25% on a range of US goods in response to Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium, Reuters reported.

The tariffs on some goods would come into effect on May 16 and others later in the year. The goods included diamonds, dental floss, sausages, nuts, and soybeans, the Guardian noted.

Bourbon, wine, and dairy were removed from the original list. Some countries, including France and Ireland, had asked for bourbon to be dropped from the list, after Trump threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne.

Meanwhile, the bloodbath on global sharemarkets continued overnight. The BBC reported European markets initially plunged on opening but then recovered some ground.

Al Jazeera reported Hong Kong’s sharemarket suffered its worst one-day decline in about three decades amid the wave of panic selling. The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 13% on Monday local time.

It followed another negative session on the local NZX50 index yesterday, with NBR reporting it was the largest single-day fall since March 2020.

The Top 50 Index closed down 449 points, or 3.7%, to 11,776 with $158.4 million worth of shares changing hands. The broader market was down by as much as 3% in early trading and continued to deteriorate over the course of the day.

The NZX is now in correction territory – when a stock index falls more than 10% – having fallen 11.3% since its high on December 30.

US President Donald Trump.

Over the Ditch, the ABC’s business editor Michael Janda assessed implications for the local ASX200 index, after about A$110 billion of value was wiped from listed companies yesterday.

He said the 4.2% slump for Australia's index followed the 2.4% decline on Friday. “I'm not sure what it says about Aussie traders that they had the chance to react first to Donald Trump's tariff announcement, and Thursday's local consensus appeared to be broadly, ‘meh, not too much to see here’.

“Or maybe they're just quietly confident Australia will continue to be the lucky country, which global financial catastrophes recently appear to have largely bypassed,” Janda said.

Meanwhile, Bill Ackman – a billionaire backer of Trump – urged the president to pause the tariffs, or risk "a self-induced economic nuclear winter," the BBC reported.

Ackman said the president should take three months to allow countries to renegotiate their trading relationships with the US. Trump had said: "Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something."

Ackman acknowledged Trump’s argument that global trade had "disadvantaged" the US. He said the tariffs that Trump had imposed were "massive and disproportionate".

CNBC also reported on comments from BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink, who said a number of key business leaders thought the US economy was already in a significant downturn.

“Most CEOs I talk to would say we are probably in a recession right now. One CEO specifically said the airline industry is a proverbial bird in a coal mine – canary in the coal mine – and I was told that the canary is sick already,” Fink said.

He said the tariffs could put upward pressure on inflation and make it difficult for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. “This notion that the Federal Reserve is going to ease four times this year, I see zero chance of that. I’m much more worried that we could have elevated inflation that’s going to bring rates up much higher than they are today.”

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.

And finally, global vehicle manufacturer Stellantis has hired McKinsey & Co for strategic advice on luxury brands Maserati and Alfa Romeo, amid the trade tariff war, Bloomberg reported.

Chair John Elkann asked the consulting firm to assess options for the brands, including partnering with manufacturers for new technology, according to sources.

“McKinsey has been asked to provide its considerations regarding the recently announced US tariffs for Alfa Romeo and Maserati,” a spokesperson confirmed.

Trump’s 25% automotive tariffs threatened to slash billions of euros off Stellantis’s earnings. The company had been offering discounts in the US to ease fears that the levies could make its cars more expensive, Bloomberg noted.

The National Business Review Online is New Zealand's authority in breaking business news and analysis.

Trump threatens extra 50% tariff on China; bloodbath on markets

Beijing 'won't cave in' to 50pc Trump tariff threat

An electronic board shows stock indices in the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters

China said it would never accept the "blackmail nature" of the United States after Washington escalated tariff threats against the nation, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.



The US threats were "a mistake on top of a mistake", a ministry spokesperson said in a statement, urging the US to properly resolve differences with China through dialogue with mutual respect and on an equal footing.



Trump has threatened to impose an additional 50 percent duty on US imports from China on Wednesday if Beijing did not withdraw the 34 percent tariffs it had slapped on US products last week. Those tariffs had come in response to 34 percent "reciprocal" duties announced by Trump.



China's retaliatory levies are the firmest response yet to Trump's announcement, which has been met with bewildered condemnation from other leaders.



Overnight, Liu Pengyu, spokesman for Beijing's embassy in the United States, said China would not cave to pressure or threats.



"We have stressed more than once that pressuring or threatening China is not a right way to engage with us. China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," said Liu.



He described Trump's threat as a "typical move of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying."



Stocks in mainland China and Hong Kong cratered on Monday as part of a worldwide stocks rout in response to Trump's tariffs. The Hang Seng Index recorded its biggest drop since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, falling 13.2 percent. (Agencies)

China said it would never accept the "blackmail nature" of the United States after Washington escalated tariff threats against the nation, the Ministr...

Beijing 'won't cave in' to 50pc Trump tariff threat

A US cargo ship docks at the Qingdao Port, Shandong province. [Photo by Yu Shaoyue/For China Daily]

The United States will likely experience more pain from retaliatory tariffs than China, said Steve Cochrane, chief Asia-Pacific economist at Moody's Analytics during an interview with CCTV News on Monday.

He explained that while the US is China's second-largest source of imports, it only accounts for about 7 percent of total imports coming into China.

China's import sources are very broadly distributed around the world. There isn't a high concentration that comes from every single country, so imports coming in from the US can easily be substituted by other countries, he added.

Taking the trade war on soybeans back in 2018 for example, he stated that China shifted soybean imports from the US to Brazil, with Brazil still an important supplier of soybeans to China.

Cochrane thinks China will be able to find other sources of imports for those goods. This situation will hurt the agricultural economy, which is in the mid-section of the US economy geographically, and it could be very painful for the US.

If indeed nothing changes and President Trump makes no pullback on tariffs, the consumer side of the economy will slow down, prices will increase, and consumers will be hesitant to spend given the uncertainty.

More importantly, investment spending will slow down or come to a halt until investors and individual firms have a clear understanding of where things are in terms of the tariffs, he said.

Cochrane believes that people could see a recession happening very quickly in the US, which could last a year or so.

The United States will likely experience more pain from retaliatory tariffs than China, said Steve Cochrane, chief Asia-Pacific economist at Moody's Analytics during an interview with CCTV News on Monday.

Moody's economist: US to feel greater impact from retaliatory tariffs

Maros Sefcovic, the nominee to become the European Union's trade and economic commissioner, holds a press conference after hearings, in Brussels, Belgium November 4, 2024.[Photo/Agencies]

European Union trade ministers struck a cautious tone after their meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, resisting immediate retaliation against the United States' "reciprocal tariffs" and warning that "there are no winners" in a trade war.

The 27-nation bloc faces extensive US tariffs, including 25-percent duties on steel, aluminum, and cars, plus 20-percent "reciprocal" tariffs on most other goods starting on Wednesday, though officials stressed they remain focused on finding a negotiated solution rather than matching all US measures.

Speaking at a news briefing following the meeting, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the EU is "in early stages of discussions" with the US that are complicated "because the US view tariffs not as a tactical step, but as a corrective measure".

He said the two sides agree that "the EU-US trade relationship could benefit from a fresh look and a boost in strategic areas", noting both "face similar challenges".

He added the focus so far has been on finalizing steel and aluminum countermeasures, though the announcement of the new "so-called reciprocal tariffs … forces us to look at additional steps".

"After carefully reviewing all of it, we have worked to table a robust list of countermeasures, while balancing the burden across all member states. We will be sending the final list and tariff levels to them later today."

A member-state vote is set for Wednesday, "with the final list set to be adopted on April 15, and then duties on products will kick in on that day for the first set of measures, and on May 15 for the remaining ones", he said.

As the EU trade ministers arrived for the crucial talks, they offered differing perspectives to reporters, highlighting the complex challenge of forming a unified response.

Robert Habeck, Germany's economy minister, emphasized that the EU could maintain a strong stance against the US, provided the member states present a unified front.

"The stock markets are already collapsing and the damage could become even greater. It is therefore important ... to act clearly and decisively and prudently, which means realizing that we are in a strong position. America is in a position of weakness," Habeck said.

Laurent Saint-Martin, France's minister for foreign trade, advocated for potentially "extremely aggressive" countermeasures to the sweeping tariffs.

"We must not exclude any option on goods, on services ... and open the European toolbox, which is very comprehensive," he said, referring to the EU's anti-coercion instrument.

The Netherlands' Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Reinette Klever called for a measured approach.

"We need to get ourselves at the table with the Americans and see how we can lower these tariffs," she said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that US tariffs would only harm US consumers and emphasized that while "Europe is always ready for a good deal", the bloc stands prepared to implement countermeasures and strengthen its single market, if necessary.

jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com

EU ministers strike cautious tone over US tariffs

People attend a rally to celebrate the expulsion of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, on April 5, 2025. — Reuters

South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3, the country's acting president said Tuesday, after former leader Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office over a disastrous declaration of martial law.

The democratic country has been effectively leaderless since December, when ex-president Yoon attempted to subvert civilian rule but was quickly impeached by lawmakers and suspended from office.

The country's Constitutional Court last week upheld his impeachment, stripping him of the top job and triggering fresh elections, which must be held within 60 days.

The government has set June 3 as polling day, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Tuesday, adding that it would be declared a temporary public holiday to facilitate voting.

The date took into account "the need to ensure smooth election operations and allow sufficient time for political parties to prepare", he said.

Han called on ministries and the National Election Commission to "make thorough preparations to ensure an election that is fairer and more transparent than ever, and one that can earn the trust of the people".

The winner of the election will be inaugurated the following day, unlike a regular poll, where a president-elect has a two-month transition period.

For the time being, Prime Minister Han is running the government as acting president, a job he resumed recently after the Constitutional Court threw out his impeachment.

The official campaign period will run from May 12 until June 2.

Frontrunner Lee

The opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, is the frontrunner to clinch the top job, with a 34% support rating, according to the latest Gallup poll.

His party already controls the National Assembly.

Lee narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election but staged a political comeback as leader of the main opposition, despite a career shadowed by legal troubles, including ongoing trials.

Sources told AFP on Tuesday that Lee was preparing to step down from leading the Democratic Party, which would allow him to compete freely for the party's nomination.

Experts say he is now "highly likely" to win.

"With the election date so soon, it's hard to expect a presidential candidate from an impeached party to be elected president," said Lee Jun-han, a politics professor at Incheon National University.

"The current polling shows Lee Jae-myung has high approval ratings, and he is very likely to win it, as it seems he doesn't have a proper challenger."

In distinct second place is Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo.

Polling around nine per cent, he leads a pack of challengers from Yoon's People Power Party, which also includes former party chief Han Dong-hoon.

Millions of Koreans watched the Constitutional Court hand down its verdict live on television last Friday, stripping Yoon of office.

Yoon sent armed soldiers to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers from voting down his decree, which the court said amounted to deploying troops for "political purposes".

He is the second South Korean leader to be impeached by the court after Park Geun-hye in 2017.

South Korea has spent the four months since the martial law declaration without an effective head of state.

The leadership vacuum coincided with a series of crises and headwinds, including an aviation disaster and the deadliest wildfires in the country's history.

Last week, South Korea was slammed with 26% tariffs on exports to its key ally, the United States, after President Donald Trump unveiled global, so-called reciprocal levies.

Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial on charges of insurrection over the martial law bid.

South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3, the country's acting president said Tuesday, after former leader Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office over a disastrous declaration of...

South Korea sets new presidential election for June 3

EU plans to charge import duties of up to 25 per cent on a number of products sold from the US. Graphic: Paul Scott

The European Union (EU) is to hit back at the United States with its own tariffs, targeting a range of goods from US soybeans, to steel, oranges, chainsaws and washing machines.

The EU plans to charge import duties of up to 25 per cent on a number of products sold from the US, in the bloc’s initial response to massive tariffs on global trade introduced by US president Donald Trump.

The European Commission is now planning a further package of tariffs, beyond the measures EU states are due to vote to approve on Wednesday. It would take a qualified majority of EU leaders voting against to rescind the proposed levies. The European commission is the EU’s executive arm that formulates the bloc’s trade policy,

The list of US products and goods that are to be hit with tariffs by the EU has been the subject of intense lobbying between national capitals over recent weeks.

READ MORE

Bourbon, wine and US dairy products had been in the firing line, but France, Italy and Ireland lobbied hard against their inclusion, over fears their domestic spirits and agricultural industries would in turn be drawn into the middle of the EU-US dispute.

Mr Trump had warned that if the EU taxed bourbon, he would respond by putting 200 per cent tariffs on Irish whiskey, French champagne, Italian wine and other European spirits.

The Government had also been concerned about Ireland’s large exports of butter to the US, if Mr Trump was angered by tariffs put on US cheese.

What do Donald Trump’s April tariffs mean for Ireland? Listen | 38:28

The final list of products the EU plans to raise tariffs on includes soybeans, almonds, an extensive range of steel and clothing products, as well as motor-powered boats. The EU will also target US exports of oranges, poultry, sausages, raspberries, kitchenware, door and window frames, and non-alcoholic beer.

The tariffs, which are effectively taxes to import goods, will range from between 10 and 25 per cent.

The EU had been drawing up this initial package of counter-tariffs since Mr Trump announced tariffs of 25 per cent on imports of steel and aluminium from the EU and elsewhere in mid-March. Those were followed by similar US tariffs on imports of automobiles and car parts.

[ Why did Irish pharma exports escape the tariff guillotine?Opens in new window ]

Then came Mr Trump’s sweeping levies on nearly all trading partners last week, which saw the president hit EU states with blanket 20 per cent tariffs on imports to the US.

The European Commission had drawn up the range of US products to hike trade levies on. EU states will now vote to approve the retaliatory measures on Wednesday.

The tariffs will impact about €21 billion worth of US trade with the EU. Initially some €26 billion worth of trade had been in the commission’s crosshairs. However, it reconsidered import duties on bourbon and other products, on foot of lobbying from capitals.

Barry Cowen, a Fianna Fáil MEP, said the decision to not tariff US bourbon and dairy was welcome. The final list of US products set to be subject to tariffs would be “less economically disruptive” to EU states, while still putting pressure on the US to negotiate.

The series of tariffs announced by Mr Trump will raise the cost of importing €380 billion worth of goods into the US from the EU.

[ Government delays Spring economic statement amid tariff uncertaintyOpens in new window ]

Commission officials are examining a number of options, which include targeting the trade of services – such as the output of US tech and social media giants – as well as goods.

The Government is opposed to dragging US tech multinationals into the fray, given the high concentration of the companies with European bases in Dublin.

Commission officials continue to stress that the EU wants to cut a deal with the US, to end the cycle of tit-for-tat tariffs Mr Trump has kicked off.

Soybeans, oranges, steel and almonds to be hit with retaliatory measures

EU plans to hit back with 25% counter-tariffs targeting US goods

A cargo ship in Shanghai, on April 8, 2025: tariffs are set to damage trade flows between the US and China . (Photo by Hector Retamal / AFP)

China is among the biggest targets of Donald Trump’s tariffs, with a 34 per cent tariff due to come into force today, on top of a 20 per cent levy already imposed. Beijing’s response has been tougher than any in the world, slapping a 34 per cent tariff on all imports from the United States along with a raft of other measures. And in turn Trump has responded by threatening a further 50 per cent tariff on China.

China’s approach is in sharp contrast with that of other Asian countries, some of which face even steeper tariffs. Most have ruled out any retaliatory action, instead offering concessions.

The size of China’s economy and its position at the heart of many manufacturing supply chains leave it in a stronger negotiating position with the US than any other country in the world. But the severity of its response also reflects Beijing’s failure to make any progress in resetting the bilateral relationship with Washington since Trump returned to the White House.

China has diversified its export market in recent years so that while the US remains its biggest market, its share of Chinese exports has fallen substantially. And its manufacturers are so dominant in some sectors, that American retailers will struggle to find alternatives in the short term.

READ MORE

China’s response to the US tariffs included filing a complaint under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) mechanism. This reflects China’s wish to present itself as a champion of the multilateral, rules-based trading system.

Beijing would like to build a closer economic relationship with the EU, perhaps reviving the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment that Brussels put on ice in 2021. But the EU and its member-states remain wary, fearing that their markets will now be targeted more than ever by Chinese exporters.

Many countries, including some in the EU, are hoping that market turmoil will generate enough domestic political pressure for Trump to change course. Beijing is putting the alternative strategy to the test by taking the fight to Trump and preparing to face the consequences.

The size of China’s economy and its position in manufacturing supply chains leave it in a stronger negotiating position with the US than many other countries

The Irish Times view on China and the US: Beijing takes the fight to Trump

US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. — Reuters/File

After Beijing vowed a "fight to the end" on levies, the White House confirmed on Tuesday that additional US tariffs on Chinese imports are set to reach 104% on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump had vowed a further 50% tariff on goods from China if Beijing did not retract upcoming retaliation — and the White House confirmed that Trump will proceed with this action, taking the overall added duties this year to 104%.

US President Donald Trump believes that China has to make a deal with the United States concerning additional tariffs that are set to go into effect on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a news briefing.

"The Chinese want to make a deal. They just don't know how to do it," Leavitt said on Tuesday.bus

"He believes China has to make a deal with the United States." If China reaches out, she added, Trump would be "incredibly gracious, but he's going to do what's best for the American people."

Earlier today, Chinese commerce ministry said that the country will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests should the United States escalate its tariff measures, Xinhua reported.

The comments were made by a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce after the United States threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports, which the spokesperson said China firmly opposes.

The US so-called "reciprocal tariffs" against China are groundless and a typical practice of unilateral bullying, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson noted that the countermeasures China has adopted are entirely legitimate actions aimed at protecting its sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as maintaining a normal international trade order.

The US tariff escalation threat against China compounds its mistake and further exposes its nature of blackmail, which China will never accept, said the spokesperson.

"China will fight till the end if the US side is bent on going down the wrong path," the spokesperson noted.

China reiterates that there is no winner in a trade war and protectionism leads nowhere, said the spokesperson, adding that pressuring and threatening is not the right way to engage with the country.

China urges the United States to immediately correct its wrongdoings, cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China, stop its economic and trade suppression, and settle differences with China properly through equal-footed dialogue on the basis of mutual respect, the spokesperson said.

After Beijing vowed a fight to the end on levies, the White House confirmed on Tuesday that additional US tariffs on Chinese imports are set to reach 104% on Wednesday.US President Donald Trump...

White House says new US tariffs on China to hit 104% on Wednesday

The European Union graciously offered to negotiate with Donald Trump on tariffs before retaliating, but the U.S. president is too blinded by his own conspiracy to even consider the deal.

On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered the United States a “zero-for-zero tariff” on cars and industrial goods to avoid a trade war, a pretty generous offer given Trump slapped 20 percent tariffs on the EU—and pretty much everywhere else—last week.

“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners. Because Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table,” von der Leyen said in a statement.

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Trump, however, told reporters Monday afternoon that the deal isn’t enough. “The EU has been very tough over the years, I always say it was formed to really do damage to the United States and trade,” Trump said. “That’s the reason it was formed.”

In case you forgot, the EU was not, in fact, formed to screw the United States but to foster peace and cooperation among European countries post-World War II. It was founded in 1992 and is made up of 27 countries and seven major institutions that manage a common budget, facilitate trade, and make laws.

The president continued his rewrite of European history, claiming the EU was formed solely “to create a unified force against the United States for trade.” He added that the union has used NATO—an alliance that the United States is a part of—to take advantage of the United States.

The outlandish rant is Trump’s way of saying, no, he won’t accept von der Leyen’s deal. It’s a refusal that will likely result in further retaliatory tariffs on the United States as an economic recession looms.

Donald Trump unloaded on the European Union.

Trump Forgets Basic European History in Bizarre Tariff Rant

'Fake News’: White House Denies Report That Donald Trump Considered 90-Day Tariff Pause

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 07, 2025, 21:00 IST

The White House denied reports that President Trump plans to suspend reciprocal tariffs for 90 days for all countries except China, as cited by CNBC and Reuters.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The White House has rejected reports claiming that US President Donald Trump is planning to suspend reciprocal tariffs for 90 days for all countries except China. The report was reported by broadcasters CNBC and Fox News, who cited White House Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and was also reported by Reuters.

US markets turned positive after the reports made headlines. However, the White House swiftly pushed back, sharing the original Fox News interview to clarify that Hassett had been misquoted.

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US President Donald Trump cautioned against “stupid" panic on Monday as a global stock market rout deepened after Beijing retaliated against his tariffs offensive.

Stock Markets LIVE Updates: Trump Tariff Blitz Jolts Markets

He also threatened huge additional tariffs on imports from China if Beijing did not withdraw its retaliation plans, adding Washington would begin negotiations with other countries if they wish.

“If China does not withdraw its 34 percent increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50 percent, effective April 9th," Trump said in a Truth Social post.

Shares in New York joined the slump, with all three major US indices falling more than three percent in early trading.

After opening sharply lower, stocks briefly spiked into positive territory following an erroneous report that the White House was considering a 90-day tariff pause.

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European equities were deep in the red but Asia fared worse, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index crashing 13.2 percent, its biggest drop since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 falling an eye-watering 7.8 percent.

A 10-percent “baseline" tariff on imports from around the world took effect Saturday but a slew of countries will be hit by higher duties from Wednesday, with levies of 34 percent for Chinese goods and 20 percent for EU products.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 07, 2025, 20:12 IST

The White House denied reports that President Trump plans to suspend reciprocal tariffs for 90 days for all countries except China, as cited by CNBC and Reuters.

'Fake News’: White House Denies Report That Donald Trump Considered 90-Day Tariff Pause

How Countries Are Responding To Trump's Tariffs As Global Markets Plunge?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 07, 2025, 15:16 IST

Global stock markets plummeted after China imposed retaliatory tariffs following President Trump's 54% duty on Chinese imports. Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Taipei, and Tokyo saw significant losses

On Wednesday, Trump announced an additional 34% tariff on all Chinese goods imported into the US (Photo: X)

Global stock markets were in turmoil on Monday after China announced retaliatory tariffs in response to President Donald Trump’s increase in duties on Chinese imports to 54%.

Trading floors were inundated with a wave of selling as investors sought refuge, leading to Hong Kong’s steepest decline in nearly 30 years at 13 percent. Frankfurt plummeted 10 percent, Taipei 9.7 percent, and Tokyo almost eight percent. Wall Street futures were also hit hard, and commodities tumbled.

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President Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs against US trading partners triggered last week’s market chaos. He justified the move, claiming years of unfair trade practices and asserting that governments were eager to negotiate with Washington.

However, after Asian markets closed on Friday, China declared it would impose retaliatory tariffs of 34 percent on all U.S. goods starting April 10.

Why Has Sensex Crashed Today? Key Factors Behind Share Market’s Black Monday On April 7

Here’s How Countries & Their Stock Markets Responded To Trump’s Tariffs

China

In China, where markets reopened after a public holiday, the Shanghai Composite Index closed 7.3% lower, while the blue-chip CSI300 index dropped about 7%. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index last traded nearly 12% lower. On Wednesday, Trump announced an additional 34% tariff on all Chinese goods imported into the US, raising duties on all Chinese imports to well over 54% when existing tariffs are considered. In response, Beijing on Friday imposed its own baseline 34% tariffs on all American imports, along with other measures like export controls on rare earth minerals used in high-tech products, such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries, and trade restrictions on specific US companies. Within 48 hours of Trump’s market-impacting tariffs announcement, the world’s second-largest economy responded swiftly with its own punitive measures on US goods and firms. The message is clear: China is well-prepared to endure a trade war and emerge stronger.

That message was telegraphed to China’s domestic audience and foreign countries alike in a flurry of state media coverage and government statements over the weekend following Trump’s epic assault on the global trading system.

“US tariffs will have an impact (on China), but ‘the sky won’t fall,’" a commentary in the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpiece People’s Daily said Sunday.

“Since the US initiated the (first) trade war in 2017 – no matter how the US fights or presses – we have continued to develop and progress, demonstrating resilience – ‘the more pressure we get, the stronger we become,’" read the commentary, which was also on the front page of the paper’s Monday edition.

India

Equity markets in India experienced significant declines on Monday, with benchmark indices falling over 5 percent in early trading due to a global downturn triggered by the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US and China’s subsequent retaliation.

The Sensex plummeted 3,939.68 points or 5.22 percent, hitting an intraday low of 71,425.01, while the NSE Nifty dropped 1,160.80 points or 5 percent to 21,743.65 — marking its worst opening since March 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This represented the most substantial single-day drop since June 4, 2024, when the indices had fallen more than 8 percent. After Trump’s tariff announcement, India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry had said discussions are ongoing between Indian and US trade teams for the expeditious conclusion of a mutually beneficial, multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement. Unlike other countries, India, however, does not plan to hit back at the US over the 26% reciprocal tariffs, a government official said, citing the ongoing trade deal talks between the two nations, news agency Reuters reported. The government of India has found a clause of Trump’s tariff order that offers a possible reprieve for trading partners who “take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements", the official said.

According to this clause, the countries can be excused or get relief from the tariffs if they make efforts to fix unfair trade deals. Another official, who did not want to be named, said that New Delhi sees itself to be in a better place than other Asian nations like China, Vietnam and Indonesia, who have been hit by higher Trump tariffs, as India is one of the first nations to have already initiated talks with Washington over a trade deal – something the country considers an advantage.

Black Monday 2.0 Explained: Why Trump’s Tariffs Are Raising Fears Of A 1987-Style Crash

Canada

Canada was largely spared from the global tariffs announced by Trump on Wednesday, as Washington granted an exemption for goods compliant with the US-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement, covering most products. However, Canada, one of America’s largest trading partners, still faces tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other products, in addition to levies on automobiles.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced “25 percent tariffs on all vehicles imported from the United States that are not compliant with CUSMA," referring to the Canadian acronym for the existing North American free trade agreement. This followed Trump’s imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian vehicles. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) fell 1,142.30 points, or 4.7%, to 23,193.47, its lowest closing level since September 10 and its biggest decline since March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Since Wednesday, when the U.S. unveiled sweeping tariffs on other countries, the index has lost 8.4%, while it posted a weekly decline of 6.3%.

Japan

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index plummeted 7.8 percent on Monday in line with global sell-off. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that his government will present Trump with a “package" of measures to win relief from US tariffs. Earlier, Trade minister Yoji Muto had described the 24 percent tariffs on Japanese exports to the United States as “extremely regrettable" and reiterated his strong request to Washington not to impose them on Japan.

Taiwan

Taiwanese stocks triggered a circuit breaker after plummeting nearly 10% on Monday, in the first trading session since President Donald Trump announced new import tariffs last week. Amid market chaos, Taiwan’s chief financial regulator stated that temporary restrictions on short-selling would be implemented throughout the week to prevent further instability caused by the tariffs.

Taiwan’s stocks dived 9.8 percent on Monday, as traders reacted to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs that triggered a massive selloff on world markets last week.

The Taiex, the weighted index on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, plunged 9.8 percent at the open, as trading resumed following a long weekend.

Taipei had sought to avoid Trump’s threatened tariffs by pledging increased investment in the United States and more purchases of US energy, but it was still hit by a 32 percent tax on its imports, excluding semiconductor chips.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Sunday the government did not plan to impose “retaliatory tariffs" on products from the United States, the island’s most important security backer. Instead, the government is seeking to strike a deal with Washington for zero tariffs, and has earmarked $2.7 billion to help domestic industries affected by the new tax.

Taiwan’s trade surplus with the United States is the seventh highest of any country, reaching $73.9 billion in 2024. Around 60 percent of Taiwan’s exports to the United States are ICT, which includes chips.

Vietnam

Vietnam, a manufacturing powerhouse that had the United States as its largest market last year, faced a hefty 46 percent tariff due to Trump’s global trade measures. Last week, US President Donald Trump mentioned that Vietnam’s top leader expressed interest in negotiating on tariffs during a “very productive" call on Friday, following the imposition of significant levies on the Southeast Asian nation.

“Just had a very productive call with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who told me that Vietnam wants to cut their Tariffs down to ZERO if they are able to make an agreement with the US," Trump said on Truth Social.

During Trump’s first term, Vietnam leveraged its strategic location and affordable skilled workforce to establish itself as an alternative manufacturing hub to China amidst the trade conflict between Beijing and Washington. This led many companies to relocate parts of their supply chain, resulting in Vietnam’s trade surplus with the United States doubling from 2017 to 2023. However, major brands like Nike, which produced 50 percent of its footwear and 28 percent of its apparel in Vietnam in the 2024 financial year, are now facing significantly higher costs, which they must either absorb or transfer to customers. On Friday, the Vietnamese stock market continued its decline, with the VN-Index nearing the 1,210-point mark due to increased selling pressure and ongoing foreign outflows. The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 largest listed companies by market capitalization, dipped 2.66 points, or 0.21 percent, to 1,280.52 points. The Vietnamese stock market is closed today, April 7, 2025, in observance of the Hung Kings’ Festival, a national public holiday.

European Union

European Union trade chief Maros Sefcovic said EU ministers will Monday weigh their response to a “paradigm shift" in international trade. “What we are going to discuss is how to position Europe in what I would describe as the paradigm shift of the global trading system," Sefcovic told reporters ahead of a meeting in Luxembourg.

After the 20 percent tariffs on EU exports to the United States, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen had said Brussels was “preparing for further countermeasures" but added it was “not too late to address concerns through negotiations".

Germany’s economy minister said the EU is in a ‘strong position to respond to US tariffs’.

UK

The FTSE 100 index of blue-chip stocks has plunged by 488 points, or 6%, taking the index down to 7566 points, its lowest level since February 2024.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “there would be an economic impact" from a 10 percent tariff imposed on British exports to the United States.

“Today, I will act in Britain’s interests with mine," said Starmer, adding that trade negotiations would continue with Donald Trump’s administration and that “we will fight for the best deal for Britain".

The UK will “remain calm, and committed" to sealing a trade deal with the United States which could help “mitigate" the tarriff rise, business minister Jonathan Reynolds said.

France

The French CAC was down 6% and the FTSE declined by 5.2%. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a suspension of investment in the United States until Donald Trump’s “brutal and unfounded" new tariffs against Europe and the rest of the world were clarified.

“What would be the message if big European actors invest billions of euros in the US economy at the very moment they are hitting us?" Macron asked at a meeting of French companies.

Macron said Americans will be “weaker and poorer" after Trump’s tariff announcement, which he said would have a “massive impact" on the European economy.

Germany

Germany’s leading stock market index, the DAX, plummeted by around 10% at the start of trading on Monday, falling to 18,489 points as investors continue to react to the sweeping global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

New blanket 10% duties on all imports to the United States came into effect on Saturday, with additional levies on a host of trading partners due to be imposed on Wednesday, including a 20% tariff on imports from the European Union.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz slammed the tariffs as “fundamentally wrong" as Berlin warned that the European Union could retaliate by targeting American tech titans.

“This is an attack on a trade order that has created prosperity all over the globe, a trade order that is essentially the result of American efforts," Scholz said.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s central bank said Monday it would “intervene aggressively" in the domestic market to defend its currency hit by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

Trading is set to resume Tuesday for the first time since Trump last week imposed levies on friends and foes alike, rattling stock markets and alarming governments around the world. Indonesian markets have been closed since March 28 for public holidays, with the rupiah falling to its lowest level against the US dollar since the late 1990s Asian financial crisis.

Trump’s “Liberation Day" announcement saw the archipelago nation hit with an additional 32 percent levy on its goods, higher than the baseline 10 percent for all countries and more than Southeast Asian neighbours Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday the country would negotiate with Washington to ask for a better deal.

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The United States is one of Indonesia’s top trading partners, and Jakarta enjoyed a $16.8 billion trade surplus with Washington last year, according to Indonesian government data.

(With inputs from agencies)

First Published: April 07, 2025, 15:00 IST

Global stock markets plummeted after China imposed retaliatory tariffs following President Trump's 54% duty on Chinese imports. Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Taipei, and Tokyo saw significant losses

How Countries Are Responding To Trump's Tariffs As Global Markets Plunge?

Currency traders work near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top right, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on April 7. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK--Asian shares nosedived on Monday after the meltdown Friday on Wall Street over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff hikes and the backlash from Beijing.

U.S. futures also signaled further weakness. The future for the S&P 500 lost 4.2% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 3.5%. The future for the Nasdaq lost 5.3%.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost nearly 8% shortly after the market opened. An hour later it was down 7.1% at 31,375.71.

South Korea's Kospi lost 5.5% to 2,328.52, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tumbled 6.3% to 7,184.70.

Oil prices sank further, with U.S. benchmark crude down 4%, or $2.50, at $59.49 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gave up $2.25 to $63.33 a barrel.

Currencies also saw big moves.

The U.S. dollar fell to 145.98 Japanese yen from 146.94 yen. The yen is often viewed as a safe haven in times of turmoil. The euro rose to $1.0967 from $1.0962.

On Friday, Wall Street’s worst crisis since COVID slammed into a higher gear. The S&P 500 plummeted 6% and the Dow plunged 5.5%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 5.8%.

The losses came after China matched President Donald Trump’s big raise in tariffs announced last week, upping the stakes in a trade war that could end with a recession that hurts everyone. Even a better-than-expected report on the U.S. job market, usually the economic highlight of each month, wasn't enough to stop the slide.

So far there have been few, if any, winners in financial markets from the trade war. Stocks for all but 14 of the 500 companies within the S&P 500 index fell Friday.

China’s response to U.S. tariffs caused an immediate acceleration of losses in markets worldwide. The Commerce Ministry in Beijing said it would respond to the 34% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports from China with its own 34% tariff on imports of all U.S. products beginning April 10, among other measures.

The United States and China are the world’s two largest economies.

The central question looking ahead is: Will the trade war cause a global recession? If it does, stock prices may need to come down even more than they have already. The S&P 500 is down 17.4% from its record set in February.

Trump seemed unfazed. From Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida, he headed to his golf course a few miles away after writing on social media that “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO GET RICH.”

The Federal Reserve could cushion the blow of tariffs on the economy by cutting interest rates, which can encourage companies and households to borrow and spend. But the Fed may have less freedom to move than it would like.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Friday that tariffs could drive up expectations for inflation and lower rates could fuel still more price increases.

“Our obligation is to keep longer-term inflation expectations well anchored and to make certain that a one-time increase in the price level does not become an ongoing inflation problem,” Powell said.

Much will depend on how long Trump’s tariffs stick and what kind of retaliations other countries deliver. Some of Wall Street is holding onto hope that Trump will lower the tariffs after prying “wins” from other countries following negotiations.

Trump has said Americans may feel “some pain” because of tariffs, but he has also said the long-term goals, including getting more manufacturing jobs back to the United States, are worth it.

On Wall Street, stocks of companies that do lots of business in China fell to some of the sharpest losses.

DuPont dropped 12.7% after China said its regulators are launching an anti-trust investigation into DuPont China group, a subsidiary of the chemical giant. It’s one of several measures targeting American companies and in retaliation for the U.S. tariffs.

GE Healthcare got 12% of its revenue last year from the China region, and it fell 16%.

In the bond market, Treasury yields fell, but they pared their drops following Powell’s cautious statements about inflation. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.01% from 4.06% late Thursday and from roughly 4.80% early this year. It had gone below 3.90% in the morning.

BANGKOK--Asian shares nosedived on Monday after the meltdown Friday on Wall Street over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff hikes and the backlash from Beijing.

Asian markets plunge with Japan’s Nikkei diving nearly 8% after the big meltdown on Wall St

Updated 07 Apr, 2025 Going dry Authorities should refrain from undertaking any water scheme that infringes on rights of any federating unit to avoid more controversies.

07 Apr, 2025 Afghan return AS expected, the government of Pakistan is moving ahead with its plan to forcibly repatriate Afghan Citizenship Card...

07 Apr, 2025 Hurting women MONTH after month, the figures of crimes against women in the country indicate that our society is close to...

Updated 06 Apr, 2025 Not cricket It is high time that the PCB sets things right; even if it demands a complete overhaul of the system.

Updated 06 Apr, 2025 Balochistan deadlock Akhtar Mengal’s demands to release women activists should seriously be considered.

Cartoon: 7 April, 2025

The Chinese yuan has come under renewed pressure against the U.S. dollar in both offshore and onshore markets, as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing intensify. But despite the currency’s recent weakness, Mizuho Securities says the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is unlikely to tolerate a sharp depreciation.

Vishnu Varathan, head of macro research for Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho in Singapore, said China’s decision to impose 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods—along with export restrictions on certain rare-earth elements—signals a notable hardening of Beijing’s stance.

“This marks a clear escalation in U.S.-China trade antagonism,” Varathan noted, adding that the yuan may be allowed to weaken moderately to help cushion the economic blow. “A more strident stance on tariffs could align with some depreciation in the CNH to absorb shocks,” he said.

However, Varathan stressed that financial stability remains a top priority for Chinese authorities. “The PBOC will not desire or pursue a sharp depreciation, as it risks undermining capital market confidence,” he said.

The remarks come amid growing scrutiny over how China will navigate external pressure without destabilising domestic financial conditions.

There has been intense speculation about a devaluation from the PBOC, but we've yet to see it like. Mizuho says its not going to happen.

Mizuho: PBOC unlikely to allow sharp yuan depreciation despite rising trade tensions

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not face a recession despite being hit by United States President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“For now, let me reassure you that the government does not foresee a recession in Malaysia,” Anwar said in a nine-minute video addressing the US tariffs posted on his social media accounts on Sunday (Apr 6).

However, the Malaysian prime minister said he considers the recently announced tariffs a “major threat” to the current global trade and investment system.

From Apr 5, every Malaysian product shipped to the US will face at least a 10 per cent duty and from Apr 9, most products will face a 24 per cent rate, with some exemptions.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, emphasised that his government will not introduce retaliatory tariffs and that Malaysia’s macroeconomic foundations remain strong, including its “robust household spending, strong domestic investment (and) healthy tourism receipts”.

“We will of course be able to weather this challenge from a position of strength and preparedness,” he said.

He also said that, if the 24 per cent tariff were implemented, the economic growth forecast of 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent for this year would need to be reviewed.

Malaysia, as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is also coordinating a response with other regional leaders “to engage constructively” with the United States as ASEAN countries are among the hardest hit by the sweeping tariffs, Anwar said.

The Malaysian PM acknowledged that the economic growth forecast of 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent for this year would need to be reviewed in light of the tariffs which would hit many of the country’s exports.

Trump tariffs: Anwar says no recession expected for Malaysia, ASEAN to coordinate united trade response

Alexander Ovechkin, then an NHL prospect, wore his Moscow Dynamo jersey to this U.S.-Canada baseball game in Durham, N.C., in 2004. Two days later, the Washington Capitals drafted him, beginning an NHL career that continues today.

Alexander Ovechkin, then an NHL prospect, wore his Moscow Dynamo jersey to this U.S.-Canada baseball game in Durham, N.C., in 2004. Two days later, the Washington Capitals drafted him, beginning an NHL career that continues today.

Ovechkin surpassing Gretzky’s record would ordinarily be a feat worth cheering about. But the Russian hockey star’s politics and ties with Putin are hard to ignore

It was a cold January night at Moscow’s famed Luzhniki Palace of Sports, just 21 years ago but in a completely different world.

George W. Bush was in the White House. He had just looked into the eyes of Russia’s new President, Vladimir Putin. Afterward, Mr. Bush infamously said he’d seen into Mr. Putin’s soul and decided this was someone he could trust.

On the ice that night, an 18-year-old kid wearing the blue-and-white jersey of Moscow Dynamo grabbed a loose puck in the neutral zone and accelerated across the blue line as the opposing defencemen scrambled backward. After a series of fakes, he fired a snapshot from the high slot past the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv goaltender, breaking what had been a scoreless tie, then dove and jubilantly slid on his knees back toward his teammates. It proved to be the game-winning goal.

Open this photo in gallery: Reporter Mark MacKinnon interviews Alexander Ovechkin, then 18-years-old and playing for Moscow Dynamo, at the Luzhniki Palace of Sports in Moscow in January, 2004.Guy Nicholson/Supplied

After the game, the kid wearing No. 32 for Moscow Dynamo – who would later become famous wearing No. 8 for the Washington Capitals – chatted politely with a Canadian reporter about the buzz that he was likely to be chosen first overall in that summer’s NHL draft.

Alexander Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record

Wearing a black tuque and a black Nike jacket, his cheeks red with acne, Alexander Ovechkin was such a fixture at Luzhniki – he’d come up through Dynamo’s youth hockey program – that even security staff at the rink called out to him by his nickname, “Sasha.”

He has since gone on to NHL superstardom, scoring his 895th career goal on Sunday to set the new all-time record, surpassing Wayne Gretzky.

Open this photo in gallery: Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky were in Vancouver together for the NHL draft in 2006, when the latter was Phoenix's head coach. Two decades later, Ovechkin would be within reach of the Great One’s all-time record.Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images

If the world had remained the way it was in 2004, the game when the Great Eight passed the Great One would have been a moment to celebrate the unifying power of sport. The shy kid from Moscow, who was born in the Soviet Union but grew up in an independent, democratizing Russia, eclipsing the shy kid from Brantford, Ont. The memories of all those heated Canada-vs-USSR games – Bobby Clarke’s 1972 slash to Valeri Kharlamov’s ankle, the 1987 line brawl at the world junior championship – would have faded a little more as we cheered the passing of the torch.

But history has gone otherwise, tainting first Mr. Ovechkin and then Mr. Gretzky as it moved.

Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky has affirmed hockey and politics as uncomfortable bedfellows

Mr. Putin, who was briefly seen as someone who could reform and strengthen Russia’s young democracy, instead crushed his domestic opposition, preparing the ground for a series of wars, including the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq set the United States on its own increasingly angry path that has culminated with the re-election of Donald Trump, a President who speaks admiringly of Mr. Putin and muses about annexing Canada the way Russia has illegally seized parts of Ukraine.

For Ovechkin, 2022 ended in triumph as his all-time tally of goals surpassed 800. In Ukraine, it was a year of bloodshed as the country fought to repel a Russian invasion that continues today. Kostiantyn Liberov, Charles Rex Arbogast and Carolyn Kaster/AP

When Ovechkin and Team Russia won 2014’s IIHF World Championship, they got a warm reception from President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Two months earlier, the annexation of Crimea gave pro-Russian demonstrators in Simferopol a reason to cheer, while Mr. Putin’s standing in the West hit a low point. Yuri Kadobnov and Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters

Ovechkin’s debut year with the Capitals was another pivot point in Ukrainian and Russian history. In the Orange Revolution, supporters of a pro-European presidential candidate challenged an election widely believed to be rigged by his pro-Russian rival. The eastward expansion of NATO also formed the geopolitical landscape where the war in Ukraine is now playing out. Petar Kujundzic/Reuters; Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

The Ovechkin I met in January, 2004, was obliging and humble, not unlike how Mr. Gretzky came across when he first aw-shucksed himself into the hearts of Canadians a few decades earlier.

“I don’t want to think about it right now – I just want to help Dynamo make it to the playoffs,” Mr. Ovechkin said via a translator when I asked him if he cared which team ended up drafting him. “When it’s draft time, I’ll think about it.”

He was shy and soft-spoken, the opposite of his already flamboyant on-ice personality – and nothing like the fun-loving face of the NHL he would become.

Mr. Ovechkin seemed to know little about the outside world, and nothing about any of Pittsburgh, Chicago, Columbus or Washington, the four teams that were front-runners to pick No. 1 that summer. (The Capitals had the third-best odds of picking first in the 2004 draft, but leapfrogged Pittsburgh and Chicago in the lottery.)

He told me that he had no favourite NHL team. Mr. Ovechkin’s hockey heroes, he made clear, were the stars of the Russian and Soviet hockey systems, not the NHL pantheon headed by Mr. Gretzky. He named Alexander Maltsev, a slick Moscow Dynamo forward who won two Olympic gold medals for the USSR, as his icon.

That patriotism, perhaps, provided a hint of what was to come.

Open this photo in gallery: Ovechkin counts Alexander Maltsev, left, among his heroes. He played for the Soviets in the 1972 Summit Series, where Dennis Hull, middle, Phil Esposito, right, were on Team Canada.Grigory Dukor/Reuters

Open this photo in gallery: Ovechkin’s Instagram profile features a photo of him with Putin.

Mr. Ovechkin’s legacy, in the eyes of many, will be tainted by the fact that he appears to have a close personal relationship with Mr. Putin, who is an avid hockey player and fan. Infamously, Mr. Ovechkin’s profile picture on Instagram is a photo of him standing in the Grand Kremlin Palace beside the Russian leader.

That choice of avatar has caused Mr. Ovechkin endless grief since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, but it still remains the first image you see when you visit his page.

It’s not a one-off, either. Mr. Ovechkin, who captained Russia’s 2014 world championship team, caused ripples by immediately presenting Mr. Putin with the trophy – just two months after the Russian leader had seized and illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Three years later, Mr. Putin called Mr. Ovechkin to congratulate him on his wedding.

While Mr. Ovechkin’s defenders say he has no choice but to be publicly deferential to the dictator for his family’s sake, that rings hollow to the tens of thousands of Ukrainians, Georgians, Chechens, Syrians – and Russians – who have died fighting in Mr. Putin’s wars.

On the day after the invasion of Ukraine began – as missiles were raining down on Kyiv and other cities, and Russian troops and tanks were pouring over the border – Mr. Ovechkin simultaneously claimed he was not involved in politics, while also making his politics perfectly clear.

“Well, he’s my President,” he said, when asked whether he still supported Mr. Putin. “Like, I am Russian, right?”

Gretzky, whose statue in Edmonton celebrates his achievements with the Oilers, has rankled Canadian fans due to his ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. Gretzky and his wife, Janet, came to January’s inauguration as guests inside the Capitol Rotunda, not at the Canadian embassy. Amber Bracken/The Globe and Mail; Kenny Holston/Reuters; Kevin Lamarque/AP

Mr. Gretzky’s own awkward politics, meanwhile, have managed to mar Canada’s five-decade love affair with him.

The legend that every Canadian hockey fan knows – the kid who started out firing a tennis ball at his grandmother’s legs while she played goaltender in her chair, who stayed out late every night on his backyard rink and became the greatest scorer the NHL had ever seen – now has a tawdry epilogue. Mr. Gretzky went from captaining the national team at the 1987 Canada Cup to becoming the focus of nationwide ire after the now-dual national wore a blue business suit, rather than Team Canada gear, while serving as honorary captain for the final game of this year’s patriotically charged 4 Nations Face-Off.

Mr. Gretzky’s friendship with Mr. Trump – who has floated the idea of Mr. Gretzky serving as “governor” of Canada after it becomes the 51st state – has cost him his saintly status even in Edmonton, where he set many of his records. Last month, the city’s statue of Mr. Gretzky hoisting the Stanley Cup was smeared with feces.

Mr. Gretzky was in New York to congratulate Mr. Ovechkin after his record-breaking goal, just as Gordie Howe and Phil Esposito used to follow him around when he was breaking the records they had set. Unlike those iconic moments, in simpler times, there were likely some watching who jeered Mr. Ovechkin, Mr. Gretzky or both.

If a Canadian team had been involved in Sunday’s games, national anthems might also have been booed, reflecting the dark geopolitical era in which the kid from Moscow surpassed the kid from Brantford as the top goal-scorer in NHL history.

It could have been, should have been, a great moment. If only all that other stuff hadn’t happened, too.

The Russian hockey star’s ties with Putin – and the Great One’s warmth with Washington – make his goal-scoring acumen hard to celebrate

Ovechkin can overcome Gretzky’s record, but not his own past or his politics

Open this photo in gallery: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring his 895th career goal during the second period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 6 in Elmont, New York.Sarah Stier/Getty Images

In the end, the NHL got the classic Alex Ovechkin moment it was hoping for. A snap shot from the top of the circle that was in the net before Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin could be sure it had left the stick.

After notching goal No. 895 on Sunday afternoon, Ovechkin turned and launched himself spread-eagle on his belly down the ice. Put it in the replay vault beside Bobby Orr in mid-air, Wayne Gretzky hopping foot to foot and Sidney Crosby in his postgold crouch. That’s what this chase has been about – a single, indelible image.

Ovechkin always had two superpowers – his shot and his ease. No player in history ever seemed more comfortable in his own skin.

After he broke Gretzky’s all-time goals mark in the second period, they stopped the game and did a ceremony that included everything short of a parade.

When Ovechkin got the mic, he began circling centre ice like an MC. For the first time that you could remember, he seemed a little nervous.

Open this photo in gallery: Alex Ovechkin celebrates with teammates after scoring his 895th career goa. Ovechkin's goal passes Wayne Gretzky's 894 goals to become the NHL all-time goal-scoring leader.Sarah Stier/Getty Images

“Thank you, Ilya Sorokin, for letting me score 895,” Ovechkin said. Sadly, there was no reaction shot from Sorokin, who’ll never live this one down back in Mezhdurechensk.

Ovechkin went on, but kept coming back to Gretzky. Even bested, the Oiler great has more gravity than any of hockey’s other celestial bodies.

These endless proceedings had all the things hockey people love – moms, wives, kids, guys with black eyes getting emotional. Because it is so violent, no sport is keener to seem gentle once the play is whistled dead. Tears are as vital to hockey as blood. The TNT broadcast laid it on with a trowel.

Ovechkin was the only one who seemed to have skipped the production meeting. Maybe he’s too Russian to emote. So that was left to Gretzky.

If you’ve watched the past couple of Capitals games, it may have occurred to you that the star of the show wasn’t the guy scoring the goals. It was his 64-year-old wingman.

Gretzky was there in the postgame, answering questions like he’s still playing. And in the pregame. And in between periods.

He had dad stories, dad jokes and dad memories. He seemed to have memorized multiple speeches. He made sure Janet bought something nice for Ovechkin’s wife, Nastya, because Colleen Howe once got his family something. Wars have been less meticulously planned.

Open this photo in gallery: Alex Ovechkin's wife Anastasia Shubskaya is presented with an 8 diamond ring from Janet Jones, wife of Wayne Gretzky.Geoff Burke/Reuters

It’s not hard to figure out the why. It was Ovechkin’s show, but it was Gretzky’s redemption tour. Having been hammered back home during the 4 Nations tournament, Gretzky needed to reassert his place as guardian of the game’s institutional memory.

It started well. When he came out with Gary Bettman after Ovechkin’s goal, the NHL commissioner was booed, but he was cheered. He softened the Islander crowd up with a Nassau Coliseum joke and a reference to “Mr. Arbour.”

Gretzky’s speech honouring Ovechkin was more of a statement of principle. Once again, he invoked hockey’s most revered saint – his dad, Walter.

“There’s nothing better than the National Hockey League,” Gretzky said. “It’s the greatest game in the world.”

This was the Gretzky people remember, or want to. The sentimentalist; the small-town guy who never changed. When he hugged Ovechkin, you remarked on how slight he seemed. Whatever swagger Gretzky once had (he was always careful never to show too much of it) is gone.

It’s not the done thing in America, but this is exactly how you ingratiate yourself with Canadians. You get small, stay humble and say “gosh” a lot.

Since no American who isn’t a season-ticket holder was watching hockey on a Sunday afternoon, one assumes Canada was the intended audience.

It was a good show in that regard. Convincing. It would have been even better if the politics of the moment were not on display, even here.

For the past two games, Gretzky was pictured sitting with Donald Trump hatchet man and FBI director Kash Patel. Why is the head of the FBI travelling for hockey games? Shouldn’t he be figuring out who to black bag next? Bettman sat on his other side.

So you have the representative of a New York-based, Hollywood-adjacent billion-dollar entertainment concern and the insideriest of D.C. insiders, connected by a man whom the current U.S. President calls “the greatest Canadian of them all.”

It’s a decent premise for a paranoid thriller, though it probably wouldn’t be paranoid enough.

Last week in Toronto, Bettman nodded at the problems the NHL faces in the tariff-driven Great Depression to come.

“I hope that what we’re seeing is a moment in time and that we can get back to a normal reality,” Bettman said. “I have concerns from a business standpoint.”

In other words, if the U.S. shafts Canada, the NHL is pooched.

Who better to mediate this relationship than Gretzky? And how better to do it than in the midst of something Americans love – a big, flashy show?

So while Ovechkin provided the entertainment, Gretzky was the host. He had more than one constituency to reach, and did his best to satisfy them all.

He was back in the booth in the third period, taking something more than a paternal interest.

“I was really happy for him,” Gretzky said. “I felt like I scored the goal. Does that make sense?”

No, but everyone laughed.

He talked about his parents again, and the Howes, and how everything comes full circle.

“There’s nothing wrong with our game,” Gretzky said, apropos of nothing. “Our game is in a great position. … It’s amazing. Good for us.”

If you’ve watched the past couple of Capitals games, it may have occurred to you that the star of the show wasn’t the guy scoring the goals. It was his 64-year-old wingman

Ovechkin’s pursuit of NHL record was his time to shine, but Gretzky’s redemption tour

A good Sunday to all. Thank you very much", the 88-year old pope said as he was wheeled through Saint Peter's Square in his wheelchair after a mass dedicated to the sick.

Surrounded by a mass of smartphones and cameras, and attached to nasal breathing tubes, his voice was fragile but more audible than when he left the Gemelli hospital on March 23. The Argentine's last public appearance was on February 14.

Francis is, in theory, undergoing two months of convalescence following his life-threatening health scare, with strict rest, no public activity and no contact with crowds.

Yet the Jesuit spent Sunday morning blessing the masses gathered on the sunny square, in an encouraging signal for his health two weeks before Christians the world over celebrate Easter.

His eagerness to reach out to the flock however comes against the advice of his doctors, who have urged him to avoid meeting groups of people to limit the risk of infection.

"He's doing better, that's clear, and he wants that to be seen," a Vatican source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"He's not yet well enough to deliver a message, but well enough to make a gesture... and show up," the source added.

- Blessed be the doctors -

According to his doctors Francis almost died twice suring his time in hospital, the longest and most fraught of his 12 years as head of the Church.

His physical state has sparked speculation the pontiff might hang up his papal crook after the example of his predecessor Benedict XVI, who quit in 2013 citing his declining mental and physical health.

A few minutes before his surprise appearance the leader of the globe's 1.4 billion Catholics received the sacrament in St Peter's Cathedral, the Vatican said in a statement on Telegram.

As in previous weeks Francis did not read out the customary Angelus prayer, which was published in written form instead.

"I pray for the doctors, the nurses and the healthcare workers, who are not always helped to work in adequate conditions and who are even, sometimes, victims of attacks," the pontiff wrote.

"Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected."

His message went on to offer a prayer for an end to the world's conflicts, mentioning in turn Ukraine, Sudan, neighbouring South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, quake-hit Myanmar and Haiti.

- Pray for Gaza -

Francis likewise prayed for the Middle East and especially Gaza, where Israel last week again launched a ground offensive against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In the Palestinian territory "people are forced to live in unimaginable conditions, without shelter, without food, without drinkable water," the pope said.

"Let the weapons fall silent and dialogue begin again", he added, calling for the freeing of the hostages held by Hamas since its October 7, 2023 attack that began the war.

Francis, who had part of his lung removed as a young man, has suffered a series of health woes in recent years.

While being assisted his recovery by healthcare workers night and day at his Vatican residence, Francis has not seen any visitors beyond his closest colleagues since his release from the Gemelli Hospital.

Yet he has taken up his papal duties again, notably in editing and putting his signature to documents, according to the Holy See.

He has, however, been forced to reduce his usual frenetic schedule, and the scale of his involvement in the religious events leading up to Easter -- the holiest period in the Christian calendar -- is so far unclear.

Pope Francis made a surprise Sunday public appearance as he mingled with crowds at the Vatican just two weeks after leaving hospital for a serious

Recovering Pope surprises crowd at Vatican square

Ed Chamberlin was full of praise for Willie Mullins after the Grand National

ITV presenter Ed Chamberlin has thanked Willie Mullins for successfully making his 'wish' come true at the Grand National. The legendary Irishman trained all of the top-three finishers, with Nick Rockett securing a famous victory ahead of I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West. Remarkably, his son Patrick was aboard the winning horse. Nick Rockett's owner, Stewart Andrew, was overcome with emotion after watching the gelding win the world's most famous race. His wife Sadie sadly died from cancer in 2022, just five days after watching Nick Rockett in his first outing. Chamberlin, who fronted ITV's live coverage, was left in awe of the heartwarming stories the race provided. Writing in his Daily Mail column, he thanked Mullins for giving the public 'something romantic' that would not be found in any other sport.

Patrick Mullins rode Nick Rockett to a sensational victory at Aintree

"Well, I got my wish," wrote Chamberlin. "I asked on Friday night for a story from the Randox Grand National, for something romantic with which the public could connect. How we got that. "Willie Mullins may have secured his third Aintree triumph and his three incredible days have put him on the brink of becoming Britain’s Champion Trainer once again, but what we saw in the world’s greatest race was so much more than facts and figures. "To be with Stewart Andrew afterwards was to be reminded about what horses can do for humans. Stewart lost his wife, Sadie, in 2022 shortly after she had asked Willie to buy Nick Rockett for them to enjoy. "Tragically, they never got to do it, but a Rockett was sent to heaven when Patrick Mullins hurtled past the winning post. Stewart loves talking about Sadie’s memory and how the gelding has helped fill the void in his life.

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Ed Chamberlin was left in awe of Willie Mullins after the Grand National.

Grand National 'wish granted' as ITV host Ed Chamberlin speaks out on Willie Mullins win

London [UK], April 6 (ANI): United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Saturday expressed concerns over the detention and refusal of entry of two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel, calling it "unacceptable" and "counterproductive."

Lammy further emphasised the UK government's commitment to supporting the MPs and reiterated its focus on achieving a ceasefire and engaging in negotiations to "stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza."

"It is unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities. I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British Parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support," the UK government quoted Lammy in a statement.

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"The UK government's focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza," the statement added.

Notably, two British parliament members who support anti-Israel policies were denied entry to Israel today, Times of Israel reported, citing the country's Population and Immigration Authority.

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The Labour Party MPs, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, were barred entry after questioning revealed that the purpose of their visit was "to document Israeli security forces and spread hateful rhetoric against Israel," the population authority in a statement said.

During their interrogation, the two MPs claimed that they had arrived as part of an official UK parliamentary delegation. However, this claim was disproven as no Israeli authority had confirmed the arrival of such a delegation.

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, therefore, decided to deny entry to all four individuals "in accordance with the law and ordered their removal from Israel," the population authority said, Times of Israel reported. (ANI)

(The story has come from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Tribune Staff.)

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Saturday expressed concerns over the detention and refusal of entry of two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel, calling it 'unacceptable' and 'counterproductive.'

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy calls Israeli detention of two MPs "unacceptable, counterproductive"

‘Hands Off’ Protests In US: Thousands Take To Streets Across 50 States Against Trump, Musk’s Policies

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News18.com

Last Updated: April 06, 2025, 07:38 IST

Thousands of protesters gathered on the streets across all states in the US and demonstrated against the policies of Trump and Musk on Saturday.

Hands Off protests in the US (AP Image)

Thousands of protesters took to the streets across all 50 states of the US on Saturday against President Donald Trump’s administration and its policies. The agitation was named ‘Hands Off’ protests.

This was the largest protest since Trump took office on January 20 this year for his second term – with demonstrations held at over 1,200 locations in the country.

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Over 150 groups, including LGBTQ+ advocates, civil rights organisations, labour unions, election activists, and veterans, participated in the protests.

What Is Hands Off Protest In USA?

The Hands Off protests are a chain of demonstrations held against Trump’s policies, such as mass deportations of illegal immigrants, federal layoffs, and other moves.

#WATCH | Washington DC | Large number of protesters hold demonstrations against the Trump administration’s policies and executive orders. pic.twitter.com/pGFalhxhnu— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2025

Protesters say that Donald Trump and Elon Musk are using things that aren’t rightfully theirs, and they’re calling on the world to take action. Some of the things they said they are fighting against include shrinking government services, cutting healthcare programmes, and limiting rights for transgender people.

The demonstrators were also against the treatment of immigrants in the US and their mass deportations.

Protests Across The USA

In Seattle, protesters held signs with messages like “Fight the oligarchy" and showed anger over the government’s actions to fire federal workers and take away protections from vulnerable groups.

Elon Musk, President Trump’s advisor and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has faced criticism throughout his nearly 3-month tenure in the administration that he has been prioritising corporate interests over those of the Americans.

In Atlanta, placards reading “Impeach Trump, Deport Musk" were also put up by the protesters.

In Boston, the protesters held placards reading “Hands off our democracy" and “Hands off our Social Security" and protested against cuts to Social Security.

Mayor Michelle Wu said that she did not want her children to grow up in a world where divisive tactics by the government became the new norm.

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The White House responded to the protests and said that President Trump is committed to protecting Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. It also claimed that the stance of the Democratic Party on such programmes was causing serious money problems.

Saturday’s protest was another in a series of rallies held across the country against Trump and Musk since Trump came back to the White House. But this one was different — it was the first major protest of its size since the Women’s March in 2017 and the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 06, 2025, 07:06 IST

Thousands of protesters gathered on the streets across all states in the US and demonstrated against the policies of Trump and Musk on Saturday.

‘Hands Off’ Protests In US: Thousands Take To Streets Across 50 States Against Trump, Musk’s Policies

Phone video from one of 15 Palestinian medics killed by Israeli forces last month appears to contradict Israeli claims that the medics’ vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire on them in southern Gaza.

The footage shows the Red Crescent and Civil Defence teams driving slowly with their emergency vehicles’ lights flashing, logos visible, as they pulled up to help an ambulance that had come under fire earlier. The teams do not appear to be acting unusually or in a threatening manner as three medics emerge and head toward the stricken ambulance.

Their vehicles immediately come under a barrage of gunfire, which goes on for more than five minutes with brief pauses. The owner of the phone can be heard praying.

The Hindu’s coverage of the war in Gaza

“Forgive me, mother. This is the path I chose, mother, to help people,” he cries, his voice weak.

Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defence workers and a U.N. staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by Israeli troops conducting operations in Tel al-Sultan, a district of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Troops then bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. U.N. and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later to dig out the bodies.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s vice president, Marwan Jilani, said the phone with the footage was found in the pocket of one of its slain staffers. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations distributed the video to the U.N. Security Council. The Associated Press obtained the video from a U.N. diplomat on condition of anonymity because it has not been made public.

One paramedic who survived, Munzer Abed, confirmed the veracity of the video to the AP. Two block-shaped concrete structures visible in the video are also seen in a U.N. video released Sunday showing the recovery of the bodies from the site — a sign they are in the same location.

Asked about the video, the Israeli military said Saturday that the incident was “under thorough examination.”

Also Read | Trump and Netanyahu will meet again on Gaza, tariffs and more

The Israeli military earlier said it opened fire on the vehicles because they were “advancing suspiciously” on nearby troops without headlights or emergency signals.

The initial account of the vehicles not having emergency lights on was mistaken, an Israeli military official told journalists Saturday evening. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Younes Al-Khatib, called for an independent investigation. “We don’t trust any of the army investigations,” he told a briefing at the U.N. on Friday.

One medic, Assaad al-Nassasra, is still missing, the Red Crescent says. Mr. Abed said he saw Mr. al-Nassasra being led away blindfolded by Israeli troops. Mr. Al-Khatib said the organization has asked the military where it is holding the staffer.

Mr. Al-Khatib said the slain men had been “targeted at close range” and that a forensic autopsy report would be released soon.

Also Read | Israeli troops deploy to new security corridor across southern Gaza

Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that justifies strikes on them. Medical personnel largely deny the accusations.

Israeli strikes have killed more than 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defence, most of them while on duty, as well as over 1,000 health workers, according to the U.N. The Israeli military rarely investigates such incidents.

Ambulances started heading to Tel al-Sultan at around 3:50 a.m. on March 23, responding to reports of wounded, Mr. Jilani said. The first ambulance returned safely with at least one casualty, he said. But, he said, subsequent ambulances came under fire.

His hands trembling, Mr. Abed told the AP on Saturday that as his ambulance entered the area, its siren lights were on. “All of a sudden, I am telling you, there was direct shooting at us,” so intense that the vehicle ground to a stop, he said.

A 10-year veteran of the Red Crescent, Mr. Abed said he was sitting in the back seat and ducked to the floor. He said he could hear nothing from his two colleagues in the front seat — the only others in the vehicle. They appear to have been killed instantly.

Also Read | Israeli strikes on Gaza overnight leaves more than 50 Palestinians dead

Israeli troops, some with night goggles, dragged Mr. Abed out of the ambulance and onto the ground, he said. They made him strip to his underwear, beat him all over his body with their rifle butts, then tied his hands behind his back, he said.

They interrogated him, asking him about his paramedic training and how many people were in the ambulance with him, he said. One soldier pressed the muzzle of his automatic rifle into his neck. Another pressed his knife blade into Mr. Abed’s palm, almost cutting it, until a third soldier pulled them away and warned Abed, “They’re crazy.”

Mr. Abed said he witnessed them opening fire on the next vehicles to arrive. Soldiers forced him onto his stomach and pressed a gun into his back, he said, and amid the shooting in the darkness, so he could only see two Civil Defence vehicles.

The phone video shows a rescue convoy of Red Crescent and Civil Defence vehicles that was sent out after contact was lost with the stricken ambulance. Taken from the dashboard of one vehicle, it shows several ambulances and a fire truck moving down a road through a barren area in the darkness. The emergency lights on their roofs are flashing the entire way.

They arrive at an ambulance on the side of the road and stop next to it, their lights still flashing. No Israeli troops are visible.

Also Read | Over 30 killed as Israel’s military operation in Gaza Strip expanding to seize ’large areas’

“Lord, let them be OK,” a man in the car says. Then he cries out, “They’re tossed around on the ground!” — apparently referring to bodies. Three men in orange Civil Defence clothing can be seen getting out of the vehicles and walking toward the stopped ambulance.

A shot rings out and one of the men appears to fall. Gunfire erupts.

The man holding the phone appears to scramble out of the car and onto the ground, but the screen goes black, though the audio continues. The gunfire goes on for nearly five and a half minutes, with long, heavy barrages followed by silences punctuated by individual shots and shouts and screams.

Throughout, the man with the phone says over and over, “There is no God but God and Muhammad is God’s prophet” — the profession of faith that Muslims say when they fear they are about to die. Near the end of the six-minute, 40-second video, voices can be heard shouting in Hebrew. “The Jews are coming,” the man said, referring to Israeli soldiers, before the video cuts off.

The Israeli military official asserted there was “no mistreatment,” and said he didn’t know why the vehicles had been buried. He had no information about the medic who remained missing.

Also Read | Hamas issues call to arms against displacement as Israel orders new evacuations

The Israeli military says that after the shooting, troops determined they had killed a Hamas figure named Mohammed Amin Shobaki and eight other militants. However, none of the 15 slain medics has that name, and no other bodies are known to have been found at the site.

The military has not said what happened to Shobaki’s body or released the names of the other alleged militants. The Israeli military official said Israel was “working to bring evidence” that Hamas operatives were killed.

Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the U.N. humanitarian office OCHA, dismissed allegations that the slain medics were Hamas militants, saying staff had worked with the same medics previously in evacuating patients from hospitals and other tasks.

“These are paramedic crews that I personally have met before,” he said. “They were buried in their uniforms with their gloves on. They were ready to save lives.”

Phone video contradicts Israeli claims, showing Palestinian medics killed by Israeli forces had emergency signals on.

Phone footage appears to contradict Israel’s account in troops’ killing of 15 Palestinian medics

Protests erupted in dozens of cities across the United States on Saturday over the controversial policies unveiled by US President Donald Trump's administration since January.

Crowds of protesters took to the streets to oppose Trump over the economy, immigration and human rights.

Organized by a coalition of more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions and veterans' associations, the coordinated move led to over 1,400 protests nationwide. Demonstrators gathered at state capitols, federal buildings, congressional offices, Social Security Administration headquarters, city halls and public parks.

The move under the banner of "Hands Off" featured a wide array of protest signs and slogans, such as "End Oligarchy," "Let Gaza Live," and "Save Social Security."

"This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, (Elon) Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights — enabled by Congress every step of the way," said a piece on handsoff2025.com, the official website of the campaign.

Some elected officials joined the campaign as well. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she doesn't want her children and others to live in a world where threats and intimidation are the means of government and values such as diversity and peace are under attack.

According to organizers, nearly 600,000 people have signed up for the "Hands off" movement.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has faced heavy criticism for sweeping policy changes, including mass layoffs in federal agencies, deportation of immigrants, steep budget cuts and imposing tariffs on multiple countries.

Protests staged in US cities against Trump administration's policies

The reigning world champion held off McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim his 64th career Grand Prix victory.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen claimed a pole-to-flag victory for Red Bull to win the Japanese Grand Prix, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren’s Lando Norris finishing second.

The Dutch driver crossed the finish line almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris, who held off his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri of Australia in third, on Sunday.

The win on a damp but drying track at Suzuka was Verstappen’s fourth straight victory in Japan and closed the gap on Norris at the top of the drivers’ championship to one point.

Verstappen said, “It was tough. The McLarens were pushing me very hard.

“It was a lot of fun but not easy pushing the tyres. I am incredibly happy.

“Starting on pole made it possible to win.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth ahead of the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was seventh, with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar next ahead of Williams’s Alex Albon and Haas’s Oliver Bearman.

Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first race for Red Bull since replacing Liam Lawson, having started from 14th on the grid in his home Grand Prix. Lawson was 17th for RB.

Pit stop run-in

Verstappen and Norris were involved in a flashpoint midway through the race as the two frontrunners emerged from a pit stop.

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Norris drew up alongside Verstappen, but the Dutchman refused to budge, and Norris was forced onto the grass before sliding back onto the track.

Norris said, “He forced me off”, but Verstappen told his team that he was not to blame.

“He drove himself onto the grass,” said Verstappen.

Stewards reviewed the incident and decided not to investigate further.

Verstappen has struggled to get to grips with Red Bull this season, finishing second in Australia and fourth in China.

But he pulled off a lap for the ages in qualifying in Suzuka, pipping Norris to claim his first pole of the season in a track-record time.

Verstappen got away cleanly from Norris and Piastri at the first turn, with little change in the grid.

The Dutchman quickly established control by laying down the fastest lap, and his lead grew over the early part of the race.

Eighteen-year-old rookie Antonelli briefly took the lead while Verstappen and Norris were in the pits to become Formula One’s youngest-ever race leader.

Verstappen soon reclaimed the lead, and his team gave him the green light to push until the end of the race.

The two McLarens stayed on his tail, with Piastri telling his team, “I have the pace to get Max.” But Verstappen could not be caught.

Conditions at Suzuka had been dry all week, with a series of small trackside fires halting practice several times, but rain early on Sunday removed any chance of a repeat in the race.

Lando Norris remains at the top of the 2025 F1 drivers’ standings with 62 points, with Verstappen on 61 and Piastri third on 49 points.

The reigning world champion held off McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim his 64th career GP victory.

Verstappen wins F1 Japanese GP ahead of Norris, Piastri

Opponents of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk rallied across the U.S. on Saturday (April 5, 2025) to protest the administration’s actions on government downsizing, the economy, human rights and other issues.

More than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations were planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The protest sites included the National Mall in Washington, D.C., state capitols and other locations in all 50 states.

Protesters assailed the Trump administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs.

Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign advocacy group, spoke at the Washington protest, criticizing the Trump administration’s treatment of the LBGTQ+ community.

“The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal, y’all,” she said. “They’re trying to ban our books, they’re slashing HIV prevention funding, they’re criminalizing our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives. This is Donald Trump’s America and I don’t want it y’all. We don’t want this America, y’all. We want the America we deserve, where dignity, safety and freedom belong not to some of us, but to all of us.”

Thousands of people marched in New York City’s midtown Manhattan. In Massachusetts thousands more gathered on Boston Common holding signs including “Hands off our democracy,” “Hands off our Social Security” and “Diversity equity inclusion makes America strong. Hands off!”

In Ohio, hundreds rallied in the rain at the Statehouse in Columbus.

Roger Broom, 66, a retiree from Delaware County, Ohio, said at the Columbus rally that he used to be a Reagan Republican but has been turned off by Trump.

“He’s tearing this country apart,” Broom said. “It’s just an administration of grievances.”

Hundreds of people also demonstrated in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a few miles from Trump’s golf course in Jupiter, where he spent the morning at the club’s Senior Club Championship. People lined both sides of PGA Drive, encouraging cars to honk and chanting slogans against Trump.

Archer Moran from Port St. Lucie, Florida, said, “They need to keep their hands off of our Social Security.”

“The list of what they need to keep their hands off of is too long,” Moran said. “And it’s amazing how soon these protests are happening since he’s taken office.”

The president plans to go golfing again Sunday, according to the White House.

Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”

Activists have staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump or Musk multiple times since Trump returned to office. But the opposition movement has yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Women’s March in 2017, which brought thousands of women to Washington, D.C., after Trump’s first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities after George Floyd’s killing in 2020.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, protesters said they were supporting a variety of causes, from Social Security and education to immigration and women’s reproductive rights.

“Regardless of your party, regardless of who you voted for, what’s going on today, what’s happening today is abhorrent,” said Britt Castillo, 35, of Charlotte. “It’s disgusting and as broken as our current system might be, the way that the current administration is going about trying to fix things — it is not the way to do it. They’re not listening to the people.”

“All they’re doing is making sure that they have a parachute for them and their rich friends, and everybody else here that lives here — that makes the gears turn for this country — are just screwed at the end of the day,” she said.

Nationwide protests against Trump and Musk's government downsizing, human rights violations, and economic policies draw thousands across the U.S.

“Hands Off” rallies against Trump and Musk across U.S.

Photo: Palestine Red Crescent Society/CNN Newsource

By Abeer Salman, Tim Lister and Eyad Kourdi, CNN

A video has emerged showing the final moments of more than a dozen Palestinian emergency workers shot dead by Israeli troops in Gaza last month, casting doubt on Israeli claims that soldiers opened fire on vehicles "advancing suspiciously".

The video is filmed from the front of a vehicle and shows a convoy of clearly marked ambulances moving along a road at dawn, with headlights and flashing emergency lights on.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said the video was found on the phone of one of the 15 ambulance and relief team members killed by Israeli military.

Their bodies were found in a mass grave more than a week after they were reported missing. Eight of the 14 bodies recovered from the site in the southern Rafah area were identified as members of the PRCS, five as civil defence and one as a UN agency employee.

The deaths sparked international condemnation and the footage appears to contradict the assertion by the Israeli military that some vehicles were moving suspiciously without lights.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asserted last week that "several uncoordinated vehicles were identified advancing suspiciously toward IDF troops without headlights or emergency signals".

"IDF troops then opened fire at the suspected vehicles."

After the video emerged, the IDF repeated that the incident was being investigated.

"All claims, including the documentation circulating about the incident, will be thoroughly and deeply examined to understand the sequence of events and the handling of the situation," it said Saturday.

The video shows the convoy stopping, when it comes across another vehicle at the side of the road - which the PRCS says was an ambulance that had been sent earlier to help injured civilians. Two rescuers get out of the vehicles, wearing uniforms.

A firetruck and an ambulance at the scene are marked with the PRCS insignia.

Almost immediately, there is intense gunfire, which can be heard hitting the convoy. The video ends, but the audio continues for five minutes.

The paramedic filming - identified by the PRCS as Rifaat Radwan - is heard repeatedly saying the "shahada", which Muslims recite when facing death. He asks God for forgiveness and says he knows he is going to die.

At one point, he says: "Forgive me mom, this is the path I chose - to help people. I swear I didn't choose this path, but to help people."

The voices of others in the convoy can also be heard, as well as those of people shouting commands in Hebrew. It's not clear who they are or what they are saying.

ON 1 April, the IDF said: "Following an initial assessment, it was determined that the forces had eliminated a Hamas military operative, Mohammad Amin Ibrahim Shubaki, who took part in the 7 October massacre, along with eight other terrorists from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad."

The IDF did not offer proof of the identity of the alleged terrorists. CNN obtained from the PRCS the names of 14 of those killed - none is identified as Mohammad Shubaki.

The PRCS said the name of the 15th man killed - an UNRWA employee - was withheld out of respect for his family, but was not the name given by the Israeli military.

The IDF added that it was "not surprising that terrorists are once again exploiting medical facilities and equipment for their activities", but the next day, it said the incident was being investigated.

An Israeli military official told CNN last week that Israeli forces buried the bodies of the workers, because they expected it would take time to coordinate their retrieval, with the PRCS and the United Nations.

Satellite imagery from 23 March, first published by Al Jazeera Arabic and analysed by CNN, shows Israeli army vehicles surrounding a cluster of five ambulances from the PRCS and Civil Defense.

Another satellite image, also published by Al Jazeera and analyzed by CNN, dated 25 March, shows an Israeli tank, an excavator and other military vehicles at the same location. Where the ambulances once stood, remnants of vehicles protruded from disturbed ground.

- CNN

Israel Defense Forces claim the 15 killed in southern Rafa were terrorists acting suspiciously.

Video casts doubt on Israeli account of emergency worker killings in Gaza

Phone footage from one of 15 Palestinians medics killed by Israeli forces last month appears to contradict Israeli claims that the medics’ vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire on them in southern Gaza.

The footage shows the Red Crescent and Civil Defence teams driving slowly with their emergency vehicles’ lights flashing, with the logos visible, as they pulled up to help an ambulance that had come under fire earlier.

The teams do not appear to be acting unusually or in a threatening manner as three medics emerge from the vehicles and head toward the stricken ambulance.

The @IFRC condemns the killing of eight @PalestineRCS medics in Gaza.



We are heartbroken. These dedicated humanitarians, killed while responding to the wounded, should have been protected.



We mourn their loss and stand with the Palestine Red Crescent.



Full statement:… pic.twitter.com/ohKLIjaW1O — IFRC (@ifrc) March 30, 2025

Their vehicles immediately come under a barrage of gunfire, which goes on for more than five minutes with some brief pauses. The owner of the phone can be heard praying amid the shooting.

“Forgive me, mother. This is the path I chose, mother, to help people,” he cries, his voice weak.

Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defence workers and a UN worker were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by Israeli troops conducting operations in Tel al-Sultan, a district of the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Troops then bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. UN and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later to dig out the bodies.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s vice president, Marwan Jilani, said the phone with the footage was found in the pocket of one of its workers who died at the scene.

Fifteen Palestinians medics were killed (Palestinian Red Crescent Society via AP)

The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations distributed the video to the UN Security Council.

The Associated Press obtained the video from a UN diplomat.

One paramedic who survived, Munzer Abed, confirmed the veracity of the video to the AP.

Two block-shaped concrete structures visible in the video are also seen in a UN video released on Sunday showing the recovery of the bodies from the site – a sign that the location is the same.

Asked about the video, the Israeli military said the incident was “under thorough examination”.

It said “all claims, including the documentation circulating about the incident, will be thoroughly and deeply examined to understand the sequence of events and the handling of the situation”.

The Israeli military has said it opened fire on the vehicles because they were “advancing suspiciously” on nearby troops without headlights or emergency signals.

The bodies of eight of the Red Crescent emergency responders were found in Rafah (AP)

The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Younes Al-Khatib, called for an independent investigation into the attack.

“We don’t trust any of the army investigations,” he told a briefing at the United Nations on Friday.

One medic, Assaad al-Nassasra, has been missing since the attack, the Red Crescent says. Mr Abed said he saw Mr al-Nassasra being led away blindfolded by Israeli troops. Mr Al-Khatib said the organisation has asked the military where it is holding their worker.

Mr Al-Khatib said the slain men had been “targeted at close range” and that a post-mortem examination report would be released soon.

Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that this justifies strikes on them.

Medical personnel largely deny these accusations.

Israeli strikes have killed more than 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defence, most of them while on duty, as well as more than 1,000 health workers, according to the UN. The Israeli military rarely investigates such incidents.

The bodies were found a week after the attack (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Ambulances started heading to Tel al-Sultan at around 3.50am local time on March 23, responding to reports of people who had been wounded, Mr Jilani said. The first ambulance returned safely with at least one casualty, he said. But subsequent ambulances came under fire.

His hands trembling, Mr Abed told the AP on Saturday that as his ambulance entered the area, its siren lights were on. “All of a sudden, I am telling you, there was direct shooting at us,” so intense that the vehicle ground to a stop, he said.

A 10-year veteran of the Red Crescent, Mr Abed said he was sitting in the back seat and ducked to the floor of the ambulance. He could hear nothing, he said, from his two colleagues in the front seat – the only others in the vehicle. They appear to have been killed instantly.

Israeli troops, some with night goggles, dragged Mr Abed out the ambulance door onto the ground, he said. They made him strip to his underwear, beat him all over his body with their rifle butts, then tied his hands behind his back, he said.

They interrogated him, asking him about his paramedic training and how many people were in the ambulance with him, he said. One soldier pressed the muzzle of his automatic rifle into his neck; another pressed his knife blade into Mr Abed’s palm, almost cutting it, until a third soldier pulled them away and warned Mr Abed: “They’re crazy.”

As food stocks in #Gaza run out, WFP's various assistance programmes are gradually shutting down.



◼️All WFP-supported bakeries are closed

◼️Last food parcels were distributed this week

◼️Hot meals continue, but supplies are running low



We urgently need aid to enter Gaza. pic.twitter.com/kyhYc1tUVG — World Food Programme (@WFP) April 4, 2025

Mr Abed said he witnessed them opening fire on the next vehicles to arrive. Soldiers forced him onto his stomach and pressed a gun into his back, he said, and amid the shooting in the darkness, so he could only see two Civil Defence vehicles.

The phone video shows a rescue convoy of Red Crescent of Civil Defence vehicles that was sent out after contact was lost with the stricken ambulance. Taken from the dashboard of one vehicle, it shows several ambulances and a fire truck moving down a road through a barren area in the darkness.

The emergency lights on their roofs are flashing the entire way.

They arrive at an ambulance on the side of the road and stop next to it, their lights still flashing. No Israeli troops are visible.

“Lord, let them be OK,” a man in the car says. Then he cries out: “They’re tossed around on the ground!” This is apparently referring to the bodies.

Three men in orange Civil Defence clothing can be seen getting out of the vehicles and walking toward the stopped ambulance.

"There must be an independent, prompt & thorough investigation into the killings & those responsible for any violation of international law must be held to account.”



– @volker_turk on attack that killed 15 medical & humanitarian personnel in Gaza.https://t.co/PvQjYw82cp — United Nations (@UN) April 3, 2025

A shot rings out and one of the men appears to fall. Gunfire then erupts.

The man holding the phone appears to scramble out of the car onto the ground, but then the screen goes black, though the audio continues. The gunfire goes on for nearly five and a half minutes – with long, heavy barrages followed by silences punctuated by individual shots and shouts and screams of men.

Throughout, the man with the phone says over and over: “There is no God but God and Muhammad is God’s prophet” – the profession of faith that Muslims say when they fear they are about to die.

Near the end of the six-minute, 40-second video, voices can be heard shouting in Hebrew. “The Jews are coming,” the man said, referring to Israeli soldiers, before the video cuts off.

The Israeli military says that after the shooting, troops determined they had killed a Hamas figure named Mohammed Amin Shobaki and eight other militants.

Our aid workers were killed and thrown into a mass grave in Gaza. Our staff’s red uniforms should have protected them. Instead they became their death shrouds.



This should never happen again. For the sake of humanity.



My op-ed in @guardian: https://t.co/Z48tdRdkq6 pic.twitter.com/fDmPOf6FYq — Jagan Chapagain (@jagan_chapagain) April 5, 2025

However, none of the 15 medics killed has that name, and no other bodies are known to have been found at the site, raising questions over the military’s claims they were in the vehicles.

The military has not said what happened to Mr Shobaki’s body or released the names of the other alleged militants.

Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the UN humanitarian office OCHA, dismissed allegations that the medics were Hamas militants, saying humanitarian staff had worked with the same medics previously in evacuating patients from hospitals and other tasks.

“These are paramedic crews that I personally have met before,” he said. “They were buried in their uniforms with their gloves on. They were ready to save lives.”

Rolling coverage of the international stories of interest to our readers

Footage appears to contradict Israeli claim over killing of Palestinian medics

Boy, 3, who 'loved rockets' killed in Vladimir Putin's horror missile strike on Ukraine playground

Timofiy, three, was among 19 killed in a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, the home city of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky this week, which also injured another 61

A little boy is among the dead in a vicious missile strike in Ukraine which also injured more than 60 people loved “space rockets”, according to his devastated family.

The Iskander-M missile, a Russian tactical ballistic weapon which can hit targets more than 300 miles away and capable of hypersonic speeds, hit Kryvyi Rih on Friday. At least 19 people died in the tragedy, including six children, on the attack on President Volodymyr Zelensky ’s home city. Among the dead was little Timofiy, aged three, whose body was seen being removed from the wreckage before he later died of his injuries suffered in the attack.

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Timofiy, three, was among the nine children killed in the attack (Image: social media; E2W news )

At the time of the explosion, he and his grandmother were returning home from the playground. His mother said: “Timofiyko [Timofiy] was a very energetic child, he was passionate about space and space rockets,” said his distraught mother as she shared pictures of her beloved child.

“He really loved collecting ladybugs and various beetles.”

‌



The moment of the explosion in Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine (Image: east2west news )

The war in Ukraine is now in its fourth year and has cost the lives of around 800,000 Russian troops, with an unknown number of Ukrainians killed. It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched the Kremlin’s biggest troop call up for more young men to fight on the frontline.

The little boy was walking home with his grandmother when the missile hit (Image: social media; E2W news )

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He is so keen to expand militarily he has offered to wipe out debts for many men in exchange for just a year’s service on the Ukraine frontline. With so many losses in Ukraine, Russia is running out of possible recruits, especially since hundreds of thousands fled at the beginning of the war.

Dozens were killed in the tragedy this week (Image: DSNS Ukraine/e2w )

The huge expansion comes after he has lost possibly 840,000 men in battle and well over 10,000 tanks, killed and blown up by Ukrainian forces.

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Across Europe, governments are debating how to expand or introduce national service to prepare for war and piling extra funds into defence spending.

The little boy had been near a playground in Ukraine (Image: 1 TV/e2w )

It comes as the Kremlin ended their lull in deadly drone attacks on Ukraine’s civilians, with a drone onslaught on Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv.

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Devastating waves of drones smashed into the city causing multiple explosions, fires and injuries, which included hitting a nine month old baby.

A youngster being carried from the area with emergency services (Image: social media; E2W news )

Putin signed a decree authorising the latest phase of the country’s twice-yearly conscription effort, with the new window beginning Tuesday and running until July 15.

Timofiy, three, was among 19 killed in a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, the home city of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky this week, which also injured another 61

Boy, 3, who 'loved rockets' killed in Vladimir Putin's horror missile strike on Ukraine playground

Why was Ash Wednesday Mass celebrated at the White House?

On March 5, marking the beginning of Lent, an Ash Wednesday Mass was celebrated at the White House for the staff of the presidential residence. A new signal sent to Catholics by U.S. President Donald Trump, despite being a Protestant.

All the latest news about the Catholic Church, the Pope and the Vatican, information about other religions, the environment and migrants. A Christian perspective, analysis and decoding of international and religious news.

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Bundesliga: Jamal Musiala Injury Sours Bayern Munich's Win At Augsburg

Curated By :

AFP

Last Updated: April 05, 2025, 07:51 IST

Bayern Munich came back from a goal down to beat 10-man Augsburg 3-1 away and move nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga but Jamal Musiala went off injured.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane against Augsburg (AP)

Bayern Munich‘s 3-1 win at 10-man Augsburg on Friday put them nine points clear of Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga table but came at a cost with midfielder Jamal Musiala injured days out from facing Inter Milan.

Dimitrios Giannoulis opened the scoring for the hosts 30 minutes in from a free kick but Musiala equalised just before half-time, collecting the ball on the spin before hammering home.

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Harry Kane put Bayern in front midway through the second half with a header, his 23rd league goal of the season, and Leroy Sane forced a late own goal, but all eyes will be on Musiala.

With 54 minutes gone, the Germany midfielder tried to connect with a high pass but fell to the ground and raised his hand, motioning to the bench immediately and was subbed off.

Bayern host Inter Milan on Tuesday, with the return leg the following Wednesday in Italy after a home clash with domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund.

“It doesn’t look brilliant," Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said after the win over Augsburg.

“He won’t be there on Tuesday," he added.

Bayern are in the midst of an injury crisis, missing several first teamers including Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, Kingsley Coman and Aleksander Pavlovic already sidelined.

“It’s disappointing to see," Kane told DAZN.

“We’ve had a tough week with a few injuries now.

“He’ll go away and get scanned and hopefully it’s not as bad as it looks, but he’s a big player for us and we’re going to miss him for as long as he’s out for."

Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich said: “It’s extremely bitter. It’s pretty harsh how many injuries we’ve copped at the moment."

Leverkusen, who were eliminated from the German Cup by third division Arminia Bielefeld midweek, can draw back six points behind Bayern with a win at Heidenheim on Saturday.

– Bayern break Augsburg’s tight defence –

Augsburg came into the game on an 11-game unbeaten streak and had conceded just four goals in the league in 2025, the lowest mark of any team in the top five European leagues.

Nursing a decimated defence, Bayern decided to attack and were parked out in front of the Augsburg area for the opening half hour, albeit with few clear chances at goal.

Jeffrey Gouweleeuw spotted Giannoulis sliding through the penalty area and cut his free kick into the path of the Greece international, who blasted home off the crossbar.

Bayern hit back just before half-time, with Musiala scoring on the half-turn, surrounded by several Augsburg defenders.

The 22-year-old midfielder leapt to control a high pass early in the second-half but fell to the turf and immediately signalled to the bench, needing assistance to leave the field.

Bayern’s fortunes changed shortly after when Zesinger was given a second yellow for a foul on a counter-attacking Kane. The Switzerland defender was unlucky to be given his marching orders, with replays showing he connected with the ball before Kane fell.

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From the ensuing free-kick, Kimmich found Olise who whipped the ball across the face of goal, allowing Kane to nod in through the legs of goalkeeper Finn Dahmen.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Sane unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which was turned into the goal by Chrislain Matsima, sealing the three points.

Location : Augsburg

First Published: April 05, 2025, 07:13 IST

Bayern Munich came back from a goal down to beat 10-man Augsburg 3-1 away and move nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga but Jamal Musiala went off injured.

Bundesliga: Jamal Musiala Injury Sours Bayern Munich's Win At Augsburg

U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media Friday that he would grant ByteDance an additional 75-day extension to either sell the popular video-sharing app TikTok to a non-Chinese company or risk being banned in the United States.

"My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days," Trump said.

"We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China," he continued.

In his first term, Trump signed an executive order effectively seeking to ban the app in the United States unless ByteDance sold its U.S. operations to an American company, but the order didn't go into effect amid legal challenges.

In April 2024, then U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law that gave ByteDance 270 days to sell TikTok, citing unfounded national security concerns. If the company failed to comply, the law would require app store operators such as Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their platforms starting on Jan. 19, 2025.

Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, previously signed an executive order to delay the TikTok ban by 75 days "to permit my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course of action with respect to TikTok." That extension was set to expire on April 5.

Trump extends TikTok ban deadline for another 75 days

Vietnamese garment factory workers stitch apparel at a factory in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. HUU KHA/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Higher-than-expected new tariffs unveiled by the United States are likely to hurt Southeast Asian economies, analysts warn, saying that the region has long relied on free trade to boost its growth.

The impact of Washington's so-called reciprocal tariffs would be uneven among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, they said.

Vietnam and Thailand, which have bigger export sectors, are expected to bear more of the brunt of the increased tariffs. Meanwhile, the impact on the Philippines and Singapore would be limited as these two countries were slapped with relatively lower rates.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order for "reciprocal tariffs", imposing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" on all imports to the US and higher rates on certain trading partners. The tariff hike will take effect as early as Saturday.

Trump, who delivered a speech at the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington DC, presented a chart on "reciprocal tariffs" which showed that different countries and regions face different tariff rates.

For example, China will face a 34-percent tariff while a 20-percent duty will be imposed on the European Union.

In the case of ASEAN, Cambodia was slapped with the highest rate at 49 percent, followed by Laos at 48 percent, Vietnam 46 percent, Myanmar 44 percent, Thailand 36 percent, Indonesia 32 percent, Brunei 24 percent, Malaysia 24 percent, and the Philippines 17 percent.

Singapore, ASEAN's key trading and finance center, was not slapped with a specific tariff apart from the universal 10 percent tariff that will be imposed on all countries.

"The ASEAN economies we cover were hard hit by tariffs as we had expected, but the magnitude of the hit is much larger than we (envisaged)," Lavanya Venkateswaran, senior ASEAN economist at the Singapore-based OCBC Bank, wrote in her research note.

Venkateswaran estimates that Vietnam's exports to the US, which would be the hardest hit by reciprocal tariffs, would go down by as much as 35 percent to 40 percent this year.

Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul said the country is actively addressing concerns over the newly imposed 49 percent US tariffs on Cambodian goods, AKP reported.

She said Cambodia does not impose a 97 percent tariff on US imports, as Washington claimed. Instead, Cambodia adheres to World Trade Organization regulations, with its highest tariff on US goods set at 29.4 percent — well below the WTO's allowable limit of 35 percent.

Voicing concerns

Son Nguyen, a lecturer of logistics and supply chain management at the RMIT University Vietnam, raised concerns over the significant tariffs imposed on Vietnam's goods.

Ahead of the US tariff announcement, Vietnam on March 31 cut import taxes on key goods such as automobiles and ethanol. The import taxes on wood and wooden products were eliminated totally, from the previous rates of 20-25 percent.

Yet these measures failed to shield Vietnam from the new US tariff measure. The Trump administration has accused Vietnam of imposing a 90 percent tariff on US imports and announced a "reciprocal tariff" of 46 percent on Vietnamese exports.

"Vietnam, and many countries on the list, will need to think long and hard (about) their relationships with the US," Son told China Daily.

Lawrence Loh, director of the Center for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore's Business School, said the tariffs will backfire and marginalize US influence in the Asian region, including in ASEAN.

Loh said Washington's latest announcement showed that the US "will only advance self-interest with no consideration for exercising its global responsibilities as the world's largest economy and superpower".

Even before Trump announced the new tariffs, ASEAN has been wary of increased trade protectionism.

According to "The State of Southeast Asia: 2025 Survey Report", over 40 percent of 2,023 respondents said they prefer ASEAN members to accelerate regional integration when confronting rising protectionism and nationalism around the world.

The ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore conducted the survey from January to February. The report was presented on Thursday via a webinar in Singapore.

Yenny Wahid, director of the Jakarta-based nonprofit Wahid Foundation, said at the report's presentation that this is a good time to focus on ASEAN centrality, noting that the US' latest trade policy has shown that the region "can no longer rely on superpowers. So, we need to devise our own ways to strengthen the region".

Yang Han and Xu Weiwei in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

Levies to hit SE Asia economies

Donald Trump lee The New York Post a su llegada al Trump National Golf Club en Florida. Foto: Alex Brandon / AP

MADRID (EUROPA PRESS).- El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, defendió este sábado la guerra arancelaria que terminó de desatar esta semana con la imposición generalizada de aranceles, aunque admitió que puede existir un costo previo para la población norteamericana antes de recoger sus frutos.

Convencido de la eficacia de sus medidas, Trump aseguró que su administración va a conseguir el retorno de "empleos y negocios como nunca antes se ha visto" en lo que defendió como una "revolución económica".

"Vamos a ganar. Aguanta, porque no va ser fácil, pero el resultado final será histórico", animó el presidente estadunidense.

Trump abordó en particular la situación con China, a la que impuso gravámenes del 34 por ciento a sus productos en una medida que fue contestada ayer por Pekín en los mismos términos sobre las importaciones desde Estados Unidos.

En este sentido, Trump denunció que China "y otros países" han tratado a Estados Unidos "insosteniblemente mal", según el mensaje publicado en su plataforma Truth Social en el que prometió que no se apartará de esta línea.

"Hemos sido el poste de los azotes, tontos e indefensos, pero eso se acabó", dijo.

El presidente justificó los aranceles a China por haber tratado "insosteniblemente mal a Estados Unidos"

Trump pide a la gente que "resista" su guerra comercial: "No será fácil, pero el resultado será histórico"

Americans could pay more for these everyday basics under Trump's new tariffs

3 hours ago Share Save Nadine Yousif BBC News Share Save

Getty Images Clothing from well-known American brands like the Gap could see a price increase, as they rely heavily on Asian countries for production

US President Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs - or import taxes - for nearly every country in the world could push prices up on almost all the staples Americans routinely buy, from clothes to coffee. After declaring a national economic emergency on Wednesday, Trump announced new tariffs on billions of dollars of goods of at least 10%. For countries he has deemed the "worst offenders", the rates can go as high as 50%. They start taking effect on 5 April. Economists have warned the new levies - and those that other countries impose in retaliation - could push prices up for Americans across the board, and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has said that they will increase inflation. That's because the companies importing the goods may pass the costs of the tariffs on to customers or simply bring fewer products into the country, creating a limited supply. Here are six everyday items that could become more expensive for American consumers.

Clothing – from Target to H&M to the Gap

The "worst offenders" about to be hit with the highest tariffs include the clothing manufacturing hubs of Vietnam, China and Bangladesh. The three - among the top five largest apparel importers to the US - could soon see levies ranging from 34% to 46% charged on their products. That means major US department stores like Target and Walmart, where Americans often turn for affordable clothing, and some familiar apparel brands may feel the pressure. The Gap, an American clothing retailer that also operates Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta, sources about 21% of its clothing from Vietnam, according to an analysis by Prof Sheng Lu at the University of Delaware's Fashion & Apparel Studies department. Another 37% of its clothing comes from India, Indonesia and Bangladesh. H&M, known for its inexpensive fashions, manufactures most of its clothing in China and Bangladesh. The tariffs could bring an "unfair burden to American families, particularly lower-income households", warned the United States Fashion Industry Association in a statement on Wednesday. Vietnam is open to working out a deal with the administration to avoid the tariffs, Trump has said. China, on the other hand, has retaliated with its own steep levies.

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Coffee and other imported foods

Almost all of the coffee consumed in the US comes from outside the country, meaning that morning cup, whether brewed at home or at a favourite shop, could soon become a bigger burden on Americans' wallets. The US mostly sources its coffee from Brazil and Colombia, which are subject to the baseline 10% tariffs. Vietnam is also a key importer of certain types of coffee. Walter Haas, owner of San Francisco-based coffee roastery Graffeo, told the Washington Post that once tariffs hit, his company will feel it "immediately – literally the next day." If they remain in place, those cost increases will be "permanently baked into the price consumers pay", he added. Other imported foods found on the countertops in many US kitchens could suffer a similar fate, especially those coming from European Union nations, who will all be hit by a 20% tariff. Prices of shelf staples like olive oil, which is primarily imported from Italy, Spain and Greece, could rise further.

Sneakers – including Adidas to Nike

Shoes, one of the most basic necessities and also one of Americans' biggest splurges, could become more expensive, including the beloved sneakers Nike Air Force 1s and Adidas Sambas. Both sportswear companies rely heavily on Asian factory hubs for their inventories, with about half of Nike's shoes and 39% of Adidas' shoes made in Vietnam. In 2024, the US imported more than $27bn worth of footwear, mostly from China and Vietnam, which was subject to tariffs of about $3bn, according to data by Prof Lu. Now, that tax amount could nearly triple. UBS analysts told Reuters that, all in all, retailers may not be able to fully swallow the costs, and would need to raise prices by 10% to 12% to offset the levies on Vietnamese manufacturers.

Alcohol, including European wine and beer

France is one of the biggest foreign suppliers of wine to the US, and its winemaking industry has expressed anxiety about what the 20% EU tariffs will mean for their business. The Bourgogne Wine Board, which represents producers in the French region of Burgundy, said the US tariffs will deliver "a serious blow" to both exporters and American consumers. "The risk with these additional tariffs is that they could push our wines past a psychological price threshold," warned Laurent Delaunay, president of the Bourgogne Wine Board - meaning above what buyers feel comfortable paying. Price increases could be seen at restaurants, especially for imported beers (like Guinness) or drinks using foreign spirits (like a negroni). Separately, Trump expanded an aluminium tariff to include all canned beer, which could also make it more expensive for those who stay home. UBS analysts told Reuters that large alcohol sellers would have to hike prices up to 5% to cover the tariffs if they choose not to absorb the costs themselves.

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Electronics, like iPhones and video gaming consoles

Cell phones, TVs and video game consoles tend to be big-ticket purchases, and the latest US tariffs could make them even bigger-ticket. China, as well as Taiwan and South Korea, are all top exporters of electronics to the US. Almost all iPhones are made in China, although some are also made in India (which, too, is on the "worst offenders" list with a 26% tariff). Samsung, meanwhile, has significant production operations in Vietnam. It's still unclear how these major tech companies will respond to the new levies. But Japanese video gaming company Nintendo announced on Friday that it is delaying pre-orders of its Switch 2 console, saying it needs to "assess the potential impact of tariffs."

Shein and Temu shopping hauls

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The next cup of coffee, Shein shopping haul and more may soon cost more as tariffs take effect

Americans may pay more for these everyday basics under Trump's new tariffs

With reference to ‘The tariff challenge’; the reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods imposed by the US pose a threat to trade in sectors such as textiles, engineering and fisheries, whereas pharmaceuticals and energy products have escaped the blow. India enjoys an advantage because of lesser tariffs compared to those imposed on our Asian competitors like China, Vietnam and Thailand. The Modi government must exploit this beneficial situation to capture the US market. However, India should remain vigilant, especially against China and other rivals who might try dumping their goods in India. The bilateral trade agreement should be used to deal with reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US.

Harbinder S Dhillon, Una

Blessing in disguise

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When many nations are facing relatively higher tariffs, India stands to gain rather than be hit by the new US tariffs. This is an opportunity for India to strengthen exports to the US. Our manufacturing sector, especially textiles, pharma and the auto parts industry, must take advantage of the situation. IT companies, too, have big exposure to the US market and a big chunk of revenue comes from there. Here again, Trump has raised the bar for other countries. This means our IT companies continue to remain as competitive as or even better than those of other countries. The new US tariff regime will not have much negative impact on Indian business if we act wisely.

Suman Kuplish, Ludhiana

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Textile industry has an edge

The silver lining for India is that tariffs have been slapped at higher rates for other textile-exporting countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, China and Sri Lanka. Thus, India stands a good chance to augment its exports to the US. The government should work in close collaboration with US companies. The quality of Indian garments is quite good and competitive. India can export its products through Brazil by either opening offices there or directly manufacturing their garments in that country. India should continue to explore tieups with rich trade partners in Europe.

NPS Sohal, by mail

People’s trust crucial

With reference to ‘Nation’s moral fabric is in peril’; the writer has rightly pointed out that the armed forces and the judiciary are the two institutions that the people still respect. The recent ‘cash at judge’s house’ row has damaged the reputation of the judiciary, and the public is having doubts about the justice delivery system in the country. It is a sad state of affairs that most government departments have been bitten by the corruption bug. We don’t know when conditions will improve or whether they will. People’s trust in the system should be of utmost importance to any government. Since citizens are suffering, society is witnessing a steady decline in values.

Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

Time-bound defence procurement

Apropos of ‘IAF jet crashes in Gujarat, one of two pilots missing’; our armed forces require sophisticated and dependable equipment in order to maintain their capabilities to meet any threat or challenge. The procurement process, be it from indigenous resources or other countries, should be expedited and made time-bound to meet the current requirements and upgrade our defence systems. We cannot afford to put the precious lives of our military personnel at risk due to a lack of latest equipment and other related resources. Obsolete equipment needs to be phased out as soon as possible.

Ravi Bhushan, Kurukshetra

Collective duty to fight drugs

The rising drug menace in Punjab demands more than just symbolic gestures and politically charged campaigns. Public marches, pledges and awareness drives serve a purpose, but without strong law enforcement and systemic reforms, their impact will remain limited. The focus should be on dismantling drug networks, tightening border controls, ensuring accountability of law enforcement agencies and investing in rehabilitation centres. The fight against drugs should not be reduced to scoring brownie points but treated as a collective responsibility.

Nikhil Chopra, Ludhiana

With reference to ‘The tariff challenge’; the reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods imposed by the US pose a threat to trade in sectors such as textiles, engineering and fisheries, whereas pharmaceuticals and energy products have escaped the blow. India enjoys an advantage because of lesser tariffs compared to those imposed on our Asian competitors like China, Vietnam and Thailand. The Modi government must exploit this beneficial situation to capture the US market. However, India should remain vigilant, especially against China and other rivals who might try dumping their goods in India. The bilateral trade agreement should be used to deal with reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US.

Better deal than other nations

China's announcement on Friday that it will impose a 34% tariff on imports of all US products beginning April 10, as part of a flurry of retaliatory measures following Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day”, has sent the markets in free fall. The FTSE 100 plunged just minutes after the move was announced by Beijing, falling to 8,160.40 and taking its losses today to 3.7%.

The new tariff matches the rate of the US "reciprocal" tariff of 34% on Chinese exports that the US President ordered this week. The US stock markets is also expected to react negatively to the news. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were all on course to plunge more than 2 at the start of trading.

THIS IS A LIVE BLOG. FOLLOW OUR COVERAGE BELOW.

China announced on Friday it was hitting the US with retaliatory 34% tariffs.

Stock markets LIVE: Trump nightmare as China's 34% tariffs move sends markets in free fall

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The latest news on South Korea . The country has entered a period of political transition after President Yoon Suk Yeol was unanimously removed from office by the Constitutional Court, following his controversial declaration of martial law late last year.

The ruling, which upheld parliament's impeachment, has plunged the country into uncertainty just as it contends with economic strain and regional tensions. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo now assumes the role of acting president.

As factions regroup and election campaigns ignite, attention turns to the polarising figures vying for the presidency—none more prominent than liberal contender Lee Jae-myung, whose own legal troubles mirror the political chaos at large.

South Korea's Yoon removed from office over martial law

Open this photo in gallery: A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on April 3.Brendan McDermid/Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to hike tariffs to the highest level in a century has sent shock waves through the global economy, hammering financial markets, adding to inflationary concerns and raising the odds of a recession in the United States that could ripple across the border into Canada.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on imports, with much higher rates for dozens of trading partners, including the European Union, China and Japan. That pushed America’s average tariff rate above 20 per cent, from around 2 per cent when Mr. Trump took office – a level last seen in the 1930s when a breakdown in global trade helped fuel the Great Depression.

Mr. Trump’s move – a wholesale repudiation of the open trading system the U.S. spent decades building – stunned governments, businesses and investors around the world. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite tumbled 4.8 per cent and 6 per cent on Thursday, the biggest stock market drop since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other equity markets wilted, including Canada’s TSX Composite, which fell 3.8 per cent. The U.S. dollar weakened more than 1.5 per cent against other currencies and the price of oil dropped around 7 per cent amid concerns of a global economic slowdown and a wrenching adjustment to international supply chains.

“It’s a structural break in the global trading system,” James Rossiter, head of global macro strategy at Toronto-Dominion Bank, said in an interview.

“We talked through the first season of Trump about globalization unwinding and sort of collapsing a little bit on itself. But I think what we’re seeing now is far more fundamental and far more durable and long lasting than what we saw previously.”

Canada, Mexico spared from worst of Trump’s latest tariff blitz

Mr. Rossiter said the tariff shock could increase U.S. inflation by 1.5 percentage points by the middle of next year, as import prices jump and supply chains fracture. It could also carve 0.75 percentage points off U.S. GDP growth, he said. That’s not quite recession territory, but it’s getting close.

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala released a statement on Thursday warning that the U.S. moves could lead to a 1-per-cent contraction in global goods trading volumes. That would represent a nearly four-percentage-point downward revision from the WTO’s previous projection.

“I’m deeply concerned about this decline and the potential for escalation into a tariff war with a cycle of retaliatory measures that lead to further declines in trade,” Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said.

Canada and Mexico fared comparatively well in Mr. Trump’s latest barrage. Neither country will face the baseline tariff or a higher “reciprocal” rate. Crucially, an earlier one-month tariff exemption for goods that trade in compliance with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement was extended indefinitely.

Canada and Mexico are still being hit by tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum and all products that don’t comply with USMCA content rules. But by avoiding the latest round of tariffs, many Canadian goods will have a competitive advantage in the U.S. market compared with products from other countries.

The Canadian dollar strengthened on Thursday, rising by about a cent to 71 cents against the U.S. dollar, although this was also due to the U.S. dollar weakening.

“Tariff rates now that are being imposed on Canada and Mexico are significantly lower than the rates on the rest of the world,” Nathan Janzen, assistant chief economist at Royal Bank of Canada, said in an interview.

That means Canadian products could win market share in the U.S. The problem, however, is that overall demand in the U.S. could take a beating if the country falls into a recession and consumer confidence, which is already fragile, crumbles.

“Potentially we can keep our share of the pie, or even maybe it gets a little bit bigger in this environment. But that’s not a whole lot of consolation if the size of the pie itself is shrinking,” Mr. Janzen said.

Stephen Brown, deputy chief North America economist at Capital Economics, said Canada is in a slightly better position today than it had been over the past month, when Mr. Trump was directing most of his protectionist attention at his two closest neighbours. Mr. Brown had previously been forecasting a recession for Canada, but now expects a period of essentially zero growth rather than an outright contraction.

But a lot will depend on how global disruptions spill into Canada.

“These tariffs are going to cause a lot of weakness in other economies, and therefore weaker commodities demand,” Mr. Brown said in an interview. “So even if demand for Canada’s exports holds up in volume terms, we’ve seen this big drop in oil prices and other commodity prices. So that feeds through to weaker earnings in Canada and can likewise weigh on investment.”

Trade wars are a difficult type of shock to navigate, because tariffs weigh on economic activity while increasing prices – something economists call “stagflation.” This puts central banks, such as the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve, in a tough spot. They have to choose between cutting interest rates to fend off a recession and keeping them steady or raising them to stop a one-time jump in prices from becoming an inflationary spiral.

U.S. tariffs will directly increase the price of imported goods, and may push up prices for domestically produced goods as American companies take the opportunity to raise their prices. Companies may also increase prices in response to rising costs across their supply chains.

“The U.S. and other advanced economies import a lot of intermediate goods that feed into domestic supply chains, and tariffs on those intermediate products increase the costs of domestic production as well,” said Mr. Janzen of RBC.

“That’s really where you can get spillovers into Canadian inflation. Because the North American industrial sector … is very heavily integrated, so if costs rise in the U.S. industrial sector, that means that they’re also rising in the Canadian and Mexican industrial sectors as well.”

Given potential inflationary pressures in Canada, including from Ottawa’s retaliatory tariffs, financial markets expect the Bank of Canada to hold interest rates steady at its next meeting in April, before cutting two to three more times this year, according to LSEG data. Markets expect the Fed to remain on hold for now, but to resume rate cuts in the summer.

How much Mr. Trump’s actions reverberate around the world may depend on how other countries respond. On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s third round of retaliatory tariffs, this time matching U.S. tariffs on automobiles.

Others have said they will hit back against Mr. Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, including the European Union, Japan, South Korea and China. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, by contrast, ruled out retaliation and said he wanted to avoid a “race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth.”

The last time the U.S. shocked the world economy in this manner was the infamous 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which sparked a tit-for-tat trade war that added to the length and depth of the Great Depression and aided the breakdown in global co-operation in the lead-up to the Second World War.

“We’re in sort of uncharted waters to some degree, or at least uncharted waters in the modern era,” said Mr. Rossiter of TD. “This is not something the world hasn’t seen before. It’s just the last time we saw it was the 1930s or the 1890s.”

The U.S. President’s trade war has pitched America’s average tariff rate from 2 per cent to above 20 per cent – a level last seen in the 1930s

Trump’s trade barrage rattles global markets, triggering recession fears

Chinese stocks’ world-beating rally faces a reality check after the US slapped a 34 per cent reciprocal tariff on imports from the mainland, casting a shadow on its fragile economic recovery.

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The levy is in addition to the existing 20 per cent tariff imposed by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office in January, bringing it close to the 60 per cent rate he threatened during the election campaign and almost falling into the worst-case scenario projected by global investment banks.

The Trump administration also plugged a gap by imposing tariffs ranging from 24 per cent to 46 per cent on Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, to prevent Chinese goods from being diverted to the US.

“This will have a ripple effect on macro consumption, which is still weak but saw pockets of stabilisation recently,” said Kai Wang, a market strategist at Morningstar. “This could have long-term ramifications, and it is possible China might announce more fiscal stimulus to counteract perceived macro weakness.”

03:19 Trump slaps 34% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports as part of ‘Liberation Day’ package Trump slaps 34% reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports as part of ‘Liberation Day’ package

Even before Trump’s latest tariffs, the run-up in Chinese stocks spurred by the nation’s advances in artificial intelligence was showing signs of fatigue. Chinese tech companies’ valuation edge has weakened after they nearly closed the multiples gap with the “Magnificent Seven” US mega-cap stocks.

Best strategy is to bet on plays that would benefit from new stimulus policies China is likely to announce, analyst says.

Chinese stocks’ world-beating run risks unravelling as Trump’s reciprocal tariff kicks in

Trade tariffs imposed on tiny Australian territories that are either uninhabited or claim to have no trading relationship with the US appear to have been calculated based on erroneous trade data.

The data relates, at least in part, to shipments mislabelled as coming from remote Norfolk Island, or Heard Island and McDonald Islands, instead of their correct countries of origin, the Guardian can reveal.



Among the erroneously labelled shipments over the past five years from the island territories are shipments of aquarium systems, Timberland boots, wine and parts for a recycling plant.

According to an analysis of US import data and shipping records, multiple shipments of goods were classified as having originated from Norfolk Island or Heard and McDonald islands when neither the company address, nor the port of departure for the shipment, nor the destination port were located in those territories.

In some cases involving Norfolk Island, which is 1,600km north-east of Sydney and has a population of 2,188, the confusion appears to have resulted from the fact that the company’s address or port of departure is Norfolk, UK, or the destination is Norfolk, Virginia in the US, or a company’s registered address in New Hampshire (NH) has been listed instead as Norfolk Island (NI).

Norfolk Island was this week hit with a 29% tariff on its goods – 19 percentage points higher than the rest of Australia – despite claiming to have no export relationship with the US.

The decision has perplexed the Australian government, with Australia’s prime minister saying it was evidence “nowhere was safe” from Trump’s tariffs. The country’s trade minister, Don Farrell, said it was “clearly a mistake”.

George Plant, the administrator of Norfolk Island, told the Guardian on Thursday: “There are no known exports from Norfolk Island to the United States.”

But according to US government data, presented by the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Norfolk Island exported US$655,000 (A$1.04m) worth of goods to the US in 2023, with its main export being US$413,000 (A$658,000) worth of leather footwear.

There is one large shoe shop on Norfolk Island, Franks Shoes. Its manager said in an email to the Guardian: “We are a shoe shop selling shoes to the tourists that visit the island and do not export shoes to the US or have any business with the US.”

The Guardian has identified two bills of lading – records of cargo shipments – for shipments each containing 3,714 black Timberland men’s ankle boots that set sail from South Riding port in the Bahamas for Miami, Florida, in December 2023. The shipments were worth a combined total of US$315,000 (A$498,000).

The bills of lading list “Norfolk Island” as the country of origin and the address of the shipper as Timberland, 200 Domain Drive, Stratham 03885-2575, Norfolk Island.

Timberland’s corporate office address is listed as 200 Domain Drive, Stratham, New Hampshire on its LinkedIn page.

A spokesperson for Timberland shoes said: “We are in a quiet period and have no comment.”

Other bills of lading that appear to have erroneously listed Norfolk Island as the country of origin include several from an aquarium and fountain company, OASE, which sent shipments from Norfolk in the UK to the US, and steel equipment sent from Novum Structures in Norfolk, UK, to the US.

Novum Structure’s address is listed on one bill of lading as 14 Hopper Way, Diss Business Park, Diss, Norfolk Island, instead of Norfolk in the UK, which is its EU headquarters, according to Novum’s website.

OASE and Novum were contacted for comment. The Guardian is not alleging that any of the companies are responsible for the errors in the paperwork.

The US Census Bureau, the agency responsible for collating US trade statistics, acknowledges in its guide to trade statistics that such reporting errors can occur and can “significantly impact detailed commodity statistics”.

The shipping databases that the Guardian used to check bill of lading information appear to rely on documents released by US customs under freedom of information requests, so it is not clear when in the process errors were made – during the exporting and shipping process or during the data collection process.

The errors in the shipping records appear to have flowed through to US census and trade data used as the basis for calculating tariffs.

Farrell told the ABC on Friday that the US’s 29% tariff imposed on Norfolk Island was “clearly a mistake” as Norfolk Island was part of Australia and so should be subject to the same tariff as the rest of the country. He said the Australian government would raise the issue with the US administration.

“It’s an indication that this was a rushed process,” he said. “The trade system that America has until yesterday been working on had been built up since the second world war. In the space of four weeks, the American president has upended that process. So I think it was inevitable that mistakes would be made and particularly including Norfolk Island as [a] 29% tariff.”

Journalists and economists have figured out the method used by the Trump administration to calculate the tariffs placed on other countries and territories.

It is a simple formula which produces a tariff percentage based on the country’s trade deficit with the US in 2024. The Guardian has confirmed that this formula produces the 29% figure using US trade data for Norfolk Island.

Heard Island and McDonald Islands – an uninhabited group of islands covered in glaciers near Antarctica, which is also an “external territory” of Australia – was also named in the White House’s list of “countries” hit by tariffs, with a 10% tariff placed on it.

The territory does have a fishery but no buildings or human habitation. Despite this, according to export data from the World Bank, the US imported US$1.4m (A$2.23m) of products from Heard Island and McDonald Islands in 2022, nearly all of which was “machinery and electrical” imports.

The Guardian has identified multiple bills of lading that suggest exports originated from the remote islands but are largely steel or plastic imports from Europe to the US. The paperwork lists the shipper’s address as being in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands rather than Germany or Austria, however.

One bill of lading, from September 2024, relates to parts for a PET recycling plant, shipped from Starlinger Co in Vienna to Oakland California, which lists the address of Starlinger as being in “Vienna, Heard Island and McDonald Islands”. Starlinger Co was contacted for comment.

Jared Mondschein, director of research at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, said of the rushed development of the tariff policy: “It doesn’t surprise me that because of the lack of conventional interagency thinking on this, that there were some errors that were not caught.

“If you input the wrong data in, then you’re going to get the wrong data out.

“And I think in this instance, if there are errors in the shipping records, which, you know, they’re ultimately humans and these things happen, then there’s going to be mistakes.”

The trade data issue may also be responsible for other remote areas being targeted with tariffs. The Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the Svalbard archipelago were hit with a 10% trade tariff – again despite local reporting suggesting few people lived there and there was very little in the way of exports.

Other territories appear to be in a similar situation, with bills of lading for shipments from Indian suppliers being mislabelled as coming from “British Indian Ocean Territory”, a remote external territory of the UK with few inhabitants.

Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean, was also targeted with tariffs, and again some shipments have been mislabelled as the suppliers originating from the island, such as a shipment of pergola parts from Turkey.

The White House was contacted for comment.

<strong>Exclusive</strong>: Aquarium systems, Timberland boots and recycling plant parts were mislabelled as coming from remote Norfolk Island or Heard and McDonald islands

Not that Norfolk! Mislabelled shipments led to Trump tariffs on uninhabited islands and remote outposts with no US trade

The Korea Center for International Finance analyzed that the tariffs would reduce the global economic growth rate by around 0.49 points each year from now until 2028

Trump upends global trade with sweeping retributive tariffs

Bulgarian politicians and business persons have been reacting to the news of the sweeping tariffs on foreign imports announced by US President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, Trump unveiled a plan for further restrictions on imports to the US in the form of additional tariffs on all goods with the exception of steel, aluminium and cars, which are already subject to a 25% import tax. The tariff rate applicable to goods originating in the EU will be 20%.



Vice President Iliana Iotova: Bulgarian institutions need to react urgently" to the decision. Bulgarian large, small and medium-sized enterprises need to be engaged in a very serious, very objective discussion so as to decide on a response to this new policy, not only as an EU Member State but also on a bilateral basis. If necessary, urgent measures should be taken so that we do not lag behind once again, so that people are not faced with bankruptcies.

Vazrazhdane Party leader Kostadin Kostadinov: Bulgaria has almost no trade with the US, and I do not expect this to seriously affect the country. This trade war does not bother us. This is an opportunity to rethink and renegotiate the way the European Union functions.

Association of Automobile Importers in Bulgaria Executive Board Chair Lyubomir Dorosiev (in comment to BTA): The tariffs on EU-made automobiles are good news for European consumers. Now that European manufacturers will be unable to export cheaply to America, they will gradually cut new car prices in Europe and more specifically in Bulgaria. Cars imported from the US to Bulgaria account for not more than 5% of this country's total road fleet. The extra tax will needlessly push up the price of imports from the US, and this trade in Bulgaria may shrink or even cease altogether.

GERB leader Boyko Borissov said the trade war between the US and the European Union matters to dozens, not to say hundreds, of Bulgarian businesses. He expressed concern about the negative effect on the country's business. According to him, this could mean a rise in inflation, a reduction in jobs and investment. He is of the opinion that the automotive sector and engineering will be the most affected.

BTA :: Bulgarian Politicians, Business Persons React to Trump's Tariffs

BRITAIN is threatening tariffs on 8,000 US products including toilet seats — as Donald Trump’s trade war sent world economies down the pan yesterday.

A staggering $2.2trillion was wiped off stock markets with the Nasdaq suffering its biggest tanking since the start of Covid.

7 Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs have knocked a staggering $2.2trillion off global stock markets Credit: Reuters

7 A trader in New York buries his head in his hands as the markets plummet in the wake of US tariffs Credit: AFP

7 A trader in South Korea looks as grim as the market figures behind her Credit: EPA

PM Sir Keir Starmer still hopes to do a deal with the President but has lined up US goods for import taxes within weeks.

Trump's tariff blitz triggered a sharp sell-off of shares, with traders shocked by the size of levies imposed on even the US’s closest allies.

Furious governments threatened to whack tariffs on US imports.

The PM repeated his priority was to secure a trade deal with the US which would reduce or remove the ten per cent tariff imposed on all UK exports, and 25 per cent on cars and steel.

But, in a toughening of the Government’s stance, it is drawing up a list of 8,000 US products it could hit with retaliatory tariffs if no pact is agreed by May 1.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds published a 417-page list of American products that could be clobbered.

Toilet seats are included, along with Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Jack Daniel’s and Jim Beam whiskey and Levi’s jeans.

US-made vacuum cleaners, sports shoes and chopsticks are also in our crosshairs. Sir Keir vowed: “Nothing is off the table.”

And at a Downing Street breakfast meeting, he told bosses of firms such as Bentley, Unilever and Airbus that the UK has a “range of levers at our disposal”.

Later at an event in Chesterfield, the PM said the UK was heading into a new era but that “we shouldn’t jump into a trade war”.

World leaders react to to Trump's tariffs

He added: “I need to act in the national interest. The choice before us is whether to jump into retaliatory action with both feet at the get-go, or continue with our calm approach to negotiate a trade deal to mitigate tariffs if we can.”

Yesterday the FTSE 100 slumped by 1.55 per cent to 8,474.7 points while the FTSE 250 fell by 2.33 per cent to 19,210.5 points.

Retailer JD Sports saw shares dropping by 7.89 power cent. Shell and BP also tanked.

Mr Trump announced his controversial tariffs in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday.

Yesterday, referring to the US, he wrote on his Truth Social account: “The operation is over! The patient will be far stronger, bigger, better and more resilient than ever before.”

The tariffs imposed on the UK were at the lowest end of his sliding scale — in what was considered a Brexit dividend.

In Europe, subject to a 20 per cent tariff, France’s CAC 40 stock market closed down by 3.3 per cent while Germany’s DAX dropped three per cent.

German sportswear giant adidas tumbled by almost 12 per cent as it makes most of its shoes in Asia, hit by hefty tariffs. Rivals Nike and Puma suffered heavy falls.

7

The biggest pain was saved for Wall Street with shares crashing in the US’s most valuable companies — from banks to retail to tech. The S&P 500 fell by 4.13 per cent.

The Nasdaq slumped by 5.3 per cent — the biggest fall since the start of the pandemic.

Apple fell almost nine per cent, wiping $250billion off its value. It relies heavily on tech imports from China, India, Vietnam and Thailand, all subject to heavy tariffs.

Nvidia, the $2.5trillion chip company, saw seven per cent erased from its value.

Elsewhere, South Korea’s main share index slumped 0.7 per cent.

Sir Keir yesterday refused to rule out tax hikes later this year if reduced growth means Labour risks breaking its fiscal rules.

Business chiefs have been asked for their views over the next four weeks. Some warned that “two wrongs don’t make a right” and told the PM to hold off his own tariffs.

LEVIES FORMULA BAFFLES EXPERTS By Martina Bet PRESIDENT Donald Trump used a back-of-the-envelope maths formula to slap “reciprocal” tariffs on more than 100 countries. In reality the numbers have little to do with what countries charge the US. The White House released a flashy formula with Greek algebra symbols — but it boiled down to a simple sum. Officials took America’s goods trade deficit with each country, divided it by how much the US imports from them and then halved that number. Trump did not use the formula for countries that buy more goods from the US than they sell, including the UK. They were charged ten per cent. Deutsche Bank’s George Saravelos said: “Trump is focused on penalising countries with larger trade deficits in goods. It’s highly mechanical rather than a sophisticated assessment of tariffs.” Despite tariffs on remote places such as Heard Island — only inhabited by penguins and seals — Russia was entirely exempt. US press secretary Karoline Leavitt argued existing sanctions on the country already “preclude any meaningful trade”.

Craig Beaumont, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Retaliatory tariffs would double the damage at a time of burgeoning costs and taxes in our country.

"We are calling on the UK and US Governments for small and medium enterprises to be at the centre of a prosperity deal.”

The knock-on effect has seen digger giant JCB double the size of a factory being built in San Antonio, Texas.

CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “In the short term the tariffs will have a significant impact on our business. However, in the medium term our San Antonio factory will help to mitigate the impact.”

Whitehall sources expressed some relief that the UK was only hit with the ten per cent rate.

Ministers believe the actual rate should be four per cent which is the average tariff on US goods.

But the 25 per cent hit to UK car makers has put 25,000 jobs at risk. Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka said: “After Brexit, you’ve reaffirmed your independence, and I think that is being proven today by the special rate that has been afforded to the UK.”

Experts warned UK growth could take a 0.5 per cent hit in the coming years.

Thomas Pugh, economist at RSM UK, said the levies will be “not far off” wiping out Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ £10billion financial cushion.

He said: “The direct impact on the UK is likely to be in the 0.2 to 0.5 per cent of GDP range over the next few years.

"The impact will be bigger once the hit to the US and European economies becomes clearer and is taken into account.”

Two thirds of Brits think the ­tariffs will have a negative effect on the economy, a poll found.

A trade deal, ready to be signed by the US, could include lower digital services tax for tech firms in exchange for less severe tariffs.

Britain could review enforcement of its online harms rules as part of any agreement, it was claimed.

7 PM Sir Keir Starmer, with business leaders today, said his priority was to secure a trade deal with Trump which would reduce or remove the ten per cent tariff imposed on all UK exports and 25 per cent on cars Credit: PA

7 Trump's tariff blitz triggered a sharp sell-off of shares, with traders shocked by the size of levies imposed on even the US’s closest allies Credit: The Mega Agency

7 Britain is even threatening to add tariffs to toilet seats Credit: Getty

But The Molly Rose Foundation wrote to Mr Reynolds saying it was “dismayed and appalled” by any willingness to bring children’s safety into tariff mitigation.

Germany’s economy minister Robert Habeck insisted that Trump will “buckle”. He said: “This pressure now needs to be unfolded, from Germany, from Europe in the alliance with other countries, and then we will see who is the stronger one in this arm wrestle.”

Canada’s new PM Mark Carney said the tariffs were “unjustified, unwarranted, and misguided”.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was finalising counter-measures, adding: “We are in this together: if you take on one of us, you take on all of us. Our unity is our strength.”

Trump also slapped ten per cent tariffs on some of the most remote places on Earth including Heard Island and the McDonald Islands, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, which is only inhabited by penguins and seals.

Additional reporting by Jack Elsom and Noa Hoffman

BRITAIN is threatening tariffs on 8,000 US products including toilet seats — as Donald Trump’s trade war sent world economies down the pan yesterd

UK threatens 8,000 US products including toilet seats with tariffs as Trump’s trade war plunges markets into meltdown

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, right, talk after a welcoming ceremony with a guard of honour at Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary (Denes Erdos/AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary’s capital to red carpet treatment despite a warrant for his arrest issued by the world’s top war crimes court.

It was only the second foreign trip Mr Netanyahu has made since the International Criminal Court issued the warrant against him in November.

As Mr Netanyahu arrived in Budapest on Thursday, Hungary said it will begin the procedure of withdrawing from the ICC.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives at a welcoming ceremony for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Buda Castle in Budapest (Denes Erdos/AP) (Denes Erdos/AP)

“Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court,” Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, wrote in a brief statement.

“The government will initiate the withdrawal procedure on Thursday, in accordance with the constitutional and international legal framework.”

Mr Netanyahu was greeted with full military honours in the Castle District of the capital Budapest, where he stood alongside Mr Orban as a military band played and processions of soldiers on horseback and carrying swords and bayoneted rifles passed by.

The two leaders were set to hold talks later on Thursday.

Mr Netanyahu will spend several days in Hungary before departing on Sunday.

The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, said there was reason to believe Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas — charges that Israeli officials deny.

The ICC also issued arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders who were later killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, participate in a welcoming ceremony at Buda Castle (AP) (Denes Erdos/AP)

Member countries of the ICC, such as Hungary, are required to arrest suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil, but the court has no way to enforce that and relies on states to comply.

After the ICC issued the warrant in November, Mr Orban accused the world’s only permanent global tribunal for war crimes and genocide of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes”, saying the move undermined international law and escalated tensions.

His invitation to Mr Netanyahu was in open defiance of the court’s ruling.

Hungary joined the court in 2001 during Mr Orban’s first term as prime minister.

Mr Netanyahu in February met US President Donald Trump in Washington DC, where Mr Trump suggested that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be permanently resettled outside the war-torn territory and proposed the US take “ownership” in redeveloping the area into “the Riviera of the Middle East”.

Neither the US or Israel are signatories to the ICC.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after a press statement in the Buda Castle (Denes Erdos/AP) (Denes Erdos/AP)

Mr Trump in February issued sanctions against the court for its investigations into Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of them children.

– Orban says ICC is ‘no longer an impartial court’

At a news conference following their meeting, Mr Orban said that he believes the ICC is “no longer an impartial court, not a court of law, but a political court. And this was most clearly shown by the decisions regarding Israel”.

“I am convinced that this otherwise important international judicial forum has been degraded into a political tool, with which we cannot and do not want to engage,” Mr Orban said.

The Hungarian leader, regarded by critics as the EU’s most intransigent spoiler in the bloc’s decision-making, is seen as using some of the tactics that Mr Netanyahu has been accused of employing in Israel: subjugation of the judiciary, antagonism toward the EU and cracking down on civil society and human rights groups.

During the news conference, where journalists were not permitted to ask questions, Mr Netanyahu praised Hungary’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, thanking Mr Orban for taking a “bold and principled decision”.

“The ICC directs its actions against us fighting a just war with just means,” Mr Netanyahu said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press statement in Budapest, Hungary (Denes Erdos/AP) (Denes Erdos/AP)

“You are the first… state that walks out of this corruption and this rottenness, and I think it’ll be deeply appreciated, not only in Israel but in many, many countries around the world.”

– Israeli leader faces growing problems at home

Mr Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary was his second opportunity to travel abroad following the issuance of the warrant — the first was when he met with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC in February.

It was also a chance to project an image of statesmanship while he faces mounting discontent at home.

Mr Netanyahu has faced mass protests by Israelis who fear his decision to resume the war in Gaza endangers the lives of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

He has also sparked anger by trying to fire or side-line top officials in what critics view as a power grab and an attack on state institutions.

Along with resuming its offensive in Gaza last month, Israel halted all imports of food, fuel and humanitarian aid to the territory’s two million Palestinians to pressure Hamas to release more hostages and accept proposed changes to the truce agreement.

The ICC has criticised Hungary’s decision to defy its warrant for Mr Netanyahu.

The court’s spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah, earlier said that it’s not for parties to the ICC “to unilaterally determine the soundness of the Court’s legal decisions”.

On Thursday, he said that the court “recalls that Hungary remains under a duty to cooperate with the ICC”.

It was only the second foreign trip Mr Netanyahu has made since the International Criminal Court issued the warrant against him in November.

Netanyahu in Budapest despite arrest warrant as Hungary says it will quit ICC

If you're just catching up - here's the story in 200 words

Donald Trump has announced sweeping global tariffs that threaten to ignite an unprecedented trade war.

The US president held up a chart in the White House Rose Garden outlining what he said were the "reciprocal" tariffs each country would face.

A tariff is effectively a tax on imported goods - the US has been on the wrong end of these for decades and Trump's hope is that his policy will encourage companies to manufacture inside the US and will "make America wealthy again".

But the scale of Trump's actions threatens to drive up prices in the US and cause chaos in the global economy.

His list included 10% tariffs on goods entering the US from the UK in response to the UK's 20% VAT. As 10% is Trump's baseline tariffs rate, the UK is seen to have come out of this better than most.

Trump confirmed the European Union will face a 20% reciprocal tariff on all other imports. China's rate is set at 34%.

His first tariff announcement was a 25% duty on all car imports from midnight - 5am today.

"This is Liberation Day," he told a cheering audience of supporters.

Here's data and economics editor Ed Conway explaining the story in a minute...

Donald Trump has revealed his package of tariffs - including a 10% levy on the UK. The British government is relieved it's not worse but the FTSE 100 has dropped on opening. Follow below for the latest, and listen to Trump 100 analysis as you scroll.

Trump tariffs latest: World reacts to Trump 'madness' - as island home only to seals and penguins targeted

MUMBAI -- Ongoing bilateral trade talks between India and the U.S. have become crucial to the South Asian nation after it was slapped with a 26% reciprocal tariff on Wednesday.

While India has escaped the kinds of eye-watering rates set to be applied to regional competitors such as Vietnam and Bangladesh, the tariffs, effective in full from next Wednesday, make a bilateral agreement crucial for New Delhi as it looks to cushion the impact on exports to the U.S. worth about $80 billion, economists said.

MUMBAI -- Ongoing bilateral trade talks between India and the U.S. have become crucial to the South Asian nation after it was slapped with a 26% recip

India digests 'unpalatable' U.S. tariffs as it eyes key trade deal

A woman sits along the bank of the Yarra River in view of the Central Business District (CBD), in Melbourne, Australia, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Agencies]

Australia reacted swiftly to tariff moves by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying the measures "have no basis in logic" and "not the act of a friend," according to local media reports.

Australia's central bank also warned that US trade policies posed significant economic risks, hitting markets and raising costs for businesses.

Australia faced a baseline 10 percent tariff on imports imposed by the Trump administration as part of sweeping US trade moves that included higher duties on some of its largest trading partners.

With the country ruling out reciprocal moves against the United States, Albanese reinforced calls for Australians to buy domestic products following the tariffs, the Australian Associated Press cited him as saying.

"We will promote buying Australian is one way that we can respond. We can be proud of our products," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"We can't control what the US administration determines, but we can engage with them. This is a decision that they have made. It's one which we think importantly, is not in the interests of the United States," he said.

"We will respond, and I want Australians to respond this way as well, in a careful, calibrated and mature way".

Australia's trade with the US makes up about 5 percent of its exports. A free trade agreement signed between the two countries means Australian goods can currently enter the US duty-free and US products can enjoy the same treatment.

Albanese pointed out that Australia would not compromise on its biosecurity arrangements or pharmaceutical deals in exchange for reduced tariffs.

"We are using every asset at our disposal: ministers, people in departments, our embassy in Washington DC, our business community links and our other links as well to advance Australia's national interests," he said.

The Reserve Bank of Australia, in its semi-annual financial stability review, also cautioned that the uncertainties with US trade policies and the reprisals they may trigger could impact businesses and household spending.

"Vulnerabilities in key international financial markets could be crystalized and lead to disorderly price adjustments," the central bank said.

"A sharp repricing of risk, from the current low levels, could abruptly increase borrowing costs for corporations and exacerbate financial challenges," it added, noting that the non-bank lending sector could be more at risk.

Agencies contributed to the story.

Australia criticizes Trump tariff move, looks to domestic priorities

An aerial drone photo shows vehicles to be exported at Yantai Port in East China's Shandong province, Jan 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Washington's latest tariff policy is "destructive for the United States and disruptive for the world," said Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned professor of economics and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

He made the remarks as US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on Wednesday, imposing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" and higher rates on certain trading partners, including China.

The order stipulates that all imports would be subject to additional 10 percent tariffs, except as otherwise provided, effective on April 5.

In an interview with China Daily, Sachs said "Protectionism will fail and increasingly isolate the US in the world economy and politics. There are few countries that will accept Trump's approach, even in Europe."

According to him, as the US embraces protectionism, the world needs to be very open with each other. For instance, if Europe is exporting less to the US, it can export more to China and China can export more to Europe. There is an opportunity for trade to expand between countries, ultimately making the US the loser of protectionism.

Sachs added that the additional tariffs will surely lower the US' standard of living, partly through higher prices and stagnant incomes.

"Many American politicians view China as a threat. But China is no threat. It's just a very successful country. We don't have to be afraid. We should be celebrating China's success because China's success is good for the US too," he said.

Washington's latest tariff policy is "destructive for the United States and disruptive for the world," said Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned professor of economics and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

US tariff policy 'destructive' for itself and the world, says US scholar

Canada, China and the EU are expected to hit back. Meanwhile, other Asian nations and the UK seek deals.

US President Donald Trump has unveiled his long-awaited “reciprocal” tariff plan, in a move that sent financial markets reeling amid growing fears of a global trade war.

On Wednesday, Trump announced a 10 percent “minimum baseline tariff” on nearly all imports into the United States. Higher duties on targeted countries will be phased in shortly afterwards.

He claimed the new import taxes were designed to reduce trade deficits and bring foreign manufacturing back to US shores. He also said they would pave the way for tax future cuts.

As Trump took aim at a global trading system he said “ripped off” the US, his tariffs prompted an immediate backlash, with some of America’s largest trading partners promising countermeasures.

What was announced?

Invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, Trump announced a 10 percent tariff on all countries, scheduled to take effect on April 5.

Then, he revealed there would be “individualised” tariffs for countries that have large trade surpluses with the US or that impose higher duties on American imports. Those tariffs would come into effect four days later, on April 9.

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Trump explained that his team calculated the “individualised” tariffs by taking half of what he claimed those countries charged the US for its exports.

As such, the European Union is headed for 20 percent tariffs, while the United Kingdom has been slapped with a 10 percent levy.

China, meanwhile, had been assigned 34 percent – on top of the 20 percent tariffs that Trump had already imposed on Chinese imports since coming into office on January 20. Vietnam will be tariffed at 46 percent, and Thailand 36 percent.

Mexico and Canada, the US’s two largest trading partners and its immediate neighbours, were missing from the list but they both already face 25 percent tariffs for all exports to the US that are not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade pact.

Reciprocal tariffs will not apply to some goods such as copper, semiconductors, energy, and “certain minerals that are not available in the United States”, according to a White House fact sheet.

Reciprocal tariffs may also be subject to change. According to the White House document, tariffs may be negotiated with trading partners who “take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements”.

What did Trump say?

“For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump told an audience of manufacturing workers, cabinet members and journalists.

“Foreign leaders have stolen our jobs. Foreign cheaters have ransacked our factories. And foreign scavengers have torn apart our once-beautiful American dream.”

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But he proclaimed that Wednesday would mark a turning point in US history, marking an end to the “vicious attacks” he said the country had weathered.

“April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed,” Trump said.

“We will charge them approximately half of what they are – and have – been charging us. So, the tariffs will be not a full reciprocal,” Trump said.

“I could have done that, I guess, but it would’ve been tough for a lot of countries. We didn’t want to do that,” he added.

What have target countries said in response?

Within minutes of Trump’s announcement, world leaders began denouncing the tariffs as harmful.

China’s Ministry of Commerce promised “countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests” in response to US “bullying,” it said in a statement. US tariffs on China are now effectively at 54 percent.

While Beijing stopped short of saying it would impose retaliatory countermeasures, the statement read “the United States has drawn the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ based on subjective and unilateral assessments, which is inconsistent with international trade rules”.

It urged the Trump administration to cancel the tariffs and “properly resolve differences with its trading partners through equal dialogue”.

For once, Beijing and Taipei appeared to be on the same page.

Taiwan labelled the tariffs “highly unreasonable”. Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee said Taipei “deeply regretted” Trump’s announcement of a 32 percent tariff on its exports.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the tariffs were “not the act of a friend” and “totally unwarranted”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, responding to a new 20 percent tariff on the EU, called the measure a “major blow to the world economy”.

“The consequences will be dire for millions of people around the globe,” she said, adding groceries, transport and medicine will cost more.

Even Canada, which was exempt from the latest tariffs, chimed in.

“During this crisis, we must act with purpose”, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on social media. “My government will fight US tariffs,” he said.

Which countries will hit back with their own measures?

As reciprocal tariffs won’t kick in until April 9, countries have six days to try to cut a deal with the Trump team. But some may respond with retaliatory tariffs.

Canada is one of several US trading partners which has pledged to respond to tariffs with retaliatory measures.

Meanwhile, the European Union is “ready for a trade war” with the US and could “attack online services”, French government spokesperson Sophie Primas said.

She said the EU was preparing a two-stage rebuttal, with “an initial response”, to be put in place around mid-April, concerning aluminium and steel.

Then the EU also will target “all products and services”, with the measures probably ready at the end of April, Primas said, adding this was still being discussed.

“China is likely going to release some type of retaliation …,” Nick Marro, a principal economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit told Al Jazeera.

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Which countries will likely prefer diplomacy?

Mexico, meanwhile, has demurred. On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would avoid pursuing “tit-for-tat” tariffs.

Similarly, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out immediate retaliation, promising on Thursday to keep a “cool head … in the coming days”.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the House of Commons on Thursday that Westminster is in talks with Washington to secure a deal aimed at avoiding or reducing UK tariffs.

In Asia too, few countries would be willing to take on Trump and risk further retaliation, Marro said.

Aside from China, “a lot of other Asian markets aren’t really in a position to retaliate,” owing to the “importance of the US as a source of final demand,” he said.

Dario Perkins, a managing director at TS Lombard – a London-based financial research firm – broadly agreed and said most countries will favour “other policy levers” over retaliatory tariffs.

“I think that central banks will ease monetary policy [by lowering interest rates to try and boost growth],” Perkins told Al Jazeera.

Still, he said that “global trade will be a lot weaker and international supply chains will be shortened. The multilateral era is dying.”

How have markets responded?

From the US to Asia, markets tumbled as investors braced for sharpest turn towards protectionism by the world’s largest economy since the 1930s.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.6 percent on Wednesday, auguring near-term losses for US companies.

Germany’s DAX index fell by 1.7 percent on Thursday, while the CAC 40 in Paris shed 1.8 percent. Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 1.2 percent.

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In Asian trading, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index dipped by 4 percent briefly on Thursday, with automakers and banks taking big hits.

As global stocks fell, investors rushed to buy gold – a traditional safe-haven asset during periods of market volatility.

The precious metal hit a record high of $3,167.84 per ounce (28.3g) on Thursday, before paring gains somewhat.

Market players are worried about the dismantling of international supply chains, and the knock-on effects of inflation and even recession, not least in the US.

Goldman Sachs recently raised its estimate for the probability of a US recession during the next 12 months to 35 percent, up from 20 percent previously.

UBS bank circulated a note on Thursday, saying “it’s plausible US real GDP [in 2025] could be compromised by 1.5-2 percent and inflation could rise to close to 5 percent if these tariffs are not reversed soon”.

Canada, China and the EU are expected to hit back, as other Asian nations and the UK seek deals.

Trump’s tariffs: Which countries will hit back – and which likely won’t?

Musk to step back as partner of Trump's administration

Technology Technology Musk to step back as partner of Trump's administration

He intends to wrap up his work in May

Follow on Published On: Thu, 03 Apr 2025 01:03:47 PKT

(Web Desk) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s time working in the federal government may come to an end soon.

Musk, who has been involved in the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said in a Fox News interview he intends to wrap up his work in May.

Musk was brought in as a “special government employee” to help oversee the work of DOGE — a commission created by President Donald Trump to slash federal spending and cut government jobs.

The operations of DOGE were given a 130-day timeframe, according to Axios. In his interview with Fox, Musk said that his work would at DOGE could be completed within the time frame and that the commission would be able to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion by then.

“I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion within that time frame,” he said.

As of April 1, the DOGE website claims it has saved $140 billion, though the website has posted information that was misleading and incorrect in the past, according to PBS.

President Donald Trump, an ally of Musk’s also suggested that Musk’s time in the federal government may be coming to a close.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump suggested that Musk would leave the White House at some point.

“He’s got a big company to run..... At some point he’s going to be going back,” Trump said. “He wants to. I’d keep him as long as I could keep him.”

Trump is reportedly also telling his inner circle, along with members of his cabinet, that Musk will be stepping back from his current role as a partner of his administration, according to a report from Politico.

During his time in Washington, Musk has been involved in reshaping the government, from crippling the United States Agency for International Development to terminating hundreds of commercial leases and contracts.

the DOGE website claims it has saved $140 billion

Musk to step back as partner of Trump's administration

Returning to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s call with 2GB’s Ben Fordham, the Liberal leader said that “the president of the Chinese Communist Party is praising Anthony Albanese, as their preferred candidate for the next election.”

He said Albanese himself had pointed out we were living in the most precarious period since 1945 and the “weakness that the prime minister inherently has and displays each day” wouldn’t be in Australia’s best interests this decade and in the decades to come.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has said that Anthony Albanese is the “preferred candidate” for the Chinese Communist Party. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Asked to comment about Albanese saying he’d have more to reveal soon on Australia’s stance regarding the Chinese lease on the Port of Darwin, Dutton said:

“We should … advance our national interest and our national cause, and we should do it respectfully to our partners, and China is an incredibly important trading partner, but our national security comes first, and our ability to protect and defend our country comes through a position strength, not weakness, when we’re not going to see peace prevail in a very uncertain time and we’re not going to see the trading relationship grow and our position on the world stage enhance.”

Fordham reminded Dutton that the Coalition had made the port lease deal when in government.

“We’ve got decisions to make that are in our country’s best interests, and the port of Darwin was a decision that was made at the time,” Dutton said. We have to make sure that we’ve got the best policies going forward. And in relation to defence, the prime minister has worked $80 billion out of defence and has cannibalised Army and Navy at the moment, as well as Air Force, to be honest, and I don’t think the prime minister has a leg to stand on when it comes to defence policy or how to make the decisions to protect our country.”

Read all the headlines from day seven of the 2025 federal election campaign on Thursday, April 3.

Federal election 2025 LIVE updates: Trump confirms 10 per cent tariffs on all Australian goods in ‘Liberation Day’ speech as PM labels them ‘unwarranted’

Sen. Cory Booker, his voice still booming after more than a day spent on the Senate floor railing against the Trump administration, surpassed Strom Thurmond for the longest Senate speech on record Tuesday night, in an act of astonishing stamina that he framed as a call to action.

Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey and a one-time presidential candidate, began his speech at 7 p.m. Monday, vowing to speak as long as he was "physically able.” In a show of physical and oratorical endurance, he lasted past sunset Tuesday, assailing President Donald Trump’s cuts to government agencies and crackdown on immigration.

He ended his speech at 8:05 p.m., 46 minutes after eclipsing Thurmond’s 24-hour, 18-minute filibuster of a civil rights bill in 1957. He finished by quoting former Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights hero. Booker said of Lewis: "He said for us to go out and cause some good trouble, necessary trouble, to redeem the soul of our nation. I want you to redeem the dream. Let’s be bold in America.”

Cheers broke out in the chamber when the senator passed Strom Thurmond's record for longest speech.

Cory Booker condemns Trump’s policies in longest senate speech on record

Nintendo announces Switch 2 release date - and a new Mario Kart game

2 hours ago Share Save Tom Gerken & Tom Richardson Technology reporter & BBC Newsbeat Share Save

Nintendo

Nintendo has revealed the Switch 2, the long awaited successor to one of the best-selling consoles in history, will be released on June 5. Fans have been impatiently waiting to find out more since January, when the Japanese gaming giant ended months of speculation by confirming basic information about the new device. In a Nintendo Direct online presentation, watched by more than a million people, it gave further details of the hardware, as well as confirming it would be accompanied by Mario Kart World, a new edition of Nintendo's most famous game. It also announced a series of other new titles for the console, including Elden Ring and Street Fighter 6. The company said the new device would have better graphics and audio than its predecessor, and a chat button allowing players to speak to each other while playing. The price will vary in different markets but in the UK it will retail at £395, or £429 with Mario Kart.

Mario Kart, Donkey Kong and Kirby return

As well as huge interest in the device itself, fans have been keen to find out what games they will be able to play on it. Most eye-catching was Mario Kart World - in which the franchise appears to have been given a significant refresh. Water graphics, character tweaks, big sprawling race tracks seen from a distance with varying weather and climates - Nintendo is firmly showing fans this console has more under the hood than its predecessor. The firm also showcased the platforming adventure Donkey Kong: Bananza and Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to a fan favourite game released back in 2005 - both coming later this year. Nintendo also confirmed that "compatible" Switch games will work on the Switch 2. Others will get Switch 2 editions, meaning they will have updated graphics and gameplay. The company did not say how much the upgrades will cost.

The Duskbloods and other games announced

The games made by third party developers - such as Elden Ring - are notable too because some are the kind of high-profile games that typically have not come to Nintendo consoles in recent years. They include: Cyberpunk 2077

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

Hitman World of Assassination

Hades 2

Hollow Knight: Silksong Elden Ring developer FromSoftware also revealed a new multiplayer game - The Duskbloods - as a Switch 2 exclusive coming in 2026.

Mouse, camera and chat function

The console itself has a bigger screen than its predecessor at 7.9 inches, with a better display - 1080p compared to the Switch's 720p, with HDR support and showing up to 120fps. Marginal changes - such as larger buttons and control sticks - will get attention. But more interesting is that both controls can be used as a mouse, as with a PC, in supported games. Nintendo argues its 3D audio tech will create a surround sound experience, but this is unlikely to be the feature that sways people to picking up the device. 256GB of internal storage is a big upgrade, as Nintendo has historically been stingy on this front. The C button on the switch controller is the new bit of hardware for the Switch 2. It appears to help control a voice chat feature which is built into the system. Players pop up at the bottom of the screen, appearing almost like Zoom or Teams - complete with a quite low frame rate screen share - and Nintendo claims its tech will isolate your voice regardless of background noise.

A tough act to follow

More than a million people watched online as details of the long awaited successor to the hit console were announced.

Nintendo Switch 2: Release date, price and new games announced

In this image provided by Senate Television, Sen, Cory Booker, D-N.J. speaks on the Senate floor, Tuesday morning, April 1, 2025. Photo: Senate Television via AP

In this image provided by Senate Television, Sen, Cory Booker, D-N.J. speaks on the Senate floor, Tuesday morning, April 1, 2025. Photo: Senate Television via AP

It wasn't until 25 hours and 5 minutes later that the 55-year-old senator, a former football tight end, finished speaking and limped off the floor. It set the record for the longest continuous Senate floor speech in the chamber's history.

US Senator Booker Sets Record For 25-Hour Speech, Criticises Trump & His Administration

The Democrats have been under intense pressure to find an effective way to challenge US President Donald Trump without control of either chamber of Congress or a de facto opposition leader .

They may have just found one. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker took the Senate floor on Monday evening in Washington to give a speech lambasting Trump's actions. He didn't stop talking - aside for the occasional question from a fellow Democrat - until Tuesday night, 25 hours later.

So, how common are these types of speeches in the US Congress, and what's the point?

Filibusters throughout history

Booker's speech set a new record for the longest continuous speech in the Senate, surpassing Senator Strom Thurmond's 24-hour speech in 1957 to try to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

This was during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during the second world war. The army was the great desegregation force in the 1940s, and Eisenhower, as president in the 1950s, was strongly in favour of civil rights.

In 1957, Congress was going to pass a civil rights bill that would make it harder for officials in southern states, in particular, to prevent Black people from voting. So Thurmond, the South Carolina senator and fierce proponent of segregation, launched what was (until today) the longest speech in Senate history to oppose it.

Thurmond's speech was a filibuster, an extended speech in the Senate to attempt to delay or block a vote on a bill or confirmation. Thurmond, however, was unable to stop enactment of the bill.

Senators engage in filibusters when they know they're going to lose, especially when it's a piece of legislation they really dislike or disagree with. Because they can't stop the passage of the bill, they use the filibuster to call attention to their opposition to it. The intention is to rally the troops and say, "I'm standing with you, even if this vote goes the other way".

In 2016, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who represents the state of Connecticut where the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School took place, launched a nearly 15-hour filibuster to force the Republican Senate leadership to allow votes on two gun control measures.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz also spoke all night - 21 hours in total - against Obamacare in 2013. It wasn't all focused on health policy; he filled the time by reading the children's book, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss .

What Booker was trying to achieve

Booker's speech was not technically a filibuster - he wasn't holding the floor to talk against a specific bill, as Thurmond was. He was giving time to his Democratic colleagues to just control the shape of the general debate about Trump.

Senators use speeches like this when they're losing on a issue, and Booker feels the Democrats are currently losing to Trump. They have been unable to stop any of his executive actions, so they feel they need to cut through in some way to reach the American people.

Trump has been "flooding the zone" from the moment he took office in January with hundreds of policies and executive actions - and he has been extremely successful at it. These actions cut across so many areas, it's been very hard for the Democrats, on any given day, to pick out the top things to fight against.

Because they don't have control of the House or Senate, and there is no opposition leader, there is no single, principal Democrat who can stand up day by day and say, "This is what happened, this was what the threat to the country is, this why we're opposing it and this is the way we're going to attack it".

Trump is controlling the narrative and the media environment. And the Democratic leadership has been unable to counter it, even though, at the grassroots level, Democrats and many others who voted for Trump are really angry.

As Booker put it during his speech:

Moments like this require us to be more creative or more imaginative, or just more persistent and dogged and determined.

There comes a certain point in a human drama that transcends partisanship when you're looking at someone speaking from the heart, speaking their convictions and you can come to respect them.

Booker ran for the presidency in 2020 and ultimately yielded to Joe Biden, and I expect we'll hear much more from him in 2028 when the next presidential election occurs. He is most likely going to run again.

/Courtesy of The Conversation. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).

The Democrats have been under intense pressure to find an effective way to challenge US President Donald Trump without control of either chamber of

Senator Booker Speaks 25 Hours in Congress: His Goal?

A Democratic US lawmaker shattered a record for the longest speech in Senate history Tuesday, staying on his feet for more than 25 hours to deliver a fiery protest against President Donald Trump's "unconstitutional" actions.

Senator Cory Booker's display of endurance — to hold the floor he had to remain standing and could not even go to the bathroom — recalled the famous scene in Frank Capra's 1939 film classic "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

The longest Senate speech on record before Tuesday was delivered by South Carolina's Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Booker, only the fourth Black senator to be popularly elected to the body, blew past that deadline, his voice still strong but emotional as he topped out at 25 hours and five minutes.

"Strom Thurman's record always... really irked me," he later told broadcaster MSNBC.

"That the longest speech on our great Senate floor was someone who was trying to stop people like me from being in the Senate."

The public galleries of the Senate chamber gradually filled as the moment he broke the record approached, with more Democratic lawmakers joining the session — although Republicans largely stayed away.

"This is a moral moment. It's not left or right. It's right or wrong," Booker said as he wrapped up.

He also quoted his mentor John Lewis, a 1960s civil rights movement leader, who urged campaigners to get into "good trouble," before finally pronouncing "Madam President, I yield the floor."

The 55-year-old New Jersey native had found a moment for some humor as he passed the record, joking: "I want to go a little bit past this and then I'm going to deal with some of the biological urgencies I'm feeling."

US senator smashes record with 25-hour anti-Trump speech

American actor Val Kilmer died from pneumonia on Tuesday night at the age of 65, surrounded by his family and friends, his daughter Mercedes announced.

Kilmer was born in 1959 and grew up in Los Angeles. At 17 years old, he became the youngest actor at the time ever accepted to Juilliard, a prestigious performance arts school in New York.

Kilmer first rose to fame in the 1980s, with roles in comedy films like the 1984 spy parody “Top Secret!” and the 1985 “Real Genius.”

He earned his big break by playing Iceman, Tom Cruise’s rival in the 1986 classic “Top Gun”, a role he reprised 36 years later in the sequel “Top Gun Maverick.”

His other iconic roles included Batman in the film “Batman Forever” alongside Nicole Kidman, and Jim Morrison in a biopic based on the rock band The Doors.

Kilmer’s career reached its peak in the 1990s, a period during which he emerged as a charismatic leading man starring alongside Kurt Russell and Bill Paxton in 1993’s “Tombstone,” as Elvis’ ghost in “True Romance” and as a bank-robbing demolition expert in Michael Mann’s 1995 film “Heat” with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

“While working with Val on ‘Heat’ I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character. After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news”, Mann reacted in a statement.

After this successful era, Kilmer experienced dramatic highs and lows throughout his life and career. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and underwent two tracheotomies, but he later recovered.

Kilmer also had a reputation for being difficult to work with and has admitted to his sometimes-poor behaviour, but said he regretted nothing.

“I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some. I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed,” he says toward the end of “Val,” the 2021 documentary on his career. “And I am blessed.”

In addition to his career in cinema, Kilmer has released two poetry collections and was also a visual artist, combining photography, collage and painting among other forms.

He is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack.

The actor, known for playing Iceman in "Top Gun", died from pneumonia, surrounded by his family and friends.

"Top Gun" and "Batman Forever" actor Val Kilmer dies at 65

Three big unknowns ahead of Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs

34 minutes ago Share Save Natalie Sherman BBC News Share Save

Getty Images

Donald Trump says tariffs are coming. That message from the US president has been consistent. But what tariffs and when? Import taxes have come so thick and fast since he took office that it can be hard to keep track. Trump has already raised duties on Chinese imports, steel, aluminium and some goods from Canada and Mexico. Higher levies on cars are due to go into effect this week. We're now waiting for Trump to unveil the details of his plan for a wider set of tariffs, which his team has spent the last few weeks developing. The White House is calling it "Liberation Day". So what might we learn on Wednesday?

How big are the tariffs?

The White House has not said how high the tariffs could go, although various possible rates have been floated by analysts. On the campaign trail last year, Trump backed a 10% across-the-board tariff on all imports coming into the US, sometimes suggesting that could be 20% - even 60% on imports from China. Once in office, he introduced the idea of "reciprocal" tariffs, suggesting the rates could vary country by country. "Very simply, it's if they charge us, we charge them," he said in February, shortly before he ordered officials to develop such a plan. The White House almost immediately complicated the picture, noting that their recommendations would reflect not just tariffs but also other policies they believe are unfair to American businesses, like Value Added Tax (VAT). It has a led to a scramble, as businesses and political leaders try to get a sense of how big a new tax their products might be facing; and how whatever is announced on Wednesday will interact with other duties, such as those on steel and aluminium, already put into effect by Trump. Officials in Europe, for example, are preparing for a double-digit tariff on their exports. Trump earlier this year said he planned to hit goods from the bloc with a 25% import tax.

Watch: What is a tariff? The BBC's Adam Fleming explains

Which countries could be affected?

The Trump administration has not confirmed which countries will be hit, although it has trailed Wednesday's announcement as a sweeping one. On Sunday, the president said the new tariffs could apply to "all countries", suggesting a possible return to the across-the-board tariff he backed in the campaign. It dashed hopes in some countries, such as the UK, that thought they might float under the radar, though many are still hoping eventually to work out some sort of deal. But it is still unclear to what extent the tariffs will be universally applied or more targeted. Last month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said efforts were focused on the "Dirty 15" - the 15% of countries that account for the bulk of trade with the US and impose tariffs or other rules that put American firms at a disadvantage. The Office of the US Trade Representative, as it prepared to craft recommendations, identified the countries in which it was "particularly interested". They were Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UK and Vietnam. Trump himself has reserved some of his harshest criticism for historic allies and major trade partners, such as Canada and the EU. "Friend has been, oftentimes, much worse than foe," he declared last week.

What impact will the tariffs have?

The president is expected to unveil details of his plans for a wider set of import taxes. But what tariffs and when?

Trump tariffs: Three big unknowns ahead of president's 'Liberation Day' announcement

The Yomiuri Shimbun

An aerial view of Saijo, Ehime Prefecture, is seen from a Yomiuri Shimbun helicopter on Sunday. The possible areas of flooding in the city increased in the latest damage forecast in the event of a Nankai Trough mega quake.

The government’s latest forecast of damage caused by a possible Nankai Trough mega earthquake indicates that quicker evacuations will be the key to minimizing casualties, as the predicted death toll decreased only slightly compared with the figure in the previous forecast made about 10 years ago.

Released Monday, the forecast predicts that the death toll will rise in some municipalities because areas with the risk of flooding due to tsunami increased from the previous forecast, even though some progress has been made on implementing prevention measures.

With the country’s population increasingly graying, an important task is building systems and fostering awareness among the public to evacuate as quickly as possible in the event of tsunami.

Decrease of only 8%

At a press conference on Monday, Nobuo Fukuwa, a professor emeritus of Nagoya University who is a member of the group working on the forecast, emphatically said, “Unless damages are reduced, there are concerns about the nation’s future. We want [the government] to take countermeasures more seriously.”

The forecast reflected levels of progress in countermeasures for earthquakes and tsunami, data of which was looked at after the previous forecast was compiled for the first time from 2012 to 2013.

The latest forecast includes new factors such as the rates of quake-proof capabilities of houses across the nation, the construction of coastal dikes, and buildings and towers to which people evacuate in the event of tsunami. In 2021, there were a total of 12,471 structures to escape from tsunami. The number was not taken into consideration in the previous forecast.

Despite the changes for better, the predicted death toll in the latest forecast is up to 298,000, only an 8% decrease from 323,000 in the previous forecast.

When looking at the cause of death, the predicted death toll from collapsed buildings decreased 11% to 73,000 and the death toll from tsunami fell 7% to 215,000 in the latest forecast.

The decrease in the death toll due to tsunami was small because the total acreage of possible flooded areas, in which water depths will be at least 30 centimeters, expanded about 30% from the previous forecast.

“As a result of greater precision of geographical data, places that were newly found to have the risk of being flooded by tsunami increased,” a Cabinet Office official said.

The total acreage of possible flooded areas in Ehime Prefecture is predicted to be 8,310 hectares, which expanded 2.3-fold from the previous forecast, and the predicted death toll increased by 12,000 to 24,000.

A chief of the Ehime prefectural government’s disaster and crisis management division openly expressed a sense of urgency saying, “In the past 10 years, we have made efforts with concerned municipal governments such as designating buildings that are usable for evacuation, but I’m surprised to learn about the large-scale expansion [of the possible damage areas]. The prefectural government will likely have to review its own prediction.”

Fostering awareness

The latest forecast indicates death tolls from tsunami in two scenarios with different rates of people who will evacuate immediately. In one, it is assumed that 20% of people will evacuate quickly, and in the other, 70% are assumed to do so.

The predictions are based on actual records of the early evacuation rates in tsunami disasters in the past. The predicted death toll becomes the highest if the rate is 20%, halves if the rate is 70% and falls by 70% if the rate is 100%.

When the central government compiled a basic disaster prevention promotion plan in 2014 based on the previous forecast, it set a goal to reduce the potential death toll by 80% in the coming 10 years.

However, a government official in charge of the issue said, “Raising the percentage of people who will quickly evacuate is essential to achieve the goal.”

In fiscal 2023, the Cabinet Office conducted an internet survey on 2,000 people in 139 municipalities in Tokyo and 13 prefectures that are designated as areas needing special attention regarding measures for evacuation in the event of tsunami caused by a Nankai Trough mega earthquake.

The result showed only 53% of the respondents replied that they would quickly evacuate.

In summer last year, the first-ever information for alerts about a possible mega quake was issued and people’s sense of crisis rose at the time. However, it is still an important task to devise ways to improve and maintain the level of awareness regarding quick evacuation.

Takayoshi Iwata, a specially appointed professor at Shizuoka University who is an expert on studies of disaster prevention, said, “While the aging of the population and population decline are progressing, the number of people who have difficulty evacuating quickly and thus are vulnerable to disasters will surely increase. All people in local communities need to be united to consider measures to be taken.”

Hard-to-see effects

Meanwhile, some officials pointed out that, in the latest forecast, it is difficult to know the effects of countermeasures that have already been taken because predictions were made based on the maximum levels of damage deemed to be scientifically possible to occur.

In areas with a risk of being hit by tsunami caused by a Nankai Trough mega quake, coastal dikes along seashores have been built or reinforced based on the lessons learned from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Predictions in the latest forecast are based on a precondition that the coastal dikes will be destroyed if tsunami pass over them. Such predictions were made because the same phenomenon occurred in the 2011 disaster.

In Hamamatsu, which is predicted to be hit by tsunami up to 17 meters high, the municipal government in 2020 built a huge coastal tide wall that is 17.5 kilometers long and 13 to 15 meters high.

But the latest forecast predicts that up to 3,560 hectares of the city, mainly in the city center, could be flooded.

“The tide wall is designed not to be destroyed even if tsunami waves pass over it. Therefore, it should have the effect of reducing the level of damage,” said a city government official in charge of the issue. “We want to closely watch a damage forecast that the [Shizuoka] prefectural government will assess from now.”

Prof. Takeshi Sagiya of Nagoya University, an expert on studies of crustal movements, said, “The assumption of the maximum damages may become a message that local governments’ efforts are useless. The central government should also present improvements in disaster prevention effects of such countermeasures.”

Government’s Latest Damage Forecast for Nankai Trough Mega Quake Shows Quicker Evacuation Is Key To Minimize Casualties

Aid is pouring into Myanmar following the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that devastated the country on Friday, resulting in at least 1,700 deaths and thousands more injured.

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However, it is widely believed the final toll will be much higher because of poor communications networks and the fragmentation of the country that has resulted from years of civil war. Many roads and bridges have also collapsed, making it hard for equipment and rescuers to arrive. Many people have reportedly had to dig through the rubble with their hands.

A projection by the United States Geological Survey said there was a 24 per cent chance that total fatalities would be between 1,000 and 10,000, a 35 per cent possibility of 10,000 to 100,000 fatalities, and a 32 per cent chance that the death toll would exceed 100,000.

Images sent by China’s Gaofen satellites show that half of the buildings in Mandalay – Myanmar’s second-largest city and home to about 1.5 million people – have either completely collapsed or been severely damaged. Another 30 per cent had damage that was not as severe. Only 18 per cent of the buildings appeared to be intact.

The country was ill-prepared for a quake of such magnitude, and the head of the junta government made a rare plea to the international community for help.

Members of the Chinese Red Cross international emergency response team carry out rescue efforts in Mandalay, Myanmar on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Many countries have offered help, especially Myanmar’s neighbours.

China can play critical role in persuading junta and rebel groups to stop fighting to allow for relief work following devastating earthquake.

China leads relief for quake-hit Myanmar. But will civil war stymie aid efforts?

“Iran does not want to do this, but … (it) will have no choice," he added.

“If at some point you (the US) move towards bombing by yourself or through Israel, you will force Iran to make a different decision."

Trump said on Saturday “there will be bombing" if Iran did not agree to a nuclear deal, according to NBC News, which said he also threatened to punish Tehran with what he called “secondary tariffs".

Despite the sharpening of Trump’s comments, it was not clear if he was threatening a US bombing or an operation coordinated with another country, possibly Iran’s nemesis, Israel.

“They threaten to do mischief," Khamenei said of the remarks during a speech for the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

“If it is carried out, they will receive a strong counterattack."

The message was sent to the UN Security Council in a letter by Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, which condemned what he called “warmongering provocations".

Iran “will respond swiftly and decisively to any act of aggression or attack by the United States or its proxy, the Israeli regime," the envoy added.

The message was sent to the UN Security Council in a letter by Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, which condemned what he called "warmongering provocations".

‘If You Do Something Wrong’: Iran Warns It'll Acquire Nukes If Attacked By US Or Allies

Tehran: Hours after US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs, the armed forces in Iran have reportedly readied missiles for a potential response.

According to a report with the Tehran Times, a significant number of launch-ready missiles have been located in underground facilities scattered across the country, designed to withstand airstrikes.

Trump had threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.

In his first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, he told NBC News that the US and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate.

“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in a telephone interview. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before."

“There’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago," he added.

In response, Iran sent a letter to Trump through Oman, urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the United States while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehran’s foreign minister was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Tehran: Hours after US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs, the armed forces in Iran have reportedly readied missiles for a potential response.According...

After Trump's 'Bombing' Threat Over N-Deal…Iran readies missiles for potential response

Texas : US President Donald Trump has set off a firestorm by suggesting he may seek a third term in office, despite the constitutional barriers, CBS News reported.

In a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump claimed, "There are methods which you could do it," prompting concerns about his willingness to challenge the amendment, which limits pres idents to two terms. "I'm not joking," Trump emphasised, although he added, "It is far too early to think about it." "I'm not joking," Trump said, but reiterated, "It is far too early to think about it." According to CBS News, the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, explicitly states that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice."

US President Donald Trump has set off a firestorm by suggesting he may seek a third term in office, despite the constitutional barriers, CBS News reported.

Trump to defy Constitution for third term bid

US President Donald Trump attends the 2024 Senior Club Championship award ceremony at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, US March 24, 2024. — Reuters

President Donald Trump has sparked debate over a potential third term, but legal barriers and historical precedent suggest it would be an uphill battle, AFP reported.

Trump, 78, told NBC News on Sunday that he was "not joking" about another term and alluded to “methods” that could make it feasible. However, constitutional scholars overwhelmingly disagree. Amending the law to allow a third term would require a level of political agreement that has rarely been seen in US history.

Presidential limits through history

George Washington voluntarily stepped down after two terms, setting a precedent followed by most presidents. The only exception is Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected four times but passed away early in his fourth term in 1945.

While other leaders like Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt attempted third-term bids, they did not succeed. Trump joins Grover Cleveland as the only president to serve nonconsecutive terms, having won in 2016, lost in 2020, and reclaimed the White House in 2024.

The 22nd amendment: A roadblock

Following Roosevelt’s unprecedented four terms, the 22nd Amendment was introduced in 1947 and ratified in 1951, stating that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." It also prevents anyone who has served more than two years of another president’s term from being elected more than once.

Furthermore, the 12th Amendment suggests Trump could not serve as vice president and later ascend to the presidency.

A legal loophole?

While Trump has often joked about serving beyond two terms, his latest comments were more specific. When asked about a potential scenario where JD Vance could run in 2028 and later step aside, Trump acknowledged it as a possibility but hinted at other options.

A resolution introduced by Republican Representative Andy Ogles aims to permit a third term for presidents who served nonconsecutively, but its success is highly doubtful.

Despite these roadblocks, Trump’s 2028 election odds have improved. According to offshore bookmaker BetOnline.ag, his chances have risen from 10-to-1 to 6-to-1, making him the second most likely contender after JD Vance.

President Donald Trump has sparked debate over a potential third term, but legal barriers and historical precedent suggest it would be an uphill battle, AFP reported.Trump, 78, told NBC News on...