Ukrainian soldiers are seeking military aid from the US, specifically tanks, fighter jets, and air defense capabilities, to counter Russian drone attacks that have been shelling civilian buildings and killing people in cities like Bucha, Irpin, and Borodianka in the Kyiv region.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3976946-ukrainian-soldiers-asking-for-weapons-to-protect-country-not-for-us-money-trumps-spiritual-advisor.htmlThe US Commission on International Religious Freedom has identified several countries with "particularly severe" violations of religious freedoms, including Afghanistan, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, India, Iran, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam. The report specifically mentions the Supreme Court's Ayodhya ruling and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath as examples of concerns raised by the commission.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/columnists/aakar-patel-dont-just-reject-uscirfs-report-refute-allegations-on-specific-points-1870132US aranceles could reach 20%, much higher than Trump's proposed universal tariffs of 10%. The US has struggled to reduce trade deficits, with the deficit increasing last year to $918 billion, the second-highest on record. Economists say the deficit is due to unique aspects of the US economy, including a large federal budget deficit and American consumers' tendency to spend heavily. As a result, US demand for foreign goods and services far exceeds savings, leading to a trade deficit that is largely financed by borrowing from abroad, partly through selling US Treasury bonds and other assets. UCLA economist Kimberly Clausing notes that the trade deficit is a macroeconomic imbalance caused by a lack of saving and a reluctance to tax.
https://apnews.com/article/eeuu-trump-aranceles-comercio-economia-finanzas-exportaciones-importaciones-6a01d17e87c4671b4c6111e07ce1f582US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has dubbed a group of 15 countries with persistent trade imbalances with the US as the "Dirty 15", which includes China, the EU, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Canada and India. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned Europe faces an "existential moment" in terms of economic independence. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Trump about "productive negotiations" for a UK-US trade deal, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU would respond firmly but is open to compromise.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/trump-teases-new-tariffs-promises-to-be-very-kind-to-trading-partners-13876142.htmlChinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently visited Tokyo for the 11th China-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and co-chaired the Sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue with Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The economic dialogue resulted in 20 consensus points, covering trade to green development, and a commitment to hold a trilateral summit by the end of the year.
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3304376/broken-world-china-japan-korea-cooperation-asias-backbone?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionThe White House has deemed the Signal message chat leak case closed, according to Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. This decision was made outside the White House in Washington, D.C., where Leavitt addressed reporters on Monday.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/31/white-house-case-closed-signal-leak/4331743467794/Zhang Chi, a professor at the National Defense University, expressed concerns about the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) exercises, suggesting they have become too routine and may not be effectively preparing for potential threats.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331279.shtmlUS President Donald Trump has defended his administration's actions in Yemen, stating that attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation. The comments come amid controversy surrounding "Signalgate", a scandal involving the US strikes on Houthi targets. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were involved in a chat on the Signal app, where details of air strike timings and intelligence were shared. Trump has rejected calls to sack Waltz or Hegseth, branding the scandal a "witch hunt". White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the case had been closed at the White House.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/donald-trump-says-real-pain-is-yet-to-come-for-houthis-iran-8056527Australia's leaders are avoiding discussion about the country's biggest threats, including economic pain from Donald Trump's tariffs and China's growing influence in the region. The US is set to impose new tariffs on Australian goods, while China has been conducting naval task forces near Australia's shores as part of its efforts to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australians-are-clear-on-our-biggest-threats-but-our-leaders-don-t-want-to-discuss-it-20250331-p5lnuz.html