China's military conducted joint exercises around Taiwan, focusing on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, assaults on maritime and ground targets, and blockades on key areas and sea lanes to test its troops' joint operations capabilities.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/chinese-military-says-it-is-conducting-exercises-around-taiwan-8057461China has launched joint military exercises around Taiwan, with the aim of deterring Taiwanese independence. The exercises are seen as a response to President Lai Ching-Te, who is described by China as a "parasite", and are intended to serve as a warning to Taiwan.
https://www.asiaone.com/asia/china-launches-military-drills-around-taiwan-calls-taiwan-president-parasiteIsrael's military has faced criticism after aid workers were killed and their bodies retrieved from an active combat zone, with the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) describing the practice as a "profound violation of human dignity". The Israeli military facilitated the evacuation of the bodies but did not provide clear explanations for why they were found in shallow graves beneath the sand.
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3304650/bodies-15-aid-workers-recovered-grave-gaza-un-officials-say?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any military attack on Iran would be met with force, stating "If it is carried out, they will definitely receive a strong counterattack". In response to US President Donald Trump's threat of bombing and imposing tariffs, Iran sent a formal letter to the UN Security Council condemning what it called "warmongering provocations", while also summoning the Swiss charge d'affaires to protest the threats. Iranian military officials, including General Amirali Hajizadeh, warned that the US has 10 bases in the region with 50,000 troops, and urged caution against attacking Iran.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1297103-iran-warns-it-will-have-no-other-option-but-to-go-nuclear-if-attackedPresident Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a confrontation, initially remaining silent before speaking out against him. Trump accused Zelensky of not holding any leverage in the conflict and urged him to strengthen his position by working with the US. He criticized Zelensky for risking the lives of millions of people, suggesting that America would eventually feel the consequences of this conflict.
https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/28/donald-trump-and-volodymyr-zelensky-explosive-fight/President Donald Trump has announced new import taxes as part of his tariff campaign, aiming to shift the focus of US economic policy back to tariffs. The move comes after Trump's election promise to prioritize tariffs in his economic strategy.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/what-is-trumps-tariff-campaign-meant-to-achieve-quicktakeUS President Trump's proposed tariffs aim to protect local companies and workers by increasing revenue for governments. The levies are expected to bring in over $6 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade. However, economists warn that tariff hikes can cause economic pain to affected sectors, with prices of cars potentially surging by $5,000 to $10,000 due to increased costs from foreign auto parts. The tariffs also attract retaliation, resulting in US agricultural export losses of over $27 billion. Some argue that tariffs do not lead to widespread inflation, while others claim they can increase tax collections by $200 to $300 annually per US household on average.
https://www.rawstory.com/tariffs-economic-liberation-or-straitjacket/US President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on countries with significant trade surpluses with the US, starting "Liberation Day" on Wednesday. China has the largest trade surplus of $295.4 billion, mainly due to its role as a global manufacturing hub for electronics and other goods. The EU is also targeted, with a trade deficit of $235.6 billion, while Ireland leads with a surplus of $86.7 billion, largely thanks to low corporate tax rates. Mexico and Vietnam are third and fourth, respectively, with surpluses of $171.8 billion and $123.5 billion, driven by their proximity to the US and favorable trade agreements.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/04/01/china-eu-mexico-among-top-targets-as-trump-readies-tariff-onslaught/171518Global stocks are expected to be volatile ahead of President Donald Trump's tariff rollout, with US equity-index futures dropping early Tuesday morning. Markets in Sydney and Hong Kong are poised for gains, while Tokyo shares remain uncertain after a day of intense swings on Monday.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/capital-markets/traders-brace-for-more-volatility-ahead-of-tariffs-markets-wrap