Today's Headlines

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the United States, along with higher duties on some of the country's largest trading partners, escalating a trade war he initiated upon returning to the White House. Despite not imposing the new 10% global tariff rate on goods from top trading partners Canada and Mexico, Trump's previous order remains in effect, imposing up to 25% tariffs on many goods from the two countries over border control and fentanyl trafficking issues. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada will fight these tariffs with countermeasures and protect its workers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese believes the American people will bear the biggest cost for these unjustified tariffs. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowed to protect Spanish companies and workers and commit to an open world. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his desire to avoid trade barriers and find a path of trade and cooperation with the U.S. Swiss President Karin Keller-sutter emphasized the importance of the country's long-term economic interests. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin expressed regret over the decision to impose 20% tariffs on imports from the European Union. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said they will work towards an agreement with the U.S. to avoid a trade war. Manfred Weber, President of the EPP, the largest party in the European Parliament, stated that today is not liberation day but resentment day, and Trump's tariffs do not defend fair trade. Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia mentioned the measures to protect national industry and exporters.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that billionaire Elon Musk will leave his administration role in the coming months. According to NBC News, Musk's role as a Special Government Employee (SGE) will end after 130 days, reaching the annual limit of 130 workdays. Tesla CEO Musk is expected to leave the Trump administration soon, and the stock of Tesla rose after the news was released. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the report 'garbage' on Twitter, to which Musk replied, 'fake news.' Trump commented that Musk has been amazing but also needs to manage his company, and he will return at some point. Musk was the largest financial backer of Trump's 2024 campaign. In a March 10 interview with Fox Business, Musk said he might stay for another year.

US President Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland since taking office, even mentioning the possibility of using military force. In response, Greenland's newly appointed Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, stated on March 31st that Greenland will never become a part of the United States. Nielsen emphasized that Greenland is willing to develop trade and national security partnerships with the US, but on the basis of mutual respect. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, enjoys a high degree of autonomy, with defense and foreign affairs under the control of the Danish government.

On April 1, 2025, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for the presidency in 2027 after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds. The judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, who presided over the three-judge panel that handed Le Pen a five-year ban on seeking public office, is now facing death threats and has had her home address shared online, prompting police protection at both her home and workplace. Nearly 90% of Le Pen's National Rally (RN) supporters believe the court treated her harshly, while over half of the French public believe she received a fair trial. Le Pen has denied inciting a backlash against the judiciary and has condemned the threats against de Perthuis, vowing to appeal the ruling. Christophe Soulard, the head of the Court of Cassation, France's highest judicial court, warned that the threats indicate a weakening of French democracy and a 'worrying moment' for the nation.

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it conducted airstrikes on military airbases and infrastructure sites in the Syrian cities of Damascus, Hama, and Homs. The Syrian foreign ministry stated that the attack almost completely destroyed the Hama military airport, resulting in dozens of injuries among civilians and military personnel. During the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad, Israel spent years conducting airstrikes on Syria, targeting Iran-linked military installations and weapons transfers from Tehran intended for Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group deployed in Syrian territory. This arms route was severed when Assad was overthrown, but Israel has continued to strike Syrian military bases. The strikes also targeted the T4 airbase in Homs province, which Israel had hit repeatedly over the past week. Following Assad's ouster, violence along the border between Israel and Syria has increased. Israel has said it will not tolerate an Islamist militant presence in southern Syria and has sent troops into Syria's border zone. Syria's leadership has stated that it does not intend to open a front against Israel.

Hollywood actor Val Kilmer passed away on April 2, 2025, due to pneumonia at the age of 65. He starred in classic films such as Top Gun and Batman Forever. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but recovered. In 2022, he reprised his role as fighter pilot Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick. Many filmmakers, including Michael Mann, Francis Ford Coppola, Josh Brolin, David Thewlis, Will Kemp, Josh Gad, and James Woods, expressed their condolences over his death.

A volcanic eruption occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland on April 1, 2025, prompting the evacuation of the nearby town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon Spa, a popular tourist destination. The Iceland Meteorological Office reported that the eruption began around 09:45 local time, north of the small town of Grindavík, with the ground crack widening to 700 meters within an hour. The town and spa were ordered to evacuate prior to the eruption. As of 11:20 local time, the original fissure had extended southward, and a new crack had opened. Officials urged any remaining residents in Grindavík to leave. Most of the town's 4,000 residents were permanently evacuated in November 2023. The length of the magma formed under the crater series on Tuesday was about 11 km, the longest since November 11, 2023. The gas pollution from the eruption is expected to travel northeast towards the capital area, according to the IMO.

The Slovak cabinet has approved a plan to cull around a quarter of the country's brown bears following a fatal bear attack in a forest in Central Slovakia. Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that 350 out of an estimated 1,300 brown bears would be shot due to the danger to humans. A state of emergency allowing bear shootings has been extended to 55 districts. By the end of 2024, 93 bears had already been shot. Conservationists condemn the plan as a violation of international obligations. Ecologist Michal Wiezek criticized the government for covering up its failure, hoping the European Commission would intervene. Slovak police confirmed a 59-year-old man was killed by a bear near Detva.

In the first quarter of 2025, Tesla delivered nearly 337,000 electric vehicles, a 13% decline from the previous year, marking its lowest sales in three years. The stock price plummeted following the release of the poor sales figures. Facing increasing competition from Chinese firm BYD, Tesla's sales drop is also attributed to Elon Musk's controversial role in the Trump administration. The company blamed the transition to a new car model, but analysts pointed to Musk's involvement. Recent protests and boycotts worldwide, sparked by Musk's political activities, have led to vandalism of Tesla dealerships and vehicles. Trump vowed to charge vandals with domestic terrorism. Musk admitted managing his businesses with difficulty, and Tesla's shares have lost over a quarter of their value this year. New York City's comptroller plans to sue Tesla, citing over $300 million in pension fund losses due to the declining stock price.

Former Costa Rican President and 1987 Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias announced on Tuesday that the U.S. had revoked his visa, weeks after he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump on social media for behaving like 'a Roman emperor.' Arias, who served as president from 1986 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2010, won the Nobel Prize for his role in brokering peace during the Central American conflicts of the 1980s. He also promoted a free trade agreement with the U.S. and established diplomatic ties with China in 2007. Arias revealed that he received an email from the U.S. government informing him of the visa suspension without providing reasons. In February, Arias accused current President Rodrigo Chaves on social media of succumbing to U.S. pressure to counter China's influence in the region and deporting migrants from third countries. The U.S. had previously revoked visas from three Costa Rican lawmakers who opposed Chaves' decision to exclude Chinese firms from 5G development in the country. On Tuesday, another opposition lawmaker also had her U.S. visa revoked. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Costa Rica in early February and offered to help Chaves 'punish' officials collaborating with 'foreign actors threatening the country's cybersecurity.'

US prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December. Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to pursue capital punishment for the 'premeditated, cold-blooded assassination'. Thompson was shot outside a New York hotel on December 4, and Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania days later. He has pleaded not guilty to state charges and has yet to enter a plea for federal charges. The murder is deemed an act of political violence motivated by anger towards US health insurance companies. Mangione faces 11 state criminal counts, including first-degree murder, and federal charges that make him eligible for the death penalty.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commenced a four-day visit to Hungary on February 16, 2025, despite an outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip. During his visit, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had invited him shortly after the ICC issued the warrant. Amidst a domestic political storm over suspected ties with Qatar, Netanyahu has denied the false accusations against his aides. This visit marks Netanyahu's second international trip since the ICC issued arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November last year. As Israel expands its military operation in the Gaza Strip, announcing plans to seize parts of the enclave for a security zone and evacuate large numbers of Palestinians, Netanyahu's visit aims to pressure Hamas into surrendering 59 hostages still held in Gaza.