News from April 4, 2025 at 2 AM

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a comprehensive 'reciprocal tariff' policy, imposing a 10% baseline tariff on nearly every country. The plan imposes much steeper tariff rates on many countries, including 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, 46% on Vietnam, and 32% on Taiwan. Economists and U.S. trade partners are raising questions about how the White House calculated the tariff rates it claims other countries 'charge' the U.S. Experts continue to debate the full potential effects. New U.S. tariffs on auto imports also took effect overnight, prompting Stellantis to pause production at its plants in Canada and Mexico. Trump now says he is open to negotiations, contradicting White House aides who insist the sweeping tariffs are not a bargaining tactic. European stocks closed the day 2.7% lower. CNBC's reporters covered the tariffs and their effects, live on air and online from our bureaus in Washington, London, Singapore, San Francisco, and Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Myanmar's junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, attended a regional summit in Bangkok on April 3, 2025, as the death toll from the earthquake that struck central Myanmar last Friday rose to 3,085 killed and 4,715 injured, with hundreds more missing and the toll expected to rise. His arrival in Bangkok, on the eve of the summit, was confirmed by a spokesman for the Myanmar army. Thailand, where the earthquake was felt and caused 21 deaths, proposed that the leaders issue a joint statement on the disaster. Many earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar have yet to be reached by authorities, suggesting the death toll figures may not be accurate. Since the quake, countries around the world have sent aid and rescue teams to Myanmar, but poor infrastructure and an ongoing civil war have complicated relief efforts. The junta announced a temporary ceasefire to expedite these efforts, after rejecting earlier proposals from armed ethnic rebel groups. On Tuesday night, the military opened fire at a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying relief supplies, claiming the convoy refused to stop despite signals to do so.

The Hungarian government has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), with the process set to begin on Thursday as per constitutional and international legal frameworks. This decision comes after a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received Hungary's support against the radical Palestinian movement Hamas. Netanyahu has been issued an arrest warrant by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán termed the decision 'absurd and shameful,' assuring Netanyahu of Hungary's non-compliance with the ICC's ruling. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had previously indicated Budapest's contemplation of ending cooperation with the international court, describing the ICC as a biased political instrument that has discredited the international judicial system. Hungary is the only EU country not participating in the ICC, alongside Russia, the United States, China, India, and Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump fired six officials from the National Security Council (NSC) on April 3, following an extraordinary meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, who named several individuals she believed were disloyal to the president. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz defended some of his staff during the meeting but appeared to have little power to protect their jobs. Among those fired were Intelligence Director Brian Walsh, International Organizations Director Maggie Dougherty, and Legislative Affairs Director Thomas Boodry. Waltz and Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong were not among those dismissed.

On April 3, the Pentagon's inspector-general's office announced an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the unclassified commercial messaging app Signal to coordinate the sensitive March 15 US strikes on Yemen's Houthis. The inspector-general's office, in a memorandum to Hegseth, stated it would examine whether his use of Signal complied with Defence Department guidelines and if the information should have been classified. Hegseth has insisted no classified information was disclosed, despite the chat including precise airstrike timings and targeting details. The details were revealed last week by The Atlantic magazine after its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly included in the chat. Acting Inspector-General Steven Stebbins said the review will take place in Washington DC and at US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee had requested an investigation into the messaging app's use last week.

The White House stated on Wednesday that billionaire Musk will continue in his role at the Government Efficiency Department to complete tasks of reducing government spending and streamlining federal workforce. Reports suggesting Musk's impending departure were refuted by both the White House and Musk himself, with White House Press Secretary Levy calling the reports 'garbage' and Musk labeling them 'fake news.' It was reported that President Trump informed his cabinet of Musk's resignation, but no specific timeline was given. Levy emphasized that Musk will step down only after completing his tasks. Sources indicate Musk may leave in a few weeks but could remain an informal advisor. Musk's department has sparked widespread concern, leading to a decline in Tesla's sales and stock price.

Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has denied giving up Greenland to the US during an official visit to the Arctic island. Responding to repeated threats from Donald Trump, Frederiksen offered closer collaboration on security but stated, 'You can't annex other countries.' Frederiksen stood alongside Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and his predecessor Mute Egede in a display of unity against US threats. Her three-day trip followed a controversial visit by a US delegation led by Vice-President JD Vance, which was widely criticized in both Greenland and Denmark. Vance reiterated Trump's ambition to bring Greenland under US control for security reasons, criticized Denmark for insufficient spending on security in the region, and claimed Denmark had 'not done a good job' for Greenlanders.

On the evening of April 3, a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, triggered fires in an apartment building and a private house, injuring at least 28 people. Mayor Ihor Terekhov, writing on Telegram, reported one fatality and 29 injuries in the Novobavarskyi district. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed 28 injuries, including a child, but did not mention any fatalities. He also noted one injury in a drone strike on Ruski Tyshky, a village outside Kharkiv. Over the past week, Kharkiv has faced nearly nightly Russian drone attacks, including a one-hour barrage on the evening of April 2. Since the early weeks of the February 2022 invasion, Kharkiv has been a frequent target of Russian air attacks as forces shifted focus to eastern Ukraine.

Turkish police detained 11 individuals on Thursday as part of an investigation into social media calls for an economic boycott. The probe, initiated on Tuesday, targets individuals promoting boycotts on social and traditional media. The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office stated that the calls aimed to prevent a segment of the public from engaging in economic activities, potentially violating laws against hate speech and inciting public hostility. State news agency Anadolu reported that police conducted simultaneous raids in multiple locations, detaining 11 suspects while efforts to apprehend the remaining five continued. The detentions follow a call by main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel to boycott businesses linked to President Tayyip Erdogan's government, which expanded to a one-day shopping halt on Wednesday. The government has condemned the boycott as an attempt to destabilize the economy. Turkey's economy, affected by years of high inflation and currency turmoil, has experienced slowing growth, with March inflation at 38.1%. Some business owners reported a significant drop in customers following the boycott call, while others defended it as a necessary form of protest.

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.

According to The Associated Press, the US government has prohibited its employees in China and their families from engaging in romantic relationships with Chinese nationals. Last summer, a stricter ban on any 'romantic or sexual relationships' with Chinese citizens working as guards and other support staff was implemented for US government personnel at the American embassy and five US consulates in China. In January, outgoing US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns extended the policy to ban relationships with any Chinese national days before President Donald Trump took office. The only exception is for American personnel who were already in a relationship with Chinese citizens before the policy was enacted; they can apply for an exemption, but if denied, they must either end their relationships or resign. The measure was communicated to US personnel in China verbally and electronically in January but has not been publicly announced yet.

On April 2, scientists announced the development of the world's smallest pacemaker, smaller than a grain of rice, which can be injected and controlled by light before dissolving in the body. This wireless pacemaker is seen as a major breakthrough in medicine, particularly for children and adults needing temporary pacing post-surgery. Unlike current temporary pacemakers that require surgical implantation of electrodes, the new device avoids surgery and has been successfully tested in various animals and human heart tissues. Human trials are expected in two to three years. The technology holds potential for applications in nerve regeneration, wound healing, and other areas.