News from April 6, 2025 at 2 AM

The US began imposing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports on Saturday, with President Donald Trump urging Americans to 'hang tough' amid market turmoil. Hundreds of countries, including the UK and France, are impacted, with China announcing significant retaliatory measures. All three major US stock indexes plunged over 5% on Friday, marking the worst week for the US stock market since 2020. Thousands protested in Washington DC, New York, and other cities against Trump's policies. Trump described the market volatility as 'an economic revolution' that the US will win. His policy changes have disrupted global supply chains. The UK's FTSE 100 fell nearly 5%, and Asian, German, and French markets also declined. Elon Musk suggested a 'zero-tariff situation' between the US and Europe. The Trump administration plans to impose tariffs of up to 50% on 'worst offenders' for trade imbalances on April 9, with the EU facing a 20% levy. China, the hardest hit, retaliated with 34% tariffs on US imports and filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation.

South Korea's Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on March 24, ousting him from office. This decision initiates a 60-day countdown for a presidential election to select a new leader. In the interim, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been reinstated as acting president. Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae stated that Yoon's declaration of martial law did not meet legal requirements and that sending troops to parliament to stop its reversal was illegal. Following the ruling, the Kospi index fell 1.66%, Kosdaq dropped 0.85%, and the South Korean won strengthened by about 1%. The Democratic Party hailed the decision as a 'people's victory,' while Yoon's People's Power Party 'humbly accepted' the court's ruling. South Korea's finance minister convened an emergency meeting with Bank of Korea governor Rhee Chang-yong and other financial officials to assess the economic impact. Yoon was impeached on December 14 after declaring martial law on December 3, which was subsequently overturned by parliament.

Approximately 150 activist groups have signed up to participate in about 1,200 demonstrations across the US on April 5, protesting against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk's conservative policies. The protests, dubbed 'Hands Off!', aim to oppose Trump's sweeping changes to US foreign and domestic policies through executive orders. Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the organizing groups, stated that the demonstration sends a clear message to Trump and his supporters. The White House did not immediately respond. Events are planned in all 50 US states and several other countries, with a major rally expected on Washington's National Mall. Trump's executive orders since returning to office have sparked controversy, with supporters praising his bold moves. White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston countered protesters' claims. Various organizations, including the Service Employees International Union, Human Rights Campaign, and Greenpeace, are participating.

On the evening of April 4, a Russian missile struck a residential area in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing 18 people, including nine children, and injuring 72, among them 12 children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the US Embassy for what he deemed a 'weak' statement that failed to blame Russia for the attack. Zelensky took to social media to express his disappointment with the US response. US Ambassador Bridget Brink mentioned 'Russian attacks' during a visit to Kharkiv on April 5. Kryvyi Rih declared three days of mourning from April 7 to 9. While Russia's defense ministry claimed it conducted a 'precision strike,' the Ukrainian military accused Russia of 'war crimes.'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday to meet with US President Donald Trump. The discussions will cover US-imposed import duties, Iran's nuclear program, and the situation in the Gaza Strip. The trip, initially planned for mid-April, may be rescheduled due to Netanyahu's involvement in an upcoming corruption trial in Israel. Netanyahu believes the chances of a US-Iran nuclear deal are minimal and seeks agreement with Trump on striking Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails. Trump has expressed willingness for direct talks with Iran, which Tehran rejected, agreeing only to continue negotiations through intermediaries. Trump also threatened additional tariffs and unprecedented bombing if nuclear talks fail, to which Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded, dismissing the likelihood of US military intervention but warning against any attempts to provoke unrest in Iran.

Russell Brand has been charged with rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault involving four women between 1999 and 2005. The charges stem from an investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4's Dispatches in September 2023. Brand denied the allegations in a video posted on X, stating he will defend himself in court. The Metropolitan Police informed Brand he must appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 2. Currently believed to be in the United States, prosecutors may seek his return or extradition. Additionally, a civil case for personal injury and sexual abuse was filed against Brand at the High Court in London by an anonymous woman in February.

Australia plans to regain control of the northern Darwin Port after next month's national elections. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Darwin Port is a strategic asset that must be under Australian control. The government is in talks with potential buyers, including private pension funds. Both Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have pledged to advance this issue if elected. In 2015, the Northern Territory government signed a 99-year lease agreement with the Chinese company Landbridge Group, sparking controversy. The Australian Defense Department reviewed the lease in 2021 and found no security concerns. Financial difficulties of Landbridge Group and Chinese naval exercises near Australia have heightened Australian security concerns.

British Foreign Minister David Lammy stated late on Saturday that Israel has detained two British members of parliament and refused them entry. The detained parliamentarians, Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, were suspected of planning to 'document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred.' Yang represents the Earley and Woodley constituency, while Mohamed is the MP for Sheffield Central. Both had flown to Israel from Luton on Saturday. Lammy clarified that he has communicated to the Israeli government that this treatment of British Parliamentarians is unacceptable and has been in contact with both MPs to offer support. He further added that the UK government's focus remains on securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages, and end the conflict in Gaza.

The China-Cambodia Joint Support and Training Center at Ream Naval Base was officially inaugurated on the 5th, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in attendance and a delegation from the Chinese People's Liberation Army participating. Hun Manet reiterated that the project aims to enhance Cambodia's defense capabilities and denied any Chinese military presence. He thanked China for its support in upgrading the Ream Naval Base and expressed hope for continued technical and equipment assistance. Hun Manet emphasized the transparency and legality of the base's modernization, welcoming friendly nations' ships to dock. Established in 1954, the Ream Naval Base saw a cooperation agreement signed between China and Cambodia in 2019 to build the joint center. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Sino-Cambodian cooperation is open and transparent, not targeting any third party.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that it is expelling three Moldovan diplomats in response to Moldova's expulsion of three Russian diplomats. Moldova expelled the Russian diplomats on Monday, accusing the Russian Embassy in Chisinau of orchestrating the escape of a pro-Kremlin lawmaker, Alexander Nesterovschii, to avoid imprisonment for illegal political funding. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Moldova's envoy, Lilian Darii, to protest the expulsion and declared three Moldovan embassy employees in Russia 'persona non grata.' The ministry insisted its embassy in Moldova acted in accordance with diplomatic conventions and denied any interference in Moldova's internal affairs. The pro-European government of Moldova, a former Soviet republic, has repeatedly accused Russia of meddling in its domestic politics, a claim Moscow denies. The latest diplomatic row centers around Nesterovschii, who was convicted of illegally channeling funds to a pro-Russian party and fled to the Russian embassy last month, shortly before being sentenced in absentia to 12 years in jail.