News from April 7, 2025 at 2 PM

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.

On March 23, an Israeli military attack in the southern Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of 15 aid workers. A video released by the Palestinian Red Crescent shows clearly marked ambulances with flashing emergency lights being subjected to heavy gunfire. The Israeli military claimed it did not randomly attack ambulances, but the footage contradicts this assertion. The United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent have condemned the attack, stating that the victims included eight Red Crescent staff, six members of the Gaza civil defense agency, and one employee of a UN agency. The bodies were found in a mass grave near the city of Rafah.

A central Ukrainian city, Kryvyi Rih, began three days of mourning on Monday for 11 adults and nine children killed in a Russian missile strike last week, one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in months, jeopardizing Washington's ceasefire efforts. The Friday evening strike in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown sprayed shrapnel across a dense residential area. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned Russia's use of explosive weapons in a densely populated area. Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul stated it was the deadliest attack on the city, with victims ranging from 3 to 79 years old, and 33 people, including 4 children, still hospitalized. Local clergy held a memorial service near the strike site, and residents bid farewell to a nine-year-old boy killed on a swing. Russia claimed the strike targeted a meeting of Ukrainian and foreign military personnel, a claim dismissed by Kyiv as disinformation. U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to end the war swiftly and restore relations with Moscow. Russia rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal last month, and both sides accuse each other of violating a limited pause in attacks on energy infrastructure.

On March 26, 2025, Pope Francis made his first public appearance at the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, two weeks after being discharged from the hospital following a five-week treatment for double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pontiff had been out of public view since March 23, when he gave a brief greeting before leaving Rome's Gemelli hospital. Entering St. Peter's Square in a wheelchair to greet the crowds, Francis marked his return to public life.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that Iran has not yet held any round of talks with the US on its nuclear program and continues to insist on mediated negotiations. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with bombings if it refuses a deal. In a statement published by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Telegram, Araghchi emphasized that Iran favors the diplomatic path and negotiations, but only via mediators. He also noted that the US can only dream of a deal with Iran similar to its 2003 agreement with Libya, which agreed to放弃 its ambition to obtain weapons of mass destruction in exchange for sanctions relief.

According to the Houthi Health Ministry, a US military airstrike targeted the Sho'ob district of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, on the evening of the 6th local time. The airstrike resulted in 4 deaths and 25 injuries. Following the incident, local tensions escalated, and the number of casualties may potentially rise further.

On April 6, France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen vowed to pursue her presidential ambitions despite being found guilty of embezzling European Union parliament funds and banned from public office. Speaking at a rally in Paris, she claimed her National Rally (RN) party was the target of a “witch hunt.” The RN, along with centrist and left-wing groups, held rival gatherings six days after a Paris court convicted the 56-year-old. Polls show Le Pen as the frontrunner for the presidential election in two years. She condemned the sentences against her and other RN officials at a central Paris rally, while former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal supported the court's decision. Le Pen received a four-year jail term, with two years suspended, and a five-year ban from public office. She pledged not to give up, calling the conviction a “political decision.” RN deputy Jordan Bardella claimed 10,000 people attended the rally, though police estimated 7,000. Bardella described the conviction as a direct attack on democracy. The judges who convicted Le Pen have received death threats, and US President Donald Trump labeled the sentence a “witch hunt” by “European leftists.” President Emmanuel Macron insisted on the independence of the French judiciary, and the Paris Court of Appeal will review Le Pen's case, allowing her to contest the 2027 election if the conviction is overturned or the punishment altered.

On April 6, Texas officials reported the death of a second child from measles, amid an outbreak that has resulted in nearly 500 cases in Texas and spread across 22 states. The school-aged, unvaccinated child with no underlying health conditions died on April 3 from measles pulmonary failure. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated on social media that vaccines are the best protection against measles. As of April 6, there are 642 confirmed measles cases nationwide, with 499 in Texas. Kennedy, who has previously downplayed the importance of vaccines, faced criticism from Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who urged universal vaccination. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported a total of 481 cases in the state since the outbreak began.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated hockey player Alexander Ovechkin on breaking the record for the most goals scored in the NHL regular season. Putin noted that this achievement was not only a personal success for Ovechkin but also a significant celebration for fans in Russia and abroad. On Saturday night, Ovechkin scored two goals against Chicago, reaching 894 goals to tie the record held by Canadian legend Wayne Gretzky. On Sunday, the 39-year-old Russian added another goal against the New York Islanders, bringing his total to 895 and becoming the sole record holder in the NHL.

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.

On April 6 local time, the 31st Pyongyang International Marathon was held in North Korea. This marks the resumption of the event after a six-year hiatus. According to North Korean media, participants included foreign athletes from various countries. Among them were runners from China and Romania. The restart of the marathon signifies North Korea's proactive stance in international sports exchanges. Specific details on the number of participants and race results have not yet been disclosed.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has nominated Djuro Macut, a politically inexperienced medical professor, as the new prime minister following the resignation of the previous incumbent amid anti-government protests. Demonstrations intensified after a railway station roof collapse in November killed 16 people, with protesters decrying government corruption and incompetence. The government denies the accusations, blaming Western intelligence agencies for instigating unrest. Vucic announced Macut's nomination on Sunday, tasking him with forming a new government by April 18. The 62-year-old, who lectures in endocrinology at Belgrade University, has previously supported Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Opposition parties mocked Macut's nomination, calling him a puppet of Vucic. The government-controlled parliament is expected to endorse Macut, who will succeed SNS head Milos Vucevic. Protesters demand a transitional government before parliamentary and presidential elections in 2027.

On April 1, 2025, outside a Land Rover dealership in Tucson, Arizona, US, British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover announced a one-month pause in US shipments to assess the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs on vehicle imports. The Trump administration has imposed a 25% tariff on imported cars, effective Thursday, and plans to place tariffs on some auto parts by May 3. A Jaguar Land Rover spokesperson said the company is developing mid- to long-term plans. As one of Britain's largest carmakers, Jaguar Land Rover considers the US an important market. An escalating trade war is expected to significantly affect the global car industry, given the highly globalized supply chains and reliance on North American manufacturing. Since Trump's auto tariffs took effect, major car companies have announced plans to raise prices, impose import fees, pause production, and lay off staff. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that his government would respond calmly to Trump's tariffs, with ongoing negotiations for a potential US trade deal.

Turkey's main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel of the Republican People's Party (CHP) pledged further protests against the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's chief rival. The protests began on March 19 when Imamoglu was detained on corruption charges, sparking Turkey's largest demonstrations in over a decade. Ozel, re-elected as party leader, announced weekly protests in different cities and Wednesday evening rallies in various Istanbul districts. The protests have drawn hundreds of thousands, including university students nationwide. Nearly 2,000 people have been detained, with around 300 jailed pending trial. The CHP has launched a signature campaign demanding Imamoglu's freedom and early elections, garnering over 7 million signatures.