World leaders react to Trump’s new wave of tariffs
Donald Trump’s announcement of a universal 10% tariff on all imports into the USA, beginning on 5 April, has sparked global alarm. An additional wave of steepened tariffs on approximately sixty nations, including China and EU countries, begins on 9 April. Trump claims the move will revive American manufacturing, calling it overdue payback for unfair trade practices. However, international leaders warn the tariffs will spark economic turmoil and a potential global trade war. Ursula von der Leyen called it a ‘major blow’, while China, facing a 54% total tariff on some goods, promised ‘resolute countermeasures’. Allies like the UK and Australia have urged restraint, while others, such as Brazil and Canada, plan reciprocal actions. Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea also condemned the move. Trump’s tariffs have rattled long-standing allies, confused diplomatic partners, and raised fears of escalating economic isolation. Critics argue that US consumers may bear the burden, with higher prices and increased global instability looming. For an opinion about what a huge gamble Trump is taking, see
Sudan: Khartoum after army retakes control
Khartoum, once Sudan’s bustling capital, now lies gutted after months of brutal conflict. The army’s recent victory over the paramilitary RSF is a turning point in a two-year civil war that has claimed at least 150,000 lives. Though the RSF’s grip on Khartoum has ended, uncertainty remains about what lies ahead. The city bears deep scars: the presidential palace, once a powerful symbol, has been looted and bombed, its grandeur reduced to rubble. Banks, ministries, and the airport are charred remnants. Yet amid the destruction, remnants of faith endure. At St Matthew’s Cathedral, damaged by nearby shelling and desecrated by RSF forces, the beautiful painted ceiling has survived. One soldier cleaning inside said his son was born on the first day of the war, but he still hasn’t met him. Despite atrocities committed by both sides and ongoing violence elsewhere, people in Khartoum rejoiced during Eid, briefly reclaiming hope in a city that has seen the heart of Sudan torn open.
Lebanon / Israel: second airstrike on Beirut in four days
For the second time in four days, Israel’s military have struck a Hezbollah target in Beirut. The precision airstrike, carried out by the air force, killed Hassan Ali Mahmoud Bdeir, a senior Hezbollah operative. According to Israel, he was orchestrating an imminent terror attack against civilians. The strike hit the top floors of an apartment building, killing at least three and wounding seven. Lebanese officials condemned the attack, calling it a violation of UN Resolution 1701 and an assault on Lebanese sovereignty. The president vowed to rally international support, while Hezbollah’s leadership placed responsibility on Lebanon’s government to respond diplomatically. The USA reiterated its support for Israel, claiming that it was operating in response to rocket attacks. Although Hezbollah denied launching the rockets, authorities have arrested thirteen suspects. The targeted strikes and political fallout highlight deepening regional instability and the increasing entanglement of Iranian-backed terror groups.
Taiwan: China’s large-scale military exercises
China has launched large-scale joint military exercises around Taiwan, involving its navy, air force, army, and rocket force, in what it described as a ‘stern warning’, just days after defence secretary Pete Hegseth, on his first visit to Asia, vowed to counter ‘China’s aggression’ and reaffirmed US support for Taiwan and regional allies. The manoeuvres simulated maritime assaults and blockades, deploying 71 aircraft and thirteen ships including an aircraft carrier. Taiwan condemned the actions as provocative and unjustified, maintaining high vigilance and deploying its own military assets. Analysts see the timing as symbolic, signalling discontent with the USA’s increased Indo-Pacific focus. China has intensified pressure on Taiwan, especially under president Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing labels a ‘separatist’. He has called on China to cease its intimidation, and the island’s population remains firmly opposed to Chinese rule.
