Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is advising against immediate retaliation to President Trump’s newly announced tariffs, urging global partners to avoid escalation. These tariffs include a 10% baseline tariff on all goods, alongside significantly higher rates on specific countries such as China (34%), the EU (20%), Japan (24%), and Taiwan (32%), with a 25% tariff on foreign automobiles commencing at midnight. Bessent emphasizes that retaliatory measures historically disadvantage surplus countries, advising a measured response. The 10% tariff takes effect Saturday, with reciprocal tariffs beginning April 9th.
Read More
Following a Russian ballistic missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, which killed 18 including nine children, President Zelenskyy condemned the international community’s muted response. He emphasized the danger of ignoring Russia’s culpability, arguing that such silence emboldens further aggression and undermines diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy specifically criticized the US Embassy’s initial statement for omitting any mention of Russia’s responsibility. He stressed the urgent need for accountability and decisive action to pressure Russia into ending the war.
Read More
A Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, resulted in the deaths of eighteen people, including nine children, and injured 61 more. The attack, which targeted an area near residential buildings, damaged numerous structures including apartment buildings and a playground. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the attack, urging allies to increase pressure on Moscow and bolster Ukraine’s defenses. Russia’s defense ministry offered a conflicting account, claiming to have targeted a military meeting, a claim that was refuted by Ukraine.
Read More
Sigmar Gabriel, former German foreign minister, suggests a partial EU membership for Canada to counter US President Trump’s attempts to integrate Canada into the United States. Gabriel argues that Canada’s values align more closely with Europe than some current EU members. This proposal comes in response to Trump’s repeated attempts to diminish Canada’s sovereignty and impose economic pressure. The proposed partial membership would offer Canada closer ties with the EU without requiring full integration.
Read More
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urges Russia to accelerate efforts to end the war in Ukraine, echoing concerns shared by U.S. officials. Rutte highlights the U.S. and its allies’ unified stance against Russia and their collaborative work towards a resolution. While acknowledging ongoing efforts to negotiate a partial ceasefire, he expresses doubt about Russia’s commitment to peace negotiations. Despite concerns about potential impacts from past U.S. tariffs, Rutte emphasizes continued European defense spending and unwavering confidence in the U.S.’s nuclear security guarantee to NATO.
Read More
Following a Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih killing 19 and injuring 68, including children, Ukrainian President Zelensky criticized the U.S. Embassy’s response as weak for failing to explicitly blame Russia. Zelensky highlighted the embassy’s omission of “Russian” when describing the attack, contrasting this with the swift condemnation from European leaders and ongoing NATO efforts to pressure Russia into a ceasefire. The strike, involving an Iskander ballistic missile with cluster munitions near a playground, underscored the urgency for an end to the conflict.
Read More
The Trump administration mistakenly sent emails to some Ukrainian refugees under the Uniting for Ukraine program, wrongly informing them of their parole termination and demanding immediate departure. These notices, sent in error, threatened legal action for non-compliance and encouraged self-deportation via a government app. DHS subsequently retracted the emails, clarifying that the Uniting for Ukraine program remains active. However, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about the administration’s broader efforts to dismantle Biden-era immigration policies, raising anxieties about the future legal status of Ukrainian refugees.
Read More
A Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, resulted in at least 19 deaths, including nine children, and injured 72 others, including a three-month-old infant. The attack, using a ballistic missile with a cluster warhead, damaged residential buildings, educational facilities, and businesses. Despite ongoing peace efforts spearheaded by the Trump administration, Russia’s actions indicate a lack of commitment to swift negotiations, while simultaneously claiming the strike targeted Ukrainian and Western military personnel. The attack follows a pattern of Russian strikes against civilian areas and critical infrastructure, including a recent drone attack on a power plant.
Read More
A Russian ballistic missile strike on Kryvyi Rih killed at least 19 people, including nine children, prompting outrage and condemnation internationally. President Zelenskyy criticized the US embassy’s response as weak for its failure to explicitly attribute the missile to Russia. He highlighted the need for a stronger international response to such attacks and reiterated Ukraine’s request for additional air defense systems, including Patriots, previously agreed upon with President Biden. Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of unequivocally naming Russia as the aggressor to effectively pressure them into ending the war.
Read More
China’s retaliatory tariffs on US goods, including a 34 percent duty on all US products, will severely impact US agricultural exports. This escalation is expected to further accelerate the shift in demand for agricultural products, particularly soybeans, away from the US and towards alternative suppliers like Brazil. Brazil’s already substantial soybean production is poised to significantly increase, benefiting from this geopolitical shift, while other countries such as Argentina and Australia may also see increased demand for alternative grains. The resulting increased global demand will likely strengthen soybean prices in South America despite record harvests.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker