Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States will enter direct talks with Iran regarding a potential nuclear agreement. Iran’s Foreign Minister confirmed the development, calling it both an opportunity and a test. Trump emphasized that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and warned that failure in talks would result in dire consequences for Iran. Notably, Iran had previously rejected similar dialogue.

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees legally residing in the US under the humanitarian parole program received emails instructing them to leave within seven days or face forced removal. A Homeland Security spokesperson later confirmed the emails were sent in error and the Ukrainian Parole Program, launched after Russia’s 2022 invasion, remains active. Despite the correction, the emails caused significant fear among recipients.

Mass protests erupted in the US and several European cities following new tariff policies introduced by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which have severely impacted the global economy. Demonstrations took place in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London, as well as in various US states, including Washington, D.C. Protesters carried signs reading “No Kings in America” and “Deport Musk.” The protests were largely organized by overseas Democratic supporters.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China and India to contribute to global humanitarian efforts, stating that the US will no longer bear the majority of the responsibility. In the aftermath of the earthquake in Myanmar, Rubio urged wealthy nations, including China and India, to participate in providing aid. He defended the US’s response to the Myanmar earthquake, dismissing claims of delay, and emphasized that the Myanmar military junta made it difficult for aid efforts to proceed.

U.S. stock markets took a major hit following China’s announcement of retaliatory tariffs, with major indices dropping around 6%.
After former President Trump imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese imports, China responded by slapping an additional 34% tariff on all U.S. goods starting April 10.
The S&P 500 fell 6%, Nasdaq dropped 5.8%, and Dow Jones declined 5.5%, while the Russell 2000 dipped 4%. Analysts say this is the worst trading day since the onset of COVID-19.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a new immigration initiative dubbed the “Gold Card” visa. Priced at $5 million, the visa offers foreign nationals the opportunity for permanent residency in the United States. The card features Trump’s image along with the inscription “The Trump Card.” Trump announced, “This exclusive visa will be available in less than two weeks. I’m the first buyer myself.” The program is being pitched as a premium alternative to the traditional Green Card, with Trump claiming it could create jobs and help reduce the national deficit. In February, he expressed hopes of selling around one million of these visas.

The United States has moved forward with the sale of more than 20,000 assault rifles to Israel, a deal initiated during the Trump administration. Although the Biden administration initially paused the sale over concerns that the weapons could be used by extremist settlers in the occupied territories, a March 6 notification from the U.S. State Department to Congress indicates the transaction is now back on track. According to documents reviewed by Reuters, the sale includes 5.56mm caliber fully automatic Colt carbines, worth an estimated $24 million. Earlier, President Biden had imposed sanctions on individuals and organizations allegedly involved in violence in the West Bank — sanctions that were swiftly revoked by Trump upon taking office.

The United States has imposed new tariffs on at least 12 countries, including Bangladesh. However, the majority of Americans do not support Trump’s “aggressive” trade policies. According to a Marquette Law School poll, 58% of Americans believe Trump’s tariff policies will hurt the U.S. economy, while only 28% think they will be beneficial. The poll also found that 43% of Americans hold a negative opinion of Trump. Additionally, 64% believe that closing institutions like USAID and the Department of Education is beyond a president’s authority. Furthermore, 70% of respondents said judges who rule against Trump’s decisions should not be removed.

The White House has dismissed reports that Elon Musk is stepping down from his role in the Trump administration, calling them “completely baseless” and “nonsense.” White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated on X, “Both Musk and Trump have publicly confirmed that Musk will continue as a special government employee until he completes his ‘incredible work’ at the Department of Government Efficiency.” Earlier, Politico, citing discontent among party activists and sources close to the U.S. president, reported that Musk was expected to step down soon.

US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose high import tariffs has drawn criticism from world leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Meloni labeled the 20% tariff on EU products as a “mistake,” while Albanese called the 10% duty on Australian goods “unjustifiable.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez vowed to protect Spanish businesses and workers, reaffirming commitment to a free global market. Ireland’s Taoiseach Michael Martin called Trump’s move “deeply regrettable.” China, facing a 54% tariff on its exports, urged Washington to withdraw the tariffs immediately, warning of retaliatory measures if ignored. South Korea remarked that a full-scale global trade war is now a reality, while Japan and Thailand also expressed concerns over the economic impact.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has left for Bangkok to attend the BIMSTEC Summit. His flight, operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:55 AM on Thursday. According to a briefing by High Representative Dr. Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday, the Chief Adviser will remain in Thailand from April 3-4 for the summit. Accompanying him are Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin. During the visit, the Chief Adviser is expected to hold bilateral meetings with BIMSTEC leaders and participate in the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated in an interview that Moscow has thoroughly reviewed the US ceasefire proposal but cannot accept it in its current form. According to Russia, the proposal fails to address key concerns that led to the conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Former US President Donald Trump had previously threatened severe sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow violated agreements.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait have officially informed the United States that they will not allow their airspace or military bases to be used for any attacks on Iran. This follows threats from the US president to bomb Iran. Meanwhile, Washington has approved the sale of MQ-9 Reaper drones to Qatar and advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia. With these restrictions, the US has now deployed B-2 bombers to the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean. Iran has already threatened retaliation if attacks originate from Diego Garcia. The US currently has two aircraft carriers and approximately 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will be visiting the Middle East in the coming weeks, marking his first overseas trip in his second bid for presidency. He hinted at a possible stop in the United Arab Emirates as well.

“I have a great relationship with the Middle East,” Trump stated, emphasizing the importance of the trip in securing investments for the United States.

Earlier this year, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declared plans to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. Trump mentioned that his visit could take place next month or slightly later.

Russia’s Supreme Court has confirmed receiving a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office to lift sanctions on the Taliban, who were designated a terrorist organization in 2003. The court will review the request.

Meanwhile, Taliban representatives have been participating in various forums hosted in Moscow. Under Russian law, any contact with terrorist organizations is a punishable offense. However, Russian officials have emphasized the need to engage with the Taliban for Afghanistan’s stability, sidestepping concerns about potential contradictions in their policy.