The United States has announced new port fees targeting Chinese-built and operated vessels, aiming to boost the domestic shipbuilding industry and curb China’s maritime dominance. These fees, which will come into effect around mid-October, apply to all Chinese-linked vessels entering U.S. ports. Ships will incur additional charges per tonnage or container, with fees starting at $18 per entry or $120 per container. For a vessel carrying 15,000 containers, the cost could surge by up to $1.8 million. The fees will be reviewed five times a year. However, waivers may be granted if the vessel’s owner places an order for U.S.-built ships.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with recently freed hostage Alexander Trufanov and his family in the Kremlin. He attributed Trufanov’s release to Russia’s longstanding relationship with the Palestinian people and expressed hope for more such humanitarian successes. Putin publicly thanked Hamas’ political leadership for heeding Russia’s request and facilitating the release.

Steve Witkoff, envoy for former U.S. President Donald Trump, stated that Iran must halt its nuclear enrichment and weapons program to secure a deal with a potential future Trump administration. “Any deal with Iran must be a Trump deal,” Witkoff emphasized, adding that the agreement must establish a framework for lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East. In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister noted conflicting messages from the U.S. and said such contradictions hinder effective negotiations. “If the Americans present a constructive position, I am optimistic about a potential agreement. If contradictions continue, the process will become increasingly difficult,” he added.

Despite ongoing wartime turbulence, the Russian ruble has outperformed all global currencies, becoming the best-performing currency against the US dollar in 2025. According to Bloomberg data, the ruble has appreciated by 38% since the start of the year. This surge is largely attributed to declining confidence in the US dollar, exacerbated by former President Trump’s global trade conflicts.

Investment returns on the ruble have surpassed those of the Swedish krona and Swiss franc, which appreciated by 13% and 11% respectively. The British pound also recorded a modest gain of around 6%. Meanwhile, gold and silver prices have risen by 23% and 12%, respectively. The ruble’s remarkable performance has been bolstered by Russia’s high interest rates—currently set at 21% by the central bank—and restrictions on capital outflow for foreign companies.

The Liberty Justice Center has filed a lawsuit in the International Trade Court challenging former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The suit argues that Trump exceeded constitutional limits by imposing broad tariffs on various countries. Filed on behalf of five U.S. businesses, the plaintiffs include a New York wine importer, a fishing gear e-commerce firm, a U.S. pipe manufacturer using imported resin, a Virginia-based electronics and musical instrument maker, and a Vermont women’s cycling apparel brand.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that if Iran does not abandon its nuclear ambitions, the U.S. will launch military strikes on its nuclear facilities. Trump emphasized that Iran must completely give up the idea of developing nuclear weapons. Despite indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran in Oman—described as “constructive”—Trump accused Iran of using the talks to stall. He reiterated that a future agreement must clearly prohibit Iran from possessing any nuclear weapons, stating, “Iran is dangerously close; immediate action is required.”

Reacting to the Russian missile strike in Ukraine’s Sumy city that killed over 30 people, former U.S. President Donald Trump said, “They told me it was a mistake—but it’s terrible. The whole war is terrible.” He criticized the war as a misuse of power and blamed President Biden for its continuation. “If I had been president, this war would never have started. I’m trying to stop it and save lives,” Trump added, while avoiding a direct answer on who admitted the mistake. The victims had gathered to observe Palm Sunday. Ukrainian President Zelensky renewed calls for greater pressure on Russia and international security guarantees.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a directive requiring foreigners staying longer than 30 days to register with the authorities. Failure to do so could result in fines or imprisonment. Citing former President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the department said, “Our message to illegal immigrants is clear—leave the U.S. and return home voluntarily.” Voluntary departure is considered safer, allowing individuals to book their own flights and retain their earnings. The department also noted that voluntary returnees may later reenter the U.S. legally. In cases of financial hardship, the U.S. government may subsidize airfare. Those who defy deportation orders may face a fine of $998 per day for each day they remain.

Faculty members at Harvard University have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its decision to review $9 billion in federal grants and contracts, calling it an attack on academic freedom and free speech. The move comes amid a broader crackdown on alleged “antisemitism” on university campuses. The lawsuit argues the administration is using the review to suppress pro-Palestinian activism. Previously, Trump had pushed for visa cancellations of protesting students and imposed restrictions on universities that supported Palestinian causes.

US President Donald Trump has excluded smartphones, computers, and various tech devices from new reciprocal tariffs, including a steep 125% levy on Chinese goods. The decision follows warnings from US tech companies about potential price surges, with iPhones and other devices possibly tripling in cost. Many gadgets, especially Apple’s, are manufactured in China, though companies are shifting production to India and Vietnam. The exemptions serve as a temporary relief while the US negotiates better trade terms. China remains subject to higher tariffs.

The US dollar has dropped to its lowest value in three years, driven by global market instability and new tariffs imposed by the US government. According to the US Dollar Index and Forbes, the value fell to 99.01, marking an 8% decline over the past year. The steep drop followed President Donald Trump’s announcement of unprecedented import tariffs on dozens of countries. While the tariffs were later suspended for most nations, markets across the US, Europe, and Asia experienced significant disruptions.

Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul acknowledged current judicial shortages and logistical problems but assured they are being addressed. “We’ve just started. It takes time to recruit judges, but the crisis will be resolved while we are in government,” he said. The government is also considering referring family court cases to arbitration to reduce court burden. The Bandarban chapter of the Judicial Service Employees Association called for a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court and parity in pay with the Judicial Service scale.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order removing household water usage limits, originally introduced to conserve water. According to Al Jazeera, Trump criticized the regulations, saying, “I want to shower properly and take care of my beautiful hair. But I have to stand under the water for 15 minutes for it to even get wet. It’s ridiculous.” The previous limits were introduced by Obama in 2009, reinstated by Biden, and now scrapped again by Trump, who argued, “Water remains the same, and we’re opening it up for the people so they can live.”

Amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, former U.S. President Donald Trump took a hardline stance, maintaining sanctions and threatening tougher actions. Ahead of a key nuclear deal negotiation with Iran, the U.S. deployed the USS Carl Vinson to the Gulf region. It joins the USS Harry Truman, already stationed there for operations against Houthi rebels. Washington claims both deployments aim to pressure Iran into compliance.

OpenAI has filed a countersuit against Elon Musk, escalating their ongoing legal conflict. The tech firm accused Musk of harassment and asked the court to prevent him from taking further “unlawful and unjust actions” against the company. Musk co-founded OpenAI with Sam Altman in 2015 but left in 2018. After launching xAI in 2023, Musk has been accused of attempting to block OpenAI from becoming a for-profit entity. He previously sued OpenAI to halt changes to its corporate structure.