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).

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.

With his second term set to end in 2028, U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of running for a third term—despite it being against U.S. political norms.

Trump stated that he was “not joking” about his interest in a third term but added that it was not yet time to seriously consider the matter. “There are ways to make it happen,” he suggested, sparking discussions about potential legal and constitutional maneuvers.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose tariffs on all countries starting April 2, dubbing it "America’s Liberation Day." Initially, the policy targeted only nations imposing import tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump claimed that despite being exploited by many nations, the U.S. would still treat them better in comparison.

A small aircraft crashed onto a house in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, killing all passengers on board. Fortunately, the occupants of the house managed to escape unscathed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the cause of the crash. The aircraft, a SOCATA TBM7, had taken off from Des Moines International Airport, Iowa, and was headed toward Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis when it went down at 12:20 PM local time on Saturday.

Following pressure from the Trump administration, Harvard University has dismissed key figures of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), including interim social sciences dean David Cutler, Turkish studies professor Cemal Kafadar, and associate history professor Rosie Bashir. The decision follows accusations that CMES promoted anti-Semitic content and failed to adequately represent Israeli perspectives. The move comes after a report by the Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance, which claimed CMES portrayed Israel as a colonial state engaged in apartheid and genocide.

In a column for The New York Times, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sharply criticized the Trump administration, calling its policies “reckless displays of power.” She questioned Trump’s disregard for federal record-keeping laws and described his executive orders as harmful to national security. Clinton warned that if the U.S. continues operating like a corrupt state, it will lose its global standing against China and Russia. She also compared Trump’s business failures in Atlantic City to his handling of national security, cautioning that continued recklessness could lead to severe consequences.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department and USAID have informed Congress about their restructuring plans. By July 1, certain USAID functions will be reorganized within departments. The State Department also plans to shut down USAID operations that do not align with administrative priorities. Rubio criticized USAID for deviating from its core mission, leading to high costs with minimal benefits. Earlier this year, the US administration had already paused foreign aid for 90 days through an executive order.