Good morning.
Donald Trump announced wide-ranging tariffs on the US’s major trading partners on Wednesday, a move that puts the world at risk of a global trade war and that sent stocks and the dollar tumbling.
Trump said he would impose an across-the-board 10% tariff on all imported foreign goods, to come into effect on 5 April. He also imposed “reciprocal tariffs” on dozens of countries, charging further duties on to countries that Trump claimed have “cheated” America, which will come into force on 9 April.
China has been hit particularly hard by the new levies, which amount to more than 50% on Chinese imports. Canada and Mexico were left out of the latest round of tariffs, but have already been affected with 25% tariffs on many of their goods.
How has Europe responded? Using its strongest weapon remains “a last resort”, the head of the European parliament’s international trade committee has said. This refers to the anti-coercion instrument – a law passed in 2023 that allows the EU to impose commerce and investment sanctions.
Mike Waltz’s team reportedly created at least 20 Signal chats for national security work
Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and his team have made at least 20 group chats on Signal to coordinate sensitive work, sources have told Politico.
The revelation, which cites four people with direct knowledge of the practice, comes after the Atlantic revealed that intelligence heads, including the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, were using the encrypted messaging service to share operational details of strikes on Yemen. The scandal came to light after the magazine’s editor-in-chief was accidentally added to the chat.
All four sources said that “sensitive material” concerning policy in Ukraine, China, Gaza, broader Middle East policy, Africa and Europe was shared in the chats, though none said they knew of classified material being discussed.
Have classified details been shared on Signal? The administration has insisted nothing classified was shared in the chat revealed by the Atlantic – but the former state department attorney Brian Finucane says operational details, such as launch times for jets and missiles, would typically be classified.
Hungary announces its withdrawal from ICC after Netanyahu arrives on official visit
Hungary has announced its intention to withdraw from the international criminal court, hours after the arrival in Budapest of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is subject to an arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
The process of withdrawal would be expected to last up to a year. Immediately after the warrant in November, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said he would defy the court to host Netanyahu. This is despite Hungary being an ICC signatory since the court was launched more than two decades ago, requiring it to arrest and hand over anyone facing a warrant if they entered the country.
Netanyahu’s four-day visit follows his announcement that Israel is “seizing territory” and will “divide up” the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have seized land around Gaza’s edges amounting to 62 sq km, or 17% of the territory, since the war began in October 2023, according to the Israeli human rights group Gisha.
What other news has emerged from Gaza? A doctor has said there is evidence that Israeli forces killed paramedics and Palestinian rescue workers with execution-style, close-range shots.
In other news …
A US healthcare executive has sued John Oliver for defamation, claiming a quote the comedian used during an episode of Last Week Tonight episode on Medicaid was taken out of context.
A teenager was attacked by a sea lion in southern California, raising concerns that algae-induced poisonings may have driven its aggressive behavior.
South Korea’s constitutional court will on Friday decide whether to uphold its suspended president’s impeachment or return him to office.
The Taliban’s male escort rule is blocking Afghan women’s access to healthcare and worsening soaring mortality rates, experts have warned.
Stat of the day: Trump hits Myanmar with a 44% tariff days after earthquake that killed over 3,000
Myanmar is among the tranche of developing countries hardest hit by Trump’s severe and sweeping tariffs, with a 44% rate levied against it. The nation is reeling from an earthquake on Friday that killed more than 3,000, and years of civil war following a 2021 military coup. An expert said Trump was likely targeting countries in which China invests, regardless of their economic situation.
Don’t miss this: How an idealistic fight against miscarriages of justice turned sour
The Bristol University Innocence Project, launched in 2004, was set up to assess the rising number of people who were claiming to have been wrongfully convicted in the UK. Following on from the success of such projects in the US and Australia, Michael Naughton, a charismatic but divisive lecturer in sociology and criminal law, decided to change that, and a network of projects sprung up in subsequent years. But despite the enthusiasm and idealism of those involved, it faced internal issues and the network ended within a decade. Here’s where things went wrong.
Climate check: Australia records hottest 12 months on record
The year to March 2025 has been the hottest on record for Australia, its Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed, with last month seeing temperatures 2.41C above average. On average, the 12 months ending in March were 1.61C above average, the bureau said, compared with its data that goes back to 1910.
Last Thing: Why is your boss a narcissist? Blame the job ad that got them hired
If you work for a narcissist, this may be by design: a study has found that certain language in job ads attracts people with “a grand view of self”, as one researcher put it. And if you’re a hiring manager reading this, you may want to pick your words carefully …
Sign up
First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com
