Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump threatens new 50% tariffs on China
Donald Trump has threatened China with an extra 50% tariff on goods imported into the US if it does not withdraw its 34% counter-tariff, as global markets continue to fall.
Beijing retaliated on Sunday, following last week's decision by Trump to slap a 34% tax on Chinese imports as part of his "Liberation Day" that set a minimum 10% levy on nearly all of America's trading partners.
In a social media post on Monday, Trump gave China until Tuesday to scrap its countermeasure or face the 50% tax.
2. Global market meltdown swings to ‘madness’
The market chaos unleashed by Donald Trump’s trade war continued for a third day as stocks, bonds and commodities all swung wildly, buffeted by both fears of a recession and speculation the financial damage will drive the Republican president to change course. After the darkening global outlook hammered markets in Asia and Europe, extending a slide that erased roughly $10 trillion from equity markets worldwide, the S&P 500 opened sharply lower, only to briefly spike as rumors raced across trading floors that Trump was poised to delay his tariffs.
But prices sank again as those hopes faded—and by late morning Trump was making more threats as China ramps up its retaliatory tariffs.
3. China vows to fight 'till the end' after Trump's latest tariffs threat
China has responded strongly after US president Donald Trump threatened to hit Beijing with an extra 50% tariff if it doesn't withdraw its retaliatory levy on Tuesday
Beijing's commerce ministry said it would never accept the "blackmail nature of the US" and vowed to "fight till the end"
4. Acting mines minister and Turkmen ambassador visit TAPI pipeline site, stress accelerated progress.
Afghanistan and Turkmenistan officials visited the TAPI pipeline site in Herat, reaffirming commitment to the key regional energy project. The pipeline will deliver Turkmen gas to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan, with efforts now focused on accelerating construction.
The visit comes as work continues on one of the region’s most ambitious energy projects—the TAPI pipeline, which aims to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India. The pipeline is expected to deliver 33 billion cubic meters of gas each year, spanning a total of 1,814 kilometers.
5. Trump confirms direct U.S.-Iran talks on nuclear issue
President Donald Trump has announced that the United States and Iran have started direct talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme. The announcement came during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office.
Trump told reporters the talks had already begun and a “very big meeting” would take place on Saturday. He added, “Everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable.”
6. Trump and Netanyahu hold wide-ranging talks
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference in Washington on Monday, covering topics from Gaza and hostages to tariffs and China.
Standing beside Netanyahu at the White House, Trump said he “would like to see the war stop” in Gaza and expressed hope for a resolution “not in the too-distant future.” He noted that efforts were underway to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, but added that the process remained “long and difficult.”
7. PACE Spring session opens with focus on Georgia’s democratic standing
PACE's Spring session opens in Strasbourg with Georgia’s delegation under scrutiny. A key decision on April 10 may determine whether Georgia retains full representation—or joins Azerbaijan with restricted rights in the Assembly.
PACE Spring session kicks off in Strasbourg, and the question of Georgian delegation’s credentials promises to be one of the key topics this week.
Now all sights are set on April 10, when the Parliamentary Assembly will review its relations with Georgia.
Georgia has unveiled a new funding model for public universities, highlighting the different ways higher education is financed across the South Caucas...
Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant may continue operating at reduced capacity until Tuesday, temporarily easing pressure on the country’s electric...
Pakistan and Uzbekistan are stepping up efforts to streamline trade between South and Central Asia through a new customs partnership focused on digita...
A tourist aircraft crashed near Peru's UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines on Saturday (1 August), killing all 13 people on board, authorities said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said Tehran is not currently involved in direct talks with Washington about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were to begin on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a major wildfire in Greece on Sunday, killing two crew members as emergency services continued efforts to contain fires fuelled by extreme heat and dry conditions across Europe.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said wildfires that swept across France were now under control. Authorities warned that risks remained as Greece and Spain continued battling active blazes across parts of Europe.
France’s worst wildfire season since 1949 is stretching emergency services, raising questions about the country’s preparedness and increasing political pressure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Police have arrested six people on suspicion of arson as prosecutors investigate dozens of wildfires that have broken out across Türkiye in recent days.
Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant may continue operating at reduced capacity until Tuesday, temporarily easing pressure on the country’s electricity grid during an intense heatwave.
Myanmar's detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, after years of questions over the health and well-being of the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 28 people still unaccounted for, three days after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Madura island.
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