🇺🇸 U.S. stocks brace for impact as the S&P 500 is set to lose nearly $1.7 trillion at Thursday’s open, amid fears Trump’s new tariffs could trigger a recession.

BIG: Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide says new U.S. tariffs may breach NATO Article 2.

NATO's Article 2

Often overshadowed by Article 5, NATO Article 2 promotes peaceful ties and economic cooperation among allies. It calls on members to:

• Strengthen democratic institutions
• Support peace, stability, and well-being
• Avoid economic conflicts and boost cooperation

U.S. Vice President JD Vance:

We asked Elon Musk to help improve government efficiency — the process will take six months.

Musk will continue serving as an advisor beyond those six months, and his work with the administration is far from over.

Trump on new tarriffs:

THE OPERATION IS OVER! THE PATIENT LIVED, AND IS HEALING.

THE PROGNOSIS IS THAT THE PATIENT WILL BE FAR STRONGER, BIGGER, BETTER, AND MORE RESILIENT THAN EVER BEFORE.

Donald Trump's new tariffs may harm China's economy in the short term, but could also help strengthen China's ties with countries alienated by US policy.

Instead of immediate retaliation, China is adopting a cautious, strategic approach. Officials have positioned themselves as globalisation supporters, with Vice Premier He Lifeng saying in London:

"Protectionism doesn't work — it's not a solution. China and the UK understand the benefits of globalisation and a solid foundation of cooperation.

Henry Wang Huiyao of a Beijing think tank concluded:

"Trump's move will push 80% of the world's population or economy to trade more with each other... in the long run, they will push all cooperation between countries."

Source: Bloomberg

Polish Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz says Poland wants to achieve 5% of GDP on defence spending in 2026.

Syria: Israel dropped warning leaflets over Daraa, urging residents not to take up arms and to avoid using the Al-Wadi–Sharia route.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad praise the residents of Daraa in southern Syria for resisting Israeli forces overnight.

The group calls for greater unity in confronting Israel.

🇺🇸 Trump's new tarrifs: S&P 500 opens down 3.4%, Nasdaq 100 drops 4.1%.

Apple falls 8.5%, losing $255 billion in value.

Nike plunges 13%, hits lowest since Nov 2017.

Russia has agreed to provide arms and military training to a newly formed joint force between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The Kremlin will use military instructors already present in the three West African nations, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow on Thursday.

“Russia is ready to contribute to the Alliance of Sahel States’s joint force.This is a necessary step to equip the trilateral armed force. Our specialists can help develop and arm those forces with specific weapons and machinery,” Lavrov said.

Source: Bloomberg

French President Macron:

Trump's tarriffs are brutal and unfounded.

The US economy and consumers will become poorer and weaker.

BIG: French President Macron urges companies to pause US investments.

Macron calls on Europeans to “stay united,” warns against the temptation to “go it alone”.

U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli:

Ukraine appears to have resolved some of its shortages of troops fighting against Russia, including by widening the pool of eligible recruits.

USAFRICOM Commander Michael Langley:

China is working to exploit the dismantling of the USAID on the African continent.

Macron:

Indirect consequences of tariffs may lead to other countries in Asia to boost exports to Europe.

Apple lost more than $250bn in market value on Thursday.

Source: FT

Harvard has placed the Palestine Solidarity Committee on probation until 30 June for co-sponsoring an April 1 rally that allegedly blocked entrances + used amplified sound.

The group now can't use campus resources.

Harvard said in an email: 'Free expression must comply with Harvard's policies and rules.

The move comes after the Trump administration threatened to cut $9 billion in federal funding over Harvard's response to anti-Semitism.

Source: Bloomberg

Mining town cut off by M23 rebels ‘has two weeks of supplies left’

Walikale, a mining town in eastern DRC, is facing a severe crisis after being seized by rebels on 19 March. It is cut off by road and air due to fighting, including drone strikes and gunfire.

There is a critical lack of medical supplies. Only two weeks of essential drugs like antibiotics, painkillers, and HIV meds remain, according to MSF. The last shipment was made on 17 January.

An MSF-supported hospital is now sheltering more than 700 civilians as clashes between the army and rebels continue to escalate.

Source: Telegraph

Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre has announced the formation of a National Committee to Support the Fight Against the Khawarij, aimed at dismantling Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia.

Chaired by Second Deputy PM Abdisalan Abdi Ali, the committee includes senior officials such as:

• Ali Yusuf Hosh (Interior Minister)
• Gen. Bashir Mohamed Jama (Environment Minister)
• Dr. Ali Hajji Adan (Health Minister)
• Mohamed Ali Hagaa (State Minister for Internal Security)
• Mohamed Ahmed Amir (Mayor of Mogadishu)
• Mohamud Moalim Hassan (Disaster Management Commissioner)

The team will lead a whole-of-government approach focused on:

• Strengthening military operations with the SNA
• Disrupting terrorist financing
• Promoting deradicalization and community resilience
• Reforming the security sector for better coordination and intelligence-sharing

Source: SONNA

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic has issued a statement:

• EU Trade Chief Maros Sefcovic says the bloc is ready with countermeasures in response to trade tensions.

• He also signals a shift: the EU will diversify trade partnerships globally to reduce reliance on key players.

Source: Bloomberg