🌍⚡- The European markets have begun plummeting again, with the Paris stock market down -0.8%, Frankfurt is down -1.5%. London is still trading above, at +0.2%. Moscow is the only large stock market that is doing well currently, at +1.9%.

🇯🇵⚡- Japan's Nikkei 225 down by -4.6%.

🇸🇾🇦🇿⚡- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev in Antalya, Turkey.

🇹🇷🇦🇿🇮🇱⚡- After the first round of Turkey-Israel talks completely failed, both sides have agreed to a second round. The next round of negotiations will take place on April 19, also in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Source: Kan11.

🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- BREAKING: Israeli forces have captured the entire of Rafah city, southern Gaza Strip.

🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- Israeli forces are advancing along the Morag axis towards the Salah al-Deen highway from the Israeli border. The IDF is also advancing along the coast towards the Morag axis, essentially encircling Tal as-Sultan, south Gaza Strip.

Source: Yair Altman, Channel 14 military journalist.

🇺🇸⚡️- President Trump’s Executive Order: “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance”

The order launches a plan to rebuild US maritime power, counter China, and revive shipbuilding and the merchant fleet. The EO aims to reassert US maritime dominance through industry, workforce, fleet, and security revitalization.

Core Actions:

- 210-Day Maritime Strategy: Led by National Security Advisor.
- Regulation Rollback: DoD, DOT, DHS to identify cuts.
- 45-Day Shipbuilding Audit: Target cost overruns.
- Overhaul mariner training, explore the possibility of new academies, and offer scholarships.
- Tariffs on Chinese maritime gear.
- Create Maritime Security Trust Fund (tariffs/fees-backed).
- Expand Title XI loans and small shipyard grants.
- Close cargo loophole: 10% fee on goods routed via Mexico/Canada.
- Propose US-flag fleet expansion in 180 days.
- Begin USMMA upgrades in 30 days.
- Use Defense Production Act and allied investment for shipyard revival.
- Encourage allied investment in US yards.
- Review cargo preference rules.
- Assess inactive sealift fleet readiness.

In 90 Days:
1. Coordinate maritime trade with allies.
2. Launch Maritime Prosperity Zones.
3. Arctic waterway security plan.
4. Assessment of industry needs.

🇮🇷⚡- Iranian military channels unveil their third Meraj-4 Long Range Air Defense Radar (AESA). While they attempted to blur out the images, Rerum Novarum have already geolocated the location to: 32.5492, 48.42011.

🇺🇸 - US markets open with slight fear : Dow Jones -0,27%, Nasdaq -0,15%, S&P 500 -0,17%

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- US Secretary of Energy, Christ Wright, says the US can stop all Iran's oil export, because the US can 'follow the ships from Iran'. Wright says "We know where they [Iranian tankers] go".

🇺🇸🇬🇧⚡- US tanker, STENA IMPERATIVE, arrives at Diego Garcia, overseas UK territory.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Iran is giving talks with the US a real chance," - Esmail Baghaei, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman.

🇸🇾🇷🇺🇹🇷⚡- First high-level meeting between Russia and Syria expected, Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrian President, could possibly meet Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, in Ankara, Turkey today.

🇺🇸🇷🇺⚡- Putin-Witkoff meeting begins in St. Petersburg.

🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡- Russian forces have captured Kalinovo, Konstantinovka direction. This area of the front has the highest concentration of Ukrainian fortifications.

🇺🇸🇨🇳⚡- Two Senior White House Sources say Trump is waiting for Xi to give in and call.

🇺🇸🇨🇳⚡- "Hours before China announced new retaliatory tariffs, the Trump administration privately warned Beijing not to escalate. Officials also urged President Xi to request a call with Trump.

But instead, Washington woke up to fresh Chinese tariffs, and no call," - CNN.