Global stockmarkets fell despite Donald Trump’s announcement on Thursday that he would postpone tariffs on some Canadian and Mexican imports. The S&P 500 dropped nearly 2%. On Friday Europe’s Stoxx 600 fell around 1%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 hit a six-month low. Mr Trump said that levies on steel and aluminium would proceed as planned next week, and that carmakers would not be exempt when tariffs take effect on April 2nd.
Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, accused America of using the “law of the jungle” and vowed to “firmly counter” its “arbitrary” tariffs. Mr Wang was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Two Sessions, China’s biggest annual political meeting, which began this week. On Taiwan Mr Wang said “China will and must be reunified.”
At least 18 people were wounded in a Russian attack on Ukraine, officials said. The strikes, following America’s suspension of military aid, targeted energy facilities. French Mirage jets were used for the first time to counter the assault. On Thursday most EU leaders agreed to increase defence spending. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, confirmed that Ukraine will begin talks with America next week on ending the war.
Dozens of people were reportedly killed in clashes between Syrian security forces and supporters of Bashar al-Assad, the deposed president. The two groups have been engaged in heavy fighting in Latakia. The coastal province is the heartland of Syria’s Alawite minority, of which Mr Assad is a member. In late February security forces killed four people there, including an officer in the army of the overthrown regime.
A South Korean court overturned the arrest warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president, citing procedural flaws and questions over the legality of his detention. Mr Yoon, jailed since January on insurrection charges linked to his declaration of martial law in December, could now be released. The ruling does not dismiss the charges; his impeachment trial will continue.
For a second time, SpaceX’s Starship rocket exploded shortly after launching for a test flight. The spacecraft’s upper-stage engines malfunctioned before bursting into flames. It is another setback for SpaceX and the company’s boss, Elon Musk. Starship is central to his vision of human settlement on Mars and for the expansion of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite data constellation.
Eurostar cancelled all trains between Paris and London after a bomb from the second world war was found near Gare du Nord, one of Paris’s busiest stations. The 500kg munition was discovered during overnight rail works in Saint-Denis, a suburb in the north. The disruption comes in the midst of Paris Fashion Week, throwing travel plans into chaos.
Figure of the day: 45%, the share of women across the OECD who have a degree, compared with 36.9% of men. Read the full story.
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