Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, said America’s economy was “in good shape” despite “elevated” uncertainty. He added that officials “do not need to be in a hurry” to cut interest rates. On Friday official data showed that America’s economy added 151,000 jobs in February, missing forecasts of 160,000. The unemployment rate rose from 4% to 4.1%. The S&P 500 ended the week down by 3.1%, its worst run since early September.
China announced tariffs on Canadian food products, retaliating for Canada’s own tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, as well as steel and aluminium products, in October. The new levies, which will take effect on March 20th, further heighten global trade tensions, which had already risen due to Donald Trump’s erratic policy.
South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was released from detention after a court quashed his arrest warrant, citing flaws in the indictment process. He remains suspended from presidential duties as his criminal and impeachment trials continue. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule soon on his removal from office. Tens of thousands protested near the court, calling for his dismissal, while supporters rallied in central Seoul.
At least 14 people were killed and 37 wounded in Russian strikes on Ukraine, officials said. Missiles hit homes in Dobropillia, a town in the east, killing 11, while three more died in Kharkiv, in the north. The attack came after America paused intelligence sharing, weakening Ukraine’s air defences. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, called for allies to toughen sanctions to restrict Russia’s war funding.
Infighting between factions of the Los Tiguerones gang in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, left 22 people dead, authorities said. Police arrested 14 suspects, including minors, and seized weapons. After the clashes, Daniel Noboa, the president, vowed that security forces would have free rein, saying, “Defend the country, I will defend you.” The violence comes as he escalates his war on gangs ahead of April’s election runoff.
Over 140 people have been killed in two days of clashes between Syrian security forces and supporters of Bashar al-Assad, the deposed president. A pro-Assad militia has vowed to overthrow the new Islamist-led government. Authorities imposed curfews and deployed reinforcements to the coast, home to many Alawites—Mr Assad’s sectarian stronghold.
The Trump administration cancelled $400m in federal grants to Columbia University, citing its “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students” and warning that the cuts were merely the “first round of action”. Last spring protests against the war in Gaza rocked the university, fuelling debates about free speech and campus policing. The administration said that Columbia holds more than $5bn in federal grants.
Word of the week: Sertanejo, Brazil’s most popular music genre, a country-inspired style reflecting the country’s rural and agricultural roots. Read the full story.
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency has brought exceptional changes to American politics—with consequences for the rest of the world, too. Read The US in brief, a daily update of the domestic political stories that matter. Sign up here to receive it as a newsletter, each weekday, in your inbox.