A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.7 hit central Myanmar, according to the United States Geological Survey. It was strongly felt in Bangkok in neighboring Thailand, where hundreds of people rushed out of swaying buildings; a skyscraper collapsed, and over 40 people are trapped under rubble. Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency.
Mark Carney declared Canada’s “old relationship” with America, based on close economic ties and security co-operation, to be “over”. The new Canadian prime minister’s remarks came in response to Donald Trump’s tariffs, which are due to come into effect from April 2nd. Mr Carney added that Canada must “pivot our trade relationships elsewhere”. Currently, more than 75% of its exports go to America.
Stockmarkets in Asia dropped, as investors concerned about American tariffs sold shares in the region’s carmakers. The share price of Japan’s Toyota fell by 3% in morning trading; that of South Korea’s Hyundai dipped by 4.2%. America’s imminent introduction of a 25% levy on all foreign vehicles had already contributed to falls in American stockmarkets on Thursday.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, met European leaders in Paris. Despite a wavering White House, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer, Britain’s prime minister, said that Europe should maintain sanctions on Russia. They also reiterated their willingness to deploy a European “reassurance force” in Ukraine after a peace deal. Earlier France pledged €2bn ($2.2bn) in defence aid.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin floated the idea of setting up an interim government in Ukraine. A “transitional administration” under the United Nations’ supervision, he said, should oversee an election. Russia would hold peace talks with the winner of that election. Mr Putin claims that Mr Zelensky is an illegitimate president because he has remained in office after the end of his normal term. Ukraine’s law bans elections during wartime.
Mr Trump withdrew his nomination of Elise Stefanik, a Republican representative from New York, to be America’s UN ambassador. He is worried about defending the party’s small majority in the House of Representatives. It is still unclear who will replace Ms Stefanik.
Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister, said the country would hold its next federal election on May 3rd. Mr Albanese’s left-leaning Labor Party won power narrowly in Australia’s latest election in 2022. Australians may end up with a minority government; both Mr Albanese and his main rival, Peter Dutton from the right wing of the Liberal Party, are unpopular .
Figure of the day: 458, the number of elephant statues in the opulent Eisenhower Lounge of the Capitol Hill Club, a gathering spot for Washington’s Republican elite. Read the full story.
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