Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Trump confirmed 104% tariffs on Chinese goods taking effect after midnight, while signaling openness to negotiations with trading partners. China vowed to 'fight to the end' against the tariffs, labeling them blackmail and adding a 'mistake on top of a mistake.'

Global stock markets experienced extreme volatility with a $4 trillion loss in wealth across three days as investors reacted to Trump's tariff escalation. Wall Street traders warned of recession risk despite Treasury Secretary Reeves attempting to soothe market jitters.

Trump signed executive orders to allow coal-fired power plants to remain open, citing demand from data centers, AI, and electric vehicles. Environmentalists opposed the move as a step backward.

A judge ordered the Trump White House to lift access restrictions on the Associated Press, restoring journalist access to White House spaces while the news agency's lawsuit moves forward.

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked a ruling requiring the rehiring of approximately 16,000 federal workers laid off in Trump's purge, ruling 7-2 that the dismissed employees lacked legal standing to challenge their terminations.

The Trump Justice Department announced the dissolution of its cryptocurrency fraud investigation unit effective immediately, according to a memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

A judge gave the Trump administration a deadline to justify the deportation of Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, suggesting she may rule for his release if evidence does not support the deportation. The case highlights the administration's immigration crackdown on foreign nationals.

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett drew condemnation from the far right for ruling alongside liberal justices against the Trump administration in a Venezuela deportation case involving the Alien Enemies Act.

The IRS agreed to share tax information of undocumented immigrants with ICE, giving immigration enforcers unprecedented access to aid in deportation efforts.

Iran stated that talks with the U.S. would be indirect, contradicting Trump's claims of imminent 'direct talks.' Trump had previously warned Iran would be in 'great danger' if negotiations failed.