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India Overhauls Himalayan Buddhist Monastery Education To Counter China

By
Team StratNews;
-
President Droupadi Murmu Receives ‘City Key Of Honour’ In Lisbon

India is set to launch its first school curriculum for Buddhist monasteries this month, aiming to standardise education and promote patriotism in Himalayan religious centres near the China border.

Home to many ancient monasteries, as the birthplace of Buddhism, India received an influx of Tibetans in the 1950s that led to many new institutions being set up, but now it seeks to insulate religious learning from China’s influence.

“We are trying to inculcate Indian identity through education along with Buddhism to make sure China can never control our monasteries in the Himalayas,” said Maling Gombu, a Buddhist worker of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Thousands of children living and studying in remote monasteries deserve education recognised and certified by India,” added Gombu, one of a team promoting Indian Buddhist traditions and national education in Arunachal Pradesh.

The border state is claimed by China, but New Delhi rejects this.

Buddhist Traditions

About 600 monasteries scattered across the northern states of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh offer training in four types of Tibetan and Indian Buddhist traditions.

They also teach modern subjects and English, but the courses lack consistency outside a national education effort that aims to weld an overarching identity from India’s patchwork of languages and religions.

“The non-religious education taught by monks or nuns is not acknowledged outside monasteries,” said Rajeev Kumar Singh, a director of the education ministry’s National Institute of Open Schooling.

Singh, who has worked on the new curriculum that caps a five-year assessment effort, said it hoped to prepare Indian and Tibetan students for academic life in India.

“They (Tibetans) are free to learn Tibetan history and their tradition, but they should learn about India as they reside here and require proper education to secure jobs outside monasteries.”

A government document reviewed by Reuters showed that 20 monasteries near the 3,000-km (1,860-mile) border with China have agreed to adopt the new curriculum, with the rest to be phased in later in the year.

More Time Needed

While authorities negotiate individually with monasteries to take up the syllabus, they also need time to print up new textbooks and locate teachers to staff the schools, most in sparsely populated areas, officials said.

But monks in some monasteries, such as the Gontse Garden Rabgye Ling in Arunachal Pradesh, say their syllabus, focused on Buddhist philosophy, along with modern education, is carefully curated to meet the needs of children who may become preachers.

“We don’t think the introduction of a government-mandated syllabus is required in our monastery as it can break the rhythm designed since the 1970s,” said Geshe Dondup, a religious teacher at the monastery, home to about 300 students this year.

Tens of thousands of Tibetans sought refuge in India, where their spiritual leader and Nobel Peace laureate, the Dalai Lama, fled as Chinese troops crushed an attempted uprising in their homeland in 1959.

Tibetan Refugees

About 75,000 Tibetan refugees now live in settlements managed by the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which controls some monasteries directly, though not those outside the Tibetan tradition.

Reuters reviewed the first batch of textbooks prepared for monasteries by education ministry officials and Indian Buddhist scholars, which delve into India’s modern and ancient history, and the nation’s role in Tibet’s freedom struggle.

The texts also emphasise mathematics, science and computer training, besides mandatory studies in English, Hindi and the native Bhoti language.

The CTA’s education minister, Tharlam Dolma, said monastery schools have historically been managed by monks and nuns based on their funding, and the CTA lacked governance rights over them. An official in the Dalai Lama’s office did not comment.

India will begin offering funds to monasteries, run for decades by different sects of Buddhism with the help of foreign aid, to recruit teachers, pay stipends to monks and pave the way for annual examinations.

In its effort to unify school programmes, a court essentially banned Islamic schools in India’s most populous state in March last year, saying they violated constitutional secularism and ordering students moved to conventional schools.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a home ministry official said streamlining education in monasteries in far-flung strategic areas was part of a larger plan to fence off religious institutions from China’s influence.

A home ministry spokesperson did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Last year, the Asian giants began unwinding a military standoff on their disputed border since clashes in 2020 killed two dozen troops, but India aims to spend more to develop border areas amid the slow thaw in ties.

(With inputs from Reuters)

More Countries Will Get Nuclear Weapons: Russian Ex-President Medvedev

By
Team StratNews;
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Russia's Deputy head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev takes part in a wreath laying ceremony marking Defender of the Fatherland Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Russia, February 23, 2024. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned on Tuesday that more countries would acquire nuclear weapons in the coming years, accusing the West of driving the world toward the brink of World War Three through its proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.

Medvedev, who cast himself as a liberal moderniser when he was president from 2008-2012, now presents himself as an anti-Western Kremlin hawk. Diplomats say his remarks give an indication of thinking at the top levels of the Kremlin elite.

In a post about the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, which he signed with then U.S. President Barack Obama in Prague in 2010, Medvedev said the risk of nuclear conflict was at an all-time high. The treaty is due to expire in February 2026.

Referring to recent statements from the leaders of France and Britain about their nuclear arsenals, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council chastised European powers for what he said was sabre-rattling over their “meagre strategic capabilities” and said the situation was fraught with danger.

“The situation is such that even with the complete cessation of the conflict over so-called ‘Ukraine’ nuclear disarmament, in the coming decades is impossible,” Medvedev wrote on his official Telegram channel.

“The world will create new, more destructive types of weapons, and new countries will acquire nuclear arsenals.”

Russia and the United States are by far the world’s biggest nuclear powers, with about 88% of all nuclear weapons, followed by China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

(With inputs from Reuters)

WTO Reviews Staff Costs After U.S. Pauses Funding

By
Team StratNews;
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A logo is seen at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters before a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, October 5, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

On Tuesday, the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced that it is reviewing its staff costs following a pause in funding by the U.S.

Reuters reported on March 27 that the U.S., the top donor to the WTO budget, had paused its contributions, including unpaid dues for 2024 pending a review of its support to international bodies – in a move confirmed by the U.S. government.

Since then, trade sources told Reuters that WTO staff had been informed about incoming measures to reduce spending such as not replacing some retiring staff or short-term hires.

The WTO, which has 630 staff, said that it has no plans for fixed and regular staff reductions at this time.

New Committee Appointed

“In a recent town hall, the Director-General (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) informed staff that in response to the current financial climate, Senior Management is exercising fiscal prudence by curtailing or deferring expenditures as necessary,” WTO spokesperson Ismaila Dieng said in response to Reuters’ questions.

He added that a newly formed ‘Staffing Resource Needs Committee’ would review vacancies and related expenditures.

The measures come against a backdrop of recent U.S. criticism of WTO spending and five years after its top court was paralysed under Trump’s first term, amid U.S. concerns about overreach.

‘Systemic Concerns’

A U.S. delegate previously raised budget concerns about a meeting to mark the 30th anniversary of the organisation which is now grappling with the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on global trade.

Washington will also raise “systemic concerns” about the WTO’s actions at a meeting on Wednesday, an agenda document showed.

“… It has become readily apparent that the (WTO) Secretariat is moving away from its Member-driven purposes, and is attempting to re-invent itself into a resource to be provided to the public, regardless of Members’ views or the impact that such activities may be having on Members’ interests or budget contributions,” a U.S. delegation document showed.

The WTO budget of 205 million Swiss francs ($239.99 million) is smaller than many other global bodies, some of which have been badly hit by Trump’s spending cuts.

Delegates say that it would theoretically be easy for any one of the WTO’s 166 members to entirely block the next budget later this year since such decisions must be taken by consensus.

A spokesperson for the U.S. mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

($1 = 0.8542 Swiss francs)

(With inputs from Reuters)

Tariff Tension And A Call To Speed Up India-U.S. BTA Talks

By
Huma Siddiqui;
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India US BTA

Following the Trump administration’s imposition of reciprocal tariffs, India and the U.S. are making efforts to accelerate negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation on Monday. This was the first call since President Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs.

The Tariffs Announcement & April 9

The announcement came as part of a broader trade policy that sees U.S. tariffs on all Indian imports set at 26%. The initial round, a 10% base tariff, was enforced on April 5, with the rest is set to take effect on April 9.

This move rattled financial markets globally, with India’s Sensex and Nifty plummeting over 3% on Monday. In the midst of this volatility, India has refrained from retaliating with counter-tariffs. Instead, it has been focusing on the BTA, hoping that a successful deal could mitigate the effects of these tariffs.

In their call, both Jaishankar and Rubio agreed on the urgency of concluding the BTA fast. Jaishankar expressed optimism, noting on social media: “Good to speak with US Secretary of State Rubio today. [We] agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement. [I] look forward to remaining in touch.”

About BTA

The BTA is seen as key to reducing trade barriers and deepening the economic partnership between India and the US.
India’s main concern is how the new tariffs could impact key export sectors. Industries like textiles, automotive and machinery are heavily reliant on access to U.S. markets.

A study by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) warned that India’s exports to the U.S. could decline by as much as $5.76 billion this year if the tariffs remain in place.

The U.S. is also seeking greater access to Indian markets for American goods. The Trump administration has long criticized India’s tariffs on U.S. products, especially in sectors like agriculture, electronics and medical devices.

U.S. State Department Statement

According to US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, both sides underlined the strength of the US-India strategic partnership and acknowledged the need for progress toward a “fair and balanced” trade relationship. The discussions between Jaishankar and Rubio also touched on broader regional issues, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian subcontinent and other global areas of mutual interest.

India Focuses On Discussion, Not Retaliation

India has not retaliated against the tariffs, a decision that aligns with the U.S. Treasury Secretary’s advice to avoid escalating. In a recent interview, the Treasury Secretary warned against counter-tariffs, urging affected countries to “sit back” and “take it in”. The U.S. is also engaged in trade disputes with other major economies, including China. It has imposed retaliatory tariffs on Beijing, increasing concerns about a global trade war.

The growing uncertainty in global markets has led experts to believe that a well-negotiated BTA could offer a steadying effect, especially for India. Indian exports to the U.S. have been significantly impacted by earlier tariff hikes.

While the U.S. has placed the burden of tariffs on India, Indian officials are optimistic that an agreement could bring about a much-needed reduction in tariffs and broader access for American goods in Indian markets.

India’s Commerce Ministry has stated that it is closely studying the implications of the tariffs and remains focused on finalising the first phase of the BTA by the end of 2025. If successful, the agreement could provide a strategic economic advantage, not only softening the impact of tariffs but also boosting India’s global trade standing.

Amidst Geopolitical Churn, Modi To Visit Saudi Arabia

By
Huma Siddiqui;
-
Modi saudi arabia visit

The focus will be on defence and security, trade and investments, and visa-related matters during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia later this month (likely on April 22-23).

A key aspect of this bilateral engagement is growing defence cooperation, underscored by joint exercises and increased military exchanges.

Maritime Security & Defence Cooperation

The deepening defence relationship is represented by joint naval exercises and increasing military expertise exchanges. The upcoming third edition of the Al-Mohed Al Hindi naval exercise reflects this growing partnership.

The first such exercise took place in August 2021, followed by a successful drill in May 2023. These exercises provide the Indian Navy with strategic leverage, particularly in the region stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca.

“These military exercises reflect the growing recognition of India as a trusted defence partner,” a senior officer told StratNews Global.

The bilateral defence collaboration includes India’s $225 million artillery ammunition deal with Saudi Arabia. This followed an $80 million agreement in 2023. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to localise 50% of its defence expenditure, offers significant opportunities for India.

Ties with Saudi Arabia have also expanded through joint exercises across domains. The first joint land force exercise Sada Tanseeq took place in Rajasthan in early 2024. “The focus was to enable the Indian and Saudi armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for operations in the sub-conventional zone,” according to a military official.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia has shown interest in India’s defence training facilities. Over the past two years, 80 Saudi naval cadets have been trained in India.

These growing defence engagements contribute not only to bilateral security but also to regional stability in West Asia. Both countries are committed to safeguarding maritime trade routes and securing global chokepoints, which are crucial to the global economy.

During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Riyadh in 2019, both countries emphasized the importance of securing waterways in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf. The upcoming visit will expand this to include cybersecurity, combating transnational crimes and ensuring the freedom of navigation.

India-Saudi Growing Relations

“There has been intense engagement with Saudi Arabia since the G20 summit in New Delhi. We are seeing high-level visits from both sides, including those of ministers of commerce and defence. These discussions are laying the groundwork for long-term security cooperation,” says Suhel Ajaz Khan, India’s Ambassador to Riyadh.

The Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia contributes to this partnership. Over 2.65 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, engaged in sectors such as construction, services and technology.
“The Indian community’s contribution to the economic development of Saudi Arabia is widely recognised,” Ambassador Khan highlighted. The National Skill Development Corporation is helping Indian workers meet Saudi Arabia’s evolving workforce needs.

On the economic front, Modi’s visit is expected to focus on enhancing trade and investments in various sectors, including tourism, renewable energy, shipping and sports. As India accelerates its infrastructure development, both nations see substantial potential for collaboration.

Md. Muddassir Quamar, Associate Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, observed: “Saudi Arabia has initiated mega projects to develop and augment physical infrastructure and is inviting investments from across the globe.” India, with its growing infrastructure expertise, is well-positioned to play a key role here.

Connectivity & IMEC

Another important topic of discussion during Modi’s visit will be the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

“IMEC is expected to play a pivotal role in transforming Saudi Arabia into a global logistical hub, bridging Asia and Europe,” said Quamar. Both countries are expected to explore ways to expedite its implementation, further strengthening bilateral ties and contributing to regional economic stability.

Visa-related matters will also be a topic of concern. Ahead of Modi’s visit, Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended the issuance of Umrah, business and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries, including India, effective until mid-June 2025. This suspension is linked to overcrowding and safety concerns during Hajj.

Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in India spans several sectors, including pharmaceuticals. Companies like Dr. Reddy’s and MSN Labs are increasing their presence in the kingdom. This sector, along with food imports and textiles, is set to boost bilateral trade further.

US Supreme Court Allows Trump To Resume Deportations Under 1798 Law

By
Team StratNews;
-

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed Donald Trump to use a 1798 wartime-era law to pursue deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members, supporting his hardline immigration stance—though with some limitations.

The Supreme Court, in an unsigned 5-4 ruling powered by conservative justices, granted the administration’s request to lift Washington-based Judge James Boasberg’s March 15 order that had temporarily blocked the summary deportations under Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act while litigation in the case continues.

Judicial Review

Despite siding with the administration, the court’s majority placed limits on how deportations may occur, emphasising that judicial review is required.

Detainees “must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act. The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs,” the majority wrote.

The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the court’s three liberal justices dissented.

Trump’s administration has argued that Boasberg had encroached on presidential authority to make national security decisions.

“The Supreme Court has upheld the Rule of Law in our Nation by allowing a President, whoever that may be, to be able to secure our Borders, and protect our families and our Country, itself,” Trump wrote on social media.

Alien Enemies Act

Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act on March 15 to swiftly deport the alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, attempting to speed up removals with a law best known for its use to intern Japanese, Italian and German immigrants during World War Two.

In Monday’s decision, the court said that to challenge the legitimacy of their detention under the Alien Enemies Act, detainees must pursue so-called habeas corpus claims in the federal judicial district where a detainee is located. That means that the proper venue for this litigation was in Texas, not the District of Columbia, the court said.

The ruling said the Supreme Court was not resolving the validity of the Trump administration’s reliance on that law to carry out the deportations.

The plaintiffs in the case “challenge the government’s interpretation of the Act and assert that they do not fall within the category of removable alien enemies. But we do not reach those arguments,” the court decided.

In a legal challenge handled by the American Civil Liberties Union, a group of Venezuelan men in the custody of U.S. immigration authorities sued on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, seeking to block the deportations.

They argued, among other things, that Trump’s order exceeded his powers because the Alien Enemies Act authorizes removals only when war has been declared or the United States has been invaded.

The law authorises the president to deport, detain or place restrictions on individuals whose primary allegiance is to a foreign power and who might pose a national security risk in wartime.

Due Process

Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with ACLU and lead counsel representing the detainees, framed the court’s decision as a win for his side.

“This ruling means we will need to start the court process over again in a different venue, but the critical point is that the Supreme Court said individuals must be given due process to challenge their removal under the Alien Enemies Act,” Gelernt said. “That is a huge victory.”

The dissenting justices, in an opinion written by liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, criticized the majority’s “dubious” conclusions in the case and for acting with just a few days of deliberation.

There is “every reason to question the majority’s hurried conclusion that habeas relief supplies the exclusive means to challenge removal under the Alien Enemies Act,” Sotomayor wrote.

Sotomayor said that federal courts called upon to review these cases going forward will probe the interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act, including whether there is an “invasion” or “predatory incursion” justifying its use, and “whether any given individual is in fact a member of Tren de Aragua.”

Requiring detainees to make individual claims across the country “risks exposing them to severe and irreparable harm,” Sotomayor wrote in part of the dissent joined by the two other liberal justices and not Barrett. One risk is that they will not know whether they will remain in detention where they are arrested or be secretly transferred to an alternative location, Sotomayor said.

“That requirement may have life or death consequences,” Sotomayor wrote.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Trump Admin Plans Daily Fines For Migrants Facing Deportation

By
Team StratNews;
-

The Trump administration is considering imposing daily fines of up to $998 on migrants facing deportation orders if they fail to leave the United States. Additionally, it plans to seize their property if the fines go unpaid, according to documents examined by Reuters.

The fines stem from a 1996 law that was enforced for the first time in 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. The Trump administration plans to apply the penalties retroactively for up to five years, which could result in fines of more than $1 million, a senior Trump official said, requesting anonymity to discuss non-public plans.

Self Deport, Or Face Consequences

In response to questions from Reuters, U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that immigrants in the U.S. illegally should use a mobile app formerly known as CBP One – rebranded as CBP Home under Trump – to “self deport and leave the country now.”

“If they don’t, they will face the consequences,” McLaughlin said. “This includes a fine of $998 per day for every day that the illegal alien overstayed their final deportation order.”

DHS warned of the fines in a March 31 social media post.

Emails reviewed by Reuters show the White House has pressed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to handle the issue of penalties, property seizures for migrants who don’t pay, and the sale of their assets.

The Department of Justice’s civil asset forfeiture division could be another option for the seizures, one email said.

President Donald Trump kicked off a sweeping immigration crackdown after taking office in January, testing the bounds of U.S. law to increase arrests and deportations. The planned fines target the roughly 1.4 million migrants who have been ordered removed by an immigration judge.

White House Pressure

Trump invoked the 1996 law during his first term to levy fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars against nine migrants seeking sanctuary in churches. The administration withdrew the penalties but then proceeded with smaller fines of about $60,000 per person against at least four of the migrants, according to court records.

President Joe Biden stopped issuing the fines and rescinded related policies when he took office in 2021.

Scott Shuchart, a top ICE policy official under Biden, said migrants and their supporters could challenge the fines in court but that the threat alone could have a chilling effect.

“Their point isn’t really to enforce the law, it’s to project fear in communities,” he said.

DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The proposed asset seizures against the migrants who fail to comply with final deportation orders could impact U.S. citizens or permanent residents in their households.

The immigration advocacy group FWD.us estimates that some 10 million migrants with no legal status or temporary protections are living with U.S. citizens or permanent residents in what are known as “mixed status households.”

The steep fines could hit lower-income immigrants. An analysis of 2019 Census data by the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute found 26% of households with unauthorized immigrants had incomes below the federal poverty line.

Trump has said people with final deportation orders should be a priority for removal although many have families, jobs and established ties in the U.S.

Passing The Buck

The White House National Security Council and Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy, have been pressing CBP to administer the fines and handle seizures, a CBP official wrote in a March 31 email reviewed by Reuters.

But a CBP memo a day later, also reviewed by Reuters, argued for ICE to take on the task instead. The memo said that CBP’s systems do not currently support this type of immigration fine and that upgrading it could lead to significant costs and implementation delays.

The memo anticipated CBP would need at least 1,000 new paralegal specialists, up from the current staffing of 313.

The start date for the fines remained unclear. DHS did not comment on Miller’s involvement or the technical aspects of implementing the penalties.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Storm Israel-Linked Brand Outlets Across Bangladesh

By
Team StratNews;
-
Mob ransacked a Pizza Hut store in Bangladesh on Monday, April 7, 2025. Photo courtesy: X/Bangladesh Perspectives

Widespread pro-Palestinian protests erupted across Bangladesh on Monday, as demonstrators targeted businesses perceived to have links with Israel, including Bata, KFC, and Pizza Hut.

The unrest spanned multiple districts such as Bogra, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, and Chittagong, with protestors denouncing Israeli military actions in Gaza and urging a boycott of Israeli products.

In Bogra, large crowds—primarily students—gathered in the city center to express outrage over the violence in Gaza.

Protest Rally Turns Violent

The protest began with a march from several educational institutions and culminated at Satmatha, the city’s central intersection. There, demonstrators stormed a Bata outlet, shattering its glass facade.

Despite the aggression, employees managed to lock the premises and prevent further damage.

Protesters carried banners, placards, and festoons, chanting slogans condemning what they described as genocide in Palestine. The demonstration brought traffic to a standstill in several parts of the city.

Students from institutions including Govt Azizul Haque College took part in the rally under the collective banner of “General Students, Bogra,” voicing solidarity with Palestinians and denouncing Israeli policies.

In Sylhet, protestors attacked a KFC outlet in the Mirboxtula area, reportedly smashing bottles of soft drinks associated with Israeli companies, according to Bangla Tribune.

The restaurant was promptly closed, and police intervened to restore calm.

Israel-Linked Businesses Targeted

Speakers at the rallies called on both the Bangladeshi government and the United Nations to take firm action in implementing a boycott of Israeli-linked goods.

They also condemned the ongoing attacks on Palestinian civilians, including children and women, urging global solidarity against the violence.

In Cox’s Bazar, demonstrators rallied in the Kalatali area, where they threw stones at KFC and Pizza Hut signboards, shattering glass windows.

Videos circulating on social media showed large crowds involved in the vandalism, with witnesses reporting that several nearby restaurants were also affected.

Chittagong witnessed similar unrest, where protestors damaged two restaurants — KFC and Pizza Hut — during a rally near the GEC intersection.

The demonstration escalated into violence, with protestors pelting the establishments with stones, bricks, and shoes, causing significant damage to their glass storefronts.

These demonstrations, spread across several cities, reflect growing public outrage in Bangladesh over the conflict in Gaza, with calls intensifying for a nationwide boycott of Israeli-affiliated businesses and strong support for the Palestinian cause.

Dozens Arrested

Bangladeshi authorities have detained 49 individuals in connection with the recent incidents of vandalism and looting targeting shops and businesses across the country.

According to the press office of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, law enforcement agencies responded swiftly to the unrest and criminal activities that unfolded during protest demonstrations in several cities. So far, 49 suspects have been taken into custody.

Local police confirmed that two cases have been filed in connection with the incidents, and investigations are currently ongoing. Legal proceedings are being initiated against those found to be involved.

US Warns Citizens

Following the violence, the U.S. embassy in Dhaka issued a warning on Monday, alerting its citizens in Bangladesh about the widespread vandalism during the pro-Palestinian protests.

“U.S. citizens should practice vigilance….You should avoid demonstrations and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings,” a statement from the embassy read.

“Review personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates,” it added.

Trump Administration Cuts Food Aid, Putting Millions At Risk, Sources Say

By
Team StratNews;
-
food assistance

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is ending nearly all remaining food assistance to Afghanistan and Yemen, according to aid officials on Monday. The U.N. World Food Programme warned the move could be “a death sentence” for millions of people.

The cuts were among numerous aid programs terminated for more than a dozen countries – including Somalia and Syria – over the weekend by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Sarah Charles, a former head of USAID’s humanitarian affairs bureau, and nine sources, including six current U.S. officials involved in humanitarian aid who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The total amount of aid cut was over $1.3 billion, according figures provided by Stand Up For Aid, a grassroots advocacy group. That includes $562 million for Afghanistan, $107 million for Yemen, $170 million for Somalia, $237 million for Syria and $12 million for Gaza.

The U.N. World Food Programme warned that the termination of U.S. funding for emergency food assistance “could amount to a death sentence for millions of people facing extreme hunger and starvation,” and said it was in contact with the Trump administration for more information.

In a Post on X, WFP chief Cindy McCain said funding cuts “will deepen hunger, fuel instability, and make the world far less safe.”

A State Department spokesperson referred Reuters to the White House when asked about the program terminations. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the U.N. was trying to get details on the canceled contracts.

Plan To Dismantle USAID?

The cuts are the latest piece of the Trump administration’s drive to dismantle USAID, the main U.S. humanitarian aid agency. His administration has canceled billions of dollars in life-saving programs since the Republican president began his second term on January 20.

Many of the terminated programs had been granted waivers by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio from cuts to foreign aid programs made by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency since February, three of the sources said.

The U.S. has been the largest aid donor to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and to Yemen, most of which is controlled by Islamist militants of the Iran-backed Houthi movement. Both countries have suffered years of devastating war.

“Every remaining USAID award for Afghanistan was terminated,” said one source. The officials said the canceled funds included assistance for a U.N. agency that helps women and girls, the WFP and at least six non-governmental organizations.

Assistance to Afghans provided by the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration also was terminated, five sources said.

The terminations will worsen the world’s humanitarian crises, putting millions of desperate people at risk of starvation, and could fuel new waves of illegal immigration, according to several sources and experts.

“Despite continued assurances that lifesaving programs would be protected during the Trump Administration’s ‘review’ of foreign assistance, DOGE spent the weekend canceling aid that the administration previously told Congress would be retained,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

She said the end of food assistance would “have devastating consequences” and she looked forward to hearing more from Rubio.

The Most Vulnerable

Among the cuts this weekend were $169.8 million for the WFP in Somalia, covering food assistance, nutrition for malnourished babies and children and humanitarian air support. In Syria, $111 million was cut from WFP food assistance.

Nearly 23 million people, more than half of whom are children, are in need of assistance in Afghanistan, according to the U.N. The WFP says it provided emergency food and cash to nearly 12 million Afghans last year, prioritizing the help for women and girls facing “extreme hunger.”

“The Afghan awards were very carefully targeted at the most life-saving activities,” said Charles, who left USAID in January 2024. “This will be devastating to the most vulnerable in Afghanistan who are … under the thumb of the Taliban.”

The U.N. says the U.S. has so far given $206 million in assistance for Afghanistan this year. Last year, it was the largest donor – giving $736 million – to the country wrecked by decades of war that ended with the Taliban seizing power as the U.S. withdrew its last troops in August 2021.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on sexual and reproductive health, was first told at the end of February that a $24 million two-year grant for work in Afghanistan had been terminated. At the same time, a $17 million two-year grant for work in Syria was also terminated.

Both terminations were rescinded by Washington within days. On Friday, both grants were once again terminated, UNFPA said.

Economic Instability Could Boost Extremist Groups

The cutoff of aid to Afghanistan also could unleash new economic instability as it will affect shipments of dollars to a private bank in Kabul for exchange into afghanis, the national currency, by the United Nations to fund aid operations.

The cuts may also stoke conditions that prompt people to join extremist groups like Islamic State’s Afghanistan-based branch, known as ISIS-K, U.S. officials said.

Reuters also reviewed the text of a USAID letter informing an undisclosed Yemen aid contractor that the termination was ordered by Jeremy Lewin, an acting USAID assistant administrator and a DOGE operative overseeing the dismantling of USAID, including the termination of thousands of employees.

“The decision to terminate this individual award,” the letter said, “is pursuant to a review and determination that the award is inconsistent with the Administration’s priorities.”

According to U.N. data, more than 19 million of Yemen’s 35 million people are in need of help, with some 17 million “food insecure.” The U.S., which has provided $768 million last year according to the U.N., has provided so far this year $15 million in assistance to Yemen.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Jaishankar, Rubio Discuss India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement

By
Team StratNews;
-

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) on Monday.

The Jaishankar-Rubio Bilateral Trade Agreement talks took place just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced major tariffs on several nations, including India.

The U.S. imposed 26 percent tariffs on all Indian imports.

After the meeting, S. Jaishankar wrote on X: “Good to speak with @SecRubio today.”

“Exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Sub-continent, Europe, Middle East/West Asia and the Caribbean,” he said.

“Agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement. Look forward to remaining in touch,” Jaishankar said.

U.S. Secretary of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the two leaders affirmed the strength of the U.S.-India strategic partnership and discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.

“They also discussed U.S. reciprocal tariffs on India and how to make progress toward a fair and balanced trade relationship,” Bruce said.

This was the first high-level contact between India and the US since Trump announced tariffs on April 2.

India-US Trade Agreement

As a follow up to the India-U.S. Joint Statement of 13 February 2025, wherein the two sides agreed to expand bilateral trade to reach $ 500 Billion by 2030, including through the conclusion of a Bilateral Trade Agreement, representatives of India’s Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative convened in New Delhi from 26-29 March 2025.

In order to realise the shared objective of promoting growth that ensures fairness, national security and job creation, both sides have through four-days of discussions in New Delhi broadly come to an understanding on the next steps towards a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), with the goal to finalise its first tranche by fall 2025.

“Sectoral expert level engagements under the BTA will start virtually in the coming weeks and pave the path for an early negotiating round in person. During these discussions, the two sides also had a productive exchange of views on deepening bilateral cooperation in priority areas, including increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and deepening supply chain integration in a mutually beneficial manner,” the Indian government said in a statement last month.

The meeting in New Delhi followed the visit of Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal to Washington, D.C., from March 4-6, 2025, during which he met his U.S. counterparts – U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and subsequent video conferences between the two sides.

(With inputs from IBNS)

PM Wong: US Tariffs ‘Not What Friends Do’ To Singapore

By
Team StratNews;
-
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaks during a signing ceremony and press conference at the Government House, in Bangkok, Thailand, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

On Tuesday, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that the US’ 10% universal tariff rate appears unlikely to be up for negotiation and cautioned that a global escalation of trade conflicts could lead to significant disruptions in the domestic economy.

Wong in an address to parliament said there was no doubt trade-reliant Singapore’s growth would be significantly impacted, and the government would likely revise down its gross domestic product growth forecasts, but it was unclear if the city-state would go into recession this year.

The current trade ministry GDP forecast for 2025 is 1% to 3%.

Singapore Unhappy

“It doesn’t look like the 10% universal rate is open for negotiation. This seems to be the fixed minimum tariff, regardless of a country’s trade balance or existing trade arrangements,” he said.

Singapore escaped the much larger tariff rates imposed on many of its Southeast Asian neighbours last week but has taken issue with the imposition of the 10% universal rate due to its free-trade agreement with Washington.

“We are very disappointed by the U.S. move, especially considering the deep and longstanding friendship between our two countries. These are not actions one does to a friend,” Wong said, adding Singapore would not impose retaliatory tariffs.

He also said “the likelihood of a full-blown global trade war is growing”, anticipating weaker near-term global growth and reduced demand for Singapore’s goods and services.

Job Losses

He warned that if companies relocate from Singapore to the U.S., there would be job losses and retrenchments.

“The government will do everything we can to navigate through the choppy waters and ensure no one is left behind,” he added.

The United States had a goods trade surplus of $2.8 billion with Singapore last year, according to the website of the U.S. Trade Representative website states. However, Singapore Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong last week said the U.S. trade surplus with Singapore amounted to a “substantial” $30 billion in 2024.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Taiwan Open To Talks With U.S. On Tariffs At Any Time, Says Foreign Minister

By
Team StratNews;
-
Taiwan

Taiwan is ready to hold discussions with the United States on tariffs whenever needed, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said on Tuesday, as the island’s stock market stabilized after a sharp drop the previous day amid trade concerns.

Major semiconductor producer Taiwan, hit with a 32% duty, was singled out by U.S. President Donald Trump as among the U.S. trading partners with one of the highest trade surpluses with the country.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Sunday proposed a zero-tariffs regime with the United States, and to invest more in the country and remove trade barriers.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of parliament, Lin said that Taiwan was ready to talk about a variety of issues with the United States, including investment in and purchases from the country and non-tariff barriers.

“As long as there is a confirmed time and method for negotiations, they can be discussed at any time with the United States,” he added.

Premier Cho Jung-tai, also speaking at parliament, said Taiwan was indeed one of those U.S. trading partners seeking talks and the government would choose an appropriate time to present Lai’s plans to the United States.

Cho’s ‘Comprehensive’ Plan

Cho declined to give details of talks with the United States, Taiwan’s most important international backer despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.

“We definitely have a comprehensive plan, we have the right people, and we will be able to go and have positive negotiations,” he added.

Taiwan’s benchmark stock index, which logged its worst fall ever on Monday, down almost 10%, fell another 4% on Tuesday morning to its lowest level in 14 months. Shares in TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, dropped around 4%.

Shares in Foxconn, Apple’s biggest iPhone maker, dropped almost 10%, their daily down limit, extending their previous day’s drop.

While the selling pressure was unrelenting, Tuesday’s losses came as Asian stocks bounced off 1-1/2-year lows and U.S. stock futures pointed higher, with markets catching their breath after recent heavy selling on hopes that Washington might be willing to negotiate some of its aggressive tariffs.

Taiwan has repeatedly said its large trade surplus with the United States is due to soaring demand for tech, given its companies are major suppliers to companies like Apple and Nvidia.

In a statement on Tuesday, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan expressed its strong concern about the tariffs, and called on Washington to exempt Taiwan from trade actions that could “jeopardise the stability and trust underpinning the U.S.-Taiwan relationship”.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Trump Says U.S., Iran To Begin Nuclear Talks; Tehran Insists They’ll Be Indirect

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Team StratNews;
-

President Donald Trump on Monday unexpectedly announced that the U.S. and Iran were ready to start direct talks over Tehran’s nuclear program, while Iran’s foreign minister said the discussions in Oman would be conducted indirectly.

In a further sign of the difficult path to any deal between the two geopolitical foes, Trump issued a stark warning that if the talks were unsuccessful, “Iran is going to be in great danger.”

Iran had pushed back against Trump’s demands in recent weeks that it directly negotiate over its nuclear program or be bombed, and it appeared to be sticking to that position on Monday.

“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started. It’ll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting, and we’ll see what can happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable,” Trump said. He added that Saturday’s talks with Iran would be at a very high level, without elaborating. He declined to say where the talks would take place but held out the possibility that a deal could be reached.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X that indirect high-level talks would be held in Oman, adding, “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court.”

On Tuesday, Iran’s state media said the talks would be led by Araqchi and U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, with the intermediation of Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi.

Previous Efforts Were Futile

The U.S. and Iran held indirect talks during former President Joe Biden’s term but they made little if any progress. The last known direct negotiations between the two governments were under then-President Barack Obama, who spearheaded the 2015 international nuclear deal that Trump later abandoned.

Warnings by Trump of military action against Iran had jangled already tense nerves across the Middle East after open warfare in Gaza and Lebanon, military strikes on Yemen, a change of leadership in Syria and Israeli-Iranian exchanges of fire.

Trump, who has beefed up the U.S. military presence in the region since taking office in January, has said he would prefer a deal over Iran’s nuclear program to armed confrontation and on March 7 said he had written to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to suggest talks.

Iranian officials said at the time that Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and if the talks aren’t successful I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday.

Direct talks would not occur without the explicit approval of Khamenei, who in February said negotiations with the U.S. were “not smart, wise, or honorable.”

Iran Favours Indirect Negotiations

Hours before Trump’s announcement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran was awaiting a U.S. response to Tehran’s proposal for indirect negotiations. He said the Islamic Republic believed it was making a generous, responsible and honorable offer.

After Trump spoke, a senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: “The talks will not be direct … It will be with Oman’s mediation.” Oman, which maintains good relations with both the U.S. and Iran, has been a longtime channel for messages between the rival states.

Iran’s Nournews, affiliated with the country’s top security body, described Trump’s statement about a planned direct meeting as part of a “psychological operation aimed at influencing domestic and international public opinion.”

A second Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said over the weekend there was possibly a window of around two months to reach a deal, citing worries that Iran’s longtime foe Israel might launch its own attack if talks took longer.
Netanyahu, who has shown little support for U.S. negotiations with Iran, said if diplomacy could prevent Tehran from ever getting nuclear weapons “in a full way, the way it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing.”

During his 2017-2021 term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers designed to curb Iran’s sensitive nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump also reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions.

Since then, Iran has far surpassed that deal’s limits on uranium enrichment.

West Blames Iran

Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program.

Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes.

The White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for details.

The shift comes at a precarious time for Tehran’s regional “Axis of Resistance” which it has established at great cost over decades to oppose Israel and U.S. influence. The axis has been severely weakened since the Palestinian group Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, tipped the Middle East into conflict.

Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been hammered by Israel since the Gaza war began while the Houthi movement in Yemen has been targeted by U.S. airstrikes since last month. Israel severely damaged Iran’s air defences last year.

The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, another key Iranian ally, has further weakened the Islamic Republic’s influence.

(With inputs from Reuters)

NATO Official Vice Admiral Chatfield Fired In Pentagon Shakeup

By
Team StratNews;
-
U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield. via US Navy

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, a senior official in NATO, has been fired from her position in what appears to be a growing purge of top officials by the Trump administration, sources told Reuters on Monday.

The information was not immediately confirmed by the Pentagon. However, the sources told Reuters that allies had been notified that Chatfield had been removed from her job.

Second Woman Naval Officer Fired

Chatfield, the U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee, is one of only a handful of female Navy three-star officers and was the first woman to lead the Naval War College, a job she held until 2023.

The firing, which was first reported by Reuters, is the latest to rock the Pentagon after Thursday’s removal of General Timothy Haugh, the head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command. For the Navy, it follows the firing of its top officer, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to become Chief of Naval Operations.

President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a cool view of NATO, as well as European allies, since taking office in January.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used his first trip to NATO headquarters in February to warn Europe against treating the United States like a “sucker” by making it responsible for its defense.

It was unclear if any official reason was given for Chatfield’s dismissal, or if it was related to any U.S. policy direction on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

‘Unjustified, Disgraceful’

Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the “unjustified dismissal of Vice Admiral Chatfield is disgraceful” and criticized Republicans for not speaking out against the firing of senior military officials without explanation.

“The silence from my Republican colleagues is deeply troubling… I cannot fathom how anyone could stand silently by while the President causes great harm to our military and our nation,” Reed said in a statement.

One source said the motive for Chatfield’s removal may have been related to the Pentagon’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

In a recent Harvard Magazine interview, Chatfield sounded eager for a time when the qualifications of women in the military would not be held in suspicion.

The article cited one example when Chatfield, herself a helicopter pilot, led an MH-60S Sea Hawk expeditionary helicopter squadron in 2005-2006.

“A mid-grade sailor … asked, ‘Ma’am, can you fly one of those helicopters?’ And I chuckled and said, ‘Yes, actually it’s a prerequisite for this job!'” she was quoted as saying, adding that at the time she had been wearing her wings that showed she was a naval aviator.

DEI

Hegseth has made the elimination of DEI initiatives a priority, arguing they are divisive.

He has also ended observances of events such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month, issuing guidance to the U.S. military that “efforts to divide the force – to put one group ahead of another – erode camaraderie and threaten mission execution”.

In recent weeks, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C.Q. Brown, as well as other admirals, generals and security staff have also been dismissed.

Many current and former government officials have said they worry that any national security official could be suspected of disloyalty by Trump’s inner circle because of perceived links to those who have fallen out of favor or for having served key roles in the Biden administration.

Uniformed military officials are supposed to be loyal to the U.S. Constitution and independent of any party or political movement.

(With inputs from Reuters)

South Korea Sets June 3 For Snap Presidential Election

By
Team StratNews;
-
People holding placards that read

Leading contenders announced their candidacies on Tuesday as South Korea set June 3 for a snap presidential election following the removal of impeached leader Yoon Suk Yeol.

The power vacuum at the top of government has impeded Seoul’s efforts to negotiate with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump at a time of spiralling U.S. tariffs and slowing growth in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Yoon was removed on Friday over his short-lived declaration of martial law in December that plunged the key U.S. ally into crisis, triggering a new election that could reshape its foreign and domestic policy.

“The government intends to designate June 3 as the 21st presidential election day,” Acting President Han Duck-soo told a cabinet meeting, citing factors such as the time political parties need to prepare for the event.

‘Sense Of Responsibility’

Yoon’s labour minister Kim Moon-soo is among a handful of hopefuls who have signalled their intention to run, resigning his post on Tuesday and saying he would launch his campaign.

While not officially a member of Yoon’s People Power Party at the moment, Kim has been polling better than other conservative contenders.

“I tendered my resignation and decided to run because the people want it, people I know want it, and I feel a sense of responsibility to solve national difficulties,” Kim told reporters.

Economic conditions during a “severe national crisis” are hurting people’s livelihoods, he said.

“I thought that all politicians and people should unite to overcome the crisis and work together to help the country develop further,” Kim said.

Fourth-Time Lucky?

Ahn Cheol-soo, a PPP lawmaker who was its first to vote for Yoon’s impeachment, also declared his intention to run on Tuesday, saying he was a “cleaner candidate than anyone else”.

He also vowed to secure new economic growth engines including artificial intelligence, to counter Trump’s trade policies.

Ahn fought the last three presidential elections, winning more than 21% of the popular vote in 2017, but dropping out and endorsing other candidates in the other two. He is not polling high enough to be included in most recent surveys.

Kim and Ahn will join a wide open field of conservative candidates trying to overcome their party’s second impeachment in as many presidencies.

Conservative Park Geun-hye was impeached, removed from office, and imprisoned in 2017 over a corruption scandal.

Lee Jae-myung, the populist leader of the liberal Democratic Party who lost to Yoon by a razor-thin margin in 2022, is a clear front-runner, but faces legal challenges of his own.

These include multiple trials for charges such as violating the election law and bribery.

Nevertheless, he is expected to step down as DP leader and declare his candidacy as soon as this week.

Lee Ahead

A Gallup poll published on Friday showed 34% of respondents supported Lee as the next leader, while 9% backed Kim, 5% opted for former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, 4% chose Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, and 2% plumped for Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon.

Yoon was removed by the Constitutional Court for violating his official duty by issuing a martial law decree on December 3 and mobilising troops in a bid to halt parliamentary proceedings.

The law requires a new presidential election to be held within 60 days if the position becomes vacant.

Yoon still faces criminal insurrection charges, with arguments in his trial to begin on April 14.

South Korea has faced months of political turmoil since Yoon stunned the country by declaring martial law, triggering his impeachment by parliament and the impeachment of acting leader Han.

Han’s impeachment was later overturned by the Constitutional Court and he will stay in the role of acting president until the election.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Hong Kong Faces 54% U.S. Tariffs, Seeks New Trade Links

By
Team StratNews;
-
Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee speaks during the opening ceremony to the official launch of its third runway, in Hong Kong International Airport, in Hong Kong, China November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

Hong Kong leader John Lee stated on Tuesday that the city would sign more free trade agreements to reduce risks amid a global trade war, calling U.S. tariffs “ruthless” and blaming them for disrupting the global economic and trade order.

“The U.S. no longer adheres to free trade, arbitrarily undermining the internationally established rules of world trade, and its ruthless behaviour damages global and multilateral trade,” Lee, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for his role in the rights crackdown in Hong Kong, told reporters.

Carrying China’s Load

Hong Kong, as an international trade hub, will be affected by U.S. tariffs in the short term but Lee said it would continue to remain a free port, with the city not planning to impose any retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. right now.

The latest additional U.S. tariffs of 34 percent that were imposed on China also apply to Hong Kong — which is no longer considered a separate trading entity by Washington amid a years-long crackdown under a sweeping national security law.

This coupled with an earlier 20 percent tariff, means combined U.S. tariffs on Hong Kong goods are now 54%, Lee said.

Looking Elsewhere

In terms of mitigation, Lee said Hong Kong would seek to bolster trade and business linkages elsewhere including more free trade agreements in areas such as South East Asia and the Middle East. New Hong Kong trade offices would also be set up in Egypt, Turkey and Cambodia, he added.

He said Hong Kong is in negotiations for investment agreements with Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Peru.

“We will seize the world’s major trend of geographical diversification proactively attracting foreign companies and capital to establish Hong Kong because Hong Kong can provide security and stability to investors,” Lee said.

Hong Kong earlier pledged support for small and medium enterprises amid the current difficulties.

Slight Recovery

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up 2.5 percent in mid-morning trade on Tuesday, after suffering its biggest drop since 1997 on Monday when shares slumped 13.2 percent on fears the global trade war could trigger a recession.

On the ongoing controversy over CK Hutchison’s planned sale of its Panama ports to a U.S. group, Lee reiterated comments about the deal having to comply with local laws and regulations amid strong criticism from Chinese state media about the deal being a “betrayal” of China.

“There have been an extensive discussion with the society about the issue, and this reflects society’s concern over the matter. These concerns deserve serious attention,” he said.

The deal has highlighted perceptions of Beijing’s growing grip over Hong Kong amid growing geopolitical tensions with the U.S.

(With inputs from Reuters)

China Slams Trump’s 50% Tariff Threat As “Blackmail”

By
Team StratNews;
-

On Tuesday, China condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose an additional 50% tariff on its goods, calling it “blackmail,” after he insisted that Beijing abandon its plans for retaliatory tariffs.

If neither side blinks and Trump sticks to his plans, total new levies could climb to 104% this year on Chinese goods imported into the United States, escalating a trade war that has already spurred the biggest market losses since the pandemic.

‘Mistake On Top Of A Mistake’

“The U.S. side’s threat to escalate tariffs against China is a mistake on top of a mistake, once again exposing the American side’s blackmailing nature,” China’s commerce ministry said in a statement.

“If the U.S. insists on having its way, China will fight to the end.”

Trump said he would impose the additional 50% duty on U.S. imports from China on Wednesday if Beijing did not withdraw the 34% tariffs it had imposed on U.S. products last week.

Those Chinese tariffs, in turn, had come in response to 34% “reciprocal” duties announced by Trump.

The average U.S. tariff on Chinese goods is already set to climb to 76% following Trump’s levies last week, which hit China with a tariff of 34%, in addition to 20% he previously imposed this year.

White House Motive Unclear

The moves have led economists to question whether the White House stands to gain much from hiking rates further.

“Since China already faces a tariff rate in excess of 60%, it doesn’t matter if it goes up by 50% or 500%,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“What China can do is stop U.S. farming purchases, match U.S. tariffs and expand its export controls across the periodic table of chemical elements,” he added.

‘Abuse Of Tariffs’

Meanwhile, Lin Jian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that threats and pressure are not the proper approach to dealing with China, calling U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” a form of bullying.

The tariffs are “typical unilateralism and protectionism, and economic bullying”, the spokesperson said at a regular press conference, adding that U.S. tariffs in the name of reciprocity only serve its own interest at the expense of other countries.

“The abuse of tariffs by the United States is tantamount to depriving countries, especially those in the Global South, of their right to development,” Lin said, citing a widening gap between the rich and poor in each country, and less developed countries suffering a greater impact.

All countries should uphold consultation, joint construction and sharing, and “genuine multilateralism”, he said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

US, Pakistan Hold Talks On Trade, Tariffs, Critical Minerals, Immigration

By
Team StratNews;
-
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to reporters at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2025. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday to discuss tariffs, trade relations, immigration, and potential cooperation on critical minerals, according to separate statements from the State Department and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

President Donald Trump said last week that he would impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S. and higher duties on dozens of other countries, including some of Washington’s biggest trading partners, rattling global markets and bewildering U.S. allies. The Trump administration imposed a 29% tariff on Pakistan.

“They (Rubio and Dar) discussed U.S. reciprocal tariffs on Pakistan and how to make progress toward a fair and balanced trade relationship,” the State Department said.

“The Secretary raised prospects for engagement on critical minerals and expressed interest in expanding commercial opportunities for U.S. companies.”

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Rubio “reciprocated the desire to collaborate with Pakistan in trade and investment in various sectors, especially critical minerals.”

Critical Minerals Engagement

The Trump administration has also used the prospect of engagement over critical minerals with other countries.

For example, it is attempting to strike an agreement over critical minerals with Ukraine as part of talks related to the Russia-Ukraine war. Washington has also said it is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with Congo and helping end a conflict raging in the African country’s east.

In the call with Dar, Rubio emphasised the importance of Pakistan’s cooperation with the U.S. on law enforcement and addressing illegal immigration, the State Department said.

Last month, Pakistan highlighted its cooperation with Washington on countering extremism after the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, whom the U.S. blames for a 2021 attack on its troops at Kabul airport, in a military operation along the border with Afghanistan.

The Pakistan foreign ministry said Rubio and Dar discussed the situation in Afghanistan.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Prince Of Many Hats, Dubai’s Sheikh Hamdan On High Level India Visit

By
Surya Gangadharan;
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The Dubai India airline sector is among the most heavily travelled in the world and there will be much to discuss when Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan sits down for talks in Delhi

India is rolling out  the red carpet for Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad al-Maktoum, acknowledging not only long standing political and economic ties, but also the point that he is the next generation of leadership, he is the future and therefore the outreach is important.

Not that the succession is imminent, but there seems little doubt Dubai has begun the gradual transition to the ruler who will in time replace the current Emir Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

“India is trying to remain ahead in this game,” says Mahesh Sachdev, former head of the West Asia & North Africa Division of the External Affairs Ministry and an Arabic affairs specialist.  “India is aligning with the next generation of leaders, seeking to build relations early on.”

The fact that Crown Prince Hamdan wears many hats is seen as significant: he is deputy prime minister and defence minister of the UAE.

The composition of the accompanying delegation has strong economic focus. Apart from the minister of trade and economy, it includes the minister of AI, and the minister of state for cabinet affairs. There are also the top honchos from Dubai Civil Aviation and the CEO of Emirates Airline.

“The presence of aviation heavyweights suggests Dubai intends to press India on its demand for increasing airline seat capacity through a liberalised air service agreement,” Sachdev told StratNewsGlobal.  “India is not comfortable with that prospect since airlines like Indigo and Air India will lose passengers, especially on long haul routes to Europe and the US.”

As it is, the Delhi-Dubai, Mumbai-Dubai and Calicut-Dubai sectors are dominated by Dubai-based carriers like Emirates.  By all accounts, they offer efficient service and cheaper fares than Indian carriers.  But they get worried when Air India or Indigo show every sign of wanting to compete and the prospect of Delhi emerging as a regional aviation hub, is a nightmare prospect.

Energy will be another subject of discussion. India is the third largest consumer and importer of crude oil. Dubai does not produce any crude but the UAE does and is the seventh largest exporter to this country. There could be discussion on the possibility of investment in the downstream Indian oil sector.

But the geopolitical situation is the major concern. There is a two-month window for interim talks between the US and Iran, and if those talks fail, President Trump has threatened military action.

“Iran for its part, has warned neighbours like the UAE that if they allow the US military to overfly their airspace to carry out strikes on Iran, their interests could be harmed,” Sachdev said.

Particularly worrying for Dubai is the “informal” trade that happens with Iran, which is estimated to be as high as $20 billion. This could be hit in the event of tensions spilling over into conflict.

This geopolitics worries India too. It wants more investment from the UAE but given global headwinds, caution is called for. Trump is demanding that the world invest in his country, and his visit to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar next month is intended to drum up that investment.

A word about the India-UAE comprehensive economic partnership signed over two years ago. India has some reservations and is expected to use Crown Prince Hamdan’s visit to explore why and how the UAE has leveraged it better.

Palestinian-American Billionaire Accused Of Aiding Hamas

By
Team StratNews;
-
Bashar Masri, a prominent Palestinian-American businessman and founder of Rawabi, the first planned Palestinian city in the West Bank, poses during an interview with Reuters in Rawabi, October 5, 2020. REUTERS/Rami Ayyub/File Photo

Families of American victims killed in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel filed a lawsuit on Monday against Bashar Masri, a prominent Palestinian-American businessman, accusing him of aiding in the construction of infrastructure that enabled Hamas militants to carry out their cross-border assault.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., is thought to be the first case of a U.S. citizen being accused of providing major support for the attacks that triggered a wider Middle East conflict and upended the region.

‘Baseless’ Lawsuit

Masri’s office called the lawsuit “baseless.”

According to a statement announcing the lawsuit, properties Masri owned, developed and controlled, including two luxury hotels and the leading industrial zone in Gaza – the Gaza Industrial Estate – “concealed tunnels underneath them, and had tunnel entrances accessible from within the properties, which Hamas used in terrorist operations before, on and after October 7th.”

“Defendants facilitated the construction and concealment of those tunnels and even built above-ground solar panel installations that they then used to supply Hamas with electricity to the tunnels,” it said.

October 7 Attack

The October 7 attacks killed some 1,200 Israelis, including more than 40 Americans, and prompted Israeli retaliation against Gaza that has since killed more than 50,000 Palestinians.

The lawsuit, which targets Palestinian-American businessman Masri and his companies, was filed on behalf of nearly 200 American plaintiffs, including survivors and relatives of the Hamas attack victims.

“Our goal is to expose those who have aided and abetted Hamas and to try and bring accountability to individuals and companies that have presented a legitimate and moderate image to the Western world but have actively and knowingly helped Hamas,” Lee Wolosky of the Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP law firm, lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in the statement.

It said GIE was originally established with the help of U.S. taxpayer funding via the U.S. Agency for International Development to promote economic growth in the region.

It said that “as a result of defendants’ deception,” Hamas’ tunnel network was built with the help of infrastructure and energy projects financed by international institutions, including the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation.

‘False’ Allegations

A statement from Masri’s office called the allegations against him and his businesses false and said he would seek their dismissal in court. It said Masri had been involved in development and humanitarian work for the past decades and “unequivocally opposes violence of any kind.”

“Neither he nor those entities have ever engaged in unlawful activity or provided support for violence and militancy,” it said.

A March 10 article in the Jerusalem Post cited unnamed diplomatic sources as saying that Masri had served as a close adviser to Adam Boehler, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy seeking release of hostages held in Gaza, and had flown on Boehler’s private jet as he shuttled across the region.

‘Seasoned Entrepreneur’

It called Masri “a seasoned entrepreneur” who “shares a business-minded approach with Trump, making him a natural fit in the administration’s economic vision for the region.”

The State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment when asked about the newspaper report.

In a Reuters interview in October 2020, when he was 59, Masri spoke in favor of Gulf Arab ties with Israel, condemned by Palestinian leaders, saying they could be an opportunity to apply fresh pressure to halt Jewish settlement in occupied land.

When speaking to Reuters in 2020, Masri said Palestinians must not give up hope. “Our enemies want us to give up hope. If we give up hope, they have exactly what they want, and there will be no Palestine, and no Palestinian people,” he said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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