Financial Times
Hungary can force the EU to lift sanctions against €210 billion of frozen Russian assets. This will remove the guarantee on loans to Ukraine and shift their coverage to EU and G7 taxpayers.
The United Arab Emirates plan to be the first to involve artificial intelligence in the development and amendment of legislation. This should speed up the process by 70% and allow tracking the impact of laws, although there are reservations about the transparency of AI.
Western automakers are implementing a "China for China" strategy and local software to regain market share lost to domestic competitors. New models are being tested at the Shanghai auto show to restore their positions.
US trade shock rocked markets and confidence, exacerbating global threats according to a Brookings-FT study. IMF is set to cut growth forecasts due to rising uncertainty.
South Korea's customs service has detected a significant increase in attempts to disguise foreign goods, primarily from China, as Korean exports to the United States. This is being done to circumvent President Trump's tariffs; in the first quarter alone, violations worth $20.81 million were detected.
South Korea will not resist US tariffs due to a "historical sense of duty" towards America, which helped the country after the war. Seoul is ready to negotiate to find mutually beneficial solutions and make concessions on import requirements.
The viral popularity of Dubai pistachio chocolate has caused a global shortage of nuts and rising prices. Demand has depleted supplies, which were already low due to previous poor harvests.
Google's antitrust defeat could lead to the sale of part of the business. The court found that the company illegally monopolized the markets for advertising exchange and ad servers.
Donald Trump instructed to study the supply chains of minerals and look for ways to increase production in the USA. This could lead to a new phase of escalating relations with China.
Dan Caldwell was sent on leave for disclosure. An investigation is underway, but details are not disclosed. He is known for isolationist views and criticism of aid to Ukraine.
Xi Jinping dismissed General He Weidong as part of the fight against corruption in the People's Liberation Army of China. This is the first time in 60 years that an official of such high rank has been dismissed.
China has vowed to take countermeasures and "fight to the end" if the US imposes additional 50% tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing is ready to devalue the yuan to offset US tariff pressure.
Due to Trump's tariffs and the trade war, the situation in the markets is deteriorating. US stocks are falling, and Asian markets are suffering from their worst week since the pandemic.
The head of the Central Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, said that the trade war will have an impact on Europe's economic growth. Tariffs may lead to a decrease in inflation below the ECB's targets.
According to the Financial Times, Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the SBU to investigate the leak of the US proposal for a mineral agreement. As part of the investigation, ministry employees are being checked on a polygraph.
Exporters from China are paying almost 40% more for shipping goods to the US due to new Trump tariffs. The market is preparing for a "seismic shock" after the abolition of exemptions for small deliveries.
Amazon and OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok as the deadline to find a buyer in the US approaches. This comes amid concerns about the app's ties to China.
Company X has appealed to the court to protect users from law enforcement requests for personal data. Musk emphasized that platforms should not help governments.
Kęstutis Budrys stated that Russia remains a threat to NATO and Europe. The Kremlin is ready to use force to achieve its goals, therefore, Russia needs to be deterred.
Defense ministers of the Baltic countries warn that a truce in Ukraine will allow Russia to rearm and transfer troops to their borders. The countries call on NATO not to weaken the defense of the eastern flank.
The Italian Prime Minister expressed concern about sending a European contingent to Ukraine, considering it a provocation for Russia. She proposes extending Article 5 of NATO to Ukraine.
Nintendo plans to release Switch 2 on April 2, when Trump announces new tariffs. The company is moving production to Southeast Asia to avoid US tariffs.
Romania and Bulgaria fear that a deal between the US and Russia could restore Moscow's influence in the Black Sea. The talks concern the safety of navigation and exports.
Japan has created a Joint Operations Command to better coordinate troops. This is a response to challenges from China and North Korea, as well as strengthening its partnership with the United States.
Ukraine warns of serious consequences if the EU does not extend the duty-free trade agreement, which expires on June 5. Exports to the EU bring in almost 10% of the country's foreign exchange earnings.
The Norwegian Norges Bank Investment Management fund is buying 25% of Covent Garden in London for £570 million. Asset management will remain with Shaftesbury Capital.
US, British and Turkish arms companies may be excluded from the EU's defence fund if their countries do not sign agreements with Brussels. At least 65% of the funds will go to production in the EU, Norway and Ukraine.
X's value rose to $44 billion after Musk's financial changes, including equity deals and raising capital to pay off debt. The company also showed pre-interest profit.
Alphabet has agreed to acquire Wiz, an Israeli cloud security startup, for $32 billion. Google Cloud believes that Wiz's solutions are a good fit for customers.
Ahead of the Trump-Putin talks, investors are again buying Russian assets, hoping for a softening of sanctions. Hedge funds are exploring how to trade Russian assets and weighing their value.