The European Union has proposed eliminating tariffs on industrial goods in a reciprocal deal with the Trump administration, following Washington’s move to introduce 20% tariffs last week.
“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday.
“Because Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table,” she stated during a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Markets around the world have seen sharp declines since Trump declared April 2 as “Liberation Day,” unveiling a new 10% universal tariff rate, with even steeper import duties scheduled to kick in on April 9.

U.S. stock markets made a significant turnaround this morning, climbing sharply after a statement from White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett during an interview indicated that President Donald Trump was weighing a temporary 90-day halt on tariffs for all nations except China.
As of 10:25 a.m., the Dow Jones Industrial Average had climbed by 333.50 points, or 0.87%, to reach 38,614.49. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 advanced 79.99 points, or 1.69%, landing at 5,154.07, and the Nasdaq Composite surged by 362.69 points, or 2.33%, bringing it to 15,950.47.
{Matzav.com}

Democratic political consultant James Carville drew a controversial comparison on his “Politicon” podcast Friday, likening individuals and organizations aligning with President Donald Trump’s administration to those who sided with the Nazis during World War II.

U.S. stocks took a sharp tumble on Monday morning as market losses around the world deepened. The downturn followed President Trump’s weekend remarks indicating that his administration’s controversial “reciprocal” tariffs aren’t likely to be lifted in the near future.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1,323 points, a fall of 3.3%, building on last week’s dramatic two-day slide of nearly 4,000 points.
The S&P 500 shed 3.5%, slipping into bear market territory, while the Nasdaq 100 also took a hit, falling 3.8%.
“The uncertainty of trading partner retaliation is still weighing on the markets,” Richard Saperstein, chief investment officer at Treasury Partners, wrote in a client note.

President Donald Trump remained unyielding in his stance on tariffs Monday morning, even as financial markets reacted sharply, with futures for major indexes taking a steep dive.
“Oil prices are down, interest rates are down (the slow moving Fed should cut rates!), food prices are down, there is NO INFLATION, and the long time abused USA is bringing in Billions of Dollars a week from the abusing countries on Tariffs that are already in place,” he posted on Truth Social shortly before 7 a.m.
The president also aimed his ire at China, issuing a pointed response to Beijing’s retaliatory move following his announcement of a sweeping new tariff policy dubbed “Liberation Day.”

A new poll suggests Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez holds a strong early lead over Sen. Chuck Schumer in a potential 2028 Democratic primary matchup in New York, with results showing her ahead by a wide margin.
The survey, commissioned by the progressive research group Data for Progress and shared exclusively with POLITICO, found that 55 percent of likely Democratic voters either support or are inclined to support Ocasio-Cortez, while 36 percent expressed support or leanings toward Schumer. Another 9 percent said they remain undecided.

During a visit to Texas, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the most reliable method to stop measles from spreading. He traveled there to offer comfort to the grieving family of an 8-year-old girl who died from the illness.
“I came to¬ Gaines County, Texas, today to comfort the Hildebrand family after the loss of their 8-year-old daughter Daisy,” Kennedy shared on X. “My intention was to come down here quietly to console the families and to be with the community in their moment of grief.”
Kennedy also noted that he had been in contact with Texas officials and assured them of federal support while encouraging the use of the MMR vaccine.

The head of the Shin Bet’s Jewish Department announced on Sunday that he would be stepping aside temporarily while an internal probe is carried out into comments that were reportedly made by him and came to light over the weekend.
In a message sent to staff within his division, he expressed remorse, stating: “I am sorry from the depths of my heart for the style of the things that were said, which do not characterize how I deal with the many other bodies with whom we collaborate.”

An Israeli national named Gil Itamar was taken hostage over the weekend in Nigeria and later freed in a successful operation conducted by the Nigerian military, with support and coordination from Israel’s Foreign Ministry. Fortunately, the individual was recovered unharmed.
While Nigerian police reported that the abduction occurred while the Israeli was being accompanied by military personnel, that version of events was quickly disputed by the country’s army.
“Contrary to the police’s claim, the Israeli was alone in his vehicle, without any military escort or driver at the time of his abduction,” the Nigerian army told local news outlets.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced on Sunday that, despite American attempts to reach out, no direct diplomatic exchanges have taken place between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
In remarks to the official news agency of Iran’s parliament, later quoted by Russia’s TASS, Araqchi made clear, “We have expressed our point of view, so we adhere to diplomacy and the path of negotiations, but only indirectly. Of course, it must be recognized that not a single negotiation stage has taken place so far.”