Trump imposes tariffs on steel +++ Attackers strike Burkina Faso capital

2. April 2018, 02:00

Trump imposes tariffs on steel

The main trading partners of the United States have reacted angrily after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. Trump said the US had been treated badly by other countries for decades, saying that steel imports would now face a 25% tariff and aluminium 10%: "what's been allowed to go on for decades is disgraceful. When it comes to a time when our country can't make aluminium and steel you almost don't have much of a country because without steel and aluminium your country's not the same." The President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker denounced the plan as a "blatant intervention to protect U.S. domestic industry." The EU, Canada, Mexico, China and Brazil say they're considering retaliatory steps. Australia's Trade Minister Steven Ciobo says the prospect of an international trade war is in no-one's interest: "if we see a breakout of action and reaction from major economies the only thing that would arise from that would be a slow-down in economic growth. And over time if it got bad enough, ultimately we could see for example a recession and we know the consequent impact of that." In his latest tweet on his tariff plan, Trump said "trade wars are good and easy to win".

Attackers strike Burkina Faso capital

Gunfire and an explosion have been heard near the French embassy in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. According to reports, eye witnesses have reported seeing armed men getting out of a car and opening fire.

Aid convoy could reach eastern Ghouta on Sunday

The UN's children's agency says the Syrian government may allow an aid convoy into the town of Douma in the besieged area of eastern Ghouta on Sunday. UNICEF says the convoy would have supplies for 180,000 people but added that there was no sign of an agreement for further convoys which would help the rest of the enclave's 400,000 civilians.

25 killed in fire in Azerbaijan

The authorities in Azerbaijan say 25 people have been killed in a fire at a drug rehabilitation centre in the capital Baku. 200 patients and staff have been evacuated from the building. A short circuit is believed to have caused the blaze.

Israeli police question Netanyahu

Israeli Radio says police have questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah over alleged corruption linked to the country's largest telecommunications company Bezeq. Police allege that the couple asked the owner of the company to guarantee them favourable coverage on a news website it owns. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.

The Weather

Overcast with fog and cloud and snowfall. Some sunshine in the region between Vorarlberg and Upper Austria. A lively to strong wind and highs ranging between minus 8 and zero, in the west where there's a föhn wind up to 8.

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