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The World in Brief from The Economist
America and Taiwan strike tariff deal; Machado’s “great” meeting with Trump, and more
Ep. 20260116
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America agreed to cap tariffs on Taiwanese imports at 15% in exchange for the island’s chipmakers (including the world’s largest, TSMC) investing $500bn in their American operations.
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20260402. Trump says America “on track to complete” war; Iran’s president issues a letter to Americans, and more
03:51||Ep. 20260402In a prime-time address, Donald Trump said “we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly” in Iran.
Trump says Iran war could be over “very soon”; stocks bump up on hopes the war will end, and more
10:47|Donald Trump told Reuters, a news agency, he no longer cared about Iran’s enriched uranium, despite previously arguing the war was about stopping a nuclear threat; American stocks rose as investors became more hopeful of a ceasefire between America and Iran.
Trump suggests timeline for ending the war; stocks surge and oil drops, and more
10:46|Donald Trump said America could end its war against Iran in two or three weeks, whether “we have a deal or not”. Also, Asian and European stocks surged in response to the comments from America and Iran.
20260401. Hegseth urges Iran to make a deal; Wall Street rallies on hopes of de-escalation, and more
03:52||Ep. 20260401America’s war secretary, Pete Hegseth, implored Iran’s leaders to make a deal with Donald Trump, saying the country faced a “new regime”.
Hegseth urges Iran to make a deal; Wall Street rallies on hopes of de-escalation, and more
10:57|America’s war secretary implored Iran’s leaders to make a deal with Donald Trump, saying the country faced a “new regime"; The S&P 500 and NASDAQ indices posted their biggest gains in months and oil prices fell.
Iran strikes giant oil tanker; inflation in Europe jumps, and more
11:54|An Iranian drone struck a giant Kuwaiti oil tanker off Dubai, briefly pushing up the price of Brent crude. Also, rising energy costs pushed the euro zone’s annual inflation rate to 2.5% in March, up from 1.9% in February and well above the European Central Bank’s target of 2%.
20260331. Trump threatens to “obliterate” Kharg; two UN peacekeepers killed in Lebanon, and more
04:00||Ep. 20260331Donald Trump threatened to “completely obliterate” Kharg Island, the site of Iran’s main oil-export terminal, as well as the country’s energy plants and oil wells.
Trump threatens to “obliterate” Kharg; two UN peacekeepers killed in Lebanon, and more
11:29|Donald Trump threatened to “completely obliterate” Kharg Island, the site of Iran’s main oil-export terminal, as well as the country’s energy plants and oil wells; The UN said two of its peacekeepers were killed and two others wounded when an explosion destroyed their vehicle in southern Lebanon.
Trump sends more mixed messages; Iran says America is planning an invasion, and more
11:06|Donald Trump said America and Iran had talked “directly and indirectly” and that Iran’s new leaders were “very reasonable.” Also, earlier Iran accused America of “secretly planning a ground invasion” after more American troops were deployed to the Middle East.