The Bulletin

• US bonds skyrocket: US Treasury yields surged on Wednesday, a sign that investors are selling their safest assets as the latest round of President Trump's tariffs take effect. Get more details.

• South Africa plans for $800 million smart city: South Africa has broken ground on an ambitious smart city project named Westown, a multi-million-dollar development aimed at reshaping urban life in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, according to a recent report from CoinGeek.

• Executions surge in Saudi Arabia: The number of executions in Saudi Arabia doubled in 2024 as the Middle East led a global surge, according to a new report by Amnesty International. Rights groups say the trend has continued into 2025.

• Why America's F-16 sale is angering China: The potential sale of U.S. F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines has drawn pushback from China, which views the deal as another step in deepening American military influence near its borders. Know more.

• Father living in US for 30 years detained by ICE: A father of eight and longtime resident of the United States was detained by federal immigration authorities after a traffic hearing, his daughter has told Newsweek. Find out why.

• DHS orders 900K Biden-era migrants to leave: The Department of Homeland Security has ordered migrants who entered the U.S. via the CBP One app to leave "immediately." Know why here.

• China mapping seafloor around US allies: Chinese vessel is suspected of mapping the seafloor around U.S. allies Australia and New Zealand to support submarine deployments, an analyst has said.

The rundown: President Trump's reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries took effect today. Here's everything you need to know.

Why it matters: The new duties were announced last Wednesday in a speech at the White House Rose Garden, and are in addition to the flat, 10 percent tariff the president placed on all global imports which began on Saturday. According to the administration, the measure will correct longstanding global trade imbalances that have disadvantaged the U.S. and motivate companies to relocate their manufacturing operations back to the country. Since Trump's announcement, several countries have been angling for trade talks with the administration in the hopes of reducing the rates at which their exports will be taxed—including a 20 percent tariff on goods from the European Union; 25 percent on South Korean imports; and 24 percent on Japanese imports.

Read more in-depth coverage:
New Trump Tariffs Imposed With Over 100% on China

TL/DR: China has responded with its own tariffs and vowed to "fight till the end," raising concerns of a prolonged trade conflict.

What happens now? More swings for financial markets are expected given uncertainty over how long Trump could keep the tariffs in effect. Economists expect a recession if they remain in effect for some time, but the worst could be avoided if they are lowered through negotiations relatively soon.

Deeper reading Donald Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs Begin: What to Know

The rundown: As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes industries, concerns are mounting over which jobs are most at risk. Experts, however, told Newsweek that there is the potential for growth in jobs that rely on qualities that AI struggles to replicate, such as health care and education. Look deeper into it.

Why it matters: According to an analysis by the U.S. Career Institute, jobs with face-to-face interactions are far safer than most white-collar jobs. The study, which was published in February 2023, originally found that AI could impact as many as 300 million full-time jobs, but that health care and education workers were safest. Nurse practitioner topped the list of safe jobs, as it involves direct patient care, empathy and complex judgment, making it difficult to automate. But Carsten Jung, head of Macroeconomics and AI at the Institute for Public Policy Research, told Newsweek that new advances could mean some counselling jobs could be under threat, and the exact extent of the impact cannot be ascertained yet.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Average Health System Audit Finds 70 'Quiet' AI Applications, CEO Says

TL/DR: The capabilities of AI are expanding faster and faster, with many large language models (LLMs) currently passing Turing Tests regularly.

What happens now? AI developments are expected to improve, with industry leaders like OpenAI releasing regular updates to their LLMs.

Deeper reading The Jobs That Will Be Safe From AI, According to Experts

The rundown: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that Tehran is "ready to engage in earnest and with a view to seal a deal," in upcoming nuclear talks but stressed they will be indirect due to a deep "wall of mistrust" with Washington. Know more.

Why it matters: In an op-ed published in The Washington Post, Araghchi rejected Trump's claim that direct talks would take place. He said indirect negotiations were not based on ideology but were a strategic response to repeated U.S. failures. Iran, he said, remains skeptical of American intentions after witnessing what he called Washington's "unwillingness or inability" to fulfill its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action commitments. Araghchi emphasized the importance of mutual guarantees in any new deal. He warned that a continuation of the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy would hinder diplomatic progress.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Iran-US Nuclear Talks: Six Points to Watch

TL/DR: His remarks, published in an op-ed in The Washington Post, come ahead of talks scheduled to begin on Saturday in Oman.

What happens now? Talks between the U.S. and Iran will begin on Saturday in Oman. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will represent Washington in the negotiations.

Deeper reading Iran Ready to 'Seal a Deal' With US

The rundown: A recession this year could lead to a much-needed drop in home prices across the country, experts told Newsweek, but only because many aspiring buyers would be pushed to the sidelines by rising inflation and widespread uncertainty about their future.

Why it matters: Mortgage rates fell to their lowest level in six months following Trump's announcement, giving home buyers more purchasing power. As of April 3, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.64 percent, down 0.01 from a week earlier and 0.18 from a year earlier, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, better known as Freddie Mac. Should the country slide into a recession this year, mortgage rates could continue to fall—as they typically do during an economic downturn. Realtor.com Senior Economic Research Analyst Hannah Jones told Newsweek that a recession could lead to softer home prices, but that would be the result of a significant drop in buyer demand.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Stock Market Troubles Spooking Some Homebuyers

TL/DR: While Trump ran with the promise of lowering housing costs, some economists argue that recent policies—especially new tariffs—could strain the U.S. economy and increase housing costs.

What happens now? According to Jones, a recession would further cool the housing market. "Reduced buyer demand and slowing home sales would put downward pressure on home prices," she said. "Higher unemployment and economic uncertainty make it more challenging for households to commit to taking on a mortgage, even if rates fall.

Deeper reading Will a Recession Lower Home Prices? Impact on Housing Market Explained

The rundown: President Trump took action to expand the coal industry, signing new executive orders aimed at boosting domestic production at a time when the energy sector is shifting to natural gas and renewables. Read more.

Why it matters: In seeking to prop up coal and the blue-collar jobs required to mine it, Trump addressed a campaign promise that's popular with supporters in energy-producing states who have long bristled at the Democratic Party's climate agenda. Trump also framed the issue as a matter of national security, saying that developing the nation's vast coal reserves would provide a reliable source of electricity to power AI and other emerging industries where the United States is facing stiff competition from rivals like China. But reviving the coal industry's heyday, as Trump appears interested in doing, is a herculean task that energy experts say is no longer realistic.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Signs Executive Orders on Coal Industry: What We Know

TL/DR: "We're bringing back an industry that was abandoned," Trump said in a ceremony from the East Room of the White House, as a group of coal miners stood behind him.

What happens now? No new coal plants have been built in the U.S. for more than 10 years, according to the group Powering Past Coal Alliance, reflecting changes in energy consumption and the private sector's shift to investing in natural gas and clean energy. Trump said Wednesday that would change, but didn't say how.

Deeper reading Trump Wants To Revive Coal. The Energy Sector Has Moved On