Trump freezes aid to Ukraine. Trump ordered a temporary halt to U.S. military assistance to Ukraine until he determines that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making sufficient efforts toward peace with Russia, an unnamed White House official told reporters. Trump’s decision affects more than $1 billion worth of aid that is in the pipeline for delivery, the New York Times reported. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv will “will continue to work with the U.S. through all available channels,” while the European Union (EU) today proposed nearly $160 billion in new loans to European countries for defense procurement, including aid to Ukraine.
Egypt’s conference on Gaza. Arab leaders are meeting in Cairo today to discuss a plan for rebuilding postwar Gaza that poses an alternative to Trump’s suggestion to displace Palestinians. One proposal would sideline Hamas and rely on administrative bodies run by Arab, Muslim-majority, and Western countries, Reuters reported. A senior Hamas official said the group rejects the imposition of a non-Palestinian administration but that “we are keen for the success of the summit.”
TSMC’s U.S. production pledge. Top global chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced at least $100 billion in investments to build plants in the United States. Trump said that the firm’s CEO would face “no tariffs” thanks to the decision, despite threatening duties of up to 100 percent on Taiwanese chips since taking office. TMSC’s CEO said it will produce its artificial intelligence and smartphone chips in Arizona.
OPEC+ to up oil production. The Russia- and Saudi Arabia-led alliance of oil-producing countries will increase their daily output in April for the first time since 2022, with the aim of adding 2.2 million barrels per day to the market by 2026. The group has been holding off on such a move in an effort to prop up oil prices. A surplus of oil on global markets this year is expected even without an OPEC+ production increase.
EU relaxes car emissions rule. The EU will give carmakers three years to hit a carbon dioxide emissions target originally set for this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The move, which will require approval from member states and the European Parliament, is meant to give industry “more breathing space,” she said.
Namibia eases visitation requirements. The country will distribute visas on arrival to tourists and international investors, an official announced. The decision aims to make Namibia more business friendly and boost sectors including renewable energy, oil and gas, and tourism. South Africa similarly eased visa rules for Chinese and Indian travelers and added skilled worker visas last year.
Afghanistan-Pakistan border clash. Security forces at a closed border crossing traded fire in an incident that killed at least one person, officials said. The crossing had been closed for ten days amid broader bilateral tensions, stranding thousands of trucks carrying essential goods. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militant groups, which Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies. Pakistan’s military carried out strikes in Afghanistan in December.
WFP’s South Africa office closes. The UN World Food Program (WFP) is closing its office in Johannesburg following U.S. foreign aid cuts. It did not specify how much funding was lost, but the WFP received $4.4 billion from Washington last year—roughly half of its annual budget. A spokesperson for the program said it would consolidate its southern and eastern Africa operations into one office in Nairobi, Kenya.
