In a sharp escalation of the ongoing trade war, China announced it will impose tariffs of up to 125% on U.S. imports starting Saturday, in response to President Donald Trump’s recent decision to raise duties on Chinese goods to 145%.

The tit-for-tat tariff hikes have heightened fears of a prolonged standoff between the world’s two largest economies, with analysts warning of potential disruptions to global supply chains.

The White House had recently intensified pressure on China by excluding it from a 90-day tariff pause granted to dozens of other countries.

READ ALSO: Trump steps up trade war with $200 billion in tariffs

The move was widely seen as a direct challenge to Beijing, which remains the second-largest supplier of goods to the U.S.

In a strongly worded statement, China’s Finance Ministry condemned the U.S. move, calling it a “serious violation of international and economic trade rules” and labeling it as “unilateral bullying and coercion.”

China’s Commerce Ministry also signaled a firm stance, warning that it would “resolutely take countermeasures” and “fight to the end” if Washington continues what it called substantive infringements on Chinese interests.

“If the U.S. continues to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the U.S., China will ignore it,” the ministry added, dismissing the tariff war as “a numbers game” with “no practical economic significance.”

China urged the U.S. to back away from the confrontation and “completely correct its wrongful practices” by removing the so-called reciprocal tariffs, which have become a flashpoint in U.S.-China economic relations.

In a bold move aimed at redefining her national identity by further severing ties with her colonial past, Niger Republic’s ruling junta has adopted Hausa as the country’s national language, replacing French.

A new national charter, published in a special edition of the government’s official journal on March 31, stated: “The national language is Hausa” and “the working languages are English and French.”

READ MORE: Woodhall Capital Foundation Trains Nigeria’s Captains Of Industry

The decision is part of sweeping reforms introduced by the military government that took power in July 2023 after ousting President Mohamed Bazoum. Since then, the junta has taken deliberate steps to distance itself from France, including the expulsion of French troops and the renaming of streets and landmarks that bore French names.

Hausa is the most widely spoken language in Niger, particularly in the regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua. By contrast, French is spoken by only about 13 percent of the population—just over three million people in a country of 26 million.

The charter also designates nine other local languages—Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, Arabic and others—as the “spoken languages of Niger.”

The reforms stemmed from a national conference held in February, during which the junta was granted broader powers, including a five-year extension for General Abdourahamane Tiani to remain as head of state.

Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso—also under military rule—recently withdrew from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a cultural and political body representing French-speaking countries.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, shaking the region and sending tremors as far as Thailand and China.

The quake’s epicenter was located in the Sagaing region, near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to around one million people and renowned for its historic temple complexes.

Panic erupted as buildings swayed and dust filled the air.

READ ALSO: Powerful 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits China, Dozens Killed

In Mandalay, videos shared online showed terrified residents rushing out of residential towers while traffic came to a sudden halt.

Reports indicate that a major bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River collapsed into the water in a cloud of dust and debris.

The quake was felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, where video footage showed a partially constructed building in Chatuchak Park crumbling to the ground.

Thai authorities reported that 43 people were trapped in the wreckage, while seven others sustained injuries.

In Chiang Mai, a resident described feeling the tremors for about ten seconds before fleeing into the streets.

In Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon—about 380 miles from the epicenter—residents also experienced the powerful shaking.

One resident recalled, “We felt the quake for about a minute, then ran out of the building.

It was very sudden and very strong.” Another noted that phone networks in the city, home to around 8 million people, briefly went down but were later restored.

Myanmar, one of Asia’s poorest nations, is already grappling with the effects of a brutal civil war sparked by a military coup over four years ago.

The conflict has devastated the economy, and the country remains ill-equipped to handle a major natural disaster of this scale.

The Sagaing region, where the earthquake struck, is a war zone with multiple factions—including the ruling junta, pro-military militias, and rebel groups—fighting for control.

The ongoing violence has made travel by road or river extremely dangerous, posing significant challenges to delivering emergency aid and assessing the full extent of the damage.

Tremors were also felt in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, underscoring the quake’s intensity.

Authorities across the region are now assessing the situation, with emergency teams mobilizing in both Myanmar and Thailand.