Kremlin says Britain “will have to apologize”; China launches $50 billion retaliation against US

1. Kremlin says Britain “will have to apologize”

Investigators are unsure whether the poison that targeted Skripal was produced in Russia. Photo: Global Look Press

London will "finally have to apologise for the baseless accusations against Moscow" over the poisoning of Russian spy Sergei Skripal on British soil.

According to RT news agency, the above statement was just made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, after a British laboratory admitted that this unit could not connect the Skripal poisoning case with Moscow.

"For us, the situation was terrible from the very beginning, and now the confirmation is gradually proving that the crazy accusations that the British side made a few hours after the assassination attempt [on double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter] were groundless," RT quoted Mr. Peskov as telling the press.

Dmitry Peskov made the above statements shortly after Sky News had an interview in which the Director of the Porton Down Chemical Laboratory admitted that scientists there could not confirm that the chemical A-234 (Novichok) used in the poisoning originated in Russia.

2. CH-53E military helicopter crashes, entire crew killed

US Marine Corps El Centro Naval Air Station.

All four crew members on board the largest US military helicopter CH-53E are believed to have died after the aircraft crashed in California during a training flight.

According to RT, a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter of the US Marine Corps crashed at 2:35 p.m. on April 3 (local time) at the El Centro naval air base.

After searching and deploying rescue work at the scene, the US Marine Corps confirmed that "four crew members are believed to have died and will be identified after the body collection process is completed".

The cause of the crash has not been released and the investigation is ongoing, according to a statement from the US Marine Corps. The CH-53E helicopter crash is not the first aircraft crash on US soil this year. Previously, in January, two US pilots died after an AH-64 Apache crashed during a training flight in the California desert.

3. US-China trade war: China launches $50 billion retaliation

Markets are concerned that the US and China are on the brink of a trade war. Illustration: Bloomberg

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), China's State Council said on April 4 that China plans to impose tariffs of up to 25% on 106 US products exported to China, including soybeans, cars, corn, and chemicals.

Another statement from China's Ministry of Commerce said that the US goods subject to the 25% tariff soon accounted for about $50 billion worth of imports from the US in 2017.

The announcement came just hours after the Office of the US Trade Representative said the US would impose a 25% tariff on about 1,300 Chinese goods including technology, medical, educational and transportation products. These goods account for about $50 billion worth of annual US imports from China.

These moves by Washington and Beijing have raised concerns that the US and China are on the brink of a trade war between the world's two largest economies and have a significant impact on world markets.

4. Mr. Trump "confides" the reason why he wants the US to withdraw troops from Syria

US troops in Syria.

President Donald Trump confirmed that the purpose of withdrawing US troops from Syria is because the presence of this military on Syrian territory only benefits other countries instead of Washington.

“Our main objective is to destroy the Islamic State terrorist group. We are close to achieving that goal and we will need to make a decision very quickly in coordination with other countries. Saudi Arabia is very concerned about our decisions. I want to withdraw and bring the American troops home,” Sputnik quoted Mr. Trump as saying at a press conference with officials from the three Baltic countries.

According to Mr. Trump, the US leader will consult with allies in the US-led coalition about a troop withdrawal plan aimed at rebuilding the US.

5. Russian President Putin declares IS defeated in Syria

Russian President Putin (left) and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan. Photo: Business Insider.

Russian President Putin said on April 4 that the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) organization had been defeated in Syria but still posed potential risks.

Speaking to the press while visiting Türkiye, Russian President Putin emphasized: The war situation in Syria is causing great disadvantages for the Islamic State organization. However, IS is still a threat to national, regional and world security. Therefore, the international community still needs to be cautious.

Previously, yesterday (April 3), US President Donald Trump also left open the possibility of withdrawing US troops from Syria because the US's main mission here, which is to eliminate the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization, has almost been completed.

6. UN base in Central African Republic attacked, dozens dead

Central African Republic. Photo: Britannica.

Fierce fighting broke out when a United Nations base in the Central African Republic was attacked early yesterday morning (April 3), killing one peacekeeper and 22 rebel fighters, and injuring dozens of others.

Christian armed opposition groups known as the Anti-balaka launched an attack on a temporary UN base in Tagbara, near the southern city of Bambari, which then erupted into a gun battle that lasted several hours.

One of the dead peacekeepers was Mauritanian. The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) said 22 opposition fighters were killed and strongly condemned the attack, calling it a war crime.

7. Shooting in YouTube "Headquarters"

Employees with their hands up, evacuate YouTube building as police arrive to investigate the scene

At least three people were injured after a woman opened fire inside YouTube's headquarters in San Bruno, California (USA) on the afternoon of April 3 local time.

The woman believed to be the suspect was found dead inside the building, San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said. The suspect then appeared to have shot herself, according to FoxNews.

“We have no information at this time as to whether there are any other people involved,” the police officer told reporters. According to RT, the police found a total of four victims, with gunshot wounds, two inside the building and two in the nearby area.

About 1,700 people work at YouTube's headquarters. A YouTube employee said he heard gunshots and people running.