☕ 100 days of Trump

Good morning!

The Vatican announced this morning that the ‘Conclave’, the process to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church, will begin on May 7.

The film “Conclave”, released last year, is experiencing a surge in viewership in the lead-up to the unique process - it’s up nearly 300% after the death of Pope Francis.

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Some headlines from this morning:

• China has said it "exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction" over a disputed sandbank in the South China Sea after six Filipino soldiers landed there despite warnings. Chinese state media reported that coast guard forces "dealt with" the soldiers they accused of illegally entering Chinese territory. This incident marks the latest confrontation in the South China Sea, where China claims almost the entire waterway while neighboring countries like the Philippines reject these claims, leading to months of escalating tensions over the resource-rich waters.

• An explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port, Iran's most important commercial shipping hub, has killed at least 14 people and injured over 700, prompting the Health Ministry to declare a state of emergency in Hormozgan province due to air pollutants. The cause remains unclear, though The New York Times quoted Iranian government insiders suggesting it may have resulted from improperly stored ammonium perchlorate, a chemical used in missile propellant. Iranian authorities have firmly denied the explosion was the result of an attack, amid ongoing regional tensions.

• Canadians are voting today following the conclusion of a five-week campaign between Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. Analysts describe this as one of Canada's most significant elections, with voters deciding which potential Prime Minister can better manage increasingly strained U.S. relations amid trade disputes and border tensions. The Liberal Party has recovered from a 25-point deficit to now lead in polls, with both leaders acknowledging a tragedy in Vancouver during their final campaign speeches.

• Two American-born children have been deported to Honduras alongside their undocumented immigrant mother before their lawyers could complete legal proceedings to keep them in the United States. One child, a four-year-old boy with advanced cancer, was reportedly placed on the deportation flight without access to his medication or medical records. While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the mother chose to keep her children with her during deportation, attorneys claim they were not given sufficient time to file emergency paperwork to halt the children's removal, sparking debate about immigration enforcement policies.

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A man has been charged with second-degree murder over the deaths of 11 people at a street festival in western Canada.

Authorities allege the man drove his car into crowds at a Filipino festival in Vancouver.

The 30-year-old was arrested at the scene, and has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with further charges expected to be laid.

Local police have not yet determined a motive, but have ruled out terrorism.

Attack

The attack occurred at the Lapu Lapu Street Festival in South Vancouver on Saturday, a cultural event for the local Filipino community. Tens of thousands were estimated to have attended.

Shortly after 8pm, as the festival was drawing to an end, a man allegedly drove a black SUV into a crowded, enclosed area and struck multiple festival-goers, killing 11.

Authorities say the death toll may rise in the coming days.

Police arrested the driver at the scene after he was detained by bystanders.

The suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, is a local resident.

Police confirmed he was known to authorities and had “a significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals.”

Lo has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Under Canadian law, a person is charged with second-degree murder when they kill someone without planning or deliberation ahead of time.

Further charges are expected to be laid.

Condolences

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he was “shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident” and has ordered a full review of the city’s event safety measures to prevent similar attacks.

“I know many of us are fearful and uneasy right now, but I want to make something very clear, and I know it’s hard to feel this way right now, but Vancouver is still a safe city,” Sim said.

In a post to X, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he had spoken to Sim to “offer my condolences and the federal government’s full support.”

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The Trump Administration will hit the significant landmark of 100 days in office on April 29.

Traditionally, an administration's first 100 days serve as a benchmark to measure the new White House team's initial success and popularity.

This administration was elected primarily on promises to address issues related to the economy, immigration, and foreign affairs. As the administration approaches this milestone, we summarize what has been accomplished in these three major areas.

Immigration

The Trump administration has succeeded in cutting illegal border crossings, with Axios reporting numbers have fallen to their lowest level in decades, though deportation efforts have seen mixed results. Trump attempted to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport nearly 300 migrants without trial over alleged ties to a Venezuelan gang, but courts largely blocked the move.

The administration has also moved to revoke visas of legal immigrants, with the highest-profile case being Mahmoud Kahlil, a Palestinian ex-Columbia student accused of leading pro-Palestine protests that some called anti-Semitic. Kahlil, a permanent resident, remains in detention while challenging the revocation.

Trump signed an order to end birthright citizenship, but it was immediately challenged and remains before the courts.

Economy

The administration's economic policy has been dominated by tariffs imposed on almost all U.S. trading partners. Every country trading with the U.S. is now subject to a minimum 10% tariff, while all auto vehicles, steel and aluminium imports face 25% tariffs.

U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico are subject to individual 25% tariffs on non-NAFTA products, while China faces a 145% tariff on most exports to the U.S.

Trump's trade restrictions and retaliatory measures from China, Europe, Canada, and Mexico have sent markets into decline, with the S&P 500 down 18.9% from February to early April.

Foreign affairs

President Trump's foreign policy has focused on negotiating peace deals between Israel and Hamas and between Russia and Ukraine. Before taking office, Trump helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which entered Phase One days before his inauguration.

After floating ideas like relocating Palestinians from Gaza, Trump oversaw the deal's collapse. Israeli troops have re-entered Gaza and fighting has resumed.

Trump has re-established US contact with Russia for the first time since its invasion of Ukraine and has spoken with both Ukrainian and Russian leaders in pursuit of a deal. At the start of Trump’s term, he proposed a truce aligned with many of Russia's demands. However, recent Russian aggression and a meeting with President Zelenskyy have shifted Trump's tone.