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China has moved to “moderately reduce” the release of Hollywood films in the Chinese market in the latest front of the growing United States- China trade war.

China's National Film Administration clearly tied their decision on Thursday to US tariffs on Chinese exports, which US President Donald Trump hiked to a sky-high 145%, Reuters reported.

The decision was certainly not surprising to analysts, who had projected that China would target Hollywood as a retaliation to rising US tariffs. 

As stated by Reuters, China accepts ten films from Hollywood each year, and the Chinese market was long regarded as a significant source of cash for the US film industry.

President Trump, who has already been criticised by numerous Hollywood celebrities for his actions, told reporters on Thursday that he was unconcerned by China's intention to attack the film industry.

With the arrival of the summer-autumn flight season in 2025, China Southern Airlines will optimize its flight layout starting from April 10, further enhancing the capacity of the China-Nepal route and promoting economic, cultural, and tourism cooperation between the two countries to new heights.

According to the latest flight schedule, China Southern will resume its night flight from Kathmandu to Guangzhou from April to October. The planned departure time from Kathmandu is 23:30, with one flight per day, Southern Airlines reported.

At the same time, the daytime flight schedule will be adjusted, with the overall departure time pushed back by 50 minutes, resulting in the planned departure time from Kathmandu being adjusted to 12:50. This optimization will enhance flight connections and allow passengers to arrange their schedules more comfortably. It is worth noting that the operating frequency of China Southern's daytime flights has also been adjusted at different times as per Southern Airlines.

From April 10 to May, daytime flights will operate four times a week (on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday). From June to August, daytime flights will be reduced to two times a week (on Sunday and Thursday). From September to October, daytime flights will resume daily. The number of seats planned by China Southern Airlines for this season has significantly increased. Approximately 45,000 seats will be offered from Kathmandu to Guangzhou, and over 46,000 seats from Guangzhou to Kathmandu. Compared to the same period last year, this represents an increase of more than 6,000 seats, a growth of 16.5% on the Kathmandu-to-Guangzhou route, and over 13,000 seats, a growth of 39.9% on the Guangzhou-to-Kathmandu route. This adjustment not only provides passengers with more travel options but also further facilitates economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and Nepal, according to Southern Airlines.

This increase in transport capacity coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal and the "China-Nepal Tourism Year."

Australia has firmly rejected a proposal from Beijing to collaborate on countering US tariffs, instead reaffirming its commitment to diversifying trade partnerships and reducing dependence on China, its largest trading partner.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on Thursday dismissed the Chinese ambassador’s call for countries to “join hands” on global trade, insisting Canberra would not take sides in broader geopolitical contests, Reuters reported.

The diplomatic exchange comes following a substantial escalation in the US-China trade battle.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that he would hike tariffs on Chinese goods from 104% to 125%, while temporarily lowering taxes on dozens of other countries.

The move presents both opportunity and risk for Australia, which sends nearly a third of its exports to China, but less than 5% to the United States, according to Reuters.

Trump also imposed a flat 10% tariff on Australian imports—one of the lowest among his reciprocal tariffs—despite Australia being a key US security ally in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia's central bank has cautioned that ongoing global trade tensions, particularly between big economies such as the United States and China, might dissuade company investment and reduce household spending, adding uncertainty to the country's economic outlook.

U.S. President Donald Trump's stunning decision to pause the hefty duties he had just imposed on dozens of countries sent battered global stock markets surging on Thursday even as he ratcheted up a trade war with the world's No. 2 economy China, Reuters reported.

Trump's turnabout on Wednesday, which came less than 24 hours after steep new tariffs kicked in on most trading partners, followed the most intense episode of financial market volatility since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upheaval erased trillions of dollars from stock markets and led to an unsettling surge in U.S. government bond yields that appeared to catch Trump's attention.

"I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line, they were getting yippy, you know," Trump told reporters after the announcement, referring to jitters sportpeople sometimes get.

U.S. stock indexes shot higher on the news, with the benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab index closing 9.5% higher. Bond yields came off earlier highs and the dollar rebounded against safe-haven currencies, according to Reuters.

The relief spread through Asian markets as they opened on Thursday with Japan's Nikkei index (.N225), opens new tab surging 8% while European futures also pointed to a sharp rebound. Even Chinese stocks rose, propped up by hopes of state support, although its yuan currency fell to the lowest level since the global financial crisis.

China has announced new tariffs of 84% on the US, in a response to US president Donald Trump’s trade war that will raise fears of further escalation.

According to Reuters, the Chinese ministry of finance has declared that taxes on US imports will increase to 84% beginning Thursday, up from 34% previously announced.

On Wednesday, Trump imposed 104% tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States. China's announcement describes Mr. Trump's tariffs as "a mistake on top of a mistake".

Stock markets fell further on China's announcement of retaliatory tariffs, Reuters reported.

The FTSE 100 is down 3.4%. The Stoxx 600 index, which monitors Europe's largest corporations, is now down 4.2%. Germany’s Dax has fallen 3.4% today, while France’s Cac 40 has dropped 3.4%.

Donald Trump's "explosive" tariffs are now in effect, including 104% on China, the world's biggest exporter. The list also includes 60 of the "worst offending" countries, who will face taxation ranging from 11% to 50%.

The extra tariffs on China kicked in after Beijing refused to meet Trump's deadline to drop its own retaliatory duties against the US, BBC reported.

Trump has stated that tariffs are necessary for his economic vision, but experts warn that a full-fledged trade war is possible. Some Americans support tariffs, while others fear a recession.

US financial markets recovered early on Tuesday, but then fell once again after the White House confirmed the extra tariffs on China, according to BBC.

While China prepares to impose a 104% tax on many of its exports to the United States, anti-Trump sentiment is growing on the Chinese internet.
 

Apple is shifting more of its iPhone shipments to the US from India in an effort to navigate the financial shockwaves caused by a fresh round of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

The computer giant's stock has dropped 19% in three trading days, the largest decline in over 25 years, due to investor concern about rising costs from new tariffs on Chinese imports, according to Firstpost.

With tariffs of up to 54% on Chinese shipments, Apple has turned to India, where the equivalent rate is 26%. The move is intended as a short-term hedge while Apple seeks tariff exemptions, but the company has not yet overhauled its China-centric manufacturing network, which is still critical to its worldwide supply chain, Firstpost reported.

The death toll from the Myanmar earthquakes neared 2,900, while 72 people remain missing in Thailand.

As reported by Myanmar's State Administration Council communications team, the death toll is 2,886, with 4,639 injured and 373 still missing, Xinhua News reported.
In neighboring Thailand, 72 people remain missing in Bangkok, where the search for bodies continues at the site of the collapsed State Audit Office tower block.

Two deadly earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 6.4 shook Myanmar and Thailand last Friday, with the epicenter in the Sagaing region, which apparently experienced the worst damage.
Overnight, Thai and international rescue crews took turns using sniffer dogs and heavy machinery to raise massive concrete blocks to reach the missing people.

A rescue official acknowledged that the teams are restricted in the number of heavy machines they can deploy simultaneously, as doing so could risk shifting large, buried debris.

Around 100 personnel were inside the State Audit Office tower building in Bangkok when it fell on Friday due to tremors from a strong earthquake near Myanmar's Mandalay area.
Several countries provided aid to Myanmar in response to the earthquakes. Japan announced on Wednesday that it was ready to pay $6 million in emergency grants to earthquake victims.

The government has also sent a team of Nepal Army with medical relief after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar last week caused massive loss of human lives.

China successfully sent a test satellite for satellite internet technology into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the country's northwest, on Tuesday.

The satellite successfully achieved the intended orbit after being launched by a Long March-2D carrier rocket at 12:00 p.m. (Beijing Time), according to Xinhua.

Technical verification and experimentation, such as mobile-to-satellite broadband connections and space-ground network integration, are the main uses of test satellites for satellite internet technologies.

The launch marks the 567th mission for the Long March series carrier rockets, Xinhua reported.

More than 2,000 people in Myanmar have been killed following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that affected areas as far as Thailand and China.

Myanmar's military government has proclaimed a week of national mourning, with a minute of silence scheduled for later on Tuesday at 12:51 local, the exact time the tremor struck on Friday, BBC reported.

 In neighboring Thailand, 20 people have perished, and many have been evacuated from Bangkok's shattered buildings. Rescuers in both nations are still continuing their hunt for survivors, though hopes are diminishing since the vital window—the first 72 hours following a quake—has passed.

The UN believes the earthquake has exacerbated "an already dire crisis" in Myanmar, which is in the midst of a four-year civil conflict, according to BBC.

Despite the wreckage, reports indicate that the country's military officials are still conducting air attacks against pro-democracy rebel forces.

China's military on Tuesday said it had begun joint army, navy and rocket force exercises around Taiwan to "serve as a stern warning and powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence", calling Taiwan's President Lai Ching-Te a "parasite", Reuters reported.

The exercises around the democratically governed island, which China views as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring under its control, come after Lai called Beijing a "foreign hostile force" last month.

China detests Lai as a "separatist," and in a video accompanying the Eastern Theater Command's announcement depicted him as cartoon bug held by a pair of chopsticks above a burning Taiwan.

"The focus is on exercises such as combat readiness patrols at sea and in the air, seizing comprehensive control, striking maritime and land targets and imposing blockade controls on key areas and routes," the Eastern Theater Command said on its official WeChat social media account, according to Reuters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Bangladesh’s interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, in Beijing on Friday, AFP reported.

The visit comes as Bangladesh seeks new allies in the wake of strained relations with India.

Yunus is on a four-day visit to China to strengthen ties and attract investment. He previously went to the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, according to AFP.

This is his first bilateral visit after taking office in August 2024, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations.

 Yunus is joined by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative Khalilur Rahman, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

United States President Donald Trump says he would be willing to reduce tariff rates on China to secure a deal with TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the social media app used by 170 million Americans, Reuters reported.

Trump's proposal came as he proposed a 25% tariff on imported autos and auto parts, the latest salvo in a deepening trade war that has strained relations with allies and partners.Earlier this month, Trump boosted additional duties on all Chinese imports to 20%, up from 10% in February, according to Reuters.

Under US law, ByteDance was obligated to withdraw from TikTok by January 19 or face a ban.  However, Trump allowed a 75-day grace period, which will end on April 5.

Trump has stated that he is open to extend the deadline if an agreement on the social media app is not achieved.
 

Experts and politicians have said that Nepal should learn lessons for the country's economic growth and physical prosperity from China's development initiatives.

At a program organized by Friends of Silk Road Club-Nepal on 'China's Two Sessions 2025: Lessons, Opportunities, and Implications for Nepal' on Thursday, they stated that Nepal can learn lessons and benefit from China's economic rise made in the last four decades.

Standing Committee Member of the CPN-UML and former Industry Minister Karna Bahadur Thapa said we should expand Nepal-China relations and take maximum benefits through partnership for the implementation of sustainable development policies. "For this, we should deepen our diplomatic ties through political level," Thapa added.

Likewise, CPN (Maoist Center) central committee member and Bagmati Province Assembly Member Yubraj Chaulagain called for intensive collaboration on economic issues between Nepal and China adding that rising economic power of China could be beneficial for Nepal's development efforts.

Similarly, Nepali Congress central committee member Madhu Acharya argued that Nepal could advance ahead by taking technical expertise from China adding that China's stride in technological advancement was impressive.

Also speaking at the programme, Executive Director of CEDA of Tribhuvan University (TU) Prof Dr Arjun Kumar Baral and foreign affairs expert Gopal Khanal said that China's strategies on economic growth, industrialization, modernization, good-governance and reforms are the key areas that Nepal should learn from Chinese experiences.

General Secretary of Club Dr Kalyan Raj Sharma stressed the need of investment partnership with China adding that Nepal can bring in a huge amount of FDI from China by further deepening our ties.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has pointed out the need to further strengthen our cooperation with India for Nepal's sustainable development with a focus on an investment increase for promotion of mutual interests. 

In his address to the Kasthamandap Dialogue organised by the Foundation for Peace, Development and Socialism, here today, the Speaker stressed this. 

In the Dialogue centered on Belt and Road Initiate (BRI) and Nepal-China cooperation, the Speaker called for identifying new potential areas for Nepal-China cooperation and include them as projects under the BRI. 

As a close neighbor and good friend of China, Nepal takes pride in China's remarkable progress and aims to benefit from its extraordinary development through a broader economic partnership, Ghimire remarked. "We highly appreciate China's support and cooperation in Nepal's developmental endeavors," he added, expressing hope for significant assistance from the northern neighbor as Nepal moves towards graduating from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC) to a middle-income country by 2026 and also for the sustainability of this status.

Ghimire further highlighted that Nepal's historic relationship with China, based on mutual trust, understanding, and friendship, has been strengthened through the BRI. "This initiative is not just about infrastructure for Nepal; it should be viewed as an opportunity for Nepal to explore new avenues for economic growth," he said.

He also suggested that Nepal, leveraging its geographical position, has the potential to be developed into a 'transit hub.' To realize this, Ghimire stressed the need for enhancing bilateral collaboration on physical infrastructure, including roadways, railways, information technology, and trade relations.

Reflecting on the longstanding diplomatic ties between Nepal and China, which have flourished over the past seven decades, Ghimire affirmed that Nepal’s policies are guided by the five principles (Panchasheel) of peaceful coexistence. "We are always ready to take steps to deepen the cordial relations between our two nations," he added. He also reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the 'One China Policy' and described China as a reliable and significant development partner for Nepal.

Former Prime Minister and senior CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhalanath Khanal, who also spoke at the event, highlighted the BRI as a global development project that offers abundant opportunities for infrastructure development and expanding connectivity. "It is a boon for many countries around the world," he said, urging Nepal to ensure it capitalizes on the potential benefits.

China’s Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, shared about China's achievements in infrastructure development, information technology, industrialization, innovation, and research. He reiterated China’s strong support for Nepal’s developmental goals.

During the Dialogue, business communities and academics from Nepal and China are scheduled to exchange views on the implementation of the BRI in Nepal, its opportunities, and challenges.

Recent reports of a Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China have triggered global concerns, with echoes of the early Covid-19 pandemic raising speculation about a potential health emergency. However, HMPV is not a new or mysterious virus. It has been well-documented for decades as a significant cause of respiratory illness in children, elderly and immunocompromised individuals.

Identified in 2001 at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, HMPV was initially isolated from children with respiratory illnesses. Published in Nature Medicine, this study indicated all Dutch children were exposed to HMPV by the age of five. Retrospective analyses, however, suggest HMPV has been circulating in humans for 50 years.

HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the Metapneumovirus genus. This enveloped, single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus has two genetic lineages, A and B, further divided into six sublineages: A1, A2.1, A2.2.1, A2.2.2, B1 and B2. Emerging sublineages A2.2.1 and A2.2.2, were recently identified in pediatric respiratory infections in South India, as reported by the International Society of Infectious Diseases in 2025.

A Virology Journal 2009 genetic study by Vanderbilt University suggests HMPV diverged from Avian Metapneumovirus 200–400 years ago via zoonotic spillover from an avian reservoir, with phylogenetic evidence indicating a spillover event around 200 years ago, emphasizing HMPV’s long-standing presence in human populations.

Symptoms, risk groups and treatment

HMPV is a common etiological agent of respiratory tract infections, affecting infants, children under 15, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Nearly all children are exposed by age five, with reinfections occurring throughout life. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it spreads via respiratory droplets, close contact, or contaminated surfaces, similar to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, with an incubation period of 3–6 days. Symptoms vary from mild cough, nasal congestion, fever, and breath shortness to severe pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthma exacerbations, especially in high-risk groups.

Infants and young children are prone to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The elderly, often with comorbidities like asthma, may experience complications. Immunocompromised individuals face prolonged or severe illness, and pregnant women are at risk of respiratory complications that could affect both maternal and fetal health.

No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine exists for HMPV. Management relies on supportive care, supplemental oxygen, antipyretics and intravenous hydration when needed.

Seasonal outbreaks

HMPV is a seasonal respiratory virus, primarily circulating during late winter and early spring in temperate regions, similar to influenza and RSV. Recent reports of increased cases in China and parts of Asia align with this seasonal pattern. US CDC data also highlight annual outbreaks during these months, influenced by climatic conditions.

Despite comparisons to the Covid-19 pandemic, HMPV is not a novel virus. Identified over two decades back, it has been extensively studied, with over 300 PubMed scientific articles available. While it causes localized outbreaks, its transmission dynamics and clinical severity do not indicate pandemic potential. For instance, HMPV was the predominant virus during the 2002–2003 winter in Norwegian children hospitalized for respiratory infections, as reported in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Severe pneumonia occurred in some cases, but widespread outbreaks have remained limited to specific populations.

HMPV outbreaks have been documented globally, including Israel (2003), Japan (2003–2004), South Africa (2009-2013), Nicaragua (2011-2016), Western Sydney (2018), South Korea (2022), India (2022), China (2017-2023) and various regions. In Pakistan, HMPV accounted for 5–7 percent of pneumonia admissions in children at Aga Khan University Hospital (2009–2012). HMPV causes 5–10 percent of pediatric acute respiratory infections (ARIs) hospitalizations and is the second most common viral pathogen in certain settings. ARIs are a major global public health problem, causing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in children.

A 2019 study at Nepal’s Kanti Children’s Hospital revealed a prevalence of 13 percent among children with ARIs, with infections more frequent in those under three years old (22 percent). Symptoms like cough and fever were universally observed.

Besides, data from Nepal’s Sarlahi district (2011–2014) detected HMPV in five percent of infants, identifying three genotypes (A2, B1, B2). A recent Chinese CDC analysis ranked HMPV second among 11 respiratory viruses affecting children under 15 years, with a positivity rate of 6.2 percent in influenza-like illness.

These findings reflect a seasonal uptick, not an unprecedented surge. Factors like colder weather and increased indoor crowding contribute to HMPV’s seasonal prevalence.

Covid-19 lessons

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of preparedness, evidence-based communication and robust public health strategies in managing infectious disease outbreaks. While HMPV does not pose the same threat as Covid-19, its current attention emphasizes the need to apply these lessons. Strengthened surveillance systems are essential for early detection, while public education can counter misinformation, reduce anxiety and encourage preventive behaviors. Investment in research on HMPV’s pathogenesis, treatments and vaccine development is key to mitigating its long-term impacts and bolstering public health resilience.

Precautions

The rise in HMPV cases in China and India warrants vigilance but not alarm. Vulnerable populations—infants, rural children, immunocompromised individuals—are particularly at risk, in regions with limited healthcare resources like Nepal. Preventive measures, supportive care and community-driven initiatives are critical to minimizing HMPV’s burden.

Between 2011 and 2014, HMPV infections in rural southern Nepal were associated with adverse outcomes, including an increased risk of small-for-gestational-age births in pregnant women. Interventions targeting febrile respiratory illness in pregnancy could improve maternal and neonatal health in resource-limited settings.

Hygiene practices, regular handwashing and respiratory etiquette, alongside isolation during illness, can reduce HMPV transmission. Enhanced diagnostic capabilities and heightened awareness will support disease management and safeguard at-risk groups.

Policymakers, healthcare providers and community leaders must collaborate to strengthen surveillance systems, improve diagnostics and develop effective preventive strategies. Public health messaging should prioritize education and reassurance, focusing on practical actions to protect vulnerable populations. By taking informed and measured steps, HMPV’s impact can be effectively mitigated, fostering resilience against future viral outbreaks.

The author is a researcher with a PhD degree at Nexus Institute of Research and Innovation