Asian stocks tumble amid U.S. tariff concerns

China has vowed to take countermeasures if the United States continues to escalate trade tensions. The statement from the Chinese Commerce Ministry came in response to U.S. threat to impose an additional 50-percent tariff on Chinese imports.

Stock markets across Asia-Pacific traded sharply lower on Monday as financial turmoil sparked by the U.S. tariffs escalated recession fears worldwide.

Gaza's Civil Defense Agency says Israeli airstrikes killed at least 44 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The latest Israeli strikes come after a rare rocket barrage fired from the Palestinian enclave by Hamas militants.

China expects a total of 790 million passenger trips to have been taken during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday.

China's Olympic champions Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan have completed a dominant one-two finish in the women's ten-meter platform final at this year's first Diving World Cup event in Mexico.

China has strongly condemned the United States for what it calls the reckless imposition of tariffs on all its trading partners.

Major Chambers of Commerce in China have voiced opposition to the U.S. decision to impose new tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States.

Beijing has announced an additional 34 percent tariff on all imports from the United States. The new rates will come into force next week on Thursday.

The Canadian prime minister has announced countermeasures following the U.S. tariff hikes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for pooling strength in the building of a Beautiful China and making the country even greener through afforestation efforts.