Global Tensions Rise as China Stops Rare Earth Exports, Trump Faces Criticism on Ukraine and Social Security, and EU Disagrees on US Tech Taxes.

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As trade tensions escalate, China has ceased exports of critical rare earth materials, further intensifying the ongoing trade war. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions continue as French President Emmanuel Macron criticizes Russia for persisting in the Ukraine conflict despite proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump, who is facing calls to rescind tariffs. Domestically, Elizabeth Warren criticizes the Trump administration for limiting Social Security communications to the social media platform X, highlighting accessibility concerns for older Americans. In Europe, Germany opposes France's initiative to impose taxes on U.S. big tech companies, adding another layer to the international tariff disputes.

Top Stories

• China Halts Critical Rare Earth Exports as Trade War Intensifies (www.nytimes.com)

• Macron: Russia chooses to continue war despite Trump's proposals (www.pravda.com.ua)

• Xi Jinping seeks to strengthen economic ties during tour of south-east Asia (www.theguardian.com)

• Desperate measures: can Cambodia’s tariff trim save it from Trump’s trade axe? (www.scmp.com)

• A Partner, not a Power: The EU’s Evolving Engagement with Central Asia (www.cacianalyst.org)

• 'Correct mistakes': China calls on US to 'completely cancel' reciprocal tariffs (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

• Germany opposes French push to tax US big tech in tariff war (www.euractiv.com)

United States

• Elizabeth Warren Slams Trump Admin Over Social Security Communicating Only On X: 'Right, Because Grandma Is On X' (www.latintimes.com)

• Some members of Congress are starting to talk about impeachment (www.msnbc.com)

• Trump's approval rating falls as 59% say the economy's in bad shape: Poll (www.usatoday.com)

• Rubio says another 10 people have been sent to El Salvador (thehill.com)

Africa

• Attacks on famine-hit camps in Sudan’s Darfur leave at least 100 people dead, UN official says (apnews.com)

• Trump Team Divided Over Future of U.S. Counterterrorism Operations in Somalia (www.nytimes.com)

• A roadside bomb kills 8 bus passengers in northeast Nigeria (apnews.com)

Middle East

• Washington and Paris pressure the SDF to stop recruiting children in northeastern Syria (www.syria.tv)

• Syrian Kurd commander: Aleppo power-sharing deal could be model for nation (www.al-monitor.com)

• Saudi Arabia, US on 'pathway' to civil nuclear agreement, US Energy Secretary says (reuters.com)

• Tishrin Dam Agreement Marks Key Step Toward De-escalation in Northern Syria (npasyria.com)

• Iran, US hold 'positive' talks in Oman, agree to resume next week (reuters.com)

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported a significant increase in humanitarian needs as approximately 400,000 Syrians have returned home in recent months (www.unhcr.org)

Indo-Pacific

• Japan's World Expo: A Positive Vision of the Future for Our Divided World? (www.theguardian.com)

• China Halts Critical Rare Earth Exports as Trade War Intensifies (www.nytimes.com)

• Xi Jinping seeks to strengthen economic ties during tour of south-east Asia (www.theguardian.com)

• Desperate measures: can Cambodia’s tariff trim save it from Trump’s trade axe? (www.scmp.com)

• A Partner, not a Power: The EU’s Evolving Engagement with Central Asia (www.cacianalyst.org)

• 'Correct mistakes': China calls on US to 'completely cancel' reciprocal tariffs (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Europe

• UK ‘will never change food standards’ in any trade deal with US, says government (www.scmp.com)

• Phones of travellers to US being checked in Dublin Airport (extra.ie)

• X users in Turkey migrate to Bluesky amid censorship (bianet.org)

• Germany opposes French push to tax US big tech in tariff war (www.euractiv.com)

• Irish visitors to US down 27% (www.rte.ie)

• As Trump brings the EU and China closer, reality keeps pulling them apart (www.euronews.com)

Latin America

• Incumbent Noboa has won Ecuador presidential vote, electoral council says (reuters.com)

• Rubio says another 10 people have been sent to El Salvador (thehill.com)

• Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel literature laureate, dies at 89 (apnews.com)

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