U.S.-China Trade War Fuels Global Power Shift, Affecting U.S. Soft Power, and Spurs Insider Trading Probe.

Good Morning,

The ongoing trade war between China and the United States, under the Trump administration, is not only a battle over tariffs but a larger struggle for global influence in the 21st century. While the U.S. aims to weaken China's economic power, the trade conflict is inadvertently bolstering China's soft power on the world stage. Conversely, the U.S. is experiencing negative repercussions, such as impacts on Hollywood and its own soft power. Despite Trump's assertion that trade wars are easy to win, China holds escalation dominance, giving it an upper hand in the tariff disputes. Additionally, the Trump administration is under scrutiny for an insider trading allegation linked to a stock market surge amidst these tensions.

Top Stories

• Indigenous groups rally in Brasilia to demand land rights (reuters.com)

• China and America Aren’t Just in a Trade War. It’s a Fight for the 21st Century. (www.thefp.com)

• Trump's Trade War With China Is Now Hurting Hollywood (www.wired.com)

• Trade Wars Are Easy to Lose: Beijing Has Escalation Dominance in the U.S.-China Tariff Fight (www.foreignaffairs.com)

• Trump Admin faces "insider trading" investigation over stock market surge (www.newsweek.com)

• UK sends military chief to China for first visit in 10 years (www.bbc.com)

• U.S. Navy Cancels Critical HALO Hypersonic Missile Citing Cost Concerns (www.navalnews.com)

• Ukraine Hasn’t Lost the Battle for Kursk Just Yet (www.19fortyfive.com)

United States

• Supreme Court orders Trump to free Maryland father from El Salvador prison (www.courthousenews.com)

• House votes to overturn Biden-era rule limiting bank overdraft fees to $5, sends to Trump to sign (apnews.com)

• Trump Says He Is Serious About Staying in Office Past 2028 (www.theatlantic.com)

• Ocasio-Cortez: Colleagues ‘should probably disclose’ recent stock purchases now (thehill.com)

• Trump Admin faces "insider trading" investigation over stock market surge (www.newsweek.com)

• U.S. Navy Cancels Critical HALO Hypersonic Missile Citing Cost Concerns (www.navalnews.com)

Africa

• Niger downgrades French as it distances from its colonial past with a new official language (africa.businessinsider.com)

• Nigerian Man Faces 40-Year U.S. Prison Term for Alleged $2.5 Million Romance Scam, May Be Deported (m10news.com)

• How the small autonomous region of Puntland found success in battling Islamic State in Somalia (theconversation.com)

• DR Congo Repatriates Americans Spared Death Penalty Over Failed Coup (www.verity.news)

Middle East

• Trump: Israel would be ‘leader’ of Iran strike if Tehran doesn’t give up nuclear weapons program (apnews.com)

• Militias withdrawing from Afrin as Damascus gains control: Official (www.rudaw.net)

• Israel and Turkey did not reach agreements: Another round of talks will be held after Passover. (www.kan.org.il)

• Kurds will demand federal rule in new Syrian constitution -- report (www.timesofisrael.com)

• Israel and Turkey hold Syria deconfliction talks to avoid military clash (www.timesofisrael.com)

Indo-Pacific

• Head of British military visits China for first time in a decade (www.thetimes.com)

• 26/11 Attack Plotter Tahawwur Rana Lands In Delhi, Arrested Under Anti-Terror Act (www.ndtv.com)

• Indian Congress Party Begins Structural Overhaul (frontline.thehindu.com)

• China raises costs for US tourists after Trump tariffs: "104%” (www.newsweek.com)

Europe

• Russian intelligence ship located in Irish-controlled waters not responding to communication (www.irishtimes.com)

• Trump tariffs: Australia rejects China offer, reopens free trade talks with EU (www.smh.com.au)

• Russian cable attacks ‘threaten to cut off world’s internet’ (www.telegraph.co.uk)

• Hungary: Fidesz (Orbán's party) is 14 points behind in a new poll (24.hu)

• EU Chief Sends Trump Clear Message About Future Trade After Tariffs Pause (www.newsweek.com)

Latin America

• Burials begin as the search ends for victims in the Dominican nightclub collapse that killed 221 (apnews.com)

• Indigenous groups rally in Brasilia to demand land rights (reuters.com)

• Deal extension allows Argentina to borrow another $5 billion from China (apnews.com)

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