| President Trump met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy at the White House. Eric Lee/The New York Times |
Trump promised an E.U. deal on tariffs
President Trump met yesterday with one of the few European leaders he actually likes: Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. As Trump greeted her at the White House, he said that “there’ll be a trade deal, 100 percent” with the E.U. before the end of the 90-day pause on some tariffs.
Meloni has been clear that she cannot negotiate an agreement for the E.U. But U.S. officials said they believed the prime minister, a conservative, could be a conduit to the rest of Europe. The European Central Bank cut interest rates yesterday as policymakers grappled with economic uncertainty, particularly as a result of Trump’s chaotic trade policies.
Trump also said that “we are going to make a very good deal with China,” which has been hit by U.S. tariffs of 145 percent. Negotiations between the two governments appear to be limited. Japanese officials left the White House on Wednesday without an agreement. Trump, though, said they were getting closer to one.
| More on TrumpA U.S. senator said he had met in San Salvador with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was unlawfully deported to El Salvador last month.Trump lashed out at Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve, for not cutting rates.The Trump administration seems to want some help from Europe in ending the fighting in Ukraine.As South Korea prepares for trade talks with the U.S. next week, it hopes its thriving shipbuilding industry will give it an edge.Trump threatened to block international students from Harvard University unless the school shared student data.The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a few weeks on Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.With two orders from judges, the White House and the courts are closer than ever to an open confrontation over deportation flights.Track Trump’s actions since he took office. |
Google acted illegally to keep its ad monopoly, a judge ruled
A U.S. federal judge ruled yesterday that Google had broken the law to build its dominance over the technology that places online advertising. The judgment adds to legal troubles that could reshape the tech giant and alter its power over the internet.
In September, the Justice Department sued Google, arguing that the company had a monopoly over three parts of the online ad market: the tools used by online publishers to host open ad space; the tools advertisers use to buy that ad space; and the software that facilitates those transactions. The judge found that Google had illegally built a monopoly over the publisher tools and the software system, but dismissed the claim about the tools used by advertisers.
What’s next: Google and the Justice Department have seven days to propose a schedule for the next phase of the case. The government had pre-emptively asked the judge to force Google to sell some parts of its ad technology business.
Separately, a different judge in August ruled that Google had an illegal search monopoly. The Justice Department asked the judge to break up the company. A hearing in that issue is set to begin on Monday.
The U.S. pulled troops from Syria
The U.S. has started withdrawing hundreds of troops from northeastern Syria, after the fall of the Assad regime in December.
Three of the eight small U.S. operating bases there have been closed, and the number of troops has been cut to 1,400, from about 2,000, U.S. officials said. Some analysts said that further U.S. troop cuts could threaten the stability of the new Syrian government. The Islamic State remains a danger in the northeast.
| MORE TOP NEWS |
| The coastal area of Mawasi was largely designated by the Israeli military as a “humanitarian zone” Nader Ibrahim |
| Gaza: Israel bombarded an encampment for Palestinians displaced by the war in southern Gaza and killed at least a dozen people, Palestinian officials said. U.S.: At least two people were killed in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. A suspect is in custody. Italy: A cable car crashed and broke apart south of Naples, killing at least four people. Health: Eli Lilly announced clinical trial results that showed that a daily pill may be as effective for weight loss as injectable drugs like Ozempic. France: President Emmanuel Macron called for a commission to examine the impact of a debt placed on Haiti 200 years ago. Ukraine: A history teacher’s videos of conversations that correct Kremlin propaganda have attracted a huge following online. Australia: Katie Perry, a designer with a namesake label, is suing the singer Katy Perry for trademark infringement. The Netherlands: As road deaths among cyclists climb, a new campaign promotes helmets. But many are not convinced. Fashion: Jonathan Anderson, the former LVMH Loewe designer, is Dior’s new artistic director of men’s collections. Animals: Four men pleaded guilty in Kenya to trafficking thousands of live ants. The authorities said they had intended to sell them as pets. |
| SPORTS NEWS |
| Soccer: Arsenal dismantled Real Madrid in the Champions League and showed they are a rising force in European soccer. Hockey: The N.H.L.’s playoffs are set after the Canadiens’ win. Tennis: The French Open will honor Rafael Nadal at the tournament next month. |
| MORNING READ |
In the ritzy suburbs of Buenos Aires, the cuddly capybara has become a menace.
The capybaras, which have tripled in number over the past two years, idly lounge in lagoons, chomp through gardens and cause traffic accidents. Neighbors are facing off over whether the capybara is friend or foe.
| CONVERSATION STARTERS |
| Joan Chen: The actress is having a career renaissance. She told us she thought acting would be her “Plan B.” One small step backward: Even when she went to space, Katy Perry could not escape her haters on Earth. Tiny joys: We asked people in high-pressure jobs about their stress snacks. The answers were simple, and satisfying. The city that sleeps: Bars in New York are closing earlier. Last call often comes before 4 a.m. |
| DESIGN |
Zuckerberg’s home away from home
This month, news broke of Washington’s third-most expensive property sale in the city’s history. The home sold for $23 million. The buyer? Mark Zuckerberg.
The billionaire has shifted from a critic of Trump’s to a MAGA ally, so the purchase, which is roughly 10 minutes away from the White House by car, was not surprising. Take a look at Zuckerberg’s homes over the years, from a Harvard dorm to a Hawaii doomsday bunker.
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Cook: This lemon butter salmon is a stress-free Easter dish that everyone will love.
