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| Members of the Chinese delegation at the trade talks in Geneva. Denis Balibouse/Reuters |
U.S. said it made ‘progress’ toward a deal with China
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said yesterday that the U.S. had made “substantial progress” in talks with China after a weekend of meetings in Geneva, and that more details would be announced today.
Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative who joined Bessent for the talks, suggested that some form of a “deal” addressed U.S. national security concerns about China’s trade practices. He did not say whether the two nations had agreed to drop any of their punishing tariffs.
China’s vice premier for economic policy, He Lifeng, described the talks as “candid, in-depth and constructive” and said that the two countries had reached a deal to establish a “consultation mechanism” to discuss economic and trade issues, according to Chinese state media.
Analysis: “Any reduction in tensions is good news for businesses that depend on trade between the U.S. and China,” said my colleague Ana Swanson, who covers trade for The Times. “But I would be cautious about expecting too much from just two days of meetings.” Other than lower tariffs, a possible outcome tomorrow “may just be more meetings,” she added.
Response: Stocks in Japan and South Korea edged higher in early trading this morning.
| A house damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir on Saturday. Atul Loke for The New York Times |
India and Pakistan maintained a cease-fire
The fragile truce between India and Pakistan appeared to be largely holding yesterday, on its first full day. Both countries claimed to have won the four-day conflict they had been engaged in.
After some initial fighting on Saturday, President Trump later announced that both sides had agreed to a cease-fire with the help of U.S. mediation. He added that he would increase trade “substantially” with both countries and work with them to settle their dispute over Kashmir.
Pakistan praised America for mediating, but India initially made no mention of U.S. involvement. Later, New Delhi acknowledged discussions with U.S. officials but said it had made its own decisions. Here’s what else to know about the conflict.
Under the guns: Showkat Nanda, born and raised in Kashmir, grew up hearing gunfire but had never spent a night under military bombardment until this month. He wrote about the experience.
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and President Trump at the White House in February. Eric Lee/The New York Times |
Signs of division between Trump and Netanyahu
As Trump prepares to visit the Middle East this week for his first major foreign trip, he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel are showing signs of a rift that has grown since April.
In February, they were in sync on issues like the Houthis, Iran and Gaza. Since then, Trump has rejected Netanyahu’s desire for joint action to take out Iran’s nuclear abilities. He also announced a deal with Houthi militias to halt U.S. airstrikes against them, just days after a Houthi missile struck Israel’s main airport.
There is even some evidence of a divide on Gaza: Trump’s emissaries are still trying to get a deal to stop the war, even though he has largely supported Netanyahu’s conduct in the conflict.
Hamas: The Palestinian armed group said it would free Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen held captive in Gaza.
More Trump news:
| Trump plans to accept a luxury Boeing plane from the Qatari royal family that would be used as Air Force One, raising big ethical questions. It would be one of the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government.The Trump administration is planning to allow a first group of white South Africans to enter the U.S. as refugees today, according to officials and documents.Trump has floated changing the name of the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf — a move that infuriated Iran and its people. |
| MORE TOP NEWS |
| Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky, above center, said he was ready to meet with Russia’s leader, but he also insisted on an immediate truce before negotiations can begin. Britain: Wildfires over the past week burned through forested areas in Scotland, Wales and England. Bangladesh: The interim government said that it would ban all activities of the Awami League, the political party of the ousted leader, Sheikh Hasina. Philippines: Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is in detention in Europe on charges of crimes against humanity, is expected to win another term as mayor of Davao City. South Korea: The presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo have both vowed to bring national unity. But they are as politically opposite as it gets. |
The Vatican
| First blessing: Pope Leo XIV used his first Sunday address to the faithful to call for peace in Gaza and Ukraine. A stunning consensus: Read how a quiet American became the new pope. Origin story: The revelation that Leo XIV has roots among New Orleans Creoles has stirred curiosity and joy among those who share his heritage. First draft of history: See how newspapers around the world covered the election of a new pope. |
| SPORTS NEWS |
| Soccer: Barcelona took a dominant hold of La Liga’s title race with a wild 4-3 win over Real Madrid in yesterday’s El Clásico. Formula 1: Rookie drivers aren’t being given a chance to shine. There’s a reason for that. Tennis: A secret tennis court awaits the new pope. Good thing Pope Leo XIV is a fan of the game. |
| ARTS AND IDEAS |
A small country with big artistic dreams
Guinea-Bissau has virtually no art galleries, no art schools and little government funding for the arts. Despite this, the tiny West African nation just staged its first biennale.
The MoAC Biss, which runs through May 31, features some 150 artists from 17 countries. The festival is designed in part to offer more opportunities for local artists, who presently have few ways to display their work. As one curator put it, culture and art “feed our soul.”
| RECOMMENDATIONS |
Cook: Miso rice cakes with spinach and peas are vitality in a skillet.
