NTD News Today

All eyes are on Switzerland this weekend, as high-stakes trade talks between the United States and China continue behind closed doors.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with China’s vice premier amid ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that 80 percent tariffs on Chinese goods "seems right." He said in a Truth Social post that "China should open up its market to USA—would be so good for them!!! Closed markets don’t work anymore!!!" Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese economic czar He Lifeng in Switzerland this weekend for talks that could be the first step toward resolving the trade dispute.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as pope on Friday in the Sistine Chapel, where he was elected less than 24 hours earlier. He warned the congregation of the dangers caused by a lack of faith, and expressed his hope that the Catholic Church could be a beacon of light in the world's "dark nights."

The United States and Britain announced plans for a trade deal on Thursday. “The final details are being written up,” President Donald Trump told reporters. “In the coming weeks, we’ll have it all very conclusive.” The president said that the agreement would lead to more beef and ethanol exports to the U.K., which would also streamline the processing of U.S. goods though customs.

The House passed a bill that would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and direct federal agencies to update their documents and maps to incorporate the new name.

White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St. Peter's rang out, signaling that cardinals have elected a new pope to succeed Pope Francis and take charge of the Roman Catholic Church.

President Donald Trump participates in the swearing-in ceremony of David Perdue as U.S. ambassador to China. Perdue served as a senator for the state of Georgia, was a former Fortune 500 CEO, and is recognized as a strong China critic who lived in Hong Kong for a time during his 40-year business career. Perdue was confirmed by the Senate in a 67–29 vote on April 29. Perdue's ambassadorship comes amid deepening bilateral trade tensions between the United States and China.

At least 31 people are dead after India fired missiles into several areas of Pakistan and territory it controls on Wednesday. India says the strikes aim to "preempt" and "deter" cross-border terror attacks.

The escalation follows a massacre of Hindu tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month. Pakistan has dismissed India's allegations of its harboring terrorist camps as unfounded. Meanwhile, the leader of a U.N.-designated terrorist group in Pakistan reported that 10 of his family members had been killed in the attacks.

President Donald Trump is hosting Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, at the White House on Tuesday for high-stakes talks focused on trade and security. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the neighbors in the wake of Trump’s imposing steep tariffs on Canadian products and ongoing remarks suggesting that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. This marks the first meeting between the two leaders since Carney’s Liberal Party secured victory in Canada's federal election on April 28.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is testifying before Congress on Tuesday for the first time since his confirmation hearing. The House Appropriations Committee is set to question him regarding the Trump administration's tariff policies, trade negotiations, and the need for a debt limit increase.

The Trump administration will offer a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance to migrants who elect to voluntarily "self deport" from the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday. The stipend and potential airfare for migrants who voluntarily depart would cost less than an actual deportation, the agency said.

President Donald Trump announced on May 4 that he was authorizing his administration to impose a 100 percent tariff on movies produced outside the United States. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the Department of Commerce and the U.S. trade representative would immediately start to process the implementation of the levy on all movies “produced in foreign lands.” Trump said the move was necessary to protect the once globally dominant U.S. movie industry.

The Chinese Communist Party's systematic forced organ harvesting is in the spotlight on Capitol Hill. Later on Monday, lawmakers in the House will vote on two bills—the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 and the Falun Gong Protection Act—to hold China's communist regime accountable for its systematic forced organ harvesting, which targets the persecuted faith group Falun Gong.

The United States and Ukraine signed a partnership agreement on April 30 focused on Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and other natural resources.

As China continues to tighten its grip on critical minerals—especially following the imposition of U.S. tariffs—control of rare earths becomes increasingly important. These minerals are essential for producing modern technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and advanced weapons systems.

Why does the U.S.–Ukraine rare earth deal matter? Where is this heading? Experts break it down.

President Donald Trump on Friday said he would strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, as a battle between his administration and the Ivy League school continues. “We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He did not elaborate on the details, including when it may happen.

Trump is planning to unveil a budget blueprint that calls for slashing federal spending on key nondefense programs by $163 billion, targeting renewable energy, education, and foreign aid, according to a White House official.

The U.S. economy added a stronger-than-expected 177,000 jobs in April. It was more than the 135,000 jobs economists were expecting the economy to add last month. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%, a historically low level.

America's top intelligence agency is posting a "help wanted" notice specifically for Chinese officials. The Central Intelligence Agency published two short videos on its platforms on Thursday, describing the opportunity as a way out for Chinese officials struggling to survive amid the Chinese communist regime's infighting and massive internal struggles.

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and his deputy will be leaving their positions, according to reports. A senior White House official did not confirm or deny a report in comments to The Epoch Times on Thursday and advised to pay attention to an announcement from President Donald Trump later in the day.

The Senate rejected a resolution on April 30 to nullify President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariffs on most trading partners. The measure failed with a tied vote of 49-49. The resolution was supported by Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). While Trump has since suspended most of the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days—with tariffs on China a notable exception—he left in place a 10 percent tariff on those countries in accordance with the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows the U.S. president to unilaterally enact tariffs for national security reasons. The failed resolution sought to undo the 10 percent tariffs.

Management at Tesla has firmly denied reports by The Wall Street Journal that the company began looking for a new boss to replace Elon Musk weeks ago. Board chair Robyn Denholm called the report “absolutely false,” and said the company was “highly confident” Musk could execute the firm's growth plans. Musk said last week that he would cut back on his government role, and spend more time running his companies.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Americans should be patient in the face of a first quarter economic contraction, arguing that his tariffs would eventually lead to a boom in the U.S. economy. The economy declined by 0.3 percent in the first quarter, down from the 2.4 percent expansion in the previous quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said in a statement. Trump wrote on Truth Social: "This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BEPATIENT!!!"

Ukraine and the United States could sign a minerals deal within the next 24 hours after the final details are worked out, Ukraine's prime minister said on Wednesday. The reworked agreement has become a "real partnership deal," which could consider future U.S. aid as part of contributions to the fund, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in televised remarks.