China cuts exports of vital rare earth minerals as trade war with U.S. intensifies

In our news wrap Friday, the international effort to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine appears to have stalled, Houthi rebels say U.S. airstrikes killed at least 74 people and injured more than 170 others and power has been mostly restored in Puerto Rico almost two days after a blackout put the entire island in the dark. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Along certain parts of the ocean floor lies a bounty of rare minerals and metals, critical components for batteries, electric cars and other electronics. But mining for them in the deep sea is a controversial and potentially destructive process. Special correspondent Willem Marx joined William Brangham to discuss how the Trump administration is considering pushing ahead with the practice. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump took aim at Jerome Powell, calling interest rates cuts and saying the Fed Chair's termination “cannot come fast enough.” It comes as his administration's tariffs continue to cause global fallout. The International Monetary Fund warns it expects slower economic growth and higher inflation. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Austan Goolsbee of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Thursday, delegations from Ukraine and other European countries are trying to push the U.S. to take a tougher stance with Russia, Chinese President Xi said Cambodia should "resist protectionism" in an apparent slight against U.S. tariffs and a federal judge ruled Google held an illegal amount of influence over online advertising technology. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The lead Hamas negotiator for ceasefire talks offered to swap all hostages held in Gaza for an agreed-upon number of Palestinians jailed in Israel. The offer came after Hamas reportedly rejected the latest Israeli proposal. Meantime, airstrikes overnight killed at least 27 Palestinians as the lack of aid into Gaza threatens hundreds of thousands. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Iran and the U.S. confirmed that a second round of talks over Iran’s nuclear program would take place this weekend in Rome. But at the same time, both the U.S. and Iran have hardened their negotiating positions after describing the first round as constructive. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Amid Sudan's brutal civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are using sexual violence to terrorize women and girls from non-Arab ethnic groups. These war crimes have sparked international outrage. Special correspondent Neha Wadekar and filmmaker Zoe Flood, with the support of the International Women’s Media Foundation, spoke with survivors and a woman determined to help them heal. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, Iran's supreme leader said nuclear talks with the U.S. were "taken well" but downplayed prospects for a deal, Russia said negotiations with the U.S. were "constructive" but wouldn't give a timetable for peace in Ukraine, the CDC says nearly one in 31 U.S. children has autism and Arkansas and Indiana moved to ban soda and candy from food stamp programs. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

China’s leader is touring Southeast Asia and portraying Beijing as the anchor of world economic stability. Xi Jinping’s efforts come after the U.S. levied a blanket 10 percent tariff on goods coming in and steeper rates on China. Beijing is now restricting the export of minerals critical to everything from American cell phones to fighter planes. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Gracelin Baskaran. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For two years now, Sudan has been wracked by a civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Correspondent Neha Wadekar and filmmaker Zoe Flood, with the support of the International Women’s Media Foundation, report on the crisis on Chad’s eastern border, where hundreds of thousands of Sudanese civilians have fled violence and the risk of starvation. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders