Good morning. We're covering Trump's bargaining over tariffs and Google's legal trouble over advertising. Plus, Argentina's capybara problem.
Trump promised an E.U. deal on tariffsPresident 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.
Google acted illegally to keep its ad monopoly, a judge ruledA 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 SyriaThe 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.
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. Lives lived: Robert McGinnis, an illustrator whose work included the movie posters for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and James Bond films, died at 99.
Zuckerberg's home away from homeThis 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.
Cook: This lemon butter salmon is a stress-free Easter dish that everyone will love. Watch: "The Wedding Banquet" revisits Ang Lee's classic of queer cinema. Read: "The Illegals" studies the Russian agents who worked deep undercover as Americans for decades. Dazzle: There was something for everyone at New York Bridal Fashion Week. Travel: Our frugal traveler visited London on the cheap. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Justin Reach Justin and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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