HANGZHOU, CHINA – MAY 16: Customers purchase mobile phones at the Huawei Experience Center on May 16, 2019 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. (Photo by Long Wei/VCG via Getty Images)[/caption] –> The ongoing trade war between the United States and China escalated several times this week, with China retaliating against last week’s tariff hike on $200 billion worth of goods with their own increased tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods. This was followed by President Trump threatening even more tariffs before directly targeting China telecom giant Huawei, and banning them from doing business with U.S. companies unless granted U.S. government approval. In other trade news, the U.S. agreed to delay planned auto tariffs by up to six months and may lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico as a result of ongoing negotiations to create a replacement trade deal for NAFTA. Trump also proposed an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy, limiting the number of asylum applications and green cards granted, and shifting to a “merit-based” system based on English proficiency and advanced degrees. Alabama and Missouri legislatures passed two of the strictest anti-abortion bills in the country. They join a wave of states with Republican-led legislatures seeking to force the Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe V. Wade, which legalizes abortion before 23-24 weeks into a pregnancy. A California state agency concluded that power company PG&E’s electrical lines were responsible for the devastating and deadly Camp Fire last year, which killed 85 people and left thousands homeless. Two more politicians joined the crowded pool of candidates seeking the Democratic Party nomination for president in 2020: Montana Governor Steve Bullock and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. In international news, Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage, New Zealand and France led a call for governments and tech companies to tackle online hate speech, and Sweden reopened a nine-year-old sexual assault case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently serving prison time in the U.K. and wanted in the U.S. on separate charges. And in entertainment news, screen legends Doris Day and Tim Conway passed away, at the ages of 97 and 85 respectively. Read more about these stories and the other biggest news of the week, as they appeared in The Daily Edition. 1. Trump administration cracks down on giant Chinese tech firm, escalating clash with Beijing – The Washington Post, Damian Paletta, Ellen Nakashima, David J. Lynch Top line: “The Trump administration on Wednesday slapped a major Chinese firm with an extreme penalty that makes it very difficult for it to do business with any U.S. company, a dramatic escalation of the economic clash between the two nations. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said it was adding Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. to its “Entity List,” known to some as the “death penalty.” Huawei is the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker and has significant backing from the Chinese government. The Justice Department has accused it of violating Iran sanctions, among other things. Tensions between the White House and China have increased markedly in the past week. Trump on Friday began imposing 25 percent tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, and China announced it was countering with large import penalties on $60 billion in U.S. goods.” Topic to follow: Trade War 2. Trump Delays EU, Japan Auto Tariffs for 180 Days for Talks – Bloomberg, Jenny Leonard, Shawn Donnan Top line: “President Donald Trump on Friday announced a delay in imposing tariffs on imported vehicles and parts from the European Union, Japan and other nations for 180 days to pursue negotiations, avoiding opening another front in his tariff battle with some of America’s key allies. In a proclamation released in Washington, Trump said he agreed with the conclusion by Commerce that imports of cars and certain auto parts harm national security. The order, however, softened language contained in an earlier draft seen by Bloomberg, which had sought to reach “agreements that limit or restrict” exports of autos and auto parts from the EU, Japan and other nations — suggesting the U.S. could seek to impose quotas. Instead, the White House order on Friday had less pointed wording, directing the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to pursue negotiations of agreements “to address the threatened impairment of the national security.”” Topic to follow: Auto Tariffs 3. US reaches deal to lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico – CNBC, Kayla Tausche, Jacob Pramuk Top line: “The United States has reached a deal to lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico, removing one key obstacle to passing updates to the North American Free Trade Agreement, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC. In a joint statement Friday, the Canadian and American governments said the U.S. will scrap the metals duties within two days. Canada will remove tariffs levied on American goods in retaliation for the steel and aluminum duties.” Topic to follow: USMCA 4. Trump Outlines ‘Merit-Based’ Immigration Plan, Still Far From Becoming Law – NPR, Tamara Keith Top line: “President Trump has announced an immigration proposal that would dramatically reshape the legal immigration system in the United States. The plan does not address the pressing challenge of what to do about the estimated 11 million people currently in the country illegally, one of the core issues that has animated Trump’s presidency. The plan would prioritize merit-based immigration, limiting the number of people who could get green cards by seeking asylum or based on family ties. But it would keep immigration levels static, neither increasing or decreasing the number of people allowed to legally enter the U.S. each year.” Topic to follow: Immigration 5. After Alabama OKs strictest abortion law in nation, Missouri could be next. Where states stand on abortion bans – USA Today, Doug Stanglin Top line: “Alabama’s passage of the nation’s strictest abortion bill is touching off almost a contest among lawmakers in the South and Midwest to join the anti-abortion ranks, helping propel the highly emotional issue into the national debate and put it before the U.S. Supreme Court. Missouri lawmakers now seek to wrest Alabama’s anti-abortion torch and move to the front of the line. Missouri’s conservative state senators even put aside squabbles on other, more parochial issues, this week to end a filibuster in order to take up the legislation that would prohibit nearly all abortions as early as eight weeks into a pregnancy, except in cases of medical emergency. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. Here’s a look at where key states stand on abortion.” Topic to follow: Abortion 6. California Says PG&E Power Lines Caused Camp Fire That Killed 85 – The New York Times, Peter Eavis, Ivan Penn Top line: “Electrical transmission lines belonging to Pacific Gas & Electric caused the Camp Fire of 2018, California’s deadliest wildfire, a state agency concluded on Wednesday. The fire, which started on Nov. 8, killed 85 people and destroyed nearly 19,000 homes, businesses and other buildings. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said on Wednesday that, after a “very meticulous and thorough investigation,” it had determined that the Camp Fire was caused by “electrical transmission lines owned and operated” by PG&E.” Topic to follow: California Wildfires 7. Doris Day, actress who honed wholesome image, dies at 97 – Associated Press, Julia Rubin Top line: “Doris Day, the sunny blond actress and singer whose frothy comedic roles opposite the likes of Rock Hudson and Cary Grant made her one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 1950s and ’60s and a symbol of wholesome American womanhood, died Monday. She was 97. In more recent years, Day had been an animal rights advocate. Her Doris Day Animal Foundation confirmed her death at her Carmel Valley, California, home.” Topic to follow: Doris Day 8. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio enters crowded Democratic 2020 field – Politico, Sally Goldenberg Top line: “New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who defeated his opponents in 2013 by emphasizing income inequality, is hoping for a similar come-from-behind victory as he enters the crowded Democratic field for president. De Blasio announced his candidacy through an online video Thursday morning, followed by an anticipated live appearance on Good Morning America in Times Square alongside his wife, Chirlane McCray. De Blasio, who for months publicly weighed whether to enter the race, is the 23rd Democrat to join the race and faces an uphill battle: He is late to enter the field, while other candidates have pulled in millions of dollars, gotten reams of national air time and defined their places in the race. De Blasio’s bid got off to a rough start in his home city. As he spoke, protesters opposing his bid gathered outside the studio.” Topic to follow: Bill de Blasio 9. What does Steve Bullock believe? Where the candidate stands on 9 issues – PBS, Gretchen Frazee Top line: “Steve Bullock is a former lawyer and Democrat who became attorney general of Montana in 2009. He was elected governor in 2013 and re-elected in 2016 — giving him three successful statewide campaigns as a Democrat in a solidly conservative state. Facing a term limit, Bullock has set his sights on the White House, despite pressure from Democrats to run for the Senate instead. Here’s where Bullock stands on nine key issues in the 2020 presidential race.” Topic to follow: Steve Bullock 10. Taiwan legalizes same-sex marriage in historic first for Asia – CNN, Julia Hollingsworth Top line: “Lawmakers in Taiwan have approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, a landmark decision that makes the self-ruled island the first place in Asia to pass gay marriage legislation. The vote came almost two years after the island’s Constitutional Court ruled that the existing law — which said marriage was between a man and a woman — was unconstitutional. The panel of judges gave the island’s parliament two years to amend or enact new laws. On Friday — only a week off the two-year deadline — lawmakers in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed a bill making same-sex marriage a reality. It will go into effect on May 24.” Topic to follow: Same-Sex Marriage Check out The Daily Edition throughout the week for your news updates. ~ HeatherC is reading Mental Health Awareness Month by POPSUGAR