China vows to fight US tariffs 'to the end'

Hello. The world's two largest economies are locked in an escalating trade war,
as China indicates it will hold firm against threats of increased tariffs from the US. We also report on the new rules at this year's Miss Ivory Coast beauty pageant, and take a look at new images of King Charles and Queen Camilla, released to mark their 20th wedding anniversary.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Trump's game of chicken over global tariffs

Higher tariffs are set to hit a number of countries on Wednesday. Credit: Reuters

The world's economy is "hanging in the balance" as President Trump plays "a high-stakes game of chicken", writes North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. With one day to go before higher "reciprocal" tariffs are set to kick in, many of the nations Trump has labelled the "worst offenders" are scrambling to secure deals with the White House. But as my colleague notes, China is "playing a different game, one of retaliation and resistance", vowing to fight until “the end” despite Trump's threats of additional tariffs of 50% if it doesn't withdraw its retaliatory levy. Despite the economic uncertainty, European and Asian markets opened slightly higher on Tuesday, following days of losses.

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BEYOND THE HEADLINES

No wigs please - the new rules shaking up beauty pageants

Marlène-Kany Kouassi is one of only two winners of Miss Ivory Coast over the last six decades to wear her crown over natural hair. Credit: Comici

Long, flowing wigs and weave extensions have dominated the catwalks of Ivory Coast's massively popular beauty pageants for years. But this year they're banned from the preliminary stages of Miss Ivory Coast in a bid to celebrate "natural" beauty. No decision has yet been made on whether the ban will apply to the final, but already it has sparked a lively debate across the country about the influence of Western beauty standards.