China and Europe Prepare for Crucial Talks; Google and Chile Announce Partnership; UN Investigates Libyan Detention Centers

Good Morning,

Global tensions are reshaping trade and diplomacy this week, from a small American border town caught in international crossfire to high-stakes negotiations across continents. While the US's most Canadian community navigates unexpected trade war fallout, major powers are working to bridge economic divides—China and the EU prepare for crucial talks to break their deadlock, and Google's new undersea cable deal with Chile promises to strengthen ties between South America and Australia. Political pressures mount in Europe as Poland's Prime Minister seeks a confidence vote following his ally's electoral defeat, while urgent humanitarian crises demand international attention in Syria and Libya, where UN investigators are calling for accountability over mass graves and detention center deaths.

Top Stories

• US’s most Canadian town is stuck in the middle of a trade war - The Guardian

• Google and Chile sign deal for sub cable linking South America with Australia - Capital Brief

• Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk to seek confidence vote after ally's election loss - Euro News

• China and EU schedule crunch talks to resolve economic deadlock - SCMP

• Five Alawites found dead after being detained by Syrian security forces, war monitor says - France24

• UN calls for probe into mass graves at Libya detention centres - Reuters

United States

• US’s most Canadian town is stuck in the middle of a trade war - The Guardian

• US vetoes UN Security Council demand for Gaza ceasefire - Reuters

• Trump moves to block US entry for foreign students planning to study at Harvard University - Associated Press

• Trump signs travel ban targeting 12 countries - The Hill

• Trump foe Judge Boasberg rules deported migrants can challenge removals, in blow to admin - Fox

Africa

• Four million people have fled Sudan since start of war - France24

• Kenya shifts to neutral stance on Russia-Ukraine war in new foreign policy pivot - The Eastleigh Voice

• UN calls for probe into mass graves at Libya detention centres - Reuters

• Two suspected Uganda rebels killed in Kampala blast, officials say - Al Jazeera

• Senegal's gold mining boom leads to surge in sex trafficking - France24

Middle East

• Polls: Bennett-led bloc would triumph over PM’s coalition if elections held today - Times of Israel

• Claims of war crimes in Gaza are 'ridiculous,' says adviser to Israeli government - NPR

• Five Alawites found dead after being detained by Syrian security forces, war monitor says - France24

• Pressure mounts on Netanyahu as opposition moves to dissolve parliament - Reuters

• Trump names nominees to take over commands in the Middle East and Africa - Associated Press

Indo-Pacific  

• Vietnam Scraps Decade-Old Two-Child Policy Amid Sharp Decline In Fertility Rate - The Guardian

• White House calls South Korea election 'fair,' expresses concern about Chinese influence - Reuters

• Apple can inch toward India and Vietnam, but it can’t leave China, with or without tariffs - Economic Times

• China and EU schedule crunch talks to resolve economic deadlock - SCMP

• At least 11 killed in crowd crush outside cricket stadium in India - CNN

Europe

• Government collapse plunges Netherlands in turmoil ahead of key NATO summit - CNBC

• UK temporarily spared from Trump's 50% steel tariffs - BBC

• Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk to seek confidence vote after ally's election loss - Euro News

• 'Artificial diplomacy': Zelensky, Putin trade accusations of bringing false pretexts to peace talks - France24

• Bulgarians divided on euro after approval to join currency - Reuters

Latin America

• Mexico threatens countermeasures if US keeps 50% metal tariffs - BBC

• Peru orders mining operations restart in violence-hit north - Reuters

• Trump hits Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti with travel bans amid immigration crackdown - Miami Herald

• Google and Chile sign deal for sub cable linking South America with Australia - Capital Brief

• Judge orders El Salvador human rights lawyer jailed for 6 months pending trial - Associated Press

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