Global tensions rise with trade war impacts, bird flu threats, and geopolitical disputes.

March 18, 2025

Good Morning,

Amid escalating global tensions, China has ceased importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, redirecting deliveries due to the ongoing trade war. This trade conflict has also influenced Toronto's decision to exclude Tesla from its electric vehicle incentives. Meanwhile, the United Nations have issued a warning about an unprecedented threat posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has now spread to mammals. In the United States, following an order from former President Trump concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), references to the Navajo Code Talkers have been removed from military websites. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Russia's permission is not required for the deployment of troops in Ukraine, reflecting the tense geopolitical climate.

A worker weighs chickens at a market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on February 24, 2023. The father of an 11-year-old Cambodian girl who died from bird flu tested positive for the virus, health officials said. Photo - Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP via Getty Images

 Top Stories

  • China Halts US LNG Imports as Trade War Reroutes Deliveries (www.bloomberg.com)

  • Toronto excludes Tesla from EV incentive due to US trade war (www.reuters.com)

  • UN agency warns of ‘unprecedented’ bird flu threat as H5N1 virus jumps to mammals (www.politico.eu)

  • After Trump DEI order, Navajo Code Talkers disappear from military websites (www.axios.com)

  • Macron says Russia’s permission not needed to deploy troops in Ukraine (www.theguardian.com)

  • Canada's Carney says Trump must stop comments before bilateral talks can start (www.reuters.com)

  • The Latest Russian Missile Is Bad News for NATO (foreignpolicy.com)

United States

  • After Trump DEI order, Navajo Code Talkers disappear from military websites (www.axios.com)

  • Tom Homan after deportation flights: "I don't care what the judges think" (www.axios.com)

  • Schumer postpones book tour due to ‘security concerns’ amid anger from Democrats over government funding fight (edition.cnn.com)

  • Democrats demand investigation into Musk over possible criminal corruption (www.theguardian.com)

  • Danes boycott US goods with fervor as others in Europe do so too (apnews.com)

  • Canada's Carney says Trump must stop comments before bilateral talks can start (www.reuters.com)

Africa

  • M23 rebels withdraw from Congo peace talks, citing international sanctions (apnews.com)

  • Egypt Suez Canal monthly revenue losses at around $800 million, Sisi says (reuters.com)

  • Trump administration says South African ambassador has to leave the US by Friday (apnews.com)

  • Ivory Coast is losing US aid as al-Qaida and other extremist groups are approaching (apnews.com)

  • Rwanda and Belgium expel each other's diplomats over Congo conflict (reuters.com)

Middle East

  • ‘Ethnic cleansing!’ Videos show Syrian government-aligned forces reveling in massacre of minorities in coastal town | CNN (edition.cnn.com)

  • More than 200 people have been killed in Syria in incidents involving war remnants in the three months since the fall of the Assad regime (www.theguardian.com)

  • Trump warns Iran it will face consequences of any further Houthi attacks (apnews.com)

  • Lebanon and Syria agree on ceasefire after deadly cross-border clashes (reuters.com)

  • Syria donors pledge $6.5 billion in aid (apnews.com)

  • EU pledges 2.5B to Syria (www.aljazeera.com)

Indo-Pacific

  • ‘Made in Russia’ goods are the new craze in China (edition.cnn.com)

  • China says military exercises near Taiwan punishment for 'separatism' (reuters.com)

  • India and New Zealand relaunch free trade talks after a decade (bbc.com)

Europe

  • Canada's Carney makes statement by choosing Europe, not US, for first foreign trip (www.bbc.com)

  • French MP wants the US to give the statue of Liberty back to France (www.politico.eu)

  • Macron says Russia’s permission not needed to deploy troops in Ukraine (www.theguardian.com)

  • A new anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Hungary would ban Pride event and allow use of facial recognition software (apnews.com)

  • Lithuania says Russian military intelligence was behind an arson attack at an IKEA store in Vilnius (apnews.com)

  • Italy one of five ‘dismantlers’ causing ‘democratic recession’ in Europe, report says (www.theguardian.com)

Latin America

  • Aid group in Haiti temporarily shutters hospital after gangs attack convoy evacuating medical staff (apnews.com)

  • Peru declares emergency as crime wave grips capital, singer shot dead (reuters.com)

  • A Haitian ex-mayor is on trial, charged with lying about rights abuses to get US residency (apnews.com)

  • Six dead after Honduras plane crashed into the water after takeoff (reuters.com)

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