Political Divides and Global Tensions: Merkel vs. Merz, U.S. Eyes Panama, and Italy Blocks Chinese AI

Good Morning,

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized her successor, Friedrich Merz, for breaking a political consensus by passing tough migration measures with AfD support, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed President Trump’s concerns about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal, warning of a national security threat and suggesting China could shut it down in a conflict, and Italy’s data protection authority blocked access to the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek and launched an investigation over data privacy concerns.

Top Stories

● Merkel criticizes German front-runner Merz over migration vote with far-right support (AP)

● Rubio warns of risk of China shutting down Panama Canal in any conflict (Reuters)

● Italy blocks access to the Chinese AI application DeepSeek to protect users’ data (AP)

● UPS shares tank 14% after weak guidance, plan to slash Amazon deliveries by more than half (CNBC)

● Black boxes recovered from plane in deadly American Airlines crash near DC (AJ)

United States and Canada

● South Carolina prepares for third execution since September (AP)

● Canada’s temporary foreign worker scheme ‘inherently exploitative’: Amnesty (AJ)

● Costco to raise hourly pay for most US store workers to over $30 (Reuters)

● Meta agrees $25m payout to Trump over suspended accounts (AJ)

● Trump appoints new FAA administrator after vacancy during deadly plane crash. Here's what to know (CBS News)

● Judge Orders Border Patrol Shooting Suspect Held Without Bail (NYT)

Latin America

● Divided Ecuador presidential polls show likely win for Noboa after runoff (Reuters)

● Caribbean nation of St Kitts launches investigation after 19 people found dead in drifting vessel (AP)

● Brazil’s Lula says any US tariffs would be reciprocated (AJ)

● Trump repeats tariffs threat to dissuade BRICS nations from replacing US dollar (Reuters)

Africa

● DRC leader vows ‘vigorous’ response as Rwanda-backed fighters advance (AJ)

● France hands over last army base in Chad (AN)

● Two men close to Benin’s president sentenced to 20 years in prison for coup plot (AP)

● Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola in capital Kampala, one dead (Reuters)

● Daughter of South Africa's ex-president Zuma charged over 2021 riots (Reuters)

● DRC troops said to have surrendered to M23, escorted to training camp (AN)

Middle East

● Israeli doctors say five released Thai hostages in ‘fair’ health after 15 months of captivity (AP)

● Gaza checkpoint to be staffed by scores of armed American contractors (Reuters)

● Hamas confirms killing of its military leader, months after airstrike (Reuters)

● Female Israeli captive freed in ceremony among northern Gaza rubble (AJ)

● Israel’s ban on UN’s Palestinian aid agency has come into effect. Here’s what that looks like (AP)

● US airstrike in Syria kills senior operative of al-Qaeda affiliate (Reuters)

Indo-Pacific

● Rohingya refugees’ boat runs aground in Indonesia’s Aceh province (AJ)

● Experts and advocates warn of nickel mining’s risk to precious marine region of Indonesia (AP)

● Marshall Islands seek US meeting as citizens 'panic' over Trump migrant crackdown (Reuters)

● A New Zealand mountain is granted personhood, recognizing it as sacred for Māori (AP)

Europe

● Salwan Momika, Iraqi man who burned Quran in Sweden, killed in shooting (AJ)

● Eurosceptic party quits Norway's government, almost half of cabinet departs (Reuters)

● Italy denies asylum for 43 migrants relocated to Albania, and observers say they were denied lawyers (AP)

● France's Le Pen condemns death threats against those trying her (Reuters)

● Russia accuses British man caught fighting for Ukraine of terrorism (Reuters)

● Church of England’s Liverpool bishop resigns after assault allegations (AP)

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