Trade tensions and economic concerns escalate as Ontario hikes electricity export tariffs, US stocks suffer massive losses, and Ukraine may be forced to concede territory.

Good Morning,

In response to President Trump's trade war, Ontario has implemented a 25% increase on electricity exports to the United States. Meanwhile, tensions are escalating as JD Vance’s cousin criticizes both Vice President Vance and Trump, labeling them as 'useful idiots' to Putin. The economic impact of these political moves is significant, with the US stock market suffering a massive $4 trillion loss in value. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has plummeted by 1,000 points, contributing to one of the worst days for US stocks in years, as concerns about a potential recession grow following Trump's statements that he would not rule out such an economic downturn.

Top Stories

• Ontario slaps 25% increase on electricity exports to the United States in response to Trump's trade war (apnews.com)

• JD Vance’s cousin says vice-president and Trump are ‘useful idiots’ to Putin (www.theguardian.com)

• US stock market loses $4 trillion in value (www.reuters.com)

• Ukraine Must Cede Territory in Any Peace Deal, Rubio Says (www.nytimes.com)

• Iran, China and Russia launch annual joint naval drills (edition.cnn.com)

United States

• B.C. removes all U.S. liquor from store shelves (globalnews.ca)

• As Thousands Attend His ‘Stop Oligarchy Tour’ Rallies, Bernie Sanders Becomes a Face of the Anti-Trump Resistance (time.com)

• JD Vance’s cousin says vice-president and Trump are ‘useful idiots’ to Putin (www.theguardian.com)

• US stock market loses $4 trillion in value (www.reuters.com)

• Kennedy Links Measles Outbreak to Poor Diet and Health (www.nytimes.com)

Africa

• A boat capsizes in Congo and 25 are dead, many of them soccer players (abcnews.com)

• US orders non-emergency staff to leave South Sudan as tensions rise (bbc.com)

• Major fuel shortage hits black gold producer Niger (france24.com)

Middle East

• New Syrian leader Sharaa says killings of Alawites threaten unity, vows justice (www.reuters.com)

• Kurdish-led SDF agrees to integrate into Syrian state institutions, presidency says (www.reuters.com)

• Syria's government signs a breakthrough deal with Kurdish-led authorities in the northeast (apnews.com)

Indo-Pacific

• China Deploys Food as High-Impact, Low-Cost Weapon In Trade War (www.bloomberg.com)

• DeepSeek Shows U.S.-China Tech Race Needs More Than Tech Sanctions (foreignpolicy.com)

• India's Modi to back Mauritius sovereignty over Chagos, upgrade security ties (www.reuters.com)

• Japan Sees Fastest Base Pay Gains in 32 Years (www.bloomberg.com)

• Taiwan considers prison for China sympathizers in military (www.rfa.org)

• China could ‘arrest’ Taiwanese abroad (www.taipeitimes.com)

Europe

• France consolidates its position as the world's second-largest arms exporter (www.lemonde.fr)

• Trump and Putin gang up on European centrists in Romania’s election crisis - POLITICO (www.politico.eu)

• Denmark lost 52 soldiers fighting alongside the US. Now it feels threatened by Trump (www.bbc.com)

• Italy apparently wants to massively expand army (www.spiegel.de)

• Finland wants to build a bridge across the Baltic Sea to Sweden for better connections to Europe (www.euronews.com)

• EU, Malaysia eye reopening of trade talks (www.politico.eu)

• No exodus to state sector after VAT added to private school fees, say English councils (www.theguardian.com)

Latin America

• Search intensifies for missing college student Sudiksha Konanki in Dominican Republic (cbsnews.com)

• Ecuador will not receive deported migrants of other nationalities, president says (reuters.com)

• Former Peruvian president announces hunger strike to protest rebellion trial (apnews.com)

Interested in more from Atlas?

🌐Atlas Technologies: We are building world class OSINT technology that unifies the intelligence cycle by automating data collection, intelligence production and delivery to key stakeholders, all aligned with your priority intelligence requirements (PIRs). If you want to learn more, check out our website.

🛒Merch Store: Visit our merch store to shop our latest gear.

📰Newsletters: Check out our other publications to stay on top of the news and get insights from intelligence professionals.

• The Public Daily Briefing

• Apolitical 

• Table Stakes

• The BLUF 

• The Situation Room

If you'd like to get involved with Atlas, please contact us with your experience or ideas. If you're a solid fit, we'll be in touch.

Advertise with us || Contact Us

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 Atlas.1A