Trump Unclear on Taiwan Defense as Pentagon Targets Transgender Troops and Layoffs Amid Tariff Escalations and Russian Sanction Impacts.

Good Morning,

In recent developments, former President Trump has refrained from committing to the defense of Taiwan in the event of an invasion, raising questions about U.S. foreign policy. Meanwhile, a Pentagon memo has surfaced, indicating a shift in military policy that could see transgender personnel being identified and removed from service within 60 days, citing incompatibility with military service as stated in a court filing. Additionally, the Pentagon is set to lay off up to 61,000 workers, beginning with 5,400 next week. In economic news, the impact of sanctions on Russia is being closely analyzed as they continue to reshape the country's future. Furthermore, Trump has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada starting Tuesday, while also doubling the existing 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, signaling a significant escalation in trade tensions.

Top Stories

• Trump Declines to Say If US Would Protect Taiwan From Invasion (www.bloomberg.com)

• Transgender US military personnel must be identified and stood down, says Pentagon memo. (www.theguardian.com)

• Pentagon to fire up to 61,000 workers, starting with 5,400 next week (www.defenseone.com)

• How Sanctions Have Reshaped Russia’s Future (www.csis.org)

• Trump Adds New China Duty to Tariffs (www.bloomberg.com)

United States

• The Trump administration sets the stage for large-scale federal worker layoffs in a new memo (apnews.com)

• Trump cuts on USAID leaves plant that makes peanut butter for malnourished kids scrambling (www.cnn.com)

• Former Secret Service Agent Turned Deputy FBI Director Is Already Very Rich (www.forbes.com)

• Canada looks to diversify trade with Germany amid U.S. tariff threats (globalnews.ca)

Africa

• The Alliance of the Sahel States debuts its new flag (africa.businessinsider.com)

• More than 100,000 seeds from ~177 African plants to be put in Svalbard vault for safekeeping. (www.theguardian.com)

• Malaria endures in northwest Congo as officials seek cause of illnesses that have sickened hundreds (apnews.com)

Middle East

• Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich will meet with Treasury Secretary Bessent in Washington (apnews.com)

• More than 1,000 Syrians died in airport prison under Assad, report says (reuters.com)

• Seven babies die of hypothermia in Gaza, health officials say (cnn.com)

Indo-Pacific

• North Korea Behind $1.5 Billion Hack of Crypto Exchange ByBit, Says FBI (www.theguardian.com)

• Trump Adds New China Duty to Tariffs (www.bloomberg.com)

• Why Porsche Is No Longer a ‘Premium’ Sports Car in China (www.nytimes.com)

Europe

• Macron and Merz meet, keen to revive French-German engine (www.lemonde.fr)

• Trump might not know it, but he’s forging a new relationship between Britain and the EU (www.theguardian.com)

• NATO-member Turkey Open to Deploying Peacekeepers in Ukraine (www.bloomberg.com)

• Trump Tells Starmer He’s Inclined to Back UK Deal on Chagos (www.bloomberg.com)

• Donald Trump asks Keir Starmer if UK can take on Russia by itself – video | Donald Trump (www.theguardian.com)

Latin America

• Nicaraguan government is cementing total control of the state and violating rights, UN experts warn (apnews.com)

• Cruise ship rescues 11 people adrift between Cuba and Mexico (cnn.com)

• Mexico Begins to Release Dozens of Cartel Operatives Into U.S. Custody (nyt.com)

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