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Summary

Donald Trump reiterated his claim that Canada would be better as the U.S.’s 51st state, citing trade imbalances and lower taxes.

He also announced new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada, despite a recent 30-day reprieve.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has not formally responded, but a government source said they await official confirmation.

Trump criticized Canada’s defense spending and border security, despite recent Canadian commitments.

Canada previously retaliated against similar tariffs in 2018 before a 2019 trade deal resolved the dispute.

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Summary

Tesla's European sales are plummeting, with Germany seeing a 60% drop despite strong EV growth. Similar declines hit Norway, Sweden, and France.

While some blame the Osborne effect—buyers delaying purchases for a refreshed Model Y—Musk’s endorsement of Germany’s far-right AfD may also be repelling customers.

Online backlash has linked Tesla to fascist imagery. In contrast, UK sales fell only 7.8%, suggesting political factors play a role.

With strong domestic EV competition in Europe, Tesla’s reputation crisis could further hurt demand.

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Summary

Over 200,000 people marched in Munich against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with organizers claiming 320,000 participants.

The protests, held under the slogan “democracy needs you,” warned against any party collaborating with the AfD, particularly the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), ahead of legislative elections.

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Summary

The Munich Security Conference report warns that Trump’s proposed territorial acquisitions, including Greenland, Panama, and Canada, have damaged the U.S.'s global standing, making it seen as a risk rather than a stabilizing force.

The report highlights the decline of U.S.-led global leadership amid a shift toward a multipolar world, with China and Russia expanding influence.

European leaders will press U.S. officials on NATO commitments and Ukraine support.

Survey data shows U.S. risks are now perceived as greater than Russia’s in many G7 nations.

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Summary

Donald Trump stated that Palestinians displaced by Israel’s military actions would not have a right to return to Gaza under his plan.

Instead, he proposed resettling them in Egypt and Jordan, despite both nations rejecting the idea.

Trump suggested creating permanent refugee communities funded by the U.S., calling Gaza a "real estate development for the future."

His proposal has drawn condemnation from Arab nations and legal experts, with the UN warning it could constitute ethnic cleansing and violate international law.

Israel’s far-right settlers welcomed the plan.

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Summary

Support for Germany’s far-right AfD is surging among young men, driven by concerns over immigration, conservative values, and distrust of mainstream politics.

A Pew study found 26% of German men view AfD positively, compared to 11% of women.

Social media, particularly TikTok, has helped spread its message. Some young supporters reject accusations of extremism, while others openly embrace far-right views.

Analysts warn that if mainstream parties ease their opposition to the AfD, it could become Germany’s dominant right-wing party.

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Summary

Russia warned that U.S.-Russia relations are near collapse, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stating the Ukraine war will continue unless Kyiv abandons its NATO ambitions.

The Kremlin declined to confirm Trump's claim that he spoke with Putin, despite Trump's assertion that he expects more discussions to end the war.

Trump’s security adviser suggested economic pressure on Moscow to negotiate, while Ukraine's Zelenskyy insists on U.S. and European support before engaging with Putin.

Meanwhile, a Russian drone attack injured a civilian in Ukraine’s Sumy region.

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Summary

The EU and its leaders warned of swift retaliation if Donald Trump enacts new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, as he announced over the weekend.

The European Commission criticized the move as “unjustified” and vowed to protect EU businesses.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged countermeasures, with Macron warning tariffs would also hurt the U.S.

The UK government said it was monitoring developments, while UK Steel called the potential tariffs “devastating.” The EU previously responded to Trump-era tariffs with retaliatory measures.

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Summary

China is rapidly surpassing the U.S. in nuclear energy, building more reactors at a faster pace and developing advanced technologies like small modular reactors and high-temperature gas-cooled units.

The U.S. struggles with costly, delayed projects, while China benefits from state-backed financing and streamlined construction.

This shift could make China the leading nuclear power producer within a decade, impacting global energy and geopolitical influence.

Meanwhile, the U.S. seeks to revive its nuclear industry, but trade restrictions and outdated infrastructure hinder progress.

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Summary

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania officially disconnected from Russia’s Soviet-era power grid on Saturday, marking a major geopolitical shift.

The Baltic nations will operate independently for 24 hours before integrating with Europe’s energy system via links with Finland, Sweden, and Poland.

The move severs their last energy ties with Russia and Belarus, reducing reliance on Russian resources amid ongoing tensions.

For the three countries, as well as the rest of Europe, the move was steeped in geopolitical and symbolic significance.

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Summary

China is gaining global support for its claim over Taiwan, with 70 countries now endorsing its sovereignty and unification efforts—many omitting calls for peaceful resolution.

This shift follows China’s diplomatic push targeting the Global South, leveraging economic ties through infrastructure projects.

China looks to preempt Western sanctions in a Taiwan conflict by securing international legitimacy. Meanwhile, the U.S. and allies struggle to counter China’s influence.

Trump's return signals a firmer stance, but China’s diplomatic momentum complicates efforts to rally support against aggression.

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Summary

The Vatican’s Caritas Internationalis condemned the Trump administration’s decision to halt USAID funding, warning it will cause millions of deaths and widespread poverty.

Cardinal Michael Czerny criticized the move as “reckless” and urged the U.S. to uphold Christian values of aid and compassion.

The cuts impact Catholic Relief Services and other humanitarian programs, jeopardizing decades of progress.

Czerny also denounced Trump’s immigration crackdown. U.S. Catholic bishops issued a rare rebuke, calling Trump’s policies on aid, immigration, and justice harmful to the vulnerable.

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(Brian) Adams was due to perform at the Western Australian capital’s RAC Arena on Sunday night, but the city’s water corporation said a “large blockage of fat, grease and rags” was causing wastewater overflows at nearby properties, prompting authorities to intervene.

Frontier Touring posted a statement on Monday announcing the cancellation, and that attendees will receive an automatic refund in full.

“Last night’s concert could not proceed due to an external Perth Water Corporation issue, which was unable to be fixed in time. The issue, which impacted all of Wellington Street, meant that it was deemed unsafe for patrons to enter RAC Arena.”

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Yle catches up with two new university graduates who know how frustrating it can be to search for a job in Finland in the current economic climate.

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The biggest child abuse trial in French history will open in Brittany this month amid anger that a surgeon was allegedly able to attack hundreds of young patients over decades, targeting some when they were under anaesthetic, in the post-surgery recovery room or in their hospital beds.

France is braced for serious questions over child protection amid harrowing testimony from a record number of alleged victims of Joël Le Scouarnec, 73, who worked as a digestive surgeon. He was employed in public and private hospitals across Brittany and the west of France, often operating on children with appendicitis.

Despite being flagged to the French authorities by the FBI in 2004 for viewing child abuse imagery on the dark web, for which he was convicted and given a four-year suspended prison sentence in France in 2005, he was never prevented from working with children and continued to gain prestigious jobs in hospitals across the country.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and France's Marine Le Pen headlined a rally in Madrid on Saturday by Europe's biggest far-right bloc, buoyed by Donald Trump's return to power and calling for "a 180-degree pivot".

Patriots for Europe has realigned extreme-right forces in the European Union. It became the European Parliament's third-largest force after Orban helped launch it last year to pull the bloc towards the far right.

"Yesterday we were the heretics. Today we are the mainstream... We are the future," proclaimed Orban, sharing the stage with other leading extreme-right nationalists including Dutch anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and former Czech premier Andrej Babis.

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/25854998

By Alex MacDonald
Published date: 10 February 2025 16:44 GMT

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Summary

Germany’s top defense official, Gen. Carsten Breuer, warned of Russia’s escalating military buildup, calling it an “imminent threat” and comparing it to a wildfire at Europe’s doorstep.

Russia is doubling its pre-war troop levels and stockpiling weapons, suggesting broader ambitions beyond Ukraine. NATO leaders stress the war’s global implications, with China, North Korea, and Iran aligning with Moscow.

As the U.S. pauses most foreign aid under Trump, European officials fear weakened Western support.

Breuer urged allies to unite financially and militarily to counter Russia’s expansionist goals.

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