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More than 100 Canadians gathered in Vancouver to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to make Canada the 51st state and his pressure to impose a 25% high tariff, chanting slogans to defend Canadian sovereignty. A poll shows that 27% of Canadians consider the U.S. an "enemy," highlighting tensions in Canada-U.S. relations. Protesters criticized Trump for violating democratic values and urged citizens to support Canadian products and avoid traveling to the U.S.

At the protest held on the afternoon of the 2nd at Vancouver Art Gallery Square, demonstrators dressed in red and white to express their love and support for Canada. The event began with an 11-year-old Indigenous child, Riley Leo, singing to honor Indigenous peoples and their land, followed by a group performance of Canada’s national anthem. The crowd chanted, "Protect Canada – Defend Democracy, Say No to the 51st State."

Canadian MP Bonita Zarillo stated that Trump’s suggestion of exchanging minerals for peace in Ukraine was shocking and reflected his intent to exploit Canada’s natural resources. MP Jenny Kwan emphasized that sovereignty must not be violated, urging citizens to buy Canadian products and refrain from traveling to the U.S.

The protest was organized by the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movements (VSSDM) and the Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada. Former VSSDM chair Mabel Lee reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to defending democracy, human rights, and freedom. Treenee Lopez, chair of the Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada, accused Trump of disregarding justice, aligning himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and criticized billionaire Elon Musk for meddling in politics.

On March 3, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to discuss the defense of Canada’s sovereignty with King Charles III. Trudeau emphasized that nothing is more important than preserving national sovereignty and independence.According to a Leger poll, 27% of Canadians view the U.S. as an "enemy," 30% see the U.S. as an "ally," while 27% remain "neutral" toward the U.S.

A dozen European heads of state, along with senior EU and NATO officials, recently held an emergency summit in London on the 2nd. The summit focused on post-war arrangements for Ukraine, reaffirming Europe's strong support for the country.

With Trump taking office, the U.S. stance on Ukraine has shifted 180 degrees, but European leaders have pledged unwavering support for Ukraine. Growing concerns have emerged that Trump may overlook Ukraine’s interests in negotiations with Russia. In response, Ukraine’s allies have emphasized their steadfast commitment. European leaders are now working on a European-led peace plan for Ukraine before consulting with the U.S.

After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's tense and unproductive White House meeting with U.S. President Trump, over a dozen European leaders gathered in London for crisis talks. The discussions aimed to strengthen security cooperation and reinforce support for Ukraine. Zelensky was also invited to participate in the summit.

The summit resulted in four key agreements, as outlined by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. First, European nations will continue providing military aid to Ukraine, exert economic pressure on Russia, and support Ukraine financially. Second, any lasting peace must guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty, and negotiations must address Ukraine’s security. Third, the U.S. has sidelined Europe and Ukraine from international political arrangements affecting their interests, leading European leaders to view the U.S. as an unreliable partner.

There is growing concern over whether the U.S. will continue its support for NATO. European leaders agree that they can no longer depend on the U.S. and must strengthen their own defense capabilities to face future challenges. Therefore, the London summit also included discussions on the need for enhanced European defense cooperation.

On the 1st, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, their public meeting quickly turned into a heated exchange, ending on a sour note. The planned mineral agreement between the two nations was subsequently scrapped, sending shockwaves across the globe.

According to international reports, Zelensky was welcomed at the White House, where he met with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other officials. Initially, the atmosphere appeared cordial in front of the cameras, but tensions escalated about 40 minutes in when a journalist questioned Trump’s perceived pro-Russia stance. Vance suggested that diplomacy might be the best way to resolve the issue, which infuriated Zelensky. He countered by accusing Russia of repeatedly violating diplomatic agreements, causing the discussion to become increasingly confrontational.

Vance then fired back, criticizing Zelensky for allegedly disrespecting the U.S. president and pointing out Ukraine’s military struggles. He also expressed frustration that Zelensky had never explicitly thanked the U.S. for its aid and accused him of indirectly supporting Trump’s Democratic rivals. Trump joined in, warning that Zelensky was risking a third world war and had no more leverage left. He further stated that without U.S. support, Zelensky’s position would be untenable. The argument intensified, with both sides exchanging heated remarks until the meeting abruptly ended, and Zelensky left the conference room.

Shortly afterward, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, declaring that Zelensky had shown a lack of respect for the U.S. and was not ready for peace. The White House then announced the cancellation of the bilateral signing ceremony for the mineral resources agreement, as well as the scheduled press conference. Meanwhile, media captured telling reactions from officials, including Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, who was seen frowning, shaking her head, and covering her face, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who appeared visibly stunned—highlighting the shock among high-ranking officials over the dispute.

In a later interview with Fox News, Zelensky insisted that relations with the U.S. remained salvageable. He also took to social media, stating that Ukraine was "ready to sign the mineral agreement" while continuing to call for security assurances from the U.S. However, the fallout from the meeting left relations strained in the short term. In response, several European leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Zelensky subsequently traveled to the UK for talks with Starmer and is expected to attend a security summit on the 6th, organized by Britain, in hopes of finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House on February 27, where he met with US President Donald Trump. During the meeting, he delivered a handwritten letter from King Charles III, inviting Trump to the UK for a state visit. After reading the letter, Trump expressed his honor at the invitation and immediately accepted the offer to visit the UK. Following their meeting, both leaders held a joint press conference, where they stated that their discussions had focused on trade and the war in Ukraine.

During the talks, Starmer emphasized that to achieve lasting peace after a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the UK would send troops and collaborate with allies. He also mentioned that 18 countries would soon be invited to further discussions on the matter. However, he noted that without US support, Ukraine would not achieve lasting peace. Trump did not respond directly about whether the US would continue to support a peacekeeping force led by the UK and France, but he expressed hope that a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine could be reached soon. He also stated that if a peace agreement were made, he believed Russia would adhere to it and refrain from further invading Ukraine.

On the trade front, the total bilateral investment between the US and the UK has reached $1.5 trillion (approximately NT$49.3 trillion), which has created over 2.5 million jobs. The two countries are also leaders in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), and both will work together to develop a new economic agreement focused on advanced technology. Trump noted that with the efforts of Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Kenneth Homer Bessent, the US and UK should be able to sign a trade agreement soon, with the UK potentially enjoying tariff exemptions.

According to media reports, egg prices in the U.S. have continued to soar, reaching a historic high of $5 per dozen in January. The primary cause is the effort to contain the spread of avian influenza, with over 35 million egg-laying hens being culled this year. The Trump administration has announced it will invest an additional $1 billion to help farmers combat the avian flu outbreak and bring down the persistently high egg prices.

The report notes that, before the avian flu, the U.S. produced an average of 7.5 billion eggs annually. However, since the outbreak of avian flu in 2022, 140 million egg-laying hens have been culled, leading to rising egg prices. The price of a dozen eggs was only $1.47 in 2021, but by January, it had risen to $5, a 237% increase.

The report also mentioned that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced on the 26th that $1 billion will be allocated to address the egg shortage. This includes $500 million for biosecurity measures, $400 million for financial relief to affected farmers, $100 million for vaccine research, and policies to temporarily allow the import of foreign eggs.

On the afternoon of the 25th, Chile experienced an unexpected widespread power outage, affecting 14 of the country's 16 regions, including the capital, Santiago. The government immediately declared a state of emergency, and curfews were imposed in most areas. Chile's Interior Minister, Carolina Toha, stated that the outage was caused by a fault in the northern transmission and distribution lines, and ruled out the possibility of a cyber attack.

The power failure led to a complete disruption of internet and mobile phone services, and water supply was also affected. Medical facilities, prisons, and government departments were forced to rely on emergency generators to maintain basic operations. As the world's largest copper producer, Chile's mining industry was heavily impacted, with disruptions spanning from the northern mining regions to the central and southern areas where most of the country's population resides. Operations at major copper mines were also affected.

Juan Carlos Olmedo, president of Chile's National Electrical Coordinator, stated that the interruption of a high-voltage transmission line, which carries electricity from the north to the capital in the center, led to power overloads and factory shutdowns, eventually causing the large-scale blackout that impacted 90% of the population.

On February 24, U.S. President Donald Trump stated during a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron that tariffs of 25% would be imposed on Canada and Mexico starting March 4, emphasizing that reciprocal tariff measures would be quickly implemented.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is calculating tariff rates for other countries and considering trade barriers on imports. In addition to this news, Trump's plans to impose stricter semiconductor controls on China have triggered a global stock market decline in AI stocks. The five major Taiwanese AI companies with factories in Mexico saw their market value drop by over NT$161.9 billion in a single day.

A U.S. official revealed that the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico might be delayed until April. Trump has already imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports and plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum products in March. Economists warn that these tariff measures could drive up prices, making income expectations difficult to meet.

Germany’s conservative alliance (CDU/CSU) won the federal election on the 23rd, while the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) failed to pass the 5% threshold required for parliamentary representation. This outcome increases the likelihood of a coalition government between the CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). However, deep policy divisions between the two parties, along with CDU leader Friedrich Merz’s relentless attacks on the ruling SPD during the campaign, have made coalition negotiations highly challenging.

According to public broadcaster ARD's projections, Merz's CDU/CSU secured 28.8% of the vote, making it the largest party. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved its best result in history with 20.2%, ranking second. Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD suffered a severe defeat, receiving only 16.2%—its worst performance since World War II.

Merz's CDU/CSU and the SPD face difficulties in forming a coalition due to disagreements on immigration, fiscal policy, and other key issues. Merz had previously launched fierce criticisms against the SPD and endorsed AfD-backed proposals to tighten immigration, angering the Social Democrats. This move was seen as a breach of Germany’s political “firewall” against far-right cooperation. Nonetheless, internal opposition within the SPD could help facilitate negotiations, with expectations that the coalition government will be finalized by late April.

Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced on X on the 22nd that all federal employees would receive an email requiring them to respond with five key points summarizing their work from the past week. Those who fail to reply will be considered to have resigned. A spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed Musk's directive, stating that all employees must submit their work summaries by the 24th and send a copy to their supervisors. Each agency will decide how to handle employees on leave or vacation.

Former President Donald Trump appointed Musk, the world’s richest man, to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, tasking him with drastically cutting government spending and tackling suspected waste and corruption. Last Friday, Musk appeared at a conservative gathering wielding a giant electric saw to celebrate his new role, calling it the "Bureaucracy Chainsaw" and claiming that waste exists in nearly every part of the federal government.

In the first month of Trump’s administration, thousands of government employees have been forced to leave, whether through termination or buyouts. The departments affected by these cuts include the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the IRS, and the National Park Service.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung voiced support for the measure, stating that White House staff should follow the same practice. However, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) criticized Musk’s plan, arguing that it amounts to unlawful termination. Officials from the Department of Defense, the FBI, the State Department, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have instructed their employees to hold off on responding, stating that they are reviewing the entire process.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a recent interview that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had gone back and forth on the mineral agreement, expressing frustration over Ukraine’s refusal to sign the deal.

On February 18, the United States and Russia held talks in Saudi Arabia without inviting Ukraine or its European allies to participate. Following the negotiations, tensions escalated as Zelensky and former President Donald Trump engaged in a public war of words through press conferences and social media. Trump accused Ukraine of being responsible for the war, even suggesting that Ukraine had started it. In response, Kyiv fired back, claiming that Trump was surrounded by misinformation. Trump then countered by calling Zelensky an unelected dictator, further escalating tensions. The talks between Trump and Moscow have unsettled Kyiv and its European supporters, who fear that the negotiations could result in a resolution with terms unacceptable to Ukraine.

During a media interview, Rubio defended the Trump administration’s criticism of Zelensky, noting that Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, had also been "disappointed" with the Ukrainian leader. Rubio claimed that instead of expressing gratitude for U.S. assistance, Zelensky frequently complained about what Ukraine had not received, frustrating senior Trump officials.

Trump has sought to rebuild relations with Russia and has demanded that Ukraine sign a rare mineral resource agreement, granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare metals and minerals. However, Kyiv rejected the initial proposal, as the U.S. had not provided security guarantees and appeared to be making concessions on territorial and border issues.

Following U.S. threats to cut military aid, Ukraine appeared to soften its stance. After meeting with Trump’s envoy on February 20, Zelensky stated that Ukraine was working to reach a "strong and beneficial" investment and security agreement with the U.S.

Trump has previously criticized Ukraine, arguing that despite receiving hundreds of billions of dollars in aid from the U.S., Kyiv has offered nothing in return. He also accused European allies of contributing far less than the U.S. The Trump administration has signaled a desire to end the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible, raising concerns among European allies. French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to visit the U.S. soon, vowing to urge Trump not to show weakness to Putin, warning that doing so could embolden China to invade Taiwan.

Amid the war, Ukraine has suspended its presidential election, prompting Trump to mock Zelensky as an unelected leader. Trump further claimed that Zelensky's approval rating was in the single digits. While European and Japanese officials have voiced support for Zelensky’s legitimacy, tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine continue to rise, leading to concerns that Trump may abandon Ukraine, potentially destabilizing global security.