Global Tensions Rise as Trade Wars and Tech Concerns Dominate Headlines

Escalating trade tensions between the United States and Canada, fueled by Canada's growing relationship with China, dominated global news this week, alongside a range of other significant events including a cyberattack on Poland's electric grid, ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), and a fatal shooting in Minneapolis.

President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if Canada proceeds with a trade deal with China, following Prime Minister Carney's announcement of a "strategic partnership" with China and criticism of the U.S.-led world order, according to multiple news sources. Trump also reportedly withdrew an invitation for Canada to join his new Board of Peace.

The economic implications of a potential trade war between the U.S. and Canada raised concerns in financial markets, already jittery due to geopolitical uncertainty. Gold prices soared to over $5,000 an ounce for the first time ever, extending a rally driven by these tensions and worries about inflation, according to BBC Business. Gold and other precious metals are often seen as safe-haven assets during times of financial and geopolitical uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the European Union launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform X over concerns that its AI tool, Grok, was used to generate sexualized images of real people. The investigation, announced on Monday under the EU's Digital Services Act, will assess if xAI, the company behind Grok, adequately addressed the risks of deploying the chatbot on X and the proliferation of content that may amount to child sexual abuse, according to Ars Technica. Regina Doherty, a member of the European Parliament, emphasized the seriousness of the investigation.

The probe follows a similar announcement in January from the UK watchdog Ofcom, according to BBC Technology. If X is found to have breached the EU's Digital Services Act, the Commission could fine the company up to 6% of its global annual turnover.

In other tech news, TikTok attributed recent glitches and outages to a power outage at a U.S. data center. The timing of these issues coincided with the creation of a separate U.S. TikTok entity, mandated by the U.S. government due to concerns about potential Chinese government access to user data, according to TechCrunch. "Since yesterday we’ve been working to restore our services following a power outage at a US data center impacting TikTok and other apps we operate," the TikTok USDS Joint Venture posted on X on Monday morning.

A cyberattack targeted Poland's electric grid in late December, with wiper malware likely deployed by the Russian state-sponsored hacking group Sandworm, according to multiple sources. The attack, though ultimately unsuccessful, aimed to disrupt communications between renewable installations and power distribution operators.

Domestically, protests erupted in Minneapolis after federal immigration agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who was filming ICE activity, according to Vox. Senators have called for an investigation into Pretti's death, according to NPR News.

In Israel, the military announced the retrieval of the remains of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza, according to the New York Times. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Gvili's return "an extraordinary achievement," according to BBC World. The recovery paves the way for the next phase of President Trump's peace plan.

France is debating a proposed social media ban for those under 15 years old, as President Emmanuel Macron backs stricter rules and a high school phone ban, according to NPR Politics. The law would block access for under 15-year-olds to networks such as Snapchat, Instagram and Tiktok. President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the ban in place by the start of the school year in September.

China announced that two of its top generals are under investigation, including the country's most senior general, according to NPR Politics. Analysts suspect it's a political purge by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

These events highlight a world grappling with technological advancements, political tensions, and evolving social norms, with significant implications for global trade, security, and individual liberties.