Canada’s next prime minister vows to win trade war with US

Canada’s Liberal Party elects a replacement for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid a tariff war with the U.S. And Israel puts pressure on Hamas to extend phase one of the ceasefire deal by effectively cutting off Palestinians’ clean water supply. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, March 10, 2025.

Canada’s next prime minister vows to win trade war with US

As tensions persist between Canada and the U.S. over tariffs and trade, Canada’s governing Liberal Party elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s replacement Sunday, March 9.

Former central banker Mark Carney will become the country’s next prime minister, at least until elections are held later this year.

Carney will replace Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January after nearly a decade in the role.

While Carney will take over as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party immediately, Trudeau will continue to serve as prime minister until Carney is officially sworn in.

The announcement regarding when that will occur has not yet been made.

Carney, the former governor of the Canadian Central Bank and Bank of England, beat three rivals in the liberal party’s leadership contest in a landslide with nearly 86% of the vote.

In his acceptance speech, he vowed to keep retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. in place, saying he will “win the trade war” with President Donald Trump and will fight off the American president’s push to make Canada the 51st state.

“My government will put into action our plan to build a stronger economy, to create new trading relationships with reliable trading partners, and to secure our borders,” Carney said.

He continued, “My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect. We didn’t ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves. So, the Americans, they should make no mistake; in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.”

Carney is now expected to lead the Liberal Party into Canada’s next federal elections, which must be held before October but could be called as early as next month.

Carney will likely face strong competition from Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, who is currently leading in the polls.

US officials to press Ukraine on peace talks in Saudi Arabia meeting Tuesday

The U.S. will use a high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, March 11, to assess Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate an end to the war with Russia, according to U.S. officials who spoke with Reuters ahead of the delegation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be present; however, he is sending other high-level diplomats, including his chief of staff.

This comes amid tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy, following their previous meeting in the Oval Office that didn’t go as expected.

Trump also recently cut off weapons shipments and limited intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

U.S. officials expressed their desire to determine if Ukraine is receptive to a “realistic peace deal.”

Ahead of the talks, Zelenskyy wrote on X over the weekend that Ukraine is “fully committed” to further dialogue.

He said, “Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively.”

Israel cuts off electricity supply to Gaza, impacting drinking water

In the Middle East, Israel has now cut off the electricity supply to the last facility in Gaza that was still receiving power from the Israel Electric Corporation.

Israel’s energy minister said over the weekend that every tool at their disposal would be used to “ensure the return of all Israeli hostages from Hamas’ captivity.”

Israel severed electricity for most of Gaza during the initial phases of the war.

Since then, Hamas and Gazans have depended on generators and solar power for electricity.

However, this latest power shutdown affects a “wastewater treatment facility,” which could impact drinking water for parts of Gaza.

Hamas described the action as part of Israel’s “starvation policy.”

It comes as Israel presses the militant group to agree to an extension of the initial phase of their ceasefire, which concluded last weekend.

Israel seeks the release of half of the remaining 59 hostages in exchange for a commitment to negotiate a lasting truce.

Hamas, however, seeks to initiate negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire, which would involve the release of the remaining hostages from Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lasting peace.

Israeli negotiators are set to arrive in Doha today, as mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. work to revive the ceasefire deal.

Syria’s president launches probe into deadly clashes, vows accountability

Syria’s interim president called for “peace and calm” as the country experiences its worst violence in months.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed Sunday, March 9, to pursue those responsible for sparking the violent clashes between loyalists of deposed President Bashar al-Assad and the country’s new Islamist rulers.

The two days of violent clashes, as reported by at least one war monitoring group, have already resulted in the deaths of over a thousand people, the majority of whom are civilians.

This recent conflict began after pro-Assad fighters coordinated attacks on security forces last Thursday, making it one of the deadliest massacres in Syria’s more than a decade of violence.

Palestinian activist arrested, green card revoked after leading Columbia protests

A Palestinian activist who played a significant role in leading Columbia University’s large protests against Israel has been arrested by federal immigration agents.

Mahmoud Khalil, who was a graduate student until this past December, was arrested Saturday night in his Manhattan apartment.

Kahlil’s attorney confirmed that he is a permanent resident on a green card. The attorney also confirmed ICE agents are revoking his green card status.

Homeland Security confirmed the arrest, connecting it to Trump’s executive orders against anti-Semitism.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reposted a link on X about Khalil’s arrest on Sunday evening.

He said, “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”

Meanwhile, Columbia University faces major financial repercussions from the Trump administration as well.

The school lost roughly $400 million in federal funding due to what the government describes as noncompliance with anti-discrimination laws.

Interim President Katrina Armstrong acknowledged the government’s “legitimate concerns” and pledged to combat antisemitism on campus.

Federal officials said Jewish students have experienced harassment on campus since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

The funding cuts will affect research, students and patient care throughout the university, with Armstrong stating that the cuts will be “felt in nearly every corner of the university.”

Third bald eagle hatches as world watches on viral 24/7 camera

Finally, baby eagle number three has arrived.

Days after the first two eaglets hatched, a beloved bald eagle family in Southern California has welcomed their third new member.

“Pip number three,” as it’s currently referred to, hatched in the early hours of Saturday morning, March 8. It was a moment that people around the globe anticipated after the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley’s 24/7 live camera went viral a couple of weeks prior.

The successful hatching of all three eaglets is a significant event for their celebrity parents, Shadow and Jackie, who rose to fame in 2023 with their last nest of two eggs that did not hatch successfully.

Friends of Big Bear Valley said all three chicks are healthy, eating well and growing rapidly.