Global Politics and Economy Updates

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has commented on the separatist movement in Alberta, Canada, stating that the province is a 'natural partner for the US' due to its wealth of natural resources. The comments come amid strained ties between the US and Canada, with trade talks on ice and US President Donald Trump expressing irritation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum. Alberta is collecting signatures for an independence referendum, but polls indicate a majority of Albertans want to stay in Canada. Canadian officials have responded to Bessent's comments, with Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne saying 'thanks but no thanks' to US involvement.

US President Donald Trump announced that Canada is no longer invited to join his proposed international Board of Peace, following a period of tension between the two countries. The Board of Peace, launched at an event in Davos, Switzerland, aims to oversee the Gaza Strip under an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government had expressed interest in joining but had not committed to paying a $1 billion fee for permanent membership. The decision comes amid a broader dispute between the US and Canada over trade and Trump's tariffs, with both leaders exchanging harsh words in recent days.

The article discusses India's economic growth and its potential to become a developed economy by 2047. Despite historically being known for slow growth, India has become the world's fastest-growing big economy and is closing in on being the fourth-largest. The article attributes India's success to a combination of luck, commitment to economic reform, and external factors such as Donald Trump's policies. The author notes that India is showing remarkable promise and is no longer peripheral to the global economy.

The Trump administration is expanding the 'Mexico City rule,' a policy that bars recipients of US foreign aid from promoting abortion, to include a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) policies and 'radical gender ideologies.' Vice President JD Vance announced the policy change at the annual March for Life in Washington, stating it would cover all US nonmilitary assistance to other nations and affect over $30 billion in foreign assistance. The move is seen as the administration's latest attack on 'woke ideology' at home and abroad. Liberal advocacy groups have denounced the policy change, while the White House has defended it as a measure to 'protect life' and 'combat D.E.I. and radical gender ideologies.'