 "FirstUp: Canada’s Mark Carney to meet Trump, Germany’s Merz to be elected chancellor… The news today")
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting comes as the Republican leader continues to push his trade war and threats of annexation.
What else is happening today?
In Germany, Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative CDU party, is set to be chosen as the country’s new chancellor.
In Punjab, a protest has been planned against the state government. The protest is over claims that it used forceful methods to remove farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points in March.
Shifting to sports, Inter Milan and Barcelona will face off in what is expected to be a thrilling clash in the 2025 UEFA Champions League.
Now, let’s take a look at these events in detail:
Canadian PM Mark Carney to meet Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House today. The high-stakes meeting takes place as Trump continues his trade war and threats of annexation.
“Our old relationship, based on steadily increasing integration, is over. The questions now are how our nations will cooperate in the future and where we in Canada will move on,” he said at a press conference.
Carney’s Liberal Party made a strong comeback in a vote widely viewed as a rejection of Trump. The US President’s trade actions and remarks on Canadian sovereignty angered many voters.
Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian products and has even spoken about annexing Canada. Carney has often described the US moves as a betrayal and says Canada must reduce its heavy dependence on its neighbour, which buys 75% of its exports.
Speaking for the first time since the election, Carney said Canadians voted for a government that will challenge Trump and focus on building a stronger economy.
This will be Carney’s first meeting with Trump since entering Canadian politics in January.
Merz set to be elected German chancellor
Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s conservative CDU party, is set to be elected chancellor today.
To assume office as Germany’s 10th chancellor since World War II and succeed Olaf Scholz, Merz will need support from a majority of all members of the house.
Last week, the Social Democrats supported a coalition deal with the CDU/CSU, clearing the final step to forming a new government in Europe’s biggest economy.
The planned coalition is expected to focus on boosting the economy, increasing defence spending, tightening migration rules, and modernising the country. These changes are aimed at addressing challenges across the 27-nation European Union’s most populous member.
With fears that Trump’s tariff policy may harm exports, reviving the economy is a top concern for Germany’s next government.
Merz, a trained lawyer, was first elected to the European Parliament in 1989 and later to the Bundestag. He left politics in 2009 and spent over a decade in the private sector, working as a corporate lawyer and holding top roles, including at US investment firm BlackRock.
In 2018, Merz surprised many by returning to the CDU.
Farmers’ protest in Punjab
A protest has been called today against the Punjab government over claims that it used force to evict farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points in March.
Protesters are also demanding action against those who allegedly stole their belongings during the eviction.
However, farmer leaders have said that ahead of today’s protest outside the Shambhu police station, several Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were placed under house arrest by the Punjab government on Monday.
According to them, Punjab Police arrived at their homes early in the morning to detain them, to stop them from gathering support for the protest.
In the past, farmer leaders have repeatedly said that protesters suffered major losses as their trolleys and other items were taken from the protest sites during the police crackdown. Many of these belongings have not been returned.
The police action took place on March 19, when Punjab Police detained farmer leaders in Mohali as they were returning from a meeting with a central delegation led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Chandigarh.
UEFA Champions League 2025: Inter Milan v Barcelona
Turning to sports, Inter Milan and Barcelona will face off today in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
After the 3-3 draw in the first leg at the Estadi Olímpic, Hansi Flick’s team will travel to Milan for a match that will decide who moves on to the final.
Both clubs are aiming for a spot in the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena, making this a crucial clash. With the away goals rule no longer in place, it’s now a straight fight as the winner goes through.
The first leg was packed with goals and twists, leaving everything open as the action shifts to the San Siro.
The second leg is expected to be just as intense, with both teams knowing that only a win will take them to the final.
With inputs from agencies
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