International
Volkswagen and Mercedes sign EV battery accords with Canada

AFP
Canada announced Tuesday tentative deals with Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz that would see the two European automakers tap into burgeoning North American supply chains as they seek to challenge Tesla in the electric vehicle market.
The memorandums of understanding were signed during a visit to Canada by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is seeking to firm up access to new energy supplies for Germany and deepen bilateral trade ties.
The agreements “will help us meet growing demand, both here at home and around the world, for electric vehicles,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted.
Scholz commented in a statement that the cooperation, notably in the securing of critical battery inputs such as lithium, nickel and cobalt, “may encourage other companies to follow.”
Mercedes-Benz said it envisages partnering with Canadian companies across the electric vehicle and battery supply chains, including Rock Tech Lithium for the supply of up to 10,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually, starting in 2026.
The Volkswagen agreement specifically focuses on the production of battery precursor and cathode materials. Volkswagen’s newly-formed battery company PowerCo will also open a Canadian office.
“Working hand in hand with governments around the world is an absolute prerequisite to meet our climate goals,” Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess said in a statement.
“The supply of battery raw materials and the production of precursor and cathode materials with a low carbon footprint will allow for a fast and sustainable ramp-up of battery capacity — a key lever for our growth strategy in North America,” he added.
The deals come on the heels of several other agreements announced by the sector, including by Stellantis in March to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles in Canada.
Ottawa meanwhile has boosted its support of domestic exploration for critical minerals used to make electric vehicle batteries.
International
Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.
The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.
The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).
“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”
International
Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.
Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.
A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”
According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.
International
Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country’s claim over the Falkland Islands (known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina) and praised the role of the nation’s armed forces during a ceremony marking the “Veterans and Fallen Soldiers of the Malvinas War Day,” commemorating 43 years since the 1982 conflict with the United Kingdom.
Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, arguing that Britain unlawfully seized them in 1833.
“If sovereignty over the Malvinas is the issue, we have always made it clear that the most important vote is the one cast with one’s feet. We hope that one day, the Malvinas residents will choose to vote with their feet and join us,” Milei stated.
“That is why we aim to become a global power—so much so that they would prefer to be Argentine, making deterrence or persuasion unnecessary. This is why we have embarked on a path of liberation, working to make Argentina the freest country in the world and once again the nation with the highest GDP per capita on the planet,” he added.
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