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News Roundup: March 17, 2025

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JMJ

 It has been quite the tumultuous month and as you will see below spawned long lists of articles that I spotted on a variety of topics.

Things that I can conclude from the ones I've read and the little bit of fact-checking that I've done.

  1. Pope Francis may have improved from this particular bout and would not have survived if not for the intense level of prayers and care that he received.  Keep praying, like all of us he will have much to atone for and perhaps the suffering of ... my guess ... continually drowning in mucus will work towards lessening his suffering in the afterlife.
  2. The Crisis of the Church continues down a dark alley, staggering from wall to wall like a drunkard.  Eventually, the Church will reach the end of the alley and emerge back into the light. Whether with this, the next or some future Pontifex is not for us to know.  Ours is to pray and fulfill our duty of state.
  3. Like the Church, the World Order is now in crisis as President Trump has basically started a trade war with the rest of North America and is now going after Europe.  My thought is that he is blaming everyone for beggaring the USA.  However, there is a problem with his strategy.  In imposing tariffs forces the US to rekindle its heavy industries, who will buy the made in the USA goods in the decade it will take to make it work.  My guess is no one because they won't be competitive on price and everyone will have found new trading partners.  Europe is already reaching out to India and Africa is no longer under the sway of the USA.  Have a look at the map below - showing who is the dominant trading partner for the rest of the world.  Trump is forcing away his few remaining trading partners.  

Trading Partners in 2001

I remember attending a talk in the early to mid 1990's on the investment opportunities that would be created by the expiration of the Hong-Kong lease.   The opportunities were real, I talked with the owner of one Canadian company that bought their own factory in China and an entrepreneur who regularly went to China to arrange manufacturing of  technologies for sale in Canada and the USA.



Trading Partners in 2023

Then we have this map and you can see that Trumps tariffs trying to bolster the US industries is a little like closing the barn door after the horses have bolted.

Only in this case he's dousing the hay in accelerant (ie. gasoline / petrol), tossing in a torch and then slamming the doors shut.


The problem is that Trump doesn't realise that the change in the world he's trying to avert has already happened. The economic fulcrum of the world is shifting and his actions are just going to make it worse.

The US may think that its ascendancy after the Second World War was a permanent state.  Reagan may have won the Cold-War (link) but both were just way-points in the life-cycle of nations. The vacuum left by the dissolving of the Soviet Union had to be filled and the "Sole Super-Power In the World" wasn't going to do it and Russia was exhausted (my opinion) - that left China and India. China was quicker and is now filling the vacuum.

Trump may try to make the USA 'great again' and he may succeed to improve some of the economics, but I'm afraid with their crushing debt and enormous sea-anchor deficits - he's like a little boy putting his thumb into a crumbling dam.

The world is at an inflection point and the order of things is being rewritten by people who don't have a two year election cycle.

Source: China versus America on global trade - Lowy Institute

Reference: Lowy USA vs China Comparison

P^3



Popes Past Present and Future

FSSPX News Pope Francis Hospitalized With Bronchitis Dans la matinée du 14 février 2025, le Bureau de presse du Saint-Siège a indiqué que François s'était rendu à la polyclinique Agostino Gemelli pour y subir... . 2 days ago
A New Site to Introduce the Cardinals | FSSPX News
Pope 'remains critical' after 'respiratory crisis'
RORATE CÆLI: Francis in "critical condition"
Francis Cancels Audiences Yet Appears to Be Recovering – Gloria.tv
Non-invasive ventilation - Wikipedia
A comprehensive guide to noninvasive ventilation (NIV) | Hamilton Medical
Bronchospasm - Wikipedia
Aspiration: What Does It Mean? Plus Causes and Prevention
Pope has slight fever, begins pharmacological treatment for respiratory tract infection - Vatican News
Jubilee Audience cancelled as Pope Francis is treated for bronchitis in hospital - Vatican News
Pope has isolated bronchospasm, noninvasive ventilation started - Vatican News
Pope in stable condition: No new respiratory attacks - Vatican News
Pope Francis continues to rest following a peaceful night - Vatican News
Pope's condition stable, mechanical ventilation discontinued - Vatican News
Pope Francis slept well through the night at Gemelli hospital - Vatican News
Pope suffers two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency - Vatican News
RORATE CÆLI: Francis Health Update: More episodes of respiratory insufficiency - ventilation
Pope Francis' clinical condition stable, no new medical crises - Vatican News
Pope has another restful night in Rome's Gemelli Hospital - Vatican News
Cardinal Roche entrusts Pope’s health to Mary - Vatican News
Pope has another good night at the hospital, continues treatment - Vatican News
Pope's clinical condition stable as medical therapy continues - Vatican News
Pope has a restful night in hospital - Vatican News
Day of rest and prayer for Pope Francis, whose condition remains stable - Vatican News
Pope Francis rests overnight as condition remains stable - Vatican News
Pope has a restful night in hospital - Vatican News
Pope Francis in hospital shows gradual, mild improvement - Vatican News
Pope Francis resting following a calm night - Vatican News
Pope's health remains stable amid slight improvements - Vatican News
Pope had quiet night, continues to rest at Gemelli hospital - Vatican News
Pope’s condition continues to improve - Vatican News
Pope Francis continues treatment amid ongoing improvement - Vatican News
Pope Francis shows slight improvements in overall complex medical picture - Vatican News
Pope rests well overnight, follows Spiritual Exercises amid improvement - Vatican News
Pope Francis in stable condition, X-ray confirms improvements over recent days - Vatican News

The Church, The Crisis and the Persecution

RORATE CÆLI: Catholic Church leaders are running scared
The tomb of St Paul: A persecutor who became an Apostle and martyr - Vatican News
Pope highlights continued relevance of ‘Gaudium et spes’ - Vatican News
The Sino-Vatican Agreement Births a New Bishop | FSSPX News
RORATE CÆLI: The Jubilee Flop: the Flowering Nothingness of the Francis Pontificate
Fundamentals of catholic dogma : Ott, Ludwig, 1906-1985 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
fundamentals of catholic dogma : ludwig ott : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
LMS Chairman: Marian Franciscan Friars and Sisters to leave Dundee
(2) Pro-life Canadian Man on X: "🚨BREAKING: Canada's newest Catholic Cardinal defends pro-life charities against government attack🚨 Frank Cardinal Leo, Canada's newest Catholic Cardinal, just wrote a powerful letter to Canadian Finance Minister @DLeBlancNB expressing his "deep concern" over the Finance https://t.co/spbFHQDE8v" / X
Federal Finance Committee Recommends Stripping Charitable Status from Religious Organizations   | ARPA Canada
EFC - Finance Committee's troubling recommendations on charitable status
'An irresponsible proposal': Religious groups react to charitable status threat - CANADIAN AFFAIRS
CCCC Responds to Troubling Recommendations on Charitable Status - CCCC Blogs
Ending charitable tax status for religious groups would raze charities | National Post
Liberal finance proposal could strip faith groups of tax status - BC Catholic - Multimedia Catholic News
Charitable status risks even with prorogation | The Catholic Register
Proposal to strip religious groups of charitable tax status would eviscerate Canada’s charities — Fr. Raymond J. de Souza
the reproach of Christ | the blog of Ronald L. Conte Jr., Roman Catholic theologian and Bible translator
The next Pope and the SSPX | the reproach of Christ
What is the Status of the Society of Pope Saint Pius X (SSPX) | the reproach of Christ
From diocesan Latin Mass to the Society of St. Pius X, young traditionalists blur the lines - Catholic news – La Croix International
Vatican: Pioneer in “Energy Transition” | FSSPX News
RORATE CÆLI: The Miracles of the Pre-Conclave: Cardinal Roche says he has no problem with the Latin Mass
RORATE CÆLI: What Is the Path Forward for the Church? The Church Lives by Her Tradition -- by Archbishop Héctor Agüer
The Possibility of Alien Civilizations – Unam Sanctam Catholicam
Does Christ Die Again at Mass? – Unam Sanctam Catholicam
Comparing the New and Traditional Lectionaries – Unam Sanctam Catholicam
Starting a Schism: So Easy It’s Not Funny - Crisis Magazine
Benedictine monk: Francis has given us two keys for understanding his pontificate - LifeSite
LES FEMMES - THE TRUTH: Are you praying for the pope?
A Truly Traditionalist Approach to Science Isn’t What You’ve Been Told - Crisis Magazine
In Defense of Fr. Ripperger - Crisis Magazine

SSPX

Bp. Fellay Discusses Prelature Rumors | St. Mary's Priory
FSSPX News The Vatican and Ukraine Russia has just recognized the key role played by the Holy See in the prisoner exchange with Ukraine. By playing the humanitarian card, the Vatican finds... . 5 days ago
FSSPX News A Pro-Prefect as a Prosthesis On January 6, 2025, for the first time in the history of the Church, the Pope has appointed a religious sister, Sr. Simona Brambilla, as a Prefect. . 1 week ago
A New Site to Introduce the Cardinals | FSSPX News
Concerning Fr. Murray’s thesis | Maison Générale
Neither Schismatic nor Excommunicated - Introduction | FSSPX News
Neither Schismatic nor Excommunicated (2) | FSSPX News
Neither Schismatic nor Excommunicated (3) | FSSPX News
Future Consecrations: An Approaching Deadline? | District of the USA
Farewell to a ‘turbulent priest’: Bishop Richard Williamson's funeral and burial
Bishops who are not Ordinaries: WI… – WN…
For the obsequies of Bishop Williamson - Fondazione EXSURGE DOMINE Ets
Minor Orders and Perpetual Engagements into the SSPX | District of the USA
La Nef à la dérive : le Droit canonique contre la foi • Abbé Jean-Michel Gleize • LPL
Spain and the Council of Trent | District of the USA
Mgr Tissier de Mallerais ou la confiance d'un fils • Abbé Gonzague Peignot • LPL

World, Wars and Conflict

Trump DOGE, Economics, Tariffs and Canada

Live updates - Trump to give speech to Congress - BBC News
Trudeau says US wants to collapse Canada's economy with tariffs
China vows to fight US tariffs - but it also wants to talk
Statement by the Prime Minister on unjustified U.S. tariffs against Canada | Prime Minister of Canada
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Proceeds with Tariffs on Imports from Canada and Mexico – ]
How much money does the US federal government collect? | USAFacts
National Deficit | U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data
Understanding the National Debt | U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data
When Does Federal Debt Reach Unsustainable Levels? — Penn Wharton Budget Model
Thucydides Trap - Wikipedia
Trump's musings on 'very large faucet' in Canada part of looming water crisis, say researchers | CBC News
How a meeting with Donald Trump Jr. led Canada's premiers to an $85,000-a-month lobbying firm | CBC News
Canada would not be better off as 51st state | Financial Post
Canada is not going to be the 51st state, former U.S. ambassador says of Trump's threat - POLITICO
Don’t Test Us, Trump. It Won’t End Well for You | The Tyee
Looking to cut Pentagon costs? Start here, watchdog says - Defense One
Judge orders Trump admin to rescind order to fire probationary employees - Defense One
Danielle Sassoon: Flurry of resignations after DOJ tells prosecutors to drop Eric Adams case
Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners | AP News
Trump defends his trade war. But an ally hints at de-escalation | CBC News
Fight between bald eagle and Canada goose in Burlington bay 'very symbolic,' says photographer | CBC News
Trevor Tombe: Canada’s federal deficit is worrying—but it’s nowhere near the fiscal crisis the U.S. is facing - The Hub
‘Build, baby, build’: Ehren Cory, Michelle Chislett, Peter Gregg, and Tracy Primeau on getting major projects built in Canada - The Hub
Need to Know: No, Canada doesn’t need a unity government - The Hub
Lawrence: Canada's Trudeau humiliates 'cowardly' Trump who backs down on tariffs. Again. - YouTube
Elon Musk tells Republican lawmakers he's not to blame for federal firings | AP News
Canada says too little, too late as Trump flip-flops on tariffs
Afghan women students in Oman face expulsion after Trump's USAID freeze
Trump to launch new White House office focused on shipbuilding
Large majority of Canadians reject Trump's annexation overtures, poll suggests | National News | thecanadianpressnews.ca
DeepDive: We need a made-in-Canada DOGE. Here’s how to cut federal spending without messing things up - The Hub
Hitler Salute | Holocaust Education | USHMM - YouTube
‘Burn down their house’: Bay street veteran weighs in on tariff response
Trump’s Negotiating Style as President-Elect - PON - Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School
What Have We Learned about Negotiation from Donald Trump?
Win/Lose vs Win/Win & Trump – davelevy.info
Donald Trump's "Art of the Deal" - What's his final grade? | WatershedAssociates.com
Trump Gets an “F” as a Presidential Negotiator • Expert Negotiator
Effective Negotiating Lessons from Donald Trump | News | University of Calgary
Negotiations in the News: Lessons for Business Negotiators - PON - Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School
Transactional Man: Teaching Negotiation Strategy in the Age of Trump | Negotiation Journal | MIT Press
Dairy.pdf
Learn About The People Behind Canadian Milk | Dairy Farmers of Canada
2023-ca-stats-lowres.pdf
Dairy and egg exports from Canada 2024 | Statista
Value of U.S. dairy product exports to Canada grew by nearly 50 percent in just over a decade | Economic Research Service
2020-ca-stats-highres.pdf
List of products from the United States subject to 25 per cent tariffs effective March 4, 2025 - Canada.ca
USMCA renegotiations will be Canada’s most difficult: professor
51st state: Canadians reject annexation overture, poll finds
Moosehead Brewery releases a crate of 1,461 beers for Canadians to get through the next 4 years | CNN Business
Ontario premier sticks to electricity tariffs despite Trump trade reversal - POLITICO
Canada suspends imports from biggest US pork processing plant
Trump tariffs: China learned from last trade war, changed tactics
Rebooting Canada's backbone: Trump's tariffs put megaprojects back in spotlight | CBC News
Is Doug Ford's tough talk on Trump working? Experts say it might be gaining traction | CBC News
Justin Trudeau’s farewell speech amid Trump threats
Brewery Sells 'Presidential Pack' to Help Canadians Through Trump's Term - Business Insider
Man shot by Secret Service near White House
Dear Diary: Inside the imagined thoughts of Wayne Gretzky | National Post
Canada PM without seat can observe, not debate in Parliament | Fact Check
Trump adviser hopes Canada fentanyl dispute will be solved by end of March | Reuters
Fact check: What Trump doesn’t mention about Canada’s dairy tariffs | CNN Politics
China versus America on global trade - Lowy Institute
Mark Carney: What legacy will he leave the Bank of England?
EU braces for higher prices as US trade war ramps up
Mark Carney Annual Report 2020
Mark Carney on a values-led economy
Mark Carney's key moments at the Bank of England | Mark Carney | The Guardian
China versus America on global trade - Lowy Institute
How This 76 Year Old Turned $1,000 Into a $66M Empire! - YouTube
Trump tariffs Canada: Is the country a ‘tariff abuser?’

Trump Ukraine, China, Israel, Gaza, Afghanistan

Zelensky vows to 'make things right' with Trump and negotiate peace
Zelenskyy Forgot the First Rule of Dealing With Trump - POLITICO
Minsk agreements - Wikipedia
Trump berates Ukrainian president, says he’s ‘not ready for peace’
Live updates: Trump and Zelenskyy end talks after White House blow up | AP News
Zelenskyy leaves White House early after spat with Trump and Vance | AP News
Keir Starmer tells Volodymyr Zelensky he has 'full backing' of UK
Zelenskyy declines to accept US proposal to access Ukraine's minerals | AP News
Gaza: Arab leaders approve $53bn alternative to Trump's reconstruction plan
Live updates: Trump wants denuclearization talks with Russia and China | AP News
Trump wants nuclear arms talks with Russia and China
Zelensky to meet Vance after saying he doesn't 'see a ready US plan' for ending Ukraine war - live updates - BBC News
Chernobyl reactor shield hit by Russian drone, Ukraine says
Trump tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect | AP News
By halting Ukraine aid, Trump courts personal defeat - Defense One
China is rehearsing for war, Indo-Pacific commander says - Defense One
Federal unit uncovers 'malicious' effort tied to China aimed at Chrystia Freeland | National News | thecanadianpressnews.ca
China says it is ready for 'any type of war' with US
EU leaders back new spending plans at Ukraine summit | AP News
Afghan women students in Oman face expulsion after Trump's USAID freeze
European leaders back 'realistic' Arab plan for Gaza
China imposes retaliatory tariffs on Canadian farm and food products | AP News
Britain ‘ready’ to send troops and jets to Ukraine
Revolution of Dignity - Wikipedia
2014 Ukrainian presidential election - Wikipedia
Euromaidan - Wikipedia
Ukrainian presidential elections - Wikipedia
2010 Ukrainian presidential election - Wikipedia
Geography of the Presidential Elections in Ukraine – ERI
2012 in Ukraine - Wikipedia
Trump–Ukraine scandal - Wikipedia
The New York Times Was Right to Unmask the Whistleblower - POLITICO Magazine
Trump-Ukraine whistleblower is CIA employee, worked at White House
CIA in Ukraine: Why is this not seen as provocation? | Responsible Statecraft
War in Donbas - Wikipedia
RESISTANCE FACTORS AND SPECIAL FORCES AREAS UKRAINE | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)
Ukrainian resistance in Russian-occupied Ukraine - Wikipedia
RESISTANCE FACTORS AND SPECIAL FORCES AREAS UKRAINE
Why the Ukraine Crisis Is the West's Fault: The Liberal Delusions That Provoked Putin on JSTOR
Controversy regarding the legitimacy of eastward NATO expansion - Wikipedia
NATO Expansion: What Gorbachev Heard | National Security Archive
Russia’s belief in Nato ‘betrayal’ – and why it matters today | Russia | The Guardian
‘There was no promise not to enlarge NATO’ - Harvard Law School | Harvard Law School
NATO - De-bunking Russian disinformation on NATO
Enlargement of NATO - Wikipedia
Deal or No Deal? The End of the Cold War and the U.S. Offer to Limit NATO Expansion | The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
untitled

Science+Technology

The Vatican Publishes a Note on Artificial Intelligence (1) | FSSPX News
Meet 'Tansuo' and 'Wangyu,' China's next moon rover and astronaut spacesuit (video) | Space
Hypervelocity star drags fastest exoplanet through space at 1.2 million mph | Space
The world's strongest ocean current should be getting faster – instead, it is at risk of failing

Misc

generation timeline
The Intentional Mom - Parenting, Planning, and Spending and Saving With Intention
Watch the moment a man is swallowed by humpback whale
Generation - Wikipedia
A 40-day Target boycott began this week. What to know about the protest and its potential impact | AP News
Firsthand account of what a firing squad execution looked like | AP News
What one Finnish church learned from creating a service almost entirely with AI | AP News
Global Snapshot: The Middle East and North Africa Defense Environment - Defense One
Rescuers find Philippine fighter jet’s wreckage, bodies of 2 pilots
US military’s mini space shuttle returns to Earth after secret mission

Molson I AM CANADIAN

Molson Commercial - I Am Canadian - YouTube
Molson Canadian - I Am Canadian - Beaver Attack! -Commercial - YouTube
Molson Canadian, Anthem 90 - YouTube
I Am Canadian Commercial - YouTube
Classic Molson Canadian Ad - 500 Miles - YouTube
Molson Canadian I AM - EVIL BEAVER (1997) 🍺🦦🍺 - YouTube
Molson Canadian - Made From Canada - YouTube
Jim Carrey - Canada - YouTube
Molson Canadian - The Code #1 - YouTube
Canadian Commercial - I Am Canadian - 1994 - YouTube
Molson Canadian - I Am Canadian - Tree (2003) - YouTube
Molson Canadian commercial Canadian on the Moon 1 - YouTube
William Shatner - I Am Canadian - YouTube
Molson Canadian _ The Beer Fridge - YouTube
Molson "I Am Canadian" - Monkeys (1998) - YouTube
Molson Canadian Commercial, Jan 22 1988 - YouTube
Molson Canadian - I Am Canadian Anthem - YouTube
Molson Canadian - The Canadians - YouTube
Who Invented Peanut Butter?
'Elbows up' rallying cry evokes memories of Mr. Hockey | CBC News

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