UK - Key monetary indicators in the US, Europe, Japan, and China are flashing signals of an economic slowdown later this year, raising fears of a global recession in 2019 and a stock market slump without a shift in policy. Monetarist experts warn that the global money supply is slowing much faster than widely appreciated, suggesting that the shift away from quantitative easing by the major central banks is already starting to have profound consequences. The data appear incompatible with forecasts by the International Monetary Fund and other global bodies for a synchronized global upswing this year.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - The wars will never stop - millions flee bloodshed as Congo falls apart. The vast central African country has been hit by waves of violence, rebellions, protests and political turmoil in recent months, leading to worries about a new civil war like that which killed five million people between 1997 and 2003.

CHINA - Beijing has sent a delegation to Russia to show Washington the unity of Russian and Chinese military forces and “support” Russia at the 7th Moscow Conference on International Security. Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe voiced strong support for Russia during the talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Shoigu. While stressing “the united position” on the international arena, the minister said that one of the main goals of the visit was to send a message to Western powers. “The Chinese side came to let the Americans know about the close ties between the Russian and Chinese armed forces,” Wei said.

REUNION ISLAND - A volcano on Reunion Island has begun ferociously erupting, causing a gigantic, one mile-long crack to splinter across the Piton de la Fournaise volcanic crater. The Piton de la Fournaise volcano on Reunion Island, one of the most active in the world, began erupting this morning for the first time since July 2017. One scientist warned of a “seismic crisis” after the eruption caused a crack in the crater stretching one mile across the French island, which is located in the Indian Ocean. The eruption was so strong its effect could be seen by satellite, with experts warning it is continuing to “intensify”.

EUROPE - Big Tech is facing a perfect storm of political resistance, but there are many cross-currents and hidden motives. TN expects that anti-trust legislation will ultimately be invoked to break up several of the largest semi-monopolies like Google and Facebook. What the EU is doing at this point is cut off the free consumer data that is the lifeblood of the industry. Expect a lot of chaos, lobbying, back-stabbing and corruption to follow. ⁃ TN Editor

UK - London has surpassed New York City's murder rate for the second month in a row, due mostly to a spike in knife crime and shootings which left 15 Londoners dead in February - nine of whom were age 30 or younger, and 22 dead in March vs New York City's 21, according to the Sunday Times. While both cities have around 8.5 million people, NYC's murder rate has dropped by around 87% since the 1990's, while London's has grown approximately 40% in just three years - not including deaths from terrorist attacks. Experts have credited the NYPD's zero-tolerance policing model driving down the homicide rate in NYC from around 2,000 deaths in 1990 to 230 last year.

CHINA - China has turned off the tap on crucial goods for North Korea in a bid to pile on economic pressure as South and North Korean leaders prepare for an unprecedented diplomatic summit this April, and hopes for May talks between the US and the isolated country mount.  

PAKISTAN - Pakistan and Iran could soon become major strategic allies after representatives from both countries met and agreed a trade deal, it has been reported. Dr Kamal Kharrazi, Iran’s Head of the Strategic Council of Foreign Relations and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said the two counties have close religious and cultural bonds and should continue to work together.

PAKISTAN - While the United States enters a low period in its relationship with Pakistan, China is quietly but steadily building goodwill in the country — symbolized by a gleaming new port it helped build in the southern city of Gwadar. Set against soaring white cliffs and the sparkling blue sea, the Gwadar Port feels like it’s located somewhere in the Mediterranean, not Pakistan. Boasting newly-paved terminals and freshly-painted blue-and-orange shipping cranes, the multi-purpose port is owned by Pakistan’s Gwadar Port Authority and operated by the state-owned China Overseas Ports Holding Company Ltd. The port and four square miles of land have been leased to China until 2059, to set up tax-free businesses and build an economic free zone.

USA - In an interview by Jeffrey Goldberg published Monday in The Atlantic, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Israelis have a right to their own land. Apparently pushing for a two-state solution, he said, “I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to have their own land. But we have to have a peace agreement to assure the stability for everyone and to have normal relations.” Ties between Israel and the Gulf states have improved over the past year, triggered by the common Iranian threat.

BOLIVIA - A powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake has struck Bolivia in the notorious Ring of Fire and experts have warned damage to property and fatalities is a possibility. A USGS scientist said the eartquake struck at 10.40am local time and was centered 205 miles southeast of the town of Tarija… There are reports of people evacuating office buildings that swayed as far away as Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1,800 miles from Tarija.

MIDDLE EAST - On Friday, the Palestinian terror group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is inaugurating what it is calling “The March of Return.” According to Hamas’s leadership, the “March of Return” is scheduled to run from March 30 – the eve of Passover — through May 15, the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment. According to Israeli media reports, Hamas has budgeted $10 million for the operation.

GERMANY - Angela Merkel’s Foreign Minister said Germany needs to regain trust with Russia as splits emerge in the Chancellor’s Cabinet over how to deal with Vladimir Putin. The provocative remarks from Heiko Maas come just weeks after Russia was roundly condemned by the international community for poisoning double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain. Mr Maas, of Mrs Merkel’s coalition partners the Social Democratic Party (SPD) said: “We need Russia as a partner to settle regional conflicts, for disarmament and as an important pillar of multilateralism. We are therefore open for dialogue and are trying to rebuild trust bit by bit if Russia is ready.”

GERMANY - Fragile Deutsche Bank on the EDGE as emergency leader drafted in. Deutsche Bank’s future is getting more uncertain with the passing of days as pressure mounts to see its boss sacked and an emergency leader is parachuted in. The position of current Deutsche Bank’s chief John Cryan looks more fragile than ever as a large investor argued whether he should remain in charge. John Thain, who has been CEO of Wall Street giant Merrill Lynch for four years, will join Deutsche Bank’s supervisory board next month, Bloomberg reports. Michael Huenseler, at Assenagon Asset Management, which has a stake in Deutsche Bank, said he doesn’t believe Mr Cryan will remain at Deutsche Bank, especially after it was reported that the lender hired a headhunter to replace him. He told The Sunday Telegraph: “I don’t think there is a way back.

VATICAN - On Thursday the Holy See stated that a reported interview between Pope Francis and an Italian journalist, which claims the Pope denied the existence of hell, should not be considered an accurate depiction of Francis’ words, but the author’s own “reconstruction.”