 "A police officer takes down crime scene tape outside the Kapil Sharma-owned cafe that was shot at multiple times, in Surrey, British Columbia, Thursday, July 10. Surrey Police investigate shots that were fired at Kap's Cafe. The Canadian Press via AP")
It’s been dominated by Trump, tariffs and Taco trade. The much-awaited deadline of July 9 passed this week, and it comes as no surprise that a new deadline is now in place – 1 August. In April, the US administration predicted “90 deals in 90 days”. So far, only three have been forged – with China, the UK, and Vietnam – and a pact with India is in the making.
Amid this, Trump has threatened new tariffs on 22 other nations, like Canada, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Iraq. Letters have been sent out to them. He also warned Brics nations, which include India, with 10 per cent levies . In a nutshell, the deals are handful, the uncertainty plentiful.
The Brics summit was held in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro earlier this week. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping decided to skip it, once again fuelling speculation of a change of power in the Asian nation.
Not all’s well in neighbouring Pakistan as well. Army chief Asim Munir is becoming even more powerful, and rumour has it that he is planning a coup against President Asif Ali Zardari.
A heartbreaking story emerged from Texas. Deadly flash floods struck the state on the July 4 weekend, causing large-scale devastation. At least 120 people have died, and several are still missing. Among the victims were holidaymakers and campers, including young girls, who were attending a nearly century-old summer camp.
Our weekly wrap dives into all the big stories and some more.
1. Donald Trump has reset the tariff clock once again. From July 9, the deadline has been extended to August 1. Trade negotiations with most countries have not materialised. This week, at least 22 nations received tariff letters, of which 14 are in Asia. That includes Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka. On Friday (July 11), Trump also announced 35 per cent tariffs on goods imported from Canada. Here’s a list of all the nations facing new levies.
Impact Shorts
View All2. Donald Trump’s other target this week has been Brics. He has warned that the bloc, which includes India, will be slapped with 10 per cent additional tariffs. He also alleged that Brics was formed to “destroy” the US dollar. But is that even possible? Why is Trump threatened by the collective?
3. Talking about the Brics, this year’s summit in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro was conspicuous by the absence of Xi Jinping. It’s the first time since taking power in 2012 that the Chinese president has skipped the gathering. This comes only days after his absence from public view between May 21 and June 5. So why is Xi avoiding engagements? Is there a possibility of a change in power in China? Speculation is rife .
4. In Pakistan, there is tension in the upper echelons. Rumours are abuzz about another coup in the making. There is talk that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is plotting to overthrow President Asif Ali Zardari. That would bring more instability to the nation. But is there any truth to a military takeover?
5. Texas witnessed a “once-in-a-century” flash flood on the July 4 weekend. At least 120 people have died, and there has been massive devastation. Hit hard by the deluge was Camp Mystic, a famous summer camp where 750 girls gathered for some fun and adventure. The campsite was washed away , claiming dozens of lives, with several still missing.
6. What happens in the Kremlin stays in the Kremlin. However, the death of a Russian minister has raised eyebrows and many questions. On Monday, Vladimir Putin sacked Roman Starovoit, his transport minister. Hours later, he was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Reports suggest he died by suicide. But why was he sacked? Here’s what we know .
7. The Khalistan terror in Canada continues. Its latest target was Indian comic and TV host Kapil Sharma’s newly inaugurated café in Surrey. Shots were fired at the building, where the eatery is located, but no injuries were reported. Khalistani terrorist Harjit Singh, alias Laddi, has taken responsibility for the shooting. Who is he?
8. Our last story is for all those who prefer messaging over a call. But what happens when you don’t have internet? It can be pretty annoying. Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has a solution for you. He has launched Bitchat, a messaging app to rival WhatsApp, that works without the internet. Here’s how .
That’s all from us this week. Hope our reading recommendations make your Sunday more insightful. You can come back for more such stories here.