Sean's Daily Digest

Canada unveils retaliatory tariff plan as Trump threatens 50% duties on autos

Ongoing · day 9

Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on all cars, trucks, automotive parts, and steel imported from Canada, effective January 1, 2026, escalating the trade war further after talks collapsed. Canada announced it will reveal its retaliatory tariff measures on August 25, with Carney saying a trade deal is still possible but not 'at the expense of sovereignty' and only if the U.S. comes with the 'right attitude.' Carney accused Trump of wanting to 'destroy' Canada's auto industry, citing the threatened 50% vehicle tariffs as evidence of bad faith.

Six months into Iran war, Hormuz traffic at a fraction of pre-war levels with 6,000 sailors stranded

Commodity carrier traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has averaged 15 transits per day since hostilities resumed on July 8 — down from a pre-war daily average of 95 — with two-thirds of transits now 'dark', meaning vessels have disabled transponders or otherwise obscured their routes, according to maritime tracker Kpler. Some 6,000 sailors and 500 ships remain stuck in the Gulf, and at least 20 sailors and dockworkers have been killed in incidents since the war began. Countries affected by conflicts in 2026 — including Iran, Russia, Libya and Venezuela — together produce roughly 43% of global oil supply, Reuters calculations show, with the current Gulf disruption running at an estimated 5 to 7 million barrels per day.

Russian AI-guided drone killed three civilians in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian analysis finds

Ukrainian drone experts, military commanders and a forensic team that examined wreckage determined that a Russian drone which killed three people in Zaporizhzhia in July was guided by an autonomous AI system based on an Nvidia Jetson Orin module, not a human pilot. The drone was pre-programmed to fly to a specific service station but then selected its exact target — reportedly propane tanks — autonomously, according to the analysis. The UN and the Red Cross separately called on Tuesday for a legally binding instrument to regulate autonomous weapons systems.

DRC and M23 agree peace roadmap; ceasefire verification mission deploys to South Kivu

Ongoing · day 14

A ceasefire verification mission — comprising representatives from DR Congo's government, the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel group, and observers from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region — has deployed to eastern DR Congo to monitor the existing ceasefire. Despite the peace roadmap agreement, key disagreements over M23 rebels' status, Rwanda's role, and security concerns remain unresolved and could still derail the process, according to reporting on the new roadmap. After months of stalled peace talks, both DR Congo's government and M23 rebels have agreed to resume negotiations under the newly agreed roadmap framework.

Trump plans to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourism visas held by asylum seekers

The Trump administration said it would revoke B1 and B2 business and tourism visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have applied for or are currently seeking asylum, according to State Department documents obtained by the Associated Press. The move could affect up to 200,000 people and would be the largest single mass visa revocation in US history, according to the AP; revocations would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. The administration has already revoked more than 175,000 visas since taking office.

Saudi Arabia agrees $7bn investment in three theme parks near Paris during MBS visit

Ongoing · day 2

One of the parks is expected to be themed around the Dragon Ball Z franchise, according to Reuters and Nikkei Asia. The theme park deal was one of a broader package of agreements spanning energy, defence, AI, and tourism signed during MBS's Paris visit, with total deals reported at more than $10 billion. Macron's decision to welcome Mohammed bin Salman has drawn criticism, with commentators questioning whether Western governments are prioritising economic interests over human rights concerns, according to Der Spiegel's foreign correspondent.

Europe's back-to-back heatwaves have caused at least 35,000 excess deaths, incomplete data shows

Ongoing · day 2

Figures covering roughly half of Europe show at least 35,000 excess deaths from four consecutive record-breaking heatwaves since May, with Germany, France and Spain alone accounting for more than 25,000. Germany's Robert Koch Institute reported an estimated 14,000 heat-related deaths through early August, the worst on record in the country. The true total is expected to rise significantly once August data is consolidated and more countries report.

Haiti gang attack kills at least 47 in Kenscoff, hillside community above Port-au-Prince

At least 47 people were killed and 22 more injured in an overnight raid by armed gang members on the hillside community of Kenscoff, the UN said on Monday. The area has suffered more than a dozen attacks since last year, forcing thousands to flee. Residents demanded the local police chief step down, saying officers failed to protect victims despite being stationed nearby.

US dipolomats to return to Middle East embassies as Washington signals no renewed full-scale war

The US State Department is preparing to return foreign service officers to Middle East embassies evacuated before and during the Iran war, with some officers potentially heading back as early as this week, according to an internal document reported by the New York Times. The move suggests Washington does not anticipate a renewal of full-scale conflict in the near term.

China's ship activity near Taiwan reaches record for third straight month

Mainland Chinese government vessel sightings around Taiwan have reached record levels for a third consecutive month, as Beijing expands its law enforcement presence east of the island.

France to enforce high school mobile phone ban from September

The French government said on Monday it would proceed with banning mobile phone use in high schools from the start of the new school year in September, after President Macron decided to promulgate the law despite the Constitutional Council striking down its flagship provision banning under-15s from social media. Trade unions warned the measure could be hard to implement quickly.