September 10, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: International

India and China Move to Restore Economic Ties as US Tariffs Strain Modi–Trump Relations

India and China are working to restore economic links damaged by a deadly 2020 border clash, signaling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s growing alignment with BRICS nations after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep new tariffs on Indian goods. According to people familiar with the matter, Modi’s government is preparing to resume direct flights with China as early as next month, with a formal announcement likely during his planned visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on Aug. 31. It would be Modi’s first trip to China in seven years and include talks with President Xi Jinping. Direct flights between the two countries were halted during the Covid-19 pandemic, coinciding with a sharp deterioration in relations after violent Himalayan border clashes killed 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops. The move toward rapprochement comes after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in retaliation for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. Trump’s public remarks calling India’s economy “dead” and its trade barriers “obnoxious” further strained ties with what has long been India’s largest trading partner. The decision marked a setback for Modi, who had previously praised Trump and was among the first foreign leaders to visit him after his return to the White House. Henry Wang, president of the Center for China and Globalization, said relations between India and China are now in an “up cycle,” noting that as major players in the Global South, “they have to really speak to each other.” He added that Trump’s tariff war has reinforced India’s need for “strategic autonomy and strategic independence.” China, also targeted by Trump’s trade measures, has shown readiness to improve ties. This month, Beijing eased restrictions on urea shipments to India — the world’s largest importer of the fertilizer. Although initial volumes remain small, trade could expand, helping ease global shortages and lower prices. China had lifted its broader export ban in June but kept restrictions on India until now.

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Shrek 5 Release Pushed to Summer 2027

Universal Pictures has delayed Shrek 5 from December 23, 2026 to June 30, 2027, moving it out of a packed holiday slate that includes Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part III, and Ice Age 6. The vacated December slot will now host an untitled Illumination project scheduled for April 16, 2027. Produced by Universal and DreamWorks Animation, Shrek 5 marks the first main-series entry since Shrek Forever After (2010). It will be directed by Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon, with Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru) as co-director. Producers include Gina Shay and Illumination founder Chris Meledandri, whose involvement follows Comcast-NBCUniversal’s 2016 acquisition of DreamWorks Animation. The voice cast features returning stars Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), and Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona), joined by Zendaya as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter. Based on William Steig’s 1990 book, the Shrek franchise debuted in 2001, won the first-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and expanded into sequels, Puss in Boots spin-offs, and a newly announced Donkey-focused film. Universal’s date shift positions Shrek 5 to capitalize on the lucrative summer family market while avoiding the intense December 2026 competition.

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Donnarumma Announces PSG Exit After Super Cup Omission

Just hours after being left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final against Tottenham, Gianluigi Donnarumma confirmed he will leave the club. The 26-year-old Italy goalkeeper — widely regarded as Europe’s best last season after playing a pivotal role in PSG’s Champions League triumph — posted a farewell message on Instagram, saying: “Unfortunately, someone has decided that I can no longer be part of the group and contribute to the team’s success. I am disappointed and disheartened.” Donnarumma’s omission came as PSG unveiled new €40 million signing Lucas Chevalier from Lille as part of a squad that also included backups Matvei Safonov and Renato Marin. Luis Enrique admitted the decision was difficult, praising Donnarumma but noting PSG wanted “a different type of goalkeeper” — a reference to Chevalier’s superior distribution from the back, an area where Donnarumma has faced criticism. With just one year left on his contract and no extension agreed, PSG is keen to avoid a repeat of the Kylian Mbappé free-transfer saga. Donnarumma has been strongly linked with Manchester City and Manchester United. The move mirrors Donnarumma’s own arrival from AC Milan in 2021, when he displaced Keylor Navas despite the Costa Rican’s excellent form — a twist PSG captain Marquinhos admitted was “upsetting” to see repeated. PSG begin their Ligue 1 campaign at Nantes on August 17.

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Gaza City Under Heavy Airstrikes as Israel Prepares Ground Operation; Famine Warnings Intensify

Gaza City has come under intense bombardment for three consecutive days, according to the Hamas-run civil defence agency, as Israeli forces prepare a major operation to seize control of the city. Spokesman Mahmud Bassal said residential areas in Zeitoun and Sabra had suffered “massive destruction to civilian homes,” with residents unable to retrieve the dead and injured under continued shelling. International concern over the humanitarian situation deepened as the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, and Japan issued a joint statement warning that “famine is unfolding in front of our eyes” in Gaza. They called for “immediate, permanent and concrete steps” to allow more aid into the territory, and demanded an end to lethal force near aid sites and convoys — locations where the UN says more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed, mostly by Israeli forces. Israel denies famine exists in Gaza and has accused UN agencies of failing to collect and distribute aid from the border. The World Health Organization appealed to Israel to allow stockpiling of essential medicines ahead of any ground offensive, warning of a “catastrophic” health crisis. WHO representative Rik Peeperkorn said the pace of aid entry was “way too low” and hospitals could not be resupplied in time. On Monday, Israel’s war cabinet voted to take over Gaza City — a move condemned in an emergency UN Security Council meeting. On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said it was “at the beginning of a new state of combat,” but did not specify when troops would move in. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the goal is to dismantle Hamas’s last two strongholds in Gaza City and al-Mawasi, while also announcing a plan to increase humanitarian aid through safe corridors and air drops. Residents described the bombardment as relentless. “With every strike, the ground shakes,” said Majed al-Hosary from Zeitoun. “There are martyrs under the rubble that no one can reach because the shelling hasn’t stopped.” Another resident, Amr Salah, 25, likened the attacks to the start of a new war, with tanks and airstrikes hitting multiple neighborhoods. The Hamas-run health ministry reported 100 deaths across Gaza in the past 24 hours, including 31 at aid sites, and five more from malnutrition. UN-backed experts and human rights groups, including Israeli NGO B’Tselem, have warned of an “unfolding genocide” in the territory. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Irish President Mary Robinson, visiting the Gaza border as part of “The Elders” group, accused Israel of causing famine and attempting to destroy Palestinian society — claims Israel strongly rejects. Israel has faced renewed international condemnation after the IDF killed four Al Jazeera journalists and two freelancers in what it called a targeted strike on a Hamas cell leader. Media groups say Israel provided little evidence for its claims and accused it of trying to silence reporting from inside Gaza. The war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 61,599 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s response — figures the UN considers credible.

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Zelensky Calls Upcoming Trump-Putin Summit a “Personal Victory” for Putin, Rules Out Donbas Withdrawal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) that Russian President Vladimir Putin had achieved a “personal victory” by being invited to talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump on American soil, adding that the meeting would delay the imposition of new sanctions on Moscow. The summit, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, will be the first meeting between a sitting U.S. and Russian president since 2021. Trump aims to broker an end to Russia’s nearly three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine. Zelensky, who is not slated to attend, voiced concern that Russia could present hard-line demands and that Trump might negotiate a deal requiring Ukraine to cede large areas of territory. “We will not withdraw from the Donbas,” Zelensky stressed. “If we withdraw today — our fortifications, our terrain, the heights we control — we will clearly open a bridgehead for the Russians to prepare an offensive.” The Donbas includes Ukraine’s eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, both claimed by Russia since its 2022 invasion. Zelensky argued that Friday’s summit would effectively push back new U.S. sanctions against Russia — sanctions Trump had promised to impose if Putin refused to stop the war. “First, he will meet on U.S. territory, which I consider his personal victory. Second, he is coming out of isolation because he is meeting on U.S. territory. Third, with this meeting, he has somehow postponed sanctions,” he said. The Ukrainian leader also mentioned receiving a “signal” from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff that Russia might be open to a ceasefire, though he provided no further details. In preparation for the summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio said in a radio interview that Trump did not see the meeting as a “concession” to Russia. The White House confirmed that the meeting was arranged at Putin’s request. Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the goal was for the president “to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war.” On the battlefield, Zelensky warned that Russian forces had made significant gains near the coal mining town of Dobropillia and were planning new offensives on at least three different sections of the front line. “Russian units have advanced 10 kilometres deep in several spots. They have no equipment, only weapons in their hands. Some have already been found, some destroyed, some taken prisoner. We will find the rest and destroy them in the near future,” he said.

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Trump Says Gold Imports Won’t Face New Tariffs, Easing Market Jitters

United States President Donald Trump on Monday said gold imports will not face additional tariffs, calming confusion that had rattled bullion markets after a U.S. customs letter suggested certain standard-weight gold bars could be subject to duties. Trump posted on Truth Social, “Gold will not be Tariffed!” but gave no further details. The earlier customs notice had indicated that gold bars at two common weights—one kilogram and 100 ounces (about 2.8 kg)—should be classified in a way that made them liable for duties, touching off uncertainty about whether broader tariff hikes would apply to the precious metal. The suggestion of levies briefly sent gold futures tumbling: U.S. gold futures fell 2.4% to $3,407 per ounce after Trump’s post, and global spot benchmarks eased as well. The market volatility followed a period of record highs for gold—driven by tariff worries and geopolitical tension—culminating last Friday when December gold on Comex hit a fresh peak. Major gold producers saw share weakness: Barrick Mining slid about 2.8% after its quarterly results, while Newmont edged lower. A White House official had signalled last week that an administration policy clarification on gold bar tariffs was forthcoming, and the customs ruling letter, intended to clarify trade policy, surprised markets that had expected a different customs classification that would spare bullion from the recent countrywide levies. Authorities and market participants are now watching for any formal guidance or documentation that further explains Washington’s stance, but for the moment Trump’s post has reduced the immediate premium on futures and eased some investor concerns.

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Europe Left Out as Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Sparks Ukraine Concerns

Washington/Brussels — This Friday, former US President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine — but without Ukraine or Europe at the table. The meeting, reportedly initiated in part by the Kremlin, is expected to address territorial concessions, a prospect that alarms European leaders who oppose redrawing borders through force. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out ceding land or freezing the conflict along current front lines, warning that concessions would only embolden Moscow’s military campaign. Former UK Foreign Office chief Lord Simon McDonald cautioned that Putin is likely to make “outrageous” demands that few would entertain “with the possible exception of Donald Trump.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed concerns, suggesting Putin’s goals include securing a high-profile photo with Trump and delaying sanctions. European ministers, meeting virtually on Monday, called for an unconditional ceasefire before any deal and announced fresh sanctions against Moscow. But despite lobbying, the Biden administration’s envoy to Ukraine has maintained that the EU will not be part of formal peace talks — a stance unchanged since Trump returned to office earlier this year. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arranged a remote discussion for Wednesday between European leaders, Zelensky, and Trump, hoping to be consulted on Washington’s plan. However, diplomats doubt Europe will receive a last-minute invitation to Friday’s summit. “This is a matter of existential European security interest,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said, insisting Europe will take its own decisions on the conflict. “A simple ceasefire would not resolve the problem.” Lord McDonald warned against overestimating the Alaska meeting’s potential: “The end will be as protracted as the war has been long. The meeting is a milestone, but it doesn’t actually mean it will lead anywhere.”

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Trump’s 50% Tariffs on Indian Imports Trigger Industry Panic, Threaten Key Export Sectors

After Donald Trump announced punitive tariffs totalling more than 50% on Indian imports, major manufacturers in India were inundated with anxious calls from investors and US clients. Gokaldas Exports, a leading garment manufacturer that earns half of its revenue from US exports—supplying retailers such as Walmart, Gap, and Abercrombie & Fitch—reported that customers were asking whether production could be shifted elsewhere. “It’s been insane — at 50 per cent tariff there is no business to be done,” said Managing Director Sivaramakrishnan Ganapathi. “In the interim, brands are saying they’ll scale down their sourcing from India… they have options to go to Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.” A wide swath of Indian industry has gone into panic mode after the US president, last Wednesday, announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports effective August 27. This comes on top of a 25% duty imposed earlier in the month. Unless New Delhi strikes a deal with Washington, the move could devastate crucial sectors and derail Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” vision to position the country as a manufacturing alternative to China. Trump, who has previously called India a “tariff king,” blamed the new measures on New Delhi’s purchases of Russian weapons and oil. The new tariff threatens India’s largest export market, which was worth $87 billion in the year ending March. While pharmaceuticals and smartphones are temporarily exempt, Moody’s has warned that if the 50% rate remains beyond 2025, the steep tariff gap with the rest of Asia could “severely curtail” India’s manufacturing ambitions and even cause some foreign direct investors to pull out. The 50% rate would place US tariffs on Indian imports on par with Brazil and far above China’s 30% and Vietnam’s 20%. Pratik Patel, chair of Indore-based Jash Engineering, which generates more than a third of its revenue from the US, described the tariff uncertainty as the company’s “biggest problem today.” He said it was putting significant pressure on existing orders and that talks with American clients were underway. Economists at Nomura compared the tariffs to a “trade embargo” that could devastate small businesses in low-margin industries, undermining India’s integration into global supply chains. Ajay Srivastava of the Global Trade Research Initiative predicted that exports in sectors such as apparel, jewellery, carpets, and shrimp could fall by 50–70%. Wendy Cutler, vice-president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former US trade negotiator, said the measures would “essentially cut off most Indian exports to the US.” Some Indian companies were already feeling the strain before last week’s announcement. Amit Kalyani, vice-chair of Bharat Forge, said the company was working with customers to find solutions amid the tariff-related uncertainty, something he described as unprecedented. Sudhir Sekhri, chair of India’s Apparel Export Promotion Council, estimated that the apparel sector alone could lose $5 billion in sales over the next seven months—about half of its exports to the US in the 2023–24 financial year.

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Crystal Palace Stun Liverpool to Win FA Community Shield in Penalty Shootout Thriller

Crystal Palace shocked Premier League champions Liverpool at Wembley, winning the FA Community Shield after a dramatic penalty shootout. Under Oliver Glasner, the Eagles matched Liverpool’s star-studded side stride for stride, ultimately holding their nerve when it mattered most. Liverpool struck first through Hugo Ekitike, who cut inside and rifled a finish past Dean Henderson. Palace hit back when Ismaila Sarr was fouled in the box, with Jean-Philippe Mateta converting from the spot. Jeremie Frimpong restored Liverpool’s lead with a looping chip that caught Henderson off guard, sending the champions into halftime 2–1 up. The second half saw Liverpool retreat into a defensive shell, allowing Palace to grow into the game. Adam Wharton’s precision pass found Sarr, who slotted home to make it 2–2 and force penalties. In the shootout, Mohamed Salah skied his effort over the bar, while Henderson denied Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott with a mix of sharp reflexes and mind games. Palace converted their spot-kicks with confidence to claim a famous win over the reigning league champions. It’s a landmark moment for Crystal Palace, proving that even against a side built on nearly €300 million in talent, resilience and composure can deliver silverware.

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Al Jazeera Reporters Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza City Journalist Tent; Israel Labels Targeted Correspondent a Hamas “Terrorist”

Al Jazeera has announced that two of its correspondents, including a prominent reporter, and three cameramen were killed in an Israeli strike on their tent in Gaza City on Sunday (August 10, 2025). The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted Anas al-Sharif, a well-known Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent, labelling him a “terrorist” affiliated with Hamas. According to the Qatar-based broadcaster, al-Sharif, 28, was killed alongside four colleagues—reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa—when a tent for journalists outside the main gate of a hospital was hit. Al-Sharif was widely recognised for his extensive coverage from northern Gaza and had been one of the network’s most familiar on-the-ground faces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement claiming that al-Sharif headed a Hamas terrorist cell and was responsible for organising rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. “A short while ago, in Gaza City, the IDF struck the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network,” the statement said. Hours before his death, al-Sharif had posted on X about “intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment” in Gaza City, sharing a video showing nearby strikes. In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had called for his protection after the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson accused him online of being a Hamas member. Following the strike, CPJ said it was “appalled” by the deaths, accusing Israel of a pattern of labelling journalists as militants without credible evidence. The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the attack as a “bloody crime” and an assassination. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that over 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began 22 months ago, many of them Palestinian reporters on whom international media depend due to Gaza’s closure. Relations between Israel and Al Jazeera have long been tense, with Israeli authorities banning the channel in the country and raiding its offices during the ongoing conflict. Qatar, which funds Al Jazeera, has also hosted Hamas’s political leadership and facilitated indirect talks with Israel. The killings come as Israel announced plans to expand its ground operations in Gaza, targeting remaining Hamas strongholds. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the new offensive in a press conference on Sunday and pledged to allow more foreign journalists to report from inside Gaza with military oversight. At the UN Security Council, Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca warned that Israel’s plans to control Gaza City could trigger “another calamity,” leading to further displacement, killings, and destruction across the region.

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