Russian President Vladimir Putin joined the BRICS virtual summit, but the Kremlin withheld his full speech, sparking Western speculation. While Xi Jinping and Lula urged the bloc to resist global hegemony, India’s Dr. S. Jaishankar demanded fair and transparent trade, warning against rising barriers. In a major breakthrough, Modi, Xi, and Putin held their first trilateral talks in six years, signaling a thaw in India-China ties.

US President Donald Trump has officially imposed a total 50&#37 tariff on all goods from India. This comes after an earlier 25&#37 tariff was slapped last week as “punishment” for India’s continued oil imports from Russia. Trump has now doubled down, issuing an executive order confirming the full 50&#37 duty. The move further strains India-US trade relations and raises serious geopolitical concerns. Meanwhile, Pakistan gets a tariff cut and a new oil development deal. Is this the beginning of a full-blown trade war?