While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 5, 2025
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US President Donald Trump said he will substantially raise tariffs on India.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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Trump says he will ‘substantially’ raise tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases
President Donald Trump said he would be “substantially raising” the tariff on Indian exports to the US over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, ramping up his threat to target a major trading partner.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Aug 4.
“They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”
Mr Trump’s post did not specify by how much he would raise the levy. Mr Trump last week announced a 25 per cent rate on Indian exports, shocking New Delhi after months of negotiations failed to secure a breakthrough. He also threatened more duties if India continued to buy oil from Russia.
Tesla board awards ‘good faith’ shares worth $37 billion to CEO Elon Musk
PHOTO: REUTERS
Tesla has granted CEO Elon Musk shares worth about US$29 billion (S$37 billion) in a new pay deal aimed at keeping the billionaire entrepreneur at the helm during a crucial pivot from its struggling core auto business to robotaxis and humanoid robots.
The company described the “interim award” of the 96 million new shares as a first step, “good faith” payment to honour Mr Musk’s more than US$50 billion pay package from 2018 that was struck down by a Delaware court in 2024.
Mr Musk can claim the new award if he remains in a top executive role for another two years and a court does not reinstate the 2018 package currently on appeal.
Netanyahu to brief Israel’s army on Gaza war plan
PHOTO: ERIC LEE/NYTIMES
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Aug 4 to update Israel’s Gaza war plan, a day before a UN Security Council meeting on the fate of hostages still held in the Palestinian territory.
Addressing a Cabinet meeting with the war well into its 22nd month, the Israeli leader told ministers that later in the week he would instruct the military on how “to achieve the three war objectives we have set”.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 and the Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted officials in Mr Netanyahu’s office saying that the “updated strategy” would be to re-occupy all of Gaza, including areas in Gaza City where the military believes hostages are being held.
Texas governor orders arrest of Democrats who left US state to block redistricting vote
PHOTO: ILANA PANICH.-LINSMAN/NYTIMES
Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block a controversial vote on new congressional maps.
“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” Mr Abbott said in a statement on Aug 4. “I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans.”
The governor’s move escalates a standoff with Democrats with two weeks left in the state legislature’s special session, which was also set to address other issues from a cannabis ban to July’s deadly floods in central Texas.
Rwanda agreed deal with US to take in up to 250 migrants
PHOTO: REUTERS
The United States and Rwanda have agreed for the African country to potentially accept hundreds of migrants deported from the US, the spokesperson for the Rwandan government and an official told Reuters, as President Donald Trump's administration takes a hardline approach toward immigration.
The agreement, under which Rwanda would accept up to 250 migrants, was signed by US and Rwandan officials in Kigali in June, said the Rwandan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that Washington had already sent an initial list of 10 people to be vetted.
"Rwanda has agreed with the United States to accept up to 250 migrants, in part because nearly every Rwandan family has experienced the hardships of displacement, and our societal values are founded on reintegration and rehabilitation," said the spokesperson for the Rwandan government, Yolande Makolo.
