Pakistan grapples with devastating floods and fatalities, with 43 reported deaths in the past three days attributed to torrential rains and lightning. The toll includes 12 casualties in Khyber Pakhtunhwa, 21 in Punjab, and 10 in Balochistan. Homes and streets in various cities stand inundated, while vehicles remain stranded in floodwaters. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the National Disaster Management Authority to lead coordinated efforts across affected regions. The forecast predicts ongoing heavy rains throughout the week, exacerbating the country’s challenges.
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic warned that a proposed 30% US tariff on European goods would effectively amount to a trade ban, severely disrupting transatlantic supply chains.
Speaking ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Sefcovic expressed disappointment over a letter from US President Donald Trump that halted expected trade progress. “We were close to an agreement,” he said, but now “must prepare for all outcomes.”
The EU has delayed retaliatory measures on $72 billion worth of US goods until August 1, hoping for a negotiated resolution. Sefcovic emphasized that “no one wants a trade war,” while France urged faster preparation for countermeasures and Hungary blamed the EU Commission’s weak response to US pressure.
Danish and Lithuanian ministers echoed calls to avoid escalation but emphasized EU readiness to defend its interests.
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