Hard Numbers: Trump tariffs hit US auto jobs, Canada’s Gujaratis step on to the political scene, US and Mexico brace for water battle, Hoekstra confirmed as US ambassador to Canada.

​Workers walk outside a Stellantis assembly plant following a company's announcement saying it will pause production there, in Toluca, state of Mexico, Mexico April 4, 2025.
Workers walk outside a Stellantis assembly plant following a company's announcement saying it will pause production there, in Toluca, state of Mexico, Mexico April 4, 2025.
REUTERS/Henry Romero

900: Stellantis, one of the world’s largest car manufacturers,has temporarily laid off 900 US workers at plants that supply parts for its Canadian and Mexican factories, where operations have been suspended for two weeks amid uncertainty about the nature and impact of Trump’s tariffs.

4: Within Canada’s large South Asian diaspora, people who trace their origins to the Punjab region have long enjoyed greater numbers and political representation than those who hail from the Indian state of Gujarat. But that could be starting to shift, as the April 28 election will see four Gujarati candidates on the ballot. In Calgary, Sunjiv Raval is running for office on the Liberal Party ticket, while Ashok Patel and Minesh Patel are running as Independents. In Brampton, Ontario, Jayesh Brahmbhatt is running with the People’s Party.

30: Things are always a bit fluid in US-Mexican relations, but the next big clash between the two countries could literally be over water. Under a 1944 treaty, Mexico is obligated to share the waters of the Rio Grande but has met only 30% of its obligations over the past five years. Mexico says this is due to drought, but a fight is brewing as the treaty is set to expire later this year.

60: By a vote of 60 to 37, the US Senate confirmed Pete Hoekstra as the new ambassador to Canada. The Dutch-born Hoekstra is a former congressman from Michigan and ambassador to the Netherlands. He assumes his new role at a tough time: His boss has launched a tariff war with his host country and threatened to make Canada “the 51st state.” Hoekstra said he will “work with the Canadian government” on trade and border security.

More from GZERO Media

French President Emmanuel Macron as he poses for a picture as he welcomes Crown Prince and Princess of the Kingdom of Jordan for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on October 8, 2025.
Photo by Raphael Lafargue/ABACAPRESS.COM

France is in crisis – again. On Monday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned after just 27 days in office, making him the shortest-serving premier in the history of the Fifth Republic and the fourth to fall in 13 months.

Throughout his Walmart career, Greg has earned nine promotions, moving from an hourly associate to now overseeing 10 Walmart stores. His story is one of many. More than 75% of Walmart management started as hourly associates, and the retailer offers competitive benefits to support associates on and off the clock. At Walmart, there is a path for everyone. Learn how Walmart is investing in opportunities for associates at all levels.

- YouTube

As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu embraces a “super-Sparta” vision for Israel, Ian Bremmer breaks down what rising global isolation could cost the country—economically, diplomatically, and militarily.

Last week, Microsoft released the 2025 TechSpark Impact Report, which highlights how the company is assisting regions across the US in achieving these goals. Since its launch, TechSpark has obtained over $700 million in community funding, supported more than 65,000 people in developing digital skills, and, thanks to the work of TechSpark Fellows, catalyzed $249M+ in funding and upskilled 34,600 individuals across 46 communities — highlighting the ripple effect of local leadership and innovation. Learn more about this progress in the 2025 report here.