The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the knife attack in Solingen, Germany, that killed three people and wounded eight others at a crowded festival.

(Image credit: Christoph Reichwein)

When David Rashid took over US autoparts maker Plews and Edelmann, the company was losing business to its Chinese rival, Qingdao Sunsong. Both companies make power steering hoses, but Sunsong was offering its hoses to retailers at a much lower price.

Then, in 2018, the Trump administration threw companies like Rashid's a lifeline, by announcing tariffs on a range of Chinese goods, including some autoparts. Rashid thought the tariffs would finally force Sunsong to raise its prices, but, somehow, the company never did.

It was a mystery. And it led Rashid to take on a new role – amateur trade fraud investigator. How could his competitor, Sunsong, absorb that 25% tax without changing its prices? And why had all of Sunsong's steering hoses stopped coming from China and started coming from Thailand?

On today's episode, the wide gulf between how tariffs work in theory... and how they actually work in practice. And David Rashid's quest to figure out what, if anything, he could do about it. It's a quest that will involve international detectives, forensic chemists, and a friendship founded on a shared love for hummus.

This episode was hosted by Keith Romer and Jeff Guo. It was produced by Emma Peaslee and edited by Molly Messick. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez and engineered by Ko Takasugi-Czernowin. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

Families held funerals for six hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza. Many in Israel think the next round of cease-fire talks may be the last chance to bring home hostages who remain alive.

(Image credit: Maya Levin for NPR)

Work continues towards finding a path to a ceasefire in Gaza. U.S. mediators continue to communicate optimism, while the two sides, Israel and Hamas, seem to downplay the idea that progress is being made on their remaining differences. We hear about one major sticking point. Control of a strip of land in southern Gaza called the Philadelphi Corridor.

And the bodies of six Israeli hostages taken captive on October 7th were recovered this week. At funerals we hear friends and family express anger at the Israeli government for not doing enough to bring their loved ones home alive.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a wartime visit to Ukraine

When Magic saw Sphen's body, "he immediately started singing," and other penguins joined in, Renee Howell, the aquarium's penguin keeper, told Australia's ABC broadcaster.

(Image credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium)

Kamala Harris had a historic night on DNC's final night with her acceptance speech. Here are some key takeaways from this convention week. And, a look at why Democrats are thrilled.

(Image credit: Grace Widyatmadja)

Negotiations between Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the Teamsters union, which represents 10,000 of the companies' employees, began about a year ago.

(Image credit: Stephen Smith)

A proposed lithium mine in Serbia is spurring protests over its potential impact on the environment. The mineral is in high demand because it’s crucial for the batteries that run electric vehicles.

(Image credit: Darko Vojinovic)

A major sticking point to reaching a deal has been a small strip of land bordering Gaza’s southernmost border with Egypt, and who will control it. The area is called the Philadelphi Corridor.

Criticism for Democrats not including a Palestinian speaker is coming from across the party — including organized labor. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters are gathering nearby for one last push.

(Image credit: Jim Vondruska)

In an unprecedented step, the U.S. has imposed sanctions in recent months on about a dozen Israelis who it says have taken violent action against Palestinians and posed obstacles to peace. We hear from one Israeli who the U.S. has taken action against.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on about a dozen Israelis who it says have taken violent action against Palestinians and posed obstacles to peace. It’s an unprecedented step in the increasingly fraught U.S.-Israel relationship.

Italian officials say he is among five people whose bodies have been recovered after they went missing aboard a yacht that sank Monday. A rescue operation continued Thursday for a final missing person.

(Image credit: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Georgetown professor Daniel Byman discusses Ukraine’s daring offensive into Russian territory. And he reflects on the future of Gaza, after Israel’s military operation ends.

The residents of Thulasendrapuram in southern India are rooting for Kamala Harris, whose maternal grandfather lived in the village a century ago. They've organized prayers for her in the local temple.

(Image credit: Idrees Mohammed)

The possibility of a Canadian company buying 7-Eleven is sure to attract the attention of the government, investors and consumers in Japan, where the convenience chain is a staple of everyday life.

An example of how journalism sometimes works: a team investigates one story, one narrative, and if they keep an open mind and dig into the facts, they discover the real story is entirely different.

Both of Canada’s major freight railroads have come to a full stop because of a contract dispute with their workers, an impasse that may bring economic disruption in Canada and the U.S.

(Image credit: Charlie Riedel)

Leaders of Brazil, Mexico and Colombia are trying to mediate the standoff between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his political opponents as weeks of mass protests and arrests continue.