The View From India newsletter: From best friends to foes: the bitter Trump-Musk fallout
Just as we were making sense of President Donald Trump's new ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens from 12 African and West Asian countries, the dramatic collapse of the alliance between billionaire CEO of Tesla and X, Elon Musk, and President Trump took the internet by storm. The partnership that demonstrated the deliberate yet effortless bond between power and capital, also exposed how either reacts to any perceivable threat. The Guardian's columnist Jonathan Freedland wrote that 'Musk and Trump are enemies made for each other – united in their ability to trash their own brands'. What drove this wedge between the two men — one, the most powerful leader and the other, the one of the richest businessmen — prompting them to trade such rage and bitterness in public? Watch this video to understand the controversial bill that sparked sharp disagreement between the two. Also read Smriti S. on the rise and fall of the partnership between Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk.
Shutting the door
Meanwhile, President Trump's new travel ban came into effect at 12 am ET on Monday, amid protests in the U.S.
San Francisco is suing President Donald Trump, claiming an executive order over immigrant-protecting 'sanctuary cities' is unconstitutional and a severe invasion of the city's sovereignty.
Demonstrators torched cars and scuffled with security forces in Los Angeles June 8, 2025, as police kept protesters away from the National Guard troops President Donald Trump sent to the streets of the second biggest U.S. city. Unrest broke out for a third day, with protesters angry at action by immigration officials that have resulted in dozens of arrests of what authorities say are illegal migrants and gang members.
The Hindu editorial noted: 'Many of the people seeking entry into the U.S., from countries that had seen American military intervention, such as Haiti and Afghanistan, are fleeing war, persecution and systemic violence. They are not national security threats but victims in search of refuge. By shutting America's doors on them, and immigrants in general, Mr. Trump is not making the U.S. safer. Rather, he is turning a country, which historically welcomed immigration and has benefited from it, into an insular, paranoid, self-doubting republic.'
Mounting rage over Israel's brutality Amid Israeli forces' relentless attack on Gaza, its members stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. 'The selfie yacht of the celebrities is safely making its way to the shores of Israel,' the Foreign Ministry said in a social media post. The British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, sought to deliver some aid to Gaza.
The tolerance for Israel's brutality is certainly waning in many parts of the world. Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Rome on Saturday against the war in Gaza in a protest called by Italy's main opposition parties, who accuse the right-wing government of being too silent.
Our London correspondent Sriram Lakshman reports on the mounting pressure on the U.K. government of Keir Starmer to take a stronger position against Israel's actions in Gaza. It was on full display recently, with MPs, including those from the governing Labour Party, quizzing the government on its positions and accusing the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu of genocide.
Neighbourhood watch
Watch: Justifying Operation Sindoor | Was multi-party delegation a success? – our latest episode of Worldview with Suhasini Haidar takes a closer look at the mandate for Multi-party delegations abroad, and whether it was mission accomplished.
Bangladesh: Delivering his Id speech on June 6, 2025, the Chief Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, Prof. Mohammed Yunus announced that the next national election will be held in April 2026. However, he announced the country would witness the launch of the 'July Proclamation', a document that he said was 'agreed upon by all parties.' Kallol Bhattacherjee reports.
Top 5 stories this week:
1. Under pressure on the battlefield, Ukraine turns to drones to hurt Russia – read Stanly Johny's analysis of the most recent escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war and its likely implications
2. A strategy fuelled by vision, powered by energy – Union Minister Hardeep S. Puri writes that India's energy sector can be defined in three words — confidence, self-reliance and strategic foresight
3. Should India amend its nuclear energy laws? Kunal Shankar discusses with experts Ashley Tellis and D. Raghunandan
4. Read Franciszek Snarski's profile of Karol Nawrocki, the 42-year-old conservative historian, who won the run-off of the Polish presidential election on June 1
5. Purtika Dua writes on South Korea's newly elected President, Lee Jae-myung, who brings to office a personal history marked by hardship and an agenda shaped by reform
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Mint
32 minutes ago
- Mint
Federal judge says Donald Trump cannot detain Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil, then does this...
A US federal judge passed a ruling on Wednesday stating that the Donald Trump administration cannot keep using US foreign policy interests as a means to justify the detention of Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. However, he then delayed the release order, saying that the ruling will not come into effect until Friday, according to a Reuters report. Judge Michael Farbiarz was quoted saying in his order that the ruling would not immediately take effect, and that the administration has until 9:30 am Friday to respond to this latest ruling. This new ruling comes soon after another order passed last Thursday, preventing the Trump administration from arresting a Columbia University student, Yunseo Chung, 21, whom it is seeking to detain and deport to South Korea ever she participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this year. According to reports, Chung never lived in South Korea since she was 7 years of age. Meanwhile, in another development, Noor Abdalla, 28, wife of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, was interviewed by Reuters, after which she appeared for a portrait.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Los Angeles protests: Over 20 arrested, tensions persist amid Trump immigration raids and military deployment
More than 20 people were detained on the first night of a curfew imposed in downtown Los Angeles, as police deployed crowd-control projectiles to disperse protesters rallying against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, authorities said on Wednesday. While officials reported fewer clashes compared to earlier demonstrations, the presence of heavily armed troops and ongoing immigration raids kept tensions high across the city. The curfew, covering a one-square-mile area at the heart of downtown, was enacted following five consecutive days of protests that have now spread to cities like Chicago, Austin, Dallas, and New York. 'If there are raids that continue, if there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue,' said Mayor Karen Bass. Federal immigration enforcement actions triggered the unrest, with Los Angeles authorities and residents accusing the administration of creating panic by raiding workplaces and separating families. 'When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart… you're trying to cause fear and panic,' Bass added. Some 2,000 National Guard troops were already deployed, half guarding federal buildings and ICE agents. An additional 700 Marines are expected to join once trained, while another 2,000 troops are scheduled for deployment by Thursday. Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman said this operation, overseen by Task Force 51, aims to secure sensitive infrastructure. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised Trump's move as a 'military dragnet' and sought an emergency court order to stop the Guard from assisting immigration enforcement. Trump, however, defended the deployment, posting that the city 'would be burning to the ground' without military intervention. Across the country, parallel protests erupted. In New York, police detained 86 people during overnight protests in Manhattan. In Chicago, a 66-year-old woman was injured after being struck by a car during demonstrations. In Texas, where protests have also flared, the state's National Guard has been placed on standby. Federal authorities also announced charges against two individuals accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at police in LA, warning that more prosecutions may follow. 'If you took part in these riots and were looking to cause trouble, we will come looking for you,' U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. Meanwhile, Trump escalated rhetoric, calling protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy,' to which Newsom responded by accusing the president of launching an 'assault on democracy.' The ongoing raids and arrests have heightened public anxiety, with reports of ICE agents operating at libraries, car washes, and schools, prompting some LA graduations to increase security or go virtual. Since the protests began, police have detained over 200 people, many for failing to disperse. Seven officers have been injured, and charges ranging from vandalism to assault have been filed. Despite the unrest, protesters continue to rally outside City Hall and federal buildings demanding an end to the raids and mass detentions. Police detained more than 20 people, mostly on curfew violations, on the first night of restrictions in downtown Los Angeles and used crowd-control projectiles to break up hundreds of protesters demonstrating against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, officials said Wednesday. But there were fewer clashes between police and demonstrators than on previous nights, and by daybreak, the downtown streets were bustling with residents walking dogs and commuters clutching coffee cups. Officials said the curfew was necessary to stop vandalism and theft by agitators after five days of protests, which have mostly been concentrated downtown. Demonstrations have also spread to other cities nationwide, including Dallas and Austin in Texas, and Chicago and New York, where thousands rallied and more arrests were made. LA's nightly curfew, which the mayor said would remain in effect as long as necessary, covers a 1-square-mile (2.5-square-kilometer) section that includes an area where protests have occurred since Friday in the sprawling city of 4 million. The city of Los Angeles encompasses roughly 500 square miles (1,295 square kilometers). "If there are raids that continue, if there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue," Mayor Karen Bass said. The tensions in LA and elsewhere emerged as immigration authorities seek to dramatically increase the number of daily arrests across the country. Bass said the raids spread fear across the city at the behest of the White House. "We started off by hearing the administration wanted to go after violent felons, gang members, drug dealers," she told a news conference. "But when you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you're not trying to keep anyone safe. You're trying to cause fear and panic." Referring to the protests, she added: "If you drive a few blocks outside of downtown, you don't know that anything is happening in the city at all." Some 2,000 National Guard soldiers are in the city, and about half of them have been protecting federal buildings and agents, said Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, head of Task Force 51, which is overseeing the deployment of National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles. About 700 Marines will soon join the Guard troops, but they are still undergoing training and will not be mobilized Wednesday, Sherman said. Another 2,000 Guard troops should be on the streets by Thursday, he said. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has accused Trump of drawing a "military dragnet" across the nation's second-largest city with his escalating use of the National Guard, which Trump activated, along with the Marines, over the objections of city and state leaders. Newsom asked a court to put an emergency stop to the military helping federal immigration agents. The assistance includes some guardsmen now standing protectively around agents as they carry out arrests. A judge set a hearing for Thursday, giving the administration several days to continue its activities. The change moves the military closer to engaging in law enforcement actions such as deportations, as Trump has promised as part of his immigration crackdown. The Guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers, but any arrests would be made by law enforcement. The president posted on the Truth Social platform that the city "would be burning to the ground" if he had not sent in the military. Meanwhile in New York City, police said they took 86 people into custody during protests in lower Manhattan that lasted into Wednesday morning. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the vast majority of demonstrators were peaceful. A 66-year-old woman in Chicago was injured when she was struck by a car during downtown protests Tuesday evening, police said. Video showed a car speeding down a street where people were protesting. In Texas, where police in Austin used chemical irritants to disperse several hundred demonstrators Monday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office said Texas National Guard troops were "on standby" in areas where demonstrations are planned. Guard members were sent to San Antonio, but Police Chief William McManus said he had not been told how many troops were deployed or their role ahead of planned protests Wednesday night and Saturday. Authorities announce arrests in protests Two people accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at police during the LA protests over the weekend face charges that could bring up to 10 years in prison, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. No one was injured by the devices. One of the suspects is a U.S. citizen, and the other overstayed a tourist visa and was in the U.S. illegally, authorities said. "We are looking at hundreds of people," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. "If you took part in these riots and were looking to cause trouble, we will come looking for you." Trump, Newsom locked in a war of words Trump has called the protesters "animals" and "a foreign enemy" and described Los Angeles in dire terms that the governor says is nowhere close to the truth. Newsom called Trump's actions the start of an "assault" on democracy. "California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next," he said. The protests began Friday after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. Thousands of people have peacefully rallied outside City Hall and hundreds more protested outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids. Despite the protests, immigration enforcement activity has continued throughout the county, with city leaders and community groups reporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement present at libraries, car washes and Home Depots. School graduations in Los Angeles have increased security over fears of ICE action, and some have offered parents the option to watch on Zoom. Los Angeles police detained 200 people related to the protests throughout the day on Tuesday, including 67 who were occupying a freeway, according to the city's chief. The majority of arrests since the protests began have been for failing to disperse, while a few others were for assault with a deadly weapon, looting and vandalism. At least seven police officers have been injured.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran claims US bases to be targeted if conflict breaks out between countries
Iran threatened Wednesday to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out, while President Donald Trump said he was "less confident" about reaching a nuclear deal. Amid escalating tensions, a US official said staff levels at the embassy in Iraq were being reduced over security concerns, while the UK Maritime Trade Operations, run by the British navy, advised ships to transit the Gulf with caution. Watch: Iran swears to annihilate Israel in revenge: who will strike first & why? Here are 5 deadly triggers Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 accord that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran, backing nuclear diplomacy but warning of military action if it fails. Also Read: Trump travel ban shows 'deep hostility' towards Iranians, Muslims, says Iran "All its bases are within our reach, we have access to them, and without hesitation we will target all of them in the host countries," Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said in response to US threats of military action if the talks fail. "God willing, things won't reach that point, and the talks will succeed," the minister said, adding that the US side "will suffer more losses" if it came to conflict. The United States has multiple bases in the Middle East, with the largest located in Qatar. Also Read: Why has Iran been banning people from walking dogs in public? Iran and the United States have recently been locked in a diplomatic standoff over Iran's uranium enrichment, with Tehran defending it as a "non-negotiable" right and Washington calling it as a "red line". Trump had previously expressed optimism about the talks, saying during a Gulf tour last month Washington was "getting close" to securing a deal. But in an interview published Wednesday, Trump said he was "less confident" the United States and Iran could reach a deal, in response to a question on whether he believed he could stop Tehran from enriching uranium. 'A shame' Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal and close though still short of the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead. Western countries, including the United States and its ally Israel, have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire atomic weapons, while Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Last week, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said enrichment is "key" to Iran's nuclear programme and that Washington "cannot have a say" on the issue. During the interview with the New York Post's podcast "Pod Force One", which was recorded on Monday, Trump said he was losing hope a deal could be reached. "I don't know. I did think so, and I'm getting more and more -- less confident about it. They seem to be delaying and I think that's a shame. I am less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago," he said. "Something happened to them but I am much less confident of a deal being made... Maybe they don't wanna make a deal, what can I say? And maybe they do. There is nothing final." Trump maintained that Washington would not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons, saying "it would be nicer to do it without warfare, without people dying". On May 31, after the fifth round of talks, Iran said it had received "elements" of a US proposal for a nuclear deal, with Araghchi later saying the text contained "ambiguities". Iran has said it will present a counter-proposal to the latest draft from Washington, which it had criticised for failing to offer relief from sanctions -- a key demand for Tehran, which has been reeling under their weight for years. On Monday, the United Nations nuclear watchdog began a Board of Governors meeting in Vienna that will last until Friday to discuss Iran's atomic activities and other issues. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting followed a report issued by it criticising "less than satisfactory" cooperation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites. Iran has criticised the IAEA report as unbalanced, saying it relied on "forged documents" provided by its arch-foe Israel. In January 2020, Iran fired missiles at bases in Iraq housing American troops in retaliation for the US strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani days before at Baghdad airport. Dozens of US soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries.
