Pivot away: On U.S. student visas, Trump administration
When the Trump administration took office, it was felt that the worst of its anti-immigrant impulses would be softened by the tech billionaires who were supporting it. In the past, too, big business had driven policies bringing in talented immigrant workers and foreign students in Republican administrations. The exit of Elon Musk, however, is not a singular event but part of a trend of top techies exiting the Trump team. The cuts on green energy research in the recently passed 'Big Beautiful Bill' only serve to highlight the almost complete dominance of right-wing extremists in the administration, marked by the extreme views of its leading lights such as Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. The decline of the U.S. as a major attraction for Indian talent is perhaps only an indicator of how much India may have to pivot away from the U.S. in other areas as well.
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Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
Fuel folly
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. Washington's new tariff plan for those who buy Russian oil is hypocritical & will hurt US too After insulting Zelenskyy in Feb, pausing intelligence sharing with Kyiv in March, and weapons supplies in March and May, Trump finally has a plan to stop Putin. He's going to hit Russia and its trade partners with 'very serious tariffs'. Not immediately – Putin gets 50 days to finish the business he started in 2022. But as a big buyer of Russian oil, India should take note. Trump's threatened to impose 100% tariff on countries that buy Russian goods after the expiry of his deadline, and if he doesn't waver, or forget – neither unlikely – the concessions won through a trade deal could be lost. Will tariffs work? Not directly, because Russia and US have never been more decoupled economically since the collapse of the Soviet Union. US bought goods worth just $3bn from Russia last year, and sold $500mn worth, down from $29bn and $6bn, respectively, before the start of the war in 2022. That's why Putin must be checkmated through secondary tariffs on his major oil buyers like China, India and Brazil. Fossil fuels are a very big part of Russia's GDP (16%), and make up over half of its exports (55%). By the third anniversary of the war, Russia had earned about $1tn from fossil fuel exports. India, which used to buy just 1% of its oil from Russia before the war, now sources 40%, so the threat of 100% tariff on exports could make it pivot again. And China, which buys 20% of its oil from Russia, might also find 100% tariff discouraging. Russia could be hurt, but at what cost? Plugging the Russian pipeline is bound to drive up oil prices, which could increase inflation in most places, including US. Add to that the US-specific price rise resulting from 100% tariff on China, India and other US trade partners, and the political risk might be too much for Trump's Republicans. Above all, Trump's threat – backed by Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte – smacks of hypocrisy. After ordering the world not to buy Russian oil, US continued buying enriched uranium from Russia for its nuclear plants. Even when it announced a ban on Russian uranium imports from 2027, it gave a waiver to its largest operator of reactors. Likewise, Rutte's Europe is still buying gas from Russia, and won't stop till the end of 2027. So, Trump and Rutte's threat is less about conviction than convenience. India must play by the same rule. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump's oil tariff plan: Big talk, big problems
US President Donald Trump has come up with a plan to punish Russia for its war with Ukraine — by making things super expensive for countries that buy oil or goods from Russia. This includes countries like India, China, and Brazil. Trump says he'll put a 100% tariff (which means doubling the price) on things those countries sell to the US if they keep buying from Russia. But he's giving them 50 days before the rule starts — which gives Russia time to keep doing what it's doing. Why does this matter? Because countries like India now buy a lot of oil from Russia — about 40% of their oil. Before the war, it was just 1%! China gets 20% of its oil from Russia. If Trump really adds this tax, both countries might have to change their oil suppliers. The idea behind Trump's plan is to hurt Russia's economy by hitting its biggest moneymaker — oil and gas. Russia earns more than half of its export money from selling fuel. In fact, since the war started, Russia has made almost $1 trillion from selling fossil fuels. But here's the problem: if countries stop buying Russian oil, oil prices might shoot up. That could make life more expensive for everyone — including people in the US. Also, if the US charges more on products from India or China, things like clothes, electronics, and toys might cost more in American stores. And here's where the plan feels unfair: the US is still buying nuclear fuel (called uranium) from Russia! Even when it said it would stop, it gave itself extra time and allowed some companies to keep buying it. And Europe is still buying Russian gas until 2027. So while Trump and other leaders are telling countries like India to stop buying from Russia, they're not stopping completely themselves. That's why this whole thing looks more like politics than true action. India should watch carefully and do what's best for itself — just like everyone else is doing. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
NDTV
8 minutes ago
- NDTV
Trump Won't Recommend Special Counsel In Epstein Probe: White House
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