Trump teams up with Tim Cook for $100 bn push; Apple's total US bet hits $600 bn - The Economic Times Video
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Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Miller vs Schiller: Who is the real 'Trump whisperer'?
TOI Correspondent from Washington: "There are no Democrats and Republicans in Washington anymore, only 'ins' and 'outs.'" is the new mantra in the US capital. India may be finding that out the hard way amid questions on whether its newly-hired lobbyist is delivering the goods after the tariff fiasco and if he is being outplayed by a Pakistani lobbyist. Both are said to be close to President Trump. In May this year, India hired Jason Miller -- a communications strategist and political adviser who has served as a senior adviser to Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016, 2020, and 2024 -- through his firm SHW Partners LLC, to lobby for New Delhi. The year-long contract is costing the government $1.8 million, with a monthly fee of $150,000. His firm's role is to provide strategic counsel, tactical planning, and government relations assistance on policy matters before the U.S. government, Congress, and other relevant stakeholders. India's Miller/SHW contract came a month after Pakistan zeroed in on Keith Schiller, a former Trump bodyguard for two decades, through his firm Javelin Associates which he established with George Sorial, who served as Executive Vice President and Counsel to The Trump Organization. Pakistan is paying Javelin $ 50,000 per month as retainer. While both Miller and Schiller have been dubbed "Trump whisperers" developments over the past six-eight weeks suggest Javelin has hit the mark while SHW has come up short. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 25 of the Best Cities to Live In Undo by Taboola by Taboola In a city where influencers float in an out of Trump inner circle, Schiller is believed to have the President's ear while Miller is said to be out the loop, going by Trump's suddenly love for Islamabad manifested in his invitation to Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir for a White House luncheon and the lower tariff (19 per cent) on Pakistan compared to India, which has been slammed with 25 percent, with another 25 percent punitive penalty impending on August 25 if New Delhi continues to buy Russian oil. However, White House insiders say characterisations like "Trump whisperer" are simplistic and the President is his own man taking decisions on what he sees as being good for America. They point out that Schiller left the White House as Director of Oval Office Operations in September 20 2017 after only nine months on the job and his access to Trump is exaggerated. Miller too has been out of the White House loop after declining a position of White House communications director after the 2016 election. Others in the influence-peddling business say the best lobbyists are the foreign leaders themselves. Nothing pleases Trump more than foreign leaders phoning him personally, and even better, supplicating themselves before him in the Oval Office and pledging billions in investment. And if they can play golf with him (like former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did), and lose to him, that would be a birdie hit. Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was among those who reportedly took up golf in an effort to connect with Trump. India is more cricket than golf, and the upshot is that it may be holing out hole (not hole-in-one) on the tariff issue. Prime Minister Modi's declining of Trump's invitation to visit the White House when the US President was hosting Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir on June 18, his subsequent non-engagement on the tariff issue, and the defiant tone on Russian oil issue in terms of a personal phone call are factors said to have miffed Trump. "The (Indian) Prime Minister does not negotiate on tariffs over the phone. He leaves it to the negotiating," a senior Indian diplomat said by way of explaining the phone calls that some influencers are pressing for. But New Delhi is leery given the experience of some leaders who phoned Trump, came over to Washington, and left red-faced after they did not meet his terms, on trade and other issues. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was publicly embarrassed in the White House, while Ukraine's Voldymyr Zelensky was humiliated in the Oval Office. Some phone calls have bought time, notably one from Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, while others Vietnam's Lo Tam and South Korea's Lee Jae-myung, made calls that secured lower tariffs. Some other calls and visits have ended in disaster. Switzerland's President Karin Keller-Sutter came last week to avert a 39% tariff on Swiss goods, and did not get to meet Trump -- not even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, or Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. She got to see Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who does not oversee trade policy, and returned empty-handed.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Grappling With Trump And His 'WrestleMania' Diplomacy
Last Updated: Experts suggest that Trump's affinity for the spectacle of professional wrestling—where drama, competition, and supremacy are celebrated—may influence his diplomatic style Donald Trump's policy towards India marks a significant shift from the earlier strategic partnership era of his predecessors, focusing more on transactional and unilateral interests rather than long-term diplomatic considerations, which have jeopardised the fundamentals of bilateral relations. For over two decades, successive US administrations have steadily built ties with India, evolving from a tentative friendship to a strong partnership rooted in the historic nuclear agreement and strategic alignment against common threats, particularly China. Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden employed political acumen and cultivated mutual respect, paving the way for cooperation in defence, commerce, technology, and climate action. In contrast, Trump has consistently promoted his 'America First" economics, disregarding mutual benefits and using heavy tariffs to pressure India for its independent strategic choices, particularly its dealings with Russia. Upon returning to the White House in 2025, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, later doubling it to a punitive 50 per cent rate, ostensibly to punish Delhi for continuing to import Russian oil. These actions have far-reaching consequences, casting a shadow over nearly all of India's $86.5 billion exports to the US, trade negotiations, defence purchases, and technology collaborations, potentially setting bilateral ties back by decades. The President's communication style also lacks goodwill. Trump frequently airs complaints, accusations, and policy changes on social media, making interactions unreliable and risky. Unlike previous presidents who sought compromise even in opposition, Trump's preference for maximum pressure and public spectacle dominates all interactions. This confrontational behaviour has led to renewed scrutiny of Trump's personality and background. Experts suggest that Trump's affinity for the spectacle of professional wrestling—where drama, competition, and supremacy are celebrated—may influence his diplomatic style. Trump has long-standing ties to the wrestling world, dating back to hosting WrestleMania events at his Atlantic City venues in the late 1980s. He is a WWE Hall of Famer, becoming involved in the famous 'Battle of the Billionaires" match at WrestleMania 23 in 2007, where he shaved WWE chairman Vince McMahon's head. His connections with wrestling continue through personal friendships and endorsements from wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, and Kane (Glenn Jacobs), who have publicly supported Trump in recent years. Trump frequently attends top wrestling and UFC events, incorporating the show's theatrics into his political brand, blending spectacle, hypermasculinity, and narrative devices typical of professional wrestling. Moreover, Linda McMahon, a prominent wrestling executive, was appointed to a senior US government role under Trump despite lacking relevant experience—a move seen as a political reward rather than based on expertise. Recently, WWE executive Paul 'Triple H" Levesque was appointed to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition and joined Trump at the White House to promote fitness projects, indicating a formalised relationship between Trump's administration and wrestling personalities. This preference for show over substance appears to extend to Trump's governance. Unlike previous presidents who adhered to established rituals and multi-constituent processes, Trump's abrupt reversals and public denunciations keep allies like India wary and on edge. Prime Minister Modi has responded resolutely, reaffirming India's right to economic and strategic autonomy amidst escalating tariffs and redefining import standards to support domestic products. Indian exporters warn that tariffs as high as 50 per cent make US trade nearly impossible, risking significant slowdowns and layoffs. A senior analyst told News18 that India-US ties have a strong foundation built over the years, with substantial investments in cooperation across various sectors. Trump's erratic behaviour poses challenges not only for India but also for many countries dealing with his 'Trumpmanship". The analyst suggested that this turbulence might persist in the near term but that the ties will eventually return to normal. Experts caution that Trump's aggressive economics risks pushing India towards other allies, including Russia and the BRICS bloc, undermining the very basis of US-India cooperation aimed at countering China's growing influence. While Trump may view his actions as bargaining tactics, most argue they erode trust, reduce mutual economic opportunities, and overlook the complex political realities of a rising Asia. The coincidence of Trump's presidency and his personal enthusiasm for spectacle raises questions about his capacity for statesmanship. Is he a diplomatic strategist or merely an amateur impresario translating show business from wrestling to high-stakes diplomacy? Does his love of spectacle and personal friendships overshadow experience, wisdom, and the need for sustained partner interaction? Trump's India policy, characterised by tariffs, threats, and grand gestures, highlights a broader trend: the precariousness of bilateral relations when political processes are secondary to personal style. For India, navigating this new landscape means rebalancing its US policy, doubling down on independence, and preparing for an era where cooperation is not based on shared values or interests but negotiated in the unstable terrain of Trumpian politics—a world where loyalty and hegemony are valued above dialogue and where strategic partnerships can fracture not due to lack of substance but due to an excess of spectacle. tags : diplomacy Hulk Hogan tariff Triple H Trump United states wrestling wwe view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 09, 2025, 20:56 IST News opinion Opinion | Grappling With Trump And His 'WrestleMania' Diplomacy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Skipping iPhone 17 Pro? Here's every juicy rumor about the iPhone 18 Pro so far
iPhone 18 Pro features: The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, but that hasn't stopped rumors from trickling in, as per a report. From camera upgrades to a possible design change, the early signs point to a device that could look and feel quite different from what we've seen in recent years, according to Macrumors report. Here's what's being talked about so far and why some fans might already be thinking about skipping the iPhone 17 Pro entirely, as per the report. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Under-Screen Face ID Could Be Coming According to Macrumors, in April 2023, display analyst Ross Young shared a roadmap suggesting under-screen Face ID would come to iPhone 17 Pro models. But in May 2024, he updated that timeline, saying the change had likely been delayed until 2026, as per the report. That means the feature could now debut with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, according to Macrumors. If this happens, it would likely result in a smaller Dynamic Island, since Face ID wouldn't need to be housed in a visible cutout, as per the Macrumors report. The Information also reported in May that under-screen Face ID is expected on the iPhone 18 Pro models. Live Events ALSO READ: Perrier in hot water? France rocked by scandal over bottled water purity claims Variable Aperture for Main Camera The main 48-megapixel camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models is expected to feature "variable aperture", according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, as reported by Macrumors. That would allow users to control how much light passes through the camera lens, a shift from the current fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78 seen in iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro models, according to the Macrumors report. With variable aperture, users would be able to manually adjust the setting themselves, as per the report. This change could offer more control over depth of field, how sharp or soft the background appears behind a subject, according to the Macrumors report. But with the iPhone's relatively small image sensors, it's still unclear how noticeable the difference will be, as per Macrumors. ALSO READ: 10 must-change iOS 18.6 settings that'll make your iPhone feel like day one again Samsung Image Sensor in the Works Samsung is reportedly developing a new three-layer stacked image sensor that Apple is expected to use for at least one camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models, according to a DigiTimes report. The goal is to improve how the camera responds and offer benefits like less noise in photos and better dynamic range, as reported by Macrumors. In July 2024, Kuo also said Samsung could begin shipping 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera sensors to Apple for iPhones as early as 2026, which is the same year the iPhone 18 Pro is expected, according to Macrumors report. This week, the Financial Times reported that Samsung will manufacture the image sensors in Texas, as per the report. As of now, all of Apple's iPhone image sensors are supplied by Sony, reported Macrumors. Other Details The iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to include an A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process, and a custom C2 modem designed by Apple, as reported by Macrumors. That's everything we know so far, based on early reports about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with features like under-screen Face ID and new camera tech in the pipeline, Apple seems to be preparing something different, as per the Macrumors report. For those watching closely, next year's iPhone might be worth the wait. FAQs What is under-screen Face ID? It would allow Face ID to work from beneath the display, potentially shrinking the current Dynamic Island cutout, as per the Macrumors report. Will the iPhone 18 Pro have a better camera? Yes, the main 48MP camera is rumored to feature variable aperture, which would give users more control over how their photos look, as per the Macrumors report.
