
‘I hit them very, very hard': Trump reiterates tariff threat for BRICS
'When I heard about this group from Brics, six countries, basically, I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly,' Trump said.
The BRICS group includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and has recently expanded to include other nations.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
13 minutes ago
- Hans India
India's leadership take decisions, don't believe outside narratives: VP Dhankhar
New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday addressed the 2024 batch of Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officer trainees at the Vice-President's Enclave, delivering a forceful speech underlining India's sovereign decision-making and civilisational ethos. 'Don't be guided by narratives outside. All decisions in this country as a sovereign nation are taken by its leadership,' he said, in what appeared to be a veiled dig at sections of the opposition parties who are questioning the current dispensation, citing US President Trump's claim that his intervention led to the ceasefire between India-Pakistan conflict. Referring to 'Operation Sindoor' - military retaliation carried out by Indian Security Forces in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack- VP Dhankhar said the mission was not over but had been 'brought to a temporary conclusion' after delivering a strong message to terror elements in Bahawalpur and Muridke. 'Some people ask why it was stopped. We are a nation that believes in peace and non-violence... the land of Buddha, Mahavira, and Gandhi,' he added. In a speech that spanned themes of governance, youth aspirations, national security, and cultural pride, he called for greater awareness among the younger generation of India's democratic journey and global standing. He emphasised that while India is a member of the global comity of nations and engages diplomatically, 'there is no power on the planet that can dictate to India how to handle its affairs.' His statements assume significance as several Western nations have questioned India's stand on the Russia-Ukraine war and have threatened to impose sanctions as India continues to import oil from Russia. Touching on India's transformation over the past decade, the Vice President hailed achievements in rural development, infrastructure, and digital connectivity. 'People of my generation never believed there would be a toilet in every house, a gas connection, internet access, or world-class trains,' he said, asserting that 'Viksit Bharat' is not a dream but an ongoing reality. In a sharp critique of the rising commercialisation of education, he questioned the spectacle of coaching centre advertisements. 'This is not Bharat. We cannot have commodification. We must return to the spirit of the Gurukul,' he said, urging youth to break out of silos and embrace broader opportunities. Calling India's demographic dividend 'a global envy,' he urged the officer trainees to commit themselves to nation-building while upholding India's ancient legacy and sustainable vision for the future.


Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Paper checks ending! 500,000 seniors must act fast as social security goes digital this fall
Social Security paper checks are ending this fall—here's what seniors need to know- For the roughly half a million Americans who still walk out to their mailbox each month for a Social Security check, big changes are coming—and fast. Starting September 30, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will stop mailing paper checks altogether. That means all federal benefit payments, including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and others, will be delivered electronically only—either via direct deposit or through a government-issued debit card. This shift was ordered by President Trump in March 2025 as part of a broader federal push to modernize and secure government payments. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Data Science Data Science Leadership Others Artificial Intelligence Healthcare CXO others Cybersecurity Degree Data Analytics Management PGDM MCA healthcare Operations Management Digital Marketing Design Thinking Project Management Product Management Technology Public Policy MBA Finance Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Who is affected by the end of paper Social Security checks? Although more than 73 million Americans receive Social Security benefits today, less than 1%—roughly 520,000 people—still get paper checks in the mail. This group includes: Seniors over 80 Those living in rural or tribal areas Live Events Individuals without bank accounts People with disabilities or limited digital access SSA says it's already reaching out directly to these beneficiaries to ensure they know about the change and have time to switch to an electronic option. Why is this change happening now? This move to go fully paperless isn't just about convenience—it's about security and savings. According to the U.S. Treasury: Paper checks are 16 times more likely to be lost or stolen than electronic payments. Switching to digital methods could save the government up to $750 million annually. Plus, electronic payments are faster and more reliable, arriving directly in beneficiaries' bank accounts or on prepaid debit cards like Direct Express®. What do you need to do before the September 30 deadline? If you're still receiving a paper check, you need to take action now to avoid a payment delay—or worse, a disruption in benefits. Here are your options: Set up direct deposit: You can link your Social Security benefits to your checking or savings account. This is the fastest and most secure option. Enroll in the Direct Express® card program: If you don't have a bank account, the government offers a prepaid debit card that automatically loads your benefits each month. It's a great option for the unbanked. Apply for a waiver: If switching to electronic payments poses a serious hardship—for example, if you live in a remote area without banking access—you may be eligible for a Treasury Department waiver. But you must apply before September 30. You can make these changes by: Visiting Logging into your mySocialSecurity account Calling 1-800-772-1213 Or stopping by your local SSA office What happens if you don't switch in time? If you miss the September 30 deadline and don't apply for a waiver, your Social Security payments may be delayed, held, or temporarily suspended until you set up an approved electronic option. SSA has warned that high call volumes and in-person visits could create long wait times as the deadline approaches, so it's best to act early. Is anyone concerned about this transition? While the change promises savings and security, advocates are concerned about vulnerable groups: Seniors who aren't tech-savvy Individuals without internet or smartphone access Residents in rural or tribal areas with limited infrastructure Organizations are urging the SSA to ensure a smooth transition and offer adequate support for those most at risk of losing access to benefits. Don't wait to act The shift away from paper checks marks a major milestone in how Social Security benefits are delivered. But for the 500,000+ Americans still relying on their mailboxes, the message is clear: September 30 is your deadline. Make sure you're set up for direct deposit or get your Direct Express® card soon. If you or someone you care about might struggle with this transition, now's the time to help them take action. Need help walking through the process or finding the right option? I can assist with that—just ask. FAQs: Q1: When will Social Security paper checks stop? A1: Paper checks for Social Security will end on September 30, 2025 . Q2: What if I don't have a bank account for my Social Security benefits? A2: You can use the Direct Express® debit card to receive your payments.


Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
H-1B visa: US considering 'weighted selection process' for hiring foreigners, DHS drafting new rule
No lottery for H-1B? New rule may add weightage on the wage offered for a position. The Donald Trump administration is considering introducing a new process for H-1B hiring under the capped part of the system. The Department of Homeland Security sent the proposal to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review. The capped part of the system means the statutory cap decided by Congress for every year. The cap is 85,000 slots, including 20,000 reserved for workers who have a master's degree. Universities and research institutions are eligible for cap-exempt visas. For 2026, the USCIS has already closed the process as they announced Friday that enough petitions had been submitted to reach the annual cap, which means there will be no lottery for FY 2026. In the present system, there's a random lottery each year for visas subject to the cap. After the lottery, employers with winning entries submit petitions to sponsor workers who will join their companies around October. In Donald Trump's first term, the DHS came up with a selection process based on the wage offered for a position instead of the random lottery so that companies hire more high-skilled workers instead of filling their positions with low-wage foreign workers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Struggling With Belly Fat? Try This at Home Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo That rule, one of several offered as part of a 'Buy American, Hire American' initiative, was later shelved by the Biden administration in 2021. The draft regulations drew more than 1,000 public comments, including many that argued it would drastically reduce the number of available H-1B workers, Bloomberg reported. H-1B: Lottery versus weighted selection process The lottery system was brought in so that no company or applicant would get any favor. But larger companies can apply for more visas resulting in such companies getting more H-1Bs. In January, the Institute for Progress, a nonpartisan think tank examining innovation policy, floated the idea of eliminating the H-1B lottery. It argued that the economic value of the visa program could be increased by 88 per cent of applicants were evaluated based on seniority or salary.