Latest news with #Pak
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India gets breather ahead of trade talks with US; Pakistan's shift to crypto raises concerns; foreign students in US under duress
US court rulings on Trump's tariffs give India some breathing space; Pak's pivot to crypto raises concerns over possible misuse of the digital currency to fund terror; foreign students face uncertainty amid crackdowns on US varsities; Gaza's entire population faces catastrophic hunger as Hamas reviews US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire; Trump says he told Israel to hold off on any strike against Iran, and Russia, Ukraine to hold second direct peace talks – here is weekly roundup of global news. As India braces to finalise a trade agreement with the US trade negotiators scheduled to arrive here for talks on June 5 and 6, two court rulings this week against Donald Trump's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs added a twist to the bilateral trade negotiations. On Wednesday, the US Court of International Trade deemed Trump's sweeping tariffs illegal, determining that he overstepped his authority by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose these tariffs on goods imported into America from almost every nation. A day later, an appeals court – the Federal Circuit Court in Washington, DC that has jurisdiction over the trade court – temporarily halted the decision, which means the levies are back for now and the case will probably end up in the Supreme Court. However, the Trump administration has also slapped other sector-specific tariffs such as on steel, aluminium, cars and car parts under a different statute known as Section 232. There are chances that provisions such as Section 232 would now be used to impose such sector-specific tariffs on countries, especially if the Federal Circuit Court were to also rule against the IEEPA levies. But until the final word on the matter, India has some breathing room in its ongoing trade talks, particularly with the US's demand seeking access to several sectors that traditionally enjoy high protection, such as agriculture, automobiles, and alcoholic beverages. Amid concerns over the impact of trade deals with foreign countries on India's agricultural export, import and the surplus, especially with the US and EU seeking greater market access for their agricultural products, data highlights significant trends. India's agriculture exports increased from $43.3 billion in 2013-14 to $51.9 billion in 2024-25. Meanwhile, imports have shown steadier expansion from $15.5 billion in 2013-14 to an all-time high of $38.5 billion in 2024-25, working out to 148%. In the meantime, India's goods exports worth at least $775 million to the UK continue to face the risk of higher duties under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), despite the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) earlier this month. UK's CBAM was not part of the FTA, but it will initially target carbon-intensive products such as iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, hydrogen, ceramics, glass and cement, with scope to expand the list in future. That apart, a dramatic element in the unfolding tariff saga was the claim by the Trump administration that the President averted a full-scale war and brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan by offering both nations trading access with the US – a claim categorically denied by India. The simultaneous revelation of an agreement that Pakistan inked with World Liberty Financial Inc (WLFI), a crypto firm majority-owned by Trump and his family, prompted experts like C Raja Mohan to ask India to reflect on its crypto strategy. The shady deal has raised concerns on various fronts, such as: — As of May 6, when India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the WLFI was sitting on a Senate panel's request, seeking details of its dealings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. — Trump's dual role, as WLFI promoter and the self-proclaimed political broker (in the recent India-Pakistan military conflict), has raised concerns over conflict of interest. — Although the details of the agreement are yet to emerge, it includes grand plans to use blockchain technology to boost financial inclusion and facilitate remittances for cash-strapped Pakistan, with Bilal bin Saqib, the head of the Pakistan Crypto Council, calling his country and Bitcoin as 'victims of bad PR'. — As Pakistan turns to cryptocurrency to solve its economic challenges, India is advised to pay close attention amid concerns over the 'possible misuse of these digital currencies not controlled by any central bank to fund terror and launder money across borders'. All the while, India's multiple delegations are fanning out to carry its anti-terror message worldwide. On Sunday, a team led by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor reached the US, where he underlined the need for a 'new normal' in the face of the Pahalgam terror attack. Another team, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, arrived in Kuwait, while the delegation led by Sanjay Jha engaged with the Indian diaspora in South Korea. However, as the Indian delegation landed in the US, concerns were growing over the Trump administration's hardline immigration stance. Over 3,31,000 Indian students studying in the US are caught in the crosshairs as the Trump administration targeted universities. This week, it directed federal agencies to terminate an estimated $100 million worth of remaining contracts with Harvard by June 6, as part of its broader efforts to reform institutions like Harvard and Columbia. Foreign students, including Indians, enrolled at Harvard are under duress amid the unfolding crisis as the federal Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism warned that if Harvard wishes to continue receiving federal support, it must 'commit to meaningful change'. The university has filed a lawsuit challenging the funding freeze and a related move to revoke its ability to enrol foreign students. A diplomatic cable issued on Tuesday added to the pressure in which the State Department asked its embassies and consular sections to halt new interviews, which began earlier this month, as it weighs requiring all students to undergo social media vetting as part of their application process. This move comes despite the visa application (DS-160) already requiring applicants to disclose their social media platform and identifiers. The US Embassy in India also issued a warning to Indian students studying in the US: 'If you drop out, skip classes, or leave your program of study without informing your school, your student visa may be revoked, and you may lose eligibility for future US visas.' The situation has unsettled international students, who contribute nearly $43.8 billion annually to the US economy, according to NAFSA. These students are often top performers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Hence, the pause, if implemented, will be a significant blow to US universities, whose annual international student intake hovers around the 1 million mark (1.12 million in the 2023-24 academic year). The ongoing crackdown has begun as a campaign pitch to 'reform' elite universities, including Harvard and Columbia, and has now expanded its scope. The US administration is planning to cancel all remaining contracts with Harvard University, worth about $100 million, while finding 'alternative vendors' for future services. Contracts with around nine federal agencies would be affected, which would also affect researchers at some of India's leading medical colleges and scientific institutions. In April, the federal government froze more than $2 billion in grants and contracts with Harvard, citing non-compliance with requests to modify hiring and admissions policies, dismantle diversity-equity-inclusion (DEI) programmes, and conduct ideological vetting of international students. Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging both the funding freeze and the move to revoke its ability to enrol foreign students. These developments in the US come amid growing global instability, including in Gaza, which the UN has described as the 'hungriest place on Earth'. The war-riven enclave's 2.3 million people are facing 'catastrophic hunger', as Hamas is reviewing a new ceasefire proposal. As the UN and European countries mounted pressure on Israel to end the war and its 11-week-long blockade on Gaza, a limited amount of aid began entering the besieged enclave under the control of a new NGO backed by Israel and the US – the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). However, 20 people were shot by Israeli troops at a GHF aid distribution point on Friday as they desperately tried to get food, Al Jazeera reported, citing sources at Gaza hospitals. While Arab states rejected the new aid system as illegal, the UN and international aid groups also refused to work with the GHF, saying, according to Reuters, it is not neutral and has a distribution model that forces the displacement of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Hamas is reviewing a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that has reportedly been accepted by Israel. According to Reuters, the ceasefire would see humanitarian aid delivered by the UN, the Red Crescent and other agreed channels; and the release of 28 Israeli hostages – alive and dead – in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. Despite these efforts, hope for peace for the Palestinians remains elusive as Israel blocked a planned meeting of Arab ministers in the Palestinian administrative capital of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Reuters cited an Israeli official as saying that the 'provocative meeting' intended to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state and that 'such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel'. The move comes ahead of an international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that recognising a Palestinian state was not only a 'moral duty but a political necessity'. After several rounds of Iran nuclear talks, US President Trump this week said that he told Israel to hold off on any strike against Tehran as it 'would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution'. 'I want it (nuclear agreement) very strong where we can go in with inspectors, we can take whatever we want, we can blow up whatever we want, but nobody getting killed. We can blow up a lab, but nobody is gonna be in a lab, as opposed to everybody being in the lab and blowing it up,' Trump told reporters on Wednesday at the White House. However, Iran retaliated in equal measure, warning that Trump's threat to destroy its nuclear facilities is a clear red line and will have severe consequences, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Friday. The Islamic Republic said that 'if the US seeks a diplomatic solution, it must abandon the language of threats and sanctions', adding that such threats 'are open hostility against Iran's national interests', Reuters reported, citing an unnamed Iranian official. Israel has been threatening a bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities. According to a Reuters report, which cited Gulf sources, Saudi Arabia's defence minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, visited Tehran in April and delivered a blunt message to Iranian officials: take Trump's offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement seriously because it presents a way to avoid the risk of war with Israel. Iran and the US have held five rounds of nuclear talks in Oman and Italy, with the last round being described by Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as 'one of the most professional rounds of negotiations' yet. Days after the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine failed to yield a ceasefire, the two sides will resume direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, but Kyiv insisted that Moscow provide a promised memorandum on ending the more than three-year war before they sit down to negotiate. Questioning Russia's commitment to peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, 'For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared.' 'Unfortunately, Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting brings no results,' he wrote on X on Friday after hosting Turkey's foreign minister for talks in Kyiv. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday publicly invited Ukraine to hold direct negotiations with Moscow. In a video statement, Lavrov said Russia would use Monday's meeting to deliver an outline of Moscow's position on 'reliably overcoming' what it calls the root causes of the war, The Associated Press reported. Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul on May 16, which resulted in no significant breakthrough except an agreement on the largest prisoner exchange of the war. It was carried out last weekend and freed 1,000 captives on each side. Why has a crypto agreement between Pakistan and World Liberty Financial Inc (WLFI), a firm majority-owned by Donald Trump and his family, has alarmed India? Evaluate. Comment on India's diplomatic push post-Pahalgam attack, with delegations spanning different countries world over to shape narratives on terrorism. How could the ongoing US crackdown on universities and student visas affect its global standing as a destination for higher education? In what ways might India need to recalibrate its student and research diplomacy with the US in light of these emerging restrictions? Why did the UN and other international aid groups refuse to cooperate with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) backed by the US and Israel? Does the GHF's distribution model conflict with international humanitarian principles? Send your feedback and ideas to
United News of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
BJP lambasts Congress for spreading fake Pakistan media reports on Russia
Thiruvananthapuram, May 31 (UNI) Kerala BJP Social Media Incharge Anoop Antony Joseph slammed the Congress party in Kerala for spreading fake news by Pakistan media through their social media handle on 'X' saying that Russia expands collaboration with Pakistan. "Though Russia immediately dismissed the fake propaganda by the Pakistan media, the Congress party in Kerala spreads Pak propaganda and turns into its loudest mouthpiece within India," the BJP leader said in a message on Saturday. "Pak media planted a lie about Russia backing Pakistan. Russia immediately slammed it as fake and called it an attempt to undermine relations with India," he said. "Another day, another Fake News amplified by the Congress. But, they didn't wait, they were the first to amplify it. Every time Pakistan spreads propaganda, the Congress turns into its loudest mouthpiece within India," he lambasted. Earlier, responding to the Pakistan media reports on the matter, Russia dismissed the fake reports on closer ties with Pakistan and termed it as an attempt to undermine relations with India. Pakistani media recently reported that Moscow and Islamabad are working on expanding industrial collaboration by establishing new steel mills in the country in a bid to revive their cooperation. The reports also warn that the economic ties could open the door to deeper military and tech collaboration. UNI DS BD
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
For tomorrow's sake
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. Women at the frontlines, men in the kitchen Indian women remain officially excluded from frontline combat roles. But led by Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari, half a dozen women BSF personnel deployed at the international border in Akhnoor, found themselves defending two forward posts during Op Sindoor. Seizing this opportunity, they battled heavy Pak fire for three days and nights, leaving their post only after forcing the enemy to retreat. The first co-ed batch has also graduated from NDA. These developments mark women overcoming some of the most entrenched resistance in society's prestige roles. What's weird is how widely women are still waiting for their 'firsts'. India has never had a woman CJI. Many Indian cities are yet to see a woman cabbie, in many others there are few women behind the wheel at all. If their representation remains sparse across vast civilian spaces, it is not because of formal rules or regulations. These can be as gender evolved as in Scandinavia, but also a total chimera. Because our social norms remain of a medieval variety. Statistics ministry's new Time Use Survey says this starkly. Female participation in 'food and meals management and preparation' is 76%, male 6%. So, though women's literacy has expanded to 77% from 9% at Independence, their domestic shackles haven't loosened much. This is why India's 37% female labour force participation shamefully lags Japan's 55%, China's 60% and Vietnam's 63%. However much this hurts the nation's growth, the drag on individuals is more acutely painful. Young women don't just have to find a job in a tough job market, they have to beg their family to let them do it. And now, AI is about to remake the jobscape. The only way for India to ride this sea change is to let women navigate it on strong, independent terms. As for meals, the men better cook their fair share. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rahul Gandhi, Revanth Reddy undermining morale of armed forces: BJP
Telangana BJP president and Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Friday said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his leader Rahul Gandhi are undermining the 'morale' of the armed forces by questioning their success and spreading 'falsehoods' on 'Operation Sindoor'. Addressing a press conference at his residence in New Delhi, Mr. Reddy claimed that the while the entire nation stood united, the Congress leaders are raising questions on how many Rafale fighter aircraft were shot down during the conflict 'instead of saluting the soldiers'. 'Mr. Revanth Reddy has been copying Mr. Gandhi in turning national security into a political mockery. Such petty politics is a risk to India's diplomatic gains and national interests,' he said. From surgical strikes to air strikes to Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Modi has shown firm resolve unlike any Congress regime. Under the UPA regime when terror went unchecked, the armed forces are now empowered to retaliate, maintained the BJP leader. He advised the Opposition party to stop 'complaining' about India's victories as the Modi government was not seeking any 'applause'. The Chief Minister met Mr. Gandhi in Delhi before criticising the Centre and stated that the then Congress government had released 93,000 Pakistani POWs (prisoners of war) after the 1971 war and never reclaimed PoK (Pak occupied Kashmir). The Congress has been 'collapsing' electorally, losing State after State due to its 'negative narrative'. Both the Congress and BRS are family-run businesses — focused on self-preservation, not public welfare, he said. 'The BRS is a private company with zero credibility so there is no question of merger as it neither has relevance nor any future,' he added. Rajya Sabha MP and national BJP morcha president K. Laxman and legislature party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy also condemned the CM's remarks criticising the Centre on the recent armed forces operations in a statement. In a separate press conference Medak MP M. Raghunandan Rao has demanded the government to act against 'paid' social media posts indulging in scurrilous writings against political opponents as was mentioned by BRS MLC K. Kavitha during her interaction with the media. He also dismissed the talk of BRS merger with the BJP stating that the former not only lost the Assembly polls but did not win a single seat in the Parliament elections plus did not bother to participate in the MLC polls. People have given VRS to BRS once it changed from TRS, he said and added that it is the BJP which has been gaining at the expense of a listless Congress. The Centre has been generously sanctioning funds and projects for highways, railways and others to Telangana but the Congress government has been unable to release matching grants leading to delays. About ₹260 crore was sanctioned for drinking water in his constituency, he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why India Doesn't Need A War To Counter Pakistan
Why India Doesn't Need A War To Counter Pakistan Somnath Mukherjee May 30, 2025, 20:49 IST IST New Delhi has hit upon the best strategy vis-à-vis Islamabad: short, sharp military ops that buy long periods free of dramatic terror strikes & don't disrupt the world's fastest growing economy David vs Goliath is a favoured metaphor for depicting rivalries. In the Indo-Pak scenario too, the metaphor fits perfectly – one of the Indian David facing off against the Pakistani Goliath. Counterintuitive framing? Not really. The basic datum is as follows. India has a lot more to lose – pace of growth, migration of nearly 1bn Indians to upper middle-income status, more opportunities in exciting areas of AI, semiconductors, as well as old economy areas like manufacturing. In comparison, Pakistan is an economic basket case. Opportunity costs for India are far higher. Ergo, the room for manoeuvre and amount of capability brought to bear are a lot less for India than for Pakistan in a conflict scenario. In short, when it comes to a hot conflict, it's the Indian David facing off against the Pakistani Goliath. In effect, this praxis of David and Goliath informs India's Pak policy more than anything else. As the David, India's not trying big, heroic outcomes. On the contrary, the overarching aim is modest – create a security umbrella under which India's progress can continue uninterrupted. In that pursuit, the Indian state's responses, including the more overt versions in the last decade, have been game theoretic. Change the decision calculus to force Pakistan to recalibrate its own boards. Process of recalibration hopefully buys India longer periods free of dramatic, large terror attacks.
