External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his Berlin visit, reaffirmed India’s “zero tolerance” stance on terrorism and dismissed Pakistan’s “nuclear blackmail” following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Speaking alongside German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar emphasized India’s right to self-defense and insisted all dealings with Pakistan would remain bilateral. Germany expressed firm support for India’s counter-terrorism efforts. Earlier, Jaishankar met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to bolster bilateral ties. Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam attack, targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, killing around 100 terrorists in India’s largest military response since 2008.
TRUMP WARNS APPLE OVER INDIA
US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Apple CEO Tim Cook, demanding that iPhones sold in the US be manufactured domestically rather than in India or other countries. Trump stated that failure to comply would result in a 25% tariff on Apple products. This comes as Apple has significantly expanded its operations in India, producing $22 billion worth of iPhones in the year ending March 2025. Trump, during a visit to Qatar, criticized Apple’s growing investment in India despite previous assurances. Meanwhile, Apple is ramping up US-bound shipments amid growing tariff threats.
TRUMP SLAMS 50% TARIFFS ON EU
US President Donald Trump has declared a sweeping 50% tariff on all goods imported from the European Union, effective June 1, 2025. Calling the EU “very difficult to deal with,” Trump accused it of exploiting the US through trade barriers, VAT taxes, and unjust lawsuits. He justified the tariffs as a response to a $250 billion annual trade deficit, which he labeled “totally unacceptable.” Trump’s announcement, made via Truth Social, led to immediate declines in European markets, with Germany’s DAX and Italy’s FTSE MIB dropping sharply. The EU has withheld comment, pending high-level trade talks scheduled later today.
HARVARD SUES TRUMP OVER BAN
Harvard University has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration after being barred from enrolling international students. The Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s SEVP certification, citing non-compliance with new government demands, including student conduct records and policy changes. The university accuses the government of retaliation and violating its First Amendment rights. Nearly 7,000 students are affected, prompting widespread concern over academic disruption and civil liberties. Harvard seeks a restraining order to halt the ban, calling it politically motivated and unlawful. The case marks an escalating conflict over university autonomy, free speech, and immigration policy in U.S. higher education.
GLOBAL CRACKDOWN HITS MALWARE NETWORK
In a sweeping international operation, authorities from countries including Germany, the US, and Canada dismantled over 300 servers tied to some of the world’s most dangerous malware. Europol and Eurojust confirmed 20 international arrest warrants and the seizure of €3.5 million in cryptocurrency. Malware variants like Trickbot, Qakbot, and Bumblebee—used for initial system infiltration and ransomware deployment—were targeted. The crackdown, part of the ongoing Operation Endgame, aims to dismantle the infrastructure enabling “cybercrime as a service.” Investigations in Germany focused on organized extortion, with most suspects identified as Russian nationals. The action marks a major step in global cybersecurity enforcement.
