Desi Weekly News Digest 

NATIONAL

Tariffs on Hold for 90 Days: The US and China paused most tariffs for 90 days.  President Trump said Friday that the US will set tariff rates for its trading partners within the next few weeks. He said his administration cannot negotiate trade deals with all countries at once due to limited capacity. YAHOO FINANCE

Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s Wartime Deportation Powers: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a block on the Trump administration’s attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations. The ruling comes amid broader legal and political clashes over immigration, including reports of wrongful deportations and controversial proposals like a “citizenship reality show.”  THE GUARDIAN

Air Travel Affected Around the Country: Recent outages at air traffic control centers across the country have been putting travelers on edge. Earlier this week, a center in Denver that monitors planes across nine states experienced a 90-second outage where it was impossible for them to communicate with pilots. This recent incident comes days after outages either delayed or canceled hundreds of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport. Delays have continued at the airport since the three outages, some lasting hours. NEWS NATION

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Walmart Planning to Raise Prices Due to Tariffs: Walmart — the nation’s largest private employer — warned of possible price hikes on Thursday given the uncertainty in the tariff environment. FOX

CORRUPTION ALERT

Luxury Plane, Golf Resorts from Qatar: The Trump Organization, founded by President Donald Trump and co-led by his sons Eric and Donald Jr., on Wednesday announced a new deal to develop a luxury golf resort in Qatar, signaling it has no intention of slowing foreign business activity during Trump's second term. The golf resort announcement came just weeks before confirmed reports that President Trump accepted a luxury plane as a "gift" from Qatar's royal family that will be used as Air Force One. NEWSWEEK

DESI NEWS

Trump Tells Apple to Stay Out of India: US President Donald Trump has asked Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture in India even though New Delhi has offered the United States a “no-tariff deal.” LIVEMINT

New Budget Bill Could Tax Remittances to India by Non-citizens: Part of the budget bill being proposed by the Republican House has a clause which says that if an H-1B holder or an L-1 (who is in US on an intra company transfer) or even a green card holder remits money to his family (say parents) in India, or remits money for the purpose of investments – say in Indian securities or real estate, the remittance will be subject to a 5% withholding by the transfer provider (say US bank). However, a tax credit could be available against the US taxes payable by such an individual. TOI

Upcoming Trade Talks Between India and the US: In a bid to boost bilateral trade between the two, India is seeking duty cuts on sectors like textiles, gems and jewelry, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, chemicals, grapes, and bananas. The US, on the other hand, has asked for slashing tariffs on certain sectors like automobiles, including electric vehicles, wines, petrochemical products, dairy, agricultural items such as apples, and tree nuts. INDIA TODAY

Desi Green Card Holder In Deportation Proceedings: Kunal Oberoi, a green card holder, spent nearly two months in detention on deportation proceedings, after being stopped by federal authorities over a previous misdemeanor charge as he returned from vacation with his family. NEWSWEEK

CONSUMER SAFETY

Your Data Is At More Risk: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has canceled plans to limit the ability of US data brokers to sell sensitive information about Americans, including financial data, credit history, and Social Security numbers. WIRED

Clean Water Rules Rolled Back: The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it is delaying the timeline for water utilities to comply with reducing some PFAS chemicals, in drinking water — and reconsidering the allowable levels for others. NPR

No More Research on Harmful Chemicals? EPA reorganization threatens the existence of a tiny but crucial program housed within this office: the Integrated Risk Information System Program, commonly referred to as IRIS. This program is responsible for providing independent research on the risks of chemicals, helping other offices within the agency set regulations for chemicals and compounds that could pose a danger to human health. WIRED

JUST THE HEADLINES

17 family members of cartel leaders crossed into the U.S. last week as part of a deal between a son of the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel and the Trump administration. CBS

House Republicans have approved an amendment that authorizes the sale of thousands of acres of federal public land in Nevada and Utah - a dangerous precedent. NPR h/t TSB Member Samina S.

The Trump administration claims white people face discrimination in South Africa and has offered them refugee status. AL JAZEERA 

Official Trump watch, retailing at $640, missing the ‘T’, now RUMP watch! KWTX

More than $220 million in contracts canceled by Musk and DOGE have been brought back. INDEPENDENT

Adani team in talks with Trump admin to drop $265 million US bribery case. BUSINESS STANDARD

Have questions, comments or thoughts about this email? Have a news item to share? Reach us at tsbmarcomm@gmail.com