Attention, legal visitors to America: Yer also screwed!

Written by: Aarthi Ramnath, Raghav Bikhchandani & Yash Budhwar

Attention, legal visitors to America: Yer also screwed!

Imagine you’re sauntering down a road in Manhattan or San Francisco or Dallas—and you’re accosted by ICE goons. They demand you show them your tourist visa—which sadly you have left in the hotel safe or relative’s home. Too bad. Get ready to pay a $5,000 fine and/or spend 30 days in jail. Welcome to Trump’s America.

Wtf is this about? It’s all about a rule that has long been on the books—but almost never enforced. It was revived by a Trump order in January—which led Homeland Security to roll out an online registration process. It requires all ‘unregistered’ foreign nationals to come in for a biometric and background check—if they have stayed in the country beyond 30 days.

The alleged aim: is to catch undocumented immigrants. If you come in and register—and self-deport—you could get a chance to apply to legally enter the US. If you don't… well, you know what happened to those Venezuelans who got shipped to El Salvador. The 30-day rule is part of a grand plan to deport one million people in a single year—beating the Obama administration’s record of 400,000.

What happened now: A challenge by NGOs was overruled by a court on Friday, April 11—which is also the date when it went into force. Here’s the nasty bit: The rule gives people a 30-day window to register—but officials say the clock started clicking on February 25—the date the registration process was announced. In other words, almost everyone did not register. Almost everyone who tries to do so now is already in trouble.

Why is this about my US vacay? On paper, anyone with a green card or student, tourist or work visa is considered already registered. But, but, but: The rule also requires every non-citizen to carry proof of your legal status at all times. If you don’t: $5,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Our question: What happens to the bechara citizens who ‘look like’ non-citizens and don’t have their passports to prove it?

Good to know: You also have to report any change of address within 10 days—not sure how that works if you’re planning to wander across the country over the summer.

Reading list: Washington Post (login required) has more on the new rule—but Fragomen has the most straight-forward explanation of the requirements for foreign nationals. PBS offers some useful historical context.

Meanwhile, in Louisiana: An immigration judge in Louisiana greenlit the deportation of Palestinian activist—and green card holder—Mahmoud Khalil. Reminder: The former Columbia University student was arrested last month without cause in Manhattan—and immediately taken to Louisiana before the New York courts could step in. Now you know why. Khalil’s attorney plans to appeal the decision. (Associated Press)

Trump’s tariff tamasha: The latest mind*k**

The context: Markets nosedived—on cue and as expected—on Donald Trump’s Liberation Day—when he slapped ridiculous tariffs on everyone including those penguins. So he took ‘em back but saved face with a 104% tariff on China. Beijing and Washington exchanged some more tit-for-tat tariffs—hiking them to absurd levels—until the weekend.

What happened now: Late Friday night, the Trump administration quietly rolled out a rule exempting 20 kinds of products from those mega-tariffs. The list: ”smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives, computer processors, servers, memory chips, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and other electronics." All of which have one thing in common—and it starts with a big fat ‘T’. Yup, those tech boys got a special pass.

Point to note: The old 20% ‘Made in China’ tariff still holds but it's nowhere close to the stratospheric figure of 145%. The fallout: Around 25% of all Chinese exports to the US have been spared.

A ‘W’ for Apple: The company that breathed the greatest sigh of relief: Apple—which alone lost $773 billion in value in just four days. Also celebrating: Dell and Nvidia. That’s what you get for paying your respects to the Don:

For now, Mr. Trump’s moderation is a major relief for a tech industry that has spent months cozying up to the president. Meta, Amazon and several tech leaders [including Apple] donated millions to President Trump’s inauguration, stood behind him as he was sworn into office in January and promised to invest billions of dollars in the United States to support him.

Btw, Apple CEO Tim Cook personally donated $1 million to the inauguration.

But, but, but: Lest any tech king’s head rests easy, Trump posse took a different line the very next day—announcing a new plan to reverse all this good work—again! They just picked a different route—to keep it interesting:

But on Sunday, Mr. Trump and his top aides cast the exemptions in a different light, framing them as only a temporary break while the government prepares more targeted import taxes on key technologies. The administration is expected to take the first step toward enacting the new tariffs as soon as next week, opening an investigation to determine the effects of semiconductor imports on national security.

Targeting chip imports will once again raise prices on smartphones (poor Apple) and other computer devices—and be especially bad news for Intel and Nvidia.

Point to note: Trump officials also indicated new duties for pharmaceuticals—which is disastrous for India. The US market accounts for one-third of our pharma exports. It’s especially inconvenient news at a time when the government is promising a speedy bilateral agreement thanks to its ‘market muscle’.

The big picture: It doesn’t matter anymore whether the tariffs go up or down—when the White House keeps going round and round:

Dan Ives, an analyst for Wedbush Securities, said in a note to investors on Sunday that “the mass confusion created by this constant news flow out of the White House is dizzying for the industry and investors and creating massive uncertainty and chaos for companies trying to plan their supply chain, inventory and demand.”

Meanwhile, in Beijing: Xi is on a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia to woo Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia—all of whom are heavily reliant on the US market—but also Chinese imports. Example: “Between 60 and 90% of the raw materials for Vietnamese apparel heading for the US market comes from China.”

The bigger news: Beijing also lobbed its own nuclear bomb at US companies:

China has suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, threatening to choke off supplies of components central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.

Six heavy rare earth metals are refined entirely in China—which also produces 90% of rare earth magnets needed to assemble cars and other electric motors, cars, drones, robots, missiles and spacecraft. They are also “vital ingredients in capacitors, which are electrical components of the computer chips that power artificial intelligence servers and smartphones.” Tim Cook ko rona kyoon aata hai.

Reading list: Axios has a succinct overview of the latest tariff drama. Reuters has Xi’s three-nation tour—and TIME Magazine has the ban on rare metal exports.

A new horror in Haiti: Jugaadi killer drones

The context: Ever since the brazen assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021 (see: this Big Story), the power vacuum has allowed Haiti’s gangs to run amok (see: this Big Story). In recent months, warring gangs have formed a coalition called Viv Ansanm—becoming more powerful than ever. Data point to note: These gangs already control 85% of the capital city Port-au-Prince.

What happened now: The desperate Haitian government has resorted to a “very, very dangerous” weapon to fight the gangs: weaponised drones—but of the jugaadi kind:

They appear to be commercial drones that were weaponized with improvised munitions to make them lethal, analysts say… [Ordnance expert] Trevor Ball.. said the drone munition in one video appeared to be improvised and was designed to be lethal. A purple cylinder, with cross-hatching typical of a 3D printer, held what appeared to be plastic explosives.

You can see an example below:

Why this matters: The drones are so badly made that they have only managed to kill nine civilians—including women and kids. No gang leaders have been harmed. Maybe that’s why the government won’t even admit to using them. That said, some human rights groups say the risk is worth taking if they will push back the gangs terrorising the country. (Washington Post, paywalled)

Love lost to automation, found in a note

Here’s a peak San Francisco story. Residents are leaving handwritten job ads and dating classifieds in self-driving cabs—to be found by random people. This trend was sparked by a startup CEO (ofc, who else) who came up with the idea as a genius marketing plan. So she left this ad for a software engineer:

It exploded on social media—and generated a whopping 60 résumés—and more attention-seeking copycats, this time looking for love:

A few days later, another handwritten ad found in a Waymo was shared on X from a single man looking for a date. The bachelor described himself as a 26-year-old who works in tech but “doesn’t make it my whole personality” and left a phone number for interested parties to text. The post has gotten more than 200 replies.

Moral of this story: There is no one left in San Francisco except techies—who are now resorting to analog stunts to get some free marketing and maybe love. (Washington Post, paywalled. Moneycontrol)

PS: Far more interesting on the matter of dating: our Big Stories on the history of dating apps (explainer here) and how AI is taking over our love lives (explained here).

what caught our eye

business & tech

Business jet owners—such as Essar Group, Aditya Birla Group, JSW Steel and Taj Group—are wrestling with the Adani-owned Mumbai airport over an eviction order.
A team of researchers and engineers from a Virginia-based consulting firm have put together a proposal to bring back the world’s oldest satellite Vanguard-1—which has been in space for 67 years.
Canva is rolling out a powerhouse of generative AI tools, merging design, coding, photo editing, spreadsheets, and more into a single platform to take on Microsoft, Google, and Adobe.
After a delay caused by an embarrassing typo, OnePlus has finally released its third-generation smartwatch. But, but, but: in light of Trump’s tariffs, the price has been inflated from $330 to $500.

sports & entertainment

Stop the presses! Sunrisers Hyderabad have ended their losing streak in style, recording the second-highest successful run chase in IPL history—thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s 141 off just 55 balls.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals’ unbeaten win streak came to a screeching halt against the Mumbai Indians, losing by 12 runs despite Karun Nair’s blistering 89 off just 40 balls.
Far removed from Chinnaswamy woes, RCB continued their dominance on the road in IPL 2025, crushing Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets.
Red Bull held crisis talks after a frustrating Bahrain GP, with Max Verstappen stuck in sixth due to handling woes and lack of pace.
‘Naruto’ fans, rejoice! Japan’s TV Tokyo and Happening 365 have inked a deal with Reliance Entertainment for the theatrical release of the iconic film franchise.
Debate around how much taxes US-based streaming services should pay internationally could result in people paying more for Netflix and other platforms.
The Guardian reports on a new documentary—’Greenland’s white gold’—that is forcing Danes to confront their colonial heritage.

health & environment

New research reveals that sperm use a secret corkscrew-like power to turbocharge their swim.

meanwhile, in the world

The UN says a child was raped every 30 minutes in eastern DRC this year—nearly 10,000 cases of sexual violence in just two months.
Myanmar rattled again with a 5.5-magnitude quake—one of the strongest aftershocks since last month’s disaster—though no major damage or casualties reported yet.
Israel struck Gaza’s Al-Ahli Hospital before dawn Sunday—forcing patient evacuations and killing a young girl who couldn’t get urgent care, per Gaza’s health ministry.
Israel also says it’s completed a new security corridor—sealing off Rafah from the rest of Gaza and tightening its grip on the besieged enclave as airstrikes continue across the strip.
Russian missiles strike churchgoers in Sumy, Ukraine, killing at least 34, including two children, in the deadliest attack of the year.
Bangladesh has reintroduced the “except Israel” clause on passports, blocking travel to the Jewish state amid rising anger over Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Harvard professors are suing the Trump admin for tying nearly $9 billion in federal funds to measures such as slashing DEI programs and banning masks at campus protests.
A Maryland man wrongly deported under Trump is alive—and locked up in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, per a US court filing.
The US is pushing hard to revive the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran—Trump says talks are “going OK,” Tehran says Washington’s in a rush, and both sides will be back at the table next Saturday.
The Trump administration has also reignited nuclear technology talks with Saudi Arabia, potentially paving the way for the kingdom's uranium enrichment and a commercial nuclear power industry.
US consumer confidence has taken a nosedive—down 30% since December—as recession fears and rising inflation leave people uneasy.
For the first time ever, the UN has slapped a global carbon tax on an entire industry—India and 62 others backed the shipping levy, set to kick in by 2028.

meanwhile, in India

The Press Information Bureau sent a notice to The Caravan for the magazine’s April issue’s cover story on Modi’s cheetah project, accusing the magazine of trying to ‘tarnish the government’s image’. The magazine, meanwhile, has hit back, calling it a baseless attack on independent journalism.
Also receiving content takedown notices: journalist Kunal Purohit for documenting violent and hate-filled slogans during Ram Navami processions in Mumbai.
In a historic move, Kerala's Pilicode Rayaramangalam temple opens its inner sanctum to all, ending centuries-old restrictions after a reformist push.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is set to challenge the Supreme Court’s ruling, which allows judicial intervention if Governors delay assent to Bills.
Caravaggio’s ‘Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy’ makes its long-awaited debut in India, first at Delhi’s Italian Cultural Centre and now at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Arts. Indian Express has a good read on the legacy of the man behind the painting.
As India braces for a scorching summer, more travelers are heading to Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, with visa applications up 15-20%, say providers BLS International and VFS Global.

Four things to see

One: A massive dust storm in Delhi led to at least 50 flight delays and 25 diversions and 7 cancellations. Of course, that resulted in a stampede-like situation—as you can see below:

Also see what the dust storm over Delhi looked like in Gurgaon:

Meanwhile in China: Beijing canceled 693 flights due to a sandstorm that broke records for wind speed in some parts of the country. (The Hindu)

Two: The principal of Laxmibai College in Delhi University is making news for her unusual choice of interior decor: cow dung—which is being plastered on college walls. Pratyush Vatsala claims that it is part of an ongoing research project—called ‘Study of Heat Stress Control by Using Traditional Indian Knowledge’. A better title: A Study of Shit as a Torture Weapon. You can see Vatsala in action below. (Hindustan Times)

Three: On one hand, you have Sunita Williams who endured nine months in space without a murmur. OTOH, you have Lauren Sánchez (soon to be Bezos)—plus her gal pals Katy Perry and four others—who will be spending all of 11 minutes in near-space. A milestone that requires designer spacesuits made by Monse. These are carefully tailored to ‘hot babe’ specification:

“Simplicity was important, and comfort, and fit,” Mr. Garcia said. “But we also wanted something that was a little dangerous, like a motocross outfit. Or a ski suit. Flattering and sexy.” Ms. Kim added: “I, personally, would want to look very slim and fitted in my outfit.” They batted ideas back and forth with Ms. Sánchez. “We even had a meeting on what underwear Lauren is going to wear,” Mr. Garcia said. “Skims!” Ms. Sánchez responded.

As one of Sanchez’s crew mates puts it, “the suits are a statement that ‘women belong in space’.” Nothing screams feminist revolution quite like a corset. (New York Times)

Four: It was scorching hot on Day 1 of Coachella (literally and figuratively)—with a lineup of artists bringing their A game! Lady Gaga wowed everyone with ‘Judas’. (Hollywood Reporter)