This Week in Explainers: Why the absence of Indian students will hurt the US

The pause on student visa appointments will have a big impact on Indian students. However, the US is also likely to feel the pinch. In 2024, India ranked first in terms of student visas issued, ahead of China. We talk about Trump's crackdown on universities, US court rulings and tariff policies, and more in our weekly wrap read more
Students walk near the statue of John Harvard on the day of the 374th Commencement exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Indians are among largest groups of international graduate students in US. Reuters
It's been a week of ups and downs. Donald Trump's tariffs continue to haunt the world. A ruling from the Court of International Trade blocked the sweeping levies on Wednesday night. However, a federal appeals court paused it, restoring the US administration's ability to impose tariffs. There is uncertainty and confusion around this key economic policy.
For students, who have been dreaming of the American dream, it has been another bleak week. The Trump administration stopped Harvard University's enrollment of international students, a move that has been blocked by courts. It has also stopped visa appointments for all foreign students, causing anxiety among hundreds and thousands of applicants.
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In a big development, Elon Musk has exited the White House. The announcement was no surprise as his role in running the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) was temporary. However, it came after the tech billionaire criticised Trump's tax bill.
In the UK, a celebration of Liverpool FC's Premier League win turned tragic after a car ploughed into fans during a victory parade on Monday (May 26). More than 70 people were injured with the youngest victim being nine. The episode has put the spotlight on the rise in car-ramming incidents in Europe.
Emmanuel Macron was in the news for rather embarrassing reasons. In a video, now gone viral, it appears like the French president was shoved in the face by his wife. Were the two squabbling? Macron, says, they were horsing around.
The headlines from the Indian subcontinent are more grim. There are reports of growing tensions in Bangladesh between Muhammad Yunus and Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman . After Operation Sindoor, Pakistan is scrambling for diplomatic support. As major powers back India, Shehbaz Sharif is turning to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Tajikistan. But little has changed in the country, where terrorists are holding rallies and drawing big crowds.
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We talk about all this and more in our weekly wrap.
1. The tariff flip-flops continue. This time, it is not in Donald Trump's hands. A US Court of International Trade paused the levies, ruling them illegal. However, hours later, an appeals court temporarily halted the decision. For now, the tariffs are reinstated. But what happens next? Can the US administration implement its trade agenda? We explain .
2. Donald Trump is at war with American universities. The US administration has ordered a pause in interviews for foreign students applying for visas. Their social media accounts will be screened. While this could affect thousands of aspirants, the US will not remain unaffected by it. The crackdown will hurt the economy and erode its soft power. Here's how .
David Fichter of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a 1973 graduate of Harvard University, leaves a protest against US President Donald Trump's administration at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. File photo/Reuters
3. The pause on student visa appointments is likely to impact Indians. However, the US will also feel the pinch . After all, the number of desi students going to the US has increased sharply in recent years, second only to Canada. Indians account for nearly 30 per cent of all international students in the US. Indian Americans, just 1.5 per cent of the US population, contribute over 5 per cent of its taxes, own 60 per cent of hotels, and hold 78 per cent of college degrees — the highest among all ethnic groups.
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4. Yet another chapter has been added to the Trump vs Harvard battle. The US administration barred Harvard from enrolling international students, a move blocked by a judge. But why is the US president going after the Ivy League school? Is it because it turned down his son, Barron? Or was it because Trump himself was rejected by the university?
5. Elon Musk has been a big part of Trump's second presidency. He was at the helm of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). But Musk's time in Washington has come to an end; he has formally left the federal government. Where does that leave Doge? And what will the world's richest man do next? This story answers the questions.
Elon Musk greets U.S. President Donald Trump as they attend the NCAA men's wrestling championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on., March 22. Musk formally exited his role in the Trump administration on Wednesday. Reuters
6. It was a day of joy and celebration in the UK's Liverpool. But it ended in a shocker. As fans joined the victory parade of the Premier League club Liverpool FC, a man ploughed through the crowd , leaving more than 70 injured. This is not an isolated case. Car-ramming incidents are on the rise in the West. Here's why.
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A Liverpool football club hat is left behind near the scene in the aftermath of an incident where a car plowed into a crowd of Liverpool fans during a parade celebrating their side's Premier League soccer title, in central Liverpool, Britain, on May 28. Reuters
7. Was Emmanuel Macron shoved in the face by his wife as they arrived at Hanoi airport? As the video went viral, the French president said that they were just 'joking around'. With body experts weighing in, the slap-gate grabbed headlines worldwide. However, this is not the only controversy that the couple have found themselves embroiled in. We look at the Macrons and their relationship, which started with a scandal – a student-teacher affair .
8. In India, politicians hold rallies; in Pakistan, it is terrorists. Hafiz Saeed's son, Talha Saeed, and the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, Saifullah Kasuri, addressed a gathering, where they threatened India. It was attended by Pakistani ministers. This story looks at how terrorists are given a platform time and again in the neighbouring nation
That's all from us this week. For more such explainers, you can bookmark our page.
PS: Will you be able to spell 'éclaircissement'? Faizan Zaki , a 13-year-old Indian-origin boy, did and went on to win the Spelling Bee.
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