Trump signs orders targeting university diversity policies and accreditation
One order directs the federal government to enforce existing laws requiring universities to disclose large foreign gifts. Another addresses accreditation, which Trump has described as a “secret weapon.”
Trump also announced an initiative on historically black colleges and universities and signed orders on AI education and workforce development.
DONALD TRUMP signed a set of executive orders on Wednesday aimed at US universities, focusing on foreign donations, college accreditation, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
One order directs the federal government to enforce existing laws requiring universities to disclose large foreign gifts. Another addresses accreditation, which Trump has described as a “secret weapon.”
Reading the orders aloud, White House staff secretary Will Scharf said accrediting bodies have promoted “woke ideology” over merit.
Education secretary Linda McMahon said, “We should be looking at those who have real merit to get in, and we have to look harder at those universities that aren’t enforcing that.”
The administration has taken actions since 2017 to reshape higher education, including threats to funding, bans on diversity programmes, and detaining international students.
More than 150 university presidents signed a statement this week criticising what they called “unprecedented government overreach.”
Harvard University, named by Scharf, has sued the government over potential funding cuts, The Guardian reported.
A White House statement said the new orders allow federal action against accreditors for poor performance or civil rights violations.
Trump also announced an initiative on historically black colleges and universities and signed orders on AI education and workforce development.
'Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict,' Vance said on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)
US VICE PRESIDENT JD Vance said on Thursday that the United States wants India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions but will not get involved if a conflict breaks out between the two countries.
"We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can't control these countries, though," Vance said during an interview on Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum.
"What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it," he said.
India is a key partner for the United States in its strategy to counter China's growing influence, while Pakistan continues to be a US ally despite its reduced strategic role after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Analysts and some former officials have said that with Washington currently focused on diplomatic efforts related to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the US may allow India and Pakistan to manage the situation themselves in the early stages without strong intervention.
India and Pakistan have blamed each other for drone attacks, and Pakistan's defence minister said further retaliation was "increasingly certain" on Thursday, the second day of heavy clashes. Nearly four dozen people have been killed over two days of fighting.
The latest round of tensions began on 22 April when terrorists killed 26 people in India-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack. Pakistan denied the accusation and called for a neutral investigation.
"Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict," Vance said on Thursday.
The US has been in contact with both countries, including on Thursday when secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan's prime minister and India’s foreign minister to urge de-escalation and direct dialogue.
US president Donald Trump called the rise in tensions a shame. On Wednesday, he said he hoped the two countries would stop after going "tit-for-tat." The State Department also urged both sides to work towards what it described as a "responsible solution."
Microsoft founder Bill Gates has announced his intention to give away 99% of his wealth by 2045, pledging to accelerate his charitable giving through his foundation.
In a blog post published on Thursday, 8 May 2025, Gates, 69, shared his plan to use the next two decades to distribute most of his vast fortune. He intends to wind down the operations of his foundation by 2045, a decision that marks an acceleration of his previous philanthropic goals.
Gates stated, "People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that 'he died rich' will not be one of them." His comments come as he outlines his commitment to giving away the vast majority of his wealth during his lifetime, following the philosophy of Andrew Carnegie, the late steel tycoon who argued that the wealthy had a duty to return their fortunes to society. Gates quoted Carnegie’s famous line: "The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced."
Since its inception, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has already contributed over $100 billion (£75 billion) towards global health and development projects. Gates revealed that the foundation plans to donate another $200 billion over the next two decades, depending on inflation and market conditions. These contributions will focus on areas such as health, poverty alleviation, and education.
Gates explained that his new approach to giving accelerates his previous plan, which involved continuing the foundation’s operations for several decades after his death. He told the BBC’s Newshour that he believes that in 20 years, there will be other wealthy individuals better positioned to address future global challenges. “It’s really about the urgency,” he explained. "We can spend a lot more if we're not trying to be perpetual, and I know that the spending will be in line with my values."
While giving away 99% of his wealth would still leave Gates with a substantial fortune, Bloomberg estimates his current net worth at $108 billion, making him the fifth-richest person in the world. Gates included a hand-drawn timeline in his blog post, showing his wealth gradually declining to close to zero by 2045. He also outlined that the foundation would draw on its endowment to distribute an additional $200 billion.
Co-founder of Microsoft alongside Paul Allen in 1975, Gates played a crucial role in the company’s dominance in the tech industry. Although he stepped down as CEO in 2000 and as chairman in 2014, his influence on the company and the technology sector remains significant. Over the years, Gates has become known for his philanthropic work, inspired by investor Warren Buffett and other wealthy philanthropists.
Despite praise for his charitable work, Gates' foundation has faced criticism from some quarters. Detractors argue that the foundation uses its charitable status to avoid tax and wields disproportionate influence over the global health system. Nonetheless, Gates has maintained that the foundation’s work is aimed at addressing the world’s most pressing issues.
In his blog post, Gates outlined three key goals for the foundation's future efforts: eliminating preventable diseases that affect mothers and children, eradicating infectious diseases such as malaria and measles, and reducing poverty for millions of people. Gates also criticised the recent cuts in foreign aid by the US, UK, and France, calling these reductions a setback for the world’s poorest people. He emphasised that the foundation would continue to support global efforts to alleviate poverty, regardless of political changes.
In a more pointed interview with the BBC, Gates responded to questions about his previous comments regarding tech billionaire Elon Musk. Gates had accused Musk of exacerbating global harm through cuts to US aid, specifically pointing to reductions in funding for programmes aimed at helping children. “These cuts will kill not just children, but millions of children,” Gates stated. “You wouldn't have expected the world's richest person to do it.”
Additionally, Gates raised concerns over cancelled grants to a hospital in Gaza Province, Mozambique, which had been linked to a false claim by former US president Donald Trump about funding for condoms for Hamas. Gates commented that Musk's cost-cutting measures had contributed to children in the region being infected with HIV, an outcome he described as tragic.
The BBC has reached out to Elon Musk for comment, but as of now, there has been no response.
The Gates Foundation continues to be one of the world’s leading philanthropic organisations, with a broad mandate to tackle global health issues and poverty. Despite the criticism, its efforts have contributed to significant improvements in healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation worldwide.
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Starmer and Donald Trump have announced a new UK-US trade agreement cutting tariffs on key British exports.
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump on Thursday announced a trade agreement that reduces tariffs on British exports, including cars and steel.
The deal, reached after several weeks of talks, lowers levies on UK car exports from 27.5 per cent to 10 per cent and lifts tariffs on British steel and aluminium. The UK government said the move would save Jaguar Land Rover hundreds of millions of pounds a year, with the reduction applying to a quota of 100,000 cars — close to Britain’s total exports last year.
“This is a really fantastic, historic day,” Starmer said, appearing via video link with Trump during parallel press conferences in London and Washington. “It’s going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access,” he said, adding a “tribute” to both negotiating teams.
Speaking at a Jaguar Land Rover factory in the Midlands, Starmer said, “That is a huge and important reduction.”
The agreement also includes reciprocal market access for beef, with UK farmers allowed a tariff-free quota of 13,000 metric tonnes. The UK government said British food standards remain unchanged and confirmed that chlorinated chicken will not be allowed into the country.
There will be no change to the UK’s digital services tax on US tech firms as part of the deal.
“This is just the start,” Starmer said. “We’re more ambitious for what the UK and the US can do together.” He said he learned of Trump’s approval for the deal during a phone call on Wednesday night while watching Arsenal’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Trump called the agreement a “breakthrough” and the first step in broader negotiations. “I’m thrilled to announce that we have reached a breakthrough trade deal with the United Kingdom,” he said. “The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture.”
Trump denied exaggerating the scope of the agreement, calling it a “maxed-out deal” in response to a question.
The UK will continue to face a 10 per cent baseline tariff on most goods under the reciprocal tariff policy introduced by Trump in April, though there are exemptions for certain products such as pharmaceuticals.
Downing Street said negotiators would continue talks to lift remaining tariffs and seek exemptions from future levies. The UK government added that Britain would receive “preferential treatment” in any future US tariff decisions.
A UK government official described the agreement as a “general terms document” covering key sectors and providing a framework for further negotiations, rather than a full free trade agreement. The official said more talks would follow, especially on tariffs affecting the pharmaceutical sector.
The trade deal was announced days after Britain signed a free-trade agreement with India, its largest such deal since leaving the European Union.
Trump said Starmer had been a “tough negotiator” during his visit to the White House in February. Starmer’s visit included delivering an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit for Trump.
While the UK has not yet responded with retaliatory tariffs, the European Union on Thursday proposed new duties on US planes and cars if its own negotiations with Washington fail.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The report provides insights into demographic and socio-economic trends among Asian communities in US
Indian Americans are the highest-earning Asian group in the United States, with a median annual household income exceeding $150,000, according to a report published by The Hindu. Their income is reported to be 40 percent higher than that of both Chinese and Japanese Americans.
The report provides insights into demographic and socio-economic trends among Asian communities in the United States. As of 2013, the Asian population in the US was around 25 million, more than double the figure recorded in 2000. By 2023, Asians accounted for 7.4% of the US population, up from 4.2% in 2000.
Within the Asian population in the US, Chinese Americans formed the largest group at 22%, followed closely by Indian Americans at 21%, and Filipino Americans at 19%. Other communities include Vietnamese Americans (9%), Korean Americans (8%), Japanese Americans (7%), and Pakistani Americans (3%).
The report also noted a decline in the share of immigrants within the Asian population. In 2000, immigrants comprised 63% of Asians in the US, but this proportion had decreased to 54% by 2023. For Indian Americans, the share of immigrants dropped from 72%, reflecting a growing second-generation population.
In terms of educational attainment, the report highlighted notable differences among Asian communities. Taiwanese Americans had the highest proportion of individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree, at 83%, followed by Indian Americans at 77%. In contrast, Bhutanese, Burmese, Laotian, and Cambodian Americans had significantly lower rates of higher education.
These education levels corresponded closely with income levels. Indian American households led with a median annual income of $151,200, followed by Taiwanese Americans. Despite strong educational credentials, some groups had comparatively lower earnings. For example, 69% of Mongolian Americans held a bachelor’s degree or higher—ranking third among all Asian groups, yet their median household income was just $54,300, the lowest among the communities surveyed.
The report underscores the diversity within the Asian American population in the United States, both in terms of origin and socio-economic status. While some groups have achieved high levels of educational and financial success, others continue to face significant disparities.
Indian Americans, in particular, continue to stand out for their high income levels and educational qualifications, maintaining a strong presence in professional and academic sectors across the US.
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Krish Lal Isserdasani was just weeks away from completing his degree. (Photo for representation: iStock)
A FEDERAL judge has temporarily blocked the Donald Trump administration from deporting a 21-year-old Indian undergraduate student whose visa was suddenly cancelled.
Krish Lal Isserdasani, who has been studying computer engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2021, was just weeks away from completing his degree when he discovered his student visa had been terminated without warning.
District judge William Conley granted a temporary restraining order preventing immigration authorities from enforcing the visa termination or detaining Isserdasani, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for April 28.
The case emerges amid a wider crackdown on international students, with approximately 1,300 students nationwide having their records abruptly terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS).
Madison Attorney Shabnam Lotfi described the order as "one of the first national victories for international student visa holders" affected by these sudden terminations.
Court documents revealed that Isserdasani's visa problems stemmed from a November 2024 arrest following a verbal argument while walking home from a bar. Although the district attorney declined to pursue charges, his student visa was cancelled without notice on April 4.
"He was given no warning, no opportunity to explain or defend himself, and no chance to correct any potential misunderstanding before his F-1 student visa record was terminated," court papers revealed.
Isserdasani and his family have reportedly invested approximately $240,000 (£188,000) in his US education, and he stands to lose $17,500 (£13,700) in tuition for his final semester if unable to graduate as planned on May 10.
In a separate but related case, another Indian student, Chinmay Deore from Wayne State University, has joined students from China and Nepal in filing a lawsuit against Homeland Security and immigration officials. They allege their immigration status was "illegally terminated" without explanation.
The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Michigan, seeks to reinstate their legal status. The students claim they neither violated immigration laws nor participated in campus protests.
ACLU of Michigan executive director Loren Khogali criticised the administration's approach: "The aim of this administration is to sow chaos and fear by attacking some people to terrorise us all. They are now coming for international students who provide critical perspectives and contributions to our academic communities."
The crackdown appears to target students with minor legal infractions, including traffic violations, as well as those allegedly involved in campus activism. Many students have reportedly received emails instructing them to "self-deport" despite having valid student visas.
Trump recently said he wants to provide money and flight tickets to immigrants who "self-deport," signalling a continuing hardline stance on immigration during his presidency.