Trump urges Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand production in India
Doha (Qatar): Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that he urged Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand the tech giant’s manufacturing operations in India. Speaking at a business event in Doha, Trump said he had a conversation with Cook where he expressed displeasure over Apple’s reported plans to increase production in India.
“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday,” Trump said, according to a Bloomberg report. “I said to him, my friend, I’m treating you very good. You’re coming up with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.”
He went on to say that India is "one of the highest tariff nations in the world," making it hard to sell American products in the country. Trump claimed that although India has now offered the US a deal with “literally no tariffs,” he told Cook, “We’re not interested in you building in India. They can take care of themselves, they are doing very well.”
According to Trump, following his conversation with Cook, Apple is now planning to ramp up its manufacturing within the United States. However, he did not provide further details about any changes in Apple’s existing plans for India or specifics of the discussion’s outcome.
During the same speech, Trump claimed that India had offered to remove tariffs on US goods, stating, “They are willing to literally charge us no tariff.” He did not elaborate further or present any official confirmation of such a deal.
Trump’s remarks come amid continuing trade negotiations between India and the United States. According to Bloomberg, formal trade talks began after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House earlier this year. At the time, both nations had agreed to work towards completing the first phase of a trade agreement by autumn.
India’s Trade Minister is expected to visit the US between May 17 and 20 for further discussions with American officials. Despite recent tensions, including the US imposing higher duties on Indian steel and aluminium exports — and India threatening retaliatory tariffs — officials on both sides have indicated that dialogue remains active.
Indian officials, according to Bloomberg, are reportedly frustrated by some of Trump’s public statements, including his earlier announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and his suggestion that trade was used as a tool to influence that conflict. Indian officials have denied that any such linkage between trade and military matters was made during talks.
Apple has been gradually increasing its manufacturing presence in India over the past few years. The company produces several iPhone models in the country through contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Wistron. These steps are aligned with the Indian government’s push to attract foreign investments in electronics and reduce dependence on imports.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
