FirstUp: Trump's tariffs on steel, aluminium imports to come into effect, Hajj begins

It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day.

Firstly, the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on the imports of steel and aluminium will come into effect from today. The annual Hajj pilgrimage will begin after the observatories confirm the sighting of the crescent moon.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is set to give a speech during commemorations of Ayatollah Khomeini's death anniversary. In India, PM Modi will chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's father Errol Musk is scheduled to visit the revered Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

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Here is all that is likely to take place across the world today.

Trump’s steel-aluminum tariffs to come into effect

US prices of steel and aluminium will spike even further as President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on these metals will come into effect from today. Trump announced on Friday (May  30) the new steel and aluminium levies, intensifying a global trade war. This came just hours after he accused China of violating an agreement with the US to mutually roll back tariffs and trade restrictions for critical minerals.

According to the Department of Commerce, the US is the world's largest steel importer, excluding the European Union, with a total of 26.2 million tons of steel imported in 2024. "Higher prices are also likely to weigh further on US steel demand from the manufacturing sector, which we already expect to contract this year," analyst Eoin Dinsmore at Goldman Sachs told news agency Reuters.

Hajj 2025 to begin today

The annual Hajj pilgrimage will begin today. The announcement was made on May 27 by Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia put a temporary halt on issuing visas to citizens from 14 countries, including India. Some of the other countries impacted by this decision are Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.

The annual pilgrimage is performed between the eighth and thirteenth days of Dhul-Hijjah. File image/AP

The Hajj constitutes one of the five essential pillars of Islam, mandating its observance at least once by all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of ability. This annual pilgrimage is performed between the eighth and thirteenth days of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and conclusive month within the Islamic lunar calendar.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to give speech

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is scheduled to deliver a speech commemorating the 36th death anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The event will take place in southern Tehran. This annual ceremony honours Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

In previous years, Ayatollah Khamenei's speeches at this event have addressed various topics, including Iran's political stance, regional issues, and reflections on Khomeini's legacy. The Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini, where the ceremony is held, is a significant site for many Iranians and visitors, symbolising the enduring impact of Khomeini's leadership on the nation's identity and political framework.

PM to chair council of ministers meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers today. This will be the first meeting since India launched Operation Sindoor, India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

According to sources, ministers are likely to be briefed on key aspects of the operation, which is also expected to figure in the ruling BJP's programmes starting next week to mark the first anniversary of the Modi government in its third term, reported news site India TV. It further said that ministers are likely to be briefed on key aspects of the operation.

PM Modi is set to hold a meeting with Union Cabinet Ministers in the national capital. File image/PTI

Key government policies are discussed in detail by the Council of Ministers in the presence of top bureaucrats. This council typically meets every few months, a less frequent and less fixed schedule than that of the Union Cabinet.

Elon Musk's father to visit Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Errol Musk, the father of tech magnate Elon Musk, will visit the revered Ram Mandir in Ayodhya today. According to officials, visiting the Ayodhya temple is a scheduled part of his India itinerary.

Senior officials in Ayodhya are working in close coordination with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to ensure that Errol Musk's darshan at the Ram temple is smooth and well-managed, reported Moneycontrol. Interestingly, Musk’s visit is scheduled around the same time as the consecration ceremony of the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple complex. This sacred event is expected to attract thousands of devotees and VIPs, adding spiritual significance to the timing of his visit.

Errol Musk is currently on a five-day tour of India, where he is set to attend multiple meetings with Indian entrepreneurs and industrialists. His visit is both personal and professional, reflecting the growing global interest in India's cultural and economic landscape.

With inputs from agencies