Daily Briefing: Tariff-whipped

Trade war: Many countries have begun talks with the US to secure concessions. India is hoping for an early resolution to its trade deal with the US. China, not so much. Beijing hit back with a bruising 34 per cent tariff on US goods. Trump responded with a threat to crank up the heat even more—an additional 50 per cent tariff if China doesn’t blink. Across the Atlantic, the European Union could slap 25 per cent tariffs of their own.

The endgame: Many believe Trump’s tariffs are living on borrowed time. As markets bleed and political pressure mounts, there’s hope that the administration will seek a quick win by locking in concessions from trade partners like Vietnam and Cambodia — and throw markets a badly-needed lifeline.

What should you do? Is this the perfect buying opportunity or a warning to tread carefully? We tapped into the wisdom of market veterans — Nilesh Shah (Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund), Anish Tawakley (ICICI Prudential AMC), and Prashant Jain (3P Investment Managers) — to bring you tips on how to navigate this rocky terrain.

On that note, here’s what else we have for you today.

Only in Express

In an ongoing series, where we track landmark cases that shaped the Indian Republic, the spotlight today is on Abdul Sattar Patel’s six-year battle to prove his citizenship. A three-year trip to Karachi from Godhra and a lost passport set the tone for how the Centre would determine one’s Indianness for years to come.

From the Front Page

Finale: As the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya draws to a close, the authorities are gearing up for another consecration. The event will mark Lord Ram as the King, over a year after the ‘pran pratishta’ ceremony of Ram Lalla.

Rules of the game: The government is working to bring online real-money gaming companies, such as Dream 11 and Games 24×7, under the ambit of anti-money laundering laws. They would be subject to stricter obligations, such as know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, and tracking and reporting suspicious transactions.

Must Read

A tale of deception: In January, a hospital in Madhya Pradesh added a decorated cardiologist to its staff with a promise of a Rs 8 lakh monthly salary. By mid-February, the doctor had quietly resigned and checked out of the hotel where he was staying. Turns out, he may have stolen the identity of a UK-based cardiologist and professor, morphing John Camm to Narendra John Camm. That’s not all. Authorities believe at least seven patients died under his care. Police are now racing to uncover who he was — and how far his lies went.

Political slide: Recently, MNS leader Raj Thackeray goaded party workers to slap those who refused to speak Marathi in Maharashtra. However, this latest (mis)adventure found little resonance among the Marathi manoos, writes Loksatta editor Girish Kuber. Has Thackeray failed to retain his space in the overcrowded Hindutva camp? Or is this the end of Thackeray’s brand of politics?

And Finally…

It may be time to shed the scars of history for Jaffna, once a base for the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Ridden with conflict, northern Sri Lanka has long been deprived of a cricket stadium. With the country set to co-host the 2026 T20 World Cup with India, Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya hopes for change. Enter: Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the PM’s recent visit, Jayasuriya requested Modi to help build an international cricket stadium in Jaffna.

🎧 Before you go, tune in to the latest episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast. Today’s lineup: West Bengal’s teachers out of jobs, the crisis in India’s cotton industry, and the stock market tumble.

That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta

Business As Usual by EP Unny