Daily Briefing: The elephant, the dragon & the eagle

On that note, let’s get to today’s edition.

Big Story

On Monday, when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, he made a significant request: designate Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan separatist outfit, as a “terrorist outfit”. This comes at a time when India is confronting allegations of an assassination plot against SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in a US court and facing similar charges related to the killing of another separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada. Would the US play ball? To be sure, Gabbard’s presence in Delhi has signalled the enduring cooperation between the two nations on security matters.

Dialogue: Given Donald Trump’s disruptive and transactional presidency, India is keen on enhancing its ties with the US. To that end, New Delhi is “proactively engaging” with the US and other stakeholders to gauge the challenges and opportunities presented by the global trade war.

Deal: But the US is not the only Five Eyes member India is dealing with. On Monday, it signed a defence pact with New Zealand to step up dialogue to enhance maritime safety and counter China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific.

‘Pas de deux’: Meanwhile, India is no longer keeping China at arm’s length. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently underscored the ‘civilisational’ ties between the two countries. Beijing has welcomed his remarks, saying it was ready to advance Indo-China relations.

Only in Express

Europe has perhaps felt the full force of Trump’s disruptive foreign policy. On February 14, US Vice President J D Vance openly attacked European leaders at the Munich Security Conference, questioning their policies and whether they warranted US defence. Benedikt France, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Munich Security Conference, spoke to my colleague Shubhajit Roy about the aftermath of Vance’s speech, the emerging global order, and the role India could play in it.

From the Front Page

Development debate: Karnataka’s fisherfolk are fighting a battle for survival. In two villages 65 kilometres apart, parallel protests played out in recent days. Fishermen threatened to jump into the sea, prompting authorities to clamp prohibitory orders and increase police presence in the area. The issue? The locals are resisting attempts by private companies to develop their villages into ports—a move they say will disrupt the ecosystem and marine life.

Care Ops: The government has drawn up a blueprint to establish cancer daycare centres at all district hospitals. In Budget 2025, the government outlined its vision to make cancer care more accessible to patients.

Must Read

Between the lines: The DMK has been locked in a language war with the Centre. The ruling party in Tamil Nadu insists that the National Education Policy (NEP) was an attempt by the Centre to “impose Hindi”. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would have none of it, attacking the party for revereing a person who once called Tamil “a barbaric language.” She was referring to Periyar, a social reformer credited for the Dravidian ideology. Beyond the political wrangle, it’s important to contextualise Periyar’s remarks. Read.

Hike: There has been a long-standing joke about parents recounting their arduous journeys to schools “back in the day.” Students in Uttarakhand’s Gharuri village need not make any exaggerated claims. Their way to school involves a trolley ride over a river, a 2.5 km trek, and a landslide-prone area. The village waits for the government to make good on its promises for infrastructure.

And Finally…

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has perhaps been the most successful example of blending sports, entertainment and business. While some have called it a capitalistic endeavour, we must also acknowledge its role as a democratic talent spotter. As the million-dollar baby turns 18, my colleague Sandip G captures its vaulting growth as a standalone sporting spectacle, cultural phenomenon and an Indian summer reality.

Before you go, don’t forget to tune in to the latest episode of the ‘3 things’ podcast. Today’s lineup: The Vadodara accident case, why you need the flu vaccine, and a protest in Tamil Nadu.

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

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