Mint Podcast

In an exclusive conversation with Mint's Abhinav Trivedi, SC Garg Former Finance & Economic Affairs secretary, explains how India miscalculated Trump's hugs, optics and diplomacy and ally. Watch the whole episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQkxdpWhDzY

The Supreme Court has recently ordered authorities to catch all the stray dogs in Delhi-NCR & lock them away in shelters. This caused an uproar amongst a few citizens, while some supported the order. While citizens accept the dog menace & blame the Corruption on the Government's end, the issue is open. In this episode of Say What, Abhinav Trivedi, goes out on the street and talks to citizens about the issue.#straydogs #dogs #india #supremecourtofindia #delhi #delhincr #dogshorts #streetdogs #doglovers #doglove #abhinavtrivedi #dogshelter #dogadoption #petlover #canineadventures #dogsofinstagram #dogshorts

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

Putin’s ‘Jelly Legs’ Steal Spotlight

Forget the Alaska handshake—what went viral after Trump and Putin’s summit was the Russian president’s shaky stance. Kremlin footage showed Putin’s knee twitching and toes lifting as he chatted with Trump, sparking a flood of online theories. Ukrainians joked about hidden shoe lifts and exoskeletons, while others speculated about illness, dubbing it “jelly legs.” Some even claimed it wasn’t Putin at all, but a body double—pointing to his missing “gunslinger gait,” a hallmark of his KGB training. The Kremlin has stayed silent, but the optics of wobbly knees may have upstaged Trump’s claims of “big progress.”

India-US Trade Talks Collapse

A breakthrough in India-US trade is off the table for now. Washington has called off its negotiators’ trip to New Delhi, originally planned for August 25–29. That leaves little hope of avoiding Trump’s steep new tariffs—hiked to 50% on Indian goods—set to take effect August 27. Trump says the penalties are “punishment” for India’s Russian oil purchases, which he argues bankroll Moscow’s war. Five rounds of talks collapsed over two sticking points: opening India’s farm and dairy markets, and cutting oil ties with Russia. India hit back, accusing the US and Europe of hypocrisy for still buying Russian goods. For now, tariffs are locked in, and businesses brace for impact.

NDA Picks CP Radhakrishnan as VP Candidate

India’s ruling NDA has named Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan as its candidate for Vice-President. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi made the announcement on August 17, with elections slated for September 9. A veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan has served as governor in multiple states and is a two-time MP from Coimbatore. His nomination balances experience with regional representation, and the NDA’s numbers got a boost as Shiv Sena pledged unconditional support. The move is seen as another carefully placed piece in India’s political chessboard.

Trump Teases ‘Big Progress’ with Russia

President Trump is fanning speculation after his three-hour Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin—the first time Putin has set foot on Western soil since 2022. On Truth Social, Trump posted in all caps: “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!” His envoy later hinted at “game-changing” security guarantees for Ukraine, though reports suggest a controversial land-for-peace deal could be on the table. Alarmed, European leaders will join Zelensky in Washington for urgent talks with Trump. Macron, Starmer, Meloni, Merz, and Ursula von der Leyen are flying in, hoping to stiffen Ukraine’s position as Trump presses for a quick peace. The stage is set for a high-stakes diplomatic showdown.

Apple’s ₹1,000-Crore Bengaluru Bet

Apple has made a blockbuster real estate move in Bengaluru—inking a 10-year lease worth over ₹1,000 crore for nearly 2.7 lakh sq ft in Embassy Zenith, a new tower built on the old Le Meridien site. The rent—₹235 per sq ft per month—sets a city record, with Apple shelling out ₹6.3 crore every month for nine floors, plus parking for 362 cars. The lease includes a 4.5% annual hike and an option to expand further. Propstack’s Raja Seetharaman calls it a “huge vote of confidence” in India, aligning Apple’s office expansion with its booming iPhone manufacturing push. Together, it cements India’s role at the center of Apple’s global supply chain.

Certified Financial Planner Viresh Patel shares practical ways parents can teach children about money without turning them money-obsessed. From early childhood observation to savings habits, decision-making skills, and patience building, Patel outlines simple, experience-based techniques. He also explains why habits and discipline matter more than formulas, and how financial literacy can start as early as age four—keeping the learning fun and values intact. Watch!#financialeducation #financialeducationforkids #kidseducation

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

Wang Yi’s Delhi Visit: Setting the Stage for Modi’s China Trip

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi will be in New Delhi on August 18 to meet NSA Ajit Doval under the Special Representatives dialogue — just ahead of PM Modi’s August 31 visit to Beijing for the SCO summit. The talks aim to rebuild ties fractured by the 2020 Galwan clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers. Recent thaw signs include meetings between EAM Jaishankar and Wang, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s China visit, and the resumption of direct Delhi-Beijing flights. Analysts say Trump’s 50% tariff hike on Indian imports has also pushed New Delhi to keep Beijing channels open.

Perplexity’s $34.5B Bid for Google Chrome

AI search startup Perplexity, led by Aravind Srinivas, has made an audacious $34.5B cash offer to buy Google Chrome — despite being valued at just $18B. The firm, backed by Nvidia and SoftBank, says unnamed funds are ready to finance the deal. Chrome’s 3B users could supercharge Perplexity’s AI browser, Comet. Google hasn’t put Chrome up for sale but faces monopoly rulings and interest from OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo.

Karnataka MLC Admits to Killing 2,800 Stray Dogs

JDS MLC SL Bhojegowda told the Karnataka Legislative Council he poisoned and buried 2,800 stray dogs to curb attacks on poor children. His statement came days after the Supreme Court ordered all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR removed to shelters within eight weeks. The admission has sparked outrage from animal rights groups and could lead to legal consequences.

Zelensky Rejects Donbas ‘Land Swap’ Ahead of Trump-Putin Talks

With Trump and Putin set to meet in Alaska to discuss ending the Ukraine war, President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out ceding Donbas. He insists Ukraine must be part of the talks and warns the region is key to Russia’s future offensives. Trump says he’ll try to win back some territory for Ukraine, but Putin wants Kyiv to withdraw entirely from Donetsk and Luhansk — 9,000 sq km of land Russia hasn’t fully seized in over a decade.

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

SOUTH AFRICA RUSHES TO AVOID US TARIFF HIT

South Africa is racing to avert the US’s steepest sub-Saharan tariff yet — 30% on some exports. Pretoria says it’s ready to offer a “broad, generous” trade deal, including more imports of US poultry, blueberries, and pork, to save an estimated 30,000 jobs in an economy with 33.2% unemployment. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Trade Minister Parks Tau argue SA exports — just 0.25% of US imports — aren’t a threat. Talks, however, are tangled with US concerns over SA’s land reform and race-based job laws, which Trump has criticised. Steenhuisen calls it a “new era” of tariffs tied to politics, while Tau brands the process “unprecedented” and outside WTO norms.

INDIA–CHINA FLIGHTS SET FOR TAKE-OFF

After four years, direct India–China flights could return by September. New Delhi has told carriers to be ready, with an announcement expected at the SCO summit in China. IndiGo is already preparing. Flights were halted after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes that froze ties. Recent thaw: India resumed tourist visas for Chinese nationals and agreed to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. PM Modi is due in Tianjin on Aug 31 for his first China visit in seven years.

ULTRAVIOLETTE CHARGES UP WITH $21M FUNDING

Bengaluru-based premium e-motorcycle maker Ultraviolette has raised $21M, led by Japan’s TDK Ventures, with continued backing from Zoho, Lingotto, and notable angel investors. Funds will scale manufacturing, R&D, and expand retail from 20 to 100 cities. CEO Narayan Subramaniam says the TDK tie-up accelerates its push for advanced batteries, intelligent systems, and global expansion.

NEW TAX ERA FOR INDIA

Parliament has passed the Income Tax Bill, 2025, replacing the 1961 Act from April 1, 2026. The rewrite halves the law’s size to 536 sections, swaps “assessment year” for “tax year,” reintroduces some deductions, and keeps tax rates unchanged. It enables tech-driven faceless assessments but retains search-and-seizure powers, raising privacy concerns. The Bill now awaits the President’s assent.

₹18,500 CR PUSH FOR CHIPS, POWER & METRO

The Union Cabinet has cleared ₹18,500 crore for manufacturing and infrastructure. Four new semiconductor projects in Odisha, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh — including a silicon carbide fab in Bhubaneswar — will create 2,000+ skilled jobs. Also approved: the ₹8,146 crore 700 MW Tato-II hydro project in Arunachal Pradesh and Lucknow Metro’s ₹5,801 crore Phase-1B expansion.

Over 27% Indians Borrowed Money For Travel In 2025: Report | Credit Card Debt Rise To ₹33,886 CroreAround 27% of respondents to a PaisaBazaar survey took a personal loan to fund their vacation in H1 2025, up from 21% during the same period in 2023, according to the survey.Watch for more!#personalloan #creditcard #creditcarddebt #debt

To say that India-US ties are strained at this point would be an understatement. Trump has imposed a whopping 50% tariffs on Indian imports, and India remains firm on our stand- that we cannot compromise on our own interests. While the markets did dip a bit after this whole development, those invested in the Indian stock market are clearly not panicking... at least not for nowBut it is concerning them, and they're in wait and watch modeSo what does this mean at a time when Indian stocks are already witnessing high valuations, weak earnings, and periodic selling by foreign investors. Investors?Is there likely to be any respite from the volatility soon - is there a glimmer of hope of a broader turnaround?Well to decode this, Mint surveyed 34 investment professionals, including analysts, economists, research heads, and fund managers... and what's their verdict?Watch to find out!#india #stockmarket #economy

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

90-Day U.S.-China Trade Truce

President Donald Trump has extended the tariff suspension with China for another 90 days, keeping U.S. duties capped at 30% and Beijing’s at 10%. Both sides confirmed the move after talks in Stockholm, avoiding hikes that would have kicked in on August 12. The reprieve calms markets but sets up another tense deadline before year-end.

H-1B Interview Rule Returns

From Sept 2, 2025, all nonimmigrant visa renewals—including H-1Bs—will require in-person interviews in applicants’ home countries. This will hit Silicon Valley hardest, where over 39,000 H-1B approvals were issued in 2024, mostly to Indian and Chinese tech workers. Experts warn of costly delays and workflow disruptions at firms like Google, Meta, and Apple, as employees and families must travel abroad for renewals.

Trump Seizes Control of D.C. Police

In a rare move, Trump is invoking the D.C. Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police under federal control and deploy National Guard troops to tackle violent crime and homelessness. Attorney General Pam Bondi will oversee the takeover. The Guard will handle logistics and support, freeing police for arrests. D.C.’s mayor has voiced concern over Guard patrols, as federal agents from the FBI, ICE, DEA, and ATF already operate in the city.

India’s 50-Market Export Pivot

With U.S. tariffs on Indian goods now at 50%, Delhi is targeting 50 priority markets across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia—covering 90% of current exports. Focus sectors include textiles, engineering goods, gems & jewellery, seafood, agriculture, and chemicals, some at risk of a 40% export drop. Plans include redirecting shipments, reviving the Interest Equalization Scheme, and using a ₹20,000 crore export promotion mission.

No Pause in Defence Deals

India will continue defence ties with the U.S. despite the tariff dispute, foreign secretary Vikram Misri told Parliament’s external affairs panel. He stressed the “multi-dimensional” relationship, citing U.S. cooperation on security, including extraditing 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana and designating The Resistance Front as a terror group. Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal confirmed the sixth round of trade talks is still on. India is also leveraging existing trade pacts and working to finalise deals with the UK and EU. Misri dismissed Pakistani army chief Asim Munir’s Indus River comments as routine sabre-rattling.

U.S.-India tariffs | Trade deal | Tariffs | Donald Trump | Narendra Modi What exactly happened that the India-U.S. trade deal suddenly collapsed, drawing Trump's tariff storm? Were there concrete reasons... or just a lapse in communication? And what's the road ahead?To discuss this, we're joined by Mark Linscott, a former long-time US trade negotiator. He's now a senior trade policy advisor at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. Watch!#india #america #tariffs