WeekDay AM: 10 Things you need to know this morning
Trump tariffs, Pope suffers setback, and one of Britain's most successful artists dies

 
today's trade story

Markets sink as Trump confirms new tariffs

What happened
Stock markets have plunged after Donald Trump said last night there was "no room left" for tariff negotiation with Canada and Mexico, with new 25% levies on goods imported from both countries set to take effect from today. The US president also signed an executive order raising tariffs on imports from China to 20%, up from 10%.

The Dow swiftly fell 650 points, or 1.48%, to close yesterday at 43,191. The broader S&P 500 declined by 1.76% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.64%. Asian markets also dipped at the start of trading today, with European markets predicted to follow suit.

Who said what
"The tariffs, you know, they're all set," said Trump yesterday. "They go into effect tomorrow."

Trump has described this as an effort to pressure Canada and Mexico into stopping the flow of drugs and migrants to the US, but "the tariffs will have significant consequences for companies that rely on international supply chains, and are also likely to result in higher costs for American consumers", said The New York Times.

All three affected countries have said they will retaliate against the US, "raising the prospect of a widening trade war", said the BBC.

What next?
The VIX, Wall Street's fear gauge, rose to its highest point this year after Trump's comments.

The import taxes are "significant – the largest in US-China history", said CNN. Before he became president, Trump pledged a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods, so the levies "could rise still" further.

 
 
today's religion story

Pope stable after 'acute respiratory failure'

What happened
Pope Francis is alert and has returned to a stable condition after suffering two episodes of "acute respiratory failure" yesterday, according to the Vatican.

Who said what
The two episodes were caused by "significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and a consequent bronchospasm", said the update from the Holy See.

Doctors were forced to intervene to clear mucus from the pontiff's lungs, although the Vatican said he remained alert throughout.

This is now the "third serious downturn" since the 88-year-old Pope was admitted to hospital 18 days ago with pneumonia, said the BBC. In a message shared on X on Sunday, the Pope thanked well-wishers for their support.

What next?
Pope Francis is expected to miss a procession and mass tomorrow to mark the first day of Lent, the six-week period leading into Easter. Nightly prayer vigils for his health are continuing to take place at St Peter's Basilica, as well as across Italy and around the world.

 
 
Today's art story

Scottish painter Vettriano dies aged 73

What happened
Tributes have been shared after it was announced that Jack Vettriano, the self-taught Scottish painter and one of the most commercially successful British artists of all time, had died at the age of 73.

Born Jack Hoggan, his most well-known work was "The Singing Butler" – the UK's best-selling art print. Vettriano (pictured above) was found dead at his apartment in Nice on Saturday. It is understood that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his passing.

Who said what
Art world experts variously dismissed Vettriano's work as "slick pornography", "mere wallpaper" and "crass male fantasy", but to his many devotees such criticism was "fuelled by jealousy and artistic snobbery", said The Telegraph.

"I have what I want and that is the support of the public," the artist once said in an interview.

What next?
Responding to the news of Vettriano's death, Scottish First Minister John Swinney said he had "made a unique and evocative contribution to artistic life in Scotland" in a post on X.

 
 

It's not all bad

James Harrison, an Australian whose rare blood saved more than two million babies, has died aged 88 – but his lifesaving legacy will continue for generations. Known as the "man with the golden arm", Harrison's lifetime of blood donations helped create Anti-D, a treatment preventing deadly complications in newborns. Now scientists are working to replicate his antibody in the lab, ensuring that even more lives will be saved in the future. His remarkable generosity has left a lasting impact on families worldwide.

 
 
under the radar

The 'vulgar' question causing outrage in India

An Indian podcaster is under police investigation and has received death threats after asking a "perverted" question on the YouTube talent show "India's Got Latent".

Ranveer Allahbadia, whose own YouTube channel BeerBiceps has eight million followers, is no stranger to publicity, but "the amount of attention" his comments have received "is mind-boggling", said the BBC.

Allahbadia, a well-known online personality who has interviewed ministers, Bollywood celebrities, cricketers and Hollywood stars, found himself in hot water after he asked an "India's Got Latent"  contestant, "Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever?"

The question has "sparked massive outrage", said the BBC. The story has made "national headlines", with some leading news sites even devoting live blogs to the latest developments in the scandal. The reaction has "triggered debates around free speech and India's obscenity laws", as well as "conversations around the thirst for viral content" and what the consequences should be when online content creators cross a line.

Supporters of the embattled Allahbadia include Apar Gupta, founder of the Internet Freedom Foundation, who said "it feels like the state is trying to make an example" of him.

The controversy has led a parliamentary panel to consider making laws for digital content stricter, and "the Supreme Court has pushed for tighter regulations around online content, too", added the BBC.

Critics have accused the Indian government of exploiting events to justify restrictions on freedom of expression, as well as using it as a "smokescreen" to divert attention from more "pressing problems", such as unemployment and pollution.

 
 
on this day

4 March 1789

The US Constitution came into effect as the governing law of the United States of America, the oldest written constitution still in force in the world. Several US legal experts have suggested that some of President Donald Trump's executive orders violate the constitution and are likely to face challenges in court.

 
 
Today's newspapers

The Mirror reports that MPs from all sides have backed Keir Starmer's support for Ukraine, calling it a "rare show of unity". But "Trump lambasts Europe for showing weakness" says The Times, after the president criticised demands for a US security guarantee. Meanwhile, Metro covers an investigation that claims TikTok was profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teenagers as young as 15. The social media platform is also being investigated over its use of children's data.

See the newspaper front pages

 
 
tall tale

Police raid breaks Gandalf's spell

Police have raided the property of one of New Zealand's most well-known "green fairies", who grows medicinal cannabis for those that cannot obtain it legally. Paul Smith, 66, who is known as "Gandalf", is charged with cultivating marijuana, possession with intent to supply and dealing, all of which he denies. More than 50 people gathered outside the Whangārei District Court on Monday to protest his arrest. It's an "assault" on hundreds of people who rely on "affordable relief", said protest organiser Pearl Schomburg.

 
 

Morning Report was written and edited by Arion McNicoll, Harriet Marsden, Elliott Goat, Ross Couzens, and Chas Newkey-Burden, with illustrations by Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Spencer Platt / Getty Images; Tiziana Fabi / AFP / Getty Images; Rune Hellestad / Corbis / Getty Images; Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images.