“If all hostages are not returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock… all bets are off and let hell break out”. Trust US President Donald Trump to keep our mornings interesting. What prompted the latest round of threats? Hamas has paused the return of hostages, citing ceasefire violations from Israel and sparking concerns about renewed violence. Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his offer to turn the war-ravaged land into a waterfront real estate property. Upending prospects about Gaza’s post-war future, Trump declared that Palestinians would not have a right to return. Where would they go? Well, Trump has threatened to stop aid to Jordan and Egypt if they don’t take in relocated Palestinians.
On that note, let’s get to today’s edition.
Big Story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be nation-hopping over the next three days. First stop: Paris. Today, he’s co-chairing the third AI Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. Expect the spotlight on AI’s future, especially with multiple countries, including India, eyeing entry into the global race. A hot topic at the summit could be DeepSeek, China’s low-cost AI model that’s been shaking things up. This summit is expected to shape AI governance for the Global South.
When in Washington: Next, PM Modi will jet off to the US for some heavy-duty talks with Trump. India aims to secure access to GPUs, critical for advancing AI projects, which could come under export restrictions like the previous Joe Biden administration had proposed. Another big-ticket item? An exemption from the ‘810’ authorisation could allow US companies to collaborate on nuclear projects with India.
Tying up ends: This meeting will be closely watched as Modi navigates Trump’s hardline stance on tariffs and immigration, which has caused ripples back home. In Paris, meanwhile, Modi will be keen on deepening Indo-French ties, which are marked by a robust defence partnership.
For more on PM Modi’s visit to France, tune in to today’s episode of the ‘3 things’ podcast.
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Only in Express
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) often rued its legal tussles with the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) over stalled development in the national capital. The BJP’s electoral victory sets the stage for eased power sharing between the Centre and the Delhi government. My colleague Apurva Vishwanath details what could change under the ‘double engine’ BJP government.
What’s on top of the agenda as the newly-elected government gets going? After the previous AAP government had stalled it, Delhi could finally implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Also on the cards are tweaks to the financial aid-for-women scheme and a “high-value” Yamuna beautification project.
From the Front Page
Role-call: Like Delhi, power-sharing between the L-G and the elected government is critical in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Sources told The Indian Express that the Centre and the J&K government are set to finalise the ‘Rules of Business‘, which will clarify the responsibilities and powers of the Chief Minister, Cabinet ministers, and administrative secretaries vis-a-vis the L-G.
Nerves of steel: We aren’t quite done with Trump just yet. On Monday, the US President threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. The move has significant implications for Indian companies that fear losing out on the largest steel consumer market.
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Must Read
Capital case: The courts mete out capital punishment in the “rarest of rare” cases. In 2024, trial courts awarded 139 death sentences. How many passed the Supreme Court test? None. This piece by Ajoy Sinha Karpuram might explain the inconsistency.
Game of thrones: The Indian beauty market may be booming, but it isn’t easy business. Quick commerce platforms like Blinkit and Zepto have entered the market, capitalising on speed. Deep-pocketed competitors like Reliance Retail’s Tira could also dethrone Nykaa, once the industry’s undisputed leader. Who will take the crown? Let the beauty battles ensue!
And Finally…
Young Indians have taken to blockbuster weight loss drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro). The trouble? Neither are these drugs available in India nor prescribed to cure obesity (yet). Doctors warn that unsupervised use of these drugs could do more harm than good.
That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
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Business As Usual by EP Unny
