Daily Briefing: The next Mumbai mayor; decoding the Board of Peace

On that note, let’s get into the rest of today’s edition👇

🚨 Big Story
US President Donald Trump has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the Board of Peace for Gaza, as part of a 20-point plan to de-radicalise and redevelop Gaza. The board is part of the second phase of the ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas. Pakistan, Jordan, Greece, Canada, Turkey, Egypt and other countries have also been invited.

What exactly is the Board of Peace? The board was envisioned to supervise the “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee”, which was to be formed for “temporary, transitional governance” in Gaza. However, the board’s original mandate, as approved by the United Nations in November 2025, has since been modified. Trump’s invitation letter to countries suggests that the board will work for securing peace beyond Gaza, in areas affected or threatened by conflict. All invited member-countries will have a three-year tenure on the board, unless they pay $1 billion in cash to secure permanent membership.

Is Trump seeking to sidestep the UN? Trump’s disdain for the UN is well-known, and critics of the Board of Peace suggest that it is a frontal assault on the UN’s charter. While the UN invites all states to be part of deliberations, Trump has envisioned an exclusive, members-only club. Read C Raja Mohan’s analysis.

⚡Only in Express

How can the world cope with the turmoil unleashed by Trump’s tariffs? Will China overtake the US as the world’s largest economy? Will AI replace humans?

We posed these pertinent questions and more to Richard Lesser, Global Chairman of the Boston Consulting Group and a leading voice on global strategy, leadership, and geopolitics. Here’s what he had to say.

📰 From the Front Page

Scam: In 2024, a concerning scam was uncovered. At least 5,000 Indians were suspected to be trapped in Cambodia, allegedly deceived with fake job offers and forced into cybercrime activities. Sources have told The Indian Express that victims’ statements and forensic examination have traced the operation back to Pakistani handlers.

So metal: The European Union’s new import duty linked to carbon emissions, which took effect on January 1, has been a setback for Indian manufacturers as it restricts metal exports to the 27-nation bloc and limits scrap exports from the EU to other countries. Notably, steel scrap is a key ingredient for low-carbon steel production. Now, India has sought easier access to steel scrap in the EU as part of the upcoming trade deal, The Indian Express has learnt.

📌 Must Read

Her gig: Household work was once largely dependent on migrants, cash transactions, and area-specific word-of-mouth networks. In India’s rapidly expanding platform economy, however, household labour is now on demand, algorithmically managed, and GPS-tracked. For many women, this means working up to 12 hours a day—doing laundry or cleaning—to earn Rs 1,000. Some see this shift as a form of freedom, while others continue to fear the stigma attached to such work, now made even more visible by uniforms. Read Saman Hussain’s Hardlook.

‘Trump is a bully. If you show weakness, he’ll be all over you…’: George Yong-Boon Yeo is one of the finest scholar-diplomats in the world today. He served as a Foreign Minister in Singapore and received the Padma Bhushan. Recently, he was in Delhi to deliver the Dr C D Deshmukh Memorial Lecture. He reflected on India’s role in the multi-polar world, Trump’s interventionism, and the China challenge. Read.

Express View: Trump’s Greenland push needs a pushback from Europe

⏳ And Finally…

Virat Kohli has long been India’s talisman. As long as he’s playing, the Men in Blue always have a chance. And on Sunday, during the third ODI between India and New Zealand, Kohli fought hard, silencing once again the criticism against his form. But despite his 54th ton, India lost the match and handed the Kiwis their first-ever series win in 37 years in the 50-over format in India.

Sandeep Dwivedi writes: Now it is about India pleading Virat Kohli to stay on for 2027 World Cup

🎧 Before you go, do tune in to today’s ‘3 things’ podcast episode, where we discuss: Mahayuti’s BMC sweep, Supreme Court’s split verdict on corruption probe and the penalty on IndiGo.

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

Business As Usual by EP Unny