hyderabad l tuesday l January 27, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION PAK, Naqvi keep suspense alive over World Cup participation After Bangladesh was removed from the event, PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi said the government will take final call about them playing the T20 WC PCB keeping ‘all options’ on the table opt out of WC or boycott India match? After meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Naqvi took to social media to confirm that final decision will be taken on Friday or Monday. “I had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister and briefed him on the ICC matter. He directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table,” Naqvi posted on X. ■ ■ This issue came about after Pakistan wanted to show solidarity to Bangladesh who were replaced by Scotland after requesting to shift their matches out of India. It is understood PM Sharif was briefed on multiple scenarios, including the possibility of boycotting just the India match Feb 15 is when India and Pakistan are scheduled to play in Colombo CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Free trade deal with EU done, signing today Pics: PTI, Shekhar Yadav, EXPRESS A successful India makes the world more stable, says EU chief Ursula von der Leyen gan in 2007. The talks were suspended in 2013 as both sides After several false starts, ne- opted for certain protectionist gotiations for the India-Europe- measures. The negotiations an Union Free Trade Agree- were relaunched in June 2022. ment (FTA) concluded on “The European Union reMonday. A formal announce- mains a vital economic & strament will be made on Tuesday . tegic partner for India, and we Confirming the development, value our shared commitment Commerce Secretary Rajesh to a mutually beneficial, ambiAgrawal said: “Negotiations tious India-EU FTA for the have been successfully con- prosperity of our businesses cluded. The deal has been and people,” Goyal stated in his finalised.” social media post. Commerce ministry sources Both sides will keep certain said while the pact will be an- sensitive sectors out of the nounced on Tuesday processes deal. India does not want to , like legal scrubbing open up the dairy and and ratification by EU agricultural sectors. member states could “A successful India take another year. makes the world more The India-EU deal Negotiations have stable, prosperous and was closed in the pres- been successfully secure. And we all benconcluded. The ence of European efit,” Von der Leyen deal has been Council President said. She even said that finalised António Costa and Euthe engagement beRajesh Agrawal, ropean Commission tween India and the EU President Ursula von Commerce Secretary “will culminate tomorder Leyen, who were row in the signature of in India as special guests for our Security and Defence the Republic Day “Their pres- Partnership”. . ence underscores the growing India has a trade surplus strength of the India-EU part- with the EU, which stood at $15 nership and our commitment billion in FY2025, with exports to shared values. The visit will of $75.9 billion against imports add momentum to the deepen- of $60.7 billion. The EU acing engagement and coopera- counts for 17% of India’s total tion between India and Europe goods exports and one-third of across diverse sectors,” Prime its IT services exports. Analysts Minister Narendra Modi said say the FTA could boost India’s in a social media post. exports to the region by over Described as the ‘mother of 50% in the next five years. all deals’ by the Commerce This is the fourth FTA India Minister Piyush Goyal, the In- will be signing since 2025. Last dia-EU FTA will be signed after year, it concluded FTAs with the two decades of talks, which be- UK, New Zealand and Oman. From L: President Droupadi Murmu, President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and PM Narendra Modi attend the Republic Day parade in Delhi; IAF flypast in Operation Sindoor format comprising 2 MiG-29, 2 Rafale, 2 Su-30MKI and 1 Jaguar; Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka pay homage to Martyrs PUSHPITA DE Y @ New Delhi Kuki village torched in fresh Manipur violence p r a s a n ta m a z u m d a r @ Guwahati Fresh violence erupted in Manipur on Monday with a Naga rebel group bur ning down several houses belonging to members of the Kuki community in Kangpokpi district. Claiming responsibility for the arson attack at K Songlung (II) village, the Zeliangrong A building burns after it was set on fire United Front (ZUF) said it was in Manipur’s K Songlung village | X targeting illegal poppy cultivation, narcotics trafficking and encroachment of the territory of the Zeliangrong Inpui Naga people by illegal immigrants. Reacting to the incident, the Kuki-Zo organisation Committee on Tribal Unity threatened to shut down two national highways from midnight on January 27 if the authorities failed to apprehend the perpetrators within 24 hours. New-age arsenal on display at R-day parade J a v a r i a R a n a @ New Delhi India-China relations have continued to improve and develop, aligning with interests of both countries and their people, and are of great significance for promoting world peace I extend my heartfelt congratulations to people of India on your 77th Republic Day. US-India share a historic bond as the world’s oldest and largest democracies Xi Jinping, China President Donald Trump, US President THE 77th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path on Monday brought Operation Sindoor and India’s military might to the forefront with patriotic commemoration under the ‘Vande Mataram’ theme. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa attended as chief guests, marking the first collective participation of the European Union leadership at India’s national celebrations. Cultural and historical elements linked to the Independ- ence struggle were reflected in tableaux from different states along the Kartavya Path, as the official theme was ‘150 Years of Vande Mataram’. The parade featured a European Union defence contingent as well, with four flag bearers on three vehicles carrying flags of the European Union, the EU Military Staff and EU naval missions Operation Atalanta a n d O p e r a t i o n A s p i d e s, respectively . The tri-services tableau, “Operation Sindoor: Victory Through Jointness,” was a standout which recreated the strike at Muridke terror camp India, Canada work on March visit of PM Carney to push trade talks j aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi INDIA and Canada are working to finalise a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to New Delhi in March, as both sides seek to accelerate negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. The visit would mark the next phase in warming ties between the two countries, which have moved to restart talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) after a diplomatic impasse. New Delhi and Ottawa are in talks to finalise the terms of reference for the CEPA negotiations, which aim to double bilateral trade to $50 billion by Inhuman act Dog burned alive in Dundigal 2030, sources said. The push for a CEPA has gained urgency amid rising trade tensions with the United States. India is currently subject to 50% US tariffs on certain goods, while Canada faces 35% levy under measures imposed by the Trump administration. Against this backdrop, New Ex p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad Dundigal police have registered a case against several persons for allegedly killing an abandoned dog by setting it on fire at KVR Valley on the night of January 24. The dog, a Pomeranian breed, was reportedly chased and beaten before inflammable material was poured on it and it was set ablaze. in Pakistan destroyed by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 last year. It also showcased the S-400 anti-missile system used in Operation Sindoor, HAROP loitering munitions, Rafale jets with SCALP missiles, and a Su30 MKI launching BrahMos at hardened shelters. In a first, the military columns were presented in a phased “battle array”, with ground and aerial combat elements displayed in a sequence intended to reflect contemporary battlefield deployment. The IAF staged a 29-aircraft flypast, led by the new ‘Sindoor’ formation, comprising Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar that were deployed during the four-day clash with Pakistan. The Defence Research and Development Organisation showcased its Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile, dubbed the “carrier killer”, for the first time. The system incorporates the novel hypersonic glide vehicle technology . The display also featured major strike and air defence systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Akash Medium Range Surface to Air Missile. A total of 30 tableaux participated in the parade. closer look Delhi has sought to diversify export markets and expand trade agreements beyond US. The two sides are also looking to deepen cooperation in the civilian nuclear sector, and India is exploring increased investment from Canadian pension funds. Car ney’s remarks at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos are widely seen as Canada’s shifting strategic posture. He said Canada was pursuing new trade and security partnerships with countries including India, Qatar, Thailand, as well as Mercosur and ASEAN. Ties with Canada have substantially improved since Carney became PM last year. The complaint was lodged by businessman Sai Teja Peddineni. Based on the complaint, police registered the case around 2 am on January 25. According to local information, the dog was allegedly targeted after it reportedly bit a few people. Police said the dog’s body has been sent for postmortem examination to determine whether it was burned alive or after death. SIT summons former MP Santosh in Tapgate probe Ex p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged phone-tapping case on Monday served a notice to BRS leader and former Rajya Sabha member Joginapally Santosh Kumar, summoning him to appear before it at 3 pm on Tuesday . Santosh is the nephew of former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The notice was issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Santosh said he would appear before the SIT. The SIT had earlier examined BRS working president KT Rama Rao and former minister T Harish Rao in connection with the probe. According to the notice, the investigation into the case, registered on March 10, 2024, at Panjagutta police station, indicated that Santosh was acquainted with certain facts and circumstances related to the matter. “Hence, you are requested to appear in person before the un- dersigned for examination for the purpose of further investigation upon receipt of this notice at 3 pm on Tuesday at the Jubilee Hills ACP office,” the notice stated. The case pertains to allegations that during the BRS regime, phones of politicians, journalists, judges and others were tapped. The notice referred to Santosh as a Member of Parliament and his name as Santosh “Rao”. Later, the Investigation Officer and Jubilee Hills ACP P Venkatagiri clarified that this was a typographical error and that the designation should be read as ‘ex-Member of Parliament’. Meanwhile, BRS leaders alleged that the notice was issued as the party had decided to meet the Governor on Tuesday evening to submit a representation on alleged irregularities in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited. BRS leader and MLC Sravan Dasoju described the SIT notice as a display of political malice. Girl dies while doing principal’s personal chores Chinese manja slits throat of 5-yr-old Ex p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Kamareddy A chain of callous decisions cost a Class 8 student her life in Kamareddy district on Sunday night. Sangeetha (13) from a Social Welfare Residential School at Borlam Camp in Banswada mandal died after jumping from a moving 7-seater auto in which she was travelling, while three of her schoolmates had got down after unloading furniture. According to sources, furniture was taken from the school earlier in the day to the residence of Sumitha, the incharge principal, for a private Ratha Saptami programme. The same furniture was being returned to the school in the evening in view of Republic Day arrangements. Four students were allegedly made to travel in an auto carrying the furniture. After the furniture was unloaded, three of the four students got down. However, Sangeetha was still inside the vehicle when it began to move. Panicking, Sangeetha jumped from the auto and sustained a severe head inj u r y a ro u n d Sangeetha 7.30 pm. No staff member was present to supervise the students or ensure their safety . She was rushed to the Government Hospital in Banswada, where doctors declared her dead. Her body was kept at the hospital mortuary . Sangeetha hailed from Kodicharla village in Madnoor mandal. She was studying at the residential school, which was expected to provide safety and care to children from marginalised backgrounds. The incident sparked protests in Banswada on Monday, with parents, relatives and youth organisations accusing the school authorities of negligence. Protesters questioned why minor students were sent outside the campus after dark and used for chores unrelated to academics. MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Sub-Collector Kiranmai met the family and announced `5 lakh as financial assistance. The incident was reported to the Chief Minister’s Office. Sub-Collector Kiranmai said an FIR would be registered against those responsible and confirmed that the in-charge principal would be suspended. Disciplinary action against other staff was also promised. Ex p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad A five-year-old girl died after a banned Chinese kite string, commonly known as manja, cut her neck while she was travelling on a motorcycle with her father in Kukatpally on Sunday evening. The deceased was identified as P Nishvika. Kukatpally police said they received information around 5 pm from Prem Sagar, a private employee and resident of Gokul Plots in KPHB. He told police that he had visited Khazipally village in Jinnaram of Sangareddy district with his family and was returning home on his motorcycle. While riding along Vivekananda Nagar Main Road, near Pillar No. 781, his younger daughter, seated in front of him on the bike, suddenly began screaming in pain. Prem Sagar stopped the vehicle and noticed profuse bleeding from the child’s neck. On closer inspection, a kite string was found tightly entangled around her neck. The par- Nishvika Aditya ents removed the thread and rushed the child to a nearby hospital. Despite treatment, doctors declared her dead. Police registered a case and began an investigation to trace those flying kites with the banned manja in the area. This is not the first such incident reported this year. On January 14, a 38-year-old migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh died in Sangareddy after a Chinese manja cut his neck while he was riding a two-wheeler. Despite a ban, Chinese manja continues to be used across the state. The synthetic string has been linked to injuries and deaths of humans, birds and animals.