Thursday, February 5, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 104 | 31 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation l E-paper edition is not a replica of the print edition GAMES US trade official Greer says apart from cutting tariffs to zero on 99% of American goods, India to scrap many non-tariff barriers ‘Text still being finalised’ Deeksha Pandey MUMBAI US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer on Tuesday described the India–US trade agreement as a “very exciting opportunity,” saying the two sides have agreed on the broad contours and specifics of the deal, with the formal text still being finalised. During an interview on Right now, India’s average tariff on industrial goods is around 13.5%. Under this agreement that’s going to go to zero for virtually everything — I mean about 98–99% of those goods. CNBC Squawk Box, Greer said the agreement would significantly expand market access for American exporters, while allowing India to retain protection in certain sensitive sectors. “This is it. The time has come, and now we have the deal. We’ll finish papering it, but we know the specifics — we know the details. It’s a very exciting opportunity for both countries,” he said. Calling the agreement a On the agricultural side, there’s a vast array of products where tariffs will go to zero — things like tree nuts, wine, spirits, fruits, vegetables. “big win,” Greer noted that the United States would continue to maintain tariffs of about 18% on Indian goods, citing the large trade deficit with India. “On the one hand, we will continue to maintain some level of tariff against India — about 18 percent — because we have this giant trade deficit with them,” he said. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | money, nation, world Yes, the non-tariff barriers, as you know, if you get rid of a tariff, that’s one thing, but often the nontariff barriers pose problems, so we have an understanding and agreement with the Indians as well on a variety of technical barriers to trade, areas where they have not accepted US standards. President Trump very accurately put the Indians on notice that we viewed this as supporting the Russian war effort, and starting at the end of last year, the Indians started winding down their purchases of Russian oil. We’ve been monitoring that. Chaos stalls Modi address Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI PM Narendra Modi’s much-anticipated address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday evening, during the conclusion of the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, could not take place after sustained disruptions by the Opposition over the suspension of eight MPs. The PM was expected to outline the government’s position on the India-US trade deal, but repeated adjournments through the day ensured that the House never settled. When proceedings finally resumed around 5 pm, just minutes before Modi was scheduled to speak, women MPs from the Opposition moved into the Well of the House and physically blocked the seats of ruling party members, including the Prime Minister’s chair. The protesting MPs, including Varsha Gaikwad and Jyotimani, unfurled a large banner reading “Do what is right”, demanding the revocation of the suspension of seven Congress MPs and one CPI(M) member for backing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on speaking about the 2020 India-China Galwan Valley clashes. 4Contd on | nation Khemchand sworn in CM FPJ News Service MUMBAI BJP leader Y Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur on Wednesday, hours after President’s Rule in the state was revoked, marking the restoration of an elected government in the violence-hit northeastern state. WANGCHUK’S HEALTH NOT GOOD: SC FPJ News Service MUMBAI Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 62-year-old legislator at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Imphal. BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen, who belongs to the Kuki community, and L Dikho of the Naga People’s Front took oath as deputy chief ministers. Kipgen took the oath virtually from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi. 4Contd on | nation ‘India free on oil choice’ India is free to buy oil from any country, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, a day after saying Moscow has not received any message from New Delhi on not buying Russian oil. "India has always purchased these (oil) products from other countries. Therefore, we see nothing new here." SC FROWNS ON TARDY CBI & ED PROBE ON ANIL AMBANI PTI NEW DELHI she urged the Court, Live Law and Bar & Bench report. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation 4Cont on | nation 4See also | edit ‘ Commission targeting Bengal’ FPJ News Service West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday personally appeared before the Supreme Court and strongly attacked the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State, alleging that Bengal was being selectively targeted ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V M Pancholi, Banerjee said the SIR process was aimed “only at deletion, not inclusion” of voters and posed a serious threat to democracy. “Save democracy,” They’ve been diversifying purchases of energy from the US, not just oil but also gas, propane, other things. That’s been going up. We’ll keep monitoring that. The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over the “unexplained delay” in investigations into alleged largescale banking and corporate fraud involving Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), Anil Ambani and its group companies, directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct a “fair”, “prompt” and “dispassionate” probe. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was hearing a public interest litigation filed by former bureaucrat EAS Sarma, which alleges massive financial wrongdoing to the tune of about Rs 40,000 crore. The Bench sought fresh status reports from both agencies within four weeks on the progress of the investigations. Represented by Mukul Rohatgi, Anil Ambani assured the Court he would not leave India without permission, after Sarma’s fears, as Tushar Mehta said LOCs exist. NEW DELHI The SC on Wednesday asked the Centre to consider whether it could revisit the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, noting that his health condition was “not good”. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale said Wangchuk’s medical report indicated health concerns and urged the government to reflect on the matter. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj was asked to seek instructions from the authorities. “Apart from submissions, counter-submissions and law points, just give a thought to it as an officer of the court,” it remarked orally. What takes two years is being done in two to three months, during festival and harvesting season. Why the hurry? Mamata Banerjee in her SC appearance 3 minor sisters jump to death GAME ADDICTION Biswajeet Banerjee GHAZIABAD A tragic incident unfolded in Ghaziabad’s Bharat City area, where three sisters, all minors, allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the ninth floor of a residential building. Police investigations have pointed to extreme addiction to a task-based online Korean game and a family dispute over mobile phone use as possible triggers. Cinema Kaun hai Shanaya Kapoor ka bhookha magarmach? Aaron George’s silken hundred carries India into Under-19 World Cup final The incident took place under the Teelamod police station limits. The deceased have been identified as Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Paaki (12), daughters of Chetan Kumar. Police said they rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident at around 2.18 am. According to the family and police officials, the girls were sleeping in the same room, and their parents in another room. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city ‘KOREAN LOVE GAME’ FPJ News Service MUMBAI The so-called “Korean Love Game” is described as a manipulative, task-based online platform that targets minors by exploiting emotional vulnerability. It begins when an unknown person contacts a child through social media platforms or mobile applications. The individual usually claims to be a Korean national or a foreigner and initiates conversations centred on friendship and love. Once trust is established, the child is gradually assigned tasks. The initial tasks are relatively simple, such as chatting regularly or waking up in the middle of the night to prove loyalty. 4Contd on | nation Edit The inimitable Mamata and her fight for political survival 24 HOURS LONG: MOTHER OF ALL TRAFFIC SNARLS Doval bluntly told DC to dial down criticism FPJ News Service MUMBAI India’s eventual breakthrough with the US on trade did not come with a flourish of joint statements or choreographed handshakes. It followed months of discreet diplomacy, careful signalling and a calculated decision by New Delhi to lower the temperature with a White House that had turned openly hostile. In early September, days after PM Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China, India moved quietly to reset ties with Washington. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was dispatched to the US capital with a blunt but conciliatory message, reported Bloomberg. In a private meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Doval said India wanted to move past the acrimony of recent months and revive stalled trade talks, according to officials in New Delhi familiar with the discussions. While making it clear that India would not be “bullied” by President Trump or his aides — and that New Delhi was willing to wait out Trump’s term, as it had done in the past with hostile US administrations — Doval urged the US to dial down public criticism to get ties back on track. 4Contd on | nation PIC: SATISH SATHYE NATION IT blue chips sink, Anthropic’s new AI tools retrigger concerns Raina Assainar NAVI MUMBAI The Mumbai–Pune Expressway saw the mother of all traffic snarls starting Tuesday evening and running through till late Wednesday evening with vehicles stranded for over 24 hours — a disruption so pro- longed that commuters ruefully remarked it would have been cleared “in a jiffy” had there been any VIP movement involved. The unprecedented gridlock began around 5 pm on Tuesday after a BPCL tanker carrying highly inflammable propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in the Bhor Ghat section of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. The tanker, travelling from Kochi to Surat, lost control on a sharp curve, turned turtle near the tunnel entrance and began leaking gas, triggering an immediate safety scare. 4See also | city ‘Jo uchit samjho, woh karo’ Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI The Congress on Wednesday mounted coordinated protests inside and outside Parliament after eight of its Lok Sabha MPs were suspended for repeatedly raising the issue of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi being disallowed from placing his views on the Centre’s handling of the 2020 India-China clashes. Ahead of the day’s proceedings, Congress MPs, including Rahul and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, gathered outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar holding placards that read “PM is compromised”. Gandhi described the refusal to allow him to speak in the House as a “blot on democracy”. 4Contd on | nation