Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Friday, January 9, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 82 | 31 Pages THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation NATION NMC’s revocation of approval to medical college in Jammu is injustice, says Omar GAMES Cinema INCA launches platform unifying Indian film industries Mumbai Indians take on RCB in the Women’s Premier League opener in Navi Mumbai Edit Budget and credit policy: A testing time for markets? PRESSURE TACTIC | US president approves a bipartisan bill, paving way for tougher action against the countries buying Russian oil – India, Brazil, China Trump arms himself with 500% tariffs legislation Agencies WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow the US to impose tariffs of at least 500 percent on countries such as India, China and Brazil for importing Russian oil. The legislation, drafted by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham along with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, is aimed at cutting off funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to reports by UNB. “This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine,” Graham wrote on X. He added, “This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine. I Tariff’s structure will hold the key Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI Indians reacted with shock as US Senator Lindsey Graham announced that President Trump had green-lighted a bill allowing a 500% tariff levy on Indian exports to the US. Economists warned that India’s MSME sector—already struggling with 50% tariffs—could face huge job losses. The focus now will be on how the Trump administration will structure the tariffs. In August, pharmaceutical exports, along with semiconductors and aluminum products, were exempt as Trump launched an additional 25% tariff in August 2025, taking the total tariff on Indian exports up to 50%. So the structuring of the tariff will be a factor, and only once the US allegations reflect energy greed, says Venezuela fine print is understood can New Delhi take action. Sankhanath Bandyopadhyay, economist at the credit ratings agency Infomerics Valuation and Ratings, said in a recent interview. “Exports of gems and jewelry, marine products, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and steel, all heavily dependent on the US market, could suffer significant losses. If tariffs are reinstated or raised, Indian exporters could face losses of $7-10 billion.” Economists say India’s options include going to the WTO—a fairly useless proposition, as setting up a WTO committee would take over a month—and Trump is not likely to abide by any WTO ruling. 4Contd on | nation look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week.” Formally titled the Sanctioning of Russia Act 2025 (S 1241), Poland ‘satisfied’ with oil cut Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has expressed satisfaction over New Delhi reducing dependence on Russian oil. External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar was present in the meeting but did not react to it. “I expressed my satisfaction that India has reduced Russian oil imports because this is fuelling Putin’s war machine,” Sikorski said. “We can discuss it further when I travel to India next week,” he said at the first India-Weimar format meeting which brought together Jaishankar and senior European leaders. the proposed legislation is designed to pressure Moscow into peace negotiations by severely damaging its economic lifelines, particularly its energy revenues. Under the bill, the US president would be required to assess every 90 days whether Russia is refusing to negotiate a peace deal or has violated any agreement. If Russia is found to be non-compliant, mandatory sanctions would automatically come into effect. The legislation mandates 4Contd on | nation 4See also | world Bears tighten grip, `8L cr wiped out Palazhi Ashok Kumar MUMBAI Domestic equity markets extended their decline on Thursday as investor sentiment turned markedly risk-averse amid intensifying global trade concerns and sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) selling. Investors suffered a sharp erosion of wealth, with nearly Rs 8 lakh crore wiped off market capitalisation in a single session. The overall market value of BSE-listed companies slipped to below Rs 472.25 lakh crore from about Rs 480.07 lakh crore in the previous session. FIIs remained net sellers, offloading equities worth Rs 3,367 crore during the day, adding to pressure on benchmark indices. In December, foreign in- vestors were net sellers to the tune of $2.6 billion, while domestic institutional investors provided some support with net purchases of $8.9 billion. Market sentiment deteriorated sharply after fresh uncertainty emerged following the announcement of US President Trump backing a Bill proposing punitive tariffs over Russian oil that may hit India, triggering fears of a broader trade escalation. Benchmark indices fell for the fourth straight session. The Sensex closed 780.18 points lower at 84,180.96, while the Nifty dropped 263.90 points to 25,876.85. Losses were broadbased, with metal, oil and gas, PSU banks and IT stocks leading the decline. 4See also | money BJP inducts 12 Cong councillors HC pauses NMMC poll in Ward 17A FPJ News Service MUMBAI Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, on Thursday rejected US allegations linking the government to narcotics trafficking, democratic erosion and human rights violations, asserting these charges were being used as a pretext to exert pressure over the country’s energy resources. Addressing the nation, Rodríguez said Washington’s actions were motivated by what she described as the “energy greed of the North.” She argued that accusations related to drugs, democracy and human rights were merely convenient justifications to advance that agenda. According to Rodríguez, Venezuela has long been targeted because of its oil wealth, and external criticism should be viewed in that context rather than as concern for governance or civil liberties. tariffs of at least 500 percent on goods imported from any country that knowingly buys Russian oil, gas or uranium. The measure is aimed directly at major buyers, including China, India and Brazil. In addition, financial institutions and companies outside Russia that help facilitate Russia’s energy trade would face secondary sanctions. Sameera Kapoor Munshi MUMBAI Ravikiran Deshmukh MUMBAI Putting aside strong reservations expressed by its ally, the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the BJP on Thursday inducted 12 Congress councillors from Ambernath. The move sends a clear message that the BJP intends to run the civic body on its own strength and does not wish to depend on its alliance partner. The 12 councillors, who were suspended by the Congress for choosing to align with the BJP, formally joined the saffron party at an event in Navi Mumbai. They were welcomed by BJP state president Ravindra Chavan, who said the councillors had joined to ensure that development work continued under the “double- SNUB TO SHINDE engine” BJP government at the Centre and in Maharashtra. Recent political churn in Ambernath, which falls under the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency represented by Shrikant Shinde, son of Eknath Shinde, has unsettled the Ma- hayuti alliance. The BJP first contested independently and succeeded in getting its candidate, Tejashri Karanjule, elected as council president. It then took the lead in forming the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi (AVA) with Congress support, effectively sidelining the Shiv Sena despite it being the single largest party with 27 members. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP also joined the AVA with its four councillors, taking the alliance’s strength to 31. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city The Bombay High Court on Thursday stayed the election process for Ward No. 17A of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), after observing prima facie illegality in the rejection of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate’s nomination during scrutiny. As per the order, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad passed an ad-interim order while hearing a petition filed by Nilesh Chhaburao Bhojane. Bhojane’s nomination from the Vashi division was rejected during the scrutiny process completed on December 31, 2025. 4Contd on | nation ED rushes to HC after face-off with Mamata FPJ News Service KOLKATA The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at the residence of IPAC chief and TMC IT cell head Pratik Jain and at the political consultancy firm’s office in Kolkata in connection with a money laundering probe linked to an alleged coal pilferage scam, triggering high drama. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to Jain’s Loudon Street home along with Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, accusing the central agency of attempting to seize the Trinamool Congress’s internal documents and digital data, and later visited the I-PAC office in Salt Lake, even as the 1942-2026 Mamata Banerjee with files she retrieved after ED raids ED alleged obstruction of its investigation and subsequently moved the Calcutta High Court seeking protection to carry out the probe without hindrance. The drama began around 67 am as the searches were carried out at about 10 premises, including six in West Bengal and four in Delhi, in the presence of central paramilitary forces. I-PAC’s office and Jain’s residence. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation SC reserves verdict on Justice Varma’s House probe plea PTI NEW DELHI ECOLOGIST GADGIL PASSES AWAY AGED 83 FPJ News Service MUMBAI Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil, whose life’s work reshaped India’s understanding of conservation and community-led environmentalism, passed away late Wednesday in Pune after a brief illness. He was 83. Gadgil was among the most influential scientific voices India has produced, combining rigorous ecological research with an unflinching commitment to democratic decision-making and people’s rights over natural resources. For over 60 years, he argued conservation could not be imposed from above, but had to be rooted in local knowledge, public participation, and social equity. Born in Pune on May 24, 1942, into an eminent academic family, he was exposed early to public policy and intellectual debate. The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that if the Vice President can exercise the functions of the President in the latter’s absence, then there is no reason why the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha cannot exercise the functions of the Chairman when the Chairman is absent. The remarks were made by a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and S C Sharma while refusing to agree with submissions made on behalf of Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma that the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha had no power to reject an impeachment motion against him. Justice Varma has challenged the legality of the parliamentary panel probing corruption charges against him. He was repatriated from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court after burnt wads of currency notes were found at his official residence in New Delhi on March 14. The bench reserved its verdict on Varma’s plea and asked the parties to file their written submissions by Monday. If VP can exercise President’s functions, why can’t RS deputy chairman act as chairman: SC Appearing for Varma, senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra argued that under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, only the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman have the power to accept or reject an impeachment motion, and not the Deputy Chairman. They contended that Article 91 of the Constitution, which allows the Deputy Chairman to perform the duties of the Chairman in his absence, cannot be used to confer discretionary powers that are specifically vested in the Chairman under the Act. 4Contd on | nation `4.3cr K’taka govt adverts to National Herald spark row Vinay Madhava Gowda BENGALURU The Karnataka government’s decision to release advertisements to the National Herald epaper has triggered a political controversy, with Opposition parties questioning the Information Department for spending large sums on a digital publication that does not even have a printed edition. Over the past three years, the Karnataka government has released advertisements worth more than ₹4.31 crore to National Herald — the highest amount paid to any national media outlet. Of this, the publication received ₹1.90 crore in 2023–24 and ₹1.42 crore in 2024–25. In the ongoing financial year 2025–26, the government has so far released ₹99 lakh. Notably, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also holds the Information Department portfolio. Leader of the Opposition R Ashok alleged that despite Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar being out on bail in a case related to National Herald, the Chief Minister had continued to release public funds to what he described as a Congress-linked entity. US exits 66 key global bodies SC: How many dogs do you want roaming in hosps? PTI UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from over 60 international organisations, including UN bodies and the India-France-led International Solar Alliance, calling the institutions “redundant” and “contrary” to US interests. Trump signed the memorandum on Wednesday titled 'Withdrawing the United States from International Organisations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Inter- International Solar Alliance, a climate and renewable energy initiative coled by India and France, is among the organisations. ests of the United States'.   After signing, Trump said he has determined that it is “contrary” to the interests of the US to remain a member of, participate in, or otherwise provide support to the 66 UN and non-UN organisations.  This includes 31 UN entities, as well as 35 non-UN organisations “that operate contrary to US national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty,” according to a White House fact sheet issued Wednesday.  Trump asked all executive departments and agencies to take steps to put into effect the withdrawal from the organisations “as soon as possible”. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | world FPJ News Service NEW DELHI The SC on Thursday continued hearing a suo motu case on the rising menace of stray dogs and dog bite incidents across the country, with the Bench repeatedly flagging the failure of municipal authorities and State governments to implement the animal birth control (ABC) ules. The hearing saw detailed submissions from advocates, animal welfare groups and affected residents, touching upon public safety, animal welfare, Supreme Court hears arguments on how a reduction of dogs could lead to a spike in rodent population The dog can always smell a human who is afraid of dogs. It will always attack when it senses that. We are talking from personal experience. lack of infrastructure and conflicting rights. A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria examined, among other issues, whether stray dogs should be present at all in institutional premises such as courts, schools and hospitals. The Court questioned whether citizens should be made to “suffer because of the auth- orities’ failure to comply with the ABC rules,” Bar & Bench and Live Law report. One of the most discussed moments of the hearing came when the Bench observed that dogs can sense fear in humans. “The dog can always smell a human who is afraid of dogs. It will always attack when it senses that. We are talking from personal experience,” the SC said. When a dog lover present in the court shook her head in disagreement, the Bench responded, “Madam, don’t nod your head. If they know you are scared, there is a higher chance they will attack you. Even your pet will do it.” 4Contd on | nation 4See also | world