Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | Vol. 69 No. 102 | 30 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 MEGA AGREEMENT | US cuts levy from 25% to 18% with India stopping Russian oil buy; Delhi pares tariffs to nil, to hike American purchases Trump seals trade deal, lowers tariff AI-132 fuel switch glitch revives AI-171 crash scare FPJ News Service NEW DELHI American President Donald Trump on Monday said the US and India had agreed to a bilateral trade deal that would lower reciprocal tariffs between the two countries. Announcing details of a phone conversation with PM Narendra Modi, Trump said Washington would reduce its reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18% , effective immediately. In return, he claimed India would move to cut its own tariffs and non-tariff barriers against US products to “zero." Trump made the remarks in a lengthy post on social media, describing Modi as “one of my greatest friends" and saying the two leaders had discussed trade, energy cooperation and the war in Ukraine. “Out of friendship and respect for PM Modi, and as per his request, we agreed to a trade deal between the US and India," Trump wrote. “He (Modi) agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the US and, potentially, Venezuela. This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week!" he added. Trump further claimed that New Delhi will significantly increase purchases of American goods and services. He said the Indian side had agreed to “BUY AMERICAN" at a much higher ICC slams Pak boycott decision Haridev Pushparaj Dhairya Gajara MUMBAI Sergio Gor's post on social media. "President Trump just spoke with PM Modi. STAY TUNED," Gor said. The phone conversation took place as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began a three-day visit to Washington to attend the ministerial meeting on critical minerals supply chain. Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet is under renewed scrutiny following a serious technical occurrence of the fuel cut-off switch on flight AI132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. The incident has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, as it involves the exact same mechanical failure suspected in the catastrophic AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad last June. The cockpit crew of the Boeing 787-8, registered as VTANX, reported that the left engine fuel control switch exhibited abnormal behaviour during operation on Monday. According to internal sources, the fuel control switch – which regulates the flow of fuel to the engine – bypassed its mechanical lock to remain locked in the run position and moved toward the cutoff position without pilot intervention. The crew managed to stabilise the switch and prevented an uncommanded engine shutdown, continuing to a safe landing in Bengaluru at 11.58am. Air India acknowledged the incident and said that the aircraft has been grounded upon landing and it is looking into the incident. 4See also | world 4See also | city ‘Thanks from 1.4 bn Indians’ M Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the US trade deal. “When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation,” Modi said. “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” he wrote on X. “President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace. I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights,” the PM added. P level, including more than $500 billion worth of US energy, technology, agricultural products, coal and other exports. “Our amazing relationship with India will be even stronger going forward," Trump said, adding that he and Modi were “two people that get things done." Trump's announcement followed US ambassador to India OM BIRLA SILENCES GUNS OF NARAVANE Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar MUMBAI NEW DELHI The International Cricket Council (ICC) reacted sharply to Pakistan’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India on February 15th, expressing displeasure in a strongly worded statement issued late on Sunday. ICC felt Pakistan’s decision, which was communicated through a post by the Pakistan government’s ‘X’ account, to play the World Cup but skip the India-Pakistan game was hard to reconcile with given the fact that a global sporting tournament is the platform. “The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the statement said. The ICC said it was still awaiting an official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the decision although there was no formal communication by the PCB to ICC on Monday. The Lok Sabha witnessed heated exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition benches on Monday after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi referred to the unpublished memoir of former Army chief General MM Naravane while speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, triggering objections from the government and repeated adjournments of the House. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | edit Gandhi cited the yetto-be-published memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny, and an article related to it to argue that the situation on the China front was not as secure as projected by the government. He was responding to BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s charge that the President’s Address during the Congress-led UPA years reflected a “narrative of excuses”, with Surya asserting that “weak leadership gives excuses” while “great leadership” delivers in the face of challenges. 4Contd on | nation THEOLOGICAL GUIDE FOR TEMPLE’S BODY IN MAHA Ravikiran Deshmukh MUMBAI The state government, for the first time, has approved the post of a Theological Guide for a temple's body to guide religious rituals, festivals, and ensure adherence to traditional practices in temples. The post has been sanc- tioned for Temples Management Committee for Western Maharashtra, which administers 3,067 temples across Kolhapur, Sangli and Sindhudurg districts. A government resolution (GR) issued last week said the post carries a pay matrix of Rs 25,500 to Rs 81,100, along with other benefits. The post has been approved by the Law and Judiciary Department and has a wide range of responsibilities attached to it. The incumbent will be responsible for guiding pujaris and purohits, supervising religious programmes organised by temples, and overseeing palakhi and ratha utsavas. 4Contd on | nation offgrid Grammy winners take aim @ ICE, Trump Deeksha Pandey China slams Dalai award MUMBAI The 68th Grammy Awards turned into a night of music and protest, as some of the world’s biggest artistes openly criticised US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and President Donald Trump, prompting a sharp response from the president, who threatened legal action against host Trevor Noah.  Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Kehlani and Rhiannon Giddens wore protest apparel, while Justin and Hailey Bieber, Carole King, Teddy Swims, Joni Mitchell, Finneas, Billie Eilish, Samara Joy, Lachi and Kehlani wore pins reading “ICE OUT”.  Bad Bunny, who is set to perform at the Super Bowl next weekend, won three Grammys, declared, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ICE out,” he said. 4Contd on | nation China on Monday criticised the decision to award a Grammy to the Dalai Lama, calling the honour a form of political manipulation against the country. The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy in the category of audiobook, narration and storytelling for his book Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 4See also | cinema