FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 236 | BHOPAL | SUNDAY | FEBRUARY 8, 2026 | Pages 18 ` 4 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Undercooked SL faces unpredictable Ireland in campaign opener P.18 Vijay Shah again tenders apology before SC hearing Apex court said that time to tender an apology was over Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Minister Vijay Shah has again tendered an apology before the hearing of the case in the Supreme Court on Monday. Shah’s apology came at a time when the apex court will hear the case a day after. The minister called a press conference in Indore, where he tendered the apology. A day before, the minister avoided questions over his statement raised by media persons. An SIT, inquiring into Shah’s statement that she is the sister of terrorists, has found him guilty and sought permission from the state government for his prosecution. The SC directed the government to take a decision within two weeks to pros- It indicates that the government has not given permission to SIT to prosecute him ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD 4Continued on | P8 As part of the 10-day ‘Shiv-Navratri Festival’ at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, the presiding deity was adorned with new clothes on Saturday evening. The festival began on Friday FP Photo Our Staff Reporter State Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma has said a little bit of corruption exists everywhere. Verma made the statement at a press conference in Rajgarh on Friday when the reporters sought his reaction to Chief Secretary Anurag Jain's remark on the collectors during a video conference. A dishonest person, whether he is a minister, a Tehsildar, an engineer or a labourer, will remain corrupt, he said. There are many Tehsildars whom he himself suspended on the charges of corruption, he said. He suspended the officers SKY’s 84 not out takes India to 161/9 vs USA IANS US President Donald Trump lifted a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, citing India’s commitments to stop buying Russian oil and to deepen security and economic ties with the United States. Trump signed an executive order ending the additional duty that had been imposed in August 2025 under a national emergency related to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. “I have determined that India has taken significant steps to address the national emergency described in Executive Order 14066 and to align sufficiently with the United States on national security, foreign policy, and economic matters,” Trump said in the order. He said India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian oil. The order also said India has represented that it will buy US OFF TABLE Maize Wheat Rice Soya Poultry Milk Cheese Ethanol (fuel) Tobacco Certain vegetables Meat energy products and has agreed to a framework with Washington to expand defense cooperation over the next 10 years.Based on those steps, Trump said he had decided to eliminate the extra 25 US President Donald Trump signed an executive order renewing the national emergency on Iran and creating a new tariff system targeting countries that buy goods or services from Tehran. It allows the US to impose additional tariffs on imports from any country that “directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or otherwise acquires any goods or services from Iran When the Office of the United States Trade Representative released a post on X to promote India-US trade post the new deal, an unusual detail stood out. The post had a map, which depicts India as a single, undivided territory. The outline includes the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, without demarcations separating areas administered by Pakistan or China from Rajgarh, Ashta, Seoni, and other places across the state, Verma said. Now, the situation has come to such a pass that even before a discussion over an issue, the collectors say they will correct the errors, if there are any, Verma said. Verma further said he was not the first person to have made such a remark. The officers should work with honesty and for the nation, the minister said, adding that those who take bribes are antinationals. Whosoever he or she may be, a person involved in corruption is working against the nation, Verma said. 4Continued on | P8 Gwalior varsity scientists grows potatoes in ‘air’ a community programme here, Modi said the Indian diaspora served as a living bridge between India and Malaysia and announced a new consulate in the archipelago nation and the Thiruvalluvar Scholarship to enable students to study in India. In a breakthrough that sounds straight out of a science fiction movie, agricultural scientists at Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (RVSKVV) in Gwalior are now successfully growing potatoes in the air using aeroponic technology. Leveraging the advanced Aeroponic technology, the university’s specialized unit is producing potato seeds (minitubers) without oil. Instead, the plants are suspended in a controlled environment where a fogging system delivers essential nutrients directly to the roots. These red-skinned potatoes are sugar-free and contain significantly lower starch levels, 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Pak win Netherlands: 147 all out in 19.5 overs Pakistan: 148 for 7 in 19.3 overs WI win Captain Suryakumar Yadav plays a shot during the match between India and USA, at Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai ‘Trust is India’s strongest currency’ Cheetah Aasha gives birth to 5 cubs India’s tally rises to 24 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL In yet another feather in hat of Project Cheetah, Cheetah Aasha gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park on Saturday. With this, the number of Indian-born cheetah cubs rises to 24. Union Minister for Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, took to Twitter to express his joy: "Aasha’s 4Continued on | P8 Map speaks louder than trade FP News Service Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is seen as a "trusted partner for growth" and it was reflected in the recent trade deals it has agreed with various countries, including the UK, USA and the EU. Addressing per cent duty on Indian goods. “In my judgment, this modification is necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14066,” he said. The tariff will be removed for Indian goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from bonded warehouses, on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on February 7, 2026. The order terminates several special tariff headings in the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. It also directs that refunds of duties already collected be processed under existing US Customs and Border Protection procedures. The decision reverses a penalty imposed last year after the administration concluded that India was importing Russian oil, despite US efforts to curb Moscow’s energy revenues following the invasion of Ukraine. Trump targets Iran trade GWALIOR KUALA LUMPUR NASHIK Reduced US tariff comes into effect T20 WORLD CUP KICKS OFF PTI INDORE TRADE RESET | Trump signs executive order ending additional duty imposed in Aug 2025 MUMBAI: Skipper Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with a brilliant unbeaten 84 as India extricated themselves from a precarious 77/6 to post a fighting total of 161/9 against the USA in their opening match of Group A in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. West Indies 182/5 in 20 overs Scotland 147 in 18.5 overs PUNE legacy leaps forward—India welcomes five adorable cubs. A moment of immense pride and joy for Project Cheetah as Aasha— the Namibian cheetah and proud second-time mother—gave birth to five cubs." With this addition, the tally of surviving Indian- MUMBAI E-paper Weekend Budget buzz P.12 Small-scale corruption exists everywhere: Revenue Min BHOPAL PRESS Readers’ Corner India-EU Trade Pact... P.6 Trust India’s strongest currency, says Modi WASHINGTON ecute the minister. The state has sent a reply to the apex court. The way Shah sought an apology indicates that the government has not given permission for his prosecution. Saha read out the written apology before media persons. The words used in the apology indicate that it will be presented to the apex court, which has already said that the time for tendering an apology was over. In his apology, Shah said, "It is necessary to use courteous words in public life. I have reflected over the incident. I have learnt a lesson.’’ In the apology, he wrote he would keep his tongue under control and never make such a mistake. UJJAIN born cubs reaches 24, marking the eighth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil, a significant milestone in India’s cheetah conservation journey under the environmentally conscious leadership of PM Narendra Modi. 4Continued on | P8 State Budget on Feb 18 Our Staff Reporter INDORE Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda announced that the state’s annual budget for 2026-27 will be presented on February 18. Devda said that public suggestions were taken into account while preparing the budget. Discussions were also held with subject experts and experienced professionals to ensure the budget is comprehensive and beneficial to the people. 4Continued on | P8 CJI opens conference on people-centric judiciary Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Chief Justice of India Surya Kant inaugurated a two-day conference of all the chief justices of high courts on a unified, efficient and people-centric judiciary here on Saturday. The conference aimed at a collective commitment to build a modern, uniform and accessible justice system for every citizen. The summit is centred on transforming the Indian judiciary through visionary leadership and the formulation of a national judicial policy. Key discussions focused on adopting strategic, data-driven judicial governance to streamline court administration and effective use and integration of advanced technology to en- CJI, HC chief justices visit Mrignayani Emporium The CJI and others visited the Mrignayani Emporium in GTB Complex in the evening, said ML Sharma, emporium head. hance alternative dispute resolution methods, ensuring the legal system evolved beyond traditional constraints. 4Continued on | P8