THE SUNDAY Vol. 37 No. 20 | Sunday, February 8, 2026 33 Pages | `5 & for Pune `7 | Reg. No. MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 46955/1988 M.p.c.s. office Mumbai-400001 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 PLAY & PAUSE Weekend GenZ is happy with Orange Economy Live Smart Revenge quitting is back with vengeance Priyanka Nath’s songs are stories of love & loss Sunday Read Dr. Kurush F Dalal discusses history of food TARIFFS SLASHED | Commerce Minister says pact opens a $30 trillion market for Indian exporters Interim agreement framework in place Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI Narendra Modi on February 13, 2025, which will include additional market access commitments and support more resilient supply chains.” India’s politicians also took to X to announce the interim trade agreement but unlike Ambassador Gor they made no mention of an eventual FTA. Prime Minister Modi wrote that the interim trade agreement showcased the “growing depth, trust and dynamism of our partnership. It strengthens ‘Make in India’ by opening new oppor- tunities for India’s hardworking farmers, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, StartUp innovators, fishermen and more. It will generate large-scale employment for women and youngsters.” The prime minister’s remarks on X was seconded by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal who stated that the interim agreement would “open a $30 trillion market for Indian exporters, especially MSMEs, farmers and fishermen. Lens on oil purchases cial the Secretary of Commerce deems appropriate, shall monitor whether India resumes directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil, as defined in section 7 of Executive Order 14329.” The order added. India and the United States unveiled an interim trade agreement today the framework of which may serve the foundation of an eventual Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations. Taking to X, the US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor unveiled a White House statement that called the trade agreement a “historic milestone in our countries partnership” and stated. “Today’s framework reaffirms the countries’ commitment to the broader U.S.India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, launched by President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Maha ZP polls turnout over 52 per cent Coast Guard busts Ritu Tawde to be Mumbai Mayor ICC SEEKS PCB CLARITY oil smuggling racket With Ritu Tawde’s Two of the three vessels (in pic) seized by the Indian Coast Guard Ashish Singh MUMBAI The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has dismantled a sophisticated international oil cargo smuggling syndicate following a mid-sea operation off India's west coast, officials confirmed on Saturday. The operation, carried out on February 5 and 6, led to the interception of three vessels allegedly engaged in the illicit transfer of oil-based cargo approximately 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai. The operation was the culmination of an intensive sea-air surveillance effort triggered by "red-flag" movements within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to the ICG, the syndicate operated a complex transnational network invol- ving handlers based in multiple countries. The syndicate apparently sourced cheap oil and petroleum products from conflict-ridden regions and transferred the cargo mid-sea to motor tankers in international waters. This "ship-to-ship" transfer was to bypass regulatory oversight and evade heavy customs duties. The operation was triggered after ICG’s technologyenabled surveillance systems flagged suspicious movement of a motor tanker operating erratically within the EEZ, prompting a detailed digital investigation into the vessel’s activity, including traffic patterns analysis of nearby ship movements. Will not apologise, says Trump Agencies WASHINGTON 4Contd on | Nation MP pitches for elderly care leave provision PTI NEW DELHI US President Donald Trump on Friday said he would not apologise after a racist social media post depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes was deleted from his Truth Social account following widespread backlash. “I didn’t make a mistake,” Trump told reporters when asked if he planned to apologise. He also said he “didn’t see” the part of the video that contained the racist depiction and claimed he had only watched the beginning before a staff member posted it. 4Contd on | Nation Dheeraj Kumar PATNA 4Contd on | Nation But we took a different decision after 40-50 opposition MPs stormed into the chamber of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and spoke nastily – Kiren Rijiju after “40-50 opposition MPs” barged into the chamber of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and “spoke in a nasty way”. “Let me be very clear that we are not afraid of anything. We Pappu Yadav in hospital after arrest are in power. We could have simply smothered our detractors inside the House by calling in the marshals. 4Contd on | Nation PTI Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday blamed the opposition for PM Narendra Modi not replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha. At a press conference, Rijiju said the decision was taken Keeping its cards close to its chest till the very end, the Bharatiya Janata Party has named Ghatkopar corporator Ritu Tawde (53), from Ward 132, as its candidate for the post of mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The announcement was made by Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam at the BMC headquarters on Saturday. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena has nominated Dahisar corporator Sanjay Ghadi (56), from Ward 5, as deputy mayor. With Shiv Sena (UBT) opting out of the contest, both posts are set to be filled unop- Independent MP from Purnia, Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav, was admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday after he developed health complications following his arrest in a 1995 case. Yadav was taken to PMCH after being shifted from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), where he was admitted late on Friday night, soon after his arrest. He was later also taken to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology (IGIC) for a medical check-up. The MP was arrested after he failed to appear before a court in a case in which he was accused of fraudulently renting a house in Patna’s Gardanibagh area and using it as his office. The case was registered against him and others at the Gardanibagh police station. Rijiju blames Opposition for PM skipping Lok Sabha debate PATNA On Russian oil, President Trump Executive Order released on Friday evening stated, “The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and any other senior offi- 4Contd on | Nation Shefali Parab-Pandit MUMBAI 4Contd on | Nation NEW DELHI Haridev Pushparaj MUMBAI Ravikiran Deshmukh Voting for the Zilla Parishad (ZP) and Panchayat Samiti elections across 12 districts recorded a turnout of 52.02 per cent till 3.30 pm on Saturday. According to figures released by the State Election Commission, Kolhapur reported the highest turnout at 58.81 per cent, followed by Raigad at 57.77 per cent and Parbhani at 55.71 per cent. The elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis have assumed added significance following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The Nationalist Congress Party holds considerable influence in several poll-bound districts of western Maharashtra, including Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur and Raigad in the Konkan region, as well as Dharashiv and Parbhani in Marathwada. Both factions of the NCP have come together under the Clock symbol to contest the elections in Pune, Satara, Sangli and Solapur. The polling date was postponed from February 5 to February 7 following Pawar’s death and the subsequent three-day state mourning. 4Contd on | Nation Ashwin Ahmad BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmik on Friday pitched for a mandatory 45-day leave for employees in both the government and private sectors to take care of parents aged over 60 years. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Upper House, Balmik said the government has taken “historic steps for the upliftment of women and youth,” but added that it was now time to address another important concern. She highlighted the difficulties faced by the “sandwich gener- ation” people who are caught between caring for ageing parents and managing their professional responsibilities. Pointing to demographic trends, the MP said despite India having the most youth power in 2026, the number of senior citizens would have crossed 14.9 crore. By 2036, this number will exceed 23 crore. “Soon, every third Indian will be an elderly person,” she said. Balmik noted that rapid urbanisation and employment opportunities have forced crores of young people to move away from their homes, leaving their parents behind in By 2036, the number of senior citizens will cross 23 crore-mark their native places. “When elderly people in every house need medical care, the presence of a physical person?" either son or daughter?" is very important. However, they are troubled to take leave from office and they do not get leave,” she said. Emphasising the growing silver economy, she said its success depends on sons or daughters being available to provide primary care to senior citizens. 4Contd on | Nation elevation, the BJP will, for the first time in 44 years, take charge of the Mumbai Mayor’s office. Sanjay Ghadi and Ritu Tawde posed when elections are held on Wednesday, February 11, at the civic headquarters, marking a significant political mile- stone in Mumbai’s civic history. Although the BJP was part of the ruling alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena for over MUMBAI 25 years, the party last had its Mayor in 1982. A long-standing ambition, nurtured since Dr P S Pai took over as Mayor in 1982 will again come true after a gap of 44 years for the BJP The breakthrough has been widely seen as the result of a carefully calibrated political strategy. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought a formal explanation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over its decision to invoke the ‘force majeure’ clause to withdraw from the T20 World Cup match against India, citing government instructions. The ICC has questioned why Pakistan chose to forfeit only the India fixture while continuing to participate in the rest of the tournament under the same directive. 4See also | Mumbai 4Contd on | Nation