FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 41 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | JULY 25, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Toe fracture ends Rishabh’s heroic return tour P.14 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN MONEY PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema Actors injured on shoot P.16 MEGA DEAL | FTA seeks to boost both the economies, slash tariff lines across 99 per cent of Indian exports, unlock thousands of jobs INDIA, UK INK LANDMARK FREE TRADE AGREEMENT Deal offerings LONDON India and the UK on Thursday inked a landmark free trade agreement that seeks to boost both the economies, slash tariff lines across 99 per cent of Indian exports, unlock thousands of jobs and cut tariffs on British whisky, cars and an array of other items. The pact, officially named as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and British Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in the presence of the prime ministers of India and the UK. The mega deal was formalised shortly after British PM Keir Starmer hosted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Chequers, the countryside residence of the British PM that is located 50 kms northwest of London. The CETA, firmed up after three years of negotiations, is expected to ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods across all sectors and India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99 per cent of tariff lines (product categories) covering almost 100 per cent of the trade values, officials said. "I'm really pleased and privileged to welcome you here today on what I consider to be a historic day for both of fp Briefs BHOPAL Pankaj Tyagi to be new DRM, Bhopal Pankaj Tyagi has been appointed new Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Bhopal. He will succeed Devashish Tripathi. NEW DELHI Jobs rose to 64.33 crore since 2018 The number of employed people in the country rose to 64.33 crore in 2023-24 from 47.5 crore in 2017-18, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje informed Parliament on Thursday citing RBI data. According to a written reply by the Minister of State for Labour & Employment in Rajya Sabha, 'The KLEMS (K: Capital, L: Labour, E: Energy, M: Materials and S: Services)' database published by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provides employment estimates, including manufacturing sector, at allIndia level. NEW DELHI High-Octane Indo-Pak clash on cards The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is poised to officially announce the UAE as the host nation for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 2026, with India playing a central role in organizing the high-stakes continental event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starmer, in London » Scotch and gin: Import duties on Scotch whisky and gin will be reduced from 150% to 75% and brought down to 40% over 10 years » Cars: Duties on UKmade vehicles, currently exceeding 100%, will be slashed to 10% » Other goods: Tariff reductions on UK exports such as cosmetics, medical devices, chocolates, biscuits, and salmon (variety of fish) ogether, we are laying the foundation stone of a new history. We are meeting for the third time this year. I consider this very significant. The UK and India are natural partners. Today marks a historic day in our relations. This will pave a very strong path for the future generations of India and the UK. This is adding a new chapter in business and trade Narendra Modi, Prime Minister T I t is a deal that will bring huge benefits to both of our countries, boosting wages, raising living standards and putting more money in the pockets of working people. It is good for jobs, it is good for business, cutting tariffs and making trade cheaper, quicker and easier Keir Starmer, UK PM our countries, and the delivery of the commitment that we made to each other," said Starmer, as he greeted the Indian prime minister. In his remarks to the media, Modi said the UK and India are "natural partners" and said the nations were "writing a new chapter" in their history. He highlighted Indian textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery, seafood and engineering goods will get better market access in the UK, with agricultural products and processed food industry winning new opportunities for growth following the trade deal. "This agreement will prove especially beneficial for India's youth, farmers, fishermen and MSME sector. On the other hand, people and industries in India will be able to access products made in the UK such as medical devices and aerospace parts at affordable and attractive prices," Modi said. "Along with this agreement, we have also reached a consensus on the Double Contributions Convention (DCC). This will inject new energy into the services sectors of both countries, especially in technology and finance." "It will promote ease of doing business, reduce cost of doing business and increase the confidence of doing business," he said. 4Continued on | P8 Extremist forces must not be allowed to misuse freedom: Modi PTI LONDON Forces with "extremist ideologies" must not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday after meeting his British counterpart Keir Starmer, in remarks that came amid increasing concern in India over activities of pro-Khalistani elements in the UK. With Starmer by his side, Modi also said that both India and the UK are "united in our view that there can be no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism" as he thanked the British government for its "strong" condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack. He made the remarks after Starmer hosted him at Chequers, the countryside residence of the British PM located 50 kms northwest of London. "We agree that forces with extremist ideologies must not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms. Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account," Modi said in his media statement. Report on OBC before caste census The government will present a study report to the court for giving 27% in jobs Nitendra Sharma BHOPAL The state government is preparing a report on the OBC before the beginning of the caste census. The government will present a report on the number of OBC people, their financial status, and their social condition to the Supreme Court, which is hearing a petition on the 27% quota in jobs to be given to the people of this category. The report will be prepared through the OBC Welfare Commission. Former minister Ramkrishna Kusmaria will 30-day leave for Central staff to take care of elderly parents HC seeks report over affiliation of paramedical colleges PTI NEW DELHI The service rules allow 30 days' leave to Central government employees, which can be availed for any personal reason including that of taking care of elderly parents, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The minister was asked whether there is any provision for government employees to avail leave to take care of their elderly parents. 4Continued on | P8 Recognition issued to more than 150 institutions Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL High Court, principal bench of Jabalpur, on Thursday has sought inspection report from the state government over paramedical colleges’ affiliation. HC has continued its stay regarding irregularities in recognition and admission of paramedical colleges. The High Court had stayed the preside over the commission, and Musam Bisen will be its member. The commission will submit a report on the OBC in the state. Trump asks tech giants to stop hiring from India Agencies WASHINGTON DC order of the state government which allowed the Paramedical Council to distribute recognition for academic sessions (2023-24 and 2024-25) with retrospective effect. During the hearing of the PIL filed by the Law Students Association in the nursing case, an application was submitted by the petitioner recently and the High Court was informed that like nursing, irregularities are being noticed in recognition of paramedical colleges as well. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Hindu temple defaced with racist graffiti PTI MELBOURNE A Hindu temple and two Asian-run restaurants were defaced with racist graffiti in Melbourne, raising concerns among the community members in Australia, a media report said on Thursday. Shree Swaminarayan Temple on Wadhurst Drive, Melbourne's eastern suburb of Boronia, was defaced with red-painted racist slurs on Monday morning, the Australia Today web portal reported. Two restaurants located further on Boronia Road were painted with the same slurs on the same day, it added. Victoria Police confirmed the incident, saying that "There is absolutely no place at all in our society for hatebased and racist behaviour", the report said. Shocked with the incident, President of the Hindu Council of Australia, Victoria chapter, Makrand Bhagwat, said it "feels like an attack on our identity, our right to worship and freedom of religion," the web portal reported. Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan, in a private message Youths to get Rs 5K for job-oriented industries: CM Online Report NEW DELHI The next Vice President will be a veteran leader from the BJP, top sources in the party said, ruling out speculation that the BJP may consider key allies, such as JDU chief Nitish Kumar, for the top post vacated by the sudden exit of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. "The VP will be someone closely associated with the party's ideology," a top BJP leader said. Earlier, a meeting between JDU leader and Union minister Ram Nath Thakur and BJP chief JP Nadda had sparked a buzz. But sources trashed such speculation, stressing that it was a routine interaction. The sources also said the BJP had not spoken to the JDP leadership about the post. The Election Commission has started preparing for the Vice Presidential election. The poll body has said in a press note that the poll schedule will be announced after the formalities. "Major pre-announcement activities have already started”, the poll body has said. Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL CM Mohan Yadav has said for encouraging youths in employment-oriented industries, Rs 5k will be provided as incentive. He was addressing the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of 6 new industrial units with an investment of Rs 416 crore in Acharpura Industrial Area near Bhopal on Thursday. He said that Acharpura will emerge as a special industrial centre. 4Continued on | P8 D efence minister Rajnath Singh will lay the foundation stone of a rail coach manufacturing unit in Raisen with an investment of Rs 1800 crore on August 10. Preparations are being made for the foundation stone laying of a state-of-theart rail coach factory in village Umaria of Gauharganj tehsil of Raisen district. Around 1,575 people will get direct and indirect employment. The process of acquisition is being done to connect the government land allotted to the unit with the railway line. All eligible Ladli Behna beneficiaries will be given Rs 1500 every month after Diwali. It is the month of Sawan, they will also be given shagun amount. The amount will be increased year after year and it will be increased to Rs 3k by the year 2028. NHRC flags police bias in DJ Yaseen sex abuse case Cops trace wider sex racket as case deepens Our Staff Reporter US President Donald Trump has called for eschewing "radical globalism" pursued by some of the country's firms, including tech giants like Google, Meta and Microsoft, among others, to "stop building factories" and "hiring workers" from countries including India. "For too long, much of our tech industry pursued a radical globalism that left millions of Americans feeling distrustful and betrayed. And you know that," Trump said. "Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India, and slashing profits in Ireland. You know that. All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home," Trump said ahead of unveiling his administration's "AI Action Plan." 4Continued on | P8 Next Vice Prez to be from BJP: Party sources BHOPAL Amended bill to be brought to the House The government is getting ready to bring the amended bill to the House for giving 27% of reservation in jobs. The bill will be brought to the House after the commission submits the study report. The Congress government led by Kamal Nath brought the bill to the House to give 27% reservation to the OBC. But the bill did not consist of any study or survey report. Now, the government is preparing to bring a bill to the House on a strong foundation. E-paper Edit Thaw in India, China ties P.6 ‘Transformational milestone’ PTI MUMBAI to temple management, called the attack "hateful" and "racist", the report said. "What happened this week was hateful, racist and deeply disturbing. It wasn't just vandalism - it was a deliberate act of hate, designed to intimidate, isolate, and spread fear," the report quoted from Jacinta's message. Meanwhile, the Hindu Community urged support from interfaith groups following the incident. The investigation into DJ Yaseen, already booked for drugging and sexually exploiting multiple girls, has taken a troubling turn as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised serious concern about possible police bias and protection. Bhopal Police have recovered 20 obscene videos from Yaseen’s mobile phone, allegedly showing young school and college girls being abused after being addicted to drugs. NHRC member Priyank Kanungo, in a post on X, alleged that a fair and impartial investigation is unlikely due to Yaseen’s family’s close ties with senior police officials. He said the accused deliberately targeted Hindu girls by luring them to parties, supplying drugs and then raping and filming them to blackmail them into continued sexual exploitation. Kanungo also al- Yaseen’s uncle seen with senior cop in viral photographs. Photo of family members of Drug peddler Yaseen, who is police custody, with police officials. leged that several girls were pressured to convert to Islam and were kept as sex slaves. Calling the police inquiry inadequate, Kanungo said the focus of the investigation must shift to those protecting the accused rather than just the crime. He posted viral photographs showing Yaseen’s uncle Sohel and other family members with several police officials, including a woman officer of CSP rank who was earlier posted in Bhopal. Yaseen and his uncle Shahwar were arrested by the Crime Branch on Tuesday and are currently in custody. Police seized over 15 grams of MD ED raids Anil Ambani firms in Rs 3,000-cr bank loan ‘fraud’ case FAKE DOCTOR ON THE RUN Investigators are now hunting for an alleged doctor, close to Yaseen, who reportedly advised young people to use drugs like MD as a health and weight loss solution. His role in the wider drug network is being probed. Additional DCP (Crime) Shailendra Singh Chauhan said that source of drugs is being traced, and the accused are being interrogated further. Victims identified so far are being supported through counselling. drug, a pistol and two SUVs during the operation. 4Continued on | P8 Thai, Cambodian forces clash over border dispute AP BANGKOK PTI MUMBAI The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted raids at multiple locations as part of an alleged Rs 3,000 crore worth bank loan fraud-linked money laundering case against the companies of Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani, official sources said. Some more bank loans taken by these companies apart from certain alleged undisclosed foreign assets are under the scanner of the agency. More than 35 premises in Mumbai belonging to 50 companies and 25 people were searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Some documents and computer peripherals have been recovered, they said. The investigation is being carried out by a Delhi-based investigation unit of the ED. ED sources said they are primarily probing allegations of illegal loan diversion of around Rs 3,000 crore, given by the Yes Bank to the group companies of Ambani between 2017-2019. Two group companies, Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure, said in separate but identical regulatory filings that the ED action has had "absolutely no impact" on their business operations, financial performance, shareholders, employees, or any other stakeholders. "The media reports appear to pertain to allegations concerning transactions of Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) or Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) which are over 10 years old," the companies said. 4Continued on | P8 Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed in several areas along their border Thursday in a major escalation of their conflict that left at least 11 people dead, mostly civilians. The two sides fired small arms, artillery and rockets, and Thailand also called in airstrikes. Thai villagers could be seen on video fleeing their homes to seek shelter as the clashes began in the morning. Fighting was ongoing in at least six areas along the border, Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said. The trigger for the clashes was a mine explosion along the border on Wednesday that wounded five Thai soldiers and led Bangkok to withdraw its ambassador to Cambodia and expelled Cambodia's. Thailand has also sealed all land border crossings while urging its citizens to leave Cambodia.