FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS INDORE | THURSDAY | MARCH 5, 2026 | Pages 14 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in World Sanchez ‘no to war’ in Iran despite US trade threats ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Trumpian farce at the UN Crude fears scorch markets as geopolitics darkens the screen Cinema Sonal Chauhan returns to India OBLITERATED| Over 80 sailors believed dead. US Defence Secy Hegseth confirms attack. Ship was heading back from Indian port ‘No evidence of Future leaders dead: Trump US SUB SINKS IRANIAN imminent threat’ FRIGATE OFF LANKA FPJ News Service MUMBAI A boy walks away from an unexploded Iranian projectile that landed in the outskirts of Qamishli, Syria –PTI FPJ News Service MUMBAI US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said many individuals previously considered as possible future leaders of Iran were now dead, as he spoke about the uncertain leadership situation in the country following the ongoing conflict. Responding to a question about whether he had anyone in mind for Iran’s future leadership, during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump indicated that several potential figures were no longer alive. “Well, most of the people we had in mind are dead. So, you know, we had some in mind from that group that is dead,” he said. The US president suggested that another set of possible candidates might also have been killed. 4Contd on Nation NAVY, AIR FORCE ‘KNOCKED OUT’ FPJ News Service MUMBAI US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded, claiming the country’s navy, air force and key defence systems had been “knocked out”, while warning of more strikes. During a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said the US and its allies had inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military infrastructure. “They have no Navy. It's been knocked out. They have no Air Force. It's been knocked out. They have no air detection. That's been knocked out. Their radar has been knocked out. And just about everything has been knocked out,” he said. 4Contd on Nation An American submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian naval warship in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka early Wednesday, killing at least 80 people in what US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the first sinking of an enemy warship by torpedo in recent times, reported Reuters. The vessel, IRIS Dena, Iran’s newest and most capable frigate, went down about 44 nautical miles south of the port city of Galle after being struck by two torpedoes, according to Sri Lankan defence sources. The ship was carrying about 180 crew members. Thirty-two survivors were rescued and taken to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. Sixtyeight remain unaccounted for based on official figures, though the death toll is expected to rise. Some bodies have been recovered from the water. Hegseth confirmed the attack in a statement Wednesday. “An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” he said. “It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death, the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II. Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department, we are fighting to win.” Sri Lanka’s coast guard received a distress call from the Dena at 5:08 am Wednesday. Crew members described the incident as an explosion. The Sri Lanka Navy dispatched a first vessel by 6 am and a sec- ‘THEY ARE SICK, CRAZY’ FPJ News Service MUMBAI (Top) IRIS Dena, Iran’s newest frigate, went down near Galle after being struck by two US torpedoes. (Above) The vessel’s crew during exercises in Visakhapatnam ond by 7 am. When rescue teams reached the coordinates, they found no ship, only a wide oil slick on the surface, floating debris and survivors in the water. The Sri Lanka Air Force joined the search and rescue operation shortly after. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament the ship was carrying about 180 personnel when it issued the emergency signal roughly 40 nautical miles south of Galle, just outside the country’s territorial waters but within its search and rescue zone. 4Contd on Nation US President Trump called elements in Iran’s leadership “sick” and “mentally ill”. “We're doing very well… what we're doing right now with Iran if we don't stop them or if we didn't stop them or if we didn't start. They've been decimated. But if we didn't do what we're doing right now, you would have had a nuclear war and they would have taken out many countries because you know what? There's sick people and mentally ill sick people. They're angry. They're crazy.” 4Contd on Nation US lawmakers react after Iran briefing FPJ News Service said many of their concerns remained unresolved. Several lawmakers who atA classified briefing to tended the session expressed members of the US Congress scepticism about the adminison the Iran conflict left law- tration’s justification for the makers sharply divided, with strikes. Seth Magaziner, Represeveral saying the administra- sentative for Rhode Island, said tion failed to present clear evi- after the briefing that “no evidence of an imminent threat or dence was presented that Iran a coherent longposed an imminent term strategy folthreat.” Chris Van lowing the strikes. Hollen, Senator for The closed-door Maryland, also briefing took place criticised the adat the US Capitol ministration’s exand was attended planation, saying by members of “even behind closed both the House of doors, they couldn’t Seth Magaziner Representatives get their story and the Senate. It straight.” followed earlier Their remarks leadership-level inreflected broader telligence briefings concerns raised by given to congresseveral Democratic sional leaders belawmakers who arfore the strikes. The gued the briefing session was confailed to clearly vened to explain demonstrate an imChris Van Hollen the circumstances mediate threat surrounding the US military from Iran or outline a longoperation against Iranian tar- term strategy for the conflict. gets and the intelligence assessOther lawmakers raised ments that preceded it. questions about the legal basis The briefing was delivered for the operation and warned by Secretary of State Marco the strikes could escalate into a Rubio, Secretary of Defence broader conflict. Some Pete Hegseth, CIA Director members said Congress should John Ratcliffe, and Gen Dan play a greater role in authorisCaine, Chairman of the Joint ing any further military action. Chiefs of Staff. The officials outRepublican lawmakers were lined the administration’s ra- generally more supportive of tionale for military action and the administration’s actions. presented intelligence assessThe session took place amid ments related to Iran’s capabil- growing debate over the presiities and activities in the region. dent’s authority to carry out According to lawmakers military operations without exwho spoke afterward, the plicit congressional authorisabriefing began in the afternoon tion. No official attendance list and lasted about one-and-a- has been released because the half hours. Members were meeting was classified, but nuallowed to ask questions during merous lawmakers confirmed the session, although several they were present. MUMBAI GULF TENSIONS SINK STOCKS US MAY UP TARIFF TO 15% SOON: BESSENT RUPEE SLIDES TO RECORD LOW QATAR LNG SUPPLY HIT, INDIA WARY CONTROL ROOM FOR MP CITIZENS Indian equity markets stumbled on Wednesday as tensions in West Asia pushed crude prices higher, reviving fears of inflation, currency weakness and slower growth. Dalal Street saw a broad sell-off, with Sensex plunging as much as 2.23% intraday and the Nifty sliding 2.25%. Tata Steel and Larsen & Toubro led the losses, though Bharti Airtel, Infosys and Tech Mahindra bucked the trend. The US may raise its universal import tariff from 10% to 15% as early as this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, signalling fresh turbulence in global trade policy under President Trump. The 10% levy was introduced last month after the US Supreme Court struck down much of the earlier tariff regime. Bessent said the current duties can remain in force for only 150 days while officials explore legal routes to reinstate the previous framework. The rupee plunged 67 paise to close at a record low of 92.16 against the US dollar on Wednesday. Forex traders said a stronger dollar, with the index crossing 98, and global risk-off sentiment weighed on the currency. Heavy selling in domestic equities and persistent foreign fund outflows added to the pressure as the rupee slipped to an intraday low of 92.35. Qatar has halted LNG production after attacks on its facilities amid the West Asia conflict, disrupting supplies to India and tightening gas availability for key sectors. India, heavily reliant on long-term LNG contracts with Qatar, has already seen cargo suspensions, forcing supply cuts of up to 40% for industrial users and city gas distributors. CGD companies warn that replacing Qatari gas with costly spot LNG could erode CNG’s price advantage. The Government of Madhya Pradesh has set up a 24x7 control room at Madhya Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to assist residents of the state living in Gulf countries. Residents are urged to contact the control room immediately in case of any need. n Helpline Number: 011-26772005 n WhatsApp: 9818963273 n Email: mphelpdeskgulf@gmail.com Nitish headed to Delhi? Fire breaks out near Son to be Deputy CM airport, no casualty Dheeraj Kumar PATNA Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who has ruled the state for more than 20 years, may be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, with BJP likely to install its own man and give the post of deputy CM to Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar. Bihar is the only state in Hindi heartland where BJP has never had its own CM. The last date for filing nomination papers for RS is Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav plays Holi at CM residence in Bhopal on Wednesday March 5, and top JD(U) leaders are holding closed-door meetings to take a final call. JD(U) working president and RS MP Sanjay Jha held a nearly three-hour discussion with Nitish Kumar and is reportedly persuading him to move to the Upper House. Senior JD(U) leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, is expected to reach Patna from Delhi on Thursday morning. 4Contd on Nation Our Staff Reporter INDORE Finnish Prez Stubb begins four-day India visit PTI NEW DELHI Finnish President Alexander Stubb was given a Guard of Honour at Palam Air Force Station, New Delhi. –ANI Finnish President Alexander Stubb began a four-day visit to India on Wednesday aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment and critical technology. PM Narendra Modi welcomed him and said the visit would take India-Finland relations to “new heights”. Stubb will hold talks with Modi on Thursday, following which the two sides are expected to finalise several MoUs to boost cooperation in various sectors. The crisis in West Asia is also likely to feature during the talks. “The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India, including in the area of trade,” Stubb said on social media before leaving for New Delhi. The Finnish president will also be the chief guest at the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue on Thursday evening. “Welcome to India, President Alexander Stubb. I fully agree with you, your visit will take India-Finland relations to new heights. I eagerly look forward to our meeting tomorrow and to your keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue 2026,” Modi said on X in response to Stubb’s remarks. “India and Finland share a warm and friendly relationship rooted in shared demo- cratic values. President Stubb's visit will impart further energy to India-Finland relations,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media. Stubb is accompanied by a high-level delegation. The visit comes weeks after Finnish PM Petteri Orpo attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The Finnish president will travel to Mumbai on Friday, where he is scheduled to meet business leaders. A fire broke out near Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport on Wednesday evening. The flames spread quickly and thick smoke was seen rising from the area. Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot to control the blaze. Cops from the airport police station also reached the area and took necessary steps to manage the situation. The fire was so intense that flames were visible from a distance. Smoke spread across several kilometres in the surrounding areas, creating panic among residents. Security was heightened around the airport premises as a precautionary measure. A fire official said over 1 lakh litres of water was used to douse the flames. No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report. Local residents said a large amount of dry bushes is spread around the airport campus and nearby areas. Due to the hot and dry weather, such fire incidents have become common. A similar fire had broken out in the area a few days ago. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Videos of the incident have surfaced on social media, showing high flames and thick smoke. Residents shared visuals of the blaze.