Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that the first phase of the India–US bilateral trade agreement is ready. A joint statement from both countries is expected within the next four to five days, while the formal legal agreement is likely to be signed by mid-March. Once the joint statement is released, the United States is expected to issue an executive order reducing tariffs to 18 per cent, Goyal said. US President Donald Trump announced that India and the US have reached a trade deal under which the United States will reduce its reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25 percent to 18 percent. The move comes after the US had imposed a steep 50 percent tariff on Indian goods entering its markets from August 27, 2025 Tariff cuts to follow legal agreement Explaining the technical process, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the two countries follow different tariff systems. While US tariffs can be changed through executive orders, India’s tariffs follow the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) system and can only be reduced after the legal agreement is formally signed. He clarified that India’s tariff reductions will come into effect only after the final legal framework of the trade deal is completed. Deal Aims to Boost Trade and Major Purchases Speaking at the signing ceremony of the Terms of Reference for a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Goyal highlighted the scale of India’s growing economic engagement with the US. He said India’s orders for US aircraft, engines and related equipment alone are expected to cross USD 100 billion. Goyal also reiterated that India and the US are complementary economies and that the trade agreement will benefit both sides. The bilateral trade agreement aims to more than double trade between India and the US—from the current USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by 2030. According to Goyal, several areas of the agreement have already been finalised after extensive negotiations. GCC FTA signing and broader trade vision Negotiations for the bilateral trade agreement gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in February 2025. The deal was formally announced following a phone call between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump on February 2. Addressing concerns raised in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said negotiators from both countries have been working at multiple levels for nearly a year. He stressed that sensitive sectors on both sides were protected during talks. In India’s case, agriculture and dairy were among the key sectors safeguarded. The signing ceremony also saw participation from senior officials, including Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, India’s chief negotiator Ajay Bhadoo, GCC chief negotiator Raja Al Marzouki, and senior representatives from the GCC and India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Reflecting on the long-standing trade ties between India and the Gulf region, Goyal said the two sides have been trading partners for thousands of years. He added that the proposed agreement would allow smoother movement of goods and services and strengthen bilateral relations. Goyal said India is actively pursuing trade agreements with developed nations to expand its global economic presence. He added that the deal would create opportunities for MSMEs, farmers, fishermen, youth, and the manufacturing sector, with food processing, infrastructure, and petrochemicals expected to benefit the most. (With ANI Inputs)
05 February,2026 03:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUS Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor on Thursday welcomed recent engagement between the leadership of two nations and expressed Washington's readiness to further elevate ties with New Delhi. Gor shared pictures of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's interactions in Washington with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "Engagement at the highest levels is currently happening. The United States is ready to elevate this relationship even further. Limitless Potential!", he stated. EAM Jaishankar meets US officials to discuss critical minerals and strategic ties EAM Jaishankar, currently on a visit to the US, attended the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by Marco Rubio on Wednesday and expressed India's support for structured international cooperation to reduce risks in critical mineral supply chains. During his visit, EAM Jaishankar held separate meetings with Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent, holding wide-ranging discussions on the India-US strategic and economic partnership. “Delighted to meet US Secretary Macro Rubio this afternoon,” EAM Jaishankar said in a post on X after the meeting. “A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues.” He said the discussions with Rubio covered multiple pillars of the India-US relationship. “Facets of India - US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and technology,” EAM Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister said both sides agreed to move quickly on follow-up engagements. “Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests,” he added. India-US talks focus on critical minerals, trade, and regional security According to a State Department readout, the two leaders discussed formalising bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing — an area that has emerged as a central pillar of the India–US economic and strategic relationship. The meeting came at a time when two nations announced a trade deal aimed at lowering barriers and expanding market access between the world’s two largest democracies. Secretary Rubio and EAM Jaishankar welcomed the agreement, underscoring the importance of the two democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals, the readout said. The discussions also focused on the regional and multilateral dimensions of the partnership. Rubio and EAM Jaishankar concluded their meeting by reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. They acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing shared interests. EAM Jaishankar also met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington. “Pleased to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington DC today,” he said in a separate post. EAM Jaishankar described the talks as productive. “Had a useful discussion on advancement of India-US economic partnership and strategic cooperation,” he said. (Inputs from IANS)
05 February,2026 03:27 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | mid-day online correspondentRussian President Vladimir Putin hailed his country’s growing economic cooperation with China in a video call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday. The virtual meeting came in the middle of a series of meetings between Xi and Western leaders who have sought to boost ties with China despite differences over Russia’s war in Ukraine. European leaders have pressed China for years to end its support for Russia. China has continued to trade with Russia, providing some relief from Western economic sanctions. Many of America’s closest partners are exploring opportunities with China following clashes with President Donald Trump over tariffs and his demands for Greenland. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 February,2026 02:05 PM IST | Moscow | AgenciesIran on Wednesday confirmed that fresh nuclear talks with the United States (US) will be held in Muscat on Friday morning, amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the two sides. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the development on X, saying, “Nuclear talks with the United States are scheduled to be held in Muscat on about 10 am Friday. I’m grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements.” Nuclear talks with the United States are scheduled to be held in Muscat on about 10 am Friday. I'm grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements. — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) February 4, 2026 The announcement comes as Tehran and Washington prepare for another round of indirect negotiations after Iran sought a change of venue from Istanbul, news agency ANI reported, quoting Iranian state broadcaster Press TV. Earlier, Iranian media said the talks would be strictly limited to the country’s peaceful nuclear energy programme and the lifting of sanctions, reiterating Tehran’s long-standing position that no other issues would be on the agenda. Araghchi is expected to head the Iranian delegation, accompanied by senior diplomats Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, ANI reported. The US delegation will be led by White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, according to reports. The talks will be held indirectly, with Oman acting as mediator. Press TV said the format would be similar to earlier rounds conducted before last June’s US-Israeli war on Iran, which disrupted the diplomatic process. Any engagement with Washington must remain confined to nuclear issues, say Iranian officials Araghchi and Witkoff had led five rounds of nuclear talks last year, but the process was suspended after Israel launched what Iranian officials described as an unprovoked war of aggression just two days before a planned sixth round. The conflict, later joined by the US, reportedly left more than a thousand people dead in Iran and caused extensive damage to civilian, military and scientific facilities. Against this backdrop, Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that any engagement with Washington must remain confined to nuclear issues, ruling out negotiations on Iran’s missile programme or its regional role. They have also said talks can succeed only in an atmosphere free from threats and what they described as illogical or illegal demands, Press TV reported. Senior figures, including Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, have emphasised that respect and realism are essential for progress in discussions with the US. The renewed diplomatic push comes amid escalating tensions across West Asia and an increased US military presence in the region. In early January, US President Donald Trump warned Iran of attacks if the country harmed “peaceful protesters”. Days later, coordinated attacks targeted police stations, military installations and civilian infrastructure in several Iranian cities, prompting a security response. Iranian officials said the attacks were aimed at causing mass casualties and destabilising urban centres as a prelude to renewed American aggression against the Islamic Republic. Since Trump’s latest warnings, Iranian authorities, including senior military officials, have issued strong cautions to Washington and its allies against any fresh miscalculation, saying Iran’s level of military preparedness has now surpassed pre-war levels. (With ANI inputs)
05 February,2026 12:49 PM IST | Tehran | mid-day online correspondentSaif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was killed on Tuesday (local time) in an armed attack in western Libya, Xinhua reported. According to Xinhua, Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim — a member of Gaddafi’s team — announced the incident on Facebook, stating that four masked gunmen stormed Gaddafi’s residence in the city of Zintan at noon. The attackers allegedly disabled surveillance cameras before a “direct armed confrontation” took place, leading to Saif al-Islam’s death. His political team has urged the international community to investigate. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 February,2026 09:10 AM IST | Tripoli | AgenciesAustralian scientists have created a promising new approach for fighting deadly bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics. The team designed antibodies that latch onto a sugar found only on bacterial cells, a discovery that could support a new class of immunotherapies. The findings show that an antibody made in the laboratory was able to clear a normally fatal bacterial infection in mice. It works by locking onto a unique bacterial sugar molecule called pseudaminic acid and signaling the immune system to destroy the invading pathogen. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 February,2026 09:08 AM IST | Sydney | AgenciesA humanoid robot, unveiled in Shanghai by the robotics company DroidUp, can walk, maintain eye contact, and display subtle facial expressions. Moya, as the world’s first fully biomimetic embodied intelligent robot, built around the idea of embodied artificial intelligence systems that can perceive, reason, and act within the physical world rather than operating purely in digital environments. Standing 5.5 feet tall and weighing 32 kg, Moya is designed with proportions close to those of an adult human. It maintains a body temperature around 32-36°C to enhance its lifelike presence. Moya’s walking posture has an accuracy of 92 per cent, highlighting its focus on stable, natural locomotion. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 February,2026 09:06 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesIsraeli fire in Gaza killed at least 17 Palestinians, most of them women and children, hospital officials said Wednesday, while Israel said militant gunfire had injured an Israeli soldier. They were the latest Palestinian deaths since a ceasefire, which has been punctuated by deadly Israeli strikes, came into effect on Oct. 10, 2025. More than 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the deal took effect, according to Gaza's health ministry. The attacks and the escalating death toll have rocked the U.S.-backed truce and caused Palestinians in the strip to say it does not feel like the war has ended. "The genocidal war against our people in the Gaza Strip continues," said Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of the Shifa Hospital, in a Facebook post. "Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?" Mediators have condemned the attacks and Hamas has called them violations of the deal, but Israel's military says it is responding to Hamas violations or militant attacks on its soldiers. At least three soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took hold. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
04 February,2026 03:16 PM IST | Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip) | APRussia fired around 450 long-range drones and 70 missiles of various types at Ukraine in a major attack overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday. The barrage came a day before the two countries were due to attend US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on ending the all-out war, which Russia launched nearly four years ago. The bombardment of at least five regions of Ukraine specifically took aim at the power grid, Zelenskyy said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 11:00 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) committed to expand "bilateral and multilateral cooperation" through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) during their meeting ahead of the Critical Minerals Ministerial and welcomed the recently announced India-US trade deal, in which Washington reduced the tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent. According to a readout from the US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, EAM Jaishankar and Secretary Rubio discussed formalising cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing and also emphasised the importance of the two democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals. "The Secretary and External Affairs Minister discussed formalizing bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing. Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders emphasized the importance of our democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance our shared energy security goals," the readout stated. Both leaders also called for a "prosperous Indo-Pacific region", crucial for promoting shared interests. "Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar concluded their meeting by expressing their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad. They acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests," the readout added. The Quad comprises the United States, Australia, Japan, and India as partner countries. EAM Jaishankar met with Rubio as part of an ongoing three-day visit to the United States, during which he is participating in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 4. The United States is set to host the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC, bringing together delegations from over 50 countries to advance collaboration on securing and diversifying global critical mineral supply chains, according to a prior notice issued by the Office of the Spokesperson of the US State Department. Following his meeting, EAM Jaishankar, in a post on X, said that he was "delighted" to meet with Rubio, stating that both sides held conversations that covered the India-US "bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues". "Delighted to meet US Secretary Rubio this afternoon. A wide-ranging conversation covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues. Facets of India-US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals, and technology. Agreed on early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests," EAM said in his post. Secretary Rubio also shared on X, stating, "Met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar to discuss our bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration and work together to unlock new economic opportunities between our two countries. We also commended the trade deal between the United States and India." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 10:10 AM IST | Washington | ANISweden-based Candela says its electric hydrofoiling ferry, the P-12, completed the longest electric sea journey by a passenger vessel, travelling 160 nautical miles from Gothenburg to Oslo. Electric ferries are expanding rapidly. But most remain constrained by high energy consumption and short ranges, forcing operators to rely on fixed routes and costly battery-swapping systems. To address this, the P-12 —the world’s first serial-production electric hydrofoil ferry — is designed to lift its hull above the water using computer-controlled submerged wings. Once airborne, drag drops sharply, cutting energy consumption by about 80 per cent compared with conventional vessels. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 February,2026 09:39 AM IST | Stockholm | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1770283062625_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "PM Narendra Modi fialises India-US trade deal with President Donald Trump (right) .File Pic")
-1770283629419_d.png "External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaks at the Critical Minerals Ministerial, in Washington DC. Pic/PTI")
-1770198144561_d.png "A relative of 6-month-old Mira al-Khabbaz, killed in the Israeli strike earlier in the day, mourns over her body. Pic/AFP")
