News18 Afternoon Digest: India-US Trade Deal To Be Signed By Mid-March; Big Parliament Showdown & More

Last Updated:February 05, 2026, 14:02 IST

We are also covering: India-US trade deal to be signed by mid-March; Woman gets husband killed on honeymoon in Rajasthan, among others.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal (IMAGE: PTI)

In today’s afternoon digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on the Parliament Budget session showdown, Piyush Goyal’s fresh remarks on India-US trade deal, and more.

‘Joint Statement Soon’: Piyush Goyal Says India-US Trade Deal To Be Signed By Mid-March

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India and the United States are likely to issue a joint statement on the trade deal within the next four to five days, adding that the formal agreement draft is currently being finalised and is expected to be signed by mid-March. Read More 

A First Since 2004: No PM Speech But Lok Sabha Passes Motion Of Thanks On President’s Address

A Motion of Thanks on the President’s address was adopted by the Lok Sabha on Thursday, without the customary speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the opposition continued protests for the fourth day during this budget session. Read More

Honeymoon Murder 2.0: Man Dies In Hit-And-Run Planned By Wife, Her Boyfriend

On a breezy Friday evening, a newlywed couple from Rajasthan – Ashish and Anju – went out for a walk, just when a vehicle hit them. While Ashish died on the spot, Anju was robbed of her gold jewellery and left unconscious on the road. Read More 

Ghaziabad Sisters Used Korean Names On Social Media, Father Deleted Account Days Before Suicide

The deaths of three minor sisters in Ghaziabad have now drawn attention to family stress, confiscated mobile phones and the girls’ intense fascination with Korean popular culture. Read More 

Jeffrey Epstein Called Bill Gates ‘So Cheap’ Over Alleged Ties With Russian Bridge Player: Report

The controversy surrounding revelations about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has deepened, as a new report has claimed that Epstein once derided Gates as “cheap" over the billionaire’s alleged treatment of a Russian bridge player. Read More 

Pakistan’s ‘Brotherhood With Muslim Cousins’ Termed ‘Disaster’ For India: ‘We’re Not Going…’

Pakistan’s show of solidarity with the Bangladesh cricket team could spell ‘disaster’ for India and the ICC, feels former England cricketer Mark Butcher, who says the raging controversy has its roots in the past when BCCI refused to send their team across the border for the Champions Trophy in 2025. Read More 

Ranbir Kapoor Drops BIG Hint About Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal Park: ‘There’s Another Character…’

The journey of Animal is far from over. Months after the film’s explosive run at the box office, Ranbir Kapoor and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga have begun openly speaking about its sequel, Animal Park, offering fans fresh insight into what lies ahead. Read More 

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