FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs skip party meeting, to merge with Shinde camp: New Delhi: Six of the nine Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Lok Sabha MPs skipped a meeting of the party on Thursday, deepening the crisis in the Uddhav Thackeray camp. The rebel MPs, who have reportedly already submitted signed letters to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, are expected to merge with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). According to sources, the formal announcement is expected soon, most like 20 June. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has issued show-cause notices to the six rebel MPs. Party MP Sanjay Raut, who had earlier alleged that the MPs were being offered Rs 50 crore to switch sides, claimed that the rebel MPs had been given an additional Rs 10 crore and moved to a location in Rajasthan. Page 5 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Trump, Pezeshkian sign interim peace agreement UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Evian, 18 June U S President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed an initial agreement to extend the ceasefire for another 60 days and lay the groundwork for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. Mr Trump signed the landmark memorandum of understanding with Iran at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday, shortly before a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, marking what both sides described as the first major step toward ending the war between the USA and Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian digitally signed the memorandum shortly after. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key intermediary between the US and Iran, said the agreement had entered into force with “immediate effect”. The agreement, officially known as the Islamabad Understanding, was signed after months of indirect negotiations and international mediation efforts. The memorandum takes effect immediately and establishes a framework for a broader peace settlement that both nations will seek to finalise within the next 60 days. The signing of the agreement comes after months of conflict that began on 28 February with the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several Iranian military commanders in US and Israeli airstrikes. The war rapidly expanded into a broader regional crisis, disrupting energy markets and international trade. Under the terms of the preliminary agreement, Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas exports pass. The memorandum also outlines a proposed $300 billion reconstruction and development initiative intended to support Iran's post-war recovery. The United States has agreed in principle to terminate all sanctions imposed on Iran as part of a final settlement, though details regarding implementation remain subject to further negotiations. One of the most contentious issues ~ Iran's nuclear programme ~ has not yet been fully resolved. The memorandum establishes a 60-day negotiation period, during which both sides will attempt to reach a comprehensive agreement on nuclear safeguards and verification measures. • Full text of MoU: Page 11 | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Friday, 19 June 2026 PM Modi showcases India’s tech transformation at VivaTech 2026 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 18 June Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted India’s rapid technological transformation and growing innovation ecosystem at VivaTech 2026 in Paris, urging global technology leaders and investors to partner with India in building solutions that benefit all of humanity. Addressing the tenth edition of VivaTech, Europe’s largest technology event, Mr Modi said innovation remains the most effective response to global disruptions and positioned India as a leading force in the democratisation of technology. “Where convention fails, innovation can help,” Mr Modi said, recalling the message he delivered during his address to the technology summit in 2021 when the world was grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister noted that 2026 marked a significant year for India and Europe following the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement earlier this year. He said the landmark pact would deepen trade and investment ties while creating new opportunities for talent mobility, technology collaboration and tourism. Highlighting the strengthening India-France partnership, Mr Modi said the launch of the India-France Year of Innovation had helped bring the technology ecosystems of India and Europe closer together. He pointed to growing collaboration between start- ups from both regions, from innovation events in Nice to partnerships forged at VivaTech in Paris. Mr Modi used the platform to showcase India’s expanding digital infrastructure, describing technology as the driving force behind the country’s transformation over the past decade. “From creating the world’s largest digital identity system to the world’s largest digital payments platform, we are using technology at a massive scale for financial inclusion, education, telemedicine, agriculture and more,” he said.