Good morning. A dramatic political showdown in Kolkata and a diplomatic rebuttal over a critical trade agreement marked the news landscape on January 10, 2026. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee delivered a masterclass in street politics, while the Indian government firmly countered American assertions regarding the stalled India-US trade deal.
Mamata Banerjee's Street Fighter Moment
"Where is Pratik's house?" was the sole question posed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as she stepped out of her car on Kolkata's Loudon Street on Thursday. This query, directed at police personnel, set the stage for a direct confrontation with central agencies.
The Chief Minister arrived at the residence of Pratik Jain, a director at the political consultancy I-PAC, shortly after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated searches there. In a swift move, Banerjee emerged from the premises carrying a laptop and a green file, promptly rushing to the I-PAC office located approximately 12 kilometres away.
This rapid response was a stark reminder of Banerjee's reputation as a quintessential street fighter, taking on the ED and the BJP head-on. Demonstrating her strategy, she led a padyatra with Trinamool Congress leadership the following day, signalling her readiness to hit the streets whenever necessary.
India Rejects US Official's Trade Deal Narrative
In a significant development on the diplomatic front, India has labelled as "inaccurate" the claims made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the protracted India-US trade deal negotiations. Lutnick stated that India missed multiple opportunities to sign the agreement and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "did not call US President Trump" after the deal was purportedly finalized between May and July of the previous year.
These remarks came just hours before US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor's arrival in India on Friday night. The Indian government, in its official reaction, countered Lutnick's version, asserting that "the characterisation of these discussions in the reported remarks is not accurate."
Despite prolonged negotiations that began in February last year, India continues to face the highest US tariffs, which can reach up to 50 percent. Indian officials have consistently maintained that the trade deal remains "very much alive."
The timeline cited by Lutnick—May and July—coincided with Operation Sindoor and its tense aftermath. During that period, US President Donald Trump publicly sought credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. This claim, coupled with a perceived warmth in Islamabad-Washington relations, strained bilateral ties. Lutnick suggested the deal stalled because India was "uncomfortable" with Prime Minister Modi placing a call to President Trump to formally close the agreement.
The Nerve-Wracking Journey of the Piprahwa Gems
In a separate story of cultural repatriation, India successfully brought home 349 ancient gems excavated in 1898 alongside Buddha's relics from Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh. The saga began in April 2025 when the Culture Ministry received a dossier about their planned auction in Hong Kong, with an estimated value of $100 million.
The sale presented a formidable challenge: it was outside India's legal jurisdiction, the timeline was critically short, and the artifacts held deep emotional and religious significance for India and millions of Buddhists worldwide. What followed was a three-month, high-stakes operation involving an intense search for diplomatic and legal avenues.
The successful repatriation was achieved through a unique public-private partnership, culminating in the gems' journey back to Indian soil aboard a commercial flight, marking a major victory for India's cultural heritage protection efforts.
Other Top Stories
In global affairs, analysts are examining the potential fallout for NATO following remarks from key Trump administration officials suggesting that Greenland should be part of US territory after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. While Greenland has no plans to cede territory, a forcible takeover could trigger the breakdown of the military alliance, with experts noting Trump is exploiting existing economic and military disparities within NATO.
In culture and entertainment, the new season of Freedom at Midnight recreates the tumultuous early years of post-Independence India, delving into crucial events and key figures. The series highlights the complex relationship between Nehru and Patel, suggesting the nation's path might have been different had events unfolded otherwise.
Meanwhile, architectural commentators Pankaj Vir Gupta and Christine Mueller emphasize the importance of designs, like the Humayun's Tomb Site Museum, that forge an emotive public connection, arguing India's historic legacy is ripe for more such interventions that link the past with the present.
