*☕ Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 Get this delivered straight to your inbox: https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ Read this newsletter in a single page: https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-briefing-today-9818161/ _Good morning,_ What's on your breakfast menu today? Would you like some vada pav? The Mumbai street staple has a fascinating origin story. It wasn't until the late 1960s that street vendors discovered the ease of selling hot batata vadas (potato patties) nestled in a pav (bread bun)! Since then, vada pav hasn’t strayed from its humble beginnings. Even today, it's readily available for Rs 10-15. But not for long. With a court notice urging bakeries to switch to cleaner fuels, an unintended consequence could be a hike in pav prices. https://www.inexp.in/Uopr9q On that note, let’s get to today’s edition. 🚨 *Big Story* Much is riding on the anticipated dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump. While an official announcement is awaited, Modi will likely travel to the US on February 12-14 after his commitments in France. *On the table:* India hopes to strike a free trade deal with Trump, who has not stopped imposing tariffs on key trading partners. In the past, Trump has labelled India “tariff king,” a notion New Delhi is already working to remove. In the Union Budget 2025, India softened import duties on several American goods. https://www.inexp.in/NOaMM1 *Bright spot:* The world’s largest economies—the US and China—are in a trade war. On February 1, Trump announced 10 per cent tariffs against Chinese goods. Beijing retaliated with import duties of its own. India could capitalise on the trade diversion away from China. https://www.inexp.in/F4Ra5S *Expelled:* There's also an urgent need to discuss the immigration issue. On Monday, the US sent a military plane carrying at least 205 deported migrants to India. Most of them are said to be from Punjab and Gujarat. The US's use of the military plane is significant given its high cost and departure from convention. But for Trump, it's all about the optics. https://www.inexp.in/eyw6S7 🎧 For more on the deportation of Indian migrants, tune in to today’s episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast. https://www.inexp.in/3k2WE3 ⚡ *Only in Express* There are several pitstops along the way to the 2036 Olympics for Ahmedabad. The Indian Express has learnt that India is contemplating throwing its hat in the ring to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games 2030. Unlike 20 years ago, when the CWG was held in Delhi (a first for India), the spotlight is on Ahmedabad, with Bhubaneswar also in the mix. But that's not all. Ahmedabad has a slew of international multidisciplinary events on its radar to gain hosting experience. https://www.inexp.in/hqJ2iq 📰 *From the Front Page* *Out!* "Are you waiting for some muhurat?" Coming down heavily on the Assam government, the Supreme Court directed the state to deport 63 declared foreigners immediately. But can the state government simply deport the foreign nationals? It’s complicated. There are limitations on jurisdiction and several diplomatic entanglements in the process. https://www.inexp.in/TXX5JE *Next up:* After Uttarakhand, it's Gujarat's turn. The Gujarat government has appointed a five-member panel to prepare a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC), much to the chagrin of the Opposition. Gujarat has picked the same retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Ranjana Desai, as Uttarakhand, where the new laws came into effect on January 27. The work may be completed sooner this time around. https://www.inexp.in/fZz7bV 📌 *Must Read* *It’s D-Day!* Polling is underway in 70 Assembly seats of Delhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to foil the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s bid for a third consecutive term in the national capital. Who will take the throne? Our contributing editor Neerja Chowdhury writes that the aspirational middle class might hold the key to the outcome. https://www.inexp.in/bLt3UB *Fueling ambitions:* India is keen to expand its nuclear energy sector. In a boost to its ambitions, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, promised to amend two atomic Acts to eliminate any hurdles. In his weekly column, C Raja Mohan outlines what more India can do to rise out of its atomic slide. https://www.inexp.in/ydLZhZ *Policy matters:* The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will huddle over three days to decide the next steps. Is a repo rate cut on the cards? Experts believe it’s highly likely. The repo rate refers to the rate the RBI lends to other banks and is a key factor in controlling inflation. https://www.inexp.in/BsIz03 ⌛ *And Finally…* A 106-km stretch of Panama jungle strewn with half-eaten bodies and skeletons. A handsome amount of money. And a hollow promise of safe entry into the US. This edition has already spoken a lot about deportation. But before you go, take a moment to read this real-life account of a treacherous journey that ended in deportation. https://www.inexp.in/Y-MPm9 That’s all for today folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta