THE HEADLINES:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises global investors fair, predictable and consistent tax system and growth-focussed economic policies.
- Poll fever grips the National Capital with less than two days left for campaigning to end.
- Assam to roll out the Pentavalent vaccine from today to prevent infant mortality.
- AND IN THE 35TH NATIONAL GAMES :Services on the top of the medal tally with 16 gold medals.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised global investors a fair, predictable and consistent tax system and growth-focussed economic policies. Interacting with participants of the Black Rock India Investor Summit over dinner in New Delhi last night, Mr. Modi said, the priority of his government is growth and jobs and to establish global benchmarks in areas such as governance, transparency and taxation. The global fund houses manage over 11 trillion dollar worth investible assets and included sovereign wealth funds. As per a PMO statement, Mr. Modi told the investors that he believes in a fair, predictable and consistent tax system and in economic policies that will drive growth. Infrastructure development is one of the best routes to create jobs for the youth and India requires both expansion and upgradation of its infrastructure. Railways could become a growth engine for the economy, he said, adding that the government was focusing on skill development that would fulfil not just the Indian but the global requirement as well.
During the summit, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other senior ministers also pitched the country's growth story before these investors and invited them to invest in India.
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Bankers have termed the Reserve Bank of India’s sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review as growth-oriented, as the reduction in Statutory Liquidity Ratio will release more funds into the system. However, all the bankers have ruled out an immediate cut in lending rates, saying they will wait for the Budget.
Reacting to the sixth bi-monthly monetary policy issued by RBI in Mumbai yesterday, SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya said that the policy was in line with market expectations. For SBI, the move will release about 7,000 crore rupees. Chief Executive Officer and MD of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochhar said that the decision to hold the policy rates is in line with the RBI's approach of observing inflation trends over a period of time before taking policy action.
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Petrol has become cheaper by 2 rupees 42 paise per litre and diesel by 2 rupees 25 paise per litre. The new rates have come into effect from midnight last night.This is the 10th straight reduction in petrol prices since August and the sixth in diesel since October.
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With less than 36 hours left for campaigning for Delhi Assembly elections, political parties are making last ditch efforts to woo voters. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has claimed that Aam Aadmi Party has been caught red-handed over allegations of using black money as funds. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal dared the Modi government and asked the Finance Minister to arrest him if he had received any hawala money for party funds. BJP, Aam Admi Party and Congress are pitching their top leaders in the electoral battle. More from our correspondent:
"Leaders from various political parties are holding rallies, road shows and door-to-door campaign to attract voters. The main issues in this election are women security, cheap electricity and water and transparent administration. BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally at Ambedkar Nagar, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting at Jahangirpuri and Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to address a rally at Uttam Nagar and Tilak Nagar with Dipendra this is Deeksha Saksena for Airnews , Delhi. "
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In Gujarat, three more persons have died of swine flu, taking the death toll in the state to 45. The three deaths have been reported from Surat, Banaskantha and Anand district during the last 24 hours. 35 new cases have been registered in the state, as the total number of swine flu cases has gone up to 355. New cases of the virus have been reported from several parts of the state. A report from our correspondent :
"Out of the total swine flu patients in Gujarat, 149 have been cured while 161 patients are still under the treatment in various hospitals in the state. The 3 members’ Central team had visited the isolation ward, special OPD section of swine flu and laboratory in Ahmedabad civil hospital yesterday. They held a meeting with civil hospital authorities and discussed about the treatment given to the swine flu patients. At present 34 patients are getting treatments in Ahmedabad civil hospital. Central team will visit Kutch district today where maximum number of swine flu cases have been reported. With Yogesh Pandya from Ahmedabad this is Vipin Jha for AIR NEWS".
Swine Flu in Punjab has claimed three lives in this year till date. A 35 year old man from Nakodar in Jalandhar died of the flu recently. Two more deaths have been reported from Amritsar. Punjab Health Services Director, Dr. Karanjeet Singh has confirmed to AIR that 17 out of the 53 Swine Flu patients have tested positive across the state and are under going treatment at various hospitals. In Rajasthan, Health department has intensified efforts to detect H1N1 virus early.With death of 10 more swine flu patients death toll has risen to 62 in the state.
"Chief minister Vasundhara Raje has set up task force at state, division and district level to control spread of swine flu and create awareness about the disease. State-level task force would be headed by Dr Ashok Pangaria, a member of Chief Minister's Advisory Council health sub-group. The task force will review the situation on day-to-day basis. Meanwhile Health Minister Rajender Ratore has cancelled the leaves of Ayush doctors and directed them to join the health department efforts . He has issued Instructions to start separate outdoor facilities for Swine Flu patients in Ayurvaedic hospitals in Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur.Dharmesh Bharti, Air News."
The Health Ministry yesterday reviewed preparedness of the states affected with H1N1 to manage the situation. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Health Minister J P Nadda said, health Secretary held a video conference meeting with senior health officials of states of Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and with government of Delhi.
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Assam will roll out the Pentavalent vaccine today to prevent infant mortality. Assam Health minister Dr. Nazrul Islam will launch the vaccination drive in Guwahati. A report:
"Health experts said, a single injection of the pentavalent vaccine will fight five diseases -- Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Meningitis. As per 2012 health data, Assam has registered 42 infant mortality rates per thousand live births. The new vaccine is likely to reduce infant mortality .Health department will carry out extensive awareness drive for the new vaccination. ASHA workers will also be involved in the awareness campaign. MANAS PRATIM SARMA, AIR NEWS, GUWAHATI."
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The weather in Kashmir Valley has improved today with no snow and rainfall taking place anywhere. According to Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan due to heavy snowfall the highway was completely closed yesterday. However he said that following the improvement in weather, traffic from Srinagar to Jammu would be allowed today. Our Correspondent has filed this report:
"People living in avalanche prone areas of Kashmir Valley have been advised not to venture out of their homes and keep cleaning the snow deposition from roof tops of their houses and bunkers to avoid damages. According to MeT department the weather is likely to improve from today but has issed at advisory that snowfall and rain may again take place from 7th February onwards.R K RAINA/AIRNEWS/SRINAGAR."
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A Pakistani High Commission staffer in Bangladesh was asked yesterday to leave the country after being found indulging in terror financing including circulating Fake Indian Currency Notes, a senior officials said. Quoting Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry sources, PTI said that Dhaka earlier informed Islamabad that their non-diplomat attache was found to be involved in forgery of Indian currency believed to be used for terror financing and demanded his immediate removal.
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Sri Lanka celebrates its 67th Independence Day today. The main ceremony to mark the occasion will take place near the Parliamentary Complex at Battaramulla in Colombo, where the military, police, civil defence force and youth brigade personnel will participate in a march past. This will be followed by an address to the nation by President Maithripala Sirisena and a cultural show.A report:
"The 67th Independence Day speech of newly elected President, Maithripala Sirisena is eagerly awaited by the people of Sri Lanka. It is expected that in his address to the nation, President will give his vision for an inclusive nation, reconciliation and good governance. President’s office says that the ceremony, which is being held in Colombo after many years, will be simple and dignified. ABHISHEK DAYAL/AIRNEWS/ COLOMBO."
President Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings to the government and people of Sri Lanka. In his message to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Mukherjee said India and Sri Lanka are close neighbours with a long-standing relationship of friendship and cooperation based on shared linguistic, religious and cultural traditions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his greetings to the people of Sri Lanka on their 67th Independence day. In a tweet Mr Modi said, the bonds of history, culture and shared values that the two country share are unbreakable.
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Islamic State group militants have released a video that appears to show the death of Jordanian air force pilot held hostage by them since December 13. ISIS's official Al Furqan media site has posted images that apparently show Jordanian military pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh being burnt alive while confined in a cage. Jordanian government has said the pilot Moaz al-Kasaesbeh was killed by Islamic State militants last month.
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In the 35th National games being held in Kerala, Services leads the medals tally with 16 gold medals, two silver and eight bronze medals.Haryana is in the second position with 15 gold,seven silver and four bronze medals,followed by Maharashtra in the third spot with 10 gold medals,15 silver medals and seven bronze medals.Hosts Kerala is in the fourth position with six gold medals,seven silver medals and seven bronze medals. Finals of 5000 metre rowing will take place at the backwaters of Alappuzha today.
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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
- The Delhi poll related stories dominate the papers today. TheTimes of India lead quotes a mellower Kejri as saying " We wont confront centre but seek Co-operation". The subhead also quotes him as saying ' Party and I have evolved, dharna to be the last resort".
- On the Aam Aadmi Party's funding issue, The Pioneer writes " AAP defends funding , asks Chief Justice of India (CJI) for Special Investigation team (SIT)". The Hindu leads with "AAP throws probe gauntlet , Modi mocks it". "War of words over AAP funding hots up" is the lead in the Statesman.
- The Economic Times in a box item writes that "Fiery Modi taunts AAP with black money barb". The Times of India writes "Donations to AAP surge, touch 66 lakh rupees on Tuesday".
- BJP unveils its vision for Delhi" is the lead in the Hindustan Times. The Sub head says "Delayed manifesto stresses development and security of women in capital". The Pioneer writes, " BJP docu en-visions out-of-box solutions" . While the Times of India writes that BJP vision paper refers to citizens from North-east as "Immigrants".
- The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age, The Hindu and The Times of India all carry the news story of petrol ans diesel prices being slashed again on their front pages.
- "RBI keep interest rates unchanged' writes The Asian Age. TheFinancial Express leads with " No rate cut for now, RBI moves on other fronts,", "Measures to attract FDI, easier norms for FPI's in debt and forex markets".
- On the Saradha scam The Indian Express leads with "Top MHA officials faces probe for bid to 'stall' Saradha arrest". The Hindu in its top bottom fold writes, that "A Top Home Ministry official tried to stall Matang Sinh's arrests".
- The Times of India reports in an interesting news item that Vegetable and Fruit prices soar up to 100 percent. Between Jan 31st 2014 and Jan 30th 2015, wholesale prices of peas rose by 106 percent, Spinach by 94 percent and Carrots by 89 percent.
- The Express News line reports that the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to shell out additional compensation upto 10 percent of developed land to farmers whose land had been acquired. This may impact property sacks across Noida and Greater Noida.
- And Finally, Are you having trouble sleeping? Well, blame it on your gadgets writes the Times of India. Over exposure to screen affects nerves and disturbs sleep states the paper.
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AND IN SOME MORE NEWS;
Union Law minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that commercial benches will be set up in high courts to resolve financial cases. Talking to newsmen in Guwahati yesterday, Mr. Gowda said that the speedy disposal of commercial cases is the need of the hour. He said that the Centre will amend the Arbitration Act in the coming session of the Parliament to enhance ease of doing business in the country. The Minister also said that India should be seen as an investor-friendly country and the government is working on it. He assured that the government is ready to discuss all issues related to it in the Parliament for the interest of farmers including Land Ordinance.
Union Law minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that commercial benches will be set up in high courts to resolve financial cases. Talking to newsmen in Guwahati yesterday, Mr. Gowda said that the speedy disposal of commercial cases is the need of the hour. He said that the Centre will amend the Arbitration Act in the coming session of the Parliament to enhance ease of doing business in the country. The Minister also said that India should be seen as an investor-friendly country and the government is working on it. He assured that the government is ready to discuss all issues related to it in the Parliament for the interest of farmers including Land Ordinance.
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