THE HEADLINES :
- Finance Minister hints at not raising tax rates and providing incentives to manufacturing sector in the Budget.
- United States says a number of terror groups are operating with impunity in Pakistan.
- Swine flu claims five more lives in the country.
- Today is the last day for withdrawal of nominations for Delhi Assembly elections.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has hinted at not raising tax rates and providing incentives to manufacturing sector in the coming budget. He promised a stable tax regime that will not come up with unreasonable demand and charge taxes retrospectively. Mr. Jaitley was addressing a session on 'India's Next Decade' at the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday. The Finance Minister said, he is not in favour of raising the rates of taxation as that could become counter productive. While referring to various revenue sources, Mr. Jaitley said, as economic activities pick up the government capacity to raise revenue will also increase. Talking about subsidies, he said a scheme has now been started under which leakages will be plugged in the first place. Mr. Jaitley said, there is need to take a series of reforms as the last 10 years got lost because of unnecessary debates.
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India's foreign exchange reserves touched an all time high of 322.135 billion US Dollars for the week ended January 16. RBI data shows that the reserves jumped by 2.66 billion US Dollars to reach 322.135 billion dollars during the week. Strong FII inflows and reduction in import burden due to a record fall in oil prices have led to accumulation of the record forex reserves. Ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power May-end, foreign funds had been pumping more and more dollars into Indian equities. According to the data, overseas investors have pumped 3,442.29 million US Dollars into Indian market so far in this month.
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Ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India, the White House has said that, a number of terror groups are operating with impunity in parts of Pakistan. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest expressed concern over the continued presence of terror safe havens in Pakistan even though the Pakistan Army has taken steps against them in recent months. He said, these steps have been taken because Pakistani government ultimately recognised that the extremist threat that exists in their country poses a significant threat to their citizens. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Earnest said that the US values counter-terrorism co-operation with India and is interested in discussing with New Delhi ways that can strengthen that relationship.
On Mr. Obama's visit to India, Mr Earnest said, it is a genuine honour for the US President to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade and witness India's national day celebrations first hand. He said Mr Obama sees an opportunity to build a strong working relationship, not just between the two countries, but between the two leaders.
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The United States yesterday submitted its letter of acceptance for the trade facilitation agreement to the World Trade Organisation. Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), is the first multilateral trade pact since the inception of WTO two decades ago.The pact would help boost global economic activity. The US is the third country after Singapore and Hong Kong to deliver the letter of acceptance to the WTO for the deal.
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Swine flu has claimed five more lives in the country. In the national capital two more lives were lost yesterday, while 26 people tested positive for the H1N1 virus. According to Health department officials, the total number of cases of the disease has gone up to 199 so far this year.
In Gujarat, three more deaths were reported during the last 24 hours taking the total death toll related to swine flu to 15 during this year. 12 new cases of swine flu were reported from the state taking the total number of H1N1 infection cases to 104.
In Gujarat, three more deaths were reported during the last 24 hours taking the total death toll related to swine flu to 15 during this year. 12 new cases of swine flu were reported from the state taking the total number of H1N1 infection cases to 104.
"About 17 persons have been admitted in the isolation ward of Bhuj hospital for swine flu treatment. Two persons in serious condition were shifted to Ahmedabad hospital. Gujarat Government has decided to install a Swine flu testing facility in Bhuj Hospital which will save crucial time by early detection of disease. The high level medical team along with Chief Secretary and Health Commissioner had visited G.K.General Hospital in Bhuj and reviewed the situation. The hospitals in Bhuj and Gandhidham are being equipped with Swine flu related treatment. Additional doctors and nurses have also been deployed in the hospitals. Yogesh Pandya, AIR News, Ahmedabad".
The Telangana government has intensified its multi-pronged efforts to contain the spread of swine flu even as new cases are being reported from various parts of the State. Following the central team advice, 100 more beds have been kept ready in two more referral hospitals in Hyderabad and two more testing centres have been authorised to test swine flu. More from our correspondent:
"Besides intensifying awareness among people about preventive measures, medical department has geared up to test the family members of those who had been treated for swine flu virus. For this, 24 mobile medical vans have been kept ready with two doctors and one ancillary nurse in each of them. These vans will make rounds in the maximum affected districts, Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts from where 90 per cent of the total cases were reported. These mobile medical teams will visit the families whose members were treated for swine flu earlier and test the rest of the family members and take up sterilization activity. Meanwhile, the number of persons tested positive for swine flu in the state during present season has reached 247. LAXMI, AIR NEWS HYDERABAD".
"Besides intensifying awareness among people about preventive measures, medical department has geared up to test the family members of those who had been treated for swine flu virus. For this, 24 mobile medical vans have been kept ready with two doctors and one ancillary nurse in each of them. These vans will make rounds in the maximum affected districts, Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts from where 90 per cent of the total cases were reported. These mobile medical teams will visit the families whose members were treated for swine flu earlier and test the rest of the family members and take up sterilization activity. Meanwhile, the number of persons tested positive for swine flu in the state during present season has reached 247. LAXMI, AIR NEWS HYDERABAD".
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented the National Awards for Bravery to 24 children in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the brave deeds done by these children are proof that God has kept in everyone an element that inspires to live for others.
Commending the children for their brave and selfless acts, the Prime Minister said that they had shown courage in the face of adversity, without bothering about the consequences and inspired others.
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Government has asked Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and India Forest Service officers to file their Immovable Property Returns by January end. These returns are in addition to the new ones now required to be submitted by the officers under the new provisions of the Lokpal Act by April this year. According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, the government has also asked the concerned authorities to harmonise the respective service rules in such a way that the officers are not asked to file the same property details twice annually. The order said, the officers of all India services have also been askeing to file their assets details by April.
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Today is the last date for withdrawal of nominations for Assembly elections in Delhi. Nominations of 693 candidates were found valid after scrutiny of papers on Thursday. The Election Commission rejected the nominations of 230 candidates. While polling will be held on the 7th of next month, counting of votes will be taken up on the 10th of February.
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Delhi BJP poll panel yesterday discussed issues to fine tune the party’s strategy for the ensuing assembly elections in the national capital. The meeting deliberated on organizing the rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders' in the city. Talking to reporters after the meeting, party in-charge Prabhat Jha said the BJP Chief Ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi will hold public meetings in all the 70 assembly constituencies. Our correspondent reports that the Prime Minister is likely to hold around six rallies in the national capital.
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Chief Election Commissioner HS Brahma has called upon the youth, especially first-time voters, to come out and cast their votes. Mr Brahma said, the present generation is very impatient and does not want to stand in a queue for an hour to cast their votes. Mr Brahma was addressing a seminar on Electoral Reforms in India at Noida near Delhi yesterday.
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In Uttar Pradesh, the ruling Samajwadi Party has strengthened its position in Vidhan Parishad as it won eight out of 12 seats of UP Legislative Council biennial polls in Lucknow yesterday. The Bahujan Samaj Party secured three seats while BJP could get only one. The Congress had supported the Samajwadi Party candidate and RLD had extended support to BSP. Those prominent among winning candidates are Ahamad Hasan and Ashok Bajpai of SP and Nasimuddin Siddiqui of BSP. Congress did not field any candidate. More from Lucknow correspondent.
" The Bharatiya Janata Party suffered another setback yesterday when its second candidate was defeated in the Vidhan Parishad elections. BJP had also to suffer drubbing in recent Cantonment Board polls in Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra, Bareilly and Mathura which were held barely eight months after the party had scored a landslide victory bagging 71 of the 80 seats in UP in the May 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile the ruling Samajwadi Party is bubbling with enthusiasm as it has come out as a clear winner in Vidhan Parishad polls. Merajuddin, AIR News, Lucknow."
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India has declared national mourning today as a mark of respect to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia who died yesterday. An official release said, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout the country and there will be no official entertainment during the day.
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Vasant Panchami and Saraswati Puja are being celebrated in different parts of the country today. In Uttar Pradesh, fourth bathing festival of Magh Mela is underway at Allahabad.
In West Bengal, Saraswati puja is being celerbated with traditional ferver and gaiety. Tastefully decorated idol of Saraswati are being worshiped at educational institutions at various places.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the nation on the occasion of Vasant Panchami. In his message, Mr. Modi hoped that the festival will bring gaiety and enthusiasm in people's life.
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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:
- The much anticipated 'Obama Visit' is splashed over front pages, with President Obama slamming 'terror safe havens ' in Pakistan ahead of his India trip. "Obama shoots from the hip on terror havens" writes The Pioneer.
- Front pages are also splashed with analysis and discussions on the anticipated deals and agreements between India and the US. "Domestic politics may stall key Modi-Obama deals", headlines the Hindu, such as the nuclear logjam - due to opposition in the Rajya Sabha, while Obama is having trouble committing on climate change funding, because of Republication control of the House.
- Hindustan Times reports that the Centre may act against some of the 188 NGO's red-flagged by the Intelligence Bureau - for alleged misuse of foreign funds, suspected extremist links and proselytization.
- After month-long negotaition, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the BJP have reportedly stitched up an alliance and are all set to form the Government in Jammu and Kashmir, reports the Tribune. An official announcement would come after a meeting between Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PM Narendra Modi, sometime in the first week of February.
- Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar sparked off a controvercy after he alleged that some former Prime Minister's had 'compromised' the country's deep assets, sparking off a row. "Congress seeks apology" writes The Indian Express.
- Hindustan Times informs us that Delhi's residents and industries may have to contribute to a 4,000 crore rupee project to revive the Yamuna in 30 months, by building cleaning up centres and restoring rain water drains - by way of property and house taxes, including a Yamuna cess.
- Booking a table at your favorite restaurant in Maurya Hotel in Delhi will not be possible for the next few days, on account of President Barack Obama's stay, and all reservations have been closed since Friday 4pm. The Hotel will reopen for the public after 7 pm on January 27.
- And finally, The Times of India reports of a paper-clip sized implant, developed by ROX Medical in the US, that can durably and significantly lower blood pressure - in patients with resistant hypertension.
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