THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirm strong commitment to India-France Strategic Partnership; Jointly inaugurate new Indian Consulate in French city of Marseille.
- Prime Minister leaves for Washington DC on a two-day visit to US after concluding his successful trip to France.
- Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah asserts, government taking special measures to ensure uniform and balanced development of cooperatives across states.
- Retail inflation eases to five-month low of 4.31 per cent in January.
- In Cricket, India clean sweeps three-match ODI series, defeating England by 142 runs in final fixture at Ahmedabad.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed their strong commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership. During their bilateral talks in Paris, the two leaders reviewed cooperation in the strategic areas of Defence, Civil Nuclear Energy and Space. They also held discussion on boosting technology, innovation, and investment ties, with special focus on the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026.
Mr Modi along with the French President reached the historic French city of Marseille this morning after concluding a series of high-level engagements including the co-chairing of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit. The two leaders also held delegation level talks after their arrival in Marseille.
A Joint Statement outlining the roadmap for future cooperation was adopted, with ten key agreements signed in areas including civil nuclear energy, environment, and culture.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron jointly inaugurated the new Indian Consulate in Marseille. This new consulate will serve four regions in southern France. A large number of Indian diaspora members gathered to witness the historic occasion.
The two leaders also visited International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, in Cadarache. Both leaders also paid tribute to Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the first and second World Wars at the Mazargues War Cemetery. Further deepening maritime ties, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron visited the Marseilles Port. The leaders also reviewed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor in Marseille, highlighting its role in enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration.
Briefing media in Marseille today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron during their talks exchanged views on the recent geopolitical developments in Europe, West Asia and Indo-Pacific.
The Foreign Secretary said Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a major area of bilateral discussion between the two sides.
Prime Minister Modi has since left for Washington DC on a two-day visit to United States after wrapping up his successful visit to France. Mr Modi will reach Washington DC in the wee hours tomorrow. where he will hold bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump.
Recently, talking to media about Mr. Modi’s visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, the Prime Minister will be among the first few world leaders to visit the United States following the inauguration of the US President.
“In Washington DC, Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Trump in both the restricted and delegation level formats. Mr Modi is also scheduled to interact with senior U.S. administration figures, business leaders and members of the Indian community. Mr Modi has been invited to visit the U.S. within barely three weeks of the new administration taking office. This shows the importance of the India-U.S. partnership. The visit will be a valuable opportunity to engage the new administration on all areas of mutual interest. There has been a very close rapport between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump dating back to Mr Trump’s first term. There is a convergence of interests between the two countries in a number of areas including trade, investment, technology, defense cooperation, counter terrorism, security of the Indo-Pacific and people-to-people relations. With Diwaker, Anupam Mishra, Akashvani News, Delhi. “
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Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah asserted that the government is taking special measures to ensure the uniform and balanced development of cooperatives across the states. Mr Shah was addressing the first meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Cooperation in New Delhi. He said, the government is taking steps to address regional disparity in the development of cooperatives in the country. He said the work to develop the National Cooperative Database is almost complete. Mr Shah added that the information about cooperative societies across the country, categorized by region, is now available at one click.
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The Income-Tax Bill, 2025 is scheduled to be introduced in the Lok Sabha tomorrow. The Bill, which is aimed at consolidating and amending the law relating to income-tax, has been listed in the business of the House.
The Report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is also scheduled to be tabled in the Lok Sabha tomorrow which is the last day of the first part of the Budget Session of Parliament.
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India’s retail inflation eased to a five month low of 4.31 percent in January, down from 5.22 per cent in December, as the rate of increase in food prices slowed. According to the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the food inflation rate for the last month, based on the All India Consumer Food Price Index, is provisionally reported at 6.02 percent, down from 8.39 percent recorded in December. The Ministry said that the headline and food inflation were lowest after August, 2024.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that it will soon issue 50 rupee denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series bearing the signature of Governor Sanjay Malhotra. Furthermore, all previously issued 50 rupee banknotes by the Reserve Bank will continue to be legal tender.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices ended with modest losses in a volatile trade today. The 30-share index at Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex, shed 122 points to close at 76,171. Similarly, the National Stock Exchange Nifty-50 fell 26 points to settle at 23,045.
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And now news from the ongoing MahaKumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj
Around 2 crore devotees have taken the holy dip in the Triven Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati since morning, on Magh Purnima today. Performing the sacred bathing ritual on the occasion holds great relevance. It also marks the end of the special ritual of performing Kalpavas, with the grand festival hosting more than 10 lakh Kalpavasis this year. Our correspondent reports that so far around 48 crore 25 lakh devotees have taken the holy bath at the mega event.
“Saints, devotees, Kalpvasis, and pilgrims from all walks of life today took the holy dip on Magh Purnima. Flower petals were showered on saints and devotees at Triveni Sangam. In this trend. Senior BJP leader and MP Jagdambika Pal also visited Mahakumbh and said :
Former India Test cricket team captain, Anil Kumble and Film actor Sunil Shetty also took a holy dip. During the occasion, Mr Shetty said :
Among the international dignitaries attending the event, former Norwegian Minister for Climate and Environment Erik Solheim, visited the Mahakumbh and said that it is not just the largest spiritual event in the world but also the biggest human congregation in history.
Other devotees also shared their experiences with Akashvani News and said
On Magh Purnima, separate pathways were used for entry and exit to safeguard the flow of devotees to avoid chaos. Adarsh for Akashvani News, Prayagraj.”
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Ravidas Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, is being celebrated across the country today. The President, Vice President and Prime Minister greeted people on the occasion.
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Birth anniversary of great thinker, social reformer and ardent nationalist Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati is being observed today. Paying tributes to the great social reformer in a social media post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Maharishi Dayanand remained engaged throughout his life in making the society aware against ignorance, superstition and ostentation.
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In Men’s Cricket, India has clean sweeped the three-match ODI series after defeating England by 142 runs in the final clash in Ahmedabad today. Chasing a target of 357 runs, the Visitors were bundled out for 214 runs in 34.2 overs.
Earlier, put in to bat, India were all out for 356 runs in the stipulated 50 overs. The daunting total was powered by Shubman Gill’s incredible century of 112 runs.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirm strong commitment to India-France Strategic Partnership; Jointly inaugurate new Indian Consulate in French city of Marseille.
- Prime Minister leaves for Washington DC on a two-day visit to US after concluding his successful trip to France.
- Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah asserts, government taking special measures to ensure uniform and balanced development of cooperatives across states.
- Retail inflation eases to five-month low of 4.31 per cent in January.
- In Cricket, India clean sweeps three-match ODI series, defeating England by 142 runs in final fixture at Ahmedabad.
