Airtel's 'fastest network' claim misleading: Jio to ASCI

 Telecom operator Reliance Jio has approached advertisement sector watchdog ASCI against Bharti Airtel saying the latter's claim of being "officially the fastest network" is "misleading" and done in "mala fide manner in collusion with" broadband speed tester Ookla.Telecom operator Reliance Jio has approached advertisement sector watchdog ASCI against Bharti Airtel saying the latter's claim of being "officially the fastest network" is "misleading" and done in "mala fide manner in collusion with" broadband speed tester Ookla."The claim of Airtel that it is India's fastest network is false, misleading and incorrect. This claim is being made by Airtel acting in a mala fide manner in collusion with Ookla, LLC," Jio said in its complaint filed before The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)When contacted, Airtel spokesperson said Airtel has been rated as India's fastest mobile network by Ookla - the global leader in broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications."This is clearly mentioned in the ad. Ookla's findings are based on analysis of millions of internet speed tests logged on 'modern devices' by mobile customers across India using its popular Speedtest app. 

Note ban to affect NBFC collections in short term: Moody's"

Moody's Investors Service today said non banking financial companies (NBFCs) will demonstrate broadly stable asset quality, but delinquencies could rise over the next 1-2 quarters as demonetisation adversely affects collections across asset classes.It said the growth in loans against property has outpaced overall retail credit growth in recent years, but relatively loose underwriting practices, combined with intensifying competition, will translate into higher asset quality risk for this segment."NBFCs in India will demonstrate broadly stable asset quality, but delinquencies will likely rise over the next 1-2 quarters, as demonetisation adversely affects collections across asset classes," Moody's said in a statement.Over the past three years, NBFCs have gained some market share in the origination of retail lending, on the back of faster growth exhibited by such entities when compared to the banks.This is particularly the case when compared to public sector banks, which face significant challenges on their asset quality and overall solvency profiles, it said."Nevertheless, we expect that competitive pressures from the banking sector will remain intense as banks are increasing targeting of the retail segment to offset weakness in their corporate lending

No import of food items with less than 60% shelf life

Imported food items with less than 60 percent of shelf life left will not be allowed to enter Indian market as per the new regulations issued by regulator FSSAI.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulation 2017, making it mandatory for importers to obtain its license."We are happy that FSSAI has been able to finalise the regulations for imports of food items. This will bring an end to all uncertainties regarding food imports into the country," FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal told PTI.In the new regulations, which was notified earlier this month, the FSSAI said: "No article of food shall be cleared from the customs unless it has a valid shelf life of not less than 60 percent at the time of import".Shelf life means the period between the date of manufacture and the 'Best Before' or 'Date of expiry', whichever is earlier as printed on the label, FSSAI said.It specified that no person shall import any food article without an import license from the Central Licensing Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.FSSAI said it has brought the regulation with an aim to streamline the process of clearance of imported food in an efficient and transparent manner.

PM Modi favourite for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, say US political experts"

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as a clear favourite for the 2019 general elections after the BJP's landslide victory in assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, top US experts on India have said.While one of the experts noted that the electoral results of the just concluded Assembly polls in five states show that the 2014 Lok Sabha election results were not an aberration, another noted that Modi would continue to lead India after 2019.The Assembly elections do not signal much of a change. The Uttar Pradesh election results showed that the 2014 general elections were not an "aberration". Same is the case with Punjab, Adam Ziegfeld, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the George Washington University said.Modi has been established by this election as the "clear and favourite winner" for the 2019 elections, Sadanand Dhume, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute said."Modi is the front runner (for 2019)," he said.Irfan Nooruddin, a professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at the Georgetown University predicted that in 2019, the BJP is unlikely to get a simple majority and Modi would rather be heading a coalition government.

Sole mission & motive is UP's development: PM on Yogi government

 As the Yogi Adityanath-led government took over in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the "sole mission and motive is development" of the state, in an apparent bid to allay apprehensions over the hardline Hindutva mascot becoming the Chief MinisterSole mission & motive is UP's development: PM on Yogi governmenAs the Yogi Adityanath-led government took over in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the "sole mission and motive is development" of the state, in an apparent bid to allay apprehensions over the hardline Hindutva mascot becoming the Chief Minister.Modi, while noting that BJP had formed the government in four out of five states that went to the polls recently, said, "Our unwavering efforts to create a 'Bhavya' (great) & 'Divya' (brilliant) Bharat (India) continue. India's Jan Shakti is powering the rise of a new transformed India.