1. PM Modi in Davos, India Gets IMF Boost
On a cold, dreary day marked by heavy snowfall at this Swiss ski resort, a traffic pile-up on the road from Zurich to Davos disrupted the schedule of delegates arriving for the World Economic Forum. But the Indian delegation was basking in the glow of the International Monetary Fund’s projection that India could emerge as the fastest-growing country in the world in 2018 at 7.4 percent, leaving China behind at 6.6 percent.
In its global growth prospects survey, released on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to a global audience in Davos, the IMF said that India could grow at 7.8 percent in 2019. For the Indian delegation, the numbers came as an endorsement of the assessment that India is on track to shake off the disruptive effects of the note ban in 2016 and the glitches in implementation of the GST last year.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Global CEOs See India as 5th Most Attractive Investment Destination
India moved up a notch to overtake Japan as the fifth most attractive investment destination in a survey of global CEOs, even as the International Monetary Fund said that the country will once again emerge as the fastest growing major economy in 2018 amid signs of an improvement in the overall economic environment.
In a survey conducted by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, chief executives said that excluding their home market they are most likely to invest in the US, followed by China with the world's largest economy expanding its gap as corporate chiefs expect more rapid growth in America.
While China held on to its popularity, India moved a up slightly but still trailed Germany and the UK as an investment destination.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Supreme Court Takes up Pleas on Judge Loya Death: ‘Serious… But Let’s Not Cast Aspersions’
Terming the matter as “serious”, the Supreme Court Monday transferred to itself two petitions pending in the Bombay High Court demanding an independent probe into the death in 2014 of CBI special judge BH Loya.
“As of now, it’s a natural death. Let’s not cast aspersions. Let’s not prejudge,” said Justice D Y Chandrachud who is part of a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra hearing the two PILs filed by journalist B R Lone and activist Tehseen Poonawala.
Justice Chandrachud delivered these remarks while intervening to defuse a heated argument between Senior Advocates Dushyant Dave, representing the petitioners, and Harish Salve, appearing for the Maharashtra government.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Must Constantly Study How Institution is Functioning, Says Justice Chelameswar
In his first public appearance after the dramatic press conference in which he and three other senior judges of the Supreme Court questioned the conduct of the Chief Justice of India, Justice Jasti Chelameswar said Monday that one “must constantly keep analysing and examining how exactly the institution is functioning”, and its achievements and failures.
Speaking at the launch of the book Supreme Court of India — The beginnings, Justice Chelameswar said: “I believe, and I am sure, each one of those present in the gathering believe that for the survival of a liberal democracy, an impartial and independent judiciary is essential, without which, I don’t think, liberal democracy can flourish.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
5. IM Co-Founder, Gujarat Blasts Mastermind Held After Gunfight
One of India’s most wanted criminals, the alleged co-founder of terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) and the suspected mastermind behind the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, has been arrested by Delhi police, senior officers said on Monday.
Abdul Subhan Qureshi, alias Tauqeer, was apprehended around 8.30pm on Saturday after a brief gunfight near the paper market in east Delhi’s Ghazipur locality, deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah told reporters.
The 46-year-old, suspected of being involved in a series of IM terror strikes between 2006 and 2008, had been on the run for the last 10 years.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. SC to Hear Padmaavat Plea Today as Violence Escalates
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh approached the Supreme Court on Monday seeking modification of an order that paved the way for Bollywood film Padmaavat’s nationwide release as violent protests against the period drama intensified across India.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra agreed to hear the applications on Tuesday after the states requested an urgent hearing and expressed fears of a law and order breakdown if the film is released as scheduled on Thursday.
The Shri Rajput Karni Sena, which has led the violent protests, also filed an application in the apex court, seeking to be heard in the matter. The RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP, voiced its opposition to the film.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. AAP MLAs Should Have Asked EC for Hearings, Didn’t: New CEC
Responding to allegations that the Election Commission (EC) finalised its opinion in the office of profit matter against 20 AAP MLAs without hearing their arguments on the merits of the case, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat told The Indian Express on Monday that the party had two opportunities to request the EC to hold hearings, but they didn’t.
Asked about the EC’s last ruling of June 23, 2017, which states that the Commission will intimate the next date of hearing in “due course”, Rawat, who was announced as A K Joti’s successor on Sunday, said, “These (two) notices were issued only for that (purpose). If they felt the need or imperative for oral evidences, then they should have pointed it out and we would have fixed a date for hearing. But you (AAP) are not talking of that. You are talking of something that is already known to the Commission.” Rawat will officially assume charge as the new CEC on Tuesday.
(Source: The Indian Express)
8. India, Pakistan Exchange Heavy Mortar Fire on Jammu Border
The Border Security Force fired more than 9,000 rounds of mortar shells across the international border in Jammu in the past four days as part of “pinpointed” retaliatory action against Pakistan’s unprovoked firing, officials said on Monday.
The BSF said it destroyed firing positions, mortar launching pads and ammunition and fuel dumps of the Pakistan Rangers at several places in the firing.
The toll from Pakistani firing since Wednesday went up to 12, with one more death reported on Sunday. This is more than the total number of people killed in the border region by Pakistani shelling in 2017. The dead include two BSF men, three army soldiers and seven civilians. Around 60 people, including children, were wounded.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
9. 2nd Kamala Mills Director Held For Culpable Homicide
The N M Joshi Marg police, which is probing the December 29 fire that claimed 14 lives, on Monday arrested Ramesh Gowani, director of Kamala Mills Ltd. Gowani has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
This is the 12th arrest in the fire case and the second FIR Gowani has been named in. He was earlier booked in an MRTP case by N M Joshi Marg police after the deadly fire.
Gowani’s arrest comes barely four days after civic chief Ajoy Mehta, in his probe report on the fire to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, recommended criminal action against the mill owner. Late on Saturday night, a mill director, Ravi Bhandari, was arrested along with local fire station officer Rajendra Patil and Utkarsh Pandey, who supplied hookah to 1Above and Mojo’s Bistro, which were gutted.
(Source: The Times of India)
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