Morning Brief: PM-Led Panel To Select New CBI Chief On 24 January; China’s Economy Grew 6.6 Per Cent In 2018, Slowest Rate In 28 Years; And More

Good Morning, dear reader! Here’s your morning news brief for today.

PM-Led Panel On CBI Chief To Meet Thursday

The three-member panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet on 24 January to select a replacement for ousted Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Alok Verma, The Tribune has reported. The other two members of the panel are Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. According to reports, the government wanted to hold the meeting on 21 January but Kharge wanted it on 24 or 25 January.

Indian Police Service officers of 1983, 1984 and 1985 batch, including DG BSF Rajni Kant Mishra, NIA chief Y C Modi, CISF DG Rajesh Ranjan and DGP Uttar Pradesh O P Singh, are being considered for the post. After Verma’s ouster by the high-power selection panel, M Nageswara Rao was appointed as the CBI’s interim director. He had reversed all transfer orders issued by Verma.

China's Economy Grew 6.6 Per Cent In 2018, Slowest Rate In 28 Years

Amid a trade war with the United States, China’s economy grew at 6.6 per cent in 2018, its slowest pace in almost 30 years. The world's second-largest economy posted 6.4 per cent growth in the October-December period last year. Low consumer spending, manufacturing output, and investment in China have been cited as evidence of slowing economic growth in the country.

The ongoing trade war with the US has contributed significantly to this slowdown. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that there has been some progress toward a trade deal with China, but denied that he was considering lifting tariffs imposed on goods worth over $250 billion. Analysts see a further slowdown to 6.3 per cent this year.

India Likely To Surpass UK In Largest Economy Rankings In 2019: Report

India is likely to leave the United Kingdom behind in the ranking of the world’s largest economies, a report by British consultancy multinational PwC reveals. According to PwC's annual Global Economy Watch, India’s real GDP growth in 2019 will be at 7.6 per cent, for the UK at 1.6 per cent and 1.7 per cent for France. As a result, India and France will be knocking the UK to the seventh place in the rankings.

The report suggests that India’s climb in the ranking will be permanent while that of France may remain temporary as these countries have regularly switched places owing to similar levels of development and roughly equal populations.

Arun Jaitley Will Return From US To Present Interim Budget

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who has reportedly been diagnosed with soft-tissue cancer in the thigh and is currently in the US for treatment, may come back to New Delhi to present the interim budget on 1 February. The next session of Parliament will commence from 31 January and conclude on 13 February. Earlier, it had been reported that in Jaitley’s absence, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal may present the budget. He had substituted for Jaitley when he was recovering after a kidney transplant.

Both houses of Parliament will have at least 10 sittings. Only five sittings, between 4 and 8 February, will have Question Hour. Private members’ business will be limited to only one day. It will be the last session of the sixteenth Lok Sabha.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 To Begin Today In Varanasi

The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will commence today and end on 23 January. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event with Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnath as the Chief Guest. It is usually celebrated on 9 January every year to mark Mahatma Gandhi return from South Africa.

After the two-day celebrations, the Indian diaspora attending the event will be taken to Kumbh Mela and then to Delhi for the Republic Day Parade.

From Swarajya

Khayala Ground Report: Neighbours Recall Gory Triple Murders, Say They Have Been Wrongly Painted As Cowards: Remember the gruesome video of a man stabbing another in New Delhi, which went around on social media recently? This is the story behind that clip.

How Farmers Have Begun Reaping Better Economic Benefits Under ITC Agri Division Projects: Along with innovative schemes for farmers, here’s how the various community development projects of ITC’s agri division are paying off.

Lothal: The Town The Harappans Built: A visit to Lothal is a dream come true for enthusiasts of India’s ancient history. Yet, today, it is a nondescript place.

We hope you enjoyed reading our morning brief. Have a great day ahead!

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