1. Three powerful bomb blasts rock Imphal:
iii. Police sources said, the first explosion took place at the high security zone of the First Manipur Rifles Complex in Imphal at around 7.30 on Friday morning.
i. In Manipur, three powerful bomb blasts rocked Imphal City on Friday morning.
ii. The blasts took place at different places of Imphal despite elaborate security arrangements to contain untoward incidents ahead of the Republic Day Celebration on Saturday.
iii. Police sources said, the first explosion took place at the high security zone of the First Manipur Rifles Complex in Imphal at around 7.30 on Friday morning.
iv. The second blast took place near Keishamthong Bridge on the bank of Nambul River under Imphal Police Station at around 10:15 on Friday morning.
v. The third explosion occurred at Nongmeibung near Raja Dumbra Singh High School under Porompat Police Station in Imphal at around 11 on Friday morning.
NOTE: However, there is no report of any arrest in connection with the blasts. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the explosions. No one was injured in the incidents.
2. National Voters Day observed today:
i. National Voters Day was observed today with Vice President Hamid Ansari calling upon the citizens to value their vote and the importance of exercising their right to vote in electoral process.
ii. Chief Election Commissioner V.S Sampath elaborated about the measures being taken to increase voters participation.
3. Nation celebrates Milad-un-Nabi with religious fervor & traditional gaiety:
Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, is being celebrated across the country today with religious fervor and traditional gaiety. Thousands of Muslims thronged to pray in Dargahs and mosques.
NOTE: The President, Vice President, the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have greeted the nation on the occasion.In his message, the President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said prophet's message of brotherhood, compassion, tolerance and service to humanity, guide and inspire the people to live a righteous and productive life.
4. RBI asks banks to issue Tier II bonds to retail investors:
i. The Reserve Bank asked banks to issue bonds to retail investors so as to deepen the corporate debt market; however, it said that while doing so banks are advised to stay to the prescribed conditions.
ii. The central bank also emphasised that the investor is aware of the risk characteristics of regulatory capital instruments. Banks usually raise Tier II capital by issuing subordinated debt to banks and large investors.
iii. The bonds have a minimum maturity of 5 years. However if the bonds are issued in the last quarter of the year i.e. from 1st January to 31st March, they should have a minimum tenure of 63 months.
NOTE: As per the prescribed format, the amount of subordinated debt to be raised may be decided by the board of the bank.
5. IMF: World Economic Growth Rate would be 3.5 percent in 2013
i. International Monetary Fund (IMF) in at update to World Economic Outlook (WEO) on 23 January 2013, projected that the global economic growth rate would be 3.5 percent in 2013.
ii. The update mentioned that the global economic growth would strengthen gradually as the limitations of the economic activities have seen a positive note with the start of the year.
Some of the major projections of IMF are:
i. Global growth would reach 3.5 percent in 2013, from 3.2 percent in 2012
ii. Crisis risks would narrow down but the downside risks will remain crucial
iii. Main sources of growth would be the emerging markets, developing countries and the United States
NOTE: The report described that if the risks of crisis doesn’t materialize, then the expected targets of growth may be crossed and can be stronger then that is projected.
6. IMF forecasted Indian Economic Growth Rate to be 5.9 percent in 2013
i. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 23 January 2013 projected that the economic growth rate of India in 2013 would be 5.9 percent.
ii. The IMF also projected an increased growth rate of 6.4 percent for 2014 looking forward towards the gradual strengthening of the global expansion in India’s context.
7. Major Abup J Manjali Selected For Kirti Chakra:
Kirti Chakra is the Second- Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award…
i. Major Abup J Manjali of the Rashtriya Rifles was selected for the award of Kirti Chakra for his extraordinary bravery efforts in counter- terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
ii. Major Manjali is the only soldier to receive this second- highest peacetime gallantry award Kirti Chakra on the Republic Day. Apart from him, eight other jawans as well as officers were selected to be awarded with the Shaurya Chakra.
NOTE: i. Major Abup J Manjali belongs to the Bihar Regiment and at present is deputed to Rashtriya Rifles.
ii. It is important to note that the Kirti Chakra can be given away to military personnel as well as the civilians.
iii. This award is the peacetime gallantry award which is equivalent to Mahavir Chakra.
iv. Shaurya Chakra, on the other hand, is being given away to Major Sandeep Kumar of 13 Sikh Regiment for his bravery act in Northeast area. Apart from him, Navy officer will also receive Shaurya Chakra for saving lives in Mumbai fire incident.
8. ING Left Insurance Business in India; Sold 26 Percent Stake to Exide
i. ING, the Dutch financial services group departed the insurance business in India by selling off 26 percent stake of ING Vysya Life Insurance to the Exide Industries, its joint-venture partner.
ii. The deal was worth 1100 crore Rupees.
iii. Exide Industries, on the other hand is now searching for the foreign insurer who would buy this 26 percent stake.
iv. As of now, the Exide Industries held 50 percent stake in ING Vysya Life Insurance Company and with the present deal, Exide Industries holds 74 percent overall stake in the company.
v. Rest of the 24 percent is held by two promoters Hemendra Kothari Group and Enam Group.
NOTE: i. It is important to note that ING is the 3rd insurance company to leave India.
ii. The first insurer to exit from India was Australian insurer AMP with its joint venture with Sanmar that sold the stake to Reliance Life Insurance.
iii. The second insurer to leave from India was American insurer Chubb with the joint venture with HDFC.
iv. Because of the financial crisis across the globe, a lot of insurers changed their expansion plans. The active insurers in India at present are Samsung Life of Canada and North American insurer Manulife.
v. However, ING announced that it will retain the presence in the banking sector in India.
9. IIMA to launch first ever case website from tomorrow:
i. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad -IIMA will launch its first ever case website- cases.iimahd.ernet.in from tomorrow.
ii. The website is a unique online portal to enable academic institutes to explore, register as users, search cases, technical notes and exercises prepared by the IIMA faculty and Associates and buy them online.
NOTE: The website provides details about the case collection of IIMA case method, buying process, and pricing scheme.
10. Uddhav Thackeray appointed as the Party President of Shiv Sena
i. Uddhav Thackeray on 23 January 2013 was elected as the Party President for Shiv Sena during the National Executive Meet of the party held at Sena Bhawan, party’s headquarters at Dadar in Central Mumbai.
ii. He was elected to the post of the President of the Party on the day of birth anniversary of the party supremo and his father, Bal Thackeray.
NOTE: Now, Uddhav will be responsible to take all the decisions of the party and make the appointments too.
11. Headley sentenced for 35 years for role in 26/11
i. David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American and the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack 2008 was sentenced to 35 years in Prison on 24 January 2013 by a U.S. Court.
ii. The Court sentence would be followed by a five years of supervised release.
iii. The sentence was pronounced by the U.S. Federal District Court Judge Harry Leinenweber, who said that Headley was a terrorist and numerous crimes were committed by Headley but his confessions turned up to be the reason that lenient sentences were issued for him.
NOTE: i. The death penalty and extradition options were dropped because of the cooperation shown by him.
ii. Headley, under a deal with U.S. Government supplied major information about the terror suspects, which was really helpful in carrying on the investigation and bring defendants like Ilyas Kashmiri, Tahawwur Rana and other Pakistan-based operatives under criminal charges.
ii. Headley, under a deal with U.S. Government supplied major information about the terror suspects, which was really helpful in carrying on the investigation and bring defendants like Ilyas Kashmiri, Tahawwur Rana and other Pakistan-based operatives under criminal charges.
About David Coleman Headley:
i. David Coleman Headley is a Chicago based Pakistani-American, who was involved as a mastermind in Mumbai Terror Attack and many other terrorist activities.
ii. He is accused of carrying on the spying mission during the terror attacks of Mumbai in which 166 people died.
iii. In 2009 he was the mastermind to plan the attack on the Danish Newspaper, Jyllands-Posten.
12. Errani-Vinci win Australian Open doubles title:
Top-seeded Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy beat Australian pair of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 for the Australian Open women’s doubles championship.
NOTE: The 16-year-old Ashleigh Barty was attempting to become the youngest Grand Slam champion since Martina Hingis won the Australian Open singles title in 1997.
13. Djokovic advances to Australian Open final
i. Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced to his third consecutive Australian Open final with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 4-seeded David Ferrer in the semifinals on Thursday night.
NOTE:i. On Sunday, Djokovic will meet the winner of Friday’s semifinal between No. 2-ranked Roger Federer, a four-time Australian champion, and U.S. Open winner Andy Murray, who is ranked No. 3.
14. Fauja Singh, Announced Retirement :
i. Fauja Singh, 101, the oldest marathon runner of the world decided to stop running in the competitions after Hong Kong marathon which will be held in February 2013.
ii. However, before the Hong Kong marathon, Singh will be running in the Australia marathon as well.
ii. However, before the Hong Kong marathon, Singh will be running in the Australia marathon as well.
NOTE: i. Fauja Singh is also popularly known as the Turbaned Tornado in all the international events. Though Fauja Singh announced his retirement from marathon, but he admitted that he would keep running for inspiring the masses.
ii. Fauja Singh was born on 1 April 1911. Fauja was also felicitated at the Buckingham Palace by the queen in London on December 7, 2005.
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