Must Read News Articles –December 25

Archives

GS: 2

International relations:

Time for an icebreaker (The Hindu)

In the late 1960s, shortly after the India- Pakistan  war, the official in the Ministry of External Affairs handling the Pakistan desk received a strange request during his meeting with the new Pakistan High Commissioner.

Technology alone isn’t the solution (The Hindu Opinion)

In the annals of the story of air pollution, December 3, 2017 will likely become a pivotal moment. On Day 2 of the final Test match between India and Sri Lanka in Delhi, bowlers Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal left the Kotla cricket ground early in the game complaining of breathing difficulties.

World’s largest amphibious aircraft makes maiden flight in China (The Hindu)

China’s domestically developed AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, performed its maiden flight on Sunday from an airport on the shores of the South  China Sea, the latest step in a military modernisation programme.

New sanctions are an act of war (The Hindu)

The UN Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on  North Korea on Friday for its recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, seeking to limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil and its earnings from workers abroad.

Indian Constitution and Polity:

Withdraw triple talaq Bill: AIMPLB (The Hindu)

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday demanded the withdrawal of the triple talaq Bill, saying it went against the Constitution and violated the rights of women.

Place on record amended draft of Tribunal Rules:SC (The Hindu)

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to place on record the amended draft of the Central Tribunal, Appellate and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience and other conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017, which is under challenge for modifying the terms of appointment and functioning in various statutory tribunals, including the National Green Tribunal, and causing dilution of judicial independence and posing a threat to the Constitution.

Fast track alimony payment: Centre  (The Hindu)

Expressing concern over delay in disbursing money awarded as maintenance to women by courts, the Centre has asked the High Courts to set up a mechanism to fast-track the process.

The price of justice (Indian Express Editorial)

Government needs to invest more in the judiciary to reduce pendency

GS: 3

Economy:

Panel exhorts centre to contain bank NPAs (The Hindu)

Concerned over rising NPAs of banks, a Parliamentary panel asked the government to take urgent remedial measures to reduce the volume of stressed assets in the system and strengthen its vigilance mechanism.

WTO: nations arrive at a crossroads (The Hindu)

‘India will have to quickly forge a grand alliance to protect interests and prevent mayhem’

Hitting the GST hurdle (The Hindu)

Experience is the name the wise give to their mistakes. Through lessons learned from Modvat and later from VAT (which are also based on the same concept of tax credit, as in GST), it would be simple, even now, to gauge what GST would bring about.

Defusing stress (Indian Express Editorial)

RBI report underlines that the bad loan problem will get worse before it gets better. In long run, bank governance will be key.