Must Read News Articles – November 29

 Archives

GS: 2

International relations:

India, Russia update pact on security (The Hindu)

India and Russia concluded a comprehensive agreement on security and reviewed the implementation of the Agreement on Information Security signed in October 2016 during the just-concluded visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

First phase of Chabahar port work over, Iran tells India, eyes Sunday launch (Indian Express)

This comes exactly a month after India had operationalised Chabahar port and sent the first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan.

India supports creation of a Palestinian state:PM (The Hindu)

Ahead of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the PM says India will continue to support nation-building activities by the Palestinians

Indian Constitution and Polity:

Don’t comment on Padmavati: SC (The Hindu)

A Supreme Court Bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, dismissed a fresh petition seeking an order to restrain the producers of movie Padmavati from releasing it abroad

A new phase? (The Hindu Editorial)

High hopes ride on Nepal’s first parliamentary polls under its new Constitution

Freedom first (The Hindu Editorial)

The Supreme Court’s order allowing Hadiya freedom of movement was long overdue

SC dismisses plea against Asthana’s appointment as CBI special director (The Hindu)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging the appointment of senior Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as a special director of the CBI.

ICJ judges worked as arbitrators, says report (The Hindu)

Christopher Greenwood, the British judge who withdrew as Britain’s nominee for the International Court of Justice, paving the way for Justice Dalveer Bhandari’s election, moonlighted as an arbitrator in nine investment-state dispute settlements as well as two other cases during his time as an ICJ judge.

Beyond the News: How Supreme Court eased bail in money laundering charge (Indian Express)

The SC striking down provisions denying bail to those accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 marks a major change.

GS: 3

Economy:

Telecom regulator backs net neutrality (The Hindu)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday came out in strong support of Net neutrality in a series of recommendations following a long process of consultations on the issue.

GES-2017: Narendra Modi invites global entrepreneurs to invest in India (The Hindu)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government understood that an environment of transparent policies and the rule of law providing a level playing field were necessary for entrepreneurship to flourish.

No compromise on India’s interest at WTO: Prabhu (The Hindu)

At next month’s meeting of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) highest decision-making body, India will not compromise on its interests including ensuring food security as well as protecting its resource-poor and low-income farmers and fisher-folk, according to commerce minister Suresh Prabhu.

India must integrate with global value chain :ADB(The Hindu)

The manufacturing sector’s share in India’s GDP has remained stagnant despite the government’s efforts to increase it, according to Asian Development Bank Country Head Kenichi Yokoyama, who added that India must do more to integrate with the global value chain in which it currently only plays a small part.

Not yet custom-made (Indian Express Opinion)

Studies show business processing in Indian ports has improved, but not by enough

One giant leap, for all (Indian Express Opinion)

Misgivings around high-speed railway are unwarranted. It will boost the economy and provide safe travel to the masses.

Environment:

India loses billions to air pollution: UN (The Hindu)

India had the highest share of welfare costs (or a loss of income from labour), of about $220 billion (about ₹1.4 trillion), in South and South-East Asia — of a combined total of $380 billion from mortality due to air pollution, according to a report by the  United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Hunting for solutions: on trophy hunting (The Hindu Editorial)

Local African voices need to be heard in the debate on trophy hunting

Cities at Crossroads: Perils of plastics waste (Indian Express)

A sustainable way forward is to minimise consumption of single use plastic items, create awareness about the use of appropriate grade of plastic, and emphasise the importance of recycling and reuse.