Must Read News Articles – October 2

National

Get a regular head for ED, Supreme Court tells government – The Supreme Court Friday took exception to periodical extension to Karnal Singh, Special Director in the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and directed the government to appoint a “regular head” as soon as possible.

Environment

India to push for funds at climate talks – A day before India ratifies the Paris climate agreement, Environment Minister Anil Dave confirmed at a press briefing that there was no link between India ratifying the deal and its membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and emphasised that India would push for finance and technology from developed countries at the forthcoming talks in Morocco.

India got 3% less rain than normal: IMD – India has ended up with 3 per cent less rain than normal during the monsoon months of June to September.

New species of Pika discovered – Scientists claim to have discovered a new species of Pika, a mammal belonging to the rabbit and hare family ( Lagomorpha ), in the Himalayas in Sikkim. After six years of research, a team of international collaborators, led by scientists from Bengaluru’s National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) announced the discovery.

International

China stalls India’s proposal on Azhar – India was still giving “final touches” to its proposal to put Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar on the list of United Nations proscribed terrorists, when China announced that the “technical hold” on designating him a terrorist has been extended by another three months.

Maldives seeks SAARC meet at an early date – The Maldives has urged SAARC members to create an environment conducive to holding the 19th summit at an early date.

China blocks tributary of Brahmaputra to build dam – China has blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra as part of a major hydro-electric project, whose construction began in 2014.

Illegal business trumps Indo-Pak. legitimate trade – Smugglers of goods between India and Pakistan are operating through a third country such as Afghanistan and often misuse transit routes set up on the border for exchange, a study conducted by an industry body showed.

Centre to flag H1-B visa curbs – India is likely to raise its concerns in an upcoming meeting with the U.S., over a proposed legislation seeking to impose greater costs on firms that temporarily hire highly skilled foreign workers.

Editorials

Indian Express

Across the aisle: How free is freedom in India? –  Political freedom and economic freedom go together. I urge you to take a look at Article 19 of the Constitution (as originally incorporated) that, along with Articles 14 and 21, constitutes the core of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution that we “gave unto ourselves”.

Perils of Gandhiplomacy – M. K. Gandhi’s statue was defaced in Johannesburg, with calls for “Racist Gandhi must fall”, last year. In 2003, when Gandhi’s statue was raised in Johannesburg, scores of petitions demanded the removal of the statue.