Newspaper Must Read Articles of The Day– 21 April 2015

The Hindu

National

• India has 988 species on IUCN ‘Red List’ – India has added 15 more species to the “Red List” of threatened species published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2014.

• Navy’s stealth destroyer launched – The ship, “Visakhapatnam”, will be commissioned in 2018, and has indigenous component of over 70 per cent.

• ‘India rescued 1,947 foreign nationals’ – On Yemen: India safely evacuated 4,741 Indians, and 1,947 foreign nationals from 48 countries till April 18.

• NCDC team in Goa to study Kyasanur Forest Disease – KFD is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV).

• Scientists work on DNA barcoding to help conserve ornamental fish – Barcoding can pinpoint threatened fish species being sold under nicknames by exporters, to mislead and avoid detection.

• Harassing women ‘a social norm’, say offenders! – Over 250  offenders caught by police for harassing women provide startling answers.

International

• Xi launches $46-bn investment plan in Pakistan – China has cemented its “all-weather ties” with Pakistan by agreeing to build a USD 46 billion economic corridor through the PoK as part of 51 deals signed.

• India to hand over three Cheetal copters to Kabul – Afghanistan has repeatedly requested India for military assistance and lethal hardware in addition to training of military personnel. But Pakistan  views India’s role in Afghanistan with suspicion.

Business

• Investment via P-Notes surges – P-Notes, mostly used by overseas HNIs, hedge funds and other foreign institutions, allow such investors to invest in Indian markets through registered foreign institutional investors (FIIs).

• Tea industry launches pilot scheme with Israeli company to tackle drought – Drip irrigation technology offered by an Israeli company is being harnessed in a few tea gardens,  amid growing concern over crop loss due to paucity of rainfall.

Opinion-Editorial

• No frisson in talks over fission – The 2015 Review of the Non Proliferation Treaty could leave the dream
  of nuclear disarmament unattained and the purpose of preventing proliferation defeated.

• Disclosures and disincentives – The govt efforts to curb  unaccounted money require wide public support, but the authorities should not do anything that may deter people from making the shift from evasion mode to tax compliance.

• More leaders, better relations – Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu’s recent visit to China as head of a delegation is an encouraging sign of including the States in foreign relations.

Indian Express

Editorials & Columns

• It’s a secret – The govt has set up a panel to review the Official Secrets Act in the light of RTI. The article explains the process by which the government classifies information and the relationship between the two laws.

• Uneasy allies – China President’s Pakistan visit highlights problems of an unequal relationship. Its also India’s opportunity.

• Death boats – EU should frame  a migration policy to avoid Mediterranean disasters.

• Great Chinese diversion – The article warns that India must be prepared to deal with China’s plans to divert Brahmaputra waters.

LiveMint

• Proposal on low-income farmers faces opposition at WTO – Initial positions adopted by major industrialized countries indicate that a solution is not likely to materialize.