The Hindu

DNA profiling Bill triggers debate: DNA profiling is a forensic technique used to identify individuals by characteristics of their DNA. One sample of a person’s DNA is maintained by forensic authorities, and that sample can be matched to DNA obtained from a crime scene to establish whether that person was present or not. (The table given in the article is brilliant, and all your information (history of DNA profiling in India, advantages, disadvantages) can come from there itself).

Talks with Taliban more hype than hope: Talks between the Agfhan Govt and the Taliban are unlikely to deliver peace and reconciliation because the objectives of the protagonists do not match. Talks will be a marathon, and will not end as long as the Taliban (supported by Pakistan) talks peace while pursuing violence.

All eyes on Pluto: The need to study Pluto arises because it will help in understanding two different things about our own planet. Firstly, stars and gaseous planets are made up of mostly Hydrogen (and Helium). So, how did the Earth lose all its Hydrogen at the beginning, which made our planet suitable for life? Secondly, there is the likelihood of presence of complex organic compounds on Pluto’s surface, and water-ice inside the surface. Since it is hypothesized that objects containing them have routinely ventured into the inner solar system and collided with the Earth billions of years ago, maybe it is possible that they brought the building blocks of life to the Earth.

New Constitution needed, says TNA: Sri Lanka is going to polls soon, and the Tamil National Alliance, a coalition of Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka has demanded a new Constitution to address not only the Tamil issues but also other issues such as electoral reforms, human rights, corruption, right to information and public procurement.

Beijing, Moscow enhance cooperation in S. China Sea: Russia and China (who are already allies on Eurasia strategies) are coming together to take on the USA’s “Asia Pivot” plan in the Pacific, with the first emphasis in the South China Sea.

New Greek bailout talks start, creditors seek more action: The Greek government has already pushed two packages of measures through Parliament this month as conditions for starting negotiations on a three-year loan programme worth up to €86 billion to keep Greece in the Eurozone. But Greece’s lenders want to see even more reforms turned into law before they disburse the first batch of loans, in this third bailout for Greece since 2010 to keep the near-bankrupt country afloat.

P-Notes: Arun Jaitley rules out knee-jerk action on SIT views: Participatory Notes (P-Notes) are offshore derivative instruments a large number of foreign investors use for parking funds in the equity market without disclosing their identity to the market regulator, SEBI. The Supreme Court appointed SIT has recommended that SEBI put in place regulations for identifying individuals holding P-Notes, in an effort to curb black money and tax evasion through the stock market route.

Newspaper Must Read Articles of The Day – 28 July 2015