Must Read News Articles – January 18, 2018

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Society related issues:

Early menopause results in higher risk of heart disease: study(The Hindu)

A recent UK study published in Heart, an international cardiology journal, has indicated that women who start their menstruation cycle at the age of 11 or earlier, or enter menopause before 47, have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

Left behind(The Hindu Editorial)

If there is one strong message from the findings of the Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) 2017, it is that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act should cover the entire spectrum of 18 years, and not confine itself to those aged 6 to 14.

Breastfeeding linked to lower diabetes risk(The Hindu)

Women who breastfeed their babies for six months or more may be able to cut their risk of developing diabetes in the future by nearly half, according to a study Tuesday.

Blue, white, maroon and now orange(The Hindu Opinion)

Citizens who fall under the Emigration Check Required (ECR) category will soon have passports with orange jackets, instead of the dark blue that has so far been the colour of all passports under the ECR and non-ECR categories. ECR passports are mainly given to non-matriculate workers who wish to work in the Gulf countries and in Southeast Asia.


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International relations:

Long game in Syria(The Hindu Opinion)

The U.S.’s decision to create a new Kurdish-led border force in northeastern Syria to defend the areas captured from the Islamic State (IS) could open a new phase of conflict in in the country. Swathes of territory on the Syrian-Turkish border, mostly populated by the Kurds, are now controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-Arab militia that was in the forefront of the land war against the IS.

No extra year(The Hindu  Opinion)

By approaching the court, the Sri Lankan President looked too keen to extend his term

Spike missile deal back on the table(The Hindu)

Israeli PM says scrapped $500 million deal is being revived. Agreement seen reflecting burgeoning defense, business ties

India needs to focus eastword(The Hindu)

India has “realised” that its future lies in Asia, said BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, making a distinction from the “American way” of conducting foreign policy, in comments seen as a rare departure from the government’s traditionally close ties with the U.S. and Western allies.

Bonhomie with China back: Rawat(The Hindu)

Chinese troops continue to remain in the Northern part of Doklam in reduced numbers and have built temporary infrastructure, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday. However, he said the border mechanisms were working well in resolving issues even as reports surfaced of Chinese military build-up near the Doklam area.

Indian Constitution and Polity:

Can govt. mandate sharing of biometric data, asks SC(The Hindu)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked whether the state could compel citizens, including children, to part with their biometrics in public interest even as petitioners described the Aadhaar “project” as a “giant electronic leash,” which reduces individuals to mere numbers.

MPs panel debates proxy voting for migrant workers(The Hindu)

If proxy voting is meant to make it easier for NRIs to exercise their franchise and save up on travel costs, then why the same facility shouldn’t be extended to a migrant worker within India? This and many other questions were raised at a meeting of the Parliamentary panel on External Affairs headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday.

Four Supreme court judges in talks with colleagues(The Hindu)

Even as the second round of talks between Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and his four senior-most colleagues did not take place on Wednesday, “each of the four judges” — Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph — is “speaking” to other Supreme Court judges on the issues raised by them in public on January 12.

Talking over a law(The Hindu Opinion)

There should be a frank public conversation on the judiciary — an internal patch-up is not enough

Security and Defence

Terror disrupts, says Sushma(The Hindu)

Hitting out at the sponsors of international terrorism, India on Wednesday urged for greater consensus among countries for devising a global strategy.

Make -II promise for arms firms(The Hindu)

Indian industry can suggest projects related to sub-systems for innovation and import substitution under the revised Make-II procedure in the Defence Procurement Procedure, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.


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Economy:

The price prescription(The Hindu Editorial)

Post-GST, we need a more targeted taxation and retail policy on tobacco products

Google to make AI accessible to every firm(The Hindu)

Artificial intelligence is no longer going to remain the secret sauce of giant technology companies.

Environment:

Bengal’s rivers in a bad shape(The Hindu)

A dip in the Ganges is, generally speaking, synonymous with the idea of purification. But that shall no longer be so in Bengal, where the river is so polluted that it is now officially unfit for bathing.

Link rivers Gadkari urges States(The Hindu)

Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari has asked officials to work on ways to “better utilise” water from non-Himalayan rivers that are emptying out into the sea


Yesterday’s current affairs material by Forum IAS


7 PM Editorial: India’s public distribution system (PDS) is in danger of being derailed in several States

9 PM Current affairs brief:

10 PM Current affairs MCQs

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