Daily News (In Short)-19-May-2015

#* One year of Modi govt: Global challenges could make economic revival a tougher ask
The summer of 2015 looks different from 2014. The year gone by has seen several changes that have had an impact on the economy. While the changes may not quite qualify as "big-bang reforms", the Modi government in its first year has taken measures that could lay the foundation for long-term growth. Arguably this government's biggest achievement has been its success in injecting optimism in the economy, after months of despair. Complete coverage: One year of Modi sarkar
Contrary to expectations, the government hasn't pressed the pedal hard on reforms and relied on gradual steps to repair the economy. Living up to its promise to tame inflation, it has tackled the problem with a little help from sliding global crude oil prices.

#* Delhi CM Kejriwal on shaky legal ground in turf war with L-G Jung
In his weeks-long battle with L-G Najeeb Jung over issues ranging from police matters to civil servant appointments, Arvind Kejriwal is on somewhat shaky legal ground. Article 239AA of the Constitution clearly states that the Legislative Assembly of Delhi shall not have power to make laws relating to subjects such as public order, police and land. Yet Kejriwal directed all departments under the Delhi government to route files pertaining to police, public order and land only through the minister concerned and to “not bother the office of the Lieutenant Governor.”To assert his authority, the CM quoted a provision of the Transaction of Business Rules that says the L-G should, in matters of public order, police and land, consult the CM – but conveniently forgot that this is mandated only if the president issues orders to this effect under Article 239.

#* Aruna Shanbaug- Martyred in indignity, without choice
Forty-two years ago, Aruna Shanbaug, surrendered her dignity and bodily integrity to her committed carers. The KEM Hospital nurse, aged 68, brutalised by a vengeful ward boy, breathed her last on May 18. All these years, successive batches of nurses, and deans, went out of their way to tend to a person reduced to a vegetable confined to a bed, unable to speak or communicate in any coherent manner.The KEM Hospital authorities delayed the funeral and kept her body for public viewing, so that people could pay homage. Thousands- doctors, nurses, politicians, did. One isn't sure what the homage was for, because the person only existed behind a high wall of silence. Perhaps it was because, as is being repeated now, "gifted" Indians the right to passive euthanasia?

#* US fears Shia militias could worsen Iraqi sectarian fires
The use of Shia militias to try to take back the Iraqi city of Ramadi from Islamic State risks unleashing more sectarian bloodletting, current and former US officials said, but Washington and Baghdad appear to have few other options. The prospect of Iranian-backed militias leading efforts to retake Ramadi underlines Washington's dwindling options to defeat Islamic State in Iraq, with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's grip on power weak, a national army still in its infancy and Tehran increasingly assertive. Islamic State's capture of Ramadi, despite months of US-led air strikes and military advice, marked a fresh low for the shattered Iraqi army, which beat a chaotic retreat from the city over the weekend. Abadi immediately turned to the Shia militia groups, backed by Iran, which together have become the most powerful military force in Iraq since the national army first collapsed last June in the face of sweeping Islamic State gains. A column of 3,000 Shia militia fighters arrived on Monday at a military base near Ramadi, the capital of Sunni-majority Anbar province that has long been a center of opposition to Iraq's Shia-led government.

#* Why I Don't Fear Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is the most important technology we're developing this decade. It's a massive opportunity for humanity, not a threat.

So what is AI? 

Broadly, AI is the ability of a computer to understand your question, to search its vast memory banks and to give you the most accurate answer. AI is the ability of a computer to process a vast amount of information for you, make decisions and take (and/or advise you to take) appropriate action. You may know early versions of AI as Siri on your iPhone or IBM's Watson supercomputer. Watson made headlines back in 2011 by winning Jeopardy, and now it's helping doctors treat cancer patients by processing massive amounts of clinical data and cross-referencing thousands of individual cases and medical outcomes. Apple's Siri rests in the palm of your hand, giving directions, making recommendations and even cracking jokes. But these are the early, "weak" versions of AI What's coming this next decade will be more like JARVIS from the movie Iron Man.

#* Obama recalls trip to India, personal friendship with Modi
Washington: India's new ambassador to the US, Arun Kumar Singh formally presented his credentials to President Barrack Obama at a ceremony in his Oval Office at the White House. Obama warmly welcomed Singh back to Washington and wished him success in his new responsibilities as India's envoy to the US. He fondly recalled his visit to India in January and personal friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Singh, in turn, conveyed warm greetings from President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi to him and First Lady Michelle Obama. Singh said that he was committed to work towards making the India-US strategic partnership global in outlook, strategic in content and transformative for India's development, as decided by the leaders of the two countries in the summits held in September 2014 and January 2015.

#* Colombia mudslide: At least 58 killed and dozens injured when flash flood and mudslide sweeps through town of Salgar
At least 58 people have been killed and dozens injured after a flash flood and mudslide swept through the town of Salgar in Colombia. Homes, bridges and other structures were were washed away into the Libordiana ravine as water, rocks and other debris devastated the town. “It was rocks and tree trunks everywhere,” said survivor Diego Agudelo. “The river took out everything in its path.” he said. Survivors living close to the river were evacuated amid fears of a further mudslide while a rescue operation got underway. Jorge Quintero, a local resident, described to RCN TV how he was trapped between two raging currents that had taken with it two homes on either side of his own. He recounted: "When I felt my house shaking we got out, my family and I. When we got out, we were stuck in the middle of the landslide, it was coming from both sides and we were in the middle.

#* NASA researchers invent new technique to detect alien life on planet Mars
For a long time the astronomical world was under the delusion that there existed alien life or “little green men” on planet Mars; however recent expeditions to Mars could not prove any trace of aliens on the ‘Red planet’. Few researchers are pretty sure regarding the traces of ancient life on the planet because they feel that there exists some life supported element on Mars which we refer to as ‘water’. However, considering the extreme harsh conditions that prevail on the surface of Mars most scientists feel that alien forms cannot survive on Mars. The unmanned probes sent to Mars, by NASA and European Space Agency have provided some evidence that there did exist some life on the ‘Red planet’.

#* Global Warming: Developed nations should present pre-2020 targets early
Prakash Javadekar has asked developed nations to fix their pre-2020 targets much before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris is convened. The Minister for State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change made this statement while speaking at the Sixth Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin. He also added that India wants to see a balanced and realistic agreement between countries based on trust. Javadekar even expressed the urgency of kicking into operation the Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage, by the year 2016. The program is meant to address loss and damage related to the adverse effects of climate change especially in countries like Bangladesh which are most vulnerable to shifting environmental conditions. Nations like the US that are historically responsible for high levels of greenhouse gas emissions on their way to development, are expected to share in the efforts towards saving the Earth.

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