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Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 27 March 2016

:: NATIONAL ::

Kerala’s reservoir’s biodiversity in danger

Farmedillegally and revered as sacred, the invasive North African catfish is proliferating in water bodies across Kerala, edging out native aquatic species.
The presence of the fish in large numbers has led to the disappearance of many of the indigenous species, posing a threat to the aquatic biodiversity.
Generally known as African catfish (Clariasgariepinus), the species has been found to thrive well in the Kundala, Mattupetti, Anayirankal, Munnar head works, Shengulam , Ponmudi, Kallarkutty and Lower Periyar dams and in all the tributaries of the Periyar river.
Juveniles weighing 150 grams and adults weighing 2 kg to 7 kg were caught during the survey, indicating that thefish was breedingcontinuously in the open waters. Native to Africa and the Middle East, where it inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps and urban sewage systems, the African catfish was introduced all over the world in the early 1980s for aquaculture purposes.
The nocturnal predatory fish feeds primarily on living as well as dead animal matter, including fish, invertebrates, and small birds.
Its ability to survive in shallow mud for long periods of time and its high tolerance for poorly oxygenated water give it an edge over other native species.It is also capable of hybridising with other catfish, though there is no evidence of that in India.
Steps should be taken to prevent the culture of species like African catfish and Nile tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) that are not formally introduced in the country.

Pak. investigation team to be briefed by NIA

The Pakistani team, which is expected to travel to Pathankot by a special BSF helicopter, will be shown “the scene of the crime”, and allowed to interrogate non-military witnesses, but would not be allowed to speak to NSG, BSF or military personnel who were present during the attack.
The Pakistani visitors will be given a “90-minute briefing” by the NIA officials on the evidence collected so far, including the route of infiltration over the India-Pakistan border, identities of the killed militants, and the information that links them to Jaish-e- Mohammad facilitators in Pakistan.
former Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh whose vehicle was snatched by the terrorists to reach the airbase on the intervening night of December 31-January 1 would be presented as a ‘wit- ness.’ It was on Mr. Singh’s complaint that an FIR was registered by the local police.

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:: International ::

Czech Republic could be another country under OBOR

China is set to unveil another offshoot of its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) connectivity network by investing in a Grand Canal that would link landlocked countries of Central Europe with the sea.
If everything goes according to plans, Chinese President Xi Jinping will push for the construction of the Danube-Oder- Elbe Canal during his visit next week to the Czech Republic.
The strategic canal — a pet project of Czech President Milos Zeman — would connect three major European rivers and provide ships an outlet to the sea. The Y-shaped canal would link with the North Sea at Hamburg.
The Black Sea would be accessed at the Romanian port of Constanta, and Poland’s Szczecin port would provide an outreach to the Baltic Sea.
The construction of the Grand Canal would see the merger of the land and themaritime hubs of OBOR, which is rapidly advancing in Eurasia.
China has targeted infrastructure development in the CEE countries — its intent evident from its focus on constructing the flagship Belgrade-to-Budapest high-speed railway.
Once completed, the rail upgrade will dovetail with the Chinese plan to refurbish Greece’s main port of Piraeus. Linked with the CEE railway, Piraeus would become the hub of China’s trade with Europe, along a land-cum-sea corridor.

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:: BUSINESS and ECONOMY ::

Employment report and other economic data to come for US

The March U.S. employment report and other key economic numbers next week could help U.S. stocks resume their recent winning path as long as that data hits the sweet spot: Not strong enough to add to worries about further interest rate hikes, yet not weak enough to cause concern about a recession.
Reports on the housing market could also draw inves- tors' attention given recent sharp gains in homebuilder stocks.
Major indexes remain well above their 2016 lows, thanks to evidence of a reviving U.S. economy and a sharp rebound in oil prices, even as stocks broke a five-week streak of gains, their last trading day.
While the volatility that marked the start of the year has diminished and many strategists have adopted a cautiously optimistic outlook, the market seems to have paused.
The Friday U.S. data showed that even as gross domestic product increased at a 1.4 per cent annual rate instead of the previously reported 1.0 per cent pace, corporate profits from currentproduction fell $159.6 billion in the fourth quarter.
A catalyst for stocks could come from a rebound in corporate earnings.
U.S. earnings are expected to be down for a third consecutive reporting period, Thomson Reuters data show.
Analysts now expect a first- quarter earnings decline of6.9 percent - which would be the biggest drop since the third quarter of 2009 - sharply below the 2.3 percent gain they had been projecting as recently as Jan. 1.
Stabilizing oil prices could at least slow the rate at which future earnings estimates fall.

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:: SPORTS ::

P.R. Sreejesh and Deepika gets player of the year honours

P.R. Sreejesh and Deepika walked away with the Player of the Year honours at the second Hockey India Annual Awards ceremony for 2015.
Sreejesh had a memorable time under the bar last year, notably playing a starring role in India’s shoot-out victory over Holland in the bronze-medal match at the HWL Final.
The veteran Deepika was recognised for her work in defence as the Indian women’s team qualified for the Olympic Games after a gap of 36 years.
Both Sreejesh and she were given a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh.