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Business Standard January 24, 2018 A Pakistan Army official, appointed as a clerk at the country's embassy in Austria some five months ago, disappeared this month along with some sensitive documents, a media report has said. A case of his disappearance and missing documents was registered at the Tarnol police station in Islamabad on a complaint of a defence ministry official, Dawn reported. "It is suspected that he might have become a tool in the hands of enemy of the country," according to the FIR. The missing official was enrolled in the Pakistan Army as sepoy and appointed as a clerk at the Pakistani embassy in Vienna, Austria, in August last year, it stated. He was given a sensitive assignment by the defence ministry, the paper said, citing the FIR. He was made an official in-charge of some important and sensitive national affairs in Vienna, it stated, adding that "it was very important duty, besides sensitive for countrys sovereignty&

The Hindu January 25, 2018 Pharma major Novartis is likely to expand operations at its R&D centre in Hyderabad, the Telangana government said on Monday. State IT and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao met Petra Laux, Global Head Public Affairs Policy, Novartis, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos, an official release stated. “Dr. Petra Laux expressed that Novartis is very happy about the city. She mentioned that their current footprint is about 90,000 square feet of laboratory space employing about 350 scientific researchers; and will be expanding to 1,62,000 sft to establish its High Potent Formulation Development labs along with an Analytical Development Facility which will facilitate 150 more scientific researchers,” the press release said. The expansion of the Novartis R&D Centre will significantly boost the development of Genome Valley. In another meeting, the minister discussed the prospect of setting up AirAsia’s Tech Center in Te

The Hindu January 25, 2018 India government bonds fell on Thursday as higher global oil prices added to the cautious mood ahead of a debt auction later in the day. The most-traded 6.68% 2031 bond yield was up at 7.60% from 7.55% on Wednesday Rise in oil prices will add to upside pressure on inflation as well as potentially widen the fiscal deficit, traders say. Bond markets already skittish about the RBI turning more hawkish after CPI hit 5.21% in December, above the 4% target. Global oil prices breached the psychologically key $70-mark on Thursday, their highest since December 2014 on a weaker dollar and decline in U.S. crude inventories. The government will issue 110 billion rupees ($1.73 billion) of bonds later in the day which is expected to be fully sold though at about 3-4 basis points higher than current market levels, two traders say. Demand from state banks to remain muted after RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya warned them of increased interest rate risks

The Economic Times January 24, 2018 The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) today notified easing of FDI rules for several sectors, including single brand retail, non- banking financial companies and construction.  On January 10, in big bang reforms ahead of the BJP government's last full Budget, the Union Cabinet had allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in single brand retail and construction development under the automatic route.  Besides, foreign airlines were also allowed to buy up to 49 per cent stake in Air India.  In its press note, the DIPP said allowing 100 per cent FDI in single brand retail under automatic route is aimed at attracting investments in production, marketing, improving availability of products to consumers and encourage increased sourcing from India.  A foreign single brand retailer would be permitted to set off its incremental sourcing of goods from India for global operations during initial five year

Live Mint Jan 25, 2018 Given the recent media reports about fresh transgressions by the Chinese troops on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since the Doklam crisis, it is now safe to say that the high-octane national security rhetoric by the Narendra Modi government has done little to strengthen India’s military stance on the disputed border. On the contrary, the Indian Army has skewed even more towards a border policing force (from a border guarding one) on its watch. This has slowed down the army’s modernization and blunted its combat capabilities. Worse, it has hampered defence reforms necessary to make the Indian military suitable for modern wars. According to official statistics, there were 415 transgressions in 2017, compared to 271 in the previous year, with 216 of them leading to face-offs between the two troops. In 2016, there were 146 face-offs. What’s more, there are now 23 areas of major disputes on the LAC. In 1995, there were two, which rose to 12 after the 199

Dawn Jan 24, 2018 Bangladesh security forces have detained a Rohingya leader during a sweep in a refugee camp, police said on Tuesday, as tension grows over plans to repatriate the displaced Muslims to Myanmar. The Rohingya representative, Mohibullah, was held in Cox’s Bazar district as local authorities broke up a protest against the controversial repatriation deal signed by Bangladesh and Myanmar. He was handed over to Bangladesh’s elite security force and then local police who are still holding him for questioning, Cox’s Bazar police chief Abul Khair said on Tuesday. Two other Rohingya men were also detained for their role in the protests, another officer added. Mohibullah, who goes by one name, has mobilised Rohingya in recent weeks to protest against returning the persecuted Muslims to Myanmar. Bangladesh had been due to start the huge process of repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Tuesday, after agreeing a two-year timescale wi

Business Standard Jan 25, 2018 India and Vietnam on Wednesday signed agreements in the areas of information and broadcasting, and space cooperation following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. According to External Affairs Minstry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, Modi and Phuc "discussed cooperation in trade and investment, defence, maritime and other areas". "Agreements were signed in areas of information and broadcasting and space cooperation," Kumar tweeted. During Modi's visit to Vietnam in September 2016, the India-Vietnam relationship was upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which Hanoi only has with Moscow and Beijing. During that visit, a new defence credit line of $500 million from India was also announced, a step which assumes significance given China's aggressive behaviour in the South China region. Vietnam is currently the country coordinat

Dawn Jan 24, 2018  Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that ex-militants are raising funds for welfare and they may join any terrorist outfit if stopped from carrying out such activities. Talking to journalists after attending the passing-out ceremony of the Counter-Terrorism Force at Police Lines Headquarters here on Tuesday, he said that about 4,000 to 5,000 militants had quit militancy and were raising funds for welfare. “What would they do if they don’t do the same [welfare works]; either we throw them into the sea or give them opportunity to join Daesh [Arabic acronym for the militant Islamic State group],” Mr Iqbal said without naming any individual or outfit. He said these people were not involved in militancy anymore, but engaged in welfare works, adding that they were under surveillance, their accounts were seized and there was a ban on their fund raising. Their welfare works were also brought to the knowledge of the United States and European countr