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Business Standard PTI, Beijing October 06, 2019 As Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Xi Jinping ahead of the Chinese President's important visit to India, China said the Kashmir issue should be resolved between New Delhi and Islamabad, significantly omitting its recent references to the UN and UN Security Council resolutions. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during his media briefing here on Tuesday did not make any official announcement about Xi's visit to India. However, Chinese officials informally said an announcement would be made simultaneously in Beijing and New Delhi on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry has also called for a special media briefing on Wednesday on "Chinese leader's outbound visit". "India and China have a tradition of high-level exchanges. Both sides have communication exchange over high-level Visit. Any new information will be released soon," Geng said in res

Hindustan Times October 06, 2019 Facebook and other giant technology companies are facing increasing scrutiny in Europe and the US over the use of users’ data. Facebook Inc. has made mistakes in controlling the use of its data and has improved its monitoring of fake news but can’t be expected to police the global internet, spokesman Nick Clegg said in an interview in El Pais. Facebook’s vice president of global affairs and communication said the technology company can identify and warn users that certain content might be false, but that it’s not its role to provide alternatives to individuals so that they can get a more objective perspective. “We work with organizations that monitor whether something is true or not, whether there are exaggerations or false facts,” Clegg told the Spanish newspaper. “But we can’t be a policeman on the internet saying what is acceptable or what is absolutely true. The freedom to say stupid things is the freedom of an open society.” Fac

Zee News October 09, 2019 Pakistan has been misusing diplomatic channels in Nepal, Bangladesh and other countries to bring and distribute consignments of Fake Indian Currency Notes. hree years after India demonetised high currency notes to crackdown on black money, Pakistan has started producing, smuggling and circulating better quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) to finance illicit activities and militant groups, including the Lashkar-e-Toiba and its affiliates, Jaish-e-Mohammad.  Senior officials reveal that a large amount of counterfeit currency from Pakistan is making its way into India using pre-2016 system and infrastructure- of gangs, their syndicate, channels, and routes. Most surprisingly, Pakistan has been misusing diplomatic channels in Nepal, Bangladesh and other countries to bring and distribute consignments of Fake Indian Currency Notes. Sources reveal that Pakistan`s secret agency, the ISI, manages to create this currency of better visual quality t

The Indian Express October 09, 2019 The committee said, “India’s communication blackout in Kashmir is having a devastating impact on the lives and welfare of everyday Kashmiris. It’s time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris same rights and privileges as any other Indian citizen.” US Congressman Brad Sherman, the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Asia, had announced that at 10 am on October 22, the subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Human Rights in South Asia”. Ahead of the US Congress panel hearing on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled on October 22, the c has said that the communication blackout has a “devastating impact” and “it is time for India to lift these restrictions”. In a tweet on Monday, committee said, “India’s communication blackout in Kashmir is having a devastating impact on the lives and welfare of everyday Kashmiris. It’s time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris same rights and privileges as a

Scroll.in October 09, 2019 Fund flows declined from Rs 7.36 lakh crore between April and mid-September 2018 to Rs 90,995 crore in the same period this year. Fund flows from lending institutions to the commercial sector have declined as much as 88% till mid-September in this financial year, the Reserve Bank of India said in a report on Friday. Such flows collapsed from Rs 7.36 lakh crore between April and mid-September 2018 to Rs 90,995 crore in the same period this year. This indicates a slowdown in investment activity, which can be attributed to risk aversion and demand slowdown, the central bank said in the Monetary Policy Report for October. Global uncertainties have also weakened domestic investment activity, according to the report. In the April to mid-September period in 2018, non-banking financial companies lent Rs 41,200 crore to the commercial sector, but this year, the flow reversed – Rs 1.26 lakh crore moved from the commercial sector to the NBFCs. Non-food

Indian Express Ocotber 09, 2019 By Inputs from PTI This is the first time that India has received details from Switzerland under the AEOI framework, which provides for exchange of information on financial accounts that currently active as well as those accounts that were closed during 2018. India has received the first tranche of details about financial accounts of its residents in Swiss banks under the automatic info exchange framework, the Switzerland government said Monday. The Indian Express had first reported in July this year that India was all set to receive the bank account details under the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) programme, which provides for exchange of information on financial accounts that are currently active as well as those accounts that were closed during 2018. The next exchange would take place in September 2020. The Federal Tax office had then stated that “several dispatches might be necessary” in the case of India, giving an i

Business Standard PTI, Washington October 08, 2019 Research shows the impact of the trade conflict is widespread and countries must be ready to respond in unison with cash infusions, Kristalina Georgieva said in her first speech as MD of IMF Grinding trade disputes are undermining the global economy, which is set to see its slowest growth in nearly a decade, the new IMF chief said Tuesday. Research shows the impact of the trade conflict is widespread and countries must be ready to respond in unison with cash infusions, Kristalina Georgieva said in her first speech as managing director of the International Monetary Fund. She also called for a ramp-up in carbon taxes to address the other challenge facing the global economy which is climate change. "In 2019, we expect slower growth in nearly 90 percent of the world. The global economy is now in a synchronized slowdown," Georgieva said in a speech ahead of IMF-World Bank autumn meetings next week. &qu

Indian Express October 09, 2019 The scheme is expected to result in better quality of assessment orders while reducing potential harassment to taxpayers. With the launch of National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) on Monday, the Income Tax Department would undertake the first phase of faceless assessment from Tuesday. The scheme is expected to result in better quality of assessment orders while reducing potential harassment to taxpayers. In the first phase, the I-T Department has selected 58,322 cases for scrutiny, for which e-notices have been served before September 30, belonging to cases of Assessment Year 2018-19, the Department said in a statement. “With the implementation of National e-Assessment Scheme, India will be one of the few countries to have faceless assessment,” chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) P C Mody said. He added that cases for scrutiny in first phase have been identified based on risk parameters and are computer generated. The NeAC

Splunk Leonard R. Stein Data creates tremendous opportunities to improve the human condition. At Splunk, we believe we have an obligation to apply the power of our technology and the talent of our employees to help save lives and improve the quality of life for all. For years, we have taken on global issues such as human trafficking, food security, disaster response and equal opportunity for underserved communities with Splunk for Good. The Splunk Pledge has helped more than 800 nonprofits and educational institutions attack myriad issues, from reimagining the hospital emergency room of the future to innovative applications of renewable energy.  Today, I’m excited to discuss the latest addition to our commitment to use the power of data to drive positive change: The Splunk Social Impact Fund. Last week, we announced the creation of Splunk Ventures, a $150 million investment in fostering the next generation of data analytics. While our $100 million Innovation Fund will foc

The Hindu October 08, 2019 By: Sriram Lakshman It’s time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris the same rights and privileges as any other Indian citizen, it says Weeks ahead of its Asia Subcommittee hearing on human rights in South Asia, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) said the communications shutdown is having a “devastating impact“ on Kashmiris and called for restrictions to be lifted. “India’s communication blackout in Kashmir is having a devastating impact on the lives and welfare of everyday Kashmiris. It’s time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris the same rights and privileges as any other Indian citizen,” the HFAC tweeted. The HFAC account had posted a report by the New York Times that described the death of 22-year-old Amir Farooq Dar. Dar had died 16 hours after being bitten by a snake, because his family could not get him anti-venom in time because of severe communications and movement restrictions

Beijing [China], ANI October 08, 2019 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday morning arrived in China for a three-day visit, a week ahead of crucial Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting. Upon his arrival in Beijing, the prime minister was received by Minister for Culture, Luo Shugang, Ambassador of China to Pakistan Yao Jing and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Naghmana Hashmi, Pakistan state-media PTV reported. During his trip, he will discuss issues of regional and bilateral significance, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Kashmir, said an official statement. During his visit, the prime minister will hold separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Pakistan premier comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's tour of Nepal and India, Radio Pakistan reported. His visit comes ahead of FATF meeting in Paris from October 13 to 18 where Pakistan's compliance with the 40 point action

The Financial Express October 09, 2019 By Smitha Francis Under the ominous shadow of the US-China trade war and global slowdown, there is urgency in concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. Under the ominous shadow of the US-China trade war and global slowdown, there is urgency in concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. With RCEP set to add China as well as Australia and New Zealand as India’s new free trade partners, how does this trade deal fit in with India’s national priorities for increasing domestic value added production and employment through the Make in India mission? The shift in India’s approach to RCEP from the earlier reticence to the current TINA (there is no alternative) seems to arise from a perceived fear of marginalisation in relation to exports and FDI inflows. This marginalisation fear has two major assumptions underlying it.  The first is that the import of intermediate product

The Financila Express October 08, 2019 By Vikram Singh Mehta The drone attacks compelled India to ask questions related to Middle East geopolitics. Was the regional status quo now sustainable? How might the US react? Two unconnected ‘developments’ and one ‘fact’ lead me to suggest India should deepen its economic linkages with Saudi Arabia through interlocking cross-country investments. The first development is the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas infrastructure. The second is the muscular, albeit irresponsible, anti-Indian diatribe by the Pakistani leadership. They have introduced the nuclear option in their language. The ‘fact’ is the location of a substantial part of our petroleum assets on- or offshore our western coastline. In my view, when seen through a common lens, these three matters reveal a heightened security risk scenario for India, but also offer a non-military option for mitigating the consequential outcome. Saudi Arabian investments in India’s petr

Financial Express October 08, 2019 By Virander Singh Chauhan By investing in vaccine development, India can create lasting health and economic benefits for its citizens. In fact, vaccines are one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. The last two months have seen a constant and disturbing flow of news from the Democratic Republic of the Congo about the resurgence of Ebola. The current outbreak, which has now been declared a public health emergency of international concern, has already claimed nearly 2,500 lives. The situation has captured worldwide attention, with public health experts, scientists and health workers racing to contain the disease. A serious and highly contagious virus, Ebola is fatal for approximately half of the people it infects. While experts worry that the worst is yet to come, the current outbreak still pales in comparison to the 2014-16 epidemic, which spread to 10 countries—including four outside of Africa—and resulted in over 28,0

The Hindu October 08, 2018 Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security said Umar was a Pakistani citizen, though some reports claim he was born in India. The leader of al-Qaeda’s South Asian branch was killed in a U.S.-Afghan joint raid in southern Afghanistan in September, Afghan officials confirmed on October 8. Asim Umar, who led al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) from its inception in 2014, was killed during a raid September 23 on a Taliban compound in the Musa Qala district of Helmand Province. Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security said Umar was a Pakistani citizen, though some reports claim he was born in India. He “was #killed along with six other AQIS members, most of them Pakistani”, the NDS tweeted, adding that Umar had been “embedded” with the Taliban. NDS Afghanistan @NDSAfghanistan 1/2: BREAKING: # NDS can now confirm the death of Asim Omar, leader of # Al_Qaeda in the # Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), in a joint US-Afghan rai

Hindustan Times October 08, 2019 By:- Manmohan Bahadur Pakistan’s drone drop reflects inimical intent and enhanced capability. Our offensive defence must continue. The media discourse over the past fortnight has been all about the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting. Lost in it was the significant news about the use of drones by Pakistan-based entities to airdrop arms and ammunition in Punjab. Pakistan-based Khalistanis have always planned to resurrect themselves. But what they lacked was an effective capability to arm their sympathisers in Punjab, and/or be a conduit for transfer of weaponry to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), where supplies are choked due the security clampdown in the Valley. Be that as it may, a new security threat has opened up on our western border. In the field of national security, a confluence of a nation’s intent and capability results in action. While the intent is governed mainly by politico-economic factors, the