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Sutirtho Patranobis, Nov 23, 2017 China has launched a website where citizens can report any leaks of military information or news reports that “insult” the armed forces or target the Communist Party (CPC) leadership. The central military commission, which commands and controls the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), announced the launch of the website over the weekend, urging citizens to provide information either anonymously or by using their real names. “Illicit behaviour includes falsifying a military unit or membership, publishing information that is harmful or insulting to the military, attacking the CPC leadership over the PLA, and using online accounts without approval or revealing a soldier’s personal identity,” the PLA Daily reported. The reporting website is in tune with the “clean cyberspace” objectives underlined at last month’s 19th CPC congress. “The purpose of the new platform is also to convey the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, creat...

REUTERS, NOVEMBER 21, 2017 22:30 IST In recent years, Beijing has pursued a series of laws and regulations that have raised concerns from foreign companies trying to expand their user base across the country. Apple Inc. said on Tuesday it has removed several apps including Skype, Microsoft Corp's internet phone call and messaging service, from its app store in China after the country's government pointed to violations of local laws. “We have been notified by the Ministry of Public Security that a number of voice over internet protocol apps do not comply with local law, therefore these apps have been removed from the App Store in China,” an Apple spokeswoman said. The removal of apps led to complaints from several Chinese users who were unable to pay for Skype's services through Apple, New York Times had reported, adding that the disruption started in October. Skype is the latest addition to the list of internet platforms, including Alphabet Inc'...

Surendra Singh | TNN | Updated: Nov 22, 2017, 08:34 IST In a development that will revolutionalise the satellite launch system in the country, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is developing a small launch vehicle that can be assembled in just three days as compared to 30-40 days for a normal-sized PSLV and can be built at a cost which will be just one-tenth the original manufacturing cost of a PSLV. The manufacturing cost of a launch vehicle is generally in the range of Rs 150 crore to Rs 500 crore across the world. Dr K Sivan, director of Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),on the sidelines of an international seminar on 'Indian Space Programme' told TOI, "Isro is busy developing a small launch vehicle which is likely to be ready for launch probably by 2018-end or early-2019. The cost of this vehicle will get drastically reduced by one-tenth of the manufacturing cost of a normal PSLV. However, this rocket will have the total paylo...

Updated: Nov 22, 2017, 09:44 IST TNN Intelligence agencies are scrambling to verify an input that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar is setting up a special squad to target prominent politicians including senior cabinet ministers and a high-profile chief minister.  The input was shared with all stakeholders at an intelligence meeting last week, sources said. As per the initial tip-off, JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba have come together for the task and are using a Bangladesh-based cadre for logistics. Some of the men assigned to execute the task are learnt to have already crossed the border, the intelligence input suggested.  As per intercepted chatter, reports about a CM moving around with minimal security has made him one of the prime targets.  Sources, however, said the input was yet to be fully corroborated. Teams from a foreign intelligence agency is learnt to have visited the hideout mentioned near Dhaka but did not find anything.  Accord...

Wed, Nov 22 2017. 08 38 AM IST The Trump administration imposed new sanctions Tuesday on a slew of North Korean shipping firms and Chinese trading companies in its latest push to isolate the rogue nation over its nuclear weapons development and deprive it of revenue. The Treasury Department also designated a North Korean corporation involved in exporting workers overseas. The action came a day after the United States returned North Korea to its list of state sponsors of terrorism. “These designations include companies that have engaged in trade with North Korea cumulatively worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “We are also sanctioning the shipping and transportation companies, and their vessels, that facilitate North Korea’s trade and its deceptive maneuvers.” Among the companies targeted were four Chinese-based companies and one Chinese individual said to have deep commercial ties with North Korea. The sanctio...

Mumbai, Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Paytm has picked up a stake in Mumbai-based fintech startup CreditMate. CreditMate was set up in 2016 by Jonathan Bill, Ashish Doshi and Aditya Singh. The company enables two-wheeler dealers and financiers to provide vehicle loans to customers with no formal credit history. Paytm, however, did not disclose the investment amount or the percentage of stake that has been picked up. As part of the deal, Paytm will leverage CreditMate's proprietary credit and asset valuation technology and loan management system. Paytm is also creating a loan management system for its customers. "We are constantly innovating to provide access to financial services and lending specifically targeted at the large majority of Indians who do not have access to such products," Paytm senior vice- president and CFO Madhur Deora said in a statement. He added that CreditMate is addressing the market for loans against two-wheelers through their p...

ET Online|Nov 21, 2017, 09.35 PM IST Here's one Indian industrialist US President Donald Trump would be proud of—Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group. He has just inaugurated a manufacturing plant in Detroit which would create jobs for the locals, an issue dear to Trump.  Mahindra today opened its new manufacturing plant with an investment of $230 million in the world's car capital which got its first automotive production facility in 25 years. His is the first Indian company to set up an auto manufacturing production facility in 25 years. His is the first Indian company to set up an auto manufacturing plant in the US.  The new plant will produce an off-road vehicle—designed and engineered by Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA)—which will extend Mahindra's current position in this growing segment.  The plant will help the company shift away from third-party original equipment manufacturers that build small units on the group's behalf....

By IndiaToday.in, Nov 21, 2017 In yet another controversial and disruptive move - after demonetisation - aimed at encouraging digital transactions and create a cashless India, the Centre is likely to ban all cheque books, a decision that could affect the transaction preferences of millions of people in the country. News agency Press Trust of India (PTI), in a story dated November 16, has quoted a senior official of a prominent trade body as sayig that the government needs to encourage the use of debit and credit cards. Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal told PTI, "In all probability, the Centre may withdraw the cheque book facility in the near future to encourage digital transactions." He was talking to reporters at the launch of 'Digital Rath', a joint initiative of the CAIT and Mastercard to encourage traders to adopt different modes of digital transactions and promote cashless economy. "The governme...

By ET Online | Nov 22, 2017, 09.23 AM IST When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation to fight black money, a valid criticism was that the black money is hoarded more in immovable property than cash. The government, however, has been saying that demonetisation was one step in fight against black money and more such steps would come.  Now the next big step against black money is round the corner, and this time it's immovable property that's on target. For the first time, a Union Cabinet minister has indicated that Aadhaar linkage with property transactions would be made mandatory.  Union Housing Minister Hardeep Puri has said that he has no doubt the linkage would happen. Speaking to Nayantara Rai of ET NOW, Puri said such a move would go a long way in sucking out black money from real estate and also help in crackdown on benami properties. "Seeding Aadhaar to property transaction is a great idea but I’m not going to make an announcement on that...

Uday Singh Rana | News18.com, Updated:November 21, 2017, 5:45 PM IST The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Tuesday released a report on the details of donations received by major political parties from financial year 2011-12 to 2015-16 in Gujarat. The report has revealed that the BJP has pulled in the maximum amount of donations over the last five years, followed by the Congress which is a distant second. Here are the key takeaways from Tuesday’s ADR report: BJP pulled in big money  The BJP has received the highest overall donations from Gujarat, worth Rs 80.45 crore from 2186 donations between Financial Year 2011-12 and 2015-16. The BJP is followed by the Indian National Congress, which has received the second highest amount of donations of Rs 14.09 crore from 53 donations. The CPM received Rs 3 crore and the CPI just under Rs 1 lakh, while the NCP and the BSP declared having received no donations over Rs 20,000. Out of the Rs 97.55 received by all p...