Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 8 Pro with 64 MP camera, Helio G90T processor

In addition to the smartphones, Xiaomi also launched its first Redmi-branded TV as well as a refreshed version of the RedmiBook 14

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi launched the eighth-generation of Redmi Note devices — Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8 Pro — the successor to Redmi Note 7-series with 64-megapixel quad-camera setup as the biggest highlight. In addition to the smartphones, Xiaomi also launched its first Redmi-branded TV as well as a refreshed version of the RedmiBook 14.

Xiaomi has brought out Note 8 comes with minor upgrades over its predecessor with a better processor, four rear cameras, slimmer bezels, etc. However, Redmi Note 8 Propacks a redesigned body with significant upgrades in the hardware over the Redmi Note 7 Pro, including the presence of a 64-megapixel rear camera, as a part of the quad camera setup. The Note 8 will go on sale on September 17, while the Note 8 Pro will go on sale on September 3. However, the launch in India could be ahead of the festive season.

Note 8 and Note 8 Pro price

The Redmi Note 8’s base variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage starts at 999 Yuan (about Rs 10,000). It also comes in two other variants—6GB/64GB priced at 1,199 Yuan (about Rs 12,000) and 6GB/128GB with a price tag of 1,399 Yuan (about Rs 14,000).

The Redmi Note 8 Pro is priced at 1,399 Yuan for the base 6GB/64GB variant and goes up to 1,799 Yuan for the top 8GB/128GB version….

Keep Reading: Technology News

No single ‘gay gene’ defines sexuality, finds largest-ever DNA analysis

The new statistical analysis revealed five points in our chromosomes, called loci, which appear closely linked to sexuality, though each individually has a ‘very small’ influence

Like size or intelligence, sexual attraction isn’t defined by one gene alone, but is instead the result of the complex interplay between multiple regions of the genome and hard to pin environmental factors. That’s the conclusion of an analysis conducted on half a million DNA profiles as part of a giant study by researchers in Europe and the United States published in the influential journal Science on Thursday.

Its authors hope to bury the notion, popularised in the 1990s, of the existence of an all powerful “gay gene” that determines sexuality in the way eye colour is defined. “We… found that it’s effectively impossible to predict an individual’s sexual behaviour from their genome,” said Ben Neale, a member of MIT and Harvard’s Broad Institute, one of several organisations involved in the work.

Sexual orientation does have a genetic component, say the researchers, confirming previous smaller studies, notably on twins. But the effect is mediated by a myriad of genes. “There is no single gay gene but rather the contribution of many small genetic effects scattered across the genome,” said Neale. Added to this are environmental factors: how a person is raised in childhood, where they live as an adult etc.

Huawei’s new Mate 30 Pro to launch without Google apps due to US ban

The Chinese giant is expected to unveil its new Mate 30 Pro next month, making it the first top-line phone launch since the company was blacklisted by the US and forbidden from trading with American

The trade war between the USand China is about to take its biggest bite out of Huawei Technologies Co. yet, after Google confirmed the upcoming Huawei flagship phone won’t have licensed Google apps.

The Chinese giant is expected to unveil its new Mate 30 Pro next month, making it the first top-line phone launch since the company was blacklisted by the USand forbidden from trading with American partners. The Trump Administration signaled several times it would ease sanctions on Huawei, leaving uncertainty about its ability to work with American suppliers of chips and software. But Google has now said its licensed apps won’t be on the next device.

For Huawei, this effectively sinks the Huawei Mate 30 Pro in markets outside of its native China. Bloomberg News reported in June that the blacklisting could result in a 40% to 60% drop in overseas sales. A senior Huawei executive said this month restrictions would cost its consumer business about $10 billion in revenue growth, a “little less” than billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei’s initial estimate.

“Huawei can’t survive outside of China as a brand without Google apps and services,” said Anshel Sag, mobile industry analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. “Everyone outside the country knows and is accustomed to using its software and services, even iPhone users. So, for Huawei not to offer those to their customers will be a major loss.”

Closure of airspace with India to be decided at a time of our choosing: Pak

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal during a media briefing on Thursday said the issue had been discussed at the highest level

Pakistan on Thursday said it could order the closure of its airspace for India “at a time of its choosing”, but so far no decision has been taken yet. Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal during a media briefing on Thursday said the issue had been discussed at the highest level. “It is one of the many options that are being considered, we can exercise it at a time of our choosing. No decision has been taken as yet,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The FO spokesperson’s comments come a day after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that no decision has been taken yet to close the airspace to India and any such step would be taken after looking into each and every aspect of the move through consultation.

Qureshi said the issue did come up for discussions during the recent Cabinet meeting but the final decision would be taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan. He had dismissed reports suggesting that the airspace was being shut for India as “speculative”. Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday announced on twitter that the government was considering complete closure of airspace to India and complete ban on use of Pakistan land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan…

Read More: India Pakistan Relations

US to keep 8,600 troops in Afghanistan after deal with Taliban: Trump

The comments provided some clarity on US intentions after lengthy negotiations with the Afghan guerrilla group over finding an exit from a war that has lasted two decades

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the US will keep a permanent presence in Afghanistan, with 8,600 troops initially, even after a deal is reached with the Taliban. “We’re going down to 8,600 and then we make a determination from there,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News radio.

“We’re always going to have a presence.” Donald Trump also warned that if another attack on the United States originated from Afghanistan “we would come back with a force like … never before.”

The comments provided some clarity on US intentions after lengthy negotiations with the Afghan guerrilla group over finding an exit from a war that has lasted two decades.
Despite overwhelming advantages in firepower, the US military has little to show for its efforts and Trump is hoping he can declare the war over in time for his 2020 reelection campaign.

Air India, subsidiaries to ban single-use plastic from Gandhi Jayanti

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged people to shun single-use plastic and encouraged usage of jute and cloth bags to protect the environment

Air India on Thursday announced that the usage of single-use plastic on the flights of its subsidiaries — Air India Express and Alliance Air — will stop from October 2, on the day of Gandhi Jayanti.

In the second phase, the single-use plastic will be banned in all Air India flights, it said. In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged people to shun single-use plastic and encouraged usage of jute and cloth bags to protect the environment.

“Air India is going to ban single-use plastic from 2nd October. In first phase it will implement in all flights of Air India Express and Alliance Air flights. In 2nd phase, it will be implemented in Air India flights,” an Air India spokesperson said.

He said banana chips and sandwiches on Alliance Air India flights and Air India Express flights will be packed in butter paper pouches instead of plastic pouches from October 2. Cake slices uplifted in snack boxes will be replaced with muffins to avoid the present plastic wrapping, the spokesperson said. He said crew meal cutlery will be replaced with light weight steel cutlery and only sturdy paper cups would be used to serve tea and coffee.

For special meals that are ordered and paid for by passengers in advance, the crew of Alliance Air and Air India Express will only use “eco-friendly birch wood cutlery” from October 2, the spokesperson said.

Sell liquor lying in bar in 8 days or destroy it: Delhi govt to restaurants

This move comes after multiple raids that resulted in heavy fines or even cancellation of licences and blacklisting the restaurants in the recent past

All stocks of wine and beer transferred from store room to the bar counter must be sold within 3 days, says a Delhi government order. Cheaper liquor brands which are priced under Rs 1,500 must be cleared within 5 day, says the order.

However, brands costing up to Rs 6,000 have been allowed 8 days, according to the notification of the National Capital Territory government issued on Aug 26. This move comes after multiple raids that resulted in heavy fines or even cancellation of licences and blacklisting the restaurants in the recent past.

The notice reads: “It has been brought to the notice of this department that this practice of not following First In First Out and keeping liquour bottles at the bar counter for a duration beyond their normal period of consumption has potential for misuse through refilling/adulteration. Department has also received complaints in this regard. The matter has, therefore, been reviewed…”

After the expiry of the period, the stocks have to be destroyed within 7 days and inventory maintained of such stocks. The order comes into effect on August 31 at 10 am.

The Indian Wine Academy, a private consultancy, however has voiced its concern, saying it smacks of corruption. “The policy would increase corruption many-fold and restaurants and hotels would be at the mercy of their new lords and masters who draw considerable clout in any case, immaterial of which government is currently ruling”, says the organisation.

Apple to start online sales in India soon with local sourcing rules eased

The new investment rules could provide a boost to Apple, allowing it to grow sales in the country and possibly help it reduce its dependency on China by building an alternative supply chain in India

International News: Apple Inc is poised to start online sales of its devices in India within months, a person familiar with the matter said, benefiting from new rules making the world’s fastest-growing smartphone market more attractive to foreign brands.

On Wednesday, India eased rules that forced companies such as Apple to source 30% of their production locally — a requirement the iPhone maker has been lobbying against for years — to include exports as part of the requirement.

That rule posed a problem for electronics brands because most of its devices and components are manufactured in China. The government also allowed so-called single brand retailers to set up online stores before physical shops.

With escalating trade tensions damaging ties between the US and China, New Delhi’s latest investment rules could provide a boost to Apple, allowing it to grow sales in the country and possibly help it reduce its high dependency on China by building out an alternative supply chain in India.

The Cupertino, Calif-based device and services company will begin selling its iPhone, iPads and Apple Mac computers online in the coming months. It’s also firming up the Mumbai location of its first company-owned brick & mortar store in India — likely to open next year — the person said, asking not to be identified as the details are confidential. Selling online will be a big step forward for Apple in a country where counterfeit products abound in online platforms increasing buyers’ distrust….

People may have to work just 12 hours a week thanks to AI, says Jack Ma

Just this year, Ma had endorsed the China tech sector’s infamous 12-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week routine, so common it earned the moniker 996

Billionaire Jack Ma, long an outspoken advocate for China’s extreme work culture, says that people should be able to work just 12 hours a week with the benefits of artificial intelligence.

People could work as little as three days a week, four hours a day with the help of technology advances, the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd co-founder said at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai Thursday. He spoke on-stage with Elon Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla Inc who is building manufacturing facilities in the city.

Just this year, Ma endorsed the China tech sector’s infamous 12-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week routine, so common it earned the moniker 996. In one blog post, China’s richest man this year dismissed people who expect a typical eight-hour office lifestyle, defying a growing popular backlash.

“I don’t worry about jobs,” Ma said on Thursday, making an optimistic case that AI will help humans rather than just eliminate their work. “Computers only have chips, men have the heart. It’s the heart where the wisdom comes from.”

Imran is PM but Pak army still runs foreign, security policies: US report

The report prepared for US lawmakers by the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said Khan had no governance experience prior to winning his current office

During Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister, the Pakistani military has retained the dominant influence over foreign and security policies of the country, according to a US Congressional report.

The report prepared for US lawmakers by the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said Imran Khan had no governance experience prior to winning his current office and analysts contend that Pakistan’s security services manipulated domestic politics during elections with a motive of removing Nawaz Sharif.

Khan’s “Naya Pakistan” vision which appeared to animate many younger, urban, middle-class voters emphasizes anti-corruption and creation of a “welfare state” that provides better education and health care, but his effort has foundered due to the country’s acute financial crisis, and a need for new foreign borrowing and government austerity, the report said. “Most analysts see Pakistan’s military establishment continuing to retain dominant influence over foreign and security policies,” it said.

The CRS is an independent research wing of the US Congress, which prepares periodic reports on issues of interest for lawmakers. Its report are for meant for US lawmakers to make informed decision and not considered as an official report of the US Congress…

On Johnson’s request, Queen approves UK Parliament’s suspension till Oct 14

The queen agreed to the date, effectively shutting parliament from mid-September for around a month

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will limit parliament’s ability to derail his Brexit plan by cutting the amount of time it will sit between now and EU exit day on October 31, infuriating opponents who urged Queen Elizabeth to intervene.

In his boldest move yet to take the country out of the European Union with or without a divorce deal, Johnson set October 14 for the Queen’s Speech — the formal state opening of a new session of parliament that is proceeded by a suspension of the House of Commons.

The queen agreed to the date, effectively shutting parliament from mid-September for around a month. Incensed, opposition leaders wrote to the queen to express their concern and asked for a meeting, threatening to drag the 93-year-old monarch into the constitutional crisis.“There will be ample time in parliament for MPs (Members of Parliament) to debate the EU, to debate Brexit and all the other issues, ample time,” Johnson told reporters.

Asked if he was trying to block MPs from delaying Britain’s EU departure, he replied: “That is completely untrue.” While suspending parliament ahead of a Queen’s Speech is the historical norm in Britain, the decision to limit parliamentary scrutiny weeks before the country’s most contentious policy decision in decades prompted an immediate outcry….

Kashmir internal issue for India, Imran Khan’s rhetoric absurd: US lawmaker

The US lawmaker has also said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric

Asserting that Kashmir is an internal issue for India, Indian-American lawmaker Ro Khanna who recently joined the Pakistani Congressional Caucus has said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric.

“Kashmir is an internal matter for India’s democracy and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan needs to cool his heated rhetoric and not escalate to a war or conflict,” Congressman Khanna told members of the Indian-American community during an interaction in Freemont, California recently.

“Imran Khan’s rhetoric of war with India is absolutely ridiculous,” Khanna, the two-term Democratic Congressman representing Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives, was quoted as saying by local India Post in its latest weekly edition. During the interaction, the Kashmiri-American community appreciated his support in democratic resolution of the conflict and upliftment of communities from poverty and terror.

Meanwhile, in a tweet earlier this week, Congresswoman Ilhan Abdullahi Omar expressed her concerns over alleged human rights violations in the Kashmir Valley. She urged for an immediate restoration of communication, respect for human rights, democratic norms, and religious freedom and de-escalation…

SC refers all petitions on Article 370 to 5-judge Constitution Bench

SC also issued notice to the Centre on plea by Kashmir Times Executive Editor seeking a direction for relaxing restrictions on internet, landline, and other communication channels

Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday referred all petitions challenging the scrapping of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, to a five-judge Constitution Bench. The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and others and said that the five-judge Constitution Bench would hear all the petitions related to abrogation of Article 370 in the first week of October.

The apex court also issued a notice to the Centre on the plea by Kashmir Times Executive Editor, Anuradha Bhasin, seeking a direction for relaxing restrictions on internet, landline, and other communication channels. The SC sought a detailed response from the Centre within 7 days.

Further, the Supreme Court refused a request from the Centre to appoint an interlocutor for Jammu & Kashmir. In another development, the Supreme Court also allowed CPM leader Sitaram Yechury to visit J&K and meet his party leader and former MLA, Yousuf Tarigami.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, “We will permit you to go, you are the general secretary of a party. Don’t go for anything else.” The apex court also said that Yechury’s visit should only be to meet Tarigami as a friend, and not for any political purpose….

Chandrayaan-2 performs 3rd lunar-bound orbit maneuver; landing in 11 days

India’s second lunar expedition — would shed light on a completely unexplored section of the Moon, its South Polar region

With just 11 days to go for its moon landing, the Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday said it has successfully performed the third lunar-bound orbit maneuver for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft.

All spacecraft parameters were normal, the city-headquartered space agency said after the maneuver on the spacecraft that is currently in the lunar orbit for its rendezvous with the Moon.

“Third Lunar bound orbit maneuver for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was performed successfully today (August 28, 2019) beginning at 0904 hrs IST, using the onboard propulsion system. The duration of the maneuver was 1190 seconds. The orbit achieved is 179 km x 1412 km,” ISRO said in an update.

“All spacecraft parameters are normal. The next Lunar bound orbit maneuver is scheduled on August 30, 2019 between 1800 – 1900 hrs IST,” it said. In a major milestone for India’s second Moon mission, theChandrayaan-2spacecraft had successfully entered the lunar orbit on August 20 by performing Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) maneuver….

Booster dose: Govt’s package for realty sector, exports likely this week

The real estate industry, which has been in the doldrums for almost four years now, has been demanding regulatory and tax changes to shore up the demand and liquidity.

The Centre is readying a package to help boost exports and perk up the real estate sector. According to senior government officials, the steps in real estate could include a task force to identify and revive stalled projects, easing of interest subvention norms, a new rental housing policy, an increase in the affordable housing category limit and reducing time taken to process applications under the partial guarantee scheme for housing. In addition, there could be specific measures to make export credit easily accessible to small exporters. Expediting work on the long-awaited goods and services tax (GST) e-wallet for exporters is yet another announcement expected soon.

While announcing the first set of measures last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had promised two more rounds to boost some of the stressed sectors, including real estate. Officials said a package aimed at home buyers and real estate developers could come by the end of this week.

The real estate industry, which has been in the doldrums for almost four years now, has been demanding regulatory and tax changes to shore up the demand and liquidity. Sitharaman, along with Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri and senior officials, had met representatives of the housing industry recently to discuss the status of the sector….

RBI balance sheet must be strong, says Bimal Jalan committee report

To maintain resilience, the committee suggested a relatively smaller transfer than what was anticipated.

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) balance sheet should be strong enough to support banks if there is a need to recapitalise them during a financial crisis, said the report of the committee to review the economic capital framework (ECF) of the central bank.

India, with one the lowest sovereign ratings, and not having a reserve currency to boot, should not think that risky actions by the government would still be as safe as advanced economies, said the panel headed by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan.

“The fact that ELA (emergency liquidity assistance) operations by the AE (advanced economy) central banks did not result in losses for them should not draw the central banking community into any false sense of complacency about the riskiness of such actions,” the report, released on the RBI website on Tuesday, said. “Had the AEs, which are ‘issuers of reserve currencies’, not followed up their ‘qualitative easing’ programmes with the very significant ‘quantitative easing’, it is possible that their ELA operations could have ended very differently.”

As a stark warning to the government, which now seems to be depending upon the RBI transfers to bridge the fiscal deficit, the committee said the centre’s manoeuvrability on recapitalisation of commercial banks or of the RBI could be constrained during a financial stability crisis….

As animal spirits sag, FM’s announcements may fall short of spurring growth

As India’s investment and consumption activity worsened in July, the measures announced by the FM to revive the economy will boost market sentiment but are unlikely to propel growth.

Economy News: Weakness in India’s investment and consumption activity worsened in July, with economic growth showing little signs of recovery from a five-year low. A gauge measuring overall activity moved one notch toward weaker territory, as six of the eight high-frequency indicators compiled by Bloomberg fell from the previous month. Car sales slumped the most in almost two decades and latest data showed infrastructure sector output grew at the slowest pace in more than four years.

The weakening came about a month before Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanannounced a slew of steps to revive Asia’s third-largest economy. While the measures boosted market sentiment, they are expected to fall short of spurring growth.

The dashboard measures “animal spirits” — a term coined by British economist John Maynard Keynes to refer to investors’ confidence in taking action — and uses the three-month weighted average to smooth out volatility in the single-month readings.

Here are the details of the dashboard:

Business Activity

After contracting in June, India’s purchasing managers index for services rebounded into growth territory in July. The index rose to 53.8 from 49.6 in June, with the upturn in business activity linked to the budget presented in early July and improved work orders. A reading above 50 indicates expansion…

Imran Khan considering closing Pakistan airspace to India: Minister

Pakistan closed its airspace on February 26 after Indian fighter jets struck an alleged terrorist training camp in Balakot.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is considering a complete closure of airspace to India and blocking Indian land trade to Afghanistan via Pakistan, Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Twitter.

#Modi has started we’ll finish!,” wrote Chaudhry, who handles the Science and Technology Ministry.

“PM is considering a complete closure of Air Space to India, a complete ban on use of Pakistan Land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan was also suggested in cabinet meeting, legal formalities for these decisions are under consideration,” he wrote.

Pakistan closed its airspace on February 26 after Indian fighter jets struck an alleged terrorist training camp in Balakot in retaliation for an attack on paramilitary soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama. The airspace was reopened for civilian flights on July 16.

Air India, the country’s flag carrier, operates around 50 flights daily through Pakistani airspace. Prime Minister Khan said on Monday he will protest India’s decision to end Kashmir’s autonomy at international forum, including at the UN General Assembly next month.

Jet Airways crisis: Lenders extend expression of interest deadline again

The lenders have given in-principal nod for the extra sum but will have to approve it through a vote this week

Jet Airways lenders on Monday decided to extend the deadline for submission of the expression of interest (EoI) to August 31. South America-based Synergy Group Corp had expressed interest in Jet last week and now the deadline has been extended to give another opportunity to a potential investor.

The airline’s resolution professional is in talks with the new suitor, which has shown genuine interest in the defunct airline, said people in the know. Earlier this year, the Synergy group also expressed interest in Italian carrier Alitalia. It is also expected that a few more EoIs may come in for Jet Airways within the extended deadline.

So far, the resolution professional had received EoIs from Panama-based Avantulo Group and a Russian fund called Treasury Creator. Anil Agarwal had also expressed interest in the airline and submitted an exploratory EoI for Jet but later pulled out of the race. However, only the Russian fund has been shortlisted so far, said sources.

Synergy Group Corp, founded by businessman German Efromovich, owns the majority stake in Avianca Airlines. Efromovich purchased Avianca, which went through bankruptcy in 2004, and has since turned around the carrier into South America’s second-largest airline. Avianca operates a fleet of 180 aircraft and serves over a hundred destinations in 28 countries with main operations in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, among other countries.

PM clueless on how to solve ‘self-created economic disaster’: Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi’s reaction came after the RBI allowed the government to take Rs 1.76 trillion from its reserves to provide a fresh impetus to the economy

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the government over the record cash transfer by the RBI, saying the prime minister and the finance minister are “clueless” about solving the “self-created economic disaster” and accused them of “stealing money” from the Bank.

He also said that the move was akin to stealing a Band-Aid from the dispensary and sticking it on a gunshot wound. Rahul Gandhi‘s reaction came after the RBI allowed the government to take Rs 1.76 trillion from its reserves to provide a fresh impetus to the economy.

“PM and FM are clueless about how to solve their self created economic disaster,” he charged on Twitter. “Stealing from RBI won’t work – it’s like stealing a Band-Aid from the dispensary and sticking it on a gunshot wound,” he said, using the hashtag “#RBILooted”….

Amazon is still on fire: 4 essential reads on Brazil’s vanishing rainforest

Environmental researchers explain how farming, big infrastructure projects and roads drive the deforestation that’s slowly killing the Amazon

Nearly 40,000 fires are incinerating Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, the latest outbreak in an overactive fire season that has charred 1,330 square miles of the rainforest this year. Don’t blame dry weather for the swift destruction of the world’s largest tropical forest, say environmentalists. These Amazonian wildfires are a human-made disaster, set by loggers and cattle ranchers who use a “slash and burn” method to clear land. Feeding off very dry conditions, some of those fires have spread out of control.

Brazil has long struggled to preserve the Amazon Rain Forest, sometimes called the “lungs of the world” because it produces 20 per cent of the world’s oxygen. Despite the increasingly strict environmental protections of recent decades, about a quarter of this massive rainforest is already gone – an area the size of Texas. While climate change endangers the Amazon, bringing hotter weather and longer droughts, development may be the greatest threat facing the rainforest…

1. Farming in the jungle

“Deforestation is largely due to land clearing for agricultural purposes, particularly cattle ranching but also soybean production,” writes Rachel Garrett, a professor at Boston University who studies land use in Brazil.

Since farmers need “a massive amount of land for grazing,” Garrett says, they are driven to “continuously clear forest – illegally – to expand pastureland.” Twelve percent of what was once Amazonian forest – about 93 million acres – is now farmland….

RBI approves a record Rs 1.76 trillion surplus transfer to government

The surplus transfer, commonly called as “dividend” to the government, is almost double of the previous record of Rs 65,896 crore

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday decided to transfer a record Rs 1,23,414 crore of its surplus to the central government for the fiscal year 2018-19 or FY19 (July to June), and an additional Rs 52,637 crore of excess provisions as recommended by the Bimal Jalan committee on Economic Capital Framework (ECF).

The surplus transfer, commonly called “dividend”, is almost double the previous record of Rs 65,896 crore. In the previous year, the RBI transferred Rs 50,000 crore, while in 2016-17, the dividend was only Rs 30,659 crore because of demonetisation.

Of the total, Rs 28,000 crore has already been transferred to the government as interim dividend. The ECF, headed by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan, and with former deputy governor Rakesh Mohan as vice-chairman, suggested a much smaller transfer.

Some analysts were expecting the committee would recommend a transfer of at least Rs 3 trillion from RBI’s reserves — Rs 1 trillion from contingency reserves and Rs 2 trillion from revaluation reserves…

Helping reduce Indo-Pak tensions key takeaway from G7 Summit: White House

Prime Minister Modi, flanked by Trump, on Monday categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation on Kashmir

The White House on Monday claimed helping reduce India-Pakistan tension is one of the five big takeaways from the just-concluded G7 Summit. President Donald Trump returned home from the Group of Seven Summit held in the French city of Biarritz from August 24 and 26.

In its daily round-up for Monday, the White House said, “The five big takeaways are: A message of unity, security a billion-dollar trade deal, promoting the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), developing stronger trade with Europe and helping to reduce India-Pakistan tension.”

“In his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Trump reaffirmed the need for dialogue between India and Pakistan and also worked to build on the great economic relations between our nations,” it said.

Prime Minister Modi, flanked by Trump, on Monday categorically rejected any scope for third party mediation on Kashmir, saying it was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and “we don’t want to trouble any third country” — a position that was immediately backed by the American leader who had recently offered to mediate….

Don’t hold your breath: Amazon fires aren’t depleting Earth’s oxygen supply

There’s enough oxygen in the air to last for millions of years, and the amount is set by geology rather than land use

Don’t hold your breath: Amazon fires aren’t depleting Earth’s oxygen supply on Business Standard. There’s enough oxygen in the air to last for millions of years, and the amount is set by geology rather than land use

Current Affairs: Fires in the Amazon rainforest have captured attention worldwide in recent days. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took office in 2019, pledged in his campaign to reduce environmental protection and increase agricultural development in the Amazon, and he appears to have followed through on that promise.

The resurgence of forest clearing in the Amazon, which had decreased more than 80% following a peak in 2004, is alarming for many reasons. Tropical forests harbor many species of plants and animals found nowhere else. They are important refuges for indigenous people, and contain enormous stores of carbon as wood and other organic matter that would otherwise contribute to the climate crisis.

Some media accounts have suggested that fires in the Amazon also threaten the atmospheric oxygen that we breathe. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted on Aug. 22 that “the Amazon rain forest – the lungs which produces 20% of our planet’s oxygen – is on fire.”

The oft-repeated claim that the Amazon rainforest produces 20% of our planet’s oxygen is based on a misunderstanding. In fact nearly all of Earth’s breathable oxygen originated in the oceans, and there is enough of it to last for millions of years. There are many reasons to be appalled by this year’s Amazon fires, but depleting Earth’s oxygen supply is not one of them…

PM Modi launches RuPay card in Abu Dhabi, to help Indian tourists

India has already launched the RuPay card in Singapore and Bhutan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the RuPay card here, making the UAE the first country in the Middle East to initiate the Indian indigenous system of electronic payment.

RuPay card scheme was launched in 2012 to fulfil the Reserve Bank of India’s vision to have a domestic, open and multilateral system of payments. RuPay facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks and financial institutions. India has already launched the RuPay card in Singapore and Bhutan. Modi launched the RuPay card by making a special purchase which he will offer as ‘prasad’ at the Shreenathji Temple in Bahrain tomorrow.

“The RuPay card comes to UAE! PM @narendramodi makes a special purchase, which he would offer as Prasad at the Shreenathji Temple in Bahrain tomorrow,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweeted.

Before the launch, an MoU to establish a technology interface between the payment platforms in India and UAE was exchanged between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and UAE’s Mercury Payments Services in the presence of the prime minister.