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Cook will meet Modi on Wednesday in New Delhi, said the two sources, who included an Indian government official. One of the sources added the Apple chief would also meet India's deputy IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Modi's office declined to comment, while Apple and the IT ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The sources did not elaborate, but Cook's meetings come amid Apple's growing focus on India, the world's second-largest smartphone market. The Mumbai store is in the premier Reliance Jio World Drive mall, home to luxury clothing and jewellery brands like Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Swarovski.

☆ India's Modi raises embassy security with UK's Sunak after vandalism
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 13 (Reuters) - Britain should take action after a violent incident during protests outside India's embassy in London last month, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi told British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Thursday. New Delhi has been upset about protests and vandalism by Sikh separatists - who seek an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan - outside the Indian High Commission in London and elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada. In a telephone conversation with Sunak, Modi called for "strong action against anti-India elements" by the British government following the incident, Modi's office said in a statement. "He stressed that extremism had no place in the UK and updated on the steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian High Commission staff," Sunak's office added. The demonstration outside the Indian High Commission was staged to denounce recent police action in the Sikh-majority Indian state of Punjab against a pro-Khalistan Sikh preacher.

☆ Factbox: Recent attacks on Indian military personnel
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Following are the major attacks on Indian military bases in the last few years:Aug. 2022 - Militants attack an Indian army post in Rajouri in the disputed Kashmir region, killing three soldiers, while two attackers died in the shootout. Nov. 2016 - Militants attacked an army base at Nagrota near Jammu city, killing seven security personnel and taking hostages in the military base. Oct. 2016 - At least six militants attacked an Indian army camp in Baramulla in Kashmir, killing one border guard. Sept. 2016 - Four gunmen burst into a brigade headquarters in the town of Uri in Kashmir, killing 18 Indian soldiers. Jan. 2016 - Indian security forces killed six militants who launched an assault on a military air base in Pathankot in Punjab that killed seven security personnel and injured 22.

☆ Indian court seeks govt response on comedian's challenge to IT rule changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, April 11 (Reuters) - An Indian court on Tuesday directed the government to respond to an appeal submitted by a comedian challenging recent changes to the country's IT rules, which prevent social media platforms from hosting information that the government terms "fake". The rules dictate that social media platforms "make reasonable efforts" to not "publish, share or host" any information relating to the government that is identified as "fake, false or misleading" by a government appointed fact-checking unit. The Bombay High Court, hearing a petition filed by comedian Kunal Kamra, asked the government to file a reply on the plea and scheduled the next hearing for April 21. In his petition, Kamra said that the amendments "constitute unreasonable restrictions to freedom of speech and expression". Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been in repeated tussles with various social media platforms when they failed to take down certain content or accounts that it accused of spreading misinformation.

☆ Temasek hospital deal channels its Dr Resilience
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, April 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Temasek is picking a good time to focus on health. The sovereign investor is taking control of Indian hospital operator Manipal for $2 billion. Others are on an Indian health drive too. Follow @anshumandaga on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSSingapore’s Temasek will buy an additional 41% stake in Manipal Health Enterprises, the unlisted Indian hospital chain said on April 10. After the deal closes, the Pai family’s Manipal Group will hold about 30% of Manipal Health.

☆ India has not suspended trade talks with UK, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW DELHI, April 10 (Reuters) - Trade talks between India and Britain have not been suspended and will continue this year, three officials said on Monday, responding to a British newspaper report that said India had "disengaged" from the talks after London failed to condemn Sikh separatists. An official in India's foreign ministry said progress in the trade talks and New Delhi's concerns around Sikh separatist activities in Britain should not be interlinked. A diplomatic official in the British High Commission in New Delhi said trade talks will continue in a scheduled manner and security officials in London were addressing India's concerns about Sikh separatist activities in Britain. "Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month," a spokesperson for Britain's Department for Business and Trade said. A second Indian foreign ministry source said that trade talks with Britain had not been suspended, and described the media report to be "baseless".

☆ India stalls trade talks with Britain over Sikh extremist group -The Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

NEW DELHI, April 10 (Reuters) - India has "disengaged" from trade talks with Britain after accusing it of failing to condemn the Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian High Commission in London last month, The Times reported on Monday, citing British government sources. The incident occurred on March 19, when protesters with 'Khalistan' banners staged a demonstration at the High Commission and took down an Indian flag from the building's first floor balcony to denounce recent police action in Punjab. "Indians don't want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK," a Whitehall source told The Times. Reporting by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Rich countries and India should cut a climate pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Emissions from the world’s most populous country are only 7% of greenhouse gases but are growing fast while those produced by rich countries have largely peaked. To do so, it will need policies that incentivise green investment, including accelerating its plans for carbon pricing. Rich countries can also help, even at a time when their budgets are stretched. India could then be much more ambitious in its transition plan and the G7 and other rich countries could mobilise funds, focussing on key bottlenecks. But if the central government comes up with a solution, rich countries could help fund it.

☆ A teacher who refused to call trans students by their preferred names because of his Christian beliefs can't have his job back, says court
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A US court has ruled that a high school did not violate the First Amendment rights of a music teacher. John Kluge refused on religious grounds to use transgender students' preferred names. "Kluge "stigmatized" transgender students, causing them "demonstrable emotional harm," said a judge. Music teacher John Kluge refused to use the student's preferred name and pronouns due to his Christian religious beliefs, according to a civil complaint filed in 2019, which said Kluge "believes encouraging students to present themselves as the opposite sex by calling them an opposite-sex first name is sinful." Students and fellow teachers complained, and the decision was reversed, according to court filings.

Circuit Court of Appeals said. Kluge said his Christian religious beliefs barred him from complying with a school policy requiring faculty to use students' preferred names and pronouns. Federal law only requires employers to accommodate workers' religious beliefs if it would not cause them an undue hardship. The 7th Circuit on Friday disagreed, upholding an Indiana federal judge's ruling that dismissed the case. "Kluge's last-names-only practice stigmatized the transgender students and caused them demonstrable emotional harm," Circuit Judge Ilana Rovner wrote for the court.

☆ Biden’s OMB Plans to Divide America Into More Racial Groups
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( John F. Early | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration is proposing to issue a new directive on how U.S. agencies collect and publish data on race and ethnicity. The proposal would increase the number of primary racial groups for data collection to seven from five. That yields seven races: white, black, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian, Native Hawaiian and MENA. Respondents to government surveys or forms would be asked to select one or more races from the list. This would replace the current method by which people are first asked whether they are “Hispanic or Latino,” and then asked to select races from the original five options.

☆ After growing GM corn for decades, some US farmers open to Mexican restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Tom Polansek | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"I'm all for free and fair trade," said Fred Huddlestun, who grows GM corn and soybeans in Yale, Illinois. Supporters of the policy say GM corn can contaminate Mexico's age-old native varieties and have questioned its impact on human health. NCGA said GM corn is safe and it will fight all illegal trade barriers for farmers. But many would consider growing more non-GM corn, if the price were right. "You need to make it worth my while," said Illinois farmer Dave Kestel, who grows GM corn and sells seed for Corteva.

☆ India startups call for antitrust probe of Google in-app billing fee
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Aditya Kalra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A woman walks past the logo of Google during an event in New Delhi, India, August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiSummarySummary Companies Indian startups protest Google's in-app feeLatest challenge to Google in key marketIndian startups say Google bypasses antitrust orderGoogle has said app payment fee covers services, securityNEW DELHI, April 6 (Reuters) - Top startups in India have called on the country's competition watchdog to launch an inquiry into Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O) for allegedly bypassing an antitrust directive by charging a high service fee for in-app payments, a filing shows. The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) filing marks the latest tussle between Google and Indian startups, which have repeatedly criticized the U.S. company for imposing unfair business restrictions that hurt smaller players. Details of the ADIF filing, which was reviewed by Reuters on Thursday, have not previously been reported. "The policy of UCB is unfair and the same would lead to unjust enrichment to Google," the filing said.

☆ Apple is finally opening its first retail store in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Apple is finally getting ready to open its first physical store in the country as it bets on India as a market and manufacturing base. Its previous plan to open a store in the country in 2021 was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. Apple is preparing to open its first physical store in India, in the commercial and financial hub of Mumbai. The launch would come more than 20 years since the California-based giant first entered the Indian market through third-party resellers. In 2020, the company launched an online store in India, allowing customers to buy its products and also, for the first time, customize certain devices.

☆ An Indian tour company is launching the 'world's longest bus trip' that travels to 22 countries over 56 days. A ticket costs $24,350.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

From there, the bus and its passengers will pass through five time zones and cities like Sofia, Bulgaria; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Krakow, Poland; and Copenhagen, Denmark before arriving in London. In 2021, Danish parliament passed a law, sometimes known as the "Blackstone Law," which prevented new landlords from raising the rents for five years, according to a new report from The Guardian. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

☆ Police identify two among eight dead trying to enter U.S. from Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 1 (Reuters) - Police in Canada on Saturday identified two victims among eight bodies recovered from two families who died this week trying to enter the United States from Canada by boat across the St. Lawrence River. Deputy Chief Lee-Ann O'Brien said Friday the victims appeared to be from two families, one Indian and one Romanian, who were trying to the reach the United States illegally. Akwesasne police said the agreement closing all unofficial border entries, including Roxham Road in Quebec, should not have factored here because the families were seeking to go to the United States, not Canada. Last year an Indian family of four froze to death in Canada's province of Manitoba as they were trying to cross into the United States. More people have been using Akwesasne territory to furtively try to enter the United States, with 80 interceptions recorded this year, and the majority have been Indians or Romanians, said Dulude.

"Police believe one infant from the Romanian family has not been located and we'll continue searching. All are believed to have been attempting illegal entry into the U.S. from Canada," O'Brien added. Both the deceased and the missing children "were associated with the Romanian family" and had Canadian passports, which were found, O'Brien said. On Wednesday night, when the families likely sought to cross the river, the weather was poor. Reporting by Christinne Muschi in Akwesasne and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Police recovered six bodies on Thursday and believe the tragedy may have occurred on Wednesday night. The Akwesasne reserve straddles both sides of the St. Lawrence River, with land in Ontario and Quebec on the Canadian side, and New York. To fight smuggling of people and goods, local police monitor the river full-time with funds from Quebec. On Wednesday night, when the families likely sought to cross the river, the weather was poor. Reporting by Christinne Muschi in Akwesasne and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Google scores partial victory in Android antitrust case in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

NEW DELHI, March 29 (Reuters) - An Indian tribunal on Wednesday gave partial relief to Alphabet Inc's Google (GOOGL.O) by setting aside four of the 10 antitrust directives in a case related to abuse of its dominant position in Android. Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi; Editing by Aditya Kalra and Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Coinbase Ex-Manager Convicted of Insider Trading Is Crypto’s Latest Legal Hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Dave Michaels | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Securities and Exchange Commission has told Coinbase it is likely to recommend enforcement action against the company over listing assets that regulators believe are securities. WASHINGTON—Crypto has picked an unlikely ally in its battle against oversight by Wall Street’s chief regulator: a former Coinbase Global Inc. employee convicted of insider trading. Ishan Wahi, a former manager at Coinbase, pleaded guilty this year to giving his brother and a college friend trading tips that generated almost $1.5 million in illicit profits. An Indian immigrant, he could serve more than three years in prison and be deported after doing time.

☆ Coinbase Insider-Trading Case Spearheads Crypto’s Latest Bid to Avoid SEC Oversight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Dave Michaels | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Eric Lee for The Wall Street JournalThe Securities and Exchange Commission has told Coinbase it is likely to recommend enforcement action against the company over listing assets that regulators believe are securities. WASHINGTON—Crypto has picked an unlikely ally in its battle against oversight by Wall Street’s chief regulator: a former Coinbase Global Inc. employee convicted of insider trading. Ishan Wahi, a former manager at Coinbase, pleaded guilty this year to giving his brother and a college friend trading tips that generated almost $1.5 million in illicit profits. An Indian immigrant, he could serve more than three years in prison and be deported after doing time.

☆ India summons Canada High Commissioner, concerned over Sikh protesters
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, March 26 (Reuters) - India summoned Canada's High Commissioner on Sunday to "convey strong concern" over Sikh protesters in Canada and how they were allowed to breach the security of India's diplomatic mission and consulates. According to Canadian media reports, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Indian consulate in Vancouver on Saturday over demands for an independent Sikh state, a simmering issue for decades recently triggered again. Canada has the highest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab in India. Khalistan is the name of an independent Sikh homeland that some members of that community aspire to, both at home in India and in countries where Sikhs have settled. Reporting by M. Sriram, editing by YP Rajesh and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Indian police open investigation into London embassy protest - media
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, March 24 (Reuters) - Indian police have opened an investigation into a protest this week outside its High Commission in London, Reuters partner ANI reported on Friday, pursuing action on an incident that has raised tension in relations with Britain. Protesters with "Khalistan" banners took an Indian flag down from a first-floor balcony of the High Commission in the British capital on Sunday to denounce recent police action in India's Punjab state, British and Indian media reported. Khalistan is the name of an independent Sikh homeland that some members of that community aspire to, both at home in India and in countries where Sikhs have settled. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said acts of violence towards staff at the High Commission in London were unacceptable and British police were investigating. Police officials and the British embassy in New Delhi did not immediately respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

"Indian firms that do not increase their prices and (don't) focus hard on profitability do so at their own peril. The move, while long-sought by overseas law firms, appears to have been somewhat unexpected in its timing. Foreign law firms have yet to announce plans for new offices in India but international firms like Allen & Overy and Herbert Smith Freehills told Reuters they are examining the new rules. Lalit Bhasin, who heads the Society of Indian Law Firms, said there were concerns that a foreign law firm might de facto operate as a full-service firm by hiring local law firms to advise on areas concerning Indian law. "Who is going to monitor whether that foreign law firm is not engaged in practice of Indian laws?"

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