Month: August 2023

‘Smishing’: the new cyber scam, the money transfer SMS could be fake!

Manish Kumar

The next time you get a message from your bank stating that money has been credited to your account, it may be wise to check the bank’s app or your account statement and see whether the amount is actually there.   A Delhi jeweller learnt this lesson the hard way when he sent gold chains worth nearly ₹ 3 lahks to a scamster after receiving messages on his phone, purportedly from his bank, that the money had been credited to his account.   Jeweller Naval Kishore Khandelwal runs a five-decade-old…

Gabonese military officers announce they have seized power; Day after President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s re-election

Manish Kumar

The central African country’s election committee announced that President Ali Bongo Ondimba, 64, had won the election with 64 percent of the vote early Wednesday morning.   Within minutes, gunfire was heard in the center of the capital, Libreville  Appearing on television channel Gabon 24, the officers said they represented all security and defence forces in the Central African nation.   They said the election results were canceled, all borders closed until further notice, and state institutions dissolved.  There was no immediate comment from the government of the OPEC-member nation.…

Putin to visit China in first foreign trip since ICC arrest warrant over Ukraine war crimes: Report

Manish Kumar

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to visit China for the Belt and Road Forum in October, Bloomberg reported.  Putin reportedly accepted an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the event and the Kremlin is currently preparing for his visit.  This would be Putin’s farthest visit from Russia since the ICC’s warrant for his arrest, which was issued in March.  Putin has traveled to Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, countries that neighbor the former Soviet Union and Iran, which is supplying drones to his military, but besides those, this…

Rahul Gandhi demanded a statement from the PM on China’s release of a map claiming ownership of Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh

Manish Kumar

Rahul Gandhi today demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to China’s release of a map that claims ownership of Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh.  China’s “standard” map shows Aksai Chin, which it occupied in the 1962 war, and Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as South Tibet, as part of its territory.  “I have been saying for years that what the PM said, that not one inch of land was lost in Ladakh, is a lie. – said Mr. Gandhi.  China announced new Chinese names for 11…

China map: India lodges ‘strong protest’ over territory claims

Manish Kumar

The 2023 edition of China’s standard map was released by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources on Monday.  India says it has lodged a “strong protest” with China over a new map that lays claim to its territory.  “We reject these claims as they have no basis,” India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.  India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also called China’s claim “absurd”.  India has often reacted angrily to China’s attempts to stake claim to its territory.  The 2023 edition of China’s standard map was officially released on Monday and…

Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launches National Sports Federations portal on the National Sports Day

Manish Kumar

On the occasion of National Sports Day 2023, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launched the third edition of the Fit India Quiz, among other initiatives, at an event at the JLN Stadium today. The event was attended by almost 500 school children from various schools in New Delhi as well as several elite athletes and officials from the MYAS, SAI and the National Sports Federations. The Minister also launched an Information booklet on Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under the Khelo India Scheme as well…

Coking Coal Production Expected to Reach 140 MT by 2030

Manish Kumar

Collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Steel and Ministry of Coal have yielded positive outcomes to enhance domestic Coking Coal availability and minimize import reliance. Domestic raw Coking Coal production is projected to reach 140 MT by 2030, yielding about 48 MT of usable Coking Coal after washing. Coking Coal, vital for steel production, has experienced increased availability, which is crucial for maintaining the momentum of industrial growth driven by steel production in the country. The Ministry of Coal launched “Mission Coking Coal” in FY’22 to address the growing domestic…

Shri Tomar seeks New Zealand cooperation in promoting health and other benefits of Millets

Manish Kumar

A meeting between Ministers for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Minister for Trade & Export Growth, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Land Information and Minister for Rural Communities of New Zealand Shri Damien O’Connor was held here today. Both the leaders reiterated their commitments to work together in strengthening the agricultural cooperation and collaboration between the two countries. Welcoming the New Zealand Minister and his delegation, Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare mentioned about the importance of relations between India and New Zealand…

ISRO all set to launch first Sun mission

Manish Kumar

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said today that after close on the heels of successful Chandrayaan mission, India is ready with the first Sun Mission “Aditya-L1”, which ISRO is all set to launch, most likely on 2nd of September. Addressing a public program in Mainpuri, Dr Jitendra Singh said, with the entire world celebrating India’s Chandrayaan mission, the popular interest in the Sun Mission has also increased manifold. Giving full credit to Prime Minister…

The reduction in gas prices will increase the ease of living for our sisters: Prime Minister

Manish Kumar

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has taken decision of reducing LPG cylinder price by 200 rupees per cylinder for all LPG consumers i.e 33 crore connections. Shri Modi said that the festival of Raksha Bandhan is a day to enhance happiness in our family. PM Ujjwala Yojana consumers will continue to get the subsidy of ₹200/cylinder in their accounts. Government has also approved 75 lakh additional PM Ujjwala connections, which will take total PMUY beneficiaries to 10.35 crores. Responding to X threads of Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural…