The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Wednesday cancelled the anticipated 4G upgradation tender of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The new move comes nearly two weeks after the department expressed concerns over the use of Chinese telecom equipment and directed state-owned BSNL and MTNL to not use any China-made gears for 4G rollout. Huawei and ZTE are notably the two Chinese telecom gear manufacturers that are supplying equipment to Indian telecom operators. With the new move, the DoT will issue a new tender in the coming weeks. The fresh tender will emphasise on the “Make in India” programme and will…
Author: Our Correspondent
Royal Philips introduced a path-breaking mobile Intensive Care Units (ICUs) for India, designed to meet the critical-care requirements of patients, each pre-fabricated ICU has a capacity for nine beds and will be locally manufactured by Philips in India. Each ICU unit can be assembled in one day at the chosen site. Leveraging its clinical, technical and design expertise, Philips has developed these portable ICUs to address the challenging need of critical-care services in India. On the prospects of the portable ICUs, Daniel Mazon, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent said “Aligned with the government’s commitment to providing quality…
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday welcomed New Delhi’s decision to ban dozens of apps with Chinese links, saying it will “boost India’s integrity and national security.” “We welcome India’s ban on certain mobile apps that serves as an appendage of the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) surveillance State,” Pompeo told reporters at a news conference held at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. “India’s clean app approach will boost India’s sovereignty. It will also boost India’s integrity and national security,” he said. India on Monday banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including the hugely popular TikTok…
Murder charges have been filed against a Tamil Nadu police officer accused in the custodial deaths of two men in the town of Tuticorin – a father and son allegedly tortured by local cops after being arrested for keeping their mobile phone shop open 15 minutes longer than allowed amid the coronavirus lockdown. Sub Inspector Raghu Ganesh has been arrested by the Crime Branch of the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Jeyaraj, 59, and his son Beniks, 31, were arrested on June 19 for keeping their mobile phone shop open 15 minutes…
China appears to have blocked the official website of Prime Minister Narendra Modi even though it allows the official website of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to be accessed in all its major provinces. China is known to heavily regulate and censor domestic internet usage and actively blocks any websites or links that are seen as going against the narrative of the communist party or perceived interest of the nation. The combination of all such regulatory or technological censorship is often termed The Great Firewall of China. It is one of the most successful internet censorship programs in the world, which…
The Indian government recently banned 59 Chinese applications. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his active social media accounts, had decided to quit the Chinese microblogging website Weibo. It is the most popular social media platform in China, and PM Modi joined it a few years ago. First PM Narendra Modi’s photo, posts and comments have been removed from his Weibo account but it remained a blank page on the site. But later the account was also removed. Before the removal, he had around 2.5 lakh followers on the Chinese micro-blogging site, where he used to post in the Chinese…
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been asked to vacate her government bungalow in Delhi by August 1. A government notice said today that her allotment stands cancelled from today. In a letter, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has asked Priyanka Gandhi to exit the bungalow on Lodhi Road in one of the most protected zones of Delhi as she no longer has Special Protection Group security. “Consequent upon withdrawal of SPG protection and grant of Z+ security cover by Ministry of Home Affairs, which does not have provision for allotment/retention of government accommodation on security ground to…
A boiler exploded at the NLC India Ltd.’s thermal plant in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore, killing at least six workers and leaving 17 injured. News agency PTI reported that the blast took place in the fifth unit of the thermal power station-II at a time when the staff was about to begin morning operations at the plant. The injured have been admitted to NLC India hospital. The accident was confirmed by Cuddalore’s Superintendent of Police (SP) M Sree Abhinav, as quoted by news agency ANI. The cause of the boiler blast, however, is yet to be ascertained. The NLC India’s integrated mining-cum-power plant is…
India will not allow Chinese companies to participate in highway projects, including those through joint ventures, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today amid the standoff with China at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. Mr Gadakri also said the government will ensure that Chinese investors are not entertained in various sectors like Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The senior minister’s assertions assume significance against the backdrop of border standoff between India and China in Ladakh that also saw the death of 20 Indian Army personnel last month. Amid escalating tensions, the government on Monday banned 59 apps, mostly…
In order to defuse tension, Indian and Chinese militaries continue to engage in talks, but sources say Pakistan has started moving troops along the Gilgit-Baltistan area and the Chinese army is holding talks with terror organisation Al Badr to incite violence in Jammu and Kashmir. According to sources, Pakistan has moved almost 20,000 additional troops in the northern Ladakh region to match Chinese deployments. Sources have indicated that Pakistan is looking at an opportunity to open a two-front attack on India. Meanwhile, there were a series of meetings between the Indian Army and intelligence officials to discuss the looming threat.…