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New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The Union Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has blocked more than 2 crore mobile connections that were being used for fraudulent activities and successfully reduced spoof calls by 97 per cent, according to DoT Secretary Dr. Neeraj Mittal on Wednesday.

Dr. Mittal was speaking during the annual West Zone Conference on security-related matters, which was organised by the DoT in South Goa.

He addressed the gathering through a video link and shared key achievements in the telecom sector’s fight against cyber fraud.

He credited the reduction in spoof calls to the government's ‘Sanchar Saathi’ initiative, a platform launched to tackle misuse of telecom services.

Spoof calls are fake calls in which scammers disguise their identity by manipulating caller ID information to commit fraud or deceive people.

Mittal said that alongside Sanchar Saathi, the department has developed a ‘Digital Intelligence Platform’ to crowdsource information related to frauds, particularly in the financial sector.

This platform helps banks and other financial institutions share and access data about ongoing scams, making the digital ecosystem safer and more secure.

Highlighting the growing importance of telecom, Mittal said that while the number of telecom users has increased rapidly, the misuse of telecom resources -- especially in financial fraud -- has also gone up.

To counter this, the DoT has launched multiple initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure.

He noted that artificial intelligence (AI) has played a key role in identifying and eliminating fraud.

With the help of AI, 78 lakh fake mobile connections and 71,000 fraudulent retail points of sale have been disconnected so far.

The department is also expanding its network of telecom testing labs to ensure that high-quality and certified telecom equipment is used across the country.

In another major move, the DoT has introduced a ‘Financial Fraud Risk Indicator’, developed in collaboration with its partners.

This tool helps detect mobile numbers involved in financial frauds more effectively.

Mittal also announced that the DoT is working on upgrading the Centralised Monitoring System (CMS) to keep pace with modern cyber threats and improve real-time surveillance capabilities.

The department is actively collaborating with private players to boost sector-specific and application-level security, ensuring that the telecom infrastructure remains resilient and trustworthy.

With these efforts, the DoT aims to build a safer and more reliable digital environment for millions of mobile users in India.

--IANS

pk

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The Union Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has blocked more than 2 crore mobile connections that were being used for fraudulent activities and successfully reduced spoof calls by 97 per cent, according to DoT Secretary Dr. Neeraj Mittal on Wednesday.

Dr. Mittal was speaking during the annual West Zone Conference on security-related matters, which was organised by the DoT in South Goa.

He addressed the gathering through a video link and shared key achievements in the telecom sector’s fight against cyber fraud.

He credited the reduction in spoof calls to the government's ‘Sanchar Saathi’ initiative, a platform launched to tackle misuse of telecom services.

Spoof calls are fake calls in which scammers disguise their identity by manipulating caller ID information to commit fraud or deceive people.

Mittal said that alongside Sanchar Saathi, the department has developed a ‘Digital Intelligence Platform’ to crowdsource information related to frauds, particularly in the financial sector.

This platform helps banks and other financial institutions share and access data about ongoing scams, making the digital ecosystem safer and more secure.

Highlighting the growing importance of telecom, Mittal said that while the number of telecom users has increased rapidly, the misuse of telecom resources -- especially in financial fraud -- has also gone up.

To counter this, the DoT has launched multiple initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure.

He noted that artificial intelligence (AI) has played a key role in identifying and eliminating fraud.

With the help of AI, 78 lakh fake mobile connections and 71,000 fraudulent retail points of sale have been disconnected so far.

The department is also expanding its network of telecom testing labs to ensure that high-quality and certified telecom equipment is used across the country.

In another major move, the DoT has introduced a ‘Financial Fraud Risk Indicator’, developed in collaboration with its partners.

This tool helps detect mobile numbers involved in financial frauds more effectively.

Mittal also announced that the DoT is working on upgrading the Centralised Monitoring System (CMS) to keep pace with modern cyber threats and improve real-time surveillance capabilities.

The department is actively collaborating with private players to boost sector-specific and application-level security, ensuring that the telecom infrastructure remains resilient and trustworthy.

With these efforts, the DoT aims to build a safer and more reliable digital environment for millions of mobile users in India.

--IANS

pk

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) Calling India-Germany relationship "enormously important", External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that the ties between two nations are growing in substance.

While speaking to reporters alongside his German counterpart Johann Wadephul following their talks in New Delhi on Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar noted that the relationship between India and Germany remains "very steady" and the ties are growing in its weight and value.

When asked where Germany fits in India's balancing of strategic partnerships with multiple nations, the EAM responded, "We have important strategic relationships with a number of countries. And, it's in the nature of global politics or global strategy today that each one of these relationships would be maintained and you would optimise them. So to me, both Germany in itself and Germany as the biggest country of the European Union are obviously central to the calculations and to the relationships that we have in the world. So, if you look at it by virtually any metric, I mean, whether it is economic, whether it is political, we were among the other things we didn't get to mention here except Johann did at the end of his remarks, we are two countries who are also as part of the G4 trying to bring about a reform of the Security Council and of the UN itself.

"For us, this is an enormously important relationship. This relationship is growing in substance and I can see at this time of uncertainties that actually it has a greater value. It's a very steady relationship. It is a relationship where largely what we promise to each other and policies that we have, remain constant and remain predictable. So, predictability today has a huge premium in global politics. So, I do think that this relationship is actually only growing in its weight and its value and part of the reason why we have met so regularly even in the last few months and spoken to each other is because of that," he stated.

EAM Jaishankar noted that the two nations have seen good progress in education and mobility. He mentioned that the two nations have also agreed on gratis visa for short-term school and college visits to further promote student exchanges.

"We have seen good progress in education and mobility. I believe that the largest number of foreign students in Germany are now from India. On my last two visits to that country, I heard praise for our community's contribution from across the political spectrum in Germany. The skilled labour strategy released by the German government offers a very good framework for mutual benefit. We have also agreed on gratis visas for short-term school and college visits to further promote student exchanges."

The External Affairs Minister said that he raised the issue of baby Ariha Shah with his German counterpart and underlined that it is essential that her cultural rights are ensured and she grows up in Indian surroundings.

"On consular issues I should mention that I raised the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who's been in foster care of German authorities for some time. I underlined to the minister that it is essential that her cultural rights are ensured and she grows up in Indian surroundings. So this matter needs to be resolved without further delay and I think we've had some discussions uh today on that subject," he said.

Ariha Shah was placed in the custody of Germany's Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on September 23, 2021 after the then seven month-old baby suffered an accidental injury. She has been in foster care since then. India has been maintaining that it is important for the child to be in her linguistic, religious, cultural and social environment.

--IANS

akl/as

Mumbai, Sep 3 (IANS) The Indian equity indices closed higher on Wednesday amid euphoria around GST rationalisation as the two-day GST Council meeting kicked off. Sensex settled at 80,567.71, up 409.83 points or 0.51 per cent.

The 30-share index opened a bit higher at 80,295.99 against last session's closing of 80,157.88. The index escalated the gaining momentum further to hit an intraday high at 80,671.28, buoyed by buying in metal, FMCG, Auto and banking stocks.

Nifty ended the session at 24,715.05, up 135.45 points or 0.55 per cent.

The Indian equities closed higher after a mixed start to the session, buoyed by expectations of a consumption-led stimulus from the potential GST slab rationalisation, said analysts.

All categories of consumer-based sectors, like discretionary, durable and staples, continued to outperform.

In the near term, market sentiment hinges on the outcome of the GST Council meeting, with traction on consumption-oriented stocks and sectors.

Tata Steel, Titan, Mahindra and Mahindra, Eternal, SBI, ITC, Trent, HDFC Bank, Tata Motors, Sun Pharma, Kotak Bank, L&T and Asian Paints were among the top gainers. Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, NTPC, TCS and Bharati Airtel were settled lower.

The majority of Sectoral indices rallied, led by Nifty Metal, which soared 3.11 per cent or 292 points amid heavy buying. Nifty Fin Services jumped 159.60 points or 0.62 per cent, Nifty Bank surged 406.55 points or 0.76 per cent, Nifty Auto soared 190 points or 0.74 per cent, and Nifty FMCG escalated 162 points or 0.29 per cent.

Broader indices followed suit as well. Nifty Small Cap 100 soared 157.15 points or 0.89 per cent, Nifty Midcap 100 jumped 143 points or 0.57 per cent, Nifty Next 50 closed 445.30 points or 0.66 per cent.

Rupee traded slightly positive with gains of 0.13 at 88.02 as markets showed minor strength with focus on the ongoing GST meeting, where the outcome in the coming days could provide support to the currency.

"However, persistent trade tariff concerns continue to weigh on sentiment, keeping pressure intact on the rupee. While GST reforms may help cushion the fall, the overall trend remains weak, and the rupee may test levels towards 89.50 in the coming months. For the near term, the range is expected between 87.90–88.45," said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities.

--IANS

aps/na

Johannesburg, Sep 3 (IANS) South Africa have opted for experience and continuity by naming a squad of tried and tested players for the Pakistan tour and the all important 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup.

Laura Wolvaardt will lead a 15-player South Africa squad which includes the seasoned quartet of Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, and Sune Luus. They will be joined by explosive batter Tazmin Brits and a group of all-rounders - Nadine de Klerk, Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, and Nondumiso Shangase.

In the wicketkeeping department, Sinalo Jafta will be partnered by 17-year-old Karabo Meso, who is set to make her senior World Cup debut. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, with seam options provided by Masabata Klaas and Tumi Sekhukhune.

Young all-rounder Miane Smit has been named as the traveling reserve, a role she also held during last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where South Africa finished as runners-up.

“What a journey it has been. From the moment I joined this team, and even before my time when the squad went through the qualification phase, it was all about working towards this moment. We can look back at the amount of preparation we have put in and know that we have done our best. We are ready to send a squad to the World Cup that will make South Africa proud.”

“I am happy for all the players and management who will be getting on that plane to India, but I am even more excited to see what they can achieve together as a group. We believe we have the squad of players that can go out there and deliver on the world stage. Now it is all about carrying that belief with us every step of the way, along with the support of the entire nation,” said head coach Mandla Mashimbyi in a statement.

South Africa will begin their World Cup campaign against England on October 3, before facing New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. They will conclude the league phase with a match against Australia on October 25.

Before the tournament, set to happen from September 30 to November 2, South Africa will travel to Lahore for a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, with matches scheduled for September 16, 19, and 22 respectively.

“The make-up of the squad is underpinned by the consistent selection process that was adhered to during the recent ICC Women’s Championship cycle, while taking into account the subcontinent conditions and the different characteristics of the group required for a successful tournament of this nature.

“A massive congratulations to all the players who have been selected for this prestigious tournament. Their hard work and sacrifice over the past three years have earned them an opportunity to represent South Africa at a 50-over World Cup - an honour a player receives a few times in their career,” said Clinton du Preez, CSA Convenor of Selectors.

South Africa squad: Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions). Travelling Reserve: Miané Smit

--IANS

nr/

Dubai, Sep 3 (IANS) The fourth season of the ILT20 will begin with the rematch of last year's final between defending champions Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers in Dubai on December 2.

The league stage will run until December 28, with four double-header days planned in the competition. Sharjah Warriorz will face Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on December 3 in Sharjah, while Gulf Giants and MI Emirates will open their campaign in a clash on December 4 in Dubai.

The Dubai Capitals are the reigning champions, having secured a four-wicket victory over the Vipers in the last season’s final with just four deliveries remaining and lifted the trophy in front of a raucous 25,000-strong crowd. Previous winners of the six-team tournament include MI Emirates in 2024 and Gulf Giants in the inaugural 2023 season.

The knockout phase is set to start with the Qualifier 1 to be on December 30 in Abu Dhabi. The Eliminator ( a clash between Team 3 vs Team 4 on the points table) will be played on January 1 in Dubai. Qualifier 2 (to be played between Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator) will be played in Sharjah on January 2.

Season 4 will conclude with the title clash – the tournament finale – which will be played at the Dubai International Stadium on January 4 from 6:30 pm local time.

Matches will be held at the same three venues as in previous seasons: the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to host 15 matches, Sharjah Cricket Stadium to stage eight games, and Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi to host 11 matches.

Before the tournament begins, the season four player auction will be held September 30 in Dubai. The six franchises will have a combined purse of 4.8 million USD to spend in the player auction.

The last date of registering for player auction is September 10, and one of the big players to enter the fray could be former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently ended his stellar IPL career.

--IANS

nr/bc

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) Amid significant and far-reaching changes on the global strategic landscape, India and Germany will work towards doubling the bilateral trade, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday, adding that together, they would like India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations to move to a decisive conclusion soon.

Bilateral trade has grown significantly over the past decade between the two nations, reaching a record high of around $33.4 billion (28 billion euros) in 2024.

In a press briefing with visiting German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, EAM Jaishankar said that in one of his earlier interviews, his German counterpart had said he was very confident that "we would be doubling our trade" with India.

"Let me assure him that India fully reciprocates that sentiment. We look forward to working with the German government towards this. I want to reiterate that we remain fully committed to continuously improving the ease of doing business in this country. I assured the minister today that any concerns that German companies may have in India -- coming to India, establishing themselves, working here -- we would be prepared to give it special attention," the EAM stressed.

He also said that the "changes we see in the world today do influence our policies and do influence the manner in which we approach other countries".

"We're also seeing a lot of volatility on the global economic landscape, and I think together, they make a very powerful case for India and the European Union (EU) and India and Germany to work much more closely with each other. This is a relationship where there are considerable possibilities for fairly rapid growth," EAM Jaishankar highlighted, adding that there are big changes underway in the world which "make a very compelling case for a deeper, stronger, wider India-Germany relationship".

Wadephul said that India is Germany's key economic trading partner, and more than 200 German companies are active in the country.

He called India a "rising economic powerhouse" with a "special importance" on the global stage, reaffirming Berlin's full support for finalising the FTA between India and the European Union.

Germany was the 8th largest trading partner for India in 2024-25. It was India’s 12th largest trading partner in 2023-24 and 11th largest trading partner in 2022-23. Germany is the 9th largest foreign direct investor in India with a cumulative FDI of $15.11 billion from April 2000 to March 2025.

--IANS

na/vd

Indore, Sep 3 (IANS) A day after the shocking incident of rodent attack inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward of M. Y. Hospital in Indore, in which one newborn (baby girl) died, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla on Wednesday claimed that the government has taken the incident very seriously, asserting that pest control was not carried out in the hospital.

“The incident is very serious. The government has initiated action and suspended two staff members (nurses). Further action would be taken once the detailed investigation report is available. The pest control wasn’t carried out in the hospital,” the Deputy Chief Minister told the media persons.

Shukla (61), who is also the state's Health and Family Welfare Minister, said that he has instructed the Principal Secretary of Health and Family Department to submit a detailed report within one week.

“The pest control and cleanliness drive was not done regularly, which is why M. Y. Hospital has become a shelter for the rodents,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.

The babies, born last week, were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharaja Yashwantrao Chikitsalaya (MYH), one of the biggest government hospitals in the state.

The incident came to light when the nursing team of the hospital saw the injured newborns and informed the hospital management.

The administration then scanned CCTV cameras installed in the unit and found rats jumping in a swing near the newborns.

After the incident broke out on Tuesday, Dean of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital, which is the past of M.Y. hospital, Arvind Ghanghoria, told media persons that a fine of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed on the pest control agency.

One of two babies bitten by rodents, weighing just 1.2 kilograms, died on Tuesday evening. Although doctors maintain that the cause of death was severe infection and congenital complications, the presence of rats in a neonatal ward has triggered outrage about the negligence and unhygienic conditions of the hospital.

According to doctors, the infant who died had been brought from Khargone in an extremely fragile condition, with low haemoglobin and underdeveloped organs. He was on oxygen and ventilator support.

Despite the medical challenges, the rodent bite incident has been viewed as a serious contributing factor that compromised his already deteriorating health.

--IANS

pd/dan

Indore, Sep 3 (IANS) A day after the shocking incident of rodent attack inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward of M. Y. Hospital in Indore, in which one newborn (baby girl) died, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla on Wednesday claimed that the government has taken the incident very seriously, asserting that pest control was not carried out in the hospital.

“The incident is very serious. The government has initiated action and suspended two staff members (nurses). Further action would be taken once the detailed investigation report is available. The pest control wasn’t carried out in the hospital,” the Deputy Chief Minister told the media persons.

Shukla (61), who is also the state's Health and Family Welfare Minister, said that he has instructed the Principal Secretary of Health and Family Department to submit a detailed report within one week.

“The pest control and cleanliness drive was not done regularly, which is why M. Y. Hospital has become a shelter for the rodents,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.

The babies, born last week, were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharaja Yashwantrao Chikitsalaya (MYH), one of the biggest government hospitals in the state.

The incident came to light when the nursing team of the hospital saw the injured newborns and informed the hospital management.

The administration then scanned CCTV cameras installed in the unit and found rats jumping in a swing near the newborns.

After the incident broke out on Tuesday, Dean of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital, which is the past of M.Y. hospital, Arvind Ghanghoria, told media persons that a fine of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed on the pest control agency.

One of two babies bitten by rodents, weighing just 1.2 kilograms, died on Tuesday evening. Although doctors maintain that the cause of death was severe infection and congenital complications, the presence of rats in a neonatal ward has triggered outrage about the negligence and unhygienic conditions of the hospital.

According to doctors, the infant who died had been brought from Khargone in an extremely fragile condition, with low haemoglobin and underdeveloped organs. He was on oxygen and ventilator support.

Despite the medical challenges, the rodent bite incident has been viewed as a serious contributing factor that compromised his already deteriorating health.

--IANS

pd/dan

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The Department of Pharmaceuticals’ (DoP) recent amendment to certain clauses of the marketing code for medical devices is set to boost transparency in MedTech sector, said the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) on Wednesday.

The amendment to the Uniform Code for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (UCMPMD), 2024, will enable manufacturers of medical devices to provide free evaluation samples to doctors.

This will help the healthcare professionals acquire hands-on experience in using the product.

However, the Code capped the free evaluation samples at 2 per cent of domestic sales, with valuation to be recorded at stockist price if manufactured in-house, or at purchase price if sourced externally.

As per the amendment, companies must disclose spending on samples, CME programmes, event sponsorships, and pre-approvals needed for specialist doctors' international travels, lodging, and hospitality in a newly prescribed annexure format.

Notably, the revised framework also prohibits gifts, cash grants, and personal travel or hospitality benefits to healthcare professionals and their families. Industry associations will be required to retain disclosure data for five years, with stricter penalties for violations.

Welcoming the amendment, AiMeD said that the move would bring much-needed transparency, fairness, and accountability to India’s growing MedTech sector.

“At AiMeD, we welcome the Universal Code of Ethical Marketing of Medical Devices and the simplified annual reporting format. The Code ensures ethical and transparent marketing, fostering fair competition and stronger reputations for both domestic and overseas manufacturers. Patients benefit through safer devices, trustworthy information, and freedom from exploitative promotions,” said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD.

With the amendment, the chief executives or managing directors of medical device companies will now have to file annual declarations of marketing expenditure within two months of the financial year’s close. For FY25, the deadline has been extended till September 30.

"The Associations shall have a system in place to ensure that data disclosed by its members is stored securely and is adequately protected. Such data shall be retained for a minimum period of five years, or for such longer period as may be necessary for the purpose of facilitating inquiry into or decision on any complaint made or proceeding instituted before the Ethics Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices, the Apex Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices or any court or other authority or as such committee, court or authority may direct for such purpose," the DoP said.

"The Associations shall also have a system in place to share such data or information, without affecting the integrity of the same in any manner, on being required to do so by such committee, court or authority for the purpose of such inquiry or decision," it added.

--IANS

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