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India is preparing country-wise profiles of defence products and platforms to promote their exports and the government will stand "side by side" with the domestic industry in this endeavour through diplomatic channels, a senior Defence Ministry official said Monday. Raj Kumar, secretary, Department of Defence Production, said at a webinar that the domestic defence industry will hold web interactions with the representatives of friendly countries to figure out what kind of products and platforms they require. "We are preparing country-wise profiles of products, weapons and platforms which are probably needed by our friendly countries. So we are now planning to start web interaction led by the industry," Kumar said. "That country's defence attache, our DPSUs (defence public sector undertakings), industry, will then figure out what is in the store for us to promote there for exports," he said. Kumar said the government will be standing side by side with the domestic industry through its defence attaches, embassies and diplomatic channels to promote exports. To promote indigenous production, the Defence Ministry on August 9 announced restrictions on import of 101 weapons and military platforms including light combat helicopters, conventional submarines and cruise missiles under a staggered timeline till 2024. Kumar said a second list of import-restricted defence items will be notified soon. "This is the first list we are examining and then a second list will also come. We expect you (industry) to come forward and start investing to meet our requirements," he said at the webinar -- "Army Make Projects 2020" -- organised by FICCI. The senior official said as successful domestic bidders move to the defence equipment production stage, his department will share their details with the UP and Tamil Nadu defence corridor authorities, who "will compete in attracting your units to their respective states". He said since the three services are making efforts to push the "Make II" category of defence production projects, he will interact with project participants to understand their concerns and share best practices among the services. As secretary of the Department of Defence Production, Kumar heads the collegiate committee that approves the "Make II" category of projects. Under the Make II category, no government funding is given to the Indian company for the prototype development process. If a prototype developed by the company meets the standards set by the armed forces, an order is placed for such equipment or platforms. "Everything, whether it is defence industrial corridor, or whether it is defence production and export promotion policy, or whether it is a negative list - everything works in the same direction that we have to be among the top producers of defence items," he said. On August 9, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the ministry was now ready for a "big push" to indigenous defence manufacturing in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for an "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India). India is one of the most lucrative markets for global defence giants. The country has figured among the top three global importers of military hardware for the last eight years. The Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tech-mahindra-hcl-tech-wipro-and-likes-are-hoping-global-5g-race-resumes-next-year-bringing-some-large-deals-before-that/articleshow/77583638.cms">Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, Wipro and likes are hoping global 5G race resumes next year⁠ — bringing some large deals before that</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/gaza-strips-only-power-plant-may-run-out-fuel-in-the-next-24-hours-following-israel-border-shut-warns-expert/articleshow/77584765.cms">Gaza Strip's only power plant may run out fuel in the next 24 hours following Israel border shut, warns expert</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/the-heat-is-on-mark-zuckerberg-in-india-as-facebook-and-whatsapp-incur-the-ire-of-modis-rivals/articleshow/77575358.cms">The heat is on Mark Zuckerberg in India as Facebook and WhatsApp incur the ire of Modi's rivals</a>

After import embargo, India is creating country profiles for its defence exports

The <keyword id="32723" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="defence" source="Orion">defence</keyword> ministry has approved a fresh list of 928 components and subsystems which will only be procured from the domestic industry after a ban on their import kicks in under a staggered time-line of around five-and-half years. The ministry on Sunday said the aim of the move is in sync with the government's overall aim to promote 'Atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence production. It is the fourth such "positive indigenisation list (PIL)" comprising line replacement units, sub-systems and components used for various military platforms, equipment and weapons. "To promote 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence and minimise imports by defence public sector undertakings, the <keyword id="6369097" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-defence" source="Orion">Ministry of Defence</keyword> has approved fourth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 strategically-important line replacement units/sub-systems/spares and components, including high-end materials and spares, with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore," the ministry said in a statement. The aim of the indigenisation list is also to minimise imports by the defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs). The defence ministry has set specific timelines for import ban of the items, spanning the period from December 2023 to December 2028. This list is in continuation to the three similar PILs that were brought out in December 2021, March 2022 and August 2022 "These lists contain 2,500 items which are already indigenised and 1,238 (351+107+780) items which will be indigenised within the given timelines," the ministry said. Of the 1,238, 310 items have been indigenised so far, it said. The items which were already indigenised comprised 262 from the first PIL, 11 from the second list and 37 from the third PIL, according to the ministry. "The DPSUs will undertake indigenisation of these items through different routes under 'Make' category and in-house development through the capabilities of MSMEs and private Indian industry, thereby providing impetus to the growth in economy, enhanced investment in defence and reduction in import dependence of DPSUs," the ministry said. "In addition, this will augment the design capabilities of the domestic defence industry by involving academia and research institutions," it said. In a tweet, Defence Minister <keyword id="6355121" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rajnath-singh" source="Orion">Rajnath Singh</keyword> said the Narendra Modi government is committed towards indigenisation and ensuring self reliance in the defence sector. "Keeping this in mind, the 4th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Spares and Components has been approved," he said. "The list includes high-end materials and spares, with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore," Singh added. The ministry said DPSUs will soon initiate procurement action for these notified items. In the last few years, the government has taken a series of measures to promote domestic defence production. <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> is one of the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement over the next five years. The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing. The defence ministry has set a goal of a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years which includes an export target of USD 5 billion worth of military hardware. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/govt-to-roll-out-lost-mobile-blocking-tracking-system-pan-india-on-may-17/articleshow/100224875.cms">Govt to roll out lost mobile blocking, tracking system pan-India on May 17</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/fpi-bought-equity-worth-rs-18617-crore-in-may/articleshow/100225129.cms">FPI bought equity worth ₹18,617 crore in May</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/pm-modi-wants-us-to-start-building-rd-around-6g-technology-cisco-coo/articleshow/100224961.cms">PM Modi wants us to start building R&amp;D around 6G technology: Cisco COO</a>

Govt approves 4th 'positive indigenisation list' of sub-systems to promote domestic defence industry

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US government is reportedly planning an <keyword id="46920" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Arms-deal">arms deal</keyword> worth $7 billion with <keyword id="46274" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Taiwan">Taiwan</keyword>, which is concerned about <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>'s growing military presence in the region.</li><li>The <keyword id="6356319" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="weapons">weapons</keyword> provided to Taiwan could include mines, cruise missiles, and drones, the Financial Times reported.</li><li>Two Chinese anti-submarine aircraft were spotted off Taiwan's south-west coast on Wednesday, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.</li></ul>Taiwan will reportedly receive billions of dollars' worth of weapons from the US government, amid concerns that China poses a renewed military threat to the island nation.The planned deal, which includes <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-taiwan-arms-exclusive-idUSKBN2671M4">mines, cruise missiles, and drones</a>, would amount to $7 billion, making it the second-largest arms deal between the US and Taiwan, a person with knowledge of the matter told the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f4b2696b-a960-40f0-85db-1bf9fd6d0b7b">Financial Times</a>.Last year, the Taiwanese government agreed an $8 billion arms deal with the Trump administration. <keyword id="6384167" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="taipei">Taipei</keyword>, the capital of Taiwan, has warned that China is stepping up its military presence around the island in recent months. Two Chinese anti-submarine aircraft were spotted between Taiwan's south-west coast and Pratas, a Taiwanese atoll, on Wednesday, according to Taiwan's defence ministry. On September 10, Taipei said <keyword id="1333" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Beijing">Beijing</keyword> held an air-and-naval drill lasting two days in the same area.In response to increased Chinese military activity, Taiwan began five days of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taiwan-military-exercises-simulate-invasion-amid-china-tensions-2020-9">computer-aided drills</a> on Monday to co-ordinate how its military would respond if the island came under attack, Taiwan's defence ministry said.The potential arms deal between the US government and Taiwan comes as tensions between <keyword id="6354998" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="washington">Washington</keyword> and Beijing escalate. On September 15, the Trump administration imposed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-bans-imports-from-xinjiang-in-china-human-rights-abuses-2020-9">import bans</a> on products made from forced labor of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, as in late 2019 Trump signed a bill supporting <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-protests-photos-after-china-passes-national-security-law-2020-5">pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong</a>.China <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-new-global-security-intiative-us-bullying-2020-9?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">has accused the US</a> of "naked bullying" over its attempts to force ByteDance, a Chinese company, to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-not-sold-tiktok-deal-white-house-larger-us-stake-2020-9">sell the US arm of video app TikTok</a>.

The US will reportedly sell Taiwan $7 billion worth of mines, cruise missiles, and drones, amid concerns about China's growing military presence

NEW DELHI: <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s maiden five-day visit to <keyword id="6355311" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Japan">Japan</keyword> saw the latter nation pledging financial support for building infrastructure in India. Sticking to his 'Make in India' slogan, Modi gave an open invitation to Japanese companies to consider India as a 'competitive low-cost manufacturing hub'. 
 
The meet also saw India-Japan relations being upgraded to the level of 'Special Strategic Global Partnership'. We take a look at the ten takeaways from PM Modi's visit: 
 
1) PM Modi's 3D mantra: Inviting Japanese investors to 'Make in India', PM Modi said, "There is no better place than India for Japanese investors. India is one of the most competitive markets in the world." 
 Addressing Japan's Nikkei Exchange, Modi said that India offers the three essential 'Ds' for <keyword id="80597" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Businessmen">businessmen</keyword> to thrive namely; Democracy, Demography and Demand. "It is important for Japan to move to low cost hubs of manufacturing." 
 
Promising a conducive environment for investors, Modi said, "Foreign investors need a proper environment to grow in India. We are working towards improving ease of doing business in India." "There is no red tape but red carpet in India. We have eased off a lot of regulations," Modi sought to assure. 
 
2) Bullet trains: With Japan committing to fund bullet trains, the dream of running high-speed trains on Indian tracks is now a step closer. 
 
Modi's dream project got a big push after Japan expressed readiness to provide financial, technical and operational support to introduce bullet trains in India in a joint statement. 
 
The first high-speed train is expected to run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai at an estimated cost of around Rs 60,000-70,000 crores. 
 
As Japan is a pioneer in running superfast trains, the agreement is expected to help Modi achieve his dream of a bullet train for India running at a maximum of 300 km per hour. 
 
3) Two nominees of Japan in PMO's special team: PM Modi announced that a special management team would be set up directly under the Prime Minister's Office to facilitate investment proposals from Japan. 
 
The decision to include two nominees of Japan in the special management team is unprecedented and such a system of having nominees of the foreign government will happen for the first time. Modi said that the two nominees selected by Japan would also be part of the decision-making team which evaluates business proposal. 
 
4) 'Special Strategic Global Partnership': Japan and India have upgraded their partnership to the level of 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' with the signing of a defence pact for regional stability and <keyword id="4741" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tokyo">Tokyo</keyword>'s decision to double <keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword> in India. 
 
India and Japan also decided to "upgrade" and "strengthen" their defence cooperation as they asked officials to launch consultations to promote military equipment collaboration and accelerate discussions on modalities for the sale of Japanese US-2 amphibian aircraft. 
 
The two sides signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defence during Modi's five-day visit. "We intend to give a new thrust and direction to our defence cooperation, including collaboration in defence technology and equipment, given our shared interest in peace and stability and maritime security. We have also decided to expand our cooperation in advanced technology, science and technology, people-to-people exchanges, educational exchanges, etc," Modi said at the joint press briefing with Abe. 
 
The two sides stressed on the importance of the regularisation of bilateral maritime exercises as well as on Japan's continued participation in India-US Malabar series of exercises. 
 
5) Civil nuclear deal remains elusive: Despite last-minute negotiations, the two sides could not narrow down differences over Tokyo's insistence for a tougher safe-guard regime and "no nuclear test" clause in the bilateral agreement. 
 
Japan wants India to guarantee not to conduct nuclear tests and more stringent inspections of its nuclear facilities to ensure that spent fuel is not diverted to make bombs. 
 
India has been insisting on self-imposed moratorium on its tests and does not agree to Tokyo's insistence on the clause in the text of the agreement that provides for automatic termination of nuclear ties if India conducts test in future. 
 
Addressing a joint press briefing with Abe, Modi said, "In recent months, we have made significant progress in our negotiations on civil nuclear cooperation. Today, we have discussed this issue at length. We have reached better understanding of each other's positions through this discussion. 
 
We have agreed to instruct our negotiators to work expeditiously to conclude the negotiations at an early date so that we can further strengthen our strategic partnership." Abe commended India's efforts in the field of non-proliferation, including the affirmation that goods and technologies transferred from Japan would not be used for delivery systems for weapon of mass destruction. 
 
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6) Japan to invest over $33.58 billion in India: Japan announced doubling of its private and public investment in India to about $34 billion over the next five years. The 3.5 trillion yen ($34 billion) of investment from Japan to India including Official Development Assistance(ODA) during a 5-year period will be under the aegis of India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership for development of projects including infrastructure and building of smart cities. 
 
The five-year period will also see the doubling of the presence of Japanese firms in India, Abe said. 
 
7) Japan lifts ban on 6 Indian entities: Japan lifted ban on HAL and five other Indian entities, which had been imposed in the aftermath of the 1998 nuclear tests, amid Modi's assertion that cooperation between the two countries in defence and security will get a "new direction". 
 "Japan has decided to remove ban on some entities," Modi said. Sources later said the ban had been lifted on six entities, including <keyword id="468489" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hindustan-Aeronautics-Limited-">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.</keyword> However, four entities still remain in the banned list. 
 
The removal of the ban will enable these companies to have cooperation with Japanese firms, including transfer of technology. 
 
8) Japanese companies to speedy clearance: Holding that the environment of "disappointment" was over, Modi invited Japanese businesses to join India's developmental efforts with a promise of non-discriminatory and speedy clearances. 
 
Inviting Japanese businesses, particularly to infrastructure and clean energy sectors, the Prime Minister asked them to keep in mind the Gujarat experience. 
 
He promised single-window clearances, speedy decision- making which is non-discriminatory in nature. 
 
9) New TCS training initiative: PM Modi inaugurated <keyword id="2499762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="TCS-Japan-Technology">TCS Japan Technology</keyword> and Culture Academy, which will work towards enhancing technology and cultural knowledge between IT professionals of the two nations. 
 
Modi also flagged off the first batch of 48 TCS Japan trainees, who will proceed to India to undergo training for 6-8 weeks at various TCS locations. 
 
"The 21st century is the century of knowledge and technology and all of you will gain knowledge from travelling in India... You are going as employees of TCS but I want you to come back to Japan as ambassadors of India," Modi said. 
 
Known for his communicating skills, Modi joined the ceremonial Japanese drummers to perform a jugalbandi with them as he drummed up support for Indian business in Japan. 
 
Modi tried his hands at drums while inaugurating the TCS Cultural Centre. The Prime Minister was inspired after watching the drummers and joined them, much to the amusement of the gathering. 
 
10) Modi deplores 'expansionist' tendency of some countries: Modi deplored the "expansionist" tendency among some countries which "encroach" upon seas of others, in oblique comments against China which is having a maritime dispute with Japan. 
 
"The whole world accepts that the 21st century will belong to Asia. But I have a question. How should the 21st century be? We have to give an answer to this. It will depend on how deep and progressive our relationship (between India and Japan) is," he said. 
 
"We have to decide if we want to have 'vikas vaad' (development) or 'vistar vaad' (expansionism) which leads to disintegration. Those who follow the path of Buddha and have faith on 'vikas vaad', they develop. But we see, those having ideas of the 18th century, engage in encroachments and enter seas (of others)," he said. 
 
He did not name any country but the comments may be seen as targeting China which is engaged in territorial disputes with a number of its neighbours, including India, Japan and some others including Vietnam. 
 
(With inputs from PTI)

PM Narendra Modi's Japan Visit: 10 Key Takeaways

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Kalashnikov has fulfilled "the largest contracts" in its history after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.</li><li>The company boosted production by 40% last year compared with 2021.</li></ul>Kalashnikov posted bumper sales last year after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine led to the "largest contracts" in its history, according to a <a href="https://kalashnikovgroup.ru/news/kalashnikov-_podvel_itogi_2022_goda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a>.The arms-maker that makes the AK-47 and is officially called JSC Kalashnikov Concern boosted production last year by 40% in comparison with 2021 to hit a 20-year high.Kalashnikov said it fulfilled 45 "state defence orders" for the Russian armed forces and signed 24 "military-technical cooperation agreements" in 2022. The company also adapted its weapons to cater for the Russian army's needs. It modified the AK-12 rifle, which is used by Russian troops in Ukraine, to speed up firing and give soldiers more control over firing modes, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-modifies-kalashnikov-weapon-speed-up-firing-ria-2022-09-21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a> reported.Sales are expected to keep rising this year. Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defence minister, told the director of Kalashnikov's flagship factory in Izhevsk last month that Moscow intended to "significantly increase" orders, per <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-tells-russian-defence-industry-up-its-game-ukraine-war-2022-12-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.According to its <a href="https://en.kalashnikovgroup.ru/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, Kalashnikov accounts for 95% of Russia's production of machine guns, sniper rifles, pistols and other handheld firearms.The company's president, Alan Lushnikov, previously told <a href="https://tass.com/defense/1515329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news agency TASS</a> that almost 80% of revenues came from military sales, but it has also been selling more weapons outside Russia as well.That's despite the US banning imports of Russian-made Kalashnikovs following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014.The EU and UK also imposed their own sanctions against the company last year after the Ukraine assault.Kalashnikov Concern did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Kalashnikov boosted production by 40% last year as the Russian army kept buying weapons to use in Ukraine

New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) Chinese short-video making app TikTok on Tuesday said it is in the process of complying with the Indian government order to ban 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, and is not sharing any data of Indian users with the Chinese government. The Indian government on Monday banned apps like TikTok, WeChat, UC Browser and Xiaomi's Mi Community over national security concerns as India-China bilateral relations remain strained after the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese PLA troops in eastern Ladakh. "The government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it," Nikhil Gandhi, Head of TikTok India, said in a statement, adding that the company has been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications. "TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and have not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government," Gandhi explained. The app disappeared from both Google Play Store and Apple App Store on Tuesday. There was no official communication from Google or Apple on its removal from their respective stores. ByteDance-owned TikTok said that it places the highest importance on user privacy and integrity. "TikTok has democratized the internet by making it available in 14 Indian languages, with hundreds of millions of users, artists, story-tellers, educators and performers depending on it for their livelihood, many of whom are first-time internet users," said Gandhi. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Monday issued a list of 59 Chinese apps that are now banned in the country. "These measures have been undertaken since there is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order," said a MeitY statement. The ministry received complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India. The MeitY said the move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile users. Other Chinese apps in the banned list are Club Factory, SHAREit, Likee, Mi Video Call (Xiaomi), Weibo, Baidu, Bigo Live and others. --IANS na/

Will comply with India ban, not sharing users' data with China: TikTok

San Francisco, July 11 (IANS) After reports surfaced that Amazon told its employees to delete the Chinese short-video making app TikTok from their smartphones, the e-commerce giant has said that the email in this regard was 'sent in error'. According to a report in The Hill on Friday, Amazon which has over 840,000 employees globally said there "is no change to our policies right now with regard to TikTok". A TikTok spokesperson said that the e-commerce giant "did not tell the social media company about its request prior to sending out the email to employees". A Wall Street Journal report earlier quoted an internal Amazon memo as saying that "employees must delete TikTok to be able to continue accessing their email from their phones". A TikTok spokesperson said that user security is of the utmost importance for the company. "We welcome a dialogue so we can address any issues they may have and enable their team to continue participating in our community," a TikTok spokesperson was quoted as saying. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week that Washington was looking at banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok. In a Fox News interview, Pompeo said that "we're taking this very seriously". "With respect to Chinese apps on people's cell phones, I can assure you the US will get this one right too... I don't want to get out in front of the President (Donald Trump), but it's something we're looking at," he said in the interview. India has already banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, saying these apps opened the way for "elements hostile to national security and defence" to exploit them to "ultimately impinge upon the sovereignty and integrity of India". Pompeo said people should only download the app "if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party". --IANS na/

Amazon says delete TikTok email to employees 'sent in error'

<ul><li>The <keyword id="169875" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="anonymous" source="Orion">Anonymous</keyword> hacker collective is pooling its resources to help support Ukraine against the Russians. </li><li>Hackers took down several important Russian government websites, and RT.com, the state-controlled television network. </li><li>Ukraine was earlier the victim of a massive hacking campaign that it alleged was from Russia. </li></ul>The ongoing Russia Ukraine war has a new player – the Anonymous hacker collective. Amidst Russia’s offensive against Ukraine, Anonymous hackers have claimed to have taken down several Russian government websites, and RT.com, the website of the state-controlled television network. The hacker collective made an announcement on Twitter yesterday, stating that they’re engaged in a ‘cyber war’ against the Russian government. <div type="twitter" handle="YourAnonNews" handlename="Anonymous" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1390018317864296450/bk21WUAT_normal.png" favoritecount="22976" retweetcount="4165" status="#Anonymous is currently involved in operations against the Russian Federation. Our operations are targeting the Rus… https://t.co/hkqszqRyYV" createdat="1645736675000" id="1496954233492541444"></div> Some of the websites that were either taken down by Anonymous or were slowed down include those of the Russian government, the Kremlin, Duma and the Ministry of Defence. Apart from RT.com, the hacker collective also launched distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against websites of Russian internet service providers Com2Com, Relcom, Sovam Teleport and PTT-Teleport Moscow. Various Anonymous accounts were found using the #OpRussia and #OpKremlin hashtags on Twitter, similar to the #OpISIS campaign that was launched earlier in an attempt to take down the terrorist organisation’s online propaganda attempts. Most of these websites have now recovered. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ukraine alleges Russia behind the massive cyberattack against the country" comment="subhead" text="Ukraine alleges Russia behind the massive cyberattack against the country">Ukraine alleges Russia behind the massive cyberattack against the country</cmsannotation> This comes after Ukraine claimed that Russia was behind the massive cyberattacks <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/ukraines-ministry-of-defence-and-banks-suffer-massive-cyber-attack-amidst-russia-standoff/articleshow/89608377.cms">launched</a> against its government websites and a few banks, too, among other information technology companies. “The malware, which is designed to look like ransomware but lacking a ransom recovery mechanism, is intended to be destructive and designed to render targeted devices inoperable rather than to obtain a ransom,” Microsoft said in a blog post, describing the attack against Ukraine. Cyberattacks are one of the vectors being employed in modern warfare, which can prove to be dangerous and has the potential to take down a country’s industrial infrastructure. Indeed, one of the Anonymous accounts had threatened to do just this to Russia earlier this month. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/experts-fear-possible-cyber-attacks-by-russia-against-ukraine-amid-ongoing-tensions/articleshow/89565011.cms">Experts fear possible cyber war by Russia against Ukraine amid ongoing tensions</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/ukraines-ministry-of-defence-and-banks-suffer-massive-cyber-attack-amidst-russia-standoff/articleshow/89608377.cms">Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, and banks suffer massive cyber attack amidst Russia standoff</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-government-to-ban-54-chinese-apps-posing-threat-to-national-security/articleshow/89562328.cms">Indian government to ban 54 Chinese apps posing threat to national security</a>

Russia-Ukraine war: Anonymous hackers launch cyberwar against Russia taking down government websites

<div class="image-container" style="width:590px"><div class="image"></div>ReutersChris Huhne and his ex-wife, Vicky Pryce</div>
The big news out of the U.K. today is that Chris Huhne, once one of the most senior people in British government and tapped to be leader of the Liberal Democrats, and his estranged ex-wife Vicky Pryce, have <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/11/chris-huhne-vicky-pryce">each been sentenced to 8 months in prison</a> for "perverting the course of justice."
It's a remarkable coda to a story that has dragged on for years, and began with a simple crime, when in 2003 Huhne was a European Member of Parliament and was caught speeding between London and Stansted Airport, and ending after a brief interlude that saw a trial thrown out <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vicky-pryce-headline-ruined-by-jury-2013-2">due to a stunningly incompetent jury</a>.
Huhne's big offense wasn't really the speeding, but lying about it.
When contacted by the police shortly after the offense, he coerced his wife into taking the "points" on her license in order to avoid being banned himself (<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1384707/Chris-Huhne-asked-speeding-points-Ex-wife-Climate-Change-Secretary-claims-pressurised-people.html#axzz2JwZK3YVL">he was banned for a later driving offense anyway</a>).
Perhaps that would have been that, but then in 2009, the News of the World (the Rupert Murdoch tabloid newspaper that was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/news-of-the-world-front-page-2011-7">later shut down after the phone hacking scandal</a>) caught a whiff of reports of a different scandal — Huhne was having an affair.
Neville Thurbeck, the reporter who first made this discovery <a href="http://www.nevillethurlbeck.com/2013/03/chris-huhne-and-vicky-pryce-news-of.html">has written a blog post today that outlines his links to the story</a>. It's a fascinating account, which hints at the sort of skulduggery a British tabloid journalist is expected to get up to — including staking out houses and tailing the mistress in a car.
While the story was initially spiked, as Huhne wasn't important enough, in May 2010 he was promoted to Energy Secretary in the U.K.'s new coalition government. Suddenly, he was one of the most important politicians in the country, and the story was back on.
Thurbeck writes:
The following Sunday, the story ran on the front page of the News of the World. Huhne strolled into his Clapham home and told his wife Vicky [Pryce] their 26 year marriage was over and walked calmly off to the gym.
Distraught and confused and still in love with her husband, she set about plotting her revenge and reveal how Huhne had organized for her to take three speeding points on his behalf to escape a driving ban.
Pryce would get her revenge, though it would also backfire. <a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/newsreview/features/article1227000.ece#page-1">In an article published on Sunday</a>, Isabel Oakeshott, the politics editor at Murdoch's Sunday Times, describes how it was a few months later that she met Pryce.
I first met Vicky in the security tent at the Liberal Democrat party conference in Liverpool in September 2010. I was standing in the queue, waiting to go through the x-ray machines, when she arrived with a mutual friend who introduced us. I smiled and said hello.
“You know who I am, don’t you?” she asked anxiously.
Oakeshott and Pryce began socializing, and — from Oakeshott's account — it seems clear Pryce's plan for revenge was beginning. Oakeshott recounts a conversation from 2011:
“He can’t be leader [of the Liberal Democrats],” she said. “He shouldn’t even be in the cabinet. People should know what he’s really like.” So there it was: she wanted to bring him down. I made sure I had understood her correctly.
“You want to stop him?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said.<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div>REUTERS/Stefan WermuthIsabel Oakeshott, the politics editor at Murdoch's Sunday Time's</div>
I didn’t see how. His finances were squeaky clean. She didn’t seem to have anything else up her sleeve.
“Yes I do,” she said. She leaned across the table. “I took his points.”
In Oakeshott's account of the story, she goes on to explain the legal wranglings over the case — she says she didn't want Pryce to have to face the legal consequences of lying to the police. They even attempted to covertly record Huhne admitting to it, but Huhne, no doubt aware of the phone hacking scandal occurring all around him, was evasive.
Finally, the story came out on May 9, 2011, under the headline <a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/National/article621485.ece">"Top minister quizzed over</a> <a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/National/article621485.ece">driving ban."</a> In the story Pryce was quoted as saying that he had convinced “someone close to him” to accept his speeding points — Pryce herself wasn't named. Another article based on interviews with Pryce appeared on the same day titled <a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/People/article621421.ece">"Huhne, my ruthless husband".</a>
According to Oakeshott, Pryce wasn't happy with the stories, and the pair stopped talking. Pryce instead began talking to the Daily Mail. Soon a police investigation into the crime was opened, and Oakeshott was legally forced to hand over her correspondence with Pryce, implicating her source in the crime of perverting the course of justice.
That Oakeshott actually gave over the emails — <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/interactive/2013/mar/07/vicky-pryce-trial-prosecution-material">which can now be read freely online</a> — is seen as duplicitous by many in the British media world.
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/mar/10/vicky-pryce-and-isabel-oakeshott-friends">The Guardian's Peter Preston</a> wrote yesterday "Isabel Oakeshott was Vicky Pryce's firm friend … or at least until the great revenge story got in the way." <a href="http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/nick-cohen/2013/03/the-sunday-times-jails-its-source/">Nick Cohen has written</a> an article for the Spectator that includes the damning passage:
Journalists once went to prison rather than reveal a source. Now they can’t even go to an appeal court. Instead, Oakeshott’s source is in jail. I asked friends of Pryce to ask her on my behalf if the Sunday Times had sought her permission before it gave detectives what they needed to turn her into ‘a broken woman’.
‘No, it did not,’ came the reply.
In Oakeshott's defense, she claims she did not think the case would go to trail, or at least she did not think that Pryce would also be charged with perverting the course of justice.
However, in February 2012 it was announced that Pryce would indeed face charges. Pryce tried to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/07/vicky-pryce-convicted-chris-huhne">claim a defence</a> of "marital coercion."
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; display: inline !important; float: none;">It failed.
Reading <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article3710916.ece">the judge's statement today</a>, it's hard not to feel that Oakeshott's article, and the release of her correspondence with Pryce, played a key role in getting Pryce jail time. He said that Huhne was <span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; display: inline !important; float: none;">"somewhat - but not greatly, in my view - more culpable" in the crime, before turning to Pryce's treatment of the press:
[It] was that over the period of six months from November 2010 to May 2011 you, I have no doubt, sought to manipulate and control the Press so as to achieve that dual objective, hoping all the while to be able to hide behind their duty of source confidentiality, which you tried long and hard to do, as well as laying the ground, if that failed, for a false defence of marital coercion. ...
Once charged, you Vicky Pryce pursued your false defence of marital coercion. In doing so, just as you did in your dealings with the media, you have demonstrated that there is a controlling manipulative and devious side to your nature. However, ultimately, the good sense of the jury saw through you, and you were convicted.
In hindsight, it's incredible that the story started out so mundane — if Huhne had pleaded guilty in 2003 he would have been fined $100 and banned from driving for six months, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/world/europe/vicky-pryce-and-chris-huhnes-slide-from-the-top.html">The New York Times notes</a>.
However, thanks to Huhne's infidelity, his wife's thirst for vengeance, and a lust for scandal amongst Rupert Murdoch's British newspapers, the mundane speeding story turned into something else — the epic downfall of one of Britain's golden couples.

The Epic Story Of How Murdoch Newspapers' Hunt For Scandal Got A British Power Couple Jailed

While there are nearly 5.68 lakh houses under various stages of construction in Delhi-NCR, any kind of periodic ban on construction by different agencies can only delay the projects, adding to the woes of the buyers. The maximum number of under-construction units is in <keyword id="18858" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="noida" source="Orion">Noida</keyword> and Greater Noida areas, accounting for nearly 2.70 lakh units, as per an estimate. On average, a one-month ban on all construction activity delays a project by at least 3-4 months, according to research by <keyword id="4695749" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="anarock" source="Orion">Anarock</keyword> consultants. As per the research, the areas in Delhi-NCR with the maximum under construction units presently include Greater Noida West, Yamuna Expressway, New Gurugram, Noida Expressway, Dwarka Expressway, Central Noida, Sector 150 (Noida), <keyword id="1464478" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="greater-faridabad" source="Orion">Greater Faridabad</keyword>, <keyword id="15299315" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="raj-nagar-ext" source="Orion">Raj Nagar Ext</keyword> (Ghaziabad), Sohna and Golf Course Ext Road. These areas together have more than 4 lakh units that are currently under various stages of construction. Greater Noida West alone has more than 1.37 lakh under-construction units currently. The air quality in Delhi-<keyword id="53426" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ncr" source="Orion">NCR</keyword> has turned poor and heavy smog has started engulfing the region. This year too, to battle pollution, an action plan has been rolled out in advance, mandating that if the pollution levels breach certain levels (i.e., Stage III or 'severe'), authorities will have to enforce a ban on construction and demolition activities in NCR, except on essential projects (like railways, metros, airports, ISBTs, national security/defence-related projects of national importance). Apart from this, the construction of projects also gets hampered due to protests on the issue of land compensation. The Anarock research said that being periodic, the impact of these construction bans on overall property prices is almost negligible. Moreover, real estate prices in most cities are not so much a function of environmental concerns as of accessibility, proximity to the city centres or major employment hubs, urban mobility via various modes of public transport, and affordability. In Mumbai too, the city perennially experiences floods during monsoon, yet property prices remain steady. In fact, in the last two-and-a-half years since the pandemic, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has been the most active in terms of both new supply and new launches. As for Delhi-NCR, the region too has been very active. While developers restricted new supply, housing sales have been significant. In fact, the region has shed at least 23 per cent of its unsold stock in the last 2.5 years since the pandemic. Back in Q1 2020-end, the overall unsold stock in Delhi-NCR stood at 1.73 lakh units which have reduced to a little over 1.32 lakh units as of Q3 2022-end, said the Anarock research. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/huge-hike-in-airfare-from-delhi-mumbai-to-patna/articleshow/94961347.cms">Huge hike in airfare from Delhi, Mumbai to Patna</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/nissan-x-trail-premium-suv-to-launch-in-india-features-specs-and-everything-you-need-to-know/slidelist/94961171.cms">Nissan X-Trail premium SUV to launch in India – features, specs and everything you need to know</a>

Delhi-NCR: 5.68L houses under construction; periodic bans add to buyers' woes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia has bought ammunition from North Korea, according to a newly declassified report seen by NYT.</li><li>It's a sign that Putin may be facing severe ammunition shortages under sanctions, experts said.</li></ul>Russia has been forced to buy ammunition from North Korea amid severe shortages caused by global sanctions, according to a US intelligence briefing <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/05/us/politics/russia-north-korea-artillery.html">reported by The New York Times</a>.The recently-declassified briefing said that the deal included millions of artillery shells and rockets, but provided few further details of when, or exactly what, has been purchased, the NYT said.The move is a sign that "the Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions," <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-north-korea-government-and-politics-495e976d1217d38c397a16e79cc305de">an unnamed US official told the Associated Press (AP)</a>. It comes as news emerged of a confidential report from the Russian government, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-05/russia-risks-bigger-longer-sanctions-hit-internal-report-warns#xj4y7vzkg">seen by Bloomberg</a>, which warns that international sanctions are hitting the Russian economy far harder than the Kremlin is willing to say publicly.<a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1567018160267661313">A UK Ministry of Defense intelligence memo</a> released on Tuesday noted that Russia is also "struggling to maintain stocks of UAVs" — unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones — a situation it said was likely worsened by sanctions. Mason Clark, Russia team lead at the Institute for the Study of War, told the Times: "The Kremlin should be alarmed that it has to buy anything at all from North Korea."The rogue state is currently under a <a href="https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/UN-Security-Council-Resolutions-on-North-Korea">2009 United Nations Security Council ban</a> on importing or exporting weapons. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-drones-from-iran-already-malfunctioning-reports-2022-8">In August, Russia took delivery </a>of Iranian-manufactured drones, which quickly malfunctioned, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/29/iran-drones-russia-ukraine-war/">according to The Washington Post.</a>Russia's approach to its invasion of Ukraine, particularly early in the war, has been highly artillery-based, involving sustained and heavy shelling, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-russia-is-waging-its-war-with-artillery-in-ukraine-2022-7">as 19fortyfive reported</a>. <a href="https://ik.imagekit.io/po8th4g4eqj/prod/special-report-202207-ukraine-final-web.pdf">A report</a> published by UK-based think tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said that Russian forces were getting through around 20,000 shells per day, as of July, compared to Ukraine's daily use of around 6,000.The report's authors noted, however, that Russia had significant stockpiles of ammunition from the Soviet era and means of manufacturing them even under sanctions. Throughout the invasion, Ukraine has generally been outgunned by Russia by a large margin and has itself experienced <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-russia-may-run-out-of-soldiers-and-weapons-2022-6">significant</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-troops-deserting-russias-artillery-onslaught-takes-toll-report-says-2022-6">shortages</a> of ammunition and weaponry. On August 15, a national day of independence on the Korean peninsula, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-and-kim-jong-un-pledge-closer-relations-russia-nk-2022-8">the Kremlin and Pyongyang exchanged broad messages of further cooperation</a>. Kim Jong-Un said North Korea and Russia had a "common front for frustrating the hostile forces' military threat and provocation."Russian state media <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-offering-russia-100k-troops-help-beat-ukraine-reports-2022-8">claimed earlier in August</a> that North Korea was ready to provide 100,000 "volunteer" troops to help hostilities in Ukraine.

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