Author: LokMarg

Google removed 1,11,493 harmful pieces of content in June of this year in accordance with the new India IT Rules, 2021.

According to Mashable, the majority of the content that was removed fell under the category of copyright infringement, with the rest falling under other categories like trademarks, court orders, explicit sexual material, fraud, and others.

Within the same time frame, the internet company received 32,717 complaints from citizens of the country about external content on different Google platforms that they believed to violate their personal or regional legal rights. Numerous classifications can be made of the complaints.

Some requests, according to Google, might allege the violation of intellectual property rights, while others might claim that local laws restricting the publication of particular types of material due to things like defamation had been broken.

“In addition to what our users report, we substantially spend in battling dangerous information online and employing technology to detect and remove it from our platform”, the company said in its monthly compliance report.

The company added its automatic identification procedures resulting in the removal of 528,846 accounts nationwide. We invest a lot of money to fight harmful internet content, and we use technology to track it down and remove it from our platform, as reported by Mashable.

Google asserted that some of our products will make use of automatic identification processes in order to prevent the spread of harmful information, such as child sex abuse material and violent extremist content. (ANI)

West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar on Wednesday said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is a core issue for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just like Ram Mandir was in the past.

He asserted that the BJP will implement the CAA eventually and grant citizenship to Bangladeshi refugees.

Speaking to ANI, the West Bengal BJP chief said, “CAA is our commitment, we’ll do it. CAA is a core issue for Bengal BJP the way Ram Mandir was a pledge for the BJP. We’ll give citizenship to refugees from Bangladesh. People are forced to come because of the atrocities committed on Hindus.”

“There is no politics in it. Mahatma Gandhi also said that if atrocities are committed against Hindus living in Bangladesh after the partition of India, then India will have to take responsibility. Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that CAA will be implemented in West Bengal soon,” he added.

According to the Majumdar, the implementation of CAA in Bengal is very important because Hindus are still being tortured in Bangladesh.

“Still people are migrating from Bangladesh to India. In the last month also there were a lot of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh,” he said.

Speaking about other political parties opposing the implementation of CAA in the country, the Bengal BJP chief said, “The opposition has constantly opposed the government regarding CAA. In West Bengal also, a resolution was passed against CAA in the Assembly.”

When asked how difficult it would be to implement CAA in West Bengal, Sukanta Majumdar said, “It will not be an easy task and we do not even want to do easy work. Many people opposed Article 370. They said that Modi Ji will not be able to abrogate 370 even if he is Prime Minister 10 times. We removed it and showed that BJP is not there to do easy work. Opposition parties like Congress are here to do easy work. We (BJP) work to bring a change. We have come to change the future of the country and will do it.”

Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari met Union Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday and demanded that the CAA be implemented at the earliest.

Majumdar also met BJP national president JP Nadda yesterday and spoke to him on the situation in Bengal after the unearthing of the SSC Recruitment Scam in which TMC leader Partha Chatterjee is one of the prime accused.

“I have spoken to Nadda Ji on many important issues concerning Bengal. Suvendu Adhikari also spoke to Amit Shah. I have discussed what issues we would be working on in Bengal in the upcoming days after a major corruption case came to light in Bengal,” he added.

Speaking on his fellow Lok Sabha colleague Mahua Moitra’s expensive handbag controversy, he said, “I would like to see more such bankrupt persons who carry expensive bags like Mahua. If many such bankrupt people exist in Bengal then it will be a ‘balle balle’ situation for the state. Mahua Moitra keeps making such controversial comments. Either she wants to attract media or there must be other reasons.”

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra ran into controversy on Tuesday for allegedly ‘hiding her expensive’ bag during a session in the Lok Sabha regarding price rise. (ANI)

Kareena Kapoor and Aamir Khan are all set to grace the ‘Koffee’ couch. The fifth episode of the show will air on Thursday. The ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ duo will be seen together on ‘Koffee With Karan’ for the first time.

Earlier today, Karan Johar unveiled the first promo of the upcoming episode and it looks like a lot of fun! Sharing Kareena and Aamir’s photo on Instagram, Karan wrote, “A duo you Khan-not miss! On the Koffee couch this episode, are two epic Khans and it cannot get more savage than this! #HotstarSpecials #KoffeeWithKaranS7 episode 5 streams this Thursday at 12 am only on Disney+ Hotstar.”
In the promo, Karan is seen asking Kareena about her sex life after she embraced parenthood to which Kareena responded by saying, “You would know”. Karan then responded by saying that he cannot talk about such things as his mother watches the show. Then, Aamir quickly turned the tables around and asked Karan, “Your mother doesn’t mind you talking about other people’s sex lives? Kaise sawaal pooch raha hai .”

Later, Aamir even asked Kareena to rate his fashion sense and that’s when Kareena embraced her inner Pooh and jokingly said, “minus”!

Check out the promo:

The duo’s appearance on the chat show is being touted as a promotional stint as their film ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ will hit the theatres on August 11. Helmed by Advait Chandan, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ is an official Hindi adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1994 film ‘Forrest Gump’, which had Tom Hanks in the lead role.

Recently, the makers announced that the film will be available on OTT 6 months after its release. Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Kiran Rao, and Viacom18 Studios, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ also stars Mona Singh and Chaitanya Akkineni. (ANI)

The Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry has written to Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman, Executive Director and IHR focal point in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), requesting him to intensify screening to ensure that persons exhibiting symptoms suggestive of monkeypox disease are not allowed to board flights to India to minimise the risk of disease transmission.
In the letter, dated August 1, accessed by ANI, the Joint Secretary said, “It is requested that exit screening of may be further intensified so as to ensure persons exhibiting symptoms suggestive of Monkeypox disease are not allowed to board the flight to minimize the risk of disease transmission.”

“As the global community grapples with yet another Public Health Emergency of International concern, it is essential that IHR Focal points maintain a continuous coordination and share key information to avoid the spread of disease information across international boundaries,” the letter further said.

To date, India has reported a total of eight confirmed cases of Monkeypox disease, of these cases four cases were with travel history who have arrived in India from UAE.

“As evident three of the cases were already exhibiting symptoms suggestive of Monkeypox disease before arrival in India,” the Joint Secretary mentioned in the letter.

Under article 18 of International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, the World Health Organization recommends Member States to undertake exit screening measures at Points of Entry and if required impose restrictions on persons from affected areas in response to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), he said in a letter referring to the regulations and further explained in the letter regarding WHO recommendations on screening measures and restrictions at Points of Entry.

Recently, Kerala has reported five cases of Monkeypox who have a travel history to UAE.

The central government is on an alert even as the count of infections in some other countries has risen.

NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul said that there is absolutely no need for any panic as the government has taken significant measures to keep the disease in check.

In an interview with ANI, Dr Paul sought to assert that there was no need for any undue panic but added that it was still important that the country and the society stay vigilant.

“There is no need to panic, as of now, but one must report in time if they spot any symptoms, he said.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 18,000 cases have been reported from 78 countries.

“The monkeypox outbreak can be stopped if countries, communities and individuals inform themselves, take the risks seriously, and take the steps needed to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups,” said Dr Tedros, Director General, WHO on Thursday.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. The disease is endemic in regions like West and Central Africa but lately, cases have been reported from non-endemic countries too, according to the WHO. (ANI)

Indian men’s table tennis team clinched the gold medal defeating Singapore 3-1 in the final at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Tuesday.

It was another dominant performance by the Indian paddlers.
In the first match at the NEC Table Tennis Show Court 1, Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran went up against Yong Izaac Quek and Yew En Koen Pang. The Indian pair were firing on all cylinders and looked more comfortable in the second game as they took early lead and closed out the game 11-7.

The Indian pair defeated their Sinapore rivals 13-11, 11-7, 11-5 in the third game to give India an early lead with overall match score of 1-0.

India are the defending champions in the men’s team table tennis final.

In the second match of the final, Sharath Kamal Achanta took on Zhe Yu Clarence Chew. The first game was tough for the Indian ace as he went down 7-11 against his Singapore rival.

Sharath Kamal made a strong comeback and won the second game 14-12.

Singapore’s Chew won the third game 11-3 to take 2-1 lead in the match. He also won the fourth game 11-9 and the second match went in favour of Singapore 11-7, 12-14, 11-3, 11-9 to level the tie 1-1.

In the third match, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran locked horns with Yew En Koen Pang. The Indian player made a remarkable comeback and won it 12-10.

In the second game of the third match, Pang beat Sathiyan 11-7 but the Indian player kept on the pressure and won the third game 11-7 and eventually the match.

The scoreline 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 reflected an amazing comeback by the Indian player.

The third match saw Harmeet Desai beat Zhe Yu Clarence Chew, who had defeated Sharath Kamal Achanta earlier.

Harmeet started strongly and took the first game 11-8. He kept up the momentum and won in straight sets 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

India have so far won five gold, three silver and bronze medals in the games and are placed sixth in the medals tally. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented after the COVID-19 precaution dose vaccination programme is completed.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which was passed by the Parliament of India on December 11, 2019, but is yet to be implemented, aims to grant citizenship to those members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who faced persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Shah said this while giving assurance to West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who met the Home Minister in Parliament today.

After the meeting, Adhikari said the Home Minister has conveyed to him that the work on implementing CAA will be speeded up immediately after the third dose of Covid vaccination is received by everyone.

Adhikari urged Home Minister to implement the citizenship law at the earliest.

“It’s an honour for me to meet Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji for 45 minutes at his office in Parliament. I briefed him how WB Govt is completely mired in corrupt activities such as the Teacher’s recruitment scam. Also requested him to implement CAA at the earliest” tweeted Adhikari after the meeting.

The CAA was notified on December 12, 2019, and came into force on January 10, 2020. It aims to facilitate the grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who had come to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Speaking to media persons, the BJP leader Adhikari said, “A lot of things were discussed, but not everything can be disclosed as I am a disciplinary soldier of BJP. But I had two main agendas – HM assured me of taking an action to root out the SSC recruitment scam. He also assured me about the implementation of CAA. But, the country is facing some challenges related to COVID. Therefore, it will be done once the booster dose drive is over.”

He further stated that those who left Bangladesh on a religious basis and came to West Bengal should get citizenship by law.

“I have raised this issue before the Home Minister and he said that government will frame all rules. I hope that all processes will start in next year and those people from the Hindu religion or people from Matua or Rajvanshi Community, who were forced to left Bangladesh will get citizenship,” he said.

CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who had entered India on or before December 31, 2014. The Centre has said that citizenship to the eligible beneficiaries of CAA will be given only after rules under the legislation are notified.

Adhikari briefed Home Minister on the teachers recruitment scam.

Adhikari also took up other issues related to the BJP’s ongoing political fight with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and shared the names of more than 100 such people with Amit Shah, who are known to collect money for the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Adhikari also met BJP national president JP Nadda and discuss the Bengal situation.

Soon after the meeting, the LoP said in a tweet that Nadda’s valuable suggestions would certainly lead the ‘Sangharsh’ of every BJP Karyakarta of West Bengal towards the right path.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to meet National President JP Nadda. He was very encouraging and appreciative about BJP Bengal’s efforts. His valuable suggestions would certainly lead the ‘Sangharsh’ of every BJP Karyakarta of WB towards the right path,” he said.

Former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the School Service Commission (SSC) scam in West Bengal.

The arrest of Partha Chatterjee followed Rs 21 crore in cash and jewellery worth above Rs 1 crore being recovered from the Kolkata residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of the former education minister.

The ED unearthed many disproportionate assets allegedly of Partha Chatterjee since his arrest, of which were three flats in West Bengal’s Diamond City.

Suvendu Adhikari also paid a courtesy visit to former West Bengal Governor and NDA vice president candidate JP Dhankar.

Adhikari will visit Delhi again on August 11. (ANI)

Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached immovable assets to the tune of Rs. 3.35 Crore in the case of CG Gowramma, Ex- Corporator (Azad Nagar), Bangalore in Disproportionate Asset case.

ED initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of the charge sheet filed by Karnataka Lokayukta Police, Bengaluru against C.G. Gowramma, the then Corporator of Ward No. 141, Azad Nagar, BBMP, Bangalore, and her husband C. Govindraju for the offense committed under Section 13(1)(e) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 120(B) of Indian Penal Code in FIR registered by Karnataka Lokayukta Police, Bengaluru.
The investigation by ED revealed that C.G. Gowramma during this period as a Corporator misused her official position and generated Proceeds of Crime in collusion with her husband C. Govindaraju and laundered the generated proceeds of crime by crediting the same to their bank accounts in cash as well as by acquiring various immovable properties in cash.

C. G. Gowramma and her husband C. Govindaraju were alleged to have acquired disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 3.46 Crore during the check period from FY 2010-11 to FY 2012-13.

The immovable properties, thus identified include agricultural land, residential plots as well as commercial sites. (ANI)

Hours ahead of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan, China upped the ante and threatened Washington with “very grave” consequences if the high-level visit takes place.

Pelosi is likely to visit Taiwan Tuesday evening, as per reports. She is going to Taiwan for meetings scheduled with top government officials at the self-governed island that China calls its own and vows to forcefully takeover.
Wang Xiaojian, Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, issued a warning saying Pelosi’s Taiwan visit would constitute a gross interference in China’s internal affairs and greatly threaten peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

“A visit to Taiwan by Speaker Pelosi would constitute a gross interference in China’s internal affairs, greatly threaten peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, severely undermine China-US relations and lead to a very serious situation and grave consequences,” Wang tweeted.

Adopting a tough stance, the Chinese official said those who play by fire will perish.

“Public opinion cannot be defied. Those who play with fire will perish by it. If the US side insists on making the visit and challenges China’s red line, it will be met with resolute countermeasures. The US must bear all consequences arising thereof,” he added.

The Chinese spokesperson said that the one-China principle is the political foundation of the China-US relations. “China firmly opposes separatist moves toward ‘Taiwan independence’ and interference by external forces, and never allows any room for ‘Taiwan independence’ forces in whatever form.”

On Monday, China reiterated that it was keeping a close watch on the reports of Pelosi’s planned visit and warned of a resolute response and strong countermeasure if she insists on going ahead with the tour.

US National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said the US Speaker has the right to visit Taiwan and that her visit was not ‘uncommon’.

“If she goes it’s not without precedent, it’s not new,” Kirby said adding, “The Speaker has not confirmed any travel plans and it is for the Speaker to do so, and her staff.”

Since the reports of the US House Speaker’s visit were released last month, Beijing has been warning of Nancy’s Taiwan visit saying that it will act strongly and take countermeasures if the US side insists on going ahead with the visit.

In a press briefing last month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Pelosi’s Taiwan visit will have a severe impact on China-US ties.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden had said that the US military believes it is not a “good idea” for House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to travel to Taiwan as planned. “The military thinks it’s not a good idea right now,” Biden was quoted as saying by the White House press pool.

China has on many occasions firmly opposed any form of official interaction between the United States and the Taiwan region. While warning against the US House speaker’s Taiwan visit, a Chinese state media outlet said visiting Taiwan is definitely a red line that Pelosi must never cross.

In a phone call between the US and Chinese presidents last week, Xi Jinping told Biden that China would safeguard national sovereignty and said those who play with fire will perish by it. Biden, meanwhile, told the Chinese President that US policy on Taiwan hasn’t changed and that Washington opposes unilateral changes to the status quo. (ANI)

Asserting that India has been and always will be the “first responder” for the Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that New Delhi has decided to provide an additional line of credit of USD 100 million to Male.

“We have decided to provide an additional line of credit of USD 100 million to the Maldives so that all projects can be completed in a timely manner,” PM Modi said.
At the beginning of his speech after inaugurating the Greater Male Connectivity Project today, PM Modi noted India’s bond with the Maldives.

“Our closeness has grown,” PM Modi said at the beginning of his speech after inaugurating the Greater Male Connectivity project on Tuesday.

PM Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih jointly launched the Greater Male Connectivity project, the largest infra project of the Maldives which is being funded by New Delhi.

Both India and Maldives witnessed the exchange of agreements between the two countries. India reviewed projects for the construction of 4000 social housing units in Greater Male and will additionally provide financial support for 2000 social housing units.

“We reviewed projects for the construction of 4000 social housing units in Greater Male. We will additionally provide financial support for 2000 social housing units: PM Modi said.

Speaking about the security needs in the Indian Ocean region, PM Modi said: “The threat of trans-national crime, terrorism and drug trafficking is serious in the Indian Ocean region. That’s why coordination between India and the Maldives in the field of defence and security is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region.”

Maldives is a key neighbour of India in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a special place in the country’s Neighbourhood First Policy.

For India, the Maldives has always been a close and important maritime neighbour. Multifaceted ties between the two countries have strengthened despite the pandemic-related disruptions.

India’s “Neighborhood First” policy and Maldives’s “India First” policy work in tandem to tackle shared concerns and advance mutual interests. Meanwhile, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih welcomed the operationalization of RuPay cards in the Maldives.

“Maldives-India relationship goes beyond diplomacy. This visit is an affirmation of the close bond between our two countries,” Solih noted.

Accompanied by a high-level official and business delegation, Solih arrived in India at the invitation of PM Modi yesterday.

“A warm welcome to a close friend and maritime neighbour! President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of Maldives arrives in New Delhi for an official visit. An opportunity to nurture the unwavering friendship between our two countries and lend further momentum to the multifaceted partnership,” MEA had tweeted. (ANI)

A woman hurled a shoe at former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee while he was being taken to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office from ECI Hospital on Tuesday, who is an accused in West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) scam.

“I had come to throw my shoe on him. He has taken money from poor people. I would have been happier if the shoe would have hit him on his head,” she said when asked why she threw the shoe at Chatterjee.

Meanwhile, an ED search is underway at ‘Magic Touch’ in Patuli in Kolkata; a property owned by Arpita Mukherjee, a close aid of Chatterjee.

However, Chatterjee had denied his involvement in the School Service Commission (SSC) scam and asserted that the “money does not belong to him”.

“When the time comes, you will know…the money does not belong to me,” he said to media persons today upon being asked about who is behind this conspiracy.

Arrested Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee – who is now suspended from the Trinamool Congress – and his aide Arpita Mukherjee have separately been claiming that they are a “victim of a conspiracy.”

Trinamool Congress, which had been distancing itself from its arrested leader Partha Chatterjee, axed him as a minister and suspended him from the party leaving it to him to defend himself in the Enforcement Directorate probe in the teacher recruitment scam in which crores of rupees have been seized from residences linked to his aide Arpita Mukherjee.

Trinamool Congress’ decision to part ways with one of its most senior leaders was announced by party leader Abhishek Banerjee at a press conference in which he said “if anyone commits something wrong then Trinamool Congress will not spare him” and ‘there will be zero tolerance for corruption”. He said Partha Chatterjee will remain suspended till probe is underway.

Partha Chatterjee was considered one of the most trusted lieutenants of the Chief Minister, a “go-to” man and was regarded third in party hierarchy after the chief Minister and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

After his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, in connection with the School Service Commission (SSC) scam in West Bengal, Chatterjee had reportedly called Mamata Banerjee four times, which she allegedly did not pick.

Abhishek Banerjee has told the media that Chatterjee has been removed from TMC along with the post of general secretary, national vice president and three other posts.

“He has been suspended till the investigation is underway. He can come back if proven not guilty. CM took the decision and the (Partha Chatterjee) minister was removed. The probe into the matter is underway. If anyone commits something wrong then TMC won’t spare him,” he said adding that the investigating agency must complete the probe in a time-bound manner.

“There will be zero tolerance for corruption. Investigating agency must complete the probe within the time limit. Even in Sarada case nothing happened, it’s just lingering. There should be a time-bound investigation,” he said.

“The one (Arpita Mukherjee) from whose house sums of money were recovered isn’t from TMC. We want stringent action against those who are linked to this matter. I am saying this in a hypothetical way that if Partha Chatterjee goes to BJP after two months then he will become a saint. Since he is in TMC, all of these things are happening,” he added.

The arrest of Partha Chatterjee followed Rs 21 crore in cash and jewellery worth above Rs 1 crore being recovered from the Kolkata residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of the former education minister.

The ED unearthed many disproportionate assets allegedly of Partha Chatterjee since his arrest, of which were three flats in West Bengal’s Diamond City.

The ED raided Arpita Mukherjee’s house in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal.

“The said amount is suspected to be proceeds of crime of the said SSC scam,” the probe agency had said in a statement.

A five-time MLA, Chatterjee was appointed as the minister-in-charge of higher education and school education in 2014 and he held the portfolio till 2021. (ANI)