Tag: Panel

Identify cyber hotspots, maintain data profile of cyber crimes: Parliamentary Panel

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New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has recommended that the Union Home Ministry may encourage the state governments to identify cyber hotspots in their state and maintain a data profile on the cyber crimes being committed in those hotspots.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by BJP MP Brijlal noted that it believed that despite the boom in Internet connectivity in the country, there might be a sizeable population in various states and Union Territories which may have very limited access to it due to various reasons.
“The committee recommends that the ministry may encourage state governments to identify cyber hotspots in their state and maintain data profile on the cyber crimes being committed in those hotspots and the measures taken to contain those crimes,” the panel said in its report submitted to Parliament on Friday.
This data, the panel said, may be collected by the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ and shared with other states for framing of policies by them to tackle such types of cyber crimes.
The committee, therefore, recommended that the police force may adopt various strategies such as publicising its achievements in the meetings of the community, village, and district-level committees at regular intervals for increasing the police-people interaction, organising awareness weeks and Jan Sabhas, among others.
The focus should be on a nationwide capacity-building campaign, with an emphasis on developing and inculcating high professional and ethical standards as well as attitudinal and social skills in the personnel, it noted.
?The committee noted that states and Union Territories have been requested to install IP cameras at strategic locations in all police stations and to conduct a periodic audit of all the installed CCTVs.
The committee further notes that the Ministry of Law and Justice has been approached to advise states and Union Territories for installing CCTVs at district courts. The panel said that it would like to be apprised of the status of action taken by the states and Union Territories in this matter.

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#Identify #cyber #hotspots #maintain #data #profile #cyber #crimes #Parliamentary #Panel
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 17, 2023
House GOP panel launches probe into Air Force’s ‘unauthorized’ record disclosures

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“In late February 2023, media reports highlighted how the OSAF improperly disclosed Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) of 11 servicemembers without appropriate authorization or lawful consent. The [Office of the Secretary of the Air Force] reportedly released the personnel files of at least two Members of Congress to an opposition research firm that received money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC),” they wrote.
“While the Air Force has rightfully taken responsibility for these inappropriate OMPF disclosures, questions remain unanswered about the U.S. Air Force’s collection, maintenance, and dissemination of this sensitive information,” their letter to Kendall continued.
Other panels, including the House Armed Services and Oversight committees, have sought details from the Pentagon on the disclosures.
POLITICO first reported that the Air Force had notified at least two sitting House Republicans — Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) — that it had improperly released their personnel military records to a third party.
In the case of Bacon, a letter last month from the Air Force identified Abraham Payton of the Due Diligence Group, a research firm with Democratic ties, as “inappropriately” requesting and successfully obtaining these records.
Payton, according to the letter, said he was seeking the records for employment and benefit purposes, but the Air Force acknowledged such records were released without their authorization, which is protected under the Privacy Act of 1974. The letter noted that Payton was already in possession of the Nebraska Republican’s social security number when filling out the information request form.
Other GOP candidates from last cycle have shared that they were similarly notified by the Air Force that Payton, a former research director for the Democratic group American Bridge, was behind such requests for their records. They include Sam Peters, a Republican who challenged Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) in November, and Kevin Dellicker, who fell short in the GOP primary race to take on Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.).
Such efforts by Due Diligence Group included more than one military branch, with Payton attempting to get records on Colin Schmitt, who is currently serving in the New York National Guard and who challenged Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) in the general election last cycle for the state’s 18th district, according to a copy of the request form.

The Air Force said last month that an internal investigation it launched after POLITICO reported on former GOP candidate Jennifer-Ruth Green’s military records in October — when she was challenging Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.) in a battleground district — found that the private records of 11 individuals were improperly disclosed to a third party.
Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek has said that “virtually all” of the 11 unapproved releases were made to the same third party “who represented himself as a background investigator seeking service records for employment purposes.”
It is unclear if Payton was behind all of the 11 Air Force requests. Nunn has not publicly disclosed if Payton was the individual who sought his military personnel records, and Green has confirmed only that Due Diligence sought hers.
The other individuals affected by the Air Force records releases are not publicly known. But the House Armed Services and Oversight committees are also inquiring about the matter, with Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) vowing last week to keep chasing down details of the disclosures.
POLITICO was told by the person who gave it Green’s military records last year that they were obtained through a public records request. POLITICO reviewed the request for the records made by a third party, which sought a “publicly releasable/redacted copy of OMPF [Official Military Personnel File] per Freedom of Information Act statutes.” The requester identified the purpose of the request as relating to “benefits,” “employment” and “other.”
POLITICO also reviewed the letter sent in response to the requester. A military employee responded with a password-protected version of the file with limited redactions. After publication, the Air Force said it erred in releasing the records and launched an investigation.
Bacon said last month that Air Force Secretary Kendall informed him that material from the Air Force’s internal investigation into the records releases was turned over to the Justice Department for possible further action. And Schmitt is joining all five GOP Air Force veterans in calling for a DOJ inquiry into whether political research crossed into criminal activity.
The Justice Department has declined to comment on questions related to the existence or the status of a possible investigation into the unauthorized disclosures, but in a statement on Sunday, a DOJ spokesperson said they are “aware of the concerns raised” and that the department has been “communicating with the U.S. Air Force about this matter.”
Stewart and Jordan also asked for the Air Force to turn over requests made by DDG from the start of January 2021 to the present, all the notifications to affected servicemembers that their information was improperly impacted, documents related to its policies on record disclosure policies, and files on any internal investigations into the matter.
“My proudest years were spent defending our great nation in the Air Force. It’s a shame to see this sacred branch of our government weaponized, but we will right this wrong,” tweeted Stewart, a member of the Republican-led subcommittee, arguing that they will “demand accountability.”

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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

March 17, 2023
Ahsan Raza promoted to ICC Elite Panel of umpires

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Karachi: Pakistan’s long-serving Test umpire, Aleem Dar has been replaced by countryman Ahsan Raza on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Elite Panel of umpires.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday that Raza had been promoted to the ICC Elite Panel.
Raza, who had a second lease of life after being shot by militants during their attack on the team bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers and match officials in March, 2009 in Lahore, has served on the ICC International Panel of Umpires since 2010 and is the first to reach the 50 T20I-mark as an umpire.
Raza had to undergo life-saving surgery after the bullets damaged his lungs, but he returned to umpiring after a one-year break.
Overall, he has officiated in 72 T20Is, seven Tests and 41 ODIs.
Raza is the senior-most Pakistani umpire behind Aleem Dar, who has served on the Elite Panel since 2004.
Aleem officiated in a world-record 435 international matches, including a record 144 Tests, 222 ODIs, and 69 T20Is.
Aleem won the ‘ICC Umpire of the Year award’ for three successive years from 2009.

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#Ahsan #Raza #promoted #ICC #Elite #Panel #umpires
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 16, 2023
5-member panel to probe 2274, other illegal appointments in H&ME department

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Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 11: The authorities here have set up a committee to probe 2274 and other illegal appointments in Health and Medical Education department, Jammu and Kashmir, as per by the Audit and Inspection department.
According to an order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the committee will be headed by director finance H&ME with four others as members.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of the committee to monitor the exercise of identifying and revisiting the illegal appointments in Health Department as reported by Audit and Inspection Department and all other illegal appointments,” reads the order.
The committee has been directed to take a policy decision once for all to settle the issue by applying a common yard stick to 2274 employees.
It will also take a decision against the officers and officials, who were involved in the illegal appointments.
Director Finance H&ME will be its chairman, while Additional Secretary to the Government H&ME (HRM), Additional Secretary Department (Law) H&ME, Under Secretary to the Government H&ME (HRM) and section officer, H&ME (HRM) will be its members.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within 30 days—(KNO)

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#5member #panel #probe #illegal #appointments #HME #department
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

March 11, 2023
Five-Member Panel To Probe Illegal Appointments In H&ME Department

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SRINAGAR: The authorities on Saturday have set up a committee to probe 2274 and other illegal appointments in Health and Medical Education department, Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Audit and Inspection department.
According to an official order, the committee will be headed by director finance H&ME with four others as members.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of the committee to monitor the exercise of identifying and revisiting the illegal appointments in Health Department as reported by Audit and Inspection Department and all other illegal appointments,” reads the order.
The committee has been directed to take a policy decision once for all to settle the issue by applying a common yard sticks to 2274 employees.
It will also take a decision against the officers and officials, who were involved in the illegal appointments.
Director Finance H&ME will be its chairman, while Additional Secretary to the Government H&ME (HRM), Additional Secretary Department (Law) H&ME, Under Secretary to the Government H&ME (HRM) and section officer, H&ME (HRM) will be its members.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within 30 days—(KNO)

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#FiveMember #Panel #Probe #Illegal #Appointments #HME #Department
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 11, 2023
Bernie Sanders got his wish: Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz will testify before the Vermonter’s panel in the Senate.

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Sanders was preparing a subpoena vote this week.

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#Bernie #Sanders #Starbucks #CEO #Howard #Schultz #testify #Vermonters #panel #Senate
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

March 7, 2023
Apple iPhone SE 4 may feature OLED panel from Chinese supplier

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San Francisco: Tech giant Apple will use OLED panels from Chinese display supplier BOE in its upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE smartphone models, the media reported.
Due to production problems, BOE missed the initial number of OLED panels intended for this year’s iPhone 15 series, with Samsung and LG claiming the majority of orders, reports MacRumors.
Now it is likely trying to make up for it by concentrating on making OLED panels for the budget-friendly iPhone SE 4.
Around 20 million OLED screens are anticipated to be used in the iPhone SE 4 next year.
Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the tech giant has restarted development of the iPhone SE 4 smartphone, which will feature a 6.1-inch OLED display and an in-house 5G baseband chip.
Kuo had also mentioned that the mass production of the iPhone SE 4 will go “smoothly” in the first half of next year.
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#Apple #iPhone #feature #OLED #panel #Chinese #supplier
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 7, 2023
House Ethics panel launches investigation into Santos

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“The House Committee on Ethics has opened an investigation, and Congressman George Santos is fully cooperating. There will be no further comment made at this time,” Santos said in a tweet.
Santos has faced a litany of ethical questions after revelations he lied about core components of his educational and professional background. Multiple New York Republicans have called for his resignation — or expulsion — from Congress in light of the scandals.
“George Santos has disgraced Holocaust victims, 9-11 victims, military veterans with PTSD and many more,” first-term Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) tweeted on Wednesday. “Santos is a terrible person and should be thrown out of the Republican conference & Congress ASAP.”
House colleagues have filed Ethics claims against him, most publicly fellow New York Reps. Ritchie Torres and Daniel Goldman, both Democrats. Their claims include questions about Santos’ campaign finances and financial disclosure reports, as well as allegations that he “misled voters in his District about his ethnicity, his religion, his education, and his employment and professional history, among other things.”
The first-term Republican from New York has remained defiant and repeatedly vowed not to resign, though Santos did voluntarily give up his committee slots. A poll released Monday found 66 percent of voters statewide wanted him to resign.
House Ethics is just the latest to add to the Santos inquiry pileup, with the panel only fully organizing earlier this week. Federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York are also reportedly investigating him, and the Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission calling for a probe into the embattled Republican. New York Attorney General Tish James said her team would review Santos’ false claims. And Anne Donnelly, the Republican district attorney in Nassau County, said her office is “looking into the matter.”
The competing inquiries could draw out what is already a very slow process within House Ethics. It is common for the Department of Justice to ask the House or Senate Ethics panels to hit pause on their inquiries while a federal investigation plays out. But even if they don’t, Ethics investigations typically take many months.
House Ethics also said that they are extending their preliminary review of allegations against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), related to allegations of rule violations related to the 2021 Met Gala. The preliminary review means an investigative subcommittee has not been established and her case remains in the early stages of inquiry.

Ocasio-Cortez’s case was first referred to House Ethics back in June 2021 by the Office of Congressional Ethics, the nonpartisan, independent body that reviews allegations of misconduct involving House staff and lawmakers and refers cases to the House panel. The Ethics Committee also extended their review in early December last year.
OCE found that there were delays in some payments to vendors associated with the congresswoman’s visit to the Met Gala.
“The Congresswoman finds these delays unacceptable, and she has taken several steps to ensure nothing of this nature will happen again,” her spokesperson Lauren Hitt said on Thursday. “While regrettable, these delayed payments definitively do not rise to the level of a violation of House Rules.”
The payments were finalized and paid out of Ocasio-Cortez’ personal funds.
“We are confident the Ethics Committee will dismiss this matter,” Hitt said.
Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misspelled the name of Rep. Ritchie Torres.

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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

March 3, 2023
‘Can’t be a pliable EC’: SC rules panel of PM, LoP, CJI for appointment of CEC, ECs

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that appointment to the posts of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Election Commissioners (EC) should be done by the President on the advice of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India.
The top court noted that a pliable Election Commission, an unfair and biased overseer of the foundational exercise of adult franchise, which lies at the heart of democracy, who obliges the powers that be, perhaps offers the surest gateway to acquisition and retention of power.
A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice K.M. Joseph and comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy, and C. T. Ravikumar, said: “We are concerned with and the devastating effect of continuing to leave appointments in sole hands of the executive on fundamental values, as also the fundamental rights, we are of the considered view that the time is ripe for the court to lay down norms.”
“We declare that as far as appointment to the posts of Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners are concerned, the same shall be done by the President of India on the basis of the advice tendered by a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and, in case, there is no such leader, the leader of the largest party in the opposition in the Lok Sabha having the largest numerical strength, and the Chief Justice of India. This norm will continue to hold good till a law is made by the Parliament.”
The bench, in its 378-page judgment, said there cannot be any doubt that the Election Commission is to perform the arduous and unenviable task of remaining aloof from all forms of subjugation by and interference from the executive. “One of the ways, in which, the executive can bring an otherwise independent body to its knees, is by starving it off or cutting off the requisite financial wherewithal and resources required for its efficient and independent functioning,” it noted.
Making an appeal for a permanent secretariat for the EC, the bench said that a vulnerable commission may cave in to the pressure from the executive and, thus, it would result in an insidious but veritable conquest of an otherwise defiant and independent commission.
Emphasising on Parliament making a law, the bench said the vacuum exists on the basis that unlike other appointments, it was intended all throughout that appointment exclusively by the executive was to be a mere transient or stop gap arrangement and it was to be replaced by a law made by the Parliament taking away the exclusive power of the executive. “This conclusion is clear and inevitable and the absence of law even after seven decades points to the vacuum,” it added.
Justice Joseph, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said: “Criminalisation of politics, with all its attendant evils, has become a nightmarish reality. The faith of the electorate in the very process, which underlies democracy itself, stands shaken. The impact of ‘big money’ and its power to influence elections, the influence of certain sections of media, makes it also absolutely imperative that the appointment of the Election Commission, which has been declared by this court to be the guardian of the citizenry and its fundamental rights, becomes a matter, which cannot be postponed further.”

The bench added that criminalisation of politics, a huge surge in the influence of money power, the role of certain sections of the media where they appear to have forgotten their invaluable role and have turned unashamedly partisan, call for the unavoidable and unpostponable filling up of the vacuum.
“Even as it is said that justice must not only be done but seen to be done, the outpouring of demands for an impartial mode of appointment of the members require, at the least, the banishing of the impression, that the Election Commission is appointed by less than fair means,” noted the bench.
It added that political parties undoubtedly would appear to betray a special interest in not being forthcoming with the law and there is a crucially vital link between the independence of the Election Commission and the pursuit of power, its consolidation and perpetuation.
“As long as the party that is voted into power is concerned, there is, not unnaturally, a near insatiable quest to continue in the saddle. A pliable Election Commission, an unfair and biased overseer of the foundational exercise of adult franchise, which lies at the heart of democracy, who obliges the powers that be, perhaps offers the surest gateway to acquisition and retention of power,” said the bench.
The bench noted that the demand for putting in place safeguards to end the pernicious effects of the exclusive power being vested with the executive to make appointment to the Election Commission, has been the demand of political parties across the board.
“Successive governments have, irrespective of their colour, shied away from undertaking, what again we find was considered would be done by Parliament, by the founding fathers,” it added.
The top court’s judgment came on a batch of petitions filed by Anoop Baranwal, Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, NGO Association for Democratic Reforms and Jaya Thakur seeking an independent mechanism for appointment of CEC and ECs.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 2, 2023
Adani stocks crash: SC orders setting up of panel headed by ex-judge Sapre

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered setting up of a six-member committee headed by former apex court judge Justice A M Sapre to investigate the recent Adani Group shares crash triggered by the Hindenburg Research’s fraud allegations and other regulatory aspects related to stock markets.
The court asked the panel to submit its report in a sealed cover within two months.
The top court observed that the PILs pertained to “the loss of investors’ wealth over the past few weeks due to the steep decline of share prices of Adani group companies, precipitated by the Hindenburg Research report which alleged manipulations and malpractices by the Adani group companies” and also directed market regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) to complete its ongoing probe into the issue in two months and file a status report.
Besides former apex court judge Justice Sapre, the other members of the court-appointed panel will be “O P Bhat (former Chairman of SBI), Justice J P Devadhar (retired judge of the Bombay High Court), K V Kamath, Nandan Nilekani, Somasekharan Sundaresan”.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud directed the Centre, financial statutory bodies and the SEBI chairperson to render all cooperation to the Justice Sapre panel which will have to submit its report in a sealed cover within two months in the court.
The remit of the Committee shall be to provide an overall assessment of the situation including the relevant causal factors which have led to the volatility in the securities market in the recent past, the court said.
The committee will “suggest measures to strengthen investor awareness and to investigate whether there has been a regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged contravention of laws pertaining to the securities market in relation to the Adani Group or other companies,” it said.
It will suggest measures to strengthen the statutory or regulatory framework, and secure compliance with the existing framework for the protection of investors, it said.

The court directed the SEBI to inform the court-appointed committee of domain experts about the steps taken by it so far during the ongoing probe.
The bench, however, clarified that the constitution of the committee was not an “adverse reflection” on the functioning of the regulatory agencies.
The bench, which also comprised Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, in a judgement, said the panel will make an overall assessment of the situation, suggest measures to make investors aware and strengthen existing regulatory measures for stock markets.
The court also asked it to examine if there was a violation of market regulations, short selling norms or stock price manipulations.
On the ambit of the probe to be conducted by the panel, the bench said it would “provide an overall assessment of the situation including the relevant causal factors which have led to the volatility in the securities market in the recent past.”
The committee will also suggest measures to increase “investor awareness” besides investigating whether there was any regulatory framework to deal with the recent alleged violations of law in the securities market.
The Justice Sapre panel will be suggesting “measures to strengthen the statutory framework and regulatory framework and secure compliance with the existing framework for the protection of existing investors.”
“The Committee is at liberty to seek recourse to external experts. The honorarium payable to the members of the committee shall be fixed by the Chairperson and shall be borne by the Union Government,” it said.
The Union Ministry of Finance shall nominate a senior officer to act as a nodal officer to provide logistical support to the panel, it said.
The apex court said in order to protect Indian investors against the volatility of the kind which has been witnessed in the recent past, it was of the view that it is appropriate to constitute an expert committee for the assessment of the extant regulatory framework and for making recommendations to strengthen it.
The top court requested the SEBI Chairperson to ensure that all requisite information is provided to the Committee.
” All agencies of the Union Government including agencies connected with financial regulation, fiscal agencies and law enforcement agencies shall cooperate with the Committee. The Committee is at liberty to seek recourse to external experts in its work.
“The honorarium payable to the members of the Committee shall be fixed by the Chairperson and shall be borne by the Union Government. The Secretary, Ministry of Finance shall nominate a senior officer who will act as a nodal officer to provide logistical assistance to the Committee,” it said.
The top court said all the expenses incurred in connection with the work of the Committee shall be defrayed by the Union Government.
“The Committee is requested to furnish its report in a sealed cover to this Court within two months,” it said.
On February 17, the top court, while reserving its verdict on setting up of the panel, had said that it will maintain “fullest transparency” to protect investor interest and refused to accept the Centre’s suggestion given in a sealed cover on it.
On February 10, the top court had said the interest of Indian investors need to be protected against market volatility in the backdrop of the Adani Group stocks rout and asked the Centre to consider setting up a panel of domain experts headed by a former judge to look at strengthening the regulatory mechanism.
The Centre had agreed to the apex court’s proposal to set up a committee, to be headed by a former Supreme Court judge, to go into the regulatory regimes.
SEBI, in its note filed in the top court, had indicated it is not in favour of banning short-selling or sale of borrowed shares, and said it is investigating allegations made by a tiny short-seller against the Adani Group as well as its share price movements.
Till now, four PILs have been filed in the top court on the issue by lawyers M L Sharma, Vishal Tiwari, Congress leader Jaya Thakur and Mukesh Kumar, who claims to be a social activist.
Adani Group stocks have taken a beating on the bourses after the Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the business conglomerate.
The Adani Group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 2, 2023