Government Orders Probe Into Apple Hacking Alerts on Opposition Leaders' Phones: IT Minister

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:43am on 31 Oct 2023,Tuesday Politics

The Centre hit out at opposition MPs who shared Apple warnings of hacking attempts on their phones. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw termed them "compulsive critics" of PM Modi trying to distract people from progress. He referred to Apple's statement that such notifications have been issued in 150 countries and can be false alarms. The minister said the government has ordered an investigation and asked those who received the messages, including Priyanka Chaturvedi and Mahua Moitra, to cooperate. He said this comes ahead of state polls and 2024 general elections. Earlier, Apple responded that it doesn't attribute such warnings to any specific attacker.

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'May Be False Alarm...': Apple Issues Statement After Indian MPs Allege Of 'State-Sponsored Attackers' Targeting Their iPhones

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:45am on 31 Oct 2023,Tuesday Politics

Apple issued a statement saying the hacking warnings sent to Indian opposition leaders could potentially be false alarms. The tech giant said it doesn't attribute such notifications to any specific attacker. This comes after at least 7 opposition leaders claimed receiving emails from Apple warning of "state-sponsored attackers" trying to compromise their iPhones. Apple said detecting sophisticated attacks relies on imperfect threat signals. MPs like Mahua Moitra, Priyanka Chaturvedi and Shashi Tharoor had shared screenshots of the warnings. This follows last year's inconclusive Pegasus spyware findings on analyzed phones by a Supreme Court panel.

Read More at News18

Rahul Dares Govt to Tap His Phone Amidst iPhone Hack Row; Says Oppn Is Not Scared and Will Keep Fighting

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:58am on 31 Oct 2023,Tuesday Politics

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took center stage amidst the iPhone hacking controversy and dismissed the government by asserting the Opposition isn't scared and will keep fighting. In a jibe, he said the government can 'tap phones' as much as they want and he doesn't care, even offering his own phone. Gandhi accused the government of distraction politics. This follows several Opposition leaders claiming they got Apple alerts of state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely hack their iPhones. Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi, TMC's Mahua Moitra, AAP's Raghav Chadha, Congress' Shashi Tharoor, and Pawan Khera posted such alert screenshots. Rahul Gandhi asserted the Opposition won't be intimidated by such alleged phone-tapping efforts and will continue challenging the government.

Read More at India Today

'Attack on Dubbak Candidate is An Attack on Me': KCR Reacts to Stabbing of BRS Leader

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:45am on 30 Oct 2023,Monday Politics

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao reacted strongly after BRS leader and party candidate Kotha Prabhakar Reddy was stabbed while campaigning on Monday. Calling it an attack on himself, KCR said "the attack on the Dubbak candidate is an attack on KCR." Reddy, BRS MP from Medak Lok Sabha constituency, suffered stomach injuries after being stabbed allegedly by an unidentified man in Siddipet district. He has been hospitalized in stable condition. The assailant has been arrested. KCR condemned the attack and said "Everyone should unequivocally condemn this kind of action." Reddy was campaigning ahead of the November 30 assembly elections when the incident occurred. Police are investigating the motives behind the attack.

Read More at India Today

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy Stabbed While Campaigning in Telangana

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:50am on 30 Oct 2023,Monday Politics

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy was stabbed on Monday while campaigning in Siddipet, Telangana ahead of the November 30 state assembly polls. Reddy, who is BRS's candidate from Dubbak, was stabbed in the stomach by an alleged assailant while in Surampally village. The MP has been shifted to a hospital and is reported to be safe. The accused attacker is in custody and police are investigating. TV footage showed Reddy pressing his stab wound to stop bleeding while sitting in a vehicle. The man who stabbed the BRS MP was beaten up by some locals, reports said. Police commissioner confirmed the stabbing incident targeting the BRS MP.

Read More at Hindustan Times

Mahua Moitra Gave Parliament Login to Friend's Office, Claims Rules Don't Bar Sharing

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:47am on 28 Oct 2023,Saturday Politics

Amid the cash-for-query controversy, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said she gave her Parliament login to friend Darshan Hiranandani's office to type in her questions, calling allegations of him logging in dubiously "ludicrous." Moitra said after typing her provided questions, Hiranandani's office would inform her to read and submit them. This counters Hiranandani's affidavit saying Moitra gave him her login to directly post questions. Moitra slammed BJP's Nishikant Dubey for claiming it endangered national security, arguing Parliament login rules don't restrict sharing. She rebuffed allegations that Indian passport holder Hiranandani logged in from Dubai, noting she has also logged in from abroad.

Read More at Hindustan Times

TMC's Mahua Moitra Claims Adani Approached Her Via MPs to Make a 'Deal' Amidst Cash-for-Query Row

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:56pm on 27 Oct 2023,Friday Politics

In an exclusive interview with India Today, TMC MP Mahua Moitra claimed that Gautam Adani approached her twice in the last 3 years via multiple Lok Sabha MPs to work out a 'deal' so that she didn't raise certain questions in the Parliament, which she refused. This is amid the ongoing cash-for-query row against her. Moitra said she never met Adani directly so doesn't know why he offered her the price. She alleged being told last week to stay quiet for 6 months till elections and even if attacking Adani, don't take the PM's name. Moitra claimed she was messaged to end this and that everything would be fine post-polls. Her remarks come as she denies allegations of taking money to ask pre-arranged questions in Parliament.

Read More at India Today

Election Commission Directs Delay of Government's 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' Amidst Election Code of Conduct

Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:38pm on 27 Oct 2023,Friday Politics

The Election Commission has directed the Cabinet Secretary to ensure that the government's 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' does not take place in the five election-going states and a by-election constituency in Nagaland until December 5. The EC cited the Model Code of Conduct, which is in force in these areas, and requested that the yatra be postponed until after the elections. The yatra, aimed at showcasing government achievements, has faced criticism for involving bureaucrats as "rath prabharis" but will now use "nodal officers" to manage information, education, and communication (IEC) vans. The yatra will highlight various government schemes and benefits across India.

Read More at Indian Express

Trinamool Congress Minister Jyotipriya Mallick from West Bengal Arrested by ED in Alleged Ration Scam

Brief by Short91 Newsdesk / 05:18am on 27 Oct 2023,Friday Politics

West Bengal's Forest Affairs Minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, a prominent member of the Trinamool Congress and part of the I.N.D.I.A Alliance, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged ration scam following raids at his residence. The arrest triggered accusations of vendetta from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who criticized the Centre's misuse of government agencies. Mallick, previously in charge of the Food and Civil Supplies department, claimed to be a victim of conspiracy. This incident follows the ED's arrest of former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide earlier this year in relation to a teachers' recruitment scam.

Read More at The Times of India

Lok Sabha Ethics Committee Summons Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra in 'Cash for Query' Controversy

Brief by Short91 Newsdesk / 10:28am on 26 Oct 2023,Thursday Politics

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has been summoned by the Lok Sabha ethics committee on October 31 regarding the "cash for query" controversy. The committee, considering the allegations as "very serious," heard testimonies from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai. Moitra is accused of accepting bribes to ask questions in parliament targeting the Adani Group. The ethics committee has reached out to the Information Technology Ministry and the Home Ministry for further investigation. Moitra denies the allegations and expressed willingness to cooperate with the inquiry.

Read More at NDTV

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