‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes including cyber crime and digital arrest scams through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The Central Government supplements the initiatives of the States/UTs through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEAs.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes the statistical data on crimes in its publication “Crime in India”. The latest published report is for the year 2022. Specific data regarding digital arrest scams is not maintained separately by NCRB.
To strengthen the mechanism to deal with cyber crimes including digital arrest scams in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include the following:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) as an attached office to deal with all types of cyber crimes in the country, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
The Central Government has launched a comprehensive awareness programme on digital arrest scams which, inter-alia, include; newspaper advertisement, announcement in Delhi Metros, use of social media influencers to create special posts, campaign through Prasar Bharti and electronic media, special programme on Aakashvani and participated in Raahgiri Function at Connaught Place, New Delhi on 27.11.2024.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister spoke about digital arrests during the episode “Mann Ki Baat” on 27.10.2024 and apprised the citizens of India.
iv. I4C in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched a caller tune campaign for raising awareness about cybercrime and promoting the Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930 & ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (NCRP). The caller tune is also being broadcasts in regional languages, delivered 7-8 times a day by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
I4C proactively identify and blocked more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 Whatsapp accounts used for Digital Arrest.
vi. The Central Government has published a Press Release on Alert against incidents of ‘Blackmail’ and ‘Digital Arrest’ by Cyber Criminals Impersonating State/UT Police, NCB, CBI, RBI and other Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Central Government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have devised a system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers appear to be originating within India. Directions have been issued to the TSPs for blocking of such incoming international spoofed calls.
Till 28.02.2025, more than 7.81 lakhs SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs as reported by Police authorities have been blocked by Government of India.
The ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched, as a part of the I4C, to enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes, with special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. Cyber crime incidents reported on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action thereon are handled by the State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies concerned as per the provisions of the law.
The ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’, under I4C, has been launched in year 2021 for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters. So far, financial amount of more than Rs. 4,386 Crore has been saved in more than 13.36 lakh complaints. A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.
To spread awareness on cyber crime, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include; dissemination of messages through SMS, I4C social media account i.e. X (formerly Twitter)
(@CyberDost), Facebook(CyberDostI4C), Instagram (cyberDostI4C), Telegram(cyberdosti4c), Radio campaign, engaged MyGov for publicity in multiple mediums, organizing Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks in association with States/UTs, publishing of Handbook for Adolescents/Students, digital displays on railway stations and airports across, etc.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Exchange Fund Bills tender results
Tender date*”Pro rata ratio” refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the “highest yield accepted” level.
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning March 31, 2025:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Hongkong Post announced today (March 25) that, as advised by the postal administration of Italy, mail delivery services previously impacted by a local strike have returned to normal. However, due to the impact of flooding, mail delivery services to the provinces of Florence, Lucca, Grosseto, Livorno, Pistoia and Prato in Italy are still subject to delay.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 25) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Township of Enniskillen of Ontario Province in Canada, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 400 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Canada last year.
​”The CFS has contacted the Canadian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.
MOFA response to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba expressing great concern over China’s joint military drills around Taiwan
October 14, 2024
Commenting on China’s joint military drills around Taiwan during an interview with the press on October 14, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pointed out that peace and security in and around the Taiwan Strait were an extremely important issue to the region. He stated that Japan would carefully monitor the situation and prepare to respond to any development.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) affirms and appreciates Prime Minister Ishiba’s public expression of great concern and support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait immediately after China launched military drills around Taiwan.
Also on October 14, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya and Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani stressed the importance of cross-strait peace to regional security and stability and stated that they would closely monitor the situation and remain vigilant concerning related developments.
Maintaining cross-strait peace and stability is a matter of international consensus. China’s repeated use of pretexts to suppress and intimidate Taiwan has undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific. MOFA again urges China to exercise reason and restraint and to stop threatening Taiwan and unilaterally escalating regional tensions. For its part, Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities and work with the United States, Japan, and other like-minded partners to safeguard the rules-based international order.
MOFA strongly condemns China for disregarding Taiwan’s goodwill and taking provocative actions that raise tensions in Taiwan Strait and region
October 14, 2024
No. 353
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has noted that China on October 14 launched its so-called Joint Sword-2024B military drill around Taiwan, once again challenging the rules-based international order and gravely undermining regional peace and stability. MOFA strongly condemns China and urges it to pull back and immediately cease its military provocations.
In his National Day address, President Lai Ching-te once again expressed goodwill to China and called for it to act responsibly and work with Taiwan to maintain the prevailing state of peace, stability, and prosperity. However, China remains determined to intimidate the people of Taiwan through military exercises and is attempting to threaten Taiwan’s democracy and unilaterally disrupt the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region. MOFA solemnly denounces China and urges it to neither use false pretexts aimed at justifying disagreement and strife nor become a troublemaker that undermines regional peace and stability.
At the same time, MOFA calls on nations around the world to recognize China’s authoritarian and expansionist nature, take concrete actions to support democratic Taiwan at this critical moment, unite in defending the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard the rules-based international order, as well as the freedom, openness, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. (E)
Foreign Minister Lin leads delegation to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as presidential envoy to attend 45th independence anniversary celebrations
Date：2024-10-28
Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs
October 28, 2024
No. 375
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, serving as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy, led a delegation to Caribbean ally Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on October 26. He participated in a ceremony and other celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the independence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, he met with Governor-General Susan Dougan, held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, attended a welcome reception hosted by the government, and took part in other official events.
Minister Lin joined Prime Minister Gonsalves in presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital. He also attended the official opening of a farmers training room and a cold storage facility built at Orange Hill Farm with Taiwan’s support; a plaque unveiling for a new livestock facility at the Rabacca National Breeding Station; and an October fair celebrating the national days of both countries. Minister Lin reaffirmed President Lai’s staunch commitment to deepening relations with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and, together with local residents, witnessed the results of Taiwan’s international development programs.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital, Minister Lin said that the important project highlighted the close partnership between the two countries. He expressed confidence that it would not only contribute to medical care modernization but also create job opportunities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He stated that in addition to building the hospital, Taiwan had also promoted other infrastructure projects, including the modernization of Kingstown Port, road renovation, and the construction of the House of Assembly and courthouse buildings.
During the event at Orange Hill Farm, Minister Lin noted that bilateral cooperation in agricultural technology had yielded significant results. He commended the establishment of Orange Hill Biotechnology Center, which had long served as a key pillar for agricultural advancement and modernization of the sector in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He also spoke about the launch of a new agricultural cooperation program in 2025 focusing on the introduction of smart agricultural technologies to improve productivity and bolster young people’s engagement in agriculture.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations in 1981. Over the past 43 years, bilateral cooperation projects have produced remarkable achievements. The two countries enjoy a cordial and solid partnership; share the core values of democracy, freedom, and human rights; and engage in close collaboration in such domains as agriculture, food security, infrastructure, medical care, public health, ICT, and women’s empowerment. Both nations will continue to build on the existing robust foundation to strengthen cooperation and deepen their partnership based on shared prosperity and mutual benefit. (E)
Foreign Minister Lin visits jointly constructed neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital and joins Guatemalan Foreign Minister Martínez in celebrating 90th anniversary of bilateral ties
Date：2024-10-27
Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs
October 27, 2024
No. 371
On October 25, during his visit to Guatemala, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with President Bernardo Arévalo, Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez, and other senior officials. He also toured the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which finished construction this year with assistance from Taiwan. While at the new building, Minister Lin interacted with families that benefited from the joint endeavor, giving him the opportunity to better understand the fruits of Taiwan-Guatemala collaboration.
Hospital Director Erika Pérez and Pediatrics Department Chief Juan Carlos Reyes introduced the facilities and functions of the building to Minister Lin when he toured the neonatal building in the morning. Accompanied by Guatemalan Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance Joaquín Barnoya, Minister Lin attended a traditional Taiwanese ceremony to bless infants and gave gifts to the attending families.
In his remarks at San Juan de Dios Hospital, Minister Lin stated that, in addition to the joint construction of the hospital’s neonatal building, Taiwan’s technical mission and Guatemala are working on a program to promote maternal and neonatal health care. The initiative will assist in training medical professionals at hospitals and birth centers in Guatemala City to enhance their ability to give women clinical care before, during, and after childbirth and reduce premature birth and infant mortality risks, benefiting 70,000 people each year. It will also arrange for related personnel from Guatemala to travel to Taiwan for training. Over 450 health care professionals are expected to receive training, thereby raising the quality of services available to women and children in Guatemala. It took just 12 months for Taiwan and Guatemala to complete the planning and construction of the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which has helped improve maternal and neonatal care. The important project has been met with wide approval from the government and civil society of Guatemala.
In the afternoon, Minister Lin called at Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with Minister Martínez, who invited him to view bamboo planted by Taiwan’s technical mission in the square outside the building. The plants commemorate 90 years of friendship and diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala. (E)
In response to the growing needs of an aging population and the increasing emphasis on the rights of persons with disabilities, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been actively promoting accessibility and inclusivity. As part of these efforts, BSMI held the award ceremony for the “Universal Design Competition for Assistive Devices for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities” and the “Campaign on User-Friendly Commercial Assistive Devices for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities” on November 19. These initiatives aim to fulfill the accessibility requirements outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), promote the concept of universal design, and recognize innovative and practical assistive devices.
Universal Design Competition: Pioneering Innovation in Assistive Devices
The Competition garnered 137 entries this year, showcasing a variety of creative and ergonomic solutions. After rigorous evaluation, gold, silver, and bronze awards, along with five honorable mentions, were presented.
Gold Award: A keyboard assistive device designed for the visually impaired, enabling rapid identification of keyboard positions.
Silver Award: A lightweight, thin massage cushion with adjustable intensity, ideal for long-term bedridden users.
Bronze Award: A wireless communication-enabled restraint band that reduces caregivers’ workload while enhancing safety.
These winning designs integrate cutting-edge technologies such as ergonomics, wireless communication, and specialized materials, representing a significant leap in Taiwan’s assistive device innovation.
Campaign on User-Friendly Commercial Assistive Devices: Enhancing Everyday Lives
The Campaign reviewed 48 commercially available products, selecting 20 outstanding designs that prioritize user experience. The evaluation focused on safety, convenience, and user-centric design, emphasizing innovations such as lightweight materials, compact storage solutions or easy-to-operate mechanisms.
These features demonstrate the industry’s commitment to creating assistive devices that are both functional and thoughtful, boosting the competitiveness of Taiwan’s assistive device market.
Meeting the Needs of a Super-Aged Society
BSMI emphasized that as Taiwan approaches a super-aged society, the demand for assistive and healthcare products is expected to surge. These initiatives not only foster dialogue between designers and users but also encourage technological innovation to improve quality of life. BSMI is committed to supporting the development and promotion of award-winning products through exhibitions, business matchmaking, and other initiatives, further advancing the assistive device industry and ensuring accessibility for all.
“Through these campaigns, we aim to create a more inclusive society where assistive devices cater to diverse needs, ensuring dignity and independence for people with disabilities and the elderly,” said a BSMI spokesperson.
For more information on the winning entries and upcoming assistive device initiatives, visit the website at https://reurl.cc/z67Dde.
The Taiwan Expo 2024 in Thailand, promoted by the International Trade Administration (TITA) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), opened on November 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. This year’s Expo featured 170 leading Taiwanese companies that showcased innovations in 5 key industries: smart manufacturing, smart medical care, the circular economy, smart lifestyles, and culture & tourism, under the theme “Explore Tomorrow’s Innovations at the Taiwan Expo 2024”.
TITA’s Director General Cynthia Kiang stated in her welcoming remarks that the Taiwan Expo has become the premier platform for strengthening economic, technological, and cultural cooperation between Thailand and Taiwan. Since Taiwan excels in advanced technology, ICT, and machinery, it is conducive for partnering with Thailand’s manufacturing prowess, thereby presenting both sides with unique opportunities for collaboration in the sectors of smart medicine, green technology, and carbon reduction technology.
Director General Kiang also highlighted the “Taiwan Select” section, which showcased Taiwan’s high-quality food products to promote the diverse culinary charm of Taiwan and help Taiwanese food enterprises enter global markets.
For more detailed information on the Taiwan Expo 2024 in Thailand, please visit the official website: https://thai.taiwanexpoasean.com/zh-tw/index.html