OpenJackal

    "Your phone number is personal and sometimes you want to connect without handing it over. that's why we're introducing usernames for WhatsApp. Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch the feature. It takes just a few seconds, make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp and then go to Settings > Account > Username" This was posted by WhatsApp on its X handle. This feature brings WhatsApp closer to platforms like Telegram and Signal, which already let users connect through usernames instead of exposing their phone numbers. It is a great privacy feature that WhatsApp has introduced. If someone wanted to message you on WhatsApp, they needed your phone number. This meant your number could be exposed, making spam and unwanted contacts easier. But with this feature, you may only need to share your username instead of your phone number. This feature is currently rolling out on WhatsApp, as the announcement says. You ...

Are you a victim of digital fraud? Didn't you receive any compensation from your bank? The revised RBI framework assures eligible digital fraud victims compensation of ₹25,000 or 85% of the net loss, whichever is lower . A final notification released by the RBI on 24 June 2026 , officially under the RBI (Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct) Third Amendment Directions , will come into effect from 1 January 2027 . It covers digital fraud losses of up to ₹50,000 . Eligible individuals will be compensated 85% of their net loss or up to a maximum of ₹25,000, whichever is lower , applicable once in a lifetime . The framework shifts the liability burden from the victim to the RBI and the bank. If the fraud occurred due to the bank's negligence or a third-party breach, the victim has zero liability . The incident should be reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or by calling 1930 , and the bank must also be notified within 5 calendar days . For any complaint...

A Mountain at the Center of a Growing Conflict Vedanta Ltd., a leading global producer of metals and critical minerals, has proposed the Sijimali Bauxite Mining Project, a 1,549-hectare open-cast mining project spanning the Rayagada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha. Sijimali is a remote and beautiful mountain region nestled in the Eastern Ghats. It is not merely a hill range but also the lifeline of several indigenous communities who have lived in its foothills for generations. Vedanta operates a 2 MTPA-capacity alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, since 2007, along with an associated 75 MW captive power plant. The proposed mining project covers 18 villages across the Thuamul Rampur tehsil of Kalahandi and the Kasipur tehsil of Rayagada. While the official mining block limits cover these core villages, local indigenous communities and tribal rights groups state that the project could affect more than 50 villages located in the foothills. Project Approvals and Rising Opposition In...

High vacancies are only half the story. Behind Parliament data lies a deeper question — is India’s internal security backbone overstretched, structurally fatigued, and in urgent need of reform? The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha, confirmed that there are nearly 93,000 vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) — roughly 8.7% of their sanctioned strength. The CAPFs include the CRPF, BSF, CISF, SSB, ITBP, along with Assam Rifles and NSG, all functioning under the MHA. CRPF primarily handles internal security and law and order duties. BSF, SSB and ITBP serve as border guarding forces. CISF protects critical infrastructure and vital installations across the country. Together, these forces form the operational backbone of India’s internal and border security architecture. The government attributes these vacancies to retirements, resignations, promotions, cadre restructuring, deaths, creation of new posts, expansion of forces, and the esta...