New Delhi : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday directed telecom operators to begin onboarding entities from select non-financial sectors onto the new 1601-series numbering framework for transactional and service voice calls extending a system already in use by the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector.

After this decision, consumers can identify genuine service and transactional calls and curb impersonation and fraud carried out through regular 10-digit mobile numbers.

In addition, TRAI said it has issued directions on the use of the 1601-series numbers for entities in sectors other than BFSI and government organisations which currently use the 1600-series numbering framework.

The authority also noted that the widespread adoption of 1600-series numbers by BFSI entities has provided valuable operational experience for expanding the trusted numbering framework to other sectors.

Under the first phase of implementation, the 1601-series will be allotted to entities in the utilities sector, including electricity distribution companies, water utilities, city gas distribution companies, LPG distributors and other utility service providers.

The logistics and courier sector has also been included in Phase-I, covering courier companies, express logistics firms, parcel delivery service providers as well as freight and logistics operators involved in consignments delivery.

TRAI said the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allocated the 1601-series for such calls and telecom service providers (TSPs) have been directed to complete migration and onboarding of eligible entities covered under Phase-I within 90 days from the date of the order.

The regulator further noted that 1601-series numbers would be allocated directly to eligible entities rather than intermediaries or aggregators following verification by telecom operators.

“The distinct numbering identity will enable the consumers to easily identify legitimate service and transactional calls, thereby strengthening trust in such voice-based communications,” the regulator said.

Additionally, TRAI clarified that the 1601-series numbers cannot be used for promotional voice calls by any entity.

Tehran, Aug 10: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the US continues its naval blockade against Iran, local media reported.

Addressing a weekly press briefing in Tehran, Baqaei said that the Strait of Hormuz was closed due to the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran. He emphasised that the reopening of the waterway relies on the conditions enforced on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz by the US and Israeli authorities, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

“As long as the US naval blockade continues, the necessary conditions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz do not exist,” said Baqaei. He stressed that the US needs to stop and make changes in its “destructive actions” so that the two sides could discuss the next steps.

The Strait of Hormuz links Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports from major Gulf producers to international markets.

Baqaei mentioned that the talks between Iran and Oman over a shipping route is a bilateral matter which involves two nations.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi stated that there are currently no ongoing negotiations with the United States.

Speaking to reporters at the Centre for Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said, “We currently have no negotiations with the United States. Intermediaries are still making efforts to find ways to resume negotiations. From our perspective, there can be no resumption of talks until the United States ends its violations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and makes amends for the breaches it has committed,” Tasnim News Agency reported.

He stated that there is no possibility of resuming negotiations until the US ends the violations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or it makes amends for what it has violated. He also said that they are in the final stage of negotiations with Oman about determining a new sea route in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian Foreign Minister stressed that reaching a pact with Oman on a new maritime route does not imply that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened.

“Of course, this does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. This agreement may be reached, but the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is subject to a series of conditions,” he said.

Imphal: In a significant move to assess and further strengthen the state’s security and law-and-order situation, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday chaired a Combined Headquarters (Unified Command) security meeting, officials said.

A senior official of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that during the meeting, held at the Civil Secretariat here, the Chief Minister reviewed the prevailing law-and-order situation and other related security aspects across the state.

The meeting also extensively discussed the security scenario along the National Highways and the measures required to ensure the safe movement of passengers and goods vehicles.

The Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) are the two crucial lifelines of Manipur, connecting the landlocked state with the rest of the country. Since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, movement along NH-2, which passes through Kangpokpi district, has remained severely affected due to law-and-order issues, intermittent blockades and security concerns, causing hardships to commuters and affecting the transportation of essential commodities.

The high-level meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Chief Security Advisor to the Manipur government Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police, Intelligence, Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, Inspector General of Assam Rifles, South, Major General Gaurav Sharma, General Officer Commanding of the 57 Mountain Division Major General Subhankar Basu, Inspector General of CRPF Rajendra Narayan Dash, and several other senior officials.

Senior officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), intelligence agencies and other security organisations operating in the state also participated in the meeting and reviewed the overall security preparedness.

According to officials, the Unified Command meeting focused on maintaining peace, improving coordination among security agencies, strengthening intelligence gathering, and ensuring the continued movement of people and goods along the key transport corridors.

Following the Unified Command meeting, the Chief Minister also chaired a separate high-level meeting with the same top security officials and representatives of transporters to discuss the early resumption of the Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur bus services.

The meeting reviewed various security arrangements and confidence-building measures required to facilitate the safe operation of passenger bus services on the two important routes.

The resumption of the two bus services was jointly announced by Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Independent MLA Haokholet Kipgen of Saitu Assembly Constituency during a programme held at mountainous Kangpokpi district headquarters on August 8.

The proposed resumption of bus services is being viewed as an important step towards restoring normalcy and improving connectivity between Manipur and neighbouring states – Assam and Nagaland — after prolonged disruptions caused by the ethnic unrest.

Although no major incident of violence has been reported in Manipur during the past nearly two months, the Combined Headquarters (Unified Command) security meeting assumes significance in view of the government’s efforts to normalise the situation and further strengthen security operations against militants, armed groups and other inimical elements. Officials said the state government remains committed to restoring normal life, enhancing public confidence and ensuring a secure environment for the movement of people and goods across the state.