Latest news with #Licensing
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First Post
30-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Pahalgam effect? India notifies guidelines for walkie-talkie, radio equipment sale on e-com sites
Central Consumer Protection Authority expressed concerns over walkie-talkies being sold on e-commerce platforms without making it clear that they might need a wireless operating license or must follow certain laws read more India's Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Friday (May 30) notified guidelines for 'prevention and regulation of illegal listing and sale of radio equipment' on e-commerce platforms. A press release issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs said the guidelines have been issued to curb the unauthorised sale of wireless devices, including radio equipment, that may pose risks to consumer safety. The press release warned that these devices may also 'mislead consumers regarding their legal position and interfere with critical communication networks, including those used by law enforcement and emergency services.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The CCPA issued these guidelines after consultations with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Concerns expressed by the CCPA The Indian government body expressed concerns over walkie-talkies being sold on e-commerce platforms without making it clear that they might need a wireless operating license or must follow certain laws. The product listings do not mention if a license from the relevant authority is required. Important details like frequency range, licensing requirements under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Low Power, Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018, are missing. This can mislead consumers into thinking that these devices can be used freely by anyone. Key highlights of the guidelines Following are the key highlights of the guidelines as spelled out by the press release. Mandates that only authorised and compliant walkie-talkie devices operating on permitted frequencies are listed for sale on online platforms. Product listings to specify frequency ranges and other technical parameters and include proof of regulatory approval (Equipment Type Approval). Requires e-commerce entities to undertake due diligence and verify regulatory compliance, including licensing where applicable and listings lacking frequency information or necessary certification should be taken down. Prohibits misleading advertisements or product descriptions that may misinform consumers about the legal usage of such devices. Sellers should ensure that equipment listed for sale do not operate on frequencies which are not exempted from requirement of frequency assignment and authorisation by DOT and ensure that the frequency bands on product description are clearly labelled Outlines penalties and enforcement mechanisms for violations in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. This comes after the CCPA in early May issued notices to 12 e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, OLX, TradeIndia, Facebook, Indiamart and VardaanMart, over the sale of walkie-talkies and radio equipment. 'A preliminary analysis further revealed an alarming volume of such listings across these platforms, including approximately 467 listings on Amazon, 314 on Flipkart, 489 on Meesho, and 423 on TradeIndia, indicating the widespread scale of the issue, " the statement from the Consumer Affairs Ministry then said. Pahalgam effect The move comes in the wake of increased security tensions in India, especially in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. There are concerns that terrorists or extremist elements might misuse these equipment and devices for carrying out similar attacks targeting civilians or security forces in the region.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kentucky launches 'Skip the Line' initiative as REAL ID crowds swamp driver licensing offices
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced an initiative May 1 urging people to "Skip the Line" when completing the driver's license renewal process as new federal and state policies cause longer waits at Driver Licensing Regional Offices. Driver Licensing Regional Offices have been bombarded in recent weeks as people try to get REAL IDs ahead of the federal enforcement date of May 7. REAL IDs meet enhanced security standards passed by Congress, and residents will need either a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities beginning on the enforcement date. 'We're working to do everything we can to provide alternative options for Kentuckians and reduce wait times at our Driver Licensing Regional Offices,' Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release. 'We encourage everyone to make a plan and skip the line if they can.' A state policy that began in January 2025 requires people to pass a vision screening before renewing their driver's license, also adding to the longer lines. The "Skip the Line" initiative offers four options that allow people to renew a driver's license without waiting in line, including: Visiting an eye specialist, asking for a vision screening form and uploading it to renew online at Visiting a licensing office, getting a vision screening and receiving a passcode to renew online at Visiting a licensing office, getting the vision screening, filling out a renewal form on site without waiting and receiving a temporary license via email. Renewing by mail: Printing and filling out the mail-in form at and attaching a completed vision form from an eye specialist. Some situations may require an in-person office visit, however. Those situations include: Upgrading or applying for a REAL ID. Changing the address, marital status or photo on a license. Getting Commercial Driver's License, hearing or noncitizen services. New Kentucky drivers in need a permit or license after passing a Kentucky State Police-administered test. Beshear said the Transportation Cabinet is adding staff, implementing new line-management technology and adjusting procedures to make it easier for people to utilize options for remote renewal. Kentucky officials have stressed that May 7 does not mark a deadline and that REAL IDs will still be available after that date. REAL IDs are also not a state requirement. Less than 40% of credential holders in Kentucky have a REAL ID, according to KYTC. In April, a coalition of Kentucky senators asked federal officials to delay the enforcement date, writing in a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that the commonwealth is "simply not fully prepared for complete implementation," but the request was denied. Kentucky also recently changed its laws surrounding driver's permits, which now allow 15-year-old residents to apply for them. Allen Blair, a spokesperson for KYTC, previously told The Courier Journal that the cabinet has issued more than 4,400 permits to 15-year-old residents across Kentucky since April 1. Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@ or @bkillian72 on X. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to skip the line at Kentucky driver's licensing offices
Malay Mail
01-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Don't make deadline delays a habit, Penang FC tells MFL over club licensing
GEORGE TOWN, May 1 — The Penang FC management team has voiced its concern over the decision by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) to extend the club licensing documentation submissions for the 2024-2025 Club Licensing Cycle for the National Licence under the AFC CLAS system to May 10. It said in a statement that while it accepted the decision of the First Instance Body (FIB) Committee and appreciated the flexibility afforded to clubs facing challenges, it was, nonetheless, worried about the negative implications should this become the norm. It added that the flexibility afforded could lead to clubs facing financial constraints to shelve immediate measures aimed at overcoming issues related to restructuring or problem-solving. 'Without the pressures of a strict deadline, there is a risk of the financial constraint issue prolonging and becoming more acute, thus affecting the continuity of the club's operations. 'This can also negatively impact the players, officials and stakeholders, such as sponsors and supporters, who expect stability and accountability from club management,' it said in a statement today. It added that frequent extensions could create a culture where compliance with regulations will be considered unimportant or can be compromised. 'This not only lowers the domestic football industry standards but can also affect Malaysia's reputation at the regional and international levels, particularly in terms of club licensing under the auspices of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC),' it added. Yesterday, FIB chairman Sheikh Mohd Nasir Sheikh Mohd Sharif announced that a decision to extend the deadline was made following requests from several clubs seeking more time to complete their licensing documentation. — Bernama
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia to continue rubber glove exports to US despite tariffs
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue exporting rubber gloves to the United States (US) despite the implementation of reciprocal tariffs on Malaysian imports. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said Malaysia's exports of rubber and rubber-based products totalled RM37 billion last year, with the rubber glove sector accounting for about RM15 billion. "We will continue supply to the US, even with the tariff," he told reporters at the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) Silver Jubilee celebration here today. The minister also said efforts to diversify export markets for local glove products are ongoing. He added it is now mandatory that rubber gloves exported from Malaysia are made locally. "We have to make sure that all exports of rubber gloves are Malaysian products. That was what I told the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), we will make it mandatory," he said. Last Friday, the ministry, through the MRB, strengthened regulatory oversight of the rubber glove sector in response to evolving global trade dynamics. The ministry said that in line with the sector's significant contribution to the national economy, the MRB has implemented several strategic initiatives to tighten industry regulation and address current global trade challenges. These initiatives include tightening licensing requirements for the export of rubber gloves under the Malaysian Rubber Board (Licensing and Permit) Regulations 2014. Meanwhile, MRC chief executive officer Muhammad Eizaaz Muhammad Redzuan said the council would strengthen efforts in research and development, as well as certification initiatives, to ensure Malaysian rubber products remain competitive in pricing and quality. "We will also ensure that the local rubber products meet the global sustainability requirements," he said. He added that the council is also committed to providing more opportunities for small and medium enterprises, widening market access, and enhancing the use of new technology among industry players.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BBC licence fee is unenforceable and unfairly targets vulnerable women, says culture secretary Lisa Nandy of the £174.50 annual charge
The culture secretary has said that the BBC TV licence fee is unenforceable and unfairly targets women. Speaking to The Telegraph, Lisa Nandy acknowledged that there are 'problems' with the fee and that 'fewer and fewer people are paying it'. 'It's unenforceable and particularly I've been concerned about the way it's been enforced in the past, with women - particularly vulnerable women - targeted for enforcement action, and the BBC itself has accepted that', the MP for Wigan added. 'So we know that there are problems with the licence fee system as it currently exists. We're about to kick off the charter review and as part of that we're reviewing the licence fee.' Nandy has previously said she could be open to replacing the flat licence fee with a sliding payment scale after a suggestion by the BBC's new chairman Samir Shah. She has ruled out the licence fee being replaced by general taxation, and in November last year, said the Government would use a review of the BBC's royal charter to consider alternative ways of funding the corporation. She also noted that she is 'open to a different system, but we haven't put forward any preferred options at this stage', and called on the public to suggest what 'a fairer, more sustainable system would look like'. 'We know that the licence fee and the BBC as a whole has to command public support in order to survive and thrive, and that's why we're putting the power back into the public's hands to be able to drive that conversation,' Nandy said. The BBC launched a poll in March, which it called the corporation's 'biggest-ever public engagement exercise', and said would inform the upcoming charter review. Among the questions are 'what the BBC should provide overall?', 'how you feel the BBC is doing now', and 'what the BBC should stand for in the future'. The Government has committed to increasing the licence fee in line with inflation each year until 2027, starting with a rise from £169.50 to £174.50 next month. That rise follows years in which the licence fee was first frozen and then increased at a slower rate than the BBC expected, leaving the corporation increasingly cash-strapped. In 2023, the corporation published a review into gender disparity and the licence fee, which said 'societal factors' explain the gender disparity, not enforcement, after noting that around 75% of those convicted for evasion are women. It also outlined a 10-point action plan for the TV licensing body, which included supporting 'people in financial hardship and debt', and helping 'people stay licensed and avoid prosecution'. A BBC spokeswoman said: 'The public cares about the BBC and we have launched our biggest-ever public engagement exercise, so audiences can help drive and shape what they want from a universal and independent BBC in the future. 'We want to continue to reform and evolve and look forward to engaging with Government on the next charter and securing the long-term future of the BBC.' According to the 2024 TV Licensing annual review, 'approximately 89% of addresses that need a TV licence have one, with evasion estimated at around 11%'.
