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6:02 PM

Chandrayaan-3 success: PM to meet ISRO scientists in Bengaluru on Saturday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bengaluru on Saturday morning to congratulate the team ISRO on the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon.

He is slated to spend an hour at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) and greet scientists of the national space agency headquartered here.

On Wednesday evening as the Lander Module of Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully touched down on the lunar surface, Modi had joined the ISRO team at Mission Operations Complex (MOX) at ISTRAC virtually from Johannesburg, where he was attending the 15th BRICS summit.

4:50 PM

Two-segment ramp facilitated the roll-down of the rover: ISRO

Chandrayaan-3 Mission | ISRO tweets, "A two-segment ramp facilitated the roll-down of the rover. A solar panel enabled the rover to generate power. Here is how the rapid deployment of the ramp and solar panel took place, prior to the rolldown of the rover. The deployment mechanisms, totalling 26 in the Ch-3 mission, were developed at U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC)/ISRO, Bengaluru."

3:56 PM

I thank people of Greece, Prez for Grand Cross of the Order of Honour: PM Modi

I thank people of Greece and President Sakellaropoulou for conferring on me Grand Cross of the Order of Honour: PM Narendra Modi in Athens

3:52 PM

FDI, foreign capital flows vital for growth; simplification of norms going on: FM

FDI, foreign capital flows vital for growth; simplification of norms going on: FM Sitharaman at B20 Summit.

3:52 PM

Focusing on building Atmanirbhar Bharat, but essential imports will not stop: FM

Focusing on building Atmanirbhar Bharat, but essential imports will not stop: FM Sitharaman at B20 Summit.

3:51 PM

We need to cushion us sufficiently against any possible shocks; need to diversify supply chains quickly: FM

We need to cushion us sufficiently against any possible shocks; need to diversify supply chains quickly: FM Sitharaman at B20 Summit. 

3:51 PM

Green shoots of pvt capital expenditure upcycle can be felt now because of high budget capex: FM

Green shoots of pvt capital expenditure upcycle can be felt now because of high budget capex: FM Nirmala Sitharaman at B20 Summit.

3:50 PM

Financing climate is key factor for sustaining global economic recovery: FM Sitharaman

Financing climate is key factor for sustaining global economic recovery: FM Nirmala Sitharaman at B20 Summit.

3:49 PM

Elevated interest rates for considerable time can come in the way of economic recovery: FM Sitharaman

Elevated interest rates for considerable time can come in the way of economic recovery: FM Sitharaman at B20 Summit.

3:49 PM

Govt's priority is to tame inflation, says FM Sitharaman

Govt's priority is to tame inflation, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman at B20 Summit

3:40 PM

First quarter did go well, so GDP numbers should be good, says FM

India has showcased an accelerated pace of economic reforms in past nine years: FM Nirmala Sitharaman at B20 Summit

First quarter did go well, so the GDP numbers should be good, she added.

2:40 PM

Everyone in Ladakh knows that China has taken our land: Rahul Gandhi

Raking up the border issue, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said every individual in Ladakh knows that China has "taken away our land" and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that not an inch of land was taken away was absolutely false.

2:30 PM

Caste-based survey exercise completed, now the data is being compiled: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said the caste-based survey in the state has been completed and the state government would soon make the data public.

 

He asserted that the caste survey would be beneficial for all sections of the society.

 

Talking to reporters here, Kumar said, "The caste-based headcount exercise in the state has been completed. Now the data is being compiled and it will soon be made public".

2:15 PM

Zepto becomes first unicorn this year, raises $200 mn at $1.4 bn valuation

After an extended dry spell, quick commerce firm Zepto has raised a massive $200 million in series E funding round at a $1.4 billion valuation to become India’s first unicorn this year. This comes amid a funding slowdown where startups, across the board, have found it challenging to raise capital. The fundraising indicates investor confidence in the fledgling sector.

 

“Everyone thought this business model was nonsense, but it is working. It has turned out to be the fastest growing category in India today and will be the fastest-ever to hit profitability,” Zepto’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aadit Palicha, told Business Standard.

1:51 PM

PM Modi lays wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Athens, receives Guard of Honour

Beginning his official engagements during a day-long official visit to Greece, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Athens on Friday.

 

Prime Minister Modi also received a guard of honour following the wreath-laying ceremony.

 

PM Modi on Friday arrived in Greece for his maiden visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. At the Athens International Airport, PM Modi was received by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.

 

He received a rousing welcome upon his arrival at the Hotel Grande Bretagne with the Indian Community gathered at the hotel breaking out into chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai,' 'Modi, Modi.'

1:22 PM

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 tickets set to go on sale on Aug 25

Tickets to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 will go on general sale on Friday as fans from across the world are invited to India for the biggest Cricket World Cup ever, taking place between October 5 and November 19.

 

Tickets for the World Cup which will see top class entertainment featuring some of the global superstars of the game will go on sale at 20h00 IST on Friday 25 August via https://tickets.cricketworldcup.com.

 

To manage the demand for tickets and to give as many fans as possible the best chance of seeing the world's best players, they will go on sale in phases starting with non-India warm-up matches and non-India event matches from today.

1:03 PM

PM Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina interacted at Brics summit

12:43 PM

Ahead of assembly polls due next year, Arunachal BJP to undergo reshuffle

Ahead of assembly polls due next year, the Arunachal Pradesh unit of BJP underwent a reshuffle of its state office bearers.

 

The reshuffle, executed by state BJP president Biyuram Wahge, was officially ratified by the BJP central office in New Delhi, a party statement said here on Friday.

 

Tadar Niglar has been designated as the state general secretary, while Romin Babom and Dotum Sora have been entrusted with the roles of state secretaries.

12:30 PM

Rishabh Instruments' IPO to open on Aug 30; price band fixed Rs 418-441

Global energy efficiency solution company Rishabh Instruments Ltd on Friday said it has fixed a price band of Rs 418-441 per share for its Rs 491-crore initial public offering (IPO).

 

The maiden public issue will open for subscription on August 30 and close on September 1, the company announced.

 

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 75 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) for up to 94.3 lakh equity shares by its promoter group shareholders and an existing investor, according to its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

12:21 PM

Jharkhand BJP chief booked for 'derogatory' remarks against CM Hemant Soren

An FIR has been registered against Jharkhand BJP state president Babulal Marandi at Kanke police station in Ranchi on August 23 for allegedly using derogatory remarks for Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his family.

 

The FIR was registered on a complaint filed by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha worker named Sonu Tirkey alleging that Marandi used defamatory remarks against Hemant Soren and his father Shibu Soren, chief of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in a speech published on a Facebook page on August 16.

12:12 PM

Over 50 stranded people rescued, bridge connecting Baddi-Pinjaur washed away in Himachal Pradesh

Over 50 people were stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district following a cloudburst and have been rescued by the NDRF, officials said on Friday.

 

The cloudburst took place in Shehnu Gouni village on Thursday and also triggered a landslide that blocked roads at many places.

 

A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) travelled 15 km on foot to rescue the stranded people, including 15 children, and shift them to safe places, the officials said.

11:18 AM

Railways to prepare fresh proposal for Hubli-Ankola railway line in K'taka

The Karnataka High Court has disposed of a batch of petitions challenging the Hubli (Hubballi)-Ankola railway line project after the Railways submitted that a fresh proposal is being worked out, and work will start only after all necessary permissions are obtained.

 

The public interest litigations (PILs) by Giridhar Kulkarni and others had challenged the project on grounds that it would fragment the tiger habitat in the region.

11:07 AM

India inflation to return to comfort band once veg prices dip: MPC's Goyal

Retail inflation will return to the central bank's comfort band of 2 per cent-6 per cent as vegetable prices soften, according to a member of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), who said the trajectory of inflation will be clearer once the recent spike ebbs.

 

The spike in prices of items like tomatoes has been "unprecedented" but normally there is a seasonal softening in vegetables after a shock (price spike), said Ashima Goyal, an external member of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee, in an interview with Reuters late on Thursday.

11:00 AM

Railways constitutes 4-member committee to probe bridge collapse in Mizoram

The Ministry of Railways has constituted a four-member high-level committee to inquire into the cause of the collapse of a under construction railway bridge in Mizoram's Aizawl district in which 22 workers were killed, officials said on Friday.

 

The committee will submit its report within one month from the date of formation, according to the order issued by the Railways ministry on Thursday.

10:18 AM

AAP MP Sanjay Singh misses Parliament Privileges Committee deadline

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has missed the August 24 deadline on the notice of the Committee of Privileges in Parliament that sought his response on his alleged "misconduct" in the Upper House that led to his suspension from the House.

10:03 AM

India's food price surge forces government measures to improve supplies

A broad rise in prices of food essentials in India driven by uneven and scanty rain is forcing the government into a series of measures to boost supplies and ease inflationary pressures.

 

While annual retail inflation was at a 15-month high of 7.44% in July, food price inflation rose to 11.5 per cent, its highest in more than 3.5 years, pushing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to act quickly to avert any backlash from voters in upcoming state and national elections.

9:19 AM

Chandrayaan-3 significant milestone for India, space exploration: Netanyahu

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the success of Chandrayaan-3 and said it "marks a significant milestone for India and global space exploration".

 

"Had a fruitful conversation with PM @narendramodi, congratulating him on India's remarkable achievement of landing on the Moon's south pole. This marks a significant milestone for India and the global space exploration," Netanyahu wrote on 'X' formerly Twitter on Thursday.

9:09 AM

President Xi stresses on improving India-China relations during bilateral meeting with PM Modi

Chinese President Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries and people, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Friday.

 

The Chinese President met PM Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on Wednesday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two leaders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest.

9:05 AM

PM Modi to meet Isro team involved in Chandrayaan-3 mission today

After concluding his two-nation visit today, from Greece Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head straight to Bengaluru, Karnataka on a pre-scheduled visit. He will meet scientists of the ISRO team involved in the Chandrayaan-3 Mission. After a 40-day journey into space, the Chandrayaan-3 lander, 'Vikram', touched down on the uncharted lunar South Pole on Wednesday evening, making India the first country to do so. Moreover, the Prime Minister joined the live telecast of Chandrayaan-3 landing online from South Africa. PM Modi hailed the Chandrayaan-3 mission creating history by achieving a soft landing on the lunar surface and said "India is now on the moon".