News updates: RBI revises domestic money transfer framework

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10:13 PM

India successfully tests ballistic missile defence system

9:10 PM

DRDO successfully flight-tested Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System on 24th July 2024

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System on 24th July 2024. The Target Missile was launched from LC-IV Dhamra at 1620 hrs mimicking adversary Ballistic Missile, which was detected by weapon system radars deployed on land and sea and activated the AD Interceptor system. The Phase-II AD Endo-atmospheric missile was launched from LC-III at ITR, Chandipur at 1624 hrs. The flight test fully met all the trial objectives validating complete network centric warfare weapon system consisting of Long Range Sensors, low latency communication system and MCC and Advance Interceptor missiles.

6:48 PM

Hunger affected around 9% of world population in 2023: UN

5:41 PM

RBI's changes to domestic money transfer framework

RBI makes changes to domestic money transfer framework owing to significant increase in the availability of banking outlets, developments in payment systems for funds transfers, and ease in fulfilling KYC requirements since its introduction. 

4:37 PM

Kerala govt to reduce building permit fees

The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to reduce the building permit fees up to 60 per cent in the state.The government had exempted buildings up to 80 square metres from the permit fee last year. The new rate would reduce the permit fee by at least 50 per cent for houses with an area from 81 square metres to 300 square metres, Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) Minister M B Rajesh said.

4:35 PM

No wrongdoing found in issuance of locomotor disability certificate to Khedkar: Hospital officials

A civic hospital near Pune, which had issued a seven per cent locomotor disability certificate to IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, has found in its internal probe that the document was as per the rules and there was no wrongdoing in its issuance, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, run by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) near Pune city, had issued the certificate to Khedkar in August 2022.

 

4:29 PM

Agniveers to get 10% reservation and age relaxation, says DG BSF

Agniveers will get 10% reservation and age relaxation, DG BSF said today. The decision has been taken under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi & guidance of Amit Shah will strengthen the forces, the Ministry of Home Affairs said today.

4:06 PM

French Alps picked to host 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

The bid by French Alps to host the 2030 Winter Olympics was given the nod on Wednesday.

3:56 PM

News update: SBI Life Insurance's Q1 net profit rises 36% to Rs 520 crore

3:37 PM

Delhi High Court seeks police's stand on Umar Khalid's bail plea in Delhi riots case

The Delhi High Court sought the city police's stand on Wednesday on the bail plea of former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots here.

3:35 PM

Nepal plane crash: Death toll stands at 18, including the co-pilot

The death count in plane crash at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu stands at 18, including the co-pilot.

3:29 PM

News update: West Bengal Assembly passes anti-NEET resolution

West Bengal has become the latest state which wants to opt out of the medical entrance exam NEET. It became the second state after Tamil Nadu to pass a resolution against the exam.

3:05 PM

Ignorance of law no excuse to break it, says Bombay HC; refuses to quash case against pharma firm director

Ignorance of law is no excuse for breaking it, the Bombay High Court has said while refusing to quash a case against the director of a pharmaceutical firm for allegedly exporting a chemical declared as a contraband substance without the requisite certificate mandated in law. Law enforcement machinery shall come to a grinding halt if ignorance is accepted as a defence, the high court said in its order passed on Monday.

2:57 PM

News update: Bihar Assembly passes bill to check question paper leaks in recruitment exams

Bihar Assembly passes bill aimed at checking question paper leaks and malpractices in government recruitment exams.

2:21 PM

Uttrakhand Congress begins march to Kedarnath against construction of temple's replica in Delhi

Uttarakhand Congress on Wednesday embarked on a protest march to Kedarnath against the proposed construction of a replica of the Himalayan temple in Delhi.

State Congress president Karan Mahara, vice president Mathuradutt Joshi and a host of other party leaders performed a puja and a havan on the banks of the Ganga River at Har Ki Pairi in Haridwar and took the blessings of seers before starting the 'Kedarnath Bachao' yatra.

2:18 PM

Surprise blast of rock, water and steam in Yellowstone sends dozens running for safety

A surprise eruption in Yellowstone National Park shot steam, water and dark-coloured rock and dirt high into the sky Tuesday and sent sightseers running for safety. The hydrothermal explosion happened around 10 am in Biscuit Basin, a collection of hot springs a couple miles north of the famous Old Faithful Geyser.

1:42 PM

SC says panel of eminent persons should engage with farmers to find solution to their demands

The top court stated that till constitution of committee, Punjab and Haryana governments should maintain status quo at Shambhu border.

1:22 PM

BJP lawmakers protesting against alleged atrocities against women in Bengal

BJP MLAs are protesting outside the West Bengal Assembly over atrocities against women in the state. The protesting BJP leaders are demanding a statement from the state government over the issue.

1:13 PM

Transport officials in Odisha asked to seize vehicles plying on roads without fitness certificates

The Odisha government has asked transport authorities to seize vehicles, which are plying on roads without valid fitness certificates, and file cases.

Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur has instructed officers to take action against owners of vehicles which are being operated without valid fitness and registration certificates.

12:25 PM

Jarange suspends indefinite fast over Maratha quota issue

Maratha activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday suspended his indefinite fast, which he began five days ago over the quota issue, stating that his community members say they want him alive to fight for the cause. He announced the decision while addressing media persons at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district of Maharashtra.

12:25 PM

Supreme Court agrees to examine plea on right to be forgotten by accused after acquittals in criminal cases

The Supreme Court has  stayed Madras High Court's direction asking law portal to remove verdict after accused acquitted in rape case.

12:05 PM

Kathmandu plane crash: Pilot of aircraft taken to hospital; rescuers at the spot

The pilot of the aircraft has been taken to a hospital, a security official deployed at the airport told PTI without giving further details. A fire that broke out from the aircraft has been put off, he added. 

11:46 AM

News update: Plane carrying 19 people crashes during take-off in Kathmandu

A Saurya Airlines plane has crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu.

11:41 AM

Heroin worth Rs 1.57 cr seized in Assam, two held

Two persons were arrested in Assam's Morigaon district on Wednesday after heroin worth over Rs 1.57 crore was seized from their possession, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team conducted a search operation in Barchal village and seized 875 gms of the narcotics substance from a house, an officer said.

The heroin was hidden in 77 soap boxes and was brought to the district from Dimapur in Nagaland, he said.

11:17 AM

Will Rahul Gandhi apologise after SC's order on NEET issue: BJP

The BJP on  Wednesday stated that Rahul Gandhi has fuelled a lack of trust in India's examination system, and asked whether will he apologise after SC's order on NEET issue, according to news agency PTI. 

11:11 AM

Trump campaign files complaint to block Biden's campaign funds being transferred to Harris

The Trump campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission arguing that money raised for US President Joe Biden's 2024 reelection bid could not be transferred to Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. The complaint was filed on Tuesday by the Trump campaign's general counsel David Warrington and argues that transferring the funds to Harris's presidential campaign would amount to “flagrantly violating" the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.

10:56 AM

India-UK FTA negotiations floor not ceiling of our ambitions: British foreign secretary

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday began a two-day visit to India to galvanise negotiations for an ambitious Free Trade Agreement and reset the overall bilateral partnership in crucial areas such as clean energy, new technologies and security. As he embarked on the high-profile trip, Lammy described the negotiations for the trade deal as the floor and not the ceiling of the ambitions to unlock shared potential and deliver growth.

10:34 AM

Terrorist killed, soldier injured in encounter in J-K's Kupwara

An unidentified terrorist was killed and a soldier injured in an overnight encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, the Army said on Wednesday.

"Based on specific input regarding presence of terrorists in general area Kowut, Kupwara, a Joint Search Operation was launched by #IndianArmy and @JmuKmrPolice on days leading up to 23 July 24," the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps posted on X.

10:13 AM

Heavy rainfall affects parts of Delhi, Noida; more showers predicted for today

Several parts of Delhi and Noida were affected by rainfall bringing relief from stifling heat.