News updates: UBS cuts China 2024 GDP growth forecast to 4.6%

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10:12 PM

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav targets UP CM Yogi Adityanath over death of Dalit girls, loot

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government over alleged suicide of two Dalit girls in Farukhabad and loot at jeweller's shop in Sultanpur, saying the BJP dispensation has become a combination of corruption and crime. Yadav said he will send his party's delegation to Farukhabad to raise voice of justice.

9:53 PM

Alphabet likely to roll out image generation of people on Gemini soon after pause

Alphabet said on Wednesday it has updated Gemini's AI image-creation model and would roll out the generation of visuals of people in the coming days, after months-long pause of the capability.

9:37 PM

UBS cuts China 2024 GDP growth forecast to 4.6%

UBS Investment Bank on Wednesday cut its 2024 GDP growth forecast for China to 4.6 per cent from 4.9 per cent, as it expects weaker property activity to have bigger drag on the overall economy than previously assumed. It also cut its 2025 GDP growth forecast for the country to 4 per cent from 4.6 per cent, according to a note.

9:28 PM

Ahead of joining BJP, former CM Champai Soren quits JMM, resigns as minister, MLA

Former chief minister Champai Soren on Wednesday resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) saying he was forced to take such a step since he was aggrieved by the party's present style of functioning and policies. Soren, who is scheduled to join the BJP on August 30, also resigned as an MLA of the state assembly and a minister in the Jharkhand Cabinet.

9:04 PM

Authorities reject jailed separatist Barkati's nomination from Zainapora seat in J&K

Jailed separatist Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati was among the 23 candidates whose nomination papers for the polls to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly were rejected during scrutiny on Wednesday. The nomination papers were filed by Barkati's daughter Sugra on Tuesday. According to the data posted on the website of J&K chief electoral officer, Barkati's nomination papers from Zainapora assembly segment in Shopian district were rejected.

8:39 PM

India's first space-borne precision receiver commences operations, says Isro

Isro on Wednesday said that the GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) instrument that represents "a new mode of remote sensing" on the EOS-08 satellite has commenced operations. The instrument, developed by the Space Applications Centre (SAC-Isro), is India's first space-borne precision receiver, according to Isro. The space agency on August 16 had successfully launched the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08 on board the third developmental flight of small satellite launch vehicle SSLV-D3.

7:40 PM

Cloudburst in Rajgarh, Ramban claims 3 lives while leaving 4 others injured

A cloudburst in Rajgarh, Ramban claimed 3 lives while leaving 4 others injured. District Administration has mobilised NDRF and all available resources for search, rescue and relief operations.

7:34 PM

Govt approves the appointment of new heads for Central Armed Police Forces

Government on Wednesday appointed new heads for paramilitary forces. Daljit Singh Chaudhary has been appointed as the new DG of BSF. While Bihar's DGP RS Bhatti has been appointed as new CISF DG.

7:21 PM

France's Judge to decide next step in probe of Russian-born Telegram boss Durov

Russian-born Telegram boss Pavel Durov was being transferred on Wednesday to see the French investigative judge who was due to decide whether to place him under formal investigation following his arrest as part of a probe into organised crime on the messaging app, a judicial source said. Durov's detention as he landed in Paris on a private jet on Saturday has put the spotlight on the criminal liability of app providers and fuelled debate on where freedom of speech ends and enforcement of the law begins.

7:05 PM

Assam govt undecided on comprehensive UCC, says CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the state government has not yet decided on implementing a comprehensive Uniform Civil Code (UCC), as its focus is not aimed at targeting any particular religion but to address child marriage and promote women's empowerment. Sarma's latest remarks contradict his earlier position, when he had indicated that Assam would follow Uttarakhand and Gujarat in introducing a UCC Bill, with exemptions for tribal communities.

6:48 PM

Tata Steel acquires 178 cr additional equity shares in Singapore arm TSHP for $280 mn

Tata Steel on Wednesday said it has acquired about 178 crore additional equity shares of T Steel Holdings Pte Ltd for $280 million, taking the total fund infusion into its Singapore-based arm to $1,337 million. "Tata Steel acquired 1,78,34,39,490 ordinary equity shares of face value $0.157 each aggregating to $280 million (Rs 2,347.81 crore) in T Steel Holdings Pte Ltd (TSHP)," the company said in an exchange filing.

6:30 PM

Two persons arrested in case of stone pelting on Karnataka's MLC house

Two persons were arrested on Wednesday by Mangaluru City Police on charges of pelting stones at MLC Ivan D'Souza's house, police said. After the governor gave his assent to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA land scam, Ivan D'Souza had allegedly remarked that a situation like the one in Bangladesh might also take place in Karnataka if the governor did not rescind the decision to prosecute Siddaramaiah.

5:49 PM

Paytm gets government approval for investment in payments arm

Paytm has received an approval from the finance ministry to invest in its payment services business, the fintech firm said on Wednesday. One 97 Communications, popularly known as Paytm, has been under the scrutiny of India's banking regulator and financial crime-fighting agency after the central bank ordered it to wind down its payments bank in January.

5:30 PM

Robust consumer protection crucial for upholding trust in financial system, RBI Governor

Speaking at Global Fintech Fest, Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said that to ensure robust consumer protection is crucial for upholding trust in financial system.

4:59 PM

City court extends former TN minister Senthil Balaji's remand

A sessions court on Wednesday extended former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji's remand till September 3. The DMK leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14, 2023 in a money laundering case. Principal Sessions Judge S Alli, before whom Senthil Balaji was produced by the prosecution through video-conferencing from the Central Puzhal Prison here, also extended his judicial custody till September 3.

4:57 PM

BJP dares Cong to nominate Kumari Selja as Haryana CM candidate to prove SC support

The Haryana unit of ruling BJP on Wednesday dared Congress to declare Kumari Selja as its chief ministerial candidate for the state assembly polls, to prove how committed it is to the well-being of the SC community. The state BJP also said they nominate Nayab Singh Saini, who belongs to the OBC category, a chief minister. Saini is also the BJP's chief ministerial face for the upcoming assembly elections, scheculed for October 1.

4:32 PM

CCI gives nod to $8.5 bn Disney-Reliance media assets merger

The CCI has okayed the $8.5 billion merger of Reliance Industries and Disney's Indian media assets, subject to certain voluntary modifications, it said.

4:30 PM

Gujarat rains: Parts of Vadodara city remain flooded for 2nd day, Army called in Vadodara

With many parts of Gujarat's Vadodara city remaining inundated on the second consecutive day, the situation is "alarming" and the Army has been called in to carry out relief and rescue work, the state government said on Wednesday. Some areas were under 10 to 12 feet of water, said Health Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel.

4:06 PM

India orders additional 73,000 SIG716 rifles from US firearms maker Sig Sauer

India has ordered an additional 73,000 SIG716 rifles from US firearms maker Sig Sauer, the company has said, asserting that it is proud to be a partner in the "modernisation effort" of the Indian Army. The move comes amid a lingering border row between India and China in eastern Ladakh. The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) had given the nod for the procurement for the additional 73,000 SiG716 rifles last December.

3:59 PM

Mercedes car crash: HC relief for Goa AAP leader Amit Palekar in bail violation case

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday set aside the order of a lower court which had cancelled the bail of Aam Aadmi Party's Goa unit president Amit Palekar in connection with a 2023 road accident that killed three persons. Palekar on Tuesday moved the high court challenging the order of the additional sessions court dated August 26 cancelling his bail for violating conditions.

3:33 PM

Cabinet approves setting up of 12 industrial smart cities; to invest Rs 28,602 cr: Minister Vaishnaw

Proposed 12 smart industrial cities to create investment potential of about Rs 1.52 billion, says Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

3:27 PM

Sena (UBT), Narayan Rane supporters clash at Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse site

Shiv Sena (UBT) workers and supporters of BJP MP Narayan Rane clashed on Wednesday at a fort in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra where the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had collapsed. A police constable was injured as stones were hurled by some persons, an official said

2:51 PM

No civilised society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities: President Murmu

Even as students, doctors and citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on prowl elsewhere, says President Murmu.

2:14 PM

Pakistani Christian is first Goan to get Indian citizenship under CAA

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday handed over the Indian citizenship certificate to a 78-year-old Pakistani Christian under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, making him the first such person from the coastal state. Joseph Francis Pereira went from Goa to Pakistan for studies before liberation and subsequently took up a job there. He attained Pakistani citizenship and lived in Karachi before returning to India in 2013.

1:58 PM

Eight UP railway stations renamed

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday defended the renaming of eight railway stations in Uttar Pradesh as a bid to eliminate “the symbols of slavery”. BJP leader Anil Rajbhar dismissed the criticism from the Opposition leaders, saying that the public is in support of the move. Read here for more details.

1:29 PM

Will be careful with words, says Kangana Ranaut after row over remarks on farmers' protest

In an interview with India Today, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut stated that she will pick her words carefully after being reprimanded by the BJP. 

 

1:16 PM

Rains claim 9 more lives in Gujarat, flood-like situation in many areas; PM holds talks with CM

Rain-related incidents claimed nine more lives in Gujarat, taking the death toll to 16 in two days, while another 8,500 people were relocated and rescued from flood-affected areas with rains continuing to lash some parts of the state for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to take stock of the situation and to ensure Centre's support in the crisis. 

1:02 PM

India saw 19.3% drop in particulate pollution in 2022, adding one year to life expectancy: Report

India recorded a significant 19.3 per cent drop in particulate pollution in 2022 compared to 2021, the second-highest reduction in the world after Bangladesh, adding an average of one year to the life expectancy of every citizen, according to a new report. The annual report, "Air Quality Life Index" 2024, by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) also said that Indians are likely to lose 3.6 years of life expectancy if the country fails to meet the World Health Organisation's annual PM2.5 concentration standard of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.

12:53 PM

Police foil self-immolation bid by two during protest in Noida

A self-immolation bid by two persons during a protest against the construction of a waste management centre here was foiled by police, officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday evening near the Kasna culvert, where the waste management centre is being constructed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Ashok Kumar Singh said Akshit Sharma, a resident of Milak Lachchhi village here, and Himanshu Vashisht, a resident of Kakod in Bulandshahr district, reached the construction site with other protesters and tried to stop the work.

 

12:37 PM

Champai Soren under 'surveillance' of his own govt for last 5 months, claims Assam CM

Jharkhand minister Champai Soren under 'surveillance' of his own govt for last 5 months, alleges Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.