India and Nepal have launched a peer-to-peer cross-border remittance mechanism to strengthen bilateral digital financial connectivity. The Ministry of Finance, in a statement said that the newly operationalized system establishes a direct link between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Nepal’s National Payments Interface (NPI). This integration enables citizens of both nations to make seamless, real-time, and secure instant money transfers directly through mobile banking applications and digital wallets. The UPI-NPI linkage represents a major advancement in financial inclusion, fostering stronger economic and digital ties between both the countries. The Ministry said, this initiative aligns with regional goals for accessible, safe, and affordable cross-border payments, reinforcing long standing social and economic bonds. The digital payment corridor represents a major shift in how commerce operates between the two countries. The Finance Ministry noted that the initiative will enhance traveler convenience, will provide economic boost for local merchants and improve operational efficiency. It noted that local merchants would benefit from optimized cash management, reduced overhead costs associated with physical cash handling, and secure, real-time transaction settlements.

Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who had been in a coma for more than three years, has died, the royal household has announced. She was 47.

She collapsed in December 2022 while exercising her dogs. Her doctors attributed it to a severely irregular heartbeat, caused by a mycoplasma infection in her heart.

With her death, the Thai royal family has lost its most visibly accomplished member, and someone who might have played a pivotal role in an as yet unclear succession.

She was the eldest of King Vajiralongkorn's seven children, born on 7 December 1978 to his first wife and cousin, Princess Soamsawali.

In a significant development, the Centre has signed a historic tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Governments of Assam and Nagaland for the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the two northeastern states.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio.

Speaking on the occasion, HM Amit Shah said that the signing of the MoU is a historic moment and that it will enhance the prospects for oil and natural gas exploration in the country. He said the MoU has successfully removed a major hurdle in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a prosperous and developed North East.

Rudra Gaurav Shresth, a senior Indian Foreign Officer (IFS) and career diplomat, was appointed India’s next Ambassador to the Republic of Turkiye by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on June 11.

The MEA issued an official press release to announce Shresth’s new assignment. The 1999-batch IFS officer is currently serving as India’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Shresth assumed charge as the Indian Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran in May 2023, notes the official website of the Indian Embassy in Tehran.

Prior to his assignment in Tehran, Shresth was on a three-year deputation to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi. And before that, from 2016 to 2019, he served as India's High Commissioner to Mozambique.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India must deepen its international engagement to achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation and a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047.

Addressing the closing session of the 5th Annual Meeting of the India Global Innovation Connect, the Minister said India’s economic growth is closely linked to strategic partnerships with developed countries. He noted that such collaborations complement Indian industry and are essential for sustaining long-term growth.

Goyal said India has a clear roadmap to become a developed country by 2047 and estimated that the country’s economy could reach around USD 30 trillion by then. He stressed that this target cannot be achieved without expanding global engagement.

The Kerala Cabinet decided that the Indira guarantee of free bus travel for women will initially be available on KSRTC's ordinary services, said CM V D Satheesan.

Cabinet decided to implement the scheme from June 15 onwards.

Satheesan, at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting chaired by him, said that the concession, called 'Priyadarshini', in its current format will cost the KSRTC over Rs 60 crore per month or around Rs 800 crore annually, which will be paid by the government.

He further said that the concession will be available for women of all ages and all walks of life, irrespective of their financial background.

The CM said that once the financial health of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) improves by increasing its revenue generation, providing the concession on other services will be considered.

The Union Cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the Phase 2A of the Ahmedabad Metro rail project, covering 6.032 km and five stations at a cost of Rs 2,169.04 crore.

The new corridor will connect Koteshwar Road to the Airport, with stations at Ashram Road, Koteshwar Prachin Mandir, Sabarmati River, Sardar Nagar and Airport. Announcing the decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new corridor would also give a boost to the city’s infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games 2030. Once completed, the new corridor would increase Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar’s Metro network to 77.63km.

In a major policy reversal, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to remove the two-child restriction linked to government service.

Chief minister Dr Mohan Yadav, taking a major decision in the interest of government employees and aspirants seeking to government service, has taken cognizance of the matter and directed the withdrawal of the draft provision in the proposed Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Rules that prescribed a maximum limit of two children for eligibility for government employment.

He has also ordered the immediate removal of the draft from the official portal. It may be recalled that, under a decision taken by the then state government in 2001, the state government’s General Administration Department (GAD) had introduced a provision disqualifying candidates with more than two living children from direct recruitment and departmental appointments in government service.

The Centre has approved a Rs 1,359 crore project for four-laning of the Nagaur-Bikaner stretch of the National Highway-62 in Rajasthan, a statement said on Tuesday.

The project, to be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer model, is expected to significantly improve connectivity in western Rajasthan and boost economic activity in the region.

According to an official statement, the approval has come following efforts by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, under whose leadership the state is witnessing rapid strengthening of road infrastructure.

The four-lane highway will enhance connectivity between Nagaur and Bikaner and is likely to create new opportunities for investment and employment, it said.

The Government has approved 22 new applicants under the third round of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles. The Ministry of Textiles said a total of 96 companies have been selected under Round-3 of the scheme, with a committed investment of more than 12,822 crore rupees and a projected turnover exceeding 58,000 crore rupees. The approved applicants span key focus segments of the PLI Scheme, including Man-Made Fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics, and technical textiles, further strengthening India’s position as a global hub for value-added textile manufacturing