The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to discontinue the smart prepaid electricity meter system across the state and convert the already-installed devices to postpaid with immediate effect, Energy Minister A K Sharma said on Friday.

The move comes amid growing protests in several districts over alleged excess billing and irregularities linked to smart prepaid meters installed under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

Ravi Pandit, the co-founder and chairman of KPIT Technologies, passed away on Friday, the engineering research and design firm said in a filing. He was 76.

Pandit, along with Kishor Patil, founded the company in the 1990s, which now focuses on automotive software, electrification, and mobility solutions across 15 countries.

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested three founders of online gaming platform Gameskraft in an alleged fraud-linked money laundering case, officials said.

They said Deepak Singh, Prithvi Raj Singh and Vikas Taneja have been taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) described the recent US action against Iranian targets as a "love tap" while insisting that a ceasefire remains in effect despite the recent military exchanges between the two sides in the region.

Trump made the remarks in a phone conversation with Senior Political Correspondent for ABC News, Rachel Scott, during which he characterised the strikes as limited in scope.

Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, on Thursday dismissed reports about a possible arrangement between Iran and the United States, accusing American media outlets of spreading what he described as recurring misinformation campaigns, according to Iranian state media Press TV.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf mocked recent reports published by US-based outlet Axios, sarcastically referring to them as "Operation Fauxios."

The West Bengal Police are examining CCTV footage and have formed several teams to trace the assailants as part of its investigation into the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide, a senior officer said on Thursday.

The police are also probing whether contract killers were engaged in the murder of Chandranath Rath.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said that a potential deal with Iran to achieve a complete solution to the crisis in West Asia remains "very possible", adding that recent discussions between the two sides have been positive and sustained over the past two days.

Speaking at the Oval Office during an event previewing UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Trump said, "They want to make a deal badly, and we'll see if we get there. If we get there, they can't have nuclear weapons."

AirAsia X Bhd will buy 150 Canadian-made Airbus SE A220 aircraft, a multibillion-dollar sale for the European planemaker that will provide a boost for its manufacturing site in Quebec.

Tony Fernandes, co-founder of the Southeast Asian budget carrier, signed the agreement at the Airbus Canada factory in Mirabel, Quebec, where the plane is made. The announcement confirms an earlier Bloomberg News report.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday paid tribute to the valour and sacrifices of the Indian armed forces on the anniversary of Operation Sindoor.

He described the operation as a "powerful symbol of national resolve and preparedness," saying it reflected the armed forces' unmatched precision, seamless jointness and readiness to act decisively in safeguarding the nation.

The United States and Iran are reportedly nearing a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict and restarting diplomatic engagement.

According to Axios, the White House believes negotiations with Iran are moving closer to a breakthrough on a one-page memorandum of understanding (MoU).

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