NewsBytes

The Union Cabinet has approved a Bill related to promotion and regulation of online gaming, and the government is likely to bar platforms offering any online money gaming service, a source said on Tuesday. The Bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, the source added. “The Cabinet has approved the Bill to regulate online gaming platforms that involve real money. The government is trying to table the bill in Parliament on Wednesday,” the source said on condition of anonymity. The Bill has taken into account significant mental health issues among users of online games, particularly those involving monetary incentives. Sources said that the decision has come following observations from the government that online money gaming provides means to facilitate money laundering, fraudulent financial transactions and cybercrime, among others.

India-Chins relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities in the last 10 months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. Modi said this in a social media post after visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on him. The PM also referred to his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a multilateral event in the Russian city of Kazan in October last year. "Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities," he said. "I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity," Modi added.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked what was wrong if the President herself seeks views through a presidential reference on whether fixed timelines can be imposed on governors and the president for acting on Bills passed by state legislatures. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai posed the question when the counsel representing the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments questioned the very maintainability of the presidential reference. Both the southern states are ruled by non-BJP parties. "When the president herself is seeking reference, then what is the problem...? Are you really serious about contesting this?" the bench asked while beginning a crucial hearing on the reference.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Tuesday signed a deal with social media platform TikTok to promote its landscape, cultural heritage and adventure experience among a global audience. The deal was signed in the presence of Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Deepak Pandey, said a press release issued by the board during a programme on Tuesday.  “The initiative focuses on #LifetimeExperiences, a creator-led campaign that will feature a dedicated in-app experience designed to help travellers discover the country's must-see destinations and hidden gems,” the press release added. As per the agreement, NTB and TikTok will work jointly with both local and globally renowned travel creators, inviting and supporting them to explore Nepal and document their journeys through captivating short-form videos that showcase the country's beauty and culture to audiences worldwide.