The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday barred Paytm Payments Bank Ltd from accepting deposits or allowing credit transactions, or top-ups, in customer accounts or prepaid instruments – such as wallets and FASTags – linked to those accounts, after February 29.

Customers can, however, continue to utilise balances from their accounts, including savings and current “without restriction (and) up to their available” limit, the Reserve Bank order said.

In addition, the nodal accounts of Paytm’s parent company, One97 Communications Ltd., and Paytm Payments Bank Ltd., or PBBL, have been terminated by the central bank.

The RBI’s order cited “persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in the bank” that were flagged after a comprehensive audit of its systems by external parties.

It is understood this order does not affect Paytm’s Unified Payment Interface, or UPI, arm.

Neither the company nor its founder/CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, have responded so far.

All of this follows a March 2022 order in which PBBL was directed to stop taking onboard new customers “with immediate effect”.

Essentially the RBI action is against the banking operations of Paytm, meaning customers can continue to use Paytm as a digital payment option so long as their account is linked to an external bank.

In December, One97 Communication laid off hundreds of employees across verticals after it began using AI, or Artificial Intelligence, to automate certain processes in a bid to up cost-cutting.

READ | Paytm Lays Off 100s After Induction Of AI To Cut Costs

The use of AI is meant to reduce costs, improve efficiency of operations, and remove redundant tasks, the firm said.

Echo, the latest Marvel series released with a positive reception. The series starring Alaqua Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio and others revolves around Maya Lopez, picking up after the events of Hawkeye. Bringing the character to life meant going back to the comic book’s pages. Costume design is key to translating the visuals into live-action. Ambre Wringley was tasked with fleshing out the unique costumes of Echo. She offers insights on accurate costumes, creating a character’s personal style and more in a press release.

Describing her experience of working with Alaqua Cox, Ambre says, “She was very warmhearted, and professional and communicated easily about the fit and feel of her costumes which is a designer’s dream. I look forward to seeing where her acting career takes her.”

Further delving into her experience with Marvel Studios, she says, “Marvel is exciting to work for and I appreciate the universes they’re creating. These characters are beloved by people all over the world and seeing them jump from the page to the screen is a very special moment to be a part of. I hope to continue bringing the characters to life as authentically as possible for as long as Marvel and its fans will let me.”

Echo is pretty much a standalone Marvel series that deviates from the Avengers’ and multiversal narrative. It has a grounded story that spotlights the Choctaw Nation and its people. Opening up about a “beautiful once-in-a-lifetime moment” while filming the stickball scene in the second episode, Ambre reveals, “This scene was very complex and took place in a specific but creative era. Our prep time for it was quick and my focus was on getting as much detail into the costumes as possible… I thought of nothing else for 3 weeks. My costume crew and I reached the shooting location and we were strictly locked in on getting it right and ensuring the representatives of each Nation were pleased and excited with their characters’ looks.”

She adds, “I can still remember the sound of the grass as we walked, our brains and bodies maxed out but still running on the adrenaline of it all. We turned left, I lifted my head from thought, squinted into the set and I just stopped. It was seeing the characters all in their spots, in motion, on location with hair and makeup and the set decoration and just the size of it all was stunning. We stood there staring in awe and this smile spread across both our faces and we giggled in shock. I remember saying to her ‘In what world would we ever have imagined getting to see this?’ We were standing in front of a 1000AD stick ball battle with Chiefs and Tribal Representatives from multiple Nations and we had helped make it happen.”

Echo is currently streaming on OTT.

The makers of Queen of Tears share photos from the first script reading of the Korean drama.

Written by Park Ji-eun, the writer of Crash Landing on You, My Love From the Star, and The Producers, Queen of Tears will tell the love story of Hong Hae-in, the wealthy heiress of Queens Group’s department stores, and Baek Hyun-woo, the son of the head of Yongduri and known as the “supermarket prince.” The couple encounters a crisis three years into their marriage and embarks on a miraculous journey to rediscover their love.

The lead actors at the reading included Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Lee Joo-bin, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, and others, showcasing their performances with passion and dedication in a cosy environment.

Kim Soo-hyun will play the role of Baek Hyun-woo, who feels overwhelmed by his wife’s chaebol family’s influence but maintains a composed facade.

Meanwhile, Kim Ji-won embodies the character of Hong Hae-in, the CEO of Queens Group’s department store, with her sarcastic voice and piercing gaze.

Park Sung-hoon heightens the tension in the narrative as he portrays investment expert Yoon Eun-sung, who develops a strong bond with Queens Group.

Kwak Dong-yeon plays the role of Hong Hae-in’s younger brother Hong Soo-chul and Lee Joo-bin portrays the role of Hong Soo-chul’s wife Cheon Da-hye who brings joy to the room with their adorable and affectionate moments together.

Check out the photos here: