Do you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for January 16. Aries March 21 – April 20A trip overseas is enjoyable and exciting. A relationship that has still not found a balance gradually acquires one. Continue with the healthy diet.Cosmic tip: Don’t worry about circumstances not in your control. Taurus April 21 – May 20A karmic cycle of opportunities is something that can be used to urge career forward into a faster gear. Health is good.Cosmic tip: Accept people at face value but don’t be naïve either. GeminiMay 21 – June 21The time for thinking is over and it’s time to act, but in a diplomatic manner. Elders take better care of health. Cosmic tip: Trust intuition which has guided you in the right direction. Cancer June 22 – July 23A business trip doubles up as a mini holiday, so enjoy it. Speak about how much the person means to you and how important this relationship is.Cosmic tip: Forgive, moving on in life. Leo July 24 - Aug 23A happy-go-lucky mind-set has no issues if plans don’t work out, having to re-consider an issue. This time is auspicious for buying or booking a vehicle.Cosmic tip: Make choices that give positive returns. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23A change manifests when not seeking it consciously, but has its roots in karma. Be non-committal when asked for your opinion.Cosmic tip: Do something, like further studies, if feeling a disadvantage at work. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Don’t complicate life, keep it simple and sweet. It’s so tempting to keep buying things on-line, but keeping it within limits is advisable. Cosmic tip: Make exclusive time for each other whenever possible. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22You are the driving force and enthusiasm behind the team doing so well; yet, karmic delays exert a pull which can’t be hurried up. Be patient. Cosmic tip: Keep a regular check on blood pressure. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Everyone has a past they re-visit sometimes. But is it wise to be so hooked onto it? Cosmic tip: Steer life in the direction you want to. The final destination depends on you. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20The language of love is complex; the body language reveals so much whether it is conveyed in words or not. Cosmic tip: Be upfront honestly, neither being a pushover nor trying to insidiously manipulate. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Now that you’ve said a firm ‘no’, the attitude may be strict and unbending. That is a mistake. Disagree, but continue being caring. Cosmic tip: Discuss a subject close to your heart openly and honestly. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Communication and good news are uppermost. Being possessive about the love of your life is understandable, but don’t overdo it. Feeling flattered can turn into resentment. Cosmic tip: Deal tactfully with a new friend.
16 January,2025 12:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseThe railways will operate exclusive local trains next week in view of the Coldplay concert to be held in Navi Mumbai. A full tariff paid local train has been booked by the organiers of the Coldplay shows to ferry those who have booked their tickets. Besides partnering with Indian Railways, the organisers have also tied up with Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport and CityFlo for buses. "One can board the train at the closest station. With no traffic to beat, and exclusive halts, this exclusive train will operate through Coldplay's much-awaited shows on January 18, 19 and 21, offering a hassle-free and eco-friendly way to get to the venue at DY Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai," a source said. The tickets of the train are available on popular app 'Book My Show' at Rs 500 and an additional internet handling fee per ticket will also be levied on it. The instructions make it clear that the ticket is only for the train journey and not for the concert and that the transport from station to the venue was not included and has to be borne by the passenger separately. The trains will operate from Goregaon at 2 pm and retur from Nerul at 11pm on the three days of the concert. The trains will halt at Andheri, Bandra, Chembur, Juinagar and Nerul stations. The return journey starting from Nerul includes halts at Juinagar, Chembur, Bandra, Andheri and Goregaon. Western Railway officials confirmed the development and stated that the organisers had booked exclusive trains after making due payments. Meanwhile, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has also organised green electric buses that will shuttle attendees from railway stations at Nerul and Juinagar. Besides this, Cityflo will have bus services from Goregaon, South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane, sources said.
15 January,2025 11:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply And Transport (BEST) Workers Union on Tuesday staged a protest to highlight the various issues faced by the employees and the undertaking as a whole, stressing the need to maintain a minimum self-owned fleet of 3,337 buses as per an earlier legal agreement with the undertaking. A large number of BEST workers were present at the meeting held at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. "The workers have served Mumbaikars by working with self-respect. They have fought and won all their rights by overcoming the difficulties they faced from time to time. However, if BEST does not get self-owned buses, thousands of workers will become unemployed, and the public BEST transport service provided to Mumbaikars will be closed. Therefore, BEST must maintain its 3,337 self-owned buses," Shashank Sharad Rao of BEST Workers' Union said. "The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should immediately provide funds to BEST to purchase self-owned buses. BEST should permanently stop the practice of getting buses on wet lease through private contractors, and the buses required to provide public passenger transport services to Mumbaikars at low fares should be owned by BEST and operated by BEST," Rao, General Secretary of the union said while addressing the workers at Azad Maidan on Wednesday. Rao also said that the BEST Workers Union will submit a memorandum to the state government regarding the above demands.
15 January,2025 09:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarParts of Thane, Mumbra and Kalwa will face a 12-hour water cut as the civic body has undertaken the repair work of an air valve on the Kalwa tapping along the 90-foot road on the main water channel from Thursday. Water supply will be closed in these areas from 9 am to 9 pm. The 12-hour shutdown will be imposed on the water supply of the Thane Municipal Corporation's as well as STEM authority's scheme to prevent leakage in the water channel. The water cut will affect Ghodbunder Road, Lokmanya Nagar, Vartak Nagar, Saket, Ritu Park, Jail, Gandhi Nagar, Rustomji, Siddhanchal, Indiranagar, Rupadevi, Srinagar, Samta Nagar, Siddheshwar, Intercity, Johnson, Mumbra and parts of Kalwa. The Thane Municipal Corporation has appealed to citizens to use water sparingly during this period. Meanwhile, on January 2, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner and Administrator, Bhushan Gagrani conducted an inspection at two key water management centres in Thane: the Pise Water Pumping Station and the Panjarapur Water Treatment Plant near Bhiwandi. During his visit, Gagrani reviewed the daily operations of these facilities, engaging in discussions with the officials, workers, and staff present. He also conducted an on-site inspection of essential infrastructure, including the electrical sub-stations, dams, purification plants, and water quality monitoring systems, ensuring that everything is functioning smoothly and efficiently. Gagrani praised the hard work and dedication of the officers, workers, and employees involved in providing uninterrupted, clean water supply to Mumbai, acknowledging their vital role in sustaining the city’s water needs. The inspection was accompanied by Water Engineer Shri Purushottam Malwade and other concerned officials, who were present to provide updates on the operations and progress of the various projects in place. Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claims that non-revenue water (NRW), which refers to water losses, has decreased from 38 per cent to 34 per cent over the past two years. However, this still equates to losing the equivalent of four months’ worth of water supply. Ideally, the loss rate should not exceed 15 per cent of the total supply. NRW encompasses water that is supplied but not paid for, including losses from leakage, unbilled water, illegal connections, faulty water meters, and inaccurate readings. Of the 3,950 million litres of water received daily, 1,500 million litres were lost—a significant amount.
15 January,2025 09:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to form a panel to explore the feasibility of phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles in Mumbai, reported the PTI. The court said that automobiles choking Mumbai's roads are a major contributor to the city's worsening air quality. The city has been witnessing Air Quality Index (AQI) in moderate category due to air pollution in Mumbai. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Girish Kulkarni directed the government to form a committee of experts and civil administrators within a fortnight to consider whether it will be feasible to phase out diesel- and petrol-based vehicles from Mumbai's roads and permit only those running on CNG or electricity, according to the PTI. The order was passed on a public interest litigation that the Bombay High Court had taken up on its own in 2023 over the city's poor AQI. The court had heard the matter on January 9. In its detailed order made available on Wednesday, the bench said vehicular pollution was a major contributor to worsening air quality in the city. "The roads in Mumbai Metropolitan Region are choked with vehicles and density of the vehicles on the roads is alarming, which, in result, compounds the problems relating to air pollution and makes all measures taken to mitigate the same inadequate," the court said, as per the PTI. It emphasized the need for a thorough study to be conducted on whether it would be "appropriate or feasible to phase out diesel and petrol-driven vehicles". The bench said that the committee that would be formed by the government shall conduct its study within three months and submit its report. The Bombay High Court also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to ensure that city bakeries using wood and coal convert their units to run on gas or other green fuels within six months instead of the one-year deadline set by the authorities, as per the PTI. "In our opinion, urgent and effective measures are required to be taken against such bakery units so that such units which are in large numbers in the city, do not generate air pollution and more particularly, limit hazardous particulate matter," the bench noted, PTI reported on Wednesday. The bench said no new approvals to open bakeries or similar businesses running on coal or wood shall be granted henceforth, and new licences shall be granted after complying with the condition that they use only green fuel. The bench also directed the civic body and MPCB to install pollution indicators at construction sites. The court posted the matter for further hearing on February 13. (with PTI inputs)
15 January,2025 09:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA porter at Mumbai Airport was allegedly verbally abused on January 9 by Ambadas Danve, Leader of Opposition of the Legislative Council (upper house). According to sources, the complainant works as a porter with an agency that provides services to the airport and has not been directly recruited by the airport. "On the evening of January 9, Danve was scheduled to take a flight to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar from Mumbai Airport and was running late. By the time he reached the airport, the flight was already on the taxiway. His boarding pass had not been prepared by the person assigned for it owing to which the legislator missed his flight. Danve got furious and started abusing the porter as the boarding pass was not ready," a source said. Danve was scheduled to fly on IndiGO flight 6E5392 (BOM - IXU). The flight was scheduled to leave at 7.25 PM but was delayed and left the boarding gate at 9.12 pm, eventually taking off at 9.39 pm, sources said. When mid-day spoke to Danve about the incident, he said, “According to protocol, my office had already intimated the airport about the travel plan. Usually according to protocol, the airport officials inform the airline of the travel plan and keep things ready before our arrival. My PA (personal assistant) called the airport at 2.30 pm, then again at 4.30 pm and once more at 5 pm. My PA was informed all the three times that everything was in place. We had also blocked seat 1A of the aircraft for my travel.” He added, “When i arrived at the airport, I found out that the airline was not aware of my travel plan. Usually when I travel, the airline is always aware of my travel plan as the airport staff informs about it. Also, the airport official who was supposed to print my boarding pass did not keep it ready before my arrival. We went to the boarding gate. I could see the aircraft in front of me but the boarding gate was closed. And as I did not have a boarding pass, I was not allowed inside. If I knew that this would have happened, I would have printed the boarding pass myself. My office books tickets and other facilities. How difficult would it have been for me to print the boarding pass?” The legislator admitted that he had indeed used abusive language while expressing his anger. "That person is someone who regularly receives me at the airport and I know him. I was angry as I had to miss my flight due to negligence. I used three-four abusive words but did not raise my hand on him at any point of time. I was angry. Later, his senior officials came to the spot and started the process of initiating action against this individual. I requested the officials to not initiate action against him or terminate him from his job and I also informed them that I do not wish to file an official complaint against him,” he told mid-day. Later, Danve completed the formalities of the mobile boarding pass cancellation and left the airport. He also shared a photo of this receipt with midday.
15 January,2025 08:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariA new prototype of a Vande Bharat sleeper coach train underwent a trial with a top speed of 130 kmph between Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central on Wednesday, Western Railway officials said, PTI reported. As part of the ongoing trials, the 16-coach train set with swanky interiors reached Mumbai Central at around 1:50 pm and departed for Ahmedabad at 2:45 pm, a senior WR official. The train was scheduled to reach Mumbai Central at 12.40 pm, but it reached around one hour and 10 minutes late due to some "unavoidable" reasons, officials said. “We conducted a Confirmatory Oscillograph Car Run (COCR) trial of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train at a speed of 130 kmph between Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central,” a senior Western Railway official said. The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will issue a final certificate after the analysis of the train. RDSO is responsible for the design and standardisation of railway equipment in the country. WR said that the semi-high-speed train has 11 AC-3 tier coaches, 4 AC-2 tier coaches, and one first-class AC coach. These are equipped with features like charging ports for mobile devices, a foldable snack table, an integrated lighting system, and a laptop charging setup, PTI stated. The train has a combined gangway for smooth movement, dog boxes at both ends, adequate linen space, and 38 special seats for attendants, stated PTI. Additionally, all coaches, as per PTI, are HL3 compliant for fire safety and include Braille navigation for visually challenged passengers. The AC first-class coach has 24 seats, and the second AC coaches have 48 seats each. Western Railway said, among the 3rd AC coaches, five have 67 seats each, and four have 55 seats each. Western Railway now has its first 'All-Women Maintenance Team' In a first, the Western Railway now has its first 'All-Women Maintenance Team' in Mumbai, an official statement said on Saturday. In a significant move that highlights the changing role of women in traditionally male-dominated industries, the Western Railway has launched an all-women maintenance team in its Mumbai Suburban Traction (TRD) department, it said. Over the past month, the all-women team has undergone thorough training to handle and maintain high-voltage equipment, including 25kV and 110kV systems at the Mahalaxmi Traction Substation. After completing their training, the team has been fully equipped to work independently while following strict safety protocols, officials said. The initiative marks a major step forward in promoting gender equality and empowering women in technical roles, the officials said. (With inputs from PTI)
15 January,2025 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted India's spiritual culture is deeply rooted in the spirit of service and his government has been working selflessly for people's welfare for more than a decade, news agency PTI reported. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating an ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, PM Modi, who assumed office for a third time in June last year, emphasised his government has launched a slew of welfare measures such as building toilets, homes for the poor and providing LPG connections and medical insurance to citizens. "The spirit of service is a symbol of secularism. The main foundation of our spiritual culture is the spirit of service. India is not just a piece of land surrounded by geographical boundaries. It is a living land, living culture. Knowledge is spirituality and if we want to understand India, we have to imbibe spirituality," he underlined in his speech. According to PTI, in his address, PM Modi said the followers of ISKCON, a global bhakti movement founded on the Bhagavad Gita teachings, are globally connected to each other by their devotion to Lord Krishna. He added that the spirit of service propagated by the ISKCON movement inspires the youth and helps them create a sensitive society which promotes human values. "It inspires people to heal in India and look after their well-being," the PM maintained. Modi said true service is symbolised by self-less human endeavour where there is no other interest and described India as an "extraordinary, wonderous land", PTI reported. PM Modi commissions INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, INS Vaghsheer in Mumbai Indian Navy warships INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer were commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is becoming a major maritime power and is being recognised as a reliable and responsible partner in the world. Speaking after the commissioning of three naval warships, PM Modi said India has always supported an open, secure, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. A destroyer, a frigate and a submarine were commissioned together for the first time on Wednesday, he noted, adding that all the three are 'Made in India'. The 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative has made the country strong and self-reliant, the prime minister said. "We should become a global partner in securing the sea from drugs, weapons and terrorism and make it safe and prosperous. India is becoming a major maritime power and is being recognised as a reliable and responsible partner," he said. (With PTI inputs)
15 January,2025 06:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 25-year-old man died while climbing down the steps of Talasari's Mahalakshmi temple in Palghar district in Maharashtra, PTI reported. As per PTI, Milan Dombre, a local resident, was returning after climbing 900 steps of the temple and taking a 'darshan' of the goddess on Tuesday when he suddenly collapsed, his family members claimed. He was then rushed to the Kasa Rural Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead. Dombre's family members suspect that he had a heart attack, but Dr Hemant Behere, a medical officer at the hospital, claimed that the cause of death can be ascertained only after the autopsy report becomes available. The Mahalakshmi temple, which is a popular pilgrimage site, has heavy footfall on Tuesdays, Fridays and the weekend, PTI reported. Kerala CM: Pilgrims without online registration will also get darshan at Sabarimala The Kerala government announced on Tuesday that pilgrims visiting the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala will be allowed to have darshan even if they do not register online, reported news agency PTI. This marks a reversal from the earlier decision of the Kerala government to provide darshan only through online registration during the upcoming pilgrimage season amidst widespread protests. The announcement by Kerala CM came in the Assembly while replying to a submission by V Joy (CPI-M) on the matter. "Facilities for smooth darshan will be ensured for pilgrims who come without (online) registration as well...Darshan will be ensured to those who do not register online and those who come without knowing about the system," he said in the Kerala State Assembly. He said that similar provisions had been successfully implemented during last year's pilgrimage season for the hill temple. While the Chief Minister did not explicitly clarify whether the spot booking system would continue alongside the virtual queue, he mentioned that an evaluation meeting held on October 5 discussed the possibility of allowing spot bookings for pilgrims in Sabarimala. The CM also explained about measures to be taken to ensure a secure and smooth darshan for all pilgrims reaching the hill temple. Vijayan highlighted that the virtual queue system provides a digital record of pilgrims, which enhances safety and aids in identifying individuals in case of emergencies. (With PTI inputs)
15 January,2025 04:37 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentUnder its '100 Days Action' campaign, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a 'Garbage-Free Hours' initiative across areas under its jurisdiction from Wednesday. The cleanliness drive will be held from Monday to Friday for two hours, starting 11 am. The Mumbai civic body will deploy marshals at the locations where the campaign has been launched, and penalties will be imposed on those flouting the cleanliness rules. As a part of this initiative, a cleanliness drive was conducted on Wednesday in all the administrative wards with additional human resource and the use of equipment. Locals, school and college students, and various institutions and organisations actively participated in the cleanliness drive in large numbers on Wednesday. Collective cleaning efforts were carried out in lanes, railway station premises, religious sites, marketplaces, commercial areas, tourist spots, crowded locations, and street food hubs. Speaking on the initiative, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar said, "Under this campaign, abandoned vehicles will be dealt with, and garbage underneath parked vehicles will be removed. Discarded, broken materials will be disposed of. Roads, medians, and public walls covered in dust, stains, posters, stickers, or graffiti will be cleaned. The stone edges of footpaths and medians will be thoroughly washed. Unnecessary vegetation along roads, footpaths, and medians will be trimmed. Public restrooms in the selected areas will also be cleaned thoroughly."
15 January,2025 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurvePrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India is increasing its capabilities in space as well as deep sea as both sectors carry important significance in the future, reported news agency ANI. He dedicated the three "Made in India" frontline naval combatants INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer to the nation. PM Modi emphasised the government's focus on developing faraway islands and enhancing maritime power at the event. "We have also focused on our faraway islands. Regular monitoring of those islands where no one lives is also being done. Not only this, a new identity of the islands is also being created. They are being given new names...We all know how important both the infinite space and the deep sea are in the future. Therefore, today India is increasing its capabilities in both space and deep sea," he said. PM Modi also noted that the upcoming Samudrayaan project will take scientists to a depth of 6,000 meters in the sea, a feat achieved by only a few countries. "Our Samudrayaan project is going to take scientists to a depth of 6000 meters in the sea where only a few countries have been able to reach. Our government is leaving no stone unturned in working on any possibility of the future. It is very important that we get rid of the symbols of slavery and our Navy has shown leadership in this too. The Navy has linked its flag to the glorious tradition of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Prime Minister Modi added. The commissioning of three major naval combatants marks a significant leap forward in realising India's vision of becoming a global leader in defence manufacturing and maritime security, ANI stated. With an indigenous content of 75 per cent, INS Surat is well equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities. Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau, INS Nilgiri incorporates advanced features for enhanced survivability, seakeeping, and stealth, reflecting the next generation of indigenous frigates. INS Vaghsheer represents India's growing expertise in submarine construction and has been constructed in collaboration with the Naval Group of France, ANI stated. (With inputs from ANI)
15 January,2025 02:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
