A 60-year-old woman died after a branch from a banyan tree collapsed in a garden in Ghatkopar’s Garodia Nagar, 90 Feet Road on Thursday evening. Another woman was injured and admitted to the civic-run Rajawadi Hospital. The women, identified as Minakshi, 60, and Vandana Shah, 56, were injured. Minakshi was declared dead at Rajawadi Hospital, while Vandana Shah is receiving treatment. The two women had come to the garden for their evening walk. A civic official stated that the garden is privately owned and managed by the local residential association. A source from the BMC’s N Ward office said, “We issued a notice to the association in April to trim the tree. At that time, the tree was healthy.” Meanwhile, a Garden Department official said, “We will confirm all documents to check if the notice was served, and then we will take action.” Meanwhile, four people were injured in a fire that broke out in a scrap godown at Darukhana Mandvi, near Rey Road. According to the civic Disaster Control Report, the fire was reported at 3.25 pm on Thursday and was extinguished by 3.56 pm. The fire was contained to electric wiring, scrap materials, and other combustible items. The four injured were taken to the state-run JJ hospital. Rajendra Prasad, 40, is in critical condition, while Babaulal, 35, Dharmendra Gaund, 40, and Mohammad Riyaz, 3.
10 January,2025 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA two-year-old girl, Vidhi Agrahari, lost her life after two college students jostled and accidentally fell on her in Juhu on January 2. An FIR has been registered in the matter and the police are investigating the case further. Vidhi’s father, Vinay Agrahari, told mid-day, “My wife warned them that our daughter was playing and that she was too small and could get hurt, but they ignored her warnings. They intentionally continued their rough behaviour and killed my daughter.” Vidhi, who lived with her parents at Amrutlalwadi on Juhu Church Road, was just days away from her second birthday, which her family had planned to celebrate with a grand gathering of family and friends. One of the college students involved is Harshad Gaurav. Both are residents of the Juhu area. The Juhu police have registered an FIR against Harshad Gaurav and initiated an investigation into the matter. Vinay Agrahari recounted the incident, saying, “On January 2, around 1.30 pm, I was at my shop while my daughter was playing outside with her mother. Harshad Gaurav and his friend, who live in the area, were fighting and running behind each other. My wife, Vidya, told them not to jostle near our child, but they didn’t listen. While running, Gaurav accidentally pushed my daughter, and she fell. Instead of stopping, they continued making fun and eventually fell on her, crushing her.” He added, “My daughter suffered serious head injuries. I rushed her to Cooper Hospital, but doctors declared her dead before admission. She would have turned two on January 8, and we had planned a big celebration. These youths took our happiness for their amusement. I want justice for my daughter.” Police Inspector Mahadeo Kunbhar of Juhu police station, currently handling the Senior PI Charge, said, “We have registered the FIR and issued a notice to the accused to present themselves for investigation. We will take appropriate action.”
10 January,2025 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaOn top of the news A man reads the newspaper under a patch of sunlight in a chawl in Parel A reading haven A moment from a previous reading session of the club As part of the Architecture and Design Film Festival starting today, city-based reading club Juhu Reads will be hosting a reading session at NCPA on January 12. Focussing on the idea of availability and accessibility of public spaces for community-based activities, the co-curator of the club, Shrishti Khanna (inset) told us, “This session is just another way of continuing what we’ve been doing with Juhu Reads — recreating public spaces as places of connection and leisure. The festival’s themes of sustainability, design, and public spaces feel like a natural extension of what we’ve been doing. It will be a silent reading circle where anyone can bring anything they’d like to read. The focus isn’t on formal discussions but rather on coming together in stillness and turning a public space into a little haven.” Nostalgia times with Shabana and Kaifi Azmi Kaifi Azmi (right) with his daughter, Shabana Azmi. Pic courtesy/Instagram On the occasion of Kaifi Azmi’s birth anniversary (January 14), Bhendi Bazaar-based cultural association, Urdu Markaz is organising a Kaifi Azmi Walk from Madanpura to Byculla this Sunday, to be led by his daughter, Shabana Azmi. “This is the first edition of a six-month-long series of culture walks that we have planned, starting with Kaifi Azmi. The idea is to take people through iconic spots and places in the city which have a connection to him. Kaifi Azmi was an extremely important figure in the literary scene of the past century, and this is our way of honouring his indelible impact on the cultural fabric of the country,” Zubair Azmi, founder, told this diarist. The battle of poets begins After creating a platform for spoken verse enthusiasts to find a creative outlet, Tape A Tale founder Kopal Khanna (below) is now taking the initiative to the next level. Collaborating with stand-up comic Samay Raina, Khanna has set out to begin an inaugural poetry show, India’s Kavya Samrat. “We have already received a lot of submissions, and hope to shoot it sometime this month for a release early this year in Mumbai. As a platform, we have always hosted new talent who could send us emails, and reach out for an opportunity. This is a turn to a wider search akin to Indian Idol, but for poetry. We will have entrants from all over the country competing across several rounds,” Khanna told this diarist. Those who are interested can check @tapeatale on Instagram for more details. We run the show Akshada Patil (right) in a moment from a previous running session City-based runner Akshada Patil is inviting Mumbaikars to a lively party in Juhu this weekend. The kicker? You’d have to finish a 4km run to be on the guestlist. “The Run and Rave concept has been around for some time in Europe. I reckoned Mumbai could use a similar incentive to get off their couches,” Patil told us. Those who wish to participate in this unique initiative can log on to @overlydaa on Instagram. Nature on our mind A volunteer clears a trail of dry leaves (right) a signboard at the forest With the increase in pollution levels and a highly unpredictable weather, we think it is high time to start reparations with nature, starting with the lungs of our ecosystem — forests. iNaturewatch Foundation, an organisation working in the field of urban biodiversity recently put up sign boards warning people of forest fires at the Taloja Hill forest in Kharghar. “We have been engaged in the process of reforestation and eco-restoration for quite some time now. Every year, during the winter months we hear news of forest fires due to the collection of dry foliage on the ground. Last month, a fire burnt close to 100 saplings that we had planted in the forest. We have placed signboards warning people of potential forest fire activities in both Marathi and English. We have also cleared forest trails with dry grass and marked spaces where birds reside, so as to preserve the biodiversity of the forest,” Dr V Shubhalaxmi (inset), founder, signed off.
10 January,2025 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a survey of commercial slums and plans to start collecting property tax from the next financial year. After waiving property tax on residential properties up to 500 square feet, the civic body has been losing around R300 crore in revenue annually. Meanwhile, it has launched various mega projects worth approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore. To fund these projects, the BMC is now exploring new revenue sources, including collecting property tax from commercial slums. Until 2006-07, the BMC charged Rs 100 annually as a service fee for residential slum structures and Rs 250 for commercial ones. In 2016, it revised these charges to a range of Rs 2,400 to Rs 18,000 annually, depending on the area and type of hut. At that time, then-BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta proposed levying property taxes on slum properties in the budget. However, in 2018, the BMC abolished property tax for residential properties up to 500 square feet, putting the collection of property tax from slums on hold. Now, the BMC has decided to resume this tax collection for commercial slums. The survey of commercial slums is currently underway. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Vishwas Shankarwar said, “Yes, we have started a survey of the commercial slums for property tax. After the survey, we will know how many commercial slums are in the city.” Another official explained that the property tax will be calculated based on the size and ready reckoner rate of the area. The BMC estimates that this tax could generate around Rs 200 crore in revenue. As of December 2024, the BMC has collected Rs 5,847.68 crore in property tax, achieving 68 per cent of its target for the financial year. The collection target for 2024-25 is approximately Rs 6,200 crore. Notably, the BMC collected Rs 433.87 crore in just two days—Rs 173.59 crore on Monday, December 30, 2024, and Rs 260.28 crore on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. However, the decision to tax commercial slums has drawn criticism from stakeholders. Sureshchandra Rajhans, president of the Congress Slum Cell in Mumbai, said, “At the moment, not much is known about this proposal. However, this decision will be unfair to a slum dweller who runs a small shop in his house. It is wrong to compare a shop being run in a slum house with one being operated in a building.”
10 January,2025 07:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveCommuters are struggling with overcrowding after the Mumbai Central-Valsad fast double-decker passenger train was replaced with old single-decker rakes. The crowding has become the new norm, prompting passengers beyond Virar to file complaints with Western Railway (WR). They are demanding the introduction of newer double-decker rakes on the route to alleviate congestion. Prathamesh Prabhutendolkar, a regular commuter, told mid-day, “The train was already crowded when it was a double-decker. Now, with the same crowd but fewer seats, the situation has worsened. Earlier, the train could accommodate at least 300 passengers at a time. Now, the capacity has been halved.” He further said, “The previous double-decker rakes had wider doors, making boarding and alighting easier. With the old rakes now in use, the door size has also decreased, adding to the inconvenience. During the up journey from Valsad to Mumbai Central, it’s challenging to board the train from Dahanu to Borivli due to the crowd. Similarly, disembarking from Boisar to Borivli is equally difficult. In the down journey from Mumbai Central to Valsad, the rush makes it tough to board right from Virar to Boisar.” Prabhutendolkar added, “We, as commuters, have been campaigning for newer Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) double-decker non-AC coaches on this train. Another train on the same route till Ahmedabad already has LHB double-decker AC coaches. We’ve even emailed the railway minister regarding this. The old single-decker Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches currently in use are outdated and inadequate.” Western Railway Chief PRO Vineet Abhishek said, “Safety and convenience of our passengers is our top most priority. The codal life of the double-decker coaches had been completed, and hence it was replaced with normal ICF coaches. To enhance passenger convenience, we have increased the number of coaches from 18 to 22.”
10 January,2025 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariThe Bombay High Court on Monday (January 6) directed the Mumbai police to examine the conduct of a police sub-inspector (PSI) attached to the Samta Nagar police station in Kandivli West, who allegedly sent a Facebook friend request to a woman petitioner whose theft complaint he was investigating. According to the woman, she had filed two complaints with the Samta Nagar police station in August, 2024, for theft, but no progress was made in the investigation. She said that her mother had also approached Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar with a complaint, but no response was received. Frustrated by the inaction, the woman’s mother moved the HC, further alleging that the PSI investigating the theft case sent a friend request to her daughter on Facebook instead of conducting a proper inquiry. On Monday, the HC directed the Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to take appropriate action against the PSI. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela K Gokhale remarked, “We fail to understand how an officer investigating the case of the petitioner, a lady, can send such a friend request to her or, in fact, to anybody whose case he is investigating.” The court’s order stated, “Considering the manner in which the case is being handled, we direct the DCP of the zone to look concerned into the petitioner’s complaint and take appropriate steps. The DCP must also examine the conduct of the PSI who sent a friend request to the petitioner and take necessary action.” Advocate Vijay Kantharia, representing the complainant, argued that the police acted “high-handedly, unreasonably, and illegally” by deliberately failing to register an FIR for the theft of the petitioner’s movable properties. He added, “The petitioner had no choice but to approach the Bombay HC after being denied justice.”
10 January,2025 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe American pit bull abandoned on Mahim beach on Wednesday morning appears to be experiencing abdominal swelling, according to pet lover Bhavesh Natekar, who is taking care of the canine. Natekar suspects this is the reason why the animal was deserted, resulting in two people, including a child, being injured. Natekar took the dog to a Mahim-based veterinarian on Wednesday after which some blood tests were conducted. “It seems that the dog was abandoned because it has health complications. I think that the dog is traumatised as every time it sees a person with a stick in his or her hand, it starts barking continuously,” Natekar said. Pit Bull at Mahim beach. Pics/Satej Shinde On Wednesday, Natekar took the American pit bull home so that it could be taken care of properly. He added, “A portion of the dog’s abdomen appears swollen, and the vet suspects it is ailing. Blood samples have been collected and the reports are awaited.” Natekar also said that the canine was very friendly and playful. “For now, I have decided to take care of the dog and only once it is completely fit, I will look for a pet parent,” he added. Natekar said he had seen a rising trend where exotic dog breeds were abandoned by their owners because they were unable to take care of their pets. On Thursday, this newspaper reported about how a child was severely injured after a man in his late thirties abandoned a pit bull dog at Mahim beach before disappearing. Bhavesh Natekar and the pit bull at his Mahim home Fortunately, mid-day photojournalist Satej Shinde happened to be around and intervened, sustaining minor injuries himself in the process. According to Shinde, who fended off the canine with his leg, as the chaos unfolded, the man could still be seen a great distance away, seemingly recording everything on his phone. The situation was eventually brought under control thanks to a local, who tied the dog to a beached boat.
10 January,2025 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued 1,342 commercial pilot licences (CPLs) in 2024, a 17 per cent dip from the 2023 figure of 1,622. While DGCA hasn’t clarified the reason for this, the Government Aviation Training Institute’s MD has attributed it to a shortage of certified flight instructors. The situation is bound to create a bottleneck as aircraft ordered by various commercial airlines are on their way. Captain Jati Dhillon, managing director of the Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI), explaining the drop in the number of CPLs issued told mid-day, “The major factor in play is the shortage of instructors in India. The DGCA takes too long to make an instructor. It takes eight to 10 months to become an instructor. Also, many airlines have come up and lots of experienced people have left flying schools to join them, reducing the number of instructors in the country.” Commercial aircraft at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. File Pic/Satej Shinde He added, “In other parts of the world, it takes three to four months to make an instructor.” Explaining the time required to get a CPL in India compared to other countries, Captain Dhillon added, “It takes a year to get a CPL in other countries whereas it takes two years in India. The reason for this is again the shortage of instructors and aircraft in India. In India, CPL exams are held every three months whereas abroad, the exams are held practically every day. Overseas, it is an on-demand examination with an online process to fill up the form and request an examination. Whenever one wants to take a CPL exam abroad, one has to go to the examination centre and appear for the test. The authorities in India have now started holding exams every month but there are only 50 seats available at a time.” Instructor tests According to Captain Dhillon, approximately 70 aspiring instructors are waiting to be tested. “This is exactly where the problem lies. Surprisingly, these individuals have been waiting for more than three months. This has a cascading effect. We will have few instructors and it will take longer for them to become CFIs [certified flight instructors] and CFI-Cs [certified flight instructors-commercial]. And without CFIs, flight schools cannot function. Apart from this, the DGCA is not even transparent about the number of CFIs at flight schools. They should make a dashboard, which updates every month with the current number of Instructors and CFIs with each flight school. If a flight school has one CFI, they can only operate for eight hours due to the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTLs) but if there are more, they can be rotated in shifts so that the flight school can function for longer.” More pilots needed The GATI managing director stated that India needs to produce 2,000 CPL-holding pilots every year for the next ten years considering the number of aircraft ordered by airlines to meet the demand. This means, India needs to produce 20,000 pilots to meet the demand in the next 10 years and provide relief to existing pilots. Hemanth D P, CEO of Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy, said, “India can actually cater to local demand and even foreign countries by adopting deregulation and the best global practices.” He added that would help in the speedy induction of training aircraft which, can take up to six months due to multiple NOCs and approvals from regulatory bodies. “More slots and speedy clearance are also required for class I medical exams and certification,” he said. Aspiring pilots need to clear an examination for radio telephony proficiency, which used to be conducted by the Department of Telecommunications. Now, the examination will be conducted by DGCA. “The move will ease pilot certification processes and support the increasing demand for aviation professionals,” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said in an X post last month. Other factors An aviation industry analyst, on the condition of anonymity, said “Shortage of spare parts and aircraft, disruption in aviation gasoline supply in March and April among other factors, slowed down training at flying schools in the country. This, in turn, impacted the number of licences issued last year.” The analyst added, “When the new aircraft start coming in, they will require pilots to fly them. This is when passengers will be affected as well. If the number of pilots is inadequate, flights will be delayed as the pilots who are supposed to land at a particular airport will need time for pre-flight briefings as well as other aviation criteria that need to be met before a flight. They need to accept a certain amount of fuel before flights, which happens only when pilots reach the airport. At some airports, refuelling is done by fuel trucks, which means that it takes more time. The cabin [cockpit] needs to be prepared for flights as well. Apart from this, pre-flight checklists as well as aircraft inspection need to be done by pilots before flights. If any of these procedures are delayed, there could be cascading effects.” An email query sent to the DGCA went unanswered by press time. Aircraft demand and supply >> Since 2018, Indian airlines have ordered 1,742 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, of which 78 have been received with the rest likely to start arriving from mid-2025. >> IndiGo ordered the most aircraft, 1,000, in April 2024. They are expected to arrive from Airbus between mid-2027 and 2032. Air India placed an order for 570 aircraft in June 2023, and they are expected to start arriving from mid-2025 onwards. The order includes 290 Boeing and 250 Airbus aircraft. Akasa Air has placed orders for 226 aircraft. Between 2021 and 2023, the airline placed orders for 76 Boeing 737 MAX planes, of which 22 were received. The rest are expected to arrive between 2027 and 2032. Apart from the 76 aircraft, the airline also placed an order for 150 more 737 MAX aircraft, which are expected to arrive between 2027 and 2032. >> SpiceJet CEO Ajay Singh recently announced plans to buy 75 more aircraft, taking the fleet past the 100 mark. Orders, however, are yet to be placed.
10 January,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariDeputy CM and NCP boss Ajit Pawar has defended his party’s minister Dhananjay Munde whose resignation has been demanded in connection with the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Pawar asserted that three agencies were probing the murder and those found guilty would not be protected. “I have met CM Devendra Fadnavis and told him that the guilty should be taken to task without considering their political affiliation and the higher position they hold [in the government]. We cannot tolerate such gory incidents,” said Pawar in Pune, while breaking silence over the murder that took place a month ago. Dy CM Ajit Pawar met CM Fadnavis about allegations made by BJP leaders. File pic The incident has generated political heat in the very first two months of the new government’s term. Not only the Opposition, but also ruling party MLAs have demanded Munde's resignation, citing his bond with the crime's alleged mastermind Walmik Karad. Ajit Pawar said the leaders had the right to express themselves, but they should be responsible about what they say. “Instead of making allegations, they should submit evidence to the police. Accusing someone of something without evidence is not appropriate. It is injustice,” he said. The NCP president said he had had a word with the CM and state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule (about the BJP leaders who, along with others across the parties, have opened a campaign against Munde). According to Pawar, three probe agencies were put on the job and if their findings differed, there would be a question mark over their credibility. “Since we are in the government, our responsibility is bigger than ever. There are demands for Dhananjay Munde’s resignation due to his closeness to the alleged mastermind. File pic You shouldn’t worry, we will not protect anyone, and we will send a proper message across the state. Firstly, let there be more findings about the phone calls and the discussion the accused had with others,” the Dy CM added. Meanwhile, public marches against and in favour of Munde continued to be held in Marathwada. A day after Munde’s supporters gathered in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, the supporters of the late Santosh Deshmukh took to the streets in Paithan where the custodial death of Somnath Suryawanshi was also taken up. Similar marches have been held in Pune, Beed and Parbhani.
10 January,2025 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreThe Rs 1,000-crore Torres scam could have been prevented if Mumbai police had acted on early warnings flagged by Shivaji Park police station. Despite suspicious activities being identified in June 2024, followed by notices from Navi Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in October, no action was taken, allowing the fraud to escalate and dupe thousands over six months. Assistant Police Inspector (API) Vinay Mane of Shivaji Park police station confirmed to mid-day that he issued a notice to Torres company directors on June 29 after observing suspicious activities during routine patrolling. “I informed my superiors and was asked to issue a notice. I have no idea what happened after that,” Mane said. Posters uploaded on social media by Torres announcing cash prize The Navi Mumbai police also issued a notice to Torres on October 24, followed by another from the Income Tax Department on November 14. Copies of these notices were submitted by Tausif Reyaz, a wanted accused and self-proclaimed whistleblower, in his complaint to multiple agencies, including the Mumbai police commissioner and the CBI. Reyaz alleged the inaction enabled the scam to grow unchecked, with several foreign nationals involved fleeing the country. “It has come to our notice that your company attracts customers by promising high returns on investments in jewellery made from Moissanite (American Diamond), claiming they yield better profits than traditional jewellery,” read the October 24 notice from Navi Mumbai police’s EOW. The notice asked the company to present business documents by October 28 at the commissioner’s office. Sarvesh Surve the company director arrested by the cops. Pics/Ashish Raje The scam came to light when angry investors visited Torres’ Dadar office earlier this week, only to find its directors had fled. Shivaji Park police have since arrested three suspects, including two foreign nationals, and the case has been transferred to the EOW, which suspects the fraud exceeds Rs 1,000 crore. How scam started Reyaz claims the scam began in February 2023, orchestrated by Ukrainian nationals Oleksandra Tverdokhlib, Oleksandr Borovyk, Olena Staion, and Oleksandr Zapichenko, who partnered with a consultant named Armen. They launched a company, Platinum Hern Private Limited, using Indian directors as fronts while they operated as silent partners. The first Torres showroom opened in February 2024, attracting customers through an MLM-style cashback scheme promising weekly returns and referral bonuses. Daily seminars marketed the scheme, expanding the customer base. Reyaz alleges the group smuggled gold and silver without documentation, sold overpriced jewellery, and transferred Rs 200 crore abroad using cryptocurrency. Pradeep Vaishya, investor, shows diamond given by the company Reyaz also accused the group of coercing him and his colleague into signing fraudulent loan documents under threats of violence. He claims his photograph was falsely circulated on social media, identifying him as the company’s CEO to mislead authorities and protect the masterminds. Efforts to reach DCP Ganesh Gawade of Zone 5 for comments remained unanswered at the time of press. Search conducted The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police, investigating the Torres scam, conducted searches at the company’s premises on Thursday. During the operation, they seized various investment documents, cash, promotional pamphlets, and stones from the store. Investors outside Shivaji Park police station on Thursday “This appears to be a Ponzi scheme combined with a multilevel marketing scam that lured people with lucrative schemes. We are doing our best to protect the interests of the investors. A dedicated cell has been set up at the Shivaji Park police station where investors can register their complaints,” said Sangramsinh Nishandar, DCP, EOW. Torres, on their official Instagram page, claimed that they had provided all necessary details about the company, including its operations and business activities, after receiving the notice from the Shivaji Park police station in July following the notice from the police station in June 2024. Torres blames CEO and CA In a press release, Torres, accused Reyaz, alias John, and Gupta of damaging the company’s reputation. The statement alleged that Gupta forced the company to pay Rs 25 lakh and later Rs 40 lakh, claiming it was to settle the matter with the IT Department. Investors gathered outside the Torres Jewellery store in Dadar “Gupta, who was handling the IT inquiry, used the name of Deputy Commissioner Neeraj and extorted money from us. Then, he, John, and Sarvesh Surve turned around and reported Torres to the same officer, pretending to be whistleblowers,” the press note claimed. Torres further alleged that Gupta and Reyaz began demanding large sums of money after October 24 to “settle” issues with the authorities. The company also dismissed claims by Gupta, John, and Surve that they are whistleblowers. “In June last year, we noticed suspicious behaviour by the company and requested them to produce their documents. However, the company never disclosed anything about their fraudulent schemes. An ACP-level inquiry has now been initiated to investigate what actions were taken,” a DCP rank officer told mid-day. - Apoorva Agashe
10 January,2025 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanDo 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 10. Aries March 21 – April 20Explain thoughts without going into too much detail, making it easier for the other person to understand what is actually worrying you. Choose words carefully.Cosmic tip: Do your best in the given circumstances. Taurus April 21 – May 20Practical matters of re-organizing plans made earlier keeps you busy. A positive karmic cycle has a direct effect on career growth and travel plans.Cosmic tip: Give enough thought to home or family matters. GeminiMay 21 – June 21A day of high energy and movement keeps you on the go almost from the point of waking up in the morning. Remain focused.Cosmic tip: Remember not everyone lives up to their promises. Cancer June 22 – July 23Being firm in a diplomatic manner keeps differences of opinion with the family on a lighter note. Cosmic tip: Don’t feel bad about giving a polite negative answer when someone wants more of your time. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Moving towards a really significant time makes you thoughtful and quiet (people comment about this). Take a well-deserved break to rejuvenate and energize internal battery. Cosmic tip: Take responsibility for final decision taken. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Waiting patiently for the karmic cycle to end brings with it luck and a feeling of calmness. Enjoy it.Cosmic tip: Plan a makeover if you feel a change is needed in any manner. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Some changes have to be made, but every time something else claims urgency in dealing with it. Cosmic tip: Have a space in your home where you can take quiet times for yourself. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Be as tactful as possible to resolve a tricky situation. Time and energy is at a premium with too many people making demands on them. Cosmic tip: Lighten up and spend time with friends. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Compromising on some of your ethics is difficult, but this is what life is all about. Determination and grit have to be compatible.Cosmic tip: Don’t be judgmental or unforgiving in a relationship issue. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Dealing with several projects simultaneously requires a lot of time and focused attention. Cosmic tip: Share what you just have to, in as practical and matter-of-fact manner as possible. The reaction reveals the direction. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Maintaining a balance between work and relationships may be a challenge today. Cosmic tip: Pull the reins on imagination which cause so much havoc. The situation is still at a point of being saved. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Income increases. A new job is not as demanding as expected. Social engagements are numerous.Cosmic tip: Honestly ask if you’ve done something to offend a friend who is behaving in an odd manner.
10 January,2025 12:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseADVERTISEMENT
