A thick blanket of fog engulfed Delhi on Tuesday morning, reducing visibility to zero and disrupting train schedules, officials said. A total of 39 trains were running late as of 6 am. Some trains were delayed by 30 minutes, while others were running up to four hours behind schedule. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), "Zero visibility has prevailed over Palam since 4:30 IST, with southeasterly winds blowing at 6-8 kmph." At Safdarjung, visibility remained limited to a minimum of 50 metres in dense fog since 5:30 IST, with calm winds, the IMD added. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 8.9 degrees Celsius, 1.5 notches above normal, while the air quality was recorded in the poor category. According to the CPCB air quality bulletin, the AQI at 9 am was recorded in the poor category with a reading of 256. The IMD has predicted dense to very dense fog for the day, with the maximum temperature likely to settle around 19 degrees Celsius. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. Delhi and other parts of North India continued to have chilly weather with foggy skies. A thin layer of fog was blanketing Akshardham Temple and the Mayur Vihar area as the cold wave continued in the national capital. Meanwhile, a cold wave and winter conditions have affected most districts of Rajasthan, with Jaipur experiencing heavy fog this morning. The cold had a significant impact on public life, reducing visibility to very low levels due to the fog. As a result, drivers had to use their headlights while driving early in the morning, and people were seen huddling around bonfires to keep warm. The minimum temperature in Mount Abu in the state dropped to -1 degree Celsius, leaving residents and tourists with a chill. The harsh cold has been intensifying since late night, giving way to a severe cold wave. For the past few days, the cold has been biting, with significant fluctuations in the minimum temperature observed in the second week of the year. However, following the cold wave on Sunday, the effects of the severe cold were widespread and intense on Monday. (With inputs from Agencies)
14 January,2025 02:52 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentProhibitory orders have been imposed in Maharashtra's Beed district till January 28 in view of protests against the murder of a sarpanch and quota-related agitations by Maratha and OBC activists, reported news agency PTI. The assembly of five or more persons without permission from authorities has been prohibited and people are not allowed to carry weapons in public places, the district administration said in a release issued on Monday. Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9. Preliminary investigation suggests he had tried to thwart an extortion bid on an energy firm operating a windmill project in the region. The Kej police have so far arrested seven persons in the murder case, while another accused is on the run. The police have also arrested state minister Dhananjay Deshmukh's associate Walmik Karad in a related extortion case, reported PTI. Leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties have staged protests in Beed, demanding justice. In neighbouring Jalna, activist Manoj Jarange has announced that he would launch an indefinite fast on January 25 to press for the Maratha community's demands, including reservation in jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, reported PTI. On the other side, the OBC activists have been staging agitations to ensure their quota is not disturbed. As per the Beed district administration's release, the ongoing protests in connection with the cases registered at the Kej police station and the quota-related agitations by the Maratha and OBC communities could lead to a law and order issue, reported PTI. Therefore, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under section 37 (1) (3) of the Maharashtra Police Act, it said. Maharashtra govt forms new SIT to probe Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case The Maharashtra government on Monday formed the new Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district. The new SIT includes police officers Anil Gujar, Vijay Singh Jonwal, Mahesh Vighne, Anand Shankar Shinde, Tulshiram Jagtap, Manoj Rajendra Wagh, Chandrakant S Kalkute, Balasaheb Devidas Akhakore, Santosh Bhagwanrao Gitte. Basavaraj Teli will continue as the chairman of this SIT. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2025 02:40 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended his wishes to the nation on Tuesday, celebrating the festivals of Magh Bihu and Makar Sankranti. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Best Wishes on Magh Bihu. We celebrate the abundance of nature, the joy of harvest and the spirit of togetherness. May this festival further the spirit of happiness and togetherness." In another post, PM Modi said, "Many best wishes to all countrymen on Makar Sankranti. May this holy festival dedicated to the Uttarayan Sun bring new energy and enthusiasm in your life." Makar Sankranti is being celebrated across the country with great enthusiasm on Tuesday. The festival marks the Sun's transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn, heralding the beginning of Uttarayan. On this occasion, bathing in holy rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna during Makar Sankranti is believed to cleanse sins and bestow spiritual merit. The day is also dedicated to acts of charity and devotion. Traditional dishes such as sesame-jaggery laddus, khichdi, and other festive treats grace the occasion. Kite flying, symbolising vibrant energy, and cheer, is a cherished tradition on this day. The festival is known by various names in different parts of the country such as Pongal, Bihu, and Maghi. Assam celebrated the annual harvest festival Magh Bihu with great traditional fervour on Tuesday as people burnt traditional Meji (bonfire) in the morning. The bonfires are usually made with firewood, green bamboo, hay, and dried banana leaves. On the occasion, young people took blessings (Ashirbad) from elders, reinforcing bonds of respect and love within families. Across the state, traditional sports such as buffalo fights, cockfights, egg-breaking competitions, and Tekeli Bhanga (breaking of pots) are also held. Magh Bihu, or Bhogali Bihu, is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, marking the end of the harvesting season in the local month of Magh during mid-January. The people of the state celebrate the festival with community feasts after the annual harvest.
14 January,2025 02:18 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA report from the State Bank of India (SBI) suggests that the "Trump Tantrum," which describes the effects of Donald Trump's presidency on the Indian rupee, is anticipated to be a short-term phenomenon, reported news agency ANI. The analysis points out that while the rupee might experience some initial fluctuations in the early days of Trump's presidency, it will likely stabilise shortly thereafter. “Empirical evidence suggest that Trump Tantrum for INR will be a short-term phenomenon, and rupee should adjust post the initial shock of early days of Presidency," ANI stated citing the report. Historical data referenced in the report shows that the Indian rupee tends to perform better during Republican presidencies compared to Democratic ones. "Contrary to market perceptions, the rupee appears more vulnerable under a non-Trump or Democratic regime," the report adds. Reviewing historical U.S. presidencies since the Nixon era, the rupee has generally shown more stability during Republican terms. While some volatility can be anticipated in the near term, the present circumstances do not parallel the severe fluctuations witnessed during the "Taper Tantrum" of 2013. This has led analysts to believe that the rupee's reaction to the Trump presidency will be temporary, ANI stated. The report also noted that the rupee began to weaken in the second half of 2024 due to capital outflows. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar, triggered by Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, further contributed to the rupee's decline. Since November 2024, the rupee has seen a depreciation of about 3 per cent against the U.S. dollar. Nevertheless, its performance is among the most stable when compared to other global currencies. "Till date, rupee has depreciated by ~3 per cent against US dollar, still in lowest echelon when compared with other countries," it remarked. The report also emphasised that during the first half of 2024, India’s foreign exchange market remained steady, bolstered by capital inflows from the inclusion of Indian bonds in global bond indices. This development has helped mitigate more significant volatility in the rupee's value. Overall, the report forecasts that the rupee will adjust to the initial impacts of Trump's presidency and stabilise in the upcoming months, alleviating fears of prolonged instability. (With inputs from ANI)
14 January,2025 12:27 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Rajasthan High Court has granted interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence for the rape of a minor in 2013. The interim bail will remain effective until 31 March, as per PTI reports. The decision follows a similar ruling by the Supreme Court last week, where Asaram was granted bail until 31 March in another rape case. The apex court's order cited his deteriorating health and the need for medical treatment as the basis for the relief. Soon after receiving this reprieve, Asaram's legal team filed a plea in the Rajasthan High Court to suspend his sentence on comparable grounds. A division bench of Justices Dinesh Mehta and Vineet Kumar Mathur, considering the plea’s similarity to the one adjudicated by the Supreme Court, granted him interim bail. "We argued that the plea before the High Court mirrored the one presented in the Supreme Court and that the reasons cited remained equally valid in this case," Asaram's counsel, Nishant Bora, stated, according to PTI. The conditions attached to the interim bail largely align with those set by the Supreme Court on 7 January. However, there is one additional stipulation imposed by the High Court. "If Asaram wishes to travel outside Jodhpur, he will have to cover the expenses of three constables assigned to accompany him," Bora explained. In 2018, a lower court sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment for the rape of a 16-year-old girl at his ashram in Jodhpur in 2013. The case drew significant public attention due to Asaram's prominent following as a spiritual leader. According to PTI, Asaram's bail plea in the Supreme Court highlighted his poor health, citing various ailments that require treatment outside the prison facility. The High Court appeared to take a similar view, given the overlapping circumstances in the two cases. Asaram, once a revered figure among his followers, has faced multiple legal challenges over the years, with accusations ranging from sexual assault to illegal land acquisition. His conviction in the 2013 case marked a significant moment in India’s judicial history, underscoring accountability for individuals in positions of power. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2025 12:18 PM IST | JodhpurAAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused the BJP of “betraying” the Jats of Delhi over the issue of reservation, asking the party when will they be included in the Centre's list for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Kejriwal met a delegation of Jat leaders at his residence, whom he said that expressed anger over being “betrayed” by the BJP on the issue of reservation for the last 10 years The Jat community accounts for a significant chunk of votes in some Assembly constituencies, especially in the outer Delhi areas. The Jats here are included in Delhi's OBC list but not in the Centre's list, Kejriwal said. BJP settling Bangladeshis AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh charged the BJP with settling “Bangladeshis and Rohingyas” across the country and said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should be held responsible for the situation as border security is the Centre's responsibility. BJP slams Kejriwal over CAG reports BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi slammed Kejriwal saying that the AAP leader considers himself above the Constitution. He attacked him over the Delhi government not tabling the CAG reports, saying the constitutional scheme requires a government to table the report which scrutinises its revenue and expenses, but the AAP dispensation has not done it. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 10:38 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesIndia on Monday summoned Bangladesh’s acting High Commissioner Nural Islam and convey ed to him that it followed all laid down protocols in the construction of fencing along the border between the two neighbours. India’s action came a day after Bangladesh’s foreign ministry called Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to express its “deep concern” over the “activities” of the Border Security Force. The MEA said it was conveyed to Islam that India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments on security measures at the border and expects that all earlier understandings will be implemented by Bangladesh along with a cooperative approach to combating cross-border crimes. MEA said India reiterated its commitment to ensuring a crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 10:37 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesRetail inflation slowed to a four-month low of 5.22 per cent in December compared to 5.48 per cent in November, mainly due to easing of prices in food basket, according to government data released on Monday. The inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 5.48 per cent in November and 5.69 per cent in December 2023. According to CPI data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the inflation in the food basket reduced to 8.39 per cent in December. It was 9.04 per cent in November and 9.53 per cent in December 2023. "The CPI (General) and food inflation in December 2024 is the lowest in the last four months," the NSO said. Last month, the RBI raised the inflation projection for the current fiscal year to 4.8 per cent from 4.5 per cent. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 09:48 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed UGC-NET scheduled for January 15 on account of festivals, including Pongal and Makar Sankranti. The revised exam date will be announced later, the agency announced on Monday. "The NTA has received representations to postpone the exam on January 15 on account of festivals, including Pongal and Makar Sakranti. In the interest of the aspirants, the exam has been postponed and a new date will be announced later," Rajesh Kumar, Director (Exams), NTA, said. "The exam on January 16 will be conducted as per the earlier schedule," he added. The candidates are advised to visit the official website for the latest updates. Earlier, the guidelines for the appointment of faculty in higher institutions were released by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and also changes the selection process for vice-chancellors, such as expanding eligibility criteria to include professionals from academia, research institutions, public policy, public administration, and industry. As per the guidelines, the subject of the Ph.D. degree precedes the disciplines studied in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for faculty selections. Dharmendra Pradhan, while addressing the audiences said that these draft reforms and guidelines will infuse innovation, inclusivity, flexibility and dynamism in every aspect of higher education, empower teachers and academic staff, strengthen academic standards and pave the way for achieving educational excellence. The Minister mentioned that the Draft Regulations, 2025, have been placed in the public domain for feedback, suggestions, and consultations. He expressed confidence that the UGC will soon publish the Draft Regulations, 2025, in their final form, driving transformations in the education system and propelling the country towards Viksit Bharat 2047 through quality education and research. In the draft guidelines, specialised recruitment pathways have been introduced for fields like Yoga, Music, Performing Arts, and Sports, ensuring that professionals with outstanding skills or achievements can join academia The new regulations will apply to Central, State, Private and Deemed Universities. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 09:46 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIUttarakhand Police on Monday busted a gang involved in child trafficking with the arrest of four people, including a woman, and rescued a two-year-old boy, officials said. On January 2, Reena, a resident of Yamuna Colony, lodged a complaint with the police regarding the kidnapping of her two sons -- Akash (5) and Vikas (2), Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh said. When the kidnappers got to know that the police were probing the matter, one of them dropped Akash at the gate of the Yamuna Colony, he said. It was later revealed that Reena's cousin Rakesh (52) used to visit her house frequently and some people had seen him dropping off Akash at the colony gate on the evening of January 2, he said. Both Rakesh, who works at Ordnance Factory here, and Reena are natives of Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district. The police found that Rakesh was close to Rahul who works with him at the factory and their mobile phones were put on surveillance, the SSP said. During the course of investigation, involvement of Rahul's daughter Tania (20) in the kidnapping of the two children was also revealed, he said, adding that she had hid the two brothers with her. The SSP said that when the father-daughter duo came to know about the police complaint, they asked Rakesh to drop Akash at the colony gate after which the three accused fled to Amroha, Uttar Pradesh to the house of Rahul's aunt. The police managed to nab Rakesh and Tania, but Rahul went absconding. During interrogation, the accused told police that they sold Vikas to a brother-sister duo, Priyanka (22) and Santy (25), in Dhampur for Rs 2 lakh, the officer said, adding that subsequently they were also arrested. Priyanka and Santy disclosed that they had sold the child to a family living in Sarkathal Shivala in Dhampur. After this, the police approached that family and rescued the child, the SSP said. Rakesh, during interrogation, also revealed that he had sold two of his own children, he said. The police are probing the matter. The SSP has announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for the police team that recovered the child. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 09:36 AM IST | Dehradun | PTITaking a dig at two key NDA leaders -- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar while criticising the BJP, Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot on Monday said that time never remains the same, and no one knows when the TDP president will lose his mind or the JD-U leader turn his back. "Time never remains the same -- there are good times and bad times. The leader who earns a place in people’s hearts endures, irrespective of whether they hold power. Fame is fleeting, but those who genuinely connect with the masses through their work create lasting value. "Those who once spoke of crossing 400 seats are now at 240. When will Chandrababu Naidu lose his mind, or when will Nitish Kumar turn his back... no one knows," he said while addressing the gathering at a programme organised by the Lok Swaraj Manch at Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj Bhavan here. The Congress leader also emphasised that in a democracy, it is flawed to assume that power is permanent. "Lok Sabha elections are still four years away, but I believe that all opposition parties are uniting and standing together," he said. Reflecting on his experience in government and as well as in the opposition, Pilot lamented the decline in 'public-driven movements'. "Earlier, there was a significant awareness, and people actively took to the streets. Today, that awareness seems to have diminished among the youth. While enthusiasm persists, public participation in national issues has largely been confined to social media, limiting the creation of impactful movements," he said. Sachin Pilot also highlighted the legacy of late former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, saying: "Much was said about him, from being called a puppet Prime Minister to accusations of being silent... yet, even today, people remember how he steered the country to progress. Often, the true worth of a leader is realised only after he/she is gone. Public life cherishes those who firmly uphold their principles." He also expressed concern over the 'misuse of institutions', stating: "The illusion that one can create a structure to dictate future generations is misplaced in this country. When institutions are weaponised to tarnish someone's character, it takes years to recover. Such practices are deeply concerning for the health of our democracy." The Congress leader concluded his speech by saying "India's democracy is unique and unpredictable, offering different verdicts with each passing phase". This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 09:31 AM IST | Jaipur | IANSADVERTISEMENT
