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 December 17. Aries March 21 – April 20Continue behaving in such a manner as to incur positive karmas. Brush off people’s negative energy.Cosmic tip: Don’t rush to guess what’s the matter or start being judgmental. Wait and see till evening. Taurus April 21 – May 20Making sure there’s another job in the kitty keeps away stress. Don’t arbitrarily and impulsively hand in the resignation letter. Cosmic tip: Be independent without coming across as a cold person or someone uncaring. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Focus on career without becoming complacent due to receiving so much (well deserved) praise. Signing a contract manifests before a trip.Cosmic tip: Maintain this strong mind and opinions, but rein in the temper. Cancer June 22 – July 23Rectify the situation at work immediately if there is some unnecessary misunderstanding. Plan a budget and stay with it completely.Cosmic tip: Strengthen bonds of love or the tattered silken threads of friendships. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Investing in real estate is being considered by some. You are the pivot around which family revolves. Do get enough sleep.Cosmic tip: Consciously control impulsive words bubbling from inside. Be peaceful and kind. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Appreciating family for the love and caring should be an on-going process that never ends. Handle professional equations with care.Cosmic tip: Deal with inner conflicts successfully, particularly if motives and aims are clear. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Keeping behaviour and manner of interacting flexible works in your favour eventually as you become every one’s favourite. Just enjoy this.Cosmic tip: Maintain razor sharp focus while completing an important piece of work. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Some have an optional transfer for a while. Attending a one day seminar further polishes interaction skills. Cosmic tip: Trust the universe truly and from the bottom of your heart, just flowing with the tide. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Staying with the point in issue has always been so you, and teamed with speaking out clearly, no one wants to cross you. Cosmic tip: Don’t punish yourself with unnecessary self-imposed do’s and don’ts. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20A plan of action has been thought out extremely carefully since you are attempting something very different. Do get enough sleep.Cosmic tip: Spend more time with family as that always lifts up spirits. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Work around obstacles instead of being dejected. Let go of ego based arguments. Take better care of health without becoming obsessed with the latest health fads. Cosmic tip: Close your eyes, making a heartfelt wish. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20One to one relationships are in a positive phase with there being so much closeness and camaraderie. Health is good.Cosmic tip: Aim for clarity first before considering pros and cons of a situation.
17 December,2024 12:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseThe Mumbai Police presented the first "chadar" or "sandal" at the Hazrat Makhdoom Ali Mahimi Dargah in Mahim, as the annual 10-day fair began on Monday amid tight security deployment. On the first day, the police offer the first "sandal" to Makhdoom Shah Baba. The event, which has been gazetted since 1910, is marked by the first offering made by Mumbai Police to the 14th-century Sufi saint Makhdoom Fakih Ali Mahimi whose grave is inside the Mahim dargah. Mumbai Police officials donned colourful traditional attire and took part in a "sandal" (procession) from the police station compound to the dargah, an official said. Talking to PTI, senior inspector Vinayak Vetal said, "We did 'salami' at Mahim dargah this morning as we do every year and offered the first 'chadar' at the shrine. People, irrespective of their religion and caste, celebrate the 10-day Urs. The practice has been in place since the British era. We started preparing for the Urs three months ago, the official said. Constable Pravin Chipkar said he has participated in "sandals" for 45 years. "Wherever we are, at the time of Urs, we reach Mahim. My colleague and I never miss the Mahim sandal," Chipkar said. Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of the Mahim Dargah, said, "Today is the 611th death anniversary of Saint Hazrat Makhdoom Ali Mahimi. We have a gazette dating back to 1901 for the Urs. Around 400 to 450 'sandals' are expected at Mahim in the next 10 days, and more than seven lakh people will visit," according to the PTI. The fair is being organised with the help of the local police, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Port Trust, he said. During the annual fair, people from different religious backgrounds visit Mahim Dargah and pay their tributes and devotees in large numbers throng Mahim dargah during the 10-day fair. Mahim Ddrgah witnesses offerings of hundreds of "sandals" during the annual Mahim fair. The sandal is usually an assortment of sandalwood paste, flowers and a shawl. The annual fair is held in honour of Makhdoom Shah Baba. It is usually held every year in December. (with PTI inputs)
16 December,2024 08:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 22-year-old man was bitten by a golden Jackal on Monday at 11 am in a residential society in Mumbai's Chembur area. This is the second reported incident involving such an attack in recent weeks, raising concerns about human-wildlife interaction in the area. In response to the second attack in city, the Maharashtra Forest Department has launched plans to increase awareness among residents to prevent similar incidents. Earlier, a golden Jackal that had wandered off the forest area and entered a residential area last month had bitten a nine-year-old boy in Trombay. The eyewitnesses had then stated that the incident occurred on the evening of November 14, at around 4.30 pm, when the jackal suddenly appeared from behind and bit Mohammad Ayan Mastan Shaikh on his thigh. Barkat Nisha Shaikh, the boy’s mother, said, “My son was playing outside in our neighborhood when a neighbor came to our house and informed us that he had been bitten by a dog. We rushed to the location, where a girl explained that it wasn't a dog but a jackal. We then quickly took my son to the BMC-run Shatabdi Hospital. So far, he has received three injections, including an anti-rabies shot, and will be given one more injection on December 11." Speaking with mid-day, she said that she did not believe at first that it was a jackal. Honorary Wildlife Warden of Thane and NGO RAWW President Pawan Sharma confirmed the incident and said that a Golden Jackal had entered the residential area from nearby mangroves in Trombay and had bitten a child last week. He said that the forest department has since been searching for the animal. A Golden Jackal bit a 22-year-old man in a society in Chembur on Monday morning. The #MaharashtraForestDepartment plans to launch an awareness campaign to prevent similar incidents.Via: @ranjeetnature #Mumbai #Chembur #WildLife #GoldenJackal pic.twitter.com/XCMgHUmPK2 — Mid Day (@mid_day) December 16, 2024 On October 28, mid-day had highlighted how, in a concerning series of events, five jackals had died in the Trombay-Chembur belt over the past month, prompting investigations by the forest department.
16 December,2024 07:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThanks to a record surge in the number of passengers during the Diwali 2024 festive period, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) earned Rs 941 crore, its highest revenue, in November. Last month, MSRTC ferried an average of 60 lakh passengers per day, and earned a revenue of around Rs. 31.36 crore on a daily basis. This is 26 per cent higher than the revenue recorded during the same month last year. "Last year, the fare was hiked by 10 per cent during Diwali. The record increase in revenue amid the absence of fare hike this year is a reflection of the trust shown by the common passengers in ST," said MSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Dr Madhav Kusekar. Although the revenue generated has increased, MSRTC's expenditure has also surged. The increase in fuel prices, salaries of employees, price of tyres and spare parts have adversely affected the MSRTC's expenditure, a press released issued by Abhijit Bhosale, the Public Relations Officer of MSRTC, said. The expenditure has caused an estimated loss of Rs 11 lakh to the corporation despite the surge in the passenger count. "In addition to the regular expenses during the month of November, the Diwali bonus to the employees has put an additional burden of about Rs 52 crore on the ST exchequer. At the same time, thousands of crores of rupees of arrears of increased wages of employees are pending. Considering all this, the ST has decided to increase the ticket rates to maintain a balance between income and expenditure, and has sent a proposal to the government," the press release said. In August, MSRTC earned a profit of Rs 16.86 crore, after reeling under severe financial crises for the past five-six years. It was for the first time after nine years that MSRTC had earned a profit. In a press release, MSRTC had stated that 20 out of its 31 departments had earned profit in August. MSRTC was financially crippled for two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the long-term strike of employees for six months. There were also concerns of the state-run corporation shutting down. However, from May 2022 onwards, the state-run corporation began taking some steps to bring about changes. One of the major challenges was to divert the reduced passenger load to MSRTC. For this purpose, the state government launched two schemes: free travel on all types of buses for citizens above 75 years of age and 50 percent concession on tickets for women passengers. These schemes led to a huge increase in the number of passengers on MSRTC buses, with an average of 54 lakh passengers travelling by the state-run buses every day, the release stated.
16 December,2024 07:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena's Ravindra Waikar, while addressing the Lok Sabha on Monday, stressed on the need for the setting up a cancer hospital and research centre on the lines of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in suburban Mumbai. The Member of Parliament (MP) from the Mumbai North West constituency said with the increase in the population of Mumbai, the number of cancer patients are also surging. This is adding to pressure on the existing hospitals, and leading to delay in treatment for patients. "Effective measures should be taken to provide relief to patients and their relatives. Priority should be given to set up a hospital and a research centre on cancer on the lines of AIIMS in the suburbs of Mumbai," he said. Waikar added that as Mumbai is the financial capital of India, people from all over the country visit the city seeking treatment for various diseases. "The population of Mumbai is increasing by the day. The number of cancer patients is increasing in the country. There are very few hospitals such as Tata Memorial that treat cancer patients but they inadequate. As a result, patients are suffering as they are unable to get timely treatment," he said, adding that the treatment in private hospitals is very expensive. "Two AIIMS have been established in the state of Bihar. There is only one in Maharashtra at Nagpur. It is a matter of concern that there is no hospital like AIIMS in Mumbai. If AIIMS is established in Mumbai, it will be possible for the middle class and the poor to get treatment at affordable rates," said Waikar, urging the Central Government to set up a cancer hospital and research centre in Mumbai suburbs. The winter session of the Parliament is currently in progress. Meanwhile, a row erupted when Congress's Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen carrying the bag with 'Palestine' written on it during a Parliament session. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised her over it, alleging that the bag's inscription indicated Vadra's support for Palestine over India's interests. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused her of "appeasement" and said the Congress party uses different agendas to get votes by entangling them. Reacting to the BJP's accusation of appeasement, Vadra said that instead of talking about this "rubbish," the government should take some steps regarding the atrocities happening in Bangladesh, against minorities and Hindus. (With ANI inputs)
16 December,2024 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA civic official said that a 52-year-old man, who was among the several persons injured in the BEST bus accident in Kurla area, died on Monday morning, taking the death toll to eight, reported news agency PTI. The electric bus, hired by the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking on a wet-lease basis, ploughed into a crowd and fatally knocked down seven persons and injured 42 others on a crowded road in the Kurla area on December 9. Several vehicles were also damaged in the incident. One of the injured persons, identified as Fazlu Rehman, died during treatment at the Sion Hospital on Monday morning, the official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, reported PTI. BEST has set up a five-member committee to investigate the Kurla BEST bus crash. Driver Sanjay More (54) is in police custody for alleged reckless driving. In a statement issued last week, BEST said a committee, headed by Chief Manager (Transport) Ramesh Madavi, will investigate the Kurla BEST bus crash, reported PTI. It also said that BEST would provide Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives and bear treatment expenses of the injured, reported PTI. BEST administration has claimed that More received three days' training before he was allowed to drive the electric bus, reported PTI. RTO officials suspect human error and lack of proper training for driving automatic transmission buses could be the reason behind the accident, among the most horrific involving BEST buses in recent history. Driver flees through window with backpacks after deadly Kurla bus crash Shocking footage has emerged from a tragic incident in Mumbai’s Kurla area, where a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) electric bus veered out of control, leaving seven people dead and 42 others injured. According to PTI, CCTV footage from the bus shows the driver, Sanjay More, hastily collecting two backpacks from the cabin and leaping out of a shattered window following the accident. Several video clips, ranging from 50 seconds to over a minute, have gone viral on social media. These visuals capture the harrowing moments inside the bus, with passengers clinging to poles and grabbing handles in an attempt to stay safe. Others stood up, visibly alarmed, to assess the chaos unfolding on the streets. In one clip, after the bus swerved to a halt, passengers can be seen escaping through shattered windows. The driver, More, was captured on CCTV leaving the cabin with two black backpacks and jumping out through a broken window on the left-hand side of the bus. Meanwhile, the conductor exited through the rear door. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2024 05:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Central Railway on Monday said that it has earned Rs 4,966 crore as passenger earnings during this Financial Year. It also said that has Central Railway achieved impressive growth in passenger transportation and earnings till November 2024, this Financial Year (FY). An official statement said that, the Central Railway has earned Rs. 4,966 crore as passenger earnings during this FY as against Rs. 4,699 during the corresponding period last year marking an increase of 5.68 per cent. It said that this includes Rs.4,328 crore through Non suburban earnings till Nov-2024, this FY as against Rs. 4,095 crore for the same period last year which is an increase of 5.69 per cent and Rs. 638 crore through Suburban earnings till Nov-2024, this FY as against Rs. 604 crore for the same period last year which is an increase of 5.63 per cent. In terms of passenger numbers Central Railway carried 1064 million passengers during this FY till Nov-2024, as compared to 1039 million passengers during the corresponding period last year registering an increase of 2.35 per cent. This includes 127 million non suburban passengers this FY as against 121 million Non suburban passengers carried last year which is an increase of 5.61 per cent. It also includes 936 million Suburban passengers carried during this FY as against 918 million Suburban passengers carried last year, the statement said. It further stated that in November 2024 alone, Central Railway carried 138 million passengers ( including 122 million suburban and 16 million non-suburban ) and earned a revenue of Rs.554 crore (including Rs.84 crore as suburban earnings and Rs.470 crore as non-suburban earnings). "Central Railway remains committed to providing safe, economical, reliable and efficient travel to all its passengers," the statement said. Central Railway registers freight loading of 51.73 million tonnes this year The Central Railway on Monday said that it has registered a remarkable freight loading of 51.73 million tonnes in this financial year. In an official statement, the Central Railway said that it registered remarkable freight loading of 51.73 million tonnes in this financial year till now, with an impressive loading of 6.72 million tonnes for the month of November-2024. It said, Central Railway has improved performance in commodities like food grains, sugar, containers and petroleum products which has enabled it to achieve the incremental loading over the corresponding month last year.
16 December,2024 05:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe body of a man, said to be in his 30s, was found on a skywalk opposite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) N-Ward office on Monday. The police suspect that he has died by suicide. After receiving information about the body, the Pant Nagar Police rushed to the spot and deployed the fire brigade and ambulance teams to transport it to hospital. The officers are trying to establish the identify of the man and determine the cause of his death to proceed with the investigation. "We are investigating, and so far, we only have preliminary information," said Vijaykant Sagar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 7. The incident has sparked several questions as the skywalk is located in a busy area of Mumbai.
16 December,2024 05:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanLeaders of the Mahayuti alliance were sworn in as cabinet ministers in the Maharashtra government during a ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday. The 10-day-old BJP-led alliance ministry in Maharashtra was expanded with 39 ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42. In the expansion, BJP got 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and nine for Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state. Governor P C Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at the ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter session being held in Nagpur from December 16 to 21. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who took oath in Mumbai on December 5, were present. BJP’s state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, along with Ashish Shelar, Ganesh Naik, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil and Nitesh Rane were among those who took the oath. CM Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta at a roadshow in Nagpur on Sunday. Pic/PTI Shiv Sena leaders Shambhuraj Desai, Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil, and Sanjay Shirsat, representing Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction, were also sworn in as ministers. NCP leaders Aditi Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif were also inducted into the cabinet. The new cabinet includes state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar. The Mahayuti alliance had faced criticism from the Opposition for delaying the announcement of its cabinet despite holding a significant majority. In the November 20 Assembly polls, the Mahayuti swept to power, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state. The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shinde's Shiv Sena with 57 and Pawar's NCP getting 41. Results of the elections were declared on November 23. MVA boycotts customary tea party The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will boycott the tea party to be hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature’s winter session here on Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said. Danve said that although the Opposition’s strength in the Assembly may be less, it will, with its full force, take on the government on various issues, including those pertaining to farmers. The six-day duration of the winter session was too short, the leader of Opposition in the state legislative council added. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also demanded an extension of the session. New Ministers BJP (19)1. Chandrashekhar Bawankule2. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil3. Chandrakant Patil4. Girish Mahajan5. Ganesh Naik6. Mangal Prabhat Lodha7. Jaykumar Rawal8. Pankaja Munde9. Atul Save10. Ashok Uike11. Ashish Shelar12. Shivendrasinh Bhosale13. Jaykumar Gore14. Sanjay Savkare15. Nitesh Rane16. Akash Fundkar17. Madhuri Misal18. Pankaj Bhoyar19. Meghana Bordikar Shiv Sena (11)1. Gulabrao Patil2. Dada Bhuse3. Sanjay Rathod4. Uday Samant5. Shambhuraj Desai6. Sanjay Shirsat7. Pratap Sarnaik8. Bharat Gogawale9. Prakash Abitkar10. Ashish Jaiswal11. Yogesh Kadam NCP (9)1. Hasan Mushrif2. Dhananjay Munde3. Dattatray Bharne4. Aditi Tatkare5. Manikrao Kokate6. Narhari Zirwal7. Makrand Jadhav-Patil8. Babasaheb Patil9. Indranil Naik
16 December,2024 03:05 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday continued grilling actress Gehana Vashisht in connection with the pornography case involving Raj Kundra and others. Vashisht is currently under the agency's scanner in its money laundering probe linked to the making and distribution of pornography. She was previously questioned by the ED for several hours in connection with a money laundering investigation. The case is linked to businessman Raj Kundra. On December 10, actress Gehana Vashisht appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning. Sources said that the ED is scrutinising whether the payments Vashisht received were part of a larger money-laundering operation orchestrated through the alleged pornography racket. Vashisht, who was questioned for seven hours on December 9, returned to the ED office for further interrogation on December 10. On the second day of her interrogation, Gehna was questioned for nearly six hours, during which the officials continued recording her statement as well and asked her to appear again when required. Speaking to the press after the interrogation, Gehna said that the ED officials are yet to retrieve data from her mobile and that is why she was being summoned again and again. The ED is investigating payments made to her by Kenrin Limited, a London-based company owned by Kundra’s brother-in-law, Pradeep Bakshi, who is a wanted accused in the case. Vashisht allegedly received multiple payments from Kenrin Limited for pornographic films shot in India and transferred to London, where they were allegedly uploaded on various platforms. However, Vashisht has maintained her stance that the films she worked on were erotica, not pornography. She said the ED’s questioning revolved around her financial transactions and her connections with Kundra and Kenrin Limited. Vashisht was previously arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch in February 2021. During that time, she spent over three months in jail.
16 December,2024 02:43 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanShiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the wake of the custodial death of an accused in connection with the Parbhani violence, calling it a "failure of the system". Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Raut took aim at the Maharashtra administration's handling of the incident, which involved the vandalism of a replica of the Constitution near Dr B R Ambedkar's statue outside the Parbhani railway station on December 10. The violence that followed led to widespread arrests and unrest in the city. Raut, a prominent opposition figure, stated that he would raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha, accusing the state government of being "anti-constitutional". He further questioned why "protectors" of the Constitution were being victimised under the current government. "This is a failure of the system. Devendra Fadnavis is responsible for it," he said, while referring to the Chief Minister, who also holds the home minister portfolio. The incident, which sparked violence in the central Maharashtra city, resulted in more than 50 arrests and multiple cases filed. One of the accused, 35-year-old Somnath Venkat Suryawanshi, was detained following the unrest. While in judicial custody at the Parbhani District Central Prison, he reportedly complained of chest pain and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on Sunday morning at 6:59 am. A magisterial inquiry has been launched to investigate the allegations surrounding Suryawanshi's custodial death, and his body has been sent to a government hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for a postmortem examination. Raut noted that Suryawanshi had fought to "save" the Constitution after its replica was damaged, although his methods may have been questionable. He demanded accountability from the Maharashtra government and called for justice for Suryawanshi. Local organisations in Parbhani have called for a bandh on Monday to press for action. In response to the incident, Meghana Bordikar, BJP MLA from Jintur in Parbhani, who was recently appointed as a minister in the Maharashtra government, described the events as "unfortunate" but defended the police’s actions. She claimed that Suryawanshi’s death was due to a heart attack and praised the police for promptly arresting those involved in the violence. According to Bordikar, while the city is observing a bandh, the situation is gradually returning to normal. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2024 02:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
