Welcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Stock market opens flat amid volatility ahead of Union Budget The Indian stock market opened on a cautious note on Thursday, as monthly expiry and pre-budget volatility kept investors on edge. The Sensex started 43.69 points lower at 76,489.27, while the Nifty saw a marginal decline of 5.30 points, opening at 23,157.80. Among Nifty 50 companies, 35 stocks advanced, 15 declined, and one remained unchanged. Mumbai: The four trees and toilet delaying Sion bridge demolition Back to square one. There was initially a delay in shutting down the Sion bridge to facilitate exams and students, but five months after its closure in August 2024, demolition work has still not started, and HSC exams are slated to begin in the next ten days. Residents are now questioning whether the bridge should remain open and demolition be postponed until after the exams. Read more. Torres scam: Shivaji Park cop pulled up An assistant police inspector from the Shivaji Park police station who is under the scanner for allegedly turning a blind eye after receiving a tip-off on the multi-crore Torres Ponzi scam has denied any wrongdoing. The officer, Ashwinikumar Kagale, told mid-day that his seniors were attempting to make him a scapegoat. Read more. Mumbai's Thakur calls for mega effort against Meghalaya All-rounder Shardul Thakur wants his Mumbai teammates to believe in themselves during tough situations as the defending champions take on Meghalaya in their must-win Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match at the MCA-BKC ground today. Read more. Delhi Crime, Poacher fame Richie Mehta's next based on dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi’s life What’s Richie Mehta making next? The eager question follows the release of each of his works, from the International Emmy-winning Delhi Crime (2019) to the investigative thriller Poacher (2024). mid-day has learnt that the acclaimed filmmaker will capture the life of Phoolan Devi in his next web series, casting for which is underway. Read more.
30 January,2025 11:07 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThree persons, including a child, have died due to suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in West Bengal in the past few days, though the state health department is yet to officially confirm the cause of the deaths, reported news agency PTI. All three persons died in government hospitals in Kolkata and Hooghly district. A senior health department official said, "The situation in West Bengal is absolutely under control and there is nothing to panic about," reported PTI. The three deceased persons were Debkumar Sahu (10) of Jagaddal in North 24 Parganas district, Aritra Manal (17) from Amdanga in the same district and another 48-year-old man in Dhaniakhali village in Hooghly district, sources told PTI. Family members of the three claimed that they died of suspected GBS, an immunological nerve disorder. Debkumar died at the BC Roy Hospital in Kolkata on January 26 while the teenager from Amdanga, who was undergoing treatment at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in the city, died the next day, sources told PTI. The man from Hooghly district died on Wednesday in a hospital there. "The hospital told us that the condition of Debkumar kept on deteriorating while being treated. They did not tell us that the cause of his death was GB syndrome, but in the death certificate, the suspected GB syndrome was mentioned," the boy's uncle Govinda Sahu told PTI. Meanwhile, four more children suffering from suspected GB syndrome were undergoing treatment at the BC Roy Hospital and Institute of Child Health, the sources told PTI. GBS is a rare condition that causes sudden numbness and muscle weakness, with symptoms including severe weakness in the limbs and loose motion. Bacterial and viral infections generally lead to GBS as they weaken the immunity of patients, as per doctors. Maharashtra records 127 GBS cases The total number of suspected cases of GBS in Pune and other districts of the State is 127 with 72 confirmed cases, the Maharashtra Public Health Department said in a press release on Wednesday. "As of today, 127 suspected cases of GBS have been identified, with 2 suspected deaths. Out of these, 72 patients have been confirmed as having GBS. 23 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 73 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 13 from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, 9 from Pune Rural, and 9 from other districts. Among the affected individuals, 20 are currently on ventilator support," the press release said. On Tuesday, the Director General Indian Council of Medical Research Dr Rajiv Bahl said that the cases are under investigation as a team of experts has collected various samples. "Samples of stool and blood of those infected are being tested at the NIV Pune lab, but yet to get any definite leads on the cause behind the spread," Dr Bahl said. (With inputs from PTI)
30 January,2025 09:52 AM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentNCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule visited the GBS (Guillain-Barre Syndrome) affected area at Sinhgad Road in Pune on Thursday morning, reported news agency ANI. She inspected the water sources that supply water to locals. She also interacted with the people, listened to their complaints, reported ANI. The total number of suspected cases of GBS in Pune and other districts of the State is 127 with 72 confirmed cases, the Maharashtra Public Health Department said in a press release on Wednesday. "As of today, 127 suspected cases of GBS have been identified, with 2 suspected deaths. Out of these, 72 patients have been confirmed as having GBS. 23 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 73 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 13 from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, 9 from Pune Rural, and 9 from other districts. Among the affected individuals, 20 are currently on ventilator support," the press release said. On Tuesday, the Director General Indian Council of Medical Research Dr Rajiv Bahl said that the cases are under investigation as a team of experts has collected various samples. "Samples of stool and blood of those infected are being tested at the NIV Pune lab, but yet to get any definite leads on the cause behind the spread," Dr Bahl said. He said that the cause or link of GBS is found only in 40 per cent of cases. The Campylobacter jejunum bacteria were found in 4 stool samples that were collected from 21 GBS patients in Pune, which were tested by the National Institute for Virology (NIV), Pune, while norovirus was found in some. The Union Health Ministry has deputed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Pune to aid state authorities in instituting interventions and managing the spurt in suspected and confirmed cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) in the city. The central team sent to Maharashtra comprises seven experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi, NIMHANS Bengaluru, Regional Office of Health & Family Welfare and National Institute for Virology (NIV), Pune. Three experts from NIV, Pune were already supporting the local authorities. The team is working closely with the state health departments and taking stock of the on-ground situation to recommend necessary public health interventions. The central team has been tasked with monitoring the situation and coordinating with the state. The water samples from different parts of the city have been sent for chemical and biological analysis to the Public Health Laboratory. GBS can develop sudden weakness in the hands or legs/ paralysis. People could have trouble while walking or weakness with sudden onset and diarrhoea (for sustained periods). Guidance has also been issued for citizens to ensure maintaining the water quality, such as drinking boiled water, and food should be fresh and clean. The infection can be avoided also by not keeping cooked and uncooked food items together. Describing the disease's progression, Dr. Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Chief of Neurology at Fortis Hospital said, "GBS occurs when antibodies, created to fight bacterial or viral infections like Campylobacter jejuni or respiratory infections, cross-react with the peripheral nerves. This leads to ascending paralysis, starting in the legs and moving upward. In severe cases, patients may lose the ability to breathe due to thoracic muscle weakness and require ventilatory support." (With inputs from ANI)
30 January,2025 09:43 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentThe national capital witnessed a thin layer of fog on Thursday morning while the AQI stood at 381 at 8 am. Delhi recorded a temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius at 5.30 today, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Met Department has predicted 'moderate fog' for the next two days till February 1 while it has forecasted 'rain' for February 3 in Delhi. The minimum temperature is set to remain around 8 degrees Celsius while the maximum will hover around 26 degrees Celsius. Several homeless people took refuge in night shelter homes amid lowering temperatures in Delhi. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has set up 235 pagoda tents to shelter homeless people. Night shelters have been set up in several areas of the national capital including AIIMS, Lodhi Road, and Nizamuddin flyover. The national capital is once again battling with increased air pollution, as the AQI recorded at 8 am was 381, which falls under the 'very poor' category. As per the data of the Central Pollution Board Control (CPCB), the AQI measured at Anand Vihar is 394, Chandani Chowk is 386, ITO is 364, Najafgarh is 339, Okhla Phase 2 is 393, RK Puram is 372, Patparganj is 395, Wazirpur is 415, as of 8 am. After the air quality worsened and pollution level reached 'severe' yesterday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) ordered the implementation of all actions under Stage-Ill of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR). "The AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 276 on 28.01.2025, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded as 365 at 4:00 PM on 29.01.2025 owing to variable direction/ calm winds, smoggy situation, lout mixing heights & ventilation coefficients for dispersion of pollutants. The forecast from IMD/ IITM suggests similar situations will persist in the coming days," the order signed by the Director (Technical) and member convenor of the sub-committee on GRAP read. Meanwhile, a dense layer of fog enveloped parts of Ayodhya today as a cold wave gripped the city. Fog also blanketed Prayagraj. Amid this chilly weather, devotees thronged to take part in the ongoing Mahakumbh. (With inputs from ANI)
30 January,2025 09:32 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDelhi Police registered a case after a vehicle labelled "Punjab government" was on Wednesday intercepted with cash, liquor and Aam Aadmi Party pamphlets, an official said. The vehicle bearing a Punjab number plate was caught by the Flying Squad team in the New Delhi district, the official said. The Flying Squad attends to all Model Code of Conduct violations and all complaints of threat, intimidation, movement of anti-social elements, liquor, arms and ammunition and large sums of cash to bribe voters. "Upon searching, we discovered cash, multiple liquor bottles, and Aam Aadmi Party pamphlets inside the vehicle," said Delhi Police in a statement. Officials have initiated legal proceedings, and a case is being registered at Tilak Marg police station accordingly. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, in a statement, expressed shock over the incident. He said Rs 10 lakh cash, liquor and AAP election material was recovered from a Punjab government car in Delhi. "Till now, we thought Arvind Kejriwal institutionalised corruption in Delhi government, polluted Yamuna and Delhi's air but today we understand that he has polluted Delhi's political system too," Sachdeva said. Sachdeva said he doesn't remember a single incident of recovery of such a huge amount of cash and liquor in 35 years of public life. 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
30 January,2025 08:29 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIA man allegedly shot dead his wife, suspecting her of having an affair in Nuh district. The man and an accomplice who allegedly supplied firearm to him have been arrested, police said on Wednesday. The man, Inayat, had approached police, claiming that masked men had molested and killed his wife on Tuesday night in Hajipur Gauheta village. During interrogation, however, he allegedly confessed to killing his wife Sunnati (25), Nuh police spokesperson said. Police nabbed Shakir who allegedly provided a country-made pistol to Inayat after an encounter. Shakir received a bullet injury to his leg in retaliatory firing and was sent to a hospital for treatment. "During investigation, the main accused of the murder turned out to be the woman's husband Inayat. In his false story, he claimed that masked miscreants looted the couple and started molesting his wife Sunnati and when she protested, they shot her dead," Nuh police spokesperson said. A team of Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), Punhana, led by Inspector Sandeep Mor, was formed to nab Shakir who had several cases registered against him on robbery, theft and possessing illegal weapons. Police received information that Shakir was going towards Tirwada on a motorcycle. The police team put a barricade on Punhana Jurhera road drain. According to police, Shakir came riding a motorcycle and when he saw the police, he allegedly started to run away and opened fire on the police team. When the police chased him, his motorcycle lost balance at high speed and overturned and he fell down. He allegedly fired again at the police team and during retaliatory police firing, Shakir received a bullet in his right leg. Police caught him and sent him to a hospital for treatment, they said. 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
30 January,2025 08:29 AM IST | Gurugram | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi shored up BJP's election campaign in Delhi as he mounted a strong attack on the AAP government and party leader Arvind Kejriwal during a rally in the national capital. The war of words continued between leaders of BJP, AAP and Congress with Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi also addressing election rallies. The issue of alleged toxic water in the Yamuna continued to hog the limelight with PM Modi launching a scathing attack on Kejriwal. He repeatedly took "AApda" jibes at the Aam Aadmi Party. "People of 'aapda' say that people of Haryana mix poison in water sent to Delhi. This is not just an insult to Haryana but to all Indians. Ours is a country where providing drinking water is considered a good deed...Such fear of losing that they are saying anything. I am sure Delhi will teach a lesson to people who say such things. In aapda walon ki llutiya Yamuna mein hi doobegi...," PM Modi said at a public rally in Ghonda. "For their political benefits, they have committed one more sin, which can never be forgiven. History will never forgive them for this. The country and the people of Haryana will never forgive them. A former CM of Delhi has levelled disgusting allegations on people of Haryana. Due to fear of losing, people from 'aapda' have got rattled. Are people of Haryana different from those in Delhi? Are relatives of those living in Haryana not residing in Delhi? Can the people of Haryana poison the water their own people drink? The water sent by Haryana is consumed by everyone living in Delhi, which also includes this Prime Minister, the Chief Justices, all the embassies, poor of Delhi..." PM Modi said without naming Kejriwal. Kejriwal replied to the Election Commission's notice over his claim that the Haryana government was "mixing poison" in Yamuna river and said the remarks were made in furtherance of an imperative public duty to highlight the severe toxicity and contamination of raw water received from Haryana, "which presents an imminent and direct threat to public health". Addressing a rally in Timarpur, Kejriwal said his party's government gives facilities such as free power, water and education in government schools to people of Delhi but for the share of taxes that come to the Delhi government and alleged that "BJP government at Centre allows its capitalist friends to loot this money". Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a rally in Bawana, attacked both the AAP and BJP. "Kejriwal and Modi both make false promises...Kejriwal had promised Delhi that he would clean the Yamuna river and drink its water. Five years ago, he had promised that he would drink the water of the Yamuna River...I challenge him to go and drink the water of the Yamuna River," he said. "Let's talk about employment, development and progress. You will remember that during Sheila Dikshit's regime, roads were built in Delhi. Development took place. You have to drink dirty water but Kejriwal lives in a 'sheeshmahal.' He lives in a house worth crores of rupees. He gives you false statements," the LoP added. Congress also released its election manifesto for Delhi polls, emphasising its promises including Rs 2500 grant to women and Rs 25 health insurance for residents. Party leader Jairam Ramesh also spoke of the need of clean air for residents of the national capital. BJP MP Anurag Thakur took a dig at Kejriwal, claiming that he neither took a dip nor cleaned the Yamuna river. "He (Arvind Kejriwal) had promised to clean Yamuna River 10 years ago and even five years ago Arvind Kejriwal had said that give me five years, I will take a dip in Yamuna River and will also clean it. Five years have passed but he neither took a dip nor cleaned the Yamuna River. Whereas Yamuna River has been polluted more than before. Now our request to the people of Delhi is to defeat AAP and make BJP win. We will clean Yamuna, end air pollution, provide clean water in Delhi, eliminate garbage mountains ..," he told ANI. Delhi Minister and AAP candidate from the Greater Kailash assembly constituency Saurabh Bhardwaj told ANI, "People love us a lot and have full faith that AAP is going to form a strong government by getting a majority of more than 65 seats." The day also saw Kejriwal and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini locking horns over the issue of alleged toxicity in the Yamuna water. Kejriwal alleged that Saini, who took a sip of water, was actually "pretending" and later "spat back the water". CM Saini visited the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi's Palla village today, where he took a sip of water to counter accusations made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. "Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini pretended to drink Yamuna water... and then spat the same water back into the Yamuna," Kejriwal said in a post on X, along with the video of CM Saini. Voting for Delhi assembly polls will be held on February 5. 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
30 January,2025 08:27 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIA one-day baby from Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly underwent a successful high-risk open-heart surgery at a private hospital here, doctors said. They said the infant suffered from Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a rare condition in which the major arteries of the heart are reversed, along with a hole in the heart. The three-hour-long surgery was successful and the baby was discharged in stable condition after 16 days of post-operative care. Neeraj Awasthy, Director of Paediatric Cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, performed the Arterial Switch Operation to correct the defect. Awasthy said the baby's condition was detected during a routine 20-week pregnancy scan when doctors suspected cardiac anomalies. The newborn is now recovering well at home, and doctors have advised continued follow-up care to monitor growth and heart function. 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
30 January,2025 08:26 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIAs part of its ongoing crackdown on power pilferage, the Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power-DDL) has secured 17 convictions in electricity theft cases between April 2024 and January 2025. The efforts to curb power theft have led to the conviction of 78 people in north and northwest Delhi under Section 135 of the Electricity Act since 2007, with courts imposing heavy fines on offenders, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power-DDL) said in a statement. Taking stringent action against electricity theft, Tata Power-DDL filed criminal cases against offenders in the Special Electricity Court, Rohini. Acknowledging the severity of these cases, the court handed down convictions, reinforcing the discom's commitment to preventing power theft and protecting the interests of law-abiding consumers, the company said. The statement further urged citizens to refrain from illegal activities and report power theft to ensure a fair and stable electricity supply. Tata Power-DDL's Chief Commercial Officer lauded the team's efforts in tackling electricity theft and holding violators accountable. "Our commitment is to uphold the integrity of customer services and create a sustainable energy future. Customers who pay their bills regularly should not suffer due to illegal activities by a few," she stated. 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
30 January,2025 08:25 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIAt least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a stampede that broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said. The pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh broke out as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Ealier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the incident took place between 1 am and 2 am when some devotees climbed over the barricades at Akhara Marg. Around 2 am, the blaring sirens of ambulances and police reached the incident spot. The CM also announced an ex gratia of R25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. Those injured were taken to the central hospital established in the Mela area. The UP government expects a total footfall of around 40 crore pilgrims at the largest spiritual gathering of the world. PM, Prez condole incident Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences at the tragic incident at Kumbh and said he was monitoring the situation after the stampede and bathing at the Maha Kumbh has since started there. The prime minister said he expresses his condolences over the tragic incident and prayed for the early recovery of those injured. “We had to lose some good souls in the tragic incident at Kumbh and some people have also got hurt. I convey my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and pray for the early recovery of those injured,” said Modi. President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow and prayed for the recovery of those injured. Leaders express grief West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeeoffered her condolences to the bereaved families. Banerjee stated that her experiences of organising the annual Gangasagar Mela in Bengal warrant “maximal planning and care” to handle huge assemblies such as the Kumbh. Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the loss of lives and appealed to devotees to be patient and follow instructions of the local administration.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths of several devotees and hoped for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries. “Deaths of pilgrims in the unfortunate incident at Prayagraj Mahakumbh. Deep condolences to the bereaved families. Hope for early recovery of those who are injured,” the Bihar CM wrote in a post on X. AAP blames management The AAP blamed administrative mismanagement for the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh, calling for an end to VIP culture and stricter crowd management. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, during a press conference, described the scenes from the religious gathering as “scary.” AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi CM Atishi expressed sorrow over the incident. Meanwhile, the Congress hit out at the Centre and the state government, demanding that the Maha Kumbh management be handed over to a better administrator. 40crNo. of pilgrims expected to attend Maha kumbh 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
30 January,2025 08:18 AM IST | Mahakumbh Nagar | AgenciesMaharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in 'glib talk' and making false promises of development to people of the national capital. Addressing a rally ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 in Rohini, Fadnavis said if there is a race for corruption in the Olympics, Kejriwal will win the gold medal. He urged the voters to elect a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 to ensure the speedy development of the national capital, which he claimed was facing problems of overflowing sewers, unclean water and polluted air due to the "misrule of AAP government", news agency PTI reported. "Who can know Kejriwal better than Anna Hazare? I have met Anna Hazare before coming here. He told me that Kejriwal is the most dishonest person in this world," Fadnavis said, campaigning for BJP candidate Vijendra Gupta. Kejriwal shot to fame with his anti-corruption movement in 2011 with social activist Hazare as its mascot. However, he had a fallout with Hazare after contesting elections in 2013.At the rally, the Maharashtra CM credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ushering in development in the country without the blot of corruption, reported PTI. "But in AAP, it is difficult to find a spotless minister. If there is a race for corruption in the Olympics, Kejriwal will win the gold medal hands down," Fadnavis said, adding "Kejriwal promised to get rid of corruption, but indulged in it with gusto once elected to power." The BJP leader also said that the former Delhi CM had promised to seek votes only after cleaning the Yamuna river that flows through Delhi. "He failed to clean the Yamuna and is now accusing Haryana of poisoning the river. The poison is in his [Kejriwal's] head. He only spoke lies and took the people of Delhi for a ride," the Maharashtra CM said, adding that Prime Minister Modi was keen to usher in development in the national capital, but it was Kejriwal who was only interested in abusing him day and night. According to PTI, Fadnavis also stated that Maharashtra witnessed rapid progress during his previous tenure as CM by walking in step with PM Modi. "PM Modi is developing the nation rapidly. If you hand over the reins of Delhi to the BJP, you will see a changed Delhi in the next five years," he said. (With PTI inputs)
29 January,2025 11:02 PM IST | New Delhi | Dharmendra JoreADVERTISEMENT
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