Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav prayed for the well-being of actor Saif Ali Khan and urged the government to ensure the safety of artistes on Friday, reported news agency PTI. In a post in Hindi on X, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh wrote, "Praying for the speedy recovery of the popular film star Saif Ali Khan. I request the government to ensure the safety of all artistes." लोकप्रिय फ़िल्म स्टार सैफ़ अली ख़ान की सेहतमंदी की दुआओं के साथ सरकार से आग्रह कि कलाकारों की सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित की जाए। — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 17, 2025 A man armed with a knife entered Saif Ali Khan's residence on the 12th floor of the Satguru Sharan building in Mumbai's Bandra area on Wednesday night and attacked the 54-year-old Hindi cinema actor multiple times, leaving him severely injured. The incident also raised several questions about the security provided to celebrities. Doctors at Lilavati Hospital confirmed that Khan, who underwent emergency surgery, is now "out of danger" and was shifted to normal ward from ICU even as the Mumbai Police continue its investigation into the attack and search for the intruder, PTI stated. In 2016, when SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, National Film Award-winning actor Khan had performed at the Saifai Mahotsav. Suspect in Saif Ali Khan attack reportedly scoped Shah Rukh Khan's house, but police deny claims Recent reports have suggested that the individual who attacked actor Saif Ali Khan may have previously conducted a reconnaissance of Shah Rukh Khan’s residence a few days earlier. However, these claims have been officially denied by the Mumbai Police. “Nothing of this sort has been discovered till now. Request to all the members not to speculate without confirmation,” said DCP Dixit Gedam. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, has sent shockwaves through the Bollywood community. The Bandra police are now questioning two individuals who were working on the flooring of Saif Ali Khan’s residence, Satguru Sharan. The police suspect that the attacker was familiar with the layout of the building, which enabled him to use both the shaft and stairs to access the 11th floor, where the actor resides with his family. (With inputs from PTI)
17 January,2025 02:19 PM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondentOuter Delhi woke up to a blanket of very dense fog on Friday morning, significantly reducing visibility and disrupting both vehicular traffic and train schedules. The minimum temperature recorded was 8.8 degrees Celsius, slightly above the seasonal normal by 1.2 degrees, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The air quality in the national capital continued to remain a pressing concern, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 294, placing it firmly in the 'poor' category. Among the worst-affected areas were Nehru Nagar (360), Patparganj (377), and Okhla Phase-2 (351), with Vivek Vihar recording the highest AQI at 390, bordering on 'very poor' levels. Other areas like R K Puram (344), Rohini (343), and Sonia Vihar (323) also reported concerning figures. Conversely, Mandir Marg (144) and Sri Aurobindo Marg (156) exhibited comparatively moderate air quality, though still far from ideal. The IMD has forecast a foggy day ahead, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 19 degrees Celsius. Dense fog conditions are predicted to persist over the weekend, with Saturday likely to witness very dense fog and Sunday experiencing dense fog. The dense fog has not only hampered daily commutes but has also caused significant delays in train services. As per ANI reports, 27 trains operating in Northern India have been delayed, some by several hours. The Unchahar Express (14217) is running behind schedule by 215 minutes, while the Kaifiyat Express (12225) is delayed by 178 minutes. Similarly, the Prayagraj Express (12418) and Vikramshila Express (12367) are lagging by 110 and 119 minutes, respectively. The AP Express (20805) reported the longest delay of 240 minutes, causing considerable inconvenience to passengers. Other trains, such as the RKMP NZM SF Express (12155), are also running behind schedule by 109 minutes. These delays are a recurring challenge during the winter season, as dense fog disrupts visibility and affects transportation systems. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) continues to monitor the air quality across Delhi, with efforts ongoing to mitigate the impact of pollution. With AQI values frequently breaching hazardous thresholds, the situation underscores the urgent need for effective policies to tackle air pollution in the capital. Residents are advised to exercise caution, particularly during early mornings and evenings when visibility is at its lowest. The dense fog and poor air quality serve as a grim reminder of the environmental challenges facing Delhi during its peak winter months. (With inputs from Agencies)
17 January,2025 09:53 AM IST | New DelhiPresident Droupadi Murmu welcomed Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday, and hosted a grand banquet in his honour. The event was graced by prominent leaders, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal. In a post on X, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said, "President Droupadi Murmu received President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in his honour. The President noted that the close ties between India and Singapore are rooted in centuries-old commercial, cultural and people-to-people links." https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1879936226272375035 In another post, it said, "President Droupadi Murmu said that the remarkable progress made by Singapore since its Independence is an example for all developing countries, and Singapore is a valuable partner for India in our developmental journey. Both leaders jointly released a logo commemorating the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore bilateral relations." https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1879936510541337060 Notably, India and Singapore marked six decades of diplomatic relations with a landmark event in the national capital, during which President Murmu and President Tharman unveiled a special logo to commemorate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The commemorative logo was designed to symbolise the enduring relationship between the two nations, featuring elements from both countries' national symbols. It incorporates the colours from the Indian and Singaporean flags, as well as the national flowers--the lotus of India and the orchid of Singapore. The number '60' in the logo highlights the important milestone in the two countries' bilateral history. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in the national capital to discuss the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries to further enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between their countries. The two leaders discussed cooperation in futuristic sectors like semiconductors, digitalisation, skilling, and connectivity as well as ways to improve cooperation in industry, infrastructure and culture. The two countries have expanded their cooperation over the years, with key areas now including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, digitisation, sustainability, and education. Singapore remains integral to India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy. To mark the 60th anniversary, various commemorative events will be held throughout 2025 to celebrate this enduring partnership.
17 January,2025 09:02 AM IST | New Delhi | ANICongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met several patients and their families camped on the roads, footpaths and subways around AIIMS and accused the Centre and the Delhi government of showing "insensitivity" towards them. The leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha met the patients and families putting up on roads, footpaths and subways around AIIMS and enquired about their problems and grievances. "Burden of disease, biting cold, and government insensitivity - today I met patients and their families outside AIIMS who have come from far and wide in search of treatment," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on Instagram. "On their path to get treatment, they are forced to sleep on roads, footpaths and subways - just keeping a flame of hope burning amidst the cold ground, hunger, and inconveniences," Gandhi said. "Both the Central and Delhi governments have completely failed in fulfilling their responsibility towards the public," he 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
17 January,2025 09:02 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Congress on Thursday announced its final list of candidates with two names for the upcoming Delhi polls. The party has now declared all 70 candidates. On Wednesday, it unveiled a list of five candidates. On Tuesday, the party released a list of 15 candidates. According to the latest list, Lokendra Chaudhary has been fielded from Timarpur, while Suresh Wati Chauhan will contest from Rohtas Nagar. The party has fielded Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba from Kalkaji against CM Atishi, and ex-MP Sandeep Dikshit from New Delhi against former CM Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP, on the other hand, has named nine more candidates, fielding Shikha Rai and Anil Vashishth from Greater Kailash and Babarpur, respectively. While Rai is pitted against Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, Vashishth will be up against Gopal Rai, also a minister in the AAP government. With the latest list, the BJP has named its 68 candidates. 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
17 January,2025 08:21 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesIn a major decision, the central government on Thursday decided to set up the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries of central government employees and allowances of pensioners. The decision to set up the 8th Pay Commission was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The term of the 7th Pay Commission will end in 2026. “Prime Minister has approved 8th Central Pay Commission for central government employees,” the minister said. The chairman and two members of the Commission will be appointed soon, he added. There are over 49 lakh central government employees and nearly 65 lakh pensioners. The minister further said the setting up of the new Pay Commission in 2025 will ensure that its recommendations are received well before the completion of the term of the seventh pay panel. Vaishnaw said consultations will be held with central and state governments and other stakeholders. 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
17 January,2025 08:21 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesHindenburg Research, which made international waves with campaigns targeting billionaire Gautam Adani that wiped billions from market value of his group companies, will disband, its founder Nate Anderson announced on Thursday. Announcement by Anderson, 40, who started Hindenburg in 2017, came just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration as the new President of the United States. While he cited the toll of the “rather intense, and at times, all encompassing” nature of the work as the reason for his decision, critics were quick to link the shutting down Hindenburg’s alleged ties with George Soros and the so-called deep state being under significant pressure from the incoming Trump administration. Adani Group CFO Jugeshinder Robbie Singh in a cryptic post on X said, “Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye” Hindenburg in January 2023 published a report accusing the Adani group of “pulling the largest con in the corporate history”, wiping out more than $150 billion in value of the group’s shares at their lowest point. Adani group vehemently denied all the allegations including that being “engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades” and improper use of offshore tax havens to shore up group share prices. Adani’s stock surges Adani group stocks rallied on Thursday morning after Hindenburg Research announced that it will be shutting down.Shares of Adani Power surged 9.21 per cent, Adani Green Energy soared 8.86 per cent, Adani Enterprises climbed 7.72 per cent, Adani Total Gas jumped 7.10 per cent, NDTV rallied 7 per cent and Adani Energy Solutions advanced 6.63 per cent on the BSE. The stock of Adani Ports climbed 5.48 per cent, Ambuja Cements jumped 4.55 per cent, ACC shot-up by 4.14 per cent, Sanghi Industries (3.74 per cent) and Adani Wilmar (0.54 per cent). Shutdown not clean chit The Congress said Hinderburg’s closure does not mean a clean chit for “Modani” and asserted that without a JPC, the “already-compromised” institutions of the Indian state will continue to act only to protect the powerful. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The closure of Hindenburg Research does not, in any way, mean a clean chit for Modani.” The Hindenburg report of January 2023 proved serious enough to compel the Supreme Court of India to set up an Expert Committee to probe the allegation made in it against the Adani Group “whose prime patron is none other than the present Prime Minister of India”, he said in a statement. Supari against economy The BJP slammed Hindenburg Research, alleging that the US-based short seller’s reports were ‘supari’ taken against India’s rising economic power. BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Hindenburg’s report was a sponsored, organised, orchestrated and manipulated act of economic anarchism and economic terrorism. BJP leader Amit Malviya questioned the decision to disband, noting that it came at a time when the US Department of Justice was planning an investigation into the firm’s operations. Senior Advocate and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Mahesh Jethmalani alleged that Hindenburg Research’s disbanding signals deeper implications, suggesting possible scrutiny by US authorities or fear of investigation for its role in targeting Adani Group shares. 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
17 January,2025 08:21 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesPolice have seized counterfeit currency notes totalling 2,070 in denomination of Rs 500 with a face value of Rs 10.35 lakh in Pune city and arrested five individuals, an official said on Thursday. During routine patrolling last week in the Padmavati area on Pune-Satara road, police personnel found movements of a man, identified as Nilesh Hiranand Virkar, suspicious. "When he was stopped and questioned, he started giving vague answers and tried to hide something. A search revealed a bundle of counterfeit notes of Rs 500 denomination in his possession. During probe, it was revealed he was planning to circulate them in the market," said the official. On further interrogation, Virkar disclosed the involvement of his accomplices Saifan Patel (26), Afzal Shah (19), Shahid Qureshi (25), and Shahfahad Ansari (22), all residents of Navi Mumbai and Palghar, in the racket to circulate counterfeit currency notes, he said. Subsequent arrests revealed that the counterfeit currency notes originated from New Delhi and Ghaziabad, according to the official. During the probe, police seized 2,070 fake notes having a face value of Rs 10.35 lakh. They have registered a case against all five accused under relevant sections of the new criminal code BNS, he added. 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
16 January,2025 11:00 PM IST | Pune | PTICongress MP from Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur Imran Masood accused AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of raising the issue of attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan in Mumbai to woo Muslim voters ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls. The Bollywood was stabbed six times by an intruder, who barged into his Mumbai home early Thursday. He is admitted to the Lilavati Hospital. Taking on the BJP over the issue, Kejriwal said, "When the BJP's double-engine government can't ensure the safety of celebrities like Saif Ali Khan, what can the common people expect?" "Such attacks are not new. There was a shooting outside actor Salman Khan's house and the killing of Baba Siddique, who was BJP's alliance partner, shows the law and order situation in the country," he added. Hitting out at Kejriwal, Congress MP Imran Masood said, "It is surprising that Kejriwal, who did not express any concern about the Muslims of Delhi in the past 10 years, is concerned about the Muslims of Mumbai." At least he is concerned about the Muslims outside Delhi, he said. "But the question that arises is that you will speak about the law and order of Mumbai but not of Delhi. Today you tried to woo Muslim voters in Delhi by taking the name of (Saif Ali) Khan. But when there was violence in Jahangirpuri, you did not utter a single word," Masood charged. "You were the chief minister at that time. If you would have gone to Jahangirpuri, then there would not have been so much of a loss. When the students were attacked during CAA/NRC (protest) at Jamia Millia Islamia, you were not ready to say anything," he said. Continuing with his barrage of attacks, the Congress MP said, "The punishment given to AAP MLA Naresh Yadav in the case of desecration of the Holy Quran is a serious matter. How does AAP justify keeping those who do such divisive work in the party? Have any steps been taken to ensure accountability in the party?" The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February 5 and the results will be announced on February 8. 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
16 January,2025 10:54 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn a tragic incident, four members of a family drowned in the Bharathapuzha river at Cheruthuruthy on Thursday evening. The victims have been identified as Kabeer (47), his wife Shahina (35), their daughter Sera Fathima (10), and Shahina's nephew Fuvad Sanin (12), all hailing from Cheruthuruthy, police said. The tragedy occurred around 5.30 pm when the two children, playing near the riverbank, accidentally fell into the water. Upon noticing this, Kabeer and Shahina rushed to rescue them but were caught in the strong undercurrent, quoting the eyewitness police said. Local residents, police, and fire and rescue teams immediately launched a search operation. Shahina was pulled from the water and rushed to a nearby private hospital, but her life could not be saved, according to local residents. Rescue teams later recovered the bodies of Kabeer and Fuvad. The search for Sera concluded around 8.15 pm when her body was retrieved. Thrissur City Police Commissioner Ilango R and other senior officers reached the spot to oversee the rescue efforts, police added. 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
16 January,2025 10:45 PM IST | Thrissur (Kerala) | PTIThe new year has started on a grim note for wild tigers in India, with 13 reported deaths in the first 16 days of 2025. Maharashtra recorded the highest number at seven deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh. According to www.tigernet.nic.in, the official database of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a state agency under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, of the 13 deaths, nine occurred outside tiger reserves, while four were reported within reserves. Madhya Pradesh recorded two deaths, while Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Kerala, and Assam each reported one tiger death. Investigations into these deaths are ongoing, and the exact causes are yet to be determined. Wildlife conservationist Kedar Gore from the Corbett Foundation explained that in states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where tiger populations are high, some deaths due to natural causes are expected. However, he pointed out that at least four tiger deaths in Maharashtra were linked to poaching and human-wildlife conflict. "This needs to be addressed on a priority," he said. Gore added, "Hopefully, the NTCA and the respective forest departments will focus more on timely addressing the reasons leading to negative human-wildlife interactions. Timely release of funds, compensating local communities for human, property, and agricultural losses due to wildlife, and ensuring capacity building of frontline staff to improve vigilance against poaching are crucial. Most unnatural tiger deaths occur in buffer areas, wildlife corridors, and forest divisions adjacent to well-protected tiger reserves. These areas need more attention, funds, and wildlife management strategies. Instead of focusing solely on increasing tiger numbers in restricted areas, we should prioritise reducing human-wildlife conflicts. Fewer negative interactions should become the measure of success in tiger conservation." According to NTCA data, India recorded a total of 127 tiger deaths in 2024. In January 2024 alone, 20 tiger deaths were reported across the country. Of the 127 deaths reported last year, 85 remain under investigation, 13 were attributed to natural causes, and one was confirmed as a poaching incident. Sarosh Lodhi, co-founder of the wildlife group Conservation Lenses & Wildlife (CLaW) and a conservation photographer, expressed concern over the mortality numbers. "The mortality numbers are extremely concerning, and the high number of unnatural deaths is particularly troubling. While authorities are considering introducing birth control measures for tigers, the focus should be on reducing the mortality rate and securing corridors to allow tigers to move freely," he said. NTCA data on mortality The NTCA stated, "Based on the location of tiger mortality events, data from 2012 to September 2024 is grouped into three categories: deaths inside tiger reserves, deaths outside reserves, and seizures of tiger skins or bones. Of the 1,386 tiger mortality events recorded during this period, 50 per cent occurred within tiger reserves, 42 per cent outside reserves, and 7 per cent were linked to seizures."
16 January,2025 10:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavADVERTISEMENT
