Researchers have discovered a new species of catfish in the biodiverse northern Western Ghats spanning the states of Goa and Maharashtra. The fish inhabits shallow hill streams where the streambed is made up of sand, pebbles and stones, creating microhabitats that help it hide and forage for food. During field surveys conducted over five years, the researchers encountered the species only twice, underscoring its rarity and the ecological importance of the fragile habitats it occupies. This species was brought to our attention by Dr. Neil Soares of Mumbai and Sanjog of Kolad, who collected the first specimen in the year 2020 from Kolad. The species was identified through the joint efforts of independent researcher Balaji Vijayakrishnan and researchers Tejas Thackeray and Abhishek Shirke from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation. Speaking to Mid-Day Abhishek Shirke said, "The newly identified fish belongs to the genus Amblyceps and has been named Amblyceps vayavy." The name ‘vayavy’ means 'northwest' in Marathi and Konkani, referring to the species’ habitat in the northwestern part of the Western Ghats. Researchers say this is the northernmost confirmed record of the genus in the Western Ghats so far." The fish inhabits shallow hill streams where the riverbed contains a mix of sand, gravel and stones, creating a suitable microhabitat for hiding and feeding. According to the researchers, the species can be distinguished from other members of the genus by features such as a bifurcated caudal fin, an incomplete lateral line, an absence of centrally projecting hooks in the veins in the middle of the tail, and a distinct adipose fin structure. Though Goa is globally known for tourism, scientists say the region also hosts rich freshwater biodiversity. The species has so far been recorded only from a few scattered locations in Goa and Maharashtra, suggesting that its distribution may be limited. Researchers have cautioned that freshwater ecosystems in the region face multiple threats, including mining, industrial wastewater discharge, microplastic pollution and the introduction of alien fish species. They say the discovery highlights the need for stronger ecological studies and conservation efforts in the Western Ghats’ fragile stream habitats.
14 March,2026 04:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavAkasa Air will levy fuel surcharges ranging from Rs 199 to Rs 1,300 on domestic and international flight tickets from March 15 due to the spike in jet fuel prices amid the West Asia conflict. Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo have started levying similar charges on domestic and international flight tickets. In a statement on Saturday, Akasa Air said it would levy fuel surcharge for each flight and the quantum would vary based on the duration of the flight. "Akasa Air will introduce a fuel surcharge ranging from INR 199 to INR 1300 on our domestic and international routes, for all bookings that are made with effect from 00:01 hrs on March 15, 2026," it said. According to the airline, there has been a significant increase in the price of aviation turbine fuel, driven by evolving geopolitical developments in West Asia. "As fuel represents a significant portion of airline operating costs, this impacts the cost of operations across the aviation industry," the statement said. Further, Akasa Air said it would continue to closely monitor the operating environment and review the fuel surcharge periodically. Air Canada suspends Toronto-Dubai flights till May 1, expands capacity to Delhi Meanwhile, Air Canada has suspended all its Toronto-Dubai flight operations till May 1 amid the escalating tensions in West Asia. The airlines said that they will resume their flight operations when safe passage is ensured. The airlines further said that it will continue to add to its capacity to Delhi to provide travellers with options to Canada. "Due to unrest in the Middle East, our Toronto-Dubai flights are cancelled until at least May 1. We plan to reintroduce service gradually when flights can safely resume. We continue to add capacity to Delhi to provide travellers with options to Canada," Air Canada said in a post on X. Meanwhile, Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 80 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on March 14, the airline said. According to a press release, the two carriers continue to operate their respective scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat on March 14, operating a total of 10 flights to and from Jeddah and Air India Express operating 8 scheduled flights to and from Muscat. Additionally, Air India will operate one round-trip from Delhi and two round-trips from Mumbai to Jeddah. Air India Express will operate one flight each from Kozhikode and Mangaluru to Jeddah and back. Air India Express will also operate its scheduled services to Muscat, including one round-trip each from Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode and Mumbai. In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express would operate a total of 62 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, subject to the availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time. These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities.
14 March,2026 03:29 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSecurity forces arrested four militants belonging to a banned outfit from Manipur's Imphal, police said on Saturday. The four active cadres of the outlawed United National Liberation Front (P) were apprehended from New Checkon area in Imphal East district on Friday, they said. Arms and ammunition, including pistols and bullets, were recovered from their possession, a police officer 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
14 March,2026 01:26 PM IST | Imphal | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on Saturday to address a rally at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground here and unveil development projects worth around Rs 18,680 crore, in his first trip to the state after the publication of the post-SIR electoral rolls last month. The rally, organised by the BJP, will mark the culmination of the party's statewide 'Parivartan Yatra' ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. After the surge in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the setback in the 2021 assembly polls, the BJP's yatra is being seen as its most expansive statewide mobilisation in recent years. The yatra, which began on March 1, a day after the publication of the revised electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision exercise, criss-crossed nearly 5,000 km across the state, covering 237 assembly constituencies. According to official data released on February 28, following the SIR exercise, 63.66 lakh names, around 8.3 per cent of the electorate, have been deleted since the revision process began in November last year, reducing the voter base in the state from about 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore. In addition, more than 60.06 lakh electors have been placed under the "under adjudication" category, meaning their eligibility will be determined through legal scrutiny in the coming weeks. Modi's visit also comes amid reports that the Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule for the assembly elections next week. During the visit, the prime minister will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for development projects spanning road infrastructure, railways, port and shipping sectors. In a major push for road connectivity, Modi will launch several national highway projects with a combined length of over 420 km. The projects include sections of NH-19 in West Bengal and Jharkhand and NH-114 in West Bengal, aimed at enhancing road safety, reducing travel time and improving regional connectivity. He will also lay the foundation stone for several highway projects, including five packages of the 231-km four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram economic corridor section of NH-116A. In the railway sector, the prime minister will inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations in the state under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, aimed at modernising passenger amenities and infrastructure. 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 March,2026 01:23 PM IST | Kolkata | PTIA massive search operation was launched by security forces on Saturday in several forward villages of Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district after a Pakistani drone crossed the International Border and entered the Indian territory, officials said. The enemy drone movement was noticed for a few minutes over the villages of Kandral, Abtal and Bahadurpur in Ramgarh sector late Friday night, officials said. They said the area was kept under strict surveillance and a massive search operation was launched at first light of the day to ensure that there was no air-dropping of weapons or narcotics from across the border. Security forces recovered over 3.5 kgs of heroin worth over Rs 20 crore in international market after the consignments were dropped by drones in border villages in R S Pura sector near here in the past two days. Two suspected narcotic smugglers were detained for questioning in connection with latest recovery in R S Pura sector on Friday. 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 March,2026 01:20 PM IST | Jammu | PTIAmid the ongoing West Asia War, the Consulate General of India, Dubai, has announced a set of relief measures for foreign nationals who are currently stranded in India due to flight disruptions and the regional conflict. While issuing an official advisory issued on Friday, March 13, the consulate said that regular Indian visas and e-visas that are expiring or due to expire soon will be extended by one month on a gratis basis. The order further stated, "The extension will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs).” The advisory comes as several travellers have been unable to leave India because of disruptions linked to the developing situation in West Asia. Penalties on overstaying visas to be waived off Authorities have also announced that penalties for overstaying visas after February 28, 2026, will be waived for affected foreign nationals whose travel plans have been impacted by the conflict. Additionally, the government during the concerning time has said that exit permits will be issued free of cost to such individuals. Officials clarified that the non-application for exit permits or visa extensions under these exceptional circumstances will not be treated as a violation of immigration rules. Officials further noted that affected travellers can approach the FRRO offices in their jurisdiction to avail themselves of the benefits of the advisory and process the necessary visa extensions or exit permits. Temporary Landing Permits The advisory further stated that Temporary Landing Permits (TLP) will also be granted free of charge to foreign nationals whose flights are diverted to India because of the ongoing situation in the region. The advisory issued by the consulate comes in view of making things easier for the individuals who are stranded amid the global turmoil. These measures aim to provide relief to travellers caught in unexpected travel disruptions and ensure that they do not face legal or financial penalties due to circumstances beyond their control. The announcement comes as governments and aviation authorities continue to monitor the evolving developments amid the West Asia War, which have affected international flight routes and travel plans across the globe.
14 March,2026 12:53 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a nationwide policy providing paid menstrual leave for women students and workers, observing “no one would give them jobs” in such a scenario and that such a provision would unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes. The top court, however, asked the Centre and competent authorities to consider the representation of the PIL petitioner and examine the possibility of framing a policy on menstrual leave. CJI Surya Kant A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that while the intent behind the petition might be welfare-oriented, the practical reality of the job market could lead to “counter-productive” outcomes for women. 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 March,2026 08:31 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesMaharashtra Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Friday directed officials to carry out all the ongoing construction works and other health facilities under the department in close coordination with local public representatives to ensure smooth execution and better service delivery to citizens. A review meeting was held at the Mantralaya's Committee Hall in the presence of legislators from various parts of the state, where the progress of construction works and health infrastructure projects under Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) across Maharashtra was reviewed. The meeting was attended by legislators Prakash Solanki, Suresh Dhas, Saroj Ahire, Shrijaya Chavan, Narayan Patil, Suhas Babar, Amol Khatale, Gopichand Padalkar, Amsha Padvi, Manjulatai Gavit, Dr Milind Narote, Umesh Yawalkar, along with Health Secretary Dr Nipun Vinayak, Secretary E Ravindran, Health Services Commissioner Dr Kadambari Balkawade, senior officials from the Public Works Department, Public Health Department, and Infrastructure Development Wing (IDW). District health officers, civil surgeons, and departmental heads concerned joined via video-conferencing. Abitkar emphasised that health institutions where 80 per cent of construction work is complete should have their pending works expedited immediately and made ready for inauguration. For institutions where 50 per cent work is done, proposals related to manpower should be submitted without delay. Key directives by Maharashtra minister Priority filling of vacant posts in Naxal-affected, tribal, remote, and rural areas. Preference in new recruitments, promotions, and postings of postgraduate medical officers to difficult and rural regions. Verification by district health officers and civil surgeons to ensure outsourced staff are paid salaries as per rules. Strict adherence to cleanliness norms in hospitals and premises, and provision of nutritious food as per standards. Strict quality checks on contractors' work before bill payments; no leniency in case of complaints. He further directed officials to strengthen health institutions with the help of local representatives, seek their assistance in resolving local issues, and maintain regular contact for better coordination in providing quality health services to the public. Demands raised by Maharashtra MLAs Shrijaya Chavan sought specialist doctors along with general physicians at health centres and starting dialysis services. Amol Khatale urged immediate completion of pending works in Sangamner. Suhas Babar demanded filling of vacant posts at the health institution in Pare (Vita). Saroj Ahire requested filling of medical officer vacancies at Girnare Primary Health Centre, full-time sonography technician, and land allocation for Bhagur hospital. Prakash Solanki highlighted absenteeism of medical officers. Suresh Dhas and Narayan Patil gave suggestions on post creation and construction proposals. Umesh Yawalkar demanded a blood storage unit. Manjulatai Gavit raised points on health facilities. Dr Milind Narote called for establishing a TB hospital in Gadchiroli district, full-time malaria officer, quality medicines in ICU, regular staff training, and opposed transfer of Gadchiroli Civil Hospital to Medical Education Department. Gopichand Padalkar sought verification of points in advertisements for medical officers and reviewed inauguration status of Thane, Palghar district hospitals, and Manor hospital. The minister assured that all genuine demands and suggestions would be examined and acted upon promptly to strengthen the public health system across the state.
13 March,2026 10:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndiGo will start levying fuel charges ranging from Rs 425 to Rs 2,300 on domestic and international flight tickets from March 14 amid the steep surge in jet fuel prices due to the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran. The move will increase the airfares. For domestic flights and those within the Indian subcontinent, the fuel charge will be Rs 425, while it will be Rs 900 for the Middle East services, the airline said in a statement on Friday. The fuel charge will be Rs 1,800 for South East Asia and China, Africa and West Asia flights, and Rs 2,300 for Europe flights. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) accounts for nearly 40 per cent of an airline's operational costs. While announcing the introduction of the fuel charge, the airline said the measure has been taken due to the significant surge in fuel prices following the ongoing geopolitical issues in the Middle East. "While offsetting the entire impact of this fuel price surge requires a very substantial adjustment to fares, IndiGo has introduced a relatively smaller amount as a fuel charge, keeping in mind the consequential burden on customers," the airline said. On March 10, Air India and Air India Express announced fuel surcharges on tickets. 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.
13 March,2026 09:50 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIAmid the ongoing uncertainties in Gulf countries after the US-Israel attack on Iran, 61 persons from Marathwada in Maharashtra are stranded in Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and Abu Dhabi due to the closure of airspace. An official Divisional Commissionerate, while speaking about the situation, said, “The 61, who have intimated the administrations of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded, Hingoli, Beed and Latur districts in Marathwada, are tourists, while some have gone to the Gulf for work and others possess resident visas." Furthermore, he also informed, "Details of those from Dharashiv district (also part of Marathwada) are yet to arrive. Nanded leads with 24 persons, followed by 12 from Latur, 10 from Beed, six each from Parbhani and Jalna, two from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and one from Hingoli." Flights have been affected since Saturday after the US and Israel carried out a joint strike on Iran, resulting in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has struck US bases in several Gulf nations, prompting airlines to cancel flights following the closure of airspace. BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi temporarily closed In response to the Israeli attack, Iran reportedly fired missiles and drones targeting several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, among others. In view of concerning situations in the United Arab Emirates, the BAPS Hindu Mandir, in a post on social media platform X, has announced that the premises will be temporarily closed to visitors. “As the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi remains temporarily closed to visitors, the Swamis continue to offer special prayers within the sacred sanctums of the Mandir. In these deeply spiritual moments, their devotion carries prayers for peace, protection, and the well-being of all,” the post read. The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi also appealed to the community to remain calm as authorities continue efforts to safeguard the nation amid this extremely critical time. “BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi appealed to the community to remain calm as authorities continue efforts to safeguard the nation,” the post added. Soon after the retaliatory fire from Iran was launched at the UAE, authorities across the region swiftly activated emergency protocols and heightened air defence systems amid fears of further escalation. In the UAE, officials indicated that the majority of incoming missiles and drones were intercepted by the country’s advanced air defence systems, preventing large-scale damage.
13 March,2026 07:48 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe total Lunar Eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, (12 Phalguna, 1947 Saka Era) will be visible from most parts of India, except some extreme western regions. The eclipse will be observable across eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and the Americas, as per reports. In India, most areas will witness the end of the eclipse at moonrise, while parts of North-East India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will see the end of totality as well. Eclipse begins: 15:20 IST Totality begins: 16:34 IST Totality ends: 17:33 IST Eclipse ends: 18:48 IST Magnitude: 1.155 A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. A total lunar eclipse happens when the entire Moon passes through the Earth’s umbra, while a partial eclipse occurs when only a portion of the Moon is shaded. The previous total lunar eclipse visible in India was on 7-8 September 2025, and the next lunar eclipse visible in India will be a partial one on 6 July 2028. Onset of the Eclipse A Lunar Eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon and reducing its brightness. During this time, the Moon often appears blood-red. As the Earth’s shadow begins to cover the Moon, its glow gradually dims. This initial phase is known as the onset of the eclipse. When the Earth’s shadow fully covers the Moon, the event is called a total lunar eclipse.
13 March,2026 07:46 PM IST |ADVERTISEMENT
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