Notorious criminal Vinay Tyagi, lodged in Uttarakhand's Roorkee Jail under the Gangster Act, was attacked in a sensational incident on Wednesday. The incident occurred when unidentified assailants opened fire on him while he was being taken to the Laksar court in Haridwar for a hearing. After the life-threatening attack, Vinay Tyagi was admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment. In view of security concerns, police have carried out barricading outside the trauma centre. Following the attack, the gangster's daughter, Tanvi Tyagi, while speaking to ANI at AIIMS Rishikesh, claimed that the family had a vague idea of Tyagi's life being in danger as they were constantly being "harassed and pressured" to cut ties with him. "This morning, my father was shot between 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm, when he was in police custody, and was taken to the court for a remand date. We knew that his life was in danger because our entire family was being harassed. We were being told not to go to meet him. Today was his remand date. We anticipated something like this might happen, so we filed an application for security with the court, which the judge approved. The judge passed the order. The judge sent an email, faxed and called. He said that extra security should be provided to him. But this is what happened to him today," she said. She further claimed, "The judge called the police and asked them to record his statement, but the police said he is not in condition to record a statement. I met him a while ago. Although he was not well, he was in such a condition that he could have given his statement." 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
25 December,2025 10:50 AM IST | Rishikesh | ANIDelhi’s air quality recorded a noticeable improvement on Thursday morning, a day after the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas revoked restrictions imposed under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan, citing a sustained improvement in pollution levels. Although the city’s overall air quality continued to remain in the ‘poor’ category with an average Air Quality Index of 221, several locations across Delhi and the National Capital Region registered better readings, falling into the ‘moderate’ category. This marks a significant shift after weeks of ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ air quality levels across large parts of the region. As per the AQI classification, readings between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’. On Thursday morning, the AQI at India Gate and Kartavya Path stood at 350, while Akshardham recorded a reading of 245. Sir Aurobindo Marg saw an AQI of 159, IGI Airport reported 119, and Lodhi Road recorded 133, indicating improved air quality conditions in several key areas of the city. Despite the improvement in pollution levels, a fog warning remains in effect for Delhi and surrounding regions during the morning hours. The India Meteorological Department has forecast a very high probability of dense to very dense fog on Thursday morning across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, the Jammu region, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The weather agency also issued a similar warning for isolated locations in Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, East Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, as well as Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim, indicating widespread foggy conditions across multiple states. Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan was enforced in Delhi on December 13 after the city’s AQI plunged into the ‘severe’ category and crossed the 400 mark. Following this, pollution levels largely remained in the ‘severe’ or ‘very poor’ categories, with dense fog enveloping the city for extended periods during the day. However, a sharp improvement was recorded on Wednesday, when Delhi’s average AQI dropped to 271 from 412 recorded at 4 p.m. the previous day. The improvement in air quality prompted the CAQM to withdraw the stringent anti-pollution measures under GRAP-IV. Officials clarified that while Stage IV curbs have been revoked, all preventive and restrictive measures under Stages III, II and I of the existing GRAP framework will continue to remain in force to prevent a further deterioration in air quality. (With inputs from Agencies)
25 December,2025 10:39 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe 2017 Unnao rape case survivor on Wednesday termed the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the jail term of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar “kaal (death)” for her family and said that she would move the Supreme Court against it. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday suspended the sentence of Sengar, who is serving life imprisonment in the case, and ordered his release on bail pending the disposal of his appeal against his conviction by a trial court in December 2019. Sengar, however, will remain in jail since he is also serving 10 years’ imprisonment in the custodial death case of the victim's father and has not been granted bail in that case. Ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar. Pics/@mohitlaws Reacting to the verdict, the survivor, who was a minor when she was kidnapped and raped by Sengar in 2017, said that security for her family members, lawyers, and witnesses had already been withdrawn and the court's decision had deepened her fears. “If the convict gets bail in a case like this, how will the country’s daughters remain safe? For us, this decision is no less than 'kaal' (death),” she said. “Those with money win, those without money lose,” she rued. The survivor, who was heading out with her mother to stage a protest near Mandi House against the verdict, added that she would challenge the HC order in the Supreme Court. 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
25 December,2025 08:27 AM IST | Unnao | AgenciesA study conducted in India has found that consuming as little as nine grams of alcohol daily can be linked with a 50 per cent higher chance of developing mouth cancer, with the risk sharply rising to 87 per cent for locally brewed liquor. Researchers from Navi Mumbai’s Center for Cancer Epidemiology, among other institutes in India and International Agency for Research on Cancer, France, analysed 1803 individuals with buccal mucosa (mouth) cancer and 1903 randomly selected healthy people from across five study centres between 2010 and 2021. “The findings show nine grams per day of alcohol increased the risk of (buccal mucosa cancer) by approximately 50 per cent, and 62 per cent of cases could be attributed to alcohol drinking and chewing tobacco,” the authors wrote. 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
25 December,2025 08:26 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesA Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army died in a firing incident inside a military camp in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesperson said on Wednesday. The incident occurred late Tuesday night and is under investigation, he said, ruling out any terror angle. “A JCO of an Army unit in Samba sustained a gunshot wound while on duty in Jammu and unfortunately succumbed to his injuries in the line of duty. At this stage, the terror angle has been ruled out. “The incident is under investigation and further details will be shared as facts are established,” the spokesperson said. The Army’s Rising Star Corps identified the jawan as Subedar Surjeet Singh and paid rich tributes to him. “The Indian Army stands firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief and assures unwavering support,” it said in a post on X. 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
25 December,2025 08:23 AM IST | Jammu | AgenciesMizoram Governor VK Singh on Wednesday unfurled a monumental national flag at the Assam Rifles base at Zokhawsang on the eastern outskirts of Aizawl. Unfurling the Tricolour on a 108-ft pole, the tallest in the state, Singh said it was a moment of historic significance for Mizoram. He lauded the Assam Rifles and the Flag Foundation of India for selecting Zokhawsang as the site, stating that the unfurling of the Tricolour on Christmas Eve reflected harmony, hope, and unity among the people. Home Minister K Sapdanga, who spoke on the occasion, said the national flag represents unity, patriotism, selfless sacrifice, and hope for a brighter future. "The Tricolour evokes memories of India's freedom struggle and instils deep love for the nation, with the monumental flag further strengthening patriotic sentiments," he said. Flag Foundation of India chairman Naveen Jindal delivered a brief message via video conference. The programme was attended by senior civil and military officers, ex-servicemen, locals and school children. 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.
24 December,2025 09:39 PM IST | AizawlAir India on Tuesday announced the resumption of its non-stop services between Delhi and Rome, marking its return to the Italian capital after nearly six years and further expanding its European network. The airline’s Rome services had remained suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic. The flights will resume from March 25, 2026, with Air India operating four services a week between Delhi and Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino). The timing is expected to benefit travellers planning spring and summer holidays in Europe, while also offering passengers from Italy improved access to India and onward connections to Southeast Asia via Delhi. The Delhi–Rome service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. The aircraft is configured with 18 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 238 seats in Economy Class. Nipun Aggarwal, chief commercial officer, Air India, said connecting India with more global destinations remained a key priority for the airline. “India and Italy share deep-rooted commonalities in culture, business and trade, which makes Rome a natural addition to Air India’s expanding network. This non-stop service not only augments direct connectivity between the two capital cities but also offers travellers from Italy greater choice and seamless onward connections via our Delhi hub,” he said. Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer, Aeroporti di Roma, termed the resumption of services a strategically important development. Service expected to offer seamless connections via Delhi and expand Air India’s European network “This new service addresses growing demand across key traffic segments, further strengthening economic and cultural ties between Italy and India and broadening opportunities for exchange between the two countries,” he said. Italy is among India’s largest trading partners in Europe, with passenger traffic between the two nations continuing to rise, supported by a sizeable Indian diaspora in Italy and increasing interest among Indian travellers in Italian art, history and cuisine. Air India said the Rome flights have been timed to offer convenient connections via Delhi to destinations such as Bangkok, Colombo, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phuket, and Singapore. From March 25 to 27, 2026, flight AI123 will depart Delhi at 1.15 pm and arrive in Rome at 6 pm, while return flight AI122 will leave Rome at 7.50 pm and arrive in Delhi at 9 am the following day. From March 29, 2026, onwards, the Delhi–Rome flight will arrive at 6.55 pm, while the Rome–Delhi service will depart at 8.50 pm. All the timings are local. With the addition of Rome, Air India will serve eight destinations in mainland Europe and three in the United Kingdom. Bookings for the Delhi–Rome flights are being progressively opened across all channels, including the airline’s website, mobile app, airport ticketing offices, contact centres and travel agents worldwide, Air India said in a press release.
24 December,2025 06:37 PM IST | MumbaiNCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule said on Wednesday that her party won't forge an alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for the Pune civic polls. She further added that NCP (SP) and NCP won't align together until all the doubts and apprehensions of her party workers are addressed. While speaking to the media on Wednesday, NCP (SP) MP Sule said that they are in touch with the NCP, and potential repercussions will also be deliberated upon if both NCP groups decide to join hands. About her party's city unit president, Prashant Jagtap's disappointment over the possible tie-up with Ajit Pawar's NCP for the January 15 corporation elections in Pune, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said that she spoke to him at length and understood his apprehensions. Sule said she assured Jagtap that no ideology or party policy would be compromised if “we join hands with the NCP,” as cited by news agency PTI. “Jagtap's concerns were valid. His questions are absolutely valid,” the NCP (SP) MP added. Supriya Sule, while referring to past political developments, recalled that her NCP (SP) chief, Sharad Pawar, was forced out of the Congress after he raised the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, following which the NCP was formed. She also added, “Later, Sonia Gandhi showed political magnanimity and came to Pawar Saheb, offering him to join the UPA government,” as cited by news agency PTI. While addressing the party’s ideologies, Supriya Sule said, “Politics has its ups and downs. No ideology or party policy will be compromised if we join hands with the NCP. I have given all these assurances. There is nothing lost in translation.” She further added that Jagtap is an important leader for their party and that she has explained the organisational structure to him. She further claimed that no alliance has been finalised yet for the civic polls. Sule emphasised, “These are only discussions. In any strong democracy, dialogue and discussion are important.” Highlighting that she has not spoken to Ajit Pawar, who is also Maharashtra's deputy chief minister and her cousin, yet, she said, “I will speak to Ajit Dada only after listening to all party workers. I will not move ahead with any alliance until all doubts and apprehensions are addressed,” as per PTI. When asked about the discussions related to the alliance, she pointed out that there are discussions that if the alliance between both the NCP factions takes place, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP might insist that NCP (SP) contest on their 'clock' symbol. Sule says NCP will contest elections on the ‘tutari’ symbol Sule said that she has not received any such proposal, adding that it was obvious the NCP (SP) would contest on the 'tutari' symbol. Elections to 29 civic corporations in the state, including the Pune Municipal Corporation, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the next day. In the recently concluded municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in Maharashtra, the NCP secured 966 seats, compared to 256 by the NCP (SP). (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2025 03:00 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentThe controversial Rs 300-crore Pune land deal case on Wednesday saw an unexpected turn. An "office boy" working with Shital Tejwani, the power of attorney (PoA) holder of the Mundhwa land, which is now seen as the centre of attraction by the court. As reported by news agency PTI, the ‘office boy’ had signed key papers acting as a partner of a private firm linked to the case, the prosecution told a Pune court on Tuesday. The court extended the police custody of Tejwani till December 27 to enable further investigation in the high-profile case after the prosecution claimed she was not cooperating in the ongoing probe in the Pune land deal case. Shital Tejwani, who is currently in the custody of the Bavdhan police in the Pimpri-Chinchwad township, was produced before a court in the Paud area at the end of her previous remand. The court has extended her police custody by four more days, said an officer from the Bavdhan police station. While seeking further police custody, the prosecution told the Pune court that the probe carried out so far has revealed an "office boy" working with Tejwani had signed documents such as affidavits and authority letters acting as a partner of Amadea Enterprises LLP, the company which bought the government land in Mundhwa in violation of rules, reported PTI. While the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth is a co-partner in Amadea Enterprises, he has surprisingly not been named in the FIR. The prosecution, while arguing in the court, said that the police want to examine these documents to ascertain if there were any financial transactions between the office boy and Tejwani, as per PTI. Furthermore, the prosecution also said that, as some RTI activists have submitted new documents related to the land deal to the Bavdhan police station, the scope of the probe has widened. The prosecution also argued that, since Tejwani was not cooperating in the ongoing probe, her further interrogation was needed. On the other hand, activists Anjali Damania and Vijay Kumbhar, who are the complainants in the case, also wrote to the Pimpri Chinchwad police demanding that Parth Pawar also be named in the FIR besides Santosh Hingane, the Joint District Registrar. Amadea Enterprises under scrutiny The sale of 40 acres of land in the upscale Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore to Amadea Enterprises came under scrutiny last month after it was found that the plot belongs to the government and could not be sold. The firm was also allegedly exempted from paying Rs 21 crore in stamp duty. Tejwani, who held PoA for 272 'original watandars (owners)' of the land, allegedly executed the sale deed and sold the property to Amadea Enterprises despite knowing it belonged to the government and could not be sold. Sub-registrar Ravindra Taru allegedly facilitated the sale deed, as per PTI. Officials of the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) registered an FIR against Digvijay Patil, a co-partner in Amadea Enterprises, Tejwani and Taru for allegedly evading stamp duty. (With inputs from PTI)
24 December,2025 02:20 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan on Wednesday lauded the successful launch of the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite, describing it as the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil using an Indian rocket. He said the satellite was accurately placed into its designated orbit, calling the mission a major milestone for ISRO, reported news agency ANI. During his speech, V Narayanan said, "Launch vehicle has successfully and precisely injected the BlueBird Block 2 communication satellite in the intended orbit. This is the first dedicated commercial launch for a customer from the USA, that is AST SpaceMobile... This is our 104th launch from Sriharikota, also the 9th successful mission of the LVM-3 launch vehicle, demonstrating its 100 per cent reliability... " This mission, which was the first dedicated commercial launch for US-based AST SpaceMobile, also marked the 104th launch from Sriharikota and the 9th successful flight of the LVM-3 launch vehicle. "This is a back-to-back mission of the LVM-3 in just 52 days... This is the heaviest satellite ever lifted from Indian soil using an Indian launcher. This is also the third fully commercial mission of LVM-3 and the vehicle has demonstrated its excellent track record," he said, reported ANI. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday successfully launched the BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile, marking another major milestone for India’s space programme. The satellite was precisely placed into its designated orbit, following which the mission was declared a success. The launch took place at 8:55 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The mission carries a next-generation communication satellite designed to deliver high-speed cellular broadband directly to smartphones across the globe. Notably, BlueBird Block-2 is the heaviest payload ever launched into Low Earth Orbit by ISRO’s LVM3 rocket, underscoring the growing capabilities of India’s heavy-lift launch systems. The satellite is part of the next generation of BlueBird Block-2 communication satellites, designed to provide space-based cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard mobile smartphones, ISRO said, reported ANI. LVM3, developed by ISRO, is a three-stage launch vehicle comprising two solid strap-on motors (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25). It has a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes, a height of 43.5 meters, and a payload capability of 4,200 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). In its earlier missions, LVM3 successfully launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions carrying 72 satellites. The previous launch of LVM3 was the LVM3-M5/CMS-03 mission, which was successfully accomplished on November 2 this year. AST SpaceMobile, as per its website, is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications. According to AST SpaceMobile, its BlueBird satellites provide broadband directly to standard smartphones without specialised hardware or phone modifications, allowing users to make video calls, browse the web, and use 4G and 5G internet speeds from anywhere on Earth. (With ANI inputs)
24 December,2025 11:47 AM IST | Sriharikota | mid-day online correspondentA thick layer of toxic smog enveloped parts of the national capital on Wednesday, with visuals from the ITO area highlighting the deteriorating air quality. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated all measures under GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR. According to the news agency ANI, the Air Quality Index (AQI) at ITO was recorded at 374, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Similar conditions were reported near India Gate, where Republic Day parade rehearsals continued despite the heavy smog. The AQI in the area was 354, also categorised as ‘very poor’, CPCB data showed. Meanwhile, the Delhi Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Tuesday approved a series of significant measures to strengthen the capital’s fight against pollution and improve environmental governance, according to a press release. Announcing the outcomes, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the initiatives would bring “a decisive reduction in sources of air and water pollution, while creating a cleaner, more sustainable urban environment.” The Cabinet approved an allocation of Rs 100 crore for the rejuvenation of water bodies under the Delhi government. Out of approximately 1,000 water bodies in Delhi, 160 fall under the Delhi government’s domain, reported ANI. Sirsa stated, “The rejuvenation of Delhi’s water bodies will play a crucial role in pollution control. The Chief Minister has directed that every possible financial support be extended to complete this work within the year.” Elsewhere in northern India, the weather remained harsh due to dense fog and cold waves. Weather in cities of India In Haryana’s Ambala, dense fog was reported, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert. The minimum temperature is forecast at 11 degrees Celsius. In Uttar Pradesh, dense fog engulfed Ayodhya as the cold wave intensified. The IMD has forecast a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and issued a yellow alert. A dense layer of fog also enveloped Kanpur, where the IMD issued a yellow alert and forecast a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. Moradabad too woke up to dense fog as a cold wave gripped the city. The IMD has forecast a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and issued an orange alert. (With ANI inputs)
24 December,2025 11:15 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
