Four robotic tele-surgical procedures were conducted successfully at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital with surgeons remotely operating from Gujarat, using a high-speed network that allowed a real-time transmission of surgical commands and visuals between the two locations, the hospital said on Wednesday. The surgeons operated from Vapi in Gujarat using the Mizzo Endo 4000 robotic surgical system, the hospital 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
12 February,2026 08:57 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesAround 120 students were hospitalised in Farrukhabad and Mainpuri districts after they fell ill during a deworming drive conducted at their schools, officials said. The children complained of headache and vomiting shortly after being administered Albendazole tablets. In Farrukhabad, the incident occurred on Tuesday at Jawahar Lal Prema Devi School in Rathora Mohaddinpur village of Kamalganj block. Out of around 150 students who were given the medication, about 100 complained of discomfort, triggering panic among parents and authorities. 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
12 February,2026 08:47 AM IST | Farrukhabad | AgenciesThe Union Home Ministry has directed that all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, shall be sung first when the national song and National Anthem Jan Gana Mana are to be played together. Amit Shah In an order dated January 28, the MHA directed directing that six stanzas of Vande Mataram, having a duration of 3 minutes 10 seconds, shall be sung on official functions such as the arrival of the President, unfurling of the tricolour, and speeches of governors. “When the national song and the National Anthem are sung or played, the national song will be sung or played first,” the order read. It said that the assembly where the national song is sung shall stand in attention and the work in school shall begin with the playing of the national song. The Centre is observing the 150th year of Vande Mataram. 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
12 February,2026 08:37 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesIn a no-holds-barred attack, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the government has “sold Bharat Mata” through the India-US interim trade deal, and that it was a “wholesale surrender” with India’s energy security handed over to America and farmers’ interests compromised. Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, Gandhi said he does not believe that any Indian prime minister, including Narendra Modi, would agree to such a deal unless there is a “chokehold” on him. “Why has he [Modi] sold India — because they [the US] are choking him. They have a grip on his neck,” said Gandhi. “We are moving into a dangerous world. We have to understand our strengths, and the central strength of our country is our people,” he pointed out. He underlined the need to protect the country’s people, data, food supply, and energy system. Gandhi said that had an INDIA bloc government negotiated the trade agreement with the US, it would have told President Donald Trump that he should treat India as an equal. The LoP claimed that India’s energy security was gone under the India-US interim trade deal, and the US will decide “who we buy oil from.” He added an INDIA bloc government would have told Trump that India's energy security is non-negotiable and “we are going to protect our energy security”. ‘Full of lies’ Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha was “full of lies” and the ruling alliance will seek to expunge from the House records. Soon after Gandhi’s speech during a debate on the Union Budget, Rijiju said the ruling alliance members will serve a notice before the chair seeking authentication of whatever the leader of opposition has spoken. “We will demand expunging of whatever lies Rahul Gandhi has spoken,” 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
12 February,2026 08:15 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Supreme Court on Wednesday granted three weeks’ time to the Centre to place on record the status of the probe into the Ahmedabad air crash that claimed 260 lives. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing pleas, including one filed by the father of late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal -- the Pilot-in-Command of Air India flight AI-171 that crashed June on 12, 2025 -- seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the tragedy. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), submitted that the inquiry by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was in its final stages. "We are at the fag end of the enquiry, and the report will soon be prepared," the Centre’s second-highest law officer told the apex court, adding that certain aircraft components had been sent to foreign jurisdictions for specialised testing. Since victims of multiple nationalities were involved, SG Mehta said that international protocols were being followed in the inquiry. T Taking note of the submission, the CJI-led Bench granted three weeks to the Centre to complete the exercise and directed that the report be filed in a sealed cover along with an affidavit detailing the procedural protocol followed so far. "What is the procedural protocol followed? Tell us in three weeks," the top court said, also asking for a progress report to be placed on record on the next date of hearing. Appearing for NGO Safety Matters Foundation, advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted that pilot associations had flagged concerns regarding the safety of Boeing 787 aircraft and had sought that such planes be grounded pending a thorough examination. "The entire pilots’ association is saying there is a problem in the Boeing 787 aircraft which needs to be grounded," he contended, adding that neither the government nor the AAIB had responded to the representations raising these issues. Appearing for Captain Sabharwal’s father, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan reiterated the plea for a court-monitored investigation, alleging that in previous instances involving aircraft crashes abroad, initial findings had attributed blame to pilots, only for subsequent inquiries to reveal technical defects. He referred to past Boeing 737 crashes where, according to him, pilots were initially faulted before US regulators found defects in the aircraft, contending that crucial documents in those cases were not immediately made public. Observing that the tragedy was "very unfortunate", the bench cautioned against making sweeping remarks against any particular aircraft model or airline without conclusive findings. "Let us be very careful while making remarks against any particular brand of aircraft. Dreamliners were once considered the best," the apex court remarked. Referring to recent media reports about an alleged fuel switch issue in another Dreamliner flight, the bench said that initial claims were later clarified by official sources. "Last week, it was said that a Dreamliner from London to Delhi had some problem with the fuel switch. Later, it was said from the official account that it was perfectly fine. But this incident, of course, was very unfortunate. Let us be very conservative while making comments on a particular airline," it 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
11 February,2026 10:55 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSAs Maharashtra inches closer to the peak summer months of March, April and May, early signs of rising heat have already begun to surface across the state. Daytime temperatures are gradually climbing, and afternoons are turning noticeably warmer, signalling the seasonal transition from winter to pre-summer conditions. The dry air and clear skies are further intensifying the heat during the day, even as mornings remain relatively mild in some pockets. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), most regions recorded maximum temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, with little to no rainfall, indicating the steady onset of warmer and predominantly dry weather across Maharashtra. Highest and Lowest temperatures recorded in Maharashtra Amravati emerged as the hottest location, recording a maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius with 50 per cent humidity. Solapur followed at 34.4 degrees Celsius, Ratnagiri at 35.4 degrees Celsius, while the Thane Belapur Industrial Area recorded 34.0 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Ahilyanagar recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state, with the mercury dipping to 13.4 degrees Celsius. Mumbai records warm afternoon with moderate humidity In the Mumbai region, Colaba registered a maximum temperature of 32.2 degrees Celsius with 64 per cent humidity. Santacruz recorded a maximum temperature of 33.6 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity stood at 45 per cent. Alibaug reported 32.7 degrees Celsius and relatively high humidity at 69 per cent. Mahabaleshwar experienced haze, with the maximum temperature settling at 26.0 degrees Celsius, as per the IMD data. Pune recorded a high of 31.9 degrees Celsius under clear skies, with easterly winds blowing at three knots. Nearby Baramati registered 31.1 degrees Celsius, while Satara reported 30.7 degrees Celsius with low humidity at 28 per cent. In Marathwada, stations including Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Parbhani, Jalna, Beed and Dharashiv recorded maximum temperatures ranging between 31 degrees Celsius and 32.8 degrees Celsius. Beed also reported a minimum temperature of 14.5 degrees Celsius. Western Maharashtra districts such as Sangli recorded 32.6 degrees Celsius, Kolhapur 31.0 degrees Celsius and Ahilyanagar 32.0 degrees Celsius, all under dry conditions. Hottest regions in Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha Parts of Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha continued to reel under warm conditions, with several districts recording high day temperatures. Ahilyanagar recorded a maximum temperature of 32.0 degrees Celsius, while the minimum dropped to 13.4 degrees Celsius. In Vidarbha, Amravati emerged as one of the hotter locations, registering a high of 35.6 degrees Celsius and a low of 15.3 degrees Celsius. Bramhapuri also reported elevated temperatures, with the mercury touching 35.4 degrees Celsius and settling at a minimum of 15.6 degrees Celsius. Dahanu records humid conditions along Konkan coast Along the Konkan coast, Dahanu recorded 29.9 degrees Celsius with 71 per cent humidity, while Harnai reported 29.8 degrees Celsius along with thick haze and cirrus cloud cover. In northern Maharashtra, Nandurbar recorded 32.7 degrees Celsius and Jalgaon 33.3 degrees Celsius, with warm and humid conditions prevailing. AQI across Maharashtra Thane – 102Navi Mumbai – 118Mumbai-120Dhule – 128Jalgaon – 115Nanded – 136Sangli – 123Amravati – 122Akola – 94Nashik – 101Nagpur – 172Latur – 84Solapur – 100Kolhapur – 101 Delhi air quality worsens to 301 AQI in 'poor' category Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital deteriorated on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising to 301, placing it in the 'poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several areas of Delhi are now witnessing a layer of smog, raising concerns among residents, especially those with respiratory issues. Areas around India Gate and Kartavya Path recorded AQI readings of 355, while Bawana recorded 313. The AQI of Akshardham Temple reported 325, classified as 'very poor'. The minimum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 13.2 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 26 degrees Celsius, with mist likely during the day.
11 February,2026 09:01 PM IST | MumbaiAs many as six teachers who were serving as invigilators at Class 12 exam centres in Jalna district were suspended after some students were found copying during the ongoing Maharashtra HSC board exams, officials said. Action has been taken against six teachers after students were found copying during the English exam, they said. The incident occurred on Tuesday during the English examination conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education in Ambad tehsil, reported the PTI. Education Officer (Secondary) Balu Kharat said the flying squad carried out a surprise inspection at exam centres in Rohilagad, Ankushnagar and Shahgad. During the inspection, several students were found copying. The squad took immediate action against the students involved. Officials said that all six teachers belonged to different educational institutions. Kharat instructed their institutions to suspend them for dereliction of duty during the examination. He added that action was also initiated against the teachers due to negligence in supervising the students. Strict measures to ensure fair exams The Maharashtra education authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining discipline during board examinations. This latest incident is being seen as a warning to both students and invigilators to strictly follow exam rules. 42 caught cheating on Day 1 of Maharashtra HSC exam Forty-two malpractice cases were reported across Maharashtra during the Std XII English board examination held on Tuesday, February 10. The incidents occurred during the morning session across several divisions, according to the State Education Board. Amravati recorded the highest number, 22, followed by Pune, 10. Nashik reported four cases, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar three, Latur two, and Nagpur one. No cases were reported from the Mumbai, Kolhapur and Konkan divisions, indicating strict supervision and effective vigilance, officials said. State board officials said district-level vigilance committees were monitoring exam centres and warned of strict action, including cancellation of centre recognition, against those found encouraging or indulging in malpractice. The Board has urged students, parents, and schools to cooperate and maintain the integrity of the examination process. Copy-free day in Mumbai The Mumbai division, covering Mumbai City, suburbs, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad, reported a copy-free Day 1 of the 2026 board exams, said Mumbai Divisional Chairperson Rajendra Ahire. “Exams began on time, and there were no administrative issues, including with question papers or answer booklets,” he said. (with PTI inputs)
11 February,2026 08:27 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentSeveral villages in Maharashtra’s Nanded district felt a mild tremor on Wednesday afternoon, officials said, adding that no damage was reported in the incident. The quake, measuring 3.0 on the Richter Scale, was felt at around 3:25 pm in parts of Nanded's Mukhed tehsil, including Hibbett, Kolgaon, Dhamangaon, Motarga, Dhanaj and Jamkhed, reported the PTI. The National Centre for Seismology reported that the epicentre was near Khaparal village. The Mukhed Tehsildar confirmed that no loss of life or property has been reported so far. The district administration has issued an advisory urging people to stay calm and remain alert. District Collector Rahul Kardile appealed to citizens not to panic. He advised residents living in houses with tin-sheet roofs to remove stones placed on rooftops for support. Instead, he suggested that the sheets be properly secured with bolts to prevent displacement in case of further tremors, according to the PTI. What residents should do during a tremor? The collector also urged people to step outside into open areas immediately if they experience similar tremors or hear unusual sounds. Residents have been advised to report such incidents to the district administration by contacting the District Emergency Helpline. Earthquake of 4.3 Magnitude Strikes Bay of Bengal Meanwhile, in an another incident, a moderate earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale was recorded in the Bay of Bengal early on Wednesday morning, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said, reported the ANI. The tremor struck at 05:12 IST on 11 February, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located at 14.94°N latitude and 90.18°E longitude, the news agency reported. The NCS shared the details in an update on X, stating, “EQ of M: 4.3, On: 11/02/2026 05:12:41 IST, Lat: 14.94 N, Long: 90.18 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Bay of Bengal.” Earlier, in December last year, a similar tremor measuring 4.4 magnitude was also recorded in the Bay of Bengal. That quake occurred at 11:48 IST and was at a shallow depth of about 15 kilometres, with the epicentre located at 12.59°N and 92.34°E, according to the ANI. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
11 February,2026 07:59 PM IST | Nanded | mid-day online correspondentIn a major relief for 30 contract workers, the Thane Industrial Court in Maharashtra has directed the Thane Municipal Transport Undertaking (TMTU) to continue their services, reported the PTI. The court observed that an employer cannot unilaterally change service conditions while a legal dispute is pending. The ruling was delivered on February 2 by Industrial Court member SZ Sonbhadre, though the detailed order became available on Wednesday. The decision came in response to a complaint filed by the Maharashtra Municipal Kamgar Union (MMKU), which challenged the termination notice issued to the workers. Union challenges termination notice The dispute began after TMTU issued a notice on January 27, 2026, informing workers engaged in cleaning and sweeping at bus depots that their services would no longer be required after February 1. The union argued that the move was unfair and illegal, especially since a related case seeking permanency benefits for these workers is already pending before the Industrial Tribunal. TMTU defended its action by stating that the workers were hired through a contractor, Arya Enterprises, and that the contractor’s agreement expired on January 31. Therefore, according to TMTU, the complaint was not maintainable. However, the court found inconsistencies in TMTU’s stand. It noted that while the original tender was for the appointment of 11 workers, as many as 31 workers were actually engaged. “The respondent (TMTU) is not coming with clean hands before the court and is hiding the information from the Court,” the order stated as per PTI reports. The court further observed that the employer was not justified in terminating the services of the workers under these circumstances. Termination termed ‘unfair labour practice’ Invoking Section 33 of the Industrial Disputes Act — which requires maintaining the status quo during pending proceedings — the court held that the termination amounted to unfair labour practice. “The action on the part of the respondent, in effecting termination of service of the workmen, amounts to unfair labour practice,” the court said as per PTI reports. The court has directed TMTU to continue the services of the 30 workers either as temporary employees or through an agency while the complaint remains pending. However, it clarified that this interim relief does not grant the workers any automatic right to claim direct or permanent employment with TMTU. The final outcome will depend on the decision in the ongoing legal proceedings. The order brings temporary relief to the workers while the broader dispute over their employment status continues. (With PTI Inputs)
11 February,2026 07:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe notice submitted by opposition MPs to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office was found to contain several errors, according to Lok Sabha sources on Wednesday as per PTI reports. A total of 118 opposition MPs had signed the notice, which was submitted to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh on Tuesday afternoon. However, officials later identified four instances where incorrect dates had been mentioned. These errors could have led to the notice being rejected under parliamentary rules. To prevent this, Birla directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to correct the mistakes instead of dismissing the notice. “Birla ordered prompt action as per the rules,” a functionary said. After the errors were pointed out, opposition leaders withdrew the original notice and submitted a revised version with the corrected dates later the same day. Sources said the revised notice will now undergo a quick review as per the established procedures. The motion is expected to be listed after the second phase of the Budget session begins on March 9. Speaker to step aside from chair Lok Sabha Secretariat officials said that Om Birla has decided not to preside over the House while the no-confidence motion against him is under consideration. Officials described this as a step taken to uphold “the highest standards of morality.” The motion seeking his removal is likely to be taken up on March 9, when the House reconvenes after the recess to discuss budgetary proposals. Why was the motion moved? Opposition parties initiated the process on Tuesday, accusing Birla of acting in a “blatantly partisan” manner while conducting House proceedings. They have urged him to step aside from the Speaker’s chair until the matter is resolved. The notice was submitted under Article 94C of the Constitution by Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, chief whip K. Suresh, and whip Mohamed Jawed. It was filed on behalf of several opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and the DMK. What the Constitution says Article 94C of the Constitution deals with the procedure for removing the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Under Article 96, the Speaker has the right to defend himself or herself in the House when such a motion is taken up. The Speaker is allowed to cast a vote when the motion for removal is discussed. However, he or she cannot vote in the event of a tie. (With PTI Inputs)
11 February,2026 07:14 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIIndia's medical devices industry is projected to reach USD 50.1 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 26.9 per cent from the current valuation of USD 15.2 billion in 2025, said a report by Rubix Industry Insights on Wednesday. Currently, India ranks the fourth-largest medical devices market in Asia and among the top 20 globally. According to the report, growth is being propelled by government initiatives such as National Medical Devices Policy (NMDP), Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, Scheme for Promotion of Medical Devices Parks, and MedTech Mitra. The study assumes greater significance in the light of the Union Budget-FY27's renewed focus on bio-pharma research in the country. The report highlights that rising income levels, expanding health insurance penetration, increasing healthcare infrastructure and the growth of medical tourism, are boosting demand for both affordable mass-use devices and advanced solutions for specialised care. Medical devices exports have reached USD 4.1 billion in FY25 with the government targeting to raise India's global market share from 1.6 percent to around 12 percent in the coming years. The US and Germany are the key export destinations, while the US and China are major import sources. The study shows that despite strong export performance, the sector remains largely import-dependent, with 70-80 percent of domestic demand being met through imports, particularly for technologically-advanced devices. As compared to exports, imports were more than double at an estimated USD 8.6 billion, growing at a 7.1 percent CAGR over the same period. The report highlighted that India's export strength is in consumables, which accounted for nearly 47 percent of exports between April-September FY25, and shows India's strengths in cost-efficient manufacturing, scale production, and price competitiveness in low- to mid-technology products. In contrast, the report says, electro-medical equipment accounted for nearly 60 percent of imports, driven by India's continued reliance on advanced, technology-intensive devices. The domestic manufacturing base consists of approximately 800 medical device manufacturers in a broad but fragmented industry landscape. The report reveals that the average deal size for PE/VC funding has increased nearly 2.5 times from USD 56 million in 2022 to USD 137 million in 2024. Four states, namely UP, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka are playing a critical role in strengthening the industry by enabling shared infrastructure, skilled manpower, and supplier networks, particularly for small and mid-sized manufacturers, according to the report. 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.
11 February,2026 07:13 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIADVERTISEMENT
-1770798587743_d.png "Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla. File Pic")
-1770811555850_d.png "India strengthens medical devices sector amid rising exports and investment. Representational Image")