A bill seeking to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent was on Tuesday introduced in the Lok Sabha amid strong protest from the Opposition. The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, seeks to amend Insurance Act, 1938, Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999, as per the bill circulated to members of Parliament. Introducing the bill, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the common people's insurance has always been the focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government has provided insurance to the marginal sections of the society even during the Covid pandemic. Sitharaman said objections of some of the Opposition members could be part of the debate and she was ready to answer all their questions during the debate on the proposed legislation. Opposing the introduction of the bill, RSP member N K Premachandran said the nomenclature of the bill has nothing to do with its contents. He also opposed the proposal to allow 100 per cent FDI in the insurance sector. DMK member T Sumathy too strongly opposed 100 per cent FDI in the sector. TMC member Saugata Roy said the name of the bill looks like the slogans of the ruling coalition and such names should not be part of any bill. He said allowing 100 per cent FDI will be a backward step in the insurance sector. According to the draft bill, the amendment will raise Foreign Direct Investment limit in the insurance sector from 74 per cent to 100 per cent. Though the bill proposes to hike FDI in the sector, one of the top officials Chairman, Managing Director, or CEO must be an Indian citizen. It also paves the way for the merger of a non-insurance company with an insurance company. The bill received the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. The bill further aims to accelerate the growth and development of the insurance sector and to ensure better protection of policyholders, as per the statement of objects and reasons. It provides for the establishment of the Policyholders' Education and Protection Fund to protect policyholders' interests. It would also improve the ease of doing business for insurance companies, intermediaries, and other stakeholders, bring transparency to regulation-making, and enhance regulatory oversight over the sector. With regard to the term of office of the Chairperson and other whole-time members, the bill provides for a five-year term or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. At present, the upper age limit for whole-time members is 62 years, while for the Chairman it is 65 years. Sitharaman, in this year's Budget speech, proposed to raise FDI limit to 100 per cent from the existing 74 per cent in the insurance sector as part of new-generation financial sector reforms. So far, the insurance sector has attracted Rs 82,000 crore through FDI. The amendments to the LIC Act propose empowering its board to take operational decisions, such as branch expansion and recruitment. The proposed amendment primarily focuses on promoting policyholders' interests, enhancing their financial security, and facilitating the entry of additional players into the insurance market, thereby driving economic growth and employment generation. 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 December,2025 03:13 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted the substantive outcomes of his visit to Jordan, noting a "meaningful expansion" of cooperation between the two countries across sectors, including clean energy, water management, culture, and digital innovation. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Jordan's capital, Amman, on Monday on a two-day visit at the invitation of King Abdullah II, as reported by news agency PTI. Modi on Tuesday during his visit to Jordan also invited Jordanian companies to invest in India, saying they can look forward to good returns on their investments as the country is growing at over 8 per cent. Speaking at the India-Jordan Business Forum meet, the Prime Minister said that India is soon going to become the third-largest economy in the world; therefore, the nation presents opportunities for Jordanian companies to become part of the growth story. The Indian Prime Minister further highlighted that numbers are important in the universe of business, but he has come to Jordan to build a long-term relationship between the two nations. India-Jordan relationship "The relationship between India and Jordan is one where historical trust and future economic opportunities come together," PM Modi emphasised. "You (Jordan) can become a partner in India's high growth and earn good returns on your investments," he added. He also asserted that Indian companies in Jordan can manufacture medicines and medical devices. This will benefit the people of Jordan, and the country can also become a reliable hub for West Asia and Africa. Jordan was the first leg of the Prime Minister's four-day, three-nation tour, which will also take him to Ethiopia and Oman. India and Jordan on Monday also inked MoUs in the fields of culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure and twinning arrangements between Petra and Ellora, aimed at giving a major boost to bilateral ties and friendship, reported PTI. While hailing the cooperation between India and Jordan in new and renewable energy, PM Modi said, "This reflects a shared commitment to clean growth, energy security and climate responsibility,” as cited by PTI. The Prime Minister also said collaboration in water resources management and development would enable the two countries to share best practices in conservation, efficiency, and technology, aimed at ensuring long-term water security. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 02:43 PM IST | Amman | mid-day online correspondentGaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, brothers and co-owners of the Goa nightclub where a fire killed 25 people, landed in Delhi on Tuesday after they were deported from Thailand, reported news agency PTI. They were handed over to Indian authorities immediately on arriving at the airport and taken into custody for further legal proceedings. The duo is expected to be produced before a Delhi court, sources told PTI. The December 6 fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora in North Goa raised serious questions over alleged fire safety violations and lapses by the management. A case of culpable homicide and negligence was registered against the brothers -- Gaurav (44) and Saurav (40). Investigators allege that the nightclub was operating in violation of mandatory safety norms, contributing to the scale of the tragedy. Deportation follows their detention in Phuket on December 11 The deportation follows their detention in Phuket on December 11. The Indian mission intervened and coordinated closely with Thai authorities. The Indian government cancelled the passports of the two brothers and submitted a dossier to Thai authorities alleging their involvement in the deaths and formally seeking their deportation. The Luthra brothers, co-owners of 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Arpora in North Goa, had left for Thailand shortly after the December 6 fire. They were reportedly attending a wedding in Delhi at the time of the incident. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice was issued against the brothers after they left the country shortly after the incident. Goa Police has arrested five managers and staff members of the nightclub in connection with the case. Officials said further arrests could follow as the investigation progresses. The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane into a public interest litigation. "Someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy, the court observed. India and Thailand signed an Extradition Treaty in 2013, which came into force in June 2015. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation, observing that "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 02:22 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIn an extremely shocking incident at Mathura, thirteen people died of burns, and 35 sustained injuries when a vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Motorway occurred during the early hours of Tuesday. The collision at the Yamuna Expressway also sparked a big fire that created chaos. As reported by news agency PTI, at least seven buses and three smaller vehicles collided with each other in the dense fog around 4.30 am, the officer said. It has been reported that the incident occurred under the Baldev Police Station jurisdiction. Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar, while briefing about the unfortunate incident at Yamuna Motorway, asserted, "The vehicles collided due to low visibility on the Agra-to-Noida side of the Yamuna Motorway. Some vehicles also caught fire. All injured have been sent to the hospital," as cited by news agency PTI. “Two of the deceased were identified as 44-year-old Akhilendra Pratap Yadav, a resident of Prayagraj, and 75-year-old Rampal, from Maharajganj district,” Baldev Police Station SHO Ranjana Sachan said. “13 people died of burns,” SHO Ranjana Sachan added. She further added, “Of the injured, fifteen were admitted to the district hospital, nine each to a community health centre and a private hospital in Baldev, and two to SN Medical College, Agra,” as cited by news agency PTI. Expressing more about the incident, the Mathura Police further posted on X that the pile-up at Milestone 127 involved seven buses and three smaller vehicles. None of the injured are in critical condition. “The passengers were sent to their destinations in government vehicles,” the SSP said. “Since the road is blocked, diversions have been made,” he added. जनपद मथुरा में यमुना एक्सप्रेस-वे पर सड़क दुर्घटना में हुई जनहानि अत्यंत दुःखद एवं हृदय विदारक है।मेरी संवेदनाएं शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं। जिला प्रशासन के अधिकारियों को घायलों के समुचित उपचार के निर्देश दिए हैं।प्रभु श्री राम से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगत आत्माओं को अपने… — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) December 16, 2025 UP Chief Minister expresses condolences Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also posted on X, expressing his condolences to the kin of the deceased. "The loss of life in the road accident on the Yamuna Motorway in Mathura district is extremely tragic and heartbreaking. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families," he added. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also wrote, "I have instructed the district administration officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured. I pray to Lord Ram to grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured," as reported by news agency PTI. According to a post from his office, Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. On Monday, fog led to the deaths of three people, two of them police officers, in two separate road accidents involving multiple vehicles in Haryana's Sonipat and Nuh districts. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 02:15 PM IST | Mathura | mid-day online correspondentAir India Express on Tuesday announced that they will be starting direct flights between Varanasi and Bangkok. Air India Express believes that this route will further strengthen air connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and Thailand. The new weekly non-stop service will commence on February 1, 2026, making Varanasi the fifth Indian city connected to Bangkok by Air India Express after Bengaluru, Lucknow, Pune and Surat. Air India Express further asserted that the new route will offer travellers seamless access to one of Asia’s most popular leisure destinations, while also making it easier for tourists from Thailand to visit Varanasi, Sarnath and other key destinations on the Buddhist circuit. The bookings for the services, which are supposed to start from February 2026, are now open across all major booking platforms, including the airline’s website and mobile application. Schedule As per the schedule, the Varanasi–Bangkok flight will depart from Varanasi at 12:35 pm and arrive at 6:05 pm every Sunday. On the other hand, the return flight from Bangkok will depart at 7:05 pm and land in Varanasi at 9:35 pm on Sundays. Managing Director of Air India Express Aloke Singh, while expressing his views on the Varanasi-Bangkok flight, said, “The introduction of this non-stop service to Bangkok provides seamless access to one of India’s most sought-after international destinations. It aligns with our strategic focus on enhancing direct international connectivity from the nation’s rapidly growing non-metro and Tier-II cities.” “For inbound travellers, the service strengthens access to Varanasi – one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities and widely regarded as India’s spiritual capital – while further developing the Buddhist travel circuit for visitors from Thailand,” the Air India Express MD added. From Varanasi, Air India Express currently operates over 70 weekly flights to domestic destinations, including Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, and international destinations such as Sharjah. The airline was the first to launch international operations from Varanasi in 2015 with direct flights to Sharjah. Within Uttar Pradesh, it also operates services from Ayodhya, Hindon and Lucknow. A refreshed cabin experience Air India Express recently introduced a refreshed cabin experience on its Boeing 737-8 aircraft as part of its ‘Xplore More, Xpress More’ brand campaign. The upgraded cabins feature improved seating, enhanced legroom, in-seat USB charging, hot meal service and Boeing Sky Interior lighting, aimed at offering passengers a more comfortable and modern flying experience.
16 December,2025 01:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSenior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday raised the issue of distress faced by women frontline workers in the Rajya Sabha, seeking doubling of the Centre's contribution to their pay and filling of nearly 3 lakh vacancies in the ICDS. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the former Congress president said ASHA workers, anganwadi workers and helpers, and community resource persons under the National Rural Livelihood Mission remain overburdened and underpaid despite their vital contribution to public service delivery. "Across the country, ASHA workers undertake immunisation, mobilisation, maternal health, and family welfare. Yet, they remain volunteers with low honorarium and limited social security," she said. Sonia said anganwadi workers are paid a meagre base honorarium of Rs 4,500 and Rs 2,250 per month by the central government. She pointed out that there are nearly 3 lakh vacancies in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) at various levels, leaving lakhs of children and mothers without essential services. "Even when filled, these posts fall short of population norms due to the lack of updated census figures since 2011," the Rajya Sabha MP said. The senior Congress leader urged the government to work closely with states to fill all existing vacancies, ensure timely remuneration to all workers and double the Centre's contribution to the pay of these frontline workers. She also sought the appointment of an additional ASHA worker in villages with a population greater than 2,500 and doubling of the number of anganwadi workers to enable early childhood education in addition to existing nutrition and health initiatives. "I wish to emphasise that strengthening, expanding and supporting this workforce is an investment in India's future," Gandhi 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.
16 December,2025 01:45 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTILow visibility conditions disrupted flight operations at Delhi airport on Tuesday, leading to widespread cancellations, a Delhi International Airport Ltd official said. So far, 49 departures and 77 arrivals have been cancelled due to poor visibility, he added. At the same time, crisis-hit IndiGo said it cancelled 110 flights across its network due to disruptions caused by bad weather at Delhi airport. "Due to low visibility, 49 departures and 77 arrivals have been cancelled so far at Delhi airport," the official said. As winter sets in, early mornings across northern India can bring fog that may occasionally slow down flight movements, IndiGo said in a post on X. The airline also said it cancelled 110 flights on Tuesday due to disruptions caused by bad weather at the Delhi airport. "Our teams are well prepared and closely monitoring weather conditions", IndiGo said, adding that wherever possible, "we are making thoughtful adjustments on the ground to reduce inconvenience and ensure any waiting time is as comfortable as possible". 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 December,2025 01:44 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIFootball legend Lionel Messi on Tuesday departed from Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, where the Argentine footballer was hosted by Anant Ambani. Jamnagar marked the final stop of Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, which saw the Argentine footballer visit four Indian cities--Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Delhi hosted the grand finale of the Argentine footballer's India tour, bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth, successful close amid immense fan enthusiasm. Messi, alongside Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, arrived in the national capital on December 15, following successful engagements in Mumbai, and the Delhi leg culminated the tour. The on-field programme at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium featured a celebrity football match between the Minerva Messi All Stars and the Celebrity Messi All Stars. Following the game, Lionel Messi stepped onto the field for a brief interaction with players from both teams. He later spent a few moments with young footballers, exchanging passes with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, providing a memorable experience for the aspiring talents. The event culminated in a stage ceremony attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other dignitaries, including Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC); Rohan Jaitley, President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association; and former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia. During the ceremony, Jay Shah presented specially curated Indian cricket jerseys to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, followed by the presentation of a commemorative cricket bat signed by legendary Indian cricketers to Messi. During Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the Argentine football icon graced Wankhede Stadium as part of his GOAT India Tour 2025. Messi, along with Suarez and De Paul, met Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri and the cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar. Messi's second pit stop during the GOAT India Tour 2025 was Hyderabad. Fans who gathered at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium got to witness Argentina's FIFA World Cup-winning icon Messi in action, where he took part in a 7-on-7 exhibition football match involving the state's Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, soaked in the love from a passionate and loud audience and also met the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Messi's Kolkata appearance, the first stop of the GOAT Tour 2025, ended in chaos. What was meant to be a celebration of the World Cup-winning superstar with a football-loving state turned chaotic as VIPs and politicians on the pitch allegedly sparked fan frustration, with many attendees claiming they could hardly see the footballer they had paid to watch. 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 December,2025 12:14 PM IST | Jamnagar (Gujarat) | ANIIn a major relief to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, a Delhi court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint in the alleged National Herald money laundering case. Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court held that the complaint filed by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was not maintainable. Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the federal anti-money laundering agency had arrayed Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited and as proposed accused in the case. While refusing to take cognisance of the prosecution complaint, the court clarified that the ED is at liberty to continue its investigation in accordance with the law. The high-profile case pertains to allegations that top Congress functionaries conspired to wrongfully acquire control of assets exceeding Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper, by paying a nominal amount of Rs 50 lakh through Young Indian -- a company in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are majority stakeholders. Earlier, on November 29, the Rouse Avenue Court had deferred the pronouncement of its decision after reserving orders on November 7, noting that further scrutiny of transaction documents, alleged rent receipts and fund flow patterns was required before determining whether the prosecution complaint met the statutory threshold for cognisance under the PMLA. The ED had argued that the case involved a “serious economic offence” and alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to form Young Indian to usurp AJL’s properties for a nominal sum, primarily to benefit the top Congress leadership. It had also claimed that several senior Congress leaders were involved in “fake transactions”, including the issuance of fraudulent advance rent payments supported by fabricated rent receipts. The Congress leadership, however, has consistently denied the allegations, terming the money laundering case as “really strange” and “unprecedented”. The controversy over the National Herald’s assets came into focus in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint in a trial court, alleging that Congress leaders had engaged in cheating and breach of trust in the process of acquiring AJL. 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 December,2025 12:11 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSThree persons were killed and two were seriously injured when a jeep collided with a car in Maharashtra's Beed district, police said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. The accident occurred at Bardapur crossroad on Ambajogai-Latur highway at 10.30 pm on Monday, they said. The jeep heading from Beed to Latur collided head-on with a car coming from the opposite direction. Three car occupants died on the spot, while two persons travelling in the jeep suffered serious injuries, a police official said, reported PTI. The injured persons were later shifted to a hospital in Latur for treatment. The three deceased were residents of Latur, the police said. Mathura: 4 killed, 25 injured in Yamuna Expressway pile-up; buses catch fire In another incident, four people were killed and over two dozen were injured in an early Tuesday vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway, a police officer said, reported PTI. At least seven buses and several smaller vehicles collided with each other in the dense fog around 4.30 am, the officer said. The incident occurred under the Baldev Police Station jurisdiction. "Four people died, and 25 were injured in the accident. The vehicles collided due to low visibility on the Agra-to-Noida side of the Yamuna Expressway. Some vehicles also caught fire. All injured have been sent to the hospital," SSP Mathura Shlok Kumar said, reported PTI. The passengers were sent to their destinations in government vehicles, the officer said. Since the road is blocked, diversions have been made, he added. Visuals from the spot revealed charred remains of buses that caught fire. Cranes were called in to remove them from the road. According to a Mathura Police statement on X, the pile-up at Milestone 127 involved seven buses and three smaller vehicles. "None of the injured are in critical condition," it said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post on X in Hindi, expressed his condolences to the kin of the deceased. "The loss of life in the road accident on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district is extremely tragic and heartbreaking. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families," he said. "I have instructed the district administration officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured. I pray to Lord Ram to grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured," Adityanath said. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 11:39 AM IST | Beed | mid-day online correspondentIn a major haul, police recovered and seized 90,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 26 crore in Assam's Cachar district on Monday, officials said. Police also apprehended two persons and recovered the drugs from the secret chamber of a truck. Partha Protim Das, Senior Superintendent of Police of Cachar district, said that, based on intelligence inputs, Cachar police conducted an anti-narcotics operation in the Rongpur area under Silchar police station on Monday. "One truck bearing registration number AS-01FC-0018 was intercepted and led to the recovery of 90000 Yaba tablets from the secret chamber of the truck," Partha Protim Das said. He further said that, in this regard, two persons were apprehended and they were identified as Dalim Uddin Laskar and Abed Sultan Barbhuiya. "Both apprehended persons belong to the Dholai police station area. The vehicle was coming from a neighbouring state and going towards Guwahati. Legal action has been initiated to find out the forward and backward linkages," Partha Protim Das said. According to the police, the market value of the seized drugs is estimated at around Rs 26 crore. They have registered the case. On 5 December, Assam Police recovered and seized 10,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 3 crore from Cachar district, officials said. They also apprehended a person in connection with this case. According to the Cachar district police, on the basis of reliable input, a raid was conducted at Berenga Pt3 area, Silchar on Friday by a police team of Cachar district police and apprehended one accused person, namely, Nazmul Hq Mazumdar (23). 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 December,2025 09:09 AM IST | Cachar | ANIADVERTISEMENT
