The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Jammu and Kashmir resident, a close associate of suicide bomber Umar-un-Nabi, in connection with the Red Fort area blast, making it the ninth arrest in the case, officials said on Thursday. Yasir Ahmad Dar allegedly played an active role in the conspiracy behind the blast that claimed 15 lives and left many others injured on November 10, they said. An active participant in the conspiracy, Dar had allegedly taken an oath for carrying out self-sacrificial operations, the NIA said. "The 9th person to be arrested in the case, Yasir Ahmad Dar is a resident of Shopian, Srinagar (J&K). He was nabbed by NIA from New Delhi, and placed under arrest...," an NIA spokesperson said in a statement. Dar was in close contact with the other accused persons in the case, including Umar-un-Nabi (the deceased perpetrator of the bombing) as well as Mufti Irfan. 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
18 December,2025 05:55 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025. The bill has reframed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with an employment guarantee scheme. As reported by news agency ANI, the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had earlier introduced the bill during the ongoing Parliament Winter Session, further moved it for consideration and passing. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while defending the renaming of the bill, also accused the opposition of deviating from Gandhi's ideals. The Union Agriculture Minister asserted that "Bapu is our ideal, our inspiration. We are committed to following the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi Ji, which is why the Bharatiya Janata Party has incorporated Gandhi Ji's social and economic philosophy into its Panchnischay. The opposition is murdering Bapu’s ideals,” as cited by news ANI. Shivraj Singh Chauhan further added, “Yesterday in the House, I listened to the honourable members until 1:30 at night. You listen to your own words and don't listen to ours; this too is violence." Bill aims to provide an employment guarantee of 125 days The Bill aims to provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per financial year to every rural household, in line with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The Viksit Bharat G RAM G bill 2025 also focuses on strengthening rural livelihoods and accelerating overall rural development. Earlier on Wednesday, the House also held a nearly 14-hour debate on the Bill, with the opposition demanding that the proposed legislation be referred to the Standing Committee, even as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly defended the Bill, calling it a decisive step towards achieving a Viksit Bharat by 2047, reported ANI. Opposition members pressed for the bill to be referred to the standing committee for scrutiny On the contrary, the Congress leader KC Venugopal, while talking to the media, asserted that the SHANTI Bill and the bill to replace MGNREGA should have been sent to the Standing Committee. Moreover, the Bill envisions aligning rural development with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, focusing on empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation to build a prosperous and resilient rural Bharat. Under the Bill, public works will be aggregated to form the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, prioritising water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related projects, and climate-resilient initiatives. The bill presented by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also aims to ensure adequate farm-labour availability during peak agricultural seasons and to institutionalise Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans for integrated, saturation-driven planning. The bill mandates a modern digital governance framework that incorporates biometric authentication, GPS and mobile-based monitoring, real-time dashboards, proactive disclosures and artificial intelligence tools for planning, auditing and fraud risk mitigation. (With inputs from ANI)
18 December,2025 05:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentResponding to a petitioner in the stray dogs case who objected to some rules framed by the Delhi municipal corporation saying "inhuman" treatment was being meted out to them, the Supreme Court on Thursday said a video will be played in the next hearing, "asking you what is humanity". Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is appearing in the stray dogs case, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a three-judge special bench which was scheduled to assemble on Thursday to hear the matter was cancelled. "It will come on January 7," Justice Nath said. Sibal said, "The problem is that the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), in the meantime, has framed some rules which are completely contrary". When the bench said it would consider the matter on January 7, Sibal said the authorities will implement the rules in December itself. "They will be implementing it and they will be removing the dogs. They don't have shelters," he said. Justice Nath said, "It is alright Mr Sibal. Let them do it, we will consider." Sibal urged the bench to hear the matter on Friday saying the authorities don't even have dog shelters. "It is very very inhuman what is being done," he said. Justice Mehta told Sibal, "On the next date, we will play a video for your benefit and we will ask you what is humanity". Sibal responded that they will also play a video to show what was happening. "The problem is your lordships has passed an order and we respect that. But the point is, there are statutory rules," he said. The bench said it would consider the matter on January 7. On November 7, taking note of the "alarming rise" in dog bite incidents within institutional areas like educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, the apex court directed the forthwith relocation of stray canines to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination. A three-judge special bench had also said the stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back in the place they were picked up from. The bench had directed the authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, national highways and expressways. It had said recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas, including sports complexes, reflected not only administrative apathy but also a "systemic failure" to secure these premises from preventable hazards. The top court had passed a slew of directions in the suo motu case over the stray dog menace. It is hearing a suo motu case, initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital. 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.
18 December,2025 03:23 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIFlight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport have been impacted due to dense fog conditions in Northern India. The dense fog in the national capital has led to 27 cancellations so far, including 16 departures and 11 arrivals, authorities said. As reported by news agency ANI, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) advised passengers to stay in close contact with their airlines for real-time flight updates. The Ministry has also advised travellers to regularly check official airline and airport websites or apps and plan their journeys accordingly to avoid inconvenience. Furthermore, the passenger facilitation teams have also been deployed across airports to provide necessary assistance and guidance to travellers affected by the weather conditions, reported ANI. The Ministry of Civil Aviation, while posting on social media, handled "the ongoing fog conditions in Northern India are impacting airport operations. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their airlines for real-time flight updates, regularly check official airline and airport websites or apps, and plan their journeys with additional travel time to avoid inconvenience. Passenger facilitation teams are deployed across airports to provide necessary assistance." Earlier on Thursday, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) also issued a weather advisory warning of dense fog conditions across Northern India, cautioning passengers about low visibility and possible flight delays at several airports. The ongoing fog conditions in Northern India are impacting airport operations. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their airlines for real-time flight updates, regularly check official airline and airport websites or apps, and plan their journeys with additional travel… — MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 18, 2025 In a weather advisory posted on social media handle X, the Airport Authority of India said, "Persistent fog is affecting several airports across Northern India, resulting in low visibility and possible flight delays.” The authority advised passengers to confirm their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport and to allow additional travel time. AAI, while alerting the passengers about the delays and cancellations, further highlighted, "Passengers are advised to confirm their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport. Check the airport's official website or social media handles for updates. Plan your journey in advance and allow additional travel time," as cited by news agency ANI. Moreover, these advisories come as Delhi continues to experience dense fog and poor air quality, which have reduced visibility in the early morning hours and disrupted air traffic at the airport. Delhi continues to experience hazardous AQI The National Capital Delhi continued to experience hazardous air quality on Thursday, with the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 361 at around 1 pm, placing it in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), as reported by ANI. Earlier on Thursday, teams from Transport Enforcement conducted checks on vehicles in the National Capital as part of intensified measures to combat rising air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. This comes a day after the Supreme Court allowed the Delhi government to take action against owners of vehicles operating below the BS IV emission standard in the NCR. Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be denied fuel at petrol pumps, while trucks carrying construction materials into Delhi have been banned to curb pollution levels. (With inputs from ANI)
18 December,2025 02:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSeveral opposition MPs on Thursday took out a protest march inside the Parliament House complex against the G RAM G bill and demanded its withdrawal, as Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge vowed to fight the government's move in Parliament and in the streets, reported news agency PTI. Behind a huge banner of 'Mahatma Gandhi NREGA', they marched from the Gandhi statue at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar, raising slogans against the government. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, DMK's K Kanhimozhi, TR Ballu, A Raja, IUML's ET Mohammed Basheer, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Sawant and RSP's N K Premchandran, among others, participated in the protest. "The Modi government has not only insulted the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, but has also crushed the right to work, which was instrumental in bringing about socio-economic transformation in India's villages," Kharge said in a post on X in Hindi after the protest. "Against this tyranny of the ruling dictatorial government, we will fight from Parliament to the streets," Kharge said. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi joined the protesting MPs and participated in the demonstrations at Makar Dwar. Speaking to reporters, Venugopal said, "Today, Parliament is witnessing the murder of democracy. By removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi from NREGA they are trying to kill the democratic values as well as the ideology of the Father of the Nation." The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA is being debated in Parliament. Opposition strongly opposes the G RAM G bill The Opposition has been strongly opposing the Bill, accusing the government of insulting Mahatma Gandhi and diluting the provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, reported PTI. According to the bill, it will provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work. Within six months from the date of commencement of the VB-G RAM G Act, states will have to make a scheme consistent with the provisions of the new law. (With inputs from PTI)
18 December,2025 12:58 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAn Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Kozhikode with 160 passengers carried out an emergency landing at the Cochin International Airport here on Thursday due to issues involving its landing gear and tyre failure, an official said. The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), in a statement, said that it successfully facilitated the safe emergency landing of Air India Express flight IX 398 from Jeddah to Kozhikode, which was diverted to Kochi due to a technical issue involving the right main landing gear and tyre failure. The aircraft landed safely at 09.07 am under full emergency conditions, it said. "All emergency services were activated in advance, and there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew. Post-landing inspection confirmed that both right-side tyres had burst," a CIAL spokesperson said in the statement. Subsequently, the runway was cleared and released for operations, the statement added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
18 December,2025 11:47 AM IST | Kochi | PTIThe Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the licences of 13 medical stores and suspended those of 32 in Nanded district over alleged sale of intoxicant tablets, officials have said. As part of a drive, the FDA had issued show-cause notices to 48 medical stores for selling intoxicant tablets without a doctor's prescription and for violating the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Assistant Commissioner (Drugs) AT Rathod said in a release on Wednesday. After the explanations submitted were found unsatisfactory, the licences of 32 medical stores were suspended, while the licences of 13 stores were permanently cancelled. Action has been proposed against the remaining three medical stores, it said. In some cases, the FDA said, the medical stores have secured stay orders at the government level, and proceedings against them are currently pending before higher 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.
18 December,2025 11:09 AM IST | Nanded | PTIAfter days of cautious movement around her enclosure, adult female tigress STR-05 (TARA) on Thursday finally entered the core forest of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, completing a scientifically monitored soft release by the Maharashtra Forest Department. Forest officials said the gates of the soft-release enclosure were opened on December 13 at 7 am, but the tigress initially chose to stay in and around the area. During this period, she displayed natural wild behaviour, made a successful kill, and fed on it for nearly three days. On the morning of December 18, at around 7 am, TARA emerged from the enclosure and moved into the Chandoli core forest. Earlier identified as T7 (S2) during the management phase, the tigress was housed in a specially developed enclosure where her health, behaviour, and adaptability were closely monitored by forest officials and wildlife experts. Observations confirmed that she remained alert and demonstrated strong hunting skills, indicating readiness for independent survival. TARA showed strong wild instincts throughout the soft release. She hunted successfully, stayed alert, and displayed all the traits needed to survive on her own. Her release strengthens the tiger presence in the Sahyadri landscape, said Tushar Chavan, IFS, Field Director, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Chief Wildlife Warden M S Reddy said the release was carried out strictly as per scientific protocols. Every behavioural and health parameter was assessed before allowing the tigress into the wild, underlining the department’s focus on long-term tiger conservation, he added. The release gains added significance as two adult tigresses, STR-05 (TARA) and STR-04 (CHANDA), have now been introduced into the core forest of Sahyadri, a landscape that has been witnessing efforts to rebuild its tiger population. With the release of tigresses TARA and CHANDA into the core area, Sahyadri’s tiger population will get a much-needed boost. It will also help promote sustainable wildlife tourism and create local employment without compromising conservation, said Rohan Bhate Shah, Honorary Wildlife Warden. Post-release, forest department teams will continue to closely monitor TARA to ensure smooth acclimatisation to the habitat and surrounding landscape.
18 December,2025 10:44 AM IST | | Ranjeet JadhavLarge parts of the capital were enveloped in a dense layer of toxic smog, drastically reducing visibility and causing discomfort for residents. RK Puram experienced severe smog, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 374, categorising it as ‘very poor’, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Similarly, areas around Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium were covered in thick smog, with an AQI of 349, also placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Najafgarh recorded a slightly lower AQI of 284, though the area was still surrounded by heavy smog, CPCB data indicated, reported news agency ANI. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented all Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR to curb pollution levels. A thick layer of fog also blanketed the city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. According to AQI categorisation, 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. Earlier, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) deployed 19 teams for a road-inspection drive on December 12, reported ANI. This drive was conducted as part of the Commission's ongoing monitoring and enforcement under the statutory framework and provisions of the extant GRAP. According to the release, a total of 136 road stretches within the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) jurisdiction were inspected across Delhi. According to the final compiled data, 15 road stretches exhibited high visible dust levels, 38 showed moderate dust, 61 recorded low dust intensity, and 22 stretches had no visible dust. Road stretches with accumulation of MSW and C and D waste were reported to be 55 and 53, respectively. 6 stretches were reported to have evidence of MSW/ Biomass burning, the release said. The above observations clearly indicate gaps and recurring negligence in the maintenance of the affected stretches. It highlighted the need for DDA to enhance operational efficiency and implement prompt corrective measures through consistent, timely dust-mitigation interventions. The agency also needs to improve compliance across all road stretches for MSW/Biomass burning, it was highlighted. The Commission observed that these kinds of incidents impact particulate matter levels in Delhi and emphasised the need for strengthened on-ground action, including regular mechanical sweeping, timely disposal of collected dust, maintenance of road shoulders and central verges in addition to deployment of water-sprinkling/ dust-suppression systems and focused action(s) for prevention of open burning cases across all stretches maintained by DDA. (With ANI inputs)
18 December,2025 09:54 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in the national capital issued a passenger advisory on Thursday morning amid dense fog conditions, cautioning travellers that Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) had been implemented even as flight operations continued without major disruption. In a travel advisory issued at 4.30 am, Delhi Airport authorities said foggy weather had significantly reduced visibility levels, leading to the activation of LVP to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. At the same time, officials clarified that flight services at the airport were functioning normally when the advisory was released. "Low-visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," the advisory posted on X stated. Passenger Advisory issued at 0810 hrs.Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/W6VBdbNbwK — Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 18, 2025 Airport authorities urged passengers to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest information regarding departures and arrivals, as weather conditions could impact schedules. Amid dense fog and low visibility across Delhi and large parts of North India on Thursday morning, several airlines, including SpiceJet, Air India and IndiGo, also issued travel advisories, asking passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport. In a post on its official X handle, SpiceJet informed passengers that all departures, arrivals and their subsequent flights could be affected due to dense fog conditions in Delhi. The airline advised travellers to regularly check their flight status through its official website. Air India also released an advisory warning of potential poor visibility conditions over the next few days. The airline said this could affect its primary hub in Delhi, along with a few other airports in northern and eastern India and some additional cities. The national carrier also outlined measures being taken to minimise inconvenience to passengers due to fog-related disruptions. It said round-the-clock assistance would be provided to help travellers make alternative arrangements where required. Under Air India's 'FogCare' initiative, passengers booked on flights that may be delayed will receive advance alerts on their mobile phones. In addition, affected passengers will be given the option to change their flights without paying any extra charges or to opt for a full refund of their bookings. IndiGo, in a post on X, issued an advisory regarding disruptions in flight operations due to low visibility in Chandigarh. "As a precaution, some flights have been cancelled throughout the day to prioritise safety," the airline said, while advising passengers to allow extra travel time and check their flight status in advance through the official website. The advisories come at a time when Delhi continues to grapple with rising pollution levels and persistent smog. Thick smog continues to blanket Delhi Thick smog continued to blanket Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday morning, with the capital witnessing a fresh deterioration in air quality as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 356, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Out of the 39 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, four reported AQI readings in the 'severe' category, while several others hovered close to the same range, underlining the persistence of hazardous air conditions across the city. Visuals from different parts of Delhi and the NCR showed sharply reduced visibility as dense smog engulfed roads, residential areas and public spaces, affecting daily movement and raising health concerns among residents. Data from the Commission for Air Quality Management's SAMEER app indicated that Delhi recorded an AQI of 358 at 7 a.m. on Thursday. (With inputs from Agencies)
18 December,2025 09:53 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe ban on entry of non-Delhi private vehicles below BS-VI standards and the enforcement of the 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule came into force in the national capital on Thursday, as authorities stepped up measures to tackle worsening air pollution, reported news agency PTI. Fuel pumps are not dispensing fuel to vehicles without valid PUC certificates, and this is being enforced with the help of automatic number plate reader cameras, voice alerts at pumps, and police support. According to officials, 580 police personnel have been deployed at 126 checkpoints, including borders, reported PTI. Additionally, enforcement teams of the Transport Department have been deputed at petrol pumps and border points for effective implementation, they added, reported PTI. The entry ban on non-compliant BS-VI vehicles, however, does not apply to vehicles running on CNG or electric power, public transport, vehicles carrying essential commodities or providing essential services. Vehicles carrying construction materials are also not permitted to enter the city under the GRAP IV restrictions. Delhi-NCR wakes up to thick smog as AQI slips back into 'severe' zone Meanwhile, thick smog continued to blanket Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday morning, with the capital witnessing a fresh deterioration in air quality as the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 356, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Out of the 39 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, four reported AQI readings in the 'severe' category, while several others hovered close to the same range, underlining the persistence of hazardous air conditions across the city. Visuals from different parts of Delhi and the NCR showed sharply reduced visibility as dense smog engulfed roads, residential areas and public spaces, affecting daily movement and raising health concerns among residents. Data from the Commission for Air Quality Management's SAMEER app indicated that Delhi recorded an AQI of 358 at 7 a.m. on Thursday. This marked a reversal from the marginal improvement seen a day earlier, when the AQI had eased to 334 from 354, aided by relatively stronger winds sweeping through the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast foggy conditions during the early hours of Thursday. However, the weather agency also said that the presence of surface winds during the day was likely to prevent prolonged fog formation, allowing visibility to gradually improve as the day progresses. According to the IMD, the predominant surface wind is expected to blow from the northwest at speeds of up to 10 kmph during the morning hours. Wind speeds are likely to increase to around 15 kmph from the northwest in the afternoon before decreasing to below 10 kmph from the west during the evening and night. This fluctuation in wind patterns, the IMD said, is expected to help disperse the fog and contribute to relatively clearer conditions during daylight hours on Thursday, even as overall air quality remains a major concern. Under the Delhi government's new measures to curb air pollution in the national capital, the 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule will come into force from Thursday. Additionally, only BS-VI compliant vehicles registered outside Delhi will be allowed to enter the city from Thursday, while trucks carrying construction material will remain banned. Construction activity continues to be prohibited under GRAP norms, with strict action promised against violators. The national capital continues to gasp under severe pollution, prompting the Delhi government to announce an expansive set of emergency and long-term measures targeting vehicular emissions, dust, waste and traffic congestion. (With inputs from PTI)
18 December,2025 09:33 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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