Thousands of people defied prohibitory orders in Manipur’s Imphal West district and took out a torch rally to protest the recent bomb attack in which two children were killed, triggering clashes with security forces. People carrying torches began the rally around 7 pm on Thursday at Singjamei, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the April 7 blast at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district that claimed the lives of two 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
18 April,2026 10:35 AM IST | Imphal | AgenciesAs many as 89,000 children under the age of 18 have been found to be engaged in daily wage work across the state, the caste survey conducted by the Congress government in Telangana in 2024-25 has revealed. The survey report said that of these, 14 per cent belonged to SC and 11 per cent to ST. 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 April,2026 10:26 AM IST | Hyderabad | AgenciesAn Election Commission flying squad on Friday seized a firearm and detained four men following a car chase near the Silver Cascade entry point here. The incident occurred when the EC team spotted a gun inside a vehicle while conducting routine checks. The four men inside evaded the search and tried to speed away. 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 April,2026 09:48 AM IST | Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu) | AgenciesFive persons were injured when a sport utility vehicle (SUV) allegedly driven by a BJP MLA’s son hit them in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district, police said. A case was registered against Dinesh Lodhi, the son of MLA Pritam Lodhi, after the incident around 7.30 pm on Thursday, they said. The SUV, a Mahindra Thar, first hit a motorbike from behind, injuring friends Sanjay Parihar, Ashish Parihar and Anshul Parihar who were on their way to Dhanra village, said Karera police station in-charge Vinod Chavai. 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 April,2026 09:38 AM IST | Shivpuri | AgenciesFlagging rampant illegal sand mining in National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, the Supreme Court on Friday directed governments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to install CCTV cameras at routes frequently used for such activities, saying the apex court cannot remain a “silent spectator”. Slamming these states for their “utter failure”, the top court warned that it would be constrained to issue directions, including deployment of central forces and blanket ban on sand mining. 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 April,2026 08:47 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesNine members of a single family were killed after a car allegedly collided head-on with a private bus and caught fire in Surpur taluk on Friday, police said. The only survivor was a 10-year-old boy, they added. Citing preliminary investigation and eyewitness accounts, SP Pruthvik Shankar said that the Compact Utility Vehicle (CUV) reportedly suffered a tyre burst, after which the driver lost control, leading to a head-on collision with a private bus. The CUV subsequently caught fire, resulting in the deaths of nine occupants. A total of 10 people, five children among them, were travelling in the car at the time of the accident. Four occupants, two of them children, were burnt alive on the spot, 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
18 April,2026 08:36 AM IST | Yadgir (Karnataka) | AgenciesUS Central Command said in a social media post on Friday that zero vessels have evaded American naval forces during the blockade of Iran-linked ships, and 19 vessels “complied with directions from US forces to turn around and return to Iran.” The post from Central Command came shortly before Trump thanked Iran for opening the Strait of Hormuz, which he said was “completely open and ready for business.” Trump, however, stressed that the blockade against Iranian shipping outside the Strait of Hormuz was still in place until negotiations were complete. The narrow passage in the Persian Gulf was effectively closed by Iran during the war with the US and Israel, cutting off the flow of oil and natural gas through the Gulf. Kremlin welcomes 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel “We hope that during those days it will indeed be possible to reach agreements that will allow us to avoid a recurrence of military clashes in the future,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Russia says it’s ready to store Iran’s uranium, but US isn’t interested Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made the offer to store Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium and that “the Russian side is open to that,” but “the proposal is currently not on the negotiating table.” “Now this proposal is not in demand on the US side,” Peskov told reporters. Pakistan played role in securing ceasefire in Lebanon That’s according to two officials who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity on Friday because they were not authorised to speak to the media. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is in Tehran to carry forward negotiations between the United States and Iran and help de-escalate the widening regional crisis. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday at a news briefing that “peace in Lebanon and cessation of armed attacks in Lebanon are essential for peace talks.” Czech offers surveillance system for Strait of Hormuz Prime Minister Andrej Babis said his country will offer a passive surveillance system to aid the international effort to reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz. Dozens of countries are expected to take part in a conference on Friday organised by the leaders of France and the UK, aimed at providing security for shipping through the key waterway. Babis said the system can be used when a ceasefire in the war between the US and Israel against Iran is in place or when the conflict is over. The Czech-made passive radar systems do not emit electromagnetic energy, making them difficult to detect. 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
17 April,2026 10:38 PM IST | | APWomen’s Reservation Bill fails in Lok Sabha after Centre falls short of two-thirds majority, securing 298 votes in favour and 230 against during extended debate. The Centre on Friday failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, dealing with women’s reservation. The proposed legislation, which sought to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies, received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the numbers needed for passage. Following the setback, two related bills, including one on delimitation and increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats, were not put to vote. The government said these proposals were intrinsically linked to the women’s reservation legislation. The debate in the Lower House stretched past midnight on Thursday and continued into Friday, with the Centre strongly advocating for the implementation of the 33 per cent quota for women in legislative bodies. 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
17 April,2026 10:17 PM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesMost parts of Maharashtra on Friday continued to witness intense hot weather conditions, with interior regions recording scorching temperatures, while coastal belts remained relatively cooler but humid. According to the weather data, Wardha emerged as the hottest location in the state at 44.4 degrees Celsius, closely followed by Akola (44.1 degrees Celsius) and Nagpur (44.0 degrees Celsius). In contrast, Nashik recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 17.2 degrees Celsius, highlighting a sharp contrast of over 27 degrees. Interior regions sizzle, coast stays moderate Vidarbha remained the worst-affected region, with several cities crossing the 43 degrees Celsius mark, including Chandrapur (43.6 degrees Celsius) and Bramhapuri (43.0 degrees Celsius). In Madhya Maharashtra, cities like Jalgaon (42.3 degrees Celsius), Solapur (42.2 degrees Celsius), and Lohgaon (41.5 degrees Celsius) also reported high temperatures. Pune recorded a maximum of 40.3 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the Konkan region, including Mumbai (33.0 degrees Celsius) and Alibag (32.9 degrees Celsius), remained relatively cooler due to coastal influence, though humidity levels stayed high. Dry weather persists across state No rainfall was recorded anywhere in Maharashtra over the past 24 hours, with clear skies prevailing across regions. Pune to stay hot For Pune, the forecast for Saturday indicates mainly clear skies, with temperatures expected to hover around 39 degrees Celsius (maximum) and 19 degrees Celsius (minimum). Humidity levels dropped significantly through the day on Friday, from 50 per cent in the morning to 19 per cent by evening. Despite the ongoing heat, Pune has recorded excess seasonal rainfall so far this year, with 92 millimetres against a normal of 7.1 millimetres. Vidarbha hotter than Marathwada Vidarbha remained significantly hotter than Marathwada on Friday, recording extreme maximum temperatures across districts. Wardha touched 44.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Nagpur at 44.0 degrees Celsius, Akola at 44.1 degrees Celsius, Chandrapur at 43.6 degrees Celsius, and Bramhapuri at 43.0 degrees Celsius. Marathwada was also hot but comparatively milder. Beed recorded 41.9 degrees Celsius, Parbhani 41.8 degrees Celsius, and Dharashiv 41.0 degrees Celsius, with no station crossing the 42 degrees Celsius mark. The data shows Vidarbha was consistently 2 to 3 degrees Celsius hotter than Marathwada across most locations, making it the worst-affected region in Maharashtra’s ongoing early heatwave.
17 April,2026 08:04 PM IST | MumbaiThe first edition of the biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 concluded on Friday in New Delhi, bringing together top leadership of the Indian Navy for a comprehensive review of operational readiness and future strategy, an official statement issued by the Defence PRO said. The four-day conference, held from 14 to 17 April, focused on key areas including operational preparedness, infrastructure, logistics, and human resources, along with an assessment of the current global security environment. Focus on changing maritime security landscape The conference began with an address by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), who highlighted the growing complexity of maritime security. He pointed to ongoing conflicts, particularly in West Asia, the weakening of global rules-based systems, and increasing threats from non-state actors as major challenges shaping the Navy’s operational environment. The CNS stressed the importance of maintaining high combat readiness and adopting emerging technologies to build a future-ready naval force. He also underlined the Navy’s responsibilities in the Indian Ocean Region and called for stronger cooperation with friendly foreign countries through joint exercises and strategic partnerships, the statement said. Key interactions with senior officials During the conference, the Chief of Defence Staff interacted with naval commanders and highlighted the rapidly evolving nature of warfare, including its technological and economic aspects, it said. The Union Home Ministry also emphasised the need for close coordination between the Navy and paramilitary forces to strengthen coastal security and tackle cross-border illegal activities. Maritime security strategy A major highlight of the conference was the release of the Indian Navy Maritime Security Strategy (INMSS 2026) by the CNS. The strategy outlines the Navy’s approach to safeguarding national interests in the maritime domain over the coming decade. It builds on broader national visions such as Defence Forces Vision 2047 and Indian Navy Vision 2047. On the sidelines of the conference, the CNS hosted “Sagar Manthan”, a forum that brought together naval leaders and experts to discuss defence research and development. The discussions focused on improving capability development through greater participation from the private sector and industry. Officials said the conference plays a crucial role in shaping the Navy’s long-term strategy and ensuring preparedness in an increasingly complex global security environment.
17 April,2026 07:50 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCriticising the North-South divide narrative, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday challenged the Congress to assure passage of the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' if the government brings an official amendment, within one hour, to guarantee “50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats” in all states. Speaking during the debate on the women’s reservation bill in Lok Sabha, HM Shah said he will not fall into the trap of the Opposition’s demand to delink the women’s reservation from delimitation, which will pave the way for 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats. “We will not allow the Opposition's attempt to delay the women’s reservation beyond 2029,” he said, warning that the women are watching the Opposition parties oppose the reservation for the fifth time. HM Shah also condemned the Opposition’s attempt to create a North versus South divide. “The North versus South divide narrative will not be allowed to be used to divide the nation into parts.” He said the southern states have as much right over the House as northern states. “Forget about north-south debate, even a small UT like Lakshadweep has as much right over the House as Uttar Pradesh,” he said. Assuring that the southern states will not lose share in the Lok Sabha after delimitation, as being claimed by the Opposition, HM Shah said, at present, the five southern states – Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala – account for 129 seats out of 543 seats or 23.76 per cent of the total strength. He said that when the number of seats in the Lok Sabha will be raised to 815 after delimitation, the number of seats in the five southern states will increase to 195 seats, with a total representation in the House rising to 23.87 per cent. HM Shah warned that the government would not let the Opposition “fuel a tukde tukde divide on the basis of North-South narrative”. He also warned the Opposition parties that if they decide not to support the women’s reservation on one or the other flimsy ground, the women will punish them for failing them once again. 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.
17 April,2026 07:40 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSADVERTISEMENT
