The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made the eighth arrest in connection with last month's car blast near the Red Fort, officials said on Tuesday. An NIA spokesperson said a team from Delhi has arrested key accused Dr Bilal Naseer Malla of Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir. He was arrested from the national capital. The NIA has found Bilal's involvement in the conspiracy behind the terrorist attack that killed 11 people and injured several others in the Red Fort area on November 10, a statement said. "As per NIA investigations, Bilal had knowingly harboured the deceased accused Umar Un Nabi by providing him logistical support. He is also accused of destruction of evidence related to the terrorist attack," it added. The NIA is continuing with its investigation into the conspiracy behind the deadly blast. The anti-terror agency is working closely with various central and state agencies to unravel all the threads of the conspiracy. 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
09 December,2025 11:03 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIMaharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla visited several newly established sensitive police camps in the Gadchiroli district's Maoist-affected areas on Tuesday, officials said. The visit aimed to review security preparations, interact with citizens and police personnel, and inaugurate key public facilities in remote areas, they said. The DGP first visited the newly created POMKEN Fulnar Camp in Gundurwahi, set up on November 23. She reviewed the operational readiness of the camp and held discussions with officers and personnel deployed in this highly sensitive Maoist-affected region, an official statement said. A large public awareness gathering was organised under the Police Dadalora Khidki initiative, it said. The statement further said that over 500 citizens from the Fulnar area attended the event where essential items such as cooking utensils, blankets, bicycles for students, school bags, sports kits, sewing machines and clothes were distributed. "The DGP urged locals to make use of police support services and assured them that the region would soon receive improved facilities such as roads and healthcare," an official said. She further stated that the police force is committed to eliminating Maoism and bringing development to the most remote areas of Gadchiroli, the official said. In the Gurdewada area, Shukla inaugurated the 74th public reading library under the “One Village, One Library” initiative. More than 500 villagers joined the event, which began with a traditional Granth Dindi rally promoting reading habits among children and youth. The new library includes a study area, bookshelves, desks and other essential facilities. She also unveiled a statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, created through local community support, the statement said. During the visit, DGP Shukla and senior officers also inaugurated the new administrative building at Laheri Police Sub-Post. The upgraded facility is expected to significantly improve convenience for police personnel and citizens in this remote region. Senior officials present included Additional DGP (Special Action) Dr. Chhering Dorje, DIG Gadchiroli Ankit Goyal, CRPF DIG (Operations) Ajay Kumar Sharma, SP Gadchiroli Neelotpal, and other district officers.
09 December,2025 10:38 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentAnant Ambani, founder of the wildlife conservation centre Vantara, has been honoured with the Global Humanitarian Award for Animal Welfare by the Global Humane Society. He is the youngest recipient and the first Asian to receive this prestigious award, an official statement said. The award was presented at an international event that brought together leaders committed to wildlife protection and animal welfare. It recognises individuals whose lifelong dedication has created a significant global impact for animals and people. Anant Ambani was recognised for his leadership in establishing Vantara, which has become a model for rescue, rehabilitation, and species preservation. Vantara combines care outside an animal’s natural habitat with protection in native ecosystems, using science-based conservation methods to protect endangered species and restore wildlife populations., it said. Speaking at the event, Anant Ambani said, "I thank Global Humane Society for this honor. For me, it reaffirms a timeless principle, sarva bhuta hita, the wellbeing of all beings. Animals teach us balance, humility and trust. Through Vantara, our purpose is to give every life dignity, care and hope, guided by the spirit of seva. Conservation is not for tomorrow; it is a shared dharma we must uphold today." Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of the Global Humane Society, said, "Vantara represents one of the most extraordinary commitments to animal welfare anywhere in the world. Ambani’s leadership has set a new global standard for compassion in action.” The Global Humanitarian Award has previously been given to a select few, including Hollywood stars Shirley MacLaine, John Wayne, Betty White, as well as US Presidents John F Kennedy and Bill Clinton. Vantara has also earned the Global Humane Certified™ distinction after completing a rigorous independent audit of its animal welfare practices, covering nutrition, medical care, behavioural enrichment, and environmental quality. The award ceremony saw participation from global wildlife conservation leaders, including representatives from IUCN, Colossal Biosciences, Zoo Knoxville, Columbus Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, and notable Indian conservationists such as Dr. Neelam Khaire and Dr. V.B. Prakash. About Global Humane Society: Global Humane Society is the international brand of American Humane Society, which is the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe each year. American Humane Society has been at the forefront of virtually every major advancement in the humane movement to rescue, care for and protect animals.
09 December,2025 08:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMicrosoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday announced an investment of USD 17.5 billion in India to bolster the nation’s rapidly growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, an official statement said. The announcement came following a meeting between Nadella and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which they discussed India’s AI roadmap and strategic growth priorities. Nadella described the investment as Microsoft’s "largest in Asia." In a post on X, Nadella said, "Thank you, PM Narendra Modi, for an inspiring discussion on India’s AI opportunity. To support the nation’s ambitions, Microsoft is committing USD 17.5 billion—our largest investment ever in Asia—to build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities required for India’s AI-first future." Thank you, PM @narendramodi ji, for an inspiring conversation on India’s AI opportunity. To support the country’s ambitions, Microsoft is committing US$17.5B—our largest investment ever in Asia—to help build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for… pic.twitter.com/NdFEpWzoyZ — Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) December 9, 2025 According to a Microsoft press release, posted on X, "Together, Microsoft and India are set to establish new benchmarks, transitioning the country from digital public infrastructure to AI public infrastructure over the next decade. We aim to create a future that is both equitable and uniquely Indian in scale and impact." Microsoft’s investment focuses on three key pillars—scale, skills, and sovereignty—aligned with the Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a comprehensive AI ecosystem promoting innovation and access at a national level, it said. Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia, said, "Microsoft has been part of India’s fabric for more than three decades. As the nation moves confidently into its AI-first future, we are proud to stand as a trusted partner in advancing the infrastructure, innovation and opportunity that can power a billion dreams. Building on the US$3 billion investment announced in January 2025, our new US$17.5 billion commitment and deep partnership across India’s technology ecosystem are focused on turning India’s AI ambition into impact for every citizen. This transformation is anchored on three pillars: hyperscale infrastructure to run AI at scale, sovereign-ready solutions that ensure trust, and skilling programs that empower every Indian to not just join the future but shape it." A landmark moment for India’s AI journey. We have just announced our largest investment in Asia—focussed on scale, skills and sovereignty. Read the full announcement: https://t.co/FdzumnHB7Z @satyanadella @puneetck — Microsoft India and South Asia (@MicrosoftIndia) December 9, 2025 The new investment will be used to continue to scale our cloud and AI infrastructure, skilling initiatives and ongoing operations across India. This includes our workforce of more than 22,000 employees across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurugram, Noida and other cities — representing the diversity of Microsoft’s businesses. They drive every part of our product cycle, from model development to engineering and product innovation. Their work contributes to innovation across Microsoft’s AI stack — from infrastructure to app platforms to products — while operating hyperscale datacenters and delivering sales and support to customers nationwide. These teams are not only powering India’s digital transformation but also delivering AI impact at scale globally — Copilot Studio, Azure AI Search, AI agents, AI speech and translation, Azure Machine Learning and more. Every day, they collaborate closely with India’s leading enterprises, developers and institutions to unlock the promise of AI for the country, the official statement said. It said that one of the key priorities of our investment is building secure, sovereign-ready hyperscale infrastructure to enable AI adoption in India. At the heart of this effort is the significant progress being made at the India South Central cloud region, based in Hyderabad – that is set to go live in mid-2026. This will be our largest hyperscale region in India, comprising three availability zones — roughly equivalent in size to two Eden Gardens stadiums combined.
09 December,2025 07:57 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCensus 2027 will also include questions related to the duration of stay at the current residence and the reason for migration, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. While filing a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that in the census, information of every individual is collected at the place where they are found during the period of enumeration. Rai was responding to a question from a member on whether any special provisions are being made for counting migrant workers and temporary residents during Census 2027 and if a separate data collection process is proposed for the same, reported news agency PTI. Furthermore, the minister said that migration data is collected for each and every individual based on their place of birth and place of last residence. “The Census also collects information on the duration of stay at the current residence and the reason for migration. The questionnaire for the census is notified before conducting fieldwork by the Central Government through the Official Gazette,” Rai further emphasised. Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases: the first is the House Listing and Housing Census, between April and September 2026; and the second, Population Enumeration (PE), in February 2027. Depending on the convenience of the state governments, the first phase of the census, which will run from April to September 2026, will be completed in 30 days. With the exception of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which will be done in September 2026 with the reference date of 00:00 hours of October 1, 2026, the population will be counted in February 2027 with the reference date of 00:00 hours of March 1, 2027. As determined by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on April 30, the exercise will be digital and involve caste enumeration. The 2027 census will be conducted in two phases: Phase I – House Listing and Housing Census, scheduled from April to September 2026 Phase II - Population Enumeration, set for February 2027 (With inputs from PTI)
09 December,2025 07:54 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Lok Sabha on Tuesday witnessed a stormy debate as Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha accused the RSS of “systematically seeking to dominate India’s institutions”. Gandhi further said that there is "no bigger anti-national act than vote chori". While speaking during a discussion on electoral reforms, Gandhi asserted, “Everything in India that exists today has emerged from the vote, and the RSS is trying to capture that." His remarks provoked loud protests from the ruling party members, prompting Speaker Om Birla to intervene multiple times to restore order. The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition also alleged that the RSS, in collaboration with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has undermined democratic institutions, beginning with the Election Commission of India (ECI). He further outlined three areas of institutional capture: education, investigative agencies, and the Election Commission. To support his claims, he posed three questions: Why was the Chief Justice of India removed from the selection panel for election commissioners? Why did the government in December 2023 grant unprecedented immunity to election commissioners? Why are CCTV footage of polling stations destroyed after 45 days? Gandhi further argued that these steps weaken transparency and enable manipulation. While slamming the ruling party, Gandhi emphasised, “Today, the Election Commission of India is colluding with those in power to shape the election" Furthermore, in a dramatic moment, the Leader of the Opposition also recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948. “The RSS project began after the Father of the Nation was killed, with the aim of dismantling his vision of an equal India where institutions belonged to the people. “These are uncomfortable truths, but they have to be spoken," said the Congress MP. However, Gandhi’s remarks drew sharp objections from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The BJP minister insisted that Gandhi was straying from the subject of electoral reforms. “He is not speaking of anything related to electoral reforms,” said the minister. Furthermore, Speaker Om Birla also intervened, reminding the Congress MP to confine his speech to electoral reforms rather than making sweeping allegations against institutions. (With inputs from IANS)
09 December,2025 07:17 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCivil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Tuesday, while speaking on the floor of the House about the Indigo flight disruptions, informed that the operations were stabilising fast, with airports reporting no "crowding or distress", news agency ANI reported. The Union Minister, addressing the Lower House during the Winter Session of the Parliament, further said that the safety in civil aviation remains non-negotiable. Naidu further informed the Lok Sabha that IndiGo operated 1,800 flights yesterday, compared to merely 706 on December 5, suggesting the situation was expected to improve further. "I would like to inform the House that the disruption caused by IndiGo's operational failures is now rapidly stabilising. IndiGo's daily flight count, which had fallen drastically to 706 on December 5, recovered to 1,800 yesterday and is expected to rise further today. All other airlines continue to operate smoothly across the country," he said, adding, “The airports are reporting normal conditions, without crowding or distress. Refunds, baggage tracing, and passenger support measures remain under supervision by the Ministry." The minister also asserted that the Civil Aviation Ministry was committed to providing convenience to passengers. "Operations are stabilising fast, safety remains fully in force, IndiGo is being held accountable, passengers' convenience and dignity are being protected, and long-term measures are underway to make India's aviation sector more passenger-centric," Naidu added. The Civil Aviation Minister further stated that the government was ensuring accountability as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued show-cause notices to IndiGo's senior leadership. Assuring strict action and compliance with the aircraft rules and Act, the minister said that every possible action will be taken against the culprits. "At the same time, accountability will be ensured. DGCA has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo's senior leadership and commenced a detailed enforcement investigation. Depending on the outcome, strict and appropriate action, as empowered under the aircraft rules and act, will be taken. No airline will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers through planning failures and non-compliance with statutory provisions," Naidu said. Highlighting the safety in the civil aviation sector, he stated, "Safety in civil aviation is non-negotiable. India is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and remains committed to the highest global standards of safety. The revised flight duty time limitation, designed to prevent pilot fatigue, is being implemented. These reforms are essentially for passenger safety." (With inputs from ANI)
09 December,2025 06:56 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Tuesday said he had suggested forest officials to release goats in large numbers in forest areas to prevent leopards from straying into human settlements in search of prey, news agency PTI reported. The minister was replying to a calling attention motion raised by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Jitendra Awhad in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly over the worrying rise in leopard attacks across the state. "If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state must pay Rs 1 crore (as compensation). So I told officials, instead of paying compensation after deaths, release goats worth Rs 1 crore into the forest so leopards do not venture into human habitats," the minister said, according to PTI. Naik noted that the behaviour and living patterns of leopards have undergone change. "Earlier, they were described as forest animals, but now their habitat has shifted to sugarcane fields," he added. The minister also said that Ahilyanagar, Pune, and Nashik districts were witnessing the highest number of leopard-related incidents, PTI reported. Maharashtra: Two injured after human-leopard conflict at Nagaon near Alibag Two residents of Nagaon Village, located near the popular Nagaon Beach in Maharashtra's Alibag, were injured on Tuesday following a human–leopard conflict incident, which triggered panic in the locality. Soon after learning about the incident, the Maharashtra Forest Department rushed to the spot. Considering that leopards have been roaming freely in residential areas, efforts are underway to locate and safely rescue the wild cats from the densely populated area. In view of the rescue operation, Pune-based wildlife rescue NGO RESQ CT has also departed for Alibag to assist the forest personnel in the mission. The NGO is expected to provide technical expertise and equipment for safely capturing the big cat. Speaking about the situation, Nagaon's Sarpanch said, "Two people have been injured after a human-leopard conflict. The police team along with the forest department are already here and the situation is under control." Leopard cubs reunited with mother after two-day rescue operation in Maharashtra's Sangli District On December 5, villagers from Shirala in Maharashtra's Sangli District alerted animal organisation Sahyadri Rescue Warriors after two leopard cubs were spotted during sugarcane harvesting. The Sahyadri Rescue Warriors team, along with Maharashtra Forest Department officials, immediately reached the site and placed the cubs in a crate to facilitate their reunion with the mother leopard. On December 7, around 5 am, the mother leopard finally returned and successfully retrieved both cubs, concluding a careful and coordinated two-day operation. (With PTI inputs)
09 December,2025 06:50 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentThe district administration demolished a section of the Romeo Lane restaurant in the Vagator area in Goa on Tuesday, officials said, reported the ANI. The restaurant is owned by Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, who also run Birch by Romeo Lane, the nightclub where a fire on Sunday claimed 25 lives. Gaurav and Saurabh had reportedly fled to Phuket in Thailand just hours after the tragedy, according to the Goa Police. Ahead of the demolition, Deputy Director of Goa Tourism, Dhiraj Wagale, stated that the 198-square-metre encroachment on the beach side would be removed, according to the ANI. The massive fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday at the Arpora nightclub, resulting in a high-casualty incident. The Goa government has set up a committee to investigate the tragedy. In a significant development, the Goa Police have launched international efforts to trace the absconding owners. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Varsha Sharma confirmed that Lookout Circulars (LOCs) have been issued against the Luthra brothers. The police are working with Interpol and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to bring them back to India, as they were not present in Goa at the time of the incident. DIG Sharma also confirmed that Ajay Gupta, a co-owner and partner in the business, has been named among the accused and is now the subject of a Lookout Circular. Speaking to ANI, Sharma described the fire as a 'very painful accident' and said that police action has been swift, covering identification of bodies, post-mortem examinations, and handing over remains to families, alongside the ongoing criminal investigation. She added that advisories and guidelines are being issued to restaurants, and foot patrolling has been increased ahead of the upcoming tourist season. So far, 21 of the 25 victims’ bodies have been handed over to families, with two still pending. Earlier, Bharat, the fifth accused responsible for managing the nightclub’s daily operations on behalf of the owners, was brought to Anjuna Police Station. "Goa Police have taken further steps to coordinate with the Interpol Division of the CBI to apprehend both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra at the earliest," a senior police officer said, reported the PTI. (with ANI and PTI inputs)
09 December,2025 06:38 PM IST | Panaji | mid-day online correspondentThere is no shortage of essential anti-TB drugs like Rifampicin and Ethambutol in the central and state warehouses, Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. She was responding to a question on whether there has been any shortage of key anti-tuberculosis drugs in recent months, the reasons for delay in tender finalisation by the Central Tuberculosis Division and the measures being taken to ensure uninterrupted drug supply under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). In a written reply, Patel said the NTEP is being implemented under the aegis of National Health Mission (NHM) across the country. "There are no shortages of any key anti-TB drugs, including for Rifampicin and Ethambutol, in the Central and State warehouses. Rate contract model has been established for all drugs including newer and shorter regimen drugs for 2025-27, while ensuring adequate buffer," she stated. Several steps have been taken to strengthen the supply chain of quality drugs, the response stated. These include timely submission of indents to the procurement agency, real-time tracking of drug availability and utilisation via the drugs and vaccines distribution management system (DVDMS), regular physical stock verification by state, district, and national teams during field visits, and supervision at both state and district levels. Coordination with suppliers through the procurement agency to ensure timely supply of drugs, necessary diagnostics, reagents and kits has also been strengthened, the minister stated. As per the World Health Organization's Global TB Report 2025, India recorded an estimated 21.7 lakh tuberculosis (TB) cases, and around 3 lakh deaths due to the infection in 2024. 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.
09 December,2025 06:37 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIThe Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Tuesday said that it has busted an illegal mephedrone manufacturing facility in Wardha district of Maharashtra during a special operation. The crackdown was part of DRI's 'Operation Hinterland Brew', officials said. The operation, conducted on December 7 and 8, 2025, resulted in the seizure of 128 kg of mephedrone, worth approximately Rs. 192 crore, along with 245 kg of precursor chemicals, raw materials, and a complete drug-processing setup. The DRI officers acted on specific intelligence and carried out discreet surveillance before raiding a remote area in Karanja (Ghadge), about 60 km from Wardha. The factory was hidden in dense shrubland and operated from a temporary, modular structure, designed to evade detection. Officers recovered a fully functional drug-processing setup, including makeshift reactors and vessels used to manufacture mephedrone, an official statement said. It said that three suspects, including the mastermind, who also financed and chemically supervised the operation, were arrested along with two associates. All three were actively involved in the manufacturing and distribution network of mephedrone and face charges under the NDPS Act, 1985. This is the fifth clandestine drug factory dismantled by the DRI this year, the statement said.
09 December,2025 06:10 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilADVERTISEMENT
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