In a tragic and unexpected situation, a minor fire broke out in the lavatory of the moving Daund-Pune shuttle train on Monday morning. The incident happened after a passenger from Madhya Pradesh allegedly threw a lighted cigarette in a dustbin, the smoke coming out of the dustbin causing panic among passengers, police said. As reported by PTI, the blaze was quickly doused, and no one was injured in the incident which occurred near Yavat in Pune district at around 8 am, an official from Daund railway police station said. A railway spokesperson, while addressing the situation, said that "a 55-year-old person, who prima facie seemed to be mentally unstable, was detained in connection with the incident and handed over to police." Soon after the incident took place, the Daund-Pune shuttle was held up at Yavat station for about 20 minutes and was left for its upcoming journey after all the technical and safety clearances were done by the officials, as per railway officials. The shuttle train service between Pune and Daund operates daily between Daund town and Pune city, covering a distance of nearly 75 km and passing through seven stations in between. As per preliminary information, a passenger from Madhya Pradesh allegedly threw a 'bidi' (hand-rolled thin cigarette) into a dustbin of the Daund-Pune DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train after smoking, which led to the fire, the police official said. The official further added that "The incident occurred around 8 am. There were papers and other trash in the bin, which caught fire, resulting in smoke billowing from the toilet and causing panic among passengers." 'There were only a few passengers in that coach,' he said. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured in the incident, the official added. Furthermore, railway officials said the train suffered a 20-minute detention at the Yavat station. Fire breaks out in Khidderpore Market of Kolkata; no injuries reported A fire broke in parts of the crowded Khidderpore Market in southwest Kolkata early on Monday, destroying hundreds of shops and causing panic among local traders, officials said. However, no casualties have been reported in the blaze, stated news agency PTI. The fire, which broke out at 2.05 am, was brought under control by 6 am, although smoke continued to rise from several areas owing to residual "pocket fires." At least 20 fire tenders were dispatched to extinguish the flames. Local shopkeepers claimed that over 1,200 shops were destroyed in the 150-year-old market, although officials have yet to confirm the extent of the damage. "Viraat khati (huge loss)," said a visibly distressed trader, gesturing towards the charred tin sheds and burnt-out goods. A senior fire official suggested that the blaze may have been triggered by a short circuit. (With PTI Inputs)
17 June,2025 12:56 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentA man was killed in Maharashtra's Nagpur district in what police on Monday said was a fallout of a love triangle, reported the PTI. The deceased was identified as 20-year-old Aman Rajendra Dhruvavanshi. He was killed in Gorewada forest in Nagpur district, following which three people -- Lucky Sunil Mendhewar (18), Abhishek Rajesh Kataria (20) and Sulabh Thakur (19) were arrested and a 17-year-old boy was detained, a police official said. The primary investigations revealed that the deceased and one of the suspect were in a relationship with a same girl and the accused, with his friend's help killed the victim, police said. "Aman and Lucky were in a relationship with the same girl. This led to a confrontation between the two. To be sure that Aman had ended his relationship with the girl, Lucky created a fake account in her name. He used this account to invite Aman to a solitary place," the Gittikhadan police station official said, according to the PTI. "The four accused assaulted Aman there and stabbed him to death. All four have been held," he added. Man chased through streets, shot dead at public square in Nagpur; accused surrenders Meanwhile, in an another incident, a 26-year-old man was shot dead at a public square in Nagpur, following which the alleged killer surrendered, a police official said on Monday, as per the PTI. The incident took place at around 10:30 am on Sunday near Gandhi statue square in Khapa in Saoner tehsil of Nagpur, the official said. "Chetan Ashok Gagate was killed by Arjun Sheshrao Niley (27), who chased him through the streets and fired multiple shots before shooting him at close range. While three shots missed the target, the fourth hit Gagate after he fell. He died in a nearby hospital," the Khapa police station official said, reported the PTI. "Niley surrendered after the incident. The gun has been recovered. The two had an old dispute. Gagate had stabbed Niley during an argument earlier. Two days ago, they again had an altercation, which resulted in the killing," he said, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
16 June,2025 09:32 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentCongress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the Modi government is attempting to dismantle the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), asserting that cuts to the scheme's implementation constitute a "crime against the Constitution." According to PTI, the Congress President shared a media report on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that, for the first time, the government has capped spending under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) at 60 per cent of its annual allocation for the initial half of the financial year 2025-26. In a Hindi post on X, Kharge stated, "The Modi government is trying to destroy MGNREGA, the lifeline of the poor. The Modi government has now fixed the limit of MGNREGA expenditure at 60 percent for the first six months of the year." He further contended that imposing cuts on MGNREGA, which guarantees the Right to Work under the Constitution, is a "crime against the Constitution." Posing questions on behalf of the Congress, Kharge inquired whether the Modi government's actions are driven by a desire to withhold approximately Rs 25,000 crore from the pockets of the poor, funds that would otherwise need to be disbursed separately in the subsequent financial year when demand is typically high towards the year's end, as reported by PTI. "Since MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme, what happens if there is a surge in demand during the first half in case of disasters or adverse weather conditions? Will not imposing such a cap hurt the poor who depend on MGNREGA for their livelihood?" Kharge asked. He also questioned the implications if the limit is exceeded, asking whether states would be compelled to deny employment despite demand, or if workers would be forced to work without payment. Kharge further queried whether it is true that, according to a recent report, only 7 per cent of families have received the promised 100 days of work. "Why were nearly 7 crore registered workers excluded from MGNREGA on the condition of Aadhaar-based payment? Why was the MGNREGA budget allocated the least in the total budget in 10 years? Why is the anti-poor Modi government hell-bent on oppressing MGNREGA workers?" he demanded. Kharge concluded by stating that the reduction in MGNREGA expenditure is a severe blow inflicted by the Modi government on the lives of every poor person, adding that the Congress will vehemently oppose this. He reiterated the Congress's two firm demands: "First, a minimum wage of Rs 400 per day should be fixed for MGNREGA workers. Second, there should be employment for at least 150 days in a year." (With inputs from PTI)
16 June,2025 09:17 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIsrael's Ministry of Defence has condemned the erection of black partition walls around its defence industry pavilions at the Paris Air Show, calling the move "outrageous and unprecedented" and demanding an immediate reversal by French authorities and event organisers. The walls appeared overnight ahead of the air show's opening Monday, visually isolating Israeli booths from dozens of other international exhibitors. Israeli officials say the move followed a last-minute demand from organisers to remove offensive weapons systems from display — a request they rejected. "The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition — weapons that compete with French industries," the ministry said in a statement Monday, calling the action "ugly and improper". A French appeals court ruled on Friday against activist groups who sought to block Israeli companies from participating in the show due to the war in Gaza.Despite the legal green light, Israel says it was effectively censored. Sylvain Pavillet, a lawyer working with the air show organisers, said the final decision on who is allowed to exhibit lies with the French government, not the show itself. "The fair is not the one who decides which countries are allowed to go to the show or not," he told The Associated Press. "That decision belongs to the government. We are not a state. We are a commercial company." The Paris Air Show, held at Le Bourget Airport, is one of the world's largest and most prestigious events for the aerospace and defence industry. 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 June,2025 09:16 PM IST | Paris | PTIThe BJP was voted out of power in Mizoram's Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) on Monday after its chief, party leader Molin Kumar Chakma, was removed in a no-confidence motion, an official said. The Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), the ruling party of the state, now holds the majority of members in the council and is expected to stake claim to form the next executive committee of the CADC. The Molin Kumar Chakma-led executive committee, formed on February 4, was the first BJP-ruled administration in the CADC since its establishment in 1972. A special session of the House was convened by CADC Chairman Lakkhan Chakma, during which the BJP-led executive committee headed by Molin Kumar Chakma was voted out, the official confirmed. The no-confidence motion was moved by Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) member Doymoy Daveng Chakma, who argued that Molin had lost the confidence of the majority of members. Of the 17 elected members present, 15 voted in favor of Chakma's removal, and one against it. The lone MNF member, Rasik Mohan Chakma, abstained from voting, the official added. Twelve BJP members, including Lakkhan Chakma, recently quit the party and joined the ZPM. In the 20-member council, the ZPM now has 16 members, the BJP two, and the MNF one. One seat is vacant due to the death of a BJP member in April. The ZPM is yet to formally stake claim to form the next executive committee in the CADC, the official noted. The CADC was established under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in 1972 for the welfare of the Chakma tribals of Mizoram. It exercises legislative, executive, and judicial powers over allotted departments within the CADC's territory. Its headquarters are in Chawngte, also known as Kamalangar, in Lawngtlai district. The council comprises 20 elected members and 4 nominated members. 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 June,2025 09:15 PM IST | Aizawl | PTIPDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take immediate steps to ensure the safe return of Indian students stranded in Iran amid the ongoing Tehran-Tel Aviv conflict. "Families of the stranded students in Iran are growing increasingly anxious with each passing day. I earnestly urge the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene and take immediate steps to ensure the safe return of their loved ones," Mufti posted on X. She tagged the X handles of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Indian embassy in Iran, and the MEA in her post. Hundreds of Kashmiri students, enrolled in various universities for professional courses in Iran, are currently stranded due to the escalated tensions with Israel. The students' families have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps for their safe evacuation, similar to the government's efforts during the Russia-Ukraine War. "If Indian students were evacuated from Ukraine within days during the war, why are our children not being rescued from Iran? They are also Indian citizens," a worried parent stated. Iran launched a new wave of missile attacks on Israel early Monday, triggering air raid sirens across the country. Emergency services reported at least five killed and dozens more wounded on the fourth day of open warfare between the regional foes, with no sign of de-escalation. This latest salvo follows a weekend of escalating tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Iran, which has heightened fears of a wider, more dangerous regional conflict. 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 June,2025 09:15 PM IST | Srinagar | PTITransactions through the popular UPI are set to become faster from Monday, with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) mandating a reduction in response time to as swift as 10 seconds for payments. UPI, or Unified Payments Interface, is a real-time payment system developed by NPCI to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. According to a recent NPCI circular, transactions including money transfers, status checks, and reversals will now be completed in 10 to 15 seconds, as against 30 seconds previously. Effective 16th June, the time taken in a UPI payment to validate an address will now take only 10 seconds compared to 15 seconds earlier. The revisions in response time are aimed at improving customer experience, NPCI said. As per another NPCI circular, customers will soon be able to check their account balance 50 times a day through their UPI apps. As of now, there is no limit to check account balance in a day, and the threshold of 50 has been introduced keeping in mind system efficiency and to ease load, according to an expert. The number of transactions through UPI increased by 33 per cent in May to 1,868 crore, while the amount involved rose by 23 per cent to Rs 25.14 lakh crore. To instil confidence in customers that they are sending money to the correct beneficiary and to avoid potential risk, NPCI has mandated that UPI apps display only the ultimate beneficiary's name for transactions. Moreover, it has also been mandated that UPI apps should disable any feature allowing users to modify their 'beneficiary name' for transaction purposes in the app interface. All stakeholders in the UPI ecosystem should follow these norms by 30th June. 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 June,2025 09:14 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIJammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said complete eradication of terrorism from the Union Territory is the top priority of his administration and asserted that he has given a free hand to the security forces to deal with terrorists and the terror ecosystem. The Lt Governor attended the passing-out parade of the deputy superintendents of police (DySPs) probationers 17th batch and probationer sub-inspectors (PSIs) 26th batch at the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy, Udhampur. He extended his felicitations to all the trainers and officials of the Police Academy and the family members of the passing-out DySPs and PSIs. He called for intelligence-driven anti-terror operations and intensified targeted strikes on the network of the over-ground workers (OGWs), saying the elements providing logistical and financial support to the terrorists should be brought to justice. Reviewing the passing-out parade of the 49 DySPs and 1,112 PSIs, he said police personnel must protect society in every possible way to ensure peace, development and stability. "Complete eradication of terrorism from the soil of Jammu Kashmir is our top priority. Our mighty warriors of J-K Police must adopt a multi-pronged approach and harness the power of intelligence, community engagement, technology and inter-agency collaboration," he said, addressing the function.Sinha said he is proud of the valiant personnel and officers of the J-K Police and paid tributes to the bravehearts who have laid down their lives for the nation. "The entire nation looks at our police force with admiration and respect for professional competence, for successful handling of security challenges on multiple fronts and ruthlessly combating terrorism," he said. Congratulating all the passing-out police officials, he called upon them to uphold the values, traditions and ethos of J-K Police. "Our ancient values focus on truth, justice, morality, law and good governance, and these values need to be protected and nurtured in the society by the J&K Police," he said. The Lt Governor called upon the J-K Police to utilise modern technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance its capability of data collection and analysis to counter security threats, prevent radicalisation and triumph over adverse situations. "Despite remarkable changes in technology, there is no alternative to beat policing and area policing. Therefore, we have to bring beat policing to the centre of the security apparatus. We must strike a fine balance between technological intelligence and human intelligence to strengthen overall counter-terrorism efforts," he said. Sinha asked the police personnel to focus on fostering collective vigilance in the communities. "This collective vigilance will not only enable the police force to ensure a coordinated response against terrorists but will also strengthen the trust with all sections of society," he said, emphasising intelligence-driven anti-terror operations. "I have given a free hand to the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces to deal with the terrorists and terror eco-system within J&K. I want the mighty police force, the most powerful Indian Army and the valiant CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) to work together to wipe out the terrorists and their support system. "We must intensify targeted strikes on the OGWs network and the elements providing logistical and financial support to the terrorists should be brought to justice," he said. Udhampur Police Academy Director Garib Dass said the rigorous training programme of the pass-outs equipped them with high proficiency in new criminal laws, artificial intelligence (AI), cybercrime, narco-terrorism, general warfare, field craft and tactics, counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, human rights, and law and order. The Lt Governor took the ceremonial salute and inspected the parade. He felicitated the recruits who excelled during their training. An oath was administered to the passing-out DySPs and PSIs for performing their duties with dedication and honesty. 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 June,2025 09:12 PM IST | Jammu | PTIBJP legislators on Monday staged a walkout from the West Bengal Assembly after Speaker Biman Banerjee refused to admit an adjournment motion brought by the party over the school education system in the state following the cancellation of nearly 26,000 school jobs by the Supreme Court because of irregularities, citing that the matter is sub judice. Deputy Speaker Ashish Bandopadhyay told PTI that BJP MLA Manoj Oraon was suspended for the day for improper conduct during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's address. Trouble began during Question Hour when CM Banerjee claimed that under her government, employment opportunities had significantly increased compared to the previous regime. Banerjee alleged that the BJP was targeting Bengali-speaking Indian labourers in states like Gujarat and cities such as Delhi by labelling them as Bangladeshis."This party is anti-Bengal. They are victimising our people," Banerjee said, prompting an immediate and loud protest from the opposition benches.The entire opposition stood up in protest, shouting slogans, forcing the Chief Minister to momentarily pause before continuing. Banerjee remarked, "The 'godi media' is now being used on social media platforms by the ruling BJP to spread their agenda of falsehood." While the CM was speaking, BJP Falakata MLA Dipak Barman, backed by his party colleagues, sought to move an adjournment motion on the "present state of the education sector in the state, ranging from the SSC recruitment row, protests by jobless teachers, and the indefinite hunger strike by terminated candidates." Infuriated by the decision, BJP MLAs shouted slogans like "We don’t want this anti-people government" and "Corrupt Mamata Banerjee and her cronies, go!" before storming out of the Assembly and assembling within the compound near the main hall. "All we wanted was a threadbare discussion on the unprecedented crisis in the education sector. So many eligible teachers have been rendered unemployed. They are sitting on the streets because of the corruption and irregularities committed by the ruling party leaders and ministers, some of whom are already in jail," Barman told reporters after the walkout. "The partisan Speaker does not want any discussion that highlights the plight faced by the architects of the nation. What can be more unfortunate?" he added.Some BJP MLAs also carried potted Tulsi plants, alleging that a sacred Tulsi Manch had been vandalised during a recent group clash in Maheshtala. They claimed that a mob damaged the religious spot before the police could intervene. However, local TMC leaders and a section of residents countered the allegation, claiming that the Tulsi Manch was planted overnight by a group at a site usually occupied by a fruit vendor, who had gone to his hometown for Eid, leaving the spot vacant. 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 June,2025 09:12 PM IST | Kolkata | PTIFormer Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, has saddened the entire state. The state government accorded him a solemn and dignified farewell, honouring his legacy and distinguished service to public life with utmost respect. A Guard of Honour was also presented to the former Chief Minister as a mark of state respect during his last rites. The Gujarat Government on Sunday announced one day of state mourning on Monday, June 16, 2025, to honour late former CM Vijay Rupani. Ex-CM Vijay Rupani tragically lost his life in the Ahmedabad plane crash on 12 June 2025. The London-bound flight crashed just seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. Following the Ahmedabad plane crash, under the directives of the state government, the administration and the health department accelerated the process of identifying the deceased and handing over the mortal remains to their families. The highly sensitive process of DNA sampling for Mr Vijay Rupani was also completed on Monday morning with utmost seriousness and swiftness before the remains were handed over to his family. Today, in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the mortal remains of the late leader were accorded a Guard of Honour as per official government guidelines. Following the tribute, the mortal remains were respectfully handed over to his family members, including his wife and son, with state honours. The entire process was conducted solemnly and in strict adherence to government protocol. The State Government paid tribute to former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, by remembering his visionary leadership, integrity, and compassion in public life, and his contributions to public welfare. At Civil Hospital, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was joined by Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, Cooperation Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma, and Rajya Sabha MP Mayank Nayak, along with several political leaders, senior officials, and representatives from various institutions and communities who gathered to pay their respects. On 12 June, the state was engulfed in grief following the passing of former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the tragic plane crash. His final rites were conducted in Gujarat's Rajkot.
16 June,2025 08:23 PM IST | Gandhinagar | Madhulika Ram KavatturPrime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III of Cyprus, the country's highest civilian honour. "Humbled to receive the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III' of Cyprus. I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations," Modi said after receiving the award.Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides conferred the award on the Prime Minister. The Order of Makarios III is the senior order of knighthood awarded by the country, named after the first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III.Dedicating the award to the 1.4 billion people of India, Modi said it was an award to the trusted India-Cyprus friendship. "I am confident that in the time to come, our active partnership will touch new heights. Together, we will not only strengthen the progress of our two nations but also contribute towards building a peaceful and secure world," the Prime Minister said. "President @Christodulides conferred PM @narendramodi with the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III' of Cyprus. The honour reflects the enduring India-Cyprus bilateral partnership and shared commitment to work together for the common vision for peace, progress and prosperity," the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X. Cyprus' award brings the total tally of international honours conferred upon the Prime Minister to 23.Modi noted the award was a recognition of India’s age-old philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or "The World is one Family” that guides its vision for global peace and progress, an MEA statement said. The Prime Minister embraced the honour as a renewed commitment to strengthening and diversifying the partnership between India and Cyprus and emphasised the award was a symbol of the unwavering commitment of the two countries to peace, security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity, the statement added. Modi is in Cyprus on the first leg of his three-nation tour. From Cyprus, he will travel to Canada to attend the G7 Summit and then to Croatia for a bilateral visit. 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 June,2025 08:20 PM IST | Nicosia | PTIADVERTISEMENT
-1750076210921_d.png "India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) shakes the hand of Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides after their meeting at the Presidential palace in Nicosia. Pic/AFP")