The police on Monday launched a probe after former Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant's son went missing from the Pune airport, a senior official said, reported the PTI. Tanaji Sawant's son Rishiraj Sawant reportedly went missing on Monday evening, the official said. The Pune police control room received an anonymous call at around 4 pm claiming Rishiraj Sawant, the 32-year-old son of the Shiv Sena politician, was kidnapped by unidentified people, he said, according to the PTI. Ranjan Kumar Sharma, joint commissioner of police, said they received information that Rishiraj Sawant had boarded a flight from the airport in the Lohegaon area. "We have registered a case of kidnapping with the Sinhgad Road police station and the investigation has been handed over to the crime branch," he said, as per the PTI. Asked where the politician's son was headed, the senior police officer maintained that efforts were on find out his destination. Former minister Tanaji Sawant, who reached the Pune commissioner's office on Monday, however, discounted the possibility of kidnapping and asserted his son was with his friends. "We are just worried because he left for the airport without informing me or my elder son," Tanaji Sawant said, the news agency reported on Monday. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader said that he made a call to the police after coming to know his son had left for the airport in someone else's car. Asked if his son, Rishiraj Sawant had boarded a chartered or a regular commercial flight, Tanaji Sawant said that they were gathering details. Tanaji Sawant hails from Madha taluka in Solapur district of Maharashtra. He previously worked as a civil engineering professor at a university in Pune. Sawant entered politics in November 2016 when he was elected as an MLC from the undivided Shiv Sena. He was appointed as the Water and Soil Conservation Minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. In the 2019 Assembly elections, Sawant won from the Paranda constituency in Dharashiv district. After Eknath Shinde became Maharashtra Chief Minister in 2022, Tanaji Sawant was appointed as the Health Minister. (with PTI inputs)
10 February,2025 09:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe BJP has intensified its attack on the AAP in Punjab, with party national general secretary Tarun Chugh claiming on Monday that the "countdown for Bhagwant Mann's government has already started". Chugh's remarks came amid speculation of dissent within the AAP's Punjab unit following the party's defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls, the results of which were declared on Saturday. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is set to meet Punjab Chief Minister Mann, state ministers and MLAs in Delhi on Tuesday, a move that has triggered political chatter. Chugh claimed that the people of Punjab are disillusioned with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. "Delhi got rid of the 'AAP-da' (disaster) and now, the people of Punjab also want to get rid of the 'AAP-da'. The Bhagwant Mann government has failed to tackle the liquor, sand and mining mafia," he said, adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would act as a strong opposition in Punjab. Newly-elected BJP MLA from West Delhi's Rajouri Garden Manjinder Singh Sirsa echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that Kejriwal might sideline Mann. "It is being said that Kejriwal will declare Bhagwant Mann inefficient by highlighting that he has not fulfilled promises like Rs 1,000 each for women and controlling drug abuse. Then he will take charge himself," Sirsa claimed. He also cautioned Mann, saying, "Kejriwal is not loyal to anybody. He has betrayed everyone." Meanwhile, Congress leaders also weighed in on the situation, with former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa claiming that AAP MLAs are in touch with other parties. "Several of their MLAs are in contact with different parties. They will fall in such a manner that many will leave," Randhawa said. Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa went further, claiming, "More than 30 AAP MLAs in Punjab are in touch with us." However, AAP leaders dismissed these claims. Party MP Malvinder Singh Kang responded sharply to Bajwa's remarks, saying, "Bajwa sahib is dreaming impossible dreams -- just like 'Mungerilal ke sapne' that will never come true. Even his own brother has joined the BJP." Kang also downplayed the speculation on dissent within the AAP, calling Kejriwal's meeting with Punjab MLAs a "routine strategy session". "A party is a continuous process. Bhagwant Mann, along with our leadership, will meet our national convenor. This is part of regular discussions to shape future strategies," he said. The growing political chatter has drawn comparisons with the 2022 scenario in Maharashtra, where Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, ultimately toppling the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav hinted at a similar scenario in Punjab, saying, "Punjab does not like interference by outsiders. Surely, we could see an Eknath Shinde model playing out there." The AAP secured a landslide victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls, winning 92 of the 117 seats. However, with Punjab being the only state where the party is in power following its poll defeat Delhi and a poor show in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the AAP faces increasing scrutiny over its internal cohesion and governance. The outcome of Tuesday's meeting could be significant in determining the AAP's strategy and stability in Punjab. 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
10 February,2025 07:06 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe body of a woman, partially charred, was found on a farm in a village in Maharashtra's Gondia district on Monday, the police said, reported the PTI. The body of a woman in her mid to late 20s was found in Babai village in Goregaon tehsil in the morning, an official said. He said the body had been set ablaze and was still burning when the police team reached the spot. The official said the team doused the flames and carried out the panchnama. Superintendent of Police Gorakh Bhamre said a probe has been initiated to identify the woman and apprehend the person involved in the crime, according to the PTI. 35-year-old woman allegedly murdered by boyfriend, accused arrested Meanwhile, in an another incident, last week, a 35-year-old woman, identified as Seema Kamble, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Rahul Bhingarkar, 29, in Ambernath east. The incident was discovered when Kamble's body was found in a pool of blood near the stairs of a Sai Baba Temple, located nearby the east-west connecting flyover in Ambernath. According to police, Bhingarkar confessed to killing Kamble after she reportedly lent him money and later demanded either repayment or marriage. The eyewitnesses told the police that the couple had been arguing near the flyover before the altercation turned violent. Bhingarkar allegedly stabbed Kamble multiple times, causing her to collapse. While he fled the scene, bystanders rushed Kamble to a nearby hospital, alerting the police. She was declared dead before arriving at the hospital. Shivaji Nagar police have registered a murder case against Bhingarkar, who was arrested later that evening. According to his statement, Kamble had been separated from her husband and was in a relationship with Bhingarkar. Struggling financially, Bhingarkar had asked Kamble for a loan, which he was unable to repay. Kamble reportedly insisted that he marry her if he couldn’t repay the money, a police official said. Shailesh Kale, Assistant Police Commissioner, Ambernath Division, said, "The accused has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the murder occurred due to a financial dispute.” (with PTI inputs)
10 February,2025 06:22 PM IST | Gondia (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentA sea of vehicles stretching up to 300 kilometres turned the roads leading to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj into a massive parking lot, leaving lakhs of devotees stranded for hours, unable to reach the world's largest religious gathering. The unprecedented congestion forced many to remain stuck in their vehicles, some even hundreds of kilometres away from the fair site on Sunday and Monday. A day earlier, heavy traffic heading toward Prayagraj had already led to police stopping hundreds of vehicles in different areas of Madhya Pradesh to prevent overcrowding. The extreme bottleneck, which social media users dubbed the "world's biggest traffic jam," reportedly extended across 200 to 300 kilometres, affecting pilgrims travelling through Madhya Pradesh. The situation prompted the state police to halt traffic across multiple districts, leaving travellers stuck for long hours on highways. Taking a swipe at the Uttar Pradesh government, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav blasted the administration's handling of the event, urging authorities to address the plight of stranded devotees. "The hungry, thirsty, distressed, and exhausted pilgrims stuck in traffic jams should be looked at with a humane perspective. Are common devotees, not human beings?" Yadav asked in a post on X. The former Chief Minister also demanded that vehicles be made toll-free across Uttar Pradesh during the Maha Kumbh to ease congestion and ensure a smoother journey for devotees. "On the occasion of Maha Kumbh, vehicles should be made toll-free in UP. This will reduce travel problems and also the issue of traffic jams. When films can be made entertainment tax-free, then why not exempt vehicles from tolls for this religious event?" he wrote. He further highlighted specific trouble spots, mentioning major jams at Nawabganj, 30 km before entering Prayagraj from the Lucknow side, a bottleneck at Gauhania, 16 km before Rewa Road, and a traffic snarl extending 12-15 km towards Varanasi. He also cited reports of overcrowding in trains, with passengers even squeezing into engines to reach their destination. "Normal life has become difficult," he added. Meanwhile, authorities in Madhya Pradesh responded by halting vehicular movement in multiple districts. In Katni, police announced through loudspeakers that traffic had been stopped until Monday. In Maihar, officers advised vehicles to turn back toward Katni and Jabalpur to find temporary shelter. Several videos circulating on social media captured the extent of the congestion, with endless lines of cars and trucks clogging roads across the Katni, Jabalpur, Maihar, and Rewa districts. Eyewitnesses reported that the traffic jam spanned nearly 250 kilometres from Katni to the MP-UP border at Chakghat in Rewa district. As the crisis unfolded, Madhya Pradesh BJP president V.D. Sharma urged party workers to assist stranded pilgrims in their respective regions. "All workers are requested to help the devotees heading to Maha Kumbh in every possible way. Arrange food and shelter if needed. Ensure that no devotee faces inconvenience. Let us play our role in this Maha Yagya," he posted on X. Frustrated devotees have also voiced their grievances over the mismanagement of the traffic situation. Pilgrims from Faridabad reported that what should have been a routine journey took them over 24 hours to reach Prayagraj. A family from Jaipur shared their frustration, saying they were stuck for hours just to cover a mere four-kilometre stretch. With the Maha Kumbh continuing until February 26, authorities face mounting pressure to resolve the traffic chaos and ensure smoother movement for the remaining weeks of the grand religious gathering. 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
10 February,2025 05:11 PM IST | Prayagraj | IANSIndia's logistics sector is advancing rapidly, propelled by increasing investments, digital transformation, and robust policy initiatives. As one of primary the cornerstones of India’s economic development, this sector’s unparalleled growth potential is reflected in a surge in private equity investments, and a significant increase in warehouse absorption rates. There is a significant push from the government for this sector's growth, which is evidenced by various policies and initiatives announced in the last couple of years. “The warehousing & logistics sector contributes ~13-14% to India’s GDP and is expanding to keep pace with the country's rapid economic growth, says Ankita Sahu, Sr. Manager - Industrial & Logistics I Data Centres, ANAROCK Capital. “In H1 2024, the sector captured 66% of the private equity investments across all asset classes, led by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) & KKR for Reliance Logistics & Warehouse Holdings’ warehousing portfolio across multiple locations for USD 1.54 Bn.” The demand from third-party logistics (3P) players, e-commerce, retail businesses, and manufacturing companies continues to drive logistics space demand. Absorption in the Industrial & logistics space witnessed an almost 25% year-on-year growth in 2024. “Challenges like an unfavourable intermodal mix, supply chain inefficiencies, and rising costs, continue to hinder faster progress,” says Ankita Sahu. “Government initiatives like PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy will help significantly in overcoming these challenges. In the recent Union Budget 2025, the infrastructure sector remained a top priority, with further support to public-private partnerships and the private sector in project planning, by making data and maps from the PM Gati Shakti portal accessible to them. The Budget also outlined the upgradation of infrastructure and warehousing for air cargo handling.” Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, and NCR will continue to be the key logistics hubs in 2025, with logistics park developers actively exploring opportunities for land acquisition to develop warehouses and fulfilment centres in these key markets. Many multi-modal logistics park projects are currently being planned and developed under public-private partnerships. This will eventually help reduce transportation costs. Five key trends in this sector to watch out for in 2025: 1. Adoption of Digital Simulation / Digital Twins With the industry's focus on technological advancements, 2025 will see the beginning of the adoption of 'digital twins' - a warehouse's virtual model that simulates, in real-time, its physical processes and systems. This will help the logistics industry optimise warehouse operations and inventory and supply chain management, to potentially pre-empt inefficiencies and improve operations. 2. Last Mile & Quick Commerce Growth Quick commerce (or Q-commerce) platforms are revolutionising the urban logistics ecosystem and are projected to grow exponentially in the next 2-3 years. This has significantly boosted demand for in-city distribution centres to aid faster deliveries and improve inventory management, and to save transportation costs. Highly competition-driven, Q-commerce will see rapid forward strides in automated warehousing in 2025, as well as AI-driven personalization, and expansion into non-grocery categories. The focus will be ever-faster delivery innovations as firms look for increasingly efficient services to meet evolving consumer demands. This will exert considerable pressure to evolve in the Indian warehousing & logistics sector. 3. Rapid Cold Chain Infrastructure Deployment With growing organised retail chains, the rapid rise of quick service restaurants (QSRs), overall increased food consumption, last-mile deliveries, the farm-to-fork supply chain concept, and pharmaceutical advancements, India's need for cold storage logistics will see rapid growth in 2025. There is now considerable focus on developing cold storage facilities to match international standards and 2025 will see many such facilities being deployed across tier 1, 2 and 3 cities. “Cold chain players such as Snowman, ColdStar, Coldman, ColdRush, and Gubba Cold Storage, to name a few, have been working on developing Grade A cold storage infrastructure across NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and also covering tier 2 cities like Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Coimbatore, Patna, among others,” says Sahu. “In the future, technology integration with existing infrastructure will play a significant role in cold chain logistics.” 4. Technology (IoT, Robotics & Blockchain) to Improve Logistics Operations The logistics sector is integrating technology at an unprecedented pace. In 2025, the increasing use of the Internet of Things (IoT) will hugely enhance logistics efficiency by enabling real-time tracking of shipments, and monitoring and controlling perishable shipments. The adoption of robotics in inventory management and the intense use of blockchain in warehouse management will add new layers of security, efficiency, and accuracy in the current year and beyond. 5. Focused Sustainability Initiatives The Indian logistics industry is traditionally conservative but is now embracing changes on all fronts. Notably, it is beginning to adopt sustainability practices to reduce carbon emissions, optimise packaging solutions, and reduce wastage. The use of renewable energy to power fulfilment centres and warehouses, electric vehicle fleets for last-mile deliveries, the establishment of a circular economy in logistics operations, and large warehousing facilities are some of the significant sustainability initiatives to be watched in 2025. The last 2-3 years have seen a sharper focus on training relevant workforces on supply chain & inventory management and adaptability towards technology use. We can expect public-private partnerships towards this end of skill development across various towns and cities in 2025 and beyond. Skilling continues to be a key focus area for the government, as reflected in the recent Union Budget with announcements of establishing five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling, which will impart specialised industry-ready skills instead of generic theory. Also, while the warehousing & logistics industry has historically been a male-dominated industry, we are now seeing concerted efforts to make the industry workforce more diverse and inclusive. This is already evidenced by a healthier diversity ratio across various roles in the entire supply chain - a trend that will gain more ground in 2025. With strong policy support, rising investments, and technological advancements, India’s logistics industry will experience a major transformative shift in 2025. Companies investing in tech-enabled solutions, sustainability, and workforce development will gain a competitive edge in this rapidly evolving sector.
10 February,2025 02:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSenior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Monday asked the government to complete a population census at the earliest, claiming that around 14 crore people in the country are being deprived of the benefits under the food security law, reported news agency PTI. In her maiden Zero Hour intervention in the Rajya Sabha, Sonia Gandhi said beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are being identified as per the 2011 Census, and not the latest population numbers. The senior Congress leader called the NFSA introduced by the UPA government in September 2013 a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring food and nutritional security for the country's 140 crore population, reported PTI. "The National Food Security Act (NFSA) introduced by the UPA government in September 2013 was a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring food and nutritional security to the country's 140 crore population. This legislation plays a crucial role in protecting millions of vulnerable households, particularly during the Covid 19 crisis. It is this act that provides the basis for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana," Sonia Gandhi said. The legislation, Gandhi said, played a crucial role in protecting millions of vulnerable households from starvation, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis. She also said that the quota for the beneficiaries is still determined based on the 2011 Census, which is now well over a decade old. The National Food Security Act, 2013, provides for coverage of up to 75 per cent of the rural and up to 50 per cent of the urban population for receiving highly-subsidised foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), which according to the 2011 Census comes to about 81.35 crore. At present, the government provides 5 kg of free foodgrains per person per month under the food security law. "For the first time in the history of independent India, the decennial census has been delayed by more than four years. It was originally scheduled for 2021, but there is still no clarity as to when the census will be conducted," she said, reported PTI. Gandhi also claimed that the Budget allocations show that the updated census is unlikely to be conducted this year. Around 14 crore eligible Indians are thus being deprived of their rightful benefits under the NFSA, she said. "It is imperative that the government prioritises completion of the census as soon as possible and ensures that all deserving individuals receive the benefits guaranteed to them under the NFSA. Food security is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right," the former Congress chief said, reported PTI. The period for distribution of free foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has been extended for five years from January 1, 2024. (With inputs from PTI)
10 February,2025 02:10 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA bomb threat letter was discovered onboard an international flight that landed at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Monday morning, prompting a thorough investigation by security agencies. The authorities immediately launched a full-scale search of the aircraft, but no suspicious items have been found so far. As per PTI reports, the letter was located under a seat on a flight arriving from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The discovery of the letter triggered swift action from local police, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and other relevant security agencies, all of whom began to inspect the aircraft and its surroundings. Sharad Singhal, the joint commissioner of police for the crime branch, confirmed that the letter, which threatened to blow up the aircraft, was found by cleaning staff after all passengers had disembarked. Singhal stated, "A flight carrying passengers from Jeddah landed at Ahmedabad airport in the morning. After the passengers had disembarked, the cleaning staff discovered a note containing a threat to blow up the flight. Local police, alongside security agencies, have initiated an investigation." Airlines on high alert as bomb threats to Indian flights surge Over 45 aircraft received bomb threats today, pushing the total number of such incidents to more than 70 in the past six days. All threats were communicated via social media, either through direct messages sent to airlines or by tagging them in posts, creating a wave of anxiety across the aviation sector. While it was solely Indian airlines that were targeted in the past five days, on Saturday, Delta Airlines became the first foreign airline to receive such threats. The airlines targeted yesterday were Indigo, Air India, Spicejet, Akasa Air, Alliance Air, Vistara and Delta. Highly placed sources in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) told mid-day, “Today [Saturday], 35 threats were received via the same social media handle, all within a span of 30 minutes.” Sources said this does not seem to be a case of someone trying to play a prank. “Though we can only confirm this once the culprits are caught, this looks like an attempt to overwhelm and wear out security agencies,” they added. A senior BCAS official confirmed: “Airline officials and authorities are on high alert at the moment.” BCAS officials met CEOs of the airlines in New Delhi on Saturday, to emphasise on the importance of following the Standard Operating Protocol upon receiving a threat and stressing on the need to keep all stakeholders informed about the threats and the action taken. Several flights have been delayed or cancelled for extensive security checks following these threats, resulting in considerable inconvenience to passengers. Many flights were also delayed as the airborne aircraft needed to be grounded first. This led to multiple departing aircraft to be kept on hold till flights with bomb threats were brought on the ground. The situation created a scare at multiple airports, including the Mumbai and Delhi international airports. FIRs in multiple cases have been lodged across several police stations. (With inputs from PTI)
10 February,2025 02:07 PM IST | Ahmedabad | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday departed from the national capital for a four-day trip to France and the United States, where he will engage in talks with President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump, reported news agency ANI. At the invitation of President Macron, PM Narendra Modi will be in France from February 10-12, where he will be co-chairing the AI Action Summit. President Macron and PM Narendra Modi will also travel to the historic French city of Marseille to inaugurate the first Indian Consulate in France and also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project, in which India is a member of the consortium of partner countries including France, to harness energy for the global good, reported ANI. From France, he will proceed on a two-day visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. After his arrival in Paris on Monday evening, he will attend a dinner that is being hosted by President Macron at the Elysee Palace in honour of visiting heads of government and heads of State, reported ANI. The dinner is also likely to be attended by a large number of CEOs from the tech domain and a number of other distinguished invitees to the summit. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said recently at a special media briefing that PM Modi will co-chair the AI Action Summit along with President Macron on February 11. After the AI summit, there will be a bilateral component to the visit and PM Modi and President Macron will address the India-France CEOs forum, reported ANI. PM Modi will travel to Marseille on the evening of February 11. The French president will also host a dinner in honour of PM Modi. On February 12, the two leaders will visit the war cemetery and there they will pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Indian Soldiers in World War 1, reported ANI. The two leaders will jointly inaugurate the newest Consulate General of India in Marseille and will pay a visit to Kadash which is the site of the international thermal nuclear experimental reactor, reported ANI. After concluding the France visit he will depart for the US to meet with President Donald Trump and interact with senior leaders of the US administration. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders after President Trump assumed office for his second term. Previously, PM Modi visited the USA in June 2017 and hosted President Trump for a state visit to India in February 2020. The two leaders have also spoken on the phone twice since November 2024 (on November 6, 2024 and January 27, 2025). (With inputs from ANI)
10 February,2025 02:00 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe police on Monday said that three persons have died after consuming an intoxicating drink, which is suspected to be poisonous, in Nadiad city of Gujarat's Kheda district, reported news agency PTI. The three persons consumed a drink called 'jeera' from a bottle in the Jawahar Nagar locality of Nadiad on Sunday evening and fell ill. They were rushed to a government hospital where they were declared dead, Deputy Superintendent of Police VR Bajpai told PTI. "Between 6.30 and 7 pm, the three persons started feeling giddy and were rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead at around 8 pm. Prima facie, it was learnt that their health deteriorated after they consumed some intoxicating liquid from a bottle," he told PTI. The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem and the blood samples sent for a forensic analysis, the official added. The police have as of now registered a case of accidental death and further investigation is underway. In November 2023, several persons died after consuming an ayurvedic syrup containing methyl alcohol, sold over the counter at a grocery shop, near Nadiad in Kheda district. People consume such drinks for intoxication in Gujarat, where liquor is banned. 150 students of residential schools suffer from cough, fever; 18 girls hospitalised As many as 150 students of three government residential schools located within one campus in Gujarat's Surat district suffered from a viral infection and 18 of them, all girls, were hospitalised with fever, officials said Sunday, reported PTI. Wadi village in Umarpada taluka has a cluster of three residential schools with over 650 male and female students. Chief District Health Officer Dr Anil Patel said 150 of these students contracted upper respiratory tract infections with symptoms of cough and fever over the past three to four days, reported PTI. As many as 18 female students suffering from fever were admitted to a community health centre on Saturday, he said. The district administration deployed a team of more than two dozen health personnel to screen the students at the school campus and take care of their health, he said. "We have directed the principal to ensure that the airborne infection does not spread, and keep students with fever and cough in isolation with face masks. A medical team of 30 personnel is on the school campus," he said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
10 February,2025 11:42 AM IST | Nadiad | mid-day online correspondentDelhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.7 degrees Celsius on Monday, 0.5 degree below the season's average, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The humidity level in the capital was 97 per cent at 8:30 am. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 27 degrees Celsius during the day, the IMD said. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'poor' category at 263, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The weather department has forecast partly cloudy skies during the day, with no significant change expected in air quality levels. An AQI between 201 and 300 is classified as 'poor', which can cause breathing discomfort for sensitive groups. Meanwhile, it was a warm and sunny day in the national capital on Sunday with a decrease in wind speed pushing Delhi's air quality back into the 'poor' category. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 27.4 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal and the highest so far this year, surpassing the 27 degree Celsius recorded on January 31. Despite the rise in daytime temperatures, the minimum temperature dipped to 7.8 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal for this time of the year. It was 9 degrees Celsius a day earlier. Forecasts by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) suggest that warm conditions will persist until Tuesday, with the maximum temperature likely to reach 28 degrees Celsius, as wind speeds remain low. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality, which had remained in the 'moderate' category for the past two days, slipped back into the 'poor' category on Sunday as pollutants lingered in the stagnant air. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 227 ('poor') at 4 pm, a significant jump from 152 ('moderate') recorded at the same time on Saturday. Data from 38 out of 39 air quality monitoring stations showed that PM2.5 was the dominant pollutant across the city. With winter gradually transitioning into spring, temperatures in Delhi could approach 30 degrees Celsius by the end of February, according to meteorologists. Last year, the highest temperature recorded in February was 29.7 degrees Celsius on February 19. Previous years saw February highs of 33.6 degrees Celsius in 2023 (February 21), 28.4 °C in 2022 (February 19), and 33.2 degrees Celsius in 2021 (February 26). The all-time highest February temperature in Delhi was 34.1 degrees Celsius, recorded on February 26, 2006, according to IMD records. (With inputs from Agencies)
10 February,2025 11:23 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentWelcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Markets slump in early trade amid fresh tariffs concerns, foreign fund outflows Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Monday amid fresh tariffs concerns and unabated foreign fund outflows. Declining for the fourth day running, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex dropped 343.83 points to 77,516.36 in early trade. The NSE Nifty declined 105.55 points to 23,454.40. Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project: ‘Local contractors break Dahanu farm fences, causing crop loss’ In January 2025, when there was cheer amid news reports that India and Japan were working on introducing the most advanced class of E-10 Shinkansen trains capable of reaching speeds up to 400 kmph on the upcoming bullet train project in India, 59-year-old photojournalist-turned-farmer for 16 years Fawzan Husain Ahmed from Chari village, Chari Kotbi, near Dahanu was making rounds of the local National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) office in Dahanu with a reminder letter of his complaints. Read more. The Dubai cyber fraud hotspots that target Indians The Cyber Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch, investigating cyber fraud cases, has discovered that most scams—including investment fraud, part-time job scams (like-and-earn scams), and other digital frauds—are being run by Chinese entities from abroad. Officials have identified key locations, mainly in Dubai, where these scams are being operated. Read more. Ranji Trophy: Ankit Kumar smashes ton, Kotian, Mulani misses out on century completion Haryana crept closer to a crucial first-innings lead, with defending champions Mumbai fighting a tenacious battle to stay relevant as their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the Eden Gardens reached an intriguing stage on Sunday. Having dismissed Mumbai for 315 some 40 minutes into the morning session, Haryana were 263-5 at stumps on Day Two. Read more. Nitesh Tiwari shoots for Ramayan with Ranbir Kapoor's body double as the actor is busy working on Love & War Two of Ranbir Kapoor’s ambitious projects, Ramayana, and Love & War, are in production simultaneously. While the superstar is busy filming Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic drama, his absence hasn’t impacted Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological drama. With the actor having completed most of his portions late last year, we’ve heard that Tiwari is now shooting certain sequences with Kapoor’s body double. Read more.
10 February,2025 10:23 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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