The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has apprehended two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers along with 78 fishermen, an official statement said on Tuesday. An official statement said that the Indian Coast Guard successfully intercepted two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers and 78 fishermen engaged in unauthorised fishing within Indian waters on December 9, 2024. It said, the Indian Coast Guard Ship, while patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), identified suspicious activity within Indian maritime territory. Acting swiftly, the ICG intercepted two vessels—"FV Laila-2" and "FV Meghna-5"—both registered in Bangladesh, with 41 and 37 crew members, respectively. Upon inspection at sea, the trawlers were confirmed to be engaged in unauthorised fishing activities and were booked under the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981. The vessels and crew were then escorted to Paradip for further investigation. The operation reaffirms the Indian Coast Guard's vigilance and its role in maintaining maritime safety and safeguarding the nation’s waters, the statement said. The ICG's efforts continue to strengthen India's maritime security and uphold national interests in the dynamic maritime domain and the operation highlights the ICG's commitment to protecting India's maritime boundaries and preventing illegal activities at sea, the statement said. Indian Coast Guard seizes 5,500 kg drugs in Andaman waters Meanwhile, in an another operation, last month, the 5,500 kg of banned Methamphetamine drug seized from a fishing trawler with six Myanmarese crew near Barren island is the biggest-ever seizure made by the ICG, an official of the Andaman and Nicobar tri-services command had last month said. A senior ICG defence official had earlier said, "This is the biggest ever seizure which we suspect is linked to big international drug cartels. The total consignment is approximately around 5,500 kg. A total of six Myanmarese crew were arrested with banned crystalline Methamphetamine. They were handed over to the local police for further interrogation." "The Andaman and Nicobar Command remain vigilant and committed to ensuring the safety of Andaman waters. Enhanced patrolling and intelligence continue to play a vital role in combating such crime," he had said. The police suspect that the seized Methamphetamine was supposed to be delivered to Thailand, officials had earlier said.
10 December,2024 07:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentE-commerce giant Amazon is rolling up its sleeves to start, this month, a pilot of quick delivery of daily essentials "in 15 minutes or less", a move that would mark its entry into the booming quick commerce market in India where players like blinkit and Zepto have tasted runaway success. Samir Kumar, Country Manager, Amazon India, told PTI that the company is looking at 'selection with speed' as its edge. "...while we focus on implementing our strategy to offer the largest selection at fastest speeds and greatest value to customers in every single pin-code across the country, we are excited to start a pilot to give our customers a choice to get their everyday essentials in 15 minutes or less," Kumar said. Amazon's strategy has focused on "selection, value and convenience" and the overall vision is to build a large profitable business in India, he asserted. The Amazon veteran who is now leading India operations as country manager, following the resignation of Manish Tiwary, noted that the company has millions of customers across the country who "trust" Amazon and "will look forward to this convenience". According to the company, the pilot will begin in Bengaluru. Amazon's latest move assumes significance as the quick commerce market in India is yielding explosive growth, and driving major shifts in consumer behaviour. According to a recent report by Datum Intelligence, the quick commerce market size is expected to reach USD 40 billion by 2030, a jump from USD 6.1 billion in 2024. "Nearly half (46 per cent) of respondents report reduced spending at Kirana shops, indicating a shift in customer behaviour towards quick commerce platforms," the report had noted. The quick commerce market is projected to capture approximately USD 1.28 billion of Kirana sales by 2024, accounting for 21 per cent of total sales on these platforms, the report had further said. Kumar said e-commerce in India offers "a ton of opportunity" as it is a small segment of the overall market, something also true globally. Factors like growing seller community here, quality manufacturing, enabling policies, and young entrepreneurs combined with the power of technology offer a massive runway for growth, he said. "We get excited about it. We are quadrupling goal because we believe it's achievable in the next five years and I will be surprised if we don't exceed that goal in the next few years," he said, as the company pledged its commitment to enabling USD 80 billion in cumulative exports from India by 2030. The new vision in fact marks an ambitious scale-up -- near quadrupling -- from the target so far of USD 20 billion by 2025. Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies represent the next frontier of growth, he added. On smaller retailers levelling allegations of deep discounts and preferred sellers being given priority on the platform, as well as CCI scrutiny on violation of local competition laws, Kumar emphasised that the company runs "a very compliant business" and has an unwavering focus on customers, which together will serve the company well in the long term. "We obsess over our customers. So for me, protecting customer experience, making sure we do the right things with the customer, in terms of providing them the largest assortment, giving them the best value, and providing them the fastest speed is going to be paramount," he said. Kumar cited Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' mantra that as a large company, it is Amazon's responsibility to make sure that small and medium business are also thriving alongside. "Anywhere we operate our business, we are scrutinised around the world...and as Jeff (Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder) always says as a big company our responsibility is to make sure that small and medium business are also thriving with us," 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
10 December,2024 06:36 PM IST | Bengaluru | PTIIndian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi is at top among universities in India for sustainability, climbing the table by 255 places to reach 171 globally, according to QS Rankings announced on Tuesday. A total of 78 Indian universities have featured in the 2025 QS Sustainability rankings, with nine of the top 10 institutions in the country improving their ranking this year and 21 new institutions making an entry. IIT-Delhi and IIT-Kanpur have been ranked among the world's top 100 for environmental impact. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has been ranked among world's top 50 for environment education. "Of the 78 Indian universities that feature in the 2025 QS Sustainability rankings, 34 have improved on last year's placing and eight have maintained their positions. "This is an excellent achievement for the Indian higher education ecosystem and shows that Indian universities are forging ahead with their sustainability initiatives," said Ben Sowter, Vice President of London-based QS. "Within the Social Impact category, Indian universities can look to improve their indicator scores in the Health and Wellbeing, Impact of Education and Equality lenses, where no institutions from the country feature in the top 350. Universities from India scored better in the Knowledge Exchange and Employability and Outcomes lenses," Sowter added. The 2025 rankings showcase over 1,740 universities from 107 countries and territories, reflecting significant growth from the previous edition, which included 1,397 institutions across 95 locations. The University of Toronto is the top ranked university this year, ahead of ETH Zurich which got second place, and Lund University in Sweden and University of California, Berkeley (UCB) in joint third. 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 December,2024 06:20 PM IST | New Delhi | PTICongress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday, responded to a BJP charge claiming that the Congress party is associated with businessman George Soros, ANI reported. She further claimed that the BJP is rerouting the discourse around George Soros because they do not want to raise the Adani issue in parliament. "It is the most ridiculous thing they could come up with. They are talking about some 1994 thing; no one has any record of it. No one knows what they are talking about. The only reason they are doing this is because they don't want to discuss the Adani issue.," she said. "We try every day to have a discussion, but they don't want to have a discussion...that's why they get the House adjourned through any reason..," she added, ANI cited. Meanwhile, the opposition leaders held a protest in the Parliament complex regarding the Adani indictment issue. On the government's accusation of the Opposition obstructing the House, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, "We have to understand that they attacked the Leader of Opposition and said defamatory words in Parliament. We are saying that the unparliamentary words used be expunged. In today's meeting also, Rahul Gandhi said that we want the Parliament to function." Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that the Opposition was not letting him speak and his voice was being "suppressed," ANI reported. "My voice is being suppressed... Opposition is not letting me speak...They don't dare to have a discussion... They have always tried to break the nation," Dubey said. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon on Tuesday, shortly after they convened for the day at 11 am. The house did not perform much business in the second session, either, and both houses adjourned for the day, ANI reported. Earlier this week on Monday, opposition MPs including Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi held a protest at the premises of the Parliament over the Adani issue. However, Members of Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) and Samajwadi Party did not partake in the protest. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) MP Supriya Sule was also not in attendance at the protest. (With inputs from ANI)
10 December,2024 04:57 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentKolewadi gram sabha in Maharashtra's Satara district has resolved to conduct future elections on ballot papers, becoming the second village in the state to pass a resolution against EVMs. The village comes under the Karad (South) assembly constituency, earlier represented by senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. He lost the electoral contest in November against BJP candidate Atul Bhosale by 39,355 votes. The resolution was passed after residents of Kolewadi expressed doubts over the votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines. This resolution was passed days after a section of villagers from Markadwadi in Solapur's Malshiras constituency tried to conduct mock "re-polling" using ballot papers expressing doubt on the credibility of EVMs. Their bid was thwarted by the administration and police, leading to the registration of cases. "The resolution was passed on December 2 in the gram sabha meeting respecting the sentiments of villagers who demanded that upcoming elections be held on ballot papers and not on EVMs," Shankarrao Patil, husband of the village sarpanch Ratnamala Patil, said on Tuesday. Patil said villagers were surprised as Prithviraj Chavan failed to get a desired lead of votes in Kolewadi during assembly elections. A Gram Sevak also confirmed the passing of the resolution. "The Kolewadi gram sabha passed a resolution stating that future elections should be conducted through ballot papers without EVMs," a villager said. He said the Election Commission should revert to the ballot paper mechanism in view of a "collective demand". "We have resolved that the people of Kolewadi will vote only if the process is conducted using ballot papers. We won't vote if EVMs are used in future elections," he said. If the administration doesn't allow us to vote on ballot papers, we will boycott the polling process, he added. Satara district collector Jitendra Dudi said his office had not received a copy of the purported resolution from the gram panchayat. "Since we have not received the copy, it would not be appropriate for me to comment. Once we receive the copy, we will take the required measures," 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
10 December,2024 04:42 PM IST | Pune | PTIWelcome 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. Restoring inflation-growth balance most important task ahead of RBI: Guv Das Outgoing Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Tuesday that restoring inflation-growth balance is the most important task ahead of the central bank. Mumbai BEST bus crash: Driver arrested, booked for culpable homicide Police have arrested the driver of a BEST bus involved in an accident here, which claimed seven lives and left 42 others injured, and booked him for 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder', officials said on Tuesday. Rajya Sabha adjourns for day amid uproar over Soros, Adani issues Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day Tuesday afternoon amid uproarious scenes as members of treasury and opposition benches traded charges on the Soros and Adani issues. Chiyaan Vikram’s Thangalaan drops silently on THIS streaming platform after multiple delays Chiyaan Vikram's Thangalaan has finally released on an OTT platform. After an exceptional run at the box office, the movie has made its way to Netflix. Following a series of delays and challenges, Thangalaan arrived on the platform without any prior announcement, catching everyone off guard. This news of the Netflix release has sparked excitement among fans, especially those who admire Chiyaan Vikram. Despite critical acclaim, the movie faced multiple delays before its online release. Read More. Day 1 tickets of Boxing Day Test between India and Australia snap up in record time Tickets for the opening day of the fourth Test of the between India and Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground have sold out, highlighting the public's strong interest in the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Read More.
10 December,2024 02:11 PM IST | MumbaiDelhi BJP Chief Virendraa Sachdeva on Tuesday slammed former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by sharing a video of AAP chief house, which it calls 'Sheesh Mahal' and calling it a "museum of corruption", and not a CM residence, reported news agency ANI. BJP’s Virendraa Sachdeva dubbed the Delhi government as the "government of scam." He further challenged the Delhi government to open the residence for the people. "It is the 'sheesh mahal' which he wanted to hide from the people of Delhi. We have shown the first video of it. Look at the bathroom and the gym of that house. There are granites and equipment, look at the sauna and jacuzzi baths, like that of a 7-star resort. This is the reality of the black money hoarded by Arvind Kejriwal who calls himself a common man. He has to answer why he wanted to hide his house and hide the key to the house. It is not a CM residence, it is a museum of corruption. They should open it for the people. I challenge him to open the doors of this palace and tell the people of Delhi how he has fooled them... This is a government of scams. They have shamed Delhi," Sachdeva told ANI. Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi BJP chief Virendraa released a video on X (formerly Twitter) giving a tour of the residence and called it “glass palace of debauchery.” खुद को आम आदमी कहने वाले @ArvindKejriwal की अय्याशी के शीशमहल की सच्चाई हम बताते आए हैं , आज आपको दिखायेंगे भी!जनता के पैसे खाकर अपने लिए 7-Star Resort का निर्माण करवाया है!शानदार Gym-Sauna Room-Jacuzzi की कीमत! • Marble Granite Lighting→ ₹ 1.9 Cr. •Installation-Civil… pic.twitter.com/QReaeNMRQ8 — Virendraa Sachdeva (@Virend_Sachdeva) December 10, 2024 "BJP has been telling the truth about the person who calls himself a common man Arvind Kejriwal who owns 'Sheesh Mahal', today we will show it to you too. He has built a 7-Star Resort for himself by embezzling public money! Amazing Gym-Sauna Room-Jacuzzi Price! * Marble Granite Lighting - Rs 1.9 Cr. *Installation-Civil Work - Rs 1.5 Cr. *Gym/Spa Equipments and Fittings - Rs 35 Lakh. Total = Rs 3.75 Cr. How those who swear on their children and falsely promise not to take government house, car, and security are looting the money of Delhi's taxpayers. Meanwhile, the common man of Delhi, DDA's 34 EWS Flat, or 15 LIG Flat, or, 150 CNG Auto, or 326 E-Rickshaw can buy it! King of corruption, Wow Kejriwal!! Nothing else to say!!" Sachdeva posted on X. Last year, the BJP had protested over the then CM Kejriwal’s ‘sheesh mahal’ claiming that AAP used the money during Covid times. The BJP has alleged that around Rs 45 crore was spent on the "renovation" of Kejriwal's official residence - 6, Flagstaff Road - in the Civil Lines area of the city, stated ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
10 December,2024 01:22 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe air quality in New Delhi continues to remain in the 'poor' category, with a layer of smog enveloping parts of the city and significantly reducing visibility. According to ANI reports, the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 224 at 8 am, indicating that the air quality is detrimental to health, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with respiratory issues. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded AQI levels across various parts of the city. While most areas of the capital fell into the 'poor' category, some areas saw AQI readings in the 'moderate' range. As per ANI, the AQI at ITO was measured at 254, while in Alipur it was 214, in Chandni Chowk at 216, and at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, it was 203. These levels indicate that air quality poses a significant health risk, especially for individuals with pre-existing health conditions. However, some areas fared better with moderate air quality levels. The AQI at DTU was recorded as 169, at Lodhi Road it was 123, and at Najafgarh, it stood at 142, all falling under the 'moderate' category. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered moderate, meaning that although the air quality in these areas is better, there is still some concern for sensitive individuals. The impact of the poor air quality extends beyond Delhi, with neighbouring Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow also recording a hazardous AQI of 256. For context, the AQI scale is as follows: 0-50 is good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 is considered severe. On Monday, Delhi also reported a 'poor' air quality category, with AQI readings reaching 231 at 8 am. Specific locations such as Alipur, Anandpur, Ashok Vihar, and Dwarka recorded alarming AQI levels, surpassing 250, which is indicative of significant air pollution levels in these areas. On the other hand, areas such as CRRI Mathura Road and Lodhi Road had relatively lower AQI readings, but still, they fall within the 'moderate' range, indicating persistent air quality concerns across the city. In light of the deteriorating air quality, the Supreme Court has granted permission to relax the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) stage IV restrictions to stage II for Delhi-NCR. ANI reports that this decision comes as the air quality has shown some improvement, but despite the relaxation, GRAP stages II and I remain in effect for the entire region, with strict measures still in place to combat the pollution levels. As per ANI, the ongoing smog layer and poor air quality in Delhi continue to cause serious concerns for the public health, and authorities are taking measures to tackle the issue. However, experts suggest that the city may need to adopt longer-term solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution, which have become a recurrent problem in recent years. With the festive season approaching and colder temperatures expected, the air quality in Delhi is likely to remain a topic of concern in the coming days. (With inputs from ANI)
10 December,2024 11:36 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentOutgoing Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has expressed his deep gratitude in a heartfelt social media post as he prepares to step down from his position. In his post, shared on Tuesday, Das thanked the government, his colleagues, and various stakeholders for their unwavering support and valuable contributions during his tenure. Das began his message by extending immense gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who appointed him as the RBI Governor. He praised the Prime Minister for his constant guidance and encouragement throughout his term. “Immensely grateful to the Hon'ble PM @narendramodi for giving me this opportunity to serve the country as Governor RBI and for his guidance and encouragement. Benefited a lot from his ideas and thoughts,” Das wrote in the post. Immensely grateful to the Hon’ble PM @narendramodi for giving me this opportunity to serve the country as Governor RBI and for his guidance and encouragement. Benefited a lot from his ideas and thoughts. (2/5) — Shaktikanta Das (@DasShaktikanta) December 10, 2024 He also expressed appreciation for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, acknowledging the effective fiscal-monetary coordination that helped the nation navigate numerous challenges over the past six years. “Heartfelt thanks to Hon'ble FM @nsitharaman for her constant support and backing. The fiscal-monetary coordination was at its best and helped us to deal with the multiple challenges during the last six years,” Das noted. The outgoing governor highlighted the invaluable inputs and suggestions received from a wide range of stakeholders, including those from the financial, agricultural, cooperative, and service sectors. He also thanked economists, experts, and industry bodies for their critical role in shaping policy decisions. In his farewell message, Das gave special recognition to the RBI team for their collective efforts in guiding India’s economy through a turbulent global landscape, characterised by unforeseen shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. “A BIG thank you to the entire Team RBI. Together, we successfully navigated an exceptionally difficult period of unprecedented global shocks. May the RBI grow even taller as an institution of trust and credibility,” he said. Shaktikanta Das’s leadership is particularly remembered for his role in steering India through one of its most challenging periods, including managing the economic fallouts of the pandemic and the resulting global uncertainty. Under his leadership, RBI made pivotal policy decisions to ensure the stability of the Indian economy during this difficult phase. In a major development, the government has appointed Sanjay Malhotra, the current Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, as the new RBI Governor. Malhotra's appointment is set to take effect from December 11, 2024, and his tenure will last for three years, as per the official notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on Monday. As per ANI, this marks the end of Das’s six-year term, with his leadership leaving a lasting legacy at the central bank. (With inputs from ANI)
10 December,2024 11:08 AM IST | New DelhiVeteran politician and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, S.M. Krishna, passed away in the early hours of Tuesday at his residence in Bengaluru, his family confirmed. The 92-year-old leader had been unwell for some time, a family source shared. "S.M. Krishna is no more. He breathed his last at 2:45 am at his residence. His mortal remains are expected to be taken to Maddur later today," the family source told PTI. Born on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli village in Karnataka's Mandya district, S.M. Krishna carved out an illustrious career in Indian politics that spanned several decades. Known for his astute leadership, Krishna held a number of significant political positions during his lifetime. He served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, a period widely credited with introducing reforms that bolstered the state's infrastructure and IT sector. Bengaluru's rise as a global IT hub is often attributed to initiatives undertaken during his tenure. In addition to his role as Chief Minister, Krishna served as the External Affairs Minister of India from 2009 to 2012 under the UPA government, where he played a pivotal role in steering the nation's foreign policy. He was also appointed the Governor of Maharashtra, a position he held from 2004 to 2008, where he earned respect for his administrative acumen. S.M. Krishna began his political journey with the Indian National Congress, where he remained a prominent figure for much of his career. However, in 2017, towards the later years of his political life, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing a desire for greater involvement in active politics. The news of Krishna's passing has left the political fraternity and citizens across the state mourning the loss of a statesman who played a pivotal role in shaping modern Karnataka. Tributes have been pouring in from various quarters, acknowledging his contribution to the state's development and his impactful leadership. As per PTI reports, the family is making arrangements for his final rites, which are likely to be held in Maddur, Mandya district. More details about the funeral proceedings are awaited. Krishna’s demise marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of progress, diplomacy, and dedicated public service. (With inputs from PTI)
10 December,2024 08:50 AM IST | KarnatakaThe Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking directions to the Centre and other authorities to immediately clear blockades on national and state highways in Punjab where farmers are staging protests. A bench of justices Surya Kant and Manmohan said the matter is already pending before the court and it cannot entertain repetitive petitions on the same issue. "We are already examining the larger issue. You are not the only conscience keeper of society. Don't file repetitive petitions. Some are filing for publicity interest and some are filing to play to the gallery. We cannot entertain repetitive petitions on the same issue," the bench told petitioner Gaurav Luthra, who claimed to be a social activist in Punjab. The court also refused Luthra's request to tag the petition with the pending matter. Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. The plea has alleged that farmers' and their unions have blocked the entire national and state highways in Punjab. Betrayed again and again: Kharge Slamming the Centre, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said farmers are pleading for justice because the Modi government "betrayed them again and again", and asserted that the tillers' right to raise their voice should not be taken away from them. 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 December,2024 08:35 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
