Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Sushila Karki and reaffirmed India’s steadfast support for her efforts to restore peace and stability. Karki took over as the prime minister of the interim government on September 12. In a post on X, PM Modi said that during his conversation with Karki, he conveyed his heartfelt condolences on the recent tragic loss of lives during violent protests in the neighbouring country. “Had a warm conversation with Mrs. Sushila Karki, Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. Conveyed heartfelt condolences on the recent tragic loss of lives and reaffirmed India’s steadfast support for her efforts to restore peace and stability,” Modi said. Last week, Nepal witnessed violent protests that led to the ouster of prime minister K P Sharma Oli. During the agitation led by the Gen Z group, protesters set fire to houses of political leaders, important government buildings, including the Parliament, business establishments and shopping complexes. 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
19 September,2025 09:05 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesDiplomats from 70 countries planted saplings at the Central Ridge here on Thursday as part of the Delhi government’s 15-day ‘Sewa Pakhwada’. A total of 75 diplomats, along with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, attended the event. Gupta, who planted a tree under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign initiative, said in a post on X that the participation of 75 diplomats from 70 countries has given the campaign a form of global cooperation and shared responsibility. “Under the Seva Pakhwada being observed on the birthday of the visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign not only conveys the message of environmental conservation but it is also a symbol of gratitude towards our Mother Earth,” she said. Sirsa in a post on X said that the participation of foreign diplomats transformed the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ mission into a global event. 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
19 September,2025 09:02 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesLeader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday reiterated his vote fraud allegations against the Election Commission. Slamming Gandhi’s claims, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Manan Kumar Mishra said that he has no evidence, which is why he is making allegations against the Election Commission, news agency ANI reported. Mishra further stated that the public knows that there is no proof of ‘vote chori’ and Gandhi is just misleading Indians. Speaking to the media, Mishra said, "The result of the whole press conference was nothing... There is no evidence. Rahul Gandhi always talks nonsense... The public will not be affected by this... There is no evidence of how the software was manipulated." "He is placing oral allegations... There is no importance of that in the eyes of the law... The public knows he has no evidence; that is why he is putting allegations on a constitutional body like the Election Commission," he further stated, according to ANI. Earlier in the day, the senior Congress leader slammed the Election Commission of India for allegedly "not cooperating" with the voter fraud investigation opened up by the Karnataka Crime Investigation Department (Karnataka CID) in the Aland Assembly segment in Kalaburagi district, ANI reported. Gandhi also claimed that the investigation into the alleged fraud has been stalled for over two years as the poll body is not replying to the letters sent by the CID, calling it "proof" that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is "protecting vote chors (vote thieves)", ANI reported. Meanwhile, the poll dismissed all the allegations made by Gandhi, mentioning that no the names of the voters cannot be deleted by a member of the public online. In its reply to the Lok Sabha MP, the poll body said, "Allegations made by Rahul Gandhi are incorrect and baseless. No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Rahul Gandhi. No deletion can take place without giving an opportunity to be heard to the affected person." The Election Commission also stated that the allegations made by Gandhi against Kumar are baseless and incorrect. (With ANI inputs)
18 September,2025 10:29 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA Delhi court on Thursday ruled that there is no legal provision allowing CCTV footage to be shared with the accused in a criminal case. Judicial Magistrate Ankit Garg was hearing a plea filed by Gaganpreet Kaur, 38, who was allegedly driving the BMW that rammed into the two-wheeler of a senior finance ministry official in Dhaula Kuan, leaving him dead and his wife grievously injured, reported news agency PTI. Advocate Gagan Bhatnagar, representing Kaur, argued that the case hinged on CCTV footage from Dhaula Kuan metro pillars 65 and 67 and that examining it could reveal additional details. The magistrate, however, said there is no law permitting the footage to be provided to the accused, reported PTI. “I am not saying give it to me but to preserve it and submit in the court,” Kaur’s counsel responded. Bhatnagar alleged that the investigating officer (IO) gave an “evasive reply,” stating that notice had been sent to the person concerned to provide the footage to Delhi Police. He added that senior police officials had previously stated they had watched the footage, contrary to the IO’s reply. The court directed the IO to appear on Friday and issued a notice to the station house officer of Dhaula Kuan Police Station. The hearing will continue on Friday, reported PTI. Opposing the bail plea, the Delhi Police stated that the accused was not seriously injured despite having herself admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). She also took the injured to a hospital far away from the spot, which raises serious doubt, the police stated, according to news agency ANI. Kaur has been remanded to judicial custody until September 27, and her bail plea is scheduled for Saturday. The victim, 52-year-old Navjot Singh served as the deputy secretary in the department of economic affairs and was a resident of Hari Nagar. He succumbed to injuries following the accident, which took place on Ring Road near the Delhi Cantonment Metro station on the afternoon of September 14. Singh and his wife were returning home after visiting Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. A case has been registered under Sections 281 (rash driving), 125B (endangering life or personal safety of others), 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the BNS. (With PTI and ANI inputs)
18 September,2025 09:16 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe government will release an Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance framework by September 28 that will define safety boundaries to protect citizens from AI-related harm and outline checks and balances, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday. He added that the framework would not be “prescriptive,” reported news agency PTI. Vaishnaw further stated that India will place strong emphasis on AI safety during the AI Impact Summit it will host in February 2026 and supports the creation of a common, consensus-based global governance framework for AI. When asked whether countries such as China, which did not participate in previous summits in the UK, South Korea, and France, would be invited to the AI Impact Summit, the Union Minister said the ministry is working with the Ministry of External Affairs to finalise the list of invitees. The high-profile summit is expected to see participation from several nations and heads of state, with further details likely to be announced closer to the event, the minister said. The AI Impact Summit 2026 will be held on February 19-20 in India and it will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 2023 AI Safety Summit took place at Bletchley Park in the United Kingdom, while the 2024 AI Summit was held in Seoul. This year, the AI Action Summit took place in Paris. “As we approach the AI Impact Summit, we would also like to present an AI Governance framework. I would like to thank the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government, Ajay Kumar Sood, for working extensively… over 3,000 consultations were held over a long period to develop the entire framework. We will be launching it in the coming days, hopefully before September 28,” Vaishnaw said. He emphasised that over time, various aspects required for citizen safety could be converted into law, while other portions will remain under a framework. India, he asserted, believes in striking a balance between innovation and regulation. “The AI governance framework that will be released on September 28 will not be ‘prescriptive’,” the minister added. Responding to a query about an AI-generated video depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Vaishnaw said synthetic content and deepfakes are emerging as a major societal challenge. “In today's society, it is a big question… what kind of problems can arise from AI-generated synthetic content and deepfakes. The AI governance framework and the upcoming AI Impact Summit 2026 will focus heavily on AI safety and the safety of citizens and users,” he said. According to PTI, Vaishnaw said that the framework is aimed at safeguarding citizens from AI harm. “The boundaries in which AI safety-related items should be placed will be clearly defined… If harm comes to a person, how should we deal with it? As we develop AI applications and see faster adoption, how do we ensure proper checks and balances are in place… that kind of framework,” he explained. He added, “As we have maintained all along, whatever is required for the safety of our citizens, we will convert those portions into law. Other portions will continue to be part of a framework on which we will work with the industry and stakeholders.” (With PTI inputs)
18 September,2025 08:53 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSamir Modi, a relative of fugitive businessman Lalit Modi, has been arrested after rape charges were registered against him in Southeast Delhi, an official said on Thursday. According to the police, Samir was arrested at the Delhi airport upon his return from abroad. Modi has been taken into custody after a case was registered against him at the New Friends Police Station. An FIR was registered against Samir on September 10, under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC. A police source stated that a complaint was received against Samir in 2019, following which an investigation was launched. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 September,2025 07:56 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIAn Air India Express flight from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad made an emergency landing on Thursday after the pilot reported an engine issue, likely caused by a suspected bird strike mid-air, an official said, reported the PTI. At the time of the emergency landing there were 103 passengers on board, officials said. According to Visakhapatnam Airport Director S Raja Reddy, the pilot of Flight IX 2658 requested to return shortly after take-off due to concerns with one of the engines. “After departing from Vizag, the pilot reported an engine problem. He requested an emergency landing and safely returned to Vizag. All passengers were deboarded without incident,” Reddy told PTI, adding that alternative travel arrangements were being made by the airline. The aircraft departed Visakhapatnam Airport at 2:38 pm and returned by 3 pm, covering only around 10 nautical miles before turning back. The suspected bird strike is believed to have occurred during the aircraft's initial ascent, as per the PTI. No injuries were reported, and a technical inspection of the aircraft was underway. Meanwhile, Air India Express on Thursday announced new daily direct flights between Bengaluru and Bangkok, effective from September 18. The new service aims to provide travellers from Bengaluru and neighbouring regions convenient, non-stop connectivity to Thailand, especially, during the upcoming festive and holiday season, a statement issued by Air India Express said on Thursday. "To celebrate the launch, the special introductory Xpress Value fares start at Rs 16,800 for a round trip. The one-way fares for Bengaluru-Bangkok is Rs 9,000 and Bangkok-Bengaluru is Rs 8,850, the statement read. Bookings are now open on the airline's award-winning website, airindiaexpress.com, mobile app, and other major booking channels. According to the airlines company, there will be a flight from Bengaluru to Bangkok everyday at 11 am (IST), which will reach its destination at 4:45 pm (IST). The return flight from Bangkok will be at 5.45 pm (IST) and it will land in Bengaluru at 8.30 pm (IST). (with PTI inputs)
18 September,2025 07:25 PM IST | Visakhapatnam | mid-day online correspondentA 42-year-old man has been killed while 20 others have sustained injuries in landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rain in four villages of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Thursday, news agency PTI reported. Also, 11 are feared trapped under debris and more than 30 houses have been flattened in the disaster-struck district. The body of the victim, Narendra Singh, was recovered from the debris, while three people — two women and a child — were rescued alive in Kuntari Lagaphali village, PTI reported, quoting the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun. Eleven people have been reported missing — seven from Kuntari Lagaphali, and two each from Kuntari Lagasarpani and Dhurma — the SEOC added. Earlier, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had told reporters in Dehradun that 14 people were missing following the landslides. All the four affected villages fall under the Nandanagar area, around 260 km from Dehradun and 50 km from the Chamoli district headquarters at Gopeshwar. Nandanagar is already reeling from land subsidence, reported PTI. “The disaster struck Kuntari Lagaphali, Kuntari Lagasarpani, Sera and Dhurma,” Dhami said after reviewing the situation. “Thirty-three houses, several shops and cowsheds were destroyed by the debris in four villages — Kuntari Lagaphali, Kuntari Lagasarpani, Sera and Dhurma — following heavy rain. Fourteen people are missing and around 20 have been injured,” he added. More than 200 people have been affected in the rain-related incidents, he added. Around 150 to 200 villagers in Kuntari Lagaphali have been moved to safer locations, the SEOC said, adding that search-and-rescue operations are underway by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police, and fire brigade personnel under the supervision of the district magistrate and superintendent of police. Those seriously injured, including a child with head injuries, are being airlifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh, Dhami said. The chief minister took stock of the situation in Nandanagar through video-conferencing with Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari and asked him to accelerate relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. He also directed officials to ensure the immediate restoration of roads, drinking water supply, electricity, and network connectivity. “Adequate arrangements should be made for shelter, food, clean drinking water and other essential amenities for the disaster-hit people,” Dhami said. “Doctors and medicines should be made available in the affected areas to ensure prompt medical assistance.” In the Mokh valley area, heavy rain triggered flooding in the Moksha river, causing erosion from Dhurma to Sera and damaging dozens of buildings, including at least six houses, officials said. Tiwari said that at least eight people, including four members of a family, are missing in Kuntari Lagaphali, where the landslide hit about half-a-dozen houses. At least two people are missing in Dhurma, where the raging waters of the Moksha river have damaged multiple buildings, the DM added. The access road to Nandanagar has been blocked by debris. Officials said the details of all those missing are awaited, and they may be trapped under the rubble of damaged buildings. A resident of Kuntari Lagaphali and vice-president of the district branch of the Indian Red Cross, Nandan Singh, who is involved in relief and rescue operations, said the swampy terrain is hampering efforts. “Torrents of mud and boulders rolled down from the hills at three locations in Kuntari Lagaphali, destroying everything on their way,” he said. “When the landslide hit the houses, some people inside managed to escape but sustained injuries,” Singh added. Land subsidence had affected parts of Nandanagar in August, with cracks appearing in the walls of many houses. Residents were shifted to safer locations. The landslides occurred two days after heavy rain and cloudbursts in Dehradun and nearby areas breached several roads, washed away bridges, and damaged houses, killing 21 people and leaving 17 missing. (With PTI inputs)
18 September,2025 06:42 PM IST | Uttarakhand | mid-day online correspondentSix people, including two elderly residents, were rescued from a flooded area in Vasarni, Panchavatinagar, in Nanded district of Maharashtra after water levels rose due to a heavy discharge from the Vishnupuri Dam following heavy rains, an official said on Thursday, reported the PTI. Late on Wednesday night, the dam released 1.80 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water, causing low-lying areas in and around Nanded city to become flooded. Teams from the disaster management cell and fire brigade carried out the evacuation. Those rescued were identified as Balaji Annapurne (32), Ajay Annapurne (27), Renuka Annapurne (20), Shivnanda Annapurne (49), Mahalabai Mahatme (65), and Vitthalrao Mahatme (79), according to the PTI. Meanwhile, the village of Rahegaon was cut off due to the overflowing Godavari River. A medical camp was quickly set up to help residents in need of treatment. "We have completed medical check-ups for 130 villagers," said a disaster management official. "The situation is now under control. Water discharge from the Vishnupuri Dam has decreased, and there has been no heavy rainfall since last night," the official said, as per the PTI. Earlier this week, parts of Maharashtra had witnessed heavy rains on Monday, sending rivers in spate and inundating several areas. Keshegaon circle in Dharashiv district recorded the highest rainfall of 105 mm in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Monday, the officials had earlier this week said. Heavy rainfall was recorded in 32 revenue circles across Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Parbhani, and Hingoli districts, they had said. A day earlier, an intense wet spell affected seven villages in Hingoli district. The average rainfall in the Marathwada region, comprising eight districts, since June this year has been recorded at 676 mm, which is 79 mm above the average rainfall. Copious rains have boosted the water stock in eleven major irrigation projects in the region to 94.36 per cent. The water storage stood at 89.32 per cent on the same day last year, according to the PTI. Water is discharged at the rate of 1.51 lakh cusecs from ten irrigation projects, with the highest discharge of 91,854 cusecs was allowed from the Vishnupuri dam in Nanded, the officials had earlier said. (with PTI inputs)
18 September,2025 06:17 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentMarking a significant milestone for aviation in the National Capital Region, the Noida Airport, also known as Jewar Airport, is set to be inaugurated on October 30, as reported by news agency ANI. In a major boost to the Indian aviation sector, the flight operations from Noida International Airport are expected to commence within 45 days, connecting at least 10 major cities in the first phase, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, on Thursday, while asserting about the inauguration of Noida airport, said, "Jewar International Airport is to be inaugurated on 30th October 2025, and within 45 days from that date, we can see the operations start," as cited by news agency ANI. Reports say that the airport's first phase will feature a single runway and a terminal capable of handling 12 million passengers annually, with the potential to expand to 70 million passengers across four phases. Located 75 km from Delhi, it will be the NCR's second international airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport, boosting connectivity for western Uttar Pradesh. Soon to be started, the airport in Noida is expected to be a strategic hub for cargo operations, enhancing logistics and economic growth while also easing the load on the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The airport is linked by six roads, rapid rail-cum-metro, and pod taxis; it features a CAT-III B Instrument Landing System for operations in low visibility. The Jewar International Airport was developed through a public-private partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government and Zurich Airport International AG. As reported by news agency ANI, the Jewar Airport is expected to spur real estate development and generate about one lakh direct and indirect jobs. Considering that Jewar Airport will relieve pressure on Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and enhance regional aviation, the modern aviation infrastructure will also ease the traffic congestion between Noida and Gurgaon. Considering that Jewar Airport has been built with perfection that can contain a large number of flights at once, it is set to give the people of Delhi a sigh of relief while travelling across the globe. (With inputs from ANI)
18 September,2025 05:33 PM IST | Noida | mid-day online correspondentThe Noida International Airport, also known as Jewar Airport, is scheduled for inauguration on October 3, 2025, marking a major milestone for civil aviation in the National Capital Region (NCR). Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu confirmed the timeline, stating, “Jewar International Airport will be inaugurated on October 30, 2025, and within 45 days from that date, we expect operations to commence.” In its first phase, the airport will have a single runway and one terminal, with the capacity to handle 12 million passengers annually. Over time, the airport is expected to expand across four phases, eventually accommodating up to 70 million passengers per year. "We are trying to push up the inauguration so that we can see it happen very soon. Right now, the date that we have decided is October 30, when we will have the inauguration and within 45 days, we can see the operations also start," the minister told reporters during an event at the Hindon airport in neighbouring Ghaziabad on Wednesday, reported the PTI. Located 75 km from Delhi, Jewar Airport will become the second international airport in the NCR, after Indira Gandhi International Airport, significantly improving air connectivity for western Uttar Pradesh and easing congestion in Delhi. Initial flight operations are expected to connect at least 10 major Indian cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The airport is also set to become a major cargo and logistics hub, enhancing trade efficiency. It is equipped with a CAT-III B Instrument Landing System, allowing safe landings even in low-visibility conditions. Connectivity has been a central focus of the project. The airport will be linked by six major roads, as well as a rapid rail-cum-metro line and pod taxi services, providing seamless access for travellers. Developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Uttar Pradesh government and Zurich Airport International AG, the airport is expected to generate around one lakh direct and indirect jobs. Jewar Airport is also likely to spur real estate development and infrastructure growth in the surrounding region. Once operational, it will play a key role in regional aviation, while also alleviating pressure on the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. (with IANS inputs)
18 September,2025 05:24 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
