A Thailand-based NOK Air flight, scheduled to depart from Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok, declared an emergency early on Saturday morning, as reported by ANI. According to Mukesh, the PRO for GMR, "NOK Air flight DD959 declared an emergency this morning. All passengers were deboarded and taken to the terminal following security checks. Their luggage was also unloaded and thoroughly examined." Earlier, one passenger had been detained by the Raipur police in connection with a similar emergency landing incident, ANI reported. On Thursday, a separate flight travelling from Nagpur to Kolkata was forced to make an emergency landing at Raipur airport due to a bomb threat. The aircraft was inspected comprehensively upon landing, as per ANI's account. Authorities are continuing their investigations into these threats, which have increasingly been suspected to be hoaxes. However, efforts by security agencies to identify the perpetrators behind the bomb threats have yielded little success. A senior official told ANI, "Several teams, including cyber experts, are actively working on the matter. Despite extensive efforts, we have yet to achieve a breakthrough. All leads have so far reached a dead end." According to the official, initial investigations revealed that the threats appeared to originate from European countries. However, further attempts to trace the IP addresses revealed that VPNs had been used, obscuring the true origins of the threats. "We have confirmed that VPN technology was employed to send these threats. Efforts are ongoing in collaboration with social media platforms to gather more details about the accounts responsible for the postings," the official explained to ANI. To enhance airport security, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has implemented intensified protocols, including deploying a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) at major airports, as per ANI. The recent spate of bomb threats has raised serious concerns, prompting heightened vigilance and the mobilisation of resources to ensure passenger safety, ANI added. Passengers and airlines have been urged to cooperate with security measures during this period of heightened caution. (With inputs from ANI)
16 November,2024 01:48 PM IST | New DelhiA fire broke out on the 8th floor of a 22-storey residential building in Ahmedabad's Bopal area late Friday evening, officials said. According to fire department officials, around 100 people were evacuated from the building following the fire break out. The fire was brought under control after a few hours of dousing efforts, they said. The fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot avoiding a major accident and no one was injured, the officials said. Visuals from the spot showed black smoke rising from the blaze. " A fire broke out on the 8th floor of Iscon Platinum. Around 100 people were evacuated. One unconscious woman was sent to hospital," Fire Officer Mithun Mistry said while speaking to ANI. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, he added. 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 November,2024 12:14 PM IST | Ahmedabad | ANIAt least 10 children died in a fire that engulfed the children's ward of a medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district on Friday night, officials said here, adding that the casualties may go up. District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out around 10.45 pm in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College possibly due to an electrical short circuit. The children who were in the outer part of the NICU were rescued, along with some of those who were in the interior part. "Prima facie there is information of the death of 10 children," the DM said. The fire brigade was rushed to the spot while senior officers of the district also reached the medical college, Jhansi police said in a brief statement on social media. Purported visuals from the medical college showed panic-struck patients and their caretakers being evacuated, even as several police personnel aided rescue and relief measures. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and directed officials of the district administration to ensure proper treatment to the injured, according to a statement issued in Lucknow. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. The chief minister directed the officials of the district administration and the fire brigade vehicles to reach the spot and expedite the relief work. Another official statement said Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, also the state's health minister, and the principal secretary of health have left for Jhansi on the directions of the CM. Adityanath has also directed the divisional commissioner of Jhansi and the deputy inspector general of the police range to submit a report on the matter within 12 hours, the statement added. 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 November,2024 12:14 PM IST | Jhansi (UP) | PTINational Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Friday reiterated his call for the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a crucial step to resolve the myriad of issues facing the region. After paying obeisance at the Gurudwara Sahib in Chand Nagar on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev's 555th birth anniversary, Abdullah hoped for greater political representation of the Sikh community, asserting that one day, Sikhs will not only have roles in the government, but also in the Assembly to effectively raise and address their issues. The veteran NC leader was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and Cabinet minister Javaid Rana, "The Central government should restore statehood to J-K at the earliest as it will help resolve most of our problems," Abdullah said. Urging the Sikh community to draw inspiration from Guru Nanak Dev, he said, "On this sacred day, demand with strength that our conditions improve and we become free from bureaucratic dominance." Criticising bureaucratic governance, Abdullah said, "In the past, officials did not listen to the people. Today, however, people look towards the ministers with hope, expecting them to address their concerns and take the right decisions." Reflecting on his previous tenure (as J-K chief minister), Abdullah said, "When I returned as the chief minister in 1996, my first priority was to ensure your representation because you deserved to have your voices heard. "I entrusted a respected Sardar with the mandate to highlight your struggles and alleviate your difficulties. I contributed to the establishment of the Mahant Bachittar Singh College, personally fighting for it to ensure that your children receive quality education." The veteran politician also claimed that while he envisioned the establishment of a medical college, it has sadly not materialised yet. "However, I have worked to create institutions where your children can thrive academically to progress in life," he said. Emphasising the importance of technological advancements, Abdullah said, "Artificial Intelligence is rapidly spreading across the globe. Institutions must be built to provide education and training in this critical field so that we don't lag behind." Highlighting cultural preservation, Abdullah said, "During my tenure, I introduced Punjabi language in Jammu and Kashmir, advocating for its richness and sweetness to be taught. Similarly, I insisted that Dogri must be taught where the language is spoken. Today, Dogri is fading away with outsiders coming here, taking our lands and controlling our industries." Taking a dig at the UT administration, Abdullah claimed that local contracts are being handed over to outsiders, as if the people of the region are unskilled or incapable. "This state belongs to you. You are its rightful owners. So stand up and reclaim your rights. Only then will your issues be resolved," the NC chief said. Underscoring the importance of linguistic preservation, Abdullah said, "Where Dogri is spoken, Dogri must be taught. Where Kashmiri is spoken, Kashmiri must be promoted. Where Punjabi is prevalent, it must flourish. Why should we let our languages disappear?" Sharing an anecdote on the "poor" state of development in Jammu city, Abdullah said, "On Diwali, I went to someone's house for dinner. When I left for that place, there was light everywhere but by 11 pm, the area was shrouded in darkness. "Despite this, our mothers and sisters walk freely, without any fear. This is your honour and dignity, which you have preserved through the years. It reflects Guru Nanak Ji's teachings -- 'First, become human'. The day we achieve humanity, we will find god." Praising the Sikh community for its self-reliance, the NC chief said, "I have seen Hindus and Muslims begging, but I have never never a Sikh beggar. The Sikh community's greatness lies in its self-sufficiency. They buy land for a gurdwara and then build it themselves, seeking help not from the government, but from their own people to complete their mission with dignity." 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 November,2024 12:13 PM IST | Jammu | PTICongress leader Digvijay Singh expressed strong confidence in the party's prospects for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, set for November 20. He labelled the current Mahayuti government as a "stolen" administration, asserting that it lacks genuine public support, reported the ANI. Singh emphasised that the coalition of Congress, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was the one legitimately elected by the people in the previous elections. Singh also expressed optimism about reclaiming power in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra, asserting that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition would emerge victorious. "The government is a stolen one. It is not a publicly elected government. The public elected the alliance government of Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP... They also tried to bring down the Jharkhand government. They sent the sitting CM to jail even when they had no reason to do so. Also, the court questioned why he was arrested... I am sure that in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, our alliance government will be formed," he told ANI. In addition to targeting the Mahayuti government, Singh also criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, referring to the controversial "bulldozer culture" associated with his administration and his "batenge to katenge" remark. He said, "PM Modi is saying 'Ek raho, safe raho'. Rahul Gandhi has said correctly that some people want a monopoly over the Indian economy and they are safe if they are united... As far as UP CM Yogi Adityanath is concerned, the way the Supreme Court has given an order on the bulldozer culture, had it been someone else, they must have resigned... CM Yogi takes pride in the bulldozer action. He is welcomed by showering flowers from bulldozers... The bulldozer has been a hallmark of his term. I congratulate the SC judges for their verdict." Digvijay Singh also voiced support for a caste-based census, aligning with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. "BJP is the one who is dividing. Rahul Gandhi is saying solutions to problems are found based on detailed research. There is a provision in the Constitution that a certain section will get a place in jobs, as per their population and budget would also be provided similarly. But that is not happening. No top or middle-level corporates are from the Scheduled Tribes. Even in the media, how many people from the tribal community are in your profile?" he said. "For social and economic development, a caste-based census must be conducted. Why are they afraid of the census? It is 2024 and the 2021 census is due," Digvijay added. As campaigning intensifies, both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition MVA are vying for support across the 288 assembly seats. Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on November 20, with the vote count happening on November 23. (With inputs from ANI)
16 November,2024 11:36 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSix students were killed and another was seriously injured when their car collided with a truck in Dehradun in the early hours of Tuesday (November 12). The collision, which reduced the car to a mangled wreck, occurred around 1.30 am at the ONGC Chowk. The car rammed into the truck from behind and the six died on the spot, Circle Officer (City) Neeraj Semwal said. Following the incident, Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar has directed the superintendents of police of all the 13 districts to take effective legal action to control road accidents. 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 November,2024 07:45 AM IST | Dehradun | AgenciesAfter giving a rousing speech in the Mahagama Assembly constituency in Jharkhand, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's helicopter was unable to take off on Friday due to not having the clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). Earlier today, in his speech at Mahagama constituency in Godda district of Jharkhand, he condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attempting to give Mumbai's Dharavi to Adani. Calling PM Modi a "puppet of billionaires," Gandhi said that the PM has taken money away from poor people. 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 November,2024 07:41 AM IST | Godda (Jharkhand) | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi was stranded at the Deoghar airport in Jharkhand for over an hour on Friday after his special aircraft developed a snag, officials said. Modi was supposed to fly back to New Delhi on the Indian Air Force plane after addressing a rally in Bihar’s Jamui, which is around 80 km from Deoghar, they said.He was visiting Jamui to attend a function organised on the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, which is celebrated as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’. “The PM has been at the Deoghar airport for more than an hour now. What would be the alternative arrangement for his return to Delhi is being discussed,” an official said. As a result of this, a ‘no flying zone’ was declared in the region’s air space, officials 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
16 November,2024 07:37 AM IST | Ranchi | AgenciesMoody’s Ratings on Friday forecast a 7.2 per cent GDP growth for India in 2024, saying the Indian economy is in a sweet spot, but inflation risks may prompt the RBI to retain a relatively tight monetary policy this year. Moody’s said that despite the near-term uptick, retail inflation should moderate toward the Reserve Bank’s target in the coming months as food prices ease amid higher sowing and adequate food grain buffer stocks. The retail inflation scaled to a 14-month high of 6.21, breaching the RBI’s upper tolerance limit, on a sharp jump in vegetable prices. The agency said sporadic food price pressures continue to inject volatility in the disinflation trajectory. “Potential risks to inflation from heightened geopolitical tensions and extreme weather events underscore the RBI’s cautious approach to policy easing. Although the central bank shifted its monetary policy stance to neutral while keeping the repo rate steady at 6.5 per cent in October, it will likely retain relatively tight monetary policy settings into next year, given the fairly healthy growth dynamics and inflation risks.” 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 November,2024 07:34 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and questioned if it was the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) culture to campaign for leaders such as Abdul Sattar, who had made objectionable remarks about Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) lawmaker Supriya Sule. According to news agency PTI, Thackeray’s comments came after PM's rally in Sillod, which is part of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district where Sattar is the sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). "I want to ask the PM if this is the culture of BJP, to campaign for such people. Sattar made objectionable remarks against Sule on camera. The BJP also campaigned for Prajwal Revanna in Karnataka," Thackeray said, while campaigning for his party’s candidate, Suresh Bankar, who is contesting against Sattar. Revanna, of the Janata Dal (Secular), was arrested in May on sexual assault allegations. According to PTI, Thackeray further criticised Sattar, who is from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and accused him of land grabs in Soygaon and Sillod, and alleged that the minister had also attempted to illegally seize government plots. "The poll office here is on the land which he possesses illegally. We will probe all this if we come to power," Thackeray said. In another dig at the BJP, Thackeray claimed that Muslim women dressed in black were not allowed to attend Modi's rally in Mumbai, implying discrimination at the event. Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, along with the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), and is contesting against the Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP. 'Medical device park shifted to Gujarat' Addressing a rally in Nashik later, Thackeray alleged that a medical device park, which would have created jobs for at least one lakh people in Maharashtra, was moved to Gujarat. "The BJP takes everything to Gujarat and then comes here asking for votes," he said. "Voting for them is an act of treachery. This is not a struggle for my survival but for Maharashtra's future. I will fight for my state till my last breath." According to PTI, Thackeray also hit out at PM Modi for his statement at a rally that Shiv Sena (UBT) had given its "remote control" to the Congress. "I will not allow the Congress to control my party, even though they are our ally," Thackeray said. He accused the BJP of trying to loot Maharashtra and highlighted the incident during the Lok Sabha polls when a farmer, who asked the PM about onion prices, was removed from the rally. "Asking questions on onions, soybean, unemployment is not allowed under BJP rule," he added. Thackeray warned the BJP not to intimidate Shiv Sena (UBT) with "EVMs, CBI, and ED". "I challenge the BJP to come and fight one-on-one. We will accept the people's mandate. If they tell us to sit at home, we will do so. But if they lose, they will have to sit at home," he asserted. The Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 are scheduled for November 20, with results to be announced on November 23. (With PTI inputs)
15 November,2024 10:34 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentKarnataka minister and senior Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Friday accused Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading misinformation and showing little interest in development. According to news agency PTI, Kharge, who serves as the southern state's Information Technology (IT) minister, said the "factory of misinformation" began under Modi’s tenure as chief minister of Gujarat, when he "was dreaming of becoming PM." "The job of this factory is to spread misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and give birth to lies. When he was CM, it was just a factory. By the time he became PM, the factory was elevated to a full-fledged industry," alleged Kharge, the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. He further claimed that Modi and BJP were not interested in the development of states, particularly Maharashtra. "Earlier, Karnataka’s competition was with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. But now we do not have any competition with Maharashtra," he said, reiterating the Congress' regular assertion that industries were moving away from the Eknath Shinde-led state. According to PTI, Kharge pointed out that Karnataka used to compete with Maharashtra for investments in the IT and biotechnology sectors, but now the western state was no longer in the race. "Pune and Bengaluru were twin cities. What happened? How come Bengaluru has gone ahead? The reason is that the PM is secretly moving projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat. I am not saying this. The Congress is not saying this. This is from the Government of India’s data," he claimed. If people want a puppet govt, then they can vote for the Mahayuti: Kharge He cited the Tata Airbus project, which was initially supposed to be set up in Maharashtra but was eventually moved to Gujarat. "We also tried. When I insisted for Karnataka, I was told the project is going to Maharashtra because it had the conducive ecosystem for the project. A project worth Rs 22,000 crore, how did it go to Vadodara (in Gujarat)?" Kharge asked. He questioned how the project ended up in Gujarat when Mumbai is the financial capital, Pune is the skill capital, and Maharashtra has a large pool of talent. Kharge also referenced the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor project, which was initially planned for Pune but was later shifted to Gujarat, as well as a medical device park that followed the same path. "My appeal to the people of Maharashtra is to vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the Congress. If it goes to Mahayuti, then there will be an Adani government here," he claimed, adding that NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had spoken about the billionaire industrialist being involved in efforts to bring down the MVA government. "If people want a 'puppet' government under which projects will leave the state and go to Gujarat, then they can vote for the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena, and NCP," said the Karnataka IT minister. Kharge also took a swipe at the BJP's promises, saying, "When Modi and the BJP make promises, they call it 'Modi ki guarantee' and 'masterstroke,' but when Congress announces schemes, they call it 'revdi' (freebies)." "They just give catchy slogans, but in reality, work does not take place," Kharge added in criticism of the BJP's governance. (With PTI inputs)
15 November,2024 10:02 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
