Passengers of Indigo Flight 6E18 (Istanbul to Mumbai) was delayed leaving passengers stranded at Istanbul Airport for over 15 hours, sources said. The passengers were informed of a technical difficulty for the flight getting delayed, sources added. The aircraft finally took off after the huge delay. Arshan Kawasia, relative of a passenger on the flight currently stationed in Istanbul informed midday over phone, “The passengers are stranded in Istanbul for over 16 hours now (as of 1:25 PM IST). They have just started the boarding process and the flight is expected to take off around 12:15 Istanbul time (2:45 PM IST). approximately 400 passengers are stranded here.” He also shared a photograph of the stranded passengers at Istanbul Airport. According to an another passenger, “the airline informed us that there is a technical issue with the aircraft which is why the flight has been delayed.” The aircraft in question is a twin jet Boeing 777-300ER (B77W). Anand Chandrashekhar, a passenger stranded at Istanbul posted on x, “IndiGO 6E18 from Istanbul to Mumbai isn’t just a flight, it’s a life lesson in patience, endurance and questioning all your life choices. Guess they’re waiting for the Wright Brothers to come personally and fix the plane #6EternalSuffering.” Later replying to the same post, the passenger also posted another sarcastic comment stating, “Breaking News: IndiGO 6E18 from Istanbul to Mumbai has officially been promoted to a staycation package. Who needs a flight when you can enjoy 2 days of waiting lounge vibes? 6E18 Istanbul to Mumbai has achieved a new milestone: redefining ‘non-stop flight’ as ‘non-start flight. Guess they really want the passengers to experience Istanbul's Hospitality. #6EternalDelay.” Before boarding the flight, Anand Chandrashekar again posted a sarcastic update which started, “IndiGO 6E18 from Istanbul to Mumbai: Now boarding on IndiGo standard time, where ‘on time’ means ‘someday, maybe.’ Did you outsource your flight time schedule to a sundial?” Another passenger Harsh from his X handle posted, “Stuck at IST airport because @IndiGO6E chose to drip feed the delay of flight 6E18 over 15+ hours (3 hours, 11 hours, 2 hours) instead of informing us of the full delay upfront. This staggering of delays is not inconvenient; it is manipulative. Passengers deserve full transparency. And respect! #IndigoDelayTactics #PassengerRights @MoCA_India @PMOIndia @MpRammohannaidu.” According to information received from Istanbul airport sources which was also confirmed by Mumbai ATC sources, the flight took off at around 12:20 PM Istanbul time (2:50 PM IST) Indigo in its statement issued on Friday said, “We are aware of the delays on the IndiGo flight connections to Istanbul. We accord the highest priority towards customer convenience and our teams are available at all contact points to assist customers. IndiGo apologises for the inconvenience caused to the customers.” Sources from the airline disclosed, “those with a visa were provided hotel accommodation, meanwhile, those without a visa were provided lounge access, food coupons, and other facilities.”
13 December,2024 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariAn Israeli airstrike hit the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, Palestinian medics said, just hours after President Joe Biden's national security adviser raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies from an Israeli strike on a multi-storey residential building in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian medics also reported that over 40 people, most of them children, were receiving treatment at the two hospitals. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the deadly strike. 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
13 December,2024 11:57 AM IST | Deir al-Balah | PTIA court in the port city of Chittagong on Thursday recorded a petition moved by a senior Supreme Court lawyer for Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das' bail, however, the judge did not allow the early hearing. Rabindra Ghosh, a Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist, presented the petition in the court and the judge kept his application "on record" but did not allow an early hearing. "The senior lawyer Rabindra Ghosh used the authorised power with the signature of Chinmoy Krishna Das on the basis of Supreme Court Bar document. But the judge asked a requirement of Chittagong Bar confirmation," Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, President of Chittagong Bar Association, told ANI over the phone. "Advocate Ghosh could not show any documents of the Chittagong Bar, so the Judge kept his application on record and did not allow an early date of hearing. He maintained the scheduled hearing date of January 2", Chowdhury added. Chinmoy's lawyer Rabindra Ghosh expressed disappointment and said that he is considering to move the bail prayer to the High Court with the documents. "I am very disheartened. I have been coming from Dhaka for the last three days and applying with repeated attempts. The Judge took my application on his table. He could have heard it. It fell into some conspiracy," Rabindra Ghosh, told ANI over phone. "We are considering to move the bail prayer to the High Court with the documents," he added. On Wednesday too, the court has rejected the plea for the early bail hearing. The court dismissed the petition, stating that Chinmoy Krishna Das, the spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaron Jote, did not authorise power to the lawyer who submitted the plea. Chinmoy Krishna Das, also a former priest of ISKCON, was arrested by police from Dhaka Airport on November 25 on a charge of sedition. On November 26, a court in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong rejected his bail prayer and ordered him to be sent to prison. His followers laid in front of his prison van and blocked it. Police cleared after clashes with the protesters. A lawyer named Saiful Islam Alif was killed during the clashes. On December 3, Chittagong court had fixed January 2 for bail hearing as the prosecution submitted a time petition and there was no lawyer to represent Chinmoy. 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
13 December,2024 11:53 AM IST | Bangladesh | ANIUS President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, according to his spokesperson. "This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors too," the incoming White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitte told Fox News in an interview on Thursday. "We saw this in the first term. He got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around the world. He is willing to talk to anyone. He will always put America's interest first," she said. Leavitt, however, did not say if the invitation had been accepted by the Chinese president. The White House preferred not to comment on the merit of the invitation. "It is going to be up to President-elect Trump to decide who's going to sit with him there at that inauguration, who's going to be there," John Kirby from the White House told reporters. "We have worked really hard on this most consequential of bilateral relationships. The president met with Xi Jinping a number of times, including recently. And as you get ready to turn over things to the Trump team, we're turning over a US-China relationship that is in better shape than the one we found it in. That doesn't mean that we don't have disagreements," Kirby said. "We do and we will and I'm sure they will too, but we're working hard on this relationship and we'll do that right to the end," he said. Responding to a question, Kirby said it was not his place to pass judgment on the invitations to the inauguration. "That's really for the Trump transition team' (The relationship) is without doubt the single most consequential bilateral relationship that the United States has in the world. And it is a relationship that is both fraught with peril and with opportunity," he said. "When we get ready to turn over to the Trump team, we will make sure they are fully informed about everything President Biden has done, and he has done a lot, to get this relationship on a more stable footing and it will be up to them to determine how and to what degree they want to carry that forward," Kirby 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
13 December,2024 11:49 AM IST | Washington | PTIThe Biden Administration expects bipartisan support for the India-US relationship to continue during the next Trump Administration, the White House has said. "...(There has) been strong bipartisan support for growing this bilateral relationship. I would expect that, that will continue," White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters at a news conference here on Thursday. Outgoing President Joe Biden, he said, is very proud of how America's bilateral relationship with India has transformed during his administration. "I mean, we have elevated the Indo-Pacific QUAD. I don't know how many meetings he's had now inside the QUAD and bilaterally with the prime minister (Narendra Modi of India). There's an awful lot in our relationship that has improved military to military, communication ¿ people to people ties, economic ties," Kirby said in response to a question. On what are Biden's expectations from the coming administration on QUAD and other IMEC, Kirby said, "It's going to be up to them to determine how they leverage the Indo-Pacific QUAD." 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
13 December,2024 11:45 AM IST | Washington | PTIFrench President Emmanuel Macron is set to announce the new prime minister on Friday morning, following the resignation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier last week. According to ANI reports, the Elysee presidential palace confirmed that the statement regarding the appointment will be made public on Friday morning after Macron returned early from a trip to Poland. Barnier resigned after only three months in office, making his tenure the shortest in modern French history. This unexpected departure came after Barnier's government was toppled by a no-confidence vote in the French parliament. On December 5, while addressing the nation from the Elysee Palace, Macron assured the French public that he would continue his five-year mandate despite the political turbulence. In his speech, Macron emphasised the importance of ensuring the continuity of the French state and the proper functioning of its institutions, despite recent setbacks. “The mandate you democratically entrusted to me is a five-year mandate, and I will exercise it fully until its end. My responsibility is to ensure the continuity of the State, the proper functioning of our institutions, the independence of our country, and the protection of all of you,” Macron stated. He also highlighted his commitment to leading the country through various challenges, including social unrest, the Covid-19 pandemic, the return of war in Europe, inflation, and other national trials. "I have been doing this from the beginning, by your side, through social crises, the Covid-19 epidemic, the return of war, inflation, and so many trials that we have shared," Macron added. As per ANI reports, Macron vowed to appoint a new prime minister within days. The frontrunner for the role is believed to be François Bayrou, a centrist and close ally of Macron. However, Bayrou’s potential appointment has sparked controversy, especially among those on the left who fear his leadership would mean the continuation of Macron’s policies. Additionally, Bayrou is not well-liked by certain figures on the right, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy. Other possible candidates for the prime ministerial role include former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, current Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, and former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The political instability in France has caused concern among the public, with polls showing that over two-thirds of the population favour a political compromise over another government overhaul. The resignation of Barnier and the subsequent vote of no confidence have left France in a state of political flux. The 331 members of the 577-seat lower house of parliament voted to remove Barnier's centrist minority government, leading to further uncertainty in a country already grappling with a growing budget deficit. This marked the first time in over six decades that a government had been ousted through a no-confidence vote. As per ANI, the vote was triggered by opposition parties from both the far-left and far-right after Barnier used special powers to push through budget measures without parliamentary approval. (With inputs from ANI)
13 December,2024 08:12 AM IST | FranceSouth Korea’s parliament says the country’s six opposition parties have submitted a new joint motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law. The National Assembly said the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties submitted the impeachment motion on Thursday afternoon. The parties say they aim put the motion to a floor vote on Saturday. Yoon’s short-lived December 3 martial law declaration has triggered political chaos and large protests calling for his ouster. The Democratic Party has argued that Yoon’s decree amounted to rebellion. Earlier Thursday, Yoon defended his decree as an act of governance and denied rebellion charges. Meanwhile, the National Assembly voted on Thursday to impeach the national police chief Cho Ji Ho and Justice Minister Park Sung Jae over their enforcement of martial law. The vote suspends the duo from duties. 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
13 December,2024 07:40 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesBird flu can infect horses without causing any symptoms, according to new research, raising fears that the virus could be spreading undetected. It’s another twist in the emerging threat of the H5N1 virus, widely seen as the most likely cause of the next pandemic. Scientists at the University of Glasgow found antibodies to the virus in blood samples taken from horses living in Mongolia. Their results have been published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. Professor Pablo Murcia, who led the research, told Sky News that the finding suggests horses worldwide could be vulnerable in areas where bird flu is present, and they could pass on the virus to humans. “It’s very important, now we know these infections can occur in nature, that we monitor them to detect them very rapidly,” he said. “Horses, like many other domesticated animals, live in close proximity to humans and if this virus was to establish in horses the probability of human infection increases.” The team at the Medical Research Council-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research also believe horses could be a mixing bowl for new strains of flu. It’s already known that they can be infected with equine flu, caused by the H3N8 virus. But if a horse is simultaneously infected with H5N1, the viruses could swap genetic material and evolve rapidly. The H5N1 virus has been around for several decades, largely causing outbreaks in poultry. But in recent years a new variant has spread worldwide with migrating birds and has repeatedly jumped species to infect mammals. 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
13 December,2024 07:36 AM IST | Mongolia | AgenciesPresident Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and is pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. It’s the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The commutations announced on Thursday are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released. Prisons were uniquely bad for spreading the virus and some inmates were released in part to stop the spread. At one point, 1 in 5 prisoners had COVID-19. Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions. “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement. “As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for them to participate in daily life. 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
13 December,2024 07:33 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesA Pakistan court on Thursday indicted former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the second Toshakhana case. Special Court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, who presided over the hearing at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, framed the charges against them. Also known as Toshakhana 2.0, the case was initially filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). However, in light of NAB Amendments, the Federal Investigation Agency took over the case. The Toshakhana case involves allegations of corruption against Khan and Bibi, specifically regarding the sale of gifts from foreign dignitaries. They were arrested in the said case on July 13, the same day they were acquitted in the iddat case. However, the Islamabad High Court approved Bibi’s post-arrest bail plea in the case in October. Khan has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was toppled through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. 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
13 December,2024 07:32 AM IST | Islamabad | AgenciesPalestinian medical officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 28 people in the Gaza Strip, including seven children and a woman. One of the strikes overnight and into Thursday flattened a house in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah, where the casualties were taken. Two other strikes killed 15 men who were part of local committees established to secure aid convoys. The committees were set up by displaced Palestinians in coordination with the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies. The hospital said eight were killed in a strike near the southern border town of Rafah and seven others in a strike 30 minutes later near Khan Younis. Israeli bus attacked Israeli hospital officials say a young boy died after being wounded in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank that also wounded two adults. An Israeli bus came under fire from a suspected Palestinian attacker late Wednesday, the military said, and Israeli forces are searching for the shooter. The shooting took place just outside Jerusalem in an area near major Israeli settlements. Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem said the boy was 12 years old. 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
13 December,2024 07:31 AM IST | Deir Al-Balah | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
