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North India Shivers Under Cold Wave, Dense Fog

By
Manali Goswami
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Delhi Braces For Rain And Fog; Trains Delayed Due To Weather

An intense cold wave continued to sweep Delhi-NCR and adjoining regions on Saturday, as residents woke up to a dense fog cover and freezing temperatures.

The mercury plunged to a bone-chilling 4.7 degrees Celsius in the national capital on Friday, making it the second-lowest minimum temperature recorded on Republic Day in a decade. Visibility also dropped substantially due to the foggy conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that cold wave conditions are likely to prevail over the next 2-3 days. Minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 5 degrees Celsius during this period.

The extreme weather has severely impacted rail and air connectivity in the region. Around 25 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport this morning. Several trains departing from the New Delhi railway station were also running behind schedule by 3-4 hours due to poor visibility, causing inconvenience to passengers.

Meanwhile, a few districts in Himachal Pradesh witnessed mild snowfall after a long dry spell. Higher reaches near Rohtang Pass and areas of Chamba, Kullu, and Lahaul received occasional snowfall.

The Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneshwar also forecasts cold to severe cold wave conditions over parts of Odisha over the next 48 hours. Minimums are likely to plunge below normal in districts such as Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Angul, and Keonjhar due to icy winds from the northwest direction. Residents have been advised to take precautions while venturing out early in the morning.

Amit Shah Launches E-Bus Service In Jammu, Distributes Over 1,000 Appointment Letters

By
Manali Goswami
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Amit Shah Launches E-Bus Service In Jammu, Distributes Over 1,000 Appointment Letters

Amit Shah launched 100 electronic buses in Jammu and also distributed appointment letters to the 2024 batch candidates of the J&K Combined Competitive Examination.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the inauguration ceremony for the e-bus service in Jammu via video conferencing on Thursday. He also distributed over 1000 appointment letters to candidates who cleared the J&K Combined Competitive Examination in 2024.

During the launch, he said that 100 fully air-conditioned electronic buses had been launched in Jammu. The buses will operate from Jammu to Katra, Udhamour, and Kathua, among other intra-city routes.

Shah also stated that these buses will be operated and maintained for 12 years at an estimated cost of around Rs. 561 crores. Tata Motors has been given the responsibility to ensure the smooth operation of the buses across Jammu.

In addition to the e-bus launch, the Home Minister also handed out appointment letters to 204 candidates from the 2024 batch who successfully cleared the J&K Combined Competitive Examination. These include 50 officers of the police service, 63 officers of the accounts service, and 96 officers of the J&K Administrative Service.

Tata Motors had said in a statement last year that it will supply and operate 200 electric buses, 100 in Srinagar and 100 in Jammu, for 12 years as a part of the Jammu and Srinagar Smart City projects.

The company supplied its first batch of 100 air-conditioned e-buses to Srinagar Smart City Ltd. via TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Pvt. Ltd. last year.

The project ‘Jammu Smart City’ is aimed at transforming the city into a sustainable and economically vibrant place with a focus on tourism.

Jammu was selected as one of the smart cities in June 2017 under the Smart Cities Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 to enhance the quality of life for citizens and enhance India’s economic growth.

Microsoft Enters $3 Trillion Club On OpenAI Bet

By
Manali Goswami
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Microsoft Enters $3 Trillion Club On OpenAI Bet

Microsoft crossed a historic milestone on Wednesday by attaining a market valuation of over $3 trillion for the first time. The tech giant became only the second publicly traded company after Apple to achieve this feat.

Microsoft shares surged nearly 2% to an all-time high of $405.63 pushing the company’s capitalization past the $3 trillion mark during intraday trading. However, the stock settled at $402.56 reflecting a market value of $2.99 trillion at market close.

Nonetheless, this phenomenal rally highlights Microsoft’s sound business fundamentals and future growth prospects. The software maker has been locked in a fierce battle with Apple as the world’s most valuable firm.

Analysts see Microsoft’s early investments in AI startup OpenAI as a key competitive advantage, especially against Google. OpenAI created ChatGPT which sparked excitement around generative AI applications.

Leveraging OpenAI’s prowess, Microsoft integrated AI enhancements across its Office suite, Bing search engine and other offerings. Last week, it launched Copilot Pro – a premium subscription service enabling access to cutting-edge AI for content creation and analysis.

By harnessing next-gen AI technology from partners like OpenAI, Microsoft aims to cement its dominance across enterprise software, cloud computing, and other digital products.

The $3 trillion milestone signals investor confidence that Microsoft’s strategic bets in futuristic areas like AI have positioned it for sustainable long-term growth.

Devotees From Maharashtra Celebrate Ayodhya Visit With Festive Fervor

By
Manali Goswami
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Ramlala Pran Pratishtha Ceremony

The northern town of Ayodhya continued to pulsate with festive energy as devotees kept flocking to visit the newly consecrated Ram Mandir. Among the legions of pilgrims, a troupe of devotees from Pune caught attention as they rejoiced outside the famed Hanuman Garhi temple.

Clad in yellow attire, the Maharashtrian devotees played traditional musical instruments like dhols, manjeeras, and conch shells to express their joy. They had traveled from Pune to revel in the grand Ram Mandir consecration concluded recently on Makar Sankranti.

Belief suggests visitors must offer prayers at Hanuman Garhi before getting Lord Ram’s darshan. Hence, the century-old temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman has witnessed long queues in the wake of the Ram Mandir inauguration.

Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ resonated through the surroundings as devotees lined up patiently amid tight security. Both Hanuman Garhi and the new Ram Mandir have drawn lakhs of visitors since its opening post the Pran Pratishtha ritual.

The consecration ceremony, conducted after decades of legal battle and wait, sparked celebrations across India and among Hindu communities globally. As devotees continue arriving in Ayodhya, the mood remains joyous and spiritually charged.

The Maharashtrian devotees added to the atmosphere, playing traditional instruments and celebrating the long-awaited Ram Mandir Bhoomi pujan. Their fervent festivities encapsulated the collective Hindu sentiment at this historic moment.

Fighter Soars High With Patriotic Fervor and Aerial Action

By
Manali Goswami
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Fighter Soars High With Patriotic Fervor and Aerial Action

Siddharth Anand’s latest offering ‘Fighter’ was released just ahead of Republic Day, hoping to tap into the patriotic spirit of the nation. The high-octane action flick pays tribute to the Indian Air Force while crafting a fictional tale of courage.

Fighter falls into the genre of patriotic cinema but has its own unique identity. Unlike regular nationalistic movies, it blends real incidents like the 2019 Balakot airstrikes with a gripping fictional story about an elite IAF squadron.

The narrative follows Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania (Hrithik Roshan) who loses his fiancée in a terror attack. He defies orders from his superior Rakesh (Anil Kapoor) for which he gets suspended from the squad.

In parallel, intelligence reports suggest another deadly assault being planned on an Indian base camp by Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. What follows is high-octane aerial action sequences as the brave IAF pilots try to thwart the attack.

Director Siddharth Anand, known for slick action entertainers, breaks new ground by recreating authentic air combat ops. The rigorous training the lead stars underwent with real IAF fighters shows in their on-screen swagger and stunts.

Unlike jingoistic films, Fighter wears its patriotism lightly without overly chest-thumping dialogues or dramatics. The soundtrack skillfully stirs nationalistic passion with songs like ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Vande Mataram’.

In playing an air warrior torn by loss, Hrithik brings both machismo and vulnerability. Deepika as a gutsy pilot gets to perform some daring action scenes.

With the director’s spy verse showing no signs of fatigue post-War and Pathaan, Fighter takes the franchise to new heights both literally and figuratively. Anand once again proves his mastery over the action genre by delivering a slick and stylish ode to the Indian Air Force.

Vicky Jain Hosts Celebratory Bash After Bigg Boss Eviction

By
Manali Goswami
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Vicky Jain Hosts Celebratory Bash After Bigg Boss Eviction

Vicky Jain, who was recently eliminated from reality show Bigg Boss, hosted a house party to celebrate his eviction. The party saw the attendance of several ex-contestants including Isha Malviya, Ayesha Khan, and Sana Khan.

Photos from the celebratory bash held at Vicky and girlfriend Ankita Lokhande’s residence are being widely shared online. One image shows Vicky posing with the former contestants as well as other guests.

Vicky’s sister, Khushi Jain, also posted a selfie with Isha and Sana on her social media. In the background, actress Ayesha Khan can be spotted mingling with other attendees.

Sharing the party pictures online, Khushi captioned it “Bhai is back, Vicky is the real winner” alluding to overwhelming audience support for him. Isha reshared the post lauding Vicky’s impressive stint on the show.

However, some social media users reacted critically to Vicky partying mostly with women, terming it “inappropriate” since he is in a committed relationship with Ankita.

To recall, Vicky was evicted last week through a mid-week elimination round after spending 100 days inside the Bigg Boss house. His eviction right before the finals came as an emotional blow to his wife Ankita who broke down inconsolably.

There are now five remaining contestants fighting for the Bigg Boss trophy – Munahis war Faruqi, Arun Mahashetty, Abhishek Kumar, Ankita Lokhande, and Mannara Chopra. The grand finale will air this weekend.

Saudi Arabia’s First Alcohol Shop To Open Soon For Foreign Diplomats

By
Manali Goswami
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0
Saudi Arabia's First Alcohol Shop To Open Soon For Foreign Diplomats

In a first for the conservative Gulf nation, Saudi Arabia is preparing to open an exclusive alcohol store catering to foreign diplomats in Riyadh. The shop will require patrons to register through a mobile app and adhere to strict monthly drink quotas.

As per a confidential document seen by Reuters, only non-Muslim members of the international diplomatic corps above the age of 21 will be granted access to the store. They will need clearance from the foreign ministry as well as agree to a ceiling of 120 cans of beer, 40 bottles of wine, or 2 bottles of spirits per month.

The move represents a dramatic shift from Saudi’s complete prohibition of alcohol imposed under the kingdom’s rigid Islamic laws. Until now, possessing or consuming alcohol invited severe punishment including public flogging, hefty fines, jail time, and deportation.

The special alcohol shop located in the Diplomatic Quarter is aimed at preventing diplomats from procuring liquor through black market channels, the authorities said. However, it remains unclear if ordinary expatriate workers will also be permitted to purchase drinks from there.

The store expected to open in the coming weeks has evoked surprise and controversy as part of reformist Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s drive toward modernization. While he has curtailed the powers of religious police and initiated social openings, the majority in the deeply conservative nation continues resisting such sweeping changes.

As Saudi Arabia attempts to ease restrictions and change perceptions about its closed society, the alcohol shop represents limited albeit symbolic progress. But the country still has a long way to go in terms of granting personal freedoms and liberty to all its residents.

Macron’s India Visit Kicks Off With Jaipur Sojourn Ahead Of R-Day Celebrations

By
Manali Goswami
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0
Macron's India Visit Kicks Off With Jaipur Sojourn Ahead Of R-Day Celebrations

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in India on Thursday afternoon for a two-day state visit. He will be the Chief Guest at India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations on January 26th in New Delhi.

Macron headed to the pink city of Jaipur to kickstart his high-profile visit upon landing in the country. Over the next six hours, he is scheduled to tour popular tourist attractions like Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, and Jantar Mantar.

The French leader will then join Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a special roadshow through the city, marking growing ties between the two countries. Afterward, Macron and Modi will hold extensive bilateral discussions at the famous Taj Rambagh Palace Hotel.

The talks are expected to center around boosting cooperation in defense, trade, technology, education, and climate action. The two sides may also announce progress on major defense deals including India’s plan to acquire French-made Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines.

Macron’s packed itinerary highlights India’s growing strategic partnership with France. As democracies rooted in an independent streak, the two nations have built robust convergence across various political and economic spheres.

The French President’s presence as Chief Guest on India’s most iconic national day further spotlights these strengthening bonds. Over the next two days, Macron will hold engagements in New Delhi aimed at elevating the bilateral relationship to even greater heights.

Indian Markets Tumble As Global Sentiment Sours

By
Manali Goswami
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0
Sensex Surges Over 700 Points; Nifty Tops 21,600 As Banks Lead Rally

The Indian stock markets opened deep in the red on Thursday morning as negative global cues weighed on investor sentiment. The S&P BSE Sensex plunged over 500 points to trade at 70,526 in early deals. The broader NSE Nifty 50 index also tanked over 150 points to 21,303.

The losses were broad-based with IT, banking, pharmaceuticals, and FMCG stocks bearing the brunt of the selling. Tech Mahindra was the top loser on the Sensex, plunging nearly 5% in morning trade. Other major laggards included Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, ITC, HCL Technologies, and HDFC Bank.

Meanwhile, NTPC, IndusInd Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Bajaj Finserv, and Bajaj Finance bucked the weak market trend to trade higher.

In the broader market, midcap and smallcap stocks showed some resilience and traded mildly in positive territory. However, overall market breadth remained weak indicating the bearish undertone.

All sectoral indices traded lower, apart from realty which saw some buying interest. The Nifty IT index slid 1% followed by losses in healthcare, banks, and financial services stocks.

Analysts believe the markets are reacting to weak global cues as recession fears in the US and Europe remain elevated. Lingering geopolitical tensions and hawkish central bank policies across the world have also dampened investors’ appetite for equities. Most other Asian markets were also trading with sizable cuts.

Going ahead, traders will keep a close eye on the upcoming US GDP data for further direction. Any negative surprises on the economic growth front could exacerbate the sell-off in global risk assets.

DGCA Slaps Rs 1.1 Crore Fine On Air India For Safety Norm Violations

By
Manali Goswami
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0
DGCA Slaps Rs 1.1 Crore Fine On Air India For Safety Norm Violations

Aviation regulator DGCA has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for failing to comply with applicable guidelines regarding the safety of passengers on board flights.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that the violations by the airline pertained to certain mandatory precautions not being followed for operating long-haul routes passing over water and land not considered safe for emergency landing.

As per the show cause notice issued to Air India, the DGCA examined the airline’s response and prima facie found non-compliance on its part with laid down norms. The regulator said a financial penalty of Rs 10 million has therefore been levied on Air India.

“Maintaining the highest standards of safety has always been the foremost priority of Air India. We will review the DGCA order in detail and take appropriate steps,” an Air India spokesperson said reacting to the fine.

The development comes weeks after DGCA cracked down on growing instances of unruly passenger behavior onboard flights. It had recently imposed fines totaling Rs 37 lakh on four airlines for not following guidelines on handling such issues.

DGCA chief Arun Kumar has reiterated that passenger safety is paramount and any violation of protocols will invite strict action. The regulator has ramped up monitoring of flight operations, maintenance, and crew training standards amid rising incidents in Indian aviation over recent months.

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