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Thick Fog Blankets North India, Plays Spoilsport For Travellers

By
Manali Goswami
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Thick Fog Blankets North India, Plays Spoilsport For Travellers

An intense and blinding fog enveloped Delhi and other parts of North India on Saturday morning, disrupting air and rail services and leaving passengers stranded.

Around 80 flights were delayed at Delhi Airport as visibility dropped significantly amid the dense winter fog. Several trains running across northern states were also running behind schedule much to the inconvenience of travellers.

Passengers were seen anxiously waiting at the New Delhi Railway Station for delayed trains headed to various destinations. Some rued their flights or trains were delayed by 2-3 hours from original departure timings.

A Sikh family travelling to Gangtok to ring in the New Year complained of their flight being delayed by almost 2 hours. Pilgrims on their way to Mata Vaishno Devi temple also lamented trains not arriving on time.

Officials said over 50 flights had to be diverted from Delhi Airport over the past few days while many were cancelled as pilots aren’t trained to navigate in ‘zero visibility’ conditions. IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet reported maximum flight delays and diversions.

The dip in temperatures coupled with high air pollution has trapped pollutants close to the ground, reducing visibility at many places to less than 50 meters – not enough for safe navigation.

Weather officials have forecast dense to extremely dense fog in North India including Delhi for the next 2-3 days. Relief from fog can be expected only after New Year’s Eve.

Authorities have advised travellers to check flight and train status in advance to avoid getting stranded midway. Night shelters have also been spruced up for the homeless to protect them from extreme cold.

The fog disruptions serve as a reminder to improve transportation infrastructure and technologies to deal with such weather vagaries whose intensity could increase due to climate change in future.

PM Modi Inaugurates ‘Airport-Like’ Ayodhya Railway Station

By
Manali Goswami
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PM Modi Inaugurates 'Airport-Like' Ayodhya Railway Station

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the newly constructed Ayodhya Dham Railway Station, describing it as an airport-like transit hub that will significantly enhance connectivity to the temple town.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ( Image Source: PTI )

The contemporary station built at over Rs 240 crore is a three-story structure with modern amenities on par with airports like escalators, lifts, food plazas, child care rooms, and green building features.

Equipped to handle thousands of daily passengers, the station has been designed to be accessible to all travelers. Its world-class facilities represent the Prime Minister’s vision to transform Ayodhya’s infrastructure.

PM Modi also flagged off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains from Ayodhya and six Vande Bharat trains to various destinations. This adds to the chain of new-age trains being launched across India.

The Ayodhya Dham Railway Station is among a slew of projects worth Rs 2300 crore inaugurated by the PM to boost connectivity and travel experience in Uttar Pradesh.

The other railway infrastructure projects launched include the third line between Rooma and Chakeri, the doubling and electrification of the Malhaur-Daliganj stretch, and the Jaunpur-Ayodhya doubling among others.

The inaugurations coincide with the much-awaited event of Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya which will draw lakhs of devotees. The airport-style railway station will now become the gateway for travelers arriving in the holy city.

With the chain of projects, the emphasis is on enhancing last-mile connectivity as well as the comfort and safety of rail journeys linking Ayodhya. PM Modi has underlined the importance of top-class transit hubs and transport links for places of religious significance.

India’s Exports To Australia Grow 14% In April-November Period

By
Manali Goswami
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India's Exports To Australia Grow 14% In April-November Period

India’s exports to Australia registered a healthy 14% growth in the April to November period of the ongoing fiscal year, touching $5.8 billion, according to data shared by the Department of Commerce.

This robust export growth has been attributed to the interim free trade agreement between the two countries which came into effect on December 29, 2022. Several key sectors like engineering, pharmaceuticals, electronics, spices, textiles and plastics saw increased outbound shipments.

Additional Secretary in the Commerce Ministry, Rajesh Agrawal said that businesses in both India and Australia are starting to benefit from the trade deal. He added that negotiations are underway to expand the current interim pact into a more comprehensive economic cooperation agreement.

At the same time, India’s imports from Australia fell 19% to $11.14 billion during April-November 2022. As a result, the overall bilateral trade declined 10% to $17 billion. Australia mainly ships gold, pulses, metals, wood products and machine tools to India.

The trade agreement has provided customs duty concessions to some Indian export products including gold jewellery studded with diamonds, oil pipes, cotton garments and artificial fibre dresses. Exports of these items logged strong double-digit growth.

However, shipments of gems & jewellery and handicrafts from India recorded negative growth in this period. The surge in gold imports from Australia has been significant as it rose nearly 4 times to $1.56 billion.

Experts feel the interim free trade pact will open up opportunities for India to source critical minerals and items related to energy transition from resource-rich Australia. Both nations aim to build a broader, mutually beneficial economic partnership.

Light Rainfall In Store For Southern States

By
Manali Goswami
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0
Light Rainfall In Store For Southern States

Several parts of southern India are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall over the next few days due to a fresh easterly wave, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted.

IMD said that under the influence of this easterly wave, isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall is very likely over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Lakshadweep islands from December 29, 2023, to January 2, 2024.

This spells a wet end to the year for these states which have received deficient rainfall over the past couple of months. The rainfall is expected to bring some respite from the dry weather and cooler temperatures.

However, the rainfall will still be isolated to scattered in nature, so widespread heavy downpour is not expected. Some southern districts could see good rainfall activity while other areas may not receive significant showers.

The forecast rainfall will also help upcoming crops and winter-sown crops like rice and pulses as many parts of these states have seen lower precipitation than normal. Going forward into January, farmers will hope for further rainfall or winter showers to ensure adequate soil moisture.

Overall, the predicted isolation to scattered rains over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Lakshadweep islands in the next three to four days due to the influence of the easterly wave will come as a relief amid the mainly dry weather patterns recently.

Indian Equities Retreat From Record Highs As Investors Book Profits

By
Manali Goswami
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Indian Equities Retreat From Record Highs As Investors Book Profits

Indian shares snapped their 5-day record-setting rally on Friday, as investors chose to book profits at higher levels amidst global growth concerns. The BSE Sensex shed 170 points to close at 72,240, while the NSE Nifty 50 settled at 21,726, down over 50 points.

The markets had scaled lifetime peaks for the fifth straight session in the previous trade, buoyed by the recent policy pivot by global central banks towards lower interest rates. But expectations of further large gains from current levels led to profit-taking.

Among major Sensex movers, Tata Motors, Nestle, HUL, Tata Steel, and Bajaj Finance saw buying interest. On the flipside, heavyweight finance stocks like SBI, Infosys, Titan, and IndusInd Bank faced selling pressure.

The broader markets though continued to outperform the large-caps, with mid-caps and small-caps climbing up to 0.85% each. Only the Nifty 100 index of most valued companies closed mildly lower.

On the sectoral front, IT, PSU bank, and oil & gas shares lagged the most. But auto and FMCG stocks bucked the weak trend on the back of stock-specific action.

Vinod Nair, head of research at GEOJIT Financial Services, said the start of 2023 is likely to see a continuation of the ongoing rally led by global cues and domestic growth optimism. But he cautioned that valuations in the large-cap space remain stretched, restricting major upsides from here on.

On Friday, the rupee settled unchanged at 83.20 against the US dollar. FIIs purchased equities worth ₹4,359 crore yesterday per exchange data, providing support to the markets. The direction of foreign flows will remain a key driver going ahead.

Munawar Faruqui Faces Allegations About His Relationships In Bigg Boss 17 Courtroom Drama

By
Manali Goswami
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Munawar Faruqui Faces Allegations About His Relationships In Bigg Boss 17 Courtroom Drama

In tonight’s episode of Bigg Boss 17, the spotlight will fall on contestant Munawar Faruqui and accusations about his romantic relationships, both inside and outside the house.

A mock courtroom sequence has been set up with Munawar in the witness box facing charges leveled by ‘prosecutor’ Vicky Jain. Defending him is none other than actress Ankita Lokhande, while Arun Srikanth and Aoora play the judges.

As per promos, Vicky comes down heavily on Munawar, alleging that he puts on a fabricated, fake persona about his relationships to win favors and votes. He suggests Munawar was simply sweet-talking about his girlfriend to build an image and win hearts, but things fell apart when his ex Ayesha arrived on the show.

Ankita rebuts saying Munawar did slip up while committed, but he is not fake. However, as more accusations fly from Vicky about selectively maintaining appearances, Munawar looks shattered being in the dock.

Following the tense drama, Munawar shares an emotional moment with Mannara Chopra who consoles him. She tells him it’s okay if he harbors hatred towards her, but she just wants to hug him.

Munawar confides he’s upset that housemates are trying to “prove” his bond with Mannara was also staged and schemed. Mannara lays her heart bare too, expressing she just wanted Munawar to talk things out after their Weekend Ka Vaar fight.

With relationships and feelings under the scanner, it looks to be an explosive episode for the vulnerable Munawar tonight. Fans will be keenly watching how he handles the personal attacks and rebuilds trust with others, if at all.

Bigg Boss 17 airs every Monday to Friday at 10:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 pm on Colors, with a 24-hour LIVE channel on JioCinema.

India Records 797 New Covid Cases, Highest In 225 Days Amid JN.1 Scare

By
Manali Goswami
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India Logs 743 Covid Cases, 7 Deaths; Experts Advise Caution Amid Festivities

India on Friday reported 797 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day tally in over 7 months, along with 5 new virus-related deaths. This spike in infections comes even as authorities remain vigilant over the spread of the new JN.1 sub-variant in the country.

According to Health Ministry data, the latest daily caseload of 797 is the highest since May 19, 2022, when India logged 865 cases. The sudden jump in numbers in the past week follows a declining curve of infections from early December when cases had dipped to double digits.

The emergence of the Omicron sub-variant JN.1 is being seen as one of the key reasons behind the uptick. As per reports, a total of 145 JN.1 cases were detected across India between November 21 and December 18 during genome sequencing of samples.

The winter season is also contributing to increased virus transmission. But overall India continues to be in a much better position compared to the pandemic peak in 2020-21 when lakhs of cases were being reported daily.

As of date, active cases stand at 4,091 while the recovery rate is 98.81% – one of the highest globally. Over 220 crore vaccine doses have been administered under the nationwide vaccination drive so far.

However, given festivals, the ongoing winter season, and the looming threat of new mutants, experts have advised exercising caution and following Covid-appropriate behavior, especially in crowded settings. Any negligent attitude can risk losing the gains made against the pandemic.

Authorities have also ramped up testing, screening, and genome sequencing of positive samples in airports and communities. The possibility of fresh curbs cannot be ruled out if daily case trajectories continue rising rapidly from current levels.

But India finds itself in a much better position to mount rapid public health responses as compared to the devastating Delta wave of 2021 which took thousands of lives daily. Continued vigilance and responsible public behavior will be vital.

Nirmala Sitharaman Pays Last Respects To Tamil Nadu Leader Vijayakanth On PM’s Behalf

By
Manali Goswami
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0
Nirmala Sitharaman Pays Last Respects To Tamil Nadu Leader Vijayakanth On PM's Behalf

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Chennai on Friday along with Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai to pay her last respects to veteran actor and politician ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth.

Sitharaman conveyed that she had come to offer tributes on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government. The DMDK founder-leader passed away at the age of 69 on Thursday following a bout of illness.

In her comments after paying homage, Sitharaman described Vijayakanth as the “most humane leader in Tamil politics” who enjoyed massive popularity amongst the public. She said the actor-turned-politician was admired as a self-made and upright figure.

According to the Finance Minister, Vijayakanth had transformed political practices and culture after entering public life in Tamil Nadu. She pointed out that the outpouring of grief from supporters making queues run 10kms long was a testament to both his appeal and the void left behind.

Chief Minister MK Stalin, former CM Edappadi Palaniswami, DMK heir Udhayanidhi Stalin, and party leaders like Thol Thirumavalavan were among the VIPs who turned up to pay respects on Thursday after his demise. Top film personalities of Tamil cinema also came to offer their condolences.

Vijayakanth founded the DMDK party in 2005 after enjoying a successful career in films for over two decades. He continued to be an influential figure and alliance partner despite not achieving electoral success to match his popularity.

After lying at his residence and party office for the public to pay homage, Vijayakanth’s funeral is scheduled for Friday evening. The charismatic Tamil leader’s death marks the end of an eventful chapter in the state’s political history.

Ram Mandir Trust Introduces Online Booking For Devotee Passes

By
Manali Goswami
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0
Ram Mandir Trust Introduces Online Booking For Devotee Passes

With the inauguration of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya slated for January 2024, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has opened an online application facility for devotees to secure passes for the temple ‘aarti’ and ‘darshan’.

The move aims to streamline crowd management and save time for devotees planning to attend the prayer ceremonies at the highly anticipated temple site. As per trustee Prakash Gupta, 20 online passes will be made available for each of the three aarti sessions held daily.

Devotees have welcomed the initiative to book the sought-after passes via the Trust’s website https://srjbtkshetra.org/. The online system is seen as a blessing, enabling confirmation of places at the aarti in advance from the comfort of one’s home.

The temple management itself had been struggling to handle the serpentine queues and rising demand at the physical counters as the inauguration nears. The virtual route now provides devotees the flexibility to schedule their visits with passes secured.

The Ram Mandir will be open for ‘darshan’ between 7-11:30 am and 2-7 pm daily. The prayer ceremonies are scheduled thrice in this period – starting with the Shringar Aarti at 6:30 am, followed by the afternoon Bhog Aarti at 12:30 pm and the evening Sandhya Aarti at 7:30 pm.

All online applicants need to provide identification such as an Aadhaar card, driver’s license, etc. to complete the booking. While morning aarti passes are released in advance, bookings for evening events open only during the day depending on availability.

With devotees set to pour in from all corners of India and abroad, the online system will be pivotal in meeting the massive demand for passes expected ahead of the inauguration next year.

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dunki’ Crosses Rs 300 Crore Globally In 7 Days

By
Manali Goswami
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0
Shah Rukh Khan's 'Dunki' Crosses Rs 300 Crore Globally In 7 Days

Shah Rukh Khan has scored yet another smash hit with his latest release ‘Dunki’. The Rajkumar Hirani directorial, which hit theaters on December 22nd, has won over audiences worldwide with its heartwarming story and the superstar’s stellar performance.

According to production house Red Chillies Entertainment, ‘Dunki’ has amassed over Rs. 305 crore at the global box office within just 7 days of its release. This is a remarkable achievement for a standalone Hindi film.

In India alone, the family entertainer has grossed over Rs. 150 crore so far. It is enticing huge crowds of all age groups to theaters across the country. The film’s universal appeal and emotional resonance are cited as the major reasons behind its runaway success.

When quizzed by a fan during a recent #AskSRK session on which 2023 film – ‘Pathaan’, ‘Jawan’ or ‘Dunki’ – was most creatively satisfying for him, Shah Rukh answered ‘Dunki’ owing to the varied emotions his character gets to portray.

Also starring Taapsee Pannu, Boman Irani, Vicky Kaushal, and others, ‘Dunki’ chronicles the journey of two friends played by SRK and Kaushal, as emotional upheavals test their bond against the backdrop of immigration.

With Hirani helming the project and a stellar crew bringing the story to life, the film has clicked big time with critics and audiences. As it enters its second week, ‘Dunki’ will be looking to sustain its winning momentum at the box office through strong word-of-mouth publicity.

The current numbers prove that Shah Rukh’s career is soaring to an all-time high this year with back-to-back money-spinners. And he attributes his dream run in 2023 wholly to his fans’ unconditional love and support.

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