Natioanal

New Delhi: Northern India is witnessing a sharp dip in temperatures along with dense fog, causing severe inconvenience to residents. From Delhi-NCR to Uttarakhand, the cold wave has set in, while Bihar faces intense winter chill. Delhi-NCR Conditions In Delhi, visibility has dropped drastically due to thick fog, with pollution levels reaching hazardous levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in some areas has soared to 500. The city can expect dense morning fog with a maximum temperature of 26°C and a minimum of 9°C, making it difficult for residents to step outdoors safely. Forecast for Uttar Pradesh UP continues to experience cold and foggy conditions. Cities like Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, and Sant Ravidas Nagar are like...

New Delhi / U.S.: Indian nationals living in the U.S. were thrown into confusion after receiving an email indicating that temporary work visas (H-1B and H-4) had been prudentially revoked. The message, reportedly sent by the U.S. Embassy, has caused widespread concern among visa holders, although experts clarify that the measure is precautionary, not permanent. Background Earlier in India, H-1B visa interviews were postponed. Now, visa holders in the U.S. have been informed that their visas are temporarily canceled as part of increased scrutiny, including enhanced social media checks — a measure previously applied to international students. Legal Perspective According to immigration attorney Emily Newman, the prudential revocation is a temporary, cautionary step, not a permanen...

Mumbai: While air pollution has long plagued Delhi-NCR, Mumbai is now beginning to face a similar crisis. Once considered relatively safe due to its coastal winds, the city’s air quality has started showing worrying signs, raising alarms for public health and governance. Mumbai’s Rising Pollution Levels In November, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 300 on 24 days, with three days crossing 400 — classified as “severe.” Now, Mumbai too is seeing AQI readings around 150, categorized as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Coastal winds that once helped disperse pollutants are no longer sufficient to keep the air clean. Experts warn that without strong policy intervention, the situation could deteriorate rapidly. Main Causes Mumbai’s worsening air quality stems from three prim...

Northern India is grappling with severe cold, and the weather is expected to change in six major cities tomorrow, December 14. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of dense fog in 16 districts, urging commuters to exercise caution, especially during early morning travel. Heavy Snowfall Alert in Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh’s Manali, Shimla, Samdo, Tabo, and Kukumseri are on alert for heavy snowfall. Temperatures are expected to drop sharply in these areas, with Manali recording a minimum of -6°C. Uttarakhand districts including Nainital, Mussoorie, and Chamoli will also see a steep fall in temperatures. Cloudy Skies Across Six Cities Tomorrow, the skies over Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Dehradun, Gulmarg, and Srinagar are expected to be covered with dark clouds. Gul...

New Delhi: Today marks the 24th anniversary of the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, a day when the nation remembers the brave security personnel who foiled the terrorists’ plans at great personal risk. Leaders across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, paid tribute to the martyrs, honoring their courage and sacrifice. Home Minister Amit Shah shared his tribute on the social media platform X, stating:"Today, we recall the indomitable bravery and courage of our security forces against terrorism, when they thwarted the cowardly terrorist attack on the temple of the world’s largest democracy—our Parliament—in 2001. I salute the security personnel who laid down their li...

New Delhi: In response to China’s growing ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, India has officially commenced construction of a second airport on the strategically crucial Great Nicobar Island. Situated near the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for China and the Far East, the new airport aims to strengthen India’s defense and strategic preparedness. Strategic Location:The new airport will be located at Chingen, near Galathea Bay, in the southernmost region of India, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It lies approximately 150 kilometers northwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, and close to the shipping lanes of the Malacca Strait. Great Nicobar already hosts a naval airbase, INS Baaz, at Campbell Bay, which monitors the “Six Degree Shipping Channe...

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against seven individuals and a registered society in connection with ISIS-inspired radicalization in Tamil Nadu. The case dates back to October 2022, following the Coimbatore car-bomb explosion, which prompted the central agency to intensify its investigation. The Case Overview:The investigation revealed that a network was using free online Arabic classes as a cover to radicalize youth for terrorist activities. The supplementary chargesheet names seven accused—Mohammed Hussain, Irshath, Ahmed Ali, Abu Hanifa, Jawahar Sadiq, Sheikh Dawood, and Raja Mohammed—who are students of Jameel Basha, principal of Madras Arabic College, and also targets the Kovai Arabic Educational Association (KAEA). The a...

New Delhi: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing one of its toughest challenges yet. Thousands of passengers were stranded at airports for hours following delays linked to the new FDTL regulations. To understand the crisis, the Times News Network spoke with J.S. Rawat, retired Joint Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Operations or Monopoly?Addressing speculation, Rawat clarified that the issue was not operational, as there were no strikes or technical failures reported. “Sudden disruptions like these are usually predictable if they are operational. This was not one of them,” he noted. On accusations of monopoly, he explained, “IndiGo’s growth was based on market opportunities and strong policies. The presence of other airlines before and after Ind...

New Delhi: In today’s fast-evolving world, companies value skills over degrees. The digital revolution and rise of artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the way we work, demanding creativity, continuous learning, and adaptability. The pressing question remains: Is India’s education system ready to keep pace with these changes? Lessons from the 1990s: The current transformation echoes the 1990s computer revolution. Back then, computer education in colleges was almost nonexistent. Institutions like NIIT and Aptech filled this skill gap, training millions in programming and IT fundamentals, creating India’s first digital workforce. The message was clear: skills can outshine degrees—but only if paired with a solid educational foundation. Skills Alone Are Not Enough: While skills ope...

New Delhi: In a landmark move, the Narendra Modi-led government has approved the SHANTI Bill—Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India—paving the way for private companies to enter the nuclear energy sector. This step is seen as crucial for India’s ambitious goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. The SHANTI Bill aims to provide critical safety assurances to nuclear plant operators, while also clarifying the responsibilities of equipment suppliers. Under the new provisions, operator insurance coverage will be increased to ₹1,500 crore per incident, managed under the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool. Key Features of the SHANTI Bill: Private Sector Participation: For the first time, private companies can operate nuclear plants ...