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Stay updated with the biggest headlines for Thursday, 15 January- politics, crime, sports, and more – all summarized for quick reading. Get instant access to breaking news, major developments, and trending stories in just one click. Perfect for busy readers who want news on the go.
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The United States State Department has announced a temporary suspension of immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, Russia and Iran, as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration screening and eligibility checks.
The move is aimed at preventing visas from being issued to individuals deemed likely to rely on public assistance after entering the US.
The National Capital Region (NCR) continues to experience severe winter conditions as a prolonged cold wave and dense fog cover the area today. Early morning temperatures fell sharply to 3.6°C at Lodhi Road and 3.5°C in Gurugram, leading authorities to issue a fog alert across the region. Thick fog reduced visibility to near-zero levels in many places, disrupting road, rail, and air transportation. Aviation services were the most affected, with poor visibility at IGI Airport causing delays to at least 54 flights.
An extraordinary display of faith was witnessed at the Sangam in Prayagraj on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. From early morning, a stream of devotees and Kalpavasis (pilgrims observing a month-long religious vow) thronged the various bathing ghats. According to the मेला administration, approximately 2.1 million devotees took a holy dip in the Ganges and Sangam by 8 AM. With the auspicious time lasting throughout the day, it is estimated that this number could exceed one crore (10 million) by evening.
Dense fog enveloped Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday morning. Despite the low visibility, there was no dampening of the devotees' enthusiasm. People continued to arrive at the Sangam ghats amidst the cold and fog, and were seen taking their holy dips with unwavering faith. The administration had made special arrangements for lighting and guidance to ensure that devotees did not face any inconvenience.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Supreme Court of India with a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging developments arising from its recent raid on the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in West Bengal and alleged obstruction by the state government.
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul M Pancholi is scheduled to hear the ED’s plea, which seeks judicial intervention into what the central probe agency describes as interference and obstruction by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other state officials during the January 8 searches.
The elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country's richest municipal corporation, are set to be a major turning point in Maharashtra politics today.
These elections will not only decide the future of Mumbai but also serve as a crucial test for the political survival of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Voting is underway today for the BMC and 29 other municipal bodies in Maharashtra.
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