Daily Briefing: Fog leads to massive disruptions in flight operations in North India; why Milind Deora quit Congress; and more

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued guidelines to airlines that they should publish real-time information regarding flight delays on their websites, inform affected passengers through WhatsApp messages and email, and sensitise their staff at airports to communicate with passengers.

Beyond the fog, here’s what else is causing chaos at the Delhi airport.

👉 Only in Express

“A senior party leader whom I am not going to name requested me not to do it (resign) on the day of the launch of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. It was simply ridiculous. It only reinforced my belief that I was doing the right thing,” says Milind Deora, who recently quit the Congress party and joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. In an interview with The Indian Express, Deora spills the beans on why he quit, and what’s next.

📰 From the Front Page

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday dialled Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed a range of aspects related to the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between the two countries. The phone call comes a day after representatives of several countries met in Davos to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine, with host Switzerland asserting India can play a key role.

The temple trust has finally made its decision — the shyam rang (dark coloured) Ram Lalla idol sculpted on ‘Krishna Shila’ (black stone) by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj has been selected for installation in the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple in Ayodhya.

📌 Must Read

India’s consumer price Index (CPI) based inflation rate touched 5.7% in December. This is the last data inflation data release before the Union Budget on February 1 and also the first release in the election year. How is CPI calculated and what will these numbers mean for the budget and monetary policy of the RBI, Udit Misra explains.

“In his annual media interaction, Army Chief General Manoj Pande presented a mature assessment of security issues facing India whilst making room for pragmatic solutions,” writes Syed Ata Hasnain, in our Opinion section. “While General Pande was emphatic in saying that the levels of violence in Manipur had decreased, he was frank about the situation in J&K, terming it to be a concern. It’s a welcome admission which in no way smacks of negativity.”

🔴 And Finally…

Ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024, Mihir Vasavda and Shivani Naik analyse why in consecutive Olympic cycles India’s best air pistol shooters have suffered an irreversible loss of form.

Delhi Confidential: With Ayodhya’s Ram temple consecration dominating the news, officials from the Press Information Bureau have been assigned the responsibility of creating a buzz on social media around the upcoming interim budget which is to be presented in February.

🎧 In today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast, we speak to The Indian Express’ Maulshree Seth about the complete transformation of Ayodhya town ahead of the inauguration of the Ram temple.

Until tomorrow,

Sonal Gupta and Aradhana Kalia

Business As Usual by Unny