The Morning Standard - February 16, 2025

In this issue

February 16, 2025

Punjab Police Make First Arrest, Nab Travel Agent

PUNJAB police made its first arrest of a travel agent involved in illegal immigration practices, following the deportation of 104 Indians from the US on February 5.

1 min

Tharoor's praise for Kerala in TNIE column sparks Cong backlash

FINDING itself in an embarrassing situation after party MP Shashi Tharoor heaped praise on the Left-ruled Kerala, calling the state a model of economic innovation and sustainable growth, the Congress leadership launched an open attack on him.

1 min

Two students found dead in Ashoka univ

TWO BA second-year students were found dead in separate locations late Friday night at Ashoka University in Sonipat's Rai, raising serious concerns about campus security.

1 min

Compile List of AAP Appointments, Says Chief Secy

DAYS after the change of guard in the national capital, Chief Secretary Dharmendra directed all secretaries and heads of departments on Saturday to compile a list of the AAP government's appointments of chairpersons and members.

1 min

US sends back 119 Indians in military aircraft

THE US on Saturday sent back 119 illegal Indian immigrants on a military aircraft—the second such deportation since Donald Trump took office as President—triggering a fresh political controversy with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann protesting the choice of Amritsar as the arrival point.

1 min

Kumbh rush leads to chaos at New Delhi station, many hurt

A massive crowd surge at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday led to chaos, leaving at least a dozen people, including four women, injured.

1 min

CVC Launches Probe into 'Kejriwal's 'Sheesh Mahal' Building Norm Breach

IN fresh trouble for Arvind Kejriwal, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has ordered an investigation into alleged financial and regulatory irregularities in the renovation of his official residence at 6 Flagstaff Bungalow, which the BJP has dubbed \"sheesh mahal\".

1 min

Video Shows Passengers Jumping Over Metro Exit Gates

THE Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) addressed a viral video circulating on social media, which showed passengers jumping over the automatic fare collection (AFC) gates to exit at Jama Masjid Metro station on the Violet Line on February 13.

1 min

NSUI writes to JMI VC over students' suspension

AMID the row over the suspension of more than 15 students from Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University, National Students' Union of India (NSUI) president Varun Choudhary on Saturday wrote to the vice chancellor, Prof Mazhar Asif, condemning the action.

1 min

Blow to AAP as 3 councillors join BJP

With the defection coming ahead of MCD mayor poll, AAP's strength has now reduced from 121 to 115

1 min

NCRTC to begin Namo Bharat corridor soon

THE National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is set to initiate the construction of another Namo Bharat corridor linking Delhi to Panipat.

1 min

Cops to file chargesheet in MCOCA case against gangster Nandu's aides by Feb 24

THE Delhi Police on Saturday informed the Rouse Avenue Court that a chargesheet against two accused in an MCOCA case linked to notorious gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu will be filed by Feb 24.

1 min

MCD Revises Enforcement Rates for Composition, Removal, Storage Charges

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has announced revised enforcement rates of composition fees, removal charges and storage charges, superseding its previous circular dated July 19, 2023.

1 min

No funds unless Stalin accepts NEP entirely, says Pradhan

UNION Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday categorically said funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme will not be released for Tamil Nadu unless the state government accepts the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, in its entirety.

1 min

Ex-Goa MLA dies after assault by auto driver

FORMER Goa MLA Lavoo Mamledar, 69, died here on Saturday soon after he was allegedly assaulted by an autorickshaw driver.

1 min

Man surrenders after killing wife near Villupuram

A 45-year-old man was arrested after he surrendered to the police for allegedly killing his wife over suspicions of an illicit affair in Kandamangalam.

1 min

Tamil Sangamam an embodiment of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', says Modi

CONSIDERED to be a cultural bridge between the north and south India, the third edition of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam was inaugurated by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Minister of State Dr L Murugan in Varanasi on Saturday.

1 min

8-km rail line from KIA to city soon

6.25-km stretch of the line will be elevated and 1.65 km will be underground, says Vaishnaw

2 mins

Nursing Council to Debar Accused in Ragging Case

TAKING a stringent stance in the ragging incident reported at the Government College of Nursing in Kottayam, the Kerala Nursing and Midwifery Council (KNMC) has decided to debar the accused students from further studies.

1 min

Keep 1 day/month for 'clean' Andhra, Naidu tells citizens

CHIEF Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has pledged to transform Andhra Pradesh into a cleaner and greener State and urged citizens to dedicate one day each month to cleanliness.

1 min

Revanth Rules Out Rift With Rahul, Says He's Working Under Guidance From LoP

AFTER a tête-à-tête with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Saturday, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy sought to dispel rumours of a rift between them, affirming that there is \"no gap\" as is being made out.

2 mins

Grab A Stick, Take The Turf

Government worker and volleyball player Mohammed Emad Uddin has brought hockey into lives of people in a border district in Assam, motivating children to hone their skills and go on to represent their state & nation in the sport, Prasanta Mazumdar writes

3 mins

Coffee With Bureaucrat

To make govt offices more accessible and swiftly resolve issues, a Jharkhand officer floats a new initiative, says Mukesh Ranjan

2 mins

Looking Beyond Limitations

Rising above physical disability, educator K Sharda is ushering innovation into the classroom

2 mins

The Kumbh of Digital Spirituality

As the Kumbh Mela draws to a close this year, everyone is experiencing FOMO (fear of missing out), fueled by influencers covering the event. I, too, appeared on a podcast to talk about the spiritual significance

3 mins

Connecting Musk, Maga and Miga

USK and Modi aren't made for each other. And there is nothing common between the two.

4 mins

THE CRINGE THAT SHOOK US

I worry there is something broken in our generation; there are too many sad eyes on happy faces.

1 min

EAM, Ukraine foreign minister talk bilateral ties

DURING a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged India's support in achieving a lasting peace in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

1 min

Harvard, Stanford Link to 'Clean' Kumbh

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has tied up with institutions of international repute to study waste management and delivery of urban services at the ongoing Maha Kumbh, where the footfall has already crossed the 50-crore mark.

1 min

'Kumbh

The ministry recently requested the UP urban development department to grant \"necessary\" permissions to conduct studies and gather data.

1 min

11 Places in Delhi, Haryana Raided for Crypto Fraud

THE CBI on Saturday said it had conducted raids at 11 locations across Delhi and Haryana as part of its investigation into a crypto fraud case, which led to the seizure of ₹1.08 crore in cash, foreign currency, and gold.

1 min

Brace for tight norms after Trump order

The State Department has reduced eligibility window for visa interview waivers from 48 months to just 12 months

2 mins

Places of Worship Act: CJI-led SC bench will hear pleas on Feb 17

The Supreme Court will hear a batch of petitions related to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, on February 17.

1 min

47 elephants killed in rail accidents between '21 & '24, Rajya Sabha told

THE past three years have witnessed a worrying increase in elephant casualties caused by train collisions, electrocutions, poaching, and poisoning.

1 min

Why Amritsar Chosen? Political Slugfest Erupts

BJP and Congress flay CM Bhagwant Mann questioning logic behind all US planes carrying illegal deportees landing only in Punjab city

3 mins

Ahead of biz summit, Himanta says travel curbs to NE against investment

AS Assam gears up for the ‘Advantage Assam 2.0’ business summit to be held February 25-26, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday emphasised the collective responsibility to create a positive atmosphere for attracting investments to the state.

1 min

External influence: Uttarakhand book fair put off

In a surprising turn of events, the highly anticipated book fair in Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, scheduled for February 15 and 16, has been cancelled abruptly.

2 mins

After being abandoned in dustbin, 'Pihu' saved by docs at Bhopal hosp

A newborn girl, abandoned in a dustbin with her throat slit in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district last month, was saved thanks to timely twin surgeries and 24-hour medical care at a government hospital in Bhopal.

1 min

Hamas frees 3 Israeli hostages in Gaza, Israel releases 369 prisoners

All three hostages released are men who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel where some 80 of 1,400 residents were taken hostage on October 7, 2023. Here's a quick look at their background

2 mins

Pope Appoints Sister Raffaella Petrini to Run Vatican as Its First Woman Gov

Another woman is taking over a top management job in the Vatican: Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian nun, was named Saturday as president of the Vatican City State, making her essentially the governor of 108-acre territory in Rome that is home to the Catholic Church.

1 min

OpenAI Board Rejects Musk's $97.4 Billion Takeover Bid

OPENAI says its board of directors has unanimously rejected a $97.4 billion takeover bid by Elon Musk.

1 min

Hamas Frees 3 Israeli Hostages in Gaza, Israel Releases 369 Prisoners

PALESTINIAN militants released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for 369 Palestinian inmates freed by Israel, completing the latest swap despite fears the Gaza truce deal was near collapse.

2 mins

Eastern Congo's second-largest city falls to rebels backed by Rwanda

PANIC swept through eastern Congo's second-largest city on Saturday as residents fled by the thousands, scrambling to escape the looming advance of Rwanda-backed rebels.

1 min

Bajaj Consumer Acquires Hyderabad-Based Vishal Personal Care for ₹120 Cr

BAJAJ Consumer Care, the Kushagra Bajaj-promoted company will acquire a 100% stake in Vishal Personal Care, the Hyderabad-based FMCG company, for ₹120 crore.

1 min

Disclosure rules on related-party transaction

MARKETS regulator Sebi on Saturday introduced industry standards for the minimum information that listed entities are required to provide to the audit committee and shareholders when seeking approval for related-party transactions.

1 min

Infra Setbacks Under New Regimes

Deals That Went Wrong

3 mins

New India Co-op Bank former GM booked for ₹122 crore fraud

The economic offences wing of the Mumbai Police have registered a case against Hitesh Praveenchand Mehta, a former general manager and head of accounts with New India Cooperative Bank.

1 min

Good time for cos to invest in India

Hindalco MD Satish Pai says PLI scheme, state incentives are encouraging cos to invest in India

2 mins

India edge England in Pro League

A confident India began their campaign in the Women's Pro League with a 3-2 win against higher-ranked England at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.

1 min

On Stranger Tides

Lara Maiklam on the foreshore of the Thames river

1 min

Nine Whole Yards of the Dream Draper

A personal narrative of collective memories that embroider the stories of families and friends on the fabric of essential India

1 min

Décor Drama

Lifestyle brands Nicobar and The Singleton Social come together to launch a new collection of elegant home décor items

2 mins

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