The Morning Standard - April 15, 2025

In this issue

April 15, 2025

India Intensifies Bid to Extradite Fugitive Choksi

Team to travel to Belgium to seek custody of arrested diamantaire named in PNB scam

1 min

Prayer and devotional songs ahead of every match: LSG's traditional touch

THERE are different rituals teams perform before a series or a season. And sometimes before every match. There are beliefs each team has. Lucknow Super Giants is one such team this IPL to follow a more traditional and pious path to invoke the spirits.

1 min

Now, Waqf Act protests spread to South Bengal

Clashes erupted between police and Indian Secular Front (ISF) members protesting against the Waqf (Amendment) Act at Bhangor in South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal on Monday when police put up a barricade to stop the protesters from marching towards Kolkata.

1 min

Smuggling of Chinese drones soaring in TN

GOLD, wildlife, and narcotics have been the usual contraband seized by Chennai Customs, but, of late, smuggling of Chinese drones into Tamil Nadu from Southeast Asian and Gulf countries through airports and seaports is on the rise.

1 min

Modi Dares Cong to Make Muslim President

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly defended the Waqf Act and attacked the Congress opposition to it as nothing but the party's appeasement policy.

1 min

No-parking of End-of-Life Vehicles on roads, move to 'free public space'

THE Delhi government has issued guidelines for 55 lakh End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV), prohibiting public space for their parking.

1 min

As promised, T'gana first off the blocks on SC sub-quota

TELANGANA on Monday became the first state in the country to implement SC categorisation, with the state government issuing GOs notifying the Telangana Scheduled Caste (Rationalisation of Reservation) Act, 2025, its guidelines as well as roster points.

1 min

Team to take Odisha lesson on e-Vidhan

A Delhi Assembly delegation led by Speaker Vijender Gupta will visit Odisha from April 15-17 to study the Odisha Assembly's successful implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA).

1 min

Two auto-rickshaw drivers held for robbing IB official at knifepoint

Accused was tracked through CCTV footage

1 min

Nepal Festival Delhi 2025 Wraps Up with Colors, Cuisine and Culture

The three-day Nepal Festival Delhi 2025 concluded on Sunday, drawing hundreds of visitors to the Nepal Embassy Grounds for a vibrant showcase of Himalayan heritage, cross-border commerce and culinary charm.

1 min

6 Air Quality Monitoring Stations by June 30 to Check Pollution

ENVIRONMENT Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced that the Delhi government will install six new ambient air quality monitoring stations across the capital by June 30.

1 min

Gupta Lays Foundation Stone for Projects in Shalimar Bagh

CHIEF Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several key development projects in the Shalimar Bagh assembly constituency.

1 min

AIIMS Says Will Display Real-Time Waiting Period for Surgeries, Test Results

In a move to increase transparency and improve patient experience, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will now provide real-time online information regarding waiting periods for diagnostic tests and surgeries.

1 min

Rule amended to fix uniforms for auto-drivers

As per DMVR rule that dates back to 1993, drivers were originally mandated to wear khaki-coloured uniforms

2 mins

Ex-armyman absconding for 20 years after killing wife, arrested from MP

A 58-year-old former Indian Army soldier, who had been absconding for over two decades after jumping parole in a murder case, has been arrested from Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh, police said on Monday.

1 min

2 Wanted for Attacking Cop Held After Encounter

TWO men wanted for shooting a Delhi Police constable were arrested following an encounter in the Dwarka area of southwest Delhi, a police official said on Monday.

1 min

No concrete evidence, ex-accountant cleared of ₹55 lakh embezzlement

A Delhi court has overturned the conviction of a former accountant at the National Heart Institute, previously sentenced to three years' imprisonment for allegedly embezzling ₹55 lakh, citing a complete lack of incriminating evidence.

1 min

Prof removed months back reinstated after HC order

THE Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMI) on Sunday issued orders to reinstate Professor Nazim Hussain Jafri as the head of the department of History and Culture, three months after he had himself removed Professor Jafri from this post.

1 min

DU principal applies cow dung on classroom walls, says it was for 'research'

THE principal of DU's Laxmibai College coated classroom walls with cow dung. The video of the incident went viral on social media on Sunday.

1 min

Trilokpuri fights overflowing drains

Rising woes: Streets in blocks 30, 31 and 32 of Himmatpuri area inundated with filthy water

2 mins

Uptick in Int'l Student Enrollment at IIT-D Abu Dhabi Campus This Year

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus has recorded a sharp rise in international student enrollment in its second academic year.

1 min

'Drunk' man creates chaos at temple, killed

AS the state immersed in the celebrations of Maha Vishuba Sankranti on Monday, a 55-year-old man was hacked to death by a group in Bolagarh, about 67 km from the state capital, after he reportedly created a nuisance inside a temple under the influence of alcohol.

1 min

Youth Murders Jail-Returned Father With Iron Pipe in Rourkela

ROURKELA seems to be in the grip of a murder epidemic as another brutal killing of a 60-year-old man rocked the steel city on Sunday night.

1 min

Water crisis forces over 100 jeans units to shut temporarily in Karnataka city

THE summer season has adversely affected the famed jeans industry here again. Over 100 jeans units have shut, though temporarily, as a severe shortage of water has hit the industry hard, leaving hundreds of people unemployed.

1 min

Be aware! Tigers lurk in Bengaluru's backyard

The number of tigers in the outskirts of Bengaluru appears to be on the rise.

1 min

Naidu says AP committed to social justice, to revive Ambedkar edu scheme

ON the occasion of Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reaffirmed his government's commitment to social justice and the upliftment of underprivileged communities, particularly Dalits.

1 min

Politics of Love Stronger, Says Stalin

'Only limited success has been achieved in 100 to 200 years in eradicating inequalities'

2 mins

Don't retain seized property indefinitely, HC tells courts

THE Orissa High Court has issued a set of guidelines for the courts and investigating authorities in the state to ensure that seized property is not retained indefinitely without valid legal justification.

1 min

Kurnool Continues to Grapple With Persistent Labour Migration Problem

\"Chronic lack of irrigation and drinking water\"

1 min

Casting a Wider Net Across Indian Ocean

India recently withdrew transhipment facilities for Bangladeshi goods through Indian ports and airports, citing congestion creating problems for Indian exports.

3 mins

The Reality Of The Distracted Employee

New research shows that seven out of 10 employees in India are insecure. This leads to anxiety, which in turn leads to unhappiness. Time for some hard questions

4 mins

Shah Says Goal To Build Empowered India, Hails 'Scientific' Justice System

HOME Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the Government has been taking transformative steps to modernise the country's criminal justice system.

1 min

National Task Force to Set Up Portal for Data Collection on Students' Suicide

The Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) on the mental health concerns of students and the prevention of suicides in Higher Educational Institutions, in its second meeting, discussed developing a portal for data collection.

1 min

Aikeyme 25: 1st India, Africa 6-day maritime exercise on

INDIA launched its largest-ever, six-day joint naval exercise with nine African nations called Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) on Sunday to enhance interoperability and synergise action among the maritime forces of partner nations.

1 min

NHAI timeline set for timely land acquisition

No Possession

1 min

EC Must Clear the Air on Surge in Electors

A more broad-based selection panel for CEC will create greater confidence, says former EC Ashok Lavasa

4 mins

Shinde-Shah meet sparks buzz of rift

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently had an audience with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been in Maharashtra for a visit, in the absence of CM Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, sparking buzz of a rift in the Mahayuti government.

1 min

Kukis Oppose Meiteis' Yatra in Manipur Hill

FRESH tension is building in Manipur as Kuki-Zo tribals oppose a Meitei pilgrimage to Thangjing Hill in the Churachandpur district.

1 min

300 kg of crystal meth worth ₹1.8K cr recovered off Gujarat coast: Officials

In a significant blow to the drug trafficking nexus operating near Indian waters, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in a joint overnight operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on April 12-13, 2025, seized over 300 kg of narcotics (methamphetamine) worth approximately ₹1,800 crore off the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) near the Gujarat coast.

1 min

Bajwa skips Mohali cyber cops' summons

PUNJAB LoP and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa did not appear before the Mohali cyber crime police on Monday regarding his comments about \"50 bombs\" and sought an extension until Tuesday.

1 min

Tejashwi to Meet Kharge, Rahul in Delhi on Apr 15 Ahead of Oppn Meeting

RASHTRIYA Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav is likely to meet senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi on Tuesday to deliberate upon seat-sharing and other issues pertaining to the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar.

1 min

C'garh BJP MP Expresses Concern With CM Over Crime and Traffic

BJP Lok Sabha MP from Raipur Brijmohan Agrawal has written to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to fill the police force's existing vacancies immediately in light of growing concern over rising crime and traffic issues in the state capital, Raipur.

1 min

3 Jain Monks in MP Temple Attacked by Youths from Raj

SPARKS OUTRAGE

2 mins

BJP leader named Gabbar among 8 arrested in Kasganj gang-rape case

Fiancé assaulted by the accused

1 min

Denied chance to speak, Shinde & Pawar red-faced

Maha deputy CMs to deliver speeches on Ambedkar's birth anniv

1 min

Tariffs on Semiconductors Coming Next Week, Warns President Trump

Exemptions on electronic items just a temporary reprieve says US commerce secretary

1 min

Air passenger numbers hit 5 billion in 2024

The 2024 global total passengers are close to 5 billion, representing an increase of 9% from 2023, according to Airports Council International (ACI) world's global airport data released on Monday.

1 min

Will free hostages if end to war guaranteed: Hamas

A senior Hamas official said on Monday that the Palestinian group is prepared to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for a \"serious prisoner swap\" and guarantees that Israel will end the war in Gaza.

1 min

Peruvian Lit Nobel Awardee Mario Vargas Llosa Dies

PERUVIAN author Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel literature laureate and a giant of Latin American letters for many decades, has died, his son said on Sunday.

1 min

Trial that could force Meta to break off Insta, WhatsApp starts

META Platforms Inc faces a historic antitrust trial beginning Monday that could force the tech giant to break off Instagram and WhatsApp, startups it bought more than a decade ago that have since grown into social media powerhouses.

1 min

India-born doc, family die in US air crash

AN India-born doctor and members of her family died in a plane crash in upstate New York over the weekend while heading to the Catskills Mountains for a birthday celebration.

1 min

Next round of US-Iran talks likely to be held in Rome

TALKS between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program appeared ready on Monday to leave the Middle East, as an Italian source said the next round of negotiations would take place in Rome.

1 min

All-female celebrity crew steers rocket into space

JEFF Bezos' Blue Origin launched his fiancée Lauren Sanchez into space on Monday with an all-female celebrity crew that included Katy Perry and Gayle King.

1 min

SEMICONDUCTOR Foxconn scouts for land near Yamuna Expressway for manufacturing facility

TAIWANESE contract manufacturer Foxconn is scouting for a 300-acre land parcel near Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, for its manufacturing unit.

1 min

US Tariffs May Open Up Options for India: VW

GERMAN car brand Skoda Auto Volkswagen India on Monday said the new reciprocal tariff announced by US President Donald Trump may open up opportunities for the auto industries in the long term.

1 min

IT companies look for employees with specialized AI skills

NEARLY 50% of IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)' lateral hires are coming in with high-end skills including Artificial Intelligence/ Gen AI and others.

1 min

GCCs Look Beyond Metro Cities

Moving to tier-2 cities like Kochi, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur for cost agility, talent diversification

1 min

Depositors to earn less as banks cut FD, savings a/c interest rates

Banks attempt to protect thinning margins

2 mins

Apple Leads Smartphone Market Globally in 1st Quarter; Samsung's Share Drops 5%

IPHONE maker Apple grabbed the top spot in the first quarter of this calendar year, capturing 19% of the global market share, driven by robust sales in India and Japan.

1 min

High-end housing sales jump 28% in top 7 cities in January-March quarter

LUXURY housing segment (units priced at ₹4 crore and above) saw 28% YoY sales growth in Jan-Mar 2025 across the country's top seven cities, as per real estate consultant CBRE South Asia's 'India Market Monitor Q1 2025-Residential' report.

1 min

Brothers settle disputes; Macrotech gets right to use Lodha brand name

LODHA brothers Abhishek, who runs Macrotech Developers, and younger one Abhinandan, owner of plotted development firm House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), have \"amicably settled\" their disputes over use of \"Lodha\" brand.

1 min

Man on a mission: Hungry Karun proving his worth

CHASING 206 against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, Delhi Capitals lost the wicket of their opener Jake Fraser-McGurk off the first ball making Karun Nair walk in as an impact player.

2 mins

TT Talents Set to Go Under Hammer Today

CHINESE paddler Fan Siqi, World No 13 Bernadette Szocs, Olympians Aruna Quadri, Alvaro Robles and several rising Indian paddlers, led by junior World No 6 Ankur Bhattacharjee, will headline the Ultimate Table Tennis Season 6 player auction, set to take place in Mumbai on April 15.

1 min

In-form Indian shooters set for Lima challenge

INDIAN shooters were among big-hitters during the ISSF World Cup (rifle/pistol/shotgun) in Buenos Aires held last week.

1 min

Major victory: Masters glory at last for McIlroy

WHETHER it was resetting after missing a putt to win or riding some well-earned luck at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy took pride in little details that made him a Masters champion.

1 min

Dhoni's CSK at home in Lucknow

With sea of yellow by their side, CSK up their game to record vital victory over LSG

2 mins

Indian Open: Last chance to qualify for Fed meet

INDIAN Open Athletics Championships, an event that was included in Athletics Federation of India's (AFI) domestic calendar earlier this year, has not seen too many entries in certain categories since it began on April 1.

1 min

Summer Fashion With Sustainability

Delhi entrepreneur Khitish Pandya, through his brand Ecotasar, is meeting two goals—providing a sustainable income to more than 3,000 rural and adivasi women, and making environment-friendly sarees

2 mins

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