Hindustan Times Delhi - March 18, 2025

In this issue

March 18, 2025

Stranded astronauts set to return tomorrow

WASHINGTON: After more than nine months in space, two Nasa astronauts who captured the world's attention for being stuck in orbit are finally set to return home.

2 mins

Bail for journos in Revanth video case

BENGALURU: A Hyderabad court on Monday granted bail to two women journalists in connection with circulating defamatory content against Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, days after they were arrested on the basis of a complaint by a Congress worker.

1 min

Naidu lends support to 3-language policy

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday appeared to lend his support to the Centre's contentious three-language policy, saying it was not good to politicise or spread hatred on the issue and adding that English, Hindi and Telugu were all important.

1 min

Courts should not gag criticism: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday emphasised that courts should not issue gag orders against media organisations and underlined that fair criticism of a judicial order cannot be construed as contempt of court, expressing concerns over a Delhi high court directive requiring Wikipedia to remove within 36 hours a page related to a pending ₹2 crore defamation suit filed by news agency Asian News International (ANI) against the platform.

1 min

China Welcomes PM's Remarks On Sino-India Bilateral Ties

Beijing on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on India-China cooperation being essential for global stability and prosperity, and said the Chinese side stands ready to work with New Delhi to rebuild bilateral ties.

1 min

India Calls For US Action On Pro-Khalistan Group

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday flagged India's concerns about the activities of US-based secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which has called for the creation of Khalistan, and its links with Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence, during talks with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, people aware of the matter said.

3 mins

The one to watch: 17-year-old Russian prodigy makes explosive entry into Steffi, Serena club

MUMBAI: Mirra Andreeva likes to carry a little notebook with her to court. It contains handwritten notes on the opponents the 17-year-old has faced, and she often flips through it during mid-match changeovers.

1 min

Accused in Amritsar grenade attack shot dead in encounter

THE SUSPECT SHOT ONE CONSTABLE ON HIS LEFT HAND AND HIT ANOTHER ON HIS TURBAN. POLICE OFFICERS THEN FIRED IN RETALIATION

2 mins

Trump, Putin to speak on ending Ukraine war today

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump will speak by phone on Tuesday, as one US official expressed hope the two could agree a Ukraine ceasefire within weeks.

2 mins

HAIR TREATMENT IN SANGRUR TRIGGERS EYE INFECTIONS, 67 HOSPITALISED

A group of people who attended a hair treatment camp in Sangrur district of Punjab needed medical attention after suffering eye infections, with 67 being treated at a local hospital, prompting police to register a case against two men who organised the event, a senior health official said on Monday.

1 min

Biden pardons, including for Fauci, are void: Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump will speak by phone on Tuesday, as one US official expressed hope the two could agree a Ukraine ceasefire within weeks. US President Donald Trump said his predecessor's 11th-hour pardons of a raft of people, including infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci, were \"void, vacant and of no further force or effect,

1 min

Andreeva puts the tennis world on notice

MUMBAI: Mirra Andreeva likes to carry a little notebook with her to court. It contains handwritten notes on the opponents the 17-year-old has faced, and she often flips through it during mid-match changeovers (TV cameras snooped in to capture a page headlined, \"INDIAN WELLS Rybakina\").

4 mins

Eye on new rules for personal data, NCLAT defers Meta's CCI case

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Monday decided to wait and see if the central government notifies the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules before proceeding with the appeals filed by Meta and WhatsApp against a 2024 order of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that imposed ₹213.14 crore penalty on Meta for abuse of dominance.

2 mins

Russia Attacked Ikea Store in Lithuania as Logo Shares Ukraine Flag's Colours: Probe

Lithuanian prosecutors accused Russia's military intelligence on Monday of orchestrating an arson attack on an IKEA store in Vilnius in May, and suggested it may have been targeted because the chain's logo uses the same colours as Ukraine's flag.

1 min

MCD Rejects Proposal to Double Parking Fees

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) house of councillors on Monday rejected a proposal to hike parking fees at parking lots across the Capital which are operated by the civic body, with representatives of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stating that the decision was taken \"to protect commuters\" from an \"unnecessary increase\".

1 min

Gzb man rapes, murders his daughter; frames neighbour

Two days after arresting a 43-year-old woman for allegedly poisoning and killing a seven-year-old neighbour, Ghaziabad police on Monday apprehended the girl's 52-year-old father on charges of raping and murdering the child.

2 mins

Worker fixing fault in NFC sewer dies, 2 hurt

'No masks, safety gear'

2 mins

House sparrow among 10 most common birds in city

A month-long survey of birds across the Capital has found that the house sparrow-declared the state bird of Delhi in 2012 due to its dwindling numbers is among the top 10 most common species spotted in the city, birders involved in the exercise said.

2 mins

IGI Gets Virtual Info Kiosks For Flight Updates

Virtual information display (VID) kiosks have been installed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport for passengers to get real-time flight updates and easy navigation at the premises, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced on Monday.

1 min

'Inflammatory remarks' case: Mishra moves HC

Law minister Kapil Mishra moved the Delhi high court on Monday against a city court's order refusing to junk proceedings against him over his alleged inflammatory remarks ahead of the 2020 assembly elections.

1 min

Two Held For ₹1 Crore Theft At Shahdara House

Days after thieves decamped with jewellery worth around ₹1 crore from a businessman's house in Shahdara, Delhi Police have arrested two people in connection with the theft.

1 min

Ex-DU prof tied up by robbers at his house

At least four unidentified men barged into the house of a 75-year-old retired Delhi University teacher in Ashok Vihar in northwest Delhi on Monday morning and held him, his wife, their domestic help hostage before ransacking the house and decamping with cash and jewellery worth around ₹25 lakh, police said.

1 min

Three-day Shriram Shankarlal musical soiree to begin Friday

A star-studded musical extravaganza awaits Delhi residents this weekend, as several renowned artistes, including Indian classical sarod virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan, are set to perform at the three-day Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival.

1 min

Delhi court slams cops for not filing report on 2020 city riots

A Delhi court has criticised the city police for failing to submit a status report on the investigation into a 2020 northeast Delhi riots case, nearly two months after it had ordered further inquiry due to gaps in the probe.

1 min

HC Issues Notice in DIAL's Plea on Flight Ops from Hindon Airport

The Delhi high court on Monday issued notice in a petition filed by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), challenging the Centre's decision to permit Airport Authority of India (AAI) to commence commercial flight operations from the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad.

1 min

CM Meets BJP MPs, Discuss 'Viksit Delhi Budget 2025'

Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Monday held a meeting with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs to discuss the 2025-26 annual budget, which is scheduled to be presented in the Delhi assembly on March 25.

1 min

Delay in remission: Principal secy gets SC contempt notice

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Delhi government for its recalcitrance in complying with timelines on disposal of remission pleas of life convicts and sent a strong signal of its displeasure by issuing a contempt notice to the Union territory's principal secretary (home), directing him to appear virtually before it on March 28.

1 min

Where the Yamuna still has signs of life

In this series, HT takes a look at the complicated relationship that the Capital shares with the Yamuna as it journeys through the city

5 mins

A chirag in the wind

On the special day of a historic place

2 mins

Minorities' persecution in B'desh concern for US: Gabbard

The persecution and killing of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh is a concern for the Trump administration in the US, which is determined to tackle Islamist terrorism around the globe, US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard said on Monday.

1 min

BJP MP seeks govt intervention to bring Nasrin back to Kolkata

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Samik Bhattacharya on Monday urged the government to ensure the safe return of Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasrin to Kolkata, which was her home for many years before she was forcefully expelled.

1 min

₹120-cr aid to B'desh remains unchanged: MEA

₹6,750 crore of MEA's ₹20,516 cr budget for FY26 is meant for giving foreign aid to further India's bilateral relations

1 min

Govt: Verifying Nationality of 296 in U.S. Custody

The Indian government is verifying the nationality of 295 people who are in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with final orders of removal, external affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha in a written response on March 13.

1 min

Give Details of USAID Funded Projects: MEA to U.S. Embassy

The Union government has taken note of recent developments concerning the activities and funding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the ministry of external affairs (MEA) informed Rajya Sabha on Monday.

1 min

New Delhi Plays Key Role in Indo-Pacific: Luxon

India plays a key role in the Indo-Pacific since its geo-strategic importance is crucial in an increasingly multipolar world, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday as he endorsed New Delhi's claim for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

2 mins

PM Convinced Putin Against Nuke Use in War: Polish Minister

Poland's deputy foreign minister and secretary of state Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin to not use nuclear tactical weapons at the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, expressing gratitude for India's involvement in the crisis.

1 min

'China appreciates PM Modi's positive remarks on India ties'

Beijing on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on India-China cooperation being essential for global stability and prosperity, and said the Chinese side stands ready to work with New Delhi to rebuild bilateral ties.

1 min

India, New Zealand firm up ties with trade, defence agreements

India and New Zealand on Monday firmed up an agreement to bolster defence cooperation with an eye on ensuring an open and stable Indo-Pacific, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged New Delhi's concerns about activities of pro-Khalistan elements to his counterpart Christopher Luxon.

2 mins

215 of 406 cities meet PM 2.5 standards, LS told

Out of 406 cities where PM 2.5 — fine, respirable particles that are less than 2.56 micron in diameter — pollution, is monitored, only 214 are complying with national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), the Union environment ministry informed the Lok Sabha on March 17, highlighting the extent of the bad air crisis in the country.

1 min

Over 120 Women Cadets Joined NDA Since 2022: Minister in RS

At least 126 women cadets have joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) after the government opened the doors of the premier training academy at Khadakwasla for them three years ago, minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth told Rajya Sabha on Monday.

1 min

Hair 'treatment' leaves 67 with eye infections

A group of people who attended an unauthorised hair treatment camp in Sangrur district, Punjab needed medical attention after suffering eye infections, with at least 67 of them landing at the local civil hospital, prompting the police to book two men who organised the camp, a senior health official said on Monday.

1 min

Railways no longer hampered by Covid-19 troubles: Minister

Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said that the Indian Railways has overcome the financial troubles due to the Covid pandemic with passengers returning to train travel.

2 mins

Orry booked for drinking alcohol near Vaishno Devi

Social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, also known as Orry, was booked along with seven others for allegedly consuming alcohol at a hotel near the Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, police said on Monday.

1 min

Eminent jurists remain split on ONOP proposal

Senior advocate Harish Salve on Monday backed the Union government's proposal to hold simultaneous state and national elections but warned against the unrestricted power of the Election Commission as proposed in the Constitution amendment bill, people aware of developments said.

2 mins

2 journos get bail in Revanth video case

THE HYD COURT ON SUNDAY STRUCK DOWN THE STATE POLICE'S ATTEMPT TO PROSECUTE THE JOURNOS UNDER SEC III OF THE BNS

1 min

Courts should not gag criticism, says top court

...To tell someone to remove something just because there is some criticism of what the court has said or done is not okay

3 mins

'Borrowing from RBI per month'

HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday said his government is facing a cash crunch due to the debt burden and other factors, and that it has been able to pay salaries to employees after obtaining a \"hand loan\" of 24,000 crore from the Reserve Bank of India.

1 min

Delhi Boy Drowns in Swimming Pool at D'Dun School

A 13-year-old boy from Delhi drowned in the swimming pool of his boarding school in Mussoorie on Monday, police officials said.

1 min

Push for religious tourism, rural infra in ₹58k-cr Himachal budget

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday presented a ₹58,514 crore budget for 2025-26 in the assembly, focusing on developing rural infrastructure and promoting religious tourism in the Himalayan state.

1 min

Haryana Presents ₹2.05L-Cr Budget; Women, AI in Focus

Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday presented a ₹2.05 lakh crore budget for 2025-26 in the assembly, announcing several initiatives, including earmarking ₹5,000 crore for \"Lado Lakshmi Yojana\", establishing artificial intelligence (AI) hubs in Gurugram and Panchkula, and forming a department of future to aide other ministries with policy recommendations.

2 mins

PM May Visit Sangh HQ in Nagpur on March 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to join Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) Sarsangachalak (chief) for the inauguration of a hospital in Nagpur on March 30 and is likely to visit the Sangh headquarters the same day, his first visit to the place since 2014.

1 min

T'gana Assembly Passes Bills To Increase OBC Reservation To 42%

The Telangana assembly on Monday passed two bills to hike the reservation for other backward classes in education, employment and local bodies to 42%, fulfilling a major campaign promise based on the recently concluded caste survey but also triggering controversy over the breached 50% cap on caste-based reservations.

5 mins

MP Moves Breach of Privilege Notice Against JP Nadda

Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha leader P Sandosh Kumar submitted a notice of breach of privilege against Union minister of health and family welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda for \"furnishing misleading information in the Rajya Sabha\".

1 min

Complex issues must be addressed before rolling out theatre commands

The defence ministry told a parliamentary panel a raft of complex issues must be addressed before rolling out integrated theatre commands as they have a direct bearing on the proposed force structure, calling it \"a trail-blazing reform.\"

1 min

Arson, clashes in Nagpur as Aurangzeb row heats up

Several people, including at least 25 police and fire brigade personnel, were injured after large-scale violence erupted in various parts of Nagpur on Monday amid rumours that the holy book of the Muslim community was burnt during an agitation by Hindu right-wing outfits for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's grave from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, officers said.

1 min

SC allows parents of RG Kar case victim to move HC for probe

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the parents of the slain RG Kar Medical College doctor to pursue their petition for a further probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident before the Calcutta high court even as it deferred hearing the recommendations made by the National Task Force (NTF) on the safety of healthcare professionals, rescheduling the matter for the third week of May.

1 min

India, Harvard Univ plan climate strategy meet

The Union environment ministry and two institutes at Harvard University will organise a four-day conference starting March 19 to gather insights that could shape India's upcoming National Adaptation Plan, the ministry said on Monday.

1 min

Sambhal Admin Denies Nod for Mela in Memory of Ghaznavi's Kin

The annual \"Neja Mela\" organised in the memory of invader Mahmud Ghaznavi's nephew and military commander Syed Salar Masud Ghazi will not be allowed this year, officials said on Monday.

1 min

Money laundering cases erode public trust: Plea by ex-Guj officer junked

SHARMA HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF GIVING INDUSTRIAL LANDS TO FIRMS AT LOWER RATES

1 min

Punjab and the spectre of political radicalism

The grenade attack on a temple in Amritsar Saturday is only the latest in a series of disturbing incidents that suggest attempts by vested interests to upset the tenuous social peace in Punjab after its bruising tryst with terrorism in the 1980s and 1990s.

1 min

Preparing for summer heat

Governments should be ready with action plans to manage power and water needs

1 min

Right versus Left in a deeply polarised world

Italian Prime Minister (PM) Giorgia Meloni has set the cat among the pigeons by floating a global right-wing alliance which is coalescing to counter Leftist political ideas and movements worldwide.

4 mins

Obesity Surge Needs Multi-pronged Action

A conducive environment needs to be created for healthy behaviour to become natural, easy to adopt and an affordable choice

3 mins

Biden's pardons of my critics void: Trump

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump declared on Monday he was annulling pardons issued by Joe Biden to shield Trump critics from retribution, claiming that they were invalid because his Democratic predecessor had supposedly used an autopen for his signature.

1 min

Telegram Chief: Great to Be Home in Dubai After Leaving France

The Russian-born founder of messaging app Telegram Pavel Durov on Monday said it was \"great to be home\" after he was allowed to temporarily return to Dubai from France despite being investigated over illegal content on the popular service.

1 min

Canada's New PM Pitches Closer Alliance With Europe Amid US Rift

Mark Carney used his first international trip as Canada's prime minister to pitch a closer alliance with European allies as the country aims to reduce its dependence on an increasingly antagonistic US.

1 min

'Iran will be held responsible for Houthi attacks'

President Donald Trump on Monday declared he will hold Iran directly responsible for any future attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have targeted multiple US and other foreign ships in the Red Sea.

1 min

Nuclear talks: Iran to respond to Trump's letter after scrutiny

Iran will respond to US President Donald Trump's invitation to talks after proper scrutiny, the foreign ministry said on Monday, accusing Washington of not matching actions with words.

1 min

Russia Demands 'Ironclad' Guarantees in Ukraine Deal

Russia will seek \"ironclad\" guarantees in any peace deal on Ukraine that NATO nations will exclude Kyiv from membership and that Ukraine will remain neutral, a Russian deputy foreign minister said in remarks published on Monday.

2 mins

HC quashes ₹388 cr fraud case against Adani firm

The Bombay High Court on Monday discharged Adani Enterprises Ltd and its promoters from a probe initiated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) into allegations of share price manipulation and fraudulent stock market activities. SFIO is a statutory agency in India tasked with investigating corporate fraud.

2 mins

Wholesale inflation inches up to 2.4% in February

India's merchandise exports in February fell by about 11% to $36.91 billion compared to $41.41 billion in the same month last year, but the services sector and non-petroleum merchandise saved the overall (goods and services combined) monthly exports from sinking into the red with 3.2% year-on-year growth at $71.95 billion this month.

2 mins

Net Direct Tax For FY25 Up 13% So Far

India's net direct tax revenue in 2024-25 (up to March 16) saw over 13% year-on-year growth surpassing ₹21.26 lakh crore after ₹4.60 lakh crore refunds, prompting experts to expect that the revenue collection could meet the ₹22.37 lakh crore budget target set in the revised estimate for FY25 on enhanced compliance.

1 min

Maruti, Tata Motors Hike Prices Amid Slowing Sales

Two of India's largest vehicle makers have announced further price hikes amid struggling sales, which analysts say is an unavoidable move that could further slow demand.

1 min

Bajaj to buy Allianz JV stakes for ₹24k cr

The Bajaj Group will buy out Allianz SE's stakes in their two insurance joint ventures for a total of ₹24,180 crore, marking the end of its 24-year partnership with the world's largest insurer.

1 min

Merchandise exports drop 11% in February

India's merchandise exports in February fell by about 11% to $36.91 billion compared to $41.41 billion in the same month last year, but the services sector and non-petroleum merchandise saved the overall (goods and services combined) monthly exports from sinking into the red with 3.2% year-on-year growth at $71.95 billion this month.

2 mins

Proxy cos oppose TVS boss reappointment

PROXY ADVISORS' OPINIONS ARE CRUCIAL AS INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS RELY ON THEM FOR CASTING VOTE

1 min

Chase for chill to lift summer-driven biz

Forecast spells demand for beverages, fans, air-conditioners

1 min

McIlroy Takes Drama Out of Playoff to Win Players Championship

The Northern Ireland golfer celebrated St. Patrick's Day by winning a three-hole aggregate playoff against JJ Spaun

3 mins

Newcastle Revel in 'Strange Smell' of EFL Cup Glory

Eddie Howe hailed Newcastle's \"incredible\" League Cup final victory against Liverpool as proof his side are ready for a period of sustained success after finally ending their 56-year trophy drought.

1 min

'Six-hitting not natural, outcome of hard work'

Shreyas Iyer was India's highest run-getter (243) in the Champions Trophy win, leading the way by controlling middle overs, scoring on the slow, challenging pitches in Dubai.

4 mins

Delhi HC orders gender parity in KIPG badminton

The Delhi high court has directed the union sports ministry to maintain gender parity between male and female athletes in sports events organised by National Sports Federations (NSFs), expressing displeasure over the Badminton Association of India (BAI) allocating fewer slots for females in the 2nd Khelo India Para Games.

1 min

IPL: Future challenges in the league of plenty

The IPL is on a great wicket because it's win-win for BCCI, teams and players—the stakeholders.

3 mins

IOC Set To Include Boxing In LA 2028 Programme

Boxing is set to be included in the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board approved its inclusion ahead of its 144th session starting Tuesday.

2 mins

Orry Booked in Katra for Allegedly Consuming Alcohol near Vaishno Devi

Social media personality Orhan Awatramani, aka Orry, has been booked for allegedly consuming alcohol at a hotel in Katra, the base camp for the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Jammu and Kashmir police said on Monday.

1 min

Perfect timing: Hina Khan performs Umrah during Ramzan

Actor Hina Khan, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, recently made the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

1 min

Mammootty on break for Ramzan, says actor's team after cancer rumours

Social media has been rife with speculation around Malayalam actor Mammootty's health, after unverified sources claimed he had stepped away from filming following a cancer diagnosis.

1 min

I'd still do Arjun Reddy, but have a different conversation with my director

Shalini Pandey is currently revelling in the love she is receiving for her role in the web series, Dabba Cartel.

1 min

Her Urdu Verses Vet Gen Z Emotions

Poet-singer Minu Bakshi talks about her new collection of poems

1 min

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