SATURDAY 24 MAY, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard 7,000 UAE AT 50°C, RECORDS HOTTEST DAY IS THE NUMBER OF VISA HOLDERS WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE ORDER The UAE registered 50.4oC on Friday, the highest on record for May, following weeks of high temperatures in the nation vulnerable to climate change. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 SOME RELIEF FOR HARVARD UNIV AS FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP FIAT A federal judge on Friday blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students ORDER VIOLATES FIRST AMENDMENT, SAYS UNIV The relief follows Harvard University suing the Trump administration’s decision to bar the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students, calling it unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House’s political demands. Harvard University said the fiat violates the First Amendment and will have a devastating effect for the university | P9 Double whammy, drama at 36K ft RBI announces Buzz on B’desh head Yunus 2.69 lakh crore considering resignation bonanza to govt REFORMS ROW S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi A Delhi-to-Srinagar IndiGo flight was forced to fly through a severe thunderstorm after being denied access to Pakistani airspace, according to an official statement released Friday by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The incident occurred on Wednesday when flight 6E 2142, an Airbus A321 Neo with 227 passengers, encountered a hailstorm and intense turbulence while cruising at 36,000 feet near Pathankot. The DGCA said the crew had initially requested a deviation from their planned route due to dangerous weather conditions but were denied clearance. According to the crew’s account, shared by the DGCA, they first contacted Indian Air Force’s Northern control requesting a leftward deviation toward the international border to avoid the storm, but the 50% tariff THREAT BY TRUMP ON ALL EU IMPORTS FROM JUNE 1 P9 Trump threatens Apple with 25% tariff if it doesn’t build iPhones in the US. “I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the US will be manufactured and built in the US, not India, or anyplace else” P10 Govt allowed to withdraw cases filed by AAP against L-G Our crew contacted Lahore to enter their airspace to avoid the weather but it was refused. Crew then chose to continue at same heading to exit the weather DAMAGED NOSE — DGCA statement on the Indigo scare request was denied. They then contacted Lahore Air Traffic Control for entry into Pakistani airspace, which was also refused. Caught in turbulent weather and with limited options, the pilots briefly considered turning back. However, with the thunderstorm already surrounding the aircraft, they decided to continue along the same heading, choosing the shortest path out of the storm toward Srinagar. While navigating through the thunderstorm, the aircraft was hit by hail and turbulence, triggering a series of warnings. The DGCA confirmed that the aircraft experienced multiple system alerts, including loss of Alternate Law protection, unreliable backup speed indicators, and “Angle of Attack fault” warnings. ‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING?’ SC POSER ON KOTA SUICIDES S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Friday grilled the Rajasthan government over a surge in student suicides in Rajasthan’s Kota, calling the situation “serious”. A bench of justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan were told 14 suicide cases were reported from the city so far this year. “What are you doing as a state? Why are these children dying by suicide and only in Kota? Have you not given it a thought as a state?” Justice Pardiwala asked the counsel representing Rajasthan. The Supreme Court was hearing a matter of the death of a 22-year-old student from IIT, Kharagpur who was NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON MENTAL HEALTH The bench referred to a March 24 verdict of the top court which took note of recurring cases of student suicides and formed a national task force to address the mental health concerns found hanging in his hostel on May 4. It was also simultaneously dealing with another case of a girl, a NEET aspirant, who was found hanging in her room in Kota. In the IIT case, the bench lamabasted the defence over a delay in filing FIR after four days after the death of the student. In the Kota suicide case, the bench disapproved of nonfiling of an FIR. Rajasthan’s counsel said the investigation in the case was on and the SIT was aware of suicide cases in the state. “How many young students have died so far in Kota? You are in contempt of our judgement. Why have you not registered the FIR?” the bench asked Rajasthan’s counsel. The bench said the student was not residing in the accommodations provided by her institute, which she left in November 2024 and started living with her parents. The bench then summoned the police officer concerned in the Kota case on July 14 to explain the situation. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE Decides to keep 7.5% of its balance sheet as a financial safeguard against unforeseen shocks D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi THE Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday announced a record `2.69 lakh crore as surplus to the Centre for 2024-25. The decision was taken by RBI’s Central Board of Directors on Friday at Mumbai under the chairmanship of governor Sanjay Malhotra. 2,68,590 SURPLUS The dividend will help CenTRANSFER 2,10,874 tre tide over challenges posed by US tariffs and higher deFIGURES IN RUPEES fence spending in light of the CRORE conflict with Pakistan. 87,416 The latest payout is higher 99,122 than the `2.11 lakh crore that 57,128 RBI transferred to the Centre last year, but is lower than the the `3-3.5 lakh crore projected 30,307 by analysts. This is due to the 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 RBI board’s decision to increase the Contingent Risk The dividend will help Buffer (CRB)—a fund set aside Centre tide over challenges to deal with unexpected situaposed by US tariffs and tions—to 7.5% of RBI’s balance higher defence spending in sheet from 6.5% earlier. light of conflict with Pakistan This is a prudent move given the pressure on US Treasury yields could increase revaluation loss on forex reserves, said CRB was increased to 6% for Gaura Sen Gupta, chief econo- 2022-23 and to 6.5% for 2023-24. mist, IDFC First Bank. AccordUnion Budget estimated `2.6 ing to her, upward pressure on lakh crore as dividend from UST yields could persist due to RBI and PSBs in FY26 against US fiscal risk concerns. `2.3 lakh crore in FY25. A highRBI said the surplus for 2024- er-than-budgeted dividend 25 was based on the revised would help ease the fiscal presECF (economic capital frame- sure on the Centre at a time work) approved by the central when GDP growth in FY26 is board on May 15. likely to slow down a bit. During accounting years “This (`2.69 lakh crore divi2018-19 to 2021-22, owing to the dend) is also `40,000-50,000 prevailing macroeconomic con- crore higher than the amount ditions and the onslaught of that was likely assumed in the Covid-19, the RBI board had de- FY2026 Union Budget, implycided to maintain the CRB at ing an equivalent upside to 5.5% to support growth and non-tax revenues,” said Aditi overall economic activity The Nayar, chief economist, ICRA. . @ New Delhi BANGLADESH’S interim leader Muhammad Yunus is considering resigning, citing mounting political deadlock and lack of consensus among key parties, according to a report by the BBC Bangla Service. Student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) chief Nahid Islam told the BBC that Yunus appeared deeply concerned about the worsening political climate. “He (Yunus) said he is thinking about it (resignation). He feels that the situation is such that he cannot work,” Islam said Thursday night after meeting the 84-year-old Nobel laureate. Islam said he met Yunus after rumours about his resignation spread throughout the day “Sir . said, ‘If I can’t work — I was brought here after a mass uprising to bring change and reMuhammad for m to the Yunus country. But in the current situation, with mounting pressure from movements and the way I’m being cornered, this isn’t how I can work,’” he quoted Yunus as saying. Another report citing unnamed sources close to the interim chief stated Yunus had voiced his intent to resign during a cabinet meeting on Thursday However, advisers persuad. ed him to remain in office. The resignation buzz comes amid growing friction with the military over election timelines and a controversial policy involving a humanitarian aid corridor into Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Rakhine state. Army Chief General Waker-UzZaman, recently pressed Yunus to hold elections by December. Hosps told to start Covid protocols; 4 cases in NCR E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Delhi government to withdraw all the seven cases filed by the previous AAP dispensation against the Centre and the Lieutenant-Governor over control of services in the capital and cleaning of Yamuna river. A two-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice Agustine George Masih, took note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Delhi government, and allowed the plea. The BJP-led Delhi government on Thursday had knocked the doors of the SC seeking its d i rec t i o n t o withdraw the cases filed during the earlier AAP administration challenging the decision of the L-G in several committees, including solid waste management, Yamuna cleaning, and against the validity of acts and the Delhi Services Act, 2023. The SC had stayed an NGT order appointing the L-G to lead a Yamuna panel and referred the Services Act issue to a constitution bench. Bhati said, “These matters should not trouble this court a ny m o re, ” s i g n a l i n g t h e withdrawal of multiple petitions.These also included challenges to the appointment of the DERC chairperson, legal payment approvals, and the LG’s role in administrative appointments and decision-making processes. The storm’s powerful updrafts and downdrafts also caused the autopilot to disengage, forcing the crew to fly the aircraft manually. During the peak of the turbulence, the plane’s descent rate spiked to 8,500 feet per minute — a dangerously steep drop — while warnings for exceeding maximum speed and possible stalls were repeatedly triggered. Despite the chaos, the flight crew carried out emergency checklist procedures (ECAM actions) and declared a “PAN PAN” emergency — indicating a situation that is urgent but not immediately life-threatening — to Srinagar air traffic control. They then requested radar guidance and successfully landed the aircraft with autothrust systems functioning normally. No passengers were injured. Pakistan’s airspace has remained closed to Indian flights after Operation Sindoor. A S H I S H S R I VA STAVA & H A R P R E E T BA J WA @ New Delhi/Chandigarh CROWD & CHAOS Commuters struggle to catch trains at the Nizamuddin Railway Station due to encroachment by street vendors | SHIBA PRASAD SAHU CITING recent spurt in cases of Covid-19, the Delhi government has issued an advisory asking hospitals to resume the pandemic preparedness protocols, including proper availability of beds, oxygen, essential drugs and daily testing of influenza cases, among others. Delhi reported 23 cases till Thursday Health Minister Pan, kaj Singh said, adding that condition of all patients is stable. “Two to three patients are admitted to private hospitals while others are being monitored at home. There is no need to panic,” he said. In terms of preparedness, hospitals and healthcare facilities have been placed on alert. No need to panic: Govt Health Minister Pankaj Singh said that Delhi reported 23 cases till Thursday and condition of all the patients is stable. “There is no need to panic,” he said and sought daily reporting of Influenza-like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness cases from all OPD and IPD units on the Integrated Health Information Platform. To ensure preparedness, refresher training sessions for healthcare staff may soon be conducted. Health authorities have mandated the daily reporting of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases from all OPD and IPD units on the Integrated Health Information Platform, along with confirmed influenza and Covid-19. Similarly, daily updates are to be submitted on the Delhi State Health Data Management Portal. In line with ICMR guidelines, Covid testing protocols are being reinforced, with a directive to test 5% of ILI and 100% of SARI cases. Positive samples are to be sent to Lok Nayak Notices issued to Atishi, AAP MLAs for breach of privilege A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE Delhi Assembly issued notices to former CM Atishi and other AAP legislators for allegedly “disclosing” deliberations of the recently held General Purposes Committee meeting. The notices come following a complaint of “contempt and breach of privilege” by BJP members. The AAP claimed that its MLAs, who are members of the panel, had demanded that Mata Savitribai Phule’s portrait be installed in the Assembly but BJP members did , not allow the proposal to be passed. Assembly officials, however, said that no written proposal was submitted. In a complaint to Speaker Vijender Gupta on May 22, Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, BJP chief whip Abhay Verma and party leaders Raj Kumar Bhatia and Tilak Ram Gupta alleged that AAP members during the deliberations in the General Purposes Committee (GPC) meeting had made a passing suggestion that Savitribai Phule’s portrait can also be installed. “However, we were shocked to find out that the AAP members twisted the facts and declared in a press conference that the ruling party members had opposed their proposal,” read the complaint. The BJP MLAs also claimed “the very fact that the delib- erations of the committee meeting were disclosed” is itself a “serious issue of breach of privilege”. “Our rules provide that the deliberations cannot be disclosed unless the report is submitted to the House or the Speaker allows it. Accordingly we are hereby giving notice , for initiating breach of privilege and contempt proceedings against Atishi, Kuldeep Kumar, Veer Singh Dhingan and Zubair Ahmad for disclosing the details of proceedings of the GPC and also for disclosing it in a false and twisted manner,” they said. They accused the AAP MLAs of “disclosing the deliberation” with “political and mischievous agenda” and also claimed that the opposition leaders “deliberately twisted the facts and have presented an entirely false picture before the public”. Acting on the complaint, the Assembly Secretariat has issued notices to LoP Atishi and AAP MLAs Kuldeep Kumar, Veer Singh Dhingan and Zubair Ahmad directing them to submit their written comments on or before May 30. Hospital for Whole Genome Sequencing to aid in the early identification of any emerging variants, with reporting to the State Surveillance Unit. Meanwhile, four new cases have been reported from Haryana — two each from Gurugram and Faridabad — with no international travel history All . four cases — two male and two female — are mild in nature and are currently being treated at home. They were previously vaccinated against Covid. Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said, “The government is monitoring the situation. There is no need to panic. The variant is mild, and we are following all advisories issued by the Centre. Citizens are advised to continue following Covid-appropriate behaviour.” EXPRESS READ Vajpayee’s poems in PG English syllabus The English department of Delhi University has included poems by ex-Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in the Post-Independence Indian Literatures paper in its postgraduate syllabus. P4 Cannibal, aide get life for UP double murder A Lucknow court on Friday gave life sentence to Raja Kolandar and his aide in a 2000 double murder case. Kolandar is believed to collect skulls, eat human flesh and drank blood.