A massive fire at an electrical substation caused a power outage, resulting in Heathrow Airport's closure until March 21 midnight and disrupting flights. Over 16,300 homes in west London lost power, with 150 people evacuated. Emergency services deployed 70 firefighters to control the blaze. Authorities are investigating the fire's cause and warn of ongoing disruptions.
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BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia responded to comments by Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed, who criticised India skipper Rohit Sharma for being "fat." Shama later clarified it was a generic remark about fitness and deleted her social media posts on X. Her comments drew criticism from the BJP, which accused her of body shaming. Congress MP Rajani Patil stated the party would seek a response from Mohamed.
Donald Trump has once again blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the ongoing war with Russia, despite the devastating consequences of the conflict. Trump also implicated President Biden and Putin, asserting their shared responsibility for the war's outbreak and continuation.
As the threat from hostile drones rises, the Indian Army seeks nine more indigenous drone detection systems, while the IAF targets advanced anti-drone technologies including kamikaze and micro munitions-based systems. India lags in developing these technologies domestically, with the DRDO working on higher power DEWs and collaborations with foreign firms. Immediate advancements are crucial.
A US court dismissed Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's claim of delivering a summons to NSA Ajit Doval during PM Modi's US visit. The court confirmed the summons wasn't served properly as required, aligning with India's stance. The incident involved attempted delivery by process servers which failed due to Secret Service intervention.
The White House has fired three National Security Council staffers following a meeting between President Trump and far-right activist Laura Loomer. Loomer questioned the loyalty of NSC members, prompting the dismissals. The three officials ousted are Brian Walsh, Thomas Boodry, and David Feith. An NSC spokesperson declined to comment on personnel matters.
Newly uncovered documents reveal Hamas tortured and executed members suspected of same-sex relationships. A morality check system identified recruits failing to meet ideological standards, leading to severe punishments, including the 2016 execution of commander Mahmoud Ishtiwi for alleged homosexual activities and other offenses.
BJP candidate Navya Haridas challenged Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's Wayanad by-election win. Congress called the challenge a publicity stunt. They expect the petition's rejection and a penalty against Haridas. Haridas alleges misleading nomination papers and hidden assets. BJP and communist parties questioned Gandhi's victory. The by-election happened after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat.
A 55-year-old farmer, Resham Singh, committed suicide by consuming poison at the Shambhu border amid ongoing protests against the Central government. This incident follows a similar suicide by Ranjodh Singh on December 18, driven by deteriorating health conditions of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah called for a report on a controversial Gulmarg fashion show held during Ramzan, citing disregard for local sensitivities. The event faced backlash from religious leaders and activists, who labeled it obscene. Elle India removed related content from Instagram, and the show organizers apologized for any unintended discomfort.
Stock market today: BSE Sensex and Nifty50, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Friday, a day ahead of the Union Budget 2025 presentation. While BSE Sensex was near 76,900, Nifty50 was above 23,300.