HYDERABAD l saturday l may 24, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE CITY EDITION some relief for harvard as federal judge blocks trump fiat 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 A federal judge on Friday blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enrol foreign students decision imperils future of all students ■ ■ Harvard President Alan Garber said the decision imperils the future of thousands of students and scholars and serves as a warning to others The Harvard chapter of American Association of University Professors called the decision “the latest in a string of nakedly authoritarian moves against America’s oldest institution of higher education” 7,000 is the number of visa holders who would be affected by the order CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Double whammy, drama at 36K ft RBI announces 2.69 lakh crore bonanza to govt 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 ‘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 s u i c i d e s i n R a j a s t h a n ’s Kota, calling the situation “serious”. A bench of justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan was told that 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 22year-old student from IIT, Kharagpur who was 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 lambasted 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 judgment. Why have you not registered the FIR?” the bench asked Rajasthan’s counsel. 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. 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. Revanth: Hyundai to begin operations at NIMZ soon E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Sangareddy Global automotive giant Hyundai will soon start operations from the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Zaheerabad, Sangareddy district. Around 450 acres of land have been allotted for the purpose. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made this announcement at a public meeting at Pastapur near NIMZ on Friday . He stated that the 5,612 persons who lost their land to NIMZ would be deemed eligible for the Indiramma Housing scheme and would get their own homes. He directed Sangareddy Collector Valluru Kranthi to begin the allotment process immediately . Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy interacts with students after the inauguration of a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Machnoor village in Sangareddy district on Friday. The chief minister said that he believed NIMZ would become a key centre for the manufacturing and industrial sectors in the state. He asserted that there would be no politics beyond elections and made it clear that he was prepared to work with the Union government to get funds for the development of Telangana.  Continued on P4 Decides to keep 7.5% of its balance sheet as a financial safeguard against unforeseen shocks DIPA K M O N DAL @ 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 `3-3.5 lakh crore projected by 30,307 analysts. This is due to the RBI 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 board’s decision to increase the Contingent Risk Buffer The dividend will help (CRB)—a fund set aside to deal Centre tide over challenges with unexpected situations—to posed by US tariffs and 7.5% of RBI’s balance sheet higher defence spending in 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. . Reforms row Buzz on B’desh head Yunus considering resignation E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ 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. Centre to set up millets KCR is a god surrounded by devils, says Kavitha research facility in TG E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday announced that the Centre has decided to establish a world-class millets research centre in Telangana. Kishan said at a press conference here that the BJP-led NDA government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been setting up several institutions in the state. “In continuation of these efforts, the Centre will be establishing a millets research centre in Telangana with an investment of 250 crore. MoUs with several countries have been signed,” he said. To be established under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the centre will focus on research, development and infrastructure creation, including a central instrumentation lab, an international hostel, a millets museum, research farms, training facilities, gene editing greenhouses, speed breeding labs and phenomics labs. “New training centres will be established in Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Kanpur and Ludhiana. These centres will provide training for trainers and support modern infrastructure development,” the Union minister added. BRS MLC K Kavitha, who returned to Hyderabad from the United States on Friday evening, confirmed that she had written the letter, which has sparked discussions across the state, to her father and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao. Speaking to reporters at RGI Airport, Kavitha stated: “I wrote the letter two weeks ago. It does not serve any personal interest. It is general feedback on the party The points I raised . are widely shared.” She added that she had provided similar feedback to the party leadership in the past and had also flagged internal conspiracies. Stating that the letter had been leaked, Kavitha said she held no personal grudges. “There should be a discussion on who leaked the letter,” she said. Referring to her father, she said: “KCR is a god. But some devils have surrounded him.” She suggested that certain shortcomings in the BRS needed to be addressed to strengthen the party. While she made no statements about her political future, she maintained that KCR remained her leader. Her arrival in Hyderabad drew attention due to the absence of senior BRS leaders and party flags at the airport. However, members of Telangana Jagruthi, an organisation founded by Kavitha, and some BC leaders were present to receive her. “As Kavitha advocated for 42% reservations for BCs, we are do or die Hosp issued 65 fake birth certificates, finds GHMC E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to initiate criminal proceedings against Metro Hospital in Tolichowki after it came to light that the institution fraudulently issued 65 birth and eight death certificates. Alerted to the scam, the GHMC, in coordination with the local police, conducted a detailed inquiry into the hospital’s records. The investigation confirmed that the certificates had been issued without proper verification. As a result, all 73 certificates have been cancelled. The GHMC also recommended cancellation of the hospital’s registration and the medical registration of the doctor involved. GHMC officials told TNIE that verification procedures will be tightened to prevent such incidents in the future. In a separate case, the GHMC framed charges against certain registrars after discrepancies were found during a suo motu investigation into reported home births. The probe revealed that four of the births, three in Falaknuma circle and one in Malakpet circle, had not occurred. The health assistant involved has been dismissed from service. The registrars of the respective circles have been instructed to file criminal cases against the parents, neighbours and advocates who vouched for the “births”. The GHMC had identified 74 home births within its jurisdiction. Upon random checks ordered by the then GHMC commissioner, it was found that 38 of these were registered at Shishu Vihar, a facility for orphaned children. The inquiry determined that four registrations were invalid, and the corresponding birth certificates have since been cancelled. Supporters welcome BRS MLC K Kavitha back home at the RGI Airport on Friday here to thank her. BCs from different parties have come,” said one BC leader. One of Kavitha’s supporters acknowledged that no senior party figures came to receive her. Her followers displayed blue placards and banners supporting her campaign for “Samajika Telangana”.  reports: P4 No active Covid cases in TG, public immunity strong: DPH E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Asserting that the public has developed immunity Direc, tor of Public Health Dr B Ravinder Nayak on Friday urged citizens not to panic over reports of an uptick in Covid-19 cases nationwide and two reported cases in AP . “Given previous exposure, the public has likely developed a level of immunity which reduces the risk of widespread transmission,” Dr Nayak said, reassuring citizens that there were currently no active cases in the state. Doc tests positive, recovers Recently, a pulmonologist residing in Kukatpally tested positive and has fully recovered after following the five-day protocol, the Medchal-Malkajgiri DMHO confirmed on Friday . Dr Nayak stated that small mutations in viruses like Covid are common, and people have already developed immunity to tackle the virus.  continued on P2