TODAY NEWS ON May 16, 2025

Source : THE HINDU

Experts debate whether Presidential Reference is a ploy to bypass judicial review

The legal fraternity was divided on whether the Presidential Reference to the Supreme Court on its order in the Tamil Nadu Governor case was merely a ploy by the Union government to “bypass” the normal legal process of challenging the Supreme Court verdict.

In a first, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar talks to Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi

Marking the first minister-level outreach to the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday (May 15, 2025) held a telephone conversation with the “Acting Afghan Foreign Minister” Amir Khan Muttaqi. The conversation came days after the Taliban administration, that India is yet to officially recognise, condemned the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam of April 22 that left 26 innocents dead and dozens injured.

Amid tension, MEA postpones credentials ceremony featuring Turkish ambassador

In the backdrop of tension with Turkiye, the protocol division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (May 15, 2025) postponed the credentials ceremony of the new Turkish ambassador to India. The MEA, in a brief announcement, said, “the credentials ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan which was to be held today has been deferred due to scheduling issues.”

In Qatar, Trump once again claims he ‘helped settle’ tensions between India and Pakistan

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (May 15, 2025) repeated his claim yet again that he “helped settle” the tensions between India and Pakistan. “…And by the way, I don’t want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India last week, which was getting more and more hostile,” he said while addressing U.S. military personnel at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Aviation security regulator revokes security clearance for Turkish airport ground handling company

The aviation security regulator on Thursday (May 15, 2025) revoked the security clearance for Turkish ground handling service provider Celebi with “immediate effect” on the ground of “national security”. “The security clearance is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security,” according to an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued on May 15 for Celebi Airport Services India Private Limited.

U.K. court rejects Nirav Modi’s fresh bail application, says CBI

The High Court of Justice in London on Thursday (May 15, 2025) rejected a fresh bail petition filed by diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is held in a prison there and wanted in India in the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case orchestrated with his businessman uncle Mehul Choksi.

Govt appoints Tushar Mehta-headed team of lawyers for trial against Tahawwur Rana

The government has appointed a team of lawyers headed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to conduct trial against extradited Pakistani-Canadian terrorist Tahawwur Hussain Rana in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case.

Trump says the U.S. and Iran have ‘sort of’ agreed on the terms for a nuclear deal

President Donald Trump said Thursday (May 15, 2025) that the United States and Iran have “sort of” agreed to terms on a nuclear deal, offering a measure of confidence that an accord is coming into sharper focus. Mr. Trump, in an exchange with reporters at a business roundtable in Doha, Qatar, described talks between American envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as “very serious negotiations” for long-term peace and said they were continuing to progress.

Harvard University ploughs $250m into research after U.S. govt cuts

Harvard University says it will plough $250 million into funding “critical research” after the U.S. government announced fresh budget cuts to the elite school. Federal agencies are slashing $2.6 billion in grants to Harvard, citing discrimination at one of the world’s top universities.

Kancha Gachibowli tree-felling: Restore forest or face jail, SC warns Telangana

The Supreme Court gave the State of Telangana a choice between restoring the ruined acres of Kancha Gachibowli forest where trees were felled for an IT infrastructure project during an extended weekend or face the prospect of its Chief Secretary and “half a dozen officials” being sent to a “temporary prison” near the bulldozed green cover.

Rajnath Singh calls for global supervision of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, warns against ‘blackmail’

On his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir following the launch of Operation Sindoor, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (May 15, 2025) questioned the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and called for its supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing concerns over what he described as “irresponsible” conduct by the neighbouring country.

Overnight dust storm leaves Delhi with poor AQI, low visibility

Air quality of Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) are in the upper end of the “poor” category on Thursday (May 15, 2025), as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. A layer of dust blanketed Delhi-NCR on Thursday (May 15, 2025) morning following overnight dust storms, which reduced visibility and caused a drop in the air quality.

Ex-Union Minister John Barla joins TMC, claims BJP did not allow him to work for tribals

BJP leader and former Union Minister John Barla joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday, and claimed that the saffron party did not allow him to work for tribal people. Mr. Barla, who was elected on a BJP ticket from Alipurduars in 2019 and served as Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, had expressed unhappiness after being denied a party ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Badlapur encounter: Maharashtra DGP forms new SIT to probe custodial death of accused

“The Director General of Police (DGP) Maharashtra has formed a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, the accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case,” an official said on Thursday (May 15, 2025). “DGP Rashmi Shukla formed the SIT as per the Supreme Court’s orders,” he said.

Trump urges Apple CEO Tim Cook to limit production in India

U.S. President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook to raise production in the U.S. rather than expanding manufacturing in India on Thursday (May 15, 2025). Mr. Trump made the comments during a business roundtable in Doha, Qatar, on his Mideast tour, first discussing Apple’s plans to build manufacturing plants for its iPhone there.

CJI Gavai-led Bench to devote whole of May 20 to hear arguments on interim stay of 2025 waqf amendments

A Supreme Court Bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih on Thursday (May 15, 2025) decided to devote an entire day on May 20 to hear arguments for and against an interim order to stay the provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.