Heathrow Airport, a pivotal global travel hub, experienced a significant disruption on March 21, 2025, due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, leading to a complete closure and widespread flight cancellations. Serving over 230 destinations across nearly 90 countries, Heathrow operates at 99% capacity, with 90 airlines based there, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa. In February 2025, the airport handled 5.7 million passengers, marking its busiest February on record, and totaling 84.1 million passengers from March 2024 to February 2025. To alleviate capacity constraints, plans for a third runway are underway, with a proposal submission expected this summer, following government support citing potential boosts to trade and economic growth. Heathrow's current infrastructure includes two main runways and five terminals, with Terminal 5 being the most recent addition, opened in 2008. The airport is also the UK's largest single-site employer, with over 90,000 staff members.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has expressed strong opposition to the proposed transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma to their bench. In a recent resolution, the HCBA criticized the move, stating, "We are not a trash bin." They highlighted concerns over Justice Varma's alleged "arbitrary, biased, and high-handed" judicial conduct, particularly citing instances where orders detrimental to advocates were issued without proper hearings. The association has urged the Chief Justice to intervene, seeking the suspension of Justice Varma's judicial duties pending a transparent inquiry. They warned of potential protests, including boycotts, if corrective measures are not implemented. This development underscores escalating tensions between the judiciary and legal practitioners, emphasizing the need for judicial accountability and adherence to natural justice principles.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has criticized India's education system for being biased against lower castes, labeling the prevailing concept of merit as flawed and detrimental to Dalits, OBCs, and tribals. He advocates for a caste census to unveil the depth of this inequality, asserting that such a measure is crucial for equitable resource distribution, aligning with B.R. Ambedkar's vision. In response, BJP spokesperson C.R. Kesavan condemned Gandhi's remarks, suggesting they reflect a dynastic and feudal mindset. Kesavan emphasized that the Congress party has historically undermined meritorious leaders from SC, ST, and OBC communities who have risen through dedication and hard work.

A fire at an electrical substation near London's Heathrow Airport caused a major power outage, leading to the airport's closure until midnight on March 21. This disruption affected over 2,000 flights and left thousands of passengers stranded. Air India confirmed that flight AI129 from Mumbai to London returned to Mumbai, and flight AI161 from Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt. All remaining Air India flights to and from Heathrow, including AI111, were canceled for March 21. Flights to London Gatwick remained unaffected. Passengers were advised to contact their airlines for updates and avoid traveling to the airport.

Three Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu, Raju Muthukumaran (38), Selvadurai Dinakaran (34), and Govindhasamy Vimalkandhan (45) face the death penalty in Indonesia for allegedly smuggling 106 kg of crystal methamphetamine aboard the Singapore-flagged vessel, Legend Aquarius. Indonesian authorities intercepted the ship in July 2024 near Karimun district, acting on a tip-off. The defense argues that the ship's captain, responsible for all onboard cargo, has not been adequately cross-examined, raising concerns about the prosecution's case. The Indian Embassy is providing legal assistance, and a verdict is expected on April 15, 2025.

A fire at the official residence of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma on March 14 led to the discovery of a substantial amount of cash. At the time, Justice Varma was not present, and the fire brigade and police, responding to the incident, found the cash in one of the rooms. This finding prompted Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to convene an emergency meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium, which unanimously recommended Justice Varma's transfer back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court. The Collegium is also considering initiating an in-house inquiry, which could lead to further actions, including possible impeachment proceedings.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed concerns to the U.S. government regarding the use of shackles on women deportees during repatriation flights. This issue came to light after 104 Indian immigrants were deported from the U.S., reportedly restrained with handcuffs and leg irons throughout the journey. The incident sparked significant political uproar in India, with opposition lawmakers protesting in Parliament and demanding government accountability. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar acknowledged that while U.S. protocols permit restraints during deportation, the treatment of deportees, especially women, was unacceptable. He assured that India is engaging with U.S. authorities to prevent such occurrences in the future. This development coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Washington, where immigration issues are expected to be a key discussion point.

A massive fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport on March 21, 2025, caused a severe power outage, leading to the airport's closure until 23:59 that day. The incident disrupted global flight schedules, with at least 120 inbound flights diverted and 1,351 scheduled flights affected. British Airways, with 341 flights scheduled at Heathrow, faced significant operational challenges. Other airlines, including Qantas and United Airlines, rerouted flights to alternative destinations. The power outage also impacted local homes and businesses, leading to a chaotic period for the travel and trade industries. Approximately 70 firefighters responded to the blaze, which resulted in the evacuation of around 150 people from nearby buildings.

London's Heathrow Airport, one of the world's busiest, has been forced to close for the entire day on March 21 due to a significant power outage caused by a large fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes, West London. The fire led to the evacuation of approximately 150 people and left over 16,000 homes without electricity. As a result, more than 1,300 flights have been affected, causing widespread disruption for hundreds of thousands of passengers globally. The London Fire Brigade dispatched ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze, with operations expected to continue throughout the night. Passengers are advised to avoid traveling to the airport and to contact their airlines for further information.

The Karnataka Assembly has passed a bill granting a 4% reservation to Muslims in government contracts, aiming to promote inclusivity and economic opportunities for minority communities. The bill reserves 4% of civil works contracts up to ₹2 crore and goods/services contracts up to ₹1 crore for individuals under Category 2B (Muslims). The ruling Congress party defends this move as a step toward social justice. In contrast, the opposition BJP deems it unconstitutional, accusing the government of appeasement politics, and plans to challenge the bill legally. The assembly session was marked by chaos, with BJP members protesting and tearing copies of the bill, demanding discussions on an unrelated honey-trap scandal.