A fire at the North Hyde Electricity Substation near Heathrow Airport, involving a transformer with 25,000 litres of cooling oil, continues to burn, with 10% still alight, according to London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith. The Met Police declared it a major incident as firefighters faced challenging conditions. Hillingdon Council confirmed the closure of six schools in Hayes, including Pinkwell Primary and The Global Academy, for safety reasons. Emergency services remain on-site, and authorities are monitoring the situation closely. Residents have been advised to avoid the area as efforts continue to fully extinguish the fire.

Investigators maintain there is no evidence of foul play in the Heathrow substation fire but stress inquiries remain at an early stage. Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command is involved as a routine precaution due to Heathrow’s status as critical national infrastructure. Officials say counter-terrorism detectives provide specialist expertise and security clearance for accessing sensitive information. Intelligence services are monitoring developments, but no indications of sabotage have emerged. The fire, which continues to burn partially, has left Terminals 2 and 4 without power, affecting thousands of travelers. Authorities are working to restore power and determine the exact cause.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has ordered the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to seize more territory in Gaza if Hamas refuses to release additional Israeli hostages. Katz announced plans for annexation of the seized land and directed the evacuation of Palestinian civilians. Israel has intensified military operations, including air, sea, and land strikes, to pressure Hamas. Since resuming operations, nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed. The ceasefire, which had allowed the release of hostages, was broken earlier this week, escalating the conflict and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Heathrow Airport remains closed after a massive fire at a nearby substation left Terminals 2 and 4 without power. Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation, citing the impact on critical national infrastructure. The Met Police stated there is no indication of foul play but emphasized an "open mind" as inquiries continue. London Fire Brigade confirmed 10% of the fire is still burning, affecting 5,000 homes. Thousands of passengers face cancellations, with eyewitnesses calling the fire "apocalyptic." Authorities are working to restore power and minimize disruptions, but Heathrow warns delays could extend for days.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the military to seize more territory in Gaza, threatening a partial annexation if Hamas does not release Israeli hostages. "The more Hamas refuses, the more land it will lose," Katz said. Israeli forces have resumed heavy bombardment, with over 500 killed, including 190 minors. Katz also warned of expanding buffer zones and hinted at implementing Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians. The renewed assault has drawn global condemnation. Israeli troops are advancing into Rafah, closing off Gaza’s main north-south route as they escalate ground operations. The crisis continues to deepen.

A fire at an electrical substation caused the shutdown of Heathrow Airport on Friday, triggering massive disruptions across the global aviation industry. British Airways, a key operator, has redirected inbound flights to other UK airports and advised passengers with cancelled flights not to travel. The closure could strand over 145,000 passengers and result in financial losses in the "hundreds of millions of pounds." The impact extends beyond airlines, affecting retailers, cargo firms, and local communities reliant on the airport. The disruption is expected to persist for days or even weeks.

Heathrow Airport remains closed as a fire at an electrical substation near the airport continues to burn, with 10% of the blaze still alight, according to London Fire Brigade. Power remains out at Terminals 2 and 4, and over 5,000 homes are affected. Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith said firefighters are working under “challenging conditions,” and investigations are ongoing with counter-terrorism police involved as a precaution. About 150 people have been evacuated, including 29 from nearby properties. Heathrow warns of prolonged disruptions, with 1,350+ flights impacted today. Fire safety teams continue assessing the situation, with recovery efforts ongoing.

India's $23 billion incentive program aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing will expire, with no plans for expansion or extended deadlines. Despite participation from major companies like Foxconn and Reliance, the scheme has underperformed, with only 37% of the production target met as of October 2024, and less than 8% of allocated funds disbursed. The program saw growth in mobile-phone and pharmaceutical sectors but faced issues in other industries. While the government plans new alternatives, the manufacturing share of the economy has decreased, from 15.4% to 14.3%.  

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.

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.