DELHI (national capital territory)

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is set to further expand its advanced robotic surgery programme at the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH). The first robotic system, installed earlier this year, has already transformed cancer care at AIIMS by providing free robotic surgeries to 20–25 patients every month. Second Robotic Machine to Be Procured for ₹19.75 Crore Encouraged by the excellent clinical outcomes, AIIMS has begun the process of acquiring a second robotic surgery machine worth ₹19.75 crore. According to a senior doctor, the first machine—installed in February—has already facilitated over 150 surgeries. Most procedures have been performed for cancers of the intestine, oesophagus, pancreas, urology-related cancers, and gynaecological maligna...

New Delhi: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is once again set to adorn the capital’s most prestigious avenues—Chanakyapuri, Shanti Path and other VVIP zones—with vibrant tulips this winter. To bring this spectacular floral display to life, NDMC will import 5.17 lakh tulip bulbs from the Netherlands, at an estimated cost of ₹1.30 crore to ₹1.55 crore. Dutch Bulbs for VVIP Roads, Indigenous Bulbs for Wider Coverage Of the imported bulbs, roughly 1.92 lakh tulip bulbs will also be shared with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for plantation in designated areas.Alongside the imported flowers, NDMC will plant thousands of indigenous tulip bulbs as well, adding a homegrown touch to the city’s seasonal beauty. Tulip planting is scheduled to begin after December 15. Slight Re...

New Delhi: With Delhi once again shrouded in a dense layer of smog, the revised guidelines under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) have renewed hopes of relief—provided they are implemented strictly across sectors. One of the key recommendations is for private companies to allow 50% of their employees to work from home, a move expected to significantly reduce peak-hour congestion and vehicular emissions. Government Issues Advisory to Private Sector Following the CAQM’s updated GRAP measures announced on Saturday, the government swiftly issued an advisory urging private offices to adopt remote working for half their workforce.Former CPCB Air Lab Head Dipankar Saha emphasized that if all offices comply, vehicle density during peak hours will reduce substantially. This would also e...

In one of the biggest crackdowns on synthetic narcotics in recent years, the Narcotics Control Bureau (OPS Branch), in coordination with the Delhi Police Special Cell (CI), seized 328.54 kg of high-quality methamphetamine from a residence in Chhattarpur on November 20. The international market value of the seized drugs is estimated at ₹262 crore. The operation, code-named “Crystal Fortress”, was the culmination of months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and technical intercepts targeting a trans-national synthetic drug cartel. Two Arrested; International Links Exposed The NCB has arrested two accused so far, including a woman from Nagaland, identified as Esther Kinimi. The first breakthrough came with the arrest of Shane Waris (25), a resident of Mangrauli village in Amroh...

New Delhi: Recent disruptions at Delhi’s IGI Airport—caused by the failure of the Air Traffic Control’s Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS)—led to large-scale flight delays and cancellations, exposing critical gaps in India’s aviation communication infrastructure. In response, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has accelerated efforts to replace the decade-old AMSS with the far more advanced Aeronautical Message Handling System (AMHS). According to senior officials, nationwide transition to AMHS is expected to be completed by March next year, with trial operations scheduled to begin in February 2026. Once implemented, passenger flights across India will operate using the new, globally adopted system. AMSS to AMHS: A Major Technological Upgrade Sources in the Civil Aviation Minis...

The Delhi High Court has expressed concern over the rising bitterness in matrimonial disputes, stating that the dissolution of a marriage is not a triumph for either spouse but merely a legal acknowledgement that the relationship has reached a point of no return. Court Observes: Matrimonial Litigation Leaves Deep Emotional Scars While allowing a man’s plea for divorce on the grounds of mental cruelty, the court noted that matrimonial cases often inflict “deep emotional wounds” on both sides. “A broken marriage is not a victory of one party over the other. It is simply a legal recognition that the relationship cannot be revived,” the bench remarked, urging both parties to maintain dignity in all future interactions and proceedings. Background: Marriage Beyond Repair The divis...

The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to pass an immediate order allowing Jaseer Bilal Wani, a co-accused in the Red Fort blast case, to meet his lawyer inside the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters. Court: “Accused Is Not a Special Person; Procedure Must Be Followed” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma refused to entertain the plea after observing that the accused had failed to produce any trial court order rejecting his request.The court emphasised that Wani is not a special individual entitled to bypass established legal procedures. “There is a constitutional process that all of us must adhere to. If there is no rejection order, why are you before me? First, the trial court must pass a written order, then you may challenge it here,” Justice Sharma remarked when Wani’s ...

The tragic suicide of a Class 10 student from a private school in Delhi has triggered outrage among parents and forced the government to take swift action. Education Minister Ashish Sood has emphasized the urgent need to strengthen mental-health support in schools and announced the formation of a four-member inquiry committee. The panel has been directed to submit its report within three days. Parents Protest Outside School, Demand Action Against Teachers For the second consecutive day on Friday, parents gathered outside St. Columbus School demanding strict action against the teachers accused of harassing the student. According to the school administration, four teachers have already been suspended following the incident. The student’s father revealed that his son wrote a note bef...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the 10 November blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, is expanding its investigation to unravel domestic as well as international links. The agency is now preparing to question Al-Falah University Group Chairman Javed Ahmed Siddiqui, currently under judicial remand, in connection with the case. Crucial Inputs From Doctors and Cleric According to sources, the NIA has brought four suspects — three doctors and a cleric — from Srinagar to Delhi for detailed interrogation. Among them, Dr. Muzzammil Shakeel Ghani of Pulwama and cleric Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wage of Shopian have allegedly provided several critical inputs that are guiding the next phase of the investigation. Possible Foreign Links Emerge Officials indicated that investigators...