TODAY NEWS ON August 24, 2025

Source: The Hindu, Indian express other media

Postal Department suspends bookings to the U.S. from August 25

The Postal Department will suspend booking and transmission of mail, except documents and gifts worth up to $100, to the U.S. from August 25. According to a communication from the Department, the move is introduced because of an executive order of the U.S. administration that will come into effect from August 29. U.S.-bound carriers have expressed their inability to carry postal shipments in the absence of fully defined mechanisms for duty collection and data exchange.

Census 2027 to retain 2011 Census definition of an urban area

The upcoming Census 2027 proposes to retain the same definition of an urban area as that used during Census 2011 to ensure uniformity while comparing the urbanisation trends in the country, according to an official communication. During 2011 Census, other than statutory areas such as municipal corporation, cantonment board, notified town area committee, town panchayat, nagar palika, an urban unit or a “census town” was defined as “all other villages” with a minimum population of 5,000 persons with a density of population of 400 persons per sq. km. and where 75% of the male working population is engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.

North Korea test-fires two ‘new’ air defence missiles

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test-firing of two “new” air defence missiles, state media said Sunday (August 24, 2025), after Pyongyang accused Seoul of fomenting tensions at the border. The test-firing, which took place Saturday (August 23, 2025), showed that the two new missile weapon systems had “superior combat capability”, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz offers political truce to help secure Gaza hostage deal

Israeli former Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Saturday (August 23, 2025) called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to forge a unity government along with members of the opposition in a bid to help release the hostages held in Gaza. Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition government depends on support from far-right members who oppose ending the war and making any deal with Palestinian group Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Ishaq Dar reaches Bangladesh

In a significant development, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Ishaq Dar reached Bangladesh on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has announced. Mr. Dar was received at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Asad Alam Siam, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haidar and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal Khan and officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.

Trump names close aide Sergio Gor as Ambassador to India, sparking hopes of better India-U.S. ties, concern over regional role

The surprise announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that he would send his close aide, 38-year-old Sergio Gor, as Ambassador to India has led to some relief for those hoping the nomination will pause the deterioration in India-U.S. ties over trade and other issues.

Indigenous clocks delay ISRO’s plans to replace defunct Navic satellite

Officials at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) say they are looking to launch at least three satellites before 2026-end, to replace defunct satellites that are part of the ‘Indian GPS’ or Navic (Navigation with Indian constellation) system. However, there seems to be a key element impeding the launch — the development of indigenous clocks.

Protest erupts outside Delhi animal birth control centre over ‘cruelty’ to stray dogs

A protest broke out late on Friday night outside an animal birth control (ABC) centre at Rohini’s Sector 27 in Delhi, with animal rights activists alleging that stray dogs housed at the facility faced cruel treatment. On Saturday, 46 sterilised canines were released from the centre and a team of 15 police personnel was deployed in the area.

SIT arrests complainant for perjury in Dharmasthala case

Following a prolonged enquiry on Friday, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), investigating the Dharmasthala mass burial case, has arrested the complainant, a 50-year-old sanitation worker, after protection granted to him under the Witness Protection Scheme was withdrawn. Sources in the SIT said he has been arrested for perjury. The complainant, while giving a voluntary statement on oath before a magistrate in Belthangady on July 11, had produced a skull and a few bones, which he claimed were that of a woman who was sexually assaulted.

CBI books Anil Ambani’s RCOM for ₹2,000-crore bank fraud, searches premises

The CBI has filed a case against Reliance Communications and its promoter director, Anil Ambani, for an alleged bank fraud that caused a loss of over ₹2,000 crore to State Bank of India, officials said on Saturday. The agency is carrying out searches at the residence of Anil Ambani and premises linked to RCOM in connection with the case, they said. The CBI took the action based on a complaint from the lender State Bank of India, which had approached the agency after the entities were classified as fraud on June 13, in accordance with the RBI’s Master Directions on Fraud Risk Management and the Bank’s Board-approved Policy on Classification, Reporting & Management of Frauds.

Army launches relief operations in rain-battered Chamoli district in Uttarakhand

The Chamoli District Magistrate has ordered for the temporary requisition of the offices and rest houses of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) in Kulsari and Deval villages, respectively, after Tharali’s tehsil office suffered extensive damage owing to the cloudburst in the area. The Chamoli DM has also ordered multiple officials to help the sub-district magistrate for coordinating relief operations. The District Rural Development Agency project director, Chief Agriculture Officer, Panchayat Raj officer, Youth Welfare and Prarad officer, and Supply officer of Chamoli have been posted to Tharali following damage to the tehsil office.

Jaishankar hits out at U.S. tariffs, says India will not compromise on farmers’ interests

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday hit out at the United States for what he called “unjustified and unreasonable” tariffs on Indian goods, after the Trump administration raised duties to over 50% as a penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil. Speaking at a forum, Mr. Jaishankar said India’s priority was to protect farmers and small producers, stressing that New Delhi would not compromise on their interests.

Meghwal defends 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, cites Kejriwal’s refusal to resign while jailed

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Saturday described the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill as a “progressive legislation “ and wondered whether the Opposition was siding with corruption by criticising the Bill. Defending the Bill, Mr. Meghwal said AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal didn’t resign as Delhi Chief Minister when he had been incarcerated.

Madhya Pradesh’s longest flyover inaugurated in Jabalpur; to cut travel time from 40 to 7 minutes

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday inaugurated the State’s longest flyover, featuring a single-span cable-stayed bridge in Jabalpur. The 7-km-long flyover will cut the travel time between Madan Mahal and Damoh Naka from 40-45 minutes now to just 6-7 minutes, officials said.