Top 50 Breaking News Headlines Today – August 24, 2025: Updates from India and Around the World
August 24, 2025, 7 AM IST
National News India
1. PM Modi Announces Major GST Reforms by Diwali 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced GST 2.0 reforms to be implemented by Diwali 2025
Plans to simplify current 4-slab structure to 2 main slabs (5% and 18%) plus 40% luxury slab
Described as “double Diwali bonus” for common people to reduce compliance burden
Expected to lower tax burden on essential goods and simplify filing procedures
2. Parliament Security Breach Incident
Occurred on August 22, 2025, around 6:30 AM near the new Parliament building
19-year-old Ram Kumar Bhind from Uttar Pradesh scaled wall using tree near Rail Bhawan
Reached Garud Gate before being apprehended by CISF personnel without causing damageyoutube
Incident raises serious concerns about security protocols at India’s most important democratic institution
3. Supreme Court Modifies Stray Dog Order
Supreme Court modified its August 11 order on August 22, 2025, allowing controlled release of stray dogs
Dogs can now be released after proper sterilization and immunization procedures
Public feeding banned in open areas, designated feeding zones to be created by municipal authorities
Rahul Gandhi welcomed the order calling it a “progressive step”
4. Greater Noida Dowry Death Case Shocks Nation
Woman named Nikki allegedly set ablaze over ₹36 lakh dowry demand in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village
Husband Vipin Bhati arrested, disturbing videos of the incident surfaced online
Victim’s mother revealed husband demanded Swift Dzire car and regularly abused her daughter
Son witnessed the horrific incident, case registered under dowry death provisions
5. India Suspends Postal Services to US from August 25
Department of Posts suspends most postal services to US effective August 25, 2025
Decision follows US Executive Order No. 14324 withdrawing duty-free exemption for goods up to $800
Only letters, documents, and gift items up to $100 value exempt from suspension
Move comes amid Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian goods including 25% penalty for Russian oil purchases
6. CBI Raids Anil Ambani in ₹2,000 Crore Fraud Case
CBI conducted searches at Anil Ambani’s Mumbai residence and RCom premises on August 23, 2025
Case involves alleged fraud causing loss of over ₹2,000 crore to State Bank of India
SBI classified RCom and Ambani as “fraud” on June 13, 2025, under RBI guidelines
Follows ED questioning Ambani for 10 hours on August 5 in related money laundering case
7. Punjab LPG Tanker Explosion Kills 4, Injures 23
Fatal accident in Mandiala village, Hoshiarpur district on August 23, when LPG tanker collided with pickup truck
Massive explosion heard 7 kilometers away, destroyed 15 shops and 4-5 houses
Death toll varies between 2-4 across sources, with 21-30 injured, many critically
Chief Minister announces ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for families of deceased
8. PM Modi to Launch National Natural Farming Mission August 23
Prime Minister to inaugurate ₹2,481 crore National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) in New Delhi
Mission aims to promote sustainable farming on 750,000 hectares, benefiting 10 million farmers
Centrally sponsored program conceived by NITI Aayog to increase farmer income
Focus on improving soil health and reducing input costs for farmers
9. CBSE Approves Open-Book Assessment for Schools
Central Board of Secondary Education approved proposal for open-book assessments starting 2026-27
Students can use textbooks and notes during examinations, initially for Class 9 students
Decision aligns with National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework 2023
Implementation optional, teachers will undergo special training for new assessment format
10. Raw Tea Leaf Prices Crash 50% Due to Imports
Raw tea leaf prices dropped nearly 50% year-on-year in August to ₹14/kg
Rising low-cost imports from Kenya and Nepal combined with export uncertainty hurt prices
Retail tea prices also fell 10-15%, impacting 24 million small growers across India
Oversupply, weak exports expected to continue pressure through 2025
International News
11. Israel Begins Gaza City Military Operation
Israel announced preliminary phases of Gaza City operation with troops positioned on outskirts
IDF conducting operations in Zeitoun and Jabalia areas of Gaza City
UN warns of “systematic destruction” of Gaza City already underway
At least 52-65 Palestinians killed in recent Israeli strikes according to Gaza health ministry
12. Trump Launches Official White House TikTok Account
Official @whitehouse TikTok account launched August 19, 2025
First video featured Trump saying “I am your voice” to American people
Launch comes despite ongoing TikTok ban uncertainty and Trump’s promise to extend shutdown deadlines
Account represents major policy shift from previous administration’s approach
13. Xi Jinping Makes Rare Tibet Visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s second presidential visit to Tibet on August 21, 2025
Visit commemorates 60th anniversary of Tibet Autonomous Region establishment
Xi emphasized need for Tibetan Buddhism to “adapt to socialist society” during visit
Comes amid tensions over Dalai Lama succession and Beijing’s control over region
14. Russia Launches Major Ukraine Strikes
Russia conducted massive aerial assault using 574 drones and 40 missiles on August 21, 2025
Targeted multiple Ukrainian cities including Kyiv and Lviv
Described as biggest wave of Russian strikes in weeks by international observer
Strikes hit energy infrastructure and residential areas causing civilian casualties
15. Famine Declared in Parts of Gaza
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared famine in Gaza Governorate
500,000 people experiencing “catastrophic” hunger levels in the territory
Famine projected to expand to central and southern Gaza by end of September
UN officials sound alarm over deteriorating humanitarian situation
16. Major Earthquake in South Atlantic Ocean
Preliminary magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck South Atlantic Ocean far off Argentina coast
US Geological Survey confirmed the major seismic event with tsunami advisory issued
No significant damage reported from remote ocean location
17. China’s Carbon Emissions Drop 1% in First Half 2025
China’s carbon dioxide emissions fell 1% in first half of 2025 compared to same period last year
Decline helped by growing use of renewable energy to generate power
Study conducted by Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
18. Caspian Sea Level Falls Rapidly
Azerbaijan sounds alarm over rapid falls in Caspian Sea level affecting ports and oil shipments
Threatens catastrophic damage to sturgeon and seal populations according to Azerbaijani officials
Environmental disaster affecting regional economy and biodiversity
Business & Economy
19. Yes Bank Gets RBI Approval for SMBC Investment
Reserve Bank of India approved Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s acquisition of up to 24.99% stake in Yes Bank
Approval granted on August 22, 2025, valid for one year
Deal involves ₹13,500 crore investment, still requires Competition Commission of India approval
20. India Attracts $11.8 Billion Renewable Energy Investment
India drew $11.8 billion in renewable energy investments during first half of 2025
Second-highest half-year record, utility-scale solar accounting for 77% of investments
Investment builds on success of clean power auctions awarding 59 GW capacity in 2024
Wind power investment fell by half but showing recovery signs
21. Major M&A Deals Close in August 2025
T-Mobile acquired US Cellular for $4.3 billion on August 1, 2025
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals acquired Endo Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners acquired Colonial Enterprises for $9 billion
La Caisse acquired Innergex Renewable Energy for $7 billion on July 21, 2025
22. India Startup Funding Shows Strong Growth
Indian startups raised ₹2,550 crore across 23 deals in week of August 8-14, 2025
Top 5 deals accounted for ₹1,797 crore, led by Truemeds (₹744 crore Series C)
TMRW raised ₹437 crore, Aragen ₹300 crore, Ultraviolette ₹184 crore
Investor appetite strong in healthtech, lifestyle brands, and mobility sectors
Technology News
23. Meta Signs $10 Billion Cloud Deal with Google
Google struck six-year cloud computing deal with Meta Platforms worth over $10 billion
Deal represents one of largest cloud agreements in tech industry
Second major cloud agreement for Google recently after OpenAI partnership
24. Nvidia Halts H20 Chip Production for China
Nvidia asked component suppliers to suspend production work for H20 AI chips designed for China
Decision follows Beijing crackdown on purchases of advanced AI processing units
H20 chips are most advanced product Nvidia currently permitted to sell to China
25. OpenAI Chief People Officer Departs
OpenAI’s chief people officer Julia Villagra left the company on Friday
Latest in series of high-profile departures from the AI company
Comes amid ongoing restructuring and leadership changes
26. Waymo Gets NYC Testing Permit
Alphabet’s robotaxi unit Waymo received first permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City
Testing will be conducted with trained specialist behind the wheel
Helps company advance self-driving ambitions in major metropolitan market
27. Apple-Google AI Partnership Discussions
Apple reportedly in talks with Google to use Gemini AI technology to power revamped Siri
Discussions ahead of iPhone 17 launch expected later this year
Partnership would integrate Google’s AI capabilities into Apple’s voice assistant
28. Vivo Launches Vision Discovery Mixed Reality Headset
Vivo unveiled Vision Discovery Edition, its first mixed reality headset
Device features dual 8K Micro-OLED displays and Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2.1 chip
Advanced eye tracking and gesture controls for entertainment, gaming, productivity
Sports News
29. NorthEast United FC Retains Durand Cup Title
NorthEast United FC defeated Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 in Durand Cup 2025 final
Defending champions won title for second consecutive year at Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata
Goals from Parthib Gogoi and Asheer Akhtar helped secure commanding victory
30. Indian Archer Wins World Championship Gold
Indian compound men’s U-21 team clinched first-ever Junior World title at 2025 World Archery Youth Championships
Historic achievement for Indian archery at international level
Team overcame strong international competition to secure gold medal
31. Animesh Kujur Qualifies for Tokyo World Athletics Championships
Animesh Kujur becomes first-ever Indian male sprinter to qualify for Tokyo World Athletics Championships
Coach says “no expectation” and Tokyo will be “just for the experience”
Historic breakthrough for Indian athletics on global stage
32. Dhanalakshmi Sekhar’s Comeback Story
From 3-year ban to three gold medals at Senior National athletics championships
27-year-old runner bounced back with help from coach and hard work
Inspiring story of resilience and determination in Indian athletics
33. Mumbai Cricket Association Honors Legends
MCA unveiled Sunil Gavaskar statue and named museum after former president Sharad Pawar
Decision to build life-size statues made earlier this year along with museum plans
Also revived vintage Kanga league library as part of heritage preservation
34. Australia vs South Africa 3rd ODI
Third ODI of Australia vs South Africa series scheduled for August 24 at Mackay
Part of 3-match ODI series between the two cricketing nations
Match timing set for 10:00 AM IST on Sunday
Health News
35. FDA Approves New Fibromyalgia Treatment
FDA approved Tonmya (cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride) for fibromyalgia treatment on August 15, 2025
Sublingual formulation indicated for fibromyalgia treatment in adults
Developed by Tonix Pharmaceuticals as TNX-102 SL
36. FDA Approves Hereditary Angioedema Treatment
FDA approved Dawnzera (donidalorsen) injection on August 21, 2025
Indicated for prophylaxis to prevent hereditary angioedema attacks
Approved for adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older
37. FDA Approves First Immunotherapy for Respiratory Papillomatosis
FDA approved Papzimeos (zopapogene imadenovec-drba) on August 14, 2025
Non-replicating adenoviral vector-based immunotherapy
First treatment approved for adults with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
38. WHO-FDA Issue Health Stakeholder Updates
FDA issued weekly regulatory update for healthcare stakeholders
Oncology Center of Excellence hosting pivotal workshop on August 27-28, 2025
Focus on “The Future of Registries in Oncology” virtual workshop
Environment & Climate News
39. India Achieves 50% Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity
India reached 50.07% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources
Achievement came five years ahead of NDC commitment timeline
Total non-fossil fuel capacity reached 242.8 GW by June 2025
40. Record Solar Capacity Growth in India
India’s solar power capacity increased by 4,000% in July 2025
Total renewable energy capacity reached 227 GW
Palli village in J&K became India’s first carbon-neutral panchayat
41. India Ranks 4th Globally in Renewable Energy
India stands 4th globally in renewable energy installed capacity
4th in wind power capacity and 3rd in solar power capacity per IRENA statistics
Added record 29.52 GW renewable energy in FY 2024-25
42. Government Proposes GST Cut for Renewable Energy
Indian government proposes reducing GST on renewable energy from 12% to 5%
Move could benefit companies like NTPC Green Energy
Potential catalyst for accelerated clean energy adoption
43. Mumbai Faces Extreme Rainfall and Urban Floods
Mumbai received prolonged heavy rainfall during August 15-20, 2025
Santacruz Airport recorded 87.5 cm rainfall during the period
Three days of extremely heavy rainfall on August 15-16, 18-19, and 19-20
Very long extreme rain spell after July 11-21, 2021 event
Education News
44. IIT Mandi Launches AI Certification Program
IIT Mandi collaborated with Nagent AI to launch hybrid upskilling program
23-hour online program with in-person campus experience
Registration closes August 30, limited to 30 seats
Aims to bridge India’s AI-skill gap for professionals
45. IIM Bangalore Launches Fintech Certification
IIMB launched fintech certification course for early-career professionals
Supported by Government of Karnataka as part of skilling initiative
Foundation certificate (6 months) and advanced certificate (3 months)
Applications open until September 14, 2025
46. Supreme Court Upholds 3-Year Law Practice Requirement
SC upheld three-year law practice requirement for entry-level state judicial examinations
Court observed any modification would open “Pandora’s box”
Fresh law graduates barred from appearing for judicial services examination
Maintains uniform eligibility standard across the country
47. Rajasthan HC Orders Closure of Unsafe Classrooms
Rajasthan High Court ordered closure of 86,000 unsafe classrooms in government schools
Court asked state to make alternative arrangements for affected students
Order ensures student safety while maintaining educational continuity
Agriculture & Rural News
48. PM-KISAN 20th Installment Released
20th installment of PM-KISAN scheme released on August 2, 2025
PM Modi transferred ₹2,000 each to 9.3 crore farmers from Varanasi
Direct Benefit Transfer to registered bank accounts with SMS notification
Timely support during Kharif season for input costs
49. Kharif Paddy Sowing Rises 12%
Kharif paddy sowing increased 12% compared to previous year
Cotton and oilseeds acreage declined according to Agriculture Department data
Progress report released as of August 8, 2025
Higher MSP and import curbs help moong cultivation
50. National Dairy Board Signs Biogas Plant MoUs
National Dairy Development Board and 25 Milk Unions across 15 states signed MoUs
Agreement to establish biogas plants in dairy cooperatives
Initiative supports renewable energy adoption in agriculture sector
Part of sustainable dairy farming and waste management programs
