MEA rejects Nepal’s claims over Lipulekh after India, China restart trade through border points
India on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) rejected Nepal’s objection to resumption of India-China border trade through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, stating that Kathmandu’s arguments are not based on “historical facts”. “As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
West Bengal government hands over land for construction of border fence to BSF
The West Bengal government has handed over land along 77 kilometres of the border with Bangladesh to the Border Security Force (BSF) for the construction of a fence and other infrastructure projects, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (Augut 20, 2025). Land to fence another 229.31 km is in various stages of acquisition, the MHA said.
Russia welcomes Wang Yi’s visit and the positive turn in India-China ties
Russia has welcomed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India and the positive turn in India-China relations, a senior Russian diplomat said here on Wednesday (August 20, 2025). Addressing a press meeting at the Russian Embassy, senior Russian diplomats further said that India-Russia energy trade has not been impacted by U.S. President Trump’s penalty tariffs targeting India, and that Russia currently supplies more than 40% of India’s total crude oil demands.
Trinamool leader sues R.G. Kar victim’s father over allegations of ‘settlement’ with CBI
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh filed a defamation case against the father of the R.G. Kar rape and murder victim on Wednesday following allegations the latter made that the Trinamool leader had “made a settlement” with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to bury the probe.
Wang Yi holds trilateral talks with Taliban, Pakistan FMs
In a move that could rile New Delhi just a day after his meetings in India, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met the Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Kabul to discuss trilateral connectivity and building economic initiatives as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Historic Swedish church arrives at new home after two-day journey
A landmark Swedish church arrived on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) at its new home after a two-day move across the Arctic town of Kiruna, in a move to allow Europe’s largest underground mine to expand. The red wooden Kiruna Kyrka, which dates from 1912 and weighs 672 tonnes, completed its five-kilometre (three-miles) journey around 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT).
Judge denies Justice Department request to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts
A federal judge in New York who presided over the sex trafficking case against the late financier Jeffrey Epstein has rejected the government’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts. The ruling on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) by federal Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan came after the judge presiding over the case against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell also turned down the government’s request.
In Moscow, Jaishankar flags challenges that tariffs pose to India-Russia trade
In the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of penalty tariff on India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) in Moscow raised the challenge posed by “tariff and non-tariff trade barriers” before Russia-India trade and called for “early conclusion” of a Free Trade Agreement among India and the countries of the Eurasian region.
Five of family die after electrocution in Jalgaon; teen killed by fallen live wire in Mumbai
In two separate incidents of electrocution in Maharashtra, five members of a family died after coming in contact with a live wire around a farmland in Jalgaon district, while a 17-year-old youth lost his life in Mumbai’s Bhandup area after stepping on a fallen electricity cable amid heavy rains, police said on Wednesday (August 20, 2025).
Russia says captured three settlements in Ukraine’s east
The Russian army said Wednesday (August 20, 2025) it had captured three villages in eastern Ukraine, claiming fresh territorial gains despite U.S.-led peace efforts and a flurry of diplomacy to end the conflict. Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Telegram its troops had “continued to advance deep into the enemy defences” in the embattled Donetsk region, taking the villages of Sukhetske and Pankivka.
Aadhaar to be used for Starlink KYC, says UIDAI
SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink will use Aadhaar to validate Indian users under Know-Your-Customer (KYC) rules, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) announced on Wednesday. The Elon Musk-owned service has already obtained orbital slot appointments and a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), but is yet to roll out.