Latest news today (August 25): Presenting FE’s Breaking News today. We will keep you updated on all major news, views and much more throughout the day.

IDFC First bags title sponsorship rights for BCCI’s international, domestic matches

IDFC First will be the Title Sponsor for all international matches (both women and men), domestic cricket matches organized by the BCCI as well as all junior cricket matches, held in India. The collaboration will be seen next month in a 3-match ODI series against Australia.

Punjab govt to resume minibus service in rural areas

Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Friday that the state’s rural districts will once again get minibus service. The reinstatement of the service, according to Mann, who presided over a meeting with representatives of the transport department, would not only benefit those who live in remote regions but would also give young people the opportunity to get a job by granting them bus licences to drive these buses. The chief minister instructed the staff to create a blueprint of the entire scheme and to survey all of Punjab to determine the quickest possible means of putting this decision into action.

SBI launches Aadhaar-based enrolment for social security schemes

The largest lender in the nation, State Bank of India, announced a feature on Friday that enables consumers to enroll in social security programs by simply providing an Aadhaar card. The new function, which will be accessible through the bank’s Customer Service Points (CSPs), was launched by SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara and intends to make the process of signing up for various social security systems easier.

SC seeks replies from Centre, states & UTs on plea seeking reservation for transgenders

In response to a petition asking for accommodations for transgender people in public employment and education, the Supreme Court on Friday requested comments from the federal government, the states, and the Union Territories. A transgender person from Kerala had submitted a petition, and the Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices J B Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra were hearing it.

Child trafficker arrested on Jharkhand railway station, 9 children rescued

9 children have been rescued from a trafficker in a railway station of Jharkhand’s Palamu district by an on-duty Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. All the kids are below 14 and from different districts.

12-hour bandh in Darjeeling over Siliguri girl’s murder

A 12-hour bandh has been called in Darjeeling, West Bengal as they protest to get the case of Siliguri schoolgirl murder fast-tracked in court. The bandh is initiated by a newly-formed Gorkha Sewa Sena, and supported by the taxi associations of Kurseong. As per the reports, the accused was trying to sexually assault the school going girl to which she revolted, eventually he killed the girl through a stone.

India, Greece elevate ties to level of strategic partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek President Kyriakos Mitsotakis elevated their relationship and talked about issues like defence and security, trade and emerging technologies. Soon both the countries will sign a pact that targets doubling the bilateral trade by 2030 and improvement in migration and mobility.

SC refused to grant relief to Delhi over defamation case

The Supreme Court refuses to grant relief to Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the criminal defamation case filed by the Gujarat University over his comments in connection with the Prime Minister’s degree. (ANI) (READ MORE)

Largest wildfire in Europe Greece, total death toll 21

After a week of Europe’s largest single recorded wildfire in northeastern Greece, the authorities have recovered a total 21 bodies suspected to be migrants travelling to neighboring Turkey. Greece’s Disaster Victim Identification Team has been activated to identify the remains, and a telephone hotline has been set up

With Tesla push, India mulls import tax cut if EV makers build locally

According to India’s new policy on EV, the import taxes on automobiles may be cut to as low as 15% if it is manufactured locally in India. Elon Musk has proposed this policy to the current 100% that applies to cars. He has also shown his great interest in Indian market and is planning to introduce Tesla soon.

PM Modi conferred with the Grand Cross

PM Narendra Modi conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by Greek President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou in Athens. “I thank President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the Government and people of Greece for conferring upon me The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour. This shows the respect the people of Greece have towards India,” tweets PM Modi.

Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Paris Olympics

Neeraj Chopra on Friday qualified for the 2024 Olympics with a big throw of 88.77m in his first attempt, which also took him to the final of the javelin throw competition at the World Championships in Budapest. The 25-year-old Chopra’s qualifying round lasted just a few minutes as he sent the spear to his season’s and fourth career-best distance. He was competing in Group A qualification round. (PTI)

Amid new de-escalation bid, Rahul Gandhi reignites Ladakh issue

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the PM lied about situation in Ladakh. In Kargil, while addressing an event, Gandhi said that “…Ladakh is a strategic location…One thing is very clear China has taken away India’s land…It is sad that the PM in the opposition meeting said that not even an inch of Ladakh has been taken by China. This is a lie…”

PM Modi reaches Greece on 1-day official visit

PM Modi reached Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens and met Indian diaspora gathered outside the hotel to greet him on his arrival in Greece. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis received PM Modi on his arrival in Athens. (ANI)

Former WWE champion dies at 36

Windham Rotunda, a former WWE star, died of heart attack on Friday. He was 36. Rotunda, who used screen name ‘Bray Wyatt’ and ‘The Fiend’ WWE wrestling days, was a 3rd-gen champion. He was the Chief Content Officer of the company owned by another WWE superstar ‘Triple H’. Bray Wyatt’s death was confirmed by Triple H aka Paul Levesque on ‘X’.

RIL likely to sell additional 8-10% stake in Reliance Retail Ventures

Reliance Industries is likely to sell an additional 8-10% stake in its retail arm Reliance Retail Ventures to fund expansion, retire debt and prepare for a public listing of the conglomerate’s retail business, the Economic Times reported on Friday. This process will most likely take 12-15 months and will be vital for the projected initial public offering of Reliance’s retail operations, the report added, citing industry sources. Reliance did not immediately respond to a request seeking comments. (Reuters)

Covid variant BA.2.86 spreads to other parts of world

BA.2.86, the latest coronavirus variant, has been detected in two more countries, the WHO has confirmed. The high-mutated Covid variant has infected people in South Africa and Switzerland. With latest update, now six nations across the world have confirmed cases of BA.2.86 covid variant. Previously, cases related to this sub-strain were detected in the UK, Demark, the US and Israel.

US will resolve Tesla Autopilot probe, could make announcement soon, says official

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will resolve its two-year investigation into Tesla Autopilot and could make a public announcement soon, the agency’s acting head told Reuters. “We’ll get to a resolution (of the Tesla probe),” Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson told Reuters in an interview at the agency’s headquarters. Speaking broadly of advanced driver assistance systems, she said: “It’s really important that drivers pay attention. It’s also really important that driver monitoring systems take into account that humans over-trust technology.” (Reuters)

Sandwich chain Subway will be sold to fast-food investor Roark Capital

Subway said Thursday it will be sold to Roark Capital, a private equity firm with expertise in restaurant management that could help the sandwich chain expand and improve its stores. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Atlanta-based Roark was offering around $9.6 billion for Subway, which is privately owned. Subway CEO John Chidsey, who joined the company in 2019, said the deal reflects Subway’s long-term growth potential and the value of the brand. Subway plans to continue to modernize restaurants and expand internationally under Roark’s ownership. Subway said its leadership team will remain in place. (AP)

Trump spends 20 minutes in jail after surrender in Atlanta

Donald Trump’s mug shot was released on Thursday evening after he was booked at an Atlanta jail on more than a dozen felony charges as part of a wide-ranging criminal case stemming from the former U.S. president’s attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia. An unsmiling Trump – inmate no. P01135809, according to Fulton County Jail records – was captured glaring at the camera in the mug shot.

The image represented yet another extraordinary moment for Trump, who did not have to submit to a photograph when making appearances in his three other criminal cases. Trump spent only about 20 minutes at the jail before heading back to his New Jersey golf club. Before boarding his private plane at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, he repeated his claim that the prosecution – along with the others he faces – is politically motivated. (Reuters)