NEWS 23-01-2025. News For 31st-Jan (Friday) *International* 1.India and China have decided to resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra & have also agreed to resume direct air services between the two countries. 2.Bangladesh and Pakistan are planning to initiate direct air flights as a means to strengthen their bilateral ties, which have been improving recently. 3.The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended all assistance programs in Bangladesh. 4.India and Indonesia have exchanged five bilateral agreements, including *digital development, health cooperation, maritime safety & security.* *National* 1.GSLV rocket carrying navigation satellite NVS-02 lifted off from this spaceport on Wednesday, marking ISRO's 100th mission. 2.A 160-member marching contingent and 190-member band contingent from Indonesia took part in the Republic Day Parade - 2025. 3.In a first, the Indian National Flag was unfurled for the first time at the Trial Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, on the occasion of 76th Republic Day, on 26 Jan 2025. *Defence* 1.India's *Ordnance Parachute Factory (OPF) in Kanpur* has commenced the production of ejection parachutes, specifically designed for the TEJAS MK-1A fighter aircraft. 2.An *all Women Officers Seminar* was recently held at Chandimandir Military Station to discuss the evolving role and contribution of women officers in the Indian Army. 3.Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged off *‘SANJAY – The Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS)’*. SANJAY is designed to enhance battlefield transparency, improve situational awareness, and optimize intelligence collection. 4.India has been consistently ranked as the fourth most powerful military in the world, according to the Global Firepower Index 2025. *Sports* 1.The 38th National Games started at Maharana Pratap Stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. 2.India’s Jyothi Yarraji won gold medal in women’s 60m indoor hurdles in France, breaking her own national record. < < Back