Morning Digest: Centre says Pakistan did not resort to ‘nuclear signalling’; Trump calls Putin, says truce talks will begin ‘immediately’, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on May 20, 2025

Pakistan did not resort to “nuclear signalling” in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the United States was “neither involved nor informed” about cessation of firing between the two countries, the government told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs headed by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday (May 19, 2025).

President Donald Trump said on Monday that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations after what he described as an “excellent” call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that lasted more than two hours. Mr. Trump also spoke with with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in hopes of making progress toward a ceasefire.

The United States on Monday announced that steps are being taken to impose visa restrictions on “owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies” based in India for “knowingly” facilitating illegal immigration to the U.S. The U.S. Embassy in response to a query from the media said that the names cannot be shared “due to visa record confidentiality”.

The current COVID-19 situation in India remains under control, and as of May 19, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India stands at 257, said sources at the Union Health Ministry on Monday. The source added that India has increased its vigilance after an increase in COVID-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong in the last few weeks. 

Bangladesh did not receive any official-level intimation before India shut down land ports for readymade garments, a diplomatic source from Bangladesh informed The Hindu on Monday. The observations came two days after the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stopped readymade garment exports from Bangladesh to India through all Indian land ports, while also stopping land ports of northeastern India from being accessed by Bangladesh for export of specified products.

The Indian Army on Monday said that Pakistan had attempted to target the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), the sacred place of worship for the Sikhs in Punjab’s Amritsar, in the wake of India’s action against terror attacks emanating from Pakistan. The drone and missile attacks were successfully thwarted by the Indian Army, a senior Army official said. Pakistan attempted to target the Golden Temple with drones and missiles on the intervening night of May 7-8.

The Union government opposed a plea in the Delhi High Court by Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd. and another associated company, challenging the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security’s (BCAS) decision to revoke their security clearances. The BCAS revoked the security clearances days after Turkey backed Pakistan and criticised India’s strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country.