Mahua Moitra alleges she was asked to vacate circuit house late at night

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday (August 14, 2026) said that she has been directed by the Nadia district administration to vacate the circuit house in Nadia district late in the evening. “I entered Circuit House at 18:30 hrs & given same room I always stay in. Dinner was served to me in room at 9:20 pm. I received call at 9:47 asking me to vacate. Now at 10:52 I receive this message with this ‘order’! Outside the gates are huge crowd shouting Jai Shree Ram!,” Ms. Moitra posted on social media.

Concerned citizens urge CJI to uphold liberty of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam

A group of concerned citizens, including writers, academics, filmmakers, activists and public figures, has written an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, urging him to intervene in the continued incarceration of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The two, accused in a larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, have been in custody for nearly six years.

Students are architects of India’s future, says President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday (August 14, 2026) described students as the “architects of India’s future” and with 65% of the population below the age of 35, India’s youth were its “most valuable asset”. In her address to the nation on the eve of the 80th Independence Day, she said the government was undertaking comprehensive reforms to make public examinations transparent, secure and trustworthy, and to completely curb paper leaks and the use of unfair means.

President approves 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous, for defence and CAPF personnel

President Droupadi Murmu has approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous honours, for personnel of the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) on the eve of Independence Day. According to the Ministry of Defence, the awards include nine Kirti Chakras, seven of them posthumous; one Bar to Shaurya Chakra; 19 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumous; five Bars to Sena Medals (Gallantry); 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including five posthumous; three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry); and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

Seven workers dead, 14 injured as water, debris enter tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli

At least seven people died and 14 others sustained injuries on Thursday (August 13, 2026) after water and debris entered a tunnel under construction at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, officials said. According to preliminary information shared by the officials, 22 workers were trapped inside the tunnel. Twenty one people have been brought out of the tunnel. Of them, seven were declared dead, while 14 others have sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. Information about the remaining two workers was not immediately available.

CJI criticises BCI’s interference in ‘dialogue’ between him and students

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday (August 14, 2026) questioned the motives behind an aborted move by the Bar Council of India to stop the professional enrolment of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research’s (NALSAR) batch of 2026, terming it an unwarranted interference in the ongoing “dialogue” between him and the students who do not want him as the chief guest for their convocation ceremony.

India reaffirms ‘longstanding ties’ with Afghanistan

The Indian government reaffirmed its “longstanding ties” with Afghanistan and the Afghan people just days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Speaking to the media at the bi-weekly briefing here on Friday (August 14, 2026), Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Randhir Jaiswal said: “In the last few months and over a year now, we have had several engagements and several ministerial visits from Afghanistan to India and these have led to strengthening of partnerships in several areas including in development cooperation, trade, connectivity”.

Government removes 12-minute ad duration cap for TV channels

The government on Friday (August 14, 2026) said it has decided to remove the 12-minute advertisement duration cap for television channels to enable fair competition and ensure ease of doing business. “In India, the sector is heavily dependent on advertising, irrespective of whether a channel is ‘pay’ or ‘free-to-air’. Furthermore, there was a non-level playing field for traditional TV channels vis-à-vis digital media, where no such stipulation on advertisement cap regulation exists,” said the Information & Broadcasting Ministry.

CAG finds 89% of audited railway stations deficient in basic amenities

An audit of passenger amenities and sanitation by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has revealed persistent and widespread deficiencies across Indian Railways. A joint team of CAG and railway officials conducted an audit of 512 stations, of which 458 stations (nearly 89%) were deficient in one or more minimum essential amenities, including fans (42%), water coolers (40%), drinking water taps (27%), urinals (22%), seating arrangements (15%), platform shelters (13%), latrines (12%) and clocks (12%). “Only 54 stations (11%) had no shortfalls,” the report noted.

Jason Arday, former Cambridge University professor at centre of plagiarism scandal, found dead

British academic Jason Arday, who resigned from the University of Cambridge last week amid a high-profile plagiarism storm that featured racism claims, was found dead on Friday (August 14, 2026), U.K. media outlets reported. Arday, 41, died after being found unresponsive at an address in south London on Friday (August 14, 2026) afternoon, Sky News and other media said, citing a statement from the capital’s Metropolitan Police Service.

Strong 7.7-magnitude quake strikes off Indonesia: USGS

A strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores island in eastern Indonesia early on Saturday (August 15, 2026), the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicentre of the quake was located off the north coast of the island, about 68 km northwest of Ende, USGS said. The quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of just 10 km. The initial quake was followed by two strong aftershocks in the same area, of magnitude 5.6 and 5.9. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned of the possibility of tsunami waves being generated by the quake.

‘I shot Mr. Thompson’: Luigi Mangione’s stunning confession UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing

Luigi Mangione spoke slowly and deliberately as he admitted to shooting U.S. health care executive Brian Thompson, in a stunning confession befitting a crime that has gripped the United States. “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died,” Mangione, wearing a yellow prison jumpsuit, told a packed New York courtroom on Friday (August 14, 2026). “I knew what I was doing was illegal.” The 28-year-old, who has gained cult-like support from people angry over America’s for-profit health system, had long denied his role in the 2024 killing.

India in U.S. crosshairs again — White House report cites countries ‘enabling’ China’s tariff evasions

India is once again in the U.S.’ crosshairs, this time for allegedly allowing China to evade U.S. tariffs by routing its exports through the country. The latest allegations are part of a new White House report called ‘The Great Transhipment Scam’. In particular, the U.S. has named the Pune-Gujarat-Chennai belt as one of the areas “enabling” China to evade tariffs to the detriment of supply chains in the U.S.

India hopes to revive WTC fortunes on Sri Lankan shores

A lone crow hopped on the tarpaulin covers spread across the ground. The odd puddle became an impromptu bathing spot before the bird flew away. Soon the sun was a blazing orb and Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill strode towards the pitch. Gill knelt down and pressed his palms on the surface. The Indian captain then had a discussion with coach Gambhir. Just as Friday wavered between whimsical rains and glorious sunshine, the Galle International Stadium geared up for the first Test pitting Sri Lanka against India here from Saturday.

Published - August 15, 2026 06:45 am IST