India

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen returned to Kolkata after nearly 19 years, calling it an emotional homecoming. Her visit for an anti-fundamentalism literary event has reignited discussions on free speech, secularism and the state's changing political landscape

The Supreme Court refused to cancel Abdul Malik's bail in the Banbhoolpura violence case, observing that personal liberty depends on the prosecution's case rather than cryptic bail orders. It also questioned the invocation of the UAPA and criticised delays in concluding the trial

Heavy inflows into the Hirakud Dam triggered increased water release into the Mahanadi, affecting over seven lakh people across 20 Odisha districts. Authorities evacuated 1.9 lakh residents, deployed rescue teams and intensified relief efforts as floodwaters inundated low-lying areas

Pro-Kannada organisations announced a Karnataka bandh on August 13 to protest the CWMA's directive to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, claiming the state faces water scarcity and farmers would be adversely affected

Indian Railways has introduced an online excess luggage booking facility that allows passengers with confirmed tickets to book and pay for additional baggage while reserving tickets. The service eliminates separate parcel office visits and is available for eligible travel classes only

The Delhi High Court refused to fix a timeline for concluding the Shraddha Walkar murder trial, observing that proceedings were being held daily. It also requested authorities to expedite examination of overseas witnesses, while noting that testimonies of 157 witnesses had been completed

The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by voice vote amid Opposition protests and without debate. The bill mandates judicial magistrate approval for registrations delayed beyond two years and now awaits consideration in the Rajya Sabha

BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of making fabricated allegations in Parliament, violating House rules. He sought action against Rahul through a privilege notice, alleging defamatory remarks against Amit Shah and attacks on constitutional institutions, armed forces and police

The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, without debate as Opposition protests disrupted proceedings. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised the Opposition for not participating, while members continued demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's presence

IndiGo will take a call on its next aircraft order in 2030 after evaluating next-generation aircraft technology, Managing Director Rahul Bhatia said. The airline aims to adopt advanced, fuel-efficient planes while continuing its expansion with more than 900 aircraft already on order

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after Opposition MPs staged protests over multiple issues, including paper leaks and alleged irregularities in the Ayodhya Ram Temple land acquisition. Chairman C P Radhakrishnan criticised the disruption amid continued sloganeering

Crude oil futures fell nearly 3 per cent on Friday as improved tanker movement through key West Asia shipping routes eased immediate supply concerns. However, geopolitical risks remained, with analysts citing continued uncertainty over Kazakhstan's exports and regional tensions

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon after Opposition members disrupted proceedings over alleged police excesses during anti-NEET paper leak protests. Speaker Om Birla appealed for order, urged members not to disrupt Question Hour and reiterated parliamentary rules on conduct inside the House.

Bajaj Finance shares surged 7 per cent on Friday after the NBFC reported a 28 per cent year-on-year rise in June-quarter consolidated profit to Rs 6,081 crore. The company also posted strong income growth and improved asset quality during the quarter

The smallest batch of 1,605 devotees departed from the Jammu base camp for the Amarnath Yatra on Friday under tight security. More than 4.47 lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine since the pilgrimage began on July 3

Industry experts said Apple's strong ecosystem, pricing power and loyal customer base are expected to help it outperform the smartphone industry despite rising component costs. The company reported record June-quarter revenue, while analysts forecast continued value growth in India

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded higher in early deals on Friday, supported by a strong rally in Bajaj Finance, foreign fund inflows and lower crude oil prices. However, profit-taking in IT stocks limited the overall gains in the market

Indian-American Army surgeon Major Jagatkumar Patel has developed an innovative minimally invasive technique to remove brain tumours through the nose without opening the skull. The procedure offers faster recovery and was successfully performed on a US Marine suffering from a skull-base tumour.

The rupee rose 20 paise to 95.30 against the US dollar in early Friday trade, supported by foreign capital inflows and lower crude oil prices. A stronger dollar limited gains, while domestic equities opened higher and foreign investors remained net buyers

Former Narsampet MLA and senior BRS leader Peddi Sudarsan Reddy passed away at 12.51 a.m. on Friday in Hyderabad. He was being treated at at Yashoda Hospital after suffering a massive pulmonary embolism.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the amended anti-paper leak law will serve as the strongest deterrent against crimes undermining public examinations. He said the legislation safeguards students' futures through stringent punishments for paper leaks and organised examination-related offences

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for comprehensive education reforms to tackle paper leaks, saying there would be no mercy for those jeopardising students' futures. He highlighted the amended anti-paper leak law, task force, fast-track courts and ongoing examination reforms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would not spare paper leak mafias after Parliament passed the amended anti-paper leak law. He highlighted measures including a task force, fast-track courts and examination reforms to protect students and ensure fair recruitment