States

Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren, 62, passed away on Friday after being critically ill. The JMM leader was airlifted to Delhi from Jamshedpur following a fall at his residence and was under intensive care at a private hospital

For the first time, women have been elected to the top leadership of AMMA, with Shwetha Menon as president and Kukku Parameswaran as general secretary. State Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian welcomed the development, calling it a milestone for gender representation in cinema

A group of French interns in Kudlu, Kanyana village, Udupi, donated a fully functional toilet facility to a local government school after a two-month internship. Their act, captured on social media, has drawn praise for directly improving rural students’ lives

A man with a prior life sentence has been arrested for murdering his co-worker over Rs 200 in Kamatageri village, Uttara Kannada. Police said the argument was fuelled by unpaid wages and alcohol. The accused admitted to the crime

During Independence Day celebrations at St. Paul’s School in Bundi, Rajasthan, part of a false ceiling collapsed, injuring five students. All received medical care and were discharged. Authorities sealed the auditorium and ordered an inquiry, amid recent school infrastructure safety concerns

Lionel Messi will visit India in December 2025 for his “GOAT Tour,” starting in Kolkata on December 12. The tour includes concerts, football events, statue and mural unveilings, and a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi

Officials said the children suffered dehydration due to hot, humid weather. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later visited them at SSKM hospital

Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir’s first elected Chief Minister in eight years, unfurled the national flag at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium on Independence Day. The event marked the return of an elected government, with celebrations subdued in respect for Kishtwar flood victims

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar alleged a “major conspiracy” in the Dharmasthala case, calling it baseless and urging a professional investigation. He stressed respect for all religions and dismissed claims of political interference while cautioning against media narratives

The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to upload district-wise details of about 65 lakh voters omitted from Bihar’s draft electoral rolls after the SIR. The list must include reasons and be searchable via EPIC numbers before August 19

BJP MLA Pooja Pal praised UP CM Yogi Adityanath for his “zero-tolerance” approach against crime, citing justice in her husband’s murder case. The Samajwadi Party expelled her for anti-party activities, sparking political debate over law, order, and party discipline

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Summer Annuals of Amrit Udyan at Rashtrapati Bhavan, open from August 16 to September 14. Highlights include a new Babbling Brook, floral clock, disabled-friendly features, reflexology trails, and immersive themed gardens. Entry is free

Once strongholds of Naxal influence, these areas now celebrate freedom as security forces restore peace and confidence

The Supreme Court has adjourned for eight weeks a plea to rescue Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen, as negotiations with the victim’s family continue. Priya, convicted of murder, faces the death penalty unless blood money secures pardon

The Election Commission rebutted Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” allegations, urging him to submit proof with an affidavit instead of creating a “false narrative.” The EC said “one person, one vote” law exists since 1951 and defended Indian electors’ integrity

In Assam, several ethnic organisations have launched the ‘Miya Kheda Andolan’ supporting state-led eviction drives against alleged encroachers, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims. The movement stresses indigenous identity protection, with rallies and boycotts, while CM Himanta Biswa Sarma backed evictions but urged adherence to law

Superstar Rajinikanth’s film 'Coolie' released across Tamil Nadu on Friday amid fan frenzy, coinciding with his 50 years in cinema. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the star-studded revenge saga features Aamir Khan, Nagarjuna, Upendra, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, with music by Anirudh

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced 1,090 medals for Police, Fire Services, Home Guard, Civil Defence, and Correctional Services on Independence Day. The honours include 233 Gallantry Awards, 99 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service, and 758 Medals for Meritorious Service

The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled bail granted to Kannada actor Darshan in the Renukaswamy murder case, overturning Karnataka High Court’s order citing serious infirmities. The court noted strong allegations and forensic evidence, stressing the trial court is the proper forum

The Supreme Court will hear a plea seeking urgent intervention in Indian nurse Nimisha Priya’s death sentence case in Yemen. Activists demand diplomatic efforts and negotiations with the victim’s family, but MEA cites security risks in the conflict-ridden country

Graffiti threatening to destroy Puri’s Jagannath Temple was found on a nearby shrine’s walls, prompting a high-security alert. Police are examining CCTV footage and investigating, suspecting a mentally unstable person, amid recent concerns over security lapses at the 12th-century temple

A BESCOM woman officer in Bengaluru was threatened with a knife, sexually harassed, and robbed in her PG room by an unidentified man. Police have launched a manhunt, amid recent similar crimes involving PG owners accused of sexually assaulting residents

A free-ranging female cheetah, Jwala, strayed from Kuno National Park into Rajasthan’s Sawaimadhopur district and was safely rescued under challenging conditions. Returned to KNP, she joins 26 cheetahs in the park, part of India’s ongoing cheetah reintroduction project from Namibia and South Africa

The Supreme Court cancelled Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar’s bail in the 2021 murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankar at Chhatrasal Stadium, ordering him to surrender within a week. The decision overturns Delhi High Court’s order, following an appeal by Dhankar’s father