Politics News in English

Dainik Jagran

Aug 16, 2026, 06:12 AM

President Draupadi Murmu to Unveil Statue in Bhagalpur, Honoring Freedom Movement Hero

The land of historic Anga is once again getting ready to welcome the highest constitutional post of the country. After a long gap of about nine years, the President of the country is going to step into Bhagalpur for the second time. In the year 2017, the then President Pranab Mukherjee had paid obeisance to the land of Vikramshila, the ancient seat of knowledge. On the coming 2nd of September, the official program of President Draupadi Murmu is proposed to come to Bhagalpur. She will unveil the life-size statue of Amar Shaheed Veer Tilakmanjhi, the great hero of the freedom movement, in the administrative building complex of Tilakmanjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU). Both the visits of the President to Bhagalpur have their own special historical significance: On 3rd April 2017, the then President Pranab Mukherjee had arrived to see the antiquities of the ancient Vikramshila University at Kahalgaon, which gave global recognition to the ancient educational heritage of the Anga region. Now President Draupadi Murmu will establish the legacy of the heroic Jananayak of Anga region, who shook the foundations of the British rule. This will also be the proudest moment in the history of the

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Kalinga TV

Aug 16, 2026, 06:11 AM

Veteran Trinamool Congress Leader Ashish Banerjee Found Dead, Leaves Purported Suicide Note Denying Corruption

Kolkata: Former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and veteran Trinamool Congress leader Ashish Banerjee was found dead inside a party office adjoining his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum on Sunday. A purported suicide note was recovered from the party office. In the purported letter, Banerjee denied any wrongdoing and mentioned that he was never involved in corruption throughout his political career. He mentioned, ” I was never involved in corruption. It was a blunder to join politics.” He also expressed regret over entering politics and advised younger members of his family to stay away from politics and concentrate on their professions. The note also reportedly addressed his role in the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA). He said he had no substantial responsibilities in the authority beyond attending general meetings and denied involvement in financial matters. “I had no responsibilities at the TRDA other than attending general meetings. I was not on the tender committee. I did not have the authority to sign cheques. I was not involved in approving plans or issuing ‘no objection’ certificates,” Banerjee wrote. The note further stated: “I condemn what has been done against me to malign me.” Banerjee had a long political career in West Bengal. He represented the Rampurhat constituency as a Trinamool Congress MLA for five consecutive terms from 2001 to 2026. During Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as chief minister, he served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and held ministerial responsibilities, including School Education and Agriculture. He suffered a setback when he lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP candidate Dhruba Saha, who defeated Banerjee by around 24,000 votes in the West Bengal Assembly Elections. Banerjee had also stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June, while indicating that he would continue as a general member of the party.

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Dainik Jagran

Aug 16, 2026, 06:05 AM

Trinamool Leader Ashis Banerjee Found Dead with Suicide Note

Former Deputy Speaker of the Bengal Assembly and senior Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Banerjee was found hanging at the party office in Rampurhat town of Birbhum district on Sunday morning. Police have recovered a one-page suicide note from the spot in which he wrote that joining politics was the biggest mistake of his life.

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The Financial Express

Aug 16, 2026, 05:54 AM

AI Roundup: Watermarking Regulations, Autonomous Workflows, and Geopolitical Friction

It was another eventful week in artificial intelligence. As the European Union’s landmark regulations trigger mandatory watermarking for generated content, tech giants are doubling down on autonomous agentic workflows and multi-billion-dollar infrastructure. Meanwhile, geopolitical friction led to the cancellation of a high-profile merger, and global adoption metrics highlight shifting competitive dynamics. Without beating around the bush, here is your weekly roundup of all things AI for the week leading to August 16. In response to transparency mandates in under the European AI Act, Anthropic introduced an invisible, model-level watermarking mechanism embedded directly into text produced by Claude. The watermark is imperceptible to readers and does not affect context, readability, or output quality. It remains embedded in the generated text even after a direct copy-paste and resists light editing. Anthropic confirmed it is working on third-party verification tools to help platforms detect AI-generated text. xAI launched Grok Bot in early beta, aiding adoption of autonomous agentic workflows. Unlike traditional chatbots, each Grok Bot is provisioned with its own cloud-based virtual machine, allowing agents to log into software tools, process invoices, execute lead research, and collaborate asynchronously, even when the user’s primary device is powered down. On the other hand, Anthropic updated its Claude in Chrome integration to support cross-device continuity. Users can launch tasks inside the browser side panel and let Claude pick up their context, active skills, and connectors across desktop, web, or mobile apps without interruption. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Gemini has officially crossed 1 billion monthly active users, owing it to its rapid scale across Google’s ecosystem. Google also released its new Pixel 11 lineup (including the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL), built around the custom-designed Tensor G6 chip to run complex Gemini Intelligence models directly on-device. Google is framing the Pixel 11 around a unique premise this time – using AI to reduce overall screen time. During his August 15 Independence Day address, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a national flagship training program aimed at upskilling 10 million (1 crore) youth in artificial intelligence applications over the next 12 months. The announcement coincides with a new Japanese government adoption report indicating that while 86.4 per cent of Japanese firms use generative AI for at least one task, enterprise-wide integration stands at just 16 per cent, placing overall corporate deployment behind China (98.1 per cent), Germany (91.6 per cent), and the United States (90.9 per cent). Geopolitical oversight has blocked Meta’s planned $2 billion takeover of AI agent platform Manus. Manus, which was founded in China before shifting its global headquarters to Singapore, announced it will revert to operating independently following intervention by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In compliance with regional regulatory directives, Manus confirmed it will delete user data integrated since Meta’s acquisition attempt began in late 2025. DeepSeek unveiled V4 Pro, which is designed for high-level reasoning and agentic workflows. The model grabbed a score of 53 on Artificial Analysis’s Intelligence Index, up from 40 for the V4 Flash release. On the security front, OpenAI announced GPT-5.6-Cyber as part of its ongoing Daybreak safety framework. The domain-specific model is trained exclusively to detect zero-day vulnerabilities and assist security researchers with high-risk vulnerability analysis. Around 300 news publications represented by the Alliance de la presse d’information générale (APIG) filed a complaint with the French Competition Authority over Google’s Gemini-powered AI Overviews, citing an estimated 33 per cent decline in referral traffic and alleging unauthorised content usage without collective compensation. Spotify announced that beginning in mid-September, artist profiles whose public persona is fully AI-generated will receive an “AI Persona” tag and will be excluded by default from editorial and algorithmic recommendations. Similarly, Twitch added an opt-out toggle in account settings allowing creators to exclude their livestreams, clips, and chat logs from Amazon’s generative AI training pipelines (enabled by default).

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Amar Ujala

Aug 16, 2026, 05:47 AM

Former Politician Denies Corruption Allegations: 'I Never Took a Single Rupee'

He wrote, I have been associated with politics since my student days. I was also the General Secretary of the Student Parliament in Burdwan University. But I never compromised with corruption. I never took any money from anyone in return for work. I never took any financial benefit from the people who worked with me or the people who were in touch with me. Even from my boys who worked with me, I did not eat a single sweet. I was never associated with any financial corruption. I was not in any responsibility except for the general meeting of TRDA. I was not in the tender committee. I did not have the authority to sign any cheque. I also had no role in approving any scheme or issuing no objection certificate. Also Read: Former Deputy Speaker's body found in TMC office: Had handled important portfolios in the Mamata government; had won elections five times. He wrote, various things against me and tried to defame me.

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Siasat News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 05:47 AM

Jharkhand Students Protest Recruitment Exam Irregularities, Demand Reforms

Students protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations announced they would burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in all 24 districts of the state on Sunday, August 15, alleging that the ruling JMM-Congress alliance “failed to take concrete action” on their demands. The protest under JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch entered its 23rd day on Sunday, August 16. The agitators accused the ruling JMM and the Congress of playing politics over their issues, and announced that they would gherao Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation. On Saturday, they demanded that Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the “CM was not listening to him”. They took out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ranchi on Saturday to mark the country’s 80th Independence Day and to press their demand for greater transparency and reforms in the recruitment examination system. Thousands of students and job aspirants, including two wheelchair-borne demonstrators who were on fast, participated in the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the site of the ongoing agitation, to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi on Saturday. Carrying the national flag, the protesters raised slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’. “We will gherao the chief minister’s residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said. The protesters said they would not withdraw the demonstration until the government addresses their demands, including cancellation of examinations in which alleged irregularities were found, and ordering of an independent probe into the recruitment process. The platform of the protesting students has sought a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand into the alleged exam irregularities. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has also demanded cancellation of the JSSC-CGL test and certain Jharkhand PSC examinations that it considers suspicious. The protesters appealed to students across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the proposed gherao of the CM’s residence on August 20. They also targeted Gandhi, saying he had expressed support for students but that “no concrete action” had followed. The students’ platform demanded that Congress withdraw support from the JMM-led government if it is unwilling to act on their concerns. “We demanded Hemant Soren’s resignation as the government failed to cancel JSSC-CGL and the JPSC examinations in which irregularities were found,” Paswan said. JLKM leader Devendra Mahto, who has been on a fast for 15 days, alleged that the police prevented him from leaving Sadar Hospital to participate in the march on Saturday. Videos purportedly showing Mahto scuffling with security personnel while attempting to leave the hospital were widely circulated on social media. The protesters maintained that their movement was not limited to certain examinations but was concerning the credibility of the entire recruitment system and the future of thousands of young job aspirants. The state government, however, sought to reassure job aspirants by announcing measures aimed at making the recruitment process more transparent and secure. In his Independence Day address, the CM said questions surrounding recruitment examinations had shaken the trust of an entire generation of job aspirants. He assured students that investigations into alleged irregularities would be conducted impartially and that anyone found guilty would face strict legal action irrespective of influence or position. Soren also cautioned against declaring anyone guilty without evidence and said justice must be based on facts. He stressed that merely apprehending those responsible for irregularities would not be enough and called for systemic reforms to prevent manipulation of examinations in the future. Among the measures outlined by the government are a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology secured examinations, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability in the recruitment process. The state government has also launched the ‘Students’ Voice with Students’ campaign to seek suggestions from students, teachers, educationists and parents on reforms in the examination system. Soren said creating employment opportunities was among the government’s top priorities. He maintained that the objective was not merely to fill vacant government posts but also to create wider employment opportunities through recruitment agencies and other avenues. He described paper leaks as a national problem while stressing that Jharkhand had a responsibility to ensure fair and credible examinations. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar also expressed concern over alleged examination malpractice, saying question-paper leaks undermine the morale and prospects of students who seek success through hard work and talent.

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Siasat News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 05:47 AM

Modi's 'Dimaagi Naxalism' Label Sparks Political Reaction in India

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi described “dimagi Naxalism” as a challenge that continued to look for opportunities to promote violence, unrest and disorder in the country, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday, August 16, said that he was “proud” to be called a ‘dimagi Naxal’. Reacting to the Prime Minister’s remarks, Chidambaram took to the social media platform X and posted, “I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!” PM Modi , while addressing the nation from the historic ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day , said that India had made significant progress in weakening armed Naxalism but cautioned that a more subtle form of the ideology, which he termed “dimagi Naxalism”, continued to pose a challenge. “We have succeeded in getting rid of armed Naxals in the jungles, but ‘dimagi Naxals’ (those with a Naxal mindset) are looking for opportunities to create violence, unrest… They want to drag society on the wrong path. These ‘dimagi Naxals’ have to be identified and isolated, and we must connect the youth with the mainstream,” PM Modi said. His remarks triggered a sharp political reaction from the Congress, which accused the Prime Minister of using increasingly provocative labels against his political opponents and said the comments reflected political desperation. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticised PM Modi over his use of the term and drew a comparison with his earlier references to “urban Naxals”. In a post on X, Ramesh said, “First he called his opponents ‘urban naxals’. Now he calls them ‘dimaagi naxals’. It is a sure sign of his desperation.” The Congress leader further alleged that the Prime Minister ultimately ends up supporting or implementing several positions that he claimed were advocated by those labelled as “urban Naxals” or “dimaagi Naxals”. “It is a separate matter that he ends up doing whatever these so-called ‘urban naxals’ or now ‘dimaagi naxals’ are demanding or advocating. It is not for nothing that the PM has a MA being the Master Abuser in entire political science that he is,” Ramesh added.

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Kalinga TV

Aug 16, 2026, 05:40 AM

Israel-Hezbollah Tensions Escalate as Strikes Kill 11 in Lebanon

Beirut: At least 11 people were killed and 19 others injured in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday (local time), after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that three of its soldiers were injured in earlier attacks by Hezbollah, Al Jazeera reported. The early-morning Israeli strikes targeted Ansar and Deir ez-Zahrani in the Nabatieh district. In Ansar, seven people were killed, including three children, while two others were injured. Another strike in Deir ez-Zahrani killed four people and injured 17 others, according to Al Jazeera. Following the strikes, Israel acknowledged that civilians were among the casualties and accused Hezbollah of “deliberately putting civilians in that military compound.” Israel identified the women and children killed in the strike as family members of a targeted senior Hezbollah commander, according to The Times of Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire in Lebanon by attacking Israeli soldiers. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee echoed the allegation, saying Hezbollah “severely wounds” Israeli soldiers. The strikes drew strong criticism from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who accused Israel of sending a “clear message” ahead of the next round of US-sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state media, seven people were killed, and two others wounded when Israeli warplanes struck a home in Ansar, north of Tyre. Another strike in Deir ez-Zahrani, north of Nabatieh, killed four people and injured several others. The latest strikes come amid heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, particularly in southern Lebanon, with the IDF stating that its operations aim to target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and prevent attacks on Israeli forces. In June, Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire mediated by the US. Earlier on Friday, the IDF said it had killed a Hamas company commander in southern Gaza. According to the Israeli military, Hudhaifa Khaled Suleiman Qawari, a company commander in Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, was killed in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday. The IDF alleged that Qawari was involved in training Hamas fighters, transferring weapons across southern Gaza, and attempting to rehabilitate and rebuild the group’s military capabilities. The military further stated that Qawari had recently orchestrated attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and was targeted to remove an immediate threat. The IDF noted that precautions were taken before the strike to minimise risks to civilians, including the use of precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance. “IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” the military said. (ANI)

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 05:21 AM

Giriraj Singh Slams Rahul Gandhi Over National Anthem Dispute

Senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are facing allegations of disrespecting the national anthem'Vande Mataram '. The BJP is on the attack. Many BJP leaders are reacting to this. Now Union Minister Giriraj Singh has surrounded Rahul Gandhi in this matter and called him a political joker. He said that what else can be expected from Rahul Gandhi who abuses the country by going out of the country. He also said that what else does he do except confuse and provoke the youth of the country. Union Minister Giriraj Singh said in a media interaction, "Congress means Rahul Gandhi. Kharge is not Congress. Keep this in mind. Watch any statement of Rahul Gandhi in which he talks about giving direction to any youth. Creating confusion in the country, provoking the youth, the country will sometimes become Bangladesh, sometimes become Nepal, just wish so." Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that Rahul Gandhi is "mentally disturbed" or "mentally disturbed."

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 05:10 AM

Jharkhand Students Protest Over Exam Rigging; BJP MP Manoj Tiwari Criticizes State Government

In Jharkhand, students are protesting over the rigging of JPSC exams. Meanwhile, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has attacked the Jharkhand government. He said, "The central government of the country talks 5 steps ahead for the students and the people of Jharkhand are beating up the students and daughters. This is not acceptable. We support and say that do justice to the mess that has been made, otherwise these students will not let you live in peace." On Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, Manoj Tiwari said, "Those who cannot come to the flag hoisting on 15 August will sing Vande Mataram. I saw that as soon as the full part of Vande Mataram started at the Congress office, Sonia Gandhi got disturbed and asked to stop. The whole world saw this video." Manoj Tiwari further said, "The sisters who were singing Vande Mataram during the Congress program said that no Vande Mataram according to you. It will not be completed in the name of India."

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Aaj Tak

Aug 16, 2026, 04:58 AM

Tharoor Backs Moitra Amid Mob Attack, Calls for Government Protection

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday made a statement in support of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra after the Nadia district administration allegedly tried to get her to vacate the Krishnanagar Circuit House. Tharoor said that the government should protect the MP and not ask her to vacate the official residence if she was targeted by a mob. In fact, Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday night after the crowd gathered outside and chanted'Jai Shri Ram'slogans, seeking his intervention and warning her to go to court in the harassment case. Angered at this, Tharoor questioned the state government and said that all those who believe in democracy should stand with Mahua Moitra. He wrote on X with the hashtag'Stand with Mahua'that if the price of sticking to their views is that a mob attacks them, then it is the government's job to protect them, not to tell them to vacate the official residence. Tharoor said that the basic tenets of our freedom struggle, especially on that day, need to be addressed.

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Aaj Tak

Aug 16, 2026, 04:55 AM

TMC MLA Ashish Banerjee Found Dead, Leaves Behind Purported Suicide Note

Former Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly and five-time TMC MLA Ashish Banerjee was found hanging at the TMC office on Sunday morning. A purported suicide note has also been recovered from the spot. The body of the former TMC MLA has been sent for postmortem. Police say that the cause of death is not known at the moment. Ashish Banerjee was considered very special to Mamata Banerjee. He has not held anyone responsible for his death in this suicide note. The former Deputy Speaker of West Bengal wrote that no file was given to him in TRDA (Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority) for three and a half years. He was neither in the tender committee nor did he have the authority to sign the cheque. He wrote that he neither approved the plan nor issued any'No Objection Certificate'( NOC). Therefore, no grant was given. No one ever discussed any of his works with him. He never wrote any role of political corruption in the university. No TMC leader ever took any illegal life from any of the students here.

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India TV

Aug 16, 2026, 04:46 AM

Former West Bengal Deputy Speaker Ashish Banerjee Found Dead at TMC Office

The body of former Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Ashish Banerjee, was found hanging at the TMC office in Birbhum. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Ashish Banerjee received 87,687 votes, while Saha received 1,11,920 votes and won the Rampurhat seat. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the body was found hanging at the TMC office next to his house in Rampurhat town of Birbhum district. Police said that the body has been sent for postmortem. The 74-year-old Banerjee was a senior TMC leader. Ashish Banerjee had won five consecutive terms from Rampurhat from 2001 to 2021. He lost the assembly election this year to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Dhruba Saha by a margin of about 24,000 votes. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Ashish Banerjee received 87,687 votes, while Saha received 1,11,920 votes and won the Rampurhat seat.

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 04:42 AM

Viral Statement: Teacher Denies CJP-AAP Connection Amid Controversy Over Protest Expletives

Teacher Awadh Ojha's statement on the alleged connection of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) with the Aam Aadmi Party and the use of expletives for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protest at Jantar Mantar is becoming increasingly viral. He said, "The Aam Aadmi Party has given a lot of support to CJP, but I don't think they have any connection with AAP.

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 04:29 AM

National Security Advisor Reveals Strategy Behind Operation Sindoor

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has shared important information about the strategy behind Operation Sindoor and the government's decisions.

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Dainik Jagran

Aug 16, 2026, 04:16 AM

Former Indian Minister Ashish Banerjee Found Dead with Suicide Note

The body of Ashish Banerjee, a five-time MLA from Rampurhat in Birbhum district and a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, was found hanging in the party office near his residence on Sunday morning. The 75-year-old, who represented Rampurhat from 2001 to 2026, had lost to BJP candidate Dhruv Saha in the recent assembly elections. Police have found a one-page suicide note near the body, which has created a stir in the state's political corridors. In his last message, the former deputy speaker wrote that no one is responsible for my death. But today I am realizing that joining politics was the biggest mistake of my life. Ashish, a teacher by profession, wrote in the note that he did not take a single penny wrongly throughout his life and always taught students without fees. He never mentioned about sidelining himself in the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA) and conspiring to tarnish his image. He continued to express his grief and expressed his disappointment in politics.

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Newsbytes✓

Aug 16, 2026, 04:09 AM

Tamil Nadu Political Controversy Erupts Over BJP Leader's Remark About CM's Mother

A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Nainar Nagendran made a controversial remark about Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's mother.The comment came after Vijay had made a jibe at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin , referring to MK Stalin's electoral defeat.Nagendran's response was seen as an attack on the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief's mother.

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Indian Express

Aug 16, 2026, 04:07 AM

Trump Dismisses Concerns Over Prolonged Deployment of USS Abraham Lincoln

US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns over the prolonged deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying its more than eight-month mission at sea was “not nearly long enough”, even as CNN reported the concerns among sailors and their families over conditions aboard the US aircraft carrier. According to the CNN report, sailors aboard the Lincoln, which has been deployed continuously for more than 240 days, have complained about low morale, shortages of food and hygiene supplies, and problems with water and sanitation systems. The carrier left its home port of San Diego on November 21 and was later redirected to West Asia to support US military operations against Iran . It has about 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard. Asked Friday whether the deployment had gone on too long, Trump said, “No, no, no. Not nearly long enough.” “That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said, according to Reuters and the Associated Press. Reporter: Family members of service members are concerned about conditions on the USS Lincoln. Trump: No, they’re not. Reporter: Has the deployment gone on too long? Trump: No. No. No. Not nearly long enough. pic.twitter.com/24Z58NYFVf — Clash Report (@clashreport) August 14, 2026 The acting Navy secretary, Hung Cao, said the Lincoln “will return home soon.” CNN, citing sailors and their families, reported that morale aboard the Lincoln was low after months at sea. One sailor told the outlet that toilets and water fountains had frequently been out of service, and that hot water was often unavailable. “Every day we wake up and listen to our Captain speak, we are desperately hoping and anxious for updates on our return,” the sailor told CNN. Another sailor said some items from the ship’s store had become subject to limits and that “hardly any hygiene products are readily available.” Families of sailors also said care packages could take months to arrive or sometimes go missing. One sailor’s wife said her husband had described the deployment as the worst he had experienced. “My husband is a very leave-it-at-work type of person,” she was quoted as saying. “He gets his job done. He comes home, and he lets it go at work. He does his best. He works very hard for the United States military, and he’s even said that he finds himself changing. He feels himself being angrier and more frustrated, and that’s just very unlike him.” The US Navy has pushed back against reports of worsening mental health conditions aboard the carrier. “We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship. We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise,” the Navy told CNN. The report added that two sailors assigned to the Lincoln strike group had gone overboard in recent months and were rescued alive. One sailor went overboard in early August and was later transferred off the ship for follow-up care, according to a Navy official cited by the Associated Press. The Navy has not publicly released data showing whether mental health incidents have increased aboard the carrier. Trump’s comments came as reports claimed that the pressures of the prolonged deployment. The president said the Lincoln’s mission was “not nearly long enough” and indicated that another carrier would replace it. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also pushed back against reports about conditions aboard the ship, describing them as “completely misrepresented”, Reuters and the Associated Press reported. The USS Lincoln has been deployed for more than eight months, well beyond the Navy’s traditional target of about seven months at sea. The USS George Washington is expected to replace the Lincoln in West Asia. (With inputs from agencies)

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DD News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 04:07 AM

Amit Shah Pays Homage to Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Death Anniversary

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday paid homage to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary. “On the death anniversary of former Prime Minister and the founder of BJP, Bharat Ratna, the revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, I pay my homage to him. Atal ji was a patriot politician of such caliber who dedicated every moment of his life to the service of the nation,” said Amit Shah on X. “On one hand, he made the entire world aware of India’s strength through nuclear tests and the Kargil War, while on the other hand, his value-based politics brought the vision of Antyodaya and good governance to the ground for the first time. Atal ji’s towering personality and leadership will continue to inspire every BJP worker towards nation-building forever,” he added. Vajpayee, born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, had a parliamentary career spanning more than four decades. He became a Member of Parliament in 1957 and represented both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during his long political career. He served as Prime Minister for a brief term from May 16 to May 31, 1996, and later from March 19, 1998, to May 13, 2004. Following the 1999 parliamentary election, he became the first person since Jawaharlal Nehru to serve as Prime Minister through three successive Lok Sabha terms. Vajpayee’s tenure is remembered for the Pokhran nuclear tests, major infrastructure initiatives, including the Golden Quadrilateral and national highway development, and economic policies that laid the foundation for a prolonged period of economic growth. His political legacy and emphasis on democratic values continue to be recalled across the country. (with inputs from IANS)

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Indian Express

Aug 16, 2026, 04:07 AM

Veteran TMC Leader Ashish Banerjee Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances

Former Trinamool Congress MLA and former Deputy Speaker from Rampurhat, Ashish Banerjee, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Sunday morning. His body was recovered hanging inside the party office adjacent to his residence, and a suicide note was also found. Ashish’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. During Mamata Banerjee ‘s tenure, Ashish served as the Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. He was a five-time MLA from Rampurhat. In the 2026 Assembly elections, he lost to BJP candidate Dhruba Saha. ”Primarily it’s a suicide case. We have found a suicide note in which he has written, ‘No one is responsible for my death,'” Birbhum SP Vidit Raj Bhundesh told The Indian Express . Ashish lived in Hattalapara in Ward No. 5 of Rampurhat. A party office was attached to his house. A crowd gathered in the area on Sunday morning after his body was recovered from there. Police from the Rampurhat police station arrived at the scene, recovered the body, and sent it for an autopsy. Ashish, a veteran TMC leader, served as the MLA for Rampurhat from 2001 to 2026. After Trinamool came to power in the state, he secured a place in Mamata’s cabinet multiple times, previously serving as the state’s School Education Minister and Agriculture Minister. However, he did not receive any larger responsibilities in the cabinet beyond these. When Anubrata Mondal was the Birbhum district TMC president, Ashish was his associate, though he had limited opportunities to rise in district politics due to Anubrata’s influence.

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 04:07 AM

Trinamool Congress Leader Ashish Banerjee Found Dead in Party Office

The death of senior Trinamool Congress leader and former MLA Ashish Banerjee in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, West Bengal, has caused a stir. His body was found hanging in the party office located near his house on Sunday (16 August 2026) morning. Police have sent the body for post-mortem and have started investigating the matter. According to the police, the body of Ashish Banerjee was found in the TMC office located near his house in the Hattalapara area of Rampurhat. A large number of party workers and locals gathered outside the office as soon as the news of the incident was received. Police have started investigating the scene. The exact cause of death will be clear only after the post-mortem report and investigation is completed. Police have also found a one-page alleged suicide note near the body of Ashish Banerjee. The matter has also taken a political turn after this note came to light. However, the authenticity of the note and the TMC's words written in it can be confirmed only after the police investigation. According to the police, Ashish Banerjee's death note states that no political leader has forgotten his life.

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Indian Express

Aug 16, 2026, 04:06 AM

Shame on India's Leaders: A Call to Prioritize Rural School Repairs on Independence Day

On India’s eightieth birthday, all our political leaders need to hang their heads in shame. Or to use the inimitable Hindi expression, drown themselves in a handful of water. It should mortify them that it is young people who have come forward on this day that we celebrate Independence Day, to tell them what their priorities should be. These young people have reminded them, and us, that the money and time wasted on building a new parliament house and a new residence for the prime minister could have been better spent in repairing rural schools. The Cockroach Janta Party has announced that this August 15, they will begin a campaign to repair rural schools. To make their case, they have spent the past week posting pictures of village schools on social media. In these pictures, we see classrooms with crumbling walls and bare floors. We also see school toilets so filthy that it is hard to believe that little children, and especially little girls, will be made to use these sickening hellholes. The pictures surprised me not at all because I have seen schools exactly like these in states across India. But especially in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In an odd coincidence, I was brooding over these things while gathering my thoughts for this column, when the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh popped up on my television to make an ugly, divisive, dangerous speech. Since Pakistan’s Independence Day is now Partition Day in India, Yogi Adityanath thought it appropriate to remind young Indians about those trains that came from Pakistan filled with dead bodies. As if rehearsing for next year’s election, he said that it was the Congress Party that was responsible for Partition and that if Narendra Modi had been prime minister, this would never have happened. In making this speech, he accidentally revealed why, in 12 years of being the prime minister, Modi has failed to improve the appalling state of government schools or end corruption in national examinations. He and his chief ministers have been too busy doing other things like reminding young Indians about the horrors of the past in which the villains were always Muslims and the victims always Hindus. No country that wallows in the wounds of history ever succeeds in building a better future. Very sad that it has taken the cockroaches to remind us of this. So, kudos to you cockroaches. Is there anything then that can be truly celebrated on India’s eightieth birthday? When I asked my new best friend Claude this question, it trawled through its artificial intelligence and concluded that democracy and the peaceful transfer of power were some of the things to celebrate. Not needing to import foodgrain, as we once used to, is another thing we should celebrate, and the reduction in extreme poverty from 45% in 1990 to less than 15% today is also an achievement unless we compare this with our old enemy China. Until 1980, we were growing pretty much at the same rate, but the Chinese economy is five times India’s now, and 800 million Chinese are out of poverty. Literacy is 97% compared to our 70%. It is shameful that when we talk about 70% of our population being literate, we mean literally that. When average Indian children complete their education in a government school, they can count in a basic sort of way and read in a basic sort of way. That is all. This is why I agree totally with the Cockroach Janta Party’s new campaign. Nothing is more important than fixing the serious defects in government schools. There are those who like to romanticise about how wonderful these schools were once and how they deteriorated since Modi became prime minister. This is not true. They were always schools only in name. But Modi can certainly be blamed for not getting his chief ministers to make changes on a war footing. Every Independence Day the thing that saddens me most is the sight of small children, barefoot and in rags, standing at streetlights in Delhi and Mumbai selling limp, sodden national flags. Sometimes the children are so small that their hands barely reach the windows of passing cars and sometimes their clothes and flags are so soaked that they look as if they have spent hours in the rain. I always pay extra for the flags, hoping that if the money is not stolen by older children, the little ones will be able to celebrate India’s birthday with a hot meal. Every year I have waited for our political leaders to notice these desperately poor children and try and do something for them. It has never happened. This year the leader of the Cockroach Janta Party not only noticed them but declared angrily that these children should be in school, not on the streets. It warmed my heart to hear him say this, and although I am not in a celebratory mood on India’s 80th birthday, I continue to hope that there will come an Independence Day when instead of empty patriotic slogans from our political leaders we will have younger leaders who know what India’s priorities should really be. What tops my list is the miserable state of our children. May an Independence Day come when on the streets of our cities we no longer see little children selling Indian flags just to make enough for a celebratory hot meal.

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DNA Hindi

Aug 16, 2026, 04:05 AM

Trinamool Congress Leader Dr. Ashish Banerjee Found Dead in Party Office

In Rampurhat, Birbhum district, West Bengal, the body of senior Trinamool Congress leader and former deputy speaker of the state assembly, Dr. Ashish Banerjee (74), was found hanging in the party office near his home. On Sunday (16 August 2026) morning, as soon as the news spread in the area, there was a commotion and a large number of supporters and locals gathered outside the TMC office. On receiving information about the incident, the local police immediately reached the spot. Police officials have taken possession of the body after inspecting the scene and have sent it to the hospital for postmortem. The police administration says that they are closely investigating all aspects related to this tragic incident, so that it can be clear what was the reason behind it. Dr. Ashish Banerjee (74) was considered very close and trustworthy to the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee. He was elected MLA from the Rampurhat assembly seat for five consecutive terms. When the Trinamool Congress first formed the government in the state, he was responsible for a long time. Apart from being the state education minister, Ashish Banerjee had also held the post of deputy speaker for many years. He had a strong political journey in the assembly.

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Amar Ujala

Aug 16, 2026, 04:03 AM

Brahmin Leaders' Shift: From BSP to Other Parties

Apart from this, many Brahmin leaders like Daddan Mishra, Rajesh Tripathi, Shiv Pratap Mishra, Ramu Dwivedi also moved away from the BSP. Brajesh Pathak's close relative Arvind Tripathi alias Guddu Tripathi became a BSP MLC. Many of Vinay Shankar Tiwari's family members also became MLAs with important positions in the BSP government. Ramveer Upadhyay's wife and brother also joined the BSP and entered politics. Rakesh Tiwari's son and brother have also been in the BSP. All Brahmin leaders became MPs and MLAs on BSP tickets but later moved to other parties.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 03:51 AM

Telangana's Smart Ration Cards Under Fire from Union Minister

Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar has questioned the Telangana government’s decision to print photographs of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on smart PDS ration cards. Sanjay Kumar also questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph was not included on the cards, despite the Centre providing rice to the state government. “Neither the chief minister nor the concerned minister is permanent,” he told reporters on Saturday, claiming that around Rs 600 crore was being spent on the smart cards. He cited Karnataka, where ration cards issued by the Congress government carried the photograph of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and allegedly became unusable after he left office.

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Newsbytes✓

Aug 16, 2026, 03:50 AM

Iranian Lawmaker Mocks Trump Over Strait of Hormuz Threat

An Iranian lawmaker has mocked United States President Donald Trump over his recent threat to take control of the Strait of Hormuz.Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, advised Trump to focus on his own safety instead of making what he called "endless bluffs."He was referring to an incident where Trump was reportedly moved in a catering truck during his departure from Turkey last month due to a credible Iranian assassination threat.

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 03:44 AM

MP CM Accuses Sonia and Rahul Gandhi of Insulting National Anthem

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday accused senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of insulting the national anthem Vande Mataram and demanded an apology from them.

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Aaj Tak

Aug 16, 2026, 03:36 AM

Gulf Countries Diversify Defense Partnerships Amid US Concerns

Gulf countries remain close security partners and depend on Washington for arms supplies. Qatar and Bahrain have large US military bases. A Gulf country official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump started the war, but "we're paying the price." A senior European official says last week's mutual defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan was "a signal to the United States." The official, who is in regular contact with Gulf leaders, says the agreement shows powerful Sunni countries are trying to diversify their defense partnerships. He says the United States is not enough. A White House official says President Trump has had extraordinary relationships with all Gulf partners. According to The Washington Post, an official speaking on condition of anonymity under White House rules, "The United States has been in regular contact with all of our regional allies since before Operation Epic Fury." The director of the Middle East Affairs Group for the Middle East and the Middle East says he has "seen disappointment in the Middle East."

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NorthEast Now

Aug 16, 2026, 03:30 AM

Manipur's Anti-Census Movement Continues Despite State Government's Failure to Postpone Schedule

The Campaign for Just & Fair Delimitation (JFD) said its statewide anti-Census movement will continue after the state government failed to provide a written assurance on postponing the August 17 Census schedule. JFD delegates met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Imphal and demanded an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the enumeration process begins. JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said the statewide movement would continue until the concerns over demographic changes and the status of displaced people are addressed through legal measures. He said street demonstrations and civil resistance would continue. The campaign has also appealed to enumerators and supervisors across the districts to boycott training sessions and refrain from participating in Census-related duties. A 15-member JFD delegation met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for 90 minutes at Lok Bhavan in Imphal on August 14. The delegation demanded an update of the NRC and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) before the Census is conducted. The anti-Census agitation began in Manipur on August 10, 2026, under the slogan “No NRC, No Census”. The movement has drawn participation from different ethnic communities, including Meiteis, Nagas and Meitei Pangals. The protesters began a march from the Wangkhei Angom Leikai (WAL Club) towards Lok Bhavan near the Palace Compound Traffic Point. Security personnel from the central and state forces stopped the march to prevent the protesters from reaching the Lok Bhavan gates. Security forces later allowed 15 JFD representatives to enter Lok Bhavan and submit a memorandum to the administration. During the meeting, Ningomba led the delegation in urging the Governor to halt the proposed Census exercise. Governor Bhalla said any formal decision to postpone the Census would require a recommendation from the state government to the Centre. He assured the delegation that he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam. Bhalla also said he had already informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation in Manipur and the demographic concerns related to the Census.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 03:28 AM

Indian Opposition Leaders Mark Independence Day with Criticism of BJP-led Government

CHENNAI: The leaders of the CPI, CPM and the Congress marked the 80th Independence Day on Saturday with a shared message, invoking their parties’ role in the freedom struggle while accusing the BJP-led Centre of endangering India’s democracy, secularism and Constitution. The Congress and CPI also condemned the alleged caste discrimination faced by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, calling it an act of untouchability. CPI national general secretary D Raja, hoisting the national flag at the party headquarters, accused the current government of putting democracy, secularism, the Constitution and equality at risk, and said attacks on minorities, Dalits and tribal people had increased. On the Kharge issue, he alleged Sangh Parivar members had “purified” a venue after the Congress president attended an event there. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore, hoisting the flag at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, called the Kharge incident “highly condemnable”and alleged those responsible had faced no arrest or action. “Untouchability and hate politics are closely linked,” he said.

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Kalinga TV

Aug 16, 2026, 03:27 AM

India Pays Tribute to Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Death Anniversary

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers and leaders on Sunday paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary at his memorial ‘Sadaiv Atal’ in the national capital. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, BJP National President Nitin Nabin and other senior leaders also attended the prayer meeting at ‘Sadaiv Atal’, the memorial of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on his death anniversary Vajpayee, one of India’s most prominent political leaders, served as Prime Minister for three terms. He was first sworn in as Prime Minister for a brief period in 1996 and later served from 1998 to 1999 and from 1999 to 2004. Known for his oratory skills, parliamentary contribution and statesmanship, Vajpayee was a founding leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and played a key role in shaping the party’s political journey. During his tenure as Prime Minister, India witnessed several significant developments in areas including infrastructure, diplomacy, economic policy and national security. Vajpayee was also a noted Hindi poet and remained widely respected across political lines for his parliamentary career and public life. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2015 in recognition of his contribution to the nation. Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018, at the age of 93. His death anniversary is observed every year as an occasion to remember his life, political contributions, and legacy. (ANI)

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 03:27 AM

BRS Leader Accuses Chief Minister of Misusing Independence Day Address for Petty Politics

HYDERABAD: BRS Deputy Floor Leader T Harish Rao on Saturday accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of using his Independence Day public meeting in Sangareddy to resort to personal attacks and make false claims instead of highlighting Telangana’s development and welfare. Addressing a press conference in Siddipet, Harish alleged that the chief minister had used the occasion for petty political rhetoric instead of remembering the sacrifices of leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru and discussing the state’s progress and future. Harish said the Congress manifesto contained 420 promises and took a dig at the timing of the chief minister’s Sangareddy speech, alleging that it began at 4.20 pm and comprised “420 words”. He said former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao used Independence Day addresses to highlight development, irrigation and power, while Revanth had failed to present any meaningful account of development. He alleged that the government had allowed the Singur reservoir, which supplies drinking water to Medak, Sangareddy and Kamareddy districts, to be depleted, resulting in several areas receiving drinking water only once in two or three days. Referring to ration cards, he said that the government had itself stated in the Assembly that the BRS government had issued 6,47,479 ration cards benefiting around 20 lakh people, contradicting the claims being made by the chief minister at public meetings. He said the Congress government had earlier imposed a ceiling of 20 kg of rice per family, whereas the BRS government removed the ceiling and provided six kilograms of rice per person, irrespective of family size.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 03:24 AM

BRS Chief Accuses Telangana Congress of Corruption, Demands Probes

HYDERABAD: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday alleged that corruption and irregularities in Telangana were now being exposed not only by opposition parties but also by legislators of the ruling Congress. Referring to Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy’s remarks, Rama Rao said allegations of corruption by a ruling party legislator against the government and its leadership reflected the deterioration of governance in the state. Speaking to the media after participating in Independence Day celebrations at Telangana Bhavan, he said the government had long dismissed corruption allegations by the opposition as political criticism. However, ruling party MLAs were now making similar allegations, he said, adding that such public criticism of the government’s top leadership was a serious indication of the situation in the state. Reiterating his allegation that the Telangana Congress had been turned into an “ATM” for Rahul Gandhi and the AICC, Rama Rao recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made similar charges during his visits to Telangana. He questioned why the Centre had failed to act despite such allegations being made by the Prime Minister. Merely levelling corruption charges during elections or on political platforms would serve no purpose, he said, demanding impartial probes by central investigating agencies if there was substance in the allegations and that the facts be placed before the people. Rama Rao said the Centre had a responsibility to investigate the allegations, establish the facts and initiate legal action against those responsible. Referring to earlier Enforcement Directorate searches involving Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, the BRS MLA said there was no clarity on the subsequent action or the status of the investigation. He demanded that central agencies provide clarity and act impartially rather than being used for political purposes.

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Newsbytes✓

Aug 16, 2026, 03:22 AM

Jharkhand Protesters Plan Gherao of CM's Residence Over Alleged JPSC Examination Irregularities

Protesting job aspirants in Jharkhand have announced that they are planning to gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren 's official residence on August 20.The protesters, who are demanding Soren's resignation, allege irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations.Piyush Singh, a spokesperson for the "JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch," said this is their first demand for accountability from the government over these alleged scams.

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Aaj Tak

Aug 16, 2026, 03:16 AM

Trump's Claim on Hormuz Strait Sparks Retort from Iran

Iran has hit back at US President Donald Trump over his claim of US control over Hormuz. Trump said that the US would declare Hormuz its territory after defeating Iran. In response, Iranian leader Ebrahim Azizi quipped that "Trump should worry about his security instead of claiming Hormuz, lest he hide in a food truck again." In fact, Trump said during an event in New York that after completely defeating Iran, he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory. He also claimed that the US Navy is blockading this entire sea route. Even before this statement, tensions between the two countries were high. Hormuz is one of the most important sea routes in the world. Hormuz supplies a huge amount of crude oil, natural gas, and fertilizer. The day after Trump's statement, the head of Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian parliament said that he should think about his life instead of threatening the US leadership.

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 03:14 AM

NCP Spokesperson Criticizes PM Modi's Speech for Focusing on Hindu-Muslim Issues

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar faction's national spokesperson Naseem Siddiqui criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech, alleging that it focused on Hindu-Muslim issues instead of development and unemployment.

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DD News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 03:10 AM

Modi Pays Tribute to Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Death Anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid his tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary. “Remembering Atal Ji on his Punya Tithi. An extraordinary statesman blessed with remarkable vision, he dedicated his life to the service of our nation. His words and efforts inspired generations and his leadership strengthened our nation. His focus on good governance and public welfare will always continue to guide us,” the Prime Minister posted on X. Vajpayee, born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, had a parliamentary career spanning more than four decades. He became a Member of Parliament in 1957 and represented both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during his long political career. He served as Prime Minister for a brief term from May 16 to May 31, 1996, and later from March 19, 1998, to May 13, 2004. Following the 1999 parliamentary election, he became the first person since Jawaharlal Nehru to serve as Prime Minister through three successive Lok Sabha terms. Vajpayee’s tenure is remembered for the Pokhran nuclear tests, major infrastructure initiatives, including the Golden Quadrilateral and national highway development, and economic policies that laid the foundation for a prolonged period of economic growth. His political legacy and emphasis on democratic values continue to be recalled across the country. (with inputs from IANS)

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Newsbytes✓

Aug 16, 2026, 03:07 AM

Former Deputy Speaker of West Bengal Assembly Found Dead at TMC Office

Asish Banerjee, the former deputy speaker of the West Bengal assembly, was found dead this morning.His body was discovered hanging at a Trinamool Congress (TMC) office in Rampurhat city, Birbhum district. The office is located adjacent to his residence.Police have confirmed that the body has been sent for postmortem examination.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 03:02 AM

Colombian President Seeks Tariff Suspension Amid Earthquake Devastation

Colombia's new President Abelardo de la Espriella on Saturday called on his US counterpart Donald Trump to suspend tariffs currently targeting the South American nation, which is reeling after a deadly earthquake. US tariffs on Colombian products rose from 10 percent to 12.5 percent in late July, with a few exceptions including coffee and oil. "I asked him to consider to temporarily suspend the high tariffs that are affecting Colombian products, in order to give some relief to our business owners, who are facing very difficult times due to the effects of the earthquake," De la Espriella said on X.

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AIR News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 03:01 AM

India Honors Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Death Anniversary

The nation pays homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary today. The BJP stalwart had breathed his last on this day in 2018. Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister on three occasions. His first term was for only 13 days in 1996. He served his second term for a period of eleven months from 1998 to 1999 and then a full term from 1999 to 2004. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour – Bharat Ratna – in 2015. Dignitaries will pay floral tributes to the former Prime Minister at his memorial Sadaiv Atal in the National Capital. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial Sadaiv Atal in the National Capital today. Former President Ram Nath Kovind, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and BJP National President Nitin Nabin were also present on the occasion.

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India TV

Aug 16, 2026, 02:54 AM

Indian PM Modi Pays Tribute to Former Leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Death Anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his eighth death anniversary at his memorial'Sadaiv Atal '.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 02:54 AM

North Korea's Kim Jong Un Praises Ties with Russia Amid Military Support

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin he was "proud" of their countries' strong ties, state media reported Sunday, after providing military support for Moscow's war against Ukraine. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, North Korea has become a key ally of the Kremlin, sending troops to support Moscow's war effort in return for economic benefits and military technology, analysts say. "I am always proud to be able to expect more excellent future of the bilateral relations by leading, together with you, the DPRK-Russia ties that has carried forward the history of common struggle," Kim said in his letter to Putin, according to an English-language dispatch by the official Korean Central News Agency. DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim added that he had a "firm belief" that Russia would thrive and defend its "territorial integrity" under Putin's "wise leadership". In a letter to Kim delivered on Friday to mark Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II, Putin said relations between the two countries had reached the "unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership". "Our states are actively cooperating in all the sectors while making concerted efforts to ensure the regional security and stability," the Russian leader said. The exchange of letters follows Ukraine's accusation this month that Moscow had launched North Korean ballistic missiles in a strike that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens. Kyiv has also recently said that up to 50,000 North Korean troops are due to deploy to Russia, although it has provided no evidence to back the claim or a timeframe for the deployment. In making the claim, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Seoul to supply air defence systems to protect against Russian missiles, a request that has gone unanswered by the South.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 02:51 AM

Delhi City Politics Turns into Fashion Debate: Dress Code Takes Center Stage

City politics briefly turned into a fashion-and-decorum debate. CM Rekha Gupta took a dig at AAP MLA Anil Jha Vats over a viral video showing him in a vest and shorts while attending to constituents. “Kapde pehen ke to baitho” was the message as Assembly proceedings acquired an unexpected wardrobe angle. It seems even public service now comes with a dress code. Delhi Police’s reel served a hilarious reminder, stating that a fresh haircut, blow-dry and open-hair style can make one look runway-ready, but the city roads have their own dress code. The caption, “The wind in hair? No. The helmet on hair… forever” was a perfect pop culture mic drop. Apparently, the only hairstyle guaranteed to survive traffic, dust and destiny is the one protected by a helmet. The viral Instagram reel by Delhi Police indicated, “Dear hair, enjoy the salon, but safety gets the final styling vote.”

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Siasat News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 02:40 AM

Madhya Pradesh CM Accuses Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of Insulting National Song Vande Mataram

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday, August 15, accused senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of insulting the national song Vande Mataram and demanded that they apologise to the country. The BJP has claimed that the Congress leaders objected to the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the party’s Independence Day event in New Delhi. Yadav alleged that the singing of Vande Mataram was disrupted and the national song was “insulted”. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had the complete version of Vande Mataram sung from the Red Fort on Independence Day. The CM said the song became known across the world through the film “Anand Math” and was sung by freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during India’s struggle for independence. “Vande Mataram was the slogan and song that freedom fighters sang while sacrificing their lives for the country’s freedom. Therefore, insulting the song is condemnable,” Yadav said. “I believe that senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, whoever was involved in the insult, should apologise to the country. I hope they soon acknowledge their mistake and apologise to the nation,” he said. Last month, Parliament passed a bill that makes any insult to the national song a punishable offence. The law grants status to Vande Mataram on par with the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.

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ABP News✓

Aug 16, 2026, 02:38 AM

SP MLA Ravidas Mehrotra Criticizes BJP and Central Government Over Various Issues

Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Ravidas Mehrotra has hit out at the BJP and the central government over the Women's Reservation Bill, foreign policy and security of opposition leaders.

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Amar Ujala

Aug 16, 2026, 02:37 AM

Samajwadi Party Appoints Dalit Youth as In-Charges to Strengthen Votebank

These youth are being given the responsibility of different assembly constituencies. The in-charges have been given the goal of connecting the ideological youth and strengthening the PDA. SP and Congress have made many Dalit youth in-charge of general seats. This will increase the mobilization of the traditional votebank and will also connect the depressed youth with the BSP. Samajwadi Party has given the responsibility to Manoj Paswan in Unchahar, Shiv Shankar Saroj in Babaganj and Ram Karan Nirmal in Kaushambi-Fatehpur.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 02:33 AM

Karnataka Guarantee Schemes: Leader of Opposition Demands Transparency Amidst Irregularity Suspicions

BENGALURU: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka claimed that there were suspicions of irregularities in the guarantee schemes, as the figures available with the government do not match. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar should release a white paper and provide accurate information in the Assembly, he said. Ashoka said in the Independency Day speech, the CM stated that under the Shakti scheme, 3.5 crore women in the state have undertaken 796 crore free journeys, for which Rs 14,875 crore has been spent over three years. “However, according to an official post from the Chief Minister’s X account (June 11, 2026), by the time the government completed three years, women had undertaken 753.7 crore free journeys and free tickets worth Rs 19,771 crore had been issued. Prior to that, in an X post on May 25, 2026, it was mentioned that 726 crore free journeys had been made and Rs 18,943 crore had been spent. When these are compared, a difference of around Rs 5,000 to 6,000 crore emerges. The government must clarify how the expenditure that had increased has suddenly decreased,” the LoP said.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 02:29 AM

Jharkhand Students Protest Against Recruitment Exam Irregularities, Demand CM's Resignation

Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment examinations on Saturday accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress of playing politics with their issues, and announced they would gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation. The protesters said they would also burn effigies of the chief minister and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of the state on Sunday, alleging that the ruling JMM-Congress alliance had "failed to take concrete action" on their demands. They also demanded that Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the "CM is not listening" to him. The protesters took out a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Ranchi on Saturday to mark the country's 80th Independence Day and to press their demand for greater transparency and reform of the recruitment examination system. The protest under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch entered its 22nd day, with thousands of students and job aspirants, including two wheelchair-bound demonstrators on fast, taking part in the 'Tiranga Yatra' from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium — the site of the ongoing agitation — to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi. Carrying national flags, the protesters raised slogans such as "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram". "We will gherao the chief minister's residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him," JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said. The protesters said they would not withdraw the demonstration until the government addressed their demands, including cancellation of examinations in which alleged irregularities were found, and an independent probe into the recruitment process. The students' platform has sought a CBI investigation, or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand, into the alleged exam irregularities. It has also demanded the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL test and certain Jharkhand PSC examinations it considers suspicious.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 02:19 AM

Congress MLAs Laud AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, Ignore CM V D Satheesan at Malappuram Reception

MALAPPURAM: Factional equations within the Congress came into sharp focus at a reception organised for the party’s MLAs in Malappuram, with three legislators pointedly choosing to highlight AICC general secretary K C Venugopal while making no reference to CM V D Satheesan. The reception, organised by the Malappuram DCC and inaugurated by Venugopal, saw Minister A P Anilkumar, Nilambur MLA Aryadan Shoukath and Tavanur MLA V S Joy underline Venugopal’s role in the Congress’ electoral performance. Significantly, none of the three referred to the political or organisational achievements of VD Satheesan-led Opposition in their speeches. Aryadan Shoukath publicly credited Venugopal with giving him the opportunity to contest the election, while Joy delivered an elaborate tribute to him. Describing Venugopal as the “lance-headed leader of the anti-fascist struggle in Indian politics”, Joy credited him with taking on the prime minister and Union home minister in Parliament and turning the streets of Malappuram into a political battleground. Joy also praised Venugopal for ensuring a 100% victory for the Democratic Front during the largest session in Parliament’s history and highlighted his subsequent return to Kerala as the AICC general secretary in charge of organisational affairs. Minister Anilkumar too positioned Venugopal as Kerala’s major contribution to the Congress movement at the national level and praised his leadership. The omission of Satheesan from all three speeches assumed significance, particularly against the backdrop of the factional alignments within the state Congress.

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The Moscow Times

Aug 16, 2026, 02:17 AM

Kerala's Chief Minister Satheesan Turns Vande Mataram Controversy into Political Advantage

Chief Minister V D Satheesan appears to have turned the Vande Mataram controversy to his political advantage, with Keralam choosing not to render the national song during the Independence Day celebrations, even as the Congress national leadership and governments in other Congress-ruled states went ahead with it. The decision could help Satheesan shore up his secular credentials at a time when the opposition LDF has accused him of moving closer to the BJP on issues of nationalism and secularism. The contrast became sharper as at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Vande Mataram was rendered in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, despite the party leadership’s earlier decision that the controversial stanzas should not be recited. The full version of the national song was also rendered at the Independence Day programmes in Congress-ruled Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana. Keralam, however, stopped short of doing so. At the Congress state headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the first two stanzas were sung in line with the party’s position. Earlier, Satheesan had avoided taking a clear position when reporters asked him whether the full stanzas would be recited at the function. His reply was brief: “Watch what happens on Independence Day.” The controversy began after the chief secretary directed government institutions to follow the Central government’s instruction to sing the full stanzas of the national song during Independence Day and Har Ghar Tiranga events.

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