A woman passenger allegedly damaged airport property worth ₹49,000 at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport on August 13. The incident happened after an IndiGo flight to Kolkata was cancelled due to a technical problem. The passenger, identified as Mamoni Kharat, allegedly created a scene in the departure lounge. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said she damaged a monitor, keyboard and passport-swiping machine. The incident took place around 6 pm in the presence of CISF, IndiGo and AAI officials. Police have registered an FIR against her. Airport authorities have asked police to take action and recover the cost of the damaged equipment.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has rejected Opposition allegations that excessive force, including pellet guns, was used against students during the July 20 NEET paper-leak protest in Delhi. Rijiju said there were no widespread injuries and defended the police response to the large Parliament march. However, India Today reported that a 25-year-old protester suffered around 20 pellet wounds, while another sustained a serious eye injury. Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns. Rijiju said petitions concerning the alleged use of pellets are pending before the Supreme Court and that the matter should be examined judicially. (PC: India Today)

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has proposed reducing the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve from the default 10 km to 1 km. The state plans to submit the proposal to the Centre within two months, arguing that the existing buffer restricts development projects and civic infrastructure around Bokakhat. The proposal has triggered concern among conservationists, who warn that a smaller buffer could threaten wildlife corridors and habitats used by elephants, rhinos, tigers and other animals, particularly during annual floods. The existing 10-km protection will remain until any new site-specific ESZ is formally notified. (PC: X)

A Punjabi Sikh youth has shared a tearful video from Mexico, claiming he was trapped after travelling through the illegal “donkey route” to seek opportunities abroad. He alleges that he was severely beaten after attempting to escape the network and says he is struggling to walk. The unidentified youth, reportedly speaking from inside a room, warned others not to trust agents promising safe passage through illegal migration routes. He admitted making a mistake and urged people not to follow his path. The incident highlights the risks of illegal migration, including exploitation, violence, extortion, detention and threats to migrants’ safety. 

The student-led protest in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations entered its 21st day on August 14. Demonstrators under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch are demanding greater transparency, cancellation of disputed examinations and an independent investigation. The agitation intensified after clashes during a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10, when police used tear gas, water cannons and batons. Protesters are now planning a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ranchi on August 15, Independence Day, to strengthen their campaign. The movement continues despite government assurances and partial concessions, with students warning that they will intensify the agitation until their demands are addressed. (PC: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed all FIRs against comedian Samay Raina and four others over alleged insensitive remarks concerning persons with disabilities on India’s Got Latent. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that the accused had complied with earlier directions to conduct awareness programmes and raise funds for people with disabilities. The Court had previously imposed ₹3 lakh costs after finding non-compliance with its directions. The latest order brings the criminal proceedings covered by the case to an end, providing significant legal relief to Raina and the other comedians involved in the controversy. (PC: PTI)

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has said he will not allow attempts to disturb Punjab’s peace following a kirpan attack on him at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal was attacked on August 13 while visiting Gurdwara Mata Sahib Deva Ji. Security personnel intervened, and he suffered an injury to his hand. The accused, identified as Nihang Sikh Jaspal Singh, was arrested, while police continue investigating the motive. Badal, after receiving medical treatment, said he was not afraid and suggested the incident was intended to create unrest in Punjab. Authorities are examining security lapses and the circumstances surrounding the attack. (PC: India Today)

The Supreme Court on August 14 criticised the Bar Council of India (BCI) for its now-withdrawn order blocking enrolment of NALSAR University’s 2026 graduates as advocates. Chief Justice Surya Kant called the action “absolutely uncalled for,” saying students have the right to protest even if their views are wrong. The controversy began after NALSAR students opposed inviting CJI Kant to their convocation, citing concerns over his remarks during a case involving alleged police action against protesters. The Supreme Court directed that no punitive action be taken against students or faculty and sought BCI’s response. BCI has since closed proceedings against the batch. (PC: PTI)

Indian football authorities are increasingly optimistic that eligible British Indian players could soon represent the Indian national team without surrendering their overseas passports. An AIFF task force is examining the issue, with former Mumbai City FC executive Arunava Chaudhuri suggesting four or five British Indian players could strengthen the squad if regulations change. The report also highlights British Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, whose consortium, including Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin, is reportedly close to acquiring roughly a one-third stake in Liverpool, valuing the club at about £4.4 billion. Meanwhile, Yan Dhanda’s memorable Swansea debut and other British South Asian football developments are revisited.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a mega order from US-based AI cloud company Together AI to build India’s largest single-cluster AI infrastructure facility. The project, valued at ₹10,000–15,000 crore, will deploy 10,000 NVIDIA B300 GPUs at L&T’s Chennai data-centre campus. The facility will combine advanced computing, high-performance networking, ultra-low-latency connectivity and high-throughput storage to support large-scale AI training and inference. The deal marks L&T’s entry into the AI Factory segment and strengthens India’s position in the global AI infrastructure ecosystem. L&T said the project is part of its broader Gigawatt AI Infrastructure Mission.