A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island early Saturday, killing at least 51 people and displacing thousands. The shallow quake damaged more than 900 homes and hundreds of other buildings, while 341 aftershocks were recorded, officials said. Manggarai was among the worst-hit areas, with 24 deaths reported, followed by 17 in East Manggarai. More than 5,000 people have been evacuated across affected areas. Rescue teams are searching damaged buildings for survivors, while landslides have blocked access to some villages. A tsunami warning was issued after the quake but was lifted about 3 hours later after no significant sea-level rise. (PC: BBC)

Jharkhand’s JPSC and JSSC aspirants have announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20, intensifying their weeks-long protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The students are demanding action against those responsible and greater transparency in the recruitment process. The protest entered its 23rd day on August 16. On August 15, students held a Tiranga Yatra in Ranchi and announced the planned gherao. Protest leaders have also demanded Soren’s resignation and urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to withdraw support from the JMM-led government if their concerns are not addressed. (PC: X)

Ukraine reportedly launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Russia on August 16, with hundreds of drones targeting several regions, including Moscow. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it destroyed 822 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said around 600 were detected heading toward the capital. A Ukrainian drone strike sparked a major fire at a Wildberries warehouse in Podolsk, sending huge columns of black smoke into the sky. Fires were also reported at warehouses and industrial sites. At least 6 people were killed in the attacks, including 5 in Rostov and an 83-year-old man in the Moscow region. (PC: HT)

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said on Independence Day that the country “tolerates” its Hindu population, which he claimed is 3–4%. He also said Hindus are free in Pakistan and referred to India’s belief in “Akhand Bharat”. However, Pakistan’s 2023 census records about 5.2 million Hindus, or 2.17% of the population. Zardari’s remarks have drawn attention to Pakistan’s treatment of religious minorities. Rights groups have documented cases involving forced conversions, abductions, discrimination and violence against minorities. Pakistan’s Constitution formally guarantees religious freedom, but critics say its record raises questions about whether minorities receive equal rights and protection. (PC: Indian Today)

A purported handwritten suicide note was recovered after former West Bengal deputy speaker and 5-time TMC MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office in Birbhum. In the note, Banerjee allegedly wrote, “Today, I feel that entering politics was a mistake.” He also said he had never been involved in corruption and claimed he had no role in tender decisions, cheque issuance, plan approvals or no-objection certificates at the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority. Banerjee further urged young members of his family not to join politics and to focus on their professions. Police are investigating, while NDTV could not independently verify the note’s authenticity. (PC: NDTV)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of asking party leaders to stop the rendition of Vande Mataram during the Congress’ Independence Day programme. Addressing a gathering in Chittorgarh, Shah said the alleged act had hurt public sentiment and demanded an apology from Gandhi and the Congress. BJP leaders claimed Gandhi objected to the song being sung in full, while the Congress rejected the allegations. The party said Gandhi was only ensuring that the correct arrangements were made for the rendition. Shah also accused Congress of forgetting Vande Mataram due to “vote-bank politics”. (PC: India Today)

At least 3 people have been killed and more than 10 injured in the latest Russian aerial attacks across Ukraine, officials said. Russian missiles and drones struck several areas, including a book market in Kyiv, where firefighters battled a major overnight fire. Ukraine said it had shot down 3 Russian missiles and nearly 100 drones. In Zaporizhzhia, 2 people were killed after a guided bomb destroyed a house, while Dnipropetrovsk reported 1 death and 14 injuries. Meanwhile, Moscow said around 600 Ukrainian drones targeted the capital overnight, injuring 3 people and hitting a Wildberries warehouse. (PC: BBC)

India’s long-delayed Project 75(I) submarine programme could see progress soon, with the proposal likely to go before the Cabinet Committee on Security. The project involves building 6 advanced conventional submarines for the Indian Navy at an estimated cost of Rs 70,000 crore. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders will build the submarines in India in partnership with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The submarines are expected to feature air-independent propulsion, modern sensors, missiles, torpedoes and electronic warfare systems. The deal aims to strengthen India’s submarine fleet while expanding domestic shipbuilding, technology transfer and underwater warfare capabilities. (PC: NDTV)

India’s 80th Independence Day celebrations in the New York tri-state area featured a Guinness World Record in New Jersey and a parade attended by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. At Veterans Memorial Park in Parsippany, more than 1,300 US flags were arranged to form “250”, marking America’s 250th anniversary, with Indian tricolours surrounding the display. The event was organised by the Indian Consulate in New York and the Federation of Indian Associations. Mamdani attended the Queens India Day Parade in Floral Park, calling it an experience he would never forget and praising the Indian diaspora’s contribution to New York City and its diverse communities. (PC: HT, X)

Former Trinamool Congress MLA and West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker Asish Banerjee was found hanging inside a TMC office near his home in Birbhum's Rampurhat on Sunday. Banerjee was a 5-time MLA who represented Rampurhat for 25 years from 2001 to 2026, but lost the seat to BJP's Dhruba Saha in the 2026 Assembly polls. Police recovered a purported note in which Banerjee denied corruption allegations and said he had no role in tender decisions or approvals linked to the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority. He also alleged attempts to malign him. Police are investigating, and his body has been sent for postmortem. (PC: India Today)