Bangladesh's interim government has vowed to take swift legal action against those attacking minorities, particularly the Hindu community, following a surge in violence after the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. The newly-appointed Home Affairs Ministry adviser, Brigadier General (retd) M. Sakhawat Hussain, emphasized that violence and hatred have no place in the country. His assurance came during a meeting with a delegation from ISKCON Bangladesh at the Secretariat, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Hussain's commitment reflects the government's determination to protect minority communities and maintain peace amid the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh.

An Egyptian ship anchored at Paradip Port in Odisha has been 'arrested' following an Orissa High Court order, an official reported on Friday. The vessel, which arrived on August 6, faces legal action due to an outstanding debt of ₹3.96 crore owed to a German company for transporting low-sulfuric marine gasoil. The German company filed an appeal in the Orissa High Court, leading to the court's order to detain the ship on August 14. Under admiralty law, ships can be arrested to enforce maritime claims related to their ownership, operation, or other associated activities. The ship remains detained at Paradip Port pending resolution.

The 70th National Awards have been announced. 'Aattam', a Malayalam film directed by Anand Ekarshi, won Best Film. The movie revolves around a female theatre artist who faces sexual assault. In another category, 'Gulmohar', a Hindi film directed by Rahul Chittella, won Best Hindi Film. The family drama features Manoj Bajpayee and Sharmila Tagore in lead roles. The National Awards recognize excellence in Indian cinema, and this year's winners were selected from a pool of talented films. The awards ceremony will be held soon to honor the winners.

Soumik Das, arrested from Nagerbazar on Friday, confessed to vandalizing property during a procession following the RG Kar Medical College attack. Das claimed he acted out of emotion after witnessing the violence at the hospital. In a media statement, he said he joined the procession spontaneously and vandalized on impulse, without any prior planning or external influence. His admission comes amid ongoing allegations that some participants in the 'occupy night' march vandalized the hospital, claims which have been contested by various sources. Das's confession adds new details to the investigation into the events that followed the attack on Wednesday night.

The tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9 has shocked the nation. The post-graduate student was found dead in a seminar hall, sparking widespread outrage. Doctors and Bollywood stars are joining protests demanding justice for the victim, who was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered. Priyanka Chopra recently expressed her support by sharing a protest photo on Instagram. The image featured a sign reading, "Who will speak for her if you don't?" Chopra's post, which included a sad emoji, reflects the growing public outcry and call for justice.

The Union Health Ministry has mandated all government hospitals, both central and state, to file police complaints within six hours of any incident of violence on their premises or against healthcare workers. A notice issued on Friday morning stated that the head of the concerned institution would be held accountable if a complaint is not lodged within the specified timeframe. This directive comes in response to a rising trend of violence against doctors and healthcare staff in government hospitals. The ministry noted that many healthcare workers have faced physical assaults, threats, and verbal abuse while performing their duties, prompting the need for stricter measures.

The Odisha government has introduced a one-day menstrual leave for working women in government and private sectors. The policy, announced by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, allows women to take optional leave on the first or second day of their menstrual cycle. The state's women and child development department will issue detailed guidelines. Odisha is the third state, after Kerala and Bihar, to implement menstrual leave. This move aligns with nationwide demands for paid menstrual leave for students and working women. The policy aims to promote women's health, well-being, and productivity in the workplace.

The S&P BSE Sensex surged by 1,023.08 points, closing at 80,128.96, while the Nifty50 climbed 295.55 points to end at 24,439.30 in a robust market rally on Friday. The surge came as global markets reacted positively to U.S. jobs and spending data, which alleviated concerns over a potential recession. This rally marked a significant boost for the benchmark indices, reflecting investor optimism. The strong performance was driven by gains across sectors, with heavyweights contributing to the upward momentum. This rally follows a trend of improving global economic data, supporting market sentiment.

The Calcutta High Court has rebuked the West Bengal government for its failure to prevent vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court described the incident as an "absolute failure of state machinery". The vandalism occurred after a doctor was murdered and allegedly raped on August 9. The court has directed the CBI to submit an interim report on the incident, which it believes was "pre-planned". The court had previously ordered a CBI investigation into the doctor's killing, citing concerns over potential lapses by hospital authorities and police. The government has been warned to ensure the hospital's safety.

Sweden has confirmed its first case of a contagious mpox strain, marking the first reported instance of this strain outside Africa. This development comes after the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency. The outbreak, initially identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has now spread to at least 12 other countries in central and eastern Africa. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for a coordinated international response to address the crisis. In response, the international vaccine group Gavi has pledged up to $500 million for vaccine distribution to affected regions in Africa.