NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||16-08-2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||16-08-2026

SUN DAY| VOL—IV/2026/AUGUST

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

“बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः ।

अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्” ॥ ६ ॥

BHAGABAD GEETA—CHAPTER 6, VERSE-6

TRANSLATION (BY ME): "For those who have conquered the mind, it is their finest friend. But for those who have failed to do so, the mind remains the worst enemy."

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

80th Independence Day — India celebrated its 80th Independence Day on 15 August 2026, with nationwide celebrations: Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi said, the government is moving forward with the aim of 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

President Droupadi Murmu hosted a State Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Former President Ram Nath Kovind, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, diplomats, eminent people from different walks of life and beneficiaries of various government programmes attended the Reception.

The government has issued detailed guidelines on the observance of India’s National Song, Vande Mataram, directing that all six stanzas of the official version must be rendered first whenever the National Song and the National Anthem are performed together. According to the Union Home Ministry, the full six-stanza version is to be sung or played on key state occasions such as the arrival of the President, the unfurling of the National Flag, and addresses by Governors, among other formal events.

Ladakh is set to become the first place in independent India where caste enumeration will be conducted as part of the regular Census process.

The Centre recently notified 11 additional international ports for e-Visa entry into India (bringing the overall total to 88 authorized ports, which comprise 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land ports). The recent expansion includes the Attari road border point along with other key land and airport locations.

Amrit Udyan will be open to the general public from today till the 15th of next month. Visitors can enter through Gate No. 35. Entry is free, but advance online booking is required.

 Army dog Tyson received an Independence Day honour after his service in a J&K operation.

BENGAL FILES:

West Bengal Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari delivered his First Independence Day Address from Kolkata's Red Road parade ground on August 15, 2026, mapping out his administration's target framework for a "Developed Bengal". He said that his government’s vision is for a ‘Developed Bengal’, with job creation, women’s safety and firm law and order among its key priorities, as he set the goal of making the state the best in the country.

The West Bengal Legislative Assembly has passed major new municipal legislation introducing widespread administrative overhauls for Kolkata and Howrah.

TMC Rebel Camp Attendance: In a highly discussed political development, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh triggered intense speculation by attending an Independence Day event organized by an expelled faction of the party led by Ritabrata Banerjee

Industrial Policy Threshold: Marking the official August 15 target deadline, the state's commerce desks completed internal drafts to implement an updated Bengal Industrial Policy. The policy reviews whether to incorporate elements of the Gujarat land-equity model to incentivize real estate acquisitions for enterprise corridors.

Inaugural Darjeeling Night Run: To celebrate the eve of the historic day, nearly 1,000 runners participated in the first-of-its-kind Darjeeling Night Run on August 14–15, carrying the active message "Run for Freedom, Run for a Safe Darjeeling" across the hill station.

District Tiranga Yatras: Mass multi-institutional student parades and Tiranga Yatras took over districts like Maldah and Kalimpong, showcasing extensive traditional dance ensembles and street marches.

Kolkata Metro Drills: The Kolkata Metro Railway network integrated Independence Day protocols with localized cleanliness and tree plantation drives across major housing hubs including Belgachia, Dum Dum, and Tollygunge.

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

Indian embassies and consulates around the world celebrated India's 80th Independence Day with flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended congratulations to the people of India on Independence Day.

India participated in the BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting in Bhopal, including efforts concerning the return of the historic Vagdevi idol.

Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has accused the Pakistani military of committing war crimes and targeting civilians, claiming that video footage from the recent airstrikes in Surab provides evidence of military aggression against the local population in Balochistan.

Gaza diplomacy — Reports this week said Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposed 15-point Gaza peace plan associated with U.S. President Donald Trump.

A U.S. appeals court allowed thousands of lawsuits against major social-media companies, including Meta, concerning alleged social-media addiction risks to proceed.

GULF WAR:

Brad Cooper, who oversees the US war effort against Iran, has wrapped up a 10-day tour of six Gulf countries and the USS Abraham Lincoln, the carrier enforcing the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM said in a statement on X.

Al Jazeera reports that the Israeli army has carried out an air strike on the Ali al-Taher ridge, near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle in Lebanon.

The area has seen increased Israeli army activity in recent days. Israel claims the area has strategic significance and that it is dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure in its bombing.

Explosions have been reported in Lebanon’s southern towns of Bint Jbeil and Taybeh, according to the National News Agency.

Drones also targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Mansouri. Artillery shelling was reported in the towns of Sarbin, Barashit, al-Mansouri and Wadi Zibqin.

Yemeni government forces say at least three Houthi fighters have been killed during drone strikes west of Taiz governorate, in the southwest of the country, according to the Yemen News Agency, controlled by the internationally recognised government of Yemen.

Several others, including field commanders, were wounded in the aerial strikes.

The Houthis  are  yet to comment on these claims.

The Israeli prime minister has expressed gratitude towards Colombia’s newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella for recognising “Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights and moving his embassy to our eternal capital in Jerusalem.”

Iran reiterated that it has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of technical negotiations, but that the finer points of a deal with the sultanate were still being finalised. WHEN THE ROUTE WILL BE OPENED?? We are interested in that .

Turkish President has told Al Jazeera that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a priority, stressing that its prolonged closure is in no one’s interest.

BALOCH NEWS:

Baloch nationalist leader Mir Yar Baloch extended warm, official greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on August 15, 2026, marking India’s 80th Independence Day.

Trade & Seaport Offer: Highlighting a desire to expel Pakistani economic control, the Baloch leadership offered to open Balochistan’s deep-water seaports exclusively for Indian trade.

Boosting "Make in India": The leader proposed that integrating Balochistan's vast, untapped mineral reserves with PM Modi's Make in India program could rapidly propel India into becoming the world's second-largest economy.

Spiritual Ties: The message explicitly cited the ancient Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan as an eternal, civilisational spiritual connection binding the two nations for centuries.

The political momentum built heavily from August 11, 2026, which Baloch groups recognize as their true National Day of Independence.

CRIME & PUNISHMENT:

The Faridabad police in Haryana have busted a fake call centre operating from a hotel in Delhi's Rajouri Garden and arrested seven people, including its alleged mastermind, for cheating around 400 to 500 people.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces have busted a suspected hideout in Bufliaz area of Poonch district and recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and explosive material.

MISHAPS: -

Vietnam Boat Capsized, 15 Indians Dead: A corporate-sponsored reward trip organized by Lava Mobiles for its channel partners and employees ended in catastrophe off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island.

Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster (Death Toll Reaches 72): On the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, rescuers operating on Lake Kariba retrieved additional bodies on August 15, officially pushing the confirmed death toll to 72 from the August 11 capsize.

Fatal Highway & Road Mishaps: Kishtwar Car Plunge,5 Dead. ITBP SUV Crash: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and his driver were killed.

ENVIRONMENTAL: -

Cleanup crews are responding along 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of Omani coastline following an oil spill from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi. Carrying roughly 800,000 barrels of Russian crude, the vessel ran aground near a marine reserve, raising fears of a severe ecological crisis.

Arunachal Pradesh Landslide: Heavy localized cloudbursts triggered a massive landslide at Nacho in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. The sudden mud and rock torrent buried a local settlement, leading to a multi-agency search-and-rescue operation that recovered four dead bodies from beneath the debris.  Four people died in a major landslide on a road construction site in Upper Subansiri district.

Indonesia Flores Island Earthquake: A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Flores Island in eastern Indonesia. The heavy tremors caused structural collapses across major holiday resorts in Labuan Bajo, leaving at least 38 people dead and forcing thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate damaged hotels into the open.

France wildfires — Wildfires in southern France caused evacuations and became a major European news story this week.

WEATHER:

IMD issued orange colour warning over Arunachal Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

ENTERTAINMENT:

The 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026 announced its list of winners recently. Dulquer Salmaan grabbed the award for Best Actor for his performance in the film, Kaantha, while Kirti Kulhari took home Best Actress for her performance in Full Plate.

Best Indian Film - Not a Hero - Rima Das

- Special Mention - Indie Film: Kikkran De Phull (Flowers of Acacia)

- Best Director: Rishab Shetty - Kantara: A Legend

GAMES & SPORTS:

CRICKET:

The Indian cricket team launched its two-Test series in Galle with an elite display of structural batting control: Padikkal's Dream Century: Left-handed batting mainstay Devdutt Padikkal scored a brilliant, patient maiden Test hundred to stabilize the top order. The Scorecard Baseline: Electing to bat first, India marched confidently to 288/2 at stumps on Day 1. Subduing Sri Lanka's spin attack, Shubman Gill (who joined the middle after KL Rahul retired hurt due to severe cramps) anchored the late sessions.

HOCKEY:

The Indian men's hockey team kicked off its FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with a definitive statement: Harmanpreet’s Double Strike: India registered a convincing 3-1 victory against a crowdfunding-backed Wales squad. The Fluid System: Team captain Harmanpreet Singh spearheaded the victory, slamming home a decisive brace from penalty corners to clear the path for maximum group stage points.

Prime Minister's Mandate:

Following up on the national youth goals mapped out on Independence Day, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched an extensive national sports talent hunt targeting children aged 5 to 15 years across every village and city. 0The Feeder Framework: Backed by an enhanced structural budget, the grassroots operation aims to identify and feed young elite athletes directly into the high-performing Khelo India and Olympic podium programs.

DAS KAPITAL:

SHARE MARKET IS CLOSED ON WEEK ENDS.

BULLIONS:

Indian retail bullion prices are trading steady with minor upward momentum today, August 16, 2026, with national 24K gold priced at approximately ₹1,51,980/- per 10 grams and silver resting firmly at ₹2,36,210/- per kilogram.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES:

British Pound (GBP): 1 GBP = ₹129.39 INR

Euro (EUR): 1 EUR = ₹110.60 INR

US Dollar (USD): 1 USD = ₹95.56 INR

Canadian Dollar (CAD): 1 CAD = ₹68.90 INR

Chinese Yuan / Renminbi (CNY): 1 CNY = ₹14.17 INR

IMAGE: BHARAT MATA – By ‘ABAN THAKUR’

 

THE END.