⚽ Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinals teams are set

Mohun Bagan Super Giant has secured a spot in the Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinals with a flawless record. The tournament features 24 teams spread across six groups in Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati. Six group winners and two best runners-up qualified for the knockout stage, which kicks off on August 16. The confirmed quarterfinalists include Mohun Bagan SG and Jamshedpur FC, who will face each other on August 17. The final schedule has been released, showing specific matchups and dates across various stadiums. ⚽

✊ Mandya sees protests over Cauvery water release

Protestors took to the streets in Mandya on Thursday morning to oppose the directive for Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu. Various outfits, including pro-Kannada organizations and farmers’ associations, staged an empty-pot protest at Sanjay Circle. The demonstration took place on August 13, 2026. Farmers highlighted their struggles by cooking horse gram, citing inadequate reservoir water for paddy and sugarcane. Protesters demanded that zero water be released to Tamil Nadu under any condition.

🏥 Chittoor Collector pushes for organ donation awareness

District Collector Sumit Kumar launched an awareness rally in Murakambattu, Chittoor, on Thursday. He highlighted the critical gap between organ demand and availability across the state. Currently, about 4,800 people in Andhra Pradesh are waiting for kidney transplants against only 350 annual procedures. The Collector urged people to embrace volunteerism and view donation as a major social contribution. Future focus will involve sustained campaigns and improving transplant centers. 🏥

✈️ IndiGo adds new flights from Vijayawada

IndiGo launched new flight services covering the Vijayawada-Varanasi-Kolkata sector on Thursday, August 13, 2026. This launch happened at the Vijayawada International Airport with political figures present. On the first day, 89 passengers arrived from Varanasi, while 129 passengers departed for Varanasi. Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu also announced future connections to Pune, Ahmedabad, and Cochin. These new routes will operate three days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. ✈️

🏛️ Kanna Lakshminarayana marks 50 years in politics

TDP MLA Kanna Lakshminarayana celebrated five decades of political life in Guntur on Thursday. Leaders from various parties honored him for his discipline and commitment to public service. His career includes six electoral victories as an MLA and three ministerial assignments in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Dignitaries praised his consistent work for people's welfare and role in political alliances. He is expected to continue his public service while maintaining good health. 👏

⚖️ NALSAR Grads Barred Over CJI Protest

The Bar Council Chairman has issued a ban against graduates of NALSAR until further notice. This action was taken against NALSAR graduates in Hyderabad. The ban affects all graduates and was announced recently. The measure stems from their protest concerning the Chief Justice of India. Further updates on the lifted ban are yet to be disclosed. ⚖️

🧐 CM slams party over voter list mess

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy voiced strong dissatisfaction regarding the party's management of the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of voter lists. This concern was raised during an emergency Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Zoom meeting held on Thursday night. A staggering 21 per cent of votes are at risk of deletion, with 73 lakh votes already deleted and 64 lakh flagged. The CM ordered district in-charge ministers to spend two days in the field to prepare constituency reports. He warned that failure to implement a foolproof strategy could lead to severe political losses. 🧐

📚 SVU gets high-tech scanner for old books

Sri Venkateswara University inaugurated a new advanced scanner to digitize ancient palm leaf manuscripts. This tech was installed at the university's Oriental Research Institute in Tirupati. The machine, costing ₹23 lakh, can scan up to 5,000 pages daily using a 152 megapixel camera. University Vice-Chancellor Tata Narasinga Rao called this a big step for preserving old knowledge. The facility was launched with funds provided to the varsity under RUSA 2.0.

🩺 Doctors testify in K.M. Basheer death case

Six doctors, including forensic surgeons, appeared in the Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Court IV regarding the death of journalist K.M. Basheer. The witnesses were present in a road accident involving IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman. Specific doctors like K. Valsala and Rakesh S. Kumar were among those who testified. This testimony is part of the ongoing trial proceedings in the case. The doctors are scheduled to be examined further on Friday. 🩺

😥 Kerala commission asks for report on student's death

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has officially requested a police report regarding the alleged suicide of a Class X student. This incident occurred at a private school in Thalassery, Kannur, prompting an investigation by the District Child Protection Officer. The student's family claimed that the head teacher verbally scolded him publicly over poor test scores, leading to severe mental distress. Commission chairperson K.V. Manoj Kumar and member B. Mohankumar visited the family to address the serious matter. The authorities are now awaiting the official police findings related to this event. 😥

🏛️ Chief Minister appoints daughter of Naveen Babu

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan officially handed over the appointment order to Niranjana N. Nair on Thursday, August 13, 2026. She is the daughter of the late former Kannur Additional District Magistrate, K. Naveen Babu. This appointment is for the Food Safety Officer position under the Samaswastha Employment Grant Scheme. Mr. Satheesan stated that the government has kept its promise in this matter. Naveen Babu was tragically found deceased at his official residence in Kannur on October 15, 2024.