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The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, passed by Parliament, is applicable only to major minerals and will not affect states’ existing powers over minor minerals, Union Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday in a bid to calm states’ concerns. Reddy said the Centre was not seeking to take away the rights of states through the Bill, but wanted to ensure that differences in levies did not create distortions in the cost of major minerals across the country.

As India prepares for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting August 15, the team management faces critical decisions regarding their playing XI to bolster their World Test Championship 2027 final aspirations. IMAGE: Sarfaraz Khan was called in as replacement for an injured Sai Sudharsan, a Test recall that came after nearly 24 months. India will likely field three spinners in the opening Test against Sri Lanka.

An Indian-origin man has pleaded guilty in a federal court in New Jersey to accessing child sexual exploitation material involving a prepubescent minor, the US department of justice said in a statement. Abhishek Vijaykumar, a resident of Hasbrouck Heights in New Jersey, knowingly accessed the illicit material in March 2024, it said. Investigators found more than 200 images, including one depicting the sexual abuse of a three-year-old child by an adult male, while reviewing his electronic devices.

IMAGE: Water sports athletes carrying the Tiranga take part in a water Tiranga rally led by Kashmir's 'Water Queen' Bilquis Mir at Pokribal lake in Srinagar on Thursday, August 13, 2026, here and below. Water sports athletes on Thursday took part in the first-ever underwater Tiranga rally at Pokribal lake in Srinagar, ahead of the 80th Independence Day celebrations.

A tragic tunnel collapse at a hydroelectric project site in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district has resulted in six fatalities and 14 injuries, prompting extensive multi-agency rescue operations for trapped workers. IMAGE: Operation underway to rescue trapped workers after a sudden inflow of debris and water into THDC's under-construction tunnel in the Mayapur-Pipalkoti area, in Chamoli on Thursday.

"We all at the university have been suffering due to such appointments driven by corruption and RSS-oriented political affiliations. As we exposed earlier this year, corruption under the Vice-Chancellor is all-round. From non-teaching staff recruitment to security guard contracts, corruption has become the default nature of the administration," JNUSU alleged in its statement.

Discover how two ancient temples in Madhya Pradesh, the Pashupatinath Temple and Bade Ganesh Temple, uniquely celebrate India's Independence Day on Shravan Krishna Chaturdashi, aligning with the Hindu calendar's historical date of freedom. IMAGE: A vendor sells tricolour flags at the roadside ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, in New Delhi on Thursday.

LIVE Fri, 14 August 2026 Refresh 00:49 JNUSU demands removal of Vice-Chancellor Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) strongly condemned the corruption in the recruitment process of JNU, which has been alleged in a report by an independent media forum.We all at the university have been suffering due to such appointments driven by corruption and RSS-oriented...

A new Nielsen report reveals a significant surge in women's sports viewership and advertising spend in the US during the first half of 2026, highlighting a cultural re-alignment and growing commercial interest. IMAGE: Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) handles the ball against Portland Fire forward Emily Engstler (21) during the first half during a WNBA match on Wednesday, August 12 at Moda Center.

India's Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded with unprecedented low productivity, as persistent disruptions and vociferous protests from the Opposition significantly curtailed legislative debates and business in both Houses. IMAGE: Parliament in session. The Monsoon Session of Parliament recorded multi-year low productivity, with Lok Sabha at 19% and Rajya Sabha at 39% business.