1.Renowned author Gurcharan Das was Saturday awarded the prestigious Lifetime Libertarian Award for his lasting contribution to the advancement of liberty, becoming the first Indian writer to receive the honour.

2.A vessel owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned ADNOC oil and gas company was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Emirati authorities said.

3.Government of Odisha, has launched a 15‑day state‑wide Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign titled “Aainagata Safai Surakhsita Safai” (Legal Cleaning, Safe Cleaning) across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) from 7 to 21 August 2026.

4.The Odisha government has created 152 new posts across 10 government medical colleges and hospitals.

5.Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi concluded a high-octane two-day industrial outreach in Delhi-NCR, securing investment proposals worth a massive Rs 66,392 crore with the potential to generate 54,135 employment opportunities for the people of Odisha.

6.The Odisha government has decided to establish gaushalas (cow shelters) along national highways to curb accidents caused by stray animals and improve road safety.

7.Police in Jagatsinghpur district busted a suspected sex racket operating from a house near Rahama village under Tirtol police station limits on Saturday. 

8.Chennai: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led meeting of Tamil Nadu MPs belonging to alliance and friendly parties Saturday decided to oppose in total the proposed delimitation exercise of the union government.

9.Iran's politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States "corrects its behaviour,"

10.The US Senate passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that does not name India but could expose it and other major buyers of Russian energy to tariffs of up to 100 per cent. 

11. The Intelligence agencies have issued a high alert for Punjab ahead of Independence Day August 15. The agencies say that pro-Khalistan elements would look to carry out an attack on that day.

12.Odisha government has asked district collectors to immediately deploy teachers in elementary schools for compliance with the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and CompulsoryEducation Act , 2009.

13. A rare melanistic tigress was found dead in Similipal National Park in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, an official said Saturday

 14.Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta High Court order denying him permission to travel abroad for eye treatment

15.The IMD Saturday forecast heavy rainfall in Odisha in the next five days as a low pressure has formed in the Bay of Bengal.