Today’s News (18th Aug 2021, Wednesday)

Today’s News (18th Aug 2021, Wednesday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Afghanistan News

New Delhi’s Kabul call: India must not abandon Afghans, despite massive US blunder & Pakistani manoeuvres: Jayant Prasad, Former Indian envoy to Afghanistan

Taliban on Tuesday held its first press conference since it took over Afghanistan and said that they have emancipated the nation from foreigners after 20 years of struggle. Meanwhile, the Taliban announced a general amnesty, asking women to join the government, other officials to return to work.

'Bilateral, internal issue': Taliban 'clarifies' stand on Kashmir; India on guard; US Plane packed with 600 tense Afghans; flew to Qatar, where Afghans embarked; women can work, will honour their rights within Islamic law; 46 Afghan aircraft 'forced' to land by Uzbekistan's Air Force

Facebook designates Taliban as Terrorist Group, bans its content from platforms, says will block WhatsApp accounts linked to the group; Amid takeover, Germany's Angela Merkel calls it 'Terrible'; China, Russia establish ties; Afghan VP Saleh declares himself Caretaker President; reaches out to leaders for support; Chief of Afghan Central Bank flees Kabul, blames Ashraf Ghani for chaos

Afghan crisis: At cabinet security meet, PM Modi says bringing back stranded Indians top priority; 'All Afghans can apply, no religion-based priority': Amid Kabul mayhem, India's new e-Emergency Visa’; Taliban faces security threat as terror groups IS, JeM, LeT enter Kabul

IAF plane from Kabul lands at Jamnagar airbase; leaves for Delhi after refuelling

Faceoff: Netizens debate who all India should rehabilitate from Afghanistan

Japan closes embassy in Afghanistan

Kabul airport chaotic scenes are ‘shameful for the West’: German president Frank-Walter

Taliban takeover leaves Iran and Turkey fearing refugee influx

Kabul talks focus on Taliban-led government

UN says world will ‘scrutinise’ Taliban actions

Australia will not be able to evacuate as many Afghans as it wants: Scott Morrison

India very important in dealing with Afghan crisis, says UK

UK’s Johnson plans virtual G7 leaders meeting on Afghanistan

Moscow in ‘no rush’ to recognise Taliban govt

Uganda to take 2,000 Afghan refugees at US request

China warns Taliban against Afghanistan again becoming ‘haven’ for terror groups

Afghanistan crisis: Regional power shift comes as a worry

Afghanistan crisis: Striking visual shows over 600 Afghans packed inside US military plane to flee Taliban takeover

MHA introduces new e-visa type amid Afghanistan crisis; set to benefit Hindus, Sikhs stranded in Afghanistan

Military evacuation flights taking off from Kabul

Over 2,200 diplomats, other civilians so far evacuated on military flights out of Kabul

US Secretary of State Blinken, Jaishankar discuss Afghan situation

FM Jaishankar, Estonia counterpart Eva Maria, exchange views on Afghan crisis

Afghanistan crisis: India got past roadblocks, brought 200 home in 2 days

Second C-17 aircraft has taken off from Kabul with over 200 passengers

Relieved to be in Canada, an Afghan refugee weeps for Kabul

Afghans scramble to delete digital history, evade biometrics

“Bharat Mata ki Jai!”: Cheers fill the air as Kabul Embassy officials land in India after evacuation

Headlines

PM Modi chairs CCS meeting

Centre announces Rs. 1,300 crore package for Northeast to tackle pandemic

MEA Jaishankar arrives in New York, will Chair Signature Presidency events at UNSC, discuss Afghan situation

US eases travel advisory for India; all eyes on when it removes restrictions on travellers

Exhaustion and fever force Neeraj Chopra to leave welcome ceremony in Panipat midway

Done a good job’: Solicitor General defends extension of ED chief Mishra’s tenure

SC told old man that he can divorce his wife but cannot divorce his children and directed him to pay Rs 4 crore in settlement within six weeks

Indore: 75 Sindhi refugees from Pakistan granted Indian citizenship

After report submitted, Kumbh test SIT rejigged

Govt denies Pegasus charge, says SC can appoint expert panel to probe row

Tension along Border escalates again; Assam police fire on Mizoram civilians; rapprochement process is on

Kolkata’s Alipore Zoo to be revamped on Prague Zoo model; New animals to be brought in; built in 1875 about 146 years ago. At present, there are about 1,000 animals in the zoo

Aligarh or Harigarh? Zila Panchayat seeks to rename 'Lock City', wants airport named after Kalyan Singh

Dharmendra Pradhan agrees to introduce new skill development programmes at Jamia: VC

MP CM hails Vanisha Pathak (16) for stellar Class X result (99.8%) despite losing parents to Covid-19

IIT Guwahati researchers develop new memory architectures methods to boost processor speeds

Finance & Business News

LIC, EPFO may fund startups

Simple One electric scooter launched at Rs. 1.10 lakh, claims 203-km range

MG Astor, powered by AI, test mule spied ahead reveal on August 18

RBI lifts 8 months ban on HDFC Bank issuing credit cards after multiple issues linked to digital banking, cards and payments on the bank's platform in the last two years

Will implement single judge order against FRL-Reliance deal in absence of stay from SC: HC to Future Group

Centre announces Rs. 1,300 crore package for Northeast to tackle pandemic

In a first, business activity hits pre-Covid level: Nomura India Business Resumption Index (NIBRI)

Tata Power-DDL, Siemens Limited tie up for deploying 2 lakh smart electricity metres

ICRA: India's long steel makers to witness better margins and higher capacity utilisation in H2 of FY22

Report: Vodafone Idea's annualised cashflow shortfall estimated at $3.1BN without policy pill, rate hike

'Unicorns setting markets on fire': Reserve Bank of India says 2021 may be India's year of IPO

E-retail may beat modern trade by FY26: Report

KKR corp loans unit merges with InCred Fin

Government readies crypto bill, works on listing tax issue

Sebi cuts lock-in period for promoters to 18 months post-IPO

MyGlamm acquires BabyChakra to build parenting

Tariff hike key to receive sector: Voda Idea CEO Ravinder Takkar

Sensex jumps 210 points to end at new peak; Nifty tops 16,600

Closure of ICDs, CFSs to be concluded in 4 months: CBIC to customs officers

TCS market valuation races past Rs. 13 lakh crore mark

British Airways doubles India flights to 20 per week

India asks US court to reject Cairn’s $1.2 billion suit

Fuel pricing: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman blames UPA’s oil bonds

Official figures on oil bonds expose Modi govt’s falsehoods, alleges Congress

Pandemic has IFC pumping $1.7 billion into local companies, up 51%

Samsung launches DOST, skilling program for electronics sector; aims to train 50,000 youth

Hyd to add 5m sq ft of warehousing space by 2024 to cross 25m sq ft

HDFC’s green FDs to give better returns

Best Agrolife Q1 profit jumps more than 3 times to Rs. 26 crore

Value e-commerce in India to touch $40 billion by 2030: Report

In sudden step, SEBI bans futures contracts in chana

Tata Steel interested in acquiring Vizag-based RINL: CEO TV Narendran

Tariff hike key to revive sector: Voda Idea CEO Ravinder Takkar

Olympic medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu becomes brand ambassador for Amway’s Nutrilite range

Closure of ICDs, CFSs to be concluded in 4 months: CBIC to customs officers

Facebook, telcos to extend subsea cable to four countries

Call of Duty Vanguard gets confirmed, Activation drops short teaser

Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther arrives with ‘War for Wakanda’ expansion; to add Spider-Man to the super team

Iconic Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni seen in Zed Black Agarbatti's new TVC Campaign directed by Farah Khan

XUV700 pricing disruptive: Mahindra changing approach to reach customers

Cryptocurrency broker Bitpanda raises $263 million at $4.1 billion valuation

Corona Updates

World: 209,332,106; Active 17,315,300 (8.27%); Recovery 187,623,385 (89.63%); Vaccinated 4.76BN

India: 32,285,101; Active 374,144 (1.16%); Recovery 31,478,405 (97.50%); Vaccinated 550.52MN

India has reported 25,166 daily new Covid cases, the lowest in 154 days, and 437 deaths in last 24 hours.

India witnesses highest-ever single-day vaccination of 88.13 lakh doses

‘Delta variants can’t escape immunity’

New Zealand PM Ardern orders nationwide lockdown over one Covid-19 case

Sydney Covid-19 cases set to rise, hospitals under pressure

China’s Covid-19 flare-up appears to be waning

Pre-pandemic physiological data can predict mental well-being during Covid-19

UK Covid cases have fallen dramatically – but another wave is likely

Apprised Union health minister regarding Assam’s proactive Covid management, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Union health minister describes his meeting with Assam chief minister on Covid management as 'fruitful'

Telangana records 405 new Covid cases and 3 deaths; Assam records 741 new cases, 11 deaths; Jharkhand records 15 fresh cases and one death; Maharashtra reports 4,408 Covid new cases, 116 deaths; UP adds 27 Covid-19 cases, one death; Karnataka records 1298 new Covid-19 cases and 32 deaths; Kerala records 21,613 fresh cases and 127 more deaths, in the last 24 hours

India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 56 Crore (56,00,94,581) landmark milestone. Nearly 50 lakh (49,48,965) vaccine doses have been administered today, as per the 7 pm provisional report, says ministry of health and family welfare (ANI)

Fully vaccinated person cannot be re-vaccinated, Centre tells Kerala HC

UK lifts ‘all but essential' travel advice for India as Covid pressure eases

UK regulator approves Moderna jab for children aged 12-17

Pfizer and BioNTech announce data submission to US FDA to support Covid booster shot

In its preparation for presumed COVID-19 third wave, Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked officials to complete the recruitment of doctors in govt hospitals for PHCs to CHCs & teaching hospitals. The CM reiterated that the process should be completed within 90 days, says CMO, reports ANI

CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting on the prevailing COVID situation& vaccination and directed the officials to take measures to implement strict COVID protocols in schools. CM said to make arrangements for testing of symptomatic students in schools, says Andhra Pradesh CMO (ANI)

NYC begins requiring proof of vaccination at eateries, gyms

ICMR/DHR supports the manufacturers to export surplus quantities of the Covid-19 diagnostic kits after meeting the in-country demands, says ICMR, reports ANI

Chandigarh: Night curfew is fully withdrawn from the UT

Hong Kong lengthens quarantines for 16 countries

State News

A convicted terrorist, hanged for Parliament attack, had alleged in 2004 that Davinder Singh was helping terrorist. In Jan 2020, Singh was arrested with two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists and one over-ground worker of the group in his car. The question now is, what was Singh up to between then and now?

Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) decides to hold full board meet in Hyderabad on Aug 27

Telangana: GWMC plants saplings on cycle tracks in Warangal

Telangana: Penalty imposed on home foods shop owner for using banned plastic in Siddipet

Deserted, Muslim women in Hyderabad fight for allowance

BJP to collect application for Dalit Bandhu

Whether or not India recognises Taliban, centre must hold talks with Taliban, says Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi

A counterfeiter from Cameroon and his partner in crime from Suryapet were arrested by Abdullapurmet police after a tip-off, with 920 fake notes of Rs. 2,000, from the duo after they arrived in city from Bengaluru

50 triple talaq cases reported in Hyderabad since passing of Muslim Women Act in 2019

Shariah panchayats: Providing a new route to reconciliation across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

Taking the ‘wage theft’ issue further, Indians who lost jobs in the Gulf in the wake of the pandemic are now proceeding legally against their employers to get end-of-service benefits

Telangana fares better in providing kids access to digital devices

Only 55% parents in Telangana a willing to send kids to school, says survey

Shilpa Shetty Kundra back on 'Super Dancer' sets after husband Raj Kundra's arrest in pornography case, resumes shoot

KRK claims 'Kangana Ranaut is dating Egyptian guy Imran', deletes tweet later; actress' lawyer warns of legal action

Tragic! Popular VJ and Tamil actor Ananda Kannan passes away at 48, celebs mourn the loss

Congress plans Dandora in Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao’s turf Gajwel

Guntur: Jealous lover brutally stabs girl to death in full public view

Kuwait News

No permits for 60s decision hasty… experience vital for future Kuwait

Challenges ahead as people start returning, kids go back to schools

Limit spending to at least 10%

Postponement of loan instalments for additional 6 months a possibility

More house price, more loan

Subsidies cut, hike in petrol prices mulled in plan to increase revenues

Kuwait reports two deaths, 256 new infections

Kuwait takes down statue of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty, from a shop after citizens complain

The Minister of Health inspected the Ahmadi region and visited Al-Adan hospital to see the progress of work

Audit Bureau warns of possible electricity shortage in 2022 and 2023

Sales of travel tickets in July amounted to 22 million dinars

Kuwait is gravely concerned over Afghanistan situation

Expat oil employees stranded abroad on leave without pay

Kuwait gains foothold in Asian Heavy Crude markets

The Kuwait Minister of Interior inspector the preparations of the NCO and personnel training institute to receive the new batch

Algeria recives two shipments of Kuwaiti aid to support it in addressing forest fires

The Ministry of Interior confirms the security establishment’s keenness to develop the level of its sons and refine them with the latest science and security systems in all fields

Iraqi Kurdistan praises Kuwait’s assistance to people with special needs

The Kuwait Youth Authority honours the winners and participants of the Youth Creativity League competitions and stresses its importance in developing their skills and hobbies

The inauguration of an alternative energy institute for Syrian students in Turkey, funded and supervised by the International Islamic Charitable Organisation

The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister receives a call from his counterpart in the United States to discuss the latest developments in the Afghan arena

International News

Options when to call snap election are narrowing: Japan PM

Lebanon is collapsing under a corruption-fuelled crisis, currency down 90%; central bank not finance fuel imports at subsidised exchange rates

A prototype military transport plane crashed while performing a test flight outside Moscow; 3 feared dead

Flood knocks down German bridge, sweeps people away

Rohingya to give first testimony in push for Myanmar army probe

Japan’s ‘father of Sudoku’ Maki Kaji, dead at 69

Thai protester comatose with bullet lodged in head after clashes

French firefighters battle wildfire in southern region

CDC warns against travel to Turkey amid Covid, eases India advisory

Sports News

IPL 2021: Concluding part of the league in UAE likely to see return of crowds

Social media frenzy as teams get ready for IPL in Dubai

Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi available for UAE leg of IPL 2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad

ICC T20 World Cup 2021: India to face Pakistan on Oct 24

New Zealand players cleared for IPL: NZC announces different squads for sub-continent tour and T20 World Cup

After Olympics, Mirabai Chanu eyes Asian Games medal

Premier Handball League announces Garvit Gujarat as the first franchise team of the league

We now known the power of sports science: IOA vice-president Sudhanshu Mittal

Lord’s Test: England were stupid with their tactics, India were brilliant, says Geoffrey Boycott

India vs. England: Cricketing world lauds India’s resilience and grit during Lord’s Test win

Indian pace attack makes life easy for their batsmen: Manoj Prabhakar

How bowling coach Arun had to fight to introduce workload management

In this England team, so far only Joe Root looked like scoring a century: Sachin Tendulkar

India vs. England: To win at Lord’s is something very special, says Ravi Shastri

India vs. England: Really proud of how we have played first two Tests, says Cheteshwar Pujara

Star para-javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia says he was on the verge of quitting in 2013

AFI inks cooperation agreement with Athletics Federation of Iran

Mental freshness helped Neeraj Chopra win Olympic gold, says Coach Klaus Bartonietz

Kenya’s golden region seeks new champions after steeplechase setback

Future of hockey in India is bright: Manpreet Singh

Hero’s welcome for members of Indian Hockey Teams in Odisha