News Digest (23rd Aug 2021, Monday)
- Details
- Category: News in Brief
- Published: Monday, 23 August 2021 04:10
News Digest (23rd Aug 2021, Monday)
by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar
Headlines
Paralympics: 54 athletes from India, country's biggest-ever contingent, will be competing in 9 sports disciplines including archery, athletics (Track and Field), badminton, swimming, weightlifting
Tokyo Paralympics: Want to win 3rd gold medal for India, says javelin legend Devendra Jhajharia; Sarah Storey aims to become Britain's most successful Paralympian
Tribal to Global: Maharashtra Teacher Khurshid Sheikh Awarded for introducing jungle batches, taking education to remotest Hamlets
IIT Delhi Enactus Team wins National Competition; Now to represent India at World Cup in Oct 2021
India airlifts 392 from Afghanistan amidst reports of Pakistani presence among Taliban
2016 AJ193: Speeding at 94,000 Kmph, Asteroid bigger than Burj Khalifa to pass by Earth; at this speed, asteroid is likely to pass within 3,427,903 km of Earth; will be the asteroid’s closest approach to planet Earth for at least the next 65 years
Earthquake of 4.1 magnitude recorded in Gujarat's Kutch; epicentre located near Dholavira; no casualty
Indian-origin South African people get threats, go into panic mode
Three Service Chiefs, course-mates (from the 56th course of the NDA, which is rare and unique), visit Alma Mater NDA in Pune
Afghanistan crisis shows why CAA is needed: Hardeep Singh Puri
Petrol, diesel prices cut by 20 paise
Accused a state asset, is talented: HC bail for student in IIT rape case
Punjab schools named after Olympics hockey heroes
Farmers protest in Punjab Jalandhar hits train movement, road traffic for 2nd day; 69 trains cancelled, 54 diverted or short-terminated
Bullet Train to run between New Delhi and Ayodhya at 350km/hr speed; aerial survey done; NHSRC waits for NOCs from the state Govt to begin the work
One Army Jawan dies, others suffer injuries while training under 'Severe' weather near Pathankot
Admitted children forced to sit in heat for event (crowd mobilisation) in Madhya Pradesh Hospital in Vidisha; forcibly taken to the venue by the guards and nurses; even District Collector was present
Caste census must be done at least once in a while country, says Nitish Kumar ahead of his meeting with PM Narendra Modi
Stick to giving advice: Amarinder slams two of Sidhu’s advisors over ‘atrocious’ comments
Madhya Pradesh: 10 held in Ujjain for raising pro-Pakistan slogans, NSA invoked against 4
Mizoram bridge on Assamese soil, alleges Assam; Mizoram books Assam Police on charges of theft
Two Indian Naval Ships arrive in Guam to take part in Malabar Exercise; started in 1992 as a bilateral drill b/w Indian & US Navy
Both factions of Hurriyat Conference likely to be banned under UAPA; money collected for funding MBBS students being used for funding terror organisations in the union territory.
PM's "Big Fan" Fahim Nazir Shah walking from Srinagar to Delhi (815KM) in hopes of meeting him
Haryana Minister Anil Vij admitted to Chandigarh's PGIMER as his oxygen levels drop; suspects that high altitude during the chopper ride could be the reason
Sri Lankan Navy pelt Indian fishing boats with stones, damage 60 of them; damaged fishing nets in 25 boats while involved in fishing near Katchatheevu
Hindu American Foundation asks universities to distance themselves from ‘Hindu-phobic’ conference
60 Afghans, including 23 Hindus and Sikhs, among 400 airlifted by Indian evacuation
Now, a portal to help Kashmiri migrants lodge property plaints
Probe panel’s clean chit to IPS officer accused of harassment in UP
Financial & Business News
I-T portal glitch: Finance Ministry summons Infosys CEO Salil Parekh
Union Minister Raosaheb Danve on Sunday said that the Railways has suffered losses to the tune of Rs. 36,000 crore during the coronavirus pandemic, and added that goods trains were the real revenue generators for the national transporter.
Automotive supplier Faurecia acquired 60% stake in Hella; will create a global tech leader covering both a broad customer portfolio and significant future trends in automotive sector
Notification on use of coal with higher ash content based on technical study: Union Govt to NGT
Space wars: Inmarsat downplays potential rivalry from OneWeb and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in India
East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) offers 15% rebate on 3-year general trade license
Corona Updates
World: 212,554,454; Active 17,953,999 (8.45%); Recovery 190,156,557 (89.46%); Vaccinated 4.93BN
India: 32,448,969; Active 341,082 (1.05%); Recovery 31,673,103 (97.61%); Vaccinated 576.37MN
China reports no new local Covid-19 cases for first time since July
India reported just over 2.2 lakh fresh cases in the week (August 16-22), down from 2,55,819 in the previous seven days. This was the first double-digit fall in weekly cases since the June 28-July 4 week, when the number had dipped by 11.4%
India sees 13.6% dip in weekly Covid cases, sharpest fall in 2 months
Third wave looming: The report of the committee, set up on the directions of the home ministry, has noted that “paediatric facilities - doctors, staff, equipment like ventilators, ambulances, etc. are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected”. The report has been submitted to the PMO.
3rd wave looming, may imperil kids, PMO told
Goa extends curfew till Aug 30
India reports 30,948 new Covid-19 cases with 403 deaths, in the last 24 hours
27 new cases in Chhattisgarh, one death; Punjab reports 41 new Covid cases; Assam records 336 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths; West Bengal records 561 fresh Covid cases, 8 deaths; Gujarat reports 15 new cases, no deaths; MP sees 5 Covid-19 cases; Maharashtra records 4,141 new cases and 145 deaths; Tamil Nadu records 1,630 fresh Covid-19 cases and 23 deaths; Karnataka records 1,189 new Covid-19 cases and 22 deaths; in the last 24 hours; Kerala records 10,402 new Covid-19 cases and 66 deaths; Andhra Pradesh records 1,085 new Covid-19 cases and 8 deaths; Delhi reports 56 Covid recoveries; Telangana: 364 new Covid cases, 2 deaths reports ANI
France records 44 more Coronavirus deaths in hospitals over last 24 hours: Reuters
Pakistan reports 3,842 new Covid-19 cases, 75 deaths
N. Korea develops its own PCR equipment for Covid tests
US administers 362.7 million doses of Covid vaccines: CDC
Japan's private-sector activity hit by Covid surge
Taiwan will begin administering its first domestically developed Covid-19 vaccines on Monday
Stung by 2nd Covid wave, Niti Aayog says 2 Lakh ICU beds must be readied by Sept, predicts 23% hospitalisation
Over 52.23 thousand Covid vaccine doses administered in the last 24 hours in India, taking the total vaccination coverage to 58.14 crore so far.
Tamil Nadu: A group of transgenders today conducted a drive to spread awareness about the importance of following road safety norms and Covid appropriate behaviour in Coimbatore
On Onam, Kerala records over 17,000 Covid-19 cases with 17.73% Test Positivity rate
Covaxin for children may get DCGI nod before end of trial period; DGCI will give approvals in a phased manner
In a first in country, Tamil Nadu to offer round-the-clock vaccination services at Govt colleges, District HQ hospitals
UK rolls out New Antibody Test Programme for Covid-19 Positives; will make free home antibody tests available for up to 8,000 Covid-positive people a day
UAE flights: Passengers carrying passports issued by India, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka or Uganda can enter Dubai visas, if they have not entered or been to these countries in the last 14 days
AIIMS Director: India does not have enough data on need for 3rd Covid-19 vaccine shot, also known as a booster shot, to increase protection
Tamil Nadu's New Covid Rules: Schools/Colleges to begin from Sep 1 on rotational basis, Relaxations for cinema halls, beaches too; Maha CM Uddav warns people that pandemic is not over yet
Zydus Cadila MD: Expect rollout of Covid vaccine for children aged 12 & above by mid-Sep: more clarity on pricing by next week
Oman free of curfew; lockdown removed from today
Science can’t keep up with virus, creating worry for vaccinated
FDA issues ‘you are not a cow’ warning after people use livestock drug for Covid
State News
Door-to-door survey and special vaccination drive in Greater Hyderabad, Secunderabad Cantonment from Monday to ensure 100 per cent Covid vaccination
Congress questions Telangana CM KCR’s silence over inquiry reports against Eatala Rajender of BJP
Telangana: Task cut out for parties, Eatala to keep up byelection tempo
Union minister Kishan Reddy should tell people about his contribution to Secunderabad constituency: Telangana Congress
2 Maoists surrender before Telangana police
Police nab five for attacking, snatching phone from senior
Hyderabad: Blasting boulders & rocks causes irreversible change, say experts
Telangana taps Centre’s Atma Nirbhar funds for agriculture projects to enhance warehousing capacity
Telangana: People waiting to end TRS rule, says Union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy
Telangana: Two constables contract Covid following CM K Chandrasekhar Rao public meeting
Superstar Mahesh Babu has unveiled the title of Meher Ramesh’s film with Megastar Chiranjeevi on the latter’s birthday – Bholaa Shankar.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services to Tamil Nadu will resume from tomorrow. Around 250 buses will be operated to different destinations, says KSRTC (ANI)
Telangana: Woman gives birth to quadruplets in Karimnagar
Health worker gets memo for dancing on duty
Ram Gopal Varma's video dancing with a girl goes viral on social media, fans praise his dancing skills but RGV says 'it's not me'
Toddler dies as abandoned building collapses in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad: Drug peddler held with 85 kg ganja
Rain to lose intensity from today, temperature to rise slightly in Delhi
37.27% voter turnout in Delhi Gurdwara body polls
East Delhi Municipal Corporation gives new life to old tyres
E-waste disposal gets boost as Delhi Corporation sites, toll-free numbers find takers
Kuwait News
Amir, Iraqi PM discuss trade
Under the emir’s directives, the State of Kuwait approves the foreign transit of 5,000 Afghans who will be evacuated from Afghanistan on their way to United States
The Speaker of the National Assembly receives the Iraqi Prime Minister
His Highness the Prime Minister holds a session of official talks with the Iraqi Prime Minister and holds a luncheon in his honour
His Highness the Amir receives in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister of Iraq and the meeting reviews the bilateral relationship between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi says that during his meetings and meetings with the Kuwaiti officials, he affirmed his country’s respect for and implementation of international resolutions, as well as commitment to relations based on common interests between the two countries
* Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi affirms his country’s keenness to overcome all difficulties facing Kuwaiti investments by enacting legislation and fighting corruption and administrative bureaucracy to attract the Kuwait investor*
Courts revoke nationality of 54 Kuwaiti citizens
Youth authority: The Facilities Management Project aims to provide Kuwaiti youth with skills and capabilities qualified for the labour market
Ministry of Electricity and Water and Renewal Energy employs 93.3% of Kuwaitis in power, distillation plants
The Kuwait Oil Tankers Company (KOTC) Fleet only alternative to export Kuwaiti Crude Oil and Petroleum products during crisis
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation to finalize mechanism of operating Direct Flights to 6 destinations
Kuwait is on the UAE Green List in the latest update, starting today
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) looking to transfer Ahmadi City management to the State, in a bid to ease the burdens on the management of Kuwait Oil Company
MoH determined to acquire herd immunity faster than expected
Amusement parks and kids recreational centres to reopen next month
KD 900 to hire Indian Domestic workers an exaggerated cost: Indian Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Sibi George
Up to 40,000 drug addicts of different nationalities in Kuwait
Seventh batch of Pakistan medical staff to arrive soon to support the national medical teams in dealing with the corona pandemic
85% applications of vaccination exemption rejected
Funds scarce to disburse rewards for Covid-19 frontliners at once
Fingerprinting, regular working hours in ministries and government agencies resume
Cooperative societies offer discounted PCR Test fees
Screams foil rape attempt on an Ukrainian woman
Abolish max limit for arrivals – airlines may shut shop
A Kuwaiti plane transports the injured in a fuel tank explosion in Akkar, north Lebanon, to Kuwait for treatment
Kuwaiti Higher Education announces the date of the two plans for external missions for the English high school campaign and vacancies for internal missions
Sports Authority: Panel discussions and working sessions with clubs and federations next September to explore their views on developing sports and including them in the authority’s strategy (2021-2026)
Kuwait reports 167 new Covid-19 cases, one dead
Bahrain MoH: 97 new cases of Corona virus were recorded
The US dollar stabilizes against the dinar at 0.301 and the euro
I assured Kuwaiti officials of my country’s respect for international resolutions, their implementation and commitment to relations based on common interests: Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi
The Ministry of Higher Education approves the increase in the seats of students applying to Kuwait University for the academic year 2021-2022
Afghanistan News
Afghan: Panjshir on Taliban target, ‘Hundreds’ of fighters out to capture valley of resistance; clad in US tactical gear, Taliban 'Mock US' with WWII Photo of troops raising Flag at Iwo Jima; As China, Pak weigh recognising Taliban, experts warn long-term losses, US ire; Britain to push for sanctions on Taliban at G7 meeting
Second batch of 146 Indian evacuees from Kabul are being repatriated via Doha, Embassy in Qatar says; talks between Taliban, Panjshir resistance break down as Afghans await formation of new Govt
Afghan: As Kabul turmoil worsens, Taliban's 'Conciliatory' PR offensive is faltering; Some Americans, Afghans being beaten up by Taliban on way to Airport says report; ISI-Taliban nexus confirmed, Chief Met Insurgents in Kandahar
EU Chief says situation at Kabul Airport 'Very difficult; Taliban leaders Baradar, Haqqani, 133 others may be exempted from UN's sanctions list as 'Part of US deal; US forces in control of Kabul airport allow India to operate two flights daily for evacuation
Taliban blame US for airport chaos as Afghans face ‘impossible’ race to flee
Afghan resistance ready for conflict but prefers negotiations
President Joe Biden said Sunday the U.S.-led evacuation of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others from the Kabul airport picked up speed this weekend, although it remains vulnerable to threats posed by the Islamic State extremist group.
Biden says US will support sanctions against the Taliban, depending on the context.
Taliban have been cooperative: Biden
Biden says US has unwavering commitment to bring Americans and vulnerable Afghans to safety.
Security environment in Afghanistan is changing rapidly, under no illusions about threat from ISIS-K: Biden
US President says activated use of commercial aircraft to ferry evacuees should have no effect on commercial air traffic
Biden says there's no reason to not maintain the high tempo of evacuations; He says the US is working to evacuate Afghan partners and citizens of other allies as well
As Biden says US has been making continued progress on Afghanistan evacuations, he says efforts to move Americans in Afghanistan to airport is on
US President Biden says first priority is getting Americans out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible
President Biden begins an update on the Afghanistan evacuation, speaking from the Roosevelt Room, but begins with brief comments on the tropical storm hitting New England.
Many Afghans who worked with NATO forces fear reprisals from the Taliban, who seized the capital Kabul a week ago
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the subject of relocating Afghan interpreters came up during meetings he held in Kuwait.
*The US military says an Afghan woman gave birth aboard an Air Force C-17 that flew from the Middle East to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. *
G7 to discuss Afghanistan on Tuesday, says U.K. PM Boris Johnson
China will not get drawn into serious security role in Afghanistan
Fourth evacuation from Kabul since 1992, but in different international climate
US orders 6 commercial airlines to help transport Afghan evacuees
Situation at Kabul airport 'incredibly volatile': Blinken
Burned down my house: Afghan evacuees recount harrowing Taliban experience
Afghan police chief Haji Mullah Achakzai, who headed the police in Badghis province in Herat, was brutally executed by the Taliban. He was blindfolded and kneeled before the armed Taliban men. They fired several bullets till his lifeless body flops onto the ground. They didn't stop there and fired few more rounds of bullets on his lifeless body.
Pentagon commandeers commercial jets for airlift amid continuing crisis in Kabul
Speaking at the White House, Biden said 11,000 people had been airlifted from Kabul in a 36-hour period this weekend, but he did not provide details. The number appeared to include flights by charter and non-U.S. military aircraft as well as the U.S. Air Force C-17 and C-130 transport planes that have been flying daily from the capital. Tens of thousands of people remain to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and U.S. bureaucracy hurdles
Since August 14, the US has evacuated & facilitated the evacuation of approximately 30,300 people on military & coalition flights. Since the end of July, we have relocated approximately 35,500 people: White House Official
The US President on Sunday also said he is in discussions with his military officials regarding the extension of the evacuation mission in Afghanistan, beyond the August 31 deadline.
Discussions are going on among us & the military about extending (Aug 31 evacuation deadline), our hope is, we don't have to extend. But there going to be a discussion, I suspect on how far along we're in the process: US President Joe Biden said during an address from White House
There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain & loss and the heartbreaking images you see, it’s just a fact. My heart aches for those people you see. At the end of the day, if we didn't leave Afghanistan now, when would we?: US President Joe Biden
We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation & target innocent Afghans or American troops. We’re maintaining constant vigilance to monitor & disrupt threats from any source, including ISIS & the Afghan affiliate known as ISIS-K: US President Joe Biden
Over 260 Afghan Sikhs in Kabul Gurdwara need help in evacuation, says US Sikh body
Eight US military flights - 7 C-17s and 1 C-130 - evacuated approximately 1,700 passengers from Hamid Karzai International Airport. In addition, 39 coalition aircraft took off with approximately 3,400 passengers: White House Official
International News
Storm Henri upgraded to Hurricane as it approaches US Coast; maximum sustained winds increased to near 75 mph (120 kph) with higher gusts; Hurricane Grace lash eastern Mexico, power outages, floods; New York City on alert
China says its Zhurong Mars rover will continue exploring Utopia Planitia where it landed on May 14 after completing the initial 90-day program
Researchers: Certain microbial communities in icy-cold waters off coast of Labrador, Canada possess ability to degrade diesel & crude oil; can help mitigate the dangers of oil spills in the region
Myanmar arrests 2 more local journalists as media crackdown since a February 1 coup
Sri Lankan Elephants to now get Biometric IDs, owners can't 'Drink and Ride; complaint of ill treatment and cruelty are widespread
Saudi Arabia: Resident expats can now own one property in the Kingdom
Tropical Storm Henri packing strong winds and heavy rain made landfall in Rhode Island on east coast of US; weakened to a ‘tropical storm’
Haiti says toll from Aug magnitude 7.2 earthquake has grown to 2,207, with 344 people still missing
At least 21 dead and 50 missing in floods in Tennessee
The US President meets with state governors and advisers to deal with the aftermath of Hurrican Henry
The Coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen intercepts a booby-trapped plane targeting Khamis Mushait, southern Saudi Arabia
Sports News
Long jumper Shaili Singh misses gold by 1 cm, settles for silver in U-20 World Athletics Championship
U20 World Athletics Champ: Shaili Singh won silver with a best long jump of 6.59m; India finishes with 3 Medals; Namibian sprinter runs 100m in incredible 9.86s in Women's Relay Event
World Athletics U20 Champ: Sasha Zhoya breaks 110m Hurdles World Record for 2nd time in 2 days
Discus thrower Vinod Kumar’s classification in F52 category raises hopes of medal
Fighting odds, 3 para-athletes from Delhi hope to make India proud at Tokyo games
Oval Invincibles romp to the first Hundred women’s title
Superhuman effort required from England: Sunil Gavaskar
Dravid’s NCA now has ‘corporate class’ for new coaches tackling off-field issues
England’s Jos Butler might skip Ashes series in Australia
India vs. England: Indian team arrives at Headingley Stadium ahead of third Test
India vs. England: Jasprit Bumrah channelised his anger in the right way, says Zaheer Khan
Renault gifted wrestlers Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia their SUV Kiger after their medal-winning performances at the Tokyo Olympics
A positive tie decides the confrontation between Real Madrid and Levante in the second round of the Spanish League
EPL: Kane makes first appearance as Alli earns Spurs a win at Wolves
EPL: Sloppy Manchester United held to 1-1 draw at impressive Southampton
Returning hero Lukaku sets Chelsea on way to 2-0 win at Arsenal
Premier League could become like rugby with approach to fouls: Solskjaer
Marcus Rashford back at United’s training base after shoulder surgery