News in Brief

News Digest(30th Aug 2021, Monday)

News Digest(30th Aug 2021, Monday)

                                                                                                                                                                                                    by Annadatha V Murali Manohar

Headlines

Tokyo Paralympics: Vinod Kumar’s discus throw bronze on hold, after a protest over his disability classification

Nishad Kumar wins silver in men’s high jump in Paralympics

Paddler Bhavinaben Patel wins historic silver at Tokyo Paralympics

Bhavinaben Patel wants to meet Sachin Tendulkar and show her silver medal

ISRO tests Gaganyaan Orbital Module's System Demonstration Model; was conducted for a duration of 450 seconds at IPRC in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu

UP: Muslim dosa seller runs stall with Hindu name in Mathura, locals vandalise, call it 'economic jihad’

Condemnable, action will be taken’: Haryana Deputy CM on Karnal SDM’s ‘Crack Farmers’ heads’ remark

Illegal homes of 4 accused in Madhya Pradesh tribal man killing case demolished amid an outcry over the shocking incident

Additional Sessions Judge: Investigation in Delhi riots "Very Poor" in number of cases; investigating officers of the riot case have not been briefing the prosecutors for arguments on charges

A 23-year-old woman who was allegedly gangraped at Chamundi Hills, left the city with her family, without recording her statement with the police

Rainfall in August deficient by 26% so far, with shortfalls in two successive months triggering fear of a below normal monsoon in 2021

Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik has once again backed farmers protesting the three farm laws and criticised the ruling BJP, demand Haryana CM Khattar

Plea in Supreme Court seeking exemption for Lawyers from wearing black coats, gowns during summer

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot discharged following angioplasty at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital in Jaipur

Will go on hunger strike if temples are not reopened in 2 weeks: Anna Hazare

Chidambarm slams ICHR for omitting Nehru’s photo from India’s Independence

Lathicharge on farmers: Haryana deputy CM calls for action against IAS officer, questions farmer leaders

Farmers block toll plaza, chaos reigns on Panchkula roads

Haryana: No apology or statement to farmers by JJP this time

Farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait likens Karnal SDM to Taliban commander

PM Modi emphasises on importance of skill development

Finance & Business News

Jan Dhan accounts hit 43 crore in 7 years, deposits 1.46 lakh crore

Reliance deal: Future Retail in SC against HC orders

Amid rising power demand, coal stock at 57 plants ‘critical’

FDi equity inflows up 168% to $17.57 billion during April-June 2021-22

After Reliance Jio, Google in talks to invest big in Airtel

Airtel builds war chest: Announces mega Rs. 21,000 crore rights issue

RBI may launch e-currency by December

Government reviews consumer protection rules for e-commerce

China targets US IPOs, use of cloud, algorithms

China plans to ban overseas IPOs for tech firms with data security risks: Report

Apple loosens app store payment rules in lawsuit settlement

Kotak MF can’t offer fresh FMPs for 6 months: Sebi

China spells out how excessive ‘996’ work culture is illegal

Madras high court’s 5-year motor cover order to hike car costs

Indian Railways to manufacture 100 Vande Bharat trains by 2024

Airtel board approves up to Rs. 21,000 crore rights issue

Ez4EV to soon launch on-demand mobile charging stations (like mobile ATMs) for electric vehicles

Indian Motorcycle expects to garner 25-30% share in India's premium motorcycle segment; suffered a "washout" in 2020

Coal stock at 57 plants critical, as power demand surges; Power Ministry says Regulation of coal supply to power plants to free up 1.77 lakh tonnes

8 of top 10 companies add ₹1.9 lakh crore in m-cap in past week; HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, SBI and Wipro, TCS & Reliance

SpaceX launched a shipment of ants, avocados and a human-sized robotic arm through a recycled Falcon rocket to the ISS

Dr Reddy's, Zydus Pharma recall products in US market - "Failed Tablet/Capsule Specification: Some tablets are shaved; presence of foreign tablets/ capsules

Bharti Airtel plans to raise up to ₹ 21,000 crore via a sale of shares to existing shareholders; builds a war chest to prepare for the launch of 5G services

Tata Steel to invest Rs 8,000 cr in capex on India operations during FY22; towards completion of the expansion of Kalinganagar plant; expansion of mining operations and recycling business

Zerodha offers a month's salary, ₹10 lakh lucky draw to staff on meeting health goals

Kia workers accept wage deal without strike for the first time in a decade amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic

Freshworks files for US IPO, CEO cites Rajinikanth as 'mentor; also weighing a merger with SPAC or further capital infusion by private investors

Govt extends deadline for various tax compliances, Vivad se Vishwas payments

Corona Updates

World: 217,174,738; Active 18,598,158 (8.56%); Recovery 194,062,382 (89.36%); Vaccinated 5.21BN

India: 32,737,569; Active 383,213 (1.17%); Recovery 31,915,969 (97.49%); Vaccinated 625.86MN

Covid-19 tests reports to be soon linked to CoWIN App to help ease foreign travel; help travellers prove they have undergone authentic tests certified by Govt

Government extends suspension on international scheduled commercial passenger flights to and from India till 30th September

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya releases first commercial batch of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin from new plant in Gujarat's Ankleshwar

Australia’s Melbourne extends sixth virus lockdown

Australia logs record Covid-19 cases, driven by New South Wales

New Zealand reports 83 local Covid-19 cases as Delta outbreak grows

Japan aims for full vaccinations by this fall

UAE capital mandates booster shot for Sinopharm recipients

Thousands protest in Berlin against Covid curbs, vaccines

Italy reports 37 coronavirus deaths and 5,959 new cases on Sunday

True number of Covid-19 cases in Pakistan likely to be much higher: UK government

Vaccine inequity causes ‘dangerous divergence’ in Covid survival rates: UN

France reports 87,565 coronavirus deaths in hospital, up by 53

Russia records 19,286 Covid-19 cases in past 24 hours

Yemen gets first batch of Johnson&Johnson Covid-19 vaccines

UAE to open for fully vaccinated tourists from Monday but with riders

Bharat Biotech scouts international Covid-19 vaccine partners

Green card applicants required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19

Thailand to allow local flights to resume in Covid-risk areas

China has administered a total of 2.033 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of August 28

Japan eyes mixed use of Covid-19 shots to speed vaccine rollout

Singapore fully vaccinates 80% of 57 lakh population against Covid-19

*India has reported 45,083 Covid cases and 460 deaths in the last 24 hours. *

Telangana reports 257 new Covid cases, one death

Delhi records zero Covid death, 31 new cases

West Bengal receives 16,70,000 doses of Covishield from Serum Institute

Himachal Pradesh reports 209 Covid cases, 6 deaths

Karnataka reports 1,262 new Covid-19 cases, 1,384 recoveries and 17 deaths

Odisha launches sero survey, logs 849 new Covid-19 cases, 69 more fatalities

Maharashtra's Covid-19 tally grows by 4,666, death toll by 131

Covid concerns loom as Maharashtra festival season starts on Monday

Gurugram: Over 23.61 lakh people have been administered for Covid vaccine

Famed drummer Kenny Malone dies of Covid-19 at 83

Recruitment of volunteers for trial of Covid vaccine Covovax on children begins

After reporting over 30,000 Covid cases 4 days running, Kerala records 29,836 fresh infections, 75 deaths in last 24 hours; positivity rate 19.67%

Himachal Pradesh becomes 1st state to administer first dose Covid vaccine to 100% adult population

Over 11,000 Covid vaccine doses administered in Delhi's three jails: officials

First commercial batch of Covaxin released from Bharat Biotech’s new plant

Stop gatherings ahead of festive season, MHA cautions states

Over 60.25 crore Covid-19 doses provided to states, UTs: Centre

State News

Heavy rain lashes Hyderabad, mercury drops

Hyderabad fourth in India in CCTVs per square mile

Daughter of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, ruling TRC’s Surabhi Vani Devi takes oath as MLC of Ranga Reddy, Medchal and Mahbubnagar constituencies

ED attaches Rs. 363 crore assets of Hyderabad-based MBS Jewellers

Heavy rains lashes Hyderabad, mercury drops

Hyderabad gearing up to celebrate Ganesh festivities; Over 50,000 Ganapati idols are ready for sale in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Inspect building on Ameenpur nala, says NGT

Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar begins yatra amid big show, hits out at CM KCR

TRS leaders slam allegations made by Bandi Sanjay

Auctions back, Telangana to sell 117 acres of land on Sept 27

After Ramappa, eyes on Deccan Sultanate for heritage tag

Hyderabad: Teenmar Mallanna held for ‘extortion’

Teachers forum protects against rationalisation of schools

All India Congress Committee spokesperson Dasoju Sravan and TPCC vice-president Mallu Ravi said chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao need not spend his blood for the development of Dalits, instead it would be enough if KCR vacates his seat and make a Dalit chief minister

Visakhapatnam: Employees, family members stage protest against privatisation of steel plant

V Hanumanth Rao wants party MPs to raise the Ambedkar statue issue in Parliament

Neena Gupta raises thought-provoking questions about infidelity, asks 'If you dream of kissing somebody, is it cheating?'

Court extends actor Armaan Kohli's NCB custody for a day in drug case

Nagarjuna releases Raj Tarun’s first-look from Anubhavinchu Raja

Nagarjuna’s first-look from Bangarraju released by Naga Chaitanya

Samantha Akkineni wishes ‘mama’ Nagarjuna on his birthday

NCB levels serious charges in drugs case against Armaan Kohli

Katrina Kaif training hard for her fight scenes in Tiger 3

Super Dancer Chapter 4: Farah Khan graces the set; dances with 'friend' Shilpa Shetty and Geeta Kapur

Chiranjeevi shares a video of the star-studded party he threw for PV Sindhu

Kuwait & Middle East News

Receptions of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Kuwaiti Environment announces the end of the Rahia tire crisis, in preparation for its delivery to Al-Saknia within days

Noon work team: Manpower monitors 20 sites in violation of the decision to ban the employment of workers in open areas in the residential city Al-Mutlaa

Digital Cooperation Organization: Kuwait has introduced important regulatory reforms in the ICT sector and achieved regional and international success.

The meeting of the Social Committee of the 108th session of the Arab Economic and Social Council kicks off with the participation of the State of Kuwait

The Kuwaiti Embassy in Bahrain calls for following the precautionary measures issued by the health authorities in the Kingdom

Opening of the Kuwait Pavilion at the Venice International Biennale for Architecture with the participation of young creators

Oil minister: Kuwait always supports any collective decision taken by OPEC plus and it is by everyone’s consensus

Kuwaiti Ministry of Health: 189 new cases of Corona and 341 recoveries and one death recorded during the past 24 hours

The US dollar is stable against the dinar at 0.300 and the euro at 0.354

Afghan News

*A rocket struck a house close to Kabul airport on Sunday afternoon killing a child. Separately, a US air strike targeted a vehicle carrying a suicide bomber who wanted to attack the airport, the Taliban said. US President Joe Biden earlier said his military commanders informed him that another attack in Afghanistan is "highly likely in the next 24-36 hours". *

US-made Black Hawks, Humvees and Huge Cache of deadly guns: Taliban flaunts newly captured Arsenal; France, Britain to propose UN safe zone in Kabul for continuation of humanitarian aid

Another attack likely, pledges more strikes on IS: Joe Biden

US in final phase of evacuations from Kabul, Taliban says ready to take over airport

US warn of ‘specific, credible threat’ near Kabul airport

How Instagram star helped rescue dozens from Afghanistan

Panjshir resistance forces reject Taliban’s claim of advances

Afghanistan: As the Taliban tighten its grip, fears of retribution grow

US airstrike hits suicide bomber targeting Kabul airport: Taliban

Taliban kills Afghan folk singer in restive province

US diplomatic presence 'unlikely' after Aug 31, Blinken says

US drone blows up bomb-laden IS car headed for Kabul airport

Biden aide: US has capacity to evacuate remaining Americans

Joe Biden saw no middle ground in Afghanistan

US in final phase of evacuations from Kabul, Taliban says ready to take over airport

The former Afghan government first Vice President and self-proclaimed acting President Amrullah Saleh, told the Taliban rule won’t last long in Afghanistan

In particular, he will stress the importance of ensuring the Taliban stand by their commitment to allow safe passage for foreign nationals and Afghans authorised to enter third countries. On counter-terrorism, he will underline the need for the Taliban to demonstrate that they are implementing the counter-terrorism commitments made in Doha, the source added.

The diplomatic source in London also added that the UK Foreign Secretary will set out some principles for how to engage the Taliban: on a pragmatic basis, responsive to the actions of the Taliban not just their words and co-ordinated across the international community with as broad a coalition as possible.

The UK govt will continue to drive a co-ordinated international response to Afghanistan today (Monday 30 August) as the Foreign Secretary participates in a meeting with Qatar, Turkey, fellow G7 partners and NATO; and the UK’s Ambassador to the UN joins her counterparts from the 4 other Permanent Member countries of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation.

Afghan official says 3 children killed in US strike on IS

Macron says France, Britain to propose Kabul safe zone to UN

Support to terrorism: No mention of Taliban in UNSC statement

Evacuation dialogue with Taliban does not mean recognition: Macron

'He is present in Kandahar. He has been living there from the very beginning': Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Akhundzada

Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in Afghanistan's Kandahar city: Spokesman

Want to maintain Afghanistan's trade, political ties with India: Taliban leader

Biden pays respects to US troops killed in Afghanistan

US evacuates over 5,500 American nationals from Afghanistan

'Men not allowed to teach girls': Taliban announces ban on co-education in Afghanistan

Pakistan army says militant fire from across the Afghan border kills two of its soldiers

US will have 'no right' to carry out attacks in Afghanistan after Aug 31: Taliban

Secondary explosions following the strike showed the target had been carrying a "substantial amount of explosive material": US officials

Malaysian police are seeking information about the detention of two Malaysians by the Taliban for allegedly being ISIS fighters

International News

Hurricane Nora sweeps past Puerto Vallarta, heads north

Hurricane Ida strengthens, Louisiana braces for severe blow

Packed with virus patients, Louisiana hospitals await Ida

Over 10,000 people evacuated in western Cuba over Ida hurricane

Brazilian far-right President Jair Bolsonaro says he will be arrested, killed or declared winner

A Yemeni military sources says that at least ten soldiers were killed and dozens wounded in an attack with ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia on a Yemini army base in Lahj Governorate, at southern Yemen

US President Joe Biden congratulates the Iraqi government for hosting the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, describing it as a successful and pioneering one

Yemeni Minister of Health: 30 soldiers were killed and 106 others were injured as a result of the Houthi militia attack

The Yemini Ministry of Health receives 151,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against the Corona virus

Algeria will hold early local elections in November

Israel strikes Hamas targets in Gaza after border protests

Sports News

Manu Bhaker to shoot in five events at Junior World Championships

Tokyo Paralympics: Nishad Kumar has taken game to new heights, says Deepa Malik

Wasn't able to 'implement' my game plan in final, says Bhavina Patel after silver at Tokyo Paralympics

Coach plans change in weightlifter Mirabai Chanu’s technique

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lifts Bangkok anti-doping lab’s suspension

India vs. England: Ishant could be dropped for Oval Test, Ashwin may get his first game

Controlled aggression worked for us in Leeds Test: Chris Silverwood

India vs. England: You cannot have four rabbits from 8-11, says Michael Vaughan

Mark Wood, Chris Woakes available for selection for fourth Test: Coach Chris Silverwood

‘World-class skill’: Kiren Rijiju, Deepa Malik hail Bhavina Patel for reaching Tokyo Paralympics finals

Hope this silver medal encourages more para-athletes to follow their passion: Nishad

Watford sign midfielder Sissoko from Tottenham

Spurs handled Harry Kane situation pretty well, says Tottenham Hotspur Coach Nuno Espirito Santo

‘Sports psychologist need of the hour’: Wrestlers speak in unison

Sushil Kumar still the best wrestler in India: Bajrang Punia

No time to grieve over Tokyo Olympics defeat: Vinesh Phogat

India vs. England: Cheteshwar Pujara came with an intent to score runs and showed his character, says Rohit Sharma

English Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United Highlights: Man United beat Wolves 1-0

Mason Greenwood's late winner earned Manchester United a 1-0 win at wasteful Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Sunday, breaking the record for the longest unbeaten away run in English Football League history in the process.

Renault gifts The Kiger Subcompact SUV to Tokyo Olympics 2020 Flagbearer MC Mary Kom

MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo wins British GP as Aleix Espargaro bags podium for Aprilia

Fit-again Shreyas ready to convert DC’s IPL dream into reality

Today’s News (29th Aug 2021, Sunday)

Today’s News (29th Aug 2021, Sunday)

by Annadatha V Murali Manohar

Headlines

Paralympics: Triathlete Susana Rodriguez who helped Spain fight Covid in her job as Doctor wins Gold; Evacuated from Afghan to reach Tokyo to compete at Paralympic Games

Tokyo Paralympics: Paddler Bhavinaben Patel bags silver

ISRO conducts Hot Test of Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System for duration of 450 seconds at the test facility of IPRC, Mahendragiri, TN

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) recognized, awarded for achievement (from ICAR) in research on mushroom (extraction of natural dyes, identification of biomolecules)

Literature offers optimism and hope in difficult times: VP Naidu

SC judge Justice DY Chandrachud: It's the duty of citizens to strengthen public institutions and expose the lies of the State

PM Modi unveiled the renovated Jallianwala Bagh Smarak, dedicated it to the nation; also inaugurated museum galleries developed at the Smarak

Pandit Nehru not included among freedom fighters' pics displayed in an 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' banner on a Govt website

Govt notifies new Bharat 'BH' registration series for personal vehicles for seamless transfer across states

Greater Noida: Fire breaks out at paper mill in Khasna, no injuries reported

4 kids die in UP's Firozabad district in last 24 hrs from viral fever; Last week, 40 people suffering from dengue-like symptoms died in Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, and Mainpuri districts

Panna Dist, MP: Farmer mines diamond (6.47-carat) for 6th time in 2 years, diamond estimated to be sold for ₹30 lakh

Man of Bhil tribe named Kanhaiyalal dies after being tied to vehicle, dragged in MP's Neemuch on theft suspicion

Haryana: 10 injured after police lathicharge farmers in Karnal, Highways blocked in protest; IAS officer Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ayush Sinha caught telling policemen to 'break heads' of farmers with your batons; added no directions are needed

IAF to get 70,000 Russian AK-103 assault rifles from Russia under an emergency deal of Rs 3,000 crore, which was signed last week

Flood situation in Assam grim, 2.25 lakh people of 15 dist affected; water level of the Brahmaputra river, tributaries risen; Rivers are flowing above danger level' mark in many places

Delhi-bound AI plane suffers tyre burst on Kolkata airport taxiway; tyre burst emitting a loud noise; carrying 226 passengers, was subsequently brought back to the parking bay

India exported over a dozen new agri-products

Finance & Business News

Union Govt to regulate coal supply to plants with high coal stock; constitutes team to manage low coal stock

Hyderabad: Paradise, D-Mart fined ₹50k each for charging (₹4.76 & ₹3.5 per bag,) citizens for carry bags

Future Retail files new case in SC: Unimaginable damage & 35,575 job losses if ₹24,713Cr Reliance deal stopped

Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC): Project-hit families to get flats in Greater Noida

Leather manufacturing park to come up near Noida airport

Gurugram: South City 1 owners under scanner for extra floors

1st drone survey in Aravalis completed, 550 notices sent

Gurgaon: Explain slow pace of affordable housing projects, builders told

Delhi’s ‘new’ Chandni Chowk may be inaugurated on Sept 12

Elon Musk primes for India, Tesla makes list of parts suppliers

A 32% growth in Q1 should calm frayed nerves

A rule book in place to avoid another Cairn

India exported over a dozen new agri-products

GPay may soon allow users to open FDs

RIL to show 20% upside in next 2 qtrs: Rahul Shah

Kunal Bothra’s 3 stock picks for the week ahead

Berkowitz’s tips to make above-average returns

Grofers CEO defends 10-minute grocery delivery

Formula ONE season reduced to 22 races with changes

Franklin investors to get back Rs. 2,919 cr this week

Govt extends tenure of UCO Bank’s MD & CEO

Corona Updates

World: 215,709,833; Active 18,567,973 (8.57%); Recovery 193,635,064 (89.35%); Vaccinated 5.18BN

India: 32,694,188; Active 375,200 (1.15%); Recovery 31,881,128 (97.51%); Vaccinated 615.54MN

Kerala imposes night curfew from 10 pm-6 am from 30 Aug amid Covid-19 surge; Bengal extends curbs till Sept 15; coaching centres to open at 50% capacity

Kerala govt issues additional Covid guidelines; says special intensified stringent lockdowns will be enforced in the urban wards/panchayats with critical spread where WIPR (weekly infection population ratio) is above 7

India has reported 46,759 Covid cases and 509 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Over 63 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India so far

Around 7,000 ICU beds to be added in Delhi, says Kejriwal

Maharashtra CM asks people to behave responsibly

Assam reports 586 new Covid-19 cases, 675 recoveries and 9 deaths

Himachal Pradesh sees 209 fresh Covid-19 cases, 6 more deaths

Tamil Nadu reports 1,551 new Covid-19 cases, 1,768 recoveries and 21 deaths

Goa sees 111 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths, 92 recoveries

Andhra Pradesh reports 1,321 new Covid-19 cases, 1,499 recoveries, and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours

Germany to offer Africa up to 70MN Covid-19 vaccine doses; Canada approves Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for 12 to 17 age group

Vaccine inequity causes 'dangerous divergence' in Covid survival rates: UN

UK records 32,406 new Covid cases on Saturday (Reuters)

Sri Lanka opens for Indian travellers once again with flight operations from 9 cities after a long hiatus; Fully vaccinated travellers will only require a negative PCR test report conducted 72 hours prior to arrival & an on-arrival PCR test at a certified hotel: High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi

India needs 1 crore jabs a day now to fully vaccinate the entire adult population by Dec 31

If previously Covid-19 infected, single Covaxin dose draws same antibody response as two doses

US President Joe Biden says China still withholding 'critical information’ on Covid origins

US intelligence community says cannot solve Covid mystery without China

Iran says Biden demands same as Trump

We did our best on Kabul evacuation, says NATO representative

State News

Free vaccination camp at Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC) factory for workers

Delhi: No interim relief for Hindu Raksha Dal chief in slogan case

Domestic violence: Delhi court seeks medical report, I-T returns of Yo Yo Honey Singh

Tax waiver for houses up to 50sqm under north Delhi Civic body

Not-so-hot property: Delhi govt loses Rs. 956 crore as Covid hurts

No getting away: CCTVs in Delhi helped police solve over 100 key cases this year alone

Northeast Delhi riots: ‘Cops didn’t know case was under probe; ludicrous

Limit festive crowding with curbs, Maharashtra told

Orphaned by Covid, 5 siblings rescued by Madhya Pradesh

Indian Idol 12 grand finale gets massive TRPs; Aditya Narayan, Sonu Kakkar, Vishal Dadlani celebrate the 'greatest team ever'

Kaun Banega Crorepati 13's first Crorepati Himani Bundela: While sitting on the hot seat I never felt that I am visually challenged

Rumy Jafry plans to revive Sushant Singh Rajput’s favourite script

'Chehre' producer Anand Pandit: I am in advance talks to make some Korean remakes

NCB arrests actor Gaurav Dixit after recovering 'MD' and 'Charas' from his residence

Shah Rukh Khan's bodyguard Ravi Singh earns around Rs. 2.7 crore annually.

Rhea Chakraborty calls Shibani Dandekar 'world's most special girl', pens a sweet birthday note

Affordability & open spaces in east Hyderabad lure techies away from IT hub

Telangana government denies dumping secretariat waste in Hussainsagar, mum on satellite images

Hyderabad: Actors in the Telugu film industry are spitting fire and attacking one another venomously. It’s election time in the Movies Artistes Association (MAA) for the first time ever, it appears that there will be five panels in fray to capture power

Centre not to fund Veligonda project

Since 2014, Telangana clocks Rs. 1.35 lakh crore revenue from liquor sales

Drive to register app-based transport workers with National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW)

Hyderabad mix of tradition, modernity, says Chief Justice Hima Kohli

Telangana: Headmaster gets 20-year jail for raping minor kids in school

Telangana: No rules yet on school reopening as worried parents mull options

Get students back to schools, Telangana government directs teachers

BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s Praja Sangrama padyatra from Bhagyalakshmi temple

Pass resolution on OBC census, demanded Senior Congress leader V Hanumanth Rao

Demand for platelets shoots up as dengue cases surge in Hyderabad

Dehradun: Due to heavy rains bridge collapses, multiple landslides lead to traffic jam

Richa Chadha and others slam Manoj Muntashir for comparing Mughal emperors to "dacoits"

Delhi: Schools are ready, parents not so much

Kuwait & Middle East News

Representative of His Highness the Emir of the country, His Highness the Prime Minister meets the Iraqi Prime Minister on the sidelines of the Baghdad conference for Cooperation and Partnership Conference

Kuwaiti Ministry of Health: 186 new cases of Corona, 365 recoveries and one death recorded in the past 24 hours

His Highness the Amir sends a cable of congratulations to the Iraqi President and his Prime Minister on the success of the Baghdad conference for Cooperation and Partnership and His Highness Crown Prince and His Highness Prime Minister send similar cables

The Baghdad Conference for Neighbouring Countries is an important event and we hope that its results will lead to strengthening cooperation, security and peace in the region

French President: The Baghdad conference is a historic event that will enhance stability in the Region

The lofty directives give the humanitarian role of the State of Kuwait renewed impetus

The Representative of His Highness the Emir of the country, His Highness the Prime Minister, heads the delegation of the State of Kuwait participating in the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in Iraq

On the sidelines of the Baghdad Cooperation Conference, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and his Iranian counterpart discuss the latest regional and international developments

The UAE announces the opening of Tourist Visas for all countries

Temperature will drop by mid-September, humidity will continue until the end of this week: Meteorologist Issa Ramadan

The Court of First instance ordered a commercial airline company to pay a sum of KD 1,000 to an Egyptian expatriate in compensation for cancelling his flight from Sohag, Egypt to Kuwait

KD 195m allocated for Front-liners

Kuwait Army says Northern Border Secure

Kuwait support for Iraq ‘unwavering’: His Highness the Prime Minister (of the State of Kuwait) Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

KCCI warns of record rice in prices of many goods, services

Kuwait police probe as Kuwaiti kills wife & surrenders

Qatar places Kuwait on Yellow List

Nod for more arrivals in 2 weeks

Kuwait to vaccinate 100 per cent of those registered within a month

Kuwait allows non-emergency surgeries to resume from today

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Commercial Arbitration Centre (GCC-CAC) enhance investments, judicial spheres in Gulf

Ambiguity on entry leaves passengers from six nations in quandary

Vibrant tourism sector vital to economic revival

Profits of Commercial Banks to recover fall in 2020-2021

Kuwait Embassy in Paris celebrates 60th Anniversary of French-Kuwaiti friendship

Afghan News

US strikes Islamic State in Afghanistan in retaliation to Kabul bombing

'Initial indications are that we killed the target, no civilian casualties', says US

US drone strike targets IS 'planner' in Afghanistan

Afghan: Gunshots fired outside airport, coloured smoke deployed 2 days after attack; Taliban deploys extra forces around airport; Pentagon says US Drone strike killed two 'High Profile' ISIS targets; blow up CIA 'Eagle Base'in Kabul

Afghanistan crisis and looming Delta cases make Biden's Presidency the 'Loneliest Job in the World

America put in the worst position: Trump on Afghan crisis

Afghan Sikhs and Hindus decide to stay put in Gurdwara for the next few days

Afghanistan turmoil: Kabul businessman Ismile Khan sells dry-fruits with a smile at Indore trade fair

Afghan photographer warns of Taliban threat to media

International News

Pentagon holds talks with Chinese military for first time under Biden, official says

T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert has apologised for the hack that exposed the data of 5.3 crore users

World's northernmost island discovered off Greenland's coast, claim scientists; was revealed by shifting pack ice

12-year-old Palestinian dies week after being shot in the head by Israeli forces at Gaza border during a violent demonstration

12-yr-old UK coder earns £290,000 by selling 'Weird Whales' NFTs during holidays

Sports News

Tokyo Paralympics: I don’t consider myself as disabled, says paddler Bhavinaben Patel

Paddler Bhavina Patel has worked really hard, amazing to watch her play: Deepa Malik

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will earn £480,000 per week at Manchester United

England crushed India by an innings and 76 runs in the third Test and that gave Joe Root his 27th win as captain in 55 games

Zimbabwe vs. Ireland 5 T20I series, Castle Avenue, Dublin: Zimbabwe beat Ireland by 3 runs; Regis Chakabva declared Man of the Match

Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying: Max Verstappen masters rain to claim pole, George Russell in second

Today’s word - Umbratilous - Shadowy; shaded; indoor; secluded

Today’s News (28th Aug 2021, Saturday)

Today’s News (28th Aug 2021, Saturday)

by Annadatha V Murali Manohar

Headlines

Paralympics: Egypt's Ibrahim plays para table tennis with his mouth; serves by flicking the ball up with his foot

Bhavinaben Patel assures India a medal; scripted history by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to secure a medal in the Paralympics after she entered the semifinals with a stunning straight-game win over world number 5 Borislava Peric Rankovic of Serbia in the women's singles Class 4.

Paralympics: India's first medal at Tokyo Paralympics assured as Bhavina Patel reaches semis in Table Tennis

Rajnath Singh inaugurates stadium named after Neeraj Chopra at Army Sports Institute in Pune; felicitated 23 sportspersons, 4 coaches, 2 supporting members from IAF who represented India in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

New relaxations in drone rules - security clearance for getting drone registration/licence abolished. Rules coverage includes drones weighing up to 500 kg/fees reduced & delinked from drone size

19-year-old Maitri Patel from Surat created history by becoming India's youngest commercial pilot

India smashes Records: Highest so far! Administers over 1 crore Covid-19 vaccines in a single day

No change in NEET-UG dates, says ministry of education

IISc launches concentrator that produces oxygen at over 93% purity at 10 litre per minute (LPM) within 3 minutes

Enroll newly eligible voters; more women electors in 5 poll-bound states, EC tells its officers

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s adviser Malvinder Singh Mali quits

'Told my leader everything': CM Bhupesh Baghel meets Rahul amid Chhattisgarh leadership issue

Congress's leadership crisis in Chhattisgarh continues; Rahul Gandhi to visit State next week

Mekedatu dam: Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court

SC urged to ‘expeditiously’ begin hearing pleas on Article 370 abrogation

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a platform of protesting farm unions, has called for a nationwide strike or Bharat bandh on September 25, one year after Parliament passed the three contentious agricultural reform laws.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV), residential schools run by the Central government in rural areas, will open their doors for Classes 9 to 12 in the States and Union Territories (U.T.) that have permitted reopening of schools, the Education Ministry said on Friday. The reopening will be done in a phased manner and will only allow 50% capacity of students on campus, it added.

WhatsApp users may have to accept to new privacy policy to chat with certain business accounts, report says

Faceoff: Netizens debate whether Mughals deserve glorification or not

Family forced to take refuge in train at night: Kerala HC orders police protection; seeks report from government

Attacks on healthcare workers: Kerala HC orders govt to act swiftly

After blaming victim for rape, Karnataka HM withdraws statement, says ‘Made the Remarks in Anguish’ CM denounced his remarks

Delhi has the most number of public CCTV cameras per square mile (1,826.6 cameras), followed by London, UK (1,138.5 cameras), Chennai (609.9), Shenzhen, China (520.1) and Wuxi, China (472.7)

Visually-impaired contestant Himani Bundela has become the first 'Crorepati' of KBC 13 after answering the ₹1 crore question correctly

Flood situation worsens in Assam, nearly 86,000 people affected; 174 villages are under water and 5,147.34 hectares of crop areas damaged

Union Govt launches e-SHRAM portal, the National Database of Unorganised Workers; will be linked to social security schemes; receive an e-SHRAM card with a 12 digit UAN that will be valid across India

Justice BV Nagarathna, who's among the nine judges appointed to the Supreme Court tipped to become 1st Woman CJI in 2027

Economy AC 3-tier fares fixed! Indian Railways may run new coaches from Sept

Financial & Business News

US court sets timelines for Cairn India legal case

India, Australia direct officials to speed up negotiations for trade pact

Indian Oil expands JV with Malaysia’s Petronas to focus on LNG plants

Madras HC says bumper to bumper insurance coverage mandatory for all vehicles sold after Sep 1; was in reference to the death of a man in a vehicle accident

12-year-old American taken responsibility for hacking the 2nd largest American mobile carrier T-Mobile and stealing the data of more than 5.3 crore users

Pune-based National Chemical Lab to recycle bio-medical waste such as PPE suits will be recycled into plastic products; 200 tonnes per day of bio-medical waste

Indian aviation market to be 'very large' by FY30; to accommodate both Indian, Middle East carriers: CAPA Advisory

Tata Sons CFO Saurabh Agrawal's salary will rise 35% to ₹21.45Cr; only Chairman gets paid more ₹58Cr

Blue Origin launches New Shepard rocket carrying NASA payload, artwork from its launch site in West Texas

ED seizes Rs 107 crore of Chinese loan app (non-banking financial company PC Financial Services Pvt Ltd) for violating FEMA rules

Rupee surges to 73.69 against Dollar to hit 10-week high, posts biggest weekly gain in 4 months

RBI imposes Rs 6 crore penalty on 4 White Label ATM operators - BTI Payments, Hitachi Payment, Tata & Vakrangee Ltd for deficiencies in compliance

Mahindra First Choice Wheels launches 75 franchise stores across India in single day; Tata Motors gets NCLT nod for hiving off passenger vehicles biz into separate entity

RBI: Bank credit grew by 6.55% to Rs 108.89 lakh crore; deposits by 10.58% to Rs 155.70 lakh crore

India emerges best-performing equity market in world on yearly, YTD basis; outperformed MSCI World index and MSCI Emerging index by 15% and 29%

Sebi bars Kotak AMC from launching new FMP schemes for 6 months, imposes Rs 50 lakh penalty

Tom Cruise rides bike off cliff in 'most dangerous' stunt for Mission: Impossible 7; trained for a year, 500 sky-diving sessions, 13,000 motor-bike jumps

10 banks selected by Union Govt to manage LIC IPO; expects ₹80,000Cr-₹90,000Cr from its stake sale

Maha farmers dump tomatoes on roads as prices crashed up to ₹2-3/kg; however in retail market, tomatoes were getting sold for ₹25-30 per kg

Bar Council tells SC it has called meeting of State Bar Councils to frame rules for curtailing strikes by Lawyers

Self-immolation of 24-year-old outside SC: Retired IPS Officer Amitabh Thakur who challenged UP CM Yogi arrested in a dramatic way for abetment of suicide

eBikeGo debuts Rugged e-scooter at Rs 79,999; range up to 160 Km

'Promote alternative tech': Nitin Gadkari urges automakers to discourage diesel engines

2022 Indian Chief motorcycle line-up launched in India, starts at Rs. 20.75 lakh

Corona Updates

World: 216,156,668; Active 18,511,915 (8.56%); Recovery 193,147,107 (89.36%); Vaccinated 5.13BN

India: 32,649,130; Active 366,414 (1.12%); Recovery 31,845,313 (97.54%); Vaccinated 604.39MN

Kerala sees over 30,000 Covid-19 cases for 3rd straight day, 179 more deaths; 5 Southern states account for 70% of India’s active Covid-19 caseload

MP's Bhind dist: 5 siblings aged 8 months-7 years forced to beg after being orphaned by Covid; No Aadhaar card or any document to take benefit from Govt schemes

They're our people; we'll not leave anyone behind: Myanmar Military to extend Covid vaccinations to Rohingyas

Oxford University: Covid infection presents a much higher risk of developing a blood clot than 1st dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer/BioNTech jab

Lancet: 50% people hospitalised with Covid-19 experience at least one persistent symptom up to 12 months after the infection

India on Friday reported 44,658 Covid new cases and 496 deaths

Govt lists 5 states (Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh) that have highest number of active Covid-19 cases; 41 districts reporting more than 10% weekly Covid-19 positivity rate. These districts are in Rajasthan, Kerala and some states in the Northeast

India's new Covid vaccine milestone: 50% eligible population given 1st dose

Delhi reports zero Covid-19 deaths for second successive day, 46 new cases

Himachal Pradesh reports 186 new Covid-19 cases, 293 recoveries and 3 deaths today.

Tamil Nadu reports1,542 Covid-19 infections, 21 fatalities

Maharashtra reports 4,654 new Covid-19 cases, 170 deaths

50% adults given at least one dose: India's vaccination progress

Rise in Covid-19 cases; Kerala reimposes Sunday lockdown

Schools for the students from classes IX to XII to reopen from 1st September in Puducherry, Karaikal and Yanam regions: Government of Puducherry

US Coronavirus hospitalizations hit eight-month high over 100,000

Australia's Victoria reports 64 local Covid-19 cases

Canada approves Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for adolescents

Coronavirus probably not genetically engineered: US intel community; US intelligence community concludes coronavirus not developed as bioweapon

Blood clot risk much higher from Covid-19 than after vaccination: Oxford-led study

Pfizer jab side effects in 12-15 year olds at high risk of Covid-19 complications, mild to moderate: Study

The US President accuses China of concealing important information about the origin of the Corona virus

Reliance gets nod to start Covid-19 vaccine trials

State News

Krishna Janmashtami 2021 will be observed on Monday, August 30, 2021

Parents divided about reopening of schools in Delhi amid third Covid wave concerns

Madhya Pradesh: Classes for std 6-12 will be held with 50% capacity in all schools of the state from 1st September

Mumbai reports 364 new Covid-19 cases, 214 recoveries and 5 deaths in the last 24 hours.

2 held in Delhi for robbing senior citizen

Jantar Mantar sloganeering case: Delhi HC issues notice to Pinky Chaudhary’s anticipatory bail plea

Uphaar fire tragedy: Tampering with documents can't be taken lightly, Delhi police tells court

DTC buses purchase: Will pronounce ex-parte interim order in AAP minister Kailash Gahlot's defamation plea against BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, says Delhi HC

Delhi government has streamlined 450 services, documents of around 30 departments: Officials

10-year-old Girl raped, killed in UP's Hathras; accused (35 years) arrested; he got drunk and lured the girl to go with him

Dewas, MP: Muslim street vendor beaten up with sticks and belts for not showing his Aadhar Card

Delhi: Ruckus in NDMC house over Novelty cinema sale, other issues

Delhi BJP MLA opens self-defense training centre for girls in Badarpur

Delhi reports zero Covid-19 deaths for second successive day, 46 new cases

Delhi government has streamlined 450 services, documents of around 30 departments: Officials

Imparting education should not become a business and the Andhra Pradesh School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (APSERMC) will take action against institutions which are extorting excessive fees without basic facilities, said APSERMC chairman R Kanta Rao

Third phase of degree admissions in Telangana to commence from Aug 27

Ambedkar University extends last date to apply for UG, PG courses

Foreign languages to be taught to final year engineering students in Tamil Nadu

'Visiting friends & relatives' leads to 5-fold rise in domestic flyers post 2nd wave at IGIA

Kuwait News

Kuwait recorded 168 new infections, 432 recovered and one death, due to Covid-19

Kuwaiti Army General Staff: Kuwaiti borders are stable and secure

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council condemns the attack on Kabul airport

Kuwait condemns and denounces the terrorists bombings at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan

Three Bangladeshis stabbed in Abu Halifa

Pakistan Ambassador to Kuwait Syed Sajjad Haider woos Kuwaiti investors

‘Need to take precautionary health measures during campaign season’

Corpse of Kuwaiti found inside a hose

Ministry’s plan to allow students attend classes ‘not feasible’ for private schools

Manpower keen to enhance women role in private sector

Services fee hike knocking on door

Real Estate Union (REU) Vice-Chairman Qais Al-Ghanim’s idea will only make us poorer and traders richer

Minister of Health monitors work completion at New Farwaniya Hospital project

Man kills mother-in-law with AK-47 in front of wife

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Ports Authority (PPA) Dr. Abdullah Al-Salam has issued to suspend from work the Director-General suspended from work for 3 months

Flight from India only after increasing the arrival limit

The Ministry of Health updates the mechanism for registering vaccination certificates issued from abroad for Gulf National and Visitors

Ministry clarified long queue at vaccination center; appeal people to commit to scheduled time

Travellers to Kuwait advised to update Immune App

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Sheikh Hamad Al-Ali, praised the important and vital role played by the employees of the Intelligence and Security Authority (ISA)

Bodies of Lebanese and Pakistani youth found amid mysterious circumstances, in an apartment in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

Kuwaiti students conclude the 16 global enrichment program of the Saudi (Mawhiba) Centre

Baghdad Conference for Cooperation will be held and Partnership tomorrow with the participation of Kuwait

Kuwaiti riders qualify for the finals of The International Showjumping Championship (Nostadt) in Austria

The price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil rose 40 cents to reach $72.07

International Triathlon Championships kicks off in Slovakia with Kuwaiti participation

Afghan News

US airstrike targets ISIS-K planner in Eastern Afghanistan

Afghan: 11 US soldiers among 60 killed in two blasts outside Kabul airport, 3rd explosion hits; Taliban 'strongly condemn' Kabul airport attack, suspect IS role, say US was warned; 20 Indian nationals, 140 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus still stranded

ISIS bombings near Kabul's international airport on Thursday killed at least 95 Afghans and 13 American troops. It was the deadliest day for US forces in Afghanistan since August 2011. Evacuation flights from Afghanistan have resumed with new urgency. Meanwhile, US forces were on alert for more ISIS attacks.

US private security firm Blackwater's billionaire founder Erik Prince charging people $6,500 for a seat on a charter flight out of Afghan; criticized - profit off of people's agony; UN says up to 5Lac Afghans could flee amid crisis; 170 killed in Kabul Airport carnage; US on alert for more ISIS attacks; Afghan girl skips on Belgium Airport Tarmac, Twitter says, 'Best Picture This Year

Kabul attacks reinforce need for world to stand unitedly against terrorism: India to UNSC

Australia says troops pulled out ahead of Kabul blast

Once enemies, US and Taliban find common ground against ISIS

Will evacuate Indians, support Afghans who stood by us: MEA

New urgency to airlift after Kabul blasts kill more than 100

France announces end of evacuations from Afghanistan

Over 4,000 people evacuated from Kabul in last 12 hrs: White House

Upon our departure, we will transfer the Kabul airport back to the Afghan people: US State Department spokesperson Ned Price

US remains in full control of military side of Kabul airport: Pentagon

Taliban 'not in charge' of any Kabul airport operations: Pentagon

Our team ready to take full control of Kabul airport as soon as US leaves, just a matter of some more time, adds Taliban official.

Flush with western weapons, Taliban may host more 'jihadis'

Qatari official says situation in Kabul has become more difficult on the ground with recent developments.

Qatar says that ‘the evacuation efforts will continue in the coming days in consultation with international partners; says has helped evacuate over 40,000

August 31 is end of military operation in Afghanistan, not our commitment: US state dept

U.N. refugee agency is gearing up for as many as half a million people or more to flee from Afghanistan

US can maintain humanitarian commitment to Afghan people in ways that does not have funding pass through central govt: US state dept

Biden vows retribution amid fears of more attacks in Kabul

Only one suicide bomber in Kabul attack, clarifies Pentagon

IS-K has links with Taliban, Haqqani network, says Amrullah Saleh

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, orders flags to be flown at half-staff in honour of killed service members

More than 5,000 US troops control the Kabul airport and have assumed the role of gatekeepers, clearing evacuees through entrances while standing guard on the airport compound's razor-wired walls

Taliban have over 200 US aircraft & choppers, more than 600K small arms & light weapons: Republican congressman Banks

India, Pakistan should sit together to resolve outstanding issues: Taliban

Pakistan engineered Taliban return to Kabul, say US experts

West warns of possible attack at Kabul airport amid airlift

With the Taliban takeover of Kabul, a thorny question confronts India: Should we recognise the Taliban?

The loss of two British nationals and the child of a British citizen in the Kabul airport bombing (yesterday) underline the urgency of concluding the Operation PITTING (evacuation): UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

UK in final stages of Afghan exit, taking no more evacuees

Two Britons killed in Thursday's Kabul attack, UK foreign minister says

5,100 US citizens evacuated from Afghanistan since Aug 14: White House

US soldier loses 1 Afghan translator; fights to save another

Modi had also recently spoken to Germany's Angela Merkel and Russia's Vladimir Putin over the Afghan crisis; PM Modi, Italian counterpart hold talks, both stress on international cooperation to address Afghan crisis

White House says delayed processing of Afghan refugees sometimes due to security reasons

White House says working to improve conditions for Afghan refugees coming to United States

Still 5,400 people inside Kabul airport awaiting evacuation: US general

Ongoing engagement with Taliban will be necessary for evacuations after August from Afghanistan.

White House says Biden made clear he does not want those responsible for Kabul attack "to live on the earth anymore."

We are engaging with our international partners to determine what the path ahead looks like: US Press secretary Jen Psaki addresses media

Taliban to ask for technical assistance from Qatar in operating Kabul airport, Al Jazeera says

Pulitzer Board grants special citation to Afghan journalists

Pakistan’s reputation in West to plummet after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

Pakistan PM calls upon international community to help Afghanistan achieve peace

Pak FM Qureshi discusses Afghan situation with UN chief, UK foreign minister

India’s outreach in Afghanistan aimed to harm Pakistan: Pakistan Army

International News

Israeli PM aims to push Joe Biden away from Iran nuclear deal

Ban on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft lifted after two-and-a-half years by DGCA only upon satisfaction of applicable requirements for return to service

UK police have arrested a man who reportedly used needles to inject "unknown substance" into food items in three supermarkets in west London

The French President arrives in Iraq to head his country’s delegation at the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership

Libyan Prime Minister: Terrorism is coming from abroad, and Libya seeks to establish good relations seeks to establish good relations with neighbouring countries

Archaeologists in China have discovered around 1,500-year-old skeletal remains of couple holding each other in an embrace

China cracks down on celebrity fan culture after scandals

Muscat-Dhaka Biman Bangladesh flight makes emergency landing in Nagpur after pilot suffers heart attack mid-air; all passengers safe; pilot admitted in hospital

Chinese city Tianjin asks Govt firms to move data out of Alibaba, Tencent clouds to a state-backed cloud system by 2022

Fire at chemical factory in Karachi kills 16; factory had only one entry point, which was also being used as exit; roof exit blocked, hampered rescue efforts

Nigeria gunmen free 100 students after 3 months of captivity; 6 died in captivity; 15 escaped in June

9 killed, 90 injured in blasts triggered by a fire at a munitions storage facility at a military base in Kazakhstan

London police make arrest over alleged shop food tampering

Beirut blast judge issues subpoena for PM Diab after no-show

Ida strikes Cuba, could hit Louisiana on Hurricane Katrina anniversary

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council expresses his regret over the relations between Morocco and Algeria

Mike Jack (Canada) in London, Ontario, Canada, eats banana in 37 seconds without using hands, makes Guinness World Record

Sports News

Visually impaired Paralympian Japanese judoka Aramitsu Kitazono hit by self-driving bus in athletes' village; Toyota halts all Self-driving e-Palette vehicles after Olympic village accident

Netherlands Women pacer Overdijk breaks world record for best bowling figures 4-2-3-7 in a T20I

India vs. England 3rd Test, Day 3: It's not over yet. Pujara, Rohit, Kohli give India hope; 139 runs adrift of Eng 1st innings 432; ‘Attacking’ Cheteshwar Pujara sets tone as India live to fight another day

Gavaskar wonders why Rishabh Pant was told to change his stance of standing outside the crease during the ongoing third Test against England by umpire, as he feels that rules doesn’t prevent him from doing so

3rd Test: ‘Jarvo 69’ again enters field of play, this time in pads and helmet

Chinese gymnast Zhu Xueying, who won a gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, has claimed that her medal is already peeling

Chelsea star Jorginho named UEFA Men's Player of the Year, Thomas Tuchel wins best coach award

Manchester United agree deal to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus

Liverpool’s Van Dijk a ‘stress test’ for Lukaku, says Tuchel

Tuchel eyes more signings as Zouma poised to join West Ham

Today’s News Update (27th Aug 2021, Friday)

Today’s News Update (27th Aug 2021, Friday)

 by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

India vs. England 3rd Test Day 2: England 423/8 at stumps, lead by 345 runs

‘Total panic’ as deadly blasts rock Kabul airport

NATO chief slams Kabul airport terrorist attack

'At least 60 killed as suicide bombers target Kabul airport', ISIS role suspected

The US military confirmed a large explosion Thursday outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan, where the United States and other countries have been evacuating tens of thousands of people. Australia, UK and US have asked their citizens to leave the Kabul airport area, citing unspecified terror threats. Another evacuation flight with 24 Indians and 11 Nepalese citizens are on its way way from Kabul to New Delhi.

Quad nations kick off 4-day Malabar naval war games with eye on China

Nine new judges to be sworn-in on Aug 31, says Supreme Court sources

Vijay Mallya files for permission to appeal against bankruptcy in UK high court

SC to resume physical hearing of matters requiring long hearing from Wednesday and would continue it along with virtual hearing thrice a week - Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. But, only virtual hearings on Mondays and Fridays.

Covid-19: Uptick trend continues in Kerala; state blames home quarantine violation for spike

Farmer’s national convention to mark 9 months of protest begins at Singhu border

Congress vs. Congress: Cabinet reshuffle likely in Chhattisgarh

If we keep fighting among ourselves how will we fight RSS, BJP?: Salman Khurshid to Congress leaders

Kabul echoes in Lucknow: Reject both Islamophobia and Islamist apologists, focus on India’s strength: liberal democracy

Financial & Business News

‘Dronacharya’ India liberalises use of unmanned aircraft systems*

Mukesh Ambani’s green push won’t stop oil from boosting his $80 billion fortune

RBI appoints Ajay Kumar as executive director

Global oil majors may be joining race for BPCL: Document

Agnikul Cosmos partners with EOS to 3D print rockets

Sensex, Nifty inch higher ahead of derivatives expiry; Reliance jumps

Markets eke out slim gains; Nifty scales fresh peak

Unitech founders operating ‘secret underground office’ from jail, reveals ED

Central banks should not mandate ‘green’ investments: Raghuram Rajan

NTPC recruits all-women tech trainee batch in an industry first

Jharkhand to launch industrial policy on Friday, aims at Rs. 1 lakh crore investment

Hyderabad airport handles next generation temperature controlled cargo containers

Corona Updates

World: Confirmed: 213,866,744; Total Deaths: 4,463,127; Active Cases: 209,403,617

India: 32,558,530; Total Deaths: 436,365; Recovered: 31,788,440; Active Cases: 333,725

Thousands of Covid patients are being turned away from Japan’s hospitals

Japan suspends use of 1.63 million Moderna vaccine doses over contamination reports

Malaysian sells Covid-19 vaccine mock-ups made of paper to honour the dead

Joe Biden given inconclusive intelligence report on Covid origins

Vietnam expects 50,000 new virus cases in major manufacturing hub

Waning Covid cases helped India’s economy steady in July

100% teachers vaccinated in West Bengal, govt prepared to tackle third wave: Mamata Banerjee.

Over 58.76 crore Covid vaccine doses provided to states, UTs so far: Union health ministry

50% of adults have received first Covid vaccine dose, says Centre

58.4% of total Covid-19 cases in last week reported from Kerala; Union home secretary reviews Covid-19 situation in Kerala

Kerala reports 30,007 new Covid-19 cases, 18,997 recoveries and 162 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Central government submits before Kerala HC that there is currently no provision for taking a third dose of Covid-19 vaccine after receiving two doses

Kerala health minister cautions against spread of Covid-19 in homes

Assam reports 562 new Covid-19 cases, 776 recoveries and 11 deaths

Uttar Pradesh reports 19 new Covid-19 cases, 22 recoveries and zero deaths in the last 24 hours.

Zydus Cadila's Covid-19 vaccine can be available from first week of October

Reduction in the gap between two doses of Covishield is being considered and it will be further discussed in NTAGI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India): ANI

India’s cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage crosses 61 crore landmark milestone. Nearly 68 lakh vaccine doses administered on Friday: Ministry of health and family welfare

Delhi reports 45 new Covid-19 cases, 21 recoveries and zero deaths in the last 24 hours.

Karnataka reports 1,213 new cases, 25 deaths and 1,206 discharges today; active cases 19,300

The United States is shipping more than two million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Algeria, Ghana and Yemen, the White House said Thursday, boosting efforts to combat a third wave of the pandemic across Africa.

No plan yet to revise Covishield dose gap, clarifies govt

September, October crucial in Covid-19 management in view of several festivals, says Government

Rajasthan sees over 48,000 estimated excess deaths since March 2020

State News

Goa airport sets up rapid PCR facility for UAE passengers

Hyderabad: Gokul Chat terror attack victim Syed Raheem demands help from govt

CISF officer who stopped Salman Khan at airport not penalised but rewarded for 'exemplary professionalism'

Manoj Bajpayee files criminal defamation case against Kamaal R Khan aka KRK over a derogatory tweet ruining his 'reputation'

Bhojpuri actress MMS leak scandal: Priyanka Pandit claims someone conspiring against her, says 'video is morphed'

Pooja Bedi calls COVID-19 vaccination drive in India 'illogical and sinister', netizens react

2020 porn films case: Interim relief for Raj Kundra till September 8

Actress-turned-MP Nusrat Jahan blessed with a baby boy

Pune: Children return to playground as Covid-19 curb surge

Nagpur: Vidarbha Rajya Andolan samiti holds protest for separate state

Gurgaon's gruesome murders: Man hacks daughter-in-law, 3 tenants to death

Youth suffered gunshot injury in road rage case near Delhi-Gurugram border

A 26-year-old woman died by suicide by jumping off the terrace of the Brahmaputra hostel inside the JNU campus. She was the wife of a PhD student

Ministry of Textiles and NIFT join hands to complete the first survey on standard Indian body sizes

2 held with illegal firearms in Delhi

Delhi: Man held for attempt to extort money from shopkeeper

Drug hoarding case: Delhi court adjourns hearing against Gautam Gambhir foundation, AAP MLAs for 5 months

Delhi schools reopening: Parents dividend amid concerns around imminent third Covid wave

Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to take a call on Delhi schools reopening on Friday

Increase in viral infection cases in Delhi hospitals

Shreyas Talpade on 16 years of ‘Iqbal’: I had never imagined being the hero of a Bollywood blockbuster

Taapsee Pannu reacts as Bilaspur High Court states 'forced sex in marriage is not rape'

KBC 13 host Amitabh Bachchan's designer Priya Patil on his style: This time Big B will wear customised cufflinks with his family members names on them

Amitabh Bachchan’s personal bodyguard Jitendra Shinde’s salary is over Rs 1 crore!

KRK says Manoj Bajpayee is ‘obsessed’ with him, says the actor reminds him of Shah Rukh Khan from ‘Darr’

Bollywood actors have now slowly started returning to work. While many are trying to finish off the projects that had to be put on the back burner due to the pandemic and subsequent shutdown, yet others are hoping to see the release of their already complete films on the big screen. While theatres are yet to open in some parts of the country, filmmakers are risking releasing their much-awaited films in theatres.

Shilpa Shetty agreed to resume shooting of 'Super Dancer 4' post husband Raj Kundra's arrest on one condition. The actress had supposedly said that she doesn’t want to answer any controversial questions on the sets and henceforth does not want to be subjected to any insensitive jokes regarding her personal life.

Show of strength: Amarinder meets 55 Punjab Congress MLAs, 8 MPs

India propagates peace, always opposed expansionist policies, terrorism: Om Birla

Man shot dead outside NHAI office in Jaipur

Kuwait News

Receptions of His Highness the Prime Minister

The Minister of Defence praises the important and vital role of the intelligence and security forces in maintaining the security and safety of the country

The Kuwait Stock Exchange closes its trading with the general index rising 23 points to reach the level of 6791.35 points, an increase of 0.34 percent with a value of 67.9 million dinars

The Minister of Health inspects the new Farwaniya Hospital project to follow up on the percentage of completion and implementation of the pillars of the development plan

Kuwait: The Health Requirements Committee is discussing a study on the health requirements and precautionary measures that will be taken related to the return of the camping season in the wilderness, which starts from Nov 15 to March 15, in addition to the implementation of the Cabinet’s decision regarding the return of commercial activities for children on the first of next September

38 public prosecutors take the legal oath before the President of the Supreme Judicial Council and the President of the Court of Cassation, Counselor Ahmad Al-Ajeel, on the occasion of their transfer to work as judges at the High Court, starting from the first of next September

Minister of Interior: The employees of the General Department of Investigations are the custodians of justice and the rights of society

The Kuwaiti diving team managed to retrieve and float a sunken boat weighting 3 tons in the coast of Al-Zour

Director of the Olympic football team: Blue will face its Palestinian counterpart on Sept 7, in preparation for the Asian qualifiers

Kuwaiti Meteorology: Very hot weather during the day and hot at the night, and humidity returns on Saturday evening

The Arab investment (Guarantee) stresses the importance Corporation of intensifying efforts to attract foreign direct investment in Arab countries

Reinforcement of aircraft: KAFCO refuelling fleet at Kuwait International Airport with 9 modern trucks

The Minister of Defence receives a written message from the Saudi Crown Prince inviting him to the region

The Health Conditions Committee discusses health requirements and precautionary measures for the return of camps and commercial activities for children

Palestinian praise for the project of the International Islamic Charitable Organization (Manara) to support West Bank university students in Palestine

Afghan News

Area around Kabul airport ‘incredibly crowded

'Taliban agree to let Afghans leave after US withdrawal deadline of August 31'

France to stop Kabul airport evacuations by Friday night

Victims, including Pentagon Americans, in the Kabul airport explosion and a second explosion in the vicinity of a hotel near one of the entrance gates

France: 2500 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of Kabul

The Netherlands announces the end of the evacuations from Afghanistan and confirms that the situation is deteriorating very quickly

The White House: About 13,400 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan during the past 24 hours

Berlin: The German army announces that it will end the evacuation of German nationals and Afghan collaborators from the Afghan capital, Kabul

Vienna: The Australian authorities announced their intention to provide emergency aid worth 18 million euros, equivalent to 21 million US dollars, to Afghanistan

Brussels: Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croo announces that his country has stopped evacuations from Kabul Airport as part of Operation Red Kite in light of the developments in Afghanistan

London: Britain warns of the possibility of a ‘terrorist’ act near (Kabul) airport, calling on foreigners and Afghans alike to avoid going to the airport and its surroundings

Why US' $2 trillion war couldn't stop fall of Afghanistan

G-7 leaders can't sway Joe Biden to delay Afghanistan withdrawal

Taliban directs Afghan women to work from home, says that are ‘not trained’ to respect them

Pakistan engineered Taliban return to Kabul, say US experts

Ensure that Taliban do not destabilise Pakistan and acquire nuclear weapons: US lawmakers to Biden

Kabul echoes in Lucknow: Reject both Islamophobia and Islamist apologists, focus on India’s strength: liberal democracy

International News

Joe Biden, Israeli PM seek to reset relations, narrow differences on Iran

Migrant children spend weeks at US shelters as more arrive

Iraqi Prime Minister: The Baghdad conference is an important event for Iraq and the entire region

Oil spill from power station spreads along Syria's coast

Supply issues take shakes off the menu at British McDonald's

Duterte confirms he'll run for Philippines VP next year

California wildfire dangers may be spreading south

Crews struggle to stop fire bearing down on Lake Tahoe

Olaf Scholz: Safe pair of hands who wants Merkel’s job

Merkel, Germany’s ‘eternal’ chancellor, prepares to leave the stage

Sports News

England lost five wickets but added 125 runs in the final session as their lead swelled to 345 at stumps on Day 2 of the Headingley Test. Joe Root's third consecutive ton highlighted the day as England got to a commanding 423 for eight at close of play.

Joe Root equals England record with sixth Test century of 2021

Desperate to get out there and do what I love: Du Plessis on return from concussion

Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq tests positive for Covid-19

Turkey withdraw from ICC Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier

Indian women's cricket team's schedule for Australia tour could be altered

Serena Williams withdraws from US Open due to torn hamstring

Sumit Nagal, Ramkumar exit US Open qualifiers

Indian paddler Sathiyan wins ITTF Czech Open title

Djokovic opens against qualifier, Tsitsipas to face Murray

Pliskova among contenders at US Open as Czech chases elusive major

Prajnesh Gunneswaran advances to second round of US Open qualifiers

Urge everyone to support girls who want to enter field of sports, says Mirabai Chanu

PSG to play Manchester City in Champions League group stage

Neeraj Chopra decides to end 2021 season, says focus shifted to packed 2022

Javelin row: Neeraj Chopra hits out at those targeting Pak athlete Arshad Nadeem

Czech runner dies in Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc race

India remove openers but England remain in command

KKR sign Southee; RCB, Rajasthan Royals & Punjab Kings too announce replacements

Rajasthan Royals announce signing of world no. 1 T20I bowler Tabraiz Shamsi

IPL 2021: Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya join Mumbai Indians’ camp in UAE

2nd T20: Jaiswal, Mulani shine as Mumbai beat Oman by 18 runs

News Digest (26th Aug 2021, Thursday)

News Digest (26th Aug 2021, Thursday)

                                                                                                                                                                                             by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

 

Headlines

India vs. England: India slump to 78 all out against England in third Test

PM Modi reviews eight projects, ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme

S Jaishankar speaks to UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks with Saudi MoS for foreign affairs, discusses multilateral issues

IAF played crucial role in 1971 war by destroying Pak’s offensive: Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria

‘Slap Uddhav’ dig: Not afraid of anyone, says Union minister Narayan Rane

Over 60 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India: Govt

India hurries teacher vaccinations as some physical closes resume

Google Doodle celebrates commencement of Tokyo Paralympics 2020 with Champion Island Games

Team India achieved its best-ever performance at the Scrabble Youth World Cup with young guns Madhav Gopal Kamath and Suyash Manchali finishing 2nd and 8th respectively

MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft crashes in Rajasthan; pilot ejects safely; court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause

Student of a university in Mysuru gang-raped, boyfriend thrashed in Mysuru; accused still absconding, yet to be arrested

Union Govt: PSBs have turned profitable; ₹30,000Cr in net profit, meeting requirements on their own; gone to the market and raised about ₹69,000Cr, including ₹10,000Cr equity capital; Hikes Pension Payouts for Families of Bank Employees to 30%; also hikes NPS for employee pensions to 14%

Guwahati-Howrah special train derails in Assam, no casualty reported

Financial & Business News

Samsung says it will invest $206 billion and hire 40,000 people by 2023

Finance minister asks public sector banks to provide assistance to sunrise sectors

Government approves highest ever FRP of Rs. 290 per quintal on sugarcane for 2021-2022

Union Govt approved highest ever Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane farmers at ₹290 per quintal, at a basic recovery rate of 10%, for the 2021 22 season

Indians in US, with AVG household earning $123,700, 79% of college graduates, surpassed overall American population in terms of wealth and college education

Mumbai woman gets back ₹1.01 lakh lost to cyber-fraud in 3 hours with help of cops & bank nodal officers

Xiaomi to buy self-driving tech startup Deepmotion for $77MN; help develop Level 4 self-driving technology, which allows full autonomous driving

BYJU'S valuation pegged at $50BN for IPO by bankers if it lists next year; Backed by SoftBank Vision Fund and Carlyle Group, Delhivery plans $1BN IPO filing in Oct

Sensex hit its fresh all-time high of 56,198.13; Nifty made a fresh peak of 16,712.45 in intraday trade; Gold Price Today Falls for Second Day; Rs 9,000 down from record high.

Nitin Gadkari urges vehicle makers to discourage diesel engines, asks them to promote alternative tech

Maruti Suzuki India Chairman RC Bhargava: Lot of statements made by Govt officials on importance of auto industry, but "no concrete action was taken on ground

Corona Updates

World: 214,693,778; Active 18,195,343 (8.48%); Recovery 192,023,096 (89.44%); Vaccinated 5.04BN

India: 32,557,767; Active 340,325 (1.05%); Recovery 31,781,046 (97.61%); Vaccinated 588.73MN

Onam pushes Kerala’s Covid tally to 3-month high; daily Covid-19 case count crosses 30,000-mark for 1st time since May 20

India’s Covid vaccination graph: 85 days to 10Cr doses; 45 days to 20Cr; 29 days to 30Cr; 24 days to 40Cr; 20 days to 50Cr; 19 days to go past 60-crore mark; State Govts asked to vaccinate all school teachers on priority before Teachers' Day on Sep 5

According to a study, the breast milk of lactating mothers who have received the Covid-19 vaccine contains antibodies that may help protect nursing infants from the illness

No conclusive data yet on need for Covid-19 booster shot, says WHO

Covid-19 in India may be entering some kind of stage of endemicity where there is low or moderate level of transmission going on, chief scientist of the World Health Organisation Dr Soumya Swaminathan said. The endemic stage is when a population learns to live with a virus. It’s very different from the epidemic stage when the virus overwhelms a population.

Telangana: 1.35 crore yet to take first jab as hesitancy remains a concern

State News

Indian Idol 12 winner Pawandeep Rajan announced as Uttarakhand’s Art, Tourism, Culture Brand Ambassador by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

ED summons Tollywood celebrities Rakul Preet, Rana Daggubati, Ravi Teja and Puri Jagannadh in drugs case

80% Hyderabad homeowners expect up to 10% increase in rates of their property

Glitches in TTD site hold up online darshan ticket sales

Hyderabad: Commuters face hard time as rain floods dug-up roads

Telangana HC: CJ Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy to examine Kokapet auction

Declare Dalit Bandhu scheme tax-free: Former Telangana Congress minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir

Varun Tej launches the trailer of Srinivas Avasarala and Ruhani Sharma starrer Nootokka Jillala Andagadu

Bigg Boss OTT: Zeeshan Khan gets evicted from the show for getting into a physical fight with Pratik Sehajpal

Emraan Hashmi on Tiger 3: I am not confirming or denying being part of the film

Kuwait & Middle East News

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister

His Highness the Crown Prince receives a written message from the Saudi Crown Prince regarding the brotherly relations between the two countries and an invitation to His Highness to join the launching ceremony of the Green Middle East initiative next October

Cabinet holds its extraordinary meeting

MoH to restart non-emergency operations at hospitals

Kuwaiti woman gets jail term over ‘indecent’ videos

Saudi Arabia to allow direct flights of fully vaccinated expats from countries facing ban

Several young men seriously injured in bloody fight

Kuwait Covid-19 community immunity within reach

Industry authority to build industrial cities

Kuwait is the fourth safest Arab Country

Kuwait would soon be on the Green Travel List of European countries

KD 1380 fees for the recruitment of domestic workers

Study suggests 9:30 to 5 working hours for Government offices

Kuwait reports 166 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths

Kuwaiti woman shot dead in a car by her relative

Woman wins compensation of KD 40,000 in land fraud

Travel Ban, decision to pull Passport cancelled

Ban lifted on 346 jobs for expats

No to fourth floor in private houses

The repercussions of the COVID- 19 pandemic affected the foreign exchange rate of the two largest economies in the world - the US dollar and the Chinese Yuan.

Onus for absconding on ‘domestics in Bill’

International News

The Pentagon: We evacuated 88,000 people from Afghanistan and a flight every 39 minutes

Afghan: Taliban will reach a peace deal with resistance forces in the Panjshir province soon; Covid vaccinations drop 80%; Afghans in knee-deep sewage wave papers, plead with US forces to enter Kabul airport; Russia preparing to evacuate 500 people from Kabul, its 1st airlift op; China, Taliban hold their First Dialogue

Palestinians wounded by Israeli 14 bullets on Gaza border

UN envoy calls on all concerned parties in Iraq to commit to ‘transparent and fair’ elections

UK: 24 people rushed to hospital after exposure to toxic gas in spa; after two chemicals accidentally mixed together and created chlorine gas

Havana syndrome - hearing piercing sounds, experiencing odd physical sensation, nausea, headache; caused by directed, pulsed radio frequency energy device; due to which Kamala Harris' trip to Vietnam was delayed?

5,000-kg dead fish washed up on shores of large saltwater lagoon in south-east Spain in 9 days; pollution from local farming has degraded the water quality which led to the deaths

Cambridge University documented Seychelles giant tortoise (thought to be vegetarian') hunting, feeding on a bird on Frégate Island; 1st documentation of deliberate hunting in any wild tortoise species

Babita Deokaran - Indian-origin woman, who provided critical info about multi-million-dollar PPE scam, killed in South Africa; shot multiple times through her car door

A massive oil spill caused by leakage from a power plant inside a Syrian oil refinery is spreading along the country's coast; stretching out over 25.5Sq KMs

Indonesia's navy seized oil tanker; wanted by Cambodia on suspicion of stealing 300,000 barrels of crude oil

Sports News

India dismissed for 78 runs; 3rd lowest Test total in England; 9 score in single digits; 3 ducks; England 120/0, both openers 50+

Mick Schumacher wants to leave his mark at Spa on the 30th Anniversary of his father's debut

I would be very upset if my generation is talked about as one which got bullied: Gavaskar to Nasser Hussain

Anderson joins Lyon in dismissing Kohli seven times in Tests

News Digest (25th August 2021, Wednesday)

News Digest (25th August 2021, Wednesday)

                                                                                                                                                                    by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

Paralympics: Flame lit, games declared open; Tek Chand India's flag-bearer after Mariyappan gets quarantined; Afghan flag to feature in opening ceremony as a 'sign of solidarity

ZIF-8@CM Cotton' and 'ZIF-67@CM Cotton': Researchers from IIT Delhi have developed modified cotton fabrics that are capable of adsorbing harmful air pollutants

Study: Drinking alcohol during adolescence to young adulthood is associated with accelerated arterial stiffening; early aging of blood vessels

India overtaken US to emerge as 2nd most sought-after manufacturing destination across the world among 47 countries; China remains No 1 as per Cushman & Wakefield's 2021 Index

2021 PH27: The Usain Bolt of asteroids: This object takes just 113 Earth days to move around Sun; so close to the Sun’s massive gravitational field, it experiences the largest general relativity effects of any known Solar System object.

Modi, Putin discuss coordinating steps to ensure regional security

What a Question: Kerala HC Judge asks Union Govt 84-day Covishield dose gap based on efficacy or availability? Says if it is efficacy I am worried" as 2nd dose taken within 4-6 weeks of 1st dose

Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane was arrested today for his statement about slapping CM Uddhav Thackeray; 20 years before Murasoli Maran, TR Baalu were arrested by Late TN CM Jaya for flyover scam; After 8 hours in custody, Narayan Rane gets Bail; Message loud & clear, says Uddhav Govt

2 including minor boy beaten on camera in Raj, asked to go to Pakistan; 5 held; accused were identified as Lalit Sharma, Surendra, Tejpal, Rohit Sharma and Shailendra Tank

Assam plans to destroy 2,500 rhino horns stored (seized from poachers/extracted from dead animals) over past 40 years

Tejas Express was delayed on Saturday and Sunday, due to which the IRCTC will have to pay around Rs 4.5 lakh to 2,035 passengers.

In a first, CAPF to get BIS marked level-5 bullet-proof jackets by Sep 2021; presently, level-4 category bullet resistance jackets are being used by the seven CAPFs

Sexual assault using gloves will go unpunished: AG on Bombay HC's 'skin-to-skin' order - sexual assault under POCSO will not be attracted if there's no direct 'skin-to-skin' contact

SC to Union Govt: Don't encash Airtel's bank guarantee for 3 weeks to recover Videocon's dues

Apple employees have built a website, AppleToo, to collect stories from the firm's employees who have experienced harassment or discrimination

Scrappage policy: SIAM urges Union Govt to let dealer workshops function as inspection, certification centres

Faceoff: Narayan Rane’s arrest over ‘slap Thackeray’ remark creates furore

Union Minister Narayan Rane arrested over ‘slap Uddhav’ remarks: Who said what

Violation of constitutional values: BJP chief Nadda condemns arrest of Union minister Narayan Rane

Union Minister Narayan Rane granted bail

Danish Siddiqui was killed after being left behind in retreat, Afghan general says

Asaduddin Owaisi blames MP govt, Home minister, asks not to interfere in state affairs

Rahul Gandhi makes a comeback on Twitter, 10 days after getting unlocked

Annual income cannot be sole basis for determining creamy layer: SC

Chorus grows against centre’s National Monetisation Pipeline; TMC, Congress oppose scheme

Pragya Singh Thakur dismisses fuel price hike, says its mere Congress propaganda

Akhilesh missed Kalyan’s last rites fearing loss of Muslim votes: BJP

Bombay HC order on ‘skin-to-skin contact’ for POCSO offences is ‘outrageous’, AG tells SC

Karnataka govt to IT companies on ORR: Extend work from home till Dec 2022, cut traffic for Metro sake

UP officer ‘allotted’ 30k-sq-ft bungalow with a swimming pool, gym, sauna to himself

Centre has officially announced ‘sale’ of India: CPI(M) on govt’s decision to monetise assets

ISRO calls for proposals to study Chandrayaan-2 data

PAGD meeting under way to discuss way forward for restoration of J&K’s special status

Top LeT commander among two terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir encounter

Indian’s Afghanistan evacuation mission termed ‘Operational Devi Shakti’

India, Pakistan issue diplomatic visas to each other after 28 months

Uttar Pradesh to start manufacturing BrahMos Missiles soon

Demand to ‘replace’ Punjab CM gains momentum within Congress again

Rahul meets CM Baghel, Singh Deo in bid to resolve differences in Chhattisgarh

People will get some relief in coming months: Hardeep Puri on fuel price rise

Rajnath Singh hopes India will emerge as defence manufacturing hub for the world

Legalised loot, organised plunder: Congress on National Monetisation Pipeline

Chopper Crash: Army search ops continue in Ranjit Sagar Dam to trace second missing pilot

Earthquake in Bay of Bengal; tremors felt in Chennai

India to resume Covid vaccine exports in 2022, official says

Financial & BusinessNews

Govt hoping to earn Rs. 6cr per km from monetisation

New RE Classic 350 teased, launch on Sept 1

Samsung takes a dig Apple co-founder Steve Jobs

NMP will protect interest of public, consumers: Kant

Government considers allowing FDI in LIC

Railways planning to allow private players to lay rail lines; raise revenue from train operation on these lines

Annual income cannot be sole basis for determining creamy layer: SC

Crude oil production continues to fall, dips 3.2% in July

Bitcoin jumps above $50,000 for first time since May

Vietnam, India top measure of Crypto adoption by individuals

Over 20 lakh people are now making money from YouTube

HDFC needs to issue half a million credit cards a month to win back a market it lost to bad tech

Sensex jumps 400 points, Nifty touches 16,625 as markets close at record highs; Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra and Bajaj Finance were among top Sensex gainers

Samsung to invest $205BN in next 3 years, create 40,000 jobs to expand its footprint in AI, Robotics, biopharmaceuticals, semiconductors

El Salvador installing Bitcoin ATMs; will allow citizens to convert cryptocurrency into US$; withdraw it in cash

A non-fungible token (NFT) of a clip art of a rock - 'EtherRock' was sold for 400 Ether worth $1,326,280

SpaceX shipped 1Lac Starlink terminals so far; internet service now catering to customers in 14 countries

Corona Updates

World: 213,946,359; Active 18,044,972 (8.43%); Recovery 191,437,505 (89.48%); Vaccinated 5.00BN

India: 32,511,370; Active 328,956 (1.01%); Recovery 31,746,626 (97.65%); Vaccinated 582.24MN

Coal India arm NCL becomes 1st PSU to vaccinate entire workforce (50K) & their family members

South Korean study: Covid-19 Delta variant cases show 300 times higher viral load; gradually decreased over time - to 30 times in 4 days; 10 times in 9 days; matched levels seen in other variants after 10 days

WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan: India may be entering Endemic stage of Covid; stage is when a population learns to live with a virus; very different from epidemic stage when virus overwhelms a population

Saudi allows Indians who got fully vaccinated there to return to the kingdom

There are 228 "actual containment zones" in the national capital while the central and northeast districts have none, according to Covid data of the Delhi government

Delhi Police thwart gangster’s plan to harm Tihar Jail official

Heavy rains lash Delhi, bring down mercury

India on Monday reported 25,467 Covid-19 infections, pushing the overall tally of Covid cases in the country to 32,474,773. With 354 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, the death toll has further climbed to 4,35,110. At 97.68%, recovery rate is highest since March 2020. A total of 39,486 were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking total number of recoveries to 3,17,20,112.

Weekly Covid cases fall in major states

State News

Telangana CM to lay foundation stone of TRS party office in Delhi

Telangana high court to govt: Furnish non-catchment area details in 24 hours

Bengaluru: Ill-treated woman jumps off UAE building, reaches KIA

Telangana: Three dead, 15 injured in a road accident at Mirayalaguda

Many areas in Hyderabad waterlogged as rains pound city

Telangana: ‘Hallmark Unique ID stir will continue till norm amended

Telangana: Over 55,000 gold jewellery shops and showrooms remain closed to opposes HUID norm

Telangana: National Green Tribunal committee gives clean chit to My Home project

Human hair smuggling: ED searches at 9 locations in Hyderabad, Guntur for FEMA violations

4 cops die in road accident in AP’s Srikakulam

Stolen properties worth Rs. 1.10 cr handed over to victims by Cyberabad police

Amitabh Bachchan’s former car driven by ‘Salman Khan’ seized by Karnataka transport dept

Sonu Sood’s witty reply to fan asking for Rs. 1 crore

When Parineeti was asked if Ranveer ‘papa bann gaye’

Rumi Jaffery has tested Covid positive

Guwahati Pani Puri seller caught mixing urine in masala water

Education is not competition to acquire degrees, but tool to leverage knowledge for character building: Pradhan

Centre to its higher education institutions: Fill up all vacant teaching position by Sept 2022

Schools, higher education institutes to reopen in Tripura from Wednesday

Delhi cabinet decides to implement ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme

Avika Gor on tasting success with Balika Vadhu

Jagapathi Babu’s look as Rajamanaar from Prabhas and Shruti Haasan starrer Salaar

Delhi: BJP, AAP slug it out over ‘first’ smog tower

*Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated India's first ever smog tower in the capital's Connaught Place area on Monday. The over 20-metre-tall structure, has been set up to improve air quality in a radius of around 1km. Covid-19 pandemic delayed the construction work of the smog tower. The Delhi cabinet had approved the pilot project in October last year. The smog tower will be able to purify 1,000 cubic metres of air per second. A two-year pilot study will be undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of the smog tower after it becomes operational, an official said. *

Two held by CISF with bullets at Delhi airport

Manoj Tiwari seeks joint meeting to expedite opening of 7 JNV schools in Delhi

Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act calls north-east Delhi riots conspiracy case cooked up, points to contradictions

Hyderabad: Congress slams TRS government for neglecting minorities

Congress takes up tour-cum-night stay in Dalit habitations to expose TRS government failures

Shilpa Shetty turns to yoga to stay positive amid personal turmoil: ‘Be your own warrior’

Abhishek Bachchan hospitalised, father Amitabh Bachchan and sister Shweta Bachchan pay a visit at the hospital to check on his health

India's Rahul Rajasekharan wins Mister Supranational Asia 2021 title!

Producers Guild supports Nani; call statements made against Tuck Jagadish makers during the exhibitors meet “insulting”

Gopichand and Tamannaah's Seetimaarr to release on September 3

Hyderabad airport records over 7 lakh passengers in July

Telangana logs 389 new Covid-19 cases, one death

Ram Gopal Varma's viral dance video: Director confirms being a part of it, posts pic with Inaya Sultana

Bizarre: MP villagers hang dead man upside down from tree in bid to revive him

Kuwait & Middle East News

Receptions of His Highness the Amir Shiekh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Receptions of His Highness the Crown Prince Shiekh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

His Highness the Amir congratulates Kuwait Olympic champion Abdullah Al-Tariqi Al-Rashidi for his achievement in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and praises his keenness to raise the flag of Kuwait in international forums

The General Secretariat of Awqaf launches the Kuwait Grand Competition for Memorizing and Refining the Noble Qur’an under the sublime sponsorship

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister receives a phone call from his Canadian counterpart, during which he discussed the latest development on the Afghan scene

Al-Babtain Al-Thaqafiah devoted its fourth lexicon to Arabic poets in the land of India in three volumes, prepared by Dr Abdullah Al-Qatm

Kuwaiti Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basil Al-Sabah announced, through his official account on Twitter, that the vaccination rate in the State of Kuwait has reached 70 percent

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announces the registration of 166 new infections with the emerging Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the past 24 hours, bring the total number of cases registered in the country to 408,600, in addition of two deaths, bring the total number of deaths to 2,409 cases

Kuwait Ministry of Oil: Operation of liquefied gas import facilities in Al-Zour is an “exceptional event” in the history of the Kuwaiti oil sector

An Iraqi government spokesman: Kuwait supports the Baghdad conference and its attendance will be special and important

Kuwait Basketball Association: Kuwait will host the Asian Junior Championships next year

The UN Security Council will discuss the issue of the missing Kuwaitis during the Iraqi invasion

Kuwaiti Civil Aviation denies setting a date for the start of commercial flights to Egypt and India

The Acting Minister of Youth praises the support and care of the country’s wise political leadership for Kuwaiti sports and athletes

Iraqi Prime Minister describes his visit to Kuwait as ‘successful’

Afghan News

US President Joe Biden defends Afghan pullout, cites 'growing risk' of IS attack

India on Tuesday brought back another 78 evacuees from Afghanistan. They reached New Delhi after a halt at Tajik capital Dushanbe.

Ukraine and Iran have denied reports that a Ukrainian evacuation plane was hijacked from Kabul.

Pentagon says no change in plan to complete Afghan evacuation by Aug 31

CIA director held secret meeting with Taliban co-founder Baradar in Kabul: Report

Airbnb to house 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free, says CEO Brian Chesky; India gives name to evacuation mission in Afghanistan, calls it 'Op Devi Shakti

If we kill one, we’ll kill all: IC 814 crew recall Taliban militia’s threat

‘Last scheduled flights to Kabul met with ATC’s radio silence’

PM Modi speaks to Putin over Afghanistan situation

626 people including 228 Indian citizens evacuated from Afghanistan so far: Hardeep Singh Puri

Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed blames Pak for empowering Taliban, terms India ‘true friend’

3 copies of Sikh scripture, 44 Afghan Sikhs flown in from Afghanistan

India brings back 78 people as part of evacuation mission from Afghanistan

India at UNSC: Afghanistan shouldn’t be used by Pakistan-based terrorists

Taliban will help us in Kashmir: Pakistan neta

‘626 people including 228 Indian citizens evacuated from Afghanistan so far’

Taliban take over some UN premises, curb movement: Report

The US President announces that 75,900 people have left Afghanistan since the end of July, including 70,700 people since August 14 alone

Abhishek Bachchan hospitalised, father Amitabh Bachchan and sister Shweta Bachchan pay a visit at the hospital to check on his health

International News

The US House of Representatives passes a $3.5 trillion budget plan

US President tells G7 members that his country is on track to complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan by Aug 31

Russia starts building 2 nuclear submarines armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles along with 2 diesel-powered submarines & 2 corvettes

Papua New Guinea accuses Indian envoys of "deliberate deception" by letting unauthorised travellers some Covid-19 positive; bans flights from India

Indian-American doctors’ association ushers in top leadership team of women

Chef Sameer Taneja enjoys being part of a good Indian restaurant ‘mafia’ in London

The centrality of the Fatah movement decides to refer the issue of the ministerial reshuffle to President Abbas

Greece announces control of most of the fires in Western Attica

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announces that Algeria has decided to cut diplomatic relations with Morocco starting today, attributing this to historical and political issues

Cairo: The Emergency Supreme States Security Criminal Court in Egypt issues life and hard prison sentences against seven terrorists in the case that became famous in the media with the ‘Ahrar al-Sham’ cell and was linked to the formation of a terrorist group and receiving military training with the knowledge of terrorist organizations in Syria

UAE-based Indian entrepreneur helps rebuild health centre in Kerala

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies aged 80

Namibia's Chanique Rabe crowned Miss Supranational 2021, at the grand finale held at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater, Nowy Sacz, Malopolska, Poland among 58 delegates

Viral Video: US Marine wins hearts by sharing water with thirsty kids at Kabul Airport

Sports News

Tokyo Paralympics: Hockey team captains Rani, Manpreet send best wishes to Indian contingent

Virat Kohli’s team will play how it plays we will not get drawn into anything that’s not honest: Joe Root

Malan will offer us experience in top three, says Root

Ligament tear rules Bajrang Punia out of World Championships, brings early end to his 2021 season

Bajrang Punia: Don’t abuse athletes who lose, but continue supporting them

Bajrang Punia: I feel bad for not being able to meet India’s expectations. I will get the gold in 2024

Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI series shifted from Sri Lanka to Pakistan

Today’s News (24th Aug 2021, Tuesday)

Today’s News (24th Aug 2021, Tuesday)

by Annadatha V Murali Manohar

Headlines

Covid third wave looms, may peak in October, hit kids: MHA panel to PMO

CM Nitish-led all party team from Bihar meets PM Modi for caste census

No immediate plan to ban two Hurriyat factions, says official

Paralympics: Thums Up becomes official partner of Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Indian teacher Ranjitsinh Disale, (Global Teacher Prize 2020) joined worldwide leaders from across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to call for an acceleration of girls’ digital access, digital skills and participation in online learning in a pandemic-hit scenario

Army Selection Board clears way for promoting 5 Women Officers to Colonel Rank after they completed 26 years of "reckonable service”

Tamil Nadu’s 'Priesthood for all' breaking caste barriers, but still there's 'Reluctance' to cede space

Govt launches infra assets pipeline that'll bring much needed funding to a sector crucial for growth; Rs 6 lakh crore expected till FY25; expects Rs 39,832Cr from sale of power generation assets; 45,000Cr from monetisation of power transmission assets; Coal mining assets worth Rs 28,747Cr to be monetized

Baby Crocodiles emerging from eggs in National Park in Odisha in Bhitarkanika marks end of breeding season

In swift op, J&K cops-in-plainclothes kill top Lashkar terrorist & aide; he has to pay one of the longest surviving terrorists

Russian Model and 'Kanchana 3' actress Alexandra Djavi found dead in Goa, Russian counsel alleges foul play

‘Anti-Indian, absurd’: Anurag Thakur on Mehbooba Mufti’s Taliban remarks

Army selection board clears way for promoting 5 women officers to Colonel rank

Financial & Business News

FM Nirmala Sitharaman expressed "deep disappointment" plaguing the new gives income tax portal Infosys Sep 15 deadline to set right

Rs. 6 lakh cr national monetisation plan announced for infrastructure assets

India ranks second in Chainalysis’s 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index

India’s wireless stereo hearbles shipments rise 68%

Developer shut down iPhone keyboard for the blind, accuses Apple of abuse

Airtel plea against payment of Videocon's AGR dues in Supreme Court; Videocon owes govt ₹ 1376Cr

CCI approves internal corporate reorganization of Daimler AG group of cos

Honda plans to ship more cars, boosting New Delhi’s manufacturing enhancement program

Oil India can't be judge in its own cause, will reconstitute panel: SC on Baghjan oil well tragedy

OneWeb launches 34 more satellites, expands in-orbit LEO constellation to 288 satellites

Maruti Suzuki: CCI fines India's biggest carmaker 200Cr over Dealer Discount Policy; anti-competitive conduct of Resale Price Maintenance (RPM) in the passenger vehicle segment

Tata Punch micro-SUV, based on Altroz platform, revealed; launch in festive season

CEO of smartphone company that won Innovation Award in 2015 charged with fraud

Government said to plan $81 billion of infrastructure asset sales

National Stock Exchange (NSE) warns against unregulated derivative products

16 merchant bankers in race for managing LIC IPO

After investing in US firm Matternet, RattanIndia to form subsidiary for drone business in India

Court gives police three weeks to conclude Paytm ownership probe

HDFC Bank, Paytm team up for digital payments

Govt against merging ailing Vodafone Idea with BSNL-MTNL

Fuel prices cut by 20p/lt, but fail to keep pace with Crude’s fall

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) upholds tax treaty relief on delayed Tax Residency Certificate (TRC)

US, UAE continue to be top importers of India’s engineering goods

Chrys Capital, True North, buys $150 million stake in Quest Global

Corona Updates

World: 213,226,685; Active 17,969,995 (8.43%); Recovery 190,804,434 (89.48%); Vaccinated 4.97BN

India: 32,460,328; Active 334,692 (1.03%); Recovery 31,690,586 (97.63%); Vaccinated 580.77MN

Pfizer and BioNTech surge after the FDA officially approves its Covid-19 vaccine

India may record an unprecedented 600,000 new infections a day if the country fails to boost the pace of vaccination, avert 3rd wave; could reduce to 200,000 if India executes its 10MN/day vaccination plan

Maharashtra logs 27 new Delta Plus cases; Amaravati, Gadchiroli top list; Bengal govt preps for 3rd wave: 2,300+ paediatric care units, training of doctors, ASHA workers

Experts warn of imminent third wave of Covid-19 in Sept-Oct

Clinical trial participants to get digital vaccination certificates

Door-to-door survey to identify unvaccinated people under way in Hyderabad

Telangana: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) launches special vaccination drive

Vaccine dose availability in India in August highest in last 5 months

Explain process of Covid vaccine procurement, allotment: Bombay HC to Centre

New Zealand extends virus lockdown; Australia eyes vaccines

No new Covid-19 case in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

China reports no new local Covid-19 cases for first time since July

Taiwan’s president receives domestically developed vaccine

State News

Schools in Bengal to reopen after puja vacation: Mamata

Schools, colleges in Puducherry to re-open on Sept 1

British Council’s digital library witnesses 104% rise in memberships

Over 55k Indian students and exchange visitors travelling to US: Embassy

US approves record number of Indian student visa applications in 2021

Fewer applications in Engineering are due to excessive seat allocation to states

Students throng high schools, pre-university colleges in Karnataka

Tamil Nadu SSLC results 2021 has been announced by the Tamil Nadu Department of Government Examination (TNDGE); the result is now available on the various websites

Jammu has emerged as an education hub in north India

Bengal HS council to follow semester-based curriculum for classes 11 and 12

Gujarat govt approves non-practising allowance for in-service doctors

Now, Tamil Nadu association seeks reservation for in-service doctors

For credit scheme, DU entrance must for other varsity students

Karnataka CM urges parents to send their children to schools

Schools, colleges reopen for classes 9-12 in Karnataka after five months

ICCR, Pune varsity to help stranded Afghan students

UGC allows varsities to teach online, distance learning post-Covid

India will need 20 lakh Cloud professionals by 2025: Nasscom

Classes starting, but international students failing to get US visas

Kolkata: US University virtual fairs on Aug 27 and Sept 3

Students hit visa jackpot for US in pandemic year

1.8 lakh students apply for 20,000 PG seats in Delhi University

No instant solution on whether to reopen schools amid pandemic

Punjab names 10 govt schools after Olympic medallist hockey team players

Karnataka govt going forward with NEP implementation, says minister Ashwatha Narayana

Karnataka 1st State to implement New National Education Policy: launch a policy of digitisation and research and development that could help implement the new National Education Policy (NEP)

Mangaluru: In less than a year, students donate seven wigs to cancer patients

Mangaluru: Potable water supply network of Nitte village mapped using GPS

Bihar teenager shot dead for asking commuters to pay Rs 10 as Boat Fare killed in front of his residence in Banbhaura village under Bithan police station

Hyderabad: 36-year-old scrap businessman Abdul Sadiq, murdered in Kalapathar

Hyderabad: History-sheeter sentenced to 5-year rigorous imprisonment in sexual assault case

Congress deeksha for cause of SCs and STs in Telangana CM’s adopted village

A 26-year-old worker died when an electric pole accidentally collapsed on him during demolition work being carried out at Mallanna Sagar project-affected Erravalli village in Siddipet district, Telangana

Srikanth, a 35-year-old Pharma company employee ended his life due to personal problems: Jeedimetla, Telangana

Kuwait & Middle East News

Kuwait Ministry of Health: 189 new cases and 3 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours

In implementation of the royal directives Kuwait gives Tunisia 6 firefighting vehicles equipped with all their equipment to confront forest fires

The Kuwaiti Defence Minister receives a phone call from his American counterpart and they exchange views on a number of common issues and regional and international developments

The technical staff of the Kuwait National football team selects 28 players for the friendly match of the Bosnian national team next Sept 4

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence organizes a blood donation campaign under the slogan ‘My blood is for Kuwait’

The Kuwait Health Authority allows the emergency use of the drug Regen-Cove2

The Cabinet reviews the National Contributions Document and the general framework of Kuwait’s Low Carbon Strategy 2050

Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad, announces that the Saud Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery has received six injured from the Lebanese Republic as a result of a recent explosion of a fuel tank in a town in northern Lebanon

Afghan News

I don't trust anybody, says Biden on Taliban promises, says Washington will see if group 'Means it or not; Taliban near resistance stronghold Panjshir after retaking 3 nearby areas; 16K evacuated from Kabul Airport in past 24 hours

Can't eat out, confined to single room like a jail: Bokaro man on life in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan; Union Govt: Calls All-Party meet to discuss Afghanistan crisis, India's stance on Thursday

Afghan evacuated by France under surveillance for alleged Taliban links; four others thought to be close to the main suspect are also the subject of surveillance

China, Pakistan, India jockey for position in Afghanistan’s new Great Game

Taliban says they have taken three northern districts seized by Afghan militias

The art of the deal: US envoy Zalmy Khalilzad behind the Taliban’s return

For Afghan refugees in India, hopes dim for returning home

Kabul airlift is accelerating but still hampered by chaos

Pakistan and its intelligence service have played a key role in fostering the Taliban and allowing it to eventually take over Afghanistan, a top Republican lawmaker has alleged, stating that it is disgusting to watch Islamabad celebrate the group's victory that will bring 'untold brutality' to Afghans.

China hints at providing financial aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

International News

Rain on Greenland Ice Sheet, possibly a first, signals Climate Change Risk; was observed for several hours on August 14 at a measuring post over 3,000 metres up on the ice sheet

Italy has been selling off houses in its picturesque countryside for one euro (approximately ₹ 87) each to anyone willing to commit to restoring them

Greeece wildfires: Another blaze breaks out on Evia island

Russia’s Putin: We don’t want Afghan militants in Russia

German helicopters ready to join Kabul airlifts, Italy says it evacuated nearly 1,000 Afghans over last 5 days

US envoy says no hostile intent toward North Korea, calls for talks

Pakistan intel agency played key role in Taliban takeover of Afghanistan: US Congressman

Japan to send military plane to repatriate citizen from Afghanistan

US Vice President Kamala Harris visits Singapore to deepen ties, counter China’s influence

Joe Biden says US unwavering in Afghanistan evacuations; Taliban beat back crowd at airport

US state department recently hit by a cyber attack, claims report

Tunisia’s president decides to extend parliament freeze ‘until further notice’

The Coalition to Support Legitimacy intercepts a booby-trapped plane targeting Khamis Mushait, southern Saudi Arabia

Sports News

Indian Hockey Stars Harmanpreet Singh, Gurjit Kaur nominated for FIH Player of the Year Awards

India vs. England: Momentum is with India, get Joe Root out early and win Headingley Test, say former cricketers

India vs. England: Indian team undergoes first training session at Headingley

India vs. England: A big Virat Kohli hundred is about to come, says childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma

India vs. England: Wood injury adds to England pace problems ahead of Third Test

I’m happy people are talking about me: Rahane on criticism for slow batting at Lord’s

Cannot write off modern-day great Kohli, he got couple of good balls, Agarkar

Captain Rani Rampal wishes former head coach Sjoerd Marijne luck for ‘new chapter’

Indian women hockey players Gurjit Kaur and Nisha Warsi, given warm welcome at NCR

News Digest (23rd Aug 2021, Monday)

 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

Today’s News (22nd Aug 2021, Sunday)

Today’s News (22nd Aug 2021, Sunday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

Afghanistan: ‘Flight carrying 87 Indians departs from Tajikistan for Delhi

Former UP CM Kalyan Singh passes away at 89

‘Crestfallen’ over Babri demolition, Kalyan Singh said history will fix responsibility

PM Modi condoles demise of Kalyan Singh, says he was rooted in Indian values

Three unidentified militants, associated with the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), were killed in an encounter in a forest area of Pulwama’s Tral in South Kashmir

SC nod for ‘equivalent qualification’ for jobs

Kuwait set to resume commercial flights with India, and other SE Asian countries

PSE-Home Affairs visit BSF Hqrs, BOP Makwal, apprised about drone threat, arms smuggling from across IB

Jaishankar holds talks with Qatari FM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, in Doha on Afghanistan developments

Army repatriates 3 PoJK boys who take gifts and goodwill message with them across LoC

Mehbooba indulging in ‘politics of hatred’ after losing ground in J&K: BJP

Washington: India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, interacts with heads of US Universities

NEET applicants from TN fall by 7%

‘Students hit visa jackpot for US in pandemic year’

Address pilot-in-command as Captain or by first name; not Sir: AI Express

Telangana: Kakatiya temple from 13th century yet to be restored

For Tamil Nadu loss of 2 Lok Sabha seats in ‘60s, HC moots 5,600 cr in damanges

Financial & Business News

Half-a-trillion $ wiped off China markets in a week

Uttar Pradesh government launches 3rd phase of ‘Mission Shakti’

Uttar Pradesh: Ganga Expressway project receives sanction letter for Rs. 5,100 crore loan

Draft rules for e-tail queer pitch for Tata, Adani’s super app plans

Microsoft acquires $5 million stake in Oyo, values company at $9 billion

Godrej empowers carpenters to boost productivity in east

Coal India’s capex up twofold to Rs. 1,840 cr

Container shortage, lockdowns spook Tirupur garment industry

Venture capital funding: Startups raise $17 billion

IPO bandwagon getting bigger and bigger; August sees 23 filings so far

China eyes pushing US IPO-bound firms to hand over data control: Report

China passes new personal data privacy law, to take effect November 1

Facebook eyes Indian startups for investments

Mashreq Bank activates UPI platform across UAE

Sebi keeps Adani Wilmar’s Rs. 4,500 crore IPO in abeyance

Reconsider call for strike on August 23, mandatory gold hallmarking big success so far: Govt to GJC

NTPC starts India’s largest floating solar plant in Andhra Pradesh

Despite record tax mop-up, govt continues to borrow heavily, hits 46% of target for FY22: Report

Indian startups raise $16.9 billion VC funding in 2021, next only to China

Tata, Adani’s super app plans hit by draft rules for e-tail

Taliban websites go offline, Twitter accounts remain

Hyderabad: Six financial firms order audit on Karvy Stock Broking Ltd dealings

Corona Updates

World: Confirmed: 210,829,653; Total Deaths: 4,414,877; Active Cases: 206,414,776

India: Confirmed: 32,393,286; Total Deaths: 433,964; Recovered: 31,597,982; Active Cases: 361,340

A momentous feat: PM Narendra Modi after Zydus Cadilla’s Covid vaccine gets emergency use authorisation

Government approves first Covid-19 vaccine for children above 12 tears

Sri Lankan president warns of consequences if longer Covid lockdown enforced

Delhi reports 19 new Covid-19 cases, lowest since April 15 last year

Johnson and Johnson seeks nod to study Covid-19 vaccine among kids in India

Covaxin may be available for kids by October

With over dozen viruses, doctors struggle to decipher and treat

Over 48 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India: Govt

Fate of Afghan allies in faraway war divides US Republicans

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris under fire for Afghanistan fiasco

US reports possible IS threat to Kabul evacuees

Taliban takeover prompts relief, women’s rights fear in Afghan cities

Biden battered over Kabul fiasco amid growing rightwing frenzy over Afghan refugees

Fate of Afghan allies in faraway war divides US Republicans

China’s warm welcome for Taliban sparks backlash at home

Over 1.21 lakh doses of Covid vaccine administered in Delhi on Friday: Government bulletin

India reports 34,457 new Covid-19 cases; 540 deaths, active cases lowest in 151 days

Telangana reports 364 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths

Newly discovered fungus also causes mucormycosis, but not found in any Covid patient so far

Police clash with protesters as Australia reports record Covid-19 cases

Australia reports record Covid-19 cases as police block Sydney protest

Panic buying in Vietnam’s largest city before tighter Covid-19 lockdown

Tamil Nadu extends Covid lockdown by another 2 weeks; theatres, schools, colleges to function

Speaking after launching one such facility at the Directorate of Public health and Preventive Medicine here, medical and family welfare minister Ma Subramanain said vaccines would be provided round the clock at this centre and that those wishing to receive the jabs should bring proof of identity

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said it would offer round-the-clock vaccination services at government colleges and hospitals from next week for the benefit of those unable to take the Covid shots at their convenience.

Protesters in France demonstrate against Covid pass for sixth weekend

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in France again Saturday against the government's Covid-19 vaccination policies amid concern from rights groups about anti-Semitic sentiment in the protest movement. (AFP)

State News

Taj Mahal to reopen for night viewing from Aug 21, after remaining closed for almost a year due to Covid-19 crisis

Tamil Nadu schools to reopen for classes 9 to 12 from Sept 1

Ladakh all set to host an event to promote domestic tourism from August 25-29

Kerala to develop river-based tourism

India-made robots chat up diners at Chitti In Town, a Hyderabad restaurant in Dilsukhnagar area

Sikkim opens Yumthang Valley for tourists

Uttarkashi’s ancient Gartang Gali bridge opens to tourists after 59 years!

Himachal Pradesh makes online registration mandatory for entry into state

People rejected Congress, it has lost faith in itself: BJP

'Bigg Boss OTT' fame Urfi Javed recalls being called 'porn star' by relatives, reveals that her father 'victim-blamed' her

Telangana: Kakatiya temple from 13th century yet to be restored

TRS govt not cooperating with Centre, says Union minister for tourism G Kishan Reddy

No flow of funds from Telangana & Andhra Pradesh, Krishna River Management Board struggles

Hyderabad first urban body in Telangana to get ‘Water Plus’ city tag

Hyderabad: Six financial firms order audit on Karvy Stock Broking Ltd dealings

Boulders fall on house, create panic

Andhra Pradesh: Drunk man jumps into fire pit during Muharram festivities, dies

Hyderabad: Rakhi business picks up ahead of Raksha Bandhan

Special Covid-19 vaccine drive in Hyderabad: Somesh Kumar

Telangana: Revanth Reddy gives Youth Congress 20-month’s target to bring party to power in 2023

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao riding on Dalit Bandhu impact to enter national fray?

Hyderabad: Bibi-ka-Alam procession goes off peacefully

IIIT-H devises new low-cost location tool without GPS

Telangana digs in to revive heritage stepwells

Ramvir Singh Bidhuri holds meets with party workers as Delhi BJP focuses on upcoming MCD polls

Delhi: Man who attempted self-immolation outside Supreme Court succumbs to injuries

Delhi: Man shoots former business partner, surrenders at police station

Delhi records highest one-day rain for August in at least 13 years, IMD issues orange alert

Heavy rains lash Delhi, bring down mercury

Parts of Delhi-NCR witness moderate to heavy rainfall

Combo masks, organic rachis in huge demand

Delhi Metro services on two corridors to start early on Raksha Bandhan

‘Markets in Delhi to remain open beyond 8 pm from Monday’

Delhi: Man shoots former business partner, surrenders at police station

15-year-old falls into drain in northeast Delhi; dies

Delhi Police thwart gangster’s plan to harm Tihar Jail official

Delhi: Hindu Army chief arrested for raising communal slogans at Jantar Mantar

Whenever women get a chance, they perform with gusto, says Nirmala Sitharaman in UP

Telangana Cinema Theatres Association issues apology about their tone at recent press meet

Kuwait News

Kuwait is on the UAE Green list in the latest updates, starting today

Adherence to Covid-19 Protocol must to avoid second epidemiological situation: Al-Jarallah

Kuwait sets conditions for entry to Kuwait as Covid-19 infections decline

Muneera Al-Hashash becomes Kuwait, Gulf First Woman FIBA Licensed Referee

‘MoE’s plan to burden private Arab School’s – Student Density High

MoH studies possibility of allowing Spring Camps

Safe passage for understanding on a bridge of Diplomacy here and there

MoE receiving applications from Expats for Teaching sector

Customs seizes ‘Larica’ powder

Egyptian arrested for stealing cables from Power Transformers

Syrian man, driving stolen vehicle, held for threatening police officer

No driving license, 3 expats jailed

Mead fish disappears from Kuwait Market

School readiness follow-up Teams to start their work from Sunday

Free rations for Kuwaiti, expat frontliners

250,000 expats vaccinated; medicine delivery to continue

Protesting is a lucid right, not a puzzling or a controversial one

97 families of low income Indians died of Covid received 1 lakh financial support

MoI warns about fake websites impersonating as official website

The Kuwaiti Hand of Benevolence comes to the aid of affected in line with its lofty message in humanitarian work around the world

Kuwaiti Health spokesman: 200 new cases of Corona, 598 recovery and two deaths recorded during the past 24 hours

Afghanistan News

India allowed to operate two flights daily to evacuate citizens from Kabul

150 Indians detained on way to Kabul airport, released later: Reports

Taliban denied the abduction of over 150 people, mostly Indians, from an area close to the Hamid Karzai International Airport on Saturday. Afghan media clarified that all Indian citizens were safe in Kabul and their documents were being processed for evacuation.

Anti-Taliban forces say they've taken three districts in Afghanistan’s north

Taliban release 340 prisoners in Farah Province

Impossible to evacuate all allied Afghans by August 31: EU foreign policy chief

Indonesian embassy in Afghanistan evacuated, diplomats moved to Pakistan

US, Germany advise citizens against travel to Kabul airport amid evacuation chaos

Ashraf Ghani wasn't prepared for Taliban takeover, fled with only clothes he was wearing: Report

Thousands rally in London decrying Taliban takeover

Taliban took Afghanistan but face cash squeeze

Taliban attacked ITBP contingent, soldier returned from Afghanistan says

Over 500 Nepalese nationals evacuated from Afghanistan

JeM chief Masood Azhar's brother Rauf Azhar calls on Mullah Baradar to pledge allegiance: Reports

US officials say 2,500 Americans have been evacuated from Kabul in past week

Pentagon spokesman says cannot rule out possibility of US troops going outside Kabul airport to get people

Aiming to improve situation, provide smooth exit at Kabul airport in the next 32 hours: Taliban official

Jaishankar, German counterpart discuss evacuation challenges in Afghanistan

Taliban takeover prompts relief, women's rights fears in Afghan cities

Ashraf Ghani's brother pledges allegiance with us, claim Taliban

Afghans running out of money as banks, ATMs shut for 7th day

Taliban bans co-education in Afghanistan’s Heart province: Report

No foreigners kidnapped, but some being queried, say Taliban

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie makes Instagram debut, shares heartbreaking letter from young Afghan girl

Taliban turn back Afghan govt employers returning to work

Abdullah Abdullah, Hamid Karzai meet Taliban ‘acting Kabul governor,’ discuss situation in Afghan capital

Want ties with all countries, particularly with US, says Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar

Afghanistan’s economic distress may be Taliban’s biggest challenge

Pak FM Qureshi discusses Afghan situation with several counterparts

International News

Singapore to introduce its first quarantine-free travel program

Protests, suicide attacks: Backlash grows against China’s Belt & Road projects in Pakistan

Blast targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan kills 2 kids

Florida orders school boards to relax mask rules or risk pay

Another video of assault on Pakistani woman sparks rage on social media

Taiwan: China wants to ‘emulate’ the Taliban

Philippines Duterte orders payment of healthcare workers’ benefits

Sri Lanka bans ‘drunk driving’ of elephants in new protection law

Big bird on water is mystery, but US town calls it just ducky

Hurricane Grace hits Mexico with torrential flooding, two deaths reported

Malaysia new PM faces tall task in uniting polarized society

Sports News

After Silver in U-20 Worlds, Amit Khatri trains eyes on Asiad, CMG medals

U20 Worlds: Priya Mohan finishes 4th in Women’s 400m final after clocking personal best

France’s Zhoya breaks U20 110m hurdles world record again

Grealish on target as Manchester City put five past hapless Norwich

‘Atmosphere-wise, our dreams came true’: Klopp hails return of fans

We are family’: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer supports Denis Law after dementia diagnosis

We put India on the cricketing map, says Farokh Engineer

Rafael Nadal ends 2021 season prematurely over foot issue

IPL 2021: Jos Buttler to miss UAE leg for birth of child

IPL: Simon Katich steps down as RCB head coach

IPL 2021: RCB domestic players, staff to leave for UAE on Aug 29

EPL: Liverpool cruise past Burnley to make it two wins from two

Arsenal complete signing of keeper Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United

Slowly building up Hardik Pandya for T20 World Cup: Paras Mhambrey

Japan athlete to get nibbled gold medal replaced

Today’s News (21st Aug 2021, Saturday)

Today’s News (21st Aug 2021, Saturday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar*

Happy Onam. !

Headlines

Paralympics: Indian Powerlifters depart for Tokyo with eye on medal; India will win at least 15 medals including 5 golds says Chef-de-Mission; Organisers say situation 'very difficult' as hospitals stretched by Covid cases

Rajnath Singh, during his visit to the Army Sports Institute in Pune, is likely to name the stadium in the campus after Neeraj Chopra

India seals deal with Russia to procure AK-103 Rifles in push of Military Modernisation; purchased to replace its ageing and obsolete weapons; under emergency financial powers

Ex-militant's death: Meghalaya ministers, MLAs getting extortion notes from Militant Group, admits CM; DGP's warning gets cops to remove sympathy posts from social media

7 lakes supplying water to Mumbai has 12.35 lakh million litres; 85.34% of total useful content, and will last for nine months and 20 days

MP CM Shivraj Chouhan slams poor state of roads in Bhopal, scraps body overseeing infra upkeep

Hisar-Mumbai Duronto Express flagged off, Journey will take 22 hours via Sadulpur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Rings, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Ratlam & Baroda

Artisans deserve better facilitators than NGOs and govts for their businesses to thrive; poor have little trust in Govt or NGOs. For most, it’s just a new person to ask for dole from in face of rudeness, stonewalling

Finance & Business News

Skoda will drive in an all-new sedan early next year – 2nd product under strategic India 2.0 initiative; to shore up volumes in the Indian market

Easy money fuels inflation and world-beating stocks in India

Apple delays office return to at least January in Covid rise

San Francisco: Bit Tech platforms Facebook Inc and Google have been hit with a series of antitrust lawsuits by the US federal government and states on charges they are operating monopolies and abusing their power

India looks to work with US on market access issues: Goyal

Jet Airways employees reject Jalan-Kalrock resolution move; move NCLAT over compensation

Facebook teams up with Indifi to help provide loans to small businesses

Oyo to hire more than 300 tech professionals

St. Kitts and Nevis Awarded Best Citizenships by Investment Programme by FT PWM report

In a first for India, a desi aviation company in New Delhi has taken an aircraft by leasing it from India. Leading private aircraft and helicopter operator JetSetGo said it is the first Indian leasing business to directly import an aircraft (Hawker 800 XP) through a lease of IFSC GIFT City, Ahmedabad; Earlier, a helicopter was leased from GIFT City and this is the first time for an aircraft

Luxury car makers stepping on gas on used car platforms

Imports have stopped from Afghanistan: Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Dr. Ajay Sahai

Sensex tumbles 300 points; Nifty ends below 16,500

China eyes pushing US IPO-bound firms to hand over data control: Report

China passes new personal data privacy law, to take effect November 1

US, India discuss ways to increase trade

CRED launches lending product CRED Mint

Many Indian companies slip in global valuation ranking, highest ranked RIL dips 3 places

Space Perspective, wants to make space travel ‘affordable’

Microsoft invests $5 million in Oyo

Corona Updates

World: 211,487,421; Active 17,811,295 (8.42%); Recovery 189,249,634 (89.49%); Vaccinated 4.88BN

India: 32,392,506; Active 368,122 (1.14%); Recovery 31,590,390 (97.52%); Vaccinated 566.60MN

Zydus Cadila becomes 6th weapon in India's armour; 3-dose jab approved; India gets its first vaccine for children 12 years and above

Delta variant that caused second wave driving infections in vaccinated people; vaccination continues to be very effective in reducing severe disease and death

UK Regulator approves antibody drug Ronapreve to prevent, tackle Covid-19; injection or infusion; acts at lining of respiratory system where it binds tightly to Covid; prevents it from gaining access to respiratory cells

Sydney tightens Covid-19 curbs, lockdown extended through September

Record Delta wave hits kids, raises fear as US schools open

New Covid-19 infections on the march in South Korea

Study supports widespread use of better masks to curb Covid-19 indoors

Delta crisis: US health system overwhelmed; 5 states see record hospitalizations

Singapore plans first quarantine-free travel program

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques directs to provide additional support to Tunisia to meet the needs of the health sector to confront Corona

Kuwait News

Stranded expatriates oil sector employees, unable to return to Kuwait are considered on Annual leave

Corona pandemic has put an end to men kissing men

Change in working hours proposed to solve traffic problem

EPA completes relocation of over 20m tyres dumped in Arhiya Area

Two perish, 4 hurt in accident on King Fahd Road

Not possible to cut expenditure

Civil Service Commission (CSC) okays list for Covid-19 Frontliner Reward

Mixed reactions to removal of Venus statue from 360 Mall

19 domestic workers held in raid

Expats on vacation in dilemma over policy of jabs for under 18 years of age

Sheikh Dr Basil Al Sabah meets with Ambassadors

The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) keen to increase percentage of Kuwaitis in private sector

MoH to work on accelerating pace of vaccinations

Kuwait records 226 new infections and two deaths

Britain adopts a new treatment against the Corona virus

The Iraqi Prime Minister will visit Kuwait next week

The price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil decreased by $3.20 to $67.47

Bahraini Ministry of Health: 79 new cases of Corona virus were recorded

Afghan News

Taliban's mammoth task ahead as economy in doldrums. Currency down 90%, world halts aid; won't form govt until Aug 31 as per 'deal with US'; Taliban revenge fears grow as targeted door-to-door visits surge; resistance forces recapture 3 districts; several Taliban fighters killed; UN report claims one in three Afghans at risk of severe or acute hunger

Relationship with Taliban, good ties with US: Qatar & media houses helped Afghan scribes out of Kabul; US set to expand evacuation flights from Kabul to Europe; NATO wants inclusive govt

Joe Biden: Kabul evacuation among "Most Difficult" in history; will mobilize every resource necessary "to conduct a thorough evacuation; He added I cannot promise what the final outcome will be, or... that it will be without risk of loss"

Had no radical views’: Army Veterans recall 1982 IMA batchmate ‘Sheru’ who is now among Top 7 Taliban leader; “well-built, not too tall and never religiously inclined; Uttarakhand govt sends names of 110 natives stuck in Afghanistan to Union Govt

Merkel and Putin to discuss Afghanistan, other ‘big’ issues

UNESCO calls for protection of cultural heritage in Afghanistan

Over 18,000 people evacuated since Sunday from Kabul airport: NATO official

60 Hindus and Sikhs shifted to Afghanistan safe place for India evacuation

Guard against Afghanistan payment defaults, exporters warned

US President: We are continuing to communicate with the Taliban to facilitate the evacuation. Any attack on our forces will be met with a ‘quick and strong’ response

Britain: Finding a long-term solution to the Afghan crisis may require dealing with the Taliban

The UAE announces its agreement to temporarily host 5,000 Afghans before they head to other countries

The US Department of Defense: 6 thousand people left Kabul in the last 24 hours on 17 flights

The Turkish President and the Prime Minister of Greece discuss by phone the Afghan developments and their repercussions on immigration

Bahrain announces its contribution to supporting relief efforts in Afghanistan and facilitating the evacuation process

NATO foreign ministers call for an immediate end to violence and formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan

International News

China approves three-child policy with sops (reduce families’ burdens as well as the cost of raising and educating children) to encourage couples to have more children

In midst of Afghan crisis, US VP Kamala Harris visits Vietnam

Russian 'Devil worshipping' couple accused of two 'Human Sacrifices'; victims stabbed to deaths; also face charges of drug trafficking after large quantities of drugs were found in their home

UK sanctions seven Russian intelligence agents over Navalny poisoning; Angela Merkel asks Putin 'to free Navalny' on Moscow visit; Russian Prez denies charges

2 children killed, 3 injured in suicide bombing targeting Chinese nationals in Pak’s Port City Gwadar

Teen arrested after knife attack in southern Swedish school

German on trial for killing 5, injuring 18 in car rampage

11 Malian soldiers killed, 10 wounded in ambush in central Mali

Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill

Three dead, four missing in Malaysian floods

Biden administration to review climate impacts of federal coal leases

Singapore gets sweet pandemic distraction as Museum of Ice Cream opens

Hurricane Grace makes landfall near Mexico’s Tulum temples

Hong Kong students charged with ‘advocating terrorism’ denied bail

400 booked for harassing, molesting Tik Toker girl in Pakistan: Lahore police

Women comes face-to-face with 3-metre long (10-foot long) snake in Australian Supermarket

Beirut: Lebanese President Michel Aoun calls on the United Nations to take action to put an end to the Israeli violations of his country’s sovereignity

Ramallah: Head of the Information Office in the Mobilization and Organization Commission of the Fatah movement, Munir al-Jaghoub, announces the postponement of the announcement of the Cabinet reshuffle on the government of Muhammad Shtayyeh

Beijing: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi says that the great changes currently taking place in Afghanistan reflect the Afghan people’s desire for security and stabilitiy, and their rejection of war and chaos that lasted more than 40 years

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s Royal Palace announces the appointment of the assistant head of the United Malays Organization *AMNO) Ismail Sabri as the new Prime Minister, weeks after a political crisis that toppled the previous government

Istanbul: Turkey announces that the death toll from the recent floods in three northern states of the country has risen to 79

Russian military official: Russian missile systems replied the Israeli attack in Syria

Sports News

Junior World Wrestling Champ: Silver for Sanju Devi, Bhateri; Saneh endures painful end to campaign; World Athletics U20 Champ: Sasha Zhoya breaks U20 110m Hurdles World Record

Rafael Nadal will not be playing in 2021 again as he is taking break to find a solution to his foot injury

Western & Southern Open to match Naomi Osaka’s prize money pledge for Haiti

Stefanos Tsitsipas angers Greek government over vaccination news

Virat Kohli, BCCI brass ‘informally’ chat over roadmap for T20 World Cup

We are gathering momentum nicely, says Eoin Morgan ahead of T20 World Cup

ICC T20 World Cup: Carlos Brathwaite to launch virtual trophy tour

Todays News (20th Aug 2021, Friday)

Todays News (20th Aug 2021, Friday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

After PM’s Prod, govt goes big with Ayushman Bharat: 10 cr cards this Fiscal, 50L Free Hospital Admissions

Anger comes alone but takes away all the good qualities from us. Patience too comes alone, but brings all good qualities to us. Choice is ours!

Plea to interrogate Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan about some incriminating document found in his Delhi residence again dismissed by Matura

Madhya Pradesh Farm Leader threatens to sue weather department IMD for "Wrong" Predictions leading to crop losses for cultivators in recent times

Supreme Court asks States to file status reports on vacancies, Pendency of cases in Info Commissions

NHRC Core Group expresses concern over slow pace of reforms in Criminal Justice System; delays in disposal of cases result in human rights violations of both the under-trials and convicted prisoners

After 75-year-long wait, river island in Odisha’s Sambalpur gets access to banking services; Utkal Grameen Bank opened customer service point

Air India office at Kolkata airport receives flight hijacking threat call, probe underway

US district court lets Devas track down Indian space agency’s commercial arm Antrix's assets

India working with global partners to bring back stranded citizens, Jaishankar says

'Some countries subvert collective resolve to fight terrorism’: Jaishankar’s veiled attack on Pakistan at UNSC

Countries should not place blocks and holds without any reason on requests to designate terrorists: India at UNSC

Navy has spread far and wide with the aim of protecting India’s maritime interests: Navy Chief Admiral Karambir

DRDO develops Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard IAF fighter aircraft

Government exempts certain establishments from giving job quota to disabled; rights groups object

Financial & Business News

With $19.2 billion, DMart owner breaks into world top 100

Hyderabad: Karvy chairman C Parthasarathy, arrested for defaulting bank loan taken from IndusInd Bank, on Thursday

Facebook took action on 31.5 million pieces of content for hate speech in Q2

Capital Float and Razorpay partner to offer now pay later to one lakh online merchants

Voda Idea falls Rs. 150 crore short on payment of licensing fee

Tega Industries files for Rs. 750 crore IPO

Diesel price cut by 21 paise a litre but LPG rate up, petrol unchanged

Domestic LPG cylinder gets expensive, price hiked by Rs 25; 2nd straight month of increase; hiked by Rs 25.50 per cylinder on July 1

New study led by Hyderabad’s ICRISAT finds consumption of millets (whole grain/bajra) can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases

TN: Kanjirangal panchayat (with 8 villages) in Sivaganga Dist - sustainable waste mgmt turning trash into electricity; produced 600 units of electricity in a week

New bank locker rules: Sign new locker agreements to get locker loss compensation; Banks to ensure incidents do not occur in the bank's premises - own shortcomings, negligence, by any act of omission/ commission

MG Motor India unveils upcoming mid-sized SUV Astor equipped with AI assistant, level 2 autonomous driving tech

DoT: Govt set to notify new Spacecom policy that will underline key role of LEO satellite operators

Estimates of discoms' losses of Rs 90K cr for FY21 seem to be grossly inflated: Power ministry

Postman now most valued SaaS startup $5.6BN after fresh funding $225MN by Insight Partners, Coatue, Mary Meeker’s Bond Capital and Battery Ventures; overtaking BrowserStack valued ($4BN) in June

Bombay HC directed Mihan at Nagpur to execute the concession agreement with GMR Airports for the upgradation and operation; State Govt, Mihan shall challenge in SC

D-Mart owner Radhakishan Damani breaks into the list of world’s top 100 richest people; currently worth $19.2BN; positioned at 98

Govt: Tax breaks must for vehicles bought against scrapped ones

Tata Motors targets different set of buyers with Tigor EV, Nexon EV

At $8.8 billion IPO wave sweeps across India as startups soar

Crafts Council of India invites nominations for Kamala Awards 2021

Housing sales may rise 30% in 2021; to remain below pre-Covid levels: Report

Pilot run commences for International Bullion Exchange at IFSC

IndiGo to resume UAE flights from August 20

SpiceJet to start trial of IATA’s travel pass from Aug 23

Pilot run commences for International Bullion Exchange at IFSC

Nehru’s real big mistake: Heavy industry wrongly got priority in 1950s. So even at 75, India isn’t rich: Arvind Panagariya, Prof of Economics, Columbia University, USA

Cars24 to raise $350 million from SoftBank, others

HDFC Bank fixes coupon rate of $1 billion AT-1 bonds at 3.7%

Corona updates

India: Confirmed: 32,322,258; Total Deaths: 433,049; Recovered: 31,525,080; Active Cases: 364,129

World: Confirmed: 209,262,848; Total Death: 4,392,362; Active Cases: 204,870,486

Daily cases of Covid-19 in India continued to decline although infections in Kerala surged past 20,000 again after three days of relatively low numbers.

Over 3.86 crore people didn't get second dose of Covid vaccines within stipulated time: Govt

Covid R-value drops below 1 in Country, including Kerala and NE; Signals decrease in infection rate; Covid-19 vaccine for Children will be available in India by September, says Director of ICMR-NIV

WHO: Delta surging in areas of low Covid-19 vaccine coverage, no need for Covid-19 Booster jabs; slams wealthy nations' rush towards vaccine boosters; US Health officials recommend extra shots

Will get Covid-19 booster shot along with first lady in December: Biden

PwC won't reopen US offices until at least November 1 as Delta variant rages on

Democrats face new hurdles in legal fight over redistricting

Health experts believe adults who have not gotten their shots are contributing to the surge among grownups and children alike

With millions of children returning to classrooms this month, experts say the stakes are unquestionably high.

The surging virus is spreading anxiety and causing turmoil and infighting among parents, administrators and politicians around the US, especially in states like Florida and Texas

The highly contagious delta variant spreading across the US

Maskless flyers face $9,000 fines as US Federal Aviation Administration tackles unruly passengers

Telangana govt to make 100% vaccinated city in 15 days

Hyderabad: Telangana records 409 new Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths

Covid-19 in control; right time to reopen schools, college: Telangana health authorities

Oman to ease Covid curfew from Saturday

Biden admin takes new actions on masks, vaccination

Singapore plans first quarantine-free travel program

Pregnant women don't experience more severe symptoms of Covi d vaccines: Study

Delta crisis: US health system overwhelmed; 5 states see record hospitalizations

State News

Those shamelessly supporting the Taliban must be exposed: CM Yogi

Osmania University postpones exams scheduled for Aug 20

Telangana HC to get 7 new judges

Data deficit on Dalits business role across country, Telangana

Telangana HC junks petition against Dalit Bandhu

Disha encounter: SC panel tells Telangana to present evidence on August 21

Telangana govt to take up health profile project in two districts on pilot basis

Covid second wave over in Telangana: Health department

Kokapet auction: HC puts Telangana in spot over lake pollution

Hyderabad: Two held for extortion, impersonating as cop

Hyderabad: 21-year-old woman says she was gangraped

YSRTP chief Y S Sharmila slams CM K Chandrasekhar Rao on podu land row

President of City Jamiat-E-Uleme Greater Hyderabad, Maulana Mufti Mohammed Abdul Mughni Mazaheri, a well-known Muslim cleric and eminent religious scholar of Telangana, passed away

After Trisha Kar Madhu, Bhojpuri actress Priyanka Pandit's private video goes viral on social media

Go to Afghanistan for cheap oil: BJP leader's retort to question on rising inflation

Bengal post-poll violence: BJP welcomes Calcutta high court order on CBI probe, TMC hints at moving higher court

Calcutta HC orders CBI probe into murder, rape cases in Bengal post-poll violence

Gujarat HC stays certain sections of anti-love jihad law

Indians prioritise relationships and health over wealth: Survey

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif engaged? Actor's father Sham Kaushal breaks silence by saying, ‘it ‘s not true

8km was the distance between life and death: 51-year-old Parag Rabade, Pune man returns from Afghanistan. Rabade was teaching at the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Afghanistan for the last seven years

Bigg Boss 11 famed Arshi Khan opens up on her connection with Afghanistan, says 'people misunderstand me to be a citizen of Pakistan, who is living in India'

'Raj Kundra destroyed Shilpa Shetty's career': Netizens take notice of Shilpa's changed mannerism as she returns to the sets of dance reality show

A 45-year-old Yemeni woman undergoes cochlear implant in Hyderabad

‘Missing’ Noida girl found in ‘live-in’ relation with MA student, cops say can’t interfere in their decision

Anand Mahindra feels hungry after watching a dosa maker who is faster than robots

Kuwait & Middle East News

His Highness the PM pays a visit to the headquarters of the Kuwait National Petroleum Company, in Ahmadi area

The Emir of State of Qatar receives the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, who conveyed to him the greetings and best wishes from the Emir of the country

World Humanitarian Day… a lofty message whose essence is giving, altruism, appreciating the work of volunteers and upholding human values

A UN official praises the support of the Kuwait at the international level to alleviate the suffering of humanitarian crisis around the world

The State of Kuwait present Turkey with 6 advanced firefighting vehicles and equipments

Kuwait Health spokesperson: 276 new positive cases and 2 deaths recorded

Civil Service Bureau: Registration of Kuwaitis looking for work begins tomorrow and ends on Sept 3

Kuwaiti Firefighting: 5 deaths and 15 injuries in a terrible collision between two buses on Al-Liyah Road

Bahrain Ministry of Health: 96 new cases of Corona virus were recorded

His Highness the PM listens to an explanation about the environmental fuel project, its latest developments and the percentage of achievement in it

His Highness the PM on a tour of the Abdullah and Al-Ahmadi ports, which included the units of the environmental fuel project and control rooms

The Kuwaiti General Fire Brigade returns to the country after participating in extinguishing forest fires in Turkey, ain implementation of the royal directives

The Kuwaiti Red Crescent distributes a bag of clothes to more than 200 workers in the country on the occasion of the International Day of Humanitarian Action

The Arab League praises Kuwait’s supportive stance for joint Arab action

The Kuwaiti Writers Association organizes the day after tomorrow (the summer book fair) and chooses the writer Fadel behind the exhibition’s personality

We are keen to increase (Manpower) the percentage of national employment in private educational companies and employ them in private schools and cultural institutes

The price of a barrel of Kuwait oil rose 15 cents to reach $70.67

Afghan News

The Taliban movement announces the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, four days after the capital, Kabul, was under the control of the movement

The Taliban have criticized Facebook for blocking freedom of speech in Afghanistan as a result of crackdown by the US firm, Geo News reported

'Afghanistan is too big for Pakistan to swallow, too big for Taliban to govern: Amruallah Salesh, Afghanistan’s Vice President

MEA's Afghan Cell works 24x7; ascertaining assistance sought by stranded Indians

At least evacuate our women and children: Afghan minorities to Taliban

'Couldn't even put on my shoes': President Ashraf Ghani details 'escape from Taliban; US Reiterates Ashraf Ghani "No longer a figure in Afghanistan

Afghan female governor Salima Mazari, who took up arms against Taliban, taken into custody

Panjshir - last free citadel:, land of 5 lions, stands up to Taliban; Pentagon Chief - U.S. troops currently unable to help people reach Kabul Airport; 'Gains of 20 years can't be turned back': WHO concerned over healthcare situation

The Taliban have tried to reassure fearful Afghans – and a wary international community, that this time around they will be ‘positively different’, but their reputation precedes them and few trust the group

Returning to power in Afghanistan after a 20-year absence, the Taliban have regained control of natural resources that a former mines minister of the country once said could be worth up to $3 trillion

Taliban urge Afghans to leave Kabul airport

India working with global partners to bring stranded Indians from Afghanistan: Jaishankar

Taliban to allow men's cricket; status of smaller women's programmes unclear

US President Joe Biden & VP Kamala Harris met with their national security team to discuss security, diplomatic & intelligence updates in Afghanistan. They discussed status of operations at Hamid Karzai Int'l Airport, which continues to be secure & operational: White House official

Trucks rolling across Afghanistan border as trade resumes

Several provinces across Afghanistan witnessed protests with Afghans taking to the streets holding the countrys national flag, which is no longer in use since the Taliban took Kabul city. The Taliban have stated that next government will decide on the national flag.

‘Afghan women feel desperate … most want to get out’: With sharia law, Taliban threatens all the progress of the last 20 years

Not so easy for Pak: Taliban’s relationship with Islamabad comes with significant risks for the latter

US says Taliban cooperating as Afghanistan airlift accelerates

Taliban discussing future of Afghan security force members, group official says

'Cannot be blamed for chaos, deaths at Kabul airport,' Taliban say

No-man’s land: Desperate Afghans trapped in Kabul airport no-man's land

Taliban to free political detainees in Afghan prisons

Taliban mark Afghan independence as challenges to rule rise

UNESCO calls for preservation of Afghanistan's cultural heritage

Afghan delegation visiting Pakistan pitch for inclusive govt in Afghanistan

Taliban spokesman says China can contribute to Afghanistan's development: Chinese state media

Over 5,200 US troops now in Kabul, says senior military official

About 7,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul so far: Pentagon

Afghan woman news anchor stopped from working after Taliban takeover

Taliban call on Afghan imams to urge unity at Friday prayers

Russia offers to fly Afghans out of Afghanistan to other countries

We are keeping our word by providing full support to all foreign powers who want to leave Afghanistan: Taliban spokesperson

Business of Pakistani human smugglers boom as thousands of Afghans attempt to leave after Taliban takeover

Several killed in flag-waving protests against Taliban in Afghanistan

Taliban urged to allow fleeing Afghans safe passage; Taliban urge people to leave airport in Kabul after 12 killed since Sunday

Biden administration suspends all arms sales to Afghanistan govt

New Taliban government in Afghanistan will not be allowed to access loans or other resources: IMF

Taliban more 'clear eyed and rational' than before: China

Son of assassinated anti-Taliban fighter asks US for weapons

Taliban vow to ban heroin, but can they survive without it?

Russia says Taliban resistance with ex-VP 'concentrated' in Panjshir Valley

Britain says cannot evacuate unaccompanied children from Afghanistan

Hostage crisis looming: Alarm over US-trained and equipped Afghan army and air force falling into Taliban hands

Images of women vandalised as Kabul faces up to Taliban rule

Misread warnings helped lead to chaotic Afghan evacuation

Zaki Anwari, Afghan footballer dies in fall from plane at Kabul airport: Federation

New Taliban regime casts shadow on India business in Afghanistan

Afghanistan low on dollars with currency reserves stuck abroad

Washington: 6,000 people at Kabul airport have completed the evacuation procedures and 20 flights tonight

The Secretary-General of the United Nations: We are following the situation in Afghanistan and we hope to reach an inclusive government there

British Defense Minister Ban Wallace says that the Taliban movement is cooperating with British forces at Kabul airport and does not obstruct the passage of anyone to board the evacuation planes

International News

Russian warplane crashes, pilot killed

Greater threats than Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, says Joe Biden

Man threatening to detonate bomb near US Capitol surrenders

China Sifts Opportunity from Ashes of US Afghan Project as Taliban run the show in Kabul

31 Afghan refugees held in Peshawar for raising anti-Pak slogans, ransacking public property

In a first, UNSC unanimously adopts Resolution on Peacekeeping as India presides over Council

US states rush to meet deadline to join $26 billion opioid settlement

Police negotiating with man with possible explosives near US Capitol

Republican senator calls on Biden to reappoint Jerome Powell to top Fed job

Biden administration to review climate impacts of federal coal leases

97 percent of small business owners won't pay more income taxes under Biden plan: US treasury

Wall Street's gains, more savings lift 401(k) balances

US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities

US antitrust enforcers file new monopoly case against Facebook

US Capitol Police are evacuating Cannon House Office Building after report of possible explosive in vehicle nearby

Israel eases restrictions on blood donations by gay men

Chicago: Police jailed a man for murder; algorithm was key evidence

Indonesian police arrest elephant poacher, ivory buyers

Chinese President Xi Jinping calls for more joint cooperation between his country and Arab countries within the framework of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative

Biden administration to review climate impacts of federal coal leases

Tunisian President: Announcing the new government within days

US jobless claims fail to 17-month low

A plane carrying a number of people injured in the Akkar explosion arrives in Abu Dhabi for treatment in UAE hospitals

Suspect of transporting a bomb in a truck to the Library of Congress turns himself in to the police, who are still checking the truck’s cargo

The Group of Seven calls on the Taliban to commit protecting civilians, minorities and human rights

Sports News

Ranji Trophy to start from January 5, senior cricket to start with Mushtaq Ali T20 from Oct 27

Legendary athlete PT Usha's coach OM Nambiar passes away

Ombudsman raps Andhra Cricket Association; DCAs told to file compliance reports

Barcelona look to reap unexpected benefits of Lionel Messi exit at athletic

Sakshi Chaudhary from Ghaziabad has become the first Indian woman junior compound archer to reach the final in the category and grab a silver medal in World Youth Archery Championships in Poland.

Marathon runner El Abbassi suspended for suspected blood doping

Belarusian sprinter who defected plans to run for Poland

Yorkshire apologise to Azeem Rafiq after investigation into racism allegations

Three-year Olympic cycle will be tricky: Abhinav Bindra

Tamil Nadu teen archer Ridhu aiming big after youth World exploits

Polish javelin thrower 25-year-old Olympic medalist Maria Andrejczyk auctions silver medal to fund eight-month-old Miloszek Malysa’s heart operation

NZ’s tour of Pakistan subject to security clearance after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka is on: Pakistan Cricket Board

India vs. England: Virat Kohli doesn’t tolerate his teammates being bullied, he never forgives, says Monty Panesar

India vs. England: Test cricket means everything to Virat Kohli, says Kevin Pietersen

Saint-German-En-Laye (France): Kylian Mbappe is ‘relaxed’ and not unsettled despite ongoing speculation about his future, Paris Saint-German (PSG) coach Mauricio Pochettino insisted

Confident of changing colour of medal at Paris Olympics, says boxer Lovlina Borgohain

Covid technicality delays Indian boxing team’s departure for Asian Youth and Junior Championships

News Digest (19th Aug 2021, Thursday)

News Digest (19th Aug 2021, Thursday)

News Digest (19th Aug 2021, Thursday)

                                                                                                                                                   by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Afghanistan 

Afghan first Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President

Islamic scholars to decide role of women in Afghanistan, say Taliban

A Taliban commander and senior leader of the Haqqani Network militant group, Anas Haqqani, has met former Afghan President Hamid Karzai for talks, a Taliban official said on Wednesday, amid efforts by the Taliban to set up a government, Reuters reported.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it has accepted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his family for “humanitarian considerations.”

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani went from hero to ‘villain-in-hiding’

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on the situation in Afghanistan and they agreed to hold a virtual G7 leaders’ meeting next week to discuss a common strategy and approach, the White House said.

The two leaders “discussed the need for continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan policy going forward, including ways the global community can provide further humanitarian assistance and support for refugees and other vulnerable Afghans,” the White House said in a statement.

The decision by U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, to stick to the troop withdrawal deal struck by his Republican predecessor Donald Trump has stirred widespread criticism at home and among U.S. allies.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Johnson in the call with Biden “stressed the importance of not losing the gains made in Afghanistan over the last 20 years, of protecting ourselves against any emerging threat from terrorism, and of continuing to support the people of Afghanistan,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

US Secretary of Defense: There are no confrontations with the Taliban, and the lines of communication with them are open

Afghan President expresses support for negotiations between Government Officials and Taliban Movement

US Embassy in Afghanistan: The US government cannot guarantee safe passage to the airport

The United Nations is moving a number of its staff in Afghanistan to Kazakhstan to continue their work without disruption

Taliban stops exports, imports with India

62 evacuation flights left Kabul in past 2 days

How the scramble to leave Afghanistan is unfolding

Afghan female governor Salima Mazari of Hazara district Governor of Chaharkint, Balkh, who took up arms against Taliban, taken into custody

Mullah’s rise charts Taliban’s long road back to power

At least three dead following anti-Taliban protests in Jalalabad

Taliban destroy Shia foe leader’s statue from 1990s civil war; PM Modi reviews Afghan situation

China to wait before recognizing government

China shifts opportunity from ashes of US Afghan project

Taliban frolic at amusement park in Afghanistan’s Herat

UK to take 5,000 Afghan refugees this year: Boris Johnson

No unilateral recognition of Taliban, UK PM Johnson tells Imran Khan

The Taliban could be different this time, Britain’s army chief says

Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, back in Afghanistan, from Qatar, group says all ‘pardoned’ and the new government would be ‘positively different’ from their 1996-2001 regime, infamous for deaths by stoning and barring women from working in contact with men

US efforts underway to keep cash away from Taliban

Afghanistan’s fall is compared with Vietnam

Turkey says no decision yet on Kabul airport job

Roads full of hostiles, embassy staff reached airport amid peril

US troops fired crowd-control shots at Kabul airport, Pentagon says

At least evacuate our women and children: Afghan minorities to Taliban

Headlines

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to introduce degree course in Hinduism: Vijay Kumar Shukla, Vice Chancellor

CJI hits out at ‘speculative’ reports on Supreme Court Collegium recommendations

Samajwadi Party MP booked on sedition charge for comments on Taliban

Shashi Tharoor cleared of all charges in Sunanda Pushkar death case

Policy based on gender discrimination: Supreme Court pulls up Army for ‘regressive mindset’, allows women, as interim measure, to take NDA exam on Sept 5

NHRC expert group concerned over slow pace of criminal justice reform

Supreme Court dismisses Maharashtra govt plea against CBI probe into transfer, posting of police by Anil Deshmukh

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

19,000 buyers of Unitech flats to get possession in 4 years, SC informed

Financial & Business News

Cabinet approves Rs. 11,400 crore National Mission on edible oils-oil palm

Apple explains what its new technology is looking for in your iPhone photos

Mahindra XUV700 will put all in trouble: Mahindra changing approach to reach customers

2021 Honda Amaze facelift launched at Rs. 6.32 lakh

Tata Motors second electric car Tigor EF unveiled

Financial inclusion grew 24% across FY17-21: RBI

Kerala start-up to set up premium roadside restrooms

NRI businessman Ravi Pillai increases Covid relief fund to Rs. 17 crore

Corona Updates

World: Confirmed 208,556,549; Total Deaths: 4,381,855; Active Cases: 204,174,694

India: Confirmed: 32,285,857; Total Deaths: 432,519; Recovered: 31,485,923; Active Cases: 367,415

Daily cases of Covid-19 in India continued to decline although infections in Kerala surged past 20,000 again after three days of relatively low numbers. India reported 35,178 fresh cases on Wednesday, a day after daily numbers had dipped below 25,000 following low testing on Independence Day.

US calls for booster shots against Covid-19, WHO says vaccinate vulnerable first

US plans to offer Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccine booster shots for all Americans beginning the week of September 20: US public health officials

US reports more than 1,000 Covid deaths in single day

New Zealanders begin life in lockdown as Delta Covid-19 cases edge up

France records 28,405 new coronavirus cases: Reuters

Single Covid-19 vaccine shot offers virtually no shield: Hospital Study

Vaccines for children may be available by Sept: Priya Abraham, National Institute of Virology (NIV) director

WHO chief scientist Swaminathan says vaccines clearly preventing increase in severe illness and death from delta variant

WHO epidemiologist Van Kerkhove says delta variant circulating in areas of low vaccination coverage, low use of public health measures

UP records 35 Covid-19 new cases, one fatality; Jharkhand reported zero death and 32 new positive cases; Gujarat added 23 new positive cases and no new deaths; West Bengal reports 646 new Covid-19 cases and 7 deaths; Maharashtra records 5,132 fresh cases and 158 deaths; Goa records 80 new Covid-19 cases; Himachal Pradesh reports 261 new positive cases and 1 death, in the last 24 hours

India has administered more than 56.57 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses till now

State News

Delhi HC dismisses plea of underage student seeking permission to sit in NEET-2021

IIM Nagpur launches MBA for Working Professionals (MBA-WP)

Chennai: Cyber Security Works (CSW), a US-based cybersecurity service provider, launches Flag Runner hackathon for college students

Next All India Bar Examination to be held on Oct 24, says BCI

Assam govt set to withdraw 75% board quota from city colleges

UP Board to hold exam for class 10, 12 students from Sept 18

Primary classes in UP to reopen from Sept 1, classes 6-8 from Aug 23

Tamil Nadu schools reopening date to be released by Aug 20

The Jawaharlal Nehru University to have medical college and a 500-bed hospital: University Vice-Chancellor Professor M Jagadesh Kumar

Local train services will resume after 50 per cent vaccination is completed in rural belts: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Telangana: 22-year-old killed for ‘affair’ in Mallapur; couple held

BJP State unit chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that a large portion of the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project (RLIP) construction was completed because Andhra Pradesh government sped up the project work and Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao ignored the ongoing work

Kuwait & Middle East News

Kuwait Cabinet approves the opening of direct commercial flights to Egypt, India and other Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal

Embassy of India, Kuwait, holiday today for Muharam; Assistance for free transportation of mortal remains continues

Kuwait reviews Restaurant City projects at Sheikh Jaber Bridge

Several Covid suites closed with improving epidemiological conditions

MOI arrests two expats with 3.5 kilos of narcotics

Government inclined to accelerate the Silk Project*

School starts remotely from Monday

Kuwait FM, US Secretary of State discuss Afghanistan developments

It is against the Law to stop the subsidy for those earning above KD 3000

Those infected with Corona also must complete two dose of vaccination before entering Kuwait

Ministry of Health will soon announce the measures for booster dose

The Minister of Works expresses her thanks to the Municipal Council for its efforts in supporting the development and investment projects Sheikh Jaber Causeway Islands

The Ministry of Defence meets with the Emirati ambassador of to discuss issues of common interest and the Ambassador of Djibouti on the occasion of the end of his tenure, each separately

Kuwaiti Health Spokesperson: 238 new corona cases, 642 recoveries and 2 deaths recorded

Kuwait has one of the lowest death rates in the Arab World

The Kuwaiti government announces entry controls for travellers to the country

Director of Kuwaiti ‘Industry Authority’: A plan to establish a laboratory with the highest standards to check the quality of imported steel

Iranian President: We have a ‘serious’ will to complete a comprehensive cooperation document with Russia

Kuwaiti Health spokesman: Work will be launched at the vaccination center against Corona tomorrow at the headquarters of the Agriculture Authority in Al-Wafra, which is designated for the residents of the region

The Kuwaiti embassy in France confirms the safety of all its citizen after the fires in the southern Var region

The dead fish (Environment) in Al-Jun originate from the southern regions

The Kuwaiti Youth Authority conducts a lottery for the Youth Council and confirms that it is a platform to express their hopes and aspirations

Civil Service Bureau: completion of the approval of the payroll statements for the front rows of three government agencies

Tunisia: The heads of the Arab detective services are discussing, with the participation of Kuwait, ballistic databases and linking biometric fingerprint data

International News

Biden does not believe that the US should be ‘fighting and dying’ in a war: NSA Sullivan

The Turkish President expresses his readiness to resolve the conflict between Sudan and Ethiopia over the Fashqa region

Dubai-based Indian Expat’s Organ donations saved three lives when he died; now his widow is desperate for help

9 expats arrested over thefts in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia names 13 countries for extending stranded expat visas

Devastating wildfires advancing through Northern California

Hong Kong police arrest four students for ‘advocating terrorism’

Sandeep Singh Sukerchakia, who claims to be the direct seventh generation descendent of Maharaja Ranjit Singh writes to Imran to have a thorough probe of into the incident of vandalism of the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh erected in Lahore Fort

Sports News

India mixed 4x400m relay team wins bronze in U-20 World Athletics Championships

Junior world wrestling championship: Silver for Ravinder; Yash, Patil, Anirudh grab bronze

Simran and Bipasha move into semifinals; Yash makes men’s freestyle bronze round

Rahul Dravid only candidate to apply for NCA’s Head of Cricket post, BCCI extends deadline

ICC Test rankings: KL Rahul jumps 19 spots to 37th, Virat Kohli remains fifth

Pressure grows on ‘grumpy’ Australia coach Justin Langer

We are good to go with 5-6 teams: Smriti Mandhana on women’s IPL

Manoj Prabhakar as bowling coach, Rajat Bhatia as batting coach, to oversee Delhi’s men and women teams across age groups

Neeraj Chopra thanks PM Modi for his 'active support to Indian sports and athletes’

Have you learnt Punjabi, PM asked Sreejesh; praised Mirabai for remembering truck drivers who helped her

Mary Kom apologised; PM Narendra Modi says ‘wins and losses are part of life’

Don’t get bogged down by defeat: PM Narendra Modi to Vinesh Phogat

Introduce fencing in more schools to make it more popular: Bhavani Devi

India's Tokyo 2020 Olympic heroes were felicitated by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur at an event organised by the Indian Olympic Association in Delhi

Record haul by junior archers will open eyes of seniors: Ind ian high performance director

Haryana CM offers Neeraj Chopra to head the Centre of Excellence in athletics

England recall Malan as Sibley dropped for 3rd Test against India

Princepal Singh becomes first Indian to be on NBA title winning team with Sacramento Kings

Shomira among five Indian basketball players picked for NBA Academy Women’s Virtual camp

ATK Mohun Bagan beat Bengaluru FC 2-0 in AFC Cup group match

Oslo: Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm is not against innovation in sports but feels the new carbon-technology shoes are hurting athletes credibility, the men’s 400m hurdles champion at the Tokyo Olympics told Reuters

Euro 2020 champion Manuel Locatelli undergoes Juventus medical

ISL organisers FSDL acquires media rights for AFC competitions in four-year deal

Lord’s Test: India didn’t deviate from the central theme - team before self: VVS Laxman

Young Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan signed up by RISE Worldwide

New book tells how father's death in midst of isolation toughened India’s new pace sensation Siraj

Wrist injury rules defending champion Dominic Thiem out of US Open

ATP and WTP inch closer to merger after combining marketing ops

Simona Halep earns injury comeback win; Coco Gauff to face Naomi Osaka at Cincinnati Masters

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

News Digest (17th Aug 2021, Tuesday)

News Digest (17th Aug 2021, Tuesday)

News Digest (17th Aug 2021, Tuesday)

                                                                                                                                     by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

 

Afghanistan News

Afghanistan crisis: Indian ambassador, some mission staff and 150 ITBP personnel still to be evacuated

Afghan: Indian Embassy shuts as staff readies for evacuation; All flights halted; 10 killed as people throng airport, several on aircraft wing in bid to flee; President Ghani flees in helicopter stuffed with cash claims Russia report

Taliban spokesman - Hope India will alter stance, as insurgents look to 'Reconstruct, form Islamic Govt; vow to create secure environment for diplomats, embassies; India at UNSC meet - Neighbours would feel safer if assured Afghan territory isn't used by terrorist groups; India offers help to Afghan Hindus, Sikhs

US President Joe Biden: "I stand squarely behind my decision. After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces; I am president of America and the buck stops with me; Will only recognise Taliban govt if women's rights respected, terrorists not harboured; Will respond with 'devastating' force if US personnel attacked

China says it is willing to develop ‘friendly relations’ with Afghanistan’s Taliban

Biden’s ‘America’s back’ vow torched as Taliban overrun Kabul

More forces to flow into Kabul airport today and tomorrow. Not seeing Taliban interfere with people travelling to airport: US deputy national security adviser

EU calls crisis meeting on Tuesday to discuss Afghanistan

Making clear to Taliban that it will suffer if engages US in more hostile way: US deputy national security adviser

US deputy national security adviser says plan in place to secure Kabul airport by Monday

Taliban assured of safety to minuscule Sikh and Hindu communities

US deputy national security adviser says US remains engaged in diplomatic conversations with the Taliban in Doha

Iran new ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi says US 'defeat' in Afghanistan must usher in a durable peace in the neighbouring, war-wracked country. Iran was "closely monitoring the evolution of events in Afghanistan" and wants good neighbourly ties with it, he said.

Russian special envoy on Afghanistan says spoke by phone with US counterpart: Tass

Int'l community must remain engaged with Kabul, says Pak FM Qureshi

France to begin airlifting nationals from Kabul by Monday evening

Germany must evacuate 10,000 people from Afghanistan, Merkel tells party

Following situation on Tajik-Afghan border very closely, will provide all necessary help to Tajikistan if needed for security: Head of Russia-led security bloc

Have Taliban's assurance that it will not permit anti-China forces, that is, the Uygur Islamic militants of East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which is fighting for the separation of China's volatile Xinjiang province: Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson

EU foreign ministers to hold talks on Afghanistan Tuesday: AFP quoting diplomats

China hopes Taliban will establish 'open, inclusive' Islamic govt as committed

The Taliban are in control of Afghanistan and British and NATO forces will not be returning to fight the insurgents: British defense minister

Air India's Chicago-Delhi flight diverted to avoid Afghan airspace, lands in Sharjah

Speaking on slavery, Imran Khan said becoming "mental slaves" is worse than being an actual slave.

As Kabul falls to Taliban, burqa shops of Afghanistan get busy

Kabul falls to Taliban; nations scramble to evacuate citizens and diplomatic staff

Afghan Embassy in India claims ‘lost access’ to Twitter account

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, one question that arose was where was the resistance from the Afghan army that had been raised over nearly two decades?

Afghans have broken ‘shackles of slavery’, says Pak PM Imran Khan after Taliban seize power

International community must remain engaged with Kabul, says Pak FM Qureshi as Taliban topples Afghan govt

Afghan airspace closed for commercial flights; AI Kabul flight cancelled & US nonstops being rerouted

3 people fall off plane, some huddled on Aircraft Wing in Kabul mayhem

Left Afghanistan to avoid bloodshed, ‘big human disaster’, says President Ashraf Ghani

A horde of people run towards the Kabul Airport Terminal, after Taliban insurgents took control of the presidential palace in Kabul

Trump blames Joe Biden for Afghan crisis, seeks his resignation

US to expand its security presence at Kabul airport to 6,000 troops

Taliban confirms no danger to embassies, foreign nationals in Kabul

India plans to finish evacuation in 48 hours

Vistara’s Delhi-London flights stop using Afghanistan airspace

Washington calls on its citizens in Kabul not to go to (Hamid Karzai) airport and wait for its instructions

Biden: We did not seek to create a central democracy in Afghanistan, but rather to confront terrorism

US President: I will not get involved in an endless war, and we will not repeat the mistakes of the past in Afghanistan

The UNSC calls for the formation of a new government in Afghanistan through negotiations that is united, inclusive and representative, including the full, equal and meaningful participation of women

Washington: US President Joe Biden says that his country did not seek to ‘build the state’ and create a central democracy in Afghanistan, but has always been keen to combat terrorism that emanates from this country

Headlines

India has divergences with US on Afghanistan: EAM S Jaishankar

No good House debates, sorry state of affairs: CJI N V Ramana

India register epic win at Lord's by 151 runs to take 1-0 lead in 5 match Test series; Mohammed Siraj 4/32, pacers did the magic with bat & ball; pulled off an extra-ordinary win in dying stages of the game

Did government ever buy or use Pegasus? SC seeks detailed affidavit; Centre offers to form experts’ panel on snooping allegations

Shillong violence: Petrol bombs hurled at Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma’s residence

New Education Policy a means to fight poverty: PM Modi

HAL's 'Made in India' - 228 (VT-KNR) civil aircraft achieves milestone, carries out ground run and low-speed taxi trials

Dalit sarpanch kicked, manhandled by secretary in MP for hoisting Flag without him on I-Day; wife, daughter in law was also beaten while rescuing sarpanch

Aviation ministry allows 10 organs to use drones; Karnataka Govt, Mahindra & Mahindra among them; 2 organizations permitted to conduct “remote pilot training using drones; Bayer got for “drone-based agricultural research activities; use drones for agricultural spraying

Meghalaya suspends Cops who abandoned weapons amid Shillong violence; CM did not specify how many policemen were punished for deserting their arms

Finance & Business News

General Insurance Corporation (GIC Re) shuts Dubai office, will shift to Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) City in India

Shares of Devyani International Ltd, the largest franchisee of Pizza Hut, KFC and Costa Coffee in India, debuted with a huge premium of nearly 57% against its issue price of Rs. 90

SBI announces various special offers for retail customers

Petronet aims to extend long-term LNG buy deal with Qatar

Sensex rises 145 points to scale fresh peak; Nifty ends above 16,550

NSE records over 50 lakh new investors since April

Pakistan becomes smartphone exporter, first-ever ‘Manufactured in Pakistan’ devices hit global market

Twitter has once again halted its account verification programme, saying that it aims to improve the application and review process to give users that elusive blue badge

Paytm staff eye Rs. 600-crore ESOP share conversion ahead of IPO

WPI inflation eases to 11.16% in July; food, crude prices soften

Ola pushes for only electric two-wheelers by 2025

PE/VC investments touch all-time high of $9.5 billion in July: Report

PE-VC funds in electric vehicle sector up 3x this year

myTVS, a brand that operates under Ki Mobility Solutions has raised Rs. 375 crore from a fund managed by Exor, one of Europe’s leading holding companies

Business activity last week higher than pre-Covid level for first time: Report

SleepyCat raises $3.8 million

Fuel demand recovery continues in August, diesel sales 8% less than pre-Covid level

Exporters to get new duty refund scheme this week

Abolish all petrol 2-wheelers in 4 years, says Ola co-founder

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to meet PSB chiefs on Aug 25, track performance

In the post-Covid era, the supply chain is the protagonist

One Infosys – the secret to our success: Salil Parekh CEO

Saudi Aramco is in advanced talks on up to $25 billion Reliance deal; purchase of a roughly 20% stake

HDFC to raise funds from retail investors through Green Deposits to finance sustainable housing

BoM tops PSU banks in terms of loan, saving deposit growth in Q1; recorded 14.46% increase in gross advances at Rs 1,10,592 lakh crore in April-June period of 2021-22; followed by Punjab & Sind Bank

Ather Energy Co-Founder Tarun Mehta welcomes Ola Electric, calls it "Big Win" for EV Ecosystem

Corona Updates

India on Monday reported 32,937 daily new Covid cases in last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the country recorded its lowest tally of weekly Covid-19 cases in five months since mid-March, with less than 2.6 lakh infections reported in August 9-15, a drop of 6.7% from the previous week.

Ten new cases of Delta plus variant found in Maharashtra

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya arrives in Kerala to review Covid-19 situation

Union health minister to visit northeast on Aug 17 over Covid spike

Shillong: Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council militant killed during police raid

Australia extends Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne, reinstates night curfew

German panel recommends all 12-17-year-olds get Covid-19 shot

Hong Kong reclassifies 15 countries as ‘high risk’ for Covid-19

Japan to extend Covid-19 "state of emergency" lockdown through mid-September

Iran announces record death toll for 2nd day

As Delta spreads, some travellers double up on Covid-19 vaccine in US

Daily Covid cases in US could exceed 200K in coming weeks: National Istitutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins

Covid curfew to remain in force in the state from 6am of August 17 to August 24, 6am; vaccination exercise to continue during the curfew: Uttarakhand government

Over 2.89 crore unutilized Covid-19 vaccine doses still available with states, UTs: Health ministry

Telangana reports 245 new Covid-19 cases, one death; Delhi reported 53 fresh Covid-19; Andhra Pradesh records 909 new Covid-19 cases and 13 deaths in the last 24 hours

Telangana prepared for third wave: CM K Chandrasekhar Rao

Delhi: Over 1.15 crore vaccine doses administered in city

We've sent a file to LG for his approval to set up a high-level committee for a probe to find out how many Covid patients died due to oxygen shortage. I've written to Union home minister Amit Shah, urging him to direct LG not to stop formation of the committee: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia

School reopen in Andhra Pradesh with Covid-19 guidelines

Maharashtra faces double whammy of flood, Covid; recovery slows down in rain-hit western belt; SC gives Union Govt 4 more weeks to frame guidelines for ex-gratia to families of Covid victims

India administers record 86.29 Lakh vaccines, highest daily coverage in nearly two months; Kerala administers First dose of Covid vaccine to over half its population

Bharat Biotech working on Nasal vaccine that will work as Booster Covid-19 dose; on a combination of Covaxin followed by a nasal vaccine; Germany approves vaccinations for all above 12 years of age

World: 206,638,253; Active 17,219,326 (8.25%); Recovery 187,036,045 (89.65%); Vaccinated 4.72BN

India: 32,249,900; Active 376,528 (1.17%); Recovery 31,441,260 (97.49%); Vaccinated 543.85MN

State News

Telangana: 6.5 crore-year-old fossils found in Sitagondi forest of Adilabad

Delhi: 5 of 500 high-mast flags up, dedicated to Corona warriors

HC asks Centre, Delhi govt to respond to plea to complete quorum of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)

HC grants anticipatory bail to man accused of pronouncing triple talaq

A Delhi court sends businessman Gautam Thapar to judicial custody. He was recently arrested by Enforcement Directorate in an alleged bank loan fraud case. (ANI)

A woman, man allegedly set themselves on fire in front of Supreme Court gate number D. Area has been cordoned off. Injured persons have been taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. (ANI)

Smriti Irani shares #MondayMantra of wearing a mask and maintaining social distance but fans notice her weight loss instead

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav embarks on his ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’

Telangana association of the United Kingdom (TAUK) celebrates 75th anniversary of Indian independence in London

A vibrant display of Telangana cultural heritage on I-Day

CM KCR: Will fill vacancies after new zonal policy in force

Telangana: Crop loan waiver from today

Old City on road to development

Old City ready to take out Bibi-Ka-Alam rally, the final procession of 10th day of Moharrum (Youm-E-Ashura)

Hyderabad: Slow pace of Bahadurpura flyover work adds to woes

Hyderabad: Triple talaq still on, cost of court battles keeps count low

School reopen in Naxal-dominated tribal villages in Chattisgarh after 16 years of efforts

No more free lunch, gift for MLAs in Tamil Nadu

Bihar CM announces 11 pc DA hike for govt employees, pensioners

Union ministers Munjapara, Chauhan begin Gujarat tour to interact with people

Mask rule violators in Gurugram have coughed up Rs. 7.5 crore in fines

CM Manohar Lal Khattar to flag off e-ricks to replace autos in Gurugram

Pipes laid, regular water supply to sectors along Dwarka Expressway soon

No respite from heat for Delhiities for next few days as rain unlikely before Aug 19

Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot flgs off fleet of 32 AC buses

Delhi riots: Police seek time to argue UAPA bail plea, says ‘can’t talk in air’

2021 vs. 2020: August gasps for one ‘good’ air day in Gurugram this year

Bigg Boss OTT: Neha Bhasin has a friction in her connection with Milind Gaba; tells him, 'You only keep talking to Akshara'

Pushpa and Sarkaru Vaari Paata scenes leaked online: Makers file complaint at Cyber Crime Cell

Indian Oil Corporation to reward 2,250 Class-10 topper girls from all state, central boards

No drastic hike in Andhra Pradesh school fees

With parents wary, attendance likely to be thin on partial reopening of school in Delhi

79k girls in UP school’s 746 branches complete courses amid pandemic

Ten more design resource centres being set up by NIFT: Textile ministry

J&K among country’s one of the best in education infrastructure: LG Sinha

School reopening: TN education minister to hold meeting with chief educational officers

TN schools to have 3-week bridge course for Class 9 to 12 students

Free tablets to be distributed to Class 10, 12 students: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

Casteist remark: Actor Meera Mithun in Puzhal jail till Aug 27

Celebrate Onam with Kuruthi, an edgy thriller on Amazon

Elderly population up, Tamil Nadu has second highest

Shilpa Shetty Kundra makes first public appearance post Raj Kundra's arrest, speaks about how to overcome negative thoughts during difficult times

Gujarat: A rakhi maker in Ahmedabad has made Covid-themed rakhis to raise awareness among people

Kuwait News

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received credentials of newly-assigned ambassadors of South Korea Chung Byung-ha, of Kyrgyzstan Azamat Karagulov, of Bhutan Shetem Tenzin and of Cyprus Michael Mavros.

Kuwait urges restraint on Afghanistan; The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We are following with great interest and concern the current situation and developments in Afghanistan, calling on all Afghan parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to prevent bloodshed and provide full protection for civilians and the safe exit of stranded diplomats and foreign nationals

The Kuwaiti Cabinet holds its weekly meeting at Seif Palace under the chairmanship of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister

Indian Handloom week in Kuwait concluded at Al Sadu House

Back to the ‘good old’ days of traffic rush

Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Shaya Al-Shaya: Establishing a company to ensure food security

Two years permit for staff at Ministry of Education

MP Osama Al-Shaheen queries safety of escalators

Kuwait reviews request to resume direct flights to US, Morocco and Maldives

Kuwait prepares to put a check on future outbreaks

Firefighting: Rescued a fisherman whose hand got stuck in a fishing vessel’s winch

Afghan Americans transit in Kuwait

Kuwait reports four deaths, 343 new infections of Coronavirus

Assets of Future Generation reserves fund increased by 30% in three years

Foreign minister stresses the importance of building a comprehensive diplomatic personality

Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Communication and Information Techonology, Dr. Rana Al-Fares announced the launch of “EASY” application

KD 121.279 million in revenue from fines, penalties and confiscation during the past year 2020-2021

Minister of Communications Affairs: The government’s Sahel application will be launched in 13 destinations, in its first phase, soon

The Kuwaiti Cabinet assigns the Ministry of Finance to form a committee to cover the country’s sovereign credit rating

Kuwaiti Finance Minister makes contact with his counterpart in the Republic of Portugal on bilateral relations between the two countries and regional and international developments

The Ministry of Education: The sectors of the Ministry are working hard to achieve the readiness of schools in their various educational stages

The Kuwait Olympic Committee comments the election of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cycling Club as Vice President of the Asian Cycling Federation

The Kuwaiti Cabinet directs government agencies to reduce spending from the 2021-2022 budget by no less than 10 pc*

The Kuwaiti national team wins three medals in the Arab Table Tennis Championship, bringing the total to silver and 6 bronze

Completion of the Civil Service procedures for approving the front-row reward lists for 26 government agencies

International News

Malaysia’s Muhyiddin says resigned after losing confident of parliament

Bamako, Mali: Three soliders killed in NE Mali explosion

12 killed in Karachi grenade attack, Covid infectivity rising in Punjab

Pak achieved nuclear capability ‘within seven years’ of India carrying out its first nuke test in 1974: President Arif Alvi

China most distrusted nation, says survey of Indian youth

China has secret jail in Dubai, holds Uyghurs

Lava streams from Indonesia’s Mount Merapi in new eruption

Four Palestinians killed in shootout with Israeli forces

Turkey evacuates some flooding victims; death toll hits 62

Lava streams from Indonesia’s Mount Merapi in new eruption

SL Prez demoted health minister who publicly endorsed sorcery, magic potions to battle Covid-19, as infections and deaths hit record highs

Iran has made progress in its work on enriched uranium metal; despite Western warnings that such work threatens talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal

Greece wildfires: Strong winds blowing in the area near the national park of Sounion were fanning the flames and hampering firefighting efforts

Tunisian President Kais Saied confirms that the government in his country will be formed soon, stressing that he will seek to establish a system that ‘expresses the will of the Tunisian people

Khartoum: Chairman of the Sovereign Council in Sudan, Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, pledges his country to recover the remainder of the Al-Fashqa area adjacent to the Ethiopian border, whether through negotiation or any other options

Washington: The Civil Protection Agency in Haiti announced that the death toll from the devastating earthquake that hit the death toll from the devastating earthquake that hit the country on Saturday has risen to 1,400, amid expectations that it will rise with the arrival of a strong storm, accompanied by flooding, which makes relief operations more difficult

Sports News

Another overseas Test, another flourish from India's lower order. Jasprit Bumrah's day began as a batter in a hostile environment; by the end of the day, he and Mohammed Shami had turned the pressure around on England so swiftly and clinically that the hosts, who were in control of the game coming into the last day, folded in the final hour as India went 1-0 up in the series.

India 364 (Rahul 129, Rohit 83, Anderson 5-62) & 298 for 8 dec. (Rahane 61, Shami 56 n.o., Wood 3-51) beat England 391 (Root 180 n.o., Bairstow 57, Siraj 4-94) & 120 (Root 33, Siraj 4-32, Bumrah 3-33) by 151 runs

Bumrah and Shami, endless mindgames, and England's great malfunction. It's difficult to recall a more self-destructive passage of play from England than on the fifth morning of the Lord's Test

PM Narendra Modi meets India Olympic contingent; fulfils promise, has ice-cream with PV Sindhu

Honoured to attend I-Day celebrations at Red Fort: Neeraj Chopra

Organisers bar spectators from Tokyo Paralympics over virus

Vinesh Phogat sends apology to Wrestling Federation of India

What next for Indian hockey after the historic high of the Tokyo Olympics? Harendra Singh on the potential road ahead

Sreejesh receives Rs. 1 crore cash reward announced by NRI businessman UAE-based VPS Healthcare’s Chairman and Managing Director Dr Shamsheer Vayalil

Manner of rejigging of roles from men’s team to women’s side was disrespectful: Sjoerd Marijne, chief coach of outgoing Indian women’s hockey team

Congrats to athletes but Olympics is no place to look for national validation: Chetan Bhagat

Devendra Jhajharia, India’s other javelin legend, hails Neeraj Chopra’s feat

India vs. England: Virat Kohli hasn’t really played well, says Sunil Gavaskar

India vs. England, 2nd Test: England players stamping ball with spikes raise eyebrows, Vikram Rathour feels ‘not deliberate’

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera contracts Covid-19 ahead of South Africa series

Taliban love and support cricket, I don’t see game suffering under their rule: ACB CEO Hamid Shinwari

Afghanistan will play T20 World Cup, preparations are on: Media manager Hikmat Hassan

Slow left-arm orthodox bowler Shams Mulani to lead 14-member Mumbai on Oman Tour

If Cricket Australia (CA) to move on from Justin Langer as Coach, do it sooner rather than later, says Adam Gilchrist

Novak Djokovic clocks 334 weeks at number one in ATP rankings

Danii Medvedev dominates Reilly Opelka to win ATP Toronto Masters

Roger Federer to undergo more knee surgery, will be out ‘for many months’

Former India defender Chinmoy Chatterjee dies

Today's News (16th Aug 2021, Monday)

Today's News (16th Aug 2021, Monday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

Afghan: Taliban says it has taken control of Presidential Palace in Kabul; Top Leader Abdul Ghani Baradar likely to be New President; Spokesman says "War Is over; Ghani leaves for Tajikistan; Women ‘Will Have Rights’, Foreigners & moneyed to be safe; With 126 passengers On Board, last Air India lands light; all commercial flights suspended from Kabul airport; US lowers Flag at Kabul Embassy, secures Airport, ATC

Taliban hold all of Afghanistan’s border posts: Officials

Afghanistan crisis: Afghani refugees in India anxious about Taliban advancing

PM Modi I-Day speech: From cooperation through people's participation to J&K Poll promise; Bats for 'Sabka Prayas', calls on 'Can Do' generation to take India forward; Speeches are twice as long as Manmohan Singh's; Vajpayee wrapped up in 30 mins; lauds doctors, scientists for world's largest vaccination drive; mistakenly says freedom fighter Matangini was from Assam in I-Day speech

Google Honours India's First woman Satyagrahi, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, with a Doodle

Telangana: Top cops Swati Lakra and Sreenivas Reddy get President Police Medal

J&K village Unfurls Tallest National Flag in Kashmir along LAC; Army joins I-Day celebrations; BSF Hoists Flag at remote Naxal Base Mohupadar for 1st time; deep inside jungles Odisha-Chhattisgarh border; BRO Hoists Tricolour at 18,300 ft in Sikkim marking 75th Independence Day

Telangana-based J Ventaka Aditya and M Adarsh Reddy topped JEE twice; achieved a 100 percentile score but have also scored 300 out 300 in JEE Mains

Study finds physical activity protects children from being overweight in adolescence

CJI NV Ramanna criticised the lack of quality debates in Parliament, calling it a sorry state of affairs; laws have a lot of ambiguity. And the courts do not know the object, intent behind enacting of law

In a 1st, Township being built for former Naxalites in Dantewada to give 'Employment; constructed to protect former naxalites as their lives would be in danger if they stayed in their respective villages

PM Kisan scheme saw 61,04,877 failed transactions b/w Feb 1, 2019 - Jun 30, 2021. Of these, only 34% transactions were reverted

Union Govt to SC: Draft Notification on Banning Plastic of less-than-100-micron thickness issued

Ministers meet at Venkaiah’s house to discuss action against MPs involved in Rajya Sabha ruckus

Shillong clamps curfew, bans mobile internet amid violence; CM house attacked, Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui quits amid violence over police encounter of ex-militant

16 Indian-origin top executives ‘ruling’ tech industry globally

Indian Idol 12 winner: Uttarakhand’s Pawandeep Rajan lifts the trophy; wins a car and Rs 25 lakh cash prize

Curious case of Rahul Gandhi’s Twitter absence: Unlocked but unavailable

Financial & Business News

Ola Electric's much-awaited S1 and S1 Pro e-scooters are here; starting at Rs 99,999 only

Corona Updates

World: 207,978,649; Active 17,161,492 (8.25%); Recovery 186,442,489 (89.65%); Vaccinated 4.70BN

India: 32,225,175; Active 389,542 (1.21%); Recovery 31,403,959 (97.45%); Vaccinated 543.85MN

India logs 36,083 Covid cases, 493 new deaths; active cases up by 2,446; Health Ministry - Lambda variant still being explored and had not entered India yet. For now, it was a ‘variant of interest’

Sri Lanka to import medical oxygen from India amid rise in Covid-19 cases; UK cuts Covid-19 tests’ cost for global travellers, including from India

Maharashtra records 4,797 new Covid-19 cases, 130 deaths; Telangana reports 245 new Covid-19 cases, one death; Bengal reports 12 more Covid-19 deaths, 673 fresh cases; Haryana records one death and 22 fresh cases; Gujarat added 16 new Covid cases; Madhya Pradesh sees 13 Covid-19 cases; J&K reported 97 Covid-19 cases, 2 more deaths in the last 24 hours

Gujarat crossed 4 crore cumulative Covid vaccinations, making it the third state to cross the landmark after Uttar Pradesh (5.7 crore) and Maharashtra (4.9 crore)

Andhra Pradesh extends Covid curfew till Aug 21: PTI

France records 21,172 new coronavirus cases: Reuters

Italy reports 19 coronavirus deaths, 5,664 new cases: Reuters

Telangana govt braces for third Covid wave, ups number of beds & oxygen capacity

Hyderabad: Covid-19 breakthrough infections (infection after being vaccinated) are being reported across many private hospitals in the city, but the severity of the infection is often mild to moderate. On the plus side, no deaths have been reported in vaccinated people thus far

Philippines extends Travel Ban for 10 countries, including India and nine other countries over Delta concerns

State News

A native of Gorigipudi village of Repalle in Guntur District, Hyderabad-based numismatic M Kesava Rao sets up rare display of coins, on the occasion of I-Day

Hyderabad: Transport department officials seize 11 high-end imported cars including Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati, for evading road tax

Telangana high court to get more new judges soon

TSRTC gets Rs. 1000 crore from Bank of India, after the govt has given a guarantee

Celebrating 75th I-Day, Karnataka launches 11 ‘Amrith special schemes’

Independence Day 2021: Tollywood actors from Mahesh Babu, Prabhas and Ram Charan to Jr NTR and Rakul Preet Singh celebrate freedom

Shah Rukh Khan shares Independence Day greetings along with a voice note, ‘In this haven of freedom, may our country always be and our children prosper’

This independence day, "India should have freedom from excuses," says Urvashi Rautela

Indian Idol 12 winner Pawandeep Rajan: My mom was crying when I lifted the trophy

Navya Naveli Nanda gives a twist to Amitabh Bachchan's popular song 'Jahan Teri Yeh Nazar Hai' from the film 'Kaalia'

Pawan Kalyan's first-glimpse as Bheemla Nayak from Rana Daggubati co-starrer released

Bigg Boss OTT: Shamita Shetty reveals about carrying the emotional baggage of being recognised as Shilpa Shetty’s sister; “It’s not been easy growing up under that shadow”

Kareena Kapoor Khan opens up on sex during pregnancy, says 'People are not used to seeing mainstream actors talking about these things'

Sai Dharam Tej and Aishwarya Rajesh starrer Republic gets a release date

Late composer Khayyam's wife, singer Jagjit Kaur passes away, their awards and properties to be managed by trust

Nikhil Siddhartha’s next to be a spy-thriller directed by Garry BH

Five arrested in Hyderabad with Alprazolam, clandestine labs unearthed

TRS Malkajgiri MLA M Hanumantha Rao, BJP corporator V Sravan booked in Hyderabad, following accusations that workers of the parties had attacked each other during the hoisting of the tricolor at the I-Day celebrations in Hyderabad

AP Lokayukta justice P Lakshman Reddy urges people to fight corruption

Delhi: Jessica Lall’s sister Sabrina Lall dead, due to prolonged illness

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal promises to bring more government services online

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal inaugurates five flag masts on 75th I-Day

Malls in Mumbai see low footfalls owing to full vaccination rule

Maharashtra: After five months restaurants functioning after 4 pm in Thane

Karnataka has mandated that the passengers coming from Maharashtra should possess a negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours irrespective of vaccination status

Hyderabad: With Work from home (WFH) the new normal, demand for villas rises

Hyderabad: In-person classes for those vaccinated first

Hyderabad: CPI Telangana secretary Chada Venkat Reddy demanded that the state govt immediately take up comprehensive survey of land to put an end to litigations

Kuwait News

Kuwait Amir, Crown Prince, Premier congratulate India on Independence Day

Indian Ambassador: We are committed to continuing to expand our strong partnership with Kuwait

Indians in Kuwait celebrated 75th I-Day virtually

Cautious Optimism among policy-makers in Kuwait

Government employees return to work at full capacity after more than 1 and a half year

Kuwaitis security personnel ensure flowing traffic with full return of official work

Epidemiological situation improves, need to remain cautious

The State of Kuwait expresses its sympathy with Lebanon due to foreign explosion of a fuel tank in the town of Al-Talil in the north of the country

The Kuwaiti General Fire Force: The team participating in extinguishing forest fires in Greece returned to the homeland after the end of its mission

Executive-legislative conflict affecting KIA Operations

144,768 vaccination certificates issued abroad approved

The Misdemeanor Court sentenced a man, who pretended to be a woman, to three months imprisonment with bail payment of KD 500 to suspend the sentence

The corpse of an unidentified person which was found near a factory in Amghara with blood traces on the head had been referred to Forensics

Court of Cassation rejects plea to end detention

All government, private schools to reopen on Oct 3

The Council of Ministers will discuss the possibility of allowing direct flights to and from some countries in its next meeting

Young Kuwaiti and his girlfriend arrested for ‘violating’ decency

MP seeks details on ‘Info’ expat workers

Kuwait exits Covid-19 third wave as vaccination campaign accelerates

Kuwait reports 3 Covid deaths, 306 infections

Saudi Arabia extends validity of visit visas until Sept 30

Expats nabbed over money transfers of illegal residents

Kuwait sends emergency medical aid to Lebanon amid growing shortages

Kuwait sends oxygen to Tunisia

Specialized Technical Committee to study request for exemption from vaccination

65 low-income Indians who died of Covid in Kuwait to receive Rs. 1 lakh

Al-Mawashi Co. incurs losses in year’s 1st 6 months

The Tunisian FM expresses his thanks to the State of Kuwait for the arrival of the third plane with the airlift to help Tunisia

The Kuwaiti FM stresses the importance of building a comprehensive diplomatic personality that meets the requirements of the state and responds to the concepts of its foreign policy

The State of Kuwait strongly condemns and denounces the Houthi militia’s continued attempts to threaten the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by targeting the city of Najran with a ballistic missile*

The Council of Public Universities approves the proposed numbers that meet the conditions and percentages for admission to Kuwait University for the academic year 2021-2022

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health determines the mechanism for requesting exemption from the Covid-19 vaccination for citizens and residents whose health condition may prevent them from receiving the vaccination

The Kuwaiti team continues to advance in the Arab Table Tennis Championship in Jordan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on all Kuwaiti citizens not to visit Afghanistan at the present time as a result of the current security situation, calling on the citizens who are there to leave immediately

Boursa Kuwait announces the suspension of 9 companies from trading until their financial statements are disclosed

Kuwaiti (Interior) Ministry: Intensive security and traffic preparations coincide with the return of full shifts

International News

Haiti Earthquake: 1200 killed, 2,800 injured after horrific tremors; search for survivors on; Hospitals struggle to treat injured in massive Earthquake

Haiti hit by new earthquake with 5.8 magnitude, a day after a more powerful deadly tremor, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC)

South Korea’s Moon Jae-in says open to dialogue with Japan despite history feuds

Biden authorizes deployment of additional 1,000 troops to Afghanistan to help orderly drawdown amidst Taliban surge

The US Secretary of State discusses with the Chairman of the Afghan Reconciliation Council the latest developments in Afghanistan

Joe Biden, Donald Trump trade blame amid American ignominy

Taliban want full power after return to Afghanistan capital

Afghan leaders form council to meet Taliban

Turkey tightens security at Iran border to stop Afghan refugees

Albanian PM: We have no objection to receiving Afghan political immigrants

A fuel tank blast in Lebanon killed 28 people, 80 injured; scalding a crowd that was clamouring for gasoline in the crisis-hit country

Britain calls for two emergency meetings of the Security Council and the NATO Council to discuss the situation in Afghanistan

Canada PM Trudeau announces snap elections for Sept 20 to seek new mandate amid pandemic

Flooded Coal Mine in China's Qinghai kills one, 19 Miners still trapped; 200 Chinese police, emergency workers and experts involved

Malaysia PM Muhyiddin Yassin to resign; end to 17-month Govt; plunging country into fresh turmoil; no clear successor; days of political horse-trading ahead as MPs seek to form a workable coalition

Sports News

India's Tokyo Olympics medallists get cash rewards from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at IOA event in Delhi

World Archery Youth Champs: PM lauds Indian Contingent for winning 15 Medals; Komalika Bari becomes Junior Recurve World Champion, Men's and Mixed Team also win Gold Medals

Muhammad Ali's legacy continues as Grandson Nico Ali wins Pro Boxing debut

Lord's Test: Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara help India take 154-run lead on Day 4 before Moeen Ali puts England back on top; England players stepping on ball vs. India sparks "Ball-Tampering" debate

Pakistan vs. West Indies, 2nd Test series, 2021 – 1st Test, Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica: West Indies scrambled a pulsating one-wicket victory over Pakistan; Pakistan see chances slip away; Score: Pak: 1st Innings 217 and 2nd innings: 203; West Indies: 1st Innings: 253; 2nd innings: 168/9; Player of the match: Jayden Seales; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4/50

If players truly believe in Test cricket, they need to appoint Virat Kohli as their spokesperson: Ian Chappell

India vs. England: If you’re scoring runs, you will be in team, says Jonny Bairstow

Legendary former West Indies cricket captain Sir Vivian Richards wishes India on its Independence Day

Germany, Bayern Munich legend Gerd Muller (75), known as Der Bomber (The Bomber), passed away

EPL: Son Heung-min scores winner as Tottenham Hotspur stun Manchester City

Striker Harry Kane was left out of Tottenham Hotspur’s squad for Sunday’s Premier League encounter with champions Manchester City, as speculation about his future at the north London club intensified

Real Sociedad beat by Barcelona four in its opening match in the Spanish League

Liverpool criticises ‘offensive and inappropriate’ chant aimed at Billy Gilmour

News Digest(15th Aug 2021, Sunday)

News Digest (15th Aug 2021, Sunday)

News Digest(15th Aug 2021, Sunday)

                                                                                                                                                                   by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

Covid not yet over, get vaccinated: President Kovind in address to nation on eve of I-Day

PM pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on I-Day

PM calls for ‘Sabka Prayas’ for building a self-reliant India

PM Modi inspects guard of honour, hoists national flag at Red Fort

By conducting surgical strikes and airstrikes, we have given a message of the emergence of a new India to our enemies. It also conveys that India can take tough decisions: PM

India is fighting challenges of terrorism and expansionism; dealing with them with great courage: PM Modi

Today, I am announcing the National Hydrogen Mission in view of climate change. We have to make India a hub for production and export of Green Hydrogen: Prime Minister

In these Covid times India receiving highest foreign investment, its forex reserves at all-time high: PM Modi

As we celebrate 75 years of Independence, we have to ensure India becomes self-reliant in energy production: PM Modi

Earlier, the govt was sitting in the driver seat. Maybe it was needed at that time. But the time has changed now. Efforts have increased in the last 7 years to free the people from the web of unnecessary laws & procedures. Several unnecessary laws have been scrapped so far: PM

Government has decided to open all Sainik schools to girls: PM Modi announces in his Independence Day address

Political will is required to bring in big changes, big reforms. Today, the world can see that there is no dearth of political will in India. Good and smart governance is needed to bring reforms. The world is a witness to how India is writing a new chapter of governance: PM Modi

India is going to launch 'Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan': PM Modi

India imported mobile phones worth USD 8 billion 7 years back, it is now exporting $3 billion worth of mobile phones: PM Modi

Along with modern infrastructure, India needs to adopt holistic approach in infrastructure construction: PM Modi

We have to work together for the next-generation infrastructure, world-class manufacturing, cutting-edge innovations and new-age technology: PM Modi

Our government's focus is to make small farmers, who own less than 2 hectare land and are over 80 percent of all farmers, country's pride: PM

In 75 weeks of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', 75 'Vande Bharat' trains will connect different parts of country: PM Modi

Govt will give nutritious rice to the poor; rice provided under any scheme will be fortified by 2024: PM Modi

We have to work together for the next-generation infrastructure, world-class manufacturing, cutting innovations and new-age technology: PM Modi

In the coming years, we will have to increase the collective power of the small farmers of the country. We have to give them new facilities. They must become the country's pride: PM

Development of J&K visible on ground; Delimitation exercise on, preparations underway for assembly polls there: PM Modi

PM says Aug 14 will be observed as Partition horrors remembrance day; to address nation from Red Fort greets citizens on ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’

Olympians, Covid warriors to be honoured

India is celebrating 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', marking the 75th year of Independence, amid patriotic fervour. A series of events are being organised across the country to mark the occasion.

India, Pak exchange sweets along LoC, Wagah border on Pakistan's I-Day

Param Vir Chakra awardee Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav to be made honorary captain ahead of this year’s I-Day

J&K Sub Inspector Babu Ram, Constable Altaf Hussain Bhat conferred with Ashok Chakra Posthumously

3rd highest peacetime military gallantry medal 'Shaurya Chakra' for 3 CoBRA Commandos for daring Anti-Naxal Op in Chhattisgarh before 2019 Polls

8 Firemen from Maharashtra chosen for Gallantry Medals; 67 Maharashtra Police Awarded Gallantry, Service Medals; 23 Delhi Cops, 30 CBI Awarded Police Medals; 6 Assam Cops killed in Interstate Border dispute to get CM's Service Medal; 4 CISF Officials get Gallantry Medal

I-Day: 20 ITBP personnel awarded medals for fighting Chinese PLA in Ladakh

1.5Cr Indians from India, across world recorded, uploaded their videos singing their national anthem

Panaji: Navy, locals hoist Tricolour at St. Jacinto Island after settling the misunderstanding

4 Indian sites (2 in Gujarat & 2 in Haryana) recognised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention; total such sites in the country has risen to 46

Afghan: Diplomacy, Transportation, Health: India's 2 decades worth of efforts at risk as Taliban storm the nation; Sources say President likely to resign, may leave country with family; Taliban capture Mazar-e-Sharif, close in on Kabul just 10KM away, India, US, allies rush to evacuate Diplomats; Kabul Airport only way out for escape

Taliban praise India for development efforts, but warn against military role

Russia interested in involving India, Iran to bring peace in Afghanistan: Foreign minister Lavrov

Bikram Majithia asks state and centre govt to evacuate minorities from Afghanistan

After I-Day overture, ULFA extends truce for first time

Four Jaish terrorists arrested, major attack averted

In interim order, Bombay high court stays some provisions of new IT rules

Unmarried girls in India don’t do carnal activities for fun: Madhya Pradesh high court

NIA raids 7 locations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Vizhinjam arms case

DMK Govt presents exclusive farm budget, first in Tamil Nadu (3rd in India after Karnataka & Andhra) featuring schemes for farm sector overall development; self-sufficiency & farm growth in villages

To recognise contributions IIT Madras launches Two New Chairs (Prof PS Rao & PK Aravindan) raises ₹ 1 Crore Endowment for each Chair

237 villages flooded in UP's Mirzapur even though water level in the Ganga river is receding, villagers allege administration isn't helping

Indore: Volunteers of Online Donation Platform Daanpatra reach 1.5 L with help on Independence Day Eve; contribute with unused items collected from donors and then hands it over to the needy

A group of protesting farmers allegedly attacked BJP MLA Umesh Malik's car with stones and smeared it with black ink in Sisauli village

Kuki National Liberation Army's last remaining militants lay down arms in Assam's Karbi Anglong

By pursuing lofty coal ambitions, India is undoing its own progress in the fight against climate change

Indian warship docks in UK for exercise with Royal Navy over I-Day weekend

Chandigarh: Eleven days after an Indian Army helicopter crashed into J&K’s Ranjit Sagar water reservoir along with two pilots Lt. Col Abheet Singh Batth and Captain Jayant Joshi, Navy’s submarine rescue unit roped in to trace missing pilots, wreckage

Direct selling is encouraging women entrepreneurship by giving them a platform to lead from the front

Twitter restores access to accounts of Rahul Gandhi, INC India

Financial & Business News

Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher House located in Mumbai's posh Vile Parle sold for just 52Cr in 9th attempt to the Hyderabad-based Saturn Realtors by DRT; Initially with base price of 150Cr

Over 9,500 unclaimed Amrapali flats may be resold as SC directs final notice be given to buyers

Mahindra XUV700 SUV Launched in India, Price Starts at Rs 11.99 Lakh; Launch to spice competition in the SUV segment with Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus

Ford vs. GM legal battle: All about who wants to ‘cruise’

Google ‘stole’ Sonos’ speaker tech, rules US judge

Apple’s next generation M-series chip will reportedly launch next year

Apple may just be forced to add USB Type-C port to iPhones

Corona Updates

World: 207,523,242; Active 17,140,338 (8.26%); Recovery 186,015,838 (89.64%); Vaccinated 4.66BN

India: 32,191,954; Active 392,241 (1.22%); Recovery 31,368,460 (97.44%); Vaccinated 536.19MN

A total of more than 53 crore doses were administered till Friday, of which 41.53 crore were given as first dose – covering over 46% of the 90 crore adult population. Nearly 13% of this population group has been fully immunised against Covid-19.

PM Modi lauds doctors, nurses, paramedics those involved in vaccine-manufacturing and others for their fight against Covid-19

The US reported almost 1 million Covid-19 vaccine doses on Saturday, the most for a single day since early July, reflecting a faster pace of inoculation as the delta variant spreads

GIC reports Rs 771 crore loss due to Covid deaths

Currently, out of the total 45,000-47,000 vaccination sessions per day, only about 2000-4000 are in the private sector, which has 25% of the total locally manufactured Covid vaccines earmarked for it

Private hospitals are also for innovative measures and tools to reach out to those who are left. However, this may require hospitals to incur additional costs

States like Delhi and Haryana are yet to allow door-to-door vaccination against Covid-19

Maharashtra's Covid numbers showing minor surge, but Mumbai cases paint hopeful picture; no respite from Delta scare

Covid-19 cases doubled to 20Cr in last 6 months globally; now sprawled across 140 countries; Australia tightens rules as 'Most Concerning Day of Pandemic' raises Covid fears

AIIMS chief: Covid-19 Third wave unpredictable; children would be 'more susceptible' because they were not being vaccinated

Bahrain records 124 new cases of Corona virus

UK cuts Covid-19 tests’ cost for global travellers, including from India

Private hospitals seek nod for jabs at home

States News

Telangana: Mahatma Gandhi statue a sign of communal amity, says Vunnam Venkaiah 92-year-old

Revenue tribunals add to Telangana farmers’ woes

Couple held in Hyderabad for woman’s murder

Telangana: Krishna River Management Board says RLIS works are in excess for preparation of DPRs

Telangana records 420 Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths

Telangana: TRS leaders to meet every beneficiary in Huzurabad

Telangana rolls out Aasara for 57-65-year category

Aadhaar reunites teen with family after 3 years

Kuwait News

Kuwait Relief Foundation supports with an Amiri grant the government textbook printing presses in Aden and Hadramaut with modern equipments worth one million dollar

Kuwaiti health Spokesman: 375 new cases, 691 recovered and 3 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours

Youth Minister: Kuwait ranked first in the Arab World and 27 globally on the Global Youth Development Index for 2020 confirms the political leadership’s interests in supporting and developing youth

The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister offers condolences to his Turkish counterpart on the victims of the floods in his country and affirms Kuwait’s support for Turkey in facing this painful disaster and overcoming its effects

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior stresses the need to overcome all difficulties in front of the pioneers of Husseiniyat

Kuwait Basketball Association: We will prepare the junior team in preparation for the upcoming Asian Cup finals

The arrival of plane carrying medical supplies and medicines provided by the Kuwaiti Red Crescent to Lebanon

Supporting the education sector is a top priority for Kuwaiti weekly humanitarian work

The Kuwaiti Firefighting Force announces in a statement the death of 3 Asian workers and the injury of 5 in a fire for workers in Abdali*

Kuwait Ahmed Al-Shehab comes first in the 7th round of the Porsche Sport for car racing class (5c) in Germany

The Central Apparatus for Resolving Illegal Residents Status Re-forms two committees to receive requests to review the validity of security restrictions and nationality indicators

The price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil fell 48 cents to reach $72.11

The Kuwaiti Livestock Company records a loss of 2.1 million dinars during the first half of this year

Ministry of Interior resumes evening shifts at service centers

Salaries of Public Sector workers increased by KD 4 billion in 10 years

Booster third Pfizer shot for some in September; 68.4% of Kuwait – 2,668,082 vaccinated

Two weeks of quarantine for the upcoming domestic workers within their monthly wage

New proposal of 1000 KD for 60+ Residency renewal

Indian Embassy places highest priority on welfare and well-being of Indian community in Kuwait

Covid-19: Abu Dhabi announces New Rules for International Travellers

Manpower: Creates a section for resolving National Labour disputes

Kuwait included in most developed countries for youth

Ministry of Education: Complete the appointment of teachers

Preventing vaccinated workers coming from India is an unsuccessful decision

Kuwait officials discuss joint cooperation with President of Commercial Arbitration GCC

FDA authorizes additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine for some cases

International News

US: 304 Killed as Earthquake of Magnitude 7.2 jolts Haiti; 2 weeks after most powerful US quake in half a century took place; death toll rises to at least 304; Biden announces assistance

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Chairman Abdullah Abdullah to discuss developments in Afghanistan and the urgency of ongoing efforts to reduce violence: US State Dept spokesperson Ned Price

The US President orders the deployment of 5,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and threatens the Taliban with a “quick and strong” response if Washington’s interests are exposed

President Ashraf Ghani said remobilisation of the country's armed forces was a 'top priority,' as the Taliban inched closer to Kabul; Holding consultations with local leaders and international partners: President Ashraf Ghani

Some foreign embassies have begun to burn sensitive material ahead of evacuating, diplomats said

German military to aid Kabul embassy evacuation

Czech Republic evacuates embassy in Kabul

Taliban, Qatar officials meet for Afghan peace talks in Doha

60 Taliban terrorists killed in Afghan air force airstrikes

Pakistan reopens Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing after talks with Taliban

Europe heat wave brings concern for older adults, homeless; heat wave has aggravated fires that consumed forests in southern Italy, Greece and North Africa

Japan urges nearly 2MN to seek shelter as torrential rain triggered floods, landslides in western side

Islamabad: At least ten people were killed and four others were injured in an attack on a truck in the southern Pakistani city (Karachi) on Independence Day

Sports News

India's Olympic medallists hosted by President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre; told them that the country was proud of them for their performances

India vs. England: Joe Root's unbeaten 9 hour innings of 180 runs gives England slender & vital lead of 27 runs

From a sport-loving nation, we must transform into a sport-playing nation: Sachin Tendulkar

Real Madrid opens the season with a broad victory over Alaves by 4 goals

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Court gives back brand rights to late Diego Maradona’s former lawyer

On this Independence Day, let's protect the peace and unity of our great nation. Let's pledge and make it happen on this Independence Day! As we proudly celebrate India’s 75th Independence Day, let us appreciate everything we have & cherish our dreams of a new tomorrow

Freedom is the way God intended for us; it is something we are born with. Something that no one can take away from us. Let's celebrate Freedom. Happy India's 75th Independence Day

Jai Hind

Today’s News (14th Aug 2021, Saturday)

Today’s News (14th Aug 2021, Saturday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

Resolution reintroduced in US Congress to Award Country's Highest Civilian Honour to Mahatma Gandhi

100 students sing national anthem in Himalayas in full-throated voice

Afghan: Situation 'Bad to Worse', Indian embassy staff to be evacuated soon; UK vows to not abandon even as nation evacuates most Embassy staff

Won’t recognise any Afghan government imposed by force: India, others at Doha meet

Taliban near Kabul, seize 18 of 34 provinces as Govt says 'we stand firm; 12 nations decide not to recognise any Govt imposed by force

India vs England: Joe Root defiant, but India hold slight edge after See-Saw 2nd Day; 207 runs & 10 wickets; Eng 119-3 at stumps; still 245 runs adrift of India’s 1st innings 364

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the much-awaited Vehicle Scrappage Policy (VSP) with an aim to phase out old and unfit vehicles in an environment-friendly manner; urges youth, start-ups to join

Tough action likely against opposition MPs for Rajya Sabha scuffles

Girl from Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL) tops JEE Main exam with 99.979 in Mangaluru

SII chief doubts if vaccine drive can cover all adults

SII chairman Cyrus Poonawalla says booster dose of Covishielf desirable

Lashkar terrorist from Pak killed in Kulagam encounter, aide flees

Government releases Rs. 7,200 crore to get 3rd-wave-ready

Delhi: 2 dead, one injured after portion of crane collapses inside US Embassy

Terrorist hideout in Doda busted, arms and ammunition found

Study: 45% kids living in child care homes in South, Southeast Delhi unable to identify 2 digit nos

Single-use plastic items like candy sticks, plates, cups to be banned from July 1, 2022; thickness of plastic carry bags will be increased to 75 microns from Sep 2021; 120 microns from Dec 31, 2022

Dewas, MP: Villagers risk their lives, use makeshift hanging trolley to cross overflowing River; can carry two persons at a time; mode is extremely dangerous

Kanpur: 3 people for allegedly beating up a Muslim man over charges of forcing forced religious conversion; one of them associated with VHP

Defence Ministry increases Honorary Commissions (as recognition of their exemplary service and contribution in the armed forces) granted to JCOs; revised to 15:1000

J&K cops & BSF apprehended a person in Poonch Dist; recovered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) with four “sticky" bombs from him; major tragedy was averted ahead of I-Day

July - World's Hottest Month on Record; 0.02 of a degree Fahrenheit higher than July 2016; 671 died, over 32,000 houses damaged in floods till Aug 5, says MHA; 9,700 houses, 45 buildings, 3,700 shops damaged in Mahad (Maharashtra) due to July floods

Communal sloganeering at Jantar Mantar: Delhi court denies bail to 3, says remarks undemocratic

Added costs of indirect routes concern students as Canada extends flight ban

Twitter biased, ‘interfering’ in India’s political process, says Rahul Gandhi

4 held with 55 pistols ahead of Independence Day in Delhi

Financial & Business News

Gautam Adani, KM Birla and Nita Ambani among list of top 100 Indian philanthropists; Indiaspora’s 2021 Philanthropy leaders list includes philanthropists from India and from geographies with significant diaspora migration, including UAE, US, Canada, Singapore & Australia

Adi Godrej to step down from Godrej Industries board, Nadir Godrej to take over as chairman; changes will come into effect from Oct 1

GMR Infra gets Rs 1,692Cr in first tranche from stake sale in Kakinada SEZ; Indian Oil plans to install electric vehicle charging facility at 100 outlets in Maharashtra

India 4th largest market for 5G phones, despite a lack of network support; S Korea’s Hanwha Systems invests $300MN in Bharti-backed OneWeb for an 8.8% share

Exports jump 49% to $35.43BN in July, Trade Deficit at $10.9BN; Imports in June increased by 62.99% to $46.40BN, driven by oil and gold, resulting in a trade deficit of $10.9BN

Flights to get costlier as government raises fare caps 4th time this year; 2nd time in just over two months by 9 to 12%

India’s economic progress now hinges on data its 1.4 billion-strong population generates

CCI okays Zomato buying 9.3% stake in Grofers; Ola gets CCI nod for investments by Temasek, Warburg Pincus, founder Bhavish Aggarwal

Twitter India chief Manish Maheshwari, moves to new role as Twitter’s senior director of revenue strategy and operations focused on new market entry, based out of San Francisco, USA

GeBBS Healthcare Solutions, acquires Aviacode Medical Coding & Coding Audit Services. Aviacode, is a US based company, with a footprint in Hyderabad in the Health Information Management (HIM) space

Nitin Gadkari asks states to shift from ‘harmful’ diesel buses to alternate fule

Domestic air travel costlier by 12.5%

Domestic flyers in July touch 50 lakh mark, up 61% from June 2021

SpiceJet announces SpiceScreen enabling passenger to book cabs while mid-air on flights

SpiceJet Q1 loss widens 23% to Rs. 729 crore

IndiGo introduces priority boarding facility

MM Forgings posts Rs. 23.83 crore net profit

Montra, the high-end performance bike brand of TI Cycle of India, launched its first electric bike, at a price of Rs. 27,279, specially designed to make the short distance commute comfortable and convenient

Investors richer by over Rs. 3.48 lakh crore as markets rally for second day

Ampere picks up 26% stake in MLR Auto for nearly Rs. 19 crore

Book domestic flights in advance at lower rates as no fare caps for flights sold beyond 30 days

Tata Motors ties up with Gujarat govt to support setting up of vehicles scrapping centre in Ahmedabad

Ashok Leyland to invest only in plant debottlenecking

Airtel, Jio conclude spectrum trading agreement

Exports up 49.85% in July to $35.43 billion; trade deficit at $10.67 billion

Sebi revises format for promoters, promoter group entities’ shareholding disclosure

CBIC asks field offices to allow only DoT-approved mobile signal boosters import

Reliance JioPhone Next cameras, processor and other features revealed before launch

Royal Enfield is not in a hurry to get into the E-Vehicles segment and will wait for the right time to enter the space which is witnessing a lot of action in the country, Eicher Motors MD Siddhartha Lal

Google may soon use nearby phones to help you track your lost Android Smartphone and car

Corona Updates

World: 206,955,609; Active 17,021,981 (8.22%); Recovery 185,575,460 (89.67%); Vaccinated 4.62BN

India: 32,155,827; Active 394,558 (1.23%); Recovery 31,330,507 (97.43%); Vaccinated 523.67MN

India reported 40,120 new Covid-19 cases, 585 death on Friday

Panic in Bengaluru after 543 children found infected with Covid in over 11 days; brings back focus on 3rd wave could affect children; infection spreading among them at a faster rate; Jabs first for kids above 12 with comorbidities; Kerala renews plan, vaccinate all those found negative in containment zones

Bharat Biotech's Nasal Covid vaccine gets Regulatory Nod for Phase 2, 3 Trial; J&J doses expected to arrive India in Nov-Dec, Zydus Cadila next; Govt release 7,000 Cr, 1,755 new O2 plants to be functional soon

Serum’s Cyrus Poonawalla claims that India will be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by December 2021 are far from real; Vaccine export ban 'very bad' move; son warned not to speak against it; SBI report claims India may vaccinate 70% eligible population by mid-March 2022

Covid-19: Mumbai’s first Delta+ fatality is fully vaccinated woman, 63

Covid: One-dose Sputnik Light set for rollout in September

State News

Delhi Police issues traffic advisory ahead of Independence Day

Class 12 student moves SC seeking time-bound decision to re-open schools

Delhi records zero Covid-19 fatality, 50 cases

Delhi HC restrains telecast of documentary based on death of student in Gurugram school in 2017

Free chle bhature for all Neerajs at this Delhi eatery Sita Ram Diwan Chand

Raj Kundra moves High Court for anticipatory bail

Raj Kundra pornography case: Mumbai Police forms a Special Investigation Team

NCB chief probing Bollywood drug case related to Sushant Singh Rajput's death, awarded 'Medal for Excellence in Investigation'

Shilpa Shetty served notice by Lucknow Police in wellness centre case

Free vaccination drive for Covid-19 continues in Visakhapatnam

Telangana: Volunteers group helps conduct final rites in Covid death cases

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao set to announce sops for Huzurabad

Now, BJP dares KCR to contest from Huzurabad

Will seek Rs. 1,000 from each voter to survive: BJP leader Eatala Rajendrer

T govt treads cautiously on river water disputes with AP

Telangana HC overruled the objections of the HC registry

Won’t take stand on YSRCP repel MP Raghu Ramakrishna Raju plea: CBI

Amit Shah tour to Telangana’s Huzurabad on September 17

Andhra Pradesh diverting water, says Telangana to KRMB

24-year-old ends life in Hyderabad; blackmail suspected

No evidence to confirm if 9-year-old girl raped before being killed: Delhi Police tells court

Delhi HC restrains telecast of documentary based on death of student in Gurugram school in 2017

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal expected to inaugurate Delhi’s first smog tower on Aug 23

Two men threaten to blow up building, killed in encounter in northeast Delhi’s Khajuri Khas

Telangana: Duo steal Rs. 42 lakh items with YouTube tutorial, held

Kuwait News

Increasing the maximum number of arrivals through Kuwait airport to 7,500 passengers per day

The State of Kuwait condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the continued attempt of the Houthi militia to threaten the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

MoH: 417 new cases of Corona, 602 recovered and 3 deaths recorded

Kuwaiti Defense Minister receives a phone call from his American counterpart to exchange views on many issues of concern to both sides and the most important regional and international developments

The US Food and Drug Administration allows the administration of a third additional dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine against emerging Corona virus – Covid-19 to some individuals to those who suffer from immunodeficiency

The Kuwait national under-17 basketball team is second in the Gulf Championship and qualifies for the Asian Cup finals

Jordon: One Silver and three bronzes for Kuwait in the Arab Table Tennis Championships

Kuwait Red Crescent distributes tons of baby formula to the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinians refuges

The price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil rose 74 cents to reach $72.59

The Coalition to support legitimacy intercepts a booby-trapped plane targeting the city (Khamis Mushait) in southern Saudi Arabia

The UAE strongly condemns the targeting by the Houthi militias of the Saudi (Khamis Mushait) region with a booby-trapped plane

The Bahraini Ministry of Health records 102 new infections with the Corona virus

International News

Mysterious 'Kill List' with Pak public figures (days after a former Taliban operative verified its existence and a leading British newspaper reported it) rattles nation; Parliamentary Panel orders probe

Back to old ways: Taliban forcing women to marry terrorists; give up their jobs

Men, money, training: How Pakistan has helped Taliban over the years

Over half of Afghanistan’s provinces fall to Taliban

Biden slamed for colossal US failure that is bringing Taliban to gates of Kabul

Marine vanguard lands in Kabul as US speeds up evacuations

Faceoff: Indians react as Taliban continues to capture Afghanistan at terrifying pace

New York Assembly to suspend Cuomo impeachment investigation

Federal judge leaves CDC evictions moratorium in place

Biden made ‘Obamacare’ cheaper; deadline for consumers to take advantage of a special sign-up period for private coverage made more affordable by his Covid-19 relief law

Moderate Democrats demand quick passage of infrastructure bill

Afghanistan: Nato, UN, EU confirm they will not recognise govt formed through military

UK: In rare (worst incident in a decade) British mass shooting, gunman kills 5, including 3-year-old girl

Canada to accept 20,000 vulnerable Afghans such as women leaders, Human Rights workers

UK Sikh Engineer's Low-Cost Washing Machines to head to India; got off to a good start following field research in camps in Iraq

The Pentagon: The arrival of the first American forces to Kabul to evacuate civilian employees

Tunisia: Controlling forest fires on the border with Algeria

US official: President Biden is following developments in Tunisia and has respect for its president

British PM confirms that there is no military or combat solution to the situation in Afghanistan

Jeddah: The leadership of the coalition forces to support legitimacy in Yemen confirms the interception and destruction of a booby-trapped march plane “launched by the terrorist Houthi militia” in a systematic and deliberate manner to target civilian objects in the city Khamis Mushait in souther Saudi Arabia

Washington: The US affirms its keenness on the security and stability of Afghanistan and confronting the violence it is witnessing after the Taliban movement managed to control a number of vital cities in the country, stressing that it “is still committed to maintaining a strong diplomatic and security relationship with the government of Afghanistan”

Beijing: Chinese authorities say 21 people have died and four others are missing in heavy floods in central Hubei Province

Tunis: A Tunisian official says that the fires that broke out in the governorate of Zaghouan in the north of the country have caused the destruction of 500 hectares of forest, pointing out that the firefighting teams have so far been unable to put out the flames burning two days ago

Istanbul: The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announces that the number of victims of the floods that swept the north of the country has risen to 27

NY let childhood sex abuse victims sue; 9,000 went to court

US immigration advocates blast ‘cruel’ Biden policies on asylum

Las Vegas grocery storefront collapses at opening, injures 4

Coronavirus origins: China rejects WHO demand for further probe

US has decided that India is a strategic ally, says Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Federal judge leaves CDC evictions moratorium in place

First live ‘murder hornet’ of 2021 reported in Washington state

Major wildfires threatening towns in Montana, California

State of emergency in Russia’s Yakutia expanded over fires

Woman using gun’s laser sight to play with cat shoots friend

Moderate Democrats demand quick passage of infrastructure bill

Russia tells BBC journalist to go home in row with Britain - state TV

Moderate Democrats demand quick passage of infrastructure bill

Young loner with gun permit named in UK shootings

Australia urgently evacuates Afghans threatened by Taliban

The US Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour division maintains a list of employers who are debarred / disqualified under the H-1B visa programme

Washington military base briefly locked down amid report of gunman

Major wildfires threatening towns in Montana, California

US treasury sanctions Cuban officials, military unit over violence

Sports News

India’s late strike leaves 2nd Test evenly poised

Youth World Championships: India cadet and junior archers confirm 10 medals

Valencia opens the Spanish League competitions for this season by defeating Getafe with a clean goal

Bayern Munich begins the defense of the German League title with a draw with Monchengladbach

Indian women’s hockey team’s outgoing coach Sjeord Marijne opens up on his much-talked about Twitter exchange with Shah Rukh Khan

T20 World Cup: ICC allows participating nations to bring 15 players, 8 officials

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

World Cup winning U19 India captain Unmukt Chand announces retirement

PCB confirms first England cricket tour in 16 years

Did BCCI medical officer in Sri Lanka delay Krunal Pandya’s Covid test despite player red-flaggering symptioms?

Neeraj Chopra’s coach Klaus says going forward, aim to be “stable” in technique

Roger Federer says return date ‘uncertain’

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur upsets defending champ Bianca Andresscu in Montreal

US Open bars spectators at qualifying over Covid concerns

India vs. England: Ravichandran Ashwin sits out again as India punt on pace

Hockey skipper Manpreet Singh loves to binge on butter chicken, Neeraj Chopra says fruits are his ‘comfort food’

Olympic medal effect: Mirabai already seeing heightened interest in weightlifting

Olympians from Punjab honoured at felicitation function, 20 players handed Rs. 28.36 crore

Vinesh Phogat unsure of returning after Tokyo Olympics trauma

Tokyo Paralympics to be held without spectators: Reports

Tata Motors to present Altroz car to India’s Olympic fourth-place finishers

UP to shower monetary rewards on Tokyo achievers from all states

HC permits disabled girl to participate in Poland games event

Too early for Messi to take the field, says Pochettino

Clubs upset over changes to CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers

Jharkhand to host Indian women’s football team camp from Aug 16

Advance wishes to India's 75th Independence Day

Today’s News (12th Aug 2021, Thursday)

Today’s News (12th Aug 2021, Thursday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

Neeraj Chopra’s gold winning feat named one of 10 magical moments of track and field in Olympics

Himachal landslide: 10 dead, many trapped under debris in Kinnaur; rescue ops on

Stormy Parliament session comes to early end; Naidu breaks down, LS speaker ‘extremely hurt’

First flight to Tezu, India’s easternmost tip, on Aug 16

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal among 11 AAP MLAs discharged in chief secy Anshu Prakash assault case

Independence Day: Delhi Police issues traffic advisory

First time since 1996: Ulfa-I does not call bandh on I-day

Delhi court grants bail to former BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay in Jantar Mantar communal sloganeering case

Govt rejects claims on new Supreme Court branches

Sulking over portfolio allocation, Karnataka minister hints at resignation

Lalu Prasad threatens to boycott census, if caste-wise headcounts is not allowed

Navjot Sidhu appoints four advisers, picks Fatehgarh Sahib Congress MP Amar Singh, ex-DGP Mohammad Mustafa

23 MPs meet Union health minister over treatment to patients with rare genetic conditions

Owners of green fuel rent vehicles cannot be denied licences under Rent A Cab scheme

Maharashtra malls to reopen for fully vaccinated; timings of shops, restaurants extended

Experts want government agencies to focus on conserving monuments in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik felicitates state’s Olympic-returned hockey players

Punjab government announces increased cash awards for Olympic athletes

Financial & Business News

Excess interest, late fee paid while filing ITR to be refunded, says I-T department

Ashok Leyland and CCBSS launch electric bus service in Chandigarh

Sensex, Nifty end flat; Tata Steel rallies 4%

Fuel demand rebound to drive earnings of oil firms: Moody's

Government expecting very robust tax revenue this fiscal: Revenue secretary

Alibaba worker’s desperate plea for help sparks #MeToo reckoning

Covid-19 Updates

Luxembourg reports 61 new Coronavirus cases

Herd immunity a ‘mythical’ goal that will never be reached: Oxford Vaccine Head

Covid-19 takes 66 lives in Iraq, sickens 8,635 others

Cumulative Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India cross 52 cr: Health ministry

Not too late to send data on oxygen deaths: Centre to Delhi govt

China approves first mixed-vaccine trial as Delta spreads

China keeps guard up as Covid outbreak enters 4th week

Nothing like ‘zero Covid’, waiting for that is not scientific, say experts

World: Confirmed: 203,980,078; Total Deaths: 4,314,007; Active Cases: 199,666,071

India: Confirmed: 32,036,511; Total Deaths: 429,179; Recovered: 31,220,981; Active Cases: 386,351

State News

Delhi Community School provides free education to underprivileged students

No likelihood of rainfall in Delhi over next 6-7 days, says IMD

Tihar: Jailed Bengaluru man may have extorted Rs. 200 crore

Delhi: Trials on runway 4 of IGI likely from Nov, but actual operations not before New Year

Delhi: Cremation of remaining human tissue and feet of Dalit girl held

Delhi records zero Covid-19 fatality, 37 fresh cases

Delhi: 20-year-old stabs man to death over friendship with ex-girlfriend

Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai police reach Shilpa Shetty’s residence to question the actress and her mother in alleged 'fraud' case

Shilpa Shetty, mother Sunanda booked for 'fraud' in wellness business; company claims they parted ways long ago

Sushant Singh Rajput drug case: Siddharth Pithani's bail plea rejected again; court didn't find any merit in plea

Porn case: Raj Kundra's jail time extended

Pornography case: Being a British citizen Raj Kundra may try to escape if granted bail, Mumbai Police tell court

Visakhapatnam: Man goes nude on video call, blackmailed into paying Rs. 24 lakh

Ganja worth Rs. 3.5 crore seized in East Godavari, 11 held

Youth arrested after bid to rob gold chains for girlfriend foiled in Andhra Pradesh

Delhi: Two members of 'Tillu gang' held in Karala area for killing man over gang rivalry

Kuwait News

Clarity on return of Indians expected soon; Ambassador held meeting MoH Undersecretary

Kuwait Amir His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives a letter from King Salman Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, inviting His Highness the Amir to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Kuwait Crown Prince receives Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad

Kuwait celebrates International Youth Day, themed, ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.

Kuwait FM receives call from Japanese counterpart

Kuwait Dep. FM inaugurates GCC meeting on human rights

Kuwait FM receives Egyptian Ambassador to mark end of tenure

Kuwait women’s handball side set to compete in first international event

Kuwait lists 424 new Covid-19 cases, three deaths

National Security Advisor: High gas prices ‘risk harming ongoing global recovery’

Kuwait FM sends condolences to Algeria over victims of wildfires

New scholastic year in Kuwait begins on Oct 3

Employers coercing labourers to work in days’ scorching heat penalized in Kuwait

Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC): Pumping gas from Al-Khafji Joint zone to Kuwait Oil Company’s networks, kicks off

Kuwait crude oil went down USD 1.90 during Tuesday’s trading session to reach USD 70.93 pb vs. USD 72.83 pb the day before

Kuwaiti firefighting team participants in putting out fires in Turkey

MPs Osama Al-Shaheen, Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi and Hamad Al-Matar submitted a proposal to establish a company that will manage public parking areas located in State properties

‘Failure of brakes led to collision’

Criminals, violators of law in Jleeb ‘face deportation’

Young Kuwaiti girl (14) Ayat Al-Ma’atouq, one of the youngest Covid-19 patients in Kuwait, after a long suffering in ICU, Jaber Hospital fights Covid and recovered from the virus

Occupancy rate of residential flats see decline by over 24%

Alternate days classroom study for students; weekly PCR tests for unvaccinated students

Kuwait to buy one million more Moderna vaccine doses

Dubai Travel: Expired Residency Visas of some residence automatically extended until Dec 9

Temperature expected to reduce in coming days

MP Dr. Muhammad Al-Huwaila submitted a proposal to reduce the price of PCR exam in the labs approved by the Ministry of Health in Kuwait from KWD 20 to KWD 10

Public Debt to be implemented soon

The cost of recruiting Filipina domestic workers on the rise

Ethiopian Domestic workers agreement awaits Kuwaiti response

International News

Biden says even with economic progress, many families ‘feeling the pinch’

Taliban takes control of ninth Afghan provincial capital

Kabul could fall to Taliban in 90 days: US intelligence

5 people jump from Myanmar building to escape police: 2 die

Inoculations reach half of Cambodians as vaccine diplomacy intensifies

WHO estimates globally more than 10 Cr people get infected with Hepatitis A every year

US envoy meets Libyan commander to push for elections

New Zealand moves closer to passing ‘self-identification’ law

Sports News

Tokyo Olympics: Fourth place at the Olympics is always disheartening, but I don’t have any regrets because I gave my 100%: Aditi Ashok, India’s golfing senation

Boxer Lovlina Borohain eats home-style Assamese food with Union Minister Sabananda Sonowal

Professional coaching key to success for Indian sportswomen: PV Sindhu

Below-par showing in Tokyo, social media trolls taking a toll on athletes

Hockey players from Punjab, Haryana get rousing welcome on returning a home

His words of wisdom and motivation shall always stay with me: Mirabai Chanu after meeting Sachin Tendulkar

Nobody in NRAI wanted me as coach except president: Coach Jaspal Rana

Mankind Pharma to give Rs. 11 lakh each to 20 players who missed medals at Tokyo Olympics

Calf injury rules Stuart Broad out of rest of the Test series against India

India, England players docked 40 per cent of match fees, 2 penalty points for slow over-rate

As a team not pleased with being docked two WTC points because of slow over-rate, says Kohli

India vs. England: England dwell on ‘best approach’ for Indian bowlers

India vs. England, 2nd Test: Shardul Thakur unavailable for selection due to injury

We won’t plug in someone in place of Shardul Thakur for just few runs, 20 wickets more important: Virat Kohli

India vs. England: We have a big bright chance of winning the Test series in England because we have a very good team, says Ravindra Jadeja

Virat Kohli believes a lot in fitness, so everyone has to raise their fielding standards: Ravindra Jadeja

England greats Anderson, Broad doubtful for second India Test; Saqib Mahmood called as cover for 2nd Test

Bowling attack going to be slightly depleted if both Stuart Broad and James Anderson are ruled out: Jonny Bairstow

Rafael Nadal out of Cincinnati, adds to doubt over US Open

Bianca Andreescu advances in Montreal opening match

Kei Nishikori high after deep run at Tokyo Olympics

Today’s News (11th Aug 2021, Wednesday)

Today’s News (11th Aug 2021, Wednesday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Headlines

Make immediate arrangements to return to India, govt tells citizens in Afghanistan

Setting house in order: Irate over MPs skipping Parl despite diktat, PM seeks RS absentees' names

No decision on National NRC yet, identifying Rohingya Muslims for deportation, MHA tells Parliament

‘Wake up soon’: SC fines parties for not complying with its order on criminal candidates

Canada extends ban on passenger flights from India by a month till Sept 21

DGCA advices passengers planning to travel abroad to check fares on airline’s website

Security forces arrest two with Rs. 25.81 lakhs Hawala money in Poonch

Reservation should continue as long as inequality exists in society: RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale

After nod to 11 new medical colleges, TN to add 1,650 MBBS seats

*Muslim minority schools account for 22.75 per cent

Bombay HC: Woman's modesty is her 'Most Precious Jewel', throwing love chit outages It, insult to her dignity, imposed ₹ 90,000 fine on accused Shrikrushna Tawari

CBI arrests 9 people for swindling over Rs 100 Cr Term Deposits of Chennai Port Trust in Indian Bank

IIT Delhi, AIIMS develop Telerobotic Ultrasound System during Covid times; allows remote ultrasound access through a robotic arm

India is ranked 122nd on a new Global Youth Development Index measuring the condition of young people across 181 countries

Lok Sabha passes amendment bills on homoeopathy, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine; passes key bill to restore states' power to make their own OBC lists

Financial & Business News

India Inc vs. RBI: Companies don't want to reveal details of their loan books to the public; RBI will penalise banks for failure to timely replenish currency notes in ATMs machines from Oct 1

Jewar airport achieves financial closure; raises Rs 3725 crore as debt from SBI

Amazon to end seven-year-old JV with Narayana Murthy's Catamaran

Tata, Singapore Airlines pump in Rs 750 crore into Vistara; 5th round funding by Vistara's owners into the airline since April 2020 as it struggles like its rivals in the midst of the Covid19 pandemic

SoftBank's Masayoshi son thinks Swiggy can pull off a Zomato if it decides to go public

Chip shortages impacted 20-40% of volumes of Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite; Mahindra recalls 29,878 pick up vehicles to replace faulty fluid pipe

Bombay HC seeks Centre’s reply on why no interim relief be granted in anti-IT Rules PIL

Sensex scales fresh peak, ends 152 points higher

Sebi fines 7 entities for violations related to dealing in Videocon Industries shares

Indian cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX enters unicorn club with $90 million fundraise

Reliance joins Bill Gates, others to invest $144 million in US energy storage company

Safe Entry Station “PredictMedix” inauguration at Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL)

Record mutual fund kitty, SIPs on stock market rally

Innovative startups ride the wellness wave to growth

Pay cut: Google employees who work from home could lose money

Financial closure achieved: Construction of Nodia airport to begin soon

1,016 claims settled till Aug 5 under PMGKP scheme for health workers fighting Covid: Govt

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance likely to weigh bid for T-Mobile Netherlands

RBI issues draft proposals to liberalise overseas investments norms

Paytm seeks to more than double its ESOP pool

Covid-19 Updates

World: 204,722,273; Active 16,544,161 (8.08%); Recovery 183,852,421 (89.81%); Vaccinated 4.48BN

India: 32,033,333; Active 393,526 (1.23%); Recovery 31,210,624 (97.43%); Vaccinated 508.66MN

India reported 28,204 new Covid cases and 373 deaths; recovery rate improved to 97.45%, the highest ever during the second wave of Covid-19

British PM hails ‘incredible’ 75% UK adults getting both Covid vaccines

Bangladesh initiates vaccination of Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps: ANI

Portugal recommends Covid vaccinations for 12-15 year-olds: Reuters

UK records highest daily Covid-19 death toll since March

Nigeria to resume Covid vaccinations on Aug 16: Reuters

Germany’s Angela Merkel says so long as vaccine works, no further restrictions must be different to previous lockdowns: Reuters

Italy reported 5,636 new cases: Reuters

Maharashtra sees 5,609 new Covid-19 cases, 137 deaths; Madhya Pradesh registers 10 new cases, zero death; Uttarakhand records 39 new Covid cases, zero death; Punjab logs 74 Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths; Assam records 929 new cases, 16 deaths; West Bengal recorded 639 new cases, 12 deaths, Tamil Nadu logs 1,893 fresh cases, 27 deaths, in the last 24 hours

Kerala may witness around 4.6 lakh Covid cases from Aug 1-20: Central team

Delta cases surging in US, India, China, Australia, France. The mutant with a 'Superpower; Tourists told to leave, US issues Travel Advisory as France faces 4th Covid wave; 75% UK adults received both doses of Covid vaccine, PM Johnson hails 'Incredible' feat

37 'Districts of concern' in Kerala, TN, Himachal, Karnataka, AP, Maharashtra, WB, Meghalaya, Mizoram are driving India's surge; Kerala reported more than half of India's total cases in past 7 days

Empty streets and busy beaches in Sydney as Delta lockdown divides Australia's largest city; China logs highest single-day locally transmitted Covid-19 cases since July

US study finds modified tapeworm drug may help treat Covid-19; modified salicylanilide compound overcomes both issues, in mouse and cell-based tests

Lancet: Covid-19 During pregnancy linked with higher risk of preterm birth which occurs at less than 32 weeks of gestation, 60% higher for people infected with Covid-19 at some point in their pregnancy

DCGI has given its go-ahead to a study on mixing Covaxin and Covishield vaccines in India. The study will be conducted by CMC, Vellore and involve clinical trial covering 300 healthy volunteers

Several mandals in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari log over 10% Covid positivity

20.32 lakh tests, 7.08 lakh hospital admissions related to Covid authorised under AB-PMJAY: Govt

Covid-19 vaccines to be required for military under new US plan

State News

PM’s photo, words in Covid vaccination certificate reinforce awareness message: Govt

All schools shall remain closed except residential schools from Aug 11 to 22 in Himachal Pradesh

Bombay high court has cancelled the Class 11 Common Entrance Test scheduled for August 21

Maharashtra government allows reopening of schools for classes 5 to 8 in rural areas and classes 8 to 12 in urban areas from Aug 17: ANI

Aug 15: Fully vaccinated citizens get freedom to board local trains in Mumbai

Navi Mumbai: 15-year-old girl ‘kills’ mother over NEET studies row

Rajasthan school reopening: Child panel to draft SOP in anticipation of resuming classes

Teen kills mom with karate belt, tries to pass it off as suicide

Vigilance inquiry into Mansas and Simhachalam trust lands

Vizianagaram police: Man arrested for selling fake gold

Two women allegedly assaulted officials issuing challan for Covid violations in Delhi, arrested

Shilpa Shetty Kundra likely to make her first public appearance for COVID-19 relief fundraiser post Raj Kundra's arrest in pornography case

Gauahar Khan slams 'fraud' beer pong event claiming her and Varun Dhawan's presence, says 'Be ready to be sued'

Telangana: Cinema hall owner’s charred body found in his burnt car

Nine-member family from Nepal in dire straits due to Covid situation gets help from KTR

Telangana: Man with 12 challans sets bike ablaze after cops tell him to pay up in Vikarabad district

Telangana: Revellers at waterfalls throw caution to the wind

Cyberbad Commissioner of Police felicitates Good Samaritans, doctors, traffic volunteers and police personnel, who saved road accident victims

Man assaulted, robbed of bike and cash by unidentified assailants in Hyderabad

Chiranjeevi writes to Krishnam Raju, urges him to conduct MAA elections at the earliest

Rs. 20,000 crore per year for Dalit Bandhu in Telangana, say sources

New-age cyber cons target high profile: Ex-Top cop, judicial officer among victims of online fraud

Stuntman Vivek dies of electrocution on sets of 'Love You Racchu', lead actor Ajai Rao refuses to join shooting until he gets justice

Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra's bail plea hearing adjourned to August 20 in pornography case, businessman to remain in judicial custody

Congress MLA in MP tears his kurta in front of mediapersons

Kuwait News

Shamal Az-Zour Al-Oula Power and Water Company earns more than $19m HI 2021

MoE proposed alternate days offline classes for students from Sept

A citizen of an unidentified Gulf state, and his companions were seriously injured on Al-Artal, in the direction of Kabad, when a vehicle they were riding overturned

Police intervention at Erada was to implement SOPs

Plan to cut expats students education grant

Expats are added value to Kuwait. Their departure is a loss for the economy and the nation

Some direct flights likely to resume soon

Kuwait lists 595 new Covid-19 cases, 3 deaths

Sub-continent Diaspora in Oman hope, travel ban will be lifted soon

Kuwait rescues housemaid after she seeks help on Facebook

Tuesday’s weather was very hot and the maximum was 49

UNICEF praises Kuwait’s role in improving children conditions on all level

International

Restoration work of the temple damaged by a mob last week in Punjab province has been completed by the Pakistani government and handed over to the Hindus

Protesters block roads across Guatemala, urging president to step down

Epstein accuser sues Prince Andrew, citing sex assault at 17

US defence secretary discusses Afghan situation with Pak Army chief Gen Bajwa

Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 jolts Myanmar's Burma

190 people lost their lives in severe floods that pummelled western Germany in mid-July; Germany will earmark $35BN to rebuild after last month's deadly floods that washed away homes, business

US: After Cuomo's exit, Kathy Hochul to become New York's first woman Governor in 233 years

Thousands flee as Taliban eye full control of northern Afghanistan

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are set to welcome a most unusual guest, as "the Blob" (500 years Old) blasts off into orbit

India’s 3rd SOS amid Taliban offensive in Afghanistan; Diplomats, Professionals asked to return; US-backed Afghan forces target Taliban hideouts, over 100 fighters reported dead; US talking to Pakistani leaders to shut down safe havens for Taliban along Pakistan-Afghan border; 6 EU nations want migrants forced back to Afghan

Marburg Virus (carried by bats and has a fatality rate of up to 88%), related to Ebola, detected in West Africa for first time

Govt to evacuate Indian citizens from Afghanistan’s Mazar-e-Sharif

8 Taliban killed, 19 injured in Afghan air force airstrikes

Thousands flee as Taliban eye full control of northern Afghanistan

Covid: Pakistan to ban train travel for unvaccinated people from October

Imran Khan not concerned over people's issues, hiked prices of life-saving medicines: Pak opposition

Taliban tighten control of Afghan north as residents weigh options

US defense secretary, Pak army chief discuss situation in Afghanistan

To appease China, Pakistan appoints new Belt & Road chief

Chinese, Russian militaries hold drills in northwest China

Aircraft help fight California wildfire as smoke clears

Former CDC official expects schools 'will be forced to shut down' this year more than last due to Covid-19

Kim’s sister ratchets up pressure on US, South Korea on drills

Sports News

ICC to push for cricket’s inclusion in Olympics, Los Angeles 2028 ‘primary target’

After Olympic gold, Neeraj Chopra eyes World Championships title next year

Chris Cairns on life support after collapsing in Australia: Report

BCCI invites applications for post of NCA head

India U-18 compound archers shatter two qualifying world records

World Archery Youth Championship: Indian compound U-18 Women's Team, Mixed Team smash Junior World Records in qualifying

WFI suspends star wrestler Vinesh Phogat over indiscipline after Tokyo Olympics campaign, notice issued to Sonam for misconduct

Back together: Neymar welcomes Lionel Messi as former Barcelona stars set for reunion in Paris Saint Germain (PSG)

Difficult to see Messi in another club’s colours, says Iniesta

Post-Olympics, spotlighting shifts to Qatar 2022 World Cup

West Indies recall Shamarh Brooks, Chemar Holder and rest Darren Bravo and Shannon Gabriel

Bajrang Punia: Wanted to win a medal even if that meant more injuries; Bronze is worth gold to my family
PM Modi’s pep talk after semifinal loss gave a positive energy ahead of bronze medal tie: Manpreet Singh

A different Olympic experience for archer Atanu Das

Awards for Neeraj Chopra (Gold medal in Javelin Throw) – Haryana CM: 6 cr; to also be made head of upcoming Centre for Excellence in Athletics in Panchkula, Punjab CM: 2 cr; IOA: Rs. 75 lakh; BCCI: Rs. 1 Cr; CSK: Rs. 1 Cr; Elan Group (Gurugram-based realty firm) Rs. 25 lakh; Byju’s: Rs. 2 Cr

Foreign coaches and support staff played a big role in India’s success in Tokyo Games

There’s need for serious debate on whether Trent Bridge Test could’ve been completed

It’s been difficult to get continuity due to Covid-19: Joe Root

India vs. England: Moeen Ali recalled to England squad ahead of 2nd Test

India vs. England: Haseeb Hameed making ‘strong case’ for recall, says Chris Silverwood

India vs. England: Silverwood’s patience with England’s top order wearing thin

Bumrah has got amazing skills for all three formats: Bairstow

 Today’s News (10th Aug 2021, Tuesday)

 Today’s News (10th Aug 2021, Tuesday)

by Annadatha Venkata Murali Manohar

Tokyo Olympics

Olympics' Indian medallists - Neeraj Chopra, Bajrang Punia, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain and the Indian men's hockey team were felicitated at Ashoka Hotel by Anurag Thakur & Kiren Rijiju

‘In Tokyo, India discovered: Results show the goal of putting the country in Olympic top ten is feasible’: M Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India

Pani Puri is the best street food for athletes, says Olympic gold winner Neeraj Chopra

India finishes 48th, best in four decades, 33rd in terms of overall medals won

‘He hugged me and said sorry brother’: Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ravi Dahiya on being bitten by Kazakh wrestler

I will start afresh in every aspect for Paris 2024: Lovlina Borgohain

Parents will now see a future for their kids in hockey, says PR Sreejish

Frenzy, chaos as history-making Indian Olympic contingent returns from Tokyo; Proud fans welcome gold medallist Neeraj Chopra with 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' chant

India lays out red carpet for Olympics heroes; felicitated in grand ceremony by government

My body was in pain day after Olympic gold but it was worth it: Neeraj Chopra

Headlines

UNSC meeting: PM Modi outlines 5 Principles on Maritime Security Strategy, mentions India's Vision 'SAGAR'; Shun Maritime Trade barriers, combat threats

234 Scientists read 14,000+ Research Papers to write the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It's the Climate Report

After anti-Muslim slogans at Delhi Rally, cops move to question suspects; cops initiated the process to arrest them

PM Modi to chair UNSC debate on Maritime Security

India-led UNSC meet snubs China, backs Law of Sea convention

PM Modi transfers about Rs. 19,500 crore to over 9.75 crore farmers under PM-KISAN

Rajya Sabha approves bill to end all retrospective taxation

Nirav Modi gets nod to appeal extradition to India on grounds of mental health, suicide risk

At Sibal dinner, opposition discusses Congress revamp

Ministry of Road Transport: Total number of road accidents due to potholes in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 stood at 6,424; 9,423; 4,869 and 4,775, respectively

With rivers Ganga and Yamuna flowing above the danger-mark, floods have displaced hundreds in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj

Chhattisgarh gets 10 national awards for procurement, processing and marketing of forest produce

Telangana CM greets tribals, promises permanent solution to Podu land issue

Telangana: 6.5 crore-year-old basalt columns discovered in Adilabad forest

Assam-Mizoram border row: Peace restored, but disputes can't be resolved overnight, says Assam CM

IMD: Many parts of north and northeast India, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are expected to receive fairly widespread to widespread rains over the next 5 days

Lookout Notice Issued against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in Extortion Case registered against the officials in Thane

Nirav Modi Appeal allowed over mental health as a basis for refusing extradition to India; claim earlier rejected

IIT Jodhpur develops Low-Cost water purification, Treatment Unit for Schools in rural Rajasthan

India's 1st Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant returned to shore after completing its maiden sea voyage

30 ITBP troopers seek redeployment in Afghanistan; Delhi High Court says ‘amazed’ that anyone would be keen to go back there despite the dangerous situation, junks their plea

Illegal NSCN-IM camp busted along Assam-Nagaland border, 4 militants nabbed; NIA raids over 50 locations in J&K in terror funding case

Terrorists shoot dead J&K BJP sarpanch, wife at home

For the 1st time, Indo-Tibetan Border Police inducted 2 women officers in combat; passing-out parade for a total of 53 young officers was held in Mussoorie

NEET could be held twice a year, talks on multiple sessions for Medical Entrance not over yet

Days after CJI Ramana's Reprimand, CBI arrests 5 for posting Defamatory Content against Judges; CJI said that the agencies "do not respond" when lower court judges complain about threats

Reprieve for Dr Kafeel Khan as UP withdraws re-inquiry against Paediatrician, informs Allahabad HC

IMD: Intensity of rainfall likely to increase in West Bengal, Sikkim during Aug 11-12 as the monsoon trough has shifted close to the foothills; Floods continue to wreck havoc in North India

Lots of questions, no clear answers: Make no mistake, Pegasus is just the tip of the iceberg

Ministry of Defence says no transaction with Pegasus spyware maker NSO

Criminal cases against MPs, MLAs see 17% jump in 2 years

Jharkhand judge death: Supreme Court not happy with CBI’s ‘sealed cover’ report

Amid Opposition protests, Lok Sabha passes three bills in quick time without any discussion

Opposition makes exception to its Pegasus stand, will join talks on OBC quota bill

Eatala Rajender dares CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to fight Huzurabad poll

Withdraw P-G medical education regulations bill, says IMA

Australia flags democracies trade swing from China to India

Kerala to celebrate Onam virtually this year due to rise in Covid-19 cases

122 sitting, ex-legislators facing laundering cases, ED tells SC

SC refuses to intervene on plea against making vaccine must

Flight to London from Kochi to resume on August 18

UN’s ‘code red’ warning: Global temperature likely to rise 1.5°C in 20 years

Financial & Business News

BJP got ₹ 2,555 Cr from Electoral Bonds in 2019-20, 76% of Total; 75% jump on the 1,450Cr it received in 2020; over five times of Congress

SC upholds CCI probe into Amazon, Flipkart

Auto retail grows 34% year-on-year in July but still lags pre-pandemic sales levels; Ahead of XUV 700 launch, Mahindra showcases new corporate logo

Skoda sees strong India sales in July

After 5G, Tatas gear up for chip manufacturing

ICRA: Satellite communication user base may rise to 1.5-2 million by 2025 subject to easier operating environment

Wait for Tesla cars to end very soon? India mulls big tax cut to bring home the king of EVs

After loan scam, fraudsters from China now bring investment apps

Bankers in a huddle as court rulings threaten over $6BN in loans; negotiations were taking place to try to limit potentially severe consequences

Mumbai: Prestige Group to invest over Rs 3,500Cr to develop 7 mln sq ft office space in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Turf View at Mahalakshmi

Axis My India plans to invest Rs 500 crore in tech platform with focus on two-way communication problem solving, to connect 25 crore households

India's power consumption up 9.3% to 28.08BN units in 1st Aug week; India exports 8Lac Tons coal to neighboring countries in FY'21; OMCs leave petrol prices unchanged as global crude oil prices decline

More electric vehicles hit the road in 7 months than all of last year; inflection point is the price parity between EV and conventional engine vehicles

Automobile retail sales in fast lane in July as Covid-19 restrictions ease

Oyo shortlists investment banks for $1.2 billion IPO: Report

Sensex rises 125 points; Nifty ends above 16,250

India considering sharp import tax cuts on EVs after Tesla lobbying, say sources

Amazon, Catamaran to end Cloudtail joint venture next year

Retail holdings rise to all-time high of 7.18% in Q1: Report

Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has delivered a split verdict over PNB Housing Finance’s Rs. 40,000 crore ($5.4 billion) share allocation to a group of investors led by Carlyle Group, a judgements seen by Reuters showed

New Delhi: At 7.7 crore, traffic challans up four times in 23 months

Corona Updates

World: 204,089,191; Active 16,500,550 (8.08%); Recovery 183,273,187 (89.80%); Vaccinated 4.46BN

India: 31,997,017; Active 394,919 (1.23%); Recovery 31,173,383 (97.43%); Vaccinated 508.66MN

Foreign Nationals can now get vaccinated in India, Register on CoWin using Passport as ID document

Top Scientist Dr Vipin Srivastava who predicted 3rd wave postulated based on daily death load (DDL), has not only persisted since July 4, but has also gotten worse in recent weeks

US study modified Tapeworm Drug may help treat Covid-19, but they tend to be gut-restricted and can have toxicity issues

Top Health Official says US 'Failing on Covid', Fauci warns of incoming 'Deadlier than Delta' Variant; China reports more Covid-19 cases due to Delta variant, some cities kick off New Tests

Mumbai Local Trains to start from Aug 15 for fully jabbed; want to visit Kerala shops, Banks? Get jabbed or carry Negative RTPCR Report from Aug 11; Noolpuzha, First Tribal Panchayat in Kerala to achieve complete vaccination

Kumbh Covid Testing Scam: Days after raids, SIT Team to arrive in Noida to arrest accused couple

UK eases Travel Restrictions for travellers from India; Once lagging, Europe catches up to the US in vaccinations; US sees alarming surge in Delta variant cases, Children scramble to find ICU beds

Beyond Delta, Scientists are watching New Covid variants - Lamba on the wane; B.1.621 (Colombia), the one to watch for

Bharat Biotech’s US and Canada partner Ocugen Inc said it has submitted all the requisite data of indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to Canadian authorities and the application is under ‘active review’ of Health Canada

Beyond Delta, scientists are watching new coronavirus variants

Now, get Covid vaccine certificate on WhatsApp in 3 easy steps

Uddhav Thackeray warns of lockdown if Maharashtra sees rise in Covid infections, reports

Nine Russian coronavirus patients die after oxygen supply malfunctions

China reports more Covid-19 cases while some cities kick off new tests

Covid-19: China punishes 30 officials for pandemic failing

Hyderabad at sixth spot in vaccination drive as Bengaluru, Delhi march ahead

Telangana: Policy to help kids orphaned by Covid deaths soon

India reports 26,000 cases, lowest since March 16

Bengaluru sees 47% increase in containment zones in past 10 days

State News

Fearless, Justice P Kesava Rao of Telangana high court raised the bar for judicial uprightness

Delhi: 5 arrested for taking away jewels from shop by posing as CBI officials

Delhi: Class 10 to 12 students can visit schools from Monday for admission, board practical

Visakhapatnam Steel Plant employees try to block Sitharaman's convoy

Woman officer throws sand at senior in Andhra Pradesh, alleges harassment

Telangana: Nine women in jail, three with their infants

Telangana: Soon, a Shilparamam at Warangal Fort

Artists put up show to help weavers in Telangana hit by pandemic

Telangana: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project cost pegged at Rs. 1.15 lakh-crore

Telangana: Ex-IPS Praveen Kumar to join BSP, says will work for social justice in complete form

TRS minister apologises after remarks against MPP

Emergency works on hold as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation delays payments

Two men held for running Chinese investment fraud in Hyderabad

Tollywood celebs laud Neeraj Chopra for winning gold at Tokyo Olympics

Netizens laud Lara Dutta for her transformation as Indira Gandhi in 'BellBottom'

Sanjay Raut: Unless 50 per cent cap relaxed, Maratha quota can’t be restored

Body of Mumbai student who drowned in Haridwar recovered, two others remain untraced

Lucknow University receives record number of applications, increase of over 8 per cent compared to last year, for UG admissions

Haryana paper leak: Congress’ Surjewala demands HC-monitored CBI

All students who wrote 10th exam pass: Karnataka minister

DU must develop infrastructure before increasing the seats

Mahesh Babu called the ‘nicest superstar’ by Minister KTR on his birthday

‘Itni Shakti Hame Dena Daata’ singer Pushpa Pagdhare is living in penuary

Juhi Chawla on 5G case being a publicity stunt

Mahesh Babu and Trivikram Srinivas’ #SSMB28 team revealed: Pooja Hegde on-board

Jr NTR takes over the social media handle of RRR

Cluster system to be initiated in nine Hyderabad systems

160 pvt junior colleges shut shop amid pandemic year

New-age cyber cons target high-profile persons in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Nigerian held for Rs 51L fraud

Chiru seeks MAA polls to end mudslinging

Man with 12 challans sets bike ablaze after cops tell him to pay up

Malayalam TV Actress Sharanya Sasi passes away at 35 after battling cancer for 10 years, friends, colleagues mourn her demise

Kuwait News

KC KKPL Player Reni Jacob had a cardiac arrest whilst fielding last night during the match, passes away

Kuwait sends reinforcements to Greece as wildfires roar

French FM: Kuwaiti tourists must submit vaccination certificate to enter facilities

Amb to France urges Kuwaitis to comply with health restrictions

GCC chief underlines importance of maintaining focus on resolving Yemeni crisis

MOH: High turnout to receive anti-virus vaccine during Hijri New Year Holiday

Future of 4,000 students ‘bleak’ due to Fahaheel National School closure

Kuwait lists 519 new Covid-19 cases, three deaths; Covid-19 cases down by 74.6%

Mobile internet in Kuwait cheapest in the world

Belly Dance training centre closed down

Decrease in number of Kuwaitis awaiting jobs

It looks like the issue of expatriate workers who are 60 years and above and holding only high school diploma or below has returned to the fore again: Al-Rai

Fishermen’s Union calls to issue permits to bring in new workers

Kuwait Mosafer App optional for returning citizens

Stranded teachers with expired residences to return to Kuwait soon

International News

Nagasaki marks 76th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese city

Canada border reopens for fully vaccinated US citizens

Iran New President Ebrahim Raisi tells Emmanuel Macron Nuclear Talks must guarantee Iran's 'Rights'

Pakistan to Host Regional Conference on Afghanistan, Russia and China likely to attend; concern over Taliban resurgence

Russia evacuates 2 villages in Siberia because of wildfires where 155 active forest fires burned

Working for inclusive peace in Afghanistan but concerns remain about external players, Qatar tells India

Blinken, Japan’s Akiba “opposition” to activities that threaten rules-based international order: State Dept

Pentagon deeply concerned over deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan

Blinken says investing in domestic renewal will make ‘our future more secure’

Global warming likely to blow past Paris limit, says UN report

Leaders, activists alarmed, not surprised by climate report

Code Red for Humanity': UN Climate Change Report shows Global Heating has arrived with a vengeance

China reported anthrax pneumonia patient from northern Hebei Province's Chengde city; contact history with cattle, sheep & products that come from these animals

Indonesia's most active volcano, Mt Merapi, erupted 7 times since Sunday morning, spewing clouds of smoke, ash into the air; sending streams of lava and gas down its slopes

Taliban rakes up offensive, captures another Afghan Provincial Capital Taloqan; 5th since Friday; Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul & Taloqan fell within hours of each other; 570 Taliban militants killed in last 24 hours, claims Afghan Defence Ministry

8 Taliban killed, 19 injured in Afghan air force airstrikes

Miscreants attack Hindu temples in Bangladesh

UK PM (apoplectic with anger) threatened to demote Rishi Sunak over leaked letter to push for easier international Covid-19 travel norms ahead of a planned review

Top 3 Australian internet service providers sued for false speed claims

US, China trade barbs at UN over South China Sea

Biden administration takes fresh action against Belarus

Time’s Up leader resigns after criticism about Cuomo ties

Fire devours Greek island’s forests; residents urged to flee

California wildfire now second-worst in state history

Australia to get 1st Moderna doses next month

The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s legitimate government intercepts two explosive drones launched by the Houthi group, targeting Saudi Arabia’s southern city of Khamis Mushait

Two women appointed as Assistants at the Holy Mosques for the First time in Saudi history

Three power transmission lines blown up in Nineveh, Iraq

Sports News

Bangladesh dismiss Australia for their lowest T20I total of 62, seal series 4-1

‘Not spectacular’: Dan Christian unhappy with Dhaka T20 pitch

Sreedharan Sharath in line to become chairman of BCCI’s Junior