Breaking News, August 18

Ashraf Ghani Says 'In Talks To Return' To Afghanistan After Fleeing, reports AFP

The Supreme Court collegium yesterday approved the proposal for the appointment of Justice Kaushik Chanda, Additional Judge of the Calcutta High Court as a permanent judge of the High Court.

A temple-like memoir house has been inaugurated in Chittoor's Srikalahasti town under CM Jaganmohan Reddy's 'Nava Ratnalu' scheme. A 'mirror hall' with Jaganmohan Reddy's photos and statue will be inaugurated on Friday.

India has administered more than 56.57 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses till now

COVID restrictions eased in Himachal Pradesh for "all goods carriers, daily/weekend commuters or people who intend to commute for medical purpose. Children below 18 accompanied by parents with vaccination certificates (double doses) or negative RT-PCR report are also excluded."

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lays wreath at UN Peacekeepers memorial at UN headquarters in New York. MoU exchanged between India and UN in support of partnership for technology in peacekeeping in attendance of Jaishankar and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Karnataka Govt appoints Additional DGP (CID) Umesh Kumar as the nodal officer to coordinate with the Central Govt for bringing back the people of Karnataka stuck in Afghanistan

Kerala reports 21,427 new cases, 179 deaths and 18,731 recoveries; Test positivity rate at 15.5%

Tamil Nadu government allows re-opening of schools for classes 9th to 12th from 1st September with COVID19 protocols, teachers and other staff to be fully vaccinated

MORE DETAILS: Classes 9-12 to open in Tamil Nadu from September 1 

 Ranchi Police registers rape case against Sunil Tiwari, the advisor of former CM Babulal Marandi. "The case was registered at Argora police station on Aug 16 on complaint of Tiwari's maid, who accused him of raping her in March 2020," as per the police.

Envoys of four Nations- Holy See, Nigeria, Austria and Republic of Korea- presented credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind in a virtual ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan today

Congress appoints Dr Ajoy Kumar as AICC incharge of Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura

Supreme Court dismisses a plea of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh challenging a Bombay High Court order refusing to quash the CBI FIR against him in a corruption case

Tsunami alert issued after 6.8-magnitude quake off Vanuatu, reports AFP

The Afghan embassy in Tajikistan has asked Interpol police to detain Ashraf Ghani, Hamdallah Moheb and Fazl Mahmoud Fazli on charges of stealing public funds in order to return them to the people's wealth.

Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm with a financial outlay of Rs 11,040 crores. The focus is on increasing area and productivity of oilseeds and oil Palm, says Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

United Nations Human Rights Council to hold a special session on August 24 to address “Serious Human Rights Concerns and Situation in Afghanistan”. Session is being convened with the support of 60 Observer States so far, including France, India, Japan, Pakistan & United Kingdom.

Mumbai Crime Branch unit arrested two people from Vikhroli area and seized eight country-made pistols and eight live bullets from their possession. Both of them have been sent to Police custody till August 23. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected Katihar and Purnia districts.

J&K: 4 people have been arrested in connection with procuring  MBBS seats for students from Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan via Hurriyat and terror funding: J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh.

The first French evacuation flight from Kabul yesterday included 21 Indian nationals: the elite Gurkhas who were ensuring security of the French Embassy," tweets Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India.

WATCH: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi unit stages protest near Pakistan High Commission against vandalisation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh statue in Pakistan.

Jammu and Kashmir: A shell was found in a nalla near Sarol Sector, Chingus of Rajouri district. Further investigation is underway. Details awaited.

The UK Government announces Resettlement Route for Afghan refugees. In its first year, the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme to welcome up to 5,000 Afghans to the UK who have been forced to flee the country, with up to a total of 20,000 in the long-term: The UK Government.

Cyber department-related pornography case: Bombay High Court grants interim relief to businessman and Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra and keeps his anticipatory bail application for hearing next Wednesday, 25th August. 

Madhya Pradesh: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia flags off the distribution of flood relief material in areas of Gwalior and Chambal regions.

It was a long battle of 7 years. Ultimately justice has prevailed. He had faith in the judicial system right from the beginning. The charges levelled by the police for abetment to suicide and cruelty were absurd and preposterous: Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, counsel for Shashi Tharoor. 

Petroleum companies increased the price of domestic LPG cylinders by Rs 25. The price of a non-subsidized 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi is now Rs 859.50. Earlier on July 1st, the price of the LPG cylinder was increased by Rs 25.50. New rates are effective from 17th August.

Delhi Court discharges Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in connection with Sunanda Pushkar death case.

Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra met Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Chandigarh today.

Rajasthan High Court granted bail to former MLA Malkhan Singh Vishnoi after judicial custody of 9 years and 8 months (in  Bhanwari Devi kidnapping-murder case): Sanjay Bishnoi, Lawyer of Malkhan Singh.

A total of 49,84,27,083 samples were tested for #COVID19 up to 17th August 2021. Of these, 17,97,559 samples were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Supreme Court Collegium recommends 9 names, including 3 women judges, for elevation as Supreme Court judges. Three women judges recommended are -Justice BV Nagarathna of Karnataka High Court, Justice Hima Kohli of Telangana High Court and Justice Bela Trivedi of Gujarat High Court.

Three sniffer dogs, who were a part of the security at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan along with ITBP personnel deployed there, returned from Kabul to India yesterday. The Indian officials from Kabul landed at Jamnagar, Gujarat yesterday and were brought to Delhi later.

People who have recovered from COVID-19 should voluntarily get themselves evaluated for TB. If it is detected at an early stage treatment will become easier: Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar.

Tamil Nadu: 28-year-old Suhanjana Gopinath takes charge at Dhenupureeswarar Temple in Chennai after being appointed as Odhuvar (one who chants hymns) by the State Govt. She says, "I studied under Karur Saminathan for 3 years. I want to spread the message of Thevaram and Thiruvasagam."

MP: Indore district administration seized 50,000 litres of kerosene oil from the possession of 9 dealers. "Their licenses were not renewed. We found 3 diesel tankers carrying blue kerosene in a concealed manner. FIR will be registered against them: Abhay Bedekar, Additional Collector.

The single-judge bench of Rajasthan High Court termed a live-in relationship between a man & a married woman "illicit". The bench denied police protection to the woman on August 12, who had said she was a victim of domestic violence after which she left her husband's house.

Human remains were found in the wheel well of the US Air Force C-17 Globemaster after it landed at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, says US Air Force.

US military has evacuated 3,200 people from Afghanistan so far: AFP news agency quoting official.