France expects to end Afghanistan evacuations in coming hours or days

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab this afternoon

“Our conversation focused on developments in Afghanistan,” tweets Jaishankar.

A MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed today in Barmer, Rajasthan during a training sortie

Kerala records 31,445 fresh COVID19 cases, 215 deaths and 20,271 recoveries

Test positivity rate at 19.03%

ZyCoV-D, available for 12-17 yr old children also in addition to adults, will be rolled out in Oct. Before that a list and strategy are to be prepared to reach sick children in that group. Healthy children will be given vaccines only after adult immunisation is complete

– Dr NK Arora

Similarly, in schools, teachers, employees, bus drivers whoever is coming in contact (should be vaccinated) so that there is a protective ring around children

– Dr NK Arora, chairman, Covid working group under NTAGI

Time has now come that schools should be opened in a phased manner. However, the adults – the parents & other members of the family – should be immunised against COVID

– Dr NK Arora, chairman of Covid-19 working group under National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI)

We have received a proposal from Gram Panchayat ‘Miyanganj’ to rename it as ‘Mayaganj’. The proposal has been forwarded to the government for further action: Unnao DM Ravindra Kumar

A Delhi Court discharges BJP MP and noted Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans in connection with a case under ‘Representation of People Act’ for allegedly providing ambiguous information in election affidavit

Uganda Receives 51 Evacuees From Afghanistan

ENG vs IND 3rd test, day 1: India 56/4 against England at lunch, at Headingley, Leeds

Centre does not want probe into deaths due to oxygen shortage because truth of their negligence will come out, alleges Dy CM Manish Sisodia

Taliban issue ‘death warrant’ for Afghan woman divorcee residing in India

After the Taliban took over complete control in Afghanistan, they have now issued a public death decree for an Afghan woman, who had left the worn-torn country four years ago and is now settled in India. She had divorced her husband after she found that he was allegedly an active member of the Taliban.

I have not said anything wrong. But, if Devendra Fadvanis says it is wrong, then I will accept it, as he is our ‘margdarshak’ (guide)

– Union Minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane on his “slap” remark against Maharashtra CM

Heavy rain lashes Dehradun

The 25th edition of MALABAR is planned from 26-29 Aug 2021 in Philippines Sea

Since August 14, the US has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 82,300 people on US military and coalition flights

Since the end of July, we have re-located approximately 87,900 people on US military and coalition flights: White House Official

Serena Williams to miss US Open through injury: Instagram statement

Water level of river Brahmaputra rises due to rainfall in upper regions

The verdict in all cases (by Shiv Sena) filed against me in Bombay High Court has come in my favour. This is an indication that the country is run by laws

– Union Minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane in Mumbai

Germany to help Afghans seeking to leave beyond Aug. 31 deadline, says Merkel

Modi govt can’t sell country’s assets; they do not belong to BJP: Mamata Banerjee on NMP

Talks with Taliban must continue to safeguard Afghan gains: German Chancellor Merkel

COVID19: India crosses 600 million (60 crore) vaccination mark, says Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Maharashtra govt tells Bombay HC it won’t take any coercive action against Narayan Rane in FIR lodged in Nashik over his remarks against CM Uddhav Thackeray

Rupee slips 5 paise to close at 74.24 (provisional) against US dollar

Sensex slips 14.77 pts to end at 55,944.21; Nifty advances 10.05 pts to record 16,634.65

Taliban search house-to-house for women, girls for marriage, says escaped journalist

Hollie McKay, writing in The Dallas Morning News said that after the takeover of Kabul last week, the Taliban have been going house-to-house in the country, looking for women and girls over 15 for marriage.

Gujarat govt announces that schools for Classes 6 to 8 will reopen from September 2 with 50 per cent capacity

An FIR has been registered against a man, who, in a viral video, was seen beating a dog with a stick in Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur, under Section 428 of IPC & Section 11(1)(a) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat asserts that any possible terrorist activity flowing out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and finding its way into India will be firmly dealt with.

There are no Covid-19 positive cases, among the 78 persons (who came from Afghanistan last night) who are presently under institutional quarantine at ITBP quarantine facility at Chhawla Camp in Delhi: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

Rs 10,000 crore proposals have already come to the banks, MFIs should get money soon

– Debashish Panda

Too early to say credit is not picking up

– Nirmala Sitharaman

Banks have approached RBI this week for license on NARCL, the proposal to offer guarantee on bad loans is under consideration with the government

– Debashish Panda

Our own estimate is that inflation will remain within the band of 4-6%.

– Tarun Bajaj, Revenue Secretary

We have reduced duties on a number of products on edible oils to keep inflation in check.

– Tarun Bajaj, Revenue Secretary

Government will have some presence in Life insurance, general insurance and reinsurance: FM Sitharaman

“Over and above bear minimum presence, I will think of amalgamating them or disinvesting them.”

In the monetisation pipeline the ownership is still with government of India, these are under-utilised brownfield projects.

– Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

I will ask the opposition to do some homework on the National Monetisation Programme : FM

“The Congress party had monetised the New Delhi railway station. Why didn’t Rahul Gandhi tear down the monetisation plan for New Delhi railway station. Congress Party can blame us for selling off the country, but they are very good at it and making kickbacks out of it.”

Cabinet approves FDI proposal of Anchorage Infrastructure Investment Holding Ltd, proposing an investment of Rs 15,000 crore in India: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)

Direct overseas listing still under discussion, we are in talks with interested players

– Tarun Bajaj, Revenue Secretary

Banks will soon conduct a credit outreach program across India

– FM Sitharaman

Ask banks to increase employer contribution in pension corpus to 14% from the current 10%

– Debashish Panda

Pension payouts to bank employees could increase to Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 from the earlier cap of Rs 9284

– Debashish Panda

Hiked pension payout to bank employees to a uniform slab of 30% of last drawn salary

– Debashish Panda

Have highlighted that nature of banking is changing, we are seeing people are raising money outside banking channels

– Finance Minister Sitharaman

PSBs should have uniform approach to deal with exporters

– Finance Minister Sitharaman

Have requested banks to have interaction with export promotion agencies and chambers of industry

– Finance Minister Sitharaman

Union Minister Narayan Rane’s petition has been filed in Bombay High Court seeking quashing of FIRs against him over his remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray

Even if a farmer has less than 9.5% recovery, their Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) will be Rs 275 per quintal…Using advanced technology, our farmers have improved recovery (in the country)

– Union Minister Piyush Goyal

Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane has now been increased to Rs 290 per quintal. It will be based on 10% recovery

– Union Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution; & Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal

US, China trade fresh barbs over disputed seas

Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday the US would find new ways to “raise the pressure on Beijing”, accusing China of bullying in hotly disputed Asian waters for the second time in two days. Harris made the comments as she began a visit to Vietnam to stress US commitment to Asia, a trip critics have slammed as tone-deaf given the parallels with the superpower’s evacuations from Saigon and Kabul.

West Bengal Govt submits before the Supreme Court that justice Lokur commission won’t proceed till the court hears the bunch of Pegasus Snoopgate cases

Offline classes for Std 6th to 8th will begin from 2nd September: Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama

Taliban say religious scholars will lead govt in Afghanistan

At a gathering in Kabul, the Taliban said that their 20 years of struggle should not go in vain and religious scholars should take the lead and be the core of the upcoming government in Afghanistan. The terror group had invited tens of religious scholars in a grand gathering to ask their cooperation in forging a sound political system and inviting people to support the future government, Afghanistan’s Khaama Press said on Monday.

SC asks HC to decide in 2 weeks plea challenging appointment of Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi police chief

Evacuees update

A total of 78 evacuees were shifted to ITBP’s Chhawla based camp till Tuesday late night. Of total evacuees, 24 are Indians & 54 Afghan nationals that include 53 males, 14 females & 11 children. All had gone through COVID-19 test at IGI Airport & are reported negative: ITBP

Owing to the prevailing security situation in Afghanistan, all Afghan nationals henceforth must travel to India only on e-Visa: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

Delhi High Court issues notice to Delhi Government and others on a PIL seeking to declare a ban on medically unnecessary, sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants and children except in cases of life-threatening situations in the national capital.