Assam C M invites ULFA-I for peace talk

TOP NEWS IN NUTSHELLS (16 August 2021)

*NATIONAL NEWS*

• 75th Independence Day: Patriotic fervours on the occasion of 75^th Independence Day from J&K to Kanyakumari. PM Modi hoisted the national flag and addressed the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort in New Delhi.
• PARSI NEW YEAR: President Ram Nath Kovind greets people on the eve of Parsi New Year. Parsis are commonly seen speaking either Gujarati or English. But their native language is Avestan. Parsis rebelled against Arab invaders for 200 years in their home country Iran. This period is known as the Period of Silence.
• KATHA KRANTIVEERO KI: To mark the 75^th years of Independence Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurates Exhibition - Katha Kranthiveeron Ki. The Exhibition has on display more than 100 artworks recognising unsung heros like Alluri Sitarama Raju and Artwork created during Shaheedi Diwas, Champaran Satyagraha and Jallianwala Bagh camp.
• VACCINATION DRIVE: More than 56 crore vaccine doses have been provided to States and Union Territories so far, Union Health Ministry said.
• UNREST IN MEGHALAYA: . Amid the unrest in Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya, petrol bombs were hurled at the residence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday. No damage has been reported so far. The state govt.-imposed curfew and suspended internet services for 48 hours in 4 districts. Meanwhile Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has resigned over the police shooting of former militant.
• PEACE TALK: Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma invited United Liberation Front of Asom- Independent (ULFA-I) chief Paresh Baruah for peace talks.
• DHRUV CHOPER CRASH: Twelve days after Dhruv helicopter crash, body of one pilot retrieved from Ranjit Sagar reservoir. Mortal remains of Lt Col AS Baath retrieved from a depth of 75.9 metre. The Dhruv helicopter from an Army Aviation Corps squadron based at Pathankot had taken off on a routine sortie on August 3, when it crashed into the reservoir near Kathua in Jammu region. Reservoir is 25 km long, 8 km wide and more than 150 metre deep.
• GALLENTRY AWARDS: 144 gallantry awards announced.The awards include one Ashok Chakra, one Kirti Chakra, 15 Shaurya Chakras, four Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 116 Sena Medals (Gallantry), five Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
• AWARDS TO ITBP: The Union home ministry has for the first time awarded 20 personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) gallantry awards for showing exemplary bravery during clashes with Chinese troops in the Eastern Ladakh sector of Galwan Nalla and Finger IV region in May and June last year. A total of 628 Gallantry Medal have been awarded to police personnel of Central and State forces on the occasion of Independence Day.
• TRI-COLOUR ON INDIAN ISLANDS: Indian Coast Guard hoists National flag at selected 100 islands across country.

**INTERNATIONAL NEWS**

• AFGHANISTAN FALLS TO TALIBAN: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani fled from the country after Taliban forces gained control over Kabul. Earlier, it was reported that Vice President Amrullah Saleh also fled out of the country. Taliban now set to declare Afghanistan Islamic Emirate. Diplomats from the various countries have already evacuated their embassies. Air India flight from Kabul with 129 passengers landed in Delhi. Meanwhile, the Kabul airport has been closed for commercial flights as military evacuations continue.
• BARADAR LIKELY NEW AFGHAN PRESIDENT: One of the co-founders of Taliban, Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar will likely to be declared as  new President of Afghanistan.
• TRUMP DEMANDS BIDEN’S RESIGNATION: Former US President calls for Joe Biden to resign over Taliban take over of Afghanistan. In a statement, he said, it is time for US President Biden to resign in disgrace for what he has allowed to happen in Afghanistan.
• MARTYRDOM DAY IN B’DESH: Bangladesh observed the 46th martyrdom day of the founding President of the country Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with 18 of his family members in Dhaka by some military men on the night of 15 August 1975. Only two members of his family, his eldest daughter and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister survived as they were out of the country on that day.
• HAITI EARTHQUAKE: The death toll from a powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Haiti climbed sharply on Sunday, with at least 724 dead and a minimum of 2,800 injured. 

***SPORTS***

• YOUTH WORLD ARCHERY CHAMPIONSHIP:  India finishes its campaign with 15 medals including 8 Gold, 2 Silver & 5 Bronze. The championship was held in Poland.
• INDIA-ENGLAND 2^ND TEST: Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara help India take 154-run lead vs England on Day 4. Earlier England were all out for 391 taking 27 runs in the first innings. India in 2^nd innings were 181 for the loss of 6 wickets at stump.
• PM MODI APPLAUDS OLYMPIC ATHLETES: PM Modi in his address to the Nation on 75^th Independence Day from the rampart of Lal Quila, applauded the Tokyo Olympic medal winners and said that they have brought glory to the nation. We must honour our sportsmen, he said.