Maharashtra reported 10 new cases of the Delta Plus variant

TOP NEWS IN NUTSHELLS (18 August 2021)

*NATIONAL NEWS*

• SECURE REFUGE TO SIKHS & HINDUS: PM Modi directed officials to ensure safe evacuation of all Indian citizens from Afghanistan and to provide refuge to Sikhs and Hindus wanting to come to India, as he chaired a crucial high-level meeting on Tuesday in the backdrop of the Taliban takeover of the war-torn country.
• 3 HC WOMEN JUDGES CLEARED FOR SC: The Collegium has for the first time recommended the names of 3 women judges for elevation to the Supreme Court. They are Justice B V Nagarathna of the Karnataka High Court; Justice Hima Kohli, Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court; and Justice Bela Trivedi of the Gujarat High Court.
• TENSION ESCALATES ON ASSAM-MEGHALAYA BORDER: Three weeks after a violent clash between police forces of Assam and Mizoram, a firing incident on Tuesday escalated tension on the disputed interstate border again.
• VACCINATION DRIVE: India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 56 crore marks.
• DELTA VARIANT NEW CASES: Maharashtra reported 10 new cases of the Delta Plus variant. Total cases of Delta Plus variant has increased to 76. Meanwhile shopping malls in Maharashtra on Tuesday decided to close down operations, after the government modified guidelines mandating them to operate with fully-vaccinated staff.
• RURAL INDIA INTERNET CONNECTIVITY: Six lakh villages to get internet connectivity by 2024, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrashekhar said.
• VRIKSHAROPAN ABHIYAN: Ministry of Coal is all set to launch Vriksharopan Abhiyan-2021 from tomorrow. This campaign is as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• CLIMB-A-THON CAMPAIGN: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh flagged-in a climb-a-thon on Tuesday in New Delhi. This event is being organized by Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• ADDITIONAL DA TO HP EMPLOYEES: Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur announced 6% additional dearness allowance (DA) for govt employees and pensioners retrospectively from July 1.
• CIVIL AIRCRAFT FROM HAL: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has successfully carried ground tests for making a civilian aircraft named ‘Hindustan-228’.

**INTERNATIONAL NEWS**

• EAM JAISHANKAR IN NEW YORK: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrive in New York. He will be presiding over two high-level signature events of the United Nations. The 1st Event is on 'Protecting the Protectors: Technology and Peacekeeping'. The 2nd event is on 19 Aug, it will be a high-level briefing on 'Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts'. His visit to New York comes during India's Presidency of the United Nations Security Council.
• S. JAISHANKAR MEETS FRENCH FM: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

• INDIAN DIPLOMATS BACK FROM KABUL: Indian Air Force Aircraft C-17 brings back Indian envoy, officials from Kabul. 150 people, including diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians, landed at the Hindon airbase.
• EMERGENCY X-MISC VISA: India has introduced a new category of electronic visa: The e-Emergency X-Misc Visa will expedite visa application process for those stuck in Afghanistan as the country witness’s mayhem amid takeover by Taliban.
• CHINA FEARS UYGHURS : When the Taliban took over Afghanistan the first time in 1996, China refused to recognize their rule and left its embassy shut for years. This time around, Beijing has been among the first to embrace the Islamist terrorists next door. Reason here, Beijing's fears about Islamist extremism among its own Uyghur minority in China.
• INDIA BLAMES PAKISTAN: India blames Pakistan over vandalization of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's statue in Lahore. India says, Pak govt. has completely failed in its duty to prevent such attacks which are creating a 'climate of fear' among the minority communities.
• PM MODI TALKS TO ISRALIE PM: PM Modi spoke with his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett on Monday with the two leaders agreeing on the potential to further expand cooperation and deciding that the foreign ministries of the two countries would work on preparing a roadmap for further enriching the India-Israel strategic partnership.

• COLLABORATION ON GREEN HYDROGEN ENERGY: United Kingdom expresses willingness for collaborating with India on Green Hydrogen Energy. Union Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, RK Singh said that India has already retired 16369 MW of inefficient thermal units till March, 2021. India’s ambitious target of having 450 MW of installed Renewable Capacity by 2030.
• COVID COOPERATION: India handed over 31 life support ambulances to Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday. India also handed over medical equipment and supplies. 
• HAITI EARTHQUAKE: Rescue work following the deadly earthquake which struck Haiti on Saturday has been hampered by heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Grace.

***SPORTS***

• TOKYO PARALYMPIC GAMES: PM Modi interacts virtually with para-athlete contingent for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He expressed hope that India will create a new history at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 54 para-athletes from across nine sports disciplines will be heading to Tokyo to represent the nation. This is India’s largest ever contingent to the Paralympic Games. The games will begin from 24 August and ends on 5 September.
• NEERAJ CHOPRA HOSPITALIZED: Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra was taken to a hospital after he complained of ill health during the felicitation organized in Panipat. He was reportedly down under high fever. Reports suggest that Chopra may be under fever due to exertion, owing to his hectic schedule since his return from Tokyo. He had, notably, tested negative for COVID-19 a few days ago.
• T20 WORLD CUP 2021: India will face arch rival Pakistan in the opening match of Group 2 of the Super12 stage in the ICC Men's T20 WC on October 24 in Dubai.
• AFGHAN CRICKET CRISIS: As the world watches the situation in Afghanistan unfold, the International Cricket Council (ICC) also has an eye on the matter. The ICC office in Dubai is in constant touch with the members of Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in Kabul to "fully understand the impact of changes" happening in the country. One of the biggest challenges in front of ACB could be the sustenance of women's cricket in the country, something which has gone from strength to strength in recent times.
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