Top news headlines of the hour

Published : Aug 19, 2021, 9:24 AM IST

Updated : Aug 19, 2021, 2:10 PM IST

top news

14:07 August 19

1. Taliban marks Afghan independence as challenges to rule rise

The Taliban celebrated Afghanistan’s Independence Day on Thursday by declaring it had beaten the "arrogant of power of the world” in the United States, but challenges to their rule ranging from running the country’s frozen government to potentially facing armed opposition began to emerge.

2. Amrullah Saleh's presidency bid gets support from US leader

Amrullah Saleh, the first Vice President of Afghanistan, who has declared himself the president of the war-torn nation, on Thursday got backing from a top American policy analyst, who cited the South Asian country's Constitution to back his support.

3. Militant neutralized, Army officer killed in encounter in J&K's Rajouri

A militant was neutralized and an Army officer was killed on Thursday in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. While another officer was injured in the ensuing gunfire that broke out in Thanamandi area.

4. Mob brutally thrashes minor in Bihar on bicycle theft charge

The video of a minor boy being brutally thrashed by a mob in the Town police station of the district on allegations of a bicycle theft has gone viral on social media.

5. Maha: PM Modi's bust removed from temple built for him by BJP worker

Days after a BJP worker constructed a temple for Narendra Modi in Pune, the bust of the prime minister has been removed from it. Mayur Munde, who built the temple, could not be reached for comments on what prompted him to remove the bust.

12:59 August 19

1. Calcutta HC orders CBI, SIT probe in post-poll violence in West Bengal

A five-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the post-poll violence in the state. The court also ordered the formation of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe relatively lesser heinous crimes.

2. Biden's approval rating dips below 50% for 1st time

US President Joe Biden's average approval rating has tumbled below 50 per cent for the first time since he took office in January this year, multiple polls have revealed.

3. JK: Encounter breaks out in Rajouri's Thanamandi area

An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district on Thursday morning, reports say.

4. 22-year-old woman gangraped in moving car in Delhi

Two men were arrested for allegedly raping a 22-year-old woman in a moving car in Shastri Park area of Delhi. On the complaint of the victim, a case has been registered and an investigation is on, says police.

5. Delhi riots: 3 policemen to undergo lie detection test

The Delhi Police Crime Branch which is investigating the case of North-East Delhi riots that took place last year, intend to subject three Delhi Armed Police personnel to a lie detection test.

10:34 August 19

1. Jaishankar at UNSC: 'Safe return of countrymen India's priority'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday (IST) said India is keeping a close watch on the situation in Kabul after the Taliban captured Afghanistan's capital recently. He said India's focus is on ensuring the safe return of its countrymen.

2. India tests 50 cr Indians for COVID-19

India has tested as many as 50 crore people across the country for COVID-19 with average daily testing of 17 lakh samples in August, the Indian Council of Medical Research [ICMR] stated on Thursday.

3. Union Minister stokes controversy over remarks on Tagore's complexion

Union Minister Subhas Sarkar on Wednesday stoked a major controversy having allegedly opined that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's mother had refused to embrace him in his childhood due to his not so fair skin colour.

4. COVID-19: India records 36,401 fresh infections, 530 fatalities

A single day rise of 36,401 COVID-19 infections, 530 fatalities push India's tally of cases to 3,23,22,258, death toll to 4,33,049, says the data updated at 8am on Thursday by the Union Health Ministry. Active COVID-19 cases in the country declined to 3,64,129, it said.

5. Soccer-loving Pope Francis gets a new toy: a foosball table

Pope Francis has received dozens of soccer jerseys and game balls during his eight-year pontificate but he got a new football-themed toy: his very own foosball table.

09:29 August 19

1. IMF blocks Afghanistan's access to emergency reserves

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced to block Afghanistan's access to the emergency reserve worth USD 460 million as the Taliban's control over the country has drawn uncertainty for the country's future, a media report said.

2. Former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini arrested by Vigilance Bureau

Former Punjab Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini was arrested by the state's Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday night, official sources said. It was not clear immediately in which case Saini was arrested.

3. Biden, Kamala Harris briefed by national security team on Afghan situation

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by the national security team on the evolving situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday morning, according to a White House official.

4. India proposes multi-pronged plan to equip UN peacekeeping for 21st century challenges

India on Wednesday proposed a multi-pronged plan to bring UN peacekeeping operations to the 21st century by deploying technologies to face the evolving threats.

5. Afghan refugees living in Delhi appeal to international community for help

Amid the tensions prevailing in their home country, Afghan refugees living in Delhi have appealed to the international community to come forward and help the people of Afghanistan.

09:15 August 19

1. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani releases video, 1st since fleeing Kabul

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday defended his decision to flee Kabul in the face of the Taliban advance, describing it as the only way to prevent bloodshed.

2. Taliban captured key US military biometric devices: Report

The Taliban have captured the US military's biometric devices compromising crucial data of the US army and the local Afghans who played crucial roles during the war, a media report said on Wednesday.

3. Locking Rahul Gandhi's FB, Twitter accounts ploy to divert from bigger issues: Congress

A day after Facebook asked Rahul Gandhi to take down his Instagram post that showed the Congress leader with the parents of a 9-year-old rape victim, his party alleged it was a move by the Modi government to divert from the real issue.

4. Watch: Defending champion Thiem to miss US Open with wrist injury

Defending champion Dominic Thiem has pulled out of the U.S. Open, saying on Wednesday that he will miss the rest of the year because of a right wrist injury.

5. Parl panel begins 4-day visit to J-K, holds deliberations with reps of grassroots institutions

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs began four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. The Committee held interactive sessions, deliberations with the representatives of grassroots institutions including business and trade heads.