Breaking News LIVE: FB Asks Rahul Gandhi To Remove Post Revealing Identity Of Dalit Girl's Family, Says NCPCR

Breaking News LIVE, 17 August, 2021: This blog brings to you the latest breaking news from across India and the world. Refresh the page to find the latest updates.

Background

Breaking News LIVE, 17 August, 2021: The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that India will help members of Afghanistan’s  Sikh and Hindu community to come to India.

“We are in constant touch with the representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan,” foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

The government on Monday imposed restrictions on the export of Covid rapid antigen testing kits amid several experts warning of a possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

"The export of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits... has been put under the restricted category, with immediate effect," the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

 

Exporters have to seek a licence or permission from the DGFT for shipping items under the restricted category. Such restrictions are aimed at increasing the domestic availability of the kits.

20:18 PM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Facebook Asks Rahul Gandhi To Remove Post Revealing Identity Of Dalit Girl's Family, Says NCPCR

Facebook has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to remove his post from Instagram where identity was revealed of the family of a nine-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in southwest Delhi, the apex child rights body NCPCR said.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights shared with PTI copies of the letter that Facebook forwarded to it in response to its summon to the social media giant.

18:33 PM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Britain Approves Moderna's Covid Vaccine For Children Aged 12 To 17 Yrs

Britain's health regulator has approved Moderna Inc's Covid-19 vaccine for use in children aged 12 to 17 years. 

17:34 PM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

BJP Worker Shot Dead By Militants In Jammu & Kashmir

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker shot dead by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying. 

14:34 PM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Breaking LIVE: Sushmita Dev reacts on leaving Congress and joining TMC

I sent in my resignation to Congress president and with all humility thanked her for all the opportunities she has given me. I asked for her blessings and on that issue, I don't think anything more needs to be said: Sushmita Dev, TMC

13:54 PM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Breaking News LIVE: India's Serum Institute buys 50% stake in drug vial maker Schott Kaisha

Serum Institute of India has bought a 50% stake in vials maker Schott Kaisha, the companies said on Tuesday, as the world's largest vaccine maker aims to secure pharmaceutical packaging to meet rising demand due to the pandemic.

"Securing this supply chain is of strategic importance," said Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of Serum Institute. "As a longtime customer, we use (Schott's) vials, ampoules and syringes to store our vaccines including (COVID-19 vaccine) Covishield", as quoted by Reuters.

13:20 PM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Breaking News LIVE: AAP Chief Kejriwal Announces Col Ajay Kothial As CM Candidate For Uttarakhand

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal announced that Col Ajay Kothial will be the Chief Minister candidate for the party in Uttarakhand. While making the announcement Kejriwal said, "We are nominating Col Ajay as the CM candidate as he knows what it takes to serve the nation and its people, he has been protecting us from the enemy on the border for all these years and now it is time that he serves people by being with them."

12:59 PM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Breaking News LIVE: Demonetisation, GST and Farm Laws to weaken Indian economy, says Rahul Gandhi

Demonetisation, GST, and now the Farm Laws are designed to weaken the informal structure of the Indian economy. A consequence of these actions will be that India will simply not be able to give employment to its youth: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Thiruvambady, Kerala

 

11:37 AM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Breaking News LIVE: Samajwadi Party MP defends Taliban's takeover on Afghanistan

Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq commented on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and defended the takeover by the Taliban.

When India was under British rule, our country fought for freedom. Now Taliban wants to free their country & run it. Taliban is a force that did not allow even strong countries like Russia & America to settle in their country: Shafiqur Rahman Barq, Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal pic.twitter.com/yQFsEOH7tp

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 17, 2021

11:32 AM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Breaking News LIVE: PM Modi interacts with paralympic contingent

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with athletes of the Paralympics and gave them best wishes for the competition ahead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with 54-member Paralympic contingent ahead of the Games, to be held from 24th August-5th September, 2021 pic.twitter.com/ewCI2CIImO

— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2021

11:23 AM (IST)  •  17 Aug 2021

Breaking News LIVE: India Administers 88 Lakh Vaccine Doses In A Day, Highest In Single-Day Record

India administers over 88 lakh vaccine doses, achieves the highest single-day record of COVID-19 vaccination: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya