Buck stops with me, won't pass this on to another US prez: Biden
Breaking News Updates August 16, 2021: Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour.

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- 17 Aug 2021, 01:50:50 AM IST
The buck stops with me: Joe Biden
US president Joe Biden says that four presidents oversaw the war in Afghanistan. He says he is ready to take in the criticism but will not pass on this war in Afghanistan to another President. Biden blamed Trump and Ghani during his speech. He said Trump made a 'bad deal' as it was unclear whether the ceasefire would continue after May 1 (the date set for withdrawal by Trump who brokered the deal with Taliban and Afghanistan) and accused Ashraf Ghani of cowardice.
- 17 Aug 2021, 01:49:25 AM IST
Will defend our people devastatingly if required: Biden
Biden says US citizens, allies and Afghans who helped the US and its allies will be protected by the US. He says that the troop withdrawal will be completed successfully.
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{{/htLoading}} - 17 Aug 2021, 01:46:33 AM IST
Told Ghani to go for a political solution but he did not listen: Biden
The US president says that he asked Afghanistan president Ghani to go for a political solution but the latter disagreed and said the Afghanistan army would fight the fight against Taliban. "But they didn't," said US president. Biden also expressed his surprise on how quickly Taliban occupied Afghanistan.
- 17 Aug 2021, 01:39:17 AM IST
Stand squarely behind my decision, there was never a good time to withdraw our forces, says Biden
Biden says Americans should not fight a war which Afghanistan armed forces are not willing to fight. The US president says Afghanistan leaders fled and their armymen received economic help, logistical help and even salaries but their armed forces crumbled in front of the Taliban.
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{{/htLoading}} - 17 Aug 2021, 01:35:36 AM IST
Biden says Mission Afghanistan was not meant for nation building
US President Biden says Mission Afghanistan was aimed to capture Osama Bin Laden and was never intended for nation building.
- 16 Aug 2021, 10:37:08 PM IST
Union health minister to visit Assam tomorrow
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya to visit Assam tomorrow to review the Covid-19 situation in North-Eastern states and also to review construction works at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Changsari.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 10:05:09 PM IST
Pentagon says 'leadership was missing in Afghan govt'
Pentagon blames Afghanistan over Taliban seizing power, says 'leadership was missing in Afghan government.''
- 16 Aug 2021, 09:54:58 PM IST
'All military and civilian flights halted at Kabul airport': Pentagon
All military and civilian flights halted at Kabul airport, reports AFP quoting Pentagon.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 09:53:53 PM IST
27 new Covid-19 cases in Delhi, no death
Delhi logs 27 new Covid-19 cases, 73 recoveries and 0 deaths as total tally reaches 1,437,118.
- 16 Aug 2021, 09:29:52 PM IST
Museums, entertainment parts in Bengal to open from tomorrow
West Bengal govt allows museums, ASI protected monuments and entertainment parks to open from Tuesday at 50% capacity. IT and ITES sectors allowed to function with full employee strength after employees are vaccinated.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 08:39:48 PM IST
Biden to speak on Afghanistan situation
"I will be addressing the nation on Afghanistan at 3:45 PM ET today," tweets US president Joe Biden.
- 16 Aug 2021, 08:12:28 PM IST
'Taliban not honouring promises': Afghan ambassador to UN
Taliban is not honouring their promises and commitments made in their statements at Doha and at other international forums. People are living in absolute fear: Ghulam M Isaczai, ambassador and permanent representative of Afghanistan to UN
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 07:40:14 PM IST
Over 7.7 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered today: Health ministry
More than 7.7 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered today so far. A total of 550,520,038 vaccine doses administered have been administrated till now: Union health ministry
- 16 Aug 2021, 07:31:48 PM IST
Maharashtra logs 4145 new Covid-19 cases and 100 deaths
Maharashtra reports 4145 new Covid-19 cases as against 100 on August 15. Daily deaths fall to 100 as against 130 on Sunday. Total cases at 6,396,805 including 135,139 deaths.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 07:08:50 PM IST
Goa reports 62 new Covid-19 cases and 5 deaths
Goa reports 62 new Covid-19 cases, 96 recoveries and 5 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total cases reach 172,568.
- 16 Aug 2021, 06:43:30 PM IST
‘In touch with representatives of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan’: MEA
We’re in touch with representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities; we’ll facilitate repatriation of those who wish to leave Afghanistan: MEA spokesperson
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 06:09:00 PM IST
Kerala logs 12,294 new Covid-19 cases and 142 deaths
Kerala logs 12,294 new Covid-19 cases, 18,542 new recoveries and 142 deaths. Test positivity rate at 14.03%.
- 16 Aug 2021, 05:44:21 PM IST
Afghan military plane crashes in Uzbekistan: Reports
Afghan military plane crashes in Uzbekistan, reports AFP citing defence ministry.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 05:37:20 PM IST
US troops have temporarily halted evacuations from Kabul, says official
US troops temporarily halt evacuations from Kabul to clear air field, reports Reuters quoting a senior defence official
- 16 Aug 2021, 05:31:09 PM IST
With 10 new patients, Delta Plus variant cases in Maharashtra at 76
10 new cases of Delta Plus variant found in Maharashtra: six in Kolhapur, three in Ratnagiri and one in Sindhudurg, taking the total number of cases in the state to 76. Five of these 76 patients, have died: Health Department
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 04:41:11 PM IST
Meghalaya orders judicial probe into HNLC leader's death
Meghalaya orders judicial probe into the death of former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew who was killed in an encounter last week.
- 16 Aug 2021, 04:00:45 PM IST
Court sends businessman Gautam Thapar to judicial custody
A Delhi court sends businessman Gautam Thapar to judicial custody in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud case. Thapar was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 03:34:14 PM IST
Over 550 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in India
“In record-breaking progress, India administers 55 crore Covid-19 vaccines,” tweets Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
- 16 Aug 2021, 03:19:24 PM IST
Punjab Police say arrested 2 alleged militants
Punjab Police last night arrested two militants allegedly associated with a UK-based terrorist entity, to avert a possible terrorist attack on or around Independence Day. The police also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including 2 hand-grenades and a pistol: Police
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 02:35:41 PM IST
Willing to develop friendly ties with Taliban, says China
China says willing to develop 'friendly relations' with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
- 16 Aug 2021, 02:33:35 PM IST
Sushmita Dev joins TMC
Former Congress leader Sushmita Dev joins TMC in Kolkata, in presence of party leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 02:26:57 PM IST
‘Whatever Gandhiji said, he put into action’: Rahul Gandhi
The powerful thing about Mahatma Gandhi was that whatever he said, he put into action. So, if he said India should be a tolerant country, then he behaved in a tolerant way. If he said India should treat its women with respect, he treated women with respect: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, Kerala
- 16 Aug 2021, 02:09:23 PM IST
Uttarakhand extends Covid-19 curfew till August 24
Covid-19 curfew to remain in force in the state from 6am on August 17 to 6am on August 24; vaccination exercise to continue during the curfew: Uttarakhand govt
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 02:03:40 PM IST
Meenakshi Lekhi kickstarts 'Jan Ashirvad Yatra' from a vaccination centre in Delhi
Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi kickstarts 'Jan Ashirvad Yatra' from a vaccination centre in Delhi.
- 16 Aug 2021, 01:44:50 PM IST
Pakistan halt flights to Afghanistan
Pakistan's state-run airline says it has halted all flights to Afghanistan's capital of Kabul because of the “uncertain security situation” there.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 01:15:44 PM IST
UN Security Council to meet on Monday to discuss Afghan situation
With Kabul falling into the hands of the Taliban, the UN Security Council under India’s current Presidency will hold an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan on Monday, the second time in just over a week.
- 16 Aug 2021, 12:53:29 PM IST
At least five killed at Kabul airport: Witnesses
At least five people were killed in Kabul airport as hundreds of people tried to forcibly enter planes leaving the Afghan capital, witnesses told Reuters.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 12:36:15 PM IST
Several dozen French nationals to be repatriated from Afghanistan
Several dozen French citizens are to be repatriated by plane from Afghanistan, French Armed Forces minister Florence Parly told France Info radio on Monday, as Western nations scrambled to evacuate their citizens.
- 16 Aug 2021, 12:19:11 PM IST
Wholesale price-based inflation eases to 11.16 per cent in July
Wholesale price-based inflation eases to 11.16 per cent in July, against 12.07 per cent in June: Govt data.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 12:17:57 PM IST
Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram opens for common devotees today after 15 days.
Two devotees from Jalandhar, Punjab - Deepak and Aarti - say, "It is the last Monday of Sawan. We are very happy to have been able to come here for the Darshan. We feel fortunate."
- 16 Aug 2021, 12:02:26 PM IST
SC grants 4 weeks extension to Centre to frame guidelines on ex-gratia payment for persons who died due to Covid-19
Supreme Court grants four weeks extension to Centre to frame guidelines on ex-gratia payment for persons who died due to Covid-19.
Court has fixed matter after two weeks and has asked Government to file an affidavit on compliance of its other directions in June 30 order.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 11:59:27 AM IST
Air India's AI 126 Chicago-Delhi flight diverted to Gulf airspace
Air India's AI 126 Chicago-Delhi flight diverted to Gulf airspace due to the closure of Afghan airspace.
- 16 Aug 2021, 11:54:25 AM IST
Afghanistan aviation authority advises transit aircraft to reroute
Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) said on Monday that Kabul airspace had been released to the military and it advised transit aircraft to reroute, according to a notice to airmen on its website.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 11:39:53 AM IST
Due to the closure of Afghan airspace flights can't operate
Due to the closure of Afghan airspace flights can't operate, Air India confirms to ANI.
- 16 Aug 2021, 11:34:21 AM IST
Situation in Afghanistan is extremely alarming: Randeep Surjewala
Situation in Afghanistan is extremely alarming. India’s strategic interests are at stake.
Safety & security of our embassy and its personnel and Indian Citizens is at stake
Modi govt need to wakes up from its slumber and protects Indian citizens in Afghanistan: Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 11:25:44 AM IST
Supreme Court grants 10 days time to Centre to make appointments to Tribunals
The Supreme Court has granted 10 days time to the Centre, to make appointments to Tribunals despite recommendations by the selection committees.
- 16 Aug 2021, 11:21:00 AM IST
Union Govt tells SC it will set up a committee of experts to go into Pegasus scandal
Union Government files its reply before the Supreme Court, saying it will set up a committee of experts to go into Pegasus scandal. At the same time, the Government maintains the petitions are based on conjectures & there is no substance in the accusations.
SC will hear the case shortly.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 10:58:07 AM IST
Malaysia's cabinet has resigned : Science minister
Malaysia's cabinet led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has tendered its resignation to the king, science minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in an Instagram post on Monday.
- 16 Aug 2021, 10:44:54 AM IST
Kinnaur Nigulsari landslide incident: Death toll rises to 25
Kinnaur Nigulsari landslide incident: Death toll rises to 25 with the recovery of two more bodies, says State Disaster Management Authority.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 10:24:25 AM IST
US troops fire shots in the air at Kabul airport
US troops fire shots in the air at Kabul airport as scores of Afghans crowd onto the tarmac, reports AFP.
- 16 Aug 2021, 09:55:08 AM IST
Centre tells Air India to put 2 aircraft on standby for emergency evacuations from Kabul
Centre tells Air India to put 2 aircraft on standby for emergency evacuations from Kabul, news agency ANI reports quoting sources.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 09:44:40 AM IST
India logs 32,937 new Covid-19 cases and 417 deaths in last 24 hours
India reports 32,937 fresh Covid-19 cases and 417 deaths in last 24 hours.
- 16 Aug 2021, 09:24:09 AM IST
Sensex drops 93.74 points to 55,343.55 in opening session
Sensex drops 93.74 points to 55,343.55 in opening session; Nifty slips 26.10 points to 16,503.
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{{/htLoading}} - 16 Aug 2021, 09:23:16 AM IST
PM Modi greets nation on Parsi New Year
Parsi New Year greetings. Praying for a year filled with happiness, prosperity and good health. India cherishes the outstanding contributions of the Parsi community across different sectors.
Navroz Mubarak!: PM Modi tweets.
- 16 Aug 2021, 09:07:13 AM IST
Congress leader Sushmita Dev submits resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi
Congress leader Sushmita Dev said she has quit party with her change in Twitter bio. She was head of mahila Congress.
Dev identifies herself as "Former Member, Indian National Congress" in her Twitter bio.
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