The Times Of India
Supreme Court seeks report from Jharkhand on judge killing
Rising number of attacks on judges and lawyers compelled a worried Supreme Court on Friday to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged killing of Dhanbad additional district judge Uttam Anand and order the Jharkhand chief secretary and the DGP to submit the status of the investigations within a week.
292 kids who lost parents to Covid registered for PM Cares assistance
The government on Friday informed Parliament that 292 children have been registered by states and Union territories till July 29 on the portal, created under PM Cares, for the scheme meant to provide support to children who have lost their parents, surviving parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian due to Covid-19. It also informed the House that 87 children living in childcare institutions have been affected by Covid-19, as per data collected till July 23.
Covid-19: Over 2 lakh pregnant women take first dose in a month
In a major boost for the vaccination programme, over 2.3 lakh pregnant women have received first dose of anti-Covid jabs in less than a month since vaccination against the infection was allowed for them, the government said.
India’s 7-day average of Covid cases crosses 40,000 again
Kerala reported a slight drop in fresh Covid-19 cases on Friday but numbers rose for the second straight day in Tamil Nadu even as India’s daily case count dipped marginally but remained above 41,000 for the fourth day running. India reported 41,454 fresh cases of the virus on Friday, down from 44,681 on the previous day, breaking a three-day streak of rising infections in the country.
Mizoram CM says no harm to anyone, but armed cops stay put
Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga has assured that there will be “no restrictions” and “no harm” to non-Mizos entering the state. However, the CM’s assurance on Friday coupled with his reiteration from his Twitter handle that “NorthEast India Will Always Be One” came even as his government refused to withdraw its armed policemen deployed at Vairengte town on the outskirts of Cachar (Assam) border.
NSO has blocked Pegasus use by some governments: Reports
Israeli surveillance software company NSO Group has temporarily blocked several government clients around the world from using its Pegasus spyware as the company investigates its possible misuse, Washington-based non-profit media outlet NPR reported.
In U-turn, Goa health minister says no deaths due to oxygen shortage in state
In a major U-turn on the floor of the assembly, Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane, who was the first to announce that many Covid-19 patients were dying in the state due to oxygen interruption at the state’s premier hospital Goa Medical College (GMC) during the second wave, on Friday denied any oxygen shortage-related deaths.
