Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) India saw a single day rise of 41,383 coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 31,257,720, while the active cases registered an increase for the second consecutive day and were recorded at 409,394, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The country's COVID-19 death toll rose to 418,987 with 507 fresh fatalities.

New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) As many as 56 Air India employees have died due to COVID-19 till July 14, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said on Thursday.

"A total of 3,523 employees of Air India Limited have been affected by COVID-19. Out of this, 56 employees succumbed to this pandemic till July 14, 2021," he stated in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

The minister said the national carrier has taken various measures to safeguard the interests of COVID-affected employees and their families.

New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) A court here on Tuesday acquitted a man accused of being a part of an unlawful assembly, dacoity and rioting in last year's northeast Delhi riots case.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said that there is no identification of the accused and testimonies of witnesses are completely contradictory to each other.

"It is a clear-cut of acquittal," he added.

New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday termed as "wholly uncalled for" the relaxations granted by the Kerala government for the Bakrid festival in areas having the highest COVID-19 positivity rate and warned that it will take action if the easing of curbs leads to further spread of the virus.

The apex court pulled up the state government for giving in to traders' pressure by granting relaxations ahead of Bakrid and said it disclosed a "sorry state of affairs".

New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday.

May this day further the spirit of collective empathy, harmony and inclusivity in the service of greater good, he wished.

Modi tweeted, "Eid Mubarak! Best wishes on Eid-ul-Adha. May this day further the spirit of collective empathy, harmony and inclusivity in the service of greater good.

Mumbai, Jul 19 (PTI) The NCP on Monday sought a probe into the alleged phone tapping of certain individuals using Israeli software Pegasus and demanded action against those responsible for the act.

Party spokesman and Maharashtra cabinet minister Nawab Malik said only an inquiry will establish which agency of the central government allegedly hacked the phones of journalists, ministers and industrialists.

New Delhi, Jul 19 (PTI) The Congress on Monday demanded an independent probe into the issue involving alleged phone tapping of prominent personalities including journalists in India using Israeli Pegasus spyware.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the prime minister on the matter using the hashtag "Pegasus".

"We know what he's been reading- everything on your phone", he said on Twitter.

New Delhi, Jul 19 (PTI) The Monsoon session of the Lok Sabha began on a stormy note on Monday with the Opposition creating a ruckus and preventing Prime Minister Narendra Modi from introducing the newly inducted Union ministers.

As the disruptions continued despite repeated Speaker Om Birla's repeated pleas to maintain decorum, the House was adjourned after nearly 40 minutes till 2 pm.

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Sunday prohibited the annual Kanwar Yatra in the city to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"No celebrations, processions, gatherings, etc. shall be allowed during forthcoming Kanwar Yatra-2021 starting from July 25 in NCT of Delhi," stated an order issued by the DDMA

The DDMA order came a day after the yatra was cancelled in Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Rabindra Narain Singh, an orthopaedic surgeon and a Padma Shri awardee, was elected as the president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday.

Singh, who hails from Bihar, was serving as the vice president of the saffron outfit so far. He had received Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour, in 2010 for his contributions to the field of medical science.