Top news headlines of the hour

Published : Jul 21, 2021, 7:49 AM IST

Updated : Jul 21, 2021, 12:16 PM IST

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12:12 July 21

1. Raj Kundra arrest: 'Sex-rave parties sold as hot content for millions; many big names involved'

The Mumbai Police on Tuesday made a shocking revelation that arrested businessman Raj Kundra and his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi are the alleged masterminds of an international porn films racket perpetrated through their content production companies based in India and the United Kingdom.

2. Former UP CM Kalyan Singh's condition critical: Hospital

The health condition of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh is critical and he has been put on life support system, the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences here said on Tuesday.

3. AAI committees find Adani in violation of branding, logo pacts; Group begins making changes

Three committees of the Centre-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) in January found the Adani group to be in violation of branding norms, prescribed in the concession agreements, at the airports in Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow that the conglomerate took over last year.

4. Sagar Dhankar murder case: Delhi Police chargesheet likely in first week of August

Delhi Police is likely to submit its first chargesheet in the Sagar Dhankar murder case in the first week of August, Crime Branch sources said on Wednesday. According to Crime Branch sources, 18 accused are likely to be named in the chargesheet, including wrestler Sushil Kumar.

5. US life expectancy in 2020 saw biggest drop since WWII

U.S. life expectancy fell by a year and a half in 2020, the largest one-year decline since World War II, public health officials said Wednesday. The decrease for both Black Americans and Hispanic Americans was even worse: three years.

10:49 July 21

1. Maharashtra reconciles COVID-19 data, India logs 3,998 fresh deaths

A single-day spike of 42,015 COVID-19 infections, 3,998 fatalities has pushed India's tally of cases to 3,12,16,337 and death toll to 4,18,480, the data updated by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry at 8 am on Wednesday showed.

2. NBW against Cong leader Salman Khurshid's wife in misappropriation of funds case

A local court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Louise Khurshid, wife of former Union minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, in a case of misappropriation of over Rs 71 lakh received in central grants by Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by her.

3. OP Chautala visits Ghazipur border protest site, demands withdrawal of Central farm laws

Former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo OP Chautala on Tuesday said that "Central farm laws should be withdrawn". The comments of the former Haryana Cm came during his visit to Delhi's Ghazipur border where farmers have been protesting against the Centre's three farm laws.

4. Why it took three months for police to arrest Raj Kundra?

Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, was arrested by the crime branch on Monday night in a case, which it said, related to alleged creation of pornographic films and publishing them through some apps. On Tuesday, he was produced before a court which remanded him in police custody till July 23.

5. Ariel Henry appointed new Prime Minister of Haiti

Amid political turmoil caused by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, Ariel Henry on Tuesday was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Haiti. Ariel Henry, a neurosurgeon and former cabinet minister was tapped as Prime Minister by the President just days before he was gunned down at his home on July 7, media reported.

09:38 July 21

1. Eid-ul-Zuha: Devotees from all over country offer prayers

With all COVID-19 protocols in place, devotees from all over the country offered namaz on Wednesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha.

2. Karnataka becomes 1st state to provide reservation for transgenders

Karnataka has become the first state in the country to provide one per cent reservation for the 'transgender' community in all the government services. The government submitted a report to the High Court in this regard informing that a notification had already been issued after amending the Karnataka Civil Service (General Recruitment) Rule, 1977.

3. Simplicity at its best: Union minister's parents toil all day long to make ends meet

When L Murugan, the former BJP chief in Tamil Nadu, was being sworn in as a minister in the Narendra Modi government, his parents -- Loganathan (68) and Varudammal (59) -- were busy toiling in the fields. When some politically aware villagers informed them that their son had just become a Union minister, they smiled.

4. Rahul sir's belief in my batting pushed me to perform: Deepak Chahar

India pacer Deepak Chahar, who was an unexpected hero with the bat in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, on Tuesday said coach Rahul Dravid's belief in his batting inspired him to produce a match-winning knock for his team.

5. 12 killed in heavy rain, floods in central China

At least 12 people were killed while about 100,000 have been relocated to safe places in China's central Henan province which received the highest daily rainfall since the weather record began, state media reported on Wednesday.

08:26 July 21

1. Yediyurappa invites legislators for dinner amid reports of leadership change

Amid speculations within a section of the ruling BJP circles that his exit as Karnataka Chief Minister was on the cards, B S Yediyurappa will host dinner for all the party legislators on July 25 to mark the completion of two years of his government in office.

2. Congress will fight solo in local body polls: Nana Patole

Days after the Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole made controversial statements against the alliance partners in the state government, he has been summoned by the Congress' former President Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday, which reportedly upset the leaders of NCP and Shiv Sena.

3. Deepak Chahar scripts India's series-sealing win over Sri Lanka

Tail-ender Deepak Chahar brought India back from the dead with a steely 69 off 82 balls and script the visiting team's series-sealing victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday.

4. Bezos' comments on workers after spaceflight draws rebuke

The world’s richest man wanted to say thanks to the people who made his brief trip into space Tuesday possible. But for some, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ expression of gratitude went over like a lead rocket.

5. Citing Aadhaar, American expert recommends US to design a system that is inclusive and work for most people

Citing the experience of the Aadhaar system in India, an American expert has recommended lawmakers that the US design a digital identification system that is inclusive and will work for most people.

07:35 July 21

1. 'Amarinder Singh won't meet Sidhu until he publicly apologises for personal attacks'

Denying reports stating that the newly-appointed Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu is likely to meet Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Captain's media advisor Raveen Thukral on Tuesday said that the CM will not meet Sidhu till he publicly apologises for his personally derogatory social media attacks against him.

2. Raj Kundra offered web series, demanded 'nude audition', alleges model

A Mumbai model has accused actress Shilpa Shetty's spouse and businessman, Raj Kundra, of having demanded 'nude audition' along with two others.

3. Oppn furious as govt says no deaths due to oxygen shortage during COVID-19

Taking strong objection to Union Minister of Health (MoS) Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar's remark that no deaths due to lack of oxygen were specifically reported by states/Union territories during the second wave of COVID-19, the Congress has decided to move a privilege motion against her.

4. 5.3 magnitude earthquake hits Rajasthan's Bikaner

An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 on the Richter scale hit Rajasthan's Bikaner on Wednesday. According to the National Centre for Seismology, tremors were felt at 5:24 am about 343 kilometres West North West of Bikaner at a depth of 110 kms.

5. Russia hands over commercial offer of 21 MiG-29 fighters to India

Russia has handed over to India a commercial offer to deliver 21 MiG-29 fighters, a spokesperson for Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said on Tuesday.