DH Evening Brief: July 21, 2021

Here are the top headlines this evening.

Pegasus row: Mamata raps Centre, calls for anti-BJP front

Lashing out against the Centre over the Pegasus issue and accusing it of tapping the phones of Opposition leaders, Ministers, judges and bureaucrats, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged Opposition parties to form an anti-BJP front. She was addressing the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata. Read more

More seers queue up to back B S Yediyurappa as Karnataka CM

Several pontiffs made a beeline at Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's residence on Wednesday amidst speculations of an imminent change in Karnataka government leadership. Read more

Opposition-ruled states claimed no deaths due to oxygen, now doing politics: BJP

BJP on Wednesday accused opposition Congress and AAP of engaging in double-speak on deaths due to shortage of oxygen during the second wave of Covid-19 as the Modi government came under fire for telling Parliament that no such deaths were reported by states. Read more

How you can be better protected against Pegasus spyware

A major journalistic investigation has found evidence of malicious software being used by governments around the world, including allegations of spying on prominent individuals. Read more

DRDO successfully flight tests man-portable anti-tank guided missile

In a major boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat and strengthening the Indian Army, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested indigenously developed low weight, fire and forget Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) on Wednesday, the DRDO said. Read more

Raid on adult film shoot in February led to Raj Kundra's arrest

It was a tip-off about a porn film shoot in a private bungalow in the picturesque location of Madh Island that prompted the Malvani police station to carry out a raid. Read more

Bakra Eid 2021: Subdued Eid celebrations under the shadow of coronavirus

Eid al-Adha celebrations were subdued in India and in several parts of the world with no major congregational prayers and community feasts over fears of triggering a third wave of the coronavirus. However, this year the festive buzz was missing as most of the markets and other public places remained deserted as a majority of people preferred remaining indoors. See Pictures

Bezos faces backlash after thanking Amazon employees for funding space trip

Putting his foot forward in the space race, world's richest man Jeff Bezos finished an 11-minute spaceflight aboard his company Blue Origin's rocket and thanked all Amazon employees and customers for it, for which he received massive backlash online. Read more

Why is China facing record floods?

Record rains have inundated central China with floods striking an underground subway system, damaging dams and riverbanks, and causing landslides and building collapses. Read more

One-time backwater Brisbane turns Olympic Cinderella

Lacking Sydney's seaside splendour and Melbourne's cultural heft, Brisbane has learned to play smart to carve out an identity as Australia's third city while biding its time to win a seat at the Olympic table. Read more

Watch | Car, truck fell into gorge in Uttarakhand

A car and truck fell into a gorge due to flash flood in the Belkhet area of Champawat district on July 20. “We rescued everyone and took them to hospital. All of them are safe. Some people travelling in the car have suffered minor injuries,” says SDM Anil Garbyal.

Space tourism: What about the environmental toll?

The commercial race to get tourists to space is heating up between Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson and former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. On Sunday 11 July, Branson ascended 80 km to reach the edge of space in his piloted Virgin Galactic VSS Unity spaceplane. Read more