Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit's apology for a cheek-patting gesture that many found offensive has been accepted by a woman journalist, but with a disclaimer. Journalist Lakshmi Subramanian‏ had written to Mr Purohit conveying her anger at his gesture after she asked a question during his press conference on Tuesday evening. In response, the 78-year-old governor offered his apology, but with a bizarre justification - that too, not long after distancing himself from a sex-for-degrees scan

Despite a marginal decline in daily coronavirus cases, India continues to see a record surge in deaths; 51 ONGC workers are still missing after a barge that was carrying 261 people sank 35 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast on Monday; Registrations for the 18-44 age group opened up earlier this month, but government statistics show a declining trend in registrations; and other top news of the day. | NDTV

India on Friday reported over two lakh coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day; BJP tells Election Commission that the remaining poll phases in Bengal should not be clubbed, claims there is no connection of Covid spike with election rallies; Home Minister Amit Shah takes out a roadshow in Bengal without a mask; Andhra Pradesh runs out of vaccine stock; and other top news of the day. | NDTV