#AssamAssemblyPolls | Voters are being welcomed with plant saplings and traditional gamusa at polling booths in Assam

Voting for phase 1 across 47 seats underway

Track LIVE here: https://t.co/BpactJ4AHE

#ElectionsWithHT #AssemblyElections2021 https://t.co/eK30FCYP7h

Polling for phase 1 of the assembly elections in the states of West Bengal and Assam ended at 7pm on Saturday.  In the first phase, voters in 77 assembly constituencies-30 in West Bengal and 47 in Assam- cast their votes.  The two states have 294 and 126 assembly constituencies, respectively. Click here for all assembly election 2021 updatesThe West Bengal assembly elections are scheduled to take place in eight phases, while Assam will vote in three.  In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a stiff challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, in office since 2011, seeks a third consecutive term as the chief minister of the state.  Meanwhile, in Assam the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is pitted against the Congress-led 'Mahajoth'. Also Read | Battle for the east kicks off in 1st phase of voting todayOther than West Bengal and Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will also go to polls in a single-phase on April 6.  Counting of votes and result declaration for the four states and one Union territory will be held on May 2. Follow all the updates here:Nearly 80% turnout in Bengal, 73% in Assam as polling ends: ECBengal reported 79. 79 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of the 2021 Assembly election while Assam reported 73. 38 per cent turnout. Visuals from a polling booth in Contai, West BengalPoll ends for the first phase of #WestBengalAssemblyElection2021; visuals from a polling booth in Contai pic. twitter. com/H0g3B1SeshPoll ends for the first phase of West Bengal assembly electionsPoll ends for the first phase of #WestBengalAssemblyElection2021; visuals from a polling booth in Purulia pic. twitter. com/w6Caj5QU3hPoll ends for the first phase of Assam assembly electionsPoll ends for the first phase of #AssamAssemblyElections2021; latest visuals from polling booth number 10 in Jorhat.  pic. twitter. com/XYE5J7rj7rOver 79% turnout in Bengal, 72% in Assam till 6pm72. 14% and 79. 79% voter turnout recorded till 6 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India. In Photos: Voting underway at a polling booth in Contai in the first phase of polling for West Bengal Assembly electionsVoting underway at a polling booth in Contai in the first phase of polling for West Bengal Assembly elections pic. twitter. com/58NgxCe2rJOver 70% turnout in Bengal, 62% in Assam till 4pm62. 36% and 70. 17% voter turnout recorded till 4 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India. 62. 36% and 70. 17% voter turnout recorded till 4 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India. Over 55% turnout in Bengal, 47% in Assam till 3pm47. 10% and 55. 27% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India. 47. 10% and 55. 27% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India. BJP delegation meets EC following attack on BJP leader Soumendu AdhikariWB: BJP delegation met EC following attack on BJP leader & Suvendu Adhikari's brother, Soumendu Adhikari1st election in 6 years with fewer instances of rigging & violence.  To avoid even 10% of such cases in 2nd phase, we demanded EC round-up anti-social elements: BJP Gen Secy pic. twitter. com/DCnNtukI0oSisir Adhikari, father of TMC-turned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, casts his voteSisir Adhikari, father of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, casts his vote at a polling booth in Contai, in the first phase of #WestBengalPolls pic. twitter. com/5P1gPLQsUQSisir Adhikari, father of TMC-turned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, casts his vote at a polling booth in Contai, in the first phase of West Bengal elections. 54% turnout in Bengal, 45% in Assam till 1:30pm: EC45. 02% and 54. 90% voter turnout recorded till 1:30pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India (ECI)Over 37% turnout in Assam, nearly 41% in Bengal till 1pm: EC45. 24% and 54. 90% voter turnout recorded till 2 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India. 37. 06% and 40. 73% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm, in the first phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections, respectively: Election Commission of India (ECI)TMC demands local polling agents from phase 2 onwardsThe new system is not acceptable to us.  We demand that from the next phase the polling agent must be local of the concerned polling booth.  CEO has assured us to look into the matter: TMC's Sudip BandyopadhyayTMC delegation meets West Bengal CEO, demands that from phase 2 onwards, the polling agent must be local of the concerned polling booth. Poll rigging was underway at three booths: Soumendu Adhikari, BJPUnder the leadership of TMC block president Ram Govind Das and his wife poll rigging was underway at three polling booths.  My arrival here created problem for them to continue with their mischiefs so they attacked my car and thrashed my driver: Soumendu Adhikari, BJPBengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh casts his voteWest Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh casts his vote at a polling booth in Jhargram in the first phase of state assembly elections.  pic. twitter. com/bAL4RulEMyWest Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh casts his vote at a polling booth in Jhargram in the first phase of state assembly elections. People know CAA-NRC won't affect them, says Assam CM SonowalCongress and other parties are only seen in the media but BJP and its allies are the ones on the ground.  People of Assam now know that CAA-NRC will not affect them.  My aim is to make the BJP government in the State again: Assam CM Sarbananda SonowalTMC knows it's losing, says BJP Bengal chief Dilip GhoshTMC knows that it is losing and that's why it is saying all this.  For such complaints, TMC should go to the Election Commission.  TMC and Mamata Banerjee are under pressure and that is why they are saying such things: BJP West Bengal Pres Dilip Ghosh on TMC alleging rigging of pollsTMC alleges 'discrepancy' in voter turnout appVoter turnout for ACs Kanthi Dakshin (216) and Kanthi Uttar (213) at 9:13am was 18. 47% and18. 95% respectively, 4 mins later at 9:17am voter turnout reduced to 10. 60%and 9:40%.  Such discrepancy raises question on genuineness of data issued by EC: TMC's Derek O'Brien writes to ECCongress leader Gaurav Gogoi casts voteIt's a very emotional moment for me as it's the first time after many yrs that I'm coming to a polling station without my parents.  Confident that people are going to vote out politics of lies & deceit & voting for politics that guarantees that their future is bright: Gaurav Gogoi pic. twitter. com/1ybYHGSEn0Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, son of late former CM Tarun Gogoi, casts his vote at polling both in Jorhat.  "It's a very emotional moment for me as it's the first time after many years that I'm coming to a polling station without my parents," says Gogoi. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal casts voteAssam CM Sarbananda Sonowal casts his vote a polling centre in Dibrugarh"We will get more than 100 seats," CM says pic. twitter. com/nHpEdNpVssAssam CM Sarbananda Sonowal casts vote at polling booth in Dibrugarh, says that the BJP will win "more than 100 seats. "BJP delegation to meet West Bengal CEO at 2pmBJP delegation, led by state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, to meet West Bengal chief electoral officer (CEO) at 2pm today. 10-member TMC delegation to meet EC at 12pm10-member TMC Parliamentary delegation led by Sudip Bandyopadhyay, leader Lok Sabha and Derek O'Brien, leader Rajya Sabha to meet Election Commission in Kolkata at 12 noon. Bengal's daughter will defeat traitor, says TMC's O'BrienTMC will win Bengal.  Bengal's daughter will defeat Bengal's traitor in his own backyard at Nandigram, members of tourist gang will continue to do what they do best - try and destroy institutions in India.  Women in Bengal will continue to wear sarees any way they want: Derek O'Brien, TMC leader on BJP's Suvendu AdhikariOver 6% and 2% polling in Assam, Bengal in first two hoursAssam records 6. 69% turnout while Bengal sees 2. 44% polling in the first two hours across 47 and 30 assembly constituencies, respectively, in phase 1 of polls. TMC scared, says BJP leader Soumendu AdhikariWe approached EC that there should be free and fair polls.  People will choose whom they want.  TMC is scared.  We've given name of one Alauddin to EC, he creates disturbance there: BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari, brother of party's Nandigram candidate Suvendu AdhikariTMC workers trying to create disturbance, alleges BJP candidateVoting underway smoothly in Midnapore town.  But, at some places in rural areas, TMC workers are trying to create a disturbance.  At booth no.  266 and 267, seven-eight TMC workers entered the booth to influence the voters.  We've complained to EC: Samit Das, BJP candidate from West MidnaporeMamata Banerjee tweets as polling begins in Bengalবাংলার সকল মানুষকে আমি অনুরোধ করব নিজের গণতান্ত্রিক অধিকার প্রয়োগ করুন, সবাই আসুন, ভোট দিন।I call upon the people of Bengal to exercise their democratic right by coming out and voting in large numbers. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee appeals to voters to exercise their democratic rights by voting in large numbers. HM Amit Shah requests voters to cast votes in large numbersUnion home minister Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi, Bengali and Assamese, urging voters to cast their votes in large numbers as phase 1 polling began in the two states. Large turnout in Assam's Nagaon#WATCH Voters turn out in large numbers in Rupahi, Nagaon District, for voting in the first phase of Assam Assembly elections pic. twitter. com/5vjn7GgVNnNagaon district in Assam witnesses large voter turnout as first phase of polling gets underway. Scene from a polling booth in Assam's DibrugarhAssam: Voters waiting in a queue at a polling station in JP Nagar, Dibrugarh, as polling gets underway for the first phase of Assembly elections pic. twitter. com/VFHIGvoOJBVoters waiting in a queue at a polling station in JP Nagar, Dibrugarh, as polling gets underway for the first phase of Assembly electionsExercise right to franchise in record numbers: PM ModiToday, Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections begin.  I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I would request all those who are voters in the seats polling today in West Bengal to exercise their franchise in record numbers. PM Modi tweets as polling begins in AssamThe first phase of elections begin in Assam.  Urging those eligible to vote in record numbers.  I particularly call upon my young friends to vote. PM Modi urges voters to vote in "record numbers" as first phase of voting begins in Assam. 509 'vulnerable' booths set up in East Midnapore, says officialWe've 509 vulnerable booths in our district.  We've deployed 169 companies.  We're monitoring booths with CAPF & non-CPF measures.  Over 50% of polling booths have webcasting facility & CCTV, videographer.  We've 800 micro-observers for phase 1: District election officer, East MidnaporeFirst phase of voting to begin at 7amFirst phase of polling in both West Bengal and Assam will begin at 7am, and conclude at 6pm.  Total 77 assembly constituencies-30 in West Bengal and 47 in Assam-will cast their votes. Get our daily newsletter Get free access to newsletters, alerts and recommendations


#Covid19 | 43 new cases take Uttarakhand tally to 2,344, recoveries touch 1,500 in state

https://t.co/Ka4Q5oGYDQ https://t.co/yUASTW4YB7

With 43 fresh Covid-19 cases reported from the state, Uttarakhand’s tally increased to 2,344 on Sunday. Of the 43 fresh cases reported, four cases were close contacts of earlier detected positive cases in the state and travel history was not available for six patients at the time of the release of the health bulletin.  All the other patients had returned to the state from places like Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Delhi-NCR. The cases were reported from districts like Almora (1), Chamoli (9), Dehradun (6), Haridwar (12), Pauri Garhwal (4), Uttarkashi (1), Rudraprayag (4) and Tehri Garhwal (6). A total of 50 patients had also been discharged from hospitals in districts like Bageshwar (3), Dehradun (43), Uttarkashi (2) and one each from Pauri Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal after successful recovery on Sunday. Uttarakhand has so far tested over 55,000 samples of which results of over 4700 are awaited. Districts like Dehradun with 606 cases, Tehri Garhwal with 376 cases, Nainital with 366 cases and Haridwar 271 cases, have the highest number of cases in the state.  Champawat district with 48 cases has the lowest number of Covid-19 cases in the state. The state now has a recovery rate of 63. 94 per cent while the rate of infection stands at 4. 86 per cent.  The rate of doubling of cases based on the last seven days stands at 21. 09 days in the state. The state has 106 containment zones reported from five districts with 57 such zones from Haridwar district, 36 from Dehradun, two from Udham Singh Nagar, ten in Tehri Garhwal district and one in Uttarkashi district.


As technical upgrade of RBI's RTGS is scheduled after the close of business of April 17, 2021, RTGS service will not be available from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 18, 2021. NEFT system will continue to be operational as usual during this period for money transfers: RBI https://t.co/jvJQNIeBSh

The National Eligibility cum Entrance test for post graduate students, scheduled to be held on April 18, has been postponed for the time being, in view of the rising Covid-19 cases, Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday. "Decision has been taken keeping wellbeing of our young medical students in mind," the minister tweeted.  The next date will be decided later, the minister addeIn light of the surge in #COVID19 cases,GoI has decided to postpone #NEETPG2021 exam which was earlier scheduled to be held on Apr 18Next date to be decided later Decision has been taken keeping wellbeing of our young medical students in mind. @PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA #NEETPGNEET PG examination is for doctors seeking admission in MS, MD courses.  The examination was earlier scheduled to be held in January but was postponed because of the pandemic. A group of doctors of Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking the postponement of the examination, before the Centre announced its decision.  In their plea, the doctors said that the candidates who would be appearing in the exam are doctors treating Covid-19 patients daily.  the petition also mentioned that when the exam in January got cancelled, the pandemic situation of the country was not this perilous.  At a time where there is a sudden surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country and an acute shortage of doctors, the notification for the examination on April 18 was against public interest, the plea said referring to the deferment of CBSE class 12 exams, a decision taken on Wednesday. The exam is conducted by the National Board of Examination, which also released admit cards for the exam. The demand to postpone NEET PG 2021 was raised by several political leaders, with DMK chief MK Stalin voicing his concerns on Thursday.  "CBSE exams have now got cancelled due to the second wave of #COVID19.  With increasing cases and fatalities, when our doctors are fighting hard against all odds, is this the right time to hold National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) for PG courses," Stalin tweeted. As India recorded over 2 lakh fresh Covid-19 cases on Thursday, the highest ever since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, several states decided to postpone Board examination as holding exams at the times does not appear judicious.


Democratic nominee Joe Biden picks up the endorsement of a slate of nearly 100 current and former Republicans and Independent elected officials from across the country who announced they are joining efforts to back him over Pres. Donald Trump. https://t.co/lzlfehuyQn

By Jennifer Agiesta, CNN Polling DirectorUpdated 9:17 AM ET, Thu September 3, 2020  (CNN)After two political conventions unlike any the United States had seen before, Joe Biden maintains an advantage over Donald Trump in the race for the presidency, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS.


Amy Klobuchar and Beto O'Rourke joined Joe Biden onstage in Dallas last night, capping a day of endorsements for the former vice president.

"Folks, this is a team!" Biden tells supporters. https://t.co/00yfYOxg1Q https://t.co/k9YnRWoImA

Analysis by Brian Stelter, CNN BusinessUpdated 12:49 AM ET, Tue March 3, 2020  (CNN Business)A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter.


JUST IN: Boris Johnson responds to UK Supreme Court ruling, saying "I strongly disagree" with the verdict and that "the most important thing is that we get on and deliver Brexit on October 31st." https://t.co/AlkE7a6sY4 https://t.co/mdWBxqrfYQ

The decision heaps pressure on the under fire prime minister. Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament ruled illegalLONDON -- The U. K.  Supreme Court has ruled that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's move to suspend Parliament was unlawful in a historic judgement Tuesday. The court ruled that Johnson's advice to the Queen requesting that prorogation, meaning the suspension of Parliament in the lead up to the October 31 Brexit deadline, was "unlawful. "The Supreme Court Judge Lady Brenda Hale announced the judgement at the Supreme Court in London Tuesday morning, saying the prorogration had the effect of frustrating the ability of parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justifications.  She declared the prorogation was now "void and of no effect," and that Johnson's advice to the Queen was "unlawful. "The decision was unanimously agreed upon by 11 Supreme Court judges. "It is impossible for us to conclude, on the evidence which has been put before us, that there was any reason - let alone a good reason - to advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament for five weeks," the judgement says.  "We cannot speculate, in the absence of further evidence, upon what such reasons might have been.  It follows that the decision was unlawful. ""I don't think that it's right, but we will go ahead and of course Parliament will come back," he told the BBC in New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly.  ""We must get on and deliver Brexit on October 31.  They thought the prorogation that we chose was not something they could approve of.  The main thing is that we will get on and deliver Brexit on October 31st . . .  but Parliament will come back and we will respect that. "The bitterly fought and historically unprecedented court case which has huge implications for the future of Brexit means that lawmakers will return to Parliament tomorrow to scrutinize Johnson's plans for Brexit. Queen Elizabeth approved a request by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to suspend Parliament on August 28.  This was a move that observers said was designed to thwart opposition lawmakers from blocking Brexit, prompting protests in cities across the United Kingdom. Two court cases were then brought to challenge the suspension of Parliament which, after various appeals, reached the highest court in the land last week.  Now the court has ruled this was illegal.  The Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow who presides over debates in Parliament said lawmakers would be returning to work as soon as possible, which will most likely be as early as tomorrow morning. Lawmakers and lawyers who campaigned against the move to suspend Parliament immediately called for Johnson’s resignation in the aftermath of the ruling. Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, reacted to the news by saying Johnson had displayed a “contempt for democracy and abuse of power. ”Jo Swinson, the leader of the Liberal Democrat Party which advocates remaining in the EU, said that Johnson “isn’t fit to be prime minister. ”Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish National Party, described the ruling as “of truly historic proportions. ”And the prime minister is not just facing criticism from those who advocate remaining in the EU.  Leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage called for Johnson’s chief adviser to resign, saying that the decision to prorogue Parliament was the “worst political decision ever. ”Johnson, who helped lead the push to exit the EU in a national referendum three years ago and took over from Theresa May in July has previously said he will accept the court's ruling. But the historic judgement is the latest in a series of crushing defeats for Johnson's government.  Last month Parliament voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit on October 31 by passing a law which will force the prime minister to ask EU leaders for an extension to the Brexit deadline if he is unable to agree a deal. Yet despite the prime minister saying he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than delay Brexit, despite losing two calls for a general election, and despite losing a vote to rule out a no deal Brexit -- all in an incredibly short and turbulent time in office -- the country's future now looks more uncertain than ever. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


A delegation from Ladakh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi today. https://t.co/VnlZ21iWV3

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday began the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) Vijay Sankalp Mahasampark Abhiyaan, a door-to-door campaign, in Tamil Nadu by visiting 11 homes in Kanyakumari on Sunday and exuded confidence that government of NDA will come to power in the state after the assembly polls. "I am confident that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-BJP- Paattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) government will be formed in Tamil Nadu," Shah said. Shah started the door-to-door campaign by visiting 11 homes at Suchindram town in Kanyakumari and appealed to the people to ensure the win of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Pon Radhakrishnan. Speaking to the media, Shah said, "Today, we have started our started door-to-door campaign by visiting 11 homes here.  I appeal to all to ensure the win of NDA candidate Pon Radhakrishnan from Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat in by-polls," he said. During the campaign in Suchindram, he said, "Through this campaign, we have initiated the process of taking Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) symbol, 'Kamal' (Lotus) to every home in the state.  We have tried to convey Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to the people. "He conducted a roadshow from Hindu college to Veppamodu Kamraj statue. Shah offered prayers at Suchindram Temple, Kanyakumari, on Sunday morning and was accompanied by BJP leaders and supporters. Later in the day, he is scheduled to attend the valedictory function of BJP Kerala Vijay Yatra in Thiruvananthapuram. This is Shah's second visit to the state in a week.  Last Sunday, he visited Chennai and met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam. BJP is contesting Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu in alliance with incumbent All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).  The AIADMK late Friday night announced that it allocated 20 Assembly constituencies to the BJP for the ensuing elections along with the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency. Tamil Nadu Assembly elections for 234 constituencies will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will be done on May 2.  As many as 6,28,23,749 electors will choose candidates for the sixteenth Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu.


Time magazine has named Swedish teen climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg as its Person of the Year https://t.co/YxCYt7zDwx https://t.co/QEbx7uGraQ

The president told the teen climate activist to "work on her Anger Management. "Donald Trump mocks Greta Thunberg on TwitterFormer first lady Michelle Obama has a message of support for Greta Thunberg after President Donald Trump tweeted at the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist to "chill. ""Don't let anyone dim your light.  Like the girls I've met in Vietnam and all over the world, you have so much to offer us all," Obama tweeted early Friday morning while she was on a trip to the country with the Obama Foundation and Girls Opportunity Alliance.  "Ignore the doubters and know that millions of people are cheering you on. "On Thursday morning, Trump, 73, wrote "so ridiculous" in response to a tweet from actress and producer Roma Downey congratulating Thunberg on being named Time magazine's 2019 person of the year. "Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! " the president continued.  "Chill Greta, Chill! "Seemingly in response to his tweet, Thunberg changed her Twitter bio to read: "A teenager working on her anger management problem.  Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend. "Later Thursday, a verified Twitter account managed by the Trump 2020 campaign tweeted a doctored cover of Time's 2019 Person of the Year cover -- with Trump's head photoshopped onto Thunberg's body. All the tweets come after Time magazine's announcement of Thunberg as Person of the Year, which represents the person or group, idea or object, that "most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or for worse. "Time Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal said while making the announcement Wednesday that Thunberg "represents a broader generational shift in the culture that we're seeing from the campuses of Hong Kong to the protests in Chile to Parkland, Florida, where the students marched against gun violence, where young people are demanding change urgently. "The president was a finalist for the title this year and has demonstrated a persistent interest in who gets the titled each year.  He was selected as Person of the Year in 2016. This is not the first time the president has gone after Thunberg on Twitter -- and not the first time she's acknowledged it on the platform. "She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.  So nice to see! " Trump tweeted in September after Thunberg gave a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly criticizing world leaders for inaction on climate changeThunberg responded then by changing her Twitter bio to read: "A very young happy girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Many Facebook users are posting a riot video claiming that the incident had taken place in Birmingham city of United Kingdom.  Let’s try to verify the authenticity of the video and analyze the claims made in the post. Claim: Muslims in Birmingham have attacked vehicles, as they wanted the road to be closed so that they can break their Ramadan fasting on the road. Fact:  The video is actually from Basel in Switzerland and the rioters in it are football hooligans fighting after a match between Basel and Lucerne.  Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.   When the video in the post is run through InVid Plugin, several keyframes are obtained.  On performing Google Reverse Image Search on the keyframes, Swiss Media news reports on the incident were found.  As per the article of Basler Zeitung, published on May 20, 2018, the incident actually took place in Basel city of Switzerland and the rioters seen in it are football hooligans fighting after a match between Basel and Lucerne (two local teams). To summarize, neither the incident had taken place in Birmingham nor the rioters are Muslims. Did you watch our Facebook live on Fake News (Misinformation)


Photo shows freedom fighter Bhagat Singh being flogged by British police

A black-and-white picture of a man being flogged by a uniformed policeman is circulating online with captions falsely claiming that the picture shows freedom fighter Bhagat Singh being whipped by a British police officer.  BOOM found that the viral image is from 1919 and does not show the freedom fighter.  We also went through books on the life of Bhagat Singh and learned that there are only four photographs of the revolutionary ever found - through his childhood till his incarceration.  The viral picture is not one of them.  Also read No, Feb 14 Has No Connection With Bhagat Singh's Death One of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian freedom struggle, Bhagat Singh was born in Lyallpur district of Punjab in British India in 1907.  He was arrested for the first time on May 29, 1927 in connection with a year-old Dussehra bomb case.  Singh was in police custody for five weeks before being granted bail on July 4, 1927.  Later, on April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh, along with another revolutionary Batukeshwar Dutt, threw bombs and leaflets from the visitors gallery in the Central Assembly (now called Indian Parliament) in Delhi.  After months-long trial, the trio of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were sentenced to death on October 7, 1930.   The execution was to be carried out on October 27 but Singh filed an appeal in the Privy Council which was heard and dismissed in February of 1931.  On March 23, 1931, the three freedom fighters - Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev - were hanged to death.  The viral post shows a picture of a man with his hands tied to a pole.  His lower half is bare revealing his buttocks while a policeman in uniform stands nearby.  A newspaper clip showing the same picture has been shared in inset.  A long Hindi caption with the viral post translates to 'A photo of Bhagat Singh being flogged for the sake of independence was published in a newspaper back then to set an example that no on becomes another Bhagat Singh.  At a time when Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters were fighting for independence, people like Ambedkar, Gandhi and Nehru did nothing for them despite being barristers.  Their servility towards the British resulted in all the luxuries in their lives.  Revolutionaries, meanwhile, were jailed and even chose the noose for the country.  But people still think that Gandhi, Ambedkar and Nehru were great'.  (Hindi: आजादी के लिए कोड़े खाते भगत सिंह जी की तस्वीर उस समय के अखबार में छपी थी ताकि और कोई भगत सिंह ना बने भारत में. . . . . . . . जिस समय भगत सिंह सहित सभी क्रांतिकारी आज़ादी के लिए लङ रहे थे वही अम्बेडकर,गाँधी और नेहरू जैसे लोग बैरिस्टर होते हुये भी क्रांतिकारीयो के लिय कुछ नही किया।अंग्रेजों के चाटुकार बनकर सुख-सुविधा से जी रहे थे। क्रांतिकारीयो ने जेल काटी, दर्द सहा यहाँ तक की फांसी चढ गए देश के लोगों के खातिर लेकिन लोगो को आज भी महान गाँधी,अम्बेडकर और नेहरू को बताया जाता है) View the post below and check its archive here.  The picture is quite viral on Twitter and Facebook with similar claims.  आजादी के लिए कोड़े खाते भगत सिंह जी की तस्वीर उस समय के अखबार में छपी थी ताकि और कोई भगत सिंह ना बने भारत में! !  जिस समय भगत सिंह सहित सभी क्रांतिकारी आज़ादी के लिए लङ रहे थे वही संघी लोग अंग्रेजों के तलवे चाटकर क्रांतिकारीयो को मरवा रहे थे! ! !  pic. twitter. com/fyny1zoQM4  Also read Video Of Russian Artillery Show Shared As Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict BOOM did a reverse image search on the viral picture and found an article published in Byline Times in 2019.  It carries the same picture with a caption reading 'Indians were flogged following the Amritsar massacre in 1919'.  The Amritsar massacre here refers to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre which took place on April 13, 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab.  Acting brigadier-general Reginald Dyer had ordered the British Indian army troops to open fire on a crowd of unarmed civilians who had assembled in Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate Baisakhi.  We then did a keyword search with the words 'Indians', 'flogged', 'Amritsar', '1919' and 'massacre' and found the same photo with similar captions in other articles.  An article published in The Clarion on April 17, 2019 under the headline Remembering Heroes of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre shows the same image with a caption 'Flogging in the erstwhile Punjab in 1919'.  Also read Image Of Justice For Sushant' Placards In Nigeria Is Fake Another article published on the website of Sabrang India has the picture with the same caption.  Going by the captions if we conclude that the picture is from 1919, then Bhagat Singh was 12-years-old at this time.  BOOM then referred to the book Bhagat Singh Reader edited by Chaman Lal, a retired professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University.  He is the honorary advisor, Bhagat Singh Archives and Resource Centre, Delhi Archives.  The book presents a voluminous collection of all the writings of Bhagat Singh including his letters, telegrams, notices as well as jail notebook.  The book also archives four photos of the young revolutionary and clearly mentions them as 'the only four photos of Bhagat Singh ever found'.   View the pictures below.  The above photos happen to be the four most widely shared pictures of the freedom fighter.  Also read No, This Photo Of Alcohol Bottles Is Not Linked To Bihar Polls BOOM was unable to independently verify who was the man shown in the viral picture.


Today at about 1850 hrs, A G+4 building collapsed in Kajalpura area of Mahad Tehsil in Dist. Raigad, Maharashtra.
About 50 people are feared to be trapped. 3 teams of 5 BN NDRF have moved: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) https://t.co/XlWegCSHqq

A five-storey building collapsed in Maharahstra’s Raigad district on Monday with over 50 people feared to be trapped under the debris, officials said.  One person was killed while 25 so far have been rescued from the debris.  The incident took place in Mahad city of Raigad district, around 170 kilometres from Mumbai.  The ‘Tariq garden’ building, according to local residents, collapsed at around 6 pm.  Police officials from Mahad, Shrivardhan and Mangaon divisions of Raigad have rushed to the spot and are carrying out rescue operations along with NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams. The multi-storey building, which was 10 years old, housed over 40 apartments.  A few people rushed outside the building to a safe spot after the first three floors collapsed, according to Nidhi Chaudhari, the Raigad district collector. “Initially the top three floors of the building collapsed when some people came out.  We have been able to bring out 15 persons.  The injured have been sent to government hospital,” Choudhari said on a phone call.   Watch | Maharashtra: building collapse in Raigad district, over 60 trapped; NDRF rushedRaigad district guardian minister Aditi Tatkare said the local administration is trying to get exact information about how many were inside when the building collapsed.  “As per my information, there were 47 flats in the building which housed around 150 people.  How many were inside the building when it collapsed is still unknown,” Tatkare said.  “We have already initiated the evacuation work with earth moving machines.  In the initial first two hours, we were able to bring out 25 persons,” said Manikrao Jajtap, former MLA of Mahad.  Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to Shiv Sena legislator Bharat Gogawale and Raigad district collector Nidhi Choudhari regarding the building collapse mishap.  Extending support, the chief minister directed the collector to speed up relief and rehabilitation work.  The state government has not yet ordered any probe into the incident.  However, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and Raigad Lok Sabha MP, Sunil Tatkare said that a probe could be initiated in future.  “Heavy monsoon is not new to Mahad and Raigad district, therefore the building constructed there, the design and its construction will have to be probed in the near future.  Action would be taken against whoever is found guilty.  But the priority now is relief and rehabilitation.  We have to take to the injured to non-Covid hospitals,” Tatkare told news channels. Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union home minister Amit Shah expressed shock over the incident.  “Shocked to hear about the building collapse incident at Mahad (Raigad) where many are feared trapped,” Fadnavis said in a tweet. Shah tweeted: “The collapse of a building in Raigad, Maharashtra is very tragic.  Have spoken to DG @NDRFHQ to provide all possible assistance, teams are on the way and will be assisting with the rescue operations as soon as possible.  Praying for everyone’s safety. ”Several parts of Maharashtra are witnessing flood-like situations due to heavy downpour in the state.  Many regions have reported incidents of house collapse.  During the monsoon season in India, old structures are at a high risk of collapsing, with many lives at stake.  Earlier today, a 50-year-old house collapsed in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city, killing one and injuring four others.  The ground-plus-one-storey house, located in Sadar’s Azad Chowk, collapsed around 4. 40 am on Monday, according to officials.  Five people were rescued from the debris and rushed to the hospital, where a 43-year-old man was declared brought dead. (with inputs from Swapnil Rawal)


NEW: Attorney for Roger Stone responds to indictment in Mueller probe on charges of obstruction, false statements, and witness tampering: "There was no Russian collusion, it's a clear attempt at silencing Roger…He will fight the charges." https://t.co/WHDdCLNtj9 https://t.co/a1cKmUzQVp

  White House press secretary Sarah Sanders insisted Friday that the indictment of President Donald Trump’s longtime associate Roger Stone has nothing to with the President.

  “This has nothing to do with the President and certainly nothing to do with the White House,” Sanders told CNN’s John Berman on “New Day” when asked for her reaction to Stone’s arrest.  “This is something that has to do solely with that individual.  And not something that affects us here in this building. ”

  Stone was indicted on charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller, who alleges that Stone sought stolen emails from WikiLeaks that could damage Trump’s opponents while in coordination with senior Trump campaign officials.  Stone was arrested at his home in Ft.  Lauderdale, Florida, early Friday morning.

Mueller indicts Roger Stone, says he was coordinating with Trump officials about WikiLeaks' stolen emails

  The indictment states that “a senior Trump Campaign official was directed to contact Stone” about additional releases and other damaging information WikiLeaks had on the Clinton campaign – though it does not name who directed the senior Trump campaign official.

  Sanders was asked several times by CNN on Friday if the President was the one who directed a senior campaign official to contact Stone.

  She reiterated each time that the charges against Stone “have nothing to do with the President. ”

  “When you want to get into specific questions, you’ll have to talk to the President’s outside counsel on that,” she said, adding that she hadn’t read the indictment against Stone.

  “The indictment today does not allege Russian collusion by Roger Stone or anyone else,” said Jay Sekulow, the President’s counsel, in a Friday statement.  “Rather, the indictment focuses on alleged false statements Mr.  Stone made to Congress. ”

 Sanders also told CNN that she was not aware of the White House receiving any notice from the Justice Department that the FBI would arrest Stone Friday morning.

  When pointed to the fact that Stone is the sixth Trump associate charged in the Mueller investigation, Sanders said all the charges against each individual do not have anything to do with Trump.

  “Just because they had some association with the President at some point doesn’t mean things that they did in their private lives and their personal lives that may or may not have been right or wrong, that doesn’t have anything to do with the President,” she said.

  Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison for crimes that included two campaign finance violations tied to payments he made or helped arrange to silence two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump.

  Prosecutors said Cohen “acted in coordination with and at the direction of” Trump, who has denied the affairs and directing Cohen to break the law.
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Punjab: The first consignment of #COVID19vaccine  'Covishield' arrives in Mohali.

#COVID19 vaccination's first phase will begin from 16th January. https://t.co/vOqotYYvZ1

The Indian government has offered Covid-19 vaccination to diplomats of foreign missions and their family members as a “gesture of goodwill and solidarity”, people familiar with developments said on Monday.  A letter sent to foreign missions by the protocol division of the external affairs ministry last week sought names and details of diplomats and family members who want to be vaccinated “on a voluntary basis”, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.  The letter didn’t specify any dates for the vaccination of the diplomats or give other details, such as the vaccine to be used, two diplomats based in New Delhi said on condition of anonymity.  “The Government of India, as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity, is considering to offer Covid-19 vaccination to eligible foreign diplomats and their family members accredited to all Diplomatic Missions, including Consulates, United Nations and its specialised agencies and other international organisations, based in India,” the letter said.  “The vaccination would be on a voluntary basis, and in accordance with the phased plan of domestic roll-out,” it added.  The letter further said modalities, including a timeframe and venues, are being worked out.  The diplomats were asked to provide certain details, such as co-morbidities.  Also read | India adds 13,203 Covid-19 cases, 131 deaths; tally over 10. 66 millionIndia has so far donated nearly five million doses of Covishield, the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, to seven countries in the neighbourhood, including Bangladesh and Myanmar.  It also plans to provide more doses as grant assistance to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.  Commercial supplies of vaccines began with the rolling out of two million doses each to Brazil and Morocco and more supplies are expected to be sent in the coming days to South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh.  India has inoculated more than 1. 6 million frontline and health workers so far under the vaccination drive launched on January 16.  A decision by foreign missions on availing of India’s vaccination offer will depend on whether their countries have approved one of the two vaccines being made in India, Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.  A growing number of countries have approved the AstraZeneca vaccine.


Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today held a meeting through video conferencing with district ministers, MPs, MLAs and district collectors of selected districts to review the current situation of #COVID19 in the areas. https://t.co/XTSVnQ4vmZ

Outlining an ambitious post-pandemic agenda for agricultural reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his top ministers and bureaucrats to start working on a new set of reforms to cut down on archaic regulations, raise farm-gate prices, unify domestic markets as well as integrate the farm economy into global value chains.  Meanwhile, the number of samples tested for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country has crossed a million. Here is a preview of important Covid-19 news today from India and the world.  Govt plans major agricultural reforms post-coronavirusThe PM suggested these reforms at a high level review meeting on the agricultural sector, which was also attended by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, home minster Amit Shah, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and senior officials.  Read more.  Covid-19: What you need to know todayMay 1: 69; April 30: 76; April 29: 69; April 28: 74; April 27: 58; April 26: 51; April 25: 46; April 24: 57; April 23: 38; April 22: 39. These numbers are the death tolls of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in India on the 10 days between April 22 and May 1. On May 2, the number was 98. The total death toll in India was 1,319 on Saturday.  Read more.  1 million tested for Covid in India; 10k recover“We have made a quantum jump in testing.  We plan to ramp it up further to move towards a situation where we can test everyone who needs it.  The number of labs doing Covid-19 tests has gone up, with 406 labs -- of which 105 are private ones -- now testing for Covid-19,” said C K Mishra, secretary, environment, and co-chair of the PM’s high-level committee on preparedness for a medical emergency.  Read more.  Second economic stimulus package likely soon: CEAThe second economic stimulus package can be expected “very soon”, Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy V Subramanian said in an interview on Saturday, although he declined to put a time-frame or a magnitude to it.  Read more.  Experts raise concerns over Aarogya SetuThe government’s decision to make it mandatory for people to install its Aarogya Setu mobile application has inadequate legal basis and exposes users to possible surveillance, according to experts who are now appealing for the directive to be rolled back or stronger safeguards to be introduced, even as the tool triggered a political spat between the government and the opposition Congress on Saturday.  Read more.  As migrants return, states guard against Covid surgeStates receiving migrant labourers from across India are gearing up for a massive challenge: a spurt in Covid-19 cases.  And, some states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, have already unveiled unprecedented steps. Read more.  States issue guidelines for extended lockdownA day after the Centre extended lockdown till May 17, most states decided to follow the home ministry’s guidelines allowing several activities in the green and orange zones to kickstart economy and official work, with a few exceptions.  Read more.  When self-isolation led to great works of science and literatureQuarantine and self isolation need not be monotonous and stifling.  They can be the gateway to work, be it in the arts or the sciences, that define the history of the world. Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, John Milton and Lord Byron used such time to add to their formidable body of work in science and literature.  Read more.  Over 16k visited Tablighi Jamaat markaz in Delhi from March 13-24At least 16,500 people visited Tablighi Jamaat’s headquarters in Nizamuddin around the time it emerged as a Covid-19 hotspot between March 13 and 24, according to a Delhi police report that an officer said has been compiled after the biggest exercise the force has ever undertaken. Read more.  Punjab to test over 4,000 Nanded pilgrims for virusThe Punjab government is scrambling to test and isolate 4,012 people who returned from the Hazur Sahib gurudwara in Nanded town after 504 pilgrims tested positive for Covid-19, prompting authorities in Maharashtra to seal one of Sikhism’s holiest shrines.  Read more.  135 CRPF troopers in Delhi test positive for Covid-19, set off alarm bells in MHACentral Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials claimed on Saturday that 135 of its troopers from the 31st battalion have tested positive for coronavirus which is worrying for the paramilitary force.  Four hundred and eighty troopers of the battalion have been quarantined.  Read more.  Bengal CM, guv spar over Covid figuresAmid a raging controversy over mismatch in the state’s data of Covid-19 infections, the West Bengal government on Saturday changed the format of its daily bulletin. The day also saw chief minister Mamata Banerjee sending a 13-page letter to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in response to his letters, accusing him of “dreaming of a dyarchy in the state”.  Read more.  Lokpal member justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi dies of Covid-19Judicial member of Lokpal and former judge of Chhattisgarh high court Ajay Kumar Tripathi, 62, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died late Saturday evening.  He had been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ (AIIMS) trauma centre on April 3. Read more.  US okays remdesivir for emergency Covid-19 useThe US drug regulator has allowed emergency use of experimental antiviral drug remdesivir for Covid-19 treatment based on early clinical data that showed it helps coronavirus patients recover faster.  The drug is made by Gilead Sciences and is the first to be approved globally as a treatment for the viral pandemic.  Read more.  41 test Covid positive in Kapashera buildingFifty-six people, including a three-year-old, from two clusters in Kapashera and Tughlakabad Extension tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in two days, according to the Delhi government.  Forty-one cases were reported from a double-storey building in southwest Delhi’s Kapashera.  Read more.


NEW: Michael Cohen, Pres. Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, intends to tell the House Oversight Committee today that Pres. Trump is "a racist," "a conman" and "a cheat." https://t.co/LwA3E8QR9k https://t.co/QpdTRHaZjo

    Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen is prepared to testify that Trump was aware of longtime adviser Roger Stone’s efforts to reach out to WikiLeaks in advance of its release of damaging information about Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, according to a copy of his public testimony submitted to Congress and obtained by CNN.

    In a stunning 20-page statement provided Tuesday night to lawmakers, Cohen details a wide range of allegations against Trump – from making racist comments about African-Americans to participating during his presidency in an illegal hush-money scheme to keep his alleged extramarital affairs quiet – as well as suggesting Trump faked a medical condition to get out of serving in the Vietnam War.

    And Cohen will provide new details saying Trump was engaged in an aggressive pursuit of a major project in Russia in 2016, alleging the President’s attorneys edited Cohen’s 2017 testimony when he lied to Congress, downplaying the efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

    He says Trump never directly ordered him to lie to Congress but he believed he was carrying out an order given his interactions with Trump, who was making public statements about not having any business dealings with Russia.

    In short, Cohen calls Trump a “racist,” a “conman” and a “cheat. ”

    In the testimony, Cohen will allege that, in 2016, he witnessed Trump taking a phone call from Stone, who was on speakerphone.

    “Mr.  Stone told Mr.  Trump that he had just gotten off the phone with Julian Assange and that Mr.  Assange told Mr.  Stone that, within a couple of days, there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign,” Cohen will say, according to his prepared testimony.

    Trump responded, according to Cohen: “Wouldn’t that be great. ”

    Cohen’s allegations, if true, would amount to the first time anyone with direct knowledge has said that the President had advance knowledge of the WikiLeaks dump of Clinton emails.  Cohen also said the President’s personal lawyers “reviewed and edited” his 2017 statements when Cohen lied to Congress about the Trump Organization’s pursuit of a massive project in Moscow.

    The special counsel indictment of Roger Stone made no mention of direct contact between Stone and Assange.

READ: Michael Cohen’s opening statement to Congress

    Stone – who has been indicted on charges of making false statements, witness tampering and obstructing justice – has denied discussing the matter with Trump or having any such interactions with WikiLeaks.  He is fighting his charges in court.

    Cohen’s opening statement also suggests that Trump may have been aware in advance of a 2016 meeting set up by Donald Trump Jr.  and Russians at Trump Tower – something that Trump and his eldest son have long denied.  Cohen will tell Congress that he witnessed Trump Jr. , in June 2016, tell his father: “The meeting is all set. ”

    Cohen acknowledges not knowing for sure that Trump’s son’s comments were in reference to the meeting with Russians.

    “I also knew that nothing went on in Trump world, especially the campaign, without Mr.  Trump’s knowledge and approval,” Cohen will say.  “So I concluded that Don Jr.  was referring to that June 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on Hillary. ”

    CNN reported in July 2018 that Cohen was willing to testify to the special counsel that Trump knew in advance about the planned meeting at Trump Tower.

    The White House has attacked Cohen’s credibility, calling him someone who cannot be trusted given he has already pleaded guilty to lying.

    When asked for comment on Cohen’s prepared testimony, the White House referred to press secretary Sarah Sanders’ Tuesday statement on Cohen’s testimony.

    “Disgraced felon Michael Cohen is going to prison for lying to Congress and making other false statements,” Sanders said in that statement.  “Sadly, he will go before Congress this week and we can expect more of the same.   It’s laughable that anyone would take a convicted liar like Cohen at his word, and pathetic to see him given yet another opportunity to spread his lies. ”

    According to a copy of the opening statement he prepares to deliver to the House Oversight Committee Wednesday, Cohen says Trump lied repeatedly about a number of matters – and made a host of racist statements.

House panel to Dems: Russia off limits in Cohen's public hearing

    He also provides new details suggesting Trump was heavily involved in the pursuit of the Trump Tower Moscow project in 2016.

    “To be clear, Mr.  Trump knew of and directed the Trump Tower negotiations throughout the campaign and lied about it,” Cohen will tell the committee.  “He lied about it because he never expected to win the election.  He also lied about it because he stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars on the Moscow real estate project. ”

    Cohen says that Trump did not “directly” tell him to lie to Congress.  “That’s not how he operates,” Cohen says.

    But he says that Trump would tell him and the public he has “no business” with Russia, even as he was negotiating the Moscow project.

    “In his way, he was telling me to lie,” Cohen says.

ANALYSIS: What Michael Cohen needs to answer for

    Cohen also says he’s providing the panel with several documents to back up his allegations, including a check Trump wrote from his bank account to reimburse him for hush money payments to silence Stormy Daniels’ story in 2016 about her alleged affair with Trump.  Trump denies having an affair with Daniels.

    But in the testimony, Cohen recounts how he was visiting Trump in February 2017 in the White House when the President assured him his reimbursement checks were coming in the mail.  He said Trump made 11 payments of $35,000 each to reimburse him in the hush-money scheme, saying he’s providing the House panel with a copy of an August 2017 check signed by the President from his personal bank account.

    “The President of the United States thus wrote a personal check for the payment of hush money as part of a criminal scheme to violate campaign finance laws,” Cohen will say.

    Cohen also says he’s providing the committee with copies of letters he wrote threatening Trump’s high school, college and the College Board not to release his grades or test scores.

    Moreover, Cohen says he has documentation showing Trump arranging a bidder at an auction to purchase a portrait of himself, which he later reimbursed the bidder for from his charitable organization.

    And he provides information about Trump’s decision to avoid serving in the Vietnam War.  Cohen was directed to avoid answering reporters’ questions about the matter, he will say.  Trump, who has long claimed his deferment was due to a bone spur, had no medical records to provide because there was no surgery, Cohen said.

    “You think I’m stupid, I wasn’t going to Vietnam,” Cohen recalls Trump as saying.

    In jarring testimony, Cohen also says Trump repeatedly made racist comments about African-Americans.  While driving through a poor neighborhood in Chicago, Trump allegedly told Cohen that “only black people could live that way. ”

    Cohen added that Trump said that African-Americans “would never vote for him because they were too stupid. ”

This story is breaking and will be updated.
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#UPDATE Madhya Pradesh: A total of 35 bodies recovered till now from the site in Sidhi where a bus, carrying around 54 passengers, fell into a canal today. 7 people were rescued. A search operation is underway. https://t.co/Q47fSHhgUw

At least 47 passengers were killed after an overcrowded and overspeeding bus run by a private agency plunged into a 20-foot-deep canal in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district on Tuesday, officials said. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver of the 32-seater bus, which was carrying around 60 people, had taken a short-cut and was driving at a high speed, police said. While seven passengers were rescued, the driver and at least five others were missing till the time of going to press. Of the 47 deceased, 24 are men, 21 women and two children, Umesh Joga, inspector general of police, Rewa, said. Half of the victims were between 20 and 30 years and headed for Satna and Rewa for a government recruitment exam, Joga said.  It took rescuers about three hours to locate the bus, which fell into the Bansagar Canal, due to heavy water flow, he said. Read more: PM announces ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for MP’s Sidhi accident victims’ kinThirty-seven bodies were found trapped in the bus, while 10 were fished out of the canal, he added.  The survivors were admitted to a hospital in Rewa, where their condition is said to be stable. The accident took place in Piprav village of the district while the bus was on its way from Sidhi to Satna. “…it was found that the driver took a short route as there was a traffic jam on the regular road. . . The job aspirants, who were in the bus, were requesting the driver to increase the speed as they were getting late for the exam.  The driver lost control and the bus plunged into a canal,” Pankaj Kumawat, SP, Sidhi, said. “A 17-year-old girl, Shivrani Loniya, and her brother, Ramprasad, who live near the canal, helped at least seven people come out of water.  Loniya informed the others that a bus has fallen into the canal. ”The bus was running at a very high speed when the driver lost the control, Loniya told reporters at the accident site.  “…we jumped into the canal to save the passengers, but could save only seven people who managed to come out of the bus,” she said. Watch: Madhya Pradesh bus accident: Over 45 dead, PM Modi announces ex-gratiaRewa divisional commissioner Rajesh Jain said the bus, owned by a private travel agency, had “about five dozen people” on board. “The permit of the bus has been cancelled.  A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the matter,” he said.  Transport minister Govind Singh Rajput announced a separate inquiry into the accident. PM Narendra Modi extended condolences to the affected families.  “PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from PM’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the bus accident in Sidhi.  ₹50,000 would be given to those seriously injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.


In a matter of 48 hours, Joe Biden had gone from resuscitating his campaign in South Carolina to consolidating most of the moderate wing of the field the day before Super Tuesday. https://t.co/palRuMy1Xf

Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg are uniting behind Joe Biden's presidential bid as the Democratic Party's moderate wing scrambles to boost the former vice president just hours before Super TuesdayButtigieg endorses Biden for Democratic nominationDALLAS -- Rivals no more, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg united behind Joe Biden's presidential bid on Monday as the Democratic Party's moderate wing scrambled to boost the former vice president just hours before voting began across a series of high-stakes Super Tuesday states. The urgency of the moment reflected deep concerns from the Democratic establishment that Bernie Sanders, a polarizing progressive, was positioned to seize a significant delegate lead when 14 states, one U. S.  territory vote on Tuesday. Klobuchar suspended her campaign and endorsed Biden Monday, a day after Buttigieg announced his exit.  Both Klobuchar and Buttigieg, who had been Biden's chief competition for their party's pool of more moderate voters over the last year, declared their public support for Biden at evening events in Dallas.  They were joined by another former competitor, former Texas Rep.  Beto O'Rourke, who also backed Biden on Monday. “I’m looking for a leader, I’m looking for a president, who will draw out what’s best in each of us,” Buttigieg said alongside Biden.  “We have found that leader in vice president, soon-to-be president, Joe Biden. ”Speaking at a Biden rally later in the night, Klobuchar called for unity: “If we spend the next four months dividing our party and going at each other we will spend the next four year watching Donald Trump tear apart our country," she said.  “We need to unite our party and our country. ”The dramatic developments came at a key crossroads in Democrats' turbulent primary season as the party struggles to unify behind a clear message or messenger in its urgent quest to defeat President Donald Trump.  Yet as a field that once featured more than two dozen candidates shrinks to just five, the choice for primary voters is becoming clearer. On one side stands Biden, a 77-year-old lifelong politician who represents a pragmatic approach to governing that emphasizes bipartisanship and more modest change.  He's clearly relishing the swift improvement of his political fortunes in recent days.  On the other stands Sanders, a 78-year-old democratic socialist who has for decades demanded aggressive liberal shifts that seek to transform the nation's political and economic systems.  He is working to maintain the momentum he built coming out of the earliest voting states. Yet the primary isn't currently a two-man race. New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg, in particular, could create problems for Biden's establishment appeal.  The former New York City mayor, who will appear on a 2020 ballot for the first time on Tuesday, has invested more than a half billion dollars into his presidential bid and wracked up many high-profile endorsements of his own. And Massachusetts Sen.  Elizabeth Warren, who has struggled for delegates and momentum over the last month, has vowed to stay in the race until the party's national convention in July. On the eve of Super Tuesday, however, Biden received a significant boost following his         resounding victory over the weekend in South Carolina. He posted his best two-day fundraising haul in more than a year, raising roughly $10 million over the last 48 hours.  And the former vice president added to his considerable endorsement lead in recent days as elected officials began to coalesce more meaningfully behind him.  He has long been the favorite of many elected officials even as he struggled through the first three primary contests of the year. Biden's new backers feature a who's who of current and former Democratic officials across the nation: former Nevada Sen.  Harry Reid; Obama national security adviser Susan Rice; Arizona Senate candidate Mark Kelly; former Colorado Sen.  Mark Udall; former California Sen.  Barbara Boxer; Rep.  Jennifer Wexton, D-Va. ; and Rep.  Gil Cisneros, D-Calif. Virginia Rep.  Don Beyer, the first member of Congress to endorse Buttigieg, said he planned to endorse Biden and expected Buttigieg to as well. "I do think it's the most logical," Beyer said of a Biden endorsement, given his echo of the former vice president's call for civility, a mantra of the Buttigieg campaign.  “I think Joe is the next best possibility. ”Perhaps the most powerful endorsement would come from former President Barack Obama, who has a relationship with most of the candidates and has talked with several in recent weeks as primary voting has begun.  He spoke with Biden to congratulate him after his South Carolina victory, but still has no plans to endorse in the primary at this point. Campaigning in Klobuchar's home state of Minnesota on Monday night, Sanders discouraged the crowd from booing Biden and welcomed his rivals' supporters to join his campaign. “To all of Amy and Pete’s millions of supporters, the door is open.  Come on in," Sanders said.  “We all share the understanding that together we are going to beat Donald Trump. ”Sanders' senior adviser Jeff Weaver was less polite earlier Monday. “It’s becoming increasingly clear that the candidates funded by big money and super PACs are coalescing behind Joe Biden, and that’s not a surprise," he said. And while Biden's momentum is undeniable, not everyone in his party's moneyed establishment is convinced. Some major donors preferred to wait until after Super Tuesday to decide whether to join the Biden movement.  And even some of his more loyal fundraisers remain frustrated by disorganization within the campaign. For example, the former vice president has struggled to raise money in Silicon Valley, where many wealthy donors prioritize organization and a data-driven plan.  The inability of Biden’s team to demonstrate such competence pushed many donors toward his rivals, and others are taking a wait-and-see approach. “We need to see what happens tomorrow, which is going to be very telling," said Alex Sink, a Democratic donor and former Florida gubernatorial candidate who endorsed Bloomberg. And the former vice president's strategy for the coming days, which relies on media coverage and dispatching his new collection of surrogates, reflects a stark reality: Compared to Sanders and Bloomberg, Biden is understaffed, underfunded and almost out of time as he fights to transform his sole South Carolina victory into a national movement. Biden announced he raised $18 million in February, compared to an eye-popping $46. 5 million for Sanders and $29 million for Warren. Sanders has struggled to win over his colleagues in Congress but earned a high-profile endorsement of his own on Monday from Democracy for America, a national grassroots organization originally led by former Vermont Gov.  Howard Dean that boasts thousands of members across the county. “The overwhelming support for Bernie we saw in our member vote should be a wake-up call to the broken, visionless, corporate Democratic establishment," said the organization's chair Charles Chamberlain.  “Americans want fundamental change in Washington, not a return to the status quo. ”Some Democrats also bemoaned the distinct lack of diversity in the shrinking field. The National Organization for Women's political action committee endorsed Warren on Monday.  The group's president, Toni Van Pelt, said she's alarmed about the lack of attention paid to the female candidates, who have often had to defend their “electability. ”“It's time to support a woman,” she said.  “We want to make sure we're not looking at all these old white men again. ”Through four primary contests, the AP allocated 60 delegates to Sanders, 54 to Biden and eight to Warren. The first four states were always more about momentum more than math.  Super Tuesday states offer a trove of 1,344 new delegates based on how candidates finish.  Just 155 delegates have been awarded so far. ———Peoples and Slodysko reported from Washington.  Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta, Will Weissert, Julie Pace and Seth Borenstein in Washington and Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. ———Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast,         “Ground Game. ”24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Rajasthan: Three people have tested positive for UK strain of coronavirus in Hakmabad area of Sri Ganganagar district, says Sadulshahar SDM Hawa Singh Yadav https://t.co/fECfJRX9pO

The new coronavirus strain that emerged in South Africa is even more problematic than a mutated form that prompted new lockdowns across much of the U. K. , health authorities said on Monday. “I’m incredibly worried about the South African variant,” U. K.  Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on BBC radio Monday, citing a conversation over the Christmas holiday with his counterpart in South Africa.  “One of the reasons they know they’ve got a problem is because, like us, they have an excellent genomic scientific capability to be able to study the details of the virus.  And it is even more of a problem than the U. K.  new variant. ”The South African variant is driving a surge of infections in the country, and like the U. K.  strain, it appears to be more infectious than previous mutations.  Still, there’s no evidence yet that the Covid-19 vaccines approved so far won’t work against the new strains. Shots will probably still be effective against the U. K.  variant of the coronavirus, while questions surrounding the South African version remain, John Bell, an Oxford professor working with the U. K.  government on its vaccine program, told Times Radio on Sunday.  It’s unlikely the mutations would “turn off” the effective vaccines entirely, Bell said. “We’ve got a bit of headroom because the vaccines work, I think, much better than any of us thought they would work,” he said.  “We do have some room to maneuver.  If they worked 20% less well because of a mutation we’d still have good vaccines. ”‘Cat and Mouse’Even if the new variants were able to evade the vaccines “it’s perfectly possible” to adapt and make new ones, potentially within six weeks, if necessary, Bell said.  “We’re now in a game of cat and mouse.  These are not the only two variants we’re going to see. ”Young people under the age of 20 may also be more affected by the new U. K.  variant, Imperial College London researchers said in a preliminary analysis published Dec.  31.  It’s too soon to be able to say why this might be the case, and the results might have been influenced by the fact that the lockdown was keeping more adults home, but schools were open, they said. South African medical scientists are designing studies to ascertain the clinical impact of the new variant of the coronavirus found in that country, said Glenda Gray, president of the South African Medical Research Council. South African doctors have seen anecdotal evidence that more young people without pre-existing conditions are becoming severely ill with the new version, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said last month. There is no evidence that the South African variant is more transmissible or causes more severe disease than the U. K.  variant, Mkhize said in a statement on Dec.  24.  The two variants developed independently, and there’s evidence that the U. K.  strain predates the South African one, Mkhize said.


BJP workers distribute food among migrant labourers in Srinagar

The BJP has announced that its party workers will distribute food among over 5 crore poor people during the lockdown period

#21daysLockdown #CoronaLockdown

(pics: ANI)

Updates: https://t.co/cxEBSTY0NO https://t.co/JLr3pYmTfP

Sep 05, 2021-Sunday

Metro cities -  Delhi, Mumbai,
											Chennai,
											Kolkata

Other cities -  Noida,
											Gurgaon,
											Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhopal
											, Chandigarh , Dehradun,
											Indore,
											Jaipur,
											Lucknow,
											Patna,
											Ranchi

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Over 100 fresh coronavirus cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in India.  Globally, more than 6,00,000 people have been infected by Covid-19 of which more than 31,000 have died.  Spain and Italy continue to bear the brunt of the contagion as cases in Europe cross 2,00,000. Moscow mayor asks every Muscovite to self-isolateMHA forms Empowered Groups under Disaster management ActAndhra Pradesh reports two new cases, 21 people affected in stateUK official says lockdown could last six months6,465 people placed under surveillance in KashmirBengal Govt launches app for fish consumersDr.  Anthony Fauci, White House Coronavirus Task Force member, says more than 100,000 will die in United States2 in Indian Army test positiveCoronavirus cases in India breach 1,000MHA includes newspaper delivery among essential servicesOm Prakash, mason working in Delhi, walked 800 kms to reach his loved onesAn ice rink has been has been turned into a morgue in SpainDGCA suspends breathalyzer test for pilotsStay in your homes, we'll come to your aid: Arvind Kejriwal to migrant workersMaharashtra coronavirus cases reach 203More than 660,000 people have been infected and more than 30,000 have died due to the novel coronavirus around the world.  In India, 1024 people have been infected by coronavirus and 25 people have died so far.  India reported 106 new cases in the last 24-hours.  PM Narendra Modi in his radio address asked people to follow lockdown measures to help curb the Covid-19 contagion.  Italy and Spain continue to report surge in both death rates and cases.  Spain reported 838 deaths in the last 24 hours.  US CDC asked New York residents strictly to remain inside their homes. Here are the highlights of the day on the Covid-19 pandemicMoscow mayor asks every Muscovite to self-isolateMoscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin has asked all residents in Moscow to self-isolate.  Citizens of the city will only be allowed to leave their homes in the case of a medical emergency, to travel to work if necessary, and visit a grocery stores or pharmacies.  #BREAKING Moscow mayor orders all residents to self-isolate pic. twitter. com/kyC1tCTaHKMHA forms Empowered Groups under Disaster management ActThe Ministry of Home Affairs have formed an empowered groups to address issues that might arise during lockdown.  11 teams have been formed to address various issues concerning procurement of PPEs, medical emergency management plan, augmenting human resource and capacity building etc. Andhra Pradesh reports two new cases, 21 people affected in stateTwo new cases that were reported from Andhra Pradesh were in contact with people who had been tested positive earlier.  State health officials told media the new cases had contact with a returnee from UK.  Andhra Pradesh: Two new #COVID19 cases reported in Visakhapatnam today; both have contact history with case no.  7 who had returned from Birmingham.  Total number of cases rises to 21 in the state.  pic. twitter. com/amw9j3JzAwUK official says lockdown could last six monthsEngland's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said that people in the UK must not suddenly revert back to normal living ways.  Speaking to Reuters, Harris said, "Over time, probably over the next six months, we will have a three week review, we will see where we are going.  We need to keep that lid on and then gradually we will be able to hopefully adjust some of the social distancing measures and gradually get us all back to normal. "6,465 people placed under surveillance in KashmirJammu and kashmir government has placed more than 6,000 people under surveillance in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the region.  Among these 34 people have Covid-19.  6465 travellers & persons in contact with suspected #COVID19 cases have been put under surveillance and, so far, 38 cases (34 active positive, 02 recovered and 02 deaths) have tested positive in J&K: Jammu & Kashmir GovernmentBengal Govt launches app for fish consumersTo ensure that people whose daily staple includes fish do not have pay high prices, the West Bengal govt. , launched an app for selling fish online. Bengal govt launches app to sell fish online in bid to tackle rising prices amid #lockdown: Official.  #Covid_19Dr.  Anthony Fauci, White House Coronavirus Task Force member, says more than 100,000 will die in United StatesDr.  Anthony Fauci, who sparred openly with US president Donald Trump over his handling of the epidemic, predicted that millions will be affected in US due to coronavirus. Dr.  Anthony Fauci says U. S.  will have “millions of cases” of COVID-19 and more than 100,000 deaths.  Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, is the U. S.  government’s foremost infectious disease expert.  https://t. co/CmG70Di9yx2 in Indian Army test positive2 officials from the Indian Army have tested positive for Covid-19.  One of the officials is a JCO in Dehradun.  Coronavirus cases in India breach 1,000More than 1,000 people in India have coronavirus.  1,024 cases have been reported so far.  Kerala and Maharashtra have the most Covid-19 infected patients. MHA includes newspaper delivery among essential servicesMinistry of Home Affairs in a new advisory has enlisted newspapers, battery, mobile chargers, body wash, shampoos, and oral care etc have been included. Om Prakash, mason working in Delhi, walked 800 kms to reach his loved onesOm Prakash walked for 800 kms over five nights and six days to reach his home in Siddharthnagar.  Upon reaching home he said, "There was no option but to leave Delhi immediately on foot as we all lost our jobs and there was no money left with us.  Transport services were suspended and the disease posed a threat to our lives,” Om Prakash, a father of three. An ice rink has been has been turned into a morgue in SpainSpain continues to report high death rates due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Over 6,500 people have died due to the pandemic in Spain.  More than 13,000 have recovered. VIDEO: 🇪🇸 Workers and vehicles, including a hearse, enter and leave the #PalacioDeHielo (Ice Palace) shopping centre in #Madrid where an ice rink has been converted into a temporary morgue as Spain battles the #coronavirus pandemic pic. twitter. com/QAYq1dMVCmDGCA suspends breathalyzer test for pilotsThe Breath Analyser test that was required for aviation personnel has been temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Stay in your homes, we'll come to your aid: Arvind Kejriwal to migrant workersDelhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has urged migrant labourers to not cross state borders as Delhi government has made provisions for their food and lodging. Delhi government is providing lunch and dinner to more than 4 lakh people every day.  We are putting in all the efforts to make sure that everyone gets food in the national capital.  There is no dearth of food & water: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.  #COVID19 pic. twitter. com/gTSRGZPzkQMaharashtra coronavirus cases reach 203Maharashtra reported 10 fresh cases of Covid-19.  Over 200 people are suffering from Covid-19 in the state.  New cases were reported from Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai and Buldhana. First published: Mar 29, 2020 06:06 IST


A video of Khurshed Batliwala, in which he claimed – ‘Using infrared thermometers on the forehead to check the temperature of the body can harm the organs in the head’, is being shared on social media.  Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Video of Khurshed Batliwala claiming that using the infrared thermometer on the forehead can harm the organs in the head. Fact: Infrared thermometers are not harmful to the organs in the head.  The infrared thermometer will not cause any damage to the organs in the head or in the body because the measurement is done by the absorption and detection of infrared energy radiated by the human body; not vice versa.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE. When searched if infrared thermometers are harmful to the organs in the head, an article published by the ‘CGTN’ in February 2020 was found in the search results.  In the article, it is mentioned that – ‘the infrared thermometer, takes one’s temperature by sensing the infrared energy radiated by the human body, as all materials emit infrared energy when the temperature is above absolute zero (-273 degrees Celsius).  The process won’t cause any damage to the human body because the measurement is done by the absorption and detection of infrared energy’.  In the same article, an infographic comparing the different types of thermometers can be found.  Also, Feng Luzhao, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said – ‘Infrared thermometers work by receiving the thermal radiation emitted by humans, not vice versa.  Using infrared thermometers is not harmful to the eyes and body’. When the same message went viral in Malaysia, the Malaysian government has issued a statement against the false message, which can be read below. Also, no such side-effects from using infrared thermometer are mentioned on the ‘US FDA’ website.  The ‘Poynter’ has published an article in July 2020 that the same message went viral in various countries and many fact-checkers across the world have debunked it. Khurshed Batliwala has written on his official Facebook account that he ‘holds an M. Sc.  in Mathematics from IIT Bombay.  He is an Art of Living faculty for 20+ years’.  He has not mentioned that he is a professor at IIT Bombay. To sum it up, using the infrared thermometer on the forehead will not harm the organs in the head.


Protesters are marching through cities across the US over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Here's a look at demonstrations around the country. https://t.co/cr9P3Ud4G2 https://t.co/rZUWjXjH0D

Demonstrators gathered outside the U. S.  Embassies in London and Berlin.  Violent protests create turmoil across the nationLONDON -- Hundreds of demonstrators were seen chanting and carrying Black Lives Matter signs outside a number of U. S.  embassies in Europe and across the world over the weekend, as the protests against the killing of George Floyd spread internationally. On Saturday and Sunday, crowds gathered outside the U. S.  embassies in London and Berlin to protest against the death of Floyd and show solidarity with the protests in the U. S.  with chants of “I Can’t Breathe” a regular feature of the weekend demonstrations. In London, hundreds took part in a “Black Lives Matter” demonstration beginning with protesters taking a knee for nine minutes in Trafalgar Square before marching onto the U. S.  Embassy. "Well, we've seen for hundreds of years black people and people of color be absolutely abused and killed on the streets and it's just getting worse and worse,” one London protester said.  “We've had enough, and if they're not going to listen we're just going to scream louder and louder. ”London’s Metropolitan Police announced they arrested 23 people for “various offenses” across the U. K.  capital on Sunday, and said they were on hand to make sure crowds complied with social distancing regulations. Two black soccer players in Germany referenced the protests after scoring goals in weekend games.  Jadon Sancho, an English player for Borussia Dortmund, wore a shirt underneath his jersey saying “Justice for George Floyd. ” Marcus Thuram took a knee after scoring a goal for Borussia Mönchengladbach in tribute to the U. S.  protests. In Canada, thousands took to the streets in Vancouver and Montreal, echoing the chants heard across the U. S.  in mostly peaceful protests Sunday.  In the Montreal gathering, crowds were dispersed after projectiles were thrown at the police later in the evening. And in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, crowds chanting “I Can’t Breathe” were dispersed by police in riot gear outside the state government palace on Sunday as anti-government protests against police brutality in Brazil fed off the global sentiment felt by the killing of Floyd. Last year in Rio up to 1,402 people between January and September were killed by police, particularly in operations in the favelas, according to Human Rights Watch. In Iran and China, two countries which the U. S.  has been heavily critical of human rights abuses, state run media and foreign ministers criticised the American handling of the George Floyd protests. Manslaughter charges have been brought against Derek Chauvin, the white police officer accusing of kneeling on Floyd's neck for nine minutes, and tthe National Guard has been activated in Minneapolis and 17 states. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


J&K: 6 civilians injured in a grenade attack in Baramulla area. Terrorists lobbed a grenade on an Army vehicle, which missed the target and instead exploded on the road. Injured are being treated at a local hospital https://t.co/UCChxpGibc https://t.co/PGTItIOD1P

At least five people were injured on Monday after terrorists lobbed a grenade at a vehicle of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla, officials said. According to a senior police official, five people were injured after an unidentified person hurled a grenade from the old building hospital on an army convoy at Azadganj bridge, which missed the target and instead exploded on the road. “Out of the five, two are seriously injured and have been shifted to Srinagar hospital.  The other injured are being treated at a local hospital,” the official said. Soon after the grenade explosion, police cordoned off the area.  The Baramulla market where the explosion took place, had opened after a six-day local lockdown which ended on Sunday night. This is the second such incident in 24 hours as terrorists had on Sunday hurled a grenade towards the Warpora police post in Sopore area of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir.


#IndiaVsBangladesh: Bangladesh are 272 for 8 in 46.0, need 43 runs in 24 balls. #CWC19 https://t.co/NESjPqkvJf

Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal has added a fresh feather into his already illustrious cap when he took to the field against India in their ICC World Cup 2019 group stage match at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday.  Tamim became only the fourth cricketer from his nation to feature in 200 matches in the 50-over format of the game.  ((ICC World Cup 2019: Full Coverage))Before Tamim, only Mashrafe Murtaza, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Shakib-Al-Hasan had played 200 ODIs for Bangladesh and the stylish southpaw has joined the trio in this illustrious list.  Mahmudullah completes this top five list for the ‘Bangla Tigers’. Click here for India vs Bangladesh ICC World Cup 2019 LIVE SCOREMost ODIs for Bangladesh -214: Mashrafe Mortaza212: Musfiqur Rahim205: Shakib Al Hasan200: Tamim Iqbal181: MahmudullahTamim got off to a bad start in his milestone match after India won the toss and elected to bat first.  Tamim dropped an easy catch to hand India opener Rohit Sharma a lifeline in just the fifth over of the game. India made two changes to the team that lost to hosts England on Sunday.  Batsman Dinesh Karthik and fit-again paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar made the cut in place of Kedar Jadhav and Kuldeep Yadav, with India needing to win one of their remaining two group matches to guarantee a place in the last four. Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah on verge of massive recordBangladesh also made two changes, with Rubel Hossain coming in for Mehidy Hasan while Mahmudullah failed a fitness test on his calf tear and was replaced by Sabbir Rahman.  Captain Mashrafe Mortaza admitted he would also have batted first had he won the toss in a must-win game for his side. ((With agency inputs))


India’s death rate has increased from 2.79% on June 1 to 3.37% on June 16. Here's what all you need to know today on #COVID19

(by @HT_Ed)

https://t.co/8k3VLm3Utr

Were we wrong? More pertinently (at least for me, and, for you, Constant Reader), was I wrong? Time and again, I have referred to India’s low death rate from the coronavirus disease in comparison to the death rates in other countries as a sort of silver lining.  This could still hold true — there are large studies underway to find out whether the BCG vaccine (nearly universally administered in India) can help people fight off Covid-19. Only now, it turns out (and the band said it best), every silver lining has a touch of grey. India’s death rate has increased from 2. 79% on June 1 to 3. 37% on June 16. In the same period, Delhi’s death rate (current case fatality rate) has gone up from 2. 5% to 4. 11%; Maharashtra’s from 3. 37% to 4. 88%; and Tamil Nadu’s from 0. 79% to 1. 09%.  Within Maharashtra, Mumbai’s numbers are downright alarming — the city’s death rate has increased from 3. 2% on June 1 to 5. 25% on June 16. This is entirely on account of the states adding deaths that were previously not taken into account — Maharashtra added 1,328 old deaths previously unaccounted for, including 862 in Mumbai alone, to its death tally on Tuesday; Delhi added 344 older deaths the same day. There are fears that Tamil Nadu’s numbers could increase even more.  But Delhi’s and Maharashtra’s may not (other than the daily deaths they add) because the local administrations claim that almost all deaths have now been taken into account (see pages 2, 4 and 11). These states are important. On June 16, they accounted for 55% of all new cases of Covid-19 recorded in India.  Cumulatively, till Tuesday night, they accounted for 58% of all Covid-19 cases in the country.  They also accounted for 66% (or two-thirds) of all coronavirus disease deaths in the country (cumulatively).  In terms of cases — and the argument that these states are finding more cases because they are testing more is an entirely valid one — these three states continue to drive the daily case count in the country. This is no time for false and misplaced pride so I will just say it: even when things were normal, the quality of India’s record-keeping when it came to births, marriages and deaths — hatches, matches and dispatches in tabloidese — wasn’t all that great.  In the midst of the pandemic, with inadequate staffing, it isn’t surprising that there have been lapses in record-keeping. Sure, some amount of manipulation also cannot be ruled out.  For instance, it is theoretically possible for a state to keep its death numbers low by not performing tests on suspected Covid-19 patients who have died (sometimes even before hospitalisation), or if their death audit committee (every state has one of these ultimate account keepers) decides that the primary cause of death was not the coronavirus disease.  There’s anecdotal evidence to suggest that tests are not performed on all suspected Covid-19 patients who have died.  And this isn’t restricted to the three states that are the primary hot spots of the disease in the country.  HT’s reporting has found instances of it in Madhya Pradesh, for example, and it is highly likely that the situation is the same in other states (see page 11). This is deeply upsetting for two reasons.  One, putting a spin on death numbers ranks up there among the absolutely worst thing anyone can do.  Two, many of us stopped looking at case numbers because these were irrelevant in the absence of widespread testing, and were looking almost exclusively at death numbers to understand the run of the pandemic in the country, and across states.  It now turns out that even the death numbers are suspect although I’m still hoping that the divergence isn’t at the same level as highlighted by a late April study by the Financial Times of Covid-19 deaths in 14 countries (up to 60%, and India wasn’t one of the countries studied). It is clear from the global experience that data and science are the best weapons a country can use to deal with the coronavirus disease. And India and Indians have always had an uneasy relationship with both data and science.


CLAIM A video is being widely shared on social media with a claim that a saint, who had taken samadhi, in Tamil Nadu’s Valliyur nearly 300 years ago, has been found alive.  The caption shared along with the video reads: “यह है सिद्धार्थ योगी जिन्होंने 300 साल पहले तमिलनाडु के वल्लियुर में समाधि ली थी वल्लियुर मंदिर के लिए मिट्टी खोदते समय उन्हें जीवित पाया गया सिद्धार्थ योगासन में बैठे नजर आए थे ऐसा है भारत जिसकी दुनिया कल्पना भी नहीं कर सकती |” [Translation: This is Siddharth Yogi, who had taken samadhi in Tamil Nadu’s Valliyur nearly 300 years ago.  While excavation work was going on for the construction of a temple, he was found alive.  The world can’t even imagine this. ] (Note: The Quint has decided not to reproduce the video due to its graphic nature. ) The video also has made its way to Facebook and even WhatsApp.  The Quint received a query about the video on its WhatsApp helpline number.  TRUE OR FALSE?  The claim with which the video is being shared in completely false.  In reality, the video shows a man, identified as Alexander, a citizen of Kazakhstan, receiving treatment for a skin disease called psoriasis.  The same video had gone viral and multiple news organisations had misreported the incident to be that of a bear attack.  However, when AFP Fact Check contacted the director of Aktobe Medical Centre, in the northwestern city of Aktobe in Kazakhstan, he confirmed the details of the case.  WHAT’S THE TRUTH?  On conducting a reverse image search on one of the keyframes of the video, we came across multiple news articles which had reported on the video, citing a ‘bear attack’.  A report in Daily Mail attributed the information to the local media and reported that the man was found in Russia’s Tuva region.  We also came across another news article published in ‘The Siberian Times’, a local Russian publication, titled ‘Man lives after bear breaks his spine and keeps him as food inside den’ on 26 June 2019.  However, at the end of the article, there was an update which added that the health ministry in Tuva had said that they couldn’t confirm the case and that the incident might have happened somewhere outside Tuva.  On searching Google with relevant keywords, we came across a story on AFP Fact Check, according to which the man’s name was indeed Alexander but he was not attacked by a bear.  He was said to be suffering from a chronic skin disease.  As per the story, the video went viral after the doctor filmed it to send it to his friends.


The Washington Nationals have clinched their first World Series title after defeating the host Houston Astros 6-2 in Game 7 on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park https://t.co/qF492Lxhrr

In 13 states, over 80% of the population has at least one dose, CDC data shows. The missiles allegedly hit a target 1,500 kilometers away.


Karnataka: Idols of Lord Ganesh in Bengaluru have been given looks of doctors ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, amid #COVID19. Shridhar, an idol maker says, "We are facing COVID. We have to tell people to pray to Lord Ganesh for the betterment of the situation throughout the world." https://t.co/sJ5TErv3jL

Fifty-one people, including two intern doctors, tested positive for Covid-19 in Jharkhand on Tuesday, taking the number of cases in the state to 712, according to a bulletin issued by the health department. Two intern doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) were found to be Covid-19 positive, health officials said, adding that they had a recent travel history. According to the bulletin, 499 of the total number of cases are migrant workers who recently returned to the state. Jharkhand has 411 active cases at present, while 320 people have been discharged from various hospitals following recovery, it said. Five persons have so far died of the disease in Jharkhand. Most of the active cases are in East Singhbhum district (115), followed by Dhanbad (51), Hazaribag (42), Ramgarh (25) and Gumla (22), the bulletin said. The other districts with active cases are Koderma (19), Ranchi (17), West Singhbhum (14), Simdega (14), Garhwa (13), Giridih (nine), Bokaro (seven), Pakur (five), Khunti (five), Seraikela (four), Lohardaga (four), Sahibganj (three), Latehar (three) and Palamau (two). A total of 5,415 people, who returned to the state recently, are under surveillance and asymptomatic, while 4,084 have completed the 28-day observation period. While 91,765 people are in various quarantine centres, 2,91,828 people are in home quarantine, the bulletin said. The recovery rate of Covid-19 patients is 44. 94 per cent in Jharkhand and the mortality rate is 0. 7 per cent, it added.


Enforcement Directorate has summoned former Jammu and Kashmir CM & PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti in a money laundering case. She has been asked to appear before ED on March 15: ED official

(File pic) https://t.co/rTwQoPwpRZ

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was on Friday summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear at its headquarters in New Delhi on March 15 in connection with a money laundering case, officials said.  A team of the federal agency reached Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief’s Fairview house with a summon, which wasn’t received by her family.  “People had come with the summon but Mehbooba Mufti wasn't in the town so nobody received the summon,” her party’s spokesperson Suhail Bukhari said.  Her family does not have any information regarding what the summon was about, he added. In a tweet Mufti said, "GOIs tactics to intimidate & browbeat political opponents to make them toe their line has become tediously predictable.  They don’t want us to raise questions about its punitive actions & policies.  Such short sighted scheming wont work. "GOIs tactics to intimidate & browbeat political opponents to make them toe their line has become tediously predictable. They don’t want us to raise questions about its punitive actions & policies.  Such short sighted scheming wont work . The case has been filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, news agency PTI reports citing officials. More details are awaited.  The development comes days after her party unanimously re-elected her as the president of JKPDP, which was formed by Mufti’s father and former J&K chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 1999.  She has been travelling to different regions of the Union territory to address meetings and gather new faces for the PDP.  Despite defections of leaders to join a new political front led by Altaf Bukhari after the scrapping of Article 370, her party continues to stand strong in south Kashmir, which was reflected in the PDP’s win on 27 DDC seats in the recently concluded elections. Mufti was released last year after being detained from August 5, 2019, to October 13, 2020, following the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.