RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: "Four years ago, President Trump started a movement unlike any other. And over the next four days, we will hear from a few of the millions of hardworking, everyday Americans who have benefited from his leadership." https://t.co/GzL6A0cP7s #RNC2020 https://t.co/L1GAjlmZZh

By Kevin Liptak, CNNUpdated 12:20 AM ET, Tue August 25, 2020  (CNN)Vote for President Donald Trump -- or else.


WWII veteran Herman Zeitchik receives rousing applause during Pres. Trump's State of the Union address. https://t.co/9YUn42lPTZ #SOTU https://t.co/nHc4Ot8swM

By Sophie Tatum, Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Brian Ries and Amanda Wills, CNNSpeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has invited a bunch of guests to this year's State of the Union address.  Among them is José Andrés, the renowned chef who recently provided free meals to furloughed workers during and after the partial government shutdown. Andrés' #ChefsForFeds campaign opened a kitchen and café near the White House to feed government employees who were not getting paid during the shutdown — and the movement soon expanded to 12 states and Puerto Rico.  Here is who else she's invited, according to a list provided by her office:From CNN's Kate Sullivan and Ashley KilloughThe House Democratic Women's Working Group is inviting female members of both parties to wear white to the State of the Union address as a symbol of solidarity. "Wearing suffragette white is a respectful message of solidarity with women across the country, and a declaration that we will not go back on our hard-earned rights," Rep.  Lois Frankel of Florida, the chair of the working group, told CNN. Frankel pointed out there have never been as many Democratic women serving in Congress as there are today. This won't be the first time: In 2017, the same group coordinated Democratic women wearing white to Trump's joint address to Congress.  At the time, the women said they were wearing white not only in memory of the women's suffrage movement but also to show Trump their support for a number of issues affecting women, including affordable health care, reproductive rights and equal pay. From CNN's Clare Foran and Phil MattinglyFormer Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams said Tuesday she has accepted an invitation to give the Democratic response to the State of the Union address. Abrams has been talked about as a rising star in the Democratic Party.  She gained a national following during her unsuccessful bid to become governor of Georgia last fall.  Abrams said last week that she is "honored" to give the Democratic response.  Her spokesperson said Abrams would be the first black woman to give the Democratic response to the State of the Union. From CNN's Veronica StracqualursiAn undocumented worker fired from President Trump's New Jersey golf club will be in attendance at the State of the Union address tonight. Victorina Morales, a Guatemalan native, worked for years at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, before describing herself as an undocumented worker to The New York Times in December.  She was ultimately terminated from her job and currently faces deportation. Morales was invited to Trump's State of the Union address by Rep.  Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat from New Jersey, which the congresswoman's office and Morales' attorney confirmed separately to CNN. The Washington Post first reported the news of the invitation. Watch more:From CNN's Jim AcostaPresident Trump attended a meeting with surrogates ahead of tonight's State of the Union address. One of Trump's advisers, who also attended the meeting, said the President was so passionate about his desire for a barrier at the southern border, he even discussed the idea of painting the stretch of fencing where it meets the Pacific Ocean in San Diego.  Trump, according to the adviser, said he doesn't like the way it looks, noting there is some graffiti on that section of the border fencing.  Trump complained that a general informed him that painting that portion of the wall may not be possible as it could cause environmental harm.  The source had said Trump didn't like the graffiti that was showing up on that section of the wall.  Trump and his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, met with contractors at the White House to discuss building the border wall late last week, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told CNN.  He also met with contractors on Monday, a day ahead of his State of the Union address, according to two people familiar with the meetings. Some context: We're not sure if Trump's proposed border wall will come up during his speech tonight, but it was the key sticking point in the government shutdown that ultimately postponed this address. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi disinvited Trump from giving his speech on Jan.  29 because of the partial government shutdown, which went into effect when Trump and Democrats couldn't agree on funding for a barrier on the border.  While the shutdown ended on Jan.  25, the State of the Union was rescheduled for today. The State of the Union address was postponed after President Trump and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spent a week writing letters back and forth.  Pelosi's request to postpone the speech — and her eventual decision to disinvite Trump — came during the longest government shutdown in US history. Here's a brief recap of how it all went down:Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Contrary to his predictions, President Trump won't have a coronavirus vaccine ready by Election Day, vaccine experts tell CNN after reviewing data from Moderna, the first company to begin its Phase 3 clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine in the US. https://t.co/2BJtNvTeoG

Wealthy countries are likely to get vaccine doses before less fortunate. Vaccine Watch: Inside Johnson & JohnsonAs the race for a novel coronavirus vaccine continues, there's growing concern from scientists and economic experts that wealthy nations are prioritizing getting doses for their own citizens at the cost of poorer nations and thus failing to control the global pandemic. Some countries -- including the U. S.  and the U. K.  -- are securing vast quantities of new coronavirus vaccine candidates in a phenomenon being dubbed "vaccine nationalism. "Now, a growing chorus of experts is sounding the alarm.  They say that with a virus capable of quickly spreading from country to country, vaccinating one nation at a time will ultimately prolong the pandemic, lead to more lives lost and continue to devastate the world economy. "The virus does not know and does not respect borders.  An outbreak of the virus anywhere threatens people everywhere," Dr.  Dan Barouch, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, told ABC News. While it's understandable for each country's "health departments to have a primary responsibly to their country's citizens," Barouch said, "each country needs to have a dual goal -- a goal of protecting their citizens and also . . .  to do their part in solving the global pandemic. "Economists Thomas J.  Bollyky and Chad P.  Bown have said the fastest way to stop the pandemic is by breaking chains of transmission by allocating the vaccine to people who are the most likely to be infected -- no matter where they live. "Global cooperation on vaccine allocation would be the most efficient way to disrupt the spread of the virus.  It would also spur economies, avoid supply chain disruptions, and prevent unnecessary geopolitical conflict," they wrote in a recent editorial published in Foreign Affairs. Yet, even if global cooperation is the most efficient way to halt a virus in its tracks, it's a difficult political proposition. In the midst of this debate, wealthy countries have invested heavily in ensuring that their own citizens get the vaccine first. "Prioritization of vaccine access can't be governed by political borders.  This means health workers and the vulnerable deserve to be first in line regardless of nationality," said Dr.  John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and ABC News contributor. The U. S.  has Operation Warp Speed -- a government-funded initiative to turbocharge vaccine development and secure vaccine doses for the U. S.  population.  In total, almost $10 billion has been allocated by Congress for hundreds of millions of doses to be made available to U. S.  citizens. In Europe, there is the Inclusive Vaccines Alliance which has already agreed to buy 400 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine being co-developed with Oxford University. The U. K.  has made a deal with AstraZeneca and Wockhardt to secure and distribute 30 million vaccine doses by September, part of a broader push to get 100 million doses by the end of the year.  A deal has also been made for the Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline vaccine. Some have compared the coronavirus vaccine buyouts to the 2009 swine flu pandemic, when wealthier countries bought up of most of the vaccine doses.  The U. S.  and many European countries donated some of their vaccines to poorer countries, but only when they were satisfied that they had enough doses for their own citizens. That's important, because a strategy of vaccinating high-risk people first -- wherever they are -- is thought to be most effective at slowing viral transmission. "Ensuring fair, equitable and transparent allocation is not just the right thing to do, it's in everyone's best interest," Brownstein said.  "Placing certain wealthy countries at the top of this list will only serve to prolong the pandemic. "There are also implications for vaccine cost.  Countries "bidding" against each other could also increase the cost of vaccines for everyone. Even countries that do secure large doses of vaccine candidates, the risk remains that the vaccine they bought simply doesn't work well enough.  Some countries could be playing a potentially dangerous game by gambling on a small number of vaccines. Although the World Health Organization has set up a group called the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, with a mission statement to guarantee "fair and equitable access for every country in the world," its lofty goals will only be realized with a formal and tangible commitment by powerful nations. But like other global scourges, the burden of supplying a coronavirus vaccine to low-income countries is likely to fall to nongovernmental organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and international vaccine collaborations it founded, such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi. According to Barouch, nothing short of a global strategy will work to control the virus.  "For a global pandemic, if the virus is not brought under control globally . . .  we will not solve the problem. "Dr.  Laith Alexander is an academic doctor at St.  Thomas' Hospital in London and working with ABC News' Medical Unit.  Sony Salzman is the unit's coordinating producer.  24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


#COVID19: Social distancing norms flouted at Delhi's Sarojini Nagar market; some states of India have high active caseload or increasing trend in new cases last week as per government. https://t.co/7waIz66Jbl

India on Tuesday recorded 12,286 fresh coronavirus (Covid-19) cases, pushing the infection tally to 11,124,527, according to the health ministry dashboard at 8am.  The total recoveries, meanwhile, surged to 1,07,98,921, taking the national Covid-19 recovery rate to 97. 07 per cent. While the death toll increased to 157,248 with 91 new fatalities, the active caseload was recorded at 1,68,358 which accounts for 1. 51 per cent of the total infections, the data stated. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageOn Monday, the country witnessed 15,510 fresh cases and the toll stood at 157,157. These numbers come in the backdrop of India beginning its second phase of Covid-19 vaccination for those above 60 years of age, and people between 45 and 59 years of age with specific comorbidities on Monday.  Those with specified comorbidities will have to produce a medical certificate attested by a registered medical practitioner at the time of vaccination at the Covid-19 vaccination centre. This phase will cover close to 270 million beneficiaries and self-registration was opened from 9am.  After registration, beneficiaries are to book an appointment for vaccination.  There is also an option for booking a walk-in appointment after registration. Also Read: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan gets his first Covid vaccine shot in DelhiThe registration will take place on the upgraded Co-Win website, and according to the health ministry’s Co-Win guidelines, one person will be able to register only three more eligible people using their mobile phone number. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, Union home minister Amit Shah, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and minister of minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi got themselves vaccinated in this phase.


#JammuAndKashmir : Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates several development projects in Jammu. https://t.co/YNKus3zbkv

In his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the BJP withdrew its support to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in June last year, PM Modi inaugurated projects worth Rs 35,000 crore at Vijaypur, while in Kashmir and Ladakh he dedicated projects worth Rs 9,000 crore.  Modi laid foundation stones of various development projects worth Rs 6,000 crore which include setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur, a bridge over river Chenab, pollution abatement project on rivers Devika and Tawi, a campus of Northern Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication and University Institute of Engineering and Technology in Kathua. :Our country has immense potential for tourism: PMOur country has immense potential for tourism. . .  The first requirement of tourism is the one should be proud of their country’s things: PM ModiTourism की पहली शर्त होती है कि आपको अपनी चीज पर गर्व करना होता है। Tourism दुनिया की सबसे तेज गति से आगे बढ़ने वाली अर्थव्यवस्था है। Tourism कई सारे रोजगार के अवसर भी देता है और हमें tourism को और बढ़ावा देने की जरूरत है: PMIf country decides to get rid of poverty, no force can keep us poor: ModiA student from Kurukshetra university asks if India can become poverty free nation in the future.  If the country decides that we want to get rid of poverty, no force on Earth can keep us poor.  If we use our natural and human resources in a planned way, it is not difficult to get rid of poverty: PM Modi. According to UN and other agencies, India is rapidly getting out of the poor bracket.  The bulk of middle-class and neo middle-class in increasing.  They have also said that Schedule Caste and Muslims of India, these two categories have been the biggest beneficiary.  : PM ModiAccording to studies, India reducing poverty at fastest pace in the world: ModiThere are 2 realities today which make us proud.  India is the fastest growing large economy in the world.  According to studies, India is also reducing poverty at the fastest pace in the world: PM ModiMy satisfaction lies in giving birth to new dreams: PM ModiPM Modi says he is satisfied with the work he could do in the last 4 and half years.  “My satisfaction doesn’t lie in patting myself but in giving birth to new dreams: PM ModiWant people from abroad to come and study in India: PMWe should develop such education institutions that instead of students leaving the country to study abroad, people from outside should come to India. . .  I’m working with that dream: PM Modi We want to achieve global standards of education: PM ModiA young girl asks PM Modi if he is satisfied with his efforts in education sector.  PM responds saying, “In terms of effort, I’m content we are in the right direction. . . .  And the standard of education that exists in the world, we want to achieve those global standards. ” PM Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates development projects in SrinagarPrime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates development projects in Srinagar. Government with every martyr: PMThe government will be standing with you at every step with the family of every martyr.  I also reassure families facing firepower from across the border that their safety is being tried every possible. Congress gets the fever of loan waiver when elections are around the corner: PM ModiThe Congress party gets the fever of a loan forgiveness as soon as the elections are around the corner, once in 10 years. Congress party’s intention has never been about freeing debts of farmers.  But in the name of farmers, the Congress has always filled the pockets of intermediaries. PM Modi on Rs 6000 allotment to farmersFor the first time in the country’s 70-year history, more than 12 crore small farmer families of the country, which have land of up to 5 acres, will now get Rs 6,000 every year in their bank account. Pm Modi on citizenship billOur government has brought a proposal to amend the citizenship law.  These are part of the resolution by which we will stand with all the people who were ever part of India and have separated us from the circumstances in 1947. PM Modi on Kashmiri PanditsThe Centre is committed to the preserving the rights of the Kashmiri Pandits, the Kashmiri displaced brothers and sisters, and is devoted to their dignity and pride. Central government is dedicated to giving youth equal opportunities: PM ModiCentral government is dedicated to giving youth equal opportunities.  Recently, 10% reservation to poor general-class youth in government services and educational institutions was allotted.  To improve road network, BJP govt has provisioned Rs 40 crore: PMThe BJP government has provisioned Rs 40 crore in the Pradhanmantri Vikas package to improve the road network, connecting far-flung areas together. Jammu and Kashmir had 70 MBBS seats: PM ModiJammu and Kashmir had 70 MBBS seats, now with BJP’s work, the numbers will turn double. Happy to come once again in the canopy of Maa vaishno: PM ModiHappy to come once again in the canopy of Maa vaishno.  Whenever I come here, energy inspires me to do my job with more power. PM Modi inaugurates development projects in JammuPM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurated development projects in Jammu. PM Modi on the budgetIn ST welfare, the budget has given around 30% increase and nearly 35% budget has been alloted for the development of Dalits. PM Modi on Kisan Honour Fund scheme The government has decided that farmers who have less than 5 acres of land will get money in their bank accounts directly every year: PM ShriOnce Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line is completed, the distance from Delhi to Leh will be reduced: PMOnce Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line is completed, the distance from Delhi to Leh will be reduced.  It will also benefit the tourism sector.  Protected Area Permit’s validity has been increased to 15 days, now tourists will be able to enjoy their journey to Leh. Left behind the culture of delays: PM ModiWe’ve left behind culture of delays, says PM Narendra ModiYour affection gives me a great motivation: PM ModiThose who live in difficult situations, they challenge every difficulty.  Your affection gives me a great motivation to keep working hard.  PM Modi on new trek routesLife gets easier, economically as well once a city is well connected.  We have decided to launch five trekking routes.  PM applauds crowd for attending the event in chilling cold weatherAfter welcoming everyone, PM Modi applauded the crowd for attending the event in chilling cold weather in Leh. PM Modi reaches Ladakh, inaugurates various development projects in LehPM Modi reached Ladakh on his one-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar and Ladakh.  He inaugurated and lay foundation stone for various development projects in Leh. Mobile internet services suspended in SrinagarMobile internet services suspended in Srinagar ahead of PM Modi’s visit, according to news agency IANS. Police carry rigorous search operationsOn Saturday, police seized dozens of two wheelers which were found without papers.  On Friday evening, forces launched a cordon and search operation at business centre at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. For PM’s visit, tight security put in placeA three-tier security grid has been put in place around the S K International Conference Centre in Srinagar and traffic has already been diverted to alternate routes to secure the venue. PM to hold separate meeting with BJP leaders“The PM will be meeting panches and sarpanches and will hold a separate meeting with the BJP leaders and workers in the evening,’’ BJP state spokesperson Altaf Thakur had said. PM Modi to kick-start his election campaignPM Modi will also address a rally at Vijaypur in Jammu.  He will be kick-starting his election campaign from the rally. PM will inaugurate projects worth Rs 35,000 croreHe will also inaugurate projects worth Rs 35,000 crore at Vijaypur, while in Kashmir and Ladakh he will be dedicating projects worth Rs 9,000 crore.  PM Modi to visit Jammu and Kashmir todayPrime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate various development projects in Jammu and Srinagar during a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir today.


Michael Cohen, a longtime confidante of the president, his former personal attorney and fixer, arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to share publicly, for the first time, his side of the story.

Here are some of the notable moments from the hearing. https://t.co/oifNCX7joU https://t.co/6Kes7qfxN5

  A heated clash derailed an already blockbuster congressional hearing on Wednesday after Democratic Rep.  Rashida Tlaib appeared to accuse Republican Rep.  Mark Meadows of what she called a “racist” act of using a black woman as a “prop” as a way to disprove allegations of racism against the President.

  “Just because someone has a person of color, a black person, working for them does not mean they aren’t racist,” the Democratic congresswoman from Michigan said during a House Oversight Committee hearing featuring testimony from President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

  Tlaib continued, “And it is insensitive … the fact that someone would actually use a prop, a black woman, in this chamber, in this committee, is alone racist in itself. ”

Lynne Patton, the surprise Cohen hearing guest, prompts remarkable exchange on racism

  Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, had earlier invited Lynne Patton, a Trump administration official who is also a black woman, to the hearing and presented her as a refutation of Cohen’s claim that Trump is a “racist. ” Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and fixer, was testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee.

  Following Tlaib’s comment, Meadows immediately called for her words to be stricken from the record.  Rep.  Elijah Cummings, the Maryland Democrat who is the chairman of the committee, stepped in and asked Tlaib if she wanted to “rephrase” her statement.

  Tlaib repeated her initial statement, reading from her notes, and clarified she was not calling Meadows himself a racist, just the act itself.

  “As a person of color in this committee that’s how I felt in at that moment and I wanted to express that, but I am not calling the gentleman, Mr.  Meadows, a racist for doing so, I’m saying that in itself it is a racist act,” Tlaib said, referring to what she called using Patton, a black woman, as a “prop. ”

  Meadows, growing visibly upset, objected to Tlaib’s characterization.  He said his family members are people of color, and further said it was “racist” that Tlaib suggested Meadows brought Patton in for that reason.

  “Mr.  Chairman, there’s nothing more personal to me than my relationship – my nieces and nephews are people of color.  Not many people know that.  You know that, Mr.  Chairman,” Meadows said.

  “And to indicate that I asked someone who is a personal friend of the Trump family, who has worked for him, who knows this particular individual, that she’s coming in to be a prop – it’s racist to suggest that I asked her to come in here for that reason,” Meadows added.

  Patton is a longtime associate of the Trump family and is now a high-ranking political appointee to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  She worked as an event planner for the Trumps and planned Eric Trump’s 2014 wedding.

  “She loves this family, she came in because she felt like the President of the United States was getting falsely accused,” Meadows said.  “And Mr.  Chairman you are, you and I have a personal relationship that’s not based on color.  And to even go down this direction is wrong, Mr.  Chairman. ”

  Cummings thanked Meadows for his statements and said, “if there’s anyone who is sensitive with regard to race, it’s me, son of former sharecroppers that were basically slaves.  So I, I get it.  I listened very carefully to Ms.  Tlaib … I think she said that she was not calling you a racist. ”

  Cummings added that Meadows,”of all the people on this committee … you’re one of my best friends.  I know that shocks a lot of people. ”

  “I could see and feel your pain,” Cummings added.  “I feel it.  And so, and I don’t think Ms.  Tlaib intended to cause you that, that kind of pain and that kind of frustration. ”

  Tlaib agreed with Cummings that was not her intention and said “I do apologize if that’s what it sounded like, but I said someone in general, and as everyone knows in this chamber I’m pretty direct so I, if I wanted to say that I would’ve, but that’s not what I said. ”
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Posters of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra seen outside Congress party headquarters in Delhi https://t.co/iI1ytpiGbD

Rahul Gandhi, if his interview with Hindustan Times is any indication, comes across as a democratic liberal but is averse to being ideologically bracketed.  His self-description of being a pragmatist was that of one who’s willing to take the best out of all books: left, right and centre. The Gandhi family scion, who is president now of the Congress party, spoke on a slew of issues: his plans to reorganise and revive the Congress while keeping intact the Opposition unity, his understanding of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh agenda and what he called the Bharatiya Janata Party’s decisions under Narendra Modi that “divide the country”. Read between the lines, his remarks on his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s role in the Congress were indicative of the duo playing “mixed doubles” in the long haul, to recoup the party’s lost ground not just in UP but also in West Bengal, Bihar and Tamil Nadu.  “As a general secretary of the party, she has, by definition, a national role. . . .  I’m reorienting the party towards successful completion of jobs.  I give a job and then I give another job based on the success of that job. ”Gandhi recognised that the BJP had to be countered in tandem with other parties, but he was clear that the Congress cannot abandon pushing for its ideological space while cooperating with regionally dominant non-BJP forces.  Towards that end, he expected Priyanka and Jyotiraditya Scindia, given charge of eastern and western UP, to lay the structure for the party’s revival in the key state. Gandhi seems more resolute now in his rejection of the Prime Minister appropriating all power: “I believe fundamentally in India. . . .  everybody here, from the biggest industrialist to the weakest person, has a role to play.  The most important thing is that the leadership in this country should make them feel and believe this. ”The template of tolerance, equity and accommodation he proffered by walking across and giving Modi a hug in the Lok Sabha, was the leitmotif in his formulations to tackle the agrarian crisis, joblessness and social upheavals on divisive issues.  The line he drew was against hatred and violence.  “That’s my main issue with the RSS - you are spreading hatred and violence, you are creating an atmosphere that is weakening India.  I will fight you for it. ”At the same time, Gandhi wasn’t apologetic about his rounds of temples, widely seen as the Congress’s bid to counter the BJP-RSS on the majoritarian pitch that they’ve curated for themselves.  He rubbished the description of it as a Right-wing recipe of soft Hindutva: “Soft Hindutva. . .  Where did you get the idea?  If you asked Buddha or you asked Mahaveer or you asked Guru Nanak, or any of the great people of this country to go to a temple - do you think they would decline?  Guru Nanak went to Mecca. ”The grounds on which Gandhi targeted Modi weren’t dissimilar to the reasons he cited for his rejection of the RSS agenda.  He showcased his recently-mooted “minimum guaranteed income” for the weaker sections as an antidote to the social unrest - rooted in farmers’ distress and unemployment. Painting the BJP as a party in which the PM embodied all hierarchy, Gandhi rationalised the Opposition’s unity as a bulwark against the BJP and the RSS’s bid to undermine institutions.  He said the fear of Modi was keeping divisions within the BJP, over his leadership style that left space for no other party colleague, from spilling into the open: “The entire party is waiting for the day they can push him aside.  That day isn’t far away. ”Read more| Exclusive: Modi nothing like Indira, comparisons are an insult, says Rahul Gandhi


Uttar Pradesh government has decided that offices and markets in the state will remain closed on weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

https://t.co/K81NVel3Lq

In a major decision, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided that offices and markets in the state will remain closed on weekends (Saturday and Sunday).  The decision to close markets was taken by chief minister Yogi Adityanath to check the spread of the coronavirus disease.  Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Awanish K Awasthi said that banks and other industrial units will not close down. He also said that production in factories, movement of goods and vehicles carrying essential commodities will be permitted.  “Other economic activities will continue,” Awasthi said. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage“There will be complete restrictions on social activities in the weekends, the health and other government departments will carry out sanitisation, screening and cleanliness drives,” the top state officials said. The government and private offices will work for five days in the week, he added. A state government official said that the policemen have been directed to take strict action against those violating the orders. The state has already imposed a 55-hour mini lockdown till Monday, where except for essential and some other services, everything else is closed.  The curbs will lift at 5 am on Monday. Uttar Pradesh has been witnessing a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases.  On Saturday, the state recorded 1,403 cases, up from a high of 1,347 a day before. The state has recorded 35,092 Covid-19 positive cases so far, according to the Union health ministry.


BREAKING: Joe Biden will win the state of Michigan, @ABC News projects, flipping a crucial Midwestern state. https://t.co/i4uTCV10Me #Election2020 https://t.co/HqsVdew4D2

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Mahtani, Melissa Macaya, Jessica Estepa, Veronica Rocha and Fernando Alfonso III, CNNOur live coverage has moved.  Go here for the latest results and news from the election. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads the race for the White House with 253 electoral votes.  President Trump has 213 electoral votes. It's still too close to call in six states: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Based on CNN's latest projections, this is where the race to 270 currently stands:CNN projects Biden will win at least three of Maine's four electoral votes, plus Wisconsin, Michigan, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Virginia, California, Oregon, Washington state, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Delaware, Washington, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts and one of Nebraska's five electoral votes.  Nebraska and Maine award two electoral votes to their statewide winners and divide their other electoral votes by congressional districts. CNN projects Trump will win Montana, Texas, Iowa, Idaho, Ohio, Mississippi, Wyoming, Missouri, Kansas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee and four of Nebraska's five electoral votes. Reminder: Each candidate needs 270 electoral college votes to win the presidency. From CNN's Nick ValenciaGeorgia’s largest county has about 10,000 absentee ballots left to count, Fulton County elections director Richard Barron told CNN early Thursday morning.   The county has decided to continue counting through the night and has been tabulating votes at a rate of about 3,000 per hour.  Fulton County is home to Atlanta and Democratic stronghold. The county has tabulated all in-person votes and is now counting only absentee votes.  The only remaining votes would be provisional and overseas military ballots.   From CNN's Ryan NoblesWhile there is no question Republicans are gearing up and prepared to engage in a series of legal challenges, their true hope is tied to the vote totals in the key states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.  Republicans both inside and outside the campaign understand that is where their most realistic path to victory lies and the lawsuits and recount requests serve as more of a Hail Mary to an election that may already be too far gone.   Still, the GOP remains bullish on their chances of winning the actual vote count.  They started sounding the alarm bells on Arizona being a Trump state early on after networks began declaring the race for Biden and continue to warn reporters that the trend lines are in Trump’s favor.  If Arizona flips, they believe the race is within the President’s grasp. Many Republicans hope they will be able to make the case the President won the election from a position of having an electoral college lead, as opposed to hoping to flip results through court challenges.  One Republican operative expressed frustration over the characters the campaign was rolling out to present their legal arguments, suggesting it wasn’t doing the President any favors.   “I can’t understand how Rudy keeps popping up,” the operative said referring to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The race for the White House is still too close to call as contests tighten in the battleground states of Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Maricopa County, the most populous county in Arizona, has just released the second of two sets of new votes promised Wednesday night – shrinking Joe Biden's lead in the county by just over 10,000 votes.  Updated vote totals released by Maricopa County after 2:30 a. m.  Thursday show Biden with 912,585 votes and Trump with 838,071. Previously, Maricopa was reporting 887,457 votes for Biden and 802,160 for Trump.  Biden currently has 1,469,341 votes statewide, and Trump has 1,400,951.  (Follow the race in Arizona here. )The release came as Maricopa County officials were forced to close the Phoenix election office building to the public due to growing pro-Trump protests outside. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leads the race for the presidency with 253 electoral votes.  President Trump has 213 electoral votes. It's still too close to call in six states: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Based on CNN's latest projections, this is where the race to 270 currently stands. Reminder: Each candidate needs 270 electoral college votes to win the presidency. From CNN's Katelyn PolantzPresident Trump's team launched a series of lawsuits in key battleground states that seemed less about sound legal reasoning and more about slowing Joe Biden from marching over the electoral vote threshold.  At times, the lawsuits have contested ballots in the double digits — hundreds if not thousands of votes away of potentially swing any state's result. "I think much of the litigation is a longshot and unlikely to succeed," said Franita Tolson, a law professor at USC Gould School of Law and CNN contributor.  She pointed to a lawsuit in Georgia the Trump campaign announced Wednesday night over a poll worker mixing unprocessed and processed absentee ballots.  That might have the potential to affect few votes, she said.  "I suspect that a big goal of this litigation is, in the short term, to change the narrative" from a potential Biden win to a conversation about election mismanagement or even fraud, Tolson said. Another law professor and CNN contributor, Rick Hasen, said the lawsuits appeared to be more public relations than serious litigation.  "These lawsuits so far are not tackling any major problem that would seem to call overall vote totals into questions," he said. Justin Levitt, another elections expert and law professor, called some of the suits, like in Michigan, "laughable. " "One says you didn't put people by absentee dropboxes, so stop the count.  Huh? ! "Even a Republican-appointed federal judge in Pennsylvania cast doubt on the validity of a suit from Republicans on Wednesday, when they challenged fewer than 100 ballots that absentee voters corrected in a county outside Philadelphia.  At a hearing Wednesday morning, the judge, Timothy Savage, did not rule, yet he suggested the lawyer for Republican canvass observers was seeking to disenfranchise votes.  He noted the lawsuit appeared to have other problems in its arguments.  Some legal challenges in Pennsylvania from the Trump campaign were quickly dismissed on Election Day, with Trump touting his appeals of those losses apparently as new cases Wednesday.  For instance, a Philadelphia election day judge had shot down a Trump campaign case over ballot processing access, writing that "observers are directed only to observe and not to audit ballots" and deciding that the city's board of elections complied with the law.  Another Election Day challenge from the Trump campaign to the ballot observation process in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, also near Philly, was dismissed by a judge, though Trump is now appealing, according to Pennsylvania court records. Lawyers for the Trump campaign sued in Nevada on Tuesday, too, claiming that their observers were not given enough access to all aspects of the ballot counting process — from opening the ballots, to machine and manual signature checking and duplicating spoiled ballots.  A Nevada judge denied the GOP challenge to the early voting process in the heavily Democratic county. “If this last-minute suit were successful, it would require a major change in how [Nevada] processed absentee [ballots] to determine if the signature on the ballot matched the voter’s prior signature on file,” said Richard Pildes, a constitutional law professor at New York University and CNN election law analyst.  “Courts are typically unwilling to let plaintiffs come in the door so late in the day and ask for major changes to a process that’s already well underway. ”However, one suit, the petition before the US Supreme Court on Pennsylvania's ballot deadline, may be a more serious litigation challenge.  It challenges the validity of potentially several thousand votes cast in good faith by voters, but received by officials after the election through the mail.  For this case to make a difference, Pennsylvania would need to be the deciding state for the election, and the margin of difference between Trump and Biden would need to be a few tens of thousands of votes. CNN's Maeve Reston and Stephen Collinson contributed to this report. From CNN's Josiah Ryan Nevada is ready to rebuff any legal challenges the Trump campaign brings against the state's election results, the state's Democratic attorney general Aaron Ford said late this evening.  "We feel quite invulnerable, if you take a look at the track record we've already established against Mr.  Trump," said Ford when asked by CNN's Chris Cuomo how invulnerable to legal attack he felt. "[Trump] sued us twice, maybe three times, already," he said.  "Each time my office has been able to work with our local district attorney . . .  and defeat those lawsuits. "Late last month, for example, the Trump campaign along with Nevada Republicans sued in state court to halt the count of some mail-in ballots over stringency of signature-matching computer software and how closely observers can watch votes being counted.  A Nevada judge rejected that lawsuit on Monday, with less than 24 hours before Election Day. "We actually have safeguards to prevent fraud, such as signature verification and unique barcodes, that are also part and parcel of the process here," Ford told Cuomo.  "We think it's pretty impenetrable when it comes to legal challenge against us. "Watch the interview:From CNN's Kristen HolmesNew numbers on Philadelphia mail-in ballots are expected overnight, according to a state official.  Philadelphia County still has 120,000 mail-in ballots to count, according to the state’s website. 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1,442 new #COVID19 cases and 22 deaths reported in Madhya Pradesh today. The total number of cases now at 60,875 including 13,117 active cases, 46,413 recoveries and 1,345 deaths: State Health Department https://t.co/Pj1BgAvUUU

The number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in India jumped by 3,900, a fresh record for new cases, that pushed the tally of confirmed infections across the country to 46,433, according to the Union health ministry on Tuesday.  The number of fatalities stood at 1,568 after 195 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.  At the same time, 1,020 people also recovered from the deadly respiratory disease, the Union ministry’s Covid-19 dashboard showed at 8am. There are 12,726 people who have been cured or discharged from hospitals so far. The jump in new cases and deaths came a day after curbs were eased significantly for the first time since the nationwide lockdown was clamped on March 25 to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Globally, more than 3. 5 million have been infected and 251,510 people have died due to Covid-19, according to the dashboard by Johns Hopkins University.


‘Insulted us a lot’: BPF hits out at Assam BJP leader, day after leaving NDA

https://t.co/DitIMCXA3n https://t.co/djBySkhRGl

Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leader Pramila Rani Brahma on Sunday sought to explain why the party left Assam’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition ahead of assembly elections in the northeastern state, accusing state BJP leader and former Speaker Ranjit Das of ‘insulting us a lot. ’Also Read | Assam Assembly polls: Bodoland Peoples' Front joins Congress-led coalition“BJP’s Ranjit Das has insulted us a lot.  In the next elections, we will not be with the BJP.  We have now decided to go with the Congress-led alliance,” Brahma told news agency ANI, a day after BPF Hagrama Mohilary announced his decision to leave the NDA and join the Congress-led ‘Mahajath’ or grand alliance. BJP's Ranjit Das has insulted us a lot.  In the next elections, we will not be with the BJP.  We have now decided to go with Congress-led alliance: Pramila Rani Brahma, Bodoland People's Front (BPF) leader pic. twitter. com/vWxK7w42Jg“To work for Peace, Unity and Development, the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has decided to join hands with MAHAJATH in the forthcoming Assam Assembly Election.  We shall no longer maintain friendship or alliance with the BJP,” Mohilary tweeted on Saturday. To work for Peace, Unity and Development the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has decided to join hands with MAHAJATH in the forthcoming Assam Assembly Election.  We shall no longer maintain friendship or alliance with BJP. The ‘Mahajath’ comprises of the Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, and the Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM).  Tejashwi Yadav of Bihar’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has announced that his party, too, will join the alliance. Assam will vote in three phases, on March 27, April 1 and April 6.  Counting of votes and declaration of results is scheduled to take place on May 2.  Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi will arrive here on Monday to campaign for the party’s candidates. Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to campaign in poll-bound Assam from March 1In the 2016 assembly elections, the NDA won 86 of Assam’s 126 constituencies, thus coming to power with a simple majority.  Of these, the BJP won 60 of the 84 seats it contested on, while the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BDF won 14 and 12 seats respectively.  The BJP formed its maiden government in Assam, with Sarbananda Sonowal becoming the chief minister. The then-ruling Congress, under party stalwart Tarun Gogoi, who passed away last year, saw its tally reduce drastically to 26, from 78 in 2011.


Video shows car topples in Cyclone Fani, Orissa

Two videos from 2016 showing strong winds toppling cars in Chennai, Tamil Nadu during the Cyclone Vardah is being shared with a false claim that it is Cyclone Fani which hit Odisha on Friday.  The first video shot in an apartment complex, shows cars parked and one of them being toppled by the strong wind.  The second is a continuation of the first video and shows a second car being toppled and hitting the first car.  Twitter user Rajesh Saini  tweeted the first video which is 42 seconds long.    At the time of writing the story, the video had been retweeted 353 times and liked 551 times.  The official handle of wire agency IANS, tweeted the second video showing a silver grey car toppling over and hitting the red car from the first video.  IANS deleted the tweet after Twitter users pointed out the video was from Cyclone Vardah which hit Tamil Nadu in 2016 Click here for an archived version.  BOOM broke both the videos into key frames using InVid a video an image verification tool and ran a reverse image search using the key frames.  The key frames showed images and video results from 2016 with most of them captioned as 'Car toppled in Cyclone Vardah,  Chennai, Tamil Nadu' Many YouTube users had uploaded the second video and English news daily Times of India had also published the second video of a silver gray car with the caption 'A car turned turtle due to strong winds and rains that have hit various parts of coastal Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh'.  Read about it here BOOM looked at the video carefully and found that the video was a continuation of the first video showing a red car toppling and being blown away due to the strong winds.  BOOM placed the videos side by side and found similarities that proved they were shot on the same day at the same place.  While one has been shot from the eye level, the other has been shot from the first or second floor of the building.  In the image on the left is a screenshot from the video showing the red car being toppled and on the right is a screenshot from the video showing the silver gray car toppling.  BOOM looked at the two images closely and found that Video 2 has been shot after the Video 1 ends.  In Video 1, the red car topples while in Video 2, the red car is already toppled.   BOOM also noticed that the two cars parked besides the toppled cars were the same.  In the Image 1, two cars - one blue and one orange can be seen parked on the left, in Image 2 the same two cars can be seen parked in the same place before the silver grey car topples.


So sorry to see the desecration of the Gandhi statue in Washington, DC. Please accept our sincere apologies: Ken Juster, U.S. Ambassador to India (file pic) https://t.co/GxoSEQzCeN https://t.co/weyy9Ur7oK

Unknown miscreants have vandalised a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Indian embassy in the US with graffiti and spray painting, prompting the mission officials to register a complaint with the local law enforcement agencies. The incident is reported to have taken place on the intervening night of June 2 and 3 in Washington DC. The Indian embassy has informed the State Department and registered a complaint with local law enforcement agencies, which are now conducting an investigation into the incident. On Wednesday, a team of officials from Metropolitan Police in consultation with the Diplomatic Security Service and National Park Police visited the site and are conducting inquiries. Efforts are on to clean up the site at the earliest. Vandalism of the statue of the apostle of peace comes during the week of nationwide protests against the custodial killing of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Several of these protests have turned violent which many times has resulted in damage of some of the most prestigious and sacred American monuments. In Washington DC, protestors this week burnt a historic church and damaged some of the prime properties and historic places like the national monument and Lincoln Memorial. One of the few statues of a foreign leader on a federal land in Washington DC, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was dedicated by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in the presence of the then US president Bill Clinton on September 16, 2000 during his state visit to the US. In October 1998, the US Congress had authorised the government of India to establish and maintain a memorial “to honour Mahatma Gandhi on Federal land in the District of Columbia. ” According to the Indian Embassy website, the sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi is cast in bronze as a statue to a height of 8 feet 8 inches.  It shows Gandhi in stride, as a leader and man of action evoking memories of his 1930 protest march against salt-tax, and the many padyatras (long marches) he undertook throughout the length and breadth of the Indian sub-continent. The statue, the design of which was created by Gautam Pal, is a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).  The pedestal for the statue of Mahatma Gandhi is a block of new Imperial Red also known as Ruby Red a block originally weighing 25 tonnes reduced to a size of 9’x7’x3’4”.  It now weighs 16 tonnes.


Doubling RT-PCR tests to mobile testing vans: Amit Shah announces steps to curb Covid-19 surge in Delhi

https://t.co/DXJGEtyH7V https://t.co/HegcvrANLJ

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday announced a number of measures to bring Delhi’s coronavirus situation under control.  The measures announced by Shah include, among others, doubling of RT-PCR tests and deployment of mobile testing vans belonging to the Union health ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in vulnerable places in the national capital. “Chaired a meeting to review the surge in Delhi’s Covid-19 cases and take stock of medical infrastructure here.  In May, the Modi government took a series of steps with the Delhi government to save the people from the virus.  We all witnessed the positive results,” Shah tweeted on Sunday.  दिल्‍ली के अंदर कोविड-19 के बढ़ते मामलों और यहां मेडिकल इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर की समीक्षा करने के लिए आज एक उच्च स्तरीय बैठक की।मई 2020 में मोदी सरकार ने दिल्ली की जनता को कोरोना से बचाने के लिए दिल्ली सरकार के साथ विभिन्न कदम उठाये थे जिनके सकारात्मक नतीजे सभी को देखने को मिले थे। pic. twitter. com/iTOW18kATdThe various measures announced by the home minister are as follows:-RT-PCR testing to be doubled in Delhi-Mobile testing vans of the Union health ministry and ICMR to be deployed at vulnerable places-Capacity of hospitals in Delhi and availabitiy of medical infrastructure to be improved.  With regards to this, 250-300 more beds to be provided at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Covid-19 facility in Dhaula Kuan-To increase the availability of beds with oxygen facilities, 10,000-bed Chhatarpur Covid centre to be further strengthened-For treatment of patients showing mild Covid-19 symptoms, some hospitals of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be converted into dedicated Covid-19 hospitals-A dedicated multi-department team will visit every private hospital in Delhi to give clear information on the availability of hospital beds-Previously established containment measures, like marking of containment zones, contact tracing, quarantine and screening, to be reviewed-To deal with the shortage of healthcare staff in Delhi, extra doctors and paramedical staff from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to be airlifted to Delhi. -Special emphasis to be given to Covid-19 patients staying in home isolation and immediately shifting them to hospital if required-Protocol to be prepared for plasma donation in cases which are especially serious-Centre will provide Delhi government with oxygen cylinders, High Flow Nasal Cannula and other equipment to save as many lives as possible in Delhi-A solid dialogue strategy should be prepared to educate people on Covid-19 behaviour and its negative impact on medical and health norms in the long run


A video is viral where few man in army uniform are dancing to music claimed as IAF Pilot Abhinandan is dancing with Pakistani Soldiers.  The man claimed as Abhinandan is in different uniform than others.  5589 Shares of a post by We Stand Against War Between India and Pakistan      Viral on Facebook –     Viral on WhatsApp –  The man claimed as Abhinandan is one Pakistani Air Force  Pilot.  You can see their faces don’t match.  The man in the video (Left is semi-bald and doesn’t have mustache like Abhinandan (right)  Plus the man in the video is having Flag of Pakistan on his shoulder on Uniform  The video was posted on Internet on 5 days or earlier A Facebook Page named Dugdugee posted this on Sunday while Abhinandan entered Pakistani after Sunday.  “Dear all, in the heat of battle discussions, lets enjoy some joyous moments of our PAF Officers & Soldiers!  #AbBajayGi #Dugdugee #PakistanAirForce #PakArmy #HeatOfBattle #PakIndiaWar #PakistanSoldiers #PAF”    ISI is spreading this video claiming IAF WinCo #Abhinandan is dancing with PAK troops Just to show the world how Positivley he treats Indian Defence Personal@rohini_sgh @sakshijoshii @MinakshiKandwal @ashu3page @KumarKunalmedia @aajtakjitendra pic. twitter. com/LGR1xA45sk — Neelesh Purohit (@aapkaneelesh) March 1, 2019  #Abhinandan  dancing with the Army  And aiR force in Pakistan#Abhinandan #PakistanArmyZindabad #india #NowOrNever #NoToWar #Brotherhood pic. twitter. com/fFeDpXZKTK — Jahangir DaR (@Jahangir_dAar) March 1, 2019  Indian Pilot Abhinandan Dancing & Having Good Time With Pakistani Army.  Something To Be Cherished In These Hard Times When War Mongering And Hatred Is On Rise.  @sajadlone @OmarAbdullah #indiapakistantensions #IndiaFreesAbhinandan https://t. co/yG9YtaMl8y — Mansoor Banday (@MansoorBanday) March 1, 2019
https://twitter. com/sajjadkargili/status/1101397852016730112 AIF Pilot Abhinandan dancing with Pak Air Forces & Army in Pakistan @chzulfkarali @narendramodi @BJP4JnK @PTVNewsOfficial @ZeeNews @abpnewstv @GulistanNews2 @JKPC_ @jkpdp @MehboobaMufti @OmarAbdullah @shahfaesal @NituSha63744808 @khabir123 @owais_ias @KangriCarrier No WAR, No WAR pic. twitter. com/E0YYh4705S — Umer A Malik (@JournalistUmer) March 1, 2019  @AltNews please check the authenticity. .  #Abhinandan dancing with the Army and Air Force in Pakistan.  pic. twitter. com/T8JvgCgcUs — Adv Arvindkumar  Dwivedi (@arvind_dwivedi1) March 1, 2019  BREAKING Abhinandan dancing with the Army and Air Force in Pakistan #NobelPeacePrizeForImranKhan #PakistanAirForce #NoWar #Abhinandan #IndianAirForce #India pic. twitter. com/x9Pba6zh6L — Akhtar (@Q_Akhtar) March 1, 2019  @AltNews please check the authenticity. .  #Abhinandan dancing with the Army and Air Force in Pakistan.  pic. twitter. com/T8JvgCgcUs — Adv Arvindkumar  Dwivedi (@arvind_dwivedi1) March 1, 2019


#WATCH Delhi: Scuffle breaks out between AAP and Congress workers near Majnu ka Teela, Congress candidate Alka Lamba tries to slap an AAP worker. AAP leader Sanjay Singh has said the party will complain to Election Commission. #DelhiElections2020 (note: abusive language) https://t.co/l5VriLUTkF

A scuffle broke out between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress workers outside a polling booth in Majnu ka Teela in north Delhi.  Congress candidate Alka Lamba tried to slap an AAP worker after he tried to interrupt her during a media interaction. Lamba is Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk constituency and is up against Prahlad Singh Sahni of AAP and BJP’s Suman Gupta. Delhi Assembly Elections: Track Live UpdatesA video recording shows Lamba speaking to mediapersons outside a polling booth, and an AAP volunteer interrupting her.  The Congress candidate tried to ignore the young man, but he continued speaking.  Miffed, Lamba immediately rushed towards him and tried to slap him but missed. WATCH | Congress’ Alka Lamba tries to slap AAP worker outside polling boothShe said the volunteer made objectionable comments about her son. The policeman present outsude the polling booth intervened, surrounded the AAP volunteer and took him away from the spot.  But Lamba followed and demanded an FIR be registered against him. The police, however, said no compliant was registered as the issue was resolved.  “The AAP volunteer was apparently protesting that Lamba was giving byte to media,” said Additional DCP, North, Dinesh Kumar Gupta. Kumar Vishvas, who stepped away from the Aam Aadmi Party that he had co-founded after a bitter parting with Arvind Kejriwal, tweeted in support of Lamba.  “By making indecent remark against his former colleague and MLA and her son, the volunteer has shown his master’s true colours.  Alka Lamba is a warrior, her victory is her self respect,” Vishwas said on Twitter in Hindi.  अपनी पूर्व साथी और विधायक पर अश्लील टिप्पणी करके व उसके बेटे के बारे में निहायत ग़लीज़ बात कहकर आत्ममुग्ध बौने के पालित चिंटू ने अपने आका की ही औक़ात दिखाई है !  @LambaAlka योद्धा है !  उसकी विजय उसका स्वाभिमान है !  👍Lamba, 44, who is seeking a re-election from Chandni Chowk for the Congress, was Delhi university Students’ Union (DUSU) president at the age of 19 in 1995-96 as a NSUI candidate. Lamba was in news when she joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2014 after spending 20 years with the Congress.  But she snapped ties with Kejriwal’s party after disagreements.  She was elected as an MLA from Chandni Chowk on an AAP ticket in 2015.  She has a BSc degree in Chemistry from DU’s Dyal Singh College.  She had later joined Bundelkhand University in Uttar Pradesh. Her successor to the DUSU top post, Rekha Gupta, said people in her constituency still know her as a “DU leader”.


Pensacola, Florida, has already gotten 2 feet of rain from #HurricaneSally. Here's what it looks like on the ground. https://t.co/UTncRNzvAr https://t.co/Gi5l1rbJy7

Torrential rain is falling at 4 inches per hour in parts of Alabama and Florida. Hurricane Sally makes landfall on Gulf Coast, downgraded to tropical stormSally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a dangerous  Category 2 hurricane Wednesday morning, and is slamming the Gulf Coast with torrential rain and catastrophic flooding. Sally, now a tropical depression, is crawling north-northeast at 9 mph, near Dothan, Alabama. Even though Sally is weakening in terms of wind speed, the torrential rain is extremely dangerous, especially in eastern Alabama and western Georgia. Parts of western Florida and the southeastern Alabama coast are under flash flood emergencies through the evening.  Roughly 544,598 customers have lost power in Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama. Officials in Baldwin County, Alabama, reported "major to catastrophic flooding," urging residents to stay off the roads. The water is continuing to rise and crews are conducting search-and-rescue efforts at homes where residents are trapped, said Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, spokesperson for Baldwin County Emergency Management. Some people have been airlifted from shelters, Botop said. At least 90% of the county is without power, she added. In Florida's Walton County, a man was running out of oxygen when waist-deep floodwaters filled his home.  Deputies and a good Samaritan helped him evacuate. In Florida's Santa Rosa County, officials reported downed trees and power lines and said emergency crews were "only responding to high water calls due to the high wind and the excessive rain. "Escambia County, Florida, is facing massive flooding due to the historic rainfall, local officials said.  Water rescue operations are ongoing there as residents in about 300 homes did not evacuate, officials said.  Escambia County Public Safety Director Jason Rogers said 200 National Guardsmen are expected to arrive Thursday. In Pensacola, located in Escambia County, where wind gusts reached 92 mph, the flooding is extremely dangerous. Downtown Pensacola was submerged under 3 to 4 feet of rain Wednesday morning. Nearly 25 inches of rainfall hit Pensacola while storm surge in the area climbed to 5. 5 feet. "Flooded roadways and intersections, along with hazardous debris in roadways (locations), have become too numerous to list," the Pensacola Police Department said.  "Please stay off the roadways now. "Sally even destroyed a Pensacola bridge; local authorities posted this photo showing the missing section. Pensacola Mayor Grover C.  Robinson told ABC News Live that winds made it difficult for crews to inspect the damage.  He urged residents not to go out. "One of the biggest problems that our police department had today was getting cars that would drive into running water and get stuck.  So it wasn't people trying to evacuate during the middle of the storm it was the people, sightseers, who wanted to get out after the storm," he said.  "So right now, if you could stay home, wait for us to get through and then we can get out there and see everything. "Robinson also noted that the city has an issue with shelters, due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We used to pack a lot of people into a shelter.  We can't do that with COVID," he said. Florida Gov.  Ron DeSantis said during a news conference Wednesday evening that there were no credible reports of fatalities in Florida. "Be mindful of the rivers rising.  Remain vigilant," he said. The storm forced some Alabama first responders to stay indoors -- the Orange Beach Police Department said it could no longer respond to calls. "Present conditions are preventing us from answering calls at this time.  Please take all measures to be as safe as possible," the department tweeted.  "If you have the option to move to higher ground do so now. "As of Wednesday evening, power outages were impacting more than 287,000 customers in Alabama, 252,000 customers in Florida, 3,100 customers in Georgia and 739 customers in Mississippi. Sally will likely become a tropical depression as it moves north Thursday night.  Flash flood emergencies and tornado watches remain in effect across portions of the Florida panhandle into southwest Georgia.  This watch includes cities such as Tallahassee and Valdosta. The storm will bring heavy rain and possible flash flooding to Georgia and the Carolinas from Thursday through Friday. Up to 1 foot of rain is possible across southern Alabama, central Alabama and the Atlanta area. Sally is the eighth continental U. S.  named storm to make landfall in 2020.  The other named storms to make landfall in 2020 so far have been: Bertha, Cristobal, Fay, Hanna, Isaias, Laura and Marco. Sally's landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama, comes 16 years to the day after Hurricane Ivan made landfall in Gulf Shores as a Category 3 storm. ABC News' Max Golembo, Melissa Griffin, Haley Yamada, Rachel Katz and Dan Manzo contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Today, we have 'Made in India' vaccines for our country and for the world. COVID19 vaccination is being done for free at government hospitals and at the cost of Rs 250 at private hospitals. I have also taken the first dose of the COVID vaccine: Prime Minister Narendra Modi https://t.co/hV6yShklPa

With the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination done for the Indian players who are set to travel to England for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the five-match Test series against England, the second dose will be administered by the UK health department. Speaking to ANI, sources in the know of developments said the Indian players will receive the second dose under the guidance of the UK health department. "The team has already taken the first dose here after the government opened the vaccination process for all above 18.  The second dose will be administered by the UK health department once the players are eligible to get the second jab as per rules," the source said. The BCCI made a foolproof plan for the national team before they depart for the UK and arrangements were made for all the players to undergo three RT-PCR tests before assembling in Mumbai on Wednesday. After completing the two-week quarantine in Mumbai, the team will undergo another 10-day quarantine in the UK.  The second period will see them first undergo a hard quarantine before they take the field to train for the WTC final against New Zealand in Southampton.


Check out the most eye-catching looks from the #Oscars red carpet https://t.co/7OPAyZdTOu https://t.co/p8GiQDdQzR

There was glitz, glamour and so much more! Gaga, J. Lo, Glenn Close: Here's our round up of the best red carpet looks of the 2019 OscarsThe 2019 Oscars are officially here, and the red carpet is full of celebrities who have waited for this moment to bring their fashion A-game. We've rounded up some of our favorite looks of the night. Lady GagaConstance WuAngela BassettBilly PorterDiane WarrenStephen JamesRegina KingAshley GrahamAmandla StenbergSpike LeeYalitza AparicioCharlize TheronAdam LambertMelissa McCarthyEmilie ClarkeAwkwafinaGlenn CloseJennifer HudsonMichelle YeohHelen MirrenEmma StoneMaya RudolphTina FeyBrie LarsonTessa ThompsonSarah Paulson24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


#MaladWallCollapse : The death toll in the incident rises to 26. A wall had collapsed on hutments in Pimpripada area of Malad East in Mumbai yesterday, due to heavy rainfall. (file pic) https://t.co/NZjTPnrudY

Thirty one people died and 79 others were injured in Mumbai on Tuesday as the heaviest single-day rainfall in 14 years pounded India’s financial capital, inundating its rail and road network, crippling air traffic, and battering its notoriously poor infrastructure in an amplified version of the city’s annual struggle with rain.  Between Monday and Tuesday mornings, the coastal city recorded 375. 2 mm of rain, the second-highest 24-hour rainfall in July since 1975 that forced the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to admit that it had got the forecast wrong.  The highest rainfall, 944mm, fell on July 26, 2005, when more than 1,000 people died in a deluge that is ominously referred to as “26/7”.  The torrential showers brought the wall of a government-owned reservoir crashing on slums built on a hill slope in the suburb of Malad late on Monday night, killing 22 people.  Two people suffocated to death inside their car that got stranded in a flooded subway, also in Malad.  A security guard died in Mulund after the wall of a neighbouring building collapsed on him in the middle of the night.  Another wall collapse in Kalyan killed three.  Three people were electrocuted to death because of short-circuits on Tuesday morning.  With weathermen saying the downpour will not let up in the next two days, local authorities called in the Navy, who deployed rubber boats to rescue about 1,600 people in low-lying areas of the city.  Municipal authorities also evacuated 100 families in Chandivali after a 300-metre-long stretch of a road caved in.  The government declared a public holiday in the city and ordered schools shut, asking people to avoid stepping out of their houses.  “We need to remain alert for next two days,” said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The showers flooded railway tracks, forcing the city’s lifelines of Central and Harbour railway networks to shut down for 16 hours, disrupting the daily commutes of millions.  Visuals showed cars and buses submerged as people waded through waist- or chest-deep water.  Chaos reigned at the airport, where 133 flights were cancelled and another 350 delayed or diverted after a passenger jet skidded off its main runway and got stuck in the mud on Monday night.  Airport authorities announced that it may take 48 hours to haul the jet out of the mud, and restore normal operations.  “On Monday, we had issued rainfall warning of heavy to very heavy rain in some areas, but it was not anticipated that extremely heavy rain would occur,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, IMD.  “This happened due to a cloud patch over the Mumbai suburbs with maximum rain intensity over Santacruz that led to continuous extremely heavy showers for six hours straight. ”Across the city, water logging was reported at 53 spots, according to the civic officials.  “The disaster management helpline set up at the municipal corporation headquarters received 3593 complaints within 12 hours between 10 pm on Monday, and 10 am on Tuesday, regarding water logging, tree collapse incidents, and short circuits,” said additional municipal commissioner Ashwini Joshi. Flooding has become an annual fixture in Mumbai during the monsoon as reckless construction and garbage-clogged drains and waterways make the city increasingly vulnerable to heavy downpour.  A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), tabled in the assembly on Tuesday, also pointed out major deficiencies in the existing flood-risk management system.  The report pointed out that the state has not updated its disaster management plan since 2016, the capacity of city drains was adequate only for rainfall of 25mm per hour, and that numerous obstructions along with poor structural conditions were preventing drains from functioning properly. But the municipal authorities said work was being done on a war footing, and that little could be done in case of extremely heavy rainfall.  They claimed that water levels had started receding within an hour of work beginning on Tuesday with the help of 1,400 dewatering pumps stationed across the city.  The total water discharged from pumps into the sea stood at 13,694 million litres, nearly equal to the storage capacity of the Tulsi and Vihar lakes that provide drinking water to the city.  Joshi also claimed that six of the eight pumping stations, planned under an action plan put in place after the 2005 flooding, were operational on Tuesday.  Fadnavis announced a high-level probe into the Malad wall collapse and said that strict action will be taken against officials responsible for not only the collapse but also for other such accidents and the delayed cleaning of stormwater drains.  But the Opposition slammed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) – the country’s richest municipal body -- for alleged irregularities in the drain-cleaning work and delay in construction of pumping stations.  The Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) legislative party leader, Ajit Pawar, demanded a high-level probe into the BMC’s alleged misgovernance.  “If the need arises, please appoint an administrator for civic body by dissolving it,” he said. But the Shiv Sena, which controls BMC, defended the city authorities with party leader Sanjay Raut saying the wall collapse was an accident and not a failure of the civic body.  Aaditya Thackeray, chief of the party’s youth wing, said any city would “crumble” under 400mm rainfall.  The Sena also blamed the media in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana.  “During heavy rain, the 24x7 media rush to the usual low-lying spots and cry hoarse.  The media will never show how BMC workers work to remove the accumulated water during the monsoon,” the editorial said. Experts said the city’s new development plan (DP) 2034 made it clear that authorities had learnt no lessons from previous disasters.  “Most coastal cities maintain flood plains.  Mumbai’s DP does not even demarcate flood plains.  Instead of maintaining these as no go areas of mangroves, wetlands and salt pan lands, we have constructed on them and plan to open them further.  The BMC’s entire exercise of augmenting drains is an exercise in futility.  Augmenting capacity of drains will work in cities with higher elevation and not for Mumbai, a city below sea level,’’ said Stalin D, an environmentalist.


The 218 Indians who landed from Milan, Italy at Delhi airport will be shifted to Indo-Tibetan Border Police's Chhawla camp. #coronavirus https://t.co/ER6ylfLUCE

Sep 05, 2021-Sunday

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Coronavirus deaths in Britain jump by 14 to total 35Riyadh closes malls, restaurants, cafes and parks over coronavirusGermany to close borders with France, Austria, SwitzerlandHyderabad University suspends all academic activities until March 31Northern Italy warns of hospital bed shortage'Stop panic buying': British supermarkets' plea to shoppersCISF sets up open-air security station on Delhi airport tarmacNike shuts down all stores in US and western EuropeTrudeau says Canada not ruling out border closures to fight coronavirusDon't visit Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for 28 days after entering India: Board issues precautionary measuresOdisha teacher held for spreading misinformation about coronavirusPak raises Kashmir during SAARC meet, says 'restrictions should end in to deal with Covid-19'Spain reports 2,000 new coronavirus cases, more than 100 deaths in 24 hours: AFPFirst positive case of Coronavirus infection confirmed in UttarakhandBangladesh PM seeks continued dialogue between experts and officials on follow-up actions regarding COVID-19Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led a video conference with seven nations of Saarc to develop combined strategy for fighting covid-19.  The prime minister started the video conference, followed byAfghanistan president Ashraf Ghani's and Maldives president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.  Earlier in the morning, US President Donald Trump's tested negative for coronavirus, according to White House officials.  Though coronavirus deaths continue to rise in Chinese mainland, for the first time there were more infections reported from outside China, according to China's National Health Commission.  Spain has asked citizens to stay at home except to buy food, go to the pharmacy, to the hospital, or to work or for other emergencies, as the nation becomes the hardest-hit country following Italy where more than 1,200 people have died.  In India, 2 people died from covid-19. Coronavirus deaths in Britain jump by 14 to total 35The number of deaths of Britons with coronavirus jumped by 14 in the last 24 hours to 35, while the number of people diagnosed rose by 20% to 1,372, health authorities said on Sunday. The British government said earlier on Sunday it would step up its response to the crisis, including isolating older people "in the coming weeks". Riyadh closes malls, restaurants, cafes and parks over coronavirusSaudi Arabia's capital Riyadh ordered the closure of all malls, restaurants, coffee shops and public parks and gardens on Sunday in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus, the municipality said on Twitter. Supermarkets and pharmacies are exempted, and restaurants can continue external food deliveries, it added. Germany to close borders with France, Austria, SwitzerlandGulf shares dropped Sunday amid unprecedented shutdowns to ward off the spread of coronavirus, despite tens of billions of dollars in stimulus packages announced by oil-rich governments. The Saudi Tadawul market, the region's largest, dropped 1. 1 per cent despite the kingdom announcing a USD 13. 3 billion stimulus package to help the national economy cope with the effects of the virus and a low oil price. Hyderabad University suspends all academic activities until March 31In the wake of coronavirus scare, the University of Hyderabad on Sunday issued a notice announcing the suspension of all its academic activities, including classes and examinations, with immediate effect until March 31. "All students have been strongly advised to return to their homes and take adequate precautions as per guidelines issued by the authorities in their respective areas," University said in a statement. Northern Italy warns of hospital bed shortageNorthern Italian leaders warned Sunday that they were running out of beds and artificial respirators to help victims in the European epicentre of the novel coronavirus. Their pleas for help came as the Vatican took the drastic step of cancelling Easter week celebrations that were set to begin April 5. 'Stop panic buying': British supermarkets' plea to shoppersBritain's food retailers appealed to shoppers on Sunday to stop panic buying during the coronavirus outbreak, saying purchasing more than they need would mean others will be left without. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents supermarket groups, said retailers had come together to write to their customers, calling on them to be considerate in the way they shop. CISF sets up open-air security station on Delhi airport tarmacAn open-air security check facility was set up by the CISF on the tarmac at Delhi airport to screen passengers arriving from coronavirus-affected countries, officials said on Sunday. The security station is equipped with hand-held detectors, baggage screening x-ray machines and door-frame metal detectors to frisk passengers who are brought to the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on way to quarantine centres created in other cities. Nike shuts down all stores in US and western EuropeNike Inc.  is closing all retail stores in the US and Western Europe to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The closures, which also include Canada, Australia and New Zealand, will take effect Monday and last through at least March 27.  Nike will continue to pay employees during the shutdown, the company said. Trudeau says Canada not ruling out border closures to fight coronavirusCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday said he would not rule out closing the nation's borders or forcing people arriving from foreign nations to go into self-isolation to help combat a coronavirus outbreak. Asked specifically whether Canada might shut its borders to Europe or the United States, Trudeau told CTV: "We are not taking anything off the table. " So far 249 Canadians have tested positive and one person has died. Don't visit Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for 28 days after entering India: Board issues precautionary measuresAs coronavirus outbreak results in over 100 cases in India, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board on Sunday issued necessary precautionary measures.  "The Shrine Board has scaled up efforts to arrest the impact of Coronavirus in the Shrine Area.  As a preventive measure, the Shrine Board issued an advisory to the NRIs/ foreigners and other visitors not to visit the Shrine for 28 days after landing in India as a precautionary measure against Coronavirus," the release stated.  Odisha teacher held for spreading misinformation about coronavirusA government school teacher was arrested in Odishas Kalahandi district on Sunday for allegedly spreading misinformation about novel coronavirus, police said. Bindu Mahanand, who works in Dudkel primary school, had allegedly posted a message on WhatsApp claiming that an infected man had returned from Bengaluru and confined himself to his house at Khaliakani village in Golamunda block. Pak raises Kashmir during SAARC meet, says 'restrictions should end in to deal with Covid-19'Zafar Mirza, State Minister of Health of Pakistan, during Saarc meet said, "It is a matter of concern that covid-19 has been reported from Jammu and Kashmir and in view of health emergency, it is imperative that all lockdown in the territory must be lifted immediately," reported news agency ANI.  Spain reports 2,000 new coronavirus cases, more than 100 deaths in 24 hours: AFPSpain reports 2,000 new coronavirus cases, more than 100 deaths in 24 hours: AFPFirst positive case of Coronavirus infection confirmed in UttarakhandOne positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Uttarakhand from Dehradun on Sunday, said health officials. Dr.  Pankaj Singh, nodal officer for COVID-19 in the state said that the test results of one person with travel history to Spain came out to be positive. Bangladesh PM seeks continued dialogue between experts and officials on follow-up actions regarding COVID-19Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina calls for continued dialogue between experts and officials on follow-up actions regarding COVID-19, reports news agency PTI. First published: Mar 15, 2020 06:09 IST


Patna: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan sought blessings of his mother before leaving for LJP office for the releases of party's manifesto for the upcoming #BiharElections in Patna. (earlier visuals) https://t.co/JxKh7QM94u

Ram Vilas Paswan, a veteran politician and the founder of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) passed away last week.  His son and two-time Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan now has the task of facing an election immediately after this personal and political loss.  To be sure, Chirag’s moves had turned the upcoming Bihar assembly election into a bizarre spectacle even before his father’s death.  While opting out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the state level, citing its opposition to chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal (United), or JD(U),the LJP continues to be a part of the coalition government at the Centre.  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have attempted to scotch speculations of a BJP-LJP government easing out the JD(U) post-polls.  BJP leaders who have joined the LJP on the inducement of being fielded in the elections have also been warned of disciplinary action.  So, what explains the drastic and potentially risky tactic of the LJP in the state election? LJP has been facing growing marginalisation in Bihar politics The LJP had a shot at the chief minister’s post in Bihar in the first assembly election it contested in February 2005.  No alliance – the BJP and JD (U) were part of the NDA and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress were part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) – was able to win a majority in the election, which marked the beginning of a decline in the RJD’s political fortunes in Bihar.  Nitish Kumar offered the chief minister’s post to Ram Vilas Paswan whose party had 29 members in the new assembly.  Paswan however refused the offer, demanding that a Muslim be made the chief minister of the state.  There was no agreement. Also Read: Analysis| Will the migrant crisis impact the Bihar polls? When the next elections were held in Bihar in October 2005 , the NDA won a clear majority.  The LJP’s tally fell to 10 from 29.  The fall would continue.  The LJP won three assembly seats in 2010 and only two in the 2015 assembly elections.  The party’s 2010 and 2015 alliances, the former with RJD and the latter with the BJP, also saw the LJP becoming a marginal force, contesting fewer seats.  With both the BJP and JD (U) being a part of the NDA this time, the LJP would have got a smaller number of seats to contest this time too.  Does LJP really command the support of Dalits in the state?  LJP’s founder Ram Vilas Paswan was among the most prominent Dalit leaders in the country and perhaps the most important in Bihar.  Paswan’s individual stature notwithstanding, there is little evidence of widespread Dalit support for the party he founded.  The number of Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved assembly seats won by the LJP has been coming down.  It won four in February 2005, two in October 2005 and none in the 2010 and 2015 elections.  Even in terms of vote share in contested SC reserved seats, the LJP fares worse than the three major parties – BJP, JD (U) and RJD-- in the state.  SC reserved seats are a useful metric of a party’s support among Dalits because they have a greater share of the Dalit population.  Anecdotal evidence supports this theory.  Among the six members the LJP has in the Lok Sabha, three won from SC reserved seats, but they are from Paswan’s extended family.  At least two prominent BJP leaders in Bihar have joined the LJP in the last couple of days, both of them non-Dalits. Also Read| Bihar Assembly Election 2020: Highly educated professionals throw their hats in the ring Does the LJP enjoy pockets of dominance in Bihar?  There are only 11 assembly segments which the LJP has contested in every election since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.  A comparison before this period is not possible because the 2008 delimitation changed constituency boundaries.  While its Lok Sabha performance, when a part of the NDA, is better, the party did not win any of these segments in the 2009 Lok Sabha or the 2010 and 2015 assembly elections.  This suggests that the party does not really have pockets of dominance in the state.  Given these facts, it is clear that the LJP has taken a big risk in deciding to contest outside the NDA in the forthcoming elections.  Whether this gamble yields results will only be known after the results are declared on November 10.  If it does not, things could really get difficult for the party and Chirag Paswan.


AIIMS has released a list of respiratory symptoms of Covid-19 and similar diseases.

A message on Covid-19 symptoms has gone viral on WhatsApp and Facebook, attributing it to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.  The viral message lists out respiratory symptoms of Covid-19 and compares them with other diseases. Multiple Facebook users have posted the message, which purportedly lists out the differences in symptoms between Covid-19, flu and common cold. The viral message goes like this:*Please note the differences*(1) dry cough + sneeze = air pollution(2) cough + mucus + sneeze + runny nose = common cold(3) Cough + mucus + sneeze + runny nose + body ache + weakness + light fever = flu(4) Dry cough + sneeze + body pain + weakness + high fever + difficulty breathing = coronavirus Pathology department AIIMS, Delhi*Make this message available to as many people as possible! * India Today Anti-Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found this to be a misleading claim.  AIIMS has not released any such statement, comparing symptoms of different diseases.  The message, falsely attributed to AIIMS, also gives misleading information about Covid-19 symptoms. The archived versions of the posts can be seen here, here and here.  The post is viral on Facebook. AIIMS has a separate portal on Covid-19 and it had also released a basic advisory and guideline about the disease. AIIMS has identified some common symptoms of the disease, including “fever, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath”.  The guide also mentions that the indications of having Covid-19 are “similar to the symptoms of any viral infection, like the common cold, influenza”.  But nowhere does it compare the symptoms of different diseases. We found some similarities between the viral message and an article published on March 18 on the website of former Indian Medical Association president Dr KK Agarwal. A paragraph about coronavirus symptoms on the website reads, “Symptoms: fever, tiredness, and dry cough (most common); only cough (pollution), cough and cold (allergy), fever with sore throat in children (streptococcal), fever above 100. 4 with cough and cold (flu), fever with cough and breathlessness (corona like illness), cough > 2 weeks rule out TB.  No fever no flu no corona; No breathlessness no seriousness, no breathlessness no oxygen requirement no seriousness”. The symptoms mentioned in the viral post about Covid-19 are also misleading.  The World Health Organization (WHO) states, “COVID-19 affects different people in different ways.  Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization. ”There are also asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 where the patient never develops any symptom but carries the virus in the body.  A report published in “The Lancet” says, “According to data from the Indian Government, more than 80% of confirmed cases in India are asymptomatic, making the population vulnerable to community spread of the virus. ”But the viral post never mentions about asymptomatic cases.  Hence, the viral post about Covid-19 symptoms is not only misleading, but also falsely attributed to AIIMS. The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.


Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting today via video conference with UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, to review the #COVID19 situation in Delhi-NCR. https://t.co/ixRGmgcRaM

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that a joint team of the Centre and the Delhi government will inspect the national capital’s health systems amid the surge in Covid-19 cases. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage“A joint team of doctors of health department of government of India, Delhi health department, AIIMS and the three municipal corporations of Delhi will visit all Covid-19 hospitals in Delhi and inspect the health systems and preparedness to fight the disease and prepare a report,” Shah tweeted after a meeting to take stock of the situation in Delhi. Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and officials of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) attended the meeting. Also read: Door-to-door health survey, guidelines on last rites in Centre’s plan to help Delhi battle Covid-19Delhi’s Covid-19 tally now stands at 38,958 including 14,945 who have been cured/discharged.  The death toll in the national capital is 1,271. Shah also said that the Centre has convinced the Delhi government to procure all medical equipment to fight the pandemic. “The Government of India has fully convinced the Delhi Government to meet the necessary resources like oxygen cylinders, ventilators, pulse oxymeters and all other requirements to fight this epidemic,” he said in another tweet. The home minister said all decision taken at the meeting needs to be implemented. “In today’s meeting with all these major decisions, many more decisions were taken.  Along with this, the Health Department of the Central and Delhi Government, all the concerned departments and experts have been instructed to ensure that all the decisions made today are implemented,” Shah said. The Delhi expects Covid-19 cases to swell to 5. 5 lakh by July 31 if the city has to treat both its residents and outsiders seeking treatment.  Earlier, Shah said that the Centre has decided to send 500 railway coaches to the Delhi government to ensure that there is no shortage of beds to treat Covid-19 patients.


Rajya Sabha adjourned after protests over NCT Bill

https://t.co/eKGKbGNuwX https://t.co/kC6tyzTs5a

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday witnessed a series of adjournments amid protests by the Opposition over the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that seeks to give overarching powers over Delhi’s daily functioning to the Centre-appointed Lieutenant Governor.  Lok Sabha passed the bill on Monday.  No sooner had minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy moved the bill for consideration in the Upper House than the Opposition members began their protests, with some MPs walking down to the Well of the house.  Amid protests by angry members, the house witnessed four adjournments before it was finally adjourned for the day.  Soon after Reddy moved the bill, leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said it was a “dangerous bill” that sought to take away the rights of elected representatives.  The bill says the “government” in Delhi will mean the L-G in the context of all legislation passed by the city-state’s assembly.  Also, it makes it mandatory for the city government to seek the L-G’s opinion before any executive action.  Before the house was finally adjourned for the day, Parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi said the government and the Opposition had reached the consensus that the house will meet at 10 am on Wednesday.  He said the NCT bill would be taken up after a discussion on the Finance Bill on March 24, and there would be no Zero Hour, Question Hour or lunch break.


Nike promises to investigate why Duke star Zion Williamson's shoe fell apart resulting in injury. https://t.co/TNGCnljAww https://t.co/PHyqv3v6kV

                Everything you need to know about bitcoin, blockchain, NFTs and more

    Nike is playing damage control after Duke basketball phenom Zion Williamson tore his sneaker in a game Wednesday evening.

    Nike’s

                (NKE) stock was down more than 1% on Thursday.  Nike builds its reputation around creating premier shoes and clothes for athletes, but that image took a hit with Williamson’s sneaker snafu.

    Analysts attributed the stock move to Williamson, the presumptive top pick in this year’s NBA draft and the hottest prospect since LeBron James entered the draft from high school more than a decade ago.  Within the first minute of Duke’s blockbuster matchup against rival North Carolina on Wednesday, one of Williamson’s Nike PG2. 5 shoes split apart.

    Williamson left the game with a knee injury.  Former President Barack Obama was sitting courtside, and clips of Williamson breaking his shoe and Obama pointing to it immediately went viral.
  Zion's shoe: destroyed 😳 pic. twitter. com/LqQ2te0Jay
    Nike, which exclusively supplies Duke’s basketball team with uniforms, shoes and gear, quickly released a statement.

    “The quality and performance of our products are of utmost importance,” the company said.  “While this is an isolated occurrence, we are working to identify the issue. ”

    Endorsement deals with star athletes, including LeBron James and Serena Williams, and sponsorships with pro sports leagues and top college basketball and football teams are a crucial part of Nike’s growth strategy.

    Nike spent $11. 5 billion, nearly a third of its sales, on marketing and endorsement contracts last year.  Nike and its Jordan brand sponsored 85 men’s and women’s basketball teams in last year’s annual NCAA tournament.

    In its annual securities filing, Nike warned that “negative claims or publicity involving us” from key endorsers or sponsors can “seriously damage our reputation and brand image. ” It added another risk: “Social media, which accelerates and potentially amplifies the scope of negative publicity, can increase the challenges of responding to negative claims. ”

    Still, analysts don’t predict the Williamson incident to damage Nike’s reputation in the long run.  Nike’s products haven’t had any major malfunctions in the past, except for some NBA jerseys briefly ripping in 2017.

    “This is embarrassing for Nike, but will have no material impact on the business,” said Matt Powell, analyst at NPD Group.

Why Nike is betting its slogan on Colin Kaepernick

    Nike has also reduced its dependence on high-top basketball sneakers for growth in recent years.  It has instead focused on lightweight running and wear-to-work shoes.

    Nike’s basketball sneaker sales fell last year as consumers move away from performance sneakers to more casual and comfortable shoes.  “Basketball shoes are not in fashion,” Powell said.  “Athleisure footwear is in style. ”

    Patrick Rishe, the sports business director at Washington University in St.  Louis, called Williamson’s sneaker break a freak accident.

    “Nike is a massive brand and has tremendous power,” he said.  “If they’re smart, they’ll reach out to Zion and have him wear their shoes again. ”

  CNN’s Alison Kosik contributed to this story.
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