An 18-year-old anti-government protester was shot by a police officer in Hong Kong as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on China's National Day. https://t.co/EWLCGyMlGV

By Jessie Yeung, James Griffiths and Steve George, CNNOur live coverage has ended, but you can scroll through the posts to read more. A video uploaded by Campus TV, a Hong Kong University student media organization, appears to show the moment a police officer shot a person in Tseun Wan.  The video shows black-clad protesters attacking a handful of police officers with metal bars and other weapons.  The video also appears to show the individual striking the police officer with a pole just before the officer deployed his firearm.   A police source confirmed CNN that a man was shot with a live round by police in the Tsuen Wan district of Hong Kong on Tuesday afternoon.  CNN have approached police for an official statement.   The protester was later taken away in an ambulance.  Separately, Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said that one male is in critical condition at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung in the New Territories.  The Hospital Authority would not comment on the type of injuries of the critical case and would not provide any further information.  Kwai Chung is the neighboring district to Tseun Wan.  From CNN's Ben Westcott in BeijingAs Hong Kong's young people fight with riot police, tennagers in Beijing are lining up to see the new patriotic blockbuster. "Me and My Country" is a series of seven short films all with a nationalistic theme, which only just released on September 30. It has already made $40 million, according to state media. "The film is considered a gift to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC.  All the actors performed for free," according to the nationalist tabloid Global Times. At Global Trading Center in central Beijing, all showings of "Me And My Country" have been sold out until at least 8 p. m. Many people are reluctant to book after 8 because they want to get home in time to see the fireworks display later in the evening. 15-year-old Jiao Tongyu said he'd already seen the military in the morning, and was now giving up a chance to see the fireworks for "Me and My Country. ""I'm excited to see the movie," he said. Violent protests are raging across Hong Kong on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.  A man has been shot by police -- a major escalation in the 3-month-long protest movement. If you're just joining us now, here's what you need to know:Hong Kong's Admiralty district is soaked in blue after police deployed a water cannon spraying blue dye at protesters.  Everything is tinted blue -- the streets, the overpass, the street signs. Riot police are gathered here -- as well as several other districts, with high-intensity wildcat protests raging across the city.  There has been escalating violence, as well as multiple arrests. Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority says one male is in critical condition in Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung in the New Territories.  The Hospital Authority would not comment on the type of injuries of the critical case and would not provide any further information.  A total of 15 people have been taken to hospitals as of 5 p. m.  local time, according to a Hospital Authority spokesperson.  Two people have already been discharged, and the other 12 injured are in stable conditions. A man has been shot in the chest with a live round by police, a police source told CNN.  His identity and condition are not currently known. Analysis from CNN's James Griffiths The reported use of a live round during today's protests will further galvanize already angry and violent anti-government demonstrations, as they near their fourth month of continuous unrest.  Today's turnout put to bed any suggestion that the movement was losing energy or significant amounts of support, but the use of lethal force by police could see even more take to the streets in coming weeks.  At multiple previous protests, police have pulled out their sidearms and shot in the air or aimed weapons at protesters when they were in fear for their lives.  A police prediction: Last week, a senior police commander told journalists that the force was worried they would soon have to use live rounds on protesters themselves.  "Our officers are worried that the level of violence has got to such a level that they might have to kill someone or be killed themselves," the commander said.  "We have been so restrained but in the face of such violence this pressure has become extremely dangerous. "What protesters say: Though it is unclear whether the person shot today was a protester, when asked about the suggestion that officers may end up killing a demonstrator in self-defense, activist Bonnie Leung -- of the Civil Human Rights Front -- said police using real ammunition and guns was "unnecessary and unjustified. " Leung added that officers are able to protect themselves in "many different ways. ""They already have the power of arrest, they already have the power to use force, but they are using disproportionate force already.  They have the least lethal weapons. . .  They now have rubber bullets, they now have water cannons -- they have everything," she said. "But what they are doing is that they are not just trying to protect themselves. . .  they are actually doing more than necessary and more than the laws allow them to do in order to anger the protesters even more, and that creates danger. "The victim: The identity of the man shot by police is so far unclear -- as is whether he was a protester or passerby.  Previous incidents of alleged police violence have led to the targets becoming icons for the movement, such as a woman hit in the eye by a beanbag round, or a man seen on video being attacked by a large number of police officers.  A police source tells CNN that a man was shot with a live round by police in Hong Kong's Tsuen Wan district. It is not known whether the man was a protester, although there have been protests in Tsuen Wan today. The man’s condition is currently not known.  CNN have approached police for an official statement.  This isn't the first time police have fired a live shot during the protests -- but it's the first injury resulting from one.  The previous times, police fired into the air as a warning during violent demonstrations. Police are making arrests across the city, adding to the hundreds of people who have already been arrested (and largely released on bail) since the protests began three months ago.  The authorities have been increasing the amount of arrests they've been carrying out in recent weeks, with the idea that they will be able to crack down on the radical core of the increasingly-violent protests and stymie the overall movement.  Video footage from local media showed numerous mainly young people being forcibly detained at spots in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island.  Most were wearing black and came masked and in rudimentary body armor.  From CNN's Angus Watson in Hong KongIn Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui district, large numbers of black-clad protesters and riot police are facing off.  Trash cans have been set on fire and placed in front of the closed subway station, and police are firing tear gas on busy thoroughfares. The police have fired over twenty rounds of tear gas in Tsim Sha Tsui.  CNN saw protesters throw petrol bombs as they retreated back down the main road following the tear gas deployment. Lines of riot police are now advancing toward the protesters.  Watch it here:Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Jammu & Kashmir: Injured in Kishtwar road accident airlifted to Government Hospital, Jammu; 35 have died in the incident where a matador vehicle coming from Keshwan to Kishtwar fell into a gorge today. https://t.co/B9cZBlH4cX

At least 35 people were killed and 17 others injured when an overloaded minibus skidded off a winding road and fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s mountainous Kishtwar district on Monday.  This is the second major accident in the state since Thursday when 11 students were killed when their bus fell into a ravine while they were on their way for a picnic in Shopian district.  Kishtwar’s deputy commissioner, Angrez Singh Rana, said 10 of the 17 injured were airlifted in a helicopter to Jammu, around 230 km away, for treatment in view of their critical condition.  He said the exact cause of the accident remained a subject of investigation.  “But the minibus was overloaded.  The driver’s negligence cannot be ruled out,” he said.  Rana said that the 28-seater bus was carrying 52 passengers. Kishtwar’s senior police superintendent, Shakti Pathak, said the condition of the road was bad and the minibus was apparently overloaded.  “It seems the driver lost control near a curve and the vehicle rolled down into a gorge,’’ he said.  Pathak added 20 passengers died on the spot and 15 more succumbed to their injuries at the Kishtwar district hospital. The accident prompted J&K governor, Satya Pal Malik, to order the cancellation of licences of untrained drivers.  It was not immediately clear how such drivers would be identified.  Malik, who has helmed the state since June 2018 in the absence of an elected government, said many of the drivers plying buses in the state are untrained.  “Most of the accidents take place due to careless and untrained drivers, who drive without any regard for rules,” Malik said in a statement. He announced a compensation of ~5 lakh each for the families of the deceased.  He promised a thorough probe into such accidents.  He added “strong decisions” would be taken to ensure strict action against those responsible for such avoidable accidents. A spokesperson for Malik said the governor had a few months ago directed the transport department to take unfit vehicles and untrained drivers off the roads.  Officials blamed speeding for the June 27 accident in Shopian.  Shopian deputy commissioner, Owais Ahmad, had said the accident happened near a curve, which is wide enough.  He added the road condition is also good and that it appears the driver was over speeding as the vehicle went over a parapet. A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had said that prima facie investigations into the Shopian accident revealed that the vehicle had old worn out tyres and that it was given fitness certificate last year.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Kishtwar accident.  “The accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar is heart-wrenching.  We mourn all those who lost their lives and express condolences to the bereaved families.  May the injured recover at the earliest,” he tweeted. Former chief ministers, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, too, expressed their grief.


Deeply concerned by India's #COVID19 situation: US state of secretary Blinken

https://t.co/W42A7ZUoTY https://t.co/AWjz6ZtZ9X

The United States is deeply concerned by a massive surge in coronavirus cases in India and plans to quickly deploy additional support to the Indian government and health care workers, a White House spokeswoman said on Saturday. "We are in active conversations at high levels and plan to quickly deploy additional support to the Government of India and Indian health care workers as they battle this latest severe outbreak.  We will have more to share very soon," the spokeswoman told Reuters via email. US state of secretary said on Sunday that US is deeply concerned by India's current Covid-19 situation.  "Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific COVID-19 outbreak.  We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government, and we will rapidly deploy additional support to the people of India and India's health care heroes," Blinken said in a tweet.  India is grappling with a record-setting surge in coronavirus infections, with hospitals running out of critical oxygen supplies.  The Indian government has deployed military planes and trains to get oxygen to Delhi from other parts of the country and foreign countries, including Singapore. The number of cases across the country of around 1. 3 billion rose overnight by 346,786, India's Health Ministry said on Saturday, for a total of 16. 6 million cases, including 189,544 deaths. But experts say the number of cases is likely many times higher and could rise further. Officials from both countries are engaged at various levels to ensure "a small supply of inputs and components from U. S.  companies for production of Covid-19 vaccines in India," a spokesman at the Indian Embassy in Washington told Reuters. "We believe it is important to work together to identify both bottlenecks in medical supply chains and potential solutions for overcoming these (bottlenecks), and to combat the global pandemic together and expedite ongoing vaccination efforts," the spokesman said.


ALL ABOARD: Three Chinese astronauts boarded an unfinished space station in China's first crewed mission since 2016, state media reported. https://t.co/ksfJheNg7W https://t.co/1iPZvqOkQ3

By Jessie Yeung and Yong Xiong, CNNUpdated 6:47 AM ET, Thu June 17, 2021 Hong Kong (CNN)China successfully launched three astronauts into space on Thursday, bringing the country one step closer to completing its new space station. CNN's Ben Westcott and Steven Jiang contributed reporting.


CLAIM A video showing some people offering namaz is doing the rounds on social media with a claim that Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang has realised that the only way to protect people from coronavirus is to offer namaz.  The caption with which the video is being shared reads, “China PM who told we'll translate the Quran as our own realised that the only one way to protect from the korona virus is doing 'sajtha' to Allah and went to the mosque to pray, Mashallah (sic). ” The video is also being shared on Twitter by multiple users with the same claim.  And it has also found its way to Facebook.  TRUE OR FALSE?  False.  The video was uploaded in July 2015 and it shows the former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visiting Beijing’s Nan Xia Po Mosque.  He took part in Friday prayers, on his five-day trip to China.  WHAT WE FOUND We noticed a logo of the news agency Associated Press (AP) on the top-right corner of the video.  Subsequently, we searched on YouTube with keywords ‘PM visit mosque AP’ and could find the same video on their channel.  A part of the description of the video reads: ‘Pan Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi walks into mosque’.  The description further mentions that on the second day of his five-day trip to China, former Malaysian PM visited Beijing's Nan Xia Po Mosque and took part in Friday prayers.  Evidently, the video is of former Malaysian prime minister and not Chinese PM Li Keqiang.


Assam has reported the first instance of African swine fever in the country in Assam where the disease has killed around 2,900 pigs across 306 villages of the state

https://t.co/Jn9MG8NzQl

Assam has reported the first instance of African swine fever in the country in Assam where the disease has killed around 2,900 pigs across 306 villages of the state.  Assam’s animal husbandry minister Atul Bora has said, despite the go-ahead from the Centre, the state government will not cull the animals immediately and choose an alternative option to prevent the spread of the disease. African swine fever, Atul Bora has said, was detected towards the end of February this year, but it started in April 2019 at a village in Xizang province of China bordering Arunachal Pradesh. What is African swine fever? African swine fever (ASF) is a severe, highly-contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs.  This transboundary animal disease (TAD) can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild, and pork products. It is caused by a large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family, which also infects ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. Signs of African swine fever and classical swine fever (CSF) may be similar but the ASF virus is unrelated to the CSF virus. African swine fever is a disease listed in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code and must be reported to the OIE. Transmission and spreadRoutes of transmission can include direct contact with infected domestic or wild pigs. It can be through indirect contact by consumption of contaminated material—food waste, feed, garbage, contaminated fomites such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment, due to the high environmental resistance of ASF virus. It can also be transmitted through biological vectors—soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros where presentPublic health riskAfrican swine fever is not a risk to human health.  While swine flu can spread from animals to humans, African swine fever does not and therefore is not a public health threat. Signs of African swine feverSigns and mortality rates can vary according to the virulence of the virus and the type/species of pig. Acute forms of ASF are characterised by high fever, depression, anorexia and loss of appetite, haemorrhages in the skin (redness of skin on ears, abdomen and legs), abortion in pregnant sows, cyanosis, vomiting, diarrhoea and death within 6-13 days (or up to 20 days).  Mortality rates may be as high as 100%. Subacute and chronic forms are caused by moderately or low virulent viruses, which produce less intense clinical signs that can be expressed for much longer periods.  Mortality rates are lower, but can still range from 30-70%.  Chronic disease symptoms include loss of weight, intermittent fever, respiratory signs, chronic skin ulcers and arthritis. Different types of pigs may have varying susceptibility to ASF virus infection.  African wild suids may be infected without showing clinical signs allowing them to act as reservoirs. DiagnosisAfrican swine fever may be suspected based on clinical signs but confirmation must be made with laboratory tests, particularly to differentiate it from classical swine fever (CSF).  Prevention and controlCurrently, there is no approved vaccine for ASF. Geographical speedHistorically, outbreaks have been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.  More recently, since 2007, the disease has been reported in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, in both domestic and wild pigs. China has been battling African swine fever since August 2018, after the disease spread rapidly throughout the world’s top pork producer, killing millions of pigs and sending pork prices soaring. African swine fever was first detected in 1921 in Kenya. (Sourced from the World Organisation for Animal Health)


People in large numbers seen at New Delhi Railway Station.

Delhi reported 5100 new COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths, yesterday. https://t.co/tz2oUvLomJ

The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) case tally in the country currently stands at over 12. 68 million with the active caseload at more than 788,000, as per the Union health ministry.  The country is witnessing a worrying trend of rising Covid-19 cases that led many states to impose stricter curbs to control the spread of the virus.  The toll has reached over 165,000 as India reported 446 deaths in the last 24 hours on Tuesday, according to the health ministry. On Tuesday, the 81st day of the vaccination, the cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 8. 40 crore. Globally, more than 132 million people have been affected by the disease that was declared a pandemic last year and over 2. 8 million people have lost their lives due to Covid-19, as per the John Hopkins University tracker.  Cofepris, Mexico’s health regulator has authorised the emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by India, Covaxin, Reuters quoted its foreign minister Marcelo Ebard as saying.  South Korea witnessed the biggest jump in the number of daily Covid-19 cases in three months as it reported 668 new cases and US President Joe Biden wants all adults to be eligible for the vaccine by April 19, reported Bloomberg. Follow all the updates here:Brazil reports first case of South African Covid-19 variantBrazil on Wednesday recorded the first case of the South African variant of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as the country is already witnessing the highest deaths across the world due to the local variant.  Lucknow to be under night curfew from April 8 between 9 pm to 6 amUttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow will be placed under night curfew restrictions from April 8 between 9 pm to 6 am, Police Commissioner DK Thakur told news agency ANI.  Jharkhand reports 1,312 new Covid-19 cases, 7 deathsJharkhand reports 1,312 new #COVID19 cases, 277 recoveries and 7 deathsTotal positive cases: 1,30,908Total recoveries: 1,21,885Death toll: 1,151Active cases: 7,872 pic. twitter. com/cdDOfmMByAJharkhand reports 1,312 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths, taking the state's tally to 130,908 cases and the death toll reached 1,151, reports ANI. Pune district reports 10,907 new Covid-19 cases, 62 deaths in last 24 hoursMaharashtra: Pune district reported 10,907 new COVID19 cases, 62 deaths and 7,832 recoveries in the last 24 hoursTotal cases: 6,04,037Total recoveries: 5,09,278Active cases: 84,526Death toll: 10,402With 10,907 new Covid-19 cases and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours, Pune's Covid-19 tally reached 604,037 cases and death toll climbed to 10,402, reports ANI. Maharashtra reports 59,907 new Covid-19 cases, 322 deaths in 24 hoursWith 59,907 new Covid-19 cases and 322 deaths, Maharashtra's Covid-19 tally reached 3,173,261 cases and death toll climbed to 59,907. Mumbai city reported 10,442 new cases and 24 related deaths which took the city's tally to 483,042 cases and 11,856 deaths. India's Covid-19 vaccination drive completes administering over 88 million doses#LargestVaccineDrive More than 8. 83 Cr #COVID19 #Vaccine doses administered cumulatively with 13. 14 lakh beneficiaries given the vaccine till 8 pm today.  https://t. co/zE4jmhQn9k pic. twitter. com/sRIvMzpvdoMore than 88 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the country, according to the Union health ministry. Union health ministry asks Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab to improve Covid-19 vaccination driveManohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry writes to Principal Secretaries of Health & Family Welfare of Punjab, Delhi & Maharashtra, asking them to undertake necessary corrective actions immediately for improving the #COVID19 vaccination drives in their state/UTAddition secretary to the Union health ministry Manohar Agnani asked the Principal health secretaries of Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab to undertake corrective actions for improving the Covid-19 vaccination drive, reports ANI. Punjab reports 2,997 new Covid-19 cases, 63 deathsPunjab reports 2,997 fresh COVID-19 cases, 2,959 discharges, and 63 deathsTotal cases: 2,60,020Total cured cases: 226887Active cases: 25,855Death toll: 7,278 pic. twitter. com/kdZzhOlWZlWith 2,997 new Covid-19 cases and 63 new deaths, Punjab's tally reached 260,020 and death toll climbed to 7,278, according to a bulletin from the state government. Karnataka reports close to 7,000 new Covid-19 cases, 35 deathsKarnataka reports 6,976 new #COVID19 cases, 2,794 recoveries and 35 deathsTotal cases: 10,33,560Total recoveries: 9,71,556Death toll: 12,731Active cases: 49,254 pic. twitter. com/OvhDDbvUxvKarnataka's Covid-19 tally reached 1,033,560 cases and death toll climbed to 12,731 as the state reported 6,976 new cases and 35 fatalities, according to a bulletin from the state government. Union health minister says states trying to divert attention from failure after complains of Covid-19 vaccine shortages surfaceDeplorable attempts by some state governments to distract attention from their failures and spread panic among the people: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister #COVID19 pic. twitter. com/DkC8mCnJpXUnion health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan says that some states are trying divert attentions from their failure to contain the Covid-19 infection spread, after some state governments complained of vaccine shortage, reports ANI. Watch | ‘Mumbai facing Covid vaccine shortage, stock may exhaust in 2-3 days’: MayorMumbai Mayor said that there is a shortage of Covid-19 vaccine doses in the city.  Kishori Pednekar added that vaccine supplies in Mumbai will be over in three days. Chhattisgarh home minister announces separate centres for Covid-19 patients requiring ventilator, oxygenPeople are advised not to delay treatment for #COVID19.  Separate centers will be made for patients coming for check-up, requiring a ventilator, oxygen: Chhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu pic. twitter. com/Zb9akNHQQTChhattisgarh home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu has announced that separate centres would be made for Covid-19 patients coming for check-up, requiring ventilator, oxygen.  He also urged patients to not delay Covid-19 treatment, reports ANI. Nagpur reports 5,338 new Covid-19 cases, 66 deaths in last 24 hoursMaharashtra: Nagpur district reported 5,338 new #COVID19 cases, 3,868 recoveries and 66 deaths, in the last 24 hours, as per Civil Surgeon, Nagpur.   Total cases: 2,54,221Total recoveries: 2,05,784Active cases: 42,933Death toll: 5504With 5,338 new Covid-19 cases and 66 deaths in the last 24 hours, Nagpur's Covid-19 tally reached 254,221 cases and death toll climbed to 5,504, reports ANI. Covid-19: 10,619,190 vaccine doses supplied to Maharashtra so far, says government sourcesSupply of #COVID19 vaccines to Maharashtra - total supplied 1,06,19,190, in-pipeline 7,43,280, consumption 90,53,523: Government sourcesGovernment sources say that so far, 10,619,190 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been supplied to Maharashtra and another 743,280 doses are in pipeline, report ANI. Click here to read Maharashtra health minister's commentsCovid-19: Raipur district to be declared a containment zone, borders to be sealed from April 9 to 19Keeping in mind the #COVID19 situation, Raipur district is being declared a containment zone from 6 pm on 9th April till 6 am on 19th April.  All the borders of the district will remain sealed during this period: Raipur district collector S Bharathi Dasan#Chhattisgarh pic. twitter. com/7Q0aoXz8BDRaipur district collector S Bharathi Dasan has said that the district will be declared a containment zone and its borders will remain sealed between 6pm on April 9 and 6am on April 19, reports ANI. Chandigarh: Night curfew between 10. 30pm and 5am to bar all non-essential activitiesProhibition on movement of individuals for all non-essential activities b/w 10:30 pm-5 am in Chandigarh.  Order to come into effect from tonight till further orders.  Hospitals, chemist shops & ATMs to remain open 24/7.  No curbs on inter-state & intra-state of goods: Chandigarh DM pic. twitter. com/fORcNSqj0fNew restrictions in Chandigarh has prohibited all non-essential movement in the state between 10,30pm and 5am due to rising Covid-19 cases.  However, hospitals, chemist shops and ATMs and inter-state, intra-state movement of goods are exempted, reports ANI. Karnataka imposes restrictions under Sec 144 in Bengaluru city limits as Covid-19 infections surgeDue to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru, the Karnataka government on Wednesday ordered that restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC will be implemented in the city limits to contain the gathering of crowds. Click here to read more‘Covid second wave mostly infecting young adults and children’: LNJP MDAmid surge in Covid cases in the national capital, Medical Director of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Dr Suresh Kumar informed that mostly young adults, pregnant women and children are getting infected this time. CM Amarinder Singh lists out new Covid-19 restrictions imposed in PunjabDue to increasing spread of #Covid19, we will be implementing stricter restrictions across Punjab to control the pandemic.  Strongly urge everyone to observe full precautions & all those eligible to get their vaccination done.  Vaccination is necessary to build immunity.  pic. twitter. com/wNrRUDbfHWPunjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh shared a list of new rules imposed in the state due to the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. Gujarat police collect ₹2. 66 crores as fine people violating Covid-19 normsGujarat police collected fines worth ₹2. 66 crore in four days from people not found wearing masks and those spitting in public places amid #COVID19 pandemic: OfficialGujarat police collected fines worth ₹2. 66 crores in four days from people who were found without masks and those spitting in public places, reports PTI. Punjab imposes statewide night curfew from 9pm to 5amPunjab Government imposes night curfew from 9pm-5am across the entire state till April 30, also bans political gatherings in the state. 2000 more beds added in hospitals, says Satyendar Jain as Covid-19 rise in DelhiDelhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday informed that the number of beds in hospitals has been increased by more than 2,000 in the past 3 days in the wake of rising coronavirus cases in the national capital, reported ANI. Odisha reports 791 new Covid-19 casesOdisha reported 791 new Covid-19 cases, 266 recoveries and 1 death on April 6, reported ANI. Omar Abdullah receives first dose of Covid-19 vaccineNational Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday took the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar, reported ANI. Arunachal Pradesh logs two new Covid-19 casesTwo more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, raising the caseload to 16,853, a senior health department official said on Wednesday, reported PTI. Mizoram reports 8 new Covid-19 casesAt least eight more people, including two children, tested positive for novel coronavirus in Mizoram, pushing the tally to 4,508, an official said on Wednesday, reported PTI. PM Modi urges people to take all precautions against Covid-19On the occasion of the World Health Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged people to focus on fighting Covid-19 by taking all precautions, including wearing a mask, regularly washing hands and following other protocols, reported PTI. India reports 115,736 new Covid-19 cases in last 24 hoursThe number of new Covid-19 infections in India crosses 100,000 mark again as the country reported 115,736 new cases and 630 deaths in last 24 hours, as per the Union health ministry data. Over 251 million Covid-19 tests conducted so far25,14,39,598 samples tested for Covid-19, up to April 6.  Of these, 12,08,329 samples were tested yesterday, said Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). North Korea continues to claim no Covid-19 caseNorth Korea continues to claim a perfect record in keeping out the coronavirus in its latest report to the World Health Organization, reported AP. Cambodian PM orders home treatments for Covid-19 patients as hospitals near capacityCambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered health officials on Tuesday to prepare to treat coronavirus patients at home, as the country's biggest Covid-19 outbreak so far tests the capacity of its fragile healthcare system, reported Reuters. China reports 12 new Covid-19 casesChina reported 12 new Covid-19 cases in the mainland for April 6, down from 24 a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Wednesday, reported Reuters. 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CORRECTION: Robert Trump, the younger brother of President Donald Trump, was 71 years old. An earlier tweet indicated he was 72. https://t.co/QZkWN89nE2

By Kaitlan Collins, Maegan Vazquez, Kristen Holmes and Kevin Liptak, CNNUpdated 6:59 AM ET, Sun August 16, 2020  (CNN)Robert Trump, 71, the younger brother of President Donald Trump, died Saturday at a New York hospital, Donald Trump announced in a statement. CNN's Betsy Klein and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.


Why Pres. Trump and Jussie Smollett were not "exonerated," according to legal experts: https://t.co/c7IHv1hv08 https://t.co/7CLOgZBEA4

  Had Jussie Smollett’s case gone to trial, it’s unlikely that any of the results would have included time in prison for the “Empire” actor, the top prosecutor in Chicago said Wednesday.

  State’s Attorney for Cook County Kim Foxx told CNN affiliate WLS on Wednesday that even if the celebrity had been found guilty of filing a false police report, the punishment was more than likely going to be what he eventually paid.

Chicago police release a portion of Smollett investigation reports after his charges are dropped

  “If he’s found guilty on a Class 4 (felony) the likelihood was he was going to get some type of, perhaps, restitution, community service, not prison,” she said.  “And so, if we can get to the same outcomes, if we get to the same measures of justice without going through the court process, we do that. ”

  Prosecutors dropped the 16 charges of filing a false police report on Tuesday, after Smollett agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bond and spent 16 hours doing community service over the weekend.

  Tina Glandian, one of Smollett’s attorneys, said her client wavered on whether to voluntarily forfeit the bond, but chose to do so because the cost to him would have been far higher if he had to spend the next year of his life preparing for and going through a trial.

  She said the community service had been “falsely represented” and that Smollett has long been a person who does volunteer work.  She told “Anderson Cooper 360˚” that there was no court-ordered community service.

  She said if prosecutors could have proven the case, they never would have dismissed it.

  The sudden dismissal prompted ire from city officials, and the court’s decision to seal the records in the case angered many observers.

  The state’s attorney, a Democrat who was elected in 2016, was asked whether she thought Smollett was guilty of lying to police.

Why did prosecutors drop all charges against Jussie Smollett?

  “He chose this alternative prosecution method.  A court has not found him guilty,” said Foxx, who recused herself from the case a week before Smollett was charged.  “I believe based on the facts and the evidence that was presented in the charging decision made by this office, this office believed that they could prove him guilty. ”

  While she thinks the evidence was strong, Smollett very well could have been acquitted by a jury, Foxx told WLS.

  That’s why in this case, and 5,700 others over the past two years, prosecutors – in this case, Foxx’s first assistant, Joe Magats – tried to get the defendant to agree to what Foxx referred to as a diversion program.

Chicago police union wants a federal investigation into Smollett case

  For instance, drug addicts charged with possession are often offered that the counts will be dropped if the defendant agrees to treatment and meetings, she said.

  About one in 10 cases in Cook County goes to trial, she said.

  Foxx said she understands that skeptics think Smollett got special treatment because he is a celebrity, and she doesn’t want people to believe there are two kinds of justice.

  “I understand why people are emotionally attached to what happened in this case,” she told WLS.  “I don’t diminish that, at all. ”

  Foxx said she ran on a platform of justice reform and making sure the office used its resources wisely to make communities safe.

  She said the onus was on her office to explain to the public that resolutions in this case are not only available to someone like Jussie Smollett but also to “someone from the neighborhood. ”
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


A thumbnail photo of a ‘Times of India’ article is being shared on social media with a claim that the Delhi Police has arrested a doctor who killed 125 patients on the pretext of COVID-19 for their kidneys.  It is also mentioned that the doctor has killed the patients and fed them to crocodiles.  Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Delhi Police arrested a doctor who killed 125 patients on the pretext of COVID-19 for their kidneys and fed the patients to crocodiles. Fact: It is true that the Delhi Police arrested the doctor (Devendra Sharma) shown in the picture.  The doctor was a serial killer and was allegedly involved in various criminal activities including around 125 illegal kidney transplants during the years 1994-2004.  He was arrested in 2004 and was in Jaipur jail till January 2020, when he was granted parole.  But he absconded at the end of his parole in February 2020.  Later, he was arrested by Delhi Police in July 2020.  The COVID-19 angle to his crimes is false as his alleged 125 illegal kidney transplants were during 1994-2004, almost 16 years before COVID-19 pandemic emerged.  Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING. When we searched for the article mentioned in the photo, it was found that the ‘Times of India’ has recently published the mentioned article.  In the article, it was mentioned that the man in the photo is Devendra Sharma, an Ayurvedic practitioner.  It can also be read that he was a serial killer and was allegedly involved in various criminal activities including around 125 illegal kidney transplants during the years 1994-2004.  He was arrested in 2004 and was in Jaipur jail till January 2020, when he was granted parole.  But he absconded at the end of his parole in February 2020.  Later, he was arrested by Delhi Police in July 2020.  The summary of his life events can be found in the ‘Times of India’ article.  But, the COVID-19 angle is not mentioned anywhere in the article. In the ‘Indian Express’ article, it can be read that the police officials have said ‘during interrogation, he disclosed that from 1994-2004, he got more than 125 kidney transplants done illegally for which he was paid Rs 5-7 lakh each’.  The officials have also said ‘the doctor and his associates used to hire taxis and kill the drivers at a secluded place.  They used to dump the bodies on the way to Aligarh in Hazara canal, Kasganj, which had crocodiles, and hence there was no chance of retrieval’.  So, the alleged 125 kidney transplants were not during COVID-19 times.  There is no COVID-19 link to his murders.  Multiple news reports regarding Devendra Sharma can be read here, here and here. To sum it up, the alleged 125 illegal kidney transplants of this murderer doctor during 1994-2004 have been falsely linked to COVID-19. Did you watch our new video?


Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the parents of Doordarshan cameraman Achutyanand Sahu, in Odisha's Balangir today. Sahu was killed in a naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on 30 October 2018. https://t.co/BdAeO3a70d

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he was not worried about the poll result in Varanasi as people of Kashi spearheaded his election campaign. Addressing BJP workers during his thanksgiving visit to the counstituency, he said, “I had time.  I could have come to Kashi on May 17 or 18.  But as people of Kashi asked me not to come here till results, I followed their instruction.  Then I thought… Ye Baba nahi (Baba Kashi Vishwanath) to wo Baba sahi and I went to Baba Kedarnath and I sat at His feet. ”Perhaps no other candidate was as satisfied or contented as he was before the results were announced, the PM said, adding that the reason was the confidence of Kashivasis. Also Read| ‘After Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, win Sabka Vishwas’: Modi’s message of inclusion“Everyone became a Narendra Modi and led the campaign.  This campaign was driven by the citizens.  The people worked very hard and they did not see these polls solely from the prism of victory and defeat.  They made the polls about Lok Shiksha.  The people of Kashi categorically told me not to come here till the results; they will spearhead the entire campaign.  I am grateful to the people of Kashi for organising several programmes through the campaign.  These elections became a festival of democracy,” PM Modi said. The PM underlined that such large support from across the country was made possible because people had faith in the ‘Saaf Niyat, Sahi Vikas’ approach of the BJP government.


We are four steps ahead of #coronavirus. Cases of coronavirus are increasing in Delhi but we have made all the arrangements for beds, ICUs and ventilators: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal https://t.co/Rt59LZvvXm

The Covid-19 situation in the national capital is improving with the Delhi model being discussed and lauded across India and abroad, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday during a press briefing.  The chief minister said that the recovery rate in Delhi is 88 percent at present and only 9 percent of the people are ill now while 2-3 percent patients have succumbed to death.  “There is a decline in the number of deaths,” Kejriwal added.  He said that the national capital didn’t require a second phase of the lockdown, which is a matter of satisfaction.  The chief minister also informed about a job portal that is being started by the government which can be used by people to get employment.  He described the platform as “Rozgar Bazar”. “The govt is starting a portal - http://jobs. delhi. gov. in and those who are looking to recruit people for jobs can go to the website and update their requirement.  Job seekers can also go there and update their qualification, experience and requirement.  It’ll be a ‘Rozgar Bazar’,” the Delhi CM said.   Also read: India’s coronavirus epidemic is now the world’s fastest growingThere was no need to impose second lockdown in Delhi.  This is a matter of satisfaction: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal https://t. co/nPgrWfa0zrTalking about the Covid-19 infrastructure across various hospitals in the national capital, the chief minister said, “as of now, there’s an arrangement of 15,500 beds at hospitals in Delhi.  Only 2,800 Covid-19 patients remain at these hospitals while 12,500 beds are vacant”. Delhi govt is starting a portal - https://t. co/uSkUiSVRTf Those who are looking to recruit people for jobs can go to the website & update their requirement.  Job seekers can also go there and update their qualification, experience & requirement.  It'll be a 'Rozgar Bazar': Delhi CM pic. twitter. com/iGkL66gXit“In June, we were at the second position in the country as far as states with the highest cases were concerned.  Today we’re on the tenth spot,” he said.  Delhi has reported a total of 130,606 Covid-19 cases till date, of which 114,875 have recovered or have been discharged from the hospitals.  The coronavirus death toll in the national capital stands at 3,827 while the number of active cases continues to drop and is reported to be at 11,904 at present.


A viral post on social media shows a swarm of dead bodies being captured and allegedly stating that countries with large number of COVID-19 cases are euthanising elderly patients.  The image is as follows:  The post was initially shared on April 19th and have garnered about 1. 9k shares on the online platform.  However, this post has since been deleted.  The archived post can be found here.  A screenshot of the same is as follows:  The write-up on the post is a mixture of Tagalog, an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and English.  The post has since then been shared on other profiles.   The archived post can be found here, here and here.  When roughly translated, it paraphrases into appreciating their country’s attempts to take care of their citizens while other countries are turning to horrifying methods to control the COVID-19 spread among the citizens.  It then talks about why its important for the people to step up and help their government to maintain by social distancing.  The post here carries a translation of the entire text.    The claim is false and the image has been placed out of context.  The picture depicts a scene from the hit AMC series, The Walking Dead.  A simple reverse search shows that the scene is from the 9th episode of season 5.  It is therefore not an image of countries euthanizing their  elderly patients.


Telangana: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his wife cast their vote at a polling booth in Siddipet district. #IndiaElections2019 https://t.co/tDFdFaxlsE

The stage is set for polling in all 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana on Thursday. The ruling TRS is looking for a repeat of December’s assembly elections, even as the BJP and the Congress will be looking to spoil TRS’s outing. In Telangana, 443 candidates (418 male and 25 female) are in the fray in the 17 constituencies. Polling would be held from 7 am to 4 pm in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-effected Assembly segments under five parliamentary constituencies, and from 7 am to 5 pm in all other Lok Sabha constituencies. The Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency is a special case in this parliamentary election as 185 candidates, including more than 170 farmers, are in the fray. The peasants have entered the fray to highlight their demand for remunerative prices for turmeric and red jowar. Congress leader Renuka Chowdary (Khammam), AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi (Hyderabad), state Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy (Nalgonda), sitting TRS MP K Kavitha (Nizamabad), daughter of TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, are among the prominent candidates contesting elections. TRS leaders have repeatedly said they will be aiming to win 16 seats for the party, leaving the remaining one for AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who is seeking to win for the fourth time from Hyderabad. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TRS had bagged 11 seats, and the Congress two.  The BJP, TDP, YSRCP and AIMIM shared one each.  The TDP, YSRCP and one Congress Lok Sabha member later joined the TRS. KCR and his son and party working chief KT Rama Rao campaigned vigorously, constantly attacking BJP and Congress, and accusing the two parties of having failed to deliver when in power. KCR has claimed that if TRS wins 16 seats, it will play a key role in national politics. Highlighting the “family rule” of KCR, Modi, during his campaign speeches, has warned that TRS’s association with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM party would mean a “speed-breaker” for Telangana’s development. Rahul Gandhi alleged during election rallies that both the BJP and TRS have a tacit understanding and hence vote for TRS is like voting for BJP.


Delhi: Earlier visuals of protest by Congress party, in the Parliament premises over Rafale deal. https://t.co/7ciCSjXmO4

The French made 36 Rafale fighters bought by the Modi-led NDA government are “2. 86 percent cheaper” than the price negotiated by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has said in its report tabled in Parliament today. The report, however, said that Dassault Aviation – the manufacturer of the fighters – had benefited because it did not have to pay for a bank guarantee in the current deal compared to the 2007 UPA-era deal. “Therefore, these savings to the vendor would have to be factored in.  The total savings… accruing to the vendor (Dassault Aviation) by not having to pay these bank charges should have been passed on to the ministry,” the report by the government’s top auditor said. Read: Live updates from ParliamentThe CAG report has become the latest point of confrontation between the government and the opposition over the Rafale deal, with the Congress alleging a “conflict of interest”.  The party had said Rajiv Mehrishi, the current CAG of India, was part of the decision making process for the Rafale deal.  Mehrishi was the finance secretary when the Rafale deal was signed. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley was the first to react to the CAG report, asserting that the audit report had exposed the lies of the Congress and the grand alliance that opposition parties are trying to stitch. The audit report compared the 2007 and 2015 purchase agreement - using the price of 18 fighters that were to be bought in a flyaway condition in the 2007 deal. The CAG report concluded that the current deal is cheaper on three counts and costlier on four counts.  “Therefore, on the whole, the contact of 2016 can be said to have been concluded at 2. 86 percent less than the price previous offer” The report, however, stressed that there is no difference in the price of the base aircraft negotiated by previous government and Modi government. India Specific Enhancements – like helmeted mounted displays, better radars etc – negotiated by the Modi government, however, are 17 percent cheaper than the previous deal.  The cost of engineering support and the price paid for keeping the fleet air – Performance Based Logistic (PBL) – was, however, 6 percent higher. Also read: ‘Demolished’: Rahul Gandhi counters PM Modi over Rafale’s ‘better price, faster delivery’Congress president Rahul Gandhi hasn’t reacted to the report yet.  But hours before the report was tabled, Rahul Gandhi cited a media report to fire a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Rafale deal. Gandhi said that PM Modi had “defended his personal Rafale bypass deal” with arguments that the new price for the fighter jets is lower than the one proposed during the Congress-led UPA regime and that the delivery will be faster. Citing a media report, Gandhi said both arguments have been “demolished”.  In teaser post on Twitter, he wrote, “The PM defended his personal RAFALE bypass deal on 2 counts: 1.  Better Price, 2.  Faster Delivery.  Both have been demolished by the revelations in the Hindu today. ”A report published by The Hindu, claimed that the Rafale deal negotiated by the Modi government was not on “better terms” than the one being discussed during the UPA rule.  The report cites “conclusion” arrived at by three of the seven-member Indian Negotiating Team (INT) that to counter the government’s claim on better pricing and faster delivery of Rafale jets. The ruling BJP, in turn, accused the Congress of attacking the institution of the CAG.  Congress president Rahul Gandhi has defended his party’s stand. “We are not questioning the institution.  But the gentleman who is preparing CAG report was part of this decision-making process,” Rahul Gandhi had said at an recent press conference. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said the report was not ‘fully correct’.  “The much awaited CAG report on Rafale tabled in Rajya Sabha is neither complete nor fully correct in the eyes of public.  Why constitutional bodies are under stress, and not able to work with full honesty in the BJP government.  Country is worried,” she tweeted.


A newspaper clip of an article purportedly published by the ‘Hindustan Times’ is being shared widely on social media.  The clip carries the news that Amit Shah had said to the VHP cadre that they (government) would not allow a state to have Muslim majority population when the whole of India is a Hindu majority; so, they (government) would change the demography of Kashmir in just four years.  Let’s check the authenticity of that news clip. Claim: Amit Shah had said to the VHP cadre that they would change the demography of Kashmir in just four years. Fact: The newspaper clip of ‘Hindustan times’ carrying that news is an edited one.  The original article carried the news that Amit Shah has reworked Kashmir’s domicile law by including those who were residing in the state for 15 years.  The writer of the original article, ‘Neeraj Chauhan’, has also clarified that the information in the clip is fake and it is an edited one.  So, the claim is FALSE. In the photo, it can be seen that the article in the newspaper clip was written by ‘Neeraj Kumar’ for the ‘Hindustan Times’.  In the article, it was reported that Amit Shah would change the demography of Kashmir by changing the Muslim ratio in the state by allowing more Hindus into the state by offering them plots for residence, industries and commercial establishments. When searched on Google with the keywords in the news clip, no such article was found.  But, when the image in the clip is cropped and subjected to reverse image search, an article of ‘Hindustan Times’ was found.  The article was about Amit Shah reworking Kashmir’s domicile law by including those who were residing in the state for 15 years.  It reported that Amit Shah had assured a delegation of Kashmiri leaders last month that the apprehensions about the Union Territory’s demographic changes were baseless.  It also carried the information that the government has redefined domicile rules for Kashmir and ordered that only people who fulfill that criteria are eligible to be appointed to junior posts in the bureaucracy and the constabulary.  The article had the same image, author, and date as that of the one in the clip.  So, the news clip in the post is an edited one. Also, the writer of the article and Associate Editor of the Hindustan Times, Neeraj Chouhan, has tweeted and clarified that the information in the clip is fake and it is an edited one. A FAKE news is doing rounds on whatsapp with my name.  This isn’t my story or on HT website.  Somebody has edited this and spreading it.  This is absolutely FAKE.  Request all fact-checkers to please see.  @free_thinker @AltNews @boomlive_in @syednazakat @smhoaxslayer @jencyjac pic. twitter. com/k3bBIdWv9wTo sum it up, a photoshopped news clip is being shared to falsely claim that Amit Shah wanted to change the demography of Kashmir in four years. Did you watch our new video?


Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a three-day national conference on vigilance and anti-corruption

https://t.co/EHalRZOXaw https://t.co/EYVofDR5ZL

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a three-day national conference on vigilance and anti-corruption, on the theme Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat (Vigilant India, Prosperous India) on Tuesday evening via a video-conference link.  The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) organises the national conference coinciding with the Vigilance Awareness Week, which is observed every year from October 27 until November 2.  People familiar with the development said the activities in the conference would be focused on vigilance issues aimed at creating awareness and reaffirming the country’s commitment to promotion of integrity and probity in public life through citizen participation. Also read | At India Energy Forum, PM Modi says India’s energy future bright and secureThe conference will discuss the challenges in investigation in foreign jurisdictions; preventive vigilance as a systematic check against corruption; systematic improvements for financial inclusion and prevention of bank frauds; effective audit as an engine of growth; latest amendments to the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988 as an impetus to fight against corruption; capacity building and training and multi-agency coordination -- an enabler for faster and more effective investigations.  People cited above said that law enforcement officers from across the country will also discuss emerging trends in economic offences; cyber crimes and transnational organised crime measures to control and exchange of best practices among criminal investigation agencies during the conference.  “The conference will bring policymakers and practitioners on a common platform and will act as an enabler to combat corruption through systemic improvements and preventive vigilance measures, ushering in good governance and accountable administration.  This is a significant contributing factor for enabling ease of doing business in India,” said RK Gaur, spokesperson, CBI. Minister of state (MoS) for Personnel Jitendra Singh will also address the inaugural session of the conference.  The participants in the conference include heads of anti-corruption and vigilance bureaus, economic offences wings and crime inspection department (CID) units from all states and union territories (UTs) apart from central agencies.  Chief secretaries and director-generals of police (DGPs) of all states and UTs will also attend the inaugural session of the conference on Tuesday.


Pres. Trump said he would "certainly talk about" buying Greenland if he were to visit Denmark, but the topic is not "top on the list." https://t.co/IPjpAZtHFh https://t.co/MOWyZUEGeT

By Paul LeBlanc, CNNUpdated 0842 GMT (1642 HKT) August 19, 2019 Washington  (CNN)The Danish Prime Minister called Donald Trump's interest in buying Greenland "absurd" the same day the President confirmed he had discussed the possibility of the US purchasing the country -- albeit, Trump said, it wasn't a high priority for America.  CNN's Pamela Brown, Jim Acosta and Caroline Kelly contributed to this report.


JUST IN: Another 1.5 million workers filed for first-time jobless benefits last week https://t.co/qKBuQbxlA6

More than 40 millions are out of work because of the pandemic.  What to know about applying for unemployment benefitsAnother 1. 5 million U. S.  workers filed for unemployment insurance last week, the U. S.  Department of Labor said Thursday. Millions are still out of work as states slowly begin to reopen.  As of last week, 20. 5 million people were still receiving unemployment benefits. "The prolonged plateau of over 20 million continuing to claim UI benefits despite states reopening sends a strong signal that any labor market recovery will happen in fits and starts," Glassdoor senior economist Daniel Zhao said Thursday morning. "The labor market’s path to recovery is littered with obstacles that could smother the rebound, from the expiration of federal support for businesses and workers to depressed consumer demand to the resurgence in COVID-19 cases," he added. While the number of new layoffs have leveled off as pandemic restrictions ease, they have remained near record highs each week -- in the millions -- for more than three months. New weekly unemployment filings peaked at 6. 9 million during a week in late March.  Prior to the pandemic the record for weekly unemployment filings was 695,000 in 1982. All told, some 45 million Americans have lost their job and filed for unemployment benefits at some point during the COVID-19 crisis. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Stunned sports fans chanted ‘Kobe! Kobe!’ during Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl game as news of NBA legend Kobe Bryant's death was announced. https://t.co/chipNOYz03 https://t.co/SGeJUA7AXW

By Christina Maxouris and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNNUpdated 9:04 PM ET, Mon January 27, 2020  (CNN)Nine people died in the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant -- including his daughter, Gianna, and her basketball teammate. A statement from Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom regarding the Altobelli family: pic. twitter. com/nfrMs5t6BjKobe and Gigi courtside breaking down the game 📋 pic. twitter. com/FxqSjVx6ewCNN's Nick Watt, Jon Passantino, Chloe Melas, Darran Simon, Ashley Fantz, Rob Kuznia, Matthew Hilk and Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.


"Samantha was by herself. She had absolutely no chance."

Family mourns South Carolina college student, who police say was killed after getting into a car she mistakenly thought was an Uber. https://t.co/ND3Pzme3pm https://t.co/9T82CesR9p

  A college student whose body was found in a field hours after she got into a vehicle she mistakenly thought was her Uber ride died from multiple sharp force injuries, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said.

  Samantha Josephson, 21, a student at the University of South Carolina, called an Uber around 2 a. m.  Friday in Columbia, and was last seen getting into a black Chevy Impala, said Columbia Police Chief W. H.  “Skip” Holbrook.  Turkey hunters found her body 14 hours later in the field in Clarendon County, about 90 miles away.

Mother of slain University of South Carolina student says suspected killer created 'a hole in our universe'

  The Law Enforcement Division cited an autopsy report from the Clarendon County coroner.  Authorities declined Monday to release additional information.

  Josephson’s body had numerous wounds, including on her head, neck, face, upper body, leg and foot, according to arrest warrants for suspect Nathaniel David Rowland.

  Surveillance video of Josephson outside a bar shows her standing by herself on a curb on the morning she disappeared.  She takes several steps toward a black vehicle that pulls up to a parking spot.  She reaches for the door handle of the vehicle as it slows down and gets inside, the video shows.

  Josephson and her roommates had gotten separated the night they went out, Holbrook said.  Her roommates grew worried the next morning.  They looked for her and called Columbia police around 1:30 p. m.  Friday to report her missing, Holbrook said.

  Police arrived at the home where Josephson and her roommates lived that day.

  Josephson’s friends also went around Columbia with her photo on Friday asking whether anyone had seen her.

  Iley Wildes, who co-owns Natural Vibrations, a store located next to a bar where Josephson was last seen, recalled Josephson’s boyfriend and roommates came in to her store with a photo of Josephson.  They also wanted to see the store’s surveillance video, Wildes told CNN.

  “They seemed very concerned and distraught,” she said.

Think you know how to Uber and Lyft?  Make sure you're aware of these safety tips

  Early Saturday, police arrested Rowland, 24, in Columbia after an officer saw him driving an Impala that matched the description of the vehicle seen in surveillance video.  Police found Josephson’s blood in the car’s passenger side and trunk, authorities said.  Her cell phone was found in the passenger compartment, police said.

  Investigators found a container of liquid bleach, germicidal wipes and window cleaner in the car, Holbrook said.

  Rowland faces charges of murder and kidnapping in connection with Josephson’s death.

  He waived his right to a scheduled court appearance on Sunday.  Fielding Pringle, his public defender, declined to comment.  Rowland was listed as being held in jail in Columbia.  Arrest warrants listed his home as New Zion, an unincorporated community in Clarendon County.

  Rowland’s mother told CNN affiliate WACH that she talked to her son and he denied the allegations.

  “He is a very good young man, and when I talked to him yesterday, and he told me that wasn’t him, and I believe him,” she said.

  Josephson had worked at the Liberty Tap Room, a nearby brewery and grill, for several months, according to a manager.

  Throughout the day, students in University of South Carolina clothing placed flowers in front of a memorial at a fountain in Columbia’s Five Points bar district where Josephson was last seen.

  Ride-sharing guidelines from Columbia police were plastered on businesses in the Five Points area, including the bar where Josephson was before she climbed into the Impala.  The guidelines pointed out where the drop-off and pick-up zone were in the area and offered safety tips and guidelines.

  An Uber spokesperson in a statement said: “Since 2017, we’ve been working with local law enforcement and college campuses across the country to educate the public about how to avoid fake ride-share drivers.  Everyone at Uber is devastated to hear about this unspeakable crime, and our hearts are with Samantha Josephson’s family and loved ones.  We remain focused on raising public awareness about this incredibly important issue. ”

  Josephson, from Robbinsville, New Jersey, located east of Trenton, planned to study law in the fall at Drexel University in Philadelphia, according to her father, Seymour Josephson.  He attended at a candlelight vigil Sunday on the South Carolina campus.

  Josephson’s funeral will be held at noon Wednesday at Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, according to a post on her father’s Facebook page.  She will be buried in Perrineville, New Jersey.

  A GoFundMe page to cover funeral and memorial costs had raised more nearly $69,000 by Tuesday afternoon.

  CNN’s Pierre Meilhan and Amir Vera contributed to this report
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Maharashtra: Houses have been submerged in floodwater in Kalyan, Thane. https://t.co/0DmGIgdhWs

Incessant rains has thrown Mumbai out of gear as waterlogged roads and cancelled trains have brought normal life to a halt.  Flood alert has been issued in Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Badlapur.  These areas are still recovering from the impact of the rains from the past week.  Santa Cruz has already recorded 173 mm of rainfall overnight.  Colaba has recorded over 100 mm of rainfall until now, according to Skymet Weather.  Indian Meteorological Department has also said that isolated extremely heavy rainfall will batter Madhya Maharashtra.  Waterlogged roads at Sion, Ghodbunder Road, Dombivli has affected residents.  Central Railways has cancelled 8 trains and terminated three trains due to waterlogging, boulders on railways tracks and incessant rains.  Catch all the major updates here: Follow highlights here:BMC’s solid waste management team reaches Marine DriveAs high tide hits the coast, it is expected that the huge waves will bring along with it waste from the sea.  Since we are aware, what the sea may send as a return gift to the city in the high-tide today!  The solid waste management team of @mybmcWardC standing ready at the #MarineDrive pic. twitter. com/6qmVdUQShzIndian Air Force launches rescue operationAir Force is deploying a helicopter to rescue 35 residents from a village in Thane.  IMD says heavy to very heavy rainfall to lash cityThe weather body said that city and the suburbs will heavy to very heavy rainfall in a tweet.  Updated list of trains cancelled and diverted due to rains5 trains have been cancelled as boulders fell in the tracks in the south-east ghats.  Trains Update-7due to heavy rains, water logging/boulder fallen in southeast ghat. . .  pic. twitter. com/Q5Ode5GZTxMithi river swells, more than 400 people evacuated400 people living around Mithi river evacuated and sent to nearby schools, as the river water swells to dangerous levels. Train services resume from Kalyan to ThaneTrain services from CSMT to Thane currently remain suspended.  Mumbai Police issues safety alerts for specific areasMumbai Police issues waterlogging alert for 25 locations. Dear Mumbaikars,Please be advised about waterlogging at the following locations:Nehru Nagar SCLR Bridge, ChemburNaik Nagar Signal, SionDahisar SubwayMagathane Bridge Netaji Nagar, Andheri Shraddha Junction, KurlaChincholi Port Road, New Link Road, Malad(1/2)Sion Junction, Railway StationAndheri Subway Gandhi Nagar, GhatkoparLokmanya Tilak Ganesh Nagar Visarjan Talao, Jogeshwari. J. V. L. R Junction, JogeshwariDurga Nagar Junction, JVLR. Please take due care and precautions while venturing out. #MumbaiRains (2/2)Mumbai Police posts special message for Mumbaikars on Friendship DayMumbai Police in a tweet saluted the spirit of the maximum city’s residents and police officials who braved the weather to help out fellow Mumbaikars.  Real friendship is sticking through the rainy days!  Mumbai, for you, we'd always do it all over again.  #HappyFriendshipDay2019 pic. twitter. com/sbcAytGvZ8Landslide injures four in GoregaonAccording to BMC four people are injured in Goregaon due to a landslide.  Water recedes at Wadala and Goregaon, says BMCOberoi mall, Matunga labour camp see receding water levels, said BMC in a tweet.  Water has receded at Swastik Chamber, Matunga Labour Camp, SIES College, Wadala, Oberoi Mall, Goregaon #MumbaiRainsLiveUpdate #MCGMUpdates pic. twitter. com/7wQ1Lv3zCnDadar and Ghatkopar received lowest rainfall this monsoon, says IMDHere is the amount of rainfall received by Mumbai (location-wise) until now, according to IMD data.  Malad and Mulund West continue to receive high amounts of rainfall.  Flood alert sounded in parts of Ulhasnagar and BadlapurFlood alerts given out in areas of Ambernath, Badlapur, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Murbad among others.  Civic authorities are trying hard to minimise the effect of the rains which has taken a toll on Ulhasnagar’s civic properties.  Power cuts hit parts of ThaneSevere waterlogging has led to power cuts in Titwala, Manda, Varap, Badlapur and some areas of Kalyan.  Signs of respite for Mumbaikars as monsoon conditions to shiftPrivate weather forecasting agency Skymet said non-continuous showers were expected through Sunday and rain intensity would reduce from Monday.  “Rain bearing weather systems are likely to die down by Sunday evening resulting in reduced rain activity from Monday onwards up till August 9 for Mumbai as the monsoon conditions will shift to south Konkan and interior Maharashtra,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet. Earlier today water was released from the Barvi Dam due to heavy rains. Extreme rainfall events led to new rainfall record for MumbaiLast monsoon, Mumbai recorded 2,239. 6mm rain over four months, which was 77. 6mm less than the season’s average.  In 2017, the city had recorded 3,029. 9mm rain, highest in six years. Over the last 48 hours, Mumbai received 337. 9mm rain, which helped the city surpass the milestone.  Earlier this season, two extremely heavy rain days July 1 and 2 when 375. 2mm was recorded in 24 hours and 219. 2mm from July 26 to July 27 were ‘extreme rainfall’ events that helped surpass the season’s total. Local services suspended between CSMT and KalyanEntire train services on central railways slow and fast railway corridor of mainline has been suspended.  Few trains were operated between Kalyan and Kasara railway stations but have been stopped since morning.  Mumbai rains cross season average with two months to goThe southwest monsoon spans across four months for Mumbai (June - September), which means excess rainfall will continue for the remainder of the season. The Mumbai suburbs weather observatory recorded 204mm over 24 hours (8. 30am Saturday to 8. 30am Sunday) taking the tally for the season to 2,374. 2mm against the seasonal average of 2,317. 2mm. Flights diverted from Mumbai airport‘There have been six go arounds and two flight diversions at Mumbai airport’, says Mumbai International Airport Ltd.  (MIAL) spokesperson.  Thane Railway Station faces severe waterloggingThane has also broken its ten years record as it received 283. 55mm of rainfall in the last twenty four hours.  The total rainfall this year is 2689. 33 mm which has crossed last year’s rainfall of 2688. 33 mm.  Water logging was reported from 64 areas across the city while 31 tree fell in different parts of the city. Navi Mumbai battered by heavy rainsWater logging on Sion Panvel Highway Service Road at Turbhe.  High tide timings released by SkymetHigh tide to hit the coast at 2:30 pm in the afternoon.  Today’s High Tide hrs- 14:29hrs- 4. 83 mtr, Low Tide 20:33hrs - 0. 85mtr.  #MumbaiRainlive #MumbaiRainsLiveUpdate #MumbaiRainsLiveUpdates #MumbaiRain #Mumbai #MumbaiRainsLive https://t. co/y5mIKYUGXoLocals in Kalyan suffer due to intense waterloggingResidents of Khadegolavli from Kalyan East brave the heavy rains. Local trains from Churchgate are operationalWestern Railway has also suspended train services between Vasai and Virar railway stations due to waterlogging.  Local trains between Churchgate and Vasai Road and Virar and Dahanu Road are operational. Central Railway services slow downEntire train services on central railways slow and fast railway corridor of mainline has been suspended.  Few trains were operated between Kalyan and Kasara railway stations but have been stopped now. Virar to Vasai railway services resumedTrain services have been resumed between Virar and Vasai railway stations on the slow railway line.  Due to water logging train are being operated with speed restrictions. High tide up to 4. 5 metres predicted, locals asked to stay indoorsThe weather bureau said intense rain activity was likely to continue through Sunday based on latest radar and satellite images.  “Rainfall varied across south Mumbai with most areas receiving 100mm while parts of the suburbs recorded over 250mm.  Strong westerly winds and heavy showers will continue on Sunday under the influence of weather systems being activated along the west coast due to a low pressure formation over northwest Bay of Bengal,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, India Meteorological Department (IMD). Thane records 342. 2 mm over the past 24 hoursRain over last 24 hours (Saturday 8. 30am to Sunday 8. 30am)Mumbai suburbs - Rain data for Santacruz not available since trains are shut, no IMD officials are present at the observatory to take readingsSouth Mumbai - 142mmAlibaug- 410. 9mmThane - 342. 2mmMalegaon - 373mmHarnai - 102. 6mmRatnagiri - 153. 6mmMahabaleshwar - 305. 8mmCentral Railways cancels 8 trains due to waterloggingCentral Railways in a tweet told passengers that several trains. Trains Update-6 due to heavy rains, water logging/boulder fallen in southeast ghat. . .  pic. twitter. com/jiq0ERFF7W


#Rajasthan: Visuals from EVM and VVPAT distribution centre in Jhalawar–Baran Lok Sabha constituency. 13 parliamentary constituencies to vote in the fourth phase of #LokSabhaElections2019, tomorrow. https://t.co/DxFknFhaz8

The BJP has nominated Uttar Pradesh state minister Satyadev Pachauri from the Kanpur Lok Sabha seat replacing its veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi.  The Congress party has been successful on the Kanpur Lok Sabha seat six times in the 17 elections held since Independence.  The Bharatiya Janata Party and Independent candidates have won four times from Kanpur. Former Union minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal represented the seat thrice on a Congress ticket before losing to BJP stalwart Murli Manohar Joshi in the 2014 Lok Sabha election on the seat, an industrial hub on the banks of the Ganga.  Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of members to Parliament at 80, will go to polls in all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha election 2019.  Votes will be counted on May 23. READ: All about Lok Sabha elections 2019Here are a few details about the Kanpur Lok Sabha seat:State: Uttar PradeshName of the Lok Sabha constituency: KanpurPolling date: April 292019 candidates: Ram Kumar (SP), Satyadev Pachauri (BJP), Sri Prakash Jaiswal (Congress)Sitting MP, party: Murli Manohar Joshi, BJPWinning margin in 2014: 222,946Runner up name, party: Sri Prakash Jaiswal, CongressNumber of voters in 2014: 835,079Percentage of votes polled in 2014: 51. 83%Number of women voters in 2014: 721,903Number of polling booths in 2014: 1,492


1,201 new COVID-19 cases and 39 deaths recorded in Mumbai today, taking the total number of cases to 85,326 including 57,152 recoveries and 4,935 deaths: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation https://t.co/SBLKgWiglz

India crossed the 40,000 cases-in-a-day mark for the first time on Sunday.  Should one be worried? In the month between June 20 and July 19, the country added 705,097 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), according to the HT dashboard.  That translates to 63. 14% of the 1,116,597 cases it saw (cumulatively) till July 19. In the same period, it saw 14,209 deaths, 51. 6% of the 27,487 cumulative deaths till July 19. But there is good news as well.  The period saw 472,179, or 67. 42% of the 700,324 recoveries from Covid-19 till July 19.  On June 20, India’s recovery rate was 55. 44%.  On July 19, it was 62. 71%.  On June 20, India’s death rate (measured by the case fatality rate) was 3. 22%.  On July 19, it was 2. 46%. Even when measured as a proportion of closed cases (deaths plus recoveries), the death rate has seen an improvement between June 20 and July 19 — from 5. 5% to 3. 77%. India had 170,077 active cases on June 20; and 388,786 on July 19. Also read: Delhi records lowest Covid-19 cases reported since June 1Irrespective of whatever else the numbers prove (or don’t), they clearly establish that: one, we seem to be getting better at saving lives (which, a previous instalment of this column wrote, was in evidence even globally) and two, the number of daily cases has been increasing. The first is important because it establishes that the increase in daily deaths (now consistently close to 700 as compared to consistently around 400 a month ago) ,while worrying, is offset by the fact that the proportion of those recovering is rising.  The second is important because, when disaggregated across states, cities, and districts, it tells administrations where hospital beds and health care intervention are most needed. The increase in the number of daily cases has also come against the backdrop of increased testing.  India was conducting an average of 177,439 tests on June 20.  That increased to an average of 327,048 tests a week on July 20 (all averages are five-day ones).  I’ve previously written about the relationship between cases and tests: as testing increases, the number of cases as a proportion of the tests (a. k. a.  the positivity rate) increases to a point, then plateaus, and finally starts declining.  Delhi, for instance, is clearly seeing a decline — as is Mumbai (although the Maharashtra numbers are now being driven to new highs by cases from the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, and other parts of the state).  Tamil Nadu is continuing to identify more new cases as it tests more (the state has carried out the most tests in India in absolute terms, around 2 million), but its positivity rate has come down from its peaks and continues to remain in the 10-12% range.  On Sunday, for instance, the state saw 4,979 new cases, but carried out 52,993 tests, translating to a positivity rate of 9. 39% (a number that is also within the range acknowledged by experts around the world that signifies adequate testing). Also read | India’s fatality rate lower than global average: GovtOther states, too, are seeing an increase in cases as they test more.  Many of them — and this has been my refrain for weeks now — are still not testing enough, though, which is reflected in their positivity rates (either too low, without showing the waxing and the waning that comes with aggressive and adequate testing, as in Uttar Pradesh; or too high, as in West Bengal).  Interestingly, in both states, the positivity rate has been increasing.  The average daily positivity rate for the past week for Uttar Pradesh was 4. 3%, and West Bengal, 14. 4%, which is higher than the cumulative positivity rates in the two states — 3. 3% for Uttar Pradesh, and 6% for West Bengal. Bihar is no different — its cumulative positivity rate is 6. 96% and its average for the past week, 14. 2%.  Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal are three of India’s four most populous states (at first, third and fourth positions respectively; Maharashtra is in second). Which means the number of daily cases in India can be expected to increase even more over the next month, maybe even longer.


Himachal Pradesh: Indian Coffee House in Shimla has resumed take-away services following relaxations in 4th phase of #CoronaLockdown. Bhagat Sharma, Manager says, "We have started takeaway & delivery services but our customers say they are missing ambiance of the shop". (20.05) https://t.co/UlLyfRvkdD

The Indian Coffee House (ICH), an iconic restaurant situated at The Mall in Shimla, has resumed business through takeaway and parcel service amid lockdown 4. 0.  This is after the Shimla district administration decided to relax curfew for eight hours.  The coffee house witnessed good business on Wednesday as it did sales of more than Rs 3,000. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, like other businesses, ICH was also closed, resulting in heavy losses.  It is one of the most popular restaurants in Shimla, and on Wednesday, people were seen enjoying coffee on nearby benches. Manager Bhagat Sharma said, “Coffee and dosa are available as of now but other items are available in limited quantity.  The rates of items remain the same.  People have been demanding to be allowed to sit inside the coffee house while maintaining social distancing as they are missing the ambience of the place.  But we cannot allow that in the present scenario. ”“It was great to be able to enjoy their coffee after such a long time.  I used to visit here frequently with my friends and we are waiting for things to get back to normal so that we can once again enjoy hanging out here,” said Surinder Thakur, a local. Built in 1957, the Indian Coffee House has been popular amongst tourists as well as locals.  Prominent personalities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Afghanistan PM Hamid Karzai, BJP leader LK Advani, and former PM Indira Gandhi, have visited the restaurant in the past.


Wildlife officials have dropped more than 2 tons of food, mostly carrots and sweet potatoes, to help animals displaced by fires in southeastern Australia. https://t.co/eZXfDiQ65p https://t.co/4qYf4AHUih

By Amir Vera and Amanda Jackson, CNNUpdated 1539 GMT (2339 HKT) January 13, 2020  (CNN)The mission is known as Operation Rock Wallaby.  Operation Rock Wallaby 🦘- #NPWS staff today dropped thousands of kgs of food (Mostly sweet potato and carrots) for our Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby colonies across NSW 🥕🥕 #bushfires pic. twitter. com/ZBN0MSLZeiOne happy customer 🦘🥕🥕🥕🥕#operationrockwallaby #AustralianFires pic. twitter. com/wtzMgeaX6DCNN's Jessie Yeung contributed to this report.


"What do we want? PPE! When do we need it? Now!"

Medical staff in California protest a lack of personal protective equipment, as doctors and nurses face a shortage of masks and other gear, exposing them to risks during the global crisis. https://t.co/Th2Hpi7WIr https://t.co/7hxIpoG3nT

Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNNUpdated 4:55 PM ET, Tue March 24, 2020 This analysis was excerpted from the March 24 edition of CNN's Meanwhile in America, the daily email about US politics for global readers.  Click here to read past editions and subscribe.   (CNN)Most big sports events in the US now feature a "Salute to the Troops" moment, when fans stand to honor a returned service-member.  It's a tradition that seeks to salve wounds lingering from the Vietnam War, when fierce social divides saw many conscripts spurned when they came home.


MJournalist CJ Werleman, who claims to be an activist against Islamophobia, tweeted a 2-minute-long video accusing Indian mainstream media outlets for not showing the true picture of Kashmir amidst the lockdown post abrogation of Article 370

The video tweeted by Werleman showed a large number of masked men throwing stones at security forces, and the forces, in retaliation, using tear gas to dispel them.  Couple of masked men, when interviewed by the cameraperson recording the video, said they were fighting for Sharia (Islamic law) and Khilafat (pan-Islamist political protest).  Tweeting this video, Werleman wrote, âIndian mainstream media outlets continue to push Modi's lie about Kashmiris welcoming thousands of more Indian troops and the accompanying lockdown.  You make up your mind," thereby implying that Kashmiris were aggressively protesting against Indian governmentâs decision to abrogate Article 370.  Werleman later deleted this tweet, but not before it had gone massively viral with many retweets and views running into thousands.  His tweet was also picked up by several other Facebook pages, who posted the same video with the same claim.    TRUTHThe video used by Werleman to show clashes between Kashmiri locals and security forces is not a recent one.  It is from the year 2017.  VERIFICATION AND METHODOLOGYThe video tweeted by Werleman carried watermark of Ruptly.  We went through the YouTube library of Ruptly and traced the same video they had shared on May 15, 2017.  The video was titled âIndia: Police and protesters in running battles during latest Srinagar protestâ.  The description of the video read, âClashes broke out between police and protesters outside a college campus in Srinagar.  Police used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to repel protesters, who in turn retaliated with volleys of rocks and canisters that were originally fired by the police. â


A video shows U.S. President Joe Biden talking to reporters in front of a green screen.

On March 17, 2021, a video started circulating on social media that many users claimed featured U. S.  President Joe Biden talking to reporters in front of a green screen to make it appear he was in a location where he was not: This is a genuine video of Biden talking to pool reporters.  The claim that Biden was using a green screen (a device used in movies and TV to alter the background) is based on an odd visual in this video when Biden’s hand appears to come in front of a fuzzy grey microphone.  This rumor was popular on the r/conspiracy section of Reddit, but it was also spread by retired athletes and popular conservative social media personalities such as Aubrey Huff and Tito Ortiz.   Huff wrote: “@JoeBiden taking questions in front of the green screen.  Notice the hand going right through the microphone.  It’s all a big production…. . and so many of you are falling for it.  Wake up! ” While this visual may look a little odd, the claim that it shows Biden using a green screen quickly falls apart upon closer examination.  For starters, it’s important to note that the microphones in this video are being held by boom poles.  While we might be accustomed to seeing reporters holding their own microphones, social distance protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic have forced reporters to start using boom mics.  These mics are also larger than some might anticipate, as illustrated by the photograph at the top of this article provides.  In other words, Biden is standing directly in front of several large boom mics, but is still several feet away from the reporters.  When it appears that Biden’s hand crosses over the microphone, it’s because it actually does, it just looks a little funny because the mics are both larger than anticipated and at a different distance than expected.  Here’s a diagram from Captain Disillusion, a visual effects specialist, to better illustrate this point: Here’s another angle of this purported “green screen” moment from The Washington Post: Steve Herman, the reporter who was holding the fuzzy grey microphone in this video, posted a message on Twitter saying that he was “literally in front” of the president when this video was filmed.  In other words, Herman and Biden were both together on the south lawn of the White House, not in a studio with a green screen.   The claim that Biden was speaking in front of a green screen is part of a larger conspiracy theory holding that Biden presidency is being “faked” in one manner or another.  Last month, for example, we addressed the false rumors that photographs showed Biden on a movie set and not in the Oval Office, and just after Biden’s inauguration, a rumor circulated that the president was using a “fake” Air Force One plane.  While some people may not want to believe it, Biden is real and he is really the President of the United States.


Total 8 persons including the security guards of a private college arrested for allegedly thrashing two Nigerian students, in Haridwar district. A case has been registered.  Action to be taken against those involved in the incident: Abhay Singh, CO Manglaur, Haridwar #Uttarakhand https://t.co/CXE04UJFsZ

A special CBI court in Mathura pronounced 11 policemen, including a former deputy Superintendent of Police (SP), guilty on Tuesday in the murder of former royal Raja Man Singh. The CBI had presented the charge sheet against 18 police personnel; four of them died during trial and three others were acquitted.  The convicted police officials included Kan Singh Bhati who was the deputy SP of Deeg in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur. The CBI verdict came 35 years after Singh was killed in police firing. Raja Man Singh was the younger brother of last ruler of Bharatpur, Maharaja Sawai Vrijendra Singh, and son of Maharaja Kishan Singh who was born on December 5, 1921.  He studied engineering in England and was seven-time Independent MLA from Deeg from 1952 to 1984. Raja Man Singh’s daughter Krishnendra Kaur Deepa was the tourism minister in the last BJP government in Rajasthan. The CBI court hearing was shifted to Mathura from Rajasthan on a plea by Krishnendra Kaur Deepa. Man Singh was shot dead along with his two supporters in police firing in February 1985 after an incident of violence in which chief minister Shiv Charan Mathur’s helicopter was damaged. The CM had come to campaign for Congress candidate from Deeg, retired IAS officer Vijendra Singh, who was contesting against Man Singh. The chief minister was scheduled to address an election meeting in support of Singh.  Ahead of the meeting, Congress workers removed flags and banners of Raja Man Singh.  An enraged Singh reached the meeting venue with his supporters in his Jonga Jeep. He created a ruckus and even damaged the chief minister’s helicopter by his Jeep.  Mathur was rescued by the security personnel. On February 21, 1985, curfew was imposed and police forces deployed in Deeg.  Singh’s daughter Krishnendra Kaur Deepa alleged that after police registered complaint against her father, he was going to surrender himself before police but deputy SP Kan Singh Bhati with heavy police forces stopped his jeep in Anaj Mandi in Deeg and opened fire. Singh and his supporters Thakur Sumer Singh and Thakur Hari Singh were killed in the police firing. As the court pronounced its judgement, heavy police force was deployed outside to maintain law and order.


A post is being shared widely on social media with a claim that the Kerala Government has asked NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) for a loan of Rs.  20,000 crore as they have declared Rs 20,000 crore special package to deal with COVID-19 outbreak.  Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post. Claim: Kerala has asked NABARD for a loan of Rs 20,000 crore to deal with COVID-19. Fact: While it is true that the Kerala Government has announced a financial package of Rs.  20,000 crore to fight the pandemic, they have not asked NABARD for a loan of Rs 20,000 crore.  They have requested for a special line of credit of Rs 2000 crore from NABARD under RIDF.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.    On the official Twitter handle of Kerala Chief Minister’s Office, it can be found that the Kerala Government has announced a special package of Rs.  20,000 crore to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerala Govt's Special Package | #COVID1920,000 Cr financial package to fight the pandemic.  ✅ Loans worth 2000 Cr through Kudumbashree ✅ 2000 Cr for employment guarantee programme ✅ 2 months welfare pensions in advance✅ 500 Cr health packageIn the post, ‘The News Minute’ article was given.  So, when searched with the keywords, ‘The News Minute’ article related to the NABARD loan was found.  While the title shows ’loan of Rs 20,000 crore’ in the Google search results, the article (when opened) shows ’loan of Rs 2,000 crore’.  So, on looking at the cached version of the article, it was found that the title of the article was updated.  The archived cache version of the original article can be found here.  Also, Dhanya Rajendran (Editor-in-Chief of ‘The News Minute’) has tweeted that it was a typing mistake.  So, the Kerala Government has not asked NABARD for a loan of Rs 20,000 crore. Also, in the letter sent by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to Chairman of NABARD, it can be read that the Kerala Government has requested ‘a special line of credit of Rs.  2000 Crore under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for Kerala State at 2 per cent per year, 190 bases points less than the prevailing 3. 9 per cent per annum’. To sum it up, the Kerala Government has asked NABARD for a loan of Rs 2,000 crore, not Rs 20,000 crore. Did you watch our new video?


1,638 out of 2,500 UK returnees have been tested & 14 of them been found positive for COVID-19. Their swab samples have been sent for gene sequencing to find out whether it is the new strain of the virus: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar

(file photo) https://t.co/NwAeiJwyaV

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Saturday said 14 people who have come to the state from the UK so far have tested positive for Covid-19 and their samples have been sent for genetic sequencing to find whether it is a new strain of virus that has infected them. “A total of 2,500 people have come (from the UK), of them 1,638 have been tested.  According to information I received last night 14 of them have tested positive.  All the 14 (samples) have been sent to NIMHANS for (genetic sequencing),” he said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, the Central government has notified ten designated labs in the country for genetic sequencing, out of them two are in Bengaluru- NIMHANS and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS). “The 14 samples are undergoing genetic sequencing.  The second variant of virus in the UK is said to have undergone 17 mutations, the genetic sequencing will test in detail about mutations, which may require 48 hours, probably it (report) will come tomorrow,” he said. A total of 2,500 people have come to the state from the UK from November 25 till December 22 in two flights of Air India and British Airways- that operate, and efforts were on to trace, monitor their health and subject them to tests. The Minister however, said information regarding the genetic sequencing test reports as per the Prime Minister’s Office message will be sent to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which is likely to share the information to the public in a day or two. “. . . a total of 38,500 passengers have come to the country from the UK since November 22 and after gathering information about samples, positives and final report after genetic sequencing from all states, ICMR either tomorrow or the day after will share the information to the media,” he added.


Latest visuals: Avalanche occurred near the police post in Jawahar Tunnel area in Kulgam district today. Rescue operation underway. #JammuAndKashmir https://t.co/2JtMNUkmPl

Rescue efforts are underway to save 10 policemen missing after a police post in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district came under an avalanche on Thursday.  The post is situated near Jawahar tunnel on the national highway connecting Srinagar and Jammu. Soon after the avalanche buried the post, rescue teams of the police, CRPF and Beacon personnel were pressed into service to rescue the policemen who are believed to be trapped under the snow. This is the second time in the past few weeks when avalanche hit the Jawahar tunnel.  Last month, dozens of CRPF officials had a close shave when a tube of the tunnel got blocked by an avalanche.  From Wednesday afternoon, Kashmir Valley has been witnessing heavy to moderate snowfall.  However upper parts of Kulgam has recieved more than 4-5 feet of snow.  A 50-year-old villager was killed when his house was hit by an avalanche on Thursday.  His family was however rescued by locals.  Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) has issued avalanche warning for Kashmir region and asked people living at the upper reaches to take precautions.


Pune: Fire broke out in a cloth godown in Uruli Devachi village in the early hours today. 4 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, fire under control now. Injured rushed to hospital. More details awaited. #Maharashtra https://t.co/ntb8bTwr1Q

At least five labourers were killed early on Thursday after a fire broke out in a clothes godown in Uruli Devachi village of Maharashtra’s Pune district, reports said.  According to news agency ANI, four fire tenders have been rushed to the spot and the fire is under control now.  Injured have been rushed to a hospital, it said.  More details are awaited.


NEW: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calls Supreme Court ruling on Trump taxes a "devastating blow to President Trump and his enablers in the Republican party." https://t.co/UJZvwjZ25G https://t.co/yKpD0vnKiO

Opinion by Arick Wierson and Bradley HonanUpdated 6:29 AM ET, Fri July 10, 2020 Arick Wierson, who writes frequently for CNN Opinion, is a six-time Emmy Award-winning television producer and a former senior media adviser to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  You can follow him on Twitter @ArickWierson.  Bradley Honan is the CEO of Honan Strategy Group, a Democratic polling and analytics firm.  He has advised the campaigns of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Michael Bloomberg, Tony Blair and scores of down ballot candidates over the past 25 years.  Follow him on Twitter @BradleyHonan.  The views expressed in this commentary belong solely to the authors.  View more opinion at CNN.  (CNN)One need not listen hard these days to hear the sound of Democratic pollsters and pundits gleefully cheering that the end of President Donald Trump's term in power is finally in sight -- Joe Biden's Inauguration Day on January 20th, 2021. Sign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter. Join us on Twitter and Facebook


One should click on “http://Onlinefilingindia.in” to claim GST refund.

The central government has made several announcements for the benefit of citizens during the lockdown period.  One message that is going viral on social media claims the government has introduced online processing of Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds due to the coronavirus outbreak.  The message asks people to click on an attached link to claim GST refunds. The viral message on WhatsApp and Facebook claims, “Due to COVID-19 Outbreak, Central Govt.  Has Started Online Processing of GST Refund.  Click on “http://Onlinefilingindia. in” to Claim Your Refund. ”The archived version of the post can be seen here.  Many social media users got confused and wanted clarity on the claim. India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the viral claim is a phishing message and the web link “http://Onlinefilingindia. in” is fake.  The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has asked people not to click on any fake link that promises refunds.  The official website for GST-related filings is “https://www. gst. gov. in/” and not “http://Onlinefilingindia. in”. With the help of domain tools, we found that the dubious website was created only five days ago on May 1, 2020, and registered only for a year. The website was deactivated after the government swung into action to stop the spread of misinformation regarding GST refund claims.  However, the archive version of the fake web link can be seen here.  The easiest way to find the authenticity of such web links is to check their URLs.  Any government website will have “gov. in” at the end of their web link, but the URL of this website “Onlinefilingindia. in” made it look suspicious. CBIC has asked taxpayers not to use “http://Onlinefilingindia. in” for online filings related to GST. According to media reports published on April 17, 2020, CBIC had decided to expedite its GST refund process during the lockdown.  In the 39th GST Council meeting, it was decided that the GST refund process should be smoothened to help business. Also read: Fact Check: Old video of drunken cop linked to liquor shops opening after lockdown relaxationAlso read: Fact Check: No, White House is not selling commemorative coronavirus coinsThe number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.