In January 2019, Alabama's Supreme Court declared fetuses are people.

On January 22 2019, New York State’s Reproductive Health Act was signed into law, inflaming people across the United States.  Arguments raged on social networks, largely due to misinterpretations of the law and a mistaken belief that it enabled elective third-trimester abortions.  A week later, on January 29 2019, a Facebook user shared the following post (presumably in reference to the ongoing debate): The post above claimed: Alabama Supreme Court Rules Unborn Baby is a Person.  Thank You Alabama!  Given that the post appeared less than a week after the passage of the law (and racked up a near six-figure share count), it is safe to assume first that the poster referenced the law in New York, and second that the sharers believed Alabama’s purported legislation occurred after, and also in relation or response to, that law.  In the comments of the post, users shared a link to a mostly-inaccessible Christian Post article from January 2017 titled “Unborn Babies Are Human Beings, Alabama Supreme Court Notes in Ruling. ” Although we attempted to archive the cache of the page, we were not able to save anything but a 404 message.  However, the text of that piece did not match its headline.  It began: The Alabama Supreme Court ruled [in December 2016] that a woman who lost her baby during her pregnancy as a result of medical malpractice can sue the doctor for wrongful death because the unborn child is a human being.  The Court unanimously reversed a County judge’s order that said Alabama resident Kimberly Stinnett, who in 2012 lost her child because an OB-GYN administered an abortion-inducing drug during her pregnancy thinking Stinnett had a ectopic pregnancy when she did not, had no claim under Alabama’s Wrongful Death Act.  As AL. com reported, in a concurring opinion Justice Tom Parker wrote that the unborn are indeed protected by the state’s wrongful-death statute because life begins at conception, noting that such protections have not always been guaranteed in Alabama.  The Christian Post cited a January 4 2017 AL. com article, which was accessible as of February 5 2019.  That piece was titled “Woman can sue doctor for wrongful death after miscarriage, Alabama Supreme Court rules. ” It reported: A Helena woman can proceed with a wrongful death claim against a doctor for her miscarriage when she was about six weeks pregnant, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled [in December 2016] in reversing a Jefferson County judge’s order that dismissed her claim.  One justice, outspoken in the past in his views against Roe v.  Wade, said the decision reaffirms the Alabama Supreme Court’s previous ruling that children are protected by Alabama’s wrongful-death law from the point of conception.  Justices ruled a circuit judge had erred when he said the doctor was immune from civil lawsuits for wrongful death involving the death of a fetus that had not yet reached the stage of viability.  The state’s Wrongful Death Act extends immunity from criminal prosecution to doctors for “a mistake or unintentional error causing the death of a pre-viable fetus. ” But the judge, based on previous rulings, had extended that to also include immunity from civil lawsuits.  The decision by the Alabama Supreme Court allowing the wrongful death claim to proceed to trial was unanimous, with all eight justices of the current court concurring in the result.  Justice Tom Parker wrote a special concurring opinion.  “Today, this Court again reaffirms the principle that unborn children are protected by Alabama’s wrongful-death statute from the moment life begins at conception,” Parker wrote.  “This has not always been the case in Alabama.  Alabama used to deny unborn children who had not yet grown strong enough to survive outside of their mother’s womb the protections of Alabama’s wrongful-death statute. ” Parker stated that Alabama previously applied the viability standard established in Roe v.  Wade – the U. S.  Supreme Court decision in 1973 that gave women the right to abortions before fetuses are viable – “to determine which unborn children received protection under the law and which did not. ” However, in a 2011 decision in Mack v.  Carmack the Alabama Supreme Court determined that the viability standard established in Roe does not apply to wrongful-death law, Parker stated.  “The Court reaffirms that principle today,” he wrote.  “The use of the viability standard established in Roe is incoherent as it relates to wrongful-death law because, among other reasons, life begins at the moment of conception,” Parker wrote.  “The fact that life begins at conception is beyond refutation. ” That story was also picked up by known disinformation purveyors like NewsPunch. com, which added to the confusion by never once noting any dates: The initial court dismissed the case, but when Stinnett appealed her case to the Alabama Supreme Court, it was ruled that her case stands and must be heard in the lower court.  The court’s decision to allow Stinnett’s case to proceed has significant implications for the pro-life movement since they based their decision on the belief that Kennedy had possibly contributed to a homicide–meaning that Stinnett’s unborn baby was a person and not simply a fetus.  “The use of the viability standard established in Roe [Roe v.  Wade] is incoherent as it relates to wrongful-death law because, among other reasons, life begins at the moment of conception.  The fact that life begins at conception is beyond refutation,” wrote Judge Thomas Parker.  Even outside a strictly legal analysis, it was clear that the initial source material referred to a single ruling, albeit one that likely constituted case law: Case law, also known as precedent or common law, is the body of prior judicial decisions that guide judges deciding issues before them.  Depending on the relationship between the deciding court and the precedent, case law may be binding or merely persuasive.  For example, a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is binding on all federal district courts within the Fifth Circuit, but a court sitting in California (whether a federal or state court) is not strictly bound to follow the Fifth Circuit’s prior decision.  Similarly, a decision by one district court in New York is not binding on another district court, but the original court’s reasoning might help guide the second court in reaching its decision.  As noted in the excerpt above, case law may be “binding or merely persuasive. ” In the 2016 decision in Alabama, the ruling opened the door for wrongful death cases involving a nonviable fetus.  The judge who authored the special opinion upon which the Christian Post article was based specified that the woman’s tort with respect to the loss of her fetus was viable “as it relates to wrongful-death law. ” The decision did not appear to have influence outside the narrow application of a wrongful death of a fetus.  Nothing in the January 2019 Facebook post indicated that the poster specifically referenced the December 2016 wrongful death appeal case, and it was not the only time Alabama’s court delved into the subject of fetal personhood.  In October 2018, Associated Press covered the court’s ruling on another case involving the murder of a pregnant woman, and the opinion of the same justice: The case in Alabama involved Jessie Livell Phillips, who was convicted of killing his wife when she was eight weeks pregnant.  A jury found him guilty of murder of “two or more persons” by one act, using a 2006 law that defined “person” as including a child in utero.  The court sentenced him to death.  He appealed his death sentence, arguing that an unborn child is not a person with independent protections and that he therefore couldn’t be convicted of a double killing.  The state Supreme Court rejected his case and upheld his death sentence, citing the state’s interest in protecting the life of both the born and unborn . . .  Like other states, Alabama’s 2006 law specifically carves out a woman’s decision to terminate her pregnancy as an exception to fetal protections.  Justice Parker called that the “Roe exception. ” “I urge the Supreme Court of the United States to reconsider the Roe exception and to overrule this constitutional aberration.  Return the power to the states to fully protect the most vulnerable among us,” he wrote in his concurring opinion . . .  Yet state laws also have served to give women more of a chance to pursue damages.  In the 2012 Alabama ruling, the state Supreme Court said an injured woman could pursue a wrongful death claim for her unborn child.  [. . . ] In his latest opinion this month, Justice Parker pointed to other cases in which judges have found the unborn can be parties to estate settlements and disputes over trusts, and in which courts have appointed legal guardians for the fetuses to represent their interests in those cases.  In November 2018, voters in Alabama favored a fetal personhood resolution, but that outcome could not be accurately described as a court decision.  The resolution was described as a “trigger law”: During the November [2018] midterms, voters in Alabama passed an amendment granting constitutional personhood to fertilized eggs and fetuses.  As a result, Alabama’s state policy now “recognizes and supports the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life. ” Additionally, voters have modified the state constitution to remove the right to an abortion or funding for abortion within the state, paving the way to render abortion effectively illegal in Alabama should Roe v.  Wade be overturned in federal court.  This amendment is known as a “trigger law,” which are regulations that are ineffective unless federal law changes.  Should Roe v.  Wade be overturned with the current conservative majority, the legality of abortion would be bumped down to the states to be determined on a state-by-state basis.  Alabama has now preemptively created a legal environment that would criminalize abortion immediately, with no exemptions in cases. . .


Moscow says Britain ‘strangling freedom’ with Julian Assange arrest

https://t.co/B9ucvKb85D https://t.co/09TPrpofOG

Russia on Thursday slammed Britain’s arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a move against democratic freedoms and called on London to respect his rights. “The hand of ‘democracy’ is strangling freedom,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Facebook after British police arrested Assange at Ecuador’s embassy in London. President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that the WikiLeaks founder’s rights would be respected. Asked if Russia was ready to give Assange asylum, Peskov sidestepped the question but told journalists: “We certainly hope that all his rights will be respected. ”British police arrested Assange after his asylum was withdrawn.  He had been living at the embassy since 2012 when he sought refuge there.  Also read | Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, arrested by British police


Spain's coronavirus death toll tops 10,000 after a record 950 people died overnight, reports Reuters quoting Spain's Health Ministry https://t.co/VUBb8oy2wS

The coronavirus death toll in Spain surged over 10,000 on Thursday after a record 950 deaths in 24 hours, with the number of confirmed cases passing the 110,000 mark, the government said. Spain has the world’s second-highest death toll after Italy, with the virus so far claiming 10,003 lives although the rate of new infections and deaths continued its downward trend, the health ministry figures showed. avl/ds/dl


An Amtrak train headed for Los Angeles with nearly 200 people on board came to a standstill Sunday evening after hitting a tree that had fallen onto the tracks. More than 24 hours later, there's still no movement. https://t.co/NQmLD2Ipfc https://t.co/0i5IMjazQN

The train had been stuck near the tiny town of Oakridge since Sunday evening. Amtrak train stranded in Oregon for over 24 hoursAn Amtrak train with 183 passengers aboard was stranded in Oregon for over 24 hours. The Coast Starlight Train 11, traveling from Seattle to Los Angeles, came to a standstill near the tiny town of Oakridge on Sunday evening after hitting a tree that had fallen on the snow-covered tracks, according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari. No passengers or crew members aboard were injured but "conditions further deteriorated with numerous track blockages from snow and fallen trees," Magliari told ABC News in a statement early Tuesday morning. "Due to worsening conditions, area road closures and no viable way to safely transport passengers or crews via alternate transportation, Train 11 stopped in Oakridge, Oregon," Magliari added.  "We are actively working with Union Pacific to clear the right of way and get passengers off the train. "Amtrak executive vice president and chief operating officer Scot Naparstek said there was more than a foot of heavy snow and numerous downed trees blocking the track. "With local power outages and blocked roads, it was decided the safest place for our customers was to remain on the train where we were able to provide food, heat, electricity and toilets," Naparstek told ABC News in a statement Tuesday morning. Amtrak worked with crews from Union Pacific Railroad, which operates more than 32,100 miles of tracks in 23 western U. S.  states, to open a route to the stranded train and clear the track Tuesday morning.  Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Tim McMahan said the Amtrak train was "inoperable" due to poor weather conditions and fallen trees. "Amtrak has made the decision to keep the passengers on the train because power is out in the city [of Oakridge]," McMahan told ABC News in a statement early Tuesday morning.  "Also, with only two small hotels in town they don’t want to separate the passengers prior to having them reboard for departure. "By 8 a. m.  local time, a locomotive was pulling the southbound train back north toward Eugene, Oregon, so it could return to Seattle, its origin. "We will be contacting customers to provide refunds and other compensation as appropriate," Naparstek said. Amtrak said via Twitter that passengers aboard the stranded train were not charged for food or water. One of the passengers, Rebekah Dodson, said the train had power and heat and meals were being provided.  But food was running out as they waited for help and there was no other supplies available.  The snow outside was too deep for them to step off the train to get some fresh air, she said. "People are restless but in good spirits," Dodson told ABC News via Facebook. Another passenger, Carly Bigby, said mothers with young children aboard the train were forced to create makeshift diapers and were in need of baby formula. "They don't have those supplies on the train," Bigby told ABC News.  "So we're kind of just making do with what we have. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Priya Ramani gets bail in defamation case by MJ Akbar
https://t.co/UXQ0Zvu9OD https://t.co/P9rn91hkVL

A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to journalist Priya Ramani after she was summoned in a defamation case filed by former Union minister MJ Akbar following allegations against him of sexual misconduct when he was working as the editor of a newspaper. Forty-eight-year-old Ramani filed an application before the Patiala House Court to seek exemption from appearance, saying she was a Bengaluru resident and the mother of a young child.  The matter was scheduled for hearing on April 10 after additional chief metropolitan magistrate Samar Vishal granted her bail on a personal bond of Rs10,000. “My next court date is April 10. . .  It will now be my turn to tell my story.  The truth is my defence,” Ramani said after the court hearing. Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual misconduct when he was working as a journalist about two decades ago.  Multiple women later came forward with similar allegations against the 68-year-old as part of the #MeToo campaign on Twitter. Akbar dismissed the charges, saying: “The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. ”Several journalists and activists expressed support for Ramani after Akbar said he was stepping down as a Union minister to fight the charges levelled against him.  While filing the criminal defamation case, Akbar told the court that an “immediate damage” was caused to him due to the “false allegations”.


Princess Diana brought the issue of landmine clearance to the world's attention -- and now her son Prince Harry is following in her footsteps https://t.co/eyX0TjCZA5 https://t.co/QjywXM1w8b

Princess Diana made a memorable visit to Angola in 1997. Prince Harry follows in late Princess Diana’s footsteps at Angola landmine fieldPrince Harry followed in the footsteps of his mom, the late Princess Diana, Friday, visiting the southern African nation of Angola to put a spotlight on de-mining. The Duke of Sussex, 35, walked the same path in Huambo that Princess Diana was photographed walking in 1997, when she turned the clearing of landmines into a humanitarian issue. Diana wore a flak jacket and protective mask while visiting the area, which at the time was an active landmine minefield. Harry poignantly walked down the street Friday with no protective gear and looked at the schools, businesses and homes that now fill the busy area. "It has been quite emotional retracing my mother's steps along this street 22 years on," Harry said.  "And to see the transformation that has taken place, from an unsafe and desolate area into a vibrant community of local businesses and colleges. ""The work of de-mining is dangerous, expensive and laborious and I have the upmost admiration and respect for all who do this hazardous work and risk their lives in service to their country," he said.  "I am incredibly proud, as a I know my mother would have been, with the role that the united Kingdom has played in this transformation. "Angola is still home to hundreds of thousands of landmines, according to Halo Trust, the U. K.  charity that hosted both Diana and Harry in Angola and is working with the Angolan government to make the country landmine free by 2025. One man who lost his leg to a landmine in the country in 2002 told ABC News that Harry coming to Angola gives him hope. Local organizations said they hope Harry's visit to Angola is a "seismic shift" like Diana's visit was in showing the world how common and threatening landmines still are. When he arrived in Huambo, Harry was greeted by the same official, Gov.  Joana Lina, who was the official host for Princess Diana's visit. He also visited the Huambo Orthopaedic Centre to dedicate it in the name of his mom, who also visited in 1997. Hundreds of kids lined up to wait for Harry and then ran after his motorcade when he left, yelling, "We wanna see the prince.  We wanna see the prince. "Harry started his day in Angola by visiting  working de-mining field in Dirico after spending the night at a de-mining camp funded by Halo Trust. "Landmines are an unhealed scar of war," he said in Dirico, where he detonated a mine and unveiled an initiative to clear 153 minefields in two of Angola's national parks.  "By clearing the landmines, we can help this community find peace, and with peace comes opportunity. "Harry, the youngest of Diana's two sons, left his wife, Duchess Meghan, and their infant son, Archie, in Cape Town, South Africa, to take this trip to retrace his mom's path in Angola. He spoke on Thursday in Botswana about what an attachment he feels to Africa, in part because of his mom's death when he was just 12. "I came here in [19]97, 98, straight after my mum died," he said.  "It was a nice place to get away from it all, but now I feel deeply connected to this place, and to Africa. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


JUST IN: The second presidential debate between former Vice President Joe Biden and Pres. Trump was canceled.

The second debate had been scheduled for Oct. 15, in a virtual format. https://t.co/1oTKt8mwdy

By Dan Merica and Kevin Bohn, CNNUpdated 7:14 PM ET, Fri October 9, 2020  (CNN)The Commission on Presidential Debates on Friday canceled the second debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden after the President declined to do a virtual debate despite concerns over his Covid-19 diagnosis, organizers said. CNN's Kaitlan Collins and DJ Judd contributed to this report.


Delhi: Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik paid last respects to Former Union Minister and BJP leader #ArunJaitley at BJP headquarters, today. https://t.co/MUWprivJYQ

The funeral procession of former union minister and one of India’s tallest leaders Arun Jaitley reached Nigambodh Ghat on Sunday afternoon.  Jaitley was cremated with state honours. The body of the former finance minister was kept at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday morning for the public to pay their last respects.  Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among those leaders who paid tributes to the late leader. Jaitley died of multi-organ failure at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday, a fortnight after he was hospitalized complaining of uneasiness.  He was 66. Also Read| Essential politician: The importance of being JaitleyRead highlights here:Thousands attend Arun Jaitley’s funeral at Nigambodh Ghat; starts raining heavilyThousands attend former finance minister Arun Jaitley’s funeral at Nigambodh Ghat.  It has started raining heavily. Former finance minister Arun Jaitley cremated with state honoursArun Jaitley, one of India’s tallest leaders, cremated with state honours. Anurag Thakur, Gautam Gambhir among others at Nigambodh GhatLK Advani, his daughter, MoS for Finance Anurag Thakur and former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir at Nigambodh Ghat. Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah at Nigambodh GhatVice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at Nigambodh Ghat.  Delhi: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at Nigambodh Ghat.  #ArunJaitley pic. twitter. com/uaFwJYyVyXArun Jaitley to be cremated with full state honoursMortal remains of Former Union Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley to be cremated with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat.  Delhi: Mortal remains of Former Union Minister and BJP leader #ArunJaitley to be cremated with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat.  pic. twitter. com/dC8FuSZiVjCavalcade carrying Arun Jaitley’s body arrives at Nigambodh GhatThe cavalcade carrying former finance minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley’s mortal remains has arrived at the Nigambodh Ghat for the final rites.  J-K Governor Satya Pal Malik paid last respects to Arun Jaitley at BJP HQDelhi: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik paid last respects to Former Union Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley at BJP headquarters, today.  Delhi: Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik paid last respects to Former Union Minister and BJP leader #ArunJaitley at BJP headquarters, today.  pic. twitter. com/MUWprivJYQHimachal Pradesh government announces 2-day state mourning over Arun Jaitley’s demiseHimachal Pradesh government has announced 2-day state mourning over the demise of former Union Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley, reports news agency ANI. Arun Jaitley’s mortal remains being taken to Nigambodh GhatThe mortal remains of former Union minister Arun Jaitley was taken to the Nigambodh Ghat from the BJP headquarters here on Sunday afternoon in a flower-decked gun carriage, amidst chants of ‘Jaitley ji amar rahein’.  Delhi: Mortal remains of former Union Minister and BJP leader #ArunJaitley being taken to Nigambodh Ghat where the cremation will take place.  pic. twitter. com/w9XFaC1dWtFormer finance minister Arun Jaitley begins final journey as tears and tributes flowArun Jaitley begins final journey as tears and tributes flow. Harsh Vardhan, Piyush Goyal and Raghubar Das pay last respects to Arun JaitleyDelhi: Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and Piyush Goyal and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das pay last respects to Former Union Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley at BJP headquarters.  Delhi: Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan and Piyush Goyal and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das pay last respects to Former Union Minister and BJP leader #ArunJaitley at BJP headquarters.  pic. twitter. com/oaosUCLbG9Rajnath Singh pays tributes to Arun JaitleyDelhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tributes to former Union Minister Arun Jaitley, at party headquarters.  Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tributes to former Union Minister #ArunJaitley, at party headquarters.  pic. twitter. com/0td6768qvEArun Jaitley’s mortal remains will be kept at BJP HQ till 2 pmArun Jaitley’s mortal remains were kept at the Central Hall of the BJP headquarters where it will be kept till around 2 p. m. , and then it will be moved to Nigam Bodh Ghat for the last rites, said party sources, reports news agency IANS. Amit Shah, JP Nadda pay respects to Arun Jaitley at BJP headquartersDelhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Working President of Bharatiya Janata Party, JP Nadda, pay respects to former Union Minister Arun Jaitley, at party headquarters.  Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Working President of Bharatiya Janata Party, JP Nadda, pay respects to former Union Minister #ArunJaitley, at party headquarters.  pic. twitter. com/IFZDfhR8P4IndiGo issues travel advisory in Delhi over Arun Jaitley’s funeralIndiGo has issued a travel advisory for passengers travelling from Delhi owing to the funeral procession and last rites of former finance minister Arun Jaitley.  Heavy traffic is expected in #Delhi today as our former finance minister Mr Arun Jaitely, will be cremated this afternoon.  Do keep time in hand while travelling to the airport.  As we bid farewell to this outstanding parliamentarian, our prayers go out to his family and friends. Mortal remains of ArunJaitley brought to party headquartersDelhi: Mortal remains of Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley brought to party headquarters.  Delhi: Mortal remains of Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader #ArunJaitley brought to party headquarters.  pic. twitter. com/ew1XADcfj4Arun Jaitley’s mortal remains moved to BJP headquartersThe mortal remains of former Finance minister Arun Jaitley were on Sunday morning moved from his residence in Kailash Colony here to the BJP headquarters for people to pay their tributes.  Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders accompanied the convoy carrying Jaitley’s mortal remains in a military vehicle decked with flowers, reports news agency IANS. Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa to pay his last respect to Arun Jaitley in DelhiKarnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and State BJP president Nalin Kateel will pay their last tributes to Arun Jaitley ji in Delhi today.  Chief Minister Sri.  @BSYBJP and State BJP president Sri.  @nalinkateel will pay their last tributes to Sri.  #ArunJaitley ji in Delhi today. People in Gujarat villages adopted by Arun Jaitley mourn his deathPeople of a group of villages in Dabhoi taluka of Vadodara district on Saturday mourned the demise of BJP leader Arun Jaitley by downing shutters of shops and holding condolence meetings. Jaitley, a three time Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, had adopted Karnali, Pipaliya, Vadia and Baglipura, all part of Karnali group panchayat, in December 2014 under the Centre’s Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, reports PTI. Mortal remains of Arun Jaitley being taken to BJP headquartersDelhi: Mortal remains of Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader (BJP) Arun Jaitley being taken to BJP headquarters.  Delhi: Mortal remains of Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader (BJP) #ArunJaitley being taken to BJP headquarters.  pic. twitter. com/kJ1DOFqU4tHe was a man that many people in Britain treasured: British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith on Arun JaitleyBritish High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith on Arun Jaitley: He was a man that many people in Britain treasured, knew well, worked with, valued him for his wisdom, gentleness and humour.  He will be much missed.  British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith on #ArunJaitley: He was a man that many people in Britain treasured, knew well, worked with, valued him for his wisdom, gentleness and humour.  He will be much missed.  pic. twitter. com/TSxJJRCgd9Politicians arrive at Arun Jaitley’s residence to pay their last respectsDelhi: Senior Congress leader Motilal Vohra, NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel, RLD leader Ajit Singh and Former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu arrive at the residence of Former Union Minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley to pay their last respects to him.  Delhi: Senior Congress leader Motilal Vohra, NCP leaders Sharad Pawar & Praful Patel, RLD leader Ajit Singh and Former Andhra Pradesh CM & TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu arrive at the residence of Former Union Minister & BJP leader Arun Jaitley to pay their last respects to him.  pic. twitter. com/X0jW3kc67dLast rites of Arun Jaitley to take place at 2:30 pmArun Jaitley’s body will be kept at the BJP headquarters in Delhi today between 10:30 am and 1 pm where party workers and leaders will pay tributes. The BJP said in a tweet that the last rites will take place at Nigambodh Ghat at 2:30 pm. PM Modi grieves Arun Jaitley’s demise during Bahrain tripPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid an emotional tribute to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, describing him as a dear friend with whom he had traversed the long journey from their student days together and later in political life. Addressing the Indian diaspora at the Bahrain National Stadium, Prime Minister Modi said he was tied down by responsibility due to which though he is steeped in grief, he has to carry on with his duties. Kiran Bedi remembers Arun JaitleyPondicherry Governor Kiran Bedi recalls how Arun Jaitley convinced her to take up politics.  Our collective Homage and Prayers for @arunjaitley ji and his family.  I recall how he convinced me to include electoral politics as components of my public service in 2014.  Rest is history.  Thanku Mr Jaitley.  OM Shanti.  🙏 pic. twitter. com/CWsT9ld29tArun Jaitley had opted out of the government citing poor healthArun Jaitley had opted out of the government citing poor health when the second National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in on May 30. Arun Jaitley had a history of medical conditionsArun Jaitley had a history of medical conditions, including diabetes and kidney failure.  He underwent a kidney transplant last year in May, and a bariatric surgery in September 2014. Arun Jaitley was admitted to AIIMS on August 9Arun Jaitley was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) of the Cardiothoracic Neurosciences Centre at AIIMS on August 9.  His condition had been critical and he was being treated by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists from the departments of cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology and nephrology, among others. Family, politicians pay last respectsWithin an hour of the announcement of his death, the hospital was thronged by Arun Jaitley’s family, friends and well-wishers. Those who visited the hospital included finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, minister of state at the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, BJP working president JP Nadda, member of parliament Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, senior cardiologist Naresh Trehan and senior advocate Pinky Anand, among others. Arun Jaitley died at 66Former finance minister Arun Jaitley died of multi-organ failure at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday.  He was 66.


Hollywood's A-listers brought their A-game to the Oscars red carpet. See the big fashion moments that have everyone talking. https://t.co/xTGZdWE3Vp https://t.co/rAvPBmzNJI

No host, big-time winners, the performances and more from Oscars 2019. The best moments from the 2019 OscarsWith the 91st Academy Awards now in the rear-view mirror, there are a lot of stunning moments from Hollywood's biggest night to look back on and appreciate. Lady Gaga, Rami Malek and Spike Lee all took home their first Oscars, with Lee literally jumping into dear friend Sam Jackson's arms after the big win. But the performances also were stellar, with Queen kicking things off with "We Will Rock You" and with Bette Midler later taking the stage to sing a nominated song from "Mary Poppins Returns. "And how about the pace of the show with no host, running just over three hours, with fewer jokes and skits and a greater focus on the movies themselves. Here are the top 5 moments:The performances 'rocked you'Talk about an opening!  Adam Lambert and Queen opened the show with "We Will Rock You," then moved into "We Are the Champions. "It was a moment of true chills when Lambert sung the iconic words, "no time for losers" because "we are the champions of the world. "But along with Queen, we got performances from Jennifer Hudson -- "I'll Fight" from "RBG," Bette Midler -- "The Place Where Lost Things Go" from "Mary Poppins Returns" -- and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper -- "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born. "Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings also sang "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" from "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. "The winners, moving speeches and moreIt sure was an exciting show with some empowering victories.  Regina King kicked it all off with best supporting actress for her role in "If Beale Street Could Talk. "On the actors' side, it was Rami Malek and Mahershala Ali’s year as both men took home best actor and supporting actor, respectively.  And in the biggest category of all, best picture, "Green Book" stunned the crowd as it took home the last award of the evening. When Spike Lee won for adapted screenplay, he literally jumped into Sam Jackson's arms to celebrate his first win.  He spoke about his grandmother, who put him through school, and his African-American ancestors, especially during Black History Month. When Lady Gaga won best original song for "Shallow," she thanked her sister, her co-star and director, Bradley Cooper, and finally she told people watching at home, "If you have a dream, fight for it! ""It's about how many times you stand up and are brave," she added. Rami Malek spoke about his father, who never got to see him act, and how he's looking down on him right now.  He also spoke about being a first-generation American and "could not be more grateful to each and every one of you. "No host, no problemIn addition to Lambert and Queen opening the show, the first group to grace the stage was a special trio of funny ladies. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph stepped out to present outstanding supporting actress right after a short montage of 2018 films. "We are not your hosts, but we are going to stand here a little too long," the ladies joked. They gave a mini monologue like a host may have delivered but with repeated jokes about not being the hosts for the night.  They also riffed on President Donald Trump's wall and current events like the Fyre Festival, telling the audience to look under their seats for the infamous cheese sandwich from the failed music event.  Then it was right into the nominees for best supporting actress. This was a sign of things to come as the lack of a host paved the way for a quick, witty, powerful show. There weren't many skits or dragged-out jokes, just a night celebrating the actors, actresses and films. Serena Williams, John Lewis, Barbra Streisand and moreThe Academy chose the likes of Serena Williams, John Lewis and Barbra Streisand as representatives outside the film industry to speak about the power of this year's eight best picture nominees. "When we're young, we all have dreams of what we can accomplish in life," Williams said of "A Star Is Born. "The tennis icon also spoke about the highs and lows of stardom for the film's main character, played by Lady Gaga. John Lewis received a standing ovation after he stepped out to talk about "Green Book. ""I can bear witness that the portrait of that time and place in our history is very real," he said of his brothers and sisters "treated like second-class citizens. ""Our nation bears the scars of that time, as do I," he added. Barbra Streisand had a humorous, yet powerful, story of how she connected with "BlacKkKlansman" director Spike Lee and how the two began an unlikely friendship over their love for the film . . .  and their hometown of Brooklyn. 'We're not worthy! 'Two more legends who made headlines Sunday night were Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, who brought back their "Wayne's World" characters to introduce "Bohemian Rhapsody" as a nominee for best picture. It was fitting, as the movie ended up dominating the awards show with four wins. They bowed down to Queen and yelled those classic words, "We're not worthy! "Fans on Twitter were quick to ask when "Wayne's World 3" would be happening.  Hopefully it'll feature a cameo by Queen. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


NEW: Read the impeachment report from the Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee. https://t.co/brCngyeVbD

Analysis by Zachary B.  Wolf, CNNUpdated 1239 GMT (2039 HKT) December 3, 2019  (CNN)As Democrats finish up their official report on the impeachment investigations, to be released Tuesday, Republicans have issued a 123-page document -- in DC terms, a "prebuttal" -- that argues everything you've seen so far is being misrepresented.


Rep. Adam Schiff began three days of opening arguments for House Democrats, appealing to Senators as impartial jurors and laying a roadmap for the Democrats' case in the impeachment trial.

Here are some of the highlights: https://t.co/16DLbQbM6t https://t.co/QtNI60EAnc

Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-largeUpdated 6:31 PM ET, Wed January 22, 2020  (CNN)It's been less than two days, but one storyline of the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump has already emerged: Democrats are leaning heavily on California's Rep.  Adam Schiff to make the case against the President.  THE POINT -- NOW ON YOUTUBE!  In each episode of his weekly YouTube show, Chris Cillizza will delve a little deeper into the surreal world of politics.  Click to subscribe!


An image of thousands of protesters on the streets has been viral on Facebook and Twitter.  The post claims that the US Streets are full off protesters against President Donald Trump’s plan to ruin American by using coronavirus as a weapon.  The post with the image was captioned “अमेरिका मे जनता का तूफान उमड पडा है ट्रंप कोरोना को हथियार बनाकर जनता को तबाह करना चाहताथा खुद अपने जाल मे फँस गया ,भारत मे उसका दोस्त भाँइयों ,और बहनों कहकर कभी रो रहा है कभी अवसर की दगाबाजी कर रहा है ,**बुरे का साथ करोगे तो बुरा ही करोगे ,भारत की जनता भी उबाल मारने के लिये तैयार बैठी है, #तख्त बदल दो,, ताजबदल दो ,,बेईमानो का राज बदल दो#”.  It translates to “Americans are protesting on the streets.  Trump wanted to ruin American and use coronavirus as a weapon, instead he was trapped in his own game.  Even his Indian friends betrayed his people while addressing them as brothers and sisters.  If you accompany bad people, you will do bad things.  Indians too are full of rage and ready to take to the streets.  Change the dishonest government”.  A Facebook user named Riyaz Khan Khan posted the image and received 1. 3 thousand shares and about 1. 2 thousand likes.  Archive Several Facebook profiles have posted the image with caption of similar narrative    Apart from Facebook, several Twitter users also tweeted the image with similar captions  The claim is False.  The original, un-cropped image can be seen in The Atlantic website with caption below it reading, “Thousands of people march to demand that Spain’s government increase its efforts to take in refugees who have fled the war in Syria and other violent conflicts in Barcelona, Spain, on February 18, 2017.  Spain has taken in just 1,100 refugees of the over 17,000 it has pledged to accept.  The banner reads, in Catalan: “Enough Excuses!  Take Them In Now! ”    Additionally, The Guardian also reported on the issue and had the viral image in its article with the headline “Protesters in Barcelona urge Spain to take in more refugees”.  The article was from Agence France-Presse and was published on February 18, 2017.  Thus, the incident neither took place in the U. S nor is it related to COVID-19 as it was taken in 2017.


China shot down Indian weather satellite in 2012.

On March 27, India shot down a low-orbiting satellite in a missile test and became one of the handful countries to have advanced space powers. But, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement about India's A-SAT (anti-satellite) capabilities, social media has been abuzz with various posts, one of which claimed that China shot down an Indian satellite in 2012. A Facebook page named 'Amit Shah Fans' claimed that after Mission Shakti, China, which shot down an Indian weather satellite in 2012, is now appealing for peace. India Today's Anti-Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found the claim to be false. The Facebook page, Amit Shah Fans, wrote in a post in Hindi, "2012 mein China ne Bharat ka ek mausam satellite maar giraya tha.  Kal space super power bante hi China ne shanti ki appeal ki.  Modi hai toh mumkin hua. ENGLISH TRANSLATION: In 2012, China shot down an Indian weather satellite.  As soon as India became a space superpower, China is now appealing for peace.  It is possible only because of Modi. The post, uploaded on April 1, has been shared by more than 1,700 Facebook users till the filing of this story.  Over 130 users commented on the post, in which everyone hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The page is being followed by 6. 14 lakh people. AFWA searched the internet with keywords and found that China did shoot down a weather satellite but it was not Indian and it was not in 2012. In fact, China had shot down its own defunct weather satellite called Fengyun-1C. This was done in 2007 when China was testing its anti-satellite missile.  The news report regarding the same can be read here and details of the satellite can be found here. We also searched for official reactions from India and found nothing to conclude that an Indian satellite was shot down. The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.


Veterinarian who smuggled liquid heroin into U.S. through puppies' bellies sentenced to six years in prison. https://t.co/HniglvMlJe https://t.co/pLfxblbiWT

    A Colombian former veterinary student was sentenced to six years in prison by a United States federal court Thursday for smuggling liquid heroin in puppies.

    Between September 2004 and January 2005, Andres Lopez Elorez, now 39, surgically implanted bags of liquid heroin into nine puppies he secretly raised for importation into the US on behalf of a drug-trafficking organization.

    On New Year’s Day in 2005, police raided the farm in the Colombian city of Medellin where the dogs were raised and found 17 bags of liquid heroin.  Ten of these were removed from puppies, three of which later died after contracting a virus due to the surgery.

    Elorez went on the run and remained a fugitive until he was arrested in Spain in 2015.  Last May, he was extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty to the charges.

    “I did this even though I knew I was doing wrong and I was committing a crime,” Elorez said during a plea hearing, according to CNN affiliate WABC.

    Elorez will be extradited back to Colombia once he is released from jail.

    “Every dog has its day, and with today’s sentence Elorez has been held responsible,” US attorney Richard Donoghue said during the sentencing in Brooklyn, New York.
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The #Grammys is traditionally one of the most bold and outrageous award ceremonies, fashion-wise. Some attendees found last-minute ways to pay homage to late NBA legend Kobe Bryant. https://t.co/XbMyy2UNuM https://t.co/oAkY30mUZY

The crash resulted in a fire on the scene in the upscale suburb of Calabasas. This is the story of Kobe Bryant’s life Basketball legend Kobe Bryant is among nine people who died in a helicopter crash in the wealthy Southern California residential neighborhood of Calabasas, ABC News has confirmed. Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died alongside her father, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. Bryant was 41 years old. There were no survivors in the crash around 10 a. m.  local time Sunday, fire officials said in a press conference. Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli was also on board the aircraft, the school said in a statement.  The family later confirmed Altobelli's wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, were also among those killed. The names of the other victims will not be publicly identified until next-of-kin are notified, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told reporters. "God bless their souls," Villanueva said, adding that members from the coroner's office are on their way to assist in the recovery of the remains. The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances, a spokesperson from the National Transportation Safety Board told ABC News.  Firefighters worked to contain the quarter-acre brush fire that resulted, which was difficult to extinguish due to the presence of magnesium, which reacts to oxygen and water, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby told reporters. The debris from the aircraft was scattered on steep terrain, Osby said.  Paramedics on board an air ambulance were hoisted down to the scene but were not able to locate any survivors, he added. Witnesses who were mountain biking in the area saw the helicopter in distress, Los Angeles County Fire Capt.  Tony Imbrenda told reporters.  It is not known whether the pilot alerted over radio that the aircraft was in distress, Imbrenda said. It is unclear who the helicopter belonged to or where it originated from and was going to.  The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. The FBI will also be helping the NTSB in its investigation because it has evidence response teams. While the cause of the crash is still unclear, the Los Angeles Police Department told ABC News it was not flying choppers on Sunday morning since the weather, specifically visibility, did not meet LAPD’s standards for flying. Bryant was drafted to the NBA out of high school in 1996 and spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships.  He was awarded NBA MVP in 2008 and NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010. Bryant won gold medals as a member of the U. S.  men's basketball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. LeBron James surpassed Bryant on the all-time scoring list on Saturday during the Lakers' game against the Philadelphia 76ers. "I'm happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bean Bryant -- one of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play, one of the all-time greatest Lakers," James told reporters after the game.  "The man got two jerseys hanging up in Staples Center.  It's just crazy. "Bryant tweeted at James congratulating him on beating his record. In 2018, Bryant won an Academy Award for his animated short "Dear Basketball," based on a poem he wrote in 2015 when he announced his retirement. Bryant told "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts in December 2015 that he wrote a letter to his fans upon retirement because he wanted to show how much they meant to him. "The letter itself still doesn't do it justice and how important they've been -- how vital they've been in my career," he said.  "And I mean, we grew up together.  And that's such a beautiful thing. "Bryant was embroiled in controversy during a 2005 trial when he was accused of sexual assault by an employee at a Vail, Colorado, hotel.  Bryant always denied the encounter was nonconsensual and the case was later dismissed after the victim said she did not want to testify and the two parties settled a civil suitSilver said in a statement that the "NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing" of Bryant and his daughter and offered condolences to Bryant's wife, Vanessa, and their family. "For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning," Silver's statement read.  "He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary:  five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals.  But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.  He was generous with the wisdom he acquired and saw it as his mission to share it with future generations of players, taking special delight in passing down his love of the game to Gianna. "Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti described Bryant in a statement as a "giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court -- and awed us with his intellect and humility as father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. ""He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes," Garcetti said.  "This is a moment that leaves us struggling to find words that express the magnitude of shock and sorrow we are all feeling right now, and I am keeping Kobe's entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief. "The Lakers' next game will be against the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday at the Staples Center at 7 p. m.  PT. Fans flocked to the scene of the crash, the Staples Center and the Kobe Bryant Gymnasium at the Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, where Bryant played basketball prior to being drafted, to mourn the fallen NBA star. In a statement, the school praised Bryant to raising "the profiled of the high school" and the school district, according to ABC Philadelphia station WPVI.  Bryant led the team to the 1996 state championship. "Our school community will always be grateful for his ongoing generosity to his alma mater, including his dedication of our Kobe Bryant Gymnasium and his support of our boys' and girls' basketball teams. The NBA Player's Association wrote in a statement that it was "stunned and devastated" by the news of Bryant's death. "Words cannot express his impact on our Players, the NBA and the game of basketball," the statement read.  "This is a monumental loss for the entire basketball community and our hearts are quite simply broken.  We send love and prayers out to his wife Vanessa and the entire family. "ABC News' Matthew Furhman, Matthew Foster, Darren Reynolds and Matthew Vann contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Vice President-elect Kamala Harris calls for the "assault" on the Capitol to end

Harris was in Congress when the riots began but was safely evacuated https://t.co/00ITljeORr https://t.co/TkNPeVU0N9

The draft, citing "incitement of insurrection," could be introduced Monday. US Capitol riots: Tracking the insurrectionPresident Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in 11 days. Three days after Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died defending the Capitol against insurrectionists the White House lowered the U. S.  flag to half-staff. The decision to lower the flags came hours after Capitol Police also announced the off-duty death of Officer Howard Liebengood.  The circumstances of his death have not been made public. The U. S.  attorney's office in Washington opened a federal murder investigation into the death of Sicknick, who died Thursday night after suffering injuries in the violent siege on Capitol Hill, three law enforcement sources confirmed to ABC News. The investigation is being conducted jointly between the FBI and the D. C.  Metropolitan Police Department, with cooperation from U. S.  Capitol Police. Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement that the Department of Justice "will spare no resources in investigating and holding accountable those responsible. "-ABC News' Elizabeth ThomasRep.  David Cicilline, D-R. I. , said on Twitter that an article of impeachment has just passed 200 cosponsors. House Democrats were circulating the draft, citing "incitement of insurrection" on Friday and said they could introduce it as early as Monday and hold a vote as early as the middle of the week. On Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a letter to Democrats, asked members to prepare to return to Washington this week -- another signal that the House could take up and pass the impeachment article to the Senate after it is formally introduced. The article charges Trump with "willfully inciting violence against the government of the United States" with his comments at the rally outside the White House that it says "encouraged—and foreseeably resulted in—imminent lawless action at the Capitol. "-ABC News' Benjamin SiegelWhile Many Democrats have renewed calls to impeach Trump, following his supporters' storming of the U. S.  Capitol on Wednesday, Illinois Republican Rep.  Adam Kinzinger said on ABC's "This Week" that he doesn't think impeachment is "the smart move" right now. He did, however, call for the president to resign or be removed by the 25th Amendment. "I think it victimizes Donald Trump again and I think there's a moment that we're in right now where Donald Trump, he's looking really, really bad," Kinzinger told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. "I'll vote the right way, you know, if I'm presented with that, I just think it's probably not the smartest move right now but I think that's going to be out of my hands," he added. Rep.  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N. Y.  said she believes that a second impeachment of President Donald Trump should be scheduled. "Our main priority is to ensure the removal of Donald Trump as president of the United States," Ocasio-Cortez told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.  "Every minute and every hour that he is in office represents a clear and present danger, not just to the United States Congress but frankly to the country. ""We're also talking about complete barring of the president -- or rather of Donald Trump -- from running for office ever again," she added.  "And in addition to that the potential ability to prevent pardoning himself from those charges that he was impeached for. "Trump 'represents a clear and present danger' to Congress, country: Ocasio-Cortez


Photos show a Punjab Police woman constable who was raped in Punjab

A set of photos of a female Punjab Police constable who was killed in a road accident are being shared online falsely claiming that she was raped and murdered.   BOOM spoke to Amritsar Rural Police who rubbished the claim that she was raped and stated that she was killed in a road accident when she was going for duty after a vehicle hit her scooter on October 1, 2020, and added that it was a hit-and-run case.  The photos are being shared in the backdrop of an alleged gang rape and murder case of young Dalit woman in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh that has made national headlines.  The photos show a woman dressed in a police uniform lying on the ground and a photo of a Punjab Police id card that identifies her as Constable Nomi.  The viral photos are being shared falsely claiming that she was raped and murdered.  The caption reads, "Punjab Police @Nomi (Christian Girl) Rape & Murdered in Amritsar.  Sad to hear that Indian Newspaper, Journalist, Social Media are silent on this"  Click here to view an archive Viral on Twitter We found tweets that had shared the same viral photos with the false claim.  (In English: Police constable murdered in Punjab.  Is the police also not safe?  Answer: Yes, no daughters are safe in the whole of India.  In the Corona time, bills are passed overnight, but laws are made overnight, but the daughters are raped every day, why should the government make a strict law for it) Click here to view an archive.  (In English: Now even police woman are not safe in our country, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra she is also a woman, and does your mouth have a tongue or not.  Body of female constable found near Punjab Fatehgarh Churian Road Yard Shangana Place Sangatpura, Now anyone will answer, there your government is there. ) Click here to view an archive.  Also Read: Unrelated Video Of Woman Being Felicitated Viral With Hathras Twist We searched with the keywords 'Punjab police' 'woman constable' and found news reports on the incident which stated that a woman police constable Nomi had died after a speeding SUV hit her scooter near Sangatpura village, Punjab on October 1, 2020.  The name of the female police constable mentioned in news reports matched with the name on the id card found near the woman in the viral photos which also states that she is a Punjab Police constable.   Nomi was going to attend her duty near Golden Temple in view of the visit of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and a speedy Mahindra Scorpio SUV hit her scooter after which she died on the spot while the accused fled the spot reported The Tribune on October 1, 2020.  The report further stated that the police have launched an investigation to identify the suspects and a case has been registered with the Amritsar Rural Police.   After a postmortem, her body was handed over to the family after which her last rites were performed with official honors reported Dainik Bhaskar on October 1, 2020.  BOOM contacted Amritsar Rural Police who confirmed that the woman in the viral photos is Constable Nomi and the police dismissed the claim that she was raped stating that it was a hit-and-run case.  Deputy Superintendent Of Police (DSP) of Ajnala, Vipan Kumar told BOOM, "No, there has been no rape, it is a case of a hit-and-run, a Scorpio had hit her scooter which caused an accident at around 7. 30 am on October 1, 2020.  She was going for her duty in the morning and met into a road accident after which she died on the spot" "The case is under investigation and we have recovered the vehicle, but the driver is still absconding and we are searching for the accused," added Kumar.   Also Read: Puducherry CM Pays Tribute To Woman Misidentified As Hathras Victim


We receive multiple calls on a daily basis asking whether Uni-Sto is our product. We have not manufactured any such product. This is fake. We only supply animal supplements.

The viral post is fake.  This picture is available on the Internet since 2016 with different claims.
New Delhi (Vishvas News).  Amid the farmers protest in Delhi, a photo of a woman standing in front of police in a rage with baton in her hand is shared as from recent protest. Vishvas News found in its
investigation the claim is fake.  This viral picture is on the Internet
since 2016 shared with viral claims.  ClaimFacebook page Hamara
Hindustan Pyara Sa Hindustan posted a picture of woman standing with a baton in
her hand in front of police with a claim that she is participating in farmers’
protest.  The archived version
of the Facebook post can be seen here . InvestigationWe searched this picture on
the Internet using Google reverse image tool and found this picture posted
on 10 September 2016 on Facebook page Hyderabad Funny Club without any
description. We also found this picture in a tweet by Tiju Thankachan @TijuThankacham posted on 4 October 2018 with description as from farmers protest. തോൽക്കുമെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞിട്ടും അവർ പോരാട്ടം തുടരുകയാണ് അവർ തോറ്റുപോയാൽ തോൽക്കുന്നത് നമ്മൾ കൂടിയാണ്.  ! ! ! അവർ തീർത്ത വിയർപ്പിന് നമ്മുടെ വിശപ്പ് എന്ന് കൂടിയാണ് അർഥം…. ! ! ഇനിയും കണ്ടില്ലെന്ന് നടിയ്ക്കരുത്#കർഷകസമരം #withthem #farmers #Revolutionsകടപ്പാട്_അഖിൽ pic. twitter. com/BJG9J87JSHVishvas News contacted Tiju Thankachan to verify the
claim.   “I don’t remember, but I found this picture on WhatsApp and shared
it on Twitter.  I did not take this picture.  But I can definitely say
that this picture is old and not from any of the recent protest,” said
Thankachan.  We cannot independently identify the source of this
picture due to lack of information, but we could confirm this picture is not
from the ongoing farmers’ protest. Social scanning of the facebook page that shared the viral claim revealed that it has 62,223 followers.


Coronavirus outbreak is a cover-up of a bioweapon that leaked in the Wuhan animal market

The English edition of Marathi daily Lokmat published an article recently, which claims that a Chinese intelligence officer has leaked details on how the coronavirus outbreak is supposedly caused by a bioweapon.  This claim is false; the story originates from a Reddit forum called r/NoSleep, where users share fictional horror stories that are often inspired by real events.  The same story went viral recently, after it was published on a conspiracy theory blogpost called UFOSpotlight, which was then debunked by BOOM.  Also Read: False: Chinese Intelligence Officer Reveals Coronavirus Is A Bioweapon The Lokmat article, which has now been deleted, recounts the tale of a Chinese intelligence officer who claims to reveal the true origins of the current coronavirus pandemic.  According to the officer's story, the novel Coronavirus is not a virus at all but a bioweapon that was leaked when a Chinese "traitor" tried to sell it to the United States.  Here is an excerpt from the article: "According to a Chinese official, the Intelligence Agency of America had also received the news of this biological agent and the CIA was also showing interest in it.  The US had already caught the virus that China made in the lab.  The Chinese official wrote in his article, Why the deal could not be reached on the transaction of virus between China and America.  The official wrote, "Our American friends also showed interest in the virus.  We have good relations with the CIA but because it was very dangerous, we refused.  The CIA felt that we had made a very powerful thing and China It wants to keep it to itself.  The US Intelligence Agency offered a large sum of money to a Chinese researcher and demanded that virus.  The researcher sold a sample of the virus to the US agency Sector was ready.  When the US agent was dealing with the virus from China's researcher, China got a clue.  There was a shootout in which many people died.  However, the American agent managed to escape.  This shoot out took place near the animal market, and the vial in which the sample of the virus fell on it.  This is the reason why this virus spread in Wuhan.  China tried to hide it by saying that it spread with bats.  China lied to people that only the flu has spread in Wuhan, but gradually the whole world was caught by the virus that China had made in its lab.  BOOM found that the story has no link to reality, and it originated from a subreddit called r/NoSleep - a Reddit forum where people share fictional horror stories often based on real events.  A user, named as Wuhanvirusthrowaway published the fictional story in the Reddit forum.   The forum r/NoSleep features guidelines for the users which stated that the plots written in it are works of fiction and does not contain any genuine information.  The guidelines of the forum are listed below.    • Readers are to act as though everything is true and treat it as such in the comments.  • No debunking, disbelief, or criticism (constructive or otherwise).  • Do not ask for proof, or tl;dr's/summaries.  • Be respectful to one another.  • Comments must contribute to the discussion.  • Report all comments that violate these rules.  Below is a screenshot of the same.   Furthermore, a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section also states that the stories listed in the forum are not to be believed to be true.  An excerpt from the FAQ reads, "Are the stories here true?  Probably not - but while you're in r/NoSleep, everything is true.  Outside of NoSleep, a story may be fact or may be fiction.  The important thing is that while you're here, treat everything as though it is a true recount of events. "  The stories on r/NoSleep are meant to exaggerate reality to create believable but fictional stories.  Therefore such stories may often go viral as real, if they're misinterpreted as such by those who're unaware of the popular Reddit forum.  This was previously fact checked by Snopes.


Delhi: Mortal remains of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit being taken from her residence in Nizamuddin to Congress Headquarters. https://t.co/T80zxxH3eh

Sheila Dikshit’s last journey began on Sunday.  Her mortal remains were brought to the Congress headquarters on Akbar road where political leaders paid their last respects to the former Delhi chief minister.  Her last rites were performed at Nigam Bodh Ghat.  Dikshit died at a private hospital in the national Capital on Saturday afternoon.  She was 81 years old.  Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has announced a two-day state mourning period.  Catch all the highlights here:Sheila Dikshit cremated with state honoursSheila Dikshit, former Delhi chief minister, was cremated with state honours at Nigam Bodh Ghat on Sunday evening.  Hundreds of her colleagues and supporters bade her a final goodbye inspite of the heavy rain that lashed the national capital in the evening. Surjewala tweets Sonia Gandhi’s letter to Sheila Dikshit’s children“I write to you with my heart filled with grief and a great sense of loss, for your beloved mother occupied a huge space in it. ”, wrote UPA Chairperson and Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi.  "She worked with such vision and dedication to transform Delhi, to make it a much better place to live in for all its citizens, including the poorest, and that tremendous achievement remains her lasting legacy. "3/4Dikshit’s body taken to her ‘karmabhoomi’ DPCC officeBefore performing her last rites, the bereaved supporters and family members of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit’s took her body to the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee’s office for the last time, the place that was central to her politics since 1998.  Dikshit had led the DPCC in 1998 against the then formidable city unit of the BJP and ensured victory for her party.  Her winning streak continued uninterrupted from 1998-2013 until she faced a drubbing at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party. ‘Void left by her can never be filled’: Arvind Kerjiwal“The news of the sudden demise of Mrs Sheila Dikshit ji has shocked me.  Only last month I had met her for nearly an hour when she came with her party’s delegation to submit a memorandum on several issues.  At the end of the meeting I wished her good health, not knowing that this would be my last meeting with her,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a Facebook post.  Sheila Dikshit’s final journey beginsFormer Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit’s final journey has begun.  From the Congress headquarters, her body is now being taken to Nigam Bodh Ghat, where the last rites will be performed.  Ashok Gehlot pays tributeRajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot paid his last respects to former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.  Kamal Nath pays last respectsMadhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath paid his last respects to former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit.  Two-day state mourningDelhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had on Saturday announced a two-day state mourning period after former CM Sheila Dikshit died in a private hospital in the city.  Look up to her for advice in politics: Sonia GandhiAfter paying her last respects to former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that she used to look up to Dikshit for advice in politics.  “I used to look up to her for advice in politics.  She became like an elder sister and a friend.  I am sure all my colleagues will also miss her.  Apart from politics, she had a great affinity for arts and caricature which made her different from other politicians.  Of course, Delhi will never forget her for the work she did here.  She literally transformed Delhi,” Gandhi said, reported news agency PTI . Sonia, Priyanka Gandhi pay tribute to Sheila DikshitUPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Sheila Dikshit paid their last respects to former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit at the Congress headquarters on Akbar road.  Mortal remains of Sheila Dikshit being taken to Congress headquartersMortal remains of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit are being taken to the Congress headquarters on Delhi’s Akbar road.  Sheila Dikshit’s death took doctors by surpriseSheila Dikshit had a history of heart ailments but was doing fine until recently.  Her sudden death even took her doctors by surprise.  “She was well, and active, despite her medical history, which is why the attack has come as a surprise.  It was quite sudden.  I have had been associated with her for almost 18 years, and after such a long association, it feels more of a personal loss,” said Dr Ashok Seth, chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, where she was admitted. Was a friend in personal life: Sushma SwarajFormer external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted condolence for ex-Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit’s demise.  she said that they were political opponents but were friends in personal life.  I am sorry to know about the sudden demise of Sheila Dixit ji.  We were opponents in politics but friends in personal life.  She was a fine human being.  #SheilaDixitLK Advani pays homage to Sheila DikshitVeteran BJP leader LK Advani paid tribute to former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit.  ‘Sheila worked to transform Delhi’: Sonia Gandhi writes to ex-CM’s childrenIn a letter to Sheila Dikshit’s children Sandeep and Latika Dikshit, UPA chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said that the former Delhi CM worked to transform Delhi to make it a better place for all and served the Congress Party till the end.  Omar Abdullah pays tribute to Sheila DikshitFormer Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah paid tribute to former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit.  who passed away on Saturday at a private hospital in the national Capital.  Sushma Swaraj pays tribute to Sheila DikshitFormer minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj paid homage to former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.  State funeral for Sheila DikshitA state funeral of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit will be held shortly.  Her last rites will be performed at Nigam Bodh ghat at 2:30 pm.  Sheila Dikshit’s last rites at Nigam Bodh ghatFormer chief minister of Delhi died at a private hospital in the Capital yesterday.  Her last rites will be performed on Sunday at Nigam Bodh ghat at 2:30 pm Sheila Dikshit’s funeral todaySheila Dikshit’s funeral will be held today.  Dikshit’s mortal remains will be taken to the Congress Headquarters on Delhi’s Akbar road, where people will pay their final respects between 12:15 pm and 1:30 pm.


"Welcome to the #Oscars!" https://t.co/z41pgn3O25 https://t.co/yre1y2xIp5

Hollywoodâs awards season wrapped up Sunday night with the Oscars. Check out the best photos from the red carpet before the show:Lady Gaga (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images)Mahershala Ali and his wife, Amatus Sami-Karim (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images)Yalitza Aparicio, left, and Marina de Tavira (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images)Regina King (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Tonya Lewis Lee and Spike Lee.  Spike Lee is wearing rings that say âloveâ and âhate. â The jewelry paid homage to Radio Raheem,Â a beloved character in the directorâs film âDo the Right Thing. â Lee also wore purple in honor of the late musician Prince.  (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images)Olivia Colman (Rick Rowell/ABC/Getty Images)Gemma Chan (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Billy Porter, left, and Adam Smith (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Charlize Theron (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images)Ruth E.  Carter (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Paul Rudd and Queen Latifah (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images)Rachel Weisz (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Kiki Layne (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images)Danai Gurira (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Lucy Boynton and Rami Malek (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Krysten Ritter (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Octavia Spencer (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Bradley Cooper with his mom, Gloria Campano, and his girlfriend, Irina Shayk (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Michelle Yeoh (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Michael B.  Jordan and his mother, Donna (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Serena Williams (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Emma Stone (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Pharrell Williams and his wife, Helen Lasichanh (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Brie Larson (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Chadwick Boseman (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Helen Mirren (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Amy Adams (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)David Oyelowo (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Kacey Musgraves (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Jennifer Hudson (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Tina Fey (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)SZA (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Glenn Close (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images)Linda Cardellini (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Melissa McCarthy (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)US Rep.  John Lewis (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Awkwafina (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)Constance Wu (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Amandla Stenberg (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images)Marie Kondo (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Shangela, left (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Produced by Brett Roegiers and Kyle Almond


These celebs had the best reactions to Queen's #Oscars performance: https://t.co/d9gq3BMDwD https://t.co/Zn8nFcvosY


In a first, three women appointed cash custodians for ATMs in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh

(reports @mireshankhaliq)

https://t.co/L6ORktj9JB https://t.co/1qjFkTzjpt

For the first time in the country, three women have been appointed cash custodians for ATMs. Banking automation company AGS, which looks after the working and maintenance of ATMs, has appointed three women - two in J&K and one in Ladakh – as ATM cash custodians.  The three women - Sayeeda Begum, Zakia Banoo and Belqis Banoo - are responsible for loading of cash into the ATMs.  The company has chosen to start with Srinagar, which is “the most difficult place because after that it can only get easier”. 33-year-old Syeeda Begum of Rajouri who lives in Jammu with her 13-year-old daughter and businessman husband says, “Initially, I was hesitant to take the job.  Even my family had reservations.  It was my husband, however, who encouraged me to give it a try.  I appeared for an interview and was selected for the job last year. ” Syeeda said her shift begins in the morning when she gets cash from the bank: “Accompanied by a gunman, driver and a fellow custodian, I refill the ATMs assigned to me,’’ she says.  Her shift lasts for eight to nine hours. A postgraduate in history, Sayeeda was teaching in a private school before she switched careers.  ‘PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE A WOMAN LOAD CASH’“Not used to seeing a woman load cash into an ATM, people usually stare at me.  It bothered me in the beginning, not so much now. ” These days women are excelling in every field and I hope more women take up jobs in the cash industry,’’ she says.  Zakia Banoo, 27, is the eldest among five siblings.  Her parents are farmers and the job has given her family hope for a better future.  ‘A friend told me about the post and after seeking my family’s permission I applied for the post and was selected.  Each day, accompanied by a guard, I load the ATM in Kargil town in Ladakh. ” Dedicated to her job, at times Zakia also refills cash on Sunday, in case there is a shortage of cash.  “It was quite a unique experience for me and initially it seemed difficult but now I have got the hang of it,” she says. ‘METICULOUSNESS, HONESTY ONLY REQUIREMENT’ Captain Partha Samai, group head, HR, AGS Transact Technologies Ltd says, “The work of an ATM officer is not rocket science.  It needs meticulous counting, diligence and honesty, which both men and women can posses.  It is a baseless idea that this particular job can only be done only by men and not women. ” “The success of our female cash custodians has made us realise that the idea can be replicated in other states of the country,” Samai says.  “Once the lockdown ends, we will start advertising more posts for women as cash custodians across the country.  We manage around one lakh ATMs across the country and have more than three thousand vehicles,’’ he said, adding that it was decided to start the scheme from J&K and Himachal Pradesh as fewer women from the states were part of the industry.


A set of images have gone viral on social media with the claim that they show flooded COVID-19 hospital wards in Bihar.  However, we found that these images are old and unrelated to the ongoing floods in Bihar.  CLAIM One of the images is being shared with the claim: “Smart City Hospital launched by the Bihar government during COVID-19.  Treatment under swimming pool (sic). ” Several Facebook users have shared the image with a similar narrative.  The second image, too, is being widely shared on Twitter as ‘flooded COVID hospital wards in Bihar. ’ WHAT WE FOUND OUT IMAGE 1 A reverse search of the image led us to an article published by Hindustan Times in 2018, that carried the viral image.  The image has been attributed to PTI and the caption shared along with it reads: “A flooded room inside the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital after heavy rains in Patna on 28 July 2018. ” The Quint had then reported about the incident, mentioning that two days of heavy rainfall had resulted in several patient wards as well as the ICU of Nalanda Medical College Hospital being flooded.  IMAGE 2 A reverse image search led us to an India Today article dated 22 July, that was titled: “Hyderabad: After flooding, protests by docs, Osmania Hospital management seals old heritage wing”.  The article has attributed the image to PTI, mentioning that it shows the Osmania General Hospital.  The PTI image is from 15 July, when the century old hospital, situated by the banks of river Musi, was flooded due to heavy rain.  An article published by The News Minute had also carried the viral image and mentioned that rainwater had flooded the general ward of the hospital, which housed patients for medical procedures and surgeries.  Speaking to The News Minute, Dr Pandu Naik, superintendent, Osmania General Hospital, said that the incident is from the hospital’s old in-patient building and none of the people who are awaiting COVID-19 tests are housed in that building.  Evidently, it is being wrongly claimed to be from a COVID-19 hospital in Bihar.  While the viral images are of unrelated incidents, a COVID care centre was reportedly flooded in the Supaul district of Bihar on 15 July.  In the viral video, a doctor can be seen navigating knee-length water on a rickshaw to reach his patients.  The floods in Bihar have wreaked havoc in the state, taking away lives and damaging infrastructure.


A post with a video showing a huge billboard falling on commuters due to strong winds coupled with heavy rain is being widely shared across all social media platforms with the claim that the video shows an incident that took place on the Poonamallee highway road in Chennai.  Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Billboard falling on commuters due to strong winds coupled with heavy rain on Poonamallee highway road in Chennai. Fact: The video actually shows an incident of billboard falling on motorcyclists in Karachi, Pakistan three months ago.  There are many news reports of the same incident.  This video has nothing to do with Chennai.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE. Simple YouTube search with keywords ‘billboard falling on commuters’ led us to three months old Pakistan based news videos which carried images similar to the one in the post.  According to one such news video, these visuals show a billboard falling on commuters in Karachi injuring two motorcyclists.  Another news video which says the same can be seen here. Further google search with relevant keywords led us to few news articles which reported the incident.  These articles carried images similar to the visuals of the video in the post.  Even these articles reported that this incident happened in Karachi.  Another news article which reported the same can be read here.  With all these, we can conclude that the incident did not happen in Chennai. FACTLY debunked when the same video went viral a couple of months ago with a different claim.  This fact-check story can be read here. In the light of cyclone Nivar, a very severe cyclonic storm as described by IMD, posts like these are being shared on social media platforms with misleading claims. To sum it up, video of billboard falling on commuters in Karachi, Pakistan is falsely shared as that from Chennai.


A significant era in royal history ended Friday with the death of Prince Philip at the age of 99.

Here's 8 things to know about Queen Elizabeth's husband: https://t.co/4a3YAim5fr

Updated 10:48 AM ET, Fri April 9, 2021Prince Philip, the husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, has died, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday, April 9.  He was 99. Philip had been taken to hospital several times in recent years.  He stepped back from public life in 2017.   While primarily known for his marriage to the Queen, Philip was an extraordinary figure in his own right.  He was born into the turmoil of inter-war Europe and became a naval officer decorated for heroism in World War II. In his seven decades of service, Philip often accompanied the Queen on royal engagements and conducted thousands of his own solo appearances.  He once referred to himself as "the world's most experienced plaque unveiler," while the Queen lauded him as her "constant strength and guide. "


Former President Trump's second Senate impeachment trial will commence Tuesday, setting up a week (or two) that will be equal parts historic and divisive. The trial will bring drama, but the outcome isn't really in doubt. | Analysis by @CNNPaul LeBlanc https://t.co/0Oik9m4XDj

Soon the Senate will have to decide whether to convict former President Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection2nd Impeachment Trial: What this could mean for TrumpWASHINGTON -- Former President Donald Trump's historic second         impeachment trial begins Tuesday, forcing the Senate to decide whether to convict him of incitement of insurrection after a violent mob of his supporters laid siege to the U. S.  Capitol on Jan.  6. While Trump’s acquittal is expected, all 100 senators will first have to sit at their desks and listen to hours of graphic testimony from House Democrats about the riots, which left five people dead.  The House impeached Trump on Jan.  13, one week after the violence. A look at the basics of the upcoming impeachment trial:HOW DOES THE TRIAL WORK? The Constitution says the House has the sole power of impeachment while the Senate has the sole power to try the individual on the charges.  The person being impeached — who can be the president, the vice president or any civil officer of the United States — can be convicted by two-thirds of the senators present. The House appoints managers as prosecutors who set up on the Senate floor, along with the defendant’s lawyers, to present their case.  The prosecutors and Trump's defense team will have a set amount of time to make arguments, and then senators can ask questions in writing before a final vote. The chief justice of the United States normally presides over the trial of a president, but because Trump has left office, the presiding officer will be Sen.  Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. , who is the ceremonial head of the Senate as the longest-serving member of the majority party. Once the senators reach a final vote on the impeachment charge — this time there is just one, incitement of insurrection — each lawmaker will stand up and cast their vote: guilty or not guilty. HOW LONG WILL THE TRIAL LAST? Unclear.  The Senate has to agree to the rules of the trial, and party leaders are still working out the details. Trump's first impeachment trial, in which he was acquitted on charges that he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate now-President Joe Biden, lasted almost three weeks.  But this one is expected to be shorter, as the case is less complicated and the senators know many of the details already, having been in the Capitol during the insurrection. And while the Democrats want to ensure they have enough time to make their case, they do not want to tie up the Senate for long.  The Senate cannot confirm Biden's Cabinet nominees and move forward with their legislative priorities, such as COVID-19 relief, until the trial is complete. WHY TRY TRUMP WHEN HE IS OUT OF OFFICE? Republicans and Trump’s lawyers argue that the trial is unnecessary, and even unconstitutional, because Trump is no longer president and cannot be removed from office.  Democrats disagree, pointing to opinions of many legal scholars and the impeachment of a former secretary of war, William Belknap, who resigned in 1876 just hours before he was impeached over a kickback scheme. While Belknap was eventually acquitted, the Senate held a full trial.  And this time, the House impeached Trump while he was still president, seven days before Biden’s inauguration. If Trump were convicted, the Senate could take a second vote to bar him from holding office again.  Democrats feel that would be an appropriate punishment after he told the angry mob of his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his election defeat. Democrats also argue that there should not be a “January exception” for presidents who commit impeachable offenses just before they leave office.  They say the trial is necessary not only to hold Trump properly accountable but also so they can deal with what happened and move forward. “You cannot go forward until you have justice,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week.  “If we were not to follow up with this, we might as well remove any penalty from the Constitution of impeachment. ”HOW IS THIS TRIAL DIFFERENT FROM TRUMP’S FIRST TRIAL? Trump’s first trial was based on evidence uncovered over several months by the House about a private phone call between Trump and the president of Ukraine, as well as closed-door meetings that happened before and afterward.  Democrats held a lengthy investigation and then compiled a report of their findings. In contrast, the second trial will be based almost entirely on the visceral experience of a riot that targeted the senators themselves, in the Capitol building.  The insurrectionists even breached the Senate chamber, where the trial will be held. The fresh memories of Jan.  6 could make it easier for the House impeachment managers to make their case, but it doesn't mean the outcome will be any different.  Trump was acquitted in his first trial a year ago Friday with only one Republican, Utah Sen.  Mitt Romney, voting to convict, and there may not be many more guilty votes this time around. In a test vote Jan.  26, only five Senate Republicans voted against an effort to dismiss the trial — an early indication that Trump is likely to be acquitted again. WHAT WILL TRUMP'S LAWYERS ARGUE? Beyond the constitutionality of the trial, Trump’s lawyers say that he did not incite his supporters to violence and that he did nothing wrong.  “It is denied that President Trump ever endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government,” they wrote in a brief for the trial.  “It is denied he threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch Government. ”Trump's lawyers also say he was protected by the First Amendment to “express his belief that the election results were suspect. ”There was no widespread fraud in the election, as Trump claimed falsely over several months and again to his supporters just before the insurrection.  Election officials across the country, and even former Attorney General William Barr, contradicted his claims, and dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed. WHAT WOULD ACQUITTAL MEAN FOR TRUMP? A second impeachment acquittal by the Senate would be a victory for Trump — and would prove he retains considerable sway over his party, despite his efforts to subvert democracy and widespread condemnation from his GOP colleagues after Jan.  6. Still, acquittal may not be the end of attempts to hold him accountable.  Sens.  Tim Kaine, D-Va. , and Susan Collins, R-Maine, floated a censure resolution after last month’s vote made clear that Trump was unlikely to be convicted. While they haven’t said yet if they will push for a censure vote after the impeachment trial, Kaine said this week that “the idea is out there on the table and it may become a useful idea down the road. ”———Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Image shows a Left activist holding a placard with e are ready to strip saree and cloth; yet we would not provide our documents, No NRC/CAA/NPR written on it

An image of a Kolkata based gender rights activist carrying a placard which says she will neither disrobe herself or give the documents during an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest rally has been mischievously morphed and revived.   The edited image shows the activist hanging a placard which reads in Bangla, "Will disrobe myself but will not give documents.  No NRC CAA NPR".  (Original text in Bangla: শাড়ি কাপড় খুলে দেবো তাও Dpcoments দেবো না, NONRCCAANPR) The same morphed image is doing the rounds on Facebook with netizens calling out the distasteful banner.   BOOM was able to identify the gender rights activist and found that in the original photograph, she was carrying a placard which read, "Will not disrobe myself, will not give documents. "  শাড়ি কাপড় খুলে দেবে তবুও এরা নিজের পরিচয়ের বৈধ কাগজপত্র দেখাবে না! !  তবে কি এরা অবৈধ বাপের  সন্তান তাই এত ভয়? ! !     আগেও. . .  শাড়ি কাপড় খুলে দেবে তবুও এরা নিজের পরিচয়ের বৈধ কাগজপত্র দেখাবে না! !  তবে কি এরা অবৈধ বাপের সন্তান তাই এত ভয়? আগেও বলেছি, আবারও বলছি কমরেড বামপন্থী মানেই হলো সাইকোপ্যাথ। সোজা কথায় সাইকো ও বিকৃতমনষ্ক, বিকৃতকামী না হলে বামপন্থী মাকু হওয়া যায় না। @tathagata2@anirbanganguly pic. twitter. com/ttyythMhTn Fact Check BOOM also reached out to Paul who informed that the photograph was taken during an event of Feminist Intervention event in Kolkata in January, last year.


President Ram Nath Kovind: With alertness and safeguards, we all can help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 Novel #Coronavirus. In a precautionary measure, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings. https://t.co/7mFQ8DoSiI

Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings as a precautionary measure amid the global scare over coronavirus, the President’s office tweeted on Wednesday.  “With alertness and safeguards, we all can help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus.  In a precautionary measure, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings,” the President’s office said.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have also announced that they will not participate in any ‘Holi Milan’ programme.  Holi will be celebrated on March 10.


Ministry of Finance has allowed 29 insurance companies & 9 stock/securities entities to undertake Aadhaar Authentication services of Unique Identification Authority of India, under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. https://t.co/syUweNzUo4

The finance ministry has allowed 29 insurance companies and nine securities entities, including the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Securities Depository Limited to undertake Aadhaar authentication services, the department of revenue said on Saturday. The department has issued two separate notifications to allow these entities to use Aadhaar authentication services with necessary standard security and privacy measures.  This would help these entities to perform in real time and make e-KYC (know your customer) that would reduce cost of transaction, an official statement said.  “This would also be beneficial to the customers or the investors, especially the small and retail investors, as they need not submit physical papers or documents for KYC,” a statement quoting finance secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said.  Earlier, he held the position of CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The ministry has allowed these insurance and securities entities to use Aadhaar authentication services subject to the satisfaction of their regulatory authorities -- the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDA) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), it said.