Three potential 2020 presidential candidates went on the attack against President Trump -- and previewed their own agendas -- in the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Trump's nominee for attorney general, William Barr https://t.co/WzySqWNKSN https://t.co/G4and4q8X5

William Barr faced tough questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee. AG nominee vowing to protect Robert Muller's investigationAs the Senate confirmation hearing got underway Tuesday for William Barr, President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Democratic Sen.  Dick Durbin asked Barr if he's prepared to be at odds with the president, for a "Mattis moment. " It was a reference to former Secretary of Defense James Mattis' recent decision to resign over his disagreements with Trump. Barr, who's 68, said while he might have been intimidated a few years ago, he wouldn't be this late in his career. "I have a very good life, I love it -- but I also want to help in this circumstance and I am not going to do anything I think is wrong, and I will not be bullied into doing something that I think is wrong, by anybody" including Congress or the president, Barr said. Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee,  Barr is facing tough questions from Democrats over his views on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and a memo Barr wrote in June 2018 opposing an obstruction of justice case against the president. Analyzing the president's firing of then-FBI director James Comey in May 2017, Barr argued in the memo to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that any obstruction of justice inquiry into Trump based on the firing would be "fatally misconceived. "Barr knows the Justice Department from his time as attorney general under President George H.  W.  Bush.  And while Democrats acknowledge his previous experience, many insist the current situation is unprecedented, and have been in lockstep demanding assurances from Barr that the Mueller report be made public and that he not interfere or limit the special counsel. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has gone so far as to call on Trump to rescind Barr's nomination based on the memo. Barr addressed the memo controversy head-on Tuesday. "I wrote the memo as a former Attorney General who has often weighed in on legal issues of public importance, and I distributed it broadly so that other lawyers would have the benefit of my views," Barr said in his opening statement. "As I explained in a recent letter to Ranking Member Feinstein, my memo was narrow in scope, explaining my thinking on a specific obstruction-of-justice theory under a single statute that I thought, based on media reports, the Special Counsel might be considering.  The memo did not address -- or in any way question -- the Special Counsel's core investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election," Barr continued.  "Nor did it address other potential obstruction-of-justice theories or argue, as some have erroneously suggested, that a President can never obstruct justice.  I wrote it myself, on my own initiative, without assistance, and based solely on public information. "Barr also sought to reassure Democrats he thinks Mueller should be allowed to finish his work, unhappy over Trump's appointment of Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker whom they suspected was named to block Mueller's investigation. "I believe it is in the best interest of everyone -- the President, Congress, and, most importantly, the American people -- that this matter be resolved by allowing the Special Counsel to complete his work.  The country needs a credible resolution of these issues.  If confirmed, I will not permit partisan politics, personal interests, or any other improper consideration to interfere with this or any other investigation," Barr said. "Second, I also believe it is very important that the public and Congress be informed of the results of the Special Counsel's work.  For that reason, my goal will be to provide as much transparency as I can consistent with the law.  I can assure you that, where judgments are to be made by me, I will make those judgments based solely on the law and will let no personal, political, or other improper interests influence my decision. "Asked under what circumstances he might fire Mueller, Barr replied, “Under the regulations, Bob Mueller could only be terminated for good cause.  Frankly, it’s unimaginable to me that Bob would ever do anything that gave rise to good cause. ”And he said he had made no promises to the president-- or been asked to make any. "President Trump has sought no assurances, promises, or commitments from me of any kind, either express or implied, and I have not given him any, other than that I would run the Department with professionalism and integrity," Barr said.  "As Attorney General, my allegiance will be to the rule of law, the Constitution, and the American people.  That is how it should be.  That is how it must be.  And, if you confirm me, that is how it will be. "Barr said Mueller would never go on a "witch hunt" -- what the president has repeatedly called the special counsel's investigation. However, some decisions that could impact the release of Mueller's findings, such as whether the White House will assert any type of executive privilege, would not rest with Barr. Mueller and Barr worked together in the early 1990s when Barr was attorney general and Mueller was the head of the DOJ's Criminal Division. Sen.  Lindsey Graham, R-S. C. , the Judiciary Committee's new chairman, said Mueller and Barr are "best friends" and have known each other for more than 20 years, adding that their wives have been in a Bible study group together and that Mueller has attended the weddings of two of Barr's daughters. At Graham's request, former Sen.  Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and long-serving member of the Judiciary Committee, introduced Barr Tuesday as he did for Barr's previous confirmation hearings. Barr, meanwhile, outlined his friendship with Mueller. "I have known Bob Mueller personally and professionally for 30 years.  We worked closely together throughout my previous tenure at the Department of Justice under President Bush.  We've been friends since.  I have the utmost respect for Bob and his distinguished record of public service.  When he was named special counsel, I said that his selection was 'good news' and that, knowing him, I had confidence he would handle the matter properly.  I still have that confidence today," Barr said. Barr also said his priorities at the Justice Department are fighting violent crime, prosecuting hate crimes, enforcing and improving immigration laws and protecting the right to vote. He noted that he was partially retired, but took the job out of love for the Department of Justice and reverence for the law. ABC News' Mike Levine contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Tamil Nadu elections: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah holds a roadshow in Velayuthampalayam area of Karur district. https://t.co/duAesAiqaj

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the crucial assembly polls in the state is a fight between her and the Bharatiya Janata Party as she mounted an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. “Remember it is me who is contesting from all the 294 seats.  The fight is between me and the BJP,” she said while addressing a rally in central Kolkata on Monday. The TMC organised a mega road show on International Women’s Day to target women voters who comprise more than 49% of the electorate and who registered nearly 82% turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Gujarat is a Modi-Shah model state.  According to media reports the state has registered two murders and four rapes on an average every day in the last two years.  According to government figures there have been 1944 murders, 3095 rapes and 4829 cases of abduction.  The highest number of rape cases was recorded in Ahmedabad.  Uttar Pradesh, the favorite state of Modi, topped the list with the maximum rape cases,” Banerjee said while launching a counter attack against Modi’s allegations of poor safety for women in Bengal. On Sunday, while addressing a rally in Kolkata, Modi had attacked the Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government on women's safety. “They (Modi and Shah) often say that women are not safe in Bengal.  But the fact remains that women roam safely at 10 pm, at midnight and even at 4 am.  They go out for work during the day,” the chief minister said while accusing the Prime Minister of telling lies. In the roadshow, Banerjee was flanked by party’s women MPs and MLAs and a dozen of women celebrities who have been fielded as candidates in the upcoming assembly polls. The padayatra in the heart of Kolkata saw a huge participation of women carrying posters, banners and party flags.  While some were blowing conch shells and drums others could be seen holding pictures of women icons such as Rani of Jhansi and Mother Teresa. “He has changed the Covid vaccine into Modi vaccine with his picture.  He is renaming stadiums, schools and colleges after him.  Some day he would change the name of India and rename it after his own.  He has even sent his name to ISRO.  Who wants to see your picture? ” she said. The Election Commission (EC) has already asked the Union government to stop using Prime Minister Modi’s picture on Covid-19 vaccination certificates in states where assembly elections are being held.  The EC’s order came on a complaint by the Trinamool Congress this week. Attacking the Modi-government over the issue of rising LPG prices, Banerjee said even though her government was providing free rice to the people, it takes ₹900 to get a LPG cylinder to cook the rice. “As election approaches, they come up with many promises.  I would say that we don’t need anything.  Just give us free LPG.  We don’t want to hear your preaching,” she said. The BJP hit back saying that the chief minister is just trying to divert the attention. “This election is all about what the state government has done in the last ten years.  It is not about how the Union government has fared.  That result has already been declared in 2019 and people have expressed their confidence on Modi.  She knows that she is going to lose and hence diverting all the attention.  Such tactics won’t work anymore,” said Dilip Ghosh, BJP’s state president.


Here are a few takeaways from the Mueller report summary https://t.co/a5P9OJoyzA https://t.co/tqSxAHOiYh

The report doesn't conclude Trump committed a crime and doesn't exonerate him.  Special counsel report delivered, focus shifts to attorney generalSpecial counsel Robert Mueller's report into the Kremlin's interference in the 2016 presidential election  did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia, according to a letter to Congress from Attorney General William Barr. The letter describes "two main" Russian efforts to influence the election  including “attempts by a Russian organization… to conduct disinformation and social media operations in the United States” and “the Russian government’s efforts to conduct computer hacking operations” targeting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and the Democratic Party. In both circumstances, the “Special Counsel did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in these efforts. ”The special counsel’s office made no conclusion on the matter of possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump. "The Special Counsel, therefore, did not draw a conclusion – one way or the other – as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction," the letter read.  "Instead, for each of the relevant actions investigated, the report sets out 'difficult issues' of law and fact concerning whether the President's actions and intent could be viewed as obstruction. "In his communique to lawmakers, Barr underscored that the special counsel states that “while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him. ”While Mueller’s report did not reach a conclusion as to whether obstruction of justice occurred, Attorney General Barr’s letter said he determined a case for obstruction was not warranted. “In cataloging the President’s actions many of which took place in public view, the report identities no actions that, in our judgment, constitute obstructive conduct, had a nexus to a pending or contemplated proceeding, and were done with corrupt intent, each of which, under the Department's principles of federal prosecution guiding charging decisions, would need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to establish an obstruction-of-justice offense. "Barr said his intent is to release as much as possible but there are grand jury secrecy concerns with some portions. The White House celebrated the news, with President Donald Trump hailing the report on Twitter and, later in comments to reporters, as an "exoneration. ""This was an illegal takedown that failed and hopefully, someone is going to be looking at the other side," Trump told reporters on Sunday. He tweeted: "No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION.  KEEP AMERICA GREAT! ""The Special Counsel did not find any collusion and did not find any obstruction," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.  "Attorney General Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein further determined there was no obstruction.  The findings of the Department of Justice are a total and complete exoneration of the President of the United States. ”Jay Sekulow, one of President Trump’s lawyers, told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos that the report was a "complete win for the president and the American people. ""Not just a win. " Sekulow said.  "The entire basis upon which this inquiry was instituted was a concern over collusion between the Russian government and the trump campaign, Bob Mueller and the Department of Justice could not be clearer.  To have the obstruction issue even as a viable one, which it was not, there would have to be an underlying crime, which there wasn't. "House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N. Y. , questioned the timing of the letter tweeting "Special Counsel Mueller worked for 22 months to determine the extent to which President Trump obstructed justice.  Attorney General Barr took 2 days to tell the American people that while the President is not exonerated, there will be no action by DOJ. " He later tweeted that "in light of the very concerning discrepancies and final decision making at the Justice Department following the Special Counsel report," the House Judiciary Committee will be calling Barr in to testify in the near future. In his letter to members of Congress on Sunday, Barr described the breadth of the special counsel’s extensive and exhaustive probe.  Mueller’s 19 prosecutors and 40 FBI agents issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses, Barr wrote, the results of which amounted to 37 indictments and six guilty pleas to date. The news comes amid Democrats continued calls for the full release of the findings. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a joint letter, seemed to sum up the sentiment of many congressional Democrats in saying that Barr's letter "raises as many questions as it answers" and that Congress "requires the full report and the underlying documents. ""The fact that Special Counsel Mueller’s report does not exonerate the president on a charge as serious as obstruction of justice demonstrates how urgent it is that the full report and underlying documentation be made public without any further delay," they wrote.  "Given Mr.  Barr’s public record of bias against the Special Counsel’s inquiry, he is not a neutral observer and is not in a position to make objective determinations about the report. "The congressional leaders also took issues with the president's claims of being "exonerated. "On the campaign trail and on the Hill, Democrats made clear they are going to want every detail and document about the investigation and some have said they are willing to use their subpoena power in order to get it. "It means make the request, if the request is denied subpoena, if the subpoenas are denied we will hold people before the Congress and yes, we will prosecute in court as necessary to get this information," House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep.  Adam Schiff, D-Calif. , said Sunday on "This Week". Democratic candidates running to unseat President Donald Trump in 2020 reacted quickly to the news that Mueller delivered his report to DOJ with one consistent message: Make it public. "The Mueller report must be made public — all of it," Sen.  Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY said in a presidential campaign speech outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City. She added: "It is not often that I agree with Richard Nixon, but he was right to say that the American people have a right to know whether their president is a crook. "The much-awaited report was handed to the Justice Department for Barr’s review, and Congress was notified of the transfer late Friday afternoon, according to a Justice Department spokeswoman. After reviewing Mueller's report, Barr will then send what he has described as his own "report" on the Mueller investigation to the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate Judiciary committees.  Barr has promised to be as transparent as possible, but it's unclear how extensive or detailed Barr's own "report" to Congress will be. In a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees, Barr wrote that he intends to "consult with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Mueller to determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public consistent with the law. "A senior Department of Justice official told ABC News on Friday that the report would not include any further indictments. Mueller and his team investigated how far the Kremlin went to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including trying to determine whether any Americans may have helped those efforts. At the heart of Mueller’s probe were two Russian operations: the spread of disinformation on social media, and the release of thousands of sensitive emails stolen by hackers from the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic targets.  Mueller’s team has charged 25 Russian nationals and three foreign companies for their alleged role in those operations. In appointing a special counsel to investigate, however, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein also directed Mueller to look into “allegations” of possible “coordination” between Russian operatives and associates of President Donald Trump. Trump and his Republican allies have derided the investigation as a “witch hunt. ” But Rosenstein, FBI Director Chris Wray and Barr have each explicitly disputed that description. At least four Trump associates, including Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, have pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents during the Russia-related investigation. Another Trump associate, the president’s former attorney Michael Cohen, has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump’s business dealings in Moscow.  And former Trump adviser Roger Stone has been charged with lying to Congress about his alleged role in tracking information stolen from Democrats during the 2016 presidential campaign. Mueller’s investigation grew out of a probe the FBI launched in late July 2016. By then, the FBI was already scrutinizing Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort’s business dealings with pro-Russian officials in Ukraine – dealings that have since landed Manafort in jail.  And the FBI was keeping tabs on Trump adviser Carter Page, who was previously targeted for recruitment by Russian spies and had raised eyebrows with a trip to Moscow in mid-July 2016. But claims by Trump adviser George Papadopoulos – that the Russians were touting “dirt” on Clinton – really set off alarms inside the FBI. “If any Americans were part of helping the Russians [attack] us, that is a very big deal,” James Comey, who was FBI director at the time, later told lawmakers. Several weeks after formally launching the Russia probe, counterintelligence agents leading the investigation in Washington received a so-called “dossier,” which had been compiled at the behest of Democrats and detailed uncorroborated allegations of coordination between Trump’s campaign and the Kremlin. Some of the allegations involved Page, who was already on the FBI’s radar, so agents began secretly intercepting his communications.  Page has never been charged with any crimes. The wide-ranging investigation continued even after Trump took office.  After Jeff Sessions became attorney general, he recused himself from oversight of the FBI’s Russia-related probe, citing his previous advocacy for Trump on the campaign trail. Rosenstein subsequently assumed oversight of the investigation. And then Trump shocked the federal law enforcement community: He fired Comey. The move prompted Rosenstein to appoint Mueller to take over the whole matter, including a review of whether Comey's firing and other actions meant Trump improperly tried to obstruct the probe. Comey later alleged that in a private meeting with Trump before his removal, the president directed Comey to “let [Flynn] go. ”Mueller has not released any evidence suggesting Trump committed a crime related to Russian efforts. However, Mueller did uncover evidence of other possible crimes and referred those cases to other federal prosecutors. The U. S.  Attorney’s Office in Manhattan ended up tying Trump to federal campaign violations, alleging that – in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign – Trump personally directed Cohen to silence two woman claiming affairs with Trump by making illegal payments to them; Trump has repeatedly denied the affairs. Cohen has pleaded guilty for his role in the matter, but no other charges have been filed. ABC News' Pierre Thomas, John Santucci and Kyra Phillips contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Jammu and Kashmir: Voting underway in the second phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections, in Margund village in Kangan Block, Ganderbal district https://t.co/z53UIBT0SD

Polling for 43 constituencies in the second phase of election for District Development Council (DDC) in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on Tuesday.  The contest is between the newly launched People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, the BJP and the Apni Party floated by former finance minister Altaf Bukhari. Also Read: J&K goes to DDC polls, first time after Article 370 abrogation.  All you need to know“Of the total 280 DDC constituencies in J&K, 25 will go to polls in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu in the second phase of the election,” election commissioner of the union territory KK Sharma said.  As many as 7. 90 lakh voters are eligible for voting in this phase and 142 polling stations have been set up across the union territory. The first phase of polling, also for 43 seats, was held on Saturday.  As much as 51. 76% voting was recorded in this phase, official figures showed. “The first phase of DDC polls was held in 43 constituencies in all the 20 districts of the UT.  No untoward incident was reported from anywhere barring a minor incident where a child threw a stone at a polling station in Kulgam.  Police took cognizance,” Sharma had earlier said. Also Read: Tight security for second phase of polling in DDC election in J-KThe election, for which 2,146 polling stations have been set up, will be held in eight phases and will go on till December 19.  Counting of votes will take place on December 22.  As many as 1,427 candidates are in the fray and over seven lakh are eligible for voting.  These elections are the first being held after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and adequate security arrangements have been made for the polling.  Sharma said 169 companies of central forces would be deployed at polling stations and during the de-induction of the staff.


Sensex at 35,640.62; down by 1936.00 points. https://t.co/NCSCsda8n4

Extending its gains for the second session, market benchmark Sensex rose 227 points on Friday, tracking rally in banking stocks amid recovery in global equities. After opening on a weak note, the 30-share BSE index settled 226. 79 points, or 0. 55 per cent, higher at 41,613. 19 -- hitting an intra-day high of 41,697. 03 and a low of 41,275. 60. Likewise, the broader NSE Nifty closed 67. 90 points, or 0. 56 per cent, up at 12,248. 25. Ultratech Cement was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, advancing 2. 44 per cent, followed by Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank, Titan, Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finance. On the other hand, PowerGrid, IndusInd Bank, Sun Pharma, TCS, RIL and Infosys, Maruti and HDFC Bank ended in the red. According to traders, a rally in financial stocks ahead of the Union Budget is supporting domestic stocks. Further, recovery in global markets after the World Health Organisation designated coronavirus infection an emergency for China, but not yet for the rest of the world, also buoyed benchmarks. Bourses in Hong Kong and Japan ended on a positive note, while markets in China, Taiwan and South Korea were closed for a holiday on Friday. European markets were also trading higher in their early sessions. Brent crude oil futures rose 0. 15 per cent to USD 62. 13 per barrel. The rupee depreciated 6 paise to 71. 32 per US dollar (intra-day).


Designed after the theme 'Ayodhya: Cultural Heritage of Uttar Pradesh', the tableau of Uttar Pradesh also displays Ram Mandir.

The forepart of the middle tableau shows Deepotsava of Ayodhya, in which millions of earthen lamps are lit.

#RepublicDay https://t.co/FCnNOv7Z4n

Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday displayed its cultural city of Ayodhya as a part of a tableau during the Republic Day parade in Delhi with the theme ‘Ayodhya: Cultural Heritage of Uttar Pradesh’.  It included the iconic Ram Temple, which is under construction currently, the annual Deepotsav festival and a pictorial representation of events from the epic Ramayana. The first part of the tableau showed Maharishi Valmiki composing the Ramayana.  The middle part depicted the Ram Mandir, which is the epitome of Ayodhya’s cultural identity associated with mass sentiments and devotion.  The mural on the trailer displayed several scenes from the Ramayana such as the salvation of Ahilya, Kewat Samvad, and Lord Hanuman bringing Sanjivani Buti, Jatayu-Ram Samvad, Ashok Vatika etc. Also Read| Rafale jet, woman fighter pilot steal the show on Republic DayThe forepart of the middle portion of the trailer showed Deepotsava of Ayodhya, started by chief minister Yogi Adityanath in 2017, during which millions of earthen lamps are lit.  Due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country, the state government launched a website to allow people to take part in a virtual ‘Deepotsav’ celebration on November 13, 2020.  Nearly 590,000 earthen lamps were lit on the occasion which led to Guinness World records books registering last year’s Deepotsav festival as ‘the largest display of oil lamps’. On August 5 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had performed the bhoomi pujan for the construction of the Ram Temple.  The entire ceremony lasted for 40 minutes after which PM Modi released a postage stamp on the temple which was designed by the Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan, an organisation of the UP government’s culture department. Also Watch| Bangladesh’s tri-service contingent take part in India’s R-Day paradeThe Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) started the collection of funds for constructing the Ram Temple on January 15.  It is also expected to meet several opposition party leaders for collecting construction funds.  “The funds will be collected in a transparent way.  The teams deputed to collect the funds will have to deposit the money within 48 hours in designated bank accounts.  Deposits will be made in branches of Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank,” Alok Kumar, VHP’s international working president, had said. (With agency inputs)


A post is being shared widely on social media with a claim that a Hindu sadhu was brutally killed by Muslims in Nanded.  In the post, it is mentioned that he was murdered because they thought he is an infidel.  Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: A Hindu sadhu killed by Muslims in Nanded (Maharashtra). Fact: While it is true that a sadhu was killed in Nanded, the accused is not a Muslim.  The police have clarified that the sadhu and the accused are from the same community, and prima facie the incident looks like an attempted robbery.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.  When searched about the incident mentioned in the post, many news articles regarding the incident were found in the search results.  From ‘The Indian Express’ article, it is found that the Police have said – ‘Swami Shivacharya Rudra (33) of Pashupati Math in Nanded, was found murdered in the mutt, while the body of Bhagwan Shinde (50) – a suspected associate of the accused – was found in a nearby Zilla Parishad school’.  The Police have denied any communal angle and have clarified that the accused (Sainath Langote – a local villager and follower of the sadhu) and sadhu are from the same community, and prima facie the incident looks like an attempted robbery.  The accused was also booked previously in other crimes. The English translation (translated by Google) of FIR filed on the incident can be read below:To sum it up, the murder of a sadhu in Nanded is being falsely shared with a communal narrative. Did you watch our new video?


Drilling operation started by rescue teams at 2:00 AM today to peep into tunnel 12 to 13 meters below: ITBP. #Uttarakhand https://t.co/mtbB73mT4d

The multi-agency rescue teams have begun a drilling operation to peep into the Tapovan tunnel where nearly 30 people were feared trapped, police said on Thursday.  “We are presently at 6. 5 meters,” Uttarakhand director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar told news agency ANI. “Drilling operation started by rescue teams at 2:00 AM today to peep into a tunnel 12 to 13 meters below,” the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) wrote on Twitter.  They added that the teams through boring operation will try to see whether the slush flushing tunnel below is clear of slush or otherwise to see chances of trapped persons being rescued from there. Drilling operations started by rescue teams at 0200 AM to peep into the slush flushing tunnel 12 to 13 meters below.  This is being done from the tunnel where rescue teams are presently taking out slush. #UttarakhandGlacierBurst #TapovanTunnel pic. twitter. com/OgIaHD8ILZThe rescue operations have entered the fifth day following flash floods in the Chamoli district of the state triggered by a glacier burst on Sunday.  The rescue teams have so recovered 34 bodies and as many as 170 people were missing as of Wednesday night.  Rescuers said that they were making steady progress as the flood waters were receding slowly and the height of the slush in NTPC Limited’s tunnel in Tapovan was shrinking.  However, for families of people believed to be buried in a barrage nearby, hope was dimming. Benudhar Nayak, commandant of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s First Battalion said there was no chance of recovering bodies from the barrage for the time being.  “The slush in the barrage is over 20 metres deep since the plant’s construction work was ongoing. . .  The rescuers will themselves sink.  Even if they do enter the slush, they won’t be able to recover bodies,” he said. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, condoled the death of the flood victims.  “I pray to God to provide patience to these brave sons and all the dead souls who lost their lives in this disaster and the bereaved families.  The government stands with the relatives of the dead in this sad hour.  ॐ Peace Peace Peace! ,” he wrote on Twitter in Hindi. He also paid tribute to two policemen who lost their lives during the calamity.  “In the natural disaster in Chamoli, we have lost two brave soldiers of our Uttarakhand Police.  The Chief Constable Mr.  Manoj Choudhary and the constable Mr.  Balveer Singh Gadia ji pay their respects to the dedication and passion,” Rawat tweeted.


Aamir Khan in an interview said, My wives may be Hindu but my kids will always follow only Islam

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut tweeted a fake interview claiming actor Aamir Khan was an extremist for insisting that his children would only follow Islam.   The interview tweeted by Ranaut falsely quotes Khan as saying that irrespective of his wife being a Hindu, his children would only follow the Islamic religion and has been called out as fake in the past by the actor's team.  Ranaut's tweet went viral and was also published by Times of India and Pinkvilla without a disclaimer that the said interview by Khan was nonexistent and fake.  A source in Aamir Khan productions told BOOM that the article was fake and the actor never gave such an interview to any website.   The fake article is being shared after the actor who is currently in Istanbul met with Turkey's First Lady Emine Erdogan on August 15, 2020.  The actor is visiting Turkey as location research for his upcoming movie Laal Singh Chaddha.  Khan who is married to director Kiran Rao, was called an extremist by Ranaut citing the fake interview which insists that he would teach his children only the tenets of Islam.  The fake story from 2012 claims Khan answered questions regarding his first wife Reena Dutta and about Rao.  Ranaut's tweet said, "Hindu + Muslim = Muslim.  This is extremism, the outcome of a marriage is not just a blend of genres and cultures but even religions.  Teach the children about Allah and Shri Krishna, this is secularism right? " @aamir_khan आप तो सबसे ज़्यादा टॉलरंट थे आप कबसे हिंदूइज़म केलिये इंटॉलरंट हो गए?  हिंदू माताओं की संतानें जिनकी रागों में श्री कृशन और श्री राम का खून बह रहा है,सनातन धर्म, भारतीय शभ्यता, यहाँ की संस्कृति जिनकी धरोहर है, वो सिर्फ़ और सिर्फ़ इस्लाम को फ़ॉलो करेंगे, ऐसा क्यूँ?  Click here to view, and here for an archive.  Her second tweet when translated reads, "You were the most tolerant, when did you become integrated for Hinduism?  Children of Hindu mothers whose blood have Sri Krishan and Sri Rama, Sanatan Dharma, Indian civilisation, the culture is their heritage, will follow only and only Islam, why? " The article titled, 'My wives may be Hindu but my kids will always follow only Islam: Aamir Khan' is from 2012 and appears on a site called Tanqeed.  It published as an interview claims Khan spoke to a correspondent named Shaheen Raaj.   The article asks questions about Khan's views towards religion and how he follows the practices of Islam.  One of the questions is about his relationship and whether he faced any "religious dilemma" marrying Dutta or Rao.   The fake story claims, that to the question, Khan replied, "No, none whatsoever.  We never practised each other's religion neither did we force each other to do so.  But, of course, I had made it very clear that my kids will always follow only Islamic religion. " Click here to view an archive.       The interview seemingly ends with an opinion by the writer saying, "Ps: This I call Hypocrisy at its best  (My input)" in response to Khan's reply that his children would follow Islam despite him marrying a Hindu.    News outlet Times Of India and entertainment site Pinkvilla, carried Ranaut's tweet and also published details from the fake interview published on the site without disclaimers that the article quoted by the actress was fake.  Click here to view an archive.   Click here to view an archive.  In an interview aired on India TV's 'Aap Ki Adalat' in 2016, Aamir Khan had referred to the fake interview on being asked by the anchor Rajat Sharma why he had filed a complaint to the police for negative social media comments against him.  Khan talked about the fake interview saying that someone had made up an interview in his name when he had never said anything as claimed in it.  "I had complained to the police, and this is not about one or two incidents, from some time I could see a conspiracy against me, people are being provoked against me.  There was a weird interview in which I am saying that 'I am a Muslim, my kids will be Muslims, so what if my wife is a Hindu'.  There were such weird interviews that I had supposedly given, some of my pictures were being shared that I am roaming with terrorists.  So such type of different rumours were being spread about me," said Khan in the interview.  View at 51. 34 timestamp    BOOM reached out to a source in Aamir Khan Productions who refuted the claims made in the article and stated that Aamir Khan did not give any such interview.   "It's a fake article, we had filed a complaint in 2012 and the police had arrested an accused in Hyderabad, for spreading the said fake interview," the source told BOOM.  The source further stated that Khan has not given any such interview or made any such statements that are being attributed to the actor.    A search using the headline of the fake story, 'My wives may be Hindu but my kids will always follow only Islam' and 'Aamir Khan', showed results for a 2010 blog on Blogspot with the same interview.  Click here to view an archive.  The same 2010 blog was also quoted in a DailyO article titled 'The rising intolerance of superstar Aamir Khan' from November 2015 which refers to it attributing the fake quote to Khan.  The 2010 blog no longer accessible, is an exact match to the Tanqeed story published in 2012.  Also Read: Not The Person Putting Money In Wheat Flour Packets: Aamir Khan  (Update: The story has been updated to include Aamir Khan's 2016 interview to IndiaTV. )


Delhi: Former PM Dr Manmohan held a meeting with Congress ruled state Chief Ministers at party office today. Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh did not attend the meeting as he is unwell. https://t.co/8uafm0yB5v

Ahead of the meeting of the Niti Aayog Saturday afternoon, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met chief ministers of states ruled by the Congress and its allies at the Congress headquarters.  Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, Rajasthan’s Ashok Gehlot, Karnataka’s HD Kumaraswamy and Puducherry’s V Narayansamy were present at the meeting.  Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also joined later.  Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh did not attend the meeting. His office said he is not well and will not attend the Niti Aayog meeting either. They discussed the proposed agenda/issues of states ruled by the Congress and its allies to be taken up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the meeting of the Niti Aayog, sources said.  Among the issues they discussed were efforts to revive rivers, the need to make new efforts by the Centre in the field of agriculture, the need to amend the Forest Act, to prevent the tribals and to bring about change in their lives and the need to make necessary changes to attract investment rather than exploitation of natural resources in Maoist affected am tribal areas. Saturday’s meeting of the Niti Aayog is the first such meet after Prime Minister Modi returned to power last month. The fifth meeting of the Niti Aayog’s Governing Council will focus on issues like the drought situation, farm distress, rain water harvesting and preparedness for kharif crops.  The agenda for the meeting also includes aspirational districts programme, transforming agriculture and security related issues with special focus on left wing extremism (LWE) districts, according to an official statement. Two leading chief ministers of opposition ruled states, Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee and Telangana’s K Chandrashekhar Rao are not attending the Niti Ayog meeting.  While Banerjee said it was fruitless to attend the meeting, Rao is said to have been upset at being denied an appointment with the Prime Minister for a one-on-one meeting.


BREAKING: Former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper will win the Senate race in Colorado, defeating GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, @ABC News projects. https://t.co/Pc1O6Ms3C2 #ElectionNight https://t.co/O0mQFJsKrF

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Mahtani, Jessica Estepa and Amanda Wills, CNNFollow live updates on the presidential and congressional races here. Analysis from CNN's Zachary B.  WolfThis wasn't the blue tidal wave a lot of Democrats had dreamed was possible.  Joe Biden didn't break open the map even though he's got a commanding popular-vote lead.  But the party had a to-do list that expanded beyond the White House.  And while it might have a President Biden (Remember: CNN has not yet projected a winner in the presidential race) at the end of the day after the votes are counted, it's currently failing in other important areas, like:While all eyes were on the race to the White House, history was being made around the country with a handful of historic firsts in elections for offices and ballot measures. Here's a look at some of them:Delaware elects the nation's first transgender state senatorDemocratic activist Sarah McBride will become the nation's first person who publicly identifies as transgender to serve as a state senator, after winning Tuesday's election in Delaware, CNN projects.  McBride, a former spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, overwhelmingly beat Republican candidate Steve Washington in Delaware's 1st District, a heavily Democratic district that includes the city of Wilmington.  "I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too," McBride tweeted Tuesday night.  Oklahoma elects the first nonbinary state legislator in the USMauree Turner won her race for Oklahoma state House for District 88 on Tuesday, becoming the first nonbinary state legislator in US history and first Muslim lawmaker in Oklahoma. Turner, 27, defeated Republican candidate Kelly Barlean to represent the district, winning about 71% of the votes, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board unofficial results.  Her victory comes after beating incumbent Rep.  Jason Dunnington in the district's Democratic primary election in June. Turner identifies as nonbinary, which the National Center for Transgender Equality defines as gender understood as neither male nor female. New York elects America's first Black member of Congress who identifies as gayRitchie Torres, a New York City Council member, won his US House race to represent the South Bronx, becoming the first black member of Congress who identifies as gay. Torres, 32, overwhelmingly defeated Republican Patrick Delices in the district, one of the poorest and most Democratic in the country, after winning a 12-way Democratic primary in June. "Tonight, we made history," he tweeted.  "It is the honor of a lifetime to represent the essential borough, the Bronx. "North Carolina elects youngest member of Congress in modern historyAt 25 years old, Madison Cawthorn will become the youngest member of Congress in modern history, according to US House records.  CNN projects the Republican will beat Democrat Moe Davis for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District.  Cawthorn, a political newcomer and staunch conservative, pulled off a surprise primary victory over a candidate backed by President Donald Trump.  Cawthorn came under scrutiny over the summer for photos on his Instagram page that show him in 2017 visiting Adolf Hitler's vacation house in Germany known as the "Eagle's Nest. " The caption refers to Hitler as "the Fuhrer" and says that a visit to the site — a popular tourist destination documenting the horrors of the Nazi regime — had been on his "bucket list for awhile" and "did not disappoint. "New Mexico elects the first all-female congressional delegation – and they're also women of color Three New Mexico women won their districts making them the first all-female congressional delegation to represent a state. Deb Haaland, one of the first Native American woman in Congress, was re-elected for her second term.  Yvette Herell, a member of the Cherokee Nation, won her race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District and Teresa Leger Fernandez won her race for the 3rd.  Leger Fernandez is the first woman to hold her seat since its creation in 1983. Missouri elects state's first Black woman to Congress — and she's a veteran Black Lives Matter activistCori Bush, a progressive community leader and veteran Black Lives Matter activist, won a US House seat in Missouri, becoming the state's first Black woman to represent the state in Congress, according to CNN projections.  Bush, a nurse and a pastor, became an organizer and protest leader after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014.  "This is definitely a night to remember," Bush said in a speech on Tuesday. Arizona, New Jersey and South Dakota vote to legalize recreational marijuanaVoters have approved ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona and New Jersey, and both recreational and medical use in in South Dakota, CNN projects. South Dakota will be the first state ever to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time. Results have not yet been determined for Montana's ballot questions on recreational marijuana and Mississippi's medical marijuana measure. The initiatives would only be the first step in the process, said John Hudak, deputy director at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in state and federal marijuana policy. After voters approve the measures, he said, the state legislatures normally would need to set up regulatory structures within each state.  Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use. Oregon decriminalizes the possession of heroin, meth and other hard drugsIn a first in the nation, Oregon passed a ballot measure decriminalizing the possession of heroin, oxycodone, meth and other hard drugs.  Instead of possible jail time, a person would be able to pay a $100 fine or enter addiction treatment. On Tuesday the state also legalized the use of psilocybin mushrooms — the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms — for mental-health treatment. The measure requires the Oregon Health Authority to allow licensed, regulated production and possession of psilocybin, exclusively for administration by licensed facilitators to clients. Mississippi approves new state flagMississippi's new state flag will feature the magnolia flower after the state in a historic move this summer parted with its decades-old banner that included a Confederate battle emblem. Voters on Tuesday approved the "In God We Trust" magnolia design as the new state flag, CNN projected. The state Legislature will now have to enact into law the new design as Mississippi's official state flag during its next regular session in 2021. Mississippi was the last state in the country whose flag, which was adopted in 1894, included the Confederate emblem. You can follow the latest results in the House here and Senate hereAs results for congressional races continue come in, here's how the balance of in Congress looks like right now. In the Senate, Democrats have 47 seats while Republicans have 47.  Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority. In the House, Democrats have 199 seats and Republicans have 188.  The party that has at least 218 seats will control that chamber. Republican Nancy Mace will win South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, defeating incumbent Democratic Rep.  Joe Cunningham, CNN projects. Republican Rep.  Chip Roy will win his reelection bid in Texas' 21st Congressional District, CNN projects.  Republican Lauren Boebert will win Colorados's 3rd Congressional District, CNN projects. Boebert is among a group of congressional candidates who have engaged with the QAnon conspiracy theory. Republican Victoria Spartz will win a House seat in Indiana's 5th Congressional District, CNN projects. As results for congressional races continue come in, here's how the balance of in Congress looks like right now. In the Senate, Democrats have 47 seats while Republicans have 47.  Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority. In the House, Democrats have 199 seats and Republicans have 184.  The party that has at least 218 seats will control that chamber. 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Nandigram (election) is not a challenge for me. I am going to Nandigram to defeat her (Mamata Banerjee) and send her back to Kolkata: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari

#WestBengalElections2021 https://t.co/jn0E8zENX9 https://t.co/lrb2TbGkTN

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Suvendu Adhikari will contest against chief minister Mamata Banerjee from his home turf of Nandigram in the West Bengal assembly elections to be held later this month, setting the stage for one of the most-watched electoral battles in the state, the BJP announced on Saturday.  Adhikari’s name figured in the opposition party’s first list of 57 candidates for the March-April assembly elections, out of which six are women and one seat has been given to the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU). The BJP’s candidates’ list came a day after the Trinamool Congress chief declared the names of those who will contest in the eight-phase polls in the state from March 27. Banerjee had on Friday announced that she will also be contesting from Nandigram.  Adhikari, who joined the BJP last year, had said that he will leave no stone unturned to defeat the Trinamool Congress government in the state.  Adhikari also said that if he does not defeat Banerjee by more than 50,000 votes then he would quit politics. “Write this down and mention the date and time.  I will leave politics if I cannot defeat her by half lakh (50,000) votes,” Adhikari had during a rally in south Kolkata.  He had also asked the Bengal chief minister to prepare a letterhead with ‘former chief minister’ written on it. The battle for Nandigram is important as it was vital for the rise of the Trinamool Congress a decade earlier and Suvendu Adhikari and his brother Soumendu Adhikari had played a huge role in the anti-land acquisition movement based on which the TMC defeated the Left Front government in 2011. Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari in 2007 had spearheaded the anti-land acquisition which catapulted the Trinamool Congress to political prominence and after which it won the panchayat elections in 2008, Lok Sabha elections in 2009, municipal polls in 2010 and recorded a huge victory ousting the Left Front government from power in the 2011 legislative assembly elections.  Adhikari was vital for that win because he and his family were instrumental in expanding TMC’s base in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura which were formerly Left Front’s bastions. "I have recently been to Durgapur and I have seen that people are seeking a change.  They want to break free from the tyranny of the current government," the BJP's general secretary Arun Singh said on Saturday while releasing the candidates' list. The BJP’s list also featured former Bengal cricketer Ashok Dinda and former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Bharati Ghosh.  Elections in the eastern state will be held in eight phases from March 27.  The votes will be counted on May 2.


Jammu and Kashmir: Encounter underway between terrorists and security forces in Dangerpora area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district
(visuals deferred by unspecified time) https://t.co/3YFePVNPap

An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces at Chanjmullah area of Handwara, Jammu and Kashmir, said Kashmir Zone Police on Saturday. More details are awaited.  Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police said that two unidentified terrorists were neutralised in the encounter which broke out between militants and security forces in Pulwama.


A SpaceX spacecraft carrying four astronauts soared into outer space Sunday — marking the kick off of what NASA hopes will be years of the company helping to keep the International Space Station fully staffed. https://t.co/mns5McaA08

The Crew-1 mission is the first operational flight for the Crew Dragon capsule. SpaceX astronauts launch to the ISSFour astronauts launched into orbit on Sunday in the historic first operational flight for SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of NASA's commercial crew mission. This marks the second-ever crewed mission for Elon Musk's private space-faring firm SpaceX, after the successful launch and return of NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley with the Demo-2 mission this summer. It is also the culmination of years of collaboration between NASA and the private sector as part of an effort to bring launch capabilities back to U. S.  soil and end a dependency on Russia for trips to the International Space Station. "This is another historic moment -- it seems like every time I come to Kennedy [Space Center] we're making history, and this is no different," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a pre-launch news conference on Friday.  "The history being made this time is we're launching what we call an operational flight to the International Space Station. ""The whole goal here is to commercialize our activities in low-Earth orbit," he added.  "NASA wants to be one customer of many customers in a very robust commercial marketplace for human spaceflight in low-Earth orbit. "The ship launched on Sunday from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after being pushed back -- first to assess an engine issue with the Falcon 9 rocket and then once more due to weather. President-elect Joe Biden tweeted out his congratulations to the team on their successful launch. "It's a testament to the power of science and what we can accomplish by harnessing our innovation, ingenuity, and determination.  I join all Americans and the people of Japan in wishing the astronauts Godspeed on their journey," he tweeted. A short time later, President Donald Trump tweeted "A great launch! " before claiming that NASA "was a closed up disaster when we took over. ""Now it is again the "hottest", most advanced, space center in the world, by far! " he tweeted. The crew for the historic launch includes a Space Force colonel, a Black pilot leaving Earth for the first time, a woman who has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space and a Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut. NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, as well as JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, are set to stay on the ISS for six months after the launch and help with maintenance and research. Hopkins, commander of the mission, has spent 166 days in space and completed multiple space walks.  The Missouri native worked as a flight test engineer with the Air Force before joining NASA. This is the first spaceflight for Glover, the pilot and second-in-command.  A native of California, Glover was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and is a former Naval aviator. Walker is the team's mission specialist.  She is an ISS veteran, having spent 161 days aboard the orbiting laboratory in 2010 conducting numerous experiments. Noguchi, also a mission specialist, is the first international NASA-SpaceX crew member.  Noguchi has been on two spaceflights and made history as the first Japanese astronaut to perform a spacewalk outside the ISS in 2005. Late last month, the crew said they were naming their spacecraft "Resilience" -- a nod to the ability to overcome the myriad challenges thrown at them during this tumultuous year. "As you look at the definition of resilience, I know it means functioning well in times of stress or overcoming adverse events, and I think all of us can agree that 2020 certainly has been a challenging year," Hopkins said at a news conference. "So the name 'Resilience' is really in honor of the SpaceX and NASA teams, and, quite frankly, it's in honor of our families, of our colleagues, of our fellow citizens, of our international partners and our leaders that have all shown that same quality, that same characteristic, through these difficult times," he added. ABC News' Ivan Pereira contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Sen. Tammy Duckworth pays her respects to late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she lies in state at the U.S. Capitol. https://t.co/x4G08ZcwAP https://t.co/fCMkD0CpEI

By Melissa Macaya and Veronica Rocha, CNNFrom CNN's Janelle DavisSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is still making history, even after her death. Ginsburg, who died last Friday due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer, became the first woman to lie in state in the US Capitol on Friday, according to congressional historians.  She's also the first Jewish person to be given that honor. Her casket was placed on top of the Lincoln catafalque inside National Statuary Hall by the honor guard.  What this honor means: Lying in state (for government official and military officers) and lying in honor (for private citizens) is when someone's remains are placed in the US Capitol in Washington, DC, to allow the public to pay their respects.  This tribute is considered one of the highest honors. Since the practice started in 1852, 38 people — counting Ginsburg — have been given this honor, including 12 presidents. There are no written rules on who may lie in state or honor.  It is determined by the current House and Senate and then must be accepted by the family of the deceased. Watch her casket be placed inside the US Capitol:From CNN's Janelle DavisThe casket of Justice Bader Ginsburg has arrived on the Capitol Plaza after it lay in repose at the Supreme Court Wednesday and Thursday.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer greeted the motorcade alongside members of Ginsburg's family.  The honor guard will be escorting the casket.  Ginsburg will become the first woman and Jewish person in history to lie in state in the US Capitol when her casket is placed shortly in National Statuary Hall. Lying in state (for government official and military officers) and lying in honor (for private citizens) is when someone's remains are placed in the US Capitol in Washington, DC, to allow the public to pay their respects.  This tribute is considered one of the highest honors. Watch her casket be taken into the US Capitol:From CNN's Joan Biskupic and Ariane de VogueIn the weeks right before her death, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was still conferring on cases, penning notes to friends and continuing to schedule social events, including a wedding that she was to officiate the day she died. Ginsburg, who had been fighting complications from metastatic cancer of the pancreas, was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore a week earlier, stayed for a few days, and returned home on September 11, according to two people familiar with the situation.  Her medical condition during that time is not known, and the Supreme Court public information officer said on Thursday that the family did not wish to provide details of Ginsburg's final days. The 87-year-old justice's situation turned severe the week of September 14, and she died the evening of September 18, surrounded by her family. Until the sudden end, the woman who had become known as the "Notorious RBG" was living as if there would be more tomorrows. An in-demand wedding officiant: Eric Motley, whose wedding she was to officiate the night of her death, was told two days earlier, without reference to Ginsburg's medical condition, that the wedding would have to be postponed. "I had been in touch with the chambers, in preparation for Friday," Motley told CNN.  "They said we need to push it back, let's look at some other days. "Motley, who wrote about the planned wedding with Ginsburg in an essay for the New York Times, told CNN that he and the justice had exchanged personal emails during the summer and that she had sent him an upbeat note and photograph of the two of them, speaking with a maestro during an opera reception, pre-coronavirus.  Ginsburg and Motley, who came to Washington as a special assistant to President George W.  Bush, first met in 2002 at a dinner party and realized they shared a love of music. Ginsburg had planned to marry Motley and his fiancée in a quiet ceremony on a patio at her apartment.  She had officiated at a similar outdoor ceremony last month, after which the newlyweds posted a photo on Twitter.  Ginsburg, clad in her black judicial robe and one of her distinctive decorative collars, was sitting at a lectern between them. Motley, executive vice president of the Aspen Institute, said of Ginsburg's spirits in recent communications: "They were always good, always strong.  This was a woman who was made to live.  And she will live on. "Read the full story here.  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol today.  Here is an outline of today's events to honor her: A private interment will be held next week at Arlington National Cemetery. From CNN's David WilliamsWhen Kalina Newman heard that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died last Friday night, she and her boyfriend immediately left the restaurant where they were having dinner, bought some flowers and went to the US Supreme Court to join the crowd of people honoring the 87-year-old associate justice. "As soon as I saw the candles and felt how peaceful it was, I began to cry," Newman told CNN. Ginsburg, who embraced the nickname "The Notorious RBG" late in life, became a role model to generations because of her sharp wit, her legal knowledge and her fierce dissents. CNN asked people to share what Ginsburg meant to them and tributes have come in from all over the world. Many saw her as a real-life super hero — complete with her own action figures — who stood up for the rights of women, minorities and the LGBTQ+ community.  Some said they didn't agree with the liberal justice's positions, but admired her for maintaining a long friendship with late Justice Antonin Scalia, despite their ideological difference. Read some of the stories you shared with us below:Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced earlier this week plans for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to lie in state at the US Capitol. Pelosi said the justice "embodied justice, brilliance and goodness. ""Every family in America benefited from her brilliant legacy and courage.  Her opinions have unequivocally cemented the precedent that all men and women are created equal," Pelosi added.  From CNN's Ariane de VogueJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first woman in history to lie in state in the US Capitol when her casket is placed in National Statuary Hall today, according to congressional historians. The historic event, which was announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier this week, will feature a formal ceremony for invited guests only because of the coronavirus pandemic. Lying in state is a tribute reserved for the most distinguished government officials and military officers, while lying in honor is a distinction given to private citizens. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Facebook will remove some posts on anti-stay-at-home protests being organized in California, New Jersey and Nebraska after consulting with officials in those states, a company spokesperson says. https://t.co/Z2BYbcSGt4

President appears to be supporting the protests against his own guidelines. US death toll tops 40K as debate heats up on reopening the countryProtesters defied stay-at-home orders on Monday and took to the streets in the capitals of Maine and Pennsylvania, toting American flags and "Don't Tread on Me" banners, and slamming the safety precautions against the coronavirus as an act of "tyranny. "The demonstrations followed a wave of similar protests that started last week in Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, California, Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. The protests were mostly organized on Facebook, which has announced that the company has taken action to remove anti-quarantine events promoted in California, Nebraska and New Jersey after consultation with state governments that expressed concern that the events violate their stay-at-home orders. "Unless government prohibits the events during this time, we allow it to be organized on Facebook," a spokesperson for the company told ABC News.  "For this same reason, events that defy the government's guidance on social distancing aren't allowed on Facebook. "The protests have garnered the encouragement of President Donald Trump, who in a series of tweets on Friday appeared to condone people disobeying rules intended to blunt the coronavirus, many based on his own recommendations. Trump tweeted "LIBERATE MINNESOTA" and followed that with "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" and "LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment.  It's under siege! "“I just think that some of the governors have gotten carried away,” Trump said at a coronavirus briefing at the White House on Friday. The largest protest on Monday appeared to occur outside the capitol building in Harrisburg, Pa. , where a large crowd gathered, many clearly not wearing protective face masks nor adhering to social distancing rules of being at least six feet apart.  The event was organized by the groups Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine, ReOpen Pa, and End The Lockdown PA. “Government mandating sick people to stay home is called quarantine.  However, the government mandating healthy citizens to stay home, forcing businesses and churches to close is called tyranny,” reads a statement released by the Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine. The groups are demanding the stay-at-home directives imposed by Gov.  Tom Wolf, a Democrat, be lifted by May 1 for healthy citizens willing to continue enhanced hygienic habits. The demonstration was carried out despite the latest data showing 33,232 Pennsylvania residents had contracted the coronavirus, 948 of them since Saturday, according to the state Department of Public Health.  The state also reported on Monday that 92 new deaths occurred since Saturday, bringing the state's death toll to 1,204. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have reported having positive coronavirus cases, according to the data. Despite the grim numbers, organizers of the Harrisburg protest complained that they will have endured seven weeks of home lockdown once May 1 arrives. “Business owners are being forced to lay off employees while the unemployment system is failing those laid off as the economy free falls," the statement from Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine reads. The various protesting groups claim they are not affiliated with any political party, or political action group, according to the statement.  But many in the crowd Monday held up Trump reelection posters. The Washington Post reported on Sunday that far-right, pro-gun provocateurs, including the group Minnesota Gun Rights, are behind some of the groups organizing protests on Facebook in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.  The groups have roughly 200,000 members combined, the Post reported. Some of those participating in the Harrisburg protest were spotted carrying rifles. In Augusta, Maine, several hundred anti-quarantine protestors rallied on Monday outside Blaine House, the official residence of the governor, demanding that coronavirus stay-at-home orders not be extended beyond May 1 and asking Gov.  Janet Mills, a Democrat, to consider reopening the economies in counties with the least amount of coronavirus cases.  Demonstrators held signs reading "Everyone is essential" and "Save our businesses.  Reopen Maine," according to ABC affiliate station WMTW in Portland. The Maine protesters were led by the groups ReOpen Maine and Mainers Against Excessive Quarantine. The protesters warned that small businesses, which supply 60% of the jobs in the state, can't survive the stay-at-home orders if they are prolonged. Maine has recorded 875 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 35 deaths linked to the disease, according to data updated on Monday by the state's Division of Disease Surveillance. Anti-quarantine protests have also broken out in recent days in Paris, Mumbai, Beirut, Baghdad and Israel. ABC News' Alexander Mallin contributed to this report. This report was featured in the Tuesday, April 21, 2020, episode of “Start Here,” ABC News’ daily news podcast. "Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes.  Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


A growing crowd of mourners are singing hymns and praying outside Notre Dame. They have been singing for almost two hours, and the hymns are getting louder as more and more people join in. https://t.co/1XZsBP9aej https://t.co/Se6rykGZti

The flames caused a 315-foot spire to topple over.  Fire nearly destroys Notre Dame CathedralA fire has engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, one of the city's most iconic sights. The fire began at 6:50 p. m.  local time Monday, the Paris fire department said, and continued to burn hours later. A French firefighter official told reporters the main structure of the cathedral has been saved and the two iconic main towers are intact and have been saved as well. French Mayor Anne Hidalgo said that authorities were evacuating people from buildings in the area -- including homes close to the cathedral. A spokesperson for the cathedral described the damage to French media as "colossal. ""Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame," the spokesperson said. First responders are currently trying to salvage priceless art stored inside the cathedral, said Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire.  Last week, the statues of the apostles were removed for restoration, The Associated Press reported. Images on social media show smoke and flames shooting from the top of Notre Dame as massive plumes of smoke billow into the sky above. One video shows a spire toppling over as a result of the flames. The fire may be connected to the recent restoration of the church, officials said.  The restoration work costs 120 million euros, the Notre Dame Paris office told ABC News, adding that a fire alarm test conducted last week went well. The roof has completely collapsed, witness John Dickas, an American professor living in Paris, told ABC News. Large crowds have begun to gather around the scene.  Some members of the crowd began to sing hymns as the cathedral burned. The cathedral was built around 1260 AD and towered over the city of Paris for centuries.  Much of the facade and interior are true to their original designs. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed sadness at the sight of the historic building's demise, saying it captures the "emotion of an entire nation. ""Thinking of all the Catholics and all the French people," Macron wrote.  "Like all of our countrymen, I am sad tonight to see part of us burning. "Monday is the start of Holy Week, the busiest and most important period of the liturgical year.  Easter is on Sunday. American Kelly Weymouth, who is currently studying abroad in Paris, said she was taking a sunset cruise on the Seine river with her mother when the fire broke out. At one point, as the traffic on the river was stopped, Weymouth and about 40 fellow passengers from all over the world watched in horror for about 45 minutes as the fire destroyed the cathedral, she said. The Frenchmen who were on the boat began to sob and embrace each other, Weymouth said, describing the moment as "very intense. ""We express our closeness to French Catholics and the Parisians and assure them of our prayers for the firefighters and all those that are doing everything possible to fight this dramatic situation," the statement read. "If it collapses, you can imagine how important the damage will be," Gallet said. Around 500 firefighters were involved in helping to put out the fire, Macron said. "The worst was avoided even if the battle has not been completely won," Macron said, vowing to rebuild the historic structure by utilizing "the best talents. "ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Kirit Radia contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Twitter says President Trump and the White House's official Twitter account have violated its rule against glorifying violence and has affixed a warning label to tweets on both, marking the first time such action has been taken against the accounts https://t.co/AhM65XnmpP

"When the looting starts, the shooting starts," Trump tweeted. Twitter flags Trump’s tweet about protests as ‘glorifying violence’Twitter has flagged a tweet from the official White House Twitter account which reposted the text of a tweet President Donald Trump sent early Friday morning, saying "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," claiming the tweets violated its rules about "glorifying violence. "The tweets were in reference to the ongoing unrest in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd. "These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen.  Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way.  Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.  Thank you! " Trump tweeted shortly before 1 a. m.  Friday. The official White House account reposted the language of President Trump's tweet Friday morning after it had already been flagged by Twitter. The tweets are now only visible if "view" is clicked. "This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence.  However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible," the social media company said. Trump's use of the "looting" phrase evoked a dark page in American history as it was used by a Miami official in the 1960s. The president doubled down on his statement Friday afternoon, tweeting "nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters, and those looking to cause trouble on social media. "Replying to its own flagged tweet which repeated the text of Trump's flagged message, the official White House Twitter account later argued that Trump was actually condemning violence. Without addressing the Twitter guidelines that got his tweet flagged earlier Friday morning, Trump responded to Twitter saying the social media giant only targets Republicans. "Twitter is doing nothing about all of the lies & propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party," Trump tweeted.  "They have targeted Republicans, Conservatives & the President of the United States.  Section 230 should be revoked by Congress.  Until then, it will be regulated. "After protesters overtook the Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct and set it on fire, Trump lashed out at local officials and said the military could take over the response to the protests. "I can't stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis.  A total lack of leadership," Trump tweeted.  "Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right. "Frey responded to Trump at an early-morning press conference Friday, saying that type of finger point is weak. "Weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your actions.  Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else during a time of crisis," Frey said.  "Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis.  We are strong as hell.  Is this a difficult time period?  Yes.  But you better be damn sure that we're gonna get through this. "First Lady Melania Trump also chimed in on the protests on Twitter, saying, "there is no reason for violence" and the country needs to focus on healing.  She noted in the tweet how she's seen Americans come together in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Floyd, who is black, was seen pinned down in a video by a white police officer and later died.  He could be heard screaming, "I can't breathe," on the video of the incident. The video of Floyd's death has now caused outrage in the city of Minneapolis and all over the country.  Residents of the city have protested his death since Tuesday. This is the second time this week Twitter has taken action against Trump's tweets. It previously flagged two of Trump's tweets about mail-in voting in California, saying Trump's tweets were "potentially misleading" about elections. Trump responded to the flags by issuing an executive order Thursday targeting social media companies. He said the order allows for new regulations so that social media companies "that engage in censoring or any political conduct will not be able to keep their liability shield. "This report was featured in the Friday, May 29, 2020, episode of "Start Here," ABC News' daily news podcast. "Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes.  Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


After second impeachment of Pres. Trump, President-elect Biden issues statement urging Senate to move forward with impeachment and other urgent business simultaneously. https://t.co/ZMZcrRT3zm https://t.co/Ox7tcyiH4M

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Melissa Mahtani, Fernando Alfonso III and Veronica Rocha, CNN Our live coverage of impeachment has moved here. From CNN's Pamela Brown and Jamie Gangel As President Trump made history tonight as the only US president to be impeached twice, one White House adviser said “everybody’s angry at everyone” inside the White House, with the President being upset because he thinks people aren’t defending him enough.  The view among many close to Trump is “his actions led to here, no one else,” adding, “he instigated a mob to charge on the Capitol building to stop decertification, he’s not going to find a lot of sympathetic Republicans. ”During the last impeachment effort, Trump allies in and out of the White House publicly defended him and sent out talking points throughout the impeachment proceeding.  Today, it was the President who was left to fend for himself at the White House, releasing a statement first given to Fox News denouncing further violence, followed by a five-minute video that struck a very different tone than his first message following the attack on the Capitol last week.  Aides scrambled to find a way to release the video, worried that even a contrite Trump might have his videos taken down.  Also, there was no organized effort to send out talking points, unlike his first impeachment.  Many White House staffers have left or resigned since the riots, including Trump’s once longtime confidante Hope Hicks.  Another person close to the White House said “he’s been holed up in the residence, that’s never a good thing.  "He’s by himself, not a lot of people to bounce ideas off of, whenever that happens he goes to his worst instincts.  Now that Twitter isn’t available God only knows what the outlet will be," the source said. One outlet Trump is focused on is wielding what power he has left: pardons.  Multiple sources told CNN the next batch of pardons could come as soon as Thursday, in part to distract from the current narrative. One of the sources also noted that Trump was planning to give New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom honor tomorrow, but Belichick refused.  Announcing some pardons could replace that, especially if there are some high-profile ones. Moving forward: Another question that lingers is whether Trump will pardon himself and his children.  One person close to Trump believes it’s a bad idea for him to pardon himself and his kids in the wake of the riots, but that he wants to exercise what remaining power he has. From CNN's Allie Malloy President Trump in a video message Wednesday did not acknowledge his second impeachment, instead calling for peace and claiming that those who mobbed the Capitol last week are not his “true” supporters.  “No true supporters of mine could ever endorse political violence.  No true supporter of mine could disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag.  No true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow Americans.  If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement- you are attacking it.  And you are attacking our country.  We cannot tolerate it,” Trump said of those who mobbed the Capitol last Wednesday wearing his name on their shirts and waving MAGA flags. Trump also claimed there was an “unprecedented assault” on free speech, referencing social media companies that have banned him in recent days. Some context: The video comes in stark contrast to his first message about the riots which he released hours after the incursion.  He addressed the protesters in that video saying, "We love you" and "You're very special. " Later, he seemed to justify the actions in a tweet, writing, "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away. " Many social media companies have since banned the President from using their platforms and his personal Twitter account has been taken down permanently.  Watch:From CNN's Josiah Ryan Rep.  Peter Meijer, just one of 10 Republicans to vote to impeach President Trump a second time, said it's not too late for his colleagues to come clean with their constituents about President Trump's loss to President-elect Joe Biden in the 2020 election.  "We need to get past this big lie that this was a stolen election," he continued.  "This wasn't a landslide re-election for Donald Trump.  This wasn't a stolen election.  None of those claims played out in court and it's time we settle that once and for all because unless we come to that shared reality then we're not going to be able to fully heal from this moment," Meijer said. From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury House Speaker Nancy Pelosi briefly addressed reporters before she signed the article of impeachment against President Trump, for a second time, following the bipartisan House vote.  Watch:From CNN's Manu Raju and DJ Judd Lead impeachment manager Rep.  Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, told CNN it was still uncertain how many witnesses they would seek and how long of a trial it would be. House Democratic impeachment managers are now meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  From CNN's Josiah Ryan Former FBI Director James Comey today said the evidence he has seen so far suggests the attack on the Capitol was an organized conspiracy.  "There's no doubt there were at least some conspiracy," Comey told CNN's Jake Tapper this afternoon.  Comey's remarks came just moments after CNN reported emerging evidence was leading law enforcement officials to believe the attack was premeditated rather than a protest that spiraled out of control.  Among the evidence the FBI is examining are indications that some participants at the Trump rally at the Ellipse, outside the White House, left the event early, perhaps to retrieve items to be used in the assault on the Capitol. Watch more:From CNN's Evan PerezEvidence uncovered so far, including weapons and tactics seen on surveillance video, suggests a level of planning that has led investigators to believe the attack was not just a protest that spiraled out of control, a federal law enforcement official says.  Among the evidence the FBI is examining are indications that some participants at the Trump rally at the Ellipse, outside the White House, left the event early, perhaps to retrieve items to be used for the assault on the Capitol.  A team of investigators and prosecutors are focused on the command and control aspect of the attack, looking at travel and communications records to determine if they can build a case that is similar to a counterterrorism investigation, the official said.  The belief, early in the probe, will demand significant investigation.  The presence of corruption prosecutors and agents is in part because of their expertise in financial investigations.  By Wednesday morning, the FBI reported that it had received more than 126,000 digital tips from the public regarding the attack on the Capitol – more than three times the number of tips received on Monday.   Among the thousands of tips the FBI received are some that appear to show members of Congress with people who later showed up at the Capitol riot, two law enforcement officials said.  This doesn’t mean members of Congress and staff are under investigation, but the FBI is checking the veracity of the claims, the officials said.  At least some of the arrests already made are part of a strategy used in counterterrorism investigations, to find even a minimal charge and try to take a person of concern off the streets.  That helps ease the possible threat amid concern about possible attacks on the Inauguration, officials believe.  From CNN's Christopher Hickey, Janie Boschma and Sean O'KeyThe House voted earlier today to impeach President Trump for incitement of insurrection, exactly one week after a mob attacked the Capitol where lawmakers were convening to approve President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College win.  Ten Republicans joined Democrats in the historic vote to impeach Trump a second time — a contrast to the first impeachment vote, when every House Republican voted against both articles of impeachment.  Four Republicans did not vote: Reps.  Kay Granger (TX-12), Andy Harris (MD-1), Gregory Murphy (NC-3) and Daniel Webster (FL-11). See the full list on how everyone else voted here. Analysis from CNN's John King / Written by CNN's Maureen Chowdhury Many Republicans have put themselves in box that will make it difficult for them to debate the big issues moving forward by aligning themselves closely with President Trump, CNN's John King said after the House voted to impeach Trump for a second time.  "This is the party of Lincoln and the party of Reagan, that right now is still the party of Trump.  Many people are trying to escape from that," King said.  Ten Republicans, including the House's No.  3 Republican, Liz Cheney of Wyoming, joined their Democratic colleagues to impeach Trump for "incitement of insurrection. " Several of their colleagues, including Republican Rep.  Jim Jordan, defended Trump on the House floor.  Jordan claimed that Democrats simply wanted to "cancel the President. " "We need a competitive two-party system.  We need a good debate about all the big issues before us.  But many of those Republicans simply don't have the standing or credibility right now because of the box they've put themselves in," King explained.  Watch King's full remarks: Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Since entering office, Pres. Joe Biden has signed more than two dozen executive actions addressing the coronavirus pandemic, economy, immigration, climate crisis and more. https://t.co/cUEoGeJQTt

By Maegan Vazquez and Kate Sullivan, CNNUpdated 4:35 PM ET, Wed January 27, 2021  (CNN)President Joe Biden signed several executive actions related to the climate crisis on Wednesday, including one directing the secretary of the interior to pause on entering into new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or offshore waters. CNN's Kristen Holmes, Gregory Wallace, Betsy Klein and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.


BREAKING: Amazon has signed an agreement to acquire MGM for $8.45 billion. https://t.co/NieBKaHlqx

By Frank Pallotta, CNN BusinessUpdated 1:55 PM ET, Wed May 26, 2021 New York (CNN Business)James Bond, meet Jeff Bezos. -- CNN's Clare Duffy contributed to this story.


A controversial graphic depicting a scene from Mahabharata is being shared on social media with a claim that e-commerce website Myntra insulted Indian deities.   The graphic depicts Draupadi's vastraharan scene from Mahabharata and shows Lord Krishna using a smartphone and shopping for 'extra long sarees' on e-commerce website Myntra.  Following the outrage, #BoycottMyntra became one of the top trends on Twitter with over 12,000 tweets on Monday, 23 August.   However, we found that the graphic is an old one and was created by a youth-oriented website ScrollDroll in 2016 and not Myntra.   Even back then, social media users had called on to boycott Myntra and the fashion e-retailer had clarified that they had no connection to the graphic.  CLAIM The graphic was widely shared on social media as users called it 'insulting' and 'anti-Hindu', resharing it accompanied by the hashtag 'BoycottMyntra'.  The image was posted to an Instagram page called 'HindutvaOutLoud' and screenshots of this post went viral across platforms.   Other recent posts calling for the e-commerce platforms boycott over the graphic on Twitter can be seen here, here, and here, while those on Facebook can be accessed here and here.  Social media users had previously demanded Myntra's boycott in 2016 when the graphic had first gone viral.  Archives for posts from 2016 can be seen here and here.  WHAT WE FOUND OUT We ran a reverse image search on the controversial graphic and came across news reports from 26 August 2016 that carried it.  The report regarding the image by India Today noted that the graphic was created by ScrollDroll, a publication popular for 'interesting graphic cards' in February 2016.   The graphic was a part of a series titled 'Indian mythology meets today's digital technology', which imagined characters from Hindu mythology using smartphone applications like Myntra, Uber, Zomato, and Tinder.  It further said that ScrollDroll had owned up to creating the graphic as Myntra faced public furore.  Looking through the publication's social media handles, we found ScrollDroll's tweet from 2016, taking up responsibility for the graphic while absolving Myntra.  The viral graphic also carries ScrollDroll's watermark on the top-left corner and has the publication's web address at the bottom-right section.  Myntra had also retweeted ScrollDroll, informing people that they had nothing to do with the graphic and did not endorse it.  The company's verified Twitter account added that they would pursue legal action against the publication and that ScrollDroll had since taken down the controversial graphic.  Evidently, e-commerce brand Myntra has nothing to do with the old graphic, which was created by ScrollDroll in 2016, which had led to netizens demanding Myntra's boycott even then, causing the publication to consequently take it down from all its social media pages.


Eminem released a new album and no one saw it coming.

"Music to be Murdered by" will be his 11th album. "It's your funeral..." he wrote on Twitter. https://t.co/lXCRmvKyVX

Rapper Eminem has once again dropped a surprise albumEminem blasts Donald Trump in freestyle rapRapper Eminem once again dropped a surprise album, releasing “Music to Be Murdered By” on Friday — along with a video that calls for changes to gun laws. The follow-up to 2018's “Kamikaze” —         also released without warning — was announced         on Twitter just after midnight. The Detroit rapper's new music video for “Darkness,” one of the album's 20 tracks, depicts a shooting at a concert.  The lyrics and storyline of the video specifically allude to the         2017 mass shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern U. S.  history.  It closes with audio and video footage of news broadcasts from other recent mass shooting around the U. S.  and an appeal to register to vote. “When will this end?  When enough people care," reads the text at the end of the video.  "Register to vote at vote. gov.  Make your voice heard and help change gun laws in America. ”A         link to the music video on Eminem's website encourages viewers to contact or visit several gun violence prevention organizations, including Everytown for Gun Safety and Sandy Hook Promise. The cover art features blood spatter and a bearded Eminem clad in a suit and fedora and holding a shovel.  An alternate cover features the same splatter, with a now hatless Eminem holding both a hatchet and a gun to his head in an homage to Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 album of the same name: “Inspired by the master, Uncle Alfred! ” Eminem         tweeted. “Music to Be Murdered By” is Eminem's 11th studio album, according to his website. Among many collaborators, the album features Ed Sheeran, Skylar Grey, Anderson . Paak and Juice WRLD,         the 21-year-old rapper who died in December. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


An image of a fighter jet with the name “Soumya” embossed on it has gone viral with a claim that it showed Israel paying tribute to an Indian caregiver Soumya Santhosh, who lost her life in Ashkelon, near the Gaza Strip in a Hamas air strike.  The claim went viral after the mortal remains of the 30-year-old nurse from Kerala arrived in New Delhi on Saturday morning, 15 May.  However, we found that the image of the higher plane was an old one, which was digitally edited to add the name "Soumya" to it.  CLAIM The image was shared by several social media users with the same caption that said, "इजराइल ने अपनी फाइटर प्लेन पर #भारतीय बेटी का नाम #सौम्या को नमन लिखकर उससे #फिलिस्तीन आर्मी चीफ के घर पर बम गिरा दिया. . सच्ची श्रद्धांजलि" [Translation: Israel wrote Indian daughter Soumya's name on its fighter plane, and dropped a bomb on the house of the Palestinian Army Chief.  True tribute. ] The post was massively viral on Facebook and Twitter, archives of which can be found here, here, here and here.  The photo was also sent to us on our WhatsApp tipline.  WHAT WE FOUND OUT Upon conducting a reverse image search of the viral photo, we found links leading us to Chinese websites.  We found the same image posted on a Chinese social media portal owned by Tencent called QQ on 2 April 2020.  We also found the same image on another Chinese website called PTT News, which was also posted on the same date last year, much before the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine that led to the death of the nurse.  Another search result led us to the same image posted by a Quora user called, Lin Xiyei, on Quora's website.  The images posted on these websites didn't have the name "Soumya" written on the fighter jet.  According to the websites, the plane was a Chengdu J-10 fighter jet, which is China's indigenously developed multi-role stealth fighter jet.  We looked at other J-10 series aircraft on the Chinese military website, which confirmed that the aircraft in the viral image was a Chengdu J-10 fighter jet.  The claim also stated that Israel attacked the Palestinian Defence Chief.  This claim is partially true as Israel did attack the home of Hamas’ Chief Yehya Al-Sinwar in Gaza on Sunday, 16 May, but Al-Sinwar is not Palestine's "Defence Chief".  He has been heading the political and military wings of Hamas in Gaza since 2017.  Evidently, an old and unrelated photograph of a Chinese fighter jet was morphed to falsely claim that Israel paid tribute to the Indian nurse who died in a Hamas air strike in Ashkelon.  (With inputs from SM Hoax Slayer. )