House Speaker Nancy Pelosi invites President Trump to deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 5, a week later than originally planned https://t.co/89N7Rpk5w6 https://t.co/tj7pJP2Bvh

Pelosi extended a new invitation for Trump to deliver State of the Union. State of the Union: Through the yearsPresident Donald Trump accepted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's invitation to deliver the State of the Union address next Tuesday – bringing to a likely close a tense chapter between the two leaders. "It is my great honor to accept," Trump wrote Pelosi.  "We have a great story to tell and yet, great goals to achieve. "In her invitation to Trump, Pelosi wrote that she had previously hoped the two leaders would "work together to find a mutually agreeable date when government has reopened to schedule this year’s State of the Union address. "After extending an initial invitation on Jan.  3 asking the president to deliver the State of the Union on Jan.  29, Pelosi eventually rescinded the invitation amid the government shutdown, urging Trump to delay his annual address until the partial government shutdown ended. A source told ABC News that Trump and Pelosi spoke at 3:55 p. m. The longest-ever government shutdown is over but federal employees who returned to work Monday face the possibility of another one in just 19 days, unless congressional negotiators can find a politically acceptable solution. Political parties in both chambers have appointed lawmakers to a new bipartisan 17-member conference committee on border security, which was called for as part of the "deal" announced Friday.  The panel won’t hold its first meeting until Wednesday -- so, there’s essentially just 17 days on the clock to generate an agreement that could avoid another shutdown. After meeting Wednesday -- when lawmakers are expected to do little beyond exchange introductions -- Congress will recess until next Tuesday, illustrating how quickly a congressional calendar can evaporate and deadlines that seem far off can sneak up on Capitol Hill. The burning question inside the Capitol as lawmakers returned to work Monday was whether there's any room for a compromise on the central question in any immigration deal: President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.  At this stage, even with a new deadline looming, both sides appear to remain at the same impasse that led to the record-breaking 35-day shutdown. Basking in the glory of her first major legislative victory since reclaiming the speaker’s gavel, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters she has “no complaint” about the length of the negotiating period -- but she also showed no sign of backing off Democratic resistance to any new physical barriers along the border. “We asked the president to open up government so we would have time to have debate on the best way to protect our border,” Pelosi, D-Calif. , told reporters on Friday night as she signed off on legislation to reopen government until Feb.  15.  “Democrats are committed to border security and we think we have some better ideas about how to do so, that protects our borders, honor our values and are cost-effective. ”Majority approval -- separately from both the House and Senate -- is needed to advance a conference report to a full vote in the House and Senate.  While Republican senators hold a 4-3 advantage in the upper chamber, Democrats hold a 6-4 edge in the House -- putting the prospects of a border wall out of reach in these negotiations. By ending the shutdown, Trump ostensibly signaled a reluctance to shut down the government again.  But when the president announced an agreement to reopen the government on Friday, he again threatened to exercise executive power to declare a national emergency at the border and redirect funding from other projects to construction of a physical barrier -- if negotiators fail to strike an agreement. “We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barrier,” Trump said Friday.  “If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on Feb.  15th, again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency.  We will have great security. ”While some Republicans are urging Trump to accept a compromise with less than $5. 7 billion for the wall, Democrats remain steadfast in their insistence that no money is appropriated for construction of a physical barrier in areas where there's currently no walls or fencing. Over the weekend, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney convened a weekend retreat with six Republican senators at Camp David, Maryland.  Two GOP sources said that the president also phoned into the meeting. A source familiar with the retreat said that Republicans and the president could strive to expand the discussions into a “larger negotiation” – closer to the four pillars of immigration reform that the president sought a year ago. A Democratic aide, however, said the scope of conference committee's negotiations will be focused on funding, "not adding complex immigration issues," such as chain migration or DACA. "The preference is to produce an appropriations product and the general consensus is to complete work on funding issues only," the aide said.  "The general sense is that expanding the scope of the conference committee would complicate negotiations to the extent it is probably not helpful. "Democrats have expressed a willingness to beef up border security, even rebuilding physical barriers in areas they already exist – but have drawn the line at extending the wall in new areas. The conference report is also likely to include an omnibus -- funding the six areas of appropriations beyond homeland security before the Feb.  15 deadline to avert another partial government shutdown. Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he’s pessimistic the conference committee will produce a deal he could support, placing the odds at “less than 50-50” while adding that he doubts he could accept less than $5. 7 billion for new border wall. ABC News' Jonathan Karl contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


On August 22 and 23, several media outlets in India reported Pakistan has admitted that terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is in Karachi.  Some of the media outlets that published this report include Hindustan Times (archived link), India TV (archived link), NDTV (archived link), Zee News (archived link) and India Today (archived link).  Many of them reported that Pakistan admitted this for the first time. This slideshow requires JavaScript. CNN News 18 tweeted, “#Alert – First time in decades, Pakistan admits Dawood Ibrahim is in the country. ”#Alert – First time in decades, Pakistan admits Dawood Ibrahim is in the countryHere’s a report by @manojkumargupta where News18 tracked Dawood way back in 2016. Tune in to the broadcast with @vandanaseb.  pic. twitter. com/JNRKmQzyPq— CNNNews18 (@CNNnews18) August 23, 2020LiveMint tweeted, “Pakistan has accepted that the alleged mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts lives in Karachi’s Clifton area. ”Pakistan has accepted that the alleged mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts lives in Karachi’s Clifton area https://t. co/yr80mRBRgI— Livemint (@livemint) August 22, 2020Alt News is going to verify the following claims in this report:1) Information about Dawood Ibrahim’s address was put out by Pakistan for the first time. 2) Pakistan disputes Indian media reports, continues to deny Dawood’s presence in Pakistan. On August 18, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) published an order (view PDF) stating that as per United Nations Security Council (UNSC), restrictions will be imposed on “ISIL (also known as Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. ” As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Pakistan is obliged to issue a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) periodically. One of the individuals listed in the SRO is terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.  The order lists his aliases, passport number and other personal details including his address.  There are three addresses mentioned in the order, all of them are from Pakistan. a) Karachi, Pakistan (White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton)b) House Nu 37 – 30th Street – defence, Housing Authority, Karachi, Pakistanc) Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi, Pakistan
 1.  Dawood Ibrahim’s address not put out by Pakistan for the first timeIn order to prove that Dawood Ibrahim’s address has been in the public domain for years, Alt News will rely upon Pakistan MoFA SRO from 2016 and regulations to The Council of European Union in 2002.  Alt News performed a keyword search on Google restricting the results to Pakistan’s MoFA website and found three SROs — 2015 (view pdf), 2016 (view PDF) and 2019 (view pdf).  While the links were not accessible, Alt News could open their respective Google web cache versions. As per 2019 SRO, Ibrahim’s listed addresses were:a) Karachi, Pakistan (White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton)b) House Nu 37 – 30th Street – defence, Housing Authority, Karachi, Pakistanc) Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi, Pakistan.
The 2016 and 2015 SRO had one additional address in Ibrahim’s name apart from three mentioned in 2019 and 2020 SROs.  “Address: a) Karachi, Pakistan ( White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton) b) (House Nu 37 – 30th Street – defence, Housing Authority Karachi Pakistan) c) (Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi) d) (Property at Margalla Raod F 6/2 Street no.  22, House number 29 in Karachi). ”
Readers should note that in 2002, the Council of European Union under the regulation No 881/2002 had pinned Ibrahim’s location to two addresses in Pakistan.  They are the same addresses as mentioned in the MoFA Pakistan order — “(a) White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan, (b) House Nu 37 — 30th Street — defence, Housing Authority, Karachi Pakistan”.
Therefore the claim by India media outlets that Pakistan admitted for the first time that Ibrahim is in Pakistan is false. 2.  Pakistan’s denial of Dawood Ibrahim in the country is questionable In a response to coverage by the Indian media, Pakistan MoFA published a press note (archived link).  While explaining the statutory order published on August 18, the press note read, “These lists contain names of individuals and entities designated under the two sanction regimes established pursuant to the UN Security Council resolutions.  The consolidated SROs are issued periodically as a routine matter.  Similar SROs have been issued, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the past, as per statutory requirements to meet our international obligations.  Last such SROs were issued in 2019. ” Alt News found three similar SROs issued by Pakistan MoFA in the past — 2015 (view pdf), 2016 (view PDF) and 2019 (view pdf). We performed another keyword search on Google and found a 2019 press interaction between Pakistan MoFA and various journalists.  Anas Mallick, Islamabad-based reporter for WION, had enquired if Ibrahim is in Pakistan or not.  The Pakistan MoFA responded, “Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan, I repeat, he is not in Pakistan. ” (archived link)Expert Opinion: Taha Siddiqui, Editor in chief, South Asia Press: “Dawood in Pakistan is an open secret”Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist in exile, told Alt News, “The addresses mentioned on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs order on August 18 and the one published in 2016 establish that Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan is not new information.  Thus, the reportage by Indian media is misleading.  However, the response by Pakistan’s MoFA is equally misleading because they didn’t mention Dawood Ibrahim while addressing the Indian media and used the phrase “certain listed individuals”.  Pakistan’s MoFA added more ambiguity when they stated that “the order continues to list persons who are deceased”.  But more crucially, MoFA response began by clarifying that the order is a part of their international obligations thus shying away from their accountability.  The fact that Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan is an open secret.  It’s high time Pakistan made it clear to the world.  If Pakistan’s MoFA is confident that Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan they should contest with the United Nations Security Council and the Council of European Union. ”Therefore, Pakistan’s claim that Dawood Ibrahim is not in the country is also questionable. Economic Times (archived link), Times Now Hindi, Maharashtra Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Zee Hindustan, Navbharat Times, Latestly (archived link), and One India Bengali were other media organisations that published misleading reports. This slideshow requires JavaScript. Additionally, several national and regional news channels uploaded similar news bulletin on YouTube.
Donate NowArchit is a graduate in English Literature from The MS University of Baroda.  He also holds a post-graduation diploma in journalism from the Asian College of Journalism.  Since then he has worked at Essel Group's English news channel at WION as a trainee journalist, at S3IDF as a fundraising & communications officer and at The Hindu as a reporter.  At Alt News, he works as a fact-checking journalist. Assam-based media outlets DY365, Asom Live 24, and NorthEast Now reported that 26 Rohingya Muslims…On September 6, the Taliban claimed the complete seizure of Panjshir province, the last remaining…In a recent ‘breaking news’ segment, India Today claimed that Ahmad Massoud, head of the…After the Taliban claimed victory over opposition forces in Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan, Republic TV aired…In a September 6 broadcast, Times Now aired a piece of ‘breaking news’ where a…


Total voter turnout in #Phase5 of #LokSabhaElection2019:  62.56% https://t.co/EBqknfsgCN

A voter turnout of 63. 5 per cent was recorded in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which is the lowest in all the phases so far, Election Commission data shows. According to the Commission’s Voter Turnout android application, at 9. 00 PM, the turnout in the Monday’s polling was 63. 5 per cent.  The voter turnout has recorded a decreasing trend so far this election. At 69. 50 per cent, the polling in phase-1 is the highest in the five phase so far.  In phase-2, the turnout was 69. 44 per cent, it was 68. 40 in phase-3 and 65. 51 per cent in phase-4.  Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena told reporters here that as compared to 2014, in the first four phases (barring Monday’s phase five), 7. 85 crore more people eligible to cast vote.  He also said that six crore more voters participated in the democratic exercise in the first four phases as compared to 2014 LS polls in its four phases.  The Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency in Jammu & Kashmir went to polls in Phase III, Phase IV & Phase V, the only such instance in the country. The overall voter turnout there was 8. 76 per cent this year as compared to 28. 54 per cent in 2014 LS polls. The Ladakh constituency of the state, which went to polls Monday, recorded a turnout of 71. 10 per cent at 10 PM as per the EC app.  In 2014, the turnout was nearly the same at 71. 9 per cent. A total of 51 constituencies in seven states voted Monday.  In this phase, the least number of states were involved. Over 8. 75 crore electors were to decide the fate of 674 candidates, including top leaders such as Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in this phase. The Election Commission set up over 96,000 polling booths, which included a maximum of 28,072 in Uttar Pradesh, for smooth conduct of polls.  PTI NAB SKC NAB TIR TIR


This notice which claims that a #COVID19 Monitoring Committee has been formed is fake. Such a committee has not been set up by the Union Home Ministry. Beware of fake news and rumours: Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) https://t.co/L9Wp035vk1

With one million people getting affected by Covid-19, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) is of the view that community spread has started and the situation is pretty bad. While speaking to ANI, Dr V K Monga, the Chairman of IMA Hospital Board of India said, “This is now an exponential growth.  Every day the number of cases is increasing by more than around 30,000.  This is really a bad situation for the country.  There are so many factors connected with it but overall this is now spreading to rural areas.  This is a bad sign.  It now shows a community spread. ”Click here for full Covid-19 coverageAccording to the latest update by the Union Health Ministry, the total confirmed cases reached 10,38,716.  There are 3,58,629 active cases and 6,53,751 cured/discharged/migrated.  A total of 26,273 deaths have been registered to date. Dr Monga further said, “Cases are penetrating down into towns and villages where it will be very difficult to control the situation.  In Delhi, we were able to contain it, but what about interior parts of the country in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Madhya Pradesh (which may be the new hotspots)? ”“All these issues are very important and the state governments should take full care and seek help of the Central government to control the situation,” Monga said. As many as 1,34,33,742 samples have been tested for Covid-19 till July 17.  Of these 3,61,024 samples were tested on Friday, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said. ICMR is ramping up testing facilities regularly.  At present, 885 government laboratories and 368 private laboratory chains are conducting Covid-19 tests across the country. “This is a viral disease that spreads very fast.  To contain the disease there are only two options.  Firstly, 70 per cent population contracts the disease and gets immune, and other is getting an immunisation,” stated Monga. Vaccination, being the greatest hope to contain Covid-19, India’s two indigenous vaccine makers would be starting human trials soon. “There has to be phases of trials then human trial, then efficacy and side effects.  Also, importantly it has to be seen how long this immunity will last because most of the patients are unable to go beyond three months of immunity,” said Dr Monga.


Rajya Sabha passes the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill 2020 https://t.co/tmoMeB65wN

The Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 by voice vote. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had moved the Bill for consideration and passing in the Upper House.  The bill is aimed at replacing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020. The Ordinance was promulgated on June 5 to provide relief to companies from initiation of insolvency procedure due to sudden outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and consequent 68-day hard lockdown that disrupted the economy. The ordinance prohibited the initiation of insolvency proceedings for defaults arising during the six months from March 25, 2020 and extendable up to one year.  Thus, it prohibits initiation of any insolvency proceedings by either any creditor or the corporate debtor. The government proclaimed the ordinance in response to the sudden outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic that battered businesses and put enterprises into stress for reasons beyond their control.  The relief was also provided to stressed units as meaningful resolution was not expected in this kind of adverse business environment. The government suspended certain sections of IBC to prevent business into being pushed into insolvency.  The government’s intention was to give immunity to stressed companies during this Covid-19 period through this ordinance. Among the speakers on the bill was Congress MP Vivek Tankha who said the ordinance, which was the precursor to the bill, was brought hurriedly.  He sought the government look into certain provisions including the one year period clause. Responding to the point raised by Congress member, Sitharaman said not “exceeding one year” if removed would naturally mean excessive delegation to the executive. Sitharaman also listed how the government steps towards insolvency law had led to a large number of resolutions. The Bill was passed by a voice vote.  Among other members, K K Ragesh (CPI-M) said why relief was not being provided to farmers who were also facing economic hardships.  ENDS


Delhi: Secretary General, INTERPOL Jürgen Stock, called on Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, today. The Secretary General thanked the Home Minister for the commitment shown and cooperation extended, and assured best support of INTERPOL for fight against terror. https://t.co/0vdXN2JcHN

International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) Secretary General Jurgen Stock on Saturday called on Home Minister Amit Shah here. During the meeting, Shah proposed hosting of Interpol General Assembly in the national capital in 2022, as a part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence. The Union Minister also expressed India’s willingness to be a Regional Hub of INTERPOL Global Academy by extending assistance as well as infrastructural support. Emphasising the zero-tolerance approach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards drug trafficking, international terrorism, dirty money, and money laundering, Shah called upon the Interpol to accord the topmost priority in fighting these menaces. He also underlined the urgent need for a long term strategic action plan in fighting these menaces, not just in the Asian region but across the world. Mentioning the recent amendments in Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the senior BJP leader said that over the years, Indian intelligence and investigation agencies have acquired rich and varied experiences in their decades-old fight against terrorism. Union Home Minister Shah said Interpol is welcome to actively collaborate with Indian law enforcement agencies to make the best use of this expertise. He also expressed his concern over the delay in the publication of Red Notices and said there was an urgent need for proactive-pre-publication consultation for ensuring expeditious publication of Red Notices. “Interpol Secretary General Stock appraised Shah about the databases of Interpol that house 100 million records, secure global data communication channel, and other tools through, which the organisation is assisting other law enforcement agencies across the world,” said a press release.  “He desired that Indian law enforcement agencies may make efforts to ensure more extensive use of Interpol’s tools and databases, more particularly at the border control points.  Mr Stock also assured enhanced operational cooperation,” the release added.  (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.  Only the headline has been changed. )


When pressed by @jonkarl on the multiple falsehoods recently spread by Pres. Trump about the immigration debate in recent days, Vice Pres. Mike Pence argues that it shouldn't undermine the administration's credibility in the eyes of the American public. https://t.co/sO1WzkeEFD https://t.co/48AJfnP1Em

  In his first formal address to the nation from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump painted a picture of a national threat and humanitarian crisis occurring along the US-Mexico border, saying his signature border wall would provide a solution.

  Here’s a partial rundown of the President’s statements and the context:

Trump: “The wall will also be paid for indirectly by the great new trade deal we have made with Mexico. ”

  The President has made this false claim before.

  Trump long ago abandoned his 2016 campaign promise that Mexico would pay to build a wall.  Instead, he now makes the case that Mexico will “indirectly” pay for the barrier, thanks to the potential increase in tax revenue generated by his replacement for the North America Free Trade Agreement.

  But the new deal hasn’t yet been ratified by Congress, where Democrats have expressed opposition.  And even if the new United States Mexico Canada Agreement ends up raising tax revenue, there’s nothing earmarking that money for a wall.  Income and corporate taxes are general revenue that would have to be appropriated by Congress.

  Another way trade could bring money into the Treasury is through tariffs – which are paid by American importers when they buy foreign goods.  But like the original NAFTA, the new deal aims to keep trade between the three countries largely tariff-free.

  – Katie Lobosco

Trump: “Every day, Customs and Border Patrol agents encounter thousands of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country. ”

Trump warns of 'crisis of the heart' in immigration address

  This is overstated.  Available Customs and Border Protection data shows a total of 396,579 people were apprehended by the US Border Patrol for fiscal year 2018 at the southwest border, which would mean an average of 1,087 each day – hardly the “thousands” that Trump purports.  The numbers differ each month.  The highest number of apprehensions was in September, with a daily average of nearly 1,400.

  Apprehensions are still well below historic highs.  In the early 2000s, for example, annual apprehensions routinely topped 1 million.  After hitting an historic low in 2017 of around 300,000, apprehensions increased in fiscal year 2018 to nearly 400,000.

  The President also expressed concern about what he called “a growing humanitarian crisis. ” There’s been an uptick in unaccompanied minors and families approaching the US-Mexico border, many of whom are seeking asylum.  Deteriorating conditions in the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras) are among the reasons that some have decided to make the journey.

  In 2016, nearly half of the people apprehended at the US-Mexico border came from these three countries, compared with roughly 10% in 2010, according to Homeland Security Department data.

  – Priscilla Alvarez

Trump: “All Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration. ”

  It’s very difficult to know exactly how much or little undocumented immigrants cost the United States.  Many experts contest the notion that undocumented immigrants are a strain on the economy.  A 2017 analysis noted that undocumented immigrants “make considerable tax contributions,” for example.

  Similarly, a 2018 study by the libertarian Cato Institute, which reviewed criminal conviction data from the Texas Department of Public Safety, found that immigrants – legal or illegal – are less likely than native-born Americans to be convicted of crimes.  Throughout the country, there is also generally a decrease in the number of violent crimes, according to the FBI.

  – Priscilla Alvarez

Trump: “At the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall. ”

  Democrats have long strenuously opposed Trump’s campaign promise that he would build a concrete wall on the US-Mexico border.  But they did not propose a steel barrier as an alternative.  Rather, Democrats have continued to oppose the construction of any new steel or concrete barrier on the southern border.  They have only kept the door open to funding a border barrier as part of a broader immigration deal.

  – Jeremy Diamond

Trump: “Sen.  Chuck Schumer has repeatedly supported a physical barrier in the past. ”

  This is correct but context is key.  Schumer previously supported legislation to build physical barriers on the US-Mexico border.  Most notably, Schumer and other Democrats supported the 2006 Secure Fence Act that authorized the construction of several hundred miles of fencing along the border, but not a wall.  However as long as the government remains shut down, Senate Minority Leader Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have refused to offer any funding for a border barrier.

  Democratic leaders have offered funding for roughly $1. 3 billion for border security in the current shutdown fight, but not the $5 billion the President has sought for a wall.

  Last week, House Democrats voted to approve a stop-gap funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security that would not allocate new wall funding, but would maintain the current $1. 3 billion in border security money.  Last year, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a DHS funding bill for fiscal year 2019 on a bipartisan basis that would allocate $1. 6 billion for roughly 65 miles of fencing in the Rio Grande Valley, but the full Senate has not yet approved that measure.

  – Jeremy Diamond, Marshall Cohen and Clare Foran

Trump: “More Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War. ”

  Some 58,220 Americans died as a result of the Vietnam War.  In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of total drug overdose deaths was 70,327.

Mueller believes Manafort fed information to Russian with intel ties

  However, the President’s assertion is misleading, conflating the drugs coming across the US-Mexico border with total drug deaths in the US.  In addition, it’s not currently known whether overdose deaths will increase or decrease when the CDC releases 2018 data later this year.

  Trump’s figures also do not distinguish between deaths caused by drugs smuggled into the country versus those prescribed by US doctors.

  The majority of hard narcotics seized by Customs and Border Protection come through ports of entry either in packages, cargo or with people who attempt to enter the US legally.  The only drug that is smuggled in higher numbers between legal entry points is marijuana, according to information from CBP and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

  China has been one of the leading sources of illegal synthetic opioids.  However, China’s role with the importation of fentanyl may soon shift, since President Xi Jinping agreed to make fentanyl a controlled substance late last year.

  – Maegan Vazquez

Trump: “1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico. ”

  Trump acknowledged the violence migrants face in transit to the US, saying: “1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted on the dangerous trek up through Mexico.  Women and children are the biggest victims by far of our broken system.  This is the tragic reality of illegal immigration on our southern border. ”

  Indeed, the trek to the US-Mexico border has been reported to be violent.  According to data from Doctors Without Borders, 68. 3% of migrants and refugees “entering Mexico reported being victims of violence during their transit toward the United States,” and nearly one-third of women said they’d been sexually abused.  But this very violence is also why women have chosen to travel in caravans.

  – Priscilla Alvarez

Trump: “Every week, 300 of our citizens are killed by heroin alone, 90% of which floods across from our southern border. ”

  While Trump’s statistics on heroin deaths are true, it’s unclear what a border wall would do to reduce the amount of heroin coming across the border.

  The CDC reported that in 2017 more than 15,482 people died from drug overdoses involving heroin in the US.  That averages out to about 297 individuals each week.  In addition, DEA’s Heroin Signature Program, which analyzes heroin samples to determine where they were manufactured, determined that heroin from Mexico made up 86% of the samples analyzed in 2016.

  However, the majority of heroin that comes across the southern border is smuggled in privately-owned vehicles and tractor-trailers at legal ports of entry, where the drug is co-mingled with legal goods, according to the DEA’s 2018 annual drug threat assessment.

  – Maegan Vazquez

Trump: “All Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration.  It strains public resources and drives down jobs and wages.  Among those hardest hit are African Americans and Hispanic Americans. ”

  There is some evidence that a small slice of the native-born workforce may see wage decreases because of undocumented immigrants competing for similar jobs, dragging wages down.  Research shows that the negative effects are concentrated among workers without college degrees, who are disproportionately African-American, but also includes earlier generations of immigrants.

  But in general, economists have determined that immigrants – undocumented or not – tend to help American workers by serving in low-skilled jobs that create more opportunities for the native born to move into managerial and knowledge-based roles.  For example, a 2009 study by University of California-Davis economist Giovanni Peri found that a 1% increase in a state’s employment due to immigration produced on average 0. 5% higher wages for each worker in that state.

  – Lydia DePillis

Trump: “In the last two years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes and 4,000 violent killings. ”

  Trump is using these statistics to paint the picture of dangerous criminals coming across the border.  On balance the stats he cites are largely accurate, yet the fact is more than half of those crimes are non-violent in nature.

  Over the past two years, roughly two-thirds of the undocumented immigrants arrested by ICE had prior criminal convictions – most of those either immigration violations or nonviolent crimes.  In all, of the 302,051 arrests made by ICE enforcement and removal officers, 210,876 had prior criminal convictions.  If you include those with pending criminal charges, you get just more than 266,000.

  His numbers for assaults and homicides reflect what ICE reported: 99,207 people charged or convicted of assaults and 3,914 charged or convicted of homicides.  However, the number of sex-related crimes ICE reported appears a bit lower, at more than 27,000 sex-related crimes.

  Criminal traffic offenses accounted for the largest single category of criminal offenses, with just over 161,000 charges or convictions, according to ICE.

  The President is including people who have been charged but not convicted of crimes.  So for assaults, for example, if you only look at convictions, the number is much lower – 61,906 convictions for assault over the past two years.

  -Bob Ortega
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Karnataka: Counting of votes cast in Local Body elections underway in Davanagere https://t.co/laa0iUabf7

Counting of votes for 5,728 gram panchayats in Karnataka that went for polls in two phases, is taking place on Wednesday.  The counting began at 8 am. As ballot papers were used in polls other than in Bidar district (where electronic voting machines or EVMs were used), the announcement of results may get delayed, polls officials said. Elections were held for 43,238 seats in the first phase on December 22, while voting took place for 39,378 seats in the second phase on December 27. While the first phase had seen a voter turnout of about 82 per cent, it was around 80 per cent in the second phase. A total of 2,22,814 candidates were in the fray.  The voting took place in both phases with necessary Covid-19 precautions amid the prevailing pandemic situation. While gram panchayat polls are held on a party-less basis, all three main contenders - Congress, BJP and the regional Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) - are looking to have their party workers and sympathisers elected to a majority of panchayats. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday claimed that the candidates supported by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are likely to win majority of the seats. In the 2015 polls, the then ruling Congress in the state had won a majority of panchayats.  (With inputs from agencies)


We were on high alert as we had inputs that terror groups were planning an attack on the anniversary of Pulwama attack. Last night we arrested a person named Sohail and recovered 6-6.5 kgs of IED from his possession: Jammu Inspector General of Police (IG) Mukesh Singh https://t.co/rtDRYSH0g9 https://t.co/O9Hr8Id3oz

Police said on Sunday they were on high alert and had inputs that terror groups were planning an attack on the second anniversary of the Pulwama attack after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was recovered near the general bus stand in Jammu earlier in the day.  A senior official said two people were arrested and another held in connection with the IED recovery in Jammu and Samba areas of Jammu and Kashmir. “We were on high alert as we had inputs that terror groups were planning an attack on the anniversary of Pulwama attack.  Last night, we arrested a person named Sohail and recovered 6-6. 5kg of IED from his possession,” Jammu’s inspector general of police (IG) Mukesh Singh said while addressing a press briefing. Singh added that Sohail revealed during interrogation that he was a student of a nursing college in Chandigarh and was instructed by the Pakistan-based outfit Al-Badr to place the explosive in Jammu and several other areas.  He said that the man, who was arrested on Sunday and hails from the Pulwama district, was told to place the explosive in three to four locations. Also Read| Omar Abdullah claims he is under house arrest in ‘new model of democracy’“A person named Qazi Waseem in Chandigarh was also aware of this matter.  He has been held.  We have also arrested a person named Abid Nabi,” the top police officer said during the briefing. Prior to this incident, two top terrorists had been recently arrested in the valley.  Zahoor Ahmad Rather- wanted in the killing of three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and a police official in South Kashmir in 2020- was arrested on Saturday in the Samba district. We were on high alert as we had inputs that terror groups were planning an attack on the anniversary of Pulwama attack.  Last night we arrested a person named Sohail and recovered 6-6. 5 kgs of IED from his possession: Jammu Inspector General of Police (IG) Mukesh Singh https://t. co/rtDRYSH0g9 pic. twitter. com/O9Hr8Id3ozWhile Hidayatullah Malik- a commander of the Lashkar-e-Mustafa, which is a front of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), was arrested on February 6. “Malik revealed that several hideouts have been stationed in Jammu to spread militancy.  They receive weapons from Pakistan, send them to Kashmir and other areas,” J-K’s director general of police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said during the briefing.


The Simpsons predicted George Floyds death and the aftermath of protests that followed.

The Simpsons have been known to come up with episodes that seem to predict the future, including the election of Donald Trump as president.  But did The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and his team of writers predict George Floyd's death and the protests that followed afterwards?   Protests broke across several cities in the United States following the death of an African-American man, George Floyd, who died after being pinned to the ground by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020.  Footage shot by witnesses showed a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, with his knee on Floyd's neck for close to nine minutes as the latter stopped responding.   On 1 June, 2020 a bunch of images started doing the rounds on social media that made it seem as if the critically acclaimed show had accurately predicted the future again.  The most popular image was of The Simpsons character Chief Clancy Wiggum, strangling a black man with his foot while Lisa Simpson has a 'Justice For George' protest placard.  The claim is that it appeared in the series in the 1990s.    The producer of The Simpson was a demon.  90's Edition.  #BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloydMurder #GeorgeFloyd pic. twitter. com/yV1KeOH8OF    They predicted George Floyd's death on the Simpsons. . . coincidence?  pic. twitter. com/oOx4W9HhlJ  These images when put together seemed to indicate that animated series had accurately predicted police brutality case like George Floyds' and the aftermath that followed.    The George Floyd project shown by the Simpsons. . . in the 90s@Urylle @tatendam82 @AlwawiFlatEarth @flat_earth8 pic. twitter. com/Iblx03olfO  Fact CheckA closer look at the image of Chief Wiggum and the black man shows an artist's signature at the bottom right side.     BOOM looked for 'Yuri Pomo' on Twitter and Instagram, and it turns out Pomo is an artist who created this cartoon depicting police brutality on May 30, 2020 to raise awareness about George Floyd's death.  It is not a scene from The Simpsons.     Normally you're used to see colorful and cheerful drawings from me, but since i've got quite a good audience, i'd like to use it as much as i can in the right way when the situation requires it, and bring something good, and useful with my drawings, and you guys know it.  Especially in this exact moment.  With this piece i'd like you to think deeply, Taking the chance to bring The Simpsons as an example for the cause.  The Simpsons has always been everyone's childhood, so the message will be clear and strong enough i suppose.  Imagine you're sat with you daughter/son watching the Simpsons, and all of a sudden this scene happens in the show, as cruel as it has been, no jokes, no irony, nothing that the Simpsons normally has, and what it's loved for.  Imagine that, how would you feel?  . . .  Think about that deeply, and give yourself an answer, no need to add anything else!  🙏🏻 • • • • • • #noracism #georgefloyd #justiceforgeorgefloyd #ripgeorgefloyd #georgefloyd🙏🏾 #noracismo #equality #humanrights #art #artist #simpsons #simpson #thesimpsons #illustration #illustrationartists #digitalart #digitalillustration #yuripomo #cartoon #cartoonist #icantbreathe #blacklivesmatter #blacklives #blacklivesmatter✊🏾 #blacklivesmatters #racism #colinkaepernick #riots A post shared by  Yuri Pomo - Vipcartoonizer (@yuripomo) on May 30, 2020 at 10:07am PDT  There's an image of what appears to be the precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota that was set on fire that's juxtaposed with the Springfield police station ablaze.  The 3rd Precinct of the Minneapolis police station was set on fire to protest George Floyd's death.  BOOM could not independently verify if the building in the photo was that of the Precinct. The next image is taken from an episode of The Simpsons.  A YouTube search for the keywords 'The Simpsons Springfield Police Station Catching Fire' led us to find this clip:


First-person video shared by California firefighters gives a glimpse of what it's like to drive through massive wildfire burning south of San Francisco.

More than 14,000 firefighters are battling numerous wildfires raging across the state. https://t.co/rLOc4rxVoG https://t.co/AJOntCtV7D

By Amir Vera and Jamiel Lynch, CNNUpdated 4:28 AM ET, Mon August 24, 2020  (CNN)The deadly California wildfires have burned over 1 million acres -- and there's no end in sight as thousands of firefighters struggle to contain the blazes and more emerge.  CNN's Jason Hanna, Paul Vercammen and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report.


Prime Minister @narendramodi arrives at BJP headquarters, ahead of the release the party's manifesto for #LokSabhaElections2019.

Follow LIVE: https://t.co/wuFFGT9iTw

#ElectionsWithHT

Photos: ANI https://t.co/hQu9EpSZh7

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on April 8.  Prime minister Narendra Modi and BJP president are present at the event.  The Congress, which is the primary opposition party, released its manifesto earlier this week.  The first phase of 2019 Lok Sabha elections is scheduled on April 11. Apart from releasing the election manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to address two poll rallies in Karnataka, while BJP president will be addressing a poll rally in Uttarakhand. Watch: ‘India from 2019-24 will pave way for 100 years of free India’: PM ModiPoll rallies of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi cancelledImran Masood, Congress’ candidate from Saharanpur: For now the Rahul Gandhi-Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s rallies has been cancelled at all three places (Shamli, Bijnor, Saharanpur), due to bad weather.  We are planning Priyanka ji’s road show tomorrow, reports news agency ANI.   Imran Masood, Congress' candidate from Saharanpur: For now the program (Rahul Gandhi-Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's rallies) has been cancelled at all three places (Shamli, Bijnor, Saharanpur), due to bad weather.  We are planning Priyanka ji's road show tomorrow.  pic. twitter. com/tGvK4h9KpjCongress slams BJP manifestoThe Congress on Monday slammed the BJP manifesto.  “You can’t mislead everyone, all the time,” the Congress said at a press conference. Nationalism, farmers, youth focus of BJP’s 75-point manifesto To develop India, development has to be made into a mass movement: PM ModiTo develop India, development has to be made into a mass movement, and a successful result of that is ‘swacchta’, today ‘swachhta’ is a mass movement. The country you build from 2019-2024 will pave way for 100 years of free India: ModiIn 2047, India will complete 100 years of freedom.  The country you build from 2019-2024 will pave the way, prepare the foundation for that India.  Our next generation is going to decide the future of 2047 India.  And we have big goals for this generation.  We have big plans to take the nation ahead in next 5 years, that it paves way for 2047 India.  We will form separate Jal Shakti Ministry: PM ModiFocusing on water resources, we will form separate Jal Shakti Ministry. 2014-2019 experience, success helped us create this manifesto: PM ModiThe experience, the success we tasted from 2014 to 2019, helped us create this manifesto.  Nationalism is our inspiration, governance our mantra: PM ModiNationalism is our inspiration, governance our mantra, said PM Modi at BJP manifesto launch in New Delhi. We have decided to work on multidimensional level: PM ModiWe want to move forward in every sector that requires growth.  To run a country, we have decided to work on a multidimensional level.  75 years, 75 goals: PM Narendra ModiFor 75 years of free India, we have 75 goals.  We have ‘one mission, one nation’ agenda which we will certainly take forward. Thanks for the support of last 5 years: PM ModiPM Modi takes the stage and starts his speech by thanking everyone. 56 out of 57 countries said let Pak not come when it threatened to boycott OIC meet: SushmaThis is an indication of Modi ji’s diplomatic success that when Pakistan threatened to boycott Organisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) meeting if India was invited, but then 56 out of 57 countries said let Pakistan not come. India’s optic fibre network has spread far: Sushma SwarajIndia’s optic fibre network has spread far.  India ranks higher on ease of doing business.  Unlike others, we are not here with ‘ghoshna patra’, we are here with ‘sankalp patra’: Sushma SwarajOther parties came to you with their ‘ghoshna patra’, but we are here with a ‘sankalp patra’.  We are not here to make ‘announcements’. Our new policy of striking terror in its origin has received global recognition: Arun JaitleyOur new policy, new doctrine of striking terror in its origin has received global recognition: Arun Jaitley at launch of BJP manifesto Previous govts gave slogans, Modi govt gave resources to poor:: Arun JaitleyPrevious governments has only given slogans, PM Modi government gave resources to poor.  Taxes were only reduced, not increased.  The idea was to provide more money in the pocket of the people, so they could spend it. BJP manifesto is rooted in Indian reality: Arun JaitleyThis manifesto is not prepared with a tukde-tukde or Ivy League mindset.  It’s rooted in Indian reality.  Those who failed in the past decades can’t manufacture fresh idea.  2014 was election in cynical environment.  Modi held hope then. BJP will spend Rs 25 lakh crore on rural development: Rajnath SinghBJP promises to spend Rs 25 lakh crore on rural development in next five years. Toilet and drinking water for every home: Rajnath Singh“Toilet and drinking water for every home.  Double the length of national highway. 100% electricity and LPG cylinders: Rajnath SinghSeats in management institute and engineering colleges will be increased.  100% electricity and LPG cylinders. BJP released party poll manifesto on its official websiteThe BJP released the party Lok Sabha elections 2019 manifesto on its official website. Pension schemes got small and marginal farmers: Rajnath SinghEver farmer will get benefit of Kisan Samaan Nidhi irrespective of land holding.  Pension schemes got small and marginal farmers.  Rashtriya Vyapari Ayog will be set up for trading community.  It will be very effective commission.  Pension also for small shopkeepers.  Will ensure passage of citizenship bill in Parliament with respect: Rajnath SinghBJP will ensure passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament with utmost respect to every state’s cultural value. Will explore all alternative options for Ram temple construction: Rajnath SinghAll alternative options will be explored for construction of Ram temple in a most conducive manner. We have zero tolerance policy to terror: Rajnath Singh jots down key points from BJP manifestoLet’s jot down the main points of manifesto. . .  We have zero tolerance policy to terror.  We are committed to nationalism.  Will check infiltration.  Citizenship amendment bill - we will pass in parliament and implement it. We touched base with crores of people: Rajnath SinghWe touched base with crores of people.  We carried 300 raths, 4000 ‘maan ki baat’ events, 110 samvad programme. People’s faith in PM Modi has increased: Rajnath SinghPeople faith in modi has increased.  Development is now fast paced.  We made procedural and structural changes.  We gave a responsible, sensitive government with firm commitment.  We touched every section and region to discuss the details of manifesto: Rajnath SinghWe touched every section and region to discuss the details of manifesto.  A team was set up under me and 12 others to prepare the manifesto.  This is a visionary and practical document.  PM Modi, Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh release BJP manifestoThe BJP of Monday released the party manifesto for Lok Sabah elections 2019. We are taking 75 sankalp to change India by 2022: ShahWe are taking 75 sankalp, to change india by 2022, 75th year of independence. BJP manifesto was prepared after consulting 6 crore people: Amit ShahBJP manifesto was prepared after consulting 6 crore people, says Shah at BJP manifesto for Lok Sabha elections 2019. In last five years, entire world has taken cognisance of India: ShahThere was a time India did not matter in front of world, in last five years, entire world has taken cognisance of us.  There is not a single allegation of corruption against Modi government.  2014 to 2019 were golden years for India: Amit Shah2014 to 2019 were golden years for India.  First time after 30 years that a full majority government came.  Despite majority, we formed NDA government.  We have strengthened national security. I am here to remind you of 2014: BJP supremo Amit ShahI am here to remind you of 2014.  The then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi was announced as the PM candidate. We came out with manifesto on who we want to run the country.  Rajnath Singh-led manifesto committee to form 15 sub-panelsUnion home minister Rajnath Singh-led manifesto committee of the BJP had decided to form 15 sub-panels to reach out to the different group of voters like farmers, youth, women, businessmen and others. BJP to crowdsouce its manifesto? The BJP had said in January this year that it will crowdsource its manifesto for the Lok Sabha election 2019.  It had also said it will hold events across the country over the next few months to get inputs from different sets of voters for the purpose. BJP likely to make a flew of promisesThe ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to make a slew of promises to woo different sections of the society, especially farmers, youth and women, besides the poor after the Congress gave welfare measures, including a promise of giving Rs 72,000 to the poorest 20% households in India, a major thrust as part of its poll promise. PM Modi reaches BJP office, received by Amit ShahPrime minister reached the BJP office in New Delhi for the launch of party manifesto for Lok Sabha elections 2019.  PM Modi was greeted by BJP supremo Amit Shah. Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP headquarters, the party will release their manifesto for #LokSabhaElections2019 shortly.  pic. twitter. com/f71GqU58LyCongress president Rahul Gandhi to address 3 poll rallies in Uttar PradeshCongress President Rahul Gandhi will be in Uttar Pradesh today to address 3 public meetings.  Congress President @RahulGandhi will be in Uttar Pradesh today to address 3 public meetings.  Watch him live on our social media channels.  FB: https://t. co/NPOcx4pW6nYT: https://t. co/g2POk6TV2t pic. twitter. com/1Bc5izDVakKamal Hasan’s MNM releases its 2024 election manifestoTamil Nadu: Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) releases their 2024 election manifesto ‘Kovai 2024’ for Coimbatore, reports news agency ANI.  Tamil Nadu: Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) releases their 2024 election manifesto 'Kovai 2024' for Coimbatore.  pic. twitter. com/lFUG13fy4wRashtriya Janata Dal releases their manifestoPatna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) releases their manifesto for Lok Sabha Elections 2019, reports news agency ANI.   Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) releases their manifesto for #LokSabhaElections2019 pic. twitter. com/fKrq848BftSchools in Hapur to remian closed from 9 to 11th April in of LS pollsAll schools in Hapur district to remain closed from 9 April to 11 April in the light of the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on 11 April, reports news agency ANI.   All schools in Hapur district to remain closed from 9 April to 11 April in the light of the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2019 on 11 April. BJP to release its election manifestoBJP president Amit Shah to release BJP election manifesto in presence of BJP parliamentary committee at 11 am today.  भाजपा राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री अमित शाह की अध्यक्षता व भाजपा संसदीय बोर्ड के सदस्यों की उपस्थिति में भारतीय जनता पार्टी 'संकल्प पत्र लोकसभा 2019' का विमोचन।लाइव देखें -∙ https://t. co/vpP0MInUi4∙ https://t. co/KrGm5idRUX∙ https://t. co/jtwD1z6SKE∙ NaMo TV pic. twitter. com/h0zUd5jKif


CDC officials investigating multi-state outbreak of a drug-resistant infection believed to be linked to puppies purchased from pet stores. https://t.co/ikxgHJIc6m

By Christina Maxouris, CNNUpdated 2053 GMT (0453 HKT) December 18, 2019  (CNN)Puppies: cute balls of fur.


Former Jammu & Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti's detention under Public Safety Act extended by three months
(file pic) https://t.co/FEkoTdRKEA

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday extended the detention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti by another three months under the stringent Public Safety Act. Mufti among others had been taken into preventive custody barely hours before the Centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last year.  The state was subsequently divided into two union territories— Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The detention order of the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was scheduled to lapse on August 5, 2020.  Mufti is the only politician currently, who is still detained under the PSA. She will continue to remain under detention for another three months at her official residence, which had earlier been declared a subsidiary jail, the order issued by the Home Department of the government said. A number of other prominent politicians, including two former chief ministers, Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, have been released from custody.  The political leaders were arrested last August, hours after the Centre proposed the revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and proposed the bifurcation of the state into two union territories.  Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference leaders Sajjad Lone and Imran Ansari were also arrested.


West Bengal: Preparations underway at polling station 76 in Nandigram constituency, ahead of voting for the second phase of #WestBengalElections2021 today https://t.co/ASoJm4XcIm

Voting across 30 assembly constituencies of West Bengal and 39 constituencies in Assam was conducted in the second phase of assembly elections on Thursday.  Over 11 hours into polling, the states recorded a voting percentage of 80. 43% and 77. 21% respectively, so far. The Election Commission notified on Thursday evening the second phase was conducted peacefully across 21,212 polling stations which were spread over the total 69 constituencies.  The second phase of polls in Bengal witnessed a crucial battle for the Nandigram assembly seat, from where chief minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting for the first time instead of her traditional Bhawanipore seat.  While Banerjee seeks to retain the chief minister’s post for the third term, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded her former aide Suvendu Adhikari against her from Nandigram. Click here for full assembly election 2021 coverageSoon after Banerjee reached a polling booth in the constituency, sloganeering was reported from the station, following which she spoke with the state governor Jagdeep Dhankar to look into the matter.  She also alleged that several voters were not being allowed to cast their ballot.  The governor has assured her that the issue has been flagged to concerned officials. Meanwhile, in Assam, over 7. 3 million voters decided the fate of 345 candidates.  The main electoral battle in the northeastern state is between BJP and Congress.  The BJP this time as teamed up with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) while the Congress as a part of the Grand Alliance is fighting the election with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, the Anchalik Gana Marcha (AGM) and the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF). Follow latest updates on Phase 2 voting hereFollow all the updates here:Cong seeks candidature disqualification of Assam minister Pijush HazarikaAs voting concluded for the second phase of the assembly election in Assam, the Congress Party on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the state's Chief Electoral Officer, seeking candidature disqualification of Assam minister Pijush Hazarika for allegedly threatening journalist, according to news agency ANI.  After Mahua Moitra’s ‘Chotiwala’ barb, Giriraj Singh reactsAs the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have engaged in a squabble over the ‘chotiwala’ jibe, Union fisheries minister and BJP leader Giriaj Singh on Thursday reacted sharply towards TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s recent tweet where she said, “There are chotiwalas and then there are chotiwala rakshasas who refers to gotra of Rohingyas as if it were a term of abuse.  Modiji should ask his cabinet minister to refrain from such filth. ” Read more90% of votes have gone to BJP in Nandigram, says Suvendu AdhikariExpressing confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would emerge victorious in West Bengal's Nandigram constituency, party leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Thursday that 90% of the votes in Nandigram have gone to the BJP.  Polling across assembly constituencies done under strict security cover: Election CommissionThe EC added that polling across all assembly constituencies in Phase 2 was conducted under strict security arrangements.  "Central Armed Police Forces(CAPFs) along with the local police force have been deployed to ensure peaceful, intimidation free and conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair, inclusive and accessible manner," a statement from the Commission read.  Phase-2 of Assam, Bengal assembly polls conducted peacefully, says ECThe Election Commission said on Thursday that the second phase of the assembly elections in Assam and Bengal conducted peacefully across 21,212 polling stations which were spread over 69 assembly seats, ANI reports. Voter turnout in Bengal goes over 80%, Assam sees 73. 09% turnoutThe latest update by the Election Commission at 6. 06 pm showed that West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 80. 43% while Assam saw a turnout of 73. 09%.  Worried about democracy, not Nandigram, says Bengal CM BanerjeeWe have already lodged 63 complaints with Election Commission.  I am not worried about Nandigram, but I am worried about democracy.  I will win Nandigram with the blessings of 'Maa Maati Manush': West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pic. twitter. com/QD81ZMOahOWest Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit out at the Election Commission (EC) and said, "Whatever you (Election Commission) try, BJP will not win.  In Nandigram, 90% of the votes will to TMC. " Banerjee also said that the TMC had already lodged 63 complaints with the commission adding that she was not worried about her constituency Nandigram but was worried about democracy.  "I will win Nandigram with the blessings of 'Maa Maati Manush,' the Bengal CM added. East Mednipur: ITBP personnel help senior citizens cast vote during second phase of pollingITBP troops guard booths and help senior citizens in Tamluk, East Medinipur, during second phase of West Bengal Assembly polls: ITBP pic. twitter. com/Q6w71d0tKqITBP personnel helps senior citizen to reach a polling booth in West Bengal's BankuraA personnel from of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was seen helping a senior citizen to reach a polling booth in West Bengal's Bankura to exercise his franchise.  West Bengal records over 71% voter turnout so far, Assam sees 63. 04%Latest updates by the Election Commission at 4. 12 pm showed that Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 71. 07% while Assam has seen a turnout of 63. 04%.  Voters queue up at poll booth in MayongPhotos from polling stationsA look at Phase 2 Bengal, Assam voting in photos68. 81% voter turnout recorded in Bengal so far, Assam sees 61. 86% turnoutAs of 3. 17 pm, 68. 81% voter turnout has been recorded in West Bengal while Assam sees a voter turnout of 61. 86%, according to the Election Commission. TMC acting desperately due to fear of losing, says BJP's Suvendu AdhikariWith polling currently on for the second phase of the assembly election in West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikrai said on Thursday that the rival Trinamool Congres (TMC) was acting desperately due to the the fear of losing this year's election.  "They (TMC) tried to capture two booths but the police observer caught them.  They tried to use fake IDs at other booths and now three people have been held," Adhikari said while speaking to reporters, according to news agency ANI. Locals not being allowed to vote in Nandigram, Bengal CM tells Governor Dhankar#WATCH: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee speaks to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the phone at a polling booth in Nandigram.  She says, ". . . They didn't allow the local people to cast their vote.  From morning I am campaigning. . . Now I am appealing to you, please see. . . " pic. twitter. com/mjsNQx38BBWest Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday phoned state governor Jagdeep Dhankar where she alleged that local people are not being allowed to exercise their franchise in Nandigram, reports ANI.  Read more58. 15% voter turnout recorded so far in Bengal, Assam sees 48. 26% turnoutAs voting for the second phase of assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam continues, 58. 15% voter turnout was recorded in Bengal till 1. 30 pm in 30 constituencies while Assam saw a turnout of 48. 26% till 1 pm in 39 constituencies. Assam sees peaceful polling in phase twoThe situation in Assam was peaceful with a significant number of voters turning up during the morning hours to exercise their franchise in the 39 seats where voting was underway in the second phase on Thursday. There were reports of EVM glitches from some polling stations and upon their immediate replacement voting continued uninterrupted, an election official said. 29. 27% voter turnout recorded till so far in Bengal, Assam sees 21. 71%21. 71% and 29. 27% voter turnout recorded till 11. 17 am in the second phase of polling in Assam and West Bengal, respectively: Election Commission of IndiaAssam polls: Women turn out in large numbers in morning hours, overall situation peacefulLong queues were seen outside most of the booths as women stepped out in large numbers during the early hours of polling at 39 seats in the second phase of the assembly elections in Assam. Though there were reports of EVM glitches from some polling stations, the exact figure was yet to be ascertained, an official said. No reports of violence so farThere have been no reports of violence or clashes among political activists in the constituency, barring an incident in the Bhimkata area in Nandigram where the BJP candidate faced an agitation by a group of TMC workers who shouted slogans against him, an Election Commission official said. Mamata to stay for whole day, TMC complains agents not allowed in several boothsWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee decided to stay at her war room in the Reyapara area during the polls on Thursday in the Nandigram assembly constituency where she is locked in a fierce prestige battle with confidante-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP. She is monitoring the situation in the high-profile constituency where polling began at 7 am as local TMC leaders complained of their election agents not being allowed to enter several booths, according to the party sources. 10. 51% and 13. 14% voter turnout recorded till 9 amA voter turnout of 13. 14 per cent was recorded till 9 am on Thursday in the second phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal. Paschim Medinipur recorded the highest turnout among districts, while among constituencies, Indus reported the maximum voter turnout. Suvendu Adhikari appeals people to voteBJP candidate and Mamata Banerjee's rival stepped out to vote and said,"I appeal to people to come out in large numbers to cast their vote as the whole country is looking at Nandigram.  People are waiting to see if development or politics of appeasement will win here. "Voting begins in Bengal#WestBengalElections2021 | Polling begins at booth number 137 in Bankura, in the second phase of voting for Assembly elections pic. twitter. com/BrcmczzsJZPolling begins at booth number 137 in Bankura, in the second phase of voting for Assembly electionsPM Modi urges West Bengal to vote in 'record numbers'PM Modi also voted for West Bengal and asked people to vote in record numbers.  "Urging the people of West Bengal in whose seats there is polling taking place today to vote in record numbers," PM Modi said in a tweet. 'Festival of democracy': PM Modi tweets ahead of votingAhead of the voting, PM Modi urged voters to go out and vote.  "Second phase of the Assam polls takes place today.  Requesting all eligible voters of this phase to strengthen the festival of democracy by exercising their franchise," PM Modi said in a tweet. Voting begins in 39 seats in Assam, 30 seats in West Bengal in phase 2 of Assembly electionsGet our daily newsletter Get free access to newsletters, alerts and recommendations


"It's something that we never expected to have happen here."

At least 49 people were killed and dozens more injured in mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Three people are in custody. https://t.co/gO7wgCqVan https://t.co/OBowBOQ1mF

By Ben Westcott, Jenni Marsh, Helen Regan, Meg Wagner, Brian Ries, Veronica Rocha, Aimee Lewis, Rob Picheta and Harmeet Kaur, CNNNew Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush said in a Facebook video there had been "multiple fatalities, as far as we know, at two locations. "He named the two locations as mosques in Christchurch, but added he didn't know if there were other areas under threat. "We are dealing with a very serious and tragic series of events," he said.  "They involve an active shooter, they involve multiple fatalities. "Bush said they had one person in custody but didn't know if there were other people involved. "I want to ask anyone that was thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today not to go, to close your doors, until you hear from us again," he said. Mohan Ibn Ibrahim told CNN he was inside the mosque when the shooting began and that he heard the gunman "continuously shooting for ten to 15 minutes. "He said the shooting began at about 1:40 p. m.  local time when he heard "gunfire sound coming from the back side. ""There is a barricade in the middle so if somebody gets inside by using the main door they have to come inside and walk maybe one minute. ""When I heard that there is a shooting -- the sound whats coming.  I thought maybe it was an electrical circuit or something.  But then it continuously happened. "Ibrahim said people began running out of the mosque and he "had to jump out of the wall" to escape. "And we are still hearing the sound of the gun, continuously shooting for ten to 15 minutes," he said. "I came to the street I saw one person got shot on his chest," he said, adding that the ambulance and police then arrived on the scene.  Ibrahim said he had heard reports from a friend that a gunman had opened fire at another mosque in the area. "They told me that five people died over there in that mosque, and I have seen with my own eyes, three people dead on the street," he said.  "I could not contact two of my friends who are in the mosque as well. ""Thats what I saw.  Lots of police and ambulance have come, and they did not allow us to go in the mosque or to get close to it," he said.   There are reports of multiple casualties after a shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday, here is what we know so far:New Zealand police have yet to confirm the details of the incident but said the risk remains "extremely high. ""Police recommend that residents across Christchurch remain off the streets and indoors until further notice.  Christchurch schools will be locked down until further notice," the statement said. According to New Zealand's TVNZ, police are being sent to all mosques in Christchurch as a precaution. Police have yet to confirm the details but eyewitnesses are saying there has been a serious mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city. Mohan Ibn Ibrahim told CNN he was inside the mosque when the shooting began. "There were more than 200 people inside.  The gunman came from the backside.  Gunshots went on for a long time.  We had to jump the wall to escape," he said. He told CNN that he saw several bodies lying on the ground in the mosque after the shooting had begun. Breaking news out of New Zealand amid reports of a "serious ongoing firearms incident" in the city of Christchurch. Police said that armed police have been deployed after receiving reports of shots fired in the city center at 1:40 p. m.  local time. Canterbury Police NZ tweeted: "We have a critical incident in Deans Avenue Christchurch.  Please avoid the area.  We will give more in the near future. "More details to comePlease enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Bihar: Workers of Patna Municipal Corporation staged protests against several decisions of the govt including that to stop availing services of daily-wage sanitation workers, in Patna yesterday. https://t.co/jfdnmX1Boj

A day after the Kolkata Police cited violation of social distancing norms during Covid-19 pandemic to stop a religious programme where the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state and central leaders were to pay homage to workers killed in political violence, leaders of both BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) held similar programmes in the districts throughout Thursday.  After he and other leaders had to leave the banks of the Hooghly river on Wednesday, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said, “Mamata Banerjee does not forget Friday rituals and Muharram.  But she is always against the Hindus.  Is it a crime to observe Hindu rituals in West Bengal? ” The picture changed on the occasion of Mahalaya on Thursday when millions of people across the state assembled at riverbanks to take part in Tarpan, a Vedic ritual Hindus hold to pay homage to their forefathers.  Politicians followed them in the poll-bound state without any hindrance. BJP state women’s wing president Agnimitra Paul led members of the Mahila Morcha in a ritual held on the banks of the Mahananda river in Siliguri.  “I paid tribute to 112 party workers who have been killed by the TMC since 2011,” she said.  Also Read: Will ensure fair polls in Bengal, says governor Dhankhar.  TMC respondsThis did not go down well with the ruling party.  Tourism minister Gautam Deb said, “This was a political Tarpan. ” At Bankura district in the western part of the state, deputy minister and local legislator Shyamal Santra took part in a ritual on the banks of Dwarakeswar river.  BJP state vice-president Raju Banerjee offered prayers in waist-deep water in another part of the district.  “We paid homage to all TMC workers killed over the decades,” said Santra.  “They are killing our workers and offering Tarpan at the same time.  People can see and understand everything,” said Banerjee.  While the rituals were on, allegations of violence continued to make news.  Also Read: TMC to challenge ban on Chhath puja at Kolkata lake, BJP supports moveAt Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar district, Ganesh Sarkar, a TMC worker was found murdered.  Partha Pratim Roy, TMC district president, said, “BJP workers carried out the attack. ” Malati Rava Roy, BJP district president, dismissed the allegation.  “The killing was the fallout of a family dispute.  TMC is spreading misinformation.  BJP has nothing to do with this,” she said.  Celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 70th birthday led to trouble at Patashpur in East Midnapore district.  A blood donation camp the BJP organised on the occasion was allegedly ransacked by TMC workers.  Posters with Modi’s photographs were torn, alleged Ashis Das, a local BJP leader who organised the camp.  Kanishka Panda, TMC’s local unit president, denied the charge.  “BJP workers ransacked their own camp to be in the news.  Tearing posters is not part of TMC’s culture,” he said.


A name that began dominating news headlines following Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold medal win in javelin throw at Tokyo Olympics was Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem who finished 5th in the event.  A photo of Nadeem and Chopra from the 2018 Asian Games went viral earlier, in which the latter won gold and the former won the bronze medal.  After the javelin throw competition at the Tokyo Olympics, tweets from accounts claiming to be Arshad Nadeem started popping up on social media.  In one of the tweets, there was a newspaper clipping where Neeraj Chopra was quoted as saying, “It would have been nice if Arshad Nadeem was also on the podium, it would have been a great day for Asia. ” The clip was shared by a Twitter account named Arshad Nadeem with the caption, “Thank you Neeraj Chopra for these words. ” This tweet has garnered more than 59,000 likes and has been retweeted more than 3,800 times.
The Lallantop wrote an article based on this tweet with the headline, “What did Neeraj do that Arshad Nadeem tweeted and said thank you? . ” This tweet was also featured by the outlet in one of their videos.  “Arshad has thanked Neeraj Chopra for this.  While tweeting a newspaper clipping of this news, he wrote, ‘Thank you, Neeraj Chopra, for these words. '”This slideshow requires JavaScript. Hindi daily Amar Ujala uploaded a video on its YouTube channel and wrote, “Tweet by Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for Neeraj. ” Journalist Brajesh Rajput of ABP News retweeted the post, writing, “A top sportsman is also the one who has a big heart.  Kudos! ” Journalist and RSS supporter Rajagopal and Krittivas Mukherjee, Airbus India’s Head of Public Affairs and Communication also retweeted the post. NDTV’s Mumbai Bureau Chief Saurabh Gupta wrote, “Notable hatemongers on social media are tongue-tied at least on two issues as they can’t even troll given the people involved”.  Chinese outlet CGTN journalist Abhishek Bhaya quote-tweeted Gupta’s post and added, “This bonhomie between these two athletes from India and Pakistan must be cherished. ” Rama Suganthan, Vice-President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, retweeted, “What will be the reaction of those who spread hatred on this? ”This slideshow requires JavaScript. In addition, several prominent personalities and government officials showered praise and congratulations in response to the tweet posted by the handle in Arshad Nadeem’s name.  The handle was mentioned in tweets by Pakistan’s Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany Dr Mohammad Faisal, the official handle of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Pakistani journalist Mehreen Zahra Malik, Arab News Pakistan, Pakistani cricketer Faisal Iqbal, the Pakistani Embassy in Turkey, Waqt News, Daily Nawa-e-Waqt, Pakistani MP Hina Parvez among others. Upon further research into the tweets posted by this account, we came across an old post that read, “Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra and I have qualified for the final round of the men’s javelin throw competition. ” However, the Indian athlete pictured with Arshad Nadeem is Shivpal Singh.  The fact that Nadeem would snub a fellow athlete with whom he shared the podium in 2018 via this image does not make sense.  In response to this tweet, Abdul Ghaffar, head of the Sports section of Pakistani news channel Dawn News, said that the account was fake.
When Alt News examined Ghaffar’s Twitter profile for more information, we found an earlier tweet where he had shared Arshad Nadeem’s official Twitter handle (@Arshadnadeem76).  According to this post, Nadeem himself confirmed that he operated this handle.  The screenshot accompanying the tweet shows the Edit Profile option, which means that this screenshot was sent by the person who runs the account. Original Twitter handle of #ArshadNadeem Its @Arshadnadeem76 He confirmed me. @ShirazHassan pic. twitter. com/lbSZnaI3mJ— Abdul Ghaffar (Replay, Dawn News) (@GhaffarDawnNews) August 7, 2021When we went to this account, we came across a video of Arshad directing users to his official Instagram (@arshadnadeem29) and Twitter handles (@Arshadnadeem26). However, in the video, Arshad had said ’26’ instead of ’76’, after which he deleted that video and posted a new video with the correct username, @Arshadnadeem76. The Pakistani athlete also tweeted the same video from his official handle. Thanks all pic. twitter. com/4xLYJ6WNLu— Arshad Nadeem (@Arshadnadeem76) August 11, 2021After the first video was released, the account which had posted the viral tweet (@ArshadNaadeem) changed its Twitter username to @ArshadNadeem26.  That’s why links of old tweets posted by this user now redirect to the new handle.  This account was claiming to be the real Arshad Nadeem based on the video in which the sportsman mistakenly said 26 instead of 76 while informing followers of his username. To sum it up, a tweet posted by a fake account posing as Arshad Nadeem was mistakenly circulated as authentic, with several big names falling for the ruse.  In reality, Nadeem’s real Twitter handle is @Arshadnadeem76. Donate NowAbhishek has completed his bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, currently working as a content writer in Careers 360, interested in fact checking. Assam-based media outlets DY365, Asom Live 24, and NorthEast Now reported that 26 Rohingya Muslims…On September 6, the Taliban claimed the complete seizure of Panjshir province, the last remaining…In a recent ‘breaking news’ segment, India Today claimed that Ahmad Massoud, head of the…After the Taliban claimed victory over opposition forces in Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan, Republic TV aired…In a September 6 broadcast, Times Now aired a piece of ‘breaking news’ where a…


A small video clip of a Railway Engine parked in Vadodara loco shed, painted with advertisement of Fortune Brand Flour is viral relating it to ongoing farmer’s agitation.  The video is viral with following texts – Hardik Patel, Working President Gujarat Congress, tweeted the video with following text –
“भारतीय रेल पर अदानी के फ़्रेश आटे का विज्ञापन देखने लायक़ हैं। अब तो दावे के साथ कह सकते है की किसानों की लड़ाई सत्य के मार्ग पर हैं।” Translation: “Adani’s fresh flour’s advertisement on Indian rail is worth watching.  We can say with solid claim that farmer’s fight is on the track of the truth”   भारतीय रेल पर अदानी के फ़्रेश आटे का विज्ञापन देखने लायक़ हैं। अब तो दावे के साथ कह सकते है की किसानों की लड़ाई सत्य के मार्ग पर हैं। pic. twitter. com/WB97kaG6Fe — Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 12, 2020  archive Railways' Prime Properties will be sold to the Private Sector! 👇👇😔😔😥 pic. twitter. com/R1AjmWNGmM — Shenaz30 (@iraniShenaz1958) December 11, 2020  कोरोना का तो बहाना है गाड़ियों का कलर हो रहा अदानी अम्बानी के नाम से pic. twitter. com/Mua776ONVr — Anshu Vashishtha (@AnshuVashishtha) December 11, 2020     544 shares –  This video is merely an advertisement of a brand on Indian Railways Engine for revenue generation.  This was started 7 years ago in 2013 with first brand being “Amul”.  Since 2013, many brands have advertised, with their brand on Locomotive Engines.
Since a train travels and crosses through various cities, being seen by thousands and lakhs of people, this was considered a good idea for revenue generation by Indian Railways.  Amul (2013) –     Sharon Plywood –  Tata Steel –     Goel TMT –  Fortune Oil –  Porna Chicken –  The following video by “Railzone” shows many such brands on Engine  “Grappling with huge losses due to un-optimized advertising properties, the Indian Railway is now striving hard to revive their non-fare revenue schemes.  As a first step the Indian Railways is reportedly expected to allow advertising on engines of different trains.  As per news reports, the Railways have written to all states to use trains as their ad mediums to showcase their tourist spots, welfare schemes and other successful ventures.  Unlike coaches where flexes are allowed to be used, the engines will have only stickers as a branding.  It may be noted that the Indian Railway has close to 13,000 trains running on a daily basis.  They are currently charging Rs 1. 98 lakh per year for branding products on an engine.  The non-fare revenue is not even 5% of its total revenue of railways.  Recently , the Railways also allowed for branding on freight trains. ” Source – Media4Growth A similar video was viral few months ago including Railways and Adani which we debunked then ‘Adani’ written on goods train doesn’t change Indian Railways to Adani Railways.


The union territory of Jammu & Kashmir has ramped up its Covid-19 testing

https://t.co/WH2g4Ctz6K

The union territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir has ramped up its coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing, as it has tested 44,744 per million population against the national average of 12,742, while the recovery rate until Thursday (July 23) had touched 53. 01%, officials said.  The UT’s positivity rate is 3% as against 8. 3% in the country.  The Kashmir division has a higher positivity rate at 4. 7%, as compared to the Jammu division’s 1. 3%.  Jammu and Reasi districts have recorded the lowest positivity rate at 0. 8%.  While Shopian and Baramulla in Kashmir Valley have the highest positivity rate at 8. 3% and 5. 3%, respectively.  Bandipura and Ganderbal districts in the Kashmir division recorded the lowest positivity rate at 2. 3%.  In the Jammu region, Ramban district has the highest positivity rate at 3. 7%, followed by Rajouri district with 2. 1%.  The UT has a lower mortality rate at 1. 7% against the corresponding pan-India figure of 2. 4%.  The mortality rate in Jammu and Kashmir divisions are 0. 6% and 2%, respectively.  The Covid-19 recovery rate in J&K has reached 53. 01% in 20 days between July 3 and 23.  The average Covid-19 cases in the UT stand at 1,339, including 623 and 1,899 in Jammu and Kashmir divisions, respectively.


Denver teachers are set to strike Monday.

Some tell CNN they’ve been living paycheck to paycheck and have taken on second jobs as ride-share drivers or waiters. Here are their stories. https://t.co/Yo662oxeEc https://t.co/AaXRR0ZXGi

The last time a strike was planned in Denver was 1994. Denver Public Schools teachers set to strike Monday for the first time in 25 yearsDenver Public Schools teachers are planning to strike Monday after negotiations over a compensation package that allowed teachers to earn additional income failed. Negotiations between the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the Denver Public Schools District for the Professional Compensation System for Teachers, implemented in 1999, have been ongoing for 15 months, according to ABC Denver affiliate KMGH. The ProComp contract, which offered incentives that allowed teachers, school nurses and psychologist to earn more money on top of their base pay, expired on Jan.  18.  The teacher's union and school district have been disagreeing on how to improve the current pay scale for how teachers are paid. The two sides negotiated for six hours on Saturday, after which union leaders announced they would go through with the strike as planned, The Denver Post reported. The union is proposing a package of $28. 5 million for teacher compensation, while the district was offering $23. 3 million as of Saturday night, according to KMGH.  Each side is also disagreeing on how teachers can go about increasing their compensation over time. While the union's proposal would allow teachers more opportunities for pay raises as they gain more credits toward advancing their education, the district's plan would place teachers in positions at high-poverty schools that are harder to fill at the top of the list to receive bonuses, the local station reported. "Teachers were stunned when DPS proposed hiking incentives instead of putting that new money into base pay where it could make the entire district more competitive," said Henry Roman, teacher and president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.  "We are incredibly disappointed that on the last day of bargaining and less than two days before a strike, they doubled down on one-time incentives teachers do not want, and the data shows do not work to keep teachers in their schools. "The district released a statement saying it is "disappointed" that union leaders "walked away from the table. ""DPS presented an updated proposal that responds to what we have heard from teachers, aligns to our values of equity and retention, honors the ProComp ballot language, and significantly increases the base pay for all our educators," the statement read. The strike will be the first to occur within the city's school district in 25 years.  Denver schools will be open during the strike, but early childhood education classes will be canceled. Teachers participating in the strike can be forced to return to class if a judge determines the strike represents a threat to public health or safety and issues a court order mandating that they do so. Educators participating in the strike can lose their job if the district proves "neglect of duty" or "insubordination," but the teachers have a right to due process to challenge the school board, according to KMGH. The union wrote on its website that "it is highly unlikely" that the school board would spend the time and expense involved in taking a teacher dismissal case to trial. The district can withhold pay for teachers who strike, according to the union, but it is possible for the teachers and district to negotiate "make-up" days.  Teachers who strike are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits, KMGH reported. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


A herd of 15 wild Asian elephants has trekked more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) since escaping from a nature reserve in south China last year.

CNN's Anna Coren talks to an expert on what this migration means for the species and its survival in China. https://t.co/R4LJ7PQPJ3 https://t.co/RpiizWTJEF

China’s famed wandering elephants are on the move again, heading southwest while a male who broke from the herd is still keeping his distanceArrests made in Hong Kong during banned Tiananmen demonstrationBEIJING -- China’s famed wandering elephants are on the move again, heading southwest while a male who broke from the herd is still keeping his distance. The group left a wildlife reserve in the southwest of Yunnan province more than a year ago and has trekked 500 kilometers (300 miles) north to the outskirts of the provincial capital of Kunming. As of Saturday, they were spotted in Shijie township in the city of Yuxi, more than 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of the Kunming suburb they had arrived at last week, according to state media reports.  The lone male was 16 kilometers (10 miles) away, still on the outskirts of Kunming. The direction of their travel could be a good sign, since authorities are hoping to lead them back to their original home in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture southwest of Kunming. Authorities have been attempting to keep a distance between them and local residents, while blocking roads into villages and seeking to lure them away with food drops.  Despite that, the herd of 15 have raided farms, strolled down urban streets and foraged for snacks in villages and even a retirement home. All of the animals are reported to be healthy and no person has been injured in encounters with them.  Officials have issued strict orders not to gawk at them or seek to drive them off using firecrackers or other means.  China's roughly 300 wild elephants enjoyed the highest level of protected status, on a par with the country's unofficial mascot, the panda bear. However, extra precautions are being taken amid steady rainfall in the area and crowds of onlookers expected around the Dragon Boat festival on Monday.  Additional emergency workers, vehicles and drones have been deployed to monitor the elephants' movements and protect local residents, the reports said.  Some 2. 5 tons of food were laid out for the animals on Friday. It remains unclear why the elephants embarked on their trek, although Evan Sun, wildlife campaign manager with World Animal Protection, said possible reasons could include lack of food supply, a rise in the elephant population and, most importantly, loss of habitat. “The increase of human-elephant conflicts reflects the urgency for a more strategic policy and plan to protect these endangered wild animals and their natural habitats," Sun wrote in an email. “This also poses a great opportunity to educate the public about the challenges that wild animals face for survival and the need for better protection from a government, industry and society level," Sun wrote.  “These animals belong in the wild.  We need to keep a safe distance from them, which is good for us and the wild animals. ”24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Bharatiya Janata Party releases list of candidates for parliamentary constituencies of Mahesana and Surat in Gujarat and Thrissur in Kerala. https://t.co/gRfDPPz3wT

The Congress party released its second list of candidates for the remaining six Lok Sabha constituencies in Rajasthan late on Monday after much deliberation. The party has fielded Olympian and MLA from Sadulpur Krishna Poonia from the Jaipur Rural Lok Sabha seat, industrialist Rijju Jhunjhunwala from Ajmer, former MP Bharatram Meghwal from Ganganagar, Devkinandan Gurjar from Rajsamand, Rampal Sharma from Bhilwara and Pramod Sharma from Jhalawar-Baran. The Congress had released its first list on March 28 of 19 candidates for the Lok Sabha election to be held in April-May, which included a sitting MLA Ramnarayan Meena from Kota-Baran. Also read: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav makes political debut, to contest from JodhpurPoonia is the second MLA to be fielded for the Lok Sabha election 2019.  She is an international gold medal-winning discus thrower, three times Olympics participant and Padma Shri awardee. Jhunjhunwala, 40, is a new face and will make his electoral debut from Ajmer.  The name of the 40-year-old businessman was doing the rounds for the Bhilwara Lok Sabha seat where he runs his business.  He is the son-in-law of senior Congress leader and former tourism minister Bina Kak.  Devkinandan Gujjar is the president of the Congress’ district unit in Rajsamand.  He had contested and lost the assembly election in 2013 from Nathdwara.  He had also been a member of zila parishad. Rampal Sharma is the district president of Bhilwara and was the chairperson of the central cooperative bank and Urban Improvement Trust.  While Bharatram Meghwal had contested the Lok Sabha election in 2004 and 2009, he won the second time.  The party had denied him the ticket in 2014 despite being the sitting MP. The 25 candidates for Los Sabha election 2019 fielded by Congress include four women, a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, 11 ex-MPs, five candidates who lost in the last assembly elections and two sitting MLAs. Also read: BJP, Congress try to strike caste balance in RajasthanThe seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to begin from April 11 and end on May 19.  Rajasthan will vote in the fourth and fifth phases on April 29 and May 6.  The results will be declared on May 23.


Sanjay Singh, AAP: Tahir Hussain has already given his statement in which he said that he gave all details to police&media about mob entering his house during the violence. He had asked police for protection. Police came 8 hours late&rescued him&his family from his house. (2/2) https://t.co/AZns0p2AtW

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Tahir Hussain is under fire after allegations that he is involved in the killing of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma.  The 26-year-old IB official’s body was pulled out of a drain on Wednesday in Chand Bagh area in Northeast Delhi, which has seen worst riots in the last two decades. The drain is close to Hussain’s house and Sharma’s family has blamed him of leading the mob to kill the 26-year-old. Hussain is the councillor from Ward number 59, Nehru Vihar, which comes under Mustafabad assembly constituency in east Delhi and is about seven kilometres from Chand Bagh.  He won the municipal election in 2017. The 42-year-old was the richest candidate in the ward in 2017 municipal elections as he had declared assets worth Rs 16 crore in the affidavit.  Of the 13 affidavits analysed by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), on average, the candidates from Nehru Vihar own Rs 1 crore in net assets. Hussain had further said in his affidavit that he is a businessman and there are no criminal cases against him. Also Watch | Delhi violence | Punish if guilty: AAP on leader’s name in IB staffer’s murder The AAP leader has denied any involvement in the riots or Sharma’s death.  In a Facebook post on Thursday, he said that protesters had broken into his house on February 24, after which he contacted the police and they whisked him and his family away.  “The police then took control of the building.  When i returned on February 25, the people in the area started raising slogans against me.  The police then advised me to leave the area, and I have not ben to that house since then.  I don’t know who did what in that house,” Hussain said in the post in Hindi.  People in the neighbourhood have alleged that Hussain played an active role in the riots that engulfed the area since Sunday.  Some unverified videos have gone viral on social media where a man appearing to be Hussain is seen with a stick in his hand, based on which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leader Kapil Mishra have upped the ante against AAP. The AAP leader had released a video earlier on Thursday in which he rejected allegations against him.  “These are lies and baseless accusations.  For our safety, my family and I had moved away from our home on Monday in police presence,” he said in the video which was released by AAP’s social media head Ankit Lal. “It is wrong to target me.  I and my family have nothing to do with it,” Hussain futher said in the video. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the party’s stand remains clear that strictest punishment must be taken against anyone associated with spreading violence and added that Hussain has given his statement on the matter. The violence in Northeast Delhi started after a face-off between pro- and anti-CAA protesters on Sunday and has caused at least 33 deaths, including a Delhi Police Head Constable and an IB staffer.