Attorney General William Barr is expected to provide Congress and the public Sunday with his summary of the main conclusions from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, according to a person familiar with the process. https://t.co/NFl7Aj9reg https://t.co/U9fXuh7Aq7

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


If PM Modi lays foundation stone of the temple on August 5, all Shankaracharyas & Swami Ramnareshacharya ji of Ramanandi sect should be invited to the function and made members of the Nyas: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh https://t.co/sz9viCetz6

People including members of Bharatiya Janata Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad lit earthen lamps in different parts of the country to celebrate laying of the foundation stone of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, as government functionaries, irrespective of political affiliations, termed the event as a “historic moment” for every Indian. There was mood of fervour and accomplishment as saffron group members blew conch shells at 12. 15 p. m.  when Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Ayodhya for laying the foundation of the Ram Temple, and later in the evening lit earthen lamps and held special prayers for Lord Ram at their homes and offices. BJP offices in various states were decorated and live telecasts of the bhoomi pujan were shown on big screens outside the offices.  The party members raised slogans of Jai Shri Ram and Jai Siya Ram as special prayers for Lord Ram were held through public address systems.  After bhoomi pujan by PM Modi, ladoos were distributed among people at several places. Ram Temples, which were especially decorated for the occasion, witnessed huge attendance of devotees.  Entire streets leading to these temples in the Hindi heartland were decorated.  Throughout the day, special prayers were held at several temples. However, rains at several parts of the country including Ayodhya on Wednesday dampened the celebrations but not the sentiments.  In Raj Bhavans in several states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, diyas were lit and special prayers were held. Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra, who held recitation of Sundarkand with his family members and lit 101 earthen lamps at the Raj Bhawan in Jaipur, said the commitment to build the Ram Temple has been fulfilled.  “The temple will be established as a symbol of cultural and national unity and with the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’,” said Mishra, who hails from Uttar Pradesh and was minister in NDA-1. Governors of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Anandiben Patel and Baby Rani Maurya congratulated the Prime Minister saying it as the fulfilment of a big commitment.  “The dream of all Hindu believers has moved towards reality today,” Maurya said. Rajasthan chief minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot expressed hope that it would become a symbol of unity in the country. “His life teaches us the importance of truth, justice, equality for all, compassion and brotherhood.  We need to focus on establishing an egalitarian society based on the values espoused by Lord Ram,” Gehlot tweeted.  Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also tweeted a congratulatory message and said the temple will bring unity and prosperity in the country. West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, who had ordered complete lockdown in the state on Wednesday for Covid-19 management, said, “Our country has always upheld the age-old legacy of unity in diversity, and we must preserve this to our last breath! ”However, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed that several party workers were arrested when they violated the lockdown restrictions to visit local temples in Bengal.  At Kharagpur in West Midnapore district police resorted to lathi charge after minor clashes with BJP workers.  “Mamata Banerjee is anti-Hindu,” he said. Ruling party chief ministers such as Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khatter and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan termed the day as historic.  “This happy moment is historic for every Indian,” Khatter said while his MP counterpart said the “dream of 500 years” has come true. The Ram temple will strengthen peace and humanity in the country, said Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.  Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat said the dreams of thousands (of people) who sacrificed their lives for the construction of the temple has come true. “There was a long and hard struggle for 500 years.  But the power of Indian democratic values, judiciary and executive, under the leadership of PM Modi, has shown the world how solutions to problems can be found peacefully through democratic and constitutional means,” said UP chief minister Yodi Adityanath. Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa on Wednesday hailed the laying of foundation stone (bhoomi pujan) for a grand Ram Temple and said “Kashi Vishwanath and Krishna Janmasthan temples have to be liberated”. “A beautiful temple will come up, but there are Kashi Vishwanath and Krishna Janmasthan temples which have to be liberated,” Eshwarappa said. (With state bureau and agency inputs)


Easter attacks are just the latest chapter in Sri Lanka's history of violence https://t.co/FwhxFJs6Hi https://t.co/YIjCZ0NNjd

Kieran was a "very self-driven" world-traveler who had visited five continents. At least four Americans killed in Sri Lanka Easter bombingsAn 11-year-old Washington, D. C. , boy was among at least four American citizens who were killed in a series of  terrorist attacks at churches and hotels  in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Kieran Shafritz de Zoysa, a fifth grader at Sidwell Friends School in D. C. , was attending an Easter breakfast buffet with his mother in the Sri Lanka capital of Colombo on Sunday when a series of suicide bombings went off, killing him and at least 310 others. "The terrorists didn’t know who they were killing.  But we should know what the world lost, what they took from the world," the young boy's father, Alex Arrow, said in an interview on Monday.  "A brilliant mind who - who was going to be a neuroscientist and - he won’t make it to his 12th birthday. "He said Kieran was a "very self-driven" world-traveler who had visited multiple countries across five continents with his mother, who managed to survive the attack with minor injuries. "He was learning Chinese and Sinhalese and Mandarin," his father said.  "He was into karate, which he took to.  He wasn’t much for soccer or softball, but he loved karate.  He played the trumpet and all the games. ""He was coming back from Sri Lanka to the U. S.  and was coming back to Sidwell.  They had cleared him to enter seventh grade,"  he added. He and Kieran went kayaking together in the U. S.  last week before the child and his mom left for Sri Lanka.  He was slated to return to the U. S.  in July, Arrow said. "His mother told me on the plane that ride back to Sri Lanka last week that he said he wanted to come back and do more kayaking," he said.  "He had a month or two to finish in Sri Lanka and was going to come back for the summer in July and start 7th grade in D. C. "Arrow said the boy's mother "devoted her life to him" and tried her best to show him the world. "Her next thing was the Galapagos.  That was the next thing she had planned for him," Arrow said, speaking of the boy's mother and their only child together.  "She devoted her life to him. ""She sacrificed all of her time to be with him everywhere.  To give him the culture of all of these places," he added. Arrow said he agreed to the interview because he wanted his son's story to be heard. "I don’t know what’s in the mind of a terrorist.  I’m sure they don’t know what they took," he said.  "They just blew themselves up, they have no idea.  No idea.  His story should be told," he added. ABC News' Nadine Shubailat contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


About 4.7 million Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play sleepers are being recalled after a federal commission links the product to more than 30 infant deaths https://t.co/WxjLdzTlEs https://t.co/Hz05KZFiMf

The popular sleeper is being recalled after 32 infant deaths since 2011.  Fisher-Price issues warning about sleeper after the deaths of 10 babiesThe Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recalling all models of Fisher-Price Rock N' Play sleepers after it was linked to over 30 infant deaths. The move comes just a few days after the American Academy of Pediatrics, a professional organization of pediatricians known by the acronym AAP, called on the CPSC to recall the products, citing an analysis from Consumer Reports magazine connecting it to 32 sleep-related infant deaths. "This product is deadly and should be recalled immediately," Dr.  Kyle Yasuda, president of the AAP, said in a press release.  "When parents purchase a product for their baby or child, many assume that if it's being sold in a store, it must be safe to use.  Tragically, that is not the case.  There is convincing evidence that the Rock n' Play inclined sleeper puts infants' lives at risk, and CPSC must step up and take immediate action to remove it from stores and prevent further tragedies. "The Consumer Reports analysis was published on April 8, just days after the CPSC issued a warning on the product imploring parents to stop using it once their children turned 3 months old or began exhibiting the ability to roll over — whichever came first.  The analysis found that many of the children who had died were younger than 3 months old.  The cause of death for some of the babies was asphyxia, or the inability to breathe due to the child's position. In it's statement, the AAP said it does not recommend "inclined sleep products like the Rock n' Play, or any other products for sleep that require restraining a baby. ""The AAP advises against using car seats, strollers or other devices for sleep," the AAP said, "because of the risk that a baby could roll or turn into an unsafe position and be incapable of moving, leading to suffocation or strangulation. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Former Secretary of State John Kerry said if he could speak to President Trump directly, he would tell him to "resign" https://t.co/ImnDinbham https://t.co/IRwlqeYHYY

Trump earlier rejected Pelosi's appeal to delay date until after shutdown. Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdownThe back and forth between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump over when and where the State of the Union will be delivered -- if at all -- came to a conclusion, if temporary, late Wednesday night.  Trump will not give a speech until after the partial government shutdown is over. The president tweeted the news in a two-part missive just before midnight, saying, "As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address.  I agreed.  She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date.  This is her prerogative - I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over. "He ended speculation he might look to give the speech in a location other than the House of Representatives as well, saying he's not looking for another venue. In response, Pelosi took the opportunity to encourage the president to support a bill to fund the government while discussions over border security continue. "Mr.  President, I hope by saying 'near future' you mean you will support the House-passed package to #EndTheShutdown that the Senate will vote on tomorrow," she said.  "Please accept this proposal so we can re-open government, repay our federal workers and then negotiate our differences. "The bill is mostly likely dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled Senate. In the latest twist in their political and seemingly personal feud earlier Wednesday, Pelosi sent a letter to Trump saying there would be no State of the Union address in the House chamber until after the partial government shutdown ends, effectively rescinding her invitation to the president. "When I extended an invitation on January 3rd for you to deliver the State of the Union address, it was on the mutually agreed upon date, January 29th.   At that time, there was no thought that the government would still be shut down," her letter said. "I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened," Pelosi, D-Calif. , said. The resolution is necessary to authorize the president to address a joint session of Congress. "Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened," Pelosi's letter continued. At the White House, Trump told reporters he was "not surprised" by Pelosi's letter. "I’m not surprised.  It’s really a shame what’s happening with the Democrats, they’ve become radicalized," Trump said when asked for reaction to Pelosi's letter during a photo-op in the Roosevelt Room. Later, at another photo op, Trump said, “The State of the Union has been canceled by Nancy Pelosi because she doesn’t want to hear the truth, she doesn't want the American people to hear what's going on. ”“Now Nancy Pelosi, or Nancy as I call her, she doesn’t want to hear the truth and she doesn't want to hear the American people to hear the truth," Trump said. "I think that’s a great blotch on the great country we all love, it's a great, great horrible mark.  I don't believe it's ever happened before," Trump said.  "It's always good to be part of history but this is a negative part of history.  This is where people are afraid to open up and say what's going on. ""If we can handle Iraq, we can handle the middle of Washington and the very spectacular building and a beautiful room that we should be in and that's where it's been for a long time," Trump said. Upon returning to the Capitol after an afternoon speech, Pelosi made clear that Trump is not welcome to address a joint session of Congress until the shutdown is over. "I still make the offer: let's work together on a mutually agreeable date, as the original date was, mutually agreeable, so we can welcome him properly to the Capitol," she said. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise told reporters that Pelosi’s decision to rescind the invitation is “a big mistake” and “a disgraceful move. ”“The fact that Nancy Pelosi’s not only holding the paychecks of federal workers hostage, now she’s going to try to hold the State of the Union hostage, shows that she is beholden right now to the most radical left elements of her base,” Scalise, R-La. , said.  “She’s not trying to solve this problem. ”Just a couple of hours earlier, Trump on Wednesday rejected Pelosi's earlier suggestion he delay his State of the Union speech until after the partial government shutdown ends, writing Pelosi to formally affirm he was sticking to plans to deliver the address on Jan.  29 in the House chamber. "I will be honoring your invitation, and fulfilling my Constitutional duty, to deliver important information to the people and Congress of the United States of America regarding the State of our Union," Trump wrote in a letter to Pelosi on Wednesday afternoon. Trump closed the letter by hinting that the onus would be on Pelosi to cancel the invitation.  "I look forward to seeing you on the evening on January 29th in the Chamber of the House of Representative.  It would be so very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location! "Recognizing that Pelosi’s invitation was never officially taken off the table, Trump had seemingly called her bluff, resisting pressure to pull out and deliver the address from another venue elsewhere in Washington, such as at the White House or Senate chamber, or even, as one Republican member of Congress suggested, at the southern border. Pelosi wrote Trump on Jan.  16, appealing to the president to work with her to find “another suitable date” after the partial government shutdown ends, or provide his address in writing -- justifying her suggestion with a warning that “critical” operations at the Department of Homeland Security are “hamstrung by furloughs. ”In his letter, Trump said DHS and the U. S.  Secret Service told him "there would be absolutely no problem regarding security with respect to the event. "Despite the uncertainty prior to the letter, preparations were already moving forward to welcome Trump next Tuesday, as Pelosi has not explicitly disinvited him from an invitation to deliver the annual address from the House chamber. “She didn’t disinvite him.  She suggested another date which would be consistent with a government that was open and was paying the people that we expect to protect us,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the No.  2-ranked Democrat, told reporters during a pen and pad briefing Wednesday.  “It is a very high-security event. ”As a matter of congressional protocol, both the House and Senate must pass a concurrent resolution authorizing the president to deliver an address from the House chamber, though neither chamber has acted yet and no votes on such measures are planned this week. Hoyer, who is empowered with control over which measures are considered on the House floor, said a resolution could be considered as late as next Tuesday -- the same day Pelosi has invited Trump to deliver the address -- without impacting security or logistical planning. “I’m told that that could be passed Tuesday the 29th and be equally effective as if we passed it today,” Hoyer said.  “I think the Capitol Police and Sergeant at Arms have assured us we’ll be fully prepared if in fact there’s a State of the Union address on the 29th. ”Rep.  Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs committee, signaled he hopes the president's efforts will generate a solution to the impasse. “This is a time we need the president to come to the Hill and talk to the Congress," McCaul, R-Texas, said.  "And so I would hope that Speaker Pelosi would just do the right thing – rise above the partisanship and let the president come talk to the Congress. ”While the shutdown continued in its 33rd day, Hoyer says House Democrats are crafting a letter outlining “substantial” spending on border security to “articulate what we believe is effective. ” He urged the president to end the shutdown, enabling lawmakers to negotiate a border security package and even comprehensive immigration reform without the president using 800,000 federal employees as leverage. “I think her suggestion was a reasonable one,” Hoyer said of Pelosi's suggestion to delay the speech until after government reopens.  “The response we got was that the Secret Service will do its job and other security officers will do their job.  There’s no doubt that they will.  They’re very dedicated, patriotic people, very contentious people.  Paying them or not, they’re going to be doing their job.  We understand that but the fact is the president needs to open up the government. ”ABC News' Meridith McGraw, Jordyn Phelps and Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


White House officials were caught off guard by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally disinviting President Trump from giving his State of the Union address from the House chamber, leaving them scrambling for a response https://t.co/pPAYY5uuQn https://t.co/8iZNhh8Svw

Wilbur Ross also criticized air traffic controllers who have called out sick.  Trump agrees to postpone State of the Union amid shutdownAs the partial government shutdown stretches into day 34 and some of the 800,000 federal workers are set to miss their second paychecks starting Friday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is downplaying the effects on government employees and the overall economy. Asked in an interview with CNBC Thursday about workers who have been seen lining up at food banks and homeless shelters, Ross, a multi-millionaire, appeared to advise them to take on new debt. "Well, I know they are and I don't really quite understand why,” Ross said.  “Because as I mentioned before, they – the obligations that they would undertake, say, borrowing from a bank or a credit union, are in effect federally guaranteed. ""So the 30 days of pay that some people will be out, there's no real reason why they shouldn't be able to get a loan against it," Ross added. Democratic lawmakers immediately pounced on the comments to frame the administration as tone-deaf, as multiple polls continue to show Americans largely blame President Trump and congressional Republicans for the record-long shutdown. Sec.  Ross, you're welcome to come to my district to see the harm of missing paychecks https://t. co/Y5ub3QLIdW"Anybody who’s at the top of the food chain is totally tone-deaf,' Democratic Sen.  Joe Manchin told reporters Thursday.  "If that’s where they are, they’ve been out of touch with reality for that long, because I can tell you, I’ve been all over West Virginia.  People are hurting. "Senate Minority Leader Sen.  Chuck Schumer admonished Ross from the Senate floor Thursday morning. "Those comments are appalling, and reveal the administration’s callous indifference towards the federal workers it’s treating as pawns," Schumer said.  "Secretary Ross’ comments are the 21st century equivalent of 'let them eat cake. '"Even Republicans swiftly panned Ross' comments. "I can't relate to the Secretary's comments because I have been hearing directly from Alaskans and non-Alaskans," GOP Sen.  Lisa Murkowski of Alaska told reporters Thursday.  "I have been hearing them tell me what it's like to be a proud member of a Coast Guard family . . .  that is proud to serve.  And to know that they have to go the food bank in order to get necessary food to tide them over until the next time they get paid . . .  I hear very directly. ""They have Wilbur Ross saying he 'doesn't understand why' when he was asked about people going to food lines and pantries," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in remarks at her daily news conference.  "He doesn't understand why they have to do that.  Is this a ‘let them eat cake’ kind of attitude or ‘call your father for money? ’"Trump appeared to misinterpret Pelosi's comments as he later tweeted attacking Pelosi, suggesting she was referring to the border wall and not the comments by Ross. In the same interview, Ross also downplayed the effect on the broader economy from the estimated 800,000 workers not receiving pay. “You're talking about 800,000 workers,” Ross said.  “And while I feel sorry for the individuals that have hardship cases, 800,000 workers if they never got their pay -- which is not the case, they will eventually get it, but if they never got it, you're talking about a third of a percent on our GDP [Gross Domestic Product] so it's not like it's a gigantic number overall. ”The comments come one day after President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law and campaign adviser, Lara Trump, faced criticism for her own comments regarding government workers. “This is so much bigger than any one person," Lara Trump said.  "It is a little bit of pain, but it's going to be for the future of our country, and their children and their grandchildren and generations after them will thank them for their sacrifice right now. ”The president himself was criticized early on in the shutdown when he was similarly pressed on whether he could sympathize with workers who have to go without pay as he continued to demand Congress fund his proposed wall along the U. S. -Mexico border. "I can relate," Trump said.  "I'm sure the people that are on the receiving end will make adjustments.  They always do.  People understand what's going on.  Many of those people that won't be receiving a paycheck, many of those people agree 100 percent with what I'm doing. "Late Thursday, asked by reporters about the Ross comments, Trump said, “Wilbur could have said it a little better. ”ABC News' Mariam Khan and Jordyn Phelps contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


📷: George Floyd Square is seen the day before opening statements in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is facing murder charges in the death of George Floyd. https://t.co/U8KU7C9ZLh https://t.co/62hi4EAV0w

By Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Meg Wagner, Melissa Mahtani and Veronica Rocha, CNNOur live coverage of the trial has ended for the day.  You can watch live coverage of the trial on HLN starting at 10 a. m.  ET daily. From CNN’s Aaron Cooper in MinneapolisThe trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin will resume tomorrow after witness testimony was cut short when a “major technical glitch” interrupted a video feed to other rooms in the courthouse where family members were watching, Judge Peter Cahill said. Donald Wynn Williams II, who testified that he witnessed George Floyd’s death, will resume his testimony tomorrow. Williams testified that he was going to Cup Foods when he came upon Floyd being restrained by police.  He testified that he watched Floyd gasping for air, his eyes roll to the back of his head, and blood start to come out of his nose. “Just hearing people, different people, actually vocalizing their concerns to the officer, and hearing George on the ground, pretty much pleading for his life,” Williams said.  Williams said he was among the bystanders vocally pleading for Floyd’s life.  He testified that Officer Tou Thao said “this is what drugs do to you. "Williams, who said he was a high school and college wrestler who pursued mixed martial arts, testified that he has experience with chokeholds.  He testified he had 10 amateur mixed martial art fights and 20 professional ones since 2009.   He said he also worked with police officers in his security job and trained with them in mixed martial arts at a gym.   Williams told prosecutor Matthew Frank that there were different types of chokeholds and he has been subjected to them in his mixed martial arts training and career. He said the move Chauvin was using on Floyd looked like a “blood choke. ” Williams, who was shown a bystander video during his testimony, said it appeared that Chauvin was trying to “shimmy” his knee to make the hold tighter. “Every time his shoulders move, he is pushing that pressure down on his neck,” Williams testified. It's the first day of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial in the death of George Floyd. Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell this morning presented video evidence from the day George Floyd was killed.  The graphic footage showed former police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck.  Floyd could be heard saying "I can't breathe. "The video can be hard to watch as is the testimony, dissecting a second-by-second account of the circumstances surrounding Floyd's death. Here are some resources that may help:You can contact any of the organizations above to find peer groups and other group counseling services.  These organizations often have affiliates in cities that host group meetings.  They offer coping mechanisms to deal with stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. It's always important to speak to someone and not feel that you're facing this alone. You can find more CNN resources that may help here. From CNN’s Aaron Cooper in MinneapolisThe second prosecution witness has concluded her testimony in the trial of Derek Chauvin.  Alisha Oyler shot seven video clips of Floyd’s arrest.  She was working the cash register at a Speedway, located across the street from where the arrest took place.  On cross examination Oyler acknowledged that more people were gathering as the incident progressed and the crowd became angry. Defense attorney Eric Nelson also pointed out a discrepancy between her testimony and an earlier statement she gave to investigators where she said there was a female officer on scene. On redirect examination she told prosecutor Steve Schleicher that Floyd was not resisting when officers brought him across the street.  From CNN’s Aaron Cooper in MinneapolisMinneapolis 911 dispatcher Jena Scurry concluded her testimony earlier this afternoon in the trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin.  She dispatched Chauvin and other officers to Cup Foods the day George Floyd died. During cross examination defense attorney Eric Nelson questioned her about how the dispatch center is setup and the sequence of events that evening.     Here are some key things she shared: On redirect examination, Scurry told prosecutor Matthew Frank she has not changed her mind about seeing potential excessive force which motivated her to call a police sergeant.  Earlier in her testimony, Scurry said that while watching footage of the arrest and Floyd on the ground, her instincts were telling her "that something's wrong, something is not right. " Witness Alisha Oyler testified that she recorded seven cell phone videos of George Floyd's interaction with Minneapolis officers. She was working the cash register at a Speedway when she noticed police "messing" with Floyd near a store across the way. Oyler testified that Floyd was in handcuffs and police eventually placed him inside a police car. Soon after, she started recorded with her cell phone.  Two of the seven videos she recorded were taken from inside her workplace.  The rest of the videos were taken outside. From CNN's Eric LevensonThe murder trial of Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial, charged in the May 2020 death of George Floyd, kicked off this morning with prosecutors' and the defense team's opening statements. In both opening statements, attorneys referenced the 9 minutes and 29 seconds, Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck — correcting the 8:46 timing that has become a symbol of police brutality. Prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell repeatedly emphasized the new 9:29 timing, telling jurors they were the "three most important numbers in this case. "He broke down the timing of Chauvin's kneeling into three sections: 4 minutes and 45 seconds as Floyd cried out for help, 53 seconds as Floyd's flailed due to seizures and 3 minutes and 51 seconds as Floyd was non-responsive. Chauvin's defense similarly accepted the new timing as accurate to support its own arguments.  "The evidence is far greater than 9 minutes and 29 seconds," attorney Eric Nelson said in his opening, noting the many interviews and documents that he said would prove Chauvin is not guilty. The 43-second difference between 8:46 and 9:29 has little impact on the case itself, but the 8:46 number had taken on a power of its own since Floyd died under Chauvin's knee on May 25, 2020. Protesters, including Democratic members of Congress, have held moments of silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, kneelings and "die-ins. " Comedian Dave Chapelle released a standup special about police violence and anti-Black racism titled simply "8:46. " The number even has its own Wikipedia page. So where did the incorrect timing come from?  The 8:46 timing initially was included in a criminal complaint against Chauvin.  That number was based on bystander video of Floyd's death that went viral and led to public outrage.  The video, which is over 10 minutes long in all, begins with Chauvin already on Floyd's neck, so it was not immediately clear how long he had been on Floyd prior to the video's start. You can read more about the timing here. Testimony has resumed in the Derek Chauvin trial.  911 dispatcher Jena Scurry is on the stand.  She is being cross-examined by defense attorney Eric Nelson. 911 dispatcher Jena Scurry testified that after she became concerned about what she was seeing on the video feed from George Floyd's arrest she decided to call a police sergeant. The prosecution played Scurry's call for the jury. On the call she tells the police sergeant, "I don't know if they had to use force or not.  They got something out of the back of the squad and all of them sat on this man.  So I don't know if they needed to or not but they haven't said anything to me yet. "Scurry testified that the purpose of the call was "voicing my concerns. "She said that she has never made a call like this to a police sergeant. Watch:911 dispatcher Jena Scurry is testifying about what she saw on a video feed from the scene at 38th and Chicago where George Floyd was being taken into custody on May 25, 2020. She testified that she recalled watching police attempt to put Floyd into the backseat of a police car.  She said that she went back and forth between looking at the television and her computer screen.  Scurry said during her testimony that she was watching the footage on one of the TVs that is mounted on the wall inside the dispatch center where she works. She testified at one point she looked up, and that police had Floyd on the ground.  She said that as time passed she began to wonder why the image on the screen — with police holding Floyd on the ground — hadn't changed.  She said that her first thought was that the screen had frozen.  Then she saw people moving on the screen and thought "something might be wrong. " "They had come from the back of the squad car to the ground and my instincts were telling me that something's wrong, something is not right," Scurry said.  Watch the moment:Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Diversity is on display at the Oscars. From the presenters to the winners, this year's ceremony just feels more inclusive. https://t.co/eenCRKlnXQ https://t.co/PTOE89PXYK

"Green Book" won best picture while Rami Malek took home best actor. The best moments from the 2019 OscarsThe 2019 Academy Awards were one for the books, with stars like Lady Gaga, Rami Malek and Spike Lee taking home an Oscar. Regina King won the Oscar for actress in a supporting role for "If Beale Street Could Talk" and Mahershala Ali won his second Oscar for best supporting actor in "Green Book. "Iconic director Spike Lee won his first Oscar for original screenplay for his work in "BlacKkKlansman. " Gaga took home her first award for her original song "Shallow," which she also performed alongside "A Star Is Born" co-star Bradley Cooper.  Olivia Colman won best actress for "The Favourite," beating out Glenn Close, who had seemed like a shoo-in heading into the show. Overall, "Bohemian Rhapsody" lead the way with four wins, including Malek for actor in a leading role.  "Black Panther," "Roma" and "Green Book" have all won three awards each.  The biggest award of the night, best picture, went to "Green Book. "Here are your 2019 Oscar winners:Best PictureActor in a Leading RoleActress in a Leading RoleBest DirectorActress in a Supporting RoleActor in a Supporting RoleDocumentary FeatureMakeup and HairstylingCostume DesignProduction DesignCinematographySound EditingSound MixingForeign Language FilmFilm EditingAnimated Feature FilmAnimated Short FilmDocumentary ShortVisual EffectsLive Action Short FilmOriginal ScreenplayAdapted ScreenplayOriginal ScoreOriginal Song24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


A video of a protester dressed up as Batman has gone viral with the false claim that he was at the US Capitol last night on 6 January, when a mob of supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the building.  The video could be traced back to May 2020 when Bob Gable, better known as ‘Bucks County Batman’, showed up at Philadelphia’s anti-racism protests for George Floyd who was choked to death by a white police officer.  CLAIM Several users also shared the video with the claim that ‘Batman’ had arrived at the US Capitol with Trump supporters.  One user’s video had garnered over 167,700 views at the time of writing this article.  The video shared by users ‘Dateway’ and ‘Osh’a Escabar’ on Facebook had over 3,100 views each.  In a now-deleted tweet, business news website Moneycontrol, had also shared the video with the caption, “Pro-Donald Trump mob storms US Capitol in bid to overturn the election & amidst the chaos, #Batman arrives at the #USCapitolBuilding.  (sic)” WHAT WE FOUND OUT Through a keyword search of ‘batman at protest’ we came across articles by several sites like Mashable and News18, which had covered the viral video back in May 2020 during the Black Lives Matter protests, re-ignited by the death of George Floyd.  We also came across a report by a Philadelphia-based newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, which stated that on 30 May 2020, a “fully suited Batman emerged from the smoke unscathed” at the City Hall in Philadelphia, which is a city in Pennsylvania, whereas the US Capitol is in Washington DC.  The ‘Batman’ was identified as Bob Gable, a 43-year-old father of two from Bensalem.  Gable is popularly known as ‘Bucks County Batman’ and owns a $12,000 Batsuit.  “Gable said he went to the protest to “help in any way that I could,” to hand out water and to listen to young protesters,” the Inquirer reported.  Further, we found the video on the verified Instagram account of ‘Bucks County Batman,’ which he had shared on 31 May, marking the location as Philadelphia City Hall.  The words ‘Justice for George Floyd’ are also visible on a placard behind him.  Evidently, a video from the anti-racism protests in Philadelphia from last year has been falsely revived as a recent one from Washington DC.


Candidates at Democratic debate open up about biggest setbacks they've faced. https://t.co/HAzpFytDYo

By Eric Bradner, Dan Merica and Gregory Krieg, CNNUpdated 1457 GMT (2257 HKT) September 13, 2019 Houston, Texas  (CNN)Pete Buttigieg called it "unwatchable. " Amy Klobuchar warned that "a house divided cannot stand. " Julián Castro said what was unfolding on stage was "called an election. "


The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center with four astronauts on board is approaching the International Space Station https://t.co/X3PduiNlKb

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


Delhi: All women staff for Alliance Air's inaugural flight to Bareilly, UP on #InternationalWomensDay

"We have women pilots, cabin crew, ATC controllers, engineers & security for the inaugural flight," says Harpreet A De Singh, CEO, Alliance Air https://t.co/iFm1eDn1Ic

Shivani Manhas, one of the four pilots who flew Air India's first flight over the North Pole in January, said on Monday people need to rethink and destigmatize the roles that women play.  “Only when we liberate men of the stigma that they can't be caretakers, can women be liberated.  As a society, we need to destigmatize women's roles,” Manhas said on International Women’s Day. Captain Manhas, a first officer of Air India, was part of the longest direct route flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru which flew over the North Pole with the all-women pilot team, covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometres.  Besides Captain Manhas other pilots of the crew were Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Captain Papagari Thanmai and Captain Akansha Sonaware.  The inaugural flight AI176 departed from San Francisco in the USA at 8. 30pm on January 9 and landed at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru at 3. 45am on January 11. The crew was lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  “What can be more exciting than that for a citizen.  It was an exciting experience since it was never done before.  It took almost 17 hours to reach here," Manhas added. When asked about whether she or any of her team members in the flight ever mulled over having at least one male member in the flight, Manhas said that such a thought never came in her or in her team members’ mind.  “On Women’s Day, I used to be part of a women crew flight and I always enjoy these flights.  I have no fear as my training from Air India and MP Flying School was very good,” she said. Manhas comes from the village of Akalpur on the outskirts of Jammu.  She completed her Class 12 from Delhi Public School and then began her aviation training in Madhya Pradesh Flying Club of Indore.  She started working with Air India in 2016.


Pres. Trump began his second State of the Union with a call for unity: "Millions of our fellow citizens are watching us now gathered in this great chamber, hoping that we will govern not as two parties, but as one nation." https://t.co/jhkfinN1IJ #SOTU https://t.co/VLzRqeyl5l

Updated 12:03 AM ET, Wed February 6, 2019President Donald Trump delivered his second State of the Union address on Tuesday night, and the House chamber looked quite a bit different this time around. Now the Democrats have the House majority, and it was Nancy Pelosi — not Paul Ryan — sitting behind Trump with Vice President Mike Pence.  The 116th Congress is also the most diverse Congress in history, with a record number of women. Because of the record-long government shutdown, Trump's speech came a week later than originally planned.  It started with a call for bipartisanship. "We must reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution — and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise and the common good," Trump said. But it didn't take long for Trump's irritation at Democrats to rise to the surface. "An economic miracle is taking place in the United States — and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations," the President said.  "If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation.  It just doesn't work that way. "


An internal FBI note obtained by @ABC News shows warnings of "a huge uprising." https://t.co/YsfZLP3PJ7

Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNNUpdated 11:04 AM ET, Tue January 12, 2021  (CNN)President Donald Trump is leaving America in a vortex of violence, sickness and death and more internally estranged than it has been for 150 years.


Robert Trump, the younger brother of President Trump, has died at a New York hospital. He was 71. https://t.co/8N2hXCiX4y

The president visited his ailing brother in the hospital Friday. President Trump’s brother Robert Trump dies at 71Robert Trump, the younger brother of President Donald Trump, has died. The president announced the death of his brother late Saturday. "It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight," he said in a statement.  "He was not just my brother, he was my best friend.  He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again.  His memory will live on in my heart forever.  Robert, I love you.  Rest in peace. "He was 71 years old, according to The Associated Press. Donald Trump reflected on the relationship he had with his brother, who is only two years younger, at a briefing on Friday. "I have a wonderful brother, we’ve had a great relationship for a long time, from day one," he said.  "It’s a long time ago.  And he's in the hospital right now.  And hopefully he'll be all right, but he is pretty -- he’s having a hard time. "Robert worked as a real estate developer and executive for the Trump Organization. Donald Trump visited his ailing brother at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City on Friday.  He made the detour to visit Robert prior to speaking to New York City Police Benevolent Association at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. The president did not say how long his brother had been hospitalized or why. Trump referred to bis brother in the past tense at the rally, saying, "I just want to pay my respects to a really good guy that I love.  He respected you. "Robert Trump was hospitalized in June in the intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York for more than a week. Robert Trump was the youngest of five children by Fred and Mary Anne Trump, along with the president, Fred Trump Jr. , Maryanne Trump Barry and Elizabeth Trump Grau.  Fred Trump Jr.  died in 1981. He was married to Ann Marie Pallan in March, according to the New York Post. Robert Trump filed for divorce from his first wife, Blaine, in 2007.  The two were married for 23 years. ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas contributed to this report. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Robert Trump was 71 years old.  An earlier version of the story indicated he was 72. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


NEW: Though the first positive coronavirus case in New York was on March 1, the virus probably circulated in and around the city at least two weeks earlier—and most cases were transmitted from Europe, not China, according to new research. https://t.co/33twBWQ2RM

By Madeline Holcombe, Jacqueline Howard and Gisela Crespo, CNNUpdated 0049 GMT (0849 HKT) April 10, 2020  (CNN)Two separate research projects suggest that the novel coronavirus may have been circulating in New York City earlier than thought and the earliest cases likely originated with travelers coming from Europe and other parts of the United States, not Asia.  Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr.  Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. CNN's Arman Azad contributed to this report.


Image shows Architect of a Mosque in Turkey

An image of defunct antennas of a former National Security Agency (NSA) listening station built by USA during the Cold War to intercept Soviet and German communications in Berlin is viral with claims that it shows a mosque in  Turkey.   The image shows a distant view of broken antenna covers at the former NSA listening station located at the top of Teufelsberg, a 260-foot hill in Berlin.  Posts in Hindi misidentify the remains of the Cold War structure as a Turkish mosque, "This is a mosque in  Turkey.  There power can be assumed from the rest of its architect.  Don't fall  on false idea, Red Fort, Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar, all were built by Hindus" (Original Text in Hindi: ये है टर्की की मस्जिद, बाकी डिज़ाईन से अंदाजा लगा सकते हैं इनकी औकात का, कोई भी  इस गलतफहमी में ना रहे कि लालकिला, ताजमहल, कुतुबमीनार, इन्हीं महान जादूगरों ने बनाया होगा) See the image below.  Click here to see the post and here for an archived link.  The image has been viral on Facebook and Twitter as well since 2020.  ये टर्की की मस्जिद हैबाकी डिजाइन से आपअंदाजा लगा सकते हो कि . . . . . ताजमहल, लालकिला इन फटीचरो नें बनाया होगा 😜😜 pic. twitter. com/Hdz8ZM8phL The tweet is archived here.  Also Read: ANI, News Outlets Falsely Claim Ex Pak Diplomat Admitted To Balakot Deaths BOOM ran a reverse image search on the photograph and found news reports from as early as 2013, featuring the same image .  We found an article published on December 21, 2013 by  international wire agency Reuters, which used the image.  NDTV, in an article published on November, 2013 also carried the same image.   Taking cue from these above articles BOOM found the  image on the picture archives of Reuters.  The image was clicked  by Fabrizio Bensch on November 5, 2013.  Caption of the image reads, "Antennas of the former  National Security Agency (NSA) listening station are seen at the Teufelsberg  hill, or Devil's Mountain in Berlin, November 5, 2013.  Germany's Foreign  Ministry said on Tuesday it had asked the British ambassador to come and  discuss a report that Britain was operating a covert spying station in Berlin,  using hi-tech equipment housed on the embassy roof.  Documents leaked by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward  Snowden show that Britain's surveillance agency is operating a network of  "electronic spy posts" from within a stone's throw of the Bundestag  and German chancellor's office, British newspaper Independent reported.   REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: CITYSPACE POLITICS)" An article published on Germany's state broadcaster  Deutsche Welle (DW) highlights history of this spy station, which was built during the Cold War by the US Intelligence in a bid to intercept Soviet radio communications with the East German officials.  The station was built on a man-made hill, made mostly out of city rubble from World War II.  Excerpts from the article read, "During the Cold War, US intelligence wanted to build a  listening station in West Berlin to intercept Soviet radio communications.   Testing throughout West Berlin revealed Teufelsberg, a manmade hill in the  Grunewald forest, had ideal conditions for such a center.  In 1963, the Americans built Field Station Berlin atop  the hill.  The station consisted of a series of white towers, buildings and  domes.  What exactly happened inside is still classified — until at least 2020 —  but operations to intercept and jam Soviet communications continued until the  fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.  The station was then shut down and stripped of  its equipment. " Multiple Images of same building of NSA's spy station also  available on Reuters archive that can be seen here.  Bloomberg also carried a feature of the now defunct spy station which used to be a thriving hub of Cold War espionage.   Also Read: Agree Or Exit: WhatsApp's New Mandatory Privacy Policy Explained


Rajya Sabha has taken up the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 for  passage https://t.co/j2tgLNQEd2

Sep 08, 2021-Wednesday

Metro cities -  Delhi, Mumbai,
											Chennai,
											Kolkata

Other cities -  Noida,
											Gurgaon,
											Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhopal
											, Chandigarh , Dehradun,
											Indore,
											Jaipur,
											Lucknow,
											Patna,
											Ranchi

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Rajya Sabha business advisory committe called at 6 PMLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla holds meeting with oppositionOpposition boycotts Lok Sabha after govt refuses withdraw farm billsLok Sabha adjourned for an hour following protests on farmers' issuesRajya Sabha adjourned till 9am on WednesdayThe Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020 passed by Rajya SabhaRajya Sabha passes the National Forensic Sciences University Bill 2020Rajya Sabha passes the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2020Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia laud suspended Rajya Sabha MPs for taking up farmers causeRajya Sabha passes the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020Congress calls meeting of its Lok Sabha MPs ahead of today's sessionSharad Pawar to fast today to express solidarity with suspended RS MPsTMC MP Saugata Roy given adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over 'farmers’ protest against Centre's policiesRS takes up Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 for passageRajya Sabha takes up the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 for passageThe ongoing monsoon session of Parliament has entered its ninth day.  On Monday, eight opposition MPs were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the monsoon session for disorderly conduct during protests against two controversial farm bills on Sunday. On Tuesday morning, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh met the protesting MPs and offered them tea which they refused.  The chairman also decided to observe one-day fast against the unruly behaviour with him by these MPs.  In a letter to vice president Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the chairperson of the Upper House, he said he was ‘unable to sleep’ for two nights due to Sunday’s unprecedented chaos in the House. Meanwhile, Leader of opposition and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said that suspension of eight MPs who protested against the farm bills should be restored. The opposition today will oppose three upcoming labour reforms- The Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020, The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and the Code on Social Security 2020 which will be tabled by union labour minister Santosh Gangwar. The occupational safety, health and working conditions bill sets standards for health and safety norms for organizations; the Industrial relations bill talks about the scope of trade unions and the code on social security aims to create a network of social security for all workers. Rajya Sabha business advisory committe called at 6 PMRajya Sabha business advisory committee has been called at 6 PM today.  No opposition party will attend. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla holds meeting with oppositionLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is holding a meeting with members of Opposition parties after they announced boycott of the session in solidarity with suspended Rajya Sabha MPs and in opposition of the Farm Bills, according to ANI. Opposition boycotts Lok Sabha after govt refuses withdraw farm billsOpposition boycotts Lok Sabha after the government refused to accept its demand for withdrawal of farm bills. Lok Sabha adjourned for an hour following protests on farmers' issuesRajya Sabha adjourned till 9am on WednesdayThe Rashtriya Raksha University Bill, 2020 passed by Rajya SabhaRajya Sabha passes the National Forensic Sciences University Bill 2020Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Rajya Sabha passes the National Forensic Sciences University Bill 2020. Rajya Sabha passes the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2020The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2020, which amends 48 sections of the Companies Act 2013. Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia laud suspended Rajya Sabha MPs for taking up farmers causeDelhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday lauded AAP MP Sanjay Singh and other suspended Rajya Sabha MPs, for "fighting for the farmers, regardless of the heat, mosquitoes and other inconveniences" while holding a protest at Parliament premises, reports ANI. Rajya Sabha passes the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020Parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to the Banking Regulation Act to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the RBI, a move aimed at protecting the interest of depositors.  The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which replaces an ordinance that was promulgated on June 26, was passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha, reports PTI. Congress calls meeting of its Lok Sabha MPs ahead of today's sessionCongress has called a meeting of its Lok Sabha MPs before the commencement of the Lok Sabha session on Tuesday.  The proceedings for the Lower House will begin from 3 pm today, reports ANI. Sharad Pawar to fast today to express solidarity with suspended RS MPsNCP President Sharad pawar will fast today to express solidarity with Rajya Sabha MPs who were suspended for disorderly conduct during protests against two farm bills on Sunday. I will also take part in their (eight suspended Rajya Sabha MPs) movement.  I will fast for a day to show support: Sharad Pawar, NCP (File Photo) pic. twitter. com/bawRVcxwxJTMC MP Saugata Roy given adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over 'farmers’ protest against Centre's policiesTrinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy has been given adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over 'farmers’ protest against Centre's policies in the farming sector, reports ANI. RS takes up Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 for passageThe Rajya Sabha has now taken up the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 for passage. Rajya Sabha takes up the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 for passageThe Rajya Sabha has taken up the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2020 for passage.  The bill allows Centre to regulate supply of some food items under extraordinary circumstances which includes war, famine extraordinary price rise etc. First published: Sep 22, 2020 06:30 IST


Monty Python star Terry Jones dies at 77. https://t.co/xXpU09xnv1

By Rob Picheta, CNNUpdated 1:41 PM ET, Wed January 22, 2020 London (CNN)Terry Jones, a star of the seminal comedy group "Monty Python" who delivered some of the most famous lines in comedic history, has died, his agent confirmed to the PA Media news agency.  He was 77. Farewell dear Terry J.   Two down, four to go.   Love Terry G, Mike, John & Eric pic. twitter. com/RbVrAAJz2d


President Trump announces to new guidelines to protect the elderly at nursing homes amid the coronavirus pandemic: “By now, nursing homes should have suspended the entry of all medically unnecessary personnel.” https://t.co/kJzcimjiEn https://t.co/2gnGApJNYW

By Kate Bennett and Evan Perez, CNNUpdated 1218 GMT (2018 HKT) April 2, 2020  (CNN)Dr.  Anthony Fauci, the country's top medical expert on the coronavirus pandemic and a member of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force, is facing threats to his personal safety and now requires personal security from law enforcement at all times, including at his home, a source confirms to CNN.


BREAKING: Two-thirds of Americans say the Senate should call new witnesses at Pres. Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, new @ABC News/Washington Post poll finds. https://t.co/f7rLUtjYs0

By Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Mike Hayes and Fernando Alfonso III, CNNOur live coverage has ended, but you can scroll through the posts to read more. The House impeachment managers have concluded their second day of opening remarks in the impeachment trial of President Trump. The trial will continue tomorrow at 1 p. m.  ET, and Democrats will resume their opening statements. Watch today's biggest moments:House manager Adam Schiff did not mince words tonight in his closing statement, repeatedly calling President Trump guilty of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. "When we're done, we believe that we will have made the case, overwhelmingly of the President's guilt.  That is, he's done what he's charged with.  He withheld the money.  He withheld the meeting.  He used it to coerce Ukraine to do these political investigations.  He covered it up.  He obstructed us.  He is trying to obstruct you.  And he's violated the Constitution," Schiff said tonight in his closing remarks.  Schiff went on to call what Trump did "not right. "Watch here: Rep.  Adam Schiff, one of the House impeachment managers, thanked senators for "empathetic listening" as he wrapped up his opening statement for the night. "In the afternoon, senators, chief justice, President's counsel, it's been a long day and we start out the day with the chaplain asking for empathetic listening.  And I think that is certainly what you have delivered for us today," he said. The California Democrat went on to thank them for "keeping an open mind about all of the issues that we are presenting. "Watch here: An attorney for Lt.  Col.  Alexander Vindman, the White House's top Ukraine expert, has called comments made by Republican Sen.  Marsha Blackburn on Twitter tonight "slander"  and a "testament to cowardice. "Lawyer David Pressman's comments follow tweets from Blackburn where, in one, she claims Vindman had leaked the July 25 phone call at the center of the impeachment.  This claim is unsubstantiated.  Blackburn of Tennessee also took issue with House manager Adam Schiff "hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot. " House managers played video clips of Vindman’s testimony before lawmakers at least five times today during their opening statements at President Trump's impeachment trial, according to a CNN count. Blackburn followed that tweet with others claiming that Ukraine expert "wanted to take out Trump" and another with an alleged quote from Vindman's commanding officer calling him "a political activist in uniform. "Pressman called the impeachment trial a "difficult moment in our country" that requires "seriousness. "Vindman, a decorated veteran who was born in Ukraine, told the House Intelligence Committee in October during a more than 10-hour closed-door deposition that he reported concerns about Trump's July 25 call with the leader of Ukraine to the top National Security Council lawyer within hours, and said some of the changes he tried to make to the since-published transcript were left out, though he didn't say why. Vindman also told lawmakers that later, he was told not to discuss the call with anyone else. Earlier today: Among the other reasons why Blackburn has been trending on Twitter today is the fact that she was spotted reading a book during the trial.  She revealed on Twitter this afternoon what the book it is: Kimberley Strassel’s latest, "Resistance (At All Costs): How Trump Haters Are Breaking America. ""It provides good insights into today’s proceedings.  Second – busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking.  Try it," Blackburn tweeted. House manager Rep.  Zoe Lofgren argued that the withholding of military aid to Ukraine was in "the interest of just one person, Donald J.  Trump. "Lofgren's remarks were made during the ongoing impeachment trial of President Trump.  At the heart of the trial is the $400 million in security aid to Ukraine that Democrats claim was withheld while the President and his team pushed Ukraine to open an investigation into the President's political rivals. About the Ukraine aid: The White House budget office's first official action to withhold $250 million in Pentagon aid to Ukraine came on the evening of July 25, the same day Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on the phone, according to a House Budget Committee summary of the office's documents. Trump spoke to Zelensky the morning of July 25 around 9 a. m.  ET.  Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs, testified before Congress that that afternoon there were three interactions from her staff that indicate the Ukrainian government was aware there was an issue with US aid to the country. On August 29, one day after Politico first reported that the aid had been withheld, political appointee Michael Duffey signed a letter releasing 25% of the State Department funds each Sunday between September 1 and 22, according to the summary. The cameras haven't shown a lot of the Senate floor.  But sketch artist Bill Hennessy has been in the room, drawing the scenes you can't see on TV. At today's hearing, Hennessy drew the following scenes. . . A House manager delivering his opening argument before senators. . . A fidget spinner resting atop a senator's desk. . . A group of senators and others engaging in an intense conversation. . . A senator playing with a fidget spinner. House manager Val Demings has taken to the Senate floor to continue opening arguments.  The opening arguments from the House managers continue in the impeachment trial of President Trump.  A lot has happened today.  Catch up on the most important developments below:The impeachment trial is now on a 5-minute break. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Himachal Pradesh reports 36 new #COVID19 cases, 198 cured cases since 9 pm bulletin yesterday. Total positive cases in the state stand at 16,069, including 12,831 recoveries, 2,991 active cases & 222 deaths: State Health Department, Govt of Himachal Pradesh https://t.co/MHBOJ7ZIjM

With 55,839 fresh Covid-19 cases registered in the last 24 hours, India’s Covid tally on Thursday stands at 7,706,946.  But the number of active cases is seeing a steady decline for the third consecutive day, the data released by the health ministry has revealed. Active cases refer to the number of people infected by Covid-19 at present whereas the total tally includes the number of recovered people as well.  On Thursday, the active Covid-19 cases stood at 7,15,812.  On Wednesday and Tuesday, the numbers were 7,40,090 and 7,48,538 — all below the 7. 5 lakh-mark. In the last 24 hours, 702 fatalities have been recorded.  On Wednesday, the national case fatality rate dropped to 1. 51 per cent.  The Centre has asked state and Union Territory governments to bring down to rate to below 1 per cent.  At present 14 states/UTs, including Mizoram, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Telangana, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, are reporting case fatality rate below 1 per cent.  Maharashtra continues to report maximum number of daily cases, followed by Kerala, Karnataka, West Bengal, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.


A mom of children who appear in a popular YouTube show is accused of pepper-spraying the kids when they flubbed their lines https://t.co/3tMSYZyXN4 https://t.co/m0EM9Gexjv

The kids allege they were punished if they didn't partake in the YouTube series. YouTube star arrested for allegedly abusing her 7 adopted childrenA YouTube star is accused of physically abusing her seven adopted children, who told authorities they were pepper-sprayed, beaten and deprived of food and water if they didn't participate in her videos. Machelle Hobson, 48, whose YouTube channel "Fantastic Adventures" has garnered almost 800,000 subscribers and 250 million views since 2012, was arrested last Friday following a welfare check at her home in Maricopa, Arizona, about 35 miles south of downtown Phoenix, according to the complaint filed in Pinal County Superior Court. A 19-year-old woman told the Maricopa Police Department on March 13 that her younger adoptive stepsister disclosed being abused by her mother, Hobson. Officers then conducted a welfare check at Hobson's residence, where they found seven children "who appeared to be malnourished, due to their pale completion, dark rings under their eyes, underweight, and they stated they were thirsty and hungry," according to the probable cause statement. All seven children were removed from Hobson's custody. Police interviewed two of the children and attempted to speak with a third but "she was visibly nervous, shaking, and it appeared she was too scared to answer any questions," according to the probable cause statement.  The four other children were not questioned. One child told police Hobson locked her in a closet for days at a time without food or water and made her wear a pull-up diaper, not allowing her to use the bathroom. The child alleged her adoptive mother would spray her and her six siblings with pepper spray, spank them and force them to take ice baths.  She allegedly would further punish them if they resisted, according to the complaint. The child told police she was once pepper-sprayed between her legs and was in pain for several days. Another child told police, "I either get beat with a hanger or belt," "or a brush," "or get pepper-sprayed from head to toe," according to the probable cause statement.  He also alleged Hobson would grab his "privates" and, on numerous occasions, pinched him with her fingernails until he bled. Hobson denied the allegations, saying the only forms of punishment she uses are grounding, spanking and making the kids stand in the corner, according to the complaint.  Hobson's attorney, Richard Scherb, told ABC News, "The state's case is without merit. "All of the kids mentioned having to partake in their mother's YouTube series, which featured the adopted children in different scenarios, according to the complaint.  The kids told police they were punished if they forgot their lines or didn't follow Hobson's directions. "This is one of the reasons their mom took them out of school, so they can keep filming their series and they mentioned they have not been in school for years," the probable cause statement reads. The YouTube channel was still up on the video-sharing site as of Wednesday morning but later appeared to be taken down.  YouTube will terminate accounts upon discovery of repeated violations of its community guidelines. "We work closely with leading child safety organizations and others in our industry to protect young people.  When we're made aware of serious allegations of this nature we investigate and take action," a YouTube spokesperson told ABC News in a statement Thursday morning.  "We immediately suspended monetization when notified of the arrest.  In cases where there are Community Guidelines violations, we may take additional actions, including terminating the channel. "The Pinal County Attorney's Office called the allegations "highly disturbing and alarming. ""Children are our community's most precious resource, and this office is committed to holding those individuals who choose to harm them fully accountable for their actions," Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. Hobson and her two adult sons, Logan and Ryan Hackney, were taken into custody by local law enforcement at their residence on March 15, according to the complaint. Logan Hackney allegedly admitted to police that the children would be locked in the closet for long periods of time as punishment and that he had knowledge of the alleged pepper spray and ice baths.  He also told police he observed physical injuries on the kids and heard them scream and cry, according to the complaint. Logan Hackney claimed he had a discussion with his brother about reporting the child abuse, and the children told police Ryan Hackney would sneak them food when they were locked in the closet. Hobson and her two sons had their initial court appearance on Saturday.  Hobson's bond was set at $200,000 secured and she remains in custody, according to the Pinal County Attorney's Office.  She was booked on two counts of child molestation, seven counts of child abuse, five counts of unlawful imprisonment and five counts of child neglect. Hobson has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 26.  Her last name was listed as "Hackney" in the initial complaint by the Pinal County Attorney's Office, which later changed it. Logan and Ryan Hackney, Hobson's biological children, were booked into Pinal County Jail on seven counts each of failing to report child abuse.  They were released on their own recognizance on Tuesday and are due back in court April 8. Logan and Ryan Hackney have hired a private attorney, who did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment Thursday morning. Zeb and Tawny Schnorr, a couple in Scottsdale, Arizona, run their own YouTube channel starring their 10-year-old and 6-year-old sons called "Extreme Toys TV," which has amassed over 4. 1 million subscribers and over 2. 1 million views since 2015.  The Schnorrs told ABC News they have never met Hobson but her two adult sons contacted them about a year ago for help with filming and editing content.  And just a few weeks ago, Logan and Ryan Hackney brought over Hobson's seven adopted children to the couple's house to film a collaboration. The Schnorrs told ABC News they didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with the seven children, who appeared to be well-behaved and playing normally with their two kids.  The parents said they were shocked to learn of the allegations. "I just wish that there was something I would've seen," Tawny Schnorr told ABC News in an interview Wednesday.  "I was one-on-one with these kids, and there was no sign they were in danger. ""I had those kids in my house, twice they were here, and I just feel like it was my responsibility as a mom to help them and I feel like I could've saved them," she added, in between tears.  "The things those kids had gone through and were going through, my heart breaks for them because nobody deserves that. "ABC News' Karma Allen, Will Gretsky and Kieran McGirl contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Haryana: A woman was allegedly given triple talaq by her husband on phone for dowry in Nagina.Police says,"the victim had earlier also lodged a case against her husband for harassing her over dowry. Yesterday we had registered a case under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code." https://t.co/A2ei9ranB2

A day after the Supreme Court set a maximum two week deadline for the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) to probe the Rae Bareli road crash involving the Unnao rape survivor, the probe agency announced a special team of around 20 investigators to aid in the investigations on Friday.  The special team will include superintendent of police, additional superintendent of police, deputy superintendent of police, inspector and sub-inspector level officers.  CBI had registered FIR in the accident case on July 30. CBI has been asked by the Supreme Court to finish its investigations, in the road crash that fatally injured Unnao Rape survivor and killed an alleged witness of her rape case, within a week and said the deadline could be extended by another seven days only in exceptional circumstances if the court permits.  Watch: Unnao rape: Tragic timeline of how a woman was let down by the system  The agency has to probe if the allegations, that the July 28 accident was a result of conspiracy by former BJP MLA and rape accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar to silence the rape survivor and others, were true.  A six-member Central Forensic Science Laboratory team had left for the location of the accident informed the CBI spokesperson.  Investigation in the case will be conducted in the light of the direction of Supreme Court, he added. The Supreme Court on Friday halted implementation of its order to transfer the Unnao rape survivor’s car crash case to Delhi after the Central Bureau of Investigation told the judges that it had complicated the agency’s efforts for custodial interrogation of the expelled BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar and other accused. The CBI, which was Thursday given a seven-day deadline to probe the car crash, had approached a Lucknow court to seek the influential lawmaker’s custody.  But the UP judge turned them back, pointing to the Supreme Court’s orders to transfer the trial to Delhi, an official at the federal investigating agency said. Yesterday, the judges had ordered the transfer to Delhi all five cases linked to the 2017 Unnao gang-rape, in which legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar is the main accused, and ruled that the trials be completed within 45 days of commencement.  The rape accusation hit headlines after the survivor attempted self-immolation in front of the house of Adityanath on April 8, 2018, following which Sengar was arrested.  Her father died in judicial custody where he was sent for alleged illegal possession of arms — the family alleged he had been framed — after suffering severe injuries in an assault blamed on Sengar’s brother and his men. A CBI court in Lucknow will resume hearing on Saturday on the agency’s request to interrogate truck driver Ashish Pal and cleaner Mohan by taking them into its custody.  Both of them were sent to seven-day judicial remand on Friday.


German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British PM Theresa May congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in telephonic conversations. (file pics) https://t.co/NYdIH2NklD

Facing ire and fire from friends and foes alike for months over her approach to Brexit, an emotional Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday announced that she will resign on June 7 after the forthcoming visit of President Donald Trump. Close to tears, May, the second woman prime minister in British history after Margaret Thatcher, stood outside 10, Downing Street, and said she had done everything to convice Mps to back her deal that has been voted down thrice, but “sadly I have not been able to do so”. The immediate provocation for her announcement was her last week’s promise of a new ‘bold’ Brexit deal, which she intended to put before MPs in the week of June 3.  However, the deal evoked more trenchant criticism from inside and outside her party. May faced bruising headlines in the British media on Friday, such as ‘Time finally runs out for May’ (The Times), ‘Tory leadership race heats up as May prepares to name exit date’ (The Guardian), ‘Government in crisis: May to quit today’ (Daily Mirror). Boris Johnson, former foreign secretary, is seen as the leading contender in the leadership contest that will follow when May resigns.  There are several others in the race, including home secretary Sajid Javid and foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt. May took over as prime minister in July 2016 in the aftermath of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union, which resulted in a leave vote.  The vote prompted David Cameron to resign as prime minister.


How to keep coronavirus fears from affecting your mental health https://t.co/skw2YNgWXu https://t.co/4GhFqi7ddA

Social media is spreading plenty of false rumors about coronavirus. Coronavirus hoaxes debunkedThere is a lot of information floating around regarding the new coronavirus.  While sharing personal advice is often well-meaning, it is important to focus on science to ensure that recommendations are based in fact. Social media is spreading plenty of false rumors about COVID-19, especially when it comes to health and wellness suggestions. Here are a few of the many tips being shared that are not supported by science and our responses to them. Myth No.  1: Keep your mouth moist and drink a lot of water to prevent infectionThere is no current scientific evidence behind the claim that keeping your mouth moist will prevent infection with coronavirus.  But staying hydrated can help keep your immune system strong. The temperature of the water you drink is not important, however, drinking water and staying hydrated is important for many reasons.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, water helps your body with a number of functions, including regulating body temperature. Dr.  Simone Wildes, an infectious disease specialist at South Shore Hospital in Boston agrees: "Hydration is always good; it helps with all bodily functions. "People can usually meet their fluid needs by drinking water when they are feeling thirsty and drinking with meals.  Your body requires more water when you are running a fever, are more physically active or have diarrhea or vomiting. Tune into ABC News Live at noon ET every weekday for the latest news, context and analysis on the novel coronavirus, with resources from the full ABC News team. Myth No.  2: Drink water often to flush virus into your stomach where acid will kill itYou cannot "flush out" the virus from your airway by drinking water.  The idea that drinking water will push the virus into your stomach where it will be killed is not based on any scientific fact.  But do stay hydrated. Myth No.  3: If you have a runny nose, you probably just have the common coldIf you feel unwell for any reason, you should take precautions to avoid infecting others.  The symptoms of coronavirus are not specific and can vary greatly. The common cold and seasonal influenza are viral infections that can have very similar, even sometimes identical, symptoms to COVID-19, including fever, cough and shortness of breath.  Coronavirus, influenza and a common cold can present with cough and shortness of breath.  Both coronavirus and influenza can cause fever as well. Overall, if you feel unwell, take precautions -- something that feels mild to you can cause significant sickness in someone who is at high risk for infections.  Wash your hands, avoid social gatherings and wipe down commonly touched surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, countertops, phones, etc. ).  Call your doctor or local urgent care for more personalized recommendations, or seek urgent care if your mild symptoms become more severe. Myth No.  4: Holding your breath without coughing means no infectionA myth going around social media claims if you take a deep breath, hold it for more than 10 seconds and do it without coughing or discomfort, there is no fibrosis, or infection, in the lungs. This advice has many layers, none of which seem to be based on science.  Let’s break it down. To start, according to the American Lung Foundation, lung fibrosis is scarring of the lung and can occur due to infections, medications, genetics or certain diseases.  Being unable to hold your breath for more than 10 seconds without coughing may occur when you have fibrosis, but a diagnosis is much more complicated than this. Wildes echoed the sentiment, saying, "That is absolutely not the way that fibrosis is diagnosed.  This is diagnosed by a pulmonary doctor.  This is also not the way to diagnose an infection. "Additionally, you don’t need to have lung fibrosis to have coronavirus.  If you are having breathing issues, this could mean that you have an infection -- with coronavirus or any pathogen -- or that another health issue is taking place.  You should seek urgent medical care if you are having any breathing issues.  Research is still developing regarding the changes seen in the lungs at the tissue level after a coronavirus infection, although one study did show some changes suggestive of the development of fibrosis.  But again, data is lacking and it is too early to declare whether changes in lung tissue caused by coronavirus would be irreversible. Myth No.  5: Go get the flu vaccine, it will help with the coronavirusThe symptoms of the flu and coronavirus are similar so developing fever and cough from influenza could result in having to be tested and/or isolated due to COVID-19.  But no, there is no current evidence that the flu shot will help with coronavirus. "First of all, you should get the flu vaccination.  However, the flu vaccine will not protect you from coronavirus.  They are different viruses," Wildes said. COVID-19 is caused by the novel coronavirus, and the flu is caused by influenza A and influenza B strains.  Precautions for both viruses are similar though: frequent hand washing with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, avoiding close contact (social distancing) and staying home if you are sick. Myth No.  6: This will go away by summertimeThe short answer is probably not, but it is too soon to say. According to Dr.  Marc Lipsitch at the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard School of Public Health, while we do expect to see some slowing in the contagiousness of COVID-19 as weather warms and schools close in the Northern Hemisphere, this decline is not likely to be significant enough to slow transmission of the virus. Myth No.  7: Vitamin C and other supplements can boost your immune system to combat coronavirusThere are many conflicting recommendations regarding supplements and vitamins for immune health, however, no evidence exists at this time that adding supplements to your diet will protect you from coronavirus or spur a speedy recovery.  Additionally, most people are able to obtain all of their necessary vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet. Unless you have a vitamin deficiency, it is believed that supplements aren’t really necessary.  Focus on eating a diet full of various fruits and vegetables to meet your vitamin and mineral needs. When giving or taking health advice, it is important to focus on the facts.  It is easy to get wrapped up in the claims about this infection while the world works together to try to understand and manage it.  It is important not to panic, but to prepare and educate yourself based on science and research. Melanie R.  Graber, M. D. , is an internal medicine resident physician at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and a contributor in the ABC News Medical Unit. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events