A Swedish child was beaten up by "a Muslim immigrant" for having blue eyes.

On January 1 2020, disinformation purveyors all across the internet suddenly pivoted in unison to pushing the same disinformation that has muddied English-speaking social media since at least 2015, down to the same claims, the same recycled stories, and the same reappropriated photograph: Every claim showed the same image of a blue-eyed child with lacerations and stitches around her eye and packed an extraordinary amount of disinformation and fearmongering into just a few words: Blue eyes are haram?  “Haram” means actions forbidden under Islamic law, which should have shown that this claim was a lie on its face.  Other comments uncritically reproduced part of the body of the article linked, which should have been a clue that perhaps the story might not be getting pushed in good faith: Swedish child beaten by muslim immigrant for having blue eyes DECEMBER 27, 2019 A 12-year-old boy in the Swedish city of Helsingborg is beaten up by an Arab immigrant because he has blue eyes.  A 15-year-old [Muslim] boy in Helsingborg has been sentenced for assault and threatening another boy because of his blue eyes.  The 15-year-old [Muslim] immigrant had asked the Swedish boy what color eyes he had, according to the District Court.  The boy replied “blue green”.  The 15-year-old [Arabs] took this as a provocation for unknown reasons.  As mentioned, this photograph has been used to push the same false claims for years.  In 2017, another time this was getting traction, Wales Online noted that the image actually shows a victim of a dog attack in Cardiff — from 2008: This image of a four-year-old girl savaged in a dog attack has been shared hundreds of times on Twitter with the claim it was a boy in Sweden attacked by Muslims.  Canadian Twitter user, David G Gowing posted the pictures of Sophie Willis.  The self-proclaimed “Trump supporter” tweeted: “12 yr old Swedish boy beaten by Islamic terrorists because his eyes are blue! ” But the images in fact showed the aftermath on the attack on young Sophie, who was four at the time, when she was attacked by her family dog in 2008 in Cardiff Bay.  The tweet, which was posted early Sunday morning, has been retweeted more than 500 times and liked by more than 350 users.  But users from Wales recognised the photographs — and tried to correct Mr Gowing, without success.  The body of the disinformation stories, which sharp-eyed readers may have noticed did not match the photograph nor the claim at all, described in broken English a purported high school bullying incident from 2013 in which a fifteen-year-old boy slapped a twelve-year-old boy across the face, for which he was disciplined and fined: The 15-year-old [Muslim] immigrant had asked the Swedish boy what color eyes he had, according to the District Court.  The boy replied “blue green”.  The 15-year-old [Arabs] took this as a provocation for unknown reasons.  Two witnesses say they saw the 15-year-old slap the boy in the face and say he would continue beating him at the school break.  The 15-year-old was convicted for illegal threats and beatings with a daily fine.  The 15-year-old denied the crime, claiming that he was misunderstood because of language difficulties – since his first language is Arabic.  The incident has not been reported as a hate crime.  Another case of a Muslim migrant getting away with an obvious crime because of liberal judges.  These stories, without the creative additions, can all be traced back to the same December 2013 article published by a Swedish anti-immigrant (or “immigration-critical“) newspaper called Fria Tider about the same school fight: According to the district court, the 15-year-old asked a boy about his eye color, to which the Swede answered “blue-green”.  That was a response that the 15-year-old for unknown reasons experienced as provocative.  “Are you kidding? ” The 15-year-old asked, leaning over the table and boxing the boy’s ear.  Two witnesses state that they saw the 15-year-old slap the boy and say he would continue to beat him on the school break.  The 15-year-old was convicted of unlawful threats and mistreatment and fined.  The 15-year-old denies the crime and claims that he was misunderstood because of language difficulties, since his native language is Arabic.  Despite the increasingly hysterical claims, even the original article does not state that the slapper was Muslim or even an immigrant — simply that the fifteen year old’s first language was Arabic, which supported his claim that the “blue-green eyes” statement, and indeed the altercation itself, was a misunderstanding caused by a language barrier.  It hardly needs to be noted (but we will note it here anyway) that the descriptor “Muslim” does not correspond to any particular phenotype, as it is not an ethnicity but a religion that is practiced by billions of people around the world.  As Pew Research noted in 2017, that number continues to grow: Muslims make up a majority of the population in 49 countries around the world.  The country with the largest number (about 209 million) is Indonesia, where 87. 2% of the population identifies as Muslim.  India has the world’s second-largest Muslim population in raw numbers (roughly 176 million), though Muslims make up just 14. 4% of India’s total population.  Pew Research Center uses an array of surveys, census reports, population registers and other data sources to estimate numbers of Muslims and other religious groups around the world, the goal being to count all groups and people who self-identify with a particular religion.  The figures presented here are as of 2010.  Looking ahead, the Center estimates that by 2050 the number of Muslims worldwide will grow to 2. 76 billion, or 29. 7% of world’s population.  As of 2020, this same story is now receiving traction not just in the United States and the United Kingdom, where bad actors have pushed anti-Islam disinformation for years to great effect (benefiting and bolstering the anti-immigrant claims of both the Trump administration and the Brexit agenda), but also in India under prime minister Narendra Modi’s administration in order to increasingly support a nationalist agenda as the Kashmir region — disputed for decades by India and Pakistan — remained in crisis: In a pattern that should surprise no one who lived through the global political cycles from 2015 through 2019, India has been plagued by corrosive disinformation and xenophobic propaganda under Modi.  Despite Facebook’s repeated and ongoing claims that it is “cracking down” on the spread of false stories and on disinformation networks, politically-charged and destructive lies still freely circulate on its various platforms, including WhatsApp.  Article Sources +Under Modi, a Hindu Nationalist Surge Has Further Divided IndiaWorld’s Muslim population more widespread than you might thinkPeople are sharing a picture of a Welsh dog maul victim and claiming it's a Swedish child attacked by MuslimsGirl, 4, attacked by RottweilerKashmirWhat is Mr Modi plan for India’s Muslims? In Modi's India, Hindu Nationalism AscendsWhatsApp viral message: ‘Modi government to ban WhatsApp use in country? ’ Here’s the truth5 facts about religion in India


NEW: Rudy Giuliani has taken over running Pres. Trump's legal efforts challenging election results. It’s led to an explosion of infighting and disillusionment among the president's legal team and top campaign officials, sources tell @ABC News. https://t.co/CIOZ88lfuf

By Katelyn Polantz and Jessica Schneider, CNNUpdated 10:32 PM ET, Tue November 17, 2020  (CNN)Rudy Giuliani, representing President Donald Trump's campaign, tried to deliver a sweeping broadside against mail-in voting Tuesday in a federal courtroom, only to face questions from a judge who suggested that the President's campaign shouldn't even be in court.


Michael Cohen calls Pres. Trump "a racist" during his testimony.

"The country has seen Mr. Trump court white supremacists and bigots...In private, he is even worse." https://t.co/U8yAy9WH1P https://t.co/UaB2SeoVQ0

  The New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan has disbarred Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney and fixer, after Cohen pleaded guilty last year to multiple felony charges, according to a decision released Tuesday.

  A five-judge panel found that Cohen, who began a three-day stretch of congressional testimony on Tuesday, should be disbarred for his federal conviction for having previously made false statements to Congress, the decision said.

  Though Cohen’s disbarment was widely expected in legal circles, for a onetime trusted legal adviser to the President to be stricken from the roll of attorneys in New York state nevertheless constituted another striking step in the escalating consequences of the investigation into Cohen.

  Cohen, who pleaded guilty in two cases to an array of charges that included campaign-finance violations connected to his work for Trump, is scheduled to report to prison for a three-year sentence beginning on May 6.

Michael Cohen apologizes to Senate panel for lying to Congress

  The decision was posted online early Tuesday evening.  It was released two days earlier than initially intended, according to the New York Law Journal.  On Tuesday afternoon, paper copies of the decision, containing the same text but dated February 28, were distributed to reporters in the courthouse press room.  Court officials declined to confirm that those copies were legitimate and told CNN the decision was not ready to be released, only to then post it online with Tuesday’s date.

  Lanny Davis, an adviser to Cohen, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Cohen’s disbarment.

  Though an attorney for Trump, Rudy Giuliani, on several occasions has raised concerns that Cohen could have violated attorney-client privilege, the decision from the court didn’t address that subject.

  In New York, conviction of a federal felony triggers disbarment if the offense would constitute a felony under state law.

  The court has repeatedly found that a conviction for making false statements to Congress “is analogous to a conviction under the New York felony of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and, therefore, automatic disbarment is appropriate herein,” the decision said.
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Roger Stone exited a federal courthouse in Florida today, following an indictment by special counsel Robert Mueller.

"I look forward to being fully and completely vindicated," he said. https://t.co/NOSmKQHhuM https://t.co/OVtpDkhcGe

By Meg Wagner and Amanda Wills, CNNFrom CNN's David ShortellA number of law enforcement vehicles with silent sirens flashing pulled in front of Roger Stone’s home on a darkened Ft.  Lauderdale street just after 6 a. m.  ET. About a dozen officers with heavy weapons and tactical vests fanned out across Stone’s lawn. Law enforcement shined a flashlight into Stone’s front door before one officer wrapped against it, shouting “FBI!  Open the door! ” The agent shouted “FBI.  Warrant! ” seconds later.  A second-floor light turned on, and moments later, Stone appeared in the front entryway.  He confirmed who he was to law enforcement.  From CNN's Katelyn Polantz After he was arrested early this morning, the Special Counsel’s Office said Roger Stone will appear before a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 11 a. m.  The FBI swarmed Stone before dawn on Friday while he was at home in Fort Lauderdale. From CNN's Katelyn Polantz Roger Stone sought from Wikileaks stolen emails that could damage Donald Trump’s opponents at the direction of “a senior Trump Campaign official,” according to the Robert Mueller indictment. The indictment’s wording does not say who on the campaign knew about Stone’s quest, but makes clear it was multiple people.  This is the first time prosecutors have said they know of additional people close to the President who worked with Stone as he sought out Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. “After the July 22, 2016 release of stolen DNC emails by Organization 1, a senior Trump Campaign official was directed to contact STONE about any additional releases and what other damaging information Organization 1 had regarding the Clinton Campaign.  STONE thereafter told the Trump Campaign about potential future releases of damaging material by Organization 1,” prosecutors wrote. From CNN's Sara Murray and David Shortell The FBI has arrested Roger Stone, his lawyer tells CNN. Law enforcement raided Roger Stone’s house.  CNN witnessed uniformed and armed law enforcement approach his house just after 6 a. m.  in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Pounding on his door, one agent said: "FBI open the door. "Stone opened the door.  Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


A viral graphic claiming that a Gujarat court has acquitted 122 Muslim men after they had spent 20 years in jail for alleged links to banned outfit Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), is misleading.  BOOM found that while a Gujarat court on March 6 did acquit 122 Muslim men arrested in 2001 for alleged links with SIMI, all of them were out on bail and not languishing in jail for the last 20 years as claimed on social media.  Initially, 127 men from different states of India had been arrested by the Surat city police in December 2001 for participating in a meeting allegedly held by SIMI.  Five of them have died during the course of the trial.  Also read 2019 Image Of Left Front Rally Now Revived By BJP Handles The viral graphic has a photo of a group of Muslim men.  The text on the graphic says, '20 years in prison for the crime never committed.  Gujarat court acquits 122 Muslim men arrested in Surat in 2001 under UAPA for allegedly being members of banned outfit SIMI.  The court said, "Prosecution failed to produce cogent, reliable and satisfactory evidence that they belonged to SIMI".  This is how the judiciary functions in the world's largest democracy'.  View the post below and check its archived version here.   The post is viral on Twitter and Facebook.   Actor Swara Bhaskar tweeted the same graphic with a caption reading 'Let's simplify this.  More than a hundred Muslims spent 20 years in jail or under trial over false terror charges. .  20 years! ! ! ! Let.  That.  Sink.  In'.  Let's simplify this.  More than a hundred Muslims spent 20 years in jail or under trial over false terror charges. .  20 years! ! ! !  Let.  That.  Sink.  In.  https://t. co/8QV7uaeyPm Also read Fake Letter Claims PM Wrote To Yogi Adityanath About A Hindu Rashtra BOOM went through several news reports regarding the Gujarat court judgement.  A report published in the Indian Express on March 7, 2021, stated that a Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Surat had on Saturday acquitted all the 127 accused booked in 2001 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for participating in a meeting allegedly held by the banned outfit SIMI.  The court had said that 'the evidence against the accused was "not reliable or satisfactory enough",' stated the Express article.  Also read BJP Leader's 2017 Promise Of 'Good Beef' Revived Ahead Of Kerala Polls "Of the 127, 111 were present in court on Saturday.  Seven are dead, five are in jail on other charges, while four are bedridden.  Almost all of them spent 10 months to one year in jail, subsequently getting bail from the Gujarat High Court," the Express report stated.  According to a Time Of India report, most of the accused had spent at least nine months in jail before securing bail.   Another Indian Express report of March 8 also states that the accused got bail from Gujarat almost one year after their arrest in 2001.  The report further states that all those who have been acquitted in the case were out on bail, except five accused who are in jails for other offences.  Although they were not in prison for 20 years the accused are reported to have faced financial difficulties and social stigma.  The Surat police on December 28, 2001, had arrested 127 people from 10 different states, who had gathered at the city's Rajeshree Hall under the banner of the All-India Minority Education Board.  The arrests were made around two months after the September 9 terrorist attacks of 2001 in the United States.  The long-drawn legal battle finally came to an end on March 6, 2021.


Embassy of India in Beijing, China issues advisory to travellers from China visiting India, in the light of #CoronavirusOutbreak https://t.co/6Vi63kMtqx

India will overtake China in terms of the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases sometime Friday.  China was at 82,929 cases on Thursday afternoon and India 78,810, according to worldometers. info.  HT’s dashboard shows that India ended the day with 81,859 cases.  But the pandemic has followed entirely different trajectories in the two countries.  For instance, the number of deaths in India continues to be low – on Thursday afternoon, it stood at 2,564.  The corresponding number for China was 4,633. The difference in death rates highlights what I’ve previously said (and more than once).  Covid-19 doesn’t seem to be causing as many deaths in India as it is in other countries.  Indeed, according to data from the Union health ministry, on Monday, when the total number of cases in India was 70,713 , of which 46,003 were active (according to the HT dashboard), only 2. 37% of patients were in a condition serious enough to warrant treatment in intensive care units (ICUs), only 1. 82% needed oxygen, and only 0. 41% on ventilator support.  That fits in with what we already know – that many people infected by Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, are asymptomatic, and that many people who show symptoms, have mild infections.  Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemicTo be sure, this is a subjective classification, which means the patients do not require oxygen, ventilators, or treatment in critical care units; anecdotally, some of those with mild cases, have suffered high fever, severe body pain, and are always tired (which means I should probably stop using the term mild). Two other things this column has returned to regularly are testing and the reporting of data. How and when data related to infections and deaths is critical – it helps experts track the spread and understand patterns; and it shapes the health policy response.  India is still to get this right.  HT started maintaining its own dashboard using information from covid19india. org and the health departments of state governments after it found that the Union health ministry’s data came with a lag.  Also Read: Biggest single-day spike as Delhi Covid cases cross 8,000But it emerges that even at the state level, there is a considerable lag in reporting cases (because of delayed test results) and deaths (because hospitals do not always do the paperwork required).  For instance, almost all the 42 deaths reported by Delhi in the past three days are old ones (and not deaths in the previous 24 hours).  Unless this data is updated regularly and transparently, there’s little sense in talking of spikes in cases or deaths. On testing, after a slow start, and attempts to defend the indefensible, India is finally testing aggressively.  On Friday, it crossed the 2 million mark in tests.  This translates into almost 1,540 tests per million of the population.  The health ministry has also asked states to conduct random tests, some of them pooled, every week and in every district.  As India opens up (it should, starting May 17); as migrant workers return to their home districts; as rail services restart; and as life returns to normal, it is important to keep testing.  All indications are that the number of cases will continue to rise, and perhaps rise even faster as we open up, but that shouldn’t be cause for alarm as long as the number of deaths stays low. Again, as this column has repeatedly said, the only number to watch is the daily death toll.


72 new COVID19 positive cases, no deaths reported in Rajasthan today; the total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 7100: State Health Department https://t.co/qZ13fqOvo7

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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Biggest single-day rise of Covid-19 cases in Pune districtDelhi govt issues guidelines for domestic air/train/interstate bus travelMaharashtra's Covid-19 tally rises to 52,667, death toll at 1,695Number of domestic flights set to increase: Civil Aviation MinisterCops check passes, IDs at Delhi-Ghaziabad border after sealing orderTamil Nadu's Covid-19 death toll rises to 118, total cases breach 17k-markRail Bhavan to shut down on Tuesday, WednesdayWith 93 new cases, Karnataka's Covid-19 tally rises to 2,182Kerala's active cases rise to 359Cong to organise online campaign on May 28 on Covid-19At least 20 migrant workers injured in bus accident in JharkhandRail Bhavan staffer tests Covid-19 positiveUttarakhand's Covid-19 cases rise to 332AIIMS Delhi sanitation supervisor dies of Covid-19: ReportGhaziabad orders sealing border with Delhi again over rising cases of Covid-19Monday was the fourth-straight day that India reported the biggest one-day rise in the number of coronavirus infections and more than 6,000 Covid-19 cases.  As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are over 1. 38 lakh Covid-19 cases in the country including 4,021 deaths from the disease. Meanwhile, air travel across the country resumed on Monday, after a gap of two months, with states announcing varied quarantine and self-isolation rules for arriving passengers to address misgivings about infections being brought in from other cities. Click here for complete coverage of coronavirusOn the global front, Brazil registered 653 deaths in the last 24 hours with the death toll climbing to 22,666.  Brazil currently is the second worst affected nation after the United States.  In view of this, United States has suspended travel from the Latin American nation. Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak:Biggest single-day rise of Covid-19 cases in Pune districtBiggest single-day rise of 459 Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra's Pune district, according to an official, reports PTI.  With this, the total number of cases in the district is now 6,153 and the death toll is 280 with 8 more fatalities reported todayDelhi govt issues guidelines for domestic air/train/interstate bus travelDelhi government on Monday issued guidelines for domestic travel (Air/Train/Interstate bus travel). Asymptomatic persons will be permitted to go with advice that they shall self-monitor their health for 14 days.  In case they develop any symptoms, they shall inform concerned DDMA/state helpline number. All passengers shall be advised to download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices: ANIAll passengers shall be advised to download Aarogya Setu app on their mobile devices: Delhi government guidelines for domestic travel.  https://t. co/9y3aY7FMiUMaharashtra's Covid-19 tally rises to 52,667, death toll at 1,695Maharashtra reported 2,436 new Covid-19 patients today, taking the total number of cases to 52,667, according to state health department. The state recorded 60 deaths while 1,186 patients were discharged today.  The death toll in the state is now 1,695 deaths while 15,786 have been discharged. Of the fatalities, 38 are in Mumbai, 11 in Pune, 3 in Navi Mumbai, 2 each in Thane city and Aurangabad city, and one each in Solapur, Kalyan-Dombivli and Ratnagiri.  Additionally, one death of a Bihar resident occurred in Mumbai. Number of domestic flights set to increase: Civil Aviation MinisterUnion Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday evening thatthe number of domestic flights are set to increase further when Andhra and West Bengal resume operations in the coming days. "From no domestic passenger flights yesterday to 532 flights & 39,231 passengers today, action has returned to Indian skies.  With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further," he said in a tweet. From no domestic passenger flights yesterday to 532 flights & 39,231 passengers today, action has returned to Indian skies. With Andhra Pradesh set to resume operations from tomorrow & West Bengal from 28 May, these numbers are all set to increase further. @MoCA_GoI @PIB_IndiaCops check passes, IDs at Delhi-Ghaziabad border after sealing orderPolice officers began checking passes & IDs of people at the Delhi-Ghaziabad border on Monday evening after the Ghaziabad district administration issued orders that the border would be sealed.  Essential service providers, including media, don't need pass, IDs sufficient.  Ambulances & vehicles for essential services also allowed. Ghaziabad: Passes & IDs of people being checked at Delhi-Ghaziabad border after district admn issued orders that the border would be sealed.  Essential service providers, including media, don't need pass, IDs sufficient.  Ambulances & vehicles for essential services also allowed.  https://t. co/cuDeyF2oxp pic. twitter. com/8STlDje1xcTamil Nadu's Covid-19 death toll rises to 118, total cases breach 17k-markTamil Nadu reports seven more Covid-19 deaths, toll rises to 118.  The southern state reported highest single-day spike of 805 cases, breaching the 17,000 mark, according to the govt: PTIRail Bhavan to shut down on Tuesday, WednesdayRail Bhavan to shut down on Tuesday and Wednesday after another staffer tests positive for Covid-19: PTIWith 93 new cases, Karnataka's Covid-19 tally rises to 2,182Karnataka reports 93 fresh cases and two deaths, taking total number of cases to 2,182 and deaths to 44.  Number of active cases stands at 1,431, according to state health department: ANIKerala's active cases rise to 359Number of active cases of Covid-19 rises to 359 in Kerala, with 49 more people testing positive today: Kerala Health Department, reports ANICong to organise online campaign on May 28 on Covid-19Congress Party will organise an online campaign across states on May 28 to raise the issues of people in distress due to Covid-19 crisis.  The party will demand that the Centre immediately make the direct cash transfer of  ₹10,000 to all the families outside the income tax bracket: ANIAt least 20 migrant workers injured in bus accident in JharkhandA bus carrying migrant wokers to West Bengal met with an accident in Jharkhand's Sikidiri Ghati.  20 people have been shifted to Ranchi's RIMS hospital so far.  Police operation is underway, according to Saurabh, SP Ranchi Rural : ANIJharkhand: A bus carrying migrant labourers to West Bengal, met with an accident in Sikidiri Ghati of Ranchi rural today.  Several injuries feared.  20 people have been shifted to RIMS hospital so far.  https://t. co/FusRG6nO17 pic. twitter. com/jFTTksU1yaRail Bhavan staffer tests Covid-19 positiveA person working at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi has tested positive for Covid-19, reports PTI. According to the news agency, this is the fifth case in less than two weeks in the same building. Uttarakhand's Covid-19 cases rise to 332Fifteen more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Uttarakhand on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 332, reports PTI. Four Covid-19 patients have died in the state, according to a health department bulletin.  It said that three of them were suffering from other ailments.  The cause of the death of the fourth patient is not clear as yet, it said. AIIMS Delhi sanitation supervisor dies of Covid-19: ReportA 58-year-old sanitation supervisor at AIIMS in New Delhi has died of Covid-19.  He had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to hospital sources: PTIGhaziabad orders sealing border with Delhi again over rising cases of Covid-19Delhi-Ghaziabad border is to be sealed like it was done during lockdown 2, till further orders, according to the Ghaziabad District Administration. Those providing essential services, including media personnel, don't need pass, IDs sufficient.  Ambulances and vehicles for essential services will also be allowed. First published: May 25, 2020 06:18 IST


Many Facebook users are sharing a post with the picture of Sachin Tendulkar and his wife with Narendra Modi.  In the post, it is claimed that Sachin Tendulkar has met Modi to show his support for BJP in the General Elections-2019.  Let’s try to analyze the claims made in the post. The archived version of the post can be found here. Claim:  Former Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar along with his wife met Narendra Modi to show his support for BJP in the General Elections-2019. Fact:  The picture in the post is the one taken in the context of Sachin Tendulkar briefing Modi about the release of his biopic “Sachin: A Billion Dreams”.  So, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING. On doing Google Reverse Image search, the picture in the post was found to be the one taken during the meeting of Sachin Tendulkar and his wife with Narendra Modi, to give information about his then-upcoming movie “Sachin: A Billion Dreams”.  ‘AajTak’ has published an article regarding the same on May 19, 2017.  There was no mention regarding Sachin’s support to BJP anywhere in it. Hence, an old picture of Modi and Sachin is now being circulated with misleading claims.


Press Trump announces in a tweet that the FBI and Department of Justice would both "review" the case against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett. https://t.co/2Zvj6v3l4h https://t.co/E5gQ2cQzha

    The city of Chicago wants $130,106. 15 in the next seven days from actor Jussie Smollett, to cover the cost of the investigation into claims he was attacked in what he described to police investigators as a possible hate crime.

    In a letter sent to Smollett in care of his attorneys, the city’s corporation counsel says if Smollett doesn’t pay, the city might prosecute him using Chicago’s municipal code or other legal remedies.

    “The city feels this is a reasonable and legally justifiable amount to collect to help offset the costs of the investigation,” city spokesman Bill McCaffrey said.

    Smollett’s defense team did not comment on the letter and referred CNN to an earlier statement, in which they said Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson need to apologize to their client.

    “It is the Mayor and the Police Chief who owe Jussie – owe him an apology – for dragging an innocent man’s character through the mud,” the attorneys said.  “Jussie has paid enough. ”

    In the letter, the city says two dozen police personnel worked the case, which used resources that could have been spent investigating other crimes.

    The city asked for a certified cashier’s check or money order made out to “City of Chicago. ”

    It’s not often that Emanuel and President Donald Trump agree.  But on Thursday, they were united in outrage over the dismissal of Jussie Smollett’s criminal charges.

    A prosecutor unexpectedly dropped all charges Tuesday against the “Empire” actor, who was accused of staging an assault on himself – leading Chicago police to investigate it as a possible hate crime.

Chicago police union wants a federal investigation into Smollett case

    Emanuel lambasted a prosecutor’s decision to drop 16 charges, saying if Smollett wasn’t an actor with influence, he would have been held to a different standard.

    A few hours earlier, Trump said the FBI and the Department of Justice will review the Jussie Smollett case.

    “FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago,” Trump tweeted Thursday morning.  “It is an embarrassment to our nation! ”

    Neither the FBI nor DOJ have commented in response to Trump’s tweet Thursday.

    But one of Smollett’s attorneys, Tina Glandian, said she’s not worried about a possible federal investigation.

    “We have nothing to be concerned about because … to my knowledge, nothing improper was done,” Glandian told NBC’s “Today” show Thursday.

    The FBI, along with postal service inspectors, had already investigated a separate incident involving Smollett, in which a letter containing white powder was sent to Smollett at the set of “Empire. ” The white powder turned out to be aspirin.

    Chicago police have said they believe Smollett mailed the letter to himself, but when the letter didn’t spur the reaction he wanted, Smollett staged the attack.

    Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two men attacked him on January 29 and yelled racist and homophobic slurs while striking him, police said.  Smollett said the incident ended with a noose placed around his neck and bleach poured on him, police said.

Trump calls Smollett case 'absolute embarrassment'

    Chicago police initially investigated the case as a possible hate crime.  They later said they believed the attack was staged by Smollett to bolster his profile and career.

    “It’s Mr.  Smollett who committed this hoax, period,” Johnson, the police superintendent, said.

    Smollett faced 16 felony disorderly conduct charges.  But those charges were suddenly dropped after the actor forfeited his bail money and did community service.  The prosecutor, First Assistant State’s Attorney Joe Magats, said thousands of cases have similar resolutions.

Mayor Emanuel: Jussie Smollett has not shown remorse

    The outcome prompted officials to demand an investigation or consequences against Smollett.

    Republican State Rep.  Michael McAuliffe announced plans Tuesday to introduce legislation this week that would prohibit any production with Smollett from receiving the Illinois Film Tax Credit.

     “A lot of valuable Chicago Police Department (CPD) man hours and resources were wasted chasing down a bogus crime arranged by Smollett,” McAuliffe said.  “He has cost Chicago a lot more than a $10,000 bond.  Smollett should not be able to get anything more from the City of Chicago or Illinois. ”

    State House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has asked the Illinois attorney general’s office to “complete a thorough review of the prosecution and sentencing determination in the Smollett investigation. ”

    And the Chicago police union has called for a federal investigation into Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to evaluate her involvement in the case.

    Foxx had recused herself from the case a week before charges were filed because of familiarity with a potential witness, a spokeswoman for her office said.

    The court’s decision to seal the records in the case angered many observers.

Chicago police slam decision in Jussie Smollett case

    Chicago police released part of their investigative reports Wednesday and said there will be no more information to come.

    The 61 pages were released in response to Freedom of Information Act requests from the media.  They do not appear to offer many major revelations about what investigators allege was Smollett’s hoax.

    They do, however, shed light on investigators’ interactions with the brothers who, investigators say, helped stage the attack.

    After the documents were made public, the police department was “then advised of a court order prohibiting such release,”  CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted.
  Earlier today, CPD began responding to document requests in reference to the closed case of Mr.  Smollett.  We were then advised of a court order prohibiting such release & this afternoon, we received the formal directive which stipulates that no further records can be released.  pic. twitter. com/SkNXuERBZT
    Although the charges against Smollett were dropped, Foxx told CNN affiliate WLS that she was confident her office could have proven him guilty.

    But Foxx said a guilty verdict probably wouldn’t have led to harsher consequences for the actor.

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

    For example, prosecutors frequently offer to drop drug possession charges if defendants agree to treatment and meetings, she said.

    Foxx told WLS she understands some believe Smollett got special treatment because of his celebrity status.  She said the onus was on her office to explain that resolutions like Smollett’s are also available to “someone from the neighborhood. ”

    In response to Smollett’s case, the National District Attorneys Association released a statement on best prosecutorial practices in high profile cases.

    It said recusals of chief prosecutors should apply to the entire office; that prosecutors should not take advice from politically active friends of the accused; that alternative prosecution should include the defendant admitting culpability; and that Smollett’s record should not have been expunged immediately for the sake of transparency.

    “Finally, we believe strongly that hate crimes should be prosecuted vigorously but the burden of proof should not be artificially increased due to the misguided decisions of others,” the statement said.

  CNN’s Joe Sutton, Melissa Alonso, Brad Parks, Sheena Jones, Faith Karimi and Steve Almasy contributed to this report.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Video showing unhygienic animal market in Wuhan, China

A video of an Indonesian market showing wild animals kept in unhygienic conditions and sold as exotic delicacies is being shared as a market in China's Wuhan region, epicenter of the Coronavirus.   The video viral on Facebook and WhatsApp is being shared with the caption, "Whuan market.  China, the origin of the #Corona virus. "  The caption claims that the market, which sells animals as delicacies is where the Coronavirus originated.  The new virus which has caused panic in several countries, including precautionary measures by India, is said to have originated in Wuhan, China.  The virus has led to a reported 132 deaths in China so far.  While there have been suspected cases in India, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union health minister said on Tuesday that there were no confirmed cases of Coronavirus so far in the country.  NOTE: VIEWERS DISCRETION ADVISED The video has been shared by several users on Facebook with the same false caption that it is Wuhan, China.   Whuan market.  China, the origin of the #Corona virus. . .  👀#coronavirus pic. twitter. com/055fk2OfDy BOOM was able to ascertain that the video is from Indonesia and not China, as being claimed.  The viral video is from the Pasar Tradisional Langowan, in the North Sulawesi region of Indonesia.  We noticed ' Pasar Extream Langowan' written on the video in the first few frames.  A Google search for the same showed several results from YouTube showing results of a market in Indonesia where different species of rats,snakes, bats and dogs are sold as a delicacy.  A reverse image search for a key frame from the video showed results from a video on YouTube uploaded on July 20, 2019 with the same text in the description 'Pasar Extream Langowan' The YouTube video described the market as, "Extreme food in the world is available only at Langowan Market'  We found several similarities in the viral video and the video uploaded on YouTube.        At the 20-second mark in both the videos, we noticed a building on the right with a board with writing in Indonesian which when translated to English reads, 'Government of Minahasa Regency.  Trade Department.  Langowan Market Office'.  A search for the same showed thatr Langowan is a region in Indonesia's North Sulawesi region with majority of the population belonging to the Minahasan ethnicity.  Several International news outlets have also written about the Langowan market which has become a tourist destination of sorts, where people come to see the animals being sold as local delicacies.  Pictures on photo wire agency Getty Images for Langowan market also matched scenes from the viral video.  Coronavirus, a deadly mysterious virus is said to have emerged from the Hunan Seafood Wholesale marketplace in Wuhan.  The first few cases were reported in December 2019, with patients showing pnuemonia like symptoms.  The seafood marketplace in Wuhan has since been shut, with authorities in China working round the clock to contain the massive outbreak.  India, as part of the prevention and precautionary measures has set up screening centers at seven airports with nearly 35,000 passengers screened to date.


It is a very important day for #SushantSinghRajput's family and his fans all over the world. Supreme Court accepted all our points, it also held that what Maharashtra Police was doing was in a limited scope: Vikas Singh, lawyer of Sushant Singh Rajput's father https://t.co/hzYpcKZBJG

Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai residence and his team has now issued a statement, confirming the actor’s death and requesting fans to cherish and celebrate his work and life.  “It pains us to share that Sushant Singh Rajput is no longer with us.  We request his fans to keep him in their thoughts and celebrate his life, and his work like they have done so far.  We request media to help us maintain privacy at this moment of grief,” the statement said. Also read: Actor Sushant Singh Rajput found hanging at home, he was 34While the police have confirmed that he has died by suicide, no ‘note’ was found from his residence.  “Sushant Singh Rajput has committed suicide, Mumbai Police is investigating,” DCP Pranay Ashok, spokesperson Mumbai Police said. Expressing shock at his death, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap tweeted, “Wtf . .  this is not true. ” Akshay Kumar wrote, “Honestly this news has left me shocked and speechless. . . I remember watching #SushantSinghRajput in Chhichhore and telling my friend Sajid, its producer how much I’d enjoyed the film and wish I’d been a part of it.  Such a talented actor. . . may God give strength to his family. ”  Wtf . .  this is not true . .  https://t. co/RzYSkegt4i This is heartbreaking. . . . I have such strong memories of the times we have shared . . . I can’t believe this . . . . Rest in peace my friend. . . when the shock subsides only the best memories will remain. . . . 💔 pic. twitter. com/H5XJtyL3FLFilmmaker Karan Johar tweeted, “This is heartbreaking. . . . I have such strong memories of the times we have shared . . . I can’t believe this . . . . Rest in peace my friend. . . when the shock subsides only the best memories will remain. . . ”Follow @htshowbiz for more


Beyoncé joins the call for charges against officers involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor. https://t.co/rpRFEIuWf1

By Shawna Mizelle and Kristina Sgueglia, CNNUpdated 2327 GMT (0727 HKT) June 14, 2020  (CNN)Beyoncé is calling on Kentucky's attorney general to bring about justice in the wake of Breonna Taylor's death and ultimately "demonstrate the value of a Black woman's life. "


"The people, the will of the people, has been heard—and the will of the people has been heeded."

Read Pres. Joe Biden's full inaugural address: https://t.co/CvZi3E8w0Z

Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNNUpdated 2:12 PM ET, Wed January 20, 2021  (CNN)In his first words as President, Joe Biden offered a parable of American grit, healing and unity, leveraging resilience forged through personal loss and disdain for the "uncivil war" of modern politics in an inspirational rallying call to a sickened and divided nation.


Picture shows college students in Alabama, United States, throwing 'Covid-19' parties to see who gets infected first.

Recently, there have been shocking reports of college students in Alabama, United States, throwing 'Covid-19' parties.  Apparently, an infected person is called to the party, along with uninfected ones, and bets are placed on who gets to contract the disease first. In this context, an image of a group of youths drinking from a sangria bucket is circulating on social media with the claim that this how Covid parties are being held.  Text superimposed on the picture reads, "Colleges students in Alabama are throwing 'COVID19 parties' to see who can catch the virus first.  They are intentionally inviting those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and taking bets on who gets the virus first. "India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found the post to be misleading.  It is an old picture from Spain showing a group of youths drinking alcohol from a sangria bucket in Ballermann style.  There have been reports of 'Covid-19 parties' in Alabama, but their details are sketchy. The archived version of the post can be seen here. AFWA probeReverse-searching the viral image, we found that the original picture was carried by a news article published in 2007 on Mallorca Island, a holiday destination in Spain. The article says that the sangria bucket with one-metre straws is a must for many holidaymakers here.  Hence, the viral image must have been shot from a Ballermann bar in Mallorca in 2007 or even before that. We also found a local news report on how hundreds of German vacationers celebrated at the Ballermann party strip this month without masks and social distancing.  However, we could not find any report linking college students from Alabama to these parties. Covid parties: Rumour or reality? Several media organisations, including "The Guardian" had reported about the death of a 30-year-old man after attending a 'Covid party' in Texas. We found an "ABC News" report where the city councilor of Tuscaloosa in Alabama, Sonya McKinstry, confirmed that Covid parties were indeed being held.  "Students have been organising Covid parties as a game to intentionally infect each other with the contagion," she was quoted in the article. The University of Alabama also tweeted on the matter.  The university said though they are aware of rumours about Covid parties, they could not identify any student who attended such a party. We have been aware for weeks of the rumors about COVID parties.  We conducted a thorough investigation, + although we have been unable to identify any students who may have participated in these types of activities, we will continue to follow up on any information we receive[1/3]However, there are not many credible details regarding these Covid parties.  No media organisation has reported where exactly and how these parties were thrown. Searching on Instagram with the keyword #covidparty, we found a few posts from US users which were mostly jamming sessions at pubs and beaches. Therefore, we can conclude that though there have been vague reports of college students in Alabama throwing Covid parties, the viral image has nothing to do with it.  The picture is more than a decade old from Spain's Mallorca Island. The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.


Restrictions on Holi celebrations in Madhya Pradesh as #COVID19 cases surge

https://t.co/LYS37X7phP https://t.co/LAQAGAweZ0

Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have banned Holi celebrations across 11 districts at public places and ordered the closure of shops and religious places on Monday when the festival will be celebrated amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.  The state recorded 2,091 Covid-19 cases on Friday, the highest over the last six months.  Only “symbolic celebrations” for Holika Dahan will be allowed on Sunday night in 11 districts including Indore and Bhopal.  Seven of the state’s districts have reported 75% of the total Covid-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh. The state government also Friday announced a lockdown on Sunday in Gwalior, Ujjain, Vidisha, and Narsinghpur in view of the surge. In Bhopal, 425 Covid-19 cases were reported on Friday.  Bhopal collector Avinash Lavaniya said their priority is the safety of people and they should understand this.  “The lockdown will be started from 9 pm on Saturday and continue till 6 am on Monday.  But there will be a ban on unnecessary gathering and movement of people on Monday. ” Indore collector Manish Singh said the decision was taken for the safety of people as the virus is spreading very fast and seven people have been found to have been infected with the UK strain, which spreads faster.  The Indore district has recorded 612 cases. In a tweet, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kailash Vijaywargiya called the restrictions on celebrations “a very objectionable decision”.  “The administration should review this decision.  They hurt the religious sentiments of people. ” Congress leader Vinay Bakliwal echoed him.  “The BJP government is hurting religious sentiments.  Holika Dahan is not just a part of the celebration but a symbol of ending evil.  We will do Holika Dahan and for that, we are ready to go to jail. ”Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he was not in the favour of lockdown and urged people against gathering for Holi celebrations in large numbers.  “I have to follow emergency religion to save the lives of people as positive cases are increasing every day and to contain the spread, I have to take tough decisions.  I request people to celebrate festivals at their homes. ”


Bharatiya Janta Party, Delhi unit has appealed to its members to resort to violence if it takes to stop the farmers from organising a tractor rally on January 26, 2021

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi unit has rubbished a letter claiming to be from one of its office bearers instigating party workers to resort to violence to stop farmers from organising a tractor rally on Republic Day.  On Monday, a screenshot of the letter bearing the letterhead of Bharatiya Janata Party, Delhi Pradesh and an alleged signature of one Rajesh Bhatia, general secretary, was viral on social media.  BOOM reached out to Naveen Kumar, BJP Delhi media cell head who refuted the viral claim.  He also told us that Bhatia is no longer the general secretary of the party's state unit.  Kumar also sent us a statement rubbishing the viral letter as 'fake news'.  Also read No, President Of Suriname Is Not The Chief Guest For Republic Day 2021 The letter, dated January 15, 2021, has a message in Hindi which translates to 'An appeal in nation's interest regarding the farmers' protest: This is to inform all the workers and member of the party that owing to the stubborn nature of the farmers, there has been no conclusive result of the various meetings held between the government and the farmers.  It's time now that we strengthen the country in view of national interest.  We will have to stop any damage to government property (mobile tower, shops, BJP offices) and stop any speeches and actions that go against the government.  We will have to put in all efforts to stop the farmers from organising a tractor rally by farmer unions on January 26, 2021 in Delhi.  Towards this, if need arises, you should resort to violence to meet these atrocities.  We assure you that no action will be taken against you.  We appeal to our workers and members to stay in touch with their state chiefs/offices'.  The letter has been allegedly signed off by Rajesh Bhatia whose designation has been mentioned as general secretary and state party office chief.    (Hindi: राष्ट्रहित में किसान आंदोलन संबंधी आग्रह: सभी कार्यकर्ताओं और स्वयंसेवकों को सूचित किया जाता है कि किसान नेता और सरकार के बीच हो रही बातचीत का, किसानो के ज़िद्दी और अड़ियल रवैया की वजह से, कोई परिणाम नहीं निकलता देख हमें खुद को राष्ट्रहित हेतु मजबूत करना होगा.  कहीं भी सरकारी संपत्ति को नुक्सान (मोबाइल टावर, दूकान, बीजेपी कार्यालय आदि) और सरकार विरोधी गतिविधियों और भाषणों को वर्जित करना होगा.  किसान संगठनों द्वारा दिल्ली में की जा रही 26 जनवरी 2021 की ट्रैक्टर रैली का विरोध करते हुए इन देशद्रोहियों की हर कोशिश नाकाम करने का प्रयत्न करना होगा.  अतः जरुरत पड़ने पर ज़ुल्म के बदले की गयी हिंसा पर कोई भी क़ानूनी करवाई ना होने का भरोसा दिलाते हुए, आने वाले रणनीति के लिए हम अपने सभी कार्यकर्ताओं और स्वयंसेवकों को अपने प्रदेश अध्यक्ष/नज़दीकी कार्यालय से संपर्क में रहने का आग्रह करते हैं. ) The viral letter has been tweeted by Surendra Rajput, media panelist of the Indian National Congress on January 18, 2021.  ये देखो पार्टी भक्ति ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  pic. twitter. com/Iek1rIVff9 The letter has been shared on Facebook with same claim.  BOOM reached out to the media cell head of Delhi BJP unit Naveen Kumar who refuted the viral claim.  Kumar told us that Rajesh Bhatia was the general secretary of the party's state unit seven months ago.  "Rajesh Bhatia is not the general secretary now.  He himself registered a police complaint at Rajendranagar police station," Kumar told BOOM.  Naveen Kumar also shared with BOOM a copy of the complaint filed by Rajesh Bhatia.  Also read NDTV India Jumbles Rice & Paddy Data, Ravish Kumar Issues Apology In his complaint, Bhatia has mentioned that his signature was forged on the letterhead of Delhi BJP office urging people to resort to violence against the protesting farmers.  Naveen Kumar also shared with us a copy of the statement issued on the same.  Also read Morphed Screenshot Of The News Minute On Cricketer Azharudeen Viral


Clip shows a little girl found with a group of beggars in Mangalore

An old video from Delhi, of an appeal to reunite a missing child with her family is viral with the false claim that the girl was found in Mangalore with a group of beggars.  BOOM found that the video is from November 2020 and the child has already been reunited with her family after she was found to be lost by members of a local gurudwara.   BOOM was able to identify the location as Jaitpur Gurudwara in New Delhi and the incident to be from November 2020.  Gurudwara members confirmed that the girl was handed over to her family, the same day as the video was shot.  The clip was shared by Bollywood actress Divya Dutta with the caption, "This little girl was found with a bunch of beggars in Mangalore, S.  India.  She calls herself Sonal Bipin Patel.  The beggars claim that she was found in a train coming from Mumbai.  Please forward this as much as possible.  Perhaps, she can be united with her parents. " Viral on Facebook On searching with the same caption on Facebook, we found that the viral clip is being shared with the misleading claim.  Also Read: Toolkit Case: Edited Image Of Greta Thunberg In A Train Resurfaces We found that the text - 'a child is found in Mangalore with a group of beggars' was similar to another false claim from 2018, of a missing child.  The old claim also identified the missing girl as a Sonal Bipin Patel, claiming she had been kidnapped and found with beggars.  This showed that the text is unrelated to the viral clip.   Also Read: Missing Child Video Wrongly Portrayed A search with the keywords, 'Gurudwara, Missing child found' showed uploads from November 2020.  None of the social media posts identified the girl with her name.  Additionally, we found a post on Facebook from November 2020, saying the girl was found in Jaitpur area in Badarpur, New Delhi.  We then contacted Jaitpur gurudwara in Jaitpur, New Delhi who confirmed that the clip was from November 2020 and shot in their premises.   A member said that the girl was seen lost near the gurudwara and had been brought inside for safety and then a video appeal shot to help trace her family.  Sandeep Singh Rai, part of the gurudwara's social media team said, "This video is from November 2020, and the girl was reunited with her parents on the same day we shot the video. "  He added that in the video, the person making the appeal to help trace the child's parents is Harjeet Singh.  "She (the girl) was crying when we found her and was also lost.  So we had made a video clip and posted it on groups so her parents could see it, identify her and come pick her up," Rai said.  Rai sent us a clip of him and Singh who had made an appeal at the Gurudwara at that time in the viral video.  Singh narrates regarding the incident stating that the girl was handed to her parents after checking their id and requests people not to share the viral video now as the child was reunited with her parents on the same day back in November 2020.   Jaitpur Gurudwara members on viral video from BOOM on Vimeo.


Anurag Thakur on excise,cess on petrol, diesel increased by Rs 2 in #Budget2019: No tax on income below Rs 5 lakh, discount for middle class people on affordable housing, discount on electrical vehicles, from where will all that money come? It'll have contributions from all of us https://t.co/I6WabptHcX

Petrol and diesel would be dearer by about Rs 2 per litre, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget speech.  The minister, who presented her maiden budget, has also hiked the customs duty on gold and other precious metal from existing 10 per cent to 12. 5 per cent. Presenting the Union Budget, she said crude prices have softened from their highs and it gives her room to review excise duty and cess on petrol and diesel. “I propose to increase special additional excise duty and road and infrastructure cess each by one rupee a litre on petrol and diesel,” she said. ALSO WATCH | Budget 2019 | Petrol and diesel cess increased by Re 1 per litreThe finance minister also said surcharges on individuals having taxable income of Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore; and Rs 5 crore and more have been raised. She also said there will be no merchant discount rate (MDR) charges on digital transaction made at big establishments having annual turnover of more than Rs 50 crore. For updates on Budget 2019, click hereThe finance minister also announced TDS (tax deducted at source) of 2 per cent on cash withdrawal of more than Rs 1 crore from a bank account. She said faceless assessment of tax returns in electronic mode is being launched this year in a phased manner.  Also Read | Budget 2019 highlights


Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, in 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." https://t.co/uauZmOqF9X https://t.co/bNsZl5LqV2

  Jay Sekulow, an attorney for President Donald Trump, said Monday he does not want the written answers the President submitted to special counsel Robert Mueller to be released, describing them as “confidential. ”

  “Well, that would not be a position that I would want, to just make a statement where we would release confidential communications that took place between the President of the United States and the Department of Justice or the special counsel’s office,” Sekulow told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day. ”

Special counsel and DOJ deliberated seeking subpoena for Trump

  Sekulow continued, “as a lawyer, you don’t waive privileges and you don’t waive investigative detail absent either a court order or an agreement between the parties.  And you’d have to weigh a lot of factors there on how that affects other presidencies. ”

  Sekulow called such a move “very inappropriate,” and added that it’ll “be a decision (Attorney General William Barr) makes, but I’ve some strong opinions about that. ”

  On Sunday, Barr delivered a summary to Congress detailing the principal conclusions of Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

  For months, Mueller’s team had requested a sit-down interview with Trump, but the President’s lawyers refused to commit and negotiations continued.  Eventually, the special counsel submitted written questions to the President last fall concerning the time frame before the 2016 election, which Trump answered in late November.

  Barr’s letter to Congress stated that Mueller did not find that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election and said that based on the report, Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein determined there was not enough evidence to prosecute the President for obstruction of justice.

  CNN’s  Pamela Brown, Evan Perez and Laura Jarrett contributed to this report.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Congress party releases a list of 5 candidates in Chhattisgarh, Goa and Daman & Diu for the #LokSabhaElections2019 . https://t.co/QVGPLY4Wyc

When the Narendra Modi wave swept north India in the 2014 parliamentary elections, Punjab was lukewarm in its response. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), won six of the 13 seats as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a rookie outfit then, made a stunning debut by securing four seats and breaking the long-standing duopoly in the state. The Congress, which won three seats, made a spectacular comeback three years later in the state elections, winning a two-thirds majority in the assembly and routing the ruling SAD-BJP combine. But this time around, the electoral scenario in the border state is unclear because of a sudden shift in the political narrative after the February 14 Pulwama terror strike and the emergence of a bevy of vote-splitters.  In a state with a long legacy of contributing to India’s armed forces, the terrorist attack and the subsequent air strike inside Pakistan have emerged as the dominant theme of popular discourse in the past three weeks – with national security and defence drowning out contentious debates over religion and sacrilege for now. Like elsewhere in the country, the BJP is attempting to steer the nationalism conversation to its national security record.  The ruling Congress is aware of this, and chief minister Amarinder Singh, himself a former soldier, has been nimble-footed in grabbing the headlines by calling for a retaliation, hailing the air strike, and then offering to receive Indian Air Force pilot wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman at the Wagah border on his return from Pakistan.  He has kept away from any speculation about the terrorist casualty figure in the Balakot air strike. But equal, if not more, attention has been drawn by his party colleague and minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who first hit the headlines by calling for peace and talks at a time when tensions were rising between the two countries.  He then went to question the air strike, ask for proof of the casualty figure, and blame the BJP for politicising the operation, sparking controversy at each stage.    Experts say the conflicting views of the two leaders underline the confusion in the Congress about its strategy to deal with the BJP’s attempts to centre its election campaign on national security. Guru Nanak Dev University’s political science department head Professor Jagroop Singh Sekhon says the attempts to invoke national security would not have much impact on voting behaviour of Punjabis.  “They [Punjabis] suffer the most whenever there is danger of war between India and Pakistan.  The BJP is a marginalised player here and will not gain at all in the upcoming elections,” he said. The change in the poll narrative has come as a respite for the SAD, the dominant alliance partner in Punjab, and its top leaders from the Badal family who were was facing public anger over their handling of a number of cases of alleged sacrilege and desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism, in 2015.  SAD leaders, particularly president Sukhbir Singh Badal, have latched on to national security, seeking support in the name of a “strong and brave” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  “You need to vote for a PM who our enemy fears,” Sukhbir has said in meeting after meeting, giving credit for Varthaman’s return to Modi.  However, the party leaders seem unsure as to how long they would be able sustain this as the state will vote in the seventh and the final phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 19. BATTLING REBELLION There is a sudden proliferation of splinter factions and alliances that not just has muddied political waters but also kept traditional parties on tenterhooks.  The AAP and the SAD have, in recent months, been convulsed with internal squabbles and splits. The AAP, rocked by unabated bickering since its underwhelming showing in the 2017 assembly elections, faced a revolt by seven of the 20 party legislators last July after Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s removal from the post of leader of opposition in the assembly for defying the party leadership. The firebrand leader seemingly incurred the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s wrath by publicly criticising his apology to SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a drug-related defamation case.  After the party suspended him, Khaira quit the primary membership of the AAP and set up his Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP), a small grouping of AAP dissidents. The SAD has its own share of pre-poll woes.  On the back foot since the Congress government-appointed Justice Ranjit Singh panel in 2018 blamed the previous Badal regime for alleged mishandling of the 2015 alleged sacrilege case of the Guru Granth Sahib, the party was jolted when a section of influential old guards rebelled against party president Sukhbir Badal’s “style of leadership” last December. The dissidents call themselves ‘Taksalis’ (the original Akalis) and have formed the SAD (Taksali), led by Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit Singh Brahampura.  The revolt and the cracks in its core Panthic support base (a reference to the Sikh panth, or order0, are a double whammy for the Badals, who draw their political heft from their standing and influence in the Sikh community. A flustered SAD leadership performed sewa (voluntary service) at the Golden Temple last month as penance for their “inadvertent mistakes” during the 10-year rule. The party is contemplating to shift Sukhbir’s wife and two-time MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Bathinda to Ferozepur, which is seen as a safer bet this time.  Bathinda is close to Bargari, the epicentre of anti-sacrilege protests, and her victory margin also dipped to 19,395 votes in 2014 from 120,948 in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. “Though national security may appear to be dominating the pre-poll narrative, religious issues matter more than everything else in Punjab.  Bargari will play an important role and Akalis are in a very tight spot,” said Ashutosh Kumar, professor of political science, Panjab University, Chandigarh. FOURTH FRONT The PEP is now at the forefront of an effort to cobble together an alliance - Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) - of disparate parties that also include the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which, despite the state’s 32% scheduled caste population, has never made a significant mark in Punjab.  Styled as the fourth front, the PDA fancies itself as a challenger to the dominance of the Congress and the SAD-BJP coalition. “The alliance will contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats.  Our primary aim is to defeat the Congress and the Badals,” said Khaira.  The alliance has reached a consensus on names of its candidates for nine of the 13 seats.  But political observers see them more as potential spoilers than winners.  “As none of the entities in the fourth front has a pan-Punjab base, they may only end up damaging the key parties,” said Pramod Kumar, a Chandigarh-based political analyst. Both Khaira and the AAP, hamstrung by rebellion and desperate to regain lost ground, are wooing the Taksalis.  Though Khaira appeared to be close to reaching understanding with the breakaway SAD faction at one stage, there were differences over two seats.  The Kejriwal-led AAP and the Taksalis also held several rounds of talks for finalising an alliance, but failed to reach an agreement on the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat for which both parties have announced candidates. AAP legislature party leader Harpal Singh Cheema is, however, dismissive of the PDA.  “Disgruntled elements in different parties float such outfits overnight before the elections for short-term gains.  They can’t harm the AAP,” he said.  The AAP, which fared abysmally in the two assembly and Lok Sabha by-elections and panchyat polls in the past two years, is not just banking on showcasing the Delhi model, particularly the achievements of the Kejriwal government in health and education sectors, but also the failure of the Congress government in fulfilling many of its poll promises. ADVANTAGE CONGRESS The breakaway groups have dented the AAP and the SAD, setting the stage for multi-cornered contests that may play out to the advantage of the Congress, with grabbed 38. 5% of the votes in the 2017 assembly elections.  The party also won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha and Shahkot assembly by-elections, municipal and panchayat polls by huge margins in the past two years.  The Congress is counting as much on its government’s farm loan waiver and crackdown against gangsters and terror modules as its state leaders’ ability to rival Akalis on the Panthic pitch.  Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar said the Modi government neglected Punjab by ignoring requests for settlement of Rs 31,000-crore food credit account debt or announce industrial package for border areas.  “We will also focus on demonetisation and GST [Goods and Services Tax] that wrecked the MSME [micro, small and medium enterprises] sector and resulted in large-scale loss of jobs,” he added.


Assam reported 2,534 COVID-19 cases today, taking total cases to 1,38,339 including 1,05,701 recoveries, 32,205 active cases and 430 deaths: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma https://t.co/o4W3Kt6N7x

Sep 08, 2021-Wednesday

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250 fresh cases push Meghalaya’s Covid-19 tally to nearly 3,50029 fresh cases push Andaman's Covid-19 tally to 3,494Andhra Pradesh reports 9,999 new Covid-19 casesOver 2 million Covid-19 tests done in Delhi so farGreece's Covid-19 death toll mounts to 300Maharashtra’s Covid-19 tally crosses 1 million-mark29 Delhi MLAs get tested for Covid ahead of assembly's special session on MondayUttarakhand logs 995 fresh Covid-19 cases, tally rises to 29,221185 fresh cases push Maharashtra Police's Covid-19 tally to over 18,000Covid-19 spiking in Eastern EuropeJ-K's Covid-19 tally crosses 50,000-mark4,266 cases in last 24 hrs push Delhi’s Covid-19 tally to over 209,000Bengal BJP chief says 'Corona is over',  TMC asks him to visit a doctor109 fresh cases push Manipur's Covid-19 tally to nearly 7,600Union minister of State for Railways, Suresh Angadi tests positive for Covid-19According to the Union health ministry's dashboard, India on Friday logged 96,551 cases and 1,029 deaths due to the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which pushed the tally and death toll to 4,562,414 and 76,271 respectively. Maharashtra's Covid-19 on Friday tally crossed the one million-mark on Friday after 24,886 fresh cases and 393 related-fatalities were added.  The total cases include 2,71566 active cases, over 715,000 recoveries and 28,724 deaths. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageIndia is considering Russia’s proposal for conducting the third phase of clinical trials and manufacturing of its vaccine Sputnik V by firms in the country, Niti Aayog member Vinod Paul said.  Sputnik V is the world’s first Covid vaccine to be approved by a government, after it received regulatory clearance from Russia on August 11. Worldwide there are 28,312,894 coronavirus cases and 913,076 confirmed deaths, according to worldometer. Read highlights here:250 fresh cases push Meghalaya’s Covid-19 tally to nearly 3,500Five more people died due to Covid-19 in Meghalaya, raising the toll in the northeastern state to 24, a senior official said on Friday.  At least 250 people tested positive for the disease since Thursday, which pushed the tally to 3,447, he said, reports PTI. 29 fresh cases push Andaman's Covid-19 tally to 3,494As many as 29 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Andaman and Nicobar, pushing the total number of cases to 3,494 which includes 286 active cases, 51 deaths, reports ANI. 29 new #COVID19 cases reported in Andaman and Nicobar taking the total number of cases to 3,494 including 51 deaths and 286 active cases: Andaman and Nicobar Administration pic. twitter. com/ENl8VIs2ItAndhra Pradesh reports 9,999 new Covid-19 casesA total of 9,999 new COVID-19 cases and 77 deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh on Friday.  The state's count of coronavirus cases has gone up to 547,686, reports ANI. Over 2 million Covid-19 tests done in Delhi so farThe number of Covid-19 tests conducted so far has crossed the 20 lakh-mark in the national capital which has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases, according to Delhi government's health bulletin, reports PTI. Greece's Covid-19 death toll mounts to 300Greece's death toll from the novel coronavirus hit 300 on Friday, the state health agency said, as the total number of infections topped 12,700, reports AFP. Maharashtra’s Covid-19 tally crosses 1 million-markMaharashtra's Covid-19 on Friday tally crossed the one million-mark on Friday after 24,886 fresh cases and 393 related-fatalities were added.  The total cases include 271,566 active cases, over 715,000 recoveries and 28,724 deaths, reports ANI. 29 Delhi MLAs get tested for Covid ahead of assembly's special session on MondayTwenty-nine Delhi MLAs on Friday underwent COVID-19 tests at a temporary testing centre set up at the assembly complex here ahead of a one-day special session to be held on September 14, reports PTI. Uttarakhand logs 995 fresh Covid-19 cases, tally rises to 29,221Uttarakhand's Covid-19 tally climbed to 29,221 on Friday with 995 fresh cases, while the death toll mounted to 388 as 11 more patients succumbed to the disease, a state health department bulletin said, reports PTI. 185 fresh cases push Maharashtra Police's Covid-19 tally to over 18,000A total of 185 Maharashtra police personnel were detected with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the infection count in the force to 18,405, of which 185 have succumbed so far, an official said on Friday, reports PTI. Covid-19 spiking in Eastern EuropeThe number of new confirmed coronavirus cases spiked Friday in parts of eastern Europe, with Hungary and the Czech Republic registering all-time daily highs, reports AP. J-K's Covid-19 tally crosses 50,000-markJammu and Kashmir reported 1,578 new Covid-19 cases, taking the tally to 50,712 on Friday, while nine more deaths in the last 24 hours pushed the union territory's death toll to 854, officials said.  Of the fresh Covid-19 cases, 808 were detected in Jammu region and 770 in the Kashmir valley, the added, , reports PTI. 4,266 cases in last 24 hrs push Delhi’s Covid-19 tally to over 209,000As many as 4,266 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Delhi, taking the national capital's tally to 209,748 which includes 26,907 active cases, 178,154 recoveries/discharges and 4,687 deaths, the Delhi government said, reports ANI. Delhi reports 4,266 new #COVID19 cases and 21 deaths in last 24 hours; 2754 recovered/discharged/migrated.  Total cases in the national capital rise to 2,09,748 including 4,687 deaths and 1,78,154 recovered/discharged/migrated.  Active cases 26,907: Government of Delhi pic. twitter. com/rXhJZTvnJABengal BJP chief says 'Corona is over',  TMC asks him to visit a doctorWest Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh has claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic is over but chief minister Mamata Banerjee is imposing lockdown and other restrictions in West Bengal only to stop BJP from organising public meetings before the assembly polls due next year.  The TMC mocked Ghosh's remarks and asked him to visit a doctor, reports PTI.  109 fresh cases push Manipur's Covid-19 tally to nearly 7,600As many as 109 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Manipur, taking the total number of cases in the state to 7,579 which includes 1,533 active cases, over 6,000 recoveries and 44 deaths, reports ANI. Manipur records 109 new #COVID19 positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 7,579 including 44 deaths, 6,002 recoveries & 1,533 active cases: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/10PD8tiYNOUnion minister of State for Railways, Suresh Angadi tests positive for Covid-19Union minister of State for Railways, Suresh Angadi tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) on Friday.  Through a tweet, he requested all those who came in contact with him to get tested in case of any symptoms.  I have tested #Covid19 positive today.  I am doing fine.  Taking the advise of doctors. Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms.  @PMOIndiaFirst published: Sep 11, 2020 05:01 IST


Himachal Pradesh: Two injured, two rescued as landslide hits two vehicles on Kullu-Lag valley route, in Kullu district https://t.co/lrw5HsHC2z

Hundred of tourists stuck in a landslide in Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district have been rescued, a district official said Saturday. The tourists in about 60 vehicles had been stuck after a landslide near the Point Five area Friday evening, he said. A rescue team was sent at the spot soon after information about them being stuck there was received, he said adding that all tourists were rescued safely after one-and-a-half hour operation. Baijnath Sub-divisional Magistrate Rameshwar Dass said, “The rescue team led by Special Area Development Authority supervisor Ranvijay cleared the blocked road in one-and-a-half-hour. ” DSP Baijnath has been asked to deploy police personnel on Billing road, he added.


Delhi: Dr. Jitendra Singh takes charge as the Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office. #UnionCabinet https://t.co/5FDIQ0YaPe

Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister for a second term on Thursday at the head of a 25-member cabinet in which he enlisted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and close confidant Amit Shah, dropped several key members of the outgoing government and attempted to accommodate most partners in the ruling coalition, but failed to convince key ally Nitish Kumar to join his new ministerial council. Also read: Amit Shah gets home ministry, Rajnath Singh defence in PM Modi’s new cabinetThe new cabinet held its first meeting in the evening today and the allocation of portfolios has also been done. Catch the highlights here:Union minister Narendra Tomar rubbishes away claims that allowance for farmers is ‘too less’. The Union minister urged state governments to send consolidated lists of farmers who are eligible for the allowance.  ‘Budget to be presented on July 5, economic survey to be released on July 4th’: Union minister Prakash JavadekarUnion minister announces pension for small and medium enterprises, who do not come under GST and have a turnover of lower than Rs 1. 5 crore, says Union minister Prakash Javadekar.  He says, more than 5 crore farmers will benefit, and unorganised sector workers to shall reap the benefits of this farmer. Union minister Prakash Javadekar addresses the media after cabinet meetUnion Minister Javadekar announces Centre’s plan for vaccination of livestock and at animal husbandry based small and medium enterprises.  He further adds that State Governments have to send a consolidated list and Centre shall take care of release of funds.  Union minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar addresses the mediaMinister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar confirms pension for farmers above 65 years of age. Union Ministers leave after first cabinet meeting ends.  Cabinet briefing to be held at Shastri Bhawan shortly. Union ministers Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal and Rajnath Singh leave after cabinet meeting. Delhi: Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan and Piyush Goyal leave after #UnionCabinet meeting.  pic. twitter. com/2mM2KXHPRoFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leaves after cabinet meetingDelhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leaves after #UnionCabinet meeting.  pic. twitter. com/VTck5MKi2mRavi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and Giriraj Singh greet each other after first cabinet meetingUnion ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and Giriraj Singh share a light moment after first cabinet meeting.  First cabinet briefing to follow soon. Delhi: Visuals of Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Giriraj Singh after Cabinet meeting.  #UnionCabinet pic. twitter. com/KgVydlK8UQPM Modi’s cabinet takes its first decision after cabinet meetingPM’s scholarship scheme goes through major changes.  Wards of police personnel who were martyred in terror or Maoist attacks will receive enhanced scholarships. Our Government’s first decision dedicated to those who protect India!  Major changes approved in PM’s Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund including enhanced scholarships for wards of police personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks.  https://t. co/Vm90BD77hm pic. twitter. com/iXhFNlBCIcPrime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the cabinet meetingOther ministers have also arrived for the first cabinet meet after PM Narendra Modi’s successful re-election.  Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the #UnionCabinet meeting.  pic. twitter. com/PGFJ3VS8geMinister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman has also arrived for the first cabinet meet.  Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh arrive for the #UnionCabinet meeting.  pic. twitter. com/KSnfkLPaV7Dr.  Jitendra Singh takes charge as Minister of State, Prime Minister’s OfficeHe was previously assigned with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region from 2014-2019Delhi: Dr.  Jitendra Singh takes charge as the Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office.  #UnionCabinet pic. twitter. com/5FDIQ0YaPePM Modi gets ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions and department of atomic energyIn the new cabinet, Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister and also in-charge of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space; and all important policy issues; and all other portfolios not allocated to any minister. Dharmendra Pradhan takes chargeUnion minister Dharmendra Pradhan today took charge of petroleum and natural gas ministry and steel ministry.  Gajendra Singh Shekhawat takes charge as minister for Jal ShaktiGajendra Singh Shekhawat has taken charge as the minister for Jal Shakti, at Shram Shakti Bhavan, in New Delhi. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank takes chargeRamesh Pokhriyal Nishank took charge as Human Resource Development minister.  Prahlad Singh Patel, minister of state (Independent Charge) of the ministry of culture, will assume office on Monday.  Nirmala Sitharaman takes charge as finance ministerNirmala Sitharaman has taken charge as finance minister in PM Modi’s new cabinet.  Mahendra Nath Pandey is minister of skill development and entrepreneurshipMahendra Nath Pandey has been appointed as the minister of skill development and entrepreneurship in the new cabinet.  Pandey, who served as a Union minister of state (MoS) in the Ministry of Human Resource Development between 2016 and 2017, was given the responsibility of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit in 2017 after the party’s massive win in the assembly elections. Pralhad Joshi to head three ministriesPralhad Joshi will take charge as minister of parliamentary affairs; minister of coal; and minister of mines in the new cabinet.  Arvind Sawant gets minister of heavy industries and public enterpriseIn PM’s new cabinet, Arvind Ganpat Sawant has been appointed as the minister of heavy industries and public enterprise.  Harsh Vardhan is health ministerHarsh Vardhan has been appointed as the health minister in the new cabinet.  In the recently concluded general elections, Vardhan defeated Congress candidate Jai Prakash Agarwal by a margin of 2,28,145 votes. In 2014, he had won the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat defeating Congress’ Kapil Sibal, who was then the Union Minister of Law and Justice. Prakash Javadekar to head two ministriesIn the new NDA government, Prakash Javadekar will take charge as minister of environment, forest and climate change; and minister of information and broadcasting.  Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ to head HRD ministryIn PM Modi’s new cabinet Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ will be taking charge of Human Resource Development ministry, while Narendra Singh Tomar will be minister of agriculture and farmers welfare; minister of Rural development; and minister of panchayati raj.  Harsimrat Kaur Badal retains ministry of food processing industriesHarsimrat Kaur Badal has been assigned as the in-charge of ministry of food processing industries.  Wife of Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal and daughter-in-law of five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, she retained the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat for a third consecutive term. Ravi Shankar Prasad to head three ministriesRavi Shankar Prasad has been appointed as minister of law and justice; minister of communications; and minister of electronics and information technology. Made a minister in the Modi government when it came to power in 2014, he held various key portfolios including communications, information technology, and law and justice. Dharmendra Pradhan is minister of petroleum and natural gas; and minister of steelDharmendra Pradhan has been appointed as minister of petroleum and natural Gas; and minister of steel in PM Narendra Modi’s new cabinetPradhan, who held important portfolios like Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development in the previous NDA government, was the prominent face of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in just concluded Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Odisha. Piyush Goyal to head commerce ministryIn PM Modi’s new cabinet, Piyush Goyal will head the Commerce ministry apart from Railways, the communiqué said. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi retains ministry of minority affairsAs portfolio of PM Modi’s new cabinet has been announced, Rajya Sabha member Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi amd Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has been assigned charge of ministry of minority affairs.  He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998, and subsequently given the post of Minister of State of Information and Broadcasting in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.  He was given additional charge of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs from 2001 to 2003. From 2003 to 2008, Naqvi served as a member of Haj Committee, and from March 2003 to February 2004, as Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Functioning of Wakf Boards. He became Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs on May 26, 2014 in Narendra Modi government.  Later in July 2016, he got independent charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Ramvilas Paswan appointed minister of consumer affairs, food and public distributionIn PM Modi’s new cabinet, Ramvilas Paswan has been given charge of minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution. Paswan has been a Union Minister since the mid-90s except for brief spells.  He was the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from 2014. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank gets education ministryFormer Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has been appointed education minister in place of Prakash Javadekar who gets Environment as well as Information and Broadcasting. Sadananda Gowda appointed minister of chemicals and fertilizersD. V.  Sadananda Gowda has been appointed as Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers.  he was the statistics and programme implementation minister in the previous cabinet.  Nitin Gadkari retains road transport ministryIn PM Modi’s new cabinet, Nitin Gadkari has retained the road transport ministry, Smriti Irani who had made a mark in the Lok Sabha elections by defeating Rahul Gandhi in the Congress bastion of Amethi has been given Women and Child Development, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank the education minister and Prakash Javdekar the minister for Information and Broadcasting. S Jaishankar is new external affairs ministerThe portfolios for PM Modi’s cabinet were announced on Friday.  S Jaishankar has been announced as the new external affairs minister.  S Jaishankar is widely acknowledged as the surprise entry in PM Modi’s team.  He was part of a troika with Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that shaped foreign policy in the early years of the previous Modi government.  Finance goes to Nirmala SitharamanIn PM Narendra Modi’s new cabinet, Nirmala Sitharaman has been appointed as the Finance Minister in Prime, according to a Rashtrapati Bhawan communiqué. Amit Shah gets home ministry, Rajnath Singh defenceAmit Shah, the big entry in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s freshly-minted Cabinet, has been given the Home Ministry, Rajnath Singh has been moved to Defence Ministry.


Delhi: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhawan. https://t.co/sCYW8Uecej

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The special Air India flight carrying 263 Indian students that took off from Rome landed at Delhi airport at 9.15 AM today. All 263 evacuees to be taken to ITBP Chhawla Quarantine Facility in Delhi, after thermal screening and immigration at the airport. #Coronavirus https://t.co/Nm7jdnrG2D

An Air India special flight carrying 263 Indians evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Italy’s capital city of Rome, landed at the Delhi airport on Sunday morning . The evacuees -- mostly students -- will be taken to an Indo-Tibetan Border Police-managed quarantine facility in Chhawla shortly after undergoing thermal screening and immigration at the airport.  “The passengers are being handled at the isolation bay — far away from other terminals and would be taken out from a separate gate for compulsory quarantine”, a Delhi airport official said. Delhi Customs continue to provide its assistance in clearance of the 263 passengers from Rome at the remote bay at the airport.  All precautions being exercised and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling passengers being followed.  #COVID19 https://t. co/0qZvARpQ7GThe national transporter had on Saturday deployed a Boeing 777 with 12 crew members to rescue stranded Indian citizens in Rome, Italy, amid the Covid-19 outbreak. “The relief flight AI 1122 from Rome landed at 9. 16am in Delhi with 263 passengers on board.  A big salute to our gallant crew and ground staff,” Air India officials said. “The crew members had been provided with hazmat suits for safety,” one of the officials added.  Centre may need to deploy another flight as more than 500 are estimated to be stranded in Italy at the moment. This is the second batch of Indians evacuated from Italy.  Earlier, as many as 218 Indians were evacuated from the Italian city of Milan. 263 Indian students & compassionate cases departed for India by special AI flight from Rome fulfilling our commitment to ensure their safe return home.  Sincere 🙏 to @airindiain & Italian authorities @DrSJaishankar @harshvshringla @MEAIndia @PMOIndia pic. twitter. com/RmdxdKqfKHMeanwhile, Italy on Sunday announced its biggest day-to-day increase of infections, which rose by 6,600 with nearly 800 new fatalities from the virus that causes COVID-19.  The country’s total death toll of more than 4,825 has surpassed the number of deaths in China, where the first cases emerged late last year.


West Bengal: PM Narendra Modi arrives at Purulia where he will address a public rally shortly.

#WestBengalElections2021 https://t.co/rR8MKmS2zT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public rallies in West Bengal and Assam on Thursday.  The events, to be held at 11am and 3pm respectively, are a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign in the two poll-bound states. A day before the event, the PM said that the BJP's agenda of good governance was striking a chord among the people of West Bengal and there was a desire for a change in the state. Click here for full coverage on Legislative Assembly election"Glad to be getting the opportunity to be among my sisters and brothers of West Bengal tomorrow, 18th March.  I would be addressing a rally in Purulia.  Across West Bengal, there is a desire for change.  BJP's agenda of good governance is striking a chord among the people," he tweeted. In another tweet, PM said, "Will be in Assam tomorrow, 18th March.  Looking forward to being among the people of this great state during the rally in Karimganj.  Assam has witnessed positive changes across various sectors over the last 5 years.  NDA seeks people's blessings to continue the development agenda. "While the BJP seeks to put an end to the 10-year rule of the Trinamool Congress' (TMC) in Bengal, it is campaigning to retain power in Assam. Election to the 294 seats in legislative assembly of West Bengal will take place between March 27 and April 29 in 8 phases, while Assam goes to election from March 27 to April 6 in three phases.  The results will be announced on May 2.


BREAKING: Joe Biden will win the state of Vermont, @ABC News projects based on analysis of the vote. https://t.co/GwwRl4EUb3 #ElectionNight https://t.co/mO5gqK4uZX

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Mahtani and Amanda Wills, CNNOur live coverage has moved.  Go here for the latest results and news from the election. From CNN's Allison GordonResults from Milwaukee have flipped Wisconsin to Joe Biden, who has a lead in the state right now, CNN's Phil Mattingly says. Earlier, the city of Milwaukee's absentee ballot information was delivered with a police escort, CNN's Ryan Young reported. "When they have those three officers walking with them, you understand the importance of the event," Young told CNN's Chris Cuomo. The election is far from over with millions of votes still outstanding in key states, including in battleground Wisconsin. Joe Biden will win Hawaii, CNN projects. There are four electoral votes at stake in Hawaii.  It takes 270 electoral votes to win the 2020 presidential election. Who won in 2016: Former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton carried the state, and President Trump won the general election. From CNN's Josiah Ryan Republican insiders are crediting a $300 million get-out-out the vote effort organized by the Trump campaign and allies for narrowing the gap in many states, CNN's Ryan Nobles reported early this morning.  "Republicans are talking about. . .  the ground game that the Republican National Committee and the Trump Victory Organization put into place shortly after President Trump was inaugurated," said Nobles. Nobles reported on Friday that the campaign had spent more than $300 million on a data and ground operation and less on television and digital advertising in the final leg of the campaign.  "They firmly believe that that ground game was going to be a big part in narrowing the gap, in many of these key states and they're now saying that we're seeing that play out in realtime as these votes come," added Nobles.  From CNN's MJ LeeJoe Biden's campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon issued a strongly worded statement following President Trump's White House speech, calling it "outrageous, unprecedented, and incorrect. " O’Malley Dillon went on to say that "the counting will not stop. ”From CNN's Maeve Reston and Stephen CollinsonVotes are still being counted in several key states across the US, and no winner has been determined in the presidential election. If you're just reading in, here's what you need to know about the race:From CNN's Leinz ValesBenjamin L.  Ginsberg, a longtime Republican election lawyer who co-chaired the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, said Wednesday that President Trump should “let all the votes be counted,” following his attacks on legitimate vote counting efforts. “If you have objections to either the particular ballots or to the process, then you have remedies after the fact from each state individual contests laws or recount laws if the margins are close enough,” Ginsberg told CNN’s Jake Tapper during CNN’s special election coverage.  Hear Ginsberg explain: From CNN’s Mark MoralesPhiladelphia won’t have an updated number on mail-in ballots until 9 a. m.  on Wednesday, said Lisa Deeley, head of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, which is a bipartisan board of elected officials in charge of elections and voter registration. Election officials are waiting on in-person voting numbers to be reported by some individual precincts and ingested into their system before they can report the number of mail-in ballots, Deeley said.  “That’s just the configuration of our system,” said Deeley, adding that it was a reporting issue, not mechanical. The delay in in-person results from the field are slowing down the reports, particularly in West Philadelphia, Deeley said “We are counting, we have been counting, we are going to continue counting until it's done,” Deeley said.  “We’re just waiting for the rest of the in-person results to come in from voting machines. ”Another update with mail-in votes will come at 9 a. m. , Deeley said. As of 1:10 a. m.  ET, with 1,598 of 1,703 divisions reporting, former Vice President Joe Biden has received 73. 3% of the city’s votes, and President Trump has received 25. 67% of the city’s vote. From CNN's Allison GordonBased on CNN's current projections, Joe Biden has 220 electoral votes while Donald Trump has 213 electoral votes. Here's the latest look at where things stand:Reminder: Each candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro says that  Pres. Trump is sending 2 million tablets of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine. https://t.co/tIXlF2vQQy https://t.co/Dj0zHp6BGz

By Donie O'Sullivan, CNN BusinessUpdated 1543 GMT (2343 HKT) May 28, 2020 New York (CNN Business)For years, Twitter (TWTR) and Facebook (FB) have enjoyed a healthy rivalry: They've competed for acquisitions, talent and advertising dollars, and sometimes gone so far as to copy each others' features in the never-ending pursuit to grow their audiences.  Betsy Klein and Seth Fiegerman contributed to this report.