Maharashtra Government has issued a list of activities that will be allowed and not allowed in different zones of the state. #COVID19Lockdown https://t.co/5IgZmA8jhq https://t.co/cyTEpAhn7m

Data and science, I wrote in this column a few weeks ago, are the only two things needed to fight the coronavirus disease — and establishments around the world have always had an uneasy relationship with both. I was reminded of this after The New York Times reported that the US federal government has ordered hospitals to stop sending Covid-19 patient information to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and instead send it to a central database.  The piece added that “the move has alarmed health experts who fear that the data will be politicised or withheld from the public”. Also read: Covid-19 rapid antigen tests high on accuracy, but protocols crucialAround the world, governments and provincial and local administrations are being feted or faulted for the number of Covid-19 cases and the number of deaths in their countries, states, cities, even districts.  This is understandable — the number of new cases and the spread of infections are directly related to how well administrations manage to enforce the wearing of masks and social distancing, and their effectiveness in testing and tracing; and the number of deaths depends on access to and quality of health care. As the number of cases in the US rises (the average new cases for the past week was around 60,000 a day) in an election year, it is understandable that the Trump administration wants to control the data.  Understandable, but still not correct. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage Closer home, states that aren’t testing enough are equally at fault.  Among large states (with a population in excess of 50 million), the states that perform the worst in terms of number of people tested for Covid-19 for every million of the population are Bihar (2,737 per million), Uttar Pradesh (5,144 per million), Madhya Pradesh (6,344 per million), West Bengal (6,589 per million), and Gujarat (7,035 per million).  The national average is 9,313, and all other states with a population in excess of 50 million test more than that.  If the states don’t test enough, they won’t show enough cases, and the thinking is that this makes them look good.  That it may — but only in the short-term.  Six months after the pandemic began (though the World Health Organization dragged its feet, declaring it as a pandemic only on March 11), and nearly four months after I started writing this column, it can be safely said that when it comes to Covid-19, there is no such thing as an exception.  If the data is too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. Every country, and every region within a country, invariably traverses the same trajectory of infections.  It may not when it comes to deaths, because that is also a function of health care, and there may be other factors at play — such as the BCG vaccine, which research, including a very interesting Indian study, has shown to provide some kind of protection from Covid-19 (HT has reported this extensively).  Also read: 99 doctors have died fighting Covid 19, IMA sounds ‘Red Alert’The only lucky break anyone can catch is probabilistic — the disease doesn’t infect everyone exposed to it, and everyone infected by it does not transmit it.  All of this adds up to just one thing — if every state in India were to test at the same level, the number of infections they find per million of the population should fall within a range.  If it doesn’t, there are other factors at play. With deaths beginning to come under control across India, the two key parameters to watch are the tests per million and the positivity rate. The chart accompanying this column shows how large states (population in excess of 50 million) perform when mapped against this — in a classic matrix of the kind that consultants love.  States that are housed in the first quadrant (low testing and low positivity rate) are the ones India should be worrying about the most.  States that are in the third quadrant (high testing and high positivity rate; Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra) will all eventually enter the fourth one (high testing and low positivity rate) signalling that they have travelled the course of the pandemic.  The caveat (there is always one): it is important that states traverse the trajectory in terms of positivity rates as they increase testing.  That means Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, which are already in the fourth quadrant, have to be evaluated against this metric.  It also means a weekly snapshot of average daily tests and average positivity rates may provide states with a good dashboard to measure their progress.


Inside the U.S. Army's 24/7 lab working to develop a unique coronavirus vaccine: https://t.co/DarfLDiXWg

By Jim Acosta and Paul LeBlanc, CNNUpdated 6:56 PM ET, Wed April 29, 2020  (CNN)The Trump administration is launching a project to accelerate the development of a potential coronavirus vaccine, a senior administration official said Wednesday. CNN's Robert Kuznia contributed to this report.


Dick Dale, known as the "King of Surf Guitar," has died at age 81, former bandmate confirms. https://t.co/OLYJkKWHi0 https://t.co/2RQaP0FZyV

    Guitarist Dick Dale, whose fast, thunderous sound pioneered the California “surf rock” genre of the early 1960s and gained a new generation of fans decades later through its appearance in “Pulp Fiction,” has died.  He was 81.

    His death was confirmed by two former bandmates, bassist Sam Bolle and drummer Dusty Watson, who told CNN Dale died Saturday night.  Watson said Dale had been hospitalized recently for “issues related to his heart. ”

    Dale had a “wet,” reverb-heavy guitar sound that evoked crashing waves and sought to echo the sounds he played in his mind while surfing, according to the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame.  His singular, staccato picking drew upon Middle Eastern music (his father was Lebanese) and influenced the Beach Boys, the Ventures and other surf-rock artists of the era.

    His best-known song, 1962’s “Miserlou” (sometimes spelled “Misirlou”), was an adaptation of an early-19th century Middle Eastern instrumental folk tune.  In Dale’s hands it became a furious rave-up that packed dance floors – and has had a long life in pop culture.

    Quentin Tarantino used it over the opening credits of “Pulp Fiction,” giving the song a new veneer of retro cool, and the Black Eyed Peas sampled it prominently in “Pump It,” their 2006 hit.  That same year the song also appeared in a “Guitar Hero” video game.

    Dale’s early fame and impact brought him the nickname, “King of the Surf Guitar. ”

    “I’m sorry to hear about Dick Dale passing.  Dick’s guitar playing was a big influence on all of us, and we covered ‘Misirlou’ on our Surfin’ USA album in ‘63,” Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson said on Twitter.
  I’m sorry to hear about Dick Dale passing.  Dick’s guitar playing was a big influence on all of us, and we covered “Misirlou” on our Surfin’ USA album in ‘63.  Love & Mercy to Dick’s family.  pic. twitter. com/QPd2wzo7zBDick Dale, who will forever remain a guitar God.  May his spirit rest in peace.  We will meet again brother.  pic. twitter. com/tf77lcQGWy
    Dale was born Richard Anthony Monsour in Boston but moved to Southern California as a teenager and quickly discovered surfing.

    He and his band the Del-Tones began playing weekend gigs in the late 1950s at the Rendezvous Ballroom in the seaside Balboa neighborhood of Newport Beach.  He played a Fender Stratocaster guitar and used a customized Fender amp to develop his signature thick sound and ear-shredding volume.

    Dale’s “Let’s Go Trippin,’” first played in 1961, is viewed by many as the first-ever surf rock song.  His debut album, “Surfers’ Choice,” came out in 1962 and earned him appearances on Ed Sullivan’s show and in “Beach Party,” the 1963 Frankie Avalon-Annette Funicello movie.

    Dale’s later career was interrupted repeatedly by health problems.  He had recurring battles with rectal cancer and toured into his 80s to help pay his medical bills.

    “I want to thank all my music lovers for supporting me these last 3 months with your wonderful heartfelt letters praying for my speedy recovery as I battle this demon that attacks so many other friends and their loved ones,” he wrote on his website in 2008.  “For now, no touring for a while. ”

    But Dale returned to the road and was still performing as recently as December.

    Watson, his former drummer, called Dale “the creator of an entire genre of Southern California indigenous music – not by him, but by his fans who were surfers – a new craze that had taken over the beaches up and down the coast. ”

    Watson said Dale was a gracious performer who would stay for hours after each show talking to fans and signing autographs.  Onstage, he said, Dale was “a true force of nature … delivering a punch that would ricochet off the back wall and punch us all in the chest. ”

    Bolle, the bassist, said Dale’s wife Lana was with him when he died.

    “He taught me to live your life the way you want to live it.  He definitely did that with vigor and ferociousness of spirit,” Bolle said.  “I’m so happy and stoked that he was able to entertain and bring joy to people’s lives as long as he did. ”

  CNN’s Stella Chan contributed to this story.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Tamil Nadu: AIADMK MLA, MSR Rajavarman joins AMMK in the presence of TTV Dhinakaran in Chennai. https://t.co/jk0zFT7K5M

A match made in heaven goes the adage and a Madurai couple decided to seal their special bond of love by getting married in the sky! The couple booked an entire chartered flight and flew from Madurai to Bengaluru while the wedding ceremony was held mid-air.  Relatives and guests were the other passengers on the flight. In a video of the event that has gone viral on the internet the groom is seen tying the mangalsutra, and getting photographed with his new bride.  The photographer in one shot encourages them to smile for the camera. #Watch ‘@flyspicejet Marriage flight’ took off from Madurai at 7 am on Sunday.  “The flight was air-bound for two hours and the couple tied the knot when the aircraft was hovering over the Meenakshi Amman temple,” flight got approval from the authorities.  #avgeeks #MaskUpIndia pic. twitter. com/yEVAB5L49tOthers are also seen standing behind the couple and there are also visuals of the inside of the aircraft with people sitting and enjoying the function.  Most of them were seen without face masks and not observing Covid-19 protocols. Officials say they were not aware of the mid-air marriage. A couple tied the knot on-board a chartered flight from Madurai, Tamil Nadu.  Their relatives & guests were on the same flight. "A SpiceJet chartered flight was booked y'day from Madurai.  Airport Authority officials unaware of the mid-air marriage ceremony," says Airport Director pic. twitter. com/wzMCyMKt5m"A SpiceJet chartered flight was booked yesterday from Madurai.  Airport Authority officials were unaware of the mid-air marriage ceremony", informed Madurai Airport Director, S Senthil Valavan. As per the visuals, the flight seemed to be full capacity. In social media videos the bride wearing a saree is bedecked with flowers and jewellery and the groom is also dressed in traditional south Indian attire.


Delhi: Campa Cola street and F-313 & F-274 Lado Sarai under South district have been added to the list of COVID19 containment zones; the total number of containment zones in the city is 89 https://t.co/HduZUnFoS2

Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday reported 20 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total count in the UT to 427, officials said. Government spokesperson Rohit Kansal tweeted: “20 new cases reported today.  One from Jammu division and 19 from Kashmir.  Total count now 427— Jammu has 57 cases and Kashmir 370. ”Officials said of the new cases, 18 were confirmed at SKIMS laboratory in Srinagar, one each at CD hospital and Udhampur command hospital. In Kashmir, nine fresh infections were reported from Shopian, four in Kupwara, three in Baramulla, two in Bandipora and one Budgam district. So far, the UT has witnessed five deaths—four from Kashmir and one from Udhampur. Kashmiri businessman tests positive, shifted to Jammu hospitalA businessman from Kashmir tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.  He was among eight persons who were clandestinely trying to reach Valley in a truck but were caught in Ramban.  He was shifted to the government medical college and hospital in Jammu while others have been quarantined. However, in a major lapse, the patient had visited a shop adjoining Doda district hospital where he had given his samples on April 21. Ramban district commissioner Nazim Zai Khan said, “The man along with others were headed to Kashmir in a truck.  They had started from Delhi and then boarded a Kashmir bound truck but all of them were intercepted at Batote on April 16 and were kept in administrative quarantine. ”According to Batote tehsildar Mehboob Khan, three policemen including a head constable of Batote Police Station and a cook, who were attending these eight men in administrative quarantine, have also been sent to a quarantine centre in Batote.


CNN PROJECTION: Joe Biden wins Hawaii https://t.co/HZfVrHbzTJ #CNNElection https://t.co/Oi1tNgFLo5

The president-elect emphasized how he would handle the pandemic response. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris deliver 1st message of unity after historic winJoe Biden is set to become the 46th president of the United States, capping a tumultuous and tension-filled campaign during a historic pandemic against President Donald Trump.  ABC News characterized Joe Biden as the apparent winner of his home state of Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 vote threshold needed to capture the presidency. The hard-fought battle against the president was set against the backdrop of racial unrest and the coronavirus pandemic and bitter divisions among the electorate. Trump had falsely declared on election night, when he held a lead in several key states, that he won the contest and alleged without evidence, after the count started to swing the other way, that the election was being stolen from him and that fraud had been committed. Painting the election as a "battle for the soul of the nation," Biden won on a message of unity over division, compassion over anger, and reality over what he called Trump's "wishful thinking" as the coronavirus pandemic cast a heavy shadow over the campaign. The 2020 election has shattered voting records with votes totaling 147 million and counting, surpassing the 138 million who voted in 2016. A Justice Department official confirmed Monday evening that Richard Pilger, a career official who was serving as director of the Elections Crimes Branch, has resigned from his role in the division because of the attorney general's memo authorizing U. S.  attorneys to "pursue substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities," despite little evidence surfacing thus far of any widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Pilger has stepped back into a role in the DOJ's Public Integrity Section. The New York Times reported that Pilger wrote to colleagues in an email this evening, "Having familiarized myself with the new policy and its ramifications, I must regretfully resign from my role as director of the Election Crimes Branch. ”A DOJ spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Pilger's resignation. When ABC News sought a response from Pilger, an automatic reply to the email said, "I am no longer the Director of the Election Crimes Branch, and have stepped back to the line at the Public Integrity Section. "-ABC News' Alexander MallinThe Biden transition team will not receive full intelligence briefings until the General Services Administration officially "ascertains" the former vice president to be winner of the presidential election, according to a statement from the Office of Director of National Intelligence on Monday. "ODNI follows the statutory direction provided in the Presidential Transition Act, which requires ascertainment of the candidate by the administrator of GSA prior to supporting a potential presidential transition.  ODNI would not have contact with any transition team until notified by the GSA Administrator," an ODNI spokesperson said in a statement. Meanwhile, outside government watchdogs are already warning that a continued delay in briefings could carry grave national security implications for the incoming administration. Aaron Scherb, the legal director at Common Cause, told ABC News on Monday that the "petty and unproductive" decision by GSA to withhold key resources to the Biden transition could have the "potential for catastrophic results. " "By GSA not signing off on this, there is certainly some classified intelligence information that the incoming administration would not have access to -- and would potentially not be fully prepared on day one to be able to counteract ongoing efforts from our adversaries like all previous incoming administrations have," Scherb said. "If the Biden transition team doesn't have access to some of the documents and information," he continued, "there are national security concerns. "-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Lucien BruggemanAttorney General William Barr sent a memo to U. S.  attorneys Monday evening authorizing them to "pursue substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities," despite little evidence surfacing thus far of any widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. In the memo Barr says that such inquiries "may be conducted if there are clear and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State. "But Barr emphasized in the letter that this should not be taken as the DOJ believing there was widespread fraud -- a baseless claim being made by attorneys for Trump and the RNC.  Rather, he's doling authority out to U. S.  attorneys in the event they might uncover any such credible evidence of a fraud conspiracy that might affect vote tabulations before election results are certified. "Nothing here should be taken as any indication that the Department has concluded that voting irregularities have impacted the outcome of any election," Barr wrote.  "Rather, I provide this authority and guidance to emphasize the need to timely and appropriately address allegations of voting irregularities so that all of the American people, regardless of their preferred candidate or party, can have full confidence in the results of our elections. ""While it is imperative that credible allegations be addressed in a timely and effective manner, it is equally imperative that Department personnel exercise appropriate caution and maintain the Department's absolute commitment to fairness, neutrality and non-partisanship," Barr said in the memo.  "While serious allegations should be handled with great care, specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims should not be a basis for initiating federal inquiries. "-ABC News' Alexander MallinBiden is slated to give remarks focused on the Affordable Care Act and the Trump administration's lawsuit to overturn it.  Biden will talk about his own plan "to expand access to quality, affordable health care. "The event in Wilmington, Delaware, is slated for 2 p. m. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments at 10 a. m.  in the case brought by Trump and 18 Republican-led states asking that the Affordable Care Act be eliminated in its entirety.


Joe Biden dominated across the South on Tuesday and scored some dramatic victories, setting up what increasingly looks like a two-way race between the former vice president and Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination https://t.co/q8m92UrcbH

The question that remains: Can Joe Biden maintain momentum in his comeback? Joe Biden commands Super Tuesday showdown for DemocratsAfter calling the Democratic presidential primary a two-person race over the weekend, David Plouffe, Obama's former campaign manager, said Super Tuesday's results show former Vice President Joe Biden as the "clear front-runner. ""He is now the clear front-runner just because in a delegate situation, he's got a lot more states to come where he's likely to win by big margins, which is how you win delegates," Plouffe told "Powerhouse Politics".  "[Vermont Sen. ] Bernie Sanders will win some states, but it's hard to see a place where he's going to win 2-to-1. "Recent developments have played into Biden's favor -- from a coveted Democratic endorsement by influential Rep.  Jim Clyburn to a successful South Carolina primary win, and significant endorsements by former 2020 presidential candidates: Minnesota Sen.  Amy Klobuchar, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and just on Wednesday, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Those close to the Obama administration have also come out with their support for the former vice president over the past week, such as former National Security Adviser Susan Rice  and former United Nations ambassador Samantha Power. "It's always easier in politics to get back support you once had than that you never had," Plouffe told the hosts, adding "He has one good primary night, a great one gets the Clyburn endorsement, gives a good speech.  His rivals then come off the sidelines and that sends a message to everybody who had been with him. "ABC News' poll results show that Biden had significant victories in South Carolina and at least 10 of the Super Tuesday states.  Plouffe said the message that has emerged from those victories:  "It's time to jump back into the boat . . .  with Joe Biden. "When asked by ABC News Political Deputy Director MaryAlice Parks about his former boss's hand in impacting the race, Plouffe denied that former President Barack Obama pulled any strings. "No," he told Parks.  "I mean, I by the way, I love all this talk about the Democratic establishment.  I've worked in politics for a long time.  I'd like to meet this so-called Democratic establishment. "Still, the question that remains is whether the former vice president can maintain momentum in his comeback. "You know, it's interesting to me because it's not like Biden has been a superstar performer," he said.  "He's been good since Saturday night, had a couple better debates.  And I think my question is, can he continue to do that? "He added, "My suspicion is -- knowing him a little bit -- is he's going to feel a great deal of responsibility not to let down all the people now that are throwing all of the chips into his boat. "Plouffe suggested that the upcoming debate on March 15th will be a chance to test Biden's trajectory moving forward, as it could essentially be down to two people: Biden and Sanders. "I've seen him be a good debater.  But, you know, that was a long time ago," he told the hosts.  "He hasn't shown that in a multi-candidate field.  So, you know, that debate's going to be a real test. "He noted that a two-person debate is much different than having five or six candidates, adding that he hopes it is tough in order to better prepare the Democratic candidates for what's up ahead. "I am not one that's worried about the race getting tough because ultimately what's looming on the other side is the Trump monster," Plouffe said.  "And, you know, he's going to be seven times harder than anybody in the primary field was to deal with. "With the way the rest of the 2020 race will play out, he still projected that Biden could win by large margins in upcoming states. "I think it's going to come down to a lot of people on the ground honestly doing the right thing.  And the winner has to be super gracious. "When ABC News Political Director Rick Klein asked Plouffe what percentage of likelihood he would assign to Biden winning the nomination, Plouffe said he did not know about a percentage but that "it's his race to lose. ""I think that in reality, Joe Biden is in a commanding position, assuming he can capitalize on it," he told Klein. Plouffe brought up the upcoming primaries in battleground states -- such as Georgia, Florida and Mississippi -- stating Biden should not have a problem winning by a large margin.  However, if he doesn't, the Democratic presidential race will be closer and longer, he said. "I think securing his position in the race . . .  he's got to perform well.  And so far, the last few days have been good," he added.  "But, you know, he's got to prove that day in and day out. "Plouffe, who also served as Obama's White House senior adviser, authored two recently published books:  "A Citizen's Guide to Defeating Donald Trump" and "Ripples of Hope"The central message in both books is to defeat President Donald Trump in any simple way, one of which includes unifying behind whoever is the Democratic nominee, he said. "Let's say Biden is the nominee and you were a volunteer leader for him in Michigan.  Well, you need to talk to the Bernie Sanders' people involved in that campaign and say, 'You're welcome here and I want to hear your concerns'," Plouffe said. Although he acknowledged this won't automatically happen overnight, Plouffe urged voters to seriously consider backing whoever is the potential Democratic nominee, in order to defeat Trump. "I think unification will not be at the top of the list, but it could be a pretty important contributing factor," he added.  Powerhouse Politics podcast is a weekly program that posts every Wednesday, and includes headliner interviews and in-depth looks at the people and events shaping U. S.  politics.  Powerhouse Politics podcast is hosted by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl and ABC News Political Director Rick Klein.  Special thanks to ABC News Deputy Political Director MaryAlice Parks, who joined this week as a guest host.  24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Manish Tewari, Congress on 'Facebook says removing 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress party ahead of polls': We don’t react to news reports which may just be coming in, we will have to check veracity of the report whether there are any Facebook pages which are linked to us... https://t.co/N2pUoD9Dti

Facebook Inc said on Monday it was removing 687 pages and accounts linked to India’s main opposition Congress party, just days before voting begins in a general election, because of “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” on the social media platform. The announcement marks a rare action from Facebook against a prominent political party in a country where it has more than 300 million users, the highest in the world. Facebook said its investigation found that individuals used fake accounts and joined various groups to disseminate their content and increase engagement.  Their posts included local news and criticism of political opponents such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Facebook said. “While the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell,” Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, said in a statement. Gleicher added that Facebook was removing accounts based on their behaviour, not the content they posted. WATCH: After FB removes 687 pages ‘linked to Congress’, party says it’ll ‘verify’India’s staggered election, scheduled to begin on April 11, will end on May 19. Two of the samples shared by Facebook were of posts that criticized Modi’s initiatives and called for supporting the Congress party and its president, Rahul Gandhi.  The social media giant also said it was removing 103 pages, groups and accounts, also for inauthentic behaviour, as part of a network which originated in Pakistan and was linked to employees of the Inter-Service Public Relations department of the Pakistani military. Facebook has faced increasing pressure from authorities around the world, including the Indian government, to ensure its platform is not abused for political gains or to spread misinformation, especially ahead of elections. Facebook has toughened up its rules governing political advertisements in India and many other countries to increase transparency. Last week, Facebook removed a social media network in the Philippines and took the unusual step of linking it to a businessman who said he had managed the president’s online election campaign in 2016.  It has taken similar actions recently against accounts in Russia and Iran. Separately, Facebook said it had also removed another 227 pages and 94 accounts in India for violating its policies against spam and misrepresentation.


Assam: D Krishna Kumar, a resident of Mysuru, Karnataka who has been travelling to various holy places with his 70-year-old mother on a scooter, has reached Tinsukia recently. He says,"this is ‘mathru seva sankalpa yatra’& we started this journey on January 16, 2018 from Mysuru." https://t.co/ZUvki8H5dp

Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has defended his son Akash Vijayvargiya, MLA from Indore who was arrested for beating up a civic body official, saying it was not a big issue. Akash Vijayvargiya was released on bail on Sunday morning and welcomed with flowers and garlands by his supporters and relatives.  The 34-year-old first-time MLA who represents Indore-3 Assembly segment was caught on TV cameras assaulting Indore Municipal Corporation officer Dhirendra Singh Bais with a cricket bat while opposing demolition of a dilapidated house. Watch | Kailash Vijayvargiya defends son accused of thrashing civic official Kailash Vijayvargiya, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national general secretary, while speaking to reporters termed it an unfortunate incident. “Both Akash and IMC commissioner are novices and they mishandled the situation.  The officers shouldn’t behave arrogantly with public representatives.  They (Akash and IMC commissioner) need to learn a lot and should increase their understanding to prevent recurrence of such an incident,” he said on Monday.  He said, “According to rules, the municipal corporation’s officers shouldn’t have released an order to demolish any residential building during the rainy season.  If it was so important, they should have made necessary arrangements for the accommodation of residents. ”Akash was arrested on June 26 after he allegedly hit the IMC official, who was leading a municipal corporation team to demolish a structure which belonged to a BJP worker, with a cricket bat.  He was booked under sections 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharging his duty), 294 (obscene acts/using obscene words), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) of the Indian Penal Code. A special court in Bhopal had granted him bail in two cases on Saturday and he was released on Sunday after its order reached the jail.


Jammu & Kashmir: Security tightens in Poonch ahead of Republic Day.

"We have shared information with agencies. We have framed robust security plan across district based on the inputs. We are checking  vehicles at Nakas & have intact night domination plan," says SSP Poonch https://t.co/YM9vLkLWOh

Rescuers in east China on Sunday pulled 11 miners from hundreds of metres underground where they had been trapped for two weeks, state media reported, as the race to locate the remaining 10 intensified. The miners were brought to the surface starting from around 11 am Sunday, state broadcaster CCTV reported -- a major breakthrough for a rescue operation that has captivated the nation. One miner was in "extremely weak physical condition" and rushed to hospital, CCTV said. The 11 miners were rescued after the air ventilator shaft was cleared, the official state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the operation's command centre. A further ten remain unaccounted for. Specialist teams have been battling difficult conditions since an explosion at the Hushan mine in Shandong province trapped the miners underground amid rising waters on January 10. The explosion occurred in a ventilator shaft, causing a blockage that damaged the cable car. On Sunday morning the huge obstacles suddenly fell to the bottom of the shaft, allowing the operation to take a big step forward, rescue expert Du Bingjian said. "After the obstacles fell to the bottom of the shaft, the rescue team started to bring up the miners and suspended the drilling work," Du told the Global Times. "It is currently unclear when the rescuers will reach the Sixth Central Section where the missing miners are believed to be. "Lifeline shafts State broadcaster footage on Sunday showed a small elevator carriage lifted to the surface, accompanied by rescue workers.  A masked man, who appeared unable to stand, was carried out. Later footage showed emergency workers lifting out other miners, who wore black shades to protect their eyes from the light.  One appeared to be holding his hands as if praying. Contact was first established a week ago with a group of 11 miners trapped in a section of the mine around 580 metres (1,900 feet) below the surface. One of them was seriously injured in the initial explosion and died after falling into a coma. Another miner was found alive by rescuers as they attempted to reach the group. Rescue teams have been lowering food, medicine and other supplies to the group through several lifeline shafts drilled into the rock. State media reported Friday that the health of the miners had been gradually returning to a "normal state" after regular deliveries of food. Life detectors and nutrient solutions have been lowered to other parts of the mine in the hope of reaching those still missing. In December, 23 workers died after becoming stuck underground in the southwestern city of Chongqing.


The carpet may be red, but pink was the color of the night at the #Oscars https://t.co/Ux9FoNTd0K https://t.co/ALsASvrX32

Many women ditched the dresses this year. Gaga, J. Lo, Glenn Close: Here's our round up of the best red carpet looks of the 2019 OscarsWe usually see a flood of big ball gowns and vibrant dresses on the red carpet, but for the 2019 Oscars, women showed up pretty pantsuits. Scroll down to see all the ladies who turned heads in some of the chicest suits of the night. Melissa McCarthyMcCarthy stepped out in style with this black and white look topped with an amazing cape. AwkwafinaAwkwafina dazzled in this shimmery two-piece pantsuit. Amy PoehlerPoehler looks chic and sophisticated in her black-on-black look. Diane WarrenWarren demands attention in her crisp white ensemble. Elise FisherFisher is giving cool-girl vibes with this three-piece pantsuit. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Chinese government revokes press credentials of three Beijing-based journalists from The Wall Street Journal after opinion headline that referred to China as "the real sick man of Asia." https://t.co/zSDb2hL4qg

By Ben Westcott, Steven Jiang and Brian Stelter, CNNUpdated 10:44 PM ET, Sun February 23, 2020 Hong Kong/New York  (CNN Business)The Chinese government announced Wednesday that it is revoking the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters, the largest expulsion of overseas media from the country in more than three decades.


A fisherman jumped into the frigid water to remove a harness from a Beluga whale off the Norwegian coast. The harness appeared to be Russian-made, prompting speculation that the animal may have escaped from a Russian military facility. https://t.co/i0sX5J5GnY https://t.co/d2cf2NgqxO

By Emily Dixon, CNN Updated 0909 GMT (1709 HKT) April 30, 2019  (CNN)Fishermen off Norway's northern coast were astonished last week when they spotted a beluga whale wearing a harness, complete with mounts for a camera.


different Twitter users were found sharing the same photo -- one showing sacks of garlic stocked (though the photo seems to be on onions) on a lorry -- in an attempt to push a narrative that farmers in the country are distressed due to the low prices they get for their yield and that the government is deaf to their pitiable state

On December 24, Twitter user @ujiyareD posted the photo claiming he sold 1500 kg of garlic for INR 3000.  His tweet read, âI sold out 1500 kg of garlic just for Rs 3000 than throwing it away.  Net Rs 2000 after fright charges . total production cost Rs 40000/. I could bear this loss think about poor farmers who have no alternate than to commit suicide . this is fate of Indian farmers (sic). â I sold out 1500 kg of garlic just for Rs 3000 than throwing it away.  Net Rs 2000 after fright charges . total producâ¦ https://t. co/C8MVEJa4na— Ujiyare Lal Dohare (@ujiyareD) 1545710810000@ujiyareDâs tweet has, by now, been retweeted over 3,400 times and liked by more than 5,000 Twitter users.  On December 25, Twitter user @AnthonySald responded to a tweet by Congress President Rahul Gandhiâs official Twitter account with the same photo and content, with just one addition.  He added a phrase, âTalk about Modi BJP and Farmers (sic)â.  Yesterday, on December 26, Twitter user @AadilMa45201893 made the exact same tweet.  He used the same text and tweeted the same photo.  Aadilâs tweet, however, was retweeed by only one other Twitter user and liked by Aadil himself.  The tweet attracted a lot of responses, with many Twitter users pointing out that the same photo and text have been tweeted by two other people, raising a genuine question about the authenticity and intent of it all.  INVESTIGATIONConsidering Twitter user @ujiyareD is the first one to make the tweet, we searched his name 'Ujiyare Lal Dohare' on Google.  We found details of one Ujiyare Lal Dohare, an Aam Aadmi Politician who contested 2014 Loksabha Elections from Etawah constituency.  Details available in public domain also showed that the Aam Aadmi Party politician has agricultural land registered in his name in Khera village.  Dohare is originally from Uttar Pradeshâs Auraiya district.  Since it is possible that the Twitter account in the name of Ujiyare Lal Dohare could be someone elseâs, Times Fact Check got in touch with Dohare who confirmed it is his own Twitter account and that he had sold the stock seen in the photo at Bharthna market in Etawah.  GARLIC RATES IN UTTAR PRADESH LAST WEEKWe checked the rates of garlic in Etawahâs Bharthna market from December 22 to December 27 and found the minimum price, in INR per quintal, to be 1100 and maximum to be 1200.  Dohare claimed to have sold 1500 kg garlic for INR 3000, which is basically INR 2 per kilo or INR 200 per quintal.  When we compare the market rates with Dohareâs claim, it is clear that the market rate was five times higher than what he sold for.  As for the other two Twitter users who copy-pasted Dahoreâs tweet, one of them, going by the Twitter bio, is based out of USA and Canada and the other person is from Indore.  The intent to paint a narrative that the government is insensitive to the plight of farmers is clear.


Madhya Pradesh: Computer Baba was appointed on 8 March as the Chairman of 'Ma Narmada, Ma Kshipra and Ma Mandaknini River Trust'b in the state. (file pic) https://t.co/QGGexjUPgW

Uttar Pradesh figured prominently in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheme of things with 8 out of 57 ministers from the state taking oath as union ministers on Thursday. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an MP from Varanasi, Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh, who took oath after Modi, is the second most prominent face from the state along with Smriti Irani who defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his family pocket borough of Amethi. Other ministers from Uttar Pradesh include Mahendra Nath Pandey (Chandauli), Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (Fatehpur), Gen (retd) VK Singh (Ghaziabad), Santosh Gangwar (Bareilly), Sanjeev Balyan (Muzaffarnagar) and Hardeep Puri, who is a Rajya Sabha member from UP.  However, those who could not make it to the ministry this time are Maneka Gandhi, who is likely to become the pro-tem speaker of Lok Sabha, Mahesh Sharma, Shiv Pratap Shukla and Satyapal Singh. Also Read | 57-member Team Modi in place, first cabinet meet today; portfolios soonAnupriya Patel, whose Apna Dal (Sonelal) bagged two seats to take NDA’s tally to 64 in the state was conspicuous by her absence in the list of ministers this time, though she was a part of the previous government.  Some other faces of the last government who failed to make it are Manoj Sinha who lost from Ghazipur, Uma Bharti and Kalraj Mishra who did not contest.  Expressing happiness over UP’s representation in the Modi government, BJP leader Manish Dixit said, “With 62 MPs, the state has contributed strongly to ensure a second term for Narendra Modi. ”Many in Uttar Pradesh BJP were also expecting that Kannauj MP Subrat Pathak who defeated Dimple Yadav, wife of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, would also be sworn-in as a minister.  “I think the party will accommodate such leaders, who have defeated big leaders, to reward them,” a party leader, who did not want to be named, said. Also Read | Mix of old and new faces in Prime Minister Modi’s NDA 2. 0


1,299 #COVID19 cases, 1,008 recovered, and 15 deaths reported in Delhi today. Total number of cases in the national capital is now at 1,41,531, including 1,27,124 recovered, 10,348 active cases & 4,059 deaths: Delhi Health Department https://t.co/5Wz5lZNU3a

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Brazil has increased by 48,105 to 1,496,858 within the past 24 hours, the national Ministry of Health said on late Thursday. The death toll has risen by 1,252 to 61,884 people within the same period of time. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageA day earlier, Brazil reported about 46,712 new cases of the coronavirus disease and 1,038 new fatalities. Brazil comes second on a global tally of coronavirus cases after the United States, which has recorded over 2. 7 million Covid-19 patients. The World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11.  To date, more than 10. 9 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 519,000 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University.


Read Attorney General William Barr's letter to Judiciary Committee leaders about the Mueller report https://t.co/Pd7XeDZr59 https://t.co/4OoJrlcLUi

Attorney General William Barr will now review the report. Robert Mueller ends Russia investigation without more indictments: SourceSpecial counsel Robert Mueller's much-anticipated report -- the product of nearly two years of investigation -- will not include any further indictments, according to a senior Department of Justice official. The report was handed to the Justice Department for Attorney General Bill Barr’s review, and Congress has been notified of the transfer late Friday afternoon, according to a Justice Department spokeswoman. According to federal regulations, the special counsel's final report should be "a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel. "After reviewing Mueller's report, Barr will then send what he has described as his own "report" on the Mueller investigation to the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate judiciary committees.  Barr has promised to be as transparent as possible, but it's unclear how extensive or detailed Barr's own "report" to Congress will be. In a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees, Barr wrote that he is reviewing the report and anticipates that he "may be in a position to advise you of the Special Counsel's principal conclusions as soon as this weekend. "  He continued that, separately, he intends to "consult with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Mueller to determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public consistent with the law. "Sources who have spoken to President Donald Trump told ABC News that his initial reaction to Friday’s news was that he's “glad it’s over. ""The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course.  The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel’s report," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted on Friday afternoon. Rudy Giuliani and Jay Sekulow, counselors to the president also said in a statement that they are "pleased" the report was delivered. Mueller and his team investigated how far the Kremlin went to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including trying to determine whether any Americans may have helped those efforts. At the heart of Mueller’s probe were two Russian operations: the spread of disinformation on social media, and the release of thousands of sensitive emails stolen by hackers from the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic targets. Mueller’s team has charged 25 Russian nationals and three foreign companies for their alleged role in those operations. In appointing a special counsel to investigate, however, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein also directed Mueller to look into “allegations” of possible “coordination” between Russian operatives and associates of President Donald Trump. Over and over again, Trump and his Republican allies have derided the investigation as a “witch hunt. ” But Rosenstein, FBI Director Chris Wray and now-attorney general William Barr have each explicitly disputed that description. “We follow the rule of law,” Rosenstein insisted last year.  “[And] when we confront foreign interference in American elections, it’s important for us to avoid thinking politically as Republicans or Democrats and instead to think patriotically as Americans. ”While looking into allegations of “coordination” with Trump’s 2016 campaign, Mueller did find that a campaign adviser knew early on from a Russian operative that the Kremlin had compiled “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, and recent court filings said Trump’s campaign repeatedly tried to elicit information about upcoming releases of Clinton-related documents stolen from the DNC and others. In court filings, Mueller also documented how Trump’s personal business sought real estate deals in Moscow even after Trump became the Republican nominee for president, and documented how – while the Obama administration was still in the White House – senior members of Trump’s national security team tried to influence official actions taken by Russia. According to federal prosecutors, Mueller also found that Trump’s associates routinely lied to them about all of it. At least four Trump associates, including Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, have pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents during the Russia-related investigation. Another Trump associate, the president’s former attorney Michael Cohen, has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump’s business dealings in Moscow.  And former Trump adviser Roger Stone has been charged with lying to Congress about his alleged role in tracking information stolen from Democrats during the 2016 campaign. “The investigation has identified 199 different criminal acts,” Rep.  Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, noted during a recent House hearing.  “So let’s be clear: The investigation into Russia’s attack on our democracy is not a witch hunt, it’s not a fishing expedition, it’s not a hoax, it’s not a lynch mob.  It’s a national security imperative. ”Mueller’s investigation grew out of a probe the FBI launched in late July 2016. By then, the FBI was already scrutinizing Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort’s business dealings with pro-Russian officials in Ukraine – dealings that have since landed Manafort in jail.  And the FBI was keeping tabs on Trump adviser Carter Page, who was previously targeted for recruitment by Russian spies and had raised eyebrows with a trip to Moscow in mid-July 2016. But claims by Trump adviser George Papadopoulos – that the Russians were touting “dirt” on Clinton – really set off alarms inside the FBI. “If any Americans were part of helping the Russians [attack] us, that is a very big deal,” James Comey, who was FBI director at the time, later told lawmakers. Several weeks after formally launching the Russia probe, counterintelligence agents leading the investigation in Washington received a so-called “dossier,” which had been compiled at the behest of Democrats and detailed uncorroborated allegations of coordination between Trump’s campaign and the Kremlin. Some of the allegations involved Page, who was already on the FBI’s radar, so agents began secretly intercepting his communications.  Page has never been charged with any crimes. The wide-ranging investigation continued even after Trump took office.  After Jeff Sessions became attorney general, he recused himself from oversight of the FBI’s Russia-related probe, citing his previous advocacy for Trump on the campaign trail. Rosenstein subsequently assumed oversight of the investigation. And then Trump shocked the federal law enforcement community: He fired Comey. The move prompted Rosenstein to appoint Mueller to take over the whole matter, including a review of whether Comey's firing and other actions meant Trump improperly tried to obstruct the probe. Comey later alleged that in a private meeting with Trump before his removal, the president directed Comey to “let [Flynn] go. ”Mueller has not released any evidence suggesting Trump committed a crime related to Russian efforts. However, Mueller did uncover evidence of other possible crimes and referred those cases to other federal prosecutors. The U. S.  Attorney’s Office in Manhattan ended up tying Trump to federal campaign violations, alleging that – in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign – Trump personally directed Cohen to silence two woman claiming affairs with Trump by making illegal payments to them. Cohen has pleaded guilty for his role in the matter, but no other charges have been filed. ABC News' John Santucci and Kyra Phillips contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


"Bharat Biotech sent an application to DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) for conducting the phase 1 trials of nasal vaccine against #COVID19, matter yet to be taken up," says a Government official. https://t.co/b9gJzuJ1Qc

Union minister Prahlad Patel, who visited the Red Fort in New Delhi on Wednesday to assess the damage caused by the violence, said a report will be sent to the union home ministry.  Patel, the minister for culture and tourism, visited the 17th century monument with officers of the ministry and Archaeological Survey of India. "I inspected the Red Fort with officers of the Culture Ministry and Archaeological Survey of India today.  I gave 2 directions - report be made at the earliest and handed over to MHA, and that the FIR be registered immediately.  Things will be further clarified after the report comes," news agency ANI quoted Patel as saying. Also read | Red Fort breach: Farm leaders' meet to fix responsibility, fingers at Deep SidhuHe also met the kids who had participated in the Republic Day parade and wanted to visit Red Fort.  "While returning, I visited Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Smriti.  85 children from Odisha's Kalahandi had come and participated in the Republic Day parade.  While returning they wanted to visit Red Fort but couldn't reach there.  So, I met them, they are safe," Patel said, according to ANI. A tractor parade on Tuesday, that was to highlight the demands of the farmer unions to repeal the three new agriculture laws, descended into anarchy as tens of thousands of protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort. Some farmers carrying the ceremonial swords scaled the outer walls of the fort and hoisted flags. Security has been beefed up in several places across the national capital, especially at the Red Fort and farmer protest sites, with deployment of additional paramilitary forces after an order from Union home minister Amit Shah who held a review meeting late on Tuesday. Also read | Gurnam Chaduni: The firebrand behind the farmers’ protestsTuesday's violence was condemned by Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the group of farm unions organising the protests.  They are due to meet later on Wednesday to decide on a response to the violence. A total of 173 monuments are located in Delhi and protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).  It includes UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar.


Picture shows Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Sushant's close friend Sandip Ssingh with dreaded gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Actor Deepika Padukone was recently trolled on social media for her post on mental health in the backdrop of Sushant Singh Rajput's death.  On August 19, the Supreme Court allowed CBI to investigate Rajput's death, and social media wants the agency to probe the "Bollywood mafia" and the late actor's friends. On Facebook, a picture of Padukone, her husband and actor Ranveer Singh, and Rajput's friend and filmmaker Sandip Ssingh, along with two other men, is going viral.  The group is seen sitting around a table full of food items.  Netizens claim one of the men is fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Facebook page "Sushant Justice" posted the image along with the caption, "See my friend see. . .  Dipika Ranveer Sandip and "Mahesh Shetty if i am not wrong" with Dawood. . .  Thanks to our grup member for this photo. . . "Sandip Ssingh has also come under criticism on social media for his "inconsistent statements" on Rajput's death.  He was apparently one of the first people to have arrived at the scene of Rajput's death on June 14.  Mahesh Shetty is a TV actor and close friend of Rajput. India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the man encircled in the picture is not Dawood Ibrahim but production designer and art director Wasiq Khan.  Also, Mahesh Shetty is not present in the viral picture. The archived version of the post can be seen here.  Many Facebook users have posted the same claim. Using reverse search, we found the uncropped version of the viral picture on some news websites.  The uncropped picture also shows film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali at the table. Entertainment news website Pinkvilla used this picture in an article in August 2013 and wrote that it was clicked during an Iftar party on the sets of "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela" in Mumbai.  Bhansali was the director of the movie. We found that Sandip Ssingh had also uploaded this picture on his Instagram profile on May 17.  He captioned it, "#Iftar is the time of huge blessings, try to gather as many as you can. . .  Breaking bread together since 2013. " Sandip was one of the producers of "Ram Leela". Sandip in his post also tagged the persons present in the photo.  It suggests that the person sitting next to him is Wasiq Khan, whom netizens suspected to be Dawood. #Iftar is the time of huge blessings, try to gather as many as you can. . .  Breaking bread together since 2013.  .  #SanjayLeelaBhansali @ranveersingh @deepikapadukone @r_varman_ @siddharthgarima #WasiqKhanA post shared by  Sandip Ssingh (@officialsandipssingh) on May 17, 2020 at 5:25am PDTWasiq Khan is an art director who worked in many Bollywood films including "Ram Leela" and "Gangs of Wasseypur". We found some pictures of Wasiq Khan on his Facebook profile, which makes it clear that the man encircled in the viral picture is him. Wasiq also posted the viral picture on Facebook a few months ago. To further verify the claim, we reached out to Sandip.  His media team denied the claim and said the person in question is Wasiq Khan.  The person sitting next to Wasiq is cinematographer Ravi Varman. Therefore, it can be concluded that the claim along with the viral picture is misleading.  The man encircled in the picture, sitting along with Deepika and Ranveer, is Wasiq Khan and not Dawood Ibrahim. The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.


Delhi: Heavy security deployment continues at the Tikri border (Delhi-Haryana border) as #FarmersProtest against three agriculture laws enters the 74th day

(ANI)

Follow LIVE updates here - https://t.co/WUotL3qBer https://t.co/WH3L6GCUkr

In symbolic protest on Saturday, farmers staged a 'chakka jam' for three hours in the country.  During the strike, farmers blocked major state and national highways.  Amid concerns over untoward incident, the protest took place without any violence, authorities have said.  The agitation against the new farm laws which began in the last week of November is continuing for more than 70 days now. Farmers also said that they ready to resume talks with the government, but asked it to come up with a fresh proposal as the existing offer to put the three farm laws on hold for 12-18 months is not acceptable to them.  However, the union asserted again that they would not settle for anything less than a repeal of the agriculture legislation. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at three Delhi border points --- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur --- demanding a repeal of the three farm laws. Follow all the updates here:Govt ready to resume talks, says Union minister Piyush GoyalUnion Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said the government is ready to resume talks with the farmers protesting the new farm laws but asserted that despite repeated proposals, the protesters have not come up with any "concrete suggestion" so far, reports PTI. 'Tractor kranti' creating buzz as protesting farmers oppose NGT's ban on old diesel vehiclesFarmers protesting against the Centre's new agricultural laws are rallying behind the call for a 'tractor revolution', while expressing disappointment over a 2014 NGT order banning diesel vehicles, including tractors, older than 10 years in Delhi-NCR, reports PTI. No 'ghar wapsi' till farmers' demands met, says BKU's TikaitAsserting that the agitation against the Centre’s farm laws is a people’s movement that will not fail, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday said there will be no "ghar wapsi" till protesting farmers' demands are met. Ghazipur, Singhu border closed; Delhi traffic police asks to follow alternate routesGazipur border is closed both carriage way Traffic going Ghaziabad through Murga mandi and Gazipur R/A, Road no.  56, Vikas marg, Anand Vihar IP Extention, NH 24, informed Delhi Traffic Police.  Singhu, Piau Maniyari,Saboli, Mungeshpur borders are closed.  Lampur, Safiabad, Singhu school and Palla toll tax borders are open.  Pls follow alternate route, said the traffic police. Govt has time to withdraw bills and make laws on MSP: BKU's TikaitYouth here has asked for repealing of (farm) laws for now, what will happen if they asked to leave their posts?  Govt has time to withdraw bill and make law on MSP.  We will not tolerate how our people were deceitfully taken to Red Fort, said BKU's Rakesh Tikait at mahapanchayat in Haryana, reports ANI. Farmers' protest limited to certain areas, says TomarUnion Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said the ongoing farmers' protest against the Centre's three new farm laws is limited to a certain area, and expressed hope to break the deadlock over the issue soon, reports PTI. Indo-Canadian groups rally to protest alleged Khalistani role in farmer protestIndo-Canadian organisations are stepping up their effort to counter the narrative related to the ongoing farmers’ protests in India, as they believe that the agenda has largely been hijacked by pro-Khalistan elements in Canada.  Read moreHeavy security continues at Tikri borderBKU's Tikait to address second mahapanchayat todayBharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait to address second mahapanchayat in Charkhi Dadri, today. Tikait’s decision to not have chakka jam in UP, Uttarakhand 'hasty': SKM leaderSenior farmer leader Darshan Pal Saturday said the decision by BKU leader Rakesh Tikait to not hold 'chakka jam' in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand was taken in "a hasty manner" and it would have been better had he first discussed his plan with the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha. Intervention from PM may resolve farm bills issues: Sharad PawarNationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that the highest level intervention from the Central government may help in resolving the deadlock between the Centre and farmers organisation over contentious farm bills which has resulted in over 70-day long protest, by the agrarian community.  Read moreRahul Gandhi to visit RajasthanCongress' Rahul Gandhi will visit Rajasthan next to extend support to the farmers agitating against the farm laws.  He will be in Rajasthan on February 12 and February 13. Get our daily newsletter Get free access to newsletters, alerts and recommendations


In pictures: Fire engulfs Notre Dame https://t.co/pY9Iq9NJ4B https://t.co/4rznIExCLg

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


#YogaDay2019 | Navy personnel (@indiannavy) performed yoga today on-board INS Ranvir which is stationed in the Bay of Bengal.

Follow updates here: https://t.co/UW0MKlHkRG

(📸: ANI) https://t.co/HpcjfOrar5

Kick-starting the global celebrations marking International Yoga Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation by participating in a mega event in Ranchi on Friday.  Setting the stage for International Yoga Day, which is being celebrated on a global scale from 2015, PM Modi has been sharing an asan a day on social media urging people to join the movement. Home minister Amit Shah participated at an event in Rohtak and defence minister Rajnath Singh was seen in the national capital at a morning yoga session at Rajpath.  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working president J P Nadda performed yoga, along with other party leaders and workers, at a park opposite the headquarters of the saffron party on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Marg in the national capital. Highlights:Sri Lanka Prez praises Modi for bringing yoga to international stageOn the occasion of International Yoga Day, Sri Lankan President Maitripala Sirisena praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to bring the “common heritage” of India and Sri Lanka to the international stage. He also urged everyone to practice yoga.  “I compliment my friend @narendramodi for his efforts at bringing our common heritage of Yoga to the international stage.  I urge all to practice yoga like me,” he tweeted. Yoga is above everything, make it integral part of life: ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi said yoga is above caste, religion, colour, gender and region as he meticulously performed various asanas with around 40,000 enthusiasts at the Prabhat Tara ground here to mark the fifth International Day of Yoga. Modi also urged people to make yoga an integral part of life. BSF’s equestrian team performs yoga on horsebacksBorder Security Force’s equestrian team performs yoga on horsebacks at the BSF camp in Gurugram.  #Haryana: Border Security Force's equestrian team performs Yoga on horsebacks at the BSF camp in Gurugram.  pic. twitter. com/Vp7ytXqDRgYoga practise at Victoria Memorial, Kolkata Yoga practise on 5th International Yoga Day in front of Victoria Memorial in Kolkata on Friday. Gautam Gambhir performs yoga in DelhiGautam Gambhir performs yoga on the occasion of international Yoga Day at Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi. Ram Madhav, BJP National General Secretary, performs yoga in Trivandrum Kerala: Ram Madhav, BJP National General Secretary, performs yoga at an event in Trivandrum.  #InternationalDayofYoga pic. twitter. com/DQCpOa4HZTIndo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel performed yoga at Rohtang PassIndo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel performed Yoga at Rohtang Pass on the occassion of #InternationalDayofYoga, today.  pic. twitter. com/Ekd8bvbqzsS Akbaruddin: Yoga will reinforce values of cleaner, greener & more sustainable futureS Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador,in New York, says, “ I hope this indoor yoga session in Gen Assembly hall,the first of its kind, will reinforce values of cleaner,greener&more sustainable future that all of you yogis are committed to,” reports news agency ANI.  S Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador,in New York: I hope this indoor yoga session in Gen Assembly hall,the first of its kind, will reinforce values of cleaner,greener&more sustainable future that all of you yogis are committed to. #InternationalDayofYoga pic. twitter. com/CtigpecuGcHimachal governor, CM Jai Ram Thakur celebrate yoga day Himachal Pradesh: CM Jai Ram Thakur, Governor Acharya Devvrat and others observed two minutes of silence to pay last respects to the people who died in Kullu bus accident yesterday.  They are present at an event organised in Shimla on #InternationalDayofYoga.  pic. twitter. com/qgpzS8u3SfSmriti Irani celebrates yoga day in Delhi Celebrated #YogaDay2019 by performing Yoga with citizens of Bijwasan in Delhi.  pic. twitter. com/zjPqhKYnjGInternational Day of Yoga not just an event, says President KovindPresident Ram Nath Kovind says, “I’m happy that like previous years, we are celebrating Yoga Day this year too.  It’s not just an event, but a way to make yoga an integral part of our life,” reports news agency ANI. Pres Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan,Delhi:#InternationalDayofYoga is being celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan since 2015. I'm happy that like previous yrs,this yr too we're celebrating Yoga Day here.  It's not just an event, it's a way to make yoga an integral part of our life pic. twitter. com/Rcq9C4hcdoPM Modi interacts with people after performing yogaPrime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with people after performing yoga at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi on International Day of Yoga, reports news agency ANI. International Yoga Day celebrations at RajpathITBP personnel perform yoga in Ladakh in minus 20° CelsiusITBP personnel perform Yoga at an altitude of 18000 feet in northern Ladakh in minus 20 Degrees Celsius temperature, reports news agency ANI.  ITBP personnel perform Yoga at an altitude of 18000 feet in northern Ladakh in minus 20 Degrees Celsius temperature.  pic. twitter. com/csvfZNJc1tSchool children celebrate International yoga daySchool children celebrate International yoga day at Bandra reclamation in Mumbai. ITBP personnel of the 26th Battalion practice yoga in Ludhiana Punjab: ITBP personnel of 26th BN practice Yoga on #InternationalDayofYoga at Baddhowal Ludhiana pic. twitter. com/6ko85L2JbQLok Sabha Speaker Om Birla along with parliamentarians and parliament staff perform Yoga Lok sabha speaker Om Birla and Staff of Parliament house take part in 5th International Day of Yoga celebrations at Parliament house in New Delhi On Friday. Amit Shah and Haryana CM ML Khattar perform Yoga at Rohtak Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Haryana CM ML Khattar perform Yoga at Rohtak on #InternationalDayofYoga .  pic. twitter. com/Qidq9WV5RxActor Shilpa Shetty participates in celebrations in MumbaiMaharashtra: People perform Yoga at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, actor Shilpa Shetty also present, reports news agency ANI.  #Maharashtra: People perform Yoga at the Gateway of India in Mumbai; Actor Shilpa Shetty also present.  #InternationalDayofYoga pic. twitter. com/tRV1J1nTTMITBP personnel participate in yoga practice session in LehJammu & Kashmir: ITBP personnel participate in yoga practice session in Leh on International Day of Yoga, reports news agency ANI. Defence Minister’s tweet on Yoga Day On #YogaDay2019 I urge everyone to make Yoga an integral part of their lives.  Join us live from Rajpath, New Delhi on my YouTube channel : https://t. co/XkgAaG7EkfYoga being performed on-board INS Viraat at Western Naval Dockyard in Mumbai Indian Armed Forces personnel take part in a yoga sesssion to mark International Yoga Day on the Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Mumbai. We can see yoga from streets to wellness centres: PM Modi“We can say that today yoga has reached every corner, every class of India.  From drawing rooms to board rooms, from city parks to sports complexes.  We can see yoga from streets to wellness centres,” says PM Modi.  Modi performs yoga at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi Jharkhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs yoga at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi on #InternationalDayofYoga pic. twitter. com/gUAEYg8Gr6I urge you all to embrace Yoga: PM Modi PM in Ranchi: I thank ppl across the world for joining #InternationalDayofYoga celebrations.  World over,the first rays of the Sun are being welcomed by dedicated Yoga practitioners, it's a beautiful sight.  I urge you all to embrace Yoga&make it integral part of your daily routine pic. twitter. com/yeyhGKTEYlI thank people across the world for joining International Day of Yoga celebrations: PM ModiPrime Minister Modi says, “I thank people across the world for joining International Day of Yoga celebrations.  World over,the first rays of the Sun are being welcomed by dedicated Yoga practitioners, it’s a beautiful sight.  I urge you all to embrace Yoga&make it integral part of your daily routine. ”PM Modi: Yoga is ancient and modernPrime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Yoga is ancient and modern.  It is constant and evolving.  For centuries, the essence of Yoga has remained the same: Healthy body, Stable mind, Spirit of oneness. ”“Yoga provides a perfect blend of knowledge, work and devotion,” he added. Yoga has always been an important part of our culture: PM ModiPM Modi says, “We all know the importance of Yoga very well.  It has always been an important part of our culture.  But now we all have to take the practice of Yoga to another level,” reports news agency ANI.  PM Narendra Modi at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi: We all know the importance of Yoga very well.  It has always been an important part of our culture.  But now we all have to take the practice of Yoga to another level.  #InternationalDayofYoga #Jharkhand pic. twitter. com/bPlcOBi5nsPM Narendra Modi addresses crowd at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi‘I extend my good wishes to all of you, in India & across the globe, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga ,’ PM Narendra Modi.  PM Narendra Modi at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi: I extend my good wishes to all of you, in India & across the globe, on the occasion of #InternationalDayofYoga .  Today, lakhs of people have gathered in different parts of the world to celebrate Yoga Day.  #Jharkhand pic. twitter. com/KzMhIEYVRVPM Narendra Modi all set for Yoga Day in RanchiPM Narendra Modi all set for the Yoga Day 2019 programme in Ranchi.  All set for the #YogaDay2019 programme in Ranchi.  pic. twitter. com/11kc1vFOo3Preparations galore at Prabhat Tara groundAll necessary arrangements have been made at the Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, amid tight security, ahead of PM Modi’s mega event.  Around 30,000 people are expected to participate in the event, for which security has been beefed up across the city.


Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal attorney and fixer, testified on Capitol Hill Wednesday, saying his former boss "is a racist, he is a con man, and he is a cheat.” Watch the full story on @ABC's On Location: https://t.co/7RjU5r41aB https://t.co/gXUOYo3X2C

President Donald Trump’s Hanoi summit with Kim Jong Un, meant to demonstrate his diplomatic gamble with North Korea is working, instead ended with no joint agreement after Kim insisted all US sanctions be lifted on his country.

  That was a bridge too far for the US President, who said Kim offered to take some steps toward dismantling his nuclear arsenal but not enough to warrant ending the debilitating sanctions regime on the country.

  “Sometimes you have to walk,” Trump said during a news conference following the conclusion of the summit, which broke up earlier than planned.  “This was just one of those times. ”

  But it was evident from early in the summit that Trump was seeking to tamp down expectations, repeating he’s in no rush to strike a deal even as North Korea continues to advance its nuclear weapons program.

  “I’ve been saying very much from the beginning that speed is not that important to me,” Trump said earlier Thursday at the summit’s outset.  “Speed is not important to me.  What is important is that we do the right deal. ”

  Trump cast the lack of deal as only a short-term disappointment, even though he’d hoped coming into the talks to be able to point to a new, concrete pathway toward denuclearization.  A major agreement struck in Hanoi may also have pushed aside embarrassing headlines about Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen testifying the President is a racist conman.

  The President, who said scheduling Cohen’s testimony during his summit was a “terrible thing,” instead suggested the inconclusive talks with Kim were another step in a lengthy process toward convincing the young leader to abandon his nuclear program.

The personal chemistry that Trump has cultivated – and loudly trumpeted – with the young despotic leader remains intact, the President insisted.

  And the summit ended amicably, without either man storming away.

  “It was a very friendly walk,” Trump said.

  Still, the absence of a joint agreement reflects an anticlimax for a summit event Trump had hoped would prove naysayers of his diplomacy wrong.

  He conceded that US and North Korean officials remain at odds about the precise definition of denuclearization, which is the ostensible goal of his efforts.

  “He has a certain vision and it’s not exactly our vision, but it’s a lot closer than it was a year ago and I think eventually we’ll get there,” Trump said.

  And he described Kim as singularly focused on ending the sanctions that have crippled his economy and helped bring him to the negotiating table in the first place.

  Trump said Kim had offered to begin dismantling the Yongbyon nuclear facility, a step that would have amounted to a major concession.  But it wasn’t enough, Trump said, alluding to additional sites that comprise what is a deeply secretive nuclear program.

  “We asked him to do more and he was unprepared to do that,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who joined Trump on stage for the duration of the news conference.  “Everyone had hoped we could do just a little bit better. ”

  US and North Korean negotiators had been in Hanoi for days drafting language of a joint agreement ahead of the talks, and the ceremony was listed on a version of the President’s public schedule released Wednesday evening.  Stephen Biegun, the President’s North Korea envoy, arrived several days before Trump to seal the document.

  During an expanded session with aides, Trump and Kim discussed the prospect of opening a US office in Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.  Kim said he would welcome the idea, and Trump deemed it a “good idea. ”

  Yet afterward, it appeared the chances for that – along with any other concessions or agreements – were dashed, even as the White House insisted the talks were productive.

  The two leaders departed the Metropole, the French-colonial hotel where the talks unfolded, around 1:30 p. m.  local time, roughly four-and-a-half hours after the talks began.

  They also left without participating in a working lunch, even as chefs had been preparing plates of foie gras and snow fish.

  If the day ended without a triumphant finish, there were extraordinary moments peppered throughout the day.

  In unprecedented back-and-forth exchanges with journalists, Kim insisted he was open to denuclearization, though didn’t say what he believed that meant.

  It’s believed to be the first time Kim has answered a question from a foreign journalist, a landmark event for the iron-fisted dictator.

  “If I’m not willing to do that I won’t be here right now,” he said through an interpreter.

  Kim, for his part, also expressed cautious optimism earlier in the day that a deal would eventually be struck.  But he did not suggest such an accord would come soon.

  “It’s too early to say,” he said in response to a foreign journalist’s shouted question.  “From what I feel right now, I do have a feeling that good results will come out. ”

  He again responded to journalists later in the day, albeit somewhat begrudgingly.

  The two leaders went back-and-forth over the prospect of exchanging liaison officers – a low level diplomatic partnership – after the issue was raised by a journalist.

  Initially, Kim seemed to reject the question, proposing to Trump that the media be excused from the room.  But Trump seemed to goad him to answer, saying it was a good question.

  “I would like to hear that answer,” Trump said.

  Kim responded through his interpreter, saying it would be something that was “welcome-able. ”

  Trump expressed a similar sentiment: “I actually think it’s a good idea. ”

  Kim added it would be better for Trump and him to discuss it together in private.

  Trump was pursuing two objectives as he sat down once again with the North Korean dictator on Thursday: draw North Korea closer to the prospect of abandoning its nuclear weapons and regain control of the media narrative.

  As he arrived at the swanky Metropole Hotel on Wednesday to advance his historic direct diplomacy with Kim, Trump was quickly upstaged by the damning congressional testimony of his longtime former attorney and adviser Michael Cohen.

  By the time Trump finished dinner with Kim, the airwaves were blanketed with coverage of Cohen’s testimony.  A grand agreement on denuclearization might have helped in that effort to change the narrative.  But on Thursday Trump repeatedly downplayed the prospects of a deal emerging from the Hanoi talks and suggested something more vague might result from his second summit with Kim.

  “I can’t speak for today but over a little bit longer term … we’re going to have a fantastic success,” Trump said.

  He described his dinner an evening earlier as positive, but did not describe in detail any of the negotiations underway.

  “A lot of great ideas being thrown about,” Trump said.

  The two leaders once again put their chummy personal relationship on display, walking along the flower-lined pool deck at the Metropole engaging in friendly conversation to give the cameras an opportunity to capture them in a more casual setting.

  The images will only serve to fuel criticism that Trump’s cozy diplomacy with Kim glosses over the rampant human rights abuses in North Korea, which include Kim’s brutal assassinations of those who cross him and the imprisonment of thousands in labor camps.  Trump largely avoided any mention of human rights during his talks with Kim, instead focusing on the prospects for financial investment if Kim agrees to abandon his nuclear weapons.

  When a reporter asked Kim whether the topic was discussed, Trump answered for him.

  “We’re discussing everything,” Trump said.

  Later, when asked about the treatment of Otto Warmbier, an American student who spent 17 months in North Korean detention before being returned to the US in a vegetative state and subsequently dying, Trump denied Kim had been aware of the incident.

  “He felt badly about it.  He felt very badly,” Trump said.  “He tells me that he didn’t know about it and I will take him at his word. ”

  “I don’t think that the top leadership knew about it,” Trump added.  “I don’t believe that he (Kim) would have allowed that to happen. ”

  While Trump continues to insist that there is no rush to make progress, North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear weapons program and expanded its nuclear arsenal.  In just the past year, North Korea is estimated to have produced enough fissile material for an additional five to seven nuclear weapons, according to Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation.

  That nuclear production is expected to continue so long as Trump does not secure a verifiable freeze in North Korea’s nuclear production – a US objective that so far has remained elusive.

  This story has been updated.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


#ElectionsWithHT | West Bengal polls: BJP, TMC engage in battle of nerves

https://t.co/toCzlliYF0 https://t.co/v83etdZrDb

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and its arch-rival the Bharatiya Janata Party engaged in a battle of nerves even as the first two phases of the assembly elections have already been held with six more rounds remaining.  Reports of political clashes between the two parties continued to pour in from across the state ahead of the third phase polls scheduled on Tuesday when 31 constituencies are slated to go into elections.  While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah claimed during public rallies on Thursday and Friday that TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was sure to lose in Nandigram and the TMC would be defeated this time, the latter hit back on Saturday.  Former BJP veteran Yashwant Sinha, who recently joined the TMC, said in a press conference at the Trinamool Congress headquarters in Kolkata that late on Friday night Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda held a meeting in Delhi to discuss the ongoing polls in Bengal.  “It was an internal meeting and there was a frank exchange of views.  The BJP troika has concluded that the party’s performance in the first two phases would be very disappointing.  They know that their performance in the remaining six phases would be all the more disappointing, as they were pinning their hopes on the first two phases,” said Sinha.  Earlier on Thursday, while polls were being held in 30 constituencies, including Nandigram in East Midnapore, Modi said in a public rally that there were rumours about Banerjee planning to contest from a second seat as defeat was imminent in Nandigram.  Also read: Mamata’s “obstructionist mindset” deprived Bengal of jobs, industries - PM Modi“With every phase of polls, Didi’s nervousness will increase.  On the cricket field, if a player repeatedly questions the umpire, it means that the player is at fault.  In elections, if someone blames the EVM and the ECI, it means the game is over.  Didi, defeat is in front of you.  Accept it,” Modi said on Saturday while addressing a rally in Hooghly.  “I have heard, not verified, that brainstorming is going on within the TMC.  Some of the wise children who are still left in the TMC were discussing that Didi’s hasty decision to contest from Nandigram proved to be a blunder.  I have been told that sensing defeat in Nandigram, some people had decided that Mamata should contest from another seat.  But some wise men told didi that it would be her second blunder.  Some people told her that if she loses from two seats in Bengal then TMC’s political future would be at stake,” said Modi while addressing a rally in south Bengal.  On Friday, Shah had said that it was clear from the first two phases that the BJP would win more than 50 seats out of the 60 constituencies and didi was losing from Nandigram.  Banerjee and top TMC leaders were quick to refute the claims with Banerjee herself saying that she was confident of her win from Nandigram and that Modi shouldn’t advise her as she was not a BJP member.  Countering the BJP’s claims, a TMC tweet on Thursday triggered speculation over whether the West Bengal chief minister would contest against Modi from Varanasi or the party would field someone to challenge him in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.  “Didi is winning Nandigram.  The question of her fighting from another seat doesn’t arise.  @narendramodi Ji, retract from your efforts to mislead people before they see your lies with the end of nomination in WB [West Bengal].  Look for a safer seat in 2024, as you will be challenged in Varanasi,” the TMC tweeted.  “It was Banerjee who challenged the BJP by announcing that she would contest from Nandigram.  Now that the TMC is certain that they are going to lose they are putting up a bold phase to boost the morale of the workers.  But the trend is clear and people of Bengal know who would win the battle,” said Samik Bhattacharya, BJP spokesperson.  At Katwa in Burdwan district, TMC workers even went to the extent of distributing sweets among themselves on Friday, claiming that the battle has already been won.  “Such psychological wars are common during the polls and have also been seen in the 2019 elections.  While this is used to boost the morale of workers, it also has some effect on the swing voters,” said Biswanath Chakraborty, a professor of political science at Rabindra Bharati University.  While the two parties were fighting a war of words, clashes among the party workers continued across the state.  BJP candidate Motibur Rahaman from Harishchandrapur in north Bengal’s Malda district was allegedly heckled by TMC workers on Friday night.  Both parties have lodged complaints against each other with the local police.  Earlier in the day, BJP’s candidate Dipak Halder at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas was allegedly thrashed by TMC workers.  The ruling party, however, rubbished the allegations.  Clashes also broke out at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas and Krishnanagar in Nadia.  At Barjora on Bankura clashes broke out between the BJP and the TMC on Friday night leaving at least two injured.  At Sabang in West Midnapore, a former TMC supporter’s wife was allegedly heckled on Saturday.  While the TMC alleged she was thrashed by BJP workers, and had to be rushed to the hospital, the latter rubbished TMC’s allegations.


Supreme Court issues notice to the Union of India and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority after hearing a PIL by lawyer, Gaurav Kumar Bansal, seeking appropriate directions to all insurance companies to extend medical insurance for treatment of mental illness patients https://t.co/7oFUCrsgUP

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the central government and Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) on a plea seeking directions to insurance companies to provide medical insurance coverage for treatment of mental illness. The plea, filed by an advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, stated that insurance companies are refusing to provide such coverage despite a mandate under the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017. Section 21 (4) of the said act states that “every insurer shall make provision for medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness”. Based on that provision, the IRDA had issued a circular in August 2018 to the insurance companies to comply with the same but to no avail. The IRDA, however, has not taken any action against insurance companies for such violation, Bansal pointed out.  “The inaction by IRDA is hampering the rehabilitation process of thousands of persons with mental Illness,” the petition said. A bench headed by Justice Rohinton Nariman sought response from IRDA and central government. The mental health issue is again being debated after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. “Mental health needs to be addressed as a medical emergency.  The shocking thing is that we lose young ones in such scenarios.  The maximum number of suicide is happening in adolescence or early adulthood after which comes the old age population.  We require a national helpline to prevent these things.  We also require a great destigmatising programme of psychiatry.  To tell the whole population of destigmatisation, we require a national policy,” said Dr Rajiv Mehta, Vice-Chairperson, Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Sir Gangaram Hospital. “The fear and the stress at this time of Covid-19 pandemic have exposed the vulnerabilities of all individuals,” said Dr Manushree Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry VMMC (Vardhman Mahavir Medical College) and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi.


Emergency workers are seen at the crash site where former NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter died.  https://t.co/seSZNMPyQr https://t.co/sKM3Fbofvh

By Dakin Andone, CNNUpdated 12:38 PM ET, Mon January 27, 2020  (CNN)News that NBA superstar Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday was made more tragic by what came next -- confirmation that his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also was on board.   Gigi working on that stroke #wristwork #wnbafinalsA post shared by  Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on Sep 17, 2017 at 11:30pm PDTKobe and Gigi courtside breaking down the game 📋 pic. twitter. com/FxqSjVx6ew My GigiA post shared by  Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) on Sep 3, 2019 at 1:59pm PDT


Spike of 64,531 cases and 1092 deaths reported in India, in the last 24 hours.

The #COVID19 tally in the country rises to 27,67,274 including 6,76,514 active cases, 20,37,871 discharged/migrated & 52,889 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare https://t.co/vWHInDpgFW

India is inching towards the Covid-19 tally on the United Kingdom, with record daily cases.  India has been recording close to 10,000 cases for eight days and it’s tally reached 2,76,583 on Wednesday, according to the Union health ministry. The number of Covid-19 cases in the UK is 2,87,403, according to the World Health Organisation dashboard. However, India is far behind the UK in terms of fatalities.  According to WHO, 40,597 people have succumbed to the coronavirus disease in the UK.  In India, the number of fatalities reached 7,745 on Wednesday. The number of cases in the UK have been steadily falling.  On Tuesday, it recorded a little over 1,300 cases.  In India, the daily increase on June 9 was over 9,500. Britain has allowed some relaxation in the coronavirus enforced lockdown.  British business minister Alok Sharma said on Tuesday that retailers will be allowed to reopen on June 15, subject to social distancing guidelines. The announcement, which will only apply in England because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own policy on lockdown restrictions, had previously been announced, subject to sufficient progress against the coronavirus being made. “This is the latest step in the careful restarting of our economy and will enable high streets up and down the country to spring back to life,” Sharma told reporters. India too announced relaxations to restart the economy after many sectors were shuttered due to the lockdown announced by the government in March to check the spread of the disease. The first of the three-phased lockdown came into effect on Monday (June 8) after which religious places, malls, restaurants etc reopened.  Cinema halla, gymnasiums, schools and colleges are still closed and the government will take a call on it in July. India, meanwhile, saw another record addition of nearly 10,000 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday.  The country recorded 9,985 cases in the last 24 hours. According to Union health ministry update at 8 am, the number of active cases in the country are 1,33,632, while those cured or discharged are 1,35,205.


Katy Perry's hit single 'Dark Horse' copied from Christian rap song, a California jury says https://t.co/WR5G0Ur2fI https://t.co/FGgwrHmQRN

Jury in copyright infringement trial told Katy Perry hit 'Dark Horse' earned $41MNews headlines today: Dec.  23, 2020LOS ANGELES -- The penalty phase of a copyright infringement trial over Katy Perry's hit "Dark Horse" opened Tuesday with attorneys for the creators of a Christian rap song telling jurors that the pop superstar's 2013 song earned $41 million overall. The figure will be a key point of contention in determining how much Perry and her collaborators owe the makers of the 2009 song "Joyful Noise. " Most of the dispute will center on the $31 million Capitol Records received from the song.  The label contends that after factoring in costs, its profit was a mere $630,000. Perry's lawyers say her "Dark Horse" earnings amounted to $3. 2 million, minus $800,000 in costs. "I don't want to give away any spoilers here, but some of the costs, get ready to roll your eyes," said attorney Michael Kahn, who represents "Joyful Noise" artist Marcus Gray. Capitol Records defense attorney Aaron Wais said during opening statements that the old adage about spending money to make money is true with songs such as "Dark Horse. ""What makes a Katy Perry song profitable?  Katy Perry," Wais said. Testimony about Capitol Records' costs in creating and promoting "Dark Horse" will begin Wednesday. On Monday, a jury returned a unanimous verdict that found the pop hit copied elements of "Joyful Noise," a song Gray released under the stage name Flame. "Dark Horse," a hybrid of pop, trap and hip-hop sounds that was the third single of Perry's 2013 album "Prism," spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2014.  It earned Perry a Grammy Award nomination and was part of her 2015 Super Bowl halftime performance. While copyright infringement claims are common in music, they rarely result in such losses for high-profile artists. A jury in 2015 returned a multimillion verdict against Robin Thicke and Pharrell over their 2013 hit "Blurred Lines. " The judgment, which remains on appeal, was in favor of the children of Marvin Gaye, who sued alleging that "Blurred Lines" copied from their father's hit "Got to Give It Up. "A 2016 trial over the Zed Zeppelin hit "Stairway to Heaven" ended with a jury concluding that its signature riff did not significantly resemble the song "Taurus," written by the late Randy Wolfe and performed by his band Spirit.  That case is also on appeal. Jurors in the "Dark Horse" case found all six songwriters and all four corporations that released and distributed the songs were liable, including Perry and Sarah Hudson, who wrote only the song's words, and Juicy J, who only wrote the rap he provided for the song.  Perry was not present when the verdict was read. Other defendants found liable were Capitol Records as well as Perry's producers: Dr.  Luke, Max Martin and Cirkut, who came up with the song's beat. Gray's attorneys argued that the beat and instrumental line featured through nearly half of "Dark Horse" are substantially similar to those of "Joyful Noise. " Gray wrote the song with his co-plaintiffs Emanuel Lambert and Chike Ojukwu. Her attorneys argued that the song sections in question represent the kind of simple musical elements that if found to be subject to copyright would hurt music and all songwriters. "They're trying to own basic building blocks of music, the alphabet of music that should be available to everyone," Perry's lawyer Christine Lepera said during closing arguments Thursday. The defendants' musical expert testified that the musical patterns in dispute were as simple as "Mary Had a Little Lamb. "But the jury of six women and three men disagreed, finding that the bumping beat and riff at the center of "Joyful Noise" were original enough to be copyrighted. Perry and the song's co-authors testified during the seven-day trial that none of them had heard the song or heard of Gray before the lawsuit, nor did they listen to Christian music. Gray's attorneys had only to demonstrate, however, that "Joyful Noise" had wide dissemination and could have been heard by Perry and her co-authors.  They provided as evidence that it had millions of plays on YouTube and Spotify, and that the album it's included on was nominated for a Grammy. "They're trying to shove Mr.  Gray into some gospel music alleyway that no one ever visits," said plaintiffs' attorney Michael A.  Kahn during closing arguments, when he also pointed out that Perry had begun her career as a Christian artist. Jurors agreed, finding that the song was distributed widely enough that the "Dark Horse" writers may well have heard it. ———Follow Katie Campione at         https://twitter. com/katie—campione and AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton at         https://twitter. com/andyjamesdalton . 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events