Michael Cohen, a longtime confidante of the president, his former personal attorney and fixer, arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to share publicly, for the first time, his side of the story.

Here are some of the notable moments from the hearing. https://t.co/oifNCX7joU https://t.co/6Kes7qfxN5

  Stewart Rahr is a pharmaceutical billionaire, self-described “king of all fun” and, as President Donald Trump told a magazine, a real character.

  Rahr, a fixture on gossip sites, was “the fake bidder” who plunked down $60,000 in 2013 for a portrait of his friend Trump, according to an article clipping provided Wednesday by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen.

  “The objective was to ensure that his portrait, which was going to be auctioned last, would go for the highest price of any portrait that afternoon,” Cohen said in his opening statement Wednesday to the House Oversight Committee.  He also described the bidder as a straw buyer, who makes a purchase on behalf of another person.

  The bidder was reimbursed by the charity Trump Foundation, Cohen told the House Oversight Committee.

  CNN made several calls and emails to Rahr, but did not receive a response.  On one attempt, a man who answered the phone said he could get Rahr on the line but hung up once he found out it was CNN calling.  Rahr declined to comment when the Washington Post reported on Trump’s charitable giving in 2016.

  CNN also reached out to the Trump Organization but has not yet received a response.

  In 2015, Dan’s Papers, a lifestyle publication in the posh Hamptons on Long Island, reported that the portrait’s artist, William Quigley, had heard about Trump’s interest in the painting and was told to raise the starting bid.

  Trump asked his pal Rahr to bid on his behalf at the 2013 auction, according to Dan’s Papers.

  “Mr.  Trump directed the Trump Foundation, which is supposed to be a charitable organization, to repay the fake bidder, despite keeping the art for himself,” Cohen testified.  The Trump Foundation dissolved in late 2018 amid a New York state lawsuit that claimed it violated campaign-finance laws and abused its tax-exempt status.

  One of Cohen’s exhibits includes a news article saying that Rahr, a prominent art collector, made the purchase.  The item is circled and labeled “Michael C. ” Cohen testified that Trump’s handwriting was on a copy of a New York Daily News article about the sale.

  Trump tweeted about the winning bid a few days later, but didn’t mention having any role in it.

  “Just found out that at a charity auction of celebrity portraits in E.  Hampton, my portrait by artist William Quigley topped list at $60K,” Trump tweeted.

According to a 2013 Forbes profile, Rahr, now in his early 70s, built his fortune through his family business Kinray, a drug distribution company.  In 2010, he sold Kinray to Cardinal Health for $1. 3 billion.

  Page Six has frequently written about Rahr’s Gatsby-esque, lavish spending and wild antics.

  Rahr, who refers to himself in the third person as “Rah Rah,” was banned from the famed sushi restaurant Nobu in 2012 for cursing out the manager, according to the New York Post.  His gun license was also suspended for a period of time after a heated exchange with an elevator operator that same year, The New York Times reported.

  Rahr would send massive email blasts containing updates on his life to a list of celebrities, journalists, politicians and other influential figures, Forbes reported.  The messages were often signed “Stewie Rah Rah Number One King of All Fun. ”

  And much like another New York billionaire, he’s often seen posing for photos with celebrities.

  “He’s different than other people,” Trump told the magazine.  “He’s a character, and he’s fun to be with. ”

  So where is the portrait now?  It’s hanging in one of the President’s country clubs, Cohen said.

  Quigley told Dan’s Papers that he had met with Trump in person to collect the check, “He was nothing but a gentleman. ”

  CNN’s Phil Gast and Augusta Anthony contributed to this report.
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NEW: Incumbent Sen. Steve Daines will win the Montana Senate race, @ABC News projects. https://t.co/b6gmX68wPm #ElectionNight https://t.co/STPzuvXRzL

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Mahtani, Jessica Estepa and Amanda Wills, CNNFollow live updates on the presidential and congressional races here. Analysis from CNN's Zachary B.  WolfThis wasn't the blue tidal wave a lot of Democrats had dreamed was possible.  Joe Biden didn't break open the map even though he's got a commanding popular-vote lead.  But the party had a to-do list that expanded beyond the White House.  And while it might have a President Biden (Remember: CNN has not yet projected a winner in the presidential race) at the end of the day after the votes are counted, it's currently failing in other important areas, like:While all eyes were on the race to the White House, history was being made around the country with a handful of historic firsts in elections for offices and ballot measures. Here's a look at some of them:Delaware elects the nation's first transgender state senatorDemocratic activist Sarah McBride will become the nation's first person who publicly identifies as transgender to serve as a state senator, after winning Tuesday's election in Delaware, CNN projects.  McBride, a former spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, overwhelmingly beat Republican candidate Steve Washington in Delaware's 1st District, a heavily Democratic district that includes the city of Wilmington.  "I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too," McBride tweeted Tuesday night.  Oklahoma elects the first nonbinary state legislator in the USMauree Turner won her race for Oklahoma state House for District 88 on Tuesday, becoming the first nonbinary state legislator in US history and first Muslim lawmaker in Oklahoma. Turner, 27, defeated Republican candidate Kelly Barlean to represent the district, winning about 71% of the votes, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board unofficial results.  Her victory comes after beating incumbent Rep.  Jason Dunnington in the district's Democratic primary election in June. Turner identifies as nonbinary, which the National Center for Transgender Equality defines as gender understood as neither male nor female. New York elects America's first Black member of Congress who identifies as gayRitchie Torres, a New York City Council member, won his US House race to represent the South Bronx, becoming the first black member of Congress who identifies as gay. Torres, 32, overwhelmingly defeated Republican Patrick Delices in the district, one of the poorest and most Democratic in the country, after winning a 12-way Democratic primary in June. "Tonight, we made history," he tweeted.  "It is the honor of a lifetime to represent the essential borough, the Bronx. "North Carolina elects youngest member of Congress in modern historyAt 25 years old, Madison Cawthorn will become the youngest member of Congress in modern history, according to US House records.  CNN projects the Republican will beat Democrat Moe Davis for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District.  Cawthorn, a political newcomer and staunch conservative, pulled off a surprise primary victory over a candidate backed by President Donald Trump.  Cawthorn came under scrutiny over the summer for photos on his Instagram page that show him in 2017 visiting Adolf Hitler's vacation house in Germany known as the "Eagle's Nest. " The caption refers to Hitler as "the Fuhrer" and says that a visit to the site — a popular tourist destination documenting the horrors of the Nazi regime — had been on his "bucket list for awhile" and "did not disappoint. "New Mexico elects the first all-female congressional delegation – and they're also women of color Three New Mexico women won their districts making them the first all-female congressional delegation to represent a state. Deb Haaland, one of the first Native American woman in Congress, was re-elected for her second term.  Yvette Herell, a member of the Cherokee Nation, won her race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District and Teresa Leger Fernandez won her race for the 3rd.  Leger Fernandez is the first woman to hold her seat since its creation in 1983. Missouri elects state's first Black woman to Congress — and she's a veteran Black Lives Matter activistCori Bush, a progressive community leader and veteran Black Lives Matter activist, won a US House seat in Missouri, becoming the state's first Black woman to represent the state in Congress, according to CNN projections.  Bush, a nurse and a pastor, became an organizer and protest leader after the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014.  "This is definitely a night to remember," Bush said in a speech on Tuesday. Arizona, New Jersey and South Dakota vote to legalize recreational marijuanaVoters have approved ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona and New Jersey, and both recreational and medical use in in South Dakota, CNN projects. South Dakota will be the first state ever to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time. Results have not yet been determined for Montana's ballot questions on recreational marijuana and Mississippi's medical marijuana measure. The initiatives would only be the first step in the process, said John Hudak, deputy director at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in state and federal marijuana policy. After voters approve the measures, he said, the state legislatures normally would need to set up regulatory structures within each state.  Currently, 11 states have legalized full, adult marijuana use. Oregon decriminalizes the possession of heroin, meth and other hard drugsIn a first in the nation, Oregon passed a ballot measure decriminalizing the possession of heroin, oxycodone, meth and other hard drugs.  Instead of possible jail time, a person would be able to pay a $100 fine or enter addiction treatment. On Tuesday the state also legalized the use of psilocybin mushrooms — the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms — for mental-health treatment. The measure requires the Oregon Health Authority to allow licensed, regulated production and possession of psilocybin, exclusively for administration by licensed facilitators to clients. Mississippi approves new state flagMississippi's new state flag will feature the magnolia flower after the state in a historic move this summer parted with its decades-old banner that included a Confederate battle emblem. Voters on Tuesday approved the "In God We Trust" magnolia design as the new state flag, CNN projected. The state Legislature will now have to enact into law the new design as Mississippi's official state flag during its next regular session in 2021. Mississippi was the last state in the country whose flag, which was adopted in 1894, included the Confederate emblem. You can follow the latest results in the House here and Senate hereAs results for congressional races continue come in, here's how the balance of in Congress looks like right now. In the Senate, Democrats have 47 seats while Republicans have 47.  Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority. In the House, Democrats have 199 seats and Republicans have 188.  The party that has at least 218 seats will control that chamber. Republican Nancy Mace will win South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, defeating incumbent Democratic Rep.  Joe Cunningham, CNN projects. Republican Rep.  Chip Roy will win his reelection bid in Texas' 21st Congressional District, CNN projects.  Republican Lauren Boebert will win Colorados's 3rd Congressional District, CNN projects. Boebert is among a group of congressional candidates who have engaged with the QAnon conspiracy theory. Republican Victoria Spartz will win a House seat in Indiana's 5th Congressional District, CNN projects. As results for congressional races continue come in, here's how the balance of in Congress looks like right now. In the Senate, Democrats have 47 seats while Republicans have 47.  Either side needs 51 seats to have a majority. In the House, Democrats have 199 seats and Republicans have 184.  The party that has at least 218 seats will control that chamber. 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President Biden has signed two more executive orders: one focused on expanding food assistance and delivering stimulus checks to very low-income Americans, and the other on raising the minimum wage to $15 for the federal workforce https://t.co/HdmRIyrLQi https://t.co/ED7ol2ZUM0

The order is among many executive actions taken in his first days in office. Biden launches national ‘wartime’ strategy to stop COVID-19President Joe Biden plans to sign a pair of executive orders Friday aimed at expanding food assistance for tens of millions of Americans and launching a process that will require federal contractors to pay their workers a $15 minimum wage and provide emergency paid leave. The moves come on Biden's second full day in office, and continue a string of executive actions he's taken to jumpstart his agenda and set the tone for his administration amid a COVID-19 pandemic that has left families struggling economically. "We're at a precarious moment in our economy.  We saw again today 900,000 new claims for unemployment insurance, another week at a level above any week during the Great Recession," White House National Economic Director Brian Deese said on a call Thursday night previewing the orders.  "More than . . . 10 million Americans are out of work, 14 million Americans are behind on their rent and nearly 30 million adults and as many as 12 million children are experiencing food insecurity. "Biden plans to sign an executive order that will expand protections for federal workers, including putting federal agencies on a path to require a $15 minimum wage for contractors. But that minimum wage won't come right away.  Instead, Biden plans to direct the federal government "to start the work that would allow him to issue" an order "within the first 100 days" that would require federal contractors to pay at least $15 per hour, according to the White House. The eventual executive action would also provide emergency paid leave to workers, the White House said. The order Biden plans to sign Friday will also restore collective bargaining power and other protections to workers by revoking several of former President Donald Trump's executive orders. The actions echo policy steps Biden advocated on the campaign trail, and were included in the joint recommendations from the Biden-Sanders unity task forces created shortly after Biden secured Sen.  Bernie Sanders' endorsement in the 2020 race. It will also reverse a move Trump made in October to reclassify a portion of federal workers in a way that made them easier to fire by the politically appointed leaders of agencies, the White House said.  The order will eliminate "Schedule F," the name of the classification that Trump's order created. Biden also plans to sign an additional order asking various agencies to take action during the pandemic to increase federal food assistance programs, and assist families in receiving economic aid they qualify for during the pandemic. Biden's executive order would address the 29 million Americans struggling with hunger by asking the Department of Agriculture to expand food assistance for school children missing meals due to school closures by 15%, increase emergency SNAP benefits to the lowest income homes in the country and revise the amount of benefits provided by the program to better cover the cost of a healthy diet, according to the White House. Biden will also ask the Treasury Department to ensure all Americans receive their direct stimulus payments by creating an online tool to allow recipients to claim the payment, and ask the Department of Labor to clarify rules for federal workers to allow them to apply for unemployment insurance if they refuse a job due to health concerns. The order will set up coordinated benefit delivery teams to work with small businesses and workers to navigate how to receive benefits available to them through state and federal resources as well. Deese stressed that the actions Biden planned to take would offer some assistance, but were far from comprehensive, urging Congress to pass Biden's ambitious $1. 9 trillion COVID stimulus package he introduced last week. "We hope that Congress will move quickly to consider this important plant," he said.  "But . . .  the American people can't afford to wait.  And so many are hanging by a thread, they need help, and we are committed to doing everything we can to provide that help as quickly as possible. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Delhi: Members of Resident Doctors' Association of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) continue to work wearing helmets, as a mark of protest against "worsening of violence against medical doctors in West Bengal." https://t.co/6vAlBdFfPd

All out-patient clinics and routine services will remain suspended on Friday in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Safdarjung Hospital with over 3,500 resident doctors from the two hospitals striking work in support of the doctors who were allegedly beaten up in West Bengal. Officials said senior doctors will run the emergency department and the ICUs.  The two hospitals see almost 20 thousand patients in their clinics, with 40% of them travelling from neighbouring states to seek treatment. “Around 1,600 resident doctors from Safdarjung will go on a strike tomorrow to show solidarity with the doctors from Bengal.  This will affect the clinics and routine services, however, we will ensure that the emergency department functions properly,” said Dr Prakash Thakur, president of Safdarjung Hospital’s resident doctors’ association. Also Watch | ‘Doctors protest in WB part of conspiracy by BJP, CPM’: Mamata Banerjee Around 100 routine surgeries are scheduled in each of the hospitals every day, which are likely to be cancelled due to the strike. “Routine OT services will largely remain suspended.  However, some specific cases may be taken up for surgery as per feasibility and mutual agreement between concerned faculty,” reads a letter from AIIMS medical superintendent, listing contingency measures for the strike. A doctor from Kolkata’s Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital (NRS) sustained a skull fracture after an attack by the relatives of a patient who died on Monday.  Doctors from Kolkata went on strike on Tuesday. On Thursday, Delhi doctors joined in their protest, with resident doctors from AIIMS and Safdarjung working with a bandage on head and wearing helmets. “The ongoing and worsening of violence against medical doctors in West Bengal is worrisome and disheartening.  There is a complete breakdown of law and order, with reports of mobs attacking doctor’s hostels with weapons.  The government has failed to provide protection and justice to doctors.  AIIMS RDA condemns this,” read a letter by the doctors’ association. Studies show that 75% of all doctors in India have faced some form of violence. Apart from the two hospitals, the Delhi Medical Association also called for a doctors’ strike, which might result in doctors from private hospitals skipping their clinics.  All other government hospitals, under the banner of Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), will go on a strike on Saturday.  “We held a candle light march today, but for a strike at a government hospital we need to give at least a 24 hour notice.  Hence, we will be going on a strike on June 15,” said Dr Sumedh Sandanshiv, president, FORDA. Dr.  Harsh Vardhan, Union health minister, urged the doctors to observe restraint so that essential services are not disrupted. “Doctors are an integral pillar of the society and often work under stressful and difficult conditions.  I urge the patients and their caregivers to observe restraint,” he said.


Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz was shot in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. He is in stable condition: https://t.co/YrWOrHrE1Q

The baseball great is in stable condition after surgery. 'We wish him the best': Boston Red Sox fans react to David Ortiz shootingRed Sox legend David "Big Papi" Ortiz arrived in Boston on Monday night from a hospital in the Dominican Republic after he was shot in the back at a nightclub in what appeared to be a targeted ambush attack. The bullet entered Ortiz's back and exited through his abdomen, according to Ortiz's father, Americo Enrique Ortiz, who spoke to reporters outside the hospital in Santo Domingo where his son was being treated.  He said his son got out of surgery just after midnight on Monday and was in stable condition. Sam Kennedy, the Red Sox president and chief executive officer, said Monday afternoon that the team sent a medical air ambulance to pick up Ortiz and jet him back to Boston to be treated at Massachusetts General Hospital.  He said he hoped Ortiz would be back in Boston "sometime later tonight. "Ortiz arrived at Massachusetts General Hospital around 9:30 p. m.  on Monday night. "David Ortiz is one of the most celebrated and beloved members of the Red Sox family," said Kennedy, adding that the shooting was jarring news to the team, from the front office to the players, coaches and fans. In the Dominican Republic, Dr.  Abel Gonzalez said the shooting left Ortiz, the married father of three children, with significant injuries. "The wound caused damage to the liver [and] small intestine.  We had to remove part of the intestines as well as [part of] the liver," Gonzalez said at a news conference Monday afternoon. The shooting unfolded Sunday night at the Dial Bar and Lounge, a nightclub in the nation's capital.  Security camera footage acquired by ABC News shows a crowded bar with people scattering after shots are fired and Ortiz, sitting at the bar, appear to grab his side and then collapse. Jhoel López, a TV host in the Dominican Republic, was speaking to Ortiz at the bar when the shooting broke out and was also injured, according to The Associated Press. Lopez suffered non-life threatening injuries.  Police said they believe Lopez was struck in the leg by the same bullet that hit Ortiz. The man who allegedly confessed to playing a role in the shooting was identified by police as 25-year-old Eddy Feliz Garcia. Garcia reportedly confessed to being involved in the shooting of Ortiz, according to Frank Félix Duran, a spokesman for the Dominican Republic National Police.  Duran declined to elaborate on what the suspect told the police, or if he was the man seen in the video pulling the trigger. In a brief statement, police said they do not believe robbery was the motive. Garcia apparently tried to flee the nightclub after the shooting but onlookers immediately stopped and attacked him before he was turned over to the police and taken to a hospital for treatment.  He was treated and released into police custody. Garcia suffered a head contusion, trauma to his thorax and injuries to his left knee and right leg when the crowd detained him, according to the Dominican Republic National Health Service. Duran said Garcia appeared to be under the influence when police took him into custody.  He said police are awaiting a toxicology report to determine if Garcia was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Duran said Garcia has a criminal record, including minor drug trafficking arrests. Kennedy, the Red Sox president, said a medical team in Boston has been in communication with physicians treating Ortiz in the Dominican Republic.  He said Ortiz's condition is "still serious. ""But he is stable enough to be transported back here to Boston to continue care," Kennedy said. Dr.  Gonzalez said Ortiz was conscious on Monday afternoon and his blood pressure was good. "Today, his tubes were removed, he opened his eyes and the first thing he asked was to see his family," González said of Ortiz.  "He is in good spirits, waiting to travel to Boston this afternoon to see his physician and his wife. "Americo Ortiz also attended the news conference and personally thanked the doctors and staff at the Abel González Center for Advanced Medicine in Santo Domingo who treated his son and likely saved his life. He said he wanted to make it clear that his son, who was born in Santo Domingo and is one of the most famous baseball players in the country's rich history of the sport, was not being taken back to the U. S.  because of lack of service in the Dominican Republic. "We are very satisfied with the service," said Americo Ortiz, explaining that his son's family and personal doctors are in Boston. David Ortiz left the hospital by ambulance just after 5 p. m.  local time on Monday and was driven to an airport to be placed on the medical ambulance jet. "Our thoughts are with David Ortiz, who is reportedly hospitalized after being shot in his hometown of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic," MLB tweeted on its official Twitter account. News of Ortiz being shot reached some Boston officials, including Mayor Marty Walsh, as they were helping to launch a new gun violence prevention effort in the city. "It's a tough situation.  Hopefully, he's OK.  He's such a big Boston icon and part of our city, part of our life here in Boston," Mayor Walsh told ABC affiliate WCVB in Boston. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said she is praying for Ortiz to make a full recovery. "There's nobody who's a bigger fighter who knows how to step up in a time of crisis than Big Papi," Healey said told WCVB. Ortiz was part of three Red Sox World Series championship teams -- in 2004, 2007 and 2013.  He's credited with helping to break the so-called "Curse of the Bambino," derived from the Red Sox sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1918 and, according to superstition, led to Boston's 86-year championship drought. Lovingly known as "Big Papi," he was a 10-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger winner and finished in the top 5 in MVP voting five times.  He was also the World Series MVP in 2013. Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez, a legend in the Dominican Republic in his own right, and a former teammate with Ortiz on the 2004 champion Red Sox team, tweeted, "I'm at peace knowing you out of danger, you a strong man Compai, can't wait to hear your voice. "Ortiz retired from baseball in 2016.  He hit . 315 and led the American League in doubles and runs batted in during his final season, but held fast in his decision to walk away from the game as he had announced months earlier. He finished his career with 541 career home runs, 17th all-time, and was eighth all-time in extra-base hits (1,192) and 12th all-time in doubles (632). ABC News' Brendan Rand contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


A man who allegedly stabbed the elderly rector of a church in Canada during a televised Mass as shocked parishioners watched will appear in court https://t.co/lLhDTPonvp https://t.co/J4ObqU2obt

A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene, police said. Man rushes altar to stab priest during MassA Catholic priest was stabbed while celebrating Mass in Montreal Friday morning as stunned parishioners looked on, according to officials and video footage. The horrifying incident, which authorities said was not terror-related, unfolded just before 9 a. m.  at the historic St.  Joseph's Oratory, leaving Father Claude Grou, 77, with lacerations to his upper body, according to Montreal police spokeswoman Caroline Chevrefils.  He was rushed to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition, according to the Montreal Diocese. "There was a man, a young man, who stood up and, quickly, went to the front, into the sanctuary, behind the altar where Abbé Claude Grou was standing," witness Philip Barrett told The Montreal Gazette.  "No one was sure what exactly was happening and I saw the priest move a bit, farther away from this person. "The alleged assailant, a 26-year-old, can be seen on video footage running up onto the altar, knocking over a candle and then attacking the priest with a sharp object. He was then detained by church security until police arrived, Chevrefils said. The television channel broadcasting the service live told ABC News it cut the feed soon after the stabbing took place.  In a statement, the channel, Salt + Light, apologized for "the interruption of the live mass . . .  due to a serious incident. "The priest was released from the hospital late Friday, CTV reported. The suspect was taken to a detention center where he will be met by investigators this afternoon, police said.  He is expected to appear in court, via video, on Saturday afternoon. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante called the attack a "horrible and inexcusable gesture that has no place in Montreal. ""What a horrible attack at Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal this morning," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted.  "Father Claude Grou, Canadians are thinking of you and wishing you a swift recovery. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee attend a West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police event. Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar also present. https://t.co/zyFgfzJwHa

Angry over his younger brother securing a government job on compassionate grounds, a 30-year-old man allegedly set two rooms of their house on fire, killing four members of the family and injuring four others in West Bengal’s Malda district, police said on Monday. The incident occurred at Madantola village under Manikchak police station, they said. The accused, Makhan Mondal, allegedly poured petrol in two rooms of the tile-roofed hut on Sunday night when the family members were asleep.  Makhan’s younger brother Gobinda, 28, elder brother Bikash, 32, and Gobinda’s two daughters — aged three and one-and-a-half years — were charred to death, police said. The two children died on the spot while Bikash and Gobinda succumbed to injuries in hospital, they added. Bikash’s wife, son and daughter and Gobinda’s wife were admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital in a serious condition, police said.  The mother of the brothers was sleeping in another room and she escaped unhurt, they said. Police said Makhan, whose wife is now at her parents’ place, was absconding. Police and family sources said Gedu Mondal, a worker of the National Volunteer Force (NVF), had died in harness sometime back and Gobinda got the job on compassionate grounds with help from Bikash, leaving Makhan angry. The brothers were engaged in agricultural work.  Their another brother Lakshman lives in Delhi.


Check out the most eye-catching looks from the #Oscars red carpet https://t.co/7OPAyZdTOu https://t.co/p8GiQDdQzR

Spike Lee paid homage to Prince.  Oscars 2019: Most dapper men on this year's red carpetWhile women dominated the Oscars 2019 red carpet in high style, there were a significant amount of men who made us all stop and stare as well. For starters, Billy Porter nearly stole the show in his Christian Siriano Tuxedo dress while Spike Lee paid tribute to Prince in his head-to-toe purple look. Just in case you missed it, we have curated a list of nine of the most dapper dudes at this year's Academy Awards. Billy PorterAdam LambertHenry GoldingJason MomoaMark RonsonSpike LeeStephen JamesChris EvansChadwick Boseman24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Nitish Kumar stakes claim to form govt in Bihar, says swearing-in ceremony on Monday

https://t.co/NWxEiw5Oew https://t.co/cWBg3pZcpP

Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar on Sunday staked claim to form government in Bihar and said swearing-in ceremony will take place on Monday. Talking to reporters outside his residence upon returning from the Raj Bhavan, Kumar said the swearing-in will take place Monday evening and parried questions about details like whether BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi would be returning as his deputy. Also Read | Sushil Modi to step down as deputy CM, Tarkishore Prasad might take over“The Governor was handed over the letter of support from all four constituents of the NDA.  As per his direction, we shall be taking oath at the Raj Bhavan, tomorrow, around 4- 4. 30 P. M”, said Kumar. “After the swearing-in, we will convene the meeting of the cabinet where a decision on convening the assembly session will be taken”, said Kumar. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners which met on Sunday at the CM’s official residence, chose Nitish Kumar as the next chief minister of Bihar. The meeting was attended by all the 125 newly-elected alliance MLAs comprising BJP, JD (U), HAM-S and VIP. Kumar later went to the Governor’s house to hand over the letter for government formation and list of MLAs of the alliance.  One independent candidate has also extended support to the NDA. In the recently concluded Bihar assembly elections, the BJP had won 74 seats, JD-U 43, while eight seats were won by two other NDA constituents.  The NDA combined won 125 seats, which is three more than the majority mark in the 243-strong Bihar assembly.  The RJD, led by 31-year-old Tejashwi Yadav, emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats.  The opposition alliance won 110 seats. The Bihar governor dissolved the assembly on November 13.


An image showing police personnel protesting, holding a placard saying “we cannot lathi-charge innocent people” has gone viral.  However, we found out that the image, which is from 2019, has been morphed to change the narrative.  The original photograph was taken at a protest outside Delhi ITO and the slogan read, “We want justice”.  Additionally, this image had gone viral in December 2019 in connection with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.  CLAIM An image of policemen protesting against lathi-charging has gone viral with a message that reads, “पुलिस लाठी चार्ज करती नही सरकार करवाती हैं |” (Translation: Police do not lathi-charge, the government makes them. ) One of the protesting police personnel can be seen holding a placard that says, “मासूमों पे लाठी चार्ज हम से नहीं हो पाएगा |” (Translation: we can not lathi-charge innocent people. ) Several people on Facebook shared the image with the same message.  We also found the image being shared on Twitter.  Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha’s (SCS) State president tweeted the image on 10 October and it received 1,600 retweets and 7,000 likes at the time of writing this article.  WHAT WE FOUND OUT We did a reverse image search of the photo and found the original images, from 5 November 2019.  The image was taken when Delhi police personnel marched to the Delhi police headquarters to protest against the alleged manhandling of police officers by lawyers at Tis Hazari and Saket District Court complex.  The image, that was released by Press Trust of India, shows the original slogan, which said, “We want justice”.  WHY WAS THE POLICE PROTESTING?  On 2 November 2019, a clash between lawyers and police broke out outside Tis Hazari Court complex.  The clash that followed a minor scuffle turned violent and 20 people were injured while several vehicles were vandalised or set on fire.  This was followed by another incident outside Saket District Court complex, where according to a purported video, several lawyers allegedly heckled and slapped a policeman.  The Delhi High Court ordered a judicial probe into the clashes between the cops and the lawyers.  Policemen, however, were not happy with the leadership’s handling of the case and decide to protest outside the police headquarters.  Evidently, a morphed image of the police protest is being shared to create a false narrative.


Delhi: Cyclists, joggers and morning walkers exercise at Rajpath. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy sky with light rain in the national capital for today. https://t.co/sgz8xdcvfT

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange rain alert for the weekend in south Bengal districts on Saturday.  Rain has already hit Kolkata.  According to the forecast some of the districts in south Bengal could receive very heavy rain on Saturday.  Kolkata and its adjoining areas are also expected to receive heavy rain. On Sunday, heavy rain is also expected to lash the districts of Purlia, Bakura, Jhargram and Burdwan. “A low pressure has developed over the Bay of Bengal and it has intensified into a well-marked low pressure area.  It is located near the Odisha and West Bengal coast and this would trigger rain over the weekend,” said a senior official of the regional meteorological centre in Kolkata.  Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea as winds with speed reaching up to 45 km per hour may be blowing over Bay of Bengal.  The district administrations have been alerted to restrict beach activities.  The colour red is used to denote the highest level of warning in the IMD’s four-stage colour-coded weather warning system.  Orange comes next and denotes administration to stay alert.  On May 20, West Bengal was hit by cyclone Amphan with wind speed gusting up to 185 km per hour.  The cyclone killed 98 people and left a trail of destruction.


Assam reported 1,416 new #COVID19 cases today, taking total cases to 1,83,812 including 1,47,519 recoveries, 721 deaths and 35,569 active cases: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma https://t.co/FUscKpAjfH

Sep 08, 2021-Wednesday

Metro cities -  Delhi, Mumbai,
											Chennai,
											Kolkata

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

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Lebanon orders 111 towns, villages closed to curb Covid-19's spread10 fresh cases push Andmans Covid-19 tally to 3,858Jharkhand's Covid-19 tally crosses 85,000; death toll at 729Joe Biden tests negative for Covid-19, reports AFPHaryana logs 1,476 fresh Covid-19 cases, 23 more deathsMadrid readies for partial lockdown, files legal challengeMelania Trump says 'feeling good,' hoping for 'speedy recovery' after positive Covid-19 testSection 144 imposed in three cities in Kerala amid rise in Covid casesSection 144 to be imposed in Thiruvananthapuram amid Covid surge76. 62% of the active Covid-19 cases reported from 10 States and UTs: Health MinistryKerala logs nearly 10,000 new Covid cases; active cases mount to 77,482US Vice President Mike Pence tests negative for Covid-193,946 new cases push Uttar Pradesh’s Covid-19 tally to nearly 407,000Trump’s Age and Weight Make Covid Particularly DangerousNumber of recoveries in India rising every day: Harsh VardhanAs per the Union health ministry's dashboard, India on Friday logged 81,484 fresh Covid-19 cases and 1,095 deaths which pushed the tally to over 6. 39 million.  The total cases include 942,217 active cases, over 5. 35 million recoveries and 99,773 deaths. India on Thursday began its fifth stage of unlock, which is also called ‘reopening. ’ Various state governments issued guidelines for this phase of unlocking in their respective states, after broader guidelines were released by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Wednesday. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageMeanwhile, United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melanie Trump tested positive for Covid-19 and will be placed under quarantine.  More than 207,000 Americans have been killed by Covid-19 and millions have been infected. Follow all live updates here:Lebanon orders 111 towns, villages closed to curb Covid-19's spreadAuthorities on Friday ordered the lockdown of more than 100 towns and villages across Lebanon after hundreds of people tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days and amid a shortage of hospital beds, reports AP.  10 fresh cases push Andmans Covid-19 tally to 3,85810 new Covid-19 cases reported in Andaman and Nicobar, taking the total number of cases to 3,858; death toll stands at 53.  Total 3,631 patients have recovered so far and there are 174 active cases, Andaman and Nicobar administration said, reports ANI.  Jharkhand's Covid-19 tally crosses 85,000; death toll at 729harkhand reported 736 new Covid-19 cases, 967 recoveries and 8 deaths on Friday, taking total cases to 85,400 including 73,428 recoveries, 729 deaths and 11,243 active cases, the state's health department said, reports ANI. Jharkhand reported 736 new #COVID19 cases, 967 recoveries and 8 deaths today, taking total cases to 85,400 including 73,428 recoveries, 729 deaths and 11,243 active cases: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/lc2W3o0j7oJoe Biden tests negative for Covid-19, reports AFPDemocratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has tested negative for Covid-19.  Haryana logs 1,476 fresh Covid-19 cases, 23 more deathsHaryana reported 23 more fatalities due to Covid-19 on Friday, raising the death toll to 1,425, while the tally reached 1,31, 388 with 1,476 fresh cases, reports PTI.  Madrid readies for partial lockdown, files legal challengeMadrid was set to go into partial lockdown on Friday night, complying with an order from the Spanish government but determined to fight it in the courts, Measures that ban all nonessential trips in and out of the capital and nine of its suburbs — covering around 4. 8 million people — were set to be enacted at 10 p. m, reports AP.  Melania Trump says 'feeling good,' hoping for 'speedy recovery' after positive Covid-19 testUnited States First Lady Melania Trump after testing positive for Covid-19 along with husband and US President Donald tSection 144 imposed in three cities in Kerala amid rise in Covid casesAmid rise in Covid-19 cases, Section 144 has been mposed in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kottayam.  Section 144 to be imposed in Thiruvananthapuram amid Covid surgeSection 144 has been imposed in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram from 3rd October to 31st October, due to surge in Covid-19 cases, reports ANI.  76. 62% of the active Covid-19 cases reported from 10 States and UTs: Health MinistryAt least 76. 62% of the active coronavirus cases have been reported from 10 states and union territories (UTs), the Union health ministry said on Friday.  According to the ministry, Maharashtra is leading the states' tally with more than 2. 5 lakh cases.  Karnataka follows with more than 1 lakh cases, reports ANI.  Kerala logs nearly 10,000 new Covid cases; active cases mount to 77,482As many as 9,258 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Kerala in the last 24 hours, which pushed the active cases in the state to 77,482.  Over 135,000 have recovered from the disease till now, the state government said, reports ANI.  Kerala records 9,258 new #COVID19 positive cases in the last 24 hours.  There are 77,482 active cases in the state and 1,35,144 people have recovered from the infection till date: State Government pic. twitter. com/mmKro2HXXrUS Vice President Mike Pence tests negative for Covid-19United States Vice President Mike Pence and his wife have tested negative for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), reports Reuters.  3,946 new cases push Uttar Pradesh’s Covid-19 tally to nearly 407,000Uttar Pradesh recorded 3,946 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the infection count to 4,06,995 on Friday, according to official data.  The death toll from the pandemic stands at 5,917 in the state, Additional chief secretary health, Amit Mohan Prasad said, reports PTI.  Trump’s Age and Weight Make Covid Particularly DangerousPresident Donald Trump is 74 years old, overweight and male -- factors that put him into a higher-risk category of Covid-19 patients and thrust his health into the spotlight just a month before the US election, reports Bloomberg.  Number of recoveries in India rising every day: Harsh VardhanIn a tweet, health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan points to India's recovery rate of 83. 70%, crediting Centre's strategies with rising number of recoveries in India per day. Recovery Rate 83. 70% ! केंद्रित रणनीतियों और उपायों की बदौलत भारत में #कोरोना से ठीक होने वाले मरीज़ों की संख्या में लगातार बढोत्तरी हो रही है।देश में 53 लाख से ज़्यादा मरीज़ पूर्णतया ठीक होकर घर जा चुके हैं।भारत जल्द ही इस वैश्विक महामारी पर विजय प्राप्त करेगा। #COVID19 pic. twitter. com/MgejyPE8sKFirst published: Oct 02, 2020 06:48 IST


Telangana recorded 1296 new #COVID19 positive cases and 6 deaths today. Total number of cases rise to 45,076 including 12,224 active cases, 415 deaths and 32,438 recovered cases: State Government https://t.co/SwQBk9oLol

A total of 193 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths were reported in Rajasthan on Sunday, taking the state count of coronavirus cases to 28,693. “193 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths have been reported in Rajasthan till 10:30 am today, taking total cases to 28,693,” said State Health Department. Out of the total cases, 21,266 people have recovered from the illness while 556 have died. With the highest single-day spike of 38,902 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India’s total Covid-19 tally on Sunday reached 10,77,618, informed the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Sunday.


Highest one-day jump of 49,931 cases in the last 24 hours has pushed India’s #COVID19 tally past 14.35 lakh, according to the health ministry dashboard

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Sep 08, 2021-Wednesday

Metro cities -  Delhi, Mumbai,
											Chennai,
											Kolkata

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

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Human clinical trial of Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ begins in Odisha7,924 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, death toll at 13,883Covid-19 cases cross one lakh mark in KarnatakaNearly 7,000 new coronavirus cases recorded in Tamil NaduTrump's National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien tests Covid-19 positive: ReutersConfirmed coronavirus cases surpass 100,000 in IndonesiaCovid the worst global health emergency faced by WHO, says WHO chiefAishwarya Rai, daughter Aaradhya test negative for Covid-19, discharged from hospitalTelangana’s Covid-19 tally crosses 55,000; death toll at 471106,962 samples tested for Covid-19 on Sunday in Uttar PradeshShillong goes under 72-hour lockdown amid rise in Covid-19 cases37 fresh cases push Tripura’s Covid-19 tally to nearly 4,000Indonesia’s Covid-19 tally crosses 100,000; death toll at 4,838Hong Kong records highest ever single day spike of 145 Covid-19 cases7,685 rapid antigen tests conducted in Delhi today: GovtWith 49,931 fresh cases of Covid-19 recorded in 24 hours, India' tally went over 14 lakh on Monday.  As many as 32,063 people have died of the infection in India, according to the health ministry dashboard on Sunday morning. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageAccording to the government, India is conducting over 400,000 coronavirus tests every day.  This increase in testing has come about due to the introduction of Rapid Antigen Tests.  Though not as accurate as molecular tests, the results for antigen tests are available within an hour.  These have also helped Covid-19 hotspot New Delhi scale up its testing rate. Follow live updates on Covid-19:   Human clinical trial of Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’ begins in OdishaThe much-awaited human clinical trial of indigenously developed Covaxin, a possible vaccine against novel coronavirus, began at an institute here on Monday, a senior official said.  The human trial of BBV152 COVID-19 vaccine or Covaxin commenced at the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital, one of the 12 centres selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for conducting phase one and two of the process, the official at the facility said. 7,924 new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, death toll at 13,883Maharashtra Covid-19 case tally rises by 7,924 to 3,83,723; fatalities up by 227 to 13,883: State Health departmentCovid-19 cases cross one lakh mark in KarnatakaCovid-19 cases breach one lakh mark in Karnataka; single biggest day spike of 5,324 new infections: Government bulletinNearly 7,000 new coronavirus cases recorded in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu reports 6,993 fresh coronavirus cases, highest single day increase, taking the tally to 2,20,716 while 77 fatalities pushes the death toll to 3,571.  GovtTrump's National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien tests Covid-19 positive: ReutersConfirmed coronavirus cases surpass 100,000 in IndonesiaIndonesia announced Monday that its confirmed coronavirus cases have surpassed 100,000, the highest amount in Southeast Asia. Cases continue to rise across the world’s fourth-most populous nation as testing remains sharply limited and businesses continue to reopen.  The health ministry announced 1,525 more cases on Monday, bringing the country’s confirmed total to 100,303. Covid the worst global health emergency faced by WHO, says WHO chiefThe coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 16 million people is easily the worst global health emergency the World Health Organization (WHO) has faced, its director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, reports Reuters. Aishwarya Rai, daughter Aaradhya test negative for Covid-19, discharged from hospitalAbhishek Bachchan tweeted that his wife, Aishwarya Rai and daughter Aaradhya tested negative for the coronavirus, and have been discharged from hospital.  He remains under observation with father Amitabh Bachchan. Thank you all for your continued prayers and good wishes.  Indebted forever.  🙏🏽 Aishwarya and Aaradhya have thankfully tested negative and have been discharged from the hospital.  They will now be at home.  My father and I remain in hospital under the care of the medical staff. Telangana’s Covid-19 tally crosses 55,000; death toll at 471Telangana's coronavirus tally crossed 55,000 after 1,473 more people tested positive for the infection.  Active cases have reached 12,955 while the death toll stands at 471, reports PTI. 106,962 samples tested for Covid-19 on Sunday in Uttar PradeshAmit Mohan Prasad, the principal health secretary of Uttar Pradesh said that 106,962 samples were tested for Covid-19 on Sunday and that no other state has tested so many samples in one single day, reports ANI. कल प्रदेश में 106962 सैंपल्स की जांच की गई है। अब तक किसी भी प्रदेश में एक दिन में इतने टेस्ट नहीं किए गए हैं :यूपी के अपर मुख्य सचिव स्वास्थ्य अमित मोहन प्रसाद #COVID19 pic. twitter. com/foonvRs5BEShillong goes under 72-hour lockdown amid rise in Covid-19 casesA 72-hour lockdown started in Meghalaya’s state capital Shillong from Monday amid rising cases of novel coronavirus in the state, officials said.  Around 30 localities, mostly in the worst-hit East Khasi Hills district, have already been declared containment zones, they said, reports PTI. 37 fresh cases push Tripura’s Covid-19 tally to nearly 4,00037 more people tested positive for coronavirus in Tripura, taking the total number of cases in the state to 3,920.  The recoveries stand at 2,362, reports PTI. Indonesia’s Covid-19 tally crosses 100,000; death toll at 4,838As per the health ministry, 1,525 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Indonesia, taking the total number of cases in the country to 100,303.  The ministry also reported 57 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 4,838.  An increased number of recent virus transmissions have been linked to work places such as offices and factories, reports AP.  Hong Kong records highest ever single day spike of 145 Covid-19 casesHong Kong authorities reported 145 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, of which 142 were locally transmitted, setting a new daily high just hours after the city announced its toughest measures yet to curb a community outbreak, reports Reuters.  7,685 rapid antigen tests conducted in Delhi today: GovtAs many as 7,685 rapid antigen tests were conducted in Delhi today.  A total of 9,58,283 tests have been conducted so far, according to Government of Delhi. First published: Jul 27, 2020 06:07 IST


While the city of Wuhan, China is in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak, a video posted to Twitter, appears to show Wuhan's Red Cross Hospital overcrowded with patients.
https://t.co/QJZEAiSxeZ

By Nicole Chavez, Saskya Vandoorne and Fanny Bobille, CNNUpdated 7:18 PM ET, Fri January 24, 2020 Paris, France (CNN)Three cases of Wuhan coronavirus have been identified in France, the Health Ministry announced Friday.  They are the first European cases of the newly discovered virus, officials said.  CNN's Nicole Chavez wrote from Atlanta, Saskya Vandoorne and Fanny Bobille reported from Paris.


John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone win the #Oscar for Best Sound Editing for "Bohemian Rhapsody." #Oscars https://t.co/cvwld0DkqK https://t.co/mulS6ISyF1

By Lisa Respers France and Veronica Rocha, CNNDirector Spike Lee won his first Oscar ever for best adapted screenplay for his film "BlacKkKlansman. "Lee, who has been nominated five times, took the moment to remember the past and honor Black History Month.  He also paid homage to his grandmother, who he said saved up 50 years of Social Security checks to help put him through school. Lee also brought up the 2020 presidential election, nodding to his critically acclaimed film, "Do the Right Thing. "The movie was controversial, but "Green Book" still nabbed an Oscar. The film was awarded for best original screenplay. Screenwriter Nick Vallelonga, who wrote the story about his father accompanying musician Don Shirley for a tour in the South in the 1960s, thanked the voters and "the other amazing nominees. ""This is an amazing room of filmmakers," Vallelonga said.  "Embrace ourselves and love each other.  Thank you all.  My mother and father, I love you, we did it. "Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga do not play fair. All of the chills, tears and whatever else for the riveting performance of their hit "Shallow" from their film "A Star Is Born. "How to even handle the hotness. The pair, who play lovers on the screen, have such a special connection, and it was on display while crooning the nominee for original song. So. Damn. Good.  "Period.  End of sentence. ," a movie that aims to end the stigma of menstruation in other parts of the world, won an Oscar for best documentary short subject.  Director Rayka Zehtabchi gave us the quote of the night in her acceptance speech. "To the women, know that you are empowering women all over the world to fight for menstrual equality," she added. Producer Melissa Berton said the film was created after a group of high school students wanted to "make a human rights difference. ""A period should end a sentence, not a girl's education," Berton said.  Diversity is on display at the Oscars. From the presenters to the winners, this year's ceremony just feels more inclusive.  Some of the presenters spoke in Spanish. History was made, with Ruth Carter becoming the first African American woman to win an Oscar for costume design and Peter Ramsey being the first black director to win for an animated film with "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. "The latter featured the first Afro-Latina Spider-Man and one of the writers of the screenplay mentioned the importance of inclusion in his acceptance speech. Phil Lord said that when they hear a kid acknowledging that Spider-Man looks like them or speaks Spanish, "we feel like we already won. ""We see you.  You’re powerful.  This world needs you," Ramsey said.  "Ok?  So please, we’re all counting on you. "But Twitter was quick to point out that as great as the awards ceremony has been, there is still work to be done. A very grown up version of Wayne and Garth just showed up to Oscars. Mike Myers and Dana Carvey reprised their roles as the lovable rockers to present "Bohemian Rhapsody," which is nominated for best picture.  Remember: The pair and their buddies rocked out to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in their film "Wayne's World. "While Myers and Carvey were not dressed as their characters (they wore black tuxedos), they brought out their classic one liners. Here's how that went down: Myers: "We're not worthy! "Carvey: "I think I'm gonna hurl. "Myers: "Don't hurl.  'Cause if you hurl, I'll spew. "Carvey: "If you spew, I'll blow chunks.  So I shall not hurl. "Mahershala Ali just won best supporting actor for his role in "Green Book. "Ali is the second African-American actor to win multiple Oscars.  (Denzel Washington is the other actor. ) Ali is also a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice winner. In his acceptance speech, Ali thanked co-star Viggo Mortensen and dedicated the award to his grandmother. Ali and Mortensen starred in the fact-based story about the relationship between pianist Don Shirley (Ali) and the man hired to drive the African-American musician during a tour of the South in the early 1960s.  The title refers to the guide that lists what restaurants, hotels and gas stations served black people at the time. Ali also won a best supporting actor Oscar three years ago for his role in the film "Moonlight. "So many of the Oscar winners are remembering where they came from. Literally. The winners for best actor, best supporting actress, costume design, sound mixing and film editing all thanked their moms because honestly, where would we be without them? Best supporting actress winner Regina King brought her mother to the awards ceremony, as did nominee Bradley Cooper and "Black Panther" star Michael B.  Jordan. Mamas are everything, and they deserve of all the accolades.  Bette Midler performed the absolute perfect song for her. Midler sang "The Place Where Lost Things Go," from the film "Mary Poppins Returns," which is nominated for original song.  Honestly, Midler kind of reminds us of Mary Poppins, so it fits. Plus, she's a diva deserving of all the respect, which is what she got with a standing ovation. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


COVID19 | Tamil Nadu reports 19,588 new cases, 147 deaths and 17,164 recoveries; active cases 1,15,128 https://t.co/rCpntDBP5b

Kerala recorded 35,636 fresh Covid-19 cases on Saturday, including 81 health workers, pushing the total caseload to15. 69 lakh as the toll climbed to 5,356 with 48 deaths.  As many as 15,493 people were discharged.  Cumulatively 15,69,620 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 5,356 deaths and 12,77,294 discharges.  There are 3,23,828 active cases at present, with 52,836 undergoing treatment in Ernakulam, 46,427 in Kozhikode and 36,650in Malappuram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters.  Kozhikode reported the highest number of 5,554 cases on Friday, Ernakulam had 5,002 and Thrissur 4070,while Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram reported over 3,000 cases each.  In the last 24 hours, 1,46,474 samples were tested and the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) stood at 24. 33 per cent.  The toll has mounted to 5,356 with 48 deaths.  Of the positive cases, 81 are health workers, 223 had come from outside the state and 33,196 were infected through contact.  A person who returned from South Africa tested positive in the last 24 hours, a government press release said.  At least 108 returnees from UK, eight from South Africa and one from Brazil have so far tested positive for the virus.  The samples of 114 of them returned negative and 11 were found infected with the mutant strains so far, it said.  At least 6,87,843 people are under observation in various districts, including 25,326 in hospitals.


A post accompanying an image of an advertisement by ‘Tanha peer dargah’ authority thanking Rajasthan Chief Minister for including Tanha peer dargah in the religious tourism circuit and allocating Rs.  100 crores for the programme in the 2021-22 budget is being widely shared.  The post claims that Ashok Gehlot has allotted Rs.  100 crores in the budget for the development of a Dargah.  Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Ashok Gehlot has allotted Rs.  100 crores in the budget for the development of a Dargah. Fact: Rajasthan government in the 2021-22 budget allocated Rs. 100 crores for developing a religious circuit by connecting places of worship of Sikhs, Jains, Hindus, and Muslims in order to develop ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava’.  Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING. In the 2021-22 budget, the Rajasthan government has allocated Rs.  100 crores for development of religious tourist circuit connecting places of worship of Sikhs, Jains, Hindus, and Muslims in order to develop ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava’. The budget document further mentions the different religious places which fall under the ambit of this initiative of the religious tourism circuit.  Among the list of places, ‘Tanha peer dargah’ which falls in the Mandore-Jodhpur track is also a part.  Also, the Rs.  100 crores allocated to this initiative will be spent for developing connectivity and other areas concerning the places of worship of the four religions.  From this, it is evident Rajasthan government’s allocation of Rs.  100 crores for developing a religious circuit by connecting religious places of four different religions is misconstrued as the government allocating Rs.  100 crores just to develop a dargah. To sum it up, the Rajasthan government has allocated Rs.  100 crores to develop a religious circuit of four different religions, but not just a dargah.


Bengaluru: Congress-JD(S) workers stage protest on the streets of the city alleging horse trading by BJP in the state. https://t.co/MvcskNAN6r

Residents of the developing sectors of Gurugram held their fourth protest on Sunday morning, demanding either the shifting of the Kherki Daula toll plaza or an exemption from the toll for vehicles that are registered in Gurugam.  The residents said that the state government has repeatedly promised them that the toll plaza would be shifted but this has not materialised on the ground so far.  As such, families that have shifted beyond the toll in the newly developing sectors are being made to pay toll every day.  “Every Sunday around 25 to 30 people gather at the toll plaza in the morning and hold a small demonstration.  People from other parts of the city have also come to support us.  We have been told that the state government is likely to approach the Supreme Court for a speedy resolution of the matter.  Presently, the concessionaire has filed a case in the High Court.  However, we want relief now,” said Yashesh Yadav, a resident of the area and president of the Dwarka Expressway Welfare Association.  The residents of the area said that they want all vehicles registered with HR-26 (Gurgaon registration) to be exempted from paying the toll on the lines of the vehicles of 31 villages around Kherki Daula that are free from paying the toll.  Manoj Lakhani, another resident, said that apart from shifting the toll, the government could also fix the streetlights on the NPR/SPR connecting roads that are used by people to reach the highway.  “The only solution to this problem is the shifting of the toll plaza,” he said.


At 4:45 PM this evening, will be inaugurating the National Conference on Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, via video conferencing. The theme of this year’s conference is- Satark Bharat, Samruddha Bharat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Pic) https://t.co/ZDtoeEbBxC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a three-day national conference on vigilance and anti-corruption, on the theme Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat (Vigilant India, Prosperous India) on Tuesday evening via a video-conference link.  The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) organises the national conference coinciding with the Vigilance Awareness Week, which is observed every year from October 27 until November 2.  People familiar with the development said the activities in the conference would be focused on vigilance issues aimed at creating awareness and reaffirming the country’s commitment to promotion of integrity and probity in public life through citizen participation. Also read | At India Energy Forum, PM Modi says India’s energy future bright and secureThe conference will discuss the challenges in investigation in foreign jurisdictions; preventive vigilance as a systematic check against corruption; systematic improvements for financial inclusion and prevention of bank frauds; effective audit as an engine of growth; latest amendments to the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988 as an impetus to fight against corruption; capacity building and training and multi-agency coordination -- an enabler for faster and more effective investigations.  People cited above said that law enforcement officers from across the country will also discuss emerging trends in economic offences; cyber crimes and transnational organised crime measures to control and exchange of best practices among criminal investigation agencies during the conference.  “The conference will bring policymakers and practitioners on a common platform and will act as an enabler to combat corruption through systemic improvements and preventive vigilance measures, ushering in good governance and accountable administration.  This is a significant contributing factor for enabling ease of doing business in India,” said RK Gaur, spokesperson, CBI. Minister of state (MoS) for Personnel Jitendra Singh will also address the inaugural session of the conference.  The participants in the conference include heads of anti-corruption and vigilance bureaus, economic offences wings and crime inspection department (CID) units from all states and union territories (UTs) apart from central agencies.  Chief secretaries and director-generals of police (DGPs) of all states and UTs will also attend the inaugural session of the conference on Tuesday.


Jammu and Kashmir: Police are conducting checks on the movement of people amid the #CoronavirusLockdown. Visuals from Bathindi in Jammu. https://t.co/bqWc0xhe1B

A 65-year-old man died in Rajasthan’s Kota allegedly after his family had to ferry him in a cart from a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) hotspot for around 2km after failing to get an ambulance. The incident occurred in the curfew imposed Fatehgari in Rampura Kotwali area of Kota city on Monday when asthmatic patient, Satish Agarwal, fell down in his bathroom and got injured.  Follow latest updates on coronavirus here His wife Gayatri Agarwal and son Manish Agarwal tried to get an ambulance but did not get any for allegedly more than an hour.  They put Satish on a cart arranged by their neighbours and ferried him for around 2km till Ladpura. Satish Agarwal was taken to the government-run Maharao Bhim Singh Hospital where he died.  He is reported to have suffered cardiac arrest. The family members also accused the hospital administration of negligence in treating him when they brought him to the hospital.  Satish Agarwal’s son alleged that doctors kept sending them from one room to the other. Also read| Covid-19: What you need to know todaySince the deceased loved in a hotspot, the hospital administration has kept his dead body in the mortuary of the New Medical College Hospital where his samples will be taken. When asked about the incident, Dr BS Tanwar, Kota’s chief medical and health officer, said there is no dearth of ambulances and there was one in the affected area. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage The matter will be probed, Dr Tanwar said.


Debunking Donald Trump's latest voter fraud claim about New Hampshire | Analysis by @CillizzaCNN https://t.co/mHEQawjWmV https://t.co/GupbJjzS9G

The Trump campaign is confident the president will win the state in 2020. Trump defends economy at NH rally: 'You have no choice but to vote for me'President Donald Trump spoke for around an hour and a half at Thursday’s New Hampshire campaign rally, running through a litany of topics, including talking up the economy amid growing concerns of a potential rescission, taking familiar jabs at 2020 Democrats and raising the issue of gun control despite not specifically mentioning any clear plan or measure. But perhaps most noteworthy was what the president didn't say: No direct mention of Israel blocking Rep.  Ilhan Omar and Rep.  Rashida Tlaib from entering the country. However, the president did mention Omar briefly during his sprawling speech Thursday night in front of a raucous crowd at the SNHU Arena. "They're all expanding.  The steel industry is back.  It's doing great.  We're opening up mines in Minnesota, the great state of Minnesota, they're magnificent mines that have the best iron ore in the world," the president said, before mentioning the Democratic representative from Minnesota.  "And President Obama closed them down.  Maybe we can get representative Omar from Minnesota to open them up.  But I don't think so.  She'll open them up, I don't think so.  Rep.  Omar, that's another one," Trump added, before quickly jumping back to talking trade policy. And as stocks rebounded from the worst day on Wall Street this year and amid fears the United States might be inching closer to a recession in the coming months, the president still touted the economy.  "The United States right now has the hottest economy anywhere in the world," the president said, adding that the markets went up "thousands of points" since he won the election. The president's pitch to New Hampshire voters was simple Thursday night: Who else are you going to vote for? "I know you like me and this room is a love fest.  I know that, but you have no choice but to vote for me, because your 401(k)'s down the tubes, everything's going to be down the tubes," Trump said. "If for some reason I wouldn't have won the election, these markets would have crashed, and that'll happen even more so in 2020," the president said. Trump also took familiar jabs as his potential 2020 Democratic opponents. The president ran down a list of candidates including Sens.  Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, former Rep.  Beto O'Rourke and former Vice President Joe Biden, who received most of his venom. "What about a sleepy Joe Biden rally?  Right?  Boy, he's made some beauties," the president said, referring to the former vice president's past gaffes.  "I sort of hope it’s him. ""I don't mind any of them.  You got Pocahontas is rising," Trump said, using the derogatory nickname he bestowed on Warren.  "You got Kamala, Kamala is falling.  You got Beto.  Beto is like, gone. "The president, who delayed additional tariffs on certain Chinese goods this week, stated China was "eating the tariffs" and pushed claims that "prices haven’t gone up. " But economists insist the China trade war has hit both sides as the tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports are passed on to American businesses and, through price increases, to U. S.  consumersHe applauded farmers, who have been caught in the crossfire of the escalating trade war as China has asked its importers to halt agriculture purchases. "Our great farmers have been so incredible, because they've been targeted by China," the president said. The president's latest "Keep America Great" rally marks what the Trump campaign said will be its first big step in ensuring what it couldn't do in 2016: Flip the Granite State red. Losing New Hampshire in 2016 has appeared to be a sore spot for the president, but the reelection team said it's confident he will carry the state in 2020 despite potential indicators otherwise. "New Hampshire is absolutely part of our winning strategy," Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign's communications director, told ABC News. The campaign also hopes to flip New Mexico, Nevada, Minnesota and Oregon. And the president's New Hampshire loss won't be the only 2016 relic hovering over the rally on Thursday: Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has said he's "seriously considering" a 2020 Senate run in the Granite State.  And Lewandowski is set to travel on Air Force One Thursday for the rally, with rumors swirling about a possible announcement. The president will make his case to voters in New Hampshire, a state with a serious independent streak, on the heels of ramping up divisive rhetoric and as critics and 2020 Democratic candidates have blamed that rhetoric for inspiring violence against minorities, including the recent massacre in El Paso, Texas. And while the president lost New Hampshire by fewer than 3,000 votes, in 2020 it could be a taller task as Democrats have flipped the state's House and Senate since 2016. The president's support remains underwater but steady in New Hampshire, with a 53% disapproval rating, a 42% approval rating contrasted and 5% unsure, according to a recent University of New Hampshire poll. Trump's campaign said the president is banking on appealing to voters in New Hampshire by pushing for more manufacturing jobs and by touting steps he's taken toward battling the opioid epidemic, in addition to the economy. "We are working to retain the supporters and voters that he had in 2016, and bring in new ones," Murtaugh said. Just two weeks after winning in 2016 but losing New Hampshire, Trump tweeted that there was "serious voter fraud" there. After taking office, the president created a short-lived Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity that found no evidence of widespread voter fraud, according to a former member of the Trump administration's now-disbanded commission. The president's campaign declined to comment to ABC News when asked whether Trump still believes he lost the state because of voter fraud. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


#Oscars flashback: Check out Emma Stone on the Oscars red carpet in 2012 vs. tonight. She is nominated for best supporting actress for @the_favourite. https://t.co/1F5SFjWsFK https://t.co/KG4cZKJ9cf

  The 91st Academy Awards was a night marked by historic firsts, inclusiveness and a final twist.

  The following is a list of nominees and the winners.

  “Black Panther”

  “BlacKkKlansman”

  “Bohemian Rhapsody”

  “The Favourite”

  “Green Book” *WINNER

  “Roma”

  “A Star Is Born”

  “Vice”

  Amy Adams, “Vice”

  Marina de Tavira, “Roma”

  Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk” *WINNER

  Emma Stone, “The Favourite”

  Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite”

  Mahershala Ali, “Green Book” *WINNER

  Adam Driver, “BlackKKlansman”

  Sam Elliott, “A Star Is Born”

  Richard E.  Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me”

  Sam Rockwell, “Vice”

  “Capernaum”

  “Cold War”

  “Never Look Away”

  “Roma” *WINNER

  “Shoplifters”

  “Black Sheep”

  “End Game”

  “Lifeboat”

  “A Night at the Garden”

  “Period.  End of Sentence. ” *WINNER

  “Free Solo” *WINNER

  “Hale County This Morning, This Evening”

  “Minding the Gap”

  “Of Fathers and Sons”

  “RBG”

  “All The Stars” - “Black Panther”

  “I’ll Fight” - “RBG”

  “Shallow” - “A Star Is Born *WINNER

  “The Place Where Lost Things Go”  - “Mary Poppins Returns”

  “When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” - “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”

  “Incredibles 2”

  “Isle of Dogs”

  “Mirai”

  “Ralph Breaks the Internet”

  “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” *WINNER

  “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”

  “BlacKkKlansman” *WINNER

  “Can You Ever Forgive Me? ”

  “If Beale Street Could Talk”

  “A Star Is Born”

  “First Reformed”

  “Green Book” *WINNER

  “Roma”

  “The Favourite”

  “Vice”

  Christian Bale, “Vice”

  Bradley Cooper, “A Star Is Born”

  Willem Dafoe, “At Eternity’s Gate”

  Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody” *WINNER

  Viggo Mortensen, “Green Book”

  Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma”

  Glenn Close, “The Wife”

  Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born”

  Olivia Colman, “The Favourite” *WINNER

  Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me? ”

  Spike Lee, “BlacKkKlansman”

  Pawel Pawlikowski, “Cold War”

  Yorgos Lanthimos, “The Favourite”

  Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma” *WINNER

  Adam McKay, “Vice”

  “Black Panther” *WINNER

  “The Favourite”

  “First Man”

  “Mary Poppins Returns”

  “Roma”

  “Cold War”

  “The Favourite”

  “Never Look Away”

  “Roma” *WINNER

  “A Star Is Born”

  “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”

  “Black Panther” *WINNER

  “The Favourite”

  “Mary Poppins Returns”

  “Mary Queen of Scots”

  “A Quiet Place”

  “Black Panther”

  “Bohemian Rhapsody” *WINNER

  “First Man”

  “Roma”

  “Black Panther”

  “Bohemian Rhapsody” *WINNER

  “First Man”

  “Roma”

  “A Star Is Born”

  “Animal Behaviour”

  “Bao” *WINNER

  “Late Afternoon”

  “One Small Step”

  “Weekends”

  “Detainment”

  “Fauve”

  “Marguerite”

  “Mother”

  “Skin” *WINNER

  “Black Panther” *WINNER

  “BlacKkKlansman”

  “If Beale Street Could Talk”

  “Isle of Dogs”

  “Mary Poppins Returns”

  “Avengers: Infinity War”

  “Christopher Robin”

  “First Man” *WINNER

  “Ready Player One”

  “Solo: A Star Wars Story”

  “BlacKkKlansman”

  “Bohemian Rhapsody” *WINNER

  “Green Book”

  “The Favourite”

  “Vice”

  “Border”

  “Mary Queen of Scots”

  “Vice” *WINNER
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam grants clemency to Cyntoia Brown, a woman sentenced to life after killing a man who paid to have sex with her when she was 16 https://t.co/DYXQXfmMGa https://t.co/0hmxmMVubT

She was the subject of "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story," a 2011 documentary. Cyntoia Brown: From convicted murderer to victims' advocateA woman who alleges she was a sex trafficking victim and killed a man who solicited her for sex has just been granted clemency. Cyntoia Brown had her sentence commuted by Tennessee Gov.  Bill Haslam today after serving 15 years in prison. "This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case," Haslam said in a statement released by his office. Brown was convicted of the 2004 murder of Johnny Allen, a 43-year-old real estate broker she claims solicited her for sex.  She was tried as an adult in the case, convicted in 2006, and sentenced when she was 16 years old. Brown’s case gained attention in 2017 thanks to social media posts by celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, calling for her release.  She was also the subject of a 2011 documentary called "Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story. "Kardashian was one of Brown's supporters who praised Haslam's clemency, tweeting her support this afternoon. "Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16.  Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms.  Brown has taken to rebuild her life," Haslam said in the statement. Haslam's office pointed to the reformational work that Brown did during her time in prison, inlcuding getting her GED and noting that she is expected to get her bachelor's degree this year. The decision to grant Brown clemency, which lawmakers and advocates have been pushing for, is one of the final acts of the outgoing Republican governor. Brown will be subject to parole until August 2029. Her attorney, Charlie Bone, was the one to tell Brown on Monday that she was granted clemency. "There is nobody like Cyntoia Brown, and I may be a little prejudiced, but she deserves this," Bone said at a news conference. An advocate at the news conference read a letter written by Brown, in which she thanked many people, including Haslam "for your act of mercy and giving me a second chance. ""The lord has held my hand this whole time and I would never have made it without him," Brown wrote in the letter, adding that she is "committed to living the rest of my life helping others. "Nashville mayor David Briley also attended the news conference, calling the decision important for the city. "Her circumstances were tragic and that tragedy is something we can't forget. . . but today is a moment in Nashville where we can have a moment of redemption, where we can all be freed from the sins of the past," Briley said. "She has fought hard to give us this moment of redemption," he said.  "Let's not let it pass. "Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Brown’s correct claims regarding Johnny Allen, and to reflect the correct year of Brown's conviction. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Newly elected MP from Balasore, Odisha, Pratap Chandra Sarangi takes oath as Minister. #ModiSwearingIn https://t.co/Z3a5lvbFLJ

In the run-up to being sworn in as the country’s prime minister for the second consecutive term on Thursday at Rashtrapati Bhawan, PM Narendra Modi said that he was honoured to serve India. Minutes before taking oath, PM Modi took to Twitter.  “Honoured to serve India,” he said in a tweet. PM Modi, 68, was administered the oath of office by President Ram Nath Kovind.  BJP president Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and former foreign secretary S Jaishankar are some of the other Union ministers.  The prime minister and his new Cabinet was sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhawan’s forecourt in the presence of a mammoth gathering of politicians, sports icons, film personalities as well as the common people.  A total of 8000 people attended the swearing in ceremony.  PM Modi had first moved the oath ceremony in 2014 from one of the ceremonial halls in the presidential palace to the magnificent forecourt to accommodate a larger audience.


#WATCH Bihar: JNU Student Sharjeel Imam has been brought to Jahanabad court. He was arrested from Jahanabad in Bihar by Delhi Police, earlier today. Imam had been booked for sedition by Police. https://t.co/6x8gIpwRwO

Police in Bihar’s Jehanabad on Tuesday detained the brother of Sharjeel Imam, a student of Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) booked for sedition after his alleged “inflammatory and instigating” speech. Delhi Police have booked Imam, one of the organisers of the anti-citizenship act protests in the city’s Shaheen Bagh, for his alleged remarks threatening to “cut-off” Assam from the rest of India.  Cases have also been registered against him in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. If convicted under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) he could be imprisoned for life.  Before this, he had been booked on similar charges by Aligarh Police in Uttar Pradesh for a speech he delivered on the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus. Police picked up his brother Muzzamil Imam, a political worker associated with the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Jehanabad, for questioning, officials said. Muzzamil’s detention came a day after a police team from Delhi and Bihar had raided several places from Jehanabad to Patna in search of anti-citizenship act activist Sharjeel Imam on Monday. The police after searching different locations at Jehanabad and his native village at Kako, raided some places in Patna including Sabzibagh area, after getting information that he was hiding in the state capital.  Officials had said that Sharjeel Imam’s last mobile location was found to be in Patna on Saturday and later some people spotted him in Jehanabad as well. Jehanabad’s superintendent of police Manish Kumar said police raided on Imam’s ancestral house under the Kako police station area on Sunday night after “help was sought by central agencies”.  Imam, the son of former Janata Dal(United) leader late Akbar Imam, could not be found but two of his relatives and their driver were detained for interrogation and let off thereafter, the SP said and added that his family has been advised to ask him to surrender. His mother, Agsan Rahim, had alleged on Saturday that the media had distorted his statements and the police were “unnecessarily harassing the family. ”“My son is innocent.  I do not know about his whereabouts but can swear by God that he is innocent.  He is a bright young man.  But I can guarantee that upon learning about the cases, he will appear before the investigating agencies and fully cooperate in the probe,” she said. She said it has been a long time since she met her son though she had a telephonic conversation with him a few weeks ago. “He was obviously disturbed by the CAA and fears over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) being implemented across the country which, he said, would affect not just Muslims but all poor people,” she said. His uncle Arshad Imam said the entire village and community respect the judiciary and Constitution.  He, however, rued that fact that the statements have been distorted to suit the political needs. “A 40-second video of the 40-minute speech is being presented.  It is being exaggerated.  Every Indian has the right to protest,” said Imam, who was also interrogated by the police. Sharjeel Imam is a graduate in computer science from IIT-Mumbai“After remaining in the teaching profession for some time, he joined a software company.  He resigned from the service and joined JNU in 2017 do PhD in modern history,” a villager, who did not want to be named, said. “Sharjeel is the eldest of two brothers and his father contested the October 2005 assembly polls on JD(U) ticket.  He passed away five years ago,” the villager said.


Chandigarh: Thousands of farmers hold a tractor march at Chandigarh-Punjab border against the three farm laws introduced by the Centre. https://t.co/iCqWM5MrHd

Samyukt Kisan Morcha – an umbrella body of 40 farmers’ bodies protesting at Delhi’s borders– on Sunday announced a tractor parade on Outer Ring Road on January 26, a day before the Supreme Court hearing on seeking injunction against the proposed march. “This will be a peaceful parade.  No disruption will be caused to official Republic Day celebrations or provocative speeches will be made.  The national flag will be placed on all tractors,” farmer leaders said during the press conference. Farmer leaders said they will urge the Haryana and Delhi Police to cooperate.  “There will be no threat to any national heritage sites, or to any other site.  The vehicles in the parade will consist of tableaus and floats that will reflect the agricultural reality of different states in addition to showcasing historical regional and other movements.  No political party flags will be allowed,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal. Meanwhile, a day after India kicked off its vaccination drive against Covid , farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders maintained that they would not leave the capital to go to their home states to get vaccinated before the three contentious farm laws were repealed. Though the first round of vaccines have been reserved for health care personnel followed by front line workers, the elderly – considered to be at risk – will be next in line to get the vaccines administered.  This is crucial as a sizable number of farmers protesting at the national capital’s borders are above 50 years of age.  On Sunday, Chamkaur Singh, 63 and his friend Dabinder Singh, 61, from Moga district of Punjab, were among the several at the protest site who said they will not return to their villages to get vaccinated unless the three new contentious farm laws were repealed. “We have heard many doctors say that Covid-19 existed earlier as well and affected people with less immunity.  There are thousands of poor people living on the streets here, who have no means to wash their hands or wear masks.  How are they managing?  We believe the lockdown was just a ploy of the government to get the [farm] laws passed without any resistance,” said Chamkaur Singh, who hails from Dhudike village in Moga district, and is a member of Kirti Kisaan Union. Dabinder added, “We will get vaccinated only if we have the disease.  Not otherwise. ”Several others in the crowd added that they did not trust the government’s claims on the fatality rate of Covid-19 disease.  Balpreet Singh, 28, a farmer from Marur village in Firozpur, said, “We have been here since day one and it has been impossible to maintain physical distancing.  Yet, we are yet to encounter any Covid-19 cases in our group of 100-200 people.  The fear of the disease is more fatal than the disease itself. ” “What will we do with the vaccine if we lose our lands and homes eventually due to the farm laws?  This fight will continue and we are now looking forward to the tractor march on Republic Day,” he said. However, not all protesters were against taking the Covid shots.  Kuldeep Kaur, 68, a farmer from Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district, said, “Though we don’t have Covid-19 cases in our village, I will get vaccinated when I return to Punjab and the vaccine is made available to us.  I will not get vaccinated here though. ”


Rep. Stacey Plaskett says Rep. Matt Gaetz should be referred to the Ethics Committee for witness tampering over Michael Cohen tweet, and possibly "referred for criminal prosecution." https://t.co/Ty8X7O69ov https://t.co/FRdIwxC5ue

    The Florida Bar is investigating Republican Rep.  Matt Gaetz after his threatening tweet last night about President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen.

    Francine Andía Walker, the group’s director of communications, said the Florida Bar received a number of calls and emails regarding the tweet after it posted.

    According to disciplinary guidelines for the group, which is the organization of all lawyers licensed by the Supreme Court of Florida to practice law in the state, the state bar’s lawyer regulation arm must determine that an allegation against a bar member “would constitute a violation of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar” before a probe is opened.

    On Tuesday night, just hours ahead of Cohen’s public testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Gaetz – a Trump ally – tweeted at Cohen, “Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends?  Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat.  I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison.  She’s about to learn a lot…”

RELATED: Democratic lawmaker asks for ethics investigation into GOP lawmaker’s Michael Cohen tweet

    Gaetz later deleted his tweet and issued an apology.

    He tweeted on Wednesday night, “I’ve personally apologized to @MichaelCohen212 4 referencing his private family in the public square.  Regardless of disagreements, family members should be off-limits from attacks from representatives, senators & presidents, including myself.  Let’s leave the Cohen family alone. ”

    As part of their investigation, Walker said the Florida Bar on Wednesday would send Gaetz a letter outlining the allegation against him.  Gaetz will have 15 days to respond.

    The Daily Beast first reported the investigation Wednesday.

    “It seems that the Florida Bar, by its rules, is required to investigate even the most frivolous of complaints,” said Jillian Lane Wyant, a spokeswoman for Gaetz, when asked for a response to the investigation.

    A state bar investigation is not a criminal probe, and in Florida, there are further layers of investigation that the probe will go through before any potential disciplinary action is brought down by the Florida Supreme Court.

    Rules regulating the Florida Bar say that “a lawyer’s conduct should conform to the requirements of the law, both in professional service to clients and in the lawyer’s business and personal affairs.  A lawyer should use the law’s procedures only for legitimate purposes and not to harass or intimidate others. ”

  CNN’s Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.