Video shows Taliban hang a person from a US Blackhawk helicopter

An undated video showing a man dangling from a helicopter in Afghanistan's Kandahar city, went viral on Tuesday with a false claim that it showed a barbaric execution of a 'US interpreter' by the Taliban.  However, other videos and photos of the incident proved the claim to be false as they showed that the man was alive and wearing a harness.  The viral video was tweeted by Zee News Editor-in-chief Sudhir Choudhary with the caption, "Another landmark picture taking the world in a new era of terror.  Taliban hang a person, presumed to be an American interpreter, from a U. S.  Blackhawk helicopter.  The left over US helicopters will now be used in #Afganistan like this. " Another landmark picture taking the world in a new era of terror.  Taliban hang a person, presumed to be an American interpreter, from a U. S.  Blackhawk helicopter.  The left over US helicopters will now be used in #Afganistan like this.  pic. twitter. com/8q6C5bo4IB Click here to view an archive The same video was aired by Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV, which ran a whole debate on the video claiming that it showed Taliban hanging a man from a US Black Hawk chopper.  Click here to view Several other Indian news outlets including Aaj Tak, News 24, News 18, WION News, Navbharat Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, Zee Hindustan, ABP News and right-leaning website OpIndia misreported the video too.    Also Read: Indian News Channels Run Old Photos, Videos As Kabul Airport Terror Attack Origins of the video The viral video was initially tweeted on August 30, 2021, by the Twitter account Talib Times with the caption, "Our Air Force!  At this time, the Islamic Emirate's air force helicopters are flying over Kandahar city and patrolling the city".    Click here to view an archive BOOM also found that the same clip was earlier posted on Telegram by Tabasum Radio, an Afghan radio station, whose watermark can be seen in the video.  However, there was no claim that it showed a man being hanged by the Taliban.   Different angles from the incident show the man wearing a harness and waving   We also found several other videos and photos that showed that the man spotted in the viral clip, could be seen wearing a harness and waving his hand, which established that he is alive and that a harness was mistaken for a noose around the man's neck.   On searching with keywords such as 'Kandahar', 'helicopter', we found a video posted on Facebook shot from a different angle which showed the man moving his hands at the beginning of the clip.  The video was posted by the user Khan Mohammad Ayan, with the caption when translated stated that the Taliban had tried to hoist their flag at the governor's office using a helicopter in Kandahar.  The man's hand can be seen moving in the image below We also found another video, shot from near the governor's office building which shows the same helicopter, and the flag poles seen from below while the helicopter is hovering above it   The video was posted by a local reporter in Kandahar - Arghand Abdulmanan with the caption when translated reads, "The plane arrived at the Kandahar governor's office to hoist the flag, One of the soldiers was also hoisted on a plane to raise the flag, but did not fly. "  This states that the man seen in the video is a Taliban soldier who was trying to hoist a Taliaban flag.  Additionally, we also found photographs tweeted by the account Jahid Jalal (@A_Jahid_Jalal).  Jalal had also posted a video shot from a different angle than the viral video.   زموږ هوايي ځواک! همدا شيبه د اسلامي امارت د هوايي ځواک هليکوپترې د کندهار ښار په فضا باندې الوتنې کوي.  @A_Jahid_Jalal pic. twitter. com/GW4QWu1z8M On zooming in the photo, we can see that the man has raised his hand   Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of fact-checking site Alt News also found a video that showed the man moving his hands.    کندهار تازه صورت حال pic. twitter. com/HM2CP2aZHg Afghan reporter states that the man seen in the viral video was trying to hoist a Taliban flag Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary quote tweeted a tweet with the false claim stating that the Afghan pilot flying the helicopter is known to him and stated that the man seen in the viral video is a Taliban fighter who was trying to install a Taliban flag from the air but that it didn't work.  Afghan pilot flying this is someone I have known over the years.  He was trained in the US and UAE, he confirmed to me that he flew the Blackhawk helicopter.  Taliban fighter seen here was trying to install Taliban flag from air but it didn't work in the end.  https://t. co/wnF8ep1zEl Additionally, the BBC reporting on the viral video quoted that several Afghanistan experts, quoting Taliban sources, had told the BBC that the flight was an attempt to fix a flag over a public building using their newly-captured US-built equipment.  BOOM was not able to independently verified who the helicopter belonged to.  BOOM has been debunking viral misinformation and disinformation since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.  You can view our fact-check articles in the thread below.  #Thread🚨: Post the takeover of #Kabul city and #Afghanistan by the #Taliban, @boomlive_in has debunked misinformation around the conflict with old and unrelated photos and videos being shared online.  (1/n) 👇 #FakeNews #BOOMFactCheck


Karnataka: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel rescued a pregnant woman and shifted her to a hospital in Kodagu. (06.08.2020)

Several parts of Kodagu district are facing flood-like situation due to incessant heavy rainfall. https://t.co/kSnBVsVkLk

Heavy monsoon rains in Karnataka caused landslides near Mudigere in the Chikmagalur district, Annies Kanmani Joy, the deputy commissioner informed. “A landslide occurred yesterday near Mudigere due to heavy rainfall.  No loss of life or property has been reported so far,” she told said. Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed parts of the Udupi and Kodagu districts on Wednesday. Visuals from Kodagu showed a flood-like situation, with houses and vehicles submerged under rainwater. The India Meteorological Department tweeted earlier, “Isolated extremely heavy falls likely over Coastal Karnataka on August 5, 8 and 9, over South interior Karnataka on August 5. ”


BREAKING: Donald Trump will win the state of Ohio, @ABC News projects. https://t.co/yP2sjkpe6P #ElectionNight https://t.co/YYe3hRoswH

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


#JammuAndKashmir : 7 bodies including that of 5 policemen have been recovered from near the police post in Jawahar Tunnel area in Kulgam district where an avalanche took place earlier today. One policeman still missing. Two policemen who were rescued in the morning are stable now https://t.co/yZBf4IGITA

Three cops trapped inside their post under a snow avalanche near Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway were rescued on Friday, officials said. Efforts are on to rescue the seven other policemen still feared to be trapped there. The rescue teams faced lot of difficulty in reaching the avalanche site Friday morning due to strong winds and accumulation of snow, they said. The avalanche had hit the north portal of Jawahar Tunnel on the Qazigund side in Kulgam district on Thursday evening. While 10 policemen posted at the police post near the tunnel managed to reach safety before the avalanche struck, 10 other policemen were believed to be trapped.  Kashmir valley has been witnessing heavy snowfall since Wednesday with Kulgam District in south Kashmir receiving maximum precipitation in the past 24 hours. Some places in the district have received as much as five feet of snow, officials said.


BREAKING: Former Vice President Joe Biden will win the Mississippi Democratic primary, CNN projects #CNNelection https://t.co/OZa4Sj4ljV https://t.co/WkC9Uzk6H9

In Michigan, there are 125 Democratic and 73 Republican delegates at stake. Biden projected to win Michigan Democratic primaryFormer Vice President Joe Biden is the projected winner of the Michigan Democratic primary, based on an ABC News analysis of the vote so far.  The Great Lake State is a big prize for the Democrats, with 125 Democratic delegates up for grabs.  There are also 73 Republican pledged delegates at stake. The polls opened at 7 a. m.  and closed at 8 p. m.  in the state's two time zones, EDT and CDT. Michigan is an open primary state, which means that voters are not required to register with a party to vote in a primary, but may only choose one party's ballot. Vermont Sen.  Bernie Sanders won Michigan with 49. 8% to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 48. 3% in 2016. Clinton had a sizable lead in Detroit and its surrounding areas, including Flint and Wayne County, beating Sanders with 22 points. Sanders won Ann Arbor, where then-GOP candidate John Kasich, won on the Republican side. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


#Haryana: NDRF teams arrive at the site of building collapse in Ullawas, Gurugram. More than five people are trapped after a four-storey building collapsed early morning today. https://t.co/xzmyFKD4vT

Six people were killed and many others are feared trapped after a four-storey under-construction building collapsed early on Thursday in Gurugram’s Ullawas village, police said, as rescue workers searched for those feared stuck in the rubble.  Rescuers from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Border Security Force (BSF) were trying to clear the debris with the help of bulldozers and look for survivors, officials said. “The building belongs to a person named Dayaram.  Around 20 people, mostly security guards employed and deployed in the nearby sectors were living there on rent,” a senior police officer said, according to news agency IANS.  The building was almost complete except for some portion on the fourth floor, the officer said.  “State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Border Security Force (BSF), from its nearby base camp in here, has reached and the National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF) help has also been sought,” the official added. Some people living in the vicinity said the building was constructed without permission. “The owner of the building has been traced.  The cause of the building collapse can be ascertained only after investigation,” Gurugram’s deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said.  The city’s sub-divisional magistrate Sanjeev Singla said that the building was unstable and being built without any technical expertise.  Building collapses are common in India, where unscrupulous builders and officials often dodge codes or overlook the need to renovate old ones. (With agency inputs)Also Watch: Over 100 shanties gutted in fire in Gurugram’s Nathupur


Tesla is cutting its car prices in the United States by $2,000 to combat a cut in a federal tax credit for its buyers https://t.co/ZcOq3XtYTd https://t.co/ByGG9JMK7g

Tesla cuts prices as 4Q deliveries miss analysts' estimates and stock price tumblesDETROIT -- Shares of electric car and solar panel maker Tesla Inc.  tumbled Wednesday after the company cut vehicle prices by $2,000 and announced fourth-quarter sales figures that fell short of Wall Street estimates. The company said in a statement before the markets opened that it delivered over 245,000 electric cars and SUVs last year, nearly as many as all previous years combined. But Tesla also said it would cut prices of its three models by $2,000 to help customers handle the gradual phase-out of federal electric vehicle tax credits.  On Jan.  1 the federal credit for Tesla buyers dropped from $7,500 to $3,750.  It will gradually be phased out this year. The company's deliveries for the full year matched Wall Street estimates, but its figures for the fourth quarter didn't reach expectations.  Tesla said it delivered 90,700 vehicles from October through December.  Analysts polled by data provider FactSet expected 92,000.  Tesla said fourth-quarter deliveries were 8 percent higher than its previous quarterly peak in the third quarter of 2018. Tesla shares fell 7. 2 percent in midday trading to $308. 94.  In the past year they have traded from a low of $244. 59 to a high of $387. 46. The company now is moving into an important phase of its business and will have to decide whether to cut production to match what appears to be waning demand, or discount its vehicles to stimulate sales like other automakers do, Gartner analyst Michael Ramsey said. "They have for a long time had more demand than supply," Ramsey said.  "It's becoming apparent that that dynamic is changing. "Tesla will try to disguise the price cuts with the disappearing tax credit or discounts for buyers who refer other customers to Tesla, Ramsey said.  "The cars are quite expensive and they're still electric vehicles.  They don't appeal to everybody," he said, adding that not everyone is interested in the limited range or having to pay extra for a home charging unit. For the full year, Tesla said it produced 254,530 vehicles, which is 9,290 more than it delivered.  The company wouldn't say how many vehicles it had in inventory at the end of the year, but it reported enough to supply 20 days of sales at the end of September. "Our inventory levels remain the smallest in the automotive industry," the company said Wednesday. In late December, The Associated Press spotted dozens of Teslas stored in a lot on Chicago's north side, and Mark Spiegel, a hedge fund manager who bets against Tesla's stock price, reported hundreds of vehicles stored at other locations across the U. S. Tesla said it sometimes stores vehicles on lots as they're being shipped to company dealerships across the nation.  The lot in Chicago has fewer cars on it today, the company said.  "Our inventory levels remain the smallest in the automotive industry," the company said Wednesday. Tesla's 2018 production fell far short of a goal set nearly three years ago of manufacturing 500,000 vehicles for the year.  That goal was announced in May of 2016 based on advance orders for the Model 3. It's not clear how the delivery figures will affect Tesla's fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 earnings, which likely will be announced in February.  Ramsey said the company's stock price rose despite past losses because investors always thought Tesla had to spend money to increase production to meet high demand.  If demand fades, then well-documented financial problems such as high debt "start to become very, very serious," Ramsey said. Tesla's 2018 deliveries included almost 146,000 Model 3 lower-priced cars and another 99,000 of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV, both of which can easily top $100,000.  The Model 3 starts at $35,000 but still can't be purchased for under $45,000. In the third quarter of 2018, Tesla delivered on CEO Elon Musk's promise to make a net profit after years of losses.  The company earned $311. 5 million during the three months ending in September, swinging from a loss of $619 million at the same time last year. It was only the third time that Tesla has posted a quarterly profit in its eight-year history as a public company and the first time in two years.  Musk has promised to post sustained quarterly profits. As of the end of September, the company reported $9. 7 billion in long-term debt and another $3. 6 billion in accounts payable owed to parts suppliers and other companies.  Tesla ended September with $2. 9 billion in cash. Moody's Investor Service downgraded the company's debt into junk territory last March, warning that Tesla won't have cash to cover $3. 7 billion for normal operations, capital expenses and debt that comes due early this year.  Moody's predicted the company would have to raise more capital. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


The new National Education Policy is a major step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. It gives strength to research and innovation: PM Modi addresses convocation ceremony of Visva Bharati University https://t.co/oKVFlQeJnY

Extolling Visva Bharati for its inspiring legacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked its students to help farmers and artisans in villages adopted by the institution find global markets for their products. He said Guru Rabindranath Tagore had not envisioned the university as a typical educational institution but one that will help Indian culture realise its full potential. Addressing the convocation of Visva Bharati, the country's oldest central university, Modi said knowledge was not a "still and static but a dynamic concept". "I urge the students and teachers of this inspirational institution to help farmers, artisans living in villages adopted by the institution to find global markets for their products.  That will be a step towards building an 'Atmanirbhar' (self-reliant) Bharat," he said. He told the gathering that with knowledge comes responsibility and the knowledge attained by them was not theirs alone but a legacy for future generations. "Your knowledge and skill can make society proud but it can also push it into the darkness of ruin.  There are many examples in history and in the present. "You will find some highly educated, skilled people among those who are spreading terror and violence in the world.  On the other hand, some people are toiling day and night to free the world from a global epidemic like corona.  What matters most is the mindset," he said. The prime minister said the National Education Policy was a major step towards building a self-reliant India as it gave impetus to research and innovation. India, he said, cannot become 'Atmanirbhar' without the self-confidence of its daughters. New National Education Policy having a gender inclusion fund was a major step towards building a self- reliant India, he said. He encouraged the youth to take risks without the fear of failure. "If your intentions are clear and your loyalty is to 'Ma Bharati' every decision of yours will take you towards finding a solution.  Success and failure do not determine our present and future.  You may not get the results you thought after taking a decision, but you should not be afraid to take a decision," he said. Altogether 2,535 students received their degrees at the convocation.


Read Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' full address to the nation: https://t.co/BbZ2DETX6r https://t.co/zW2SQS1403

By Meg Wagner, Fernando Alfonso III, Melissa Macaya, Melissa Mahtani, Veronica Rocha and Amanda Wills, CNNOur live coverage of the election has moved here. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris invoked the life and legacy of the late Rep.  John Lewis during her opening remarks tonight, reminding Americans that "democracy is not guaranteed. "Democracy is "only as strong as our willingness to fight for it," Harris said. Harris added: "And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election with the very soul of America at stake and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America. "Harris' speech comes less than 10 hours after CNN projected Joe Biden's victory in Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 electoral vote threshold needed for the presidency. Harris will be the nation’s first Black and South Asian vice president, and first woman to hold that office. Watch:From CNN's Arlette SaenzPresident-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will soon address the nation at the Chase Center in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Biden’s central message will be one of unity, advisers say.  His remarks thematically draw from the final major speeches from his campaign – in Gettysburg and Warm Springs, Georgia, advisers say, as he urges Americans to come together and promises to be a president for all Americans. His speech has been written for some time, but adjustments have been made as the week has progressed. In case you missed it: It was Biden's boyhood state of Pennsylvania that put him over the 270 electoral vote threshold today and delivered the White House. Harris, a senator from California, will make history as the first woman, the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent to become vice president. From CNN's Leinz ValesAs Americans across the United States prepare to watch President-elect Joe Biden’s victory speech, CNN’s Arlette Saenz highlighted the significance of the day he was projected the winner.  “It was 48 years ago today that Joe Biden first won his Senate seat here in Delaware and now 48 years later he’s heading to the White House,” Saenz said at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. Some background: Biden, who was Delaware's longest serving senator, was elected to office in 1972.  He was first elected to the Senate at age 29, defeating Republican Sen.  J.  Caleb Boggs and would win reelection in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2002. CNN's Arlette Saenz reports:From CNN's Leinz ValesOn the night of Joe Biden’s projected victory over President Trump, Democrat Senate candidate Raphael Warnock said he’s confident that the President-elect will win Georgia and he will win his runoff with Republican Sen.  Kelly Loeffler. “There is no question that Georgia is well on its way to solidifying its status as a blue state,” Warnock told CNN’s Erin Burnett.  “We’ve been working on this for years.  The other side knows it.  That’s why they’ve been engaged for voter suppression for so long.  We saw record voter turnout.  1. 8 million Democrats showed up and showed out more than ever and we saw it again in this election.  And I think our side is going to be very energized to show up for the January 5th. ”Warnock, who is a reverend and leader of Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, said his campaign website has received an uptick in internet traffic since Election Day.   “My campaign is fueled by ordinary people because that is who I’m standing up for,” Warnock said. Georgia's other Senate runoff race will be between Republican Sen.  David Perdue and Democrat Jon OssoffWatch:From CNN's Arlette SaenzPresident-elect Joe Biden spent the majority of his time at home today with his family – taking in the moment they’ve worked for together for years.  In fact, it was his grandchildren who were the ones who informed him that the race was called in his favor, a source on the campaign says. This photo posted by his oldest granddaughter Naomi was taken shortly after he learned he was now President-elect:From CNN's Arlette SaenzWhen he addresses the nation for the first time as President-elect, Joe Biden’s central message will be one of unity, advisers say.  His remarks thematically draw from the final major speeches from his campaign – in Gettysburg and Warm Springs, Georgia, advisers say, as he urges Americans to come together and promises to be a president for all Americans. His speech has been written for some time, but adjustments have been made as the week has progressed. From CNN's Adrienne VogtMinnesota Sen.  Amy Klobuchar said that President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will work on building a “big coalition” to unite Democratic and GOP lawmakers.  “I was buoyed by people like Mitt Romney and some of the Republicans who are coming out and making very clear they believe in our democracy.  And I think that's going to be really important when the celebrating ends, that the hard work begins.  And that's going to be my point when I do talk to Joe and Kamala in person … They're going to have to build a big coalition and I am ready to help,” she said.  Biden has not reached out to her about a possible position in his Cabinet, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate said. Klobuchar said Biden has told her that will reach across the aisle to bring Democrats and Republicans together.  Biden will “seize, yes, the celebration today but also the hard work of governing,” she added.  “We can't wait anymore to do something about the pandemic and the economy — and to do something about climate change and immigration reform — he knows that. ”Klobuchar also spoke about Sen.  Kamala Harris becoming America's first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect.  “Kamala, of course, as she has said, stands on the shoulders of so many, including Geraldine Ferraro and including Shirley Chisholm and… certainly Hillary Clinton have made this attempt before.  … I can't wait to see her tonight and mostly [to] see her lead,” Klobuchar said.  From CNN’s Jason MorrisFulton County, Georgia, officials are rescanning their work from Friday after discovering a reporting issue, according to Walter Jones, spokesperson for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office didn’t provide additional details beyond the statement.  CNN has reached out to Fulton County for details.   From CNN's Leinz ValesAs cities across the United States erupt in celebration after the projected victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, a physician in New York City told CNN’s Polo Sandoval that she’s “thrilled” to have a leader who will take the coronavirus pandemic seriously.   “I’m a pediatrician and can I not tell you, I’m not a single-issue voter, but the pandemic, I mean, just seeing how this pandemic ravaged our city, I am so thrilled that we’re going to have a leader who is going to take this pandemic and do what needs to be done — what needs to be done in the city and in the country so that we can get it under control," she said. What we know: Biden plans to announce his 12-person coronavirus task force on Monday, two sources with knowledge told CNN. The task force will reportedly be lead by three cochairs: Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler and Yale University’s Dr.  Marcella Nunez-Smith. WATCH:Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Video shows under construction flyover collapsing in Balanagar, Hyderabad

A disturbing video of smashed vehicles lying under a collapsed flyover in Varanasi has surfaced on social media with a false claim that the incident took place in Balanagar, Hyderabad recently.  BOOM found that the video is from 2018 in Varanasi where 19 people were killed after an under-construction flyover collapsed.   The viral clip shows several people trying to rescue passengers from under the collapsed flyover.  The video also shows disturbing visuals of bodies trapped inside the smashed vehicles under the flyover  The caption viral with the video reads, "Avoid Balanagar Jeedimetla route.  Under construction flyover collapse.  Gold telengana".  The misleading caption created panic among netizens; Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) took to Twitter to debunk the same.   Archive of a post can be seen here.  (The content is graphic, viewers' discretion advised )  Also read: Toolkit Case: Edited Image Of Greta Thunberg In A Train Resurfaces Netizens also tagged the Hyderabad city police on Twitter based on the misleading caption that claimed that the video is from Hyderabad.   Is Balanagar flyover collapsed?  @hydcitypolice @cyberabadpolice pls confirm.   Fact Check  BOOM searched with a few relevant keywords "under construction flyover collapsing" and found some news reports on the incident which indicated that the clip is a two year old incident from Varanasi.  A report by Telangana Today states that the viral video of the bridge collapsing in Hyderabad is originally from Varanasi.   According to the report, "the video went viral since the Balanagar flyover was being constructed and people immediately linked the under construction flyovers, and began sharing it widely. "  We also found the same video from 2018 published on the YouTube channel of VOA News.    According to reports, "Nineteen persons were killed and several others were injured when two beams of an under-construction flyover collapsed near Varanasi railway station on May 15, 2018.  As many as eight people, including seven engineers of UP Bridge Corporation and a contractor were arrested by the crime branch following the tragedy. " We further found a tweet by Cyberabad Police dismissing the claim and clarifying that it does not belong to Balanagar in Hyderabad but from Varanasi from 2018.   No sir, It's not belongs to Balangar, This incident happened in Varanasi, UP.  pic. twitter. com/mUOCW90zU0  Also read: Old Placard Of CAA Supporter Edited And Linked To Fuel Price Hike


Bihar: Flooding in parts of Sitamarhi district due to incessant rainfall in the area. (21.07.20) https://t.co/htkP0nhT5z

The simmering tension between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot reached a tipping point when Pilot was summoned by the police on July 10 in connection with an investigation into a suspected plot to destabilize the state government, HT has learnt. It underlined, according to a senior Congress leader, the deep distrust Gehlot had of his deputy and was a bid to marginalise Pilot in the party and the government that was formed December 2018.  Although a similar notice was sent to Gehlot, asking him to record a statement, a Pilot loyalist said the deputy CM thought the probe was targeting him.  Gehlot, after all, has retained the home portfolio and the police report to the home minister.  There have been several bids to undercut Pilot in the past two years.  The Congress central leadership chose to ignore the warning signals until it , finally, formed a coordination committee for Rajasthan in January but that panel, so far, has held just one meeting. Also read: Amid political turmoil in Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot to skip key party meet“Pilot was not very keen to assume an organizational post in Delhi.  So, the party should have secured his position in Rajasthan.  But that overt backing was missing for a long time,” said a central leader of the Congress. The Congress’s inability to nip such problems in the bud was articulated by senior party leader Kapil Sibal.  Sibal tweeted, “Worried for our party. . Will we wake up only after the horses have bolted from our stables ? ” Just four months ago, the Congress lost its government in Madhya Pradesh in a similar script played out when Jyotiraditya Scindia left the party which similarly ignored both him and the warning signals in the state.  On Sunday, Scindia, now a Rajya Sabha MP of the BJP tweeted: “Sad to see my erstwhile colleague @SachinPilot too, being sidelined and persecuted by Rajasthan CM.  @ashokgehlot51.  Shows that talent and capability find little credence in the @INCIndia. ” To be sure, the start of the new Congress government in Rajasthan was not exactly a smooth affair.  Pilot, who left his family in Delhi to sweat it out, led the Congress campaign as the president of the party in the state to victory, but Gehlot became chief minister primarily due to caste equations and perhaps because the Congress wanted someone from the old guard.  Party insiders added that for the past few months, the Gehlot camp has been demanding a change of guard in the Rajasthan Congress in a bid to remove Pilot from the state party president’s post.  They started lobbying with Congress functionaries in Delhi that a new state chief is required (Pilot has been holding the position for six years) before panchayat elections in the state. Another party leader, close to Pilot added, while he had four ministries under him as the deputy CM, Gehlot appointed bureaucrats in some of these ministries. Even as then Congress president Rahul Gandhi met the two leaders over several rounds to hammer out a solution, the uneasy equation between the Congress’s old generation and the new generation came to the fore. Last year, the chief minister’s son Vaibhav Gehlot lost the Lok Sabha election, and the senior Gehlot lost no time in blaming Pilot for the defeat.  He publicly stated that “Pilot should take responsibility” even as many party leaders questioned the chief minister’s inability to ensure a victory for his son. Earlier this year, Pilot expressed concern about the deteriorating law and order situation in some areas of the state—seen as a comment on Gehlot who holds the home portfolio.  A few months ago, the Rajya Sabha elections too, saw tension rising between the two.  Gehlot fielded Neeraj Dangi, a secretary of the Congress party, for the coveted Rajya Sabha seat.  Pilot wanted a bigger, well-known name but Gehlot stuck to his choice.  And then, ahead of the polls, Gehlot alleged that Congress MLAs were being lured, indicating the party might lose a seat.  The results proved to be otherwise and the Congress secured seats for both its candidates. Pilot, who was credited for the victory, said: “Any kind of doubts and suspicions spread around earlier were baseless. ”A party insider pointed out that Pilot’s people were not being rewarded.  Many posts for political appointment are lying vacant and Gehlot is in no hurry to accommodate Pilot loyalists in these posts. Last month, at a function at party headquarters to observe Sanjay Gandhi’s death anniversary, Pilot announced that as the party president in Rajasthan, he owes it to the Congress grassroots workers who had worked very hard for Congress and needed to be rewarded.


5 takeaways from the vice presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence https://t.co/8gSHopaMd1 https://t.co/Wouf4bHIBh

Pence and Harris offered opposing realities of the response to COVID-19.  Vice presidential debate key momentsThe vice presidential candidates for president faced off on Wednesday for their first and only debate, giving Americans a much more substantive look at the ticket — though often not the substance that they were prompted for. The candidates repeatedly dodged the questions from moderator Susan Page, remaining focused on one thing: correcting the wrongs of last week’s debate. For Vice President Mike Pence, the goal was to tout the administration’s economic success pre-pandemic and erase the disheveled, at times disrespectful debate from last week, spearheaded by President Donald Trump’s constant interruptions. The president, of course, watched in isolation from the White House, after contracting coronavirus himself after flouting countless Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. For Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, the goal was to defend presidential nominee Joe Biden’s record and hammer the administration’s response to coronavirus. The candidates took the stage separated by 12 feet and plexiglass barriers, demanded by Harris because of the 34 White House staffers and other contacts in the administration’s orbit.  Though Pence tested negative for coronavirus on Wednesday ahead of the debate, he is still within the potential incubation period for the virus. The debate took place at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Here are the key takeaways. A discussion on coronavirus, laden with empathyIn stark contrast to Trump’s performance during the debate last week — almost a lifetime of news cycles ago — Pence repeatedly offered something the president, who describes himself as a fighter, rarely focuses on: empathy. In defending the federal response to coronavirus, Pence consistently offered condolences to Americans who have suffered before launching into his response. “You know, there's not a day gone by that I haven't thought of every American family that’s lost a loved one.  And I want all of you to know that you’ll always be in our hearts and in our prayers,” Pence said. “One life lost is too many, Susan,” Pence said later, before flipping Harris’ criticism of the White House’s response on its head by saying it was dismissive of the sacrifice Americans have made. “When you say what the American people have done over these last eight months hasn't worked, that's a great disservice to the sacrifices the American people have made,” he said. But Harris was quick to point out the missteps the Trump administration has made in controlling the pandemic, which has killed over 211,000 Americans over the last eight months, including audio released of Trump acknowledging that the disease was airborne in January, long before that critical information was disclosed to the public. “Whatever the vice president is claiming the administration has done, clearly it hasn't worked.  When you're looking at over 210,000 dead bodies in our country, American lives that have been lost, families that are grieving that loss,” Harris said. She was blunt in describing the tragedy, not mincing any words. “The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country,” Harris said.  “They knew what was happening and they didn’t tell you … They knew and they covered it up. ”She added that her and Biden’s plan includes a national strategy for contact tracing, testing, administration of the vaccine, “and making sure that it will be free for all. ”Harris expresses skepticism over vaccine while Pence calls on her to stop politicizing the virusHarris reiterated her concern about the safety and validity of a vaccine spearheaded by the Trump administration, stating strongly that she won’t get any vaccine pushed by Trump, and will only get a vaccine backed by medical professionals — a statement that leaves room for Harris to reject a vaccine that arrives before the Election, although that’s an unlikely scenario. "If the public health professionals — if Dr.  Fauci, if the doctors tell us that we should take it, I'll be the first in line to take it, absolutely," Harris said.  "But if Donald Trump tells us I should take it — that we should take it, I'm not taking it. "Harris's concerns come on the heels of fears that the Trump administration was fast-tracking a vaccine to help his chances in reelection efforts, though the administration approved FDA guidelines on Wednesday that allow for a more robust trial period. Pence called on Harris to "stop politicizing the virus," saying she was playing politics with American lives. "So, the fact that you continue to undermine public confidence in a vaccine, if a vaccine emerges during the Trump administration, I think is unconscionable," Pence said.  "And Senator, I just ask you, stop playing politics with peoples' lives.  The reality is, that we will have a vaccine, we believe, before the end of this year. "Despite the skepticism coming from Harris on the vaccine, a CNN poll recently found that Republicans are more skeptical of the coronavirus vaccine than Democrats.  If a coronavirus vaccine were widely available at a low cost, 60% of Democrats say they would receive the vaccine, well 35% say they wouldn't.  In contrast, 41% of Republicans say they would get the vaccine, while 55% say that they wouldn't. Notably milder tone stands in contrast to last weekThe style of the debate this week resembled just what it was billed as: a vice presidential debate. There was not a remarkably high bar for civility after the last debate, but it was exceeded on all sides.  It wasn’t without interruptions, dodges, disagreements and one-liners, but moderator Susan Page kept the candidates on track, cracking down on time limits to ensure each candidate got 2 minutes, uninterrupted. The debate was mostly focused on records and absent of personal attacks. Instead, Pence seemed to make a deliberate decision to take a completely different approach than Trump, who aggressively interrupted over 70 times in 90 minutes, often with insults. “Senator Harris, it's a privilege to be on the stage with you,” Pence began the debate by saying.  Later, he congratulated her on “the historic nature” of her nomination as the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major party. He also turned to Harris and thanked her for both her and Biden’s “expressions of genuine concern” when the president was diagnosed with coronavirus. When disagreeing, Pence twice used the line, “You’re entitled to your own opinion,” before adding “you’re not entitled to your own facts. ”But Harris clearly wasn’t buying Pence’s politeness, politically-motivated or not. “Mr.  Vice President, I’m speaking,” she said whenever he interrupted, words that carried the heavy weight of Trump’s notoriously hard-to-watch performance last week. “If you don't mind letting me finish, we can have a conversation,” she said another time.  The next time Pence interrupted, Harris shot him a single glance.  Pence stopped speaking, and looked away. On the Supreme Court, still no clear answer from Harris on court-packingPence held Harris’ feet to the fire over the question of court-packing, a move that would allow Biden and Harris, if they win the presidency and Democrats take control of the Senate, to add more members to the Supreme Court and adjust for the conservative majority that Judge Amy Coney Barrett would bring. Multiple times, Harris refused to heed to Pence’s demands for her to give a straight answer.  Court-packing, which is heralded by progressives, is a more touchy subject amongst moderate Democrats — creating a political tightrope both Biden and Harris continue to walk. “Now you’ve refused to answer the question, Joe Biden has refused to answer the question,” he continued.  “So I think the American people would really like to know, if Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States, are you and Joe Biden, if somehow you win this election, going to pack the supreme court to get your way? ”Harris offered a non-answer, instead, making a dig at the judges Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have nominated to federal courts across the country. “And do you know that of the 50 people who President Trump appointed to the court of appeals for lifetime appointments, not one is black? ” Harris said.  “This is what they’ve been doing.  You want to talk about packing a court?  Let's have that discussion. ”Pence called Harris out for her lack of an answer. “The American people deserve a straight answer.  And if you have not figured it out yet, the straight answer is they are going to pack the Supreme Court if they somehow win this election. ”Pence deflects on climate change, a peaceful transition of power and the future of Roe V.  WadeVice President Pence spent much of his time either deflecting questions to hammer Harris, or answering previous questions posed to him by Page.  When asked about Roe V.  Wade, he brought up the Trump administration’s killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.  On China, he pivoted to NAFTA. And on the question of climate change, Pence pivoted to Joe Biden's tax plan. "As I said, Susan, the climate is changing.  We'll follow the science.  But, once again, Senator Harris is denying the fact that they're going to raise taxes on every American," he said.  "Joe Biden said twice in the debate last week that on day one, he was going to repeal the Trump tax cuts.  Those tax cuts delivered $2,000 in tax relief to the average family of four across America. "Page posed to Pence the possibility of Roe V.  Wade being overturned should conservatives gain a larger majority in the courts — and what he would like to see happen in his home state of Indiana if that were the case. "Well, thank you for the question, but I will use a little bit of my time to respond to the very important issue before.  The American people deserve to know, Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general was responsible for the death of hundreds of American service members," he said. He also danced around the question about the transparency of presidential health. "Is this information voters deserve to know? " Page asked Pence of presidential health records.   "Vice President Pence, would you like to go first? ""Susan, thank you.  And let me, let me say on behalf of the president and the First Lady how moved we've all been by the outpouring of prayers and concern and for the president," he said, not offering a response relevant to the question. On the consequential question of a peaceful transition of power out of the White House, which the president has consistently refused to pledge should he lose in November, Pence, too, dodged, instead attacking Democrats for impeaching the president. "When you talk about accepting the outcome of the election.  I must tell you, Senator, your party has spent the last three and a half years overturning the last election.  It's amazing," Pence said. This report was featured in the Thursday, Oct.  8, 2020, episode of “Start Here,” ABC News’ daily news podcast. "Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes.  Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Federal Communications Commission designates Huawei&ZTE as companies posing national security threat to United States. As a result,telecom companies can't use money from our $8.3B Universal Service Fund on equipment or services produced or provided by these suppliers:FCC Chairman https://t.co/j7wgiNFvo7

The US Federal Communications Commission designated Huawei Technologies Co.  and ZTE Corp.  as national security threats, a step toward driving the Chinese manufacturers from the US market where small rural carriers rely on their cheap network equipment. The action means money from federal subsidies used by many small rural carriers may no longer be used to buy or maintain equipment produced by the companies, the FCC said in a news release. “Both Huawei and ZTE have close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and China’s military apparatus,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said on Twitter.  “We are sending a clear message: the U. S.  government, and this @FCC in particular, cannot and will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to exploit vulnerabilities in U. S.  communications networks. ”The FCC has increasingly scrutinised Chinese companies as tensions grow between Beijing and Washington over trade, the coronavirus and security issues.  The agency is considering banning three Chinese telephone companies, and last year barred China Mobile Ltd.  from entering the US market. The U. S.  contends that Huawei’s equipment could be used by China for spying.  The company has repeatedly denied that it poses any security risk, and insists that it is independent of the Beijing government. Tuesday’s action formalises a proposal the FCC adopted in November.  The agency also proposed requiring carriers to remove gear from companies designated a threat. FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in a statement Tuesday said that “untrustworthy equipment” remains in place and called for the FCC to institute a replacement programme.


The 21-year-old white supremacist suspected of killing at least 20 people and injuring 26 others in El Paso, Texas, has been charged with capital murder https://t.co/kjAbnNWBlu

He didn't propose new gun controls but blamed video games and mental illness. President Trump calls for death penalty in wake of deadly mass shootingsMaking his first formal remarks after the weekend mass shootings, President Donald Trump said Monday the U. S.  was "overcome with shock, horror and sorrow" and that the nation must condemn "racism and white supremacy. "Trump said a "wicked man" went to a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, in that mass shooting and said a "twisted monster" carried out the shooting in Dayton, Ohio, just hours later. “These barbaric slaughters are an assault upon our communities, an attack upon our nation and a crime against all of humanity," Trump said. “The shooter in El Paso posted a manifesto online consumed by racist hate," the president said.  "In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy. "While not proposing any major gun control legislation, he said the nation needs to strengthen mental health laws. "Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun," he said. "Today I am also directing the Department of Justice to propose legislation ensuring that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty and that this capital punishment be delivered quickly, decisively. . . " the president added. Trump said the country needs to put partisanship aside, saying it is "not up to mentally ill monsters, it is up to us. ""The perils of internet and social media cannot be ignored and will not be ignored," the president said, blaming "gruesome and grizzly video games" for the "glorification of violence in our society. "Television networks carried the president's remarks live but it was not a formal speech to the nation.  Trump spoke before pool reporters and cameras from the Diplomatic Room of the White House, not the Oval Office.  Vice President Mike Pence stood at his side. The president did not repeat his suggestion about gun background checks that he tweeted about earlier Monday. In those tweets, Trump proposed "strong background checks," perhaps, he said, tied to immigration reform. In tweets earlier Monday morning, the president said, "We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain. "At the same time, Trump also blamed the news media for "the anger and rage that has built up over many years. "Former President Barack Obama weighed in with a rare tweet that, while not mentioning Trump by name, reflected scathing criticism of his divisive rhetoric. “We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalizes racist sentiments; leaders who demonize those who don’t look like us or suggest that other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other people as subhuman, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of people,” an excerpt from the lengthy tweet said. Trump has threatened to veto two background check bills passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to consider them. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has demanded that McConnell call the Senate back from its August recess. He fired off a tweet of his own Monday morning responding to Trump. It was unclear how either of the shootings were related to immigration reform, as Trump suggested. Trump's acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, speaking on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, rejected claims from Democratic candidates and others that the president's harsh rhetoric on immigration played any role in the shootings. The National Rifle Association applauded Trump's call Monday "to address the root causes of violence. ""The National Rifle Association welcomes the President’s call to address the root causes of the horrific acts of violence that have occurred in our country.   It has been the NRA’s long-standing position that those who have been adjudicated as a danger to themselves or others should not have access to firearms and should be admitted for treatment," the group said in a statement24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Indian singer Caralisa Monteiro tweeted a communally charged post that declares India will be “Hindu Mukt” soon.

International pop artist Rihanna and environmental activist Greta Thunberg have extended their support to the ongoing farmers’ protest in India.  Multiple Indian celebrities from movies and sports too supported the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws. Amid this, a screenshot of a communally charged tweet purportedly by Indian playback singer Caralisa Monteiro is viral on social media. According to the screenshot, Monteiro tweeted, “Every time a Hindu is killed, I get orgasmic pleasure.  Modi might dream Congress Mukt Bharat, but we will get Hindu Mukt India soon.  Amen! ”Several netizens lashed out at the singer sharing the alleged “Hindu Mukt India” tweet along with the screengrab of a video from 2016 where she supported the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during Goa’s Assembly elections. The caption in Hindi to one such post translates as “This is Kejriwal's AAP Bollywood Brand Ambassador Caralisa Monteiro.  She gets orgasmic pleasure in killing Hindus.  The truth is that the Hindus of Delhi have decorated their pyre by voting for a wicked Maoist like Kejriwal for free. ”Several netizens also tweeted the same screengrab demanding action against the Bollywood singer for her alleged tweet that invokes communal hatred. India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the viral tweet in the name of Monteiro is fake.  The singer also clarified through her verified Twitter handle that the tweet was not made by her and case has been registered on this matter. The archived versions of similar posts can be seen here, here, and here. AFWA probeDuring our investigation, we couldn’t find the tweet in question on the timeline of Monteiro's verified Twitter handle.  Neither could we find an archived version of the tweet on any of the archiving sites. The date of posting mentioned on the viral screengrab is January 1, 2021.  However, we found that only one tweet from the singer dated January 1, is currently available on her handle.  This tweet was regarding a Logical Indian report on a gang rape survivor and it was made around 8:50 pm. Also, the name of the device used for posting a tweet from any given user’s account is seen in the space after the time and date of every tweet.  However, the space for the name of the device is vacant in the viral tweet. The number of retweets, quote tweets and likes that are usually seen below the space for date and time are also missing in the viral screenshot.  It is highly unlikely for a controversial tweet made by the verified handle of Monteiro, who has over 36. 4K followers, to not get any likes or retweets. Here is a comparison between a text-only tweet posted by Monteiro on her verified Twitter handle on February 4, 2021, and the viral screengrab in question. Later, she also said a case has been registered on the matter. Hence it is clear that the viral tweet on a “Hindu Mukt India” is fake and not tweeted by singer Caralisa Monteiro. READ | Fact Check: List of UP Congress' minority cell members viral with communal twistREAD | Fact Check: This article praising PM Modi was not published by ‘The New York Times’READ | Fact Check: This ‘Islamophobic’ news headline about Kerala cricketer Azharuddeen is fakeWATCH | Edited clip of Mamata reciting Islamic prayers linked to Netaji event controversyThe number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.


The unrest erupted between Hindus & minority Muslims over a divisive new citizenship law. At least 24 people have been killed since riots broke out on Sunday, according to a hospital spokesperson. It's the worst sectarian violence Delhi has seen in decades https://t.co/0rhISh6gk2

At least 20 people have been killed and nearly 200 injured in clashes in New DelhiNews headlines today: Dec.  23, 2020NEW DELHI -- Patients on stretchers crammed the emergency room, while relatives of the dead wailed outside a morgue as injured people continued to pour into a public hospital after three days of clashes between religious groups that coincided with President Donald Trump's visit to India. At least 20 people were killed in the clashes, including at least one policeofficial and an intelligence bureau officer, and nearly 200 people were injured, both Hindus and Muslims, in the worst communal riots in the Indian capital in decades. On Wednesday, victims' relatives stood outside the mortuary, some crying as they waited for hospital authorities to release the bodies following postmortems. Rahul Solanki, a 26-year-old Hindu, died from a gunshot wound, according to his family.  His younger brother, Rohit Solanki, said he was shot walking to a shop to buy milk. The corridors of the Guru Teg Bahadur hospital at New Delhi’s eastern border are often crowded, but on Wednesday hundreds thronged its wards as doctors worked through the night to treat injuries. Mohammad Akram watched as his 17-year-old son was wheeled out of an operating theater after surgery for a bullet would in his chest.  The teenager said he was shot on his family’s apartment terrace as he watched Hindu mobs enter his neighborhood. New patients continued to pour into the hospital on stretchers.  Those with head injuries were wheeled to the overcrowded emergency room. Mohammad Akbar made it to the hospital with his head bleeding profusely after he was attacked early Wednesday. Akbar, who is Muslim, said a Hindu mob forced him to chant the Hanuman chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman, a popular Hindu god. “They pounced on me after and started beating me.  One person hit me on the head with an axe,” Akbar said. Akbar was one of the lucky ones.  He found a vehicle to take him to the hospital, about 6 kilometers (4 miles) away.  Others waited, sometimes in vain, for ambulances that struggled to reach injured people on narrow roads in areas rioters weren’t allowing anyone to enter, said Shaleen Mitra, an adviser to Delhi’s health minister, Satyender Jain. Mitra said police also blocked ambulances from evacuating the injured from a small, overcrowded private hospital in Mustafabad, a Muslim-majority area, to the larger public Guru Teg Bahadur hospital. “The police told the healthcare workers that they wouldn’t be able to provide them with protection from the rioters,” he said. Delhi High Court judges met for a midnight hearing and ordered police to evacuate the injured. Relatives of Muslim victims accused police of standing by as the Hindu mobs torched buildings and beat people.  How the violence began, and who was to blame, remained unclear. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


67.27% voter turnout recorded till 3.31pm in the seventh phase of West Bengal Assembly elections https://t.co/WrP2xzEkpY

The seventh and second-last phase of polling in 34 Bengal assembly seats in four districts and a part of south Kolkata were held peacefully on Monday barring stray violence in some areas even as a sharp spike in coronavirus infections kept many voters indoors.  The overall provisional voting rate at 11,376 polling booths stood at 75. 06 % at 5 pm.  “Polling was conducted peacefully today,” the election commission (EC) said in a statement in the evening.  Rate of polling in the sixth and fifth phases was 82% and 82. 49% respectively.  The highest, 86. 11 %, was recorded in the second phase on April 1.  On Monday, elections were held at six seats each in South Dinajpur and Malda, nine in Murshidabad, nine in West Burdwan and four in Kolkata.  The number of candidates and voters were 268 and 81,88,907 respectively.  The eighth and last phase will be held on April 29 and campaigning for it ended on Monday.  At 51. 91% till 5 pm, polling was drastically low in Kolkata, followed by West Burdwan (70. 34%) where turnout of voters was low in Asansol and Durgapur cities.  Murshidabad district, where Congress is a formidable force, recorded the highest turnout of 80. 30 % followed by South Dinajpur (80. 21%) and Malda (78. 76%) where the Congress has a sizeable presence as well.  On Monday, Bengal reported 15,992 new coronavirus infections and 68 deaths.  Of these, 3868 cases and 26 deaths were reported in Kolkata.  The Bharatiya Janata Party (TMC) and Trinamool Congress (TMC), the main contenders, exchanged charges of electoral malpractice and violence throughout the day.  Though there was no report of any death or fatal injury, clashes took place in all the districts and Kolkata.  In Malda, Congress workers were allegedly assaulted in Chanchal, Harishchandrapur and Farakka.  In Murshidabad, polls were held in nine seats instead of 11 as originally scheduled as Pradip Kumar Nandi, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) candidate from Jangipur and Rezaul Haque, the Congress candidate from Samserganj died of Covid-19 earlier this month.  Polls in the two seats will be held on May 16.  In Murshidabad, the Muslim population (66. 28%) is the highest among all districts.  Voters at a booth in the Murshidabad assembly seat alleged that Niyazuddin Sheikh, the Congress candidate distributed masks and asked people to vote for him.  “I did not ask anyone to vote for me.  I gave people some masks as they were not wearing any.  It was for their safety,” said Sheikh.  The EC sought a report on this incident.  The four seats in Kolkata included chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s old Bhawanipore constituency where power minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay contested against actor Rudranil Ghosh who severed ties with the ruling party and joined the BJP on January 30.  “Trouble was reported at several places in Bhawanipore but the local police acted in favour of the TMC,” said Ghosh.  The chief minister cast her vote around 4 pm at a booth set up in an old school on Harish Mukherjee Road.  Earlier in the day, she targeted the EC and BJP following the remarks of the Madras High Court against the poll panel over spike in Covid-19 cases.  “The court clearly said that ECI cannot shrug off its responsibility.  The ECI has become the parrot of the BJP.  It is because of them that Covid-19 cases have shot up,” Banerjee said at a virtual election rally.  On Monday afternoon, there was a clash between TMC and Congress workers at the Kolkata Port seat from where urban development minister and former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim had won twice since 2011.  Debasish Kumar, the TMC candidate from the high-profile Rashbehari seat in Kolkata alleged that central armed police force personnel stopped him from entering several polling booths.  The EC sought a report after Kumar lodged complaints.  The BJP candidate at Rashbehari, retired Lt Gen Subrata Saha who last served as deputy chief of the Indian army, said, “Our supporters faced intimidation on Monday morning as well.  The fact that so many people left home to cast their votes in the middle of a pandemic shows how desperate they are to see a change in government. ” No violence took place in South Dinajpur.  At Balurhat, BJP candidate Ashok Lahiri, who was earlier the chief economic adviser to the Union government, said, “Polling was peaceful and fair.  I have complete faith in the people of Balurghat. ” At Bengal’s biggest industrial and coal mining zone in West Burdwan district, the BJP was ahead of the TMC in all nine assembly segments in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.  Bengal BJP’s Mahila Morcha (women’s front) president and noted fashion designer Agnimitra Paul, who contested the Asansol South seat, brought several allegations against the TMC.  Jawaharlal Nehru University students’ union president Aishe Ghosh of the CPI (M), who contested the Jamuria seat, alleged that Left cadres were assaulted by TMC workers.  BJP national president J P Nadda concluded the party’s campaign by addressing back-to-back virtual rallies.  “Mamata Banerjee fought the elections with a negative narrative but the electorate of Bengal took a positive approach and supported the BJP.  The language Mamata Banerjee used against the Prime Minister and the Union home minister and the way she distorted my name do not represent Bengali culture,” Nadda said at a press conference.  Incidents of pre and post-poll violence also took place.  In Birbhum district, where polls will be held on April 29, bombs kept inside the toilet of an empty house went off on Monday afternoon.  Though no one was injured, the adjacent house was demolished.  In North 24 Parganas, where polls were held on April 22, Anurag Shaw, a first-year college student was killed on Sunday night after he was hit by splinters from a bomb thrown by miscreants.


Special counsel Robert Mueller will make his first public statement on his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election at 11 a.m. ET.

Watch the statement and CNN analysis on https://t.co/kE2PnwqItJ https://t.co/5KTjhkcAiL https://t.co/v9UBWGtyjW

Congressional Democrats have been negotiating with Mueller.  Robert Mueller makes public statement on special counsel reportSpecial counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday broke more than two years of silence about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice, saying he does not intend to testify to Congress and explaining he did not have the "option" of charging the president with a crime. Mueller spoke amid demands by congressional Democrats that he testify in public. He said he would make "a few remarks" but that it was "important that the office's written work speak for itself. ""The report is my testimony," Mueller said. The special counsel said he was speaking out because his "investigation is complete," his office is "formally closing" and that he is "resigning from the Department of Justice to return to private life. "With regard to whether the Trump campaign responded to Russian efforts to influence the election, Mueller said "there was insufficient evidence to charge a broader conspiracy. "On his investigation into whether there were efforts to obstruct justice, Mueller said, "The matters we investigated were of paramount importance . . .  When the subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators it strikes at the government's effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable. "With regard to why he did not make a decision about whether the president obstructed justice, Mueller said charging the president with a crime was "not an option we could consider" because of Justice Department policy. He said "under longstanding department policy a president cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office.  That is unconstitutional.  Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view, that too is prohibited.  The special counsel's office is part of the Department of Justice and by regulation it was bound by that department policy. "But he pointedly repeated a key section from his report, saying, "If we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime we would have said so.  We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime. ""Beyond department policy we were guided by principles of fairness.  It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime when there can be no court resolution of the actual charge," the special counsel said.  "That is the office's final position and we will not comment on any other conclusions or hypotheticals about the president. "However, Mueller also made clear that the "Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing," suggesting that such a decision should be left in the hands of the Congress through impeachment proceedings. While Mueller did not clear the president of obstruction, shortly after he spoke, Trump tweeted "The case is closed! "“The Special Counsel has completed the investigation, closed his office, and has closed the case," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.  "After two years, the Special Counsel is moving on with his life, and everyone else should do the same,”But a key congressional Democrat said the matter was far from over. "Given that Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the President, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of President Trump – and we will do so.   No one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law," House Judiciary Chairman Rep.  Jerry Nadler, D-N. Y. , said in a statement. Later, at a brief news conference in New York, Nadler said, "The special counsel did not exonerate the president of committing a crime.  The president is lying about the special counsel’s findings. " But about impeachment, Nadler said only, “All options are on the table. " He also did not commit to trying to subpoena Mueller even though he's said so previously. Earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not mention impeachment in a statement responding to Mueller, although she made clear that congressional Democrats would continue their investigations. "He stated that the decision not to indict stemmed directly from the Department of Justice’s policy that a sitting President cannot be indicted.   Despite Department of Justice policy to the contrary, no one is above the law – not even the President," Pelosi said. “The Special Counsel’s report revealed that the President’s campaign welcomed Russian interference in the election, and laid out eleven instances of the President’s obstruction of the investigation," she continued.  "The Congress holds sacred its constitutional responsibility to investigate and hold the President accountable for his abuse of power. "At an event Wednesday afternoon, Pelosi did elaborate on the impeachment question, which several Democratic 2020 hopefuls are pressing for, saying "The case has to be very compelling to the American people. "She added that she would still like to see Mueller testify before Congress but is leaving the question of whether he should be subpoenaed to Nadler. Until now, Mueller has remained silent through the course of his investigation, through the release of his final report on April 18. The White House was given a heads up that Mueller would be making a statement, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.   However, the sources said the White House was not given any sense as to what he would say. Mueller's statement came amid speculation about whether he would agree to publicly testify before Congress about the results of his investigation, and the handling of his findings on potential obstruction of justice by President Trump. Trump said Friday that he sees no need for Mueller to testify, calling it "ridiculous," but has said he would leave the decision up to Attorney General William Barr.  Barr has told Congress he has no objection to Mueller testifying. "Now, I hope and expect this to be the only time that I will speak to you in this matter," Mueller said in his statement.  "I am making that decision myself, no one has told me whether I can or should testify or speak further about this matter.  There has been discussion about an appearance before Congress.  Any testimony from this office would not go beyond our report. "Sources close to Mueller had told ABC News that he was apprehensive about being made into a political football by members of either party, and that his team had proposed a public statement to the House Judiciary Committee followed by private questioning. Barr, who has faced criticism for his handling of Mueller's report and public statements appearing to defend President Trump, is currently on official travel in Alaska. Barr was also given a heads up on Mueller's intention to deliver a statement, a source told ABC News.  The source would not say when the heads up was given, or whether Barr is aware of the content of what Mueller would say. While Barr has repeatedly said he has no problem with Mueller testifying publicly about his findings, Trump in recent days has accused Democrats of wanting a "re-do" of his investigation and using his testimony to fuel calls for Trump's impeachment. “He doesn't want to be public in what some people will regard as a political spectacle, I think,” Nadler said in an interview last week with MSNBC, confirming reports from ABC News and other outlets about House Democrats pushing back on DOJ's offer for limited Mueller testimony. Nadler said "we will subpoena him if we have to" in a May 8 interview on CNN. Mueller's 448- page final report detailed the special counsel's 22-month long investigation into allegations that the president's campaign had colluded with Russia.  The report said that "the investigation did not establish that the Trump Campaign coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.  Mueller declined to make a traditional prosecutorial decision on whether the president had obstructed justice. By the conclusion of the investigation, Mueller had indicted 34 people and three Russian businesses, levied charges against six Trump associates and elicited seven guilty pleas. Mueller ended his statement on Wednesday with words of warning, saying the allegation that of "systematic efforts to interfere in our election. . .  deserves the attention of every American. "ABC News' John Santucci, Jack Date, Benjamin Siegel, Mariam Khan and Allison Pecorin contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


2,064 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths and 1,507 discharges reported in #Haryana today.

Total cases at 1,76,146 including 14,644 active cases, 1,59,643 recoveries and 1,859 deaths: State Health Department https://t.co/D4ShQAEOD2

Sep 08, 2021-Wednesday

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Haryana reports 2064 new coronavirus infections, 23 deathsJharkhand records 335 new Covid-19 infections, 484 new recoveriesCoronavirus knock-on effect hitting vital health services in Africa: WHOWest Bengal reports 3948 new coronavirus infections, 54 deathsHimachal Pradesh's caseload at 23809, 355 deaths: State Government3156 new infections in Karnataka, 31 deathsKerala reports 6820 new Covid-19 cases, 26 more deathsTN reports 2348 new Covid-19 cases, 28 deathsGujarat reports 990 new coronavirus cases, seven new deaths5246 new infections reported by Maharashtra, 117 more deaths Nagaland's Covid-19 recoveries outnumber new cases for ninth consecutive dayManipur reports 222 new coronavirus cases and two fatalities Rajasthan records 1810 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths Punjab reports 541 new Covid-19 cases and 22 deathsJammu and Kashmir records 524 new coronavirus cases, six deaths The total number of Coronavirus cases in India reached 8,313,876, with active cases at 5,33,787, down by 7,618 cases from the previous day, according to data released by the Union health ministry on Wednesday. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageFollowing a volatile phase of campaigning and voting in the US elections, the United States hit a new record in the past 24 hours, by recording 99,660 coronavirus cases, according to a tally by John Hopkins University.  So far, more than 9. 4 million people have been infected and 233,000 people have lost their lives to coronavirus. Haryana reports 2064 new coronavirus infections, 23 deathsHaryana's coronavirus caseload increased to 176146 after 2064 new infections.  Death toll is at 1859 after 23 new fatalities.  Total number of active cases in the state is currently 14644.  2,064 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths and 1,507 discharges reported in #Haryana today. Total cases at 1,76,146 including 14,644 active cases, 1,59,643 recoveries and 1,859 deaths: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/D4ShQAEOD2Jharkhand records 335 new Covid-19 infections, 484 new recoveriesJharkhand reported 335 new coronavirus infections taking the state's total to 103543.  Total recoveries are at 97964 with 894 deaths.    Jharkhand reports 355 new COVID-19 cases and 484 recoveries todayTotal number of cases now at 1,03,543 including 97,964 recoveries, 894 deaths and 4,685 active cases: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/VOZgR3Q4ZOCoronavirus knock-on effect hitting vital health services in Africa: WHOThe coronavirus pandemic is having a knock-on effect on other vital health services in Africa as countries are forced to redirect already stretched resources according to WHO.  Africa has recorded at least 1. 8 million cases, with 43,700 deaths.  West Bengal reports 3948 new coronavirus infections, 54 deathsWest Bengal's coronavirus caseload rose to 393524 with 3948 new infections.  Number of active cases in the state stands at 35953.  The death toll in the state is 7122 after 54 new fatalities.    3,948 new COVID-19 cases and 54 deaths reported in West Bengal today.  The total number of positive cases in the State now stands at 3,93,524 including 35,953 active cases, 3,50,449 discharges and 7,122 deaths: West Bengal Government pic. twitter. com/vFOVhxCDg3Himachal Pradesh's caseload at 23809, 355 deaths: State GovernmentThe Himachal Pradesh state government has released data that reveals the state's Covid caseload at 23809 and death toll at 355.  Number of active cases in the state is currently 3668 with 19755 recoveries.  3156 new infections in Karnataka, 31 deathsKarnataka reported 3156 new coronavirus infections and 31 deaths in the last 24 hours.  Total number of active cases currently stands at 33095 and the death toll is 11312.  Total caseload currently is 838929.  Karnataka reported 3,156 new #COVID19 cases, 5,723 discharges, and 31 deaths in the last 24 hours.  Total number of cases now at 8,38,929 including 33,095 active cases, 7,94,503 discharges and 11,312 deaths: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/IlsbUvvbS7Kerala reports 6820 new Covid-19 cases, 26 more deathsKerala recorded 6820 new coronavirus infections taking the state's tally to 445467 and the death toll stand stands at 1613 after 26 new fatalities according to CM Pinarayi Vijayan.  Number of active cases in the state is currently 84087. TN reports 2348 new Covid-19 cases, 28 deathsTamil Nadu reported 2348 new coronavirus infections taking the state's tally to 736777.  Death toll is currently at 11272 after 28 new fatalities.  There are 19061 active cases in the state currently. Tamil Nadu reports 2,348 new #COVID19 cases, 28 deaths and 2,413 discharges today, as per the State Health Department. The total number of cases in the State is now at 7,36,777 including 7,06,444 discharges and 11,272 deaths. There are 19,061 active cases in the State.  pic. twitter. com/cR0ZWit0YZGujarat reports 990 new coronavirus cases, seven new deathsGujarat reported 990 new coronavirus cases taking the state's total to 177598 according to the Health Department.  Seven new fatalities took the death toll to 3747.  5246 new infections reported by Maharashtra, 117 more deaths Maharashtra's coronavirus caseload increased by 5246 to 1703444.  Death toll is currently at 44084 after 117 new fatalities.  Nagaland's Covid-19 recoveries outnumber new cases for ninth consecutive dayNagaland reported 57 new infections taking the state's tally to 9264 while 144 have been reported to have recovered.  Number of active cases currently stands at 1055.  Nagaland's #COVID19 recoveries outnumber fresh cases for ninth consecutive day as 144 more patients recuperate from disease while 57 new infections push tally to 9,264; active case count 1,055: Health dept officialManipur reports 222 new coronavirus cases and two fatalities Manipur reported 222 new coronavirus cases today taking the state's tally to 19725.  Death toll stands at 189 after two new fatalities.  15750 have recovered from the virus.  Manipur records 222 new #COVID19 cases and 2 deaths today. Total number of positive cases stand at 19,725 including 15,750 recoveries, 3,786 active cases and 189 deaths: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/D9SedoA8W6Rajasthan records 1810 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths Rajasthan recorded 1810 new coronavirus cases taking the state's tally to 205800.  Death toll stands at 1955 after 10 new fatalities.  Total number of active cases in the state is currently at 16301.  Rajasthan detects 1,810 new #COVID19 cases and 10 deaths today. Total positive cases in the state stand at 2,05,800 with 1,955 deaths, 1,87,544 recoveries/discharges and 16,301 active cases: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/38fQVXIfVWPunjab reports 541 new Covid-19 cases and 22 deathsPunjab recorded 541 new coronavirus infections today taking the state's tally to 135834.  The death toll stands at 4281 after 22 new deaths.  Number of active cases in the state is currently 4261.  Punjab reports 541 new #COVID19 cases and 22 deaths today. Total number of cases now at 1,35,834 including 1,26,932 discharges, 4,621 active cases and 4,281 deaths: State Government pic. twitter. com/b7dkft6crrJammu and Kashmir records 524 new coronavirus cases, six deaths Total coronavirus caseload in Jammu and Kashmir reached 97224 after the union territory reported 524 new infections.  Death toll stands at 1517 after six new fatalities.  Number of active cases currently is 5802.   First published: Nov 05, 2020 07:39 IST


4,001 new #COVID19 cases, 4,824 recoveries and 42 deaths reported in Delhi today.

The total case tally stands at 3,96,371 including 3,56,459 recoveries, 33,308 active cases and 6,604 deaths: Delhi Government https://t.co/BR7gx0PonE

There were 45,231 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 496 related death in the last 24 hours, according to the Union health ministry on Monday morning, which have taken the tally of the world’s second worst-hit country to over 8. 22 million.  The number of active cases stood at 561,908 and India’s death toll is at 122,607, the health ministry’s data showed at 8am.  With 53,285 recoveries in the last 24 hours, 7,544,798 Covid-19 patients have been cured of the viral disease so far, according to the health ministry.  The national recovery rate has further improved to 91. 68%.  The gap between recovered and active cases is no 6,982,890.  On Sunday, there were 7,491,513 recovered cases in total and the ministry said that 76% of these were concentrated in 10 states and Union territories.  Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra had contributed the maximum to the new recovered cases with more than 7,000 single day recoveries, it had said on Sunday.  Delhi and West Bengal added more than 4,000 to the new recoveries, it also said. On Sunday, the third day in a row, the active cases had dropped below the 600,000 mark after nearly three months, “the progressive decline has been maintained”, the ministry had said.  “Presently India’s total active caseload is 5,70,458.  The active cases have dropped to only 6. 97% of the total positive cases of the country demonstrating a steady falling percentage of the total cases,” it had said on Sunday. “This sustained achievement is the result of collaborative action by States/UTs under the Centre’s strategy of comprehensive testing, timely tracking, quick hospitalization and adherence to the Standard Treatment Protocol which has ensured a standardised quality of medical care across the public and private hospitals and for the home isolation cases,” it added. The health ministry had also said on Sunday that there were 46,963 new cases in a single day and 77% of these are from 10 states and Union territories.  Kerala is still reporting a very high number of new cases with more than 7,000 cases followed by Maharashtra and Delhi with more than 5,000 cases, according to the ministry’s data.  Of the 470 Covid-19 deaths between Saturday and Sunday morning, nearly 78% are concentrated in 10 states and Union territories.  The ministry said more than 15% of these fatalities were reported from Maharashtra. The cases per million in India are among the lowest in the world and average cases per million stand at 5,930, the ministry had said on Sunday.  It added that 17 states and Union territories have cases per million lower than the national average. According to the health ministry, India’s deaths per million population is one of the lowest in the world and stand at 88, and 21 states and Union territories have deaths per million lower than the national average.


#Covid19 |  Centre tells Punjab to effectively implement ‘test-track-treat’ strategy

https://t.co/ZBZpPwyt2K https://t.co/8e8DZTmESb

The Centre has asked Punjab and Chandigarh to effectively implement the test-track-treat strategy against the Covid-19 pandemic, escalate testing till the positivity comes down below 5 per cent and ensure priority vaccination of eligible population groups in districts reporting high number of cases. Punjab has reported nearly 21 per cent week-on-week increase in new Covid-19 cases and about 2,740 average daily cases in the last seven days.  During the same period, the state has also seen a 30 per cent week-on-week increase in new Covid deaths and is reporting about 53 average daily deaths, the health ministry said. Chandigarh has also followed similar pattern in the last week.  The union territory has reported nearly 27 per cent week-on-week increase in new cases and 180 per cent week-on-week increase in new daily deaths, it said. An average of about 257 daily cases and 14 daily deaths have been reported during the last week. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday along with NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul, to review the status of Covid-19 in Punjab and Chandigarh and the public health measures taken for surveillance, containment and management of the disease by the health authorities. Through a detailed presentation, a granular analysis of the highly affected districts in Punjab and the UT of Chandigarh along with some key statistics was presented, the ministry said in its statement. Paul re-emphasised the importance of stringent and continued measures to break the chain of transmission and not frittering away the gains of collaborative efforts of last year, it said. Increased testing with focus on RT-PCR tests, effective contact tracing with at least 25 to 30 close contacts of each positive case, strict implementation of containment zones, intensification of vaccination drive, and enforcement of physical distancing measures were highlighted as the pivot of effective management strategy, the statement said. "It was also re-emphasised to strengthen public and private hospital infrastructure and re-energise the healthcare workers for removal of any complacency and fatigue," it stated. Three fronts for tackling the recent surge were highlighted by the Union Health Secretary.  On the front of testing, Punjab and Chandigarh were asked to effectively implement the "test, track and treat" strategy and to escalate testing till the positivity comes down below 5 per cent. They were asked to significantly increase testing in all districts with a minimum of 70 per cent RT-PCR tests and use of Rapid Antigen Tests as screening tests in densely populated areas as well as areas where cluster of cases are reported and mandatorily subject those who have tested negative in Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to RT-PCR test, the ministry said. "Regarding the vaccination, the state/UT were advised to ensure priority vaccination of the eligible population groups in districts reporting higher cases. "Transfer unused vaccine doses from one district to another for optimum utilization of available vaccine doses," it said. They were asked to ensure no sedimentation of vaccine takes place at any level of cold chain storage, maximum utilisation of vaccination capacity in the public and private sector health facilities. "There is no shortage of vaccination at the State/UT level.  The Centre is regularly reviewing vaccine stock, and vaccine doses will be continually replenished by the Centre based on the consumption level of the states and UTs," the statement said. Regarding surveillance and containment, Punjab and Chandigarh were also advised that all district officers and the local administration should refocus on effective house-to-house surveillance to identify active cases with focus on timely testing, prompt contact tracing and swift isolation so as to break the chain of transmission. They were asked to identify clusters, focus stringent implementation of micro-containment zone approach. The Principal Secretaries (Health) of Punjab and Chandigarh along with deputy commissioners of the highly affected districts such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, SBS Nagar and Jalandhar shared their feedback on the activities being undertaken in the districts to break the chain of transmission, preparation of hospital infrastructure, clinical treatment protocols in hospitals to reduce mortality, and awareness campaigns.


Video shows a BJP MLA was beaten up in Haryana

CCTV footage capturing a group of men beating up two persons inside a local government office in Haryana is viral with captions falsely claiming that one of the men being attacked is a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA.  BOOM contacted a police official concerned who confirmed to us that the attack was result of a personal dispute, and the men who were attacked were not BJP members or politicians.   Also read Aaditya Thackeray With Rhea Chakraborty?  No, That's Disha Patani   The 90-second-long viral clip - a CCTV footage - shows a group of men enter a room where two men are already in conversation with an official.  The group then launches a brutal attack on the two men seated in front of the official.  At one point in the video, the official walks out of the room while the men continue with the assault.  A Hindi caption with the post translates to 'BJP MLA thrashed in Haryana'.  (Hindi: हरियाणा में BJP MLA की धुलाई ) BOOM has chosen not to include the video as it contains violence.   An archived version of the Facebook post can be seen here.  The same video is also viral with a caption which translates to 'Haryana BJP MLA thrashed'.  View the video here and check its archived version here.  Also read 2019 Video Of Bengaluru's Crowded KR Market Revived With COVID Twist   BOOM did a reverse image search on a key frame of the viral video and found the same video uploaded on the YouTube channel of India TV on July 23, 2020.  The headline with the video reads '2 men brutally beaten by goons at SDO office in Haryana's Munak'.  The report mentions that the incident took place in Haryana's Munak village in the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).    The India TV report also includes byte of a police official wherein he can be heard saying that three of the accused have been held.  "FIR was registered against five people, of whom three have been arrested.  We are investigating the involvement of the other two," the official told India TV.  Watch the video below.  Viewers discretion advised.  BOOM then did a keyword search and found news reports about the incident, the video of which is now viral with false captions.  A report published by wire agency ANI states that the incident took place at the SDO office of Munak's electricity department on July 22.  According to the report, some villagers had gone to the SDO's office to raise an issue over a power line being laid through their farmland in Munak village.  While the villagers were discussing the matter with the SDO, five men entered the office and attacked the duo.  Police later identified the assailants by the help of CCTV footage in the office, and arrested three of them.  As per the ANI report, the police had said that the reason behind the attack was some personal conflict between the two parties.     BOOM then contacted the Munak police station to get more details.           "Three people have been arrested in connection with the attack.  They were all from the same village," the station in-charge told BOOM.  The station in-charge told us it was a personal dispute between the two parties and also denied any political angle in the case.     Also read Video From Hyderabad Temple Viral With Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan Twist BOOM could not independently ascertain the reason behind the attack.


"Welcome to the #Oscars!" https://t.co/z41pgn3O25 https://t.co/yre1y2xIp5

  Queen may have opened the Oscars, but Rami Malek is the real champion of the night.

  Malek on Sunday picked up the best actor award for playing Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody. ”

  In his acceptance speech, Malek reflected on his journey and the importance of immigrant stories.

  “I think about what it would have been like to tell little bubba Rami that one day this might happen to him and I think his curly-haired little mind would be blown,” he said.  “He was struggling with his identity, trying to figure himself out.  And I think to anyone struggling with theirs, and trying to discover their voice: Listen, we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself.  The fact that I’m celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we’re longing for stories like this. ”

  In his speech, Malek pointed out that he is a first-generation American.  His parents are from Egypt.

  “Part of my story is being written right now.  And I could not be more grateful to each and every one of you, and everyone who believed in me for this moment,” he said.  “It’s something I will treasure for the rest of my life. ”

  Malek’s win was a big win for the film, which had a well-chronicled battle to the big screen, but not its only statue of the night.  “Bohemian Rhapsody” also picked up the awards for film editing, sound editing and sound mixing.
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