Delhi: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III meets NSA Ajit Doval.

Secretary Lloyd James Austin III is on a three-day visit to India. https://t.co/2OFE4DMlHr

China’s aggression in Ladakh, terrorism in the region and steps to further cement India-US defence ties will be on the top of the agenda when the US defence secretary Lloyd Austin arrives in India this evening for the first in-person engagement between the Modi government and Joe Biden administration, people familiar with the matter said on Friday. “This is Secretary Austin’s first visit abroad after the Quad summit and the first high-level visit by a senior representative of the new US administration.  Meetings will be on broad issues, not a detailed exchange of specifics,” said a senior government official. India is the third stop of Austin’s three-nation tour, an effort by the Biden administration to bolster a united front against China which was famously described by Austin as the “pacing threat”. “China … presents the most significant threat going forward because China is ascending,” Austin told the Senate confirmation hearing back in January, underlining that in contrast to Beijing, the threat from Moscow “is in decline”. “Our goal is to make sure that we have the capabilities and the operational plans and concepts to be able to offer credible deterrence to China or anybody else who wants to take on the US. ”Austin’s arrival in Delhi coincides with a crucial meeting between top officials of the Biden administration and President Xi Jinping’s China in Alaska.  By all accounts, this is expected to be a difficult meeting with Washington determined to red flag its concerns around several issues such as human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan and western Xinjiang region apart from China’s assertiveness in the neighbourhood.  These are issues that Xi Jinping’s party believes the Biden administration should steer clear of. US secretary of state Antony Blinken amped the pitch well before the meeting starts, referring to Beijing’s “consistent failure to uphold its commitments” and its “aggressive and authoritarian behaviour” that challenges the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. This is an issue that is also going to be discussed when Austin holds meetings with top Indian leaders. The US defence secretary is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after 6pm today to deepen bilateral defence cooperation and further Quad.  His formal meeting with his counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is slated for tomorrow. The former US Central Command chief will also hold talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval; the two sides are expected to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation and counter-terrorism. As the 12th Central Command chief, Secretary Austin is well versed with the threat to global security from radicalization and terrorism after seeing the rise of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.  He also has first-hand experience of the threat posed by terrorist groups in Pakistan to India. Officials said the Indian side is expected to brief the visiting dignitary about the on-going stand-off with China in the East Ladakh region where the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is still to disengage from Gogra-Hot Springs and Depsang areas. Rather than complete the disengagement from the entire stretch of the Line of Actual Control, Beijing has been going slow on withdrawing troops from the friction points.  China wants Delhi to bracket the boundary dispute separately from bilateral ties and resume the economic relationship unmindful of what happened in May 2020 on the north banks of Pangong Tso and elsewhere. The US, which has tracked the East Ladakh stand-off very closely, is quite clear on PLA aggression and has a firm idea about PLA’s capability in the Western Theatre with India.  The friction between the two countries in the East Ladakh sector was also discussed when leaders of the four-nation Quad grouping held their first summit and vowed to hold a second in-person meeting later this year. The discussion at Austin’s meetings in Delhi would be much more granular. . The two sides are not expected to sign any agreements during Secretary Austin’s visit but they do hope to firm up the roadmap to deepen defence cooperation and intelligence sharing in the Indo-Pacific.  This will be done through interoperability exercises and joint training designed to make them the first responders in the vast ocean while the navies of the two other Quad members, Japan and Australia, hold the other fringes.  The Quad navies plus France are scheduled to exercise in the Bay of Bengal from April 4-7 under the La Perouse banner. India and the US have robust defence technology cooperation with Washington now willing to offer a number of high-end technologies for manufacture in India under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” rubric.  Among items that could be considered are aircraft engines, long-range drones, aircraft and multi-utility helicopters.  India has already firmed up its plans to buy Predator drones from the US apart from more sea surveillance aircraft.


Jammu & Kashmir: Residents of the Union Territory who have arrived from Himachal Pradesh are being sent to their respective districts in buses from Lakhanpur, Kathua. OP Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner says, "They are medically screened & made to fill a self-declaration form". (26.4) https://t.co/8IfLDyhCI6

18 more Covid-19 cases have been reported from Bihar, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 629, state Principal Secretary (Health) Sanjay Kumar said on Sunday. Of the new cases, 7 each have been reported from Saharsa and Madhepura districts, 2 from Darbhanga district and 1 each from Araria and Begusarai districts. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), total cases in the country now stand at 62,939, including 41,472 active cases, 19,358 cured/discharged/migrated and 2,109 deaths.


Rajasthan reports 1,345 new COVID-19 cases, 1,006 recoveries and 13 deaths, taking total cases to 76,015 including 60, 585 recovered cases and 1,005 deaths. Number of active cases stands at 14,425: State Health Department https://t.co/wJLBEG2GAv

Manipur on Thursday reported 140 new COVID-19 cases, taking the coronavirus caseload in the northeastern state to 5,725, an official said. At least 128 people recovered from Covid-19 in the state on Thursday, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,957, the official said. The Covid-19 recovery rate of the state increased to 69. 11 per cent as 3,957 of the total 5,725 Covid-19 patients have recovered from the disease. Manipur now has 1,743 active Covid-19 cases of which 761 are Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, the official said. Of the total 5,725 Covid-19 cases, 1,743 are active cases as 3,957 people have recovered from the disease and 25 have died, an official statement said.


SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, its first spacecraft designed to carry humans, took flight for the first time today
https://t.co/7TjcaHh4ab https://t.co/h6RiJNeSCL

The unmanned craft took about 27 hours to reach the ISS. SpaceX capsule becomes 1st commercial spacecraft to dock with International Space StationSpaceX's unmanned Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station early Sunday, one day after it blast into space using a Falcon 9 rocket. After taking off around 2:50 a. m.  EST on Saturday, the capsule docked just before 6 a. m.  Sunday, about 27 hours after liftoff.  It will be docked there for five days. It is the first time a commercially built spacecraft has docked with the International Space Station. The unmanned Dragon spacecraft, blasted from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is scheduled to plop down in the Atlantic Ocean on March 8. A life-sized dummy named Ripley, after the lead character in the "Alien" movies, was the capsule's only passenger. The launch and docking were broadcast live on NASA TV. "This is critically important," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who toured and launchpad on Friday with SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk, told the AP.  "We're on the precipice of launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil again for the first time since the retirement of the space shuttles in 2011. "NASA has since turned to SpaceX and Boeing, providing them with $8 billion, to help get astronauts to the ISS, which is about 250 miles about Earth.  Currently, Russian Soyuz rockets are the only means by which to reach the space station, and NASA, according to the AP, pays $82 million per seat. Boeing is planning to test its Starliner capsule in April, potentially with people aboard as early as August. Bridenstine said it's only a matter of time before astronauts are being carried into space aboard Dragons or Starliners. "We are not in a space race," he told the AP.  "That race is over.  We went to the moon and we won.  It's done.  Now we're in a position where we can take our time and make sure we get it right. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Pres. Trump issued a second batch of pardons in as many days, this time forgiving the crimes of two former associates, Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, as well as Charles Kushner, the father of Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner. https://t.co/YbMe9BFibk

By Tina Burnside and Eric Levenson, CNNUpdated 5:56 AM ET, Thu December 24, 2020  (CNN)Colorado Gov.  Jared Polis pardoned the parents involved in the "Balloon Boy" saga of 2009 as part of nearly two dozen pardons and commutations on Wednesday. CNN's Greg Botelho contributed to this report.


A photograph where Muslim men can be seen with the Atharva Veda has been shared with the claim that they are altering Hindu scriptures.  The claim further suggests that 20 years hence, next generations will not be able to read the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads in the original form.  A post by Facebook page Vastavik Bharat has received more than 2,800 shares. [Translated from; देखो और ध्यान दो और क्या हो रहा है हमारे देश में.  क्या ये हमारे धर्म ग्रंथों में मिलावट करने का कार्य हो रहा है.  क्या आने वाले 20 साल बाद हमारी अगली पीढ़ियां ये #मिलावटी वेद, पुराण, उपनिषद पढ़ेंगे. ]
The picture is viral on Facebook with people talking about Hindu scripture being changed.
Identical claim is floating on Twitter. देखो और ध्यान दो और क्या हो रहा है हमारे देश में 🤔🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨हमारे धर्म ग्रंथों में मिलावट करने का कार्य जोरों से चल रहा है,,,, 🙄🙄🙄आने वाली 20 साल बाद हमारी अगली पीढ़ियां ये #मिलावटी वेद ,पुराण , उपनिषद पढ़ेंगे। ,,,जिसमें लिखा होगा चरित्र निर्माण बेकार की बात है🦹 pic. twitter. com/ZJk8zxfC7C— Rï†wïk §ïñgh ।धर्मार्थम् हिंसा परमो धर्मः। (@RAJPOOT_HUNK) July 21, 2020A reverse-image search led us to a 2014 report in The Hindu which described the image as, “Students at Al Mahadul Aali Al Islami studying the Vedas to understand the common attributes in Islam and Hinduism.  This seminary has more than 1000 books on other religions at Hyderabad. ” The photograph is credited to G Ramakrishnan.
We contacted Al Mahadul Aali Al Islami institute for more information on the photo.  Deputy Director Mufti Omar Abedeen told us that this picture was shot in their library and is several years old.  “We have a department called ‘Mutalaya Mizahid’ which means ‘Studies of Faiths’ where students are taught not only about Hinduism but also about other religions like Christianity and Sikhism.  We have been doing this work for almost 20 years.  We also invite scholars of other religions to teach so that the students get the best understanding of every religion. ”Therefore, a 6-year-old image of Muslim students studying Hinduism was shared with the false claim that they are tampering with Hindu scriptures. Donate NowPriyanka Jha specialises in monitoring and researching mis/disinformation at Alt News.  She also manages the Alt News Hindi portal. A set of two images, an alleged tweet and a video has been shared on…A photo of an idol of Hindu deity Nandi found buried in the ground has…An alleged statement by former President Dr.  APJ Abdul Kalam has been circulating on social…A photo of a billboard featuring Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray has been shared by BJP…A video of a group of people beating a boy in police presence over an…


Ahead of Sunday’s #DemDebate, @CNNOpinion asked candidates how they’d handle the coronavirus crisis. Here's what they said.

Joe Biden: https://t.co/4qEU8nSV7M
Bernie Sanders: https://t.co/dbpdqG9BG8 https://t.co/6euhUhUX4h

The matchup was moved from Arizona to Washington, D. C.  due to coronavirus. The Democratic debate will take place tonight with no in-studio audienceIt’s the debate that Bernie Sanders always wanted, and one that Joe Biden simply needs to endure. It’s also a debate that Sanders vowed he would take part in, a day after suffering another round of steep losses to the former vice president, telling reporters in Burlington Wednesday, "On Sunday, I very much look forward to the debate in Arizona with my friend, Joe Biden. "In the two-man race, it is Biden who is currently winning the popular vote and leading in the all-important delegate hunt, after a stunning political revival at the tail end of the first four early nominating contests, with at least 819 delegates estimated for Biden and 675 for Sanders so far. But the matchup, hosted by CNN and Univision, also comes as the entire presidential contest is upended by a global pandemic.  The novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, thrust the 2020 campaign into unchartered virtual terrain, in which the candidates are campaigning without campaigning, shifting to online events, instructing all employees to work from home or telework, and grounding field operations to a halt. Even the debate itself was moved from Phoenix, Arizona to CNN's studio in Washington, D. C.  "out of an abundance of caution" with no live audience, according to the Democratic National Committee. Despite facing a narrower path to the nomination after Biden’s string of victories since the South Carolina primary, Sanders brushed aside the notion of an exit from the race earlier this week - confirming only that he was sticking around at least through Sunday night - and instead leaning into his ideological fortitude as he ticked through a list of policy questions he wants Biden to answer. Sanders may have conceded "we are losing the debate over electability" but the Vermont senator ceded no territory on his commitment to expanding health care, lowering student debt, tackling climate change and addressing childhood poverty.  Without taking aim at Biden directly, he offered an early glimpse of the first one-on-one matchup between him and his chief moderate rival, and the lengths he will go to protect his liberal agenda that he has urged the Democratic Party to adopt since his first run in 2016. "Joe, what are you going to do for the 500,000 people who will go bankrupt in our country because of medically related debt," he began. "Joe, what are you going to do to end the absurdity of the United States of America being the only major country on Earth where healthcare is not a human right," he posed.  "Joe, how are you going to respond to the scientists who tell us we have seven or eight years remaining to transform our energy system before irreparable harm takes place to this planet because of the ravages of climate change? ""Joe, at a time when most young people need a higher education to make it into the middle class, what are you going to do to make sure that all of our people can go to college or trade school, regardless of their income," he continued. Sanders' approach, signaling perhaps his willingness to start forming a bridge between Biden's campaign and his own in an effort to continue to influence the direction of the party, also brings forward his steadfast belief that he is winning on the issues. In every state that has voted thus far this primary season, more Democratic voters support replacing all private health insurance with a single government plan for everyone than oppose, according to exit polls. In a chaotic race, Sanders continues to be the constant, the one with a singular mission driving his progressive movement, and delivering his same pitch of "not me, us. "The showdown on Sunday is Sanders' chance to take on the establishment and the moderate faction without a crowded stage, without another progressive in the race, and with only one other opponent to square off against.  But it also could potentially be Sanders' last chance to make his case for his pursuit of the White House before a national audience, as a second-place finish in a Democratic primary looks all the more likely. After notching over a dozen wins in the past two weeks, a more confident Biden emerged and is more strategically running his campaign as an alternative to the current administration, with a near-singular focus on contrasting himself with President Trump, rather than his more imminent rival. "Unfortunately, this virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration.  Public fears are being compounded by a pervasive lack of trust in this president, fueled by adversarial  relationships with the truth that he continues to have.  Our government's ability to respond effectively has been undermined by hollowing out our agencies and disparagement of science," he said in a speech Thursday in Delaware amid the health crisis. Biden, who has shown resiliency throughout the 2020 campaign, hopes to maintain the momentum he has seen since his win in South Carolina last month, even while sidelined from the trail. In a memo circulated to campaign staff urging them to work from home starting Saturday to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, two members of his campaign leadership, Anita Dunn, senior advisor to the campaign, and Jen O'Malley Dillon, the newly installed campaign manager, assure that the Biden team's message and goals are unchanged, but they are seeking more "creative" ways to achieve them. "The functions of this campaign - disseminating the Vice President’s message, educating voters, and earning their votes - will not change.  We will continue to implement our mission: putting together a broad and diverse coalition to make Donald Trump a one-term president and restoring the soul of the nation.  Our challenge now is to do that in new and creative ways that mitigate public health risk.  We are confident that this team can rise to this challenge," Dunn and O’Malley Dillion wrote in the memo. The debate might offer Biden a key opportunity to begin to make overtures to Sanders' loyal army of supporters, particularly the core of his base, younger voters, in an effort to broaden his coalition, which already includes African Americans, older, and white working class voters, many from the suburban areas that will be battlegrounds come November. Despite a rout in the key swing state of Michigan, and high turnout pointing to strong Democratic enthusiasm across the board so far, Biden continues to lag behind Sanders in support among young voters and Independents, according to exit polls.  As he prepares for a competitive race against the president, Biden's ability to make inroads with those voters will be crucial to assembling a coalition that can actually defeat Trump. Even if Sanders once again seeks to expose what he sees as Biden's general election vulnerabilities on Sunday, Biden, as he has done for most of the campaign, will likely keep most of his attention on attacking the president during the nationally-televised event. As the Biden campaign looks ahead with an eye towards November, Sanders, during his Wednesday press conference, did not mention the upcoming contests on Tuesday, in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio, or beyond. The Democratic primary might finally be slowing down, but first, the final two, after up to 28 candidates sought the nomination, will face off for what is planned as the primary race's penultimate debate on Sunday at 8 p. m eastern time. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


EU solidarity & cooperation continues. Aircraft arrives carrying 223 ventilators, 25000 vials of Remdesivir & other medical equipment from Germany, 30000 vials of Remdesivir from Netherlands&5500 vials of Remdesivir from Portugal. Value support of our partners: Arindam Bagchi,MEA https://t.co/MGwe3H5DgI

Amid the COVID-19 crisis in India, an aircraft carrying a shipment of ventilators, Remdesivir and medical equipment from EU member states, arrived in New Delhi on Friday. External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi acknowledged the continued solidarity shown by European countries including Germany, Netherlands, and Portugal. "EU solidarity and cooperation continues.  Aircraft arrives carrying 223 ventilators, 25000 vials of Remdesivir and other medical equipment from Germany, 30000 vials of Remdesivir from Netherlands and 5500 vials of Remdesivir from Portugal.  Value support of our European Union partners," EAM spokesperson tweeted. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageEarlier today, India welcomed the arrival of 5. 6 million masks/respirators that arrived from Kazakhstan to combat the deadly virus that has put a strain on the health infrastructure of the country. "Further deepening our Strategic Partnership.  Welcome shipment of over 5. 6 million masks/respirators that arrived from Kazakhstan," Bagchi tweeted. India has received support from several countries, including the US, Russia and the UK as it battles a deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Thursday, India recorded 3,62,727 new COVID-19 cases, 3,52,181 discharges and 4,120 deaths.  The total positive cases in the country so far stand at 2,37,03,665.  This includes 1,97,34,823 recoveries and 2,58,317 reported deaths.


CLAIM A photo is being massively shared on social media with the claim that the woman in the image is pregnant and suffering from the novel coronavirus.  The text further claims that the doctor has mentioned that she will not survive it and in case she does, the baby will be COVID-19 positive.  The post urges people to share the post in four groups as a way to pray for the family.  The post shared by one Yadav Gelal had garnered 12,000 shares at the time of publishing the story.  (Click here for live updates on COVID-19.  Also visit Quint Fit for comprehensive coverage on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. ) WHAT’S THE TRUTH?  We reverse searched the image on Google and found that the same image was carried in an article published by a website called ‘MOTHER’.  The article, published on 12 March, is headlined as: ‘35+ OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS IN BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY (sic)’ The article mentions that the viral image has been captured by Elaine Baca, a documentary photographer, who is the owner of Lane B.  We scanned the photographer’s website and found that the same image was uploaded under the ‘Home Birth/ Birth Centre’ category.  However, the image carried no caption.  We, then, searched the photographer’s Instagram handle by the name of ‘lanebphotography’ and found that the same image was posted on 15 January 2019, way before the first case of novel coronavirus in the world was even reported.  The photo has been shared with the caption: “Power.  Love.  Womanhood. ” Elaine Baca told The Quint that the woman in the picture does not have COVID-19 and that she has never had it.  “I spoke with her yesterday to confirm.  This photo is being used without my permission.  The photo was from a birth in January 2019 and the mother is pictured in labor being supported by her husband,” she said.  Evidently, an old photo is being shared to falsely claim that the woman in the picture is pregnant and has been infected with the coronavirus.  You can read all our fact-checked stories here.


Hearing on Vijay Mallya's plea against his extradition underway in London High Court. (file pic) https://t.co/kyto7FYQuB

Businessman Vijay Mallya has been permitted to appeal against his extradition order signed off by home secretary, news agency Press Trust of India said after an oral hearing in the appeals court of the England and Wales high court. The ruling comes as a huge relief to the embattled business tycoon as it was one of the last legal avenues open to him to avoid extradition.  Mallya who founded the now-defunct Kingfisher airlines, fled to Britain in March 2016 after facing accusations of financial irregularities amounting to over Rs 9,000 crore.  Mallya has consistently claimed that the charges he faces are baseless and fabricated and the Centre refused to take him up on his offer to clear his loans. As he walked into the Royal Courts of Justice earlier in the day, the 63-year-old businessman said he was feeling “positive”.  In its order, the bench said that the arguments can be reasonably made on some of Westminster Magistrates’ Court Chief Magistrate Judge Emma Arbuthnot’s conclusions in her prima facie case ruling, according to PTI.  The High Court judges ruled that the 63-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss was permitted to appeal on only one limited ground to be able to address the admissibility of some of evidence and interpretations made by the lower court. Mallya’s written application was rejected by Justice William Davis on April 5, prompting him to seek an oral hearing for permission to appeal against home secretary Sajid Javid’s February 4 order extraditing him to India to face allegations of major financial irregularities. Mallya faces charges of financial irregularities amounting to over Rs 9,000 crore.  He has been putting forth his version of events through social media, repeatedly offering to repay all his loans and wondering why the banks are not taking up his offer. Legal experts had earlier indicated that the court could permit him to appeal if new grounds or evidence not previously considered in lower courts are cited.  The Westminster Magistrates Court ruled in favour of Mallya’s extradition in December 2018.  Mallya could have moved the Supreme Court, which usually grants permission to appeal only if a case involves a matter of public interest.  He could also have approached the European Court of Human Rights, which has jurisdiction over the UK until Brexit is completed and submit a ‘representation’ to the home secretary.


Delhi: Situation being monitored in areas of  #NortheastDelhi with the help of drone. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is taking stock of the situation here. https://t.co/e2uaFBnAjX

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a marathon two-hour long meeting on Wednesday evening to review the situation in riot-hit north-east Delhi.  “The situation is under control and all efforts are being made to ensure peace and calm,” National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said after the meeting. Earlier in the day, Doval visited the riot-affected areas for the second time in 24 hours.  The National Security Advisor first visited parts of north-east Delhi on Tuesday late night after being asked to step in and manage a situation that was clearly beyond Delhi Police.  At least 34 people including two policemen have been killed and around 330 people have been injured in the riots.  The centre has deployed 45 companies – each comprising 100 soldiers – in north-east Delhi to assist the Delhi Police.  In addition, troops from the Delhi Armed Police have also been deployed.  Also Watch | Delhi violence | Day 4: Death toll crosses 25; cops say 100 arrested so farGovernment officials familiar with the matter said the home ministry’s assessment is that Delhi Police was caught napping.  Security cover around the capital was increased because of President Donald Trump’s visit.  The Delhi Police chose to observe restrain because of the visit and also because of the congested area and dense population.  “Any action, it was thought, would result in collateral damage,” a senior home ministry official who was aware of the details but did not want to be named said.  That proved to be the wrong approach to take.  The police were surprised by rioters shipped in from outside. .  ”A large number of rioters were outsiders.  Work is on to identify the people,” this person added.  Sweeping changes in Delhi Police are expected soon.  “There will be major changes soon, the primary focus, now, is to restore calm and peace,” a second senior home ministry official who did not want to be named said. On Tuesday evening, the Prime Minister and the home minister separately reviewed the situation.  “The Prime Minister reviewed the situation immediately after State Banquet held in honour of US President Donald Trump.  The National Security Advisor attended both meetings,” a third senior Home Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.  On Monday night, Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Arvind Kumar spent the entire night at the Delhi Police Control Room and in areas in north-east Delhi including Jafrabad, Maujpur and Gokulpuri. The DIB rushed to the disturbed areas and Delhi Police control room after consultations with senior government functionaries including home minister Shah. The DIB is the senior-most policeman of the country and topmost advisor to the government on internal security.  “The DIB went through the deployment details at the Delhi Police Control Room and then subsequently went to the affected areas to interact with policemen and get a first-hand account of the riots, “ a senior government official who said, asking not to be named.


Maharashtra: People staged a protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct in Mumbai, today. https://t.co/EnirJuQFL2

A rally in Meghalaya opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and seeking implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in the state on Friday was attacked by non-tribals resulting in the death of a Khasi youth. Lurshai Hynniewta, a resident of Cherrapunjee succumbed to injuries received in a clash between a group of non-tribals and his fellow protestors in Ichamati village of Shella constituency in the East Khasi Hills district. Curfew was imposed in Shillong and adjoining areas from 10 pm on Friday till 8 am Saturday to prevent “breach of peace and tranquility”.  Superintendent of police Claudia A Lyngwa said the police was on “high alert” to prevent further escalation. Chief minister Conrad Sangma said the government was taking all precautionary measures to contain the situation. “We will see how the situation develops and if necessary we will further extend the curfew.  Also as a precautionary measure, we have ensured that internet on mobile phones is temporarily suspended,” Sangma said in Shillong.  The meeting to sensitise the local people on the ILP demand and to oppose the CAA was organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), it turned ugly when the activists were attacked by a section of the crowd. Some activists and cops were injured in the clash, raising tension in the area neighbouring Indo-Bangladesh border. Hynniewta, a member of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) from Sohra (Cherrapunjee), was injured along with the headman of Umwai village, who is undergoing treatment in Shillong Civil Hospital. Some other KSU officer bearers also received injuries in the clash. According to eye witnesses, the attackers were armed with machetes and sticks and were captured marching in videos circulated on social media. Witnesses said some vehicles including buses were vandalized during the clash and a house was set ablaze. Internet services will be temporarily suspended in five districts of the state to prevent misuse of social media platforms with effect from 10 pm Friday for 48 hours, said a notification issued by the home department.  The notification said only 5 SMS will be permitted per day during this period.


LATEST: Murdered Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle was set to attend anti-gang violence meeting today with Los Angeles police. https://t.co/Dwt0JNrkh1 https://t.co/GbCKJiePCE

  Rapper Nipsey Hussle died Sunday after a shooting in Los Angeles near a clothing store he owned, according to a high-ranking law enforcement official with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Nipsey Hussle was more of a movement than a musician

  Two other people were injured in the shooting around 3:20 p. m. , according to the department.

  The shooting occurred in the area of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard.

  The victims were transported to a hospital, where one of them was pronounced dead, according to police.  The other two were in stable condition, police added.

  In a tweet, the department said it has no information about the suspect.

  The rapper’s last message on Twitter read: “Having strong enemies is a blessing. ”
Having strong enemies is a blessing.
  In 2010, Hussle, 33, whose birth name was Ermias Davidson Asghedom, according to IMDb. com, founded the record label All Money In, which he debuted with the release of “The Marathon,” the rapper’s fifth official mixtape.  His 2013 “Crenshaw” release sold more than 1,000 cassettes each priced at $100, according to his Press Atlantic Records biography.

  The next year, he performed across the country in his Crenshaw Tour.

  Hussle teamed up with dozens of successful artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, YG, Ty Dolla Sign, Meek Mill and Young Thug.

Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London's hip-hop fairytale

  He made moves outside the music industry, too.  Last year he launched the first Marathon Clothing smart store at 3420 W.  Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles.  He also owned The Marathon Agency, SC Commercial Ventures, Proud 2 Pay and All Money In No Money Out Records, according to Press Atlantic Records.

His Facebook page says Hussle was “a devout member of the Rolling Sixty Crips,” a national street gang that was founded in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s.

  His page lists Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur as some of his influences.

  Hussle was nominated for best rap album at this year’s Grammys, but lost to Cardi B.

  Mark Ridley-Thomas, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors who represents the southern part of the city, released a statement Sunday night saying his district mourned the loss of Hussle.

  “Ermias Asghedom, known to us as the hip-hop artist Nipsey Hussle, was a father, businessman, entertainer, and inspiration to many,” Ridley-Thomas said, urging his district to stay calm and reflect on the tragedy.  “Our communities have lost too many young men and bright futures to the scourge of gun violence.  For healing to occur, even from this terrible incident, justice must be sought through legal means, and community peace must be found. ”

  Hussle had been scheduled to meet with LA Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff and LAPD Chief Michael Moore on Monday to discuss ways to stop gang violence, Soboroff said on Twitter.

  “We (@LAPDChiefMoore and I ) were meeting, at the request of @NipseyHussle with him and @rocnation tomorrow at 4pm to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids.  I’m so very sad,” Soboroff tweeted.
We (@LAPDChiefMoore and I ) were meeting , at the request of  @NipseyHussle with him and @rocnation tomorrow at 4pm to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids.     I’m so very sad https://t. co/rcGtvw9c6L

  After news of Hussle’s death, dozens of celebrities expressed their shock and condolences on social media.

  “My spirit is shaken by this,” Rihanna wrote on Twitter.  “Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones!  I’m so sorry this happened to you. ”
This doesn’t make any sense!  My spirit is shaken by this!  Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones!  💔🙏🏿I’m so sorry this happened to you @nipseyhussle pic. twitter. com/rKZ2agxm2a
  “Sad, mad and disappointed about my guy,” rapper Ice Cube tweeted.
Sad, mad and disappointed about my guy @NipseyHussle
  Pharrell Williams wrote Hussle was about “something. .  positive and for your community in every chance you had to speak. .  and because of that You inspire millions. .  millions who will uphold your legacy forever. ”

  Rapper J.  Cole tweeted that Hussle was a “legend. ”

  “I respect and admire your career path and what you did for the neighborhood.  My heart broke today when I saw the news.  I’m praying for your loved ones,” Cole tweeted.
Nipsey you a legend.  I respect and admire your career path and what you did for the neighborhood.  My heart broke today when I saw the news.  I’m praying for your loved ones.  This was sposed to be the year we got one in.  God had bigger plans for you 🙏🏿
  Other artists, including Chance the Rapper, Meek Mill and Drake, took to social media to say their final goodbyes, along with athletes Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick.

Clarification: The headline and article have been updated to reflect that Nipsey Hussle was owner of the clothing store near the site of the shooting.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


For Democrats, Stacey Abrams sends key message on gender and race in SOTU response. https://t.co/ThlfBjq8mQ https://t.co/6HBKawYAmF

    Democratic Party rising star Stacey Abrams sharply criticized the Trump administration and Republican leadership on Tuesday night in her response to the President’s State of the Union address.

    Abrams blamed the President for the recent partial government shutdown, which became the longest in US history, calling it “a stunt engineered by the President,” and argued that the aspirations of American families “are being crushed by Republican leadership that ignores real life or just doesn’t understand it. ”

    The 45-year-old narrowly lost a gubernatorial bid in the reliably red state of Georgia last fall, but rose to national prominence in the process.  She made history as the first black woman to give the Democratic response to the State of the Union.

    Abrams, who has made voting rights a signature issue, warned during her speech that voter suppression is “real” and described protecting the right to vote as “the next battle for our democracy. ” After outlining a host of Democratic priorities, she said, “None of these ambitions are possible without the bedrock guarantee of our right to vote,” adding, “Let’s be clear: voter suppression is real. ”

Read: Stacey Abrams' Democratic response to the SOTU

    Abrams continued, “We cannot accept efforts to undermine our right to vote,” and said, “This is the next battle for our democracy, one where all eligible citizens can have their say about the vision we want for our country.  We must reject the cynicism that says allowing every eligible vote to be cast and counted is a power grab. ”

    “The foundation of our moral leadership around the globe is free and fair elections where voters pick their leaders, not where politicians pick their voters,” she said.

    Abrams ticked through a litany of other issues, ranging from gun control to immigration reform to action on climate change, criticizing the current administration and contrasting the President’s agenda with those of the Democratic Party.

    “We know bipartisanship could craft a 21st century immigration plan, but this administration chooses to cage children and tear families apart,” Abrams said in one of her most searing criticisms.

    She added, “Compassionate treatment at the border is not the same as open borders” and said that “Democrats stand ready to effectively secure our ports and borders. ” But in a pointed message to the President, Abrams said, “America is made stronger by the presence of immigrants, not walls. ”

    On the subject of gun violence, Abrams said, “This White House responds timidly while first graders practice active shooter drills,” adding, “from now on, our leaders must be willing to tackle gun safety measures. ”

    The speech gave Abrams a high-profile platform to counter the President’s own message to Congress and the nation and comes amid speculation that she may run for a Senate seat in 2020.

    She talked about her own experience working with volunteers to give out meals to federal workers placed on furlough during the shutdown, saying, “Making livelihoods of our federal workers a pawn for political games is a disgrace. ”

    Abrams said that the shutdown “defied every tenet of fairness and abandoned not just our people – but our values. ”

    She spoke about the country’s fight against racism, saying, “We continue to confront racism from our past and our present, which is why we must hold everyone from the highest offices to our own families accountable for racist words and deeds and call racism what it is – wrong. ”

    Abrams has said herself that she plans to run again for elected office and has talked with top congressional Democrats about the possibility of a Senate run.

    Abrams met separately in January with Schumer and Sen.  Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, to discuss a possible 2020 Senate run, a source familiar with the meetings told CNN last month.

    And after her gubernatorial defeat, she told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that she does “intend to run for office again,” though she said, “I’m not sure for what and I am not exactly certain when. ”

    There are risks that come with delivering the State of the Union response, and there have been memorable stumbles in the past for other rising stars who delivered their parties’ rebuttals.

    Sen.  Marco Rubio of Florida was widely mocked after he awkwardly reached down to take a sip of water while delivering the GOP response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union in 2013.  The moment – and the memes it led to – ended up overshadowing Rubio’s message.

Rubio criticizes Trump's mid-speech water-sipping form

    Abrams jokingly referred to the now-infamous Rubio moment in recent comments ahead of her speech as reported by Axios, saying, “The first thing I’m going to do is hydrate. ”

    The message she delivered also comes at a time when the Democratic Party continues to grapple with whether and how it can make inroads in rural parts of the country and southern states, both of which have become Republican strongholds, ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

    Despite Abrams losing her gubernatorial bid, Democrats have drawn encouragement from how close and competitive the race ended up.

    Abrams told Rolling Stone in an interview, “My opponent did not outperform Republican presidential candidates.  I did.  I outperformed Democratic presidential candidates, and what that signals is that this is a competitive state. ”

    Abrams ultimately lost by less than 2 percentage points to her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, just narrowly missing the threshold for forcing a runoff (that would have required holding Kemp, who finished with 50. 2% of the vote, under 50%).

    Voting rights ended up as a focal point of the race, which ended on a contentious note.

    When she ended her campaign, Abrams delivered a series of sharp criticisms of Kemp, who she had previously described as an “architect of voter suppression. ”

    Kemp, who served as Georgia secretary of state, resigned from his position the day after the contest, amid criticism of his handling of Georgia’s elections – including ballot rejections and malfunctioning voting machines – and a series of lawsuits.

    Before her gubernatorial bid, Abrams held the position of minority leader in the Georgia House of Representatives.

    After the election, she launched a voting rights organization and has continued to speak out on that issue.

This story has been updated with additional developments Tuesday.

CNN’s David Wright and Greg Krieg contributed to this report.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


A post with the video of a man who can be seen adulterating milk is doing rounds on social media with a claim that the video is from a dairy farm in Mumbai, whereas the same video is shared in another post (archived) with a communal claim that the man seen in the video is a Muslim.  Through this article let’s verify the claim made in these posts. Claim: Video of man adulterating milk at a dairy in Mumbai. Fact: According to news reports, the incident took place in a dairy in Dabeerpura, Hyderabad and not Mumbai.  When we reached out to SHO, Dabeerpura over the phone, he acknowledged the same.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE. Google search with the keywords ‘man adulterating milk’ led us to a news article which reported the incident.  According to the article, the incident took place in Jahangeer dairy in Dabeerpura, Hyderabad.  News video reporting of this incident can be seen here.  With this, we can conclude that the incident did not take place in Mumbai. As per the news article, the man who is seen adulterating milk is Raju, working in the dairy owned by Mohd Ghouse.  According to the reports, a case has also been registered against the owner.  The owner of the dairy is a Muslim and the man who is found adulterating milk is a Hindu. When we reached out to SHO- Dabeerpura, he acknowledged that the incident indeed took place under the Dabeerpura Police jurisdiction.  He also acknowledged that the particular dairy is owned by a Muslim, however, the man who adulterated milk is not from the same community. To sum it up, video of a man adulterating milk in Hyderabad is shared as that from Mumbai. Did you watch our new video?


Video shows RSS killing Muslims in India

A macabre video claiming to show a mass killing and public sale of human body parts is being shared with the false claim that it shows Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members killing Muslims in India.  BOOM had previously debunked the same viral video in 2018 when it was being falsely shared as 'Rohingyas killing Hindus'.  The video shows a grisly scene of supposedly dismembered bodies while three men appear to be smeared with what is claimed to be human blood.  One of the men can be seen holding a sickle while another is seated on a mud ground and asks a horrified crowd watching the grotesque scene to buy the body parts.  The clip is being shared by several Pakistani Twitter handles with the caption, "Are you watching human rights watch, Where are you?  @UN @realDonaldTrump @ImranKhanPTI @BDUTT . Loudly crying face #IndiaOnBlacklist  #RSS  #RSSTerrorists #RSSTerrorism"  Click here to view, and here for an archive.  Viral on Twitter Click here to view, and here for an archive.  Click here to view, and here for an archive.  Also Read: Unrelated Images Shared As RSS Men Attacking Hindu Woman For Making Sehri BOOM had previously debunked the same viral clip in May 2018 when it was being falsely shared claiming that it shows Rohingya Muslims killing and eating Hindus and found that it was a staged video.   We were not able to ascertain where exactly the video was from or the context associated with it.  However, the video has several clues that give it away as staged.  The men in the video can be heard speaking in Hindi, 'Aaiye aaiye meat lijiye; sasta ho gaya; hazaar rupaiye; lijiye sasta ho gaya'.  (Come buy meat, thousand rupees, it has become cheap)  The word 'WhatsApp' can be heard multiple times in the video.  A poster in which the Hindi word for head (mundi) and English word meat spelt in Devanagari script can also been seen.  Additionally, the paint used in the video is too bright and too thick to be real blood.  The surrounding mud would have turned dark and wet if it was real blood.  The second clue is that what appears to be a severed head bleeding from the neck onward is actually a man buried under mud.  BOOM has traced a white outline around the man's body to show the same.  Also Read: Gory Staged Video Being Shared As Rohingya Slaughtering Hindus The video is being shared by several Pakistani Twitter accounts in the backdrop of a United States government panel calling for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist over a "drastic" downturn under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its annual report.  "Perhaps the steepest, and most alarming, deterioration in religious freedom conditions was in #India, the largest democracy in the world. " USCIRF Vice Chair @nadinemaenza #USCIRFAnnualReport2020


A viral video of a person removing a pin from a packet of bread and then licking it before sealing it again is getting viral on all social media platforms vlaimed as Thook Jehad, spreading Corona Virus by spitting in food.  Claim: The text with the vial video claims that this man is doing thook jihad, like many earlier videos which had been viral in which people are licking or spitting on the edible items.    FACEBOOK: 2600 Shares of the following post –                  TWITTER: More than 1000 retweets of tweet by Ritu Rathaur #SpitJihad Dear Indians, Pls sanitize the outer covers of the bread you buy , bcoz we don't know which one has spit of disgusting x'hadis@narendramodi @AmitShah pic. twitter. com/pCko9IeKAU — Ritu (सत्यसाधक) #EqualRightsForHindus (@RituRathaur) April 6, 2020  ब्रैड के नये पैकेट हैंपिन हटा कर थूक कर वापस पिन लगा रहा है।इन #मुस्लिमो का आर्थिक बहिष्कार करो#जय_श्रीराम#जिहाद #कोरोना pic. twitter. com/AQMCyOOZ57 — Raj (@Rajeshkmali1978) April 6, 2020  ब्रेड के पैकेट में भी थूक जिहाद शुरूइन जाहिलों का आर्थिक बहिष्कार ही एकमात्र विकल्प#आर्थिक_बहिष्कार pic. twitter. com/a5S1GMv1xE — Awanish Singh Rajput (@Awi4531) April 5, 2020  WhatsApp  The video is from Sep 2019 i. e.  before Coronavirus outbreak, from Phillipines.  The man in the video is a delivery boy stealing slices of bread from the packet he is about to deliver.  During the course of over investigation, we used several keyframes from the video and on Yandex, we came to know about the actual incident about this viral video.  This viral video is from a Philippines news website philnews. ph’s article dated 20th September 2019 which states that a delivery employee of the International Bakery brand Gardenia was tampering its bread products before bringing it to their clients.  The guy is secretly separating some pieces of bread away from the packaging.  On getting this news report the administration Gardenia issued a statement of apology to all its customers and also urging that all of its products are free from contamination and are safe for the consumption of its consumers.  Therefore in our investigation, the claims made about this viral video are incorrect and it has no connection of contaminating it with the coronavirus.  The bread manufacturer cleared the incident on 19th Sep 2019     Delivery Personnel Caught on Camera While Tampering Bread Products        A delivery personnel of an international bakery company was caught on camera while tampering bread products.  A Facebook user named Abi Cabanding has shared the video footage of a Gardenia delivery personnel tampering its bread products before bringing it to their clients.  The guy is secretly separating some breads away from the packaging.  A delivery personnel of an international bakery company was caught on camera while tampering bread products.  A Facebook user named Abi Cabanding has shared the video footage of a Gardenia delivery personnel tampering its bread products before bringing it to their clients.  The guy is secretly separating some breads away from the packaging.  In the video, it can be seen that the employee of Gardenia Philippines is stealing pieces of bread from the pack, which may cause contamination.  The delivery man continue to perform his illegal activity although he is in public.  Gardenia Philippines has also released an official statement regarding the product tampering incident.  The company expressed its disappointment regarding the incident and currently investigating the matter.  Source – PhilNews


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

There was glitz, glamour and so much more! Gaga, J. Lo, Glenn Close: Here's our round up of the best red carpet looks of the 2019 OscarsThe 2019 Oscars are officially here, and the red carpet is full of celebrities who have waited for this moment to bring their fashion A-game. We've rounded up some of our favorite looks of the night. Lady GagaConstance WuAngela BassettBilly PorterDiane WarrenStephen JamesRegina KingAshley GrahamAmandla StenbergSpike LeeYalitza AparicioCharlize TheronAdam LambertMelissa McCarthyEmilie ClarkeAwkwafinaGlenn CloseJennifer HudsonMichelle YeohHelen MirrenEmma StoneMaya RudolphTina FeyBrie LarsonTessa ThompsonSarah Paulson24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Embassy of India in United States of America (USA) issues advisory for Indian students in the context of #CoronavirusPandemic. #COVID19 https://t.co/i2DgWPw3Jd

Sep 05, 2021-Sunday

Metro cities -  Delhi, Mumbai,
											Chennai,
											Kolkata

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

											Powered by
White House now conducting temperature checks amid outbreakAmid Covid-19 scare, Swaminarayan sect to close its all temples globallyCOVID-19 can also spread through eyes, say ophthalmologistsCoronavirus due to meat eaters, global leaders must consume ‘gaumutra’ for cure: Hindu Mahasabha chiefSwimming pools in Noida, Greater Noida closed till April 15Doctors urge precautions, preventions; advise NamasteIran coronavirus death toll rises by nearly one hundred to 611Coronavirus positive cases in India rise to 84, confirms Health Ministry: PTIChinese premier Xi Jinping extended his condolences to coronavirus-hit nationsBoston Marathon postponed due to covid-19 outbreakSaudi Arabia halts all international flights due to coronavirus outbreakAustralia vs New Zealand cricket tournament called off due to coronavirus outbreakPunjab's Health & Family Welfare Department says 335 people who travelled to coronavirus-hit countries are untraceabaleUS House of Representatives passes coronavirus relief packageTihar Jail sets up isolation wards to contain coronavirus outbreakThe coronavirus infection which started from a seafood market in Wuhan has now become a pandemic causing deaths in more than 35 countries.  Most of the deaths have been reported from China, but the rate of new infections is now in single digits.  Italy has become the ‘Wuhan of Europe’ as the nation saw more than 1,200 deaths. In India, 83 people have been affected by coronavirus.  2 people, both in their 60s and 70s succumbed to covid-19 in the country.  Another person from Uttar Pradesh has been infected by the virus. US President Trump has declared a national emergency on Friday and invoked the Stafford Act to make way for more federal aid for states and municipalities.  Later House Speaker Nancy Pelosi passed a bipartisan bill on Saturday and sent proposal for a relief package to the Senate to tackle the coronavirus epidemic in US. White House now conducting temperature checks amid outbreakThe White House announced Saturday that it is now conducting temperature checks on anyone who is in close contact with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. The move is being taken out of an abundance of caution in response to the coronavirus outbreak, said Judd Deere, a White House spokesman. Amid Covid-19 scare, Swaminarayan sect to close its all temples globallyIn view of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, the Swaminarayan sect has announced that it will close all its temples globally and suspend routine activities until further notice as part of its efforts to protect the health of volunteers, visitors and local communities. COVID-19, which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, has claimed over 5,000 lives, including 41 in the US, and infected more than 134,000 people globally. COVID-19 can also spread through eyes, say ophthalmologistsThe deadly coronavirus can also spread through eyes, said, ophthalmologists. Dr V Rajalingam, Superintendent, Government Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, said that Coronavirus is transmitted through droplets from the infected person. “Whenever a person affected by coronavirus sneezes or coughs in front of others and if the droplets go into another person’s eye then the eye will wash away the droplets through tear secretion.  The tear including the droplets will enter into the nose through lacrimal sac of the eye and then that person can get infected with Coronavirus,” said Dr V Rajalingam. Coronavirus due to meat eaters, global leaders must consume ‘gaumutra’ for cure: Hindu Mahasabha chiefWhile medical practitioners across the world have said there is no cure as such for coronavirus, Swami Chakrapani, who claims to be president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, claimed that cow urine is the “only cure” for COVID-19 and requested global leaders to consume the “miracle liquid” and lead by example in the fight against the contagious viral disease. Swimming pools in Noida, Greater Noida closed till April 15Swimming pools in Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed till April 15 as a precautionary measure to check the coronavirus threat, officials said on Saturday. The restriction is applicable on private and public use of swimming pools in schools, colleges, hotels and residential societies, the district administration said in an order. Doctors urge precautions, preventions; advise NamasteAs the number of coronavirus cases in India continues to rise, the medical fraternity across urged people to not panic and keep taking precautions to tackle the threat. KK Aggarwal, Former President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), recommended the use of ‘Namaste’, to decrease the transmission rate of the coronavirus. Iran coronavirus death toll rises by nearly one hundred to 611The death toll from coronavirus infections in Iran rose on Saturday to 611, state TV said, citing a health ministry official who put the total number of those diagnosed with the disease at 12,729. Iran, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic outside China, reported on Friday a death toll of 514 and a total of 11,364 infections. Coronavirus positive cases in India rise to 84, confirms Health Ministry: PTICoronavirus positive cases in India rise to 84, confirms Health Ministry: PTIChinese premier Xi Jinping extended his condolences to coronavirus-hit nationsChina’s President Xi Jinping sent his condolences to South Korea, Iran and Italy in three separate statements.  Xi said he would partner these countries and help them curb the effects of the outbreak. Boston Marathon postponed due to covid-19 outbreakBoston Mayor Marty Walsh announced on Friday that the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) has decided to postpone the 42. 2-kilometer Boston Marathon which was scheduled to be held on April 20. Saudi Arabia halts all international flights due to coronavirus outbreakSaudi Arabia will halt all international flights to and from the Gulf nation in a bid to contain the outbreak.  Neighbouring country Iran has seen the worst of the outbreaks as covid-19 has infected more than 11,000 and killed more than 500. Australia vs New Zealand cricket tournament called off due to coronavirus outbreakThe Chappell-Hadlee ODI between Australia and New Zealand was canned with two games remaining due to the coronavirus outbreak.  If the tournament were to continue then the Kiwi team would be quarantined in for two-weeks as per New Zealand government's latest order. Punjab's Health & Family Welfare Department says 335 people who travelled to coronavirus-hit countries are untraceabaleThe state department for health and family welfare Punjab said that it cannot trace 335 people who travelled to 335 coronavirus-hit countries, says ANI.  It also added that a total of 6011 passengers have been traced till Friday. US House of Representatives passes coronavirus relief packageUS House of Representatives led by Nancy Pelosi passed a bill to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the United States by a majority of 343-40. Tihar Jail sets up isolation wards to contain coronavirus outbreakTihar Jail in New Delhi has set up an isolation ward to contain the coronavirus outbreak.  No inmates have displayed any symptoms so far, says ANITihar Jail official: An isolation ward has been set up at the jail.  All inmates have been checked & not displayed symptoms, new inmates are being screened & will be kept in different wards for 3 days.  Around 17,500 inmates are lodged at the jail currently.  #COVID19 #Delhi pic. twitter. com/qDLlyVtjXbFirst published: Mar 14, 2020 06:13 IST


A post with an image showing France President Emmanuel Macron offering a handshake to Turkey President Erdogan is being widely shared on social media platforms with the claim that Erdogan refused to shake hands with Macron.  Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Turkey’s President refused to shake hands with France President Macron. Fact: The image was actually clicked during United Nations General Assembly session in New York back in 2018.  Both the leaders, Macron and Erdogan indeed shook hands during their meet at the session.  Images showing handshake of these leaders was also shared by official Twitter handle of the Turkey government.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE. Reverse image search of the photo in the post led us to a similar image on Getty Images, a supplier of stock images.  According to the description of this image, the image was clicked at the United Nations General Assembly session in New York on 25 September 2018 when French President Macron met his Turkish counterpart.  The photograph was credited to ‘LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images’. Further search on Getty Images led us to another image which shows Macron and Erdogan shaking hands, this image has the same description and photo credits as the image above.  With this, we can infer that both the images are clicked during the same meet. Taking a cue from these images, Google search with relevant keywords led us to a 26 September 2018 tweet by Directorate of Communications, Turkey which shared the image of Erdogan shaking hands with Macron.  According to the tweet, the image is clicked in New York.  From the date of the tweet and the place of meeting as mentioned in the tweet, we can infer that this image was also clicked during the UN General Assembly session back in September 2018.  Also, we could not find any recent news reports regarding a meeting of both the leaders or Erdogan refusing to shake hands with Macron.  We can conclude that the image in the post is from the UN General Assembly back in 2018 and Turkey President Erdogan indeed shook hands with French President Macron during this meeting. In the light of a standoff between France and Muslim countries over French President Macron’s comments on Islam followed by Turkish President’s call for the boycott of French goods, posts like these are being widely shared across social media platforms with misleading claims. To sum it up, the image in the post was clicked back in 2018 during UNGA session.  Macron and Erdogan indeed shook hands during their meet at the session.


Various videos of CCTV footage of the Jamia violence on 15 December 2019, released one after the other, have unleashed a plethora of fake claims on social media.  The latest has involved misidentifying a student.  It has been claimed that the same student who was involved in arson at the university was also shot at outside the university area.  CLAIM A photo collage of two different students is being circulated online to claim that the student who was shot at outside Jamia Milia Islamia University on 30 January was the same student who was allegedly seen carrying a stone – a claim which has now been debunked by fact-checking website AltNews.  The video was aired by News18 Hindi, in which the channel attributed the information to Delhi police and said that the cops have claimed that the two individuals seen in the photographs are the same.  An archived version of the post can be seen here.  This video had been viewed over 38,000 times at the time of this story.  The channel has now issued an apology for broadcasting the wrong information.  https://twitter. com/ashu_najar/status/1230916084254961676It was also shared by multiple users on Facebook.  TRUE OR FALSE The individuals in the two photographs are not the same.  The one in the college footage from 15 December has been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Bhatt.  The Quint spoke to multiple students at the university who corroborated this information to us.  We were not able to trace Bhatt to get a comment from him, but he could be seen in the footage which was released by the police earlier this week at around 18:05.  The second student who was shot outside the university was identified as Shadab Farooq.  We got in touch with Farooq to know about his whereabouts on 15 December and he told us that he was attending the Jashn-e-Rekhta event which was held at Major Dhyanchand Stadium in Delhi between 13 and 15 December.  WHAT WE FOUND OUT Farooq shared photographs of the event with us to show that he was attending the event.  AltNews also got in touch with another student, Nawa Fatima, who was with Farooq at the time and she told the website that approximately ten of them went for the event on 15 December and they left the stadium at around 6:30 pm.  According to Fatima, the students were told not to go to the college because of the violence and they were together till around 7:30 pm.  Shadab has also demanded an apology letter from News18 for defaming him in the video.  (Editor's Note: The story has been updated to incorporate an apology issued by the channel. )


Wakanda forever! How fashion at the Oscars has evolved since the 1930sThe cast of the the breakout film "Black Panther" wowed on the 2019 Academy Awards red carpet Sunday night. The flick made history as the first superhero film to earn a best picture nod at the Oscars.  It also broke barriers for having a almost-entirely black cast and crew in Hollywood. In addition to best picture, "Black Panther" is up for five other Academy Awards. Michael B.  Jordan, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Chadwick Boseman and more stars of the film were photographed on the red carpet ahead of the awards show. Gurira posted a video on Twitter of her rolling up to the Oscars with co-star Winston Duke who exclaimed "'Black Panther' crew is in the house! "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


An image of former prime minister Indira Gandhi addressing soldiers in 1971 was shared by several Congress Twitter handles with the claim that it is from Galwan Valley, the place that witnessed violent face-off between Indian Army and Chinese PLA soldiers on 15 June.  However, we found that the image is actually from Leh and not Galwan Valley, as claimed.  CLAIM Ali Mehdi, vice president, Congress Delhi, tweeted the image claiming that the image is of Indira Gandhi addressing Indian army soldiers in the Galwan Valley.  The image was also shared by official handle of Youth Congress and UP Congress, who have now issued a correction.  Several social media users shared the image on Facebook with a similar narrative.  WHAT WE FOUND OUT We reverse searched the image on Google and found that a website called art-sheep had published the image with the caption: “One of the rare pictures of former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi addressing jawans in Leh in 1971. ” Fact-checking website BOOM came across a tweet that mentioned the source of the image as ‘PTI Photo/ Courtesy DPR Defence’.  Consequently, we searched photo archives of PTI with the keywords “Indira Gandhi Leh” and found the viral image with the caption: “**EDS: FILE PHOTO** New Delhi: In this undated file photo former prime minister late Indira Gandhi addresses jawans in Leh, in 1971.  (DPRO/PTI Photo)(PTI22-06-2020_000166B) (sic)” The caption clearly specifies Leh as the location and not Galwan Valley.  It is noteworthy that the distance between Leh and Galwan Valley is nearly 219 kilometres and takes over six hours to travel.  Evidently, an image of Indira Gandhi addressing the jawans in Leh in 1971 was circulated with the false claim that the image is from Galwan Valley.  (You can read all our coronavirus related fact-checked stories here. )


The #Grammys is traditionally one of the most bold and outrageous award ceremonies, fashion-wise. Some attendees found last-minute ways to pay homage to late NBA legend Kobe Bryant. https://t.co/AqYVDCe87v https://t.co/fXbDFef024

Bryant was one of nine people killed when a helicopter went down in Calabasas. Kobe Bryant’s career on the courtCelebrity sports fans from around the world are paying homage to NBA legend Kobe Bryant after he died in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday. Fellow former NBA stars Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce and Scottie Pippen were among the high-profile players who reacted to news of the beloved basketball player's death. Bryant was one of nine people on a private helicopter that went down in Calabasas, California, on Sunday, killing everyone on board.  He was 41 years old. Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also killed in the crash, according to the NBA. "Please no.  Please god no.  It can't be true," Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love added. NBA legend Michael Jordan released a statement saying, "I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe's and Gianna's passing.  Words can't describe the pain I'm feeling.  I loved Kobe -- he was like a little brother to me.  We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much.  He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. ""Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply -- and took great pride in his daughter's love for the game of basketball," Jordan continued.  "Yvette joins me in sending my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Lakers organization and basketball fans around the world. ""I’m stunned.  Words can’t even come close to describing it.  Just an incredibly sad and tragic day," Pippen, an NBA Hall of Famer, tweeted. "It's a shocker to everyone, unbelievably said, and one of the more tragic days that -- well, for me the reality is just setting in," golfer Tiger Woods said in an interview after finishing his final round at the Farmers Insurance Open.  He said he was told of Bryant's death just after leaving the 18th green and was unaware why people were shouting "Do it for Mamba" during his round. Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell tweeted an image of he and Bryant along with a caption that said he was praying for his wife and children. "Jeannine & I are absolutely shocked to hear of the loss of one of my favorite people & one of the best basketball minds in the history of the game!  Our hearts & prayers to Vanessa & his girls.  @kobebryant," Russell said.  "You were my biggest fan, but I was yours #RIPMAMBA "Twitter temporarily wasn't working at around 3 p. m.  ET as news of the player's death flooded the platform.  The term "Kobe" quickly became the No.  1 trending topic on Twitter, followed by "Mamba" and "BlackMamba. ""Can’t be true.  Just can’t be.  Truly truly horrific.  Rest In Peace Kobe," NFL player JJ Watt tweeted.  Similarly, Wade said, "Nooooooooooo God please No! " In another post, Wade added: "RIP Kobe + GiGi ❤💔 I know you said keep going but today we can’t.  We love you and we’re gonna miss you brother. "The world of hip-hop also mourned the NBA champion's death, with Drake posting a mural of Bryant on Instagram and R&B singer John Legend reminding fans to hold their loved ones close. "I'm so sad and stunned right now.  In Staples Arena, where Kobe created so many memories for all of us, preparing to pay tribute to another brilliant man we lost too soon, Nipsey Hussle," Legend, who was preparing for the Grammy Awards, tweeted.  "Life can be so brutal and senseless sometimes.  Hold on to your loved ones.  We miss you, Kobe. "The mayor of Los Angeles, where Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, also mourned the player's death. "This is a moment that leaves us struggling to find words that express the magnitude of shock and sorrow we are all feeling right now, and I am keeping Kobe’s entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief," Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. Here's a look at how other celebrity fans are mourning the basketball star's death:NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson"Kobe and I shared so many special conversations about life and basketball.  We had so much in common off the court.  I used to love talking to him about Lakers basketball, being fathers and husbands and how much we loved Italy.  I will miss those conversations and him so much. "Former President Barack Obama "Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act.  To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents.  Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day. "Retired NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar"Most people will remember Kobe as the magnificent athlete who inspired a whole generation of basketball players.  But I will always remember him as a man who was much more than an athlete. "New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady"We miss you already Kobe. "R&B superstar Mariah Carey"In shock right now.  RIP Kobe. "Rapper Wyclef Jean"A true gladiator in our life time.  You will be forever embedded in our memories, our childrens memories, and generations to come.  @kobebryant"Singer Demi Lovato"This makes me so sad.  Kobe you were always so sweet to me.  Known you over 10 years. .  not super well but we always joked about you coming over and playing that game of horse!  You will he so missed by so many.  You’re a legend with wings now.  RIP Kobe 💔💔💔"Actress Reese Witherspoon"Just devastated to hear about #KobeBryant . 💔An extraordinary athlete, and a genuinely kind, wonderful man.  Sending love, prayers & compassion to his family.  To his entire @NBA family as well. "Singer Justin Bieber"It can't be.  You always encouraged me mamba.  Gave me me some of the best quotes that we smile about to this day. !  Love you man! "Former Lakers teammate Pau Gasol"Beyond devastated. . .  my big brother. . .  I can’t, I just can’t believe it. "Actor Vin Diesel"Heavy heart today. . .  to the family, please know how much he impacted all of our lives and will live on in our hearts.  Sending the deepest of condolences to all involved.  Our prayers. . .  for the family of this true hero. "Comedian Kevin Hart"This honestly doesn’t make sense. . . . I just saw you man.  This hurts my heart.  God please place your hands on his family and help guide them thru this unbearable time.  We love you forever man. . . Legends never die! ! ! !  #MambaMentality #RIP. . . .  RIP to the other passengers as well as sending prayers to their families. "Former LA Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal"There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant  I love u and u will be missed.  My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board.  IM SICK RIGHT NOW. "Former NBA player Jalen RoseOn Jan.  22, 2006, Rose, who was playing for the Toronto Raptors, faced off against Bryant with Lakers when Bryant scored a historic 81 points.  It was the best game of his career.  Rose is now an ESPN sports analyst. “We couldn’t’ stop him clearly,” Rose, who tried to block Bryant during that game, told ABC News.  “We joked after the game, at least we kept him under a hundred points -- how about that? ”“I’ll miss most somebody that continued to beat to their own drum, was never phony, but yet always found ways to not only stay true to himself but a lot of times early in his career… He was somebody that was in the gym working.  He wasn’t partying, he wasn’t out trying to drink, he wasn’t doing all of that,” he said. “He was really trying to be better than Michael Jordan.  And I’ll remember somebody that took that challenge head on and got as close as anybody will ever do. ”ABC News' Allie Yang contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


President Donald Trump said he's postponed his plan to throw out the opening pitch at a New York Yankees game.

He cited his "strong focus" on the pandemic and the economy as reasons for the delay, but still promised, "We will make it later in the season!" https://t.co/kN1cz6A6pD

Trump says he's postponed his appearance to focus on the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci throws errant 1st pitch for Washington NationalsPresident Donald Trump announced in a tweet on Sunday that he will not be throwing out the first pitch at the New York Yankees game on Aug.  15. The postponement comes two days after the president said during a coronavirus briefing that he had agreed to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium after being asked by Yankees president Randy Levine. "I've agreed, Randy Levine's a great friend of mine from the Yankees, he asked me to throw out the first pitch," Trump said from the podium on Thursday.  "I think Major League Baseball is setting an example by playing at empty stadiums, and so are other sports. "On Sunday the president cited multiple reasons for the change in plan, including scheduling conflicts due to his "strong focus" on the coronavirus pandemic and the economy. "We will make it later in the season! " the president tweeted. Trump received major backlash from New York City politicians when he initially announced he would be throwing out the first pitch.  The loud criticism came amid protests against racial injustice across the U. S. "After CONDEMNING racism, the next step isn't inviting it to your pitcher's mound," New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio tweeted on Saturday regarding the Yankees' invitation to Trump.  "To the players that knelt for the BLM movement, we applaud you.  To the execs that have aligned with hatred, you are on the wrong side of history and morality. ""I am shocked and outraged by the New York Yankees' decision to invite President Donald Trump to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium on August 15," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.  in a statement on Friday.  "We all deserve better than a careless major league baseball organization that consistently ignores the surrounding community while pandering to an unapologetic white supremacist like Donald Trump. "The president's announcement to postpone the opening pitch was preceded Sunday by several other tweets criticizing former Vice President Joe Biden, Fox News, and protesters in Portland. Trump tweeted that there was "NO WAY" a place like Pennsylvania can vote for Joe Biden.  He also wrote that Fox news "has really checked out," and argued that the media is not showing what is "REALLY going on" in Portland and other cities.   "They want the American public to believe that these are just some wonderful protesters, not radical left ANARCHISTS," he tweeted. The president did not say specifically when his opening pitch would be rescheduled. The Aug.  15 Yankees game would have marked Trump's first participation in the tradition of U. S.  presidents throwing out the first pitch at Major League Baseball games.  The presidential tradition dates back to William Howard Taft in 1910. ABC News' Allison Pecorin contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Andhra Pradesh: Visuals from a polling booth in Vishapkhapatnam as voting begins for #LokSabhaElections2019 . Voting on 25 parliamentary constituencies in the state is being held today. https://t.co/PRvxWQXgQp

Hindupur in Anantapur district is one of 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.  The Congress had won ten times from this constituency but its last victory came 15 years ago in 2004.  The TDP has won the seat five times.  In 2014, TDP’s candidate Kristappa Nimmala defeated YSRCP’s Duddukunta Sreedhar Reddy by 97,325 votes to win the seat.  GC Venkataramudu of the Congress finished a distant third. Like Anantapur constituency, Hindupur is economically backward largely because of Maoist threat.  The TDP has re-nominated Kristappa again from the constituency while the YSRCP has named Kuruva Gorantla Madhav as its candidate from Hindurpur.  The Congress which is in disarray Andhra Pradesh has named K.  T.  Sreedhar as its candidate.  As per the estimates of 2011 census, out of a total population of 2022685, 77. 72% is rural and 22. 28% is urban population.  The Scheduled castes (SC) and Scheduled tribes (ST) ratio is 13. 6 and 4. 57, respectively out of total population.  Hindupur Lok Sabha constituency in numbers:Name of the Lok Sabha constituency: Hindupur State: Andhra PradeshDate of voting: April 112019 candidates: Pogala Venkata Parthasarthi (BJP), KT Sreedhar (Congress), Nimmala Kristappa (TDP), Gorantla Madav (YSRCP)Sitting MP, Party: Kristappa Nimmala, TDP Winning margin in 2014: 97,325 votes Runner up name, party: Duddukunta Sreedhar Reddy, YSRCPNumber of voters in 2014: 1,446,503Percentage of votes polled in 2014: 81 Number of polling booths in 2014: 1663Number of women voters: 711,865


Rajasthan: BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda arrives in Jaipur. https://t.co/PD7qodCUjc

Basavaraj Horatti, the senior Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), leader who is likely to be elected as the chairman of the Upper House of the state legislature on Thursday said that he would support all bills by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka, formalising the alliance between the two parties.  “If there are important bills, they will be passed,” Horatti said on Thursday.  His statement comes a day after the BJP and JD(S) indicated joining hands to oust the Congress out of power in the legislative council.  “BJP and JD(S) together have a majority so there is no question of defeating the bills,” he said, adding that he will support the anti-cattle slaughter bill “100%”.  Also Read: CM Yediyurappa braces for stormy Karnataka assembly sessionPrabhu B Chauhan, Karnataka’s minister for animal husbandry, said that the government is aiming to get this bill passed in the state during this session.  The government managed to pass the anti-cattle slaughter bill in the Lower House but it is yet to be taken up in the Upper House.  The BS Yediyurappa-led state government has already promulgated the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance that widens the existing provisions for punishment on killing of cattle and offers protection to those “acting in good faith” to save them.  The Congress said that the JD(S) is a party of convenience and their decision to support the bill will deal a heavy blow to the state’s farming community.  “We oppose this blanket ban on cattle slaughter as it will be a big blow to the farmers who look at it as an alternative mode of income,” Rizwan Arshad, the legislator from Shivajinagar in Bengaluru, said.  He added that JD(S), which calls itself a party with “farmer focus”, will be exposed before their core support base.


Bloodied Shoe Of A 10-year-old Girl From Kashmir

A distressing image of a bloodied shoe belonging to a little girl taken at a shopping mall in Israel after a missile strike by Palestinian militants in May 2008, is being shared on Facebook with a false narrative claiming the image is from Kashmir.    Facebook user Firdous Ahmad posted the image which has been shared over 4,800 times at the time of writing this story.  “Shoe of a 10-year-old child who was the biggest threat to the whole India and Indian rulers for which biggest democratic country is sending thousands of Armed forces to kill such innocent children in Kashmir,” the text of the Ahmad's post claimed.    Click here to view an archived version of the post.       The photo is also being shared on Twitter with some users linking it to the death of seven civilians in Kulgam, Kashmir on Sunday.   Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Sunday while seven civilians lost their lives and 40 were injured following a blast at the encounter site, according to news reports.      Shoe of 10 year old child.  who was a biggest threat to the whole India and Indian rulers for which biggest democratic country is sending thousands of Armed forces to kill such innocent children in kashmir. #KulgamKillings @Bint_e_muslimah @Jaanahvibes @MirwaizKashmir pic. twitter. com/rWKr3TRKyH — Ål Mûsåfîr ( اٙلّمْسٙآفِر ) (@Al_musafir648) October 21, 2018    The same image went viral in December 2014 and was incorrectly linked to the depraved terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar by the Taliban, which killed nearly 150, most of whom were school children.      They dont even spare Children.  #PeshawarAttack #IndiawithPakistan #PakSchoolSiege #Taliban #Terrorism pic. twitter. com/ySdlT2ZgZ7 — Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 16, 2014    BOOM was able to find the same photo through a reverse image search, uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.           The photo dated May 14, 2008 has been described as follows.    "A child's bloodied shoe inside the shopping mall in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon after a missile, fired by Palestinian militants inside the Gaza Strip, exploded on a mall on 14 May 2008 severely injuring several Israelis, including one child and a woman, and wounding dozens of other civilians. "   In December 2014, the BBC debunked the photo when it was viral purporting to be an image from the Peshawar school attack.  (Click here)      Photographer Edi Israel, who took the photo of the blood-stained shoe told the BBC that he shot it after it was dropped on the ground in a mall by a mother and daughter who were injured in the Ashkelon rocket attack.  The two survived the attack and Israel visited them in hospital the following week, BBC reported.


Ric Ocasek, the lead singer of rock band The Cars, whose hits included "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Drive", died on Sunday in New York City, police said https://t.co/FuAYHpmgGx https://t.co/yFxPqRfh0P

The singer was one of the biggest acts of the 1980s. Celebrating the life of Ric OcasekRic Ocasek, whose sound was synonymous with the late 1970s and '80s as lead singer of the band The Cars, has died.  He was 75 years old. Ocasek was born in Baltimore, but spent much of his time as a young adult in the Midwest, attending college at Antioch College and Bowling Green State University before he met future Cars bandmate bassist Benjamin Orr.  The two would eventually add guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson to round out The Cars. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the same city where Ocasek met Orr, in 2018. Ocasek's death was confirmed to ABC News by the New York Police Department.  He was found unconscious and unresponsive in bed at his home on 19th Street in the city on Sunday afternoon. A cause of death has not yet been determined. Two law enforcement officials told ABC News preliminary indications are Ocasek died of natural causes. The Cars sold tens of millions of records before they disbanded in 1988.  Their first five albums all went platinum. The band is known for hits like "My Best Friend's Girl," "Just What I Needed" and "Good Times Roll. "He also worked as a producer, often for up-and-coming alternative rock bands, like Weezer, Guided by Voices and Bad Brains. The singer was also married to supermodel Paulina Porizkova since 1989, before getting divorced last year.  The pair has two kids. ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Prime Minister Modi is wearing a special 'Paghdi' from Jamnagar, today. The first such 'Paghdi' was gifted to the PM by the royal family of Jamnagar, Gujarat. https://t.co/7wRITqsC52

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's choice of turbans on the occasions of the Independence Day and Republic Day has made a statement.  This year too, PM Modi continued the turban tradition and wore a colourful 'paghdi' which is a gift to the Prime Minister by the royal family of Gujarat's Jamnagar, news agency ANI reported. Prime Minister Modi is wearing a special 'Paghdi' from Jamnagar, today.  The first such 'Paghdi' was gifted to the PM by the royal family of Jamnagar, Gujarat.  pic. twitter. com/7wRITqsC52The bright-coloured turban was complemented by his grey jacket and cream-coloured shawl.  On the 71st Republic Day in 2020, PM Modi had worn a saffron bandhej headgear with a tail.  On Republic Day 2019, PM Modi had worn a yellowish-orange turban which had a red tail. PM Modi appeared in a bright headgear for the first time in 2014 when he delivered his maiden Independence Day speech. On Tuesday, PM Modi laid a wreath at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Republic Day, which this year is seeking a muted celebration owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.


"It's not a holiday. It's a lockdown."

Police in London used a loudspeaker to order people sitting and sunbathing on the green to go home after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions this week amid the coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/5gT5wFyGxY https://t.co/uQizasvvBS

Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNNUpdated 4:55 PM ET, Tue March 24, 2020 This analysis was excerpted from the March 24 edition of CNN's Meanwhile in America, the daily email about US politics for global readers.  Click here to read past editions and subscribe.   (CNN)Most big sports events in the US now feature a "Salute to the Troops" moment, when fans stand to honor a returned service-member.  It's a tradition that seeks to salve wounds lingering from the Vietnam War, when fierce social divides saw many conscripts spurned when they came home.


Morehouse College, country's only all-male historically black college, to begin admitting transgender men next year. https://t.co/ZdphcZG3YC https://t.co/CyX7n2yeIE

    Morehouse College, a historically black all-men’s school in Atlanta, will begin admitting transgender students who identify as men in 2020, according to a news release from the school.

    The new policy, known as the Gender Identity Admissions and Matriculation Policy, applies to all students who enroll in the private college by the fall 2020 semester.

    The announcement comes after Spelman College, a private historically black all-women’s school in Atlanta, adopted a similar policy in 2017.

    “In a rapidly changing world that includes a better understanding of gender identity, we’re proud to expand our admissions policy to consider trans men who want to be part of an institution that has produced some of the greatest leaders in social justice, politics, business, and the arts for more than 150 years,” said Terrance Dixon, Morehouse vice president for enrollment management.  “The ratification of this policy affirms the College’s commitment to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and service. ”

    The policy was developed after 15 months of community engagement with faculty, staff, students and alumni, the release says.  Morehouse President David A.  Thomas created a task force that led the community engagement meetings.

    “Morehouse College has been at the forefront of human rights issues for 152 years,” Thomas said in a statement to CNN.  “Today’s vote to reaffirm our dedication to educating and developing men, including trans men, is an important step into one of the new frontiers of social justice — gender identity. ”

    The policy also states that students who are admitted into Morehouse “are expected to self-identify as men throughout their education at Morehouse,” the release states.  Should a student transition from a man to a woman, the student would no longer be eligible to enroll at the school, the release states.

    Trans women, or any person who identifies as a woman, will not be considered for admission into the school, the release says.  Morehouse spokeswoman Aileen Dodd said students who identified as trans women before 2020 are eligible to graduate from Morehouse, but are not permitted to graduate from the school after 2020.  A trans woman is a person who was born a man but transitioned to become a woman.

    There will be a system in place to consider exemptions to the rule, with the Morehouse president having the final say, the release says.

    Other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that have nondiscrimination policies addressing gender identity include Tuskegee University in Alabama, Howard University in Washington, Florida A&M University, Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana, North Carolina Central University and Morgan State University in Maryland.

    There were differing views on the announcement.  Titi Naomi Tukes, who graduated from Morehouse in 2017, is not a fan of the new policy.

    “I unequivocally disapprove of it because it is exclusionary of trans women or gender non-conforming and non-binary students,” said Tukes, who uses the pronouns they, them and theirs.

    Tukes said when students go to college they usually don’t know themselves and, over the course of their college career, can question their religion, sexuality or gender.

    “In this case the college would expel students for something they have no control over,” Tukes said.  They added that the new policy will “embolden faculty, staff and administrators who already target and discriminate against transgender women and non-binary students. ”

    Tatiana Rafael is one such student.  A senior sociology major, Rafael identifies as a transsexual woman who began transitioning six months after she began attending Morehouse in 2017.

    “Morehouse is missing a chance to be progressive and inclusive in that way,” Rafael said.

    She admits she doesn’t feel welcome at Morehouse.

    “I felt pretty marginalized and erased.  I was never included in the image of the school.  I was kind of just there by default,” she said, adding she feels there’s no place for a trans woman in the image of Morehouse.

    Rafael did say, however, she sees the benefit of the new policy and what it can do for trans men.

    “I think for trans men, it’s going to be a great experience because they now have opportunity to attend one of the top schools for black men,” she said.

    Robert Brown, an alumnus who graduated in 1996, said he’s excited to see the evolution of the policy.

    “When I was at Morehouse it was much more homophobic and much more transphobic,” he said.  “It’s great to see the school embrace a broader spectrum of students. ”

    Brown said there’s always been an LGBTQ population at Morehouse, but this new policy is taking “important steps to enfranchising this population, rather than pretending they don’t exist. ”

    Morehouse, which has an enrollment of 2,202, instituted a policy in 2009 banning its male students from wearing women’s clothes, makeup or high heels in what was called the “Appropriate Attire Policy. ” The move was in response to five gay students who, said a school official at the time, weren’t dressing the way Morehouse men are expected to dress.

    In 2013, according to the school’s newspaper The Maroon Tiger, Morehouse began offering a course on black LGBTQ history and culture.
  © 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Bernie Sanders: "I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere in the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour." https://t.co/ih97JpAlkU https://t.co/3K2wTG501W

By Paul LeBlanc, CNNUpdated 11:31 PM ET, Tue April 7, 2020 Washington (CNN)Former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he told President Donald Trump in their phone call  that the federal response to the novel coronavirus pandemic is "about taking responsibility. " CNN's Arlette Saenz, Kaitlan Collins and Sarah Mucha contributed to this report.


Michael Bloomberg poured more than $463 million into his campaign in just the first two months of his presidential bid, a new campaign disclosure shows. https://t.co/rqUyDwySbY

Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNNUpdated 9:30 AM ET, Thu February 20, 2020  (CNN)Mike Bloomberg's rivals tore into his claim to be the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump in November by branding him as a misogynistic, Obamacare-hating, soft-on-Wall-Street bully -- basically the rough equivalent of that other New York billionaire.