Joe Biden discusses the ways in which he's benefited from White privilege.

"I've benefited just because I don't have to go through what my Black brothers and sisters have had to go through." #BidenTownHall https://t.co/OAyAC2Vg7v https://t.co/H776Opsgts

Trump is also campaigning in the battleground state Friday. Biden, Trump hold battleground state events ahead of Minnesota visitFormer Vice President Joe Biden made a campaign swing through Minnesota on Friday, a state Democrats have not lost in a presidential election since 1972 but saw an unexpectedly tight race in 2016 between President Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The trip to Minnesota, which included a tour of a union facility and remarks in Hermantown, coincides with the first day of in-person early voting in the state, marking a new and more urgent phase of the 2020 race for both candidates. Biden focused on a working class appeal during his visit to the state, comparing Minnesota to his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and noting his view that the election was a battle between workers and the wealthy. "I view this campaign as between Scranton and Park Avenue.  All Trump sees from Park Avenue is Wall Street.  That's why the only metric of the American prosperity for him is the value of the Dow Jones.  Like a lot of you, I spent a lot of my life with guys like Donald Trump looking down on me, looking down on the people who make a living with their hands, people who take care of our kids, [who] clean our streets," Biden said Friday afternoon. The former vice president's remarks condemned Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and included a stinging rebuke of the incumbent's ability to handle the job they are both vying for. "Let me tell you something: I know how to do the job of being president.  It's pretty clear.  No matter how wealthy Donald Trump is, no matter how much he doctors his -- if he does -- his tax returns, he doesn't have a clue how to be president," Biden said after touring a union training facility. Biden's focus on the economy -- an issue the president often touts as his specialty -- comes with 46 days until Election Day, and a number of states beginning to hold in-person early voting. Recent polling in Minnesota shows Biden with a firm edge over Trump in the state.  A poll conducted this week by ABC News and The Washington Post shows the former vice president with a healthy 16-point lead over the Republican incumbent. The visit caps off a week of travel for Biden, with the former vice president making trips to critical battleground states, including Florida and Pennsylvania, along with giving remarks in his home state of Delaware and at a nationally televised town hall Thursday night near Scranton. In his remarks on Friday just outside Duluth, Biden continued to lean heavily into the "Scranton versus Park Avenue" framework of the election that he has debuted in recent days. "Trump says, by the way, I'm paraphrasing, [says] 'Everyone's in the stock market. ' That's why he cares about the stock market.  What the hell's he talking about?  People I grew up [with] in Scranton and Claymont, they don't have money in stocks.  Every penny we made was to pay the bills and take care of the families, putting clothes on their back and a roof over our head," Biden said. Following his speech, Biden also took time to visit early voters outside of a coffee shop in downtown Duluth, along with Mayor Emily Larson, and a Duluth fire station, bringing cookies to local firemen. Trump is also set to visit northern Minnesota on Friday, holding an event at an airplane hanger in Bemidji, continuing a string of aggressive campaign events that largely flout local restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Despite Minnesota's typically Democratic-leaning electorate, Trump's reelection campaign has expressed optimism that the president will be able to compete there after Clinton's narrow win in 2016, and both campaigns are currently running television advertisements to try to sway voters. "We're going all-in on Minnesota," Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, said on a call with reporters earlier this month.  "We think it's a state we can win. "Democrats have expressed similar feelings about their chances. "I feel quite good about Minnesota.  We've invested for some time in Minnesota because we also looked at the data.  Hillary Clinton won Minnesota by a point and a half in 2016.  Third party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein got about 5. 2% of the vote.  The majority of that came from Secretary Clinton.  And so we've been investing early and everywhere in Minnesota," Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez told reporters this month. Trump and Biden's dueling visits to Minnesota come less than two weeks before the two will face off during the first presidential debate on Sept.  29. "I have gone back and talked about and looked at not only the things he said, but making sure I can concisely say what I'm for and what I'm going to do," Biden said of his debate preparation during the CNN town hall Thursday night. Biden said he'd been preparing for the debate, with someone posing as the president: "There are a couple of people, they asked me questions if they were like as if they were President Trump, but I'm looking forward to it. "Meanwhile, Trump is expected to forgo traditional debate prep with no plans to hold private mock debates, multiple sources told ABC News. Instead, the president has started preparing with top aides, getting briefings on likely topics. "I've said before that the best debate prep that exists is to be president every day.  Part of debate prep is going back and watching Joe Biden's old debates which I and some of us here have done," Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said on a call with reporters earlier this month. ABC News' Will Steakin, Justin Gomez, John Santucci and Katherine Faulders contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


5 new cases of #COVID19 reported in ITBP in the last 24 hours. There are total 29 active cases & 195 have recovered till date: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) https://t.co/71MVlCJ8Zi

Sep 08, 2021-Wednesday

Metro cities -  Delhi, Mumbai,
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Jharkhand's health minister tests positive for Covid-19. Bihar's Covid-19 tally past 1. 9 L with 3,257 new infectionsBJP wants village, local council polls in Mizoram deferred due to CovidDelhi's Covid-19 count past 1. 54 lakhPunjab sees highest single -day spike of 1,704 cases, tally past 34K-mark7,665 new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, 139 deathsBengal reports highest single-day spike of 3,175 casesCovid-19 guidelines to be followed during Odisha Assembly monsoon sessionHarayana DGP office to remain closed for 2 days after 6 cops test positiveMaharashtra's Covid-19 tally past 6. 15 L, death toll rises to 20,687Ahmedabad's Covid-19 tally rises to 29,327Goa reports 339 new cases54 new cases in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar district push tally to 6,596Prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley after rise in casesKerala's Covid-19 tally nears 48,000, death toll at 175Countries around the world raced to develop a vaccine for coronavirus (Covid-19) as the pandemic continues to rage.  Worldwide there are 22,040,412 million coronavirus cases and 777,129 confirmed deaths, according to worldometer.  India recorded 57,981 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 941 deaths yesterday, pushing its tally to over 2. 64 million, data from the Union health ministry showed.  The United States crossed 50,000 deaths in 23 days, Brazil in 95 days and Mexico in 141 days.  India took 156 days to reach the figure, according to the government. Meanwhile, hard-hit US states including Arizona, California and Florida showed signs that their coronavirus outbreaks are easing after a summer surge.  The challenges to bring college students back to campus were underscored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which switched to online learning after a rapid jump in cases. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageJharkhand's health minister tests positive for Covid-19. Jharkhand's Health Minister Banna Gupta has tested positive for Covid-19.  He announced it  on Twitter on Tuesday night. सभी राज्यवासियों को जोहार,मैंने आज अपना कोरोना जांच कराया, जिसकी रिपोर्ट पॉजिटिव आई हैं।विगत कुछ दिनों में जो भी लोग मेरे संपर्क में आये हैं उनसे अनुरोध है कि अपनी जांच करा लें।आप सभी से अनुरोध हैं घर पर रहे सुरक्षित रहें।Bihar's Covid-19 tally past 1. 9 L with 3,257 new infectionsSixteen fatalities due to Covid-19  in last 24 hours take Bihar's death toll to 558.  The overall tally now is 1,09,875 with 3,257 fresh infections: Health departmentBJP wants village, local council polls in Mizoram deferred due to CovidBJP's Mizoram unit petitions state election commission to defer village and local council polls scheduled to be held simultaneously on August 27, following surge in Covid-19 casesDelhi's Covid-19 count past 1. 54 lakhDelhi reported 1,374 new Covid-19 cases, 1,146 discharged/recovered/migrated cases and 12 deaths on Tuesday.  Total number of cases are now at 1,54,741 including 1,39,447 dischraged/recovered/migrated cases, 11,068 active cases and 4,226 deaths: Delhi GovernmentPunjab sees highest single -day spike of 1,704 cases, tally past 34K-markSteepest single-day spike of 1,704 Covid-19 cases pushes Punjab's tally to 34,400, death toll reaches 898 with 35 more people succumbing to infection; number of active cases 11,740: Medical bulletin7,665 new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, 139 deathsKarnataka on Tuesday reported 7,665 new cases of Covid-19 and 139 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 2,40,948 and death toll to 4,201, the health department said, reports PTI. Bengal reports highest single-day spike of 3,175 casesWest Bengal reported highest single-day spike of 3,175 new Covid-19 cases, pushing tally to 1,22,753; toll rises to 2,528 with 55 more deaths: Health DepartmentCovid-19 guidelines to be followed during Odisha Assembly monsoon sessionThe monsoon session of Odisha Assembly will be held before September 30 and all Covid-19 guidelines including maintaining social distancing will be followed during the session, SN Patro, Assembly Speaker said on Tuesday, reports ANI. The venue for the session has not yet been finalised and the date will be fixed after consulting with CM and the Governor, he said. Harayana DGP office to remain closed for 2 days after 6 cops test positiveHaryana DGP office in Police HQs in Panchkula will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday following six police personnel having tested positive for Covid-19 there, according to Haryana Police: ANIMaharashtra's Covid-19 tally past 6. 15 L, death toll rises to 20,687Mahashtra recorded 11,119 new Covid-19 cases and 422 deaths on Tuesday while 9,356 patients discharged during the day.  The total cases in the state rise to 6,15,477 including 20,687 deaths and 4,37,870 recovered patients.  Active cases stand at 1,56,608: Public Health Department, MaharashtraAhmedabad's Covid-19 tally rises to 29,327Ahmedabad's Covid-19 tally rises to 29,327 with addition of 165 cases; fatalities up by four to 1,666: Gujarat health department.  Goa reports 339 new casesGoa reported 339 new Covid-19 cases, 298 cured cases on Tuesday.  The total number of cases stands at 12,333, including 3,861 active cases, 8,356 recovered cases and 116 deaths: State Health Department, Goa54 new cases in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar district push tally to 6,596UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar records 54 fresh Covid-19 cases, pushing district's infection tally to 6,596; active case count 774: Official dataProhibitory order in Kathmandu Valley after rise in casesIn Nepal, local administration imposes prohibitory order in Kathmandu valley till 26th August in the wake of the rise in Covid-19 cases there.  The order comes into effect from midnight today: ANIKerala's Covid-19 tally nears 48,000, death toll at 175Kerala reports 1,758 new cases, taking infection tally to 47,898; six more deaths raise toll to 175: Health Minister K K ShailajaFirst published: Aug 18, 2020 06:51 IST


The Trump administration has announced major new restrictions on US citizens traveling to Cuba https://t.co/Q748jYYsjT

The bans are effective immediately, and one cruise line already canceled stops. Trump bans group tours, cruise ship stops to CubaThe Trump administration has announced new steps to further restrict Americans' travel to Cuba, including banning group tours and cruise ship stops to the island nation. The changes are meant to tighten the economic pressure on the Cuban government, which Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross called "one of our historically most aggressive adversaries. " The goal is to "restrict non-family travel to Cuba in order to hold the Cuban regime accountable for its repression of the Cuban people and its support of the Maduro regime in Venezuela," his agency said in a statement. "Veiled tourism has served to line the pockets of the Cuban military, the very same people supporting Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and repressing the Cuban people on the island," the State Department added in a statement. Starting Wednesday, group "people-to-people" visits will now be barred.  These cultural and educational tours allowed thousands of Americans to visit the island as part of a scheduled visit. For Americans who have already booked a flight or hotel or made another "travel-related transaction," they will be "grandfathered" in, according to the Treasury Department.  Eleven other categories of travel are still permitted, including other cultural exchanges, like by university groups, along with travel to see family members or for humanitarian projects, religious activities, public performances, journalism, or official U. S.  government business. This new ban is a step further than the restrictions that were in place before former President Barack Obama moved to repair relations with Cuba and made it easier for U. S.  citizens to travel there. "These actions will help to keep U. S.  dollars out of the hands of Cuban military, intelligence, and security services," said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in a statement, calling Cuba "destabilizing . . .  in the Western Hemisphere, providing a communist foothold in the region and propping up U. S.  adversaries in places like Venezuela and Nicaragua. "Effective Tuesday, private and corporate aircraft, cruise ships, private yachts, fishing boats, and other similar aircraft and vessels will also now be barred from traveling to Cuba, according to the Commerce Department.  Exemptions will be made for vessels or aircraft that apply for and receive a license, which requires the application be related to medicine, telecommunications for the Cuban people, environmental protection, or aviation safety. It's unclear if existing cruise reservations will have to be canceled.  The Commerce Department did not respond to requests for comment.  Norwegian Cruise Line told ABC News it was "closely monitoring these recent developments and any resulting impact to cruise travel to Cuba" and would let customers and partner businesses know what steps it would take. But Royal Caribbean Cruises already canceled two port calls to Cuba, a spokesperson said, for June 5 and June 6 sailings. The company is "analyzing the details to understand the impact on our itineraries" and "communicating with our guests about those changes," said Owen Torres, a Royal Caribbean communications manager. Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton previewed these changes in a speech in April, where he blasted Cuba as part of a "Troika of Tyranny," along with Venezuela and Cuba: "The United States looks forward to each corner of this sordid triangle falling, in Havana, in Caracas, and in Managua. "He celebrated the changes in a tweet Tuesday, saying it would meant "ending 'veiled tourism' to Cuba. . .  We will continue to take actions to restrict the Cuban regime's access to U. S.  dollars. "Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the decision as "an attack on International Law and the sovereignty of all States.  It is the main obstacle to our development and a flagrant violation of the human rights of all Cubans. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Indian vaccines reach Seychelles. That’s what friends are for: EAM S Jaishankar https://t.co/6HejRgo9Ez

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior leader and deputy chief minister of Delhi on Monday launched a mass outreach campaign named "Uttarakhand me bhi Kejriwal (Kejriwal in Uttarakhand too)" to prepare for the 2022 assembly polls in the stateDuring the event, Sisodia flagged off 70 vans with five party workers each.  The vans will travel to each of the 70 constituencies and AAP members will hold a total of 6,500 public meetings in the next 45 days with a target to add one lakh new party members in the state, Sisodia said. "The state has gone into the poll mode as only about a year is left for the next assembly elections.  Considering that, we have launched this massive mass outreach programme to visit every village of the state and hold public meetings so as to add at least one lakh new party members," Sisodia said while launching the campaign. Each van is earmarked for one constituency. “They will go among the public and spread the message of Kejriwal model of governance that Uttarakhand needs good schools, government hospitals and mohalla clinics like Delhi for which can only be done by AAP," Arvind Keriwal’s deputy saidThe senior AAP leader alleged that the BJP and Congress have taken turns to exploit the state in the last 20 years while depriving its people of development. "They did nothing for the people.  They will be made aware of how Arvind Kejriwal brought significant changes in Delhi in just five years of his governance.  The same can be done in Uttarakhand if AAP comes to power which we are sure will happen as people are taking it as a hope," said Sisodia. The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress however, shrugged off Sisodia's claims. BJP state media in-charge, Manveer Singh Chauhan said, "AAP is expert in only spreading lies and giving false hopes to people which it has been doing in Delhi.  But the people of Uttarakhand are smart enough not to for their false hopes. "Congress' state spokesperson Garima Dasauni termed AAP as a party that parachuted into Uttarakhand. "It knows nothing about the state's demography and political scenario but claims it will win the 2022 elections which is just laughable.  It has no significance in Uttarakhand which they will know in the 2022 election results," said Dasauni.


West Bengal: More than 10 persons injured after fire breaks out at Naphtha Cracker Unit of Haldia Petrochemicals. Injured have been sent to a hospital in Kolkata for treatment. https://t.co/WTcqW9shKW

As many as 13 workers were injured, five of them critically, when a fire broke out at a naphtha plant of Haldia Petrochemicals in Bengal’s East Midnapore district on Friday morning, said district authorities.  The fire that broke out in a pipeline around 10:45 am, was later brought under control.  “A total of 13 workers were injured in the fire.  The condition of five of them is said to be serious.  The government has created a green corridor and sending them to Kolkata for treatment,” said Bengal transport minister Suvendu Adhikari.  Apart from fire engines of the fire services department, fire tenders from local units of Indian Oil Corporation, Exide and other plants were rushed to the spot, he added.  “The fire has been brought under control,” said Partha Ghosh, district magistrate of East Midnapore around 1 pm. Earlier in the morning, district authorities had rushed eight fire engines to the plant.  “We have rushed fire engines and ambulances.  Our first mission is to control the flames and rescue the workers,” said V Solomon Nesakumar, superintendent of East Midnapore district police. “The management made extensive arrangement to support the injured employees at two hospitals in Kolkata,” the company said in a statement in the evening. The plant, located near the industrial township of Haldia, produces polymers and chemicals.


Delhi: Students continue to protest outside JNU campus  against the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University earlier today. https://t.co/UOxJdS1LKf

After being witness to a fierce election campaign, nearly 14. 79 million registered voters in Delhi will finally get an opportunity to vote on Saturday to choose representatives to 70 assembly segments across the national capital and decide who governs the city-state for the next five years. In the first state elections of the new decade, whose outcome will be known on Tuesday, incumbent chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is seeking to retain power in the face of a strong challenge mounted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has sought votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Delhi elections have four distinct strands.  The first is the AAP’s attempt to replicate its success of the 2015 assembly election — when it won 67 of the 70 seats — versus the BJP’s effort to replicate its success in the 2019 Lok Sabha election,when it won all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi.  The second is the AAP’s campaign, which is focused on local governance issues and its track record in the past five years versus the BJP’s, which focused on the larger ideological issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, national security, and an effort to project all protesters — and the AAP — as “anti-national”.  The third is an effort by the AAP to carve out a multi-religious and multi-class alliance versus the BJP’s campaign to consolidate Hindu voters across regions, castes and classes.  And the fourth is the question of leadership — where the CM is not pitted against a local rival but the PM. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has said the primary issue in the election will be the work done by his government, but hit out at the rival BJP for trying to change the discourse and make it “about a Hindu vs Muslim” issue.  “Ours is the first government in 70 years that is seeking votes entirely on the ground of work done on the development front,” he told HT in an interview on Wednesday.  People have to decide whether they “opt for the politics of abuse and violence, or politics of development”, he added. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said his party’s agenda was development.  “We are talking about Ayushman Bharat for free medical care and PM Awas Yojana to provide housing to people. . .  Non-implementation of these two schemes will be the main reason for AAP’s defeat in Delhi,” Tiwari told HT on Wednesday, adding that party did not endorse the provocative statements of some of its MPs. Over the last four years, the city has voted distinctly for distinct elections.  During the 2015 elections, the AAP bagged 54% of the vote share in the polls.  But its vote share decreased in the next two elections held in the city — the municipal elections in 2017 and the Lok Sabha polls in 2019.  The AAP polled the highest share of votes in 2015; it stood second in the 2017 civic elections, with 26% of the votes, and finished third in five of the seven seats in the 2019 national elections, dropping to 18% of the votes and winning no seat.  On the contrary, both the BJP and the Congress improved in terms of vote share in this period.  The BJP polled 56% votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, up from 36% in 2017 and 32% in 2015.  In 2019, it had a lead in 65 of the 70 assembly constituencies.  The Congress got just 10% of votes in 2015, 21% in 2017 and 23% in 2019. Political observers believe that this election will significantly depend on whether voting patterns of the Lok Sabha election hold, or whether it reverts to the assembly pattern.  A Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)-Lokniti poll conducted during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls showed that only about half of the people who voted for the BJP or the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls would have voted for the same party in case of a snap assembly election.  The corresponding figure was 82% for the AAP.  The second variable is the impact of the campaign on the polls.  The AAP — through government advertisements before the model code of conduct, public interaction programmes, townhall meetings by Kejriwal, hundreds of small corner meetings in Delhi neighbourhoods, dozens of rallies and roadshows, and a strong social media campaign — has advertised its governance record.  In particular, it has focused on the improvement in government schools, public health systems, provision of electricity and water supply and subsidised rates, and free public transport for women.  It has also promised to focus on pollution, provision of clean water and cleanliness in its next term if elected to power. At the end of last year, the BJP had two key campaign planks.  Through a parliamentary legislation, and then an announcement by PM Modi at a rally in Delhi, the party claimed credit for providing ownership documents to four million residents of unauthorised colonies in Delhi.  It also promised “triple-engine governance” under Modi, for the BJP would then hold the reins of power at the central, state and local level if elected to power.  But the party’s campaign took a turn in the wake of protests against the CAA, particularly in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area.  Led by home minister Amit Shah, the party deployed its Cabinet ministers, MPs, former and current chief ministers, and the cadre of ideological affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to project the protests as “anti-national” in character and which suited Pakistan.  It blamed the AAP and the Congress for backing these protests, spreading anarchy and violence, and causing inconvenience to the city’s residents.  Commenting on the nature of the campaign, Shakti Sinha,a former bureaucrat who has served in the Delhi government and former director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, said: “AAP’s subsidy policy has huge long-term development costs in terms of forgone investment in infrastructure and sustainability, but has created a huge constituency of beneficiaries.  Will the BJP be able to sell its message of nationalism and empowerment?  It has stemmed the tide that was flowing against it but would it be enough to bring it to power? ”The third related strand was mobilisation of different segments.  The AAP hopes to win the substantial support of the city’s Muslim population — which is influential in close to 10 seats.  While the minorities had shifted in large numbers to the Congress in the Lok Sabha election, reports indicate they may consolidate behind AAP for they see it as the party best positioned to defeat the BJP.  The AAP also hopes to win the support of the Hindu poor and the lower middle-class, primarily on the ground of having delivered tangible benefits to these segments through its welfare schemes.  AAP has also sought to quell the impression, pushed by BJP, that it is against Hindu interests, with Kejriwal reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, going to the Hanuman temple on Friday, and candidates repeatedly emphasising their religious identity — besides focusing on how the party has promised lessons in patriotism in school curricula and supporting moves such as the nullification of Article 370 that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status.  The BJP, for its part, is hoping to consolidate Hindus — across different demographic segments, from Punjabis, Banias, Purvanchalis (migrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar), and Dalits.  This is based on the premise that the largely Muslim-driven protests against CAA would antagonise the majority community.  It is here that the performance of the Congress will also play a role, for if it retains its base of Muslims and the poor, weaning them away from AAP, especially in constituencies where it has put up locally strong candidates, it may benefit the BJP.  “Ultimately, it may boil to how much vote the Congress attracts; the higher it is, the more AAP would suffer,” Sinha said.  And the final strand is leadership.  While AAP’s mascot is Kejriwal, the BJP is primarily focusing on Modi as the face of the campaign.  While the PM addressed only two rallies, it is his image that adorns the party’s hoardings and advertisements.  Just as in 2019, when the BJP asked who the opposition had to counter Modi, Kejriwal in 2020 is asking who the BJP has to counter him as the CM.  “Arvind Kejriwal is the pole along which these elections are being fought.  The AAP is fighting on Kejriwal’s charisma and his governance,” said Neelanjan Sircar, who is affiliated with Ashoka University and the Centre for Policy Research.  “The BJP has ceded the governance narrative to the AAP, but is trying to paint Kejriwal as inimical to Hindu interests.  And the Congress is a shadow of its former self. ” It remains to be seen if the BJP had polarised the electorate enough to pull off a win in Delhi, he added.  “Otherwise, it’s advantage AAP. ”


Arushi Nishank, daughter of Union Human Resource and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, shared two pictures describing the fire in the forests of Uttarakhand

She shared the photos with a text that reads, âIt's a moment of utter grief for the entire nation as our devbhoomi Uttarakhand faces the forest fire crisis, and the wildlife specifies that reside in the forest are in grave danger.  Please #PrayForUttarakhand that this catastrophy stops with no more loss of our flora & fauna. " It's a moment of utter grief for the entire nation as our devbhoomi Uttarakhand faces the forest fire crisis, and tâ¦ https://t. co/si4ueg7m4b— Arushi Nishank (@ArushiNishank) 1590506570000Although this Twitter account is not verified, many other verified handles like Namami Gange in the past have tagged this account in their tweets.  TRUTHThe pictures that Aarushi Nishank shared are not only old but one of them is also from California.  VERIFICATION AND METHODOLOGYOn performing reverse image search on the photos tweeted by Arushi on Google, we got following results: Image 1We found an article from Deccan Chronicle published in 2016.  The picture used in this story was exactly the same as the one shared by Arushi.  The photo was credited to famous photographer Padmashree Anoop Shah.  Image 2We found an article published in Columbia Magazine.  This picture was featured in the 2016â17 winter issue of the magazine.  According to the caption, this shows a fire in the forests of California.  The photo was credited to David McNew / Getty Images.  Apart from this, we found a news report from Mumbai Mirror dated May 27, 2020.  Titled âUttarakhand forest fire: Fake news, old photos being circulated on social media, says forest departmentâ, the report quotes Parag Madhukar Dhakate, the chief conservator of forests for western circle in Uttarakhand clarifying that there's a lot of misinformation, old photos and fake news being circulated on social media.  There is a reduction in fire and its been raining every few days so there is moisture and lesser incidents of forest fires, he said.  Dhakate told Mirror Online, "There are no massive forest fires in Uttarakhand.  Some videos and pictures doing round on social media are from South India and other parts of the globe.  People have created their own collage of pictures on social media.  Yesterday, there was rainfall in Garhwal Himalayas and other parts of the state.  Also, there are fire drills going on so I would like to clarify that there is no major fire in the forests here.  Some pictures are even from 2016. "


“Just remember when it comes to the President being ‘the most transparent ever,’ the Mueller report itself found the President’s written answers to be ‘inadequate,’ says @BrookeBCNN, who then lays out the ways President Trump is stonewalling Congress https://t.co/j2XBB4odgR

Clinton participated in a discussion with TIME, reacting to the Mueller report. Will Trump be impeached? Former Democratic presidential nominee and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she agrees with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's methodic approach to some Democrats' calls to impeach President Donald Trump following the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential campaign to members of Congress. Clinton, who is also a former senator, said Pelosi is “right to be cautious” about impeaching Trump, saying impeachment “shouldn’t be a preordained conclusion” based on “partisan political purposes. ”“The Mueller report is part of the beginning.  Not the end.  It’s the end of the beginning.  There’s so much more we should know and act upon,” Clinton said during a moderated discussion with TIME on Tuesday. In an hour-plus conference call with the caucus Monday evening, Pelosi made clear that Democrats will continue to investigate the president's actions, without impeachment, for now, according to sources on the call. “Duty and democracy.  That’s what this is about," Pelosi said, according to one source on the call.  Another, who described Pelosi's tone as "firm," said she urged Democrats to follow the facts of the ongoing congressional investigations, rather than make a decision on impeachment based on political concerns. Trump, questioned by a reporter at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll Monday morning, said he's "not even a little" concerned about the prospect of impeachment, though he sent a series of tweets in recent days blasting the idea. Pelosi, however, cautioned her caucus about moving against the president. "While our views range from proceeding to investigate the findings of the Mueller report or proceeding directly to impeachment, we all firmly agree that we should proceed down a path of finding the truth," Pelosi wrote in an open letter to colleagues ahead of the call. "Whether currently indictable or not, it is clear that the President has, at a minimum, engaged in highly unethical and unscrupulous behavior which does not bring honor to the office he holds," she wrote, adding that Republicans "should be ashamed of what the Mueller report has revealed, instead of giving the President their blessings. "With the House out for two weeks of recess and members scattered across the country, Monday's call was the first opportunity for Democrats to digest Mueller's findings as a group. Six committee chairs briefed Democrats on their ongoing investigations, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, who referenced Barr's upcoming appearance before the committee on May 2, and subpoenas for the full Mueller report and testimony from former White House counsel Don McGahn. "A lot of people think that Trump has committed impeachable offenses, that wasn't really the issue," one source on the call said.  "There was nobody defending Donald Trump. "Several progressive lawmakers, including Rep.  Barbara Lee and House Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters, repeated their support for impeachment.  Waters, a progressive icon and the most high-profile Democrat to endorse impeachment, said she wouldn't be organizing and lobbying colleagues on the issue, according to a source on the call. “As a 27-year law enforcement officer, and while I understand we need to see the full report and all supporting documents, I believe we have enough evidence now," Rep.  Val Demings, D-FL, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and former Orlando police chief, said on the call, according to a source. Ahead of his public comments Monday, Trump struck a different tone on Twitter regarding impeachment. The president's comments come after he spent a long holiday weekend at his Florida estate, where he golfed, spent time with family and -- at times -- fumed on Twitter about the Mueller probe and the fallout since the report's release. As the president returned to Washington on Sunday afternoon, he made no secret that he was thinking about the potential for impeachment proceedings. ABC News' John Parkinson contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


A train with nearly 200 people aboard that had been stranded in deep snow for more than 36 hours finally arrived at an Amtrak station in Eugene, Oregon. Passenger Rebekah Dodson joins Full Circle to describe the ordeal. Tune in now on Facebook Watch: https://t.co/UH8Fgs5Hte https://t.co/Y2LcBzIEkN

The train had been stuck near the tiny town of Oakridge since Sunday evening. Amtrak train stranded in Oregon for over 24 hoursAn Amtrak train with 183 passengers aboard was stranded in Oregon for over 24 hours. The Coast Starlight Train 11, traveling from Seattle to Los Angeles, came to a standstill near the tiny town of Oakridge on Sunday evening after hitting a tree that had fallen on the snow-covered tracks, according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari. No passengers or crew members aboard were injured but "conditions further deteriorated with numerous track blockages from snow and fallen trees," Magliari told ABC News in a statement early Tuesday morning. "Due to worsening conditions, area road closures and no viable way to safely transport passengers or crews via alternate transportation, Train 11 stopped in Oakridge, Oregon," Magliari added.  "We are actively working with Union Pacific to clear the right of way and get passengers off the train. "Amtrak executive vice president and chief operating officer Scot Naparstek said there was more than a foot of heavy snow and numerous downed trees blocking the track. "With local power outages and blocked roads, it was decided the safest place for our customers was to remain on the train where we were able to provide food, heat, electricity and toilets," Naparstek told ABC News in a statement Tuesday morning. Amtrak worked with crews from Union Pacific Railroad, which operates more than 32,100 miles of tracks in 23 western U. S.  states, to open a route to the stranded train and clear the track Tuesday morning.  Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Tim McMahan said the Amtrak train was "inoperable" due to poor weather conditions and fallen trees. "Amtrak has made the decision to keep the passengers on the train because power is out in the city [of Oakridge]," McMahan told ABC News in a statement early Tuesday morning.  "Also, with only two small hotels in town they don’t want to separate the passengers prior to having them reboard for departure. "By 8 a. m.  local time, a locomotive was pulling the southbound train back north toward Eugene, Oregon, so it could return to Seattle, its origin. "We will be contacting customers to provide refunds and other compensation as appropriate," Naparstek said. Amtrak said via Twitter that passengers aboard the stranded train were not charged for food or water. One of the passengers, Rebekah Dodson, said the train had power and heat and meals were being provided.  But food was running out as they waited for help and there was no other supplies available.  The snow outside was too deep for them to step off the train to get some fresh air, she said. "People are restless but in good spirits," Dodson told ABC News via Facebook. Another passenger, Carly Bigby, said mothers with young children aboard the train were forced to create makeshift diapers and were in need of baby formula. "They don't have those supplies on the train," Bigby told ABC News.  "So we're kind of just making do with what we have. "24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama highlighted the importance of a peaceful transfer of power in a video message that aired during Wednesday’s "Celebrating America" event organized by Pres. Joe Biden’s inaugural committee. https://t.co/A7wtJsMfwO https://t.co/VuaerdrLs7

By Paul LeBlanc, CNNUpdated 6:53 AM ET, Thu January 21, 2021 Washington (CNN)Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W.  Bush and Bill Clinton honored President Joe Biden Wednesday evening as America's new leader in a joint message that emphasized the new President's call for national unity.  CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.


With great sadness, the nation receives the news of the unfortunate demise of our former President #PranabMukherjee. I join the country in paying homage to him. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends: Rahul Gandhi, Congress (File photos) https://t.co/YTltKfH1g6

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condoled the death of former president Pranab Mukherjee and paid homage to him. “With great sadness, the nation receives the news of the unfortunate demise of our former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee,” Gandhi said on Twitter.    “I join the country in paying homage to him.  My deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends,” he said.  Mukherjee, 84, died on Monday in the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital here, his son Abhijit Mukherjee said.  He was admitted to the hospital on August 10.


Slogans of Allah-Hu-Akbar, Punjab will become Khalistan, Kashmir will become Pakistan… in the name of protests! 'Are these people farmers?'#FarmersProtest #Khalistan #London. Don’t call them traitors, they are farmers. Traitors in different political parties have completely hijacked the farmers’ protest.

A video showing people raising pro-Khalistan and pro-Pakistan slogans has gone viral with a claim that these were part of the farmers' protests held in London.  However, we found that the video, which can be traced back to September 2019, is from New York, US.  It showed protesters sloganeering against Prime Minister Narendra Modi while he delivered his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).  CLAIM One of the posts with the video tweeted by Om Prakash Rawat said, “आंदोलन के नाम पर अल्लाह-हू-अकबर, पंजाब बनेगा खालिस्तान, कश्मीर पाकिस्तान… के नारे!  ‘ये कैसे अन्नदाता हैं? ’ #FarmersProtest #Khalistan #London देश द्रोही मत कहिये देश के असली अन्नदाता है!  देश द्रोही यों ने किसान आंदोलन को पूरा हाईजैक कर लिया है सभी राजनीतिक दलों ने मिलकर? ” [Translation: Slogans of Allah-Hu-Akbar, Punjab will become Khalistan, Kashmir will become Pakistan… in the name of protests!  'Are these people farmers? '#FarmersProtest #Khalistan #London.  Don’t call them traitors, they are farmers.  Traitors in different political parties have completely hijacked the farmers’ protest. ] Canadian-Pakistani author Tarek Fatah also shared the video with a similar caption that was shared by thousands of his followers on Facebook and Twitter.  The video was also viral on Facebook.  Right-wing website Opindia wrote an article about the video and tweeted about the same.  They have since deleted the tweet and have updated their copy.  The Quint also received multiple queries on its WhatsApp tipline about the same.  WHAT WE FOUND OUT We fragmented the video into several keyframes, using the InVID Google Chrome extension and conducted a reverse image search on a few keyframes.  We found that the same video was tweeted in November 2019, much before the farmers’ protest started.  We then went through the keyframes and found a still where we saw PM Modi’s name on a US flag.  Following this, we conducted an image search using keywords “Protests against PM Modi in the US” and found similar images from 27 September 2019, when he was in New York for his speech at the UNGA.  The protests were covered by several news organisations, including Al Jazeera, The Wire and National Herald.  We then found other videos of the protest uploaded on Twitter from the same day and spotted the man in a black coat with a megaphone who was also present in the viral video.  We can also see the buildings in the background similar to that in the viral video.  We came across more such videos which mentioned that the protest took place in the US in 2019.  Incidentally, we also found a video posted by Tarek Fatah on 29 September 2019, where he was being stopped by the protesters outside the UN building.  Evidently, an old video from a protest rally against PM Modi in the US was falsely shared as people raising pro-Khalistan slogans during a farmers’ protest in London.


Mortal remains of Goa CM #ManoharParrikar being taken to BJP office from his residence, in Panaji.

Follow updates here: https://t.co/SMvOq6JOtV

(News Agency ANI) https://t.co/qpT97Erib8

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar died at his residence in Panaji on Sunday, prompting the Centre to announce a national mourning even as tributes flowed in from across the political spectrum for the 63-year-old former defence minister who was widely considered the tallest BJP leader from the state.  Also Watch: PM Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala pay homage to Manohar Parrikar in Goa Announcement of new Goa chief minister soon, says Amit Shah“BJP lost a great leader after death of Manohar Parrikar.  I have paid last respects to Manohar Parrikar.  The BJP is with the family of Parrikar.  The BJP leaders are discussing over the future course of action and the new chief minister of Goa will be announced soon,” said BJP chief Amit Shah. Thousands bid emotional farwell as Parrikar’s son Utpal lights funeral pyreThousands bid emotional farewell to Manohar Parrikar as his son Utpal lit the funeral pyre. Thousands of supporters and BJP workers accompanied the funeral cortege from the Kala Academy Arts and Cultural Centre, where the remains had been kept throughout the day for the public to pay last respects to the nearby Miramar beach. The mortal remains of Parrikar, wrapped in the national tri-colour, were placed on a pyre amid gun salutes at the beach and his elder son Utpal Parrikar consigned it to flames. Manohar Parrikar cremated with military honours, gun saluteManohar Parrikar was cremated with full military honours.  He was accorded with gun salute. US envoy to India condoles Parrikar’s deathUnited States Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, on Monday condoled the demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. “Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go to the family and friends of Manohar Parrikar, Goa Chief Minister and former Indian Defence Minister.  He was greatly respected by the United States, and his loss will be deeply felt,” Juster tweeted. Parrikar’s funeral cortege reaches Miramar beach for final rites amid chants of ‘Manohar Parrikar amar rahe’Parrikar’s funeral cortege has reached Miramar beach for the final rites amid chants of ‘Manohar Parrikar amar rahe’. US, Russia condole Parrikar’s deathUnited States Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, on Monday condoled the demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. “Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go to the family and friends of Manohar Parrikar, Goa Chief Minister and former Indian Defence Minister.  He was greatly respected by the United States, and his loss will be deeply felt,” Juster tweeted. Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev also expressed his deepest condolences to Parrikar’s family.  “Your party and India have lost a charismatic leader, an eminent politician and a statesman of perfect integrity, whose role in political and social life was significant and inspiring.  In his capacity as Defence Minister, he contributed greatly to the development of the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between our two countries and will be remembered in Russia as a true friend,” Kudashev wrote.  Russian Embassy in India tweeted, “#Russian Ambassador to #India H. E.  Mr Nikolay #Kudashev expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Chief Minister of #Goa H. E.  Mr Manohar #Parrikar, who passed away yesterday. ” Thousands in cortege to bid him farewellAs Parrikar’s funeral procession began, thousand of common folk were in cortege to bid him farewell. Manohar Parrikar to be accorded a state funeralManohar Parrikar would be accorded a state funeral with full military honours, according to the home ministry.  The central government has announced a national mourning on MondayParrikar’s last rites will be performed at 5 pmHis last rites will be performed at 5 pm at the Miramar beach in Panaji, next to the memorial of Goa’s first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar, who was also cremated there, a state BJP spokesperson said. Haryana declares one-day state mourning as a mark of respect to ParrikarThe Haryana government declared a one-day state mourning on Monday as a mark of respect to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who died of pancreatic cancer on Sunday. “The State government has decided to observe a one-day state mourning as a mark of respect to the departed dignitary.  The national flag will fly at half-mast on March 18,” an order issued by Haryana Chief Secretary’s office said. Thousands line up Goa streets to bid goodbye to Manohar ParrikarThe affection and popularity he enjoyed from ordinary Goans was on display as thousands of common folks, and his party workers lined up to pay tributes to Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who died Sunday after prolonged illness. Sad that Cong playing politics after Parrikar’s death: BJP leader“It is so sad that Congress party is finding this as an opportune moment to play politics in Goa.  We all can wait for the politics but right now, here is a person whom not only his friends, followers and colleagues but also the adversaries always respected and liked as an individual,” Madhav said while reacting on the demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Smriti Irani gets emotional as she pays last respects to ParrikarUnion minister Smriti Irani gets emotional as she pays last respects to Manohar Parrikar in Panaji. Panaji: Union Minister Smriti Irani gets emotional as she pays last respects to Goa CM #ManoharParrikar.  pic. twitter. com/NOOucOU8iOGoa cancels Shigmo festivitiesThe department of tourism, Goa, has cancelled Shigmo festivities scheduled between March 21 and 24 as a mark of respect and observance of state mourning following the death of Manohar Parrikar.  Shigmo is an annual spring festival celebrated in Goa with public parades and festivities. PM Modi meets Parrikar’s family membersPrime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Goa Governor Mridula Sinha meet family members of Manohar Parrikar, in Panaji. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Governor Mridula Sinha meet family of Goa CM #ManoharParrikar, in Panaji.  pic. twitter. com/X11DkUJofUPM Modi pays last respects to ParrikarPrime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman pay last respects to Manohar Parrikar.  Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pay last respects to Goa CM #ManoharParrikar pic. twitter. com/aNUC7nEJPmRahul Gandhi observes two-minute silence at public rallyCongress president Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders observe two-minute silence at a public rally in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi to pay last respects to Manohar Parrikar. Karnataka: Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party leaders observe two-minute silence at party's public rally in Kalaburagi, to pay last respects to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar pic. twitter. com/QbLS5ls3xnCongress stakes claim to form govt in Goa“We met the Governor and staked claim to form the government as we are the single largest party in Goa.  We have 14 MLAs and we should be given the chance to form the government.  We have told that we will prove majority,” Chandrakant Kavlekar, CongressMGP refuses to comment on swearing in“I can’t say anything about the swearing in because we have a meeting of the executive committee.  Unless there is a decision there, we cannot give letters of support to them (BJP),” says MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar. Congress leaders meet Goa Governor Mridula SinhaMGP leaders huddle in a meetingWe will have a meeting of the executive committee of MGP now to see how to go forward.  Until that happens, I cannot confirm anything: MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar. Swearing in of new Goa CM today itself: State BJP chiefAs of now nothing is finalised (regarding CM candidate).  Things should become clearer by 2pm.  The swearing in will happen today itself, probably after 3pm: BJP Goa state president Vinay Tendulkar.  He doesn’t say who will be sworn in. Goa Archbishop pays last respects to Manohar ParrikarGoa Archbishop Filipe Néri Ferrão pays his last respects to Manohar Parrikar at Kala Academy, Panaji. Jayant Sinha offers condolences to Manohar ParrikarUnion minister Jayant Sinha offers condolences to Manohar Parrikar who passed away last evening. भाजपा मुख्यालय में श्रद्धेय मनोहर पार्रिकर जी को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित की।मनोहर जी द्वारा देशहित में किए गए कार्य देशवासियों के लिये प्रेरणा हैं।उनका जाना राष्ट्र के लिए अपूर्णीय क्षति है। मेरी ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि वे दिवंगत आत्मा को अपने चरणों में उच्च स्थान दें। ॐ शांति!  pic. twitter. com/4FWw0YfyFDCongress MLAs in Goa reach Raj BhavanCongress MLAs in Goa reach Raj Bhavan to try for an audience with the Governor. MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar meets Nitin Gadkari againMGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar meets Nitin Gadkari again.  There may be yet another attempt to arrive at a consensus for the CM’s candidate. Congress MLAs to go to Raj BhavanCongress MLAs in Goa to go to Raj Bhavan a short while from now to try for an audience with the Governor. Shatrughan Sinha expresses condolencesWords will never be able to condole the death of a true nationalist, rare leader & extraordinary administrator, CM, Goa & former Defence Minister, Shri.  Manohar Parrikar #manoharparrikar.  He was a kind, charismatic personality, with an approachable nature which helped empower the state to achieve remarkable development & progress.  His greatest contribution to the Indian military establishment was the one rank, one pension scheme (OROP).  The BJP stalwart fought his aliment courageously with dignity working till the end.  His exemplary service to the nation will never be forgotten: Shatrughan Sinha says in a series of tweets. WATCH: Political leaders condole Manohar Parrikar’s demise‘Definitely, BJP MLA should lead Goa’Definitely, one among the 12 of us BJP MLAs should lead Goa, it is but obvious: BJP MLA Glenn Ticlo tells ANI in Panaji. Indian national flag at half mast at Rashtrapati BhavanThe Indian national flag has been hoisted at half mast at Rashtrapati Bhavan as a mark of respect to Manohar Parrikar who passed away last evening. Union cabinet observes two minutes silenceUnion cabinet condoles demise of Manohar Parrikar , observes two minutes silence. People gather to pay last respects to ParrikarPeople gather at the BJP office in Panaji to pay last respects to late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar. Goa: People gather at BJP office in Panaji to pay last respects to late Goa CM #ManoharParrikar pic. twitter. com/2jQpNMG60RGoa heading towards ‘suspended animation’Goa heading towards ‘suspended animation’ as consensus eludes ruling BJP dispensation on Manohar Parrikar’s successor. Parrikar to be accorded state funeral with full military honoursManohar Parrikar to be accorded state funeral with full military honours, according to the home ministry, reports news agency PTI. PM Modi to pay last respects to Manohar ParrikarPM Narendra Modi to leave for Goa to pay last respects to Manohar Parrikar who passed away last evening. Nitin Gadkari arrives to pay last respects to ParrikarMortal remains of Manohar Parrikar brought to BJP office in Panaji.  Union Minister Nitin Gadkari arrives to pay last respects to him. Parrikar’s mortal remains brought to BJP office in PanajiMortal remains of Manohar Parrikar brought to BJP office in Panaji. Goa: Visuals from BJP office in Panaji.  Mortal remains of Goa CM #ManoharParrikar will be brought here for people to pay last respects to him.  pic. twitter. com/zSHGEZqwBuParrikar’s mortal remains being taken to BJP office in PanajiMortal remains of Manohar Parrikar being taken to BJP office from his residence, in Panaji. Goa: Mortal remains of Goa CM #ManoharParrikar being taken to BJP office from his residence, in Panaji.  pic. twitter. com/Ksr8afYDNaVisuals from outside Parrikar’s residence in PanajiVisuals from outside the residence of #ManoharParrikar in Panaji, Goa.  pic. twitter. com/5M6lzmaVWvMGP leader demands CM’s chairBJP MLA Michael Lobo said that MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar demanded that he be made the chief minister, which has not found favour with the BJP as well as Goa Forward Party MLAs and independents. Nitin Gadkari in hectic parleys with alliance partnersThe BJP’s central leadership dispatched a team comprising Union minister Nitin Gadkari who held discussions with BJP MLAs as well as leaders of alliance partners — the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party — and independents. Deadlock over Goa CM candidate continuesDespite extensive discussions that continued late into the night on Sunday, the BJP failed to break the deadlock over who should fill the shoes of Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar who passed away last evening.


Thiruvananthapuram: Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and vocational higher secondary education (VHSE) examinations are underway till May 30 in the state, amid COVID19 lockdown.

The total number of COVID19 cases in Kerala is 964. https://t.co/znKgzTUZIF

Covid-19 cases are expected to peak in early July in India, where deaths from the pandemic could top 18,000, an Epidemiologist and a public health expert said. The country is still in the ascending limb of the epidemic, said Prof D Prabhakaran, Director, Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions (CCCC). Prabhakaran, also Professor at the Department of Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the UK, said there can be no single number when asked about his assessment on eventual Covid-19 deaths in India. We should peak around early July. This is based on a study of various published models and observing how the epidemic has risen and fallen in other countries, he told PTI on Wednesday. Given that we are expecting around four to six lakh cases and with an average of three per cent mortality, it (Covid-19 deaths in India) would be around 12,000-18,000, added the Adjunct Professor, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University in the US. On low mortality rate in India and possible reasons for it, he said we will know if the mortality is actually low when the epidemic ends. However with limited data it appears that mortality is low. To me I think it is the age structure as compared to Italy or the US which is much younger in India, the Vice President - Research & Policy, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), where he is also Professor, Epidemiology, said. Age is an important risk factor and the older you are the chances of having these problems are higher. Other reasons including universal BCG vaccination, Malaria endemicity, exposure to repeated infections, unsanitary conditions increasing our immunity, hot weather have been implicated but we don’t have any clear proof of their role, he added.  Director of Indian Institute of Public Health-Hyderabad, Prof G V S Murthy said the lowest mortality in the South Asia region has been reported from Sri Lanka (0. 4 per million) while India, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia have similar low rates per million population.  It is difficult to say why the mortality is lower in these countries, Profesor Murthy said. All these countries initiated a community lock down early in the course of the pandemic and therefore this may have reduced the contact with active cases of Covid-19 unlike in Europe and the US where such steps were delayed. Evidence available globally and in India shows that the risk of mortality is highest among those aged 60 years or older , he said. In India, 50 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths have been among those older than 60 years. The proportion of population aged 60-plus in India is 9. 9 per cent compared to 22. 4 per cent in the US, 24. 1 per cent in the UK and 29. 4 per cent in Italy. Because of the early lockdown, exposure of this high risk population in India along with those with co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension was reduced significantly. This could be the main cause of low mortality, Professor Murthy told PTI. He added that in a fortnight, dengue, malaria and diarrhoea will start creating havoc. Lessons learnt from Covid-19 on importance of personal hygiene and self-care are the mantras for curtailing the adverse effects of infectious diseases.


In a first, 303 kg Colombian cocaine worth ₹2000 crore seized by DRI

(@neerajwriting reports)

https://t.co/4V2KXLSQuG https://t.co/bp5e8EHmx5

In the largest ever seizure of cocaine in India, the Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence (DRI) has recovered 303 kgs of pure cocaine from a container in Tuticorin, which officials suspected was produced in Colombia and smuggled to India by one of the cartels there.  The value of the seized high-purity cocaine is estimated to be ₹2,000 crore in the international market, with the potential to provide over 3 lakh individual street deals of cocaine per gram.  The cocaine, officials cited above said, was concealed in a consignment imported in a container declared to be containing wooden logs.  It was wrapped in multiple layers of packing material having been compressed as bricks.  The container originated from Panama, transited through the ports of Antwerp and Colombo, before reaching India but an officer said that 302 bricks or blocks of cocaine, which is of pure quality, weighing 303 kgs have markings from Colombia.  Multiple agencies are trying to identify the cartel behind smuggling such large quantity of cocaine to India and those involved here in buying such a huge consignment.  Drug enforcement experts said this kind of modus operandi for smuggling cocaine in India has never been witnessed earlier.  “Two similar consignments having cocaine bricks/blocks were unearthed abroad in last couple of years – one by UK authorities in July last year and another by Australian Federal Police in 2019.  But never have we come across such a huge consignment of cocaine in India,” said an officer who didn’t want to be named.  According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the highest amount of cocaine seized by all agencies combined was 34 kg in 2019.  The powerful addictive stimulant drug is made from the leaves of coca plant native to South America and its primary markets are North America and Europe.  There is no cultivation of coca plant in India and smaller amounts smuggled here are for urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and are brought by suspects from West African drug syndicates.  “Very few instances of smaller quantities of smuggling of cocaine from Argentina and Brazil have come to our notice in the past but such a huge consignment of Colombian cocaine is a shocker,” said a second officer who didn’t want to be named.


#COVID19 | Returnees from 10 new cities, including Gurugram and Faridabad, to undergo institutional quarantine in Himachal Pradesh

https://t.co/LKfcV2U4yN https://t.co/DpCWez5xKZ

Shimla: With the hill state seeing a spurt in Covid-19 cases, the Himachal Pradesh government has updated its list of high-load infected cities and districts. People returning from Surat (Gujarat); Palghar, Raigad and Nashik (all in Maharashtra); Aurangabad (Bihar); Thiruvallur (Tamil Nadu); Ranga Reddy (Telengana); Madurai (Tamil Nadu); Faridabad (Haryana); and Bengaluru (Urban) will have to undergo institutional quarantine. Apart from these places, 10 cities from the list released on June 12 also figure in the updated one.  They include Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Thane, Pune, Hyderabad, Chengalpattu, Gurugram, Kolkata and Delhi. Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Indore in Madhya Pradesh have been excluded from the list after a decrease in the number of cases among people returning from there. Additional chief secretary (health) RD Dhiman said that the chief medical officers of the districts have been directed to monitor the movement of people.  “Returnees from these areas will be institutionally quarantined,” he said. GUIDELINES FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTSThe state government has issued guidelines for dialysis patients.  At present, the health department runs 15 dialysis units in health institutions across Himachal Pradesh. The mortality due to Covid-19 is high in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD), hence it’s imperative to take extra care of such patients, Dhiman said. “Keeping in view the instruction of the Government of India, a new arrangement has been made for the dialysis of Covid and non-Covid patients,” he said. Covid-19 patients with CKD from Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Kinnaur districts will be treated at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla.  Those from Mandi, Bilaspur, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti will get treatment at Lal Bahadur Shastri Medical College, Ner Chowk, while patients from Kangra, Una, Chamba and Hamirpur will be treated at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. The dialysis of Covid and non-Covid patients will be carried out in separate blocks in these health institutions. All other dialysis units shall provide uninterrupted dialysis services 24x7 to the CKD patients.


This #Basant has come with new hopes and new enthusiasm for India that is moving forward, leaving behind the despair of the pandemic: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and development work of Chittaura Lake in UP https://t.co/VIFbuOpkIo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conducted ‘bhoomi pujan’ of Ahmedabad Metro’s Phase-II and Surat Metro, via video-conferencing.  Union home minister Amit Shah, Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat, chief minister Vijay Rupani and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri were also present on the occasion. PM Modi said that this marks the commencement of infrastructure worth ₹17,000 crore.  “Ahmedabad and Surat are receiving very important gifts today.  Metro will further strengthen the connectivity in what are two major business centres of the country,” the Prime Minister said.  The rapid expansion of metro network in India in recent years shows the gulf between the work done by our government and the previous ones, he further said. Highlighting the work done by his government, PM Modi said that work is currently underway in 27 cities across the country on more than 1,000 km of metro network.  “Before 2014, only 225 km of metro line were operational while over 450 km became operational in the last six years,” he said. Talking about Surat, PM Modi said while it is the eighth-largest city in the country by population, it is also the fourth most-rapidly developing city in the world.  Surat is also the second cleanest city in India, he remarked, adding that the city is a great example of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” and that a “Mini-India” has come up in the city. On state capital Gandhinagar, he said it has undergone a major “image change” in recent years, going from a city known for government services to one which now has a significant presence of youth.  As an example, the prime minister mentioned names of various universities in the city.  PM Modi also cited various projects to highlight how Gujarat has progressed, and also made a mention of the world’s largest drive vaccination drive against Covid-19, which began in India on Saturday. PM Modi named PRAGATI as a project that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, mentioning how he himself interacts with various stakeholders through the platform. Ahmedabad Metro’s Phase-II is 28. 25 km long, with two corridors.  While Corridor-1 is 22. 8 km long and connects Motera Stadium and Mahatma Mandir, Corridor-2 is 5. 4 km long and connects Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) and Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City. Meanwhile, Surat Metro Project is 40. 35 km long and comprises two corridors as well.  Corridor-1 is 21. 61 km long, from Sarthana to Dream City and Corridor-2 is 18. 74 km long from Bhesan to Saroli.  The project will cost a total of ₹12,020 crore.


Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia writes to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, demanding to 'come up with a centralized vaccine procurement and allocation policy' https://t.co/yxyLMQRoYn

More African countries received the long-awaited first deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines on Wednesday, with Kenya and Rwanda benefiting from the global Covax initiative that aims to ensure doses for the world’s low-and middle-income nations. African and other health officials have been frustrated with the sight of a handful of rich countries rolling out vaccines after snapping up large amounts for themselves. “We will be known as the continent of Covid” if Africa doesn’t quickly reach its target of vaccinating 60% of its population of 1. 3 billion people, the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, said last week.  The continent last month surpassed 100,000 confirmed deaths. So far Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Angola and Congo also have received their first vaccine doses via Covax, with several other countries including Mali, Senegal, Malawi and Uganda set to receive them this week. Rwanda is becoming the first African nation to receive the Pfizer vaccine via Covax.  The vaccine needs storage at ultra-cold temperatures, making rollout complex in hot countries and rural areas, for example. Covax has faced delays related to the severely limited global supply of vaccine doses as well as logistical issues. And Covax alone will not supply Africa’s 54 countries with the doses needed to reach the 60% population coverage for achieving so-called herd immunity, when enough people are protected through infection or vaccination to make it difficult for a virus to continue to spread. That's why some countries such as South Africa, the hardest-hit African nation, are also pursuing Covid-19 vaccines via bilateral deals or via the African Union's bulk-purchasing program. Despite the various challenges, some health officials expressed jubilation as the first vaccine doses via Covax arrived. “We have been fighting the pandemic with rubber bullets but what we have acquired today is equivalent, metaphorically speaking, to bazookas and machine guns,” Kenyan Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said. Kenya received 1. 02 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.  The minister said the vaccines will be administered to some 400,000 medical workers and the rest will go to other front-line workers such as teachers and police officers. “This first shipment of 1 million vaccines is part of an order of 3. 5 million to Kenya,” UNICEF spokesman Andrew Brown told The Associated Press. Kenya, East Africa’s commercial hub, has more than 106,000 confirmed virus cases including more than 1,800 deaths.  Many health workers for months have been disgruntled over the inadequate supply of personal protective equipment.  They also say they were never paid the allowances that the government promised them for the extra work and risk while combating Covid-19. Rwanda received 240,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with 102,960 Pfizer doses expected later Wednesday.  The health ministry said these first doses will target front-line workers, those above 65 and people with underlying health conditions. Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said Rwanda’s goal is to vaccinate 30% of the population by the end of this year, and 60% by the end of 2022. Rwanda has recorded 19,111 cases and 265 deaths.


Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union budget 2020-21 in the Parliament today. (File Pic) https://t.co/s6jXX3zuqS

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced new personal income tax rates in her Budget speech on Saturday. “People earning till Rs 5 lakh need not pay any income tax.  For those who have an income between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7. 5 lakh, will now pay 10 per cent tax; those earning between Rs 7. 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh will pay an income tax of 15 per cent.  For income between Rs 10 to Rs 12. 5 lakh, the new tax rate is 20 per cent and for income between Rs 12. 5 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, the revised tax rate will be 25 per cent,” said the Finance Minister. “There is no change for those earning above Rs 15 lakh per annum.  They will be taxed at 30 per cent,” Sitharaman added. With this announcement, Sitharaman introduced new income tax slabs - of income upto Rs 7. 5 lakh per annum and 12. 5 lakh per annum.  The new rates will come into effect from April 1, 2020, when the new financial year kicks in. Currently, a taxpayer pays tax according to following slabs:• Up to Rs 2. 5 lakh - Nil• From Rs 2,50,001 to Rs 5,00,000 - 5 per cent of total income• From Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000 - 20 per cent of total income• Rs 10,00,001 and above - 30 per cent of total income“A person earning Rs 15 lakh per annum and not availing any deductions will now pay Rs 1. 95 lakh tax in place of Rs 2. 73 lakh,” said the Finance Minister. She also made it clear that the tax amount will depend on the exemptions and deductions being availed under the old regime.  The new personal income tax regime is optional for taxpayers, she said.


"We're going to take our case to the American people."

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal lays out his party's options to stop President Trump's pick to fill the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat. https://t.co/v9w7iay8qo https://t.co/LUYOlmlQXa

The move appears to be unprecedented. Remembering Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgThe Supreme Court, in an apparently unprecedented move, announced on Monday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose in front of the court on Wednesday and Thursday to allow public viewing. In a statement, the court said her casket will arrive in front of the court just before 9:30 a. m.  on Wednesday to be followed by a private ceremony in the the Great Hall "attended by Justice Ginsburg’s family, close friends, and members of the Court. ""Following the private ceremony inside, Justice Ginsburg will lie in repose under the Portico at the top of the front steps of the Building to allow for public viewing outdoors," the statement said. Former law clerks to Justice Ginsburg will serve as honorary pallbearers and will line the front steps as the casket arrives and Supreme Court police officers will serve as pallbearers, the court said. The Justices will remain inside the Great Hall where the casket will be placed on the Lincoln Catafalque, which has been loaned to the Court by the U. S.  Congress for the ceremony.  A 2016 portrait of Justice Ginsburg by Constance P.  Beaty will be on display in the Great Hall, it said. "The public is invited to pay respects in front of the Building from approximately 11 a. m.  until 10 p. m.  on Wednesday, September 23, and from 9 a. m.  until 10 p. m.  on Thursday, September 24," the statement said. There has been an outpouring of public support for Ginsburg outside the court since word of her death came Friday night, with an impromptu memorial of flowers and messages written in chalk and on stones left on the court plaza. Further guidance regarding the public viewing will be available on the homepage of the court’s website, the statement said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also announced that Justice Ginsburg will lie in state in Statuary Hall in the Capitol on Friday. A formal ceremony will be held Friday morning, her statement said, but noted that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony will be open to invited guests only. A private interment service will be held next week at Arlington National Cemetery. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


A FOX News clip is being shared on social media platforms that claim that United States President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with Coronavirus.  Screenshots of the video are as  follows:  The news anchor is heard stating, ” Just a moment ago, FOX News alert, the White House medical team confirming President Trump has confirmed positive for Coronavirus“.   Post Archive  Post Archive   It has happened ! ! !  Watch Fox News report that TRUMP has the CORONA VIRUS.  Covid 19 pic. twitter. com/iwx9ASEOMH — Timilehin (@timiparfect) May 16, 2020   The clip being circulated is edited and is hence not true.  The clip was taken from a news clipping that was uploaded by FOX News on May 7 which  confirmed that “Trump’s valet has been tested positive for Coronavirus”.  The edited clip and the original clip is as follows:  After carefully listening to both the clips in question, it is evident that a pause is observed where the anchor’s words have cut off so as to manipulate the headline.  The original clip can be viewed here.


Here are five things to watch for in the impeachment inquiry's first public hearing https://t.co/BBLq3aFmIn https://t.co/pM46t6Mlpl

President Trump faces potential impeachment stemming from his call with Ukraine. Trump impeachment inquiry explained in 60 secondsAs hearings in the impeachment inquiry enter a new phase with the House Judiciary Committee this week, here’s everything you need to know about allegations against President Donald Trump, his defense, and why the phrase “quid pro quo” is dominating the debate:It started with a single whistleblower, who last August warned that in a July 25 phone call with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump pressured the new government to launch a politically charged investigation. Trump wanted two things: First, he wanted Ukraine to prove a theory that its own corrupt politicians in 2016 tried to sway American voters in favor of Democrat Hillary Clinton.  (While some Ukrainian politicians did support Clinton over Trump in largely public ways, U. S.  intelligence and a bipartisan Senate inquiry found that Russian operatives -- at the behest of their government -- engaged in a far more widespread, invasive and secretive campaign to sway voters in support of Trump. )Second, Trump wanted Ukraine to investigate one of his 2020 political rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his son Hunter for his work on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The whistleblower described his colleagues on the call as “deeply disturbed” by Trump’s demands and detailed an internal effort internally to “lock down” all records of the discussion. Since that bombshell allegation was made public, other witnesses have corroborated the person’s account and the White House released a summary of the call that describes Trump asking Ukraine for a “favor” and to investigate the Bidens. “Quid pro quo” is Latin meaning “something for something. ” The term is used in employment law, for example, to prohibit sexual harassment, and under federal laws against bribery. When it comes to foreign policy though, such negotiations are actually quite common when the U. S.  demand is tied to America’s national security interests.  One example is asking a country to tackle corruption before receiving U. S.  assistance. In the case of Ukraine, however, the alleged quid pro quo wasn’t about national security but about dangling U. S.  money and a presidential summit at the White House in exchange for investigating a political rival. By the time Trump had asked Ukraine’s president for a “favor” on the phone on July 25, he had already suspended nearly $400 million in U. S.  military aid.  Advisers to Trump wanted the aid released because it was needed by Ukraine to fend off Russian aggression.  They also wanted a White House summit between the two leaders to show U. S.  support for the new government. As one Army officer assigned to the National Security Council – Lt.  Col.  Alexander Vindman – testified, Trump was pressuring a foreign power that desperately needed America’s help in exchange for its willingness to target U. S.  citizens for the president’s personal gain. “There was no doubt” about what Trump wanted, Vindman told Congress. Trump has denied anything was wrong with the phone call, insisting it was “perfect. ” Some Democrats, though, compare it to extortion. The short answer is that it doesn’t matter if the act is illegal when it comes to impeachment. Impeachment is a political process enshrined in the Constitution.  It essentially provides a pathway for elected lawmakers to remove presidents whose actions are considered such a gross abuse of power that elected officials don’t want them to finish out their term. And while the Constitution references “high crimes and misdemeanors,” the founding fathers didn’t necessarily interpret that to mean a violation of U. S.  law.  As Benjamin Franklin, in a 1787 speech put it: Without impeachment, the only “recourse” for the American public in dealing with a leader who had “rendered himself obnoxious” was assassination.  And allowing for impeachment under the Constitution would give America a way to examine misconduct without resorting to violence. On the question of whether Trump broke any laws, political campaigns are prohibited from taking anything of value from a foreign national.  But the Justice Department declined to pursue the case because it didn’t have evidence that campaign finance laws were violated; officials told reporters it would have been difficult to “quantify” what Trump would have gotten from Ukraine in return. As for facing criminal prosecution, the Constitution doesn’t say whether a sitting president can be charged in office, and the Justice Department has long had a policy that it shouldn’t happen because it would undermine the executive branch. Trump and GOP lawmakers initially insisted there never was a quid pro quo with Ukraine and that the original whistleblower was motivated by politics.  After several witnesses testified that they a presidential summit -- and possibly military aid -- was tied to Ukraine's willingness to investigate the Bidens, Republicans countered in a report released on Dec.  2 that there was no hard proof Trump was acting specifically to sway the 2020 campaign.  (Trump’s intention with Ukraine would require the president or his closest aides to testify, but the White House has declined to cooperate with the inquiry. )They also argue that Ukraine eventually received the money it wanted.  While it's correct that the administration promised to release the aid on Sept.  11, by that point the White House was already alerted to the whistleblower complaint and Democrats had already announced an inquiry into what they called Trump's "Ukraine scheme. "But another key argument by Republicans could stick.  They note that Democrats have been talking about impeachment since Trump took power in 2017.  GOP lawmakers say the latest inquiry is just the most recent – and coordinated effort – to overturn the results of the 2016 election. As the 2020 election inches closer, it will become harder for Democrats to argue that they need to act, rather than let voters decide at the polls. But what about Biden?  Isn’t it fair for Trump to investigate? At the center of Trump’s allegation is a widely debunked theory that Biden – as vice president under President Barack Obama – delivered his own quid pro quo to Ukraine to help his son, Hunter, who was serving on the board of a Ukraine gas company, Burisma. It’s correct that Biden in 2016 pressured Ukraine to fire the prosecutor general, Viktor Shokin, and threatened to withhold nearly $1 billion in U. S.  aid if Shokin wasn't removed.  But according to testimony by U. S.  envoy Kurt Volker and others, Biden’s position was in line with U. S.  policy and backed by other international powers that agreed Shokin was ignoring corruption and needed to go. Volker also testified that it was "quite possible" that Ukrainian gas executives believed they were "buying influence" through Biden's son by putting him on the board of Burisma.  The vice president's son was paid to serve on the board (at one point, his firm collected $166,666 each month from Burisma as both Hunter Biden and his associate sat on the board), and State Department official George Kent testified he warned about a perceived conflict of interest. But no evidence has surfaced that Joe Biden acted to help his son, nor that his Hunter Biden violated any laws, and the Bidens deny any wrongdoing.  House Republicans suggest in their Dec.  2 report that Democrats should acknowledge the "perception of potential wrongdoing" by Hunter Biden serving on Burisma's board while his father led U. S.  policy fighting Ukrainian corruption. After weeks of both closed-door and open depositions, Democrats have moved into the next phase of the impeachment inquiry (here is a list of who testified and what they said). On Dec.  3, Democrats were expected to release their summary of events, laying out in detail evidence that suggests the president used his power in office for personal gain and to attack a political rival. Then on Dec.  4, the inquiry shifts to the House Judiciary Committee, which will hear from lawyers who will testify on whether Congress has grounds under the Constitution to impeach.  For the week of Dec.  9, the Judiciary Committee has invited a Democratic lawyer and Republican lawyer to present their cases.  It was unclear as of Tuesday whether the White House would participate. After that the Judiciary Committee may draft articles of impeachment and vote on them, followed by a full vote in the House, which requires a simple majority. Impeachment doesn’t force presidents out of office.  It’s more like a political black eye delivered by the House that kicks off a “trial” in the Senate. If that happens, a group of House lawmakers -- all Democrats – would essentially act as prosecutors and argue the case before the Senate.  Trump and his legal team would have equal time to put on their defense, with the Senate acting as a kind of jury. If at least two-thirds of the nation’s senators vote against Trump, he would be removed from office – a high bar in a Senate currently controlled by Republicans.  (The Senate doesn’t have the power to send a president to jail, only oust him. )One big concern for Democrats – and a reason House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seemed to be initially reluctant to consider impeachment – is that Trump could be impeached by the House, only to be acquitted by the GOP-controlled Senate and possibly come back stronger politically as his base rallies to his defense. That’s what happened in 1998 when Democrat Bill Clinton was impeached for lying under oath to try to hide an extra-marital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.  While the GOP had clear evidence of the wrongdoing, he was acquitted by the Democratic-controlled Senate and saw a boost in his approval ratings. (President Andrew Johnson also was impeached and acquitted by the Senate in 1868). To hear Democrats tells it, nothing less than the soul of the country is at stake. “There comes a time when you have to be moved by the spirit of history to take action to protect and preserve the integrity of our nation.  I believe, I truly believe, the time to begin impeachment proceedings against this president has come,” said Rep.  John Lewis. , D-Georgia, on the House floor last September.  “To delay or to do otherwise would betray the foundation of our democracy. ”Republicans like Texas Rep.  Mac Thornberry disagree. “I believe it was inappropriate.  I do not believe it was impeachable,” he recently told ABC’s “This Week. ”As for Trump, he says it’s nothing more than “the Greatest Witch Hunt in American History! ”ABC News’ Trish Turner and Mike Levine contributed to this report. Editor's Note: This version corrects a reference to Clinton to note he had a boost in approval rating after impeachment, but was not up for reelection. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Even though Pfizer has announced that it might be time to consider giving a third dose of its coronavirus vaccine to people, many doctors and public health officials argue that it's more beneficial to get shots into the arms of the unvaccinated right now https://t.co/LN2TlugsZr

Biden's "door to door" comment is drawing blowback from the GOP. Health officials call COVID-19 delta variant ‘troubling’The TAKE with Rick KleinThey may be familiar forces by now, but they are playing out in newly challenging -- if not downright dangerous -- ways. President Joe Biden thought he was helping the cause of getting Americans vaccinated this week when he promised to send people "door to door, literally knocking on doors" to spread awareness of the vaccine. But the reaction has been infused with alarmist politics.  Rep.  Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. , tweeted that "Biden has deployed his Needle Nazis," while a prominent conservative youth leader called Biden's vaccination push an "apartheid-style open-air hostage situation. "Even those not as far on the fringes, such as Gov.  Mike Parson, R-Mo. , sent word that state health officials will be telling federal counterparts "that sending government employees or agents door-to-door to compel vaccination would NOT be an effective OR a welcome strategy in Missouri! "For the record, nothing like this is coming close to happening.  No one is being jabbed against their will, and the federal government is sending an epidemiologist and a communications specialist – that's it – to Missouri, where vaccination rates are lagging. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. , said Thursday that he's "perplexed" that some people refuse to be vaccinated "for various reasons that seems to have gotten caught up in politics. "But while McConnell has been consistently pro-vaccine, his Republican Party -- including former President Donald Trump, who himself has been vaccinated and played a critical role in the speed of vaccinate development -- has not been. The Conservative Political Action Committee gathering that starts Friday in Dallas could make for some interesting messaging on the topic.  Trump himself speaks to the group Sunday. With concerns about variants and new spikes in COVID-19 cases, terms like "vaccine hesitancy" make the problem ahead seem manageable -- as if some people just need to be talked into it. A chunk of the vaccine resistance now, though, is coming from something closer to anti-vaccine militancy.  It's a theme rapidly being absorbed into conservative politics -- making it even harder for Biden, or perhaps anyone, to overcome. The RUNDOWN with Averi HarperA group of Black civil rights leaders met with President Joe Biden Thursday to pressure the administration to act urgently to protect the rights of voters impacted by restrictive voting legislation passed in states across the country . "There is no more time, we must have legislation, we must have the president use his voice, use his influence, use his power," said Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal and Educational Defense Fund. The leaders painted a dire picture. "I don't say this lightly -- when we look at what is happening in this nation, we see an effort to impose a system of American apartheid," said National Urban League President Marc Morial. The meeting came after Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked with pushing back on restrictive voting legislation, announced the Democratic National Committee's $25 million investment to protect voting rights.  It also comes as a special session of the Texas legislature has convened with the aim of passing restrictive voting legislation in the state.  Voting activists on the ground in Austin have dubbed it the "Suppression Session. "A meeting like this could be considered preaching to the metaphorical choir.  Election reform legislation has been stalled in the Senate, blocked by Republican opposition, and while the group has met with some Republicans on Capitol Hill, they haven't met with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.  The latest Supreme Court decision to uphold voting restrictions in Arizona has only further narrowed avenues of recourse. Still, the leaders told reporters they'd continue to fight "tooth and nail" to defend the rights of Black voters. The TIP with Alisa WiersemaSeveral Democratic Senate candidates across pivotal 2022 battleground states are closing out the week on a high note after showing strong numbers in the second fundraising quarter.  The biggest haul comes out of Arizona, where Sen.  Mark Kelly raised nearly $6 million in the second quarter of 2021. In Florida, Rep.  Val Demings raised over $4. 6 million since announcing her campaign in June.  Her incumbent GOP competitor, Sen.  Marco Rubio, raised $4 million and the early assessment of the matchup signals one of the most expensive races of the 2022 cycle is looming ahead. As the only Democrat currently running in Ohio's Senate primary, Rep.  Tim Ryan brought in nearly $2. 3 million this quarter.  His Republican opponents, Jane Timken and Josh Mandel, raised $1. 4 million and $1. 5 million, respectively.  Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, Lt.  Gov.  John Fetterman's campaign announced it raised more than $2. 5 million in the last few months, while raising more than $6. 5 million since the start of his campaign in February. Although there's no guarantee that financial success results in victories, Democrats are likely to see the numbers as encouraging signs of ongoing engagement from supporters with more than a year left to build momentum for the midterm elections. ONE MORE THINGNikki Haley is hitting the trail next week to campaign for Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin, her first time on the trail with a candidate this cycle.  Excluding Youngkin's friend Sen.  Ted Cruz, Haley, South Carolina's first female governor and a potential 2024 presidential candidate, will be the most high-profile Republican to stump for the former investment firm CEO.  While Virginia has trended blue recently, November's election may test whether that is a rejection of former President Donald Trump, or the Republican Party in general. THE PLAYLISTABC News' "Start Here" podcast.  Friday morning's episode features ABC News' Anne Flaherty, who explains why we could be seeing COVID booster shots from Pfizer before the end of the year.  ABC News foreign correspondent James Longman tells us why fans will be banned from the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics.  And ABC News' Richard Miguel joins us from Haiti as the country looks for stability following the assassination of its president.  http://apple. co/2HPocULWHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKENDDownload the ABC News app and select "The Note" as an item of interest to receive the day's sharpest political analysis. The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead.  Please check back Monday for the latest. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events