'Second wave knocking on our door': CM Uddhav Thackeray on fresh #Covid19 surge in Maharashtra

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Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday that the war against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic is similar to World War and added that the mask acts as an effective shield against the infection.  Addressing the state virtually, Thackeray said that cases were increasing and it would be ascertained in two weeks whether there is a second wave of Covid-19 or not. “We want to keep everything open, but the cases are on the rise.  There is a sudden spike in cases over the last two weeks,” said Thackeray. Speaking about the decision of the state government to impose lockdown in some districts of Maharashtra to curb the spread of Covid-19, the chief minister said that nobody likes to be placed under lockdown but some restrictions would have to be followed. Also Read| Social gatherings banned, special drive to be launched: Maharashtra under curbsThe chief minister said that lockdown is known to break the chain of transmission of the virus but pointed out that it would be very difficult to implement it again.  “If we do not follow the norms, we will have to impose the strictest lockdown,” Thackeray said during the virtual address adding that a decision in this regard would be taken in the next eight days after reviewing the overall situation. Lockdown has already been imposed in districts such as Amravati and Yavatmal which have been among the major contributors in the state’s recent Covid-19 surge.  Amravati, which saw 806 cases on Saturday, has been placed under one-week lockdown starting Monday while a 10-day lockdown had earlier been imposed in Yavatmal on February 18. If the (COVID-19) situation deteriorates, then we have to impose lockdown.  Those who want lockdown can roam around without mask while those who don't want it must wear mask and follow all the rules: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray pic. twitter. com/CJdkvmfwNUDuring the virtual address, Thackeray further announced that all religious, social and cultural programs will be banned in Maharashtra for the next few days starting Monday.  The state government has also started taking strict action against wedding and banquet halls in Mumbai and other areas for violating virus related restrictions, Thackeray said. Maharashtra on Sunday had recorded 6,971 coronavirus (Covid-19) disease cases and 35 more deaths which pushed the overall tally to over 2. 1 million.  This is the third consecutive day that cases have remained above the 6,000-mark.  The state had started witnessing an upward trend in its daily tally since February 10 when 3,451 cases were registered.  Prior to this day, the daily numbers in Maharashtra were at a consistent range of 2,000-3,000.


BREAKING: More than 3.1 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance last week as the fallout from the coronavirus crisis continues, the Department of Labor said.

At least 33 million Americans have filed for unemployment since the pandemic began. https://t.co/GhosDYwhkI

By Anneken Tappe, CNN BusinessUpdated 11:31 AM ET, Thu May 7, 2020 New York (CNN Business)No end is in sight for coronavirus-related job losses.


Rep. Paul Gosar calls Michael Cohen "a pathological liar," saying he doesn't "know truth from falsehood."

"Sir, I'm sorry, are you referring to me or the president?" Cohen replies. https://t.co/WN4m0kmJmF https://t.co/FyUBxhWdrg

By Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha and Amanda Wills, CNNMichael Cohen said he protected Trump for a decade, but multiple factors contributed to his decision to start telling the truth, including "psyche, Charlottesville, watching the daily destruction of our civility. "He said he's partially responsible for the "silly" behavior in Congress today. From CNN's Lauren DezenskiMeet the youngest Michael Cohen watch party viewer: 18-month-old Penelope, (accompanied by her mother Emily Fisher). While Duffy’s Irish Pub’s two dozen patrons sipped coffee, Guinness, cans of beer and the bar’s specially crafted “Flipper Cocktail” at 11 a. m. , Penelope sat in her mother’s lap, sipping milk, munching on Goldfish and drawing with colorful markers. Fisher lives in the area and while she had already read Cohen’s testimony last night, she wanted to visit a favorite local watering hole to “just see my neighbors and patronize a local business.  It’s such a DC thing,” she said of the Wednesday morning watch party. The pair called it a day just before noon — it was almost naptime, Fisher said. “I don’t love that I’m at a bar at 10 a. m.  hearing testimony about the President calling places shitholes. ” Fisher said.  “It’s not my dream for her as a child in the world. ”“But I’m also not going to cry about it,” Fisher added.  “We’ll go to a park this afternoon and make up for it. ” In a heated exchange, Rep.  Paul Gosar, a Republican from Arizona, called Michael Cohen "a pathological liar. ""No one should ever listen to you and give you credibility.  It's sad," he said. At one point, Cohen chimed in to ask: "Are you referring to me or the President? "Here's how the exchange went:Gosar: You are a disgraced lawyer.  We've been disbarred.  I'm sure you remember, maybe you don't remember, duty of loyalty, duty of confidentiality, attorney-client privilege.  I think the gentleman over your right side actually understands that very, very well and wouldn't do what you are doing here today.  So let's go back at this credibility.  You want us to make sure that we think of you as a real philanthropic icon, that you're about justice that you're the person that someone would call at 3:00 in the morning.  No, they wouldn't.  Not at all.  We saw Mr.  Comer dissect you right in front of this committee you conflicted your testimony, sir.  You're a pathological liar.  You don't know truth from falsehood.  Cohen: Sir, I'm sorry.  Are you referring to me or the President?  Gosar: Hey, this is my time.  Cohen: Are you referring to me, sir or the President?  Gosar: When I ask a question I'll ask for an answer.  Watch the moment below:From CNN's Mary Ilyushina in MoscowRussian state TV "Rossiya 24”, which rarely covers Trump-related investigations in much detail, broadcasted some of Michael Cohen’s testimony live today, including questions about potential collusion and the Trump Tower Moscow deal. "Among all accusations, the most important one, that started it all, the suspicion of collusion with Russia — well, Cohen does not have evidence of that which he started directly,” reporter Alexander Khristenko said during Rossiya 24's coverage. The network also focused on the Republican attack-line against Trump, that is not a credible witness due to his previous lies to Congress.  For any viewers in Moscow, the Cohen hearing is unfolding in primetime, on Wednesday night. Many other international networks are also airing Cohen live, including Al Jazeera English, BBC World News, France 24 and CBC. Michael Cohen, responding to questions about who is paying his lawyer Lanny Davis, said he is working for free. Rep.  Jody Hice asked if liberal activist Tom Steyer is paying for Davis to represent Cohen.  "Not that I'm aware of," Cohen responded. Here's how the rest of the exchange went down:Hice: "Who is paying Lanny Davis?  Cohen: "At the moment, no one. "Hice: "He is doing all this work for nothing? "Cohen: "Yes, sir, and I hope so. "Later, Rep.  Jim Jordan asked if Cohen plans to pay Davis in the future. "When I start to earn a living," Cohen responded. Jordan said he has "never known a lawyer to wait three years to get paid. "Michael Cohen said President Trump inflated his assets to be on the Forbes list of richest people, but deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes. Cohen described how that process went down in this exchange with Rep.  Lacy Clay:Clay: To your knowledge, did the President or his company ever inflate assets or revenues?  Cohen: Yes.  Clay: Was that done with the President's knowledge or direction?  Cohen: Everything was done with the knowledge and at the direction of Mr.  Trump.  Clay: Tell us why he would do that and what purpose did it serve.  Cohen: It depends upon the situation.  There were times that I was asked, again with Allen Weisselberg, the CFO, to go back to speak with an individual from Forbes, because Mr.  Trump wanted each year to have his net worth rise on the Forbes wealthiest individuals list.  And so what you do is you look at the assets and you try to find an asset that has say, for example, 40 Wall Street, which is about 1. 2 million square feet.  Find an asset that is comparable, find the highest price per square foot that's achieved in the area and apply it to that building.  Or if you're going off of your rent roll, go by the gross rent roll times a multiple and you make up the multiple which is something he had talked about.  It's based upon what he wanted to value the asset at.  Watch more: CNN's Chris Cillizza explains how Cohen became Trump’s worst enemy:In his questioning, GOP Rep.  Mark Meadows introduced a guest he brought to today's hearing: Lynne Patton, a high-ranking political official in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In a stunning exchange, Meadows claimed Patton, who is black, doesn't agree with Cohen's assessment that Trump is a racist, since she was hired to work for him.  Cohen responded that — by that logic — he also should not work for the President.  Cohen is the son of a Holocaust survivor. Meadows: Mr.  Cohen, do you know Lynne Patton?  Cohen: Yes, I do.  Meadows: I asked Lynn to come today in her personal capacity to shed some light.  How long have you known Ms.  Patton?  Cohen: I'm responsible for Ms.  Patton joining the Trump organization in the job that she currently holds.  Meadows: Well, I'm glad you acknowledge that because you made some very demeaning comments about the President that Ms.  Patton doesn't agree with.  In fact, it has to do with your claim of racism.  She says that as a daughter of a man born in Birmingham, Alabama, that there is no way that she would work for an individual who was racist.  How do you reconcile the two of those?  Cohen: And neither should I as the son of a Holocaust survivor.  Watch the exchange here:Michael Cohen said he practiced the tactic of "catch and kill" -- where a publication buys the rights to a story and then buries the story as a favor to someone -- for President Trump. "I was involved in several of these catch-and-kill episodes.  But these catch-and-kill scenarios existed between David Pecker and Mr.  Trump long before I started working for him in 2007," Cohen said. Why this matters: Cohen worked with the National Enquirer's owner, American Media Inc. , to bury stories that could have harmed Trump's chances of winning the presidential election. Media companies, of course, are usually in the business of publishing bombshell stories, not covering them up.  But the National Enquirer operates differently.  Trump and Pecker, the Enquirer's publisher and longtime friend of the President, have had a mutually beneficial relationship for years.  Buying the rights to a potentially harmful story and then burying it as a favor -- a tabloid practice called "catch and kill"-- was one of the benefits. In December, federal prosecutors struck a non-prosecution agreement AMI, which admitted to making a payment of $150,000 in cooperation with members of Trump's presidential campaign in order to prevent former Playboy model Karen McDougal's claims of an affair with Trump from being made public during the 2016 race. Michael Cohen just called out Rep.  Jim Jordan and claimed the Republican congressman mischaracterized his testimony. Jordan said that Cohen's "instinct to blame others is strong" and said he isn't remorseful for his actions. Cohen interrupted the congressman, saying, "Shame on you, Mr.  Jordan.  That's not what I said.  Shame on you. "Here's how it played out:Jordan: "I would just make one point.  We just had a five-minute debate where Mr.  Cohen disputes what is the southern district of New York found, what the judge found, that he was actually guilty of committing bank fraud.  If this statement back here doesn't say it all, Cohen's consciousness of wrongdoing is fleeting, his instinct to blame others is strong.  His remorse is nonexistent.  He just debated a member of Congress saying I really didn't do anything wrong —" Cohen: "Mr.  Jordan, that's not what I said.  And you know that's not what I said . . .  I said that I pled guilty and I take responsibility for my actions . . .  Shame on you, Mr.  Jordan.  That's not what I said.  Shame on you. "Watch the exchange below:Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


#JammuAndKashmir | Locals arrive at a mosque in Srinagar to offer Friday prayers.

Track updates here: https://t.co/v4hv4Wezii

(News agency ANI) https://t.co/QojUjji3Zx

President Ram Nath Koving gave his nod to The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 on Friday evening, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).  Article 370 and Article 35A, cleared in the parliament earlier this week, have defined the state’s relationship with the Union for seven decades now, were effectively rendered null and void. Jammu and Kashmir remained on high alert today though restrictions were lifted in the Valley to allow people to offer Friday prayers in local mosques.  However, they won’t be allowed to congregate at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid.  The Kashmir valley has been under lockdown since Sunday midnight, a day before the government moved to divide the state into two Union Territories and also scrapped Articles that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.  The President okayed the move soon after both houses of Parliament passed it. The Centre is monitoring the situation and on Thursday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reviewed the situation in a meeting held in the Police Control Room of the J&K Police.  Highlights:PM Modi’s speech had a calming effect: J&K GovernorJammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik told ANI that PM Modi’s address to the nation on Thursday night had a calming effect.  “The situation is peaceful.  Relaxations will be given before and on Eid.  The festival will be celebrated in a proper manner.  He added that 1600 employees are on duty to ensure essential services like power supply, water and sanitation.  “10,000 people in Kashmir are reporting for their duties.  Most bank ATMs are operational.  We’ve released advance salary for August of daily wage workers,” the Governor said. Round the clock services available for people in Kashmir: J&K GuvJammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has said that he visited the Lalla Ded Hospital and GB Pant Children Hospital today.  “There are round the clock services at hospitals.  Cash has been disbursed for medicines, patient welfare and for fuel for ambulances.  ‘Langars’ are operating at TRC, hospitals &other public places in Srinagar.  For Eid, 2. 5 lakh sheeps and goats have been arranged.  30 lakh poultry has also been arranged.  We have two months stock of ration.  There is sufficient stock of petrol, diesel and regular supply for LPG,” he said.  Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh to come into existence on October 31Two new UTs -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh -- will come into existence on October 31: MHAPresident Kovind signs on The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019President Ram Nath Kovind gives his assent to The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, reported ANI. Jammu schools, colleges reopen tomorrow, 144 removedProhibitory orders banning congregation of more than 4 people under Section-144 has been removed from Jammu paving the way for reopening of schools and colleges in the region from tomorrow as per the order released by the Deputy Magistrate of Jammu district on Friday.  Relaxation for Jammu follows an assessment that situation in the region was normal.  Read full story here. Section 144 withdrawn from Jammu municipal limits: OfficialsSection 144 restricting gathering of more than 4 people has been withdrawn from Jammu Municipal limits, said Sushma Chauhan, Deputy Magistrate (DM) of Jammu District.  “All school, and colleges will be open tomorrow i. e.  August 10,” Chauhan told ANI. Situation in Kashmir is under control, normal in Jammu: ADGPMuneer Khan, additional director general of police, law and order in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir has said that the situation in Jammu is normal.  While in Kashmir, the situation is under control.  “All steps necessary to maintain law and order will be taken,” Khan told ANI. ‘Pak trying to project panic-like situation’: Raveesh Kumar“On their side, they (Pakistan) would like to project a panic situation, but that is not the situation So, it is time for Pak to stop interfering in other nation’s affairs: Raveesh Kumar. He says, “we can only request Pakistan to re-consider its unilateral steps and we can only regret (what Pak has done). ” ‘Pak efforts to link peace deal with Kashmir hasn’t worked’MEA spokesperson says, “Pakistan’s efforts to link peace deal with Kashmir issue have not worked”. On being asked about Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Raveesh Kumar said that the high commissioner to Pakistan is not yet back in Delhi.  We have requested Pakistan for review of their decision.  The timing of his return will be determined later. ”‘Steps taken keeping in mind best interests of J-K’On steps taken by Centre in Jammu and Kashmir, Raveesh Kumar said, “We feel steps have been taken keeping in mind the best interests of Jammu and Kashmir”. He added, “Pakistan thinks it will not be able to mislead people if there is development in Jammu and Kashmir. ”‘Time for Pak to stop interfering in internal matter of other countries’It is time for Pakistan to accept reality and stop interfering in internal matters of other countries: MEA spokesperson. He adds, we hope Pakistan reconsiders its unilateral decisions and address the core issues.  We can only urge them to re-consider those steps.  Raveesh Kumar said, “Actions taken by Pakistan unilateral. This has been done without consulting us. We’ve urged them to reconsider their decision. Our sense is that whatever is being done by Pakistan is to present an alarming picture of bilateral relationship. ”Samjhauta Express a ‘unilateral decision’ by PakAirspace has not be closed, but there has been some re-routing.  On Samjhauta Express, it is a unilateral decision, we never asked for it.  We regret Pakistan’s decision: Raveesh KumarPM has articulated his vision of J-K and LadakhPM has very clearly articulated his vision of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh yesterday in his address.  Now there will be more opportunities. : Raveesh Kumar, MEA spokesperson, addressing media. Pakistan suspends Thar Express servicePakistan on Friday suspended the Thar Express - the last rail link with India - a day after Islamabad stopped the Samjhauta Express service between the two neighbours, reports Reuters. “We have decided to shut down the Thar Express as well,” Reuters quoted Pakistan’s railways minster Sheikh Rasheed as saying. Watch: Locals at a mosque in Srinagar to offer prayers#WATCH Jammu and Kashmir: Locals arrive at a mosque in Srinagar to offer Friday prayers.  pic. twitter. com/HRzWkULtfYPeople arrive at mosques to offer Friday prayersPeople are arriving at their local mosques to offer Friday prayers after restrictions in the Kashmir Valley were eased earlier in the day.  Sitaram Yechury being sent back to DelhiCPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury is being sent back to Delhi, reports PTI quoting party sources.  He, along with CPI leader D Raja, were detained at the Srinagar airport earlier in the morning.  The duo had gone there to meet their party colleagues.  Yechury, D Raja detention ‘anti-democratic’: CPMThe CPI(M) hit out at the Centre for detaining its general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja at Srinagar airport, saying it was an “anti-democratic” act, which showed the ruling BJP’s “authoritarian face”. “The politburo calls upon the people to protest this anti-democratic act of the BJP government,” the statement said. “This shows the authoritarian face of the BJP government,” it added. Schools re-open in KathuaAs with Udhampur and Samba districts, schools in Kathua, too, have reopened on Friday.  All three districts fall under the Jammu division.  Situation in Jammu division under control: Divisional CommissionerDivisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, says the current situation in Jammu Division is under control and there is peace.  Talking to reporters, Verma said, “rumors regarding removal of some district is totally baseless and one FIR regarding this is being registered in Samba District. ”NSA Ajit Doval visits downtown SrinagarNational Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited downtown Srinagar today and spent over 2 hours in the area, reports ANI.  He interacted with troops and locals and also had lunch with CRPF personnel. ‘Trying to negotiate with them’: YechuryYechury said he and CPI leader D Raja were detained at Srinagar airport and denied entry into the city.  The Left leaders had gone there to meet their party colleagues.  Talking to PTI over phone, Yechury said, “They showed us a legal order which did not allow any entry into Srinagar.  It stated that even escorted movement int the city was not permitted due to security reasons.  We are still trying to negotiate with them. ” Earlier in the day, he had tweeted about his visit (see below). Com D Raja and I are on our way to Srinagar on the 9. 55 am Indigo flight to meet Com Yousuf Tarigami and our other comrades in Jammu & Kashmir pic. twitter. com/axRKZkLbV6CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury stopped at Srinagar airportCPI(M) General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury has been stopped at Srinagar Airport.  He had arrived in J&K to meet members of his party’s unit, there. Srinagar residents move about for their workFollowing easing of restrictions, people were seen moving about in Srinagar, taking care of their daily chores.  #WATCH Jammu and Kashmir: Latest visuals from Srinagar as people move about for their work.  pic. twitter. com/UYlI6cTSMKSchools reopen in UdhampurSchools reopened in Udhampur on Friday, reports news agency ANI.  Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur Piyush Singla says,“Section 144 is still imposed, but with some exceptions in certain areas.  Security plan is in place.  Vulnerable areas are being monitored closely.  Markets are also open from 11 AM to 5 PM”. Schools reopen in SambaSchools reopened in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, reports ANI.  Restrictions to be eased in Kashmir Valley to allow Friday prayersRestrictions will be eased to allow people in the Kashmir Valley to offer Friday prayers in local mosques, officials said.  However, there will be no Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid, reports PTI.  The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, a day after restrictions in some parts of the civil lines areas of the city and Dal Lake were eased to allow free movement of people, they said.


115 fresh cases take Rajasthan’s #COVID19 tally to 22,678

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Four more deaths due to coronavirus infection were recorded in Rajasthan on Friday, taking the total number of fatalities in the state to 495, an official said. With 115 new cases have been reported, the total number of people infected with this deadly virus in the state has increased to 22,678. One death each was reported from Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner and Sawai Madhopur, the official said.  In Jaipur alone, the death toll from coronavirus infection has increased to 170, while 65 people died in Jodhpur, 41 in Bharatpur, 26 in Kota, 23 in Ajmer, 19 in Bikaner, 15 each in Pali and Nagaur, and 11 in Dholpur.  A total of 115 new cases were reported in the state till 10:30 am on Friday, including 35 in Pali, 22 in Jaipur, 10 in Ajmer, nine in Alwar, seven in Nagaur and six in Kota. A total of 16,782 patients have been discharged after treatment.


“We, and the entire country, are pulling for you, Alex”: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak among celebrities and members of the 'Jeopardy!' community to share messages of support after Alex Trebek announces he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. https://t.co/4WC811xwr4 https://t.co/wXMWFlltOX

    “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek is hoping for a victory as he wages a battle against cancer.

    The longtime game show host on Wednesday announced he’s been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in a video posted to the show’s official YouTube account.

    “Now, normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this.  And I’m going to keep working and with the love and support of my family and friends – and with the help of your prayers also – I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease,” he said.

Pancreatic cancer, on average and across all stages, has a 5-year survival rate of 9%, according to the American Cancer Society.

    Trebek, 78, has hosted “Jeopardy” since 1984, when the show began airing daily in syndication.

    Sony Pictures Television chairman Mike Hopkins said in a statement Wednesday, “If anyone can beat this it’s Alex.  He has our full support as he tackles this challenge head-on. ”

    Trebek is known for his quick wit and sense of humor, which was on display in his announcement, despite the somber message at its center.

    “Truth told, I have to [keep hosting] because under the terms of my contract, I have to host ‘Jeopardy’ for three more years,” he joked.  “So help me.  Keep the faith, and we’ll win.  We’ll get it done. ”

    Upon news of his diagnosis, former “Jeopardy” champions, celebrity fans and even fellow game show hosts have expressed support for Trebek.
  I’ve said this before but Alex Trebek is in a way the last Cronkite: authoritative, reassuring TV voice you hear every night, almost to the point of ritual. Alex Trebek is hands down the person I've seen on my TV the most over the years and @Jeopardy is one of my favorite shows ever.  Pulling for you Alex!  #fuckcancer https://t. co/eGIXaR3Jo2
    “The Sajak family is deeply saddened to hear of Alex Trebek’s struggle with cancer,” “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak wrote on Twitter.  “Our hearts go out to him and his family.  But there is no one I know who is stronger and more determined, and I would never bet against him.  We, and the entire country, are pulling for you, Alex. ”
  © 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


#YogaDay2019 | ITBP personnel perform yoga in Sikkim at an altitude of 19000 ft near OP Dorjila at minus 15 degrees Celsius temperature on #InternationalDayofYoga

Follow LIVE updates here: https://t.co/VDZIfyoXMM

(📸: ANI) https://t.co/YBqVflBZDw

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


Video shows Donald Trump announcing the launch of COVID-19 coronavirus vaccines by Roche Medical Company.

Social media posts claiming US President Donald Trump announced that Swiss diagnostics and drugmaker Roche will launch a vaccine against the Coronavirus soon and that millions of doses were already ready, are misleading and false.    The video going viral with the posts merely shows Matthew Sause, President and CEO, Roche Diagnostics (North America), thanking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, for providing Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or emergency approval for Roche's cobas SARS-CoV-2 test, that will be used to detect SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease.  This means the company was granted emergency approval to roll out a diagnostics test for the virus and not approval for a vaccine.  Furthermore, the WHO estimated in February that the first vaccine could take around 18 months to be ready.


Director Spike Lee wins his first Oscar ever for best adapted screenplay for his film "BlacKkKlansman" https://t.co/GJBO8Yc4yX https://t.co/zDZwkaULpi

This is the acclaimed director's first Oscar award. 2019 Oscars: All the historic firsts for this year's nominees"BlacKkKlansman" won the award for best adapted screenplay at the 91st Academy Awards on Sunday. Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Spike Lee took the stage to accept their award.  Their film was nominated for six awards tonight, and this is Lee's first Oscar win. During Lee's acceptance speech, the acclaimed director delivered an impassioned message. "400 years, our ancestors were stolen from Africa . . .  and enslaved.  They worked the land from morning to night," he said. "My grandmothers, who lived 100 years young, a college graduate even though her mother was a slave," he continued.  "My grandmother, who saved 50 years of social security checks to put her first grandchild -- she called me spikey poo -- through college.  Morehouse College and NYU grad film. ""Before the world tonight, I give praise to my ancestors who have built this country, along with the genocide of native people.  We all connect with our ancestors, to regain our humanity.  It will be a powerful moment," he added. He also mentioned the upcoming presidential election in his speech. "The 2020 presidential election is around the corner!  Let's all mobilize.  Let's all be on the right side of history.  Make the moral choice between love versus hate.  Let's do the right thing! " he said. "You know I had to get that in there! " he added before exiting the stage. Lee is also nominated for best director for the film. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Easter attacks are just the latest chapter in Sri Lanka's history of violence https://t.co/ZvbBUZauBb https://t.co/NGYtohPcE7

The country is among those targeted most often by terrorists. At least four Americans killed in Sri Lanka Easter bombingsAt least 290 people were killed and hundreds more injured on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka when attackers unleashed an apparently coordinated series of suicide bombings that simultaneously targeted Christian churches and luxury hotels, sending a wave of terror across the globe. Eight explosions took place miles apart, three at Christian churches holding Easter services and three at hotels, some commonly used by Western tourists.  In addition to those who were killed, at least 450 were wounded, according to officials with police, the Colombo Hospital, and St.  Sebastian Church. Most of the explosions were detonated by suicide bombers, according to the Sri Lankan Defense Ministry. At least 11 foreigners were confirmed killed in the attacks, including two victims who were dual citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom.  One American was also among the missing, officials said. U. S.  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed Sunday that "several U. S.  citizens were among those killed. "All of the foreigners died in attacks on hotels in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, an island nation off the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean, according to the officials. President Donald Trump sent his condolences to the country in an early morning tweet from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where he is spending the Easter holiday. "The United States offers heartfelt condolences to the great people of Sri Lanka," the president tweeted.  "We stand ready to help! "White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in the statement that "the United States condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka that have claimed so many precious lives on this Easter Sunday. ""Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the more than 200 killed and hundreds of others wounded," Sanders said in the statement.  "We stand with the Sri Lankan government and people as they bring to justice the perpetrators of these despicable and senseless acts. "There were eight simultaneous explosions around 8:45 a. m.  local time.  Video from inside the St.  Sebastian's Church in Negombo, a coastal city about 40 miles north of Colombo, showed the immediate aftermath a bombing there as worshipers who had just been praying for peace found themselves surrounded by devastation, death and chaos. There were about 500 people at the Easter Mass at St.  Sebastian when the explosion took place, according to officials from the church.  Parishioners, many bleeding, scrambled to carry severely injured people from the church, which was littered with overturned chairs, shattered glass and debris that had fallen from the ceiling. A statue in the sanctuary of Jesus Christ was left pockmarked and splashed with blood but remained standing. St.  Anthony's Shrine, a Catholic church in Colombo, and Zion Church, in Batticaloa, were also attacked.  Colombo is located on the western side of Sri Lanka, while Batticaloa is on the eastern shore about 200 miles from the capital. I wish to express my heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri LankaShangri-La Hotel, Cinnamon Grand Hotel and Kingsbury Hotel, all located in Colombo -- and all popular with tourists -- were targeted in the bombings.  An explosion occurred near an overpass in the area of Dematagoda near Colombo, the Associated Press reported. Hours after the initial bombings, a ninth explosion occurred at a guest house in Colombo that killed at least two people, according to police. On Sunday night, at 10:15 local time, a 6-foot-long pipe bomb was detected on a road near Colombo International Airport.  The country's air force initiated a controlled explosion, Air Force spokesman Gihan Seneviratne told ABC News. The wave of bombings came after the Sri Lanka police chief issued a nationwide alert 10 days ago that suicide bombers planned to attack "prominent churches," according to multiple reports. "Some intelligence officers were aware of this incidence.  Therefore, there was a delay in action.  What my father heard was also from an intelligence officer.  Serious action need to be taken as to why this warning was ignored," Harin Fernando, a member of parliament in Sri Lanka, tweeted Sunday and included a document he says is the security warning. Fernando, Sri Lanka’s minister of telecommunications, foreign employment and sports, went on CNN overnight to expand on his earlier tweet, showing a document said to be a security warning from April 11. "I honestly do feel there was a breach," he added, "and as well as there's been a big, massive miscommunication, or somebody has taken this whole intelligence report very lightly and thought, 'No, it's not possible. '"Following Easter Mass in St.  Peter's Square at the Vatican, Pope Francis condemned the "cruel violence" that "have wrought grief and sorrow. ""I wish to express my heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri Lanka], wounded as it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence," Pope Francis said.  “I entrust to the Lord all those who have tragically perished, and I pray for the injured and all those who suffer as a result of this tragic event. ”Officials who spoke to ABC News were able to confirm at least 24 people were killed at St.  Anthony's Church, 27 died at Batticaloa's Zion Church and 81 have died at St.  Sebastian Church. The explosions were followed by the wail of sirens from emergency vehicles headed to the multiple bombing scenes. Ruwan Gunasekara, a police spokesman, said that in addition to the 207 killed, approximately 450 people were injured, overwhelming hospitals throughout the island nation. The National Hospital in Colombo reported that 66 people had died there from injuries suffered in the attacks and that 260 were being treated, Gunasekara said.  At the Negombo Hospital, 104 people were reported dead and 100 of the injured were being treated, he said. Another 37 people were pronounced dead at the Kalubowila, Batticaloa and Brown's hospitals.  Eighty-nine people were being treated at those medical centers, Gunaskekara said. Authorities confirmed that three British citizens, in addition to the two with dual American citizenship, one Portuguese citizen, three Indian and two Turkish nationals were among the dead. "It's a very, very sad day for all of us.  I wish to, therefore, express my deepest sorrow and sympathy to all those innocent families that have lost someone, and also to those who have been injured and rendered destitute," Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, said at a news conference.  "I would like to call upon all to pray that all those who are injured may be healed soon and that all these families who lost someone may be consoled. "I condemn to the utmost of my capacity this act that has caused so much death and suffering to the people," Ranjith said.  "I ask all us Sri Lankan people not to take the law into their own hands and to maintain peace and harmony in this country.  And I also ask that all those who are able to donate blood in order to help these people who are injured, and then I also appeal to the doctors to please help us. "Secretary of State Pompeo said the U. S.  Embassy in Sri Lanka is working to provide assistance to American citizens affected by the attacks, including their families. "These vile attacks are a stark reminder of why the United States remains resolved in our fight to defeat terrorism," Pompeo said in his statement.  "We stand with the Sri Lankan government and people as they confront violent extremism and have offered our assistance as they work to bring the perpetrators to justice. "Buddhism is the most common religion in Sri Lanka.  National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri-Lanka documented the growing number of attacks on Christians in 2018, saying there were 67 from January to September. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.  But Gunasekara, the police spokesman, said at a news conference that several people had been arrested, clarifying an earlier report from the Associated Press that seven suspects were taken into custody.  As of early Monday, 24 individuals had been detained. Gunasekara also said that multiple raids had been carried out as police worked to identify those responsible for the carnage. Gunasekara said it was too early to say who was behind the attack or comment on a possible motive. Sri Lanka has been at times one of the most dangerous locations in the world for terrorist attacks.  A civil war that raged for decades between the ruling government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -- known colloquially as the Tamil Tigers or LTTE -- officially ended in 2009, but some conflict has continued.  As many as 100,000 people were killed in the civil war from 1982 to 2009, according to the U. N. The U. K.  government warns travelers of the risks posed by those visiting the country. "Terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka can’t be ruled out," the government advises on its website.  "Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. "The U. S.  lists Sri Lanka as a Level 1 country, the lowest risk level, which warns travelers to exercise normal precautions. The country was also divided by a constitutional crisis at the end of 2018 when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was removed by the country's president in October, only to be reinstated in December. "I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today," Wickremesinghe said in a tweet.  "I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong.  Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation.  The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation. "Security was increased across Sri Lanka, including Colombo's international airport.  Authorities also imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew from 6 p. m.  to 6 a. m.  and temporarily blocked major social media and messaging services, including Facebook and WhatsApp, to curb what government officials described as misinformation from being spread. The bombings sent shockwaves all the way to the United States, where security was bolstered at churches coast to coast. In California, the Los Angeles Police Department boosted patrols around places of worship.  New York Gov.  Andrew Cuomo directed the State Police to increase security at churches and houses of worship across the state. "New York grieves for the victims of the horrific attacks at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday," Cuomo said in a statement.  "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Sri Lanka, to the families who lost loved ones and to all those grieving around the world. "In the wake of these despicable acts of violence and out of an abundance of caution, I am directing State Police to increase patrols around churches and houses of worship across the state today," Cuomo said.  "During these troubling times, we will not be intimidated by cowardly acts of violence and will continue to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers. "A U. S.  intelligence bulletin issued last week and obtained by ABC News raised ongoing serious concerns that U. S.  law enforcement generally has in anticipation of high-profile holidays or gatherings, specifically Easter, Passover and Ramadan.  But the bulletin said there was no evidence of a confirmed attack planned in the United States or U. S.  facilities elsewhere. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Counterterrorism Center and the Department of Homeland Security "are not aware of any specific, credible threats surrounding the upcoming religious holiday season, but note that previous attacks happened with little to no warning," read the intelligence bulletin issued on Thursday. "Religious holiday gatherings are an attractive target for HVEs [homegrown violent extremists] and domestic extremists because they offer an opportunity to capitalize on large crowds and increased symbolism of the target,"  the bulletin reads. ABC News' Kirit Radia, Josh Margolin and Alex Stone contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


An image of a letter written by AYUSH Ministry to ‘Patanjali’ MD Acharya Balakrishna is doing the rounds on social media claiming that the Ministry has approved ‘Coronil’ medicine.  Recently ‘Coronil’ and ‘Shwashari’ were  launched by Patanjali’ claiming it to be an Ayurvedic cure for treating COVID-19.  Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Letter showing AYUSH Ministry approval for Patanjali’s COVID-19 medicine ‘Coronil’. Fact: In the letter, it is nowhere mentioned that AYUSH Ministry has approved Patanjali’s medicine ‘Coronil’ as a cure for treating COVID-19.  The ministry said that they will evaluate the research related documents submitted by Patanjali regarding ‘Coronil’.  The letter was also posted by Patanjali MD Acharya Balakrishna on his social media accounts but he did not mention anything about getting approval.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE. On 23 June 2020, ‘Patanjali’ launched the medicine ‘Coronil’ and ‘Swasari’ claiming it to be an Ayurvedic cure for treating COVID-19.  But AYUSH Ministry asked ‘Patanjali’ to stop advertising the medicine as a cure for COVID-19 as it does not know the facts related to the claim and details of the studies carried out to test the new medicine.  The Ministry asked Patanjali to provide the names and compositions of the preparations being claimed as cures for COVID-19, details of the sites where the research was carried out, protocol followed, the sample size used, the clearance obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) to conduct the research, registration with CTRI and the results data of study.   In the letter seen in the post, the AYUSH ministry wrote to ‘Patanjali’ MD Acharya Balakrishna acknowledging the receipt of the documents it had asked for.  In the letter, the ministry said that it will evaluate the studies of ‘Patanjali’ regarding the medicine ‘Coronyl’.  It is nowhere mentioned that the AYUSH Ministry has approved Patanjali’s medicine ‘Coronyl’ as a cure for treating COVID-19.  The letter was also tweeted by ‘Patanjali’ MD Acharya Balakrishna on his social media accounts but he did not mention anything about getting approval. . @moayush के विवाद की पूर्णाहुति! The resolution of AYUSH controversy, finally!  @yogrishiramdev pic. twitter. com/TkZGkghWiQTo sum it up, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has not received approval from Ministry of AYUSH for its COVID-19 medicine ‘Coronil’ and ‘Swasari’. Did you watch our new video?


Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu was seen without face mask at the wedding ceremony of former minister Parameshwar Naik's son at Hagaribommanahalli in Davanagere earlier today. https://t.co/beo79Sersy

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu was on Monday seen without face mask at an event in Davanagere amid Covid-19 crisis in the country. The Minister was attending the wedding ceremony of son of former minister Parameshwar Naik at Hagaribommanahalli in Davanagere. This is not the first time that Sriramulu has flouted the norms for preventing the spread of Covid-19.  He took part in a procession in Chitradurga on June 2 and flouted social distancing norms.  He was seen surrounded by several supporters while a big garland was being offered to him. The state has reported 6,245 Covid-19 cases including 2,977 cured, 3,196 active cases and 72 deaths.  (ANI)


West Bengal: BJP office in Bhaktinagar, Jalpaiguri was allegedly vandalised by TMC workers earlier today. https://t.co/4l7wkiYK6V

Hours after two BJP’s legislators supported a bill in the Madhya Pradesh assembly brought by the Congress-led government, with one of the lawmakers saying it was “ghar wapsi” (homecoming), senior leaders of the opposition party went into a huddle. Sources in the party said that the meeting at the state BJP headquarters on Wednesday night was held to assess what went wrong in gauging the mood of the MLAs and Congress’ engineering defection plan. The meeting cane after Narayan Tripathi and Sharad Kol, who were with the Congress earlier, voted for the Criminal Procedure Code (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2019, brought in by the Kamal Nath-led government. The meeting was attended by the BJP’s state unit president Rakesh Singh, who rushed from Delhi to Bhopal in the night after the unprecedented development, leader of the opposition Gopal Bhargava, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former parliamentary affairs minister Narottam Mishra among others, sources added. They said the meeting remained inconclusive on the fate of Tripathi from Maihar assembly constituency and Kol from Beohari seat.  The leaders are expected to meet on Thursday as well. “The party will not expel the MLAs from the organisation as it may help them get the status of unattached members in the House,” a senior party leader, who is not authorised to speak to media, said. “Most likely, the party leadership will make efforts to see the MLAs are disqualified as members of the House.  However, a final decision on the next course of action will be taken as per opinion and instructions from the party’s central leadership in Delhi,” the leader quoted above said. During the meeting, sources said, a section of the leaders said that when there was a division of votes the BJP MLAs should have boycotted the proceedings and staged a walk-out.  They also said, if asked for an explanation, Tripathi and Kol may buttress their position by saying that since Bhargava had earlier announced the opposition’s support to the bill in the House so they exactly did what they were supposed to do - voted in favour of the bill. “The party leadership is looking into the entire matter,” the BJP’s state spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said. The Congress’ spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said the BJP leaders sought to create chaos in the state by making statements almost daily that the government would fall. “They behaved like immature leaders but the Congress showed with a sense of authority,” Chaturvedi said. The dramatic developments in Madhya Pradesh came a day after the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance lost a trust vote to the BJP by six votes.  And BJP’s leaders in the state said the Kamal Nath-led government in the central state will face the same fate. Former chief minister Chouhan on Wednesday likened the MP dispensation to the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka and said the BJP shouldn’t be held responsible if the state government collapsed. “Political monsoon is progressing from Goa and Karnataka.  It’s MP which will be hit by the monsoon soon,” Bhargava said. In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly, the Congress has 114 MLAs and is supported by the BSP with two members, the Samajwadi Party with one, and four independent lawmakers.  The BJP has 108 legislators and one seat is vacant.  The halfway mark is 115.


PM observed that timely decisions taken to combat the pandemic have been effective in containing #COVID19 spread in the country. When we look back, people will remember that we have presented an example for cooperative federalism to the world, he said: PM's Office https://t.co/zWbuljAoSf

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Raghav Chadha on Saturday reacted to the five-day institutional quarantine order issued by Delhi Lieutenant-General Anil Baijal and said that many people will not get tested fearing being whisked away to quarantine centres.  He also said that the move will require 90,000 additional beds which will be a problem for the administration.  “As per our calculation, Delhi needs 15,000 beds by June 30 but after this order, now we need 90,000 beds by June 30.  From where will we get 90,000 beds? ” Chadha said.  As per yesterday's order, all #COVID19 patients, symptomatic or asymptomatic, will be kept in quarantine centres for 5 days.  People from my constituency have told me that they won't get themselves tested for fear of being whisked away to quarantine centres: AAP MLA Raghav Chadha pic. twitter. com/6JHQCuXqSj“As per yesterday’s order, all Covid-19 patients, symptomatic or asymptomatic, will be kept in quarantine centres for 5 days.  People from my constituency have told me that they won’t get themselves tested for fear of being whisked away to quarantine centres,” Chada told reporters on Saturday.  The L-G’s order added that after the five-day institutional quarantine, asymptomatic Covid-19 patients will be sent for home quarantine.  “Five days institutional quarantine of each case under home-quarantine is to be made mandatory and, thereafter, (they) will be sent for home-isolation, except in cases where symptoms require further hospitalization,” Baijal said in his order. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government has described the move as “arbitrary” and said it will “seriously harm” the national capital.  The Kejriwal government has also asked the L-G to reconsider his decision. The national capital is struggling with a rapid surge in Covid-19 cases with the number of infections jumping to 53,116 on Saturday.  The coronavirus death toll in Delhi stands at 2,035 while 23,569 people have recovered.


Many Facebook users are sharing a post with the picture of Sonia Gandhi sitting on the lap of Maldives Ex-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.  Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the postClaim: Sonia Gandhi sat in the lap of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Fact: The original photo was taken in 2005 when Maumoon Abdul Gayoom met Sonia Gandhi during his visit to India.  In the picture, both the leaders were sitting on separate chairs.  This image is photoshopped and circulated with FALSE claims.  When the image in the post is run through Google Reverse Image Search, the picture is found in Getty images, a photo library.  Below the picture, the description reads, ‘President of the Republic of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (R) talks with the chairperson of India’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi during a meeting in New Delhi, 29 March 2005.  Gayoom is on a six-day visit to India until 01 April, during which he is scheduled to meet with Indian leaders and visit the southern cities of Madras and Trivandrum’.  In the image, it can be seen that Sonia Gandhi and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom were sitting in their respective chairs. To sum it up, Sonia Gandhi wasn’t sitting in the lap of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.  It’s an edited photo.


70-year-old woman falls to her death in Grand Canyon National Park, becoming the second person this year to do so, authorities say. https://t.co/7pNZVMCD5j https://t.co/auyCigtnUT

    A 70-year-old woman fell to her death in the Grand Canyon National Park, the park said in a news release.

    Park rangers responded to a call of a person needing help at rocky point west of Pipe Creek Vista on Tuesday, the park said.  But before the rescue operation began, the woman fell.

    Her body was later recovered by the park’s helicopter and rescue team of about 15 people, the release said.

    The woman’s death follows a string of others since late March.

Rangers recover the body of the third visitor to die at the Grand Canyon in eight days

    Earlier this month, a 67-year-old man died after falling over the edge of the Grand Canyon, near the Yavapai Geology Museum.  His body was recovered 400 feet below the rim.

    On March 28, a man from from Hong Kong was taking pictures at an overlook when he slipped and fell, according to the Grand Canyon West.  He was part of a tour group visiting the Eagle Point observation area at Grand Canyon West and was apparently taking a selfie, according to David Leibowitz, a spokesman for Eagle Point.

    The first death was not the result of a fall, according to a park spokeswoman.  In that case, the victim was a foreign national whose body was found on March 26 in a forested area south of the South Rim Village area of the park.

  CNN’s Joe Sutton and Chris Boyette contributed to this report.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


CNN PROJECTION: Joe Biden wins at least 3 of 4 of Maine's electoral votes https://t.co/IBSU7O1JD7 #CNNElection https://t.co/nZO2hdq4DE

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


Special counsel Robert Mueller's much-anticipated report – the product of nearly two years of investigation – was handed to the Attorney General Bill Barr to review on Friday. https://t.co/dLPGn6FNgW https://t.co/dkPUocWUml

    Special counsel Robert Mueller delivered his completed investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election to Attorney General William Barr, the Justice Department announced Friday.

    Barr sent a letter to House and Senate judiciary leaders, telling them he remains committed “to as much transparency as possible” and would keep them informed “as to the status of my review. ”

    Here’s the letter:

    Dear Chairman Graham, Chairman Nadler, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Ranking Member Collins:

    I write to notify you pursuant to 28 C. F. R.  § 600. 9(a)(3) that Special Counsel Robert S.  Mueller III has concluded his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and related matters.  In addition to this notification, the Special Counsel regulations require that I provide you with “a description and explanation of instances (if any) in which the Attorney General” or acting Attorney General “concluded that a proposed action by a Special Counsel was so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices that it should not be pursued. ” 28 C. F. R.  § 600. 9(a)(3).  There were no such instances during the Special Counsel’s investigation.

    The Special Counsel has submitted to me today a “confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions” he has reached, as required by 28 C. F. R.  § 600. 8(c).  I am reviewing the report and anticipate that I may be in a position to advise you of the Special Counsel’s principal conclusions as soon as this weekend.

    Separately, I intend to consult with Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein and Special Counsel Mueller to determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public consistent with the law, including the Special Counsel regulations, and the Department’s long-standing practices and policies.  I remain committed to as much transparency as possible, and I will keep you informed as to the status of my review.

    Finally, the Special Counsel regulations provide that “the Attorney General may determine that public release of” this notification “would be in the public interest. ” 28 C. F. R.  § 600. 9(c).  I have so determined, and I will disclose this letter to the public after delivering it to you.

    Sincerely,

    William P.  Barr

    Attorney General
  © 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Delhi: PM Narendra Modi & Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal attend inauguration programme of India’s first driverless train on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line & the launch of fully operational National Common Mobility Card on the Airport Express Line, via video conferencing. https://t.co/CtdLofzmSl

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday flagged off the country’s first ever fully-automated driverless train service on the Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro. With the commencement of these new-generation trains, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has entered the elite league of “seven per cent of world’s Metro networks” which can operate services without drivers, according to DMRC. “This shows how fast India is progressing towards a smart system.  The Delhi metro is now connected through National Common Mobility Card (NCMC),” PM Modi said on the occasion. “A few years ago, there was not much focus on smart systems.  There was lackadaisical approach, so we saw a huge difference between urbanisation and technological development.  Our government changed that,” he added. PM Modi further said that urbanisation should be considered as an opportunity to fulfil the goal of ease of living. NCMC, dubbed as ‘One Nation One Card’, is an inter-operable transport card that allows the holders to also pay for their bus travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping and even withdraw money. These innovations are going to herald a new era of travelling comfort and enhanced mobility for the residents of Delhi and other cities in the National Capital Region. The commercial operation of these new-generation trains, set to be a major technological feat, will begin later the same day, after the event, news agency PTI quoted a DMRC official as saying. This was the first major event of Delhi Metro in 2020 which saw an unprecedented lockdown in the earlier months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Delhi Metro had resumed services with curtailed operation on the Yellow Line from September 7 after being closed for over five months.  Its currently operational network spans about 390 km with 285 stations across 11 corridors (including Noida-Greater Noida line). Delhi Metro had begun its commercial operation on December 25, 2002, a day after the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had inaugurated DMRC’s first stretch, spanning 8. 2 km from Shahdara to Tis Hazari, with just six stations. (With inputs from agencies)


'World is family', says @rajnathsingh as India begins Covid-19 vaccine export

https://t.co/W5MLHv8NhD https://t.co/mVQ6hCuQSm

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India believes ‘the world is our family’ and has begun the export of coronavirus vaccines.  Bhutan, the Maldives and Bangladesh are among the first countries in the neighbourhood to receive Covid-19 vaccines from India as assistance, with supplies of millions of doses to six nations that began on Wednesday. "The whole world is family for us.  We will not only vaccinate the people of India, but also supply the vaccines to neighbouring countries wherever needed.  If the need arises, we'll provide the vaccine to other nations as well," Singh said while addressing the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) Rally in Delhi.  The Union minister also lauded the contribution of scientists who helped in developing the Covid-19 vaccines in the country within the short span of less than a year. Addressing the NCC cadets at NCC Camp in New Delhi.  Watch https://t. co/cjxLY3DfPUAccording to the ministry of external affairs, there are also plans to provide Covid-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, after “confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has branded the move as “VaccineMaitri”.  “India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community.  Supplies of Covid vaccines to several countries will commence tomorrow, and more will follow in the days ahead,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday. “In an ongoing effort, India will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines.  This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI’s Covax facility to developing countries,” the foreign ministry said in a statement earlier this week. “Nepal receives Indian vaccines.  Putting neighbours first, putting people first!  #VaccineMaitri” minister of external affairs S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter earlier in the day, hours after he confirmed the delivery of vaccines to Bangladesh. India’s grants are part of plans to provide up to 10 million doses of both Covidshield and Covaxin, the vaccine made by Bharat Biotech, to friendly countries, according to people familiar with the development.


In a pat to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in the last 15 years, Bihar has shown that development happens with the right government, decisions and policies

https://t.co/FStJqFPOf9

In a pat to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that in the last 15 years, Bihar has shown that development happens with the right government, decisions and policies.  PM Modi, who launched three petroleum sector projects in Bihar worth more than Rs 900 crore through video conferencing, said his government was working for the growth of all sectors in Bihar.  The prime minister praised the youth of Bihar and termed the state a ‘powerhouse’ of the country’s talent.  He said there was a time when people would ask what could possibly be done in Bihar other than work in the fields?  He said the youth had to suffer gross injustice as no big institutes developed there which forced them to step out of the state in search of opportunities.  “Institutes of higher learning — agriculture, medical and engineering colleges, including an IIT, IIM, NIFT and a national law institute each — have come up under Nitish Kumar’s governance in Bihar,” the PM said.  Also read: At petroleum project inauguration, PM says Bihar intrinsic to India’s riseHe said Start-up India, Mudra Yojana and many such schemes have provided the necessary amount of self-employment to the youth of Bihar.  He also referred to the significant improvement in the state’s power condition over the last six years.  Earlier, villages used to get electricity for 2-3 hours and cities used to get power for 8-10 hours in a day.  He said Bihar was earlier plagued by the mindset where road projects were sneered at with many asking what was it worth for those without vehicles.  The prime minister said there was no dearth of capability or resources in the state.  Yet, Bihar and other eastern India states always lagged in development projects because of political and financial reasons as well as indifferent priorities.  He also spoke about the shift in work culture from the days when one generation would witness the foundation laying ceremony of projects and the next generation would witness their completion.  The PM said the special package announced for Bihar a few years ago focused much on the state’s infrastructure.  He said the special package given for Bihar had 10 big projects related to petroleum and gas worth Rs 21,000 crore.  Among these, today it is the seventh project which is being dedicated to the people of Bihar.  He also listed the other six projects which had been completed in Bihar earlier.  The projects unveiled on Sunday include the Durgapur-Banka section of the Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur pipeline augmentation project and two LPG bottling plants — one at Banka of the IOCL and another of the HPCL at Harsidhi in East Champaran district.  PM Modi said, when CNG and PNG were reaching many cities in Bihar and eastern India, people here should also get these facilities easily.  He said the Bhagiratha effort to connect eastern India with Paradip on the eastern seaboard and Kandla on the western seaboard began under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana and seven states would be connected through this pipeline which is about 3,000 kilometre-long of which Bihar also has a prominent role.  The line from Paradip-Haldia will now be further extended to Patna, Muzaffarpur and the pipeline coming from Kandla, which has reached Gorakhpur, will also be connected to it.  He said when the entire project is ready, it will become one of the longest pipeline projects in the world.  The PM said due to these gas pipelines, big bottling plants were being installed in Bihar of which two new plants had been launched today in Banka and Champaran.  Both these plants can fill more than 125 million cylinders every year.  These plants will meet the LPG requirements of East Champaran, West Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar in Bihar; Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Sahibganj, and Pakur districts in Jharkhand and some areas of Uttar Pradesh. The prime minister said the fertiliser factory of Barauni, which was closed in the past, would also commence working soon after the construction of this gas pipeline.  Reminding people that the good work done in the last 15 years must continue, he said, “We must ensure ‘sushasan’ (good governance)”.  Earlier, expressing his condolence at the death of former Central minister and long-standing RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh at AIIMS-Delhi on Sunday, the PM said his demise had left a void in Bihar and national politics.


Rajasthan: Members of Congress party stage protest against surging fuel prices; Visuals from outside party office in Jaipur https://t.co/EWJFxt6sg9

The educational institutions including schools, colleges, universities and coaching centres will reopen in Rajasthan from January 18, after a gap of over nine months since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made this announcement after holding a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation in the state with officials on Tuesday. As per Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) release, classes from 9 to 12 in schools, last year classes of university and college, coaching centres and government training institutes have been directed to be opened from 18 January, keeping in view the falling COVID-19 cases in Rajasthan. Gehlot said that due to the process of COVID-19 vaccination, medical college, dental college, nursing college and paramedical college have also been instructed to open from 11 January. He instructed that 50 per cent attendance of the total capacity in each class will be on the first day, the remaining 50 per cent will be on the second day in all these educational institutions. Gehlot asserted that the state of coronavirus in Rajasthan is “well controlled with excellent management and cooperation of the people. ” He said that the recovery rate has risen to an all-time high of 96. 31 per cent.


US will consider sending AstraZeneca vaccine to India, says Anthony Fauci

#COVIDEmergency2021 #COVID19

https://t.co/5CYECiQ69F https://t.co/acBG4Ewxwa

The United States will immediately send raw materials for COVID-19 vaccines, medical equipment and protective gear to help India respond to a massive surge in coronavirus infections, U. S.  President Joe Biden said on Sunday. "Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need," Biden said on Twitter after the White House announced a list of measures. National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said U. S.  officials were "working around the clock" to deploy available resources and supplies to help India manufacture the Covishield vaccine and tend to the millions of Indians who are sick and dying.  The United States will also send therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits and ventilators. Also Read | Covid-19: India going through 'very terrible' situation, says Dr Anthony FauciWashington was under mounting pressure to help India, the world's largest democracy, after Britain, France and Germany pledged aid over the weekend. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all citizens to be vaccinated and exercise caution, as the country set a global record for new COVID-19 infections in a single day.  (Graphic on global case and deaths) https://tmsnrt. rs/34pvUyiThe United States was also pursuing options to provide India with oxygen generation and related supplies, Horne said. U. S.  Representative Ro Khanna, Democratic vice-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, welcomed the announcement but urged Biden to go further and give India the United States' unused COVID-19 vaccines doses from AstraZeneca Plc. "Let's use the U. S.  military and get as much oxygen and AstraZeneca doses to India as fast as we can," he said. The top U. S.  infectious disease official, Dr.  Anthony Fauci, told ABC News on Sunday such a move was "something that certainly is going to be actively considered. "AstraZeneca's vaccine is not yet approved in the United States, which has stockpiled millions of doses, and top U. S.  health officials have said they have enough doses of approved versions by three other drugmakers to inoculate all Americans in coming weeks.  The nation's top business lobbying group has also pushed the administration to send AstraZeneca's vials to countries grappling with rising cases. The White House had no comment on the possibility of providing AstraZeneca doses to India. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said the engagement of top Biden administration officials reflected a welcome "seriousness of purpose" in addressing the crisis in India, but details were lacking. He said the messaging around any loan of AstraZeneca doses should be carefully prepared to avoid the impression that Washington would be offloading "something that it doesn't want. "Senior U. S.  officials have expressed concern that new variants of the virus emerging in India could undermine progress made in the United States in fighting the pandemic. The new wave of infections also threatens the economic recovery of India, the sixth-largest economy in the world. Horne said the United States would send a team of experts to work with India from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U. S.  Agency for International Development. In addition to the immediate aid, the U. S.  Development Finance Corporation will fund a substantial expansion of manufacturing capability for Indian vaccine maker Biological E Ltd, or BioE, enabling the company to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022.


Tamil Nadu BJP chief L Murugan welcomed Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on his arrival at Thoothukudi airport today. Singh will participate in the closing ceremony of party's Vel Yatra. https://t.co/vjmYVUE4r0

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a major victory in bypolls held to 28 legislative assembly constituencies, winning and leading in 19; the Opposition Congress, which won 27 of these seats in the 2018 state assembly elections, could win or lead in just nine. The bypolls were necessitated by 25 Congress MLAs resigning from the state assembly — 22 (all loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress in March to join the BJP) and three in July — and due to death of three more (two from the Congress and one from the BJP).  Of the constituencies that saw by polls, 16 fall in the Gwalior-Chambal region. Analysts said the results are significant for several reasons: one, the BJP has got a clear majority in the 230-member state assembly by increasing its strength from 107 to 126 MLAs ; two, it is a victory for Scindia, who campaigned for many of the candidates; and three, the BJP’s margin of victory on many of the seats was high. Of the lawmakers who quit the Congress in March and subsequently joined the BJP, 12 were made ministers in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government.  The win allows them to remain ministers. The BJP won nine out of 16 seats in the Gwalior-Chambal region, and six of the seven seats in Malwa. Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Scindia’s influence was clearly visible in the results in Guna, which is Scindia’s own parliamentary constituency, where his party won all three seats. This, experts said, was a repudiation of the personal and bitter campaign waged by the Congress against him. “People have given a befitting reply to the policies of Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh and policies of corruption and anti-development.  I bow to the people of Madhya Pradesh and the workers of BJP for their blessings and support in this election,” said Scindia. Outside his area of direct influence, the BJP didn’t perform as well.  For example, in Morena, the BJP won two out of five seats. With the BJP’s victory, chief minister Chouhan and Scindia, who led the BJP’s campaign from the front and dubbed themselves the “Shiv-Jyoti Express” have emerged stronger within the BJP, political analysts said. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “This victory is of people of Madhya Pradesh, their trust in the BJP and also of democracy, development and social justice. ”Admitting the party’s defeat former chief minister Kamal Nath said: “We respect the public’s mandate.  We made our efforts to convey our message to people.  I am thankful to voters.  We will discharge our duties as a responsible Opposition and will continue to fight to protect the interests of people and the state.  We will review the results.  I hope that BJP government will take care of interest of farmers, youth, women and others. ”Congratulating the BJP candidates on their victory and expressing his gratitude to all the voters, Scindia said: “I strongly believe that all the winning candidates will always be eager to ensure development of their constituencies. ”Political analyst Girija Shankar said, “The by poll results have silenced all the critics of Chouhan and Scindia.  They have emerged stronger in the BJP.  Scindia has proved once again that he is a true mass leader. ”“The results also suggest that people are still angry with the Congress and Nath for not fulfilling their poll promises. ”The Congress won the 2018 elections in the state and formed the government, which fell earlier this year on the resignation of the lawmakers. Political analyst Jayant Singh Tomar said the Congress may have suffered because of its “negative campaign. “It appeared as if the party had nothing to say about its governance for 15 months,” he said. Senior state Congress leader Manak Agarwal said the party would review its performance and “take corrective measures. ”


Pictures from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rallies in West Bengal

#WestBengalElections2021 https://t.co/gnuIFixA85

Senior leaders of the Congress and the CPI(M)-led Left Front met here on Sunday and held discussions on seat sharing and other poll-related preparations, sources in two camps said. During the 2016 state elections, too, the two parties had stitched an alliance and bagged 76 of the 294 assembly seats. State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury, following the meeting, said talks on seat-sharing between the two sides are likely to conclude by the end of the month. "We have agreed to contest the polls together.  We had a positive discussion. . .  and there is no disagreement. . . " Chowdhury, who is also the Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said. Echoing him, Left Front chairman Biman Bose said the two parties will hold more such discussions before they arrive at a decision on seat-sharing. Among others, Left Front veteran Suryakant Mishra and Congress leader Abdul Mannan were present at the meeting. According to the sources, the parties are likely to hold a mega joint rally in the city sometime soon. Elections to the 294-member Bengal assembly are likely to be held in April-May.