Jammu and Kashmir: A special train carrying passengers from New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) reached Jammu Tawi Railway Station, today. A passenger says,"I was stranded in Delhi since last two months. I am very happy to be back." #CoronavirusLockdown https://t.co/XYyg3swqo4

Sep 05, 2021-Sunday

Metro cities -  Delhi, Mumbai,
											Chennai,
											Kolkata

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

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Supreme Court judge quarantines himselfTotal number of positive cases in Uttar Prdaesh is now 3,902Total number of positive cases in Rajasthan rise to 4,534Two more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in JharkhandWith 324 new Covid-19 cases in Gujarat, tally rises to 9,592Total number of cases in West Bengal is now at 2377A man, who returned from Mumbai yesterday, has been tested positive for Covid-19 in ImphalMaharashtra's Covid-19 case count jumps to 27,52412 new Covid-19 cases in J-K; number rises to 983Today’s announcements by FM Nirmala Sitharaman will especially benefit our farmers and migrant workers: PM ModiCoronavirus wipes almost 100 billion euros off Germany's 2020 tax intake447 new positive Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths reported in Tamil Nadu today29 active cases of Covid-19 in Himachal PradeshTotal number of Covid-19 positive cases in Kerala reach 560 ₹30,000 crore additional emergency working capital funding through NABARD: FMJust a day after announcing some key developments related to government's  ₹20 lakh crore economic package, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the media again on Thursday. "Today's initiatives focuses on migrant workers, street vendors, small traders, the self-employed and small farmers," the finance minister said as she began her address to the media. On Wednesday, the finance minister shared details of the stimulus package and had said that over the next few days, her team will come before the media to put forth PM Narendra Modi’s vision and share more details on  ₹20 lakh crore economic package. Coronavirus cases in India went up to 78,003, according to the data published on the health ministry website on Thursday.  As many as 2,549 people have died of the disease in the country. Click here for full Covid-19 coverageHere are highlights of the day on coronavirus pandemic:Supreme Court judge quarantines himselfA Judge from the Supreme Court has quarantined himself after a cook tested positive.  Total number of positive cases in Uttar Prdaesh is now 3,902147 new Covid-19 cases reported positive since last evening; the total number of positive cases in the state is now 3902.  Death toll stands at 86: Uttar Pradesh Health DepartmentTotal number of positive cases in Rajasthan rise to 4,534With 206 new positive cases of Covid-19 and 4 deaths reported in Rajasthan today, the total number of positive cases and deaths rise to 4534 and 125 respectively.  The number of recovered cases stand at 2638 while 1771 active cases remain in state: State Health DepartmentTwo more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in JharkhandTwo more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Jharkhand, taking the total number of cases to 192: Jharkhand Health Secretary Nitin Madan KulkarniWith 324 new Covid-19 cases in Gujarat, tally rises to 9,592With 324 new Covid-19 cases in Gujarat, tally rises to 9,592; 20 more deaths take toll to 586: Health official, reports PTI. Total number of cases in West Bengal is now at 237787 Covid-19 cases confirmed in West Bengal today.  The total number of cases in the state is now at 2377, including 143 deaths.  72 deaths also occurred due to comorbidity: West Bengal Health Department87 #COVID19 cases confirmed in West Bengal today.  The total number of cases in the state is now at 2377, including 143 deaths.  72 deaths also occurred due to comorbidity: West Bengal Health Department pic. twitter. com/90xVGWwcNRA man, who returned from Mumbai yesterday, has been tested positive for Covid-19 in ImphalA man, who returned from Mumbai yesterday, has been tested positive for Covid-19 in Imphal: Manipur GovtEarlier, two persons were tested positive and recovered from the disease in the state. Maharashtra's Covid-19 case count jumps to 27,524Maharashtra's case count jumps to 27,524 as 1602 cases registered on Thursday.  This is highest spike in a day so far12 new Covid-19 cases in J-K; number rises to 983Twelve more people were tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, taking the number of such cases in the union territory to 983, officials said. Today’s announcements by FM Nirmala Sitharaman will especially benefit our farmers and migrant workers: PM ModiToday’s announcements by FM Nirmala Sitharaman will especially benefit our farmers and migrant workers.  The announcements include a series of progressive measures and will boost food security, credit to farmers as well as street vendors.  #AatmaNirbharBharatPackageCoronavirus wipes almost 100 billion euros off Germany's 2020 tax intakeCoronavirus wipes almost 100 billion euros off Germany's 2020 tax intake: official estimate447 new positive Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths reported in Tamil Nadu today447 new positive Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths reported in Tamil Nadu today, taking the total number of cases to 9,674 in the state.  Death toll stands at 66 now: Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar29 active cases of Covid-19 in Himachal PradeshThere are 29 active cases of Covid-19 in Himachal Pradesh, 35 have recovered while two other succumbed to the infection: State Health DepartmentThere are 29 active cases of #COVID19 in Himachal Pradesh, 35 have recovered while two other succumbed to the infection: State Health Department pic. twitter. com/sN81yaLA6UTotal number of Covid-19 positive cases in Kerala reach 56026 new positive Covid-19 cases reported in state today, taking the total number of cases to 560 and active cases to 64: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ₹30,000 crore additional emergency working capital funding through NABARD: FM ₹30,000 crore additional emergency working capital funding through NABARD; 3 crore farmers to benefit: FM Nirmala SitharamanFirst published: May 14, 2020 06:06 IST


Amit Shah in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
poll campaign: ‘Will free Hyderabad from Nawab, Nizam culture’

https://t.co/kxWZELB7Oh https://t.co/ilhAZawTk6

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday took the political campaign heat a notch above after he reached Hyderabad to campaign for the party for the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.  He visited the Bhagyalakshmi Temple in Old City area of Hyderabad to offer prayers and held a roadshow from Warasiguda in Secunderabad to Sitaphalmandi before addressing his party workers.  The GHMC polls, slated for December 1, will witness a triangular fight between the ruling party in the state, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), AIMIM, and BJP, which recently bagged the Dubbak Assembly seat in the recently concluded by-polls. Also read | GHMC polls: ‘Only Trump is left’, Owaisi takes a dig at BJP campaignHere are the highlights from his address ahead of GHMC polls:- This time Mayor of Hyderabad will be from our party.  I want to thank people of Hyderabad for showing immense support to BJP. - The type of corporation in Hyderabad headed by TRS and Majlis is the biggest impetus in making Hyderabad the IT hub of the world.  About 60 lakh people were disturbed due to water filling the city due to rain.  Illegal construction takes place at the behest of the Majlis, which prevents the drainage of water. - I assure the people of Hyderabad that once the BJP has a chance, we will remove all illegal constructions and smooth the drainage of water. - Hyderabad is benefitting a lot from investment in the IT sector.  PM Modi has created a lot of opportunities for the youth and it shows in the faith shown in India by foreign investors. - PM Modi has opened the way for ‘work from anywhere’.  The IT professionals working in Hyderabad are going to benefit the most from this move. Also read: ‘Amit Shah can do roadshow 1,200 km away but farmers are at doorstep,’ Congress attacks BJP over farmers’ protest- The public of Hyderabad demands to know what happened to the 100-day scheme KCR and Majlis promised.  If you have done anything in 5 years, then keep it here in front of the public.  What happened to the Citizen Charter promised? - We’re going to free Hyderabad from the Nawab, Nizam culture and create a mini-India here.  We want to build Hyderabad into a modern city, free from the shackles of Nizam culture. - Narendra Modi ji brought the Ayushman Bharat Yojana for the people of Hyderabad so that the poor could get the benefit of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh a year.  You did not allow this scheme to be implemented in Hyderabad due to political reasons- We want to move Hyderabad from Dynasty to democracy.  Whether it is Owaisi Sahab’s party or TRS, everybody questions us.  I want to ask that in such a large state of Telangana do you find no one but your family?  Does anyone have any talent? - I want to ask KCR why do you have a secret agreement with Majlis?  Why not dare to share open seats with the Majlis?


Read Michael Cohen's opening statement to Congress: https://t.co/5gCrA7CrzW https://t.co/D2agYd9oYe

Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un meet while Michael Cohen testifies on Capitol Hill. Michael Cohen's statement: Trump is 'a racist,' aware of email leaksCongressional testimony by President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen on Wednesday threatens to cast a shadow over the president's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as Republicans argue the timing amounts to Democrats attempting to "distract" from the president's diplomatic efforts. Eight months after the summit in Singapore between Trump and Kim ended in a vague declaration about the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," his administration hopes to put make further progress on that front this week as the two meet in Vietnam. The summit's stakes for Trump are also personal. During a freewheeling national emergency declaration-related press conference on Friday, President Donald Trump also claimed that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for those efforts after his first meeting with Kim.  Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported Abe wrote a letter of recommendation for Trump to receive the prize, but it was after the U. S.  government "informally" made the request. The Trump administration is pushing for concrete steps toward its goal of dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program.  But the U. S.  intelligence community and several top experts have warned that North Korea has no interest in giving up its nuclear weapons, which it sees as critical the Kim regime's survival, instead playing for time and sanctions relief. Meanwhile, as the high stakes summit between the two leaders prepared to get underway, Cohen appeared behind closed doors before the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington on Tuesday for his first of three congressional hearings this week, and will testify publicly before the House Oversight Committee Wednesday. A source familiar with Cohen's testimony said he's expected to accuse Trump of potentially committing a crime while in office, a claim which could come mere hours before Trump and Kim come face-to-face in Vietnam. “I really appreciate the opportunity given to me to clear the record," Cohen told reporters after his appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee behind closed doors Tuesday.  "I look forward to tomorrow to - in my voice - tell the American people my story and I’m going to let the American people decide exactly who’s telling the truth. ”Cohen's appearance was first announced in January but postponed three times due to reasons ranging from his expressing fears for his personal safety to "post-surgery medical needs. "And while there's no evidence that the rescheduled dates were intended to coincide with the president's travel overseas, Republicans accused Democrats of openly trying to scuttle Trump's efforts to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions. "It’s sad Democrats are wasting time with this liar in an effort to distract from the historic progress [Trump] is making overseas," Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a tweet Tuesday. Though Cohen previously served as the Republican National Committee's deputy finance chair up until June of last year, the committee continued its pile-on with a video montage of Cohen lavishing Trump with praise on cable TV shows during his run for the White House. At the end of the video compilation, text appears: "HAVE FUN IN PRISON! "Cohen is scheduled to report to prison in early May for a three-year sentence after pleading guilty in November to lying to Congress. In a separate statement Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders continued to call Cohen a liar and hit Democrats for giving him a platform to attack the president. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr. , similarly raised issue with the timing of Cohen's testimony in a Monday appearance on Fox and Friends. "Think about that, you've got a president trying to deal with a major world issue," Trump Jr.  said.  "And you know, to try to distract or whatever it is by bringing in a convicted felon and known liar.  I mean it's pretty pathetic but it really shows you how much the Democrats hate Trump. "Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis said in a statement to the New York Times, "These dates were developed over a long period of time, with lots of stops and starts and delays. "We had to worry about being attacked with Trump tweets.  Trump set up the first reason for the delay. "Asked last Friday if he was concerned about what Cohen might say in his testimony, Trump insisted he wasn't. "No.  No.  No," Trump said.  "It's lawyer-client, but, you know –-- he's taking his own chances. "ABC News' Conor Finnegan, Jordyn Phelps and Meridith McGraw contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Kerala: Markets in Trivandrum flooded with a variety of flowers, ahead of Onam festival. https://t.co/cTrNTOunxj

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday blamed the Opposition for an “unending cycle of violence” in the state a day after the entry of two women in the menstruating age group into Sabarimala temple sparked protests. Protests have rocked Kerala since the Supreme Court in September ordered the lifting of a ban on women or girls of menstruating age from entering the temple.  The temple authorities have refused to abide by the ruling.  Thousands of devotees have since September blocked attempts of menstruating women and girls to visit the shrine, citing the celibate nature of the temple’s presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa. Vijayan called it the government’s constitutional obligation to help the two women, Bindu Ammini and Kanakadurga, pray at the shrine.  He accused the outfits associated with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s parent organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of trying to fan trouble.  “It was the government’s responsibility to give protection to the women.  And they were not airdropped.  Both visited the shrine like any normal devotees.  None of the devotees protested,” he said. He threatened to deal “sternly” with the RSS-linked outfits for “whipping up tensions in the state”.  “Their [RSS]’s north Indian strategy would not work here.  People of the state [Kerala] will foil their evil designs,” he said.  Vijayan insisted “the real devotees” were not against the Supreme Court verdict lifting the ban on women or girls of menstruating age from entering the temple. Opposition Congress and the BJP held the chief minister responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation.  They slammed him for allowing the two women into the shrine and hurting religious sentiments of lakhs of devotees. BJP Kerala chief, P S Sreedharan Pillai, said his party will draw the Centre’s attention to the situation in Kerala.  “The Stalinist administration in the state has trampled believers.  A bunch of atheists is stifling age-old customs [barring the entry of women into the shrine],” he said .  Pillai accused the police of behaving in “a partisan manner”. Opposition Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala met governor P Sathasivam, who has sought a report from Vijayan over the violence, and sought his intervention in restoring peace.  “Vijayan is fully responsible for the explosive situation in the state.  He will go down in the history as the most insensitive ruler of the state,” he said.  The Congress observed Thursday as a protest day to register its protest against the entry of women into the shrine. The Supreme Court’s order had not been implemented until the two women made it to the shrine in the face of stiff resistance from a section of devotees and Hindu outfits.  Thousands of women had formed a 620 km human chain or the women’s wall in support of gender equality and temple access on Tuesday.  The state government had backed the human chain protest.


Facebook page 'Amzad Ansari' shared a video in which many children and women could be seen crying in an open space with their belongings by their side

As per the text accompanying the video, Ansari claimed that the video is of an incident in West Bengal where 300 Muslim homes were burnt down by Hindus during riots.    âSad event.  Antisocial elements burned 300 Muslim homes in West Bengal to ashes.  The incident occurred at 7 am on Tuesday in Telinipara district of West Bengal.  India is burning with Hindu-Muslim hatred.  How long will this continue to happen? â read the caption given to the video, alongwith hashtags #Islamophobia_In_India, #Islamophobia and #StopTargetingMuslim.  Twitter user Md Tabrez Alam shared the same video with the same claim on the micro-blogging platform.  à¤¦à¥à¤à¤à¤¦ à¤à¤à¤¨à¤¾ : à¤à¤¸à¤¾à¤®à¤¾à¤à¤¿à¤ à¤¤à¤¤à¥à¤µà¥à¤ à¤¨à¥ à¤ªà¤¶à¥à¤à¤¿à¤® à¤¬à¤à¤à¤¾à¤² à¤à¥ 300 à¤®à¥à¤¸à¥à¤²à¤¿à¤® à¤à¤°à¥à¤ à¤à¥ à¤à¤²à¤¾à¤à¤° à¤°à¤¾à¤ à¤à¤° à¤¦à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾,à¤¯à¤¹ à¤à¤à¤¨à¤¾ à¤¸à¥à¤¬à¤¹ 7 à¤¬à¤à¥ à¤®à¤à¤à¤²à¤µà¤¾à¤°â¦ https://t. co/mmcEAmPGXP— Md Tabrez Alam ð{ð¯%}FBð (@MdTabrezAlam765) 1589450089000It should be noted that violent communal clashes broke out in Telinipara area of West Bengal's Hooghly district last week.  TRUTHThe video is from Bangladesh where in Rohingya refugee camp, 312 houses were completely burnt to ashes due to fire on May 12, 2020.  The video has got nothing to do with West Bengal and is being shared with false claim of Muslim homes burnt by Hindus.  VERIFICATION AND METHODOLOGYOn closely observing the viral video, a logo can be seen in the upper right side of the video.  However, due to poor video quality, it is not possible to decipher what the logo says.  So we cropped this logo and made a reverse-image search on Google images.  The results led us to a Facebook page named 'Rohingya National News'.  The same logo was used in the display picture of the page.  On going through this Facebook page, we found a video posted on May 12, 2020.  The video was a longer version of the viral video.  The last 1 minute 40 seconds in the video had the same visuals as the one in the viral video.    As per the caption given to the video, a fierce fire broke out at the Kutupalong Refugee camp in Bangladesh on Tuesday.  The fire reportedly destroyed 312 houses completely and caused minor damage to 362 houses.  10 victims of the fire were taken to hospital for treatment.  Using relevant information from the video, we traced a report from the Times of India dated May 12, 2020.  Titled 'Fire guts 400 shanties, shops in Bangladesh Rohingya camp', the report credited to news agency AP, mentioned about the fire in Rohingya camp in Bangladesh.


International Cricket Council: Ambati Rayudu has been suspended from bowling in international cricket. https://t.co/SbtU3v8vHs

Ambati Rayudu has been suspended from bowling in international cricket by the International Cricket Council, a media release said on Monday.  Rayudu, who had been reported during the first ODI against Australia, failed to submit a bowling action test in the given timeline and has hence been penalised. “The player elected not to submit to a test of his bowling action within the stipulated period of 14 days of being reported for a suspect action, and therefore he has been suspended with immediate effect in accordance with clause 4. 2 of the ICC regulations, which can be found here.  The suspension will remain in place until he is tested, and can demonstrate he is able to bowl with a legal action,” the ICC said in a media release. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli & Co are ready for ICC World Cup 2019 - Zaheer KhanThe ICC further added, “The 33-year-old India player was reported on 13 January for a suspect action during the first one-day international of their series against Australia in Sydney.  However, according to Article 11. 5 of the Regulations and with the consent of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Rayudu may be allowed to bowl in domestic cricket events played under the auspices of the BCCI. ”Rayudu is currently part of the Indian team, which is playing a five-match ODI series against New Zealand.  The part-time off-spinner has so far picked up three wickets in his ODI career.


"It doesn't really feel like we're being impeached," said Pres. Trump at his Michigan campaign rally, moments before becoming the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. https://t.co/RGzT2NBJqr https://t.co/3k2dqa1tga

    The deeply divided House of Representatives took the historic step to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday, charging a president with high crimes and misdemeanors for just the third time in American history.

    The House voted almost entirely along party lines for two articles of impeachment to remove the President from office — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — sending the case to the Senate for a trial expected to start next month.

    The impeachment votes marked the culmination of a sprawling and rapidly moving three-month Democratic investigation into allegations that the President pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals while withholding US security assistance and a White House meeting.

    The House voted 230-197 to charge Trump with abuse of power and 229-198 to charge him with obstruction of Congress.  The votes were largely split along party lines: just two Democrats voted against both articles, Reps.  Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who is expected to soon switch parties.  A third, Rep.  Jared Golden of Maine, voted for one impeachment article.  Democratic Rep.  Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, voted present for both articles.

    Republican-turned independent Rep.  Justin Amash of Michigan voted to impeach Trump on both counts.

    Trump’s impeachment, which occurred 85 days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the opening of the impeachment inquiry, will have long-lasting ramifications across Washington and beyond.  It will undoubtedly shape the legacies of the key players in the midst of it, from Pelosi and her committee chairs who led the impeachment proceedings to Trump and his staunchest defenders in Congress.

    It’s a scenario that appeared unlikely just months ago for Pelosi, who had resisted the push for Trump’s impeachment from liberal advocates both inside her caucus and outside Capitol Hill.  But then an anonymous whistleblower complaint changed the course of history for both Trump and his chief antagonist at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

    “We gather today under the dome of this temple of democracy to exercise one of the most solemn powers that this body can take: The impeachment of the President of the United States,” Pelosi said Wednesday to kick off the impeachment debate on the House floor.  “If we do not act now we would be derelict in our duty.  It is tragic that the President’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary.  He gave us no choice. ”

    Trump now joins a small club of Presidents who have been impeached by the House for “high crimes and misdemeanors” cited in the Constitution: President Andrew Johnson in 1868 and President Bill Clinton in 1998.  President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before impeachment proceedings against him could reach the House floor.

    Both Johnson and Clinton were acquitted by the Senate, and there’s effectively zero chance the Republican-controlled Senate will remove Trump from office.  But unlike Johnson and Clinton, who did not run again after they were impeached, Trump will face reelection less than a year after his impeachment, giving voters the opportunity to have the final word in November 2020.

'If I lose my seat over it, so be it': Moderate Democrats confront consequences of impeaching Trump

    Trump has insisted he did nothing wrong in his “perfect” July call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which formed the basis of the whistleblower complaint.  Trump tweeted repeatedly about the impeachment proceedings against him on Wednesday as the House debate unfolded.

    “The House Democrats are surrendering the majority, their dignity,” Trump said at a rally in Michigan after learning he’d officially been impeached.  “They look like a bunch of fools. ”

    Wednesday’s vote shifts the impeachment proceedings to the Senate, where a trial is expected in January.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republican senators at a policy lunch Tuesday that he will announce by the end of the week the date for the start of the Senate trial, according to sources.

    But Pelosi, at a news conference after the vote, would not commit to sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate, saying “that would have been our intention, but we’ll see what happens over there. ”

    McConnell addressed impeachment on the Senate floor later Thursday morning, calling the Democratic-led effort “the most rushed, least thorough, and most unfair impeachment inquiry in modern history. ” He said Pelosi’s delay in sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate was a sign that “House Democrats may be too afraid to even transmit their shoddy work product to the Senate. ”

    Democrats say that Trump was impeached because he abused his office by directing a pressure campaign for Ukraine to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, conditioning $400 million in US security aid and a one-on-one White House meeting on the investigation.  Then Trump covered up his misconduct, Democrats say, obstructing Congress by stonewalling all the subpoenas from Congress trying to investigate his conduct.

    “His conduct continues to undermine our Constitution and threaten our next election,” said House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat.  “His actions warrant his impeachment and demand his removal from office. ”

    House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who led the impeachment investigation, said that the President “was willing to sacrifice our national security by withholding support for a critical strategic partner at war in order to improve his reelection prospects. ”

    “But for the courage of someone willing to blow the whistle, he would have gotten away with it,” Schiff said.  “Instead, he got caught.  He tried to cheat, and he got caught. ”

    But congressional Republicans condemned Democrats for rushing to impeach the President, charging that Democrats pushed forward with a partisan impeachment intended to beat Trump at the ballot box in 2020.

Warning lights are flashing for Democrats as they impeach Trump

    “What we’ve seen is a process that’s led to the most partisan and least credible impeachment in the history of America,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

    “What we’ve found here today is a president who did not do as being charged,” said Rep.  Doug Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.  “The call itself, the two parties say no pressure.  Nothing was ever done to get the money.  In fact, they didn’t even know the money was held. ”

    “The people of America see through this.  The people of America understand due process, and they understand when it is being trampled in the people’s House,” said Rep.  Doug Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.

    The intense partisan debate over impeachment played out for hours on the House floor Wednesday on rapid-fire fashion ahead of the impeachment votes.  In one-to-two minute speeches, Democrats and Republicans traded passionate arguments for why they were voting for or against impeachment.  Back and forth they went: Democrats explaining the duty to impeach, followed by Republicans declaring that impeachment was a massive mistake.

    Lawmakers on both sides referenced back to the Founding Fathers, to the history being made with Wednesday’s votes and to the ramifications they were leaving for their children and grandchildren.

    The floor fight is the same war that the two parties have waged for the past three months in the closed-door depositions and committee hearings after Pelosi opened an impeachment inquiry on September 24.

    The investigation included testimony from 17 officials, 12 of whom appeared in public hearings.  They described a months-long campaign led by the President’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to oust former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, followed by a push for Ukraine to announce the investigations that would benefit the President politically.

    Several key officials, including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, refused to testify.  Democrats, however, chalked up the defiance of subpoenas to evidence of congressional obstruction rather than fighting in court to force witnesses to appear — a move that could have prolonged the impeachment inquiry for weeks if not months.

Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard votes 'present' on impeachment

    Leading up to Wednesday’s vote, no Republicans signaled they were considering voting to impeach the President.  The looming question was whether moderate Democrats — the 31 who represented congressional districts Trump won in 2016 — would support impeachment.

    One by one, almost every one of the 31 Democrats said they were compelled to vote for impeachment.  Only Peterson, a veteran lawmaker from a deeply red rural Minnesota district, and Van Drew, who signaled he would soon switch parties, said they were opposed to impeachment altogether.  Golden split the difference, voting for abuse of power and against obstruction of Congress.

    For House Democrats, the next step to prepare for the trial is to name impeachment managers who will prosecute the case in the Senate.  Wednesday’s vote also paved the way for the House to approve a resolution announcing the managers — though they aren’t likely to be named until the House sends the articles to the Senate.

This story has been updated with additional developments Thursday.

CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that President Andrew Johnson was impeached in his first term as President.
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Coronavirus' spread has been turbocharged in institutional settings such as prisons and food processing plants.

Data now point to those facilities as a crucial focus as the virus moves from urban centers to deadly clusters throughout rural America. https://t.co/xg6e21Tdwo

By Jason Hanna, Cheri Mossburg and Steve Almasy, CNNUpdated 0132 GMT (0932 HKT) May 13, 2020  (CNN)The mayor of Los Angeles told CNN on Tuesday that residents shouldn't overreact to a top county health official's announcement that a stay-at-home order will stay in place for months. CNN's Christina Maxouris, Maggie Fox,  Rebekah Riess, Jeremy Herb, Lauren Fox, Arman Azad, Amanda Watts, Jacqueline Howard, Jennifer Henderson, Alexandra Meeks, Andy Rose and Sara Sidner contributed to this report.


At least 20 Indian soldiers killed in the violent face-off with China in Galwan valley in Eastern Ladakh. Casualty numbers could rise: Government Sources https://t.co/PxePv8zGz4

Bihar reacted with a blend of grief, anger and the spirit to make sacrifices in national interest, as news reached that the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh has killed 20 soldiers of the country, five of them hailing from the state. Political rivalries were set aside for the moment as Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other ministers stood beside Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and Jan Adhikar Party founder Pappu Yadav at the airport here when the mortal remains of Havildar Sunil Kumar were brought by a special aircraft.  Floral wreaths were placed on the Army man’s body by the leaders and relatives who had arrived from his ancestral home in Bihta, about 30 km away, as his bereaved parents, wife and children sobbed uncontrollably.  BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav, under whose Lok Sabha constituency Pataliputra, the home of the deceased Havildar falls, was seen driving behind the decked up vehicle in which the body was taken for the last rites.  Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who offered his condolences no sooner than the news of the killing of jawans from the state was received the previous night, could not come to the airport as he was attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video conference on the Covid-19 pandemic, sources said.  In Samastipur district, family members of Sepoy Aman Kumar Singh were crestfallen when they learnt that the jawan, who got married only last year, had laid down his life.  Bhai Randhir, a resident of the village said, “We are all proud of the sacrifice Aman has made but his family members are, naturally, shattered.  We are looking forward to the arrival of his body.  His family members are hoping against hope that the news they received late last night might turn out to be false. ” RJD MLA Ejya Yadav, under whose Rajnagar assembly segment the deceased jawan’s village falls, also visited the house and tried to console the grief-stricken family members.  In Chakfatah village of Vaishali district, the mother of Jai Kishor Singh has been crying ever since she learnt that her younger son, who joined the Army two years ago and whose marriage was being planned, has been killed in Ladakh.  His father Raj Kishor Singh, a farmer, said, “He got inspired by his elder brother Nand Kishor Singh who was the first in the family to join the Army.  We have suffered an unbearable loss but we have the satisfaction that our son will be remembered as a martyr. ” Similar sentiments were expressed by Nimindra Yadav of Saharsa who lost his son Kundan Kumar in the clash.  Survived by wife and two sons aged eight and four years, Kundan Kumar had joined the Army in 2012.  RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also contacted Kundan’s bereaved family through video conference and assured them of all support.  The bereaved father said, “We feel devastated.  But mark my words, I would like both my grandsons to serve the country like their father by joining the Army. ” Arrah, the district headquarters of Bhojpur which takes pride in its martial character, has been reverberating with anti-China slogans ever since Chandan Yadav’s family learnt that the young sepoy has been slain.  The bereaved father Hridayanand Singh, a retired Home Guard, sought to bear the loss stoically pointing out that his two elder sons are also in the Army, posted in other parts of the country.  Youngest among five siblings, Chandan was supposed to get married in May but the wedding had to be put on hold because of the lockdown.  In the state capital, several students’ and citizens’ groups took out processions hailing the Army’s valour and denouncing China’s “aggression”.  They raised slogans declaring that Bihar has made sacrifices in all wars the country has fought and was ready for more if the situation so demanded.


BREAKING: Joe Biden will win the state of Vermont, @ABC News projects based on analysis of the vote. https://t.co/GwwRl4EUb3 #ElectionNight https://t.co/mO5gqK4uZX

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


A post is being widely shared on social media claiming that Sunitha, a Telangana student, had committed suicide.  The post also claims that she died because of non-postponement of offline B-Tech exams and that Telangana Government is responsible for her death.  Let us fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Sunitha, a student from Telangana who ended her life due to non-postponement of B-Tech exams. Fact: The girl in the photo is very much alive and her name is Sankeerthana, not Sunitha.  She is currently pursuing B. Com (Hons) from Delhi University and not B. Tech from JNTU Hyderabad.  FACTLY had reached out to the Circle Inspector of KPHB Police Station, S.  Laxmi Narayana and he confirmed that no suicide cases were reported from JNTU Hyderabad on 01 July 2021 (the date mentioned in the suicide note).  There are no recent news reports from Telangana about any suicide of a B. Tech student due to non-postponement of exams.  Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE. When reverse image search is done on the image of the woman in the picture, a ‘Telangana Today’ news article with the same image was found.  In the article titled, ‘Daughters of Telangana script success stories’ published on 25 January 2021, it says the girl’s name is Sankeerthana and not Sunitha.  Sankeerthana, who secured 942 out of 1000 in the Intermediate was a student of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institution and is gearing up to fly out to Australia to pursue her under-graduation.  Sankeerthana’s Father is a small farmer in Karimnagar, while her mother is a housewife.  So, the person in the image is Sankeerthana and not Sunitha. A Twitter handle named ‘Girish Mintu’ posted a clarification video featuring her and requested not to spread fake news.  The girl in the video claims that the person in the photo is her and identifies herself as Sankeerthana.  She confirms that the blurred image of a woman supposedly hanging from a ceiling fan, and a suicide note, does not belong to her.  She even requests not to spread such fake news.  A person claiming to be Sankeerthana’s brother says her sister is very much alive and that she is not a B. Tech student. @NehaCho78701538 don't spread the fake news guys 🙏🙏 pic. twitter. com/w3RaWkf94OIndia Today has reached out to Sankeerthana, who is now pursuing B. Com (Hons) at Delhi University.  Refuting the viral claims, she said, “I am currently doing my first year in B. Com (Hons) from Delhi University.  I am not a B. Tech student as claimed in the post.  Also, the death note shared along with my picture is not written by me.  Due to the COVID-19 situation, there is no certainty when I can leave for Australia.  So, I decided to join Delhi University. ”Several students from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) Hyderabad, Telangana were protesting against the varsity’s decision to conduct offline exams from 02 July 2021.  Therefore, this post with the suicide note to postpone exams became viral in light of these protests, with the hashtag #jntuhupdates.  No news reports were found about any suicide of a B. Tech student due to non-postponement of exams in Telangana. FACTLY had reached out to the Circle Inspector of KPHB Police Station, S.  Laxmi Narayana.  The Inspector confirmed to us that there were no suicide cases that were reported from JNTU Hyderabad on 01 July 2021 (the date mentioned in the suicide note) or recently amidst the protests.  JNTU Hyderabad comes under the purview of the KPHB Police Station.  Further, there are no recent reports of any such suicide by a JNTU Hyderabad student from Telangana. To sum it up, photo of a DU student from Telangana is falsely shared with a claim that she ended her life over non-postponement of exams.


Tejas, India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, added 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its air-to-air weapons capability yesterday. Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas: DRDO https://t.co/4Ly9gR31qU

In what will provide a fillip to the government’s self reliance campaign and the domestic defence ecosystem, and boost Indian fighting capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is gearing up to provide the Indian military with a dozen new indigenous weapons and systems over the next two years, DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy said on Friday. The weapon systems that will be delivered to the military between 2021 and 2023 to strengthen its capabilities include beyond visual range (BVR) missiles, India’s first anti-radiation missile, anti-tank weapons, anti-drone systems, guided bombs and anti-airfield weapons, the government told Parliament in March. Several of these systems were tested last year when India demonstrated its indigenous weapon-development capability to the world at a time when the border row with China in eastern Ladakh was at its peak.  India has set aside ₹70,221 crore—63% of the military’s capital budget for 2021-22—for buying locally-produced weapons and systems to boost defence indigenisation.  Last year, the defence ministry spent over ₹51,000 crore, or 58% of the capital budget, on domestic purchases. Boosting indigenisation “These systems that have been developed and others that are under development will significantly boost indigenous capabilities in development and production of weapons.  We are moving towards achieving the goal of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the defence sector.  And all this is happening at a time when we are progressively banning the import of military hardware through the positive indigenisation list (earlier called negative import list),” Reddy said. Last year, the government notified a negative import list that sought to ban the import of 101 types of weapons, systems and ammunition over the next five years to promote self-reliance.  This year, the government is set to notify a second list of weapons, systems and ammunition that cannot be imported.  The list of weapons banned for import will be reviewed every year and more items will be added to it, officials familiar with the matter said. In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it may be described as a negative list, but it is a positive list in the language of self-reliance.  “It is a positive list on the strength of which our own manufacturing capacity is going to increase.  This is a positive list that will create jobs in India… This is a positive list as it guarantees that products made in India will be sold in India,” Modi said. That statement by PM led the negative import list to be rechristened the positive indigenisation list.  According to official data, DRDO has undertaken 79 projects worth ₹8,201 crore during the last three years.  These include different types of missiles, gun systems, ammunitions, radars and electronic warfare systems. Nailing delivery timelines DRDO, which has acquired the reputation of long delays in delivery, is hoping to nail its delivery timelines so that the armed forces are not kept waiting for the new weapons and systems.  The defence ministry specified the delivery timelines for different systems in Parliament on March 22. The Astra BVR missile and the anti-drone system will be made available to the armed forces this year.  The systems that the military can expect next year include the quick reaction surface to air missile system (QRSAM) to protect armoured columns from aerial attacks, the Nag and Helina anti-tank missiles with an effective range of five km, and the air defence fire control radar (ADFCR) that form a key part of a ground-based air defence system in conjunction with anti-aircraft guns. While the Nag missile is launched from a modified infantry combat vehicle (called the Nag missile carrier or Namica), the Helina or helicopter-based Nag is for mounting on the Dhruv advanced light helicopter. India’s first anti-radiation missile, Rudram, will be ready for induction into service by 2023 and boost the Indian Air Force’s capabilities to knock out enemy radars and surveillance systems.  The smart anti-airfield weapon (SAAW) will also be ready in two years.  SAAW is a precision strike weapon that can be used to target enemy airfield assets such as radars, bunkers, taxi tracks and runways.  Indigenously developed by the DRDO’s research centre Imarat, the weapon has a range of 100km.  It has been test-fired from the IAF’s Jaguar fighter planes and the upgraded Hawk Mk-132 trainer aircraft. It is good that timelines have been set and DRDO is working towards achieving them, said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies. “The scientists have their work cut out so that capability gaps that have crept in—for instance, in the BVR space—are quickly made up and the IAF gains the upper hand again.  The same applies to ground and naval systems.  Our adversaries, especially China, are committing huge funds into defence R&D—we can lag behind only at our peril,” said Bahadur. The weapons systems of the future DRDO is working on a raft of other weapons and systems that will be inducted into service in the coming years, Reddy said.  It is developing a new air-launched missile capable of knocking out enemy tanks from a stand-off distance of more than 10km. The indigenous missile, named stand-off anti-tank missile (SANT), is expected to be mated to the IAF’s Russian-origin Mi-35 attack helicopters to arm them with the capability to destroy enemy armour from an improved stand-off range.  The existing Russian-origin Shturm missile on the Mi-35 can target tanks at a range of 5km. Key tests conducted by India last year included the supersonic missile-assisted release of torpedo (SMART) to target submarines at long ranges and a new version of the nuclear-capable hypersonic Shaurya missile with a range of 750km. India is also developing a new class of ultra-modern weapons that can travel six times faster than the speed of sound (Mach 6) and penetrate any missile defence.  In early September 2020, DRDO also carried out a successful flight test of the hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle (HSTDV) for the first time. Only the United States, Russia and China have developed technologies to field fast-manoeuvring hypersonic missiles that fly at lower altitudes and are extremely hard to track and intercept. The road aheadImports have traditionally accounted for 60-65% of the country’s military requirements, with India signing contracts worth billions of dollars over the last 10 years for fighter jets, air defence missile systems, submarine hunter planes, attack helicopters, heavy-lift choppers and lightweight howitzers. But India’s arms imports fell 33% between 2011-15 and 2016-20, said a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on March 15. The report on international arms transfers attributed the drop in India’s arms imports mainly to an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms and complex procurement processes.  India’s top three arms suppliers during 2016-20 were Russia (accounting for 49% of India’s imports), France (18%) and Israel (13%), the report said. According to Sipri, India accounted for 0. 2% of the share of global arms exports during 2016-20, making the country the world’s 24th largest exporter of major arms.  This represents a jump of 228% over India’s export share during the previous five-year period - 2011-15.  Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Mauritius were the top recipients of Indian military hardware. Sipri, however, said India’s military imports were likely to grow over the next five years.  “As India perceives increasing threats from Pakistan and China and as its ambitious plans to produce its own major arms have been significantly delayed, it is planning large-scale programmes for arms imports.  Based on its outstanding deliveries of combat aircraft, air defence systems, ships and submarines, India’s arms imports are expected to increase over the coming five years,” the report said.


Regina King wins the #Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "If Beale Street Could Talk." #Oscars https://t.co/wz4Szz8tbh https://t.co/v4L33Jw9h8

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


BREAKING: Donald Trump will win the state of Wyoming, @ABC News projects. https://t.co/7HwVwYGwkQ #ElectionNight https://t.co/yL8E2RUVRr


Rep. Jerry Nadler remarks following Robert Mueller's testimony: "Only the Office of Legal Counsel's opinion that you cannot indict a sitting president is saving the president from indictment." https://t.co/mGGimt9igG https://t.co/eEhuA3l0kF

By Veronica Rocha, Meg Wagner and Amanda Wills, CNNFrom CNN's Adam LevineFormer special counsel Robert Mueller testified today before the House Judiciary and House Intelligence committees. We're wrapping up our live coverage of his testimony. In case you missed it, here are the key takeaways from his second hearing:Democratic Rep.  Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the House will seek grand jury material to enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Don McGahn. Some background: In May, the White House instructed former McGahn not to comply with a subpoena for documents Nadler, teeing up the latest in a series of escalating oversight showdowns between the Trump administration and congressional Democrats. McGahn's decision not to comply with the subpoena could push Nadler to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress, just as he's moving to do with Attorney General William Barr after the Justice Department defied a subpoena for the unredacted Mueller report and underlying evidence. Asked if the House should launch impeachment proceedings, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi avoided answering the question directly, saying they still have some things to sort out. Democratic Rep.  Elijah Cummings, chair of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee, said at the press conference that, “This is a critical moment in our country's history. " Cummings called today's hearings a "giant step in making sure that the American people got a picture of all this and, hopefully, will look towards the future and say we’re not going to have this. ""I’m begging the American people to pay attention to what is going on," he said. Rep.  Adam Schiff said the US needs to "harden" its "election defenses" going into the 2020 election. The comments come after former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified before two congressional committees today.  Mueller talked about his investigation into Russian election meddling: a topic Schiff said puts America in a "vulnerable" position. During his testimony, Mueller said the Russians expect to meddle in the 2020 election. "It wasn't a single attempt.  They're doing it as we sit here.  And they expect to do it during the next campaign," Mueller said. Rep.  Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, laid out key lines from Robert Mueller's testimony this evening. Nadler, speaking at a news conference, said Mueller's report found that President Trump obstructed justice and abused power.  He went on to say that Mueller also found Trump benefited from Russia's help. From CNN's Betsy KleinAsked by CNN about former special counsel Robert Mueller saying he generally agreed that President Trump's written answers to investigators were not always truthful, Trump claimed Mueller’s answers weren’t truthful. “I don’t know whose answers weren’t — I guess his (Mueller’s) answers weren’t, because if you look, the whole report, you take a look at what they did.  Some of the things that didn’t even know about, some of the things he didn’t even know what was going on.  But you know, in the end what he did, he actually probably came through for himself,” Trump said. He went on to criticize Mueller’s performance. “The performance was obviously not very good.  He had a lot of problems, but what he showed more than anything else is that this whole thing has been three years of embarrassment and waste of time for our country.  And you know what, the Democrats thought they could win an election like this.  I think they hurt themselves very badly for 2020,” Trump said. Asked if Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. , spoke with Mueller, Trump said he did not know. “I don’t know.  I really don’t know — I don’t know — I mean frankly, whether or not he did it wouldn’t matter to me because he did nothing wrong,” Trump said, calling his son’s June 2016 meeting with Russians “a very unimportant meeting. ”From CNN's Jeremy DiamondPresident Trump said that he has no regrets about refusing to sit down for an interview with former special counsel Robert Mueller during his investigation. "No, I did the right thing," he told reporters today, pointing to the number of individuals who were charged with lying to federal investigators. Trump falsely diminished the lies that witnesses who were charged with lying told to investigators, suggesting that simply mischaracterizing "a date" or the weather could lead to federal charges. "I've seen how they've destroyed people like Gen.  Flynn and so many others, what they've done to people," Trump said.  "No, I did the right thing. "President Trump said he knew the investigation into his campaign's ties with Russia was a "hoax. "Trump's remarks come after former special counsel Robert Mueller testified in front of two congressional committees today and told lawmakers that Russia's interference was "not a hoax. ""Absolutely, it was not a hoax.  The indictments we returned against the Russians, two different ones, were substantial in their scope using the scope word again.  And I think one of the -- we have underplayed to a certain," Mueller said. Trump also told reporters that he appreciated Republicans and "those incredible warriors" who were "defending our country. ""Republicans that defended something and defended something very powerful, very important because they were really defending our country more than anything else.  They were defending our country.  But they were warriors and they’ve been warriors for a long time.  And everybody knew it was a hoax, especially the Democrats," Trump said. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.


Gujarat: Voting for local body polls underway in Vadodara's Akota https://t.co/ISdDhkAoyA

Accusing the BJP of using money power to make the Congress government fall in Puducherry, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday said the people will give a befitting reply to the saffron party in upcoming polls for "subverting" a popular mandate, and asserted that upholding democratic ideals will be the main issue in the elections. Moily, who is the Congress' senior observer for upcoming polls in the Union Territory, also said the party's alliance with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will continue, and together they will get a "thumping" majority in the elections. In an interview with PTI, Moily claimed the Puducherry polls will mark the "beginning of the fall of the BJP" in the country and the strengthening of democratic power through the Congress party. Lashing out at the BJP, the former Union minister said they never allowed the Congress government to function in Puducherry by fronting then Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi. "Her only exclusive mission was that the Congress government does not function. From time to time, the issue was brought to the notice of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Amit Shah), either through media or directly by the CM V Narayansamy, but they did not listen," Moily said. His attack on BJP comes two days after the Congress government in Puducherry fell after Chief Minister Narayanasamy resigned ahead of the confidence vote in the Assembly with the coalition ministry reduced to a minority due to a spate of resignations of party MLAs and a DMK legislator recently. Moily alleged the central government led by Modi and Shah "killed democracy" in Puducherry for the last four-five years as no development programme was allowed to prosper. He claimed that MLAs were also suffocated and were given the impression that even if the government was elected back, Bedi will not allow even the new dispensation to function. "They (BJP) lured them with money and power.  The MLAs were tempted as they were already frustrated with the government not being allowed to function," he said. Moily described the spate of resignations of MLAs and the fall of the government as an "open massacre of democracy directly abetted" by the Government of India through the Lieutenant Governor. However, he said the government fell not because of the spate of resignations but due to nominated MLAs being allowed to vote. "Nominating three MLAs and giving them the power to vote was the most undemocratic thing that could be done.  Even the judiciary also did not act very quickly," he said. Asked about Bedi's removal as LG recently, Moily claimed that the BJP thought that it would help them in the polls as the electorate would have run against it because she did not allow the government to function. "So, they want to put everything on Kiran Bedi.  Even though Kiran Bedi was only a puppet in their hands now they will put everything on her and say she has done it and we have no role to play.  This is the game played against Congress," he alleged. On what would be the key poll plank in the upcoming elections, Moily said upholding democratic ideals will be the main issue. "Supporting BJP in Puducherry would mean writing the epitaph of the Constitution, in other words, people will not vote for BJP because of the game played by it against the basic tenets of democracy," he said. Moily said the polls will be about the subversion of people's mandate by the BJP. "This naked display of autocracy and throwing the principles of democracy to the wind will be given a befitting reply by the electorate," he said. Moily hailed Narayansamy for his work as the chief minister while dealing with natural calamities and in controlling COVID-19. "The people will punish them (BJP).  They have committed the gravest crime by obstructing benefits of development to reach people," he said. Moily said the people of Puducherry have seen through the BJP's game plan. "The ugly demonstration of their money power, political power, and intolerance to other party's rule will have to come to an end in this country and Puducherry will be the real field to demonstrate that," he said. With the exit of the Congress government in Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are the only three states in the country ruled by the party on its own. Elections for the 30 assembly seats in Puducherry are likely to take place in the next few months. Moily also asserted that the fall of the Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh last year and in Puducherry was completely different. "In Puducherry, it is not about the elected MLAs, it was the nominated MLAs who led to the government's fall.  If there was no voting power to the nominated MLAs, the government would not have fallen," he said.  Congress will bounce back, Moily added.


"Green Book" Oscars backlash: Why the big win unleashed a wave of criticism. https://t.co/gksV5ghYhN https://t.co/0PfNrwr3Pv

  Hollywood’s ‘Three Amigos’ are celebrating another Oscar win.

  Alfonso Cuarón on Sunday became the fifth Mexican director to win best director in six years.

  “I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a film centered around an indigenous woman, one of the 70 million domestic workers in the world without work rights, a character that has historically been relegated in the background in cinema,” Cuarón said.  “As artists our job is to look where others don’t. ”

  Guillermo Del Toro – who presented the statuette to Cuarón – was last year’s victor, taking the award for “The Shape of Water. ”

  The third member of the “Three Amigos,” as they are affectionately known, is Alejandro G.  Iñárritu, a winner for “Birdman” in 2015 and “The Revenant” in 2016.

  Cuarón, who also picked up the awards for best foreign film and best cinematography on Sunday, previously won best director for “Gravity” in 2014.

  That the Academy has declared three Mexican directors among the most influential voices of American cinema five out of the last six years is no small statement in a time when much of the political discussion revolves around constructing a wall between these two countries.

  Cuarón’s acceptance speech for best foreign film, inadvertently or not, also served as a strong reminder of the role of cinema overseas, where American films are considered the foreign ones.

  “I grew up watching foreign language films and learning so much from them and being inspired – films like ‘Citizen Kane,’ ‘Jaws,’ ‘Rashomon,’ ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Breathless…’ Claude Chabrol said, ‘There are no waves, there’s only the ocean,’” Cuarón said, referencing the French filmmaker.  “I think that the nominees tonight have proven that we are part of the same ocean. ”
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Madhya Pradesh: Prayers offered at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain on the second Monday of 'sawan' month, today. https://t.co/7Dv9L7pfGi

BSP president Mayawati on Monday lashed out at the Uttar Pradesh government over the law and order situation in the state and asked if this was ‘Ram Rajya’ .  Citing recent cases of crime in some parts of the state, Mayawati demanded strict action against those involved in them “There is a spurt of crime in the state like rape of a Dalit minor in Sitapur, murder of a young man and breaking his son’s hand for refusing to do bonded labour in Chitrakoot, and double murder in Gorakhpur.  Is this the Ram rajya of the government?  Strict action should be taken against culprits, this is the demand of BSP,” she said in the tweet.


A post is being shared on social media with a claim that the archaeologists have found a 6000-year-old Shiva Linga in a cave named Sudwara in South Africa.  Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. Claim: Archaeologists have found a 6000-year-old Shiva Linga in Sudwara Cave (South Africa). Fact: No such Shiva Linga was discovered by archaeologists in the Sudwala Caves located in South Africa.  The Sudwala Caves officials have clarified to FACTLY there is no truth in the post.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE. When we searched for Sudwara cave on the internet, it was found that there are ‘Sudwala’ Caves, not ‘Sudwara’, in South Africa.  Also, the left picture in the post is related to the Sudwala Caves.  A similar image of the Sudwala Caves can be also found on the ‘Getty Images’ website. There are no credible reports on the internet regarding the discovery of a 6000-year-old Shiva Linga by archaeologists in the Sudwala Caves.  Also, the exact details of the statue in the posted photo were not found.  So, when FACTLY has contacted the authorities of Sudwala caves, they have clarified that there has been no such discovery of the Shiva statue in the caves and the post is false. A rock formation in the Nelspruit Nature Reserve (around 35-40 kms from the Sudwala Caves) is considered to be a Shiva Lingam which was believed to be worshipped by the Indian travellers who travelled to Africa around 1800 years ago.   More information regarding it can be found here.  But it is not the 6000-year-old Shiva Linga mentioned in the post. To sum it up, a 6000-year-old Shiva Linga was not discovered by archaeologists in the Sudwala Caves (South Africa).


369 #COVID19 cases and 331 recoveries reported in Goa today. Total number of cases in the state is now at 11,339, including 3,753 active cases, 7,488 recovered, and 98 deaths: State Health Department https://t.co/GGjg8COImc

India crossed 40,000 Covid-19 cases and the national capital saw its highest single-day spike on Sunday.  The country’s tally stood at 42,527 cases with 1,393 fatalities even as states got ready for lockdown 3. 0 beginning Monday.  Most states followed the Centre’s directives while issuing their own guidelines.  Jharkhand, however, said there will not be any relaxations in the state for the next two weeks.  Here is a preview of important Covid-19 news today from India and the world. India tally over 40k, 427 new cases in cityThe number of Covid-19 cases in India crossed 40,000 and the national capital saw its highest single-day spike on Sunday, with the contagion in the country largely driven by urban hot spots, even as the central and state governments sketched out plans to relax some of the lockdown curbs in low-risk areas from Monday.  Read more. With some relaxations, states draw up plan for lockdown 3. 0India prepared on Sunday for the third phase of the ongoing lockdown with states and Union Territories drafting their own rules, mostly in line with federal guidelines that have given area-specific relaxations in a graded approach to bring back normalcy in the backdrop of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.  Read more.  CEOs see 40% revenue dip in June quarter: PollTwo-thirds of Indian chief executive officers (CEOs) expect a 40% revenue decline in the quarter ending June 30 because of the nationwide shutdown for the coronavirus disease and its fallout, manifested by a lack of consumer demand, value chain and labour market disruptions as well as raw material shortages, according to a snap poll conducted by the CII.  Read more.  Specific entry gates, dedicated check-in rows: Delhi airport gears up to restart operationsDelhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will have select entry gates for passengers, depending on the airlines they are travelling with, to go into the terminal building, once lockdown restrictions are lifted and flight operations resume in the capital.  Read more.  Mark separate triage area for flu-like cases: Health ministry to non-Covid hospitalsThe Union health ministry has directed non-Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) hospitals to identify a separate triage and holding area, away from the main outpatient department (OPD), for patients with influenza-like illnesses, to check the rising cases of health-care workers getting infected by the disease.  Read more.  Experts’ inputs to PM nod: What shapes govt guidelinesThe government’s broad response to the coronavirus pandemic — symbolised in bureaucratic orders, guidelines, and clarifications with wide ranging impact — is shaped by a complex decision making process, which involves key union ministries and sectoral experts, inputs from state governments, intensive analysis of data, an assessment of daily reports, and finally a nod from PM Narendra Modi, three officials familiar with the process said. Read more.  Forces express gratitude to India’s Covid warriorsFrom fighter jets performing fly-pasts over Delhi’s Rajpath and Mumbai’s Marine Drive to helicopters showering petals over hospitals dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients and transport aircraft flying in formation over multiple cities; the armed forces on Sunday carried out exercises across the country in a concerted gesture of gratitude to people at the frontline of the battle against the virus.  Read more.  Send only stranded migrants: Centre tells statesAs state governments scramble to book buses and trains to send migrant workers home, the Union home ministry on Sunday rebuked the state administrations and told them the transport hadn’t been meant for workers who intended to visit home, but for those in distress because they had been caught unawares by the lockdown.  Read more.  States to collect rail fares: Govt in guidelinesState authorities shall collect fares after distributing tickets among stranded migrants and students who are boarding special trains to return to their hometowns, and hand over the amount to the Indian Railways, the railways ministry said in fresh guidelines on Sunday.  Read more.  Covid-19 eats into West Asia remittances’ pieJameel Basha, 36, is in a dilemma—should he return to India or not?  He has been working as an office assistant in a construction company in Saudi Arabia since 2017, earning the equivalent of Rs 45,000 a month. Basha’s predicament is similar to nearly 10 million Indians, a vast majority of them unskilled or semi-skilled workers, in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region.  Read more.  Centre rushes 20 health teams to 20 districtsThe Union health ministry said on Sunday it was deploying 20 central teams to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) hot spots including Delhi and Mumbai to assist in controlling high caseloads and helping the state governments in their strategies against the contagion.  Read more.  Docs prepared to announce my death, recalls Boris JohnsonBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed that doctors at a London hospital where he was admitted after contracting Covid-19 had made arrangements to announce his death.  Johnson, 55, was rushed to St Thomas’ Hospital on April 5 when his condition had worsened a few days after he had tested positive for the coronavirus.  Read more.


Twelve leaders of Opposition parties write a joint letter to PM Narendra Modi suggesting a slew of measures for combating #COVID19 https://t.co/b5HTNB6G6D

A full, independent public inquiry into the British government's handling of its response to the coronavirus pandemic will be held early next year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday. The country had "found itself in the teeth of the gravest pandemic for a century" and the state has "an obligation to examine its actions as rigorously and as candidly as possible and to learn every lesson for the future", he told lawmakers. Britain has been hit hard by the outbreak, with more than 127,000 deaths since March last year -- the world's fifth highest official toll, according to data collected by AFP -- raising questions about why it has fared worse than other nations. Johnson told parliament the inquiry would be established on a "statutory basis", with oral evidence given under oath and powers to "compel the production of all relevant materials". He added he expected the inquiry, which is likely last over a year, will begin in the spring of 2022. The government in London will work with the UK's devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to determine the scope of the inquiry. Johnson's government has rebuffed months of calls for a wide-reaching investigation into its handling of the pandemic, saying it would hamper the ongoing response. But months of lockdown restrictions are being eased, and the number of cases of Covid-19 and deaths has fallen sharply, as a mass vaccination campaign continues apace. Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer called for the inquiry to start "as soon as possible". Johnson, however, said the start had to be delayed so it did not "weigh down the efforts of those engaged in protecting us every day". The events of the last year needed to be looked at in the "cold light of day", he added. Johnson's leadership has come under particular scrutiny since the start of the outbreak. He has been accused of being too slow to impose a nationwide lockdown measures to contain the virus at the outset, and too fast to lift restrictions once the first wave passed. There were also initial problems with the supply of protective equipment to frontline workers, testing capacity, and glitches in an app to trace Covid contacts. Johnson has denied that he dismissed the prospect of a wave of Covid-19 deaths, after reports he had said he would rather see "bodies pile high in their thousands" than impose a third coronavirus lockdown. Ultimately, Johnson did order a new round of restrictions in January. Johnson's former top aide Dominic Cummings has publicly called into question his ex-boss' judgement at key moments during the pandemic. He is due to give evidence to a separate parliamentary inquiry into the government's Covid response later this month.


"I'm not retiring," Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas says https://t.co/P7v1M2Ll8Z https://t.co/7XsdblqXbZ

The 70-year-old justice suggests he wants to stay on Supreme Court until death.  Justice Clarence Thomas On Faith, Race And His Court ColleaguesIn a rare public appearance this week, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas quashed speculation that he could be contemplating retirement, while a Republican is in the White House. Thomas, instead, implied he intends to be on the high court bench until he dies. "I'm not retiring," Thomas said in response to a hypothetical question raised during an event at Pepperdine University School of Law. The 70-year-old justice -- famously silent during public sessions of the court – has long been rumored to be considering an exit from the bench. "Let's fast forward to 20 years from now.  Twenty years from now at your retirement party," said University President-elect James A.  Gash. "I'm not -- What retirement? " Thomas interjected.  "I'm not retiring. ""20 years? " Gash asked, trying to continue. "No," said Thomas. "30 years? " Gash pressed further. "No," said Thomas. In 30 years, Thomas would be 100 years old. "Let's fast forward to the time when you will go home," Gash tried a third time. "Now, I won't have any say about that," Thomas replied. He is currently the third oldest justice on the Supreme Court.   Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 86; Justice Stephen Breyer is 80. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Delhi | @ShatruganSinha joins Congress in presence of Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala  (ANI)

Follow updates here - https://t.co/sNbOnnWZ1C

#ElectionsWithHT #LokSabhaElections2019 https://t.co/soq6h9iEiv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will campaign for party candidates in Odisha on Saturday and Sunday respectively. While Modi is scheduled to address two election rallies in Sundergarh and Sonepur on Saturday, Shah would attend the BJP’s Vijay Sankalp Samabesh at Polsara and Bargarh on Sunday, news agency PTI quoted party sources as saying. The Prime Minister will also address an election rally in Balod district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday.  This will be Modi’s first rally in Chhattisgarh after the Lok Sabha election dates were announced last month. Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address three rallies in Uttarakhand’s Pauri, Almora and Haridwar. Follow LIVE updates here:Congress and its allies want two PMs, one in Delhi, another in J-K: PM ModiCongress and its allies want two PMs, one in Delhi, another in J-K: Prime Minister Modi in Nanded, Maharashtra. Gujarat: BJP President Amit Shah holds a road show in GandhinagarGujarat: BJP President Amit Shah holds a road show in Gandhinagar.  Gujarat: BJP President Amit Shah holds a road show in Gandhinagar.  pic. twitter. com/n3TYjbWSwYPriyanka Gandhi Vadra holds roadshow in FatehpurCongress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds roadshow in Fatehpur.  Congress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds roadshow in Fatehpur.  pic. twitter. com/WoRa4L3l6lCEC of BJP releases 18th list of 24 candidatesThe Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party has released the 18th list of 24 candidates for the ensuing General Elections to the Parliamentary Constituency of different states. Congress’ naamdar has to run away from election field to look for safe seat: PM Narendra ModiCongress’ ‘naamdar’ (dynast) has to run away from election field to look for safe seat: PM Narendra Modi. AFSPA is raksha kavach (armour) of security forces: PM ModiAFSPA is “raksha kavach” (armour) of security forces: PM Modi. There are surgical and air strike when government is strong, world listens to us: PM ModiThere are surgical and air strike when government is strong, world listens to us: PM Modi. We are contesting polls to make effective use of every single rupee: PM ModiCongress and parties supporting it are fighting polls to loot people’s money, we’re contesting polls to make effective use of every single rupee. They’re fighting polls to weaken security forces of country and we’re contesting polls to make them self-reliant, says PM Modi. When government is strong, country doesn’t sit quiet after terror attack: PM ModiWhen government is strong, country doesn’t sit quiet after terror attack: PM Modi at rally in Chhattisgarh.  When there are attacks on people who stick to their faith, this government turns away: Sonia GandhiWhen there are attacks on people who stick to their faith, this government turns away: Sonia GandhiWe are fighting elections to make a majboot government: PM Modi in Balod, ChhattisgarhWe are fighting elections to make a majboot government, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Balod, ChhattisgarhToday, we are being taught new definition of patriotism while those not accepting diversity are being called patriots: Sonia GandhiToday, we are being taught new definition of patriotism while those not accepting diversity are being called patriots: Sonia GandhiTMC will lead formation of new government at the centre: MamataWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “liar” and accused the BJP of trying to turn legal citizens of the country into foreigners in the name of NRC and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. She claimed that her party TMC will lead the formation of the new government at the centre. In an apparent dig at Modi, Banerjee wondered how a person who didn’t look after his wife would look after the citizens of the country. “The BJP has to be defeated in order to save the people of this country.  The TMC will lead the formation of the new government at the centre,” she said addressing a public rally at Barobisha area of Alipurduar district. “Prime Minister Modi is a liar.  He has been blabbering lies in the last five years.  He has not fulfilled a single promises he made in 2014,” she said. We are being taught new definitions of patriotism: Sonia Gandhi“Under BJP, we are being taught new definitions of patriotism.  This government is using caste and religion to discriminate,” said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. ITBP soldiers cast first vote of Lok Sabha 2019 in Arunachal PradeshThe soldiers of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were the first to cast their vote for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday as Service Voters. The first round of service voting by secret postal ballot began at 10 am on Friday at ITBP’s Animal Training School (ATS) located at Lohitpur in Arunachal Pradesh.  The first vote of the country was cast by DIG Sudhakar Natarajan, head of ATS ITBP. India under PM Modi emerged as 6th most powerful country in the world: Adityanath“India under PM Modi has emerged as sixth most powerful country in the world,” said Yogi AdityanathThe UP CM also attacked Rahul Gandhi for choosing Wayanad as second seat, saying, “Rahul Gandhi’s nomination from Kerala indicates Congress’ unholy alliance with Muslim League. ”Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as Congress exists: PM Modi at Sonepur rally“Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as Congress exists.  Congress uses poverty as its main weapon for politics, does not want to lose this weapon,” said PM Modi at Odisha rallyRahul Gandhi face of the nation and its future: Shatrughan Sinha“Rahul Gandhi is a dynamic leader.  He’s face of the nation and its future,” said Shatrughan Sinha after joining Congress in presence of Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala. Shatrughan Sinha joins CongressVeteran actor and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha joins Congress in presence of Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala.  Delhi: Veteran actor and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha joins Congress in presence of Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala pic. twitter. com/T1izPmSEEuSenior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil had tweeted on March 29 that Sinha will join the party on April 6.  “BJP MP Shatrugna Sinha ji met our Congress President Shri @RahulGandhi today and in national interest has decided to join tur Congress.  Hw wil formally join Congress on April 6,” Gohil wrote on Twitter. At Odisha rally, PM attacks Cong over its manifesto promise of amending AFSPAAttacking the Congress over its manifesto promise of amending AFSPA, PM Modi said, “Your chowkidar strikes at Pakistani terrorist camps, whereas the Congress plans to amend the special powers act for the soldiers of the country. ”BJD hampering development of Odisha: PM Modi“BJD is hampering development of Odisha.  Shouldn’t you punish the BJD for that?  Don’t you need an active government in the state?  Your chowkidar has the intention to develop the state,” said PM Modi. At Odisha rally, PM attacks CM Patnaik’s BJD“Do you want development or discrimination.  If you want development, let lotus bloom in the state.  If BJP had the right intention, the development work wouldn’t have stalled in the state,” said PM Modi. BJP has govt in all four corners of the country: PM Modi“Today, BJP has govt in all four corners of the country.  People have embraced the BJP and it’s in their heart.  It’s one of the largest democratic political party.  People from all section of the society are becoming part of the BJP,” said PM Modi For a strong India, we need a strong government like BJP’s: PM Modi“For a strong India, we need a strong government.  For a strong India, we need a strong Odisha.  For a strong India, we need lotus to bloom everywhere,”said PM ModiLotus will bloom in Odisha: PM ModiInvoking BJP’s symbol lotus, PM Modi said, “Rest assured, lotus will bloom in Odisha,” said, hailing the party workers, saying, “I thank the workers for their hardwork.  Because of their dedication, we will win the 2019 polls with absolute majority,” said PM Modi. BJP biggest democratic organisation in the world: PM Modi“The BJP is the biggest democratic party in the world.  It’s a party of young India, it’s a party of the aspiration of India.  It fought to protect democracy during Emergency,” said PM Modi on BJP foundation day. On BJP’s foundation day, PM Modi invokes VajpayeeOn BJP’s foundation day, PM Modi invoked Atal Bihari Vajpayee.  PM Modi also explained, why the party is special.  “The party is special because it is made from the hardwork of its workers.  In Kerala and West Bengal, our karyakartas are killed every now and then.  However, it doesn’t deter BJP karyakartas.  BJP is born out of sweat of its workers, not dynasty or money,” said PM ModiOdisha decide whether you want to vote for a hardworking and honest party or a corrupt one: PM Modi“The 2019 election is very crucial for Odisha.  You have to decide whether you want to vote for a hardworking and honest party or a corrupt one, “ said PM Modi at Odisha rally. I have come here as Odisha’s prime servant, not as the country’s prime minister: PM Modi“I have come here as Odisha’s prime servant and not as the country’s prime minister.  I have come here to seek blessings from you, my master. ” said PM Modi at Sundergarh rally. PM Modi addresses rally in Odisha’s SundergarhPM Modi is addressing a rally in Odisha’s Sundergarh. “I won’t ever be able to forget the respect you endowed upon me,” said PM Modi. Odisha will reject both BJD and Congress: PM ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said the people of Odisha will defeat both the ruling BJD and the opposition Congress in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections to be held this month. “Odisha’s election results will surprise the entire country.  BJP will win the polls with record number of seats. People will reject both BJD and Congress,” Modi said in a twitter post ahead of his election rallies in the state. Delhi Congress leaders at Rahul Gandhi’s residenceDelhi Congress Chief Sheila Dikshit, state incharge PC Chacko and other Delhi Congress leaders have reached Rahul Gandhi’s residence. Senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress on Friday said that the parties are in talks for an alliance in Delhi and Haryana. Elaborating on the negotiations, leaders said the number of seats AAP offers to the Congress in Delhi would be equivalent to the number of seats the latter offers AAP in Haryana. Senior leaders of the two parties said that the bargain is being currently worked out by the two sides. Rahul Gandhi scheduled to visit south Odisha on April 9Congress president Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to visit south Odisha to campaign for his candidates on April 9, informed OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik. Rahul Gandhi is likely to attend a public meeting at Digapahandi in Ganjam district on April 9. EC surveillance squad seizes 146 kg of gold bars in TNElection Commission’s surveillance squad seized 146 kg of gold bars without valid documents from a van near Puliakulam in Tamil Nadu on Friday,


Around 50 people were believed to be on board, a fire brigade said after 23 bodies were from the sunken ferry in Bangladesh’s Dhaka.

https://t.co/1Rpt5AXpw1

Twenty-three people drowned and dozens more were missing on Monday after a ferry capsized in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka following a collision with another vessel, rescue officials said. “We have so far recovered 23 bodies from the sunken ferry,” fire brigade official Enayet Hossain told AFP, adding that there were believed to be around 50 people on board.


Odisha | Locals evacuated from their homes to shelter homes in Jagatsinghpur district, ahead of #CycloneYaas

"During last cyclone, my family lost everything. We luckily survived. I've come here with my husband, daughter & her children," said Lakshmi, from Sandhakud in Paradeep https://t.co/ZhuFiUltX9

With the Odisha government launching a massive evacuation drive to save people from the fury of Cyclone Yaas, many people in the coastal districts of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur are reluctant to move to government shelters as they are scared of catching coronavirus, an official said. It is an enormous challenge for safeguarding people this time amid the raging pandemic, the official said. "Maintaining social distancing norms while carrying out evacuation has become an uphill task.  Still we are trying to convince the people not to take chances and shift to cyclone shelters and pucca houses," said the official who is monitoring evacuation work in Erasama block of Jagatsinghpur district. The seaside block was battered by the 1999 super cyclone as an estimated 10,000 people had perished then. "We are planning to begin the evacuation work on Monday evening or early morning on Tuesday.  There are signs of reluctance among some sections of people.  The fear of getting infected with Covid-19 in cyclone shelters is bothering them. "But we have sensitised the locals for adhering to Covid-protocols while evacuating people.  Those who were unwilling are slowly evincing interest to shift to safer places" said Rabindra Pradhan, Block Development Officer, Rajnagar block in Kendrapara district. Around 100 people have so far been shifted to Okilopal cyclone shelter while 20 pregnant women from Talchua and Rangani were shifted to Rajnagar Community Health Centre, he said. The block administration has readied 46 cyclone shelters and 51 school buildings, he said. Around 35,000 to 40,000 are being planned to be shifted to temporary shelters. "If those residing in vulnerable pockets do not volunteer, we may opt for forced evacuation because of the anticipated severity of the cyclone this time," he added. Cyclone Fani had battered coastal Odisha in May 2019.  However, the evacuation exercise was not difficult as there was no Covid-19 scare then. In May last year, Odisha had faced the threat of cyclone Amphan when the state was battling the first wave of Covid-19. The cyclone had largely spared the state hitting the West Bengal coast, the authorities had not faced the challenges of massive evacuation last year. With the Covid surge being much more pronounced than last year, the fear of contracting the infection remains uppermost in peoples minds. "Shifting to a shelter house is a safer option.  Thats why we moved to the building in the evening hours.  We are aware of the Coronavirus threat but we will abide by Covid safety protocols. "Our village is quite vulnerable to tidal surge if the cyclone strikes.  So we have made up our mind to battle Covid and cyclone simultaneously," said Gouranga Rout, a native of Ambiki village in Jagatsinghpur.  Cyclone Yaas is likely to cross Odisha-West Bengal coast on May 26.