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

Araku is the only constituency Lok Sabha constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes out of 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh and came into existence in 2008 after the Delimitation Commission of India recommended implementation of delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.  Kothapalli Geetha of the YSR Congress won the seat in 2014 defeating TDP’s Gummidi Sandhyarani.  The YSR Congress has large support among tribals in the constituency and is hoping to retain the seat.  The welfare and development of tribal communities is a major election issue among different parties.  Other communities in the constituency include Kapus, Scheduled Castes, Yadavas and Matsyakaras.  There is a Maoist threat in the constituency and last year TDP MLA Sarveswara Rao was shot dead.  Aruku parliamentary constituency is spread across Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.  According to the 2011 census, out of total 1926513 population 91. 59% is rural and 8. 41% is urban population.  The Scheduled castes (SC) and Scheduled tribes (ST) ratio is 7. 23 and 54. 76, respectively out of the total population. Araku Lok Sabha constituency in numbers:Name of the Lok Sabha constituency: Araku (ST)Date of voting: April 112019 candidates:  KVV Satyanarayan (BJP, Shruti Devi (Congress) Kishore Chandra Deo (TDP) , Madhavi (YSRCP)Sitting MP, Party: Kothapalli Geetha, YSRCWinning margin in 2014: 91,398 votesRunner up name, party: Gummidi Sandhyarani, TDPNumber of voters in 2014: 1,272,724 Percentage of votes polled in 2014: 71. 47Number of polling booths in 2014: 1,628Number of women voters: 650,308


Sensex plummet 1211.97 points, currently at 47,620.06. Nifty drops 356.55 points, currently at 14,261.30. https://t.co/a2rB2upiRr

Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted 883 points on Monday following a massive across-the-board selloff as mounting Covid-19 cases spooked domestic investors. After crashing over 1,469 points in early trade, the 30-share BSE index pared some initial losses but still ended 882. 61 points or 1. 81 per cent lower at 47,949. 42. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty tanked 258. 40 points or 1. 77 per cent to 14,359. 45. PowerGrid was the top loser in the Sensex pack, slumping over 4 per cent, followed by ONGC, IndusInd Bank, Kotak Bank, L&T, Asian Paints and Bajaj Auto. On the other hand, Dr Reddy’s and Infosys were the only gainers.  "Domestic equities, which were looking resilient for last couple of days, fell sharply on sharp spike in COVID-19 cases across the country and enhanced economic restrictions imposed by several states.  Announcements of wider mobility restriction by Rajasthan and Delhi governments dented investors’ sentiments," said Binod Modi, Head Strategy at Reliance Securities. Barring pharma and IT, which remained resilient, all key sectoral indices witnessed sharp correction.  Financials and automobiles witnessed steeper correction.  Notably, volatility index soared by over 11 per cent, which does not augur well.  Investors' wealth got eroded by over ₹3 trillion today, he added. India's total tally of Cov-19 cases crossed 1. 50 crore with a record single-day rise of 2,73,810 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases surpassed the 19-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a six-day lockdown from 10 pm on Monday till 5 am on April 26 which he said was necessary as the city's health system was stretched to its limits. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo ended on a positive note. Stock exchanges in Europe were also largely trading with gains in mid-session deals. Meanwhile, international oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0. 25 per cent lower at USD 66. 60 per barrel.


#ElectionsWithHT | In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Congress’ new booth management plan

(Reports @SaubhadraC)

https://t.co/lS5LGxygKK https://t.co/nhUS5gtoPe

On Wednesday morning, a Congress candidate in poll-bound Kerala’s Kochi got an email from the party headquarters in Delhi asking him to check three booths in his constituency for alleged bogus voters of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).  Every day, such alerts are sent to the Congress candidates in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where polls are being held on April 6. A central team in Delhi, independent field staff, who are not party cadres, and communication set up between the Congress headquarters and the candidates in poll-bound states are part of this new approach to booth management, which its arch-rival Bharatiya Janata Party is believed to have mastered, in the grand old party. About 270 independent field staff are involved in covering the length and breadth of constituencies.  They talk to the voters and send feedbacks--negative or positive—about the prospects of the party and the micro-level challenges at key booths. “Based on these feedbacks, we send daily alerts to our candidates,” said a Congress functionary on condition of anonymity. Also Read | Can Congress reclaim Assam with an alliance? The alerts cover a wide range of concerns.  “If an LDF candidate in a particular constituency is giving more emphasis to a booth area, we ask our candidate to go there.  If there is a resentment among people over an issue or special focus is required in a particular area, we alert them,” said a second Congress leader, requesting anonymity. K Thennaresu of Tamil Nadu’s Udumalai constituency, for instance, got a message on March 23, asking him to focus on a certain number of booths in this constituency.  The feedback also suggested that Kamal Hassan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam has made inroads into that area in the last few days. “It is not as if all threats are genuine.  Sometimes, the candidate goes to a booth but reverts that the feedback is not correct.  But the exercise does not stop as it is always better to be cautious,” said the first leader. The second leader said the objective is that while the candidates are usually surrounded by their loyalists and workers, genuine concerns or potential troubles might not be registered.  “So, we take help from independent observers and alert our candidates,” said the second leader. The Congress, which is hoping to wrest power in Kerala, swept the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the state by winning 15 out of 20 seats even as it lost the national polls for the second time in a row.  Its allies won four seats.  In Tamil Nadu, Congress’s ally, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which is hoping to return to power, also swept the 2019 polls in the state. Chennai-based political commentator Walter Scott said the idea of micro-managing the booth is good but perhaps too late.  “They could have organised such micro-level canvassing at least a month ago as the candidates would definitely prefer to cover entire constituencies with a few days left for polling. ”


JUST IN: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is in labor https://t.co/YgzW3jEGuU #royalbaby https://t.co/Xnr566quFv

Prince Harry and Meghan's baby is seventh in line to the throne. Why Harry and Meghan's baby boy is 7th in line to the British thronePrince Harry and Meghan have welcomed a baby boy. "As every father and parent would ever say, you know, your baby is absolutely amazing," Harry said Monday in announcing the birth of his first child.  "But this little thing is absolutely to die for, so I’m just over the moon. "The newborn weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.  The baby was born at 5:26 a. m.  local time, according to Buckingham Palace. Both mom and baby are "doing incredibly well," Prince Harry said in his brief remarks outside Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor home where he and Meghan will raise their son. The public will get their first glimpse of the family of three -- Meghan, Harry and the baby -- later this week, according to Harry. In the meantime, he and Meghan will spend time bonding with their baby. When asked about a name, Harry said he and Meghan are "still thinking" about it, adding, "That's the next bit. "Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, is with the couple at Frogmore Cottage, according to Buckingham Palace.  The Los Angeles-based Ragland is "overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild," the palace said. Harry's royal family members -- including Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate -- and relatives of Princess Diana, Harry and William's late mother, were informed of the baby's birth and are "delighted with the news," according to Buckingham Palace. A Kensington Palace aide said of Harry's brother, William, and sister-in-law, Kate, "The Duke and Duchess are overjoyed and looking forward to meeting the latest addition to the family. "Meghan, 37,  went into labor in her 41st week of pregnancy, one week past her due date. "I’m so incredibly proud of my wife," said Harry, 34, who called the birth of his son "amazing" and "absolutely incredible. "Following royal tradition, a framed notice of birth for Harry and Meghan's son went on display on a ceremonial easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace Monday. The baby is seventh in line to the British throne, falling behind Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince Harry. Baby Sussex will not automatically be a prince, unlike his cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who were designated as his or her royal highness and given the title of prince or princess. The baby's great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, can step in to give him that title, however. He is the fourth grandchild for Prince Charles and the eighth great-grandchild for Queen Elizabeth.  Meghan and Harry's son will share a close birthday to his cousin, Princess Charlotte, who turned 4 on May 2. Baby Sussex appears to be the first mixed-race child born into the royal family.  Meghan was born to a white father and a black mother and grew up as a biracial child in Los Angeles. Some royal historians have pointed out though that when Queen Charlotte married King George III in the 1700s, he was believed to have descended from the black branch of the Portuguese royal family.  The couple had 15 children, according to the British royal family's website. The son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, could hold dual American and British nationality, a first for a royal baby. Meghan, a California native, is reportedly still waiting for her British citizenship application to be approved. "From what I understand, Harry and Meghan will have to acquire documentation for their child to prove U. S.  citizenship and it’s not clear if they will do that but of course the option is there," said ABC News royal contributor Victoria Murphy. Prince Harry married Meghan last May.  Five months later, they announced the pregnancy as they embarked on their 16-day tour of Australia, New Zealand Fiji and Tonga. In candid moments interacting with children during that tour and in the months since, Harry and Meghan have given a glimpse into the kind of hands-on parents they are expected to be. Harry spoke about his love for little ones in a 2016 interview with "GMA" co-anchor Robin Roberts, saying he "can't wait for the day" he has children.  At the time, he said he tries to be the "fun uncle" for Prince William and Kate's children. "I've got a kid inside of me, I want to keep that, I adore kids," he added.  "I enjoy everything that they bring to the party, and they just say what they think. "Meghan's friends have also described her as someone with a maternal instinct who is genuine in her interactions, particularly with kids. “When you see her at walkabouts, when she crouches down to talk to the kids and genuinely has real conversations with people, that’s Meg,” a former costar of Meghan's told People magazine in February.  “That’s how she crouches down with our kids at home.  That’s how she plays with them.  That’s how she engages with people and how she always has. ”24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Image shows Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray sitting in a car with actor Rhea Chakraborty.

An image of Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray, sitting in the driver's seat of a car with a woman next to him, is viral with the claim that it shows Thackeray sitting with actor Rhea Chakraborty.  Captions suggest that Thackeray's supposed link with Chakraborty, as evidenced by the image, is the reason why Mumbai Police is not investigating the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was rumoured to be in a relationship with Chakraborty.  We found this to be false; the image was taken on June 13,  2019, and it shows Thackeray sitting in the car with actor Disha Patani, and not Chakraborty.  Thackeray and Patani, who also happen to share their birthdays on that day, were out on a lunch together to celebrate, when this photo was taken.  Also Read: Fake Twitter Account Of Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister Surfaces Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his apartment in Bandra, Mumbai on June 14, 2020.  The Mumbai police prima facie ruled the death as a case of suicide.  However, there have been numerous conspiracy theories surrounding his death. Following this, Rajput's father had filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Chakraborty for abetting suicide.  The viral image has been doing rounds on Facebook with the caption: "Aditya Thackeray with Rhea Chakraborty, that's the reason why Mumbai police is not investigating the ssr case. "  Aditya Thackeray is Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's son and the state's cabinet minister of tourism and environment.  Click here to view an archived version of the post.  We found the same image to be viral with similar caption in Hindi as well.  Click here to view an archived version of the post.  The same was also shared on Twitter multiple times with similar captions suggesting that Thackeray is sitting in the car with Chakraborty.  Click here to view an archived version of the tweet.  A reverse image search on the viral photo led us to a series of links from June 2019, which spoke about Thackeray having an outing with actor Disha Patani, on their birthday.  Thackeray and Patani both share their birthdays on June 13.  Articles by Times Of India and entertainment news website PinkVilla clearly state that the person in the photo with Thackeray is Patani.  Furthermore, there is no mention of Rhea Chakraborty anywhere in the articles.  We put images of Patani and Chakraborty (taken from their Instagram handles) next to the image of the woman in the viral photo, for closer comparison.  Left: Disha Patani; Middle: Woman in the viral photo; Right: Rhea Chakraborty.  Upon comparing, it becomes clear that the person in the car with Thackeray is indeed Disha Patani and not Rhea Chakraborty.


Check out the most eye-catching looks from the #Oscars red carpet https://t.co/7OPAyZdTOu https://t.co/p8GiQDdQzR

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


Indira Rasoi scheme in Rajasthan: Under the scheme, fresh and nutritious food will be provided at Rs 8 per plate.

https://t.co/atNgWteMoe

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday launched the Indira Rasoi scheme that will provide poor and needy people with nutritious and quality food at Rs 8 per plate in urban areas. How much does Indira Rasoi scheme cost? Each plate of food will be priced at Rs 20, the state government will grant subsidy of Rs 12 per plate with an estimated expenditure of Rs 100 crore every year. What all will be included in the Indira Rasoi plate for people? Under the scheme, fresh and nutritious food will be provided at Rs 8 per plate.  It will have 100 gms of pulses, 100 gms of vegetables, 250 gms chapatti and pickles.  The menu can be altered as per the local requirement recommended by the district-level committees. How many people are expected to benefit from Indira Rasoi scheme? It is expected, that under the scheme, food will be served to 1. 34 lakh people per day in the state. Where will the scheme be implemented in Rajasthan? The scheme will be rolled in 213 urban local bodies of the state, which include 10 locations each in the state capital’s Jaipur municipal corporation greater and heritage area. When will the food be served under Indira Rasoi scheme? The food will be made available from 8. 30 am till 1 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm. Who can help fund this scheme? Individuals or institutions can provide financial aid to CM Relief Fund or at district collector offices for this scheme. (With inputs from PTI)


My appeal to all MLAs is that to save democracy, to maintain people’s confidence in us and to avoid wrong traditions, you should listen to the voice of the people: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot https://t.co/dKhDflIkje

Barely a few days before the Rajasthan Assembly session is due to commence, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday appealed to all Congress legislators to save the democratic set-up of governance and to listen to the voice of people who had elected them. “My appeal to all MLAs is that to save democracy, to maintain people’s confidence in us and to avoid wrong traditions, you should listen to the voice of the people,” Gehlot wrote in a letter to all MLAsGehlot has been locked in a bitter power tussle with his erstwhile deputy Sachin Pilot with about 100 Congress MLAs supporting him.  The Congress legislators loyal to Gehlot are currently lodged in a Jaisalmer hotel as the party has accused the BJP of horse-trading following the open revolt by Pilot and 18 MLAs in his camp. ALSO READ | Rajasthan police file final report in 3 cases related to toppling of Gehlot govtAmid the severe political crisis, which Rajasthan has witnessed over the past few weeks, after Pilot’s open rebellion against the chief minister, the assembly session in the state will begin on August 14.  The Rajasthan chief minister will probably seek a floor test to prove his majority in the 200-member assembly. Former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot was removed from his post and also sacked as the president of the state unit of the Congress party after he and some legislators loyal to him rebelled against CM Gehlot.  “You may be a legislator from any political party, you should ensure and take a decision after understanding the voter’s feeling about how a people’s elected government continues to work strongly for the state’s welfare,” Gehlot said, stressing that efforts to topple the elected government had not been successful in Rajasthan. ALSO READ | Will welcome back rebels if party brass forgives them, says GehlotAhead of the assembly session, nearly six BJP MLAs from Rajasthan have shifted to Porbandar in Gujarat. BJP MLA Nirmal Kumawat had alleged that the Congress government in Rajasthan was “harassing” opposition MLAs, and said they were on a pilgrimage to Somnath to seek mental peace.


A man surprised his wife with a birthday cake that looked just like an Amazon box https://t.co/kIVGDAqT6Q https://t.co/jhyZ9OPmq6

"He makes fun of me for all the Amazon boxes we get. "6-year-old orders hundreds of dollars of toys on Amazon An Amazon-loving woman had a good laugh on her birthday this year when her husband surprised her with a cake celebrating her love for the e-commerce company. Emily McGuire of Sanford, North Carolina, said she's a proud Amazon Prime member and frequently shops the the site. "I can order anything from my coffee to my clothes," McGuire told "GMA. " "I find it super convenient and their customer service is amazing. "On McGuire's birthday, July 19, her husband, Waylon "Mac" McGuire, came home with a cake, which was shaped like an Amazon package. "I just laughed.  It was super funny because he makes fun of me for all the Amazon boxes we get," McGuire said. McGuire posted photos of the life-like dessert onto her photography business' Facebook page where it got some love. McGuire blew out her candles alongside her husband and three kids, who helped her enjoy the chocolate-flavored cake. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Hollywood's A-listers brought their A-game to the Oscars red carpet. See the big fashion moments that have everyone talking. https://t.co/xTGZdWE3Vp https://t.co/rAvPBmzNJI


People injured during farmers protest that is not being covered by the mainstream media

A set of images showing injured men at a protest site is viral on social media with captions falsely claiming that the pictures are from the recent farmers' protest that had rocked several parts of the country in past few days.  BOOM found that the viral images show the members of Indian Youth Congress, Kerala.  We contacted MLA VT Balram, one of the protesters in the picture, who told us that the protest was organised demanding the resignation of a Kerala minister being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a gold smuggling case.  The images are viral at a time when farmers in several parts of the country are protesting against the three Farm Bills that got the President's nod on September 27, 2020.  Also read Protest Against Farm Bills Due To Misinformation: Dr Ashok Gulati The images are viral on social media with a Hindi caption that translates to 'Farmer protests get violent.  These images showing brutality against the food producers will frighten you.  The sold out media won't show you the atrocities against the farmers.  The media is busy distracting you from the real issues. . . '.   (Hindi: किसान आंदोलन हुआ उग्र तस्वीरें आपको भयभीत कर देगी अन्नदाताओं पर जो अत्याचार हो रहा है यह बिकाऊ दलाल गोदी मीडिया आपको नहीं दिखाएगा| दलाल गोदी मीडिया को  देश के असल मुद्दों से ध्यान भटकाने के लिए और सिर्फ हिंदू मुस्लिम करने के लिए पैसे दिए जा रहे हैं  नेता से ज्यादा देस की मीडिया देश को बर्बाद कर रही है) An archive of the post is available here.   Archive of posts with similar claims can be found here and here.   The set of images are viral on Twitter with similar caption.  An archive of the post is available here.   किसान आंदोलन हुआ उग्र तस्वीरें आपको भयभीत कर देगी अन्नदाताओं पर जो अत्याचार हो रहा है यह बिकाऊ दलाल गोदी मीडिया आपको नहीं दिखाएगा😡दलाल गोदी मीडिया को देश के असल मुद्दों से ध्यान भटकाने के लिए और सिर्फ हिंदू मुस्लिम करने के लिए पैसे दिए जा रहे हैं pic. twitter. com/Ge6NUGujjw Similar posts can be found here and here.  Also read Farmer Protest: Photo Of 2018 Delhi Farmers March Viral As Recent BOOM did a reverse image search on the pictures and found that one of the images was that of Indian National Congress leader VT Balram.  Balram is an MLA from Thrithala Assembly Constituency, Kerala.  We found a September 18 tweet from the official handle of Indian Youth Congress, Kerala which had some of the viral images.  The tweet read 'The Brutal lathicharge on @INCKerala MLA Balram VT and other @IYCKerala workers is highly condemnable.  Police resorting to such attacks and injure protestors is deplorable.  We demand proper investigation in to the cause of lathi charge and resignation of minister KT. Jaleel.  (Sic)'.  The Brutal lathicharge on @INCKerala MLA Balram VT and other @IYCKerala workers is highly condemnable. Police resorting to such attacks and injure protestors is deplorable. We demand proper investigation in to the cause of lathi charge and resignation of minister KT. Jaleel.  pic. twitter. com/rLQuuRRiDQ Other Congress politicians including Shashi Tharoor and Srinivas BV tweeted about the incident using the same set of pictures.  The archives of the tweets can be accessed here, here and here.    It's noteworthy that Kerala's higher education minister KT Jaleel is facing the heat of opposition parties over his alleged involvement in smuggling of gold through a diplomatic channel.   A report in Hindustan Times mentions that the smuggling case came to light on July 5 after seizure of 30 kg gold from a diplomatic consignment.  Read more about the gold smuggling case here and here.   In a recent development in the case, Jaleel was called for questioning by NIA officials on September 17 over his alleged involvement in the smuggling case.   According to a report published in the New Indian Express, protests had erupted across Kerala with protesters demanding Jaleel's resignation.  The protesters included workers of Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha; the youth wing of Congress and BJP respectively.  A news report published in the Indian Express on September 17 highlighted how the police used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, and mentions that VT Balram was one of the protesters who was injured.   More news reports can be found here and here.  BOOM then contacted Balram, who refuted the viral claims that the images were from a farmers' protest.  "These are from protests demanding resignation of a Kerala minister investigated by NIA on a gold smuggling case," Balram told BOOM.   Also read 2017 Video Of Mock Funeral Procession For Modi Revived With Fake Claim


President Trump walked out of discussions to end a partial government shutdown, now in its third week, calling discussions with congressional Democrats "a total waste of time" https://t.co/MLUvGFJIjX https://t.co/GlI6fBbDBK

Democrats said the president had a "temper tantrum. " Trump walks out of meeting with congressional leadersDemocrats came out of the latest government shutdown talks at the White House on Wednesday claiming that President Donald Trump walked out in a "temper tantrum" when they again refused to meet his demand that they agree to fund his border wall. After the meeting ended, the president tweeted that the negotiations were "a total waste of time. "Standing outside the West Wing, Republican and Democratic leaders described a meeting in the Situation Room that was dysfunctional, frustrating, and brief, lasting just 14 minutes. "It’s cold out here and the temperature wasn't much warmer inside the Situation Room," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the talks quickly broke down after Trump asked Democrats if they would agree to fund his proposed border wall. "We saw a temper tantrum because he couldn't get his way and he just walked out of the meeting," Schumer said, calling the president's decision to not reopen the government without border wall funding "cruel" and "callous" as federal workers will not get their first scheduled paycheck of the shutdown on Friday. "He sort of slammed the table and when Leader Pelosi said she didn't agree with the wall, he just walked out and said, 'We have nothing to discuss. ' So he said it was a waste of his time.  That is sad and unfortunate," Schumer said, describing the meeting. Vice President Mike Pence, speaking to reporters after the Democrats, agreed about the exchange, generally.  "He asked Speaker Pelosi that if he opened things up quickly, if he reopened the government quickly, would she be willing to agree to funding for a wall or a barrier on the southern border, and when she said 'no,' the president said 'good-bye,'" Pence said. But Pence disagreed about the president's tone. "The president walked into the room and passed out candy," Pence said.  "It's true.  I don't recall him ever raising his voice or slamming his hand," Pence said.  A White House aide confirmed the president tried to sweeten negotiations with Democrats by passing out Snickers, Butterfingers, and M&Ms. Arriving back on Capitol Hill, Pelosi didn't mince words about the confrontation. "It was a petulant President of the United States.  A person who would say ‘I will keep government shutdown for a month or years unless I get my way. ’ That’s just not the way democracy works," Pelosi said. Schumer disputed that Trump asked Pelosi for “border security. ” Schumer was emphatic when asked by ABC News about the characterization: “He said ‘the wall. ’”Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin described a perfunctory effort by the president.  “'I don’t know why I’m doing this.  I didn’t want to do this meeting.  They told me I had to do this meeting,'” Durbin recounted the president as saying.  “It was pretty clear his heart was not in this. ”No follow up meeting has been planned. A few hours before the White House meeting, with the government shutdown in Day 19, Trump made a rare drive up Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill to shore up support for his border security funding demands with Senate Republicans. Some Senate Republicans are breaking ranks and saying the president should reopen the government while discussions over border security continue. Before heading to Capitol Hill, during a bill signing to combat human trafficking in the Oval Office, the president claimed lawmakers from both sides of the aisle could strike a deal and said he has "tremendous" Republican support. "I really believe the Democrats and the Republicans are working together.  I think something will happen, I hope, otherwise we'll go about it in a different manner," Trump said. He said it would be "foolish" to give up on border security. As he arrived on Capitol Hill, he said there was "tremendous" and "unwavering" GOP support. Following lunch with Republicans, the president declared the party is "unified" but added that some members expressed concerns about what he described as "strategies. "“There was no discussion about anything other than solidarity,” the president said.  Florida Republican Sen.  Marco Rubio said afterward that while some senators stood and expressed concern about the dragged-out shutdown, the overwhelming sentiment was that Republicans should "stick together. "Sen.  John Kennedy, a Lousiana Republican, said, “If you asked me to describe the president in one word, I’d say ‘resolute. ’ He gave no indication of any intention of giving an inch. ” kennedy added, "Nancy Pelosi just hates Donald Trump more than she wants a solution. ”The president's trip to Capitol Hill is only his fifth public outing since the shutdown began in late December and it follows his first Oval Office address to the nation Tuesday night looking to make his case directly to the public. The president argued that a "growing humanitarian and security crisis" at the southern border requires the government to put down $5. 7 billion for a border wall, in addition to new technology and detention beds.  Those demands have put negotiations between Republicans and Democrats at a standstill, as Democrats say they will not capitulate to what they call a "waste" of taxpayer dollars for "an expensive and ineffective wall. " Meanwhile, nearly 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed. Also on Wednesday, Schumer and Pelosi held a news conference with federal workers to draw attention to federal workers who may end up missing a paycheck on Friday if the shutdown continues. Schumer teed up his message for Trump: “The House passed legislation to reopen the government.  It’s time for President Trump [and] our Republican colleagues in the Senate, to accept it,” Schumer said.  “Our federal workers just want to do their job.  It’s time that you do yours. ”Pelosi said Trump “is being unfair” and that his address from the Oval Office last night was “not factual. ”“Last night, the president spouted more malice and misinformation appealing to fear instead of facts,” Pelosi said.  “The reality is that the president could end the Trump shutdown and reopen government today, and he should. ”Calling the shutdown a “dark time for America’s workers,” Pelosi urged Trump to “end the senseless shutdown” in over to pave the way for lawmakers to debate border security. “You wanna negotiate on the wall?  Let’s proceed in a way that is respectful of our security and respectful of our values,” Pelosi said. Schumer said the shutdown “ought to end now” and warned that federal workers could miss a paycheck without a speedy resolution to the impasse. “The president needs to come to his senses and end this shutdown now,” Schumer said.  “I don’t think he persuaded a soul with his talk last night.  It was same old, same old.  Mistruths.  Divisiveness. ”Pelosi ducked a question asking whether she’d strike a middle ground on the president’s $5. 7 billion request, and said she wants a Republican offer “in writing” to share with the public. “We have been negotiating,” she said.  “The White House seems to move the goalposts every time they come with a proposal.  They walk away from it.  Pretty soon these goal posts won’t even be in the stadium. ”“The first order of business: open up the government,” Schumer stressed. Democrats said they planned to once again present the president with the House legislation that would reopen the government -- but don't include money for a wall. Over the weekend, congressional staffers and the White House met multiple times in an effort to find common ground and reopen the government, but no progress was made. The president has maintained he will declare a "national emergency" to obtain border wall funds if the talks aren't fruitful. When asked by ABC News' Cecilia Vega why the president hasn't already declared a national emergency, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said it is 'certainly still on the table. ”“The best solution is to be able to work with Congress to get this done, you can close a lot of the loopholes, fund border security fully and that’s what we’re hopeful they’ll do," Sanders said. On Thursday, the president plans to make a trip to the U. S. - Mexico border in McAllen, Texas, as part of his PR blitz on border security.  ABC News' Karen Travers, Jordyn Phelps, Trish Turner and Mary Bruce contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Video shows Taj Mahal being cleaned ahead of Donald Trumps visit

A video of a fire engine spraying a Taj Mahal replica at an amusement park in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh is being passed off as the real Taj Mahal receiving a massive facelift ahead of the US presidential visit to Agra.   The president of United States Donald Trump is all set to arrive in Agra and visit the Taj Mahal, along with first lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner on February 24, 2020.  This is Trump's first visit to the country after becoming president, and he is slated to visit three cities, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Agra, before he heads back to Washington on Tuesday.   The video shows a fire engine releasing water to wash the minarets and the main monument like structure of the Taj replica.   The caption, when translated to English, reads, "When the Taj Mahal is bathed for Trump.  Taj and Bapu (read: Mahatma Gandhi) are same.  Modi talks ill about them and they are also taken care of because his vested interests. "  (Original text in Hindi:जब ट्रम्प के लिए ताजमहल को नहलाया गया: "ताज और बापू एक जैसे हैं, मोदी से गालियाँ भी खाते हैं और खुद के स्वार्थ के लिए दुलार भी पाते हैं. " )  The video is viral in the wake of the presidential visit to Agra, which has been beefed up with security.  PM Modi will not be accompanying Trump in the same.    It is also doing the rounds on Twitter with a similar narrative.   बादशाह सलामत का रुतबा आज भी है ताजमहल धुलवाने के लिए मोदी को रखा हुआ है।🤔 pic. twitter. com/uzxtuS64I5 Fact Check  BOOM was able to ascertain that the video is not of the real Taj Mahal , as vehicle entry is restricted in the area.  Furthermore, the flooring of the area is not similar to the 338-year old mausoleum.   Upon relevant keyword searches, we found that the video is from an amusement park in Bhopal, People's Mall, which has installed a Taj Mahal replica a few years ago.  Multiple videos of this replica matched with the structures visible in the viral footage.   Below is a comparison of the structure of the Taj Mahal replica, along with the footage of the viral video.   BOOM also compared the flooring of both the amusement park and the viral footage.   BOOM also reached out to an employee of the real estate company which constructed People's Mall, who confirmed that the video is from the amusement park.  "This is from the People's Mall in Bhopal, which has the seven wonders of the world.  The structure of the Taj Mahal replica is one of them.  The entire amusement park is set up on 200 acres of area," said the employee, who did not wish to be named.  However, it is unclear when the video was shot.   Reports of beautification of the area around the Taj have been doing the rounds.  An excerpt from a Business Standard report read, "On Saturday, this reporter found everyone from gardeners to masons working at breakneck speed.  If gardeners were on ground designing grass in star pattern (a feature of Mughal architecture), masons were fixing broken tiles and leaking fountains.  Then there were others cleaning paan (betel leaf) stains. " However, it is unlikely that the heritage structure would be given a water bath as shown in the viral video because water has tendencies of discolouring the structure.  To remove discoloration, the monument has earlier been cleaned five times earlier with Fuller's earth or the Multani Mitti, which absorbs dirt, grease and animal excrement.     In fact, the same treatment has been used to clean the replicas of the two graves of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal located inside the Taj Mahal for the first time, ahead of the presidential visit.  Their real graves are in a chamber below the replica.


Wisconsin Democrats are suing to block voting laws that they say force individuals to make an "untenable choice" between their safety and the right to vote as the coronavirus outbreak spreads in the US. https://t.co/N57n6tXwsE

"This primary election must move forward," the Ohio Democratic Party said. Coronavirus daily update: March 19, 2020Amidst rapid changes surrounding in-person voting as concerns of novel coronavirus spread, Democratic groups are suing to expand voter access at the polls in some states. The Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) sued Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose after Gov.  Mike DeWine ordered the polls closed on Tuesday due to a health emergency caused by coronavirus. LaRose set a new primary date for later in the summer, an action the ODP argued was not in his purview and which needed to be set by the state legislature. The suit argues that by ordering county boards of election to hold in-person voting on June 2, without any action taken by the state legislature, those who had intended to vote in-person on Tuesday may lose their chance. "This primary election must move forward," ODP Chairman David Pepper said Tuesday in a statement.  "Earlier today we said that we would litigate to defend voters’ right to fully participate in the state’s Democratic primary election, and in the absence of action by the General Assembly and with other actors moving to shut down the primary, we have filed with the Ohio Supreme Court to ensure that all eligible Ohio voters are able to exercise their right to vote in this primary. "Instead, they argue, the sole power to set an election day lies with the Ohio General Assembly, and state statute requires that voting occur "the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March," which in 2020, should be Tuesday, March 17. "Despite a patent and unambiguous lack of jurisdiction and legal authority to set the date of an election, Respondent Secretary asserted jurisdiction and legal authority in Directive 2020-06 to set the date of Ohio’s 2020 presidential primary for June 2, 2020," Daniel McTeague, the party's counsel, writes. Republican Ohio state House Speaker Larry Householder circulated a letter to his members on Tuesday, asking them to meet for a special session to set the state's in-person primary day. "I am contacting Republican House members and the Minority Leader is contacting Democratic House members to determine their ability to attend a session to "legally" adopt, change or extend Ohio’s 2020 primary election," Householder wrote in the letter. The Ohio legislature will meet next week to take up a number of issues related to the coronavirus. DeWine and LaRose argued in a joint statement issued Tuesday night that by holding elections, it would have gone against Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and risked the lives of Ohioans. "By preventing Ohioans from going to polling locations, we averted a situation which would have gone against the most recent scientific evidence available and could have dangerously advanced the spread of coronavirus across Ohio," they wrote.  "It is abundantly clear that it would have been impossible to carry out a fair, accessible, and safe election today. "In Wisconsin, the state Democratic party and Democratic National Committee filed suit against the Wisconsin Election Commission seeking to extend the voter registration deadline amid fears of coronavirus.  Wednesday was the last day to register to vote in Wisconsin. "Plaintiffs file this suit to ensure that Wisconsin voters, many of whom are their members and constituents, are able to fully exercise their right to vote in the midst of this unprecedented crisis," the filing said. The joint complaint also seeks to drop the photo-ID and proof of residency requirements for absentee ballot and voter registration requests "for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak," as well as push back the deadline to submit absentee main-in ballots beyond Election Day. The Wisconsin Election Commission declined to comment. The lawsuit comes as at least six states and one territory -- Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut and Puerto Rico -- postpone their presidential contests, shuffling the entire primary calendar amid concerns over the coronavirus. But the Wisconsin primary, which is slated for early spring, is currently moving forward as planned.  Earlier this week, Wisconsin Gov.  Tony Evers said that rescheduling the primary is not on the table "at this time" and that the governor's office is "evaluating this as it goes forward.  We’re hoping to hold it on the date if we possibly can. "Moving Wisconsin's contest is arguably more difficult than it would be for other states that have so far opted to delay their primaries, since Election Day in the state involves a full ballot -- from the presidential primaries down to city government and council members. The state, however, is already "retooling" to prepare for an election amid the outbreak, as one Milwaukee election official told ABC News on Wednesday. While state election officials are "strongly encouraging" voters cast absentee ballots by mail, in-person voting is still set to be an option on April 7. In Milwaukee, precautions are already underway, including equipping poll workers with gloves and masks, supplying polling sites with cleaning supplies and disinfecting wipes, and complying with CDC guidelines in terms of social distancing, by spacing out voters in line and limiting the number of people inside a polling site. But Democrats are still concerned over the impact of coronavirus on voting. "As Wisconsin citizens continue to distance themselves to ensure their safety, many will be unwilling and unable to risk their safety and the safety of others by waiting in line to register to vote and cast their vote on election day," the filing states. The plaintiffs added, "Many Wisconsin citizens also will be unwilling and unable to take on the safety risks of leaving their homes to obtain documents and to copy documents that are required under Wisconsin law to register to vote and to obtain an absentee ballot. "The complaint was filed a day after DNC Chair Tom Perez urged states in a statement to move to a vote-by-mail option, instead of rescheduling a contest. "The DNC is urging the remaining primary states to use a variety of other critical mechanisms that will make voting easier and safer for voters and election officials," Perez said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Delhi: Proceedings of Rajya Sabha begin. #BudgetSession2021 https://t.co/0fv7jULdPR

Rajya Sabha chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday instructed members of the House to not record the proceedings of the House using their mobile phones.  The chairperson said recording the House proceedings and then circulating it on social media amounts to breach of privilege and contempt of the House.  The use of mobile phones is barred on the floor of the House.  While Rajya Sabha television records and beams the House proceedings live, the chair has the authority to instruct that disruptions not be shown.  Naidu reminded the members of the ban on usage of cellular phones within the Rajya Sabha Chambers as informed to them through a Parliamentary Bulletin on January 29.  Also Read | Parliament proceedings halted amid protest over farm laws: All you need to know“As Members are aware, there is a restriction on the usage of cellular phones within the Rajya Sabha Chambers which is notified in the Parliamentary Bulletin Part-II, issued prior to the commencement of the sittings of a Session.  It has been observed that some Members are using their mobile phones to record the proceedings of the House while sitting in the Chamber.  Such conduct is against the Parliamentary etiquette and is not expected from the honourable Members,” Naidu said.  The issue of members using their mobile phones to record the House proceedings was also flagged during the Monsoon session that saw disruptions and unruly scenes play out on the floor of the House when the farm bills came up for voting.  Some members had used their phones to capture how some Opposition MPs tore papers and jostled with the marshals.


A video of mix-up at an award ceremony of a skating competition has been shared by several social media users with the false claim that it happened during the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  However, we found that the video was from the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2019 held in France.  The mix-up occurred when the person awarding the medals gave the gold medal to the person who came third who later placed the medal on the skater who came first.  CLAIM The video was shared with caption that read, "Olympic mistake moments".  Archives of more such posts can be found here, here, here and here.   WHAT WE FOUND OUT We extracted keyframes from the video using the InVID WeVerify Google Chrome Extension and conducted a reverse image search on some of the keyframes.  In the search results, we found the same video uploaded on YouTube on 19 November 2019.   Taking a hint from the description, we conducted a keyword search of the names of the participants and found that similar images on stock photo websites - Getty Images and Alamy.  While going through other photos on Alamy, we came across a photo in which we found a scene similar to the viral video.  According to the image caption, the contestants were Alina Zagitova of Russia, Alena Kostornaia of Russia and Mariah Bell of the United States at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Internationaux de France at Polesud Ice Skating Rink on 2 November 2019 in Grenoble, France.  A video of the Ladies Free Skating tournament can be seen here.  The advertising on the side of the ice rink were the same as that in the viral video.  A news report Russian state-affialiated media outlet RT published on 3 November 2019 also talked about the mix up that took place in the award ceremony.   The report said, "Alena Kostornaia, 16, who won her first-ever senior Grand Prix in Grenoble, burst into laughter after discovering that her medal had been awarded to American counterpart Mariah Bell, who finished third. "  Evidently, an old clip a mix-up at skating competition was shared by social media users as a recent clip from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.


Police found more than 20,000 rounds of handgun and rifle ammunition, high capacity magazines, five tactical style rifles, a shotgun, three handguns and body armor in this UPS employee's home https://t.co/8nbVG7ktk1

Thomas Andrews was found with 20,000 rounds of ammunition and several guns. UPS worker who threatened mass shooting arrestedA California UPS worker who threatened to carry out a mass shooting at his employer’s premises had multiple tactical rifles and 20,000 rounds of ammunition at his home when it was raided by police. Thomas Andrews, 32, of Sunnyvale, California, was reported to police on March 1 for sending threatening text messages to his employer, saying that he was planning a mass shooting at the UPS facility in the city, according to a statement from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. “He alluded to a mass shooting in his text messages,” Sunnyvale police Capt.  Dan Pistor told the Associated Press.  “I definitely think we avoided a tragedy. ”Officers began searching for Andrews that day, who they had discovered was the registered owner of four handguns and a rifle.  Shortly after 11 p. m.  that evening, officers spotted Andrews driving and attempted to pull him over, but he fled, leading officers into a pursuit on Highway 101. With help from officers from the California Highway Patrol, Andrews was stopped and taken into custody. “Initially he indicated he wanted to fight with the officers, but then he surrendered without injury,” Pistor said. Detectives who searched his home found over 20,000 rounds of handgun and rifle ammunition along with several high-capacity magazines, five tactical style rifles, a shotgun, three handguns and body armor. Police said that several tactical backpacks containing ammunition were “staged” at the front door of Andrews’ home. Andrews has been charged with making criminal threats, evading police, driving under the influence and multiple weapons violations. It is not clear if Andrews has a lawyer. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Chaos unfolded at Hong Kong's airport when riot police clashed with protesters who flooded the airport to rally against a proposed law, which would have seen people extradited into mainland China's opaque justice system.

Here's what the unrest looked like https://t.co/kgUc7DeXyq https://t.co/Qmghgpcnr8

Demonstrators have been occupying the airport. Pro-democracy protests turn violent as Hong Kong airport cancels flights againHONG KONG -- Riot police stormed the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday as protests by thousands of anti-government demonstrators forced flights to be canceled for the second straight day. Travelers at one of the world's busiest airports were advised that check-in had been suspended and hundreds flights were cancelled, and that they should leave the terminals as quickly as possible and contact airlines for more information. The clashes appeared to represent an escalation 10 weeks after the protest's massive, peaceful beginnings in early June, when hundreds of thousands marched in the semi-autonomous city against a now-suspended extradition bill.  A Chinese official said Tuesday that protesters "have begun to show signs of terrorism," and China appeared to be weighing a crackdown on the democratic movement. Bolstered by anger over the crackdown by Hong Kong police, the protests has grown more confrontational in recent weeks and reached new levels last Monday with a city-wide strike that disrupting traffic and hundreds of flights. After weeks of issuing warnings, but deferring to Hong Kong authorities to quell protests, Beijing has hinted at a more assertive posture.  Chinese paramilitary police were seen in video released by the state holding exercises in Shenzhen, China, which sits across the border from Hong Kong.  Images circulated online showing a convoy of armored personnel carriers from the People’s Armed Police traveling to the site. U. S.  President Donald Trump meanwhile took to Twitter to say that U. S.  intelligence "has informed us that the Chinese Government is moving troops to the Border with Hong Kong.  Everyone should be calm and safe! "Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters he hoped the situation in Hong Kong "works out for everybody, including China, by the way," and that "nobody gets killed. "The U. S.  State Department has urged "all sides to exercise restraint," according to a spokesperson, but it has vocalized more support for the protesters than Trump, saying the U. S.  is "staunch in our support for freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly in Hong Kong. "The spokesperson also urged China "to adhere to its commitments. . .  to allow Hong Kong to exercise a high degree of autonomy" and noted "concerns about the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy. "China resumed control of Hong Kong in 1997 after 156 years of British rule and pledged to respect the autonomy and way of life of the city, which had become an economic powerhouse and bastion of freedom in the region. Tensions come as the United States and China have been locked in a year-long trade war and both sides have accused the other of engaging in unfair practices and dragging their heels to reach a deal.  Senior U. S.  officials like Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have been sharply critical of China, especially its increasingly strong hand around the world and human rights record at home, and last month Pompeo called China’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority the “stain of the century. ”On Tuesday, Pompeo met in New York with China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi, the director of the Central Foreign Affairs Committee.  The two men "had an extended exchange of views on U. S. -China relations," according to State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.  The State Department would not say how long the meeting had been planned in advance and whether they discussed Hong Kong. The protests in semi-autonomous Hong Kong began in June, when hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to march against a proposed change to Hong Kong’s extradition law that would allow individuals to be sent to mainland China for trial.  The proposal prompted fears that China would use it to round up political dissidents. Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, suspended consideration of the bill indefinitely but stopped short of completely withdrawing it from the legislative agenda.  She refused to say Tuesday whether she had the authority to do so, prompting outrage from protesters who call her a puppet for Beijing. Tuesday marked the fifth consecutive day that the black-clad demonstrators have occupied the airport.  Protesters held an orderly sit-in at one of the terminals and elsewhere clashed with police in chaotic scenes that unfolded on live television. At one point, a group swarmed around and detained one man, believed to be an undercover police officer, and some protesters attacked him while others tried to shield him.  Medics eventually arrived and cared for him before he was carried out of the airport. Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of China's state-owned nationalist newspaper Global Times, later said the man was one of his reporters and had been sent to the hospital. Sean Lavin, an American who is in Hong Kong on vacation, said that he and his travel companions are slated to fly out of the airport on Wednesday, but the protests have left that in question. "I'm supposed to leave tomorrow late afternoon so I've been monitoring the airport [to] see if we can," Lavin told ABC News Live by phone.  "Right now we don't know if we can leave so we're watching very closely. "Lavin said his group arrived in Hong Kong from Phuket, Thailand, several days ago, and that they were surprised to find throngs of protesters after making their way through customs. "It was something I've never experienced before," he said, adding that the protesters were "very polite" and helped his group find their way out of the airport. ABC News' Morgan Winsor, Meghan Keneally and Benjamin Gittleson contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


I’m not joining BJP: Sachin Pilot to ANI https://t.co/DhbVJs2X4b

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who was removed as the president of Congress’ state unit on Tuesday, said that he is not going to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “I am not joining BJP.  Those saying that are just trying to lower me in Gandhis’ eyes,” he told Hindustan Times.  Sachin Pilot also denied colluding with the BJP to conspire against the Congress. Pilot also cancelled a press conference scheduled for today. Also Read: BJP waiting in wings, watching events unfoldThe Congress had removed Pilot as Rajasthan Congress chief on Tuesday.  He was also dropped by chief minister Ashok Gehlot from the cabinet after a meeting of the Congress’ legislature party (CLP).  Also removed along with him from the cabinet were food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Meena and tourism minister Vishvendra Singh. Rajasthan education minister Govind Singh Dotasra was named the new Congress chief in Rajasthan.  The party also sacked Mukesh Bhakar and Rakesh Pareek as presidents of frontal organisations Youth Congress and Sewa Dal. Rajasthan has been facing a political crisis after Pilot, along with his supporters, left the state leaving the Congress government led by Gehlot in a lurch.  Pilot claimed that after his leaving, the Gehlot government has come in minority and sought a floor test. The grand old party immediately deputed two senior leaders to resolve the crisis and bring Pilot and the other rebels back into the fold.  But all the efforts were futile and Pilot did not attend the two CLP meetings called by the party on Monday and Tuesday. Responding to the rebellion, Congress dismissed Pilot as deputy chief minister, sacked him as the state unit president of the party, removed two of his loyalists from the cabinet, accused his camp of “conspiring” with the BJP to destabilise the government, and contended that its government has numbers. On Tuesday, 101 legislators - in an assembly of 200 - attended the CLP meeting at the Fairmont hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur, which included 10 independent legislators and two from Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and one from the Communist Party of India (Marxist); the other CPIM legislator was unwell.  However, in the afternoon, the two BTP legislators left the hotel, and went home, saying they would take a call on supporting a political party at an “appropriate” time. Also Read: Numbers behind Rajasthan storyPilot’s camp claimed to have the support of 22 legislators, including three independents, also said that six other legislators would join it soon, and rejected Gehlot’s claims of being in a majority.


In an April 1992 Wall Street Journal op-ed by then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, titled “How I Learned to Love the New World Order,” he argued for a "one world government" and to destroy individual national sovereignty.

As the Taliban took over Afghanistan, U. S.  President Joe Biden pulled American troops out in August 2021, with the last military plane departing at the end of the month, marking the end of a two-decade-long presence in the country.   Biden has faced plenty of criticism for the rushed departure particularly from right-wing voices, and the internet pulled out an old article he wrote for The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), titled “How I Learned to Love the New World Order,” to bolster arguments against him.  According to numerous posts like this one, the essay was arguing for the destruction of “national sovereignty” and the establishment of “a one world government. ”  Some claimed that because of the headline, Biden supported a “New World Order,” which advocates for “one world government. ” This stems from the New World Order (NWO) conspiracy theory, which claims that a secret group of global elites is seeking to establish an all-powerful, authoritarian, one-world government.   The essay was indeed published by The Wall Street Journal on April 23, 1992.  We found a copy in the archives of the New York Public Library.  The full version can be seen below: Biden wrote the essay in response to a Wall Street Journal editorial that claimed he was in favor of “neo-isolationism. ” To be clear, in Biden’s essay, he was not talking about the NWO conspiracy theory.  He argued that the Pentagon’s strategy of making America a “Globocop” would render it a “hollow superpower. ”  The highlights made in the blog post above about his essay do not support the argument that Biden wants to “destroy national sovereignty. ” In the article Biden argues for Americans to pull back on military intervention and build up economic might: “Bristling with weapons, we would continue our economic decline, while rising industrial and financial giants in Europe and Asia viewed our military pretensions with indifference or contempt. ” The essay also addresses America’s role as a “Globocop,” arguing that “Power also emanates from […] the economic leverage to wield diplomatic clout,” and not from “the barrel of a gun. ” Biden argues in favor of multilateral military action by breathing “life into the U. N.  Charter. ” He envisions “a permanent commitment of forces, for use by the Security Council.  That means a presumption of collective action — but with a U. S.  veto. ” He concluded: “We must get lean militarily, revitalize American economic strength, and exercise a diplomatic leadership that puts new muscle into institutions of collective security. ”  The blog post makes another claim: that Biden wrote the WSJ article many years before writing the Patriot Act, a counterterrorism bill that increased surveillance capabilities by U. S.  law enforcement after 9/11.  This is partially true, because Biden did support the Patriot Act and claimed he was responsible for authoring earlier versions of counterterrorism legislation that featured prominently in it.  Biden introduced and authored the Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995, which he argued provided one source of inspiration for the 2001 Patriot Act.    In October 2001, he said in a Senate speech supporting the Patriot Act: “It allows law enforcement to keep up with the modern technology these terrorists are using.  The bill contains several provisions which are identical or nearly identical to those I previously proposed. ”  The Patriot Act was criticized by civil rights advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who said it turned regular citizens into suspects, and resulted in a loss of privacy.  While civil rights experts have criticized his support for the law, that criticism does not suggest that Biden is trying to build a “one world government. ”  While the WSJ did publish this essay by Biden, the article did not make the arguments that critical blog posts on social media are claiming.  As such, we rate this claim as “False. ” Sources: “Afghanistan: Last US Military Flight Departs Ending America’s Longest War. ” BBC News, 31 Aug.  2021.  www. bbc. com, https://www. bbc. com/news/world-asia-58390085.  Accessed 8 Sept.  2021.  “How I Learned to Love the New World Order. ” Wall Street Journal (1923-), Apr 23, 1992, pp.  1.  ProQuest, http://ezproxy. nypl. org/login? url=https://www-proquest-com. i. ezproxy. nypl. org/historical-newspapers/how-i-learned-love-new-world-order/docview/135656899/se-2? accountid=35635.  Accessed 8 Sept.  2021.  Hsu, Hua.  “50 Years of Conspiracy Theories – New World Order — New York Magazine – Nymag. ” New York Magazine, https://nymag. com/news/features/conspiracy-theories/new-world-order/.  Accessed 8 Sept.  2021.  Senate Approves USA PATRIOT Anti-Terrorism Legislation.  https://sgp. fas. org/congress/2001/s102501. html.  Accessed 8 Sept.  2021.  “Surveillance Under the Patriot Act. ” American Civil Liberties Union, https://www. aclu. org/issues/national-security/privacy-and-surveillance/surveillance-under-patriot-act.  Accessed 8 Sept.  2021.  Ungurean, Geri.  “JOE BIDEN Proclaimed How He ‘Learned to Love the NEW WORLD ORDER’ in a Wall Street Piece from 1992: Article Is Clearly Shown in This WP Piece. ” Absolute Truth from the Word of God, 30 Aug.  2021, https://grandmageri422. me/2021/08/30/joe-biden-how-i-learned-to-love-the-new-world-order/.  Accessed 8 Sept.  2021.


PM Narendra Modi to address centenary celebrations of Visva-Bharati University today

https://t.co/aU3f8MZY1P https://t.co/ltuds9xjUH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the centenary celebrations of Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal’s Santiniketan at 11am on December 24. “Looking forward to addressing the centenary celebrations of the iconic #VisvaBharati University, Shantiniketan, among our premium centres of learning which is closely associated with Gurudev Tagore.  Do tune in tomorrow, 24th December at 11 AM,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted on Wednesday.  Looking forward to addressing the centenary celebrations of the iconic #VisvaBharati University, Shantiniketan, among our premium centres of learning which is closely associated with Gurudev Tagore.  Do tune in tomorrow, 24th December at 11 AM.  pic. twitter. com/d4ZAcA9IUeThe Governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will participate in the event, according to a release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, is the oldest Central University in the country.  In May 1951, Visva-Bharati was declared to be a Central University and an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament. Initially, the University was run based on the teachings of Tagore but it gradually evolved into the format in which modern universities developed elsewhere.  The Prime Minister is the Chancellor of the University, the PMO release said.  On Tuesday, PM Modi addressed the centenary celebrations of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).  He stressed on the importance of ‘unity in diversity’ in his address and said “no one is left behind due one’s religion, everyone gets the opportunity to move ahead, everyone is able to realise their dreams”.


Read the entire letter Attorney General William Barr sent to Congress on the Mueller report: https://t.co/LDChKTNhSN https://t.co/jfNaGJAT6L

  As Robert Mueller exits stage left, the Justice Department will continue to pursue a handful of investigations – and potentially more prosecutions – that began with or were bolstered by the special counsel’s work.  And a significant group of them still focus around President Donald Trump.

  The still-live investigations range from an expansive probe into the Trump inaugural committee, to various investigations relating to former top Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, to tips that stemmed from Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen’s experience with Trump and his family’s company.  It’s possible other investigations are being conducted quietly, as well.

Takeaways from the Mueller report summary

  Attorney General William Barr confirmed as much Sunday in his letter to Congress about the end of Mueller’s work.  “During the course of his investigation, the Special Counsel also referred several matters to other offices for further action,” Barr writes – then notes that some referred matters are “ongoing. ”

  In all, Mueller leaves behind a mess of prosecutors in federal and state government still collecting documents, interviewing witnesses and prosecuting cases that may keep Trump’s family and associates on edge for months.

  Much of the apparent action so far has been out of the powerful, insular US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan.  The Southern District of New York office is already looking into donations and expenditures of the Trump inaugural, into the Trump Organization, into allegations from Cohen related to campaign finance and a possible suggested pardon.  They’re also investigating well-known US lobbyists who worked for Ukraine.

  Prosecutors from state and local offices and other federal prosecutor offices are also getting involved in the sprawling set of cases.

  Federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York in February sent a wide-ranging subpoena to the Trump inaugural committee, marking a major step in what could be a devastating probe in Trump’s political world.

  The Manhattan-based prosecutors were seeking virtually every piece of documentation related to the inaugural’s donors, vendors and finances.

  The subpoena, which was signed by Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman, disclosed that prosecutors are investigating a broad array of potential crimes related to the inauguration’s business conduct: conspiracy against the US, false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, inaugural committee disclosure violations and violations of laws prohibiting contributions by foreign nations and contributions in the name of another person, also known as straw donors.

  The subpoena also specifically sought information on a donor named Imaad Zuberi and his investment firm, Avenue Ventures LLC, which donated $900,000 to the inaugural fund, according to Federal Election Commission records.

  State attorneys general in New Jersey and DC are looking into the inaugural as well.

  At the same time, Cohen, the President’s former personal attorney, has dangled allegations publicly against Trump, his company and others.  One of those allegations may lead to an obstruction inquiry, after Cohen disclosed emails that he contends suggest the possibility of a presidential pardon as Cohen considered cutting a deal with prosecutors regarding his own legal troubles.

  Attorney Robert Costello, who sent the emails, disputes that the emails were discussing a potential pardon.  Cohen, under oath, has also accused Trump of indirectly instructing him to lie in a statement to Congress.  Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have requested the emails between Cohen and Costello, a source familiar with the matter tells CNN.

  Cohen also alleged, while testifying to Congress last month, that Trump engaged in insurance fraud, which a state regulator in New York is looking into.  Separately, Cohen alleged Trump lied to Deutsche Bank when trying to get a business loan.

Erin Burnett shows what's in new Cohen documents

  Cohen also provided details about campaign finance impropriety around the time Trump took office.

  Cohen pleaded guilty last year to two campaign finance criminal charges for facilitating payments to two women while he ran for President so they would keep quiet about alleged extramarital affairs.

  Since last summer, Manhattan federal prosecutors have been examining whether executives at the Trump Organization violated campaign-finance laws in the company’s effort to reimburse Cohen for the $130,000 he paid during the 2016 election to silence an adult-film actress, Stormy Daniels, who claimed a sexual encounter with Trump (Trump has denied the affair).

  More recently, prosecutors have asked to interview executives at the President’s family business, CNN has reported.  Because of the ongoing investigation, information about the hush-money payments Cohen made or orchestrated was heavily redacted from search warrant material related to the Cohen case that was made public last week.

  The Cohen case also resulted in an agreement that prosecutors wouldn’t charge the parent company of the National Enquirer, American Media Inc, which, in consultation with Trump and Cohen, helped diminish potentially damaging stories about the then-presidential candidate.  But now prosecutors are again scrutinizing the publisher to determine whether it violated the agreement.

  That agreement, in which the publisher admitted it sought to influence the 2016 election by paying $150,000 to a former Playboy model to silence her claims of an affair with Trump, required the company not to commit any further crimes.

  In February, however, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos accused AMI of attempted extortion and blackmail after the National Enquirer published photos and texts disclosing an affair he was having.  Prosecutors are continuing to evaluate whether the company’s actions violated the agreement, but they are cautious about the idea of bringing charges against a news organization because of First Amendment concerns, according to a person familiar with the matter.

  An inquiry formerly led by Mueller into Manafort’s lobbying efforts for Ukrainian politicians has also been farmed out – parts of it more than once – to other prosecutors’ offices.

  Last spring, Mueller referred to the Manhattan US Attorney’s office an investigation into whether a collection of Republican and Democratic political operatives had operated as unregistered foreign agents.  The probe looked at former Obama White House counsel Greg Craig and his former law firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; longtime Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta and his former firm, the Podesta Group; and lobbyist Vin Weber, a former Minnesota Republican congressman, and his firm, Mercury Public Affairs.

  The probe of Skadden and Craig then moved again, this time to the Justice Department’s national security division, with which Skadden settled in January and agreed to turn over $4. 6 million it earned for 2012 work for Ukraine orchestrated by Manafort.

  That settlement appeared to suggest Craig could be exposed to potential criminal charges for “false and misleading statements” and for failing to register as a foreign agent, and the national security division is now weighing whether to bring a case against him, according to people familiar with the matter.  Court filings from the Justice Department in an unrelated criminal case have also pinned the wrongdoing on Craig, without specifically naming him, in recent weeks.

  The inquiries into the Podesta and Mercury firms, however, remain with the Manhattan US Attorney’s office, which has continued to conduct interviews in service of the investigation as recently as several weeks ago, according to people familiar with the matter.

  Separately, the Manhattan District Attorney filed new criminal charges against Manafort for fraud less than an hour after he was sentenced in federal court this month for admitting to similar violations.  That case is still in its preliminary stage in court.

  Separately, Mueller’s office’s coming closure doesn’t mean court activity he began will just end.  Instead, Mueller’s office has already tapped other parts of the Justice Department for support, especially the DC US Attorney’s Office and the National Security Division.

  Top cooperator Gates, for instance, will be dealing with a new group of prosecutors for his still-unscheduled sentencing in DC District Court.  His case — originally opened as a conspiracy prosecution against he and Manafort – will be handed off to the DC US Attorney’s Office, the special counsel’s office said on Saturday.

  The DC US Attorney’s Office – which is led by Jessie Liu, Trump’s pick for the No.  3 position in the Justice Department — has already stepped up to prosecute several cases alongside Mueller, like those against Concord Management and Consulting and against Roger Stone, so the Gates hand-off is a natural fit.

Why Mueller cares about Manafort & Gates

  Gates pleaded guilty last February, flipping on Manafort and signing up to help prosecutors as a witness at the Manafort trial and in other ongoing investigations.

  Gates continues to cooperate with prosecutors in several investigations, prosecutors said in court this month.  And those appear to be outside of DC.  One of those investigations appears to be the inaugural probe in New York.

  Two other pending court cases that Mueller’s team alone handled — the criminal prosecution of Michael Flynn and the pursuit of grand jury testimony from Roger Stone associate Andrew Miller — do not yet have hand-off plans finalized, the special counsel’s office said Saturday.

  Flynn, who pleaded guilty in December 2017 to a lying charge, isn’t yet ready for sentencing.  He’s expected to be a star witness in a case brought by Northern Virginia federal prosecutors against his former lobbying partner, who’s pleaded not guilty for illegally working for Turkey.

  Finally, there are two major question marks that Mueller never answered, and that remain as parts of ongoing investigations, according to recent court records.

  One is the communications between Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik in 2016, which Mueller’s team asserted was at the heart of their work, and the other is the pursuit of documents from a still-unnamed foreign-government owned company.  That company is still refusing to comply with a grand jury subpoena Mueller sent it last year, and has looked to the Supreme Court for help, citing sovereign immunity.  The Supreme Court reviewed the proposed case on Friday but hasn’t yet said what it will do.
© 2021 Cable News Network.  A Warner Media Company.  All Rights Reserved.   CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.


Immediately after President Trump's announcement of a 30-day ban on travel to the US from Europe, his administration made clear the ban applies only to foreign nationals, not American citizens and permanent residents. https://t.co/loDTrXlwEi

The ban comes amid growing public anxiety over the economy and public healthTrump orders 30-day travel ban for parts of EuropeAmid growing public anxiety over the novel coronavirus, President Donald Trump announced an extraordinary ban on some travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days and called for a series of stimulus measures to blunt the economic side effects of the virus. "To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days," Trump declared during a prime-time address to the nation from the Oval Office Wednesday night. The new travel restrictions will take effect Friday at midnight, but Trump's order does not ban all travel from Europe. The Trump administration is restricting travel to the U. S.  by certain foreign nationals who have traveled to any of the 26 European countries identified (a list that includes Italy, Spain, France and Germany but omits others like the U. K. , Ireland, Croatia and Ukraine) in the past 14 days before coming to the U. S. Restrictions exempt U. S.  citizens, permanent residents (green card holders) and foreign nationals who are immediate family members such as the spouses and children of U. S.  citizens and permanent residents who have undergone appropriate screenings. "We are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people," Trump said, emphasizing that the pandemic started off of U. S.  shores, and specifically pinpointing China. Globally, there are more than 126,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 4,630 deaths reported.  In the U. S. , there are at least 1,300 confirmed cases with 38 coronavirus-related deaths. Even as the president sought to reassure a jittery public that "this is not the financial crisis" and is "just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world," he called for a series of dramatic stimulus actions to prop up the American economy from the side effects of the virus. "To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship I will soon be taking emergency action, which is unprecedented, to provide financial relief," the president said. He specifically ordered the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain impacted individuals and businesses and called on Congress to provide "immediate" payroll tax relief, in addition to other measures. During his speech, Trump misspoke when he said prohibitions would impact a "tremendous amount" of trade and cargo.  He later clarified in a tweet that trade won't be affected by the Europe travel ban.  "The restriction stops people not goods," he tweeted. The president broadly sought to credit his administration's actions thus far, making the case that the situation could have been worse -- even as the administration has come under fire for a slow rollout of testing. "This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.  I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we'll significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and we'll ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus," Trump said. The president also reiterated the CDC's guidelines to Americans to protect themselves and others from the spread of the virus. "Wash your hands, clean often-used surfaces, cover your face and mouth if you sneeze or cough.  Most of all, if you're sick or not feeling well, stay home," Trump said. He also emphasized making the effort to specifically protect older Americans by avoiding non-essential travel in crowded areas and avoiding all medically unnecessary trips to nursing homes. The president -- who has himself been guilty of politicizing the issue with his frequent mentions of "do-nothing Democrats" -- closed his address with a message of unity, urging the nation to come together to overcome the threat. "We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family.  As history has proven time and time again, Americans always rise to the challenge and overcome adversity.  Our future remains brighter than anyone can imagine.  Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before," Trump said. Following his address, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham announced the president's events in Nevada and Colorado would be canceled "out of an abundance of caution. " Trump had been set to travel to Nevada on Thursday. A campaign event set to feature the president, scheduled for March 19 in Milwaukee, was also postponed, Tim Murtagh, the Trump campaign's communications director, announced on Twitter.  The event had been announced about 24 hours earlier. ABC News' Will Steakin, William Mansell and Anne Flaherty contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


The Mueller probe ends, and the gloating begins in Moscow | Analysis by CNN's Nathan Hodge https://t.co/jyaB8dL6up https://t.co/7nb7vBDuzR

Questions probed by Mueller have been kicked over to the political processes. Trump touts 'no collusion with Russia' after Mueller reportThe TAKE with Rick KleinNo collusion, no obstruction and no prosecution -- that's true to a point, and a significant point at that. But despite what President Donald Trump says, there is no exoneration.  There is certainly no conclusion to the issues that have consumed much of the Trump presidency, either. The questions probed by special counsel Robert Mueller and examined by the Department of Justice have now been kicked over to the political processes that were always going to have to deal with them anyway. Mueller was imbued with unrealistic expectations that he would render final judgments on an immensely complicated series of subjects.  He left it to the attorney general to determine whether the president obstructed justice, and Democrats on Capitol Hill will ask questions about that decision. Beyond that, and beyond the calls for the full Mueller report to be released, the Democratic presidential candidates are largely shrugging off the end of the Mueller era.  Most of them have long known he was never going to do the hard work for them. "We need to recognize that's not going to change a lot of hearts and minds," Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, said over the weekend regarding the release of the Mueller report. The focus on Mueller will be in large measure about what he didn't find and what he opted not to do. But what he did bring to light -- in taking his time, in submitting his findings and in drawing out presidential actions along the way -- will be quite enough for the political system to digest for a long while. The RUNDOWN with John VerhovekWhile the key findings of Mueller's report have been made public, Democrats vying for the party's presidential nomination are still preaching transparency.  And as they prepare to campaign in the post-Mueller era, they are beginning to search for an effective messaging strategy that can no longer rely on the uncertainty surrounding the famed prosecutor's findings. "It is not often that I agree with Richard Nixon, but he was right to say that the American people have a right to know whether or not their president is a crook. " Sen.  Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N. Y. , said Sunday during her official campaign launch speech standing in front of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City. "Nobody, including the president of the United States, is above the law.  The people have a right to know what's in that report," Sen.  Bernie Sanders said over the weekend during a swing through California. But in a sign that they have known for some time that their hopes of beating Trump in 2020 could never depend on the contents of Mueller's report, most Democratic presidential hopefuls -- Gillibrand and Sanders included -- are instead focused on pitching policies and honing a message of an America that could move on from the partisan bickering and rancor that has defined the last two years. "I am not running for president because of who I'm fighting against, I'm running for president because of who I'm fighting for," Gillibrand said Sunday. Sen.  Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. , has been running a policy-centric campaign, while former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke is pitching himself as a unifying figure that could transcend the nastiness of today's political discourse. Whatever Mueller's full report does reveal, the tone of these Democratic contenders indicates that their strategy for victory in 2020 is not just to offer an anti-Trump argument, but to articulate a clear vision of the type of change they want to see in this country. The TIP with Samantha SergiDemocratic presidential candidates flocked to South Carolina in an attempt to court the black vote, but there were actually very few black voters at four events ABC News covered this weekend. Noticeably, O'Rourke and Buttigeig lacked diversity among the crowds they drew on Friday and Saturday in Columbia and Rock Hill, South Carolina.  Both cities are made up of roughly 47 percent of people of color. At a meet-and-greet event with O'Rourke on the University of South Carolina's campus in Columbia, five young, black women left 13 minutes into his speech when he was talking about the mass incarceration of black men. Compared to Sen.  Cory Booker, D-N. J. , and O'Rourke, Buttigeig drew the largest overall crowd during a Q&A session in the gymnasium of Clinton College, a historically black college in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  While the crowd was large, there were only a handful of people of color in attendance. THE PLAYLISTABC News' "Start Here" podcast.  Monday morning's special edition of "Start Here" features a full breakdown of Attorney General William Barr's initial review of special counsel Robert Mueller's report into Russian election interference.  Tune in to hear what was in the letter, how the president is reacting and what Congress plans to do next.  http://apple. co/2HPocUL"The Investigation" podcast.  In a special episode of "The Investigation," the ABC News investigative team breaks down the conclusion of the Mueller investigation.  After 2,800 subpoenas, 500 search warrants, more than 500 witnesses interviewed, Mueller concluded that "the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities" while not officially exonerating the president on obstruction of justice charges.  Our reporters speak with former Homeland Security official John Cohen and ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce.  Look for new episodes of "The Investigation" all this week. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAYDownload the ABC News app and select "The Note" as an item of interest to receive the day's sharpest political analysis.  The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead.  Please check back tomorrow for the latest. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events


Kanipakam Ganesh temple, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, is being used as a quarantine centre by the Sickular AP CM Jagan!! Why not Mosques n Churches r taken for the same purpose?! People wearing slippers inside our temple (sic),

Video Editor: Varun Sharma CLAIM A viral video on various social media platforms is being shared with a claim that a Hindu temple has been converted into a quarantine facility for Muslims.  In the video, multiple men and women wearing skull caps and burqas can be seen exiting a building.  “Kanipakam Ganesh temple, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, is being used as a quarantine centre by the Sickular AP CM Jagan! !  Why not Mosques n Churches r taken for the same purpose? !  People wearing slippers inside our temple (sic),” the claim along with the video reads.  The video is also being circulated on Twitter with the same claim.  (Click here for live updates on COVID-19.  Also visit Quint Fit for comprehensive coverage on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. ) TRUE OR FALSE?  False.  The Quint can confirm that the claim with which the video is being circulated is absolutely false as the building which people can be seen exiting in the video is not a Hindu temple but an indoor lodging in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district.  WHAT WE FOUND A closer look at the video revealed that the poster hanging outside the building read ‘Sri Ganesh Sadan’.  Next, we looked up the place on Google Maps and learnt that it is an indoor lodging in Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh.  We were also able to match frames from the video with the images available on Google maps.  Hence, a video showing people coming out of a lodging facility is being shared with a claim that it’s a temple being used as a quarantine centre.  You can read all our fact-checked stories on coronavirus here.


A photo is being shared widely on social media with the claim that it was taken at Golden Temple (Amritsar) on Diwali.  Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.  Claim: Diwali photo taken at Golden Temple, Amritsar. Fact: It is an edited photo.  The photo has been manipulated to place lanterns in the sky.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.    When the photo is cropped and ran through Yandex Reverse Image Search, the original photo can be found in an article – ‘The Golden Temple’ by Emily Polar, a travel photographer.  In the original photo, it can be found that there are no sky lanterns.  They have been placed using photo-editing software.  The sky lanterns photo was found to be taken during the Thai festival of Loy Krathong. On the photo posted on Facebook, it can be found that ‘@navkaranbrar’ is written at the bottom.  So, when searched on Google, the Facebook and Twitter accounts of Navkaran Brar can be found.  On his accounts, it can be found that he posted similar images and called them his ‘artworks’. To sum it up, a photoshopped image is being shared as the Golden Temple (Amritsar) on Diwali. Did you watch our new Episode of the DECODE series?


Indian soldier joins duty despite being injured

An old photo of an injured Russian soldier is being shared with a false claim that he is an Indian soldier who is on duty despite being injured, so as to avenge the Pulwama attack.  It is being shared with the following caption: BOOM found that the post is viral on Facebook with the same caption in Hindi.  Fact-Check A reverse image search on Russian search engine Yandex gave us a list of links where the same photo has been used in the past.  Most of the results described the person in the photo as a Russian soldier named Maxim Alexandrovich Razumovsky .  BOOM also found the same photo posted in an article by a Russian website called Specnaz (Russian term for Spetsnaz).  Vympel refers to an elite Russian Special Forces unit under the command of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia.  Running a detailed search, BOOM found that the image of an injured Razumovsky was clicked in September 2004 in Beslan, Russia when a local school in the town was atatcked by terrorists.  In the incident, more than a 1000 people including school children were taken hostage and the Russian army ran a three-day long rescue operation.  During the operation, Razumovsky was widely praised for his efforts and his act of continuing to be part of the resuce operation despite being severely injured.


A one-minute video that shows several patients lying on hospital beds apparently placed outside hospital premises is being shared on social media.  Several people have reached out to Alt News enquiring if the video shows the current situation of hospitals in India. As per requests on the official Alt News Android application, the viral video is circulating with that claim that it is from Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad.
Alt News performed a reverse image search via Google and found a fact-check report by Pakistan-based news platform Siasat.  As per the June 15 report, the video is from Services Hospital, Lahore.  However, isn’t related to COVID-19.
There was a fire in the hospital possibly due to a short circuit and as a result, patients had to be evacuated to different wards. A short circuit in Hospital Operation Theater caused fire and) & these patients were rescued from FIRE!  They are not COVID patientsHow these so called celebrities spread disinformation & propaganda without any verification is mind-boggling! ! Check their tweets & actual story pic. twitter. com/sasQBwkZKF— Azhar (@MashwaniAzhar) June 14, 2020The collage below shows the image comparison of a screenshot from the viral video and a picture of Services Hospital, Lahore uploaded on Google Maps.
Upon performing a keyword search we found several media reports on the incident.  As per Gulf News, the incident took place on June 13.  The report also mentioned that the video of patients waiting on hospital beds outside the facility has caused confusion on social media.  Pakistan-based news website Samaa reported that about 40 patients were shifted because of the fire.  As per Nation, a 50-year old patient passed away due to lack of oxygen during the process of shifting. Thus, a video from Lahore was shared as the plight of patients in Osmania hospital, Hyderabad. Donate NowArchit is a graduate in English Literature from The MS University of Baroda.  He also holds a post-graduation diploma in journalism from the Asian College of Journalism.  Since then he has worked at Essel Group's English news channel at WION as a trainee journalist, at S3IDF as a fundraising & communications officer and at The Hindu as a reporter.  At Alt News, he works as a fact-checking journalist. A picture of Tej Pratap Yadav has been making the rounds on social media recently…. A video of police tying a rope around an elderly person’s wrists has been circulating…A photo of a man being flogged with his hands tied has been gathering a…A set of two images, an alleged tweet and a video has been shared on…A photo of an idol of Hindu deity Nandi found buried in the ground has…