Mumbai, Apr 15 (PTI) MNS chief Raj Thackeray Monday appealed to people to ensure "disappearance" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah from the political scene of the country for spreading "lies" and "causing" communal disharmony.

Addressing a poll rally in Solapur district of Maharashtra, he called the prime minister "shameless" for seeking votes in the name of jawans without acknowledging their sacrifice.

16 Apr 2019; DW: Over 100 people were arrested during ongoing climate change protests in London that brought parts of the British capital to a standstill, police said Tuesday.

Demonstrators had started by blocking off a bridge and major central road junctions on Monday at the start of a civil disobedience campaign that also saw action in other parts of Europe.

15 Apr 2019; Alt News: A viral post on Facebook claims that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has openly come out in support of the BJP and voted for the party in the ongoing Lok Sabha election. The post has a photograph of a person who looks similar to Wing Commander Varthaman, and is seen sporting a saffron scarf with the BJP symbol imprinted on it.

Lucknow Apr 15 (PTI) Slapped with a 48-hour ban on campaigning by the EC for her "provocative" communal remarks, BSP supremo Mayawati Monday alleged the decision appears to have been "taken under pressure" and it will be remembered as a "black day".

Terming the ban a "sudden unprecedented order based on wrong facts", she asserted that the poor and deprived sections of the society will not forget it as she was being deprived of her right to appeal to uproot the BJP from power.

TEHRAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif started a trip to Syria and Turkey on Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties, Tasnim news agency reported.

On the first leg of his trip, Zarif will visit Damascus, capital of Syria, for meetings with top Syrian officials, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem.

The two-day trip will take the Iranian foreign minister later to Turkey.

New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) The Supreme Court Tuesday refused to consider BSP supremo Mayawati's plea challenging the EC's 48-hr campaign ban on her and expressed satisfaction over the poll body's action against leaders making hate speeches.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked Mayawati's counsel to file a separate appeal against the poll panel's order.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. measles cases have surged again, and are on pace to set a record for most illnesses in 25 years.

Health officials on Monday said 555 measles cases have been confirmed so far this year, up from 465 as of a week ago.

While 20 states have reported cases, New York has been the epicenter. Nearly two-thirds of all cases have been in New York, and 85% of the latest week’s cases came from the state. Most of the New York cases have been unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities.

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) The Congress Monday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to bar Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati from campaigning for 72 and 48 hours, respectively, and said the poll panel has put a pause on those trying to spread hatred through their provocative remarks.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said he hopes that the Election Commission will continue its "even handed application unabated" howsoever high be the position the person concerned, who violates the law, occupies.

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) The Lok Sabha polls in Vellore constituency in Tamil Nadu is likely to be cancelled over excess use of money power, sources aware of the development said Monday.

The Election Commission is learnt to have prepared a recommendation in this regard to be sent to the president.

"It would be sent today itself," an official said on Monday.

Lucknow, Apr 16 (PTI) Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam Sinha joined the Samajwadi Party here Tuesday.

"Poonam Sinha has joined the Samajwadi Party in presence of SP leader Dimple Yadav in Lucknow," said the Samajwadi Party in a tweet.

MOSCOW, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese engineers and workers are busy tunneling in southwest Moscow using domestic equipment and technology for a new metro line of the city.

This is the first time for the Chinese to build a subway in Europe.

The first tunnel was holed through in early April and the remaining eight tunnels are expected to be drilled through by the end of this year, said Xue Liqiang, a manager of the project with China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC).

Nashik, Apr 15 (PTI) Two farmers allegedly committed suicide due to indebtedness in Nashik district in Maharashtra over the last two days, police said Monday.

Santosh Shelke, 42, killed himself by jumping into the well near his farm in Mharal Budruk village in Sinnar taluka Sunday, a local police official said.

He said Shelke had a loan outstanding of Rs 75000 against a local society.