To ensure the news that internet users get is not fake, Facebook is leading a consortium that is pouring $14 million into the creation of a News Integrity Initiative.

Apart from academics and non-profits, Mozilla and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales are also part of the consortium.

The News Integrity Initiative aims to develop tools that will help people be sensitive towards stories they read online.

"The City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism will administer the initiative and will spearhead new literacy and aim to increase trust in journalism around the world," a news release on the website of CUNY Graduate School of Journalism said.

After US President Donald Trump was declared winning candidate in 2016 presidential elections, Facebook came under severe criticism for promoting and breeding fake news on its platform.

To fight the fake news and re-build its credibility, the networking giant announced a number of projects and users to identify and weed out fake stories.

"The initiative will address the problems of misinformation, disinformation and the opportunities the internet provides to inform the public conversation in new ways," Facebook's head of news partnerships, Campbell Brown, said in a statement.

 BJP leader was shot dead by three unidentified bike borne assailants in Khatoli town of the district this morning, police said.

Raja Balmiki, former Khatoli city BJP general secretary, was shot dead by the assailants at his shop on Wednesday, SHO K P Singh said.

Meanwhile, protesting against the murder, irate people blocked the Delhi-Dehradun national highway at Khatoli.

The security has been tightened in the area, the SHO said.

An expert in the management of water resources in South Asian countries including India, Kenichi Yokoyama has assumed responsibilities on Tuesday as the new country director of Asian Development Bank (ADB) India Resident Mission here.

Immediately upon taking charge, Yokoyama expressed ADB’s commitment to work closely with the Central government to help it in its efforts towards rapid economic development of the country.

Underlining ADB’s ever strengthening partnership with India and its contribution towards its economic development by way of ‘transferring knowledge and building capacities’ the newly appointed ADB country director said: “ I will work closely with the Government of India to take this partnership forward and reconfirm our commitment to help India strengthen its core infrastructure and other requirements for its rapid economic transformation.”

Having long experience of working with the government of Japan in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Yokoyama was heading the Nepal Resident Commission of the Manila-based international organisation. He replaces M Teresa, now posted as Deputy Director General of ADB’s East Asia Development in Manila.

“Since joining ADB in 1999, Yokoyama has consistently worked for its operations in South Asia covering the water resources sector. He contributed to the expansion of relevant programme in the sector in Bangladesh, India and Nepal and is regarded as one of the most trusted experts in water resources management and project implementation in ADB,” an ADB press note stated here.

Ligue 1 leaders AS Monaco rode Valere Germain's brace to beat ten-man Lille 2-1 at home, making into French Cup semi-finals.

Monaco wanted redemption from their 1-4 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in last Saturday's French League Cup final, reports Xinhua news agency. 

Skipper Germain broke the deadlock for Monaco in the 35th minute on Tuesday, and Lille met more trouble five minutes later as Carlens Arcus was shown a red card a foul on Jorge.

Germain continued his hot streak of the night just before the interval when he found the net from close range for Monaco, who have tallied 87 league goals so far this season.

Lille got a consolation goal from Anwar El Ghazi in stoppage time.

Two-time French Cup winners Guingamp joined Monaco in last four after edging past fourth-tier side Frejus Saint-Raphael 1-0.

On Wednesday, defending champions PSG will visit third-tier side Avranches, while Angers will host Bordeaux.

The European Parliament will on Wednesday lay down its “red lines” for negotiations over a Brexit deal, on which the assembly will have the final say in two years' time.
The parliament in Strasbourg, France, is set to back a call by EU leaders for Britain to first agree to divorce terms before striking any new trade deal with the bloc.
MEPs are to vote on the motion a week after British Prime Minister Theresa May formally triggered the process for leaving the EU.
“We want to have a clear signal that the European Union is united,” said German MEP Manfred Weber, the head of the conservative European People's Party (EPP), the parliament's biggest bloc.
“London must understand that no splitting up of the EU position is possible,” Weber told reporters on Tuesday.
The guidelines to be voted on Wednesday already have the support of not only the EPP but also of the Socialists and Democrats alliance, as well as the ALDE liberals, the Greens and the leftist parliamentary group GUE.
The parliament will be the first EU institution to take an official stand on the Brexit talks.
“This (vote) is the starting point of a difficult and complex negotiation to define the conditions of the United Kingdom's departure,” Parliament President Antonio Tajani said.
The guidelines, which Weber called “red lines”, reinforce the draft guidelines unveiled last Friday by EU President Donald Tusk, who represents the member states.
But the 27 countries will not formally approve them until a summit on April 29.
Tusk's guidelines call for “sufficient progress” on divorce terms before a new trade deal is struck, as well as protections of the rights of EU citizens and the border in Northern Ireland.
“The right order for negotiations has to be respected,” Weber said.
The Brexit talks have already gotten off to a difficult start after London was alarmed by a clause in the guidelines saying Spain had to be consulted on any post-Brexit trade deal that affects the British outcrop of Gibraltar.
A draft parliamentary resolution said talks on “possible transitional arrangements” for a future deal could begin if “substantial progress” were made towards divorce.
Any transitional period to work out a trade deal after Britain formally leaves the European Union in March 2019 should be limited to three years.
The resolution also insists that Britain must pay to withdraw.
“Until the day you leave, you have to pay your share of the bills,” Socialists and Democrats leader Gianni Pittella said at a press briefing in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
And the resolution calls for protecting the rights of the three million European citizens living in Britain, and the one million Britons residing in EU countries.

Rubbishing media reports that India is using the Dalai Lama as a diplomatic leverage to challenge China, the Tibetan spiritual leader on Wednesday said that India has never used him against China.

"India has never used me against China," the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying by a news channel.

"Tibet is part of China but it needs more development," he added.

Earlier, Chinese state media carried reports suggesting that India is using the Dalai Lama as a diplomatic leverage to challenge China. The Chinese reaction to the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh came in an article in the state-run Global Times.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday reacted to China's objection to the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and refused to budge from its stand that the Tibetan spiritual leader was free to go anywhere in India.

"The government has clearly stated on several occasions that HHDL (His Holiness the Dalai Lama) is a revered religious leader, who is deeply respected as such by the Indian people," the MEA said.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday had said that the Dalai Lama's visit is purely religious in nature and there is no need to create 'artificial controversy' over his visit.

Director Anand Murthy says actress Dhanshika, who plays a prostitute in the upcoming multi-lingual short film "Sinam", didn't hesitate even for a minute to smoke on screen as part of portraying her character.

Talking about Dhanshika's character, Murthy told IANS: "It's easily her boldest role yet. When most male stars have stopped or having second thoughts about smoking on screen, Dhanshika took up this role with the right attitude. She had no qualms about smoking for the sake of her character."

Set against the backdrop of Kolkata, the film also stars model-turned-actress Bidita Bag.

"Bidita plays a documentary filmmaker. The story is about these two characters and what happens when they cross paths. It will be a powerful story and the film will feature dialogues in Tamil as well as Bengali," the director said.

The film, which has music by G.V. Prakash Kumar, has dialogues in Bengali and Tamil.

This will be Murthy's maiden short film. His directorial debut feature film "Thileepan", about a Sri Lankan martyr, is stuck due to financial crunch.
 

Mohun Bagan registered their first win in this year's AFC Cup group stages as they rallied from one goal down to beat Abahani Limited Dhaka 3-1 in their Group E second-round football clash here at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium on Tuesday.

In front of a motley crowd on a weekday, Sanjoy Sen's charges — who have not prioritised the continental competition this term as much as the I-League — saw Jeje Lalpekhlua (45th), Balwant Singh (48th) and Sony Norde (87th) cancel out Wales striker Jonathan Brown's (21st) opener for the away side.

The result saw Bagan log three points from two games as they lost their opening encounter 1-2 against Bengaluru FC. Abahani, meanwhile, succumbed to their second straight defeat to stay at the foot of the group. Bengaluru are top of the heap having won earlier by a 1-0 margin against the Maldives' Maziya Sports and Recreation.

As expected, Bagan made wholesale changes to the side that trounced Bengaluru 3-0 on the weekend. Anas Edathodika, Pritam Kotal, Souvik Chakraborty, Azharuddin Mallick and Darryl Duffy made way for Kingshuk Debnath, Sarthak Golui, Bikramjit Singh, Jeje and Balwant Singh.

Abahani took the lead much to everyone's surprise when striker Mohammad Ziban darted down the right hand channel to cut in and square for an unmarked Brown to score off his first touch.

In the 27th minute, Bagan had three back-to-back chances to equalise but Yusa Katsumi once and Balwant twice took turns to miss the target.

There was a two minute break when Jordan referee Mohammad Mousa was disturbed by a fly in the eye, needing help from the Bagan medical team.

Right on the brink of halftime, Bagan pegged back through Jeje. After Balwant found Norde inside the area, the Haitian deftly passed the ball to a lurking Jeje who applied a left-footed first time to bulge the net.

Bagan nosed ahead three minutes into the second period. Katsumi beat his marker to set up Balwant from the edge of the box. The former Churchill Brothers marksman made no mistake, putting the ball beyond goalkeeper Sahidul Alam's reach.

In the 62nd minute, Abahani almost drew level when the ball spent a lot of time precariously close to Bagan goal but all of the visiting players failed to get enough on it with Debjit Mazumdar gathering easily at the end.

Balwant missed a gilt-edged chance to pull away in the 77th minute when he saw his shot from close being saved acrobatically by Sahidul diving to his right as the green and maroon shirts took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Sahidul pulled off another good save before Norde put the match to bed with a delectable strike at the far post.

Balwant could have had a brace in the dying minutes of the game but Sahidul saved well again to bring the match to an end.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday remembered independence activist Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary.

"Remembering Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary. His service to India and struggles for the rights of the marginalised always inspire," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Popularly known as Babuji, the Dalit leader from Bihar served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister under former Prime Minister Morarji Desai's government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday remembered independence activist Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary.

"Remembering Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary. His service to India and struggles for the rights of the marginalised always inspire," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Popularly known as Babuji, the Dalit leader from Bihar served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister under former Prime Minister Morarji Desai's government.

Jadavpur University Vice-chancellor Prof Suranjan Das on Wednesday said the institution cannot be held responsible if any fringe element raises any separatist slogan in it.

“If any fringe element raises any separatist slogan, how can the university as a whole be linked with that? It is a law and order issue to be addressed by the administration,” Das told PTI here.

Das' comments follows that of Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar who had said JNU and Jadavpur University have not been awarded for their “pro-Afzal Guru slogans or for keeping their vice-chancellors under siege but for their academic credentials and excellent research.”

That students of Jadavpur University are not always involved in demonstration was evident from the fact that JU has been ranked 12th in overall category, the 5th spot among universities and the 9th among engineering institutes in the Union HRD report, he said.

“While I believe everyone has the right to use his democratic rights in a democratic country, I am of the view one should exercise such democratic rights within constitutional limits which has been clearly defined … It is important in democracy to ensure that I don't interfere into other's freedom while exercising my own right,” Das said.

Stating he believed in inclusive way of functioning, Das said, “I have always supported creative constructive thinking and even if my views differ from views of others, I take everyone in confidence for every move.”

On the allegations raised by AFSU (Arts Faculty Students Union) that boys and girls were harassed by saffron forces during a programme at the university campus on Saturday, the VC said that auditorium is not owned by JU.

“So far I understand a legally recognised organisation had rented the hall. If there is any law and order problem that has to be looked after by the administration.”

Asked to comment on the past agitation by students about poor hostel facilities with reference to JU lagging in infrastructure and poor teacher-student ratio in the HRD score card, he alleged that a section of the media was highlighting only the negative sides of the university.

“There are both good and bad sides of an institution. But unlike in foreign countries, here only negative issues are projected by the media. But yes with more funds we will be able to upgrade hostel facilities while from next session the teacher-student ratio will be bettered,” he said. 

After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government waived farm loan up to Rs.1 lakh in the first cabinet meeting in the state, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the step is in the right direction, although, it is just 'a partial relief'.

"A partial relief for UP farmers, but a step in the right direction. The Congress has always supported loan waivers for farmers in distress," Rahul said in a series of tweets.

"I'm happy the BJP has finally been forced to see reason. But let's not play politics with our farmers who are suffering across the country," he added.

Rahul, who had held a month-long Kisan Yatra in UP seeking loan waiver for farmers, asked the Centre to extend loan relief to farmers in other states as well.

"The Central Govt must have a national response to the widespread distress and not discriminate among states," he tweeted.

The decision to waive crop loans up to Rs.1 lakh for small and marginal farmers was part of the BJP's poll promise in the state.

The move will benefit over 2.15 crore farmers, besides 7 lakh others who had secured loans which turned into non-performing assets.

Filmmaker Ruper Sanders has called his affair with actress Kristen Stewart “a mistake”.

The married Snow White and the Huntsman director had a fling with the 26-year-old actress, who was dating Robert Pattinson at the time, reported Female First.

“You never know what's coming in life. Around every corner, there's something unexpected, and that's life. You just have to brush yourself off and continue moving forward the best you can. Everyone makes mistakes.

“I am bound to make more mistakes, and I wouldn't expect my life to be exciting if I didn't. If you took people off the table for a momentary lapse, there would be no one making art,” Sanders said.

Meanwhile, Stewart previously said the “scandal” turned women against her and they became very judgemental.

Polish model and actress Angela Krislinzki, who courted attention with her statements about her bonding with Hrithik Roshan, has apologised to the actor that her words were taken out of context.

In an interview to a newspaper, Angela claimed that she worked with Hrithik in a commercial, and how she bonded with him and is inspired by him. 

Hrithik was shocked by such claims, and took to Twitter on Tuesday to post: "My dear lady, who are you and why are you lying."

In response to Hrithik's stance, Angela apologised for all the confusion. 

In a statement posted on Twitter, she wrote: "I respect you a lot sir and I am sorry for such misleading headlines. It's really hurtful. I have admired you as an actor just like millions others but I have been fortunate enough to work with you in two TVCs." 

She explained: "When I say mentor I meant someone who inspired my life in right direction… This all began during the press meet of my film, someone asked me how I thought of entering acting inspite of foreign looks, so I replied when I was shooting with Hrithik Roshan, his few inspirational words inspired me."

"The article only speaks about how inspirational you have been to me just like you have been to million others. I would like to apologise for any inconvenience occurred to you."

Hrithik then responded: "Yes, misleading headlines indeed. Graceful of you to clarify and apologise though. Wishing you the best for your career."
 

The Rupee weakened 11 paise to 65.14 against the US Dollar in early trade on Wednesday at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on increased demand for the American currency from importers and banks.

Forex dealers said that increased demand for the US currency from importers and the Dollar's gains against some currencies overseas put pressure on the Rupee.

However, a higher opening in the domestic equity market capped the Rupee's losses, they said.

On Monday, the Rupee had lost 18 paise to close at 65.03 against the US Dollar.

Forex market remained shut on Tuesday on account of 'Ramnavami'.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex breached the key 30,000-mark by surging 97.26 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 30,007.48 in the opening trade on Wednesday.