Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Rips Steve King Over Toilet Water-Drinking Stunt

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) drew widespread ire on Wednesday after he tweeted a video of himself drinking from a fountain attached to a toilet in a bid to show conditions inside migrant detention centers on the U.S.-Mexico border aren’t that bad.

King took a swipe at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) with the post.

He claimed there was “no way” she was “objectively honest” when swearing under oath in July that some detainees told her during a visit to one facility that they’d had to drink out of the toilet bowl because the sink was broken. King, who has a long history of making racist and white supremacist comments, claimed the video showed him drinking from the very same sink.

Ocasio-Cortez fired back:

Other Twitter users also chided King over the footage, which he posted after describing the experience at a town hall event in Eagle Grove. “I smacked my lips,” he told the audience, reported NBC News’ Maura Barrett.

• Ocasio-Cortez Explains How Trump's Racism Works 'As Cover For The Con'
• Stephen King Wants To Get '1 Thing Straight' About His Racist GOP Rep. Namesake

India drew $16 bn FDI in Q1, up 28%, data shows

Foreign direct investment into India grew by 28 per cent to USD 16.33 billion during the first quarter of the current fiscal, according to government data. 

Inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) during April-June of 2018-19 stood at USD 12.75 billion. 

Sectors which attracted maximum foreign inflows during April-June 2019-20 include services (USD 2.8 billion), computer software and hardware (USD 2.24 billion), telecommunications (USD 4.22 billion), and trading (USD 1.13 billion), the commerce and industry ministry data showed. 

Singapore emerged as the largest source of FDI in India during the first quarter of the fiscal with USD 5.33 billion investments. It was followed by Mauritius (USD 4.67 billion), the US (USD 1.45 billion), the Netherlands (USD 1.35 billion), and Japan (USD 472 million). 

FDI is important as the country requires major investments to overhaul its infrastructure sector to boost growth. 

Recently, the government relaxed foreign investment norms in sectors such as -brand retail trading, coal mining and contract manufacturing.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com.

Brit couple found dead in house as 2-year-old toddler rescued from scene

• Crime

Boris Johnson’s brother Jo resigns from the Cabinet

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s brother Jo has quit as a Tory MP and a minister for state for universities and science. Over Twitter, he said, "in recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest – it’s an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister."

Court Blocks Eight-week Abortion Ban In Missouri

A federal court in Missouri has partially blocked the state from enforcing a law passed earlier this year banning nearly all abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy. The U.S. District Court judge in the Western District of Missouri granted a preliminary injunction to the law the day before it taking effect.

Judge Howard Sachs said he finds Missouri’s law likely unconstitutional on the merits. But he allowed a provision blocking patients from seeking an abortion based on race, gender, or Down syndrome diagnosis to take effect on Wednesday.

The lawsuit was filed by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. They argued that Missouri’s law was unconstitutional and against the Supreme Court’s 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade case, which guarantees the constitutional right to an abortion.

Missouri is one of eight states that requires doctors to interrogate patients why they are making the medical decision to terminate pregnancy. The court indicated openness to reviewing the issue again on a renewed motion.

A law enacted by Governor Mike Parson in May imposes a series of abortion bans and restrictions designed to make it impossible for patients to access abortion.

“With only one abortion provider left in the state, access is left hanging by a thread,”, ACLU said in a statement.

President Donald Trump had re-iterated his anti-abortion policy in May.

UK PM Johnson's brother, Jo, resigns, citing national interest

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's brother, Jo, has resigned as junior minister and said he would step down as a lawmaker, citing a conflict between family loyalty and the national interest.

"It's been an honour to represent Orpington for 9 years & to serve as a minister under three PMs," Jo Johnson said.

"In recent weeks I've been torn between family loyalty and the national interest — it's an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister," he said.

Prudential paying $2.35 billion for online startup: WSJ

Prudential Financial Inc. PRU, +1.28% has agreed to pay $2.35 billion for an online startup Assurance IQ, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing the company. The report said Prudential hopes the firm can help it sell life insurance to middle-class clients. Prudential said it would provide up to $1.15 billion in additional cash and equity if Assurance meets certain growth objectives, the report said.