A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, destroying much of the city's port. Damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. More than 70 people were killed and 3,000 wounded, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said.

About 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored in the Beirut port warehouse that exploded.

The blast hit with the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake. It was heard and felt as far away as Cyprus more than 200 kilometres across the Mediterranean.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Smriti Irani tweeted 'Jai Shree Ram'. As the stage is all set for 'bhumi puja' of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. At a spot where devotees believe that Lord Ram was born.

The groundbreaking ceremony is said to take place at 12:40 pm, which is the 'muhurta' for the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with CM Adityanath and 175 people who figure in a select guest list. Seers and politicians will attend the ceremony in Ayodhya.

India's coronavirus infection tally reached 1,855,475 today. With 52,050 cases being reported in a day. Healings hike to 1,230,509, including 44,306 in past 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data. There are 586,298 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country presently while the healing rate among infection patients has gone up to 65.76 per cent.

This is the sixth continuous day that coronavirus cases have risen by more than 50,000.

803 patients succumbed to coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours, taking altogether death toll to 38,938.

With endless rainfall all through the night people in several parts of Mumbai, today wakened to serious waterlogging. The India Meteorological Dept (IMD) has whistled a red alert. For today and tomorrow for extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai.

With a high tide expected at 12:47 pm, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a red alert. To all concerned departments and also to residents to not go near any beach or low lying areas. Tides waves of around 4.51 meters have been predicted due to the heavy rains.

An FIR has been reported against Saravana Bhavan. A popular South Indian vegetarian restaurant chain. After a consumer allegedly found a dead lizard in his bowl of sambar. At its outlet in Connaught Place, Delhi police said Monday.

Pankaj Agarwal, a regular visitor to the restaurant, walked into Saravana Bhavan. With his two friends Saturday night and ordered dosa and sambar. As they were having the dinner, Agarwal found a dead lizard in his bowl of sambar. He captured it on his mobile phone. 

They registered an FIR against the restaurant under IPC section 269 and 336.

India's coronavirus infection tally reached 1,803,695 today, with 52,972 cases being reported in a day. Recoveries rose to 1,186,203, including 40,574 in past 24 hours. according to the Union Health Ministry data.

There are 579,357 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country presently. While the recovery rate among coronavirus infection patients has gone up to 65.76 per cent.

This is the fifth consecutive day that coronavirus cases have increased by more than 50,000.

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has tested positive for coronavirus infection. The Chief Minister announced the news in a tweet.

I have tested positive for coronavirus infection. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the guidance of doctors. I request those who have come in touch with me recently to be observant and practice self-quarantine,' is what he wrote in a tweet.

Suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Tahir Hussain has admitted about his role in the North East Delhi violence. That broke out in February this year and admitted that he has provoked people. To unleash violence, according to an Interrogation Report (IR) by Delhi Police.

Tahir Hussain said that he met former JNU student Umar Khalid. At Popular Front of India (PFI) office in Shaheen Bagh on January 8.

According to Delhi Police, Tahir Hussain's task was to collect as much as glass bottles, petrol, acid, stones, on the roof of his home.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has tested positive for coronavirus infection. That has infected more than 17 lakh people in the nation. Sources said he has been admitted to Medanta hospital, located in Haryana's Gurugram near Delhi.

In a tweet, the Home Minister said his health was "fine" but he was being hospitalised "on the guidance of doctors".

Amit Shah also appealed to all those "who have come in touch with me in the last few days. Please isolate yourself and get your examination done".

With 57,117 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day. India's infection tally neared 17 lakh mark today. While the healings jumped to 1,094,374. The nation's death toll hike to 36,511 with 764 casualties being reported in a day. The fatality from infection currently stands at 2.18 per cent in India as compared to the global average of about 4 per cent.

Total coronavirus infection positive cases stand at 1,695,988 including 565,103 active cases. While 1,094,374 healed and 36,511 deaths, the health ministry said.