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Strike on east Syria killed 38 pro-regime fighters: monitor

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At least 38 foreign fighters allied to Syria’s regime were killed in an overnight bombing raid near the country’s eastern border with Iraq, a monitor said today.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strike on the town of Al-Hari was one of the deadliest on forces allied with Syria’s government, but could not immediately identify who carried it out.

Syrian state media reported the attack overnight and accused the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group, saying a number of people were killed.(AFP)

Need tolerance to accept sexual diversity: Mr Gay World 2018 runner-up

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City-based Samarpan Maiti, the second runner-up of Mr Gay World 2018, dreams of a day when there would be no need to use terms like “straight” to identify people, but says this could be possible only when people have the tolerance to accept diversities.

“I dream of a day when we don’t need to coin terms like ‘gay’, ‘straight’ to identify people, one can simply say I am a man and my partner is a man and so on. This could be possible with the tolerance of accepting diversities, giving respect to everyone’s personal choices,” Maiti, also a cancer researcher, told IANS in an e-mail interview.

The 29-year old IIT Kharagpur alumni is a role model for those who “want to break the stereotypes, don’t want to fit in any particular box” and is far from the caricature-like portrayals of gay men in Bollywood or other Indian shows. Despite his “broken English”, he finished second runner-up in the contest held in Knysna in South Africa this May.

“My mother says that I made our country proud and that must be celebrated! Sadly in our society people don’t have that same respect for us as Mr World or Miss World winners,” Samarpan said after returning to Kolkata.

He thinks even if Section 377 of Indian Penal Code is done away with, it will matter little for the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community if society continues discrimination and violence, so community building involving the entire society is important.

Maiti is working for the visibility of aged and the rural folks of the LGBTQ community.

Juggling between such diverse fields, he has always wondered why someone couldn’t be a model, actor, writer and scientists at the same time.

“Since childhood I wanted to be a scientist. I always feel that if I do something good in research it will help millions of people. But in future, if I find myself not doing up to that level, I may shift to something else. I am also interested in studying about acting and film direction.”

Maiti’s preparation started in 2016 when he became a model in a LGBT-themed photo series and acted in theatre and short films.

“I wanted to participate because it was in my mind that if I win the title, it will shake the society more because I am from a background which people see with a huge respect. I wanted people to respect me not only for my work but also as an individual,” he added.

His journey is bitterly laced with his share of bullying and discrimination.

“Once my landlord drove me out of a hostel suspecting I was gay. Friends and even teachers bullied me calling ‘girly’, ‘feminine’, ‘hijra’ (eunuch) and all sorts of names. I cried a lot and tried to commit suicide. Only because of one of my straight friend’s support, I survived,” he disclosed.

He joined a reputed institute in Kolkata as a researcher working on “discovery of low cost-effective therapies and drug repositioning” for cancer. Even there society’s ugliness followed him.

“The discrimination started in new forms, as I was from a remote village; I was not able to speak English fluently with the right pronunciation and kept myself isolated, but that did not stop my creativity,” he said.

Maiti believes if he continues his good work, society is bound to love him for his work, accept him and his message, for who he is.

His cultural grooming started in the village fields amidst cows and huge collection of books at home. A friend, Archangel Mukherjee groomed him in modelling.

“In the international platform I felt how freedom of love could be and am inspired to bring that freedom here,” Maiti said.

His mother took time to accept her son’s sexual orientation.

“If your parents are not mentally prepared, try to educate them first. With my mother, I discussed the issues about LGBTQ community and their miseries. In Indian society, parents dream about their children’s marriage and I explained why marriage is less important than the companionship with someone,” Maiti said, in a suggestion to the ones trying to reveal their sexual orientation to parents.

Contending that homosexuality was not alien to Indian culture, he regrets that the problem lies in people not ready to accept it in real life.

“In our mythology, you will find lots of examples of same-sex lovemaking and people are worshipping them, but not ready to accept in real life. The policymakers think that it will affect their vote bank, some people think it’s against our culture but we forget that is was imposed by the British,” said Maiti.

Malappuram Court Summons Times Now’s Rahul Shivshankar And Anand Narasimhan

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The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Malappuram has issued summons on a complaint filed by Ms. A.S. Sainaba, President, National Women’s Front (NWF) alleging that a show aired by Times Now had wrongly accused her of playing a major role in converting women into Islam and providing them a hideout.

The show titled “Hindu girls are hunted, converted, exploited in Kerala” had aired in August last year, and had alleged that a “secret NIA report” had found Sainaba to be a “mentor” who persuaded Hindu girls to embrace Islam.

The complaint has been filed against Mr. Rahul Shivshankar, the Editor in Chief of Times Now, and Mr. Anand Narasimhan, the anchor for the show. They have to appear before the Court on August 30.

In her complaint filed through Advocate MP Abdul Latheef, Sainaba alleges that the report was trying to connect her with “love-jihad”, a terminology which was being used “to degrade Muslims in the country.”Calling the report false, she contends, “The entire news reports aired by the accused on 30-08-2017 was happened to be watched by millions around the globe and some of the friends, well-wishers, and sympathizers contacted the complainant and expressed their dissatisfaction towards the complainant due to the obnoxious picture of the complainant portrayed by the accused.

The status, reputation, and respect experienced by the complainant throughout her social life have been lowered and defamed due to the broadcasting of the news report mentored by the accused.

A number of people from different walks of life expressed their dissatisfaction towards the complainant in the wake of transmitting the defamatory news report.”

The secret NIA report in question appears to have been issued in the wake of the Hadiya case, which was decided by the Supreme Court in March this year. The NIA probe was ordered in August 2017, under the supervision of retired Supreme Court Judge R.V. Raveendran. Sainaba had then been interrogated by the NIA for her alleged role in over ten cases of conversions.

It may be noted here that Sainaba was once Hadiya’s guardian after the girl allegedly left her home to study Islam and later when she refused in the Kerala High Court to go with her parents. In fact, Hadiya’s father had made specific allegations against her in an Affidavit demanding his family’s security.

Her conduct in insisting on housing a complete stranger like Akhila, supporting her financially and otherwise taking responsibility for her by inter alia, arranging her so-called marriage with the Petitioner, raises serious disquiet about her intentions. Describes herself as “guardian” of Akhila,” his affidavit had said.

Thereafter, in March this year, the Apex Court had set aside the impugned Kerala High Court judgment which had called Hadiya’s marriage to Shafin Jahan a “sham”. The Court had, however, allowed NIA to continue its investigation into any aspects of criminality involved, while clarifying that the validity of the marriage between the two would not be a subject matter of investigation.

Lingayat Samanvaya Samiti to hold ‘Delhi Chalo’ for separate religion

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The Bidar District Lingayat Samanvaya Samiti has cautioned on June 13, that it will hold a “Delhi Chalo” rally if the central government declined to give the free religion status to the Lingayats.

The declaration comes in the background of the association government restoring the state’s proposal for concurring independent religion status to Lingayat.

“An assignment including 30 pontiffs will soon be taken to Delhi to persuade Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the request of a different Lingayat religion”, said Basavalinga Pattadavee, Convenor of the Lingayat Samanvaya Samiti.

He said that the association would hold a meeting before going to Delhi to fasten a date to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We will request the government to accord a different religion status on same lines from the Jain and Buddhist religions in India”, he included.

The Lingayat association additionally condemned the coalition government for not giving a bureau cabinet to M B Patil who had initiated the Lingayat fomentation for separate religion. “In the event that the Congress high summon doesn’t respond, we will teach a reasonable lesson in the following election”, Pattadavee cautioned.

He likewise disproved the cases that Veerashava-Lingayat groups were reconciling and joining together. “There is a hypothetical difference between the two groups. Both the Guru and the Dharma Granth are different. These groups can never be joined together”, he said.

Train running affected due to landslide in Lumding-Badarpur hill section

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Landslides in as many as five places in Lumding – Badarpur hill section of Assam, owing to heavy rain in that area has affected the normal train running in that section. Landslides have occurred at following locations:
KM 75/7-8 between Dautohaja – Phiding, KM 83/1-3 at Phiding station yard, KM 87/7-8 between Phiding – Mahur, KM/113/8-9 between Jatingalampur – New Harangajao and Washout between tunnels no 9 and 10.
All the landslides have occurred between 01-30 hrs and 03-30 hrs today.

As a result, train running over that section has been suspended. Details are as follows:
1. Train number 55616 Guwahati – Silchar Fast passenger is controlled at Lumding from 05-17 hrs.
2. 25657 Sealdah – Silchar Kanchanjungha Express to be controlled at Lumding.
3. 55616 Silchar – Guwahati Fast passenger has been cancelled on date.
4. 15658 Agartala – Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express to be controlled at Badarpur.
There is no passenger train stranded within the affected section.
Although the extent of damage is yet to be fully ascertained, resotoration work has already started in all affected locations. Divisional Railway Manager / Lumding is already at site monitoring the situation. Work is going on to restart the train services as early as possible.
Hindusthan Samachar/Arvind/Shri Ram\

Key HC judgement today on 18 ADMK MLAs disqualified by Speaker

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No major threat to EPS govt seen

  The Madras High Court will deliver its judgement today on the case involving the order of the TN Assembly Speaker Dhanapal disqualifying 18 MLAs of the ruling ADMK who had delivered a letter to the Governor expressing their desire to have the CM removed and select someone else in place of Edapadi Palaniswami.
The case was argued on behalf of both the parties by high profile SC lawyers like Abhshek Manu Singhvi, Kapil Sibal and others but the HC reserved the judgement after hearing the arguments. It is being delivered after 5 months.
The general expectation among the legal and political circles is that whichever way the judgement goes, the EPS government may not come under any immediate threat. One reason is the losing party will go to the Supreme Court and also that no MLA, from any political party wants to go back to the people for elections.
But the attention of the state and national media will stay riveted on the HC judgement.

Hindusthan Samachar/S. Mahadevan/Shri Ram\

Trump: Biggest enemy of US is fake media

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President Donald Trump has once again lambasted the “fake” communications media as the country’s “biggest enemy” because of their alleged attempts to “downplay” the results of his recent summit with North Korea.

“So funny to watch the Fake News, especially NBC and CNN. They are fighting hard to downplay the deal with North Korea. 500 days ago they would have ‘begged’ for this deal-looked like war would break out,” Trump said on Wednesday on Twitter, regarding the time before he came into the White House.

“Our Country’s biggest enemy is the Fake News so easily promulgated by fools!” the President continued, just hours after landing in Washington after his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore, although its ramifications are not yet clear, Efe reported.

Trump’s meeting with Kim was the first between leaders of the two countries and came after months of heated rhetoric and mutual military – including nuclear – threats.

At their meeting, however, the two leaders agreed to begin the process of denuclearizing North Korea, although the details remain to be worked out in future encounters, and – in a surprising development – Trump promised to end joint US military maneeuvres with South Korea.

In addition, Trump invited Kim to the White House, a proposal that the North Korean leader accepted, according to that country’s state-run KCNA news agency.

Since he took office, the US president has repeatedly criticized this country’s main media outlets – except for conservative Fox News, for instance – for providing what he says is unfair coverage of his administration, reporting that he has called “fake news.”

Bangalore Buzz

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Ruby Jagrut Announces The Third Edition Of ABIR

After 2 consecutive years of successful annual shows, ABIR, one-of-its-kind art exhibition-cum-contest, is back with its 3rd Edition, Abir 1st Take 2018. Conceptualized with an earnest vision to promote young talent in art across the country,

Ruby Jagrut, a distinguished natural dye artist started ABIR as a non-profit charitable trust in 2016. With support from the art fraternity & connoisseurs, Abir continues its efforts towards honoring promising artists not only with prize money but also by providing them with mentorship from the maestros. The clarion call for entry from across the country has been made; art entries will be accepted from 10th June onwards.

Art forms such as acrylic on canvas, etching, charcoal, oil on canvas, sculpture, ceramic sculpture, clay, calligraphy, wire, etc. will be judged by an illustrious panel of jury. Like every year, renowned artists from the fraternity have lent their support to this growing movement of art.

This year’s jury comprises of homegrown veteran talent Amit Ambalal (Painter & Sculptor), Umrao Jaan famed Padmashri Muzaffar Ali (Filmmaker, Fashion designer, Poet), Ravinder Reddy (National award winning eminent Sculptor), Seema Kohli (noted Contemporary Indian artist) & Vijay Bagodi (expert in Etching, Woodcuts, Lithographs, Serigraphs & Monoprints).

6 awards in 3 different categories are bestowed with prize money. The winning entry can take home an award money of INR 1,00, 000/- while the runner-up is awarded INR 50,000/- in each category.

Top 100 artworks shortlisted by the jury members will be exhibited at Kanoria Centre of Arts & HP Hutheesing Visual Art Centre, Ahmedabad from 27th Oct 2018 to 2nd Nov, 2018. It is a conscious effort of Abir to promote aspiring artists & bridge the gap between the art patrons & upcoming talent by the means of its annual exhibition show. The selected artwork will be up for display & sale thus providing exposure for their creation while providing the right patronage too.

At the curtain raiser announcement of ABIR 1st Take 2018, Ruby Jagrut shared her vision & added, “As an artist, I understand the importance of hand-holding & encouraging aspiring talent when they need the most. Lack of right education, mentors, financial resources, galleries & patrons can be daunting. I am thrilled that more than 2000 artists from 117 cities from across India & abroad have entered Abir contest in last 2 years. It gives me faith that we are reaching out to the right people who need support & mentorship. Art fraternity has been extremely supportive & encouraging. Every year, we get an illustrious panel of jury to judge these entries. We look forward to see what Indian artists have to offer this year too.”
“Art is an intimate form of exploration of beauty, texture & space. It’s about giving substance to an idea. And I’m eager to see how well young, talented artists at Abir 1st Take 2018 do this,” stated the eminent artist & jury member, Muzaffar Ali.

“What I’ll be looking for in the submitted entries is the ‘wow’ factor, a creation that’s a fusion of beauty & humanity. It’s this fusion that has the capacity to touch the soul,” Muzzaffar Ali added.

While the maiden edition of ABIR in 2016 received 629 entries from 48 different cities of India, the 2nd edition made headway with 1400 entries from 117 cities. Out of the 100 shortlisted creations, 46 oeuvres got sold garnering fame, recognition & remuneration to the artists. With the community initiative evolving into a bigger platform each year, Team ABIR is positive about record entries for the 3rd edition.

Gauri Lankesh Murder Case : Parashuram Waghmare confessed.

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In a confession recorded in the presence of special investigation team (SIT) probing Gauri Lankesh murder case, accused Parashuram Waghmare agreed that he was the one who fired at Gauri Lankesh. He said that he had given his gun to someone after this incident, but does not remember to whom.

Waghmare said that he was unable to bear Gauri’s habit of using bad language against Hindutva and Hindu gods. “Angered by this, I killed her by firing bullet. But that gun is not in my possession now. I had given it to someone. But I have forgotten the identity of the person to whom it was given,” he stated.

With this, the special investigation team seems to have made critical headway in the case. Now the team hopes to continue its systematic investigation and find out who were the persons behind this dastardly act.

It is gathered that the accused, during early stages of interrogation, remained non-cooperative and engaged in arguments often. However, when the officials of the team continued with sustained questioning, and also placed documents as proof of their finding, the accused confessed to his crime in the evening. The special investigating team said that investigation has not yet been completed and they are yet to find out who was the motorbike rider involved with the crime that day and those who worked behind the scenes. Sources said that although preliminary information suggests that pro-Hindu organization was behind this gunning down, there is lack of enough evidence.

The team needs to procure the firearm used for the murder and the motorbike used for the travel to strengthen its case. However, both are yet to be found. The accused has made the issues complicated by claiming that the gun was given to someone else after using it for murder. The motorbike also could not be identified. The rider of the motorbike who had brought Parashuram that day also has not been identified.

It is learned that during his questioning, Waghmare said that the hit list contained names of rationalists and critics like Girish Karnad, K S Bhagwan and other rationalists and thinkers in addition to Gauri Lankesh. Although Karnad was to be eliminated before Gauri as per the preliminary plan, that plan was shelved for some reasons, he told the investigating officers.

The team said that they found out during the investigation that names of C S Dwarakanath, the former minister, B T Lalita Nayak, Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji of Nidumamidi Math and K S Bhagwan were in the list of persons targeted to be killed.

As soon as the killer of Gauri Lankesh was arrested, the state government provided security by way of the gunman to Prof Maheshchandra Guru of the department of journalism in Mysore University. Likewise, rationalist, Prof K S Bhagwan, had been given security last year.

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