Nasheman News : The death toll in Tuesday’s attack on a luxury hotel complex in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi has increased to 21, police have confirmed.
“We wish to inform that six other bodies were found at the scene and one police officer succumbed to his injuries,” Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet told the media late Wednesday.
Twenty-eight people were admitted to hospitals and “five terrorists were eliminated”, Efe news quoted Boinnet as saying.
The victims comprise 16 Kenyans, one Briton, one American, and three people of African descent who have not yet been identified, said Boinnet.
“We have arrested two individuals who we have very strong reasons to believe facilitated the attack and are in our custody assisting the police with their investigations,” he said.
The Kenyan Red Cross said in a statement late Wednesday that their psychosocial teams had reached 341 people with more expected to receive counselling through a hotline and at Chiromo mortuary.
Earlier Wednesday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the police operation at the 14 Riverside complex over, with all terrorists “eliminated”.
He added that he had met with the national security council and assured that anyone involved in planning, financing and executing the act would be brought to justice.
The Somali jihadi group al-Shabaab, which joined Al Qaeda’s international network in 2012, claimed responsibility for the attack in a broadcast on its radio station Andalus.
Nairobi had not seen any such attack since September 2013, when in an operation similar to Tuesday’s, at least four al-Shabaab terrorists stormed the Westgate Mall not far from the 14 Riverside complex that is frequented by foreigners and Kenyans.
In the Westgate attack, 67 people died during the four days the terrorists remained holed up in the building.
The worst terrorist attack in Kenya was the 1998 bombing at the US embassy in Nairobi which left more than 200 dead and thousands wounded.
Strike second day sees minimal impact in Karnataka.
There was no major impact of the nationwide shutdown called by trade unions in Karnataka on the second day, with government offices and bus services functioning normally across the state on Wednesday. A number of reported incidences of government-run buses being vandalised by miscreants. On Tuesday, a total of 12 incidents of stone pelting against buses were reported by the state run bus corporations.
A few hundred industrial workers, joined by Anganwadi workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), took out protest march from Town Hall in the city centre to the Raj Bhavan amidst tight police security. There were protest gatherings in major gatherings in Mysore Bank Circle and Corporation Circle as well.
The government offices, hospitals, commercial establishments, bus and metro services, however, remained largely unaffected in the state.
The 48-hour nationwide strike by the trade unions demanding labour-friendly laws and schemes has been in force since Tuesday.
State-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corp (KSRTC) operated about 3,600 of its scheduled 4,100 bus services across the state. Bus services in Bengaluru, however, were fewer, with only 428 bus services plying across the city against the 4,100 scheduled, leading to a high demand for autos and ride-hailing services like Ola and Uber.
Most of the schools in the state that had declared a two-day holiday ahead of the strike remained closed, while few opened on Wednesday. Universities were also forced to postpone examinations in light of the bandh across the state.
The trade unions on strike also held bike rallies in towns and cities waving red flags.
The striking labour unions had 12 demands including stopping all pro-corporate, anti-worker amendments to labour laws, against privatisation of transport system proposed in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2017, institution of universal public distribution system to contain inflation, implementation of complete farm loan waiver and legislation of the right to sell at minimum support price, and measures for generation of stable employment.
Agencies
Decriminalising homosexuality in India a huge step forward: ‘The Danish Girl’ author
Nasheman News : “The Danish Girl” author David Ebershoff feels the Supreme Court’s decision to repeal Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalised homosexuality, is a huge step towards creating an equal world. He says the decision to recognise the LGBTQ community as “legitimate members of society instead of a criminal class” will help people embrace their true identity.
“This is a huge step forward and one that will have immediate ramifications — an LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) person or couple is no longer deemed criminal by the government,” Ebershoff told IANS.
“But, just as important, subtle changes will occur for several years to come. Younger people will no longer have to wonder why their most innate sense of themselves is deemed criminal by their government,” said the author in an email interview to IANS when asked about how the world is changing for the LGBTQ community around the world, including India.
He continued: “Parents and teachers and other figures of authority will subtly begin to look at their LGBTQ children, or young people in general, as legitimate members of society and not a criminal class. These steps will be gradual and will vary in many places and settings, and many will be slow to adopt these new attitudes. However, by taking away the charge of ‘criminal’ a lot of other legal protections can be put in place.”
Ebershoff, who was in India last November for the Tata Literature Live!, is very passionate about the issues of LGBTQ community. His 2000 debut novel, “The Danish Girl”, tells story of Lili Elbe, one of the first people who came out and went for gender reassignment surgery.
Her story found its way onto the silver screen through a similarly-titled film with stars like Alicia Vikander and Eddie Redmayne getting associated with the project. The film hit the right note with critical acclaim as well as a nod from The Academy in the form of multiple Oscar nominations.
Apart from writing a novel about the emotions one goes through in the journey to find one’s sexual identity, Ebershoff has appeared twice on Out Magazine’s top 100 list of most influential LGBTQ people.
In the US, President Donald Trump time and again makes news for working on anti-LGBTQ policies. The author says Americans have realised what they can lose and have started “resisting the policies of this administration”.
“I believe it will only energise LGBTQ Americans to fight for equality and justice, not just for themselves but for all individuals targeted by the current President,” said the author, originally from Pasadena and settled in New York.
“I also believe many younger Americans have realised that so many of their rights are at stake and they are getting involved in resisting the policies of this administration,” he added.
He feels discrimination against the community still exists.
“So much has been gained, but so many are still fighting for basic dignity, equality, justice under the law, freedom from violence, and access to health care.
“This is true in the US, and around the world. Those of us in positions of privilege, such as myself, must speak out on behalf of those who face discrimination and hatred every day of their lives. It’s one reason I wrote ‘The Danish Girl’ all those years ago. It’s one reason I continue to tell queer stories,” added Ebershoff, who is also the author of “The 19th Wife” and “Pasadena”.
What’s next for him?
“I’m finishing a new novel for Random House and developing a television series for Keshet International.”
Lalu is God for me: RJD MLA
Nasheman News : RJD legislator Bhai Virender said on Friday that party chief Lalu Prasad was a God for him and he will abide by whatever he decides about his political career.
“Laluji is God for me. He is my icon. I will abide by what he says on who will contest from where in the Lok Sabha polls,” said Bhai Virendar, who is RID spokesperson and considered close to Lalu Prasad’s younger son Tejashwi Yadav, the Bihar opposition leader.
Bhai Virendar, a legislator from Maher Assembly seat near Patna, on Friday met former Chief Minister Rabri Devi a day after Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad, announced that his eldest sister Misa Bharti will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Pataliputra in Patna.
Bhai Virendra was reportedly eyeing to contest from Pataliputra on RJD ticket. Tej Prarap’s statement has surprised many.
Pataliputra seat was carved out in the 2008 delimitation. Both Lalu Prasad and Misa Bharti unsuccessfully contested from there in 2009 and 2014 respectively.
Rape convict RB Yadav disqualified as Bihar MLA
Nasheman News: Suspended RJD legislator Raj Ballabh Yadav, sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a minor girl, was disqualified on Wednesday as an MLA of Bihar, officials said.
Five days after a special court in Patna sentenced Yadav to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old girl at his residence in Bihar Sharif, district headquarter of Nalanda, in February 2016, he was disqualified with effect from the date on which he was sentenced by the court.
Yadav was held guilty by the court under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, 2012.
The Bihar Legislative Assembly issued a notification stating that Yadav (56) was disqualified.
According to the notification, Yadav, who represented Nawada constituency, has been disqualified.
Yadav is the second RJD legislator, after MLA Illyas Hussain, to lose the Bihar assembly membership.
Hussain was disqualified last month after he was convicted in a corruption case by a CBI court in Ranchi two months ago.
Mother, 3 children found dead near Agra
Nasheman News : A woman and her three children were found dead, hanging from an iron mesh in the ceiling at their home on Sunday afternoon, 35 kms from here.
Police said the husband, Pramod, and father-in-law, Jangjeet, were missing from their home in Nagla Gadariya in Fatehabad block here.
The bodies of the victims were discovered by the mother-in-law and the sister-in-law, after they returned home from the fields.
Finding the bodies, they shouted for help.
Neighbours, who suspect it to be a case of suicide, immediately informed the police.
The victims have been identified as Mamta (30), Junu (5), Ranjit (3) and six-month-old Ajit.
The bodies have been sent for post mortem.
Police officials said a search is on to trace the husband and his father.
Bihar’s ruling JD-U MLA resigns
Nasheman News : Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Shyam Bahadur Singh on Monday resigned from the party’s primary membership here, saying his voice was not being heard by those in power while the district administration has also turned a deaf ear.
“I have resigned from JD-U as neither district administration officers in Siwan nor the top brass of the government in Patna listen to my genuine complaints.
“What pains me is that police has been acting against all those people opposing auction of the government land to land mafia,” Singh said.
He questioned the much-hyped governance and rule of law claim made by the Nitish Kumar-led government and raised the auction of government land to alleged land mafia despite opposition from people in Siwan district.
However, JD-U state president Vashisht Narain Singh said Shyam Bahadur Singh is a senior party leader, his concern would be genuine and party would look into it.
Singh had earlier embarrassed the party and the government by shaking a leg with bar dancers at various marriage ceremonies.
Fatima Sana Shaikh heartbroken with ‘Thugs…’ failure
(IANS) Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh’s last release “Thugs of Hindostan” bombed at the box office, leaving her heartbroken and sad.
Despite the presence of industry giants like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif, the “Thugs…” fizzled out and both audiences and critics wrote it off for its weak storyline and direction.
Interacting with the media at Netflix web-series ‘Selection Day’ premiere on Tuesday here, Fatima said: “Yeah.. it hasn’t done well. It is very heartbreaking.
“It is very sad because we all tried to make a good film but unfortunately, it didn’t do well. People didn’t like it so, I am feeling very bad for it.”
Fatima is currently working on a project with Rajkummar Rao on Anurag Basu’s directorial — a sequel to “Life In A Metro”, though she said: “I don’t think it is called that.”
The “Dangal”-famed actress is looking forward to “Selection Day” which is a story of two brothers and their father who wants his sons to pursue cricket as their career.
“I am really excited and looking forward to see it because I found the trailer really interesting. I am also happy that lot of Indian shows are being made for Netflix and we (actors) are getting more opportunities. Even writers, directors and technicians.
“Now, we have lot of options in terms of viewing and performing. So, I feel it’s great that such show and series are out,” she said.
Speaking about her debut in “Dangal” which revolved around wrestling, Fatima said: “I run away from playing sports. It was the requirement for my film (Dangal) therefore, I had to do it otherwise, sports and I don’t get along really well.”
Expelled PDP leader joins NC
[Nasheman news] Srinagar A day after he was expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Minister Basharat Bukhari on Wednesday joined the National Conference (NC).
Bukhari was expelled for his anti-party activities.
He was here at NC chief Farooq Abdullah’s residence and joined the party in the presence of two former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers, as Omar Abdullah was also present.
Another expelled PDP leader, Peer Muhammad Hussain, was also expected to join the NC later in the day at the party headquarters here.
Uproar in LS, adjourned till noon
[Nasheman news] New Delhi The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 p.m. on Wednesday after the opposition created ruckus over different issues including the Rafale deal.
As soon as the House met, the Congress, AIADMK and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members trooped near the Speaker’s podium and started sloganeering.
The Congress demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 36 ready-to-fly Rafale fighter jets deal with France while the AIADMK members wanted Karnataka to take back its proposal to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekadatu.
The TDP raised several issues related to their demand for special status to Andhra Pradesh.
Amid the din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to conduct the Question Hour. But her attempts failed as the disruptions continued.
She then adjourned the House till noon.
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