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Iraq Passes Bill Criminalising Same-Sex Relations, Jail Upto 15 Years

Iraq's parliament passed a bill on Saturday criminalising same-sex relations, which will receive a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, in a move rights groups condemned as an "attack on human rights". Transgender people will be sentenced to three years' jail under the amendments to a 1988 anti-prostitution law, which were adopted during a session attended by 170 out of 329 lawmakers. A previous draft had proposed capital punishment for same-sex relations, in what campaigners had called a "dangerous" escalation. The new amendments enable courts to sentence people engaging in same-sex relations to between 10 to 15 years in prison, according to the document seen by AFP, in the country where gay and transgender people already face frequent attacks and discrimination. They also set a minimum seven-year prison term for "promoting" same-sex relations and a sentence ranging from one to three years for men who "intentionally" act like women.

Siddaramaiah Sets Up Team To Probe Sex Scandal Involving JDS MP

A day after voting took place in the constituency, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the formation of a special investigation team to probe a sex scandal allegedly involving Hassan MP and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from the seat, Prajwal Revanna. Mr Revanna, grandson of JDS chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has left for Germany. After videos depicting sexual acts began circulating in Hassan, some of which allegedly involved women being forced or filmed without their consent, the Karnataka State Commission for Women had, on Thursday, asked the chief minister to set up a special investigation team.  Announcing the decision on Saturday, Siddaramaiah wrote in Kannada on X, "The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with the Prajwal Revanna obscene video case. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted. "In this backdrop, the Chairperson of

Nearly Half Of Bengaluru Voters Skip Voting In Phase 2 Of Lok Sabha Polls

Nearly half of Bengaluru's voters did not turn up to vote in the Lok Sabha elections on Friday. Voting took place in 14 constituencies in Karnataka, with the Election Commission estimating the turnout at 69.23 per cent. However, the percentage of voters who exercised their franchise in three urban constituencies in the city -- Bangalore Central, Bangalore North and Bangalore South -- was significantly lower. The approximate voter turnout in Bangalore Central was 52.81 per cent, Bangalore North - 54.42 per cent and Bangalore South - 53.15 per cent. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the turnout in Bengaluru Central was 54.32 per cent, Bengaluru North - 54.76 per cent and Bengaluru South - 53.70 per cent. Election Commission officials were disappointed due to the turnout despite their vigorous efforts to increase participation. "There is no explanation for it. That is the truth," a top EC official said. According to poll officials, scorching summer heat is said to be on

Shashi Tharoor's Thiruvananthapuram Winning Streak In BJP's Crosshair

The Congress' Shashi Tharoor is bidding for a four-peat of wins from Thiruvananthapuram , but arguably faces his toughest test yet in Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar . The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, meanwhile, must shake off controversy over his poll affidavit - which said his taxable income for FY2021/22 was Rs 680, compared to Rs 17.5 lakh for FY20 - to win in a state that tends to look unfavourably on the BJP's politics. Mr Chandrasekhar has said he expects "the politics of performance" to give him an edge, and that the voters of Thiruvananthapuram would recognise the Congress and Shashi Tharoor had done nothing over the past 15 years. "People are sensible... they know." With a hat-trick of wins behind him, Mr Tharoor has exuded confidence. Speaking to NDTV this week, he said the BJP was welcome to open a bank account in the state, but they should not expect any other kind, meaning they will not win any seats. In 2019 Mr Tharoor, also

10 Indians Working As Support Staff With Russian Military Have Returned Home: Centre

Ten Indian nationals working as support staff with the Russian military have been released and have returned to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi has been pressing Russia to ensure the return of all other citizens serving in similar positions in the country's military. "Ten such individuals have come back to India and they have been released and they have returned home," Mr Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. After two Indians, working as support staff with the Russian military lost their lives, India last month called on its nationals to not risk their lives by taking up such jobs. Mr Jaiswal said the Indian side is very actively pursuing the case of all Indians serving with the Russian military at various levels, including with the foreign ministry, defence ministry and several other organisations in Russia. "We are committed to bringing back all the people who so far have got

Pinarayi Vijayan Named In Scams, Centre Not Acting: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a scathing attack against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday for continuously targeting Rahul Gandhi during the just-concluded campaign for the April 26 Lok Sabha polls. Ms Gandhi also alleged that though the CPI(M) veteran's name has cropped up in many scams, the Narendra Modi-led Central government had not taken any action against him. "Even the Chief Minister of Kerala only attacks Rahul Gandhi. He doesn't attack the BJP. When a man fights for what is right, then all the forces of wrong gather together against him," Ms Gandhi alleged in corner meetings organised in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, where her brother Rahul is seeking reelection in the polls on Friday. She said that many opposition leaders have been put behind bars by the Modi dispensation, but there has been no action against the Kerala chief minister so far. Her statement came after Mr Vijayan, during his election rallies, criticised Rah

Revanth Reddy's Loan Waiver Promise With Bizarre Attack On KCR

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today reiterated his promise to waive farmer loans upto Rs 2 lakh, "come what may",. Then came a bizarre addition -- "even if KCR (his predecessor K Chandrasekhar Rao) were to die by hanging in his farm house, I will waive farmer loans by August 15," he thundered. Revanth Reddy was addressing a meeting in his Kodangal assembly constituency, which falls in his native Mahbubnagar constituency. His comments come on the eve of Mr Rao, the chief of Bharat Rashtra Samithi, starting his Lok Sabha campaign. The journey begins tomorrow by a special bus. Even before that, Mr Rao has been touring drought-hit districts, meeting with farmers in distress to tell them that they were much better off when he was Chief Minister. There was no shortage of water and farmers harvested plenty, he told them. Revanth Reddy's promise of waiving Rs 2 lakh loans of farmers before August 15 was made two days ago in Bhongir. BRS leader and nephew of

Ankita-Vicky, Rashami Lit Up Arti Singh's Sangeet Ceremony

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Television actress and Krushna Abhishek's sister Arti Singh is all set to marry her fiance Dipak Chauhan on April 25. The to-be-wed couple kicked off their pre-wedding celebrations earlier this week. On Tuesday night, Arti and Dipak hosted a sangeet ceremony in the presence of friends and family. For the night, bride-to-be Arti Singh was seen wearing a stunning green lehenga while her fiance can be seen complimenting her in a printed kurta. In one photo, bride-to-be Arti could be seen holding Dipak close. Another photo featured Dipak and Arti posing with their family. Arti's brother, Krushna Abhishek also joined the couple for a happy picture. Other attendees at the sangeet included Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain, Rashami Desai, Yuvika Singh, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Karan Singh Grover, Kishwer Merchant, Shefali with her husband Parag among others. Take a look at some pictures from the night: Earlier, several photos and videos from the actress

"Dhoni Bats 2 Overs, Hits 4 6s": Ganguly's Advice On India's T20I Team

Virat Kohli is very much capable of getting a 40-ball-100 like Travis Head and he should open the batting with India skipper Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas, former captain Sourav Ganguly said on Monday. Kohli recently scored a 67-ball-100 against Rajasthan Royals but received flak because of his strike-rate at a time when openers from other teams are taking anything between 39 to 50 balls to hit the three-figure mark. "Virat Kohli has got the capability of getting a 40-ball 100 also. As I said at the start, India, with the talent they have, you just need to go and hit. Mindset should be to hit and then we'll see what happens after 5-6 overs," Ganguly told PTI during a select media interaction. While Ganguly would like the selection committee, coach Rahul Dravid and Rohit to take decisions in the best interest of the team during the T20 World Cup, he would ideally like to see the Kohli-Rohit opening combination. "If you ask me and it'

UP Man Bludgeoned To Death By Cousin For Performing Occult Rituals

A 62-year-old man was bludgeoned to death allegedly by his cousin on suspicion of doing occult practice to kill him, police said on Sunday. The incident happened in Bharhki village on Saturday afternoon. Indrajit Pathak, who is physically challenged, was taking a bath near a hand pump outside his house when his cousin Mahendra Nath Pathak (54) came there and attacked him with a thick wooden block, they said. Due to the repeated attack, Indrajit fell to the ground and started bleeding profusely. Hearing the commotion, the victim's daughter Aanchal, who is also physically challenged, came outside but her uncle fled, police said. Superintendent of Police Meenakshi Katyayan said the villagers and police rushed Indrajit to the district hospital. On Sunday, he was referred to a trauma centre in Varanasi, where he died. During interrogation, Mahendra told the police that Indrajit used to do occult practices and was planning to kill him, she said. The accused claimed about 14 years ag

"No Warranty For Modi's Guarantee": Revanth Reddy On Congress's Chances

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has expressed confidence his party the Congress will win 14 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Mr Reddy became Chief Minister in December 2023 after the Congress defeated K Chandrashekar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). "Every medicine has an expiry date," Mr Reddy told reporters in Karnataka's capital Bengaluru during an informal interaction, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lose the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The Chief Minister did not tell whether his confidence comes from the party winning the assembly election in the southern state. The BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been against the well-being and development of southern states, the Chief Minister alleged. "There is no warranty for Modi's guarantees," Mr Reddy said. He dared the Opposition BRS to win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP may stand to gain from the votes that the BRS

Repolling At 11 Manipur Polling Stations After Gunfire, EVMs Destroyed

Manipur chief electoral officer on Saturday announced repolling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 22. The decision follows a directive from the Election Commission to declare the polls held at these stations on April 19 as null and void and schedule fresh polling. The affected polling stations are Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in the Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao and one in Thongju in Imphal East district and three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district, the official said. Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of 72 per cent in the two Lok Sabha constituencies - Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur - on Friday. Earlier in the day, the Congress had demanded repoll in 47 polling stations alleging that booths were captured and elections were rigged. Manipur Congress presiden

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