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Day after Harvard awarded Ibrahim Bharmal who assaulted a Jew, Trump announces removal of Harvard’s tax exempt status: Read why US President and Ivy League University are at odds

Anurag
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Day after Harvard awarded Ibrahim Bharmal who assaulted a Jew, Trump announces removal of Harvard’s tax exempt status: Read why US President and Ivy League University are at odds

On 2nd May (local time), United States President Donald Trump announced that his government would take away Harvard University’s tax-exempt status. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, “We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!”

Source: Truth Social

The strong message from the US President came a day after Harvard Law Review awarded a $65,000 fellowship to Ibrahim Bharmal, a university student who assaulted a Jewish student in 2023 during an anti-Israel protest.

Earlier, on 15th April, Trump hinted his administration might take away the tax-exempt status of the university if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist-inspired/supporting sickness. He had said, “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’ Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”

Source: Truth Social

Harvard had already sued the Trump administration in March this year over its decision to freeze federal funding. The suit, according to the Wall Street Journal, argued that the government had violated the university’s constitutional rights and imperiled its academic independence by freezing the funding.

Notably, the funding was frozen as, according to the Trump administration, Harvard and other universities failed to adequately protect Jewish students during anti-Israel and pro-Hamas (posed as pro-Palestine) protests on the campuses.

Speaking to the WSJ, the university’s president, Alan Garber, claimed that Trump’s move to remove tax-exempt status would be “highly illegal”. He said, “Trump’s decision to revoke the school’s tax-exempt status is highly illegal, unless there is some reasoning that we have not been exposed to that would justify this dramatic move. Tax-exempt status is granted to educational institutions to enable them to successfully carry out their mission of education, and for research universities, of research.”

Garber added that in case the university loses its tax-exempt status, it would deeply damage Harvard. He added, “Obviously, we would be severely impaired if we were to lose our tax-exempt status. And I should add, it would be destructive to Harvard, but the message that it sends to the educational community would be a very dire one — which suggests that political disagreements could be used as a basis to pose what might be called an existential threat to so many educational institutions.”

Since Trump came to power for the second time as the US President, he has launched a nationwide crackdown against campus administrations that promoted antisemitism. On 11th April, the Trump administration recommended that Harvard University limit campus activism and stop antisemitism, as it is against American values. The government also recommended changes to its curriculum, including Middle Eastern Studies, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in various departments, and more.

Who is Ibrahim Bharmal

Ibrahim Bharmal is a Harvard student who, according to a blog post written by him on the university’s website, was raised in a close-knit immigrant and Muslim community in Southern California. He claimed that his community “survived” the wave of “Islamophobia” post 9/11. His aim to become a lawyer was to serve his community.

Bharmal was one of two students charged with assault and battery in May 2024 after they were seen assaulting Israeli Harvard Business School student Yoav Segev during the October 2023 die-in protest at HBS. The charges against him and Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, the second student charged with assault and battery, should have resulted in more than a year of jail time. However, on 28th April (local time), Boston Municipal Court judge Stephen W. McClenon ruled that Bharmal and Tettey-Tamaklo would not face trial.

The decision came despite the fact that the video of the assault had gained attention across the US. Segev was filming the protest when the duo approached him and blocked his camera. They escorted him away from the protest site. Segev was heard saying repeatedly, “Don’t touch me.”

Bharmal and his fellow accused pleaded “not guilty”. The court ruled that both of them would have to complete anger management programming, a Harvard course on negotiation, and 80 hours of community service. The District Attorney’s office had requested a court-mandated apology from the duo, but the court ruled against it.

According to Harvard Law Review’s website, the fellowship will support recent Harvard Law School graduates with a demonstrated interest in serving the public interest through their work and scholarship. Ibrahim will be able to spend a year working in a public interest-related role at a government agency or non-profit organisation.

Interestingly, Bharmal has chosen the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, where he will serve for one year in “public interest”. For those who are unaware, CAIR is an Islamist outfit based in the US. It is known for its anti-India stance and has spoken against India and Hindus on several occasions. CAIR also has links with the Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist terror organisation Hamas, which is responsible for the deadly 7th October 2023 attack on Israel that claimed the lives of over 1,300 Israelis and foreigners, after which Israel launched a military operation against Hamas with the aim of wiping out the terrorist outfit completely. The Israel-Hamas war is still ongoing.

Nainital Rape Case: Minor victim was traumatised and stopped going to school after the incident, 65-year-old accused Muhammad Usman arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Nainital Rape Case: Minor victim was traumatised and stopped going to school after the incident, 65-year-old accused Muhammad Usman arrested

The hill town of Nainital in Uttarakhand has been witnessing massive protests since the incident of sexual abuse of a minor school-going girl has come to light. The heinous incident sparked outrage among locals, who took to the streets to express their anger and demand justice. Schools, shops, and markets remained shut as protestors took out protest rallies. On Wednesday (30th April), the police arrested the accused, Muhammad Usman, a 65-year-old contractor with the Nainital Public Works Department, after the minor victim told her family about the incident. He was booked under relevant provisions of the BNS and the POCSO Act.

Accused Usman threatened her

On 12th April, the 12-year-old victim had gone to the local market to buy some groceries. That’s when accused Usman allegedly lured her by offering ₹200 and took her to his house. He raped her in his garage and threatened her not to disclose the incident to anyone. Sacred of his threat, the victim did not tell her family about it for days. Finally, she told her mother about the incident, who filed a complaint at Mallital Police Station on Wednesday (30th April).

The victim stopped going to school

As per reports, the minor victim lives with her elder sister in Nainital and the two sisters studied in a private school. For some time, the minor victim had been acting strangely. She stopped talking to anyone and refused to go to school. When her elder sister noticed her behaviour, she called their maternal grandmother. The victim still did not tell anyone about the rape as the accused had threatened her. Eventually, both sisters stopped going to school, and their maternal grandmother got their names removed from the school on 16th April.

Uttarakhand government to sponsor the victim’s education

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the state government will sponsor the education of the victim and her sister. Besides, the victim will be provided financial assistance through welfare schemes. District Magistrate Vandana Singh said that the government will provide ₹4000 per month to the victim under the sponsorship scheme, and she will also receive financial assistance from the State Legal Services Authority.

In a statement issued by the CM Office, the Chief Minister assured that the culprit will not be spared. “The Chief Minister said that the culprits will not be spared under any circumstances, and they will be given the strictest punishment. He talked about ensuring a quick investigation and speedy justice in the case,” the statement read.

Speaking to the media, DGP Uttarakhand, Deepam Seth, said on Saturday (3rd May) that the investigation in the case will be conducted speedily. ”On 30 April, an incident of rape with a minor girl in Nainital came to light. Immediately, an FIR was registered in the matter. The accused had been held and sent to jail. Police have taken all measures to protect the victim and her family. We will ensure that the probe is conducted in a time-bound manner and the accused gets a harsh punishment,” said DGP Seth.

Madhya Pradesh: Sameer Khan pretends to be Hindu to lure and entrap married woman, forces her to eat meat and convert to Islam

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Sameer Khan pretends to be Hindu to lure and entrap married woman, forces her to eat meat and convert to Islam

A case of grooming jihad has emerged from Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, wherein a 28-year-old Hindu woman named Nisha Dubey was lured and entrapped by a Muslim youth named Sameer Khan, reports Organiser.

Dubey, who was married at the time, met the accused at her younger brother’s wedding in December 2023. Khan (who pretended to be ‘Tiwari’) convinced her to dissolve her 8-year-old marriage and get into a relationship with him.

He hid his religious identity and married Dubey in Jatashankar Dham in August 2024. Later, the victim learnt that the accused is a Muslim. She was forced to do a Nikkah (Islamic marriage) with him in December 2024.

Thereafter, Sameer Khan subjected the Hindu woman to domestic violence, force-fed her meat and took away all her valuable items. His family members also mistreated her and demanded gold ornaments and ₹3 lakh cash.

Nisha Dubey was stopped from performing Hindu rituals and coerced into buying luxury products such as iPhone, bike, TV and a cooler for the accused. She was also forced to convert to Islam.

The victim informed that the accused’s mother had threatened her multiple times with a knife. Khan also vowed to chop her into pieces if she took action against him. The accused also denigrated her for being a Hindu.

Victim escaped from the captivity of Sameer Khan

The matter worsened on 26th April this year when the victim was locked inside a room by Sameer Khan. Dubey managed to escape and walked barefoot in tears for 14 km.

When she narrated her ordeal to the locals, they dialled the police helpline and brought her to the City Kotwali police station.

“I have always been worshipper of Laddoo Gopal, he forced me to stop worshiping him, he made me leave him..how am I supposed to live now,” she told Organiser.

Police action in the Chhatrapur case

Following the complaint of Nisha Dubey, a case was lodged at the Chhatrapur police station on Thursday (1st May). A probe has been initiated into the case. The accused Sameer Khan has been arrested.

He was booked under BNS sections along with Sections of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act

The victim is a native of Jabalpur. Her first marriage took place in 2015. She has a son and a daughter from her first husband. Dubey used to work at the office of a property dealer in Jabalpur.

In a statement, Kotwali Police Station in-charge Arvind Dangi informed, “The complainant says that the accused told her that he would kill her and stated that he wants to get married again. We are taking the issue seriously and appropriate action is being taken”

Notably, the woman claims she has been threatened to be chopped if dared to take any action. Sameer abused her saying, she being a Hindu was a mere “Keep” for her and that her work is now done; he does not need her anymore.

Hypocrisy of EU: Europe wants India to exercise restraint against cross-border terrorism on its own soil, but wanted India to get involved in Europe’s war in Ukraine

Anurag
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Hypocrisy of EU: Europe wants India to exercise restraint against cross-border terrorism on its own soil, but wanted India to get involved in Europe’s war in Ukraine

On 2nd May, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, expressed concerns over rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the Phalgam terror attack. The horrific terror attack claimed the lives of 26 tourists, almost all Hindus, in the religiously motivated attack.

In a post on X, Kallas stated that the tensions between the two nations are alarming and urged both sides to show restraint. She claimed escalation “helps no one” and urged the pursuit of dialogue to ease the situation. Kallas further stated that she had spoken to the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr S Jaishankar, and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, to convey the messages.

Dr S Jaishankar also posted about the conversation with Kallas on X. He wrote, “Good to speak with EU HRVP Kaja Kallas this evening. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Welcome European Union’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.”

Kallas’s statement came amidst rising tensions between India and Pakistan after Pakistan-sponsored Islamic terrorists killed 26 innocent Hindus in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Interestingly, when the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack happened, Kallas said in a statement on X that the EU “stands firm against terrorism” while expressing deep condolences to the victims, their families, and the people of India.

Kallas’s call for restraint contradicts her stand on terrorism

Kallas’s statement urging India and Pakistan to show restraint is, however, in contradiction with her stand against terrorism. Kallas, who considered Russia a terrorist state for launching military action against Ukraine, said in October 2022 that there is “no room for negotiation with terrorists”.

Her remarks also sit uneasily with the West’s broader expectations from India on the global stage.

Notably, since the war broke out between Ukraine and Russia, Western countries, including the European Union, have tried to persuade India to sever all ties with Russia. The West wanted India to join the war against Russia, a country that has stood by India through thick and thin, especially when Western nations looked the other way during conflicts between India and Pakistan.

In 2022, the West lectured India over buying cheap oil from Russia. Reports suggested it was Western countries that were actually the biggest buyers, not India. Despite consistent pressure, India stood firm on its stance that Russia is India’s ally. In February 2024, Dr S Jaishankar reaffirmed that India has stable and friendly ties with Russia. He called out Western countries for preferring to supply arms to Pakistan and not India. He categorically stated that Russia has never violated India’s interests, and that the bilateral ties remain “stable and friendly”.

He further stated that the Indian inventory of Russian-origin weaponry has grown, since many Western countries used to supply arms to Pakistan and not India for decades. He added that the trend has, however, changed in the past decade.

Pakistan’s continued role in terror against India

Pakistan, the hostile neighbour of India, has been serving as the launchpad for terrorist organisations targeting India since independence. Despite its clear role in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India, leaders like Kallas, who have been vocal against terrorism, want India, the victim country, to negotiate and engage in dialogue with Pakistan.

The EU’s selective outrage and inconsistent stance on terrorism is troubling, as it reveals a clear double standard. While it demands moral clarity and hardline positions when its own interests are on the line, it expects India to compromise its sovereignty and national security by initiating dialogue with a country that actively sponsors terrorism on Indian soil. If the EU truly wishes to stand firm against terrorism, it must apply the same principles universally, not selectively, that is, “there is no room for negotiations with terrorists”, and avoid choosing the path of political convenience.

Goa: At least 6 dead, over 15 injured in stampede at Lairai Devi temple

ANI
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Goa: At least 6 dead, over 15 injured in stampede at Lairai Devi temple

At least six people died and over 15 were injured in a stampede at the Lairai Devi temple in Shirgaon, police said on Saturday.  

According to North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal, 6 dead and more than 15 injured in a stampede that occurred at the Lairai Devi temple in Shrigao, Goa. 

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed sadness over the tragedy and said that he is personally monitoring the situation. 

Sawant also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him and took detailed stock of the situation. 

“Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi  ji spoke with me and took detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time,” the Chief Minister posted on X. 

Further details on the incident are still awaited.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Academic Jihad? IIT Gandhinagar Humanities Dept accused of promoting Islamic theology, Hindu students gagged for condemning Pahalgam attack

Shraddha Pandey
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Academic Jihad? IIT Gandhinagar Humanities Dept accused of promoting Islamic theology, Hindu students gagged for condemning Pahalgam attack

The prestigious IIT Gandhinagar has stirred a massive controversy after allegations of imposition of Islamic theology PhD students in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department (HSS). A social media outrage erupted over what is being called an ideological takeover of the Humanities departments of India’s elite educational institutions, after a social media user revealed PhD thesis topics centred on Islamic studies are being undertaken at the institute’s HSS department.

These topics include “Fishing With Faith: Islam, Indigenous Knowledge, and Ecological Sustainability in Lakshadweep”, “Robes of Authority: Sunni Ulama, Sartorial Tradition, and Embodied Piety in Malabar”, “From Gods to Jinn: Ontological Rewriting and the Islamization of Spirits in Kerala”, “Beyond Cultural Brokers: Speech Mediation and Ritual Efficacy in Mosque Speeches in Kozhikode.”

Is IIT Gandhinagar promoting Islamic theology and ethnography?

More than a neutral inquiry into Islamic history or a critical analysis of Islamic theology, these themes come across as endorsement and glorification of dogmas connected with Islamic theology.

Amidst the outrage over India’s government-run premier institute promoting Islamic theology, Nishaant Choksi, who is an Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, is alleged to have threatened students with disciplinary action against students who violated the ‘honour code’.

A purported email sent by Choksi to the students has surfaced on social media. In the email, Choksi reportedly wrote, ““It has come to our attention that someone has been circulating screenshots of internal HSS emails about MASC thesis topics, including the names of students and supervisors, to individuals who are posting them out of context on social media in a derogatory, offensive, and potentially dangerous manner.”

Calling it a breach of privacy and trust, Choksi added: “This is a breach of our honor code, and any students found engaging in such activities will be reported to SSAC.”

As per the material shared by social media users online, the following is what the thesis topics read:

Title: Robes of Authority: Sunni Ulama, Sartorial Tradition, and Embodied Piety in Malabar
Supervisors: Madhumita Sengupta & Rosa Maria Perez
Summary: This thesis examines how Sunni Islamic scholars (ulama) in Malabar, Kerala, assert religious authority not only through knowledge and teachings but also through their clothing and behavior. It explores how their attire and bodily presentation serve as symbols of moral and religious authority, deeply tied to regional Islamic traditions and cultural continuity.

Title: Fishing With Faith: Islam, Indigenous Knowledge and Ecological Sustainability in Lakshadweep
Supervisor: Rosa Maria PerezSummary: This work explores how Islamic faith practices integrate with traditional ecological knowledge in Lakshadweep. It suggests that religious beliefs influence sustainable fishing practices among the island’s Muslim communities, merging spiritual life with environmental conservation.

Title: From Gods to Jinn: Ontological Rewriting and the Islamization of Spirits in Kerala
Supervisor: Sharada Visweswara
Summary: This thesis investigates how indigenous spiritual beliefs in Kerala are reinterpreted and transformed under Islamic influence. It focuses on how traditional spirit entities are being recast as Islamic jinns, altering local ontologies and spiritual landscapes.

Title: Beyond Cultural Brokers: Speech Mediation and Ritual Efficacy in Mosque Speeches in Kozhikode
Supervisor: Nishaant Choksi
Summary: This research examines how speech acts in mosques in Kozhikode function beyond just translation or communication. It argues that imams and speakers play key roles in shaping ritual experiences and religious meanings, emphasizing their performative and mediating functions in the community.

This essentially comes across more as a forced integration of Islamic theology and ethnography within government-funded institutional research than cultural studies. These masters-level dissertations supported by IIT Gandhinagar professors hint at an alleged systematic attempt at mainstreaming and promoting Islamic theology among students. What makes it even more alarming is the threat of action against students who raised questions over a state-funded educational institution endorsing Islamic themes.

Hindu students purportedly gagged and hounded for condemning Pahalgam terror attack

Screenshots of purported WhatsApp chats of IIT Gandhinagar students suggest Hindu students being threatened against leaking controversial emails and condemning the Pahalgam terror attack

While the outrage over these thesis topics is yet to subside, a screenshot of a purported WhatsApp of a Hindu student at IIT Gandhinagar has raised eyebrows. Alarmingly, the alleged conversation indicates that Hindu students at the institution are not only being deterred from sharing internal emails on social media but also being stopped from speaking on the Pahalgam terror attack, wherein Hindus were singled out and shot dead by Pakistan-backed Islamic terrorists, for simply being Hindus.

The chats suggest that while talking about the Pahalgam attack, wherein Islamic terrorists killed Hindus, is barred, candle marches are taken to show solidarity with Palestinian Muslims. The purported chats suggest that just seven days after Palestinian Islamic terror group Hamas carried out a terror attack in Israel on 7th October 2023, a Sham-e-Azadi march was held at IIT Gandhinagar to extend support and solidarity to Palestine.

As per these chats, a second year student Mohammed Luqman had proposed AI research topic centred on Islamic theology.

In the purported chat, one of the students alleged: “Our Language Aesthetics professor vo Nishant Choksi, is threatening us with consequences if we even speak about the Islamic AI research paper with anyone outside the class. They’ve already warned us that if we talk about it, they’ll fail Hindus in his paper.”

The student added: “They also told us to not post on the recent attack on Hindus in Kashmir. Bol rahe the Islamophobia hota hai ese openly outrage karne se. Uske liye bhi bola ki results and disciplinary action lenge if code is violated. Palestine ke liye 2023 aur 2024 mein candle march and reading session hua tha. Entrance exam mein haar saal Palestine pe passage aata hai. Lekin Kashmir pe Instagram stories lagana bhi mana kar diya. Ek Adrija hai vo sab toh open Hinduphobes hai.”

The entire episode has sparked outrage and demands are being raised that the IIT Gandhinagar’s director initiate an investigation. Moreover, people are seeking the government’s immediate intervention into the matter.

Three Indians sentenced to death in Indonesia in narcotics case, Delhi HC directs Consulate and MEA to intervene

ANI
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Three Indians sentenced to death in Indonesia in narcotics case, Delhi HC directs Consulate and MEA to intervene

While addressing a plea concerning the death penalty handed down by an Indonesian court to three Indian nationals, the Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Indian Consulate in Indonesia to take necessary measures to ensure that the convicted individuals receive proper legal representation and appropriate assistance in pursuing appellate remedies.

Additionally, the Consulate has been instructed to facilitate communication between the convicted individuals and their families in India.

Advocate Ashish Dixit, Standing Counsel for the Central Government and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), accepted the notice on behalf of the respondents and requested time to obtain instructions in the matter.

Justice Sachin Datta, presiding over the case, scheduled the next hearing for May 6, 2025, and directed the MEA to engage with the Indonesian government diplomatically to protect the rights of the Indian nationals under applicable international conventions or bilateral agreements, if any.

The case involves a petition filed by the spouses of three Indian nationals–Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran, and Govindasamy Vimalkandhan–who were sentenced to death by an Indonesian court for narcotics-related offences.

According to the plea, the three men were employed at a shipyard when they were detained by the Indonesian Narcotics Department for possession of narcotics.

Subsequently, they were convicted and sentenced to death under Indonesian law, as per the judgment of the Tanjung Balai Karimun District Court dated April 25, 2025.

The petitioners, wives of the convicted individuals, contend that their husbands are the sole breadwinners of their families and lack the financial means to pursue the prescribed appellate remedy in Indonesia.

They further highlight that the limitation period for filing an appeal is extremely strict, necessitating urgent legal action following the judgment.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

NCW summons Ullu App CEO Vibhu Agarwal and actor Ajaz Khan over controversial show House Arrest, disputed episodes removed, contestant defends the show saying they are not forced

OpIndia Staff
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NCW summons Ullu App CEO Vibhu Agarwal and actor Ajaz Khan over controversial show House Arrest, disputed episodes removed, contestant defends the show saying they are not forced

Taking suo motu cognisance of the controversial show ‘House Arrest’, which was aired on streaming platform Ullu TV, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued summons to the CEO of Ullu TV, Vibhu Agarwal and the show’s host, Ajaz Khan. They are required to appear before the commission on May 9, 2025. The action of the NCW comes after the show faced major backlash for showing vulgar and obscene content.

 “It disregards the fundamental principles of consent, promotes sexual coercion under the guise of entertainment, and fails to follow any age-appropriate censorship guidelines,” said NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.

Notably, Ullu App has removed all disputed episodes from its platform and YouTube following backlash.

Female contestants made to remove their clothes, demonstrate sexual positions

The show, aired on the Ullu App and YouTube, sparked outrage after some video clips from the show went viral. In one of the clips, the show’s host, Ajaz Khan, asks contestants to demonstrate various sex positions as per Kamasutra, something that viewers have deemed vulgar and inappropriate.

In another video clip, Khan encourages the female contestants to remove their undergarments and other clothes. The contestants then start removing their clothes, trying to outdo one another.

The show was removed from the Ullu App following the controversy.

Contestant defends the show

One of the female contestants on the controversial show has come forward in defence of the show. The contestant named Gehena Vashishtha claimed that all the participants in the show were adults and they did everything of their own will. She added that the show’s host, Ajaz Khan, did not compel any contestant to do anything against their wishes. She alleged that the show was being unnecessarily targeted.

Supreme Court issues notice to the Central government

The controversy erupted a day after the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre in response to a petition seeking a directive to take appropriate steps to stop the streaming of sexually explicit content on OTT platforms. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih also issued notices to the Centre, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Ullu, ALTT, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and others. The Court urged Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, to take action on the concerns raised in the petition.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain appeared on behalf of the petitioners, demanded a check and ban on obscene and indecent content floating on social media and OTT and social media platforms.

“We have demanded that there should be a check and ban on obscene and indecent content floating on social media and OTTs. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, who appeared today, said that this is a serious concern and the government has brought some regulations. The court has issued a notice to the Centre and 9 OTTs and social media platforms which are showing such content…The court observed that this is a serious issue,” said Advocate Jain.

UK: ECB confirms that biological men will not play at any level of women’s cricket, decision after Supreme Court order saying transwomen are not women

ANI
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UK: ECB confirms that biological men will not play at any level of women’s cricket, decision after Supreme Court order saying transwomen are not women

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday announced that transgender women will no longer take part in women’s and girls’ cricket at any level in England and Wales following a change to its regulations regarding eligibility.

ECB released a statement to announce its decision which read, “The ECB is today announcing a change to its regulations regarding eligibility for transgender players in women’s and girls’ cricket. This is based on the updated legal position following the recent Supreme Court ruling.”

“With immediate effect, only those whose biological sex is female will be eligible to play in women’s cricket and girls’ cricket matches. Transgender women and girls can continue playing in open and mixed cricket,” the statement added.

The decision from the ECB comes in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman in equalities law. Earlier, the ECB, had banned transgender women from elite competitions to bring its eligibility policy into line with that adopted by the International Cricket Council in 2023.

“Our regulations for recreational cricket have always aimed at ensuring that cricket remains as inclusive a sport as possible. These included measures to manage disparities, irrespective of someone’s gender, and safeguard the enjoyment of all players. However, given the new advice received about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling, we believe the changes announced today are necessary,” the statement continued.

The governing body acknowledged that the decision will have a “significant” impact on transgender women and girls. However, the governing body vowed to “support” people who this change has impacted.

“We acknowledge that this decision will have a significant impact on transgender women and girls. We will work with Recreational Cricket Boards to support people impacted by this change in our regulations,” the statement added.

“We await updated guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and will study this carefully. We maintain that abuse or discrimination has no place in our sport and are committed to ensuring that cricket is played in a spirit of respect and inclusivity,” the statement concluded.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Russia-Ukraine war rages on 100 days after Trump’s promise to end it: Putin gives no indication of saying yes to White House unlike EU and Zelenskyy

Shraddha Pandey
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Russia-Ukraine war rages on 100 days after Trump’s promise to end it: Putin gives no indication of saying yes to White House unlike EU and Zelenskyy

Over a hundred days after US President Donald Trump promised to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the war rages on with no resolution in sight. While the United States and Ukraine have entered a much-awaited minerals deal, people on the Russian and Ukrainian sides continue to die.

On Thursday, Moscow-appointed Governor Vladimir Saldo said that a Ukrainian drone strike killed 7 citizens while injuring 20 at a busy market in Oleshky town in the Kherson region. Russia condemned the attack as a war crime, alleging that among those targeted were rescuers.

“At the time of the attack, there were many people in the market. After the first wave of strikes, Ukraine sent further drones to “finish off” any survivors,” Saldo wrote on Telegram.

Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike killed two people in the Black Sea port city of Odesa. This attack came just hours after the US-Ukraine minerals deal was locked, granting the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. In this attack, 15 people were reported injured.

Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said that the barrage struck apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket and a school. As per Kharkiv city’s Mayor Ihor Therekov, a drone struck and ignited fire at a petrol station.

In response to the Russian strikes, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky said that Russia has eluded the US’s proposal of an unconditional and complete ceasefire for over 50 days.

“There were also our proposals — at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land. Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults,” Zelensky said.

US-Ukraine mineral deal: Economic interests take precedence amidst the bloodshed

On Wednesday, Ukraine and the United States signed the minerals deal under which the US will gain access to the war-torn nation’s rare earth deposits, including oil and gas. The deal comes days after Trump publicly rebuked Zelensky during the latter’s US visit. Initially, Trump sought $500 billion in compensation for the massive military and financial aid extended to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden, since February 2022. This amount is reported to be four times higher than the actual amount. Unsurprisingly, Zelensky rejected this deal, arguing it would push ten generations of Ukraine into paying this amount off.

After assuming office, Trump has significantly reduced aid to Ukraine, thus compelling the war-torn country to ink a deal to secure long-term US investment.

Interestingly, the Trump administration has been pushing for a swift end to the war, possibly at the cost of some of Ukraine’s long-term strategic goals, most importantly, NATO membership. Not to forget, Ukraine’s desperate attempts at joining NATO were one of the major reasons behind the escalation of tensions with Russia. This remains a bone of contention with Russia emphasising that it cannot allow Ukraine to join NATO since this poses a direct threat to Russia’s sovereignty.

The US-Ukraine mineral deal established a Reconstruction Investment Fund to jointly develop Ukraine’s critical minerals, including titanium, lithium and graphite. The revenues would be split 50-50 between the two signatories.

Pertinently, the deal finalised after tense negotiations does not include any explicit US security guarantee, even though this was Ukraine’s major concern. This joint fund, overseen by the US Treasury and Ukraine’s Department of Finance and Economy, is meant to attract global investment for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

While the US gains access to minerals crucial for defence and technology to curb reliance on China, Ukraine benefits from securing an economic partnership and possible post-war growth.

The deal’s impact on peace, however, remains uncertain with a change in Trump’s tune. While initially it seemed like Moscow and Washington were ditching the continued tradition of never agreeing on anything, to finding some common ground, last week, President Trump threatened to impose fresh sanctions against Russia.

Trump had even raised questions over his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin’s, willingness to end the war for good. After meeting Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral in the Vatican, Donald Trump also slammed Russia for its missile strikes in Ukraine.

In a post shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, as he was heading back to the US from Rome, Trump hinted at imposing sanctions against Moscow after Russia’s latest missile attack on Ukraine and questioned whether Putin wants to stop the war. Donald Trump even criticised former US President Barack Obama and suggested that he “made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired.

Interestingly, Trump has also backtracked from his statement in which he committed to bringing the Ukraine-Russia war ongoing for the last three years to an end.

“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that [the war] will be ended,” Trump said.

US State Secretary Marco Rubio who earlier this year had a very positive meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, also changed tunes as he said, “There are reasons to be optimistic, but there are reasons to be realistic. We’re close, but we’re not close enough.”

On one hand, Ukraine and the US have signed a lucrative deal, although the lack of security guarantees would disappoint Ukraine; on the other, the attacks by Russia and Ukraine against each other continue to claim lives. While the mineral deal gives the US a financial stake, the deal touted as an agreement that would open doors to peace does not seem to serve that purpose. Neither Ukraine nor Russia have deterred from attacking each other, indicating that there is hardly any possibility of immediate de-escalation, let alone an end to the war.

Additionally, Trump’s and largely USA’s positioning that they hold the key to the war and the war can linger or come to an end at their behest seems hollow too. Unlike Ukraine, which is completely dependent upon military and financial aid from the USA and European nations, Russia is in no mood to take orders from the White House.

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