Monday, February 29, 2016

Migrants clash with police at Greece-Macedonia border


Hundreds of refugees stranded at the Greece-Macedonia border tried to break through a border fence and enter Macedonia from Greece, where more than 7,000 people are stranded. The situation provoked clashes and anger mounted over barriers that had been put up to prevent entry of migrants flooding into Europe. This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 1 March 2016.
There wre clear signs of deepening divisions within Europe as German Chancellor Angela Merkel lashed out at Austria and Balkan states for introducing tight limits on migrant entries - that left Greece stuck with refugee boats continuing to arrive from Turkey. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has warned that once Austria reaches its cap of a maximum 37,500 migrants transiting through this year, the refugee route through the Balkans will have to close. Macedonian police had to fire tear gas at the border as some 300 migrants forced their way through a Greek police cordon and raced towards a railway track between the two countries. There was a stampede and at least 30 people, many of them children, had to be given first aid in the stampede. This has been informed by the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The protest took place several hours after Macedonia allowed just 300 Syrians and Iraqis to cross.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Didi knows that ghosts have their uses (satire)

‘Make in India’ concept to market Ganga water (satire)

Moody throws light on conversion and smartness (satire)


Loss of bees and butterflies is disturbing the ecological balance

Madhya Pradesh to promote tiger tourism

China wants to fight terrorism in Xinjiang with entertainment, singing and dancing


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Twin suicide bombings in Baghdad kill at least 70, more than 100 wounded


At least 70 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded in twin suicide bombings in Baghdad. The bombings happened in a Shi'ite district of the Iraqi capital - Sadr City - and responsibility for the same have been claimed by Islamic State. As per police statements, two suicide bombers on motorcycles blew themselves up in a crowded mobile phone market.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 28 February 2016.
The ISIS has, in a statement circulated online, indicated that the bombers had killed and wounded "hundreds of polytheist rejectionists" - this is how they refer to Shi'ite Muslims.
Earlier, the militants had attacked Iraqi security forces on the western outskirts of Baghdad, killing at least 17 people. Suicide bombers and gunmen in vehicles and on foot had launched the attack on Abu Ghraib at dawn, seizing positions in a grain silo and a cemetery.
Iraqi forces, backed by US-led coalition airstrikes, have driven IS back recently in western Anbar province and are also getting ready to launch an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul. But, in spite of these, the militants are still able to strike in Baghdad and other cities outside their main areas of control. In the opinion of experts, it would be premature to say that IS was losing the initiative in Iraq.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Didi knows that ghosts have their uses (satire)

‘Make in India’ concept to market Ganga water (satire)

Moody throws light on conversion and smartness (satire)


Loss of bees and butterflies is disturbing the ecological balance

Madhya Pradesh to promote tiger tourism

China wants to fight terrorism in Xinjiang with entertainment, singing and dancing


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea

Friday, February 26, 2016

Four killed and 20 injured in shooting spree in Kansas - gunman also eliminated


Another shooting incident has taken place in Kansas - at least four people have been killed and nearly 20 have been wounded after a gunman went on a shooting spree in an industrial area in Kansas. The suspect has been identified and is a 38-year-old who was an employee of a lawn mower manufacturer in the town of Hesston. It is a community of 3700 people.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 26 February 2016.
The gunman drove around in his car and kept firing from it before being shot dead by police inside the Excel building. Witnesses have said that the gunman first shot a woman in the parking lot before entering the assembly area and opening fire there.
As informed by a local hospital, it was treating six of the attack victims and that five of them were in a serious condition. A second hospital had received three of the injured.
Voices would once again be raised on the need to control gun violence and introduce suitable laws to ensure that guns are not misused and innocents do not die because of someone who is gun happy.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Industries – the Achilles Heel of Didi (satire)

Lord Shiva does the treadmill as Sarasawti advises students (satire)

Moody & Co to invite Eskimos for the Yoga meet (satire)


Commuters go in for online purchase via smartphones when in packed subways

US and Cuba to restore commercial flights after 50-years

Tea and toast out of fashion in Britain just like fish and chips


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea

Up To Four Killed In Kansas Shooting Rampage http://news.sky.com/story/1648904/up-to-four-killed-in-kansas-shooting-rampage

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Migrant crisis in Greece - millions more migrants expected


Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of Greece has remarked that Greece is turning 'into a warehouse of souls' as more countries close their borders to migrants. He spoke out ahead of EU talks aimed at reducing the flow of refugees through the Balkans and as Germany was warned to expect 2.5million more migrants in the next four years.
This is reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 25 February 2016.
Greece, at present, is the arrival point for nearly four fifths of the huge flow of people fleeing war and poverty who are arriving in Europe. Most of them take the route via Turkey and this influx is turning out to be the worst crisis of its kind to face Europe for more than half a century.
Already one hundred thousand migrants have arrived this year and more than a million last year - these figures are as per the International Organization for Migration (IOM). And, with another 3.6 million refugees on the way, the record €19.4 billion budget surplus that the government took in last year in taxes will soon be eroded.
Therefore, ahead of the meeting, Tsipras has threatened not to cooperate with future EU agreements on the migrant crisis if the burden was not fairly shared among member states. Athens is seething over a series of border restrictions along the migrant trail to northern and western Europe. This has resulted in a bottleneck in Greece, the main entry point to Europe.
Hence, Tsipras has made it clear to the Greek parliament that Greece will no longer agree to any deal if the burdens and responsibilities are not shared proportionally. He has added that Greece cannot be turned into a warehouse of souls.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Industries – the Achilles Heel of Didi (satire)

Lord Shiva does the treadmill as Sarasawti advises students (satire)

Moody & Co to invite Eskimos for the Yoga meet (satire)


Commuters go in for online purchase via smartphones when in packed subways

US and Cuba to restore commercial flights after 50-years

Tea and toast out of fashion in Britain just like fish and chips


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Terrorists could carry out drone attacks on major sporting events like Superbowl in UK and USA


Intelligence experts have warned that terrorists could launch 'drone attacks' on major sporting events in Europe and the US. This has been indicated by analysts at the Open Briefing think tank - terrorists could use a swarm of drones, which are cheap and accessible, to attack crowds of people at an event like the Superbowl.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 24 February 2016.
In the opinion of exerts, attacks of this nature could be launched by sleeper cells or lone wolves who have been brainwashed by ISIS or al-Qaeda terrorists because ISIS are already making use of drones in Iraq and Syria for intelligence gathering. In fact, they are in direct competition now with al-Qaeda and are desperate to launch a mass casualty attack on Western targets.
Moreover, the ISIS propaganda machine could use the drones, fitted with cameras, to film the attacks taking place. Drones are freely available and there was no single counter-measure to prevent such attacks. A major stumbling block is that drones just cannot be shot down in an urban environment or at a packed stadium because of the high risk of collateral damage.
In addition, even a small drone that can carry up to 10-Kg of explosives or a suicide vest, could become a lethal item if directed at a high profile target such as a politician. There have been instances in the past. One option to prevent such situations would be for intelligence agencies to pick up the movement of suspicious individuals as they bought the drones.



Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Industries – the Achilles Heel of Didi (satire)

Lord Shiva does the treadmill as Sarasawti advises students (satire)

Moody & Co to invite Eskimos for the Yoga meet (satire)


Commuters go in for online purchase via smartphones when in packed subways

US and Cuba to restore commercial flights after 50-years

Tea and toast out of fashion in Britain just like fish and chips


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Too many lions in Zimbabwe wildlife reserve - plans to cull 200 to maintain equilibrium


Zimbabwe's largest wildlife reserve is the Bubye Valley Conservancy and its owners include Charles Davy, father of Prince Harry's former girlfriend Chelsy. The reserve now has more than 500 lions, the most in the country's dwindling wildlife areas and, in order to bring equilibrium, it wants to cull 200 animals.
This situation has arisen with a population explosion that was triggered by the international fury over the death of Cecil last year.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 23 February 2016.
These lions have been killing other animals and destroying populations of antelope, giraffe, cheetah, leopards and wild dogs. The driest summer on record had kept grasses low, making them prime targets. And, this has been blamed on 'the Cecil effect' - it had resulted from the killing of Cecil the lion, a prized resident of Hwange National Park who was shot dead by U.S. dentist Walter Palmer.
As a result of the international outcry, Palmer had to go into hiding for months and other big-game hunters shied away on fears of receiving the same treatment if they went to Zimbabwe. The drop in oil prices also resulted in a drop in the number of hunters from U.S. states such as Texas and the net result was the gradual build up of the numbers.
The staff at Bubye, which spans some 850,000 acres, feel that the population has become unsustainable and they may be forced to kill 200 lions to keep it under control. However, they have also launched an appeal for other wildlife sanctuaries or institutions to take away the animals first to prevent the culling.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Industries – the Achilles Heel of Didi (satire)

Lord Shiva does the treadmill as Sarasawti advises students (satire)

Moody & Co to invite Eskimos for the Yoga meet (satire)


Commuters go in for online purchase via smartphones when in packed subways

US and Cuba to restore commercial flights after 50-years

Tea and toast out of fashion in Britain just like fish and chips


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea

Monday, February 22, 2016

Nearly extinct timber rattlesnakes to be bred in Mount Zion, an island in Massachusetts


Timber rattlesnakes are venomous but have nearly gone extinct with hardly 200 available and, hence, there are plans to set up a colony for these reptiles to breed - the site chosen is Mount Zion, an island in the Quabbin Reservoir of Massachusetts. But, the plans has been met with outrage due to fears that the snakes could escape.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 22 February 2016.
These reptiles are indigenous to the New England state, and with only about 200 left, wildlife officials are fighting to save the endangered species. They are timid in nature and strike out when provoked. At present they inhabit five scattered pockets throughout Massachusetts, and it is planned to bring them together on Mount Zion, the largest island in the Quabbin Reservoir. Mount Zion is spread over 1400 acres.
However, the locals are concerned about their own safety because the rattlesnakes can swim and the island is connected to the mainland by a pair of narrow causeways. But, those in charge of the project feel the fears are unfounded - the fact is that it was critical to save the snakes, which could disappear forever due to human-caused deaths and a loss of habitat.
The plan is to raise a handful of snakes at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island and, once they are mature enough to survive in the wild, they will be placed on the island.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Industries – the Achilles Heel of Didi (satire)

Lord Shiva does the treadmill as Sarasawti advises students (satire)

Moody & Co to invite Eskimos for the Yoga meet (satire)


Commuters go in for online purchase via smartphones when in packed subways

US and Cuba to restore commercial flights after 50-years

Tea and toast out of fashion in Britain just like fish and chips


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Twin bombings in Syrian city of Homs leave 46 dead


#homs #syria #ISIS #twinbomb Twin bomb blasts in the Syrian city of Homs has left at least 46 people dead, among them there are 28 civilians. This has been informed by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. These attacks have been described as being among the biggest blasts to hit the government-held neighborhood of Zahra during the five-year civil war.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 21 February 2016.
As revealed by Syrian state television footage fronts of shops had been ripped off and vehicles were destroyed by the force of the bombs. As per official figures of the Syrian state TV, the number of deaths is put at 25 - this figure is reportedly from Homs provincial governor Talal Barazi.
The attacks has come a day after government advances against Islamic State but no one has claimed responsibility as yet. Incidentally, Homs was once seen as the capital of the revolution and is now largely controlled by pro-government forces. The Zahra neighborhood has become a regular target for bombers. There were major attacks including one on a school in October 2014 in which 48 children and four adults were killed.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

Thursday, February 18, 2016

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea


It is believed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered terror attacks to be carried out on South Koreans and these could happen in busy shopping malls, subways and other public places. It is feared that Kim Jong-Un could also target activists and defectors with poisoning attacks or entice them to go to China and kidnap them from there.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 18 February 2016.
The information on the terror warnings have apparently emerged in a briefing that was given by South Korea's National Intelligence Service to members of the country's ruling Saenuri Party. Presidential aide Kim Sung-woo has added a rejoinder that the possibility of North Korean attacks 'is increasing more than ever'.
North Korea has attacked South Korea in the past - like in 2010 it carried out shelling on an island that killed four South Koreans and in 1987 it was the bombing of a South Korean passenger plane in which 115 were killed.
The present terror attacks could target anti-Pyongyang activists, defectors and government officials apart from attacks on subways, shopping malls and other public places.
From all accounts, the current standoff between the two Koreas may not ease soon because Seoul and Washington are discussing deployment of sophisticated U.S. missile defense system in South Korea. Pyongyang warns that such an action would be a source of regional tension.
Moreover, Seoul and Washington have indicated that their annual springtime military drills will be the largest ever with involvement of nearly 15,000 U.S. troops - this would be double of the number Washington normally sends. And, in the opinion of North, these drills are preparation for a northward invasion.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

#seoul, #pyongyang, #shoppingmall, subway, #terrorattack, #KimJongUn,

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies


Ignoring repeated warnings by regional powers, North Korea went ahead with the launch of its long-range rocket which is said to be carrying an Earth observation satellite. However, Washington, Seoul and others treat this as a prohibited test of missile technology.
Therefore, four U.S. F-22 stealth fighters flew low over South Korea in a clear show of force against North Korea. This was the day after South Korea's president had warned of the North's collapse and subsequent standoff over its nuclear and missile ambitions.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 17 February 2016.
The high-tech F-22 Raptor planes are capable of sneaking past radar undetected and were seen landing at Osan Air Base near Seoul. The F-22s were escorted by other U.S. and South Korean fighter jets. North Korea could interpret the arrival of the planes flown from a U.S. base in Japan as a threat. This is because it was an apparent display of U.S. air power to show what the United States can do in order to defend its ally South Korea from potential aggression from North Korea.
Incidentally, the F-22 `Raptor' is the most capable air superiority fighter in the world, and is representative of one of many capabilities available for the defense of South Korea. It shows the ironclad commitment of the US to the defense of South Korea. The U.S. military has not disclosed how long the F-22s will be deployed in South Korea.



Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed


Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is unhappy at the Syrian airstrikes that are targeting schools and hospitals and has expressed concern at the 50 persons killed in airstrikes on five medical centers and two schools in northern Syria. The Secretary General has described the attacks as "blatant violations of international laws".
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 15 February 2016.
One of these airstrikes was against a hospital in Muratt al Numan that is run by Western charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which blamed Russian or Syrian government forces and claimed it was deliberately targeted. In another separate attack, blamed by Turkey on Russia, at least 14 people were killed when missiles hit a hospital and school in Azaz near the Turkish border. Six of them were children.
Russia has denied being involved in the airstrikes but, the Secretary General has said the attacks "cast a shadow on commitments" that had been made at a Munich conference last week - it included a pledge to hold a ceasefire within a week and put an end attacks on civilians.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

Sunday, February 14, 2016

David Coleman Headley, the Man Friday of Pakistan, spills the beans to India


#DavidColemanHeadley #MumbaiCourt #LeT David Coleman Headley is a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist who has now turned approver and he has admitted to his involvement in not only the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai but also in practically each and every incident of terrorist activities in India in the past years. Without doubt, India has landed a prized catch in Hadley.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 14 February 2016.
Headley has disclosed a whole lot of information pertaining to a number of Pakistan-based terror outfits - he has been having his say via videoconferencing from a jail in the US to a court in Mumbai. His deposition over the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack has now entered its fifth day.
In his latest revelation, he has indicated that he had carried out a recce of Mumbai`s Siddhivinayak temple and the Naval Air Base and had passed information to the LeT not to attack these since they wee heavily guarded. He had also carried ouyt recce of and Shiv Sena Bhawan.
He has also admitted by his bosses in Pakistan to recruit people from Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in order to collect confidential information from there.
The nearly 30-hour-long examination of Headley (held for five out of six days this week) before Special TADA Court has now ended. Headley's cross-examination has started but, it was only five questions due to shortage of time.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

Friday, February 12, 2016

Fight between rival drug gangs inside Mexico prison leaves at least 52 dead


It was a fight between rival drug gangs inside a prison in northern Mexico in which as many as 52 inmates have been killed. As confirmed by Jaime Rodriguez, the governor of Nuevo Leon state, 52 prisoners had been killed and another 12 injured at Topo Chico near the city of Monterrey. Riot police and ambulances were deployed to the scene after there were news about gunshots and a fire at the facility. There were no reports of any escapes.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 11 February 2016.
The fight was between a faction led by a member of the infamous Zetas drug cartel also known as Z-27. This gang once held control of the area around Monterrey. The leader was a suspect in the 2010 shooting to death of American David Hartley on Texas' Falcon Lake. He had been shot while he was touring the lake with his wife on Jet Skis.
The fight at Topo Chico was apparently between supporters of this gang and a rival who has been identified by local news media as a member of the rival Gulf drug cartel.
The inmates had set fire to a storage area, which caused the thick cloud of smoke and it happens a few days ahead of a planned visit by Pope Francis to a nearby prison in Mexico's far north.
Such fights keep taking place because of overpopulated prisons in which inmates from different drug gangs are housed.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

CIA reveals - ISIS have used chemical weapons and can make chlorine and mustard gas


#ISIS #peshmerga #mustardgas #chlorinegas CIA director John Brennan has revealed that Islamic State fighters have used chemical weapons in the past and are capable of making small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas. Last year, officials in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan had indicated that blood tests had shown that IS fighters had made use of mustard agent in an attack on Kurdish peshmerga forces in August. As many as 35 Peshmerga fighters had been exposed and some of them were taken abroad for treatment. At that time, there were apprehensions that IS had used mustard agent.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 12 February 2016.
The director of CIA has indicated that there has been several instances of where ISIL has used chemical munitions on the battlefield. The CIA also believes that the IS group has the ability to make small amounts of mustard or chlorine gas for weapons. Moreover, there are possibilities that the Islamic State group could export the weapons to the West for financial gain.
Hence, it is necessary to cut off the various transportation routes and smuggling routes that they have used to carry on their activities. President Bashar al-Assad`s regime and rebel forces have accused each other of using chemical agents in the nearly five-year war that has killed more than 250,000 people.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in December 2017

Aamir Khan no longer the face of Incredible India


Bomb attack kills 9 persons in Cairo near road leading to Egyptian pyramids

Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks

Monday, February 8, 2016

Police in England and Wales begin crackdown on knife related crimes


In view of rising incidents of knife related crimes, the police of England and Wales are starting a week-long crackdown on knife crimes - it has increased significantly in 2015. In London alone, in the first six weeks of this year, there have been eight knife-related murders and this sort of crime is a matter of concern.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 8 February 2016.
As part of operation Sceptre, police officers will patrol knife-crime hotspots and make use of real-time intelligence to target those who carry and use such weapons. In addition, the police will be working with Trading Standards to carry out test-purchase operations in order to identify shops that sell knives to young people.
Similar exercise would be undertaken in other parts of the country because there has been an average of 9% rise in knife related crimes. As indicated by Metropolitan Police - it is absolutely dedicated to reduce the number of knives in circulation at street level. In the last 12 months there has been an increase in the number of young people who are carrying knives and that can only end badly for anyone concerned.
In an incident in East London, three people were handcuffed as officers searched the rooms and discovered a samurai sword, an axe and two large knives.

Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody wants bows and arrows to eliminate Big Daddy (satire)

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)

Lord Shiva waits for his patisapta (satire)


Brazil declares war on mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus

The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

Beggar of Mehsana with a heart of gold – gifts gold earrings to 10 poor girls


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Sunday, February 7, 2016

North Korea defies UN-sanctions, launches long-range rocket reportedly carrying a satellite


#northkorea #rocketlaunch Ignoring warnings from the international community, North Korea has launched a long-range rocket which is believed to be carrying a satellite. This has been informed by defense ministry of South Korea. This action by north Korea is in defiance of United Nations sanctions.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 7 February 2016.
The US Strategic Command has indicated that it had detected what it called a missile entering space - this would appear to quash earlier media reports that it might have failed during flight. The rocket had been launched in a southward trajectory and Japan's Fuji Television Network showed a streak of light heading into the sky. This image had been taken from a camera at China's border with North Korea.
North Korea has been barred under UN sanctions from using ballistic missile technology. But, it had notified UN agencies that it planned to launch a rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite. This led to opposition from governments who interpret it as a long-range missile test. The UN Security Council was likely to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the developments.
Incidentally, North Korea had given a February 8-25 time frame for the launch but changed it to February 7-14. The United States was tracking the rocket launch and, in its opinion, it did not believe that it posed a threat to the United States or its allies.
North Korea is isolated in the world and insists that it has a sovereign right to pursue a space program. It last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012 to send into orbit an object which it had described as a communications satellite.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Saturday, February 6, 2016

6.4-magnitude quake in Taiwan on 1st day of Chinese New Year leaves at least 11 dead


It was a devastating earthquake that spoiled the Chinese New Year festivities for Taiwan - at least 11 people have died after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan in the early hours resulting in the collapse of a 17-storey apartment building.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 6 February 2016.
Emergency crews have been deployed and are working to free hundreds of people who are feared to be trapped in the debris after the quake struck the southern city of Tainan at around 4am - it was the start of the Chinese New Year holidays.
Rescue workers have confirmed that 378 people were injured across the city in the quake, with 230 being pulled from the rubble. The remaining injuries are believed to be due to falling debris. Nearly 1,200 firemen and soldiers have been marshaled to deal with the sudden crisis, and are now focusing their rescue efforts on the 17-storey building, where many more people are believed to still be trapped.
Many more buildings in nine other locations in the city of 2 million people have also collapsed and five were left tilting at alarming angles. The initial quake that had struck early morning was very shallow, at depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), which would have amplified its effects - this has been informed by the United States Geographical Survey.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Thursday, February 4, 2016

Saudi Arabia wants its boots on the ground to tackle ISIS threats


Saudi Arabia has indicated its willingness to have its boots on the ground and is ready to join any ground operation that the US-led coalition would launch against Islamic State (IS) fighters in Syria. This has been committed by Brigadier General Ahmed al Assiri in the Saudi-owned al Arabiya TV.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 4 February 2016.
The Brigadier is a spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition that is battling Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen. The Kingdom is an active member of the coalition that is at present fighting IS in Syria, and had carried out more than 190 bombing raids there since 2014.
However, in his opinion, the only way to defeat the extremist group is to put boots on the ground because aerial operations are not the ideal solution and a twin mix of aerial and ground operations could be a better option.
On this subject, US State Department spokesman John Kirby has remarked that the coalition is supportive of partners contributing more in the fight against IS, but he had not yet seen the Saudi proposal and cannot pass any comment on the subject.
Interestingly, only last month, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter had commented that several members of the coalition are doing "nothing at all" to help destroy the jihadis.
The USA has carried out the bulk of the 9,800 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria since the summer of 2014. Later, in November, the United Arab Emirates, which is carrying out airstrikes against IS in Syria and Iraq, had indicated that it was willing to send ground troops to Syria. A couple of US senators have called for 100,000 soldiers, preferably from Sunni states apart from Americans, to fight IS in Syria.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Refugee crisis keeps mounting in Jordan with 60000 Syrians cramped in camps


#jordan #syrianrefugees #KingAbdullah King Abdullah, the King of Jordan, has warned the global community that his country is at 'boiling point' because of the number of Syrian refugees and the West needs to extend a helping hand before the 'dam bursts'. Jordan is at present hosting more than 600,000 of the 4.6million Syrians who have registered with the UN as refugees since the civil war broke out in the country five years ago.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 4 February 2016.
However, the government of Jordan adds that there are another one million unregistered Syrians who are living in the country adding to its population of 9.5million. There are apprehensions that many more will arrive because there are still another 13.5million vulnerable and displaced people who continue to remain in Syria.
Speaking ahead of a key conference on Syria that is being held in London this week, King Abdullah has said that the flood of refugees into his country had damaged its education and healthcare systems. He has urged Western leaders to recognize the huge strain that the Syrian conflict is having on Jordanians.
Al Zaatari is one of the biggest camps in Jordan near the city of Mafraq - it currently has around 80,000 people. This is similar to Bath in the UK and Napa City in the U.S.. Aerial photographs taken from a helicopter flying over the camp reveals tents and other temporary homes stretching over miles of the Jordanian desert.
There are 3,000 refugee-operated shops and businesses within its perimeters because there is no lack of entrepreneurial spirit in Zaatari. These include a pizza delivery service, barbers, hairdressers, greengrocers, coffee shops and even a wedding boutique.
Incidentally, one of the roads is named after the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Moreover, nearly 15.5 tons of bread are distributed daily while three boreholes provide 3.4million liters of water every day a day, which is distributed via a network of 82 trucks. In the summer, temperatures can reach 50C in the shade.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Odisha offers windsurfing, snorkeling and other water sports on the Mahanadi River

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Monday, February 1, 2016

IS carries out deadly bombings in Damascus - leaves more than 76 dead


#damascus #ISIS #suicidebomber #SayyidahZaynab The IS terror group carried out three deadly bombings that rocked a Shiite district south of the capital Damascus, killed over 76 people and have taken responsibility for the same. The triple bombings rocked the Sayyidah Zaynab district which was being guarded by the Shiite Lebanese Hezbollah group - it is located in the southern countryside of Damascus.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 1 February 2016.
The first of the explosions was in a booby-trapped car and it targeted a passenger bus on the al-Sudan street in that area. Following this bombing, two suicide bombers detonated their explosives-laden belts in the crowed that gathered at the blast site. The death toll is given as 76 but,it could rise because many wounded people were critical. As indicated by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitor, a total of 25 Shiite fighters were among those killed.
Incidentally, the Sayyidah Zaynab tomb had become a center of religious studies of the adherents of the Shiite sect of Islam and a destination of mass pilgrimage by Shiite Muslims from across the Muslim world. In view of the religious significance of the district, Hezbollah had dispatched fighters to protect the shrine and man the checkpoints surrounding it.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Abhi Shake for industries to boost Bengal’s image (satire)

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Odisha offers windsurfing, snorkeling and other water sports on the Mahanadi River

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Foods that help to lower cholesterol levels and control heart disease


“The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar” - Disney’s upcoming television movie

'Avatar 2', sequel to 'Avatar' of 2009 expected to release in Dcember 2017

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Woman with fake passport in a British Airways flight from Ibiza leads to panic

Tourists to Morocco told by Foreign Office to be vigilant about possible terror attacks