Suicide bomber kills 16 in Baghdad icecream parlour

A suicide bomber targeted an ice cream parlor in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, and killed at least 16 persons. It wass the Al-Faqma ice cream shop. The attacker detonated a parked vehicle laden with explosives outside the shop and responsibility has been accepted by ISIS. Another 75 people were injured in the blast.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 30 May 2017.

Subsequently, there was a second car bomb explosion near one of Baghdad's main bridges in which the death toll was 11. The blast happened just days into the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It is a time when Iraqis often stay out late after breaking their fast at sunset.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

New outlets for fresh fish from Chilika

The Great Indian Bustard makes a comeback

Trekking options open up in Uttarakhand


Another boss who understood my feelings

My boss rode a scooter and wore a wig

The man who loved his work


Airstrikes kill at least 27 ISIS militants in Iraq

US police arrest serial killer of Phoenix who had killed at least nine people

Gunmen disguised as doctors shoot dead 38 persons in a Kabul hospital


Sequel of ABBA's hit musical Mamma Mia on the cards

Hackers demand ransom for Disney’s latest Pirates film

'Wonder Woman' with Gal Gadot arriving in India in June

ISIS carries out car bombing in Baghdad - kills at least 55

It was another ISIS attack on Baghdad - a car packed with explosives was blown up in southern Baghdad and at least 55 people have died with another more than 60 injured. This is believed to be the deadliest such attack in Iraq this year.
The vehicle which blew up was parked in a crowded street full of garages and used car dealers. The death toll is expected to go up because many of the wounded are in critical condition.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 17 February 2017.

Islamic State has, through an online statement, claimed responsibility for the bombing. Since it is being forced to surrender captured territories, it has increased strikes on government areas, especially in the capital Baghdad.
The bombing is the second to target car markets this week and has been chosen probably because the group finds it easier to leave vehicles laden with explosives in places where hundreds of other vehicles are parked.
Incidentally, a suicide bomber had detonated a pick-up truck one day earlier in the Sadr City suburb and killed at least 15 people. That was also in a street full of used car dealers.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

New luxury cruise liner Seabourn Encore is labeled as 'sexiest ship at sea'

Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi at Rajghat gets a new look

200-year-old banyan tree uprooted by cyclone Vardah replanted in Chennai


The curse of social media – cold blooded murders committed

Saraswati Puja means entering a new phase of life

Moody on UFO, Mangalyaan and Moon Mission for monkey baat (satire)


Naomie Harris gets Oscar nomination in the best-supporting actress category for Moonlight

Nicole Kidman could earn $8 million if she writes her autobiography

Sets of the film Padmavati in Jaipur vandalised, Bhansali cancels shooting


Mayor of London worried about ISIS attacks on the city

Militants in Indonesia looking for women terrorists

Six people shot dead by gunmen in a mosque in Quebec City during evening prayers

Two suicide bombers kill at least 27 in Baghdad market

Two suicide bombers attacked a market in Baghdad and killed at least 27 people and left another 50 injured - many of the victims were shopkeepers who had gathered around a cart that was selling breakfast when the explosions took place.
The market is located in the al Sinek neighborhood on Rasheed Street, which is one of the main thoroughfares in the Iraqi capital. The area is packed with shops and markets and was targeted at a time when it was crowded.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 31 December 2016.

This attack is believed to be the deadliest attack on the city since mid-October when a man blew himself up at a funeral, killing more than 30 people. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for that attack.
It is known that the city of Baghdad has been on alert ever since the beginning of the offensive to re-take the city of Mosul in the north from IS. Prime Minister Haider al Abadi had indicated that the Mosul operation would take at least three months more - he had earlier promised that it would be completed before 2017.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Truck bomb in a petrol station kills at least 70 in Iraq

At least 70 people, most of them Iranians, have been killed and another 45 wounded when a truck bomb ripped through a petrol station south of Baghdad. The incident happened in the village of Shomali near the city of Hilla which is located some 75 miles southeast of the capital Baghdad.
The target appeared to have been buses that were ferrying Iranian pilgrims heading home after participating in Arbaeen, a major Shia holiday in the holy city of Karbala.
This has been reported in news.sky,com dated 24 November 2016.

Head of the provincial security committee for Babylon, the province where the bombing happened, has revealed that several buses were targeted and that it was a suicide attack. There are at least 70 dead and fewer than 10 were Iraqis, remaining were Iranians.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack.
As per reports, more than 20 million people visited Karbala this year, and the Iraqi authorities have indicated that around three million of them were Iranians. Iraq had positioned nearly 25,000 members of the security forces in and around the shrine city to protect the pilgrims from a feared IS attack.
Iraqi forces are at present engaged in driving out militants from the northern city of Mosul which had been captured by the ISIS in 2014. This Iraqi city is the last major urban centre still held by the extremist group.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

President Pranab Mukherjee to be present for Vikramshila Mahotsav

Baliyatra fair on the banks of the Mahanadi sees over one lakh visitors on opening day

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism


Lord Shiva and long ATM queues - bullock carts and ATM don't gel (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)


Spanish police arrest two suspected ISIS terrorists in Barcelona and Madrid

At least 52 killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast at a remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Joint action by RFA, Royal Navy and US Coast Guard nets huge haul of cocaine from the sea


La La Land to have its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Club

Jackie Chan gets an Oscar after a 56-year career

Spider-Man: Homecoming will see Michael Keaton as Spider-Man's main adversary Vulture

At least 24 killed in suicide attacks in Iraqi cities of Tikrit and Samarra

Two suicide attacks in the cities of Tikrit and Samarra have left at least 24 dead - this comes as Iraqi forces battle to clear areas taken from Islamic State around Mosul. The suicide attacks happened when two ambulances loaded with explosives were detonated.
The blast in Tikrit was near an entrance to the city during the morning rush hour and at least 13 people were killed in this. Another 11 people died in an attack against Shia pilgrims in Samarra located about 60 miles north of Baghdad.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 6 November 2016.

In Samarra, a suicide bomber parked an ambulance in the car park for a Shia shrine. Then he walked up to pilgrims about 500 metres from the shrine, detonated his vehicle and then blew himself up. The dead included five female students, a woman and three policemen and up to 100 others were injured.>br> Islamic State has issued a statement claiming responsibility for the bombings. Compared to other battles the present tactics of ISIS include a lot of fortifications on the streets, holes filled with water. Moreover, they are in possession of suicide bombers and suicide car bombs that they are using to keep the Iraqi forces at bay.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India - mango and visa on the agenda

Air India Express to provide improved air connectivity between Kolkata and Singapore

Mamata Banerjee to visit the United States in 2017 to woo industries


Lord Shiva’s views on Kalighat and marriages (satire)

Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Didi’s idea - deflate tyres to punish unruly drivers (satire)


Iraq special forces advanced into Mosul while ISIS militants killed 20

British police have foiled 12 terror plots against Britain in the last three years

No-fly zones to be imposed over jails to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs into prisons


Michael Fassbender says no to next James Bond - will a woman take over?

Second trailer of Wonder Woman released- will be in the cinemas in July 2017

Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) begins 11 November

Terrorist attacks and suicide bombing kill at least 46 in Iraq

Terrorist attacks in Iraq have killed at least 46 people - the attacks included a suicide bombing and its responsibility has been claimed by the Islamic State group. This attack was the deadliest to hit Baghdad in months.
The violence has been unleashed as Iraqi forces get ready for an operation to retake Mosul which is the last IS-held city in the country. This will be a key battle, but it will not put an end to the threat of attacks as was witnessed.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 15 October 2016.

It seems in the deadliest attack, a suicide bomber targeted a funeral tent where mourners had assembled to pay their respects in the Shiite-majority Shaab area of north Baghdad - the blast killed at least 34 people and wounded at least 36. The suicide bomber entered the funeral tent and blew himself up as lunch was being served. ISIS issued an online statement claiming the attack and saying it was carried out by a man who detonated an explosive vest.
ISIS is a Sunni extremist group and it considers Shiites to be heretics. Therefore, they frequently carry out suicide bombings and other attacks against them in Baghdad and other parts of the country.
The latest bombing is the deadliest to hit the Iraqi capital since early July. At that time a suicide bombing in central Baghdad sparked infernos in a crowded shopping area and more than 300 people were killed.
Apart from the Baghdad attack, militants attacked two areas north of Baghdad, killing another 12 people.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

Taiwan struck by Typhoon Megi, third typhoon in two weeks

Terrorist alarm in Uran was the figment of a 12-year-old schoolgirl's imagination

Tourist season in Kaziranga National Park to start from October 1 instead of November 1


Moody is off mood – Na Buzz had fooled him again (satire)

Didi’s version of ABCD - cycle to work to bypass potholes (satire)

Goddess Durga and her kids wait for the annual bash (satire)


9300 people killed in Russian airstrikes in Syria during last year

MH17 flight shot down by rocket over Ukraine in 2014 was work of pro-Moscow rebels

Shooting in Burlington - gunman on the run after shooting dead four women in a shopping center


Mark Wahlberg talks about movie on Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico

Adele creates a record - her latest album 25 has gone platinum in the US

Movie memorabilia go under the hammer - Batman's batpod fetches £312,000

120 killed in ISIS suicide bombing in busy shopping district of Baghdad

At least 120 people have been killed and more than 170 injured in an ISIS suicide attack in a busy shopping area in central Karrada district of the Baghdad - this was the deadliest single attack in Baghdad this year. Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al Abadi has vowed "punishment" for the perpetrators and his office has announced three days of mourning for the victims.
ISIS has claimed responsibility in an online statement and have indicated that they had deliberately targeted Shia Muslims but, this statement has yet to be verified.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 4 July 2016.

The suicide bomber arrived in he area in an explosives-laden truck around midnight as families and young people were out on the streets after breaking their Ramadan fast. Fifteen children were victims of the attack and, most of them were inside a multi-storey shopping and amusement center.
In a second bombing in eastern Baghdad in a predominantly Shia area, another five people were killed and 16 wounded. No group has claimed responsibility for the second attack, but it had the hallmarks of IS militants. These Baghdad bombings have come after Iraqi forces retook Fallujah, around 40 miles west of Baghdad, from IS and it is thought to be a breakthrough in an offensive against the extremists. In the beginning when ISIS came to power two years ago, they controlled nearly a third of the country. Today it is estimated to control only 14% of Iraqi territory - this is as per Iraq's PM.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Powerful tornado hits eastern China killing at least 51 people

British Airlines have suspended all flights to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt indefinitely

People in Gujarat prefer mobile phones to toilets inside the house


Yoga and khadi gel with Baba and Moody (satire)

Didi’s ideas to prevent suicides in Metro Rail (satire)

Goddess Saraswati is furious with toppers toppled (satire)


Tom Hanks to receive the lifetime achievement award at the Rome Film Fest

Darth Vader, the galactic man in black, to make a comeback in Rogue One

'The Jungle Book' inches towards the Rs 200 crore mark - Disney contemplates a sequel


20-year-old British man wanted to kill Donald Trump in Las Vegas

Violence in Sirte between ISIS and pro-government militiamen kills at least 60

Terror suspect in Brussels shopping mall wore a fake suicide vest

At least 39 killed in ISIS suicide attacks in Baghdad to divert attention from Fallujah

Islamic State has carried out a number of suicide bombings in Baghdad that have left 39 people dead. The deadliest of these was in a commercial area of a majority Shia neighborhood where at least 15 civilians were killed and 35 wounded.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 10 June 2016.

There was a second blast when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into an Iraqi army checkpoint north of Baghdad killing at least 12 people. The third attack was in the town of Taji 12 miles north of Baghdad. The dead in this were seven civilians and five troops with another 30 injured.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for these attacks but the information could not be independently verified. Baghdad has been the target of near-daily attacks in recent weeks by the Sunni militant group and these are believed to be attempts to distract the attention of the security forces from the fighting taking place on the front line.
Iraqi special forces have pushed into the IS-held city of Fallujah as part of a large-scale military operation launched last month. This city located about 40 miles west of Baghdad, is one of the last major IS strongholds in western Iraq. ISIS is still in control of territory in the country's north, including Mosul, which is Iraq's second largest city.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Switzerland builds the 57-Km long Gotthard Railway Tunnel under the Swiss Alps

Shocking discovery of carcasses of 40 tiger cubs in Tiger Temple of Thailand

WWII bomb in London bound Eurostar in Paris creates panic


All about chest size and happy days (satire)

Lord Shiva unable to fathom IPL T20 cricket (satire)

Monsoons and Didi’s flipflops aka Hawaii chappals (satire)


Rock music festival in Germany suspended due to lightning strike in which more than 70 injured

Arnold Schwarzenegger was chased by an elephant in South Africa

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”


ISIS using human shields to counter attacks by Iraq military

ISIS cornered as Russian-backed Syrian army enters ISIS stronghold in Raqqa

Germany arrests three ISIS men who planned an attack on Duesseldorf

Suicide bombings in Baghdad kill 43 - brings total death in 7 days to more than 145

Baghdad is witnessing suicide bomb attacks and in the latest one, at least 43 people have been killed. It was the second attack within a week in the Iraqi capital and it brings the death toll to more than 145 in just seven days. Such an unrest highlights the continued existence of significant flaws in the security procedures in Baghdad. Obviously, this subject has gone largely unaddressed even though US-led forces are imparting training to Iraqi forces for the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 18 May 2016.

The deadliest attack was in the Sadr City area in northern Baghdad. Here, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle and killed at least 21 people. The second attack was in the Shaab area, also in northern Baghdad where the number of casualties was at least 19. It seems a female suicide bomber had carried out the attack. A police colonel said a roadside bombing was followed by the suicide attack. The third attack was a car bombing in the Rashid area of southern Baghdad in which at least three people died.
However, the ISIS has issued a statement claiming the attack and saying it was carried out by a man who first threw hand grenades and then detonated a suicide belt.
Incidentally, attacks by female suicide bombers are rare in Iraq even though they were once more common than they have become in recent years. It may be recalled that two mentally handicapped women wearing suicide vests had killed nearly 100 people at Baghdad pet markets in early 2008. The next year, two women detonated explosives at one of the country`s holiest Shiite sites the following year, killing more than 60 people. And, later, in 2010, an attack on Shiite pilgrims by a female bomber left over 40 dead.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Rashid and Sadr City, but IS has claimed a series of other attacks in and near Baghdad that have killed more than 100 people in seven days.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Cruise ship Harmony of the Seas can accommodate more than 8,000 passengers and crew

Leopards in search of food on the prowl in streets of Gujarat

Bust the obesity timebomb with grapes and oranges


Monsoons and Didi’s flipflops aka Hawaii chappals (satire)

Chopper scam and Moody’s questions (satire)

Baba Someday, his yoga and Pat & Jolie face cream (satire)


High alert in Cannes for the film festival where 45000 people would attend

Kavita Kaushik to play the role of an Army doctor in TV show “Dr. Bhanumati on Duty”

Lady Gaga to portray legendary singer Dionne Warwick in 'Dionne'


Bombs rock Baghdad - ISIS car bombs kill at least 89

No buyers for Zimmerman's gun that killed Trayvon Martin in 2012

Australian police arrest five men who planned to go to Syria by boat to join ISIS

Bombs rock Baghdad - ISIS car bombs kill at least 89

Baghdad was the center of car bombings carried out by ISIS - there were two separate car bombs in which at least 89 people have been killed and over 50 injured. These are believed to be the worst single bombing of the year in the capital of Iraq.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 11 May 2016.

The explosions targeted the Kadhimiya and Jamea districts and killed at least 25 while a pickup truck, packed with explosives and disguised as fruit truck, slaughtered another 64 people in Sadr City. Most of the victims were women, and a large number of the injured, estimated to be around 50, are in critical condition.
The car bombing occurred in the Shi'ite Muslim district of Sadr City, Baghdad, and responsibility has been claimed by ISIS. The initial bombing took place outside a beauty salon in a packed marketplace in Sadr City and ISIS has claimed that it was the city's single worst bombing of 2016.
The second blast hit the entrance to Kadhimiya, a mostly Shi'ite Muslim district in the northwest of the Iraqi capital - it killed 18 and five of whom were policemen. There were another 34 wounded. The third bombing was on a commercial thoroughfare in a predominately Sunni district of western Baghdad - it killed seven and wounded 22.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Baya weaver birds return to Ganjam district in Odisha

28 thrillseekers stuck in Alton Towers Galactica rollercoaster ride for 40 minutes

Walking is the best exercise in polluted cities


Moody wonders why American space research firms are jittery (satire)

Lord Shiva and Durga on home delivery and drones (satire)

Sujjo Kanto and Ritu Bruto on free LPG connections (satire)


ISIS still holding 30 workers out of 300 kidnapped from cement factory in Dumeir

Another Bangladeshi blogger killed in Dhaka because of his views on religion

Florida hunters bag a 15-foot 800-pound massive alligator


Michael Fassbender to portray the role of a serial killer in 'Entering Hades'

Disney plans live action fairytales for 2017, 2018 and 2019 - specific films not disclosed

Matt Damon to return in new Jason Bourne film

ISIS struggling to survive - selling body organs of their own wounded soldiers to make money

Hemmed in from all quarters by airstrikes of the US and its allies, the ISIS is struggling to survive and, if reports are to be believed, they are running out of funds. Therefore, the have taken steps to sell organs of their own wounded fighters in the black market in Iraq. These soldiers are killed, their organs removed and sold to raise money.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 20 April 2016.

These shocking claims originated from an Arabic-language al-Sabah newspaper and it quoted an unnamed source in Mosul. As per the report, doctors were threatened and forced to extract the body organs of a wounded ISIL militant. The jihadi group were allegedly removing vital organs from their wounded fighters and selling them abroad to raise much needed funds for their fighters dreadful salary. Even prisoners held by ISIS have also been forced to give blood to the jihadi group.
The news coming on the heels of the initial contingent of 170 U.S. soldiers entering Baghdad as advisers in June 2014. Right now, there are 3,000 American security workers involved in Iraq with Defense Secretary Ash Carter authorizing a total above 4,000. The figure could increase.
In the words of the Pentagon this is 'tightening the noose' on the militants. Of course, critics feel these are indecisive steps with limited chance of success.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Didi wants to move around fast and wants a solution (satire)

Lord Shiva intrigued by the writing on the walls (satire)

Moody hates hotels and feels more at home in his aircraft (satire)


Taj Mumbai welcomes Prince William and Kate, the fourth generation of British monarchy

Huge 26ft python found in Penang - could become a new a Guinness Record holder

Lok Sabha ethics committee probing Narada sting feels the videos are genuine


ISIS still holding 30 workers out of 300 kidnapped from cement factory in Dumeir

Another Bangladeshi blogger killed in Dhaka because of his views on religion

Florida hunters bag a 15-foot 800-pound massive alligator


James Cameron, writer director of Avatar, promises his fans four sequels

'Deadpool' sequel planned and in the pipeline with Ryan Reynolds

Indonesian pop star dies after being bitten by a cobra on stage

ISIS suicide bomber blows himself up in football stadium near Baghdad - 30 killed

A suicide bomber has blown himself up on a football pitch even as trophies were being presented after a local tournament south of Baghdad killing at least 30 people. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, that took a toll of supporters, officials and security forces who had gathered after the game. IS claimed that the blast had killed more than 60 and wounded more than 100.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 26 March 2016.

The suicide bomber struck when the organizers were handing the trophy to the winners and the suicide attacker was present in the crowd - this is what a police captain from the village, Al-Asriya has indicated. The village is located near Iskandariyah, a town about 40-Km south of the capital.
The police captain said more than 65 people were also wounded in the blast. The mayor, Ahmed Shaker, was among the dead and a medic at Iskandariyah hospital has confirmed the toll and warned it could rise further.
In the opinion of observers, as their self-proclaimed "caliphate" shrinks towards extinction, IS fighters are most likely to go back to their old guerrilla tactics and carry out suicide attacks on civilian targets.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Lord Shiva wants to be the King of good times (satire)

Moody gets a call from Uncle Sam and takes a trip to Mars (satire)

Narad queers the pitch for Didi & Co (satire)


Budget airline from Dubai crashes during landing in Russia - 62 killed

A 1939 Japanese Lilliput robot and Flash Gordon spaceship up for auction

Gujarat Police learn the finer points of crime from hardened criminals


Star Wars Episode VIII to get delayed till December 2017

Antonio Banderas gifted a pair of monkeys to Salma Hayek on her birthday

Frieda Pinto talks about 'Jungle Book - Origins'


Clash between people of a Roma settlement of Tula and Russian riot police

President Obama imposes tough sanctions on North Korea

Terror attack in Ankara kills at least 37 - one suicide bomber was a 22-year-old woman

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

Iraqi forces trying to take over the city of Ramadi, a stronghold of the ISIS

#ISIS #ramadi #Baghdad #suicidebomber The city of Ramadi, located 90-Km from Baghdad, had fallen to ISIS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army and the Iraqi government forces are now trying to retake it. The forces are advancing into the center of the city which is under control of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).
This has been reported in bbc.com 22 December 2015.

As per information, troops and allied tribesmen, backed by air strikes, had already retaken two districts, and entered two others and are believed to be heading towards the main government complex. They had to face snipers and suicide bombers.
The strategy worked. Last month, government forces completed their encirclement of the predominantly Sunni Arab city and cut off the militants inside the center from their strongholds elsewhere in Anbar province and in neighboring Syria. Moreover, engineers had built temporary bridges over the River Euphrates, which flows along the north and west of the city center and that helped the troops to enter directly into the al-Haouz district, south-west of the government complex.
The counter-terrorism forces did not face any strong resistance except snipers and suicide bombers and that was expected.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Rice on rooftops – a masterplan (satire)

Didi to gift soaps and towels to kids (satire)

Saraswati and Lakshmi and their girlish talks (satire)


Juhi Chawla learns how to ride a scooty

All female pop-group Moranbong Band cancels China goodwill tour

Eagles Of Death Metal to perform at the Olympia Theatre on 16 February


No country liquor in Bihar from April - only Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL)

Thieves make away with sandalwood trees from Santiniketan

76% of butterflies vanishing in Britain - a result of climate change


1,000 British troops and Special forces going to Libya to eliminate ISIS jihadists

United States faced with Syrian refugee influx - nearly 100,000 have entered since 2012

Scotland Yard launches biggest ever crackdown on guns in London

At least 60 killed in truck bomb explosion by ISIS in a Baghdad food market

A truck bomb detonated in the Jameela Market in Baghdad and left at least 60 people dead and sores injured. The ISIS militants are suspected to be behind the attack. The incident happened in the predominantly Shiite Sadr City neighborhood shortly after daybreak and the truck was a refrigeration truck.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 13 August 2015.

The blast devastated a large portion of the market with charred wooden market stalls and scattered fruits and vegetables all around. The market is especially crowded on Thursdays because people from the other provinces come there to stock up on food for the weekend.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is common knowledge that ISIS militants usually target military checkpoints or predominantly Shiite neighborhoods such as Sadr City – the intention is to send out messages to the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad.
The continuing violence in Iraq and other nearby countries has resulted in death of thousands and has displaced millions from their homes – wonder when this mindless violence would end and bring peace to the region.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Take care of the heart – a few dos and don’ts

Chinese research finds that spicy food is the secret to a long life

Swatchh Bharat campaign takes a beating in Delhi itself


Dame Julie Andrews to direct new ‘My Fair Lady’ in Sydney for 60th birthday of Opera Australia

There is a fight scene between Captain America and Spiderman in ‘Civil War’

Shah Rukh Khan’s fond wish - to see Ethan Hunt and James Bond in one movie


Parts of lost plane MH370 of Malaysia Airline washes up on Reunion Island

Niloy Neel, fourth blogger of Bangladesh, hacked to death in Dhaka

Suicide bombers attack Kabul –kill dozens of innocents


A street food named jhal muri

A tribute to Kishore Kumar, the legend, on his 86th birthday

The world of fuchka, golgappa and panipuri

White House condemns ISIS attack on market in Iraq that killed over 100

#WhiteHouse #ISIS #suicidebomber #Baghdad It has been reported that more than 100 people have been killed in a suicide car bombing carried out by ISIS at a busy market in an Iraqi town last Friday. It was one of the deadliest attacks carried out by the militants ever since they overran large parts of the country.
The power of the blast demolished several buildings in Khan Bani Saad located about 30-Km northeast of Baghdad. The victims were people who were celebrating the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The body pats are scattered all over the place and there are fears that the toll could rise.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 19 July 2015.

White House has condemned this attack and has said that it remains steadfast in its commitment to work with Prime Minister (Haider) al-Abadi and other partners in Iraq and the international community to put an end to the depravity of ISIL.
The Diyala provincial government has declared three days' mourning and has issued orders for all parks and entertainment places to close for the rest of the Eid al-Fitr holiday to pre-empt any further attacks.
Islamic State has revealed that the attack was to avenge the killing of Sunni Muslims in the northern Iraqi town of Hawija, and has added that the suicide car bomber was carrying around three tonnes of explosives.
(Image courtesy wikimediacmmons.org)

A few more must reads -
Revolution in the skies - Airbus flies electric plane E-Fan across the English Channel

CBSE to check cheating in AIPMT exams – examinees can wear only T-shirt and jeans

Nine-year-old boy of Philippines studies in the light from a McDonald’s restaurant

Drone hovering over TISS campus in Mumbai sets off alarms

Typhoon Chan-hom strikes eastern coast of China with wind speeds of 173-Kmph


Boko Haram going the way of ISIS – releases first beheading video

US drone strike has killed top ISIS leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan?

Parents of 14-year-old girl arrested for forcing her to live in the woods for eating Pop-Tart


Where are the stamp collectors and pen friends?

Religion on Indian television

Iraq prison breakout – 40 killed, many terrorists escape

#Khalis #ISIS #Iraq #Baghdad #Diyala #PrisonBreak The Khalis prison in Diyala province of Iraq witnessed a prison breakout when nearly forty inmates, some of them convicted of terrorism charges, escaped during a riot in which at least six police officers and 30 prisoners were killed. Khalis is located 50 miles north of Baghdad.
This has been reported in foxnews.com of 9 May 2015.

The figures of toll in the violence is not confirmed because two provincial police officials and a medical official put the toll at death of 51 inmates and 12 policemen and the number of inmates who escape was in the region of 200. The official version as indicated by Brig. Gen. Saad Maan Ibrahim, the Interior Ministry spokesman, is that the death toll is 36, including six police officers and 30 prisoners, and said 40 inmates escaped.
It seems a fight broke out among the inmates of the prison and when guards went to investigate, they were overpowered and their weapons were seized. Some of those who escaped were wanted on terrorism charges.
Security forces had cordoned off the area and were searching out the escaped inmates.
Islamic State group has described the incident as a coordinated operation that involved use of multiple explosives outside the prison. There were 30 Islamic State members among those who escaped.

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


More than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped last year by Boko Haram have vanished

Journey to freedom – 5800 migrants rescued from the Mediterranean

Indonesian smugglers stuff yellow-crested cockatoos into plastic bottles to get past customs

Engineering graduate of Hyderabad goes astray, dies because of links with ISIS

Dozens of corpses found in bamboo cages in Thai human trafficking camp

Quick tour of Delhi by ITDC bus


Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Ramblings

Pentagon says Islamic State is losing the ground from under its feet in Iraq

#ISIS #Pentagon #BarackObama #HaiderAlAbadi #Iraqiforces #airstrikes Pentagon is of the opinion that the tide is turning against the Islamic State (IS) and it has lost more than a quarter of its territory in Iraq after the US-led coalition air campaign began in August. This has been reported in bbc.com dated 14 April 2015.
Col Steve Warren, a spokesman of Pentagon, has remarked that it was too early to assess whether the tide was really turning, but it is a fact that the US-led coalition air strikes and attacks carried out by the Iraqi ground forces had inflicted some damage.

Pentagon has quantified the loss sustained by IS by quoting some figures - IS had lost approximately 25% to 30% of its territory in Iraq in the past eight months, which was the equivalent of 12,950 to 15,540 sq km (5,000 to 6,000 sq miles).
It has lost territory in locations like Mosul Dam, Zummar and the vicinity of Sinjar Mountain. And, as a result, its frontline had been pushed either west or south, depending on location, in the provinces of Irbil, Babil, Baghdad and Kirkuk.
AS far as its presence in Syria, its gains in Suweida, Damascus Countryside and Homs provinces have been offset by losses in the provinces of Aleppo and Hassakeh.
It may be recalled that the IS had taken over large swathes of northern and western Iraq last June and it is gradually realizing that its losses are far more than gains and, they can be wiped out of history very soon. Evil forces cannot last forever.
The announcement of Pentagon came just before the talks to be held between Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and President Barack Obama in Washington.

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Pattern of death changing in India – heart and lung related diseases are top killers

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Nationwide ban on cow slaughter on the cards says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Auckland girl sweet talks thief to return stolen mobile phone

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart


Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Ramblings

At least 1700 bodies in Tikrit mass graves – Iraqis mercilessly killed by ISIS

#Tikrit #ISIS #Baghdad #Iraq #CampSpeicher #massgraves After liberating Tikrtit from the hands of ISIS, mass graves of around 1700 Iraqi soldiers have been discovered as reported in edition.cnn.com dated 6 April 2015. There are believed to be at least 10 mass graves inside the presidential palace complex which was once the residences of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The presidential complex had been converted to ISIS headquarters after the militants occupied the city. The soldiers have, most probably, been executed after they were captured in June outside Camp Speicher which is a fortified Iraqi base near Tikrit.

From reports of one of the survivors it seems the soldiers were herded inside the compound, separated into smaller groups, executed and buried in mass graves. Just how the Iraqi soldiers ended up in the hands of ISIS is a mystery but one version is that in June, some military units had been given orders to move to Camp Speicher. Another version is that the soldiers were told to leave the base and move closer to Baghdad and the soldiers left unarmed and in civilian clothes. However, military commanders and the Iraqi Defense Ministry have denied issue of any such orders. The official version is that the men had deserted.

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Teenage girl of Brighton sat on a needle in a bus and is now getting her blood tested for HIV

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Nationwide ban on cow slaughter on the cards says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Auckland girl sweet talks thief to return stolen mobile phone

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart


Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Ramblings

Iraqi forces retake Salahudin province from ISIS

#Salahudin #ISIS #Tikrit #Iraq #Humvee #Baghdad The ISIS had captured the Salahudin province on 11 June last year and Iraqi forces have now retaken it and driven out the militants as reported in zeenews.india.com dated 3 March 2015. The Iraqi troops and allied Sunni and Shia militias, with the necessary air support, has successfully freed the town of Himreen. The IS militants were forced to flee from the town after a heavy clash that killed at least three of them. Five security members were injured. As per reports, the troops were able to foil two suicide bomb attacks - one of these was a booby-trapped tanker truck and the other a Humvee vehicle.
The liberation of Himreen is seen as a major achievement after an offensive was launched from five directions – the objective was to recapture key cities and towns that had been seized by the IS in the Salahudin province.
It seems the troops, backed by armored vehicles and Iraqi aircraft, have surrounded the town of Dour, located nearly 25-Km south of Tikrit, and has been able to regain control of many villages north of Samarra, some 120-Km north of Baghdad.
The forces have to advance with due care because the IS militants have planted bombs on the roads and buildings. So far, explosion experts have successfully defused over 150 bombs and eight car bombs.

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Ramblings