More than 400 migrants fleeing from Egypt to Italy drowned when the boat capsized

It was a boat carrying nearly 400 African migrants who were fleeing from Egypt and were headed for Italy. The boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea and dozens of the migrants have met a watery grave. Most of them were fleeing from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea and had been hoping to reach Italy.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 18 April 2016.

It is understood from Somali media reports that rescue workers have managed to rescue only 29 passengers from the waters after the shocking incident and the remaining more than 400 migrants are believed to have drowned. Social media users have indicated that the boat had started its journey in Egypt with Italy being its intended destination. This is a route that is favored by many smugglers.


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

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

#cairo #egypt #AlHaram #pyramids A bomb attack in Cairo on a road leading to the pyramids has killed nine people - six of them were police officers. It has also injured 10 others. The bomb exploded when a team of officers raided an apartment in the suburb of Giza. It seems the building was booby-trapped and the device went off when the police attempted to defuse it.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 22 January 2016.

Police have blamed the blast in the Al-Haram district on the blacklisted Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. It seems a group of Muslim Brotherhood members were preparing to carry out aggressive acts in the coming days and would be using explosives and crude bombs and wee making use of an apartment in a Cairo building. The police raided the apartment and discovered a number of crude bombs. However, when the bomb squad expert was dealing with one of the bombs, it went off.
Islamist militants have stepped up attacks on Egyptian soldiers and police since the army toppled Morsi in 2013 which came after mass protests against his rule and the neighborhood of Al-Haram has witnessed a number of attacks and gunfights since the overthrow.
The building housed many of Morsi's sympathizers and used to be a regular venue for clashes between his supporters and security forces in the aftermath of his ouster by then army chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Moreover, the district also houses hotels that are frequented by tourists who come to visit Cairo, given its proximity to the pyramids.
The explosion came ahead of the anniversary of the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and security forces have interrogated residents and searched more than 5,000 homes in central Cairo as a 'precautionary measure' in order to prevent street protests on the anniversary.

Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Lord Shiva and TV Reality shows (satire)

Moody hates to be cowed down by cows (satire)

Bengal’s solution to tackle air pollution (satire)


Goa Carnival Package by Indian Railways - train to leave Mumbai on Feb 5

Walmart surrenders to Amazon, decides to close down 269 stores in the US and Latin America

Mass burning of all cigarettes in Turkmenistan to stamp out smoking


David Bowie succumbs to his 18-month battle against cancer

Kangana Ranaut learns horse riding for her role in ‘Rangoon’

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan to promote tourism in Bengal


At least seven killed in Jakarta suicide attacks near Starbucks cafe

More than 23 killed in Splendid Hotel, Burkina Faso, by al-Qaeda

Mastermind of Paris terror attacks entered Britain through Dover easily

Motorcycle riding gunmen open fire upon tourists as they boarded bus in Cairo

Motorcycle riding gunmen opened fire on tourists as they boarded a bus in Cairo. The attack happened at a hotel on a road that leads to the pyramids. Police succeeded in nabbing both the gunmen - there were no casualties. One gunman was arrested at the scene and the other one, who wore a mask, in another part of Cairo.
The incident has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 7 January 2016.

Among the tourists were two Israelis and, the incident took place in front of the Three Pyramids Hotel which was sprayed with bullets.
Incidentally, Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Christians are celebrating Christmas today in the predominantly Muslim country and tourism is the mainstay of the Egyptian economy. It has been struggling to recover from political turmoil that had been triggered by the 2011 uprising in which Hosni Mubarak was toppled from power.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has already declared an all-out war on Islamist militants, who are trying to destabilize the country through suicide bombings and shooting attacks. On October 31, Islamic State's Egypt affiliate had planted a bomb on a Russian passenger plane that crashed in the Sinai killing all 224 people on board. As a result, Russia put a stop to all Russian flights to and from Egypt, while Britain has suspended air links with Sharm el-Sheikh, where the plane took off.
Incidentally, millions of tourists, mostly Britons and Russians, flock to the Red Sea resort which has the attractions of year-round pristine beaches, warm weather and dive sites.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody gifts his neighbor a turban on his birthday (satire)

Lord Shiva’s solution for global warming – go under water (satire)

Didi discusses industries with Moo Cool and Omit Misra (satire)


Use online honey trappers to test the fidelity of the spouse

NASA developing hopping drones to explore Martian caves for human settlement

Cleanliness drive by Railways - collects Rs 58 lakhs in fine from Delhi Railway station


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

All female pop-group Moranbong Band cancels China goodwill tour

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


Christmas Day bushfire destroys 100 homes in popular tourist spot of Lorne in Victoria

Migrants ready to pay £1,200 to people smugglers for trip across Channel in UK-registered car

US airdrops 50-tons of ammunition for M-16s and AK-47 to Syrian fighters

Downing of Russian aircraft in Egypt sends Americans wanting counter attack on ISIS

Top congressional lawmakers have called for heightened security and a revamped U.S. foreign policy to prevent a similar attack on an American passenger jet. They are worried that since there is little doubt that ISIS is responsible for the recently downed Russian jetliner, therefore, America should carry out suitable counter attacks.
The ISIS attack calls for a more aggressive response and it was made by Capitol Hill Democrats and Republicans, including leaders in intelligence, foreign policy and homeland security.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 8 November 2015.

ISIS had planted a bomb on the Russia-bound A-321 plane that exploded in midair on Oct. 31 in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board.
One member also indicated that the Transportation Security Administration has been "proactive" in ordering additional screenings and other measures. He also suggested that the tepid efforts of the Obama administration to destroy the Islamic State terror group in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East is in large part to blame for the tragedy.
It seems an employee at the Sharm el-Sheikh airport in Egypt, from where the plane departed, or somebody else who could have avoided passenger checkpoints, is the likely culprit. Obviously, it called for tighter security in the airports in that region.

(Image source wikimediacommons.org)

Moody wants ODIs in Silicon Valley (satire)

Fight fire with fire - have ‘Award Return Festivals’(satire)

Moody in the mute mood (satire)


Mad rush for tourists stranded in Egypt to return home

Study reveals that online shopping is good for health

Inmates use mouse to carry drugs between cells in Brazil prison


Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate 21st edition of Kolkata Film Festival

Sandra Bullock planning an all-female version of Ocean's Eleven

Horror Museum in Colorado could be a money spinner


Bomb in Airbus A321 responsible for Sinai Peninsula crash and 224 deaths

Two Russian TU-142 Bear aircraft shooed off from USS Ronald Reagan

Iran has already executed 700 this year and the figure could cross 1000 by year end

Bomb in Airbus A321 responsible for Sinai Peninsula crash and 224 deaths

Based on fresh evidence coming to light, it is now believed that the crash of the Airbus A321 in Sinai Peninsula was caused by a bomb that had been planted by the Islamic State terror group inside the Russian airliner. The aircraft crashed over Egypt's Sinai peninsula after it had taken off from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on its way to the Russian city of St Petersburg. All 224 people on board were killed.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 5 November 2015.

Islamic State controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria and is battling the Egyptian army in the Sinai Peninsula and, it had accepted responsibility for bringing down the airplane. However, the US and European security sources have not yet arrived at any final conclusions about the crash. Of course, Britain had hinted the possibility of an explosive device as the cause of the crash without making any mention of any group that may have been responsible.
Britain has advised against all but essential air travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport which would mean that, henceforth, there will be no UK passenger flights out to Sharm el-Sheikh.
In case it is established that it was a bomb that knocked the plane out of the sky, it would deal a heavy blow to tourism in Egypt. Tourism is the pillar of the economy that is struggling to recover after years of political turmoil.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


Some more interesting links -

Give It Up – embrace a DOG’s life (satire)

Fight fire with fire - have ‘Award Return Festivals’

Operation unearthing Black Money (satire)


Fossils and eggshells of baby dinosaurs found in Gobi Desert

Parama Island flyover adds to traffic jams in Kolkata – made one-way

Future of street foods in Delhi bleak - Delhi bans cooking on roads


Arnold Schwarzenegger could play in Rajinikanth-starrer 'Enthiran 2'

Emma Roberts and her horror-comedy series "Scream Queens"

India is one of 81 countries vying for Best Foreign Film in the 88th Academy Awards


Despite US airstrikes, ISIS still makes £300-million a year from oil

Syrian gang caught trying to smuggle 20-tonnes of cannabis worth £150million into Europe

US airdrops 50-tons of ammunition for M-16s and AK-47 to Syrian fighters

Egypt unsafe for British tourists – ISIS attacks patrol ship off coast of Sinai

Extremists loyal to ISIS in Egypt have attacked a naval patrol ship in off the coast of Sinai causing it to burst into flames. As a result, British tourists have been warned that there is a ‘high threat’ from terrorism in Egypt.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 17 July 2015.

The attack took place in a region that is popular with tourists, including the beach resort of Sharm el Sheikh. The authorities have intensified security in and around the holiday destination. Egypt sees nearly 900,000 Britons traveling there every year and, the country has so far been considered as a safe destination.
However, of late, the thinking has changed because ISIS is gaining influence in the Egyptian peninsula - Sinai Province had pledged its allegiance to ISIS last year and, recently, about two months earlier, IS extremists had urged militants in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula to carry on beheadings and attacks against security forces.
IS has carried out a number of attacks in the northern part of the peninsula whereas Sharm el Sheikh is in the southern part of the peninsula. But, militants have killed dozens of soldiers as it attacked multiple military checkpoints and attempted for the first time to control a small pocket of territory in the Sinai desert.
Hence, Home Office has thought it fit to advise Britons in Egypt of the threats.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.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

Libyan car bomb kills at least 30 in a gas station in Qubba

#CopticChristians #Egypt #ISIS #Qubba #Libya #carbomb #gasstation There are reports of a car bomb that struck a town in eastern Libya which is, at present, under control of the country's internationally recognized government. At least 30 people were killed in the attack and an army spokesman has put the blame on Islamic militants. This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 20 February 2015.
The bombing has taken place after a video had surfaced that showed the beheading of 21 abducted Egyptian Coptic Christians at the hands of Libya's branch of the Islamic State group. This has resulted in Egypt carrying airstrikes on IS positions in Libya. It also raised fears that the extremist group has spread its tentacles beyond the battlefields of Iraq and Syria and had set up a major strategic foothold closer to European shores.
In the latest attack, the suspected Islamic militants had bombed a gas station that was packed with motorists in the town of Qubba which is located approximately 19 miles from the city of Darna. This is believed to be a stronghold of Libya's Islamic State offshoot.
It seems the motorists had lined up to fill their tanks at the station, which is located next to the town's security headquarters, when the attack took place and scores of people were also wounded in the attack.

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Ramblings

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wants UN to authorize world powers to intervene in Libya

#ISIS #copticchristian #egypt #libya #derna The whole world has been appalled by the brutal killing of 21 Egyptian Christians at the hands of the ISIS and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wants a United Nations resolution that would allow international forces to intervene in Libya as reported in bbc.com dated 17 February 2015.
President al-Sisi has apparently told the French radio that there was no other choice and that Egypt cannot be a silent spectator to such brutalities. ‘We will not allow them to cut off the heads of our children’, is how he put it. He has demanded that weapons should be made available to Libya's internationally recognized government, which had fled to Tobruk after rival militias seized power in the capital.
Subsequent to the release of the militant video of the apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians, Egyptian jets have carried out bombing of IS targets. The targets had been Islamic State camps, training sites and weapons storage areas near the city of Derna. As per military sources, the strikes would continue and there was no need for ground troops at present.
It may be noted that Libya is home to a large community of both Muslim and Coptic Egyptians and a majority of them work there in the construction sector.

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Ramblings