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

President of Egypt declares emergency in Sinai Peninsula after 31 soldiers killed in attacks

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt has declared a three-month state of emergency in parts of the Sinai Peninsula following the death of at least 31 soldiers in two attacks bbc.com. The President has also declared three days of mourning in the wake of the suspected jihadist attacks.

No one has claimed responsibility for the suicide blast at an army checkpoint that killed 28 soldiers. Another 28 others were injured in the attack near El Arish which is the main town in the north of the restive peninsula. Moreover, death of three more soldiers were reported due to a separate shooting incident at a checkpoint in the town itself.
Egypt's Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip was also closed.
This has been touted as the biggest loss of life in decades for Egypt's army – it has been waging a war against jihadists in northern Sinai.

Incidentally, the law and order situation in the area has deteriorated since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011 and the militants have also stepped up attacks after Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was ousted by the army last year.