Gali Nagaraja

Islamic State (IS) militants on Thursday executed 20 people in Syria’s predominantly Kurdish city of Kobane, also known as Ayn al-Arab, and detonated a car bomb at a border crossing within hours, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The IS militants executed 20 civilians and wounded 15 after local residents fought back an IS surprise attack in Kobane’s Barkh Butan area, Xinhua quoted the Observatory as saying.

Five IS militants were killed when they were encircled by Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), according to the London-based monitor group.

India and the US on Thursday decided to cooperate in a host of issues concerning the health sector, including cancer research and prevention and anti-microbial resistance.

The two countries signed MoUs on cooperation on cancer research, prevention, control and management and collaboration in environmental and occupational health and injury prevention and control, an official release said here.

Besides this, a letter of intent (LoI) on antimicrobial resistance research was also signed here.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday directed the interior ministry to thoroughly investigate claims made in a BBC report about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) receiving funding from India, and sought an early report.

Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan and special assistant to Sharif on national security and foreign affairs Tariq Fatemi met the premier at the Prime Minister’s House here, Dawn reported.

Maharashtra’s Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde was on Wednesday embroiled in a controversy involving alleged irregularities in awarding contracts worth Rs.206 crore (Rs.2.06 billion) with the Congress demanding a CBI probe in the matter.

The minister — daughter of union minister Gopinath Munde who died in a road accident in New Delhi last year — is accused of doling out the multi-crore-rupee contracts through multiple Government Resolutions (GRs) on a single day (February 13) instead of adopting the e-tendering or tender route.

The Congress party on Wednesday will hold a protest against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje demanding her resignation over latter’s involvement in former IPL chief Lalit Modi row.

Addressing the media yesterday, Congress leader Sachin Pilot had said that he will be a part of the protest lead by the party.

“The Congress party will be in the streets tomorrow demanding Chief Minister Raje’s resignation. I too will be there. The leaders in BJP and other parties openly say investigation must be there and these people must step down to allow a fair investigation,” he said.

A new study has revealed that having high blood pressure may decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

It was also indicated that anti-hypertensive medication may also play a role in lowering that risk.

Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark, Cambridge University in England and the University of Washington looked at data involving more than 54,000 people who were part of the International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project. Of that total, 17,008 people had Alzheimer’s disease and 37,154 were older people without the neurocognitive disorder.

President Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of Sister Nirmala.

“I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Sister Nirmala. Sister Nirmala served the destitute and dying with great compassion and zeal. Hers was an inspiring and noble life dedicated to the service of the poor and underprivileged,” he said in a condolence message to Sister Prema, the Superior General of Missionaries of Charity.

The petitioner in note-for-case, Mr. Elvis Stephenson filed a petition in High Court demanding the change of the judge which created panic in the political circles.

It may be noted that Mr. Stephenson had recorded his statement under Section 164 of CrPC before the magistrate in Criminal Court Nampally in which he had made several important revelations but High Court issue stay order for the cancellation of Mutaiah’s petition and his arrest till 24th June.

In Charge Vice Chancellor of Telangana University, Mr. Parthasarathy, IAS, inaugurated Ph.D. program in Telangana University yesterday. In his inaugural speech, Mr. Parthasarathy told that if the Research Scholar conduct research on the natural resources of Telangana, it will benefit the state. He advised them not to make their dissertations as the models of cutting and pasting.

Govt. of Telangana has taken initiative to resolve the issue pertaining to providing accommodation in Makkah Rubath to Hajj pilgrims on the basis of draw. It may be noted that Wakf committee of HEH the Nizam made an objection to the draw process through which accommodation is proposed to be allotted.

Mr. Syed Omer Jaleel, IAS, Secretary, Department of Minorities Welfare has convened a joint meeting of the officials of Hajj Committee and Wakf Committee of HEH the Nizam. It is likely that the matter would be resolved amicable.

–Siasat News

Hearing of the bail petition filed by TDP MLA Revanth Reddy was heard by High Court yesterday. In the counter filed by ACB it was stated that the investigations in Note-for-Vote Case are in progress and if Revanth Reddy is released on bail, these investigations could suffer. ACB in its reply opposed his bail and mentioned that it is awaiting the report of forensic laboratory of audio and video tapes.

–Siasat News

Telangana State Council of Higher Education is likely to start counseling for filling up first year MBBS seats in the State from 20th July. Two counseling centers in Hyderabad and one in Warangal is being setup for this purpose.

–Siasat News

V. Mohan raped a minor girl who become pregnant and gave birth to a child. Mahila Court in Cuddalore in 2002 imposed a fine of Rs. 2 lakh besides giving 7 years imprisonment.

The accused applied for bail which was granted by the judge saying that Islam, Hinduism and Christianity make a provision for resolving disputes through mediation which generally result in happy conclusion.

The judge remarked that the accused should be given an opportunity to negotiate with the victim as a free man to arrive at a positive solution.

A self-proclaimed atheist from Turkey’s southeastern province of Adiyaman, was forced to leave his hometown after receiving death threats for removing “Islam” from the religious affiliation section of his national identity card, media reported on Tuesday.

The threats began on May 21, with the man receiving two letters containing death threats and his house being marked, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Fearing for his life, he appealed to the Adiyaman branch of Turkey’s Human Rights Association (IHD), which filed a criminal complaint in his name.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up with Chinese leadership India’s concerns over China blocking its move in the UN for action against Pakistan over release of 26/11 mastermind and LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi in violation of a resolution of the world body.

The External Affairs Ministry said India has raised the issue bilaterally with members of the UN Sanctions Committee and in case of China it was taken up at the “highest level”.

Railway officials confirmed that the Palamu Express derailed in Jharkhand on Tuesday, adding that preliminary reports state that there are no casualties in the incident.

The death toll from a devastating heatwave in Pakistan has risen to a whopping 650, even as the mercury continued to soar in the Sindh province of the country.

According to latest hospital and rescue services reports, the number of deaths recorded at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPC) increased to 262 on Tuesday while the death toll at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital rose to 102, reported the Dawn.

The total number of lives claimed by the heatwave at the Civil Hospital increased to 98.

U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has announced that his country will deploy heavy weapons such as tanks, armoured vehicles and other equipment across six European nations, including those that are located along the Russian border.

The move is believed to be aimed at providing assurance to NATO allies, who have been facing a slew of threats from Russia and terrorist groups, reported Fox News.

The Mumbai Police crime branch has destroyed around 10,000 litres of alcohol after 104 people were killed and a further 36 were admitted to the Critical Care Unit due to the consumption of spurious liquor in the city.

“Many places have been raided, but we could often not find the liquor. We have already arrested six people. We have put barriers in many places to stop the transportation of liquor and this operation will continue,” said DCP Thane Sanjay Jadhav.

Earlier in the day, the main accused in the case was reportedly arrested from Delhi.

England have opted to bat first after winning the toss for their lone Twenty20 match against New Zealand at Manchester.

The Eoin Morgan-led side have maintained the same squad that won the final ODI to seal the five-match series 3-2.

Meanwhile, New Zealand have made three changes by bringing in Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan and Nathan McCullum in place of Grant Elliott, Ben Wheeler and Andrew Mathieson.

The playing XI for both teams are as follows:

Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee president E.V.K.S Elangovan on Tuesday welcomed the Karnataka government’s appeal against Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s acquittal in her disproportionate assets case, claiming that the ruling would send a wrong message to the common man.

The CPI-M on Tuesday said the opposition would not allow the vexed land bill to be either ratified or defeated in the Rajya Sabha so as to foil the NDA government’s plans to get the legislation enacted through a joint session of parliament.

Days after they were flooded with financial assistance from all over after cracking the prestigious IIT, Brijesh and Raju – the two sons of a Dalit labourer – now live in fear as their house in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh was pelted with stones at night. They have now been provided with police security.

Armed constables have been posted outside their modest one-room slum house in Rehua Lalganj village, said district officials on Tuesday.

A rocket launched from Gaza has hit an open field in Israel, an Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

The rocket exploded between two communities in the regional council of Ashkelon Coast but caused no injuries or damages, he said, adding that “forces are currently searching the area”, Xinhua news agency reported.

On August 26, Israel and Hamas reached a cease-fire agreement after 51 days of war. However, tension along the border is high with occasional rocket fire by Gaza militants and frequent shootings by Israeli forces at Gaza fishermen.

Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson has said peacebuilding remains at the core of UN activities in conflict-affected countries, but lack of funding continues to hold back UN peacebuilding efforts, media reported on Wednesday.

Speaking at the 2nd Annual Session of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, Eliasson said that the lack of “sufficient and predictable funding for critical peacebuilding priorities” continues to hold back the UN’s efforts, Xinhua news agency reported.