US, Allies Conduct Air Strikes in Syria and Iraq Against Islamic State

WASHINGTON:
The United States and its coalition allies staged three air strikes
against Islamic State militants in Syria and seven in Iraq since
early Friday, the Combined Joint Task Force overseeing the
operations said in a statement on Saturday.
All three air strikes in Syria targeted Islamic State fighting positions
near Kobani.
In Iraq, the strikes hit targets near Mosul, Kirkuk and Ramadi,
among other locations, the statement said.

Cong support to insurance bill at cost of opposition unity, party MP says

Congress MP Bhalchandra Mungekar says the party's
decision to support the government on insurance reforms has hit the
opposition unity, with the Left and regional outfits wondering if the
lead anti-BJP player was unreliable.
A day after the coal and mines bills bared the divisions in the non-BJP
axis, Mungekar pointed to Congress decision to offer unqualified
support to the government's insurance reforms to caution the party. "It
was indeed puzzling. The opposition may have felt that Congress and
BJP can at times come together. This is not good for opposition
unity," he told TOI.
A section of Congress has lobbied the leadership against blocking the
bills authored by UPA, like insurance, even if the BJP had played the
spoiler then.
But Mungekar disagrees. "Our bills are no more our bills and if we want
to support them, we should coordinate with the opposition and
convince them why we are doing so. Otherwise, the opposition parties
may ask why they should be taken for a ride," he warned, adding,
"While supporting insurance, Congress might have considered its moral
responsibility which is not necessarily so ... the opposition parties
were certainly aggrieved."
Congress suffered a blow when allied regional parties backed the
government on mines-coal bills, appearing to pull out of the opposition
coalition that was firming up during the budget session. According to
the political buzz, when Congress confronted the dissenters, Trinamool
Congress shot back asking about Congress' volte face on the
insurance bill.
However, Mungekar said the coal-mines bills was not a sign of fraying
opposition unity as the regional parties backed the government in the
hope of funds that would accrue to states from the auction of mines.
A Rajya Sabha MP and former planning commission member,
Mungekar said the silver lining for the opposition was the persisting
commonality of purpose on land acquisition bill. "Congress should
develop on this good gesture of other parties. In view of grave political
situation, Congress at every point of time, as the single-largest party in
both Houses, must constantly ensure the unity of the opposition," he
said.
Besides the land bill, Mungekar said "a more effective rallying point" for
the opposition is the "polluted social atmosphere due to divisive
politics of RSS".

Sunanda Pushkar murder probe: SIT to interrogate Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi on Saturday confirmed
that Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar will be interrogated in the Sunanda
Pushkar's murder probe.
"Mehr Tarar is a relevant witness and the SIT has realized need to
speak to her. We are examining how exactly they can proceed in the
matter," said Bassi.
Earlier on Friday, the Delhi police had rubbished reports suggesting
that they have approached the Pakistan High Commission regarding
the questioning of Tarar.
"We haven't established any contact with the Pakistan High
Commission regarding the questioning of Mehr Tarar, these reports are
untrue," Bassi had said.
"She [Mehr Tarar] will be called for examination when necessary," he
added.
Sunanda was found dead in the five-star Leela Hotel in Delhi on
January 17, 2014.
She was married to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for a little less
than four years. Before her death, Sunanda had publicly accused
Tharoor of having an affair with Tarar.
Sunanda's death was initially debated as a possible suicide for
months, but a murder theory began to be considered seriously after
doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
maintained that her demise was unnatural.