From CNN: A small town in Wisconsin is a far cry from the civil war-ravaged fields of northern Syria.But for Jordan Matson, a former U.S. solider, the battlefield feels most like home.

For the last month, Matson, 28, has been a volunteer fighter in the Kurdish militia known here as the People's Protection Units, or YPG. The group has been defending three small Kurdish statelets in northern Syria.

The Kurdish militants have also spent much of the last year battling ISIS, the hardline jihadist group that wants to create an Islamic state across parts of Iraq and Syria

Read the full story here

Police has launched a massive manhunt for five men who had allegedly consumed alcohol on Diwali night and littered the area near a place of worship, which allegedly triggered clashes between two communties in Trilokpuri area here.

Besides this, ten teams are conducting door to door searches in the area to check if stones, bricks, firearms and other weapons have been stored in houses. Curfew-like situation prevailed in Trilokpuri for the third consecutive day with people not being allowed to step out of their houses though no untoward incident took place in the violence-hit locality today.

A special team is looking into the investigations of the case and the five men have been identified. "These are local miscreants and do not represent any religion. It was they who had consumed liquor and thrown non-veg leftovers near the religious structure which incited violence.

They will be nabbed soon," said a police official. Investigators are scanning CCTV footages of the area to nab the accused persons.

On Sunday, around 11 people applied for anticipatory bail in the Odisha high court suspecting their arrest by the Cerntral bureau of investigation in the mega chit fund scam. One of them is Durga Prasad Mishra (chief managing director of Micro Finance Limited).

The Odisha home department of Orissa has already instructed the crime branch to keep a close watch on this company and take necessary action in its letter no 16891 dated April 27, 2004, but the CID-CB has not taken any action.

An FIR was lodged at the Jharpokharia police station, district-- Mayurbhanja against Mishra and others by one Jogendra Kumar Mallick for fraud under section 420, 406 & 120(B) Indian penal Code (FIR No.65 of 10.5.2013) but  the Odisha police has not taken any action against Mishra.

The Election Commission of India plans to give away the National Media Awards to media houses for conducting campaigns to educate and make voters aware of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Awards will be given separately to print and electronic media.

The Election Commission has directed chief electoral officers of all states to send nominations of two media houses which worked to create awareness during elections, an official release said here today.

The Commission has also directed its award related circular dated October 9 to be uploaded to the chief electoral officer's website. Media houses may also send their nominations directly to the Election Commission, it said.

A jury constituted by the Election Commission will consider nominations, which should reach it along with the states CEOs' recommendation by October 30. The National Media Awards will be given away on National Voters' Day on January 25, 2015, it said.

An Indian-origin British surgeon found dead in a prison in Syria last year was murdered, an inquest into his death at the Royal Courts of Justice in London concluded today.

Shah Abbas Khan, a 32-year-old father-of-two from south London, died on December 16, 2013 while in custody in Damascus. His family had claimed he was murdered but the Syrian government had maintained he was found hanging in a jail cell.

The jury of seven men and four women concluded that the medical cause of Khan's death was "unascertained", but found his killing unlawful. "Dr Khan was deliberately and intentionally killed without any legal justification," said the jury forewoman.

The UK foreign office demanded that the Syrian regime give Khan's family the answers they have been demanding and said the UK government will consider its next steps.

"The foreign office fully supported the Coroner's inquest and we will now consider next steps," Tobias Ellwood, Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, said in a statement. "

Khan's imprisonment without consular access was unacceptable. The Foreign Office consistently sought access and pressed for his detention to be reviewed including through ministers and international partners.

The Syrian regime ignored these approaches. It can no longer do so. His family deserve answers and those responsible for Khan's death should be brought to justice.

Pakistan Maritime Security Agency apprehended 42 Indian fishermen and their seven boats near Jakhau port off the Gujarat coast today, an official of the Fishworkers Forum said today.

"Pakistani security agency MSA apprehended seven boats carrying 42 fishermen today near Jakhau port off the Gujarat coast in the Arabian sea," National Fishworkers' Forum secretary Manish Lodhari told PTI here. Indian boats drifted into Pakistani waters by mistake due to strong winds caused by the severe cyclonic storm 'Nilofar' which has emearged in the Arabian Sea, Lodhari said.

Lodhari said that there is a possibility that some boats are still trapped in the stormy winds and may fall into the hands of Pakistani authorities. Five of the boats are from Porbandar while one each are from Okha and Mangrol towns of the state, Lodhari said.

It is the third major incident of Indian boats being apprehended by the Pakistani security agency, Lodhari said. Earlier on October 2, the Pakistan maritime security agency had apprehended 55 fishermen along with their eight boats near Jakhau port off the Gujarat coast, he said.

Last month, Pakistan MSA had apprehended 27 fishermen along with their five boats off the Gujarat coast, Lodhari said.

Expatriates living in India often have gripes, for instance about the heat, the dirt, how difficult it is to find good cheese.But when it comes to other perks, including opportunities for travel, ease of raising children and a low cost of living, India comes out in the top 10 places to be an expatriate, according to a survey. 

A nurse held in quarantine for Ebola monitoring in New Jersey plans to file a federal lawsuit challenging her confinement as a violation of her civil rights, her lawyer said. Doctors Without Borders worker Kaci Hickox returned to the US on Friday and was promptly put into isolation at a New Jersey hospital. She has tested free of the deadly virus, but was told she would be unable to leave for another 21 days - when the disease's incubation period ends. Her lawyer said the order violated her constitutional rights. Hickox said: "This is not a situation I would wish on anyone, and I am scared for those who will follow me. I am scared that, like me, they will arrive and see a frenzy of disorganisation, fear and, most frightening, quarantine."

f you want a glimpse into the life of the wizarding world, a 163-year-old London hotel is offering Harry Potter-themed rooms to fans of the book and film series.The Georgian House Hotel near London's Victoria Station has given some of its rooms a gothic feel so guests can pretend they are spending a night in Hogwarts. There are two 'Wizard Chamber' bedrooms that come with a four-poster, 'Muggle-size' bed, potion bottles, cauldrons and other themed accessories. The rooms are available as part of a package that includes a 'Muggle walking tour' of London, which takes in filming locations and various places that inspired Harry Potter author J K Rowling. 

The Supreme Court said it would not be "averse" to any relief that Maharashtra government might offer to Campa Cola Housing Society residents who are seeking another chance to save their illegal flats which they were asked to vacate. Referring to the new government which may soon take the charge of the state, a bench headed by Justice S J Mukhopadhaya said the government may suggest some way to get over the problem.

British Prime Minister David Cameron was pushed by a protester during a visit to Leeds Civic Hall. Security officials and police pounced after the man confronted the Prime Minister as he left the building. West Yorkshire Police later tweeted saying: "A 28-year-old local man was briefly arrested after he came close to the PM's group, who had just left the Civic Hall.No threats were made, and after the man's details were checked, he was de-arrested and allowed on his way." The incident comes after marbles were hurled at MPs during Prime Minister's Questions last Wednesday.

Defence Secretary R K Mathur left on a five-day visit to the US for the meeting of the Defence Policy Group, a high-level decision-making body for US-India defence cooperation. The meeting comes less than a month after India and the US "in principle" agreed to renew for 10 more years the 2005 Framework for the US-India Defence Relationship. During the meeting, the two sides would review the defence ties and are likely to discuss issues, including the situation in the region in particular in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

US President Barack Obama pledged to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the US and Brazil as he congratulated his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff on her re-election.  "Brazil is an important partner for the United States and we are committed to continuing to work with President Rousseff to strengthen our bilateral relationship," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. Rousseff was elected for the second term with a narrow 51.6 per cent vote.

Prosecutors will appeal the verdict and sentencing of Oscar Pistorius, who was handed a 5-year prison term after being convicted of culpable homicide.Nathi Mncube, a spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority, said that the next step is to file papers in court. Pistorius began a five-year prison term on October 21 after being found guilty of culpable homicide, but not guilty of a more serious charge of murder. Last week, prosecutors admitted they had 'an appetite' for an appeal, with chief lawyer Gerrie Nel holding urgent meetings with the country's most senior legal experts to build a case.

Space science in India has become more relevant now as it plays a vital role in the life of the common man in various ways, an example of which was early prediction of 'Hudhud' cyclone in Andhra Pradesh, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said today. 

Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel tweets: While we are preparing for the worst to happen, let us also pray that cyclone Nilofar gets subdued and doesn't bring serious damage. The coastal districts of Gujarat would receive isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall as cyclone Nilofar would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

Newly-elected BJP MLAs of Maharashtra will meet in Mumbai tomorrow to choose their Legislature Party leader, moving ahead with the process of forming government even as the prospect of a tie-up with estranged ally Shiv Sena remained a matter of speculation.

The 122 party MLAs will meet at 4 PM, party sources said here today. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and senior party leader J P Nadda, who have been nominated as central observers, will oversee the election process, the sources said. The election of the Legislature Party leader will mark a step towards formation of the government in the state where BJP fell short of majority by 23 seats in the 288-member Assembly.

Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung arrives in New Delhi. Dung, is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with his Indian counterpart, to increase economic engagement s between the two countries. He will visit Gaya, where he will visit the Bodhgaya temple and the Vietnam Buddhism Pagoda in Bihar and meet state Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will also call on the Vietnamese Prime Minister. This is the Vietnamese Prime Minister's third visit to India.

For 15 years, William and Patricia Wycherley lay buried under their own lawn, killed by their daughter and son-in-law. Had this quiet cul-de-sac been the scene of a family argument gone wrong -- or something far stranger? We meet the neighbours. Read

A remorseful L Sarita Devi has pleaded with the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to lift the provisional suspension imposed on her for refusing to accept her bronze medal in the Asiad, saying that she deeply regrets her outburst on the podium and would never repeat it.

Sarita's participation in the World Championships next month has been jeopardised due to the suspension imposed on her for refusing to accept the medal after a controversial semifinal loss in the Asian Games at Incheon. 

"We demand a raid immediately be carried out on Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Naresh Goyal, Yash Birla and the three Dabur brothers," says Arvind Kejriwal.

Cartoonist Satish Acharya on the damp squib of the three-name disclosure in the black money list.

Ruling out any pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP today said it will contest in all the 87 constituencies in the upcoming Assembly elections.

"We won't be entering into any pre-poll alliance with any political party as we are considering to field our candidates on all the 87 Assembly constituencies in the state," BJP MP and party in charge for Jammu and Kashmir Avinash Rai Khanna said.

He said the party would soon come out with its first list of candidates, as the Election Commission has announced the dates for the elections.

Trinamool and BJP clash in Birbhum's Makra village leaves at least three dead and many injured. Police and Rapid Action Force stood as mute spectators it is learnt. TMC's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal's followers hurled bombs on the villagers and shot at them as most of them are BJP followers, allege villagers.

Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel announces that L&T has been commissioned to build the Rs. 2,989 crore Statue of Unity in 4 years.

Remembering the Jewish refugee who composed the All India Radio caller tune. Read

His comments come a day after his ministerial colleagues Anil Vij and Capt Abhimanyu said that the new regime would order a thorough probe into the alleged land scams and not spare anyone, even if it was Robert Vadra or former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Reacting to a question whether the Robert Vadra case was on the priority list of his government, Khattar replied, "our priority is to implement our agenda..."

He, however, said that wherever any discrepancies are found, where law has been violated, in the next cabinet meeting, these issues will be taken up.

A day after his ministerial colleagues said that a probe will be ordered into alleged land scams during the previous Congress regime, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said his govt would not act out of "vindictiveness" and that law will take its course.

Khattar also said that the announcements made by the previous regime and those which are in process of implementation, will be "reviewed" but made it clear that it does not mean that all the announcements will be discarded.

Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel readies to flag off the construction of the Statue of Unity.

She says that all formalities have been completed and the contract has been given to L&T. The statue will be ready in four years.

The construction of the Statue of Unity on the Sardar Sarovar dam will begin on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, 2014.

Gujarat Chief minister Anandiben Patel will launch the construction work at Kevadiya on what will be the world's tallest statue when completed.

The Sardar Patel statue is expected to cost Rs 2,500 crore. The state government is likely to sign a MOU on October 27 with L&T for the construction of the 182-meter-tall statue.

Sanjay Jajodia, Prez Boxing India, says Sarita Devi's behaviour was just an emotional outburst and the body would do its best to support her.

Sanjay Jajodia, President, Boxing India, says Sarita Devi's suspension is unfortunate and Boxing India would appeal apart from her own apology to AIBA.

Boxing India has said that it was confident of L Sarita Devi's return to the ring before too long after the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) suspended the 29-year-old for her petulant display at the recent Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea.

Sarita was furious after losing her semi-final bout in women's lightweight division to local favourite Park Ji-na and lodged a protest against the verdict which was rejected.

The adamant boxer refused to wear the bronze medal and left it behind when the presentation was over, an action she subsequently regretted in a letter to AIBA, reports Reuters.

The Winter session of Parliament will start from November 24 and conclude on December 23 during which a heavy legislative agenda is on the cards.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh today recommended the dates to the President.

The month-long session will have a total of 22 sittings in which four days have been earmarked for Private Members' business.

A total of 67 bills -- 59 in Rajya Sabha and eight in Lok Sabha -- are pending and the government will push for passage of "at least 30 to 35" legislations, a senior minister said.

This will be the second major session since the Narendra Modi Government took over in May.

The long wait for finalisation of seating arrangement in Lok Sabha is expected to be over before the session commences, almost six months after the constitution of the new House.

Shares of Dabur India fell sharply by 9 per cent in early trade today after one of its promoters Pradip Burman was named by the government in the affidavit related to black money case filed in the Supreme Court.

Reacting to this, Dabur India's stock tumbled 8.98 per cent to Rs 196.40 on the BSE. On the NSE, it slumped 8.94 per cent to Rs 196.55.

The Prime Minister's Office uses a comparatively speedy internet connection. While an average internet connection speed in India is 2Mbps (megabits per second), that of the PMO is 34Mbps, an RTI application has revealed.

In a reply to the RTI application filed by Vinoth Ranganathan, co-founder of onlinerti.com, the PMO has said the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is providing an average of 34Mbps speed to the PMO office.

"There is nothing wrong for our PM to have 34Mbps speed internet. As the Prime Minister, he should have a better connectivity. Google fibre in the US provides 1 Gbps (gigabits per second) connectivity to ordinary citizens," said Ranganathan.  Read more

The young interior designer hanged yesterday in Iran for killing the man she claimed was trying to rape her sent a moving final letter to her mother, asking her to make sure she had her organs donated after her death. Read

Every foreign account held by an Indian may not be illegal and names cannot be disclosed unless there is prima facie evidence of wrongdoing: Centre to SC.

Filing the affidavit before the Supreme Court in black money case, the Centre tells the SC that there is no intention to withhold names of persons who have stashed black money abroad. Information received from foreign countries will be disclosed in all cases where tax evasion is established.

Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhiya, the Rajkot based bullion trader, one of three people in the government's black money list says in a statement: "I am shocked that the government named me. I don't have a Swiss account. I am getting to know about the proceedings against me from the media. I will reply to the Supreme Court accordingly.

Sambit Patra, BJP says, "Names are gradually being declared, today is the beginning of the end of those who illegally stacked black money abroad.  Today is a historic day in the black money case, the process of disclosure of names has started."

The hostages were taken out of their cell one by one.

In a private room, their captors asked each of them three intimate questions, a standard technique used to obtain proof that a prisoner is still alive in a kidnapping negotiation.

James Foley returned to the cell he shared with nearly two dozen other western hostages and collapsed in tears of joy.

The questions his kidnappers had asked were so personal ("Who cried at your brother's wedding?' "Who was the captain of your high school soccer team?') that he knew they were finally in touch with his family. Read more

The Supreme Court junks a petition by Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict Nalini against a law requiring the Centre's approval for her release.

Bollywood actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar, best known for playing negative roles in films, is on life support and showing signs of improvement, according to his daughter Reema.

The 64-year-old actor, who has starred in films like 'Ardhasatya' and 'Sadak', was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital here two weeks ago after being diagnosed with a lung infection.

Sadashiv's daughter Reema, who is a Marathi filmmaker, said that her father is responding well to treatments at the hospital.

"Sadashiv ji is on ventilator and stable. He is also showing signs of improvement. Please don't believe any rumours. I will update you if there is any change," Reema said.

Dabur owners Burmans has Rs 25 crore, Jet's Naresh Aggarwal has Rs 80 crore, Arvind Kejriwal tells ABP News.

Burman Group responds: "Unfortunate that every person having a foreign bank account is being painted with the same brush. Followed all laws & complete details regarding a/c hv been voluntarily filed with the IT Dept & appropriate taxes paid. Account was opened when he (Pradip Burman) was NRI, and was legally allowed to open this account." 

Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhiya, a Rajkot based bullion trader and Radha S Timbola, a Goa based miner feature in the Centre's much awaited list of black money account holders.

The three businessman have been charged under various sections of the Income Tax Act and Money Laundering Act. More names will be revealed when prosecution in the case begins, sources say.

The Centre has revealed the names of three persons who have allegedly parked untaxed or black money in illicit foreign accounts, the Supreme Court has been told.

Pradeep Burman of the Dabur group is among the names mentioned in affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court, reports NDTV.

Why weren't Dabur or Birla or the Ambanis raided? Pranab Mukherjee may be President but he must answer, says Arvind Kejriwal.

The government may on Monday file an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court over the black money issue, stating clarification on its earlier stand of not revealing the names of those account holders who have deposited money in foreign banks.

Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif will visit the US next month for crucial security talks with American defence officials, his first such trip since taking over as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) last year.

His week-long visit is likely to start from mid-November and preparations for trip are underway, defence sources said. Gen Sharif has been invited by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Martin Dempsey. He is expected to meet Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, Cenycom Commander General Lloyd Austin and also visit Centcom headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

The NCP in Maharashtra will abstain from voting in Legislative Assembly if a minority government headed by the BJP seeks trust vote.

"If the Shiv Sena joins the government, there will be no problem. We will not be part of the government but do not want to create instability by voting against a minority government. So NCP will abstain if there is voting," NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said.

NCP would like to honour the people's mandate which is in favour of BJP ,the single largest party, he said. Seven independents and five MLAs from smaller parties will support the BJP government during the floor test taking the total strength to 134, ten short of the simple majority mark in the house of 288.

There is one nominated member taking the total strength of the legislative assembly to 289.

In an interview to an English daily, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, "if situation warrants and there is voting in the assembly (for establishing majority) we will abstain."

"Numbers are such that we are compelled to do it, otherwise there will be no government in Maharashtra and within six months there will again be elections," he said in the interview.

The ammunition, weapon parts and chemicals found at the October 2 blast site have prompted forensic analysts to dub the Burdwan home a "combined physics and chemistry laboratory" probably focused on mass killings. The Telegraph spoke to officials from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Calcutta, and other analysts to understand the nature of the seized material. Read

Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary affairs to meet shortly to discuss dates of winter session. 

In response to our report Preneet Kaur, the former minister of state at the ministry of external affairs in the United Progressive Alliance government, has sent her response. Read

Further softening its stand after the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Maharashtra assembly polls, the Shiv Sena today said that it is ready to support any leader chosen by its estranged ally as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

"On the day of Laxmi Pooja, (Devendra) Fadnavis met (Nitin) Gadkari and took his blessings. Later Gadkari met the RSS chief and took his blessings. All these blessings are undoubtedly important, but the blessings of the people are the most important. Shiv Sena is ready to support anyone who will take Maharashtra ahead with the blessings of the people," Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The party says that though Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has the experience to don the mantle in the state, the final decision will be taken by the high command in Delhi.

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Gujarat on alert as Cyclone Nilofar heads towards west coast

Eerie calm prevails in Delhi's violence-hit Trilokpuri 

EPL: Chelsea denied by Van Persie equaliser 

Money spent on Swachh Bharat, Clean Ganga comes under CSR ambit