Militants close in on Baghdad
Iraq upheaval may hit global oil markets
UN warns crisis ‘life-threatening’
US, Iran step in
Baghdad, June 17
Militants pushed a week-long offensive that has overrun swathes of Iraq to within 60 km of capital Baghdad today. The crisis, which has displaced thousands of people, threatens to disrupt global oil markets and raises serious concerns over security forces’ ability to halt the insurgents’ march on the capital.

Govt monitors Iraq crisis as concern mounts for Indians

Shi'ite women raise slogans in favour of the Iraqi army in Najaf, south of Baghdad, on Tuesday. Iraq's Shi'ite rulers defied Western calls to reach out to Sunnis. REUTERS

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Larji Dam officials ignored warnings, panel guidelines
Shimla/Mandi, June 17
Had the guidelines of the Central Water Commission (CWC) outlining dam safety measures been strictly enforced, 24 Hyderabad students could have been saved from being washed way in the Beas in Mandi. These guidelines are mandatory for all power projects in the country.

The Larji Dam from where water was released

UP Governor quits, more may follow
New Delhi, June 17
Undeterred by a judgement of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court saying that Governors cannot be changed with the change of dispensation, the BJP-led NDA regime has reportedly initiated the process to remove some of the Governors. Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi resigned today, reportedly after a nudge from the Centre to quit.

Badal marks Majithia, seven others absent
Chandigarh, June 17
After spending more than 10 days away from the state capital for holding Sangat Darshan in Talwandi Sabo, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal returned to the Secretariat by marking eight ministers, including his relatives Bikram Singh Majithia and Adesh Partap Kairon, besides a senior bureaucrat, absent.

Jaitley wants states to crack down on hoarders
New Delhi, June 17
Amid macro pressures piling up in the form of rising inflation, fear of a weak monsoon and rising oil prices due to the crisis in Iraq, the Finance Ministry and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sought to reassure investors that necessary steps will be taken. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a Facebook post blamed speculative hoarding of food articles and high oil costs for the rise in inflation for May at 6.01 per cent.

Priests worried over threat to Gangotri, Yamunotri temples Mussoorie, June 17 Away from all the attention being focused on the temple towns of Kedarnath and Badrinath, temples at Yamunotri and Gangotri, which compete the ‘char dham’ pilgrimage, are facing a serious risk.