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- Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazal Ullah has been reportedly killed in targeted drone strikes conducted by the United States, a US military official informed the Voice of America (VOA).
- Army lieutenant colonel Martin O'Donnell told VOA that counter terrorism strikes were carried out on June 13 in Kunar province which lies close to Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
- Further, Pentagon officials refused to comment on whether the strike was successful.The officials further said that Mullah Fazal Ullah had directed numerous high-profile attacks against the US and Pakistan. He had also conducted many other deadly attacks including December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that claimed lives of 151 people, out of which 130 were children.
- The US further underscored that it was Mullah Fazal Ullah who had ordered the 2012 attempted assassination of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.
- The US Department for State offered a $5 million reward for Fazlullah in March soon after his son was killed in a US drone strike on TTP training facility.
- The official said the status of Fazlullah was unclear. Further, there was no confirmation, as of reporting time, from the TTP regarding the strike and reports of Fazlullah's death.
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- Afghanistan's dreams of scripting a fairy-tale turned into a virtual nightmare as a ruthlessly professional India demolished them by an innings and 262 runs inside two days to win the historic one-off Test match here.
- Afghanistan came across painfully short of experience for the longest format and were bowled out for 109 and 103 in pursuit of India's first innings total of 474 all out on 15 june.
- This was the first time that India won a Test match in two days while it has now happened for the 21st time in the 141-year-history of the traditional format. India, however, did become the first team to claim 20 wickets in a day.
- Afghans, who have some impressive accomplishments in the shortest format lasted a total of 66.3 overs (27.5 overs and 38.4 overs), posing serious questions over their readiness to cope up with demands of five-day cricket.
- The gulf in class was a reality but the Test match exposed their inability to understand the needs of the longest format. Their performance lends support to the demands for a two-tier Test format, which could get them battle-ready for future series.
- With an average first-class experience of less than 15 matches, Test cricket wouldn't have been easy for Afghans but if a robust first-class structure isn't put in place, ICC's novel idea may just backfire.The giants of world cricket were supposed to be infinitely superior but what lacked in the visitors was the will to fight it out.
- Batting was always going to be Afghanistan's Achilles heel as the inexperienced line-up simply didn't have the technique or the temperament to face either quality pace bowling from Ishant Sharma (2/28 and 2/17) and Umesh Yadav (1/18 and 3/26) or the spin of Ravichandran Ashwin (4/27 and 1/32) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/18 and 4/17).
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- NLCIL and Anna University sign pact for pilot project on solar drying of lignite Union Minister for Finance, Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal on 14 june inaugurated three 100-MW solar power projects erected at Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli districts.
- The solar power projects erected at Thoppalaakkarai and Sethupuram in Virudhunagar district and Sellaiya Sezhiyanallur in Tirunelveli district, with an installed capacity of 100 MW each, were dedicated to the nation by the Minister in the presence of S. K. Acharya, NLCIL CMD.
- The projects were erected at a cost of ₹ 1,302 crore, which include operation and maintenance cost for 15 years. The power produced from the units would be given to Tamil Nadu Power Generation and Distribution Company (Tangedco) at a cost of ₹4.41 per unit.
- Mr. Goyal, in his inaugural address, lauded the efforts of NLCIL management, employees and trade unions for the growth of the organisation with a new vision.
- Lauding the CSR initiatives of the organisation, the Minister appealed to the management to come up with new innovative initiatives such as providing free Wi Fi to the rural masses, low cost sanitary napkins for women and emotionally empowering deprived senior citizens “to ensure a technologically, hygienically and culturally motivated society.”
- Later, in his presence, a memorandum of understanding was signed by NLCIL and Anna University to erect a pilot project on solar drying of lignite, in order to increase its caloric value from 2,700 Kcal to 4,350 Kcal.
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- Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reached a deal with Spanish tax authorities to serve two years in prison and pay an 18.8 million euro ($21.8 million) fine in a tax evasion case, newspaper El Mundo reported on 15 june.
- Ronaldo is unlikely to serve any time in jail under the deal because Spanish law states that a sentence of under two years for a first offence can be served on probation.
- The 33-year-old Portuguese footballer is accused of evading 14.7 million euros in taxes and, through his agents, has denied the allegations. Ronaldo is due to play for Portugal on Friday in a World Cup match against Spain.
- Gestifute, the agency representing the player, was not immediately available to comment on the report on Friday. The Spanish tax agency also declined to comment.
- Spanish courts have recently cracked down on tax evasion among leading footballers.
- Barcelona's Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month prison sentence in 2017 on similar charges but under Spanish law was able to exchange the penalty for a fine.
- Between 2005 and 2010, foreign players in Spain were protected under the so-called "Beckham law" allowing them to curb their taxes. But as the financial crisis bit deeper, that exemption was lifted, paving the way for the cases.
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- A small village near Pune has become the torchbearer of the state government's massive tree plantation drive-this year, between July 1 and 31, 13 crore saplings will be planted across Maharashtra.
- Ranmala, a village in Khed taluka, was drought prone. On 15 june, Ranmala is water sufficient and it owes its transformation to retired school teacher P T Shinde who embarked on the project in 2003.
- Shinde's model was an inclusive one. He roped in other villagers and families were given a sapling to mark celebrations such as birth, or marriage and even on occasions such as death.
- Establishing this unique connection ensured that the family nurtured the sapling like its own, making the survival rate very high.
- Shinde's model has now found favour with the state government which has asked all gram punchayats and municipal councils to adopt it.
- "We visited the village and found this idea was working very well. If there was a birth in anyone's house, they would be gifted a sapling- 'Janm Vruksha' (birth tree) and the family was expected to take care of the sapling as they would the baby. Similarly, for a death in a family, a 'Smruti Vruksha' (tree of remembrance), 'Maherichi Zhadi' or 'Shubh Mangal Vruksha' (auspicious tree) for weddings and 'Anand Vruksha' for special occasions would be given," said principal secretary of the forest department, Vikas Kharge.
- The USP of the model is the emotional bond that it developed between the villagers and the trees they planted.
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