A total of 77 hawkers allotted stalls in food plaza of New Town, Kolkata

A total of 77 hawkers have been allotted stalls in the food plaza of New Town. There are ten specially designed food stalls each of 450 sq ft space. There is a space for eating and a glass front pane in the stalls for the hawkers to showcase their products. Each shop has a front portion for selling and a rear portion for cooking.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 31 December 2016.

There are many unplanned informal hawker stalls spread in the area - these were usually covered with tarpaulin sheets of various sizes and shapes. These will now be a thing of the past because of the specially designed food plaza in New Town because the HIDCO authorities have decided to rehabilitate the hawkers in a planned manner. The stalls of various sizes were distributed through lottery.
It took about two years to come up with the stalls at a cost of Rs 3.62 crore and a rent of Rs 4 per sq ft per month will be charged - at present, the existing tariff in the township ranges between Rs 30 to Rs 45 or more per sq ft per month.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Alert Uber cab driver in California saves a 16-year-old girl from pimps

An Uber driver in California picked up a passenger who appeared to be a 12-year-old girl in a short skirt at night. That, to him, was the first sign that something was not OK. There were two women with the girl and halfway to their destination - a Holiday Inn in Elk Grove, Calif. - they asked the driver to turn up the music and, he listened in to their conversation.
He heard them what they would do once they reached the destination - 'Check for guns. Get the money before you start touching up on the guy.'
The driver sensed danger and, after dropping the passengers, he called police and reported that he suspected the women of prostituting the child.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 31 December 2016.

The driver is a 34-year-old husband, father and quinceañera photographer by day and had begun driving for Uber just a few weeks earlier. This incident has made him an instant celebrity. His suspicions were confirmed because the teenager was being sold for sex at the Holiday Inn - the eavesdropping Uber driver had saved her.
The girl was apparently a runaway and was taken "to an alternative housing location" and later reunited with her family.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

China to ban trade and processing of all domestic ivory by end 2017

China is the world's biggest ivory market and it has decided to ban trade and processing of all domestic ivory by the end of 2017. This decision is taken in a bid to save the fast dwindling tusker population and the move has been hailed by activists as "historic" and a "game changer" for African elephants.
The decision has come following the imposition of a three-year ban on ivory imports in March this year, in an escalated fight against illegal trading of wild animals and plants.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 31 December 2016.

The ban will have a direct impact on 34 processing enterprises and 143 designated trading venues in China and dozens of them will close down by end March 2017. Before the deadline, law enforcement agencies will continue to clamp down on illegalities associated with the elephant's tusk.
This action will help revive the elephant population since hundreds of African elephants are killed every year by poachers to feed the burgeoning markets in China and Hong Kong. The result is that the numbers of Africa's savannah elephants have dropped to 3.5 lakh thousand in 2014. The international market in ivory has been closed since 1989 but domestic markets have continued in many countries around the world.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Celebrate New Year with fish fry instead of chicken fry because of bird-flu scare

In Bhubaneswar, celebration of New Year's Eve would see abundance of fish fries rather than chicken fries because of bird-flu scare. Usually, chicken items remain most popular on the menu on the New Year's Eve parties but, the bird flu threat in Khurda district has resulted in a panic among the people. They want to be safe than sorry and, in spite of nosedive on the price of chicken in the wake of the bird flu has not been able to attract buyers.
This has come as a blessing for fish traders - the price of chicken has dropped by Rs 10 to Rs 30 a kilogram in the market and, the price of fish has risen up by approximately the same amount.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 31 December 2016.

Rohu fish was being sold for Rs 170 per kilogram and, it was around Rs 150 a kilogram a few days ago. The price of medium-size prawns has also shot from Rs 300 to Rs 320 a kilogram within a week.
While the state government has clarified that it is safe to consume chicken in spite of the flu threat, and a WHO guideline also indicates that chicken is safe to eat if cooked properly, the common man is not convinced. Health-conscious people have already planned their New Year party menu with mutton or fish dishes. City hotels that are planning New Year bashes with buffet dinner have also limited the use of chicken and some have struck chicken items off the menu.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Snowfall in Kumaon hills is attracting foreign tourists, but not like previous years

Recent snowfall coupled with the nippy climate in the Kumaon hills is attracting tourists to places like Munsiyari, Kausani, Chaukori and Ranikhet. These had been reeling under the impact of demonetisation but, hotels are now fully booked for the New Year.
Places like Munsiyari and Thal had received snowfall on December 25. Subsequently, tourist numbers had picked up and over 7,000 tourists have visited Munsiyari in the last few days.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 30 December 2016.

Hoteliers feel that if the trend continues, they would be able to recover some of the profit from their business which had been hit due to demonetisation. Of course, cash availability still remains grim because most ATMs are out of cash. Tourists who are arriving are carrying cash with them since it is not possible to depend on ATM withdrawals or net banking.
Other places like Chaukori, Kausani and Ranikhet have also seen a steady influx of visitors who want to usher in the New Year in sylvan surroundings. Unfortunately, there is no rush of tourists this year unlike other years and, those who are visiting are unable to purchase local goods due to paucity of cash - that, in turn, is affecting the local economy of the area.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

China starts its 2252-Km long Shanghai-Kunming bullet train line

China has started a line that links the country’s prosperous eastern coast to the less-developed southwestern part of the country. It is the Shanghai-Kunming line which is 2,252-Km in length and will cut down travel time from Shanghai to Kunming from 34 to 11 hours. The line goes through the five provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou and Yunnan.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 28 December 2016.

The maximum speed of the train is 330 km per hour and, the line is also the longest east-west high-speed railway in China. A longer rail line that stretches north to south is the 2,298-Km Beijing-Guangzhou line - that was put into operation in 2012.
China has built more than 20,000-Km of high-speed rail lines and, as per plans of the the government. it will increase to 45,000-Km by 2030.
With the launch of the Shanghai-Kunming line, the country’s high-speed rail grid has taken shape, connecting almost all provinces on the Chinese mainland. China is aggressively marketing its bullet train technology in different countries, including India.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Flamingo bird festival a big draw for tourists in Nellore

Flamingo bird festival a big draw for tourists to Nellore is a rich cultural and visual treat for visitors, youth, schoolchildren and bird enthusiasts of Nellore. It will be held in the lake town, Sullurupeta. There will be musical nights, dance events and a variety of cultural programs during the three days with noted performers.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 26 December 2016.

The forest department staff would be making necessary arrangements at the Pulicat and Nelapattu bird sanctuaries for the convenience of the visiting tourists and the public. Subsequent to recent rains, Pulicat lake has received considerable inflows from the local streams. It has attracted plenty of Flamingo migratory birds for the past 10 days. These birds with their striking curve beaks and flame-coloured plumage present a seasonal treat on either side of the Sullurupeta-Sriharikota road.
Viewing towers have been put up at several points and resting areas on the Sriharikota road to enjoy the sights and bird enthusiasts can take a leisurely look at the bird life in the sanctuary.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha unable to attract foreign tourists

The Bhitarkanika National Park had received global exposure in the wake of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources team that had recently visited the park for lijely conferment of world heritage tag on the wetland site.
But, it has failed to pay dividends in terms of translating into more foreign tourist inflow. Out of a total of 66,971 international tourists who visited Odisha last year, only 211 visited the park. In 2014, 207 foreigners had visited Bhitarkanika and the figure was 211 next year. This year, it is 150 foreigners till November end.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 28 December 2016.

Those involved in tourism sectors feel this situation can be attributed to the hassles in mandatory registration of overseas visitors. Foreigners who arrive here are victims of official apathy. At times, the foreign visitors are stranded at least an hour at the divisional forest office during verification.
An international tourist has to furnish photocopy of passport, visa and three recent passport size photos during the registration process. No fee is charged for registration. This registration is mandatory as per direction received from the bureau of immigration, ministry of home affairs.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Korean Air Lines to allow crew members to use stun guns to manage unruly passengers

Korean Air Lines has decided to allow its crew members to use stun guns in order to manage violent passengers. The airline would also hire more male flight attendants in view of the criticism heaped on it by US singer Richard Marx over its handling of a recent incident.
It seems Richard had to subdue a psycho passenger who attacked crew members and other passengers because the crew members were not properly trained or equipped to handle such situations. Richard's wife, who was with him in the flight, elaborated that the crew members "didn't know how to use the taser & they didn't know how to secure the rope around him (he got loose from their rope restraints 3 times)."
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 28 December 2016.

The new crew guidelines will include more staff training, use of the latest device to secure a violent passenger, and the banning of passengers with a history of unruly behavior. Since men account for about one-tenth of Korean Air flight attendants, the carrier would try ensure that there is at least one male on duty in the cabin for each flight.
Incidentally, US carriers have taken stern action on violent on-board behavior following the terrorist attacks of September 11 (2001), but Asian carriers have not imposed tough standards because of Asian culture - this has been informed by Korean Air President Chi Chang-hoon.
In South Korea, the number of unlawful acts committed aboard airplanes has more than tripled over the past five years as per government data.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

CCTV cameras installed in the College Street Coffee House

Coffee House in College Street in Kolkata is considered by the intellectuals of the city to be the meeting ground of the luminaries of arts, culture and politics. It is in the precincts of this august house that film legends met to discuss their work. And, writers and poets find a ready audience to criticize their work. Now, sixteen CCTV cameras have been installed in the Coffee House for what is described as security reasons.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 26 December 2016.

The Coffee House, founded in 1876, is nearly 140 years old and it used to be called Albert Hall. It was the meeting place for collegians of the city, including the lovelorn boys and girls. Education was incomplete unless one had acquired the Coffee House experience.
The usual patrons are college students, retired professors, couples and activists — mostly from city's middle income group. They engage in routine adda or informal chitchat. Hence, the move to install CCTV cameras has irked Kolkata’s civil society. They have staged a protest demonstration in front of Coffee House. They have described the installation of the cameras as an “infringement of individual liberty.”


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Cranes return to Britain after 400 years via a conservation project

Cranes became extinct in Britain four hundred years ago because of hunting and loss of their habitats in the wetlands - a conservation project has now brought them back in record numbers. The project was the Great Crane Project and, in it, eggs were imported from Germany.
The birds were reared at Slimbridge Wildlife & Wetlands Trust in Gloucestershire where the staff acted as replacement mothers.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 27 December 2016.

The birds jump around, dance and makes noise - it has an air of wilderness about it. After the birds became extinct in Britain four centuries ago, a breeding pair returned to East Anglia in 1978. However, only recently its population has grown - this year 160 birds have been recorded in the South West of England, apart from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Wales and East Scotland.
The young cranes raised at Slimbridge were released on the Somerset levels and many of them have now returned. Trackers had been fitted on them so that researchers could monitor their movements, especially during severe flooding in Somerset three years ago - the birds survived the ordeal.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Himachal to encourage film tourism and promote the state as a filming destination

Himachal government is keen to promote the state as a filming destination and encouraging film tourism. It will generate revenue as well as employment especially in less developed and less traveled areas.
The state has been blessed with immense natural beauty, serene environment and has always remained a big attraction to the film makers from different parts of the world.
There are many scenic locations which are ideal to the film makers especially in the remote belts. The government is making all-out efforts to develop these sites to facilitate the tourists and film-makers.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 25 December 2016.

The film fraternity has always been excited about filming in Himachal and several films like Jab We Met, Love in Simla, Raaz: The Mystery Continues etcetera have been shot in Himachal Pradesh and have been big success.
The officials have revealed that there would be a nodal agency/officer for purposes of promoting and facilitating film shooting. Familiarization (FAM) tours for foreign filmmakers would also be facilitated by the support of the state government. In addition, the government is exploring possibilities of setting up a film studio in the state to promote film tourism in the state.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Alarm bells sounded for cheetahs - only 7100 remain in the wilds of Africa

The population of cheetahs is on the decline and, like many other wildlife species in Africa, conservationists have sounded alarm bells for the cheetah - it is the fastest animal on land. It seems there are an estimated 7,100 of them that remain in the wild across Africa and in a small area of Iran.
Human encroachment has pushed the wide-ranging predator out of 91 percent of its historic habitat. Therefore, the animal should be defined as "endangered" instead of the less serious "vulnerable".
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 27 Decmber 2016.

The decline in population of the cheetah can be attributed to a number of factors like habitat loss, attacks from villagers, loss of antelope and other prey that are killed by people for their meat, an illegal trade in cheetah cubs, the trafficking of cheetah skins and the threat of getting hit by speeding vehicles.
More than half of the world's cheetahs live in southern Africa, including in Namibia and Botswana. These have relatively less human populations. These animals have been virtually wiped out in Asia, except of fewer than 50 in Iran. The cheetah population in Zimbabwe has gone down from an estimated 1,500 in 1999 to between 150 and 170 in 2013-2015 - this is based on a survey conducted between 2013 and 2015.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Uluru national park in Australia has record rainfall

Record amount of rainfall in Australia has closed its famous Uluru national park and waterfalls have formed all over the park's huge sandstone landmark. This is also known as Ayers Rock and is one of Australia's top tourist attractions in the Northern Territory.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 27 December 2016.

Rangers had no other alternative but to close the park at 9am on Boxing Day due to flooded roads and a risk of car accidents.
The heavy rain resulted in flash floods in the nearby town of Kintore and houses were flooded and dozens had to be evacuated from the area. Kintore was nearly cut off due to the flooding. Nearby towns of Papunya and Yulara also suffered the same fate. in fact, in Yulara, the town square was inundated and had to be drained by firemen.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Hyderabad High Court bans cockfights in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

The High Court at Hyderabad has upheld the ban on cockfighting and has directed the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments to ensure that there are no cockfights during the Sankranti festival. The court has also extended the ban on cockfights in totality and not just during the forthcoming Sankranti festival.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 26 December 2016.

Petitions had been filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India, Humane Society International/India, People for Animals and other organisations and the common High Court for both the Telugu states has now passed the orders. The petitioners had brought to the notice of the court that cockfighting was being conducted every year on Sankranti 14 in violation of a ban on the practice and in spite of court orders passed in the past.
Cockfighting is not only cruel to animals but also encourages gambling and child labour. Any practice that glorifies illegal activities of this nature should have no place in a civilised society. The state governments must strictly implement the court orders and bring to book the culprits who organise such cockfights.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Nashik plans to produce around 1.40 crore litre of wine during 2016-17

Nashik is known as grape country and wineries across Nashik district are gearing up for the grape crushing season which will begin from mid-January next year. The wineries expect to produce around 1.40 crore litre of wine during 2016-17 grape crushing season.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 26 December 2016.

As indicated by All India Wine Producers' Association, the wineries in Nashik district had recorded highest-ever wine production of 1.40 crore litre during 2015-16 season. This year even though the yield of wine grapes has reduced due to water crisis, it is expected that the same yield would be maintained. This would be attributed to increase in areas under plantation of wine grape varieties from 3,000 acres last year to 3,500 acres this year.
For information - there are a total of 95 wineries in the country and 77 of these are in Maharashtra - 39 wineries of Maharashtra are in Nashik. Maharashtra accounts for almost 90% of the total grape-wine production in India, and Nashik contributes 80 per cent of the total wine production in the country.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Demonetisation effect in Varanasi - daily sale of Banarasi saris down from Rs 20 crore to Rs 4 crore

One of the items associated with Varanasi is its Banarasi sari and, this famed product has seen its business shrink from Rs 20 crore to Rs 4 crore per day and this city is the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The familiar sight of wholesale buyers has practically died down in the localities where the sari are made ever since the note recall was announced on November 8 and curbs placed on withdrawals from bank accounts.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 26 December 2016.

Varanasi has nearly one lakh-plus handloom weavers and they are not able to find buyers any more because it's a cash market. The saris would sell for anything between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 and, now, the weavers are ready to sell them for as low as Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500, without any profit.
The art of creating Banarasi saris thrived during the Mughal period because the nobles and the rich loved to cover themselves in silk, gold and silver. Way back in the 14th century, artisans from Iran and Iraq came to Varanasi and settled down here.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Sri Lanka lays claim to the tallest Christmas tree in the world

Sri Lanka has unveiled a towering 73-meter (238-foot) tall Christmas tree and has claimed that it is the tallest such tree in the world. The current record is held by a Chinese firm that had put up a 55-meter (180-foot) tree-like tower of lights and synthetic foliage, ornaments and lamps in the city of Guangzhou last year.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 25 December 2016.

The organisers have said that the artificial tree in Colombo is 18 meters (59 feet) taller than the current record holder. The steel-and-wire frame of the Christmas tree is covered with a plastic net that is decorated with more than 1 million natural pine cones painted red, gold, green and silver in addition to 600,000 LED bulbs. The tree is topped by a 6-meter (20-foot)-tall shining star.
The cost of the tree is around $US80,000 and hundreds of port workers and volunteers had struggled for four months to put up the tree in time for the holidays.
The Guinness World Records has yet to confirm if this is, indeed, the tallest artificial Christmas tree in the world.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Drone delivers hot food items and cold beverages to customers' homes in the US

18th rhino killed in Kaziranga - this exceeds the figures of last year

Christmas in Delhi - fancy Santa hats from China sell for Rs 400 a piece


Moody in silent mode over black money (satire)

Didi upbeat about Christmas tourism (satire)

Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga discuss swipe machines (satire)


London Police deputes anti-terrorism patrol units under Operation Servator

Australian police foil a IS terror plot targeting Melbourne during Christmas

12 persons killed as truck ploughs into Christmas shoppers in Berlin


Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend

Glastonbury Festival could shift from Somerset to a new location towards the Midlands

Russian military Tu-154 crashes in the Black Sea killing all 92 on board

All 92 people on board the Russian military Tu-154 were killed after it came down into the Black Sea shortly after take-off near the resort town of Sochi. Terrorism has been ruled out as the cause of the crash. it could have been due to a technical malfunction or crew error.
The aircraft was a Tu-154, a Soviet-designed three-engine airliner and it disappeared minutes after taking off over the Black Sea.
The plane had departed from Adler, south of Sochi, where it had stopped to refuel after taking off from Moscow. It was headed for Russia's Hmeimim airbase outside the coastal Syrian city of Latakia.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 25 December 2016.

The plane was carrying 64 members of the renowned military choir and dance band, the Alexandrov Ensemble (better known as the Red Army Choir) and included its conductor Valery Khalilov. It was on its way to Syria to give a concert at a Russian air base.
Apart from them, there were nine members of the media and eight crew members.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered an investigation into the cause of the crash and declared one day of nationwide mourning.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Annual Dasara exhibition at Doddakere Maidan extended till January 8

The annual Dasara exhibition at Doddakere Maidan that had been inaugurated on October 1 and was to conclude on December 25 (Sunday) will now be on till January 8 because the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) has decided to extend it by another two weeks after exhibitors complained of losses owing to demonetisation.
Bengaluru-based Fun World and Resorts had bagged this year’s contract for 137 stalls, the entertainment zone and the food court for ₹4.11 crore but, demonetization of high value notes turned out to be bad for business.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 25 December 2016.

The contractor brought the matter of losses to the notice of the authorities and, the KEA decided to extend the exhibition by two more weeks. KEA will collect maintenance expenses from the contractor for the extension period and the extension will also bring in additional revenue to KEA from the gate collection and parking fees.
The exhibitors had complained that they had suffered losses of up to 30 per cent this year.
The KEA had anticipated 12.5 to 13 lakh visitors this year and expected to earn more than ₹2.5 crore from gate collection and parking fee, but it could get no more than ₹2.2 crore. Incidentally, the exhibition had a fairly good start but, the exhibitors began to feel the pinch after the Centre withdrew the ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes early in November.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Typhoon Nock-Ten closes in on the Bicol peninsula and nearby islands of Philippines

Typhoon Nock-Ten closes in on the Bicol peninsula and nearby islands and thousands of residents were fleeing coastal and other hazardous areas in the eastern Philippines. The powerful typhoon is barrelled towards the disaster-prone archipelago and officials have warned of 2.5-metre high waves and landslides.
People were evacuated from a farming village of 3,300 people near the active Mayon volcano. There are large ash deposits on the slopes and, heavy rain could dislodge them and bury the homes in mud.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 25 December 2016.

Philippine and international weather services have indicated that Nock- Ten, named after a bird found in Laos, was set to hit Bicol on Sunday before reaching the rest of the main island of Luzon tomorrow. The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center has also made forecast of sustained windspeeds of 231-Kmph and gusts of 278-Kmph when Nock-Ten makes landfall.
The typhoon will affect an area populated by nearly 42 million people and will include the capital Manila. The government has carried out preemptive evacuations in the region with nearly 4,000 residents moving into emergency centres and more than 8,000 others seeking shelter elsewhere.
Nock-Ten is arriving outside the normal typhoon season and will disrupt the celebration of one of the most important holidays in the mainly Catholic country's religious calendar - all ferry services and some commercial flights suspended. The coastguard has ordered beaches south of Manila to be cleared of holidaymakers and all forms of recreational activity (on the coasts) remain banned.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Chief minister Nitish Kumar flags off new buses for Prakash Utsav pilgrims

Chief minister Nitish Kumar of Bihar flagged off 227 state-of-the-art buses, 12 ghats, and also laid the foundation stone for construction of an inter-state bus terminus. Out of the 227 buses, 75 have already arrived and the rest are on their way. These buses will be first plied on designated routes and circuits associated with the Prakash Utsav.
These 32-seat buses have been purchased by Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) at a cost of Rs 24.7 lakh each.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 25 December 2016.

As chief minister Nitish Kumar has said - visitors who come for the Prakash Utsav must carry back with them fond memories of Bihar. The new buses will provide free service to devotees on the routes and circuits of Prakash Utsav so that they don't face any problems with regard to transportation.
The buses are equipped with CCTV cameras, GPS, push-button alarms attached to passenger seats and doors that allow the bus to move only when they are properly closed.
The service will not be free forever and tickets will be charged after Prakash Utsav.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

A new bus terminus near Bangalore City market would displace thousands of birds

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has plans to construct a modern bus terminus in the vicinity of the 300-year-old Sri Lokamatha Ayappa temple near the city market. Such a bus terminus would see nearly 8,000 birds lose their habitat.
The birds are rose-ringed parakeets, mynahs, owls and crows and they nest in the 25 odd trees around the temple - these birds have been here for half a century and they will be displaced once the trees are felled to make way for the terminus.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 25 December 2016.

The temple authorities were shocked when the BMTC marked the trees for chopping on December 19 and the temple administration has taken up the matter with the authorities and have also petitioned the principal chief conservator of forests and the chief wildlife warden on Friday.
The trees located in the surroundings of the historical temple provide some relief to the pollution.
The authorities have assured that they would make efforts to protect as many trees as possible but some of them will have to be felled to make way for the new Traffic and Transit Management Centre because Kalasipalya is a transit hub, and it is necessary to build a modern terminus there to improve public transport facilities in the city.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Tour package to the 417-year-old Bandel Church on the banks of the Hooghly river

The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) has announced a special chartered bus service for tourists that would take them on a tour of the 417-year-old Bandel Church on the banks of the Hooghly river and the Mother House apart from well known churches of Kolkata on Christmas eve.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 23 December 2016.

The iconic Bandel Church is one of the oldest churches in eastern India. It had been founded in 1599 by Augustinian monks and, visitors to the church will be greeted with a unique display of light, music and water. As Prior of Bandel Church, Salesian Fr T L Francis has revealed - every year more than 100,000 visitors, cutting across religious beliefs, visit the Bandel Church during the Christmas season. An added attraction this year would be a colorful display of light, sound and water at the newly erected musical fountain.
The visitors can see larger-than-life sized statues of popular Christian saints like Mother Mary, Mother Teresa, Don Bosco, St Joseph, St Francis Xavier and others. There is also the life size Station of The Cross depicting 14 scenes from the final hours of Jesus's life with 54 statues and a Christmas crib depicting the birth of Jesus. Then there is the nine-feet statue of Jesus Christ with open arms in front of the Bandel shrine.
Yet another attraction is the historic 'Mast' from which the Church and the town get their name and a renovated grand 'doorway' that leads to the Church's precincts.
The mast of the Portuguese ship was a votive offering to the Church from the captain of the ship that was miraculously saved in a tempest in the Bay of Bengal in 1655. The mast has been declared a heritage item by the Archaeological Survey of India. The mast had fallen down in a storm in 2010 and has been restored last year.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes