Seagulls in cities in Britain know where to find delicious foods

A latest research carried out by University of the West of England (UWE) has concluded that urban seagulls have mastered the art of locating food in cities. They wait outside city-centre bars and restaurants where rich pickings in the form of throwaway tidbits of food are readily available. Obviously, the wily birds have adapted to city-life by discovering where the best fast-food shops can be found.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 30 June 2016.

Another discovery is that city-dwelling birds love their fish battered and have also developed a taste for takeaway chicken and pork ribs. The seagulls linger outside boozers and eateries at chucking-out time and they will descend on a spot where people tend to gather after 10pm. Moreover, these streetwise birds gather on roofs and wait till the food is dropped or left behind and then swoop down to gobble up leftovers.
The 18-month research project also went into the nests to examine the contents of their nests in Bath, Somerset, and discovered more than 40 bones - from road kill and junk food - along with plastic forks and spoons, cable ties, rubber bands and human hair. It stands to reason that the birds have changed and adapted to their urban environment. They do not arrive on the dot every night, but they know which places there is likely to be more food dropped. In general, they start to congregate at about half past eight and their numbers are largest at about 9.45pm or 10pm.


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Shops, malls and cinema halls can now remain open 24X7

The government has cleared a model law that allows shops, malls and cinema halls, among other establishments, to run 24×7 throughout the year. The law will cover establishments that employ 10 or more workers except manufacturing units. It also provides freedom to operate throughout the year with flexibility on timing to open and close.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 30 June 2016.

The law also provides for women to be employed on night shifts with adequate security, and also for better working conditions for employees (like drinking water, canteen, first-aid, lavatory and creche). Moreover, the law will help generate additional employment since shops and establishments will have freedom to operate for longer hours, and will automatically require more manpower.
The Act is expected to bring the online and offline retailers onto a level-playing field and, simultaneously, give a boost to employment opportunities. In the long run, the retail sector in India will benefit from this announcement - there will be more footfalls and consumption and would also have a positive impact on the warehousing and logistics segments.


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Airports at Malda and Balurghat to be revived to improve air connectivity

In order to improve air connectivity with the northern part of Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has requested the Union civil aviation minister Pushpati Ashok Gajapati Raju to help revive the airports at Malda and Balurghat.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 30 June 2016.

The state government has indicated that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has agreed to hand over 132.66 acres and 114 acres of airport land (including runway) at Balurghat and Malda airports, respectively, with rights for development and use by the state government for a period of 30 years at a token cost of one rupee.
The Cabinet decision has already been taken and a memorandum of understanding was signed at Uttarkanya in this regard. PWD will undertake the development work of the existing runway at Balurghat airport immediately. The development of Malda airport will also be taken up by PWD as early as possible.
Simultaneously, efforts will be made to launch fixed wing aircraft services at Malda and Balurghat airports with the help of the AAI. Incidentally, the chief minister had held a meeting in September 2015 with Union minister of civil aviation at Nabanna. The issue was brought to his notice at that time.


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Climate change could rob the Antarctica of half its penguins by 2099

The sudden climate change being witnessed could rob the Antarctica of half its penguins by 2099 - this is the finding of a research carried out by oceanographer Megan Cimino. The study has found that around 60% of the Adelie Penguin habitat in Antarctica could soon disappear in next four decades as the weather will eventually become unfit for their survival.
Needless to say that climate change is wreaking havoc all over the world and Antarctica is no exception.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 30 June 2016.

Adelie Penguin is one of the two natives of Antarctic penguins and the other is the emperor penguin but Adelie penguins inhibit the full extent of the continent. In the opinion of environmentalists, climate change will hamper the two crucial and primary pathways of these penguins namely, the quality and availability of food and nesting habits.
As a result of climate change and global warming, the warm sea temperature will destroy most of the fish populations and krills which is a vital diet of Adelie penguins. The hardest hit colonies may be in the West Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands, which have already witnessed declining penguin populations.


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Boy kidnapped from Delhi 7 years ago traced to Bangladesh - to return home

A kid went missing from Delhi seven years ago and has now been located in Bangladesh. He was six year old at the time (2009) and had been abducted by a woman who had rented a room at their house. After his disappearance, his parents registered an FIR with the local police, but failed to provide any details about the tenant's identity or her residence. The cops had closed the case, and the family, presuming the boy to be dead, moved on, but he was very much alive and has been traced.
The kid is now 13 years old and will be reunited with his family when he is flown home, thanks to the intervention of the external affairs ministry.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 30 June 2016.

The reunion has been made possible because of a good Samaritan in the form of a Bangladeshi mechanic. He had seen the small boy being ill-treated by the woman for whom he worked in a village near Dhaka. He talked to the boy and realized that he had been abducted from his home in Delhi. He, therefore, informed the authorities, traveled to Delhi and contacted the boy's parents.
They, in turn, approached a television channel as well as the cops and the matter was referred to the ministry of external affairs. The Bangladesh Embassy was provided with the details of the case, and the child was rescued by the police there and sent to a children's home in Jessore.
Once a DNA match was done, the authorities have arranged to bring him back and reunite with his family who had been observing a day of mourning on his birthdays every year since his disappearance.


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Prince Harry joins Coldplay on the stage in Kensington Palace in aid of charity

Prince Harry, the fifth in line to the throne, joined Coldplay on stage during the band's finale at their Kensington Palace gig which was held in aid of his charity Sentebale. Accompanying him was a choir of young children from Lesotho - Harry wanted to thank them for their time.
He waved his hands in time to the tune and shouted to the audience: 'Thank you for standing out in the rain, thank you to the choir that has come all the way from Lesotho. Please drive home safely and carry the work of Sentebale. And thank you to Coldplay - thank you so much, you've rocked the palace, you've rocked the palace!'
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 28 June 2016.

Harry stood behind the choir and swayed as he sung the lyrics to the hit song Up&Up. However, he did not take the microphone himself as the band's lead singer, Chris Martin, joined him. It was the first ever pop concert to be held on the historic palace's East Lawn and the purpose was to help raise funds and awareness of the challenges faced by young people affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Prince Harry had, earlier, introduced the British band for their 10-song set after a heartfelt speech to the crowd of 3,000 people. The money collected from the event will support Sentebale's work in helping vulnerable children in Lesotho. It works at the Mamohato Children's Centre which offers psychosocial support to children living with HIV. The charity is of the opinion that if children with the virus are educated, then they can in turn educate their peers and start to end the AIDS epidemic.
HIV is the number one cause of death in 10 to 19 year olds in Africa and every third child in Lesotho is an orphan - the country has the world's second highest rate of HIV.


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Nearly 43 million people will travel to celebrate 4th of July this year

It is estimated that almost 43 million Americans will travel between Thursday, June 30 and Monday, July 4 in 2016. This would be an all-time record and would mean five million more people hitting the road compared to the Memorial Day holiday weekend earlier this year.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 28 June 2016.

Thee are 36 million people expected to drive during the Independence Day holiday weekend. This would be a 1.2 percent increase over 2015 figures and, given the news of the lowest gas prices in 11 years, it should be welcomed by travelers all over the United States.
84 percent of holiday travelers will go by roads and, other modes of transportation include cruises, trains and buses. These are expected to increase two percent to 3.3 million people and most of the increase would come from the cruise industry. This has seen a 35-percent increase over last year.
Then there are the fliers. For those who would take an airplane to get to the Independence Day holiday weekend destinations, the average airfare costs are down nine percent from 2015. Moreover, hotel rates are also down this year while daily car rental rates have gone up by six percent.


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Monkey menace in Vrindavan - police put up iron barricades for safety

The police in the temple town of Vrindavan are having a hard time trying to fend off 'aggressive' simians. There have been numerous incidents of monkeys barging into police stations and taking away record files, walkie-talkies and even important documents. Hence, the police have installed iron grills around police stations to protect themselves.
Such iron grills are a common sight in the city where most houses in the vicinity of the temples have them for protection against monkeys.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 27 June 2016.

The town has witnessed several monkey attacks and, as per records, nearly 1000 people suffered simian bites during 2014-15.
Monkey menace is not new for Mathura and Hema Malini, the local BJP MP had it in her election agenda. But, very little headway has been made. There had been suggestions of relocating them to the jungles around Vrindavan and, also, introducing a "monkey safari" there for visitors to this religious town.
In the opinion of experts, he monkey menace is a result of fast deforestation. Relocation experiments in towns like Chandigarh have failed because, the simians, left in jungles of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, tend to return to towns since food is readily available.


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West Bengal government to install swings, see-saws and slides in schools to check dropouts

In order to check school dropouts and make education more enjoyable for primary students, the WEst Bengal government has taken a decision to install swings, slides, sea-saws and other recreational equipment in state-aided primary schools.
As the education minister has admitted, children are often deprived of games as the schools do not have the required facilities. Hence, the decision to install swings, slides and other such equipment in the schools. There are nearly 53,000 state-aided primary schools in the state.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 28 June 2016.

Incidentally, to prevent dropouts, the government has recently started distributing free shoes among students of Classes I to IV while free textbooks and uniforms are given to students up to Class VIII. However, due to shortage of space in many schools, the scheme of swings and slides would "take time" to be implemented in full.
The scarcity of space was more acute in Calcutta schools and, even though most schools in the districts have big grounds, very few of them are equipped with recreational facilities like swings, slides, merry-go-rounds and gyms. Such facilities help to create a conducive environment for the mental and physical development of children.


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Pick up your pizza and burger from the railway station soon

Indian Railways are fast tracking food for its passengers and, in its latest innovation, it is trying to tie up with big names to make available burgers and pizzas at railway stations - thereby, the passenger can buy it and board he train. As per indications,train passengers will soon be able to order burgers and pizzas of their choice on the Indian Railways website and have them delivered right to their coaches. And, for last-minute purchases, vendor boys will be waiting on platforms with ready-to-serve burgers, pizzas and Indian thalis.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 28 June 2016.

The names doing the rounds are leading quick service restaurants (QSR) like Domino's Pizza, Burger King, Subway, KFC and Pizza Hut. They are expected to venture into new territory by opening up stores at railway stations to tap train passengers in the country. The potential is huge because the Indian Railways operates about 12,000 trains carrying 23 million passengers every day.
Such burger and pizza outlets are set to come up in food courts planned at stations such as Howrah, Mumbai, Madurai, Agra, Pune and Visakhapatnam. Railway passengers on an average spend around Rs 100-125 on a meal. It is less when compared to airports but, the volume of business in railways is many times more than airports.


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Rollercoaster ride in M&D's theme park in Motherwell plunges to the ground

It was an accident when a rollecoasster ride, labeled as the Tsunami ride, plunged 20feet to the ground, injuring many persons including children. The incident happened at M&D's theme park in Motherwell, near Glasgow. It is a Scottish theme park.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 27 June 2016.

The Tsunami ride has been described on the theme park's website as 'Scotland's only inverted rollercoaster' and it can reach speeds of up to around 40mph. Children under 10 are restricted from riding the Tsunami, and a minimum height restriction of 1.4m applies.
Many persons dangled upside down in the carriage. Ten people have been shifted to hospital with injuries. A 12-year-old girl is understood to be in a serious condition after suffering head injuries while an 11-year-old had to undergo a major operation after his arm was 'crushed' in the accident.
It seems the carriage had smashed on to a toddlers' ride as it fell. Two children standing beneath the ride were seriously injured. The crash happened on the first weekend of the school holidays. The park attracts around 750,000 visitors a year and had been busy.
Some witnesses said it had been raining heavily just before the accident and that other rides in the amusement park had been closed due to the weather conditions.


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Monsoons have arrived in Mumbai but level of the seven lakes are low

Monsoons have arrived in the island city of Mumbai with spell of bountiful rains but the catchment areas have yet to receive good rainfall because the water level in the seven reservoirs was recorded low as against last year. As per the latest water level chart of seven reservoirs that supply water to Mumbai, issued by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as on June 26, 96,665 million litres of water was available as compared to 3,32,647 million litres on June 26, 2015.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 27 June 2016.

The seven reservoirs that supply water to Mumbai are Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi, Upper Vaitarna, Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarna and, even though there has been decent rainfall for the last few days, it is not satisfactory in the catchment areas when compared to water level of corresponding period last year.
BMC supplies 3,750 million litres of water everyday to the island city and suburbs, which falls short of the actual demand of 4,200 million litres.


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Om Puri says hand pulled rickshaws are an integral part of Kolkata, must stay

Veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri was in Kolkata recently to attend an event to felicitate Kolkata rickshaw-pullers, has commented that the hand pulled rickshaws were an integral part of Kolkata and must be preserved. In his words - 'the city's iconic rickshaws should never die'.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 26 June 2016.

Om Puri had portrayed the role of a rickshaw-puller in Roland Joffe's acclaimed film "City of Joy" and has voiced his opinion on abolition of the mode of transport from city roads. He has said that these rickshaw-pullers formed an intrinsic part of Kolkata's life and came to the help of stranded passengers in a flooded city when all other modes of transport stood standstill. During monsoon months nothing moves in Kolkata except rickshaws which are a part of Kolkata's history.
Empathizing with their plight he added that their lungs become weaker because of running all day. They have to endure ills of air pollution, much more than us because they inhale more toxic air as the lungs expand with running. In his opinion, rickshaws could be a massive tourist draw with proper marketing. They can take tourists to the most interesting by-lanes of Kolkata as Hoing Kong has done with their rickshaws.


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Chaos in Lucknow mango festival - visitors loot mangoes on last day

It was a two day festival of mangoes in Lucknow and, on the last day, nearly 250 exhibits of various species of the delicious fruits were looted by public. The district magistrate has claimed that it was a mango eating competition that gave rise to the situation but, the 'plundering' was evident to those who were present on the spot.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 27 June 2016.

The incident happened at around 5 pm, when the crowd was at its peak. The mango growers had started packing up but the the visitors in the exhibition area refused to leave. When security persons came on the scene, there was a stampede like situation and, taking advantage of that, some visitors barged into the exhibition area and walked away with the mangoes on display.
The free-for-all went on for about 20 minutes and had to be controlled by the police.
Farmers and shopkeepers from Agra and Barabanki and even Lucknow lamented that they could not sell anything yesterday because of late inauguration and when they expected to sell them they were looted. Obviously, it was an example of poor management because there were more than 20,000 persons who visited Janeshwar Mishra park, the venue of the exhibition.


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Walking on hot coal in Texas leaves at least 30 with burn injuries

About 7,000 people had walked across the coals in the course of a program conducted by Tony Robbins, a motivational speaker, in Texas. However, more than 30 of them have been treated for burns. The incident happened when the famous motivational speaker encouraged them to walk on hot coals to conquer their fears.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 24 June 2016.

Five of the inured were taken to hospital in the night itself while several others were treated at the scene for burns to their feet and lower extremities. They we participating in Tony Robbins' four-day seminar, Unleash the Power Within, and the venue was the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
Since only five had "requested any examination beyond what was readily available on site" while the number who attended was nearly 7000, one of the persons connected to the event has said that there are always a few people that have some discomfort afterwards and best care is taken for them. The event called "Turn Fear Into Power" means to storm across a bed of hot coals. Once one starts doing something that he thought was impossible, he will conquer the other fires of his life with ease.
In 2012, more than 20 people were treated for foot burns after a fire walk at a Robbins seminar in San Jose, California. One participant has apparently revealed that some people were not concentrating on the activity because they were taking selfies.


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Kolkata gets air-conditioned horse drawn carriages

Kolkata is a city where something always keep happening and the latest in the list is an air-conditioned horse carriage. It is the brain child of an enterprising young man who wanted to ramp up the decor of his coaches with intricate wooden work, like the ones seen in Varanasi and Lucknow.
He located a craftsman to transform his coach, a Victorian-legacy , into a "royal landau carrier" and fitted it with a 0.75-tonne air conditioner thus converting an open carriage into an insulated, see-through coach. It was not an easy task but he succeeded and lets it out on hire.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 26 June 2016.

He charges Rs 10,000-15,000 a night depending on the distance. The cost includes the cost of a diesel generator and maintenance of the landau and AC. His cool carriage is much in demand during the marriage season - mostly in non-Bengali weddings.
He had spent over Rs 4 lakh on this landau and has plans to add another 3-4 more AC-fitted horse carriages.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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140-year-old zoo in Buenos Aires to close down and be converted to an eco-park

Buenos Aires has taken a decision to close its 140-year-old zoo and convert it into an eco park because keeping wild animals in captivity and on display 'is degrading'. The mayor of the Argentine capital, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, has indicated that the zoo will gradually relocate most of its 1,500 animals to sanctuaries at home and abroad. The reason is that they are not living in adequate conditions.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 25 June 2016.

The Mayor wants Argentina to follow the global trend of turning zoos into parks and sanctuaries. He believes that animals should live in their natural habitats. This situation of captivity is degrading for the animals and it is not the way to take care of them. The new eco park will provide a safe haven for animals rescued from illegal trafficking.
The mayor has termed it as a place where children can learn how to take care of and relate with the different species. The important thing is to value is the animals. The Buenos Aires zoo was inaugurated in 1875 in what used to be the outskirts of the Argentine capital. The zoo is now surrounded by the busy Palermo neighborhood and has been making a loss for years. It is expected to close soon so that work on the ecological park can begin.
Incidentally, four years ago, the last remaining polar bear at the zoo had died after overheating of its cage in soaring summer temperatures.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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American-owned security firm in Kuwait killed 24 sniffer dogs after expiry of contract

An American-owned security firm in Kuwait has killed 24 sniffer dogs after expiry of its contract with a local oil company. The incident happened on June 17 and thee are a further 100 or so dogs at risk of being killed. This has been revealed by an animal rights group Kuwait Animal Rescue Unit. The owners have said that they had killed the dogs "humanely" because they were sick.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 25 June 2016.

The US-owned company had been providing services to Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and, as per the Kuwait Animal Rescue Unit, the security firm had killed 24 of its sniffer dogs after losing a contract with the oil company, which was apparently paid $9,900 monthly for each dog.
The security company continues to maintain that it humanely euthanized the dogs because they were old and sick and also suffering from conditions such as tumors and hip dysplasia while some others were just too aggressive. The dogs had been diagnosed with those issues two years ago and should have been eliminated at the time. It seems the company had tried to put the dogs up for adoption but did not succeed.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Floods in West Virginia leave at least 20 dead

West Virginia is in the grip of floods and it has left at least 20 dead and many others stranded - they had to be rescued from rooftops or from fast-moving waters. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has said that the damage is widespread and devastating and the focus was on search and rescue. The floods were caused by a day of heavy rains.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com date 25 June 2016.

Governor Tomblin had initially indicated a death toll of 14 from the disaster, but it was later revised to 20 with fears that it could still increase.
At least six counties have extensive structural damage and about 66,000 people were without power. Moreover, about 200 National Guard members had fanned out in eight counties to assist local responders while 17 shelters were opened for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. A group of nearly 500 people were stranded overnight inside a shopping mall in Elkview, near the capital Charleston - the reason was that a bridge leading to the main road had washed away.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Difficult to remove stray cattle from the streets of Agra

There are a few things that are interwoven into the fabrics of Indian society and, one of these is the menace of stray cattle roaming on the streets. Such sights are common in the city of Agra, famous for the Taj Mahal and, despite the Uttar Pradesh government ordering the local administration to alleviate such nuisance, nothing appears to have been done.
Based on a directive from UP chief secretary earlier this year, the Agra administration had held a meeting with cattle owners and warned them of punitive measures, if found guilty. The administration had given themselves time till June 10- unfortunately, the deadline has passed and no palpable changes are visible.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 25 June 2016.

Cattle are taken for bathing in the Yamuna or they stroll at Fatehabad Road, Shilpgram, Mall Road, M G Road or places near Taj Mahal. The fact is that the local administration has failed to control the civic problem. The newly-appointed additional district magistrate has assured that the administration is working to make Agra free of strays.
As a part of this drive, all stray cattle in the city will be identified and marked. Once tat is done, they will be relocated outside the city. For that, an area is being located where such cattle will be transported. There is no time scale indicated but people are working "tirelessly" to get rid of the problem.
Regarding bathing of buffaloes and other cattle in the Yamuna, administration officers had promised to barricade the river, but that has yet to happen.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

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Maithon Dam to be venue for kayaking and canoeing national championships

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Moody’s whirlwind trip - five countries in six days (satire)

Didi’s Delhi dreams – from telebhaja to aloo chat (satire)

All about chest size and happy days (satire)


Christina Grimmie shot dead by unidentified gunman in Florida

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Two brothers arrested from Long Island - another possible massacre prevented

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Theft of pugs and miniature French bulldogs in the UK goes up 20% in two years

Britain is experiencing a rise in thefts of dogs, especially of breeds like pugs and French bulldogs that are popular with celebrities. The increase is of the order of 20%. Since the beginning of 2013, a total of 5,288 of the pets have been reported stolen. The breakdown - 1,490 in 2013 followed by 1599 in 2014, and 1776 in 2015. In the first four months of 2016, the figure is 423.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 25 June 2016.

As can be seen, the numbers have risen sharply year on year. It works out to nearly 20 per cent in two years and this is particularly among breeds that are popular with celebrities. Probable targets would be pugs and miniature French bulldogs that are fashionable with the wealthy and famous.
In the opinion of dog experts, a shortage of puppies has created a market for the thieves, particularly among fashionable breeds. Thieves take advantage of the fact that there is not enough breeding in UK. Hence, there are possibilities to sell dogs that have been stolen or bred in puppy farms abroad.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

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All about chest size and happy days (satire)


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Saudi Arabia arrests 50 young men for wearing un-Islamic dresses

Saudi Arabia have arrested 50 young men for wearing un-Islamic dresses that included haircuts, necklaces and cloths that are considered un-Islamic like Crocs shoes and ripped jeans. The suspects were detained during a Ramadan crackdown in the western Saudi city of Mecca which is the Islam's holiest site.
The offenses ranged from strange haircuts, chains hung upon the chest or arms, head wraps and short clothes and immodest ones - for both men and women.
They were handed over to the department of criminal investigations said Sabq, which accompanied investigators during their visits to shopping areas in the city. The law enforcement team includes women also and have advised citizens against 'habits and traditions that are against religious teachings.'
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 24 June 2016.

Saudi Arabia is not only an absolute Islamic monarchy but is also one of the world's most conservative countries. Here, women dress from head to toe in black and are not allowed to drive or mingle with unrelated men. However, more than half of Saudi citizens are under the age of 25 and an Internet-savvy generation that spends much of its life online away from official strictures.
Moreover, one of the kingdom's most powerful figures, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is just 30-year-old and is leading the Vision 2030 reform drive to diversify the economy and also bring social change. His plan calls for more entertainment, cultural and sports opportunities.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

HTT-40, India's homegrown basic trainer aircraft, to debut in Aero India 2017

Maithon Dam to be venue for kayaking and canoeing national championships

KVIC brings out Yogasutra, clothes made of khadi for yoga exercises


Moody’s whirlwind trip - five countries in six days (satire)

Didi’s Delhi dreams – from telebhaja to aloo chat (satire)

All about chest size and happy days (satire)


Christina Grimmie shot dead by unidentified gunman in Florida

TE3N first day box office collection of Rs 2.61 crores in India fails to impress

Sonu Nigam opens up on technology and modern day music


Suicide bomb attacks by Taliban kill more than 20 in Afghanistan

Two brothers arrested from Long Island - another possible massacre prevented

Delhi police unearths a kidney transplant racket - arrests kingpin from Kolkata

Powerful tornado hits eastern China killing at least 51 people

Eastern China was hit by a powerful tornado and hail storms in which at least 51 people have been killed. The tornado struck homes, farms and factories near the city of Yancheng with a population of more than eight million people The city is situated about 500 miles south of Beijing and the tornado was accompanied by winds of up to 78mph.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 24 June 2016.

Apart from the loss of lives, dozens of people were injured and large numbers of buildings have been destroyed. The recent extreme weather conditions included torrential downpours that added to the chaos and carnage in Jiangsu province, located north of Shanghai. The southern and eastern parts have been experiencing weeks of heavy rainfall and storms that have caused widespread severe flooding, resulting in a number of fatalities and leaving 20 people missing.
Incidentally, the south is hit every year during the monsoon months of May, June and July. But, this year, the water levels in some major rivers have exceeded those of 1998, when vast flooding had affected nearly 180 million people.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

HTT-40, India's homegrown basic trainer aircraft, to debut in Aero India 2017

Maithon Dam to be venue for kayaking and canoeing national championships

KVIC brings out Yogasutra, clothes made of khadi for yoga exercises


Moody’s whirlwind trip - five countries in six days (satire)

Didi’s Delhi dreams – from telebhaja to aloo chat (satire)

All about chest size and happy days (satire)


Christina Grimmie shot dead by unidentified gunman in Florida

TE3N first day box office collection of Rs 2.61 crores in India fails to impress

Sonu Nigam opens up on technology and modern day music


Suicide bomb attacks by Taliban kill more than 20 in Afghanistan

Two brothers arrested from Long Island - another possible massacre prevented

Delhi police unearths a kidney transplant racket - arrests kingpin from Kolkata