Some 28 teams from nine countries have three days to saw, scrape and polish a masterpiece out of ice blocks as tall as two men and weighing over two tons.The winning team will receive a prize of USD 1,600 as well as a medal and a cup.China's 28th Ice and Snow Festival which kicked off on January 5, 2012 is expected to attract more than 1.3 million visitors.This year's festival is scheduled to last for three months, during which tourists can take … [Read more...]

According to the wetland division of Indian-administered Kashmir nearly eight hundred thousand birds of 20 different varieties have arrived in the region since October, 2011. Most of the birds come from different parts of North Europe, Siberia, China, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Although state wildlife authorities say they have seen more avian visitors than expected, many species and even the wetlands are facing threats. “For the sustenance … [Read more...]

The deputy head of Kuwait's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Iran's cultural attaché as well as a number of ambassadors and representatives from different countries attended the inauguration ceremony held on December 25, 2011. Over 50 participants from 22 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, the UAE, Iraq, Bahrain, Palestine, Jordan, Algeria, Syria, Sudan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, Morocco, India, Bangladesh, Hungary and … [Read more...]

Since 50 years ago, the French archaeologists have been searching for Apollonia's ancient East Gate, but the Bulgarian archaeologists finally unearthed the precious remains under beneath the illegal shacks selling food and beverages in the center of the town."There is no original so well preserved, at least in Bulgaria. Even in Veliko Tarnovo, the walls are smaller in height, "said head of the excavation expedition Tsonya Drazheva.There was also … [Read more...]

The group said the amount of the seized ivory represents more than 2,500 dead elephants that is a record since the trade was banned in 1989."The escalating large ivory quantities involved in 2011 reflect both a rising demand in Asia and the increasing sophistication of the criminal gangs behind the trafficking," TRAFFIC said in a statement."Most illegal shipments of African elephant ivory end up in either China or Thailand." The group said there … [Read more...]

Iranian officials reported that smuggling goods and currency inflicts heavy losses on its tax and custom revenues every year.Official figures from Iran's headquarters against contraband and currency trafficking show an average USD 16 billion-worth of goods have being smuggled into Iran every year. “In the past nine months we have had considerable improvements in our findings which showed a 74% growth compared to the same period last year,” … [Read more...]

Van Gog won the first three spots with his Café Terrace at Night and Branches of an Almond Tree in Blossom ranking second and third on the list. Other artists named on the gallery's list include Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dali, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso.Gustav Klimt's Kiss has ranked fourth and is followed by Garden Path at Giverny and Poppy Field at Argenteuil by Claude Monet. Spanish master Pablo Picasso's Dream and Old Guitarist took the … [Read more...]

The i-masjid (i-mosque), established by the Indonesian Association of Muslim Intellectuals, will allow mosques to both connect with new users and expand their outreach into new fields.The organizers hope that i-masjid would be successful at engaging people by education and also by giving them the opportunity to improve their lives through micro financing.“We plan to set access to internet. We will provide micro-financing in the area of the … [Read more...]

The piece fetched USD 1.1 million setting a new auction record for Bronte and for a literary work by any of the Bronte sisters.The Jane Eyre author left the tiny booklet in miniature letters of 19 pages with 4,000 words in size of 1.5 by 2.5 inches."This is unquestionably the most significant Bronte manuscript to come to light in decades and an important part of our broader literary heritage," said director of the Bronte Parsonage Museum, Andrew … [Read more...]

Participants will compete in 14 different categories including robot dancing, robot survival and energy saving robot in the three-day event, which is being held at Tarumanagara University in the capital city of Jakarta.The event gives an opportunity to students and young adults to learn basic and intermediate knowledge relating to computer programming and computer design.“I think it (the event) is a fantastic way for kids to learn not only … [Read more...]