Tourism fest raises toast to world’s tallest Buddha
Beijing: The world’s tallest Buddha statue celebrated its 1,300th anniversary with a cultural festival in Leshan city in China’s Sichuan province.
The Leshan Giant Buddha festival is expected to attract global attention to the statue’s conservation issues, said Li Wenfei, director of a management committee of Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area, Xinhua reported.
A number of cultural and tourism promotion activities will be held during the festival till Sunday.
The 71-metre-high Buddha statue, carved into a cliff in Leshan mountain and overlooking three converging rivers, was built over a 90-year period starting in the year 713 during the Tang Dynasty.
The Leshan Giant Buddha, as part of Mount Emei scenic area, was put on the Unesco World Cultural Heritage list in 1996.
The statue has undergone several repairs and inspections in past decades to clean, strengthen the rock structure, mend cracks and install drainage pipes to guard against damage caused by weathering and acid rain. (IANS)
Pumpkins apparently filled with cocaine
Montreal: Canada’s border services agency say it has stumbled upon a different kind of Halloween surprise in some pumpkins this year.
Authorities believe three pumpkins found in a woman’s luggage at the Trudeau International Airport in Montreal airport on Thursday were stuffed with approximately 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of cocaine.
Scanning equipment had detected masses inside the pumpkins. Those masses turned out to be bags filled with the chalky substance.
A border agency spokeswoman was not able to say where the passenger was coming from or whether she was a Canadian citizen. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have taken over the investigation. (AP)
Michelle announces Sesame Street characters to market vegetables
Washington: Michelle Obama has announced that Sesame Street’s furry characters will be allowed to be used free of charge by the produce industry to help market fruits and veggies to kids.
The idea is to boost consumption of fruits and vegetables among children and shoppers and children who accompany them, can expect to see their favorite Sesame Street characters on bagged, boxed and individual pieces of produce in 2014, CBS News reported.
The First Lady of the United States said that this collaboration between Sesame Workshop and the produce association will show kids that “fruits and vegetables don”t just make us feel good, they taste good too”.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the popular children’s educational program has decided to waive its licensing fee, which is a major source of income, for two years under an arrangement with the Produce Marketing Association and the Partnership for a Healthier America. (ANI)
Prince Charles admits quitting smoking at age of 11
London: Prince Charles has reportedly told a group of respiratory nurses at the Clarence House reception that he quit smoking at the age of 11.
After being introduced to the nurses, the 64-year-old Duke of Cornwall enquired whether they had to deal with a lot of smokers and admitted that he used to smoke behind a chicken coop when he was a boy, the Daily Express reported.
However, it is unclear whether the apparent heir to the throne was being serious or not when he made the remarks at a reception in honor of nominees for the Nursing Times annual awards. (ANI)
World currently facing severest wine shortage since last 40 years
London: The world is facing a wine shortage, as consumer demand has already significantly outstripped supply globally, a report has warned.
The research by America”s Morgan Stanley financial services firm said demand for wine exceeded supply by 300m cases in 2012.
According to the BBC, the firm describes this as the deepest shortfall in over 40 years of records. Last year, production also dropped to its lowest levels in more than four decades. Global production has been steadily declining since its peak in 2004, when supply outweighed demand by about 600m cases.
At the same time, there are currently more than one million wine producers worldwide.
Authors of the report said that the shortage could be partly explained by ‘plummeting production’ in Europe due to ‘ongoing vine pull and poor weather’.
At the same time, production in the ‘new world’ countries – the US, Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand – has been steadily rising, the report added. (ANI)
Prince Harry’s girlfriend gets ‘royal seal of approval’
Melbourne: Britain’s royal family has reportedly given their nod to Prince Harry’s 15-month relationship with girlfriend Cressida Bonas.
A source told a UK publication that the socialite had spent a few days on Queen Elizabeth II’s private estate and Sandringham is almost a rite of passage for any future royal bride.
The insider asserted that the 29-year-old royal has an extremely demanding role in the military and Sandringham’s the perfect place for him to unwind with those he dearly wants to be around.
The source insisted that Bonas has definitely been given the royal seal of approval.
Harry is smitten and treats Bonas like a princess, the insider added.
It is also understood that the blonde beauty was invited by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Prince George’s christening, but Bonas skipped the event because her presence would have attracted attention away from the royal baby. (ANI)
Long-time US couple married for 75 years, die one day apart
Los Angeles: A California couple, who were born on the same day and celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in 2013, died within a day of each other. They were 94.
Helen died on July 16, while the love of her life and her hubby, Les Brown, died the next day, July 17, a website reported.
The duo’s friends and family asserted that if two people ever were made for each other, then it was Helen and Les.
The pair, from Long Beach, LA, had been born on the same day, Dec. 31, 1918 and were high school sweethearts.
Their oldest son, Les Jr., said that his parent’s love was real and they were together every day for 75 years.
Daniel, the pair’s youngest son, insisted that his mom often said she didn’t want to see his father die, and he didn’t want to live without her. (ANI)
American airlines rated `most popular` amongst eligible millionaires
Washington: American Airlines has been rated as the most popular amongst eligible millionaires, a recent survey has revealed.
A research conducted by SeekingMillionaire.com revealed that an overwhelming majority of 30,496 frequently flew American Airlines, Huffington Post reports.
Virgin Airlines stood at the second position with 5,091 millionaires and third runners-up was Delta Airlines with 4,327 millionaires on board.
The survey also found that 73.2 percent of the eligible millionaires traveled alone while flying, 74 percent frequent an airline lounge and 78 percent are top-tier members of an airline”s mileage program, the report added. (ANI)