Vultures are seen by a lot of people as ugly and disgusting creatures, but in reality these birds have been an important part of our ecosystem by keeping the environment clean and preventing the spread of dangerous diseases.

Here’s the sad part: approximately 40 million vultures have been lost in the last 15 years. Their rapid decline is blamed on the widespread use of diclofenac, a non-steroidal drug used for treating inflammation in livestock such as cows. When these scavengers feed on the carcass of those cattle, they die of liver and kidney failure.

In a move to revive the dwindling population of vultures, “restaurants” have been established in Nepal which provide nourishment for the endangered birds. These feeding stations get their meat from old ox and cows, and the serving of healthy food has helped increase the number of vultures in that region.

From Reuters:

Pithauli, some 100 km (60 miles) southwest of the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, was the site of the first such feeding station, which now number six around the country.

The number of nesting pairs there has grown to 46 compared with just 17 before the feeding site was opened five years ago, said Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary, who coordinates the project.

The vulture restaurant has become a tourist attraction in the poverty-stricken village, and admission fees from visitors — who last year numbered some 2,000 — help support it.

Despite the positive results, though, some locals remain skeptical.

“Why save a bird that feeds on dead animals?” said 34-year-old Chet Nath Gandell, noting that the scavengers sometimes leave parts of the carcasses unfinished. “Stinking carrion pollutes the air and we are forced to breathe in a slow poison.”

Check out this amazing footage of vultures feeding from a cow carcass in Nepal.

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Nepal sets up “restaurants” for endangered vultures

For the first time in Manila, the world-renowned Cirque Mother Africa (created by professional acrobat Winston Ruddle) will dazzle and mesmerize local audiences with wild African music, dance and performance in a two-hour showcase.

The series of performances will start from April 19 to 22 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.

Having performed in sold out shows staged in Germany, Italy, Romania,
Russia, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Spain – Cirque Mother Africa will tantalize audiences in Manila with a unique African-themed spectacle.

Dancers, percussionists, singers, acrobats and contortionists energetically take to the stage in a celebration of the culture of the traditional and modern African arts & culture.

The heartbeat of Africa pulsates throughout the jaw-dropping show as the musicians and artistes articulate their passion and love for their homeland including Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Benin, Zimbabwe, and Guinea.

The innovative show combines the talents from nine African countries to provide the wonder, suspense and joy of Cirque Mother Africa.

The show is a delight for the senses with items spun through the air, bodies contorted into mind-boggling shapes, and performers balance on other performers, percussionists beat up a storm of sound and traditional dancers tell their own stories. The audience will be overwhelmed by the complexity and versatility of these world-class acts.

Masks, drums, beads, and amazing costumes all bring forth the feel of
authentic African traditions.

Cirque Mother Africa is not just a traditional African show. It also has a take on the modern, fresh and dynamic culture of the new Africa. Young acrobats perform feats that belong in any world-class circus, and energetic young performers compete in tap-dancing that is a toe-tapping delight. This is a fresh and fantastic show that evokes passion and demands a response.

Audiences are encouraged, prodded and charmed to actively respond rather than to simply watch a breath-taking spectacle.

Cirque Mother Africa 2012 can be seen from April 19 to 22 at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila. Tickets are available at selected National Book Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Cinema Lobby – Greenbelt 1 and Trinoma. You may also inquire at TicketWorld Office, www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call 891-9999 for bookings & reservations.

EXCLUSIVE! Enjoy a 15% discount from February 7-20 by calling the
following hotlines 0916-3403919 or 0921-5642108

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Cirque Mother Africa to Perform at Resorts World Manila

Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, who starred with Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2008 film Body of Lies, has been banned from returning to her homeland because of this photoshoot.

The “naked if only her hands didn’t get in the way” photograph published in French magazine Madame Le Figaro has caused plenty of uproar in Iran and now the government has made Farahani persona non grata. The 28-year-old thespian, now based in Paris, posed for the mag as a protest against the violations of women’s rights in the Islamic republic.

Fans of Farahani on Facebook have reacted to her nude photo, with some praising her boldness and defending her right to self-expression.

“The world needs more women like you… Do not be defeated by the oppressors and women haters who pervert religion for their own gain… Women: unite!!,” commented one FB user.

Farahani’s role as DiCaprio’s love interest in Body of Lies made her the first Iranian to act in a major Hollywood film.

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Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani banned from her home country after posing ‘topless’

Profit in any business is good, but what if it hurts the economy? This infographic lays out everything about the black market. More importantly, how does it affect our economy? Our culture? Take a look to find out.

Created by: Business Degree

Post from: Daily Contributor

Infographic: The business of the black market

A teenager from Leeds has become the first sex-change person in Great Britain to participate in the Miss England beauty contest.

Eighteen-year-old Jackie Green became the UK’s youngest transsexual after an operation in Thailand two years ago. British tabloid The Sun said Green, who was born Jack, adopted a female lifestyle at age 10 and is now an aspiring model.

Green, who has already participated in Britain’s Next Top Model, said: “Miss England is a prestigious competition. I’d love to win and I have as good a chance as anyone.”

The contest is a major step forward for Jackie, who was bullied and had attempted to commit suicide five times.

Post from: Daily Contributor

Transsexual Jackie Green enters Miss England pageant

Remember all those North Koreans weeping hysterically over the death of dictator Kim Jong-il? Those who cried, but without conviction, are being sentenced to at least six months in a labor-training camp, according to an online newspaper based in South Korea.

A report from the The Daily NK, which is run by opponents of the North Korean government, states that citizens who did not attend public mourning events or tried to leave the country have also been disciplined.

Furthermore, the source added that people who are accused of circulating rumors criticizing the country’s 3rd generation dynastic system are also being sent to re-education camps or being banished with their families to remote rural areas.

Kim Jong-il died of fatigue during a train ride on December 17. Throughout his reign, Kim was portrayed by most countries as an abusive leader who prioritized building North Korea’s nuclear armament over addressing extreme poverty in the country.

Post from: Daily Contributor

North Korea reportedly punishing those who didn’t mourn hard enough

A series of photographs showing hot Chinese women participating in a beauty pageant-type training for bodyguards has hit the web.

About 20 young women, mostly college graduates, took part in the session organized by the Tianjiao Special Guard/Security Consultant Ltd. on a beach in Sanya, Hainan province.

Dressed in swimsuits, the trainees were asked to run carrying a log on their shoulders, let people step on their abdomen, and demonstrate martial art skills during the period.

According to The International Business Times, the participants will undergo rigorous training for 8-10 months before they assume their responsibilities. The security company will offer the best trainee a chance to attend further study at the International Security Academy in Israel.

Statistics show that top female bodyguards in China earn as much as RM150,000 (S$61,726) a year, and they are only required to work four days a week.

[Photos via Reuters]

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Is there a growing demand for hot female bodyguards in China?

Here’s something for those who dream of Chinese sea-power.

A luxury hotel built on a former Soviet warship will open at the end of this month, making it the world’s first aircraft carrier hotel.

The Kiev, which is currently anchored in the Chinese port of Tianjin, is now open for tourists, travelers, and those who want to have a good time. The 1,000 feet-long vessel has 148 rooms in total, including two presidential suites, three VIP guest rooms and 137 standard rooms.

[Hat tip to Wired.com]

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China turns Soviet warship into luxury hotel

Reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died on Saturday at the age of 69, the country’s state television reported on Monday.

Reports said Kim Jong-il suffered a fatal heart attack while riding on a train Saturday morning. The longtime communist leader had been reported ill over the past several months although the real state of his health was never known due to the iron-curtain policy imposed by the hermetic country.

Kim Jong-il had been leader of the communist state since 1994. He took over from his father and the country’s recognized founder, Kim Il-sung. Throughout his reign, Kim Jong-il was portrayed by most countries, especially in the West, as an abusive leader who prioritized building North Korea’s nuclear armament over addressing extreme poverty in the country.

Local media has hailed Kim’s son, Kim Jong-un, as the “Dear Leader’s” “great successor.” Jong-un was introduced as Kim Jong-il’s heir apparent over a year ago, but little is known about the young leader who is reportedly in his late 20s. “All party members, military men and the public should faithfully follow the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-un and protect and further strengthen the unified front of the party, military and the public,” state media said in a statement according to BBC.

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North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il Dies

Flash floods caused by a tropical storm devastated two major cities and several towns in southern Philippines on Friday, leaving at least 450 people dead with many more reported missing.

The Philippine Red Cross has put the death toll in Cagayan de Oro city at 215, while at least 144 have reportedly died in Iligan City, the Philippine Daily Inquirer said. Cagayan de Oro is the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental while Iligan is a highly urbanized city in nearby Lanao del Norte, both in the country’s Mindanao region. The floods came rushing from the mountains to the cities late Friday after raining for around 12 hours, the Associated Press said. Some rivers also overflowed, flooding places that used to be flood-free in the past.

Officials attributed the high death toll to lack of preparation and complacency of most of the victims, who were not used to seeing such heavy floods in their areas. Tropical storm Washi, locally known as “Sendong,” swept into the country this week, dumping heavy rains in its path. Officials said Washi dumped a month’s worth of rain in Mindanao during the 12-hour period prior to the flash floods.

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Storm Slams Southern Philippines, Kills At Least 450

Christopher Hitchens, the British-American pundit and author whose writings both enraged and entertained people, has died. He was 62.

Christopher Hitchens passed away at the MD Anderson Center Center in Houston Thursday night due to pneumonia, a complication from an advanced-stage esophageal cancer that was diagnosed only last year. Hitchens was famous for his hard-hitting commentaries about politics, religion, and just about anything. He famously, or infamously, made known his case against religion in a 2007 book, “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.”

A leftist at heart, Hitchens was also known for supporting the right-endorsed war in Iraq of former U.S. President George W. Bush. His support for the American-led invasion of Iraq earned the ire of his comrades in the left, but Hitchens, as with anything, never budged. “Saddam was an enemy of the civilized world and he should have been taken out a long time before,” Hitchens said in justifying the necessity of the 2003 Iraq was that led to the downfall of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. “I have no regrets about that at all.”

Christopher Hitchens, who until his death remained a firm atheist, is survived by his wife Carol Blue and his three children.

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Christopher Hitchens: Polemist, Atheist Author Dies at 62

I was just reading some of the Google+ pages I follow and learned that the TIME magazine person of the year for 2011 is not Steve Jobs, Kate Middleton or Julian Assange, it is “the protester”. Congratulations to the demonstrators from across the Arab world to the Occupy Wall Street movement that continues to make headlines. We are proud of you!

Here’s an excerpt from the news magazine:

It’s remarkable how much the protest vanguards share. Everywhere they are disproportionately young, middle class and educated. Almost all the protests this year began as independent affairs, without much encouragement from or endorsement by existing political parties or opposition bigwigs. All over the world, the protesters of 2011 share a belief that their countries’ political systems and economies have grown dysfunctional and corrupt — sham democracies rigged to favor the rich and powerful and prevent significant change.

The four runners-up were: U.S. Admiral William McRavern, Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan and Middleton.

Since 1927, TIME has chosen the person (or sometimes group, or thing) that its editors deemed had the single greatest impact during the preceding year. Adolf Hitler received the honor in 1938. Last year the mag picked Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Post from: Daily Contributor

TIME reveals its 2011 Person of the Year

More than 5,000 people have reportedly been killed in a months-long uprising in Syria, the United Nations human rights chief said.

U.N. Rights chief Navi Pillay said in a report to the U.N. Security Council that the figures exclude members of the Syrian military. The death toll largely includes civilians and defectors. Calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad started in March following the successful protests in Egypt that ousted President Hosni Mubarak. The protests started peacefully but have since turned for the worse with allegations of violent dispersals by al-Assad’s forces.

Most of the violence has occurred in towns outside the capital Damascus, including in the province of Homs, where a pipeline reportedly exploded on Monday. More deaths were reported on Monday, with the activist organization Local Coordination Committees saying that at least 16 people were killed by security forces in Homs and the province of Idlib.

The U.N. Security Council has called for calm in the country, but is restrained from playing a more active role due to opposition from Russia and China.

Post from: Daily Contributor

U.N. Says Syria Death Toll Has Topped 5,000

Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, the owner of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, has announced his plan to challenge Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in next year’s presidential elections.

Prokhorov’s declaration came two months after he was removed as leader of the pro-business party Right Cause. Putin is expected to win a new term as president in March elections, with current President Dmitry Medvedev expected to slide back to prime minister. Prokhorov is not considered a political threat, although the $18-billion mining magnate definitely has the resources to run a presidential campaign.

“I think the society is waking up, whether we want it to or not,” the 46-year-old Prokhorov said in a press conference according to the New York Times. “That part of the government which does not establish dialogue with society, it will have to go in the near future. Serious changes are taking place in the world, and a new kind of man is emerging.”

Despite his pronouncements, some quarters in the Russian political scene remain skeptical of Prokhorov’s sincerity, with some members of the Right Cause suspecting that the billionaire is actually a Kremlin candidate. “If he wants it himself, then I will support him wholeheartedly. If he is taking the role of a spoiler because someone has proposed it to him, then it is disgusting,” Right Cause leader Andrei Dunayev said.

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Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov Declares Run for Russian Presidency

The Chinese have been wowing us with their spectacular fireworks display for centuries, but a recent pyrotechnics show that took place in broad daylight in Doha, Qatar has taken their craft to a whole new level.

Cai Guo-Qiang, the New York-based artist that captivated international audiences with his fireworks exhibit at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, spent nearly two months in Qatar creating a series of works, which use explosives normally used by the military as anti-missile decoys.

The cost of the entire event hasn’t been revealed, but it was funded in full by the Qatar Museum Authority.

WATCH:

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Artist creates daytime fireworks exhibit in Qatar [VIDEO]