Welcome Home, Baby: Says delighted Elon Musk after Dragon splashes back into Pacific

HAWTHRONE, CA (Thu, May 31) - THE SpaceX Dragon craft has returned to Earth, ending its revolutionary voyage to the International Space Station (ISS). 

Welcome Home, Baby: Says delighted Elon Musk after Dragon splashes back into Pacific

"Welcome home, baby," said SpaceX's elated chief, Elon Musk, on Thursday after the Dragon capsule has parachuted into the Pacific Ocean that ended up a successful mission of ferrying the first private delivery to the International Space Station (ISS) and pioneers NASA's new approach to space exploration.

The unmanned capsule parachuted into the Pacific approximately 805 km off Mexico's Baja California, bringing back more than a half-ton of old station equipment. It was the first time since the space shuttles stopped flying last summer that NASA got back a big load from the orbiting lab.

Splashdown came at 8:42 a.m. (11:42 a.m. ET), about two minutes earlier than expected, SpaceX and NASA reported. Musk was on hand at the company’s mission control center near Los Angeles as operators monitored the descent, and called the mission a “grand slam” in a briefing later Thursday.

Continue reading and watch the video of Dragon splashing into Pacific:

Trendz & Styles 4U

Hundreds arrested in China after increasing self-immolation by Tibetans

In a strive to stop the increasing unrest in the country's ethnic Tibetan areas; the Chinese law enforcement agencies have reportedly arrested hundreds of Tibetans in Lhasa – capital of Tibet - after the latest self-immolation by two Buddhist monks last week in protest against China's rule over the Himalayan region.

Hundreds arrested in China after increasing self-immolation by Tibetans

Al Jazeera reported quoting the Tibetan advocacy group Free Tibet and Radio Free Asia that at least 600 Tibetans had been held since the Tibetan men set themselves on fire on Sunday. One of those men died after the act. 

The arrests were made while another Tibetan woman had set herself on fire Wednesday afternoon in Aba prefecture, in southwestern Sichuan province. 

China has already labeled the self-immolators as "terrorists" and criminals, and has held exiled Tibetans and the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, responsible for inflaming the unrest through self-immolations.

According to Tibetan rights groups; 27 deaths have been reported out of about 35 self-immolation attempts by Tibetans since March 2011 in protest against China's 60-year rule over their homeland.

The number could not be independently confirmed because foreign journalists are not allowed to enter in Tibet.

Report Tags: China Unrest, Self-immolations, Dalai Lama, Tibet Dispute, Lhasa, Free Tibet, Radio Free Asia, Political Unrest, Tibetan Arrested, Tibetan self-immolations, terrorism

Villaggio Mall Fire (Doha, Qatar) Updates -- NZ kids and Pinoy teachers among 19 killed (VIDEO)

DOHA, Qatar (Tue, May 29) – Qatari Interior Ministry has confirmed that 13 schoolchildren and four female teachers are among the 19 people killed in the deadliest fire broke out Monday evening in one of the fanciest shopping mall in the capital city of Doha.

Villaggio Mall Fire (Doha, Qatar) Updates: NZ kids and Pinoy teachers among 19 killed

According to details; blaze hit Villaggio centre in Doha, one of the state's most popular shopping and recreational complexes, at 11:30 am (0800 GMT), the ministry said, quoting state minister for interior, Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani telling reporters that the “public prosecution has taken charge of the investigation.”

Initial investigations into safety have highlighted a number of possible failings.

Brisbane Times reported that toddler triplets from New Zealand are among 13 children killed in a fire at one of Qatar's Villaggio shopping mall, while GMA New reported that three of the four female teachers killed in this deadly fire were belonged to Philippines and were working as nursery teachers.

Raw video posted earlier online showed black smoke billowing from the shopping centre as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene. Watch below: 

Sources:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/nz-triplets-among-19-dead-in-qatar-shopping-mall-inferno-20120529-1zfu2.html

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/259759/pinoyabroad/news/three-pinoys-among-fatalities-in-qatar-mall-fire

Report Tags: : Qatar, Qatar Mall Fire, Mall tragedy in Qatar, Villaggio Mall, Dohal Mall fire, Children killed in mall fire, Qatari Interior Ministry, Youtube, video

Riyadh: Saudi woman confronting religious police over nail polish issue (Video goes viral)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Mon, may 28) – A video of a Saudi woman defying the orders of religious police over breaking modesty rules with her nail polished fingers has gone viral after she posted it on the YouTube.

Saudi woman confronting religious police over nail polish issue (Pic Credit: Youtube)

 The three and a half minute video posted on May 23 shows members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice telling the women to “get out of here (the mall).”

The cops from religious police ordered the unidentified lady to leave the shopping mall because she has painted her nails which is against the rules prevailing in the country.

But the lady refused to comply, saying: “I’m staying and I want to know what you’re going to do about. It’s none of your business if I wear nail polish,” the lady, who is not seen on tape, is heard shouting at religious cops with beard.

it has ignited a debate in Saudi Arabia over the way that members of the commission should deal with people in public places. The video shows several men in traditional Saudi dress, who have apparently stopped the woman to chastise her for the immodesty of her freshly manicured nails.

One of the men orders the woman to leave the mall, but she refuses and the pair become embroiled in a heated argument in the middle of the mall's concourse.

"The government didn't send you to follow me," she yells at them. "The government said there would be no persecution (of women). Your job is to advise people and move on. You have no right to harass anyone."

A probe has been opened into the incident, the Gazette reported.

Watch the video with English subtitles below:

Report Tags: Saudi Arabia, Religious force, Religious Police, Saudi Woman, Woman with nail polish, Video, Youtube, Nail Polish, Fashion in Saudi Arabia,

Shahrukh Khan (SRK) goes ecstatic after KKR won the final showdown of IPL 2012

CHENNAI, India (Mon, May 28) – This is a very special fairytale for KKR, as they have struggled right from the inception of the league back in 2008. They had finished at the last on the points table on many occasions. They certainly rose from deep to touch the glory of IPL title. The fairytale journey of KKR in IPL 2012 really depicts the struggle from dusk to dawn to become the champions. 

Shahrukh Khan (SRK) goes ecstatic after KKR won the final showdown of IPL 2012

KKR’s co-owner Shah Rukh Khan couldn't contain his happiness and danced his way to the ground. He hugged, cheered and congratulated each member of his team after his team beat the defending champions in the final of IPL 2012.

Gambhir-led spirited Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerges as the champions in the fifth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) after thrashing the two0time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 5 wicket on their home ground on Sunday night.

A once-in-a-lifetime innings of 89 off just 48 balls by Himachal Pradesh Ranji player Manvinder Bisla and an equally stirring 49-ball 69 by Jacques Kallis guided the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise to the title with a five-wicket win in the final.

Chasing a daunting task of 191 KKR lost their skipper and inform batsman in very first over of their innings’ but no body knows that it will be all-Bisla show later on, who was gracefully supported by veteran Jacques Kallis to lead their team to first ever IPL title.  

Manvinder Bisla took the charge after Gambhit fell to an in-cutter of Ben Hilfenhaus on the last ball of the first over. Bisla played an extraordinary innings to keep the required run rate under control at any point of time during their batting. He was very well supported by experienced Kallis. 

Continue reading and watch the photos of winning moments for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):

Cricket …. We Love You!

Historical Discovery: 3000-year-old ancient jewelry found near Megiddo, Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel (Sat, May 26) – Archaeologists have discovered a very rare trove of ancient jewelry near the ancient city of Megiddo in Northern Israel. The historical discovery will offer a rare glimpse into ancient Canaanite high society, said Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University, who co-directed the dig.

Historical Discovery: 3000-year-old ancient jewelry found near Megiddo, Israel

According to details; the 3000-year-old jewelry - including a ring, beads and earrings hidden in ceramic pot – was found during the excavations in 2010, but the pot containing the jewelry was left in a laboratory for molecular analysis of the things inside it.

The pot was cleaned up recently to find the real discovery inside it, the antique jewelry dating to around 1100 B.C., which is believed to be owned by a Canaanite family most probably from the ruling elite.

Tel Aviv University called the discovery "among the most valuable ever found from the Biblical period," adding that one piece in particular, a gold earring decorated with molded ibexes, or wild goats, is "without parallel."

Finkelstein said the jewelry likely belonged to a Canaanite family.

"We can guess that it was a rich family, probably belonging to the ruling elite," he said.

Aren Maeir, an archaeologist at Bar Ilan University, said that because the raw materials used come are not from the area, the find "tells us about international relations ... and about technical traditions used at the time."

Megiddo was an important trade center in ancient times. According to the New Testament, Megiddo will be the site of the final apocalyptic battle between good and evil.

Report Tags: Ancient Jewelry, Megiddo, 3000-year-old Jewelry, Israel Finkelstein, Tel Aviv University, Israel, 1100B.C. Jewelry, Canaanite family, Historical discovery

SpaceX Dragon Docking Updates: After getting closer, Dragon backed again

UPDATES: SpaceX is retreating back the Dragon Capsule. It is currently backing away from the ISS and the distance again widened to 250m. The Position will be maintained until new orders from NASA.

SpaceX Dragon Docking Updates: After getting closer, Dragon backed again

Reported earlier ….

The space cargo capsule of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (popularly known as SpaceX) is likely to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday (May 25).

Earlier, NASA reported that the SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo capsule eventually closed in on its destination, the International Space Station, for a series of tests Thursday to clear it for its final docking with ISS on Friday.

Continue reading

Watch Live: Dragon docking with ISS 

Sierra LaMar Search Updates: Teams using mobile technology to search the missing teen

Morgan Hill, Calif. (Fri, May 25) – It has been more than 70 days now the 15-year-old Sierra LaMar missing from a bus stop in California. No clues were found even after multiple extensive search campaigns participated by hundreds of volunteers.

Sierra LaMar Search Updates: Teams using mobile technology to search the missing teen

Now the search teams have decided to go-tech to find the teenager, who was last seen by her mother before leaving for school on 16 March in Morgan Hill, California. Search teams will use advanced mobile technology for a fruitful outcome.

These searchers have turned to technology to streamline the search process. The conventional "missing" poster has been revised with a QR code providing mobile-ready information about the teen, all of which can be simply shared over social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Police have identified Garcia Torres as a murder suspect in the case, while continuing their search for the LaMar's body. The DNA of Torres was linked to a folded stack of LaMar's clothing, which was discovered near the bus stop where she went missing.

The 21-year-old Torres is scheduled to be prosecuted on a murder charge in a court in the city of San Jose later on Thursday.

Sierra LaMar's family continues to search for her.

Report Tags: Sierra LaMar, Sierra LaMar Missing, Sierra LaMar Body, Sierra LaMar Killed, Sierra LaMar Murderer, Sierra LaMar Search, Garcia Torres, Morgan Hill, missing Teen