BEIJING: Caving to public pressure, Beijing environmental authorities started releasing more detailed air quality data Saturday that may better reflect how bad the Chinese capital's air pollution is. But one expert says measurements from the first day were low compared with data U.S. officials have been collecting for years. The initial measurements were low on a day where you could see blue sky. After a week of smothering smog, the skies over the city were being cleared by a north wind. The readings of PM2.5 — particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size or about 1/30th the av...
Published On: 2012-01-22

PHILIPSBURG: Laura Dekker set a steady foot aboard a dock in St. Maarten on Saturday, ending a yearlong voyage aboard a sailboat named "Guppy" that apparently made her the youngest person ever to sail alone around the globe, though her trip was interrupted at several points. Dozens of people jumped and cheered as Dekker waved, wept and then walked across the dock accompanied by her mother, father, sister and grandparents, who had greeted her at sea earlier. Dekker arrived in St. Maarten after struggling against high seas and heavy winds on a final, 41-day leg from Cape Town, South ...
Published On: 2012-01-22

KATHMANDU: How many beauty parlours have you noticed along the alleys of Kathmandu? How many have you visited? In addition, how many have you avoided? Maybe there are only a few parlours you prefer after many trials and errors, and after facing many problems instead of getting quality services from them! Beauty parlours are mushrooming, however not all are capable of ensuring quality service to the customers. While the services of satisfying the customers, most of them lack quality as there is no proper monitoring of these parlours and saloons in case of Nepal. Unapologetic and unskilled be...
Published On: 2012-01-21

KATHMANDU: Every artist has his/ her personal feelings and emotions that may differ from others. This uniqueness in feeling makes the artists different from each other . Krishna Lama is one such artist who creates a distinct form of art. In most of his artworks, Lama projects himself as a central figure and expresses himself. One can find unique artworks of Lama at the painting exhibition ‘Dissolving’, which started at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal from January 20. Lines, elongated skeleton of human body, blooming flowers are some the common elements in his work of art. Lines in h...
Published On: 2012-01-21

LONDON: A “seductive and sexually charged” Francis Bacon portrait is expected to fetch about £18m when it goes on sale next month. The Portrait Of Henrietta Moraes is the highlight of an auction of post war and contemporary art at Christie’s in central London on February 14. The painting, which dates from 1963, has been owned by a private collector for almost 30 years. Francis Outred, Christie’s head of postwar and contemporary art, Europe, said, “Searing with raw colour and texture, Portrait Of Henrietta Moraes is one of the most seductive and sexually c...
Published On: 2012-01-21

KATHMANDU: Mithila Kala is one of the traditional art form practised by the women living in Janakpur where women capture the natural beauty, way of living in the society and more in their painting whose main purpose is to decorate their house. Moving ahead of tradition, Jit Bahadhur Rayamajhi, an eminent male artist has been capturing every aspect of Mithila Kala and mixing it with contemporary art, whose works are being showcased from January 19 at Arniko Art Gallery, Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Naxal at exhibition called ‘Sandesh/Message’ organised by NAFA. Total 77 paint...
Published On: 2012-01-21

KATHMANDU: Entering the Garden of Dreams at Thamel on January 21, you could witness a family celebration ‘Ktm Family Fair’ where the children along with their parents and guardians were enjoying in lots of fun-filled activities. Passing the main entrance and walking through another entrance, you could see the creativities of small children on your both sides. These children seemed busy making play dough, origami and more. Eleven- year old Ngawang Doma who was making things out of colourful play dough, shared, “I am making burger and potato chips out of play dough. I am rea...
Published On: 2012-01-21

KATHMANDU: Chinese cuisine with its unique aroma, colour and delicious taste can easily grab attention of food lovers. And the good news is, the Chinese menu will be revised that will make your taste buds go crazy and tasting it once, won’t be enough. In an exclusive press lunch at Hotel de 1 Annapurna, Arniko Room on January 20, some of the added Chinese cuisines were introduced. Despite all this, why revise the menu? “The main idea is to break the monotony of the regular dishes and what better time to introduce it other than on the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 23,&r...
Published On: 2012-01-21

KATHMANDU: The ambience of The Corner Bar of Radisson Hotel at Lazimpat was filled with Hindi and Nepali old and contemporary ghazals performed by Gantabya Quartet, a Nepali band where their performance created a peaceful and soothing environment on January 20. While heading towards the bar you could instantly feel the welcoming atmosphere from the entrance where a lady clad in saree welcomes you with a smile. The guests at the premises were enjoying good food and drinks accompanied by meaningful lyrics of ghazal. Aptly put the event was named Ghazal Night, Hindi ghazals like Jindagi ke raha...
Published On: 2012-01-21

KATHMANDU: If one trend catches up in the Capital, everyone will be clad in that attire. It can be annoying seeing people dressed up like you, but there is a reason for that. For instance, leggings, almost everyone wears it. Keeping aside the complaints, no one can blame them, as firstly, it is very comfortable and secondly the market is flooded with it. Of course now it is not only leggings, there are treggings (trouser leggings) and jeggings as well. But the question is where can you find some nice, different and affordable ones? You cannot spend your entire day scurrying around to get t...
Published On: 2012-01-21