The shocking truth about Katrina's face!

Well it seems the trends have caught up and the men are now equally conscious about how they look, especially as they get older.

There was a time when men would scoff at women who went to great lengths to maintain their physical appearance. 

Well it seems the trends have caught up and the men are now equally conscious about how they look, especially as they get older. Some call it the “metrosexual” era while others ignore its existence. Either way, you cannot deny that more and more men are turning to Botox and the count just keeps increasing.

For the uninitiated, Botox is a type of toxin that doctors inject into a person’s face to paralyze muscles that cause the appearance of wrinkles. Once injected, the muscle cannot be used but the skin appears smooth and lifted. So, before you decide to go for it, you must weigh its pros and cons and then figure if this is really something you want.

12 Great Churches in Europe

Europe is a destination for churches, cathedrals and castles. Be it a small hamlet or a big city, churches are key landmarks in both old and new towns and they tell many a story. Weathering political events, wars, natural disasters, and the passage of time, these churches are not just symbols of cities, but they reflect the architecture and the atmosphere of the times. Discover some of Europe’s finest churches: 

Westminster Abbey, London, UK You cannot visit London and not go to Westminster Abbey, where most of the royalty have been crowned, married and buried. A Gothic monument, it is referred as the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster. Legend has it that the church that dates back to the 7th century was built on the site earlier known as Thorn Island. A fisherman named Aldrich saw a vision of St Peter from the Thames River, which prompted the tradition of fishermen gifting the Abbey salmon caught in the river. The church, which was rebuilt in the 11th century by Edward the Confessor, was again constructed in the present form by Henry III in the 13th century. 

 

Notre Dame De Paris, France Standing tall and basking in the evening light, this 12th century Gothic cathedral lies on the Ile De La Cite, an island in the Siene in Paris. The church, which houses religious relics, has about 390 steps on top that take you across spiral staircases from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Paris.

Notre Dame De Paris, France Standing tall and basking in the evening light, this 12th century Gothic cathedral lies on the Ile De La Cite, an island in the Siene in Paris. The church, which houses religious relics, has about 390 steps on top that take you across spiral staircases from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Paris.

 

Basilica De Sacre Coeur, Paris, France One of the most beautiful and serene churches in Paris, the basilica is built atop the Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Besides enriching the skyline of the city, this white monument looks stunning against the blue sky. It is built of travertine, a form of limestone that lends the colour to the monument. One can walk up to the top of the dome for a view of Paris.

High Cathedral of St Peter, Cologne, Germany The most towering landmark of Cologne in Germany is the 13th century World Heritage Site that was virtually left midway through construction during medieval times. This Gothic church with the largest façade in the world was left unfinished in the 15th century. Work restarted after almost 400 years in the 19th century. Although the city was completely damaged during World War II, the cathedral did not collapse at all. Climb up the cathedral and enjoy the spectacular view of the Rhine that flows beside it.  

St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican, Italy I was just awestruck looking at the Papal Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican. As you enter St Peter’s Square, the iconic dome stands out in the spree of monuments. One of the largest and most sacred of all churches in the world, the architecture is of Renaissance and it has been designed by a slew of architects, including Michelangelo. It is believed to be built above the tomb of St Peter’s and is also the burial site of the First Bishop of Rome. 

St Peter’s Church, Vienna Inspired by the design of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican, this 18th century Baroque Roman Catholic church is referred to as Peterkirche. It was one of the first monuments that I saw in the beautiful city of Vienna, filled with churches, cathedrals and castles, the dome sparkling in the light. There was a Roman church built on this site during the medieval era and it was believed to be the oldest in the city. It was replaced by another Romanesque church, attributed to Emperor Charlemagne, which was burned down in the 17th century.  

St Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna An entire square is named after the impressive cathedral that graces the centre of Vienna. We got off at Stephanplatz to visit Stephandom, one of the tallest churches, that is also the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. As the sun sets, the 350-feet-tall spire shines, radiating a glow in the evening light while the multicoloured tile roof catches your attention. The church, built of limestone in a fusion of Romanesque and Gothic styles, was constructed on the ruins of a medieval monument. The cathedral was protected from destruction from German armies during World War II, when one of their captains refused to accept an order to demolish it. The church is today not just a landmark but one of the symbols of the city.  

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain Sagrada Familia is unlike any other basilica I have seen in the world. It has been under construction since 1882. Designed by maverick architect Antoni Gaudi, this masterpiece is a living monument and a testimony to the architect’s style. It is is one of the key landmarks of Barcelona. The Nativity Façade, which shows images from Christ’s birth, has the architectural stamp of Gaudi in its symbolism. It represents Christmas and is referred to as the Façade of Life. It is a fusion of Gothic and Art Nouveau. While many debate over the style and the ornate design of the monument, Sagrada Familia continues to be built with donations from people even after 130 years. 

 

Segovia Cathedral, Spain I chanced upon the Segovia Cathedral after a sumptuous dinner at Plaza Mayor. Dedicated to Virgin Mary, the cathedral stood glowing in gold, lit under the night sky. We came back to visit it the following day and learnt that the original cathedral was built next to the Fortress, the Alcazar, but was reduced to ruins in a war. Built in Gothic style in the 16th century, the church is one of the key landmarks of the city, apart from the fortress. 

Convent of St Theresa, Avila, Spain In Avila, a city walled almost on all sides, I walk into a small shrine built on the home of the famous saint, St Theresa. The 17th century convent, built after her canonisation, is largely closed to the public but opens its doors to tourists who want to visit St Theresa’s chapel inside the Baroque church. We see scenes from her life, besides her relics – a finger from her right hand, rosary beads and other personal effects. 

St Mary’s Church, Krakow, Poland Built in red brick with a wooden altar, the 14th century church rebuilt in Gothic style stands in the heart of Krakow and was built on the ruins of an earlier church, which was destroyed in a war. The church is characterised by two tall towers, a legend that refers to two brothers who built the church; one was murdered by the other due to jealousy. We wait near the Main Market Square to hear the trumpet played from atop the taller tower, a tradition that continues every day. The tradition, referred to as Hejnal Mariacki, is the playing of a Krakow anthem as a tribute to the 13th century bugler who was killed during a war when he tried to warn the people. 

St Mary’s Church, Gdansk, Poland One of the largest brick churches in the world with a capacity to hold 25,000 people, this 14th century church is located in the Main Town and it seems rather different from the rest of the churches I have seen. The white walls and the many large windows reflecting the sunlight give it a rather arresting look, while the sculptures glow in the light. The church took almost two centuries to complete and has been used by both Catholics and Protestants during the Reformation. It was damaged extensively during World War II. As you walk along the 30 chapels looking at various pieces of art adorning it, one cannot but help look at the large astronomical clock that grabs your attention. 

Muslim panchayat bans cell-phone use by girls

Jaipur, Jan 10 (IANS) After the khaps in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim community panchayat in Rajasthan Thursday banned girls from using cell-phones and also from dancing and singing at weddings, ostensibly in an effort to prevent incidents like Delhi gang-rape.

Boys and girls have also been prohibited from marrying someone against the wishes of their families or someone from a different community, panchayat members said Thursday.

The restrictions have been imposed on the Muslim community members at Salumbar town in Udaipur district, some 400 km from Jaipur, by the Anjuman Muslim Panchayat, a minority community council.

The community panchayats called khaps in Haryana's Rohtak and Jind districts and western Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat and Muzaffarnagar districts had imposed similar restrictions on young girls and married women last year.

"We have decided to ban the girls from carrying and using cell phones. The decision was taken with a view that cell phones are spoiling girls," panchayat secretary Habibur Rahman told reporters.

He said that a slew of measures has been taken to ensure safety of girls belonging to the community in the area.

"The girls would not be allowed to dance and sing during wedding functions. A couple cannot get married against the wishes of their family members," said the panchayat secretary.

He added that punitive action will be taken against girls who are found ignoring the panchayat edicts.

"If a couple runs away from house to get married, they will be ostracised and a cash fine of Rs.51,000 will be imposed on them. Fine of Rs.51,000 has also been decided for those who marry someone from a different community," said the secretary.

He added that panchayat decisions have been communicated to all members of the community in the town.

A wild safari in Bandipur

Bandipur, one of India’s finest tiger reserves, offers much to the discerning wildlife enthusiast. If you keep your senses on high alert and your camera at the ready, many are the precious opportunities that will come your way. Bandipur is about 80 km from Mysore (about 230 km from Bangalore). Accommodation is available at the forest guest houses inside the park as well as at the government-run Jungle Lodges and Resorts hotel just outside the park gates.
Rajani Chand is a Bangalore-based nature lover and wildlife photographer. He started with a Canon Fixed Focus Film Compact in his school days, slowly moved to Sony DSC-P100 when Digital Photography started making an impact, and then upgraded to Sony DSC-H1. His first DSLR was Nikon D-40x. He now uses a Nikon D-300S, one of the most robust Nikon cameras used in wildlife photography.

Grey Francolin
This was our first sighting of wildlife as we reached our camping site at JLR, Bandipur. A couple of these birds were feeding on grain on the roadside. Francolins are shy by nature and this was the only decent shot I could make. They became alert as I stopped the car slowly and, before I could make a second shot, they hid in the bushes.

Male Chital or Spotted Deer
Spotted Deer are a common sighting in Bandipur. Not many know that the name Chital came from the Bengali word “chitral”, which means spotted.

Green Bee Eater
The first day, deep within the forest. No sighting of wild animals for a long time. We waited for about 45 minutes to an hour at spots where there was a high probability of seeing big cats but no luck. It was then this beautiful bird came near our jeep and sat on a log. It is a common resident in the outskirts of Bangalore city. But I felt it was posing for me and didn’t want to disappoint.

Sambar Deer

According to our guide, Sambar deer is the favorite prey of the tiger.

Indian Gaur

People mistakenly refer to this large bovid as Indian Bison, when it is in reality the Indian Gaur, the largest wild member of the ox family in India.

Hiding behind Mom

The title says it all!

Tiger finding its way to the lake

Such a majestic animal! The moment it was spotted everyone in the jeep whispered “Tiger!” and there was a deep silence the next moment. No one could tear his or her eyes away from him.

Chital with decorated antlers

Male chitals decorate antlers with grass and leaves to attract females during the mating season.

Chitals testing power

This is a mock fight between young, male chitals to test power.

Male leopard

Leopards are shy animals. This one gave us just a few seconds to shoot. It was crossing the mud road and paused there for a few seconds looking at us. Alas, I wasn't able to make a decent shot of it. The next moment it dashed into the bushes and climbed to the next level of inclination and sat on this safe lookout, still looking deep into our eyes, very much alert. A few more seconds and he just vanished into the forest. The lighting wasn't helpful and it was a pain to focus through the bushes. 

I’m coming!
I loved the expression and every single movement of his body when he entered the scene, ending a long wait.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Tiger on diet?

This is not manipulated by post processing. Spot-billed Ducks were fearless and swimming very close to the carnivore. A tiger kills only for food and hunts about 53 times a year on average, which is about once a week. Every kill is a result of 10 to 20 trials. Once it kills it will feed on the prey for a week.

Male tiger

We spotted him as he was enjoying the natural jacuzzi in the forest. He hardly minded a few humans admiring his beauty just a few meters from him.

Changeable Hawk Eagle with kill
After the last safari of the sequence we were coming out of the jungle and crossed the place where the leopard was spotted the previous day. Suddenly, I saw this big bird on a tree next to the mud road. Its crest was visible and I whispered to the driver to stop. As I started focusing on the bird I realized there was a bonus – the bird was with a kill!

Perdaman seeks A$3.5 bln in damages from ICICI in coal case

REUTERS Australia's Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers sought to widen its legal battle against Lanco Infratech over a stalled coal-to-urea project by launching a A$3.5 billion damage claim against ICICI Bank, the lender to Lanco's Griffin Coal unit.

Perdaman filed its application in federal court in Perth, Australia, on January 2, the company said in an email on Thursday.

Lanco called Perdaman's move a "desperate attempt" and said ICICI Bank had no contractual relationship with the Australian company. It said the case has not yet been admitted by the court.

Perdaman filed a lawsuit against Lanco in 2011 in the Supreme Court of Western Australia seeking compensation of A$3.5 billion for breach of a coal supply agreement. Lanco termed Perdaman's claims baseless and said in its statement on Thursday that it expected the case to be decided in its favour shortly.

Shares of ICICI, India's No.2 lender, fell as much as 1.63 percent in early trade in a flat Mumbai market. They pared losses to trade down 0.8 percent, at 1,171 rupees at 8:13 GMT.

A Bank of America-Merrill Lynch analyst said in a note to clients he did not expect the lawsuit to have "any material impact" on ICICI shares.

ICICI officials declined to comment.

Lanco Infratech acquired Griffin Coal Mining Co in 2011.