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Tuesday, January 05, 2010 BEIJING: Harbin, the capital of China's now-frozen northeastern Heilongjiang province is holding its annual International Ice and Snow Festival. It opens on Tuesday, but some visitors couldn't wait to enjoy the Disney-themed ice park. Locals and tourists are already enjoying glittering ice sculptures, and braving temperatures way below zero in a Disney world. The Ice Show takes up residence in a central park each year. Minnie, Mickey and other characters from the popular franchise are accompanied by fairyland towers and castles. Tunnels, rooms and even slides are all made entirely out of ice. Huge chunks are cut from the Songhua River, and chiseled into translucent sculptures. Colored lights set inside create what the Chinese call ice lanterns. A Jilin tourist said, "It's very exciting. One of the most exciting cities in the east and I've never come before. It's my first time seeing so many beautiful ice sculptures and lant...

Tuesday, January 05, 2010 ROME: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini defended Tuesday the use of full-body scanners to boost airport security against complaints that they invade privacy, saying the need for safety was paramount. Some airports are bringing in the scanners, which can see through clothing, after a Nigerian was able to smuggle explosive chemicals onto a US plane on Christmas Day but was stopped from detonating them by fellow passengers. "It is the most reliable instrument," Frattini said in an interview on Radio 24. The scanners could even detect "if a terrorist has swallowed a capsule full of explosives and could become a human bomb", which would escape a metal detector, he said. Even if the scanners meant a "sacrifice" for passengers' privacy, the "right to security is essential for all other freedoms," the minister said. Privacy is an inviolable right but if a person "does not have the confidence to take a...

Tuesday, January 05, 2010 BEIJING: Twenty-seven workers were trapped following a fire in a coalmine in central China on Tuesday afternoon, state media reported, citing a local official. The accident occurred at the Lisheng mine in the city of Xiangtan in Hunan province, the official told local news agency, adding that rescuers were searching for the miners. The government and provincial work safety board have launched an investigation into the incident.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010 BEIJING: Twenty-seven workers were trapped following a fire in a coalmine in central China on Tuesday afternoon, state media reported, citing a local official. The accident occurred at the Lisheng mine in the city of Xiangtan in Hunan province, the official told local news agency, adding that rescuers were searching for the miners. The government and provincial work safety board have launched an investigation into the incident.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010 NEW DELHI: With temperatures dipping below normal and snowfall witnessed in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh and the Kashmir valley, the normal life was disturbed for the fourth consecutive day and over 125 deaths were reported from across the country. Around 40 deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh during the last twenty-four hours. Eight people died in Bihar and two deaths were reported from Haryana. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered all schools to be closed for three days from today in view of the cold. In Punjab, all schools have been closed till January 8 due to cold. The officials of the Meteorological department said that the cold waves have swept Himachal Pradesh due to heavy snowfall in the upper reaches. In Uttarakhand, rains and snowfall intensified the cold conditions affecting normal life. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.6 degree Celsius, while morning mist reduced visibility to 1,000 meters, but there was...

 Tuesday, January 05, 2010 SYDNEY: Pakistan took full control of the second Test match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground when their bowlers grabbed eight wickets of Australia’s second innings on Tuesday. Australia were reeling at 286 for eight when the play ended on the third day of the five-day match. Michael Hussey, who came at number four is still at the crease struggling on 73. The other batsman is tail-ender Peter Siddle (10 not out). Pakistan need only two wickets to go for chasing an expected easy target to beat Australia at their own ground. Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria captured four wickets for 117 runs while seamer Umar Gul claimed three for 62. Fast bowler Mohammad Asif took one wicket while Mohammad Sami could not get any wicket. Earlier, openers Shane Watson and Phill Hughes provided a solid start of 105 after Pakistan were all out for 333 with an impressive lead of 206 runs. Australia were 86 for no loss at lunch but lost three wickets in the second session...