Batu 'terapung' di India

 
BATU gergasi dikenali sebagai Krishna's Butter Ball merupakan satu fenomena unik yang boleh ditemui di bandar Mahabalipuram di selatan India.

Menurut Amusing Planet, batu yang mempunyai ukuran ketinggian melebihi 10 meter dengan diameter melebihi lima meter ini terletak di lereng sebuah bukit dan menjadi tarikan bagi penduduk dan pelancong asing.

Jika dilihat pada mata kasar, batu gergasi ini sudah pasti bergolek ke bawah namun ia tetap kekal pada kedudukan asal selama ratusan tahun.

Masyarakat tempatan percaya batu tersebut dihasilkan daripada mentega, namun ada juga yang menganggap batu berkenaan dihasilkan oleh makhluk asing.

Apa pun, batu yang turut dikenali sebagai Vaan Irai Kal oleh penduduk tempatan ini benar-benar satu fenomena alam yang menakjubkan. -

Roman's temple to football: Chelsea submit planning application

• Chelsea submit planning application for 60,000-capacity redevelopment of Stamford Bridge
• Premier League champions confirm plans will be submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham council
• The club hope the new stadium can be completed by 2020 at a cost of £600million
• But some football fans ridiculed the design, likening it to an egg slicer, a colander and even a Slinky toy 

Chelsea's planning application for a new 60,000-seat ground, on the site of Stamford Bridge, has revealed the full scale of what will be the country's most ambitious stadium build yet.

On Tuesday, 160 documents were published featuring images of the Blues' planned new home, with work on the £600million-plus, three-year project expected to be signed off in the summer.

Provided they get the necessary backing in the now-launched consultation period, Chelsea could begin life at a revamped Stamford Bridge on the first day of the 2020-2021 season. 

However, the new design hasn't gone down well with all football fans, with some claiming the stadium will look like a colander, a Slinky toy or an egg slicer. 

Chelsea have submitted a planning application for their new 60,000-seat stadium at Stamford Bridge which they hope to open in 2020

The Barclays Premier League champions have consulted neighbours over the redevelopment of their west London home

Chelsea will move out of Stamford Bridge for three years while work is undertaken on their ground, which will include brick columns

Chelsea could begin life in their new home on the first day of the 2020-2021 season should they receive the necessary backing 

Some Twitter users ridiculed the design, with the new stadium being likened to a Slinky toy, an egg slicer and a colander 

Roman Abramovich's design team, spearheaded by Herzog & de Meuron – most famous for their work on Bayern Munich's incredible Allianz Arena and the beautiful Beijing Bird's Nest – have produced a new 60,000-capacity ground that draws Westminster Abbey among its influences.

The stands will have the same names so fans can stay in their favoured place. This is because at two public exhibitions to showcase the plans, which drew a 93 per cent approval rate, the most common question fans asked stadium planners was where their seat would be.

Methods of keeping the neighbours onside will also be explored with apprentice schemes to learn building skills during construction and ensuring minimum disruption by employing Keltbray, the firm who are painstakingly bringing down Earls Court Exhibition Centre brick by brick.

And there is further good news for supporters, with one of Stamford Bridge’s defining features – the stands’ close proximity to the pitch – being maintained.

The Chelsea fans’ closeness to the action is seen as the top redeeming aspect of the atmosphere at SW6, and the new ground sees seats placed as little as 7.2metres from the players.

  

The South Terrace and Britannia Entrance of today (top) compared to images of how Stamford Bridge may look by 2020

The redevelopment will see the current ground demolished, along with the surrounding hotels, restaurants and health centre

The planning application was submitted by Abramovich's Fordstam company on November 19, Hammersmith and Fulham council said.

Two images of how Stamford Bridge could look with a yellow outline showing the current shape of Chelsea's stadium 

HOW THE REVAMP ROLLS OUT

October 2016-October 2017 (Phase One)

Construction of rafting over the railway lines behind the East Stand and Matthew Harding Stand begins.

Both Stamford Bridge hotels, a range of bars and restaurants and the Stamford Bridge Health Club are demolished.

May 2017

Chelsea play their last game at Stamford Bridge as it stands, leaving for three years to facilitate the rebuild.

June 2017-September 2018 (Phase Two)

The old Stamford Bridge is demolished. Digging down to accommodate the height of the new stadium begins.

July 2018-October 2019 (Phase Three)

Stadium is constructed from scratch

December 2018-July 2020 (Phase Four)

Fitting out of the surrounding area is completed, with a restaurant/café included on-site along with a new club shop and museum.

August 2020

Chelsea return to play at a 60,000-capacity Stamford Bridge for the first time.

As seen in the images from the application, the main construction feature on the new ground will be the 264 brick columns that surround it, with glass connecting each one to provide the structure of the roof and walls of the stadium.

Decorative metal will run across the glass to provide the silvery-effect seen in some images, providing a cathedral-colosseum look to the new ground.

The number of hospitality seats available will almost double from 4,628 to 8,969 with those paying top dollar occupying the East and West sides of the middle tier, and the East side of the upper tier.

Away fans will continue to be seated in the Shed End but with their following being split across the three tiers similar to the system at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

A statement on the club's official website confirmed plans had be submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham council, and consultation is now open until January 8 next year.

'A planning application for a new stadium at Stamford Bridge with an expanded seating capacity has been submitted,' Chelsea’s statement read.

'This follows a successful consultation process during which we received very helpful feedback.

'This application will now be examined by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.'

Provided permission is given, work will start at the end of this season with the building of expanded access from the current stadium's rear to Fulham Broadway station through the building of slats over the railway lines behind the East Stand and Matthew Harding Stand.

Chelsea would then be forced to vacate their home for a full demolition of the site in 2017, playing away from the ground that has hosted them for 110 years for a three-year period.

During construction, Chelsea will consider having a resident hawk scout across the Stamford Bridge site on a daily basis to prevent 'nuisance birds' from taking up residence as the stadium is rebuilt.

Workers will dig down to reduce the height of the stadium, which will appear vastly bigger than the current structure but will, in fact, not be taller than now.

Wembley Stadium is Chelsea’s expected temporary destination with talks already at an advanced stage, although Tottenham Hotspur also have eyes on the National Stadium.

A mooted move to Rugby HQ at Twickenham would struggle to get off the ground with residents’ concerns and Chelsea are confident that they are close to signing off a deal at the stadium they last visited for this season’s Community Shield.

After three years at Wembley, Chelsea will then move back at the turn of the new decade with existing season-ticket holders to be offered identical seats to their current ones, but in a ground built almost entirely from scratch. 

Blue supporters will be allowed to keep their old seat positions from Stamford Bridge if they wish

The stadium redevelopment is being entirely financed by Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich

Sportsmail revealed earlier this year that the Barclays Premier League champions would need to take Wembley at a reduced capacity, with a loophole allowing them to house 50,000 spectators on a regular basis.

Wembley is limited to 37 'major' events each year but occasions that do not utilise the 40,000-capacity top tier of the ground are not considered ‘major’. With appropriate planning, the Blues could even open up the upper tier for games with enough demand for tickets.

Back at Stamford Bridge, the redevelopment will see the surrounding hotels, restaurants and health centre knocked down before work on demolition and then construction of the new stadium begins.

A club shop and museum will be rebuilt, alongside a new area touted as a ‘restaurant/cafe’ that could be utilised as a bar for supporters on matchdays.

Those wishing to comment on the application have until Friday January 8, 2016, to submit their observations to Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Feedback on consultation so far has been positive and it looks unlikely that Chelsea will find many roadblocks to their plans.

Abramovich's design team, spearheaded by Herzog & de Meuron – most famous for their work on Bayern Munich's incredible Allianz Arena

Premier League rivals Chelsea and Tottenham both want to use Wembley while their own stadiums are being redeveloped

Stormageddon! Photographer captures incredible scenes as Brisbane is struck with more than 107,000 bolts of lightning

• On Sunday night Brisbane became the latest city to be hit by stunning thunderstorms that lit up the night sky
• One man was struck by lightning during the ferocious storms that rained down on Queensland’s southeast 
• Similar wild weather battered New South Wales and Victoria earlier this month as the freakish conditions continued

The freakish weather in Australia continued on Sunday night when Brisbane became the latest city to be hit by stunning thunderstorms that lit up the night sky.

It was more like a scene from War of the Worlds as the lightning rained down onto the city in amazing flashes of colour.

The Courier Mail reported that during the ferocious storms in Queensland’s southeast a man was struck by lightning, while another man was electrocuted after being hit by fallen power lines.

Australia has been experiencing freak weather in recent weeks and lightning was seen spectacularly flashing east of Kangaroo Point in Brisbane on Sunday night 

It was like a scene from War of the Worlds as one man was struck by lightning during the ferocious storms in Queensland’s southeast

More storms like this are forecast for the Summer months. On Sunday roads were blocked for hours by fallen trees and power lines after the spectacular storms in Brisbane

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a long hot summer ahead with more powerful thunderstorms on the menu in the coming months.

On Sunday Energex stated that 107,000 lightning strikes were sighted in parts of Queensland's southeast. 

Ipswich, which is 40km west of Brisbane, was particularly badly hit and there was significant damage in the area. 

'Trees went through roofs, walls and fences were blown over and roads were blocked for hours by fallen trees and power lines after the storm,” he said in a statement on Monday,' Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully said.

'This storm closed in quickly and is a sign of a long, hot, wet summer.' 

Wild weather hit both Sydney and Melbourne earlier this month as the freakish conditions continued

Thunderstorms have already rained down on parts of New South Wales and Victoria in November

Hailstones the size of eggs fell to earth in the suburbs of Rocklea, Acacia Ridge, Archerfield and Corinda, the Bureau of Meteorology reported.

Warwick police constable Ian Buckmaster said that wind gusts were recorded in Ipswich in excess of 125km/h.

'It’s probably the worst wind I would have experienced. It was quite freaky,'  he told the ABC.

This is just the latest in wild weather and dynamic storms that also battered Sydney and Melbourne a fortnight ago. 

Thunderstorms hit parts of New South Wales and Victoria. Sydney was lashed with storms and heavy rain with temperatures hovering around a humid 26 degrees.   

Extreme weather warnings were issued then for western New South Wales, as damaging winds and large hail stones rained down. 

Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones, which affected the likes of Mildura, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Melbourne, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.

The wild storms are the latest in a line to batter Australian cities recently, with both Melbourne's famed horse racing 'Oaks Day' drenched and Sydney also being hit by a rare 'tsunami cloud' in the first week of November. 

Sydney had storms and heavy rain at the start of November with a temperature of a humid 26 degrees

 

There have also been thunderstorms in central Queensland during November 

A storm moved in over Allianz Stadium in Sydney ahead of the round 5 A-League match between Sydney FC and the Brisbane Roar

A massive 'tsunami cloud' rolls into Sydney during a wild storm in the first week of November

 

Severe weather warnings were issued in parts of New South Wales and Victoria ahead of the extreme conditions two weeks ago 

The wild storms are the latest in a line to batter Australian cities recently, with Sydney being hit by a rare 'tsunami cloud' 

Car Wars: Bugatti reveals new Chiron that could take the title for the world’s fastest car

• Chiron will make its debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March
• It is said to be capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in just 2.3 seconds
• Also rumoured to have a top speed of 288mph, 20mph quicker than Veyron 

The Bugatti Veyron is set to be eclipsed by its eagerly anticipated successor.

The French car manufacturer has confirmed its new car will be called the Bugatti Chiron in honour of legendary race car driver Louis Chiron.

While technical details are sparse, Bugatti claims it will be the 'world's most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car.'

The Bugatti Veyron is set to be eclipsed by its eagerly anticipated successor; The Bugatti Chiron. It claims it will be the 'world's most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car', and although its design is still secret, it is expected to look similar to this car created by the firm for the Gran Turismo computer game.

This suggests the Chiron will make more power than the 1,500-horsepower Koenigsegg Regera.

KEY FACTS: THE BUGATTI CHIRON

Maximum power 1500bhp

Torque target 1106lb ft

Projected top speed 288mph

0-60mph 2 seconds 

Cost: $2.5 million  

The 2016 Regera is set to be able to accelerate to its top speed of 248 mph in less than 20 seconds - faster that any other production car in history. 

It claims to be able to do 0-60 in 2.8 seconds

However, currently, the Veyron is the world's fastest street-legal production car, reaching 0-60mph in only 2.5 seconds. 

Selling for around $1.5 million (£1.4 million), Bugatti only made 450 of the exclusive model which was named by Top Gear as 'car of the decade'. 

Rumours suggest the Chiron will be capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in just 2.3 seconds, with a top speed of 288mph - more than 20mph quicker than the Veyron.

Rumours suggest the Chiron will be capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in just 2.3 seconds, with a top speed of 288mph - more than 20mph quicker than the Veyron

The Chiron will have be a quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 with torque output at around 1,106 lb-ft. The car will is expected to cost in the region of $2.5 million.

Bugatti claims that it has already taken 100 orders for the new car.

Chiron is now undergoing final testing in various locations around the world. 

In May, a disguised Bugatti Chiron was spotted undergoing testing on a German road.

The video - from Audo Bild TV - showed two prototypes travelling alongside a Veyron Super Sport and a BMW i8. 

The Bugatti Chiron will make its official debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March next year. 

The French car manufacturer has confirmed its new car will be called the Bugatti Chiron in honour of race car driver Louis Chiron (right).  It will make more power than the 1,500-horsepower Koenigsegg Regera (left)

In May, a disguised Bugatti Chiron was spotted undergoing testing on a German road. The clip shows two prototypes of the new Bugatti supercar - which will become the fastest car in the world

It is thought the new Bugatti will be called the Chiron and have a breathtaking top speed of 288mph 

Currently, the Veyron is the world's fastest street-legal production car, reaching 0-60mph in only 2.5 seconds

World's biggest tower gets the go ahead: Saudi developer secures funds to complete $2bn Jeddah City 3,280ft skyscraper

• Previously dubbed 'Kingdom Tower', 170-storey tower rise more than 1km
• Will surpass Dubai's Burj Khalifa as the world's highest building

The Saudi developer behind plans for the world's tallest building said Sunday it had secured financing to complete the record-breaking project.

Kingdom Holding Co, chaired by billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, said its affiliate Jeddah Economic Company had reached a more than $2 billion (1.9 billion euro) financing deal with Saudi Arabia's Alinma Investment to finish the Jeddah Tower in the Red Sea city.

Previously dubbed 'Kingdom Tower', the 170-storey building is to rise more than a kilometre (almost 3,300 feet), surpassing Dubai's Burj Khalifa as the world's highest building.

Previously dubbed 'Kingdom Tower', the 170-storey building is to rise more than a kilometre (almost 3,300 feet), surpassing Dubai's Burj Khalifa as the world's highest building. Left, a computer generated image of how it will look, and right, a model unveiled as the deal was announced.

Costs for the project had previously been estimated at 4.6 billion riyals ($1.2 billion).

The Burj Khalifa, by comparison, stands at 2,716 feet. New York City's Freedom Tower, currently the fifth tallest in the world, is dwarf-like at 1,792 feet. 

'Alinma Bank will finance the fund, to be managed by Alinma Investment, while Jeddah Economic Company will be the master developer of projects that will draw on the fund's credit lines,' the statement said.

The 8.4 billion riyal ($2.24 billion) fund, compliant with Islamic sharia law, will also be used to develop the first phase of Jeddah Economic City, an urban project surrounding the tower in the Obhur area north of Jeddah, the statement said.

Alwaleed said a year ago that the tower, which will feature a hotel, apartments and offices, was slated for completion in 2018.

The Burj Khalifa, by comparison, stands at 2,716 feet. New York City's Freedom Tower, currently the fifth tallest in the world, is dwarf-like at 1,792 feet.

At that time the four-storey foundations of the building were finished and Alwaleed said 'now we are on the verge of building a floor every four days'.

That pace would have put the skyscraper at around 90 floors now, but the statement on Sunday said it is 'currently at its 26th floor'.

Mounib Hammoud, chief executive officer of Jeddah Economic Company, said he expects the project to be finished on time 'now that the agreement has been signed and required funds secured'.

The tower will feature a stunning viewing deck allowing visitors to walk around an 'air park'

'The overall layout of Jeddah Economic City is designed to accommodate a comprehensive, multipurpose environment, replete with aspects of a modern lifestyle over its 5.3 square kilometers, supported by world-class, state-of-the-art infrastructures.

'The first phase, to be constructed over 1.5 square kilometers, will accommodate more than 3.3 million square meters of modern, multipurpose structures, which will form the nucleus of northern Jeddah's downtown, bolstering the city's standing in the world.'

Alwaleed said 'now we are on the verge of building a floor every four days'.

Saudi Arabia's billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal speaks to reporters during a press conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on July 1, 2015 ©Fayez Nureldine (AFP/File)

Corrupt Hong Kong billionaire spends £50MILLION on two diamonds for his seven-year-old daughter… and names them after her

• Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau purchased both the diamonds at auction
• He spent £50million over two days at the Christie's and Sotheby's sales
• Both diamonds were then renamed after his daughter, 7, and gifted to her
• The pink diamond, graded the elite 'vivid fancy' was bought for £18million
• One day later, he smashed records by purchasing a rare blue diamond
• The massive £32million rock became the most expensive jewel ever sold

If diamonds are a girl's best friend then Josephine Lau is a very popular young lady.  

Her Hong Kong businessman father has just splashed out £50million on two recording-breaking diamonds - and gifted both of them to his little princess.

Joseph Lau's office confirmed this week that the real estate investor - worth an estimated £6.5billion - went on the extraordinary spending spree over two days at back-to-back jewellery auctions in Geneva.

It also confirmed that the two eye-popping diamonds were both presents for his seven-year-old daughter and that he renamed them 'The Sweet Josephine' and 'The Blue Moon of Josephine' in her honor. 

But perhaps even more fortunate for Josephine is that her father remains a free man after being convicted of corruption in a Macau court last year and sentenced to more than five years - a punishment he has swerved by avoiding travel to the former Portuguese colony.

Ranked by Forbes as the 114th richest man in the world, Joseph Lau is famous for his big spending and has splashed out to the tune of £50million on lucky seven-year-old daughter Josephine (both pictured in 2012)

Diamonds are Josephine's best friends: Daddy and daughter smile for the camera three years ago. No doubt Josephine will be smiling even more now that she's got the best bling in the playground

Joseph Lau (pictured), a billionaire Hong Kong real estate investor, spent £50million on the two record-breaking diamonds this week at back-to-back auctions in Geneva

Josephine (pictured left and right) appears to be a big fan of child singing sensation Connie Talbot. Connie, from the West Midlands, rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the final of the first series of Britain's Got Talent show. The pair are seen here during Connie's World Asia Tour in 2014

The large blue diamond (pictured) became the most expensive piece of jewellery ever sold after Lau bought it for £32million and promptly renamed it 'The Blue Moon of Josephine' after his seven-year-old daughter

The previous day, Lau had purchased this rare pink diamond for £18million. It too was a gift to his daughter which he renamed 'The Sweet Josephine' in her honor

Josephine is his daughter with girlfriend and former aid Chan Hoi-wan, according to local media. 

Ranked by Forbes as the world's 114th richest man, Lau, 64, also has two children with long-time partner Yvonne Lui.

And it's not the first time Josephine has been on the receiving end of her father's generosity. At a Sotheby's Geneva auction In 2009, Lau bought another blue diamond, paying a then-record £13million for the 7.03 carat which he promptly named 'Star of Josephine'.

He bought the first diamond, a rare pink stone weighing 16.08-carats and graded vivid fancy pink, for a record price of £18m after a bidding war at a Christie's auction.

It was the largest and most expensive diamond classed in the elite 'fancy vivid' category to ever go to auction.

The following day his team then crossed town to rival auctioneers Sotheby's with their sights on the 12.03-carat 'Blue Moon' diamond - possibly the largest known blue fancy vivid diamond ever found.

Discovered in South Africa last year, Lau smashed world records for the gemstone by paying £32million after a tense 30-bid auction lasting eight minutes.

Described by experts as 'internally flawless', it is the most expensive diamond of any colour and most expensive jewel ever sold.

The Blue Moon - so-called in reference to its rarity, playing off the expression 'once in a blue moon' - topped the previous record of $46.2 million set five years ago by the Graff Pink, Sotheby's said.

The diamond also set a new record of more than $4 million per carat, capping the daylong high-end jewelry sale that reaped roughly $140 million. 

Joseph Lau is pictured here in 2014 leaving a restaurant with girlfriend and mother of Josephine,  Chan Hoi-wan. Lau is a property developer who was convicted in 2014 at a Macau court on corruption charges and sentenced to more than five years. He has remained free by avoiding travel to the former Portuguese colony

Number One Fan: Josephine's dreams come true during Connie Talbot's 2014 tour as she sang with and posed alongside her idol. Part of the young British singing sensation's tour was hosted at the Windsor shopping mall in Hong Kong, owned by Josephine's father Joseph

The 12.03 carat gemstone, dubbed The Blue Moon Diamond, was bought after a tense eight-minute showdown in Geneva, with a total of 30 bids

It was given the highest possible grading, Fancy Vivid Blue, after being declared internally flawless by the Gemological Institute of America 

The 64-year old is a self-made millionaire who built up an astonishing property empire as the owner of Chinese Estates. 

Ranked as the 6th richest person in Hong Kong, he is famous for his lavish spending.

He is among one of the first people to own a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for private use, is said to have a red wine collection of comprising 10,000 bottles and regularly pays eye-watering amounts of money for rare pieces of art.

Lau and his girlfriend Chan Hoi-wan are pictured here leaving a restaurant in Hong Kong last year

Lau bought the first diamond, a rare pink stone (pictured) weighing 16.08-carats and graded vivid fancy pink, for a record price of £18m after a bidding war at a Christie's auction

The diamond is believed to be the most expensive pink diamond of the elite 'vivid fancy' category ever sold

David Bennett, the auctioneer, said: 'Tonight we set a new world record, a new auction record for any diamond, any jewel, any gemstone, with the sale of the Blue Moon Diamond.

'For me, the blue moon was always the blue diamond of my career. I have never seen a more beautiful stone. The shape, the color, the purity - it's a magical stone.'

The polished blue gem was cut from a 29.6-carat diamond discovered last year in South Africa's Cullinan mine, which also yielded the 530-carat Star of Africa blue diamond that is part of the British crown jewels, and the Smithsonian Institution's 'Blue Heart' discovered in 1908.

Then a 29.62-carat rough diamond, it was bought by New York-based Cora International which spent six months cutting and polishing the Blue Moon. 

Sotheby's says experts took five months for an 'intense study' of the original Blue Moon diamond, and a master cutter took another three months to craft, cut and polish the stone.

The auction house said in a video that the Cullinan mine was the 'only reliable source in the world for blue diamonds,' and only a tiny percentage of those found in it contain even a trace of blue.