USA-Insects/Cuisine -- California restaurant brings insects on menu

 China Central Television (CCTV) - A restaurant featuring Asian-style cuisines in California, the United States, brings insects into its dishes, with many customers keeping coming back to enjoy the flavor.

Dishes like stir-fried crickets, ants and fried scorpions are served here.

"The menu pretty much has most countries represented in Asia. There's Malaysia, there's Thai, there's Vietnamese, there's Burmese, Chinese, Singapore," said Brian Vidor, owner of the Typhoon restaurant.

Brian Vidor spent 15 years in Asia where he was introduced to the crawling-type of cuisine, and ever since then he's been trying to introduce it to the western palate.

"The scorpions come out of Paso Robles. We stir-fry them and we put them on shrimp toast, which is how it was served when I was in Singapore," said Brian Vidor.

While the dishes may be challenging for some customers who have never tasted food like this, some others are a bit more receptive to silk worm larvae and cricket stirfry.

"If you like little, tiny, sharp French-fries, they are great. And the crickets they got wings and eyes. I would compare them probably to fried shrimp," said Gery Moret, a customer in the restaurant.

"Insects are a great source of protein. Crab, shellfish, or lobster, well those are just swimming insects. They got in that saltwater and learned to adapt," said Steven Rosenberg, owner of Health Food Store.

Perhaps something western cultures can do when it comes to eating such nutritious, abundant and green food source.

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The Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum presents a book highlighting the artist's famed Rockefeller Center "Man at the Crossroads" mural, which was destroyed months after Rivera started painting it and before it was even finished.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 13, 2013) (REUTERS) -  A book about Mexican artist Diego Rivera's mural, "Man at the Crossroads," which was painted at the Rockefeller Center in New York and later destroyed, was unveiled in Mexico City on Monday (May 13).

The book traces Rivera's tumultuous ties with the Rockefeller family, which commissioned the "Man at the Crossroads" for the Rockefeller Center, which was under construction at the time.

But in 1934, the family ordered the destruction of the work-in-progress after Rivera refused to withdraw an image of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, according to exhibit documents. Rivera's relationship with Moscow originated from his 1927-1928 sojourn in the Soviet Union.

The book tackles themes such as why capitalist tycoons would hire an openly communist painter and why Rivera would agree to paint a mural at the Rockefeller Center.

Photographer and curator, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, said Rivera intended create political propaganda.

"They say there were another two artists, Picasso and Matisse, competing to do the mural at the Rockefeller Center. Diego moved because undoubtedly it (project) interested him. Not because he could go and work in the soul of capitalism, as he himself said, but because he had a clear intention of doing propaganda. That was clear for him. He had already spent eight months in the Soviet Union and had a political vision," he said.

The book's writer, Javier Aranda, said Rivera intended to look to the future with his mural.

"What Diego is constantly doing in Mexico is re-interpreting our past. When he reaches the United States, Diego does not look to the past but to the future. TheUnited States is the capitalist country he sees as the preliminary step before reaching socialism or communism and that's why he goes mad in many many ways with the industry, machinery and we had not been soaked in reference with that painting by Diego, which is known in the United States, and its recovery of the past."

The Director of the Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum, Carlos Phillips Olmedo, said the doomed mural marked the end of Rivera's career in the United States.

"This is where his painting of murals in the United States comes to an end because of his problem with Mr. Rockefeller. There is a very intimate relationship between what Diego does in the United States in the 1930s and the breaking-off with the Rockefeller family and in fact with the plastic arts in the United States."

Nevertheless Rivera did paint other murals in the United States. While he was inMoscow he met and established a relationship with Alfred Barr, who was the first director of MOMA when it opened in 1929.

It was Barr who invited Rivera to paint the murals at MOMA, which was then housed at a different location from its present site.

Honeymooners and tourists from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf are beating the scorching summer heat by keeping cool at Dubai's ice cafe.

 DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (MAY 12, 2013) (REUTERS) -  It's well-known for its high summer temperatures and iconic landmarks.

At the Chillout ice lounge, sub-zero temperatures not only keep the tourists cool, but prevent the ice sculptures of Dubai's best-known landmarks from melting.

"This country is known for its really hot weather, so to have a place made of ice like this is a really nice and unique idea," said Chillout's Hani Fanoos.

Visitors are supplied with thermal jackets, boots and fur hats as they enter the cafe, which holds its temperature at a constant minus six degrees Celsius.

Fanoos said most visitors came from Gulf countries which, with their traditionally hot and arid climates, never experience snow or ice.

And the sculptures don't stay the same for too long, he said.

"Every year, especially during the month of Ramadan when we are closed, we do new ice carvings, come up with new ideas and new ice sculptures as well," said Fanoos.

Chillout first opened its doors in 2007. Visitors pay 60 dirhams ($16) for a 40- minute visit and one hot drink.

"It is a different atmosphere here, frankly, and it is well worth another visit," said Turki Khaled from Saudi Arabia.

It is not just the sculptures that are frozen. Everything from the chandeliers and paintings, to the tables, chairs and plates, and even the menu, are all carved out of ice.

For one Saudi family, it was the first time they had come across such a concept.

"An (ice) cafe that you can sit and have a coffee in is a new idea that doesn't exist anywhere else in the Arab world, I don't think," said Janna Aref.

Her daughter Yara was one of the children enjoying the novelty of feeling cold.

"It's nice because I have always wanted to come to a place that was frozen and to see what it's like to be in the cold," she said.

As well providing visitors with warm clothes, the cafe also covers its frozen seats with fur and treats the floor to prevent slipping.

Owners say the ice lounge attracts around 100 visitors a day.

Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson touched down in Malaysia after serving as an AirAsia flight attendant, fulfilling a wager he lost two years ago to Malaysia'sTony Fernandes.

IN AIR (MAY 12, 2013) (AIR ASIA HANDOUT) - Serving drinks and giving the in-flight safety demonstration, Richard Branson fulfilled a bet he lost to Tony Fernandes two years ago on Sunday (May 12).

"We are having a good laugh. I think I've honoured my side of the bet. And I'm delighted that Tony is reciprocated by going to space, and we've raised money for charity, so we've had a fun day," Branson said during the five and half hour flight.

The event came after the two airline bosses, Fernandes of AirAsia and Branson ofVirgin Group, entered Formula One in 2010 with their own teams. Fernandes bet his Lotus Racing team would do better in their debut season than the Virgin Racing team with the loser dressing up as an female flight attendant and serving on the rival airline.

Fernandes won as his Team Lotus finished 10th in the constructors' championship to Virgin Racing's 12th.

Branson, whose airlines include Virgin Atlantic, is no longer involved in Formula One with the Virgin team now competing as Marussia Racing, while Fernandes's team has since been renamed Caterham F1.

Fernandes has pledged to Branson that he will be one of the first few passengers on Virgin Galactic's first commercial space flight.

To prepare for his debut as a stewardess, Branson had his legs shaved the night before in Perth as part of the bet.

Speaking to media after touching down at Malaysia's low cost carrier terminal in Sepang, Branson said he had great fun serving in the charity flight from Perth.

"Thanks to Tony and thanks to my delightful crew for being such great sports today, for teaching us how to serve food, how to walk properly, how to look beautiful and how to drop a tray on Tony's lap," said Branson.

When asked about Branson's performance, Fernandes was not satisfied, especially after being drenched by a cup of orange juice during the flight.

"Rubbish. Basically out of ten maybe one for a bit of humour," said the AirAsia chief, who later told Branson he was fired.

"It was a great honour to spend a day as an air stewardess for one of their flights," responded Branson. "I realise that I am now fired, and I am going to go back into civilian clothes and go back to my day job. I always wanted to be an air hostess but it looks like I have to get back to normality."

Money raised from a portion of the tickets sold for the flight will go to the Starlight Foundation, an organisation that helps brighten the lives of hospitalised and seriously ill children and their families in Australia.

AirAsia estimate the special flight will raise around 200 thousand Australian dollars (about 200,000 U.S dollars).

Big and beautiful - Pretoria-based Ouma Tema identified a gap in the plus-size clothes market and created her own label, Plus Fab - to dress the bigger, curvier woman.

 PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (REUTERS) -  Plus Fab, a fashion line catering for big women in South Africa is bringing plus size to the catwalk and changing stereotypes in the fashion world to show that fashionable is not always skinny.

The 29-year-old says her frustration was shared by many big women. She recently launched a winter line of garments that she described as easy to cross over from work to cocktail, to rave reviews in the capital, Pretoria.

Tema says she hopes to empower other big women to embrace and celebrate their size through her fashion line.

"I'm not relying on magazines to tell me what's hot, I'm relying on myself and my own self worth to know what's hot and what's not. And this is also to show that we plus-size woman nothing about us without us if you want to be seen, if you want to be recognised and you realise that we are plus and fabulous. This is, initiatives like these are there to actually showcase that in one day they will grow and become bigger and reach the greater parts of the world," she said.

Weight and questions of what constitutes a healthy and attractive body image have been flashpoints in fashion for years.

Countries like Italy and India banned underweight models from the catwalk as part of an effort to promote a healthier image of beauty.

Guests at the Plus-Fab show said seeing weighty women strut with confidence and wearing flattering garments was enlightening.

"The show was really nice honestly, I learned a lot that plus woman can also look beautiful," said Rodney Modise.

The plus size women attending the launch said they liked what they saw.

"I think what Ouma is trying to say that you know what, I am big, I am a thick madame, I am voluptuous, I have a bit of meat here and there but I love it, it's who I am. I don't wanna stress myself getting on a diet or anything but its who I am I feel very comfortable about it then what the hell I'm happy about it, " said one guest Lebo Butholo.

"I think what Ouma is trying to say that you know what, I am big, I am a thick madame, I am voluptuous, I have a bit of meat here and there but I love it, it's who I am. I don't wanna stress myself getting on a diet or anything but its who I am I feel very comfortable about it then what the hell I'm happy about it, " added another guest, Tumi Komapi.

Many in the industry have praised Tema for championing a fashion line that highlights the idea that beauty comes in different sizes.

Plus Fab's popularity has grown since its inception and the label's clothes are increasingly being featured in local style and fashion magazines.

Make-Up artist, Nina Shembe worked with Tema and some models during a recent photo shoot.

"Beauty for me, I think it's just when a woman can carry herself, that's beauty to me you know. Its not defined by the amount of make-up that somebody putts on, if you just confident in your skin and the way you look, that's what I believe in," said Shembe.

Plus Fab recently launched it's first online store to cater to growing demand, some of which comes from social media platforms like Facebook.

"I call them confidence pictures, its a confidence picture where you can look at yourself and look how pretty and gorgeous you look and believe that you are plus and fabulous. This is my little gift, my therapeutic gift to all the pluses woman that agreed to come and model for us, so every year we do this gown shot because we believe that yes we are "I am plus fabulous," she said.

Tema hopes to expand her business to markets outside South Africa.

Sixty-five-year-old Brazilian woman is named this year's Most Beautiful in elderly beauty contest.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (MAY 9, 2013) (REUTERS) -  Sixty-five year old Brazilian Irenilda de Oliveira Meneses proved it's never too late to be a beauty queen as she was crowned Sao Paulo's most beautiful elderly woman on Thursday (May 9).

This year's youngest contestant was 60, the oldest 87.

Organizer Anilton Guedes, from Paulista Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, spoke about the event as a way for the ladies to keep their irons in the fire.

"The most important thing is to for the ladies to feel like they are taking part in life. Life hasn't stopped for them. They are still in the game. If they don't have a boyfriend, they are looking for one. They are still on the path, strong and firm," said Guedes.

Over 200 candidates signed up for the competition, but only 25 were selected to compete on Thursday.

The event, in its 10th edition, appears to be growing in popularity as enrolee numbers were up 67 percent from two years previous in 2011.

At 87, Maria Helena Fernandes was this year's oldest contestant but she said the competition makes her feel youthful.

"I think like this. We have to to take advantage of life as much as we can, with our health, happiness. Today I am way too happy to be here. I feel like a twenty year old girl," said Fernandes.

Contestants dressed up twice in their finest gowns, modelling before the judges and a supportive and joyful crowd.

Organizers gave out awards for best smile, congeniality, elegance, beauty, and even shyest.

This year's victor, 65-year-old Irenilda de Oliveira, was thoroughly surprised by the honour.

"We came out here to dance, to have fun, to parade around, and we succeeded. [Winning] it's a really emotional. Very emotional. I am so swept away I am without words. I am still without words," said Meneses.

Nicknamed "Barbie" by her friends, Meneses is a married mother of two who also has two grandsons.

French luxury house Chanel presents its first runway show in Asia, with models displaying the new Cruise collection in Singapore.

SINGAPORE (MAY 9, 2013) (REUTERS) -  Models clad in Chanel's new Cruise collection for 2013/14 stomped down the runway in Singapore on Thursday (May 9), the first time an Asian city has played host to the French luxury house.

Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld said Asia is now the place to be.

"Asia is the future of the world. I mean, this part of the world has more future than the Old World," he said.

The venue for the show was an old military barracks, chosen for its black and white colonial style architecture.

Model Cara Delevigne said she was impressed by the venue's history.

"Oh my god, completely. I mean, to be able to do a show in this city is unbelievable, it's so cool. And I think there's definitely a difference, I mean, while we were doing it today in the military base, there's definitely a feel for it, completely," she said.

Lagerfeld said this is his first time coming to Singapore for Chanel, adding that the last time he's been to the city state was 25 years ago.

Pakistan's legendary cricketer has emerged as a rising political force, and the nation's sympathies may have been cemented by a tumble during his campaign.

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (MAY 7, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) -  When Imran Khan tumbled spectacularly off a mechanical lift at an election rally this week, a frenzy of media coverage erupted, the last thing Pakistan's mainstream parties needed as they fend off a spoiler threatening to up-end the political order.

It could end up holding the balance of power if there is no clear-cut winner among the two main parties, as seems likely.

Charismatic and - despite his 60 years - still athletic and craggily handsome, a jump in popularity has now brought Khan the political break he craved for so long.

"I have done whatever I could do for my country. I have not given favour to anyone. Allah has given me so much that it was my responsibility to do something for my nation. Now all I want is for all of us to try to do our best to change our lives," Khan said from his hospital bed as he recovered from injuries sustained during his tumble.

Opinion polls have shown Khan's PTI trailing Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in Punjab province, which - with 183 of the national assembly's 342 seats - is the key to power.

The PTI may also struggle to beat the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which presided for the past five years over a near-failed economy and was widely castigated for allowing the country's Taliban insurgency to spiral out of control.

However, the media's sympathetic coverage of Khan's election-rally accident - including a TV interview from his hospital bed that was set to stirring music - could sway voters seduced by the prospect of a third force in a political landscape so long dominated by the PML-N and PPP.

"In my entire life I have not seen a more honest, more principled, braver or more just person than Imran Khan, at least among the leaders of Pakistan," said cricket fan Abdul Jaleel, speaking outside the hospital where Khan was being treated.

"The sort of questions he asked us, the instructions he gave us, surprised all of us. Here we had come to ask about his health and he was giving us instructions about the campaign," said senior member of the PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Khan cracked a rib in the accident and his doctor said he would not be out of hospital on time to vote on Saturday.

"The party has benefited from Imran Khan's fall. They have gained sympathies," said trader Sabir Hussain.

Pakistan's most famous cricketer and perhaps its best-known playboy, Oxfordgraduate Khan captained his country to its only cricket World Cup victory in 1992. As a philanthropist, he built a cancer hospital and aided victims of a flood disaster in 2010.

Missoni fashion house founder Ottavio Missoni dies at the age of 92.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 24, 25, 2003)  (REUTERS) -  Italian fashion designer Ottavio Missoni, famous for his zig-zag patterns and the first to put bra-less models on the catwalk, died on Thursday (May 09) aged 92, a spokeswoman for the family said.

The one-time Olympic hurdler founded his fashion empire with his wife Rosita.

Rosita was 16, going on 17, a shy Italian girl in London to improve her English. He was 27, a tall, strappingly handsome member of the Italian 400 metres hurdles team at the games where the world was trying to put the devastation of war behind it.

Speaking to Reuters in May 2012, the then 91-year-old Ottavio said: "I got to the 1948 Olympics after five years of absolute inactivity, and that is truly a record," explaining he had been fighting on the Italian side in the Battle of El Alemein before being captured by the British and held for four years in Egypt.

"It wasn't exactly a Club Med type of environment ideal for training," he said, laughing as he leaned back on a Missoni pillow.

"I was ..." And, like most couples who have been together for a lifetime, Rosita finished her husband's thought: "He likes to make fun saying that he was a guest of the Queen of Britain".

In 1948, much of Italy was still recovering from the war's devastation; the Marshall Plan to rebuild the country was in its teething phase and for many, the LondonOlympics offered a badly need chance to cheer national athletes.

Few people had televisions in their homes. Most watched the Games in bars and store windows or on news reels in cinemas.

"Those were beautiful Olympic Games because everything was natural and spontaneous, not like now, when everything is inflated, blown out of proportion," said Ottavio.

After she first saw him run at Wembley, Rosita and her school mates were invited to lunch with the Italian athletes in Brighton.

They married in 1953 and set up a small workshop making track suits in Gallarate, near Rosita's home village, and later moved on to knitwear, presenting their first collection in Milan in 1958 at the dawn of what was to become known as Italy's economic miracle.

"We sought to break the rules ... we lived in very favourable times because it was the beginning of what then came to be called Pret-a-Porter," Rosita said.

"High fashion was declining and there was this new thing, Ready-to-Wear, that was kicking off and we found ourselves in this situation in the early 1960s. With our ten years of experience, we knew what we wanted to do and tried to find our own way," she said.

Today, the company Ottavio and Rosita founded on a shoestring, has become a fashion dynasty run by their children Luca, Angela and Vittorio and some grandchildren.

Based in the northern Italian village of Sumirago and within sight of Monte Rosa, or pink mountain, Switzerland's highest peak, the company employs about 250 people and in 2011 had revenue of more than 150 million euros ($197.60 million).

Their oldest son, Vittorio, is believed to have died in January when a small plane that was also carrying his wife and four others disappeared off the coast ofVenezuela while they were on holiday.

Kate Moss is never naked without St. Tropez as new face and body of the brand. The ultimate icon wearing the ultimate tan.

 LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM  (BESPOKE BANTER) -  St.Tropez, the iconic and leading global self-tan brand today announces the appointment of Kate Moss as the new face and body of the brand.

Kate says of her new signing: 'I'm so excited to be working with St.Tropez. I've been using the products since they started and it's a really trustworthy, cool brand. I always feel more confident with a St.Tropez tan!"

Michelle Feeney, CEO of PZ Cussons Beauty, owners of St.Tropez, said: 'We're absolutely thrilled that Kate Moss has

chosen to work with us on our new campaign: it gives us the ultimate stamp of approval on the quality of our products. Kate epitomises St.Tropez's naturally glamorous approach to self-tanning and is a long-time advocate of the brand. As a global beauty brand with a heritage in tanning, St.Tropez is now in 18 countries and women from Rio to L.A are seeking the benefits of safe tanning. Kate's fashion icon status is important to us but now her growing number of beauty campaigns proves that her appeal as a beauty icon resonates with confident women across all age groups globally. Not only is she beautiful but she has this amazing attitude. St.Tropez is about confidence."

Featuring Kate Moss wearing the ultimate tan - the campaign's strapline - the iconic images, inspired by the high glamour associated with pool-side summers, will be seen in global print and online advertising and in-store from the summer.

St.Tropez's social media campaign will kick-start global participation by encouraging women to tweet when they're #OFFTOSTTROPEZ for the ultimate tan. St.Tropez will be enhancing tweeters' ultimate tans by sending them suitably

riviera-chic content and prizes. One follower and a friend will even be sent on holiday #OFFTOSTTROPEZ.

For fashion and beauty fans wanting to get the 'Kate Tan' as seen in the campaign,Nichola Joss, St.Tropez Global Tanning and Skin-Finishing Expert, advises:

"Skin-finishing and tanning has become part of our regular beauty regime and St.Tropez products offer incredible versatility, taking you from beach to party, summer to winter. To achieve Kate's pool-side bronze for the shoot, the St.Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse applied with a St.Tropez Applicator Mitt gives a natural looking, streak-free result with a flawless finish. St.Tropez Powder Bronzer perfects the look with a beautiful contoured effect and enhances the natural shape of Kate's body.'

MARKET CONTACTS INFORMATION:

UK

Emma Krause

PZ Cussons Beauty

14 Upper St. Martin's Lane

Covent Garden

LONDON WC2H 9FB

Tel: +44(0)20 7257 2456

Mobile: +44(0)750 7682623

Emma.krause@pzcussonsbeauty.com

US

Danielle Levine│VP

BOLD PR

171 Madison Avenue, Suite 1502

New York, NY 10016

Tel: +1 646.214.5727 x110

Cell: +1 617.548.8144

Danielle@boldpr.com

Mia Mendez

Account Manager

MHA Media

5150 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 200

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Tel: +1 323.461.1100

Cell: +1 562.631.8126

mmendez@mhamedia.com

Canada

Audrey Hyams Romoff

OverCat Communications

84 Avenue Road

Toronto ON M5R 2H2

Tel: +1 416.966.9970 ext. 222

Cell: +1 647.223.9970

ahromoff@overcatcommunications.com

Germany

Lillian Cathrin Lorenz

Rheincom PR

PARKALLEE 72

D-20144 HAMBURG

GERMANY

Tel: +49 40 432136 18

Mobile: +49 170 4794823

Lilian.lorenz@rheincom.de

Poland

Iwona Buks

PRIMUM Public Relations

8 Widok St., 00-023 Warsaw

Tel: + 48 22 690 67 50

Mobile: +48 506 428 201

i.buks@primum.pl

Sweden

Carol Chen

Polhem PR

Sveavägen 31, 1 tr

111 34 Stockholm

Tel: + 46 08-20 32 27

carol@polhem.com

Australia

Sarah Humphries

SHA PR

15b Rosebery Avenue, Rosebery 2018

Tel: +61 2 9662 2604

Mobile: +61 0415 044 837

sarah@shapr.com.au

Finland

Suvi-Marja Kunnari

Polhem PR

Pohjoisesplanadi 35Ab, 00100 Helsinki, Finland

Tel +358 9 260 0014

E-mail: suvi@polhem.com

Norway:

Hanne Westgaard

Beauty Products Norway AS

E: Hanne@beautyproducts.no

T: +47 23191000

Brazil

Fernando Levy

fernando@ferrazmoda.com

+ 55 11 99261-1305

Ireland

Caroline Kennedy 086 2449805

Rachel McGuinness 086 2675171

Ckennedy@kennedypr.ie

Rmcguinness@kennedypr.ie

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