Rajapakse arrives in Delhi Wednesday, December 28, 2005 | AA
The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and his wife Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa were received by the Minister of State for External Affairs Shri E. Ahammed in New Delhi on December 27, 2005. They arrived here yesterday night on a four-day state visit, his first since he became the executive head of the island republic. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed received him at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Formal ceremonial reception will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, in the forecourt of Rashtrapathi Bhavan, where he is staying as the guest of Indian President APJ Kalam.
June R Sunday, December 18, 2005 | AY
Ad-maker turned director, Revathy Verma is all excited of her maiden movie, June R which is releasing this Pongal. The movie stars JYothika, Saritha and Kushboo in prominent roles. Suriya plays a cameo. The promos of June R are very slick and shining. It promises good entertainment. An emotional tale narrated in an entertaining manner is June R'.
Nokia to set up 675 Cr SEZ in Tamil Nadu Friday, December 16, 2005 | AY
The Tamil Nadu has approved mobile giant Nokia's Rs 675 crore plan to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu for manufacturing telecom equipments and mobile handsets. For this purpose, the company has agreed to acquire additional land so as to make it an SEZ. Nokia's set-up at Chennai is under construction and the company plans to start production in the first half of 2006. The Nokia project, a free trade warehouse with an aim to create a hub within the SEZ, will allow about 200 vendors of Nokia to park their products.The SEZs have attracted investments worth Rs 50,000 crore including a major chunk of FDI. Hence, the Government is on course to speed up notification of the rules to facilitate the establishment and functioning of the SEZs.
Operation Crush operates Doctors' purse Thursday, December 15, 2005 | AY
The medical fraternity of Chennai got a shock as it came under Income tax raids. In massive IT raids conducted in the city, many hospitals and residences of doctors were under seige and seized Rs 60 to 62 lakh in cash besides fixed deposits and other investments worth several crores. "The cash (Rs 60-62 lakh), bank balance and jewellery totalled about Rs two crore. We are yet to open and evaluate 15 lockers", IT Chief Commissioner and Director General, (Investigation), Santosh Datta, told reporters Code-named 'Operation Crush', the raids were a strong message to tax evaders, he said. "We are looking at tax evasion of more than Rs 10 crore," he added. Only 50 per cent of the feedback has so far been received from the raiding teams and the operation was likely to end by tomorrow morning only. Datta said the raids were conducted in a total of eight hospitals - six in Chennai and two at Kumbakonam - besides the offices and residences of 14 doctors.
Gates looks out for brilliant brains Monday, December 12, 2005 | AY
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates launched a talent hunt for India’s top student technologists which is aimed at pre-final and final year students. The best amongst the participants will get an opportunity to work with his Technical Assistants Team for a year. Registrations for the contest will start in January 2006 and students will be tested for their technical and analytical skills. They will also be interviewed by Microsoft technical teams. In Chennai, Gates inaugurated the first phase of an IT education programme to train teachers in rural Tamil Nadu through videoconferencing. In August, Microsoft Corp India and the Tamil Nadu School Education Department signed an agreement to train teachers by establishing and running an information technology academy in Chennai for a five-year period. Under the “Partners in Learning Programme”, groups of 40 teachers will receive 12 days of residential training over the next five years. Gates had a brief meeting with veteran politician Muthuval Karunanidhi discussing Tamil literature and the prospects of the world’s richest man investing in IT industries in Tamil Nadu. Gates evinced interest in didactic literature and Thirukkural, the Tamil compilation of verse and wanted to learn about Thiruvalluvar, who composed it over 2,000 years ago.
Tamilnadu expecting Fanoos Sunday, December 11, 2005 | AY
Chennai residents heaved a sigh of relief as the cyclone Fanoos passed off without anticipated rains. A weakened Fanoos, however, crossed into Tamil Nadu mid-coast at Vedaranyam bringing with it heavy and isolated showers across the coastal region. Educational institutions had declared a holiday in view of the rough weather in Trichirapalli, Tanjavur and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu and in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Meteorological department, however, warned of squally winds in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in the next 24 hours.
Jambavan Saturday, December 10, 2005 | AY
Prashanth is doing a movie which is titled, 'Jambavan’. In Ramayana, Jambavan is the one being fashioned by Rama to kill the 10 headed Ravana. The ‘Jambavan’ made by Nandakumar will also be as powerful and effective. Though the title of the film has been inspired by Ramayana, the heroines in the film have been inspired by the gopikas and Krishna. Like Krishna had Bama and Rukmni, Prashanth has 2 heroines in the film – Nila and Meghna Naidu. The highlight of the film is, Prashanth will appear in 3 different roles. A special make-up artist from Mumbai will give Prashanth his different looks.
Parijatham's music release Saturday, December 10, 2005 | AY
Smirthis Silver Screens is producing the film titled 'Parijatham' with K. Bhagyaraj as the producer. Prithviraj, the heart throb of Malayalam films is the hero in this film. Bhagyaraj’s daughter Saranya is doing her debut as heroine and Prithvi’s pair. The audio release of this film is to be held tomorrow.
Petrol Saturday, December 10, 2005 | AY
This is a new movie to be brought out by a new banner, Samarth Creations by producer Gopi Shastry. The director is A. Venkatesh, who has created Chocolate. Seema is the debut heroine acting opposite tried and tested Prashanth. Much of the shooting has taken place in and around Chennai, much of it is over, and the movie may be released shortly.
Amruthavarsha released Wednesday, December 7, 2005 | AY
Renowned Carnatic vocalist Sudha Ragunathan, launched 'Amruthavarsha', audio book and CD with 'Slokas on Ganapathi, Guru and Navagraha'. Reciting slokas in the right way with a proper understanding of their meaning will benefit body, mind and soul. The first copy of the CD was received by Kumararani Meena Muthiah, renowned educationist. Other celebrities present were Carnatic vocalist P Unnikrishnan and Thavil vidwan Valayapatti Malarvannan. The book and CD pack has vocals rendered by Uma Mohan, guitar by Sangeeth and recorded at Aalaya Studios, Chennai. Amruthavarsha is designed and produced for Pragnya by Pramod Shanker.
Vdarshan launched in Chennai Tuesday, December 6, 2005 | AY
'Vdarshan,' a marketing tool using visual technology, was launched by city-based Srushti Solutions and US-based Multi Vantage Media Productions (MVMP). 'Vdarshan' was an interactive imaging technology that could be viewed on a website or CD-ROM, offering viewers the facility of controlling the image at the click of a mouse. MVMP, started in 2001 to market the new technology to the multi-billion real estate market in the US, had taken the next step with its alliance with Shrushti, covering other products and spheres that included hospitality. 'Vdarshan' transcended still photography as it allowed the audience a seamless 360 degree visual environment that delivered a far more compelling experience than static images.
Chennai taking care of diabetes Monday, December 5, 2005 | AY
Chennai has plans to eradicate diabetes and diseases related to diabetes like amputations etc. Every year four million people across the globe get foot ulcer and one in every six people with diabetes develops a foot complication, according to doctors. People with diabetes are 40 times more likely to undergo lower leg amputation. DAPIC (Diabetes Amputation Prevention Initiative in the Community (DAPIC)" programme) aims to prevent diabetic foot amputations in Tamil Nadu's villages. A special pair of shoes designed by M.V. Hospital for Diabetes and Diabetes Research Centre is believed to be a boon in this disease. The Chinmaya Mission and the Tamil Nadu government are backing the DAPIC project, whose main focus is on foot care education.
More investments needed in the scientific field Sunday, December 4, 2005 | AY
T.V.Ramakrishnan, President of the Indian Academy of Science (IAS) and Professor at the Benaras Hindu University was commenting that the government and the industry needed to invest and encourage basic sciences more to promote "Science of Highest Order" which would help the country win the Nobel Prize. It is more than 76 years since a scientist of the country won the Nobel prize, though high quality science institutes and scientists exist in the country. But the Science of Highest order is very small. Though the country was strong in manpower in the field of science, its contribution to international science was just three per cent compared to 10 per cent by China, he said. The IAS and government should take the initiative and encourage pure science like they encouraged medicine and engineering.
Bhoomika replaces Asin Saturday, December 3, 2005 | AY
Asin has turned down the offer to star in Jillendru Oru Kaadhal and its cast of the Suriya and Jyotika remains. There is a news that Bhoomika Chawla will take the place of Asin. Bhoomika has acted in Badri and Rajakootam in Tamil and several Telugu movies including Yuvakudu, Kushi, Snahamante Ideraa, and others.
Musical extravagannza by NAB Saturday, December 3, 2005 | AY
In order to raise funds for its various programmes, the National Association of the Blind (NAB), Tamil Nadu unit, is organising a 'Musical evening' on December 9 here, in which an orchestra primarily comprising visually challenged musicians will be participating. 'Comagan's Ragapriya', the music troupe promoted by Kollywood's only visually challenged music director M C Comagan, would give the performance. NAB is presently giving vocational training to about 70 persons. Comagan, who was also present, said he had started the music troupe in 1991 with 18 visually challenged musicians and the troupe had conducted 1,515 programmes.
Heavy rains spoil the match Saturday, December 3, 2005 | AY
Heavy rains washed out the opening day's play in the first test between India and Sri Lanka on Friday. India's one-dayer against South Africa a fortnight ago was also washed out. Sri Lanka is touring India for a test series after an unusually long period of eight years. They are yet to win a test in India from five previous trips. Cyclone Bazz, which is now centred 250 km east off Chennai, as a depression is likely to move in a west northwesterly direction and cross the coast between Chennai and Ongole by Friday night.
