Kerala news, Art, Culture and Tourism

The Emirates EK385 flight, with 481 passengers on board makes emergency landing at Hyderabad airport

2011-10-23T02:35:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad, Oct 23 (IANS) The world's largest airplane Airbus A380 made an emergency landing at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport near here Sunday due to a technical snag, an airport official said.

The Emirates EK385 flight, with 481 passengers on board, was on its way from Bangkok to Dubai. 'The aircraft landed with 481 passengers safely at 3.40 a.m.,' an airport spokesman told IANS.

The pilot cited a technical snag as the reason for making the emergency landing at the airport in Shamshabad, around 20 km from Hyderabad.

The aircraft first approached the Chennai airport but did not get clearance for landing as the runway was busy. The pilot then contacted Air Traffic Control at Shamshabad and got the clearance to land.

The Emirates was making arrangements to accommodate the passengers on its Hyderabad-Dubai flights, including a special flight.

An official said that out of 481 passengers, 80 left for Dubai by regular Emirates flight EK527 Hyderabad-Dubai at 10.20 a.m.

Some passengers will be sent by a special flight at 11.20 a.m. and the remaining by the regular Hyderabad-Dubai flight in the evening.

Airbus engineers from the company's headquarters in Toulouse, France, are rushing to Hyderabad to attend to the technical snag. This is the second time that A380 has landed at Hyderabad.

During the civil aviation exhibition in October 2008, the aircraft had landed at Begumpet Airport, the old airport in the city.

The aircraft, with a seating capacity of 525, then landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, marking the first landing of the super-jumbo at India's first Code F compliant airport -- equipped to receive larger aircraft.

GITEX Shopper officially opened by His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

2011-10-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

GITEX Shopper was officially opened today by His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The much anticipated shopping event is the largest consumer IT and electronics show in the Middle East and runs until Saturday 15 October at the Airport Expo Dubai.

Excited visitors packed the three halls on the first day of the show, taking advantage of the fantastic deals on over 25,000 different gadgets and consumer electronics from the 160 participating retailers and brands. Shoppers snapped up deals for smart phones, the newest slim laptops, digital cameras and a broad spectrum of the latest electronic gadgets. Day one saw visitors enjoying the fun festival atmosphere at the event, with music, entertainment and a host of competitions to reward lucky shoppers.

“We are honoured to have H.H Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially open the show today and lend his support to GITEX Shopper. In today’s fast-changing technologically driven world GITEX Shopper offers the ideal platform for keeping abreast of the world’s new launches, top trends and innovative advances. Our exhibitors have put together an unbeatable range of products and special offers and visitors to the show will not be disappointed,” said Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of GITEX Shopper.

GITEX Shopper 2011 has attracted some of the biggest names in technology including Bose, Dell, Epson, Greensound, Hewlett-Packard, HTC, Intel, JVC, Lenovo, Nakamichi, Nokia, Panasonic, RIM–Blackberry, Samsung, SanDisk, Toshiba and Western Digital.

“GITEX Shopper presents us with the perfect platform to offer our consumers a personal experience. It is a key opportunity for consumers to interact with the full range of HP products while receiving in-depth information and expert advice on our latest innovations and how they can be used. GITEX Shopper is an opportunity for everyone to benefit - consumers, retailers and tech providers,” said Salim Ziade, HP PSG General Manager.

Top regional distributors and power retailers CompuME, du, E4U, E-City, EMAX, Etisalat, Geekay Games, iSTYLE, Jacky’s Electronics, Jumbo Electronics, Plug-Ins, Sharaf DG and Virgin Megastore add to the stellar line-up of exhibitors.

“GITEX Shopper has always been a great way to reach consumers belonging to diverse demographic groups. This year, Emax is all set to bring customers great deals on electronics, including those that have just recently arrived in the market. Emax represents more than 300 brands, with over 100,000 products across 20 plus categories. We have also been named a UAE Superbrand this year. Living up to expectations, we have decided to occupy a larger area at the show featuring unbeatable offers on photography, audio, IT, mobiles, accessories and video, among many,” said Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax.

GITEX Shopper 2011 will take place from 8 – 15 October 2011. The show is open from 11:00am – 10:00pm from Saturday 8 to Wednesday 12 October; from 11am – 11pm on Thursday 13 and Saturday 15 October; and from 3pm – 11pm on Friday 14 October.

Tickets are priced at AED 30 per person and are available at the venue and online through Time Out Tickets and select ENOC/EPPCO outlets. Entry is free for children under the age of five.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba passes away

2011-04-23T23:16:00.000-07:00

Puttaparthi: Spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba died at the Sathya Sai super speciality hospital at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district today.
Doctors said he died at 7.40 am of cardio-respiratory failure. The 84-year-old was admitted to hospital on March 28 with breathing and heart problems.
His condition since Thursday morning had been described as "very critical" by doctors attending to him. Most of his organs were not responding to treatment. The condition of his liver and his low blood pressure were causing concern, they had said.

As doctors announced his death, they appealed to people to be calm and not rush to hospital. Security has been tightened in the area. All roads leading to the hospital have been blocked and shops have been ordered to close at Puttaparthi.
Godman to some, miracle-man to others and revered as God by lakhs of his followers, Sathya Sai Baba had the rich, famous and powerful from the world of politics, business, films and sport flocking to his doorstep in Puttaparthi, the small Andhra Pradesh village that he made internationally famous.

Born on 23 November 1926 in a modest family in Puttaparthi, Satyanarayana Raju declared himself a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba at the age of 14. From then on his devotees and admirers only grew in numbers over the years.

Though a few controversies did cast shadows on Sai Baba's image and critics have been skeptical about claims that he would produce holy ash, golden rings and mementoes from thin air, Sathya Sai Baba also earned respect for setting up world-class educational and health institutions and also for charitable work like drinking water projects for four semi-arid districts of Andhra Pradesh and in Chennai. The institutions and properties that he built are estimated to be worth over Rs. 27,000 crore.

After a hip fracture in 2006, Sathya Sai Baba was confined to a wheel chair and gave darshan from his car or a portable chair.

Sathya Sai Baba 'very critical,' say doctors

2011-04-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

Puttaparthi: The condition of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, seen as the incarnation of God by his devotees in India and abroad, is "very critical," his doctors have said, adding that "most of his organs are showing very poor response to the treatment."

According to doctors attending on him at Sathya Sai super specialty hospital at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district, the condition of his liver and his low blood pressure are causing concern.

"Sri Sathya Sai Baba continues to be in a very critical state of health. Most of his organs are not responding," said a medical bulletin issued by the hospital.

Hospital director AN Safaya said Sai Baba's breathing is still ventilator-dependent and the process of slow hemodialysis has been started in the morning to assist his kidneys.

A panel of doctors is watching him round-the-clock and giving all the necessary treatment to keep him in a stable state of health, added the statement.

The 84-year-old self-styled Godman was admitted to hospital on March 28 with breathing and heart problems. The doctors later said he was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction.

Hospital statement on Sathya Sai Baba's health:

Abdul Kalam urges solutions to make N-plants safe

2011-04-20T04:10:00.000-07:00

India’s former president and nuclear scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam said the world should identify solutions to make nuclear power plants safe rather than deciding against them.

“Just because the Titanic sunk, the world did not stop building better ships.

Similarly we need to work towards improving technology and ensure nuclear power plants are safe. There will be accidents, but we need to work towards removing the hurdles, rather than go back,” said Kalam addressing a group of children at the JSS International School in Barsha Dubai.

Stressing the need for nuclear power, the man who was instrumental in India’s second series of nuclear tests in 1998 said: “We need nuclear energy, especially since it is clean energy.”

Even as workers at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant are struggling to contain the radiation leak from the nuclear fuel rods, the world has started to debate on the safety and future of nuclear power plants. Opponents of nuclear power have already started to call upon governments to stop all future plans to build nuclear power plants, especially in earthquake prone areas. According to reports, Tepco the operator of the Fukushima power plants says it will take another six to nine months before the crisis is resolved. People living 20km around the plant have been evacuated.

Kalam who asked students to dream, work hard and persevere to achieve the goal, answered a series of questions that were thrown at him.

Answering a question on corruption Kalam said: “Corruption is an evil that has to be eradicated and is the biggest challenge India is facing. I would advise each and every child to go back home and tell your parents not to be corrupt.”

Banned 'aphrodisiac' in UAE groceries

2011-04-18T03:10:00.001-07:00

An herbal 'aphrodisiac' banned by the Indian government is available in some supermarkets and groceries in the UAE.

Musli Power Xtra, produced by South India-based Kunnath Pharmaceuticals,claims to offer the complete solution for sexual problems in both men and women. The company currently sells the product online as Indian ginseng.
The medicine is quite popular among Non-Resident Indians, said a market source. It is available in some grocery shops and some pharmacies that sell such medicines. It is illegally smuggled into the country and sold at a high premium as Indian Ginseng. As prices in India have crashed, traders are cashing in on the Gulf markets," said another source.

While approving Musli Power Xtra formulation for commercial production, the main ingredient indicated was the seed of ‘Nilappana’ (Curculigo orchioides). However, Kunnath Pharma made the formulation with the extracts of Safed Musli, violating the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which clearly states such raw ingredients cannot be used for making any kind of medicine formulations, according to an official.

Advertisements such as “Musli Power Xtra makes first night the best night,” have helped the company make a fortune by selling the brand in India and abroad within six years of its launch.

The Kerala Drug Regulatory Authorities have filed cases against the company under Spurious Drugs Act, and another under Drugs and Magic Remedies (objectionable advertisement) Act, 1955.

Popular Indian singer's daughter drowns to death in Dubai

2011-04-14T03:28:00.000-07:00

Dubai: Popular Indian playback singer K S Chitra’s 8-year-old daughter drowned to death on Thursday morning in a Dubai villa, Gulf News has learnt.

Chitra is in the city to attend a tribute concert titled A R Rahman Special Hits on Thursday evening. She along with her daughter Nandana was residing at a private villa in Emirates Hills, where the incident took place.

Nandana was a child with special needs, born to the singer after being childless for several years of her marriage.

The child was rushed to Cedar hospital in Jebel Ali at around 9am after she was found lying in the pool, an official at the hospital said.

"Although the doctors tried to revive her, we could not save her," he said. The body was moved from the hospital to Shaikh Rashid hospital around 12.30pm for embalming. Sources close to the family said that they are trying to fly the body back home in India on Thursday night.

"Chitra was taking a bath. When she came out she saw Nandana lying in the pool,” the source said, adding that the singer is devastated having lost her only child.

Meanwhile, the concert will go ahead as planned at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

"It has shocked us but as of now, the concert will happen because thousands of tickets have already been sold," said Shyam Mohammad of event organiser Media Factory. "We are trying to help Chitra chechi in every way possible. Right now I am trying to arrange everything for her return home. She had come with her daughter and husband to Dubai day before yesterday."

Gulf News was told that the award-winning singer had chosen to stay at her sister's home instead of staying with the rest of the troupe at a hotel arranged by concert organisers. The concert features performances by celebrated Indian musician A R Rahman’s musical troupe and three of his sisters.

"We had arranged a hotel room for them but we cancelled it when she said it would be better if she spends time with her sister," said Mohammad.

Career Opportunities at SmartCity Kochi

2011-03-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

Finally, smart opportunities have come knocking at the doors of job hunters in Kerala. Putting an end to the wait for starting the construction works of Smart City Kochi, Tecom, the promoters of the project, has invited applications to various top posts for carrying out the work.

Kochi is set to become a predominant destination for the information and communications technologies (IT/ITES) industries. Being developed as a joint venture between SmartCity, a member of Tecom Investments, and the Government of Kerala, SmartCity Kochi will be home to vibrant knowledge-economy communities worldwide, anchored by leading local, regional and global companies, the site says.SmartCity Kochi is set to become the predominant destination in India for the information and communications technologies (IT/ITES) industries. Being developed by the joint venture between SmartCity, a member of TECOM Investments, and the Government of Kerala, SmartCity Kochi will become home to vibrant knowledge-economy communities worldwide, anchored by leading local, regional and global companies.

To assist in achieving this vision, SmartCity Kochi is currently seeking to recruit result oriented, self motivated and dynamic professionals in the following disciplines:

• Construction Manager (Ref: HC/PDPD/CM)
• Senior Engineer – Designs (Ref: HC/PDPD/SE-D)
• Document Controller (Ref: HC/PDPD/DC)
• Senior Engineer – M&E services (Ref: HC/PDPD/SE-M&E)
• Senior Engineer – Buildings (Ref: HC/PDPD/SE-B)
• Senior Engineer – Infrastructure (Ref: HC/PDPD/SE-I)
• Senior Engineer – QS/Cost Control/Contracts (Ref: HC/CCD/QS)

TECOM Investments and State Government of Kerala Sign Lease Agreement for SmartCity Kochi

2011-03-06T01:32:00.000-08:00

• Clustered Tech Project to Take Shape with Initial Investment of US$350 million

• Set to Generate Large-Scale Employment Opportunities in IT and Allied Sectors

Abdullatif AlMulla, Group CEO of TECOM Investments and Vice-Chairman of SmartCity Kochi, and K. Suresh Kumar (IAS), IT Secretary, Government of Kerala, shaking hands after signing the SmartCity lease agreement at Kochi. Also in the picture, S. Sharma, Minister of State Registration and Fisheries and Chairman of SmartCity Kochi, M.A. Yusuff Ali, Managing Director of EMKE Group, and P.I. Sheik Pareeth, District Collector of Ernakulam.

Dubai-UAE: 5 March, 2011 – A lease agreement that will flag off the development of SmartCity Kochi, an IT infrastructure project jointly promoted by TECOM Investments and the State Government of Kerala in India, has been signed between Abdullatif AlMulla, TECOM Group CEO who is also the Vice-Chairman of SmartCity Kochi, and Suresh Kumar, IT Secretary of the Kerala Government.

The lease agreement for 246 acres of land will set the momentum for the development of a self-sustained knowledge-based industry township in Kochi. It will also bring TECOM Investments a step closer to its international expansion strategy of creating successful prototypes of Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City at various locations worldwide.

The lease agreement was duly registered the same day for the clustered tech project, which will take shape with an initial investment of US$350 million and generate large-scale employment opportunities in the IT and allied sectors.

The signing ceremony was held during the Board of Directors’ meeting at Infopark. S. Sharma, Minister of Registration and Fisheries and Chairman of SmartCity Kochi, was present during the occasion.

On behalf of TECOM Investments, M.A. Yusuff Ali, Managing Director of EMKE Group, and Anirudha Damkey, Executive Director-Corporate Finance, signed as witnesses, while K. Kurian, Senior Technical Advisor of Infopark, Kochi, and Binu Pazhoor, Chief Executive Officer of Infopark, signed as witnesses on behalf of the State Government of Kerala.

AlMulla said: “This key step reflects our confidence in the vision for SmartCity Kochi and our commitment to the people of Kerala. We are optimistic about completing this project as planned and fulfill all the time-bound contractual obligations mentioned in the framework agreement.

“The progress that will result from the signing of a fresh lease agreement will give further momentum to our plans of continuing the expansion of the SmartCity global network. Reflecting the success story of our knowledge clusters, we aim to utilize the SmartCity project to further strengthen the economies of the communities we are located in.”

Construction on SmartCity Kochi is expected to begin soon after the Special Economic Zone notification is received for 131 acres, which has already been cleared by the Board of Approval of India’s Union Commerce Ministry.

SmartCity Kochi will be one of India’s largest business parks and include a state-of-the-art business community infrastructure and a dynamic range of retail, hospitality, residential and recreational facilities to drive productive business as well as a quality lifestyle. Apart from drawing strong foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, the project’s multiplier effects are expected to bring several additional benefits to the economy.

The first European outpost of the global SmartCity network, SmartCity Malta is set to become the leading ICT and media destination in the Mediterranean. SmartCity Malta received the ‘Best Investment Award in Europe’ award in 2009, recognising the project as the largest foreign direct investment in a European country.

SmartCity’s self-sustained townships will seek to harness commerce by providing an environment conducive to business, intelligent infrastructure and advanced support systems. SmartCity entities worldwide will be home to vibrant knowledge economies that are anchored by international, regional and local companies.

Kerala Cabinet approves SmartCity pact

2011-02-02T21:41:00.000-08:00

Realising a dream project of Kerala, the state Government Wednesday signed an agreement with its Dubai-based promoters on setting up the SmartCity IT project at a 246-acre in Kochi.

The long-pending dispute between the two sides over the land ownership issues concering the project were settled at the talks between Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and and Ahmed Homaid al Tajir, member of the Supreme Committee for Dubai World Group and Public Holding Group here Wednesday.

As per the agreement, on completion of the master plan, 12 per cent of the total land would be converted from leasehold to freehold rights within the Special Economic Zone. The Government would also exempt the land from registration fee and stamp duty.

The agreement was later approved by the state cabinet, paving the way for the work on the project to start without further delay, Achuthanandan told reporters. He also lauded the services of leading NRI entrepreneur M A Yusafali in bringing the two sides to the negotiating table and working out an mutually acceptable solution.

The SmartCity was envisaged in 2004 by then Congress-led UDF ministry as a major joint venture project which could generate thousands of direct jobs.

The foundation-stone for the project was laid in 2007 by the present LDF Government, but its work ran into problems over the Dubai-based partner TECOM's demand for freehold right over at least 12 per cent of the 246 acres of land acquired for the project.

Having settled the disputes resolved, state government and TECOM would jointly work to get the SEZ approval from the Centre at the earliest. TECOM would develop the entire 246 acres as an IT/ITES sector specific SEZ.

Delayed Smart City project set to to take off in Kochi

2011-02-02T21:38:00.000-08:00

The main hurdles which had been holding up the work on Kerala’s dream project for about four years were thrashed out by the state government and Tecom Investments officials here on Wednesday morning.

This followed talks held here between Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and Ahmed Humaid Al Tayar, governor of Dubai International Financial Centre.

Achuthanandan said that Tecom would be given freehold right on 12 per cent land but within the 246 acres which has been notified as special economic zone. This would mean that the promoters will not have the right to sell the land. Tecom’s insistence on getting the 12 per cent freehold land outside the 246 acres was the main object of disagreement between the two sides for the last three years.

It was the mediatory role played by NRI businessman M A Yusuffali that paved the way for the deal which was being projected by the Opposition UDF as a mascot of the LDF government’s inefficiency.

Ayodhya land to be divided -Ramlala idol not to be removed from disputed site

2010-09-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

Allahabad High Court verdict on Ayodhya title suits out -Ramlala idol not to be removed from disputed site in Ayodhya.

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday (September 30) ruled majority that the 2.7 acres disputed land in Ayodhya, on which the Babri Masjid stood before it was demolished on December 6, 1992, will be divided into three parts to be distributed among the Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and the party for 'Ram Lalla', said the lawyers.

The ownership of the disputed site is to be divided into three parts: the site of the Ram lala idol to Ram, Nirmohi Akhara gets Sita Rasoi and Ram Chabutara, Sunni Wakf Board gets the rest.

Justice D V Sharma decrees the title suit in favour of Hindus, say lawyer K N Bhatt, who represented the party on behalf of 'Ram Lalla'. Status quo will be maintained at the disputed site in Ayodhya for three months, claimed lawyers Ravi Shanker Prasad and K N Bhatt.

Justice S U Khan ruled that the disputed land belongs to both the communities, say lawyers.

Official verdict of the judgement awaited.

The verdict in the 60-year-old Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit is a landmark one particularly for Justice D V Sharma, who is set to demit office on Friday. The other judges on the Lucknow bench of the High Court are S U Khan and Sudhir Agarwal.

The Bench began the delivery of its verdict at 3:30 p.m. in Court Number 21 in the High Court premises which resembled a virtually impregnable fortress as the area surrounding it has been declared as a "no access zone".

The BJP core group will meet at senior leader L K Advani's residence this evening following the Ayodhya title suit judgement, immediately after the arrival of party President Nitin Gadkari from Mumbai. The meeting will be attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in Upper House Arun Jaitely among others and is expected to chalk out the future course of action on the issue after the court verdict. Advani had asked partymen to refrain from commenting on the issue till the verdict was out.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Security is slated to meet in the evening and it may consider the Allahabad High Court judgement in the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P Chidambaram had appealed to the people to accept the verdict and maintain peace and tranquility. They had also stressed that no attempt should be made by any section of the people to provoke another section after the verdict.

The only hurdle in the pronouncement of the verdict was cleared by the Supreme Court on Tuesday when it dismissed the petition by a retired bureaucrat Ramesh Chandra Tripathi for deferment of the keenly-awaited judgement.

The High Court verdict assumes significance as an amicable solution to the centuries old dispute over a piece of land has not been achieved through negotiations between the two religious groups. Repeated attempts were made by former Prime Ministers P V Narsimha Rao, V P Singh and Chandra Shekhar to persuade the two sides to reach a compromise but there was no success. The Ayodhya dispute has been an emotive issue for decades and mired in a slew of legal suits involving Hindu and Muslim religious groups.

The first title suit in the case was filed in 1950 by one Gopal Singh Visharad, seeking an injunction for permitting 'pooja'(worship) of Lord Ram at the disputed site while the second suit was filed by Paramhans Tamchandra Das also in 1950 seeking the same injunction but this was later withdrawn.

The third suit was filed in 1959 by the Nirmohi Akhara, seeking direction to hand over the charge of the disputed site from the receiver and the fourth one came in 1961 by UP Sunni Central Board of Waqfs for declaration and possession of the site.

The fifth suit was moved on July one, 1989 in the name of Bhagwan Shree Ram Lalla Virajman also for declaration and possession. Through an application moved by then Advocate General of UP, all the four suits were transferred to the High Court in 1989. Out of the 94 witnesses in Court, 58 appeared from Hindu side and 36 from Muslim side and their statements run in more than 13,000 pages.

The High Court while adjudicating the case also asked the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out excavation in the area surrounding the disputed site to find out whether temple was there before mosque was built. The excavation, which was done in the presence of representatives from Hindus and Muslims, went on for more than five months between March and August in 2003.

Hearing in the case taken up on a day-to-day basis from January this year was completed on July 26 and the special bench had reserved its verdict asking the parties concerned to approach the OSD in case there was any scope of resolution to the case through reconciliation.

Since none of the parties made any attempt in this direction, the court had on September 8 fixed Septemebr 24 as the date for pronouncement of the verdict. It was fixed for September 30 after the apex court dismissed a plea for deferment of the High Court verdict.

The three main issues before the High Court are whether there was a temple at the disputed site, prior to 1528, whether the suit filed by the Sunni Central Waqf board in 1961 is barred by limitation and whether Muslims perfected their title through adverse possession.

The history of the dispute goes back to the year 1528 when a mosque was built on the site by Mughal emperor Babar which Hindus claim to be a birth place of Lord Ram and where a temple was there earlier. In order to settle the dispute the British officials in 1859 erected a fence to separate the places of worship, allowing the inner court to be used by Muslims and the outer court by Hindus and this system went on till 1949 when an idol of Lord Ram surfaced inside the mosque.

The authorities then declared the premises a disputed area and locked the gates which were unlocked after 37 years in by a District Judge in 1986 to allow 'darshan'.

With the passage of time the dispute took political colour. The Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992 in the presence of senior leaders of VHP, Shiv Sena and BJP. The demolition of the mosque triggered communal riots in several parts of the country in which more than 2,000 lives were lost.

Earlier this month, R C Tripathi, one of the parties to the suit, moved a plea in the High Court seeking deferment of the verdict to make fresh attempts for out-of-court settlement through negotiations. On September 17, the High Court refused to defer pronouncement of the verdict following which the matter reached the Supreme Court. An apex Court bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and A K Patnaik refused to take up the case and referred it to another bench.

Difference of opinion between two Justices R V Raveendran and H L Gokhale, before whom the matter came up for hearing on September 23, surfaced on entertaining the petition. However, the Court issued notices to the parties. The matter was finally head by a special three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia on Tuesday and it dismissed the plea for deferment of the verdict by the High Court.

Ayodhya: Planes, forces on standby, news centre in place, Centre, UP wait

2010-09-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

Raising its security preparedness in the run up to the September 30 High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land suits, the Centre is keeping Indian Air Force’s medium and heavy transport aircraft, the AN-32 and the IL-76, ready at eight select locations in order to be able to move paramilitary forces in case of trouble.

As per sources, dedicated companies of paramilitary forces are being kept ready at 16 locations across the country. All of these locations, sources said, were located in proximity of airports and would enable forces to be airborne at short notice.

The Centre has identified a total 32 locations where it is apprehending trouble following the verdict.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Commonwealth Games and the Ayodhya verdict, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has quietly put into place a 24-hour news monitoring centre. Senior PIB officials will man the centre day and night until the Games conclude.

Kalamandalam Hemalatha Break the World Record for Longest Dance Performance

2010-09-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Famous Mohiniyattam dancer Kalamandalam Hemalatha break the world record for the longest dance performance by crossing the existing record performed in Mohiniyattam for 108 hours continuously, attained by Dr Vattikotta Yadagiri Acharya of Hyderabad in 2008. She reached the Guinness record at 9.32 pm on Saturday(25.09.2010), at the K T Muhammad Smaraka Theatre of the Kerala Nadaka Sangeetha Academy, Thrissur. Her aim is to reach the 120 hour mark by performing Mohiniyattam continuously from September 20 to September 26.
The danseuse had made an earlier attempt to set the record in Mohiniyattam dance on June 6 this year aiming to dance continuously for 120 hours, but was forced to stop after 64 hours due to health problems. After graduating from Kalamandalam, Hemalatha also took a degree in Bharathanatyam from Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirapalli and MA (Bharathanatyam) from Indira Kala Viswa Vidyalaya, a deemed university at Chattisgarh. She was the student of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, and her husband is P.B. Jayan & she has two children, Swaroop and Saurav.
The major achievements attained by Smt. Hemalatha:
Kerala Kalamandalam Balakrishna Award Mohiniyattam Fellowship Award (Ministry of human resources Development India) Sahithi Puraskaram(Kerala State) Lasya Mohini Award(Bombay Malay alee Samajam) JCI Puraskaram- Thrissur

Payyambalam Beach

2010-09-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

One of the most beautiful beaches of Kerala, Payyambalam beach of Kannur is a vast stretch of golden sands dotted with coconut trees. This secluded beach is an ideal getaway for you if you want to spend a relaxed and laidback evening amidst calm surroundings. Read on further about Payyambalam beach of Kannur and visit it to experience true peace of mind.
The place is also a famous beach resort that is the perfect getaway for anyone who wants to spend a day or two in a calm environment. The beach is a beautiful place and many popular Indian movies have been shot over here. The beach has a massive sculpture of a mother and child that adds to the beauty of the beach. It is a popular hang out among young and old alike. The concerned authorities maintain the beach very nicely and take efforts to keep it neat and clean. It is definitely worth the visit if you go to Kannur.

A Closer Look at India's Naxalite Threat

2010-09-26T00:51:00.000-07:00

On July 6, the Indian government issued a warning to railroad operators and users after Maoist rebels — known as Naxalites — declared a “bandh,” a Hindi word meaning stoppage of work, in eastern India. When a bandh is declared by the Naxalites, it carries with it an implied threat of violence to enforce the work stoppage, in this case against the public transportation system over a two-day period. It is widely understood that trains and buses in eastern India during this time would be subject to Naxalite attack if they do not obey the call for a shutdown.

Naxalites are an array of armed bands that, when combined, comprise the militant arm of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-M). Some of the most violent attacks conducted by the Naxalites have been against freight and police transport trains, killing dozens of people at a time. Civilians have typically not been targeted in such attacks, but they have been collaterally killed and injured in the mayhem. Whether targeted or not, civilians generally believe that Naxalites always follow through on their threats, so strike warnings are enough to dissuade people from going about their daily lives. The Naxalite “bandh” is a tactic that shows just how powerful the rebels have become in the region, and it demonstrates their ability to affect day-to-day activity merely by threatening to stage an attack.

The Naxalite declaration on July 6 was in retaliation for a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) operation that killed senior Naxalite leader, CPI-M Politburo member and spokesman Cherukuri Rajkumar (alias Azad) on July 2 in Andhra Pradesh. The news of Azad’s death was unexpected, since India has had little luck capturing or killing key Naxalite leaders, but his absence is not expected to seriously hamper the movement. The Naxalites are a large, well-organized force that will be able to replace him with little or no visible effect on operational capability. What was not surprising was that Azad’s killing elicited a Naxalite response.

It is unclear exactly what precipitated the Andhra Pradesh operation by the CRPF (India’s federal police force) that killed Azad, though it did come after a busy spring in Naxalite territory. On April 6, Naxalites mounted a textbook armed ambush that killed 76 CRPF members conducting a patrol in Chhattisgarh state, at the time the deadliest attack the Naxalites had carried out in their 43-year history. Then, on May 17, they detonated an explosive device along a road in Chhattisgarh and destroyed a bus, killing nearly 50 civilians and police officers. At the time, Azad issued several statements to the press indicating that the group regretted the death of so many civilians but blamed them for riding on the bus with police officers, something they had been warned against numerous times. Indeed, police in this region are typically not allowed to ride on public transportation due to the threat of Naxalite attacks and the possibility of collateral damage.

On May 28, less than two weeks after the bus attack, an act of sabotage against a railway line in West Bengal state caused a train carrying only civilians to derail. It was subsequently hit by a freight train, resulting in the deaths of nearly 150 people. While Naxalites initially denied that they were involved in the incident, they later admitted that a rogue gang trained by them had sabotaged the railway line without permission from Naxalite central command. (There is also the possibility that the Naxalites were attempting to derail the freight train — a much more common Naxalite target — but mistakenly targeted the wrong track.)

Finally, on June 24, in the wake of these deadly (if not all intentional) attacks, the Naxalites reiterated their intention to drive multinational corporations (MNCs) out of India and that they would use violence to do so. This most recent threat reflects the primary interest of the Naxalites, and it is backed by a proven tactical ability to strike economic targets, which is a top concern for the Indian government.

by Fred Burton and Ben West

Jnanpith award an honour for Malayalam poetry: O N V Kurup

2010-09-25T23:24:00.000-07:00

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 24 (PTI) Renowned Malayalam poet O N V Kurup, who won the 43rd Jnanpith award today, said he considered it as an honour for Malayalam poetry. "I consider this as an honour for Malayalam poetry. I truly believe that Malayalam poetry does not lag behind poetry in any other language and I accept this honour recalling the invaluable contributions from the illustrious pioneers of Malayalam literature," Kurup, on a tour of the Gulf, said in his reaction. Kurup is the fifth recipient of the country's highest literary honour for Malayalam language, after G Sankara Kurup, S K Pottekkat, Thakazhi Shivashankara Pillai and M T Vasudevan Nair. He is the second among Malayalam poets to receive the honour after the first-ever Jnanpith was awarded to the late G Sankara Kurup. Sharing the elation of the literary fraternity, Vasudevan Nair said this was a moment of great joy for entire Kerala. "O N V has been writing poetry for over six decades. He still retains the poetic flair in his mind without losing its vibrancy." Kerala Culture Minister M A Baby said he considered this as an honour for entire Keralites as Kurup continues to be the `beloved poet' of Malayalees.

Ayodhya City of Lord Ram

2010-09-23T01:23:00.000-07:00

The ancient city of Ayodhya, according to the Ramayana, was founded by Manu, the law-giver of the Hindus. For centuries it was the capital of the descendants of the Surya dynasty, of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king.

Ayodhya city was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Ayodhya, where Lord Ram, the 7th incarnation (avtar) of Vishnu was born. It is also mentioned in Hindu mythology and the Ramayana. The ancient scripture of Atharvaveda describes Ayodhya as 'a city built by gods' and compares its prosperity with the glory and splendor of the paradise .

In the Gupta period (200-400 AD) Vikramaditya tried to restore the long-lost glory of Ayodhya but nothing survived.

Ayodhya during ancient times was known as Kosaldesa. The Atharvaveda describes it as “a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself”. The illustrious ruling dynasty of this region where the Ikshvakus of the solar clan (Suryavamsha). According to tradition, Ikshvaku was the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, who established himself at Ayodhya. The earth is said to have its name ‘Prithivi’ from Prithu, the 6th king of the line.

A few generations later came Mandhatri, in whose line the 31st king was Harischandra, known widely for his love of Truth. Raja Sagar of the same line performed the Asvamedha Yajna and his great grandson Bhagiratha is reputed to have brought Ganga on earth by virtue of his penances. Later in the time this clan came to be called as ‘Raghuvamsa’. Baghirath’s Grandson was Raja Dasaratha, the illustrious father of Lord Rama, with whom the glory of the Kosala dynasty reached its peak.

The story of this epic has been immortalized by Valmiki and immensely popularized by the great masses through centuries.

According to puranic tradition, in the 93rd generation from Ikshvaku, the 30th from Rama was Brihabdala the last famous king of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Ayodhya, who was killed during the Mahabharata war. The kingdom of Kosala again rose to prominence in the time of Buddha, i.e. 6th century B.C.

Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, constructed a mosque in Ayodhya. It became the part of the great Mughal Empire and was ruled by them for many years. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, it became a part of the regional state of Awadh, which was later annexed by the British.

The city of Ayodhya is an important pilgrim place for Hindus in India. It is one of the seven holiest cities of India. Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Ram, who is an important deity in the Hindu pantheon. This small, quiet town attracts pilgrims from all over the country. Hindu pilgrims visiting Ayodhya during festivals and important religious functions consider a holy dip in the sacred Saryu River very auspicious.

The tourist season is round the year, but from Oct to March is the best. However, tourist should avoid summer in April-June.

Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple

2010-09-19T23:09:00.000-07:00

The Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city is one among the 108 sacred Vishnu temples in India.
The idol is an 18 feet long Lord Mahavishnu reclining over the Serpent King Anantha. The temple has a blend of Dravidian and Kerala architectural styles and sprawls over a vast area. The entry to the shrine is allowed to Hindus only.
The festivals are held during the months of Meenam and Thulam (March-April and October-November respectively), according to the Malayalam calendar. Pallivetta (Royal hunt) and Arattu (Holy bath) are two important rituals held as part of the festivals.
Also, the rituals Lakshadeepam and Murajapam are conducted at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple once in six years.
The temple is managed by the Royal family of Travancore. Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and adjacent places were part of the former Travancore kingdom. The temple is noted for its mural painting and stone carvings.

Kochi Metro project to be ready by 2012

2010-09-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

The government has flagged of the proposed Rs 3048 crore-Kochi Metro project, that will be executed on the lines of the Delhi Metro.
The Kochi Metro project will be a joint venture between the Kerala state government and the Central government.
“The project will be on similar lines to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. It will be a joint venture between the state and the centre,” VS Achuthanandan was quoted as saying after the weekly cabinet meeting.
Chief minister of Kerala, Mr. V S Achuthanandan, said that an amount of Rs 50 lakhs has already been sanctioned for the Kochi Metro project. To facilitate the execution of the project, an exclusive office will soon opened soon in Kochi itself.
The approval was fast tracked after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stepped in as a result of CPM’s assertion that the Planning Commission has refused to approve of the project. The CPM accused the Planning Commission of wanting a private party to be brought into the Kochi Metro project on a Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) model, like the Hyderabad Metro project.
In a statement, the CPM said that “the Hyderabad Metro project and the way the Planning Commission pushed it is a prime example of how India’s economic policy establishment is promoting private capital even at the cost of public interest. The Planning Commission has been trying to impose the Hyderabad Metro model on to Kerala, which is a prime example of crony capitalism.”
Manmohan Singh cleared the Kochi Metro project after studying the funding flowchart provided by the Kerala state government.
The Kochi Metro project will cover a 26-Km stretch between Thiruvananthapuram and Aluva. The stretch is supposed to cover Edapally, Palarivattom, Kaloor, MG Road, Ernakulam Junction railway station, SA Road and Vyttila to reach Tripunithura, while avoiding major flyovers like the Ernakulam Town railway flyover.
As per the Kochi Metro project plans, the Metro trains will run every five minutes at peak time, and eight minutes in the non-peak period. Smart Cards and contactless tokens will be introduced to control entry and exit to the stations.
The coaches of the Kochi Metro trains will not be as big as the Delhi trains, with each train carrying four coaches. The Kerala Metro trains have been designed to carry upto 3.5 lakh commuters daily by 2011.
The Kochi project is expected to be over within a span of 3 years of its start. Law Minister M Vijayakumar has been appointed to supervise the execution phase of the project.

THEYYAM- A RITUAL DANCE OF KERALA

2010-09-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

Historical Background
Kerala, the land of charity, is rich in folk-culture, visual arts and festivals. Different religions, groups and communities in their historical evolution have subscribed to the growth of a dreamlike panorama of dance and visual art forms in this region. Some of them are religious, highly ritualistic, but incorporate dance and music and colours and light. Even the geographical isolation of Kerala had not denied her the chance of inheritance of a common cultural heritage of India. As such the major developments in the cultural history of India had significant impact on the formation of organization of Kerala society. Although it is a compact cultural linguistic area, it was exposed to external influence both from land and the sea. The Aryan culture and the Sanskrit language nourished the indigenous tribal culture and language, defined and categorized by the scholars as Dravidian. The Buddhists, the Jains and the Brahmins had liberally contributed to the religious and social life of the country. Therefore the so-called Hinduism, the religion of the land, was characterized by much synthesis. This particular aspect could be traced in the traditional culture of Kerala.

The Theyyam or Theyyattam is a popular ritual dance of North Kerala, particularly now found in the traditional Kolathunadu, of the present Kannur and Kasargode districts. As a living cult with centuries old traditions, ritual and custom, it embraces almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion in this region. The term Theyyam is a corrupt form of daivam or God. It is a rare combination of dance and music and reflects important features of a tribal culture.
The indigenous Theyyam cult under the influence of the great classical Indian tradition incorporated new ideas and legends. However its form and content did not change very much. The earliest Brahminic settlements like Payyanur and Perimchellur (Thaliparamba) in Kolathunadu where the Brahminic religion was propagated through the institutions of temples largely influenced the popular folk religion based on Theyyam and other tribal cults. According to the legendary Keralolpathi, Parasurama sanctioned the festivals like Kaliyattam, Puravela and Deivattam or Theyyattam to the people of Kerala. He assigned the responsibility of Theyyam dance to the indigenous communities like Panan, Velan and Vannan. These traditions explain how the indigenous cults like Theyyam were incorporated and metamorphosed under the religious supremacy of the Brahmanism. In the long historical process a social system evolved in Kerala in which the little culture like Theyyam belonged to the depressed castes and classes where as the temple oriented culture belonged to the dominant castes and classes. There were no violent confrontations between these two cultures as there was no total destruction of the indigenous culture. “There can be no doubt”, say Bridget and Raymond Alchin, ‘that a very large part of this modern folk religion is extremely ancient and contains traits which originated ruing the earliest periods of Neolithic , Chalcolithic settlement and expression (The Birth of Indian Civilization 1968 p.3039)
Velan, on of the communities of Theyyam dancers, is referred to in the Tamil Sangam literature. According to Sangam tradition he was employed by the mothers of the love-lorn girls to exercise the malignant spirits from their daughters. He propitiated God Murukan to drive away the evils spirits by sacrificing a goat before a Kalam or Square made for this occasion. At the end of the ceremony he conducted a dance known as Velan Veriyatal with a spear in his hand and prophesied the future happiness of the girl. The works like Tirumurukattuppatai, give descriptions of Velan’s Kalam, offering of chekki and oleander flowers with sacrificial blood, locations of performance like Manram, Podiyil, estuary (thuruthu), groves, forest, riverbanks and Kadamba tree. The main characteristics of such performances are traced in the contemporary Theyyam cult. Now all such rituals as described in some of the Sangam works and their commentaries are being observed by Velan and other dancing communities in the cult of Theyyam. Now the Velan community is divided into two groups known as Anjutton and Munnutton in Kolathunadu. According to tradition this division is based on the character of their offerings to the deity. The Munnutton section committed only three offenses (such offerings are offences to Brahmins) namely killing of cock, goat and buffalo, and the Anjutton (five offences) namely killing of cock, goat, buffalo, elephant and human being. Some of the Theyyam ritual songs describe that earlier the priest or the dancer had even sacrifices human beings in favour of the deity.
Ezhimala described in the Sangam literature and ruled by Udayan Venman Nannan is situated in Kolathunadu, near Payyanur. Therefore the Tamil Sangam culture with variations still continues in this region. The dance of Velan had taken new forms and developed into the present day cult of Theyyam over a period of 1500 years. This uninterrupted continuity of the Sangam tradition makes Theyyam a prominent religious system of north Kerala. As a religious and social institution it has significant place in the cultural history of region.

Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC)

2010-09-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

It was in the year 1992 the Government of India declared Bekal Fort as a special tourism area. It was with the intention of transforming Bekal Fort into international tourism centre that in the year 1995 the government formed Bekal Tourism Development Corporation.
It is in Chemmanad, Udma, Pallikkara and Ajanur Panchayats that the Bekal tourism project is implemented. At present the corporation is engaged in arranging basic facilities for the project. Corporation has decided to acquire 278 hectares of land for Bekal tourism development. By this time, 178 hectares of land have been acquired. Towards the end of this year, land acquisition will be completed. The Bekal Fort is now under the Archaeological department of the Government of India. Of the 178 hectares of land taken over, 24 hectares are set apart for resort centres and 75 hectares for housing sites. When the land acquisition is over, programmes like water supply, total sanitation, waste incineration, road construction and installation of street lights will be implemented in the project area.
Six beach hotel resorts will be established in the project area on priority in the project area on priority basis. For each resort 30 acres of land will be provided. Of the six resorts two will be started in government sector.

Plans for bettering and increasing basic facilities will be implemented in the four panchayats where Bekal tourism project is implemented. Water supply scheme for the entire people of Pallikkara, Udma, Ajanur and Chemmanad will be implemented. A tank having the capacity of 7 billion litres will also be constructed. Total sanitation programme will be implemented in the four panchayats. As a first phase of this, latrines will be constructed and other sanitation programmes will be carried out in the coastal areas. In the first phase, programmes like waste incineration, road construction and installation of street lights will also be carried out.
A Bekal facility centre expending Rs. 35 lakhs was established in 1998 near Bekal Fort. In the facility centre there is an information centre. B.R.D.C. has programme to develop other tourist centres of the district as part of Bekal project. Two House boats have already started functioning at Valiyaparambu this year itself. Boats clubs will be established at Bekal and Chandragiri soon.

Bekal, situated on the seashore of Pallikara village, is an important place of tourist interest in the district. It lies 12 kms. south of Kasargod town. According to Bekal Rama Nayak, a local Kannada writer, the word, Bekal is derived from the word Baliakulam, meaning Big Palace. The place is said to have been the seat of a big palace in the past. The term Baliakulam got corrupted as Bekulam and later as Bekal.

It was usual in older days for every royal palace to be protected by a fort. The Bekal for might have, therefore, existed even from early days of the Chirakkal Rajas. While giving a description of the Kolathiri Kingdom in his Kerala History, K.P. Padmanabha Menon writes; “The eldest of the male members reigned as sovereign Kolathiri. The next in succession, the heir apparent, was the Thekkelamkur. The residence assigned to him was the Vadakara fort. The third in succession was the Vadakkelamkur in charge of Vekkolath fort. This V(B)ekkolath fort is identified by some scholars as the present Bekal”.
H.A.Stuart, in his Handbook of South Canara (1985), makes this observation: “….. Several forts were built by the Shivappa Nayaks of Badnore between 1650 and 1670 A.D. The two forts of Bekal and Chandragiri were originally under the Kolathiri or Chirakkal Rajas until the time of Shivappa Nayaka’s invasion. Perhaps, the Bednore rulers might have rebuilt and improved it”.
The Bekal fort, which is of great historical and archaeological interest, is the largest and best preserved of its kind in the district and the land on which it is situated, runs into the sea with fine bay towards the south. According to the South Canara Mannual, Bekaln fort fell into the hands of Haider Ali in 1763. It housed the Huzur of Canara during Tipu’s time and the remains of a gallow reminiscent of the days of Mysorean occupation were seen here till a few years back. After the overthrow of Tipu Sultan in 1799, Bekal was incorporated into the dominions of the English East India Company. The erstwhile Kasaragod taluk of South Canara district was known as Bekal for more than half a century.
The Bekal fort is now under the Archeological Department of the Government of India.
There is a Travellers’ Bungalow, maintained by the PUBLIC Works Department of the State Government within the Bekal fort. The natural scenery at Bekal is alluring and makes a visit to the place an exhilarating experience. There is a recently renovated temple dedicated to Hanuman, at the entrance to Bekal. An old mosque is also situated very near the fort and this is believed to have been founded by Tipu Sultan.

Kannur Airport: A Reality by 2011

2010-09-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

As we Kannur patriots and those planning to travel to Kannur in a flight wait for more news on the proposed Airport in this city of Cannanore, about 208 of the 2,000 acres earmarked for the project had already been acquired by the State Government back in 2007! With the recent cabinet approval, it seems that the city of Kannur will be catapulted to the Indian Air Route Map in less than 3-4 years.
Kannur Airport is expected to provide a major boost of the Malabar, North Kerala in terms of business, in terms of tourism revenue and help its thriving textile industry. Kannur is on of the eight best textile centers in India.
An Airport City is also planned in Kannur where plantation tourism will be promoted. KINFRA or Kerala Infrastructure Development Corporation is the agency designated to proceed the work.
The airport coming up at Moorkhanparamba near Mattanur has received the Environment Ministry’s clearance as well as the permission from the Aviation Ministry to operate with a single runway recently, after clearing the techno-economic and feasibility hurdles on the decade-old proposal

Venu Nagavally Malayalam Film Actor and Director Died

2010-09-09T01:45:00.000-07:00

Venu Nagavally (1949-2010) renowned Malayalam film actor and director, Venu Nagavally, died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram this morning. Venu had been suffering from bad health for some time. His condition worsened a week back and he was moved to the hospital, family sources said. The son of veteran writer and broadcaster late Nagavally RS Kurup, Venu had acted in over 200 films and directed 12 movies, many of them super hits during the 1990s. . He is survived by his wife and his son Vivek.

Venu had his breakthrough in 1978 with Ulkkadal, in which he played the role of a tragic hero and his subdued but sensitive portrayal made him an instant hit with the audience. This was followed by a string of notable roles in successful movies like Yavanika and Salini Ente Koottukari. Venu, however, chose to withdraw behind the screen with the emergence of the superstar era in the 90s, concentrating more on direction, script writing and production. He also had a brief stint in All India Radio before giving up the job of broadcaster to become a full time director.

His directorial hits included Lal Salaam, which revolved around the lives of the early Communist leaders of Kerala, Sukhamo Devi and Ai Auto. Members of film fraternity, political leaders and cultural personalities expressed profound grief in the death of Venu.

He Directed following Pictures

Bharya Swantham Suhruthu (2009)
Rakthasakshikal Sindabad (1998)
Agni Devan (1995)
Aayirappara (1993)
Kalippattam (1993)
Kizhakkunarum Pakshi (1991) (as Venu Nagavally)
Aye Auto (1990)
Lal Salam (1990)
Swagatham (1989)
Ayitham (1987)
Sarvakalasala (1987)
Sukhamodevi (1986)

As a writer

Bharya Swantham Suhruthu (2009) (screenplay)
Vishnu (1994) (screenplay and dialogue)
Aayirappara (1993) (writer)
Kalippattam (1993) (writer)
Kilukkam (1991) (writer)
Kizhakkunarum Pakshi (1991) (screenplay and dialogue)
Aye Auto (1990) (writer)
Ardham (1989) (writer)
Sarvakalasala (1987) (screenplay and dialogue)
Sukhamodevi (1986) (writer)

Snehapookalam at Calicut Marking a model for religious harmony and universal brotherhood

2010-08-22T00:39:00.000-07:00

Kozhikode :Marking a model for religious harmony and universal brotherhood, the biggest floral carpet `Snehapookkalam' was laid with 15 tones of flowers. Fragrance filled the air at Swapna Nagari on Saturday as an army of 1,000 people, including 500 students, created the world's biggest 'Pookalam' (floral carpet), to get into the Guinness book of records. The design was selected from 15 entries and the one by C K Suresh, who won the design championship, was used.

Spread over a massive 17, 622 square feet, the carpet was made with creativity supported by 25 artists. The carpet had set a world record. The previous record was set in 2008 at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor stadium at Ernakulum, where Kerala Police prepared a 'Jana Maithri pookkalam' over 12000 square feet.

The carpet was made with seven kinds of flowers representing 7 continents taking 2 hours and eight minutes.

For making on the spot assessment of the function, officials from the Guinness book of world records and Limca book of world records were present. As many as 14,500 kg flowers were used including Chrysanthemum, Chethi, vadamalli, and Dalia brought from Thovala. The attempt was led by 72 group leaders,

VALUE PARTNERS IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA’S PRIVATE SECTOR

2010-04-21T04:16:00.000-07:00

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 21 April 2010 – Following a recent study on Saudi Arabia’s economy, Value Partners, a leading global management consulting firm, have identified a number of business opportunities within the private sector in the Kingdom.

“Today, we are witnessing almost every sector available for private investments except for a short list of areas that are limited to Saudi investment,” said Santino Saguto, Partner, Value Partners.

According to Value Partners, the most significant opportunity for private investment is mining: “Previously, the mining sector had not been given due attention, but now there are a lot of mining investments taking place in the government and the private sector in phosphates, iron ore, and aluminum,” continued Saguto.

Other areas increasingly receiving private investments include infrastructure. This includes 3,500km of new railroad routes being built, as well as associated services, water desalination, power generation, and higher education. The telecommunication sector has also opened up to competition in both mobile and, increasingly, fixed line sectors.

According to the study by Value Partners, two key incentives which contribute to the increase in private investment include tax incentives following the reduction of tax rates from 45 percent to 20 percent; and the law that enables foreigners to own 100 percent of businesses in Saudi Arabia. “These two steps have made conducting business in the country much easier for foreign companies and my understanding is that further incentives are currently being planned for investors in developing economic cities,” continued Saguto.

With a population of around 28 million and a GDP of over US$ 480 billion, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the largest and richest countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Holding a quarter of the world’s known oil reserves and 13 percent of global production, it is the world’s leading producer and exporter of oil.

Value Partners has been operational in KSA since 2004 and since early 2010 has office presence in Riyadh in partnership with Usamah Al-Kurdi, a prominent business personality in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Kurdi said: “There are plenty of business opportunities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it has been affected very little by the economic downturn with one of the overriding reasons being the availability of cash within the country. With the government encouraging the growth of the private sector, it is a great opportunity for Value partners to use their consulting expertise to advise investors on how to strategically allocate their funds. ”

“In recent years, the Kingdom’s government has been making concerted efforts to diversify its economy and minimise its reliance on oil as the sole source of government revenue, at the same time increasing employment opportunities for the growing Saudi population and bringing about reforms on economic, political and social levels,” concluded Al-Kurdi.

Trichur Pooram 2010

2010-04-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

Thrissur Pooram - Overview

Thrissur Pooram is called 'the pooram of all poorams'. It the biggest or the best of all poorams. The Thrissur pooram, is celebrated every year, on the pooram day, in the month of Medam (mid-April to mid-may) month as per the malayalam calendar. While all poorams have a huge influence on surrounding neighborhoods and towns, few other festivals require their active involvement. Thrissur town plays host, for 36 hours from the wee hours of the pooram day, to one of the most largest collection of people and elephants. The richly decorated elephant, as seen during the Thrissur pooram, is now globally recognized, and its association with Kerala. On the pooram day, fifty (50) or more elephants pass through the very center of Thrissur town, the Vadakkunnathan temple. The main features of the pooram festival are these decorated elephants with their nettipattam (decorative headdress), beautiful craftedthe kolam, decorative bells and ornaments etc. Add to this the panchavadyam, the rhythmic beating of the drum, and what would be a cacophony otherwise is turned into an organized but spontaneous symphony. The fireworks display in the early hours of the next day, rival shows held anywhere in the world, without even using many of the modern and newer pyrotechnics.

Thrissur Pooram 2010 date is April 24. The Trichur Puram festival, referred as the Mother of all Poorams, is annually observed in the Malayalam month of Medam (April – May).

Thrissur Pooram is celebrated at of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, situated on a hillock (Thekkinkadu maidan) in the centre of the city, on the Pooram day in the month of Medom (April-May). Processions of richly caparisoned elephants accompanied by percussion ensembles from various neighbouring temples culminate at the Vadakumnathan temple. The most impressive processions are those Thriuvambadi Bhagavathy from the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and the Paramekkavu Bhagavathi from Paramekkavu temple. The celebrations which last for over 36 hours includes parasol displays and firework shows.

Vadakkunnathan is a mere spectator at this festival, lending its premises and grounds for the great event. The pooram festival is also well known for the magnificent display of fireworks. Fire works start in the early hours and the dazzling display last three to four hours.

The Pooram Festival is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making the display of fireworks grander and more colourful. Each group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants and all efforts are made by each party to secure the best elephants in South India and the most artistic and colourful parasols, which are raised on the elephants during the display. Commencing in the early hours of the morning, the celebrations last till the break of dawn, the next day.

The marvellous as well as magical effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination of five percussion and wind instruments is to be felt and enjoyed. Among the varieties of festivals celebrated in Kerala, Thrissur Pooram is the most thunderous, spectacular and dazzling. There are three temples participating in the event. It is an expression of popular fascination for sound and colour, and because of the pageantry, it appeals to all people. The images of the deities from all temples of the village are taken on elephants to the main temple. The climax of the festival is the exhibition of thirty elephants and the famous fireworks at 2.30 am local time.

Vadakumnathan Temple gate

Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple gateAdhering to the medieval Peruvanam tradition, the festival is confined to the temples of Devi (goddess) and Sastha (divine combination of Shiva and Vishnu). Ten deities from the neighboring temples pay obeisance to the presiding deiety of Thrissur.

Principle participants are Paramekkavu and Tiruvambadi, close to the Vadakunnathan temple. Also participating and known as constituent Poorams are the suburban temples at Kanimangalam, Karamukku-Chiyyaram, Choorakkattukara-Amala, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu-Kuttoor, Chembukkavu and Panamukkampilly-Eastfort Thrissur for a total of eight deities. The sprawling Thekkinkadu maidan, encircling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the main venue of the festival .

Reaction to the decision of restructuring Dubai World was exaggerated: Director General of Dubai Finance Department

2009-11-30T22:46:00.000-08:00

The reaction experienced by the world markets in the wake of Dubai government's decision to restructure Dubai World Group was exaggerated, said Abdul Rahman Al Saleh, Director General of Dubai Finance Department. Speaking at the press centre at Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), he underlined that there was huge media mixed up between the Dubai World Group and the Dubai government, adding that Dubai World Group "is a company set up with commercial basis and its transactions with creditors and investors were based on that respect. He added that the group used to get financing based on its commercial status and feasibility of its projects. "The gross mistake of the media is that they deem the company as part of the government. It is baseless", he said, stressing that the government of Dubai has supported the group since its inception. Al Saleh noted that Dubai World Group has implemented huge projects in the emirate of strategic significance, but has been affected by the World Financial Crisis similar to what happened to many corporations worldwide. He added that it faced difficulties in the redemption of its financial obligations, and hence, the decision taken by the government to restructure the company was to help it overcome that situation. He added that the debts and obligations were not guaranteed by the government, indicating that it was set as an independent commercial company. He added that though the government is owner, " the company has multi activities and prone to risks. So from the date one it was indicated that the government is not a guarantor. Therefore, the dealing of company with all parties was based on this conception." Al Saleh underscored that the creditors should bear part of responsibility as they offered loans as per feasibility of projects and not upon the guarantees offered by the government. In reference to the restructure decision, which might have created inconvenience, particularly for the creditors, Al Saleh reiterated that the decision was sound and favours all parties in long term and not short term as Dubai World Group has strategic projects. He emphasised that the reaction was disproportionate to the size of Dubai World Group loan problem and that the situation would be rectified, calling on the media to learn from the experience. Al Saleh said the restructure of companies is normal in many countries through intervention of governments or boards of companies to deal with difficulties of some companies when they occur. He cited the intervention of the UAE Central Bank yesterday to assure the markets and banks, stressing the existence of good federal coordination in this respect. â€“ Emirates News Agency, WAM

UAE recovering from recession

2009-10-18T22:23:00.000-07:00

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will recover from the global recession by the end of the year, UAE envoy to Indian Mohammed Sultan Abdullah Owais has said.
After a meeting with chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan here on Saturday ,he said ,”new jobs will certainly be there and even now things in the country are coming back to normality .the country will recover from the recession fully by the end of the year, “said Mr.Owais,who belongs to a big business family of the UAE.
At least 1.7 million Indians live and work in the seven states of the Emirates.
The newly appointed envoy said:”I decide to visit Kerala first because of the 1.7 million Indian communities in the UAE; haif of them are from south India, especially from Kerala”
He said his priority would be to strengthen the already excellent relations between India and the UAE .”More the 50 per cent of the trade in UAE is with India ($ 44.5 billion),”Mr. Owais said
Mr.Achuthanandan said the UAE authorities should provide a list of Keralites who were jailed in the gulf country.”We have also requested them to see that they increase the number of certificates that are presently being attested in the UAE embassy from 50 to 100 every day. Also we have requested the UAE govt to be a investor at the proposed Vizihinjam international port “Mr.Achuthanandan said.
Mr.Owais said:”we will see that what we can do to increase the number of the certificates that are presently being attested I our embassies. “Prominent UAE-based Malayali businessman M.A.Yusuf Ali, who accompanied Mr.Owais, said that contrary to reports only a few Keralites lost their jobs when recession struck.
“Things are fast coming back to normality and already the construction and already the construction and oil industry in the UAE have started hiring employees,” said Mr.Ali, who is the vice-chairman of ROOTS-NoRKA, the state govt agency that looks into issues concerning non-resident Keralites.-IANS

# Diplomat calls on Chief Minister
# 1.7 Million Indians live in the Emirates

Applications Development Analyst

2009-10-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Job Number: 00118607

Description

Very strong Core JAVA programming skills
Familiarity with J2EE Technology, XML, Web Services, Spring Framework
Should possess basic knowledge on SQL.
Familiarity in OOAD concepts, Design patterns.
Experience in using Eclipse based IDEs and plug-ins / Netbeans IDE and plugins
Good Analytical skills to extrapolate information and troubleshoot problems.
Good knowledge on Software Development Life Cycle.
Excellent communication and analytical skills and should be a quick learner.
Should be self motivated to handle the tasks assigned to him/her and the team he/she is be responsible for.
Must be an innovative and integrative thinker quick to visualize solutions and generate ideas.

Qualifications

B.E/M.E/MCA with 2 - 4 years in Java technologies

Job: Information Technology
Primary Location: IND-10-Bangalore
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Relocation Available: No

APPLY ONLINE

Eclipse Plug-in Development Openings In Bangalore

2009-10-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Eclipse Plug-in Development Openings In Bangalore, India. If interested pls mail your resume to linkedin.reddy@gmail.com
Eclipse Developers
Must have hands on Experience in Eclipse Plug-in Development including technologies like SWT, Jface, EMF and GEF etc.
Proficiency in working with Core Java APIs like I/O, Reflections, AWT etc.
Development experience using Serialization, I18N, Multithreading and Collections Framework.
Development experience in XML-based technologies and transformations inluding DOM,SAX, Xpath, XSLT and XML Persistence.
Having good knowledge of Java Advanced Imaging API and third party APIs/Toolkits for Imaging.

VS to inaugurate IT park in Thrissur

2009-10-10T13:49:00.001-07:00

Thrissur: Kerala’s third Information Technology park to be set up at Koratty will accelerate development in Thrissur district by providing employment to a few thousand people by 2011, according to Sidhartha Bhattacharya, chief executive officer of Infopark. Addressing a press conference at the IT Park in Koratty on Thursday, he said the IT park would promote Kochi and Thrissur under the concept of twin cities.
He said 40,000 sq. ft of space had been allotted under the first phase of the IT park. In the second phase, to be completed by mid-2010, an additional 30,000 sq. ft would be offered. “Creates more jobs”.
The third phase envisaged development of an additional 2 lakh sq ft. with the participation of private agencies and creation of 6,000 jobs. “The response of companies has been encouraging. It prompts us to move into the second phase of development immediately,” he said.
On January 15, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran had handed over documents of 30 acres of land, which was recovered from Vaigai Threads, Koratty, for development of the IT Park. District Collector V.K. Baby said additional land would be provided, if required.
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the IT Park on Saturday.
Among those expected to take part in the function are Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran, Industries Minister Elamaram Karim, Water Resources Minister N. K. Premachandran, Transport Minister Jose Thettayil and Devaswom Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran.

Vallarpadam container terminal to be commissioned in 2010's first quarter

2009-10-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

The Rs.2,118 crore (Rs.21.18 billion) International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) - the country's first global hub terminal, at Vallarpardam near here is nearing completion and will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2010, officials said Saturday.
The facility is being developed by Dubai Port World (earlier known as Dubai Port International) and the container berth will be of 1,800m and have a depth of 14.5m. Addressing reporters while on a visit to the site, Cochin Port Trust chairman N. Ramachandran said that the date for the opening of ICTT would be known soon. 'We will be able to say in the next 15 days when the ICTT will be opened but it will not be delayed beyond the first quarter of next year,' he said. The ICTT is expected to alter the development map of the state through huge investments in the coming years.
The project will see launch a series of ventures including the Rs.1,600-crore (Rs.16 billion) LNG terminal, the Rs.1,510 crore (Rs.15.1 billion) port-based Special Economic Zone, the Rs.315 crore (Rs.3.15 billion) International Ship Repair complex, the Rs.720 crore (Rs.7.2 billion) single buoy moorings for Kochi Refineries Ltd, the Rs.7000 crore (Rs.70 billion) petro chemical complex for Gas Authority of India, an international bunkering terminal, bulk cargo terminals, cruise ship terminals and an international marina.

Sheikh Mohammed launch Dubai Metro the mega rail project at 9pm 09-09-09

2009-09-09T01:30:00.000-07:00

Four years after a consortium called Dubai Rapid Link (DURL) was awarded a design and build contract, Dubai's Metro opens for business on Wednesday.
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum will officially launch the mega rail project at 9pm on Wednesday with celebratory firework displays visible from Mall of the Emirates, Jafilliya, Creek Park and Festival City.
Ten stations on the Red Line will open on day one while the second phase - the Green Line - is scheduled for 2010 and will include a longer underground route covering the central business district of the emirate.
Tickets will start at AED1.80 with a multi-zone single trip costing a maximum of AED5.80.
Transport chiefs say the new rail system will help to curtail burgeoning road traffic demands, particularly during rush hours, and will contribute to a target of 30 percent public transport use.
Last week, it was revealed that the cost of the project has risen more than $3 billion since 2005 to $7.6 billion.
The seeds for the project were sown back in 1992, when a feasibility study known as R400 was completed and concluded that Dubai could no longer rely only on its roads to cater for its escalating traffic demands.
Dubai Metro facts:
Single longest automatic driverless system in the world
Maximum design speed: 110 kph
Average speed between stations: 45 kph
Red and Green interchange at underground stations at Burjuman and Union Square
Red Line - approximately 52km and 29 stations including 4 underground 24 elevated and 1 at grade.
Five car trains to include Gold Car with a section for women and children, and 4 Silver Cars.
Fully Air conditioned trains and stations.
Green Line - approximately 23km and 18 stations including 6 underground and 12 elevated.
Fares vary based on the number of zones passed, but generally, the fares range from AED1.80 for a short trip (less than 3km) to AED5.80 (for an all zone trip), with a maximum daily cap of AED14

UAE retail group eyes $1.17bn Indian expansion plan

2009-08-26T01:57:00.000-07:00

Emke Group, which operates the biggest hypermarket chain in the Middle East under the LuLu and Al Falah brands, is to invest AED4.3 billion ($1.17bn) to expand its network of supermarkets and hypermarkets.
The company is to build 25 new stores to take its total to 100 within the next three years, it was reported on Wednesday.The firm, which opened its 75th hypermarket this month in Al Ain, serves 350,000 shoppers per day, Emke Group managing director Yusuffali MA told the paper his company was entering the lucrative Indian market by developing the biggest shopping mall in Kochi, Kerala, with more than two million square feet of retail area.
According to some industry reports, Emke Group controls about 32.5 percent of the UAE's retail market, followed by French hypermarket chain Carrefour that has a 24 percent share.
The company's total turnover exceeded AED7.6 billion last year, 40 percent of which came from the UAE.
"Despite the global econ-omic crisis, we have witnessed a growth in sales across our network of hypermarkets in the region. This year, we expect our turnover to exceed $2.5 billion up from last year's $2.1 billion ," he told

Kerala government approved seven sub-inspectors and a circle inspector of Keala police in the immigration at Cochin International Airport.

2009-08-17T02:05:00.000-07:00

Nedumbassery: The State government has approved an additional batch of officers, consisting of seven sub-inspectors and a circle inspector of the Kerala police, to be appointed in the immigration wing at the Cochin International Airport.
The airport officials on Monday received an order in this regard from the Home Affairs department.
The new batch of officers, who are expected to join here by the end of this month, has been drawn from various arms of the State police such as the State Rapid Action Force and the Police Academy.
With the new batch, the total number of immigration officials at the department will be 57 and even then, 10 more seats will remain vacant. However, sources in the immigration wing said they would require about 100 more officers to handle the large volume of international passengers through this airport during the holiday seasons.
Cause of delay
Earlier, there were reports that the acute staff shortage in the immigration wing was resulting in a delay of international flight departures from here during the peak hours.
As the number of passengers to West Asian countries has gone up during the season and with most of the counters remaining unmanned, it became difficult for them to handle this flow of international passengers with the existing personnel.

LDF wants 50 pc quota for women in Kerala local bodies

2009-08-17T01:56:00.001-07:00

The CPM-led Left Democratic Front on Friday recommended to the Kerala government to reserve 50 per cent of seats in the local self-governing bodies for women. The move to ensure equal participation for women in local governance would be another mile stone in the state’s effort towards women’s empowerment. Kerala implemented 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions in 1991 itself, bringing in a new crop of leaders to the grassroots-level governance.
LDF convener Vaikkom Vishwan said the co-ordination committee of the ruling front has suggested that the government take necessary steps to reserve half of the seats in the three-tier bodies before the next elections. The state cabinet will soon consider the suggestion as the next elections to the local bodies are likely to take place in September 2010.
“The recommendation would go a long way in achieving equal status for women. The situation also demands greater responsibility on the part of women. They have to take a serious role in the parliamentary politics and strive for better political space to gain upon their male counterparts. Men should not be allowed to do backseat driving,” said Noorbina Rasheed, state general secretary of Women’s League, the women outfit of the Indian Union Muslim League

Kerala Election Results 2009 UDF Wins 16 seats

2009-05-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

Kerala Election Results 2004

2009-05-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

Ramalinga Raju, Chairman of Satyam Computers resigned

2009-01-06T23:38:00.001-08:00

Ramalinga Raju, Chairman of Satyam Computers resigned on Wednesday, Jan 7. It was rather shocking to know the admittance of fraud by Ramalinga Raju. Raju submitted a letter along with a balance sheet to the board. The Balance sheet and letter clearly indicated the fraudulence of Raju.

Raju in his letter states, "the Balance Sheet shows a inflated balance of Rs 5040 crore. Rs 1230 crores has not been reflected in the books," states Raju.

While Ram Myanpati will act as Interim CEO, Merrill Lynch can be entrusted to explore.

As per the revelations, second Quarter numbers were inflated to Rs 2700 crore vs Rs 2112 crore actual numbers. No board member had any knowledge of the real situation of the books.

Shares in Satyam Computer shed all gains to turn negative after Satyam announced its Chairman's resignation from the board. Share prices of Satyam were down by 61.42 per cent at 69.10 rupees. (12.10 pm)

Raju has claimed to stay in the board till it is extended. He also states that he is prepared to subject himself to the law

Sponsor’s nod not needed on visa transfer in six conditions in UAE

2008-12-31T01:09:00.000-08:00

The sponsorship transfer will be granted without the need to get the first sponsor’s approval in six conditions. The ministerial order which came into effect from 10 th September 2005 in implementation of Article No. 5 of the Cabinet Decision No.18 of 2005 has specified six conditions when the Ministry will grant sponsorship transfer without the need for the sponsor’s approval :
· For unpaid workers in the private sector, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will grant sponsorship transfer to them if their complaints of pending wages for three months or more are upheld after a joint investigation by the Labour Relations and Inspection Departments of the Ministry.
· If the worker filed a complaint to the Ministry which was later transferred to the Court, the Ministry will grant the worker a sponsorship transfer based on a relevant judicial order.
· Sponsorship transfer will also be granted by the Ministry in case of the closure of the company following the death of its owner. The closure should be documented before the Ministry.
· Sponsorship transfer will be granted by the Ministry should the ownership of the company be transferred to another establishment. This means that the worker of a sold company will be transferred by the Ministry without the approval of the seller, under the name given by the buying company. This is also applicable in case of mergers between companies. The ownership transfer of the company should be proved in documents before the Ministry. If part of the company was sold to another company, workers of the sold part of the company can be granted exemption for sponsorship transfer.
· The closure of the company against an administrative or judicial decision gives the Ministry the right to grant sponsorship transfer to the workers.
The Minister will endorse sponsorship transfer for cases that are recommended and submitted to him by the concerned departments of the Ministry.
The other conditions referred above in the first paragraph on this chapter should also be fulfilled.

Satyam Computer Chairman Ramalinga Raju pleads for employees' support

2008-12-30T05:58:00.000-08:00

India's largest IT Company, Satyam Computers has been under persistent pressure by investors and board of members over the Maytas acquisition fiasco. Mounting pressure has made Satyam Computer Chairman Ramalinga Raju on Tuesday, Dec 30 solicit support of the employees stating everything possible would be done to put back the company on track.
Reacting to the resignations of four Directors, Raju said, "The Board arrived at its decision to bid for Maytas by following all required processes and procedures and while there was a spirited discussion among members, their vote to approve the motion was unanimous."
Raju has written an open letter to the employees stating, "please be assured that the Board and the leadership team are doing everything that's possible to get Satyam back on track.
We cannot do this without your help... I ask for your continued faith in Satyam and for your steadfast focus on your customers, specially in the face of wild speculation and unchecked rumours."
The letter was written amid the uneasiness among the over 50,000 employees of the company. and amidst speculation that a chunk of its talented employees were already looking for other options.

FICCI predicts 10 to 15 % price cut in Indian realestate market

2008-12-21T23:00:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: Despite talks of recent downturn in property prices, developers are unlikely to reduce prices, as the realty players feel that their properties are well- priced, says industry body FICCI.
"Voluntary reduction of property prices are not on the cards of developers. Barring very few developers, who have already reduced their prices, majority feel that their properties are rightly priced," said the Chamber in its latest study on the scenario of property prices in the country.
According to the report, developers may cut prices "by 10-15 per cent and not beyond only if the situation does not improve in the next few months".
The study underlined that developers seemed to have realised the need for affordable and mid-range housing to survive the current slowdown.
FICCI also said due to higher risks of investing in real estate, the sector would witness lower private equity deals in the next 12 months, as funds would not be easily accessible.
"...valuations are expected to go down further and the costs are going to be very high for developers," it added.
Regarding housing projects, FICCI said: "After having reached its peak, residential real estate in India will witness a steady down cycle for next few months. There is time and cost overrun in the existing projects while new projects are being deferred."
Such a situation would eventually lead to a reduction in price in the coming four quarters and the market was expected to turn in favour of end-users, the report said.
According to the industry body, high interest rates have dwindled the demand for properties, while scarcity of funds and slimming of liquidity have affected the supply side on commercial real estate.
"The corporates are postponing their expansion plans as they are expecting the prices to fall further. Instances of deferment in projects and delays in execution of ongoing projects are numerous," it said.
An increasing number of developers are now shifting their focus to demand based developments due to oversupply of commercial spaces, the report added.
Stating that many realty firms have diversified in the recent times to counter falling sales in the property market, FICCI said: "To beat the slowdown, some prominent companies are considering entering new areas like coal mining, big-ticket irrigation projects, transmission lines, telecom and core infrastructure projects."
On the PSU banks' recent reduction in interest rates, the report said that the upper limit of the special package for home loans should be increased to Rs 30 lakh from the current Rs 20 lakh.
FICCI has suggested measures, including simplification of land-holding framework, single-window approval for projects, use of technology to keep land records and release of more urban lands, for a healthy functioning of the realty sector.
In addition, the report has suggested allotment of higher floor space index (FSI) for integrated township projects to make properties more affordable.

Government has no magic wand to solve foreign labour concerns

2008-12-17T01:16:00.002-08:00

WAM Abu Dhabi, 16th Dec. 2008 (WAM) -- Around 250,000 UAE nationals are projected to enter the private sector labour market over the next 13 years and the economic development pattern could bring a similar figure of foreign workers into the country by 2020, Labour Minister HE Saqr Gobash discolsed today.

''There are no quick or magic solutions to the foreign workforce issue,'' the minister told a session of the Federal National Council (FNC) to discuss the policy of his ministry.

The minister unveiled an important initiative by the country's leadership for creating a permanent council to tackle the imbalance in the demographic structure and formulate policies to achieve good percentage of Emiratisation.

''The establishment of the said body could take sometimes ......... perhaps weeks or months,''he said.

Asked about the work permits which according to the FNC members reached about two millions this year, the minister said the policy of work permits is based on requirements of development.

''It's the restructuring of the economy rather than labour procedures that will phase out this problem,''he affirmed, calling for more concerted efforts between the local and federal governments in this respect.

Speaking about workers rights, the minister asserted that :''the government doesn't seek to strike a balance in this matter because of international pressure but its move on this direction was guided by its legislations.

The house members made a series of recommendations which called among other measures for creating an independent ministry for housing to chalk out feasible demographic policies and a strategic plan for increasing Emiratisation.

The recommendations also called for introducing incentive-driven policies to encourage nationals engage in technical and vocational fields.

The members also demanded the house to set up a committee to examine and analyse the demographic situation with the focus on policies regarding Emiratisation and replacement. The committee will also study challenges facing the national identity and influence of expatriate workforce on national security.

Government has no magic wand to solve foreign labour concerns

2008-12-17T01:16:00.001-08:00

Global miner Rio Tinto to cut 14,000 jobs, slash spending

2008-12-10T00:22:00.000-08:00

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Global miner Rio Tinto, saddled with nearly $40 billion in net debt, said it would cut 13 percent of its workforce, slash capital spending and boost asset sales as it battles a collapse in commodity markets.

Rio has been under pressure to detail plans to cut borrowings since its share price slumped after larger rival BHP Billiton scrapped a $66 billion takeover bid for the company last month.

"What they've done has more than allayed fears in the market that they were going to come and have an equity issue," said Tim Schroeders, portfolio manager at Pengana Capital in Melbourne.

"Drastic times call for drastic measures. They've addressed all parts of the equation. They've definitely gone into survival mode, which is appropriate given the market circumstances," Schroeders said.

Rio's London shares jumped more than 10 percent as trading started. Its Australian shares closed up 12 percent at A$37.40, as investors anticipated its announcement, said UBS analyst Glyn Lawcock.

The group's shares had slumped 54 percent in the past month, more than five times the drop in the broader market.

Rio said it would reduce its global headcount by 14,000, including nearly 6 percent of its own employees and more than half its contractors, and increase the range of assets it was looking to sell, but said it was too early to be specific.

"Given the difficult and uncertain economic conditions, and the unprecedented rate of deterioration of our markets, our imperative is to maximize cash generation and pay down debt," Rio Tinto Chief Executive Tom Albanese said.

"We will minimize our operating and capital costs to appropriately low levels until we see credible and meaningful signs of a recovery in our markets, but will retain our strategic growth options."

Rio took on huge bank debt to fund last year's $38 billion acquisition of Alcan, and pledged to raise $15 billion, most of it this year, from selling non-core assets, including Alcan's packaging business and Rio's U.S. coal business.

9,200 job cuts at Washington Mutual planned

2008-12-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

JPMorgan Chase said it will eliminate about 9,200 jobs at the former Washington Mutual, which on September 25 became the largest US bank to fail.

The cuts amount to more than 21 per cent of the work force at Washington Mutual, which ended June with 43,198 employees.

Washington Mutual had been the largest US savings and loan before JPMorgan bought its banking assets for $1.9 billion (Dh6.97bn) in a transaction arranged by US regulators. The holding company for Seattle-based Washington Mutual later filed for bankruptcy protection.

About 4,000 of the jobs will be cut by the end of January, and another 5,200 later, JPMorgan spokesman Christine Holevas said.

The 5,200 workers will receive double their annual salaries retroactive to October 1, payable in a lump sum when their employment ends, Holevas said.

Seattle will bear the brunt of the cuts, with 3,400 layoffs out of a total of 4,300 Washington Mutual employees in the city, JPMorgan said. Another 1,600 layoffs will be in the San Francisco area, and the remaining 4,200 will be elsewhere.

Most branch workers will keep their jobs. The combined company has about 5,400 branches, and JPMorgan has said it plans to close no more than 10 per cent.

Holevas said JPMorgan has not decided the fate of Washington Mutual's headquarters building in Seattle.

Washington Mutual collapsed under the weight of roughly $176bn of home equity, adjustable-rate and subprime home loans on its books. It is one of 22 US lenders to fail this year.

Bank of America Corp, which is set to acquire Merrill Lynch before the end of the year, is also expected to cut about 10,000 investment banking jobs at the combined banks, CNBC reported.
Bank of America spokesman Scott Silvestri said: "We are following the same review process to evaluate staffing levels used in every merger transition and we have nothing to announce." Bank of America and Merrill shareholders are scheduled to vote on the merger on December 5.

Credit Suisse to cut 5,300 jobs

2008-12-04T04:53:00.000-08:00

Troubled Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse has said it is shedding another 5,300 jobs from its global workforce.

Most of the jobs being lost are in investment banking. The firm has already shed 1,800 posts this year.

The bank has struggled since the onset of the financial crisis and has been forced to write off assets worth billions owing to bad loans.

It said it had a net loss of about 3bn Swiss francs ($2.5bn; £1.7bn) in the two months to the end of November.

Credit Suisse said the loss, primarily in investment banking, was due to adverse market conditions and risk reduction. In addition it will take a restructuring charge of 900m Swiss francs.

"Investment banking had a significant pretax loss, reflecting the challenging conditions in the financial markets in the quarter and the costs associated with risk reduction," Credit Suisse said in a statement.

Nakheel cuts 500 jobs - Real Estate - ArabianBusiness.com

2008-11-30T02:43:00.000-08:00

by Lin NoueihedThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 30 November 2008

JOB CUTS: Nakheel has reduced its workforce by 15 percent as it scales back projects. (ITP Images)Dubai government-owned Nakheel, developer of the Gulf trade hub's man-made palm islands, said on Sunday it had cut 500 jobs or 15 percent of its workforce as it scales back projects amid the global financial crisis.

'We have the responsibility to adjust our short term business plans to accommodate the current global environment,' it said in a statement quoting a spokesperson.

'The redundancies are indeed regrettable, but a necessity dictated by operational requirements which are in turn dependent on demand.'"

Terror attacks in Mumbai; six foreigners among 101 dead

2008-11-27T03:28:00.001-08:00

Terror attacks in Mumbai; six foreigners among 101 dead

27 Nov 2008, 0900 hrs IST, TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: At least 101 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen in Mumbai, police said on Thursday. ( Watch

Army personnel take position at the Gateway of India that stands in front of Taj Hotel in Mumbai. (Reuters Photo)

More Pictures

)

"At least six foreigners have been killed and the death figure has gone up to 101 now," Ramesh Tayde, a senior police officer told from Mumbai's control room.

In one of the most violent terror attacks on Indian soil, Mumbai came under an unprecedented night attack as terrorists used heavy machine guns, including AK-47s, and grenades to strike at the city's most high-profile targets -- the hyper-busy CST (formerly VT) rail terminus; the landmark Taj Hotel at the Gateway and the luxury Oberoi Trident at Nariman Point; the domestic airport at Santa Cruz; the Cama and GT hospitals near CST; the Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dockyard -- killing at least 101 and sending hundreds of injured to hospital, according to latest reports. ( Watch )

The attacks have taken a tragic toll on the city's top police brass: The high-profile chief of the anti-terror squad Hemant Karkare was killed; Mumbai's additional commissioner of police (east) Ashok Kamte was gunned down outside the Metro; and celebrated encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar was also killed. ( Watch )

Barack Obama Wins Presidency

2008-11-05T00:19:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama was elected the nation's first black president Tuesday night in a historic triumph that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself.

The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his victory by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states - Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Iowa.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., center, waves to the crowd with his wife Michelle Obama, left, daughters Malia Obama, right, and Sasha Obama, lower middle, during a rally Sunday, Nov, 2, 2008, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

Etihad plans to carry 25 mn passengers by 2020

2008-09-23T04:18:00.000-07:00

WAM Abu Dhabi, Sept.21st, 2008 (WAM) -- Etihad Airways has set its sights on flying 25 million passengers a year by 2020, according to the Abu Dhabi-based airline's chief executive, James Hogan, and doubling the number of cities served from 50 to 100.

Mr Hogan announced the ambitious targets when addressing the American media in New York, one of the legs of a special visit he conducted recently to the USA and Canada.

In addition to the flight network growth, which supports the order of 100 Airbus and Boeing aircraft that was made at the Farnborough International Airshow 2008, Etihad's workforce could also grow to 27,000 people by 2020, from its current 6,600, with most of the jobs based in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Hogan said: 'Etihad already a substantial business and we signalled our intentions for the future by making recently one of the largest ever commercial aircraft orders. Our projections to 2020 reflect that order and the scale of our ambitions, closely aligned to the growth of Abu Dhabi as an economic and tourism powerhouse.' Etihad recently released figures which showed that the carrier enjoyed its busiest summer period in its four year history with a total of more than 1.6 million passengers flying during June, July and August.

Mild tremors were experienced in Karnataka

2008-09-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

Bangalore, Sep 12: Mild tremors were experienced by the residents of Kengeri, HSR Layout and JP Nagar areas of Bangalore City at 8.50 am on Friday, Sep 12. Panicked residents hurried out of their houses. No casualities have been reported.

"We heard a loud noise and experienced a mild tremor. We didnot realise what the noise was. We hurried out of the house and enquired about the noise and tremor to the neighbours had the same experience, says Vishal

IT major Infosys to acquire UK's Axon

2008-08-27T01:12:00.000-07:00

IT major Infosys to acquire UK's Axon: "Bangalore, Aug 26: Infosys Technologies Ltd, one of the leading Indian technology services provider, on Monday, Aug 25 said it has agreed to buy Axon Group PLC, a British consulting firm, for about $753 million. Axon specialises in implementation of SAP AG's enterprise software. It has about 2,000 employees and offices in Britain, North America, Malaysia and Australia."

Prajarajyam: Chiranjeevi's new political party

2008-08-27T01:11:00.000-07:00

Prajarajyam: Chiranjeevi's new political party: "Tirupati, Aug 26: Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi launched a new political party on Tuesday, Aug 26. Chiru named his party as Prajarajyam. He told his party is of the people, for the people, by the people. He told to the huge crowd of about ten lakh people who gathered at Tirupati that he had enterd politics to serve them, the people. My priority is for the farmers and working class."

Ramadan Fasting: Health Benefits and Problems

2008-08-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

Muslims from across the world stay ordained to the Quran and fast for the whole of Ramadan month. Fasting is a part of pleasing God, in almost all religions. Probably, the health benefits of fasting were known to our forefathers several centuries ago.

Though the primary aim of fasting by Muslims is to conform to religious norms, fasting brings in several health benefits too. While considering health benefits, there are also a few problems to consider and precautions to take while fasting.

Those who suffer from medical conditions like coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc are exempt from fasting. The negative effects of total fasting include hypokalemia (drastic drop of blood potassium levels), cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat), etc. Ramadan fasting is not total fasting and believers take nutrients needed for the body, through the systematically planned early morning and evening food.

Lowering of blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure are the first notable physiological changes.

Diabetes patients need to take extra care while fasting. Hypoglycaemia, a condition characterised by abnormal drop of blood sugar levels can cause health problems. Diabetic patients should reduce intake of medicines or insulin injection during fasting. Monitoring of blood sugar levels is also desirable. Conditions like tiredness, sweating, headaches, unconsciousness, etc are the symptoms of abnormally low levels of blood sugar levels.

Hyperglycaemia- this is the reverse of hypoglycaemia, characterised by increase of blood sugar levels. This is mainly due to the medicines you take to sustain blood sugar levels. Increase in blood sugar levels can cause problems to kidney and eyes.

Problems of Acidity and Ulcer – bile can get filled up in stomach, which causes acidity and ulcer.

Healthy individuals have considerable health benefits from Ramadan fasting. It is an effective detoxification therapy. Toxins accumulated in the body break down and pass out of the body.

Fasting is ideal for both overweight and underweight persons. It is commonsense how fasting works to reduce weight. During fasting, deposited fat gets used and burns down and facilitates weight loss.

Fasting also normalizes the digestive system of underweight persons, and equips body to digest and assimilate nutrients from the food they eat.

Fasting can also clear many skin problems. This is because of the elimination of toxic materials from the body and generally cleansing the blood.

Fasting has advantages in getting rid of addictions and unhealthy habits like smoking and taking alcohol.

Ramadan fasting improves the health condition of healthy people. But for people who suffer from any medical condition should monitor their body and physiology more closely.

Pregnant and feeding women are exempted from fasting and they shall not attempt fasting, as it can deprive nutrition to both mother and child.

Get a Dubai visit visa for a family member

2008-07-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

Last updated: July 28, 2008

Please note the new changes to the procedures and fees effective from 29th July, 2008

Criteria:

Visit visas for immediate family members can be obtained by residents (called sponsors), whose monthly salary is not less than AED 4000 or AED 3000 + accommodation.

Validity of Visa:

Short term visa: 30 days
Long term visa: 90 days
No extensions are permitted beyond this period.

Fees
• Short term visa: AED 620 application fee + typing fees
• Long term visa: AED 1120 application fee+ typing fees

Documents Required:
• Typed Application form
• A copy of the sponsor’s passport & family member's passport
• 1 photo of the family member (may be required)
• Marriage contract attested from Ministry of Foreign Affairs or UAE Embassy (for sponsoring a wife or husband)
• Attested birth certificates (for sponsoring children)
• Relationship proof attested from the Embassy (in case relationship cannot be proved from family names in sponsor and relative's passport)
• Attested work contract if the sponsor is working in a private company or a salary certificate if working in government.

Procedure:
1. Go to any authorized typing office & get application form typed.
2. Go to DNRD & submit along with your documents to Visa Section.
3. Send either original or copy to your relative. If only copy was sent, then deposit original at the airport or the DNATA counter at DNRD

Visiting Dubai- Visa rules

2008-07-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting this page. At the bottom you will find a link to download a visa application form and also links to the UAE's Embassies and Consulates around the world.

Many people consult this page in order to find information on how to apply for a visa to enter the UAE. The good news is that the UAE authorities have taken many steps to make this process as straightforward as possible. Apart from the fact that citizens of 39 countries (i.e. GCC nationals plus nationals of listed countries) do not require visas prior to arrival at a UAE airport, there are efficient systems in place to facilitate visitors not falling into one of the above categories. If you are coming to work in the UAE you will require a visa that can only be obtained on your behalf by your employer or sponsor.

As noted above, the kind of visa that you require for entry into the UAE depends on several different factors such as your nationality, the purpose of your planned visit and its planned duration. Please read the following notes carefully. You may also find information on this subject in our news archive. Regulations do change from time to time and, whilst we do endeavour to keep up to date with these note, please do not rely uon them for complete accuracy. You should also check with your airline and regional UAE embassy or consulate.

- If you are a national citizen of a GCC country you do not require a visa to visit the UAE. You will simply need to produce your GCC country passport upon arrival at the point of entry into the UAE

- The following categories of visitors may receive their visit visa at the airport, upon arrival.

1. AGCC Residents who are not GCC nationals but who have a high professional status such as company managers, business people, auditors, accountants, doctors, engineers, pharmacists, or employees working in the public sector, their families, drivers and personal staff sponsored by them, are eligible for a non-renewable 30-day visa upon arrival at the approved ports of entry.

2. National citizens of the following countries:

UK(with the right of abode in UK), France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and holders of Hong Kong SAR passports will be granted a free of charge visa for a single visit upon arrival in the UAE. It should be noted that this list may vary slightly from time to time and it is therefore best to check with your local UAE embassy or the airline that you are using to fly to the UAE.

- If you do NOT fall into one of the above categories, you will require a visa and a sponsor for your visit. The sponsor normally applies for the visa on your behalf.
Valid sponsors may be as follows:-
a - Hotels & Tourist Companies can apply, on your behalf, for a Tourist Visa (valid for 30 days); or a Service Visa (valid for 14 days); or a Visit Visa (valid for 30 days and can be extended for other 30 days)
b - Airlines & Airlines Handlers apply on behalf of their crew members for a 96-hour Transit Visa.
c - Other Organizations based in the UAE may only apply for Visit Visas and Service Visas.
d - Individuals (Relatives or Friends) already resident in the UAE may, subject to guidlines, also apply on your behalf for a Visit Visa.

Entry Service Permit

An Entry Service Permit applies to the following categories and their families accompanying them: company manager’s representatives, sales managers, account auditors, delegations from companies or establishments to carry out a commercial activity in the UAE, consultants requested by companies operating in the UAE that are required to carry out an urgent task.

This visa is valid for use within 14 days from the date of issue. The duration of stay is 14 days from date of entry, exclusive of arrival and departure days. It is non-renewable.

In order to complete the application, the sponsor will require the visitor’s date of arrival and flight details, and a photocopy of the first few pages of the visitor’s passport which should be valid for at least three months. This type of entry permit will only be issued as urgent at a fee of AED 220.

The Entry Service Permit holder may enter and depart the UAE through any airport.

Visit Visa

The Visit Visa applies to tourists who wish to spend more than 14 days in UAE, those coming for family visits as well as those on long-term business visits. It requires the sponsorship of any UAE resident or any company or hotel licensed to operate within the UAE. A refundable AED 2,000 guarantee from expatriates who wish to sponsor distant relatives is imposed.

This visa is valid for entry within two months from its date of issue.

The Visit Visa is valid for 60 days and is renewable for a total stay of up to 90 days. A fee of AED 500 is charged for this renewal.

In order to complete the application, the sponsor will require the visitor’s date of arrival and arrival details and a photocopy of the first few pages of the visitor’s passport, which must be valid for at least three months. There is a fee of AED 100 for obtaining a visit visa. There is also a fee of AED 10 for visa delivery service by DNATA. Hotels, hotel apartments, tour operators, travel agents and airlines may not levy supplementary charges or processing fees in excess of AED 50/- for arranging visas for visitors.

The Visit Visa holder may enter and leave the country through any port of entry in the UAE.

Tourist Visa

A special category of visas under the Visit Visa type is a Tourist Visa, which can be obtained for individual tourists from: East and West Europe, Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine, Albania, Russia, the Hellenic Republic, St Kitts-Navis, St Lucia, Mexico, Cuba, Bermuda, Belize, Guyana, French Guiana, Martinique, Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent, Kingston, Palao other non-defined American nationalities, Thailand, South Africa, Singapore, China, Malta, Cyprus.

The Tourist Visa entitles its holder to a 30 day stay and is non-renewable. The Tourist Visa requires the sponsorship of hotels and tour operators who bring in visitors from the above listed countries. The fee is AED 100. There is also a fee of AED 10 for visa delivery service by DNATA. Hotels, hotel apartments, tour operators, travel agents and airlines may not levy supplementary charges or processing fees in excess of AED 50/- for arranging visas for visitors.

Multiple Entry Visas

Multiple-entry Visas are issued to business visitors who have a relationship with either a multinational or other reputable local company, and who are frequent visitors to the UAE. This type of visa is valid for six months from the date of issue and the duration of each stay is 30 days. The validity is non-renewable. The cost of this visa is AED 1,000.

The visitor must enter the UAE on a visit visa and obtain the multiple entry visa while in the country. The visa is stamped on the passport.

Transit Visa

Transit passengers stopping at Dubai International Airport for a minimum of 8 hours and meeting the certain conditions mentioned below are eligible for obtaining a 96-hour transit visa. These conditions are as follow:

Airlines sponsored only (prior arrangements maybe required)

Applications should have confirmed onward booking to the 3rd destination

For transit passengers or those holding special permits, or for visit or mission, the passport or the document must be valid for at least three months

Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the 96 hours visa on arrival:

Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, and Yemen.

The transit visas for passengers arriving at Dubai International Airport can be arranged by Emirates Airline for its passengers or by Marhaba Services for those travelling on other airlines. Marhaba Services Tel: 00971 4 2162657; 2164629

email: marhaba@emirates.co

German Citizens

The German citizens (tourists and business people) may apply to the UAE embassy in Germany for a one or two year multiple-entry visa. No sponsor is required. The maximum duration of stay of visa holders should not exceed three months a year. The visa fee is AED 1,500

US Citizens

The US citizens (tourists and business people) may apply to the UAE embassies in the US for one to ten year multiple-entry visas. A sponsor is required and the visa will be granted free of charge. The maximum duration of stay should not exceed six months a visit

Information that you will need to apply for a Visa

We suggest that you enquire from your airline whether you require a visa to be issued in your passport prior to flying to the UAE and you also check with your nearest UAE Embassy or Consulate.You may download a visa application form here but this is subject to change and you should check with your UAE Embassy or Consulate whether this is acceptable.Your application on a valid form must be submitted to your nearest UAE Embassy or Consulate.

Some additional links are provided below:

Up-to-date information on visas is available from the UAE Immigration Services.

The UAE Naturalisation and Residency Administration of the Ministry of the Interior in Dubai also runs a website.

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IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS in the UAE

Abu Dhabi

Saeed bin Tahnoon St.

Abu Dhabi

Tel: 02 4462244

Al Ain

Aditaba Road, near Dubai Islamic Bank, opposite Carrefour supermarket.

Tel: 03 7625555

Dubai

Department of Naturalization and Residency, Trade Centre Road, near Bur Dubai Police Station

Tel: 04 3980000

Sharjah

Department for Naturalization and Residence, near General Post Office

Tel: 06 5726777

Umm al-Qaiwain

Tel: 06 7666419

Ajman

Tel: 06 7422255

Ra's as-Khaimah

Tel: 07 2273333

2008-06-10T04:34:00.000-07:00

ന്യൂഡല്‍ഹി: മികച്ച ചിത്രം ഉള്‍പ്പടെ ഒമ്പത് ദേശീയ അവാര്‍ഡുകളുമായി മലയാള ചലചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ ഒരിക്കല്‍ കൂടി ഇന്ത്യന്‍ സിനമയുടെ മുന്‍ നിരയിലേക്ക്. പ്രീയനന്ദനന്‍റെ പുലി ജന്‍മം 2006ലെ ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച ചിത്രത്തിനുള്ള അവാര്‍ഡ് സ്വന്തമാക്കിയപ്പോള്‍ കമലിന്‍റെ കറുത്തപക്ഷികള്‍ ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച കുടുംബചിത്രത്തിനും മേജര്‍ രവിയുടെ കീര്‍ത്തിചക്ര ദേശിയോത്ഗ്രഥന ചിത്രത്തിനുള്ള അവാര്‍ഡും സ്വന്തമാക്കി.

ഏകാന്തം എന്ന ചിത്രത്തിലെ അഭിനയത്തിന് തിലകന്‍ ജ്യൂറിയുടെ പ്രത്യേക പുരസ്കാരം നേടി. ഏകാന്തം സംവിധാനം ചെയ്ത മധു കൈതപ്രമാണ് മികച്ച നവാഗത സംവിധായകന്‍. മലയാളത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച ചിത്രമായി എം പി സുകുമാരന്‍ നായരുടെ ദൃഷ്ടാന്തം ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച മലയാള ചിത്രമായി തെരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെട്ടു.

ആദ്യ ചലച്ചിത്രത്തിനുള്ള ഇന്ദിരാഗാന്ധി പുരസ്‌കാരം മധു കൈതപ്രത്തിന്‍റെ ഏകാന്തവും കബീര്‍ ഖാന്‍റെ കാബൂള്‍ എക്‌സ്‌പ്രസും പങ്കിട്ടു. മികച്ച ജീവചരിത്ര ഡോക്യുമെന്‍ററി- മിനുക്ക് (സംവിധായകന്‍‍-എം.ആര്‍ രാജന്‍). ചലച്ചിത്ര നിരൂപണം-ജി.പി രാമചന്ദ്രന്‍. മികച്ച വിവരണം നെടുമുടി വേണു (മിനുക്ക്).

ട്രാഫിക് സിഗ്നല്‍ എന്ന ചിത്രം സംവിധാനം ചെയ്ത മധുര്‍ ഭണ്ഡാര്‍ക്കറാണ് മികച്ച സംവിധായകന്‍. സൌമിത്രോ ചാറ്റര്‍ജിയാണ് മികച്ച നടനും പരുത്തിവീരന്‍ എന്ന ചിത്രത്തിലെ അഭിനയത്തിലൂടെ പ്രിയാമണി മികച്ച നടിയായുമായി തെരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെട്ടു. മികച്ച സഹനടനായി മറാഠി നടന്‍ ദിലീപിനെയും മികച്ച സഹനടിയാ‍യി കൊങ്കണാസെന്നിനെയും തെരെഞ്ഞെടുത്തു. ലെഗെ രഹോ മുന്നാഭായ് മികച്ച ജനപ്രീതി നേടിയ ചിത്രത്തിനുള്ള അവാര്‍ഡ് കരസ്ഥമാക്കി. മികച്ച തിരക്കഥയ്ക്കുള്ള പുരസ്കാരവും മുന്നാഭായിക്കു തന്നെയാണ്. നാല് ദേശീയ അവാര്‍ഡുകളാണ് മുന്നാഭായി സ്വന്തമാക്കിയത്.

ബംഗാള്‍ സംവിധായകന്‍ ബുദ്ധദേവ് ദാസ് ഗുപ്ത ചെയര്‍മാനായ ജൂറിയാണ് അവാര്‍ഡ് നിര്‍ണയിച്ചത്. കേരളത്തില്‍ സംവിധായകന്‍ ഹരികുമാര്‍, നിര്‍മ്മാതാവ് കിരീടം ഉണ്ണി എന്നിവര്‍ ജൂറിയില്‍ അംഗങ്ങളായിരുന്നു.

Petrole Price hiked Rs 5

2008-06-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Jun 4: The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has ended its meeting on the fuel hike, deciding to hike the fuel prices. Petrol price hiked by Rs 5 per litre. Diesel by Rs 3 per litre and LPG per cylinder by Rs 50. There is no increase in kerosene rates at present.

Petrol products excise duty cut from 10 to 5 per cent. Estimated loss of revenue for the Government is Rs 22,660 crores. Custom duty on petrol and diesel down to 2.5 per cent from 7.5 per cent. Excise duty on petrol and diesel is cut by Rs 1. Left parties said that the private companies should be taxed not the common people. Left parties are set to hold nationwide protest from June 5 to June 11.

സന്തോഷ് മാധവന്റെ സുഹൃത്തുക്കള്‍ ആരൊക്കെ

2008-05-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Santhosh Madhavan alias Swami Amritha Chaithanya

Santhosh Madhavan, alias Amruta Chaitanya who was arrested by Kerala Police has a mysterious history and background

സ്വാമിയുടെ ആല്‍ബത്തിലെ അപൂര്‍വ ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍

വ്യാവസായിക വളര്‍ച്ചാനിരക്ക് ഇടിഞ്ഞു

2008-05-13T03:36:00.000-07:00

ന്യൂഡല്‍ഹി: മാര്‍ച്ചില്‍ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ വ്യാവസായിക വളര്‍ച്ചാ നിരക്ക് വെറും 3 ശതമാനമായി ചുരുങ്ങി. ഉയര്‍ന്ന തോതിലുള്ള പണപ്പെരുപ്പ നിരക്കാണ് വ്യാവസായിക വളര്‍ച്ചാ നിരക്കില്‍ ഇത്രയേറെ കുറവുണ്ടാവാന്‍ പ്രധാന കാരണമെന്ന് ഈ രംഗത്തെ വിദഗ്ദ്ധര്‍ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടുന്നു

കഴിഞ്ഞ വര്‍ഷം മാര്‍ച്ചില്‍ ഇത് 14.8 ശതമാനമായിരുന്നു. 2007-‌ 08 മാര്‍ച്ചിലെ വ്യാവസായിക ഉല്‍പ്പാദന നിരക്ക് 8.1 ശതമാനമാണ്. 2006 07 ല്‍ ഇത് 11.6 ശതമാനമായിരുന്നു. ഉല്‍പ്പാദന മേഖലയിലെ വളര്‍ച്ചാ നിരക്കിലെ കുറവാണ് ഇതിനു പ്രധാന കാരണമായി വിദഗ്ദ്ധര്‍ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടുന്നത്.

ഉല്‍പ്പാദന മേഖലയിലെ വളര്‍ച്ചാ നിരക്ക് 2007 മാര്‍ച്ചില്‍ 16 ശതമാനം ആയിരുന്നത് 2008 മാര്‍ച്ചില്‍ കേവലം 2.9 ശതമാനം മാത്രമാണ്.

ഇതിനൊപ്പം വൈദ്യുതി ഉല്‍പ്പാദനവും ഗണ്യമായി കുറഞ്ഞു. 2008 മാര്‍ച്ചിലെ ഈ രംഗത്തെ വളര്‍ച്ചാ നിരക്ക് കേവലം 3.7 ശതമാനം മാത്രമാണ്.

നാനോ: വമ്പന്മാര്‍ക്ക് ഭീഷണി

2008-05-13T03:35:00.001-07:00

നാനോ: വമ്പന്മാര്‍ക്ക് ഭീഷണി

ടൊറന്‍റോ: വെറും 2500 ഡോളറെന്ന മോഹിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വിലയുമായി വിപണിയില്‍ എത്താന്‍ പോകുന്ന ടാറ്റയുടെ ചെറുകാര്‍ നാനോ വടക്കേ അമേരിക്കയുടെ വാഹനവിപണിക്ക് ഭീഷണിയാകുമെന്ന് സൂചന.

ബ്രസീല്‍, ഇന്ത്യാ, റഷ്യാ, ചൈന എന്നീ രാജ്യങ്ങള്‍ ഈ വര്‍ഷം ഉത്പാദനത്തില്‍ മുന്നില്‍ എത്തുമെന്നിരിക്കെ ഇന്ത്യയില്‍ നിന്നും ചൈനയില്‍ നിന്നും വിപണിയിലെത്തുന്ന ചെറുകാറുകള്‍ വടക്കേ അമേരിക്കയുടെ വാഹനവിപണിക്ക് ഭീഷണിയാകുമെന്നാണ് കരുതപ്പെടുന്നത്.

കാര്‍ വില കുറയ്ക്കുകയും, സ്പെയര്‍‌പാര്‍ട്സുകള്‍ വിദേശത്തു നിന്ന് എത്തിക്കുന്നതിലെ കാലതാമസം ഒഴിവാക്കുകയും ചെയ്തില്ലെങ്കില്‍ അത് ദോഷം ചെയ്യുമെന്ന് കാനഡ വ്യവസായ മന്ത്രി ജിം പ്രെസ്റ്റിസ് പറഞ്ഞു. വിലയില്‍ പിന്നില്‍ നില്‍ക്കുന്ന ഇന്ത്യന്‍ -ചൈനീസ് വാഹനങ്ങളെ മറികടക്കും എന്നാണ് കരുതപ്പെടുന്നത്.

സെപ്തംബര്‍ 11നു ശേഷം നാഫ്തയുടെ കര്‍ശന നിയമവും സുരക്ഷയും മൂലം അമേരിക്ക, കാനഡ, മെക്സിക്കോ തുടങ്ങിയ രാജ്യങ്ങള്‍ ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടിലാണ്. കാലതാമസം, ഉയര്‍ന്ന പരിശോധനാ ഫീസ്, അഡീഷനല്‍ ഫീസുകള്‍, സുരക്ഷാ മാനദണ്ഡങ്ങള്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവ വാഹന വിപണിക്ക് പ്രതിബന്ധമായിരിക്കുകയാണ്.

ഇക്കാര്യത്തില്‍ അടിയന്തരമായി നടപടി സ്വീകരിക്കുകയും നിയമങ്ങളില്‍ അയവുവരുത്തുകയും ചെയ്തില്ലെങ്കില്‍ ഇന്ത്യന്‍-ചൈനീസ് വാഹനങ്ങള്‍ വടക്കേ അമേരിക്കയില്‍ ഇടം പിടിക്കുമെന്നാണ് മന്ത്രി നല്‍കുന്ന മുന്നറിയിപ്പ്.

സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവന്‍ പിടിയിലായി

2008-05-13T03:28:00.000-07:00

കൊച്ചി: വിവാദ സ്വാമി അമൃതചൈതന്യ എന്ന സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവന്‍ പൊലീസ്‌ പിടിയിലായതായി സൂചന. ഹൈക്കോടതിയില്‍ നിന്നും മുന്‍കൂര്‍ ജാമ്യം തേടാന്‍ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നതിനിടെയാണ്‌ സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവന്‍ പിടിയിലായെന്ന വാര്‍ത്ത പരക്കുന്നത്‌.

പൊലീസ്‌ രഹസ്യകേന്ദ്രത്തില്‍ വച്ച്‌ ഇയാളെ ചോദ്യം ചെയ്‌തുവരികയാണെന്നും അറിയുന്നു. ഇന്നലെ വൈകിട്ടോടെയാണ് ഇയാളെ ആലപ്പുഴയില്‍ നിന്നും പിടിയിലായതെന്ന് അറിയുന്നു. ഇയാളെ തിരുവനന്ത്പുരത്തേക്ക് കൊണ്ടു പോയതായും അറിയുന്നു. മുന്‍‌കൂര്‍ ജാമ്യാപേഷയില്‍ കോടതി എന്ത് നിലപാട് എടുക്കും എന്നറിഞ്ഞ ശേഷം മാത്രമേ അറസ്റ്റ് രേഖപ്പെടുത്തു എന്നറിയുന്നു. എന്നാല്‍ പൊലീസ്‌ ഇക്കാര്യം ഇതുവരെ സ്ഥിരീകരിച്ചിട്ടില്ല.

ദോഹയില്‍ ഇന്‍റര്‍പോള്‍ വഞ്ചാനകുറ്റത്തിന്‌ തെരയുന്ന സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവന്‍ തന്നെയാണ്‌ കൊച്ചിയിലെ ശാന്തിതീരത്തിന്‍റെ അധിപകന്‍ അമൃതചൈതന്യ എന്ന്‌ വ്യക്തമായതോടെ ഇയാളെ അറസ്‌റ്റ്‌ ചെയ്യാനുള്ള സമ്മര്‍ദ്ദം ഏറിയിരുന്നു.

വഞ്ചാനകുറ്റം ആരോപിച്ച്‌ ദുബായ്‌ മലയാളി സെറാഫിന്‍ എഡ്വിന്‍ കേരളപൊലീസിന്‌ പാരാതി കൈമാറിയതൊടെയാണ്‌ സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവനെ പിടിക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ ആക്കം കൂടിയത്‌.

സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവന്‍റെ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടേയും ബന്ധുക്കളുടേയും വീടുകളിലും പൊലീസ്‌ തെരച്ചില്‍ നടത്തിയിരുന്നു. ഇയാളുടെ മൊബൈല്‍ നമ്പരിനെ പിന്തുടര്‍ന്ന ആലപ്പുഴയിലും തെരച്ചില്‍ നടത്തിയിരുന്നു

പരാതികളും റെയ്‌ഡും ഊര്‍ജ്ജിതമായതൊടെ മാധ്യമവെളിച്ചത്തില്‍ നിന്നും മുങ്ങിയ സ്വാമി ഇന്നലെ ഉച്ചയോടെ ഹൈക്കോടതിയില്‍ നിന്നും മുന്‍ കൂര്‍ ജാമ്യത്തിനുള്ള ശ്രമം നടത്തിയിരുന്നു. അഡ്വ. ഗോപകുമാര്‍ വശമാണ്‌ സ്വാമി ജാമ്യത്തിന്‌ ശ്രമിച്ചത്‌.

ഇന്ന്‌ കോടതി ജാമ്യപേഷ പരിഗണിക്കാനിരിക്കെയാണ്‌ സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവന്‍ പിടിയിലായിരിക്കുന്നത്‌. സറാഫിന്‍ എഡ്വിന്‍റെ പരാതിയുമായി തനിക്ക്‌ യാതൊരു ബന്ധവും ഇല്ലെന്നാണ്‌ സന്തോഷ്‌ മാധവന്‍ കോടതിക്ക്‌ നല്‌കിയ അപേഷയില്‍ വ്യക്തമാക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത്‌.

സന്തോഷ് മാധവന്‍ കീഴടങ്ങിയേക്കും

2008-05-12T01:39:00.000-07:00

കൊച്ചി: അമൃതചൈതന്യയെന്ന സന്തോഷ് മാധവന്‍ കൊച്ചി നഗരത്തിലെ ഒരു വീട്ടിലുണ്ടെന്ന് വിവരം ലഭിച്ചതേ തുടര്‍ന്ന് വീടു പോലീസ് വലയത്തിലായതായി സൂചന. ഇതു സംബന്ധിച്ച് പോലീസ് ഔദ്യോഗികമായി വിവരങ്ങളൊന്നും പുറത്തുവിട്ടിട്ടില്ല.

സന്തോഷ് മാധവന്‍ കൊച്ചി നഗരത്തില്‍ തന്നെയുണ്ടെന്നും മുന്‍‌കൂര്‍ ജാമ്യത്തിനു ശ്രമിക്കുകയാണെന്നും നേരത്തെ റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടുകള്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. നഗരത്തിലെ ഒരു പ്രമുഖന്‍റെ വീട്ടില്‍ സന്തോഷ് മാധവനെ കണ്ടതായാണ് പോലീസിനു വിവരം ലഭിച്ചത്. വീട്ടില്‍ കയറി ബലം പ്രയോഗിച്ച് അറസ്റ്റു ചെയ്യുന്ന സാഹചര്യം ഒഴിവാക്കാനാണ് പോലീസ് ശ്രമം.

ഒരാഴ്ചയായി സന്തോഷ് മാധവന്‍ മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെയും പോലീസിന്‍റെയും നിരീക്ഷണത്തിലാണെങ്കിലും ദുബായ് മലയാളിയായ സെറഫിന്‍ എഡ്വിന്‍റെ പരാതിയുടെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില്‍ ഞായറാഴ്ചയാണ് പോലീസ് കേസ് രജിസ്റ്റര്‍ ചെയ്തത്. ഇയാളെ അറസ്റ്റു ചെയ്യാന്‍ പോലീസിന് നിയമ തടസ്സം ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു എന്നും അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര നിയമങ്ങള്‍ ഒഴിവുകഴിവാക്കി പോലീസ് അറസ്റ്റു നീട്ടുകയായിരുന്നു എന്നും ആരോപണം ഉയര്‍ന്നിട്ടുണ്ട്.

Harbhajan Singh banned for 11 Indian Premier League Matches

2008-04-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, Apr 28: Harbhajan Singh, on Monday, was banned from playing 11 Indian Premier League matches. The judgment came after he had pleaded guilty for slapping Sreesanth, before an IPL disciplinary hearing conducted by match referee Farokh Engineer here. Harbhajan, had carried a letter, which he presented before the commission

Kerala SSLC Results on 6th may 2008

2008-04-28T04:12:00.000-07:00

Trivandrum -Education department informed that Kerala SSLC Results publishing on May 6th 2008

Kerala SSLC Results Publishing April 2008

2008-04-12T04:13:00.000-07:00

For Kerala SSLC results for the year 2008

we are publishing Kerala SSLC results as soon as available.

If you are awaiting 2008 Kerala SSLC results, please watch this resource. You may even bookmark this page.

അര്‍ദ്ധ നഗ്ന ചിത്രം ലോകസുന്ദരിയെ അലട്ടുന്ന

2008-04-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

993-94 ലെ ഫെമിനയില്‍ വന്ന പരസ്യത്തെ ചുറ്റിപ്പറ്റിയാണ്‌ പുതിയ വിവാദം കൊഴുക്കുന്നത്‌‌.

ചിത്രത്തില്‍ മേല്‍ വസ്‌ത്രമില്ലാതെ പുറം തിരിഞ്ഞു നില്‌ക്കുന്ന നാല്‌ മോഡലുകളില്‍ ഒരാള്‍ ഐശ്വര്യയാണെന്നാണ്‌ പ്രചരണം. ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ താഴെ നാല്‌ മോഡലുകളുടെയും പേരുകളുണ്ടെന്നും അതില്‍ ഒന്ന്‌ ഐശ്വര്യയുടെതാണെന്ന് എഴുതിയിട്ടുണ്ടെന്നും പറയുന്നു. ചിത്രം പരിശോധിച്ചാല്‍ ഐശ്വര്യയുടെ പേര് വ്യക്തമായി കാണാനും കഴിയും.

ബോളിവുഡിന്റെ ചരിത്രത്തില്‍ ഇത്തരം ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ പുതുമയല്ല. മുന്പ് കോടിക്കണക്കിന് രൂപ പ്രതിഫലം വാങ്ങി ഐശ്വര്യ ഒരു വിദേശ മാഗസിന് വേണ്ടി അര്‍ദ്ധ നഗ്നയായി പോസ് ചെയ്തുവെന്ന് വാര്‍ത്തയുണ്ടായിരുനനു.

Explosion rocks Dubai -2 Dead

2008-03-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Massive explosion rocks Dubai

by Amy Glass and Dylan Bowman on Wednesday, 26 March 2008

MASSIVE EXPLOSION: As many as 20 of the 83 buildings in Al Quoz industrial area were ablaze following the massive explosion. (Kamelia Dimitrova)

A massive explosion at an illegal fireworks warehouse in the Al Quoz industrial area of Dubai early Wednesday morning has sparked a huge fire, with black smoke stretching for miles across the city.

Over 20 of the 83 buildings in the area were engulfed in flames, but the blaze has now been bought under control, police said.

Dubai police said at 4:00 pm the blaze was still burning, but they expected the fire would be fully extinguished by the end of the day.

ഒരു സുന്ദരി കൂടി പൂര്‍ണ നഗ്നയാവുന്നു

2008-03-24T02:38:00.001-07:00

ഹോളിവുഡിലെ അതിസുന്ദരികളായ നടിമാരില്‍ മുന്‍നിരയിലുളള മിസ്‍ഷാ ബാര്‍ട്ടോണ്‍ പൂര്‍ണ നഗ്നയായി തന്റെ ഏറ്റവും പുതിയ ചിത്രത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നു.

ക്ലോസിംഗ് ദി റിംഗ് എന്ന ചിത്രത്തിലാണ് മിസ്‍ഷയുടെ സുരസുന്ദരമായ നഗ്നത കൊതി തീരെ കാണാന്‍ പ്രേക്ഷകര്‍ക്ക് അവസരമൊരുങ്ങുന്നത്.

അത്ര പ്രശസ്തിയൊന്നുമില്ലാതെ പുറത്തിറങ്ങിയ ഈ ചിത്രം പക്ഷേ, മിസ്‍ഷായുടെ നഗ്നതയുണ്ടെന്ന റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടുകള്‍ വന്നതോടെ വിജയം കാണുമെന്നാണ് കരുതുന്നത്.

ദി ഒസി എന്ന ടെലിവിഷന്‍ പരമ്പരയിലൂടെ ഹോളിവുഡ് പ്രേക്ഷകരുടെ പ്രിയതാരമായി മാറിയ നടിയാണ് മിസ്‍ഷാ.

സിനിമാ താരമെന്നതിനെക്കാളേറെ ടെലിവിഷന്‍ നടിയായാണ് മിസ്‍ഷാ അറിയപ്പെടുന്നത്. അതുകൊണ്ടു തന്നെ മിസ്‍ഷയുടെ നഗ്നതയ്ക്ക് ആവശ്യക്കാരേറുമെന്ന് സംവിധായകന്‍ റിച്ചാര്‍ഡ് അറ്റന്‍ബെറോയ്ക്ക് തോന്നിയിരിക്കാം.

അതെ, ഗാന്ധിയെന്ന ചിത്രം സംവിധാനം ചെയ്ത അതേ അറ്റന്‍ബെറോ തന്നെ!

India's Record-High Capital Inflows Pose Policy Challenge

2008-02-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

By Andrea Richter Hume
IMF Asia and Pacific Department

February 04, 2008

India's recent stellar economic performance attracting large capital inflows
Although a boon, inflows also complicate monetary, exchange rate policies
To sustain growth, India needs to tackle fiscal issues and implement structural reforms

Over the past five years, average growth of 8¾ percent has made India one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

The rapid growth has brought significant dividends to the population at large: the poverty rate fell from 36 percent in 1994 to less than 28 percent in 2005, inflation has remained contained, and the current account deficit is moderate. This performance pays tribute to India's sound macroeconomic policies and past structural reforms.

The outlook is equally positive. Rising incomes should support consumption growth, and robust business confidence, high capacity utilization, and buoyant corporate profits will bolster investment.

On the external front, a weakening of India's key trading partners is likely to slow merchandise export growth in the near term. However, India's service exports (IT and business process outsourcing) could benefit from increased demand as industrial economies look to cut costs. Over the next few years, growth is likely to moderate toward its potential rate of 8 percent, buttressed by favorable demographics and robust productivity gains.

Surging capital inflows

India's favorable environment has attracted the attention of foreign investors. Capital inflows have surged over the past two years (see Chart 1). In 2005, net capital inflows amounted to $25 billion. By 2007 (January-September), they had more than doubled, to $66 billion.

Lending to Indian corporates has been the biggest contributor, although portfolio investment has also risen rapidly. Foreign capital has been attracted by India's productivity-driven growth boom, its increasing financial integration with the global economy, and higher interest rates than abroad. Inflows are projected to remain significant, reflecting India's continued strength at a time when the world economy is weakening.

India's policy conundrum

Although capital inflows are supplying much-needed financing to Indian corporates and banks, they are also making monetary and exchange rate policy more challenging. Capital inflows caused the rupee to appreciate by 7 percent in real effective terms last year (see Chart 2). This has raised concerns about India's competitiveness, particularly in the labor-intensive textile, garment, and leather industries.

Capital inflows have also increased the money supply, which then raises inflationary pressure. In short, India is facing the policy challenges of the "impossible trinity": when there is free movement of capital, it is impossible to both target the exchange rate and maintain an independent monetary policy.

Responding to the challenge

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has responded to this policy challenge in a flexible manner. It allowed exchange rate flexibility to absorb pressures from capital inflows, as noted above, although it has also intervened heavily in the foreign exchange market: last year, reserves rose by nearly $100 billion, to about $275 billion.

The RBI has also actively withdrawn liquidity from the system. And monetary policy has been tightened, with the result that India has maintained a wide interest rate margin with the rest of the world (though this may, in turn, be encouraging more capital inflows). Finally, the RBI is gradually liberalizing capital outflows in line with India's medium-term objective of capital account liberalization.

Some restrictions on capital inflows have recently been introduced, primarily on corporate borrowing. International experience suggests that these restrictions are unlikely to have much impact on capital inflows because investors and borrowers find ways to evade them. But, to the extent that they do bite, they raise concerns about the potential impact on financing for infrastructure projects, which tend to require the longer-term financing that may be more readily available from foreign lenders.

Shared experiences

Despite such restrictions, India's vibrant outlook and sizable capital demands mean that capital inflows are likely to remain large. This would be consistent with the experience in other Asian countries around growth take-offs. Since restrictions on capital inflows are not likely to be effective, allowing greater exchange rate flexibility and improving liquidity management may be a better way to deal with continued capital inflows.

India's experience is not entirely unique. Brazil, Russia, and China have also experienced significant balance of payments surpluses recently. Unlike India, however, these countries have all maintained current account surpluses (see Chart 3). What is interesting is that despite the differences in their exchange rate regimes, all four countries have intervened heavily in the foreign exchange market. But they have differed in the extent to which the excess of foreign exchange inflows has been sterilized.

To safeguard its inflation target, Brazil has fully sterilized its intervention in the foreign exchange market. Both China and India have undertaken partial sterilization, and Russia has broadly limited its sterilization to oil-related inflows. As a result of these varied policy responses, the four countries' currencies appreciated to varying degrees in real effective terms between December 2006 and June 2007: 4 percent in China, 8 percent in India, 13 percent in Russia, and 17 percent in Brazil.

Not just a monetary policy challenge

Financial globalization has placed a greater premium on broadening and deepening India's financial and capital markets. This would help channel capital inflows to their most productive use, accommodate higher exchange rate volatility, and support financial stability. In this regard, the corporate bond market could play a more important role as an alternative source of funds, while better-developed onshore derivatives markets would enable corporations to better manage the risks associated with India's financial integration.

On the fiscal front, further consolidation remains important to sustain growth and manage financial globalization. Despite India's impressive revenue performance, fiscal consolidation has stalled and public debt remains high, squeezing the fiscal space needed for public investment in physical and social infrastructure. Both expenditure and revenue measures are needed, including rationalizing subsidies, cutting tax exemptions, enhancing tax administration, and broadening the tax base. A tighter fiscal stance could also limit the inflationary impact of capital inflows.

Structural reforms are long overdue and remain critical for shoring up India's competitiveness in the face of appreciation pressures. These reforms include investment to help close India's major infrastructure gaps, improving education to meet rising shortages of skilled labor, and making labor markets more flexible. Moving the economy forward in this direction will help India prolong its "dream run" of rapid growth and macroeconomic stability for many years to come.

Orgasms: a real ‘turn-off’ for women/സ്ത്രീ ലൈംഗികതയുടെ �

2008-01-28T04:41:00.000-08:00

സ്ത്രീ ലൈംഗികതയുടെ കാണാപ്പുറങ്ങള്‍

മിക്കവരുടെയും ധാരണ ലൈംഗികബന്ധത്തിലൂടെയെ രതിമൂര്‍ച്ഛ അനുഭവിച്ചറിയൂ എന്നാണ്. രതിമൂര്‍ച്ഛ അനുഭവപ്പെടണമെങ്കില്‍ ലൈംഗികബന്ധത്തില്‍ ഏര്‍പ്പെടണമെന്ന ധാരണ തെറ്റാണ്.

പുരുഷന്‍റേതിനു സമാനമായ രീതിയിലല്ല സ്ത്രീയുടെ രതിമൂര്‍ച്ഛ. മാത്രമല്ല, സ്ത്രീകളില്‍ അത് വ്യത്യസ്തമായീരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. ചില സ്ത്രീകള്‍ വളരെ തീവ്രമായി ഉത്തേജിപ്പിക്കുക മാത്രം ചെയ്താല്‍ പോലും രതിമൂര്‍ച്ഛയില്‍ എത്താറുണ്ട്. അതിന് ലൈംഗിക ബന്ധം വേണമെന്നേയില്ല. പക്ഷെ, വളരെ ചുരുക്കം സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്ക് മാത്രമേ ഈ അനുഭവം ഉണ്ടാകാറുള്ളു.

ചിലര്‍ക്കാകട്ടെ ജി സ്പോട്ട് ത്രസിപ്പിച്ചാല്‍ മാത്രമേ വൈകാരിക മൂര്‍ച്ഛ കൈവരു. ചില സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്ക് ലൈംഗികബന്ധത്തിനിടെ ഒന്നിലേറെ തവണ രതിമൂര്‍ച്ഛ അനുഭവപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്യും. ഇങ്ങനെ ലൈംഗികതയുടെ കാര്യത്തില്‍ സാധാരണ പുരുഷന് പെട്ടന്ന് ചിന്തിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുന്നതിനും അപ്പുറത്താണ് സ്ത്രീയുടെ ലൈംഗിക സവിശേഷതകള്‍.

അതുകൊണ്ടു തന്നെ , അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് ഒട്ടേറെ ധാരണകളും ധാരണപ്പിശകുകളും നിലനില്‍ക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. സ്ത്രീയുമായി നല്ല ലൈംഗിക ബന്ധം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവര്‍ തെറ്റിദ്ധാരണകള്‍ മാറ്റി സ്ത്രീയെ വേണ്ട രീതിയില്‍ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞേ മതിയാവൂ.

സ്നേഹവും പരിലാളനങ്ങളും ബാഹ്യകേളികളും എല്ലാം പുരുഷനേക്കാളേറെ സ്ത്രീയെ ലൈംഗികമായി ഉത്തേജിപ്പിക്കുകയും രതിമൂര്‍ച്ഛയില്‍ എത്താന്‍ വലിയൊരു അളവു വരെ സഹായിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു എന്ന് പുരുഷന്‍ തിരിച്ചറിയേണ്ടതുണ്ട്.

Nayan says 'No' to Rs 1 crore! നയന്‍സിന് തുണിയുരിഞ്ഞ് ക�

2008-01-28T04:36:00.000-08:00

ബില്ലയില്‍ ബിക്കിനി ധരിച്ച് അഭിനയിക്കാന്‍ പോലും നയന്‍താര തയ്യാറായി. മലയാളത്തെ അവഗണിച്ച് തമിഴില്‍ പോയി നയന്‍താര എന്തും കാണിക്കാന്‍ തയ്യാറാവുന്നത് പണത്തിനു വേണ്ടിയാണെന്നാണ് പൊതുവെയുള്ള ധാരണ. പക്ഷേ പണത്തിന് വേണ്ടി എന്തും ചെയ്യാന്‍ തയ്യാറാണ് നയന്‍സെന്ന് ധരിച്ചെങ്കില്‍ തെറ്റി.

ബില്ലയില്‍ തുണിയുരിയുന്നതിന് നയന്‍സ് അരകോടിക്ക് മുകളിലെങ്കിലും പ്രതിഫലം വാങ്ങിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. പക്ഷേ ആളുകള്‍ക്കു മുന്നില്‍ ബിക്കിനിയിട്ട് നില്‍ക്കുന്നതിലെ സങ്കോചമേതുമില്ലാതെ ഒരു കോടി രൂപ കൈയില്‍ കിട്ടുന്ന അവസരം വന്നപ്പോള്‍ നയന്‍സ് അത് വേണ്ടെന്നുവച്ചു.

ചെന്നൈയിലെ ഒരു ഫാഷന്‍ സ്റ്റോറിന്റെ ബ്രാന്റ് അംബാസിഡറാകുന്നതിനാണ് ഒരു കോടി രൂപ നയന്‍സിന് വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്തത്. ഫാഷന്‍ സ്റ്റോറുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടവര്‍ നയന്‍സിനെ സമീപിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ നയന്‍സ് യാതൊരു താത്പര്യവും കാണിക്കാതിരുന്നതു കൊണ്ടാണ് അവര്‍ ഒരു കോടിയുടെ വാഗ്ദാനം മുന്നോട്ടുവച്ചത്. പക്ഷേ ആ വാഗ്ദാനവും നയന്‍സിന്റെ മനമിളക്കിയില്ല.

തൃഷയെയും അസിനെയും പോലുള്ള നടിമാര്‍ പരസ്യങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന് വന്‍വരുമാനമുണ്ടാക്കുമ്പോള്‍ നയന്‍സ് പരസ്യങ്ങളില്‍ മോഡലാവാന്‍ യാതൊരു താത്പര്യവും കാണിച്ചിരുന്നില്ല. മോഡലിംഗിനായി പല ഓഫറുകളും വന്നപ്പോള്‍ നയന്‍സ് അതൊക്കെ നിരസിച്ചു. ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഒരു കോടി രൂപയുടെ ഓഫര്‍ മുന്നിലെത്തിയപ്പോഴും നയന്‍സിന്റെ നിലപാടില്‍ മാറ്റമൊന്നുമുണ്ടായില്ല.

R-Day: India showcases military might, രാഷ്ട്രം റിപ്പബ്ളിക് ദി�

2008-01-28T04:30:00.000-08:00

ദില്ലി: രാഷ്ട്രം ഇന്ന്‌ അമ്പത്തിയൊമ്പതാം റിപ്പബ്‌ളിക്‌ ദിനം ആഘോഷിയ്‌ക്കുന്നു. വൈവിധ്യമാര്‍ന്ന പരിപാടികളോടെയാണ് രാജ്യമൊട്ടാകെ ആഘോഷങ്ങള്‍ സംഘടിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളത്‌.

ദില്ലിയില്‍ രാവിലെ നടന്ന റിപ്പബ്‌ളിക്‌ ദിന പരേഡില്‍ രാഷ്ട്രപതി പ്രതിഭാ പാട്ടീല്‍ പ്രധാനമന്ത്രി മന്‍മോഹന്‍ സിങ്‌‌, മുതിര്‍ന്ന കേന്ദ്ര മന്ത്രിമാര്‍, പ്രമുഖ രാഷ്ട്രീയ നേതാക്കള്‍, വിശിഷ്ടാതിഥികള്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവര്‍ പങ്കെടുത്തു.

ഇത്തവണത്തെ റിപ്പബ്‌ളിക്‌ ദിന ചടങ്ങിലെ അതിഥിയായിരുന്ന ഫ്രഞ്ച്‌ പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ സര്‍ക്കോസിയും ആഘോഷങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ സാക്ഷ്യം വഹിച്ചു.

ഓരോ സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളുടെയും സാംസ്‌കാരിക തനിമ വിളിച്ചോതുന്ന പ്ലോട്ടുകള്‍ ഏവരുടെയും ശ്രദ്ധയാകര്‍ഷിച്ചു.

വന്‍ സുരക്ഷയാണ്‌ റിപ്പബ്‌ളിക്‌ ദിനാഘോഷങ്ങളോടനുബന്ധിച്ച്‌ രാജ്യമെമ്പാടും ഏര്‍പ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്‌. ദില്ലിയില്‍ മാത്രം ഇരുപതിനായിരത്തോളം സൈനികരെ സുരക്ഷയ്‌ക്കായി വിന്യസിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്‌.

ഇന്ത്യയുടെ സൈനിക ശക്തി വിളിച്ചോതുന്നതു കൂടിയായിരുന്നു രാവിലെ നടന്ന റിപ്പബ്ളിക് ദിന പരേഡ്, സേനയുടെ ഏറ്റവും പുതിയ ആയുധങ്ങള്‍, വിമാനങ്ങള്‍, ബ്രഹ്മോസ് മിസൈലുകള്‍, അണ്വായുധങ്ങള്‍ വഹിയ്ക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുന്ന മിസൈലുകള്‍ എന്നിവ പരേഡില്‍ പ്രദര്‍ശിപ്പിച്ചു.

കേരളത്തില്‍ റിപ്പബ്‌ളിക്‌ ദിനാഘോഷങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ തുടക്കം കുറിച്ചു കൊണ്ട്‌ തിരുവനന്തപുരം സെന്‍ട്രല്‍ സ്റ്റേഡിയത്തില്‍ ഗവര്‍ണര്‍ ആര്‍.എല്‍ ഭാട്യ ദേശീയ പതാകയുയര്‍ത്തി.

തുടര്‍ന്ന്‌ നടന്ന റിപ്പബ്‌ളിക്‌ ദിന സന്ദേശത്തില്‍ കേരളം പുരോഗതിയുടെ പാതയിലാണെന്ന്‌ ആര്‍ എല്‍ ഭാട്യ പറഞ്ഞു. ചടങ്ങില്‍ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി, എംഎല്‍എമാര്‍ എന്നിവര്‍ സംബന്ധിച്ചു. 21 സേനാ വിഭാഗങ്ങളുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തില്‍ നടന്ന റിപ്പബ്‌ളിക്‌ പരേഡ്‌ ആകര്‍ഷണീയമായിരുന്നു.

ജില്ലാ ആസ്ഥാനങ്ങളില്‍ നടന്ന ആഘോഷ ചടങ്ങുകള്‍ക്ക്‌ മന്ത്രിമാരും എംഎല്‍എമാരും നേതൃത്വം നല്‌കി.

Police charge case against starsinger, സ്റ്റാര്‍ സിങ്ങറിനെതിരെ

2008-01-22T04:06:00.000-08:00

തിരുവനന്തപുരം: എഷ്യാനെറ്റ്‌ സംപ്രേക്ഷണം ചെയ്യുന്ന റിയാലിറ്റി ഷോ സ്‌റ്റാര്‍ സിങ്ങറിനെതിരെ ആറ്റിങ്ങല്‍ പോലീസ്‌ കേസ്‌ രജിസ്‌റ്റര്‍ ചെയ്‌തു.

വഞ്ചന, ഗൂഢാലോചന എന്നീ കുറ്റങ്ങളാണ്‌ എഷ്യാനെറ്റ്‌ ചെയര്‍മാന്‍, സ്‌റ്റാര്‍ സിങ്ങര്‍ നിര്‍മാതാവ്‌, അവതാരക രഞ്‌ജിനി, ഉഷാ ഉതുപ്പ്‌, എം.ജി ശ്രീകുമാര്‍ ശരത്‌ എന്നിവര്‍ക്കെതിരെ ആറ്റിങ്ങല്‍ പോലീസ്‌ ചുമത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്‌.

പരിപാടിയ്‌ക്കിടയില്‍ പ്രേക്ഷകരോട്‌ എസ്‌എംഎസ്‌ അയക്കാന്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നതിലൂടെ അന്യായമായി സാമ്പത്തിക നേട്ടം ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നുവെന്നാരോപിച്ച്‌‌ ആറ്റിങ്ങല്‍ സ്വദേശി എ. സബീര്‍ നേരത്തെ ഹര്‍ജി നല്‌കിയിരുന്നു.

എഷ്യാനെറ്റധികൃതര്‍ മൊബൈല്‍ ഫോണ്‍ കമ്പനികളുമായി ഉണ്ടാക്കിയ ധാരണ പ്രകാരം എസ്‌എംഎസിന്‌ രണ്ടു മുതല്‍ പത്തിരട്ടി വരെ ചാര്‍ജാണ്‌ ഈടാക്കുന്നതെന്നാണ്‌ ഹര്‍ജിയിലെ ആരോപണം.

ചാര്‍ജ്‌ കൂടുതലുള്ള വിവരം പ്രേക്ഷകരോട്‌ മറച്ചു വെയ്‌ക്കുകയും മത്സരാര്‍ഥിയെ വിജയിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ എസ്‌എംഎസ്‌ ചെയ്യാന്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുകയും വഴി അന്യായമായ രീതിയില്‍ പണം സമ്പാദനം നടത്തുകയുമാണെന്നാണ്‌ ഹര്‍ജിയിലുള്ളത്. മത്സര ഫലത്തില്‍ എസ്എംഎസിന് പ്രധാന്യമില്ലെന്ന് നേരത്തെ തന്നെ ആരോപണം ഉയര്‍ന്നിരുന്നു.

ജനുവരി എട്ടിനാണ്‌ ഹര്‍ജി സമര്‍പ്പിച്ചിരുന്നതെങ്കിലും പോലീസ്‌ കേസ്‌ എടുത്തിരുന്നില്ല. തുടര്‍ന്ന്‌ സബീര്‍ വീണ്ടും പ്രത്യേക ഹര്‍ജി സമര്‍പ്പിച്ചതിനെ തുടര്‍ന്ന്‌ കോടതി പോലീസിനോട്‌ വിശദീകരണം ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. ഈ സാഹചര്യത്തിലാണ് പോലീസ്‌ കേസെടുത്തത്‌.

റിയാലിറ്റിയുടെ തിളക്കം കുറയുന്നു

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007-12-31T03:58:00.001-08:00

Benazir Bhutto 'killed in blast'

2007-12-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Benazir Bhutto 'killed in blast': "Benazir Bhutto 'killed in blast'
BBC breaking news graphic
Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack, a spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) says.

Other reports said Ms Bhutto had only been injured and taken to hospital.

Ms Bhutto had just addressed a rally of PPP supporters in the town of Rawalpindi when the rally was hit by a blast.

At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack.

Ms Bhutto has twice been the country's prime minister and was campaigning ahead of elections due in January."

CM:Smart City to generate 1 lakh IT jobs

2007-12-10T05:20:00.001-08:00

The Rs 1,500 crore 'Smart City' knowledge hub which will be set up

here is expected to generate nearly one lakh jobs in the Information

Technology (IT) sector, Kerala Chief Minister said.

Mr Achuthanandan in his speech read out by Smart City Executive Director

Farid Abdul Rahman, who formally unveiled the foundation stone

for the project, said the joint sector project in which the state government

will have a 26 per cent stake, will create 90,000 employments in the IT

and IT enabled services (ITeS) sectors.

Pointing out that other companies had also shown keen interest

in starting similar projects in Kerala, the Chief Minister said

the LDF government was committed to turning the state into a hub

of knowledge-based industries.

The state government is leasing 246 acre of land for 99 years for

the Smart City project for Rs 104 crore. The project, the first major FDI

in the IT sector in Kerala, would be spread over 8.8 million square feet built up

area, of which 70 per cent would be for IT and ITeS.

“Kerala’s 12th IFF begins”

2007-12-10T04:59:00.000-08:00

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 7 ::

The 12th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) began here today

with the screening of Hena Makmalbaf's film ''Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame.

Actor Kamal Hassan lit the traditional lamp in the presence of Kerala Education

and Culture Minister M A Baby and Chilean filmmaker Miguel Littn and

Malayalam actor Mohan Lal at Nisagandhi auditorium here, marking

the beginning of the eight-day-long F F.

On the occasion, Mr Baby honoured 12 eminent film personalities,

who had contributed to the growth of Malayalam cinema in 1960s.

As many as 231 films from over 54 countries would be screened in the festival,

which would be attended by over 7,000 delegates.

For the first time in the 12-year-long history of the festival, five major

film production companies were participating in the festival to explore

trade and commercial possibilities.

A five-member jury with Iranian Director Jafar Fanahi as its Chairman

and famous African actress Naky Sy Savene, Polish playwright Agneizka Holland,

actor Naseeruddin Shah and Cuban Film Academy Director Rigoberto Lopez

as members would select the winning film in the festival.

Couples fall out of love with the love letter , ലേഖനമെഴുതാതെയും പ്രണയ�

2007-12-04T05:09:00.000-08:00

Couples fall out of love with the love letter , ലേഖനമെഴുതാതെയും പ്രണയ�: "മലയാളം » വാര്‍ത്ത » ലോകം » പൂര്‍ണവാര്‍ത്ത പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ മറവിയിലേയ്‌ക്ക്‌ ചൊവ്വ, ഡിസംബര്‍ 4, 2007 RSS Love Letterലണ്ടന്‍: പ്രണയമറിയിക്കാന്‍ ഒരുകാലത്ത്‌ ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതലായി ഉപയോഗിച്ചിരുന്ന പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ തീര്‍ത�"പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങളുടെ പ്രചാരത്തെക്കുറിച്ചറിയാന്‍ ബ്രിട്ടനിലെ ബ്രാഡ്‌ഫോര്‍ഡ്‌ ആന്റ്‌ ബിന്‍ജ്‌ലി എന്ന സ്ഥാപനം ഒരു സര്‍വ്വേവരെ നടത്തി.കഴിഞ്ഞ പന്ത്രണ്ട്‌ മാസത്തിനിടയില്‍ ബ്രിട്ടനില്‍ അഞ്ചില്‍ ഒരാള്‍ എന്നനിലയില്‍പ്പോലും പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ നല്‍കുകയോ സ്വീകരിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്‌തിട്ടില്ലെന്നാണ്‌ ഈ സര്‍വ്വേയില്‍ വ്യക്തമായത്‌.

സര്‍വ്വേയിലെ കണക്കുപ്രകാരം കഴിഞ്ഞ വര്‍ഷം വെറും 17ശതമാനം പേരാണ്‌ പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങല്‍ കൈമാറ്റം ചെയ്‌തത്‌. കഴിഞ്ഞ അഞ്ചുവര്‍ഷത്തനിടയിലാകട്ടെ വെറും 28ശതമാനം പേര്‍മാത്രമേ തങ്ങളുടെ ഹൃദയഭാജനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ പ്രണയം ചാലിച്ച എഴുത്തുകള്‍ കാമാറിയിട്ടുള്ളു.

ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഇ-മെയിലുകളുടെയും, മൊബൈല്‍ സന്ദേശങ്ങളുടെയും ഡേറ്റിംഗിന്റെയും കാലത്ത്‌ പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ കുത്തിക്കുറിക്കാന്‍ പലര്‍ക്കും സമയമില്ലാത്തതാണ്‌ സമ്പന്നമായ സാഹിത്യങ്ങളടങ്ങിയ പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ വംശനാശം സംഭവിക്കാന്‍ ഇടയാക്കിയത്‌.

16-34 വയസ്സിനിടയിലുള്ള യുവതലമുറ ഒരിക്കല്‍പ്പോലും തന്റെ കാമുകനോ കാമുകിയ്‌ക്കോ ഒരു പ്രണയ ലേഖനം നല്‍കുന്ന കാര്യം ചിന്തിച്ചിട്ടുപോലുമില്ല. എന്നാല്‍ 55വയസ്സിന്‌ മുകളിലുള്ളവരില്‍ 14ശതമാനം പേര്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ പ്രണയത്തിനായി ഈ ഉപാധിയെ ആശ്രയിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്‌.

ആയിരം പേരെ പങ്കെടുപ്പിച്ച്‌ നടത്തിയ സര്‍വ്വേയില്‍ അവിവാഹിതരായ ആളുകളാണ്‌ വിവാഹിതരേക്കാളും ലിവ്‌-ഇന്‍ ബന്ധങ്ങളിലുള്ളവരേക്കാളും പ്രണയലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ കിട്ടിയതായി വ്യക്തമാക്കിയത്‌. സര്‍വ്വേയില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്തവരില്‍ മൂന്നിലൊരുഭാഗം പേര്‍ക്ക്‌ മാത്രമാണ്‌ കഴിഞ്ഞ ആറുമാസത്തിനിടയില്‍ ഒരു സുഹൃത്തിന്റെയോ കുടുംബാംഗത്തിന്റെയോ എഴുത്ത്‌ കിട്ടിയിട്ടുള്ളത്‌.

ഇവരില്‍ ആറ്‌ ശതമാനം പേര്‍ക്കും സ്വന്തം മേല്‍വിലാസത്തില്‍ ഇന്നേവരെ ഒരു കത്ത്‌ പോലും കിട്ടിയില്ല. എന്നാല്‍ പകുതിയില്‍ക്കൂടുതല്‍ ആളുകല്‍ സുഹൃത്തുക്കള്‍ക്കോ കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങള്‍ക്കോ ആയി കത്തുകള്‍ എഴുതിയിട്ടുണ്ട്‌.

Oldest Rolls sells for record sum, ഏറ്റവും വില കൂടിയ കാര്‍

2007-12-04T05:04:00.000-08:00

Oldest Rolls sells for record sum, ഏറ്റവും വില കൂടിയ കാര്‍: "1904 റോള്‍സ് റോയ്സ് കാറിന് എക്കാലത്തെയും ഉയര്‍ന്ന വിലയ്ക്ക് ലേലം ചൊവ്വ, ഡിസംബര്‍ 4, 2007 RSS പഴയ കാറുകള്‍ക്ക്‌ വിലക്കുറവുള്ള കാലമാണിപ്പോള്‍. പക്ഷേ ലണ്ടനില്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞ ദിവസം നടന്ന ലേലത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്ത ഒരാള്‍ക്ക്�" ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും പഴക്കമുള്ള റോള്‍സ്‌ റോയ്‌സ്‌ ലേലത്തില്‍ സ്വന്തമാക്കിയ ഈ വ്യക്തി കൊടുത്ത തുകയെത്രയെന്നോ, 27 കോടി രൂപ.

ഒരു കാറിനായി മുടക്കുന്ന എക്കാലത്തെയും ഉയര്‍ന്ന വിലയാണിത്‌. റോള്‍സ്‌ റോയ്‌സിന്റെ ഉടമസ്ഥരായിരുന്ന ചാള്‍സ്‌ റോള്‍സും ഹെന്ററി റോയസും ചേര്‍ന്ന്‌ 1904ല്‍ നിര്‍മിച്ച കാറാണ്‌ ഉയര്‍ന്ന വിലയ്‌ക്ക്‌ ലേലത്തില്‍ പോയത്‌.

രണ്ട്‌ പേര്‍ക്ക്‌ ഇരിയ്ക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുന്ന മുകള്‍ ഭാഗം തുറന്ന രീതിയിലുള്ള കാര്‍ ഇപ്പോഴും ഓടിക്കാവുന്ന സ്ഥിതിയിലാണെന്ന്‌ ലേലം സംഘടിപ്പിച്ച ബോണ്‍ഹാംസ്‌ വക്താവ്‌ പറഞ്ഞു.

കാര്‍ ലേലത്തില്‍ വാങ്ങിയാളെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള വിവരങ്ങള്‍ പുറത്തു വിട്ടിട്ടില്ല. ടെലിഫോണിലൂടെ ലേലത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്ത രണ്ട്‌ പേര്‍ തമ്മിലുള്ള വാശിയാണ്‌ കാറിന്റെ വില ഇത്രയും വര്‍ദ്ധിപ്പിച്ചതെന്ന്‌ ബോണ്‍ഹാംസ്‌ അധികൃതര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു.

1884 ല്‍ നിര്‍മിച്ച ഡി ഡിയോണ്‍ ബൗട്ടണ്‍ എന്ന കാറാണ്‌ ഇതിന്‌ മുമ്പ്‌ ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതല്‍ തുകയ്‌ക്ക്‌ ലേലത്തില്‍ പോയത്‌. 14.3 കോടി രൂപയ്‌ക്കാണ്‌ ഡിയോണ്‍ ലേലത്തില്‍ പോയത്‌.

Dubai's DP World to build largest container terminal in India

2007-11-25T00:33:00.000-08:00

Business Intelligence Middle East - bi-me.com - Dubai's DP World to build largest container terminal in India - News, analysis, reports: "DP World, the world's third-largest port operator, has awarded a contract for the first phase of a container terminal in India to Simplex Infrastructures Ltd, for about US$150 million. Simplex Consortium, a publicly traded civil engineering and construction group, won the contract for the construction of the new terminal which DP World will build and manage at Vallarpadam near the southwestern Indian city of Kochi. The construction of India's largest terminal is expected to begin in December and continue for up to 24 months. DP World said Phase 1 of the terminal will be completed by the first quarter of 2009 and will have the capacity to handle one million TEU. The terminal will have a capacity to handle one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent container units) when the first phase is completed in the first quarter of 2009."

ആദ്യരതിയ്ക്ക് തയ്യാറാകേണ്ടതെപ

2007-11-22T03:05:00.000-08:00

ആദ്യരതിയ്ക്ക് തയ്യാറാകേണ്ടതെപ: "കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ വ്യക്തമാകുന്നോ? Count the relationsസെക്സിനെക്കുറിച്ച് നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് വേണ്ടതും വേണ്ടാത്തതും നിങ്ങളുടെ പങ്കാളി അറിഞ്ഞിരിക്കേണ്ടത് അത്യാവശ്യമാണ്. സെക്സിലെത്തുന്നതിനു മുമ്പു തന്നെ ഇക്കാര്യങ്ങ"
സത്യത്തില്‍ ഇക്കാര്യങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച് വളരെ വ്യക്തമായ ധാരണ ബന്ധത്തിലുണ്ടാകേണ്ടത് അത്യാവശ്യമാണ്. പങ്കാളിക്ക് ഒരിക്കലും നിങ്ങളുടെ മനസ് വായിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയില്ല. ഇഷ്ടങ്ങളും അനിഷ്ടങ്ങളും തുറന്നു പറയുകയും അത് ആദരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നുവെന്നും പരിഗണിക്കപ്പെടുന്നുവെന്നും ഉറപ്പു വരുത്തേണ്ടത് അത്യാവശ്യമാണ്.

അതു ചെയ്യാന്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ തയ്യാറാണോ എന്നതാണ് ചോദ്യം.

ഇത്തരം കാര്യങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച്, അതായത് സുരക്ഷിതമായ സെക്സിനെക്കുറിച്ചും ജനനനിയന്ത്രണമാര്‍ഗങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചുമൊക്കെ പങ്കാളിയുമായി സംസാരിക്കുന്നതില്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് സങ്കോചമുണ്ടോ?
ഏതെങ്കിലും ലഹരി ഉപയോഗിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില്‍ ഈ വിഷയങ്ങള്‍ കുറേക്കൂടി ആയാസരഹിതമായി സംസാരിക്കാമെന്ന തോന്നല്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കുണ്ടോ?
അരുത് എന്ന് പങ്കാളിയോട് എപ്പോള്‍ എങ്ങനെ പറയുമെന്ന കാര്യത്തില്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് അജ്ഞതയുണ്ടോ?
അരുത് എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞാല്‍ പങ്കാളി വിഷമിക്കുമെന്ന ഭീതി നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കുണ്ടോ?
ഏതു തരത്തിലുളള ലൈംഗിക ബന്ധമാണ് താന്‍ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നത് എന്ന കാര്യം തുറന്നു പറഞ്ഞാല്‍ പങ്കാളി എന്തുകരുതുമെന്ന ഭീതി നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കുണ്ടോ?
ലൈംഗികബന്ധത്തില്‍ എന്ത് ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നുവെന്നും എന്ത് ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നില്ലെന്നും പങ്കാളിയോട് തുറന്നു പറയാന്‍ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഭയമുണ്ടോ?

ഇത്തരം കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ പങ്കാളിയുമായി തുറന്നു ചര്‍ച്ച ചെയ്യുന്നതില്‍ വൈമുഖ്യം നേരിടുന്നുവെങ്കില്‍ ആദ്യ സെക്സിന് ഇനിയും കാത്തിരിക്കണം.

ഗര്‍ഭം, ലൈംഗികമായി സംക്രമിക്കുന്ന രോഗങ്ങള്‍ എന്നിവയെക്കുറിച്ചൊന്നും പരസ്പരം സംസാരിക്കാവുന്ന അടുപ്പമില്ലെങ്കില്‍ ലൈംഗികബന്ധത്തിന് സമയമായിട്ടില്ല. ഏത് തരം സെക്സില്‍ ഏര്‍പ്പെടുംമുമ്പ് വരുംവരായ്കകളെക്കുറിച്ച് തുറന്നു സംസാരിക്കാനുളള അടുപ്പം പങ്കാളിയുമായി ഉണ്ടാക്കിയിരിക്കണം. എല്ലാം സംഭവിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ട് പിന്നെ തുറന്നു പറച്ചിലുകള്‍ക്കൊന്നും വലിയ കാര്യമില്ലെന്നും തിരിച്ചറിയണം.

ആകസ്മികമായി ലൈംഗിക ബന്ധത്തിലേര്‍പ്പെടാനിടയായാല്‍ പോലും ഏതേത് മുന്‍കരുതലുകളെടുക്കണം എന്ന കാര്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചു പോലും മുന്‍ധാരണയുണ്ടാകുന്നത് നല്ലതാണ്.

ശാരീരികമായ പ്രതിസന്ധികള്‍

ബന്ധം അര്‍ത്ഥപൂര്‍ണവും ആഴമേറിയതുമാക്കുന്നതില്‍ സെക്സിന് പരമപ്രാധാന്യമുണ്ട്. എന്നാല്‍ ശാരീരികമായ രണ്ട് പ്രതിബന്ധങ്ങളും സെക്സ് സൃഷ്ടിക്കും. ലൈംഗിക രോഗങ്ങളും അപ്രതീക്ഷിതമായ ഗര്‍ഭവും. ഈ വിഷയവും കമിതാക്കള്‍ ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിരിക്കേണ്ടതു തന്നെ.

താഴെ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാണിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നവ നിങ്ങളെ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചാണോ എന്ന് നോക്കൂ...
1. സുരക്ഷിതമായ സെക്സിനെക്കുറിച്ച് എനിക്ക് ധാരണയുളളതിനാല്‍ രോഗബാധയെക്കുറിച്ച് ഭീതിയില്ല.
2.എന്റെ കൈവശം ഗര്‍ഭനിരോധന മാര്‍ഗങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ട്. അവ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നതെങ്ങനെയെന്നും എനിക്കറിയാം.
3.ഗര്‍ഭമുണ്ടാകാതിരിക്കാന്‍ എന്തുവേണമെന്ന് എനിക്കറിയാം.
4.സന്താനനിയന്ത്രണോപാധികളെക്കുറിച്ച് എനിക്ക് ധാരണയുണ്ട്. അവ എങ്ങനെ ഉപയോഗിക്കണമെന്നും.
5. അണുബാധയോ അനവസരത്തിലുളള ഗര്‍ഭമോ ഉണ്ടായാല്‍ എന്തു ചെയ്യണമെന്ന് എനിക്കറിയാം.
6. അപ്രതീക്ഷിതമായി ഗര്‍ഭം ധരിച്ചാല്‍ പങ്കാളി അത് എങ്ങനെ ഉള്‍ക്കൊളളുമെന്ന് എനിക്കറിയാം.
7. വരുംവരായ്കകളെക്കുറിച്ചോര്‍ക്കാതെ ലൈംഗികബന്ധം പുലര്‍ത്തിയാല്‍, ലൈംഗിക രോഗബാധയുണ്ടോ എന്ന് പരിശോധിക്കാന്‍ മടിയില്ല.
8. ഇത്തരം പ്രശ്നങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച് പങ്കാളിയുമായി തുറന്ന ചര്‍ച്ച നടത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.

സ്വയം പ്രതിരോധിക്കാന്‍ അറിയുമെങ്കില്‍ മാത്രമേ വിവാഹപൂര്‍വ രതിയ്ക്ക് മുതിരാവൂ എന്ന് വ്യക്തമല്ലേ. ശാരീരികമായി ഉണ്ടാകാനിടയുളള പ്രശ്നങ്ങളെ നേരിടാനുളള കരുത്തും വേണമെന്നര്‍ത്ഥം.

ജനന നിയന്ത്രണത്തിനും അണുബാധ തടയുന്നതിനും ഏറ്റവും സുരക്ഷിതമായ മാര്‍ഗം കോണ്ടം ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നതാണെന്നും അറിഞ്ഞിരിക്കണം. ഗര്‍ഭനിരോധന ഉറകളൊന്നും ഉപയോഗിക്കാതെയുളള സെക്സിനാണ് പങ്കാളി ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നതെങ്കില്‍ അപകട സൂചന മണത്ത് പിന്മാറുക.

ആരോഗ്യകരവും ചുമതലാബോധവുമുളള ബന്ധത്തിന് സെക്സ് അവശ്യഘടകമാണ്. എന്നാല്‍ സെക്സ് കൂടിയേ തീരൂ എന്ന് നിര്‍ബന്ധവുമില്ല. താന്‍‍ സെക്സിന് സന്നദ്ധയാണോ എന്ന ചോദ്യത്തിന് ഉത്തരം പറയേണ്ടത് ഓരോരുത്തരുമാണ്. സമയമെടുത്ത് മേല്‍പറഞ്ഞ കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ ശാന്തമായ മനസോടെ ആലോചിച്ചുറപ്പിക്കുക. അവശ്യം കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ പങ്കാളിയുമായി പങ്കുവെയ്ക്കുക. എന്നിട്ട് സ്വയം തീരുമാനിക്കുക.

രതിയില്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ ഇങ്ങനെയൊക�

2007-11-22T03:03:00.000-08:00

രതിയില്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ ഇങ്ങനെയൊക�: "ഒരു സുരതത്തിന്റെ സുഖത്തില്‍ കിടക്കുകയാണ് നിങ്ങളെന്നു കരുതുക. സംതൃപ്തിയോടെ അത് നിര്‍വഹിച്ചുവെന്ന അഭിമാനവും നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കുണ്ടാകും. ഇതുവരെ കിട്ടിയതില്‍ ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച അനുഭവമല്ലേയിത് എന്ന് തൊട്ടടുത്തു"ഇതുവരെ കിട്ടിയതില്‍ ഏറ്റവും മികച്ച അനുഭവമല്ലേയിത് എന്ന് തൊട്ടടുത്തു കിടക്കുന്ന ഭാര്യയോടോ കാമുകിയോടോ ചോദിച്ചാല്‍ തീര്‍ച്ചയായും എന്നു പറഞ്ഞ് അവള്‍ തലയുമാട്ടിയേക്കാം. എന്നാല്‍ അവളുടെ കണ്ണുകളിലേയ്ക്ക് ഒന്നു സൂക്ഷിച്ചു നോക്കൂ, എന്തോ ചിലത് വീണ്ടും ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നുണ്ടെന്ന് അവ നിങ്ങളോട് പറഞ്ഞേക്കാം.

സ്ത്രീകള്‍ പൊതുവേ അങ്ങനെയാണ്. മനസിലുളളതൊന്നും അപ്പടി പുറത്തു പറയാറില്ല. ലൈംഗികതയുടെ കാര്യത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേകിച്ചും. അവയൊക്കെ കണ്ടറിഞ്ഞ് ചെയ്യുന്ന പുരുഷനെയാണ് ഏത് സ്ത്രീയും കൊതിക്കുക. സ്ത്രീകള്‍ ചിലത് തുറന്നു പറഞ്ഞാലും പുരുഷന്‍ അതിന് ചെവി കൊടുക്കാറുമില്ല.

സുരതവേളയില്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ എന്തൊക്കെയാണ് കൊതിക്കുന്നത് എന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് ലൈംഗിക വിദഗ്ധന്മാരും വിദഗ്ധകളും തീരാത്ത ഗവേഷണങ്ങളിലാണ്. അങ്ങനെ കണ്ടെത്തിയ ചില പ്രത്യേകതകളിതാ.

പതുക്കെ മതിയെന്ന് ചിലപ്പോള്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ പറഞ്ഞേക്കാം. അതു കേള്‍ക്കുന്ന പുരുഷന്‍ ആ പതുക്കെയെ പത്തു കൊണ്ട് ഗുണിച്ചേ പ്രയോഗത്തില്‍ വരുത്താവൂ. ആണുങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് വേഗത കൂടുതലാണെന്നാണ് പല പെണ്ണുങ്ങളുടെയും പരാതി.

സ്തനങ്ങളെ താലോലിക്കുന്നതില്‍, ചുംബിക്കുന്നതില്‍, വിരല്‍ പ്രയോഗങ്ങളില്‍, നിതംബം തഴുകുന്നതില്‍ ഒന്നില്‍ നിന്നും മറ്റൊന്നിലേയ്ക്ക് സൂപ്പര്‍ഫാസ്റ്റിന്റെ വേഗത്തില്‍ ചെക്കന്മാര്‍ കടക്കും. എന്നാല്‍ സ്ത്രീയാഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നതോ ഓരോ സ്റ്റോപ്പും ഒച്ചിഴയുന്ന വേഗത്തില്‍ കടന്നു പോകാനും.

എല്ലാം പതുക്കെയെന്ന മന്ത്രം മറക്കാതെ മനസില്‍ കുറിച്ച ആണുങ്ങളെയാണ് പെണ്ണുങ്ങള്‍ക്കിഷ്ടം. സാവധാനം കാമലോലുപയാകാനാണ് സ്ത്രീ കൊതിക്കുന്നത്. ആമുഖലീലകള്‍ക്ക് ദൈര്‍ഘ്യമേറണം എന്ന് സ്ത്രീ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നുവെന്നതാണ് ഒന്നാം പാഠം.

കഴിഞ്ഞ തവണ സൂപ്പര്‍ഹിറ്റായ തിരക്കഥ ഇത്തവണയും വിജയം കൊയ്യണമെന്നില്ല. കഥയും മുഹൂര്‍ത്തങ്ങളും സംഭാഷണങ്ങളും മാറിയേ തീരൂ. അതിനാല്‍ ഒരിക്കല്‍ പിന്തുടര്‍ന്ന രീതിയും ശൈലിയും അന്ന് സ്ത്രീയ്ക്ക് വളരെ ഇഷ്ടമായെന്നു കരുതി ആവര്‍ത്തിക്കാന്‍ നില്‍ക്കരുത്. വൈവിദ്ധ്യമാണ് കിടപ്പറയിലെ മര്‍മ്മം.

വ്യത്യസ്തതകള്‍ പരീക്ഷിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അവളോടു കൂടി ചോദിക്കാന്‍ മടിക്കേണ്ട. ഓരോ ഘട്ടത്തിലും ആ പ്രതികരണങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് പ്രാധാന്യമുണ്ട്. പ്രസക്തവുമാണ്. കഴിഞ്ഞ തവണ വേഗതയായിരുന്നു ആയുധമെങ്കില്‍ അടുത്ത തവണ മെല്ലെപ്പോക്ക് നയം പിന്തുടരാം. തൂവലിന്റെ മൃദുത്വമായിരുന്നു കഴിഞ്ഞ തവണത്തെ തുറുപ്പു ചീട്ടെങ്കില്‍ ഇത്തവണ ഉരുക്കിന്റെ കരുത്ത് കളത്തിലിറക്കണം.

നീലച്ചിത്രങ്ങളില്‍ കണ്ട ദൃശ്യങ്ങളും രീതികളും നിങ്ങളുടെ മനസില്‍ നിന്നും കിടപ്പു മുറിയില്‍ നിന്നും പുറത്തു നിര്‍ത്തുക. നീലച്ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ നല്ല രതി പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നില്ല, പ്രതിനിധീകരിക്കുന്നുമില്ല.

മുറിയിലേയ്ക്ക് പെട്ടെന്ന് കടന്നു വന്ന് ഒന്നു രണ്ടു ചുംബനങ്ങള്‍ക്കും തഴുകലുകള്‍ക്കും ശേഷം വസ്ത്രമൂരി നേരേ മൂന്നാര്‍ ആക്ഷനിലേയ്ക്ക് കടക്കുന്നതായിട്ടാണ് മിക്ക നീലച്ചിത്രങ്ങളും ചിത്രീകരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. എന്നാല്‍ യഥാര്‍ത്ഥ ജീവിതത്തില്‍ സംഗതി നേരെ മറിച്ചാണ്.

സ്ത്രീ കാമപരവശയായി സംഭോഗ സന്നദ്ധയാകാന്‍ ഏറെ നേരമെടുക്കും. എത്തേണ്ടിടത്തു മുഴുവന്‍ നാവും കൈപ്പടവും വിരലും വേണ്ട ക്രിയകള്‍ ചെയ്താലേ ആ അവസ്ഥയിലെത്തിക്കാനാവൂ. വസ്ത്രത്തോടെയും അല്ലാതെയും ഏറെ നേരം പണിപ്പെടണമെന്ന് സാരം.

മിക്ക സ്ത്രീകളും നന്നായി ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നതാണ് നാവിന്റെ പ്രയോഗം. എന്നാല്‍ അവര്‍ പലപ്പോഴും അതാഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് തുറന്നു പറയാറില്ല. അറിഞ്ഞ് അത് ചെയ്യുന്നവനെയോ, അവള്‍ ദേവനു തുല്യം പ്രണയിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും.

സെക്സിനിടയില്‍ റെസ്റ്റെടുക്കുക എന്നു കേട്ടാല്‍ അമ്പരക്കരുത്. തുടര്‍ച്ചയായതും ദൈര്‍ഘ്യമേറിയതുമായ രതിയാണ് സ്ത്രീകള്‍ കൊതിക്കുന്നത് എന്നത് ഒരു അബദ്ധധാരണയാണ്. തുടര്‍ച്ചയായ ജോലിക്കിടയില്‍ നാം ചായകുടിക്കാനും രണ്ട് വട തിന്നാനും സമയം കണ്ടെത്താറില്ലേ. ആ നയം കിടപ്പുമുറിയിലും തുടരാന്‍ മടിക്കേണ്ട. ഇടയ്ക്കൊന്ന് നിര്‍ത്തി എഞ്ചിന്‍ വീണ്ടും സ്റ്റാര്‍ട്ട് ചെയ്ത് റൈസ് ചെയ്ത് യാത്ര തുടരുന്നത് നല്ലഫലമേ ചെയ്യൂ. ഉദ്ധാരണം പോകുമെന്ന ഭയമൊന്നും വേണ്ട. അതൊക്കെ തിരിച്ചു വരാനുളള മടങ്ങിപ്പോക്കു തന്നെ.

വാക്കുകളുടെ ഉപയോഗമാണ് കിടപ്പറയിലെ മറ്റൊരു തുറുപ്പു ചീട്ട്. പുകഴ്ത്തലും പ്രശംസയും കൊതിക്കാത്ത സ്ത്രീകളില്ല. സൗന്ദര്യത്തെ പകല്‍വെളിച്ചത്തില്‍ പ്രശംസിക്കുന്നത് ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്ന സ്ത്രീ, ഒളിച്ചു വെച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന അവയവങ്ങളെ പുകഴ്ത്തുന്നത് കേള്‍ക്കാന്‍ എത്രയാവും കൊതിക്കുക.

പുരുഷന്റെ നാവിനെ ഇവിടെയും സ്ത്രീ വല്ലാതെ മോഹിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഇത്തവണ വാക്കുകള്‍ ഉപയോഗിച്ചാണ് അവളില്‍ മോഹമുണര്‍ത്തേണ്ടത്. ഇളംവെളിച്ചത്തില്‍ തൊട്ടുമുന്നില്‍ പാലുപോലെ പരന്നൊഴുകിക്കിടക്കുന്ന നഗ്നതയെ ചുമ്മാ പ്രശംസിക്കുക. ഓരോ വാക്കും അവളുടെ മേനിയില്‍ കാമത്തിന്റെ കനല്‍ക്കട്ടകളായി വീഴും.

ചിലപ്പോള്‍ ദീര്‍ഘമേറിയ ആമുഖ ലീലകള്‍ കൊതിക്കുന്ന അവള്‍ മറ്റു ചിലപ്പോള്‍ അതിദ്രുതം സംഭോഗത്തിനു മുതിര്‍ന്നേക്കാം. അത് തിരിച്ചറിയേണ്ടത് പുരുഷന്റെ കടമയാണ്. അധികം ചുംബനമേല്‍ക്കാതെ, ലാളനകള്‍ക്ക് കൊതിക്കാതെ ഒന്നോ രണ്ടോ സ്പര്‍ശനം കൊണ്ട് സ്ത്രീ സുരതത്തിന് തയ്യാറാകും.

എങ്ങനെ ഇത് മനസിലാക്കാം. പുരുഷന്റെ സ്വകാര്യഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍ വല്ലാത്ത ആവേശത്തോടെ പരതുന്നതാണ് ഒന്നാമത്തെ ലക്ഷണം. ഒരു ലൈംഗിക നിലയിലേയ്ക്ക് വളരെ പെട്ടെന്ന് പുരുഷനെ വലിച്ചിടുന്നത് രണ്ടാമത്തെ ലക്ഷണം. എന്നിട്ടും സംശയം തീരുന്നില്ലെങ്കില്‍ തുറന്നു ചോദിക്കണം.

വദനസുരതത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് നേരത്തെ സൂചിപ്പിച്ചു. രഹസ്യഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍ പുരുഷന്റെ നാവിനെ സ്ത്രീ വല്ലാതെ മോഹിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. എന്നാല്‍ അത് തുറന്നു പറയാന്‍ അവള്‍ക്ക് വല്ലാത്ത നാണമാണ് പലപ്പോഴും.

എതിര്‍പ്പിന്റെ സൂചനകളൊന്നുമില്ലെങ്കില്‍ അത് തുടരാനാണ് സന്ദേശം. ചിലപ്പോള്‍ അവള്‍ അത് തടഞ്ഞേക്കാം. എങ്കില്‍ അത്തരമൊരു മൂഡിലേയ്ക്ക് സ്ത്രീ എത്തിയില്ലെന്ന് മനസിലാക്കി തിരികെ വരിക.

ഇരുട്ട് വേണമോ വെളിച്ചം വേണമോ എന്നതും കിടപ്പറയിലെ കുഴയ്ക്കുന്ന ചോദ്യമാണ്. വെളിച്ചത്തിലെ സുരതം പുരുഷന്‍ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ സ്ത്രീ ഇരുട്ടില്‍ അതു വേണമെന്ന് കൊതിക്കുന്നു. വല്ലാത്ത മൂഡ് സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്ന വെളിച്ചത്തെ സ്ത്രീയും കൊതിക്കും. മെഴുകുതിരിയുടെയോ റാന്തലിന്റെയോ മങ്ങിയ വെളിച്ചം സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്കും ഹരമാണ്.

എന്നാല്‍ കത്തുന്ന വെളിച്ചത്തിലെ രതി സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്ക് അത്ര പഥ്യമല്ല. ചിലത് മറച്ചു വെച്ച് അവനെ ഹരം കൊളളിക്കാനും പിന്നെ അവന്‍ കാണാതെ സ്വന്തം വികാരം പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കാനുമാണ് സ്ത്രീകള്‍ ഇരുട്ടിലെ രതി ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നതെന്നാണ് മനശാസ്ത്ര മതം. സ്വന്തം വികാരങ്ങള്‍ സ്ത്രീ വന്യമായി പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് ഇരുട്ടിലാണ്.

ആ വന്യത തുറന്നു പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ സ്ത്രീയെ അനുവദിക്കുന്നതല്ലേ നല്ലത്. ഇരുട്ടിന്റെ മറവില്‍ കണ്ണും പൂട്ടിയുളള ചില പ്രകടനങ്ങള്‍ പുരുഷന്മാര്‍ക്കും നടത്താം. ഇരുട്ടു മൂടിയ കിടപ്പറയിലാണ് എന്തും ചെയ്യാനുളള സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം അധിവസിക്കുന്നത്.

കണ്ണാടി കാണ്മോളം എന്ന ചൊല്ല് ഇവിടെയും പ്രസക്തമാണ്. ഒന്നിനെ രണ്ടാക്കുകയും രണ്ടിനെ നാലാക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന കണ്ണാടി ലൈംഗികവികാരങ്ങളെയും ഇരട്ടിപ്പിക്കും. സ്വന്തം മേനിയഴകില്‍ ആത്മവിശ്വാസമുളള ഏതൊരു സ്ത്രീയും കണ്ണാടിയ്ക്കു മുന്നില്‍ നിന്നുളള സംഭോഗത്തിന് കൊതിക്കും. അങ്ങനെയൊരാളാണ് ഇണയെങ്കില്‍ പണമല്‍പം മുടക്കി ഒരു മുഴുനീള കണ്ണാടി വാങ്ങി കിടക്കറയില്‍ ഫിറ്റ് ചെയ്യുന്നതില്‍ നഷ്ടമൊന്നുമില്ല.

കണ്ണാടി നോക്കിയുളള പലതരം വേഴ്ചാ രീതികള്‍ പരിശോധിച്ചു നോക്കാവുന്നതാണ്. ഓരോന്നും ഇണയിലുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന വികാരം തിരിച്ചറിയാനും കണ്ണാടിച്ചങ്ങാതി ബെസ്റ്റാണ്.

Newly married woman gang-raped in running train , തീവണ്ടിയില്‍ വധുവിനെ മ

2007-11-22T02:58:00.000-08:00

Newly married woman gang-raped in running train , തീവണ്ടിയില്‍ വധുവിനെ മ: "തീവണ്ടിയില്‍ നവവധുവിനെ കൂട്ടമാനഭംഗത്തിനിരയാക്കി വ്യാഴം, നവംബര്‍ 22, 2007 RSS പട്‌ന: ഭര്‍ത്താവിനൊപ്പം തീവണ്ടിയില്‍ യാത്രചെയ്യുകയായിരുന്ന നവവധുവിനെ കൂട്ടമാനഭംഗത്തിനിരയാക്കി. ആയുധധാരികളായ അഞ്ചംഗസംഘം ഭര�"

After three-year delay, Kerala finally inks Smart City lease

2007-11-18T05:43:00.000-08:00

The Peninsula On-line: Qatar's leading English Daily: "Kochi • Kerala yesterday logged on to the seamless IT and IT-enabled services growth here yesterday, joining hands with Dubai-based Technology and Media Free Zone Authority to set up SmartCity, an integrated township for knowledge-based industries. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan switched on an acrylic display, marking the stone-laying for the $350m Smart City with a built-up 8.8m sq feet on a land stretch of 1.07m sq metres. Witnessing the event were Smart City executive director Fareed Abdul Rahman and director (marketing) Jazia Mohammed and Kerala Ministers S Sarma, C Divakaran, Mons Joseph and N K Premachandran However, the absence of Tecom Investments chairman, Ahmad Bin Byat, who also chairs SmartCity, and Kerala Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, dampened the show."