Leader Karunakaran no more

Veteran Congress leader and four time Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran died at a private hospital here Thursday.

The 93-year-old leader, who was admitted to the hospital for the past two weeks for treatment of severe breathing problem and fever, died at 1725 Hrs.

`` It is an end of an era. The leader has left us at 1725 hrs,`` Kerala Pradesh Congress president Ramesh Chennnithala said while confirming the death of the leader.

Family members, including son K Muraleedharan and daughter Padmaja Venugopal, were besides Mr Karunakaran when the end came.

The cremation would take place at Thrissur, where the leader’s wife has been cremated, Mr Chennithala said. The body would be laid at the KPCC office and the Senate Hall of the secretariat tomorrow before it would be taken to Thrissur tomorrow, he said.

Soon after the death was confirmed, Chief Minister V S Achuthanadan visited the hospital.

After remaining serious for several days, his condition had improved and was taken off ventilator on December 17. However, ventilator support resumed yesterday morning ater he suffered acute breathing trouble following a stroke.

Read More ......http://keralz.com/news/kerala/2010/dec/dec10.html

IFFK

A dance drama based on Malayalam poet O N V's poem Amma, staged by Kalamandalam at the Inaugural function of the International Film festival of Kerala.

IFFK

A view of the spectacular crowd at the inauguration of the International Film festival of Kerala.

IFFK

German filmmaker Werner Herzog, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, speaking at the inauguration of the International Film festival of Kerala.

He said "it

is an amazing moment for me. I see great appreciation of the films

here. Then looking at the selection of films, I see that the entire

world is present here. It is a great honour to me recieve the

Lifetime Achievement Award."

.

yesteryear legend WaheedaRehman, who was the guest of honour, at the International Film Festival of Kerala addressing the gathering

Culture Minister M A Baby at the Inauguration of the International Film Festival of Kefrala

IFFK

German filmmaker Werner Herzog, who got the Lifetime Achievement Award with yesteryear legend Waheeda

Rehman, who was the guest of honour at the International Film festival of Kerala.

IFFK

The venue of the International Film Festival of Kerala, an internationally reputed film festival. More than 200films from India and across the globe will feature in the 15thInternational Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK

IFFK

Kerala Culture Minister M A Baby with German filmmaker Werner Herzog, who received the Life Time Achievement award at the International Festival Of Kerala.

iffk

The venue of the International Film Festival of Kerala, an internationally reputed film festival. More than 200 films from Indiaand across the globe will feature in the 15thInternational Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)

IFFK

A bird soaring the highs: This bird symbolises International Film Festival of Kerala, an international reputed film festival. More than 200 films from India and across the globe will feature in the 15th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)

IFFK 15th edition sets off

The 15th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) was set off on Friday in an impressive way, which saw world known film makers, actors and politicians among others.

Kerala Chief minister V S Achuthanandan inaugurated the festival, in which he also conferred Lifetime Achievement Award to German filmmaker Werner Herzog. Jnanpith winner and Malapayalam poet and lyricist O N V Kurup was also honoured.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Achuthanandan said the IFFK has succeeded in attracting attention of the international film world.

Kerala Culture Minister M A Baby presented a memento to yesteryear legend Waheeda Rehman, who was the guest of honour.

Receiving the Lifetime achievement award, Werner Herzog said it was an amazing moment in his life. `` I see great appreciation of the films here and moreover, I see that the entire world is present here after looking at the selection of films.`` more here.... http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk10.html

More US billionaires pledge to part wealth

Seventeen more U S billionaires, including Facebook co-founders Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz, have pledged to part at least half their fortunes in a philanthropic campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

Apart from Zuckerberg and Moskovitz, AOL co-founder Steve Case, financier Carl Icahn, Morningstar Chief Executive Joe Mansueto, businessman Nicolas Berggruen and private investor Ted Forstmann were among the billionaires who took the pledge.

A total of 57 billionaires have now joined The Giving Pledge, a platform launched by Microsoft founder Gates and investor Buffett. More here... http://keralz.com/news/life/2010/dec/dec.html

IFFK gets underway tomorrow

More than 200 films from India and across the globe will feature in the 15th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) that commences here tomorrow.

Kerala Chief minister V S Achuthanandan will inaugurate the festival in which German filmmaker Werner Herzog would be conferred the lifetime achievement award.

Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Abdolvahab’s ‘Please Do Not Disturb’ will be the inaugural film.

Films from Latin America, Asia and Africa would compete for the prestigious Rs. One million Suvarna Chakoram award (The Golden Crow Pheasant Award). The Last Summer of La Boyita (Julia Solomonoff), Wine (Diego Fried), Portraits in a sea of lies (Carlos Gaviria), Palerimanikyam Oru Paathira Kolapathakathinte Katha (Ranjith), T D Dasan Std. VI B (Mohan Raghavan) and Zephyr (Belma Bas) are among the competition films.. Read More here.. http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk9.html

Women`s voice to be heard at IFFK

The repertoire of films made by women included in the Women’s Films section of the 15th IFFK comes is remarkable showcasing how women have chosen to play successful parts in film making.

Leni Riefenstahl`s Triumph of Will is a famous documentary made at the special request of Adolf Hitler. The film adores the Great Dictator with divinity and imparts him an evangelical quality.

Leni`s technical flair is revealed through her deft handling of the camera, use of telephoto lens and fresh approach to music and cinematography.

Meshes of the Afternoon by Maya Deren imparts an intriguing and yet charming feel through the use of recurring motifs coupled with interruptive images. more... http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk8.html

Job Scam: Wayanad collector suspended

Wayanad District Collector T Bhaskaran has been suspended from the service in connection with the Public Service Commission Job scam.

The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held today.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said Wayanad collector was removed from his job on the basis of Land Revenue Commissioner K R Muraleedharan`s report that stated that there was failure on the part of the collector.

A team under crime Branch ADGP Vincent M Paul would be constituted to investigate into the job scam, he said. The Vigilance department would probe corruption and scams related to the employees. More ... http://keralz.com/news/kerala/2010/dec/dec3.html

Main accused in Job scam surrenders

Kochi: Abhilash S Pillai, the main accused in the job scam on Tuesday surrendered before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court.

Abhilash is considered to be the mastermind behind the scam. Sooraj Krishna who acquired a job with the help of Abhilash too surrendered along with Abhilash. ...read more here http://keralz.com/news/kerala/2010/dec/dec1.html

LATIN AMERICA DOMINATE COMPETITION SECTION

Latin American films dominate the Competitive Section, which is the most attractive part of the International Film Festival of Kerala. Among the 14 films, five films from Latin America are vying for the prestigious Rs. One million Suvarna Chakoram award (The Golden Crow Pheasant Award).

Apart from the five Latin American films, the films in the competition section includes two Malayalam films, one film each from Bengali, Hindi, Iranian, Korean, Arabic, Turkish and Egyptian are included.

The films from Latin America include The Last Summer of La Boyita (Julia Solomonoff), Wine (Diego Fried), Optical Illusions (Christian Jimenez), Portraits in a sea of lies (Carlos Gaviria) and A Day in Orange by (Alejandra Szeplaki).

The Last Summer tells the story of a pre-adolescent world and Wine deals with the encounter and disencounter between a man and a woman. The Optical Illusions is a satirical comedy that brings to the surface, pokes fun at our own assumptions of reality, and our own ways of looking at the world. The Portraits in a Sea of Lies gives the experiences of cousins merge with a portrait of Colombia, a country that has been in a civil war for the last sixty years ....More..http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk6.html

WikiLeaks founder Assange arrested

London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was on Tuesday arrested by the British police after Sweden issued a warrant for his arrest over allegations of sex crimes.

Assange, whose WikiLeaks website has created a row over the release of secret US diplomatic cables, was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant. However, he has denied allegations that he had sexually assaulted two women in Sweden.

He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010.

Ski Pole Buyers Guide

When selecting ski poles, many things have to be considered. Factors like length, weight and grip has to be considered ahead of selecting the poles. Another factor that has to be considered is the snow type and the terrain.

Length of ski pole

The first thing one should have to look for while choosing a pole is its length. The length of ski poles can have great impact on the skiers. For choosing the correct length, one has to stand up straight with arms on the two sides. After turning the pole upside down, see if the grip contacts the ground and the elbows stand and ninety degree angle with the forearms. If this is so, then the length is perfect.

Grip

Before buying the pole, look whether the grip is perfect. Always wear gloves and hold the skies as it helps in a wise choice. It is an individual choice of the nylon strap and the plastic strap.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/413376_ski-pole-buyers-guide#ixzz17Vvxhasx