Bangalore, Jan 6 - The Karnataka government will make a film city in the memory of Kannada film icons Raj Kumar and Vishnuvardhan, Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa has announced.

He was speaking at a condolence meeting organised by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce Tuesday in the memory of four stalwarts - actor Vishnuvardhan, singer C. Ashwath, producer Chandu Lal Jain and stuntman Circus Boranna - who had died recently.

Bangalore, Jan 5 : Director Shankar, who has been tight-lipped so far about his action-packed sci-fi Tamil film "Endhiran" starring superstar Rajnikant and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, reveals that the movie is almost finished and has lots of surprises in store for the audience.

"'Endhiran' is almost complete. 90 percent of the shooting is over," Shankar wrote on his blog www. directorshankaronline. com.

Bangalore, Jan 4 : External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna Monday said the Australian government was "duty bound" to punish the killers of Indian student Nitin Garg.

The Australian government "is duty bound and morally bound to investigate and bring the culprit to book", he told reporters here.

"That is the least the Australian government can do and that is what we expect," Krishna said, after meeting Governor H. R. Bhardwaj to greet him on the New Year.

Bangalore, Jan 4 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's sister-in-law Harpreet Kaur Kohli died in the north Karnataka town of Hubli Monday, family members said.

Kohli, 67, sister of Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur, was suffering from breathing problems for several days, they said from Hubli, about 420 km from here.

Kohli is survived by husband Harinam Singh, an automobile businessman, three sons -- Harmeet, Manmeet and Parvinder -- and daughter Radhika. (IANS)

Bangalore, Jan 4 : Cement major ACC Monday inaugurated a 1.2-million tonne factory at Kudithini village in Karnataka, its 16th in the country, on an investment of Rs. 370 crore.

With the new plant, the company's total annual capacity has gone up to 26 million tonnes. It has also consolidated ACC's position as India's largest cement producer.

Located 25 km from the district headquarters town of Bellary, the greenfield plant is the company's fourth in Karnataka.

Bangalore, Jan 2 : Karnataka will be strong favourites against Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy semifinal beginning at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here Sunday.

Karnataka have been in top form this season, steamrolling opponents on their way to the last four.

The team, a healthy mix of talented youngsters and experienced campaigners, has been led well by Rahul Dravid.

They won four league matches and reached the semifinals after managing the first-innings lead against Punjab in the quarterfinals at Mysore.

Bangalore, Jan 2 : Fairs will be organised in the Gulf as part of the efforts to increase exports of Indian horticulture produce to the region, a central minister said here Saturday.

"There is a huge scope to export horticulture produce to the Gulf region," Minister of State for Agriculture K. V. Thomas told reporters on the margins of a horticulture fair.

Thomas inaugurated a four-day "Orange Festival", where 11 states are displaying oranges, mosambi, kinnow, acid lime and other citrus fruits. Grapes, pomegranates, dry fruits and spices are also on show.

Bangalore, Jan 1 : Over 800 labourers of a garments industry were admitted to different hospitals of the city on Friday due to severe stomach ache which they complained after eating sweets distributed by the management on the occasion of new year.

According to hospitals, condition of all the admitted was stable and there was no need to worry.

The Joccky Garment Factory management in the Bommasandra Industrial Area distributed sweets its over 2000 workers in the morning.

Bangalore, Dec 31 : Amid signs of economic recovery, the Indian IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) market is projected to grow by 15 percent in 2010 as against a modest growth of 5.4 percent in 2009, a report by market intelligence firm IDC (International Data Corporation) India said Thursday.

"As the economy recovers, both consumers and enterprises will demand services and solutions that allow them to do more with less. The structural changes undertaken in 2009 will propel the domestic IT-ITeS market to grow in 2010," IDC India country manager Kapil Dev Singh said.

Bangalore, Dec 30 : The Karnataka State Assembly on Wednesday witnessed unbelievable chaos with both opposition and treasury benches exchanging blows.

The assembly was scheduled to take up the issue of the Speaker’s election but the opposition demanded an adjournment of proceedings in the wake of Kannada superstar Vishnuvardhan’s death.

As senior member Yogish Bhatt sat in the Speaker’s chair and took up the election issue, the opposition parties protested.

Bangalore, Dec 30 : The Communist Party of India (CPI) has favoured formation of Telangana as a separate state but only after evolving a consensus among the people and other political parties in Andhra Pradesh.

"We support Telangana as a separate state. But the process should be taken up after forging a consensus through wider consultation with the people of the state and various political parties in the undivided state," CPI general secretary A. B. Bardhan told reporters here.

Bangalore, Dec 30 : Kannada superstar Vishnuvardhan, who died early Wednesday, was given a state funeral here. The last rites were performed by his elder brother Ravi, in the presence of thousands of mourning fans.

The 60-year-old actor died in Mysore, about 140 km from here, following a heart attack.

Vishnuvardhan is survived by his wife Bharathi and two daughters Chandana and Keerthi.    

Bangalore, Dec 30 : The Communist Party of India (CPI) has urged the central government to adopt a massive public investment programme in the agrarian sector to enhance foodgrain production and ensure food security.

"The government should take steps to strengthen farm infrastructure, including irrigation and power through a special package and implement the recommendations of the national commission on farmers," CPI general secretary A. B. Bardhan told reporters Wednesday after the party's national council met here Dec 27-29.    

Bangalore, Dec 30 : Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa Wednesday announced a grant of Rs. 10 crore and two acres of land to build a memorial for Kannada film superstar Vishnuvardhan, who died early morning following a heart attack.

The chief minister said after inspecting the site for the cremation of the body of the 60-year-old actor that the memorial would be built in consultation with Vishnuvardhan's family members.    

Bangalore, Dec 30 : Police cane charged and burst tear gas shells here Wednesday to control fans who turned unruly while waiting to pay homage to Kannada superstar Vishnuvardhan. The 60-year-old actor died in Mysore, about 140 kms from here, following heart attack in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The body was brought here and kept at the National College Grounds in south Bangalore for his fans to pay their respects.

Bangalore, Dec 30 : The sudden death of Kannada movie icon Vishnuvardhan has devastated millions of Kannadigas around the world. Well-known cricketer Anil Kumble, a big fan of the late actor, described his demise as a most devastating loss.

"I have grown up watching his films. I have been his ardent fan. It's an end of an era," said Kumble, summing up the emotions of his fans who considered him a role model.

Bangalore, Dec 30 : The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's K. G. Bopaiah was Wednesday elected Karnataka assembly speaker amid protests by opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular parties.

Congress and JD-S members trooped into the well of the house and began shouting as the poll process started. They demanded the poll to be put off in view of the death of Kannada film superstar Vishnuvardhan earlier in the day.

The matinee idol, 59, died following massive heart failure in Mysore, about 140 km from here, in the wee hours.

In the midst of shouting, Bopaiah, who was the deputy speaker, was declared elected.

Bangalore, Dec 30 : Flood-hit farmers on Tuesday protested outside Karnataka Assembly, demanding compensation for damaged crops.

Upset over not getting the assured compensation, thousand of farmers marched to Bangalore and tried to lay siege to the state Assembly.

The Congress party has supported the protest.

Bangalore, Dec 30 - Kannada film industry's superstar Vishnuvardhan died of a heart attack early Wednesday, doctors said. The actor died while he was being rushed to a hospital in Mysore. He leaves behind his wife Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, who is an actress, and his two daughters Keerthi and Chandana.

Vishnuvardhan, 60, was under medical observation at the Vikram Hospital in Mysore for many days. Doctors checked the actor thoroughly Tuesday evening and said he was in good condition. But early Wednesday morning Vishnuvardhan complained of chest pain and died while being taken to hospital.

Bangalore, Dec 30 - Kannada film industry's super star Vishnuvardhan died at 3:00 a. m. Wednesday. The actor had a heart attack while he was being taken to the Vikram Hospital in Mysore. (IANS)