Chennai, Feb 19 : Indian space agency officials are gearing up to make the rocket that would carry seven satellites launch-ready for Feb 25 with a full system check, an official said.

"After mating the satellites with the rocket - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle -PSLV-C20- a full test of the rocket and the satellites was done. The rocket at this stage is considered as test condition," an official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS.

Chennai, Feb 16 : DMK president M.  Karunanidhi Saturday charged the central government of not being bothered by statements from political leaders in the states on issues like the attack on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan forces or fuel price hikes.

Karunanidhi, whose party is a major constituent of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre, said: "Every time fishermen from Tamil Nadu are attacked by Sri Lankan Navy, leaders of political parties issue statements of condemnation.  Nevertheless, the attacks continue."

Chennai, Feb 15 : The Indian space agency will Feb 25 put into orbit seven foreign satellites including an Indo-French collaborative satellite SARAL and thus earn much wanted revenue.

"The launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C20 (PSLV-C20) is currently fixed for Feb 25 evening," sources in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS.

"The rocket will blast off from the Sriharikota rocket launch centre (around 80 km from here) carrying seven satellites, totally weighing around 700 kg," a source in ISRO said.

Chennai, Feb 9 : The government should explain the "inordinate delay" in executing the death sentence against Afzal Guru, senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said Saturday. He added that the hanging of the parliament attack convict though belated was welcome.

Queried whether the government was acting now - hanging Guru and Pakistani national Ajmal Amir Kasab - with an eye on the 2014 general elections, Naidu told IANS: "Perhaps the government is acting now against the death convicts as it suffers from policy paralysis."

Chennai, Feb 8 : Playing safe on the ongoing protests in Tamil Nadu by the DMK, a key ally of the Congress-led UPA Government, against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse''s visit, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Friday said the engagement with Colombo in no way means that the Centre is insensitive or tends to undermine the concerns, which a section of the population of India may legitimately have.

Chennai, Feb 7 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh on Thursday reiterated that the party is committed to construct Ram temple at the Ram Janamboomi in Ayodhya, but will wait till the Supreme Court decision, as the matter is sub-judice before the court.

Responding to questions here at a press conference, Rajnath Singh expressed hope that the apex court will deliver a favourable verdict.

"The BJP has the firm opinion that the Ram Temple should be constructed on the Ram Janm Bhumi, but at present the matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court and we should wait for its decision," said Rajnath Singh.

Chennai, Feb 7 : U. S. Ambassador to India Nancy Powell on Thursday said her country would work with India on issues related to child survival.

Participating in the inaugural session of the India's Call to Action Summit for Child Survival and Development at Mahabalipuram, near Chennai, Ambassador Powell said Thursday''s summit has proved the commitment of India's leaders to the global community and to the children of India.

Stating that the U. S. Government is proud to be a part of this initiative, Powell said: "We look forward to working with the Government of India on addressing critical child survival issues."

Chennai, Feb 7 : The screening of spy-thriller `Vishwaroopam' will finally take place in Tamil Nadu today, after a tumultuous two weeks of court cases and stay orders.

Fans of actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan can be seen dancing outside the theatres in Chennai to celebrate the release of the movie on Friday. They also garlanded the cutouts of the actor.

People started gathering outside cinema halls in Chennai in large numbers to watch the first show of Vishwaroopam.

Chennai, Feb 5 : US-based Technosoft Corporation, a software services and business process outsourcing (BPO), plans to hire 800 people in India, a company official said Tuesday.

The $90 million Technosoft Corporation will also inaugurate its new 400-seater development centre here soon, the official added.

Chennai, Feb 2 : City-based government-owned lender Indian Bank closed the third quarter of the current fiscal with a 37 percent fall in net profit and a steep hike in non-performing assets (NPA).

The bank closed the third quarter with a net profit of around Rs. 331 crore, down from Rs. 526 crore posted during comparable period the previous fiscal.

Chennai, Jan 31 :  DMK leader M. Karunanidhi Thursday said he had proof to back his claim that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa once wrote to then chief minister M. G. Ramachandran against Kamal Haasan.

"I have all the evidence and when the time comes, (I will) prove the charges in court," Karunanidhi told the media.

The former chief minister spoke after Jayalalithaa threatened to sue him for making what she was said was a "wild reckless charge".

Chennai, Jan 31 : Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has said that as a vital infrastructure, civil aviation plays an essential role in economic progress and integration of a country.

Chennai, Jan 31 : The Madras Motor Racing Track at Sriperumbudur will host the finale of the MRF Challenge Feb 8-10, making its first ever visit to India's longest serving purpose-built motorsport venue.

The MRF F2000, Dallara designed and Renault powered cars built in Coimbatore, will be the premier category of racing in the weekend. They will be joined by the MRF Formula 1600 cars in their debut as the premier category of the Indian National Racing Championship (INRC).

The third and final round of the MRF Challenge will feature four races, two each Saturday and Sunday.

Chennai, Jan 31 :  Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said Thursday that Kamal Haasan's movie "Vishwaroopam" was banned in Tamil Nadu due to fears of violent protests and not because she had a grudge against the actor.

The chief minister also announced that she would file cases against DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and sections of the media that she said had maligned her on the issue.

Jayalalithaa said it would have been near impossible to provide security to all the 524 cinema theatres in Tamil Nadu where the multilingual film was to be released after Muslim groups announced a string of protests.

Chennai, Jan 31 : After many members from Indian film industry expressed their solidarity, Bollywood actor Salman Khan also opposed the ban on "Vishwaroopam" in Tamil Nadu and requested his and Kamal Haasan's fans to lend support to the film-maker.

"Hope each and every fan of his (Kamal Haasan) supports him like I am doing and want all my fans to fully support him. Bhool gaye kya 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye' (Have you forgotten 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye')," Salman tweeted Thursday.

The 47-year-old added that the decision to watch a film lies with the people who buy tickets, not anyone else.

Chennai, Jan 30 : In a major setback to actor Kamal Haasan, the Madras High Court on Wednesday stayed the release of his film ''Vishwaroopam'', setting aside the interim order given by the single judge bench yesterday.

The latest development in this regard came after the Tamil Nadu Government approached the Madras High Court after a single judge bench of the high court lifted the ban on Haasan''s movie.

The state government sought an immediate hearing of the appeal on the issue.

Chennai, Jan 30 : The Tamil Nadu Government will appeal on Wednesday against a court verdict that lifted ban on Tamil actor and film-maker Kamal Haasan's new film `Vishwaroopam'.

The Madras High Court will today hear the state government's appeal against the court verdict. A division bench of the court will hear the appeal at 10:30 am today.

The High Court had rescinded a ban imposed on the movie last week by the state government.

Chennai Jan 29 : Samsung India Electronics is planning to increase sales of its split air-conditioners, refrigerators by 50 percent and expand its distribution network in smaller cities, a senior company official said here Tuesday.

"We plan to increase the sales of our split air-conditioners and refrigerators by 50 percent this year. Our share in the split air-conditioner market is around 13 percent," K. Mahesh, vice president (Home Appliances) of Samsung India, told reporters.

Chennai, Jan. 28 : The Madras High Court on Monday posted its order till tomorrow on veteran actor Kamal Haasan''s petition seeking a stay on the Tamil Nadu Government''s temporary ban on his film ''Vishwaroopam'' following allegations by some organisations that the movie shows Muslims in bad light.

The court has asked Kamal Hassan to meet government officials and find a way out.

According to certain media reports, the actor is likely to meet the government officials later in the day.

Chennai, Jan 27 - She is all of 16, ends up studying through Skype and feels the right encouragement and guidance will take her places in the world of acting. Thulasi Nair, who makes her debut with Mani Ratnam's Tamil romantic-drama "Kadal", says age has never been a roadblock for her.

Thulasi, raised in Mumbai, was in Class 10 when she was signed for the film. She wishes to complete her schooling at all costs.