Chennai, Nov 9 : Television artists of Tamil Nadu observed hunger strike on Sunday to demonstrate solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamils being allegedly killed by the island nation''s defence forces.

More than 500 actors and artists took part in a hunger strike in Chennai by the television and small screen Artists Association of the state.

The escalating conflict in northern Sri Lanka between government troops and Tamil Tigers has roiled Indian politics.

Many parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu have threatened to resign from the Parliament in protest against the alleged inaction on the part of the Central government to stop government offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka.

London, Nov 9 : A new research has suggested that people with persistent heartburn should be considered for early surgery to prevent a lifetime of popping pills.

The surgery involves wrapping a piece of the stomach around the oesophagus to create a new valve to prevent acid backing up from the stomach. 

It used to be done by opening up the chest cavity, but with the advent of keyhole surgery is now a lot safer.

In conducting their study, researchers at the University of Aberdeen coordinated a trial of laparoscopic fundoplication surgery for 800 patients at 21 hospitals throughout Britain. 

Washington, Nov 9 : The day won’t be far when plastics could be more durable and rubbers could be more elastic, thanks to a novel new approach to polymer synthesis discovered by Texas Tech University organic chemists.

The chemists have developed a process for creating a slip-linked pulley system of molecules that could be used to create tougher and more elastic synthetic materials. 

The principal investigator on the project Michael Mayer, an assistant professor of organic chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, refers to the process as “elegant and simple.”

London, Nov 9 : Priests should be allowed to marry, according to a leading candidate to become the next head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

The Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, Bishop of Nottingham, said that there is no doctrinal reason preventing them from getting married.

For centuries, Roman Catholic priests have been required to take a vow of celibacy, but Bishop McMahon argued that this now seemed unfair following the influx of married Anglican clergy. 

His comments are set to reignite the debate over whether the Church should put an end to the tradition in order to tackle the problem of shortage of priests. 

London, Nov 9 : Cheryl Cole may have never spoken about her older brother Andrew’s troubled life but now he has revealed how the caring ‘Girls Aloud’ singer has repeatedly tried to help him get his life on track.

Andrew, who grew up with Cheryl on a heroin-ravaged estate in Newcastle, is an alcoholic drug addict, who has spent a third of his life behind bars.

Andrew, who is now out of jail, has an appalling record of more than 50 court appearances, many for violence and thuggery.

Now, the 28-year-old has revealed how his ‘worried’ sister used to quietly visit him in jail as he served time for a brutal robbery.

London, Nov 9 : Princes William and Harry have managed to raise just 1,500 pounds each for their much- publicised motorbike charity ride across Africa.

However, 83 other people on the same ride raised an average of 3,500 pounds each.

A representative for William and Harry confirmed that the charity donation was just 1,500 pounds each, but insisted the princes had raised the profile of the charity ride.

“The princes both donated the minimum required to take part but their presence on the ride, as with their support of other charities, raised its profile and we expect more riders to be taking part next year, so it raises more money indirectly,” the Mirror quoted the spokesman, as saying.