Thursday, November 26, 2015

Verghese Kurien's 94th birthday: 15 amazing facts about the much-loved Amul Butter ads

Today is the 'Milkman of India' Verghese Kurien's 94th birth anniversary and Google has a doodle celebrating the day on its India home page. Kurien went on to lead the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd whose Amul is one of India's iconic brands.

Amul ads can also be seen as India's original Google doodles, with the Amul moppet taking a witty take on current events on hoardings and newspaper ads across the country. There have been over 4000 Amul Butter hoardings till date and there are an amazing number of facts about them. Here's our pick of 15:
1. Amul butter had been selling in the market for 10 years before the Amul moppet was conceived.
2. The 'Utterly' tagline was suggested by author Nisha daCunha, who is also the wife of Sylvester daCunha, the man behind the Amul butter advertising and chairman of daCunha Communications that has been handling the Amul Butter account for 49 years.
3. The Amul girl was born in 1966 (She still isn't 50 yet, but Amul celebrated her golden jubilee a couple of years ago.)
4. The moppet was created by Eustace Fernandes, who was then the art director at daCunha Communications. Fernandes passed away in March 2010.
5. The first of the ads featuring the girl in the polka dotted frock and a matching ribbon were not the huge hoardings that we are more acquainted with, but were put up on a few lamposts in Mumbai.
6. The first ever hoarding featuring the Amul girl had her saying a bedtime prayer (see the ad below). Interestingly, in her first major appearance the Amul girl wasn’t in her trademark polka-dotted frock.
First Amul horading
7. The Amul Management (including Dr Verghese Kurien) did not interfere in the making of the ads and daCunha Communications did not even need to get their approval before putting up the ads.
8. While Amul ads are not known to trigger a controversy, but there have been a few ads that many objected to. The most controversial Amul butter ad of all time was perhaps the one after incidents of UK authorities conducting virginity tests on Indian women arriving at London airport. The text said “Indian virgin needs no urgin’!” Following protests Amul came up with another billboard apologising for the ad (See below).
Most controversial Amul ad
9. Indian TV’s funny man Cyrus Broacha worked as a trainee copywriter with daCunha and of the many Amul hoardings that he helped conceive was the famous “Lara, kya mara!” following Brian Lara smashing Garry Sobers’ record for the highest score in Test cricket.
Amul Lara Kya Hai Mara ad
10. Jagmahon Dalmiya had tried to sue Amul for Rs 500 crore for a hoarding that said “Dalmiya mein kuch kala hai? Amul Maska khao, paisa nahin’ but had other thoughts when the courts required him to deposit 10 per cent of the amount.
11. The Ramalinga Raju (Satyam, Sharam, Scandalam) ad following the Satyam scam drew the ire of the Satyam board and they sent a letter demanding an apology else Satyam employees would quit consuming Amul products in protest.
Amul Satyam Sharam Scandalam ad
12. In April 1995 the Election Commission got an Amul Butter hoarding painted black. The ad showed Congressman in a tug-of-war with the hand symbol and the Commission interpreted it as a political advertisement.
13. Pia Benegal, director Shyam Benegal’s daughter had as a kindergarten student lent her voice for the ‘Utterly Butterly Delicious’ ad jingle.
14. The present Amul Butter cartoons are drawn by Jayant Rane.
15. A number of Amul ads have been based on other much-discussed ads. Some samples:
Amul ads based on ads

This ‘famous’ boy can speak over 10 languages, and he is not alone

Now 23, Ravi still sells peacock fans with his grandmother in Hanging Gardens and is happy that people know about him because of the internet.

In 2007, 15-year-old Ravi Kumar Chikhaliya — a souvenir seller in Mumbai’s Hanging Gardens — garnered instant fame when he was featured in a Youtube video. His claim to fame? He could fluently speak 10 languages without “formal training”. Eight years later, and Chikhaliya still calls himself famous in interviews and even while selling his wares.

Chikhaliya’s ‘linguistic prowess’ extends to English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Iranian languages. But, mind you, don’t think you can hold an entire conversation with him. His is a very profession skill — which means that he can say the same thing (selling souvenirs such as a peacock feather fan) in all these languages, and that’s it. As amazing as it is to see and hear, this is not a new phenomenon. Indian tourist spots are teeming with such kids make their souvenir pitch to tourists and foreigners in their language. They pick up words and phrases from their customers and then use them on others. Even other guides and vendors speak different languages because such places attract tourists from around the world, and learning their language is a great way to make a sale.

Now 23, Ravi still sells peacock fans with his grandmother in Hanging Gardens and is happy that people know about him because of the internet.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Top Ten gadgets of CES 2015 so far

Here is a look at some of the best and most interesting gadgets to emerge so far.
10. Tagg pet tracker
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This small GPS gadget clips on to the collar of your dog and measures a number of things, including movement, location and temperature. That means that you can keep track of where your dog has run off to in the park or sand dunes, while getting an alert if the car's temperature gets too warm for your pet while you pop in to get a few groceries. It should also act as some reassurance for those worried that their pet might be stolen.
10. Tagg pet tracker 
This small GPS gadget clips on to the collar of your dog and measures a number of things, including movement, location and temperature. That means that you can keep track of where your dog has run off to in the park or sand dunes, while getting an alert if the car's temperature gets too warm for your pet while you pop in to get a few groceries. It should also act as some reassurance for those worried that their pet might be stolen.
9. Panasonic 85-inch 4K work screen
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While Sky might use giant touchscreens for its football pundits to scrawl on during their analysis, the technology hasn't really advanced far enough for ordinary businesses to use. But Panasonic, which has started to switch its focus onto workplace technology, has come up with an 'ultra high definition' screen that can be used either vertically or horizontally at work. The main attraction to it is that it supports multiple people touching and interacting with it at the same time. This means it could be used very productively for projects.
9. Panasonic 85-inch 4K work screen 
While Sky might use giant touchscreens for its football pundits to scrawl on during their analysis, the technology hasn't really advanced far enough for ordinary businesses to use. But Panasonic, which has started to switch its focus onto workplace technology, has come up with an 'ultra high definition' screen that can be used either vertically or horizontally at work. The main attraction to it is that it supports multiple people touching and interacting with it at the same time. This means it could be used very productively for projects.
8. Gogoro Smartscooter
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While two-wheeled SegWays never quite took off except among airport police and tourist excursions, Gogoro announced an electric scooter that can travel up to 50km per hour in speed and runs on batteries. The only hitch to the vehicle, which is targeting city users, is that it is based around shops supplying replacement batteries. In other words, unless the local Spar or Centra stocks such power-ups, you're unlikely to see it on Irish streets any time soon.
8. Gogoro Smartscooter 
While two-wheeled SegWays never quite took off except among airport police and tourist excursions, Gogoro announced an electric scooter that can travel up to 50km per hour in speed and runs on batteries. The only hitch to the vehicle, which is targeting city users, is that it is based around shops supplying replacement batteries. In other words, unless the local Spar or Centra stocks such power-ups, you're unlikely to see it on Irish streets any time soon.
7. LG G Flex 2 curved smartphone
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A curved smartphone isn't new, but LG is betting that the shift to large phones will make people want more ergonomic handsets that curve in towards your chin rather than jutting out like a tablet slab. The G Flex 2 has a 5.5-inch screen, making it around the same size as Apple's iPhone 6 Plus or Samsung's Galaxy Note 4. It has a very tough, high definition screen and is built to withstand a lot of physical pressure. a 13-megapixel camera and the option of 16GB or 32GB of storage round the phone out.
7. LG G Flex 2 curved smartphone 
A curved smartphone isn't new, but LG is betting that the shift to large phones will make people want more ergonomic handsets that curve in towards your chin rather than jutting out like a tablet slab. The G Flex 2 has a 5.5-inch screen, making it around the same size as Apple's iPhone 6 Plus or Samsung's Galaxy Note 4. It has a very tough, high definition screen and is built to withstand a lot of physical pressure. a 13-megapixel camera and the option of 16GB or 32GB of storage round the phone out.
6. Air 2 Floating Bluetooth speakers
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One of the odder-looking category winners at this year's show ws Axxess's Air 2 floating Bluetooth speakers. The technology, which uses magnets, claims to deliver better audio quality than traditional speakers of the same technical level. Whatever about its audio prowess, the device has a novelty wow factor.
6. Air 2 Floating Bluetooth speakers 
One of the odder-looking category winners at this year's show ws Axxess's Air 2 floating Bluetooth speakers. The technology, which uses magnets, claims to deliver better audio quality than traditional speakers of the same technical level. Whatever about its audio prowess, the device has a novelty wow factor.
5. Samsung Ativ One 7 Curved All-in-one PC
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While curved TVs arguably distort the viewing experience for those looking on from the side, a curved computer screen makes a lot of sense. Samsung's all-in-one Ativ 7 has a 27-inch high definition display, 8GB or Ram and a terabyte of storage. Because curved screens are optimised for the person sitting smack bang in the middle, this should suit people who use their PCs for watching movies, as well as graphic designers.
5. Samsung Ativ One 7 Curved All-in-one PC 
While curved TVs arguably distort the viewing experience for those looking on from the side, a curved computer screen makes a lot of sense. Samsung's all-in-one Ativ 7 has a 27-inch high definition display, 8GB or Ram and a terabyte of storage. Because curved screens are optimised for the person sitting smack bang in the middle, this should suit people who use their PCs for watching movies, as well as graphic designers.
4. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon
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Lenovo is better known for workhorse laptops than snazzy portables. So its new business-focused Thinkpad X1 will be one of the products of CES that should probably have instant appeal. The updated laptop is thinner and lighter than predecessors but still packs a lot of power and keeps the old IBM Thinkpad design going.
4. Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon 
Lenovo is better known for workhorse laptops than snazzy portables. So its new business-focused Thinkpad X1 will be one of the products of CES that should probably have instant appeal. The updated laptop is thinner and lighter than predecessors but still packs a lot of power and keeps the old IBM Thinkpad design going.
3. Asus Transformer Book T300
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Asus announced the thinnest Windows convertible tablet-laptop in the world, at just 0.8mm thick. The 12.5-inch machine also has a high definition screen, 128GB hard drive, uses one of Intel's new Core M chips and has a battery life of eight hours. It also comes with a keyboard.
3. Asus Transformer Book T300 
Asus announced the thinnest Windows convertible tablet-laptop in the world, at just 0.8mm thick. The 12.5-inch machine also has a high definition screen, 128GB hard drive, uses one of Intel's new Core M chips and has a battery life of eight hours. It also comes with a keyboard.
2. Seagate Seven slim portable hard drive
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While cloud storage is well and good, some services are very limited in the amount of data they can store and upload. Seagate's latest portable hard drive is a mere 0.6 centimetres thick and has space for 500GB of whatever you want to put on it.
2. Seagate Seven slim portable hard drive 
While cloud storage is well and good, some services are very limited in the amount of data they can store and upload. Seagate's latest portable hard drive is a mere 0.6 centimetres thick and has space for 500GB of whatever you want to put on it.
1. Withings Activite Pop
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In an era of ugly, computer-like smartwatches, Withings has created a nicely-designed model that looks every bit the part of an elegant timepiece. The Activite Pop cna track your fitness and sleep, is waterproof to 30m and has a silent vibration alarm. It synchronises to a smartphone app you can download free of charge.
1. Withings Activite Pop 
In an era of ugly, computer-like smartwatches, Withings has created a nicely-designed model that looks every bit the part of an elegant timepiece. The Activite Pop cna track your fitness and sleep, is waterproof to 30m and has a silent vibration alarm. It synchronises to a smartphone app you can download free of charge.

10 Innovative Gadgets From CES 2015

The Consumer Electronics Show is one place where every gadget lover should make a pilgrimage to, at least once in his life. 
The annual exhibition is the launch pad for new consumer electronics products and tends to be the place where one can observe the technology roadmap for the year.

CES has has lost its sheen as more and more tech giants choose to hold their own dedicated launch events for their product announcements. However, it’s still a roving ground for hot new startups that have made a mark on Kickstarter.
The major trends this year are centred around wearable gadgets and Internet connected devices. Here's our roundup from the first day of CES 2015:
  • 1
    FitLinxx - AmpStrip

    This wearable heart rate monitor started as a crowd funded project on indiegogo, and will launch publicly in July. It’s a waterproof device that needs to be be taped to your body like a band-aid, to measure heart activity around the clock. The data is sent to your smartphone on iOS/Android using an app.
  • 2
    Sevenhugs hugOne

    Monitor your family’s sleep through sleep sensors called mini hugs, that log information into the HugOne, which acts like a hub. The device monitors air quality, and can be used to control it by connecting it to a smart thermostat.
  • 3
    Connected Cycle

    Turn your ordinary bike into a smart bike by using this pedal, which tracks your fitness and bike thieves with GPS and GPRS sensors powered by cycling. The data from your cycling activities can be viewed on your smartphone.
  • 4
    Giroptic
    Another tech gadget that has its origins in Kickstarter, the Giroptic is the world’s first full HD 360 degree camera. The device incorporates three fish-eye lenses, which are synchronized to simultaneously capture and stitch images in real time. It has three modes - photo, video, and live video, and has a whole bunch of accessories to extend its usage.
  • 5
    iON SnapCam
    This tiny wearable camera can record 2 hours of HD video or take 5,000 pics on one charge. You can also set it to broadcast mode, and livestream an event over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
  • 6
    Parrot Pot

    The Parrot Pot uses sensors to measure temperature, sunlight, fertiliser, soil moisture, and water reserves to keep your house plant alive even if you’re on vacation for as long as a month. The intelligent watering system knows what’s the right amount of water, and when’s the right time to water your plant.
  • 7
    Avegeant Glyph
    These noise cancelling headphones also double up as a wearable display, with eye-pieces tucked into the headband. Priced at $499, the Glyph can display content from any smartphone, TV, gaming console, tablet, and supports stereoscopic 3D.
  • 8
    D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router
    Priced at $300, this isn’t just an aggressive looking Wi-Fi router, it’s the fastest one ever made, capable of speeds of up to 1.3Gbps. It has six antennas and five gigabit ethernet ports.
  • 9
    Seagate Seven
    The world’s slimmest portable hard drive at just 7mm thickness, the drive has 500 GB of storage and supports USB 3.0.
  • 10
    HP Stream Mini

    Priced at just $180, this tiny PC is just two inches tall, and weighs 725 grams. The Stream Mini has a 1.4GHz Celeron processor, 2GB of RAM, 32 GB of solid state storage, DisplayPort and HDMI sockets, four USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth 4.0. And if that wasn't all, it comes loaded with Windows 8.1, and 200GB of OneDrive cloud storage free for two years.

CES 2015: Revolutionary gadgets we did not expect

CES 2015: Revolutionary gadgets we did not expect
Sure, the International CES show was chock full of connected cars, smart home sensors, music gear and computer gadgets, as you’d expect. There were even drones buzzing the 160,000-plus people that tromped across the 2.2 million square feet of exhibit space along the Las Vegas Strip. But if you didn’t get to see some of these goodies, well, you just haven’t lived.
Of the tons of products on display, here are a few that inspired, brought a chuckle, or made you just say, hmmm, yeah, I definitely need that. (Wink.)
STOP, OR I’LL TAKE OUT MY IPAD
The gun holsters of old-timey detectives, hidden under an arm and concealed under a coat, have inspired a holder of something else entirely.
Tech Slinger’s holster features a pocket large enough for a tablet on one side and a smartphone and accessories on the other. When worn, devices hang below each arm. Think of it as a storage device for Inspector Gadget.
The company says the holster will prevent people from leaving their devices in a cab or the seat-back pocket of a plane. The devices stay with you but won’t weigh on a shoulder like a backpack or satchel might.
This year, Tech Slinger introduced a new “side order” sling to go around a person’s waist — great for restaurant staffers who carry tablets to take orders.
The company sells the holsters for $70 to $75.
FLATBREAD FIX
The smell of baking flatbread wafted through the air as a Silicon Valley startup demonstrated a robotic kitchen device.
The Rotimatic uses sensors, software and electric motors to make the Indian staple “roti,” or unleavened flatbread, at about one per minute — faster than the half-hour or more it takes to mix, knead and cook by hand. Just add flour, water and oil. The Rotimatic measures the ingredients, kneads and flattens the dough. It even adjusts the dough and cooking temperature for any spices or herbs added for variety.
What to pay for something that makes only one kind of bread? $599.
ABLE TO WALK AGAIN
One touching moment came when Shane Mosko stood up and walked with the aid of a robotic exoskeleton.
Mosko, who has partial leg paralysis from a spinal cord injury, usually needs a wheelchair. The robotic aide from Ekso Bionic now allows him to walk about 500 steps before tiring. The system includes mechanized leg braces, a battery backpack and a walking cane with controls to operate the system. Software and weight sensors are used to adjust the mechanized gait to the ability of each user.
“I think half of what this brings to the table is the psychological aspect of looking people in the eyes,” says Mosko. “You don’t think about it, but being in a wheelchair, you are down low, you’re in your own world.”
Ekso cofounder Russ Angold said the Ekso GT has been used by about 3,500 patients recovering from stroke and spinal injuries since it was first sold in 2012.
“It gives you so much hope that spinal cord injuries are going to be a thing of the past someday,” says Mosko.
BIKERS BEWARE
Volvo wants cyclists to know when a car is coming.
In partnership with Ericsson and sports gear maker POC, Volvo demonstrated how its car would get a signal from a nearby cyclist’s phone GPS. Meanwhile, the cyclist’s helmet would flash a series of lights and vibrate if that person’s phone senses that a Volvo is nearby and on a collision course.
Volvo says the connected helmet still needs more testing before it can be sold.
LOOK SEGWAY, NO HANDS
Zipping around as if he were floating, hands in his pockets, Kazar Beilerian of Montebello did effortless circles, literally, around the journalists walking from one press conference to the next.
He was riding his company’s IO Hawk. The forward-facing auto-balancing board just needed a little pressure from the toes to start moving.
Leaning forward too much, though, could sometimes send a person backward.
The device costs $1,800 and has a rival: Inventist’s Hovertrax.
HIGH-TECH SEWING
Cameras aren’t limited to smartphones anymore. A new sewing machine from Brother has one — and a scanner, too. You can scan a pattern and edit it on the sewing machine’s LCD screen. The machine will then embroider the pattern for you (though you can’t step away for long, as you need to manually change spools of thread to change colors).
As for that camera? Sorry, it’s not for selfies. The camera works with lasers to ensure you’re sewing straight.
The Dream Machine sells for $15,000.
ILLUMINATED SONGS
Sony’s Symphonic Light Speaker looks like a clear cylinder of glass that surrounds an LED light bulb. The glass itself vibrates imperceptibly to act as a speaker to play music from a smartphone or other device.
“It fills your room with music while obviously lighting up your daily life,” says Sony Corp. CEO Kazuo Hirai.
Perhaps totally unnecessary, yet cool.
Sony didn’t announce a price or release date.
TOMORROW’S GADGETS
A new smartwatch from Samsung has a glass interface to appear transparent, while a new phone has a hologram interface with fingerprint security. There’s also a Bluetooth earpiece with a metallic frame for combat-ready durability.
Where can you buy them? Sorry, they exist only in Hollywood. They were custom-made by Samsung for the upcoming “Avengers” movie from Marvel. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The props were on display at a private event at CES. There are no current plans to make even fake versions for fans.

Chrysler 200

This monster of a car houses a 3.6-liter V-6 engine. The four-wheel-drive has a horsepower of 295 with a comfortable interior to make it a family vehicle.

Tesla S

The Tesla S has an impressive 302 horsepower to make it’s 0 to 60 miles/hour speed in only 3.2 seconds. The electric car has an automatic system that ensures that it stays within lanes as well as stop immediately in case of emergencies. To add icing to the cake, this car is able to park itself (even parallel parking).

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Ola Deploys Boats In Water-Logged Chennai For Ferrying Citizens To Safer Areas

In a bid to help transport citizens stranded due to water logging in the city of Chennai, Ola, India’s most popular mobile app for personal transportation, today deployed boats in water logged and partially submerged areas, basis information provided by the Fire and Rescue Department of Tamil Nadu. The boats manned by professional rowers and fishermen, will also be used to provide food and drinking water in specific areas which are reportedly short of basic supplies. Both ferrying services and supplies will be offered free of cost to citizens.
Each boat will be manned by two rowers and can ferry anywhere between five to nine people in a single attempt. Ola is also providing rain gear to all rowers, which will help them ferry people without any hassles. In order to guard customers from rain, Ola has also stocked umbrellas in every boat. Details of the rowers and fishermen were provided to Ola by local firemen and the Chennai Sport Fishing Company.  These services are expected to be available over the next three days and might get extended if water-logging continues in the city. Many employees and drivers of Ola are also coordinating with the fishermen on ground to enable smooth operations.
Ravi Teja, Business Head of Tamil Nadu at Ola said, “Thousands of citizens have been stranded and are suffering due to heavy rains and water logging in Chennai. While we are addressing the increased demand for transportation in the city through the Ola app, we are working closely with local stakeholders to help ferry those stranded in water logged areas. Boats deployed by Ola will help ferry people to safer areas and in distribution of essential supplies like food and drinking water in affected areas.”

Monday, November 16, 2015

Terror strikes France; 129 killed in coordinated attacks

Spectators spilled on to the pitch of the Stade de France stadium after explosions were heard during a football match between France and Germany. 
 

Suspected Islamic State gunmen launched a coordinated assault on six different places in Paris on November 13.

In a deadly terror strike that reminded the world of the attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008, suspected Islamic State gunmen launched a coordinated assault on Paris late on Friday night, leaving 129 dead and 352 injured. The worst terror attack in France’s history eclipsed the shooting inside the Charlie Hebdo newspaper office in January, which killed 12 and injured 11.
French President Francois Hollande announced that he held the IS responsible for the attack and France considered it “an act of war”. He announced a state of emergency, the first in France since 2005, and the deployment of 1,500 soldiers.
The attack was carried out on six locations, one being the French national stadium Stade de France where France and Germany football teams were playing a friendly before an 80,000-strong crowd. Mr. Hollande, who was among the spectators, was evacuated immediately following security protocol. At least 80 people were killed in the attack at the Bataclan Theatre during a concert by the band Eagles of Death Metal. The gunmen entered the 1,500-seat venue and began shooting without warning. The police said the assailants were killed. A Syrian passport was found on one of the attackers.
The band members are safe, but have not been located. A spokesperson for the band said, “We are still currently trying to determine the safety and the whereabouts of all our band and crew. Our thoughts are with all of the people involved in this tragic situation.” A relative of one of the band members confirmed that all of them were safe.
The sold-out concert hall in the trendy 11th arrondisement in eastern Paris bore the brunt of the attack, which began around an hour after the performance began. The terrorists, armed with AK-47s and suicide bomb vests, took the fans hostage and began shooting them clinically before the police raided the place. As soon as the raid began, three of the four terrorists blew themselves up. The police killed the fourth. 

In the same arrondisement, 19 more people were killed as gunmen fired inside a café. A few hundred metres from the Bataclan, five people were killed on the terrace of a pizzeria. The 11th arrondisement, with its restaurants, cafes and bars, is a popular district among revellers. The night’s mayhem began around 10 p.m. when a gunman fired at a bar and a restaurant in the 10th arrondisement in northern Paris, killing 11 people. Six kilometres north, explosions went off outside the Stade de France. Four people were killed in this attack. France won the match 2-0. At the Gatwick airport in Britain, a 41-year-old Frenchman was arrested with a weapon that appeared to be a firearm. 

French show fortitude under adversity
As Paris came under attack on Friday night, French fortitude under adversity shone through.
While being evacuated from the stadium where France and Germany played a friendly football match, the 80,000 spectators sang the French national anthem, turning it into an intensely emotional affair and a symbol of French fortitude in the face of terror. The video has since gone viral. 

President Francois Hollande said France had vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. France would be “merciless” with the nation’s enemies. “We will work alongside our allies to fight this terrorist menace,” he said in his address to the nation. “France is strong, and even if she is wounded, she will get up always and nothing will hold her down, even if we are feeling the grief now.” 

The stadium witnessed two suicide attacks — one at each entrance — and a bombing close to a McDonald’s restaurant outside. People were seen on the streets with bloodied faces and limbs, trying to escape. 

The other four attacks took place at La Belle Equipe cafe on Rue de Charonne (19 dead), Le Carillon bar and cafe and the adjacent Le Petit Cambodge, a Cambodian restaurant (12 dead) and La Casa Nostra restaurant (five dead). 

What has shaken the French in general and Parisians in particular is that this is the second big terror attack in one year. Paris is hosting the United Nations Conference on Climate Change from November 30 to December 11 in which more than 100 heads of state are expected to participate. France is the host of Europe’s top football competition next year, the UEFA European Championship.

Rain pounds Tamil Nadu as depression looms large

A scene in Dr. Besent Road, Chennai on Sunday. Photo: G. Sribharath 
 
Tamil Nadu continued to experience monsoon fury, with heavy rains pounding various parts of the State under the influence of a well-marked low pressure area over Bay of Bengal, as the death toll from rain-related incidents climbed to 59. 

There seemed to be no respite from the downpour with many parts of Chennai coming under water even as the weatherman forecast more rains for the next 24 hours, beginning 0830 hrs.
The India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin on Sunday that the well-marked low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining Sri Lanka persisted and “it is likely to move west-northwestwards towards Tamil Nadu coast and would concentrate into a depression during next 24 hours.” 

Under its influence, more rains were expected in the next 24 hours, the Regional Meteorological Department said. 

Weather warning (valid upto 0830 hrs IST of Monday): 

Day 1 (15th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few places over north Tamil Nadu. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over south Tamil Nadu. Moderate fog would occur at isolated places over Meghalaya, Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and north Rajasthan. 

Day 2 (16th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few places over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry and at isolated places over Rayalaseema. Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over couth coastal Andhra Pradesh, south Tamil Nadu and south interior Karnataka. Moderate fog would occur at isolated places over Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram-Tripura. 

Day 3 (17th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema.
Heavy rain would occur at isolated places over north Tamil Nadu and south interior Karnataka. 

Day 4 (18th Nov.): Heavy to very heavy rain would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh. 

Day 5 (19th Nov.): Nil. 

Weather Outlook for the subsequent 2 days (20th Nov. & 21st Nov. 2015): Rain/thundershowers would occur at many places over Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalseema and Kerala and would increase considerably over rest peninsular India. Minimum temperature would fall by 2-3 degrees C over northwest and adjoining central India. 

A water-logged Wall Tax road in Chennai. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Schools, colleges closed on Monday
Monday has been declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai and Kanchipuram districts.
* VIT University has declared holiday for Vellore campus on November 16, 2015.
* The practical examinations of all UG and PG courses of the TN Dr. MGR Medical University scheduled for November 16 and 17, 2015 stand postponed due to heavy rains. The revised dates shall be notified later.
* “Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University-affiliated law colleges exams scheduled for November 16, 17 and 18 have been cancelled due to rain and the new dates will be announced later,” said a release.
Near Panagal Park, T.Nagar in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: M. Moorthy
Storage in Chennai Reservoirs as of today
Source: Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board 
 
Anaikaracharthiram (Nagapattinam) received the maximum rainfall of 18 cm recorded till 8.30 am, Regional Meteorological Centre Director S.R. Ramanan said, adding, Sirkazhi registered 17 cm. Chennai received 3 cm rainfall between 8.30 am and 11.30 am on Sunday.
He said heavy to very heavy rains could be expected in the northern coastal districts of the State in the next 24 hours while there could be rain in the rest of the districts.
Rains were also expected in Puducherry on Monday. 

The seas would be rough, he said, warning fishermen against venturing for fishing.
MTC bus stuck on Ganesapuam subway, Vyasarpadi. Photo: R. Ragu
 
Deaths in Tamil Nadu
Meanwhile, four persons died due to various rain-related incidents on November 13 and 14, the government said.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa condoled the death of the four persons, three of whom died due to drowning in Kancheepuram district while one person in Vellore was killed in wall collapse. She announced a sum of Rs four lakh each to the families of the victims from the Disaster Relief Fund. 

Situation in Chennai
Bullocks wearing a plastic sheet as it rains at T.Nagar in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: M. Moorthy 
 
The incessant rains severely crippled normal life in Chennai, where most roads, residential areas and low-lying parts were inundated.
Subways at suburban Chennai connecting the residential areas were inundated, rendering them useless for commutation.
A scene from Thillai Ganga Nagar. Photo: G. Sribharath
Water-logged roads resulted in slow movement of vehicles even as pedestrians were seen wading through waist-deep to knee-deep water in many places.
Trains on the suburban Chennai Egmore-Tambaram were running slow.

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