MUMBAI: How tempting is the idea of a piping hot samosa on a cold winter evening? Building on the success of ‘City ki Chai‘ Lucknow‘s Radio City 91.1 celebrated Lucknow‘s lesser known superstars through an innovative 2 week contest called ‘City ka Samosa‘ wherein listeners voted in with their favourite samosa stall in Lucknow. After a stupendous response from listeners, six most popular Samosa stalls were short listed. Further to a tasting session by Mr. Ravindra Jain of Lucknow‘s Chappan Bhog, ‘Sehgal Samose‘, Opposite Leela Cinema, Hazratganj was crowned the winner of Radio City‘s ‘City ka Samosa‘!

RJ Vera, Lucknow‘s record holding RJ and host of The Radio Breakfast Show invited listeners for a ‘Whatte Fun‘ felicitation ceremony along with RJ Pooja host of Hum Tum at Hazratganj today. RJ Fahad captured the evening‘s excitement for Lucknow city on Radio City Joyride as the elated sibling duo - Ashok and Sanjay Sehgal, owners of ‘Sehgal Samose‘ and Winner of the ‘City ka Samosa‘ contest shared their secret samosa recipe with those present.

Sharing his thoughts on the initiative, Mr. Rana Barua, National Head - Marketing Radio City 91.1FM said, "We greatly cherish the special bond we share with Lucknow‘s Radio Cityzens and thank them for their enthusiasm and support! After the overwhelming response from our ‘City ki Chai‘ initiative, we are greatly thankful to the people of Lucknow whose participation has made this activity a huge success! Thanks to them, we can truly applaud the seldom acknowledged, hard-working people who very dedicatedly serve Lucknow city!"

Radio City 91.1FM conducted the 2 week ‘City ka Samosa‘ contest from November 19 - 30, 2007 on Lucknow‘s favourite Radio City Breakfast Show. RJ Vera invited listeners to respond on their favourite Samosa joints in Lucknow after which the Radio City team visited each of the samosa-spots nominated. Basis the parameters of listener‘s preferences, Radio City identified Lucknow‘s top 6 most popular Samosa stalls.

A sustained focus on understanding listeners and leveraging the synergies of music expertise and innovative programming, allows Radio City to deliver a unique listening experience and be an integral part of the lives of listeners across markets. Aggressively looking at spreading the Radio City experience to new markets across the country, Radio City 91.1FM is committed to growing the market and creating superlative content for premium audiences.

MUMBAI: SPACES, Home and Beyond (SPACES), the premium brand of Welspun Retail Ltd.- India‘s largest specialty retailer in Home Furnishings, today launched a 25 day-long towel fiesta ‘REFRESH‘. The key attraction includes the display of the Longest Towel in the World (Source ? Limca Book of Records) at InOrbit Mall, Malad. The Towel which can scale the Qutab Minar around 5 ? times, weigh 500 kgs and 419 meters long is woven in the colours of the Indian Tri-Colour.

Towels of international feel and quality are being offered at never-before price at this festival running in all SPACES and Shoppers Stop outlets across India from December 1 to 25. One can pick up sets of towels from a price tag starting Rs. 199/- to 449/- with a variety of options to choose from.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Dipali Goenka, Director, Welspun Retail Ltd., said "Through this very special promotion we are offering our loyal customers, International quality towels at highly affordable price. Welspun is amongst the third largest manufacturers of Towels in the world and what better way to promote this festival than by displaying the Tri-colour Towel woven by Welspunites with the true Made-In-India spirit?" she adds.

MUMBAI: Christmas holidays are joyful and there is always something new to do?. But, every day is a holiday when Star World is there to view. This December, from the launch of new series like Hey Paula, Who Wants To Be a Superhero?, Miracle Quest and Last Comic Standing to the new season of J.A.G, Star World promises the viewers a whole month of merry viewing. That‘s not all, to add to the Christmas fever Star World presents its special festive line-up on December 24th and 25th and will be airing specials like The 41st Annual Country Awards and Celine Dion Taking Chances. So get set to experience the best of English entertainment all this month only on Star World!!!

Away from American Idol, Simon Cowell and all the media frenzy, what‘s Paula Abdul‘s life like? Peek into the pop icon‘s world as Star World premieres the new reality series Hey Paula on December 6th at 8pm. In this fly-on-the-wall series, cameras trail the choreographer-turned-singer to reveal the mayhem and last-minute disasters that occur behind the scenes. Wickedly funny and brutally honest, viewers will get an unfiltered view of 44-year-old‘s life.

Embark on a personal quest of discovery with the new documentary series Miracle Quest on Star World premiering December 19th at 9pm. Join expert and explorer Flavia Colgan as she treks around the world traveling to miracle sites, speaking to skeptics and believers alike. From investigating the many visions of Mary that were reported in Lourdes, France, to America‘s "melting pot of miracles" in the southern states, to the "miracles of the flesh" in Italy, Miracle Quest combines astonishing stock footage and amazing recreations of the past with vibrant people of the present, the world of miracles unfolds before your very eyes.

It‘s time to find the funniest person in America, as the new reality series Last Comic Standing premieres on Star World on December 31st at 10 p.m. Last Comic Standing is a nationwide talent search for the funniest professional and non-professional comedians. Catch the funny - and the not-so funny - comic hopefuls as they audition in the hopes of being named the funniest person in America.

On December 24th and 25th catch all the festive episodes of your favourite shows! With a line-up that includes Hope & Faith, Less Than Perfect and The Office, as well as all-time favourites like Friends and the Simpsons. It‘s really the season to be jolly!

That‘s not all; get up close and personal with the Grammy Award winning diva Celine Dion as Star World presents the premiere of this exclusive special - Celine Dion Taking Chances on December 5th at 10 p.m. Also, catch the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards on December 30th at 7 p.m. on Star World

This December, Christmas comes to you on Star World. Don‘t forget to tune in to a delicious holiday feast!

MUMBAI: India Business Report is a new half-hour programme which looks at business news and happenings on BBC World every Sunday. Its objective is to present the varied facets of the Indian economy to audiences not just in South Asia, but across the world. The programme talks to the entrepreneurs transforming the economy, the business leaders behind India‘s surge onto the international scene and the small businesses that are set to make their mark in the years ahead.

Peter Eustace, editor, BBC World business programmes says, "India has clearly surged ahead as a major player in the global economic landscape. BRIC and other reports have predicted India to be the third largest economy by 2040. For the entire India Business Report team, we are determined to keep our fingers on the pulse and to analyse the various phases of the dynamic and growing economy for our global audiences."

India Business Report‘s editor, Neil Heathcote, has recently relocated to Mumbai in India and adds, "It‘s a fantastic opportunity to be reporting to BBC World‘s weekly global audience of 76 million viewers the business developments in India. It‘s arguably one of the most dynamic and growing economies with so many developments and the BBC has the reputation and the resources to bring the key news and its global impact to international audiences."

In the last few weeks, the programme has covered wide-ranging stories on how foreign investors in Europe react to the ups and downs of the Indian stock market, and India‘s ambitions to develop and build its own civilian aircraft. The team has also reported on Pune‘s efforts to become the country‘s first wi-fi enabled city, and the new wave of animation companies trying to sell their work overseas, plus a story on traditional cottage industries opening up new markets in New York and London

India Business Report was also the first to report on Reliance Retail talking about the impact of the attacks on their stores around the country. The head of the Reserve Bank of India has featured talking about how closely India‘s economy is tied in with the health of the US, while the head of Novartis research explained how research proves , they will head to China thanks to India‘s patent laws. The head of Hyundai in India also appeared on India Business Report to discuss why he‘d rather bring in Korean suppliers than rely on local Indian firms.

India Business Report is sponsored by Aditya Birla Group, Sri Lankan Airlines, Future Group and Emaar MGF and airs on BBC World every Sunday at 11 AM and 10 PM.

MUMBAI: In its continuous endeavour to contribute to society, Radio City 91.1FM, India?s Leading Radio Network is observing World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007 arm in arm with Radio Cityzens across the nation. Reaching out to listeners to enhance AIDS awareness, the national FM brand is conducting a robust AIDS awareness campaign which includes community mobilization, fund raising and special programming initiatives.

The special programming line up across 14 of Radio City?s FM stations includes the airing of specially packaged informative promos and special capsules busting myths on AIDS along with on-air contests testing the listener?s health-quotient. While the stations? Radio Jockeys will cover ribbon tagging activities, awareness building camps across their respective cities through LIVE broadcasts, the stations will feature a slew of on-show guests starting right from those living with AIDS, medical experts, State Dignitaries and prominent personalities.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Rana Barua, National Head ? Marketing, Radio City 91.1FM said, ?As a condition looming large on humanity, every step towards HIV/ AIDS awareness counts. We, at Radio City, have always been at the fore to proactively involve our listeners and jointly contribute to the community we live in. It is very important that people realise that HIV/ AIDS awareness can not only help prevent this condition but timely identification can also help expedite the curative process.?

Radio City is involving listeners through various community mobilization and fund raising initiatives so that they too can experience a sense of having contributed to the cause of AIDS awareness. Lucknow?s Radio City 91.1FM is conducting a week long campaign called ?AIDS Se JUNG ? Celebrate Life? which started from Nov 26 to conclude in a Signature Campaign at Fun Republic on December 1, 2007. To support this mission of celebrating life, the UP AIDS Society and HIV Global Fund Project of Population Foundation of India joined hands with Radio City.

Vadodara?s Radio City 91.1FM is organizing a ?Walk for a Cause? rally on December 1, 2007 starting 8:30 AM onwards from Fatehgunj to Dairy Den Circle. Joining Vadodara?s Radio Cityzens will be RJ Priyanka (Radio City Joyride), RJ Ashish (The Radio City Breakfast Show) along with the Radio City team. The rally will also be attended by the Vadodara Police Commissioner - Mr. Priyadarshini, Collector ? Mr. Rajiv Topno and Mr. P.B. Itare, Chief District Health Officer who join in as Special Guests.

Ahmedabad?s Radio City 91.1FM is reaching out to Amadavadis to enhance AIDS awareness through a Ribbon Tagging Activity. Ahmedabad?s favourite Radio Jockeys, RJ Khushi (The Radio City Breakfast Show) and RJ Nikky (Hum Tum) will spend the day interacting with students from H.L. Commerce College and H.K. Commerce College presenting them with Red Ribbons. To add to this, Radio City volunteers will conduct a fund-raising activity at these venues where proceeds of donations from Amadavadis would go to the Gujarat State Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Surat?s Radio City 91.1FM is partnering Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) and Regional Transport Office (RTO) for conducting a Ribbon Tagging Activity. Listeners can catch their favourite Radio Jockeys, RJ Khanak (City Spice) and RJ Meghna (Hum Tum) from 6 ? 8 AM at SVNIT while RJ Leena (The Radio City Breakfast Show) and RJ Rayhaan (Radio City Joyride) would be at RTO from 11 AM ? 2 PM. All RJs will interact with Surat?s Radio Cityzens and present them with Red Ribbons.

A sustained focus on understanding listeners and leveraging the synergies of music expertise and innovative programming, allows Radio City to deliver a unique listening experience and be an integral part of the lives of listeners. Aggressively looking at spreading the Radio City experience to new markets across the country, Radio City 91.1FM is committed to growing the market and creating superlative content for premium audiences.

MUMBAI: History is about to be created on Ten Sports, the most watched sports channel of the sub-continent, when one of the greatest ever records in Test cricket is set during the England?s tour of Sri Lanka for the three-Test series starting Saturday, 1 December.

Sri Lanka?s legendary leg-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is just five wickets away from breaking Australia?s Shane Warne?s all-time record of 708 victims. And on the spinner-friendly tracks of Sri Lanka and against an opposition known for its weakness against quality spin bowling, it is only a matter of time before Murali reaches the milestone.

And the entire series will be live and exclusive on Ten Sports. The first Test in Kandy starts Saturday, December 1, while the second Test in Colombo starts December 9. The third and the final Test at Galle will begin December 18. Every match day, the telecast starts 10:30 am IST.

Chris McDonald, CEO, Taj Television Ltd, owners of Ten Sports, said: ?Muralitharan breaking the record of most Test wickets will be one of the most historic moments of cricket. It is a record that is going to stand for a long time, and will be remembered for years to come. Ten Sports is proud that we will be part of this magical moment of one of the greatest bowlers in the game ever.?

Sri Lanka will start with the distinct advantage of playing at home, and the only recent blip in their outstanding home record was way back in 2001 when England beat them in a Test series. Mahela Jayawardene?s team will be eager to bounce back from the recent 2-0 reverse against world champions Australia in Australia, and also to avenge their shock 3-2 loss to England in the one day internationals prior to their series Down Under.

On the other hand, Michael Vaughan?s England side has their tails up after the unexpected ODI win, but are also aware of the enormity of the task ahead.

One of the battles worth watching throughout the series will be between Murali and Kevin Pietersen, the one England star who has had a very good track record against spinners.