Pope gets personal Twitter handle: @Pontifex

Pope Benedict XVI will start tweeting in six languages from his own personal handle @Pontifex on December 12, 2012.

The Vatican said on Monday the pope will be using a question and answer format in his first tweet, focussing on answering questions about faith in 140 characters.

The pope sent his first tweet last year from a Vatican account to launch the Holy See’s news information portal. The Vatican’s communications adviser Greg Burke told a press conference that the handle @Pontifex was chosen for the pope’s personal account because it not only means pope in Latin, but also bridge-builder, suggesting unity. How often will the pope tweet? Mr. Burke said, “as often as he wants.”

The Vatican has been increasing its presence in social media to try to spread the faith, particularly among the young.

Pope Benedict XVI will start tweeting in six languages from his own personal handle @Pontifex on December 12, 2012.

The Vatican said on Monday the pope will be using a question and answer format in his first tweet, focussing on answering questions about faith in 140 characters.

The pope sent his first tweet last year from a Vatican account to launch the Holy See’s news information portal. The Vatican’s communications adviser Greg Burke told a press conference that the handle @Pontifex was chosen for the pope’s personal account because it not only means pope in Latin, but also bridge-builder, suggesting unity. How often will the pope tweet? Mr. Burke said, “as often as he wants.”

The Vatican has been increasing its presence in social media to try to spread the faith, particularly among the young.

Vallarpadam and Kochi terminals still at sea

A year ago there were expectations that container movement would be revolutionised with the country’s first ICTT at Vallarpadam and Kochi would become the hub of shipping activities. But things are just like before. DC looks at what plagues the terminal.
It is a year now since the country’s first ever international container transshipment terminal went on stream at Vallarpadam. Around Rs 3,500 crore has been invested in the project that is yet to make any substantial revenue.
Massive container-laden ships were supposed to use the terminal, but that has not happened. Growth in container traffic between February 2011, when the terminal was commissioned, and January 2012, was a mere five per cent.
courtecy deccan chronicle

DMRC likely to join as Kochi Metro consultant

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which has ruled out participating in a global tender for Kochi Metro, may don the role of a principal consultant.
“Chennai and Bangalore metro projects are being carried out with DMRC as prime consultant. If Kerala Government requests us, we may heed that,” DMRC project director, Mr P Sriram, said.
The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd MD, Mr Tom Jose, said such an option was possible.“Kerala has been saying all the while that it’s following the Chennai metro model. Since Chennai has availed services of DMRC as a prime consultant, we too are happy to follow suit,” he said.

Action plan for city development handed over

The 100day action plan prepared by the Indian Professional Congress was handed over to Mayor Tony Chammany on Wednesday.The action plan, which includes 15 projects, was prepared by experts in various sectors on the Mayor's instructions.Patchwork of roads, mosquito eradication, solution for traffic blocks, public toilets and traffic lights are the major issues included in the projects. The action plan also suggests constituting an expert committee for the speedy implementation of the projects.Professional Congress president Rajan George handed over the action plan to the Mayor at a function held at the Mayor's chamber.

Bangalore girl is Miss South India

KOCHI: Subha, of Bangalore, was crowned Miss South India at the HairOmax Miss South India 2010 contest held here on Saturday. Subha beat 15 other contestants to win the crown.Keralite Geethu Christy, and Nikitha Narayan, of Hyderabad, were adjudged the first and second runner-up respectively. A panel comprising former Miss India and actor Swetha Vijay, actors Aditi Chibber and Kaushal Prasad, model Simer Mottiani, model-groomer Manish Khullar, media personalities Vijay Babu and Thoshma Biju, and fashion designer Sajimon Parayil chose the winners.

Indu Thampi Miss Kerala 2010

Indu Thampi from Trivandrum crowned Miss Kerala 2010 crown in a grand function held at Kochi Le Meridien Hotel Yesterday.

Manju Raj from Palakkad selected as the first runner up and Sonal Devraj from Kannur the second runner up.

Miss Kerala beauty pageant is contest to find out the most beautiful Malayalam girl conducted every year in Kerala.

Hairomax Miss Kerala 2010 was organized by event management Impresario. There were 22 contestants. Miss Kerala 2009 Archana Nair presented the crown to Indhu Tampi.

In Miss Kerala 2009 Archana Nair from Thiruvananthapuram won the Miss Kerala 2009 pageant.

Contestants had come from various parts of India and abroad.

No decision on Kochi team yet

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has not taken any decision on the fate of Kochi IPL team in its meet on Wednesday, according to board official.

Governing Council also disclosed that the fourth edition of the league will have eight teams and the auction of players will take place in Mumbai on 8th and 9th January of next year.

“We haven’t discuss on Kochi as their deadline is yet to expire on 27 November,” said Rajiv Shukla, BCCI vice-president.

Amidst indications that the investors group of the Kochi team is not too keen in running the franchisee, the Governing Council was likely to take a call on scrapping the team during its meeting.

The BCCI last month gave a 30-day notice to the Kochi IPL consortium to sort out its internal differences and get its ownership structure in order.

However, the investor group of the consortium has reportedly not come to an understanding with the promoters Rendezvous Sports World Private Limited and is likely to request the BCCI to let them withdraw from the franchisee.