Karnataka News Archive: June 2007

A mobile-like gadget to protect women
Thursday, June 28, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, June 28 (ANI): If you are working in late night shifts, a woman and in distress, use "Lone Worker", a hand held mobile like gadget to protect you.

Since attacks on women employees are on the increase, especially on those working in BPOs and ITEs, Chip maker SiRF Technologies has introduced Lone Worker, which sends distress messages to police, offices and any other number along with their location instantaneously.

It is a communication device - a cell phone - that has a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). It is pre-programmed to dial four numbers which can be selected by the employer or the individual.

Giving details of the product in an exclusive interview, the Managing Director of SiRF, Ashutosh Pande, said that the product saves women in distress through the pressing of an SOS button.

There is also one SOS button that when pressed will call an emergency response number. This could be to a government agency or the organization’s security / emergency contact number.

Once pressed, the device will start sending co-ordinates across the cellular network to the pre-designated emergency number. What's interesting is that the SOS call will go through even if there is no SIM Card.

Along with Lone Worker, SiRF has developed chips for other products like Nuvi Navigator which helps in locating destinations anywhere in the world, Child
Locator to help children and their location and an unique product to aid senior citizens with an SOS button.

According to Ashutosh Pande, the company believes in convergence to future needs.

SiRF has also developed another GPS product to help navigate the transport sector, and Ashutosh says it can also help defence and security agencies.

SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. develops and markets semiconductor and software products that are designed to enable location-awareness utilizing GPS and other location technologies, enhanced by wireless connectivity capabilities such as bluetooth, for high-volume mobile consumer devices and commercial applications. (ANI)

I-Tax raid on real estate developers in and around Bangalore
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, June 26 (ANI): The Income Tax Department along with police today are conducting simultaneous raids on over 20 offices of real estate developers in and around Bangalore.

An I-Tax department official was quoted saying that the raid was still on.

The official on condition of anonymity said that the raids are being conducted on information from authentic sources.

However, the income tax department refused to disclose the names of those offices where the raids were being conducted.

In recent times, land prices in and around Bangalore have shot up drastically and it is believed that the real estate developers are involved in it. (ANI)

Karnataka HC orders private schools in the State to teach in Kannada
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, June 25 (ANI): Karnataka High Court has ordered all private schools in the State to use Kannada as the medium of education instead of English.

The verdict came in favour of the State Government, which had earlier issued notice to schools to switch over to Kannada as the medium of instruction in schools.

The Court has also asked the schools to file an affidavit within seven days declaring they would discontinue teaching in English and use Kannada as their medium of instruction.

Earlier, the Court had asked schools to file affidavits declaring they will teach in Kannada from this year.

The directive was opposed by Karnataka Unaided School Management Association (KUSMA), which appealed in the court against filing of affidavits.

KUSMA, which claims to represent over 1,100 primary schools in the State, challenged the April 12, 2007 scheme under which the State had levied hefty penalty on institutions that had been teaching in English.

Other schools had also challenged the notices of de-recognition and the 1994 language policy.

The ban on English as the medium of instruction has been enforced in 2,100 private elementary schools across the State. Out of which 1,440 such schools are located in Bangalore.

Already, the state education department has issued orders to de-recognise 800 schools for using English as a medium of instruction and nearly 600 schools in and around Bangalore have been derecognised for violating this policy.

A 1994 Government order makes it compulsory for all schools recognized by the Government and started after 1994 to teach in Kannada from the primary level irrespective of the mother tongue of the child.

After the policy came into effect the State Government allowed the opening of more than 6,000 schools in 1994 on the condition that the medium of instruction should be Kannada up to the primary level.

This was after the Gokak movement that the Government issued order that Kannada will be made compulsory from primary level onwards. The move was to make Kannada more popular and also to ensure that every student who studies in Karnataka gets to know about Kannada literature.

However, school managements and parents do not agree with the Government's policy. They allege that the language policy is "discriminatory" because it allows schools, which started before 1994, to impart English-medium education.

Though schools set up after 1994 have given an undertaking to follow Kannada as the medium of instruction, parents demand English-medium education in schools.

With Kannada medium made mandatory, the schools will have to decline parents who got their children admitted for English medium education.

This will create new problems for the Government as accommodating these students in English medium schools will be tough, as there are only 8 schools in Bangalore that had sought Government's permission to offer English medium education prior to 1994. (ANI)

Rites consortium bags general consultancy of Bangalore Metro
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 | MP

New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited today awarded the work of providing general consultancy services for the implementation Phase 1 of the project to a consortium led by RITES Limited.

The consortium includes PCI of Japan, PBI of USA and SYSTRA of France.

RITES is a multi-disciplinary consultancy organization in the fields of transport, infrastructure and related technologies.

The project consists of 33-km metro network in two corridors, namely East and West 18 kms and North and South 15 kms. It includes seven kms of the underground portion and the rest as elevated.

The project is schedule to be commissioned by December 31, 2011. It is partly being funded by JBIC, Japan.

The total value of the consultancy services is about Rs. 215 crores out of which the RITES's share is Rs. 126.50 crores.

In terms of the man months, RITES's share is 8795 man months (94 percent of the total technical man months).

Consultants will provide advice on system design to commissioning of the project, including its integration with the other modes of transport in Bangalore.

RITES were also involved as a consortium member in providing the General Consultancy Services for Delhi Metro Project Phase - 1 that has been successfully accomplished. (ANI)

International credit card racket unearthed in Bangalore
Saturday, June 23, 2007 | MP

By K G Vasuki

Bangalore, June 23 (ANI): With the arrest of three persons and recovery of 114 credit cards, the Bangalore Police have busted an international credit card racket.

Police have also recovered electronic gadgets used by three accused --Nagaraja, Srikanthpal and Saiprasad.

The scam that involved data thieves, electronics professionals and non-resident Indians (NRIs) is part of an international racket where fake credit cards were created by reproducing the data stolen from genuine credit cards of several NRIs through hi-tech gadgets.

City Police Commissioner N Achutha Rao told reporters that the accused have cheated several electronics dealers using the stolen NRI credit cards.

The police suspect that several gangs operating in India and abroad could be involved in the racket.

According to Joint Commissioner of Police Gopal B Hosur, the credit cards were of 22 banks.

The accused would bring stolen credit cards from abroad to be used for withdrawing money and purchasing goods in India.

Whent the NRI credit card holders discovered they had been charged for purchases they had not made, they approached their banks with documents to prove they had not been to India during the time. As there was insurance cover for the credit cards, the banks got the compensation from the insurance companies. (ANI)

Kris succeeds Nandan Nilekani as Infosys chief
Saturday, June 23, 2007 | MP

By K G Vasuki

Bangalore, June 23 (ANI): Kris Gopalakrishnan, a founder-member of Infosys Technologies Ltd, has taken over as chief executive officer of India's second largest software maker succeeding Nandan M. Nilekani.

The shareholders unanimously endorsed a special resolution to his effect moved at the 26th annual general meeting (AGM) of the company here.

Nilekani has been elevated as the co-chairman of the board after a successful tenure of five years as the CEO.

Addressing the shareholders, Infosys Chairman and Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy, said: "Nilekani had followed the Infosys tradition and voluntarily passed on the baton to Gopalakrishnan, a worthy successor chosen by the board. He will continue to be the non-executive chairman of the company".

Giving an account of the company's outstanding performance during the fiscal 2006-07, Murthy said the year-on-year growth exceeded the initial guidance.

"In revenue terms, the growth was 46 percent (Rs.132 billion). Net profit grew by 52 percent to Rs. 38 billion under the Indian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Under the US GAAP, revenues grew by 44 percent and net income by 53 percent," he said.

In response to a shareholder's query, Gopalakrishnan said the company's headcount is expected to touch 100,000 by the end of this fiscal (2007-08), with a projected gross addition of over 24,500 people. (ANI)

Telgi, two doctors awarded 7 yrs RI in anti-Corruption case
Friday, June 22, 2007 | MP

Bangalore, June 21 (ANI): A Special Court today awarded seven years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) to Abdul Kareem Telgi, the kingpin of the multi-crore stamp scam, and two doctors whom he had bribed to procure false medical certificates for getting released on bail.

Justice Vishwanath Virupax Angadi also imposed a fine of rupees 25 lakh on Telgi, while the two doctors of the state-run Victoria hospital-Jnanendrappa and Channakeshava -- have been imposed with a fine of rupees 14 lakh each.

This is the third case in which Telgi has been convicted, but the first instance when he has been sentenced under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The trial began in September 2005, and was conducted through video conferencing in which Telgi appeared from Yerawada Jail in Pune, where he is lodged.

Earlier on April 23 this year, he was awarded 15 years imprisonment for selling fake stamp papers in Karnataka in the 1990s, while, on March 24, he was sentenced to 10 years RI on charges of forgery and cheating the Government and a private company of rupees 4.2 million.

Telgi, a native of Belgaum District in Karnataka, started off as a vendor in a small railway station before coming to Mumbai.

Though no one has been able to determine the extent of Telgi's business or the loss to the exchequer, his scam is believed to run into hundreds of billions or rupees.

Telgi was arrested in 2001. (ANI)

E-waste: A bomb in Bangalore's belly
Saturday, June 16, 2007 | MP

By K G Vasuki

Bangalore, June 16 (ANI): As number of Information Technology (IT) companies is growing, a bomb in the belly of Bangalore is ticking.

Home to more than 2000 multinational and IT companies, Bangalore faces the danger list of cities with e-waste hazard, including discarded computers, central processing unit, peripherals, servers, printers, fax, copiers, motherboards, hard discs, compact disc, digital video disc, tapes, cartridges, telecom equipments and lithium batteries.

Fluorescent and Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) lamps, and other electronic equipments are also part of the e-waste which is posing a threat to the city.

Talking to ANI in an exclusive interview, Director of E-Parisara, P. Parthasarathy feels e-waste was posing a threat unless it was recycled properly. He also demands legislation on e-waste and its proper recycling.

E-Parisara, India's first e-waste recycling facility at the outskirts of Bangalore, which recycles around 350 tonnes of e-waste per annum, has all the potential to recycle these wastes.

According sources, around 8000 tonnes of e-waste is generated annually exposing Bangalore to e-waste hazards.

Talking to ANI Henning Schreiber, an e-waste expert feels if it is not recycled properly e-waste could pose a great danger to human life.

Domestic e-waste including computers, refrigerators, televisions and mobiles contain more than 1,000 different toxic materials.

Chemicals such as beryllium, found in computer motherboards, and cadmium in chip resistors and semiconductors are poisonous and can lead to cancer.

Chromium in floppy disks, lead in batteries and computer monitors and mercury in alkaline batteries and fluorescent lamps also pose severe health risks. (ANI)

Sathyavan Savithri
Thursday, June 14, 2007 | MP

Sathyavan Savithri is the second film being made by Kannada actor turned director Ramesh Arvind. The film will have Ramesh playing the lead role as a dentist. Actresses Jennifer and Daisy Bopanna play the female leads. Besides them Anirudhdh, Mohan etc are in the cast. Music by Guru Kiran. P. K. H. Doss handles the camera for the film. Sathyavan Savithri is said to be complete entertainer filled with lots of fun and humor.The film is expected to hit theaters in June.

Times of India group launches tabloid "Bangalore Mirror"
Saturday, June 9, 2007 | AA

Bangalore, June 9 (ANI): With an aim to cater to the young readers, the Times of India group has launched a new daily -- Bangalore Mirror -- in a tabloid form.

According to the Times Group, the news in the Bangalore Mirror will be crisp, pointed and in a spoken language.

Priced at rupee one, the 40-page newspaper will be all-colour.

The Bangalore Mirror has replaced broadsheet English daily, Vijay Times, which was owned by transport baron and former BJP MP Vijay Sankeshwar.

Last year, The Times Group had bought Vijayanand Printers Ltd, which included Vijay Times and Vijaya Karnataka -- the largest selling Kannada daily.

Vijay Times was perceived as a competitor for the Times of India.

Last issue of Vijay Times came out on Thursday, as Bangalore Mirror took its place on Friday.

So far, tabloids have not fared well in Bangalore. As such, the Bangalore Mirror will be both an opportunity and a challenge for the Times Group. (ANI)

Bangalore hosts a fortnight-long mango fair.
Thursday, June 7, 2007 | AA

Bangalore, June 6 (ANI): A fifteen-day-long mango fair was organised at the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore, providing an opportunity for mango farmers in the region to market a wide variety of the seasonal fruit.

A large number of visitors came here to relish numerous varieties of the fruit from across the country.

The fair showcased a wide range of mangoes like Alphonso, Totapuri, Badami, Doodh Peda, Dussehri, and many others.

"Some exotic varieties of mangoes like Kalapahadi and the local Dussehri are displayed. We have bought those varieties which are perhaps not available in the market," said P.V Prabhu, a visitor.

For some the fair was just another time-pass affair, while for others it was a good experience to see various kinds of mangoes under one roof.

"It was excellent, it was just a time-pass. I had come here with my friend to see what exactly is happening here so, we saw a plenty of varieties under one roof. It is nice," said T.V.S Rajan, another visitor.

Besides it also offered an opportunity to the farmers to directly market their produce to the customers.

"Through this fair the horticulture department has given a chance to the farmers to sell mangoes directly and maximize their profit and we also get the worth of it. Otherwise the middlemen buy them at a real cheap rate and sell them for a very high price," said Charitra, a female farmer.

The fair had 72 retail counters, presenting the fruit lovers with 'authentic' mangoes, devoid of chemicals.

"These city people are not getting the actual taste of mangoes. Mangoes sold here are ripened by using chemicals,

but it is not so in our case. We plucked them from trees, and put them for sale only after they ripen naturally-to give the Bangaloreans the actual taste of mango," said Jai Dev, another farmer.

Out of 1,100 varieties of mangoes, around 1000 are grown in the country.

The major mango growing states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Assam Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

By-poll results declared
Wednesday, June 6, 2007 | AA

Shimla/Bhopal/Ranchi/Raipur/Imphal/Bangalore, June 5 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party today won the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, while the Congress won Shivpuri Assembly seat from Madhya Pradesh.

Former Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal won the Hamirpur seat for the third time.

Congress nominee Virendra Raghuvansh won the Shivpuri Assembly seat from MP.

In Chhattisgarh, the ruling BJP won Khairagarh and Malkharoda assembly seats.

In Jharkhand, independent candidate Inder Singh Namdhari retained the Daltonganj Assembly seat.

The Congress party retained Ullal Assembly seat in Karnataka. It also won the Khangabok and Khundrakpam Assembly seats in Manipur.

Elections for all these seats were held on June 2. (ANI)

English being taught to over 42 lakh first standard kids
Monday, June 4, 2007 | AA

Bangalore, June 4 (ANI): The Government of Karnataka’s decision to introduce English from the first standard has evoked mixed reactions, but over 42 lakh children are learning the language from this month.

The Government decision is based on the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission.

All teachers of Kannada schools run by the State Government are involved in this historic process.

In an exclusive interview to ANI, the Commissioner of Public Instruction, M Madan Gopal, said that over 60,000 teachers are being trained to teach specially designed English books for the benefit of rural students.

“For the decision to introduce English from Class I in these schools is a big learning experience for the teachers too. The specially designed resource book teaches the teachers how to teach English to these kids,” claimed Gopal.

The government has prepared a 174-page resource book for teachers. It teaches teachers on how to read stories, rhymes and songs and how to plan class routine.

Rekha Kumari, a government primary school teacher, said that it is an enriching experience.

The book has been specially designed for first-time learners. There are 50 short stories ranging from 'Alibaba and the 40 Thieves' to 'Birbal and the Child'.

Seema, a first standard kid, said learning English through a descriptive book is an interesting thing.

The Regional Institute of English here has designed an innovative syllabus. The Directorate of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) in collaboration with the Karnataka Textbook Society published the textbooks.

In fact, 18 states have already introduced English from Standard One. (ANI)

Microsoft Bangalore researchers developing ‘split screen’ technology
Sunday, June 3, 2007 | AA

Washington, May 6 (ANI): Microsoft researchers in Bangalore are developing a software that splits a computer screen in two halves, each side with its own operating system, desktop, applications, cursor and keyboard.

Microsoft says the technology could help small businesses and schools in developing countries reduce their computer costs and could even work in homes where more than one family member needs access. The innovation could salvage time otherwise wasted as one person waits to use a computer.

"At the most basic level, we are allowing two users to work completely independently on the same machine, sharing both the processor and monitor," said Udai Singh Pawar, assistant researcher and project leader.

The working prototype uses a standard 19-inch screen, but can also work on 15 and 17-inch screens, which are more common at small businesses in India.

The solution is software-based and does not require the user to trade their current PC for a new one. Only the software has to be installed and a second mouse and keyboard plugged in for operation.

"They would simply need to install the software and plug in a second mouse and keyboard. The software enables two sessions of Windows to share the computer's processor. It also divides the screen in half, running one operating system on the left and the other on the right. If necessary, a user can move her cursor to the other half of the screen, which opens the door on sharing and collaborating with documents," Discovery News quoted Pawar as saying.

According to him, two users can also open up a third area on the screen, which he calls an "airlock". Here the users can place shared files and resources.

"The system is optimal for tasks such as data entry and simple word processing, where screen real estate is not a problem. It can also work well in scenarios where the two people need to share data across their screens or work on documents together," said Pawar.

"If we have a shared display we have a shared point of focus. But sharing in such close proximity could also bring up permission problems. There's a trickiness to the boundaries in terms of what's mine and what's yours. How much access do you have to it? Or am I still the owner?" said Jeremy Birnholtz, a postdoctoral fellow with the Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of Toronto.

The Microsoft team is now investigating these issues and contemplating conducting more in field trials starting mid-May.

As of now, it could be a couple of years before split screen technology hits the market. (ANI)

Kingfisher's Mallya to pick up 26 percent Air Deccan stake
Sunday, June 3, 2007 | AA

Bangalore, May 31 (ANI): The Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines is to pick up a 26 per cent stake in Air Deccan.

The deal between the two airlines is said to be through.The alliance would have the largest market share in the industry and will pose a stiff challenge to Jet Airways, which recently bought out Air Sahara to cement its position in the domestic market.

Captain G.R Gopinath, Managing Director Air Deccan said, “UB was preferred over other interested investors, due to the inherent synergies existing in Air Deccan and UB owned Kingfisher Airlines. Air Deccan would continue to operate as an independent airline with increased focus on the low cost business model. With commonality of fleet, we foresee sharing of infrastructure, resources and best practices between both the airlines. This would definitely lead to decreased costs, maximizing shareholder value, increased efficiencies and improved profitability.”

Capt G.R Gopinath would be taking over as the Executive Chairman and Dr Vijay Mallya would be the Vice Chairman. Kingfisher Airlines and Air Deccan will henceforth work very closely together to exploit the significant synergies that exist in the areas of operations and maintenance, ground handling, vastly increased connectivity, feeder services, distribution penetration etc.

Warwick Brady – COO, Air Deccan after having completed two years with the airline has decided to move on. The new COO will be appointed shortly.

India’s fastest growing low cost carrier Air Deccan has the largest network in India today covering 65 airports, plying over 350 flights a day. The airline currently operates a band new fleet of 19 Airbus A – 320 aircraft, with an average age of 1.5 years and 24 ATR Turboprop aircraft. Since its inception in August 2003, Air Deccan has carried over 11 million passengers and the numbers are growing everyday.

Since April onwards, talks of Kingfisher’s interest in Air Deccan have been doing the rounds. But Deccan has been faithfully denying moves towards a sellout. There were also reports of a Kingfisher team visiting Bangalore, possibly to study the Deccan’s balance sheets.

Incidentally during the last quarter, Air Deccan lost market share and slipped from its No 2 spot. For the same period, it also posted losses of about Rs 212 crore. The airline industry has seen a growth of nearly 20 per cent in the last five years, primarily led by low-cost carriers.

Kingfisher Airlines also announced the launch of daily services connecting Kolkata to Raipur and Indore.

Mallya said: "Kingfisher Airlines has redefined the experience of flying and has come to be regarded as an airline that sets new benchmarks in service excellence for the industry. Through the launch of this new route Kingfisher Airlines reaffirms its commitment towards addressing the needs of its guests by providing connectivity between metros and mini-metros in India."

Manoj Chacko, General Manager Global Sales, Distribution and Network Planning, Kingfisher Airlines Limited, said: "All our efforts are focused on offering our guests enhanced convenience in terms of connectivity and service. The introduction of these new routes is a step towards that. The business track of Kingfisher Airlines will grow by leaps and bounds through the launch of this route and we continue to strive in providing better services and connectivity to our travelers." (ANI)

INSAT- 4CR to be launched in September
Sunday, June 3, 2007 | AA

By K G Vasuki

Bangalore, June 2 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch its communication satellite INSAT- 4CR as a replacement to INSAT-4C which was reduced to debris during its unsuccessful launch last year.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair told reporters here this week that the replacement satellite would be launched in September 2007.

President APJ Abdul Kalam will dedicate the recently launched latest communications satellite 4B to the nation on June 8, Nair added.

Regarding the Chandrayana the lunar mission project, Nair said the space vehicle is being built at ISRO and the project is progressing.

He further said that the Edusat programme was successful with over 20,000 schools in the country benefiting.

EDUSAT launched in 2004 is being exclusively used for interactive classroom lessons. Over 10,000 classrooms have been networked using the satellite.

The INSAT- 4C satellite had failed to reach orbit due to a launch vehicle malfunction.

INSAT-4CR is identical to INSAT-4C with 10/12 Ku-band transponders. Some of the transponders of INSAT-4CR are for Direct to Home Services (DTH) and others for Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and High Bit Rate Data Transfer Services.

ISRO is also planning to augment the present INSAT system capacity of 200 transponders to 500 in the next five years. This would depend on the projected needs.

In the immediate future, a total of seven satellites are planned in the INSAT-4 series of which two satellites, INSAT-4A and INSAT-4B have already been launched.

The remaining satellites are slated for launch before 2010-11.

During the 11th five-year plan (2007-12), the transponder capacity will be increased to 500. (ANI)

Aerosmith rocks fans at Bangalore concert
Sunday, June 3, 2007 | AA

Bangalore, June 3 (ANI): American band Aerosmith rocked fans at a concert in Bangalore.

Around 30,000 metal heads filled the expansive Palatial Grounds.

Front man Steven Tyler, lead guitarist Joe Perry, bassist Tom Hamilton, guitarist Brat Whitford and percussionist Joey Kramer belted out their all-time hit numbers as the crowd cheered.

Tyler also regaled the crowd with his on-stage antics with the band mates strumming and drumming alongside.

Much to the relief of organisers and a thousand-strong crowd from across the country and abroad, monsoon rains did not set in as the weathermen had predicted.

Melvin, a rock fan at the concert, said: “I like 'Always' and 'Crazy.' Steven Tyler is amazing. He really rocks. Their music is fabulous”.

"I am here for Aerosmith. It rocks. One of my favourites is 'Crazy' and the other is 'I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing.' All I can say is their music rocks. I just love it," said Ishan Chopra, who travelled to Bangalore from Chandigarh to attend the concert.

The group's only stop over in Banglaore is also their first performance in the country.

Bangalore has emerged as India's rock capital of sorts, having hosted The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, The Scorpions, Bryan Adams, Deep Purple and Roger Waters in recent months.

Aerosmith kicked off their world tour on April 12 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which marks the band's first performance outside North America and Japan in eight years.

Before their Bangalore concert on Saturday, the band performed in Dubai on May 31.

Formed in 1970 and known for its hard rock music and scintillating gigs, Aerosmith has had a tumultuous past with break-ups and drug abuse cases.

However, the band has been going great guns ever since they regrouped in 1984.

Aerosmith holds the record maximum gold, platinum, multi-platinum and diamond album and singles. It has achieved worldwide album sales of over 140 million. (ANI)

Archive: 2004, 2003