MUMBAI: Tata Communications, a leading provider of a new world of communications, today announces a further expansion of its network into Russia via a local Moscow point of presence. As the brand sets its sights on the growing demand for telecom services in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), its local presence in this geography further reinforces its focus on emerging markets.

Tata Communications owns and operates one of the world?s largest private sub-sea cable networks, enabling flexible and scalable end-to-end solutions backed by strong Service Level Agreements (SLAs). It delivers services to over 1,600 wholesale customers, 10,000 enterprise customers and more than 600 mobile operators ? this includes over 100 service providers in Russia and CIS that are serviced from the Moscow office.

?Our expansion into Russia highlights our commitment to extend our global footprint into the emerging markets and deliver an unparalleled global network reach for our industry-leading voice and data services,? says Claude Sassoulas, Managing Director, Europe and Africa, Tata Communications.

Multiple services from its Moscow location will integrate seamlessly into the company?s next generation network and IP/MPLS and Ethernet infrastructure for onward national and regional connectivity. The company?s MPLS network reaches 67 countries together with its VNO network that reaches 194 countries.

In addition, Tata Communications serves most of the leading mobile operators in the region with advanced roaming signaling and value-added service solutions. The Moscow node will give operators easier access to the company?s recently launched state of the art IPX (IP Exchange) multiservice framework. This will enable routing of all communication traffic, including voice, IP and signaling solutions, via one IP pipe and will also support end-to-end QoS, security, multilateral connectivity and cascade payments.

Tata Communications is one of the world?s leading carriers of internet traffic and is a global Tier 1 IP provider with over 2 Tbps meshed network built on 10G backbones. The company provides internet service providers with access to one of the most dynamically routed and high-performance global IP networks.
By providing high-speed internet connectivity to operators and service providers in Russia as well Latvia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Tata Communications is enabling the rapid growth of internet usage in these markets.

The company is also pioneering international collaboration services by connecting Russia and CIS to its global telepresence network through a partnership agreement with Kazakh Telecom. The agreement will see connection between the cities of Moscow, Astana and Almaty to its global Telepresence public room network which will have coverage across 35 cities worldwide by the end of 2010.

?We can now offer our global managed network services to companies that are looking to expand into Russia in a much more cost-effective manner and we?ll be working with partners to enable Russian companies as they increasingly look to get access to a full world-class solution of telecommunications services? concludes Sassoulas.

MUMBAI: Zee TV proudly announced the winner of the second season of India‘s biggest dance reality show, ‘LUX DANCE INDIA DANCE‘. The Grand Finale was held at Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul (Andheri Sports Complex) on April 23rd and telecast LIVE on Zee TV. In an intense, nerve-racking finish, Shakti Mohan was voted the winner by millions of viewers from across the nation. Heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were the star attractions at the Grand Finale. The crowd went berserk when the winner was announced.

The evening of the Grand Finale was packed with one breathtaking act after another. Be it Remo‘s spirited act to a medley of Micheal Jackson‘s chartbusters or Terence‘s jaw-dropping zip-line entry seated atop the Avatar bird, the crowd couldn‘t get enough of their favorite masters. Punit‘s rocking rendition of ‘Dhoom‘, Shakti‘s spunky jig to Shut Up n Bounce & Chamma Chamma, Binny‘s mermaid act to the soul-stirring Mar Jawaan & Dharmesh‘s stunning turn on a giant cassette player prop had the audience begging for more. On public demand, Shakti joined hands with Amar for an encore of the Best duet act of Season 2, Khuda Jane. The audience stood up and applauded when the four finalists performed a special aerial act to Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. As if this wasn‘t exciting enough, Grand Master Mithun Da joined hands with anchors jay Bhanushali & Saumya Tandon for a comic act that had the audience in splits!

Commenting on the finale, Mr. Nitin Vaidya, COO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. and Business Head, Zee TV said, "Lux Dance India Dance has redefined reality programming on Indian television. Our esteemed mentors, Remo D‘ Souza, Geeta Kapoor and Terence Lewis have nurtured the participants, creating dancing stars out of dancers. Our honored Grand Master Mithun Chakravarty‘s steady guidance and grooming has helped us make the show a grand success. With Shakti‘s victory, the second season of ‘Lux Dance India Dance‘ has surpassed the benchmarks set by the first season. Lux Dance India Dance has offered immensely talented dancing stars to the entertainment industry and will continue to do so. My best wishes to all the finalists for their future endeavors."

Vote Count
" Shakti Mohan- 734140 votes
" Dharmesh Yelande- 730931 votes
" Punit Pathak- 723867 votes
" Binny Sharma- 697914 votes

The winner, as promised, got the Sunheri Taqdeer Ki Topi (The Golden hat). Apart from this, the winner was also bestowed with a contract of Rs. 50 lakhs with Zee TV, a Wagon-R car and an exclusive opportunity to star in Farah Khan‘s next film ‘Tees Maar Khan‘.
 

MUMBAI: IBN-Lokmat brings to its viewers an amusing Great Bhet with the extremely talented ventriloquist, puppeteer and puppet-maker Ramdas Padhye. Entertainment is one of the toughest jobs in this world as there is huge amount of hard work and talent required. IBN-Lokmat brings to its viewers an opportunity to know the artifacts of this entertainer and his life behind the curtains. Witness Ramdas on IBN-Lokmat as he shares a slice of his puppeting career with Nikhil Wagle Editor, IBN-Lokmat on Saturday 24th April 2010 at 9:30 pm

Ramdas has performed more than 9000 ventriloquism and puppet shows in India and abroad. His website is the first Indian website on ventriloquism and puppetry. Ramdas has been regularly entertaining the viewers since 1972. He was the first Indian ventriloquist to perform ventriloquism and puppet-based shows on American television. We all know the famous advertisement of Lijjat Papad, which was performed by Ramdas and the "Bunny" which became popular in the advertisement.

His recent achievements include puppet serial for Singapore TV ? 12, this is the first time that a foreign T.V. station has invited Indian Puppeteer for a full-fledged puppet serial. Ramdas a second Generation puppeteer has been an invariable entertainer in this field and has taken up his family tradition of entertaining from his Father who introduced this art to India in 1920. He has done many commercials and one of them being the TATA SKY advertisements with Aamir Khan. Ramdas created more than 50 puppets in his exclusive puppet studio.

Witness this great entertainer narrate his amazing and entertaining journey exclusively on IBN-Lokmat Great Bhet on 24th April 2010 at 9:30pm.

You can also watch this entertaining Great Bhet on Sunday i.e. 25th April 2010 at 12pm and 5 pm.
 

MUMBAI: In the run up to the UK General Election on Thursday 6 May 2010, the BBC?s international news services are broadcasting informative and in-depth coverage, available to international audiences.

On UK election night, BBC World News will show a live BBC News Special from 21:45 GMT. David Dimbleby will host the programme, joined by Jeremy Paxman, Nick Robinson and Jeremy Vine and the new-look Swingometer. There will be analysis of seat-by-seat results and regular news updates in addition to live interviews.

BBC World Service will also broadcast a seven-hour election night special. The programme will offer global audiences bespoke analysis and regular updates throughout the night. Presenter Robert Lustig will be joined by leading politicians and political pundits from 21:00 GMT as they bring the results to the world.

In the lead-up to the General Election, the BBC?s international news services are broadcasting a selection of programming, which follows the campaign trail:

On BBC World News:

BBC World News is airing the televised Prime Ministerial Debates between the leaders of the three biggest political parties in the UK. Gordon Brown (Labour), David Cameron (Conservative) and Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats) will take questions from a studio audience, based on important themes shaping UK and worldwide politics. The debate on international affairs will air on 22 April at 19:00 GMT and the final debate, which focuses on the economy, will air on 29 April 19:30 GMT.

The Campaign Show, airing from now until 5 May*, provides a round-up of the day?s essential events from Westminster, including interviews with top politicians and commentators.

On BBC World Service:

BBC World Service will be covering the election campaign, and examining the issues and debates that impact not only on the UK itself but its relations with the rest of the world.

In the lead-up to the election, BBC World Service?s news coverage will include a range of unique international perspectives on events, including: BBC World Service?s Political Correspondent, Rob Watson; British Affairs Correspondent, Rob Broomby; and Joseph Warungu, Head of News from BBC World Service?s African Service. Each will take a personal look at what marks out the UK elections from those of other democracies in a series of news reports.

BBC World Service will also be broadcasting the Prime Ministerial Debates, including the debate on international affairs, which will air in a special edition of Newshour on Thursday 22 April, 19:00-21:00 GMT (23.30-1.30 IST) Rob Watson will be in each of cities hosting the debates to follow events, while Rob Broomby will be joined by a group of voters to find out how they react.

Every Friday, throughout the lead-up to the election, the weekly strand Politics UK will be covering the latest news, interviews and issues emerging from the campaign.

BBC World Service?s Steve Evans and Lesley Curwen, from Business Daily, return to their home towns in a special Election feature. Examining the economic issues facing the UK public from the standpoint of Bridgend in South Wales and Preston in England?s industrial North West, the two bring a uniquely personal perspective to their respective reports.

For more details on BBC World Service?s election coverage go to bbcworldservice.com.

Online:

bbc.com/ukelection will provide up-to-date coverage, in-depth guides and a constituency tracker detailing the latest news and results. Audiences can share their views and opinions via BBC World News? official Facebook site.

MUMBAI: ZoOm, the 100% Bollywood entertainment channel brings its viewers a double treat this weekend with super exclusive songs from the much awaited film ?Kites? and ?Badmaash Company?. Slated for telecast on Friday April 23 and Saturday April 24, 2010, ZoOm audiences can be the first to catch the exclusive telecast of the latest songs prior to the release of the film.

Kites features Hrithik Roshan in his grungy new look, with the hot Bollywood babe Kangana Ranaut and the ravishing Mexican beauty Barbara Mori. Kangana Ranaut marks her presence as the exceptional beauty in the latest song ?FIRE? in the film.

Shahid Kapoor and Anoushka Sharma show off their sizzling chemistry in Badmaash Company. Check out the latest song track of the film that features the duo including Vir Das and Meing Chang and find out if they are actually acting like Badmaash rogues in the film?

So tune in to find out which latest Bollywood film is sizzling the charts this weekend, Friday-Saturday, April 23-24, 2010 only on ZoOm

MUMBAI: The witty Rocky and Mayur are back on Highway to do their best ? eating food, meeting people and clocking in more miles!

In the first episode of the new season, join them in their journey to the city of lakes, Udaipur, as they gorge on a mix of traditional and foreign treats. But what satiates them most is the bountiful Thali from the neighbouring state of Gujarat.

Don?t miss ?Highway on my Plate? this Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 8:00 pm and repeat on Wednesday, April 28th at 9:00 pm only on NDTV Good Times.