A Golden ATM

An automated teller machine is now commonplace. But how about an ATM that dispenses gold instead of cash? Welcome to Gold-to-go where you can get 1g, 5g, 10g, 100g and 250g gold bars as well as coins.

Gold-to-go founder Thomas Geissler poses next to a gold-plated ATM in a bank in Munich. The machine, which features cutting-edge technology, dispenses 1g, 5g, 10g, 100g and 250g gold bars and also dispenses gold coins bearing designs such as Krugerrand, Maple Leaf and Kangaroo, which are sold in gift boxes at real-time prices.

Gold-to-go founder Thomas Geissler uncovers one of Germany's first gold-plated ATM in a bank in Munich.

CEO Thomas Geissler holds a gold bar after unveiling the first gold-plated ATM in Europe, at a Madrid's luxury.

A man uses an ATM at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. It's the ultimate hole-in-the-wall -- a money machine that dispenses pure gold. But installed beneath the gold-coated ceilings of Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace hotel, where royalty and billionaires come for cappuccinos topped with gold flakes, the machine almost seems part of the furniture.

A man holds a gold bar after the unveiling of the first gold-plated ATM in Europe, at a Madrid's luxury hotel.

A man holds a 250 gram gold bar after the unveiling of Germany's first gold-plated ATM in a bank in Munich.

Gold bars are seen in Germany's first gold-plated ATM in a bank in Munich.

A man points out a touching screen to choose his gold article after the unveiling of the first gold-plated ATM in Europe.

Customers use an ATM at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Girls of The Paris Motor Show 2010

Glitz and glamour are a central part of any motor show, and as you might expect in the fashion capital of the world, the Paris Motor Show in 2010 is no exception.

So, take a look at our selection of the most glamorous women on the car company stands...

 

Glamour on wheels and heels!

'India's Got Talent Win is a Boost to Our region'

The Shillong Chamber Choir proved that they were the most talented entertainers on India's Got Talent Khoj 2, when they won the grand finale.

They were followed closely by Teji Toko from Arunachal Pradesh and a Sikh Martial Arts Group called 'Bir Khalsa' from Punjab.

The Shillong Chamber Choir won a Kawasaki 250cc Ninja bike and the grand prize money of Rs 50 lakh.

The winning team was congratulated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who was present on the show. The chief minister claimed that the victory came as a big achievement for Meghalaya. He added that the state artists have shown their potential to the world and created history with this win.
The Shillong Chamber Choir, which was formed in 2001, is known for their performance of Khasi opera with a fusion of Western music. The 15-member group is headed by Neil Nongkynrih and includes singers Ibarisha, Donna, Jessica, Patricia Doren Kevi, Sandon, Damon, Riewbankit, Johanan, Kynsai, Ryan and Banlam.

One of the members Damon Lyndem spoke to Rajul Hegde about the win.

'Bollywood music is despised in our state'

The Shillong Chamber Choir

It was a tough competition. Did you expect to win?

Not really. Our music is softer, has a high tempo and beats which are different from the usual music. So we thought people would not be able to connect with our kind of music.

But it was the other way around -- people liked our music. It gives us a great sense of identity. And of course, there is no platform like television to present your talent to the nation. We are happy that it's the first time a musical group from Meghalaya has won a talent show. It's a real boost to our region.

The Chief Minister of Meghalaya came over to watch the finale?

We were glad that our chief minister came with two other ministers to watch the finale. That was a huge support from our state.

Have you learnt anything from India's Got Talent?

Yes. Though we have won gold at the World Choir Olympics in China, IGT has taught us to be more flexible. It exposed us to Bollywood classics. We would love to explore this genre further and revive old songs in our own way.

What made you participate in this show?

Bollywood music is despised in our state and the rest of the country is not really aware of our music. We chose to perform on this platform to bridge this gap.

'People back home are planning to give us a grand reception'

The Khichdi cast on India's Got Talent

What will you do with the prize money?

We have regular and underprivileged children studying in our school. Before coming on this show, we had agreed to use the prize money to upgrade the school if we win.

How did you celebrate your victory?

People are waiting for us back home. They are planning to give us a grand reception. We will celebrate tomorrow with our supporters, family and friends.

What's in the pipeline for you now?

We will perform at a few concerts in New Delhi, Egypt and Goa.

Mizoram Village Councils to Undertake Garbage Disposal

Aizawl, Oct 4 : In accordance with the decision of Mizoram’s Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation department, 60 village councils in state capital have undertaken garbage disposal responsibility on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode from today.

The state UD and PA department disbursed Rs 10.17 lakh, half of the proposed expenditure for October, to the village council Presidents on Saturday last by the Secretary of the department P. Lianhrima.

He said that the rest of the fund for the month would be disbursed after the VCs produced utilization certificates.

With the introduction of garbage disposal on PPP mode, the UD and PA would discontinue the service of trucks to collect garbage's from all the localities in Aizawl and additional expenditure required for the exercise would be met from the contributions of the people.

The PPP mode experiment would be initially taken up for six months and would be extended to all over the city if found to be successful.

Arunachal Protests iPhone 4 Maps' China Tilt

Itanagar, Oct 4 : Arunachal Pradesh lodged a strong protest with the central government over US-based Apple's latest iPhone4 containing maps depicting the northeastern Indian state as part of Chinese territory.

According to reports, the latest smartphone launched in China contains maps showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of China.

"This is yet another attempt at painting a wrong picture on the territorial integrity of Arunachal Pradesh and we strongly protest this nefarious design," Takam Sanjay, Congress party MP in the Lok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh, told IANS.

Sanjay said a formal protest over Apple's latest iPhone4 gaffe was lodged with the central government.

"We want Apple to immediately rectify the fault and ensure that Arunachal Pradesh is shown as very much part of India," Sanjay said.

This is not the first time that Arunachal Pradesh has been shown as part of China - twice in the past two years Google showed the northeastern state as part of China.

"Earlier this year, Google had sent an apology when I took up the matter with the search engine through the Indian government and rectified it. But the question is not about just an apology when everybody knows Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India," the MP said.
"I think this is nothing but a conspiracy and an appeasement policy by all these international technology giants, including the search engine Google," he alleged.

In 2009, Google maps for India marked areas of Arunachal Pradesh, including its capital Itanagar and Tawang, in Chinese. The maps showed the state with dotted lines, signifying its disputed status.

Google later admitted its mistake and rectified it for Indian users.

"Again I am saying, a simple apology would fail to undo the damage and hurt caused to the people of Arunachal Pradesh," Sanjay said.

The mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,030-km unfenced border with China. The McMahon Line, an imaginary border now known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), separates the Sino-Indian border along Arunachal Pradesh.

India and China fought a bitter border war in 1962, with Chinese troops advancing deep into Arunachal Pradesh and inflicting heavy casualties on Indian troops.

The border dispute with China was inherited by India from the British colonial rulers, who hosted a 1914 conference with the Tibetan and Chinese governments that set the border in what is now Arunachal Pradesh.

China has never recognised the 1914 boundary, known as the McMahon Line, and claims 90,000 sq km -- nearly all of Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Arunachal Pradesh government has from time to time been warning New Delhi about Chinese incursions.

After the 1962 Sino-Indian War, tension flared again in 1986 with Indian and Chinese forces clashing in the Sumdorong Chu valley of Arunachal Pradesh.