Chinese city renames mountain after 'Avatar'

BEIJING:  A city in central China has renamed a mountain after the US blockbuster movie "Avatar," which set a Chinese box office record until its run in the country was cut short.

The majestic peak in Hunan province previously known as "Heaven and Earth Pillar" or "South Sky Pillar" has been officially renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain," the Zhangjiajie city government said in a statement.

The statement, posted Monday on the government's website, said the peak was believed to have inspired a floating mountain, one of the most dramatic images in the movie, set on fictional Pandora.

Juxtaposing photos of the mountain with stills from the film, a report in the local Xiaoxiang Morning News said a Hollywood photographer came to the area on a four-day trip in December 2008 and shot a number of photos that were used by the film's artists.

The futuristic adventure was released in both 2-D and 3-D versions January 4 and has become China's all-time box-office champion, topping 80 million dollars in sales, state media said last week.

However, its 2-D run in China ended on Friday amid reports it was pulled ahead of schedule by the government to make way for the patriotic biopic "Confucius," about the ancient Chinese philosopher. It is still running in 3-D.

The Xiaoxiang Morning News said officials expect the mountain's similarity to the film version to trigger a tourism boom during the week-long Spring Festival holiday starting on February 14.

The mountain is in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which is famed for its soaring sandstone pillars and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

Kashmiris observing Indian Republic Day as Black Day

NEW DELHI:  Indian Paramilitary soldiers and police set up roadblocks and snipers took positions atop government buildings as India celebrated its national day Tuesday against the backdrop of a terror alert.

Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world are observing Indian Republic Day as Black Day.

India celebrates its Republic Day on Jan. 26 every year, but this year the security measures have been notched up following intelligence reports of a possible terror attack by militants.

Security has also been tightened at all major government telecommunications and power installations, with additional personnel deployed, police said. At least 15,000 paramilitary soldiers were deployed in and around the capital of New Delhi to ensure safety along the route of an annual parade _ the highlight of India's Republic Day festivities, said police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.

In downtown New Delhi, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to witness the parade a showcase of Indian military and cultural pomp under the watchful eyes of armed police.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who is on a four-day official visit to India, was the chief guest at the parade, which included marching bands and contingents of soldiers and schoolchildren and an aeronautic display by air force planes.