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The sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship. At the Italian port of Civitavecchia, 40 miles northwest of Rome, the great cruise ships line the long concrete breakwater like taxis at a curb. That Friday afternoon, January 13, 2012, the largest and grandest was the Costa Concordia, 17 decks high, a floating pleasure palace the length of three football fields. It was a cool, bright day as the crowds filed on and off the ship, those who had boarded at Barcelona and Marseilles heading into Rome for sightseeing while hundreds of new passengers pulled rolling bags toward theConcordia’s arrival terminal. Up on the road, a writer from Rome named Patrizia Perilli stepped from a chauffeur-driven Mercedes and marveled at the ship’s immensity. “You could see it even before you entered the port; it was a floating monster,” she recalls. “Its size made me feel secure. It was sunny, and its windows were just sparkling.” Inside the terminal, newcomers handed their luggage to the Indian and Filipino p...

KUWAIT: Social services are the responsibility of every artist, says Nandamuri Bala Krishna, an artiste, actor and political activist from India. “I feel this,” he says during an exclusive interview with the Kuwait Times during his three-day visit to Kuwait this week. Nadamuri Bala Krishna, also popularly known as ‘Balayya’ and ‘NBK’ by fans and admirers alike, is the son of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu film legend. He starred in many critical and commercial films and established himself as one of the leading contemporary actors of Telugu cinema. In addition to films, Balakrishna is associated with several philanthropic and social organizations activities. He campaigned for the Telugu Desam Party during many elections, and is the Chairman of the Board of Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute. He was also the Chief Guest at ‘Simha Gharjana Mega Musical Night Program’ which was organized by Pravasaand...