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Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is India's fourth largest metropolitan city. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. With an estimated population of 6.90 million, the 367-year-old city is the 31st largest metropolitan area in the world. The city is a large commercial and industrial centre, and is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture. The city is the automobile capital of India, with around forty percent of the automobile industry having a base there. The 12 kilometre long Marina Beach forms the city's east coast and is one of the longest beaches in the world. The city is also known for its sport venues and hosts India's only ATP tennis event, the Chennai Open.

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Selected anniversaries

December 21: Winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, Yule.

• 69 - Vespasian (pictured) became the fourth Roman Emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors.
• 1913 - Arthur Wynne published the first crossword puzzle in the New York World.
• 1937 - The animated feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, based on the fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, premiered to a widely receptive audience.
• 1979 - The Lancaster House Agreement was signed, effectively ending the white rule in Rhodesia under Ian Smith.
• 1988 - Pan Am Flight 103: A terrorist bomb exploded and destroyed a Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270, including 11 on the ground.

Recent days: December 20 – December 19 – December 18

In the news

• Judge John E. Jones III rules in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District that it is unconstitutional to teach intelligent design in public school science classes in the United States.
• Evo Morales claims victory in the Bolivian presidential election. Should he win, he will become the latest leftist South American leader.
• Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is hospitalized after suffering a minor stroke.
• Hong Kong Police detain 900 protestors at the WTO Ministerial Conference after the territory's worst street violence in years.

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• ...that the In Soviet Georgia advertisements for Dannon yogurt helped to reverse negative growth in the company's United States division?
• ...that David Tweed is an Australian share market trader who has attempted to purchase shares from small investors for less than the market price?

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