THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Christmas trees are up, choir practice sessions are on in right earnest, bakers are planning their culinary best and the truly devout are immersed in prayers - the yuletide spirit has already set in and Christians in Kerala are doing all it takes to ring in the Christmas cheer.

TIRUCHENDUR - Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Saturday offered prayers at temples in Tamil Nadu and said that he would complete his term and the Bharatiya Janata Party would return to power in his state.

CHANDIGARH - Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal Saturday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy the issue of the ban on wearing turbans in French schools and get it lifted.