Hollywood remakes are official now

Good news for movie buffs tired of watching "unofficial" Hollywood remakes or "inspired" movies.

Mukesh Talreja and Nikhil Advani of Orion Pictures are in talks with Warner Brothers to remake Hollywood blockbuster Wedding Crashers.

The company is in talks with two big actors to play the lead in this remake. "I have seen Wedding Crashers and think it is a great property that would certainly lend itself to a Bollywood remake and I am very happy that we will be doing this in the right way in association with Warner Brothers," Talreja said.

Warner Brothers will also take legal action against any party who plans to remake this film in concept or as a remake, according to sources.

Warner Brothers is also presenting Orion Pictures' Akshay Kumar-starrer Chandni Chowk to China in association with Ramesh Sippy Entertainment.

This news was brought to me by NDTV 24x7, the best news channels for NRIs seeking the latest news about India. People in the US can access this channel through DirecTV that guarantees excellent picture and voice quality.

Marsh takes Kings XI to thumping win

I missed the IPL Twenty-20 match between Kings XI Punjab & Deccan Chargers. It's not possible for me to watch all the IPL matches. Life is busy in US.

NDTV 24x7 covers all the matches so I watch their crisp coverage when I miss the matches. It's one of the channel available in the US though DirecTV.

Shaun Marsh made a telling IPL-debut, his compact defence and crunchy offence getting him 84 quick runs in a comfortable, seven-wicket win for the Kings XI Punjab.The knock was matched only by Rohit Sharma's 76, a 42-ball effort that revived Deccan Chargers Hyderabad and gave them a competitive score of 164-8 after their top order had fallen to luxurious strokes at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

That innings seemed sharp in contrast with Rohit's 76, which was pure counter attack batting with the tail on a two-paced wicket. Surprisingly, still, no seamer on the day walked away with good figures.

ISRO sets world record with 10 launches

NDTV Reports: India's PSLV-C9 has successfully injected ten satellites into orbit.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), set up 35 years ago, may be a baby among the world's space faring nations. But, it is competing with the other biggies to set world records.

And the mission, which has given ISRO an edge over other competitors, is the launch of India's latest Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

The launch vehicle took off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and has launched 10 satellites - a feat which has created a world record.

PSLV weighs 230 tons - the weight of almost 50 elephants - and is as high as a 12-storey building.

The launch vehicle has put two Indian and eight foreign satellites into orbit, it has beaten the current world record of hoisting eight satellites at one go accomplished by Russia almost a year ago.

This is definitely a great achievement by ISRO. This really has made us Indians all over the world proud. I wish ISRO all the best for all its future endeavors, especially the Chandrayan mission to the moon.

I saw a report on this issue on NDTV 24x7 which is available here in the US only on DirecTV.

India to have more billionaires by 2017: Forbes

I was not surprised that I saw the news on NDTV 24x7, the channel always covers India-centric news. I was surprised because I saw the news first on NDTV 24x7. Forbes' poll are credible and most of the times the news is broadcasted on all news channels.

Ten years from now, India will have more billionaires than any other country in the world, says a poll by American business publication Forbes.According to the Internet poll being conducted by the magazine, which lists the world's richest billionaires every year, more than half of respondents believe that India will have the maximum number of billionaires in 2017.

According to the online poll on Forbes' website, where over 11,800 votes were cast at the last count, only 17 per cent of respondents believe that the US would have the most billionaires in 2017.

The India-centric news channel is available in the US through DirecTV. DirecTV's exceptional picture and sound quality coupled with NDTV 24x7's up-to-the minute coverage is a must for Indians living in the US.

Reunion of Shahenshah-Badshah

NDTV Reports: The rivalry between Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan has been the subject of speculation in the media for ages.

Recently it was said that Amitabh would feature in the multi-starrer song from Om Shanti Om, but it didn't happen.

Amitabh clarified that there is no competition between them.

"Please let there not be any comparisons between me and Shah Rukh. It's not fair," he said.

Vivek Sharma's Bhootnath will have the Badshah and the Shahenshah together. Amitabh plays the role of a deceased grandfather, who returns to his grandson as a ghost. Shah Rukh plays a cameo as the boy's father.

Speaking about his role Big B said, "Earlier in my career I only got to play certain characters. I am heartened that at my age film-makers are choosing me for roles which are widely different. I am playing a ghost in Bhootnath, something I never would have dreamt of."

NDTV 24x7 is the best news channels for news from India. And what makes it even better is that its also available here in the US for us NRIs, only on DirecTV... So go ahead and get a DirecTV subscription and keep in touch with the latest in India!

IPL: Royals to take on Kings

It will be Hollywood vs Bollywood today. Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royal's take on Preity Zinta's Kings XI later this evening.

Both the teams lost their opening ties, and so both have something to prove. Jaipur in particular have some work to do with many believing that its one of the weakest squads in the league.

Despite the Hussey heroics that wiped out her team, the smile on Preity's face has not faded and she's looking for a turn-around.

I got this latest update on NDTV 24x7. It is an excellent news channel for NRIs since it provides the most comprehensive news related to India. DirecTV makes it possible to access this channel in the US.

Stage set for lights, camera, action

NDTV Reports: On April 18, cricket will change forever for good or for bad, we don't know yet.

There has been much picketing against Twenty20 cricket and its money-rich manifestation, the Indian Premier League. Even before a ball has been bowled, the IPL stands accused of the murder of Test cricket.

The BCCI's penny-pinching officials have also earned the purist's wrath, and it's a surprise they didn't think of a way to extract a fee from the sun, moon and stars for shamelessly shining over the IPL venues without accreditation.

Then, there's the concern over the length of the tournament. Six weeks? What were the organisers thinking?

Here's some numbers to put things into perspective. The Beijing Olympics measure 16 days. The next FIFA World Cup will last a month. Even the T20 World Cup with a bigger field than the IPL lasted just a fortnight.

If the World Cup in the West Indies is anything to go by, some games towards the latter stages of the IPL may become meaningless, which would affect ticket sales and we have not yet begun talking about high ticket prices.

All right, enough ranting already. Here's what is good about the IPL. Never in the history of cricket has a domestic event raised more money or generated more hype. In India, the average domestic match attracts about 20 eyeballs five journalists, four pigeons and the stray dog. The IPL would change that, and how. It would now be the standard for other cricket boards to follow.

Second the IPL would fast track many careers. The unsung heroes from the domestic tier somebody like a Pragyan Ojha will now play alongside top professionals with the world watching. This is as good as international exposure, and the money has never been better.

Somewhere along the line, we would all complain about overkill, about meaningless run orgies and the passing away of cricket in whites. But change is inevitable. So, for the moment, let's focus on the IPL hoping it makes the game attractive to a much larger audience.

Which brings us to a question which team do you think would win the IPL? I'm vouching for my home city Mumbai....who's side are you on?

Tough call: Will Indians make the right choice?

NDTV reports: There is a flurry of excitement, laced with conflicting emotions as Indian Americans get set for the last and crucial phase of the US Presidential polls 2008.

For many Indian Americans, it is a tough call choosing between the Democrats and the Republicans.

While many ethnic Indians have Democratic leanings because of the party's social policies especially on closer-to-home issues like immigration, recent times have seen a shift as well.

There are many Indians who are turning towards Republicans because the party is seen to take a lot of interest in professionals coming in on H1B visas - something that is of vital importance for the Indian community.

What also makes the choice difficult is the fact that while Hillary Clinton has close ties with India and the Indian community in New York, they have a strong predilection for Obama since they feel he knows the Third World and will be able to understand them better.

But what remains undisputed is the tough battle that the race for US Presidency is heading towards. For the Indians, whoever they vote for, or even side, the results will definitely have a bearing on their status in the US of A.

NDTV has excellent coverage of the US elections. NDTV 24x7 is now available here in the US only on DirecTV.

Akhtar hopeful ban will be revoked

Banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar still harbours hopes of playing for Pakistan and is keeping himself fit for any call-up to the national side in the future.

The maverick pacer was banned for five years by Pakistan Cricket Board on six counts of code of conduct violations and the uproar over the decision prompted the Senate Standing Committee on Sports to hold a hearing with Akhtar here on Monday.

"I expect I will get complete justice and I will return to play for Pakistan very soon," he said.

Akhtar said he has been training hard to keep himself fit to play after he is cleared of the charges.

"I am continuing my training and my objective is to play for Pakistan. This is very important for me, I will be fit and ready to play," he said.

The fast bowler told the Senate Standing Committee that he had no personal grudges or quarrels against anyone.

"I presented my views to the committee and they gave me a patient hearing. I am grateful to the Senate Committee, media and people for their support," Akhtar said after the hearing.

The speedster, who has also lodged an appeal with the PCB against the ban, hoped "it will be rectified."

"I have always followed and respected the law and obeyed orders. I have learnt to live with the law," Akhtar added.

I think both Akhtar and the PCB should resolve this matter amicably. Kolkata Knight Riders will surely miss Akhtar as he was the leader of the bowling attack. I hope he can play for Shahrukh's team too.

H1B visa: Cap reached; lottery later this week

NDTV Reports: A lottery later this week would decide the fate of thousands of skilled professionals, a significantly large number of them from India, who have applied for the sought after H1B visas, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Tuesday.

The USCIS's announcement came a day after it stopped receiving petitions for H1B work visa for the fiscal beginning in October this year. In a statement, USCIS said, it has received enough petitions to meet the congressional mandated cap.

As approved by the US Congress, the USCIS for the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2008 can approve a maximum of 65,000 H1B visas and another 20,000 for those having Masters or higher degree from a US university.

The applications for the same were received between April 1 to April 7 by the USCIS.

Although the agency did not divulge the number of H1B petitions it received during the five business days, a USCIS spokesperson told NDTV that it is likely to cross the last year figures. Last year 1,33,000 H1B petitions were received.

''We expect to receive more (petitions) than last year as in 2007 the process was closed on the second day itself as against five days this time,'' the official said. This is the fifth consecutive year that the H1B cap has been reached before the start of the fiscal year.

As expected, the lottery would be done in two phases - enough to select the number of petitions needed to meet the cap of 65,000 in general category and 20,000 under the ''advanced degree'' exemption limit. Rest of the petitions would be rejected and filing fees would be returned.

Once the process of lottery is over, the USCIS would send the approved petitions to the State Department, which issues the visas through its consulates and embassies all over the world.

Simultaneously, it would send approval notifications to successful applicants and their companies. The process is expected to be completed in about a fortnight.

The US needs to realise how much it really needs Indian skilled workers. It will only help America to allow more Indian citizens into the country. Its about time it liberalizes its Visa regime. Watched an interesting report on this issue on NDTV last night. I'm glad i got the DirecTV connection... you should get it too.

Shoaib can't play in IPL unless ban is lifted

Two days after being handed out a five-year ban for bringing cricket into disrepute, Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday suffered another major setback with the Indian Premier League (IPL) also debarring him from taking part in the cash-rich event.

The IPL's Governing Council made it clear that Akhtar would not play in the Indian Premier League unless its counterpart, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), lifted the five-year ban on him.

Shoaib, who was banned after several run-ins with the board on disciplinary issues, had on Wednesday said that he intended to take the Pakistan cricket board to court if necessary. The bowler asserted that he had always thought of Pakistan's cricket interests and never gave in to the offers made by match fixers.

I received this latest update on cricket through NDTV 24x7. It is an excellent news channel for NRIs as it provides the most comprehensive news related to India. DirecTV makes it possible to access this channel in the US.

India may lose chance to host Hockey WC

India is losing the chance to host the 2010 Hockey World Cup. The International Hockey Federation has decided that the progress on its pet project 'Promoting Indian Hockey' is still far from satisfactory, and that means the world body has already started looking at alternate venues.

The provisional award to India was announced last year.

India's failure to qualify for the Olympics and cold-shoulder to Technical Advisor Ric Charlesworth, its long-standing struggle to find a sponsor for the event and the lack of progress on the infrastructure front are reasons for the mess.

This is due to India’s early exit in the Olympics. I saw this news on NDTV 24x7. It is the best news channel for NRIs who want to receive the latest news about India. This channel is available through DirecTV in the US.

Tata inks JLR deal with Ford

Homegrown auto major Tata Motors has clinched the Jaguar and Land Rover deal estimated to be valued between $2-2.5 billion.

According to sources close to the development, the deal was signed last evening and is estimated to have cost the Tatas between $2-2.5 billion.

The deal has taken almost nine months to finalise as both Ford and Tata and their financiers sought to iron out issues seen as crucial to the future of the two British marques.

It is expected to cover long-term supply of engines to both brands from Ford.

During the race for JLR, in which India’s Mahindra & Mahindra was also in running for sometime, Tatas gained the crucial support from Unite - main trade union of Jaguar and Land Rover.

Tata has made India proud once again. I came to know about this news from NDTV 24×7. It is an excellent channel for NRIs that provides comprehensive coverage to news related to India. This channel is available in the US only through DirecTV.

Indian Sherwani goes global

In another global recognition of India's haute-couture, world-renowned Italian fashion brand Armani has included Sherwani in its latest collections.

Sherwani is a long coat-like garment worn in India and is similar to an Achkan or doublet. It is worn over kurta and churidar, pyjama, salwar or dhoti.

With increasing income and rapidly changing lifestyles, the Indian high-end brand market would join the league of the US, Japan, the UK, China, and Germany.

India's consumer base of high-end brands is expected to grow up to 50 million from less than 1,00,000 at present.

Though I live abroad I am proud to know that India is going global. Isn’t it great that Armani has included Sherwani in its latest collections? I saw the news only on NDTV 24x7. This is an excellent news channel for NRIs who yearn for India related news. This news channel is available in the US only through DirecTV. I was guaranteed excellent voice and picture quality with DirecTV and I wasn't disappointed.

N-deal: UPA-Left committee to meet today

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7 about the never-ending saga of the Nuclear deal. The UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal is meeting on Monday to discuss a crucial draft safeguards agreement.

The Left had earlier demanded that the government spell out its nuclear plans by the end of this month.

This is the first time that the government will meet Left leaders after talking to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about an India-specific safeguards agreement.

The government is expected to hand over copies of the draft agreement it has reached with the IAEA. It will also brief the Left on the three-month long negotiations with the nuclear watchdog.

I have been tracking the news on NDTV 24x7 since the very beginning. The Indo-US nuclear deal has played out for over two years with both the government and the Left sticking to their positions. The government believes it is a great deal, but the Left argues otherwise.

NDTV 24x7 is window to India for Indians living in the US. The insightful news channel is available in the US only through DirecTV.

New US President: The India factor

As the US Presidential election is reaching to a decisive phase, many in India debate as to which party will be good for the country, once the final results are declared.

The issue interests me as well. All the more because I am an Indian living in the US. NDTV 24×7 is doing a commendable job of covering the current elections in context to India.

While most Indians are supporting the Democrats in their battle against Republicans for the White House, ironically, analysts say Republicans are probably better for India on issues ranging from outsourcing to the nuclear deal.

Democrat Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are known for their opposition to the nuclear deal. In fact, Obama was one of several Democrat senators who tabled what were called ”killer amendments” to kill the deal.Obama also rubbed Indians the wrong way when his campaign staff called Hillary the Senator from Punjab because of her close ties with the community.

Republican John McCain, on the other hand, has suggested that India should replace Russia in the G-8.

The election is a complicated issue with lot of variables but NDTV 24×7 makes it crisp & extremely simple for me to understand. The incisive India-centric news channel is available in the US only through DirecTV. For more information visit the Squidoo Lens.

Video game to create awareness

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7 about another video game. A New York-based Human Rights group has created a video game called ICED, designed to create awareness about US immigration policies.

The video game allows players to walk in the shoes of an undocumented immigrant in America who constantly faces the threat of being arrested and deported.

"ICED or I Can End Deportation, video game that looks at the unfair immigration policies in the United States."

The characters in ICED are based on the case studies of five immigrants who were deported. These include Ayesha, a 16-year-old green card holder from India, who was deported after writing a critical essay on freedom of speech and the Department of Homeland Security.

NDTV 24x7 is an incisive news channel and it is a very good source of information for India-centric news.

The news channel is available in the US only through DirecTV. The TV service provider offers crystal clear sound & video and I have not experienced any technical snags so far.

Here is the URL for DirecTV:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200042

There is also a Squiddo Lens on NDTV 24×7. The news channel is a must for Indians living in the US.

India's first 3D game making waves

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7 about India's first 3D game, It's a game where one can zip across a virtual Mumbai, a city in which speed is just a way of life.

But this is no ordinary race, this is the first three dimensional game that has versions applicable in both personal computers and on play station.

The game has been developed entirely in India, which its makers believe is just as good as the games developed anywhere else.And it's not just this technology but also the game itself, which will appeal to hardcore gamers.

It would be fun racing alongside random constructions going on, dug up Mumbai roads, autorikshawallas who drive like a maniac and dogs chasing the cars.

I prefer watching NDTV 24×7 as it provides up–to–the–minute, 24/7 news with unparalleled coverage of the latest in domestic and international news.

The fantastic news channel is available in the US only through DirecTV.

Paes wants Olympic medal with Hesh

Indian tennis star Leander Paes on Sunday said he was confident of winning a medal partnering Mahesh Bhupathi at the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

He refused to comment, on Sania Mirza's decision to pull out of the Bangalore Open. He didn't even comment when asked whether he would partner Sania for a mixed double.

"I think we have a bright chance of winning a medal in Beijing"

On the country not getting another star tennis player after him and Bhupathi, Paes said there is too much of media hype now a days and the likes of Rohan Bopanna "are not able to absorb the pressure".

Paes hoped that Sourav Ganguly would be able to make a comeback into the Indian ODI team. I hope so too. India would win some more games if Ganguly makes it again to the Indian Team.

Whenever I talk to my friends from India I always have an upper hand despite the fact that I stay in the US. I owe this to NDTV 24x7 as the news channel informs keeps me updated about all the happenings in India.

If you are an Indian living in the US (like me), you should immediately subscribe to DirecTv because:

• It is the best TV service provider in the US in all respects.
• NDTV 24x7 is the best Indian news channel.
• DirecTv is the sole provider of NDTV 24x7 in the US.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200042

Anju Bobby George bags silver

I didn't even know that the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship is on until I watched the coverage on NDTV 24x7.

Anju Bobby George has won the silver at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha. She's already qualified for the Olympics and now her preparations for Beijing have got off to a winning start. The long jumper, en route to her Asian Games silver in December 2006, began with a modest jump of 6.01 meters but her best jump of 6.38 meters was good enough for second place.
I use to participate in Long Jump while I was in schoo. The maximum I could jump is 4.1 meters. AB George must be flying and not jumping to cover a distance of 6+ meters.

Its good that NDTV 24x7 is available in the US or else I would miss all the action from India. the news channel is available in the US through DirecTV. Here is the URL:
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200042

UK Indian wins racism case against Honda

Harbhajan Singh accused for racism, an Indian student is against Oxford University for alleged racism and now Japanese car maker is in the news. I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7. I am an Indian staying in the US but haven't experienced racism, that's good and it should be that way.

Car giant Honda has been ordered to pay 64,000 Pounds to an Indian worker who was forced to quit after suffering racial abuse at work.

Kalmesh Shah, 30, moved to the UK from Gujarat in April 2004, and joined Honda in October that year.

Shah, who worked at the factory for nearly two years, was allegedly moved randomly between production line jobs without training, bullied and refused toilet breaks by his supervisor.

His poor treatment led to deterioration in his physical and mental health following which he quit.
Shah took Honda to a tribunal that finally ruled in his favour despite an attempt by managers to falsify documents and training records in a bid to dispute his claims.

Shah: "This was never about the money, it was about standing up to a company that treated me like a third-class citizen because of my race. I was persecuted for speaking out and blowing the whistle''

Honda spokeswoman: ''We have accepted the findings of the Employment Tribunal, some nine months ago, and consider this case to be a very unfortunate 'one-off' and deeply regret the offence to Shah caused by an individual associate''.

DirecTv is doing a great job of providing NDTV 24x7 in the US. NDTV 24x7 is India's best news channel as it is home to India's best journalists and reporters. The coverage is to the point and it is the first to deliver news related to India.

Here is the URL for DirecTv:
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200042

Indian crowd best behaved: Spanish referee

I was watching NDTV 24x7 for daily updates on sports as I like to be well versed with India's efforts in the Sports arena and the headline "Indian crowd best behaved" took me by surprise. Indian crowd (read: spectators) is always loathed for its unruly behavior specially while cricket matches.

Politicians running sports bodies is commonplace, but one donning the cap of tennis referee is indeed a rare sight. Spanish referee Gabriel Mato, who officiated the recently concluded Davis Cup tie between India and Uzbekistan here, is one such exception. Mato, a Spanish MP, combines his travels all over the world for tennis with his hectic political schedule.

This was Mato's first assignment in India and the affable Spaniard was satisfied with the way the tie was conducted.

Mato also praised the Indian crowd, which he says has been the best behaved he had seen so far despite their sometimes boisterous nature.
Quote: "The tie was well organised. The courts were well dressed and the signages looked good. Moreover both the teams were happy and there have been no complaints"

"I must say that I am very impressed with the crowd here. They make noise, fully back their team but there were no fights. The way they cheered with drums, I found that quite curious. It was a big contrast to all the places where I have officiated"

I prefer watching NDTV 24x7 as it is India’s most respected news channel and the news coverage is ‘to the point’ unlike other news channels where every news is a breaking news.

The experience only improves as I have subscribed to DirecTv. There’s no need to buy any costly equipments, I received installation of a 4-room DirecTV system alongwith the subscription.

Tata Motors soon to finalise Jaguar deal

India on the global map is getting more and more visibility. Thanks to Indian multinationals. Indian news is getting more and more visibility on the news channels. Thanks to NDTV 24x7.

Tata Motors Ltd was satisfied with the progress of negotiations with US carmaker Ford Motor Co to buy British marquee brands Jaguar and Land Rover and would soon reach an agreement. The deal is expected to cost $2 billion. Ford, which bought Jaguar in 1989 for $2.5 billion, and Land Rover in 2000 for $2.73 billion, is selling off the two iconic British luxury brands to recoup losses made in its American operations.
I am sure Tata can turn around the losses into profits over a period of time and bring international cars on Indian roads. It would be interesting to learn how Tata manages Nano and Jaguar under the same company.

If you are an Indian living in the US (like me), you should immediately subscribe to DirecTv because:

• It is the best TV service provider in the US in all respects.
• NDTV 24x7 is the best Indian news channel.
• DirecTv is the sole provider of NDTV 24x7 in the US.

Here is the URL: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200042

Pakistan test fires new missiles

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7 about Pakistan test firing new missiles. The military has been working on modifying the missile to allow launches from mobile platforms.

Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations. The two neighbours have fought three wars after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

Pakistan on Friday successfully test-fired an upgraded version of a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

The army’s Strategic Missile Group launched the Ghauri missile, which has a range of 810 miles, from an undisclosed location, it said.

The relations between the two countries have improved markedly since 2004, when they began a peace process aimed at resolving outstanding disputes, including competing claims to the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir.

I prefer watching NDTV 24x7 as it is India’s most respected news channel and the news coverage is ‘to the point’ unlike other news channel where every news is a breaking news.

The experience only improves as I have subscribed to DirecTv. There’s no need to buy any costly equipments, I received installation of a 4-room DirecTV system alongwith the subscription.

Indian Government confident of 9% economic growth

I live in the US but I was extremely delighted when I saw the news on NDTV 24x7 about India's growth in the near future. That is because I am still an Indian at heart.

The Union Government will make rapid adjustments in economic measures depending upon evolving global economic situation, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Thursday exuding confidence that the growth during the current fiscal would be close to 9 per cent. Inflation is still below four per cent and growth is well above eight percent.

Government would also appoint two Additional Solicitor General's exclusively to deal with direct and indirect tax cases in the Supreme Court and High Courts across the country.

Padma Vibhushan + Officer of the Legion of Honour

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24*7 about Infosys Chief Mentor N R Narayanamurthy being chosen for the Padma Vibhushan and he French government's highest civilian distinction, an Officer of the Legion of Honour.

It's really good that we get Indian News channel in the US through DirecTv.

I prefer watching NDTV 24*7 as it is India’s most respected news channel and the news coverage is ‘to the point’ unlike other news channel where every news is a breaking news.

The experience only improves as I have subscribed to DirecTv. There’s no need to buy any costly equipments, I received installation of a 4-room DirecTV system alongwith the subscription.

Mile High Racism

Harbhajan Singh called Symonds a Monkey or didn't he? The question and the case against the turbanator is still open. In a unrelated incident British Airways was alleged to be racist. I saw the coverage on NDTV 24*7 available through DirecTV in the US.



A few Indian passengers on a Chennai-London flight accused an airline of racial bias as it allegedly provided accommodation only to white-skinned people.

British Airways flight BA36 from Chennai to London was postponed due to a technical snag. And foreign passengers were provided hotel accommodation and many routed through other airlines, at least fifteen Indian passengers claim they were left to fend for themselves.

This obviously isn't a breaking news and so it doesn't need to be given that much importance. That's exactly how the story was covered on NDTV 24*7. The information was delivered as a matter of fact and not as a sensational news as shown in another news channels from India. I am surprised how other news channels come up with catchy lines for Insignificant news and blow it out of proportion. NDTV 24*7 according to me is a perfectly balanced news channel as the quantum of coverage, analysis, graphics is based on the significance of the news.

NDTV is available only through DirecTv in the US. DirecTv adds to the whole experience as it delivers a digital signal 99.9% of the time without any technical snags.

Govt in crisis over nuke deal

Where is the Nuclear Deal going? That is one question even the Indian Govt. can not answer. I saw the coverage about Nuke Deal on NDTV 24 *7. The coverage was crisp and insightful. I will share a few of points which would summarize the current scenario.

The options before the government now are:

• The Prime Minister can resign
• Or the government stands firm on the deal, which means it will fall and there will be fresh elections
• Or both sides will buy time to evolve middle ground.

In Parliament, the UPA has a strength of 226, but together with the Left, BSP and SDF that number goes upto 304.

Without the Left, it comes down to 245. If Left withdraws support, the UPA is 27 seats short of majority.

I don't think political parties think about India's benefit while they take a stand. According to me the bottomline is to oppose the ruling party.

Indian of the Year

There is a clutter of awards, almost all the channels have their own Awards. Every channel these days wants to name their own 'Indian of the Year'.

I always wondered do these awards mean alot, something or nothing to the nominees and finally the winner. But the NDTV Indian of the Year (IotY) awards made sense to me.

There are a few reason for that, firstly I have always admired Mr. Pronoy Roy since his World this Week days and secondly NDTV is house to one of the best journalists in India. That includes Rajdeep Sardesai, my favorite TV scribe. I always enjoyed watching the show 'Big Fights' on NDTV. The ceremony was covered comprehensively on NDTV this weekend. I'm so glad we NRIs here can still receive these great Indian channels. I have a DirecTV subscription and it works great.

Run Mumbai Run

Yeah...there's nothing new about Mumbai running. The "city that never sleeps" is notorious for its ultra fast lifestyle. Mumbaikars are known to be a busy breed. After all they are the ones who keep the financial nerve center of India alive.

The Mumbai Marathon 2008 brought together stars and commoners on the streets of the country's commercial and entertainment capital.

Over 30,000 Mumbaikars- celebrities, corporate executives, students, social workers, housewives, even the man on the street, tested their stamina and fitness to drive home the message that 'running is not stressful for the heart'.

Even though she wasn't there, this is what Urmila Matondkar had to say about the Marathon, "For practical reasons, I could not participate in the Mumbai Marathon.But I'd love to. I didn't get time to prepare for it. But I support it wholeheartedly. It means standing up for a cause that's close to your heart. It's like doing your bit to keep the energy and integrity of Mumbai intact."


I saw the coverage of the marathon on NDTV through my DirecTV connection. I'm so glad we can receive Indian channels here in the US!

Hello!!

I am originally from India but based in the US. So dil hai hindustani and thats why this Blog is about India. Its not going to be another History or culture Blog but will have news stories for a change. I bought myself a big Plasma TV and whats a TV without DirecTV. I can view Indian channels thousands of miles away and be informed about the Latest happenings in India. Specially NDTV 24*7, its a nice news channel.

For now Adios!!