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.