Bangalore airport launch by May-end

The new airport at Bangalore will become operational by the end of May with its private operator having to keep an option open for allowing smaller aircrafts to use the existing airport in the city, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel announced on Tuesday.

Patel told reporters here after meeting representatives of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the operators of the new airport, that the company was given options including allowing aircraft with less than 80 seats to operate out of the existing HAL airport in the tech hub.

BIAL had earlier planned to start operations March 30, but the launch had been postponed till May 11 and now stands further delayed.

According to its agreement with the government, all commercial aviation activities at the existing airport are to end once the new airport is functional.

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.

Super Kings take on Knight Riders in supremacy battle

It could well boil down to a battle of nerves as the two unbeaten teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

Knight Riders, with victories against Bangalore Royal Challengers and Hyderabad Deccan Chargers, currently head the points table on superior net run rate while Super Kings who defeated Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians, are currently placed third behind Delhi Daredevils who too have won both their matches so far.

The Super Kings have already made it known that they would like to win their opening four games and then try to sustain the momentum. To achieve this, they are dependent on the two Australians, opener Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey, to provide them solid starts, whether batting first or chasing.

To Super Kings' good fortune, left-hander Suresh Raina has been in top form and has proved to be as invaluable an asset as the Australians.

The Aussies return home after the fourth game against Royal Challengers April 28 in Bangalore, and hence the anxiety in the Super Kings camp is to make the most of the two quality batsmen who have played key roles in their two victories.

It will be an exciting match I'm sure. Cant wait to watch the post match analysis on NDTV 24x7. It is one of the best news channels in India and is available here in the US only on DirecTV.

Oz: Indian students to get right to work

Living in the US, watching an Indian news channel covering news about Indians in Australia. Globalisation.

There is good news for thousands of Indians studying in Australia as changes to the visa system, coming into effect from Saturday, will give them automatic right to work in the country.

I saw the news on NDTV 24×7, the news channel is a must for Indians living in the US who want to stay abreast of India-centric news.

Until now, Indian students had to apply separately for permission to work part time while pursuing their studies in Australia.

‘The changes mean that Indian students can now apply for part time jobs and work for up to 20 hours per week as soon as their courses start. It will reduce red tape for students wanting to work in Australia.

NDTV 24×7 is available in the US through DirecTV. I watch the news channel daily for India-centric news.

Royals gear up to clash with the Daredevils

NDTV Reports:

The Indian Premier League (IPL) spotlight, with all its glitz and glamour, will turn to the historic Ferozshah Kotla stadium as Delhi Daredevils host Rajasthan Royals in the Twenty20 bonanza on Saturday.

Delhites will be feted to a heady cocktail of cricket and entertainment under the newly installed floodlights at the refurbished stadium.

The Daredevils, owned by GMR Group and led by powerhouse Virender Sehwag, boasts of names like Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori. At the other end will be the enchanting Shane Warne marshalling the underdog Royal’s team.

Both teams will be playing their first match of the cash-rich league and will go all out to draw first blood.

Teams:

Delhi Daredevils: Virender Sehwag (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Manoj Tiwari, Mohammad Asif, Daniel Vettori, Dinesh Karthik, Shoaib Malik, Glenn McGrath, AB de Villiers, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Farveez Maharoof, Rajat Bhatia, Shikhar Dhawan, Brett Geeves, Yo Mahesh, Mithun Manhas, Pradeep Sangwan, Mayank Tehlan.

Rajasthan Royals: Shane Warne (captain), Aditya Angle, Swapnil Asnodkar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Kaif, Kamran Akmal, Sumit Khatri, Turuwar Kohli, Justin Langer, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Parag More, Morne Morkel, Pankaj Singh, Munaf Patel, Niraj Patel, Yusuf Pathan, Mahesh Rawat, Anup Revandkar, Dinesh Salunke, Jaydev Shah, Graeme Smith, Sohail Tanvir, Siddharth Trivedi, Shane Watson, Younis Khan.

Watch this space for coming IPL clashes… and don’t forget to tune in to NDTV 24×7 for the post match analysis… This is going to be a very exciting month for Cricket…

Sachin vs Warne, once again

Sachin Tendulkar said he was looking forward to the challenge of leading Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League starting on April 18.

Some quotes from the interview:

On leading the Mumbai side

It is going to be a challenge. I was not expecting to captain the Mumbai side. Mukesh Ambani spoke to me and he wanted me to lead the side. I have accepted it and I am looking forward to it. I’m happy to be opening the innings with Sanath Jayasuriya. I excited about renewing rivalries with Shane Warne.

On talks that Mumbai is one of the weaker teams in the IPL

I am happy with the team. It has nice blend of seniors and juniors, it is a terrific team. Who says we have a weak side, let the tournament start and everybody will know. The IPL is a great opportunity for youngsters to play with international stars.

On having Harbhajan Singh in his team

Harbhajan Singh is a world class player, I am happy that I have got him. Anybody who has played for more than 10 years for his country should be a terrific player.

On playing against players like Ganguly, Dravid and Dhoni

It will be a strange experience, playing against somebody who are next to me in the dressing room. It is a club system, it will be a new experience. It will be exciting for players as well as spectators.

I’m very excited about IPL. It will certainly be very exhilarating to see Sachin battle Warne once again. I’m expecting the same fireworks as before.

Gold rises by Rs 175 on increased demand

Gold prices today rose by Rs 175 to Rs 12,385 per 10 gram in the bullion market in New Delhi based on an increased buying spree by jewellers and retail customers, abd amid a steep rise in its prices in global markets.

Ongoing heavy buying for the marriage season and reports of the precious metal rising in the international markets following a record rise in crude oil, mainly influenced gold prices in the domestic market.

Reports of the gold for June delivery rising 5.10 to 953.40 dollar an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, further pushed up the metal price in New Delhi.

Silver rose 30 cents to $18.61 an ounce while standard gold and ornaments jumped up by Rs 175 each to Rs 12,385 and Rs 12,235 per 10 grams respectively, sovereign gained Rs 20 at Rs 9950 per piece of eight gram.Silver coins gained Rs 100 to Rs 26,700 for buying and Rs 26,800 for selling of 100 coins.

I usually catch up with global precious metal rates on NDTV, on my DirecTV subscription, as it provides in depth analysis and reports on a regular basis.

US Sikhs face prejudice: Survey

NDTV Reports: On Baisakhi, instead of celebrating, Sikhs in New York gathered on the steps of City Hall to protest.

Under the principals of their faith, Sikhs are mandated to leave all hair on their bodies uncut, wrapping the hair on their heads underneath a turban. In the years since 9/11, misperceptions about their appearance have led to hate attacks against Sikhs across the country.

A new survey by a Sikh advocacy group has revealed fresh, startling statistics about the deep level of prejudice against the Sikh community after 9/11 because of the way they look.

Forty one per cent of New York City’s Sikhs have faced verbal abuse.

Half of the New York’s Sikh students have been harassed in school, based on their religion or national origin.

One in ten report that they have been refused employment or a job promotion because of their Sikh identity.

Like Sathari Singh, a subway train driver, who after 20 years of working for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, was told after 9/11 that he could not wear his turban to work. Singh refused and sued the MTA. Now he still has his job but has to wear a MTA logo on his pagdi.

”I consider it an advertising logo and some thing religious is not a venue for advertising. This is desecrating. Moreover, I did not wear the patch in the first 24 years that I worked there,” said Sathari Singh, MTA employee.

”I just felt that it was another attempt to harass us and brand us and treat us differently,” he added.

The report ”Making our Voices Heard: A Civil Rights Agenda for New York City’s Sikhs,” includes a list of recommendations for government agencies to live up to their promise of equal rights for all-ranging from language access at area hospitals to better training for law enforcement officers and educators.

”Saying that every man is equal is not enough. It is time that every Sikh American should not be afraid to walk out of their home in their own city and in their own country,” said Neha Singh, Sikh Coalition.

This is startling news coming from America. New York city is called the cultural melting pot of the world but seven years after September 11 this latest report’s findings have yet again highlighted the fact that Sikhs in the US suffer from significant issues of bias and discrimination in all walks of life.

Lord Paul against immigration cap in UK

Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul on Wednesday expressed strong reservations about a Parliamentary committee's recommendation for an annual cap on immigration.

He opposed the move saying that immigrants have made a significant contribution to the British economy.

Lord Paul, a member of the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, said that he had strong reservations about the Committee's recommendation that immigration should be measured by the impact on income per head of resident population.

This news was brought to me by on NDTV 24x7. This channel is excellent for NRIs making it easier for them to stay connected to India. In the US this channel is available through DirecTV.

Indian workers to march to White House

Nearly 100 Indian workers, who claim they were lured to move to the US by false promises of permanent jobs, are planning to march to the White House and return their H2B visas in a symbolic rejection of the guest worker programme used to traffic them here. I saw this news on NDTV 24x7. The news channel had earlier covered the plight of the workers and this piece of news is a follow-up.

The workers complained that they underwent ''slave-like treatment'' at a Mississippi shipyard, will also demand a Congressional investigation of their former employer Signal International.

Signal, a Northrop Grumman subcontractor that held them as bonded labourers and is already the subject of a criminal human trafficking investigation by the Department of Justice, a statement issued on behalf of them by the organisers said.

I prefer NDTV 24x7 over any news channel because it is the best news channel for NRIs as it provides the latest stories related to India. DirecTV makes it possible to access this channel in the US.

Indian migrants being exploited abroad

Every year thousands of Punjabis fly to foreign lands for employment and better future. But for some, this dream turns sour as they are cheated by travel agents and given false assurances.

It is now getting even uglier, as some girls have alleged that they were sexually exploited in foreign land.

Gurdev Singh, father of Manjit Kaur, one of the victims of human trafficking had sold land and took loans to pay Rs eight lakh to a travel agent for her job in London. But she ended up in Ukraine where she was forced into prostitution.

The travel agent who tricked the family may just get away like many others.

When I saw this news on NDTV 24x7, I was shocked to hear about the rising incidents of human trafficking.

NDTV 24x7 is the best news channels for NRIs who like to know about the latest news about India. This news channel is made accessible to the US through DirecTV.

Indian workers in US begin Satyagraha

On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Dandi march and almost 80 years later, in the United States, with Gandhi’s name on their lips, the former employees of Signal International company begin their march for justice.

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24×7, the best source of India-centric news in the US.

The Indian workers who quit their jobs and filed a lawsuit against the company they were working for in the United States have launched a Satyagraha movement.

They have started a march for justice - from New Orleans to Washington DC where they want to meet the Indian Ambassador to the US.

Indian workers say they paid lakhs of rupees to a recruitment firm on promises of work-based permanent residency in the US. But on arrival, all they got was 10-month H2B guest worker visas, low wages and cramped quarters.

Their march has yet again exposed the vulnerability of guest workers to exploitation in their search for a better future in foreign lands.

I thought that Satyagraha had died its natural death. But the teachings of a great man have far out-lived any philosophies.

Its good that DirecTV is providing Indian channels in the US. The satellite TV service provider makes my home away from home. Here is the link for DirecTV:

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

US diplomat Nancy Pelosi to discuss N-deal with PM

Nancy Pelosi, the US House of Representatives Speaker, will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday and discuss the India-US nuclear deal amid concerns over its fate under a Democratic administration.

I saw the news NDTV 24x7. I liked the coverage on the news channel, the progress time-line was presented in a crisp format.
An influential Democrat on Capitol Hill and a firm advocate of stronger ties with India, Pelosi will also meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and discuss with him a range of bilateral and global issues, including the situation in Tibet.

The Manmohan Singh government has also met the Left on the issue. So that should help speeding up the N-deal progress.

I will keep you updated as NDTV 24x7 updates me. The incisive news channel is available in the US only through DirecTV.

India gets first health mall in Mohali

If all that mall hopping is telling on your health, then you can go to a unique mall, a health mall. A venture in which doctors will have a stake and businessmen can invest in health care. Gurtej Singh, CEO of IVY Hospital says, ''this model has been very-very successful in giving lot of satisfaction to the doctors, who kind of de facto own up the place for 10 to 30 years. It will bring down gestation period to seven days from three to five years. This is because from day one, they will be able to generate profits. The infrastructure is ready and they are already in business.''

More than half a dozen major companies have tied up with the new IVY hospital in Mohali. Some of them are from the US such as 21st century Oncology, one of the largest service providers in radiation therapy. Jonathan Weinbach, vice president of 21st Century in USA, ''Health mall is a unique mall in India, probably to the world. We have some modified version of that in US where hospitals are like apartment, run by experts.''

Avinash Srivastava of RG Stones in New Delhi says, ''we have taken urology department in this hospital. We have taken our urology department one and half months back. This is the concept of health mall is a win-win situation for the hospital and the partner.'' The health mall concept will also reduce costs, as different departments will share the infrastructure. Now doctors can think of owning a clinic without investing the earth. This is certainly not a bad concept for a country where there are hardly enough hospitals for the rapidly swelling population.

This is a very nice venture and will benefit many people. I hope to visit them when they are completed when I visit India. This news is courtesy of NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

IIM student from UK prefers India job

Jann Gabriel wants to stay on in India. A student of Essex University, she had come to India to study at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. With that being over, she's decided to take up a job offer in India rather than go back. Jann's decision is probably owing to the effect of the recession in the US and European markets that has led to massive job cuts.

But there has been an 11 per cent hike in the number of placements in Asia Pacific region for IIM Ahmedabad graduates this year. And Jann says she's taken the right decision. ''Business environment here is very different than what I have seen in Europe. I think it is the right moment to be in India,'' said Jann Gabriel, IIM Graduate.

At the placement this year there were 100 companies, who opted for a total of 225 students. The highest pay offered by an international company was Rs 1.5 crores. Indian companies have offered up to Rs 70 lakhs. But surprisingly 19 per cent graduates opted for jobs in the financial institutions. IIM officials say that the global economic slowdown has had no impact on the placements. ''There is an increased acceptance of students in Asia pacific region compared to Europe and US indicating balance of economic power shifting from West to the East,'' said Samir Barua, Director, IIM, Ahmedabad That's good news for IIM students and Jann is happy to have got the offer.

It is a matter of pride that there are such distinguished educational institutions in India. And I was glad to see that India is now regarded as a strong economic power. This news is from NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

No major effect of airport strike in Metros

Thousands of employees of the Airport Authority of India are on an indefinite strike. The employees are demanding that the existing Bangalore and Hyderabad airports should continue operations. Under the contract with the builders of the new airports in the two cities, the existing airports have to be closed once the new airports become operational. With this indefinite strike in place, one can expect no X-ray machine operators, no baggage handlers or cleaning staff, no one to man the aerobridges and no housekeeping staff.

Despite the presences of some Air Force personnel, who have been brought in to help, the situation is set to be pretty bad. So far the strike doesn't seem to have had any major effect on flights out of the four major metros. Reports from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata indicate that there was no disruption of either domestic or international flights by the agitation. However, ground baggage handling at Hyderabad airport and air-conditioning system at the terminals were affected. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has invoked ESMA- or Essential Services Maintenance Act at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Brewing trouble

Despite the protests by the airport employees in Hyderabad against the closure of the Begumpet airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a notification asking the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad to begin operations from March 16. The notification also confirms the closure of commercial operations at the existing Begumpet airport, from the same day.

I was happy to hear that the strike did not affect the passengers. I know how difficult it is when flights are delayed and I thought that this strike is going to affect all the passengers, the metros went untouched. I received this news from NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

UPA-Left nuke panel to meet on March 17

The UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal will meet in New Delhi on March 17 in the face of an ultimatum by the government's Communist allies to make its stand clear on the controversial agreement. The government is likely to present the draft of the India-specific safeguards agreement reached with the IAEA at the meeting, which comes at a time when there is further strain in UPA-Left ties.

The showdown between the two sides came to a head last week when CPI general Secretary A B Bardhan made it clear that the Left parties would withdraw support to the government if it goes ahead with the deal. The Left, which provides crucial outside support for the government, has put it under renewed pressure by setting a March 15 deadline to explain whether it intended to proceed with the controversial nuclear deal or drop it.

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, last week, shot off a letter to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the government's key interlocutor with the allies on the deal, asking that the meeting be convened by March 15. His party had also sent an ominous warning that the future of the government depends on the decision it will take on Washington's ''pressure'' to conclude the agreement.

The UPA-Left committee had earlier allowed the government to hold negotiations with the IAEA on the condition that it should come back to the committee once the negotiations are over to appraise it of the progress. The safeguards agreement, along with the NSG waiver, is a prerequisite to operationalize the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. I hope that some progress is done in the Indo-US nuclear deal. It has been a long time since we were first given the deal to take our decision on. I am glad that I had installed DirecTV through which I have access to NDTV 24x7 and can be updated on the current events happening in India.

Ravi promises support to Indian trafficking victims in US

About 100 Indian victims of human trafficking in the US have found support from Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi who has promised all help. The workers, who Wednesday quit working for Signal International at Pascagoula shipyard in Mississippi, met in New Orleans, Louisiana, Saturday to discuss their course of action, said Stephen Boykewich, a media spokesperson for the New Orleans Workers' Centre for Racial Justice that is helping them.

The workers were recruited by Dewan Consultants of Mumbai, and brought by Signal, a marine construction company, to the US over a year ago and made to live and work in abysmal conditions. ''The workers demand the US to prosecute Signal for human trafficking and the Indian government to punish recruiter Sachin Dewan,'' said Saket Soni, director of the New Orleans Workers' Centre for Racial Justice.

Ravi has written to the Indian ambassador in the US, Ronen Sen, to investigate the matter and said his ministry would also issue a show-cause notice to Dewan. The workers have thanked Ravi for his support and are inviting Ambassador Sen to New Orleans for a meeting. ''We will present evidence that Signal International and recruiters in both countries conspired to exploit hundreds of Indians in a labour trafficking scheme,'' said Sabulal Vijayan, a former employee of Signal and one of the rebelling workers' leaders, in a press release issued by Boykewich.

''We also want Ravi to direct Dewan and his associates to refrain from contacting the workers' families in India and intimidating them,'' added Vijayan. Dewan Consultants has distanced itself from the controversy saying its contract with the workers had ended last year.

The workers Friday met officials of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They also plan to report themselves to the Department of Justice as trafficking victims. Their future course of action will depend on whether they are allowed to stay on and work, as victims of human trafficking generally are. Besides those who quit, 200 other Indians are still working under similar conditions at the Pascagoula shipyard.

''They perhaps don't want to risk leaving at this stage, but will be welcome to join the action that other workers are planning,'' Boykewich said. The workers, mainly welders and pipe-fitters, belong to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi. They were lured with promises of green cards to agree to come on H2B visas meant for temporary workers to meet the labor shortage in the region caused by the Katrina Hurricane. They claim they paid up to $20,000 each to recruiters.

Signal brought almost 600 workers from India in end 2006 to Pascagoula and its other facility in Texas. Soni said the Indian workers lived ''like pigs in a cage'' in a company-run ''work camp''.

One of the workers, Rajan Pazhambalakode, added, ''I've been a guest worker all my life. I've never seen these kinds of conditions. We stayed 24 people to a room, for which the company deducted $1,050 a month from our pay cheques.'' The nature of their visas prevented them from working for any other company, leaving the constant threat of deportation hanging over their heads.

Signal has denied the charges in a statement claiming it spent over $7 million to house the workers. ''Unfortunately, a few of the workers whom Signal had sponsored for H2B visas and recruited have made baseless and unfounded allegations against Signal concerning their employment and living conditions,'' it said in the statement.

Driven by the news that Signal is now recruiting fresh Indian workers through the Mumbai recruiter S. Mansur & Company, Vijayan and his colleagues are demanding that the Indian and U.S governments put a halt to this international trafficking ring. I hope that an end is put to human trafficking. Even though it helps the livelihood of poor people it is not as simple as it looks. The workers are treated like animals as reported by NDTV 24x7. I receive NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

PM calls Vajpayee 'Bhishma Pitamah' of politics

Describing Atal Bihari Vajpayee as ''Bhishma Pitamah of Indian politics'', Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday appealed to the former Prime Minister to rise above ''narrow'' party politics and support the Indo-US nuclear deal. ''Bhishma Pitamah of Indian politics Atal Bihari Vajpayee should listen to his conscience and let national interest prevail upon narrow politics,'' Singh said in the Rajya Sabha seeking support of his predecessor on the nuclear deal.

In his reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, Prime Minister assured the Parliament that the government would not compromise on requirements of national security in inking the nuclear deal with the US.

While the Prime Minister mounted a strident attack on the previous NDA Government Singh had words of praise for Vajpayee for his ''courageous'' steps to foster peace with Pakistan. ''The most courageous steps to build peace were taken by Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Atal Bihari Vajpayee,'' Singh said in an identical reply in the Lok Sabha.

The Prime Minister said his government has continued the process with President Pervez Musharraf. Singh noted that the then Prime Ministers late Benazir Bhutto and late Rajiv Gandhi started the dialogue process. Singh was also happy with former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra ''coming out openly in defence of the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.'' I wonder what Vajpayee will do, will he support the nuclear deal or will he remain adamant. I will keep myself updated on this by watching NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

Around Delhi on a Vintage car ride

Vintage cars like the Rolls Royce, Jaguars, Fords and Austins came out for a display drive in the capital on Sunday. It is the 42nd Statesman Classic & Vintage Car Rally and more than 130 cars will travel between Delhi and the picturesque Westin Sohna-Gurgaon Resort & Spa. People d come from all across the country to participate in the prestigious event. I hope that NDTV 24x7 covers this event so that I can watch it through my DirecTV connection.

China claims approx 90,000 kms of Indian territory: Mukherjee

China illegally claims approximately 90,000 square kilometres of Indian territory including Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday. ''Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and the government has conveyed this fact to the Chinese side,'' Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

In reply to another query, he said China disputes the international boundary with India. Since 1993, the two governments have agreed to maintain peace and tranquility along the line of actual control (LAC) in the India-China and border areas, without prejudice to their respective positions on the alignment of the LAC as well as on the boundary question, he said.

Mukherjee said both sides have agreed to clarify the LAC and to take up perceived violations through established mechanisms including the Joint Working Group, the Expert Group, border personnel meetings, flag meetings and diplomatic channels. I hope that the issue is resolved soon and in a peaceful manner. We do not want a repeat of any border wars and to put out army and nation in danger. I received this news through NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

Govt to go ahead with Sethu project

Under pressure from its southern allies the government on Tuesday in a draft affidavit said it wants the project to go ahead, but a final decision will be taken the day after tomorrow. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on Tuesday agreed upon a draft affidavit that says the project to dredge a shipping canal between India and Sri Lanka should go ahead without any change in alignment. The draft also asks the court to vacate its stay on the project and dismiss a petition that said the project would harm the Ram Sethu.

According to sources, the culture ministry's objections in the meeting were overruled because no scientific exploration has been done to establish whether the Ram Sethu is natural or man made. The government has to submit the affidavit in Supreme Court by March 5. I have been looking forward to the Sethu project and I am glad that it is on its way. This news is courtesy of NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

India, Russia finalise new deal on Gorshkov

India and Russia have finalised a new deal for the aircraft carrier, the Gorshkov. According to the sources, under the new deal that was hammered out over the weekend, India will pay more for the aircraft carrier. But in return, the Russians will put in several new parts instead of repairing them as agreed upon in the original contract.

The aircraft carrier was to be delivered by August this year according to a contract signed in 2004 but Russia stunned India in November by demanding more money. Russia had asked for $ 1.2 billion more for refitting and other works. Now, India will pay possibly up to 800 million dollars more than the original price of 1.2 billion dollars.

For the extra money, the Russians have now agreed to:

• Put in a new arrester gear for the planes
• Build a new ski jump for the MiG-29 planes
• Install new boilers in the engine room
• And lay new cables, estimated at 2,400 km

How much extra India will pay will be decided in March after two more rounds of negotiations take place. This deal will benefit India's military immensely as it will gain new technology and technical know-how. This news is from NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

Stable Pakistan in India's interest: Antony

Expressing hope that peace will soon dawn upon our troubled , Defence Minister A K Antony on Sunday said a stable Pakistan is in the interest of India. ''We have our concerns. We have our problems with Pakistan. A stable Pakistan is in India's interest. I hope there will be stability and peace in Pakistan at the earliest,'' he told reporters.

Antony was speaking to reporters after a visit to Laungwala, the historic site where about hundred Indian soldiers thwarted an attack by Pakistani troops during 1971 Indo-Pak war. He also said the planned military exercises in Rajasthan later this year should not create panic in Pakistan as they were already informed about it earlier. ''Exercises by armed forces is a pattern all over the world. We have already informed them (Pakistan),'' he said. This sounds like a nice and friendly move from India. India's diplomacy is always something that I an NRI in the US look forward to. Right from the non-alignment movement India has always strived to be on every nations good side. I watched this news on NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

West Bengal to start bidding process

The West Bengal government is all set to prepare a document for the interested developers to directly bid for its upcoming deep-sea port project. "At a meeting with Prime Minister's Principal Secretary TK Nair, we have decided that the state government can now do the bidding process directly involving the developers in the deep-sea port project," West Bengal Commerce and Industry Secretary Sabyasachi Sen told.

He said that the state would gain at least 2-3 years in getting the deep-sea port ready. "We are interested in getting this deep-sea port in our state as early as possible. The procedure of appointing a consultancy firm by the central government has already been delayed and if we still wait for the same it will be too late for us," he said.

Sen said that companies like Sajjan Jindal's JSW Steel and V.G. Dhoot's Videocon have already shown interest in the project. "We are in hurry because the proposed chemical hub - Prafulla Chandra Roy Chemical Complex (PCRCC) - at the Nayachar islands in the state is on the cards. The port would facilitate the chemical hub immensely," Sen said.

Earlier, the state government had approached the committee, which was formed by the central government, for the deep-sea port to skip the process of appointing consultants for the project and to allow the state to directly invite bids from investors and developers.

A tender was also floated for consultants but no one responded to that. Though many consultancy firms picked up papers for expression of interest (EoI), final bids were not submitted, as the companies were not satisfied with the terms of reference. The West Bengal government then approached the committee to entrust the state with the entire process of inviting bids and selection of developers.

Sen said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi Feb 6 and discussed the project. "While preparing the bidding document, we would consider all aspects ranging from the minimum number of terminals to be constructed to the total capacity for carrying bulk cargos from the port," Sen said. This is an interesting development in the West Bengal sea project. I would like to know more about which companies are going to bid for the project and who wins it in the end. I will follow it on NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection.

Ramgoolam gifts $2.5 lakh to native village

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Monday committed $2.5 lakh for construction of roads, a government hospital and a high school at his native Harigaon village in Bhojpur district. ''I am touched by the love and affection shown by the people of Bihar and the care taken by the Nitish Kumar government for the uplift of my ancestral village,'' he said addressing a dinner meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Patna.

Ramgoolam also announced that his government would provide scholarship to two students from Bihar pursuing subjects of their choice and interested in studying in his country every year.

Earlier, Kumar had welcomed Ramgoolam and his entourage saying the visit would strengthen social, cultural and economic exchanges between India and Mauritius.

Governor R S Gavai too expressed similar views. Ramgoolam congratulated Kumar for helping Bihar walk on the path for development. ''I am very glad to hear that under the stewardship of Nitish Kumar the state is witnessing significant progress.''

The Mauritius Premier concluded his speech in Bhojpuri showering praise on the people the state for the grand reception to him and his family. ''Gagan mein jab tak tare rahenge, jindagi rahi to milte rahenge (as long as there are stars in the sky, we will continue to meet each other in our life time),'' he said.

It gives one a warm feeling to treat our foreign guests in the most hospitable manner. I am sure that the guests have no complaints. I watched this news on NDTV 24x7 through DirecTV.

India condemns force against Palestinians

India has ‘condemned’ the use of force on civilians in Palestine and is seeking restoration of peace in region for which it is ready to help. New Delhi said that it was preparing an aid package for the “suffering” people of Palestine and will announce it shortly.

Noting the recent events in Gaza and West Bank, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej
Sarna said ''the misery and hardship faced by the people of Palestine, especially in the Gaza strip, is deplorable''. The situation is Palestine territories has gone worse over the last two weeks after a blockade was enforced by Israel and a flare up was witnessed since last week with both sides launching attacks on each other.

''India condemns the use of force on the civilian population of Palestine and calls upon all sides, including Israel, to exercise restraint,'' Sarna said, adding India stands ready to help the peace process move forward.

‘‘Peace cannot wait much longer, (it) threatens to become a casualty in the region and for its peoples, irrespective of boundaries, cultures and history.'' he said in support of Egypt’s moves to address the humanitarian needs through dialogue.

I got this news after watching it on NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection. I am happy that I have installed DirecTV because channel. I am able to get a host of great channels at an economical price. It is obvious from my blog that NDTV 24x7 is my favourite

Indian docs welcome training closure

The move made by the British government to close training places for doctors from India and other countries outside Europe has been welcomed by a group representing Indian-origin doctors working in Britain. This move by the British government was made after being attacked over immigration. ''This should have happened four years ago. We don't have enough training posts and our UK doctors should have opportunities,'' added BAPIO President Ramesh Mehta.

But they feel that the new rules announced by the Home Office would be a disadvantage to a small number of Indian-born doctors who are already in Britain on work permits rather than High Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) visas. ''We welcome the step, but advance notice of these changes must be given to those to applicants,'' said Satheesh Mathew, vice chairperson of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO).

From April 1, Tier 1 migrants (skilled Indian doctors) will not be able to apply for higher medical training posts under the new system. Those Indian doctors who are already in Britain under the HSMP scheme will be allowed to apply and be treated at par with British and European applicants. The government hopes that this will encourage foreign-born and -trained doctors to migrate to Britain and help run it’s National Health Service.

Hamish Meldrum, chairperson of the British Medical Association Council, said: ''This is a confusing move, which seems to achieve little apart from adding to the uncertainty for overseas doctors in the NHS.''

Being an Indian Doctor in the US I found this piece of news from NDTV 24x7 interesting. I have subscribes to NDTV 24x7 through my DirecTV connection and that is because I respect the news from this channel.