Rising Chinese N-subs a concern for India

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7 about China's Nuclear submarines very close to Indian border.

India has voiced concern over the build-up of Chinese submarines equipped with nuclear arsenals in its neighbourhood amid indications that the issue would be discussed by the Cabinet Committee on Security soon.

"It a 'concern' to India," Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta told newspersons in New Delhi when asked about the revelations by satellite pictures that China had amassed five nuclear submarines carrying long range missiles.

''It is not the nuclear submarine bases that matter, we are concerned over the number of nuclear submarines that are being built in our neighbourhood''

Satellite imagery reportedly showed that a substantial harbour has been built which could house scores of nuclear submarines equipped with ballistic missiles besides a host of aircraft carriers at the Sanya base on Southern tip of Hainan island.

NDTV 24x7 is a must for Indians living in the US as the channel covers India-centric news extensively and is available in the US through DirecTV. The satellite TV provider also offers various other Indian channels.

Alcohol production increasing in India

India is one of the largest producers of alcohol in the world and there has been a steady increase in its production over the last 15 years, according to fresh statistics.

India is a dominant producer of alcohol in the South-East Asian region with 65 per cent of the total share and contributes to around seven per cent of the total alcohol beverage imports into the region.

More than two-thirds of the total beverage alcohol consumption within the region is in India, according to figures in the newly-compiled 'Alcohol Atlas of India'.

I read this first on NDTV 24x7. It is the best news channel for NRIs who can receive the latest news about India. This channel is available through DirecTV in the US.

Gilly takes Chargers home, hits fastest IPL century

NDTV Reports: Adam Gilchrist produced a breathtaking hundred --- the fastest so far in the Indian Premier League --- to take Deccan Chargers to their first win. It meant that Mumbai Indians slumped to their fourth straight loss.

The former Australia wicketkeeper clubbed a 42-ball hundred with 10 sixes and nine fours making a joke of the 155-run target that Mumbai had set. Hyderabad were home by 10 wickets --- the biggest victory margin so far in the IPL --- with an astounding 44 balls to spare. Hyderabad captain VVS Laxman made 36, playing bass to Gilchrist's electrifying riffs.

At cricket's newest home, Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Sports Academy Stadium, hosts Mumbai were asked to bat and put up a disappointing show. Reduced to 79-4 in the 14th over, it took a couple of brisk thirties from local boy Abhishek Nayar and Dwayne Bravo to take them to respectability.

The Hyderabad seamers set up the win with some tight bowling. Leading them was RP Singh, with figures of 4-1-15-2. Sanjay Bangar bowled economically till an expensive third over that went for 16, while leg spinner Shahid Afridi carved a hole out of the Mumbai batting, dismissing the dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya and Robin Uthappa.

Mumbai now have immense problems at hands. They've had three captains so far in the IPL. Sachin Tendulkar hasn't played a game, Harbhajan Singh has been suspended and will probably receive a hefty ban, and Pollock couldn't get his side to perform in this dire situation.

For Chargers, it was a performance long overdue. A side that boasts of some of the most feared hitters in the game, they had played poorly up to this point. However, Gilchrist's magical touch could now turn things around for them in the tournament.

The Chargers were my favorite team from the onset of the tournament and finally they have shown what they're worth. Gilchrist hasn't lost his firepower even after retirement from both forms of the game. I hope this is just the beginning of the Chargers' winning streak.

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

PCB to launch Pakistan Premier League in 2009

NDTV Reports:
The Pakistan Cricket Board will launch a new look Twenty20 domestic tournament next year on the lines of the Indian Premier League, offering franchises of city-based teams to sponsors and companies.

A senior official of the board said that this year's Twenty20 competition, which has been delayed until August 10, would be the last time that the popular domestic event would be held on regional basis and without team sponsors.

"From next year, we will offer franchise of teams like in the IPL to interested companies and individuals and work has already begun in this direction," the official said.

He said the Twenty20 national championship would also be expanded to possibly include foreign players.

"But that will definitely depend on the sort of money the companies and individuals buying the franchise of teams are willing to offer for overseas players," the official said.

"The fact is that Twenty20 leagues are now a popular form of cricket and we don't want to lag behind other countries in this regard," he said.

Its good to see other Cricket boards jumping on to T-20 bandwagon. Maybe a match between the teams form both the leagues can be arranged in the future on the lines of the European Football Leagues. It will be exciting to see the PCB league.

Kalam was to quit over Bihar: Book

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam left office a year ago but it seems people are still talking about his tenure.
I heard them talking on NDTV 24×7.

His senior most aide PM Nair has written a book The Kalam Effect: My Years With the President, which will be released on Thursday.

The book talks about some of the big controversies during the Presidency and indicates that Kalam was ready to quit after the whole controversy surrounding the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly.

Nair gave some juicy anecdotes about the former President, the attention he received as a bachelor.

NDTV 24×7 is a must for Indians living in the US. The news channel is available in the US through DirecTV.

No one can stop me on my day: Sehwag

NDTV Reports: After his buccaneering unbeaten 94 powered Delhi Daredevils to a comprehensive win against the Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad on Tuesday night, Virender Sehwag said none can really stop him when he gets going and it was one of those days.

After the hosts put on a modest 142 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs, Sehwag led from the front and slammed an unbeaten explosive 41-ball knock of 94 to guide his side to an easy nine-wicket victory in just 13 overs.

"Someone asked me yesterday what would be our strategy and I just told him if the day belongs to me, none can stop me. And it was such a day," said Sehwag whose swashbuckling innings earned him the Man of the Match award.

Sehwag was especially harsh on Andrew Symonds and Sanjay Bangar and he in fact milked 30 runs off an over from the Australian all-rounder.

His opposite number VVS Laxman said the batsmen did not put enough runs on the board to give the bowlers any cushion in the match.

"You see 142 was just not enough. We did not capitalise on the first six overs and then lost wickets at regular intervals. It is not easy for a new batsman to come and start playing his shots. we could not concentrate enough.

"It's extremely disappointing to lose in such a manner in front of the home crowd," Laxman rued.

It really was an exhilarating performance by Sehwag who seems to be back in his element. The Deccan Chargers i think are a fabulous team with some explosive players; Symonds, Gilchrist and Afridi to name a few. Guess it just wasn't their day.

Amitabh Bachchan turns blogger

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has turned blogger with bigadda.com, a youth networking site, to connect with his fans worldwide.

Speaking about his new initiative, Bachchan said, ''bigb.bigadda.com allows me to express myself, share and reflect my emotions, thoughts, opinions and listen to what people have to say to me and show them the 'real' side to my larger than life image that they see through media. It's a platform which I control and share my own drama without anyone editing or interpreting my thoughts.''

Amitabh also posted his views on his upcoming film Bhootnath and asked readers responses.

Bigadda.com has gained a user base of 1.6 million, where 40 per cent users are from tier II cities like Tuticorin, Bhilai, Amritsar, Guwahati, Surat and Nashik.

The site gets almost 10 per cent of users from countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and from Indians from Dubai, United States and United Kingdom.

This news is available on NDTV 24x7. DirecTV make sit possible to access this channel in the US and also guarantees excellent picture and sound quality.