H-1B visa: How to apply, and more

Applicants and employers who plan to avail of H-1B visas to the United States, which are subject to fixed quotas, for the fiscal year 2010, should begin preparations early.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B visa petitions for the fiscal year 2010 from Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
The earliest that applicants can begin working on these visas in the US is October 1, 2009, which is the start of FY 2010. Last year, the quotas were exhausted within the first week of the filing season.
As part of the H-1B process, the employer is required to receive a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the United States Department of Labor (DOL) before the H-1B petition can be filed with the USCIS. However, it is important to note that the processing time for the H-1B visas is likely to increase dramatically this year.
Currently, the LCA is produced and certified almost instantly upon electronic submission to the DOL's web-based application centre. The new certification process for the LCA may possibly take seven or more days if the changes are introduced.
Earlier it was possible to expedite last minute requests for new employees, but this will be highly unlikely if the process is delayed, though there is no intimation of that as yet.

The H-1B quota
The USCIS grants 65,000 H-1B visas each year and since 2004 an additional 20,000 H-1B visas have been granted to individuals with Master's or higher degrees obtained from the US. Out of the 65,000 visas, a special quota is reserved for Chile and Singapore nationals under free trade agreements between the US and those countries.
In recent years, the demand for H-1B visas has far exceeded the supply. For instance, in FY 2008, the USCIS reported that it received 133,000 petitions on April 2 and April 3. In 2007, April 1 fell on a Sunday. For the very first time, the USCIS conducted a computer-generated random selection of petitions filed on the first and second day of the filing period to select only a limited number of cases allocated under the H-1B cap.
The USCIS also announced that the Master's cap for FY 2008 was reached on April 30, 2007 and petitions that were received on April 30, 2007 under the Master's cap were also subject to a random selection process.
With regard to applications for FY 2009, the USCIS announced that it had received more than the number of H-1B petitions for both the 65,000 and 20,000 cap during the 5-day filing period. In addition to providing a 5-day window when the USCIS accepted applications, the USCIS also stipulated that if it received more than one H-1B petition on behalf of the same alien for the same position both the applications would be dismissed and the fees forfeited.
The numerical limitation of 65,000 does not apply to a non-immigrant who is sponsored for an H-1B visa by an institution of higher education and non-profit entity related to or affiliated with any such institution.
Nor would it apply to an H-1B visa petition that has been filed by a non-profit research organisation or a governmental research organisation.
The quota restrictions do not apply to J-1 physicians who have been sponsored for a J-1 waiver by a federal or state agency or to H-1B extension requests. The quotas for Singapore and Chile have never been reached to date.
The USCIS reportedly plans to issue a rule in the spring or summer of 2009 to streamline the H-1B paperwork required to participate in the fiscal year 2010 lottery.
The rule would propose a 'pre-registration' system with a shorter application required for the lottery, and the full H-1B petition required for lottery winners. However, that system will not be in place for this April's H-1B rush.

The H-1B process
An employer who needs the temporary services of a foreign national must demonstrate that both the job requirements and the foreigner's credentials or experience are 'professional.' Beneficiaries who have four-year Bachelor's degrees, equivalent to the US Bachelor's degrees, usually qualify as professionals.
Beneficiaries from India, where a Bachelor's degree usually involves three years of college education, require an additional year of education or experience. Individuals with foreign qualifications must obtain credentials evaluations and/or translations if required.
The employer must also meet Department of Labor (DOL) requirements (described below) and file a petition with the USCIS for permission to employ the qualifying foreign national. If the employee is out of the country, he or she must also apply for the visa at a US Consulate abroad upon receiving approval of the petition from the USCIS.

The Labor Condition Application
Prior to filing the H-1B petition with the USCIS, the employer must certify to the DOL with respect to the foreign worker, that
(1) it will pay the higher of what it pays its own similar workers or what similar workers in the area are paid (whichever is higher);
(2) the working conditions of its US workers are not adversely affected;
(3) there is no strike/lockout at the worksite nor in the occupation for which a foreign professional is sought; and
(4) it has given notice to current employees that it is seeking to hire an H-1B professional.
The DOL certifies receipt and acceptance of the attestation in order to create a public record and the original signed copy of this should be filed with the petition. The employer must also post the labor condition application for 10 days and maintain a wage file that is open to the public.
There are special provisions that apply to H-1B dependent employers. Generally, US employers of 51 or more individuals whose workforce comprises 15 per cent or more H-1B workers are considered dependent employers.
Smaller employers are allowed a slightly higher ratio of H-1Bs to their total workforce. H-1B dependent employers must additionally attest that they will not displace a U.S. worker 90 days before and after filing the visa petition for a foreign worker.
Further, they must attest that they have taken good-faith steps to recruit in the US using industry-wide standards and that they have offered the position to any US worker who applies and is equally or better qualified than the H-1B worker.
Dependent employers who pay H-1B workers a salary of $60,000 or who employ a person with a Master's degree are exempt from the additional H-1B dependant employer attestations.
Employers must follow through on attestations or they are in violation of law and could be required to pay wages, incur civil penalties and be debarred from the program. The DOL initiates investigations of employer practices through both a formal complaint and its own investigation processes.

Filing the petition with the USCIS
The employer must submit a request to the USCIS, proving that it has completed the Labor Condition Application process and demonstrating that both the employer and the foreign professional qualify for the visa category. The employer must submit a fee of $320.
In addition, all employers applying for H-1B visa petitions must pay the new $500 'fraud prevention' fee for each petition seeking an initial grant of H-1B non-immigrant classification or those petitions seeking to change an employer within those classifications.
The $500 fee will not apply to amendment or extension petitions filed by the same employer. The employer may expedite the petition through premium processing, by paying an additional $1,000 filing fee whereby the USCIS will adjudicate the case within 15 days.
As of December 8, 2004, employers must also pay a supplementary fee of $1,500. If the employer has 25 or fewer full-time employees including any affiliates or subsidiaries must pay $750.
Some employers may be exempt from the training fee. Employers will also be exempt from the training fee if they are filing a second H-1B extension on behalf of the foreign national employee.
In the petition the employer must demonstrate
1) the need for someone who is a professional,
(2) that the job requires a worker with at least a bachelor's degree, and
(3) that the prospective employee has the required degree or an equivalency analysis for a foreign degree along with any other required qualifications.

H-1B visa application
If the professional is already in the US in another visa category or status, the professional can file petition with the USCIS for a change of status to H-1B.
The new status will be indicated on the person's I-94, but is not a travel document. In order to travel and re-enter the US in H-1B status, a visa must be obtained at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad.
Once the petition is approved by the USCIS, if the professional is outside the US, he or she must apply to a US consulate for an H-1B visa.
The US consular officer adjudicates the application to determine the alien's admissibility before grantin

Conclusion
Although certain categories of workers are exempt from the H-1B cap, there is no doubt that the 65,000 H-1B visas available for most jobs in 'speciality occupations' will be used up by mid-summer. With that in mind, employers desiring to hire professional workers under the H-1B category would do well to file their petitions early, or risk being shut-out until April 1, 2010 when the quota reopens for FY 2011.
Despite the economic downturn it is expected that like every year, there will be a mad scramble for available H-1B visa numbers.g the visa.

India eye series whitewash

Having achieved their best-ever ODI ranking by displacing world champions Australia [Images] as the number two team, a confident India would be eyeing a series whitewash when they take on Sri Lanka [Images] in the final cricket one-dayer in Colombo on Sunday.
It has already turned out to be a dream series for Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images], who made it to the record books by becoming the first Indian captain to win nine ODIs on the trot and the flamboyant wicket-keeper batsman would like to keep the winning momentum going in the last game.
The other thing which will be in Dhoni's mind when he takes the field is that every win from here on will bring his side one step closer to the world number one position, which is being currently occupied by South Africa [Images] (125) with a lead of just three points.
And coach Gary Kirstein had no hesitation in admitting that his main aim this year is to take India to the top position.
"Getting to number one is the obvious goal this year, but You just can't think you have won the series 4-0 and be complacent in the next game.
"It doesn't happen with us. When you go onto the field you go to win and not just compete. Great teams are those that carry the momentum forward into every game," Kirsten said.
The Indians have been phenomenal in all departments of the game in the series as compared to the hosts who were rather disappointing.
While Sachin Tendulkar [Images], Gautam Gambhir [Images] and Virender Sehwag [Images] provide aggression at the top of the order, the likes of Yuvraj Singh [Images], Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan [Images] and Dhoni have been rock steady at the middle.
The bowlers, on the other hand, have been disciplined all through the series.
Interestingly, the most heartening thing to see was the success of young spinner Pragyan Ojha and part-time bowlers in Yuvraj, Raina, Sehwag and Yousuf.
Zaheer Khan [Images], Ishant Sharma [Images] and Praveen Kumar have been outstanding upfront. Irfan Pathan [Images], who made a comeback in the last match, too joined the party, picking up three wickets.
Faced with the prospect of an embarassing a 0-5 whitewash, a demoralised Sri Lanka will look to salvage some pride before the home crowd in the last match of the series.
The hosts, who are playing non-stop cricket for five months, seemed to have forgotten their basics against the mighty Indians.
The Lankans have floundered in every department of the game. If their batting and bowling has been below par, their fielding has been dreadful.
Without veteran Chaminda Vaas [Images], the Lankan pace attack looked clueless. Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara and Dilhara Fernando lacked sting in their bowling.
The biggest disappointment, however, has been the performance of spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan [Images] and mystery man Ajantha Mendis [Images].
Although Murali created history in the last match by becoming the highest wicket-taker in one-day cricket, he had to toil hard to achieve the feat which gives a clear idea of his bad patch.
He never looked threatening as Indian batsmen negotiated the spin wizard with ease.
Mendis, on the other hand, seemed to have run out of ideas and looked predictable before the rampaging Indians that forced Mahela Jayawardena to drop the Armyman from the last encounter.
For Dhoni and Co, there are no major worries and it remains to be seen whether some more senior players are rested or not for Sunday's match to make way for reserve players like Ravindra Jadeja who will make his debut if selected.
After taking a break in the last match, Sachin Tendulkar is expected to return to make amends for the dubious umpiring decisions which he received in the first three matches of the series.

Bangalore serial blasts case cracked

The Bangalore serial blasts case has been cracked.
Seven months after the terrorists attack on the city, the Anti Terrorist Cell has revealed that the serial blasts of July 25, 2008, were carried out by associates of key Lashkar-e-Tayiba [Images] operative Riaz Bhatkal, who continues to remain elusive.
Investigating agencies have in their custody nine persons, including a father-son duo. The four men in the custody of the police are Mohammad Sami [Images], Safrudeen, his father Abdul Sattar, Munaaf, Zakaria Abdul Jaleel, Muhammad Faizal, Mujeeb and Badaruddin. Eight of the arrested men hail from different parts of Kerala [Images] while Sami hails from Bijapur in north Karnataka.
ATC sources told rediff.com that all the arrested persons are associated with Bhatkal and Tauqeer alias Abdul Subhan -- the techie who is considered to be instrumental in setting up the tech wing of the Students Islamic Movement of India. Explaining the manner in which the blasts were carried out, the ATC said that these men from Kerala had planted the bombs by disguising themselves as labourers.
Addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Saturday, Police Commissioner Shankar Bidri told media persons that the intention was create havoc and also a sensation.
These youth are misguided and belong to a terror module in Kerala, he added.
How the plot was revealed:The entire plot was unveiled following the statements of Abdul Sattar, whose custody the Bangalore police got from Hyderabad. Sattar was arrested by Hyderabad Police on January 19. The custody of the rest of the accused was sought from the Kerala Police.
During the interrogation, it was revealed that all the accused belonged to a terror module run by the Lashkar in Kerala.
Sattar, who is an electronics engineer, said he had expertise in preparing bombs. It was he who fitted the bombs with the timer devices, which were finally used in the Bangalore blasts.
Bhatkal and Tauqeer ordered the module to carry out the blasts. Sattar was told to send his son and others to Bangalore to plant the bombs. The accused reached Bangalore in a Scorpio vehicle. They then disguised themselves as labourers and planted nine bombs in different places. One person was killed in the blasts.Sattar also confirmed the statement given by Sami, who had earlier said that Tauqueer had played a major role in the blasts. Tauqueer was present in Bangalore at the time of the blasts and supervised the operation, he also said.

Pietersen, Flintoff become most expensive IPL players

Panaji: England's Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff fetched $1.55 million each at the Indian Premier League player auction Friday, setting a record for the highest amount paid for players in the Twenty20 competition.

Flintoff was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings, which last year set the previous record of $1.5 million for India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Bangalore's Royal Challengers secured Pietersen.

Bangalore's owner Vijay Mallya said he was prepared to pay more for Pietersen.

"It was a very worthwhile investment," Mallya told reporters after the first round of bidding. "Team balance was important and Kevin was certainly important in maintaining that balance."

England players were not involved in the IPL last year, but have now been permitted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to play for the first three weeks despite a clash with its own domestic season.

South African JP Duminy, who starred in his nation's recent successful tour of Australia, was sold for $950,000 to Mumbai Indians, more than three times his reserve price.

Australia paceman Shaun Tait was the first player auctioned, going to defending champions Rajasthan Royals for $375,000, where he will join former Australia teammate Shane Warne.

Rajasthan then made aggressive bids to buy both Pietersen and Flintoff, but could not get either. They later bought New Zealand's Jesse Ryder for $160,000.

The most dramatic bidding came for Bangladesh's Mashrafe bin Mortaza, whose reserved was set at $50,000 but soared to 12 times that amount before Kolkata Knight Riders clinched him for $600,000.
His Bangladesh teammate Mohammad Ashraful went to Mumbai Indians at the base price of $75,000 in the second round after most teams had exhausted their 10-player quota of foreign players.

The prices are for each year of two-year contracts. Last year, the teams had to sign contracts for three years at bid prices.

Cricketers will get paid on a prorata basis depending on their availability for the duration of the six-week tournament. The 2009 IPL season will be held from April 10 to May 29. While England players will only be available for the opening weeks, Australian players will only join late after national team duty.

South Africa's Tyron Henderson fetched the fourth-highest price, going to Rajasthan for $650,000, more than six times his base price, while England all-rounder Ravi Bopara went for $450,000 to King's XI Punjab.

Delhi Daredevils bought England pair Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah for $275,000 each, while Deccan Chargers picked up the West Indies pair of Fidel Edwards ($150,000) and Dwayne Smith ($100,000).

Kyle Mills of New Zealand went to Mumbai Indians for $150,000, while Chennai Super Kings added Sri Lanka's Thilan Thushara to their lineup for $140,000.

West Indies pacemen Jerome Taylor went for his base contract price of $150,000 to King's XI Punjab, while George Bailey, who plays for Australia's Tasmania state team, was the cheapest acquisition at $50,000 to Chennai Super Kings.

Of the 50 players available for bidding, those who did not attract bids included Australia's Stuart Clark and Phil Jaques, England's Luke Wright and Samit Patel, South Africa's Gulam Bodi and Morne van Wyk, and Sri Lanka pair Chamara Kapugedera and Nuwan Kulasekara.

This year's auction was different to that of 2008, when teams had to pick their entire squad. This time they only had to top up their playing lists with a few players to fill in vacancies.

The IPL governing body permitted franchisees to terminate the contracts of the players from Pakistan bought at last year's auction after Pakistan's government prevented its cricketers playing in this year's event owing to political tension between the south Asian neigbours.

Kiwis defeat Aussies , India now ranked number two in ODIs

Melbourne : Australia on Friday lost its second placed ranking among one-day international teams to India after being defeated by New Zealand in their second one-day international on the trot at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

India, which has been hogging the headlines in world cricket through its scintillating performance in Sri Lanka ( 4-0 lead in the five match one-day series), has 122 points. Australia has 121 points, while the South Africans are at the top of the table with 125 points.

Australia lost the match by six wickets. The fifth consecutive defeat on home soil came when New Zealand batters Brendon McCullum (39), Ross Taylor (47), G.Elliot (61 not out) and N.T. Broom (21 not out) steered their team to the winning target of 226. The Kiwis won the match with seven balls to spare.
Friday's defeat has all but certified that the once invincible Aussies are a struggling side, and will have to pull up their socks to prevent another series defeat in the ongoing five match series for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. New Zealand lead the series two games to nil.
For the Australians, the only consolation came in the form of stand-in skipper Michael Clarke winning the Man of the Match award for his 98 in a total score of 225 for five. He was ably assisted by `Mr. 'Fixit' Michael Hussey, who scored 75.

"We fell a few runs short. The wicket was a little slow, and the spinners bowled pretty well, and I think I could have scored a little bit quicker. Our bowlers did a pretty good job, but we couldn''''t tighten them up in the middle overs. We need to close these games off, and be a little more positive and go for wickets than just try to contain them," Clarke was quoted as saying by cricinfo.

Vettori received a huge cheer from the spectators for putting up another wonderful show.

"We've bowled exceptionally, especially Kyle Mills. Ross Taylor and Elliot batted superbly, so did Neil Broom and the fact that the youngsters are doing well shapes up really well for New Zealand cricket," said Vettori.

Rajasthan Royals needed the glamour quotient: Shilpa Shetty

In the headlines for buying stakes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals with boyfriend Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty admits candidly that she has joined in to add glamour to the team and not because of her business acumen.
"But please, I am not going to be one of the pom-pom girls on the field, if that's what the spectators expect. I'm certainly not going to be the eye candy of the venture," she added.

Shilpa and London-based businessman Kundra Tuesday bought a 12 per cent stake in Rajasthan Royals.

Asked her where her glamour quotient will be used, she said: "In the music video, to begin with. Our next move is to shoot a music video. We want it to be the slickest and the best. Of course, I'll be in it. Isn't that a given?"

Excerpts:

Q: Now that you are part-owner of the Rajasthan Royals what plans do you have for the team?

A: If you're asking me this to find out how keenly I'm interested in this new venture then let me tell you I'm hands on into it. When Raj Kundra and and I decided to take the plunge into the IPL, we did it with our eyes open and after much deliberation. In hindsight, it appears uncanny because among all the IPL teams I've always felt the most connected with the Rajasthan Royals.

Q: What would your contribution to the team be?

A: Well I am not going to bullshit myself into believing I've been brought in for my business acumen. The team had it all. They needed the glamour quotient and for that I am here. But please, I am not going to be one of the pom-pom girls on the field, if that's what the spectators expect. I'm certainly not going to be the eye candy of the venture.

Q: So where will your glamour quotient come in?

A: In the music video, to begin with. Our next move is to shoot a music video. We want it to be the slickest and the best. Of course, I'll be in it. Isn't that a given? I've so many commitments in the coming months including my two films, Sunny Deol's 'The Man' and R. Sarath's 'Desire' to complete. I'm not signing films crazily. So I can devote the time I want for the IPL.
Q: So you're ready to bounce again?

A: (Laughs) You could say that. Doing it for my own venture would be a pleasure.

Q: Will Raj direct the music video?

A: Ah, that would be telling. Let's see. Raj is a crazy cricket fan. And why shouldn't he be? He's an Indian who lives in England. All Indian men are crazy about cricket. And everyone knows cricket was born in England. So Raj has a double reason to buy a part of the IPL.

Q: What about you?

A: I love cricket. I've inherited it from my father who's the craziest cricket fan I've ever met. The Rajasthan Royals is my gift to my father.

Q: I thought it was Raj's Valentine gift for you?

A: Please! I'm sure there're other gifts awaiting me for Valentine's Day.

Q: Like a marriage proposal?

A: That's mine for the asking anytime. Now that Raj is shifting business interests in India we just need to find the right moment to take the plunge.

Q: The Bollywood-cricket merger seems to be expanding?

A: It had to be that way. Shah Rukh Khan and then Preity Zinta went for the IPL. For me, the right moment to do so was when Raj was ready for it. Now I must make sure I've enough time to devote to the Rajasthan Royals. I'll be there for their first match in March and all subsequent matches. Yeh mera vada hai (I promise that).

Duminy to undergo mentorship to handle IPL fame

Johannesburg:The newest South African cricket star, Jean Paul Duminy, will be mentored by captain Graeme Smith and the Cricket South Africa management to deal with his sudden rise to fame in the wake of his huge Indian Premier League (IPL) deal with the Mumbai Indians.

Duminy said he was “shocked” that the Mumbai Indians Friday bid $950,000 for him to play in their side in the IPL for the next two years.

Duminy shot to fame in the recent South African tour of Australia, where they beat the hosts in a test and one-day series on their home turf, the first side to do so in many years.

Only English cricketers Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen got higher bids than Duminy, with Chennai Super Kings and Bangalore Royal Challengers respectively bidding $1.55 for them.

“I had just hoped to get a contract,” Duminy told the Afrikaans daily Beeld here Saturday, adding that he knew that he would be under huge pressure when the IPL started.

“There will be incredible expectations of me.”

The South African team management has put plans in place to ensure that the young Duminy can handle his instant success and fame.

The programme started Saturday with captain Graeme Smith sharing lunch with Duminy in Cape Town as the start of a mentorship programme, where no doubt Smith will share his experience after starting out a few years ago as the country's youngest ever captain at the age of 22.

Smith took over the reigns after former captain Shaun Pollock refused to step down and was fired by the cricket authority.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur said the management had realised how suddenly success had come to Duminy and had already spoken to him on several occasions since the Australian series.

“The unbelievable attention started in Australia,” Arthur told Beeld.

“I spoke to him, Vinnie (assistant coach Vincent Barnes) and even Graeme (Smith) has taken him under his wing.

“I believe though that JP (Duminy) is humble and intelligent enough to handle his affairs well,” he added.

Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee was also confident that Duminy would avoid the traps that were lying in wait: “I am convinced that JP has the necessary emotional intelligence to handle things.”

Won't let non-state actors dictate agenda: Zardari

Islamabad: Once again blaming non-state actors for the Mumbai mayhem, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said they would not be permitted to dictate their agenda and rewrite the sub-continent's foreign policy.
"He said that non state actors responsible for the Mumbai blasts wanted to dictate their own agenda and rewrite the foreign policies of Pakistan and India which would not be permitted," Dawn News channel reported Saturday.
Zardari was speaking at a reception in North West Frontier Province capital Peshawar Friday night that provincial ministers and senior government officials, among others, attended.Zardari has often said in the past that non-state actors were responsible for the Mumbai carnage and that it was Pakistan's responsibility to act against them.
"Yes, definitely. I do not shrug away from that position," he told Newsweek magazine in December, adding: "Anybody from my soil is my responsibility." However, the only action that Islamabad has taken is to seal the offices of the Jamaat-ud Daawa, the morphed version of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group that India has blamed for the Nov 26-29 Mumbai carnage that claimed the lives of more than 170 people, including 26 foreigners, and injured over 300. India had Jan 5 had given Islamabad a detailed dossier pointing to the involvement of elements from Pakistan in the attacks.
On Saturday, there were reports that the results of Islamabad's probe into the Mumbai attacks would now be handed over to Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. According to the reports, Pakistan's law and interior ministries had vetted the results of the probe by the Federal Investigation Agency on the basis of the Indian dossier.
The results of the probe would now be sent to the prime minister, who is likely to hand it over to Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Satyabrata Pal, the reports added. On its part, India Saturday asked Pakistan to honour its commitments on prosecuting the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.
"Everyone knows which organisations were involved (in the Mumbai carnage). It is for Pakistan to honour not only the assurances and commitments it has given to the international community and to India, but Pakistan as a nation state must also respect the international law," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told reporters in New Delhi.
"The entire world is watching Pakistan and by obfuscating and deflecting, Pakistan can only hit its low credibility," Sharma added.

ONGC discovers new oil wells in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: The state-run oil producer Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has discovered two new oil wells in Patan district in Gujarat, which have estimated oil reserves of over one million tonnes, an official said here Saturday.
The oil find was made at a crucial time as the upstream major's Mehsana production unit in the state was witnessing fall in output, said the official, who did not want to be identified.
ONGC started its first exploratory work in Patan, nearly 80 km from Ahmedabad, after receiving positive indication from pre-drilling studies, he added.
The output at ONGC Mehsana, which was around 8,000 to 9,000 tonnes a day when the unit was set up in 1968, came down to 6,000 tonnes a day over the years. Similarly, the annual production has come down to 2.25 million tonnes from 3 million tonnes.
"The oil found in north Gujarat is typically waxy in nature and therefore the recoverability is very low," said the official. He added that ONGC had already produced over 50 percent of the recoverable oil reserves.
ONGC Mehsana is using various state-of-the-art technologies including in situ combustion technology to improve recovery rate of oil found in Mehsana, he said.

Condition of Vajpayee 'stable', still on ventilator

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition is "stable" but he continues to be on ventilator for the second day today with respiratory problems. Doctors attending on him scotched rumours about his health.
"All rumours about how serious his condition is, should not be believed. He is stable but still on ventilator," Dr Sampath Kumar, head of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences of AIIMS, told PTI.Kumar said Vajpayee's heart is stable but his lungs require support and that is why doctors are putting him on ventilation.
"Probability of full recovery is there though he will take some time to recover completely because pneumonia is not a small disease," he said adding "his respiratory tract infection is the cause of his problem. But his liver, kidney and blood pressure are normal".
The 84-year-old leader was admitted to AIIMS on Tuesday with complaints of fever and chest congestion.
Doctors later found that he was suffering from pneumonia. Vajpayee continues to be in the ICU where his progress is being monitored by a team of doctors.Earlier in the day, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee separately visited AIIMS to enquire about the health of the BJP veteran.Senior BJP leader L K Advani, who is in Nagpur, also spoke to doctors at AIIMS attending him.

A.Q. Khan's network successfully broken: Pakistan government

Islamabad: Describing nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan as "history", Pakistan said Saturday the network he had established for illegally proliferating the country's secrets had been "successfully broken".
"We have successfully broken the network that he had set up and today he has no say and has no access to any of the sensitive areas of Pakistan," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters here.
"A.Q. Khan is history," Qureshi added. The Islamabad High Court (IHQ) Friday declared Khan a "free man" and released him from four years of house arrest but it now emerges that this could be conditional since a portion of the order freeing him has been kept secret.
"The petitioner (Dr A.Q. Khan) is declared a free citizen and writ petition is disposed of in accordance with 'Annexure-A', contents of which shall not be issued to the press or made public in any manner as requested by both sides," said a one-page order released by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam after a hearing in his chamber.
The government had offered Annexure-A, spelling out the terms and conditions of Khan's liberty, and his counsel "agreed to the terms after initial hesitation", Dawn said Saturday. "Analysts believe the agreement envisages only 'limited freedom' for Khan," it added. Even after the judgement, security in the area around Khan's house "was still tight and intelligence personnel in plain clothes were all over the place", the newspaper noted.
As The News noted in an editorial: "Free he may be by the direction of the court, but how free remains to be seen - indeed it may be that he would wish to limit his own freedoms in consideration of his own safety and security."
The editorial was aptly headlined "Nearly free". Khan had been put under house arrest in 2004 after confessing on state-run PTV to selling nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea and sought the nation's forgiveness.
Then president Pervez Musharraf did "forgive" him but restricted his movements. Khan, who was seen in public for the first time in four years in May 2008, said the confession had been handed to him by authorities and he was forced to read it on national television in the "best interest of the nation".
In an interview to IANS in May 2008, Khan claimed that he never sold nuclear technology illegally and that he should have never made a confession to that effect four years ago. Describing himself as "an innocent man", Khan had said that Pakistan's nuclear assets and weapons were "quite safe" and they could not be taken out of the country.
The civilian government had eased the restrictions placed on the scientist in 2004. Right from the time of Khan's confession, the US has been persistently demanding permission to question him on his alleged proliferation activities.
Pakistan has been equally consistent in denying this permission. In this context, Dawn noted that the US, Britain and France "have weighed in" on the court order releasing Khan "with statements expressing concerns, even worries".
"All the statements expressed unease over the court decision," it added. A White House statement sought assurances that Khan would not get involved in nuclear proliferation again, while Britain called on the Pakistani government to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency access to the scientist.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was "very much concerned" about Khan's release because Washington believed he was involved in leaking nuclear technology and secrets. The US State Department said that Khan's release would be "extremely regrettable" and "unfortunate".

Indian American named to key White House position

Washington: President Barack Obama has named Indian American lawyer Nicholas Rathod as one of three Deputy Associate Directors of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, a key staff position.
"I am confident that Jodi, Michael and Nick will be valuable members of our team," Obama said making the announcement Friday naming Rathod, Jodi Archambault Gillette and Michael Blake.
"These individuals bring diverse experiences and a deep passion for public service to my administration.
As we work to serve the American people and make this White House as open and transparent as possible, it's essential that we hear from citizens in all our communities," he said. Rathod served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Obama-Biden Transition Project.
He has also worked as the Deputy Director of the Federal Affairs Office for New York Governor David Paterson and Senior Manager of State and Regional Affairs for the Centre for American Progress.
As a community organiser, Rathod organised Washington DC's immigrant communities around language access issues and a civil rights attorney, representing minority communities who were discriminated against in lending, including a one billion dollar settlement on behalf of African American farmers.
Rathod is also active in the South Asian community, co-founding the South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) as well as South Asians for Obama (SAFO). He is the recipient of the Frederick B. Abramson award recognising Washington DC's top public interest attorneys and is the 2005 National South Asian Bar Association's national public interest attorney of the year.

US Senate votes for strict conditions on H-1B hiring

Washington: In what could be seen as a setback to Indian IT professionals, the US Senate has voted for imposing strict conditions on hiring of people with H-1B visas by American companies receiving federal bailout money.
The amendment to the pending stimulus bill restricting the hiring of foreign workers, passed by the Senate through a voice vote yesterday, was a watered-down version of what was introduced earlier.
The original amendment had called for a blanket ban on H-1B hiring by companies that would have received money under the Troubled Assets Relief Programme (TRAP).The amendment approved by the Senate was co-sponsored by Republican Senator from Iowa, Chuck Grassley, and independent Senator from Vermont, Bernie sanders.
The modified amendment requires that a company receiving TARP funds and applying for workers under the H-1B process must operate as an "H-1B dependent company."This means, explained Grassley in a statement, that the companies will still be able to hire H-1B visa holders, but must comply with the H-1B dependent employer rules which include attesting to actively recruiting American workers; not displacing American workers with H-1B visa holders; and not replacing laid off American workers with foreign workers.
"Hiring American workers for limited available jobs should be a top priority for businesses taking taxpayer money through the TARP bailout programme," Grassley said.With the unemployment rate at 7.6 per cent, there is no need for companies to hire foreign guest workers through the H1-B programme when there are plenty of qualified Americans looking for jobs, he argued.
Even as he supports the H-1B programme, which has mostly benefitted Indian techies, Grassley said there is an urgent need for a reform in it.The programme should be used in the way it was intended as a temporary measure to supplement a company's need for hi-tech or specialised workers when none are available in the US, he said.
In another statement, Sanders said the amendment would require bailed-out banks, where there have been layoffs, to hire only Americans for two years."The very least we can do is to make sure that banks receiving a taxpayer bailout are not allowed to import cheaper labour from overseas while they are laying off American workers," Sanders said.
"Wall Street caused the crisis, millions of people lost jobs, including 100,000 in financial institutions. Now they want to bring in foreign workers," Sanders said, adding: "Talk about adding insult to injury."

Sonia attacks Pak, says "befitting reply" will be given

Silvassa, Feb 04: Vowing to defeat terrorism, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday warned that any attempt by Pakistan to weaken the country or harm its unity will be given "a befitting reply". She said the neighbouring country wants to destroy our unity and brotherhood.
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"India's identity is that all religions and communities co-exist in harmony. Our neighbour wants to weaken this strength of ours but they do not know that we can give a befitting reply to their every design," Sonia said at a public rally here, in an obvious reference to Pakistan. She said the neighbouring country wants to destroy our unity and brotherhood. "Terrorism is a big challenge before the country but would be met.
We will defeat terrorism," she said. In an apparent reference to attacks on migrants in neighbouring Maharashtra, Sonia praised people of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli for "loving and accepting outside workers" who came to work in the Union Territory. "You people have followed the tradition of unity in diversity," she said.
The Congress president also credited the Congress-led UPA government with shielding people from the "oil shock". "We would continue to work for the 'aam aadmi' (common man)," she said, highlighting the price cuts of Rs 10 a litre for petrol, Rs four for diesel and Rs 25 per LPG cylinder in the last two months.
The UPA government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, signed the historic nuclear pact with the US to provide a cheap and quality source of power to people in urban and rural areas, she said. Praising the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, she said it had received global acclaim.
The scheme has empowered the rural poor and given them an opportunity to realise their potential, she said. Describing the Rs 71,000-crore farmer loan waiver as a "historic and revolutionary step", Sonia claimed the decision had benefited around 4.5 crore farmers. Sonia listed empowering masses through Panchayati Raj and spread of information technology as the two important initiatives of her late husband Rajiv Gandhi.
Mohan Delkar, Lok Sabha member from Dadra and Nagar Haveli, who is into his sixth term in the Lower House, joined Congress at the rally. In 2004 elections, Delkar who contested as a Bharatiya Navshaki Party nominee defeated Congress candidate by over 12,800 votes. However, since the last couple of years, he has been working for Congress.
Sonia lauded the 46-year-old MP, saying it was at his initiative that the Union Territory got financial assistance of Rs 150 crore from the Centre. Taking a dig at BJP leaders L K Advani, who is the party's prime ministerial candidate, and Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Delka said "some people in opposition as well as some in neighbouring Gujarat claim they are PM-in-waiting". Congress functionaries B K Hariprasad, Rajiv Shukla, P Sudhakar Reddy, Dadra Nagar Haveli PCC chief Vikramsinh Parmar and Gujarat PCC president Sidharth Patel were present at the rally.
The Congress president also inaugurated a bridge connecting Nai Daman and Moti Daman. The bridge would be named as Rajiv Gandhi Sethu. Bureau Report Virtually launching her party's poll campaign in the Dadra, Nagar Haveli union territory, the Congress president, also hailed various development initiatives taken by the UPA government.
This included the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the recent decision to cut diesel, petrol and LPG prices, decision by government to give land rights to the tribals, loan relief given to farmers and also a reduction in the price of electricity owing to expansion of power generation due to the signing of the safeguards agreement with the IAEA. She also lauded Mahatma Gandhi's sacrifice for the defeat of these forces. Yesterday, Sonia had addressed a similar rally in Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur wherein she had castigated terror-spreading forces. This is the first time that Sonia per se has used such strong words to criticise Pak-sponsored terrorism.

Ceasefire urged as 52 killed in Sri Lanka war zone

At least 52 civilians were killed by shelling in Sri Lankan's northern war zone, the United Nations said on Wednesday, while a crowded hospital was hit again and Britain and the United States urged a cease-fire.
"There were 52 killed and 80 wounded from one sector," said U.N. spokesman Gordon Weiss, referring to the area of Suthanthirapuramin. "That was like a snapshot of the war zone."
Weiss said he did not know who was responsible for shelling.
Sri Lanka's military has encircled the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and is confident it will soon win a war that is one of Asia's longest-running conflicts. Some 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting since 1983.
The United States and Britain want a cease-fire so casualties can be evacuated and relief supplies allowed into the war zone.
The Tigers are holding out in a 300-sq km (115-sq mile) slice of jungle in Sri Lanka's northeast. Aid agencies say 250,000 people are trapped in Tiger-held areas, but the government says the number is about half that.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the only hospital in the war zone was evacuated after it was hit for a fifth time in three days. The ICRC says at least 12 people have been killed in the hospital in Puthukudiyiruppu.
"We are shocked that a medical facility has again sustained direct hits. We have grave concerns for the well-being and safety of those who fled," the head of the ICRC's Colombo delegation, Paul Castella, said in a statement.
At least 52 civilians were killed by shelling in Sri Lankan's northern war zone, the United Nations said on Wednesday, while a crowded hospital was hit again and Britain and the United States urged a cease-fire.
"There were 52 killed and 80 wounded from one sector," said U.N. spokesman Gordon Weiss, referring to the area of Suthanthirapuramin. "That was like a snapshot of the war zone."
Weiss said he did not know who was responsible for shelling.
Sri Lanka's military has encircled the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and is confident it will soon win a war that is one of Asia's longest-running conflicts. Some 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting since 1983.
The United States and Britain want a cease-fire so casualties can be evacuated and relief supplies allowed into the war zone.
The Tigers are holding out in a 300-sq km (115-sq mile) slice of jungle in Sri Lanka's northeast. Aid agencies say 250,000 people are trapped in Tiger-held areas, but the government says the number is about half that.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the only hospital in the war zone was evacuated after it was hit for a fifth time in three days. The ICRC says at least 12 people have been killed in the hospital in Puthukudiyiruppu.
"We are shocked that a medical facility has again sustained direct hits. We have grave concerns for the well-being and safety of those who fled," the head of the ICRC's Colombo delegation, Paul Castella, said in a statement.
Our troops were able to carry forward the battle against terror with great care so as not to cause harassment to the innocent Tamil people," he said.

Andhra engineer killed in US, 8th in 15 months

HYDERABAD: An Indian engineer from Andhra Pradesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Atlanta in the US in the eighth case of young students
and professionals from the state being killed in the last 15 months.
R Sudhir Kumar (31), a native of West Godavari district, was killed at Atlanta, where he was working as a mechanical engineer with Toyota company, West Godavari district superintendent of police, B Balakrishna said.
Kumar was reportedly killed for money, he said, but did not have details including when the incident happened.
Kumar did his engineering course in the US eight years ago and was working with Toyota for the last four years, he said.
In a string of tragedies where ironically those hailing from AP met a violent end in the US in the last 15 months, software engineer N Akshay Vishal working with fraud-hit Satyam Computers was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Arkansas on January 13 last.
Arpana B Jinaga, an IT engineer in Seattle, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her apartment on November 3, 2008. An engineering student in Southern Illinois University T Soumya Reddy was found murdered in September last. Her cousin Vikram Reddy, also a software engineer in Chicago, was also found dead nearby.
A Srinivas, a post-graduate medical student was found murdered in Pennsylvania in March while A Kirankumar and K Chandrasekhar Reddy, both PhD students, were shot dead at Louisiana University in December 2007.
On November 16 last, Pulluri Shashank, a native of Warangal in AP, survived a violent attack by unidentified miscreants in Tennesse.

Market regulator grills Raju brothers in jail

Hyderabad: India's market regulator Wednesday grilled Satyam Computer Services founder B. Ramalinga Raju and his brother B. Rama Raju in Chanchalguda Central Jail here over the Rs.70-billion (Rs.7,000-crore/$1.43-billion) accounting fraud in the company.
A three-member team of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), led by general manager and investigating authority Sunil Kumar, left the prison in the evening after the first day's questioning of the Raju brothers.
The team entered the jail around 10 a.m.This was the first time that SEBI officials had access to Ramalinga Raju after he confessed to the fraud Jan 7 while quitting as the chairman of India's fourth largest IT services firm.
The Supreme Court Tuesday allowed the regulator to interrogate the brothers in jail Feb 4-6.The SEBI officials, who carried a bunch of files into the jail, refused to talk to waiting journalists, or allow Raju's lawyer S. Bharat Kumar to be present during the interrogation.
Maintaining that it was unfair on SEBI's part not to allow the counsel of the accused during questioning, Bharat Kumar said he would approach the Supreme Court for "justice".
The SEBI officials reportedly questioned the Rajus on a range of issues, including suspected insider trading and diversion of Satyam's funds to companies promoted by the family.The market watchdog served summons on the Raju brothers to appear before SEBI team Jan 9, and the two agreed to a meeting the next day.
However, a few hours later, they surrendered before the Andhra Pradesh police.SEBI then approached a magisterial court to seek permission to record their statements but the petition was dismissed Jan 23.
SEBI challenged the order in the Andhra Pradesh High Court last week. Appearing for SEBI, Solicitor General of India Goolam E. Vahanvati prayed for an ex-parte interim order to question the accused.
However, the high court refused to pass such an order without hearing the Rajus, and set Feb 9 for the hearing.A frustrated SEBI then approached the Supreme Court, which gave its nod for the questioning.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Andhra Pradesh police, which is also probing the fraud, Wednesday began grilling two former auditors of Satyam. CID officials went to Chanchalguda jail and took custody of S. Gopalakrishnan, who was chief relationship partner at Satyam's auditors PricewaterHouseCoopers, and Srinivas Talluri, who was engagement leader.
They were brought to the CID office, where they were questioned through the day.A city court Tuesday sent the duo to police custody for two days - Wednesday and Thursday.
In another development, fresh bail petitions for the Raju brothers and Satyam's former chief financial officer Vadlamani Srinivas were moved before the sixth additional chief metropolitan magistrate D. Ramakrishna. The hearing on the petitions will begin Feb 6.The judge Jan 28 rejected the bail plea of the three and extended their judicial custody till Feb 7.

Five lakh jobs lost to recession in three months: Govt study

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Five lakh people were rendered jobless between October to December 2008 due to the recession, according to the latest government study. The findings are part of a first of its kind survey conducted by the Labour Bureau of ministry of Labour and Employment as part of a study on the effect of economic slowdown on employment in India.
A sample size of 2581 units covering 20 centres across 11 states was taken up for the survey. Eight major sectors like textile and garment industry, metals and metal products, Information Technology and BPO, automobiles, gems & jewellery, transportation, construction and mining industries were also included in the survey.
The total employment in all these sectors had come down from 16.2 million in September 2008 to 15.7 million by December 2008. Exporting units had observed a higher decline in employment with gems & jewellery sector shedding 8.43 per cent of its work force.
This is followed by metals and textile sector which laid off 2.6 per cent and 1.29 per cent of their work force respectively. Among the domestic sector units, gems & jewellery sector again witnessed the maximum decline in employment with 11.9 per cent of their work force losing jobs.
This was followed by automobiles and transport sectors who shed 4.79 per cent and 4.03 per cent of their work force.

Ambanis up on Forbes' richest CEO list, Mittal slips

They have lost more than USD 13 billion from their combined wealth, but still the two Ambani brothers have moved higher on Forbes' latest list of the world's ten richest CEOs, while Sunil Mittal has joined the league and Lakshmi Mittal has slipped two places.
Legendary American investor Warren Buffett has retained his top position on the annual list, but Indian-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal has been toppled from his last year's second position by software major Oracle chief Larry Ellison.
Mittal has moved down to fourth position, while Mukesh Ambani, the elder of the two warring brothers, has jumped three positions to grab third rank this year.
The younger Ambani, Anil, has also moved up one place to sixth rank on this year's 'Forbes list of ten wealthiest CEOs'.
While another Indian business chief, Azim Premji, has moved out of the top-ten list, compatriot Sunil Mittal of Bharti Airtel (BHARTIARTL.BO : 633.7 +8.8) has joined the league at ninth position.
IT major Wipro (WIPRO.NS : 224.05 -0.65) Chairman Premji was ranked ninth on the previous year's list. The total number of Indians on the list has remained unchanged at four on this year's list.
"Being a CEO isn't what it used to be. Crackdowns on corporate frills like private jets and over-the-top offices have become the norm, taking some of the fun -- but none of the stress -- out of running billion-dollar businesses," Forbes said.

Seeing Federer cry reduced joy of Oz Open victory: Nadal

Melbourne: Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has said that he could not enjoy his victory over Roger Federer in the Australian Open final fully after he saw his friend and rival break down.

"[It] was tough situation, a tough moment for him more than me," Nadal, who was moved to comfort a weeping Federer, said yesterday.

"But for me, too. Roger is, we have a relationship and was tough moment for him … too much emotion is there yesterday, no? But probably in the future when we see that moment on the TV it's going to be nice, but when you live that moment, it's tough. Because I can't enjoy 100 per cent the victory because I saw him cry," Nadal said.

Nadal's victory has confirmed his position as undisputed number one, having defeated Federer in their past three grand slam encounters, the Open final drawing comparisons with the Wimbledon final.

Nadal felt Wimbledon, which he won 7-5 in the fifth set, was "more dramatic for the stops [interruptions], for the light, the rain" than Melbourne Park.

He had been more pessimistic about Sunday night's final than Wimbledon because he was "too tired" to take on Federer.

Nadal has been constant in elevating Federer's station in the game and for maintaining that he has a long way to go to match his rival's feats, despite recent domination.

Vajpayee admitted to AIIMS

New Delhi: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Tuesday night after he complained of difficulty in breathing.
The senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was admitted around 10 p.m, medical superintendent of AIIMS D.K. Sharma told IANS.
Vajpayee is suffering from chest congestion, infection and has fever, Sharma said, adding doctors were constantly monitoring his condition.He would undergo medical examinations Wednesday, Sharma said.

Lankan troops unearth LTTE chief's luxury bunker

Colombo: An air-conditioned underground luxury bunker believed to have been the home of elusive LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran was unearthed by Sri Lankan troops in Mullaittivu, within a fortnight of seizing a similar facility in former rebel bastion of Kilinochchi.
The two-storied designer residential complex was located in a two-acre land full of coconut trees and well-fortified with all-round protection from adjacent gun positions and bunker locations, officials said today.
Sri Lankan Light Infantry troops captured the hideout in Mullaittivu yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.
The entire area was brought under security forces' control following heavy fighting between the troops and LTTE since wee hours of yesterday in which at least 20 Tiger rebels were killed, the Ministry said.
According to sources, the underground bunker is 50 ft deep, protected with a 3 ft thick layer of concrete.
The Air Force had previously bombed this location, which is at a spot 500 metres west of the Paranthan-Mullaititvu main road in general area of Piramanthalkulama.
The fully AC bunker comprised four furnished compartments and tiled floors, sources said adding, surveillance cameras were fitted at the entrance of the complex.
During search operations, troops have also found an oxygen plant inside a luxury compartment believed to be Prabakaran's room along with a M-16 machine gun and an insulin container. The compartment also had a deep-freezer.
"Four guard points were found located adjacent to the compartment which were manned by Prabakaran's personal bodyguards," a military official said.

Sachin fails again, courtesy poor umpiring

Colombo: For the third time in a row, Sachin Tendulkar was on Tuesday done in by poor umpiring in the current ODI series against Sri Lanka, being declared leg before wicket in yet another dubious decision.
Tendulkar was declared leg before in the first ODI in Dambulla when the ball was clearly pitched outside the leg stump, he fell lbw against in the second ODI when the ball was missing the leg stump and was again ruled out leg before by Sri Lankan umpire Gamini Silva when the ball was going down the leg side by an even wider margin.

The three umpiring errors have meant that Tendulkar has made scores of 5, 6 and 7 in the series so far. True to his character, Tendulkar has not shown any dissent although his disappointment was palpable.

India's coach Gary Kirsten was seen shaking his head in disbelief after watching television replays of Tendulkar's dismissal in the dressing room. The champion batsman, who had been in excellent form in the recent series against Australia and England, suddenly finds himself going through a lean patch for no fault of his.

India crush Lanka by 147 runs to seal series

Colombo: Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag cracked blistering centuries as a ruthless India clinched the five-match cricket series against Sri Lanka by spanking the hosts by 147 runs in the third ODI here tonight.
Electing to bat first, India rode on a 221-run stand for the third wicket between Sehwag (116) and Yuvraj (117) to amass 363 for five, their highest score in Sri Lanka.
Chasing the mammoth total, Sri Lanka folded for 216 in 41.4 overs, despite Kumar Sangakkara's defiant 83 off 82 balls. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha did the maximum damage to Sri Lanka, claiming four for 38.
India thus took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and both the teams will square off again here on Thursday for the fourth match.
The capacity crowd at the R Premadasa Stadium found the only solace when off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan removed Yuvraj to equal Wasim Akram's world record tally of 502 ODI scalps.
This was India's highest total on Sri Lankan soil, eclipsing the previous best of 307 for 6 in 1998 at the same venue.
Chasing such a huge total, Sri Lanka badly needed a big knock from Sanath Jayasuriya but the veteran opener let the side down today.
Jayasuriya dragged the first ball he faced, from Praveen Kumar, onto his stumps and that was clearly a bad omen for the hosts.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (30 off 26 balls) sizzled for a while in Sangakkara's company before an inside edge off Zaheer Khan upset his timbers.

Shilpa and Kundra enter IPL, buy stake in Rajasthan Royals

Mumbai, Feb 3 (IANS) Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and London-based NRI businessman Raj Kundra Tuesday bought a 12 percent stake in the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals.
The couple has invested $15.4 million in the team, which was bought by London-based Emerging Media Group for $67 million.
Shilpa called it a strategic business investment and said: 'I completely relate to Rajasthan Royals. My story is similar to the team's journey to the top. It is an honour to be a part of Rajasthan Royals.'
'Whenever the team needs me I will always pitch in. I will be the moral support of my team. The team needed an Indian owner and so I am here,' she added.
With the tie-up, Shilpa becomes the fourth Bollywood star after Preity Zinta, Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla to enter the IPL. While Preity is part-owner of Kings XI Punjab, Shah Rukh and Juhi are co-owners of Kolkata Knight Riders.
Asked if the moved was aimed at getting more fame, Shilpa said: 'It is just a game and we should have our own fun. I am not in the run to get more fame. This was just Raj's business acumen.'
Boyfriend Kundra added: 'The team's success story last year was an inspiration for me. That's why I am investing in this team.'
Rajasthan Royals led by the maverick Shane Warne surprised everyone last year by winning the inaugural edition of the tournament ahead of some teams that had big stars in their kitty.

India awaits Pakistan's response on Mumbai attacks

New Delhi, February 3 (ANI):Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said that India was still waiting for information from Pakistan regarding investigations conducted by its authorities on the Mumbai attacks. Reacting on the ban imposed by Pakistan, barring its top cricketers from playing on Indian soil, Mukherjee said, politics and cricket should not be mixed

Pak epicenter of international terrorism: Antony

New Delhi, February 3 (ANI): India's Defence minister A K Anthony has accused Pakistan of having emerged as the focal point of international terrorism. Antony was addressing the annual Asian Security Conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Antony also reiterated India's demand that the onus lay with Pakistan to deal with the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks

Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' wins DGA honor

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Slumdog Millionaire" continued its rags-to-riches march through Hollywood's awards season as its filmmaker, Danny Boyle, won the top honor Saturday from the Directors Guild of America.
The win puts Boyle on the inside track for the same prize at the Academy Awards on Feb. 22, since the guild recipient almost always goes on to win the directing Oscar.
Related: 2009 Academy Awards
While "Slumdog Millionaire" started as an underdog that nearly went straight to DVD, it has emerged as the Oscar favorite. Audiences have embraced Boyle's tale of a poor boy rising to fame and fortune from the streets of Mumbai, and the film triumphed at the Golden Globes and Producers Guild of America Awards, while taking the prize for best ensemble cast from the Screen Actors Guild.
"Slumdog Millionaire" originally was to be released by Warner Independent, but its fate went into limbo after Warner Bros. closed down that arthouse banner. After a brief prospect of going right to DVD, the film found a theatrical home with Fox Searchlight, which has had success with such smaller films as "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Juno."
"I should start by curiously thanking Warner Bros. for actually having the grace to do the right thing, when I think it would have been a lot easier to do the wrong thing, and pass the film on to Fox Searchlight, who are an extraordinary bunch of people," Boyle said as he was introduced earlier in the night as one of the five nominees.
Backstage, Boyle joked about the fact that his award was presented by Joel and Ethan Coen, who won the prize a year ago for "No Country for Old Men."
"To step into the shoes of people like the Coen brothers, I mean, it's phenomenal, because I have, as I admitted in the earlier speech, I've stolen from them all my career," he said. "I mean in a naked and appalling way."
"The Office" won the top honor for television comedy, "The Wire" took the award for TV drama and "Recount" won for TV movie.
Paul Feig received the award for an installment of "The Office," whose competition included two episodes of "30 Rock," the series that has dominated at recent Hollywood honors such as the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Pakistan bars players from IPL

Pakistan has barred its cricketers from competing in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament in the wake of last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
"We have been informed by the foreign ministry today that the situation is not conducive for Pakistan cricketers to travel to India," Sports Minister Aftab Jilani told the Associated Press on Monday.
Jilani last week gave a No Objection Certificate allowing Pakistan players to compete in the IPL.
Five Pakistan cricketers _ Yasir Hameed, Yasir Arafat, Asim Kamal, Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Hafeez _ were due to appear in the IPL player auction at the Indian state of Goa on Feb. 10.
"We (the Sports Ministry) had given the NOC, but the final decision was up to the government," Jilani said.
The minister said that one of the reasons given by the Pakistan foreign ministry for the ban was that relations between the countries have been strained in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai in November.
India has blamed militant groups in Pakistan for the attacks in which 164 people died.
"Ever since these attacks (in Mumbai) the situation has got tense and even Pakistani artists are facing problems in India," Jilani said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said it would inform the IPL of the decision.
"The ministry (of sports) today has informed us through an e-mail that no Pakistani player can compete in the IPL," PCB chief operating officer Salim Altaf said.
Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar were among the 11 Pakistan players who represented various franchises in the IPL last year.
"The IPL had asked us last month to inform them of the status of Pakistan players and now we will tell them that our players can't compete," Altaf said.
Afridi, who was signed for US$675,000 (€530,000) by Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers, was the highest paid Pakistan cricketer in the competition.

Sri Lanka face must-win situation against India

Colombo, Feb 2 (IANS) Having lost the first two One-dayers, Sri Lanka are in a must-win situation in the day-night third ODI cricket match against India at the Premadasa Stadium here Tuesday.
The islanders certainly have the armoury to bounce back in the five-match series.
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene has the mixture of experience and youth at his disposal. He has the luxury of a very strong top and middle order battling line up, from the dashing opener Sanath Jayasuriya to medium pacer Farveez Maharoof. And, he has two world class spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis operating in home conditions.
Jayawerdene tried all his options desperately during the first two matches, but could not stop the Indians from outplaying them in their backyard.
More than his own poor form with the bat and others in the team, Jayawerdene's immediate concern is the way Indians have tackled his best weapon Muralithran and Mendis in the series. Bravely taking a gamble, the Indians have made best use of the 20 overs shared between them to score nearly five runs per over without losing wickets.
The duo took only three wickets conceding a mammoth 175 runs in 40 overs in the first two matches. Ace spinner Muralitharan is struggling to capture the three wickets he needs to become the greatest ODI bowler in the game's history.
Jayawerdene attributed Saturday's loss to players' inability to make good use of the power play during which they lost too many wickets although Thilina Kandamby was holding on one end.
True that Sri Lankans have played too much cricket and barely had rest during the past five months, but it is a case of putting the efforts together and implementing the game plan effectively to rediscover their winning form.
As for Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni, everything has gone his way right from the toss, which he believes plays a crucial role when playing in Sri Lanka under lights.
Dhoni, however, would want the fielding of his team to improve. He has already warned the players against complacency. Sure, he would also want the players to improve in running between the wickets and bowling to a plan to ensure a comfortable win rather than a nail-biting finish.
The pressure will be on Sri Lanka to stay alive in the series, something they managed in Pakistan last month and went to win the series after losing the first ODI.

Tamil Nadu's Balaji replaces injured Munaf for Sri Lanka tour

Chennai/Colombo, Feb.2 (ANI): Tamil Nadu and South Zone fast bowler Laxmipathy Balaji has been recalled to the Indian team. He will replace Munaf Patel in the squad that is playing an ODI series in Sri Lanka.
Munaf sustained a groin injury and was forced to return home after the second ODI.
A cricinfo report said that Balaji last played for India in an ODI in 2005 in Sri Lanka before a stress fracture forced him out of the game.
He returned to first-class cricket this season after a back surgery and a remodelled action. He was instrumental in taking Tamil Nadu into the semi-finals with 36 wickets from seven games at 17.50. His comeback to cricket started in the first season of the IPL, where his 11 wickets in nine games for Chennai Super Kings included a hat-trick.
Munaf, who will head to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for rehabilitation, had an MRI scan done on Sunday, which revealed the injury. "He won't be fit anyway till February 8 so we are not taking any chances and are sending him back," Prakash Dixit, the Indian team manager, said.

Obama says, 'People think I'm cool'

Washington, February 2 (ANI): Until now, you would have heard it from the general public only, but now even U.S. President Barack Obama has started to believe that people think he is "cool".
He also thinks the same way about his two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
"People think I'm cool. Nobody's cooler than my two girls," Politico.com quoted him as saying during an interview.
"They just seem to take whatever comes with happiness and steadiness. And they're loving school. They're making friends. In fact they've got some friends from school over today. They've already joined some clubs, and Sasha, I think maybe endear myself to her, she decided to join a basketball team. So what more could I want," he added.
The President also revealed that what he found best about his new job was working so close to home.
"It's the best deal of this whole thing. It turns out I've got this nice home office, and at the end of the day I can come home, even if I've got more work to do, I can have dinner with them.
I can help them with their homework. I can tuck them in. If I've got to go back to the office I can but I'm seeing them now more than any time in the last 2 years and that's been great for the whole family," he said.

Sarkozy admits Carla Bruni influences his political decisions

London, Feb 02 (ANI): French president Nicolas Sarkozy has admitted that his third wife Carla Bruni influences his politics.
Sarkozy, who celebrates his first wedding anniversary with Bruni today, told Le Point magazine that the views of his glamorous third wife mean a lot to him.
"I accord a lot of importance to what she tells me. Her views broaden my perspective, my thoughts,' the Telegraph quoted Sarkozy, as telling the magazine.
Sarkozy even tried to play down the massive amount of publicity, which has surrounded their first 12 months of married life.
"We have a quiet life, we have settled in. Our families get along. No really, I have nothing to complain about, she is great," he said.
Sarkozy's confession follows weeks of speculation that Bruni has growing influence on the president, deciding on everything from ministerial firings to which personal trainer he uses.
When justice minister Rachida Dati was unceremoniously told she was to be sacked a week earlier, some speculated Bruni was behind the decision.
The model-turned-pop singer appeared on Italian TV to deny she had anything to do with persuading Brazil to grant asylum to an Italian terrorist, adding, "the wife of a president of the Republic would never go and talk to the Brazilian president about something that has nothing to do with France".
However, there were clear signs of her influence in October over the release of another Italian terrorist.
She convinced her husband to drop a court order to deport an ex-Red Brigade activist from France to Italy.
Her intervention and the presidential U-turn sparked fury, especially among Italians.
The French were also angry that Bruni was apparently taking highly sensitive decisions regarding international terrorism.

Raju possibly smarter than regulators: Hinduja

By Indivjal Dhasmana Davos, Feb 2 (PTI) NRI business leader Gopichand Hinduja has said scandals such as the one in Satyam Computer will continue to haunt developed and developing countries, although this particular scam may have happened because the IT firm's founder Ramalinga Raju managed to outsmart the regulators.
The Hinduja Group Chairman, who was here to participate in the World Economic Forum, however, noted that the incident might not have much impact on the reputation of India Inc in the eyes of foreigners, who are more used to such scams.
Speaking to PTI about India's post-Satyam image before the rest of the world, Hinduja said, "India Inc enjoys a good reputation. These types of things... What have happened to Satyam, no doubt one has to admit that it is a scandal, but whether it is a developed country or developing country or emerging markets, these types of things will happen...".
He further pointed out that the Satyam crisis was largely because the founder of the company outsmarted the regulatory framework of the country. "One has to understand that possibly he (Ramalinga Raju) was more genius than regulators."
The Satyam scandal came to light on January 7, with a confession from the company's founder B Ramalinga Raju that he had been cooking the firm's books for several years. Raju's confession not only shocked India Inc, but investors all over the world.
Such type of wrongdoings are more prevalent in the western world and foreigners are used to this kind of happenings, Hinduja said. "I don't think that this has any effect or impact on foreigners. They are used (to such things). These are found much more in the western world".

The Indian army is ready, says General Kapoor

Army chief General Deepak Kapoor on Saturday reiterated that the country's army was 'ready to act in the manner the political leadership wanted it to'.
General Kapoor, who reached Srinagar [Images] on Saturday morning and visited the forward areas along the Line of Control [Images] in Kashmir to assess the situation, also met senior army officers.
Addressing a news conference at the headquarters of the army's 15 corps, General Kapoor said, "The military acts or reacts in a manner the country's political leadership wants it to."
The army chief acknowledged that tensions between India and Pakistan had been running high in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks [Images] and some extra movement of troops had also been noted across the border in Pakistan.
"The tensions have come down with the passage of time," he said.
Kapoor added that militants could not infiltrate into the Valley, as the mountain passes were snow-bound in the winter, but could sneak in from south of the Pir Panjal mountains.
"As the snow starts melting, the possibility of a rise in infiltration levels cannot be ruled out. The security forces are taking precautions to check infiltration through a three-tier mechanism," he explained.
He informed that 700 to 800 militants were still active in the state, of which 45 to 50 per cent were foreigners.
"In the last two years, there has been marked improvement in the security situation of the state," claimed the army chief.
General Kapoor pointed out that the high voter turnout of 61 percent in the recent state elections, which was higher than the national average, was a result of the improved security situation in the state.
Speaking on the possibility of the armymen deployed in the Valley returning to their barracks, he said, "The military is there to perform a job and a purpose. Once the situation becomes peaceful, we would be more than happy to return to the barracks".

New Zealand shock Australia in thriller

Australia's [Images] misery continued, with New Zealand [Images] beating them by two wickets in Perth on Sunday in a low-scoring first ODI in the five-match ODI series.
Chasing a victory target of 182, New Zealand huffed and puffed before Ross Taylor [Images] (64) propped them.
Needing five runs off the last over, the Kiwis levelled the score with the fifth ball before captain Daniel Vettori [Images] hit a boundary off the last delivery from Nathan Bracken [Images] for a memorable win.
Earlier, after Australia captain Ricky Ponting [Images] decided to bat first, Kiwi spearhead Kyle Mills (4/35) and his bowling colleagues skittled out the hosts for 181 in 48.4 overs.
The score could have been even more embarrassing for the hosts but for some useful contributions from Michael Hussey [Images] (49) and Brad Haddin (31).
Like Australia, New Zealand too suffered a top order collapse before Taylor steadied the ship with a 97-ball 64 that included six fours besides a six.
The Kiwis fumbled early in their chase as Shaun Tait [Images] trapped a scoreless Brendon McCullum [Images] with the second ball of the innings.
Bracken then removed Martin Guptil (13) and Mitchel Johnson caught Peter Fulton (7) off his own bowling to compound New Zealand's problems and Grant Elliot's (8) dismissal in the 23rd over left the visitors reeling at 64 for four.
The Kiwis found their saviour in Taylor who added 42 runs with Neil Broom (29) and another 62 with Mills (26) before another batting collapse. In the end, Vettori ensured his side ended up on the right side of the edge-of-the-seat thriller.
Mills was adjudged Man of the Match for his all-round show.
Both the teams now move to Melbourne for the second ODI on Friday.
Earlier, Ponting was left to regret his decision to bat first as Australia's top order crumbled in the face of New Zealand's spirited bowling and fielding. It was an abject batting display by the star-studded Australians and their first 54 runs cost them the entire top half of the batting line-up.
The 61-run stand between Hussey and Haddin arrested the slide for a while but Hussey's departure triggered another collapse and Australia could not even bat the entire 50 overs.
Much was expected from their exciting opening pair of Shaun Marsh [Images] (15) and David Warner (7) but Mills struck in successive overs with Fulton pouching both the batsmen at short cover.
There was an uncanny similarity in the next two dismissals as well as both Ponting (5) and his deputy Michael Clarke [Images] (12) ran themselves out.
And when David Hussey's [Images] (13) fluffed paddle-pull off Jetan Patel was pouched by McCullum behind the stumps, Australia clearly were in dire straits.
Hussey and Haddin then started the rebuilding job. Haddin started with a straight six off Patel and was going strong> when Mills struck again to remove the Australian.
Iain O'Brien then chipped in claiming the crucial wickets of Hussey and that unhinged Australia who lost the remaining wickets in quick succession to fold with eighth balls to spare.

Lankan troops seize Black Tiger base

Colombo: Sri Lankan troops fighting their way into Tamil Tiger -held areas in the island's north have captured a "Black Tiger" camp complex along with a large haul of heavy weapons left behind by the fleeing guerrillas, military said Sunday. The Black Tigers were responsible for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The military said that 58 Division troops have captured the Black Tiger camp complex consisting of administration and logistics compartments at Vishwamadhu area Saturday. Black Tigers were also known as suicide Tigers.
It said nine mortar launchers of five different calibers of 120 mm, 81 mm, 82 mm, 80 mm and 60 mm, six multi-purpose machine-guns (MPMG), two thermo baric launchers, 20 pistols and three rocket propelled guns (RPG) were among the weapons recovered.
"A large stock of new LTTE uniforms and twelve dead bodies (of the guerrillas) were also found inside the camp complex," the military said.
The troops have recovered a two-storeyed underground bunker with luxurious facilities in the Vishwamadhu area on the same day.
Comfortable rooms, attached lavatories, three soundproof power generators, macadam access paths and two safes were found inside the underground building.
Sri Lanka's defence ministry in a report said Sunday that the LTTE has failed to allow free movement of civilians in conflict areas in the north of the island within the 48-hour deadline issued by the government. It accused the rebels of continuing to worsen the people's sufferings.
"LTTE terrorists continued worsening suffering of the thousands of civilians entrapped on the outskirts of Mullaitivu, ignoring the 48-hour ultimatum served for the safe passage of civilians," the defence ministry said.
Amid mounting international pressure on the safety of displaced civilians in the war-zone, President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the LTTE to allow free movement of civilians trapped in conflict areas.
The defence ministry said the government would "continue to adhere to the zero civilian casualty policy while engaging in its allout effort to eradicate the terrorists."There was no reaction in this regard from the rebel outfit, which has been fighting to carve out a separate state over the past quarter century.

Drunk man forces Indigo jet to land; all passengers, crew safe

New Delhi: An unruly, drunk passenger forced an Indigo jet (flight E-664) coming from Goa to force land at the New Delhi airport today. The authorities at the airport immediately declared an emergency, says TV reports.
The doors of the plane have been opened and around 60 passengers have come out from the plane. The drunk man who created problems have been detained and is being questioned.Earlier, anticipating problems the authorities summoned the National Security Guards and the Delhi police's quick response team. BSF planes were put on alert. Some TV reports said that authorities had said that the entire episode was a mock drill.Indigo airlines said that all passengers and crew were safe.

J&K: Pak scraps move for US envoy

Islamabad: In what could be a significant pointer to the future of sub-continental ties, the Pakistani government has blocked a parliamentary resolution seeking a special US envoy for Kashmir.
What has been proposed instead is a watered down version hoping that the world community would play a role in resolving the dispute that has bedeviled India-Pakistan relations for over six decades.
“The Foreign Office and a federal minister have scuttled a move for the adoption of a resolution in the National Assembly asking US President Obama to appoint an envoy on Kashmir or include the settlement of the dispute in the mandate of the US envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Dawn reported Sunday.
“A top official of the Foreign Office blocked the move by setting aside a joint resolution approved by members from both the sides of the aisle, and came out with another version, excluding the call for sending a US envoy on Kashmir,” the newspaper added.
The original resolution, by Marvi Memon of the erstwhile ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), was supported not only by her party's leadership, but also by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that leads the ruling coalition and its allies like the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlur (JUI-F).
Significantly, one-time PPP ally Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif also backed the resolution, showing it had support across the political spectrum.
The notice for the original resolution read: “This house resolves to ask President Obama to send a US envoy on Kashmir or to include Kashmir's resolution in the mandate of the US envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan.”However, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which has just joined the government, moved a different version that read: “This house underscores the importance of the peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
And in this context expresses the confidence that the new US administration will, as stated by President Obama, give priority attention to this issue. (And enable) the US special representative for the region to play an important role for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue included in his mandate.”According to Memon, once Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani took off for Davos, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Babar Awan proposed consultation with the Foreign Office before moving the resolution.
“A top bureaucrat of the Foreign Office tried to block the resolution on technical grounds by proposing a watered down version instead,” Dawn said.The diluted version said: “This house underscores the importance of peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. We expect the international community to play its due role in the early resolution of this longstanding dispute.
And in this context expresses confidence that the new US administration will, as stated by President Obama, give priority to this issue.”The newspaper also quoted Memon as saying she had been informed that no other resolution was acceptable to the government.

ICC withdraws Champions Trophy from Pakistan

Dubai: Citing security concerns, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Sunday withdraw the Champions Trophy from Pakistan, which was scheduled to host it in September.
The Champions Trophy was originally to be held in Pakistan last year but was postponed as several top teams expressed their reservation about touring the strife-torn country due to security issues.

At its Board meeting at Perth, the ICC said the tournament will be relocated from Pakistan.

"With several members expressing reservations about touring Pakistan, it would be prudent to relocate the event from that country," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

"It is unfortunate the ICC Champions Trophy will not take place in Pakistan due to circumstances completely beyond the control of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)," he added.

ICC, however, said that PCB would retain the revenue due for hosting the tournament.

"In view of the challenges facing the PCB, the Board agreed that, irrespective of the location of the event, Pakistan would retain the revenue due for hosting the tournament."

The Board will decide on the new location before its next meeting in April.

"The board has accepted the need for certainty in planning for and delivering a world-class event and will now assess where the event should be held," Lorgat said.

An ICC task team will visit Pakistan and work with the PCB to find ways to ensure that international cricket is played in the country

Nadal beats Federer in classic Open final

Rafa Nadal captured the Australian Open title with an enthralling 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2 win over Roger Federer on Sunday, denying the Swiss a chance to win a record-equalling 14th grand slam title.
The world number one became the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open and chalked up his fifth straight victory over Federer, including last year's French Open and Wimbledon finals.
The victory took the 22-year-old's grand slam tally to six and left him needing only to win the U.S. Open to complete the full set while reducing Federer to tears.
"God, it's killing me," Federer sobbed during the presentation ceremony.
"Rafa congrats, you played incredible, you deserve it man. (You) played another fantastic final."
Nadal offered a consoling word to his great rival after receiving the winner's trophy and a cheque for A$2 million (US$1.28 million) from the only person to have twice completed the Grand Slam.
"For me to receive this trophy from Rod Laver is a dream for me," Nadal said. "It was an amazing two weeks for me."
"Roger, sorry for today. I really know how you feel right now.
"It's really tough (but) remember you are a great champion, one of the best in history and you have proved that."
Sunday's final at Melbourne Park lived up to all expectations as the two best players of their generation slugged it out for almost 4-½ hours in a classic encounter packed with magical shotmaking and intense drama.
The momentum swung back and forth throughout before Nadal struck the killer blow when he broke in the fourth game of the deciding set when 27-year-old Federer slapped a backhand into the net then again in the eighth game to seal a famous victory.
Nadal, showing no signs of fatigue despite his five hour, 14 minute victory over compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the semi-finals, started the match full of energy and was still running as strongly as ever at the end.
OVERCOOKED BACKHANDS
He broke Federer in the opening game and despite twice losing his own serve, he wrapped up the first set in 58 minutes after the Swiss master overcooked two backhands.
Nadal was again the first to break in the second set when Federer mistimed a forehand over the baseline but the three-times Australian Open champion won the next four games to level the match.
The pair maintained their extraordinary standard of play in a third set that was even more enthralling than the first two.
There were no service breaks in the set but Nadal saved three break points in the ninth and 11th games while world number two Federer survived a set point to force the tiebreaker.
While Nadal lost the first point on his serve, he regained his composure to win four on the trot after they were level at 3-3 to grab a two sets to one lead.
The pair traded breaks early in the fourth set before Federer, who needs one more grand slam title to equal American Pete Sampras's record of 14, saved five break points in the fifth game then broke Nadal in the next to seize the initiative.
Federer safely held his two games to force the match into a deciding fifth, the first time an Australian Open final had gone the distance since Mats Wilander beat Pat Cash in 1988, the same year the tournament switched from Kooyong to its current site