MUMBAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russia‘s Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) have signed an Agreement on joint lunar research and exploration. Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, and Mr A Perminov, Director, Roskosmos, signed the Agreement in Moscow on November 12, 2007 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Russia. This cooperation envisages Chandrayaan-2, a joint lunar mission involving a lunar orbiting spacecraft and a Lander/Rover on the Moon‘s surface. ISRO will have the prime responsibility for the Orbiter and Roskosmos will be responsible for the Lander/Rover. A few scientific instruments from other space agencies may also be accommodated on these systems. Chandrayaan-2 will be launched on India‘s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) around 2011-12 time frame. This agreement is a major milestone in the long-standing cooperation between India and Russia in the area of outer space.

Activities for launching Chandrayaan-1, India‘s first unmanned mission to moon during April 2008 are progressing well. The spacecraft is in the final stages of integration and testing, and will be launched onboard India‘s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This mission features a spacecraft orbiting around the Moon for two years at an altitude of 100 km mapping the topography and the mineralogical content of the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-1 will also have a Moon Impact Probe payload for demonstrating the technology needed towards accurate landing on the Moon‘s surface. Chandrayaan-2 is the next logical step for more detailed and in situ study of the Moon.

MUMBAI: Reliance Communications, India?s largest integrated telecommunications player with plans to extend its network coverage to 600,000 villages by 2008, has announced the launch of a nation-wide contest for developing rural mobile applications. This is the first instance a telecom operator has announced such a contest especially for rural market.

Conducted under the aegis of the Reliance Developer Programme, the contest aims to acknowledge and encourage outstanding young talent in the area of mobile applications development in India. The award winning applications will be deployed on its Reliance Mobile World platform and interactive Voice services portal. Also, for the first time mobile applications will be developed for both GSM and CDMA technology and Interactive Services Voice Portal. Applications can be submitted for WAP, Java, Reliance Java, Brew, Brew Lite,, Symbian and VoxML environments.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mahesh Prasad, President, Applications, Solutions and Content Group, said, ?RCOM has always been at the forefront of developing applications suitable to customers across segments and regions. As we embark on our objective of covering over 600,000 villages by March 2008, there will be a huge market for rural applications. This initiative of ours will help us create a databank of exciting applications relevant in the rural context. Our Reliance Developer Programme is a massive talent hunt of its kind, the fruits of which the country will reap in the years to come.?

This year the focus will be on rural applications for transportation, m-commerce, health care services, governance, education, information and location based services that cater to the needs of rural population. RCOM invites applications from talented developers for the contest which is open between October 15th 2007 and February 15th, 2008.Interested developers can register for the contest on the Reliance Developer Programme website www.dadp.combefore 25th of Dec 2007 and can send in their entries via e- mail to rdp.contest@relianceada.com. The entries are invited under two broad categories ? ?Students? and ?General?. An expert panel of judges representing telecom industry, academia and IT associations will be judging the applications. The mobile applications submitted will be judged on the basis of user interface, innovativeness, functionality and business potential. The winners of the contest will be announced at a gala award ceremony that will be held in March 2008 by RCOM.

The Mobile Application Contests held in 2005 and 2006 have enticed hundreds of developers. The last two contests received an overwhelming response. The student community had shown a keen interest with over 60% of the entries coming in from the student category. Mr. Kiran Karnik, Ex- President of NASSCOM and Mr. Sam Pitroda, Chairperson, National Knowledge Commission felicitated the winners of the Mobile Application Contests held in 2005 and 2006 respectively at special award ceremonies held in Mumbai and Delhi.

The Reliance Developer Programme( RDP) launched in December 2002 aims to provide a unique platform to the developer community in India to innovate, ideate, showcase and participate in developing path-breaking and marketable applications. Reliance is keen to assist anyone with a good idea from innovative established companies to entrepreneurial individuals from the University community to Business professionals.Through the University Relations Programme(URP), the Reliance Developer Programme aims to provide a platform and act as a catalyst to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among the vast student talent pool in India. The Reliance Developer Programme currently has a member base of over 19,000 registered developers including 1000 small and medium companies.

MUMBAI: It?s a BIG Day for BIG 92.7 FM?s Mumbai Station, as it celebrates its 1st Anniversary on Children?s Day -14 November, 2007 and what better way to celebrate, than with children!The Station hosted a Meet n Greet for the kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation? of India, who wished to meet the newest kids on the block ? Ranbir and Sonam. The celebrations double up in the wake of the recent RAM findings that position BIG 92.7 FM, Mumbai as the Numero Uno radio station in Mumbai delivering higher reach than any of its competitors. Basking in the glory of RAM findings and the added excitement of completing an eventful ONE year, BIG 92.7 FM has lined up activities to say a ?BIG Thank You? to its listeners in its signature style ? by living up-to the brand-line of Suno, Sunao Life Banao!

In addition hosting a party with Ranbir and Sonam for the kids from Make-A-Wish Foundation of India, Mumbaikars can wish the Station a ?Happy Birthday? by sending the greetings via SMS to 55454 and for every Birthday wish SMS received, BIG 92.7 FM will be donating Rs. 9.27 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation? of India. Considering the popularity of the station in Mumbai, more than 10,000 SMSes are expected. Listener wishes on air through the day, and a lot of show elements, which will have heightened listener participation will be the key feature across shows. Time checks have been specially recorded to involve the listener perspective in their own voice. The icing on the cake literally, will be the winner?s name written on the Cake, which will be gifted to the children at Make-A-Wish Foundation? of India.

The on-air programming has been crafted to add meaning to the celebrations marking ONE year of BIG 92.7 FM in Mumbai, by impacting listener lives positively. On the day, BIG 92.7 FM will also Make a Wish and encourage citizens of Mumbai to join in, in the Clean and Green Mumbai Drive. A sapling plantation initiative will have saplings equivalent to the number of Birthday Wishes the station receives, planted across the city. The Station will also provide a platform to the citizens and local authorities as they discuss and debate on all aspects of Safety and Security in Mumbai. The discussion forums that?ll raise awareness on various issues of concern to Mumbaikars will include BMC, Western Railway, BEST and Auto & Taxi Drivers Union.

In what will be a feast for the ears, BIG 92.7 FM listeners will get to listen to their favorite Bollywood celebrities and singers pouring their hearts out and wishing a Happy Birthday to the Station.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Arjun Singgh Baran, Station Director, BIG 92.7 FM, Mumbai said, ?A dream was dreamt a year ago and we are proud to have been able to live the dream! We are excited about our Station completing one eventful 1st BIG year! We have, in the last one year, undertaken initiatives that impact people?s lives positively and our anniversary celebrations are no different - whether with the kids from Make-A-Wish Foundation? of India or the other on air and on ground initiatives. We just want to say ?thank you? to all our listeners, thanks to whom, we are the highest reached station of the city today! We look forward to continue to provide wholesome entertainment to the City of Dreams, Mumbai!?

Mr. Mukul Gupte, CEO - Make-A-Wish Foundation of India, commented during the event, ?We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. This sums up the emotions of all of us at Make-A-Wish including staff members, well-wishers and children with life-threatening illnesses, whose cause BIG 92.7 FM has so generously decided to support on this milestone occasion. We wish BIG FM a very Happy Birthday! May you keep earning laurels in years to come and rise further in your position as one of the best radio stations of Mumbai. We also take this opportunity to thank BIG 92.7 FM for giving the wish children a platform to meet budding stars, Ranbir and Sonam.?

MUMBAI: Bollywood?s ?Crown Prince?, Abhishek Bachchan is now one of India?s most celebrated and sought after actors having emerged from the shadow of his legendary father Amitabh Bachchan.On this week?s TALK ASIA, Bachchan gives his first in-depth interview to an international news channel since his high?profile wedding to actress Aishwarya Rai, walking host Anjali Rao around the live set of his latest film.

The tour offers a rare glimpse into the working atmosphere of a Bollywood blockbuster, which sees Bachchan star alongside his father and wife ? an experience he describes as a ?continued honeymoon?. Pressed on whether on-set tensions arise, Bachchan says he avoids arguments as he ?prefers to sleep on the bed than the couch.?

Despite being born into Bollywood royalty, he recalls the experience of first appearing in more than a dozen flops, enduring heavy criticism ? before finally celebrating his first box office smash with the film ?Dhoom?. He maintains a close relationship with fans, stressing how disappointed he would be if some of the actors he admired turned out to be ?obnoxious human beings?.

On making it to Hollywood, Bachchan states that Indian actors are often not that interested in the roles offered to them - that he has no desire to play a "hot dog vendor" - and that Bollywood provides enough of a challenging environment for an actor.

Having starred in more than thirty movies, Bachchan says his favourite role remains simply being his father?s son, describing the pride he feels in his father ? and how Amitabh in turn enjoys showing off his son to the public, in his own personal ?Lion King moment.?

Airtimes: Indian Standard Time

Saturday, November 17 at 0600 hrs and 2130 hrs
Sunday, November 18 at 0700 and 1930 hrs

MUMBAI: Mint, India‘s fastest growing business newspaper, launched its Bangalore edition today.  Published by HT Media Ltd., the publishers of Hindustan Times and Hindustan, Mint aims to redefine the way business news is presented to Indian readers. The Wall Street Journal is Mint‘s exclusive partner in India. Bangalore, the IT hub of the nation, becomes Mint‘s third edition after New Delhi and Mumbai.

By providing refreshing clarity in business news, MINT has already carved a niche among discerning business readers in the nation‘s political and commercial capitals, where it is the No. 2 paper in terms of circulation with over 100,000 copies. Now Bangalore‘s business leaders get to enjoy its world class editorial. "We have struck a chord among Indian readers with stories that are well researched, well-written and, more importantly, honest," said Raju Narisetti, managing editor of Mint. "We believe that Bangalore‘s demanding and global-minded readers will find that Mint is a distinct and compelling newspaper."

MINT is product of a unique collaboration between HT Media and The Wall Street Journal, and brings life to the world of business while also helping readers with the Business of Life. MINT captures key trends and happenings in Indian business and economy while connecting India to the world and global business to India. It is the only Indian newspaper in the globally proven, convenient Berliner format. MINT is designed by Mario Garcia who has designed over 500 newspapers worldwide including, most recently, The Wall Street Journal.

"We are delighted to launch Mint in Bangalore," said Rajiv Verma, CEO, HT Media Ltd. "It is a key centre for commerce in the country so being here is a natural evolution for Mint and HT Media."

Added Rajan Bhalla, publisher of MINT: "Not only does MINT bring clarity to business readers, its differentiated design and a clean, clutter-free environment also offers advertisers innovative and high-impact opportunities." MINT will be available Monday through Saturday.

Every week day, MINT comes with several pages of international news and analysis from the 1,900 global journalists of The Wall Street Journal and its parent, Dow Jones & Co. These are the articles that are selected by MINT‘s editors with the Indian reader in mind.

Mint comes with Markets Watch, a Tuesday to Saturday liftout that offers comprehensive and relevant market data on stocks and mutual funds.

Campaign is a Monday marketing and advertising liftout in Mint that focuses on strategy, marketing, management and advertising. It has several exclusive columns from Wharton, Oxford, Kellogg as well as a weekly Reader - Q&A column from Jack and Suzy Welch.

On saturday, lounge, the magazine-style weekend edition of MINT, takes center stage with a 24-page, all-colour offering that has quickly emerged as a must read in Mumbai and Delhi. With exclusive columns by Vir Sanghvi and Bangalore‘s very own Shoba Narayan, as well as an extensive palette of stories on culture, art, travel, books, parenting, food, Lounge aims at reinvigorating readers with its emphasis on living richer and happier lives.

Livemint.com is the integrated online offering with Mint. Over & above bringing interactivity to Mint, Livemint.com also offers business news, updates, databases on companies, stocks etc. Livemint.com enables access to these through a variety of channels and cutting edge tools like Desktop Alerts, Email Alerts, Email Newsletters, ePaper etc. Livemint readers are already spread across the nation, and the world, with a significant number coming from Bangalore itself.