News - Issue -3 July 1, 2007

• Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to allow parity between Overseas Citizens of India and Non Resident Indians has been objected to by several ministries
  
• SBI hikes NRI deposit interest rates. Details in 3rd page
  
• Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) would set up a Kerala House Hotel complex in Chennai.
  
• Indian Americans from across the USA and business leaders from India will attend a major fund raising event that aims to collect between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for Senator Hillary Clinton's Presidential campaign.
  
• Akkulam tourist village would get a big boost with the Rs.100 crore International Convention Centre complex.
  
• Kerala's famous black and brown Kozhikodan Halwa is making waves in the Gulf, and in keeping with its popularity, the Government of Kerala plans to protect it under the Geographical Indication (GI) status.
  
• Nehru Trophy boat race on August 11, 2007 at Punnamada backwaters, Alappuzha District.
  
• India has today set up two control rooms to ascertain the safety of its nationals in Oman after a super cyclone hit that country’s eastern coast yesterday. One Indian was killed and eight others are reported missing.
  
• Kerala Government’s Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs (NORKA) department would be set up in Chennai to oversee the welfare of Malayalees.
  
• About 100 Indians who entered Saudi Arabia on a pilgrim visa and overstayed in the search of jobs were deported recently.
  
• Hundreds of passengers travelling to India may have to make alternative arrangements with Kuwait indicating that it would not allow 'Air India' and 'Indian' flights to land in its capital from July 1. The dispute is since resolved.