Fresh News

Some 10,000 Indians have been laid off in Gulf, especially workers from Kerala and other South Indian states, most of whom worked on construction projects.

 

The US financial crisis has hit the valuation of its banks. Citigroup, one of the largest banks in the world, with assets worth $1.95 trillion or Rs 9,72,075 crore, now values less than the State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest Bank.

 

From April on, Britain will implement new immigration restrictions on professionals from India and other non-EU countries so existing vacancies can first be offered to local workers.

 

Kerala bagged 11 National Tourism Awards for 2007-08 instituted by the Union Government.

 

NRI investments in India-based properties dropped by over 50% this season, with the four metro cities and “NRI-heavy” mirco markets in states like Gujarat and Kerala being among the worst hit- Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM), a global real-estate consultancy firm.

 

The Kerala Government on Wednesday asked the Centre not to sign the Asean agreement, holding that many conditions in it will have adverse impact on the agriculture sector in the State.

 

Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney, on a visit to India last month, said Canada will admit more foreign students and fewer foreign workers this year.

 

Nikkitasha Marwaha 19, of Chicago USA, a communications student, was chosen Miss India Worldwide at a pageant in Durban South Africa.

 

A survey by the Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, a Dubai based non governmental organisation, working to better the lives of Indian workers in the GCC shows that 95 percent do not save money and return to India empty handed even after working abroad for a decade. Just 5 percent of the Indian labour force including white collar workers bring back enough money to live comfortably back home.

 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus bill that has been passed by the US Congress includes restricting firms receiving government bailouts from hiring foreign workers including Indians, through the skilled worker H1B visa programme, if they are replacing American workers.

 

Immigration citizenship minister Jason Kenney, at a meeting of an all-party parliamentary committee on citizenship in Toronto, hinted at the possibility of reducing the number of immigrants admitted to the country this year because of the economic crisis.

A PAN centre was inaugurated by India's Ambassador to Oman, Anil Wadhawa that will enable NRIs and PIOs living in Gulf countries to procure a Permanent Account Number as well as tax-related services.

 

According to statistics of the Non Resident Keralites Affairs Department, in 2007 over 800,000 Keralites returned to India and 2008 figures are expected to be more disappointing.

 

A US NRI group of professionals has introduced the India Health Card, a prepaid, reloadable card that lets NRIs fund healthcare needs of family and friends back home, instead of wiring them money for doctor's bills.