News - Issue -4 July 15, 2007

• Microsoft plans to open a software development center in Canada this year to attract talent from countries like India and avoid tough U.S. immigration issues.
  
• Kerala Government has set up an emergency fund to bring back those NRKs (Non Resident Keralites) who are involved in accidents in foreign land.
  
• Cochin Cooperative, Kanur and SUT medical colleges fees will rise to $22,000 for '07-'08. The government has approved a 63 percent hike in the fees for NRIs at medical institutions for the coming year.
  
• Self-funded engineering colleges falling under the government category in Kerala will reserve 15 percent of their seats for NRI students.
  
• The proposed NRK pension scheme will have facilities for educational assistance to the children of low income NRKs.
  
• The Indian community in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is planning a festival entitled 'Tiranga' that will begin on August 15 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of India's independence.
  
• Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr. Vayalar Ravi said that, he would take up the demand for hiking NRI deposit interest rates.
  
• A cultural heritage village has been proposed on the banks of the River Pampa at Aranmula.
  
• The Kerala Government to depute officials to assist in bringing Malayalees, who benefited from the general amnesty scheme announced by the Gulf countries, back home at the earliest.
  
• The emigration of people from India has been recorded as starting over 2,500 years ago when adventurers traveled by sailboat to the shores of Africa, South East Asia and the Far East.