Fresh News

The process to notify 'fair prices' for lands in Kerala was fast progressing, in order to curb stamp duty evasion during land sales.

 

Aiming to ensure `quality building' in the construction sector Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra (KESNIK) will set up buildingmaterials testing labs.

 

With ginger prices riding high on supply shortage, farmers in Karnataka and Kerala are back to ginger farming in a big way.

 

As per the proposal submitted by the MAHE Trust, the PIO/NRI University will come up in Bangalore to provide affordable and quality education to children of Non-Resident Indians (NRI).

 

All tame elephants in Kerala will soon come to be identified by a 10-digit number, thanks to an electronic tag.

 

A two-day jamboree of overseas Indians from South East Asia and Pacific nations will be held in Singapore in October this year.

 

NRI steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is likely to buy the costliest mansion in London, worth 117 million pounds ($230 million), for his son Aditya.

 

Kerala needs a high-speed road corridor from Kasargod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south said one minister in Kerala Government.

 

The Kerala government decided to set up the State Institute of Medical Education and Technology (SIMET) to promote research in medical education sector.

 

Qatar Airways plans to operate scheduled flights to Kozhikode,the northern city of Kerala,India, beginning June 15.

Nepalese Citizens can now send money home easily through banks

Nepalese citizens working in India can now remit funds to their families in Nepal using the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system. More than 44,000 branches of banks, which are participating in the NEFT system in India, can offer this remittance facility. Nepalese citizens, staying in India can avail of this service as either as a walk-in customer or as an account holder and can initiate the remittance to a beneficiary in Nepal upto Rs.50,000. The scheme envisages concessional charges as it is aimed at poor migrant workers of Nepalese origin in India who desire to remit money to their kith and kin. The money would flow to a designated branch of State Bank of India. From here it would be consolidated and flown to Nepal SBI, which in turn would disburse the remittance proceeds to the beneficiaries.

The system has been developed by State Bank of India in close coordination with the Reserve Bank of India as a follow up of the report of the Committee on “Modalities of Workers’ Remittance between India and Nepal” constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (Chairman- Dr.R.B.Barman, Executive Director).

The one-way funds transfer mechanism between India and Nepal was today operationalised. The system was inaugurated by the Reserve Bank Executive Director, Dr.R.B.Barman in the presence of senior officials of RBI, Nepal Rashtra Bank, large commercial banks in India and Nepal SBI Ltd. RBI took the initiative as a part of the SAARC FINANCE activities.

Fresh News

Monsoon likely to hit Kerala on 29 May 2008.

 

Coffee production in Kerala for 2008-09 is likely to increase by 17% compared to the previous year.

 

Kerala achieved a record 92.09 pass per centage in the 2007-08 Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination results.

 

The proposed Rs.53.48 billion port at Vizhinjam near here will be built by a consortium, led by Hyderabad-based Lanco Kondapalli Power Private Ltd. Lanco won the tender last week.

 

India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the southwest monsoon would break over the Kerala on 29th May.

 

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) today allocated GSM mobile spectrum to many new players in Kerala.

 

An all time high pass percentage of 81.05 per cent was recorded in the Kerala Higher Secondary Examination.

 

Two students from the UAE - Jesna S Kumar from the New Indian Model School, Sharjah, and Najih KM from The Model School, Abu Dhabi - have topped the Gulf with a total of 96 per cent in Science in Grade XII Kerala Board.

 

Lanco Consortium has emerged winner for development of the Rs80bn (US$2bn) Vizhinjam International Container Port Project in Kerala.

 

Qatar plans to operate scheduled flights to the south Indian coastal city of Kozhikode, the airline’s third gateway in the state of Kerala.

 

Upset over the government's 'refusal' to consider its long-pending demands, including a pay revision, Govt. doctors in Kerala to go on indefinite stir.

India sounds global recall of passport series

The government of India has issued instructions that all Indian passports with serial numbers Z-000001 to Z-045925 are to be recalled and new passports issued in their place.

 

Some of these include certain passports issued by the Indian Consulate General in Dubai between February and September 2007.

 

"This is a global recall. It is not restricted to the consulate in Dubai alone," said Venu Rajamony, the Consul General in Dubai.

 

Rajamony assured that Indians whose passports fall under these serial numbers will be issued new passports without any delay.

 

"Those who want it on an emergency basis will be issued with a new passport on the same day."

Indian Rupee Depreciates Sharply

The rupee's exchange rate is determined by capital flows and demand for the
dollar, Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said on Thursday when asked
about the rupee's slide to 13-month lows this week.

The rupee fell to 42.67 per dollar on Wednesday, its weakest since
mid-April 2007, weighed down by worries about record oil prices, a widening
trade deficit, signs of a growth slowdown, and concerns foreign investment
flows may weaken.
"The rupee will move both ways. It will appreciate and depreciate. That
depends on inflow and outflow and also demand
for the dollar," Chidambaram told reporters when asked about the rupee's
recent slide.

"Rupee will move always." He said there was no proposal before the ministry
to cut import duties on crude oil. "No. This will not help prices also,"
he said.

However, he said there was significant scope for cement prices to fall. On
Wednesday, Indian cement firms agreed to cut
prices in some states after meeting Trade Minister Kamal Nath. High
cement, metals and food prices have contributed to
annual inflation rising to 3-½ year highs of 7.6 percent in late April. In
response, the government and the central bank have announced a string of
measures to calm price pressures.

Fresh News

Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan Friday said software exports from the state touched Rs.12 billion.

 

India-born Manjula Sood is all set to become Britain's first Asian woman Lord Mayor when she takes up the top post in Leicester city next week.

 

Kerala is gearing up to host the stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.

 

The Kerala Government is planning to bring in a new legislation permitting it to collect one per cent of the total cost for new houses.

 

The State Board results should be out in a couple of days and the Education department has issued a statement that the pass percentage is going to be a whooping 92%.

 

Kerala’s IT graduates have technological know-how but are not so good at articulating their thoughts in English,” said Mr Sashi Tharoor

 

The South-west Monsoon is likely to hit Kerala coast about five to seven days before the scheduled date of June 1.

 

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Kerala for revival of the loss-making Steel Complex Limited SCL at Calicut.

 

Indian Rupee depreciated sharply and crossed 42 mark against Dollar on 13th May.

Ministry says 3.11m expats from 202 countries comprise labour force

A total of 3.11 million foreign workers from 202 countries are employed by approximately 260,000 establishments in the UAE, according to the Labour Report 2007 released by the Ministry of Labour.

 

The ministry released the detailed report yesterday to highlight labour rights and meet challenges being posed by the economic boom and demographic structure changes.

 

As a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Arab Labour Organisation, and other labour-focused multilateral organisations, the UAE deals transparently and objectively with all its international labour obligations, and views rational internal and external criticism as constructive and helpful, said the report.

It outlines and clarifies specific measures that have been undertaken and that are being undertaken by the UAE government since as with any complex society, new challenges and new problems are constantly arising, especially as demographic change. As such, the report is both a progress assessment and a blueprint for ongoing action.

 

The report provides a synopsis of the positive changes that UAE leaders are taking to achieve goals and objectives designed to manage, enhance, and broaden the laws and policies needed to provide a countrywide system of labour rights. By harmonising all of these components, the UAE intends to be a model for all countries, in the Gulf region and beyond, it said.

 

Record growth rate

 

As the UAE acknowledges there is much more to be done to expand the capacity to enforce labour laws and fully protect the rights of workers in the country, the report suggested that the current progress needs to be viewed in context and scope by all who have an interest in the issue.

For example, expatriate labour in the UAE is exceptionally large and culturally diverse, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the private sector labour force. Meeting the challenges presented by these numbers takes diligence and time, as well as fiscal and management resources.

 

The UAE is experiencing an unprecedented rate of growth. In fact the current construction boom taking place surpassed that of any other country in the Arabian Gulf region.

 

Also, the UAE has made great progress legislating and enforcing the rights of its labour force.

 

These rights affect every aspect of workers' lives and have been carefully researched and measured against international standards, said the report.

 

Governance: Legislative initiatives

 

The UAE has been an active participant in several international forums dealing with the latest and most widely accepted labour rights provisions, including the 95th session of the international labour conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2006, and the high level segment of the UN Economic and Social Council held in Geneva from July 3-5, 2006.

 

Other legislative initiatives addressed specific situations such as civil transactions (federal law No 51 of 1985), camel races (federal law No 15 of 2005) and human trafficking (federal law No 51 of 2006). These laws underscore the extent to which the UAE has responded to new challenges as they have arisen.

The UAE spares no effort to amend its legislation to accommodate evolving labour right guarantees for legal workers.

It established a collective labour dispute committee in each labour jurisdiction.

The Ministry of Labour has welcomed and encouraged public debate on the draft law and posted its content on its website for this purpose.

Fresh News

The Kerala Builders Forum is organizing the 'Kerala Property Expo' from May 8 to May 17 at three different locations in the Middle East.

 

Kerala will become the first state in the country to make human heart valves from bovine calves.

 

The hand loom city of Kerala ,Kannur, will get the NIFT. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is opening its ninth center in Kannur Kerala.

 

India, Saudi plan multi-entry visas for businessmen.

 

Central government promises textile park to Kerala.

 

Kerala plans to extensively reclaim land from the sea along its 575-km coast to meet land demand for development projects.

 

Kerala government has earmarked an investment support of INR 25.70 crore to Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited Trivandrum.

 

Engg colleges in Kerala face idle capacity despite 100% job absorption.

Fresh News

Idea Cellular and UAE mobile operator Etisalat to offer mobile money remittance in Kerala.

 

A special team of senior officials from Kerala finalised a deal at Kolkota on Tuesday to purchase 2000 tonnes of rice from West Bengal.

 

Amway India is all set to source coconut oil from Thrissur in Kerala.

 

The Kerala Agriculture University's Pepper Research Station has developed a unique new pepper variety that can resist the wilt disease and drought conditions.

 

Indian Rupee reached its recent low of Rs 41.57 against Dollor on 8th as demand from Oil marketing companies due to rising Crude prices.

 

Kerala is all set to promote mango farming and apiculture as the state agriculture department will launch a special drive and distribute free saplings.

 

SBI raises NRE and FCNB interest rates from MAy 1.

 

Duke of Cambridge, a pub owned by an NRI restaurateur Geetie Singh in Islington on the outskirts of London has been chosen as the best Organic Restaurant.

 

NRI industrialist Rami Ranger has been given the Pride of India award for his contribution to British business and industry.

 

America's Federal Reserve has lowered a key interest rate by a quarter point to 2%.

Fresh News

Registration Minister S Sarma told media persons here yesterday that preparation of the location-wise draft fair price was progressing and would be released in July. This will prevent reporting of lower land value to save stamp duty.

 

The ailing Kerala government-owned Steel Complex Ltd (SCL) at Kozhikode will be now managed by public sector Steel Authority of India(SAIL).

 

Kerala to set up training centres for job seekers

at all the districts in the state this year to impart training to those aspiring to find jobs abroad.

 

Health Department will now treat non EU overseas doctors fairly and equally based on merit in cases of recruitment to the National Health System.

 

One third of Keralites benefit by NRI Remittance according to a scholar with the Centre for Development Studies in Thiruvananthapuram.