Top News

·         UK High Court permitted NRIs to challenge the retrospective changes to immigration rules that affected their status in the UK.

·         The ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is to set up an international toll free number for NRI complaints and enquiries.

·         Faced with a talent shortage, Canada is relaxing the norms for visas.

·         “The UAE is poised for two years of slow economic growth” - UAE central bank.

·         Kerala merchants up against resuming Rubber Futures trading.

·         The Kerala government will offer developed land to NRKs to set up industrial units at Mananthery village in Thalassery.

·         The Kottarakkara Pravasi Samajam launched in Bahrain.

·         India’s real estate sector is poised to witness further decline due to global economic crisis - brokers and developers said.

·         The Kerala High court issued a stay order on the construction of Vizhinjam Port.

·         State Bank of India has been adjudged the Best Bank of the Year 2008 by London-based ‘The Banker´ magazine (of Financial Times group).

·         Kerala’s tourism industry to suffer due to terror threat/economic crisis.

·         India’s largest builder, DLF, has announced plans to invest Rs 4000 crore in Kerala.

·         Smart City project received a further jolt when the Kerala government changed its stand on the project’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status.

·         High air fares are expected to come down from January. 

·         Saudi Arabia has banned foreigners who cannot read or write from taking up jobs in the country.

·         An estimated 220,000 Indians live in the US illegally, recording an 81 percent increase in the number over the last seven years.

·         The ‘Blue Card’ that is a fast track work visa for skilled Indians to work in Europe is expected to be approved by January.

·         Kerala could lose 150,000 jobs, mostly in the plantation/traditional sectors –state finance minister. He urged the central government to hike NRI interest rates.

·         India asked the energy rich countries to invest surplus funds in India's infrastructure sector to help it return to 9 percent growth levels.

·         Government signed a memorandum of understanding with Indiaroots, a company that will be paid to trace the roots of the millions of curious NRIs.