US House approves faster green cards for IT Indian workers December 01, 2011 17:33
In a move that may allow more highly skilled immigrants from India and China to obtain the so-called green cards faster, the US House of Representatives has passed a bill modifying the visa system. The…
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India world’s 2nd most confident about economy after Saudi November 30, 2011 19:03
"The Indian economy has been well insulated from global economic conditions as it has been fueled by domestic consumption and the increased FDI into the country. Our economy has remained steady at a robust 8.1 per cent and this positive consumer sentiment is seen reflected in our survey," Ipsos India Managing Director Mick Gordon said. Indians have emerged as the second most confident people about their economy, across the world, on account of higher consumption and increased foreign investment, according to a report by research firm Ipsos. The report said that India's economic confidence grew by 6 points to 75 per cent in the month of October compared to the previous month, becoming the second most economically confident country after Saudi Arabia. The report, which examined citizens' assessment of the current state of their country's economy, said that the overall global average economic confidence was down by one point to 38 per cent last month. In terms of gains, two countries-- India and South Africa-- gained maximum economic confidence by five points and six points, respectively. Individually, Saudi Arabia experienced a six-point drop to 83 per cent but continued to hold its pole position, followed by India (75 per cent), Sweden (69 per cent), Canada (66 per cent ) and China (65 per cent). The countries at the bottom of the heap were -- Hungary which lost two points and was at 2 per cent, Spain gained 2 points but was low at 5 per cent, Japan further lost two points to stood at 6 per cent, France lost 1point and was at 6 per cent and Italy was unchanged at 8 per cent. The global aggregate national assessment was dragged by Europe, which was down 2 points to 24 per cent), North America (40 per cent). In fact, all the regions have reported declining national economic assessments – the Middle East and Africa was down 2 points to 60 per cent, Asia Pacific dropped by 1 points to 41 per cent. However, Latin America experienced no change in October and stood at 46 per cent. Looking ahead, 24 per cent global citizens surveyed said their local economy would be stronger six months from now, which was unchanged since August 2011. The natives of Brazil are the quite optimistic about about the state of their economy in the next six months, followed by India and Saudi Arabia. The survey was conducted in October among 18,682 people in 24 countries such as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the US.
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NRI body opposes move to tax long stay in India November 30, 2011 18:40
The largest umbrella organization of overseas Indians has urged the Indian government to withdraw a proposal to impose tax on non-resident Indians staying over 60 days during a visit to the homeland. It will be…
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IIT Graduate, Arun Majumdar get top key post in US Energy November 30, 2011 18:12
Naming yet another Indian American to a key administration post, President Barack Obama has appointed Arun Majumdar, an Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, alumnus as the top bureaucrat in the Department of Energy. Announcing the…
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Govt tightens immigration rules for women job seekers in Gulf region November 29, 2011 13:56
Government has tightened immigration rules for women seeking employment in labour- intensive Gulf region to protect them from harrasment and exploitation. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said in Rajya Sabha that government has taken a series of measures to protect interest of women including imposing age restriction of 30 years for allowing them to go to the Gulf region and some other countries for employment under ECR (Emigration Check Required) category. "Indian missions (in the region) receive complaints from women workers, particularly housemaids, on account of non-payment of salaries, long working hours, inadequate living condition, physical harassment and refusal of leave," he said, replying to a question. Ravi said his ministry has also made it mandatory for attestation of employment contract of women under ECR category by Indian missions. The missions will also have to identify the foreign employer before allowing any woman to go the region for work. As per the guidelines of the ministry, a pre-paid mobile phone will have to be given to every household worker by the employer. "If the foreign employer recruits the worker directly, he is required to deposit a security of USD 2,500 (Rs 1.3 lakh) with the Indian Mission," said Ravi. As per the rules, ECR clearance is mandatory for undergraduates seeking overseas employment in 17 countries. The countries where ECR is mandatory include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Brunei, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon and Thailand.
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49pc NRIs buy property for investment November 29, 2011 13:22
About 49 percent of non-resident Indians are looking to buy property in india purely for investment purposes. a study conducted by Sumansa Exhibitions. The study was conducted amongst 15,000 NRIs across the UAE and highlighted…
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Anna Hazare protest at Jantar Mantar on Dec11 November 28, 2011 17:17
Anna Hazare is planning to hold a day-long protest at Jantar Mantar here Dec 11 if the parliamentary panel examining the Lokpal bill does not come up with recommendations for a strong anti-graft ombudsman, an activist said Monday. “If the standing committee does not give recommendations for a strong Lokpal, Anna will sit on a day-long protest at Jantar Mantar Dec 11 with other civil society activists,” a Team Anna member Said.\ The standing committee is expected to submit its recommendations to parliament Dec 7 during the ongoing winter session. The government will be able to introduce the Lokpal bill only after that. The winter session is slated to end Dec 21. “We have approached Delhi Police, seeking permission for the day-long protest,” the source added. Earlier, a spokesperson for India Against Corruption (IAC) said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has given the go-ahead to Hazare and his associates to stage a demonstration at Ramlila ground Dec 27-Jan 5. The 74-year-old social activist was on a 12-day hunger strike here in August this year, demanding the government enact a strong law to deal with corruption in India.
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CEO Bishnujee Singh awarded of Chartered Management Institute, UK November 28, 2011 15:16
CEO Bishnujee Singh, Cayley Aerospce Inc has been conferred with Fellowship of the Chartered management Insitute on 24 Nov 2011. The professional managers UK & Globally and further recognizes this allocade is the ultimate benchmark…
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Phil Noyce apoligies for attacks on Indian Students November 28, 2011 14:01
Australian film legend Phil Noyce Sunday apologised on behalf of Australians for the spate of attacks on Indian students studying in his country. Noyce, several of whose films have been based on apartheid both in Africa as well as the neglect of the native aborigine population Down Under, said that the Indian community in Australia was living in harmony and the violence was a result of stray incidents. “I apologise for the problems they are having on behalf of Australians. Sometimes Australians can be… The Indian diaspora in Australia is growing every year. A majority of them are living and studying in harmony,” Noyce said. “It is unfortunate that visitors to another country are treated in this manner,” he added India had cautioned Australia over the increasing number of attacks on Indian students through 2009 and 2010 sparking a diplomatic wrangle between the two nations. Conservative estimates suggest that there are over 100,000 Indian students studying in the various educational hubs of Australia. Noyce, along with French filmmaker Luc Besson, is being honoured with a retrospective section dedicated towards their films at the 42nd International Film festival of India (IFFI), being held in Goa. Noyce’s films like “The Quiet American”, “Clear and Present Danger”, “Dead Calm”, “Newsfront” and “Back Roads” are being presented as part of the retrospective. Among the other popular movies directed by Noyce are the Angelina Jolie starrers “Salt” (2010) and “The Bone Collector” (1999) and Val Kilmer starrer “The Saint” (1997).
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India-Born Dominate in Science, Engineering Degrees November 28, 2011 11:17
India led all foreign-born groups in the US as the country-of-birth of science and engineering degree holders in 2010, according to a brief released in late November by the US Census Bureau.The India-born in the…
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Six Indian Americans named 2012 Rhodes scholars November 26, 2011 16:54
Six Indian American university students have been chosen the American Rhodes Scholar Class of 2012 out of a pool of 830 candidates who had been nominated by their colleges and universities.Ishan Nath, Aysha Bagchi, Nabeel…
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Feast of Buddhist arts culture in Delhi from Monday November 26, 2011 11:31
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) presented A multi-disciplinary festival of Buddhist arts and culture will bring to the capital performances and art from across Asia Nov 28-Dec 1. The festival spread across several venues like Azad Bhawan, Kamani theatre, Dilli Haat and public spaces will host performance troupes and screen Buddhist cinema from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Japan, Cambodia, Korea, Bhutan, Ladakh, Shillong, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, a statement said Thursday. It will be presented by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to coincide with the Global Buddhist Congregation to commemorate the 2,600th year of enlightenment of Lord Buddha. The objective of the festival is to showcase influence of Buddhism in performing arts and traditions which have impacted not only India but other countries where Buddhism is the prominent religion or the social factor. A spokesperson for ICCR said it was one of the first ever attempts by the cultural body to reinforce Buddhist traditions through the performing arts sector, to coincide with the global congregation being organised by the Asoka Mission. On Nov 30, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will unveil a coffee table book, "Sharnam Gacchami: An Album of Awakening". The book has been published by Full Circle with the support of the public diplomacy division of the external affairs ministry. The book portrays India as the land where Buddha preached and where great scholars planted the roots of Buddhism.
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