Surrender of Indian passport for PIOs made mandatory

TORONTO – Persons of Indian origin (PIOs) will now have to formally renounce their citizenship and surrender their Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship, according to new rules circulated by the Indian high commission here.

Canadian PIOs will have to pay a fee of $168 to get their Indian passport cancelled by the country’s mission …. Source  : Surrender of Indian passport for PIOs made mandatory.

Saudi Arabia to deport Chinese workers over protests

RIYADH – Work on a light rail project in Saudi Arabia resumed Friday following protests earlier in the week by at least 100 Chinese workers demanding higher wages, improved housing and better working conditions, Saudi newspapers reported.

The kingdom moved to arrest at least 16 of the workers after the protest began Tuesday.
Saudi authorities [..] Read the original article: here.

Contempt of court only arises on disobedience of order: Apex court

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court has held that the proceedings against a person accused of contempt of court could not be initiated merely on speculation, assumptions and inference drawn from the fact and circumstances of the case, but only on “wilful disobedience” of the court’s order.

“In our considered opinion”, the apex court bench …. Read the original article  : Contempt of court only arises on disobedience of order: Apex court.

UAE’s Sheikha Fatima named UN goodwill ambassador

Rome, Oct 15 (IANS/WAM) The UAE’s Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, chairperson of the NGO General Women Union, was Friday named extraordinary goodwill ambassador of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

FAO director general Jacques Diouf said Sheikha Fatima was given the coveted title in recognition of her efforts and support for women’s causes. …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

EVM’s reliability challenged in Gujarat court

AHMEDABAD – Within a week of the Gujarat civic polls, a public suit challenging the “reliability and functionality” of electronic voting machines (EVMs) was Friday filed in the Gujarat High Court here.

Advocate Girish Das filed the petition, seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India to to equip the EVM polling booths with …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : EVM’s reliability challenged in Gujarat court.

New CBI regional office in Mumbai

MUMBAI – Union Minister of State Prithviraj Chavan will lay the foundation stone of the proposed Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in central Mumbai Saturday, an official said here Friday.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will preside over the function which will be held at the 1,500-square metre premises in …. Source article  : New CBI regional office in Mumbai.

Bar Council to hold mandatory test for budding lawyers

NEW DELHI – The Bar Council of India (BCI) will hold, in December, its first-ever mandatory test for law graduates seeking to begin professional practice, the law ministry said Friday.

“The BCI will conduct the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) in nine languages across 27 cities in India on December 5, 2010, said the ministry [..] Read the original article: here.

Food security bill to be brought soon: Sonia Gandhi

NAGPUR – Congress president Sonia Gandhi Friday said that the central government would soon bring forth a food security bill for the benefit of the poorest sections of society.

Addressing a Congress workers’ ‘Sadbhavna Rally’ at Sewagram in Wardha district, about 85 km from here, Gandhi pointed out that the government has already legislated …. Source article  : Food security bill to be brought soon: Sonia Gandhi.

Vodafone files petition against tax authorities move

NEW DELHI – Telecom service provider Vodafone Friday said it has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the Indian tax department’s move to classify it as an agent of the seller in the 2007 sale of Hutchinson Essar.

Vodafone had bought 67 percent stake sold by Huctchinson Whampoa, the foreign partner of …. Source  : Vodafone files petition against tax authorities move.

Do more to combat hunger, say NGOs (Oct 16 is World Food Day)

NEW DELHI – On the eve of World Food Day and in the backdrop of the release of the Global Hunger Index report 2010, civil society organisations Friday said India should focus on inclusive growth with special focus on malnourished children to combat hunger.

“The Global Hunger Index report highlights the fact that children form … Read more »»».