Aditi Khanna &Amp; Neelabh Srivastava

Stories by Aditi Khanna &Amp; Neelabh Srivastava

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange marries lawyer fiance in London prison

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange marries lawyer fiance in London prison

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2022

Moris, dressed in a wedding gown designed by British designer and Assange supporter Dame Vivienne Westwood, arrived at the prison with her sons and Assange's father Richard and brother Gabriel.

Ukraine invasion: UK media watchdog revokes Russian channel RT's licence

Ukraine invasion: UK media watchdog revokes Russian channel RT's licence

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2022

Ofcom ruled that it did not consider RT's licensee, ANO TV Novosti, 'fit and proper' to hold a UK broadcast licence.

Assange may turn to Priti Patel after UK top court turs down plea

Assange may turn to Priti Patel after UK top court turs down plea

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2022

The 50-year-old's lawyers had argued that he should not be taken to the US because of a real and 'oppressive' risk of suicide and won the right to appeal in Britain's highest court.

India ranks 2nd for global investment in digital shopping

India ranks 2nd for global investment in digital shopping

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2022

India is the second-largest global venture capital investment hub for digital shopping companies, growing by a whopping 175 per cent from $8 billion in 2020 to $22 billion in 2021, according to an official analysis released here on Wednesday. On a global scale, India came in second to the US last year, which attracted $51 billion in investment, followed by China at third with $14 billion and the UK at fourth with $7 billion. Within India, Bengaluru comes out on top globally with $14 billion worth of Venture Capital (VC) investments in digital shopping in 2021, followed by Gurugram at No. 7 with $4 billion and Mumbai at No. 10 with $3 billion.

Recognise Russia as 'terrorist country': Ukraine President to UK Parliament

Recognise Russia as 'terrorist country': Ukraine President to UK Parliament

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2022

In an emotional address, Zelenskyy invoked Britain's war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill's words, promising to fight Russian troops in the air, sea and on the streets.

UK announces 'first round of sanctions' against 5 Russian banks, 3 businessmen

UK announces 'first round of sanctions' against 5 Russian banks, 3 businessmen

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2022

The United Kingdom government on Tuesday imposed tough sanctions against five Russian banks and three super-rich oligarchs from the country over President Vladimir Putin's aggressive action on the Ukraine border.

UK to hit Russia with 'first barrage' of sanctions, says Johnson

UK to hit Russia with 'first barrage' of sanctions, says Johnson

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2022

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK will hit Russia with a "first barrage' of economic sanctions, warning that President Vladimir Putin is fixed on a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine".

Indian-origin executives in 'lean' Unilever corporate shakeup

Indian-origin executives in 'lean' Unilever corporate shakeup

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2022

UK-headquartered consumer goods giant Unilever on Tuesday announced a major organisational shakeup to make the company leaner, which involves some of its Indian-origin executives, and plans to lay off 1,500 staff as part of the wider restructuring of its global operations. Sanjiv Mehta retains executive leadership of Mumbai-headquartered subsidiary Hindustan Unilever, while Unilever chief operating officer (COO) Nitin Paranjpe will take on a new role as chief transformation officer & chief people officer, leading the business transformation and heading the HR function for the transformed organisation. The company said Sunny Jain, president of beauty & personal care, has decided to leave Unilever to set up an "investment fund in technology megatrends".

UK warns of plot to install pro-Russian leader in Ukraine

UK warns of plot to install pro-Russian leader in Ukraine

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2022

The UK government has taken the unusual step of making a formal statement to warn of a Russian plot to install a pro-Kremlin leader in Ukraine amid growing tensions in the region.

Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 variant under investigation in UK

Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 variant under investigation in UK

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2022

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which monitors data related to the pandemic, said the sub-lineage known as BA.2 shows a low number of cases in the country, with the original Omicron lineage BA.1 still dominant.

Covid has peaked, says British PM, does away with face mask, curbs

Covid has peaked, says British PM, does away with face mask, curbs

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2022

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced his government's decision to lift all the additional restrictions imposed to contain the spread of Omicron, including the mandatory wearing of face masks anywhere, from next Thursday after analysis showed that the new variant of Covid-19 has now most likely peaked in the country.

Mallya may now be evicted from his London house

Mallya may now be evicted from his London house

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2022

Embattled businessman Vijay Mallya on Tuesday lost a legal battle to hold on to his plush London home after a British court refused to grant him a stay of enforcement in a long-running dispute with Swiss bank UBS. The 18/19 Cornwall Terrace luxury apartment overlooking Regent's Park in London, described in court as an "extraordinarily valuable property worth many tens of millions of pounds", is currently being occupied by Mallya's 95-year-old mother Lalitha. Delivering his judgment virtually for the Chancery Division of the High Court, Deputy Master Matthew Marsh concluded there were no grounds for him to grant further time for the Mallya family to repay a 20.4-million loan to UBS - the claimant in the case.

Will Rishi Sunak move next door, into 10, Downing Street?

Will Rishi Sunak move next door, into 10, Downing Street?

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2022

As Boris Johnson's "partygate" troubles mount and members of his own Conservative Party demand he step down as the British prime minister, one name is doing the rounds as a frontrunner to take charge -- his Indian-origin chancellor and Downing Street neighbour Rishi Sunak.

Arms dealer Bhandari sues French firm for unpaid cut in Indian deal

Arms dealer Bhandari sues French firm for unpaid cut in Indian deal

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2022

Sanjay Bhandari, an accused arms dealer wanted in India on money laundering and tax evasion charges, is pursuing a separate legal battle of his own in France over an alleged unpaid cut from a large Indian defence contract dating back over 10 years, according to a UK media report.

Common cold T cells may offer Covid protection: Study

Common cold T cells may offer Covid protection: Study

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2022

The researchers believe their findings provide a blueprint for a second-generation, universal vaccine that could prevent infection from current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron.

Booster dose better at protecting Omicron patients above 65: Study

Booster dose better at protecting Omicron patients above 65: Study

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2022

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) analysis showed that around three months after the third jab, protection against hospitalisation among those aged 65 and over remains at about 90 per cent.

UK has sought info on use of FCRA by India, House of Lords told

UK has sought info on use of FCRA by India, House of Lords told

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2022

The UK government has asked for specific numbers over a period to drill-down on the use of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by the Indian government around funding licences of non-governmental organisations, the House of Lords was informed during a debate.

PM security breach: Experts flay lack of coordination among agencies

PM security breach: Experts flay lack of coordination among agencies

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2022

"The entire edifice of security of the PM, in a federal structure like ours, stands on the strong bond of mutual trust and confidence between state police and the SPG. State police are fully responsible for ensuring a secure route for the PM's travel," former NSG Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia said.

Expert warns of more virulent coronavirus after milder Omicron

Expert warns of more virulent coronavirus after milder Omicron

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2022

The reduced severity of Omicron is good news for now, but it is the result of an "evolutionary mistake" as Covid-19 is transmitting very efficiently and there is no reason for it to become milder, indicating that the next variant could be more virulent, a leading Indian-origin scientist from the University of Cambridge has warned.

Omicron's mildness a 'mistake', Covid not getting milder: UK expert

Omicron's mildness a 'mistake', Covid not getting milder: UK expert

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2022

The reduced severity of the Omicron variant is good news for now, but it is the result of an 'evolutionary mistake' and does not indicate that the virus which causes COVID-19 is becoming less virulent, a leading Indian-origin scientist from the University of Cambridge warned on Thursday.