Aditi Khanna

Stories by Aditi Khanna

False assertions: India condemns UK lawmakers' debate on farmers' stir

False assertions: India condemns UK lawmakers' debate on farmers' stir

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2021

The Indian High Commission made its displeasure known despite the British government earlier reiterating that the three New Delhi laws on agricultural reform were a "domestic matter".

Queen did not make racist comments, confirms Oprah

Queen did not make racist comments, confirms Oprah

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2021

As the woman who conducted the explosive CBS interview, Winfrey stressed that Harry was categorical that it was neither his grandmother, the Queen, nor his grandfather, who were behind comments about Archie's mixed-race heritage from his mother's side, which are being perceived as racist.

Next week British MPs will debate India's press freedom, protestors' safety

Next week British MPs will debate India's press freedom, protestors' safety

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2021

British lawmakers will debate the issue of press freedom and safety of protesters in India next Monday in response to an e-petition which had crossed the 100,000-signature threshold required for such a debate, the House of Commons Petitions Committee confirmed on Wednesday.

Court bars 'ISIS bride' from returning to UK to fight for citizenship

Court bars 'ISIS bride' from returning to UK to fight for citizenship

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2021

The United Kingdom government on Friday won a major legal battle as the Supreme Court ruled against allowing a London-born 21-year-old woman of Bangladeshi descent, who ran away to Syria as a teenager to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group, to return and fight her citizenship case.

COVID jab didn't hurt at all, says Britain's Queen

COVID jab didn't hurt at all, says Britain's Queen

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2021

In a rare reference to private health matters, the 94-year-old monarch backed the National Health Service led vaccination programme in the UK during a video call earlier this week with health officials coordinating the rollout across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

'Nirav Modi's move to Barrack 12 may benefit his mental health'

'Nirav Modi's move to Barrack 12 may benefit his mental health'

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2021

The UK court, which had been presented with detailed submissions regarding the precarious mental health of Nirav Modi and a family history of depression and suicide during the extradition proceedings, concluded on Thursday that the diamond merchant's state of mind may well benefit from a move from his London prison cell to Barrack 12 at Mumbai Central Prison on Arthur Road. As part of a very comprehensive judgment handed down by District Judge Samuel Goozee at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in which he found a prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against the 49-year-old diamond merchant, it is noted that Modi's risk of suicide may be high but there is no evidence to point to immediate suicidal intentions. The judgment refers to the expert defence witness who had assessed Modi, forensic psychiatrist Andrew Forrester, to point out that Barrack 12 may well be a positive change from Wandsworth Prison in south-west London where he is being held on judicial remand, with the COVID-19 pandemic playing a "significant role" in the deterioration of his "depressive disorder".

Nirav Modi: Indian mission to liaise with UK authorities for early extradition

Nirav Modi: Indian mission to liaise with UK authorities for early extradition

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2021

The Indian High Commission in London on Thursday welcomed the Westminster Magistrates' Court ruling in the extradition case of diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India to stand trial on charges of fraud and money laundering related to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) letters of undertaking (LoUs) scam case. A senior diplomat at India House said the judgment, which found a prima facie case against the accused, paves the way for the government of India and the high commission officials to liaise with the UK authorities on the next stages of the procedural matters for his early extradition to India. "The judgment paves the way for the government of India, including the High Commission of India in London, to liaise with the UK authorities on the procedural matters," said the diplomat at the High Commission. "As with previous extradition cases, we will press on with the next steps," he said.

Nirav Modi judge rebuts Katju, says no evidence of political influence

Nirav Modi judge rebuts Katju, says no evidence of political influence

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2021

The UK judge who handed down his judgment on Thursday in favour of the extradition of Nirav Modi to face charges of fraud and money laundering in India said he had found no evidence of adverse political influence in the case, as claimed by the diamond merchant's legal team.

Nirav Modi can be extradited to India: UK court

Nirav Modi can be extradited to India: UK court

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2021

Wanted diamond merchant Nirav Modi on Thursday lost his fight against being extradited to India as a United Kingdom judge ruled that he can be sent back to face charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated $2 billion Punjab National Bank scam case.

From flashy diamantaire to fugitive: Nirav Modi's long road to extradition

From flashy diamantaire to fugitive: Nirav Modi's long road to extradition

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2021

The diamond merchant wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated $2-billion Punjab National Bank scam case, lost his legal battle against extradition as a UK judge ruled that he does have a case to answer before the Indian courts.

PNB scam: Nirav Modi to know his fate on Thu

PNB scam: Nirav Modi to know his fate on Thu

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2021

Wanted diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who remains behind bars in a London prison as he contests his extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering in the estimated $2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case, will find out the UK court's ruling in the nearly two-year-long legal battle on Thursday. The 49-year-old is expected to appear via videolink from Wandsworth Prison in south-west London at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where District Judge Samuel Goozee is set to hand down his judgment on whether the jeweller has a case to answer before the Indian courts. The magistrates' court ruling will then be sent back to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel for a sign off, with the possibility of appeals in the High Court on either side depending on the outcome.

Harry, Meghan won't return to royal duties: Buckingham Palace

Harry, Meghan won't return to royal duties: Buckingham Palace

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2021

The 94-year-old monarch wrote to them of the decision and also said that all their honorary military appointments and royal patronages will be redistributed among other working members of the royal family.

Oxford launches COVID-19 vaccine study on children

Oxford launches COVID-19 vaccine study on children

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2021

This new trial, a single-blind, randomised Phase II trial, will enrol 300 volunteers, with up to 240 of these volunteers receiving the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and the remainder a control meningitis vaccine, which has been shown to be safe in children but is expected to produce similar reactions, such as a sore arm.

UK media watchdog fines Khalsa TV for violence, terror references

UK media watchdog fines Khalsa TV for violence, terror references

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2021

Its order also includes a direction for the channel to broadcast a statement of Ofcom's findings on a date and in a form to be determined by the watchdog and also for KTV not to repeat the music video or the discussion programme found in breach of its rules.

Nirav Modi's remand extended till Feb 25

Nirav Modi's remand extended till Feb 25

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2021

Wanted diamond merchant Nirav Modi appeared via videolink from his London prison for a regular call-over hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, when he was further remanded in custody until February 25, when the judgment in his extradition case is to be handed down. District Judge Angus Hamilton informed Modi that he would most likely be appearing again via videolink on the day of the ruling, which will decide whether the 49-year-old jeweller has a case to answer before the Indian courts on fraud and money laundering in relation to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case. Last month, District Judge Samuel Goozee had confirmed the timeline for the judgment at the end of closing submissions in the case, during which he heard that Modi is responsible for overseeing a "ponzi-like scheme" that caused enormous fraud to PNB.

COVID: UK to bring in hotel quarantine from Feb 15

COVID: UK to bring in hotel quarantine from Feb 15

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2021

The rules affect UK residents and Irish nationals travelling from 33 countries on the so-called 'red list', which covers much of South America, southern Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Portugal as feared regions for new coronavirus mutations. Non-UK travellers from these locations are currently banned from entry anyway.

UK Parliament to consider debate on farmers' protests

UK Parliament to consider debate on farmers' protests

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2021

British Parliament's Petitions Committee will consider a Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons complex on the issue of farmers protests and press freedom in India after an online petition attracted over 106,000 signatures.

UK lockdown hero Captain Tom dies of COVID at 100

UK lockdown hero Captain Tom dies of COVID at 100

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2021

When the war veteran set out to walk 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday, he was aiming to raise a humble 1,000. But his determination to complete the challenge while using a walking frame captured the public's imagination during the pandemic and within days he had raised tens of millions of pounds, with the figure continuing to grow even after he had completed the 100th lap.

Queen likely to host Biden at Buckingham Palace: Report

Queen likely to host Biden at Buckingham Palace: Report

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2021

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is expected to host US President Joe Biden at Buckingham Palace ahead of the G7 summit scheduled between June 11 and 13.

Forced to cancel visit over Covid, UK PM greets India on R-Day

Forced to cancel visit over Covid, UK PM greets India on R-Day

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2021

In his video message to celebrate the birth of an "extraordinary Constitution" that established India "as the biggest sovereign democracy in the world", the UK PM reiterated his plan to visit India in the coming months.