H S Rao And Ibrahim Manik

Stories by H S Rao And Ibrahim Manik

Indian eco campaigner climbs UK Parliament roof

Indian eco campaigner climbs UK Parliament roof

Rediff.com   12 Oct 2009

Brikesh Singh, a representative from Greenpeace India, and other campaigners occupied the roof of the building in the shadow of the clock tower on Sunday. Singh said that 20 campaigners, including himself, went up to the roof top to demand that developed countries show leadership to tackle climate change.

British spies tried to get rid of Krishna Menon!

British spies tried to get rid of Krishna Menon!

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2009

'The attempt to oust High Commissioner V K Krishna Menon failed because of the support of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,' the book titled The Defence of the Realm: The Authorised History of MI5 by Professor Christopher Andrew released on Monday said.

UK: Now, stricter rules for students' visa

UK: Now, stricter rules for students' visa

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2009

The third phase of stricter rules for foreign students under the tier4 of the points-based system will come into force from today. According to the UK Border Agency, foreign students need to prove that they have unconditional offer of a seat at a licensed college, university or school under the new visa requirements introduced from March this year.

CBI to drop case against Quattrochi on Oct 3

CBI to drop case against Quattrochi on Oct 3

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2009

The Central Bureau of Investigation will formally move an application before the Magistrates Court in Delhi on Saturday withdrawing the cases against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in the Bofors gun deal, the Union Law Minister Verrappa Moily has said. "The Government has taken a decision for withdrawal of the cases and the Public Prosecutor, on behalf of the CBI, will move an application before the Magistrate's Court on October 3," Moily told PTI in an interview.

UK immigrants face discrimination, alleges forum

UK immigrants face discrimination, alleges forum

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2009

It alleged that immigrants in Britain are forced to pay excessive fees for Home Office Services. The Home Office is presently conducting a charging consultation to further increase the existing 'unwarranted high fees', it said.

Indian dies after racial attack in London

Indian dies after racial attack in London

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2009

An elderly man of Indian origin succumbed to his injuries on Monday, a week after a shocking race attack by a gang of schoolboys outside a mosque in south London. The attack took place when Kolkata-born Ekram ul Haque, 67, was battered to the ground in front of his five-year-old grand-daughter, while he was returning from a local mosque on August 31.The attackers, who were black and wore hooded tops, are believed to be as young as 12, according to a media report.

Lockerbie bomber's release 'doctored'?

Lockerbie bomber's release 'doctored'?

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2009

Britain, Scotland and Libya connived to free the Lockerbie bomber responsible for the death of 270 people, a media report claimed on Sunday, even as such allegations were rejected that the decision to release him was based on medical advice from doctors paid by Tripoli.

Video shows Lankan forces executing Tamils

Video shows Lankan forces executing Tamils

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2009

A disturbing video purportedly showing Sri Lankan soldiers executing nine Tamils was broadcast in London on Wednesday, triggering war crime charges against Colombo which categorically denied that its security forces were involved in such atrocities.

UK: No more automatic citizenship after 5 years

UK: No more automatic citizenship after 5 years

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2009

The new proposals unveiled on Monday by the government go a step further. Migrants will be awarded points based on the skills shortages in Britain and their earnings and qualifications. Under the new system, applicants for citizenship require a total of 20 points to gain probationary citizenship either through the work route -- meeting the immigration rules (10 points) and passing knowledge of life in the UK or English language test (10 points).

Iran can produce nuke warhead within a year:Report

Iran can produce nuke warhead within a year:Report

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2009

Iran is poised to produce its first nuclear warhead and will be able to do so within a year of an order from its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a media report said on Monday. Quoting Western intelligence sources, The Times daily claimed that Iran has perfected the technology to create and detonate a nuclear warhead and is merely awaiting the green signal from its Supreme Leader.

LeT responsible for Mumbai terror attack: UK

LeT responsible for Mumbai terror attack: UK

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2009

Holding the Lashkar-e-Tayiba responsible for the terror attack on Mumbai last year, a British Parliamentary committee on Sunday said that several major terror attacks across the world, including in London, Madrid and Bali, had origins in the tribal areas of Pakistan. A report by the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee quoted a former Central Intelligence Agency chief as saying that the Pakistan-based LeT has reached a 'merge point' with the al-Qaeda.

Indian arrested in 80 million pounds scam in UK

Indian arrested in 80 million pounds scam in UK

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2009

The alleged mastermind of the scheme Chelsea-based Indian entrepreneur Nandan Pruthi and his business partners Kenneth Peacock and John Anderson were arrested after a series of raids conducted by the London police in the city, the Observer newspaper reported.

'Church of England should stop Vedanta mining'

'Church of England should stop Vedanta mining'

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2009

Pressure is mounting on the Church of England, a stakeholder in the British mining giant Vedanta to "use its power" to refrain it from exploiting bauxite from mountains of Orrisa, considered sacred by the local tribals.

Over 100 British Council jobs to come to India

Over 100 British Council jobs to come to India

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2009

Final decisions about which jobs will go to India will be taken in the next few weeks but they are expected to include 58 finance posts, up to 40 IT posts and 15 posts for a new centre of excellence. About half the jobs to be cut will be in education and teaching. Some of these areas will have to be contracted out to voluntary groups or local authorities.

Recession: British Queen lost pound 75 million!

Recession: British Queen lost pound 75 million!

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2009

The value of her private estate fell by 19 per cent in 2008-09 due to a crash in property and investment markets.

Thank you for everything: British PM to Lord Paul

Thank you for everything: British PM to Lord Paul

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2009

Brown, his wife Sarah and their two children were among some 1,200 guests who came together at the London zoo to remember Ambika, Lord Paul's daughter, who passed away 41 years ago after she was brought to London for treatment of leukaemia.

'Hinduism does not condemn homosexuality'

'Hinduism does not condemn homosexuality'

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2009

The Hindu Council in United Kingdom on Friday welcomed the Delhi High Court's historic judgment, which decriminalised consensual homosexual relations, and said Hinduism does not condemn gay people. "The British Hindu homosexual community will welcome the news that their brethren in India are now able to enjoy the same freedom as they do here," said Anil Bhanot, general secretary of Hindu Council UK.

LeT cell in Mumbai had crucial role in 26/11: BBC

LeT cell in Mumbai had crucial role in 26/11: BBC

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2009

Pakistan-based terrorist leaders who conveyed precise police positions to the 26/11 attackers may have been guided by LeT spotters on the ground in Mumbai rather than by live television coverage, a British Broadcasting Corporation investigative report claimed on Sunday.

Indians on biz trips to UK must get visas quickly

Indians on biz trips to UK must get visas quickly

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2009

Participating in a debate on 'British Opportunity in India and Indian Investments in the United Kingdom,' Lord Navnit Dholakia said, "Bilateral trade is impacted by our own visa regime." Drawing attention towards the difficulties faced by Indian businessmen in obtaining visas, Dholakia said, "We should make sure that business visitors and senior providers are facilitated to travel to the UK to explore business opportunities and business contracts.

Indian immigrants 'treated like criminals' in UK

Indian immigrants 'treated like criminals' in UK

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2009

Indian immigrants, with permanent residency rights in the United Kingdom, have complained of harassment and 'treatment like criminals' by British immigration officers on returning to the country from trips abroad, a forum representing highly-skilled workers has claimed.