H S Rao And Ibrahim Manik

Stories by H S Rao And Ibrahim Manik

Immigrants contributed to UK economy: Lord Paul

Immigrants contributed to UK economy: Lord Paul

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2008

Lord Paul, a member of the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, said he had strong reservations about the Committee's recommendation that immigration should be measured by the impact on income per head of resident population. He said other peers had doubts about the proposal but had not been in a majority. "The report does really concentrate on the benefits of immigration per capita, which I don't really agree with myself.

Paswan assures iron-ore blocks for Mittal

Paswan assures iron-ore blocks for Mittal

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2008

Steel Minister Ram Vilas said in a meeting that the prime minister could intervene, if need be, to provide iron ore blocks to Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, for his two proposed 12 mn tonne steel plants in India. The world's biggest steelmaker has signed MoUs with Jharkhand and Orissa governments to set up greenfield steel plants wherein it will invest a total of Rs 80000 cr. ArcelorMittal has already been allotted two coal blocks, one each, in Orissa and Jharkhand.

'Indira gave India nationhood & democracy'

'Indira gave India nationhood & democracy'

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2008

"She was a great prime minister.. and a greater human being. She gave nationhood for India and she would stand up to the erstwhile USSR or the USA or anybody else," Lord Paul, who had written a book on Gandhi and was considered a close friend of her, said while paying tributes to her at the Nehru Centre in London on Wednesday night as part of the International Women's Festival, 'Sakhi'.

Lord Paul on Commonwealth trade deal

Lord Paul on Commonwealth trade deal

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2008

Paul, who will soon lead a British Parliamentary delegation to India, said: "The CPA wants Commonwealth governments to respond to the needs of people -- to build communities, to address the challenges arising from the growth of urbanisation, to agree a global trade deal and to tackle the greatest threat to us all -- climate change." "There remains more work to be done in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Fiji, but the pressure is on," Paul said on Monday night.

Prince Harry heads home from 'Delhi' base

Prince Harry heads home from 'Delhi' base

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2008

The 23-year-old prince, who is third in line to the British throne and has earned fullsome prise from many, including grandmother Queen Elizabeth II for his effort, was put on a troop transport plane with about 170 personnel. Prince Harry was posted on a front line base called 'Delhi'. Harry fought the Taliban alongside Gurkhas recruited into the British army from Nepal. Many of them had their education in Kathmandu or India.

UK hit by strongest earthquake in 25 years

UK hit by strongest earthquake in 25 years

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2008

The United States Geological Survey claimed that while the event was "light to moderate on a world scale, it was very significant", given the UK's relatively uneventful seismic history. The tremor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, hit shortly before 1 am, with its epicentre in Lincolnshire, but people were woken as far away as Wales, Scotland and Yorkshire. The tremor is the biggest in Britain since 1984, when north Wales was hit by a quake, which was registered at 5.4.

India must help defeat Prabhakaran: Tamil leader

India must help defeat Prabhakaran: Tamil leader

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2008

"Prabhakaran will never agree for anything and not a single country in the world will support his demand for a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka," V Anandasangaree, former lawmaker and president of Tamil United Liberation Front told media persons in London on Sunday night.

Caparo to build Tata Nano body

Caparo to build Tata Nano body

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2008

Selected inner structural panels will be pressed and assembled by Caparo at a new facility in Singur, adjacent to the Tata Nano manufacturing plant in West Bengal.

Colour photographs of Gandhi in new book

Colour photographs of Gandhi in new book

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2008

The 144-page book titled Mahatma Gandhi -- Images and Ideas for Non-Violence has been authored by broadcast journalist Vijay Rana. It was released at a function in Nehru Centre on Wednesday night.

India optimistic about IPI gas pipeline: Deora

India optimistic about IPI gas pipeline: Deora

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2008

Murli Deora has expressed optimism over the IPI gas pipeline project, confirming that talks are on with both Iran and Pakistan to finalise the project.

Change in UK migrant rules: Dholakia lambasts govt

Change in UK migrant rules: Dholakia lambasts govt

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2008

Describing as a 'shameful decision' to change the conditions of the highly skilled migrants programme affecting thousands of Indians, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Lord Navnit Dholakia has urged the Gordon Brown government in Britain to rectify the mistake.

Brown leaves for tour of China, India after delay

Brown leaves for tour of China, India after delay

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2008

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday left for a key mission to China and India, his first since assuming office, aiming at improving economic and cultural ties with the two Asian giants. The departure of the British leader was slightly delayed owing to the crash landing of an international passenger plane, short of the runway, at Heathrow Airport. Three people sustained minor injuries in the incident.

British PM heads to India with a mission

British PM heads to India with a mission

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2008

Brown, who has pledged to accord 'very high priority' to strengthening and deepening relations with a 'pulsating, dynamic India,' leaves for China on Thursday en route to New Delhi -- his first visit as prime minister to the country after taking over from Tony Blair in June last year.

Scotland Yard to send team to Rawalpindi

Scotland Yard to send team to Rawalpindi

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2008

The spokesman said, "We confirm that, at the request of the Pakistan government, a small team of officers from the MPS Counter Terrorism Command will be traveling to Pakistan to provide support and assistance in the investigation into the death of Benazir Bhutto." Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday night announced that he has sought help from the Scotland Yard for the investigations into the assassination of Bhutto.

Foreign law firms? No, say Indian lawyers

Foreign law firms? No, say Indian lawyers

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2007

The United Kingdom-based Indian lawyers are up in arms against a reported move by the Indian government to allow foreign law firms to practice in the country without insisting on a reciprocal arrangement in Britain.

Visitor visa to UK to be restricted to 3 months

Visitor visa to UK to be restricted to 3 months

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2007

Meanwhile, immigration groups said the new proposals would be 'unfair' on poorer families, while the Conservatives dismissed the proposals as a 'headline grabbing gimmick' and repeated their call for an annual limit on immigration. Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said the new measures would discriminate against families from countries such as India.

Kamal Nath makes a point with 'fat cows'

Kamal Nath makes a point with 'fat cows'

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2007

Launching his book India's Century in London, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, a seven-time MP told an audience compromising top industry honchos that he wants to provide "understanding for business people and global policy makers attempting to formulate strategies for forging a mutually beneficial engagement with India in the 21st century."

N-deal: 'Larger political consensus exists'

N-deal: 'Larger political consensus exists'

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2007

The Left, which provides crucial outside support to the ruling Congress-led UPA, has threatened the government with mid-term polls if the talks with IAEA for the implementation of the Indo-US deal continue beyond December.

UK: NRI MP attends pro-LTTE event, flayed

UK: NRI MP attends pro-LTTE event, flayed

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2007

The presence of Vaz, parliamentarian from Indian-dominated Leicester East, and a fellow Labour MP, Joan Ryan, drew an angry response from the Sri Lankan High Commission, which released a statement claiming that the event was a 'clear violation of the UK terrorism laws.'

UK: NRI lawyer jailed for helping criminals

UK: NRI lawyer jailed for helping criminals

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2007

The Kingston Crown Court sentenced the lawyer from Wembly to 14.5 years in prison for his corrupt practices. Sagar, who worked at Mehra and Co, was found responsible for concerted efforts by the gang to evade a successful police investigation, police said.