H S Rao In London

Stories by H S Rao In London

UK pledges 14.5 mn pounds for Indian slums

UK pledges 14.5 mn pounds for Indian slums

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2010

The Department for International Development-funded programme will support India's flagship Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission programme.

SRK unfazed by Shiv Sena's barbs

SRK unfazed by Shiv Sena's barbs

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2010

Unfazed by Shiv Sena's attack on him, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan had a dig at the party and stuck to his stand of pitching for inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in Indian Premier League.

'Tesco may open 1st Cash & Carry outlet in India'

'Tesco may open 1st Cash & Carry outlet in India'

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2010

Tesco already has presence in India through a joint venture with Tatas. These stores are located in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Chennai. Greg said, 'we see a huge opportunity for future growth in India'.

'Jyoti Basu was the great PM India never had'

'Jyoti Basu was the great PM India never had'

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2010

The Indian community in Britain on Sunday mourned the death of Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu, with leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul saying that the veteran leader was the 'great prime minister India never had'. "In Basu, we have lost a great son of Bengal, a great Indian and for me a great friend and a great prime minister India never had," Lord Paul said in his heartfelt condolences.

NRI Keith Vaz appointed to UK's top security panel

NRI Keith Vaz appointed to UK's top security panel

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2010

The Joint Committee on National Security Strategy has now been formerly moved in the House of Commons and will be meeting informally before the end of this month.

UK summons Chinese envoy over execution

UK summons Chinese envoy over execution

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2009

Britain on Tuesday summoned the Chinese ambassador in London to the Foreign Office to protest the execution of a man of Pakistani-British decent convicted for drug smuggling, despite making 27 representations to China on the issue, including a last-minute appeal by Premier Gordon Brown.

UK accuses China of hijacking climate summit

UK accuses China of hijacking climate summit

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2009

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday that UN climate summit in Copenhagen was 'held to ransom' by a small group of countries, as his climate secretary accused China of hijacking the talks to block a legally binding treaty.

Osama is not in Pakistan,says Rehman Malik

Osama is not in Pakistan,says Rehman Malik

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2009

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik asserted on Monday that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is not in his country and if anyone provided information about him the government would take action.

Incredible India campaign wins World Travel Award

Incredible India campaign wins World Travel Award

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2009

The reigning Miss World, Ksenia Kukhinova of Russia, presented the award to India's tourism minister, Kumari Selja at a gala function held at the Grosvenor House in London.

India can't handle fiscal deficit for long: Pranab

India can't handle fiscal deficit for long: Pranab

Rediff.com   9 Nov 2009

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shared with industry leaders in New Delhi on Sunday, his government's intent to wind down stimulus measures next year, Mukherjee told reporters in St Andrews, Scotland, that he had already told Parliament high fiscal deficit was not sustainable in the long run.

Swraj Paul denies 'expense' charges; demands probe

Swraj Paul denies 'expense' charges; demands probe

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2009

Taking on his critics, mostly from the media, the 78-year-old Labour peer requested the House for a probe into the allegations that he claimed 38,000 pounds between 2004 and 2006 for staying in a flat at Oxfordshire which is part of a hotel owned by him.

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).