Prasun Sonwalkar

Stories by Prasun Sonwalkar

More credit card frauds traced to India

More credit card frauds traced to India

Rediff.com   31 May 2008

More cases of international credit card fraud with links to India have come to light in Britain, even as authorities refused to rate the problem from Indian cities as very high.In a latest incident, a British journalist discovered that money was withdrawn from his bank account in Chennai this week, while nearly 500 others in Bournemouth suffered the same fate.

New London mayor may shut Delhi, Mumbai offices

New London mayor may shut Delhi, Mumbai offices

Rediff.com   29 May 2008

The offices called 'London India Offices', were launched in November 2007 during Livingstone's visit to India, were set up to promote trade relations between London and India.

Northern Ireland-India trade gets a boost

Northern Ireland-India trade gets a boost

Rediff.com   28 May 2008

Northern Ireland's growing trade links with India have received a further boost with the appointment of two Bangalore and New Delhi-based advisory companies to help expansion and growth.

Indian-origin man is London transport chief

Indian-origin man is London transport chief

Rediff.com   14 May 2008

Kulveer Ranger, 33, an Indian-origin management consultant who has previously worked on London's transport system, has been appointed the director of transport policy by the new mayor, Boris Johnson.

Meet Britain's first Asian woman Lord Mayor

Meet Britain's first Asian woman Lord Mayor

Rediff.com   13 May 2008

Speaking to PTI, Sood, who was born and raised in Ludhiana, said that it was a great honour for her to be selected for the position and would do her best to serve the multicultural city that has a large number of people of Indian origin. She said that she will wear a sari for the historic occasion.

Indian charged for murdering Andhra student in UK

Indian charged for murdering Andhra student in UK

Rediff.com   9 May 2008

A 24-year-old Indian national was on Thursday charged in connection with the murder of a post-graduate student from Andhra Pradesh, who was found dead at her private accommodation in a Birmingham suburb. The man, whose surname is said to be Nalloori, was arrested on Wednesday evening. The West Midlands Police told PTI that the woman has been identified as Samrajyo Jyothirmai Vempala from Vijaywada, who was in the UK on a study visa.

Britons waste food worth 10 bn pounds

Britons waste food worth 10 bn pounds

Rediff.com   8 May 2008

The research gives detailed new insights into the nature and amount of food waste thrown away in the UK and is believed to be the most comprehensive study of its kind ever carried out.

Oxford: Two Indians turn millionaires overnight

Oxford: Two Indians turn millionaires overnight

Rediff.com   8 May 2008

Two cousins of Indian-origin at the University of Oxford have overnight become millionaires after a free online service they started for students was sold for 2.5 million pounds within months after its launch. They started their company 'Auctomatic' as a free online service while studying and working in the university's student society -- Oxford Entrepreneurs. They had set up their first company, internet auction site 'boso.com' (Buy Or Sell Online), as undergraduates.

UK firms fined for employing Indians illegally

UK firms fined for employing Indians illegally

Rediff.com   6 May 2008

Several companies, including Indian restaurants, have been fined over pound 500,000 for employing illegal immigrants from India, Pakistan and other non-European Union countries. The fines were imposed after a tougher law came into effect from February, official figures reveal.

Indian BPO to offer 800 jobs in Ireland

Indian BPO to offer 800 jobs in Ireland

Rediff.com   3 May 2008

Firstsource, which operates from two bases in Northern Ireland, is among a growing number of Indian companies like HCL, polaris, PixTransmission and Tech Mahindra who have chosen to set up offices in the region.

Britain's Labour gets worst drubbing in 40 years

Britain's Labour gets worst drubbing in 40 years

Rediff.com   2 May 2008

The ruling Labour party faces its worst electoral debacle in four decades as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pushed it to the third place in local council elections.

How Bollywood boosts tourism in Britain

How Bollywood boosts tourism in Britain

Rediff.com   1 May 2008

The euphoric interest shown by Indian tourists in visiting the places where several Bollywood films were shot, have prompted the Britain's tourism authorities to come up with a 'Bollywood map', depicting the popular shooting locations. Though separate figures for India's films-related tourism are not available, but its thousands of tourists visiting the United Kingdom every year have made a contribution of whopping 1.8 billion pounds, says a report.

'UK's M15 outsourced torture to ISI'

'UK's M15 outsourced torture to ISI'

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2008

British domestic intelligence agency M15 is facing allegations of outsourcing the torture of Pak-origin Britons to Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence, after the accused were detained during counter-terror operations in that country. Human rights groups and British Parliamenterians called for an investigation into allegations made by four such British citizens of Pakistani-origin. They also asked the British government to explain steps taken against torture.

Immigration has benefited UK: Report

Immigration has benefited UK: Report

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2008

The Foundation's report contradicted a recent analysis of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, which said competition from immigrants had a damaging impact on the low-paid employees and on training for British workers. The report also debunked myths about the impact of migration on employment and wages. It said wages had not fallen because migrants are willing to work for less, including in key sectors such as construction work and hotels.

UK wants 'special relationship' with India

UK wants 'special relationship' with India

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2008

Recognising that 'trade' and 'takeovers' have become the buzzwords in UK-India relations in recent years, a key House of Commons committee wants the Labour government to forge a 'special relationship' with India. The committee, comprising MPs across party lines, is chaired by the Conservative MP from Mid Worcestershire Peter Luff. The committee noted that there were several hurdles in India to further growth, but declared that not all the barriers are on the Indian side.

Leicester, Birmingham to have non-white majorities

Leicester, Birmingham to have non-white majorities

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2008

Local officials in councils of the two cities say the next census scheduled for 2011 is likely to record non-white majorities there. The forecast is based on number of children in schools, where non-whites are already in a majority.

Indian-origin man sentenced in $197 million scam

Indian-origin man sentenced in $197 million scam

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2008

An Indian-origin former accountant has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment for duping people of 100 million ($197 million) in an international scam. Shinder Singh Gangar, 46, from Leicestershire, promised clients a return of up to 160 per cent a year on money invested with him. But there was no investment scheme and the money was not invested as promised. Instead it was put into offshore bank accounts.

'We have to give up our lives for Islam'

'We have to give up our lives for Islam'

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2008

Indian national Kafeel Ahmed, who drove a burning jeep into the Glasgow airport last year and succumbed to his injuries weeks later, had sent an email to his Liverpool-based brother Sabeel before he embarked on his deadly mission.

Shah Jahan's dagger sold for 1,700,000 pounds

Shah Jahan's dagger sold for 1,700,000 pounds

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2008

A dagger that once belonged to Mughal emperor Shah Jahan fetched 1,700,000 pounds at the Bonhams Indian and Islamic sale in London on Thursday. The elegant and understated personal dagger carried by Shah Jahan (reign 1627-1657), with its fine gold inscriptions and decoration dated to 1629-30 AD, was expected to attract bids of around 300,000-500,000 pounds.The dagger was the most important item in a collection built by the late Jacques Desenfans, a Belgian.

Tata takeover a turning point: UK experts

Tata takeover a turning point: UK experts

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2008

Coventry-based Nick Seale of the Warwick Manufacturing Group believes that the takeover will also be of global and historic significance. Seale said: "When the history of the motor industry is written, they will look back on this event as one of the key turning points.