Prasun Sonwalkar And H S Rao

Stories by Prasun Sonwalkar And H S Rao

Court reprieve for Indian students in UK university

Court reprieve for Indian students in UK university

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2012

Indian and other non-EU students at the London Metropolitan University heaved a sigh of relief on Friday as the high court allowed them to continue their studies and permitted the university to challenge the recent revocation of its licence to admit non-EU students.

Keith Vaz wary of Indian govt's FDI in retail stand

Keith Vaz wary of Indian govt's FDI in retail stand

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2012

Indian-origin Labour Member of Parliament Keith Vaz has advised Indian legislators to be careful while handling the issue of foreign direct investment in retail, cautioning that a major dominance by super markets may not be in the interest of common man.

France bans future publication of Kate's topless photos

France bans future publication of Kate's topless photos

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2012

After days of furore, a French court on Tuesday blocked the future publication of topless photos of Prince William's wife Kate Middleton and asked Closer magazine to hand over the original pictures to the royal couple within 24 hours.The court injunction came after William and Kate, both 30, took legal action against the French glossy magazine for selling and distributing the images.

UK phone-hacking case: Army man, wife arrested

UK phone-hacking case: Army man, wife arrested

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2012

A serving member of the armed forces was arrested along with his wife on Thursday by the British police in connection with an investigation related to phone-hacking at media baron Rupert Murdoch's now-defunct News of the World tabloid. The man, 42, and the woman, 32, were arrested by the Scotland Yard as part of Operation Elvedev -- which is investigating allegations of inappropriate payments to police and public officials by news organisations.

65 years after India's freedom, UK to scrap 'raj' era laws

65 years after India's freedom, UK to scrap 'raj' era laws

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2012

As debate continues in India about using laws drawn up during the 'raj' -- such as applying the sedition act to a cartoonist -- Britain is in the process of scrapping as many as 38 acts related to Indian Railways that were enacted between 1849 and 1942.

UK documentary on Islam's origin sparks row

UK documentary on Islam's origin sparks row

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2012

A documentary on Britain's Channel 4 on the origins of Islam has sparked off a furious row, leading to over 1,000 complaints and security fears that prompted the cancellation of a planned repeat screening in London on Thursday.

Indian students at university in London face deportation

Indian students at university in London face deportation

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2012

Hundreds of Indian students are among over 2,600 non-European Union students at a major London university who face deportation after immigration officials on Wednesday night revoked the institution's license to admit international students due to "serious and systemic failures". In a move that sent ripples across Britain's higher education sector, the United Kingdom Border Agency stripped the London Metropolitan University of its license to admit international students.

When Armstrong apologised to Indira Gandhi

When Armstrong apologised to Indira Gandhi

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2012

"I apologise for the inconvenience", United States astronaut Neil Armstrong told Indira Gandhi when informed that the Indian prime minister had kept awake till 4:30 am to watch him land on the moon on July 20, 1969.

Indian student wins Cambridge competition

Indian student wins Cambridge competition

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2012

Sruthi Vijaychandran has won the top prize of a scholarship to study for an MBA in London after upstaging eight other contestants in the Best Young Speaker from Asia competition held at the University of Cambridge

Ecuador to decide on asylum to Julian Assange today

Ecuador to decide on asylum to Julian Assange today

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2012

Ecuador has said that it will announce its decision on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's application for asylum later on Thursday, after Britain reportedly threatened to enter the country's embassy in London to arrest him. Ecuador and Britain appeared to have reached a diplomatic impasse over Assange, who has taken refuge in its embassy.

UK offers help to end violence in Myanmar

UK offers help to end violence in Myanmar

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2012

Expressing 'serious concern' over recent violence in Myanmar, Britain on Tuesday offered assistance to the trouble-torn country's government to help end the unrest and to support an 'inclusive political settlement'.

UK honour killing: Pak-origin parents jailed for life

UK honour killing: Pak-origin parents jailed for life

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2012

In a widely followed case of honour killing, a Pakistan-origin couple was on Friday jailed for life after being held guilty of murdering their teenaged daughter who allegedly brought shame to the family due to her westernised lifestyle.

'Psycho' Stapleton gets life term for Anuj Bidve killing

'Psycho' Stapleton gets life term for Anuj Bidve killing

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2012

A Briton found guilty of murdering Indian student Anuj Bidve last year was on Friday sentenced for life, with a minimum term of 30 years before he can be considered for parole.

No race angle in Anuj Bidve's killing: Police

No race angle in Anuj Bidve's killing: Police

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2012

There was no evidence that Indian student Anuj Bidve was shot dead by a Briton because of his race, the Greater Manchester police has said after one of the most meticulous and fast-paced investigations in recent times.

India to take 'political call' on FDI in retail: Min

India to take 'political call' on FDI in retail: Min

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2012

The decision to allow 51 per cent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail was announced in November last year.

'Psycho' Stapleton guilty of Bidve's murder

'Psycho' Stapleton guilty of Bidve's murder

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2012

'Psycho' Stapleton, a Briton who shot dead Indian student Anuj Bidve in an unprovoked attack last year was on Thursday held guilty of murder after a trial in the Manchester Crown Court.

Lord Paul's portrait to feature at London exhibition

Lord Paul's portrait to feature at London exhibition

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2012

Under the project, The World in London, the Photographers' Gallery commissioned 204 photographic portraits of Londoners, each originating from one of the nations competing at the London Olympics and Paralympic games from Friday.

British varsity welcomes Pranab's election as Prez

British varsity welcomes Pranab's election as Prez

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2012

A leading British University -- the University of Wolverhampton -- has welcomed the election of veteran politician and one of its honorary graduates Pranab Mukherjee as the new President of India.

UK Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks, Coulson charged

UK Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks, Coulson charged

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2012

Media baron Rupert Murdoch's top executive Rebekah Brooks and Premier David Cameron's former aide Andy Coulson, were on Tuesday charged along with six others with criminal conspiracy to hack into phones of individuals, taking the year-long phone hacking scandal to a new level.

UK scam: 6 Asians guilty of insider trading

UK scam: 6 Asians guilty of insider trading

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2012

The six are Ali Mustafa, Pardip Saini, Paresh Shah, Neten Shah, Bijal Shah, and Truptesh Patel. The six, who were arrested 2008, are due to be sentenced on Friday.