Prasun Sonwalkar In London

Stories by Prasun Sonwalkar In London

Brar assailants had 'long beards': Police

Brar assailants had 'long beards': Police

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2012

The Scotland Yard has appealed for information from members of the public on the Sunday night assault on Lt Gen K S Brar, and described the four assailants as wearing dark clothing, long black jackets and having 'long beards'.

Brar assault: Lack of communication to blame?

Brar assault: Lack of communication to blame?

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2012

A lack of communication between Indian authorities appears to have led to the situation in which Lt Gen K S Brar (retd.) was left without protection during his near-fatal private visit to London.

Historian Eric Hobsbawm passes away

Historian Eric Hobsbawm passes away

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2012

Eric Hobsbawm, one of the most eminent British historians who closely followed the fluctuating fortunes of the Left movement in India and influenced many Indian scholars over decades, died in London at the age of 95 on Monday.

Radical cleric Abu Hamza launches bid to avoid extradition

Radical cleric Abu Hamza launches bid to avoid extradition

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2012

Convicted radical Islamic cleric on Tuesday launched a last-minute appeal in a British court against extradition to the United States, two days after a European court ruled he could be handed over to Washington on terrorism charges.

Queen Elizabeth upset with cleric Hamza's hate message

Queen Elizabeth upset with cleric Hamza's hate message

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2012

It is rare for Queen Elizabeth to intervene or express opinion on matters related to terrorism, but she was so upset at radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza's activities in Britain that she asked a former Home secretary why he had not been arrested, it was reported on Tuesday.

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.

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.