News for 'british law firm'

Worker dies in 'work-related fatality' at Qatar WC stadium

Worker dies in 'work-related fatality' at Qatar WC stadium

Rediff.com23 Oct 2016

A worker has died in a "work-related fatality" at the site of a 2022 World Cup stadium in Qatar, the country's World Cup organizing body said late on Saturday.

Cairn, Air India seek stay on New York court proceedings

Cairn, Air India seek stay on New York court proceedings

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

Cairn Energy and Air India have jointly asked a New York federal court to stay further proceedings in the British firm's US lawsuit targeting the airline for enforcement of a $1.2-billion arbitral award. The move follows the government enacting a law to scrap retrospective taxation in the country, which in effect will result in withdrawal of the Rs 10,247 crore tax demand on Cairn, according to court documents reviewed by PTI. The British company had won an international arbitration award against levy of such taxes and sought to take over Air India assets when the government refused to honour the award and pay it $1.2 billion-plus interest and penalty.

India challenges Vodafone arbitration ruling in Singapore court

India challenges Vodafone arbitration ruling in Singapore court

Rediff.com24 Dec 2020

India has challenged in a Singapore court a verdict of an international arbitration tribunal that overturned its demand for Rs 22,100 crore in back taxes from Vodafone Group Plc, sources said on Thursday. An international arbitration court had on September 25 rejected tax authorities' demand for Rs 22,100 crore in back taxes and penalties relating to the British telecom giant's 2007 acquisition of an Indian operator. Two sources privy to the development said India had 90 days to file an appeal against the tribunal award, and the same was done in a Singapore court earlier this week.

Will build China into great wall of steel, vows Xi in first speech of 3rd term

Will build China into great wall of steel, vows Xi in first speech of 3rd term

Rediff.com13 Mar 2023

President Xi Jinping on Monday vowed to build China's military into a "Great Wall of steel" to protect its sovereignty and developmental interests as he sought a bigger role for Beijing in global affairs, days after brokering a Saudi Arabia-Iran detente, regarded as a diplomatic coup.

DCGI finds no link between Covid vaccine shot and 'adverse' reaction

DCGI finds no link between Covid vaccine shot and 'adverse' reaction

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

The DCGI arrived at the conclusion on Wednesday based on the recommendations of an independent expert committee which has also opined that compensation should not be paid to the volunteer, they said.

Meghan Markle loses first round in court media battle

Meghan Markle loses first round in court media battle

Rediff.com1 May 2020

The 38-year-old former American actress and wife of Prince Harry had filed the claim for alleged breach of privacy and copyright infringement against Associated Newspapers, the publishers of the 'Mail on Sunday', in the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

New York court pauses Cairn tax suit

New York court pauses Cairn tax suit

Rediff.com26 Sep 2021

A New York court has paused Cairn Energy's pursuit of US assets of Air India for the recovery of $1.2 billion arbitral award, so as to allow the British firm to reach a settlement with the Indian government on the long drawn dispute. The New York district court delayed the tax suit to November 18, according to court documents reviewed by PTI. This follows Cairn Energy and Air India jointly asking the court to stay further proceedings in view of the fresh government enacting a fresh law to scrap retrospective taxation in the country.

Harry & Meghan Review: Unusual And Engaging

Harry & Meghan Review: Unusual And Engaging

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

There is something very compelling about the story Harry and Meghan have been telling through the first three parts of this limited series, feels Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.

Will Oppn attack on govt over Adani issue paralyse Parliament this week too?

Will Oppn attack on govt over Adani issue paralyse Parliament this week too?

Rediff.com5 Feb 2023

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said they will pose three questions a day to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue.

Vijay Mallya declared bankrupt by UK court

Vijay Mallya declared bankrupt by UK court

Rediff.com26 Jul 2021

A British court on Monday granted a bankruptcy order against Vijay Mallya, paving the way for a consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) to pursue a worldwide freezing order to seek repayment of debt owed by the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. "As at 15.42 [UK time], I shall adjudicate Dr Mallya bankrupt," Chief Insolvencies and Companies Court (ICC) Judge Michael Briggs said in his ruling during a virtual hearing of the Chancery Division of the high court. "I have to decide if there is a real prospect of payment of petition debt in full within a reasonable period of time... there is insufficient evidence that [Mallya's asset realisations in India] will pay the debt in full within a reasonable period of time," Judge Briggs noted, in reference to defence arguments pointing to a restoration process in India following a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court order for the attachment of Mallya's assets.

Panama Papers: New data shows about 2,000 Indian links

Panama Papers: New data shows about 2,000 Indian links

Rediff.com10 May 2016

A random check of the database for India displays about 22 offshore entities, 1,046 officers or individual links, 42 intermediaries and as many as 828 addresses within the country ranging from the tony and posh locations of metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai to mofussil locations like that in Haryana's Sirsa, Bihar's Muzaffarpur and Madhya Pradesh's Mandasaur and state capital Bhopal.

Panama papers expose: DLF, Apollo, Indiabulls deny charges

Panama papers expose: DLF, Apollo, Indiabulls deny charges

Rediff.com5 Apr 2016

The list includes Gautam Adani's brother Vinod Adani among others.

Indo-Pak compensation case: ICC Dispute Panel starts hearing

Indo-Pak compensation case: ICC Dispute Panel starts hearing

Rediff.com1 Oct 2018

Monday was the first day of the hearing, which will conclude on Wednesday.

Sedition cases jump 160% between 2016-19: Rights lawyer

Sedition cases jump 160% between 2016-19: Rights lawyer

Rediff.com15 Jul 2021

The National Crime Records Bureau data, referred to and quoted by rights lawyer Vrinda Grover, assumes significance in view of the observations of an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana that there have been "enormous misuse" of the colonial era penal law on sedition and very low rate of conviction in such cases.

Cong skipped Constitution Day event to protest against BJP: Sharma

Cong skipped Constitution Day event to protest against BJP: Sharma

Rediff.com26 Nov 2021

The Congress on Friday said it did not participate in the Constitution Day event in the central hall of Parliament in protest and to remind the country that the Constitution is not being respected and is being undermined instead.

India's coolie economy

India's coolie economy

Rediff.com30 Oct 2015

The government must undo the damage inflicted by the flawed policies of globalisation, and India should be converted into a country where entrepreneurs can thrive and the entire population can participate in the economy, says Arvind Kumar.

Shareholders stand to lose in Diageo, Mallya deal

Shareholders stand to lose in Diageo, Mallya deal

Rediff.com27 Feb 2016

The deal comes at a huge cost to minority shareholders who have till date lost close to Rs 5,500 crore that were written off United Spirits' books

I-T dept asks officers to place info request to tax havens

I-T dept asks officers to place info request to tax havens

Rediff.com17 May 2016

The note guides taxman to avoid seeking voluminous details.

First Asian city to host Gay Games

First Asian city to host Gay Games

Rediff.com31 Oct 2017

Hong Kong will host the 2022 Gay Games, fighting off bids from cities in the United States and Mexico to become the first Asian city to stage the sports and cultural event.

India pays Cairn Rs 7,900 cr to settle retro tax dispute

India pays Cairn Rs 7,900 cr to settle retro tax dispute

Rediff.com24 Feb 2022

The Indian government has paid Cairn Energy Plc Rs 7,900 crore to refund taxes it had collected to enforce a retrospective tax demand, ending a seven-year-old dispute that had tarred the country's image as an investment destination. The company, which is now known as Capricorn Energy PLC, in a statement said it has received "net proceeds of $1.06 billion", of which nearly 70 per cent will be returned to the shareholders. The tax department had used a 2012 legislation, which gave it powers to go back 50 years and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas but business assets were in India, to seek Rs 10,247 crore in taxes from Cairn.

Thomas Cook India realises there's plenty in a name

Thomas Cook India realises there's plenty in a name

Rediff.com7 Oct 2019

Over the last few days, as the fortunes of Thomas Cook Plc took a wrong turn, the Indian entity scrambled to distance itself from its erstwhile parent. Experts have said that the travel firm must not change its brand name.

The bizarre tale of Cairn retro tax

The bizarre tale of Cairn retro tax

Rediff.com6 Mar 2022

The levy of retrospective tax on the UK's Cairn Energy Plc is a tale of bizarre twists and turns that saw its attached shares being sold in May 2018 amid the passing of the baton from a full-time finance minister to interim one and the talks at the highest level to resolve the dispute, to claims that levy of back taxes was a result of an investigation into Panama Papers leak. The government late last month refunded about Rs 7,900 crore it had collected from selling residual shares of the British firm in its erstwhile India unit, seizing dividend and withholding tax refunds, to settle an eight-year-old dispute that had tarred the country's reputation as an investment destination. But, this did not come about easily. For seven years, the establishment vehemently justified in courts and outside seeking of Rs 10,247 crore in back taxes plus interest and penalty from a firm that gave India its biggest onshore oil discovery.

Will the Supreme Court declare the Aadhaar Act a black law?

Will the Supreme Court declare the Aadhaar Act a black law?

Rediff.com11 Jun 2018

Unless the judges factor in the ungovernability of technologies and their beneficial owners, present and future Presidents, prime ministers, judges, legislators and officials handling sensitive assignments may become redundant with reference to their age-old roles for securing 'national resources and assets', warns Dr Gopal Krishna.

The thin line between tax avoidance and evasion

The thin line between tax avoidance and evasion

Rediff.com28 Apr 2016

Over the last two years, despite an amnesty scheme, only about Rs 2,500 crore of taxes have been recovered.

Andaman & Nicobar can attract Hong Kong investments

Andaman & Nicobar can attract Hong Kong investments

Rediff.com9 Jun 2020

'Leaders of the Indian community in Hong Kong had broached the idea of developing the Andaman and Nicobar islands for investment and setting up manufacturing units,' points out Rup Narayan Das.

Tribal President: 'Don't Expect Magic'

Tribal President: 'Don't Expect Magic'

Rediff.com4 Jul 2022

'It will be wrong to raise the expectations of tribals because of a tribal President. 'Tribal issues have not been resolved for 150 years.'

ED grills Aishwarya Rai for 6 hrs in 'Panama Papers' leak case

ED grills Aishwarya Rai for 6 hrs in 'Panama Papers' leak case

Rediff.com20 Dec 2021

The quizzing of the 48-year-old daughter-in-law of superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan comes weeks after her husband Abhishek Bachchan was questioned by the agency in another case emerging from the same set of papers linked to the offshore leaks case, they said.

Cairn says taking action to access $1.2 bn arbitration award against India

Cairn says taking action to access $1.2 bn arbitration award against India

Rediff.com11 May 2021

Cairn has already taken steps to have the arbitration award recognised in nine major jurisdictions such as the US, UK, France, the Netherlands, Singapore and Canada's Quebec province, where Indian sovereign assets have been identified. It hasn't said what it might go after but assets could include Air India's planes, vessels belonging to the Shipping Corporation of India and property owned by state banks.

Blow to India as US, UK courts confirm $1.4 bn award to Cairn

Blow to India as US, UK courts confirm $1.4 bn award to Cairn

Rediff.com8 Mar 2021

Courts in five countries including the US and the UK have given recognition to an arbitration award that asked India to return $1.4 billion to Cairn Energy plc - a step that now opens the possibility of the British firm seizing Indian assets in those countries if New Delhi does not pay, sources said. Cairn Energy had moved courts in nine countries to enforce its $1.4 billion arbitral award against India, which the company won after a dispute with the country's revenue authority over a retroactively applied capital gains tax. Of these, the December 21 award from a three-member tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands has been recognised and confirmed by courts in the US, the UK, Netherlands, Canada and France, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

Why you may see less fake news this election season

Why you may see less fake news this election season

Rediff.com26 Jan 2019

The updated election ads policy for India will require advertisers to provide a 'pre-certificate' issued by the EC or anyone authorised by the poll panel, for each ad. Further, Google will verify the identity of advertisers before their election ads run on its platforms, reports Peerzada Abrar.

Will General Munir Take On Imran Khan?

Will General Munir Take On Imran Khan?

Rediff.com24 Nov 2022

If General Asim Munir, Pakistan's new army chief, wants to help defuse the current polarised atmosphere and shepherd civilian politicians towards negotiations on an acceptable date for elections, he may need to distance himself from any perception of needless hostility to Imran Khan, explains Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W, India's external intelligence agency.

SC refuses urgent hearing on Rahul's citizenship

SC refuses urgent hearing on Rahul's citizenship

Rediff.com24 Nov 2015

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused urgent hearing on a plea seeking a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to register a case against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for allegedly declaring himself as a British national before company law authorities there.

Vijay Mallya: A man who knows the law too well

Vijay Mallya: A man who knows the law too well

Rediff.com3 May 2017

Mallya has lived on the edge for long enough to know that his extradition from UK is not a given, says N Sundaresha Subramanian.

Chopper scam: Middleman says he'll meet Indian cops in Dubai

Chopper scam: Middleman says he'll meet Indian cops in Dubai

Rediff.com29 Aug 2016

Claiming to be innocent, he said he might have some information which could enable the Indian authorities to progress with their probe into the scandal.

Cairn gets French court order to seize 20 Indian assets

Cairn gets French court order to seize 20 Indian assets

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

Britain's Cairn Energy has secured a French court order to seize 20 Indian govt properties to recover arbitration award, it is learnt.

China warns UK against 'interference' on Hong Kong

China warns UK against 'interference' on Hong Kong

Rediff.com21 Jul 2020

The Chinese Embassy in London and the Chinese ambassador to the UK issued strong statements condemning the UK's move as a disregard for its representations and 'blatant' interference in its internal affairs.

This govt was not in favour of retro tax: Fin Secy

This govt was not in favour of retro tax: Fin Secy

Rediff.com5 Aug 2021

The bill to nullify retrospective taxation offers a fair solution within the framework of Indian law and Parliamentary sovereignty to companies which have been subjected to such demands, Finance Secretary T V Somanathan said on Thursday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced 'The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021' in the Lok Sabha that seeks to withdraw tax demands made using a 2012 retrospective legislation to tax the indirect transfer of Indian assets. The Bill provides for the withdrawal of tax demand made on "indirect transfer of Indian assets if the transaction was undertaken before May 28, 2012 (i.e. the day the retrospective tax legislation came into being)."

India files appeal against Cairn award in The Hague

India files appeal against Cairn award in The Hague

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

India is believed to have challenged in a court in The Hague an arbitration tribunal verdict that overturned its demand for Rs 10,247 crore in back taxes from Cairn Energy Plc -- the second time in three months that it has refused to accept an international award against retrospective tax.

Was govt's decision to sell Cairn shares flawed?

Was govt's decision to sell Cairn shares flawed?

Rediff.com8 Aug 2021

Faced with prospect of its assets across the globe being seized just like Pakistan and Venezuela, the government decided to scrap retrospective taxation but the international embarrassment could have been avoided had 'attached' shares of Britain's Cairn Energy Plc not been sold, according to tax and legal experts. On Thursday, the government introduced a Bill in Parliament to scrap the tax rule that gave the tax department power to go 50 years back and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas but business assets were in India. The 2012 legislation was used to levy a cumulative of Rs 1.10 lakh crore of tax on 17 entities, including UK telecom giant Vodafone, but substantial punitive action was taken only in the case of Cairn.

Looking at how best to sort out Cairn arbitration: Sitharaman

Looking at how best to sort out Cairn arbitration: Sitharaman

Rediff.com22 Apr 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday reiterated that an international arbitration ruling on India's sovereign right to taxation sets the wrong precedent, but said the government is looking at how best it can sort out the issue arising out of New Delhi being ordered to return $1.2 billion plus interest and cost to UK's Cairn Energy Plc. The government, which participated in an international arbitration brought by the Scottish firm against being taxed retrospectively, has appealed against The Hague based tribunal's ruling asking the government to return the value of shares expropriated and liquidated, tax refunds withheld and dividend seized to recover a wrongly levied retroactive tax demand.