Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UK legal team approaches UN to protect Christian Michel from alleged torture

A BRITISH legal team has approached the UN on behalf of UK businessman Christian Michel over alleged human rights violence in India’s Tihar jail. 

UK lawyers have argued that Michel was "unlawfully extradited to India" from the UAE and that he has been held in prison in "squalid conditions" in violation of human rights and also "subjected to torture".


Michel is an accused in a bribery case related to the £398.18 million AgustaWestland deal of 2010. 

India's federal probe agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has alleged there was an estimated loss of €398.21 million to the country's exchequer in the deal that was agreed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP helicopters worth €556.262m.

The British national is one among three alleged middlemen being investigated in the case. He denies the charges.

 “Having been returned to India, Michel has been held in squalid conditions that breach human rights conditions, subjected to prolonged questioning aimed at securing a confession through coercion,” the legal team alleged.  

UK- based specialist barristers’ chambers ‘Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers’ said Michel was unlawfully handed over to India. 

He is being held in judicial custody in Delhi’s Tihar jail.  

The Delhi High Court granted more time to Michel and the CBI to respond to a plea by the Tihar Jail officials questioning an order permitting him to make international phone calls in violation of jail rules and regulations. 

Last year, Michel was detained by the country’s law enforcement and economic intelligence agency, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and later by the CBI. 

More For You

India’s diamond exports hit 20-year low amid weak US and China demand

India handles nine out of every 10 diamonds processed globally

India’s diamond exports hit 20-year low amid weak US and China demand

INDIA’S exports of cut and polished diamonds plummeted to their lowest level in nearly two decades in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which ended in March, on sluggish demand from the United States and China, a leading trade body said on Monday (14).

India is the largest cutting and polishing hub, handling nine out of every 10 diamonds processed globally. But it is sensitive to economic uncertainty – particularly in the US, its biggest market.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK financial watchdog opens first offices in US and Asia

The international expansion forms part of the FCA's new strategy (Photo: Reuters)

UK financial watchdog opens first offices in US and Asia

BRITAIN's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has established its first-ever international presence with new offices in the US and Asia-Pacific region, the watchdog announced on Tuesday (15).

Former investment banker Tash Miah began working at the British Embassy in Washington DC in April. In her role, Miah will collaborate with the Department for Business and Trade to improve UK-US financial services policy and help American firms navigate British regulations.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK Inflation

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) stood at 2.6 per cent in March, down from 2.8 per cent in February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Getty

UK inflation eases to 2.6 per cent ahead of US tariff impact

THE UK’s annual inflation rate dropped more than expected in March, according to official figures released on Wednesday. The latest numbers come as US president Donald Trump’s new tariffs add to global economic uncertainty.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) stood at 2.6 per cent in March, down from 2.8 per cent in February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Analysts had expected a decline to 2.7 per cent. The rate was 3.0 per cent in January.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bestway-wholesale

Bestway launches Easter campaign with 200 deals and new product reveals

BESTWAY Wholesale has launched a four-week Easter campaign offering nearly 200 promotional deals across categories both in depots and online.

The campaign includes branded displays with spring-themed packaging and features new product launches from Red Bull’s Peach Summer Edition and Pepsi’s Strawberry and Cream flavour, which Bestway says will be seen first at its outlets.

Keep ReadingShow less
What UK TV licence changes could mean for Netflix and Prime Video users

The current funding structure relies heavily on the TV Licence fee, but this model is under review

iStock

What UK TV licence changes could mean for Netflix and Prime Video users

The TV Licence fee in the UK has recently increased, and future changes to the system may also affect people who watch content solely through streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+.

As of now, UK residents are required to pay the TV Licence fee if they watch live television or use BBC iPlayer. The fee rose by £5 on 1 April 2025, increasing from £169.50 to £174.50 per year. This equates to approximately £14.54 per month. Those who watch only on-demand content via streaming services remain exempt from paying the fee under current rules.

Keep ReadingShow less