FUGITIVE Indian businessman Nirav Modi could face a “substantial risk” of suicide amid an “overwhelming” impact of Covid-19 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai where he will be put on being exiled, the High Court of London was told in an extradition appeal hearing on Wednesday (21).
The 50-year-old disgraced diamond tycoon, who is accused of defrauding India’s Punjab National Bank of $2 billion over seven years, applied to the UK court to appeal his extradition on the basis that he wouldn’t receive a fair trial in India.
Modi’s case is the most high-profile since Vijay Mallya and if India succeeds in getting him back and face the charges, it will be seen as a victory of prime minister Narendra Modi who has always positioned himself as a leader who has zero tolerance for corruption. At a time when the prime minister’s popularity has been hit by his government’s handling of the pandemic, this will be seen as a major boost.
Modi saw the remotely held court proceedings on Wednesday from his Wandsworth Prison in south-west London. His lawyers argued for permission to appeal against his extradition ordered by district judge Sam Goozee in February and certified by British home secretary Priti Patel in April.
During the “renewal application” hearing before high court judge Martin Chamberlain, Modi’s lawyers tried to establish grounds for a full high court appeal hearing by claiming it would be oppressive to extradite him to India due to his mental condition that could lead to suicidal impulses.
Edward Fitzgerald argued that Judge Goozee made a “succession of errors” in his ruling in favour of Modi’s extradition in February, when he concluded that not only was Modi’s severe depression not unusual given his incarceration, but that he did not exhibit an immediate impulse to commit suicide.
“The District Judge was wrong to hold that there was nothing unusual about the Appellant's (Nirav Modi) mental condition; and wrong to focus on his present fitness to plead,” Fitzgerald said.
“As to the District Judge's conclusion that ‘the Applicant's condition will improve on his return' and ‘there will be an amelioration of his current conditions of detention', that finding was perverse on the evidence before him and unsustainable in the light of the new evidence. It was based on his assessment that the conditions in the prison at Arthur Road, Mumbai will be better than they are at HMP Wandsworth,” he said.
Modi’s lawyers relied on expert evidence from forensic psychiatrist Dr Andrew Forrester which was presented previously at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London.
“In my opinion, Nirav Modi should now be considered at substantial (meaning high), albeit not immediate, risk of suicide,” Forrester’s assessment read in his report dated August 27, 2020.
The lawyers also submitted fresh evidence to claim the pandemic is “overwhelming to the effect that the new outbreak of Covid renders the healthcare system on the brink of collapse”.
In relation to Patel’s extradition order, it was argued that she should not rely on Indian government assurances. “She [Priti Patel] failed totally to address the evidence of other breaches of commitments made to both the UK and to third states,” Fitzgerald said.
The renewal hearing is expected to conclude on Wednesday after the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the Indian authorities and the home secretary’s counsel make their counter-arguments against permission to appeal, with a judgment likely to come at a later date on whether the case can proceed to a full appeal hearing in the London high court.
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS (RSA) has announced the appointment of David Joseph CBE as its next chief executive officer. He will take over the role in September, succeeding Andy Haldane.
Joseph previously served as chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK for 17 years. During his time at the company, he oversaw its transformation into a global exporter of British music and worked with several major international artists.
He began his career in advertising before moving into music, where he held roles in artist development and label management. He became chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK in 2008.
Alongside his commercial career, Joseph has been involved in a number of social and cultural initiatives. In 2019, he launched Universal Music’s Creative Differences initiative, which produced the first industry handbook for supporting neurodiversity in the workplace. The handbook has been adopted by more than 200 organisations globally.
He is a founding board member of Julie’s Bicycle, a group focused on climate issues in the cultural sector, and served on the National Council of Arts Council England for eight years. In 2013, he collaborated with Baroness Doreen Lawrence to mark the 20th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s murder through the Unity project. He also serves as Chair of the Grenfell Foundation.
Joseph has chaired several BRIT Awards shows and was an executive producer of the Oscar and BAFTA-winning 2015 documentary Amy.
RSA Chair Sir Loyd Grossman said: “David’s commitment to effecting social change, his compassion and his commitment to nurturing people is exemplary.
“We are thrilled that David will join us in the autumn, knowing that he will foster a collaborative and caring culture that speaks to our fellows, partners, staff teams and the wider world. These qualities make David superbly placed to lead the RSA into its next vital phase, and we are thrilled to have him on board.”
Commenting on his appointment, Joseph said: “The RSA has a remarkable heritage and untapped potential. At a time when fresh thinking and collective action are urgently needed across the globe, the RSA is uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change - uniting its rich tradition of arts, creativity and policy influence with the energy of its global Fellowship to spark ideas that shape society. I’m excited to join such a talented organisation where we will build a bold new chapter together.”
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People take part in a protest against disability welfare cuts on June 30, 2025 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
DOZENS of Labour MPs are expected to vote against the government’s welfare reforms despite recent concessions aimed at easing opposition.
The government had initially planned to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (Pip) but later said the stricter rules would only apply to new claimants from November 2025.
Ministers also promised a review of the Pip assessment process, in partnership with disability organisations, due to conclude by autumn 2026.
More than 120 Labour MPs had signed an amendment to block the legislation, though a revised amendment supported by 39 MPs and backed by disability charities remains active.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC her party would oppose the bill, saying, “The benefits bill is too high. It was £40bn just before Covid. It is now projected to be a £100bn by 2030. And what Labour is doing is not making any savings at all.”
Labour MP Olivia Blake, who opposes the reforms, told BBC Newsnight, “I strongly believe that these kind of punitive measures of cutting welfare are not going to have the outcomes that we've been told they will.”
According to Department for Work and Pensions modelling, the revised proposals could push 150,000 people into poverty by 2030, down from an earlier estimate of 250,000.
Sir Stephen Timms, who will lead the review, told BBC Newsnight the government’s measures would help reduce poverty and make Pip more sustainable.
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Sudha Murthy and Karan Johar
Image Credits: Barkha Dutt / We The Women / Mojo Story
The acclaimed women-led festival We The Women, curated by veteran journalist Barkha Dutt, made its powerful UK debut on June 29 at London’s Riverside Studios. Presented in partnership with Vedanta, the event brought together transformative voices from India and the British-Indian diaspora, showcasing unfiltered, emotional, and often raw storytelling.
Among the standout moments was Rashmika Mandanna’s candid discussion on her values-first approach to fame. The actor received thunderous applause when she shared, “I’ve said no to scripts because they required me to smoke. If I don’t feel good about something, I won’t do it.” Her firm stance echoed the festival’s core ethos, prioritising authenticity over popularity.
Sitar maestro Anoushka Shankar reflected emotionally on one of the most poignant chapters of her life, being Grammy-nominated alongside her legendary father, Pt. Ravi Shankar. Just weeks before the ceremony, he passed away, leaving Anoushka and her sister, Norah Jones, to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf, a moment marked by both immense pride and profound loss.
Filmmaker Karan Johar shared an intimate glimpse into the challenges of raising twins as a single father. He moved the audience to tears, recalling how online trolls questioned his parenting. “One night, I asked them, ‘Are you happy?’ They replied, ‘Yes, because you’re our dada.’ That gave me strength,” he revealed.
Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan opened up about her personal life, including a burglary incident involving her husband Saif Ali Khan and the pressures of being part of Bollywood royalty. “People expect perfection, but I’m learning to be okay with being just me,” she said with grace.
Karan Johar and Smriti Irani
Sudha Murthy, author, philanthropist, and Rajya Sabha MP, shared insights from her multifaceted life rooted in simplicity. “I still carry my own utensils when travelling abroad,” she said, underscoring that true impact comes from empathy, not extravagance.
In his characteristic eloquence, Shashi Tharoor blended literature, diplomacy, and politics. He reflected on India’s recent anti-terror operation, describing “Operation Sindoor” as a culturally resonant yet measured response. Tharoor called for global unity against terrorism through accountability rather than aggression.
The evening concluded with Union Minister Smriti Irani recounting her extraordinary journey from selling perfumes on Delhi’s streets with ₹200 to holding a place in the Union Cabinet. “Resilience above all,” she declared, inspiring the audience with her story of grit and determination.
In Session 1, the changemakers featured were Prav Kaur, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher, and Souparnika Nair. TS Anil, Akash Mehta, and Rahi Chadda participated in a fireside chat with Mallika Kapur. Session 2 included Sindhu Vee, Meera Syal, and Priya Agarwal Hebbar. Last but certainly not least, the event was honoured by the special presence of Anil Agrawal, the visionary founder and chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited.
From stories of parenting and politics to advocacy, authenticity, and resilience, We The Women proved more than just a festival, it was a celebration of real lives, struggles, and voices that matter. As Barkha Dutt aptly noted, “This isn’t about celebrities, it’s about courage.”
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Rescue workers look for survivors after an explosion and fire at a chemical factory, in Sangareddy, Telangana, India, June 30, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
THE DEATH toll from the explosion and fire at the Sigachi Industries chemical factory in Sangareddy, Telangana, has risen to at least 39, officials said on Tuesday, as rescue teams continued clearing debris for a second day.
The explosion occurred on Monday and turned large parts of the building into rubble. State authorities confirmed the toll had risen to 39, Reuters reported. Thirty-four others were injured in the incident, according to officials.
Factory building collapsed completely, says fire official
Telangana state chief minister Revanth Reddy visited the site on Tuesday. A video released by his office showed twisted metal and wreckage at the factory site. Reddy’s office said a five-member committee had been formed to investigate the cause of the explosion. The company has not yet disclosed the cause.
GV Narayana Rao, director of the Telangana fire disaster response service, told Reuters, “We are still clearing the debris. Once we are all done with the clearing, only then we will be able to assess if any other body is still remaining under the debris or if it is all clear.” He confirmed that the building had completely collapsed.
District administrative official P Pravinya said more than 140 people were working at the factory when the incident occurred. Twenty-five of the deceased had not been identified.
Eyewitness account of blast and escape
Chandan Gound, 32, who had been working at the factory for six months, said he escaped after hearing a loud blast while outside the building.
“It sounded like a bomb blast. I came out and saw fire. A part of the fire also spread towards me. I jumped the wall and escaped,” he told Reuters. “Many of them managed to escape, but a large number were trapped and could not come out.”
Sigachi shuts plant for 90 days, stock falls 8 per cent
Sigachi Industries supplies microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and specialty chemical sectors, serving clients in countries including the United States and Australia. The Telangana plant contributes a little over a fourth of the company’s total production capacity of 21,700 million metric tons per annum.
In a statement, Sigachi said, “The incident has unfortunately resulted in the loss of human life.” The company said the plant had been shut for 90 days from Monday due to damage to equipment and structures. The facility is fully insured and claims are being initiated.
Shares of Sigachi dropped about 8 per cent on Tuesday and were on track for their sharpest two-day fall on record.
India’s industrial safety record under scrutiny
Industrial accidents are frequent in India, with experts citing poor planning and weak enforcement of safety regulations.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, five people died and four others were injured in a fire at a fireworks factory in the Sivakasi manufacturing cluster in Tamil Nadu, a fire department official said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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FILE PHOTO: A mother and daughter sit atop the Covid memorial wall on September 9, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
THE Covid inquiry has started examining how the pandemic affected care services for older and disabled people, with families describing the crisis as one of the worst failures of the pandemic.
Nearly 46,000 care home residents died with Covid in England and Wales between March 2020 and January 2022, with many deaths happening in the first weeks of the outbreak.
Families have waited years for this part of the inquiry, which will look at key decisions including why hospital patients were moved quickly into care homes in March 2020 without being tested for Covid.
Pete Weatherby KC, representing bereaved families, told the inquiry that a top government official had called what happened a "generational slaughter" in care homes.
"We call out the callous way that family members were treated by politicians and policy makers, referring to them as bed blockers and people nearing the end regardless of the virus," he said.
The inquiry heard how care homes were told to take patients from hospitals to free up beds. Between early March and early June 2020, around 25,000 patients were moved to care homes, many without Covid tests.
Government advice on April 2, 2020 said "negative tests are not required" before patients went to care homes. This only changed on April 15, 2020.
A 2022 High Court ruling found this policy was unlawful because it failed to consider the risk to vulnerable care home residents.
Geraldine Treacy's mother Margaret Stewart died in a care home in Northern Ireland. She said: "The home had to accept people from the hospital, who hadn't been tested and subsequently they became very sick."
She described visiting her mother while wearing protective gear: "She couldn't see who I was and she was very, very upset. She was 87 and she was screaming for her mum."
Care workers described being left without proper protective equipment and testing kits early in the pandemic. One worker in Durham said their home lost 25 residents in three weeks.
"Once Covid was in our care home, it spread like wildfire and we could not do anything about it," they said. "At one point, 67 out of 87 residents tested positive."
Staff had to help families say goodbye over video calls. One worker recalled holding a resident's hand up to an iPad screen so his daughter could pretend to hold hands through the screen as he died.
The inquiry will also examine why "do not resuscitate" orders were placed on some elderly residents without their agreement, and policies that stopped families visiting for months.
Maureen Lewis, who manages St Ives Lodge care home in northeast London, lost seven residents to Covid. She remains angry about former health secretary Matt Hancock's claim in May 2020 that the government had "thrown a protective ring around care homes".
"There was no ring of protection for care homes at all," she was quoted as saying. "He needs to take accountability for the decisions he made."
Hancock will give evidence on Wednesday (2). Bereaved families say they want him to "tell the truth" about decisions made during the pandemic.
Jean Adamson, whose father Aldrick died with Covid in April 2020, called the hospital discharge policy "reckless".
"The way that my father and tens of thousands of other care home residents were sacrificed really gets me because I think it smacks of ageism and disability discrimination," Adamson said. The inquiry is expected to last five weeks, with 55 witnesses giving evidence. The final report will not be published until next year.