CERTAIN portions of the personal diaries and letters involving the last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, his wife Edwina and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, will remain redacted, a UK tribunal has ruled.
Judge Sophie Buckley presided over the UK First-Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) appeal to decide whether some redacted sections of diaries and correspondence dating back to the 1930s can be fully released for open public access.
A three-member tribunal concluded recently that Southampton University did not “hold” any correspondence entitled “letters from Lady Mountbatten to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the newly independent India (33 files, 1948-60), along with copies of his letters to her” as part of its Broadlands Archive and was only "physically safeguarding the papers" on its premises.
“The information was not owned by the university, and its use was restricted both in contract and in practice to physically safeguarding the papers. This is akin to the papers being held by an expert storage company,” the tribunal decision read.
“Matters have moved on considerably since the decision notices… and the vast majority of the Mountbatten Papers have now been made public,” it noted.
Historian Andrew Lownie, who launched a four-year-long battle for the release of the papers for his book, The Mountbattens: The Lives and Loves of Dickie and Edwina Mountbatten, described the ruling as a victory that came “at a very high cost”.
He believes his fight was on the “crucial principles of censorship and freedom of information”.
“It has been a pyrrhic victory. Over 35,000 pages, 99 per cent of an important historical collection, has been released which will be important to future scholars and it has been a victory for free speech, academic freedom, access to archives and against government censorship,” said Lownie.
“My legal challenge has cost me an enormous amount financially – some £300,000, my savings for my old age and an inheritance for my children,” he said.
The author-historian, whose new book Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, is out next month, said even the redacted material in the diaries and letters is likely to be “innocent”.
“This has simply been a face-saving exercise, but the withheld Edwina-Nehru correspondence bought at the same time with the same monies will shed fresh light on their relationship, when it began and how it shaped Independence and Partition,” he said.
“There is a huge public interest in that correspondence being released and campaigners should be lobbying Southampton University to exercise their £100 option [to acquire the ownership rights],” he said.
The papers cover an important period of British-Indian history, including when India's Partition was being overseen by Mountbatten and involves personal diaries and letters of both Lord Louis and wife Lady Edwina Mountbatten.
The Cabinet Office maintained that most of the information from those papers was already in the public domain and any withheld aspects “would compromise the UK's relations with other states", with reference to India and Pakistan.
In 2011, the University of Southampton bought Broadlands Archive from the Mountbatten family using public funds of more than £2.8 million with the intention of making the papers widely available.
However, the university then referred some of the correspondence to the Cabinet Office.
In 2019, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) found in favour of Lownie and ordered the release of the entire Broadlands Archive.
In response, the University of Southampton explained at the time that the correspondence between Lady Mountbatten and Nehru remained in private ownership and is “confidential, but the University has a future interest in it”.
It could have applied to purchase those letters, but reportedly chose not to.
The 2019 decision of the ICO was appealed, which was heard in the First-Tier Tribunal in November last year and has now been concluded.
In the lead up to the hearing, the Cabinet Office narrowed the number of exemptions they were seeking to impose so that most of the letters and diaries were available by then.
“This is a victory after four years of campaigning, but there is still a legal bill of £50,000 and so the crowfunding has to go on,” noted Lownie, in his Crowdjustice.com fundraiser appeal.
The author said he raised more than £63,000 in pledges from the website to fund the legal costs of the appeal.
The diaries of Mountbatten, a great-grandson of Queen Victoria, an uncle to the late Duke of Edinburgh and great-uncle to Prince Charles, also contain personal correspondence within the royal family – another factor cited behind some redactions.
In May last year, Southampton University said it was publishing online “previously unavailable papers” from the Broadlands Archives collection and that further material would be made available during the course of the year. It is claimed a majority of the material from the diaries is now in the public domain.
“The Broadlands Archives collection is one of the University Library's foremost collections of manuscripts... this substantial collection dates from the sixteenth century to the present. The material provides a preeminent resource for British politics in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries,” the university said.
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McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal, was found dead in a field in Goa in March 2017. (Photo credit: Twitter)
Man found guilty of rape and murder of Irish backpacker in India
Feb 14, 2025
A COURT in India has found Vikat Bhagat guilty of the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin.
McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal, was found dead in a field in Goa in March 2017.
A post-mortem examination confirmed brain damage and strangulation as the cause of death. The verdict was delivered by the District and Sessions Court in South Goa on Friday, the BBC reported.
Bhagat could face life imprisonment, but prosecutors have requested the death penalty. His sentencing is scheduled for Monday.
McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan, and sister, Joleen McLaughlin Brannigan, said justice "has finally been achieved."
They stated that Bhagat was solely responsible for her death, adding that they had endured an eight-year trial with delays and difficulties.
The family said they remained patient and respectful of the Indian legal system and expressed hope that McLaughlin can now rest in peace. They recently visited the area where she spent her last days, the BBC reported.
McLaughlin, who held dual Irish and British citizenship, travelled to India in February 2017 and had been in the country for two weeks before her death.
She had been staying in a beach hut with an Australian friend and had attended Holi celebrations in a nearby village. Her body was discovered the next day by a local farmer.
Tánaiste Simon Harris praised McLaughlin’s family for their resilience, saying he hoped the verdict would bring them some closure.
Her body was repatriated to Donegal with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. She is buried in Buncrana, her hometown.
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King, who serves as the global ambassador for the City of London, will be in Mumbai to discuss trade and investment under his mayoral theme, 'Growth Unleashed.'
Lord Mayor of London to visit India for trade talks
Feb 14, 2025
THE LORD MAYOR of London, Alderman Alastair King, is set to visit India for a week starting Saturday, aiming to promote free trade and capital flows between the two countries.
King, who serves as the global ambassador for the City of London, will be in Mumbai to discuss trade and investment under his mayoral theme, “Growth Unleashed.”
During his visit, King will meet British government trade officials and key Indian banking and financial institutions, including HDFC, State Bank of India (SBI), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
He emphasised the need for British businesses to engage with high-growth markets like India.
“The theme ‘Growth Unleashed’ is to encourage British businesses to get out to extraordinary growth markets such as India, bang on doors and build their businesses,” King told PTI ahead of his visit.
The trip comes ahead of UK Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds’ proposed visit to India later this month to formally relaunch negotiations on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was stalled due to elections in both countries.
“I think the timing is very good. There was a bit of a lull in relation to pushing forward for the Free Trade Agreement, and I'm very pleased to see that Minister Reynolds is off to India as well,” King said.
“We can [meanwhile] talk about the opportunities to people involved in financial, professional, legal and maritime services that the Free Trade Agreement will present.”
King highlighted the India-UK trading relationship, which is valued at an estimated GBP 41 billion a year. He said this relationship is particularly important given ongoing global trade uncertainties.
“It makes it especially important that we are showing our commitment to increasing trade, and there are some extraordinary opportunities that can be devised between the United Kingdom and India,” he said.
“Looking particularly at things like investment into infrastructure, financial services and legal services – all these are remarkable areas of growth.”
The City of London Corporation is also looking to attract more Indian companies to invest in the UK, leveraging London’s financial services.
“Already many Indians see London as their second home, and I do sense it's a continuing and growing relationship,” King said.
Having worked in Mumbai’s infrastructure sector in the past, he noted India's long-term growth potential.
“We had a business that was specialising in investing particularly in the container trade area. That's a great story for the next 25 years as India becomes more integrated into world trade and the facilities grow,” he said.
As part of his visit, King will discuss financial services as a key growth area for both economies. His meetings will focus on easing trade mechanisms, including investment protection and business mobility.
“We have 678,000 people who work in the Square Mile of the City of London, and one of the reasons why we're the number one international financial centre in the world is that we have such an enormous skilled and talented workforce,” he said.
“We need to attract the brightest and the best to come here and work, and that includes the brightest and best from India.”
(With inputs from PTI)
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The meeting came hours after Trump criticised India’s business environment and announced plans for reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose duties on US imports. (Photo: Getty Images)
Modi and Trump agree to resolve trade disputes, discuss tariff concerns
Feb 14, 2025
INDIA and the US have agreed to begin negotiations aimed at resolving trade and tariff disputes, following talks between Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump in Washington.
India has committed to increasing purchases of US oil, gas, and defence equipment, while both sides pledged to address trade barriers.
The meeting came hours after Trump criticised India’s business environment and announced plans for reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose duties on US imports.
“Prime minister Modi recently announced the reductions to India’s unfair, very strong tariffs that limit US access to the Indian market, very strongly,” Trump said. “And really it’s a big problem, I must say.”
India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the trade concerns could be resolved within seven months.
A joint statement released after the meeting noted that the US welcomed India’s recent steps to lower tariffs on selected US goods and expand market access for US agricultural products. Talks are set to take place to negotiate parts of a trade deal by autumn 2025.
Both leaders had differing perspectives on tariffs, but Misri said they had found a way forward. “What is more remarkable… is the fact that we have a way forward on this issue,” he said.
India has also expressed interest in expanding its defence and energy trade with the US. Trump said India could become one of Washington’s largest buyers of oil and gas and increase defence purchases “by billions of dollars.” Modi said India aims to double bilateral trade by 2030.
The leaders also discussed nuclear energy cooperation, though legal challenges remain.
Trump said the US is working to provide India with F-35 stealth fighters, but Misri later clarified that discussions were still at the proposal stage, with no formal process underway.
The White House did not comment on the potential deal.
Tariff concerns remain
Trump, who had a strong relationship with Modi during his first term, reiterated his concerns over India’s tariffs, calling them “very high.” He said the US would impose reciprocal tariffs.
“We are being reciprocal with India,” Trump said. “Whatever India charges, we charge them.”
Modi, in response, said he would prioritise India’s interests.
“One thing that I deeply appreciate, and I learn from president Trump, is that he keeps the national interest supreme,” Modi said. “Like him, I also keep the national interest of India at the top of everything else.”
Both leaders also agreed to strengthen security ties in the Indo-Pacific region and collaborate on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Before the talks, a source described India’s recent tariff reductions as a goodwill gesture aimed at easing tensions. A US official said Trump sees increased defence and energy sales to India as a way to reduce the trade deficit.
India’s energy purchases from the US could rise to £19.8 billion from £11.9 bn last year, Misri said, adding that this could help narrow the trade deficit. The US currently has a £36.2 bn trade deficit with India.
Richard Rossow, head of the India programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said tariffs would remain a contentious issue.
“It’s going to be a boxing match,” he said. “India is willing to take a few hits, but there’s a limit.”
Cooperation on immigration and China strategy
The US and India have also agreed to strengthen cooperation on illegal immigration and human trafficking. India is a significant source of immigrants to the US, including skilled workers on visas and individuals living in the country without legal status.
The agreement is seen as part of Trump’s broader strategy to counter China. India shares concerns over China’s growing military presence and economic influence.
Modi also expressed concerns about a potential US-China trade deal that could sideline India, according to Mukesh Aghi, president of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.
India has continued to maintain ties with Russia despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. While Western countries have reduced their reliance on Russian energy, India remains a major buyer.
“The world had this thinking that India somehow is a neutral country in this whole process,” Modi said. “But this is not true. India has a side, and that side is of peace.”
US approves extradition of Tahawwur Rana
The US has also approved the extradition of a suspect in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai in which over 160 people were killed, Trump said on Thursday in a press conference.
Trump did not name the individual in the press conference but a joint statement from the two sides later identified the man as Pakistani-origin Chicago businessman and Canadian citizen Tahawwur Rana.
The three-day attacks on hotels, a train station and a Jewish centre in which 166 people were killed began on November 26, 2008. India says Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba orchestrated the attacks. Pakistan's government denies being involved.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Escobar, killed by security forces in 1993, remains a figure of global interest, with his image appearing on souvenirs like T-shirts, mugs, and keychains. (Photo: Getty Images)
Colombia considers ban on Pablo Escobar merchandise
Feb 13, 2025
COLOMBIA’s Congress is considering a bill that would ban the sale of merchandise featuring drug lord Pablo Escobar and other convicted criminals.
The proposed law aims to curb the glorification of Escobar, who was responsible for thousands of deaths during his time leading the Medellín cartel, reported BBC.
Escobar, killed by security forces in 1993, remains a figure of global interest, with his image appearing on souvenirs like T-shirts, mugs, and keychains.
While some view these items as historical mementoes, others argue they trivialise the violence and destruction he caused.
Juan Sebastián Gómez, a congressman and co-author of the bill, said the country should not allow difficult aspects of its history to be commercialised through street merchandise.
The bill proposes fines for sellers and temporary business suspensions for those who violate the ban, BBC reported.
Vendors selling Escobar-themed goods argue the ban would affect their livelihoods. Joana Montoya, a stall owner in Medellín’s Comuna 13, said Escobar-related products contribute significantly to her income.
“This merchandise benefits many families here. It helps us pay our rent, buy food, and look after our kids,” she told the BBC.
Some vendors estimate that up to 60 per cent of their sales come from Escobar items.
Supporters of the bill believe the country should focus on other aspects of its history. Gómez noted that Colombia's association with Escobar has led to global stigma, and that other nations do not commercialise figures like Hitler or Mussolini.
Gonzalo Rojas, whose father was among 110 people killed in the 1989 bombing of Avianca flight 203 ordered by Escobar, sees the bill as an important step.
However, he believes more should be done to educate people about Escobar’s crimes rather than just banning merchandise.
Medellín’s mayor has endorsed the bill, calling the sale of such items “an insult to the city, the country, and the victims,” reported BBC.
The bill must pass four stages in Congress before it becomes law.
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Polls show most Britons back assisted dying, with supporters calling for the law to reflect public opinion.
Assisted dying bill: Judge approval scrapped for expert panel safeguard
Eastern Eye
Feb 13, 2025
THE proposed new assisted dying law for terminally ill people will be amended to remove the requirement that a high court judge sign off on each case, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said on Tuesday (11).
Opponents of assisted dying said the change would weaken the safeguards around protecting vulnerable people from being coerced or pressured into taking their own lives.
In a historic vote three months ago, MPs backed the bill to allow assisted dying, paving the way for Britain to follow Australia, Canada and some US states in launching what would be one of its biggest social reforms in a generation. The “Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)” bill, proposed by Leadbeater, passed that first hurdle with 330 MPs voting in favour and 275 against.
Under the proposals, mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or fewer left to live would be given the right to choose to end their lives with medical help after approval by two doctors and a judge.
With the process of political scrutiny underway, Leadbeater said she wanted to scrap the need for authorisation by a high court judge, with each case instead considered by a panel of experts, including a senior legal figure, psychiatrists and social workers.
A review by the high court could follow, if necessary. Leadbeater said the change strengthened the bill because it brought in experts from different professions, giving “an extra layer of scrutiny”. She told BBC Radio, “It’s absolutely a change for the better.”
Polls show that a majority of Britons back assisted dying and supporters said the law needs to catch up with public opinion. But the bill could still be voted down as it makes its way through both the Commons and the House of Lords.
Last month, Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical officer, warned that setting up an assisted dying service for terminally ill people should not be rushed.
He was the first witness to appear before a parliamentary committee scrutinising the bill.
“My view is this is something which is best not done at speed if we can avoid it,” Whitty told MPs.
He added the process for choosing assisted dying should be straightforward, stressing that someone with six months to live should not be “stuck in a bureaucratic thicket”. Whitty said, “My view is the best safeguards are simple safeguards.”
The proposed legislation will still have to pass further debates and votes in the Commons and the Lords before becoming law.
Meanwhile, supporters of the proposed law said changing the rules would give dying people greater dignity and protection at the end of life.
Assisted suicide currently carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A separate attempt to change the law in Scotland, where helping someone die is not a specific criminal offence, but can leave a person open to other charges, is under way at the devolved Scottish parliament.
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