- Saturday, April 20, 2024
A historic Hindu temple near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been demolished, paving the way for the construction of a commercial complex in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The site had been dormant since 1947, when its original occupants migrated to India. The ‘Khyber Temple’ was situated in the border town of Landi…
Amnesty International has partnered with more than 20 human rights organisations campaigning against enforced disappearance in south Asia and created Footprints - a digital museum recording the stories of the victims. Enforced disappearance is a crime under international law, but is used by states across the world to silence dissent…
EMBATTLED Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac said his side can still progress to the third round of the FIFA world cup qualifiers, putting up a brave front despite an embarrassing defeat to Afghanistan last Tuesday (26). Ranked 158 in the world, Afghanistan shocked 117-ranked India 2-1 as the…
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed hope that ties with India will improve after the general elections in the neighbouring country. Asif's comments came days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Singapore said that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism almost at an "industry level" and the mood in India…
NEW ZEALAND's Rachin Ravindra hit an explosive 46 and took three catches to help holders Chennai Super Kings to their second straight IPL win with a 63-run thrashing of Gujarat Titans on Tuesday (26). The left-handed Ravindra, in his debut IPL season, made his runs off 20 balls while captain…
PAKISTAN foreign minister Ishaq Dar held telephonic talks with his British counterpart David Cameron on Monday (25) and stressed the need for early resumption of flights of Pakistan's national carrier to the United Kingdom. The UK and several other countries suspended Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flights in 2020 due to…
Militants attacked a Pakistan naval airbase in the turbulent southwest region killing at least one paramilitary soldier while security forces killed all five of the assailants in retaliatory fire, officials said on Tuesday. Monday's attack on the Turbat base was the second assault by ethnic Baloch militants on a military…
Heavily-armed Baloch insurgents on Wednesday stormed the Gwadar Port Authority complex in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, but security forces foiled the attack and killed eight militants while losing two soldiers. The attack happened on the same day when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted that his government would not tolerate any…
Charles Sobhraj, the cunning criminal dubbed The Real Serpent for his ability to evade capture, has captivated audiences with his chilling story. The BBC drama series reintroduced his case, but tonight Channel 4 offers a new perspective - a documentary featuring Sobhraj himself. Charles Sobhraj, also known as the Bikini Killer,…
AUSTRALIA on Tuesday (19) decided to shelve the T20 men’s cricket series against Afghanistan. Cricket Australia (CA) said it had received advice “that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse,” and had postponed the three-match series slated for August at a neutral venue. The sport has surged…
EIGHT civilians were killed on Monday (18) in “reckless” airstrikes by Pakistan’s military in the border regions of Afghanistan, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate against Pakistani military outposts, Taliban officials said. Border tensions between the two countries have steadily escalated since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad…
INDIA this week implemented the contentious 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), sparking sporadic protests and a war of words between prime minister Narendra Modi's government and opposition groups weeks before national elections are held. Here is a look at the law, its implications and the concerns surrounding it. What is…
Sporadic protests have erupted in India against a citizenship law that has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government implemented the legislation just days before a general election is announced. Protests broke out in the eastern state of Assam and the southern state of Tamil…
India's interior ministry said Monday it was enacting a citizenship law that critics say discriminates against Muslims, just weeks before the world's most populous country heads into a general election. While the law was passed in December 2019, its implementation was delayed after widespread protests and deadly violence erupted in…
PAKISTAN's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday (6) that former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged 44 year ago after being convicted of murder, didn't get a fair trial. Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) now run by his grandson and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto…
THE Bangladesh captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, said last Sunday (3) he wanted his team to use the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka to perfect the format ahead of the World Cup in June. The series, which began on Monday (4) in Sylhet as Eastern Eye went to press, marks…
Hate preachers with extremist Islamist views from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia will be blocked from entering Britain under new plans being drafted by the government, according to a UK media report on Sunday. ‘The Daily Telegraph' reports that the British government is concerned about a “shocking increase”…
PAKISTAN's newly formed parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday (3) as prime minister for a second time, three weeks after uncertain national elections caused delays in the formation of a coalition government. "Shehbaz Sharif is declared to have been elected the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," National…
There has been a 60 per cent increase in Indian nationals using illegal small boats to cross the English Channel to enter the UK in 2023, reports Times of India. They pay around £100 to smugglers in Calais to undertake this risky journey and make asylum claims once they land…
LEGENDARY concert organiser Jay Visvadeva has been delighting live music fans across generations in the UK since the 1970s, bringing together the biggest artists. His SAMA arts organisation continues to produce exciting concerts, including the South Asian Sounds festival at Southbank Centre in London from next Thursday (7) to next…
INDIAN agencies Wednesday (28) made their highest-ever narcotics bust from the sea as they seized 3,300 kg drugs, which sailed from an Iranian port, off the Gujarat coast and arrested five foreigners from a dhow. The cache could be worth anything between £124 to £191 million in the international market,…
AGE has become an important factor in the 2024 general elections in the US, an eminent Indian-American Democrat has said, signalling that youths and minorities who were a strong pillar of support for President Joe Biden in 2020, seem to lack enthusiasm and energy about the ruling party in the…
THE Church of England (CoE) is considering updating its guidance to clergy on supporting and ministering to asylum seekers, amid concerns that religious conversions are being exploited by people seeking to stay in Britain. The Church's role in the asylum system has been in the spotlight since media reports that…
A Chinese tech security firm was able to breach foreign governments, including India, infiltrate social media accounts, and hack personal computers, a massive data leak analysed by experts this week revealed. The trove of documents from I-Soon, a private company that competed for Chinese government contracts, shows that its hackers…
ALL-ROUNDER Angelo Mathews starred with a quickfire 42 and two wickets as Sri Lanka secured the three match T20 series against Afghanistan by winning the second match by 72 runs on Monday (19). Sri Lanka wrapped up the series with a game to spare in front of a capacity crowd…
INDIAN AMERICAN Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley has said that if voted to power, her administration will not only strengthen the alliance with NATO but also with several other countries including India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. Haley, 52, the former US ambassador to the UN, said that…
A man who piloted an "unseaworthy" boat across the English Channel was found guilty Monday of the manslaughter of four migrants who drowned during the crossing. Ibrahima Bah, from Senegal, took the helm of the poor quality inflatable carrying 43 people, which should have held no more than 20 passengers,…
Star batsman Virat Kohli's absence from the India squad for undisclosed "personal reasons" will extend to the remaining three Tests against England, the country's cricket board said Saturday. The series is level at 1-1 after two matches that Kohli also missed, and will resume without him in Rajkot for the…
Mobile services in Pakistan have been suspended due to the "deteriorating security situation", the caretaker government said on Thursday (8) as the people were voting to elect a new administration, a day after twin terror attacks killed at least 30 people. The interior ministry said it has decided to “temporarily…
ARAFAT JAMAL, a senior diplomat with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has called on Ugandan Asians not to lose their collective memories or their history. Speaking at the ceremony last week to wind down the India Overseas Trust, he referred to the work done by his late…
WALT WHITMAN wrote “I am large. I contain multitudes,” anticipating a multicultural America at its founding. Two of our politicians speak to the psychology of their multicultural identity in contemporary times. As the race for the 2024 US presidential election heats up, former South Carolina governor Nimarata ‘Nikki’ Randhawa Haley…
Adah Sharma starrer The Kerala Story is set to begin its streaming journey on ZEE5 Global. Taking to Instagram, the actress shared the exciting news with her fans and captioned the post, which read, "FINALLY! SURPRISE! The most anticipated film is dropping soon on ZEE5! The Kerala Story premieres on…
At least 12 people were killed and 25 wounded Wednesday (7) by a blast outside a poll candidate's office in southwestern Pakistan, officials said, on the eve of an election marred by violence and allegations of poll-rigging. The attack occurred near the office of an independent candidate in Pishin district,…
As Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday, concerns are being raised over the safety of the new app promoted by the election commission. The Election Commission of Pakistan’s Election Management System (EMS) app is meant to swiftly transmit and tabulate election results, but some officials feel the software can…
Makers of the upcoming drama film Bastar- The Naxal Story, starring Adah Sharma, unveiled the film's official teaser on Tuesday. Taking to Instagram, Adah shared the teaser which she captioned, "A story coloured red with the blood of innocent people! Capture the untold story... Bastar - The Naxal Story. Teaser…
ENGLAND's "Bazball" style of attacking cricket faces its biggest challenge yet when they play an India side who have not lost a home Test series in more than a decade. The five-Test series begins Thursday (25) in Hyderabad, and although India will be without Virat Kohli for the first two…
According to police reports, a father killed his son in Pakistan, following a dispute over which political party flag to display during the lead-up to the general election. The argument broke out when the son, who recently returned from working in Qatar, hoisted the flag of former prime minister Imran…
The prime minister of Pakistan is scheduled to convene an emergency security meeting on Friday (19), bringing together military and intelligence chiefs. This comes in the aftermath of deadly air strikes this week, exchanged between Pakistan and Iran, on militant targets. The rare military actions in the porous border region…
THOUSANDS of trucks were stranded at the busiest frontier crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday (15), Afghan officials said, days after border points were closed to trade in the latest row over document rules for commercial vehicle drivers. Crossings between the two countries have been temporarily shut down in…
RIVALS India and Pakistan will play their Twenty20 World Cup group game in New York on June 9 while co-hosts United States will take on Canada in the opening match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said last Friday (5). The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, which will be…
A ROADSIDE bomb killed at least five police officers deployed to protect polio vaccination workers in northwestern Pakistan on Monday (8), officials said, in an attack that was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group. The TTP said in a statement it had “successfully detonated a mine on a police”…
Official sources have confirmed that the centre has approved a security deployment exceeding 150 CISF personnel for the Ayodhya airport, in anticipation of the upcoming consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22. The "Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham" is the country's 68th civil airport terminal to come under…
Regular captain Rohit Sharma and veteran Virat Kohli have made their return to India's T20 squad after a year's gap for the home series against Afghanistan. Their comeback comes amid ongoing speculation about their future in this format. Both batters have not played T20 Internationals since India's defeat to England…
RIVALS India and Pakistan will play their Twenty20 World Cup group game in New York on June 9 while co-hosts US will take on Canada in the opening match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said. The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US…
PAKISTAN’S huge deportation drive has forcibly repatriated scores of Afghans awaiting resettlement in the United States, an advocacy group and Afghan applicants said, adding that Pakistani authorities often ignored the US embassy’s letters of protection given to the repatriates. That complicates the efforts of such Afghans, as the US has…
Six barbers from Punjab province, Pakistan were shot and killed by unidentified militants who abducted them from the turbulent northwest region, police said. The incident took place in the Mir Ali area of the North Waziristan district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, ARY News reported on Tuesday (2).…
TENSIONS among nuclear powers, mainly in Asia, carry the risk of escalating into major conventional wars, a new survey cautioned. Significant Asian conflicts, such as in Kashmir and Afghanistan, have seen reduced violence since a ceasefire began in February 2021, said the Armed Conflict Survey 2023 by the London-based geopolitics…
THE Financial Times business book of the year for 2023 has gone to Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive by Amy Edmondson, a Harvard professor who has been called “the world’s most influential organisational psychologist”. The prize, worth £30,000, was announced last Tuesday…
ISLAMIST militants rammed an explosive-laden truck into a police station in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday (12), killing at least 24 people, two security officials said, the latest devastating attack in recent months claimed by a Pakistani Taliban group. The bomb and gun attack occurred in the district of Dera Ismail…
NOBEL Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai on Tuesday (5) likened restrictions the Taliban has placed on women in Afghanistan to the treatment of black people under apartheid in a lecture in South Africa organised by Nelson Mandela's foundation. Yousafzai survived being shot in the head when she was 15 in…
AFGHANISTAN'S embassy in India announced its "permanent closure" on Friday (24), more than two years after the Taliban returned to power in Kabul following the collapse of the Western-backed government. Most foreign nations - including India - do not officially recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government, but acknowledge them as the de…
The U.N. refugee agency on Wednesday (22), urged Pakistan to cease the deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees amid the harsh winter season, as authorities persisted in searching residences and expelling Afghans who hadn't already left. Islamabad last month announced it would expel over a million undocumented refugees, mostly Afghans, amid…
INDIA played the tournament’s best cricket for nearly six weeks but it was the familiar sight of Australia celebrating with the trophy when the 13th edition of the ICC World Cup came to a close last Sunday (19). Just five months after beating India in the World Test Championship final…
INDIA will host Afghanistan for three Twenty20s in January, the first time the two sides will meet in a multi-match white-ball series, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said late on Tuesday (21). The series will begin on January 11 in Mohali before moving to Indore for a match on January 14.…
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its World Cup team of the tournament on Monday (20), including six players from finalists India and two from the champion team, Australia. Leading run scorer Virat Kohli — who was named player of the tournament — captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja,…
PAKISTAN captain Babar Azam was described as “depressed” and under pressure to save his job last Sunday (12), after the team crashed out of the Cricket World Cup, failing to make the semi-finals for a second successive tournament. A 93-run loss to England sealed Pakistan’s fate, ending the 1992 champions’…
American actress Angelina Jolie has expressed her deep concern and sadness over the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Jolie slammed Pakistan for the unexpected decision to send back vulnerable Afghan families, confronting the hard reality of survival in today's Afghanistan. Jolie emphasized Pakistan's…
SOUTH AFRICAN Morne Morkel has resigned as Pakistan's bowling coach, the country's cricket board (PCB) announced on Monday (13), two days after their failure to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in India. Pakistan finished fifth in the standings with eight points having won four matches and losing five,…
RASSIE VAN DER DUSSEN hit an unbeaten 76 to lead South Africa to a comfortable five-wicket win over Afghanistan in their last World Cup group game on Friday (10) as their opponents were eliminated from the semi-final race. Chasing 245 for victory, Van der Dussen steered the Proteas home with…
BY HIS own admission, Indian football talisman Sunil Chhetri is in the “bonus period” of his illustrious career but he has not set any retirement date. One thing is, however, certain that the 39-year-old Chhetri will not be playing in 2026 when the football World Cup happens. “I’m just happy…
AFGHANISTAN have rebounded from defeat at the World Cup and can do so again, coach Jonathan Trott said after Tuesday's (7) three-wicket loss to Australia in Mumbai. Afghanistan had Australia reeling at 91-7 chasing 292 before Glenn Maxwell's unbeaten 201 snatched a remarkable victory that sealed a semi-final slot for…
CULTURE clashes over Remembrance Day date back to its beginning. There was a protest rally on the eve of the first anniversary of the Armistice in 1919, demanding the government bring home the bodies of the million soldiers who had died abroad. The devastating scale of death demanded new rituals…
GLENN MAXWELL'S stunning 201 not out guided Australia into the semi-finals of the World Cup as the five-time champions snatched a sensational three-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat against Afghanistan in Mumbai on Tuesday (7). At 91-7, chasing 292, Australia were all set to join title-holders England, 1996 champions…
AFGHANISTAN swept past the Netherlands by seven wickets on Friday (3) to boost their chances of reaching the World Cup semi-finals. Chasing 180 to win, Afghanistan reached their target with 111 balls to spare to clinch a fourth win at the tournament to add to victories over defending champions England,…
A BOMB blast targeting a Pakistan police van in northwestern Pakistan on Friday (3) killed five civilians and wounded 21 people, officials said. The attack happened in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border where militancy has spiked in recent months. "The bomb was…
QUINTON DE KOCK hit his fourth century of the World Cup while Rassie van der Dussen cracked his second as South Africa thrashed New Zealand by 190 runs on Wednesday (1) to take a step closer to the semi-finals. The Proteas' commanding 357-4 was built on De Kock's 114 and…
PAKISTANI authorities began rounding up undocumented foreigners, most of them Afghans, on Wednesday (1), ahead of a midnight deadline for them to leave or face expulsion. The removal of people to temporary holding centres began a day earlier than previously announced. The interior ministry said 140,322 people had already voluntarily…
VERY few people in the Middle East will be familiar with Sir Keir Starmer, so whether or not the Labour leader calls for a ceasefire in Israel’s military action on Hamas in the Gaza strip is pretty much irrelevant. Even prime minister Rishi Sunak is not really a player. Starmer’s…
MORE than 10,000 Afghan migrants rushed to the border on Tuesday (31), the last day of a deadline for 1.7 million Afghans to leave Pakistan voluntarily or face arrest and deportation. The government has said it would begin arresting undocumented Afghans and taking them to new holding centres from Wednesday…
A spirited Afghanistan upset another former champion on Monday (30) when Hashmatullah Shahidi's men defeated 1996 winners Sri Lanka by seven wickets to continue their memorable campaign at the 50-overs World Cup. Their bowlers had laid the foundation of their third win in six matches when they bowled out Sri…
MOHAMMED Shami led an inspired bowling display as India hammered England by 100 runs on Sunday (29) to stay unbeaten in the World Cup and all but push the defending champions out of the semi-final race. Chasing a tricky 230 for victory in Lucknow, England collapsed to 129 all out…
FORMER captain and cricket pundit Nasser Hussain feels reliance on statistics rather than reading the conditions has led to England’s downfall in the ongoing World Cup, adding that the reigning champions don’t look like a side that can defend its title. England fell to a 229-run loss to South Africa…
FIREWORKS and celebratory gunfire raked Kabul’s skies as Afghans celebrated their stunning eight-wicket cricket World Cup defeat of Pakistan, a rare burst of public jubilation since the Taliban takeover. Hundreds of fans swarmed the streets of the capital late Monday (23), joining a morass of honking car traffic which wardens…
Escatic Afghanistan cricketers celebrated their thrilling win over Pakistan in the ICC World Cup match by grooving to the popular Bollywood number 'Lungi Dance' which features actor Shah Rukh Khan. Afghanistan on Monday registered their second surprise victory in the World Cup and their first-ever win over Pakistan in the…
AFGHANISTAN put on a superb batting and bowling display to hand Pakistan a stunning eight-wicket defeat in the Cricket World Cup on Monday (23). Chasing a 283-run target, Afghanistan were lifted by Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77 not out) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) as they scored 286-2 in 49…
INDIA captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field against New Zealand in a mouth-watering clash between the two unbeaten teams in the ongoing 50-overs World Cup in Dharamsala on Sunday (22). Twice champions India left out an injured Hardik Pandya and fellow all-rounder Shardul Thakur bringing in…
BEN STOKES returned for faltering champions England on Saturday (21) as they made three changes before skipper Jos Buttler opted to field in a crunch World Cup clash against South Africa. The star all-rounder, who made 84 in England's 2019 World Cup final win, is playing his first game of…
NEW ZEALAND handed giant-killing Afghanistan a brutal reality check on Wednesday (18) when they exploited a disastrous fielding performance to romp to a 149-run victory at the Cricket World Cup. Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham and Will Young all scored half centuries and benefitted from dropped catches to score a fighting…
PAKISTAN'S powerful army on Tuesday extended its full support to the government's decision to deport all illegal foreigners, including Afghan refugees, from November 1. The caretaker government has set October 31 as the deadline for undocumented immigrants, including around 1.7 million Afghan refugees, to leave the country or risk imprisonment,…
A GROUP of former top US officials and US resettlement organisations on Tuesday (17) urged Pakistan to exempt from deportation to Afghanistan thousands of Afghan applicants for special US visas or refugee relocation to the United States. Pakistan has set a November 1 deadline for all illegal immigrants, including hundreds…
THE Netherlands are confident they "can beat any side" after a shock win over South Africa, with skipper Scott Edwards eyeing a spot in the World Cup semi-finals. The Dutch stunned South Africa by 38 runs in a rain-reduced 43-overs-a-side contest in Dharamsala on Tuesday (17) for their first win…
NETHERLANDS defeated mighty South Africa by 38 runs at the Cricket World Cup on Tuesday (17) as the European outsiders humiliated the Proteas for the second time in a year. Chasing 246 to win from a rain-reduced 43 overs after Dutch captain Scott Edwards made a crucial 78 not out,…
ENGLAND captain Jos Buttler has called on his players to show resilience and character in the wake of a stunning loss to Afghanistan that has put their World Cup title defence on shaky ground. England are fifth in the group standings with one win from three matches after the 69-run…
AFGHANISTAN pulled off one of the greatest World Cup shocks on Sunday when they defeated defending champions England by 69 runs in New Delhi. Chasing 285 to win, after opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz had hit a blistering 80, England were bowled out for 215 despite Harry Brook's 66 with spinners Mujeeb…
Ahead of the most awaited match of the ODI World Cup 2023 between India and Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, actor Anushka Sharma-the wife of Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, Singer Arijit Singh, cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik arrived in Ahmedabad to cheer India…
INDIA skipper Rohit Sharma on Saturday (14) won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan in a blockbuster World Cup match expected to be attended by 120,000 fans. Opening batsman Shubman Gill returns to the team and takes the place of Ishan Kishan after recovering from dengue fever…
BUOYED by a record run chase, Babar Azam's Pakistan are on the hunt for their first ever World Cup win over India in Saturday's (14) blockbuster match between cricket's biggest rivals in a 132,000-capacity arena patrolled by 11,000 police officers. India and Pakistan are bitter adversaries and only play against…
CAPTAIN Rohit Sharma on Wednesday (11) surpassed compatriot Sachin Tendulkar with a record seventh World Cup century to lead India to a crushing eight-wicket win over Afghanistan. Chasing 273 for victory in New Delhi, the hosts rode on Rohit's 131 to achieve their target in 35 overs for a second…
PAKISTAN and China have agreed to invite third parties to participate in the $60 billion (£48.86bn) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, a top Pakistani diplomat has said. The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the country’s ambassador to China, Moinul Haque,…
Pakistan said last Friday (6) that it would repatriate all illegal immigrants including hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals in orderly phases rather than in one go. Pakistan's announcement last Tuesday (3) of a November 1 deadline for people to leave or face forcible expulsion has frayed already soured relations…
DAWID MALAN bludgeoned 140 before Reece Topley destroyed the Bangladesh top order on Tuesday (10) as England bounced back from their mauling by New Zealand in their World Cup opener. In-form Malan belted five sixes in his career-best one-day international score and Topley took 4-43 as the defending champions won…
ENGLAND captain Jos Buttler is concerned with the outfield in Dharamsala, which he thinks is not ideal for World Cup matches. Former England batter and Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott questioned the condition of the outfield after spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman narrowly escaped injury after jamming his knee into the…
MEDICAL experts have voiced their outrage over an NHS training course that perpetuates racial stereotypes, with critics calling it "discriminatory" and "racist." The controversy surrounds a module within the course that suggests "Asian men" may avoid making eye contact during medical care because it is considered disrespectful in their culture,…
INDIAN trailblazer Neeraj Chopra added Asian Games gold to his Olympic and world titles in javelin on Wednesday (4) as his nation celebrated its biggest medal haul at the continental showpiece in Hangzhou. India's first Olympic athletics champion threw 88.88 metres, more than 0.70m further than Budapest where the 25-year-old…
EXPLOSIVE opener Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed seven sixes in a sublime maiden T20 century as India’s men opened their first Asian Games campaign with a 23-run defeat of gutsy Nepal on Tuesday (3). Pakistan also reached the semifinals, crushing Hong Kong by 68 runs, with experienced all-rounder Khushdil Shah taking 3-13.…
PAKISTAN on Tuesday (3) ordered all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to leave the country or face expulsion after revealing that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. It was not immediately clear how Pakistani authorities could ensure the…
INDIA target a third World Cup when cricket's global showpiece gets underway on Thursday (5) with the country buoyed by a growing, international self-confidence and with a sport which unites and divides the sub-continent like no other on the verge of joining the Olympic elite. The epic tournament features 10…
SUICIDE bombings ripped through two mosques in Pakistan on Friday (29), killing at least 57 people, including seven children, as believers marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, police and health officials said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, from which the death toll could climb, with many…
1497, the nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting South Asian filmmakers, has announced Mira Nair, Geeta Malik, and Minhal Baig as mentors for its third Features Lab. The Lab’s first year was held virtually, while the second year was hybrid, held virtually and in-person. For its third year, 1497…
INDIA target a third World Cup triumph when the country hosts cricket's seven-week global showpiece, buoyed by an economic boom and growing, international self-confidence. India shared hosting with Pakistan in 1987, then Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1996 before another three-way split with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011. This…
PAKISTAN will play without injured pace bowler Naseem Shah at the World Cup starting next month in India, with Hasan Ali taking his place in the 15-man squad announced on Friday (22). The 20-year-old injured his right shoulder during Pakistan's Asia Cup Super Four defeat by arch-rivals India in Colombo…
SRI LANKA’S crushing 10-wicket loss to India in the Asia Cup final should help the team learn lessons for the ODI World Cup, coach Chris Silverwood said last Sunday (17). The home team were bowled out for just 50 in 15.2 overs with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj ripping through…
A FABULOUS career saw Feroz Khan go from playing supporting roles to headlining films as an actor, director and producer. Born on September 25, 1939, he left behind an impressive body of work including all-time classics before passing away on April 27, 2009, aged 69. Eastern Eye decided to mark…
THE main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopened to pedestrians and vehicles last Friday (15), more than a week after it was closed following a gun battle between frontier guards. There have been several border closures after clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces since the Taliban returned to power…
PACE bowler Mohammed Siraj returned figures of 6-21 to lead India's rout of Sri Lanka by 10 wickets as they clinched their eighth Asia Cup title on Sunday (17). Siraj got four wickets in one over to help skittle Sri Lanka out for 50, a total the Indian openers Ishan…
ROHIT Sharma's India face underdogs Sri Lanka in Sunday's (17) Asia Cup final, a crucial momentum-builder heading into next month's ODI World Cup. The cricketing giants have 13 Asian titles between them and Sri Lanka have a history of sneaking into the tournament's final - to the consternation of fans…
After nearly six decades in operation, a family-owned business specialising in traditional Asian dresses is set to close its doors as the owner, Kishor Chauhan, plans to retire. Milans, originally established in Leicester's Highfields area in 1964 to cater to the needs of newcomers from India and Pakistan, later relocated…
PAKISTAN skipper Babar Azam said on Saturday (9) that his side will have an edge over India in their Asia Cup Super Four clash, with a bowling line-up ready to win matches and tournaments. The arch-rivals meet again in Colombo on Sunday (10) after their group match was abandoned due…
PAKISTAN's main border crossing with Afghanistan was closed for a second day on Thursday (7), leading to a build-up of trucks laden with goods, after clashes between security forces from the two countries. The busy border crossing had closed on Wednesday (6) after Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces started firing…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the significance of India's diversity and its remarkable achievements, asserting that it is the opportune moment for the nation to assume the G20 presidency. He praised prime minister Narendra Modi's leadership over the past year and highlighted that India's leadership in the G20 comes at…
TITLE-HOLDERS Sri Lanka outlasted a rampaging Afghanistan by just two runs in a dramatic finish to reach the Asia Cup Super Four stage on Tuesday (5). Needing to overhaul a target of 292 in 37.1 overs to oust Sri Lanka on net run-rate, Afghanistan fell agonisingly short as Mujeeb Ur…
Migrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan are among those seeking protection in Europe, official figures released on Tuesday (5) showed. Syrians and Afghans account for nearly a quarter of asylum applications received so far this year, followed by those from Venezuela, Turkey, and Colombia. Between January and the end of June…
LABOUR MP Shabana Mahmood said she was honoured to be appointed shadow secretary of state for justice after party leader Sir Keir Starmer carried out a reshuffle on Monday (4). Days after prime minister Rishi Sunak’s mini reshuffle last week, Sir Keir named Birmingham Ladywood MP Mahmood to the shadow…
ALLROUNDER Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto smashed centuries before Bangladesh's pace bowlers shared eight wickets to beat Afghanistan by 89 runs in the Asia Cup in Lahore on Sunday (3). Miraz hit a 119-ball 112 for his highest ODI score while Shanto scored a 105-ball 104 to help…
FAST bowler Matheesha Pathirana was hailed as his team's 'X-factor' after returning impressive figures of 4-32 to help Sri Lanka to a comprehensive five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup on Thursday (31). Spinner Maheesh Theekshana struck early before Pathirana joined forces to dismiss Bangladesh for 164 in the…
NINE soldiers were killed in a restive western region of Pakistan on Thursday (31) after a suicide bomber rammed his motorbike into their military convoy and detonated, the army and officials said. Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in militancy since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan two…
SRI LANKA left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka will miss the Asia Cup due to injury in yet another blow to the co-hosts' title defence, according to media reports. Sri Lanka have been ravaged by injuries to their frontline bowlers ahead of their opener against Bangladesh in Pallekele on Thursday (31). Seamer…
FOUR migrants died Monday (28) when their boat capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos, while 18 people were rescued, the coastguard said. A patrol picked up 22 people in the Aegean but four of them were dead, a brief statement said. The survivors were transferred to Mytilene, the main…
Asia's cricket giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get a final chance to size each other up before October's 50-over World Cup when the Asia Cup begins on Wednesday. Fiery rivals India and Pakistan could clash as many as three times if they go all the way in the…
Pakistan face Afghanistan in a three-match one-day international series in Sri Lanka starting Tuesday (22), with skipper Babar Azam seeing it as good preparation for the Asia Cup and World Cup. The first bilateral ODI series between the two teams will be followed by the six-nation Asia Cup, in Sri…
INDIA replaced Romania as the most common birth country for non-UK-born mothers in England and Wales in 2022, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed. There were 17,745 live births to women born in India, a 16.3 per cent increase from 15,260 in 2021, the data…
BANGLADESH again named Shakib Al Hasan as captain of their one-day international side last Thursday (10), filling in for injured Tamim Iqbal. Shakib, 36, will lead Bangladesh through the World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman Tanvir Ahmed told AFP. “It has been decided today that Shakib Al Hasan will be…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reacted to three-time Grammy award-winning musician Ricky Kej’s instrumental rendition of the Indian national anthem which he created in collaboration with the 100-member British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Wonderful. It will certainly make every Indian proud.” https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1691101478293786624 Kej…
To commemorate Indian Independence Day 2023, three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej released a teaser of the instrumental rendition of the Indian national anthem with the 100-member British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Taking to Twitter, Ricky shared the video and captioned it, “A few days ago, I conducted a 100-piece British orchestra,…
Ministers are confronting renewed demands to address the escalating boat crossings in the Channel, prompted by the tragic sinking of the vessel off the French coast on Saturday (12) that resulted in the loss of six migrant lives. The Labour Party has accused the government of being outmaneuvered by people…
Six people lost their lives when a migrant boat attempting to traverse the Channel from France to Britain capsized early Saturday (12) morning. Additionally, French authorities said that two more individuals are possibly missing. Rescue boats from France and the UK successfully rescued close to 60 migrants, transporting them to…
THE marquee World Cup match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will now be played on October 14, one day before the original slot, the ICC confirmed as the world governing body announced rescheduling nine games of the tournament. As per the latest update, Pakistan and England will have three of…
TAMIM IQBAL stepped down last Thursday (3) as captain of Bangladesh’s one-day international side and pulled his name out of the Asia Cup to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in August and September. The 34-year-old opening batsman announced his decision citing an injury problem after holding a meeting…
INDIA'S clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in this year's ODI World Cup has been brought forward a day to October 14 among eight other fixture changes, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Wednesday (9). The world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad will host the hotly anticipated match, originally set for October…
BRITAIN began moving some migrants on to a large residential barge on its southern coast on Monday (7), as part of plans to save money and remove what the government called the "pull" of hotels for those arriving in small boats. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has made cracking down on…
FORMER Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq hopes his second stint as chief selector of the men's team will prove more successful than his first when the team won the 2017 Champions Trophy in England. A member of the 1992 World Cup winning team, Inzamam was given the role on Monday and his…
Rabindranath Tagore's literary works have left a profound impact on Indian cinema and several renowned filmmakers have been inspired by his writings. On the occasion of Tagore's death anniversary today on August 7, here is a list of iconic film adaptations of his works that you should not miss. Pather…
Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has pointed to the involvement of "Afghan citizens" located across the border assisting the militants responsible for a series of suicide attacks in Pakistan. This statement comes shortly after a fatal bombing occurred during a political gathering near the shared border between the two nations.…
PAKISTAN has quietly approved the signing of a new security pact with the US, a move that indicates a fresh start in defence cooperation between the two nations, a media report said. The federal cabinet gave its seal of approval to sign the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement,…
TWO policemen were shot dead on Tuesday (1) while guarding a polio vaccination team in southwest Pakistan, officials said, the latest deaths in a high-stakes campaign to eradicate the debilitating virus. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic despite an effective vaccine, and…
THE CNN show of Indian American author and political commentator Fareed Zakaria and a programme by BBC’S south Asia and Afghanistan correspondent Yogita Limaye is among those nominated for the 44th Annual News and Documentary Emmy awards. Zakaria’s show Fareed Zakaria GPS got the nod in the outstanding news discussion…
THE death toll from a suicide bombing in northwest Pakistan that targeted a hard-line religious group's political rally has risen to 56, a government official said on Tuesday (1). The toll from Sunday's attack in the Bajaur district on the border with Afghanistan could rise, said Anwar-ul-Haq, the region's deputy…
DAESH on Monday (31) claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of a political rally in northwest Pakistan as the death toll from the attack rose to 45. The bomber struck at a gathering on Sunday (30) of the conservative Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, which is known for its links…
PAKISTAN police on Monday (31) combed through the bloody wreckage of a suicide blast that killed at least 45 people at an Islamist party's political gathering ahead of elections due later this year. Around 400 members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party - a key government coalition partner led by…
THE death toll in a suicide bombing at a political rally held by a religious party rose to 45 on Monday (31), officials said, an attack compounding fears of unrest ahead of a general election due later in the year. The bomber attacked the gathering of the conservative Jamiat Ulema…
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) on Friday announced its nominees for the 44th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. CNN led the nominees with 47 nods, while Vice News followed with 30. ABC and PBS tied with 26 nominations each, CBS earned 20 nods, while NBC…
THE star of Britain's crown jewels, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, is back on view after a notable absence from King Charles's coronation that highlighted the nation's awkward ties with its colonial past. The massive stone has appeared at formal occasions for more than 150 years, but Charles's wife Camilla opted not…
INDIA will kickstart their home season with three one-day internationals against Australia in September and host England for five Tests starting in January, according to the fixtures announced on Tuesday (25). Australia will play their matches on September 22, 24 and 27 before the 50-over showpiece tournament begins in India…
INDIAN passport holders can travel to 57 countries without a visa, a survey has shown, while Bangladesh permits its citizens access to 40 countries without a prior visa. An index of 227 countries compiled by Henley & Partners showed Singapore topped the list as its nationals can visit 193 destinations visa-free,…
FIERCE rivals Pakistan and India will meet in Sri Lanka on September 2 for their first one-day international clash in four years, according to the Asia Cup schedule announced Wednesday (19). The six-nation tournament starts on August 30 with four matches in Pakistan and the remaining nine in Sri Lanka…
RADICAL preacher Anjem Choudary was arrested at his east London home as part of a police investigation into suspected terrorism offences, reported The Telegraph. The country's most prominent Islamic preacher, Choudary, 56, was arrested in a dawn raid on Monday (17), the report added. Counter terrorism detectives also arrested a…
Nobel Prize-winning education activist Malala Yousafzai has criticised the Taliban for their recent actions that have rolled back women's rights and access to education in Afghanistan, Khaama Press, an online news service dedicated to providing information about Afghanistan reported. She expressed her profound dismay at the "complete reversal" of women’s…
PAKISTAN'S army said on Wednesday (12) it lost 12 soldiers in suspected militant attacks, including an assault on one of its bases. Nine soldiers were killed at the base which the Islamist militants stormed into armed with guns, hand grenades and rockets, the army and security officials said. In a…
GLACIERS in Asia’s Hindu Kush Himalaya could lose up to 75 per cent of their volume by century’s end due to global warming, causing both dangerous flooding and water shortages for the 240 million people who live in the mountainous region, a new report said. A team of international scientists…
THE Cricket World Cup will begin on October 5 with England facing New Zealand in Ahmedabad with the same venue hosting the final on November 19, organisers said on Tuesday (27), with the schedule for the showpiece event in India also confirming Pakistan's participation. The fixtures were revealed by the…
PAKISTAN'S foreign ministry on Monday (26) summoned the US embassy's deputy chief of mission to express concern over a statement last week by US president Joe Biden and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi that called on Pakistan to ensure its territory was not used as a base for militant attacks.…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has opened an exhibition of photographs celebrating the lives of refugees to mark refugee week from 19 to 25 June. A Ukrainian doctor, a Kindertransport survivor and a girl who fled the Taliban are among those captured in photographs taken by Philip Coburn, a photographer for…
SENIOR diplomat Jane Marriott will be the next British high commissioner to Pakistan, making her the first female British envoy to Islamabad. Prior to this appointment, Marriott, 47, was the high commissioner to Kenya since September 2019. She will replace Dr Christian Turner, who left Pakistan in January. “The first…
BANGLADESH crushed Afghanistan by 546 runs Saturday (17) to secure the biggest Test victory margin by runs in nearly 90 years, with Taskin Ahmed grabbing a career-best 4-37. The match ended in the extended opening session of the fourth day in Dhaka after a Taskin bouncer hit Zahir Khan, forcing…
A mural in India’s new parliament building has been a talking point since the inauguration of the structure last month.At the centre of the controversy is a map in the mural depicting ancient India as one geographical entity which also includes today’s Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.While the mural has caught…
Russia is keen to expand bilateral ties with Pakistan as the first shipment carrying discounted Russian oil reached Karachi Port last weekend, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said. Lavrov made these remarks in a video message on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Islamabad,…
PAKISTAN paid for its first government-to-government import of discounted Russian crude oil in Chinese currency, the South Asian country's petroleum minister has said, a significant shift in its US dollar-dominated export payments policy. Discounted crude offers a respite as Pakistan faces an economic crisis with an acute balance of payments…
SOME 200 migrants cast shadows in the faint early sunshine across the dunes of Gravelines beach in northern France, anticipating a police chase as they attempt to cross the waters before them to England. At least 7,610 people have been detected in small boats off Britain's coast so far this…
Hollywood star Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal-starrer action-thriller Kandahar will premiere in India on Prime Video on June 16, the streaming platform announced Tuesday. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, best known for Angel Has Fallen and Greenland, the movie released theatrically in the US in May. Written by Mitchell LaFortune, Kandahar draws…
THE FIRST shipment of Russian oil to energy-starved and dollar-strapped Pakistan has arrived at Karachi port, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last year, economic sanctions have seen a significant cut in its oil and gas exports to the European Union and United States.…
Asia Cup matches involving India could be played in Sri Lanka after the cricketing powerhouse refused to visit arch-rival and official host Pakistan, a board official said Sunday (11). The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is due to make a formal announcement in the coming week after calls for a different…
PAKISTAN'S cash-strapped government unveiled a Rs 14.5 trillion (£40 billion) budget on Friday (9), with more than half set aside to service Rs 7.3 trillion (£20 bn) of debt. Pakistan's economy has been stricken by a balance-of-payments crisis as it attempts to service crippling external debt, while months of political…
Pakistan has passed a special order to allow barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia for certain goods, including petroleum and gas, the Ministry of Commerce said last Friday (2). With barely enough foreign exchange reserves to cover one month’s imports, Islamabad is desperately trying to manage a balance of…
Kiln Theatre today announces that Indhu Rubasingham will step down as Artistic Director of the company, leaving early 2024, having led the company for over a decade. Indhu Rubasingham said today, “I never had an inkling of the journey ahead when I was first was appointed. I immediately felt the…
A Pakistani soldier was killed on Wednesday (31) when militants opened fire on a polio vaccination team, the country's military said, in the latest attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. Attempts to eradicate polio in Pakistan have been hit by attacks targeting inoculation teams that have claimed hundreds of lives…
Five Greek border police officers were arraigned Tuesday (29) as suspected accomplices of a smuggling network that illegally brought migrants into the country from Turkey. The five men appeared before a prosecutor in the northeastern city of Orestiada, a day after the police department's internal affairs division said they had…
The Kohinoor diamond, claimed by India, is on display at the Tower of London with the organisers of the exhibition trying to contextualise its turbulent colonial history in a “transparent” way. Kohinoor, also referred to as Koh-i-Noor, forms part of the new Jewel House exhibition at the tourist attraction and…
A former Gurkha soldier named Hari Budha Magar, who lost both legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first double above-the-knee amputee to conquer Mount Everest. At the age of 43 and residing in Canterbury, Kent, Budha Magar completed this remarkable feat…
What was Srichand Parmanand Hinduja – “SP” to everyone – really like? I will miss our walks in St James’s Park, which were invariably at dawn. He walked briskly, much faster than someone half his age. More than 10 years ago, he decided to tell me his life story. At…
At the British Museum’s fabulous new exhibition, Luxury and power: Persia to Greece, which explores the relationship between luxury and power in the Middle East and southeast Europe between 550-30 BC, I came across an old friend – Alexander III of Macedon, better known, of course, as Alexander the Great.…
More than a dozen people were killed in an overnight battle between Pakistan paramilitary troops and militants who stormed their base and took families hostage, the army said. "Well equipped" fighters assaulted a Frontier Corps compound in Muslim Bagh, Balochistan province, and captured three families in a residential block, the…
Pakistan have appointed former New Zealand all-rounder Grant Bradburn as the head coach of their men's team on a two-year deal after a successful spell as consultant, the country's cricket board (PCB) announced on Saturday (13). Bradburn was in charge during Pakistan's recent home series against New Zealand, where the…
Two teenagers have been sentenced to life in jail after they were found guilty of killing a 16-year-old boy who they mistakenly thought belonged to a rival gang. Vanushan Balakrishnan of Waylands and Ilyas Suleiman of St Jeromes Grove, Hillingdon, both 18-year-old, were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday…
A man was beaten to death by a mob after being accused of blasphemy at a rally for former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's party, officials said Sunday (7). Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where even unproven allegations can stir mobs and violence. Video of the…
Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, attended his father's coronation in Westminster Abbey on Saturday although he had to settle for a third-row seat behind other members of the royal family. It had been unclear until early April whether Harry, who now lives in California, would attend…
Afghanistan spinners Rashid Khan and rookie Noor Ahmad ran through the Rajasthan Royals as Gujarat Titans sealed an easy nine-wicket win in the IPL on Friday (5). Khan and Ahmad took five wickets between them as Rajasthan were bowled out for just 118 in the 18th over of their innings…
INDIAN spinner Varun Chakravarthy defended eight runs in the last over of Sunrisers Hyderabad's chase to seal a five-run victory for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Thursday (4). Hyderabad, led by South African star Aiden Markram, who scored a 40-ball 41, controlled the chase of their 172-run target…
A NEW film has sparked a row in India, with students, opposition parties and youth organisations, among others, calling for a stay on it being released. The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen, is scheduled to hit the screens on Friday (5) across the country. Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah,…
India overtook Australia on Tuesday (2) to go number one in new Test rankings issued by the International Cricket Council, while also retaining the top position in T20s. England remained number three in Tests but reduced the gap behind the top two teams significantly, the rankings published by the ICC…
The upcoming coronation of King Charles III will involve numerous historical roles, many of which have been adapted to suit the present day. Buckingham Palace stated that those chosen for these roles were selected to acknowledge, thank, and represent the nation for their notable contributions. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin…
Pakistan's ruling coalition has dismissed former prime minister Imran Khan’s demand to dissolve the National Assembly by May 14 as "impracticable". Ahead of the third round of talks between the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N)-led federal coalition and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party scheduled for Tuesday (2), the government told…
Ali Fazal made his Hollywood film debut with a special appearance in the 2015 action film Furious 7, the seventh installment in the immensely successful The Fast and the Furious franchise. The actor recently took a stroll down memory lane and shared pictures of himself posing with Vin Diesel and…
A batting assault by David Miller and Abhinav Manohar powered defending champions Gujarat Titans to a 55-run demolition of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday (25). The left-handed Miller (46 off 22 balls) and rising Indian talent Manohar (21-ball 42) put together 71 runs to steer Gujarat…
President Joe Biden said on Tuesday (25) he will seek a second White House term in 2024, a decision that will test whether Americans are ready to give the 80-year-old Democrat, already the oldest US president ever, another four years in office. Biden made his announcement in a slickly produced…
At least 12 people, mostly policemen, were killed by multiple explosions caused by a fire in a munitions cache in a Pakistan police station on Monday (24), officials said. The explosions levelled the specialist counter-terrorism station in Kabal town of Swat Valley, in the northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which…
Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu are expected to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be hosted by India next week. There is no confirmation yet on in-person participation of Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif in the SCO defence ministerial…
UNICEF estimates on Wednesday (19) show that South Asia has the highest number of child brides globally, with 290 million child brides accounting for 45% of the total, due to increased financial pressures and school closures resulting from COVID-19. The children's Agency of the United Nations has called for more…
Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab on Friday (21) announced his resignation following allegations of bullying that were confirmed in a report. This has come as a surprise for Tories, creating a new political setback. Raab's resignation creates a challenge for prime minister Rishi Sunak, who now has to deal with…
A 19-year-old named Ibrahima Bah appeared in court on Thursday (13), facing manslaughter charges for the deaths of four individuals who died while attempting to cross the Channel to the UK in a small inflatable boat. Bah, who was already facing charges for facilitating illegal entry into the UK, has…
Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been granted interim bail until May 4 by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore. The bail is related to three cases involving violent clashes between Khan's supporters and the police during an operation to arrest the former prime minister in the…
1497, the non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting South Asian filmmakers, has put together a team of acclaimed filmmakers including Mira Nair, Geeta Malik, and Minhal Baig as mentors for its third Features Lab. 1497 co-founders Adeel Ahmed, Kamran Khan, and Lipica Shah said in a joint statement, “We are excited…
The UK has paused the expulsion of a group of Nepalese military veterans who worked at the British embassy in Kabul before being rescued when the Taliban rulers took over Afghanistan. Thirteen of the former Gurkha soldiers worked as guards at the high-security compound housing the UK and Canadian embassies…
On Tuesday (04), a fire engulfed the camp of a Chinese company responsible for overseeing the construction of a remote hydropower dam in north-western Pakistan, officials said. Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) investment scheme, Beijing has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan since 2015. Despite continued threats from Pakistani…
Pakistani officials said that four policemen were killed on Thursday (30) by a roadside bomb as they scrambled to protect a police station under siege by Taliban militants in northwest Pakistan. The latest incident is part of a larger trend of rising attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) since the…
I (FELICITY) am apparently descended from a lineage of Sikhs, whose legendary kingdom once spanned Punjab, Peshawar and Kashmir. In the 19th century, its 12-year-old maharaja was coerced into surrendering the empire’s most treasured possession to Viscount Henry Hardinge, signifying a British victory over the Lahore Darbar. It is in…
On Sunday (26), Afghanistan secured a 2-0 lead in the three-game Twenty20 international series against Pakistan, after overcoming late nerves in the closing overs to win by seven wickets. Despite requiring 30 runs from the last three overs, and 22 runs from the last two overs, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad…
BAFTA has announced the nominees for its TV Awards, scheduled to be held on May 14 at the Royal Festival Hall. The event will be hosted by comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett. The BBC/AMC co-production This is Going to Hurt, based on the book of the same name by…
On Wednesday (22), authorities reported that a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake, originating from Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region, shook Pakistan and resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuries to over 160 others. The quake also caused three fatalities in Afghanistan, as per the Khaama Press, an online…
HOME SECRETARY Suella Braverman visited Rwanda on Saturday to expand a deal under which the east African country will accept migrants who arrive in the UK without permission, if British courts confirm that the proposals are legal. Britain's government wants to send thousands of migrants more than 4,000 miles away…
The colonial-era Kohinoor diamond, claimed by India, will be cast as a “symbol of conquest” in a new display of Britain's Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the charity that manages Britain's palaces, said the new Jewel House exhibition will explore the history of the…
“I NEVER wonder to see men wicked. I often wonder to see them not ashamed.” Had Jonathan Swift been alive today, he might well have had our home secretary in mind. Last week she showed no shame as her inaccurate assertion that “100 million people could qualify to come here”…
Home secretary Suella Braverman defended her policy to remove almost all migrants who arrive without permission, saying her political opponents were "naive do-gooders" and there had has been "too much" immigration in recent years. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has said that stopping asylum seekers arriving on the south coast of…
The UK has recorded last year, there was a surge in the number of Indian nationals illegally crossing over into Britain through the English Channel. The latest "Irregular Migration to the UK" statistics from the UK Home Office for the year ending December 2022 reported that 683 mainly Indian men…
On International Women's Day (08), the British government unveiled a new strategy aimed at addressing global gender inequality by confronting attempts to restrict women's rights and collaborating with global partners to achieve the same. The UK government's official release indicated that, for the first time, the strategy pledges that over…
According to an official statement from the UN, the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has stated that progress towards gender equality is diminishing rapidly and estimates that it will require 300 years to close the gap. While addressing the UN session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday (06),…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak, Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham and pathbreaking lawyer Ayesha Vardag were among the winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (7). Sunak took home the coveted GG2 Hammer Award for smashing through the ultimate glass ceiling by…
THE British debate on refugees is leading a strange double life. The government’s policy on asylum is getting ever tougher after a year when more people played an active part in welcoming refugees to Britain than ever before. It sounds like Groundhog Day in parliament when it comes to asylum. “Anyone…
HOURS after Pakistan's media regulator banned broadcasts of ousted prime minister Imran Khan's speeches, the private ARY TV news channel was taken off air on Monday (6) for airing his address a day earlier. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Sunday (5) night banned satellite television channels from…
A SUICIDE bomber killed nine police officers and wounded 16 others on Monday (6) in an attack on their truck in southwestern Pakistan, officials said. Security forces have been battling a years-long insurgency by militants in Balochistan demanding a bigger share of the province's wealth, as well as attacks by…
ANYONE arriving illegally in Britain will be prevented from staying, prime minister Rishi Sunak said in an interview published on Sunday (5), ahead of new legislation which is expected to be set out next week. Under pressure from his own lawmakers to find a solution to the flow of migrants…
RUSSIA has claimed it is trying to stop the ongoing war waged against it using the Ukrainian people.“The war, which we are trying to stop, which was launched against us using Ukrainian people, of course, influenced the policy of Russia, including energy policy,” Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said at…
A NEW law to crack down on migrants arriving in Britain in small boats from Europe across the English Channel will be unveiled on Tuesday (7), with a senior minister saying "enough is enough", the Sun on Sunday newspaper reported. The British government has been promising to step up action…
FORMER Pakistan women's hockey player Shahida Raza was among at least 67 people killed on the weekend in a migrant shipwreck off the coast of Italy, officials in her home province said. The vessel, which authorities believe was carrying up to 200 migrants, sank in rough seas before dawn on…
THE COFFINS of 65 victims of a devastating migrant shipwreck off Italy's southern coast were laid out Tuesday (28) in a local sports hall, five of them small and white, containing the bodies of the youngest children that died. Flower bouquets adorned each coffin in the building in Crotone, while…
ITALY arrested three men who they believe trafficked up to 200 people aboard a wooden boat that smashed apart on rocks off southern Italy last Sunday (26), killing at least 64 people, police said on Tuesday (28). Lieutenant colonel Alberto Lippolis said a Turkish man and two Pakistani nationals had…
PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday (27) said more than two dozen Pakistanis were believed to be among 59 people who drowned when a boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed against rocks near the southern Italian coast. At least 81 people survived last Sunday's (26) accident, with 20 hospitalised…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Friday (24) announced funding for up to 600 new homes in London for people from Ukraine and Afghanistan who have fled conflicts in their respective countries and are either homeless, at risk of being homeless or living in temporary and unsuitable accommodation, a press release…
BRITAIN will scrap the requirement for around 12,000 asylum seekers to undergo face-to-face interviews and instead ask them to fill out a questionnaire, the government said on Thursday (23), in an attempt to clear record levels of backlogs. The Home Office said all asylum seekers would still be subject to…
ASYLUM applications in the EU jumped last year after Covid travel curbs were lifted, surging 50 percent over 2021 to the highest level since a 2016 influx of refugees. The preliminary data, from the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), showed there were nearly one million asylum claims lodged in 2022…
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (21) said Russia is developing a North-South Transport Corridor, which will open up new routes for business cooperation with India, Iran and Pakistan, as well as west Asian countries. Putin also said Russia will expand its international economic connections, as well as build new supply…
Hollywood movie Kandhar, starring Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal in central characters, will hit cinemas in India on May 26. This will be Fazal's first international release in 2023 after last year's Death on the Nile. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, best known for helming films Angel Has Fallen, Felon,…
Camilla, wife of Britain's King Charles, will wear the crown of Queen Mary for her coronation in May, Buckingham Palace said, avoiding the use of a crown featuring the disputed 105-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond which India has demanded be returned. The Koh-i-Noor, one of the largest cut diamonds in the world,…
Eight Afghan journalists who worked for the BBC and other British media organisations partially won a legal challenge on Monday against the British government's refusal to relocate them from Afghanistan. The journalists’ lawyers told London's High Court in December that the eight, who are not in Britain, all worked "alongside…
A British Army veteran who lost two legs in Afghanistan hopes to become first double above-the-knee (DAK) amputee to scale Everest. Royal Gurkha Regiment veteran Hari Budha Magar, 43, now works with an all-Nepali team to attempt to conquer the world’s highest mountain in May, The Guardian reported. Climbing the…
The plot to target a highly secure mosque here in the capital of Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was hatched in Afghanistan and funded by their intelligence agency, the country's law enforcement officials probing the suicide attack said on Tuesday. On January 30, a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up…
Islamabad will ask the secretive supreme leader of Afghanistan's Taliban to rein in militants in Pakistan after a suicide bombing killed scores of police in a mosque, officials said Saturday (4). Since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in attacks in regions bordering…
Islamabad will ask the secretive supreme leader of Afghanistan's Taliban to rein in militants in Pakistan after a suicide bombing killed scores of police in a mosque, officials said Saturday. Since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in attacks in regions bordering Afghanistan,…
Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have "beaten and detained" an academic who voiced outrage on live television against their ban on women's university education, his aide said Friday. Veteran journalism lecturer Ismail Mashal caused a storm by tearing his degree certificates to shreds on TV in December, protesting the edict ending women's…
As many as 40 Afghan families with 150 children in Kensington, west London,were asked to settle over 200 miles away in Wetherby, Leeds, the Guardian reported. These refugees have been living in London for the past 18 months after fleeing the Taliban. The latest Home Office order came as a…
A Taliban suicide bomber who killed 101 people, including 97 policemen, at a mosque inside a major police facility in Pakistan's Peshawar city had disguised himself in a police uniform to sneak into the high-security zone and was riding a motorcycle with a helmet and mask on, a top police…
FROM where Sir Mike Wigston sits, he can see the most famous address in Britain – 10, Downing Street. “It’s good I can see what’s going on,” he says with something of a wry smile, showing Eastern Eye his impressive office. Mike Wigston is how he was born, but today…
Pakistan's security agencies arrested 17 suspects in connection with the suicide blast in a high-security zone mosque in Peshawar that killed 101 people, including 97 policemen, as Army chief Gen Asim Munir vowed zero tolerance for terror groups and directed his generals to eliminate the threat of militancy. A Taliban…
Rescue officials on Tuesday recovered the severed head of the suspected suicide bomber who they believe blew himself up inside a mosque packed with worshippers during the afternoon prayers on Monday in the high-security zone in Pakistan's restive northwestern Peshawar city. The death toll from the bomb blast rose to…
A Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque packed with worshippers during afternoon prayers on Monday in the high-security zone in Pakistan's northwestern Peshawar city, killing at least 61 people and wounding more than 150 others, mostly policemen, security and health officials said. The blast occurred inside the…
Sikh engineer Navjot Sawhney, who created hand-cranked washing machine to support families worldwide and Glasgow charity founder Khalid Raza, who recycles wheelchairs for the disabled, have won the UK prime minister Rishi Sunak's Points of Light Award. Sawhney set up the Washing Machine Project four years ago which can be…
Shah Rukh Khan's recent blockbuster 'Pathaan' has drawn sneaky criticism from Kangana Ranaut for portraying Pakistan, an "enemy nation" of India, and its intelligence agency ISIS in a "good light". In the thread of tweets, Kangana wrote, "All those who are claiming Pathaan is a triumph of love over hate,…
DOWNING STREET had a make-over last week. There were hanging lanterns in the staircases alongside the portraits of former prime ministers. Cherry blossom and auspicious orchids decorated the reception rooms. Rishi Sunak was celebrating Lunar New Year, noting that the year of the rabbit’s traditional association with peace and prosperity…
Instead of using the money for subsidizing education or developing Afghanistan, it seems that the Taliban "will use its limited cash" to buy or acquire Blowfish drones from China, 19FortyFive reported. The blowfish drone is a mini helicopter that can fire machine guns, launch mortars and throw grenades. Artificial intelligence…
At least 78 people have died in Afghanistan in just over a week amid extreme cold conditions that have compounded the country's humanitarian crisis. "The ministry in collaboration with other governmental institutions has provided food and cash aid to at least one million people," TOLOnews quoted Shafiullah Rahimi, a spokesperson…
At least 140 people were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning in Herat province on Tuesday, Afghan news agency TOLOnews reported citing officials.Herat residents said that they are using gas as the only option to warm their homes amid harsh winters as the price of firewood and other basic amenities are…
A US lawmaker has introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives that seeks to terminate Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally, and require annual certification from the president with certain conditions for Islamabad to be given such a designation. The bill (HR 80) was introduced by Congressman Andy…
Pakistan on Friday said it has always welcomed the international community playing a role in promoting peace in the region, including in facilitating a dialogue with India for the resolution of the core issues, including on Kashmir. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch made these comments during the weekly press…
Cricket Australia (CA) on Thursday decided to withdraw from the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to Taliban's growing restrictions on women and girls in that country and in retaliation, ACB and star player Rashid Khan threatened to boycott the Big Bash League. While Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) described CA's…
A five-member Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) panel did not find any conclusive evidence to suggest that the dismal performance of its national team in the T20 World Cup in Australia had to do with the selection process being hugely influenced by the cult group 'Born Again'. In its ruling, the…
Prince Harry has hit back at "hurtful" responses to his record-selling memoir, saying he was particularly upset by the "lie" he had boasted that he had killed 25 people in Afghanistan when serving as a military helicopter pilot. In his book "Spare", King Charles's younger son recounts his two tours…
TWO years is a long time in politics, but only a short time in government. That challenge of political pace-making presented different dilemmas to Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, as the prime minister and Labour leader, respectively, gave keynote speeches last week to kickstart the penultimate year of this…
Protesters in Afghanistan have demanded a trial of Prince Harry whose claim of having killed 25 Taliban fighters nine years ago has triggered a controversy.The Duke of Sussex revealed the number in his memoir ‘Spare’, comparing the killing to removing "chess pieces" from a board.Harry, who served in Afghanistan as…
Prince Harry's denial that he accused his family of racism was interpreted in the UK press Monday as a bizarre peace offering, but commentators argued the damage had already been done as his unflinching memoir comes out. The midnight release of "Spare" is being accompanied by four television interviews, with…
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan has asked the powerful establishment to refrain from "political engineering" in the general elections later this year as he asserted that his party is the only party that can pull the cash-strapped country out of the current economic quagmire. Addressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)…
British extremist Anjem Choudary has called Prince Harry a ‘Muslim killer’ after his revelations in memoir and said that the Royal family has a 'dark history of occupying Muslim lands, the MailOnline reported. In his highly personal book 'Spare', Harry said that he had killed 25 people in Afghanistan when…
Dozens of Afghan academics have quit teaching in protest against the Taliban’s widely condemned order barring university education for women.Women in Afghanistan endured a challenging environment on campuses even before a decree last month completely excluded them from higher education, a move that triggered international outrage.At least 60 Afghan academics…
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are in the same group for the Asia Cup 2023, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah confirmed on Thursday. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah on Thursday announced the cricket calendar of the…
In a fresh attack on Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan has alleged that the former army chief wanted to have him murdered and impose a state of emergency in the country. Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, made the startling allegation during…
Britain’s government had backed plans to kill al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden nine months before the 9/11 terror attacks in the US he masterminded, newly released confidential documents revealed.According to a Times report, a senior Downing Street official told then prime minister Tony Blair in December 2000: “We’re all in…
A domino effect due to the Taliban banning higher education for women in Afghanistan is being felt by the country's private universities, which according to an estimate are staring at imminent closure, Tolo News reported. "The economic challenges have surged widely 30 to 35 universities are facing major economic problems,"…
The four-year-old missing Afghan girl was seen walking out of a gated playground at her San Antonio, Texas, apartment complex in a recently emerged surveillance footage. Lina Sardar Khil, 4, was last seen at the playground inside the gated Villas Del Cabo apartment complex on December 20, 2021. In the…
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday he took responsibility for corruption in the country while admitting that the United States was involved in it. "[I take] full responsibility for the corruption and bribes in the delivery of services ... But the big contracts, big corruption, in hundreds of…
A Hindu couple had fled Afghanistan nearly three 30 years ago when the first Taliban regime in that country was ready to take control. Three decades later, the duo have found their fate linked to the religious fundamentalist group again as it has returned to power in Kabul again in…
The Indian American community in Washington has observed the maiden 'Veer Bal Diwas' during which they paid tributes to the unparalleled sacrifices made by 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh's four sons who laid down their lives while defending their faith. The martyrdom day of Guru Gobind Singh's sons - Baba…
The US embassy in Pakistan has warned about a possible terrorist attack against American citizens at the Marriott Hotel here in the country's capital and prohibited American staff from visiting the five-star facility, an official statement said. The statement was issued by the embassy on Sunday, two days after a…
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the United States is willing to provide funds to Islamabad to enhance border security for preventing cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, according to a media report on Sunday.Bhutto, who was in Washington from December 14 to 21 where he met various top…
Taliban-appointed Education Minister in Afghanistan on Thursday said Afghan women were banned from university 'for not following dress code' which has sparked a global backlash. The continuation of co-education and lack of observation of hijab by students were among the reason cited by Taliban minister Neda Mohammad Nadim for banning…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday criticized the Taliban's decision to ban University education for girls, saying "denying them access to university is a grave step backwards." "As a father to daughters, I cannot imagine a world in which they're denied an education. The women of Afghanistan have so…
Female university students in Afghanistan have turned away from campuses on Wednesday after the Taliban-run administration said women would be suspended from tertiary education. The decision to bar women was announced on Tuesday evening in a letter to universities from the higher education ministry, drawing condemnation from foreign governments and…
Pakistani security forces retook a counter-terrorism interrogation centre on Tuesday two days after it was seized by Islamist militants, security sources said, adding that all hostages, some slightly wounded, had been rescued. Security forces were still looking to clear the compound, in the northwestern town of Bannu, after launching the…
Pakistan's former Army chief Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa has a lot to tell about ousted prime minister Imran Khan, his rise in politics, and how he ran his government, a media report said on Monday. Khan, 70, has been targeting Gen Bajwa ever since his ouster from power in…
Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan said on Friday that he was "completely helpless" as the premier the "real man in power" was former army chief Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa, who called all the shots. Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, has been targeting Gen Bajwa and…
British actor Charlie Hunnam-led Shantaram series has been cancelled by Apple TV+ after first season. The news comes ahead of the Friday premiere of the final episode of season one. The show is based on Gregory David Roberts’ epic novel Shantaram. According to entertainment website Deadline, the series was written…
Eight Afghan journalists who worked for the BBC and other British media organisations are challenging the British government's refusal to relocate them, arguing that they are at high risk of being killed by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. The journalists "worked alongside and in support of the British government's mission" in Afghanistan…
A top court in Pakistan will take up a petition on December 20 seeking the disqualification of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for "concealing" his alleged daughter's name in the nomination papers. The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will hear the petition on December 20 filed by a…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed sorrow on Wednesday (14) after four people died following an incident involving a small migrant boat in the English Channel between Britain and France. "I'm sure the whole House will share my sorrow at the capsizing of a small boat in the Channel in…
Following criticism over the public execution of a man, the Taliban on Thursday defended its actions. The Taliban on Thursday termed the international criticism over its public execution "reprehensible" and "interference" in Afghanistan's internal matters, Voice of America (VOA) News reported. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement said that…
SHANTI PANCHAL ON HIS ART JOURNEY AND NEW PUBLIC WORK Venture into Brixton tube station in London and you will see a stunning piece of art by Shanti Panchal. The magnificent mural titled Endurance is a beautiful reproduction of a large-scale water colour artwork about the power of community, represented…
Only four people who left Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in the country have been resettled in the UK, official figures revealed amid the criticism of London’s “cold shoulder” to Afghans who “served British interests”. The government attributed the low number to challenges it faced in ensuring safe passage…
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan has accused former army chief Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa of playing "double game" against his government and said that he committed a "big mistake" by extending the tenure of a then military chief in 2019. Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party,…
One of the sons of slain al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden has claimed that his father was training him to follow in his footsteps, making him fire guns as a child in Afghanistan and using his dogs to test chemical weapons. In an interview with ‘The Sun’ newspaper while on…
The Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan has said that India will resume work on at least 20 stalled projects in several provinces across the war-torn country. In June, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital. India withdrew its officials…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reiterated the UK’s commitment to a free trade agreement (FTA) with India as part of the country’s wider focus on enhancing ties with the Indo-Pacific region and standing up to competitors with “robust pragmatism”. Delivering his first major foreign policy speech since taking charge…
Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist Malala Yousafzai has fervently urged the UK government to “step forward more boldly” to support girls’ education and gender equality in Afghanistan. At the Action for Afghanistan rally in central London on Sunday, she accused world leader of going “silent” over the gender discrimination in the…
A day ahead of his retirement, Pakistan's Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that his decision to keep the military establishment "apolitical" will protect it "from the vagaries of politics" in the coup-prone country. Gen Bajwa, 61, will retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. Pakistan has…
The Taliban's treatment of Afghan women and girls, including their exclusion from parks and gyms as well as schools and universities, may amount to a crime against humanity, a group of U.N. experts said on Friday. The assessment by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett and nine other…
Football pundit and former Manchester City player Nadia Nadim discovered the news of her mother's death while covering a World Cup match on Tuesday (22). Denmark international Nadim, who currently plays for American club Racing Louisville, was part of ITV's panel for the coverage of Denmark against Tunisia on Tuesday.…
Pakistan on Thursday (24) named Lieutenant-General Asim Munir as chief of its army, an organisation that plays an extraordinarily influential role in the governance of this nuclear-armed nation. Munir, who also headed both of Pakistan's powerful spy agencies, will take over from outgoing General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retires later…
Just days before his retirement, Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday (23) warned that the army's patience to the ongoing smear campaign against it may not be unlimited and asked all political leaders to set aside their ego, learn from past mistakes and move forward. He also…
This week marks the first anniversary of the biggest human tragedy in the English Channel for decades. On 24th November last year, a fishing boat spotted dozens of bodies floating in the icy water. A rubber dinghy had left the French coast the previous evening but capsized before reaching England.…
West Midlands Police apologised to the family of a mother and daughter who were brutally murdered by the latter's ex-lover after a jury ruled that police 'had so many opportunities to save their lives', according to reports. Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother Khowla Saleem, 49, were murdered by Oudeh's…
There is a possibility of another assassination attempt on Imran Khan, the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court said on Friday and asserted that it was the government’s responsibility to take cognisance of the looming threat on the former prime minister. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq’s remarks came while hearing a…
The Taliban is banning women from using gyms in Afghanistan, an official said on Thursday, the religious group's latest edict cracking down on women's rights and freedoms since they took power more than a year ago. The Taliban overran the country last year, seizing power in August 2021. They have…
The government must embrace immigrants who take risks setting up businesses, create jobs, and contribute billions of pounds to Britain’s economy. That is the call from MPs and business leaders who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They have told this newspaper that the home secretary, Suella Braverman, should be ashamed…
A human tragedy that will shake you to your core, Vipul Amrutlal Shah is all set to bring audiences The Kerala Story that unearths the happenings behind 32,000 ladies who went missing in the state of Kerala. Promising to be a very real, unbiased, and true narrative of events that…
Taliban crackdown on Afghan women and girls continues as one of the Taliban guards barred female students from entering the campus for not wearing a Burqa on Sunday. The incident occurred at the Badakhshan University in northeastern Afghanistan. The Afghan girls were forced to remain outside the entry gate as…
The controversial Kohinoor diamond is unlikely to be part of the royal spectacle during the upcoming coronation of the new monarch, considering the “political sensitivities” surrounding the Indian-origin gem. Media reports previously said Queen Consort Camilla would get to wear the crown containing the 105-carat precious stone held in a…
Days after the 10th anniversary of Taliban shooting in Malala Yousafzai's head, the Nobel Prize laureate arrived in her home country Pakistan on Tuesday, according to local media. The Express Tribune reported that Malala and her parents reached Karachi through Qatar Airways' flight 604 and were taken to her residence…
Home secretary Suella Braverman is considering strengthening legislation to further deter companies from employing illegal migrants, a media report said as Britain grapples with a wave of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel dangerously. Under the existing laws, employers hiring illegal migrants can be jailed for five years and fined…
Dozens of UK military personnel have been investigated over their suspected far-right activity amid concerns that extremist groups seek to infiltrate defence forces.Half of the 40 troops probed since 2019 have been referred to the government’s counter-extremism programme Prevent, The Times reported, citing a Freedom of Information disclosure.It said two…
US Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, who was taken hostage in Afghanistan, was released by the Taliban after more than two years, according to media reports citing a spokesman. Earlier in the year, the US had raised concerns over the release of Mark Frerichs. Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi…
About ninety per cent of voters in Afghanistan supported the reopening of schools for girls beyond grade six, and 10 per cent opposed the decision, as per an online poll conducted by Afghanistan's local media outlet TOLO news. This comes as the Taliban-led education minister said that girls' schools have…
Senior leaders of UK's ruling party have raised concerns about inviting Chinese leaders to the Queen's funeral on Monday (19) over genocide of Uyghur minority. A group of MPs and peers, including former Tory leader leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, have urged the government to withdraw the invitation to the…
An Indian MP has fumed at an American anchor over a pro-British India rant on Twitter, according to reports. Congress leader and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor hit back at Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson who on social media said that India has not built a single structure as beautiful as…
With Charles succeeding his mother Queen Elizabeth II as the British monarch, his wife Camilla is set to get the crown which holds the famous Indian-origin Kohinoor diamond.The Queen Concert will receive the crown when the formal coronation of the new king takes place after the mourning of Elizabeth who…
Following his side's thrilling one-wicket win over Afghanistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in the Super Four phase, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan said that the team was confident that bowlers could bat and Naseem Shah will remember those two sixes for rest of his career. Team India is out…
Clashes were reported between the supporters of Afghanistan and Pakistan after the latter won the cricket match in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in Sharjah on Wednesday. According to Mohsin Dawar who is a Member National Assembly from North Waziristan in Pakistan Pakistan's decades-old "strategic depth policy" and "interventionist misadventures…
Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan says his side are striving to stay "brave and calm" for their second clash with India as the arch-rivals prepare for their next Asia Cup showdown on Sunday. Babar Azam's team crushed Hong Kong with a 155-run victory on Friday to seal their spot in the final…
England dropped out-of-form opener Jason Roy and welcomed back fit-again seamers Chris Woakes and Mark Wood in their squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia beginning next month. Roy has been an integral part of England's white-ball squad and his explosive batting at the top of the order embodied…
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan became the second-highest wicket-taker in the T20I format on Tuesday. The star Afghan bowler accomplished this landmark during his side's Group B tie against Bangladesh in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022. In the 16th over of the Bangladesh innings, Rashid dismissed Mahmudullah after the batter was…
Pakistan's Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said on Wednesday the government will consider importing goods from India after consulting its coalition partners and key stakeholders, as the cash-strapped nation seeks to stabilise soaring food prices triggered by flash floods that have wrought havoc across the country. The idea to import edible…
The crucial partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya helped India defeat arch-rivals Pakistan in a thrilling clash by five wickets in the second match of the Asia Cup 2022 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. As soon as the match gets over, a young excited fan is…
EXPLORING the struggles of a gay Asian Muslim asylum seeker in modern Britain is the central theme in the Bush Theatre’s new work, The P Word, the playwright has said. It charts the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men – Zafar, who flees homophobic persecution in Pakistan to seek…
The Taliban (under UN sanctions for terrorism) has refused to allow female students to leave the Afghan capital to go to study in Kazakhstan and Qatar, reported Sputnik citing sources. Both female and male students were planning to leave Kabul, but only male students were permitted to fly out of…
The unpredictability of the T20 format and the growth of the game in the region could make the 2022 Asia Cup, beginning Saturday, the most closely fought edition ever. Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has already predicted the six-team tournament as having the potential to showcase the quality that has never…
Afghanistan’s famous newsreader, who was forced out of her job by the gun-wielding Taliban, has implored the British government to help women in her home country who are robbed of their freedom.Now in London - more than 7,500 km away from the television studios in Kabul where she passionately worked…
EARLIER this year, talking about her love of books, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, revealed that Vikram Seth is her favourite author. She said of her trips to India: “I’ve been lucky enough to see a lot of these wonderful old manuscripts and these illustrated books, you know, these ancient,…
A spy, whose undercover operations helped thwart several al-Qaeda terror attacks, has accused a prominent Scottish school of discriminating against his daughter.Aimen Dean, a Saudi Arabia-born British citizen, complained to the Registrar of Independent Schools, saying his five-year-old daughter was singled out at St George’s School in Edinburgh because the…
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan said on Sunday that pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel not playing in Asia Cup 2022 will be a matter of relief for other teams. The star pacer of India Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel were not available for selection in Asia Cup 2022 owing…
A female former judge from Afghanistan has appealed against the Home Office decision to deny her entry to the UK, according to media reports. According to her lawyers, the woman, 52, and her son, 24, fled Afghanistan and are in hiding in Pakistan after their home in Kabul was attacked…
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), when in power, took the aid of a former CIA veteran in order to lobby and manage Islamabad's ties with the US, local media said citing reports. With this, an American consulting firm Grenier Consulting LLC, run by the Central Investigation…
Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa celebrated the country's 76th Independence Day at the Pakistan Embassy in London where Ukrainian pop star and wife of British-Pakistani business tycoon Muhammad Zahoor, Kamaliya, gave a singing performance. Pakistani billionaire Mohammad Zahoor, the former publisher of Kyiv Post, has reportedly helped purchase…
WE ARE currently at a critical juncture for our country, living through arguably some of the most difficult challenges we have faced for a generation. There was great hope as we emerged from the tragic consequences of the pandemic, yet in February, a dark shadow was cast across our continent…
Around one million children in London will be offered a polio booster vaccine after the virus was detected in sewage samples across the capital, health officials said Wednesday (10). Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said, “I recognise parents and guardians will be concerned about the detection of polio…
SAROD MAESTRO USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN SPEAKS ABOUT HIS SPECIAL LONDON SHOW The BBC Proms is widely regarded as the greatest classical music festival in the world and a beautiful highlight from this year is a concert headlined by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The Indian sarod maestro will deliver what…
A Muslim immigrant from Afghanistan has been arrested as the prime suspect in the serial killings of four Muslim men that rattled the Islamic community of New Mexico's largest city, police said on Tuesday. After days of bolstering security around Albuquerque-area mosques, seeking to allay fears of a shooter driven…
Cricket comes easy to South Asian blood and Adnan Miakhel is no exception. The teen, who is obsessed with the sport, played on the dusty backstreets of his country Afghanistan with whatever he could get. As he bowled with a tennis ball for hours and made a bat out of…
Their grim existence for nearly a year changed on August 3, when they arrived in India as part of a group of 28 Afghan Sikhs who were flown in from Kabul with the help of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Indian World Forum and the central government Recounting…
PLAYWRIGHT Sonali Bhattacharyya has taken inspiration from her own family to tell the story of a political activist who arrived in Leicester from Kolkata in the early 2000s for her play Chasing Hares, currently wowing audiences packed at London’s Young Vic. She wanted to tell the story of political engagement…
The British Asian Trust has announced that a national commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of British Asians from Uganda in the UK will be held at The Guildhall in London on September 18 . The event is being organised in collaboration with British Ugandan Asians at…
President Joe Biden in a televised address on Monday (local time) announced that Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in an air strike by the United States stating that "Justice has been delivered." al-Zawahiri was one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001…
Al Qaeda chief and key plotter of the 9/11 terrorist attack, Ayman al Zawahiri, was killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan on Saturday.US President Joe Biden confirmed it on Monday, saying that "Justice has been served". Zawahiri, who had just turned 71, took over the leadership of Al-Qaeda…
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party formed by former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan whose political rise has stemmed from anti-corruption rhetoric, had received funding via a private cricket tournament organised by a Pakistani tycoon, the Financial Times reported. The report said that Pakistani tycoon Arif Naqvi, founder of Dubai-based Abraaj Group,…
The Taliban claimed that the security situation in Afghanistan has been solved and urged its minorities - Hindus and Sikhs to return back to the country. The assertion comes after the Director General of the Office of the Minister of State of the Taliban, Dr Mullah Abdul Wasi met with…
Taliban on Sunday said that it is ready for engagement with the international community, but if "they are against Islam, are not acceptable." "We just follow Allah, Prophet Mohammad, the Caliph of Rashidun and Companions in implementation of our law. We don't accept anything from anyone which is against Islam,"…
A video has gone viral on social media, which shows the Taliban torturing Youtubers Ajmal Haqiqi and his team, according to sources. As per the local media, they filmed it for fun and the Taliban members sent the video to each other. The horrific videos show that Ajmal Haqiqi and…
The race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and Britain's prime minister is down to five candidates after the second round of voting among Tory MPs on Thursday.While former finance minister Rishi Sunak is leading the way with his MP colleagues, second-placed Penny Mordaunt is polling out front with…
Senior Conservative parliamentarians have told Eastern Eye the country is ready for its first south Asian prime minister. They believe the days of the Tories being considered as the “nasty and racist” party are over. Four candidates of colour were among the eight nominated in the leadership race as Eastern…
A British parliamentary committee has said that domestic security agency MI5 needs more funds to tackle the increasing threat of extreme-right terrorism, according to a report. The intelligence and security committee has said that the agency could not expand other activities since it is more focused on dealing with Islamist…
THE race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and Britain's prime minister is heating up, with eight candidates facing a first vote among Tory MPs on Wednesday (13). While several possible successors are seen as frontrunners, there is no clear favourite -- and such contests are notoriously volatile. Rishi…
While several possible successors are seen as frontrunners, there is no clear favourite -- and such contests are notoriously volatile. Rishi Sunak The UK's first Hindu finance minister, Sunak quit on Tuesday and declared he was standing three days later. Long seen as Johnson's most likely successor, his prospects were…
BRITAIN's Boris Johnson will reportedly announce his resignation as Conservative leader, paving the way for an internal party contest to replace him and become prime minister. While several possible successors have been suggested, there is no clear favourite. Rishi Sunak The UK's first Hindu chancellor of the exchequer, who quit…
Britain's finance and health ministers resigned in quick succession on Tuesday, in moves that put the future of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in peril after a series of scandals that have damaged his administration.Below is a summary of some of those who could be in the frame to replace him…
'Every day there are at least one or two women who commit suicide', said a former deputy speaker of the Afghan Parliament on Friday, highlighting the lack of opportunity and ailing mental health that is taking a toll on Afghan women. This revelation came during a rare urgent debate on…
The chancellor must do more to help families and business. The call comes from Lord Karan Bilimoria, who is stepping down as the president of the Confederation of British Industry after two years at the helm. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, the peer said the cost of living…
Ahead of the religious scholars' grand gathering of Taliban, the deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban, Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi announced on Wednesday that the meeting will convene without the participation of women. Over 3,000 religious scholars, tribal elders, intellectuals, influential figures and national traders will attend the gathering at…
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday confirmed that England Men's white-ball captain Eoin Morgan has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. During his 13-year international career with England, the 35-year-old won the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup as Captain in 2019 at Lord's, the first time…
India is one of the world's single largest opiate markets in terms of users and likely to be vulnerable to increased supply as there are already signs that an intensification of trafficking in opiates originating in Afghanistan may be taking place, according to a new report. According to the UN…
THE UK on Friday (24) announced further funding to support grassroots human rights defenders and advance equality and freedom across the Commonwealth. Several from the LGBT communities in the Commonwealth countries continue to face discrimination and criminalisation despite welcome progress made in recent years. The £2.7 million package announced by…
Amid the plummeting humanitarian and economic conditions, women and girls in Afghanistan are being deprived of their most basic human rights -- employment and education, speakers told the Security Council on Thursday, as they examined the restrictive policies of the Taliban who took control of that country in August last…
A type of poliovirus derived from vaccines has been detected in London sewage samples, the WHO and British health officials said Wednesday (22), adding that more analysis was underway. No human cases of polio have been found in Britain, where the crippling disease was fully eradicated two decades ago. The…
MORE THAN 1,000 people were killed in Afghanistan after a powerful earthquake hit the country on Wednesday, media reports said. A severe earthquake struck in the early hours of this morning near the city of Khost in the southeastern part of the country. The most affected areas are in Spera…
PAKISTAN's Punjab province has decided to declare an "emergency" amid a rapid increase of reported cases of sexual abuse against women and children. Speaking at a press conference, Punjab home minister Atta Tarar said that an increase in such incidents was a serious issue for society and government officials. "Four…
Taliban on Thursday failed to explain the closure of girls' schools in Afghanistan to the UN after the Taliban earlier backtracked within a few hours of announcing the reopening of girls' schools. The UN Rapporteur for Afghanistan Human Rights, Richard Bennett said that "specific reasons were not given" for the…
Kabir Haqmal, who worked with the Hamid Karzai-led Afghan government, has shared pictures of former TV anchor Musa Mohammadi selling food on a street. "Journalist's life in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Musa...worked for years as anchor & reporter in different TV channels, now has no income to feed his family…
Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri became the joint fifth highest goalscorer in international football history. Chhetri achieved this feat during their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier clash against Hong Kong on Tuesday, where he scored his 84th goal. He has now equalled legendary Real Madrid and Hungarian player Ferenc…
London's courts will hear two last-minute legal challenges on Monday to block the British government's controversial policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda before the first removal flight scheduled to leave on Tuesday.Britain has agreed a deal with Rwanda to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda in return for an…
Most of the historians in India have given prominence in recording the history of Mughals only, ignoring the glorious rules of many empires like Pandyas, Cholas, Mauryas, Guptas and Ahoms, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday. Releasing a book 'Maharana: Sahastra Varsha Ka Dharma Yuddha', Shah also said…
A group of Afghan women protested in Kabul against the Taliban for the violations of their rights and the removal of women from government institutions. The group protested on Thursday (9) under the banner of Female Civil Service Employment of Afghanistan and urged the Taliban to allow women to return…
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan arrested well-known model Ajmal Haqiqi and three of his colleagues, accusing them of disrespecting Islam and the holy book of Quran.A handcuffed Haqiqi and his colleagues were later seen apologising to the government and religious scholars even as Amnesty International called the action “coercive” and…
The list of Taliban violations of the rights of women and girls is long and growing, said Heather Barr, Women's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch (HRW), as she raised growing concerns about the violation of the rights in the country.When the Taliban announced last month that women and girls…
The IPL 2022 season came close, with Gujarat Titans winning their first title. The performances of several Indian players in the IPL have amazed all. Similarly, the performances of overseas players have also been impressive. On the field, they performed and left their mark as well. Watching these crickets playing…
For the first time since the Taliban's capture of power in Kabul, India has sent a team led by a senior diplomat to Afghanistan to oversee the delivery of its humanitarian aid and meet with senior members of the Taliban. The team, led by JP Singh, the external affairs ministry's…
IN an unusual attack on Pakistan's powerful military, ousted prime minister Imran Khan has admitted that his government was a "weak one" which was "blackmailed from everywhere" as the power was not with him and "everyone knows where that is" Khan was ousted from power in April after losing a…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat has become the "gateway of drugs" to the country under his watch, the Congress alleged Friday, questioning the "silence" of the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah and demanding answers from agencies tasked to control narcotics smuggling.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters…
India was and is an important stakeholder in Afghanistan, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said today and called for enhancing the capability of the war-torn country to counter-terrorism and terrorist groups which pose a threat regional peace and security. Speaking at the 4th Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Tajikistan's…
SKIPPER Hardik Pandya silenced critics after helping newcomers Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals to reach the IPL final. Pandya hadn’t been in great form ahead of IPL and his fitness was also a major concern. Some even questioned the decision to appoint him as captain despite his lack of leadership…
The inaugural edition of the Ideas for India conference ended on Friday after three days of rich discussion on public policy. The three-day event on 18-20 May was held to celebrate India’s 75th anniversary of Independence, with speakers providing their vision for where they see India in the coming 25…
This month Afghanistan's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a diktat for women to cover up fully in public, including their faces, ideally with the traditional burqa.The Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice ordered women television presenters to follow suit.Presenters relent after defianceAfter defying the order a day…
AFGHANISTAN's Rashid Khan claimed four wickets as Gujarat Titans became the first team to qualify for the IPL play-offs with a 62-run thrashing of Lucknow Super Giants. Indian opener Shubman Gill made 63 off 49 deliveries to steer Gujarat to 144 for four on Tuesday (10) after electing to bat…
BOLLYWOOD film Khuda Gawah celebrates its 30th anniversary this week. The story of a fearless Afghan tribal leader, who gets trapped in an Indian jail after trying to fulfil a promise to a rival female chief he has fallen for, starred Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, Danny Denzongpa, Kiran Kumar and Nagarjuna.…
A PIZZA shop owner has been found guilty of murdering his wife in Bromsgrove in 2020, and two of his brothers guilty of assisting an offender.Nezam Salangy had reported his 28-year-old wife Zobaidah missing but a police investigation discovered that he had murdered her and, with the help of his…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
INDIA said the best solution to the Ukraine conflict is to “stop the fighting” and get the warring sides to the negotiation table.“The best way forward is to focus on stopping the fighting, getting the talking and finding ways of moving forward. We think our choices, our positions are best…
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan hit two sixes off the final two balls to pull off a sensational chase for Gujarat Titans after Sunrisers Hyderabad pace sensation Umran Malik took his first IPL five-for on Wednesday. Needing 196 for victory, Gujarat slipped to 140-5 but Rashid (31) joined Rahul Tewatia (40) to…
PAKISTAN'S new prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian president Vladimir Putin have quietly exchanged letters to strengthen bilateral relations, a media report has said. The letters were exchanged after the election of Shehbaz as the prime minister but both the sides kept development away from the media glare in what seemed to be a move aimed at…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday (25) announced the setting up of an India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a strategic mechanism to tackle key trade, economic and technological challenges.India is the second country after the US to have such a…
The BBC’s looking for a new diversity boss because June Sarpong is leaving the corporation. In his third and final essay, one of its former correspondents, Barnie Choudhury, suggests ways to tackle the antipathy, apparent apathy and accelerate a win in the diversity war in the corporation. One of my…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia's “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
RELIGIOUS freedom has deteriorated "significantly" in India under the Hindu nationalist government, a US commission said Monday (25) as it again recommended targeted sanctions over abuses.It was the third straight year that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom asked that India be placed on a list of "countries of…
South Africa's David Miller on Sunday said coming in to bat early made him "shine" as his unbeaten 94 led Gujarat Titans to a thrilling three-wicket IPL victory over holders Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 170 for victory, Gujarat slipped to 48-4. But Miller put on an attacking 70-run sixth wicket…
PAKISTAN’S Army has said it has "nothing to do with politics" as it asserted that its chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will retire on November 29 "no matter what."Amidst a vicious social media campaign against the powerful "establishment" for not backing former prime minister Imran Khan, military spokesman major general…
THE DEATH toll from Pakistani military airstrikes in the eastern Afghanistan provinces of Khost and Kunar has jumped to at least 47, officials said Sunday (17), as Islamabad urged Kabul to act against militants launching attacks from Afghan soil.Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen since the Taliban seized…
PAKISTAN on Sunday (17) called on the Taliban government in Kabul to take "stern actions" against militants launching attacks against the country from inside Afghanistan, a day after alleged rocket attacks by the Pakistani military killed six Afghans.Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen since the Taliban seized power…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to arrive in India next week with a wide-ranging schedule in New Delhi, according to Indian government sources.The visit, which is yet to be formally announced by Downing Street, follows the successful completion of four out of 26 chapters in the ongoing India-UK…
A PROTRACTED political drama in Pakistan turned a page on April 10, with prime minister Imran Khan being removed from office following a vote of no confidence in the country’s Parliament.He was replaced by opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif. But that is unlikely to be the end of political turmoil in…
Kane Williamson hit 57 to win the battle of captains against Hardik Pandya as Sunrisers Hyderabad handed newcomers Gujarat Titans their first loss in the Indian Premier League On Monday. Chasing 163 for victory, Hyderabad started strongly with a 64-run opening stand between Williamson and Abhishek Sharma (42) before Nicholas…
PAKISTAN lawmakers on Monday (11) elected Shehbaz Sharif as the country's new prime minister following the weekend ouster of Imran Khan, who resigned from the National Assembly along with most of his party members.Khan was dismissed on Sunday (10) after losing a no-confidence vote, paving the way for an unlikely…
GLASGOW will send seven ‘stolen’ artefacts back to India as city councillors have backed a proposal in this regard, according to a report. Officials from the High Commission of India lodged a request in January for the return of six artefacts “stolen” from Hindu temples and shrines in the 19th…
Imran Khan was dismissed on Sunday as Pakistan prime minister after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament following weeks of political turmoil. It was not immediately clear when a new premier will be chosen, but Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif was almost certain to be picked to lead…
PAKISTAN lawmakers clashed angrily in the National Assembly on Saturday (9) ahead of a no-confidence vote on prime minister Imran Khan that will likely see him booted from office.The speaker adjourned proceedings without giving a reason after just 30 rowdy minutes, ordering lawmakers to return in the afternoon.Khan, who was…
PAKISTAN'S prime minister Imran Khan is due to address the nation on Friday (8) after the Supreme Court ruled he acted unconstitutionally in blocking an attempt to oust him - a decision that could end his premiership in days.Last Sunday (2), political allies of the former cricket star dissolved parliament…
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he is looking forward to sharing the joy of Ramadan with non-Muslims now that the pandemic restrictions are over. Khan will be taking part in a number of iftar gatherings with interfaith leaders and people from different religious backgrounds with the aim of 'building togetherness'.…
PAKISTAN'S top court could rule on Thursday (7) on prime minister Imran Khan's move to block an opposition attempt to oust him, a step his critics say is unconstitutional and has touched off political turmoil.Khan, a former cricket star, lost his parliamentary majority last week and had faced a no-confidence…
POLITICAL turmoil intensified in Pakistan after the country’s supreme court adjourned on Tuesday (5) without ruling on the legality of political manoeuvres that led prime minister Imran Khan to dissolve the national assembly and call fresh elections.Former cricket star Khan lost his parliamentary majority last week and faced a no-confidence…
"WE WERE never asked” has been the persistent lament of those who objected most vociferously to immigration in Britain. For more than half a century, stretching back to the deep foreboding of Enoch Powell, migration sceptics have invariably blamed governments for opening Britain up to migration without the consent of…
REGARDED as a wily cricket captain during his playing days, Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan appeared on Sunday (3) to have stumped his political opposition as well.The country's president dissolved the national assembly just hours after the deputy speaker declined to accept a no-confidence motion that would likely have seen…
“WE WERE never asked” has been the persistent lament of those who objected most vociferously to immigration in Britain. For more than half a century, stretching back to the deep foreboding of Enoch Powell, migration sceptics have invariably blamed governments for opening Britain up to migration without the consent of…
STRONGER ties with India are more important than ever before in view of the crisis in Ukraine, British foreign secretary Liz Truss said Thursday (31), but she said the UK would not tell India not to buy discounted Russian oil. Her comments came after talks with India’s external affairs minister…
The Pakistani Taliban on Wednesday announced it would launch a Ramadan offensive against security forces, after claiming an attack which the military said killed at least six of its soldiers. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a separate movement that shares common roots with the militants that took power in Afghanistan last…
THE Homes for Ukraine scheme should be extended to Afghan refugees, two UK charities have said in an open letter to Michael Gove MP, the secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. A coalition of civic society thinktanks and refugee support groups - led by More in Common…
US president Joe Biden on Monday (28) proposed $1.8 billion to support his Indo- Pacific Strategy along with another $400 million to counter Chinese influence in the region. Both are part of the $773bn annual defence budget of the US for 2023, which was submitted by the White House to…
The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 extravaganza begins on Saturday when holders Chennai Super Kings face Kolkata Knight Riders. Eastern Eye guides you through the 10 teams, including two new franchises, who will compete in the world's richest cricket championship. Mumbai Indians Key Indian players: Rohit Sharma…
INDIA said on Friday (25) ties with China could not be normal until their troops pulled back from each other on the disputed border, but Beijing struck a conciliatory note during a meeting of their foreign ministers in New Delhi. Both nations have deployed thousands of troops on the high-altitude…
THE Indian Premier League (IPL) returns for its biggest season on Saturday (26), with a galaxy of top names and two new franchises expanding the world's richest cricket competition to 10 teams for its 15th edition. But crowds in the cricket-mad nation will, initially at least, be limited to 25…
FOREIGN ministers of Muslim nations began meeting in Pakistan on Tuesday (22) as the country's leader trumpets his Islamic credentials while at the same time battling the most serious challenge to his rule in four years.The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is meeting in Islamabad with an ambitious agenda that…
THE PARENTS of Reuters photographer Danish Siddiqui, who was killed in a Taliban attack in Afghanistan last year, have begun legal action at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Islamist group, a lawyer for the family said on Tuesday (22).Siddiqui, a Pulitzer Prize winner, was embedded with Afghan special…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday (20) lauded India for following an “independent foreign policy”.Addressing a public rally in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, he said India, which is part of the Quad grouping, has imported crude oil from Russia despite American sanctions on Moscow.The Quad grouping has the US, India,…
JAPANESE prime minister Fumio Kishida has announced an investment target of Rs 3.2 trillion (£31.97 bn) in India over the next five years as the two sides concluded a raft of agreements to expand their special strategic partnership.Following talks between Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Kishida at the 14th…
QUEEN Elizabeth II has called on the Commonwealth to show unity in troubled times, as she sat out a major event for the organisation after a period of fragile health. The event on Monday (14) with some 1,500 guests at Westminster Abbey in central London had been due to be…
SUSSEX have signed Cheteshwar Pujara as a replacement for Australia's Travis Head, with the India batsman set to be available for most of the 2022 English season. Head asked to be released from his contract with the south coast side due to increased international commitments, as well as the fact…
GUJARAT TITANS have signed Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a replacement for England batsman Jason Roy in the Indian Premier League tournament starting later this month, the franchise said. Gurbaz, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has played 20 T20 internationals, scoring 534 runs at a strike rate of 138. The Titans, who are making…
A DAESH suicide bomber who killed 64 people at a Shiite mosque in northwest Pakistan last week was an Afghan exile who returned home to train for the attack, police said Wednesday (9).There have been warnings Afghanistan could become a recruiting ground and staging post for militants since the Taliban…
SEVEN paramilitary troops were killed in a blast as they guarded the venue of a presidential visit in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday (8), officials said.The attack took place in Balochistan - Pakistan's largest and most sparsely populated province that harbours a separatist movement engaged in a low-level insurgency for decades.In…
PAKISTAN’S prime minister Imran Khan has hit out at Islamabad-based Western envoys who last week urged the south Asian country to condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine, asking them if they thought Pakistan was their "slave".The heads of 22 diplomatic missions, including those of European Union member states, released a joint…
AT LEAST three people were killed and 18 others injured in a bomb blast on Wednesday (2) in Pakistan’s troubled southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders on Afghanistan and Iran, officials said. The roadside explosion occurred as a police van travelled through the provincial capital of Quetta, which is home…
A POWERFUL suicide blast ripped through a crowded Shia mosque during a Friday congregation in Pakistan's northwestern Peshawar city, killing at least 64 people.A rescue official said the blast occurred at a Jamia mosque in Qissa Khwani bazaar area in Peshawar when the worshippers were offering prayers. Peshawar’s senior police…
SHREYAS IYER hit an unbeaten 73 to lead India to a record-equalling 12th successive Twenty20 international victory as they whitewashed Sri Lanka in the three-match series on Sunday (27). Chasing 147 for victory, India romped home with 19 balls to spare propelled by Iyer's third successive unbeaten half-century. They won…
RUSSIA'S president Vladimir Putin met Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan in Moscow on Thursday (24) in his first face-to-face talks since the start of a special military operation in eastern Ukraine. During their meeting in the Kremlin, the leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and current regional topics, including developments in south…
PAKISTAN’S prime minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday (22) he would like to have a televised debate with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to resolve differences between the two neighbours."I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would…
PRIME minister Imran Khan will travel to Russia on Wednesday (23) on a two-day visit - the first by a Pakistan premier in more than two decades.Khan will hold talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin and review the bilateral ties including energy cooperation besides exchanging views on major regional and…
PAKISTAN will allow India to use its territory to transport 50,000 tons of wheat and medicine to Afghanistan, beginning this month, Pakistani customs officials said on Tuesday (15).The permission of such a convoy is rare by Pakistan, which has barred the entry of goods from India for years as the…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan said the US has always used his country to meet its strategic goals and when the purpose was served, it abandoned and slapped sanctions on Islamabad.China, on the contrary, stood the test of time as a "friend", he said.Khan made the remarks during a recent…
British Asian actor and filmmaker Riz Ahmed, who last year became the first Muslim actor to be nominated for a Best Actor at the Academy Awards, has received a nomination for his short live-action film The Long Goodbye. Directed by filmmaker Aneil Karia, The Long Goodbye describes a dystopian future…
AT LEAST five Pakistan soldiers were killed due to firing from neighbouring Afghanistan, Islamabad said on Sunday (6), in an attack claimed by the Pakistan Taliban.It comes just days after Baloch separatists in the southwest killed nine Pakistan troops in a series of brazen attacks that officials said involved planners…
A US Congressman has urged president Joe Biden to reject Pakistan’s ambassador-designate Masood Khan’s diplomatic credentials and termed him a “bona fide terrorist sympathiser” working to undermine America’s interests in the region. Republican Congressman Scott Perry also alleged that Khan had encouraged young men to emulate jihadists and praised foreign…
At least 17 people, including two policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in Jaffarabad district in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, police said.Senior police officials said unidentified motorcyclists hurled a hand-grenade near a shop in a busy market in Dera Allahyar town of Jaffarabad district on Sunday (30) night. No…
THE BBC was accused of accidentally blowing the cover of a Foreign Office Afghanistan whistleblower, reported MailOnline. Journalist Sima Kotecha published on Twitter a photograph of a computer screen showing an email from Nigel Casey, the prime minister's special representative for Afghanistan, the report added. With this, the row over…
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal said Thursday he would prolong his break from Twenty20 internationals for at least another six months, adding to speculation over his future in the short format. Tamim is one of Bangladesh's greatest batting assets and has captained the one-day international side for the past two years.…
BATHED in crisp morning light, Sidra Hussain grips a cooler stacked with glistening vials of polio vaccine in northwest Pakistan.Watching over Hussain and her partner, a policeman unslings his rifle and eyes the horizon.In concert they begin their task - going door-to-door on the outskirts of Mardan city, dripping bitter…
BRITISH police said on Wednesday (26) they were holding two more men in connection with an armed hostage-taking at a Texas synagogue by a man from northwest England.Malik Faisal Akram from Blackburn took four people, including a rabbi, hostage at the synagogue in the small town of Colleyville on January…
PAKISTAN has dropped 16 spots on the global Corruption Perceptions Index for 2021 and is ranked 140th out of 180 countries, Transparency International said in a report on Tuesday (25).It comes as a major blow to prime minister Imran Khan's government which came to power on the promise of clean…
INDIA and Pakistan will lock horns in a blockbuster T20 World Cup group clash for the second year running after the fixtures for the October-November 2022 tournament in Australia were announced on Friday. The arch-rivals will lock horns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23, a day after…
A former Guantánamo detainee is planning to sue the UK home secretary Priti Patel to restore his British passport, the Guardian reported. Moazzam Begg’s application for a new passport was rejected in September 2021. According to the report, a terror prosecution relating to his time in Syria collapsed in 2014, and…
A BRITISH man who took hostages at a Texas synagogue told his family he had prayed for two years to carry out the attack, media reported on Thursday (20), as police made two arrests.Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn in northwest England, was shot dead by the FBI during a…
THE MAN who held four people hostage at a Texas synagogue was on Sunday (16) identified by US authorities as a British citizen while UK police later arrested two teens over an attack that president Joe Biden called an "act of terror."The captor, who died in the 10-hour siege in…
ALL FOUR people taken hostage in a more than 10-hour standoff at a Texas synagogue have been freed unharmed, police said late Saturday (15), and their suspected captor is dead.The siege in the small Texas town of Colleyville - in which the suspect was apparently demanding the release of a…
US-based Prince Harry is appealing to the UK courts after the government refused to allow him police protection paid for out of his own pocket, arguing the decision means he cannot return home. Harry and wife Meghan lost their UK taxpayer-paid protection when they quit frontline royal duties in 2020…
AAFIA SIDDIQUI, a Pakistan prisoner in the United States whose release was reportedly demanded by a Texas hostage-taker this weekend, is serving an 86-year sentence for the attempted murder of American soldiers.Four people were freed unharmed on Sunday (16) following a more than 10-hour standoff at a synagogue in the…
A band of suspected Islamic State (Daesh) militants are on the run in Pakistan after escaping a police raid that killed six other members of the group, officials said Monday. Counterterrorism police said in a statement they had stormed a hideout in the southwestern city of Quetta on Saturday and…
A high-profile member of the Pakistan Taliban has been killed in Afghanistan, a senior security official said Monday, after being on the run since 2014 when the army cracked down on the militant Islamist group. Muhammad Khurasani, spokesman for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), died in the eastern province of…
AFGHANISTAN'S Taliban regime has said it will not allow fencing by Pakistan in any form along the Durand Line. It issued a stern warning to Islamabad amid tensions between the neighbouring countries on the contentious issue of border fencing, a media report said. “We (Taliban) will not allow fencing in…
Authorities in Bangladesh's main tourist resort scrapped a dedicated beach section for women and children after a social media outcry over gender segregation, officials said Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon, Cox's Bazar officials inaugurated a section of the shoreline on the world's longest natural sea beach as an exclusive zone for…
PAKISTAN and Taliban authorities in Afghanistan resolved the recent row over border fencing, a media report said on Saturday (25). They agreed that further work on the project that led to a tense situation would be done through consensus. A senior official, who spoke to a group of journalists on…
When Pakistan and India agreed to restore peace along the highly volatile Line of Control (LoC) in February 2021, it appeared that they were again ready to take a turn on the bumpy road of animosity and mistrust. The ensuing months, however, showed that it was yet another mirage. The…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has taken a lead in getting more people to vaccination centres as Omicron cases rise rapidly in the capital and the rest of the UK. As part of the city administration’s drive to tackle vaccine hesitancy, the mayor unveiled a series of virtual events to encourage…
THE DEATH toll in a powerful blast that ripped through a building of a private bank in Pakistan's Karachi has gone up to 17 after another injured person died at a hospital on Sunday (19). The blast took place in a gas pipeline running through a sewage line on Saturday…
A top leader of the Pakistan Taliban escaped unhurt from a suspected drone strike on a safe house in eastern Afghanistan, the militant group said on Friday (16). The strike on Thursday evening came a week after a ceasefire between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government collapsed, with militants…
WRITER and filmmaker Farrukh Dhondy has written a plausible and entertaining new book on the serial killer Charles Sobhraj, who was the subject of an eight-part BBC-Netflix drama, The Serpent, earlier this year, with French actor Tahar Rahim in the lead role. Dhondy’s book is called Hawk and Hyena because…
CURRENTLY, an unprecedented, politically driven commitment towards the transformation of the India-UK relationship is taking place. This began with the virtual summit between the two prime ministers Boris Johnson and Narendra Modi on May 4, 2021. The new UK foreign secretary, Liz Truss, visited New Delhi and Mumbai in late…
AT LEAST one person has died in the UK after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, prime minister Boris Johnson said. The death on Monday (13) is the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain. Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in Britain, Johnson…
BRITAIN on Friday (10) sanctioned a former boss of a terrorist organisation over his role in bombing a shrine in Pakistan. Furqan Bangalzai, a former commander in the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, allegedly helped orchestrate the 2017 bombing of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Pakistan. The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is an Afghanistan-based…
The Pakistani Taliban has called off a ceasefire mediated with the help of the Afghan Taliban, accusing the government of violating the terms of the agreed truce. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- a separate movement that shares a common history with Afghanistan's new leaders -- plunged the country into a period…
LABOUR has taken a six-point lead over Boris Johnson's Conservatives in a new poll showing the impact of alleged lockdown parties at the prime minister's residence and tougher Covid measures. Johnson faces charges of hypocrisy after he tightened restrictions in England days after a leaked video showed his staff laughing…
Authorities have released up to 100 Pakistani Taliban prisoners as part of a truce with the militant group, sources on both sides said on Thursday. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- a separate movement that shares a common history with the Afghan Taliban -- plunged the country into a period of horrific…
India and its neighbours should fully reopen schools to address the interrupted education of more than 400 million children whose classrooms were shut by the coronavirus pandemic, UNICEF said on Thursday (9), with a top official warning the consequences could last decades. Schools in Bangladesh were closed for almost 18…
The British government was on Tuesday accused of botching its handling of the evacuations from Afghanistan, after claims it was unprepared and could have done more to help. The chairman of the cross-party foreign affairs committee, Tom Tugendhat, said the emergency response to the Taliban takeover in August left Afghans…
PAKISTAN has banned travel from 15 countries and tightened up travel restrictions on 13 other nations amid the threat of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan’s top coronavirus response agency, reviewed the Covid-19 situation across the globe to revise the categorisation of travel.…
Actor Ali Fazal, who has previously impressed the international audience with his performance in the British biographical comedy-drama Victoria and Abdul (2017), will shortly be seen as one of the leads in Kenneth Brannagh’s upcoming film Death On The Nile. While the actor awaits the release of Death On The…
ENGLAND stars Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have been released by their IPL team Rajasthan Royals ahead of the auction as franchises on Tuesday (30) announced names of retained players. England's Eoin Morgan and David Warner of Australia also parted ways with Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively, with…
Entrepreneur reveals his ebookers story in memoir THE title of Dinesh Dhamija’s very entertaining memoir, which is due to be released formally by his publishers, Austin Macauley, on November 30, sums up how he worked his way to fame and fortune – Book It! How Dinesh Dhamija sold travel agency…
A CZECH model sentenced to more than eight years in prison for drug trafficking in Pakistan in 2019 was released Saturday (20) after her acquittal this month, the Czech foreign minister said. Tereza Hluskova, 25, was arrested at the airport in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore for allegedly trafficking…
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN says it's too early to comment on Rahul Dravid's coaching style but the premier India spinner is confident that happiness will be back in the dressing room under the stalwart's guidance. Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri in the Indian set-up, beginning his stint with the ongoing India-New Zealand Twenty20…
Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, Pakistan's offshoot of the hardline Islamist group has ramped up attacks on its side of the border, leaving Islamabad scrambling to reach a peace deal. Active in the remote tribal areas of Pakistan, experts say the militant group has been emboldened by the Taliban's…
NOBEL Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who married a top-ranked Pakistan cricket official last week, said she had concerns about marriage but she was lucky to get a husband “who understands my values”. The women’s rights activist from Pakistan told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (14) that she…
THE first woman and first person of colour to become US vice president, Kamala Harris made history on November 3, 2020. But a year later, she is still trying to figure out what part to play in a role that is by definition thankless. President Joe Biden, by teaming up…
PAKISTAN has long played an active and disruptive and destabilising role in Afghan affairs, including its support to the Taliban, a US Congressional report said. In the report prepared by independent subject area experts, the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said if other countries such as Pakistan, Russia, China or…
PAKISTAN held a meeting on Afghanistan with envoys from the United States, China and Russia on Thursday (11) as Islamabad warned its neighbour was on the brink of economic collapse. The grouping of countries, known as the "Troika Plus" met formally for the first time since the Taliban took over…
He was the fresh-faced 15-year-old who stared down Shoaib Akhtar in the nets, became the highest-ranked T20 batsman in the world before being elevated to national hero after masterminding a rare Pakistan victory over India. In the breathless aftermath of that 10-wicket win over their fiercest rivals at the World…
Indian legend Kapil Dev accused the country's cricket players of prioritising the cash-rich Indian Premier League over national duty, after the pre-tournament favourites were dumped out of the T20 World Cup. "When the players prefer to play IPL over playing for the country, what can we say? I believe that…
NEW ZEALAND reached the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Afghanistan on Sunday (7), a result that eliminated India from the contest. Chasing a modest 125, skipper Kane Williamson (40) and Devon Conway (36) put on an unbeaten stand of 68 to drive the team home…
FORMER Twenty20 World Cup champions India kept alive their slim chances of making the semifinals with an eight-wicket rout of Scotland in their Super 12 Group II match on Friday (5). Virat Kohli elected to field after winning his first toss of the tournament and the 2007 title holders bundled…
CRICKET AUSTRALIA (CA) confirmed on Friday (5) it has postponed the Afghanistan Test in Hobart scheduled for Nov. 27 until the situation regarding the women's game in the South Asian nation becomes clearer. CA had said in September it would scrap the Test if the Taliban government, which took power…
Opening batsman Rohit Sharma hit a blistering 74 to set up India's first win at the Twenty20 World Cup with a 66-run drubbing of Afghanistan on Wednesday as Virat Kohli's team avoided a shock early exit. The Indian batting finally fired with Sharma and KL Rahul, who made 69, putting…
Indian and Persian rugs set to go under the hammer A KASHMIR carpet from the late 19th century has been included in a Christie’s auction due to be held on Thursday (28). It is part of the auction of the “Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs…
A CZECH model sentenced to over eight years in prison for drug trafficking in Pakistan has been acquitted, her lawyer said on Monday (1). Tereza Hluskova, 25, was arrested at the airport in the eastern Pakistan city of Lahore for trafficking nine kilograms of heroin in January 2018. "The prosecution…
COMMUNITY leaders from the Indian-American diaspora met Congressman James McGovern and discussed the spike in atrocities on Hindus in various parts of the world, including Pakistan and Bangladesh. McGovern, who is the chairman of the House Rules Committee and the Democratic co-chair of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission,…
India captain Virat Kohli admitted his team was "not brave enough" after an eight-wicket rout by New Zealand left their Twenty20 World Cup hopes hanging by a thread on Sunday. Fast bowler Trent Boult and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi shared five wickets to restrict India to 110 for seven after being…
India's Jasprit Bumrah on Sunday said they will "analyse and move forward" to keep their Twenty20 World Cup hopes alive despite a crushing eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand. Trent Boult led an inspired bowling attack to help New Zealand hand India a second successive loss of the Super 12 stage…
Asif Ali smashed four sixes in the penultimate over to help Pakistan achieve a hard-fought five-wicket win over Afghanistan in the Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai on Friday. With Pakistan needing 24 runs off the final two overs, Asif lifted paceman Karim Janat's first, third, fifth and sixth balls over…
Rashid Khan has pleaded with Afghanistan and Pakistan fans to behave when the two neighbours meet in the T20 World Cup on Friday (28) after a match in England two years ago was scarred by fighting and a pitch invasion. Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid played in that 50-over World Cup…
Pakistan's interim head coach Saqlain Mushtaq declared that his team have "the mindset of champions" as they play Afghanistan in the Twenty20 World Cup in Dubai on Friday. The 2009 champions thumped arch rivals India by 10 wickets in their opening match followed by a nervy five-wicket win over New…
SAUDI Arabia has agreed to provide $4.2 billion (£3 bn) worth of assistance to cash-strapped Pakistan to support its economy, it emerged on Wednesday (27) after prime minister Imran Khan held talks with the kingdom’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh this week. Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry took…
Standing at an imposing 6ft 6ins (1.98m), Shaheen Shah Afridi, the first-strike destroyer of India at the T20 World Cup, is the latest high-end product of Pakistan's fast bowling factory -- left-arm division. From Wasim Akram to Mohammad Amir, with passing hat tips in recent years to the likes of…
HUNDREDS of trucks and other vehicles waited at one of the main crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday (25) as the border closed again after a brief opening the day before. The Chaman border crossing, the second-largest commercial border point between the two countries after Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,…
AUTHORITIES stepped up security in the tribal areas of northwest Pakistan on Monday (25) as local factions clashed over the possession of a disputed forest land, in an incident that killed at least 15 people in the past three days, officials said. Cellular services were jammed in the Kurram district…
Rashid Khan insists his mind is occupied by the World Cup and not wedding bells as the leg-spin wizard looks to inspire Afghanistan at the Twenty20 global showpiece. Still only 23, Rashid is key to his nation's hopes of a first world title and a potential triumph which would deliver…
US president Joe Biden plans to nominate Donald Blome, currently ambassador to Tunisia, as his top diplomat in Pakistan as Washington works to manage the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American troops. Blome is a career foreign service diplomat with long experience in the region who once…
THE India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday (19) sounded an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and other districts for Wednesday (20) in rain-battered Kerala. Other districts that have been issued with an orange alert include Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts. A yellow alert has…
PAKISTAN’S interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said the issue of appointment of the new chief of spy agency ISI would be resolved within a week, amid widespread speculation that prime minister Imran Khan and the powerful Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa were not on the same page over…
PAKISTAN International Airlines (PIA) suspended flights to Afghan capital Kabul on Thursday (14) after what it called heavy-handed interference by Taliban authorities, including arbitrary rule changes and intimidation of staff. The suspension took place as the Taliban government ordered the airline, the only international company operating regularly out of Kabul,…
Virat Kohli will be looking for a fairytale ending to his leadership of India's Twenty20 team as he chases an elusive first major title at the World Cup. The 32-year-old Kohli will step down as T20 skipper after the 16-nation tournament in the United Arab Emirates and Oman that starts…
PAKISTAN’S government on Wednesday (13) said the process to appoint the new chief of spy agency ISI was “underway”, days after the military announced having already made such an appointment. The development comes amid widespread speculation that prime minister Imran Khan and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa were not…
AFGHANISTAN'S junior female football team and their immediate families are set to relocate to Britain from Pakistan after recently escaping their homeland, the UK government said on Monday. "We are working to finalise visas to the Afghanistan women's football team and look forward to welcoming them to the UK shortly,"…
INDIA prime minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson on Monday (11) discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and agreed on the need to develop a common international perspective on issues regarding extremism and terrorism as well. Following a telephonic conversation between Modi and Johnson, the UK government,…
INDIA’S largest port operator has said it will not handle cargo from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan from next month following the seizure of almost three tons of heroin. Adani Ports, part of the Adani Group conglomerate, said Monday (11) that its "trade advisory" will apply to all the terminals it…
AUSTRALIA'S Test against Afghanistan is likely to be postponed until it is clearer what impact the takeover by the Taliban will have on sport in the country, Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley told local media on Monday (11). CA last month threatened to scrap the Test, which is scheduled…
THE fate of Twenty20 World Cup matches if players test Covid positive will be decided by a committee and not by the member boards, the global governing body said on Sunday. T20 cricket's showpiece events begins October 17 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman with the International Cricket Council…
FORMER Zimbabwe captain and England coach Andy Flower has been named the Afghanistan team's consultant for the Twenty20 World Cup, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said. Flower played 63 Tests and 213 one-day international matches for Zimbabwe from 1992 to 2003, then coached England from 2009 to 2014, helping them…
PAKISTAN and the US discussed regional security issues and bilateral economic cooperation as American deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman visited Islamabad. She held talks with Pakistan's national security advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf on Friday (8) but no official statement was issued after the meeting. According to Radio Pakistan, both…
A FORMER US national security advisor has said America should not provide any fresh aid to Pakistan as it has “had it both ways” for too long. General (retired) HR McMaster, who advised former US president Donald Trump, said America should hold Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan accountable for his comments apparently hailing…
IN a surprise military shake-up, the Pakistan Army has announced that the powerful spy agency ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed has been appointed as Peshawar Corps commander - a crucial position, given the Taliban's takeover of neighbouring Afghanistan. Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was appointed as the new director-general of…
AT LEAST 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a shallow earthquake hit southwestern Pakistan in the early hours of Thursday (7), with rescuers trying to reach coal miners reportedly trapped underground. Many of the victims died when the roofs and walls of their mud-brick houses collapsed after the…
A TOP British envoy held talks with senior Taliban officials in Kabul on Tuesday (5) - the first since foreign forces evacuated from Afghanistan - as the country's new masters seek a path out of international isolation. Taliban officials tweeted pictures of the first meeting between Simon Gass, Britain's special…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan has said his government is in talks with some groups of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for "reconciliation" with the help of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, the TTP is a banned militant group based along the Afghan-Pakistan border. It…