- Friday, April 19, 2024
Patients in the UK and European Union are facing shortages of vital medicines such as antibiotics and epilepsy medication, research published Thursday found. The report by Britain's Nuffield Trust think-tank found the situation had become a "new normal" in the UK and was "also having a serious impact in EU…
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
COMEDIAN Romesh Ranganathan, who is patron of the suicide prevention charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm), said there have been times in his life where he’s felt suicidal. The 46-year-old revealed he struggled with certain events in his life such as when he did badly in his A-Levels and when…
THE history of British Asians has mostly been told in fragments. There is no similarly-storied moment of arrival, as that of the Windrush to symbolise the multiple journeys across the 1950s-1970s that made Asian communities Britain’s largest minority group. A potted history of race in Britain might often jump from…
BRITISH unemployment has risen as wage growth has eased, official data showed Tuesday, leaving the door open for an interest rate cut according to analysts. The UK unemployment rate rose to 4.2 per cent in the three months to the end of February, up from 3.9 per cent in the…
BRITISH-AMERICAN author Salman Rushdie releases his memoir Knife on Tuesday, recounting the harrowing experience of being stabbed at a public event in 2022 and how he overcame the near-fatal ordeal. Rushdie lost sight in one eye after the attack by a knife-wielding assailant, who jumped on stage at an arts…
The parliament is expected to approve a contentious law this week that would allow the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda, a significant policy spearheaded by prime minister Rishi Sunak. The law's passage appears imminent, yet it faces potential legal challenges that could delay or obstruct its implementation. Prime minister…
Since 1989, Salman Rushdie has lived under the shadow of a death threat due to his controversial writings. When he faced a near-fatal stabbing, his immediate reaction was, "So it's you." Rushdie shared his reflections on this life-altering incident in his new book, "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," which…
Britain's economy expanded by 0.1 per cent in February, fuelling modest recovery hopes after sinking into recession in the second half of last year, official data showed on Friday. The gross domestic product uptick followed an upwardly-revised 0.3 per cent rise in January, after an initial reading of 0.2 per…
A former Post Office managing director has told the inquiry committee he is ‘hugely apologetic’ for celebrating when a pregnant postmistress was wrongfully jailed in Britain's post office scandal. Seema Misra, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2010, after being wrongfully blamed for a £74,000 shortfall in…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid tribute to British Muslims as Eid was celebrated on Tuesday (9) at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In his festive message, the prime minister also said Britain was making efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. Protests have been held for weeks…
OFFICIALS in Kyiv have announced that Ukraine and Britain have entered into a framework agreement aimed at collaborating in the defence and arms manufacturing sector. This agreement is seen as a crucial component of Ukraine's efforts during wartime to enhance its domestic weapons industry by partnering with allies. The document…
BRITAIN'S biggest retailer Tesco reported Wednesday that its annual net profit surged 61 per cent as easing UK inflation helped cost-conscious shoppers buy more products. Tesco's profit after tax rallied to £1.2 billion in the 12 months to February, the company said in a statement, while sales increased 4.4 per…
The potent animal tranquiliser xylazine, commonly referred to as the 'zombie drug,' has emerged as a significant concern in the United States and is now associated with 11 deaths in Britain, caution researchers. Xylazine, also known as "tranq" or "tranq dope," induces a dangerously slow heart rate and severe skin…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame reiterated Tuesday (9) that they expect Britain to soon start sending undocumented migrants to the African country, despite fresh questions over the controversial scheme. Sunak hosted Kagame at his official residence in London just as a British newspaper reported that properties…
FROM one perspective, it could seem difficult to find another major democracy that is quite as relaxed about the role of religious faith in public life as Britain is today. As Eid this week brought the month of Ramadan to a close for several million British Muslims, it will provide…
Microsoft has unveiled its plans to establish a new artificial intelligence (AI) hub in London, with a focus on both product development and research. Mustafa Suleyman, the London-born cofounder of Google DeepMind who recently joined Microsoft, will lead the unit. "Microsoft AI London will drive pioneering work to advance state-of-the-art…
Romesh Ranganathan, who is patron of the suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm), said that he had times in his life when he was suicidal. For those not in the know, the actor and comedian struggled badly after his father’s prison sentence, and when he did badly in…
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said dialogue was needed to resolve heightened friction between arch-rivals Pakistan and India during a meeting in Riyadh with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif was making his first overseas visit since winning power in elections in February. He met with bin Salman…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak said the "terrible" war between Israel and Hamas "must end", six months on from the start of the conflict. "We continue to stand by Israel's right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists and defend their security. But the whole of the UK is shocked by…
The government has introduced a new set of laws that will protect workers by strengthening redundancy protections to cover pregnancy and the period after parents return to work. Pregnant women and new parents will now receive special treatment in a redundancy situation, in line with the Government’s plan to support…
Driving around with hockey sticks in the boot of the car and stockpiling petrol bombs to defend themselves are among some of the gripping accounts that make up a new UK documentary chronicling racist attacks faced by British Indians in the 1970s and 80s. Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, a…
ONE of the prominent Indian student representative organisations in the UK began a new 'Fair Visa, Fair Chance' campaign in favour of the post-study Graduate Route visa. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, which had originally campaigned for the visa that allows international graduates the chance to…
A 75-year-old man who was extradited from Pakistan was on Thursday (4) convicted of the murder of a police officer nearly 20 years ago. Piran Ditta Khan fled Britain after the shooting of police constable Sharon Beshenivsky who was killed as she tried to foil a robbery at a travel…
A London-based computational science graduate from Kolkata is part of the Imperial College London team that has entered the finals of BBC's 'University Challenge' quiz competition. Sourajit Debnath, 31, will join his four-member team as they go head-to-head with University College London (UCL) in the grand final to be telecast…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's Tory party is set for a heavy defeat at a national election expected this year, according to a seat projection which showed the opposition Labour winning more than 400 seats. The YouGov model, which predicts results in individual parliamentary seats based on estimated vote share, projected…
This grand castle, exclusively used by the royal family, will be opened to the public this summer. King Charles has made this unprecedented decision for Balmoral Castle, where the public can explore the Scottish highlands. The tickets for guided tours of the castle will offer glimpses into royal quarters. The…
Three former Supreme Court justices have joined more than 600 members of the British legal profession in calling for the government to halt arms sales to Israel, saying it could make Britain complicit in genocide in Gaza. Echoing the growing number of opposition politicians who have called for a halt…
EASTER brings the usual debate about whether Britain is a Christian country. I saw one set of statistics from an Islamic organisation that says “more people in Britain attend mosques than the Church of England. It is for the first time that Muslims have overtaken Anglicans. According to figures, 930,000…
THE government’s decision to impose visa restrictions on international students to cut immigration figures is “anti-universities” and “economic illiteracy”, according to a peer and university chancellor. From January, the Home Office stopped postgraduate students from bringing their families with them when studying in the UK. When he announced the restriction,…
In a historic milestone, the Bangladesh Hindu Association (UK) marked a momentous occasion by celebrating the Holi Festival and Gour Purnima at the prestigious House of Commons for the very first time. The event, which took place on Thursday, March 21, 2024, was graciously hosted by Sir Stephen Timms MP…
THE son of a British man held in an Indian jail for more than five years awaiting trial on Tuesday (2) criticised the government over its response to the case. Arms dealer Christian Michel, 62, has been detained in India since December 2018 after being extradited from the United Arab…
EASTERN EYE readers who want to discover how British artists have depicted colonialism and slavery over the centuries should visit the Royal Academy’s (RA) latest exhibition. Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change is the RA’s “brave” response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the toppling of slave…
PAKISTAN is putting on the block a stake ranging from 51 per cent to 100 per cent of lossmaking national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the privatisation panel said on Tuesday (2), as part of reforms urged by the IMF. The disposal of the flag carrier represents a departure from…
IF Britain is a more anxious, fragmented and polarised society than any of us would want, how could we change that? Dame Sara Khan’s review of social cohesion finds that two decades of inquiries have produced only “intermittent” government responses, with flurries of activity in response to crises, but a “continuing…
As many as 216 volunteers from 13 BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs (temples) and centres across the UK participated in the Great British Spring Clean, the nation's largest environmental cleanup campaign, over the Easter bank holiday weekend. These volunteers managed to collect an impressive total of 138 bags of litter, contributing to…
Small businesses will receive a boost as the VAT registration threshold has been raised to £90,000 from £85,000, which would free 28,000 businesses from paying the tax. This is part of chancellor Jeremy Hunt's host of incentives announced during his spring budget that came into effect from April 1. The…
Rishi Sunak's Conservative party is set to win less than 100 seats in the general election and draw a blank in Scotland and Wales, according to a survey published in The Sunday Times. Around 15,000 people were surveyed by Survation, on behalf of Best for Britain. It indicated that the…
COUNTER-TERRORISM detectives are investigating after a journalist working for a Persian language media organisation was stabbed in London on Friday (29) amid fears he had been targeted because of his job, police said. Police said the man, aged in his 30s, was attacked and sustained an injury to his leg…
As the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024 prepares to grace the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace from July 2nd to 7th, anticipation builds for a showcase of gardens that celebrate anniversaries, draw inspiration from international landscapes, and promote biodiversity. One notable anniversary being honoured at this year's…
Finance minister Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday that the government would continue to monitor Thames Water "very carefully" after the company said its shareholders had refused to stump up new equity. "The Treasury will continue to monitor very carefully what's happening at Thames Water. Our understanding is that the company…
More than 4,600 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats so far in 2024, a record total for the first three months of the year. This is bound to put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his 'stop the boats' plan. Provisional data from the Home Office,…
NHS waiting times for operations could be slashed drastically if patients had their elective surgeries done at worldclass hospitals in India. This was one of the radical ideas put forward last Tuesday (19) by senior Indian corporate leaders at a business conference in London. Another was for undergraduates and postgraduates…
THE National Trust, which has come under sustained attacks from the far-right of British politics, has been defended strongly by the classical historian Dame Mary Beard, who last week delivered the Octavia Hill Lecture. Her theme was, “Who owns the past?” The trust, founded in 1895 by three people…
AWARD-WINNING director Iqbal Khan decided to take on the new adaptation of the Partition-based play Silence as he wished to build on the legacy of his late friend, former Tara Arts artistic director Abdul Shayek. Shayek directed the original production at the Donmar Warehouse in 2022 and had developed this…
Britain's King Charles III is set to make his first major public appearance since his cancer diagnosis was revealed last month. Buckingham Palace announced today that the 75-year-old monarch will attend the traditional royal Easter service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor on Sunday, signalling his gradual return to public…
London Police partnered with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation to host an event for people aged 15-18 from diverse backgrounds. As part of the event, careers fair and panel discussions were held on March 23 at the City of London Corporation’s headquarters ahead of Stephen Lawrence Day. It is observed…
Britain on Monday accused Chinese hackers of trying to break into email accounts of British lawmakers who were critical of China and said a separate Chinese entity was behind a hack of its electoral watchdog that compromised millions of people's data. In response to the attempted hack in 2021 of…
The Government’s adviser on social cohesion and resilience, Dame Sara Khan, has said Britain’s diverse and cohesive democracy, built on centuries of hard‑won rights, was facing numerous threats. In the study titled 'The Khan review', she said now there is a growing climate of threats and harassment leading to serious…
There is more widespread unhappiness among the people over immigration than at any point since the Brexit referendum, according to a survey by Ipsos and British Future. Nearly seven out of ten respondents (69 per cent) said they were dissatisfied with the government's handling of immigration, against just 9 per…
No issue has caused Rishi Sunak more trouble as prime minister than immigration. He identifies himself as a prime minister with a plan, determined to deliver. That has been a challenging battle on the economy and public services, but has been most difficult of all on immigration. The government has increased…
British police said on Friday they were investigating possibly racist comments allegedly made by the biggest donor to the ruling Conservative party at a meeting in 2019. The Guardian newspaper reported on March 11 that businessman Frank Hester - who gave £10 million to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party in…
British researchers are making a breakthrough in lung cancer treatment by developing the world's first vaccine for the disease. This vaccine, called LungVax, is being created by a team of scientists from the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute, and University College London (UCL). It uses similar technology to…
THE UN general assembly on Thursday (21) unanimously passed the inaugural worldwide resolution on artificial intelligence, urging nations to uphold human rights, safeguard personal data, and oversee AI for potential hazards. The nonbinding resolution, proposed by the US and co-sponsored by China and over 120 other nations, also advocates the…
While opinion polls may favour the Labour Party and its leader Kier Starmer, there is disquiet among some party members over his functioning. The latest to do so is Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, who advices Starmer on race relations, The Times reports. At a recent private meeting of Labour’s ethnic…
ONE of Britain’s first ethnic minority members of parliament has told Eastern Eye of his regret at not being able to “move the dial forward” in the fight against racism, while urging the current generation to do more. Keith Vaz was the first Asian MP for nearly sixty years when…
THE passage of prime minister Rishi Sunak's contentious bill to deport refugees to Rwanda may be delayed until at least next month after the upper house of parliament defeated the government and reinstated demands for greater protections. The government wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain…
The passage of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's contentious bill to deport refugees to Rwanda may be delayed after the House of Lords defeated the government and reinstated a demand for greater protections. The government wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain on boats to live in…
THE former chancellor and home secretary, Sir Sajid Javid, said while the UK was the most successful multiracial democracy in the world, politicians were “adding fuel to the fire” of ongoing social unrest. Sir Sajid said the government’s new definition of extremism led to a debate “high on emotions, low…
SPORTS SECRETARY Lucy Frazer has said all sporting bodies in the country should look carefully at their rules on transgender athletes competing in women's sports to ensure fairness. Global governing bodies for cricket, cycling, athletics, swimming and chess have tightened their participation rules for transgender players in elite women's competitions…
THERE was a sense of occasion at the Garrick Theatre in London last Sunday (17) when Charithra Chandran made her West End debut in a solo show, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon. You had the feeling many young Asians had been drawn by the show’s lead, billed as “Bridgerton’s Charithra…
WHILE it’s true that stand-up comedy first gained prominence in western culture, India’s comedy scene has emerged as one of the fastest-growing in the past decade. In recent years, there has been an influx of top talents who have presented humour in a unique way and risen to prominence with…
Britain's annual inflation rate fell more than expected in February, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling speculation that the Bank of England may cut interest rates in coming months. Inflation reached 3.4 per cent last month - the lowest level since September 2021 - after hitting 4.0 per cent in January,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Monday (18) launched measures to help small businesses navigate the weak economy, as he seeks to boost his standing before this year’s general election. Sunak unveiled a £60 million investment aimed at cutting red tape and generating 20,000 apprenticeships. “This government is sticking to the…
To curb immigration and encourage employers to invest in Britain's existing workforce, the home office has announced that tech firms hiring foreign-born software engineers will have to pay £51,000 a year, The Times reports. The new pay rate threshold is 37 per cent higher than the previous one and will…
THE latest round of trade talks between Britain and India has concluded without a deal, with a British official saying an agreement could not be finalised ahead of the upcoming Indian elections. The two countries have held stop-start talks over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for two years and both…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's contentious bill to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda moved closer to becoming law after his government rejected all the proposed changes from the upper house of parliament. Under the safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill, asylum seekers who arrive in England by boats would…
THE NHS, said the former chancellor Nigel Lawson, is the closest thing the English have to a religion. So it follows that its creator would be deified as a God in certain circles. Nye, playing at the National Theatre until 11th May, tackles the complexities of one of the great…
TATA STEEL UK, owned by India-based Tata Group, announced the closure of the coke ovens at its Port Talbot steel plant in south Wales, with operations ceasing this week, marking an earlier shutdown than originally planned. The company on Monday (18) said that the plant is “significantly deteriorating operational stability”.…
Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf hit out at the Conservative Party for being "institutionally Islamophobic", according to media reports. He said this in reaction to the comments reportedly made by Conservative party donor Frank Hester (57) about Labour MP Diane Abbott. According to The Guardian newspaper, Hester had reportedly said…
Former Cabinet minister and Conservative party MP Sir Sajid Javid said he still believes the UK is the most successful multiracial democracy in the world, but lamented that it is not at ease with itself. In a signed article in The Times, the Bromsgrove MP said the government’s new definition…
INDIA's marathon six-week election will begin on April 19 with nearly a billion people across the world's biggest democracy eligible to cast their votes. Here are the details about how the poll is conducted and what is likely to happen: How do people vote? All Indian citizens aged 18 and…
India will begin voting in seven phases starting April 19 to elect a new parliament, and the results will be announced on June 4. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday the other phases will be on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June…
The British Wildlife Photography Awards for 2024 showcase an array of captivating images capturing the essence of Britain's wildlife and habitats. With over 14,000 submissions, the winning photographs depict everything from urban wildlife to mesmerising courtship rituals and microscopic organisms, highlighting the diverse tapestry of life in the region. [caption…
THE fourteenth round of trade talks between Britain and India concluded on Friday (15) without a deal, while India heads to a general election. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the general election schedule on Saturday. Formal talks will not take place during India’s pre-election period. The…
THE chief of Britain's financial watchdog has defended its plans for retail customer protection via its Consumer Duty rules, adding that he is aware of the impact of regulation on banking business models and margins. Financial Conduct Authority CEO, Nikhil Rathi, added that the regulator "would not stand in the…
John Lewis Partnership chief executive Nish Kankiwala wants the next government in the UK to provide a stable environment for economic growth and restore consumers confidence. Kankiwala felt the political and economic turbulence of recent years has damaged consumer confidence and families have been struggling with rising inflation. He said…
British mobile phone operator Vodafone said Friday it has agreed to sell its Italian unit to Swisscom for eight billion euros (£6.83 billion) in cash, completing efforts to overhaul its European operations. Vodafone has been on a cost-cutting campaign that has included layoffs and the offloading of divisions abroad. The…
A London woman who started an initiative to design light installations to celebrate Ramadan has received prime minister Rishi Sunak’s daily Points of Light award this week. Aisha Desai received the award on Tuesday (12) for her Ramadan Lights UK initiative, which was inspired by her childhood joy of seeing…
The UK government on Thursday unveiled a new definition of extremism, as church leaders warned it risked disproportionately affecting Muslim communities. The new definition comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned earlier this month of a "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality" that risked the country tipping into "mob…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak resisted growing calls Wednesday (13) for his Tory party to return millions of pounds to a major donor accused of making racist comments about a high-profile black lawmaker. Businessman Frank Hester, 57, is alleged to have said that Diane Abbott -- Britain's longest-serving black MP --…
ETHNIC minorities continue to face barriers in the workplace, although a review has found an increase in representation in boardrooms, a leading diversity and inclusion expert has said. The Parker Review found that there are 12 ethnic minority CEOs in the FTSE 100, up from seven in 2022. Additionally, there…
A GROUP of United Nations experts last Wednesday (6) urged Britain to repatriate Shamima Begum, who was stripped of her citizenship after leaving the country aged 15 to marry a Daesh (Islamic State group) fighter. Begum, now 24 and living in a refugee camp in northern Syria, lost an appeal…
THE story of Bengal farmers rising up against British colonial rule in the subcontinent is revisited in a new play, Indigo Giant, currently touring the UK. In the late 19th century, vast swathes of the Bengali countryside were given over to the cultivation of the indigo plant as the…
ANY Asian doctor, nurse, or indeed anyone who has worked for the National Health Service (NHS) should go and see Nye at the National Theatre. The play tells of the battles that the Welsh Labour politician, Aneurin (“Nye”) Bevan, had with Winston Churchill and the Tories, some people in his…
Surfers and kayakers eagerly anticipate an extraordinary natural spectacle known as the Severn Bore, transforming the typically serene Severn Estuary into a surfer's paradise. Contrary to its name, this event is anything but boring, captivating water enthusiasts from around the world. What is the Severn Bore? The Severn Bore is…
TORY MP Shailesh Vara has addressed the Indian National Students’ Association's (INSA) student leadership summit held at the House of Commons this week. The event held on Monday (11) was a forum for student leaders, student union representatives and guests to discuss and shape a positive future for Indian students…
IT was a great privilege for Westcombe Group to have the opportunity to support and attend GG2’s Diversity and Leadership Awards on 5th March. It was so inspiring to hear from so many inspiring speakers and see so many leaders win recognition of their success. Amazing Awards The evening celebrated…
Britain's economy returned to growth in January after entering a shallow recession in the second half of 2023, offering some relief to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of an election expected this year, official data showed. Gross domestic product grew by 0.2 per cent month-on-month - boosted by a rebound…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid tribute to hundreds of Post Office branch managers, including several British Asians, as a new law to quash their wrongful convictions was introduced on Wednesday (13). Sunak had pledged action in the historic Post Office scandal involving a faulty accounting software named Horizon, which wrongly…
FIYAZ MUGHAL, said to be chosen by Michael Gove to address Islamophobia, has stepped down, expressing doubts about the government's resolve on the issue. Mughal, 52, said that his name was approved by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to lead anti-extremism efforts as the first anti-Muslim hatred…
Sponsored by Marshmallow Insurance There are numerous challenges that recent migrants to the UK face, but one that is frequently overlooked is the process of driving, obtaining a vehicle, and securing car insurance. Understanding the costs associated with car insurance and the driving regulations in the UK can be bewildering…
In an exploration of history, art, and societal reflections, artist Keith Piper embarks on a thought-provoking journey with his commissioned response to the contentious Rex Whistler mural at Tate Britain. This almost 100-year-old artwork, titled The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats, has been secluded from the public eye since…
Unemployment in recession-hit Britain has nudged higher as growth in wages falls further, according to official data Tuesday that supports analyst expectations of an upcoming cut to UK interest rates. The unemployment rate rose to 3.9 per cent in the three months to the end of January, up from 3.8…
FRIDAY marks the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand. Some 51 people were murdered, at two mosques, where they had gone to pray. That is a stark reminder of the deadly threat posed by hateful extremism. Keeping citizens safe is the first responsibility of governments. Extremism…
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner has said integration appears to be failing in Britain following a decade of increased migration, The Telegraph reports. The 68-year-old Baroness of Margravine expressed concern over the “complacency” among politicians regarding increased immigration. The former Liberal Democrat said in the…
A British hedge fund trader accused of defrauding Danish tax authorities in a billion-dollar scam goes on trial in Copenhagen on Monday, just days after his associate was handed an eight-year sentence. Sanjay Shah, who was arrested in June 2022 in Dubai where he was living, is accused of running…
The British government on Monday pledged £117 million towards protecting Muslim communities amid a rise in Islamophobia as it promises more action to tackle extremism. The new funding, announced just over a week after extra cash was promised to enhance security for Jewish groups amid soaring anti-Semitism, will be used…
More than 50 survivors of terrorist attacks in the UK have signed a joint letter against politicians conflating British Muslims with extremism, according to media reports. Survivors and relatives of those killed during attacks in London, Manchester, and Brussels are among the signatories. The open letter, coordinated by Survivors Against…
SUNNY SINGH GILL was standing at the proverbial career crossroads one year ago. He had the option to continue as a prison officer or concentrate on carrying forward his family’s rich footballing legacy by chasing his refereeing dream. Cut to 2024, the 39-year-old will script history at Selhurst Park on…
The mother-in-law of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was on Friday appointed to serve in India's parliament, capping a career working for the philanthropic arm of her billionaire husband's tech firm. Sudha Murty, 73, is the former chair of the Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the global tech behemoth…
FORMER prime minister Theresa May announced on Friday she will stand down as an MP at the next election, adding to a growing list from the UK's ruling Conservatives to abandon leader Rishi Sunak. May, 67, is the most high-profile of scores of Tory lawmakers to say they will not…
TRADE secretary Kemi Badenoch on Thursday (7) said she did not see a forthcoming election in India as a deadline for securing a trade agreement between the countries, saying it would be "challenging" to secure a deal by then but possible. Britain and India have held stop-start talks over a…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the “incredible contribution of south Asian people to our economy and our society” as he congratulated winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity awards. Sunak also witnessed the unveiling of the GG2 Power List which profiles the country’s 101 most influential and…
British finance minister Jeremy Hunt's new tax cuts have given his struggling Conservatives slim hope of narrowing the wide gap with the opposition Labour Party before an election expected later this year, but the scale of the challenge remains huge. Hunt announced a two percentage-point cut in the rate of…
EASTERN EYE readers had better hurry if they want to catch Bhangra Nation: A New Musical at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre where it is on only until next Saturday (16). I went last week and I’m glad I did, as the evening turned out to be very enjoyable. The Rep…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt offered voters tax cuts in a bid to woo them back to prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories ahead of an expected 2024 election, slashing the emergency reserves in the public finances to the bone. Hunt said he was reducing the rate of social security contributions (NICs) paid…
Lord Jitesh Gadhia, chairman of the British Asian Trust, was recognised for over three decades of public and community service with the GG2 Hammer Award at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (5). After coming to Britain as a refugee from…
BRITAIN has more than three million Muslims from many cultural backgrounds. It has become customary for politicians to say, “the vast majority of Muslims are hardworking, decent and law-abiding, but there a small extremist fringe”. My guess is most Muslims in Britain are pleased George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election.…
BRITAIN almost doubled the number of visas given to foreign health and care workers last year, government data showed, adding to pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak over immigration ahead of an election expected later this year. Data released last Thursday (29) by the Home Office showed that Britain granted…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has retained the top spot on the 2024 GG2 Power List for the third year in a row, along with his wife Akshata Murty. The power couple were recognised for their growing influence in the UK, with Sunak in the top job and Murty playing an…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has got the thumbs up on his cooking skills from his wife Akshata Murty, who admitted that he does not get much time to spend in the kitchen with a busy day job running the country. The British Indian first couple were speaking to Grazia women’s…
A team of British negotiators have left for India to iron out differences and clinch the multibillion-pound free-trade agreement (FTA), The Guardian reports. Led by a civil servant, the team has been mandated to resolve thorny issues like goods and services chapters, the daily added. The Sunak administration is eager…
THE new Rochdale MP has said that the upcoming election would be about Muslims and the taking away of civil liberties in this country. After sworn into the Commons as the new lawmaker for Rochdale on Monday (4), George Galloway highlighted prime minister Rishi Sunak's focus on "Muslims and Gaza"…
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”…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak suffered his first defeats over his legislation to send asylum seekers to Rwanda after the upper house of parliament demanded greater protections to be introduced before deportation flights can take off. Under the Rwanda plan, which has yet to be carried out, asylum seekers who arrive…
Sri Lanka on Friday awarded the construction of three solar and wind hybrid power generation facilities to an Indian company after scrapping a tender won by a Chinese firm. New Delhi has long been concerned about growing Chinese influence in the island nation, which sits near key global shipping lanes…
Britain's Conservative government unveils a pre-election budget Wednesday that could feature voter-friendly measures as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party badly trails main opposition Labour in polls. Huge giveaways are not expected, however, as stubbornly-high inflation hikes repayments on state borrowing, undermining the ability to stimulate the recession-hit UK economy. Finance…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt sought to dampen speculation about big pre-election tax cuts in this week's budget, saying there had been a worsening in the economic outlook, but he hinted at some help for voters. The forecasts that underpin the budget "have gone against us," Hunt told the Sunday Telegraph in…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Friday said Britain's multi-ethnic democracy was being deliberately undermined by Islamist and far-right extremists, calling for a tougher approach to policing protests in light of an increase in hate speech and criminality. British lawmakers this week have been given funding for new security provisions after…
A new report has highlighted a concerning reversal in gender equality progress in the UK, attributing it to the "motherhood penalty" and inadequate support for women going through menopause. Global accounting firm PwC's annual Women in Work Index revealed a significant widening of the gender pay gap in Britain, causing…
Riz Ahmed-led Left Handed Films has joined hands with BAFTA–winning Rogan Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment to produce a racism docuseries Defiance for Channel 4. Defiance is set to examine how Britain’s Asian community was targeted with a campaign of violence and murder between 1976 and 1981, as National Front…
THE British government's controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda might end up costing more than £600 million to deport 300 refugees, parliament's spending watchdog said on Friday (1). Under the policy first announced in 2022, asylum seekers who arrive on England's southern coast in small, inflatable boats would…
The Rochdale by-election result will now make headlines around the world, despite having had a rather patchier grip on the town where it took place. George Galloway declared that his victory will produce a “tornado to tear through British, Israeli and global politics”. He is unlikely, however, to deliver on…
Veteran left-wing political maverick George Galloway won a vote to become the new lawmaker for the English town of Rochdale on Friday, vowing to be a thorn in the side for the opposition Labour Party before a national election it is tipped to win. After running a pro-Palestinian campaign, Galloway…
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…
The Metropolitan Police is "assessing" a report of hate speech made against MP Lee Anderson after he accused London mayor Sadiq Khan of being controlled by Islamists, according to media reports. The police said an unknown complainant approached them a day after Anderson made the controversial remark on a TV…
BRITAIN on Thursday (29) launched a drive to boost childhood vaccination rates, health authorities said, seeking an "urgent reversal" to a fall in uptake as the country faces a worsening measles outbreak. Routine childhood immunisations in Britain for diseases including measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria and polio, have been falling…
VOTERS began to cast their ballots as the Rochdale by-election got underway on Thursday (29) amid a turbulent atmosphere primarily influenced by the conflict in Gaza. Bookmakers predict Left-winger George Galloway, 69, leader of the Workers Party of Britain, will win, especially after Labour withdrew its candidate, Azhar Ali, due…
BRITAIN is descending into "mob rule" and police will do more to protect the country's democracy, prime minister Rishi Sunak said, after the government announced extra funding to keep lawmakers safe. Many British lawmakers have said the abuse directed at them has become more intense since the Oct. 7 Hamas…
INDIAN conglomerate Tata Group announced Wednesday (28) that its new multibillion-pound UK factory to manufacture batteries will be located in Bridgwater, south west England. The £4 billion plant in the county of Somerset, southwest England, will be Tata's first so-called gigafactory outside India. Agratas, Tata Group's global battery business confirmed…
THE London mayoral election is on May 2, so it’s not that far away. If I were Sadiq Khan, I would be pleased privately by Lee Anderson’s comments about him on GB News: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do…
Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal on Wednesday became the first Indian citizen to be conferred an honorary Knighthood by Britain's King Charles III “for services to UK and India business relations”. In a list of honorary British awards unveiled by the UK Cabinet Office, Mittal receives a…
Akshata Murty, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and daughter of prominent industrialist couple, Narayan and Sudha Murthy was spotted in the Indian city of Bengaluru with her family. She was seen casually roaming around in an area, Raghvendra Mutt with her parents and her daughters Anoushka and Krishna. She…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt should not announce further pre-election tax cuts in his budget next week unless he can explain the painful spending cuts needed to pay for them, a leading economic thinktank said on Tuesday (27). Hunt and prime minister, Rishi Sunak, have said they want to lower Britain’s tax…
Keeping prejudice out of politics is becoming increasingly fraught in polarised times. Taking to the streets to protest must be part of free speech – within decent democratic boundaries. That deal is broken if prejudiced placards, chants and slogans go unchecked – but undermined too when politicians declare every protestor…
FOREIGN criminals who commit lower-level offenses in the UK will face deportation rather than prosecution, as outlined by justice secretary Alex Chalk. The move aims to alleviate prison overcrowding and prioritise the safety of British citizens, reported The Telegraph. Chalk explained that foreign offenders, including shoplifters, thieves, and drug dealers,…
British police are working with their Indian counterparts to trace a British Airways supervisor believed to be on the run in India after his role in an alleged £3 million visa scam from over five years came to light, according to a UK media report on Tuesday. ‘The Sun' newspaper…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has declared he is “living proof” that Britain is not a racist country as he sought to douse the Islamophobia row, The Times reports. He warned that all politicians had an obligation to be “careful” and not “unnecessarily inflame” tensions after the former deputy Tory chairman,…
Blending various cultural influences in home decor can result in a distinctive and harmonious living environment. A captivating fusion of British and Asian styles, combining East and West, presents an exciting chance to achieve balance and elegance in your living space. By seamlessly incorporating both cultures' traditions and design elements,…
Britain's competition watchdog on Monday launched a probe into eight housebuilders, citing evidence that they may have shared information and "influenced" prices in a property market plagued by shortages. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had opened an investigation "into the suspected sharing of commercially sensitive information by…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has issued a warning about the increasing toxicity in political culture, in light of reports that members of Parliament are encountering security threats due to their voting intentions in the House of Commons concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict. He issued a statement on Saturday (24) to condemn…
Hospital junior doctors in England started a five-day strike on Saturday (24), continuing their extended dispute over pay with the government which shows little indication of resolution. Junior doctors -- those below specialist, consultant level -- started joining picket lines from 0700 GMT, as part of a walkout that will…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said that Western nations should take a more assertive stance on confiscating Russian assets, which were frozen following the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Sunak, in an article in an early edition of the Sunday Times to mark two years since the start of…
The Tories on Saturday (24) suspended their former deputy chairman Lee Anderson from the parliamentary party after he refused to apologise for claiming that London's Labour mayor, Sadiq Khan, was controlled by Islamists. Pressure had been growing on prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories to act following lawmaker Anderson's contentious remarks…
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…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has claimed the UK is losing its identity as a great nation where different faiths and races co-existed peacefully because Islamists and extremists are taking charge in all walks of life. British Indian Braverman, with a Goan-origin father and Tamil-origin mother, writes in The Telegraph…
BRITAIN will gain access to the EU's intelligence on criminal gangs involved in human trafficking as part of a deal with the bloc's border protection agency, Frontex, in another sign of closer cooperation between the two sides after Brexit. The deal between Britain and the European Union will allow both…
ANTI-MUSLIM hate incidents in the UK more than tripled following the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, a monitoring group said. Tell MAMA recorded 2,010 such cases in the four months since Hamas's deadly attack against Israel on October 7 sparked the conflict. That was the largest recorded…
British police said Friday that they had made what is believed to be its biggest-ever seizure of serious drugs. The National Crime Agency said that 5.7 tonnes (5,700 kg) of cocaine were found in a container at the port of Southampton on England's south coast on February 8. The drug…
A woman stripped of her British citizenship after leaving the country as a teenager to marry a Daesh (Islamic State group) fighter lost her appeal against the decision on Friday (23). London's Court of Appeal rejected all five arguments presented by Shamima Begum, 24, although she can still take the…
DOZENS of lawmakers stormed out of Britain's parliament on Wednesday (21) with tempers flaring as the three biggest political parties sought to outmanoeuvre each other over a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza. The uproar followed a decision by the speaker to ignore precedent and allow a vote which helped…
THEATRE veteran Lillete Dubey’s new play is an ode to the human spirit and resilience – with a touch of humour and lots of love, as she puts it, exploring the dynamics of relationships during the Covid-19 lockdown. After receiving rave reviews and standing ovations across India as well as…
Britain's minister for South Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Tariq Ahmad arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi and also discuss the progress made in the ongoing negotiations for an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA). Ahmad leads the British…
CHILA BURMAN, often lauded as the “Punjabi lass from Liverpool”, has been shortlisted along with six other artists for the much sought-after space on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. Two winners will be announced next month and their works installed in 2026 and 2028, respectively. The Fourth Plinth, which…
Prince William on Tuesday (20) called for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, emphasising the "sheer scale of human suffering" as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for peace in the region, which has seen a high number of casualties. In an unusually direct…
Eight people have been arrested in connection with the murder of an Asian-origin restaurant manager while he was cycling home after work in Reading on February 14. The victim, identified as Vignesh Pattabhiraman (36), was employed at an Indian restaurant Vel in Reading. He was involved in a collision late…
BRITISH retail sales jumped by the most in almost three years in January as consumers recovered their appetite for spending, suggesting the economy could emerge quickly from its recession in the second half of last year. Sales volumes increased by 3.4 per cent from December and January’s jump was the…
London’s Overground train lines have never before had the attention of the iconic underground. The tube map was a popular hit straightaway in the 1930s, a design classic copied the world over. The Overground lines have kept a low profile on the map’s periphery, with its 114 stations hiding behind…
Britain's antitrust regulator said it would scrutinise the country's infant formula market after prices soared by 25 per cent over the last two years. The rising cost of baby milk formula has been in the spotlight during Britain's inflation-driven cost of living crisis, with media reports saying that some struggling…
With the negotiations for the proposed India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) reaching its last leg, a high-level Indian official delegation is heading for London to iron out differences on remaining issues, sources said on Tuesday. The chief negotiators of both countries would hold negotiations on different issues such as goods,…
Barclays laid out a three-year plan to revive its flagging share price on Tuesday, including axing £2 billion of costs, returning £10 billion to shareholders and investing in its high-returning UK retail bank. Shares in the British bank rose by as much as 7% after the announcement of the plan…
The independent media watchdog in Britain launched an investigation on Monday (19) to assess whether there was a breach of impartiality rules in a recent television appearance by prime minister Rishi Sunak, after receiving about 500 complaints from viewers. The Office of Communications (OFCOM) said its probe covers the ‘People's…
Britain's new legislation regarding its controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing was criticised by the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, on Monday (19), for undermining fundamental principles of rights. Turk said the moves to facilitate removals to Rwanda ran contrary to the basic principles of…
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,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Saturday (17) made a direct appeal to voters to stick with his plan to turn things around as he made a plea for the Tory family to come together to beat Labour party in a general election later this year. Writing in The Daily Telegraph,…
A woman was sentenced to seven years in jail by a judge on Friday (16) for aiding in the genital mutilation of a three-year-old girl while on a trip to Kenya. Amina Noor, 40, was found guilty last year at the Old Bailey of assisting a non-UK person to carry…
Creators, influencers, buyers, and celebrities are set to gather in London on Friday (16) to mark the 40th anniversary of the UK capital's Fashion Week with a five-day extravaganza. Organisers aim for the event to offer some cheer to young designers who have been affected by the gloomy economy. Around…
BRITAIN's markets watchdog has ordered more than 1,000 banks, insurers and brokerages to report how many sexual harassment, discrimination and other non-financial misconduct cases they have recorded since 2021 and how they have dealt with them. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) promised lawmakers in January it would investigate how financial…
The economy entered a recession in the latter half of 2023, presenting a challenging environment in the lead-up to the anticipated election this year for prime minister Rishi Sunak, who has committed to boosting growth. Gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.3% in the three months to December, having shrunk…
LADY SHREELA FLATHER, who has died, aged 89, came into her own when she entered the House of Lords in 1990, the first ethnic minority woman to be given a peerage. Her passing last week was announced by the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, who said: “My Lords, I…
THE historian Kusoom Vadgama does not think Sir Sajid Javid’s plan to build a monument to honour Muslim soldiers who fought for Britain during the two world wars is a good one, because she feels it would be a divisive gesture. Her argument is that Hindu, Muslim and Sikh soldiers…
WHO really invented butter chicken? The competing claims of two rival restaurants in Delhi – Moti Mahal and Daryaganj – have now gone global. The dispute has ended up in the courts with the owners of Moti Mahal also demanding £200,000 in damages. Foreign correspondents based in the Indian capital…
CAMBRIDGE does not need to become Britain’s Silicon Valley to be successful – as more talent from south Asia are being attracted to the city, according to experts. They highlighted Indian-origin entrepreneurs – such as Dr Sai Shivareddy, founder of battery firm Nyobolt – who are at the forefront of…
IN her new book, author Nadeine Asbali reveals how her decision to wear the hijab led to an “overnight” shift from blending in to facing “racism and Islamophobia”. Born in the UK to an English mother and a Libyan father, Asbali looked like the quintessential white British teenager before putting…
Britain's annual inflation rate remained unchanged in January from the previous month, confounding expectations for an acceleration, official data showed on Wednesday. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) stood at 4.0 per cent last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. That was double the Bank of…
BRITONS may have to brave a shortage of some lines of tea, after the supermarket industry warned of a risk to supply from shipping disruptions in the Red Sea. The British Retail Consortium said it had seen “temporary disruption” to some black tea lines, and an industry source said there…
LABOUR is “haemorrhaging” the Muslim vote, which will have a negative impact when Britain holds the general election, expected later this year, party MPs have told Eastern Eye. Late on Monday (12), Labour withdrew its support and suspended for its candidate for Rochdale, Azhar Ali, following criticism of remarks he…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has said it is 'wrong, dangerous, and disempowering' to claim the British countryside is racist. In an article for The Telegraph on Monday (12), Braverman added that white individuals should not be made to feel guilty for their race. The former home secretary’s comments follow…
HOW ambitious would a Labour government be in office? The party’s scaling back of its flagship green economy investment plan dominated the past week in Westminster. But this was also a week in which it sought to illuminate its plans on racial equality. Keir Starmer did two things to respond to…
Britain's unemployment rate dipped in the final quarter of last year, but wage growth eased as the country's inflation stays elevated, official data showed Tuesday. The unemployment rate fell to 3.8 per cent from 3.9 per cent in the three months to the end of November, the Office for National…
Azhar Ali, previously Labour's choice for the upcoming Rochdale by-election, has seen his candidacy revoked following his controversial remarks concerning Israel and Jewish individuals. Initially, Labour defended Ali after he suggested Israel had intentionally not prevented a Hamas attack on October 7 to justify an invasion of Gaza. However, Labour…
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer finds himself navigating a challenging political landscape, marked by a noticeable shift in support from Muslim constituents due to his stance on the Gaza conflict. But despite this, analyses suggest that Labour's robust lead may mitigate the potential impact on election outcomes, sparing the party from…
The trade deal talks between India and the UK have run into a deadlock with both sides hardening their stands amid elections scheduled in both the countries. The UK has alleged that India was pushing for a watered-down trade deal as time runs out to conclude an agreement before negotiations…
King Charles III expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to well-wishers on Saturday (10), in his first statement following his shock announcement that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Buckingham Palace said Monday that Charles had begun treatment, but did not specify what type of cancer he has. "I would like to…
LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan called on Britain's government to take steps to prevent "chaos" on the Eurostar rail link with France when the European Union is expected to introduce a new system of biometric border controls later this year. The EU's checks mean that travellers from countries outside the bloc…
Pakistan's army chief told feuding politicians Saturday to show "maturity and unity" after an election failed to produce a clear winner, leaving the military's favoured party having to cobble together a coalition in order to rule. The country faces days of political horse-trading after a strong performance by independent candidates…
London's police force is leaving children at risk of exploitation and should implement nearly a dozen reforms to improve, a damning report by Britain's law enforcement watchdog said on Friday. The Metropolitan Police's response to the criminal and sexual exploitation of children is "not currently effective", His Majesty's Inspectorate of…
British bank Barclays on Friday said it had agreed to buy the retail banking operations of Tesco, as the supermarket giant concentrates on its core food business. Barclays will pay up to £700 million for Tesco Bank -- handing it a portfolio of credit cards, other loans and deposits, according…
THE British Asian community, which has long been supported by King Charles from the days he was a young Prince of Wales, is now rallying round the 75-year old monarch following his cancer diagnosis on Monday (5). Since the King is also head of the Commonwealth, just as Queen Elizabeth…
CAPTAIN Harmanpreet Singh spoke of his wish for India’s hockey team to seal a direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a title-winning run in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The men’s team arrived on Monday (5) to participate in the FIH Pro League scheduled at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium from Saturday…
BREXIT complicated the already convoluted communal politics of Northern Ireland, but the role of the British prime minister Rishi Sunak in bringing about power sharing in Stormont has been praised by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). “Credit to Rishi Sunak, he delivered where others haven’t,”…
THE former chancellor, Sir Sajid Javid, has urged one of his successors to fund a memorial for Muslim soldiers who served and died fighting for Britain during the two world wars. Javid told the Commons this week that an estimated 750,000 Muslims fought for Britain during the first and second…
THIS was a tale of two anniversaries. As Big Ben chimed 11pm on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom had formally left the European Union. Yet the fourth anniversary of that moment passed without a great deal of fanfare last week. The media sparring between the remnants of the referendum…
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…
UGANDA’S president, Yoweri Museveni, has appealed to British Asians expelled by Idi Amin more than half a century ago to “build a living bridge between their newfound homes in the United Kingdom and the cherished homeland of their forefathers”. His emotional message was aimed at some 30,000 refugees – and…
The new president of the scandal-hit Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Rupert Soames, has admitted that he was trying to salvage the organisation from an existential crisis. He said the Guardian’s revelations about sexual misconduct at the lobbying group were “an appalling shock” that tipped it into a “near-death experience”.…
KING CHARLES’S cancer diagnosis has shocked the whole country, but will be felt especially keenly by the British Asian community, for whom he has cared as long as anyone can remember. He said as much when his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, attended the Hinduja Diwali party in October 2022…
THIS may seem a little ironic, but the Birmingham Rep’s new bhangra musical is an American import. Bhangra, a joyous harvest festival, first came to Britain from the Punjab with the first generation of Indian immigrants in the 1950s and 1960s, and developed British roots in and around Birmingham. And…
Despite her shortcomings as the prime minister, Liz Truss continues to maintain her presence on the political stage. On Tuesday (6) she launched a new movement dedicated to steering the ruling Tories in a more rightward direction. Truss spent just 49 days in office before she was ousted by her…
A 13-year-old British schoolgirl narrowly escaped a forced marriage to her cousin in Pakistan after her mother's desperate plea for help reached authorities back home in the UK, reported MailOnline. The girl's father had arranged the marriage without her consent, leaving her and her mother stranded in Pakistan under the…
At least two people were killed in Bangladesh Monday after mortar shells fired from Myanmar during clashes there landed across the border, as terrified residents reported heavy fighting and medics treated several with gunshot wounds. Parts of Myanmar near the 270-kilometre (167-mile) border with Bangladesh have seen frequent clashes since…
AFTER spending more than seven decades waiting to become sovereign, Britain's King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer less than 18 months since he ascended to the throne. Buckingham Palace announced that Charles, 75, would postpone public-facing duties while he undergoes treatment but was looking forward to…
KING CHARLES has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will postpone public engagements to undergo treatment, Buckingham Palace said on Monday (5), but added he remained "wholly positive" about the scare less than 18 months into his reign. Charles, 75, who became king in September 2022 following the…
British mobile phone giant Vodafone, which is slashing thousands of jobs, revealed Monday (5) that revenues fell in its third quarter on poor performance across Italy and Spain. Total revenues dropped 2.3 percent to 11.4 billion euros (£9.76 billion) in the three months to the end of December, compared with…
Discover insightful strategies for forex trading in 2024. Explore how geopolitical shifts, technology, and economic trends impact forex risk management and platform choices. Welcome to the world of forex and CFD trading online. This digital arena has evolved dramatically since the late 1990s with the advent of sophisticated trading platforms.…
The Labour Party has asserted that Infosys received preferential "VIP access" following allegations in a media report that claimed the software services company was assured assistance for its expansion in Britain, a favour purportedly tied to prime minister Rishi Sunak's family relation with Narayana Murthy, a co-founder of Infosys. A…
NORTHERN IRELAND's parliament appointed an Irish nationalist as first minister for the first time on Saturday (3), a historic milestone in a state established a century ago to ensure the dominance of pro-British unionists. Michelle O'Neill's appointment, the delayed result of a watershed 2022 election, is the latest sign of…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak is under pressure to cut immigration as new figures indicate Britain must construct 156,000 homes annually to accommodate influx, reported The Times. The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) predict that net migration will add an additional 6.1 million people to the UK population…
LABOUR will cap corporation tax at 25 per cent if it wins the next election and will look to cut that rate if needed, the party's finance policy chief Rachel Reeves told business leaders on Thursday (1). Businesses have long complained about a lack of visibility on everything from tax…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak secured a victory in the upper house of parliament's first vote on his legislation aimed at reviving a plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda despite the bill facing several hours of criticism from lawmakers, who labelled it as unethical and unworkable. Under the Rwanda plan,…
AN INDIAN national extradited from the UK pleaded guilty to operating a global dark web enterprise to sell “deadly and dangerous drugs to communities across America” and agreed to forfeit approximately $150 million (£118m) in cryptocurrency. According to court documents, Banmeet Singh – originally from Haldwani in India’s Uttarakhand state,…
THE far-right section of the Conservative party is plotting to get rid of Rishi Sunak. But, then, no one should be surprised. Fascism has always appealed to a section of the Conservative Party and indeed to many in English aristocracy. Here is a summary of a seriously regarded book, Hitler’s…
BUSINESS secretary Kemi Badenoch said last Sunday (28) that she had sacked the chairman of the Post Office amid tensions over the scandal of hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted of theft due to faulty accounting software. An ITV television drama in early January that told the story of the subpostmasters’…
Immigration is expected to add 6.1 million people to the UK population by mid-2036, official projections that will add to pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak to reduce it in the run-up to an election. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday (30) the UK's population is projected…
King Charles and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, Catherine, were both discharged from the hospital and returned home on Monday (29), following their respective planned medical treatments. Charles, 75, who had spent three nights in hospital after undergoing a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate, smiled and waved to…
NOBODY expected this first India versus England Test match to turn into an all-time cricket classic. Having not set a 4am alarm on the first day, I woke to hear India already taking their sixth English wicket. That first batting collapse came just after lunch in Hyderabad, but well before…
Business minister Kemi Badenoch announced on Sunday (28) that she has sacked the chairman of the Post Office. The decision comes amidst growing tensions related to the scandal involving the wrongful conviction of hundreds of subpostmasters for theft, attributed to faulty accounting software. A television drama in early January that…
Indian-origin filmmaker Gurinder Chadha on Tuesday said she is working on a festive film in the same vein as Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but her Scrooge will be “an Indian Tory who hates refugees”. Appearing in front of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee at Westminster, Chadha said it…
PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron arrives as the guest of honour in India on Thursday (25) with a sumptuous palace feast and colourful military parade, as France eyes lucrative deals with the world's fifth-biggest economy. Macron will be offered a red carpet welcome by prime minister Narendra Modi with dinner in a…
Alok Sharma, former business secretary and president of the Cop26 climate talks, has voiced his concerns that the government's new oil and gas bill, which recently passed its second reading in the Commons on Monday (22), neither reduces household energy costs nor generates employment. Instead, he argues, it contradicts the…
KIN is an unusual piece of theatre about the plight of refugees over the generations, created by an Ipswich-based troupe called Gecko. The story is told only through dance. There is no dialogue. The director, Amit Lahav, leads an international ensemble of eight, including an Indian. I missed this, but…
BRITAIN’S financial services regulator is looking at how investment banks and commercial insurers deal with sexual harassment, bullying and other non-financial misconduct amid complaints from those who say they are often gagged or forced to quit. Sarah Pritchard, an executive director at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), told MPs last…
THE BBC should not be able to pursue criminal prosecutions against viewers for not paying the TV licence fee, culture secretary Lucy Frazer said, adding that an examination of the broadcaster’s powers would be in its next charter review. Convictions for not paying the licence fee are in the spotlight…
Simon Clarke, a senior Tory MP on Tuesday (23), voiced his concerns regarding the party's leadership. He openly called for a change in the prime ministerial role, expressing his belief that under Rishi Sunak's leadership, the party is heading towards a significant defeat in the upcoming election later this year,…
THE minister of state at the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), Lord Tariq Ahmad, has spoken to Eastern Eye about his recent trip to India, during which he tried to negotiate deals on such issues as climate change, pharmaceuticals, cyber and education with the prosperous states of Tamil Nadu…
HAVING survived the biggest Commons backbench rebellion of his premiership to date, Rishi Sunak made a pre-emptive strike on the upper house over his Rwanda Bill: “Will the opposition in the appointed House of Lords try and frustrate the will of the people as expressed by the elected House?”, he…
INDIA's prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a temple Monday (22) that embodies the triumph of his muscular Hindu nationalist politics, galvanising loyalists in an unofficial start to his re-election campaign this year. Modi, in flowing golden-coloured traditional dress, unveiled the black stone idol to the deity Ram in the heart…
A school, headed by the former government social mobility tsar Katharine Birbalsingh, is facing a legal challenge in the High Court regarding a policy allegedly amounting to a 'prayer ban'. Michaela School in Brent, north London, faced legal scrutiny in the court over allegations of implementing a "prayer ban." The…
Tata Steel announced on Friday (19), the closure of its two blast furnaces in Britain by the end of this year, potentially leading to the loss of up to 2,800 jobs at its steelworks plant in Wales. The closures are part of India-owned Tata Steel's plan to turn around its…
GOOGLE will invest $1 billion on building a data centre just outside of London, the US technology giant said on Thursday (18), in its latest investment in Britain as it meets growing demand for internet services in the region. The data centre, located on a 33-acre (13-hectare) site bought by…
In a bid to alleviate cost-of-living pressures and support the retail and hospitality sectors, London's mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Friday (19) that the majority of public transport fares in the city will remain unchanged this year. In London and across Britain, households have tightened their purse strings due to…
British Sikhs urged French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday (18) to withdraw from India's Republic Day parade due to the alleged targeting of Sikhs in other countries. India announced last month that Macron had accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be guest of honour at the January…
In a crucial test of his leadership, prime minister Rishi Sunak successfully navigated a key parliamentary vote on Wednesday (17), overcoming opposition from right-wing rebels for his controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda. Sunak, in power since October 2022, has staked his political future on the scheme, as Britain…
LONDON is underprepared for the heatwaves, flooding and rising sea levels it is forecast to experience in coming years, a report commissioned by Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Wednesday (17). The report, which was ordered after soaring temperatures, wildfires and floods all hit the capital in recent years, said a…
JOEL GOODMAN, a lyricist and composer, wanted to write a musical “about someone who changed the world. I brainstormed different people like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and also Alan Turing. In the end we decided on Alan Turing.” The result is Alan Turing: A Musical Biography at the…
SEEMA MISRA, who was pregnant when she was maliciously and wrongly jailed for stealing from the Post Office, has told Eastern Eye that more than a decade later she still gets flashbacks about her time in prison and being tagged. The former Surrey sub-postmistress revealed that she was prepared to…
THE number of women in Britain dying during pregnancy or soon afterwards has reached its highest level in almost two decades, a new study reported last Thursday (11). The figures from MBRRACEUK, which monitors maternal deaths, stillbirths and infant deaths and their causes, showed black women and those from deprived…
THE frontrunner party for Pakistan’s delayed elections began campaigning on Monday (15), after a weekend court decision effectively pushed the opposition party of ex-prime minister Imran Khan out of the race. Pakistan’s vote next month has been marred by claims of pre-poll rigging, with analysts saying that the army establishment…
MANY Sikhs in the UK have received "threat-to-life" notices from the police, intensifying concerns over rising tensions related to the separatist movement in India, reported The Times. The threat-to-life warnings, known as Osman notices, issued by West Midlands police have fuelled apprehensions among recipients who fear potential connections to alleged…
From Tuesday (16) onward, an estimated 3.5 million Britons residing overseas will gain eligibility to vote in UK general elections. This marks one of the most substantial expansions of the country's electoral franchise in a century. The expansion in the electorate follows a change in the law, approved by parliament…
The spotlight returns to Britain's plan to send migrants to Rwanda as lawmakers debate the controversial scheme on Tuesday (16), testing the authority of leader Rishi Sunak with a general election around the corner. The prime minister -- in power since October 2022 -- has staked his political future on…
Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96 in September 2022, reportedly left a sealed death-bed letter for her son and heir, King Charles III, a new book has claimed. According to a report in ‘The Daily Telegraph' on Saturday, biographer Robert Hardman has written about the…
Four migrants lost their lives overnight, and a fifth individual was in critical condition on Sunday (14), after attempting to reach Britain from northern France despite freezing temperatures, the French maritime authority said. The group was attempting to reach a vessel off Wimereux when their small boat got into difficulty…
THE US and Britain defended to the UN Security Council the legality of strikes they launched against Yemen's Houthis for attacking Red Sea shipping while Russia and China accused the Western allies of raising regional tensions. Russia called the US and British operation disproportionate and illegal. Other countries expressed concerns…
BRITAIN is on course to elect its most diverse parliament ever following the general election later this year, a thinktank has said, while a leading Conservative parliamentarian has urged MPs to better engage with ethnic minority voters. Based on current candidate selections, a record number of ethnic minority MPs are…
INDIAN Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his visit to the UK on Thursday (11) after a “warm meeting” with prime minister Rishi Sunak and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception. Singh called on Sunak at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (10) evening for discussions on…
All the glitz and glamour from the 25th anniversary of the Asian Business Awards will be aired on Zee TV on Sunday, January 28th, at 7 pm. A total of nine awards were handed out at the glittering ceremony, held at the Park Plaza Hotel in central London and attended…
DRUG abuse is fuelling cases of domestic violence in the Asian community in Britain, experts and support services have told Eastern Eye. Recent data showed that 59 per cent of domestic abuse suspects arrested in seven police force areas in the UK tested positive for cocaine or opiates. In one…
BRITAIN will seek to use new legislation to overturn the wrongful convictions of hundreds of Post Office managers, prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday (10) in the wake of renewed national outrage over the scandal. Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of self-employed sub-postmasters at branches of the state-owned Post…
SRI Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe said last Friday (5) he backed a proposal by India to provide political autonomy to the island’s minority Tamil community. India has urged Colombo to implement the 13th Amendment, following the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987, which can be a solution for the devolution of…
THE chairman of Natwest was criticised for being out of touch last Friday (5) after he said it was not “that difficult” to be able to afford to buy a house in Britain. According to Office for National Statistics data, full-time employees in England could expect to spend around 8.3…
AT SCHOOL in India, we were taught Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, in the heat and dust of Patna in the central eastern state of Bihar. In the last few days, as Britain struggled with yet another winter of flooding, I have been thinking of…
THE former boss of Britain's Post Office said on Tuesday (9) she will return a royal honour received from Queen Elizabeth II as public anger mounts over a miscarriage of justice scandal. Former-CEO Paula Vennells said she had "listened" to the growing clamour to hand back the CBE (Commander of…
PUBLIC anger is mounting over what has been described as Britain's biggest ever miscarriage of justice that saw hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted of theft because of a computer software glitch. Lives were ruined by the false accusations that led to some Post Office branch managers being jailed, going bankrupt,…
The Indo-British sports drama A Game of Two Halves starring 12th Fail actor Harish Khanna deals with modern-day issues about relationships, poverty, class struggles, and finding your place in the world. Directed by British Asian filmmaker Khayam Khan, the film also delves into themes of identity crisis, racial dissonance, acceptance,…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday (7) called upon voters and members of his party to "stick to the plan" for achieving "long-term change" ahead of an election he indicated would likely occur in the latter part of this year. After firing the starting gun on election campaigning last week…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has outlined his commitment to reducing taxes by tightening welfare spending and implementing government reforms before and after the upcoming general election. In an interview with The Telegraph, Sunak indicated a significant focus on tax reductions. The Tory leader presented the party's position as a key…
UK police have announced they are investigating possible fraud offences committed during Britain's Post Office scandal, described as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history. More than 700 people running small local post offices received criminal convictions between 1999 and 2005 after faulty accounting software made…
BRITAIN intends to become the first European country to produce an advanced uranium fuel that is currently commercially available only from Russia, the government announced Sunday (7). The UK government said it would invest £300 million building a high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) programme that would help "displace" Moscow from global…
Former energy minister, Chris Skidmore announced on Friday (5) that he is resigning as an MP, citing disagreements with the ruling Conservatives over the contentious oil and gas legislation. In an embarrassing setback for embattled prime minister Rishi Sunak, MP Chris Skidmore also said he will quit the Conservative parliamentary…
BILLIONS of voters across south Asia, the UK and the US will go to polls in the next 12 months in what will be a test of democracy, analysits have told Eastern Eye. In the UK, prime minister Rishi Sunak has to call a general election by January 28, 2025,…
Britain’s Royal Mail on Friday unveiled a set of 15 special stamps to celebrate one of the world’s most successful female pop groups of all time, the Spice Girls. With more than 100 million global record sales across three decades and nine UK number-one singles, the girl band is considered…
RISHI SUNAK fired the starting gun on Britain's next election on Thursday (4), saying his "working assumption" was it would take place in the second half of the year, all but ruling out an earlier vote opposition parties had called for. The prime minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer both…
Ahead of the upcoming general election this year, the ruling Conservatives find themselves once again challenged by a fringe right-wing political party, originally founded by the eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage. Reform UK -- formerly called the Brexit Party and whose current leader admires former US president Donald Trump -- rails…
THE majority of students benefiting from the government's Turing scheme are from disadvantaged backgrounds, a new research published on Wednesday (3) revealed. Introduced in 2021, the scheme enables to widen access to global opportunities in education and training. The latest figures revealed that more than 40,000 students are set to…
A COUNCIL housing block in north London has been named after British Indian spy and descendant of Tipu Sultan, Noor Inayat Khan, following a ballot of local residents to choose from a shortlist of the area’s historic inhabitants. Camden Council unveiled the “Noor Inayat Khan House” at a ceremony on…
BRITAIN’S economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter and flatlined in the previous three months, official data showed last month, raising fears of a recession before an election due this year. The downbeat news delivers a blow to Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak, who trails Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer…
TALENTED authors from varied backgrounds contributed to a rich tapestry of reading material throughout the past year. This trend will continue in 2024, with everything from a treatise on tea to a much-awaited sequel, as well as a fantasy and a memoir recounting a renowned author’s experience of a deadly…
THE Bangladesh prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, said on Monday (1) that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is boycotting Sunday’s (7) general election as they found no scope to rig the polls. Hasina launched her campaign for a fifth term last month, as opposition parties called for civil disobedience and…
Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair has strongly denied an Israeli media report linking him to talks last week about the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza in other countries. Channel 12 claimed on Sunday that Blair, who left office in 2007 and was a Middle East envoy charged with building…
DEMOCRACY is the theme of 2024. Around half of the world’s population has the chance to go to the polls. This weekend’s vote in Bangladesh, boycotted by the opposition to Shekih Hasina, is an inauspicious start. Pakistan in February holds its first elections since 2018. More than 600 million will…
Fireworks illuminated skies worldwide to usher in 2024, yet airstrikes marred the year's earliest hours in Gaza, Israel, and Ukraine. Additionally, a significant earthquake struck Japan, prompting tsunami warnings. Many around the world may wish to shake off high living costs, global tumult and extreme weather in 2024, which heralds…
Nearly 30,000 migrants crossed the Channel to Britain from mainland Europe in small boats in 2023, an annual drop of more than a third, government figures released Monday showed. However, the unauthorised arrivals of 29,437 people on the southeast English coast remains the second largest yearly tally since officials began…
On Sunday (31), London's Big Ben commemorates the 100th anniversary of its New Year's "bongs" being broadcast worldwide. Ever since New Year's Eve 1923 when BBC engineer A.G. Dryland clambered onto a roof opposite the British parliament to record the strikes, live transmission has become an annual tradition. The unmistakable…
Labour is exploring the idea of integrating thousands of nurseries within existing primary schools across England, aiming to address the persisting shortage of childcare spaces, their unaffordability, and staffing challenges. To devise innovative strategies in this sector, the party has engaged Sir David Bell, former head of Ofsted, (Office for…
KING Charles called on people on Monday (25) to help those less fortunate during a time of economic hardship and global conflict, using his Christmas Day message to emphasise the importance of kindness, compassion and care for the environment. In his second Christmas message since becoming Britain's king, Charles also…
UK foreign secretary David Cameron has branded Iran "a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world" in an interview published Sunday in which he also pledged stepped-up deterrence towards Tehran. The former British prime minister's warning echoes accusations by the United States Friday that Iran is involved…
BRITAIN'S economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter, official data showed Friday (22), raising fears of a potential recession before an election due next year. Gross domestic product contracted 0.1 per cent between July and September, down from a prior estimate of zero growth, the Office for National Statistics said…
THE government has said it will raise its controversial minimum salary requirement for family visas in stages "to give predictability" to immigrant families. It unveiled a raft of measures earlier in December, aimed at cracking down on record levels of migration - a key battleground issue in the general election…
THE US Sikh man, who was the intended victim of a purported assassination scheme allegedly orchestrated by an Indian government official, has revealed that he continues to receive hundreds of threats daily, reported The Guardian. Despite India's pledge of investigating the murder-for-hire conspiracy, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun remains under the persistent…
BRITAIN plans to increase funding for local government councils by £4 billion to £64bn to address inflation-driven pressures after Birmingham and Nottingham councils effectively declared bankruptcy. The settlement for 2024-25 marks a 6.5 per cent rise from 2023-24, the government said in a statement on Monday (18) in an attempt…
JUNIOR doctors in England ramped up their industrial action on Wednesday (20), beginning the first walk-out of their biggest strike yet, which hospitals warn could threaten emergency care provision at one of the busiest times of the year. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, said…
LEICESTER UNIVERSITY is conducting a study on the extent of racism in rural England with the aim of changing attitudes and making visits to the countryside less intimidating for non-white people. It is being led by Neil Chakraborti, director of the Centre for Hate Studies and professor in criminology, who…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
THERE was the Bollywood star in skin-tight lycra, the Bangladeshi politician filmed in a bikini and the young Pakistani woman snapped with a man. None was real, but all three images were credible enough to unleash lust, vitriol – and even allegedly a murder – underlining the sophistication of generative…
INFLATION has slowed sharply to the lowest level in more than two years on falling petrol prices, official data showed Wednesday (20), easing a cost-of-living crisis after aggressive interest-rate hikes. The Consumer Prices Index hit 3.9 per cent in November from 4.6 per cent in the previous month, attaining the…
BRITAIN plans to increase funding for local government councils by £4 billion to £64bn ($81bn) to address inflation-driven pressures, after cities Birmingham and Nottingham effectively declared bankruptcy. The settlement for 2024-25 marks a 6.5 per cent rise from 2023-24, the government said in a statement in an attempt to ease…
WHAT did we learn from 2023 about the state of the nation? It was a year that showed how identity can both unite and divide Britain today, depending not only on events at home and abroad, but on how our public conversations are led too. If Britain needs more bridging…
Foreign minister David Cameron called upon Hong Kong authorities on Sunday (17) to cease the "politically-motivated" prosecution of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who faced trial on Monday (18) on charges of national security crimes. British citizen Lai, 76, is charged with several counts of "colluding with foreign forces", a…
BRITAIN could look at further measures to protect young teenagers from the risks of social media in the new year following the introduction of new online safety laws focused on children and the removal of illegal content, a minister said. The Online Safety Act, which became law in October, requires…
OAK casks, once used to store bourbon and wine, are stacking up in a distillery near New Delhi, filled with ageing whisky as workers churn out almost 10,000 bottles a day of Indian single malt Indri, recently named the world's best whisky. Sugarcane and mustard fields, not peat bogs, ring…
THE father of a 10-year-old Woking girl whose death sparked an international manhunt pleaded not guilty to her murder in a UK court on Thursday (14), as did two other members of her family. Sara Sharif's body was discovered at her family home on August 10. A post-mortem examination found…
A BOAT carrying more than 60 migrants capsized in the Channel off France overnight on Thursday (14) to Friday (15) while attempting to reach Britain, with one person dead and another in critical condition, French maritime authorities said. Among the 66 people recovered, "one unconscious victim, in critical condition, was…
Actress, writer, and producer Mindy Kaling has made it to The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘2023 Women in Entertainment Power 100’ list. Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria also earned a spot on the list. Both women have been picked for 'setting box office records, filling arenas, and putting Hollywood back to…
The festivity of the Christmas season was brought to life at India House, adorned with radiant decorations and trees. The renowned Choir of King's College orchestrated the carol singing, filling Gandhi Hall with the spirit of the season. The celebration at the Indian High Commission on Tuesday (12) evening, which…
The government is set to review the Graduate Route visa, which grants overseas students a two-year post-study work option and which is mainly availed by Indian students. According to a new independent report on migration on Wednesday (13), the review aims to determine if this visa system effectively serves Britain's…
ONE of the top jobs in the arts has gone to Indhu Rubasingham, who has been appointed director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre in London. She will succeed Rufus Norris who will be stepping down from the post in spring 2025, when his second term ends. Rubasingham,…
IN HER book, What’s in a Name? Friendship, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain, the author Sheela Banerjee deals with the question which confronts all British Asian parents. What should they call their newborn? Most want the name to reflect the child’s ethnic and cultural heritage, but at the…
I FELL in love with Benjamin Zephaniah and performance poetry both at the same time. It was as a young teenager that I first saw and heard him on the 1990’s British Asian television programme Network East. In his Jamaican-inflected Brummie accent, this dreadlocked Rastafarian took viewers on a tour…
A NETWORK and website have been launched to “deepen public conversation about race in Britain and press for future change”. Dozens of race and equality campaigners, community organisations and politicians gathered in parliament last Thursday (7) at an event to acknowledge the efforts of the 75th Windrush anniversary this year.…
POLITICAL analysts said the impact on Muslim voters of Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict will only become clear over the next decade. Many Labour councillors and MPs have criticised Sir Kier for refusing to call for a ceasefire in the region. Dozens of councillors…
BRITAIN'S economy shrank in October, official data showed on Wednesday (13), raising the risk of a recession and testing the Bank of England's resolve to stick to its tough line against cutting to interest rates from their 15-year high. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.3 per cent from September,…
GRADUATE ethnic minority voters are more likely to vote for the Conservative party, a new survey has found. Lead researcher James Kanagasooriam, from FocalData, said the voting intentions of ethnic minority graduates is in contrast to their white counterparts. They are more left-leaning and more likely to vote Labour, although…
A LEADING Conservative parliamentarian has warned fellow Tory politicians they face a decision to either “unify or die” as party infighting threatens to derail the leadership of prime minister, Rishi Sunak. On Tuesday (12) Sunak narrowly won in his latest plans to send migrants to Rwanda. The way in which…
An Indo-British film, exploring the themes of identity crisis, racial dissonance, and acceptance, will be released in theatres on February 23, 2024, the makers have announced. Titled A Game of Two Halves, the film stars actor Saaj Raja, known for featuring in Marvel Studios' Eternals, alongside Lucy Jackson, Swaroopa Ghosh,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak avoided defeat in parliament on Tuesday (12) on an emergency bill to revive his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, seeing off a revolt by dozens of his lawmakers that laid bare his party's deep divisions. Sunak, who has pinned his reputation on the strategy,…
RISHI SUNAK did not imagine that his premiership would end up like this. His intention was to lead an economy-first government, rebuild trust in politics and deliver on many fronts. Sunak has become the embattled leader of a single-issue government and mutinous party. Every week seems to be immigration week…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak faces the biggest parliamentary test of his premiership on Tuesday (12) when MPs vote on his plan to send asylum seekers to live in Rwanda. The Supreme Court ruled last month that Rwanda was an unsafe place to send those arriving in small boats on England's…
Katy Morgan-Davies, the daughter of a Maoist cult leader who held her captive and kept her as a slave for 30 years, revealed on Thursday (7), that she has forgiven her father despite enduring psychological and physical mistreatment. Morgan-Davies spent years effectively imprisoned in the peculiar cult's residence in Herne…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), in association with Netflix, has announced its 2023 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, featuring 42 creatives working in film, games, and television, from across the UK, US, and India. In the UK, there are 20 creatives, including creators, writers, directors, producers, designers, a…
In his testimony to Britain's Covid inquiry on Thursday (7), former prime minister Boris Johnson dismissed any suggestion that he aimed to allow the virus to "let rip" as "rubbish" and "completely wrong." Johnson, who was the prime minister between 2019 and 2022, faced a second day of questioning on…
INDIA'S central bank again left interest rates unchanged on Friday (8), saying that easing inflation and a stable financial outlook had tempered economic headwinds. The benchmark repo rate - the level at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lends to commercial banks - has stood at 6.50 per cent…
SIX former London police officers on Thursday (7) were given suspended prison sentences for sharing offensive and racist messages on WhatsApp, including references to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family. In a statement after the sentencing hearing Commander James Harman, who leads the Metropolitan…
RISHI SUNAK insisted Thursday (7) that his latest immigration plan would work, as the issue threatened to tear apart his ruling Tories, putting his premiership in jeopardy. Sunak came out fighting after his government's latest attempt to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda sparked the resignation of his immigration minister, who…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman said on Thursday (7) the government's proposed Rwanda legislation, part of a scheme to try to send thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country, will not work. Rishi Sunak is facing a revolt from the right-wing of his Tory party over efforts to…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak set out draft emergency legislation on Wednesday (6) which he said would pave the way for asylum seekers to be deported to Rwanda, but immediately suffered a major setback when his immigration minister quit. The "Safety of Rwanda Bill", published the day after Britain signed a…
NEW government figures published last month show that 47,000 Hong Kongers moved to the UK in the year to June 2023. They arrived under the government’s British National (Overseas) visa programme, set up after Hong Kong’s National Security law restricted its citizens’ democratic freedoms. In total, around 120,000 have arrived…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer on Monday (4) said his government would not “turn on the spending taps” if he becomes prime minister next year, an increasingly likely outcome according to the polls. Sir Keir said a Labour government would be “ruthless” on public spending, as he seeks to wrestle…
THE Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt, is the sole Indian to be selected by the Financial Times (FT) among its “25 most influential women of 2023” chosen from across the world. The paper’s selection is a little like Eastern Eye’s Power List (the next one will be published on March 5,…
BRITAIN signed a new treaty with Rwanda on Tuesday (5) which it said would overcome a court decision blocking its plan to deport asylum seekers to the East African country, a ruling that dealt a huge blow to the government's immigration policy. The Rwanda scheme is at the centre of…
British artist Jesse Darling was awarded the famous Turner Prize on Tuesday (5) for his impactful sculptures and installations, which evoke themes of societal breakdown. The 41-year-old -- who now lives in Berlin -- pipped Ghislaine Leung, Rory Pilgrim, and Barbara Walker to the £25,000 ($30,000) award. Darling was announced…
A MAJORITY of Britons support rejoining the European single market, even though it would mean restoring free movement of workers from member states, according to a survey published last Wednesday (29). The YouGov findings come as prime minister Rishi Sunak faces rising political pressure from record high levels of migration…
JUNIOR doctors in England will take further strike action later this month and in January, their trade union said on Tuesday (5), after weeks of talks with the government failed to end a long-running dispute over pay. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents nearly 200,000 doctors in Britain, said…
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson will make a much-anticipated appearance before an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday (6) with his personal reputation and that of the Tory government at stake. The inquiry has already heard damaging testimony about Johnson's handling of the crisis, including claims…
Home Secretary James Cleverly arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday (5), to finalise a new treaty aimed at deporting asylum seekers to the African nation, following the UK's highest court ruling that declared the previous deportation scheme unlawful. The Rwanda plan is at the centre of the government's strategy to cut…
The embattled Conservative government unveiled a raft of measures Monday aimed at cracking down on record levels of migration -- a key battleground in a general election expected next year. The UK announced it would raise the minimum salary threshold for a skilled worker visa and prevent overseas health and…
A Labour government would not "turn on the spending taps" but will focus obsessively on growth because British prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories have wrecked public finances, the party's leader Keir Starmer will say on Monday (4). With Labour some 20 points ahead in opinion polls before an election expected…
THE author at the centre of renewed racism claims against Britain's royal family has denied naming members alleged to have asked about the skin colour of Prince Harry's son. Copies of the Dutch language version of Omid Scobie's "Endgame" had to be pulped after the names of two senior royals…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a funding pledge of £1.6 billion ($2 billion) during the UN climate summit on Friday (1), as an effort to enhance his green credentials, following the alterations made to Britain's measures aimed at achieving net zero, targets. Sunak, in Dubai for COP28…
During the Covid inquiry, it was revealed that in a meeting held in July 2021, Rishi Sunak advocated fervently for the lifting of all lockdown restrictions. Boris Johnson, during the same meeting, reportedly referred to individuals as "malingering" and "workshy," as detailed in a diary entry by the then chief…
MAYOR Sadiq Khan has declared the 'severe weather emergency protocol' for London as the possibility of snowfall looms over the city later this week. He is also implementing measures aimed at protecting rough sleepers amidst freezing temperatures. Khan explained that the procedure involves activating emergency shelters throughout the city to…
ONE of the largest charitable trusts in Britain has dismissed its entire board as part of an effort to enhance diversity and prioritise “social justice and anti-racism” in its mission, the Telegraph reported. The Tudor Trust, with a £288 million endowment, has been led by a family-dominated board for decades.…
A MEMBER of the Bank of England’s (BoE) monetary policy committee said UK businesses have reasons to be “optimistic” over future growth. Dr Swati Dhingra said she believes the UK has “come out of the worst of the inflation and cost of living crisis” and the country will return to…
THE British Asian business community clearly has done well, as the Eastern Eye Asian Rich List 2024 shows. The entry point to get onto the list 13 years ago was £25 million. Last year it was £120m, and this year the figure has gone up to £125m. Even allowing for…
TALENTED newcomer Khushalii Kumar has followed up an impactful film debut in 2022 psychological thriller Dhokha: Round D Corner with the newly released Starfish. The daughter of late music baron Gulshan Kumar plays a professional diver in her new ocean-set action-romance. Based on author Bina Nayak’s book Starfish Pickle: A Goan…
The ride-hailing firm Uber, identified as UBER.N, announced on Wednesday (29), its plans to open up its platform to London's black cabs early next year. This move signifies a notable shift in its relationship with drivers of London’s iconic taxis. In recent years, London's black cab drivers - who have…
ONE of the largest charitable trusts in Britain has decided to dismiss its entire board as part of a comprehensive effort to enhance diversity and prioritise "social justice and anti-racism" in its mission, The Telegraph reported. The Tudor Trust, with a substantial £288 million endowment, has been led by a…
CONSERVATIVE politicians sounded like they were already in opposition during the ferocious blue-on-blue attacks on the government over record levels of net migration announced last week. There were many calls for immediate action to slash the numbers. Yet none of those declaring that it was of existential political importance to…
A new strain of swine flu has been detected in a person in the UK for the first time and close contacts are being monitored to determine its potential to spread among humans, health authorities reported on Monday (27). The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the virus strain found…
THE government and medical trade unions said on Monday (27) they had reached a deal which could see an end to months of disruptive strike action by senior doctors in England. The Department of Health and Social Care said the offer would reform the pay structure for senior doctors, known…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak unveiled on Monday (27) that the world's top investors have pledged £29.5 billion in new projects and capital, as a “huge vote of confidence” in the UK economy. Sunak, who welcomed CEOs of some of the world's leading businesses for a Global Investment Summit at Hampton…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak unveiled a £29.5 billion ($36.76 billion) influx of private-sector investments in Britain. Following this announcement, he convened with global executives as part of his initiative to re-establish the country as the primary destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe Australian funds IFM Investors and Aware…
ARORA GROUP, one of the UK’s largest private operators of hotels, has bought the Heythrop site in London from Zenprop. The 2.7-acre site, just off Kensington High Street, is currently consented for a 320,000 square foot, 142-apartment senior living scheme, React News reported. Arora Group, which controls more than 7,000…
Oliver Dowden invoked the example of prime minister Rishi Sunak as the deputy prime minister paid tribute to the success and resilience of the British Asian community. Addressing the 25th annual Asian Business Awards last Wednesday (22), Dowden praised the Asian community for rebuilding post-war Britain and laying the foundation…
Bangladesh's jailed main opposition leader was refused bail on Wednesday (22) amid allegations of inciting vandalism in the lead-up to the upcoming general elections in January. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, 75, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary-general, has led the party since BNP chairwoman and two-time former premier Khaleda Zia was…
NET migration to the UK hit a record high of 745,000 in 2022 but provisional estimates for the year ending June 2023 indicated a ‘slowing’ of the trend. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday (23) said net migration - the difference between the number of people leaving Britain…
AN INSPIRATIONAL businessman whose company has donated over a billion pounds to charitable causes was crowned the Business of the Year at the 25th anniversary of the prestigious Asian Business Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Wednesday (22). Nirmal Sethia is an internationally renowned entrepreneur whose business empire…
ASIAN entrepreneurs in the UK have increased their wealth by a staggering £6.8 billion in the past year, despite worldwide economic challenges, analysis by the Asian Rich List 2024 has found. Published by Eastern Eye, the list profiles the 101 richest Asian people in Britain. It was released on Wednesday…
BRITISH ASIANS are being encouraged to visit National Trust properties as the organisation is striving to improve diversity among its members, volunteers and staff, its director general Hilary McGrady told Eastern Eye in an exclusive interview. As Europe’s premier conservation charity, the trust safeguards more than 500 historic houses, castles,…
THE boss of McDonald’s in Britain said last week the US fast-food giant faces “one to two” sexual harassment allegations from workers every week, as he vowed to tackle the issue recently exposed by the BBC. Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, told a watchdog parliamentary committee…
CHANCELLOR of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced on Wednesday (22) a bigger-than-expected cut in social security contributions and made incentives for business investment permanent in a bid to speed up the country's sluggish economy. Hunt, who is seeking to boost the fortunes of prime ninister Rishi Sunak's struggling Conservative Party…
THE president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, formally requested last Saturday (18) that India withdraw its troops from his strategically located archipelago, fulfilling an election pledge on his first day in office. In a conversation with a visiting Indian minister, Muizzu asked New Delhi to recall personnel deployed to operate…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman said she was “confused” at the manner of her sacking, claiming that prime minister Rishi Sunak had agreed for her to write a newspaper column which he then pointed to as the reason for her removal from cabinet. In an opinion piece published in the…
BRITAIN'S minimum wage will increase by 9.8 per cent to £11.44 an hour from April 2024, making it one of the highest as a share of average earnings of any advanced economy. Chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced the increase on the eve of delivering a mid-year budget update.…
Jeremy Hunt will announce tax cuts for businesses on Wednesday (22) - and possibly some for voters too - as the chancellor of the exchequer tries to speed up Britain's sluggish economy and help his struggling party before an election expected next year. Buoyed by a fall in inflation, Hunt…
Researchers at Bangor University have discovered that individuals who strictly adhered to Covid lockdown measures during the pandemic are currently experiencing more pronounced mental health challenges. The study has revealed that those who initially followed the restrictions most closely when the pandemic began are now more prone to suffering from…
James Cleverly is the first-ever Black British home secretary, though no national newspaper noticed enough to devote even a sentence or two to that fact. It would surely have made headlines five years ago. No Black or Asian politician had held any great office of state before 2018. Yet Cleverly’s…
INDIA'S anti-terror agency has filed a case against a Sikh separatist leader for threatening not to let flag carrier Air India operate anywhere in the world, while warning its passengers of danger to their lives. The agency said security forces were on alert after the threats by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun,…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying the government should "just let people die" during the Covid-19 pandemic rather than impose a second national lockdown, the inquiry into how Britain handled the crisis heard on Monday (20). Patrick Vallance, who was the government's chief scientific adviser during Covid, made…
Reforming plans suggest that foreign workers seeking entry to Britain will need a salary exceeding £30,000, aiming to maintain an annual net migration of around 500,000, as indicated in figures set to be announced this week. Ministers are anticipated to unveil proposals aimed at reducing net migration by raising the…
A recent study indicates a significant decline in the number of individuals within Bradford's Pakistani community marrying cousins over the past decade. Factors such as increased educational achievements, evolving family dynamics, and modifications in immigration regulations are believed to contribute to this decline, the BBC reported. Juwayriya Ahmed, a 52-year-old…
LONDON’S deputy mayor for business has been chosen as the Labour candidate for the Leicester East parliamentary constituency which has one of the largest south Asian populations in the UK. Rajesh Agrawal was chosen at a hustings held in Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday (18) to succeed incumbent MP Claudia…
RELIGIOUS Britons are “significantly happier” than atheists and non-religious people, new research has revealed. People for whom religion is an important part of their identity “are also more optimistic and more resilient than atheists and non-religious people,” the study commissioned by the research forum Institute for the Impact of Faith…
The government on Thursday (16) said a fresh treaty for transferring migrants to Rwanda might be prepared for ratification within a matter of "days". This comes after a court deemed the previous agreement unlawful. The new treaty, which would then take at least three weeks to be approved by lawmakers,…
INDIA is worried about Britain's possible tax on imports of high-carbon goods like steel and wants a mechanism in their planned free-trade agreement (FTA) to address issues arising from such a measure, three Indian sources said. Earlier this year, Britain initiated consultations with domestic stakeholders on measures such as a…
The prime minister has shown that “he has a backbone” by sacking his controversial home secretary, south Asian Conservative parliamentarians and grassroots members have told Eastern Eye. Rishi Sunak fired Suella Braverman on Monday (13), five days after she wrote a Times newspaper article in which she criticised the Met…
Despite a significant setback in the country’s highest court, prime minister Rishi Sunak is attempting to revive his flagship immigration policy. However, legal experts express doubts about its ability to surmount the existing legal hurdles. The UK Supreme Court on Wednesday (15) ruled the government's scheme to send asylum seekers…
Labour leader Keir Starmer was hit by a string of resignations from his frontbench in the House of Commons on Wednesday night, after facing a rebellion from his MPs over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza. The vote calling for the ceasefire was defeated by 293 votes to…
BRITAIN's Sikh population, whose ancestors first migrated from the Punjab more than a century ago, have long been admired as a model of integration and for maintaining a strong identity. Lauded in their country of origin and beyond for their valour, industriousness and charity, Sikhs took those values to Britain,…
Britain’s secretary of state for Energy and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, believes India and the UK share a common energy and climate change objectives. The 38-year-old Goan-origin Conservative MP, promoted by prime minister Rishi Sunak in a recent Cabinet reshuffle, joked about setting somewhat of a trend as the latest…
THE UK government has tabled plans to add India to an expanded list of safe states, which would speed up the process of returning Indians who travel from the country illegally and rule out their chance of seeking asylum in Britain. Draft legislation laid in the House of Commons on…
CORRUPT Asian elites are exploiting Britain’s property market and the City of London to launder the proceeds of drugs smuggling, a new report warned. The report published last Friday (10) by the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) underscored the UK’s failure to prosecute money laundering crimes and emphasised its involvement in…
A MOLE has been kind enough to send Eastern Eye a transcript of Monday’s (13) telephone conversation between Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman. Rishi: Morning Suella, I have something to say to you… Suella: Who’s that? Rishi: Rishi…. Suella: Which Rishi? Rishi: Rishi Sunak, prime minister….. Suella: Oh, that Rishi.…
TO HER party, Suella Braverman was able to say things which the prime minister thought but could not voice. To his critics, Rishi Sunak was the man who stabbed Boris Johnson in the back and someone whose party did not elect him as its leader. Braverman gave him a shield…
SEVEN years ago, David Cameron left Downing Street after his big gamble to hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union backfired and brought his sixyear term as prime minister to an end. A few months later, his political career appeared to be over as he resigned his…
BRITISH inflation cooled more than expected in October as household energy prices dropped from a year ago and there was also a wider softening of price pressures, offering relief to the Bank of England and prime minister Rishi Sunak. Annual consumer price inflation plunged to a lower-than-expected 4.6 per cent…
DAVID CAMERON has replaced James Cleverly as Britain’s foreign secretary, but just how the job is done at the coal face is explained by Andrew Fleming, who took over last week as the new British deputy high commissioner in Kolkata. Just before leaving for India, Fleming sat in the Page…
BRITAIN's government has already been working on a new treaty with Rwanda and could change the country's laws after the Supreme Court ruled that the plan to send migrants there was unlawful, prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday (15). "The government has already been working in advance on a…
THE Supreme Court ruling on the government’s Rwanda scheme to deport people seeking asylum in the UK to the African nation is crucial for prime minister Rishi Sunak, said independent migration Think tank British Future. The top court will deliver its ruling on Wednesday (15) on whether the government can…
THE number of non-white cabinet ministers has come down from five to four after prime minister Rishi Sunak reshuffled his core team on Monday (13). Suella Braverman was sacked as home secretary and former prime minister David Camaron was made foreign secretary as part of the exercise. While Sunak -…
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple) in North West London to partake in the Diwali festival on Monday (13). During this busy period, the Labour Leader received a guided tour from senior swamis and trustees, interacting with volunteers supporting the temple as…
KING CHARLES III turns 75 on Tuesday (14), showing no sign of a let-up in activity just over a year since he became king after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Halfway through his eighth decade, the head of state is due to spend the day carrying out…
FORMER prime minister David Cameron was named as the country's new foreign secretary on Monday (13), in a surprise appointment made by Rishi Sunak as he reshuffled his top team. Cameron, 57, served as British leader from 2010 to 2016, resigning after the outcome of the Brexit referendum, when Britain…
MORE THAN 300,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday (11), with police arresting over 120 people as they sought to stop far-right counter-protesters from ambushing the main rally. Skirmishes broke out between police and the far-right groups gathered to protest against the demonstration taking place on Armistice Day,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Monday (13) sacked home secretary Suella Braverman, as he reshuffles his top team ahead of a general election expected next year. Sunak had come under growing pressure to axe Braverman, an outspoken right-winger, after critics accused her of heightening tensions during weeks of contentious pro-Palestinian…
The secretary of state for Energy and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, Britain's latest Indian-origin Cabinet minister, highlighted the common energy and climate change objectives between the two nations in her inaugural diaspora speech. The 38-year-old Goan-origin Conservative MP, promoted by prime minister Rishi Sunak in a recent Cabinet reshuffle, joked…
Hundreds of thousands of protesters are anticipated to participate in a pro-Palestinian march in London on Saturday (11). The event, criticised by prime minister Rishi Sunak as disrespectful, raises concerns about potential violence on the day dedicated to the remembrance for war veterans. The "National March for Palestine" is the…
CORRUPT Asian elites are exploiting Britain's property market and the City of London to launder the proceeds of drugs smuggling, a new report warned. The report published on Friday (10) by the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) underscored the UK's failure to prosecute money laundering crimes and emphasised its involvement in…
THE Supreme Court said on Thursday (9) it would deliver its ruling next week on whether the government can go ahead with its controversial plan to deport migrants to Rwanda. In April, London's Court of Appeal said the scheme was unlawful because the east African country was not a safe…
Rishi Sunak is facing mounting pressure to dismiss Suella Braverman over her comments about the Metropolitan Police which were made without the approval of the prime minister. Opposition parties are demanding removal of the home secretary as investigations are launched into her article on the pro-Palestine march. Braverman had suggested…
THE government has tabled plans to add India to an expanded list of safe states, which would speed up the process of returning Indians who travel from the country illegally and rule out their chance of seeking asylum in Britain. Draft legislation laid in the House of Commons on Wednesday…
DOZENS of pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the entrances to a BAE Systems factory on Friday (10), targeting Britain's biggest military supplier to call for an end to arms sales to Israel. Holding up a sign saying "Stop Arming Israel" and waving Palestinian flags, about 50 people stood in front of one…
UNSUCCESSFUL attempts to rescue migrants from a sinking boat in the Channel in November 2021 were hampered by poor visibility and confusion over locating the right vessel, Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said on Thursday (9). The accident, in which 27 people including a 7-year-old girl died, is the…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, lit ceremonial lamps for Diwali at a special reception at 10 Downing Street, welcoming guests from the Indian diaspora, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, and Hindi movie celebrities. The prime ministerial residence was decorated in a theme of vibrant marigolds and candles on Wednesday…
THE government’s new legislative agenda will build on its priority to grow the economy, safeguard energy independence and ensure the UK is securing “the benefits of Brexit”, prime minister Rishi Sunak’s office said last Saturday (4). Measures will also help build “the most competitive and supportive environment for businesses to…
A PASSENGER who unleashed a series of racist and misogynistic verbal attacks towards women on two flights to Britain has been sentenced to 14 months in jail. Mohammed Shiraz Riaz, a 42-year-old father of three, insulted a female cabin crew member using derogatory language during a flight from Marrakesh, Morocco,…
THE Nobel-winning writer Abdulrazak Gurnah has said removing offensive words from the books of authors like Agatha Christie is “futile”, but added that Britain did produce openly racist literature during the last century of its empire. The British-Tanzanian author won the 2021 Nobel Prize for books such as Paradise and…
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…
A member of the opposition Labour Party has stepped down from his policy role in protest against his leader's decision not to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Labour leader Keir Starmer has so far resisted increasing pressure within his party to advocate for a…
Starting Wednesday (8) a ban on the recreational use and possession of nitrous oxide, commonly known as 'laughing gas,' has been enacted. Those caught producing, supplying, or selling the drug will now face lengthy prison sentences. The substance, which causes a feeling of euphoria, relaxation and dissociation from reality, has…
METROPOLITAN Police on Monday (6) urged organisers not to go ahead with any protests planned this weekend when Armistice Day will be marked after prime minister Rishi Sunak slammed plans for a pro-Palestinian march. Authorities asked unidentified organisers to consider postponing any demonstrations in London over the weekend, including Saturday's…
The government announced plans on Monday (6) to introduce legislation enforcing "minimum service levels" in essential sectors during strikes. The legislation is set to be unveiled in parliament on Tuesday (7), sparking criticism from unions, who have expressed discontent with the proposed measures. The new legislation, which builds on a…
Charles III will deliver the inaugural King's Speech in over 70 years on Tuesday (7), formally opening the parliament session and outlining his government's legislative agenda amid the approaching elections. The 74-year-old head of state will outline Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak's wish list of new laws that are expected…
BRITISH STEEL is in talks with the government about funding for a shift to cleaner manufacturing, which would include shutting blast furnaces and probable job losses. Owned by China's Jingye Group, Britain's second-biggest steelmaker on Monday (6) outlined a £1.25 billion ($1.55bn) plan to make steel in a less carbon…
AROUND 100 British nationals have left Gaza for Egypt via the Rafah border crossing and 14 UK citizens have died in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a minister said on Monday (6). There were also "three British nationals who are unaccounted for", said energy security secretary Claire Coutinho, adding…
Four police officers sustained injuries when pro-Palestinian demonstrators launched fireworks into crowds in central London. Law enforcement made 29 arrests on suspicion of racially motivated crimes in connection with the incident. The Metropolitan Police said more than 1,300 officers were on duty on Saturday (4) as tens of thousands of…
THE government's new legislative agenda will build on its priority to grow the economy, safeguard energy independence and ensure the UK is securing "the benefits of Brexit", prime minister Rishi Sunak's office said on Saturday (4). Measures will also help build "the most competitive and supportive environment for businesses to…
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators held protests in multiple cities, including London, Berlin, Paris, Ankara, Istanbul, and Washington on Saturday (4), demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and criticising Israel following an escalation of its military actions against Hamas. In London, television footage showed large crowds holding sit-down protests blocking parts of the city…
Home Secretary Suella Braverman, announced on Saturday (4) plans to introduce new legislation aimed at restricting the use of tents by homeless individuals, saying that many of them perceive it as a "lifestyle choice". In a post on Twitter, Braverman, who is seen as a possible future leader of the…
TWO women have been charged with terrorism offences after allegedly displaying pro-Hamas imagery at a London demonstration, police said, as they warned about possible radicalisation as a result of the Israel-Gaza conflict. There have been growing tensions in Britain and elsewhere since a deadly Hamas attack on Israel last month…
A passenger who unleashed a series of racist and misogynistic verbal attacks towards women on two flights to Britain has been sentenced to 14 months in jail. Mohammed Shiraz Riaz, a 42-year-old father of three, insulted an air stewardess, using derogatory language during a chaotic trip from Marrakesh, Morocco, to…
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson asked the government's top scientific advisors early in the pandemic if a "special hairdryer" could be used against Covid, it emerged this week. As the virus began to spread worldwide in March 2020, Johnson shared with officials a YouTube video of the dryer being used…
US vice president Kamala Harris on Wednesday (1) called for urgent action to protect the public and democracy from the dangers posed by artificial intelligence, announcing a series of initiatives to address safety concerns about the technology. In a speech at the US embassy in London, Harris spoke of the…
A FIRST group of British nationals have entered Egypt from Gaza via the Rafah crossing, Britain's Foreign Office said on Wednesday (1). The Foreign Office said it had agreed a list of British nationals that want to leave Gaza with Egyptian and Israeli authorities and would be informed in advance…
Nandini Das has won the 11th British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding with for her debut work "Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire." The award was presented by professor Charles Tripp FBA, the Chair of the jury, during a celebratory event at the British…
Countries including the UK, United States and China on Wednesday agreed the "need for international action" as political and tech leaders gathered for the world's first summit on artificial intelligence (AI) safety. The UK government kicked off the two-day event at Bletchley Park, north of London, by publishing the "Bletchley…
THE Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has an upbeat Diwali message for Eastern Eye readers – they, too, can be part of the fight against climate change in Britain if each one plants a tree and strives for a greater diversity of plants, vegetables, flowers and wildflowers as well as creepers…
THE UK government will welcome foreign political leaders, tech industry figures, academics and others this week for a two-day summit billed as the first of its kind on artificial intelligence (AI). The gathering, set to be attended by prime minister Rishi Sunak, US vice-president Kamala Harris, EU chief Ursula von…
FINNISH telecom giant Nokia said it is suing Amazon in five global jurisdictions, including the US and India, over patent infringements on video-related technologies. Nokia said it is also suing HP, formerly known as Hewlett-Packard, in a US court, also for using Nokia video technology without its permission. "We've been…
AS A SPECIAL treat in time for Diwali, the Royal Horticultural Society has given Kalpesh and Shailesh Solanki, Eastern Eye’s group managing editor and executive editor respectively, an exclusive guided tour of its famed garden at Wisley in Surrey. The idea is to encourage more British Asians to discover the…
WE DON’T hear very much these days about Boris Johnson making a comeback to 10, Downing Street. He has decided making money is the better option. Boris earned £4.8 million in five months after leaving office as prime minister, mostly for speaking at events and for securing a deal to…
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…
DIWALI – the story of good triumphing over evil – shows how multiculturalism is not failing but instead enhancing community relations in today’s Britain, prominent politicians and business leaders have told Eastern Eye. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, added their voices to the…
KING CHARLES said on Tuesday (31) that there could be "no excuse" for British colonial atrocities against Kenyans as he visited the country, but did not offer the apology demanded by some in the East African nation. "There were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans as they…
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson's ex-senior adviser on Tuesday (31) criticised his handling of the Covid pandemic, as an inquiry heard he believed claims that the virus was "nature's way of dealing with old people". Dominic Cummings, his former-top aide, painted a troubling picture of Johnson's attitude and response to…
The Covid pandemic was the "wrong crisis" for the skill set of the scandal-ridden former prime minister, Boris Johnson, one of his most senior ex-advisers told the UK Covid inquiry on Tuesday (31). Lee Cain, Downing Street's ex-communications chief, said he became "exhausted" by Johnson's indecision and oscillation in dealing…
Suella Braverman has described the individuals participating in street demonstrations advocating for a Gaza ceasefire as participants in "hate marches." Braverman expressed her dismay at the large gatherings, involving "tens of thousands of people," where chants advocating for the elimination of Israel were heard. Speaking after a Cobra meeting chaired…
WITH the Israel-Palestine conflict escalating so dangerously, its impact on British politics seems a rather local difficulty. When prime minister Rishi Sunak flew to Israel to tell prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “we want you to win”, he could not really claim to be speaking for his much more ambivalent country.…
BRITAIN's most senior police officer said he would support a review into the legal definition of extremism in response to criticism of the way his officers handled pro-Palestinian protests in London. Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents have surged in Britain since a deadly rampage by Hamas gunmen in Israel on Oct.…
BANGLADESH's main opposition leader was detained for questioning on Sunday (29), as clashes raged for a second day between police and protesters demonstrating against the prime minister ahead of upcoming elections. Police also made a series of raids on the homes of senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, party spokesman…
Facing a formidable opponent on foreign soil, England's war-weary cricket team gears up for their World Cup challenge against India at a venue historically significant for intense battles, adding to the pressure of the already tense tournament. The past and present cricket powerhouses meet Sunday (29) in Lucknow not far…
ANTISEMITIC and Islamaphobic incidents have almost doubled in just over a week in London, police data showed on Friday (27), in the wake of the attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel nearly three weeks ago and subsequent bombardment by Israel of Gaza. There have been growing tensions in Britain…
ONE of Britain’s most successful Asian entrepreneurs has been named the executive chairman of GSF CAR PARTS, the UK’s second largest car parts retailer. Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia is best known for founding Euro Car Parts in 1978; he scaled it from a single car accessories store in London into the…
Newcastle-under-Lyme has clinched the RHS gold award and the title of Overall Winner in the UK finals of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition 2023 which stands as the largest community gardening competition in the UK. Out of 44 community gardening groups nominated to represent their region…
OPPOSITION leader Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war, testing the leadership mettle of the favourite to become Britain's next prime minister. The 61-year-old is battling to dampen tensions within Labour's ranks over remarks he made about the Israeli response to Hamas's October 7…
FAITH and community leaders, activists and MPs have urged Britons not to let their anger and frustrations over the Israel-Palestine conflict to spill over into violence on the streets of the UK. On October 7, Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on killing at least 1,400 people…
THE Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has decided to close its investigation into its chairwoman, Baroness Falkner of Margravine, following internal allegations about her behaviour made by current and former staff members, reported The Times. Critics argued that these complaints were ideologically driven, stemming from her stance on transgender…
LEADING lawyers are split on whether Britain should have an extradition treaty with Pakistan so suspects can be questioned by police quicker. The two countries do not currently have any formal agreement, but there have been cases of people being brought back to the UK to be quizzed. Last year,…
WARIS HUSSEIN has invited his friends to a cocktail party on November 19 to mark the 60th anniversary of the inaugural transmission of Dr Who. The story goes that back in 1963 – when the BBC devised Dr Who as a new science fiction series – no established director would…
MIGRANTS last Thursday (19) began returning to an accommodation barge docked on the southwest English coast after it was evacuated two months ago over contaminated water supply fears. A coach carrying migrants was seen arriving at Portland Port where the “Bibby Stockholm” vessel is moored. The UK government’s decision to…
WHAT is the most important difference between Ireland and the United Kingdom? The answer is Brexit. Ireland is taking full advantage of its continued membership of the European Union – and seeking to attract new investment from India. This is why Ireland has opened a consulate in Mumbai, India’s commercial…
AN INVESTIGATION is on into the ballooning cost of building HS2, the highspeed railway between London and the north of England, the transport secretary said on Monday (23), after a newspaper report alleged that managers had covered up multi-billion pound budget overruns. HS2 (High Speed 2), the publicly funded company…
DO not expect any more parties in Downing Street this week to mark the anniversary of Rishi Sunak becoming prime minister. It was an understated moment of British social history, as Britain’s first Asian prime minister walked into Number 10 alone, with a few words about fixing mistakes to get…
TORY government announced that it will start reducing the number of hotels housing asylum seekers following a drop in arrivals of migrants. The accommodation is politically sensitive due to the high price of the hotel contracts, which costs taxpayers about £8 million per day, according to official figures. Immigration minister…
Carrie Elizabeth, one of the leading jewellery brands in Britain, has launched a new jewellery range in partnership with Anita Rani, called Shakti. Sharing her excitement, the 45-year-old former TV presenter said, “Beyond excited about my jewellery range with Carrie Elizabeth, called Shakti which is divine with feminine energy and…
SHAMIMA BEGUM, who left Britain to marry a Daesh (Islamic State group) jihadist fighter when she was a teenager began her appeal against the revocation of her citizenship in a UK court on Tuesday (24). A lawyer for Shamima Begum, 24, told the Court of Appeal in London that the…
MORE than a dozen Muslim faith leaders in the UK have come together to “unequivocally” condemn the killing of civilians both in Israel and Gaza. Hamas gunmen intruded into southern Israel earlier this month, killing around 1,400 people and abducting dozens. Gaza’s health ministry said some 5,000 people died in…
THREE-TIME Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif ended four years of self-imposed exile on Saturday (21), launching his political comeback at a rally attended by thousands of rapturous supporters ahead of elections due next year. Fireworks marked his arrival at the event in a park in his power base of Lahore,…
ABOUT 100,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London on Saturday (21), marching through the British capital to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel two weeks ago. Chanting "Free Palestine", holding banners and waving Palestinian flags, the protesters moved through London before massing…
THE US and Britain urged New Delhi not to insist Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the June murder in a Vancouver suburb of…
ANTI-SEMITIC and Islamophobic hate crimes in London have soared amid the Israel-Hamas war, the Metropolitan Police force said. Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. More than 4,130 Palestinians, mainly civilians,…
THE outlook is very bright for British Indian businessmen (and women) if a UK-India Free Trade Agreement is signed – as prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Narendra Modi hope to do by the end of 2023 or at the latest by early next year. A senior Indian government source has…
The Conservative Party lost two parliamentary seats to Labour on Friday (20), marking another ominous setback for prime minister Rishi Sunak and his party in the lead-up to the expected general election next year. The by-election results -- the latest in a string of traditionally safe Tory seats lost to…
Not since 1945 have anti-Semitism, Zionism, and the Israeli/Palestine conflict been so predominant and divisive as they are today. As such, The Merchant of Venice 1936 is deeply apt and timely. Directed by Brigid Larmour, the production encapsulates the dangers of global fascism whilst at the same time providing a…
Britain's Foreign Office announced its advisory on Wednesday (18), urging citizens to refrain from all travel to Lebanon due to the associated risks arising from the conflict between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. It also encouraged British nationals in Lebanon to leave now "while commercial options remain available". "There…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel on Thursday (19) to express solidarity with the country, which has been grappling with the aftermath of a rampage by Hamas gunmen on October 7. During his visit, he is expected to hold talks with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. With Israel's counter-offensive…
THE United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday (17) urged the international community to keep focus on the plight of the Rohingya refugees amid a funding crunch and the lack of long-term solution for their safe return to Myanmar. Nearly one million Rohingya Muslims fled a military-led crackdown in Buddhist-majority Myanmar…
BRITAIN's biggest food bank network warned on Wednesday (18) it was expecting its worst ever winter, with over 600,000 people likely to need support as a cost-of-living crisis now in its second year curtails spending power. The Trussell Trust, which supports a network of 1,300 food bank centres across the…
GROWTH in British workers’ regular pay – which is being watched closely by the Bank of England – slowed from a previous record high and job vacancies also declined, official figures showed on Tuesday (17), in a sign that the labour market is losing momentum. British average earnings, excluding bonuses,…
LET’S allow ourselves a bit of artistic licence and imagine Queen Victoria has slipped into the Hammersmith Lyric to take a peek at Tanika Gupta’s play, The Empress, a retelling of the story of her relationship with Abdul Karim and her Indian subjects in general. “We are amused,” the Queen…
THE Bank of England’s (BoE) actions to tame inflation have just begun to impact households and the effects will be felt to a greater extent next year, a policymaker said on Tuesday (17). Last month, the central bank froze interest rates at 5.25 per cent following a surprise slowdown in…
THE West Midlands, England's second biggest metropolitan area, is set to be boosted by the creation of 1,000 new tech sector jobs, the local economic development agency said on Wednesday (18). The West Midlands Growth Company, which covers an area containing England's second city Birmingham, said the jobs would be…
THE government is pressuring the BBC to refer to Hamas as “terrorists” instead of “militants” or “fighters” in its news reports. But ministers should reflect on the consequences of taking such a stance. The BBC is part of British soft power precisely because it is independent of government. Take, for…
INDIA wants to push developed nations to become carbon negative rather than carbon neutral by 2050, arguing it would allow emerging market economies more time to use fossil fuels for development needs, two official Indian sources said. The country, which is resisting calls to commit to a deadline for phasing…
THE government on Wednesday (18) warned its citizens to avoid travel to a popular Ugandan park where two tourists, including a Briton, and their local guide were killed in an attack blamed on a notorious militia group. The trio were targeted on Tuesday by gunmen as they were on safari…
The UK automakers industry on Wednesday (18) warned that they would soon face a detrimental 10-per cent increase in customs duties on electric cars crossing the Channel. Britain left the European Union in early 2021 after clinching a last-gasp free trade agreement that removed tariffs on cars. But under the…
YOUNG actors Kashif Ghole and Ibraheem Hussain dive straight into the deep end in their debut roles in the coming-of-age play, Brown Boys Swim. The pair play the lead roles of Mohsen and Kash, teenagers ready for university; but, before that, they’re desperate to get into the biggest pool party…
RESEARCHERS have called on the government to prioritise funding towards analysing the impact of racism on mental health, saying countries such as the US were “way further ahead” in this area. A study by the Centre for Mental Health and King’s College London found that both past and present experiences…
POWERLESS. That is how many people feel seeing tragedy unfold in Israel and in Palestine. Our sense of impotence is nothing compared to the powerlessness of those slaughtered in the Hamas massacre of civilians in Israel, or now the powerlessness of so many people in Gaza in the face of…
LABOUR MP Khalid Mahmood has criticised a top Mulsim group of the UK for not condemning Hamas which committed atrocities in Israel earlier this month. Hamas gunmen sneaked across the border into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing about 1,400 people and abducting dozens. In its…
TENS of thousands of people rallied on Saturday (14) in London and other UK cities at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, amid police warnings that anyone showing support for the militant group Hamas could face arrest. Protesters marching through the heart of the British capital were shadowed by a heavy police presence of…
POLICE have arrested a 22-year-old woman in England suspected of having made a speech backing Hamas, despite laws forbidding explicit support for banned organisations, the local force said Friday (13). The woman was detained under the terrorism act Thursday (12) following an investigation into a speech given at a protest…
CRICKET'S more than 100-year Olympic exile moved closer to ending after the sport was approved for inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee's executive board on Friday (13). IOC president Thomas Bach, speaking after the second day of an executive board meeting in Mumbai, said…
THE Bank of England’s actions to tame inflation have just begun to impact households and the effects will be felt to a greater extent next year, a policymaker has said. Last month, the central bank froze interest rates at 5.25 per cent following a surprise slowdown in inflation. Its decision…
The family law firm, Vardags, has launched a law essay competition open to all university students across the UK, aiming to discover exceptional young legal minds in the country. The winner of this competition will receive a £2,000 prize, along with an exclusive one-on-one session with Vardags’ founder and president,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Thursday (12) boosted funding to protect local Jewish institutions amid a spike in reports of antisemitism, while two Jewish schools said they would close until Monday (16) for children's safety. The Community Security Trust (CST), a Jewish charity that provides security at Jewish institutions including…
THERE are 635 UK companies operating in India with a combined turnover of approximately £51 billion and employing around 666,992 people, according to the 2023 edition of ‘Britain Meets India’ (BMI) report. The third edition of the report, launched by Grant Thornton Bharat in partnership with the Confederation of Indian…
THE NHS offers amazing opportunities to be a part of its inspiring team and kickstart a rewarding and illustrious career. With more than 350 varied and rewarding roles to choose from, the UK Government’s investment in better pay, and one of the UK’s best pension plans, the NHS offers you…
A casino is a place where dreams can come true in an instant and where passions boil on the edge of excitement. The history of american slots in the UK is littered with successes and scandals that have created wealth and fame, but have also drawn attention to the downside…
THE Labour Convention of Indian Organisations (LCIO) hosted a dinner for MPs, business leaders, diplomats and community leaders to discuss the UK’s future relationships with India. India’s high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami as well as senior Bangladeshi and Nepalese diplomats spoke at the event where shadow secretaries of state and ministers,…
THE Supreme Court said on Wednesday (11) it would be a couple of months before it gives its decision on whether the government could go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Lawyers for the government have been arguing over three days this week that the court…
Broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy has amassed a new fanbase ever since he joined Britain’s popular celebrity dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing. He, along with his professional dance partner Lauren Oakley, has been delighting audiences with some entertaining dance performances. Not only his fans, but Krishnan’s family is also extremely happy…
THE UK and Ireland will co-host Euro 2028, while Italy and Turkey will be joint hosts of the 2032 tournament, UEFA announced. Both bids ran unopposed but still needed official approval from European football's governing body, which they received at a meeting in Switzerland. Turkey last week withdrew from the…
LONDON's mayor warned Tuesday (10) that a spike in bedbug cases across France "is a real source of concern", as fears grow of the blood-sucking insects spreading to Britain. Labour mayor Sadiq Khan said his officials were in touch with French authorities, as well as transport bosses in the British…
PAKISTAN will appoint an adviser to draft a plan to privatise its money-losing national airline, the caretaker government’s privatisation minister Fawad Hasan Fawad said on Tuesday (10). The outgoing coalition government said in August that Pakistan International Airline (PIA) will be privatised together with the outsourcing of operations at three…
TEAM captains at the cricket World Cup usually find it an advantage to bat second, to know what they must do to win the game. The 2023 party season broke with decades of political tradition by putting Rishi Sunak in to bat first, though the Liberals, Labour and the Conservatives…
GLOBAL contraceptive makers are betting on condom-shy India becoming their biggest growth market, following the blockbuster IPO of a domestic prophylactic maker just weeks after the UN said the country would become the most populous by mid-year. With population decline and ageing societies in major markets such as Europe, Japan…
MINISTERS and the media are contributing to hate crime against British Muslims, according to politicians and community leaders. Last week (5) saw a nine per cent year-on-year increase in reported religious hate crime figures. Politicians, religious leaders and campaigning groups are urging them to stop demonising Muslims. Of the almost…
A GLOBAL body for financial sector qualifications set out on Wednesday (11) its first diversity, equity and inclusion code in Britain, just as regulators pile pressure on the industry to hire more women and ethnic minority staff. The US headquartered CFA Institute has already rolled out a version of the…
THE government has insisted that Rwanda is an appropriate place to deport failed asylum seekers, as it tried to overturn a court ruling that the policy is unlawful. Three Appeal Court judges in London blocked the controversial plan in June, assessing that the African nation could not be considered a…
Cricket could feature in the Olympics for the first time since 1900 after organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Games on Monday (9) recommended its inclusion. In a statement, LA28 listed the Twenty20 version of cricket as one of the proposed 'new' sports alongside baseball/softball, flag football - a non-contact…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer will appeal directly to British voters on Tuesday (10), saying his revamped opposition party is best placed to boost economic growth and offer the country the hope that "things will be better for your children". In a speech to his party's conference, possibly his last as…
THE Metropolitan Police arrested three people in Central London on Monday (9) involved in demonstrations following the attack in Israel and the escalation of conflict along the border with Gaza. Three arrests have been made for assault on an emergency worker, racially-motivated criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon,…
BRITAIN and India are looking at a possible visit to New Delhi by prime minister Rishi Sunak soon, but it may depend on whether the two sides can resolve the remaining differences to firm up the free trade agreement (FTA), people familiar with the matter said on Monday (9). Both…
A DELHI-BASED Catholic priest uncle of UK home secretary Suella Braverman has cautioned her about some of her language around immigration and urged her not to forget that she is a child of migrants herself. According to a report in The Times on Saturday (7), Father Ayres Fernandes told the…
BRITAIN said it had updated its travel advice for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, advising against all but essential travel as fighting continued near Gaza after a bloody incursion by gunmen from Islamist group Hamas. The UK already advised against all travel to Gaza, but on Sunday (8) also…
GOVERNMENT lawyers will on Monday (9) tell the top court that it should overturn a ruling which declared unlawful a plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, one of prime minister Rishi Sunak's key policies. In June, London's Court of Appeal concluded that the scheme to send tens of thousands of…
A Sheffield man, widely dubbed 'Britain's worst landlord,' has been handed a ten-year ban on letting properties due to serious safety concerns. Nilendu Das, 55, created controversy last week when he claimed that his tenants "love" him despite the ban, reported MailOnline. The ban follows Sheffield city council's legal action…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer said on Sunday (8) his party's "single defining mission" if elected to govern would be to spur economic growth, expressing confidence he could partner with business to achieve that "very quickly". At the beginning of his opposition party's annual conference in Liverpool, probably the last before…
