- Thursday, April 25, 2024
Amid the uncertainty surrounding the release of Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man in India, the film got leaked online and the impatient audience resorted to watching its pirated version. This happened after Monkey Man was made available on 'Video on Demand' (VOD) platforms in the US on the occasion…
POLICE said Thursday (25) that they had arrested another man after five migrants, including a child, died this week trying to cross the Channel from France. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said it arrested an 18-year-old from Sudan late Wednesday (24) on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the…
A recent report has unveiled that the United Kingdom (UK) holds the unenviable position of having the highest rate of child alcohol consumption globally. According to the findings, more than half of British children have tried alcohol by the age of 13. Conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the…
Labour has announced its intention to nationalise the country's rail network within five years without compensating private operators, as part of its strategy to address issues within the railway system. Since the privatisation of Britain's train services in the 1990s, several operators have been brought back under public ownership due…
Two of the five military horses that rampaged through central London on Wednesday (24) are reaportedly in serious condition, according to media reports. The horses belong to the Household Cavalry, which acts as the British monarch's official bodyguard and takes part in ceremonial duties. The horses broke loose during a…
Kaur, an acclaimed short film that debuted last year on British streamers ITVX and BritBox, is set to be remade as a feature-length film. The short film stars Parvinder Shergill in the lead role. It bills itself as “the first film in history” to follow the story of a British…
Northern Ireland's former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, 61, is facing 11 historical sex offence charges, including one count of rape, as prosecutors revealed in court on Wednesday. Donaldson stepped down abruptly from his leadership position in the DUP last month after the party disclosed he was facing…
JASLEEN KAUR, a Glasgow-born Asian-origin artist is among the four shortlisted for Britain's prestigious Turner Prize. Her works reflect her life growing up in the Sikh community in Scotland. The 37-year-old has been nominated for her solo exhibition entitled ‘Alter Altar' at Tramway contemporary arts venue in Glasgow. Jasleen uses…
The Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist for 2024 represents a diverse range of narratives that delve into the complexities of women's lives, from intimate family dynamics to broader historical contexts. As one of the judges alongside Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Laura Dockrill, Indira Varma, and Anna Whitehouse, I am honoured to have…
Actors Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, and Pierce Brosnan are set to star in The Thursday Murder Club, with Chris Columbus attached to write and direct, reported Deadline. The film is based on British TV personality and producer Richard Osman's novel of the same name. Osman announced the news on his…
AN AID watchdog has raised concerns over questionable funding in some Indian projects – including a cosmetics company and social media platforms featuring content in support of Hamas’s attacks on Israel, the abuse of women and offers of sexual services. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) said it works…
NARGIS made a remarkable impact with winning performances in classic films. Her fearless approach introduced girl power into Indian cinema. The superstar actress helped take Bollywood global and was one half of an iconic lead pair with Raj Kapoor. After retiring from acting, the wife of legendary actor Sunil Dutt…
WITH overseas conflicts causing divisions between communities, Muslim leaders have urged people to remember Britain’s rich history of allowing the “freedom to practise faith and the appreciation of diversity”. At an event hosted by The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), panellist Taher Jiwanji, a civil engineer…
Seaside saunas were once just a distant dream, until 2018. Nowadays, strolling along a beach in one of the UK's main resorts might lead one to encounter a converted horse box offering head and steam as a refuge from gloomy skies and chilly winds. "Once you get down in the…
Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know, a short film by four students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has been selected for La Cinef Competitive section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film, directed by Chidanand S Naik, will compete with 17 other shorts for…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday (23) he would lift defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP a year by 2030, saying the British arms industry must be on a "war footing" when the world is at its most dangerous since the Cold War. Standing alongside NATO leader…
KING CHARLES III on Tuesday (23) unveiled a set of top royal honours, elevating senior medic Lord Ajay Kumar Kakkar and musician Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber as his new Knight Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Lord Kakkar, 59, has been chosen for one of the country's…
The British government announced on Monday, coinciding with Earth Day, that wet wipes containing plastic will soon be prohibited from sale in the UK. Environment Secretary Steve Barclay revealed that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will present the legislation for England to Parliament before the summer…
THE second book from the UK’s first independent publisher for British South Asian writers has found talent from around the world for a series of short stories and essays around food. After a great introduction to the central theme of food and cooking being a uniting force, the book offers…
Advancing Your Skills: Tips and Tricks When it comes to advancing any skill, there are several things you have to do. We recommend focusing on one set game so you can master it rather than divide your focus. If you’re not sure as to which game to pick, then checking…
LET'S be clear, Sangita Myska is a star journalist and broadcaster. Like me, but a while later, she was a BBC trainee. Unlike me, she successfully navigated the corporation’s shark-infested waters, becoming an immensely popular correspondent. During my 24-year BBC career, I had the privilege of often sitting in the…
In a bid to bolster the recruitment and retention of teachers in crucial subjects, the Department for Education of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced a new incentive scheme offering up to £6,000 to educators for vital subjects. From September, teachers specialising in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), construction, and…
“Success is when the boats have been stopped”. He has been short of political victories in the past six months, but prime minister Rishi Sunak was not content to hail the Safety of Rwanda bill finally getting through parliament without continuing to raise expectations about how much he will achieve…
BRITISH INDIAN entrepreneur Deep Valecha-owned Regent Group will acquire building services group, TClarke, for £90.56 million, subject to regulatory approvals, a statement said. Regent is currently an existing shareholder in TClarke, holding approximately 21.5 percent of the stake. Established in 1889, TClarke provided electricity to Windsor Castle and lit up…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak promised to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks as the upper house of parliament finally passed required legislation, delayed for weeks by attempts to alter the plan. Sunak said the government had booked commercial charter planes and trained staff to take…
Brighton council has approved plans for an annual multi-faith event to commemorate the role of Indian soldiers in the two world wars at the town's India Gate memorial from this October. The India Gate was presented to the people of Brighton by the “princes and people of India” as a…
Taylor Swift is popular amongst all generations of all nations. While, Swift recently dropped her new album, The Tortured Poets Department. Her album's 17th track gives a reference to a pub in London named 'The Black Dog.' The lyrics of the song called 'The Black Dog' are: "I am someone…
EUROPEAN stocks closed lower on Friday (19), but off their over one-month intraday low,as anxiety around escalating Middle East tensions seemed to ease, while French cosmetic giant L'Oreal logged its best day since early January after robust results. The continent-wide STOXX 600 closed 0.1 per cent lower, but notching its…
The UK has rejected an EU offer that would make it easier for Britons aged between 18 and 30 to study and work in its member countries in the wake of Brexit. The prime minister declined the European Commission’s surprise proposal of a youth mobility scheme. The government said Brexit…
Glastonbury’s Shangri-La has announced its 2024 line-ups and unveiled a brand-new stage, Arrivals, due to feature in the South East corner field for the first time this year. The new area will be programmed, designed, and built by an entirely South Asian team, as a collaboration between Dialled In, Going…
PRIME Minister's wife is due for a multimillion-pound payment as a dividend from her holding in Infosys, an IT services multinational co-founded by her father. While announcing its annual financial results, Infosys said it would pay a regular dividend of 20 rupees per share, plus an additional eight rupee-per-share special…
INDIA is pressing for an exemption from the UK's proposed carbon tax as negotiations progress towards finalising a free trade agreement, The Guardian reported on Friday (19). A British government official, briefed on the negotiations, revealed that India is seeking exemption from the proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), citing…
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai will guest star in the second season of writer-director Nida Manzoor’s We Are Lady Parts, a British musical comedy about an all-women Muslim punk rock band. BAFTA-winning English actress and comedian Meera Syal is also set to guest star in the much-anticipated second season…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak wants to eliminate the “sick-note culture” which he claims has become a lifestyle choice for some and was taking a heavy toll on the country's welfare bill. Sunak wants to strip GPs of their power to sign people off work and said that if the Tories…
Taylor Swift has often referenced London in her music, making it clear that the city holds a special place in her life. She has spent significant time in England, recording music and engaging in several romantic relationships based in the city. Here's a timeline of Taylor Swift's relationships in and…
Filmmaker Gurinder Chadha on Friday officially announced her new film Christmas Karma, a contemporary Bollywood musical, inspired by Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. The Big Bang Theory alum Kunal Nayyar will portray the lead role of Scrooge in the movie, which also features a star-studded cast of Eva Longoria,…
Prince Harry has officially declared the United States as his primary residence, marking a significant step in his separation from the British royal family. According to documents obtained by Page Six, the Duke of Sussex listed the US as his "new country/state usually resident," a notable change from his previous…
AN AID watchdog has raised concerns over questionable funding in some Indian projects – including a cosmetics company and social media platforms featuring content in support of Hamas’s attacks on Israel, the abuse of women and offers of sexual services. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) said it works…
Filmmaker Wes Anderson’s next film is going to get even more star-studded with the addition of talented actor Riz Ahmed to the cast. Currently in production in Berlin, this film has already garnered significant attention not only for its director but also for its ensemble cast that includes heavyweights like…
EIGHT people from India have been honoured in Time magazine's prestigious list of the 100 most influential people of 2024. World Bank president Ajay Banga, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Olympian wrestler Sakshi Malik and actor-director Dev Patel are among the Indians on the list. It also…
The United Kingdom is set to host its inaugural Muslim Film Festival, a groundbreaking event poised to celebrate the diverse narratives and talents within the Muslim community. Scheduled to take place from May 30th to June 2nd at the prestigious Odeon West End in London, this festival promises to showcase…
An “incompetent” UK Passport Office is letting down Britons stranded in Cyprus, a south Asian father of a new born surrogate baby has told Eastern Eye. Raj Gill, 49, from Essex, has told his MP he is being “held hostage” in Cyprus because the government has spent weeks sitting on a…
A LONG list of acclaimed plays has turned Rifco into one of the UK’s most successful touring theatre companies. Led admirably by talented artistic director Pravesh Kumar MBE, the pioneering London-based creative collective adds to its impressive roster with Frankie Goes To Bollywood, which premieres at Watford Palace Theatre next…
HAVING done a lot of musical theatre growing up, it was always going to be inevitable that Aiyana Bartlett would pursue a professional acting career. The young talent has used that natural flair for performance to take on challenges, such as playing two contrasting roles in new theatre production, Testmatch.…
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…
British foreign secretary David Cameron on Wednesday pushed for the G7 to introduce new "coordinated sanctions" against Iran following its weekend assault on Israel. Cameron's appeal came ahead of his meeting with foreign ministers from the Western-led group in Italy. On Tuesday, the United States announced it would soon implement…
SHIRIN WHEELER has talked to Eastern Eye about the book she has written about her father, Sir Charles Wheeler, who was once the BBC’s star foreign correspondent. He had served in Delhi, Berlin and Washington, before returning home to report on the multicultural Britain in which he always believed and…
CUTTING her promising career short for marriage means Babita perhaps doesn’t get the credit she deserves. An action-packed seven years saw the strikingly beautiful actress star in a number of hit films, become a fashion icon and show off her impressive talent. She was then brave enough to walk away…
PANKAJ TRIPATHI’S journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of India’s most sought-after actors is a remarkable story. He began his acting career with small supporting roles, and later went on to carve a niche for himself with his wide-ranging performances in major films, and popular streaming shows such as…
THE government has said that it continues to work towards striking an “ambitious” trade deal with India as a negotiating team from Delhi resumed talks with their British counterparts in London this week. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reiterated its stance of only signing a free trade agreement…
The United Kingdom's (UK) annual inflation rate decreased to a two-and-a-half year low of 3.2 per cent last month, a smaller decline than analysts had forecast, according to data released on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This outcome may complicate the economic outlook and influence the timing…
BRITISH trader Sanjay Shah and his Solo Capital hedge fund orchestrated the bulk of an alleged £1.44 billion fraud against Danish taxpayers, a lawyer for the Copenhagen tax authority told a London court on Monday (15). Laurence Rabinowitz said most of the 17 sets of co-defendants in the complex case…
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…
FOUR Asian men in their 20s, who were found guilty of the murder of a 23-year-old delivery driver, were on Friday (12) sentenced to a total of 122 years' imprisonment. British Indian Aurman Singh was pronounced dead at the scene when the local West Mercia Police attended reports of an…
Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light on Thursday scripted history by becoming the first Indian title in over 40 years to feature in the prestigious Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival, where it will vie for the top prize Palme d'Or. Iris Knobloch, president of the…
The Asian business community has always been a boon to the British economy. Indeed, when you look back over the years, there has long been a strong entrepreneurial spirit within the community. For example, in a 2007 report by the Mayor of London’s office, 13% of all businesses in the…
The price of a UK passport will go up on Thursday, the second hike in 14 months. This rise follows a 9 per cent rise in February 2023. Before that increase, passport fees had remained unchanged for five years. The cost of applying online to get a new or renewed…
Lindy Cameron has been appointed as the new British high commissioner to India. She will succeed incumbent Alex Ellis. "Lindy Cameron CB OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of India in succession to Alex Ellis CMG who will be transferring to another diplomatic service appointment," a…
A PASSION for highlighting the recipes and food traditions of Bangladesh has led Dina Begum towards becoming an author of two widely acclaimed cookbooks. The British culinary expert has followed up Brick Lane Cookbook with the recently published Made in Bangladesh, which has also received a great response. The new…
Eleven men and one woman, all said to be Indian nationals, have been arrested by immigration authorities in a series of raids in West Midlands on suspicion of violating visa conditions and working illegally. According to a statement from the Home Office on Wednesday, Immigration Enforcement officers descended on the…
SHAH RUKH KHAN took his first major steps towards global stardom by playing distinctly different villainous roles in quick succession in one year with Baazigar, Darr and Anjaam. Although it was the least successful of the three, Anjaam, released on April 22, 1994, perhaps doesn’t get the credit it deserves.…
A LEADING fertility doctor has urged more British Asians to sign-up as sperm and egg donors after a recent report found the birth rates after IVF (vitro fertilisation) were lower among black and Asian patients than their white counterparts. Research found that while the average IVF birth rate per embryo…
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…
The Rishi Sunak government on Thursday increased the income required to sponsor someone coming to the country on a family visa as part of the government's plan to cut immigration. From Thursday, the minimum income requirement needed to bring a family member to the UK will go up to £29,000…
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…
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…
King Charles III was presented with the inaugural set of banknotes featuring his portrait by representatives from the Bank of England at Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday. The 75-year-old monarch, currently undergoing cancer treatment, was photographed alongside Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Chief Cashier and Executive Director…
The Imperial College London quiz team, which included computational science graduate from Kolkata Sourajit Debnath, has emerged as the winner of the champion’s trophy of ‘University Challenge’. The win in Monday night’s final aired on BBC makes the London-based university one of the most successful in the show’s history, winning…
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…
ZUBER ISSA, one of the co-founders of EG Group, is poised to step down from his role as co-chief executive of the multinational petrol station empire, clearing the path for his brother, Mohsin Issa, to take the helm, reported The Times. The shift in leadership will result in Mohsin Issa,…
LONDON’S Wallace Collection will unveil its latest exhibition dedicated to Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who emerged as the undisputed king of Punjab by the turn of the 19th century. His rapid ascent to power in an era marked by instability following Afghan invasions heralded the birth of the Sikh…
In Pakistan, the tradition of adorning intricately decorated bangles has become synonymous with the Islamic Eid-al-Fitr festivities. These exquisite accessories, crafted with meticulous care, are not just ornaments but essential elements of cultural expression and celebration. Each bangle undergoes a journey involving numerous artisans, from the sweltering confines of factories…
A poll conducted by a counter-extremism think-tank shows that most British Muslims are sympathetic towards Palestinian extremist outift Hamas, The Telegraph reports. Only one in four British Muslims believe that Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel on Oct 7, according to a poll commissioned by the Henry Jackson Society…
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…
Social media was abuzz following reports of actress Alia Bhatt headlining Disney's Indian princess musical. However, filmmaker Gurinder Chadha has now dismissed the rumours. Taking to X, Gurinder wrote, "This is not true. Not sure where this started. The script is still in the works. Alia and I had a…
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…
Rishi Sunak, known for his love of cricket, has announced a £35 million investment plan to boost grassroots cricket facilities and enhance access to the sport in schools. The British Prime Minister shared his excitement about harnessing the "magic of cricket" to engage more young people in physical activity by…
Senior doctors in England have voted to accept an improved offer from the government on pay and conditions, easing some pressure on National Health Service (NHS) after months of disruptive strike action. The British Medical Association (BMA) trade union said on Friday about 83 per cent of senior doctors, also…
The act of burial dates back thousands of years, offering a final resting place for the departed. Even in the excavations of the Indus Valley civilisation, the burials used to take place, where a dead person was buried with pots of grains and necessary items that would help the person…
Academic freedom is on the decline globally, according to a recent index released in Paris, France. The Academic Freedom Index -- based on input from more than 2,300 experts in 179 countries, was published last month as part of a report on democracy by the V-Dem Institute at Sweden's University…
British billionaire Joe Lewis was fined $5 million (£4m) by a US judge for insider trading. The judge also ordered him to serve three years of probation. Lewis, founder of the Tavistock Group, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud. He admitted passing inside information on his portfolio companies to…
UK businesses will now have pay more to overseas workers with skilled worker visas as the new laws to cut migration and put British workers first comes to force. The general salary threshold for those arriving in the UK on a skilled worker visa has now increased by 48 per…
Dev Patel, known for his captivating performances in such films as Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, takes on a new role both in front of and behind the camera in his latest project Monkey Man. The film, which also features Sobhita Dhulipala and Sikander Kher in pivotal roles, explores themes of…
Japan's Imperial Family recently made its debut on Instagram, joining the ranks of other royal households that have long embraced social media platforms. Led by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, the family's presence on Instagram marks a significant departure from tradition for the world's oldest continuing monarchy. While Japan's Imperial…
Adrian Schiller, a seasoned actor whose career spanned more than three decades, passed away suddenly at the age of 60, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances on both stage and screen. Best known for his roles in popular television series such as The Last Kingdom and Victoria, Schiller's untimely…
WITNESSING "infinite demand" in the strong Indian aviation market, British carrier Virgin Atlantic said it will start an additional daily flight connecting Mumbai and London from October. The airline added that it will look to expand its codeshare partnership with IndiGo. Currently, Virgin Atlantic operates two daily flights to London…
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…
FROM Selfridges to motorway service stations, the number of prayer spaces in the UK has grown. More rooms to worship or contemplate for men and women have opened in shopping centres, universities and football stadiums across the country. Multi-faith prayer spaces include the fourth floor of Selfridges department store…
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…
US surgeon-general has raised concerns about the impact of excessive screen time on British teenagers, warning that it's hindering their ability to engage in face-to-face conversations, reported The Times. Vivek Murthy added that prolonged screen time will also have a significant impact on the mental well-being of teenagers. During a…
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,…
Charithra Chandran attended the premiere of her new rom-com How to Date Billy Walsh held at Conway Hall on Tuesday (April 2) in London. The 27-year-old actress was seen with her co-star Sebastian Croft. They were also joined at the premiere by other co-stars Daisy Jelley and Tim Downie. Tanner…
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…
British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are set to headline Searchlight's adaptation of The Roses, a modern retelling of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Under the direction of Jay Roach, known for his versatility in blending comedy and drama,…
THIS year’s Leeds Lieder Festival, taking place from April 13 to 21, is filled with musically rich shows across the city that includes the world premiere of Punjabi Proverbs at the Sikh Centre. The brand-new work by Cheryl Frances-Hoad features soprano Nina Kanter, baritone Oscar Castellino and pianist Keval Shah.…
In a noteworthy gesture of inclusivity and cultural appreciation, the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, James Cleverly MP, recently played host to a community Iftar at the iconic 10 Downing Street in Westminster. The event, held on Tuesday, March 27th, 2024, welcomed 30 distinguished Muslims from various corners of…
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…
LISTENING to music played on tape decks and vinyl as a youngster first connected Sonia Mehta to music. It enabled her to find safety, happiness, and a way to express emotions through the compositions and poetry of Indian film songs. Later, while pursuing her studies in London, she bonded with…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (2) spoke with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to demand a probe into a strike that killed charity workers in Gaza, including British citizens, a Downing Street spokesperson said. The UK also summoned Israel's ambassador in London to hear its "unequivocal condemnation" of the killing…
Indian film fans are in for a treat as the highly anticipated film Shankara gears up for release. Starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, and produced by Karan Johar, this period drama promises to be a compelling cinematic experience. Shankara narrates the relentless fight of a lawyer against…
House prices in the United Kingdom (UK) surged in March, marking the fastest annual increase since December 2022, according to a survey released on Tuesday. Nationwide Building Society, the UK's second-largest mortgage lender, reported that house prices were up by 1.6 per cent compared to the previous year, reaching an…
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…
A Muslim teacher in Birmingham, who suggested Islam was going to take over and claimed Westernised girls were “lunatics,” has been sacked. Aqib Khan was dismissed for allegedly "undermining fundamental British values," as determined by a professional misconduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency, reported The Telegraph. During his tenure…
Rishi Sunak government's expansion of the free childcare scheme aims to close the gap in support between the end of maternity leave and a child's third birthday. This is expected to benefit thousands of couples from having to choose between family and career. The prime minister said the new scheme…
Women from the Bangladeshi community in the United Kingdom (UK) are facing severe distress due to relentless harassment from a TikTok troll. Despite reaching out to authorities and social media platforms, many feel helpless as the abuse continues unchecked, a BBC investigation has found. The troll, Hasan Syed, inflicts psychological…
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…
“I want to create an India in the UK,” veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani's words efficiently sum up his dream of leaving a global footprint of the illustrious Indian cinema with his film studio in the UK. Touted as a "one-stop-shop", Bhagnani's Pooja Studios emerged as one of the most film-friendly…
King Charles attended the annual Easter church service in Windsor on Sunday, his first appearance at a public royal event since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February. Charles, 75, waved as he and Queen Camilla arrived by car at St George's Chapel, the resting place of his late mother…
YUVAN THAKKAR, a British Indian teenager diagnosed with cancer, says he is now able to enjoy the things he loves after life-changing treatment thanks to a fund set up by the NHS to make innovative therapies accessible to thousands of patients. According to NHS England, 16-year-old Thakkar from Watford near…
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…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has admitted it is a hard balance for him to strike as the father of two young children and holding the top job of leading the country through various crises. In a friendly podcast interview for The Times with former Tory leader William Hague, the 43-year-old…
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…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak is being criticised by Opposition parties for a surprise honours list which confers a knighthood on an Egyptian-born businessman who is a major donor to the Conservative Party. The list, announced late on Thursday just before the long Easter weekend, honours Mohamed Mansour, a senior treasurer…
Oscar winner Olivia Colman has announced that she won't be returning for the third season of Netflix's comedy-drama show Heartstopper. Featuring Kit Connor and Joe Locke in lead roles, the British series is written and created by Alice Oseman, and based on her webcomic and graphic novel of the same…
Former sub-postmasters have called for a police investigation following a BBC report that the Post Office knew about the flaws in Horizon IT system, but continued to argue against sub-postmasters in the court. A draft report accessed by the BBC shows that in 2017 the Post Office was shown evidence…
Technology is grasping and overtaking in all fields, be it industry or everyday life. But with the ease of work, certain disadvantages are surfacing because of the increase in usage of technology. In recent years, a concerning trend has emerged, a significant rise in mental health issues among teenagers, particularly…
CANCER screening services must be more culturally competent and sensitive to the needs of south Asians - especially women, a leading doctor has told Eastern Eye. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the first person of colour to lead the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association (BMA), said south Asian women were less…
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 people who have watched the Bollywood film Swatantra Veer Savarkar must have seen the Kala Pani punishment given to all the prisoners. The prisoners are held captive at Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located in the South-east sea of India. This Cellular jail not only has…
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…
THE actress Shelley King, best known for playing Yasmeen Nazir in Coronation Street and Jay Harper in Angels, has talked to Eastern Eye about a children’s street charity in Kolkata which will be marking its 25th anniversary on November 9, 2024. King, who herself lived in Kolkata till the age…
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…
THE recent South Asian Sounds festival at the Southbank Centre in London included a stunning concert headlined by the superb Indian singer Pratibha Singh Baghel. The sensational talent teamed up with the brilliant British act Chineke! Orchestra and top Indian musicians for a grand, sold-out concert at the Royal Festival…
NIKESH MEHTA OBE has been appointed as British high commissioner to Singapore, an official statement announced on Wednesday (27). He will assume charge in July. He will succeed Kara Owen CMG who was transferred to another diplomatic service, the statement added. Currently, Mehta is director for policy and requirements at…
WHEN Aditi Mangaldas headlines a show, it is certain to be dynamically, artistically and creatively different from anything that has come before. She continues that path-breaking journey with the new production Mehek, which embarks on a hotly anticipated UK tour in April. The Indian Kathak legend has teamed up with…
LEGENDARY singer Asha Bhosle sparked an intriguing debate when she disclosed her iconic elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had turned down over a million dollars to sing at a wedding. Speaking on a dance reality show, Bhosle said, “She was offered one million dollars to sing at a wedding. They said,…
Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early on Tuesday after a container ship smashed into a pylon, with the six people missing presumed dead after falling into the frigid water below. Authorities stopped people from using the bridge after the ship sent out a mayday call, which Maryland's governor said…
Public satisfaction with the NHS has plunged to a historic low with long waiting periods and staff shortages cited as main concerns, according to the British Social Attitudes survey. Just 24 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the NHS in 2023, and this is five percentage points…
Actress, producer, and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt is set to host her first 'Hope Gala' in London. As per a source close to the actress' team, Alia will host Hope Gala on March 28 in partnership with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. This is…
OAKNORTH BANK has partnered with HSBC to provide a £232 million club loan to Splendid Hospitality Group to support its future expansion plans, a statement said. Founded three decades ago, Splendid Hospitality Group is one of the UK’s fastest growing privately-owned hotel groups, with a portfolio of 24 hotels from…
In recent developments concerning the health of members of the UK royal family, ancient predictions by the renowned 15th-century prophet Nostradamus have resurfaced, sparking intrigue and speculation about the monarchy's future. Nostradamus, known for his eerily accurate forecasts, had previously predicted significant historical events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth…
ADEEBA MALIK has been appointed as the first Asian female High Sheriff for West Yorkshire, according to a statement released on Tuesday (26). She took oath at Leeds High Court on Monday (25) in a formal ceremony presided by High Court Judge Sir Nicholas Hilliard, the statement added. Professor Malik’s…
PAKISTAN foreign minister Ishaq Dar held telephonic talks with his British counterpart David Cameron on Monday (25) and stressed the need for early resumption of flights of Pakistan's national carrier to the United Kingdom. The UK and several other countries suspended Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flights in 2020 due to…
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…
Shamima Begum, who travelled to Syria eight years ago to support IS group, has lost the initial bid to challenge the removal of her British citizenship at the Supreme Court. The government stripped Begum's citizenship on national security grounds in 2019, leaving her stateless. Last year, she lost her first…
Dev Patel, who made his acting debut with Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, is presently busy promoting his directorial debut Monkey Man, which had its world premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. Speaking at SXSW, the 33-year-old actor said that his film reflects contemporary issues in India…
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…
CATHERINE, the Princess of Wales, and her husband, Prince William, have been "enormously touched" by the messages of support received following her shock announcement that she is being treated for cancer, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said on Saturday. Catherine said on Friday she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests done…
William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, has captivated audiences for centuries. But what about his sister, Joan? Largely unknown, her story remained shrouded in mystery—until now. A remarkable discovery by Professor Matthew Steggle of the University of Bristol sheds new light on Joan Shakespeare. Through a meticulous analysis of digital…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak waded into a row over a new England football shirt designed by Nike that changes the colours of the St George's Cross, saying "we shouldn't mess" with national flags. The US sportswear giant altered the appearance of the Cross -- the flag of England -- using…
AFTER weeks of wild speculation, the country was on Saturday (23) digesting the shock news that the Princess of Wales has cancer, with many praising her courage and others criticising those who spread conspiracies. The Princess revealed the news on Friday (22) in a highly personal video, which came just…
PRINCESS OF WALES said on Friday (22) she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests taken after she had major abdominal surgery in January revealed that cancer had been present. The Princess, 42-year-old wife of heir to the throne Prince William, called the cancer discovery a "huge shock". The news comes…
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…
Inequality in India has skyrocketed since the early 2000s and the income and wealth share of the top one per cent is among the highest in the world, says a study by the Paris-based World Inequality Lab. The paper titled 'Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) unveiled the nominations for their 2024 Television Awards on Wednesday. Leading the pack are The Crown with 8 nominations and Black Mirror with 7 nominations. Both dramas are up for the prestigious "Best Drama Series" award, alongside Happy Valley, Slow Horses,…
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…
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…
BRITISH Asian donors made significant contributions to political parties in what is shaping up to be the highest-spending general election contest expected to be held later this year. Political parties accepted £93 million in donations last year, nearly double the £52m from the previous year, according to the Electoral Commission…
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…
RANDEEP HOODA’S willingness to take on any acting challenge has allowed him to portray a wide range of captivating roles throughout his career. This week, the acclaimed Indian actor adds another intriguing character to his repertoire with the release of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. The period epic sees Hooda take on…
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…
Five short films from India, Spain, the Philippines, the UK, and the US showcasing LGBTQIA+ narratives that resonate with resilience and authenticity are being screened in 10 cities across India. British Council in partnership with British BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival launched the 10th edition of the 'Five Films…
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…
THE TV presenter and journalist, Geeta Pendse, chaired the opening sessions of the London Book Fair (LBF) which analysed the issue of diversity in the publishing world. The LBF – held over three days last week at Kensington Olympia – also looked at what might constitute enjoyable literature for ethnic…
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…
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is reportedly in talks to become the next actor to portray the iconic character James Bond. The 33-year-old British star, known for his roles in Kick-Ass and Nowhere Boy, has been rumoured for the role since Daniel Craig's departure from the franchise. According to reports, Eon Productions, responsible…
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…
Nitin Sawhney and Arooj Aftab are among the leading South Asian talents at this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival. The popular British festival returns to Somerset’s Worthy Farm from June 26-30. Nitin, an award-winning musician, producer, and composer, will be one of the performers for the West Holts Stage. Singer-songwriter, producer,…
THE government’s controversial Safety of Rwanda Bill returns to the House of Commons this week, where MPs will debate amendments proposed by the Lords. Facing the conundrum of what to do with the Bill – which overrules the UK Supreme Court to deem Rwanda a safe place to which asylum seekers…
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…
Thousands gathered to catch a glimpse of Ed Sheeran, who set the stage on fire with his electrifying concert in Mumbai, which also saw the British music sensation perform with Indian artists Diljit Dosanjh and Armaan Malik. Sheeran, who arrived in India on March 12 as part of the Indian…
THE son of a British Indian Post Office scandal victim has demanded compensation for the impact his father's wrongful convictions and financial ruin had on his life. Varchas Patel's father, Vipin, faced wrongful prosecution for discrepancies exceeding £75,000 at his branch between 2010 and 2011. Now, Varchas, along with other…
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…
Black and Asian women are facing significant challenges throughout their financial journey, from employment opportunities to retirement savings, says a study by pension provider Scottish Widows. In a research conducted online by YouGov, it was found that nearly one in three black women (30 per cent) are most likely to…
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…
Nina Wadia is set to star in the world premiere of NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, a new British musical featuring iconic hits from the NOW music brand. Directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, the show will celebrate 40 years of NOW music with chart-topping hits and…
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…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday ruled out calling an election on May 2, hinting the country was on course for a late 2024 ballot. Mounting speculation at the Westminster had suggested Sunak could call the general election on the same day as local polls in early May. However,…
With arms wide open and a dimpled smile flashing brightly, superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been leaving the audience in awe with his iconic signature pose for over three decades now. From fans to members of showbiz, people never leave a chance to imitate his romantic pose especially when they…
ANTI-MUSLIM hate incidents have increased threefold in the UK since Hamas attack on Israel last year, a charity has found. Tell Mama has documented 2,247 anti-Muslim hate incidents, 1,001 offline and 1,246 online, in the four months between 7 October and 7 March. There were 721 incidents, 401 offline and…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has unveiled its nominees for the Memorable TV Moment Award, a category that celebrates standout scenes from television across all genres. Among the nominees are moments from acclaimed shows like Succession, Happy Valley, and Doctor Who, as well as unexpected highlights…
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 --…
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…
It may sound weird as you read further but a woman from Berlin, Germany has been talking to her deceased mother through the help of Artificial Intelligence. Sirine Malas experienced the profound loss of her mother to kidney failure in 2018. She was separated from her mother in 2015 when…
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…
BRITISH Asian music veteran Atma Ahir has been lighting up the bhangra scene ever since the early 1990s. His interesting career has seen him go from founding the award-winning act Geet The Mega Band to carving out a solo career. The singer recently released his catchy Punjabi track, Morni, written…
AFTER a short break, popular singer Shide Boss has made a welcome return with his new single, Swing My Way – Sohniye. The fabulous fusion track has received a positive response and adds to his impressive number of hit songs. With an action-packed year ahead, filled with more top tracks…
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…
LEGENDARY actor Shashi Kapoor left behind a remarkable body of work that ranged from commercial Hindi cinema entertainers to Englishlanguage projects that opened the doors for Bollywood stars in international projects. He broke creative ground, tackled taboos and added a new dimension to big screen entertainers. This resulted in a…
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…
British singer Ed Sheeran is in India and ahead of his Mumbai gig, he met Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana on Tuesday. Interestingly, Ayushmann made Ed Sheeran taste his mother's homemade pinni. Talking about his meeting with the 'Perfect' hitmaker, Ayushmann said, "I have admired Ed Sheeran as an artiste for…
LEADING public and private sector organisations need to do more attract ethnic minorities to their boardrooms, Kalpesh Solanki, managing director at Asian Media Group (AMG), told attendees at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards. In December 2023, only 44 per cent of the UK’s top 50 largest private companies had…
BRITISH music hero Channi Singh has been entertaining audiences for nearly 50 years as a singer, songwriter and composer. The frontman of the iconic bhangra group, Alaap, has achieved many milestones in his career, including countless hit songs, game-changing albums and pathbreaking collaborations with legends such as Asha Bhosle. …
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…
BRITISH dance maestro Aakash Odedra consistently leads boundary-breaking projects and Mehek adds to his impressive repertoire. He has teamed up with Indian kathak legend Aditi Mangaldas in this magnificent dance drama that narrates the love story of an older woman and a younger man. The world-renowned performers will embark on…
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…
Akshata Murty, the wife of British prime minister Rishi Sunak, has lauded her mother Sudha Murthy as a prominent female role model in business. During an International Women's Day celebration at Downing Street, Akshata emphasised the significance of mentors for women and girls in the business world. As part of…
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…
ONE OF THE UK's leading construction materials firm, Breedon Group, has acquired US-based BMC Enterprises for £238.1 million to bolster its presence in the American market. This acquisition marks Breedon's first entry into the US building materials industry. British Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia serves as the non-executive chairman of Breedon,…
CRICKET SCOTLAND has plunged into fresh crisis after a damning independent report revealed serious concerns around the sports body's treatment of women and girls who "face a toxic environment and high degree of prejudice". The British media reported that The McKinney Report, an independent neutral assessment carried out by a…
INDIA not only shaped the birth of the Commonwealth, but will also continue to play a vital role in shaping its work, the organisation’s secretary general, Baroness Patricia Scotland, said on Monday (11) on the occasion of Commonwealth Day. Baroness Scotland, who was scheduled to visit India later this week,…
Indian prime minister Modi inaugurated the ₹1200 crore Gandhi Ashram Memorial masterplan on the anniversary of the historic Dandi Yatra in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. During the event, he stressed the significance of preserving the country's heritage, stating that a nation failing to cherish its heritage jeopardises its future. "The Sabarmati Ashram…
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…
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt last week delivered a well-measured performance in the House of Commons, despite rowdy parliamentary theatrics from the opposition benches. With little fiscal room for manoeuvre, Hunt announced a plethora of measures impacting key policy areas including taxation, public debt and spending, housing, transport and energy. The package…
Director Christopher Nolan's biopic film Oppenheimer swept the Oscars 2024 with seven wins including Best Director, Best Film, and Best Leading Actor awards. The film took home a total of seven awards during the gala night. Christopher Nolan won Best Director, Cillian Murphy won Best Actor and Robert Downey Jr.…
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…
We are often fascinated when we spot a person of colour in British entertainment, be it cinema, series or any other source of entertainment. On this International Women's Day, we made a list of women who have brought colours to the British entertainment sector and have not only won the…
On the occasion of International Women's Day, we honour the women who have been striving for their rights and equality since the discrimination began. But do you know, that some women have marked history in the British Colonial era, although that time they were away from the spotlight? The British…
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…
The UK parliament's Business and Trade Committee has listed a lot of shortcomings in the compensation plan for the postmasters wrongly prosecuted in the infamous Post Office Horizon IT scandal, according to media reports. In its report issued on Thursday (7), the committee said the post office was not fit…
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…
THE enduring power of Hanif Kureishi’s writing was showcased by the successful stage adaptation of his brilliantly written 1985 film, My Beautiful Launderette. Staged in 2019 at The Curve in Leicester, the play proved its continued relevance in contemporary times. A new version of the play returned to the same…
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…
The Award-winning British Indian musician Nitin Sawhney, who had to withdraw from Australia’s premier world music festival WOMADelaide due to a medical emergency, has revealed that he ‘had a heart attack’ a few days ago. Known for musical scores in over 70 films, including for a screen adaptation of Salman…
The undersea cable network in the Red Sea is facing disruptions with cables getting cut and this has affected data traffic flow between Asia and Europe, BBC reports. Hong Kong-based HGC Global Communications said four of the 15 cables were recently severed and it has taken measures to reroute the…
TIME is money”, but what does the expression really mean, especially to British Asians? This is the question finance guru Charles Crowson is eminently qualified to answer. Speaking to Eastern Eye, the author of Jam Tomorrow? Why Time Really Matters In Economics recalled the Indian boys who had studied with…
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…
THE BBC has announced a “truly diverse” cast for Virdee, a six-part television series adapted from AA Dhand’s crime novel, City of Sinners. Having a mainly Asian cast playing both heroes and villains is regarded as being a groundbreaking first for British TV. The tale has a characteristically grim opening:…
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.…
YOUNG Asian girls can be fun, sassy, adventurous and intelligent and should be celebrated, journalist and author Babita Sharma said, ahead of her new children’s book being published next week. Priya Mistry and the Paw Prints Puzzle tells the story of a young girl who loves to solve mysteries, such…
Emily Dickinson, often regarded as the "patron saint of the shy," is entrenched in a cultural myth that paints her as a reclusive figure, clad in white, who wrote poetry in seclusion. However, recent connections between Dickinson and pop sensation Taylor Swift, claiming them to be sixth cousins, three times…
FORMER home secretary Dame Priti Patel has called for an “acceleration” in reforms to support those affected by violence against women in memory of the late Sarah Everard and other women. Findings of an inquiry into the rape and murder of Everard by a British police officer three years ago…
A senior judge who spared jail terms for three women protesters, accused of displaying pro-Hamas images during a pro-Palestinian march in London, will now be investigated over his alleged bias, The Times reports. Heba Alhayek (29), Pauline Ankunda (26), and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo (27) were found guilty of a terror…
VISITORS to the Bank of England’s “The Future of Money” exhibition got their first glimpse of banknotes bearing King Charles’ image last week. The four new banknotes with the King Charles’ portrait – £5, £10, £20 and £50 – went on display at the central bank’s in-house museum at its…
Alia Bhatt is headlining a film in the YRF spy universe, filming for which will begin later this year, Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani said on Tuesday. The YRF Spy Universe is an ambitious franchise that will see characters from different films cross paths. Tiger starring Salman Khan, War…
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…
A BRITISH Indian spy working with the UK's foreign intelligence service said the agency wants to recruit more people from black and Asian backgrounds. In a rare interview to BBC Radio 1Xtra, the MI6 director of global intelligence, identified only as Jay, said the service sought individuals with the right…
Asian-origin executives with years of experience in the field of law and finance have been appointed to the board of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a non-ministerial department responsible for strengthening business competition and curbing anti-competitive practices. Dharmash Mistry, a venture capitalist specialising in technology, new business models,…
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…
Charithra Chandran, who rose to fame with her role in Bridgerton, and Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto are among the narrators who lend their voices to She Creates Change, a gender equality film series launched on International Women's Day. Warner Bros. Discovery and Room to Read have partnered on She…
Multiculturalism in the United Kingdom continues to play such a positive and important role throughout British society – from business and entrepreneurship to politics and culture. Our country’s Prime Minister is the first British Asian prime minister, whilst others are shaping the business landscape by infusing their unique perspectives, innovation…
THE British Asian Trust has extended help for acid and burn violence survivors in Bangladesh, addressing a critical shortage of mental health services, the UK-based charity said in a statement. There are around 4,000 acid attack survivors in Bangladesh, nearly two-thirds of them are women. According to the charity, emotional…
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…
In the heart of Greater Manchester, a hidden gem beckons the taste buds of locals and curious visitors alike – the legendary 'Rice and Three' cafes. Nestled in the Northern Quarter, these unassuming eateries offer a uniquely Mancunian twist to south Asian cuisine. In the 1980s, the concept of 'Rice…
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…
Olly Alexander, the artist, has officially released the music video of the latest single, Dizzy, set to represent the United Kingdom at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, in May. The music video for Dizzy can be enjoyed on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel, featuring captivating…
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…
British house prices in February rose in annual terms for the first time in more than a year, mortgage lender Nationwide Building Society said on Friday, the latest sign of a recovery in the housing market after a dip in mortgage costs. House prices were 1.2 per cent higher than…
A public inquiry into a British police officer whose rape and murder of a woman horrified the nation concluded on Thursday (29) that without a sweeping overhaul of failed vetting procedures, there was nothing to stop another similar case arising. Wayne Couzens, 51, whose job was to guard diplomatic premises…
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…
Ultra-processed foods (UPF) have been identified as a major contributor to a range of harmful health effects, according to the world's most extensive review of its kind. The study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), revealed a direct link between UPF consumption and 32 adverse health outcomes, including an…
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…
The UK's opposition Labour Party has launched a new diaspora outreach organisation to connect with British Indians and also to strengthen its interactions with India in a year when both countries are preparing for general elections. The party's shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, marked the launch of “Labour Indians” in…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has denounced the ongoing controversy surrounding Islamophobia within the Tory party as "hysteria," urging prime minister Rishi Sunak to address Islamist extremism promptly, reported The Telegraph. Braverman believes stripping Lee Anderson, the former Tory party deputy chairman, of his party privileges was an overreaction to…
North London's vibrant kebab scene took centre stage at the recent 12th British Kebab Awards, held at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel on February 27. Sponsored by Just Eat, the prestigious event recognized outstanding contributions to the UK's kebab industry, with notable winners hailing from various corners of North London.…
Nora Fatehi, who is known for her work in Bollywood, has signed a global deal with Warner Music Group (WMG), her first agreement with a major global record company. The partnership aims to elevate Nora’s international music career, collaborating with teams worldwide to broaden her fanbase through various projects and…
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…
PLAYING Winston Churchill in a play at the National Theatre is another step towards inclusivity in the arts, actor Tony Jayawardena told Eastern Eye. The 45-year-old will be seen playing the iconic former British prime minister in the play, Nye, which is based on the life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan…
A DISTINGUISHED career on stage, television and cinema has enabled Bhasker Patel to play a wide variety of roles. This has ranged from being a series regular in the iconic soap, Emmerdale, to working with big Hollywood names. Despite achieving so much, including breaking ground for British Asian actors, the…
THE government has announced significant enhancements to the interim payment scheme that provides compensation to victims of the Post Office scandal. These measures aim to address the injustices faced by sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who were wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 due to a faulty accounting software known as Horizon,…
THE 2019 stage adaptation of writer Hanif Kureishi’s iconic 1985 film, My Beautiful Laundrette, was so successful that it returned for another UK tour, beginning at Curve Theatre in Leicester, where it was originally produced. Set against a backdrop of nationalism, racial tensions and political turmoil of the 1980s, the…
QUOTES for car insurance were found to be higher in areas in England with large ethnic minority populations, according to an investigation by the BBC. The details of drivers were used to get thousands of quotes in different locations. However, when the driver’s address corresponded with an address with a…
THE mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has told Eastern Eye he believes communities will come together to stand up against “politics of extremism, division and blame”. His comments came amid an escalating row after Lee Anderson, the former deputy chairman of the Conservative party, last Saturday (24) claimed “Islamists had…
MIKE ALLBUT was a broadcasting pioneer who played a major role in the transition of Asian programmes on BBC local radio in England from targeting first generation immigrant communities to reaching out to young British Asians. Born in Scotland and raised in Suffolk, Allbut moved to Leicester in the 1970s…
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…
In a post that made netizens sad, a British woman named Daniella T was detected with Cholangiocarcinoma cancer (bile duct cancer) and before she succumbed to it, she wrote a post on her social media. She published a heartfelt message on LinkedIn which garnered over 32,000 likes. Daniella T, in…
THE families of British Indian teenager Grace O'Malley Kumar and her friend Barnaby Webber, who were stabbed to death near their university in Nottingham last year, have accused the police of “ongoing mismanagement” in their handling of the case. Both the Kumar and Webber families issued a joint statement, reported…
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…
The UK’s Royal Mint on Monday unveiled a new collectible coin celebrating British singer-songwriter George Michael, famous as a member of the group WHAM! and for hit singles such as ‘Last Christmas’. The new coin features Michael’s signature look and music from his debut solo album and second single ‘Faith’.…
A UK-based professor of Asian origin was denied entry by the immigration authorities at Bangalore airport in India on Friday (23) despite being an invitee for a function organised by the Karnataka state, according to multiple reports. Nitasha Kaul, who teaches at the University of Westminster, recounted her ordeal on…
British prime minister Rishi Sunak denied on Monday that his governing party has Islamophobic tendencies, saying comments by Conservative lawmaker Lee Anderson were unacceptable and that was why he had been suspended. Anderson said on Friday the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was under the control of Islamists in widely…
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…
An Asian-origin Labour party MP has said receiving death threats seems to have become "a norm" for her, reports BBC. While sharing her experience on a BBC programme, Preet Gill, who represents Birmingham Edgbaston, said her job worried her "in a way I've never been worried before". This comes in…
A 25-year-old British Indian doctor, who combined his passion for music with his medical career by forming a band with fellow healthcare professionals, has kicked off his first nationwide tour in the UK with the launch show in London recently proving a sell-out. Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya started the indie-rock…
The BBC has confirmed a spin-off series for its hit legal drama, The Split, nearly two years since the series came to a close with its third season in 2022. Starring Nicola Walker, The Split delved into the intricate world of family law, focusing on the lives and relationships of…
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…
A special constable has lost his job for watching footage of two students in their final moments after a brutal attack in Nottingham. Friends Grace O'Malley Kumar and Barnaby Webber lost their lives after a night out in June last year. The special constable viewed the footage on his police…
Filmmaker Onir’s movie Pine Cone is set to be screened at the 38th British Film Institute Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival next month. The director said he is honored to have his movie selected for the festival, which is known as one of the world's most significant queer film events. It…
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…
Most British household energy bills will fall from April after regulator Ofgem cut its domestic price cap by 12.3 per cent to its lowest level in more than two years. The drop, prompted by lower wholesale energy prices, will provide some respite for households struggling to contend with a cost…
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…
India-born media executive Dr Samir Shah was on Thursday confirmed as the new BBC chairman after his selection cleared the stages of scrutiny to be approved by King Charles III this week. Shah, who has worked in UK broadcasting for over 40 years, was picked as the government's preferred candidate…
INDIA said Thursday (22) they are primed for whatever the pitch has in store for the fourth Test but expect it to favour spinners, after England captain Ben Stokes said he "had never seen anything like" the Ranchi wicket. Rohit Sharma's hosts are looking to seal the series in 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…
VICTIMS of racism are being attacked for speaking out and highlighting the problem, former chief crown prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, has told Eastern Eye. His comments come as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has asked Afzal to head a panel to investigate its internal culture. The 61-year-old is no stranger…
Akshata Murty, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s wife, wore a suit designed by Lady Cameron at an event on the final day of London Fashion Week in a nod to one of her predecessors in Downing Street. The event was a lunch at Downing Street, which saw the presence of 20…
FORMER chancellor Sajid Javid was honoured with a knighthood by the Prince of Wales for his contribution to politics and public service on Wednesday (21). Javid described his knighthood as a “tremendous honour” after he was recognised for his achievements in the New Year’s Honours List announced in last December,…
Prime Video has announced the new release date for its much-awaited Original British high school romantic comedy film How To Date Billy Walsh, starring Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran and Heartstopper's Sebastian Croft. Originally meant to stream on the platform back in September 2023, the film will now arrive on 5th April…
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…
His was the voice that ruled the airwaves for decades and will forever echo through the winding roads of nostalgia. Ameen Sayani, who invited millions each week to tune into Binaca Geetmala, was India’s radio man for the ages - and will continue to be. Sayani, who died in Mumbai…
THE Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will be delighted to learn that Bangladeshi women in the East End of London are taking up gardening and growing vegetables and herbs that remind them of the green fields of Sylhet in the subcontinent. The RHS, which is working hard to increase diversity both…
THE government approached the Court of Appeal over the “unduly lenient” sentence imposed on a 32-year-old man guilty of killing a British Indian teenage student, her friend and a school caretaker in Nottingham last year. Valdo Calocane was sentenced to a mental health order to be detained in a high-security…
RESEARCHERS have called for more equitable access to drug treatment and support for people in minority ethnic groups after a study found they faced barriers such as stigma and lack of culturally competent services or ones they have no faith in them. Funded by the Department of Health and Social…
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…
RISING British music star Kanda has garnered attention with top tracks like Latino Heat, his collaboration with Panjabi MC, and the poignant IHGYN. The singer-songwriter from Coventry has sustained that momentum with the release of his latest song, Unanswered Questions, which is a slower, emotionfilled number inspired by a break-up.…
LIKE an athlete, who puts in maximum effort and can barely walk after a race, Chand Ali Khan gave it his all in a high-intensity performance that lasted more than two hours without a break. The young British singer, backed by an equally hardworking group, enthralled a sell-out audience at…
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…
British actor Olivia Colman, reknowed for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, has a surprising confession: she loves a good swear word. As long as it’s used responsibly, of course. This revelation comes just in time for her latest film, Wicked Little Letters, a comedic whoudnit brimming with…
ASIAN entrepreneur Ranjit Boparan’s 2 Sisters Food Group Limited is among 500 UK companies who failed to pay their employees the minimum wage. The Department of Business and Trade on Tuesday (20) named 524 employers - that include some high street names - who have been ordered to repay workers…
In a decisive move to enhance the learning atmosphere in classrooms, prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools across England. Through a video message shared on the X platform, Sunak underscored the disruptive influence of mobile phones on education, advocating for a more focused…
A BAFTA official said they are taking the security breach "very seriously" which saw a prankster crash the award stage while the Oppenheimer team was accepting their award. On Sunday, a prankster walked up to the stage and stood behind filmmaker Christopher Nolan and other Oppenheimer team members as they…
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…
While the world remembers the colossal battles and heroes of World War II, another war unfolded far from the spotlight, claiming millions of lives: the Bengal Famine of 1943. In a powerful new documentary series, Three Million, BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service bring to light the devastating…
British supermodel Naomi Campbell and the former CEO of PrettyLittleThing Umar Kamani are planning on opening a talent management firm in Dubai. Confirming the same, Kamani said, “Myself and Naomi are in the process now of starting a talent management company. We feel there is an opportunity to bridge some…
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…
Sohm Kapila, an internationally renowned actress (Aquaman 2, Never Have I Ever, Greys Anatomy, Small Town Big Story), born in India and raised in Nottingham, is back in the Midlands from her home of Los Angeles and spoke to Eastern Eye about her latest role on stage as Rekha in…
During their recent visit to Vancouver, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle experienced a fusion of British and Canadian cultures by dining at the esteemed Vij's restaurant, marking a memorable moment during their visit to the city last week. The restaurant, famous for its modern Indian cuisine, took to Instagram on…
Prince William, who attended the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony on Sunday, said that he is a "big fan" of Christopher Nolan and he liked Oppenheimer. "I am a big fan of Christopher Nolan so I'll be pleased if he wins ... I loved Oppenheimer," Prince William said. He made…
Director Christopher Nolan's biopic film Oppenheimer dominated the BAFTA Film Awards 2024 with seven wins including Best Director, Best Film, and Best Leading Actor awards. The ceremony was held on Sunday at London's Royal Festival Hall. Poor Things had a rich showing with five BAFTAs including Leading Actress for Emma…
Actress Deepika Padukone, who presented an award at the 77th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), ditched the usual award season gown look for a glittering saree. The actress presented filmmaker Jonathan Glazer with the Bafta for the film not in the English language category at a ceremony here on Sunday.…
AN unnamed British policeman underwent a misconduct hearing after it emerged that he had shared details of injuries via WhatsApp following a stabbing attack on a British Indian teenager and her friend in Nottingham last year. According to a report in The Sun newspaper on Monday (19), a misconduct hearing…
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,…
The Apprentice contestant, Dr Asif Munaf, was booted out from the show on Thursday night after failing to impress industry experts in the virtual escape room challenge. This followed allegations of antisemitism that emerged during the filming of the show. The BBC subsequently refused to allow the contestant to appear…
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…
In the face of two significant defeats that cast a shadow over his leadership before the upcoming general election, prime minister Rishi Sunak pointed to "low voter turnout" on Friday (16) as the reason for the Labour Party's success in overturning substantial Tory majorities to win the by-elections in England.…
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…
ACCESS to GPs in England is worse in areas where more ethnic minorities live, according to a recent analysis by The Guardian. The highest proportion of ethnic minority neighbourhoods have significantly fewer GPs per 100,000 patients compared to areas with a predominantly white British population, the report said. Experts attribute…
THE first Muslim mayor of Salisbury, Atiqul Hoque, has been expelled from the Tory party after accusations of making antisemitic remarks on social media. The decision came following a thorough investigation by Tory officials in response to a formal complaint, media reports said. While specific details of the remarks remain…
While the UK government has been tightening immigration norms, the number of international students applying to undergraduate courses in British universities has gone up for the second consecutive year, according to media reports. The latest data shows 115,730 students from outside the UK applied to start in September, up from…
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…
BRITISH Bangladeshis have told Eastern Eye of the “trauma” they face living in cramped housing, as data shows that more people from this community live in social housing compared to other south Asian communities. British Asians were overall least likely to live in social housing, but there were significant variations…
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…
PAKISTAN’S general election last Thursday (8) produced a surprise result. In the 266 seats contested in the National Assembly, independent candidates linked to Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf have won 101 seats. They are comfortably ahead of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif), which took 75 seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party of…
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…
BALANCING creativity with his roles as a secondary school science teacher and parent, Alom Shaha was inspired to write his new children’s picture book, How to Find a Rainbow. The Bangladesh-born British Asian writer, who was raised in London, has crafted a captivating tale set in the Himalayan mountains, blending…
A British Pakistani girl, studying for 28 A-levels, has credited her mother with instilling in her a 'deep passion' for learning and books. Mahnoor Cheema, 17, from Slough, with an IQ as high as Einstein’s, is currently undertaking 28 A-levels after completing 34 GCSEs. She is studying four A-levels at…
A severely depleted India will do everything they can to try and deny England captain Ben Stokes a victory in his 100th test when the teams clash in the third match of the five-test series in Rajkot on Thursday (15). India have not lost a test series on home soil…
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…
IN the dynamic landscape of international relations, the influence of non-state actors, including transnational religious organisations, plays a crucial role in shaping a nation’s global standing. India, with its rich tapestry of religious diversity, has witnessed the emergence and growth of various such organisations that contribute significantly to the country’s…
MARIA SOBOLEWSKA, a professor of political science at the University of Manchester, told Eastern Eye Muslim voters’ discontent with the Labour Party would more likely be felt in by-elections rather than the general election. She said although the Israel-Gaza situation was important to Muslim voters, during a general election, it…
INDIANS are becoming victims of frequent muggings in London, especially for Rolex watches in Mayfair, with police allegedly doing little to respond to their appeals for help. The traumatic experience of senior lawyer Vijay Goel, founder of the Indo-European Business Forum, as relayed to Eastern Eye, appears to be fairly…
DENTISTS in England will receive cash to accept new patients amid a critical shortage of state-funded dental care. Announced last Wednesday (7), the plan is backed by £200 million in government funding. It comes as the number of dentists providing care in the NHS stands at its lowest level in…
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…
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…
INDIAN cinema can claim to be the biggest film industry in the world, but it has never reached its global potential. This is largely due to an inability to connect with non-Asian audiences. Despite constantly boasting of breaking records, none of the films have been as financially successful as the…
BEING surrounded by music and films from an early age pushed Priya Davdra towards a career in acting. The versatile British Asian performer has found success across multiple platforms, including being a regular on the iconic soap EastEnders, starring in the Indian film, Naan Yaar, and acting in the TV…
THOUSANDS of international students are campaigning to clear their names over an English-language test scandal after fresh evidence was presented to the Home Office. The issue dates to 2014 when a BBC Panorama investigation revealed cheating on a compulsory language test that was required for a visa at two London…
POPULAR Indian singer Javed Ali has consistently showcased his impressive range through songs in diverse genres, languages and styles. The marvellous musical numbers delivered by the naturally gifted singer have included Bollywood hits Nagada Nagada, Jashn-E-Bahaara, Guzarish, Araziyan, Kun Faya Kun and Tu Jo Mila. Having beautifully balanced top tracks…
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…
BBC Asian Network has announced the launch of the first-ever official British Asian Chart Show, coming to the station on Thursdays (9pm-10pm) from 18 April. Hosted by the station’s Jasmine Takhar, the weekly show will celebrate the best of British Asian music, with a one-hour rundown of the top 20…
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…
Canadian police reported on Monday (12) that shots seem to have been fired at the Canadian home of a Sikh separatist activist, following recent claims by Ottawa and Washington that Indian dissidents residing abroad in both countries have been subjects of assassination attempts. Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said Peel Regional Police…
Actress Deepika Padukone will present an award at the upcoming BAFTA Film Awards, set to be held on Sunday evening. Padukone, 38, shared the list of confirmed presenters issued by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on her Instagram Story on Tuesday. "Gratitude," she captioned the post.…
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is set to perform in India once again with singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad. The gig will take place at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai, on March 16. Excited about the show, Kuhad took to his Instagram Story and wrote, "Excited to join @teddysphotos +-=/ x 2024 Tour! See…
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…
Tobacco major British American Tobacco is looking to trim its £15 billion stake in the Indian cigarettes-to-hotel conglomerate ITC, according to media reports. The maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes announced this alongside a large annual loss of over £17 bn and a mixed outlook. BAT currently holds over…
Azhar Ali, Labour's Rochdale by-election candidate, has issued an apology following controversial comments about Israel, which were disclosed in a secret recording published by the Mail on Sunday. In the recording, Ali suggested Israel had intentionally “allowed” a deadly Hamas attack on October 7, remarks he now acknowledges as "deeply…
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…
Rishi Sunak has embraced the challenge of narrowing the gap between the Tories and Labour in the current polls. Speaking to the Times, the prime minister emphasised his commitment to tax reductions, pledging to cut taxes when it becomes fiscally prudent. “At the beginning of this year there is a…
A university has been ordered to compensate a British Asian academic with a minimum of £450,000 in damages following her victory in a racial discrimination lawsuit at a tribunal. Portsmouth University was found to have been influenced by 'pernicious and destructive' unconscious bias when it failed to reappoint Dr Kajal…
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…
Game of Thrones alums Kit Harington and Sophie Turner are set to reunite for an upcoming gothic horror movie. Titled The Dreadful, the movie will be directed by Natasha Kermani from a script she wrote, reported entertainment news outlet Deadline. The film is set against the backdrop of the War…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid £508,000 in tax in the last financial year after income from his investments dwarfed his official salary, a report by his accountants showed on Friday (9). Sunak is the wealthiest prime minister in British history through a combination of his past career in financial services…
BRITISH wildlife charities are ringing alarm bells by describing the countryside as a "racist, colonial" domain where non-white people often feel marginalised, media reports said. Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition comprising 80 organisations including the WWF, the RSPCA, and National Trust, presented their findings to MPs as part of…
I was introduced to Baroness Flather exactly 30 years ago, soon after my wife Heather and I were married. At our wedding, Julie Barnes, the wife of one of my best friends from boarding school, who was a senior journalist working at the Maidenhead Advisor, said I must meet her…
Jameela Jamil and Simone Ashley are among the 40 ‘legendary women’ on British Vogue’s latest cover. Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Victoria Beckham, Linda Evangelista, Oprah Winfrey, Dua Lipa, and Miley Cyrus are also in the “farewell shoot” for the final issue by outgoing editor Edward Enninful. All 40…
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 Integrity International Group, led by British Asian hotelier Tony Matharu, has acquired two properties in London - Atlas House and Crescent buildings for an undisclosed amount. Atlas House, a Grade II-listed building, is situated at the junction of King Street, Queen Street, and Cheapside, while the Crescent is located…
Queen Camilla, wife of King Charles III, disclosed on Thursday (8) that her husband, who has been diagnosed with cancer, is "doing extremely well" given the circumstances. King Charles has been "very touched by all the letters and the messages the public have been sending from everywhere", she said during…
It was a great day for India at the Grammys, says tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, who is overwhelmed by the love that has come his way for his triple win at this year's music awards. The veteran percussionist was India's big winner with three Grammys at the annual ceremony. Hussain,…
AN Indian restaurant in Birmingham has made history by becoming the first in the city to be awarded two Michelin stars. Opheem, a Birmingham curry house, has made culinary history despite having just one Indian chef among its kitchen staff of 15. Chef and owner Aktar Islam, originally from Aston,…
Former staff of Meghraj Bank face uncertainty after its Asian businessman founder told a tribunal he could no longer make a payment to The Pensions Regulator, according to a media report. Anant Shah and his brother Vipin set up the bank in 1972, and it closed in 2000. Meghraj Financial…
THREE former students of Oxford are anticipating a substantial windfall, potentially reaching $100 million ( £79m), following the acquisition of their start-up, Onfido, by a US competitor, reports said. Husayn Kassai, Eamon Jubbawy, and Ruhul Amin founded Onfido, which makes it easy for people to access services through digital verification,…
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…
Allegations have surfaced that prime minister Rishi Sunak is the primary obstacle in resolving the ongoing doctors' strikes in England, a situation that is exacerbating the NHS waiting lists crisis, an exclusive report in The Guardian said. Despite repeated warnings from health officials and NHS England, Sunak's apprehension about setting…
With a career spanning a remarkable 25 years, Purab Kohli stands as a testament to perseverance, versatility, and undeniable talent. From gripping dramas to rib-tickling comedies, the seasoned actor has graced screens both big and small, leaving an indelible mark on audiences. Eastern Eye recently spoke to Kohli about his…
ENGLISH football clubs have been shown a yellow card by campaigners over a lack of progress after failing to meet their hiring targets for south Asian coaches. Recent data from the Football Association (FA) showed the 53 clubs signed up to the Football Leadership Diversity Code (FLDC) collectively failed to…
Jameela Jamil has added one more exciting project to her filmography. She is set to star in the upcoming romantic comedy film Lola and Freddie, billed as a British reimagining of 2012’s Celeste and Jesse Forever. In addition to Jamil, the film will also feature Naomie Harris, Joel Fry, and…
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”.…
PROMINENT British Indian peer Shreela Flather passed away after a short illness in the UK on Tuesday (6), her sons Marcus and Paul Flather said in a statement. She was 89. Known for her elegant sarees in the House of Lords, the teacher and politician was a life peer as…
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…
Good news for the fans of Charli XCX! The British singer-songwriter has dropped a short preview of her new song ‘Von Dutch’. She took to the social media platform TikTok and shared a 20-second snippet of her forthcoming song with lyrics that ooze confidence, set to a catchy and high-energy…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday (6) that he was “shocked and sad” upon discovering that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, though he found solace in the fact that the condition was detected early. Buckingham Palace revealed on Monday evening that the King had commenced outpatient treatment for…
There has been a rash of extortion attempts on businesses run by the south Asian community across Canada and the police suspect the involvement of an organised crime racket located abroad, CTV news reports. The modus operandi of extortionists is as follows: make phone calls or send text messages demanding…
It's surreal and overwhelming, says flautist Rakesh Chaurasia on his double Grammy win for "Pashto" and "As We Speak" with other musicians, including tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. "As We Speak", also featuring Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer, won in the best contemporary instrumental album category. The musicians also registered a…
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…
Known for helming such notable films as Fire and Midnight’s Children, acclaimed filmmaker Deepa Mehta is now set to direct her next film. Titled Troilokya, the thriller film revolves around an Indian woman known to be a serial killer. Bankrolled through pan-Asian film company Through The Lens Entertainment and India’s…
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…
British actor Dev Patel, who shot to international fame with Danny Boyle’s 2008 drama Slumdog Millionaire, is set to get married to Australian actress, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, according to reports. A Reddit user recently announced that the actor will soon tie the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Tilda Cobham-Hervey. The user…
India shone at the 2024 Grammy Awards with five Indian musicians, including tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, picking up the coveted prize at a glittering ceremony in Los Angeles. While Hussain was India's big winner with three Grammys, Rakesh Chaurasia picked up two. Singer Shankar Mahadevan, violinist…
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…
A public order case against climate activist Greta Thunberg and four other protesters was dismissed by a London court on Friday (2), with the judge criticising the "unlawful" conditions imposed by police at the time of their arrest. District judge John Law dismissed the cases against the 21-year-old Swedish campaigner…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has shared insights into the challenges of growing up facing racism and the efforts his family made to ensure he assimilated into British society, including enrolling him in additional drama classes to eliminate any accent, The Guardian reported. "You are conscious of being different," Sunak told…
Two British teens were sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday (2) for the "sadistic" knife murder of a 16-year-old transgender girl, an incident that shocked the nation. Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both 16, killed Brianna Ghey in Warrington, northwest England, in February last year, in what the judge called…
Should the main opposition Labour Party secure victory in the next UK general election, as current opinion polls suggest, a familiar scene is expected outside the prime minister's official residence the following day: removal vans. The overnight transition, unique in major Western democracies, contrasts with the roughly two months' preparation…
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…
Amidst concerns of dwindling support from the UK's largest ethnic minority, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is implementing new strategies to reengage with British Indians. Recent initiatives include recruiting two community outreach volunteers, revitalising the Labour Friends of India group, and arranging a visit to India for senior shadow ministers David…
THE UK and Indian governments are striving to establish a modern relationship, Alex Chalk, the lord chancellor and justice secretary, said last Friday (26). He was speaking at the Guildhall in the City of London where the Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, hosted a reception to mark the 75th anniversary…
FINDING an NHS dentist is becoming increasingly difficult in the UK, forcing those who can pay to the private sector and those who cannot to avoid treatment altogether – or take matters into their own hands. Increasing numbers of dentists are turning their backs on the NHS in favour of…
THE number of students of Asian origin who achieved a first-class degree in the UK has fallen for the first time, new figures show. The percentage getting top honours was 27.5 per cent in 2021-2022 compared to 33.3 per cent the previous year, with experts highlighting the devastating impact the…
BRILLIANT British talent Jasdeep Singh Degun has been flying the flag for classical Indian music with world-class live performances, an acclaimed album, and global collaborations. The young sitar maestro has broken down boundaries with his artistry and new approach to composition without losing touch with his cultural roots. His impressive…
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…
Nepal's deputy prime minister Purna Khadka on Tuesday (30), appealed for a favourable response from the UK regarding the demands of Gurkha soldiers who retired from the British Army before 1997 and are seeking equal perks and pensions comparable to those of their British counterparts. Khadka, who is also the…
MANY British Asian families are badly affected as poverty has increased in the UK to around pre-pandemic levels, a new report said. The UK poverty 2024 report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last Tuesday (23) said Asian households also have higher rates of child poverty, very deep poverty and persistent…
South Asia's finest musical stars are set to perform at the first South Asian Sounds Festival at London's Southbank Centre. From the 7th to the 10th March, a stunning programme of both classical and contemporary South Asian music features some mega stars of the South Asian music scene such as…
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…
Indo-British actor Saaj Raja best known for his work was recently onstage in a play in the West End in Best of Enemies with David Harewood and Zachary Quinto and has been part of projects such as Marvel's Eternals and BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought series, is set to…
The British Asian Trust is spearheading a major educational initiative, LiftEd, aiming to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy skills for four million Indian children. This five-year project, focusing on children in grades 1-3, has garnered a significant $20 million investment from a consortium of 26 partners, including notable names like…
White Lotus star Tom Hollander said that he accidentally received Tom Holland’s seven-figure bonus cheque for an Avengers film. The 56-year-old British actor made the revelation on late-night talk show Late Night With Seth Meyers. When the host asked him if people ever mix him up with Holland, the veteran…
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…
A special review has been ordered to examine the NHS trust that was treating a 32-year-old man diagnosed with schizophrenia and mental illness, who tragically stabbed three individuals to death, including a British-Indian teenager, in Nottingham last year. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said a rapid review of Nottinghamshire Healthcare…
British singer-songwriter Nadine Shah has said that her decision to go to rehab in 2022 turned out to be “the best thing I ever did”. She is presently writing a memoir about her time in rehab. Talking about the same, she told a publication, “I was ashamed about being there.…
The romantic novel One Day, which turned out to be an instant bestseller in 2009, is set for a small screen adaptation at Netflix, after being adapted as a film in 2011, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess in lead roles. It follows the complicated love affair of the lead…
THE NHS Race and Health Observatory on Wednesday (24) launched a learning and action network designed to address stark disparities in maternal, perinatal and neonatal health outcomes for women from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. Data shows alarmingly higher rates of maternal and baby deaths amongst black and Asian…
INDIA is cooperating with Canada and bilateral ties are improving after tensions spiked over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia, a top Canadian official told CTV in an interview published on Friday (26). Diplomatic relations soured after prime minister Justin Trudeau last year said Canada was…
Indo-British filmmaker Asif Kapadia says the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) modified the criteria for the best international feature category after his 2002 Irrfan Khan-starrer The Warrior was ignored at the Oscars. The film, which marked Kapadia's directorial debut, was the UK's official entry for the Oscars'…
TRIBUTES have been paid to British Indian medical student, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, who was stabbed to death in Nottingham, in June last year. Her parents and brother said their family's lives had been "shattered in a moment" following the tragic incident. Grace 'heroically and valiantly' fought that attacker while protecting…
A Spanish judge on Thursday (25) cleared a 19-year-old Briton of all charges in a trial over a Taliban bomb hoax he shared with five friends before boarding a 2022 flight that prompted the scrambling of a fighter jet to escort the plane. Aditya Verma, who was 18 at the…
CAMBRIDGE, the English city renowned for its university, scientific breakthroughs and status as a technology hub, has its sights on becoming the next Silicon Valley. The British government is providing funds for new infrastructure projects such as housing and transport that it says will help Cambridge, north of London, become…
The popular Globe Theater in London is putting on a play called Antony and Cleopatra, with non-white actress Nadia Nadarajah being cast in the leading role. Nadarajah, who has labelled herself as an English South Asian woman with dark skin and uses British Sign Language, has been cast to play…
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…
Kuldeep Kaur Atwal, a former post office operator, has shared a distressing account of her experience with the Post Office, alleging that she was unjustly accused of theft and faced discrimination due to her British Asian heritage. Atwal, then 46, and 73 now, was charged with stealing £30,000 from her…
Varada Sethu is set to be a part of Doctor Who, a popular British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. She will star in season 15, which is scheduled to hit the airwaves in 2024, alongside Ncuti Gatwa (the Fifteenth Doctor), taking over from Millie Gibson.…
A study involving over a million children has found that those born preterm are at a higher risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes which can impact their behaviour and learning abilities. Researchers compared the long-term neurodevelopmental effects of children born at different gestational ages, particularly 32-33 weeks (moderately preterm) and 34-36…
A British Indian chess prodigy faced trial in a Spanish court on Monday (22) for a public disorder offense stemming from a Snapchat message sent in July 2022. University student Aditya Verma, 20, on his way to Menorca with friends, jokingly wrote, "On my way to blow up the plane…
THE number of study permits Canada issued to Indian students fell sharply late last year after India ejected Canadian diplomats who would process the permits and fewer Indian students applied due to a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, a top Canadian official told…
Opera North has announced the five artists chosen to take part in its Resonance Residencies programme, including two Asian artists. Working in genres from folk, jazz, and soul to electronic club and improvisation, and rooted in traditional music from across Africa and Asia, Balraj Samrai, Satnam Galsian, Rory A Green,…
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…
FROM playing larger than life heroes to winning supporting roles, evil antagonists and quirky characters, Jackie Shroff’s glittering career is filled with standout moments. Born on February 1, 1957, the popular Indian actor will be celebrating his 67th birthday next week. Eastern Eye decided to mark the occasion by going…
FREEHOLD property owners have been accused by MPs of establishing a “rentier structure” in England and Wales, as it has been claimed they impose “exorbitant” ground rents while, in some cases, providing no service. Labour MP Barry Gardiner called it “nonsense” that pension funds would need to be used to…
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,…
THEATRE director Atri Banerjee said he “embraced” the challenge of helming back-to-back plays: Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie and Phoebe EclairPowell’s Shed: Exploded View. Banerjee is currently working on Shed: Exploded View which runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester from February to March, following which he will revisit…
AN EXCITING young generation of south Asian creative talent is continuing to add new elements to popular culture with a cool approach. While some have already made an impressive mark with a brilliant body of work, others are showing real potential to be future gamechangers. They are all making themselves…
Actress Shruti Haasan is set to headline Chennai Story, an upcoming Indo-UK co-production that will be directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Philip John. The movie, which is co-produced by Guru Films (India), Ripple World Pictures (UK), and ie ie Productions (Wales), is based on author Timeri N Murari's bestseller The Arrangements…
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…
DESPITE being centuries old, qawwali music remains massively popular with live audiences around the world. One of its top British exponents, Chand Ali Khan Qawwal and Party, is set to embark on another UK tour in February. The Midlands-based group has already sold out some shows, and their Dillagi tour…
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…
THE unelected upper house of parliament inflicted a blow Monday (22) to the government's controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda, by voting to delay ratification of the treaty with Kigali. The move is a blow for prime minister Rishi Runak, who had urged the House of Lords to pass…
IN a parliamentary hearing on Thursday (18), MPs scrutinised freeholders for establishing a "rentier structure" in England and Wales, accusing them of imposing "exorbitant" ground rents, reaching £8,000 annually in some instances. The scrutiny unfolded as a freeholder group resisted proposed changes to leasehold laws amidst the ongoing parliamentary examination…
Former US President Donald Trump has launched racially charged attacks against his Indian-American Republican rival Nikki Haley, consistently referring to her as “Nimbra," intentionally misspelling her birth name. Trump's attack against Haley, a daughter of Indian immigrants who served as his UN ambassador, comes days before a hotly contested New…
Rishi Sunak urged members of the UK's unelected upper chamber of parliament on Thursday (18) to approve his controversial proposal to send migrants to Rwanda, asserting that it reflected "the will of the people." The prime minister survived a key test of his leadership on Wednesday night, fending off right-wing…
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…
POLICE in Canada are investigating a series of extortions and related crimes that they believe are orchestrated by a suspect in India and involve criminals in Edmonton, Alberta, targeting the region's affluent South Asian people. In what Edmonton Police described as a new trend in Canada, victims typically receive a…
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…
The nominations for the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards have been announced. And as expected, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer led nominations, securing 13 nods. Yorgos Lanthimos' black-comedy science fantasy Poor Things also grabbed the top spot in the list as it earned 11 nods. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Oppenheimer, which had…
INDIAN-owned Tata Steel is to cut about 3,000 jobs at a plant in Wales, a source said Thursday (18), as the industry struggles to finance greener production of the metal. The company will on Friday (19) confirm the closure of two blast furnaces at the Port Talbot steelworks, resulting in…
GARETH THOMAS MP has written to the home secretary seeking his intervention over Tier 5 religious worker visas, which enable UK temples to recruit priests, saying such places of worship face closure over staff shortages. In a letter to James Cleverly on Wednesday (17), the Labour MP for Harrow West,…
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…
A Tunisian man who stabbed and killed his 19-year-old British Indian girlfriend in 2022 has been given an indefinite hospital order by a UK court. Sabita Thanwani, an aspiring psychologist, was stabbed in the neck by 24-year-old Maher Maaroufe at her student accommodation in Clerkenwell, east London, on March 19,…
A Turkish doctor, Dr Ogün Erşen, who specialises in weight loss "holidays" abroad, advised an undercover BBC reporter to gain weight to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery. Despite the reporter having a BMI within the healthy range of 24.4, Dr Erşen instructed her to "eat some snacks" to increase her…
US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has agreed to withdraw allegations of racism against drinks giant Diageo, the company said Tuesday (16) six months after ending their business link-up. In a statement, Diageo said Combs has withdrawn his lawsuit as part of a settlement with the London-based spirits firm and both…
INFORMATION technology firms TCS and Infosys, both signalled weak revenue growth in quarterly results last Thursday (11) as a slowdown in client spending deepened a seasonally weak time for the sector. Both companies, the second and fifth-biggest in India by market cap, respectively, earn more than 80 per cent of…
URGENT action is needed to help the large number of south Asian households living in hidden poverty, anti-poverty campaigners have urged. New research reveals that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by severe hardship in areas not accounted for in government measures targeting antideprivation funding. The study by Queen’s University in…
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…
AT THE end of the video for her new song, Gone, British Asian music pioneer Veronica Mehta transforms into a phoenix rising from the ashes – a symbol, she said, of her “second chance at life” after a gruelling battle with cancer. Mehta was riding high in her career after…
The police announced on Tuesday (16) that specialist officers will evaluate whether to initiate a war crimes investigation into Israel's conflict with Hamas, following a referral from an advocacy group for Palestinians. The Metropolitan Police said its small war crimes team, which is hosted within its counter-terrorism command, would determine…
BRITISH ASIAN presenter, Amol Rajan, has revealed his admiration for "pale, male, and stale" figures, expressing his respect for traditional figures of authority and intellectual weight. “I’m a big fan of pale, male and stale people, figures of white middle-class authority or intellectual heft. I don’t assume those people are…
INDIA said it had lodged a protest over a senior British diplomat's visit to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, saying the trip last week had infringed on India's "sovereignty and territorial integrity". Kashmir is claimed in full, but controlled only in part, by nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars and…
IT is a truth universally acknowledged that a political leader with an election to fight must be in want of campaign advice. As Rishi Sunak embarks on the most challenging re-election campaign of any British prime minister in living memory, there is no shortage of pitches about the best spells…
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…
If reports are to be believed, Dev Patel reportedly turned down a major MCU role. The British-Indian actor was in the race to bag the role of Sentry in Thunderbolts. However, he declined the offer, and now netizens want him to be considered for the role of Reed Richards from…
The world’s longest-running children's TV show has today unveiled Shini Muthukrishnan as its newest Blue Peter presenter. Shini will co-host alongside Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney, and Henry the dog on her first live show airing Friday 19th January on CBBC and BBC iPlayer at 5.00 pm. Shini is a content…
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…
A LEADING British Asian hotelier has sold 10 properties to Starwood Capital in a deal said to be worth around £800 million. Jasminder Singh OBE sold his properties, including Radisson Blu Edwardian properties in central London, to the US private investment firm, a statement said on Friday (12) The group…
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…
FORMER Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq said he has received racist messages on social media following the club's approval of a loan offer from a consortium headed by ex-chairman Colin Graves. Yorkshire were fined £400,000 ($510,560) and handed a 48-point deduction in the County Championship last year after an investigation into…
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…
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…
BRITISH Asian entrepreneurs have called for more action to improve diversity in the venture capital investment market after it was branded “unacceptable” and “woeful” by a powerful committee of MPs. The business leaders called for funds dedicated to ethnic minorities or female founders to make the system fairer. Venture capital…
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is not only popular in his home country but also enjoys a massive fan following in India. He has played lead roles in a few notable Bollywood films, including Khoobsurat and Kapoor & Sons. The 42-year-old star recently appeared for an interview on a YouTube channel…
BORN and brought up in Amritsar, British Asian singer Sania Salan has been connected to music from a very young age. Having moved to the UK in 2010, she started recording songs during lockdown and made a winning debut with top track Ranjhna. Since then, she has delivered more songs,…
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…
WOLVERHAMPTON will host the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup final, after being awarded £500,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund to help with costs. Originating in India some 5,000 years ago, the contact sport sees teams broken down into raiders and blockers. Points…
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…
BRITISH Asians have a higher rate of catching the life-threatening condition sepsis compared to other population groups, a study found. The illness, which kills around 48,000 people every year in the UK, occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs. Leading doctors…
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…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's legislation to block further court challenges to the government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda will return to parliament next week. Sunak faced the most serious threat to his leadership when he saw off a revolt by dozens of his lawmakers during the first parliamentary…
MUSIC DIRECTOR Ahmed Kaysher has brought together artists from around the world to create “a new meaning of sensuality” through his show, Songs of Sringar and Seduction – Thumri to Troubadour. Produced by Saudha, the Society of Poetry and Indian Music, the concert features fresh interpretations of erotic and sensual…
THE four-part ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, has changed the debate about the scandal resulting from the implementation of the faulty Horizon software by Japan’s Fujitsu company. Following the national outcry triggered by the show, prime minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg last…
