- Thursday, April 25, 2024
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…
On 17 April 2023, a bold theft occurred at Toronto's main airport, where thieves stole a cargo of gold bars and foreign currency worth approximately £13.16 million. The heist, which involved using fake documents, targeted a shipment that had just arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland. This…
Surabjit Jaybelly Baldeo, a noted South African musician of Indian origin, has died at the age of 66. Popularly known as 'Barry' Baldeo, the guitarist, who passed away on Sunday morning, was a key participant in almost every Indian musical show in South Africa, according to close friends and collaborators.…
Mathi Alagan, an Indian-origin Singaporean actor, says it was an "incredible opportunity" to feature in Dev Patel's directorial debut Monkey Man. Inspired by the legend of Lord Hanuman, Monkey Man is set in Mumbai and features Patel as Kid, who is out to avenge a past wrong. Alagan expressed gratitude…
ENTEPRENEUR Dinesh Dhamija has told Eastern Eye he wrote The Indian Century because he wants the 30 million-strong Indian diaspora across the world, but especially in the UK, to invest back in the mother country. The interview about his new book, in which he gives an upbeat assessment of the…
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…
A man of Indian origin was arrested in Chicago related to an investigation of a human smuggling incident from January 2022. This case involves an event where a family of four, including two children from Gujarat, was discovered frozen to death. They were attempting an illegal entry into the US…
A federal grand jury has arrested two men of Indian origin for their involvement in orchestrating armed robberies as part of a visa fraud conspiracy. Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud in Boston, Massachusetts. Patel was arrested…
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…
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…
INDIAN Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his visit to the UK on Thursday (11) after a “warm meeting” with prime minister Rishi Sunak and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception. Singh called on Sunak at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (10) evening for discussions on…
Critically acclaimed actress and writer of Indian origin based in the UK, Meera Syal has revealed how a pantomime in Stoke-on-Trent convinced her to become an actress. Syal, who is best known for such successful TV shows as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumar’s at No. 42, told BBC Radio…
As preparations unfold for the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a notable Indian community activist in New York has expressed appreciation for measures that enable diaspora members to contribute to the temple's development. Social activist Prem Bhandari had earlier appealed to prime minister Narendra Modi to allow members…
A group of alleged fraudsters of Indian origin, among them a woman, who was arrested and charged concerning a high-value fraud, are set to face trial in a Scotland court in the upcoming weeks after they declined to enter a plea. According to Police Scotland, the arrests took place as…
CHARITIES have criticised the government for dropping plans to provide further help to modern slavery survivors. The Home Office said a “places of safety” scheme, first announced in 2017, was being axed due to a lack of funding. In addition, a pledge in 2021 offering tailored support for at least…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will investigate any evidence provided regarding an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the US, the Financial Times reported Wednesday (20). The US Justice Department last month charged an Indian citizen with plotting to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US soil,…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau said he senses a change in India's tone with Ottawa after the United States warned New Delhi about its involvement in a thwarted plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader on US soil, the CBC reported on Wednesday (20). "I think there is a beginning…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
An undercover investigation at a care home conducted by a UK-based reporter from Kerala has revealed concerning levels of staff exploitation at Prestwick Care, in north-east England. The investigation highlighted the exploitation of numerous employees, a significant portion recruited from overseas nations like India. Balakrishnan Balagopal's report for the ‘BBC…
AROUND a third of individuals from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities broadly have no one earning any income through work, the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed. Almost half of all women in both these ethnic groups are not economically active either – meaning they are…
IN HER book, What’s in a Name? Friendship, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain, the author Sheela Banerjee deals with the question which confronts all British Asian parents. What should they call their newborn? Most want the name to reflect the child’s ethnic and cultural heritage, but at the…
A 66-year-old Australian man faced multiple charges on Monday (11) in connection with a fatal crash that resulted in the deaths of five members from two Indian origin families at a pub's outdoor dining area last month, a media report said. William Swale was arrested on Monday over the incident…
Groups representing skilled professionals and students from India on Tuesday (5) expressed concerns over a lack of clarity around the UK government's latest visa crackdown, branding the ban on family dependants as “unfair”. Home secretary James Cleverly tabled a five-point plan in parliament on Monday that would see foreign care…
A 29-year-old man of Indian origin has pleaded guilty to firebombing a prominent anti-abortion group's office in Wisconsin on Mother's Day, May 8, last year, the Justice Department has said. Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury of Madison, who was arrested from Boston's International Airport in March, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause…
An Indian national has been charged with conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US territory, the Justice Department said on Wednesday (29). The allegations suggest the involvement of an Indian government official in the planning process. The Justice Department unsealed murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta, 52, "in connection…
AN URGENT “education recovery” programme is needed to help pupils from south Asian backgrounds catch up at school due to the impact of the pandemic, experts have urged. They have sought extra funding and resources in order to close the gap after new government figures showed a sharp drop in…
A MOLE has been kind enough to send Eastern Eye a transcript of Monday’s (13) telephone conversation between Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman. Rishi: Morning Suella, I have something to say to you… Suella: Who’s that? Rishi: Rishi…. Suella: Which Rishi? Rishi: Rishi Sunak, prime minister….. Suella: Oh, that Rishi.…
NOTHING has been done to protect south Asian and black medical staff or patients, despite their disproportionate number of deaths during Covid, doctors have told Eastern Eye. They have warned that if a pandemic were to happen tomorrow, more people of colour would die unnecessarily. Medical experts have previously told…
Warner Bros Discovery on Saturday announced a new docu-series, titled History Hunter, which will seek to solve the mysterious unanswered questions from Indian history. Popular actor Maniesh Paul will host the eight-episode show, which will make its debut on Discovery Channel and Discovery+ on November 20, said a press release.…
FOREIGN doctors received lower pay and reduced benefits compared to their UK counterparts under a controversial scheme in English hospital trusts, an investigation has revealed. Doctors from outside the UK arrive at NHS trusts as ‘fellows’ under the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ medical training initiative (MTI) scheme, spending two-years…
INDIA will reopen visa services for Canadians, its embassy in Ottawa announced, a move that could ease tensions in a high-profile dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Relations between India and Canada plunged after prime minister Justin Trudeau last month publicly linked Indian intelligence to…
AT LEAST two Israeli women security officers of Indian origin were killed in the unprecedented attack carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier this month, official sources and people from the community confirmed last Sunday (15). Lieutenant Or Moses, 22, a commander in the Home Front Command, from…
At least two Israeli women security officers of Indian origin were killed in the unprecedented attack orchestrated by the Palestinian militant group Hamas earlier this month, official sources and members of the community confirmed on Sunday (15). Lieutenant Or Moses, 22, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Ashdod,…
Describing the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict as "horrible", actress Madhura Naik on Wednesday said her family is yet to come to terms with the untimely demise of her cousin and brother-in-law, who were killed amid the strife last week. In an Instagram video shared on Tuesday, Naik, who called herself a…
BRITISH Indians are among the happiest people in the country, who feel they have worthwhile lives, according to government research. They scored 7.67 in their average happiness score which was the second highest after the Asian Other category - compared to 7.64 for those of Bangladeshi origin, 7.57 for people…
MINISTERS have been asked to remove barriers in the finance industry so that small and medium enterprises can access funds and grow to their full potential. In a submission to the Treasury Select Committee last month, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) made recommendations to support women and…
CALIFORNIA governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday (7) vetoed a bill passed recently by the state legislature to explicitly ban caste discrimination, citing existing laws that already prohibit ancestry discrimination, which made the bill "unnecessary." Had Newsom signed the bill, officially called Senate Bill 403 or SB 403, California would have…
HOME secretary Suella Braverman warned on Tuesday (3) that Britain faces a "hurricane" of immigration, as she doubled down on her hardline rhetoric at the Conservative party's annual conference. Braverman, already a darling of the ruling party's right for her attacks on "woke" politics, used the keynote speech to launch…
Bhushan Kumar led T-Series has been a pioneer in the music space and has once again surpassed a remarkable milestone. Adding one more feather to its cap, the leading music label and film studio has crossed a whopping 250 million subscribers on YouTube. This indeed is a proud moment for…
THE success rates of ethnic minority led businesses are lower compared to those of their white counterparts despite their enormous contribution to the economy, a new report has revealed. The report called for strong engagement between business leaders, the government and people from ethnic minority backgrounds to boost diversity in…
During the second 2024 presidential primary debate on Wednesday (27) for the Republican party, the seven participating candidates sought to persuade voters that they could serve as a credible alternative to the frontrunner, Donald Trump, who opted not to attend the event. Here are some key takeaways from the sometimes-disorderly…
A father of Indian origin, who tragically lost his son due to what he terms a series of medical errors, has established a new charitable foundation dedicated to advocating for patients' rights. Earlier this month, Jay Patel officially registered "Patients Lives Matter" an initiative that stems from the tragic loss…
THE prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (11) told British lawmakers that he had “warm and productive” discussions with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi towards a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, as he updated parliament on his recent visit to New Delhi for the Indialed G20 summit. Addressing the…
HEADING to New Delhi for the G20 summit might have felt like a great escape for Rishi Sunak, leaving behind crumbling concrete in classrooms and damning opinion polls for his first visit to India as Prime Minister. The Sunaks were greeted enthusiastically by the Indian media. A British Prime Minister…
The conclusion of the G20 summit marked important political milestones and offered a plethora of fashion moments for inspiration. Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty’s wardrobe garnered much attention, making her elegant looks the talk of the town. She was seen at various events in India’s capital city showcasing her traditional…
I landed in Delhi on the 24th of August, the day after India successfully landed a spacecraft on the south pole of the moon, making it 1 of only 4 countries in the world to have landed on the moon. In his excellent speech at the B20, prime minister Narendra…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak was greeted with the salutation of "Jai Siyaram" by Indian minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey who received the visiting dignitary upon his arrival in New Delhi on Friday (8) to attend the G20 summit. Choubey informed Sunak that he is an MP from Buxar which, he noted,…
WHAT does prime minister discuss at the dinner table with his Indian parents-in-law? Is it Indian politics or the challenges of running Britain? Neither. It's cricket. "The most political we tend to get is in our discussion of cricket. I've agreed that my daughters can support India when it comes…
WITH Tharman Shanmugaratnam winning Singapore's presidential election, he joins a long list of Indian-origin leaders who are dominating politics at important world capitals. Shanmugaratnam, 66, received 70.4 per cent of the votes in the presidential election held on Friday (1). "Singaporeans have chosen Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be our next president…
Though India’s relationship with gambling has been somewhat up and down, the country has a much richer and deeper history with the practice than most realise. A lot of popular gambling games are usually spoken about in context of their European origins, however when early versions of these games -…
Two Indian-origin singers Lara Raj and Ezrela are among the 20 contestants vying for a shot at stardom as they compete to become a part of a new global girl group, South Korean music giant HYBE and American record label Geffen Records have announced. Hybe, which manages the global K-pop…
FOUR men in their 20s have been charged with the murder of a 23-year-old Indian-origin delivery driver after an attack in Shrewsbury. Aurman Singh was pronounced dead at the scene when West Mercia Police attended reports of an attack in the Berwick Avenue area of the city on August 21.…
INDIA on Tuesday (15) completed 76 years as an independent country. The historian, Ramachandra Guha, provided a report card in a long article in the Sunday Times (13), headed, “Can India be the next superpower?” Guha, known to be a critic of the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya…
SOUTH Asian-origin teachers continue to be under-represented in schools in England, government figures show. People of Indian origin make up 3.6 percent of the working age population, but only two per cent of teachers in state schools. Individuals of Pakistani heritage account for 2.8 per cent of working population compared…
First Minister of Wales, Prof Mark Drakeford MS, recognised Professor Hasmukh Shah BEM for his long-standing service to the NHS at a BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) event in Wales last Sunday (30). Shah has worked for almost 50 years in NHS and was recognised for his…
The High Commission of India in London has issued an urgent alert following reports of fraudulent calls targeting members of the diaspora and Indian students in the UK, soliciting money. Authorities at India House in London were informed that criminals are duplicating the phone numbers linked to the mission to…
SRI LANKA tightened security last Sunday (23) as activists lit oil lamps in Colombo commemorating the hundreds killed in 1983 anti-Tamil riots that fuelled a deadly civil war. "Let's not forget the slaughter of Tamils," read a banner carried by members of North-South Solidarity, a group of rights defenders from…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi met Leena Nair, the global CEO of French luxury fashion house, Chanel, and discussed ways to enhance skill development among artisans in India and to make Khadi more popular. Modi was in Paris last week to attend the Bastille Day parade as the Guest of Honour…
French president, Emmanuel Macron, presented prime minister Narendra Modi with a framed facsimile of a 1916 photograph showing a Parisian offering some flowers to a Sikh officer, along with a replica of the Charlemagne chessmen dating back to the 11th century, officials said. [caption id="attachment_242290" align="aligncenter" width="679"] The 1916 photograph…
MANY Indian-Americans have voiced their support for the US Supreme Court ruling which struck down race based affirmative action policies in college admissions last week. East and South Asian Americans have been at the forefront of activism against these policies as they see it as creating disadvantages for Asian American…
A WEEKEND article in the Financial Times set out to explain “How India is slowly moving into the American orbit.” The reality is that India is not moving into the American orbit nor America into India’s, but for some decades now the two countries have been drawing closer together. One…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in the US for a three-day visit. While he has visited the US several times as PM before, this is his first state visit to the United States of America and will include a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and…
Rahul Gandhi, India’s top opposition figure, has said his disqualification from Parliament has given him a "huge opportunity" to serve the people. The former Congress president, who is a US tour, made the remarks on Wednesday (31) night in response to a series of questions from Indian students on the…
Well-known Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, whose film Kennedy premiered at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival, has equated streaming platforms to East India Company. In a conversation with Forbes India, the filmmaker said, "All the streamers are like that. They come in, they are your best friends, then they are the…
British Indian children are being diagnosed with autism nearly two years later on average than white British youngsters, according to a new study. Toddlers of Indian origin in the UK were diagnosed at 68 months, compared to 48 months for their white counterparts. Researchers also found that British Indian parents…
Meera Syal, a well-known actor, screenwriter, and novelist of Indian origin based in the UK, has been conferred a BAFTA fellowship, the highest honour awarded by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film and/or television. The…
Veteran Bollywood actress Deepti Nawal on Monday took to social media to share the first poster for her upcoming film, Mother Teresa and Me. Written and directed by Kamal Musale, the film also features Banita Sandhu, Jacqueline Fitschi-Cornaz, Vikram Kochhar, Bryan Lawrence, and Heer Kaur in prominent roles. Sharing the…
According to a media report on Sunday (16), a residential building fire in Dubai has resulted in the death of at least 16 people, including four individuals of Indian origin, and among them, a couple from Kerala, identified by an Indian social worker Naseer Vatanappally at the Dubai Police mortuary.…
The Coachella Festival, which is also known as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, began with a bang at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on April 14, 2023. The first of its 2023 weekends is being held from April 14-16, with headliners Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, and Frank…
Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu says she was excited to reunite with her The Family Man directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK for the Indian chapter of Citadel, a globe-trotting spy drama. The 35-year-old actress features alongside Varun Dhawan on the Indian original series within the Citadel franchise, whose flagship show,…
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has emphasised the importance of conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind the tragic incident on the US-Canada border that claimed the lives of eight individuals from two families of Romanian and Indian origin. He has also advised against making assumptions about the…
RISHI SUNAK paid tribute to his family as his elevation to become Britain’s first Asian prime minister kept him on top of the 2023 GG2 Power List for the second consecutive year and was also recognised with a coveted award in London on Tuesday (7). Sunak tops the ranking of…
ASIAN survivors of domestic violence are being denied justice by the family courts system and, in some cases, are being intimidated by their abusers, support groups have said. Ahead of International Women’s Day next Wednesday (8), leading women’s charities, solicitors and campaigners have written to the government to call for…
A LONG career in consulting and the technology industry enabled author Ashutosh Mehndiratta to live in the US, India and New Zealand, as well as travel all over the world. This sparked an interest in global history, which led him towards writing his first book India and Faraway Lands. The…
A resolution moved by an upper-caste Hindu official in the Seattle City Council to bring in an ordinance banning caste-based discrimination in the city has generated intense debates among members of the Indian-American community. The Seattle City Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution moved by Council member Kshama…
Neal Mohan, a longtime Indian American YouTube executive, will be the new CEO of the Google-owned video sharing platform. Mohan, a Stanford graduate and a senior advertising and product executive who joined Google in 2008, will join the elite club of global tech chiefs of Indian origin such as Google…
Priyanka Chopra who is gearing up for the international version of 'Citadel' on Wednesday welcomed Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the lead in the Indian version of the series. Taking to Instagram Story, Priyanka re-shared the news along with a caption, "So excited about the world of Citadel expanding. Cannot wait to…
The Indian High Commission in London hosted its annual Republic Day celebrations at the historic Guildhall with music, dance and glimpses from the Kartavya Path parade in New Delhi. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami addressed the gathering of British parliamentarians, community leaders, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and members of…
Lord Rami Ranger, a prominent member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, has lodged a protest with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am appalled by the documentary produced by the BBC implicating the Hon. Prime Minister of…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "really going out of his way" to work with the Sikh community, both inside and outside India, Indian-American businessman and philanthropist Darshan Singh Dhaliwal has said. Dhaliwal has been selected as one of the 27 recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman this year. "I think…
Varada Sethu, a British actress of Indian Origin, has shown her acting skills in both shows and films. The 20-year-old is best known for playing DS Mishal Ali in the BBC apocalyptic TV Series Hard Sun and has also appeared in the heist thriller Now You See Me 2 (2016).…
Thiru Sivakumar Nadesan, a renowned editor of a leading Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka, will be conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), India’s highest honour for the members of the Indian diaspora. Nadesan, the Managing Director of Express Newspapers, will be conferred with the highest Indian government award…
A Pakistani embassy property in the US capital of Washington DC that has been put up for auction has likely gone to the highest bidder named Shahal Khan of Burkhan World Investments, according to a report in the Dawn. Khan is believed to have offered $6.8 million for the property.…
A Cambridge professor who is a leading global figure in the economics of the natural environment, Professor Sir Partha Sarathi Dasgupta; COP-26 president Alok Sharma and drinks company Diageo’s CEO Ivan Menezes are among prominent Asians who have been recognised in the New Year Honour’s List published late last Friday…
Bollywood star Varun Dhawan is set to headline Prime Video's Indian original series within the "Citadel" franchise, the streaming platform announced Tuesday. Billed as a "local Original spy series", the currently untitled project hails from Prime Video and AGBO, the production banner co-founded by Hollywood filmmaking duo Russo Brothers. Raj…
Leo Varadkar, the Irish leader of Indian heritage, is back for a second term as prime minister. Varadkar's father Ashok Varadkar, a doctor, hailed from Varad, around 500 km from Mumbai. He moved to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. In a historic development, Britain got its first Asian-origin Prime…
An all-party meeting was held here to discuss the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka's Constitution as mooted by India to resolve the long-standing demand for political autonomy for the minority Tamils in the island nation, political leaders said on Wednesday. The Tamil parties which participated in the meeting on Tuesday…
British actor Navin Chowdhry, who has starred in dozens of successful films and TV shows in his long acting career, currently plays an important character in the hugely popular BBC drama EastEnders. The actor essays Nish Panesar in the BBC soap and has seen a meteoric rise in his popularity…
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak met at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali on Wednesday (16) and discussed ways to boost trade between the two countries, Modi said. It was the first meeting between Modi and Sunak, who is of Indian origin,…
Britain to offer 3,000 places annually to 18–30 year-old degree-educated Indians to come to the UK to live and work for up to two years. The reciprocal route will open in early 2023. It is reported that India will be the first visa-national country to benefit from the new visa…
British Asians experienced a much larger fall than other groups in planned hospital care during the pandemic, new analysis has revealed, highlighting how the health emergency worsened racial disparities. While age- and sex-standardised procedure rates fell by 44 per cent in the white group, the drop in elective procedure rates…
More than 300 doctors representing diverse specialties took part in the annual conference and gala awards dinner of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) UK was held at the City Hall in Cardiff, Wales, between Friday (4) and Sunday (6). BAPIO represents Indian-origin doctors working in the…
Former West Indies captain and renowned batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul was inducted in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during a function in Sydney (Australia) on Monday (7) evening. It may be mentioned here that on October 2, the Caribbean run machine was inducted into the USA Cricket Hall of Fame.…
Extending Diwali greetings to everyone, Britain's newly-appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed that he will do everything to build a Britain where children and grandchildren can light their Diyas and look to the future with hope. Sunak, 42, attended a Diwali reception at 10 Downing Street here on Wednesday…
Priyanka Chopra welcomed Diwali with a shoutout to Jennifer Rajkumar, the first Indian American woman to be elected Member of the New York State Assembly, who lobbied to get Diwali declared a public school holiday in New York City from 2023. Rajkumar, whose 2020 Assembly race was endorsed by California…
As communities grapple with hate crimes and darkness, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has urged people to live in the spirit of Lord Ram, Sita, and Diwali and be the beacon of light and hope each day of the year. There's too much darkness. We have been engulfed in…
Rishi Sunak is already a marmite prime minister, writes Barnie Choudhury. Feted by his MP colleagues but rejected by the Conservative grass roots just six weeks ago (September 5). They accuse Sunak of causing Johnson’s downfall, rather than accept that it was the fault of his once next-door Downing Street…
In a momentous day, Britain’s first south Asian prime minister, who became the Conservative Party leader on Diwali day [24], has vowed to unite the country and his riven party. Speaking on the steps of Number 10, Rishi Sunak, a practising Hindu, told the country that he would be a…
Rishi Sunak becoming UK's Prime Minister is "our Barack Obama moment," said the leader of a Hindu temple that was set up by the Indian-origin leader's grandfather. Rishi Sunak, 42, on Monday won the race to lead the Conservative Party and is now set to become Britain's first prime minister…
Rishi Sunak will face one of the greatest challenges of any new leader when he becomes British prime minister on Tuesday, needing to tackle a mounting economic crisis, a warring political party and a deeply divided country. The 42-year-old former finance minister becomes Britain's third prime minister in less than…
Many Indians are delighted at the prospect of Rishi Sunak becoming the first person of Indian origin to become British prime minister, just as Hindus like him celebrated Diwali across the world on Monday. Sunak was set to take the top job after his rivals Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt withdrew…
Rishi Sunak looked set to become Britain's next prime minister after Boris Johnson withdrew from the contest on Sunday (23), saying that although he had enough support to make the final ballot he realised the country and the Conservative Party needed unity. Johnson had raced home from a holiday in…
Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has blamed the recent “riots” in Leicester following an India-Pakistan cricket match on uncontrolled migration into the UK and the failure of newcomers to integrate. In her first speech since being appointed home minister at the Conservative Party annual conference in Birmingham on Tuesday…
Vivek Lall, an Indian-origin General Atomics Global Corporation chief executive, is honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by US President Joe Biden with the citation of 'With Grateful Recognition'. The citation was given to Lall, who has done PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University in Kansas, by the…
Following the eruption of clashes in the British city of Leicester due to the defeat of Pakistan by India in the Asia Cup match on August 28, former Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ruchi Ghanashyam said that the incident is very disturbing and a development of grave concern.…
New UK interior minister Suella Braverman is admired by the right for her attacks on "woke" politics but her legal acumen will be put to the test when tackling one of the government's toughest jobs. Braverman, 42, was appointed attorney general a year ago, serving as the government's principal legal…
Liz Truss, Britain's next prime minister, is expected to begin making key ministerial appointments soon after her formal appointment as leader on Tuesday. Below is a brief overview of the people likely to serve in key roles in her government. FINANCE MINISTER - KWASI KWARTENG Truss is expected to appoint…
Rishi Sunak pledged to work "night and day" for the “best country in the world” as the election campaign to take over from Boris Johnson as the Conservative Party leader and the new British Prime Minister entered its final stage on Wednesday, with the very last hustings event set for…
The fantastic ensemble of the much-anticipated Amazon Original series The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power journeyed to Mumbai for their epic Asia Pacific Premiere. Ahead of the grand evening, Showrunner and Executive producer JD Payne along with the cast - Robert Aramayo, Charles Edwards, Nazanin Boniadi, Lloyd…
Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak said his party stood no chance of winning the next general election unless the surging inflation was tamed. The former chancellor of exchequer said at a hustings that the moderation of price rise would be his immediate priority if he became the prime minister succeeding…
Police in Canada have issued a public warning identifying 11 men, of whom nine are of Indian origin, linked to extreme levels of gang violence. The public have been warned to avoid being near them. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) in partnership with Vancouver Police…
In a setback to ousted prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan's election commission on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party for receiving prohibited funding from 34 foreign nationals and 351 foreign-based companies. A three-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), comprising Chief Election Commissioner…
COME August 13 and the Hounslow Town Centre will be transformed as it celebrates South Asian Heritage Month and hosts ANHAD, a new and exciting outdoor multi-arts festival featuring exceptional, cutting-edge contemporary work by South Asian artists based in the UK. The festival will be directed by Mira Kaushik, OBE,…
TORY leadership battle is heating up and Rishi Sunak remains a strong contestant in the race for the top job in the country. Sunak, 42, is just one step away to become the first prime minister of Indian origin in the UK. According to a report in the MailOnline, his…
Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak, one of two remaining candidates to become Britain's next prime minister, on Saturday described himself as the underdog in the contest. Sunak's resignation helped trigger a revolt that saw Prime Minister Boris Johnson agree to step down after a series of scandals. Members of…
A rare record awaits Britain's Rishi Sunak if he wins the race to become the prime minister, according to a report. Sunak will be the sixth person of Indian origin in the world to hold the highest position. US-based non-profit organisation Indiaspora has recently released a detailed list of people…
Senior Conservative parliamentarians have told Eastern Eye the country is ready for its first south Asian prime minister. They believe the days of the Tories being considered as the “nasty and racist” party are over. Four candidates of colour were among the eight nominated in the leadership race as Eastern…
HALF a world away from the political drama in London, many Indians are closely following the twists and turns of who replaces Boris Johnson as British prime minister, curious to see how two candidates with Indian ancestry fare. Rishi Sunak, the bookmakers' favourite to prevail, and Suella Braverman are campaigning…
Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu, who was last seen in the Telugu language film Mishan Impossible, is presently busy promoting her upcoming Hindi film, Shabaash Mithu. Based on the life of former Test and ODI captain of the India women's national cricket team, Mithali Raj, the Srijit Mukherji directorial is slated…
INDIA is not happy over the participation of Sikh delegations from both the UK and Australia in various events, according to a report. Last week, 12 Sikh soldiers of the British Army visited religious sites in Pakistan under the Defence Sikhs Network. Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Bajwa invited them…
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has several notable films to his credit, including Dev D, Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1, Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2, and Manmarziyaan. He has always chosen subjects that other filmmakers generally avoid attempting. However, Kashyap feels that nowadays filmmakers are “dealing with a kind of…
A phenomenal 40-year career of managing world-class artists in Europe and organising unforgettable shows led Shireen Isal towards writing her new book Joy, Awe and Tears. The culturally rich collection of chapters sees her document unforgettable moments with musical giants that include Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Smt Lakshmi…
Author Sir Salman Rushdie and cricketer Moeen Ali are among a number of British Asians honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List published on Wednesday (1). With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 13.3 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, this list showcases…
THE vast majority of Britons say they are comfortable with having a south Asian as their prime minister. A survey by the think-tank, British Future, found that a third of the British public would see an Asian prime minister as a good thing for our country. At least eight in…
Racist, divisive politics which pit Hindus against Muslims and Indians against Pakistanis must stop, say MPs and the mayor of London. The issue is something Eastern Eye has reported several times. But it has reared its head once again after last week’s local elections (5 May). Sources have told this…
NARENDRA MODI is this week visiting Germany, Denmark and France, where the Indian prime minister will be pressed about his government’s decision not to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The West appears to have accepted that India has a longstanding relationship with Russia and that its import of Russian…
I HAVE been present in India with every UK prime minister since 2005 – from Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron to Theresa May. Being in India last week with Boris Johnson and with Indian business leaders was a crucial visit. It was the first UK prime ministerial visit…
British prime minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that skilled workers from India could plug labour shortages in sectors such as information technology in the UK, even as he reiterated that immigration would continue to be controlled. Britain has made getting a trade deal with India one of its post-Brexit…
MONTHS after announcing the arrival of their first-born, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have named their baby daughter, reports TMZ. The birth certificate, which the publication claims to have accessed, mentions the baby’s name as well as the place of birth as San Diego, on the west coast. TMZ said…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson indicated he was ready to offer more visas to India in return for this year clinching a free-trade deal that could boost annual bilateral trade by billions of pounds.Speaking on the plane on his way to the world's second-most populous country, Johnson signalled he was…
Writing With Fire, an Indian documentary that chronicled the rise of a newspaper run by Dalit women, lost to Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) in the best documentary feature category at last Sunday’s Academy Awards. The film, India's sole representation at the Academy Awards,…
SCOTLAND YARD have arrested a Tunisian national on suspicion of the murder and assault of a British woman of Indian origin in her student accommodation in London.Sabita Thanwani, 19, was found with serious injuries to her neck at Arbour House student flats in the Clerkenwell area of London on Saturday…
By: Sunil Kataria Bollywood's drama thriller Jalsa, which premiered on March 18 on Amazon Prime Video, features a role of a child with cerebral palsy played by an actor with the same disability, in what the film's director and cast called a rare sign of inclusivity in the world's largest…
ICICI BANK UK said it is facilitating home loans in India through its parent ICICI Bank for the Indian diaspora based in Britain.According to it, non-resident Indians (NRIs), overseas citizens of India (OCIs) or persons of Indian origin (PIO) based in the UK, can avail home loans to buy residential…
Directed by Akarsh Khurana and Adhaar Khurana, Lionsgate Play’s second Indian original Jugaadistan is set to premiere on March 4, 2022. The series, which takes us through the dusty by-lanes of a campus, boasts of an ensemble cast including Sumeet Vyas, Arjun Mathur, Parambrata Chatterjee, Rukshar Dhillon, Taaruk Raina, Gopal…
CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak has admitted to attending prime minister Boris Johnson's lockdown birthday party in 2020 but refused to say what happened when he entered the room and claimed that he was there for a meeting to discuss the Covid-19 situation. His comments came after Johnson's five aides, including longstanding…
ICICI Bank UK PLC is now facilitating home loans in India through its parent, ICICI Bank Ltd India (ICICI Bank), for NRI (Non Resident Indians)/Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)/ Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) based in the United Kingdom (UK). With ICICI Bank’s India home loans, NRIs/OCI/PIO living in the…
MORE than 80 faculty members of the California State University (CSU), the US, have opposed a recent announcement of the institute to include caste in its non-discriminatory policy. In a strongly worded letter to the CSU board of trustees opposing the move, the faculty members wrote that the new policy…
A FINANCIAL consultant of Indian origin has demanded “unlimited damages” from Conservative peer Michelle Mone following a “racist remark” she allegedly made more than two years ago.Richard Lynton-Jones sued her with a 10-page writ, claiming her remarks caused “enormous distress, embarrassment and injury to his feelings.”His lawyers sought at least…
The president of the organisation which speaks for UK businesses has urged the government to lower taxes immediately to help the country’s “very fragile economy”. Speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye, Lord [Karan] Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer, said that families and businesses were suffering from a triple whammy of higher…
AN ORGANISATION representing Indian doctors has raised the issue of cancelled qualification exams in the UK with health secretary Sajid Javid. The General Medical Council (GMC) announced on December 22 that it was cancelling all PLAB2 tests for foreign doctors in January and February 2022. However, this decision was made…
INDIA has extended the timeline for the re-issuance of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card by one year till Dec 31, 2022. The mandatory requirement of re-issuance of an OCI card, each time a new passport is issued to a foreigner up to 20 years of age and once after…
INDIA’S OTT streaming industry is expected to grow to $13-15 billion (£9.62-11.1 bn) over the next decade, according to a joint report on media and entertainment. The OTT (over-the-top) industry is constantly growing and is one of the most competitive amongst emerging markets with over 40 players, said the report…
Senior Tories urge PM not to “exacerbate and aggravate” pandemic fallout One in 10 health workers could be forced to stop working because of Covid come the New Year, according to the chair of the British Medical Association (BMA). The warning comes as senior Conservatives urged the prime minister to…
A senior emergency doctor has warned that NHS staff are dealing with the worst health crisis in 20 years. They are under so much pressure more health workers than ever are quitting front line medicine for other hospital jobs. Dr Joydeep Grover, a consultant who has worked in emergency medicine…
MARK Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, on Friday (12) joined the Indian government's official Diwali celebrations at Cardiff University and inaugurated the Namami Gange exhibition. The occasion saw performances from Indian dancers and musicians. The university building was lit up in colours of the Indian national flag. Besides Drakeford,…
Lionsgate Play’s first Indian original series titled Hiccups And Hookups is all set to start streaming on 26th November 2021. It is directed by Kunal Kohli and stars Lara Dutta, Prateik Babbar and Shinnova in the lead roles. On Monday (15), the makers unveiled the trailer of the series. Lionsgate…
WHITE BRITONS with tumours are more likely to die within a year than people from other ethnic backgrounds, a study has found. Data of more than 24,000 adult patients in England, with malignant primary brain tumour diagnosed between 2012 and 2017 - was seen by researchers from King's College London.…
A COURT in Singapore on Tuesday (9) stayed the execution of a Malaysian man of Indian origin who has been convicted of drug trafficking after he tested positive for Covid-19. The high court suspended the scheduled execution of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, 33, until an appeal was heard during an online…
Lionsgate Play is all set for their first Indian original show which is titled Hiccups And Hookups. The show is directed by Kunal Kohli and it will feature Lara Dutta, Prateik Babbar and Shinnova. Lionsgate Play took to Twitter to make an announcement about it. They posted a video and…
A top radiologist claims he was unfairly dismissed after exposing racism and concerns about patient safety. Dr Naveen Bhatt was sacked for gross misconduct after allegedly being abusive towards a colleague and “weaponising” an NHS system for reporting safety incidents to criticise co-workers in the Avon Breast Screening Unit. His…
EMIGRATION consultants in South Africa have reported a huge surge in enquiries from South African Indians following the violence and looting that wrecked KwaZulu-Natal province in July. The province is home to about a third of South Africa's 1.4 million citizens of Indian origin, largely descended from the first settlers…
THE first bilateral meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden on Friday (24) will strengthen the relationship between the two countries and will give momentum to the Quad, a White House official has said. Biden will host Modi at the White House on Friday. Later, the…
BRITISH Indian workers are now dominating the finance industry in the UK, official figures have revealed. Some 20.5 per cent of employees of Indian origin are in the banking or financial sector, the highest proportion of any group. The figure was 14.6 per cent for those of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin…
Shehla Hasan has important task of attracting Indian investments into the region PORTUGUESE footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo joining Manchester United is not the only uplifting news coming out of the city. Perhaps less high-profile but possibly a lot more significant is Shehla Hasan’s appointment as the new executive director of…
A NEW survey has revealed a shocking disparity in Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections in General Practice. The survey, carried out by the GP forum at the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), has found out that over 70 per cent of GPs from black, Asian and minority…
Three flags fluttering above the pavilion of London's Oval cricket ground neatly symbolised the interchangeable identities of Britain's ethnic minorities at the fourth Test between England and India on Thursday. A British Union Jack flew highest in the middle, flanked by England's Saint George's Cross and an Indian tricolour, as…
A MINOR soccer player of Indian origin was recently sent off the ground during a game in Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, for wearing a religious necklace. Shubh Patel, 12, a member of the Toowong Club based in Auchenflower near Brisbane, told Australia’s Channel Seven News that it is against the…
IN HIS brilliant Channel 4 documentary The Curry House Kid, the celebrated dancer and choreographer, Akram Khan, meets an elderly chef in Brick Lane who came to Britain at the age of 11 with his dad, who soon passed away. Fending for himself, he chopped onions in a restaurant for…
“Colonial attitudes” leading to “disciplinary dice loaded against minority medics” The chair of the British Medical Association is demanding an independent investigation into the way south Asian and black doctors are being disciplined. Freedom of information figures obtained by Eastern Eye reveal that over the past 10 years, the General…
Renowned Bollywood actress Divya Dutta, whose filmography is as versatile as it gets with a string of such notable films as Veer-Zaara (2004), Delhi 6 (2009), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), is on cloud nine after being nominated for the Best Performance award for her film Sheer Qorma at Los Angeles…
In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Gaitri Issar Kumar, reveals the change in dynamics of British-Indian ties and plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence. You came to Britain came in the midst of the pandemic; how did you settle in…
Business barriers remain despite change in India's travel status, says analyst THE UK government’s decision to move India from the red list of countries to amber will help UK-India bilateral trade and business – but more needs to be done to reduce the barriers. This is the view of Anuj…
IT WAS with a heavy heart that Eastern Eye reported the death last Monday (26) of Dr Kailash Chand, a friend and supporter of this newspaper for many years. This week, some of those who knew Dr Chand have paid tribute to him in a special memorial feature. Dr Chaand…
AN award-winning former Tameside GP and leading NHS campaigner, Dr Kailash Chand OBE, has passed away at the age of 73. His son Dr Aseem Malhotra said on Twitter his father had suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday evening (26). Dr Chand was one of the most influential Asian doctors…
POSTING online videos of unwrapping presents may sound bizarre to some people, but for social media influencers, it is the gift that keeps on giving. Internet personalities in countries including the UK and India, are making a fortune and gaining millions of subscribers and followers from unboxing items and reviewing…
SHAMEEN Thakur-Rajbanshi, the chief of South Africa’s Minority Front, which has a major support in the country’s Indian community which has faced a considerable attack during the ongoing violence, has said that the “Indian community is devastated” by the riots. She said the situation turned so bad for them that…
SOUTH AFRICAN president Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday (16) he would not allow "anarchy and mayhem" to prevail and suggested that a wave of looting and arson that has destroyed hundreds of businesses had been deliberately provoked. Rioting broke out in several parts of the country following the jailing…
TECHNOLOGY platform PrimaryBid, created by Indian origin ex-banker Anand Sambasivan aims to open up the world of opportunities for ordinary investors. It has enabled several businesses such as Severn Trent, PensionBee, Ocado, Deliveroo and Compass, to include their stakeholders in their fundraising, the Telegraph reported. The platform gained more relevance…
DISCOUNT retailer B&M registered a slowdown in sales growth following comparisons with last summer’s lockdown, when people bought plenty of courtyard furniture the Times reported. In the 13 weeks to June 25, the group whose full name is B&M European Value Retail saw a 3.1 per cent increase in sales,…
THE US-based Indian American support organisation IMPACT has welcomed the Recognizing America’s Children Act in the House of Representatives. The act was introduced by Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), which would provide a pathway to permanent residency for over 200,000 Documented Dreamers, a vast majority of whom…
RADIO and TV presenter Anita Rani has revealed how she began self-harming as a 13-year-old as she struggled to cope with experiencing racist abuse and juggling dual identities – as an Asian growing up in the UK. In an interview with The Saturday Times (3), Rani, 43, said she faced racism, including…
IT WOULD be ironic if Sajid Javid, who is back from the political wilderness as Matt Hancock’s replacement as health secretary, and Rishi Sunak, who succeeded him 16 months ago as chancellor, fight it out one day for the top job in British politics. Asian vs Asian for the post…
THE NHS depends on black and minority ethnic staff (BAME) to provide high quality, reliable and safe care to patients – and has done so since its inception in 1948. They enrich the NHS with their skills, enthusiasm and diverse perspectives, and their continuing contribution has been highlighted by the…
By AMIT ROY THE Labour Party has dragged India’s prime minister Narendra Modi into Thursday’s (1) Batley and Spen by-election by issuing a leaflet which says prime minister Boris Johnson has failed to condemn the Indian leader for his policies in Kashmir. The literature has been widely condemned by many…
The Labour Party has dragged India’s prime minister Narendra Modi into Thursday’s (1) Batley and Spen by-election by issuing a leaflet which says prime minister Boris Johnson has failed to condemn the Indian leader for his policies in Kashmir. The literature has been widely condemned by many of Labour’s Indian…
HEALTHCARE leaders have warned that the NHS will not survive without the contribution of overseas staff, following reports a life peer was vowing to end the health service’s reliance on foreign workers. Baroness Dido Harding has apparently pledged to make the NHS less reliant on non-UK workers, if she becomes…
Senior managers ‘side with families’ despite orders to deny treatment for racist behaviour SOUTH ASIAN doctors have told Eastern Eye that they are being stopped from treating some white patients. Some have taken to social media to complain about white parents and white patients who refuse to be treated by them.…
Dr Hasmukh Shah BEM has been awarded visiting professorship by the University of South Wales, for his long-standing medical contribution to primary care, medical education and Leadership at Wales and in the UK. Since 2017, he has been a visiting fellow at the University. Dr Shah is a leading GP from…
by Barnie Choudhury It is so easy to bash the BBC, so I may as well join in. Last year BBC News refused to acknowledge that Kamala Harris, the American vice-president, was of Indian origin. I emailed senior news executives, and I never got a response. Then there was the…
GERMANY has declared Britain and Northern Ireland a virus-variant region, requiring anyone entering the country from the United Kingdom to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. The move comes amidst Britain reporting a rise in the spread of the coronavirus variant first found in India. The new rule takes effect…
SIX Bangladeshis, who recently returned from India, have been found to be infected with the B.1.617.2 variant of the coronavirus. One of them has succumbed to the disease. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said on Sunday (16) that the samples of 26 India returnees were tested…
By: Mohnish Singh Seasoned Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, who can be currently seen in Salman Khan’s Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai (2021), has signed on to star in a high-profile international project. A tabloid reports that the actor will play the character of a musician in the upcoming film based…
By Pooja Shrivastava Shabana Mahmood MP (Birmingham- Ladywood)- National Campaign Coordinator Labour MP Shabana Mahmood has represented Birmingham-Ladywood since 2010. She was appointed as the party’s National Campaign Coordinator in the Shadow Cabinet. [caption id="attachment_139470" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Shabana_Mahmood (Pic from Wikimedia Ccommons)[/caption] Born and brought up in Birmingham, Mahmood traces…
By Pooja Shrivastava India is witnessing a brutal second wave of Covid-19. On May 6, Thursday, the country recorded 412,262 new infections and 3,980 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry. The country’s health system is stretched, with reports of acute shortage of hospital beds, oxygen,…
By Swati Rana INDIA'S rising Covid infection rates and deaths have prompted relief efforts from countries worldwide as well as community and charitable organisations. On Thursday (5), India reported 412,431 new cases and 3,980 deaths. There are several reports of shortage of oxygen and availability of beds in hospitals. Some…
PERSONALISED VIDEOS FROM STARS HAVE VERY MIXED RESULTS by Anjali Mehta CAMEO is a website that enables people to get a personalised video message from a celebrity and the price range is dependent on how big the star is. The thousands of known names offering a video message range from…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIAN doctors have revealed their efforts to support medics and patients in India, which is in the midst of a devastating second coronavirus wave. The country’s tally of coronavirus infections surged past 20 million on Tuesday (4), becoming the second nation after the United States to…
INDIA and the United Kingdom will hold a virtual summit on Tuesday (4) as prime minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Boris Johnson will unveil a 10-year roadmap to "expand" bilateral ties. "A comprehensive roadmap 2030 will be launched during the summit, which will pave the way for further expanding…
THE National Health Service (NHS) has suspended recruitment doctors and nurses from amid concern over healthcare professionals leaving the country when they are most needed during India's Covid-19 second wave. The UK government may introduce the pause on arrivals of clinicians from India who have been recruited to join NHS trusts…
The UK said on Sunday it was sending an extra 1,000 oxygen ventilators to Covid-struck India, as a group of doctors staged their own intervention by offering long-distance telemedicine from Britain. Britain has already sent 495 oxygen concentrators and 200 ventilators to India as the country grapples with a devastating…
THE government’s race report, released last month, could “turn back the clock on the fight against racism,” a healthcare leader has said, as bodies credited in the review distanced themselves from the findings following its publication. The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) report, published at the end of…
AT LEAST 20 organisations and individuals credited in UK race review have now distanced themselves from the report and its findings alleging that the commission ignored their testimonies. The report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, released at the end of March, concluded that while racism and racial…
By Amit Roy EHSAN MASOOD is a 53-year-old science journalist and senior editor at the journal Nature who has written a book on why Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is no longer a good way of quantifying how well a country is doing economically. He points out that GDP does not…
THE Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders are now not required to carry their old, expired passports for travel to India, a government notification has said. The global Indian diaspora has welcomed the move, reported the PTI. The OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which…
By: Mohnish Singh Indian actor Adarsh Gourav has bagged the leading actor BAFTA nomination for his breakout performance in Netflix’s film The White Tiger (2021), the British Academy announced on Tuesday. Based on Aravind Adiga's Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, The White Tiger sees Gourav in the role…
By Amit Roy GOOD old William Shakespeare. He had this great ability to get to the heart of the matter. Take, for example, the name game. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But would Juliet have been quite…
by LAUREN CODLING MORE than half of ethnic minority psychiatrists have faced racism at work, new research revealed last month. Six in ten ethnic minority psychiatrists have faced overt or covert racism at work – but only 29 per cent of these incidents were reported, according to the Royal College…
PEOPLE from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups in the UK should be included in the second phase of the priority vaccine distribution, at the same time as white adults in at-risk health groups, doctors’ groups urged. The coalition of ethnic minority healthcare groups has written a letter to…
By Nadeem Badshah RULES which stop foreign doctors in the UK from bringing their elderly parents to the country must be scrapped, leading medics and campaigners have said. Groups have urged the government to axe the adult dependency rule (ADR) which makes it difficult for doctors to look after…
Two men of Indian origin were charged following a large fight in Southall, the Metropolitan Police said. Sukwir Singh, 22, and Lakha Singh, 29, of Norwood Gardens, Southall, has been charged with affray and threatening a person with a blade/sharply pointed article in a public place. Police were called on…
PROMINENT doctors’ organisations have written to the home secretary, Priti Patel, urging her to change the current rules relating to adult dependent relatives (ADR) visas, as they say, it has “heart-wrenching consequences” on medical practitioners in the UK. In a letter dated January 13, the British Association of Physicians of…
By Nadeem Badshah LEADING Asian restaurant bosses and chefs have urged ministers to provide more cash to save jobs and businesses from the Covid-19 crisis. Eateries across the country have been forced to close since November under lockdown rules and owners warned that many will be unable to survive without…
By Amit Roy NARINDAR SAROOP, a former Indian army major who died on December 19 in London at the age of 91, played a crucial role over 40 years in laying the foundations of the close relationship that exists today between the Conservative party and voters of Indian origin. In…
Several Indian-American physicians, in the frontline of the fight against the pandemic, are publicly taking the coronavirus vaccine and encouraging others to get the shots, emphasising that the vaccine is the "only saving grace" and a "scientific blessing" that will help the world win the battle against COVID-19. The US…
THE UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said that the mutual benefits of a post Brexit free-trade agreement between UK and India would be 'enormous'. He, however, added that such a deal could take many years. Responding to questions on the ongoing farmers’ protests in India, Raab said that India…
By NADEEM BADSHAH GPs will see patients and also administer Covid vaccine LEADING GPs have called for support to help them deal with “workload pressures” during the upcoming rollout of a coronavirus vaccine. Family doctors are set for a hectic few months with a Covid-19 jab expected to be unveiled…
By Lord Meghnad Desai I ARRIVED in London in September 1965 to teach at the London School of Economics (LSE). I had left India in 1961 and gone to the United States, thanks to Ford Foundation Fellowship to do my PhD. While there, I became aware of the racial discrimination…
By Amit Roy WE WERE told by the BBC last week that Kamala Harris has made history as the “first black woman vice-president”. The BBC’s headline generated a number of provocative tweets: “Why is Harris black, but Meghan Markle is ‘mixed race?’ Confused.” “She’s as much brown as black.” “She…
Residents set off firecrackers in the ancestral home of Kamala Harris on Sunday as India celebrated the vice president-elect's victory in the US election, as others hailed her achievement as historic and a "proud moment" for the country. Harris -- daughter of breast cancer specialist Shyamala Gopalan from the southern…
By Amit Roy WATCHING the US presidential debate last week in Nashville, Tennessee, I have to admit I was startled in the early hours of the morning when Donald Trump described India as a “filthy” country. Whether he wins or loses in next Tuesday’s (3) election, I feel he…
COMMUNITY VOICES and celebrities have urged South Asians in the UK to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in new NHS campaign. Celebrity chefs Atul Kochhar, Anjum Anand and media medic Dr Ranj Singh are part of the inaugural campaign supported by the South Asian Health Foundation, the British Association…
Murtuza Iqbal Aditya Chopra’s directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol completes 25 years of its release on 20th October 2020. It is the longest-running Indian film and it is still being showcased at Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai, India (currently shut due to the…
British premier carrier Virgin Atlantic on Thursday announced launch of flight services from India to Manchester, which has a sizable population of Indian origin people, starting December 20. Virgin Atlantic is delighted to announce it will be launching services from Delhi and Mumbai to Manchester as the airline ramps up…
OVER 80 Indian diaspora organisations in the UK have called for disbanding a new "fringe" Conservative group on Kashmir. The protest followed the revival of a so-called "Conservative Friends of Kashmir" group, announced on social media last week by seven Tory MPs representing constituencies with a significant Pakistani diaspora population.…
THE UK has announced a new exemption and reimbursement scheme for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) paid in by foreign healthcare professionals, which British Indian doctors had branded as "unfair". Set to rise from £400 to £624 this month, the surcharge aimed at raising funds for the NHS is imposed…
Asserting that Sikhs in the US have never been as safe as under the Trump administration, a prominent Sikh-American leader has claimed that the Biden campaign is trying to "demoralise and demotivate" the community. Jasdip Singh, co-chair of the Sikhs for Trump, said on Monday that it was because of…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN healthcare staff have revealed the stress and exhaustion they have suffered during the pandemic, as data revealed the BAME workforce is suffering from increased mental health problems during the crisis. In interviews with Eastern Eye, a number of doctors have revealed the trauma of seeing BAME…
A key US Congressional committee has advanced a bipartisan bill which aims to promote heart health among citizens of South Asian-origin, amidst an alarming rise in heart disease among them in the country. Promoted by Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act was advanced…
By Amit Roy IF BRITONS continue to insist on working from home after lockdown restrictions have been lifted, they will soon discover their jobs could be outsourced to somewhere like Hyderabad in India, those attending last week’s Financial Times Weekend Festival were told. This year, the three-day annual festival,…
By Sunder Katwala Director British Future thinktank THE US political conventions this year have lacked the usual razzmatazz. Social distancing converted the Democrat jamboree into a four-day online marathon, leaving even committed political aficionados feeling Zoomed out. Yet the goal was the same – the best possible springboard in the…
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden asserted that if elected, his administration will stand with New Delhi in confronting the threats it faces and called for strengthening the "bond" between India and the US. Presidential elections in the US will held on November 3 and the 77-year-old is challenging incumbent Republican…
Labour Friends of India, a representative group part of the Labour Party, on Saturday launched its new 'Mahatma Gandhi Future Leaders Programme' to encourage greater Indian diaspora representation in the elected offices of the party. The group said that its new programme will cover modules such as community engagement, communications,…
By Nadeem Badshah FEWER British Asian teenagers are going to university, with opposition MPs and business leaders warning that students are being put off by rising debt levels. The tradition in many Asian families of children getting a degree appears to be changing, with new government figures showing that 73…
A group of Indian-origin doctors has warned that inherent racial bias in medical research and practice could be exacerbating the disproportionately severe impact of COVID-19 among ethnic minorities in the UK and globally, as they call for a wider study into lifestyle-related risks among them. While metabolic syndrome (MetS) that…
THE British Association for Physicians of Indian Origin has backed the judicial review proceedings launched by a doctor-couple against health authorities for “risky” guidance on personal protection equipment during the initial stages of the pandemic. Reports on Friday (17) highlighted that the junior doctors, Meenal Viz and Nishant Joshi, named…
Leading streaming media giant Netflix on Thursday raised the curtain on its exciting slate of 17 Indian titles, comprising an electric mix of high-profile Bollywood films and shows. Among movies, we have Dharma Productions’ much-awaited biographical drama Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, starring Janhvi Kapoor in the titular role; Balaji…
By Amit Roy THIS is a sad story, which is also a very inspiring one, about how the NHS did its best to look after Hussein Amiri, who arrived in Britain in 2001 as a 14-year-old refugee from Afghanistan with his parents, Mohammed and Fariba, and his younger brothers, Hamed…
Dr Anton Sebastianpillai, Kingston Hospital Dr Anton Sebastianpillai was a “hugely respected” NHS geriatrician and author in his 70s, who died on April 4 at Kingston Hospital, where he served as a consultant. President of the British Geriatrics Society, Professor Tash Masud, said Sebastianpillai’s death was “heartbreaking”, adding that he…
A new West Midlands-India Partnership (WMIP) launched on Friday (26) to enhance UK-India relations with a special focus on tourism, trade and investment in the region. The partnership, led by the West Midlands Growth Company, will support the region’s long-term economic growth plans as part of a five-year programme of…
By Nadeem Badshah BUSINESS leaders have welcomed new figures showing that British Indians are outperforming other minority groups to land top jobs, but have warned more work is needed on equality. Eleven per cent of professionals of Indian heritage were in “manager, director and senior official” roles, the joint highest…
Britain’s leading doctors’ associations are calling on UK home secretary Priti Patel for an automatic fee-free extension of the short-term visas of many Indian doctors stranded in the lockdown as they await their international qualification exams in the UK. The British Medical Association (BMA) and British Association of Physicians of…
By Tan Dhesi Labour MP for Slough Shadow minister for railways THE nation needs a full, independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis, which has taken the lives of so many people, including three of my own close family members. We need to scrutinise ministers’ decisions…
FOLLOWING an online petition by Dallas-resident Hetal Lakhani, Asian marriage website Shaadi.com, has removed a skin tone filter option. The dating site said that the filter "was not serving any purpose" and was a "product debris we missed removing". Lakhani started the online petition after speaking to another user, who questioned…
LABOUR MP Dawn Butler has called on the government to make a concerted effort to “dismantle structural and systemic racism” in society, as she referred to Eastern Eye’s exclusive investigation this week on a lack of BAME leaders in the NHS. During a Backbench Business Debate on Thursday (18), Butler referred…
By Nadeem Badshah INDIAN families in the UK are the property kings, government figures show. Some 74 per cent of Indians households are homeowners, a higher rate than white Britons at 68 per cent. The figure among the Pakistani community is 58 per cent and 46 per cent among British…
By Barnie Choudhury SIXTEEN of the 17 doctors who died during the time it took Public Health England to carry out its review into the disproportionate number of Asian and black people dying from coronavirus were BAME, Eastern Eye has learnt. The British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, also…
BORIS JOHNSON has said BAME groups "paid a disproportionate price" during the pandemic as he acknowledged that the raging emotions triggered by the death of George Floyd in the US could not be ignored. The custodial killing of the unarmed African American sparked demonstrations around the world over police brutality.…
British prime minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (21) did a U-turn as he ordered his Cabinet ministers to work out an exemption of a surcharge on foreign medics, including Indians, working in the UK’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS). The move comes just a day after he had dismissed the…
LEADING doctors' associations in the UK have urged Home Secretary Priti Patel to reconsider a surcharge on the work visas of overseas healthcare workers. In the letter issued on Monday (18), Doctors Association UK chair, Dr Rinesh Parmar said the government’s dismissal of a previous statement promising a review into…
By Amit Roy THE 75th anniversary of VE day last week came and went without much acknowledgement of the Indian contribution to allied victory. The Indian-origin historian Kusoom Vadgama, who has long tried to highlight the role played by Indian soldiers, said: “I am glued to the media, but no…
By Shailesh Solanki THE disproportionate number of people from Asian and black communities who have died from coronavirus is a “tragic episode of systemic failure”, a senior NHS leader has said. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Lord Victor Adebowale claimed racism “clearly played a role” in the rising…
By Amit Roy THERE is no question of pulling Asian healthcare workers from frontline duties, Ramesh Mehta, president of BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), has made clear. This is the impression that has been given in some national newspapers. Mehta said he had suggested that some elderly…
KEIR STARMER has said Kashmir is a bilateral issue for India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully, stressing that such divisive issues from the subcontinent should divide communities in the UK. In an attempt to reach out to the Indian diaspora and rid the party of a perceived hostile stance under…
SENIOR doctors have demanded “immediate” government action to tackle the disproportionate number of deaths among ethnic minority communities suffering from the Covid-19 virus. Although the government announced on April 16 that it would launch an inquiry into why people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds appear to be…
A surcharge added on to the work visas of overseas healthcare workers, within the NHS, is under review as they battle against the coronavirus pandemic, UK home secretary Priti Patel said on Saturday. Patel, who led the daily Downing Street briefing, was asked about this long-standing demand within the medical…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP for Brent North THIS is an open letter to Dominic Raab, first secretary of state. Since the first report of a UK death from Covid-19 in early March, my constituency of Brent North and its hospital at Northwick Park have been at the epicenter of…
PEOPLE of Indian origin in England have emerged as the worst-affected minority group in the coronavirus crisis, according to official data on Covid-19 deaths in hospitals across the country. Figures released this week by the NHS England show that of the 13,918 patients who died in hospitals till April 17…
The UK’s leading doctors’ union on Friday (17) called on the government to ensure its review into the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities must be informed by the real-time data collection for the real effect. The British Medical Association (BMA) welcomed Downing Street’s announcement…
EXPERTS have warned the government to “act now” as new statistics showed a disproportionate number of British Asians have been affected by Covid-19. New data revealed a third of patients in intensive care were of BAME heritage, while the health secretary, Matt Hancock, confirmed last week that 19 NHS workers…
The Labour Party on Saturday (11) joined calls alongside doctors doctors for a probe into the disproportionate number of black and minority ethnic (BAME) medics dying from the novel coronavirus in the country. The move comes as UK health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that 19 NHS workers have died with…
Indian-origin doctors in the UK have initiated an in-depth research into the role of ethnicity in greater susceptibility of BAME communities to develop more critical symptoms of Covid-19. A report by the UK's Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) this week had revealed that the country’s ethnic minority…
Scores of Indian-Americans have tested positive with the novel coronavirus and several of them have died, according to multiple news reports from community organisations and diaspora leaders from across the US, currently the global epicentre of the deadly disease. While there is no official or unofficial count of Indian-Americans infected…
By Amit Roy AT 2.30AM on a bitterly cold Sunday (29), Britain slipped into summer time, with the prospect we will have to live with a lockdown, even if relaxed, for six months. But perhaps we should remind ourselves how lucky we are to have the support of the NHS…
by LAUREN CODLING THE NHS is prepared for the coronavirus outbreak to “go from bad to worse” as the infection continues to spread across the UK, a medical expert has claimed. The comments came after prime minister Boris Johnson warned last month the health service could be “overwhelmed” by the…
The UK government on Tuesday (31) confirmed that foreign health professionals whose visas were set to expire before October this year will get an automatic extension for a year as they battle the coronavirus pandemic. The extension, announced by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, will apply to around 2,800 migrant…
THE American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical organisation in the US, has launched a fundraising campaign to donate masks and other personal protective equipment to health care providers, who are facing acute shortage of these essential items in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. As China…
INDIAN doctors working with the NHS have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to scrap an “unfair and discriminatory” surcharge imposed on foreign doctors, many of whom are on the front line against the coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 9,500 people in the country. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS),…
HUNDREDS of Indian doctors on Friday (20) started responding to the UK government’s call for recently retired medics to return to work, and assist the over-burdened NHS. The UK’s Department for Health had written to over 65,000 retired doctors and nurses in England and Wales, asking them to help the…
INDIAN doctors in the UK on Thursday (19) called for urgent measures to address the mounting coronavirus pressure on the NHS, including cancellation of all non-urgent surgeries. The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) wrote to England’s Chief Medical Officer Prof. Chris Whitty, saying Indian doctors stood “shoulder…
BRITISH businesswoman and top executive Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia has resigned as the UK head of Salesforce. Her decision to step down from the helm came less than a year in the role. Despite her step-down, she will remain as an adviser to the business. The American software giant said on Thursday (12)…
Chancellor Rishi Sunak's first Budget is set to make the cost of long-term visas to Britain higher with a major hike in the compulsory health fee charged on migrants from countries, including India. Sunak, born in the UK to a general practitioner father and pharmacist mother, announced that the Immigration…
LONDON MAYOR Sadiq Khan has led tributes to Ramniklal Solanki, a giant of Gujarati journalism and pioneer of British Asian media, who passed away on Sunday (1), after a brief illness. He was 88. Mr Solanki was in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, when he suffered a stroke last week. He was admitted…
Well-known actor Rajeev Khandelwal, who entered the OTT space with an ALTBalaji series called Haq Se (2018) and then followed it up with Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala (2019) on the same platform, has been confirmed to topline an upcoming webseries for ZEE5. Titled Naxal, the series was officially announced…
by NADEEM BADSHAH MINISTERS are failing to do enough to attract British Asians to teaching after new figures revealed they continue to shun the profession, unions and campaigners said. Just 0.6 per cent of teachers were of Bangladeshi origin in 2018 with the community representing 0.8 per cent of the…
By Amit Roy THE QUIP by former prime minister David Cameron that Indians living in the UK have helped to put the “Great” back into “Great Britain” may not be so far-fetched, judging by the findings of a report which focuses on some of the impressive achievements of the…
By Amit Roy BORIS JOHNSON is said to be toying with the idea of fixing the legal system so judges in future will no longer have jurisdiction over decisions taken by (Tory) governments, such as prorogation of parliament. That seems the slippery slope towards becoming a banana republic. Meanwhile,…
AN INDIAN-AMERICAN woman, who raised her voice against alleged discrimination in the admission of Asians in Ivy League schools, has announced that she will run for the US House of Representatives, saying she wants to be a “voice, not a noise” for the community, particularly the Hindus in the US.…
The United States deported 1,616 Indians in 2019, the highest in five years. When compared to the previous year, there is a threefold increase in these numbers. As many as 611 Indians were deported from the US in 2018, according to data obtained from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement…
Indian origin name Shreyas generally means superior or fame. India's Shreyas Iyer rose to fame on Wednesday (February 5) when he hit his first ODI hundred against New Zealand in Hamilton. Shreyas Iyer scored 103 runs off 107 balls batting at No.4. He joined a select list of India No.4…
THE British police have appealed for public help to trace a Wigston woman who is reportedly missing. Indian origin Harbinder Sandhu, 41, was last seen at her home address in the Launceston Road area on January 2 by a family member. She was reportedly missing on January 28 when her address was found empty and attempts to…
INDIAN diaspora-owned companies with combined revenue of £36.84 billion employ over 174,000 people and pay over £1bn in Corporation Tax, according to a first-of-its-kind research. The 'India in the UK: The Diaspora Effect' report, released here on Tuesday (4), analysed data related to 654 Indian diaspora-owned companies in the UK…
By Amit Roy NOW that the BBC is going to screen an eight-part television drama on Indian origin serial killer Charles Sobhraj, the writer Farrukh Dhondy has spoken to Eastern Eye about the man that he got to know. It was not so much a friendship as an “acquaintanceship” during…
AN INDIAN origin NHS nurse has described her nursing career as “varied, interesting and rewarding” as the health service announced its mission to fill thousands of vacant nursing roles. With recruits from the European Union beginning to leave the NHS in large numbers, the question of how to staff the…
By Nadeem Badshah HEALTH chiefs have been urged to relax the rules for dentists from overseas who want to work in the UK to tackle the staffing crisis. Some practises are not accepting new NHS patients due to growing waiting lists - forcing some to pull their teeth out…
By Nadeem Badshah HOLIDAYMAKERS to India have been given a boost after the currency rate between the pound and rupee improved due to Brexit optimism and prime minister Boris Johnson’s election win. Travellers have got around Rs 94 per British sterling pound in January after the Conservative’s thumping win at…
By Nadeem Badshah PHYSIOTHERAPISTS from countries including India are “desperately needed” by the NHS in order to help tackle the longer waiting times faced by patients, campaigners have said. The average wait for a routine physiotherapy appointment is 45 days from referral, according to figures from 106 NHS trusts.…
IRELAND prime minister Leo Varadkar celebrated the New Year in the western Indian state of Goa, an official said. Varadkar, who is on a private visit to India, stayed at a plush resort in North Goa district to welcome 2020. He arrived in the coastal state on Monday (30). "His…
By Amit Roy ALTHOUGH David Cameron has been pilloried for calling the EU referendum, leading to a disunited kingdom from which Scotland might break away, I still make him the man of the decade – politically, at least, and very much from the Indian point of view. The decade has…
Top Democratic Senator Kamala Harris on Friday (20) came out in support of her fellow Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, with whom External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar refused to meet during his visit to the country early this week. "It's wrong for any foreign government to tell Congress what members…
AN ASIAN origin woman sub-postmaster is one of the claimants who will receive a settlement package of £57.75 million from the Post Office. The 550 claimants were wrongly accused of theft and false accounting by the Post Office. Seema Misra was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2010 akin…
By Nadeem Badshah MIGRANTS and visitors to the UK are faced with huge bills due to the cost of life-saving medicine and rising NHS immigration fees, a charity has warned. A study of 50 countries found the US has the most expensive medication in the world, with the UK in…
By Amit Roy ASIAN peer Lord Karan Bilimoria has spoken for the first time of “the two three things I want to do” when he takes over as president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The CBI, which has 190,000 members who employ a total of seven million…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH INDIANS, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are among the happiest people in the country, an official study has showed. South Asians scored higher than the average score of 7.54 out of 10 when they were asked how happy they felt. People of Indian origin scored 7.67, Bangladeshis 7.64…
A ketogenic diet containing high fat and low carbohydrates is linked to a better ability to fight off flu virus infections in mice, than food rich only in carbohydrates, according to a study. The researchers, including Indian origin scientist Vishwa Deep Dixit from Yale University in the US, said the…
Top prize winners Margaret Atwood, Orhan Pamuk and JM Coetzee led more than 250 literary and journalist luminaries who called Thursday (14) on India's prime minister Narendra Modi to revoke an order stripping writer Aatish Taseer of his "overseas citizenship". Salman Rushdie and leading Indian writer Amitav Ghosh also signed…
by Barnie Choudhury IN THE late 1960s, those east African-Asians who saw signs that things were about to change for the worse fled Uganda. A few years later the dictator, Idi Amin, expelled the remaining 60,000, generously allowing them the clothes on their back and £5 in their pockets. Among…
THE Labour party's failure to select enough number of British Indian candidates to contest in the upcoming general elections has attracted severe criticism. Labour Friends of India (LFIN), the representative diaspora group of the party, on Wednesday (13) noted that the relation between the Indian community and Labour has already…
DIFFERENCES over Kashmir must not be allowed to divide communities against each other here in the UK, the chair of the Labour Party has said, adding the party would not adopt any “anti-India or anti-Pakistan” position over the matter. In a letter dated November 11, Ian Lavery said that “Kashmir…
An Indian-origin British journalist critical of prime minister Narendra Modi has lost his Indian overseas citizenship, a move campaigners said underlined the government's hostility to a free press. The home ministry said Thursday that Aatish Taseer had "concealed the fact that his late father was of Pakistani origin" and was…
PAKISTAN has invited cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend the inaugural ceremony of the landmark Kartarpur Corridor which will be opened for pilgrims on November 9, a media report said on Wednesday (30). India and Pakistan last week signed the agreement on the Kartarpur Corridor that will allow Indian pilgrims…
THE boss of Sanjay Foods was honoured with a prestigious award at an event organised by the NRI World Summit recently. Atul Lakhani received ‘The Pride of India Award’ in recognition for his company’s professional, creative, innovative, and forward-thinking contribution to the hospitality industry in the UK. The awards ceremony,…
US VOTERS of Indian-origin and other Asian countries' descent have thrown their weight behind Democratic presidential aspirant Joe Biden in the race to the 2020 nominations. Supporting Biden, Indian-Americans and members of other Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community on October 26 launched "AAPIs for Biden" in Las Vegas. "'AAPIs…
Islamabad and New Delhi signed an agreement on Thursday (24) on a visa-free corridor between the two countries that will allow Sikh pilgrims in India to visit the shrine to their religion's founder, which is in Pakistan. The Kartarpur Corridor deal -- a rare example of cooperation between the nuclear-armed…
INDIA is deliberating potential censorship on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, a senior government source told. While film and TV certification bodies already moderate public content in India, the country's laws do not allow censorship of content on the increasingly popular online streaming platforms. The government's…
By Amit Roy AN INDIAN origin academic, Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, is among three people who have been awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize for economics “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty”. Banerjee, 58, shares the nine million Swedish krona (£728,000) prize with his wife, Esther Duflo, 46 –…
GUILDFORD Crown Court on Monday (30) jailed an Indian origin man who stole over £20,000 from two vulnerable brothers. Manish Singh, 40, of Woking has been jailed for 10 months. Singh was living with the brothers as a lodger in 2018 when he asked to borrow £15,000 to send to…
A BRITISH court has jailed three money launderers, including an Indian origin person, for selling a bogus metal scheme and pocketing £1 million from customers. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Monday (30), Tarun Jain, 50, Ike Obiamiwe, 56, and Daniel Jordan, 36, have been jailed by the Kingston…
by NADEEM BADSHAH MINISTERS have been criticised by top doctors after it emerged that overseas medics are not being able to start work in the NHS due to visa delays. Dozens of doctors have voiced their concern, with some warning that it will lead to staff shortages and potential risks…
FOOD processing giant Heinz has accused a former employee of stealing more than half a million pounds. The company has sued Karan Chopra, 30, for damages and the return of £648,000 it accuses him of stealing and diverting into bogus customer accounts. Chopra, who is of Indian origin, is accused…
IN a bid to force through Brexit on October 31, Boris Johnson has abused his power more than any other prime minister for over half a century, Gina Miller’s QC told the Supreme Court on Tuesday (17). Opening the case, Gina Miller's barrister Lord Pannick QC said: “The exceptional length…
by AMIT ROY CREATING the right brand for a company is quite an art – and Sir Richard Branson, boss of Virgin Atlantic, is changing the mascots on his aircraft after 35 years in order to reflect the ethnic and LGBT diversity of modern Britain. It has long been acknowledged…
INDIAN origin chief of OakNorth has urged the government to introduce a ‘unicorn visa’ system. According to Rishi Khosla, a unicorn visa would reduce the time taken by the British unicorns to recruit talents from foreign countries after Brexit. Khosla wants the ministers to introduce a fast-track system that would…
AN Indian origin pharmacist manager at Well Pharmacy went above the line of duty last week to ensure residents of the town in Derbyshire didn’t go without their vital medication. Now, Rajesh Modi, pharmacist manager at Well Pharmacy, is a popular and familiar figure in Whaley Bridge. The Indian origin…
INDIAN origin incoming chief executive of Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is in line to get over £7.5 million as compensation for joining the British multinational business giant. Laxman Narasimhan, 52, who is scheduled to join RB leaving PepsiCo from next month. Narasimhan had been granted remunerative replacement share and cash awards…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH ASIAN parents are being urged to set a healthier example for their families after figures showed children of Bangladeshi origin have the second-highest rates of being overweight. Government data published earlier this year showed that 44 per cent of British-Bangladeshi youngsters aged 10-11 were classed…
INDIAN origin Mahmud Kamani led Boohoo has acquired the online business and all intellectual property rights of Karen Millen and Coast in an £18.2 million deal. The latest move by the British online fashion retailer raises fears for hundreds of jobs in the UK’s two women's clothing retailers. The manchester-based…
INDIAN origin international development secretary, Alok Sharma visited Nigeria in his first overseas trip in the role to see how UK aid is helping to generate trade and investment opportunities – both for African and British businesses. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and during the two-day trip, which concluded on…
BRITISH online fashion retailer, Boohoo has made an offer to purchase the online business of the UK based women's clothing brands- Karen Millen and Coast. Acquiring the online operations of the two businesses "would represent highly complementary additions", said the Indian origin Mahmud Kamani led fashion firm. Kamani’s business added…
INDIAN origin British home secretary, Priti Patel signals the return of zero-tolerance policing to make criminals ‘feel terror’ on the streets. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Patel said her department would take steps to empower the police officers to harden their stand against criminals in a bid to…
THE UK officials have urged the public to help them to trace 11 most wanted fugitives, including an India born drug smuggler. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the charity Crimestoppers have urged the public on Thursday (1) to help them to catch the last fugitives who have escaped justice.…
INDIAN origin family-owned Sigma Pharmaceuticals won the ‘national champion’ crown at this year’s National Family Business Awards in the ‘health and care services’ category on Sunday (28). The company said: “As we become a second-generation family business and continue to thrive and grow, this rewards the contribution of our extended…
THE new British Home Secretary said Facebook’s plans to introduce end-to-end encryption on its messenger could adversely impact the fight against terrorism and evils such as- paedophiles on the internet. Social media giant’s latest move to introduce end-to-end encryption on its messaging platform would indirectly benefit terrorists, anti-social elements such…
There are hundreds of platforms for gaming out there, from different websites with a vast amount and variety of games on offer to traditional console gaming. There are games based on everything from films and TV shows to celebrities and pantheons of gods, while culture and history also play an important role. Source:…
Indian-origin schoolchildren are way ahead of their white British peers in schools across England, according to a new report on education standards in the country released in London on Tuesday (30). The Education Policy Institute (EPI) think tank said in its flagship Annual Report 2019 that its measure of the…
THE UK tourism sector is very resilient to the prevailing Brexit uncertainties when there has been a discussion about how Brexit would impact British businesses, an Indian hotel company boss said. Ritesh Agarwal, 25, founder of OYO Rooms was quoted by the Telegraph: “The Brexit discussions were there around the…
INDIAN origin Issa brothers are moving ahead with their plans to build one of the world’s largest petrol station chain. The company’s latest spending strategies have made it one of the biggest business in the UK. Zuber and Mohsin Issa control 50 per cent of the company alongside TDR Capital.…
A NINE-year-old Indian origin girl has won Tech4Goods award for her innovative next-generation Smart Stick for the blind. Mihika will receive £5,000 of tech equipment of her choice, as well as focused sessions with BT experts, to get support for her project. Her new smart stick helps blind and visually-impaired…
TWO Indian origin names have been included in the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) list of 12 most expensive registrations it sold in the past 30 years. The Indian name, ‘51 NGH’ (Singh) listed as the third most expensive registration in the list. It was sold for £201,…
By Amit Roy THE president of the Royal Society, Prof Sir Venkatraman ('Venki') Ramakrishnan, has expressed concerns about the negative impact that British withdrawal from the European Union would have on scientific collaboration. He did so last Friday (12) during his address at a ceremony which saw 62 new Fellows,…
Netflix is one of the biggest OTT platforms and has many series being streamed on it. Recently, Netflix announced five Indian originals and two of them will be produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. Apart from being actors, SRK and Anushka are also successful producers. Shah Rukh Khan’s…
FORMER South Africa president Jacob Zuma has said that he initiated the idea that led to the controversial Indian-origin Gupta family establishing their media empire, which has since collapsed. Zuma said he had conceived the idea of having an "alternative media" in South Africa because "the media in this country…
BUSINESS tycoon Lakshmi Niwas Mittal led ArcelorMittal said that it may axe nearly 25 per cent of its workforce in South Africa. The steel giant’s latest move has come as part of its restructuring plan to reduce cost as it fears that it could fall into red territory this year.…
DEUTSCHE BANK is in discussion with Indian origin led British financial technology firm OakNorth to use its credit analysis and monitoring platform. German multinational lender examining Rishi Khosla co-founded OakNorth’s technology with an aim to formalise the partnership, Reuters reported quoting a source with the knowledge of the discussions. Chief…
INDIAN origin British kid won the gold medal in the fourth world yoga festival and championship held in Bulgaria recently. Ishwar Sharma, 9, is a yoga prodigy and an international performer and speaker on yoga and its benefits. He was also the recipient of the ‘British Indian of the Year…
Around 80,000 Indians are expected to travel to the UK during the cricket World Cup, British Deputy High Commissioner to India Jan Thompson said. "Our estimate is that around 80,000 Indians will travel to the UK for the World Cup. There is tourist rush anyway at this time of the…
INDIAN origin owned P&B Foods Ltd has extended its recall of Heera Chilli Powder Extra Hot to include an additional pack size of10 x 400g. P&B Foods has recalled two pack sizes of its Heera Chilli Powder Extra Hot due to the presence of salmonella in the product. Pack sizes…
LONDON based peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle has warned on revenues citing turbulent market conditions which caused for a decline in demand for loans from its platform. Indian origin Samir Desai co-founded firm said that it now expects revenue growth of 20 per cent in the current year. Earlier, it projected…
INDIAN origin co-founded OakNorth Bank is on its way to double its staff count after signing an agreement to provide its credit analysis and monitoring platform to The Netherlands based NIBC Bank. In its first public enterprise-wide partnership since launching a licensing strategy in 2018, Rishi Khosla led firm has…
Indians are making a mark not just in their country but even internationally. While many films are getting a lot of appreciation at international film festivals and making a mark at the box office all around the world, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited some of the…
LIBERTY STEEL, part of Indian origin Sanjeev Gupta’s global GFG Alliance, today (1) completed the acquisition of seven major steelworks and five service centres across seven European countries from ArcelorMittal. The €740 million deal makes Liberty Steel one of the top ten producers globally, excluding China, with a total rolling…
BRITISH Indian Leena Nair will join the BT board as a non-executive director. The top Unilever executive will also serve as a member of the remuneration, nominations, digital impact and sustainability committees of the group. Her appointment takes effect from the end of BT’s annual general meeting on July 10. Nair…
INDIAN origin labour MP Tan Dhesi and conservative MP Richard Benyon met the Rail Minister, Andrew Jones MP, to discuss the work of the all-party parliamentary group for a western rail link to Heathrow (APPG WRLtH) on Wednesday (27). Both Tan and Richard are co-chairs of the cross-party group of…
INDIAN origin owned Cake Box has recorded a pre-tax profit of £3.8m for the year to March, up from £3.3m registered last year. The chain, which floated on London’s junior market last year has witnessed revenue growth of 33 per cent to £16.9m year-on-year basis. Gross profit of the egg-free…
AN INDIAN ORIGIN businessman was on Wednesday (12) cleared of attempting to arrange the £20,000 contract killing of his first wife. Building company owner Gurpreet Singh, 44, has been found not guilty of soliciting the murder of Amandeep Kaur in 2013. Kaur died on a trip to India in 2014,…
by LAUREN CODLING MEDICAL professionals have slammed the “rampant discrimination” within the NHS as a new report showed that BAME representation at senior levels is declining. Findings released last week by the NHS Confederation showed the number of ethnic minority chairs and non-executive directors of NHS trusts in England has…
BRITISH consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has named Indian origin Laxman Narasimhan to succeed Rakesh Kapoor as its chief executive officer (CEO). Narasimhan, PepsiCo's global chief commercial officer, will join RB as CEO-designate and be appointed to the board as an executive director effective July 16. He will become…
AMERICAN pharmaceutical major Insys Therapeutics has filed for bankruptcy and will sell all its assets, the company has announced. The latest move has come a month after its India-born founder and four other former executives were convicted of bribery and racketeering conspiracy, fuelling a national opioid crisis which claimed lives…
INDIAN origin chief executive officer (CEO) of Reckitt Benckiser (RB) was among those invited to a breakfast meeting between the US president Donald Trump and senior business leaders from Britain and the US. Another Indian origin Vis Raghavan, the CEO for JP Morgan in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa…
UNITED NATIONS (UN) secretary-general António Guterres has appointed Indian origin Anita Bhatia as the deputy executive director of the UN agency for gender equality and the empowerment of women (UN-Women) for resource management, sustainability and partnerships. Bhatia has had a distinguished career at the World Bank Group, serving in various…
by NADEEM BADSHAH SLAVERY victims from south Asia are being recruited in places of worship by relatives in the UK who use “threats and blackmail” to control them, a report found. Campaigners have called for more funding and awareness to tackle the issue after the Unseen charity revealed that its…
INDIAN origin businessman Dhruv Patel elected as the chairman of the City Bridge Trust Committee last week. The founder of the City Hindus Network is the first ever black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) to reach the helm of London’s biggest independent grant provider. Patel, 35, is also an elected…
by Barnie Choudhury IN MY favourite book, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, a father imparts a pearl of wisdom to his son about bravery, saying courage is “when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what”. When the Conservative…
by LAUREN CODLING THE UK has been urged “not to prejudice” the healthcare systems of developing countries, including India, by hiring doctors and nurses from those countries to tackle an understaffed NHS. Senior medical professionals have also said the government must acknowledge the benefits of immigration to the country’s health…
Nearly half of citizenship applications made for children last year came from those whose parents are from Commonwealth backgrounds, figures show. Data obtained following a freedom of information request by the community group Citizens UK showed that 46 per cent of the 39,000 citizenship applications came from children who have…
INDIAN origin former billionaire John Kapoor has convicted in a case linked to the opioid crisis in the US. The founder of Insys Therapeutics has become the first pharmaceutical head to be convicted in the US opioid crisis. A Boston jury ruled Kapoor and four colleagues worked to bribe physicians…
by ASJAD NAZIR Authors with a strong South Asian connection have won prestigious literary prizes over the years and in the process inspired countless others to follow in their giant footsteps. They have also left literary works that have become a part of history and permanently imprinted on the minds…
INDIAN origin businessman, Ravi Mehta has agreed to pay the highest ever office rent in the UK. The 37-year-old India focussed hedge fund boss will pay £250 a square foot for his firm’s new headquarters in Mayfair. Mehta will shift Steadview Capital Management into offices at 30 Berkeley Square. The…
In a bizarre move, Pakistan and world's premier leg-spinner Yasir Shah has earned the wrath of his country's cricket board for being seen lip syncing to a Bollywood number with an unknown woman in popular video service Tick Tok. The PCB is set to introduce a series of 'code of…
Five Indian nationals were among the 50 worshippers killed in the Christchurch mosque attacks, with at least two others reported to be injured, officials said Sunday (17). India's embassy in New Zealand confirmed the deaths in a tweet, following the devastating shootings at twin mosques in the normally peaceful city.…
After wooing cinephiles with a series of Bollywood blockbusters, Indian superstar Akshay Kumar is now set to impress the global audience with his forthcoming Amazon Prime Original, The End (working title). The actor confirmed his digital debut with the high-profile project on Tuesday in Mumbai. The show will have a…
BRITISH home secretary Sajid Javid has signed an order for Indian origin bookie Sanjeev Kumar Chawla to be extradited to India inconnection with the Hansie Cronje cricket match-fixing scandal of 2000. The 52 year old former Indian national who wanted in India for legal proceedings stands accused of being directly involved in…
UK-based Indian doctors and healthcare professionals are campaigning against what they describe as an “unfair” doubling of a health surcharge imposed on professionals from outside European Union (EU) living and working in Britain. The “Immigration Health Surcharge” was introduced in April 2015 and from December last year it was hiked…
A COURT in India has prevented a British citizen of Indian origin to proceed with his divorce plea against his estranged wife who lives in India in a UK court. Justice Ramesh Dhanuka of the Bombay High Court ruled that just because the man was a UK national it did…
CONSULAR facilities such as passport and visa services will be taken to the Indian diaspora across the UK, the new Indian high commissioner announced at an event on Monday evening (28). Ruchi Ghanashyam, who took up her position in November, said the move was part of an extensive range of…
Canada has extradited the mother and uncle of a woman killed 19 years ago to face justice in India for their alleged roles in her honor killing, media said on Thursday. The body of Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu was found with her throat slit in June 2000 in Punjab state. She…
India's relations with the UK will continue to grow even after Britain's planned exit from the European Union in March, Indian High Commissioner Ruchi Ghanashyam has assured London, amidst the political turmoil here over Brexit. The Indian envoy said this during her first visit to the Midlands on January 18…
India Prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (22) described NRIs as India's brand ambassadors and said they were the symbols of the country's capabilities. Modi made this statement while inaugurating the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency. "I consider NRIs India's brand ambassadors. They are the…
Indian-Americans are reportedly excited about Kamala Harris, a senator from California, potentially making a bid for the White House. Harris is yet to officially announce her bid for 2020 elections, but she recently said that the US was ready for a woman of colour leader. Virginia-based author and speaker Braham…
UK visa has turned costlier for Indian and non-EU nationals on Tuesday (8) following a decision to increase the immigration health surcharge (IHS), which is payable when the applicants request for a UK visa. The IHS introduced in 2015 which enables the migrants to access the National Health Service (NHS)…
Indian origin man Jagdiep Dhonsi is one among the three jailed in the UK for his involvement in the illegal supply of potentially dangerous prescription-only medicines. Jagdiep Dhonsi, Amrin Mirza and Shirina Ali were sentenced on Monday (7) at Southwark Crown Court for their involvement in the crime. Dhonsi was…
A group of scientists in the UK including one of the Indian origin, professor Prashant Kumar, found that planting roadside hedges, rather than relying on the trees can significantly cut down the air pollution exposure from cars in near road environment. Scientists from University of Surrey analysed how three categories…
The UK is on its mission to complete its Brexit process and there won’t be any issues to the migrant Indians in the UK till the process gets completed, said India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to upper house (Rajya Sabha) of Indian Parliament on Thursday (3). The minister was…
UK detectives investigating the murder mystery of an Indian origin woman in Birmingham over 22 years ago are hopeful of cracking the case after getting some DNA clues which could help them to arrest the killer. The badly decomposed body of 36-year-old Indian origin, Surinder Kaur Varyapraj was found in the…
Senator Kamala D Harris recently said she would decide about a potential 2020 presidential bid in the next few weeks. “Over the holiday, I will make that decision with my family,” Harris said in an interview with MSNBC. The Senator from California also added that she was ready for things to get…
Indian high commissioner to the UK, Ruchi Ghanashyam has said that the bilateral relationship between India and Britain will remain firm despite the turn the ongoing Brexit negotiations take. In an event organised by the Indian Professionals Forum (IPF) at Chatham House in London on Tuesday (27), Ghanashyam told the…
Aaron Rai won his first European Tour title at the Hong Kong Open last Sunday, making him the 12th Englishman to win on the European Tour and among the growing number of players of Indian descent making a mark on the game. However, before Rai was bitten by the golfing…
UK-based members of the Goan community performed first ever Konkani programme at the High Commission of India in London on November 20. The event was organised as part of the communal harmony and national integration week. Sharing his views on Goan community members residing in the UK, Clayton Fernandes Barreto,…
A total of 70 Indian-origin words included in the Oxford Dictionary of English unveiled by the British Council on Thursday (22) as part of its 70th anniversary in India. The British Council narrated how the English language has evolved with the words of Indian origin. Some of the Indian-origin words date…
An Indian origin British-born lady and mother of three is struck in India and fighting for life in coma stage as her vital organs stopped working partially following a reaction of her body to mosquito bites, according to her family. Balvinder Singh (35) came to India to attend her cousin’s…
Indian origin Scotland Yard police constable, PC Bhupinder Kalsi was fired after a Metropolitan Police Unsatisfactory Police Performance meeting on Monday (19). The police department found her service was completely incompetent and she was guilty of unsatisfactory service. The police constable was removed from the list of British police staff…
A British police officer has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday (9) by a local UK court for causing death of Indian origin when the police officer’s car hit into the van of the deceased as a result of dangerous driving. Wednesfield shopkeeper Balvinder Singh (59) was driving…
Top Indian and American diplomats celebrated Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, in Washington on Monday (5), reflecting the "great strength" of partnership between the two nations. This was for the first time the State Department and the Indian Embassy were collaborating for Diwali celebrations. Navtej Sarna, the Indian ambassador to…
A mining contractor in South Africa owned by the Indian origin Gupta family has been put into liquidation, said a media report quoting the people with the knowledge of the issue. Westdawn Investments, which is running the business as JIC Mining Services (Pty) Ltd has taken loans almost $1.2 million…
Here’s the moment that every fan of Sacred Games, the first Indian original series by streaming media giant Netflix, has been waiting for. After months of speculations, Netflix finally announced its plans for the second season of the hit series. Sacred Games starred Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in…
by Amit Roy. LORD JONATHAN SACKS, chief rabbi from 1991 to 2013, is an eminent scholar – which makes it difficult to understand why he saw fit to compare Jeremy Corbyn’s comments on the alleged lack of humour among some British Zionists with Enoch Powell’s 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. It is worth comparing and contrasting the two…
M Venkaiah Naidu is set to address people of Indian origin in Chicago at an event to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's speech at the Parliament of Religions in 1893. This will be Naidu’s first visit to the US as India’s vice-president. The event to commemorate Vivekananda's…
by LAUREN CODLING A BAFTA-NOMINATED writer has admitted he feels “terrified” about debuting his latest work, set to be staged in London from next month. Vinay Patel, 32, is the writer behind An Adventure, which will run at the Bush Theatre from next Thursday (6). Set across three continents, the…
Worst flood hit India’s Southern State Kerala is expected to receive donations worth 79.23 million GBP for relief and rehabilitation works from United Arab Emirates (UAE) government and Indian origin billionaire business tycoons based in the UAE. According to media reports, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday (21) informed…
Three men have been found guilty of kidnapping and ruthlessly killing a 74-year-old jeweller in Leicester earlier this year. Ramniklal Jogiya had gone missing as he walked home from his store on the city's famous "Golden Mile" of jewellery shops and was later found dead in a lane nearby, triggering…
by LAUREN CODLING FORCED MARRIAGE victims are urging parents to “stop ruining” lives, with the increasing risk of being taken abroad to marry over the summer holidays. July and August are typically when families travel abroad, with some making the journey to south Asia, where forced marriages are known to…
The United States of America will no longer turn a blind eye to Pakistan becoming a safe haven for terrorist, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said. "We cannot turn a blind eye to those harbouring terrorists... Communicating to Pakistan that this cannot be tolerated," Haley, who is on…
1. Sundar Pichai (CEO, Google) Pichai is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Google Inc. He was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Sundar Pichai’s mother Lakshmi was a stenographer and his father, Regunatha Pichai was an electrical engineer at GEC. Sundar grew up in Ashok Nagar, Chennai. Pichai is…
By Lauren Codling and Sarwar Alam LEADING campaigners, community leaders, civil servants and entrepreneurs are among Asians honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, announced this evening (8). In total, 1,057 people have received an award, with 10 per cent of the successful candidates coming from a Black, Asian or…
UK home secretary Sajid Javid today (3) promised to review the country's immigration system to overcome a monthly immigration cap preventing professionals such as Indian doctors from being brought in to tackle shortages in the state-funded NHS. "I see a problem with that and it is something I am taking…
British citizens back a more liberal visa regime for overseas doctors and medical staff from countries like India to meet NHS shortages, according to a new survey released today (30). The poll by YouGov on behalf of the UK campaign group '38 Degrees' found that only 14 per cent of…
by Amit Roy THERE is a new place in town to drop in for a drink after work – the “Senate Room” at the Royal Academy of Arts, a unique organisation which is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. It’s great this will stay open until 10pm. The expanded Royal…
The UK is pushing for more investment opportunities in India, connecting entrepreneurs from both the countries, a senior UK diplomat said today (16). “We are trying to encourage investment rather than focusing on individual big deals,” British deputy high commissioner, Bharat Joshi told reporters. He was responding to a query…
US TV show The Simpsons has broken the record for the most episodes in a prime time scripted series on American TV, but the milestone came as the popular show finds itself accused of racism. Fox's 636th episode about the Simpson family, which aired Sunday night (29), pushed it past…
Hundreds of Indian doctors are being denied visas to come and work in the National Health Service (NHS) despite an ongoing medical staffing crisis in Britain, health sector experts have said. The Home Office has a cap on the number of visas issued to skilled workers, including doctors, applying to…
A SENIOR Metropolitan Police officer of Indian origin has been promoted to be the UK’s counter-terrorism chief. Neil Basu, 49, currently a deputy assistant commissioner at the Met Police, will be the new assistant commissioner for specialist operations, according to a statement on Monday (5). He is the first officer…
A MOTHER and her two sons are believed to have died in an explosion that took place in Leicester last Sunday (25). Of Indian origin, Mary Ragoobar, 46, and sons Shane, 18, and Sean, 17 had apparently moved to the UK from Mauritius. The family are believed to have been…
Right after unveiling the first look posters of its first Indian original, Sacred Games, streaming media giant Netflix has announced three new Indian original series. The first in the list is Leila, an adaptation of Prayaag Akbar’s novel of the same name. The second series, Ghoul, is based on Arabic…
British Deputy High Commissioner Bruce Bucknell today (21) said the UK would like to host more students from India. Britain has 5,000 people of Indian origin working in UK universities, Bucknell said. "We are having a diverse population of students but we would like to have more students at our…
Atul Lakhani, CEO and managing director of Sanjay Foods, has been awarded the Pride of India award at the prestigious NRI World Summit. Lakhani and his company were recognised for their professional, creative, innovative and forward-thinking contribution to the hospitality industry in the UK. “I feel both honoured and privileged to…
A Labour MP has criticised some British-Pakistanis for reportedly “going and getting a wife from abroad” for their disabled sons. Jess Phillips said the practice was among “lots of cases” she dealt with where people from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities behaved “unacceptably” towards women. “Well, sorry, the British Pakistani-Bangladeshi community,…
By the Rt Hon Mark Field MP, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office I would like to extend my warmest wishes to the people of India and the British Indian community in the United Kingdom on the occasion of India’s Independence Day. Over these past seven decades,…
A giant inflatable chicken with a Donald Trump hair style has been placed near the White House by an Indian origin activist to protest the president’s standon releasing his tax returns, dealing with North Korea and engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Taran Singh Brar, a documentary filmmaker, placed "Chicken Don” in the lawn, just south…
At a curry house in central Israel, a poster welcoming Indian prime minister Narendra Modi greets patrons even before they encounter the rich scent of spices wafting from the kitchen. Modi's three-day visit beginning Tuesday (4)-- the first ever of an Indian premier to Israel -- is a landmark moment for the Jewish state, a country seeking the friendship of powerful…
By Amit Roy The journalist and publisher Daljit Sehbai, who died in London on June 18, aged 85, was chairman of the prestigious Reform Club from 2000-2002, the first Asian to be elected to the post since the gentlemen’s establishment was founded in London’s Pall Mall in 1832. Sehbai was…
A leading gastroenterologist, academics and several professionals across different fields are among the various Indian-origin achievers in the UK named in the Queen's annual Birthday Honours list released today. Parveen June Kumar has been conferred the prestigious Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to…
A PHYSICIAN of Indian origin who co-founded an initiative in Liberia, which aims to train and manage people in communities to serve as local health care workers, has won a coveted million-dollar TED Prize. Raj Panjabi fled to the United States to escape civil war in his native Liberia, before…
MP Priti Patel, has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman - India’s highest honour for members of the Indian diaspora. The secretary of state for international development was granted the award by the president of India, Pranab Mukherjee, for her exceptional contribution to national and international politics, her role strengthening…
A 24-year-old American, who took a bullet for an Indian, has been honoured as 'A True American Hero' by the Indian-American community in Houston which raised $100,000 to help him buy a house in his hometown Kansas. Ian Grillot, who was injured when he tried to intervene in the shooting…
The gruesome killings of an Indian IT professional and her six-year-old son in a New Jersey town has sent shock waves in the neighbourhood with the motive behind the murders still unknown. Sasikala Narra 38 and her son Anish Narra were killed on Friday (24) inside their residence at the…
The fact that Huma Qureshi is one of the most versatile actresses in the industry is illustrated perfectly with her next three film releases. She plays a lead role in Malayalam drama White, is part of an international cast in British historical Viceroy’s House and stars alongside her brother Saqib…
Buckingham Palace has given details of the first trip to India by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, starting in Mumbai on April 10 and ending with a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra on April 16. In between, William and Catherine will interact with politicians, NGOs and “vulnerable…
LEADING Asians from the NHS have called for action after a new national survey found that racism and discrimination against minority staff was widespread in the NHS. The experiences of BME and white workers from a 2015 staff survey at every NHS trust across England were published last Thursday (2)…
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi returned home on Tuesday (July 12) after a four-nation African tour that was aimed at boosting ties in a region where rival China has a strong presence. South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania were on the Indian leader’s itinerary as he discussed boosting investment and…
CONSERVATIVE Friends of India (CF India) has announced that its new co-chairman is to be Shailesh Vara MP. Mr Vara will be joining Ranjit Singh Baxi as co-chairman of the group. CF India said that Mr Vara brought a wealth of experience to the role, which he has held previously.…
INDIA’S Prime Minister Narendra Modi met South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma today to discuss boosting investment and trade, in a continent where India is playing catch-up to China. Modi in October hosted the leaders of 54 African nations, including Zuma, in the biggest India-Africa summit, promising $10 billion in credit…
This should not sound like a political obituary, but Keith Vaz certainly brought dash and colour to politics – especially to that of Leicester East, which he has served as MP since 1987. In May 2010, Sanjay Dutt turned up to campaign for Vaz just before the general election. As…
by LORD KARAN BILIMORIA Crossbench peer UK UNIVERSITIES will continue to be open to the international community and the UK will continue to attract talented students, researchers and graduates from across the world in spite of Brexit. Our universities which, along with those in the US, are the best in…
The relationship between India and the UK is not something that I have just observed for the past three years as British deputy high commissioner, it is also something I have lived and breathed for the last 40 years of my life. As we mark the 69th anniversary of Indian…
One of the most senior figures in the City, Nikhil Rathi, welcomed the launch of HDFC’s masala bond. Rathi, who is of Indian origin but born in the UK, is the CEO of the London Stock Exchange and also director of international development at the London Stock Exchange Group. “It’s…
Donald Trump sympathises with India in its recent escalation of tensions with Pakistan and supports skilled immigration, an adviser said on Friday (7), portraying the U.S. presidential hopeful as a friend of India and Indian Americans. Trump, a real estate billionaire, has earned a reputation of hostility towards minorities with…
Most Indians or even British Indians know little about British Columbia, the scenic province on the western side of Canada with an area larger than that of France and Germany combined, but with a population of only 4.6 million compared to their 145 million – or India’s 1.25 billion. Yet…
Lord Navnit Dholakia has urged young British Indians to get involved in politics so the expulsions suffered by the community in Uganda, Fiji and elsewhere are not repeated in Britain. Dholakia acknowledged there was no serious risk of Indians being thrown out of Britain, even in an increasingly racist post-Brexit…
The government is establishing procedures for making descendants of indentured labourers living in Fiji and other countries eligible for OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards, prime minister Narendra Modi said last Sunday (8). “Starting with Mauritius, we are working to put in place procedures so that descendants of Girmitiyas could…
Indian-American lawmakers have slammed the US-based Republican Hindu Coalition for supporting president Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, which they alleged takes the country backwards “towards dark times”. “As the most senior Indian-American member of Congress, I believe that Donald Trump’s executive order does not reflect who we are as…
Indian-American lawmakers have slammed the US-based Republican Hindu Coalition for supporting president Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, which they alleged takes the country backwards “towards dark times”. “As the most senior Indian-American member of Congress, I believe that Donald Trump’s executive order does not reflect who we are as…
Indian-American lawmakers have slammed the US-based Republican Hindu Coalition for supporting president Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, which they alleged takes the country backwards “towards dark times”. “As the most senior Indian-American member of Congress, I believe that Donald Trump’s executive order does not reflect who we are as…
Most Indians or even British Indians know little about British Columbia, the scenic province on the western side of Canada with an area larger than that of France and Germany combined, but with a population of only 4.6 million compared to their 145 million – or India’s 1.25 billion. Yet…