- Thursday, April 18, 2024
The United Kingdom is set to host its inaugural Muslim Film Festival, a groundbreaking event poised to celebrate the diverse narratives and talents within the Muslim community. Scheduled to take place from May 30th to June 2nd at the prestigious Odeon West End in London, this festival promises to showcase…
Steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta is now facing the heat over the collapse of the supply chain finance firm Greensill Capital, as his GFG Alliance was one of its biggest customers. Greensill's administrators Grant Thronton have warned they could try to seize assets from Gupta to recover £472 million in unpaid…
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
COMEDIAN Romesh Ranganathan, who is patron of the suicide prevention charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm), said there have been times in his life where he’s felt suicidal. The 46-year-old revealed he struggled with certain events in his life such as when he did badly in his A-Levels and when…
The BBC’s restructuring of its India operations to comply with the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) rules was completed last Wednesday (10) with the launch of Collective Newsroom, an independent entity with the public broadcaster as its first client. The Indian-owned company replaces BBC World Service India and will continue…
Actors Rasika Dugal and Arjun Mathur’s Lord Curzon Ki Haveli will serve as the closing film at the prestigious UK Asian Film Festival, the makers said on Wednesday. Anshuman Jha, who makes his directorial debut with the movie, and Dugal are expected to walk the festival's red carpet on May…
THE government has said that it continues to work towards striking an “ambitious” trade deal with India as a negotiating team from Delhi resumed talks with their British counterparts in London this week. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reiterated its stance of only signing a free trade agreement…
BRITISH trader Sanjay Shah and his Solo Capital hedge fund orchestrated the bulk of an alleged £1.44 billion fraud against Danish taxpayers, a lawyer for the Copenhagen tax authority told a London court on Monday (15). Laurence Rabinowitz said most of the 17 sets of co-defendants in the complex case…
A Muslim student's legal challenge against a ban on prayer rituals at a leading London school was dismissed by a court on Tuesday. The case, centering on religious freedoms within schools, attracted nationwide interest. The student, whose identity remains confidential, had filed a lawsuit against Michaela Community School in northwest…
Actor Johnny Depp shared his experience of being part of Jeanne du Barry and said he felt "strangely, oddly, perversely lucky" to have been offered the role of French King Louis XV at the U.K. premiere of his film, reported Variety. Jeanne du Barry is a historical drama film written,…
A COMMON type 2 diabetes test may be inaccurate for tens of thousands of south Asians in the UK, a new study has shown, prompting calls for more research. A genetic variant almost exclusive to people with south Asian heritage affects the accuracy of the diabetes haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test,…
In an address to the parliament, prime minister Rishi Sunak strongly criticised Iran for launching an attack that sent 300 missiles and drones towards Israel, describing Iran as a nation "intent on creating disorder" in the Middle East. On Monday, he commended the Royal Air Force pilots who, in collaboration…
DELHI airport has been named among the world's top 10 busiest airports for 2023, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital is ranked tenth while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport tops the list, followed by Dubai and Dallas airports. Among the…
Google recently revealed its top 20 destinations for summer vacations in 2024, showcasing both popular favourites and new additions. Based on flight booking data and search trends from Google Flights for travel between June 1 and August 31, 2024, the list offers insights into the destinations attracting the most interest…
Sadiq Khan has pledged to eliminate rough sleeping in London which is now at the highest level in a decade. Announcing his latest manifesto commitment on Monday ahead of the mayoral election on May 2, Khan said he plans to spend an extra £10 million to tackle the growing humanitarian…
Etel Adnan, a pioneering Lebanese-American poet, essayist, and visual artist, was a creative force whose work transcended cultural and artistic boundaries. Born in 1925 in Beirut, Lebanon, Adnan's diverse heritage influenced her unique artistic style. Adnan's father, Assaf Kadri, was a Sunni Muslim-Turkish high-ranking Ottoman officer of Albanian descent, while…
HEATHROW baggage handler has spared prison after stealing £29,000 worth of jewellery from a misplaced suitcase, reported MyLondon. Priti Sthankiya moved the bag from Terminal 2 and concealed beneath a carousel in January last year, the Old Bailey heard on Thursday (11). Subsequently, she retrieved designer handbags containing £500 in…
The Asian business community has always been a boon to the British economy. Indeed, when you look back over the years, there has long been a strong entrepreneurial spirit within the community. For example, in a 2007 report by the Mayor of London’s office, 13% of all businesses in the…
Young people today are facing a mental health crisis. Across the globe, reports paint a concerning picture of a significant rise in mental health issues among adolescents. While the reasons are complex and multifaceted, social media and smartphones frequently take the brunt of the blame. However, a closer look reveals…
Zayn Malik, who shot to fame when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2010 and became a member of One Direction, was initially driven by a desire to help his family have a better quality of living, but as his ambitions grew, he wanted to be able to see…
A PASSION for highlighting the recipes and food traditions of Bangladesh has led Dina Begum towards becoming an author of two widely acclaimed cookbooks. The British culinary expert has followed up Brick Lane Cookbook with the recently published Made in Bangladesh, which has also received a great response. The new…
Indian B-school IIM-Ahmedabad has secured a spot among the top 25 global institutions for business and management studies, as revealed by the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject. IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Calcutta have also been ranked among the top 50 management institutes worldwide. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been recognised…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has awarded an Asian-origin London resident for promoting cricket and making a positive change within the south Asian community. Himanshu Jain, who co-founded a charity cricket community for south Asian men, got the daily Points of Light award on April 10. The Prime Minister makes daily…
ACTOR Darasing Khurana said the death of his close friend, fellow actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020, led him to become a mental health campaigner. Khurana, 32, has been named the Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion, with his role focusing on mental health initiatives. He founded the Pause. Breathe.Talk…
THE Science Museum has inaugurated an “Adani Green Energy Gallery” that was funded by an Indian business house. The gallery, which has been three years in the making, explores how mankind could combat the effects of climate change. One exhibit from India shows how water funnelled through terracotta pots can…
The potent animal tranquiliser xylazine, commonly referred to as the 'zombie drug,' has emerged as a significant concern in the United States and is now associated with 11 deaths in Britain, caution researchers. Xylazine, also known as "tranq" or "tranq dope," induces a dangerously slow heart rate and severe skin…
Healthcare for children and young people grappling with gender identity issues should be "holistic" and providers should exercise "extreme caution" around prescribing hormone treatments to older teens, an eagerly-awaited independent UK review said on Wednesday. The four-year probe of gender identity services for the cohort, led by retired paediatrician Hilary…
LONDON ZOO has recently welcomed three Asiatic lion cubs from an endangered subspecies. Born to seven-year-old mum, Arya, and 14-year-old dad Bhanu, these lion cubs arrived on 13 March. Their parents are residents of the zoo and integral members of its international conservation breeding programme, according to a statement. Asiatic…
Tickets for the upcoming stage adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, starring Tom Holland, sold out within a mere two hours of going on sale. The production, presented by The Jamie Lloyd Company, features the Spider-Man star as the iconic male lead and is set to run from May 11 to…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame reiterated Tuesday (9) that they expect Britain to soon start sending undocumented migrants to the African country, despite fresh questions over the controversial scheme. Sunak hosted Kagame at his official residence in London just as a British newspaper reported that properties…
TWO Indian sports tech innovators joined academics and other experts for the annual Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development in London, which concluded that artificial intelligence (AI) in sports can be harnessed and leveraged to meet the UN development goals faster. Rohn Malhotra, co-founder and managing director of Sports…
King Charles III was presented with the inaugural set of banknotes featuring his portrait by representatives from the Bank of England at Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday. The 75-year-old monarch, currently undergoing cancer treatment, was photographed alongside Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Chief Cashier and Executive Director…
The Imperial College London quiz team, which included computational science graduate from Kolkata Sourajit Debnath, has emerged as the winner of the champion’s trophy of ‘University Challenge’. The win in Monday night’s final aired on BBC makes the London-based university one of the most successful in the show’s history, winning…
Six novels, described as "implicitly optimistic" by the judging panel, have been shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. The selected titles delve into a range of themes, from disintegrating relationships to societal divisions, offering insights into the current realities of racism, oppression, global violence, and ecological disasters. [caption id="attachment_288930" align="alignleft"…
FROM one perspective, it could seem difficult to find another major democracy that is quite as relaxed about the role of religious faith in public life as Britain is today. As Eid this week brought the month of Ramadan to a close for several million British Muslims, it will provide…
Microsoft has unveiled its plans to establish a new artificial intelligence (AI) hub in London, with a focus on both product development and research. Mustafa Suleyman, the London-born cofounder of Google DeepMind who recently joined Microsoft, will lead the unit. "Microsoft AI London will drive pioneering work to advance state-of-the-art…
Romesh Ranganathan, who is patron of the suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm), said that he had times in his life when he was suicidal. For those not in the know, the actor and comedian struggled badly after his father’s prison sentence, and when he did badly in…
Private hospital chain Spire Healthcare, which often treats NHS-funded patients, is under scrutiny following the recent deaths of some patients under its watch, reports BBC. In one such case, Nafisa Khan was referred to Spire East London by NHS for a gallbladder operation in September 2021. The morning after her…
LONDON’S Wallace Collection will unveil its latest exhibition dedicated to Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who emerged as the undisputed king of Punjab by the turn of the 19th century. His rapid ascent to power in an era marked by instability following Afghan invasions heralded the birth of the Sikh…
Shaharyar Khan, the former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and esteemed diplomat, passed away at the age of 89 on March 23. A pivotal figure in the restoration of cricket ties with India in the early 2000s, Khan, born in Bhopal, was also a cousin of former India captain Mansur Ali…
POST OFFICE has denied compensation to the widow of a postmaster, who took his own life hours after Post Office investigators raided his branch, despite admitting that the audit resulted in his suicide. Government’s compensation advisory board is now calling for the case to be reopened. The father of two…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak said the "terrible" war between Israel and Hamas "must end", six months on from the start of the conflict. "We continue to stand by Israel's right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists and defend their security. But the whole of the UK is shocked by…
Social media was abuzz following reports of actress Alia Bhatt headlining Disney's Indian princess musical. However, filmmaker Gurinder Chadha has now dismissed the rumours. Taking to X, Gurinder wrote, "This is not true. Not sure where this started. The script is still in the works. Alia and I had a…
Train drivers in the United Kingdom (UK) have gone on strike, affecting rail services across the country, including routes to key tourist destinations and airports. The strike, organised by the Aslef (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) union, is due to cost-of-living pressures and high inflation. Union chief Mick…
Driving around with hockey sticks in the boot of the car and stockpiling petrol bombs to defend themselves are among some of the gripping accounts that make up a new UK documentary chronicling racist attacks faced by British Indians in the 1970s and 80s. Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, a…
An Asian-origin neurologist Dr Ashvini Keshavan is part of a research team in the UK that has been awarded a major grant this week for dementia research. The team will build on recent breakthroughs in potential dementia blood tests and generate the evidence needed for them to be used more…
It looks like fans have to wait a little longer to watch Prabhas and Deepika Padukone-starrer Kalki 2898 AD on the big screen, as the film's release has been postponed because of the Lok Sabha polls 2024. As per a source, the film, which was supposed to be out on…
The act of burial dates back thousands of years, offering a final resting place for the departed. Even in the excavations of the Indus Valley civilisation, the burials used to take place, where a dead person was buried with pots of grains and necessary items that would help the person…
LONDON mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan has pledged to build 6,000 new affordable homes with capped rents linked to keyworker incomes. Khan also called for a revolution in renters’ rights, with far-reaching reforms to improve the position of those renting their home in the city. He proposed a new funding of…
British billionaire Joe Lewis was fined $5 million (£4m) by a US judge for insider trading. The judge also ordered him to serve three years of probation. Lewis, founder of the Tavistock Group, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud. He admitted passing inside information on his portfolio companies to…
WITNESSING "infinite demand" in the strong Indian aviation market, British carrier Virgin Atlantic said it will start an additional daily flight connecting Mumbai and London from October. The airline added that it will look to expand its codeshare partnership with IndiGo. Currently, Virgin Atlantic operates two daily flights to London…
A London-based computational science graduate from Kolkata is part of the Imperial College London team that has entered the finals of BBC's 'University Challenge' quiz competition. Sourajit Debnath, 31, will join his four-member team as they go head-to-head with University College London (UCL) in the grand final to be telecast…
The University College London and the University of Oxford are conducting research on Alzheimer's and dementia-oriented diseases in the UK, with a total of 5000 volunteers participating. The five-year project will take blood samples for the test of dementia, which will raise the hope that there will be better facilities…
FROM Selfridges to motorway service stations, the number of prayer spaces in the UK has grown. More rooms to worship or contemplate for men and women have opened in shopping centres, universities and football stadiums across the country. Multi-faith prayer spaces include the fourth floor of Selfridges department store…
Charithra Chandran attended the premiere of her new rom-com How to Date Billy Walsh held at Conway Hall on Tuesday (April 2) in London. The 27-year-old actress was seen with her co-star Sebastian Croft. They were also joined at the premiere by other co-stars Daisy Jelley and Tim Downie. Tanner…
AKTAR HUSSAIN, an accountant from Rochdale, has come to East London Mosque in Whitechapel, where he will spend the last ten days of Ramadan. It is known as itikaf, which in the Arabic language means to adhere or commit oneself to something. In Islam, it marks a particular person taking…
CHANEL CEO Leena Nair has said she “really, really cares about people and puts them at the centre of everything” she does, adding that it isn’t about lip service for her. Nair, who became CEO of the luxury fashion house in 2021, also described how she has been a “champion…
ARSENAL chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham took the decision to leave the club after feeling a sense of fulfilment as the team returned as one of the top sides in Europe. Venkatesham, 42, has been with the north London club for 14 years, during which it experienced a number of…
WHETHER it’s womenswear, menswear or wedding couture, Mohsin Naveed Ranjha has made a name for himself globally with his chic and stylish creations. The celebrated Pakistani fashion designer recently opened a standalone design studio in the heart of London, next to Regent’s Street. The London studio includes ready-to-wear, luxury capsule…
EASTERN EYE readers who want to discover how British artists have depicted colonialism and slavery over the centuries should visit the Royal Academy’s (RA) latest exhibition. Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change is the RA’s “brave” response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the toppling of slave…
THE multi-billion pound technology industry needs to do far more to tackle the lack of Asian woman in the sector, experts have urged. Some 18 per cent of tech roles are filled by women and only a third of those are of Asian origin, according to research by jobs website…
LISTENING to music played on tape decks and vinyl as a youngster first connected Sonia Mehta to music. It enabled her to find safety, happiness, and a way to express emotions through the compositions and poetry of Indian film songs. Later, while pursuing her studies in London, she bonded with…
PAKISTAN is putting on the block a stake ranging from 51 per cent to 100 per cent of lossmaking national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the privatisation panel said on Tuesday (2), as part of reforms urged by the IMF. The disposal of the flag carrier represents a departure from…
SRI LANKA is optimistic about reaching an agreement soon with bondholders to restructure about $12 billion (£9.54bn) in debt, a top official said on Monday (1), a big step that will help the island nation emerge from its worst financial crisis in decades. China, the world’s and Sri Lanka’s…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (2) spoke with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to demand a probe into a strike that killed charity workers in Gaza, including British citizens, a Downing Street spokesperson said. The UK also summoned Israel's ambassador in London to hear its "unequivocal condemnation" of the killing…
House prices in the United Kingdom (UK) surged in March, marking the fastest annual increase since December 2022, according to a survey released on Tuesday. Nationwide Building Society, the UK's second-largest mortgage lender, reported that house prices were up by 1.6 per cent compared to the previous year, reaching an…
As many as 216 volunteers from 13 BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs (temples) and centres across the UK participated in the Great British Spring Clean, the nation's largest environmental cleanup campaign, over the Easter bank holiday weekend. These volunteers managed to collect an impressive total of 138 bags of litter, contributing to…
Small businesses will receive a boost as the VAT registration threshold has been raised to £90,000 from £85,000, which would free 28,000 businesses from paying the tax. This is part of chancellor Jeremy Hunt's host of incentives announced during his spring budget that came into effect from April 1. The…
“I want to create an India in the UK,” veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani's words efficiently sum up his dream of leaving a global footprint of the illustrious Indian cinema with his film studio in the UK. Touted as a "one-stop-shop", Bhagnani's Pooja Studios emerged as one of the most film-friendly…
King Charles attended the annual Easter church service in Windsor on Sunday, his first appearance at a public royal event since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February. Charles, 75, waved as he and Queen Camilla arrived by car at St George's Chapel, the resting place of his late mother…
YUVAN THAKKAR, a British Indian teenager diagnosed with cancer, says he is now able to enjoy the things he loves after life-changing treatment thanks to a fund set up by the NHS to make innovative therapies accessible to thousands of patients. According to NHS England, 16-year-old Thakkar from Watford near…
COUNTER-TERRORISM detectives are investigating after a journalist working for a Persian language media organisation was stabbed in London on Friday (29) amid fears he had been targeted because of his job, police said. Police said the man, aged in his 30s, was attacked and sustained an injury to his leg…
As reported earlier, Alia Bhatt recently hosted her first charity gala in London. The actress organised the Hope Gala on Thursday evening to raise funds for underprivileged adolescents in India through the Salaam Bombay Foundation. The event was attended by many renowned personalities. Musician Harshdeep Kaur, comedian Rohan Joshi, and…
Actress, producer, and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt hosted her first charity event Hope Gala on March 28 in partnership with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. At the event, she raised money for underprivileged adolescents in India, to help the Salaam Bombay Foundation. “I am…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak is being criticised by Opposition parties for a surprise honours list which confers a knighthood on an Egyptian-born businessman who is a major donor to the Conservative Party. The list, announced late on Thursday just before the long Easter weekend, honours Mohamed Mansour, a senior treasurer…
After a well-received performance at International Film Festivals across the globe, Atul Sabharwal's espionage drama Berlin will be screened at the Red Lorry Film Festival. This espionage drama unravels a tale of deception, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Cold War era. It stars Ishwak Singh, Rahul…
Celebrated music composer AR Rahman has unveiled his plans to establish a Broadway-style theatre in Chennai, and his team is already in the process of making it happen. Speaking at the ongoing Times Now Summit 2024 in Mumbai, Rahman said, “I don't see myself only in the movie world strangely,…
Luxury hotels and residences promoter Blue Orchid Hospitality has been declared the winner of the Best Business Travel Arrangements Company by LUXlife magazine. LUXlife Travel & Tourism Awards are given in recognition of the excellence of the sector’s best enterprises from across the globe. Blue Orchid has been recognised for…
CANCER screening services must be more culturally competent and sensitive to the needs of south Asians - especially women, a leading doctor has told Eastern Eye. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the first person of colour to lead the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association (BMA), said south Asian women were less…
Trafalgar Square will host this year's Vaisakhi celebrations in London on 6 April, a statement said. The free family event, organised by the mayor of London and supported by the Vaisakhi community advisory group, will be co-hosted by DJ and presenter Tommy Sandhu and entrepreneur, disability specialist and speaker Shani…
NHS waiting times for operations could be slashed drastically if patients had their elective surgeries done at worldclass hospitals in India. This was one of the radical ideas put forward last Tuesday (19) by senior Indian corporate leaders at a business conference in London. Another was for undergraduates and postgraduates…
THE National Trust, which has come under sustained attacks from the far-right of British politics, has been defended strongly by the classical historian Dame Mary Beard, who last week delivered the Octavia Hill Lecture. Her theme was, “Who owns the past?” The trust, founded in 1895 by three people…
A KFC outlet in London was fined around £25,000 for posing a risk to public health, after rats were found in the kitchen during a surprise inspection. The Waltham Forest Council inspected a KFC outlet in High Road, Leytonstone, East London, in August 2022 and ordered its closure with immediate…
SONU NIGAM, one of the greatest Indian singers of all time, is renowned for his wonderful voice, huge catalogue of hit songs, numerous accolades, and millions of fans globally. He is also an exceptional live performer who delivers sold-out arena shows around the world. Nigam returns for another UK tour,…
THE solo show earlier performed by its writer, Rosie Day, returned recently with a new production in central London, headlined by Charithra Chandran. The Bridgerton star makes her West End debut in a coming-of-age play about a young teenage girl named Eileen, dealing with the death of her elder sister,…
THE recent South Asian Sounds festival at the Southbank Centre in London included a stunning concert headlined by the superb Indian singer Pratibha Singh Baghel. The sensational talent teamed up with the brilliant British act Chineke! Orchestra and top Indian musicians for a grand, sold-out concert at the Royal Festival…
WHEN Aditi Mangaldas headlines a show, it is certain to be dynamically, artistically and creatively different from anything that has come before. She continues that path-breaking journey with the new production Mehek, which embarks on a hotly anticipated UK tour in April. The Indian Kathak legend has teamed up with…
LEGENDARY singer Asha Bhosle sparked an intriguing debate when she disclosed her iconic elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had turned down over a million dollars to sing at a wedding. Speaking on a dance reality show, Bhosle said, “She was offered one million dollars to sing at a wedding. They said,…
Actress, producer, and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt is set to host her first 'Hope Gala' in London. As per a source close to the actress' team, Alia will host Hope Gala on March 28 in partnership with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. This is…
OAKNORTH BANK has partnered with HSBC to provide a £232 million club loan to Splendid Hospitality Group to support its future expansion plans, a statement said. Founded three decades ago, Splendid Hospitality Group is one of the UK’s fastest growing privately-owned hotel groups, with a portfolio of 24 hotels from…
THE family of a cyclist who died following a road accident said the London School of Economics (LSE) student wanted to "bring all her expertise back to India to change lives". Cheistha Kochhar, who was pursuing her PhD in behavioural research, died following a collision involving a refuse lorry on…
London Police partnered with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation to host an event for people aged 15-18 from diverse backgrounds. As part of the event, careers fair and panel discussions were held on March 23 at the City of London Corporation’s headquarters ahead of Stephen Lawrence Day. It is observed…
Mustafa Suleyman, a prominent figure in Artificial Intelligence (AI), recently took the helm of Microsoft's newly formed consumer AI division, Microsoft AI. Suleyman's background is far from that of a typical tech CEO. Mustafa Suleyman's upbringing was shaped by his family in London. His father, a Syrian taxi driver, instilled…
Britain on Monday accused Chinese hackers of trying to break into email accounts of British lawmakers who were critical of China and said a separate Chinese entity was behind a hack of its electoral watchdog that compromised millions of people's data. In response to the attempted hack in 2021 of…
An Indian student pursuing her PhD at the London School of Economics died while cycling to her apartment last week. The victim, Cheistha Kochhar (33), died on the spot after being hit by a garbage truck on March 19. The accident took place on Clerkenwell Road, near the junction with…
Pakistan will “seriously” consider restoring trade ties with India that remained suspended since August 2019, Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has said, indicating a potential shift in the country's diplomatic stance. Dar made these remarks during a press conference in London following his participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit in…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak waded into a row over a new England football shirt designed by Nike that changes the colours of the St George's Cross, saying "we shouldn't mess" with national flags. The US sportswear giant altered the appearance of the Cross -- the flag of England -- using…
AFTER weeks of wild speculation, the country was on Saturday (23) digesting the shock news that the Princess of Wales has cancer, with many praising her courage and others criticising those who spread conspiracies. The Princess revealed the news on Friday (22) in a highly personal video, which came just…
PRINCESS OF WALES said on Friday (22) she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests taken after she had major abdominal surgery in January revealed that cancer had been present. The Princess, 42-year-old wife of heir to the throne Prince William, called the cancer discovery a "huge shock". The news comes…
British police said on Friday they were investigating possibly racist comments allegedly made by the biggest donor to the ruling Conservative party at a meeting in 2019. The Guardian newspaper reported on March 11 that businessman Frank Hester - who gave £10 million to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party in…
Bridgerton star Simone Ashley is set to lead Picture This, a new romantic-comedy movie from streamer Prime Video. Actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin will play the male lead. To be directed by filmmaker Prarthana Mohan of The Miseducation of Bindu fame, the UK original movie is based on the recently-released Australian…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) unveiled the nominations for their 2024 Television Awards on Wednesday. Leading the pack are The Crown with 8 nominations and Black Mirror with 7 nominations. Both dramas are up for the prestigious "Best Drama Series" award, alongside Happy Valley, Slow Horses,…
British researchers are making a breakthrough in lung cancer treatment by developing the world's first vaccine for the disease. This vaccine, called LungVax, is being created by a team of scientists from the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute, and University College London (UCL). It uses similar technology to…
This Easter, you might be surprised by the price hike on your favourite chocolate eggs. There's a culprit behind this sugary situation: climate change. The majority of cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate, comes from West Africa. Unfortunately, this region has been ravaged by a brutal heatwave, significantly reducing cocoa…
LONDON High Court has ordered fugitive Indian businessman, Nirav Modi, to repay a hefty sum of $8 million (£6.3m) to the Bank of India (BOI). The ruling was issued early this month after Modi's Dubai-based firm, Firestar Diamond FZE, failed to repay the loan it had received from the bank,…
A 26-year-old pro-Khalistan Sikh activist who pleaded guilty to causing injury to two Asian-origin men and a female police officer at an Indian Independence Day event in London last year has been sentenced to 28 months imprisonment. Gurpreet Singh appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty in…
BRITISH Asian donors made significant contributions to political parties in what is shaping up to be the highest-spending general election contest expected to be held later this year. Political parties accepted £93 million in donations last year, nearly double the £52m from the previous year, according to the Electoral Commission…
THERE was a sharp drop in the recruitment of women and ethnic minorities by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) last year, new data released last Thursday (14) revealed. In 2023, just 11 per cent of new recruits were female and only 13 per cent from black, Asian and under-represented communities,…
THERE was a sense of occasion at the Garrick Theatre in London last Sunday (17) when Charithra Chandran made her West End debut in a solo show, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon. You had the feeling many young Asians had been drawn by the show’s lead, billed as “Bridgerton’s Charithra…
Five short films from India, Spain, the Philippines, the UK, and the US showcasing LGBTQIA+ narratives that resonate with resilience and authenticity are being screened in 10 cities across India. British Council in partnership with British BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival launched the 10th edition of the 'Five Films…
NOW that it has been announced that the Indian general election will be held between April 19 and June 1, many books and articles both for and against Narendra Modi will be written about the country’s prime minister. Firmly in the latter category is Christophe Jaffrelot’s Gujarat Under Modi: Laboratory…
THE world needs books from India because they reflect the spiritual values of Indian culture and civilisation. “Books are important for mental health,” said Yuvraj Malik, director of the National Book Trust (NBT) of India, which took a pavilion for the first time at the 2024 London Book Fair.…
WHILE it’s true that stand-up comedy first gained prominence in western culture, India’s comedy scene has emerged as one of the fastest-growing in the past decade. In recent years, there has been an influx of top talents who have presented humour in a unique way and risen to prominence with…
THE TV presenter and journalist, Geeta Pendse, chaired the opening sessions of the London Book Fair (LBF) which analysed the issue of diversity in the publishing world. The LBF – held over three days last week at Kensington Olympia – also looked at what might constitute enjoyable literature for ethnic…
Britain's annual inflation rate fell more than expected in February, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling speculation that the Bank of England may cut interest rates in coming months. Inflation reached 3.4 per cent last month - the lowest level since September 2021 - after hitting 4.0 per cent in January,…
LONDON's population has reached a new peak driven by a surge in migration, reversing the trend of people leaving the city during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Telegraph reported. According to recent research from the Centre for Cities think tank, the capital's population has likely surpassed its pre-pandemic level of 10.1…
A Harrow-based pharmaceutical company and its former director were sentenced by a London court after pleading guilty to two charges of falsifying data regarding the shelf life of a medicine for treating hypothyroidism. Southwark Crown Court, London sentenced Kamlesh Vaghjiani, former director of Kappin Ltd, to eight and seven months…
FEWER racist and religious hate crimes in London have led to criminal charges over the past five years, new data has revealed. The percentage of cases resulting in a charge for hate crime has dropped by 16 per cent from 2,037 to 1,691 over the last five years in the…
THE latest round of trade talks between Britain and India has concluded without a deal, with a British official saying an agreement could not be finalised ahead of the upcoming Indian elections. The two countries have held stop-start talks over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for two years and both…
Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf hit out at the Conservative Party for being "institutionally Islamophobic", according to media reports. He said this in reaction to the comments reportedly made by Conservative party donor Frank Hester (57) about Labour MP Diane Abbott. According to The Guardian newspaper, Hester had reportedly said…
London mayor Sadiq Khan launched the campaign for his third term on Monday by pledging to double his council homes target to 40,000 in six years to ease London's housing woes, according to media reports Khan had earlier set himself a target of 23,000 homes between 2018 and 2024 which…
A new mural that mysteriously appeared overnight on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London has sparked speculation that it may be the work of the elusive street artist Banksy. The artwork features a mass of green paint behind a trimmed-back mature tree, creating the illusion of…
VAUGHAN GETHING won the Welsh Labour party leadership contest on Saturday (16), marking a historic moment as he is set to become the first black leader of the country's semi-autonomous government. Gething, 50, will succeed Mark Drakeford, 69, who announced in December that he was stepping down. The new leader…
Black and Asian women are facing significant challenges throughout their financial journey, from employment opportunities to retirement savings, says a study by pension provider Scottish Widows. In a research conducted online by YouGov, it was found that nearly one in three black women (30 per cent) are most likely to…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a £100m Housing Kickstart Fund that will provide grants to housing firms to convert market-rate homes stalled due to economic downturn into affordable homes. The new money will be made available from recycled capital grant funding, which is money returned to the Greater London…
A recent study seemed to support Beckham's claim, suggesting that apple cider vinegar could indeed help with weight loss. The study found that people who drank diluted apple cider vinegar daily lost around 6 kilograms in 12 weeks, compared to less than 1 kilogram of weight loss in the placebo…
A New Delhi-based innovator whose low-cost electric invention helps overcome power cuts, a mental health campaigner from Haryana and a student from Dubai who helps to empower girls across the developing world are the Indian winners of the Diana Legacy Awards this year. Uday Bhatia, founder of Uday Electric, Manasi…
The UK’s most important and prestigious theatre awards, the Olivier Awards, have announced its nominees with Zubin Varla and Pyiyanga Burford bagging nominations for top honours. While Varna has been nominated as Best Actor in a Supporting Role for A Little Life, Burford has been nominated as Best Actress in…
British mobile phone operator Vodafone said Friday it has agreed to sell its Italian unit to Swisscom for eight billion euros (£6.83 billion) in cash, completing efforts to overhaul its European operations. Vodafone has been on a cost-cutting campaign that has included layoffs and the offloading of divisions abroad. The…
A London woman who started an initiative to design light installations to celebrate Ramadan has received prime minister Rishi Sunak’s daily Points of Light award this week. Aisha Desai received the award on Tuesday (12) for her Ramadan Lights UK initiative, which was inspired by her childhood joy of seeing…
THERE was a sharp drop in the recruitment of women and ethnic minorities by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) last year, new data released on Thursday (14) revealed, despite calls for greater diversity within the service. In 2023, just 11 per cent of new recruits were female and only 13…
ANTI-MUSLIM hate incidents have increased threefold in the UK since Hamas attack on Israel last year, a charity has found. Tell Mama has documented 2,247 anti-Muslim hate incidents, 1,001 offline and 1,246 online, in the four months between 7 October and 7 March. There were 721 incidents, 401 offline and…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has unveiled its nominees for the Memorable TV Moment Award, a category that celebrates standout scenes from television across all genres. Among the nominees are moments from acclaimed shows like Succession, Happy Valley, and Doctor Who, as well as unexpected highlights…
National Health Services (NHS) England has recently announced a significant shift in its approach to gender identity services, confirming that children will no longer be routinely prescribed puberty blockers. This decision follows a review that highlighted a lack of sufficient evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. Previously,…
A 43-year-old Asian-origin woman is suing her mother and brother over a property empire that she claims was built using her gold coins, according to media reports. Tajleena Islam, a mother of two, claims her parents used gold coins, family treasures, and jewellery in creating their £2.6 million London-based property…
Get ready for a history-making Glastonbury this year! The festival lineup is finally here, and it's packed with big names and a record-breaking female presence. Dua Lipa, SZA, and Coldplay are topping the bill, with Shania Twain taking the coveted Legends slot on Sunday. This marks the first time Glastonbury…
The UK government on Thursday unveiled a new definition of extremism, as church leaders warned it risked disproportionately affecting Muslim communities. The new definition comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned earlier this month of a "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality" that risked the country tipping into "mob…
LONDON-based digital lender, Starling Bank, has appointed Raman Bhatia as the new group CEO. Bhatia is currently the chief executive of OVO, a technology-enabled energy retailer in the UK. He is set to replace interim chief executive John Mountain in early summer, pending regulatory approval. Bhatia joined OVO in January…
A GROUP of United Nations experts last Wednesday (6) urged Britain to repatriate Shamima Begum, who was stripped of her citizenship after leaving the country aged 15 to marry a Daesh (Islamic State group) fighter. Begum, now 24 and living in a refugee camp in northern Syria, lost an appeal…
THE German city of Frankfurt switched on festive lights Sunday to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in what local media said was a nationwide first. A large sign reading “Happy Ramadan” and a display of lights in the shape of stars, lanterns and crescent moons were formally unveiled…
THE story of Bengal farmers rising up against British colonial rule in the subcontinent is revisited in a new play, Indigo Giant, currently touring the UK. In the late 19th century, vast swathes of the Bengali countryside were given over to the cultivation of the indigo plant as the…
A new study aiming to find workable solutions to boost the sales of healthy products in convenience stores across England has been launched. The study will also examine how the UK government’s new law to reduce impulse buying of products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) is affecting shoppers…
IT was a great privilege for Westcombe Group to have the opportunity to support and attend GG2’s Diversity and Leadership Awards on 5th March. It was so inspiring to hear from so many inspiring speakers and see so many leaders win recognition of their success. Amazing Awards The evening celebrated…
LEADING public and private sector organisations need to do more attract ethnic minorities to their boardrooms, Kalpesh Solanki, managing director at Asian Media Group (AMG), told attendees at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards. In December 2023, only 44 per cent of the UK’s top 50 largest private companies had…
KAUSHIK RAY has been drawn to creativity from a young age, a passion he finally pursued last year by quitting a full-time job as a lawyer to focus on filmmaking. This bold step led him to direct the short film, The Lime Green Shirt, which is being screened as part…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid tribute to hundreds of Post Office branch managers, including several British Asians, as a new law to quash their wrongful convictions was introduced on Wednesday (13). Sunak had pledged action in the historic Post Office scandal involving a faulty accounting software named Horizon, which wrongly…
BRITISH dance maestro Aakash Odedra consistently leads boundary-breaking projects and Mehek adds to his impressive repertoire. He has teamed up with Indian kathak legend Aditi Mangaldas in this magnificent dance drama that narrates the love story of an older woman and a younger man. The world-renowned performers will embark on…
A FEARLESS approach to filmmaking has endowed Onir with a remarkable body of work filled with stories from forgotten corners of society. He has overcome the challenges of being an openly gay writer, director and producer in India to deliver award-winning films such as My Brother…Nikhil, and I Am. His…
INDIA not only shaped the birth of the Commonwealth, but will also continue to play a vital role in shaping its work, the organisation’s secretary general, Baroness Patricia Scotland, said on Monday (11) on the occasion of Commonwealth Day. Baroness Scotland, who was scheduled to visit India later this week,…
FRIDAY marks the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand. Some 51 people were murdered, at two mosques, where they had gone to pray. That is a stark reminder of the deadly threat posed by hateful extremism. Keeping citizens safe is the first responsibility of governments. Extremism…
Embattled UK leader Rishi Sunak suffered a fresh blow Monday when a former ally defected to a right-wing populist party that is worrying the ruling Conservatives ahead of this year's general election. Lee Anderson announced that he was joining Reform UK, weeks after he was suspended from Sunak's Conservative party…
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner has said integration appears to be failing in Britain following a decade of increased migration, The Telegraph reports. The 68-year-old Baroness of Margravine expressed concern over the “complacency” among politicians regarding increased immigration. The former Liberal Democrat said in the…
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt last week delivered a well-measured performance in the House of Commons, despite rowdy parliamentary theatrics from the opposition benches. With little fiscal room for manoeuvre, Hunt announced a plethora of measures impacting key policy areas including taxation, public debt and spending, housing, transport and energy. The package…
A British hedge fund trader accused of defrauding Danish tax authorities in a billion-dollar scam goes on trial in Copenhagen on Monday, just days after his associate was handed an eight-year sentence. Sanjay Shah, who was arrested in June 2022 in Dubai where he was living, is accused of running…
The British government on Monday pledged £117 million towards protecting Muslim communities amid a rise in Islamophobia as it promises more action to tackle extremism. The new funding, announced just over a week after extra cash was promised to enhance security for Jewish groups amid soaring anti-Semitism, will be used…
More than 50 survivors of terrorist attacks in the UK have signed a joint letter against politicians conflating British Muslims with extremism, according to media reports. Survivors and relatives of those killed during attacks in London, Manchester, and Brussels are among the signatories. The open letter, coordinated by Survivors Against…
FORMER prime minister Theresa May announced on Friday she will stand down as an MP at the next election, adding to a growing list from the UK's ruling Conservatives to abandon leader Rishi Sunak. May, 67, is the most high-profile of scores of Tory lawmakers to say they will not…
TRADE secretary Kemi Badenoch on Thursday (7) said she did not see a forthcoming election in India as a deadline for securing a trade agreement between the countries, saying it would be "challenging" to secure a deal by then but possible. Britain and India have held stop-start talks over a…
We are often fascinated when we spot a person of colour in British entertainment, be it cinema, series or any other source of entertainment. On this International Women's Day, we made a list of women who have brought colours to the British entertainment sector and have not only won the…
Scottish comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli has appeared in court accused of sex offences, according to media reports. The 55-year-old Glasgow resident is accused of three charges of indecent assault, one charge of sexual assault and two charges of breach of the peace. Kohli has appeared on TV shows including Celebrity…
PAKISTAN's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday (6) that former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged 44 year ago after being convicted of murder, didn't get a fair trial. Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) now run by his grandson and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto…
THE strong south Asian contingent at this year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival includes Halfway. Kumar Chheda has delivered an English-language short film about a young queer couple in India going through a turbulent phase in their relationship, who need to make an important decision during a phone conversation.…
THE enduring power of Hanif Kureishi’s writing was showcased by the successful stage adaptation of his brilliantly written 1985 film, My Beautiful Launderette. Staged in 2019 at The Curve in Leicester, the play proved its continued relevance in contemporary times. A new version of the play returned to the same…
JAVED ALI’S extensive repertoire spanning diverse languages makes him one of the most versatile singers of this generation. From emotive love ballads to soul-stirring Sufi compositions and lively dance numbers, his voice exudes sheer power. While his contributions to hit songs in numerous Indian films are remarkable, it’s on the…
The Award-winning British Indian musician Nitin Sawhney, who had to withdraw from Australia’s premier world music festival WOMADelaide due to a medical emergency, has revealed that he ‘had a heart attack’ a few days ago. Known for musical scores in over 70 films, including for a screen adaptation of Salman…
A PHOTOGRAPHER has spoken of how she has charted the journey of Rohingya women “reclaiming their lives” in the refugee camps of Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh. Fabeha Monir is among five women whose work will be displayed in an exhibition at the Oxo Tower Wharf gallery in London’s SouthBank. The…
TIME is money”, but what does the expression really mean, especially to British Asians? This is the question finance guru Charles Crowson is eminently qualified to answer. Speaking to Eastern Eye, the author of Jam Tomorrow? Why Time Really Matters In Economics recalled the Indian boys who had studied with…
COUNCILLORS in the UK's second-largest city Birmingham on Tuesday (5) approved tax hikes and deep cuts to public services including arts funding and rubbish collection, as the city fights to avoid bankruptcy. The city council, which needs to save £300 million over two years to survive, voted to increase local…
Lord Jitesh Gadhia, chairman of the British Asian Trust, was recognised for over three decades of public and community service with the GG2 Hammer Award at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (5). After coming to Britain as a refugee from…
THE First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, was at the Indian High Commission in London last Thursday (29) to announce that 2024 would be a year of close collaboration between his country and India. “Wales in India”, his government said in a formal statement, “is a 12-month series of events…
THE BBC has announced a “truly diverse” cast for Virdee, a six-part television series adapted from AA Dhand’s crime novel, City of Sinners. Having a mainly Asian cast playing both heroes and villains is regarded as being a groundbreaking first for British TV. The tale has a characteristically grim opening:…
BRITAIN has more than three million Muslims from many cultural backgrounds. It has become customary for politicians to say, “the vast majority of Muslims are hardworking, decent and law-abiding, but there a small extremist fringe”. My guess is most Muslims in Britain are pleased George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election.…
YOUNG Asian girls can be fun, sassy, adventurous and intelligent and should be celebrated, journalist and author Babita Sharma said, ahead of her new children’s book being published next week. Priya Mistry and the Paw Prints Puzzle tells the story of a young girl who loves to solve mysteries, such…
FORMER home secretary Dame Priti Patel has called for an “acceleration” in reforms to support those affected by violence against women in memory of the late Sarah Everard and other women. Findings of an inquiry into the rape and murder of Everard by a British police officer three years ago…
A senior judge who spared jail terms for three women protesters, accused of displaying pro-Hamas images during a pro-Palestinian march in London, will now be investigated over his alleged bias, The Times reports. Heba Alhayek (29), Pauline Ankunda (26), and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo (27) were found guilty of a terror…
BRITAIN almost doubled the number of visas given to foreign health and care workers last year, government data showed, adding to pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak over immigration ahead of an election expected later this year. Data released last Thursday (29) by the Home Office showed that Britain granted…
VISITORS to the Bank of England’s “The Future of Money” exhibition got their first glimpse of banknotes bearing King Charles’ image last week. The four new banknotes with the King Charles’ portrait – £5, £10, £20 and £50 – went on display at the central bank’s in-house museum at its…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has retained the top spot on the 2024 GG2 Power List for the third year in a row, along with his wife Akshata Murty. The power couple were recognised for their growing influence in the UK, with Sunak in the top job and Murty playing an…
In a remarkable annual return on International Women's Day, the Fashion Brunch, curated by Creative Director Anisha Vasani, has once again defied conventional norms, celebrating women with diverse backgrounds and challenges. Departing from traditional fashion shows, this event has become a beacon of empowerment, uniting women from various walks of…
Asian-origin executives with years of experience in the field of law and finance have been appointed to the board of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a non-ministerial department responsible for strengthening business competition and curbing anti-competitive practices. Dharmash Mistry, a venture capitalist specialising in technology, new business models,…
Imagine you are travelling to work and see some artists preparing their musical instruments to play for you, the song which you will hum all day at work seems interesting. One such event took place in London's underground network. In the heart of London's Southwark train station, amid the hustle…
THE new Rochdale MP has said that the upcoming election would be about Muslims and the taking away of civil liberties in this country. After sworn into the Commons as the new lawmaker for Rochdale on Monday (4), George Galloway highlighted prime minister Rishi Sunak's focus on "Muslims and Gaza"…
Hate preachers with extremist Islamist views from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia will be blocked from entering Britain under new plans being drafted by the government, according to a UK media report on Sunday. ‘The Daily Telegraph' reports that the British government is concerned about a “shocking increase”…
The Princess of Wales has recently been spotted for the first time since December, marking her emergence into public view after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. The photos, captured and released by Backgrid, show her riding as a passenger in a vehicle near Windsor Castle, driven by her mother, Carole…
A very interesting image has been circulating in London, where a guinea pig named DiscoPig was discovered abandoned in a cage outside Canning Town station in East London, accompanied by a note reading, 'I need a new owner.' Although it is sad to see people abandoning their pets at public…
Charithra Chandran, who rose to fame with her role in Bridgerton, and Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto are among the narrators who lend their voices to She Creates Change, a gender equality film series launched on International Women's Day. Warner Bros. Discovery and Room to Read have partnered on She…
Britain's Conservative government unveils a pre-election budget Wednesday that could feature voter-friendly measures as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party badly trails main opposition Labour in polls. Huge giveaways are not expected, however, as stubbornly-high inflation hikes repayments on state borrowing, undermining the ability to stimulate the recession-hit UK economy. Finance…
Renowned for her eclectic style and infectious personality, Iris Apfel, the fashion maven, has passed away at the age of 102 in her Palm Beach home in Florida. The news was confirmed by Stu Loeser, a spokesperson for her estate, marking the end of a remarkable life that spanned fashion,…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Friday said Britain's multi-ethnic democracy was being deliberately undermined by Islamist and far-right extremists, calling for a tougher approach to policing protests in light of an increase in hate speech and criminality. British lawmakers this week have been given funding for new security provisions after…
The Princess of Wales has temporarily stepped back from her royal duties to undergo scheduled abdominal surgery, the spokesperson for the Princess informed. The spokesperson added she is "doing well". The anticipated return is set for post-Easter, contingent upon her health. Since the announcement on January 17, the public and…
A public inquiry into a British police officer whose rape and murder of a woman horrified the nation concluded on Thursday (29) that without a sweeping overhaul of failed vetting procedures, there was nothing to stop another similar case arising. Wayne Couzens, 51, whose job was to guard diplomatic premises…
Devyani Saltzman, who is a Canadian writer and curator, has been appointed the new Director for Arts and Participation at Barbican, London. She will take up the post in July, replacing Will Gompertz, who was artistic director but left to join Sir John Soane’s Museum. In a statement, Devyani Saltzman…
The Metropolitan Police is "assessing" a report of hate speech made against MP Lee Anderson after he accused London mayor Sadiq Khan of being controlled by Islamists, according to media reports. The police said an unknown complainant approached them a day after Anderson made the controversial remark on a TV…
The UK's opposition Labour Party has launched a new diaspora outreach organisation to connect with British Indians and also to strengthen its interactions with India in a year when both countries are preparing for general elections. The party's shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, marked the launch of “Labour Indians” in…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has denounced the ongoing controversy surrounding Islamophobia within the Tory party as "hysteria," urging prime minister Rishi Sunak to address Islamist extremism promptly, reported The Telegraph. Braverman believes stripping Lee Anderson, the former Tory party deputy chairman, of his party privileges was an overreaction to…
North London's vibrant kebab scene took centre stage at the recent 12th British Kebab Awards, held at the Park Plaza Westminster Hotel on February 27. Sponsored by Just Eat, the prestigious event recognized outstanding contributions to the UK's kebab industry, with notable winners hailing from various corners of North London.…
LEGENDARY concert organiser Jay Visvadeva has been delighting live music fans across generations in the UK since the 1970s, bringing together the biggest artists. His SAMA arts organisation continues to produce exciting concerts, including the South Asian Sounds festival at Southbank Centre in London from next Thursday (7) to next…
A SELF-CONFESSED Canadian white nationalist who deliberately ran over and killed four members of a Muslim family with his pickup truck in 2021 was given a life sentence last Thursday (22) with no chance of parole for 25 years. Nathaniel Veltman, 23, had been found guilty of first-degree murder last…
BAS JAVID, who has been tasked with policing illegal immigration, has said his immigrant background enables him to bring compassion to the role. Javid was appointed director general for immigration enforcement at the Home Office in November last year. With a budget exceeding £779 million and a staff of more…
THE London mayoral election is on May 2, so it’s not that far away. If I were Sadiq Khan, I would be pleased privately by Lee Anderson’s comments about him on GB News: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do…
Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal on Wednesday became the first Indian citizen to be conferred an honorary Knighthood by Britain's King Charles III “for services to UK and India business relations”. In a list of honorary British awards unveiled by the UK Cabinet Office, Mittal receives a…
THE mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has told Eastern Eye he believes communities will come together to stand up against “politics of extremism, division and blame”. His comments came amid an escalating row after Lee Anderson, the former deputy chairman of the Conservative party, last Saturday (24) claimed “Islamists had…
HARMEET grew up in a vibrant multicultural corner of east London, with her parents, sister and grandparents. And from an early age, she was always encouraged to use her voice to help others. “This ranged from translating information from English to Punjabi for older relatives and supporting my mother to…
Conservative party MP Paul Scully's remark that parts of the London borough have become a “no-go” zone has upset the residents and businesses in Tower Hamlets. The former London minister, who represents Sutton and Cheam, on Tuesday said he regrets sparking a controversy by claiming that parts of Tower Hamlets…
Keeping prejudice out of politics is becoming increasingly fraught in polarised times. Taking to the streets to protest must be part of free speech – within decent democratic boundaries. That deal is broken if prejudiced placards, chants and slogans go unchecked – but undermined too when politicians declare every protestor…
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, made history by becoming the first-ever woman chief minister of Pakistan's most populous Punjab province, a development described by her party as a "giant leap" for the country. The 50-year-old senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has declared he is “living proof” that Britain is not a racist country as he sought to douse the Islamophobia row, The Times reports. He warned that all politicians had an obligation to be “careful” and not “unnecessarily inflame” tensions after the former deputy Tory chairman,…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has issued a warning about the increasing toxicity in political culture, in light of reports that members of Parliament are encountering security threats due to their voting intentions in the House of Commons concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict. He issued a statement on Saturday (24) to condemn…
A UK-based professor of Asian origin was denied entry by the immigration authorities at Bangalore airport in India on Friday (23) despite being an invitee for a function organised by the Karnataka state, according to multiple reports. Nitasha Kaul, who teaches at the University of Westminster, recounted her ordeal on…
British prime minister Rishi Sunak denied on Monday that his governing party has Islamophobic tendencies, saying comments by Conservative lawmaker Lee Anderson were unacceptable and that was why he had been suspended. Anderson said on Friday the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was under the control of Islamists in widely…
The Tories on Saturday (24) suspended their former deputy chairman Lee Anderson from the parliamentary party after he refused to apologise for claiming that London's Labour mayor, Sadiq Khan, was controlled by Islamists. Pressure had been growing on prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories to act following lawmaker Anderson's contentious remarks…
A 25-year-old British Indian doctor, who combined his passion for music with his medical career by forming a band with fellow healthcare professionals, has kicked off his first nationwide tour in the UK with the launch show in London recently proving a sell-out. Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya started the indie-rock…
London's prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has announced its search for a dedicated Taylor Swift superfan to join its advisory team. The museum is on a mission to tap into the insights of passionate fans, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of specific cultural trends and expand its connection…
SMALL business owners who attended an event in London were unimpressed by the lack of policy detail provided by Labour’s shadow small business minister. Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, primarily discussed the entrepreneurial spirit of her constituency and emphasised the importance of immigrant founders during…
The BBC has confirmed a spin-off series for its hit legal drama, The Split, nearly two years since the series came to a close with its third season in 2022. Starring Nicola Walker, The Split delved into the intricate world of family law, focusing on the lives and relationships of…
THE Church of England (CoE) is considering updating its guidance to clergy on supporting and ministering to asylum seekers, amid concerns that religious conversions are being exploited by people seeking to stay in Britain. The Church's role in the asylum system has been in the spotlight since media reports that…
BRITAIN will gain access to the EU's intelligence on criminal gangs involved in human trafficking as part of a deal with the bloc's border protection agency, Frontex, in another sign of closer cooperation between the two sides after Brexit. The deal between Britain and the European Union will allow both…
Filmmaker Onir’s movie Pine Cone is set to be screened at the 38th British Film Institute Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival next month. The director said he is honored to have his movie selected for the festival, which is known as one of the world's most significant queer film events. It…
ANTI-MUSLIM hate incidents in the UK more than tripled following the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, a monitoring group said. Tell MAMA recorded 2,010 such cases in the four months since Hamas's deadly attack against Israel on October 7 sparked the conflict. That was the largest recorded…
Once again, the UK Rich List has a distinctly Indian feel to it. The Sunday Times newspaper has published their list of the wealthiest people in the UK, with Gopi Hinduja coming out on top with a whopping £35 billion fortune. The 84-year-old oversees the Hinduja Group, an international conglomerate…
A woman stripped of her British citizenship after leaving the country as a teenager to marry a Daesh (Islamic State group) fighter lost her appeal against the decision on Friday (23). London's Court of Appeal rejected all five arguments presented by Shamima Begum, 24, although she can still take the…
A man who operates two Michelin-starred restaurants has denied attempting to spike a woman's drink at an upscale club in Mayfair, London. Vikas Nath, 61, hailing from Kensington, faces allegations of trying to administer a substance with the intent of rendering a woman unconscious or incapacitated to facilitate sexual activity.…
BAS JAVID, who has been tasked with policing illegal immigration, has said his immigrant background enables him to bring compassion to the role. Javid was appointed director general for immigration enforcement at the Home Office in November last year. With a budget exceeding £779 million and a staff of more…
KING CHARLES said during a meeting with prime minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday (21) he had been reduced to tears by messages of good will following his cancer diagnosis. King met Sunak in person for their weekly audience for the first time since announcing his diagnosis. The palace announced earlier…
VICTIMS of racism are being attacked for speaking out and highlighting the problem, former chief crown prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, has told Eastern Eye. His comments come as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has asked Afzal to head a panel to investigate its internal culture. The 61-year-old is no stranger…
Akshata Murty, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s wife, wore a suit designed by Lady Cameron at an event on the final day of London Fashion Week in a nod to one of her predecessors in Downing Street. The event was a lunch at Downing Street, which saw the presence of 20…
THEATRE veteran Lillete Dubey’s new play is an ode to the human spirit and resilience – with a touch of humour and lots of love, as she puts it, exploring the dynamics of relationships during the Covid-19 lockdown. After receiving rave reviews and standing ovations across India as well as…
HEALTH experts have urged West Midlands residents to get the measles vaccine as cases in the region are spreading in “disproportionately high rates”. Figures published earlier this month showed 329 of 465 (71 per cent) cases across England from October to February were in the region. The sharp rise over…
Britain's minister for South Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Tariq Ahmad arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi and also discuss the progress made in the ongoing negotiations for an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA). Ahmad leads the British…
CHILA BURMAN, often lauded as the “Punjabi lass from Liverpool”, has been shortlisted along with six other artists for the much sought-after space on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. Two winners will be announced next month and their works installed in 2026 and 2028, respectively. The Fourth Plinth, which…
DEVI SRI PRASAD made history in London with back-to-back arena concerts in Telugu and Tamil over an action-packed weekend in January,. The two blockbuster shows confirmed that the musician is one of India’s most popular and talented artists. It added to the singer, songwriter and composer’s impressive achievements, which include…
THE Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will be delighted to learn that Bangladeshi women in the East End of London are taking up gardening and growing vegetables and herbs that remind them of the green fields of Sylhet in the subcontinent. The RHS, which is working hard to increase diversity both…
HSBC on Wednesday posted soaring annual profits, largely thanks to ballooning interest rates, but its shares tanked after the banking giant revealed a massive impairment linked to property-sector woes in China. Net profit surged 56 per cent last year to $22.4 billion, the London-headquartered group said in a statement. Pre-tax…
THE government approached the Court of Appeal over the “unduly lenient” sentence imposed on a 32-year-old man guilty of killing a British Indian teenage student, her friend and a school caretaker in Nottingham last year. Valdo Calocane was sentenced to a mental health order to be detained in a high-security…
Prince William on Tuesday (20) called for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, emphasising the "sheer scale of human suffering" as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for peace in the region, which has seen a high number of casualties. In an unusually direct…
IF great stand-up stars mine comedy gold from their own lives, then Priya Hall has a treasure trove of sparkling gems to choose from. Whether it is being born into a mixed heritage family, coming out as queer, quitting her job to pursue a comedy career, dumping her long-term boyfriend…
LIKE an athlete, who puts in maximum effort and can barely walk after a race, Chand Ali Khan gave it his all in a high-intensity performance that lasted more than two hours without a break. The young British singer, backed by an equally hardworking group, enthralled a sell-out audience at…
Eight people have been arrested in connection with the murder of an Asian-origin restaurant manager while he was cycling home after work in Reading on February 14. The victim, identified as Vignesh Pattabhiraman (36), was employed at an Indian restaurant Vel in Reading. He was involved in a collision late…
London’s Overground train lines have never before had the attention of the iconic underground. The tube map was a popular hit straightaway in the 1930s, a design classic copied the world over. The Overground lines have kept a low profile on the map’s periphery, with its 114 stations hiding behind…
In a notable recognition of his contributions to fostering UK-India relations, Amarjit Singh, the founder, and CEO of the India Business Group (IBG), has been honoured with the Hind Rattan 2024 Award by the NRI Welfare Society of India, in New Delhi. This award, translating to "Jewel of India," celebrates…
British actor Olivia Colman, reknowed for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, has a surprising confession: she loves a good swear word. As long as it’s used responsibly, of course. This revelation comes just in time for her latest film, Wicked Little Letters, a comedic whoudnit brimming with…
A BAFTA official said they are taking the security breach "very seriously" which saw a prankster crash the award stage while the Oppenheimer team was accepting their award. On Sunday, a prankster walked up to the stage and stood behind filmmaker Christopher Nolan and other Oppenheimer team members as they…
With the negotiations for the proposed India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) reaching its last leg, a high-level Indian official delegation is heading for London to iron out differences on remaining issues, sources said on Tuesday. The chief negotiators of both countries would hold negotiations on different issues such as goods,…
Barclays laid out a three-year plan to revive its flagging share price on Tuesday, including axing £2 billion of costs, returning £10 billion to shareholders and investing in its high-returning UK retail bank. Shares in the British bank rose by as much as 7% after the announcement of the plan…
Sohm Kapila, an internationally renowned actress (Aquaman 2, Never Have I Ever, Greys Anatomy, Small Town Big Story), born in India and raised in Nottingham, is back in the Midlands from her home of Los Angeles and spoke to Eastern Eye about her latest role on stage as Rekha in…
Prince William, who attended the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony on Sunday, said that he is a "big fan" of Christopher Nolan and he liked Oppenheimer. "I am a big fan of Christopher Nolan so I'll be pleased if he wins ... I loved Oppenheimer," Prince William said. He made…
Prime Video on Sunday hosted a special screening of its much-awaited crime series Poacher in London. Written, created, and directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Richie Mehta and produced by QC Entertainment, Poacher features an accomplished ensemble cast including Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya. The series is a riveting…
Director Christopher Nolan's biopic film Oppenheimer dominated the BAFTA Film Awards 2024 with seven wins including Best Director, Best Film, and Best Leading Actor awards. The ceremony was held on Sunday at London's Royal Festival Hall. Poor Things had a rich showing with five BAFTAs including Leading Actress for Emma…
AN unnamed British policeman underwent a misconduct hearing after it emerged that he had shared details of injuries via WhatsApp following a stabbing attack on a British Indian teenager and her friend in Nottingham last year. According to a report in The Sun newspaper on Monday (19), a misconduct hearing…
A physician responsible for managing several coronavirus admissions has been suspended for secretly attending to private patients during NHS hours at the peak of the pandemic. Dr Enson Thomas, 58, a consultant for nearly 21 years, from Bromham, near Bedford, was appointed as the Covid-19 Lead by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS…
A Cheshire-based mechanic has been jailed for 16 years for creating sites dedicated to child sexual abuse on the dark web, according to media reports. Nathan Bake, 28, was the second in command of the now-defunct site ‘The Annex’, which had 90,000 global members and they discussed extreme sexual abuse…
A woman was sentenced to seven years in jail by a judge on Friday (16) for aiding in the genital mutilation of a three-year-old girl while on a trip to Kenya. Amina Noor, 40, was found guilty last year at the Old Bailey of assisting a non-UK person to carry…
Vulnerable women in the East End's Bangladeshi communities now have the opportunity to unite and cultivate their food in a nurturing environment, thanks to a generous grant from the independent charity donor, City Bridge Foundation. The grant, amounting to £35,760, has been awarded to the St Peter’s Community Wellbeing Projects…
English cricket has turned down a billion-dollar offer from Lalit Modi to revamp The Hundred tournament, The Telegraph reports. Modi had earlier founded the hugely popular Indian Premier League but is currently at loggerheads with the Indian cricket board. His representatives met with the top officials of the England and…
An Asian-origin man was convicted for the gruesome murder of a Colombia-born woman almost 30 years after the crime, thanks to advances made in forensic science investigation methods, according to media reports. Interestingly, the crime took place near the fictional home of Sherlock Holmes - Baker Street, and a bloody…
The most recent TB annual report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), published on Thursday (15), indicates a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases in England. While the figures for 2022 were stable, with 4,380 reported incidents nearly mirroring the 2021 count of 4,411, provisional data for 2023 paints a…
Creators, influencers, buyers, and celebrities are set to gather in London on Friday (16) to mark the 40th anniversary of the UK capital's Fashion Week with a five-day extravaganza. Organisers aim for the event to offer some cheer to young designers who have been affected by the gloomy economy. Around…
ACCESS to GPs in England is worse in areas where more ethnic minorities live, according to a recent analysis by The Guardian. The highest proportion of ethnic minority neighbourhoods have significantly fewer GPs per 100,000 patients compared to areas with a predominantly white British population, the report said. Experts attribute…
A former Goldman Sachs analyst was convicted in a London court of using inside information to buy shares in listed companies and make more than £140,000, a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) spokesperson said. Mohammed Zina, 35, was employed by Goldman Sachs International in its conflicts resolution group in London. Prosecutors…
BRITAIN's markets watchdog has ordered more than 1,000 banks, insurers and brokerages to report how many sexual harassment, discrimination and other non-financial misconduct cases they have recorded since 2021 and how they have dealt with them. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) promised lawmakers in January it would investigate how financial…
BRITISH Bangladeshis have told Eastern Eye of the “trauma” they face living in cramped housing, as data shows that more people from this community live in social housing compared to other south Asian communities. British Asians were overall least likely to live in social housing, but there were significant variations…
LADY SHREELA FLATHER, who has died, aged 89, came into her own when she entered the House of Lords in 1990, the first ethnic minority woman to be given a peerage. Her passing last week was announced by the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, who said: “My Lords, I…
London's mayor Sadiq Khan, 53, known for his political achievements and as a figure of historical significance being the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital, reveals a more personal side, in a special Valentine’s Day episode of the new dating podcast called London Love Stories with Katie Strick, by…
BALANCING creativity with his roles as a secondary school science teacher and parent, Alom Shaha was inspired to write his new children’s picture book, How to Find a Rainbow. The Bangladesh-born British Asian writer, who was raised in London, has crafted a captivating tale set in the Himalayan mountains, blending…
A British Pakistani girl, studying for 28 A-levels, has credited her mother with instilling in her a 'deep passion' for learning and books. Mahnoor Cheema, 17, from Slough, with an IQ as high as Einstein’s, is currently undertaking 28 A-levels after completing 34 GCSEs. She is studying four A-levels at…
WHO really invented butter chicken? The competing claims of two rival restaurants in Delhi – Moti Mahal and Daryaganj – have now gone global. The dispute has ended up in the courts with the owners of Moti Mahal also demanding £200,000 in damages. Foreign correspondents based in the Indian capital…
IN the dynamic landscape of international relations, the influence of non-state actors, including transnational religious organisations, plays a crucial role in shaping a nation’s global standing. India, with its rich tapestry of religious diversity, has witnessed the emergence and growth of various such organisations that contribute significantly to the country’s…
The mastermind of an armed robbery that took place in Bradford in 2005 has been captured and extradited from Pakistan, according to media reports. A police officer was killed and another seriously injured when they responded to reports of a robbery at the Universal Express travel agency in Bradford, West…
INDIANS are becoming victims of frequent muggings in London, especially for Rolex watches in Mayfair, with police allegedly doing little to respond to their appeals for help. The traumatic experience of senior lawyer Vijay Goel, founder of the Indo-European Business Forum, as relayed to Eastern Eye, appears to be fairly…
SWAMI BRAHMAVIHARIDAS is one of the most respected and admired of Swaminarayan figures who lead the global organisation that is BAPS today. He has led the project to build the spectacular Akshardham Temple in Abu Dhabi since its conception. In this exclusive and very special interview with Shailesh R Solanki,…
LABOUR is “haemorrhaging” the Muslim vote, which will have a negative impact when Britain holds the general election, expected later this year, party MPs have told Eastern Eye. Late on Monday (12), Labour withdrew its support and suspended for its candidate for Rochdale, Azhar Ali, following criticism of remarks he…
THOUSANDS of international students are campaigning to clear their names over an English-language test scandal after fresh evidence was presented to the Home Office. The issue dates to 2014 when a BBC Panorama investigation revealed cheating on a compulsory language test that was required for a visa at two London…
POPULAR Indian singer Javed Ali has consistently showcased his impressive range through songs in diverse genres, languages and styles. The marvellous musical numbers delivered by the naturally gifted singer have included Bollywood hits Nagada Nagada, Jashn-E-Bahaara, Guzarish, Araziyan, Kun Faya Kun and Tu Jo Mila. Having beautifully balanced top tracks…
Supermarket giant Tesco has said it has unearthed a 'cash for crash' scam wherein some of its delivery drivers were staging accidents to help fraudsters claim hefty damages. A dozen drivers working out of Tesco’s depot in Greenford, west London, allegedly conspired with people outside the company to carry out…
THE UKRAINE war has forced India to focus its military spending more on fostering domestic industry - as Russia, its largest supplier - prioritised its domestic needs, a new report said on Tuesday (13). As a result of the conflict, New Delhi set aside a record 75 per cent of…
Actress Deepika Padukone will present an award at the upcoming BAFTA Film Awards, set to be held on Sunday evening. Padukone, 38, shared the list of confirmed presenters issued by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on her Instagram Story on Tuesday. "Gratitude," she captioned the post.…
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer finds himself navigating a challenging political landscape, marked by a noticeable shift in support from Muslim constituents due to his stance on the Gaza conflict. But despite this, analyses suggest that Labour's robust lead may mitigate the potential impact on election outcomes, sparing the party from…
Tobacco major British American Tobacco is looking to trim its £15 billion stake in the Indian cigarettes-to-hotel conglomerate ITC, according to media reports. The maker of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes announced this alongside a large annual loss of over £17 bn and a mixed outlook. BAT currently holds over…
Actor-turned-author Twinkle Khanna recently added a new feather to her cap when she completed her master’s programme in fiction writing from the prestigious Goldsmiths, University of London. Sharing insights into her experience of moving to London with her daughter Nitara, she said that she ‘had to create a bio, stand…
King Charles III expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to well-wishers on Saturday (10), in his first statement following his shock announcement that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Buckingham Palace said Monday that Charles had begun treatment, but did not specify what type of cancer he has. "I would like to…
LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan called on Britain's government to take steps to prevent "chaos" on the Eurostar rail link with France when the European Union is expected to introduce a new system of biometric border controls later this year. The EU's checks mean that travellers from countries outside the bloc…
London's police force is leaving children at risk of exploitation and should implement nearly a dozen reforms to improve, a damning report by Britain's law enforcement watchdog said on Friday. The Metropolitan Police's response to the criminal and sexual exploitation of children is "not currently effective", His Majesty's Inspectorate of…
A diamond ring journeyed nearly 100 miles from Suffolk to the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) in London, where it was “miraculously” found in a set of scrubs, much to the relief of its owner, Radhika Ramasamy, a consultant anaesthetist at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in Bury St Edmunds.…
British bank Barclays on Friday said it had agreed to buy the retail banking operations of Tesco, as the supermarket giant concentrates on its core food business. Barclays will pay up to £700 million for Tesco Bank -- handing it a portfolio of credit cards, other loans and deposits, according…
THE Integrity International Group, led by British Asian hotelier Tony Matharu, has acquired two properties in London - Atlas House and Crescent buildings for an undisclosed amount. Atlas House, a Grade II-listed building, is situated at the junction of King Street, Queen Street, and Cheapside, while the Crescent is located…
THREE former students of Oxford are anticipating a substantial windfall, potentially reaching $100 million ( £79m), following the acquisition of their start-up, Onfido, by a US competitor, reports said. Husayn Kassai, Eamon Jubbawy, and Ruhul Amin founded Onfido, which makes it easy for people to access services through digital verification,…
An Asian-origin owner of a waste treatment plant in east London was fined after she barred UK Environment Agency inspectors from entering the site unless they handed over thousands of pounds in bogus fees. Gurjit Athwal, director of Keep Green Ltd, has been fined £3,000 with more than double that…
THE British Asian community, which has long been supported by King Charles from the days he was a young Prince of Wales, is now rallying round the 75-year old monarch following his cancer diagnosis on Monday (5). Since the King is also head of the Commonwealth, just as Queen Elizabeth…
Mobile services in Pakistan have been suspended due to the "deteriorating security situation", the caretaker government said on Thursday (8) as the people were voting to elect a new administration, a day after twin terror attacks killed at least 30 people. The interior ministry said it has decided to “temporarily…
INDIAN travellers feel they have to “look over their shoulder” in posh London areas as several businesspersons have had their expensive watches and bags mugged, according to a Delhi-based entrepreneur. The issue featured during discussions with UK shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, who is in New Delhi for talks on…
With a career spanning a remarkable 25 years, Purab Kohli stands as a testament to perseverance, versatility, and undeniable talent. From gripping dramas to rib-tickling comedies, the seasoned actor has graced screens both big and small, leaving an indelible mark on audiences. Eastern Eye recently spoke to Kohli about his…
ENGLISH football clubs have been shown a yellow card by campaigners over a lack of progress after failing to meet their hiring targets for south Asian coaches. Recent data from the Football Association (FA) showed the 53 clubs signed up to the Football Leadership Diversity Code (FLDC) collectively failed to…
THE acclaimed theatre play, 10 Nights, has returned for a UK tour, which runs at the Omnibus Theatre in London until February 21 before moving to Bristol, Hayes and Leicester. The story of a spiritual sleepover in a mosque revolves around topics of faith, friendships, forgiveness and the future. Azan…
A MALARIA vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India (SII) prevented around three-quarters of symptomatic malaria cases in young children the first year after they got the shots, results from a large trial showed last Thursday (1). The vaccine, which has already been approved…
UGANDA’S president, Yoweri Museveni, has appealed to British Asians expelled by Idi Amin more than half a century ago to “build a living bridge between their newfound homes in the United Kingdom and the cherished homeland of their forefathers”. His emotional message was aimed at some 30,000 refugees – and…
Hollywood star Tom Holland is set to return to the stage with a new iteration of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Holland, the star of multiple Marvel movies where he plays Spider-Man, will take on the role of the Bard's tragic hero Romeo in the West End production, to be…
PROMINENT British Indian peer Shreela Flather passed away after a short illness in the UK on Tuesday (6), her sons Marcus and Paul Flather said in a statement. She was 89. Known for her elegant sarees in the House of Lords, the teacher and politician was a life peer as…
KING CHARLES’S cancer diagnosis has shocked the whole country, but will be felt especially keenly by the British Asian community, for whom he has cared as long as anyone can remember. He said as much when his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, attended the Hinduja Diwali party in October 2022…
THIS may seem a little ironic, but the Birmingham Rep’s new bhangra musical is an American import. Bhangra, a joyous harvest festival, first came to Britain from the Punjab with the first generation of Indian immigrants in the 1950s and 1960s, and developed British roots in and around Birmingham. And…
Despite her shortcomings as the prime minister, Liz Truss continues to maintain her presence on the political stage. On Tuesday (6) she launched a new movement dedicated to steering the ruling Tories in a more rightward direction. Truss spent just 49 days in office before she was ousted by her…
In a new development in the realm of cancer treatment, the UK has embarked on a pioneering journey by incorporating cancer patients into an international trial of an experimental mRNA therapy, known as mRNA-4359. This innovative approach, which is currently under evaluation at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, is at…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday (6) that he was “shocked and sad” upon discovering that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, though he found solace in the fact that the condition was detected early. Buckingham Palace revealed on Monday evening that the King had commenced outpatient treatment for…
AFTER spending more than seven decades waiting to become sovereign, Britain's King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer less than 18 months since he ascended to the throne. Buckingham Palace announced that Charles, 75, would postpone public-facing duties while he undergoes treatment but was looking forward to…
KING CHARLES has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will postpone public engagements to undergo treatment, Buckingham Palace said on Monday (5), but added he remained "wholly positive" about the scare less than 18 months into his reign. Charles, 75, who became king in September 2022 following the…
British mobile phone giant Vodafone, which is slashing thousands of jobs, revealed Monday (5) that revenues fell in its third quarter on poor performance across Italy and Spain. Total revenues dropped 2.3 percent to 11.4 billion euros (£9.76 billion) in the three months to the end of December, compared with…
MORE research is needed to develop an advanced fabric for turbans, a scientist has said, as a new study last week revealed that such headgear can greatly reduce the risk of skull fractures. Researchers from the Imperial College, London and Sikh Scientists Network said last week that wearing Sikh turbans…
A public order case against climate activist Greta Thunberg and four other protesters was dismissed by a London court on Friday (2), with the judge criticising the "unlawful" conditions imposed by police at the time of their arrest. District judge John Law dismissed the cases against the 21-year-old Swedish campaigner…
Faaiza Bashir, a 22-year-old student from Barking, has shared her journey of battling cancer at 18 to mark World Cancer Day on February 4. Her collaboration with the Teenage Cancer Trust aims to spotlight the critical signs of cancer in adolescents and young adults, particularly in the south Asian communities…
LABOUR will cap corporation tax at 25 per cent if it wins the next election and will look to cut that rate if needed, the party's finance policy chief Rachel Reeves told business leaders on Thursday (1). Businesses have long complained about a lack of visibility on everything from tax…
Korean artists are set to showcase their work at the world's largest art fair, The India Art Fair, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Korean Cultural Centre India participates in the Institutions section of the India Art Fair 2024. Korean Cultural Centre India will represent world-renowned media artist Lee…
LONDON’S MAYOR, Sadiq Khan, has warned of dirty tricks to spread lies and misinformation about him during May’s mayoral race. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Khan said that those who do not like him will use deep fake artificial intelligence to try to discredit him. Last year (November),…
Leeds-born sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun has been shortlisted for two prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Awards: The Instrumentalist Award and the Large-Scale Composition Award. The RPS Awards, recognised as a significant event in UK classical music by The Sunday Times, highlight outstanding musical talents and initiatives that inspire…
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…
BOLLYWOOD queen Shreya Ghoshal excels in captivating live audiences, evident in the sold-out tours she has performed worldwide. The superb singer with a bank of brilliant songs returns to the UK in February for big arena shows in London (9) and Manchester (11). Ahead of the tour, Eastern Eye asked…
AN INDIAN national extradited from the UK pleaded guilty to operating a global dark web enterprise to sell “deadly and dangerous drugs to communities across America” and agreed to forfeit approximately $150 million (£118m) in cryptocurrency. According to court documents, Banmeet Singh – originally from Haldwani in India’s Uttarakhand state,…
THE number of students of Asian origin who achieved a first-class degree in the UK has fallen for the first time, new figures show. The percentage getting top honours was 27.5 per cent in 2021-2022 compared to 33.3 per cent the previous year, with experts highlighting the devastating impact the…
BRILLIANT British talent Jasdeep Singh Degun has been flying the flag for classical Indian music with world-class live performances, an acclaimed album, and global collaborations. The young sitar maestro has broken down boundaries with his artistry and new approach to composition without losing touch with his cultural roots. His impressive…
THE far-right section of the Conservative party is plotting to get rid of Rishi Sunak. But, then, no one should be surprised. Fascism has always appealed to a section of the Conservative Party and indeed to many in English aristocracy. Here is a summary of a seriously regarded book, Hitler’s…
MANY British Asian families are badly affected as poverty has increased in the UK to around pre-pandemic levels, a new report said. The UK poverty 2024 report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last Tuesday (23) said Asian households also have higher rates of child poverty, very deep poverty and persistent…
A COUPLE in the UK, whose extradition was sought by India, has been sentenced for 33 years in jail for exporting more than half a tonne of cocaine to Australia. Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, from Hanwell in Ealing, west London, were identified by the National Crime Agency…
FAMILIES of the victims of last June’s Nottingham attacks said prime minister has not ruled out a public inquiry into the incident after they met Rishi Sunak at Downing Street on Monday (29) evening. Barnaby Webber's father, whose son was fatally stabbed alongside Grace O'Malley Kumar, 19, and school caretaker…
South Asia's finest musical stars are set to perform at the first South Asian Sounds Festival at London's Southbank Centre. From the 7th to the 10th March, a stunning programme of both classical and contemporary South Asian music features some mega stars of the South Asian music scene such as…
King Charles and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, Catherine, were both discharged from the hospital and returned home on Monday (29), following their respective planned medical treatments. Charles, 75, who had spent three nights in hospital after undergoing a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate, smiled and waved to…
A leading UK property developer owned by the Pankhania family and specialising in Grade I and II listed buildings, announced on Monday (29) the completion of a Hampton by Hilton Hotel in London. Acre Hotels, the hospitality arm of the Westcombe Group, was behind the £13 million property in Old…
NOBODY expected this first India versus England Test match to turn into an all-time cricket classic. Having not set a 4am alarm on the first day, I woke to hear India already taking their sixth English wicket. That first batting collapse came just after lunch in Hyderabad, but well before…
THE former head of religious studies at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire remains in hiding, nearly three years after sparking protests for displaying a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad to students, reported The Times. The incident, which occurred in March 2021, led to several days of demonstrations outside the…
A Spanish judge on Thursday (25) cleared a 19-year-old Briton of all charges in a trial over a Taliban bomb hoax he shared with five friends before boarding a 2022 flight that prompted the scrambling of a fighter jet to escort the plane. Aditya Verma, who was 18 at the…
CAMBRIDGE, the English city renowned for its university, scientific breakthroughs and status as a technology hub, has its sights on becoming the next Silicon Valley. The British government is providing funds for new infrastructure projects such as housing and transport that it says will help Cambridge, north of London, become…
The popular Globe Theater in London is putting on a play called Antony and Cleopatra, with non-white actress Nadia Nadarajah being cast in the leading role. Nadarajah, who has labelled herself as an English South Asian woman with dark skin and uses British Sign Language, has been cast to play…
Varada Sethu is set to be a part of Doctor Who, a popular British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. She will star in season 15, which is scheduled to hit the airwaves in 2024, alongside Ncuti Gatwa (the Fifteenth Doctor), taking over from Millie Gibson.…
THE NHS has suspended a GP in Harrow and a prominent figure in the recently banned Islamist terror group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The action was taken against Dr Wahid Asif Shaida after the Home Office proscribed Hizb ut-Tahrir, leading to potential prison sentences for its supporters. Dr. Shaida, also known as…
THE chief of UK financial watchdog has emphasised the critical need for regulatory adaptation in the face of evolving consumer technology in financial services. Nikhil Rathi, CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has outlined key points and scenarios, urging a wider debate between policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers in…
The family of 19-year-old Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who was stabbed to death last June in Nottingham while heroically defending her friend from a knife attack by killer Valdo Calocane heard on Tuesday (23) that the court has accepted Calocane’s pleas of manslaughter based on diminished responsibility. While the court's decision to…
PSYCHIATRISTS have developed a reputation for seeking to blame patients’ mums for psychological problems during therapy. So, what then of the psychiatrist’s own mother? In fact, it was she who encouraged me to consider psychiatry, then a deeply unpopular speciality, while I was at medical school. Our beloved mum, Dr…
AS THE glowing river of lava from a volcano that erupted recently in Iceland ebbed, not everyone was happy. Iceland boasts more than 30 active volcanoes, making the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism – a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers every year to…
IT WAS quite apt that acclaimed Indian stand-up comedian Anirban Dasgupta spoke about strict censorship and the danger of telling jokes in his country at the beginning of his show at Soho Theatre in London earlier this month. That is because the first half of his show was filled with…
Guided by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, commonly known as 'Neasden Temple,' united with nearly 60 BAPS mandirs and centres across the UK and Europe in a global BAPS homage to honour the inauguration of the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a press release…
THEATRE director Atri Banerjee said he “embraced” the challenge of helming back-to-back plays: Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie and Phoebe EclairPowell’s Shed: Exploded View. Banerjee is currently working on Shed: Exploded View which runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester from February to March, following which he will revisit…
THE UK’s public health protection agency last Friday (19) sounded a “national call to action” for more measles jabs for children because of falling vaccination rates and fears that a current outbreak could spread. Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that measles was spreading among…
DESPITE being centuries old, qawwali music remains massively popular with live audiences around the world. One of its top British exponents, Chand Ali Khan Qawwal and Party, is set to embark on another UK tour in February. The Midlands-based group has already sold out some shows, and their Dillagi tour…
A gang that used aliases from films and TV shows have been jailed for orchestrating a cold-calling Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims of £1 million. Scammers Sujanthan Sotheeswaran, 35, Darren Peck, 43 and Denis Deegan, 49, have employed fake identities inspired by TV series like Suits, The Riot Club, and…
THE headteacher of a London school, which has implemented a ban on prayers, emphasised that the decision was unrelated to any "disapproval of Islam." Katharine Birbalsingh, the headmistress of Michaela Community School in Wembley, northwest London, said the prayer ban restored calm and order to the school. The school is…
THE unelected upper house of parliament inflicted a blow Monday (22) to the government's controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda, by voting to delay ratification of the treaty with Kigali. The move is a blow for prime minister Rishi Runak, who had urged the House of Lords to pass…
THREE Indian scientists are among the winners of the 2024 Blavatnik awards for young scientists in the UK. Prof Rahul R Nair, Prof Mehul Malik and Dr Tanmay Bharat are among the nine winners of award instituted by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and The New York Academy of Sciences. The…
A school, headed by the former government social mobility tsar Katharine Birbalsingh, is facing a legal challenge in the High Court regarding a policy allegedly amounting to a 'prayer ban'. Michaela School in Brent, north London, faced legal scrutiny in the court over allegations of implementing a "prayer ban." The…
The Old Vic Theatre in London will present the world premiere of a new adaptation of Sophocles’ Oedipus, adapted by Ella Hickson. The production, which is set to launch in January 2025, will feature Oscar winner Rami Malek and former Game of Thrones star Indira Varma in lead roles. This…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday (18) announced the extension of the free holiday meals programme for another year. Khan would spend £4 million in his 2024/25 budget to continue the programme that provides free meals to families during schools holidays and at weekends, a statement said. Under the initiative,…
GOOGLE will invest $1 billion on building a data centre just outside of London, the US technology giant said on Thursday (18), in its latest investment in Britain as it meets growing demand for internet services in the region. The data centre, located on a 33-acre (13-hectare) site bought by…
In a bid to alleviate cost-of-living pressures and support the retail and hospitality sectors, London's mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Friday (19) that the majority of public transport fares in the city will remain unchanged this year. In London and across Britain, households have tightened their purse strings due to…
The nominations for the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards have been announced. And as expected, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer led nominations, securing 13 nods. Yorgos Lanthimos' black-comedy science fantasy Poor Things also grabbed the top spot in the list as it earned 11 nods. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Oppenheimer, which had…
A 61-year-old Londoner has been charged under the sexual offences act after a report of spiking a femake guest's drink. Metropolitan Police officers responded to staff concerns about an attempt to drug a female guest at a central London venue in the early hours of Tuesday (15). Vikas Nath, of…
In a crucial test of his leadership, prime minister Rishi Sunak successfully navigated a key parliamentary vote on Wednesday (17), overcoming opposition from right-wing rebels for his controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda. Sunak, in power since October 2022, has staked his political future on the scheme, as Britain…
A Tunisian man who stabbed and killed his 19-year-old British Indian girlfriend in 2022 has been given an indefinite hospital order by a UK court. Sabita Thanwani, an aspiring psychologist, was stabbed in the neck by 24-year-old Maher Maaroufe at her student accommodation in Clerkenwell, east London, on March 19,…
2023 turned out to be an excellent year for superstar Shah Rukh Khan as all his three releases – Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki – emerged as massive blockbusters at the box office in India and abroad. The latest we hear is that after delivering three blockbusters in 2023, he is…
LONDON is underprepared for the heatwaves, flooding and rising sea levels it is forecast to experience in coming years, a report commissioned by Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Wednesday (17). The report, which was ordered after soaring temperatures, wildfires and floods all hit the capital in recent years, said a…
US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has agreed to withdraw allegations of racism against drinks giant Diageo, the company said Tuesday (16) six months after ending their business link-up. In a statement, Diageo said Combs has withdrawn his lawsuit as part of a settlement with the London-based spirits firm and both…
AN ACCOMPLISHED novel from 2023 was published in paperback last Thursday (11). Born in Paris and brought up in London, the assured author offers up an interesting debut novel about a young man, from a mixed heritage background, overcome by the death of his beloved grandfather and preparing for a…
THE rise in popularity of self-help books has been illustrated by bestsellers such as New York to NEW YOU. Author Manoj Gupta has followed up that popular debut book for corporate leaders and entrepreneurs with The Consciouspreneur. His latest book is a more universal self-actualisation manual to help readers live…
URGENT action is needed to help the large number of south Asian households living in hidden poverty, anti-poverty campaigners have urged. New research reveals that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by severe hardship in areas not accounted for in government measures targeting antideprivation funding. The study by Queen’s University in…
Former Bollywood actress Twinkle Khanna has completed a master's programme in fiction writing from Goldsmiths, University of London, and the actress-turned-author has said her graduation ceremony was "even more perfect" than she ever imagined. Khanna, who recently came out with the novel Welcome To Paradise, shared a video from the…
JUST before Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in Westminster Abbey, on April 29, 2011, I went to see Hasmukh and Chandrika Shingadia in the Berkshire village of Upper Bucklebury, where they ran the local Peach’s grocery store cum sub-post office. They had been invited to the royal wedding…
JOEL GOODMAN, a lyricist and composer, wanted to write a musical “about someone who changed the world. I brainstormed different people like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and also Alan Turing. In the end we decided on Alan Turing.” The result is Alan Turing: A Musical Biography at the…
SEEMA MISRA, who was pregnant when she was maliciously and wrongly jailed for stealing from the Post Office, has told Eastern Eye that more than a decade later she still gets flashbacks about her time in prison and being tagged. The former Surrey sub-postmistress revealed that she was prepared to…
AT THE end of the video for her new song, Gone, British Asian music pioneer Veronica Mehta transforms into a phoenix rising from the ashes – a symbol, she said, of her “second chance at life” after a gruelling battle with cancer. Mehta was riding high in her career after…
THE frontrunner party for Pakistan’s delayed elections began campaigning on Monday (15), after a weekend court decision effectively pushed the opposition party of ex-prime minister Imran Khan out of the race. Pakistan’s vote next month has been marred by claims of pre-poll rigging, with analysts saying that the army establishment…
ASIAN sub postmasters have described the devastating impact of the Post Office Horizon scandal as they revealed the consequences of the injustice on their families as well as their health and finances. In interviews with Eastern Eye, some post masters recalled the fallout of discriminatory and racist behaviour by Post…
Ahead of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Temple on January 22, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the country will miss the beloved legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. PM Modi took to social media platform X to state "As the nation awaits January 22 with great enthusiasm,…
MANY Sikhs in the UK have received "threat-to-life" notices from the police, intensifying concerns over rising tensions related to the separatist movement in India, reported The Times. The threat-to-life warnings, known as Osman notices, issued by West Midlands police have fuelled apprehensions among recipients who fear potential connections to alleged…
The award-winning comedian-actor Vir Das, who is known for his witty responses to social media users, recently praised an IndiGo cabin crew member for standing up alone in front of a passenger who assaulted a pilot because the aircraft was delayed for 13 hours. However, his praise did not go…
A couple's criminal scheme to fund their extravagant lifestyle has come to an end with their recent conviction. Ashley Singh, 39, and Sophie Bruyea, 20, of Widmore Road, Bromley, have been found guilty of stealing bank and SIM cards from gym-goers' lockers. Singh and Bruyea executed their crimes with precision,…
The world’s longest-running children's TV show has today unveiled Shini Muthukrishnan as its newest Blue Peter presenter. Shini will co-host alongside Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney, and Henry the dog on her first live show airing Friday 19th January on CBBC and BBC iPlayer at 5.00 pm. Shini is a content…
A LEADING British Asian hotelier has sold 10 properties to Starwood Capital in a deal said to be worth around £800 million. Jasminder Singh OBE sold his properties, including Radisson Blu Edwardian properties in central London, to the US private investment firm, a statement said on Friday (12) The group…
INDIAN Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his visit to the UK on Thursday (11) after a “warm meeting” with prime minister Rishi Sunak and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception. Singh called on Sunak at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (10) evening for discussions on…
All the glitz and glamour from the 25th anniversary of the Asian Business Awards will be aired on Zee TV on Sunday, January 28th, at 7 pm. A total of nine awards were handed out at the glittering ceremony, held at the Park Plaza Hotel in central London and attended…
BRITISH Asian entrepreneurs have called for more action to improve diversity in the venture capital investment market after it was branded “unacceptable” and “woeful” by a powerful committee of MPs. The business leaders called for funds dedicated to ethnic minorities or female founders to make the system fairer. Venture capital…
BRITAIN will seek to use new legislation to overturn the wrongful convictions of hundreds of Post Office managers, prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday (10) in the wake of renewed national outrage over the scandal. Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of self-employed sub-postmasters at branches of the state-owned Post…
ASIAN parents traditionally want their children to become doctors, lawyers or engineers and, if all else fails, prime ministers and home secretaries. But now there are excellent career opportunities in horticulture, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which is offering free online tips with talks by experts from January…
AN INDEPENDENT mayoral candidate has promised to “bring back the smile” to Londoners’ faces, arguing that the capital has “lost its mojo”. Investment banker Tarun Ghulati said he was entering the race in order to “get London moving again”, while strengthening community cohesion and improving policing. Ghulati, who lives in…
BRITISH Asians have a higher rate of catching the life-threatening condition sepsis compared to other population groups, a study found. The illness, which kills around 48,000 people every year in the UK, occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs. Leading doctors…
AT SCHOOL in India, we were taught Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, in the heat and dust of Patna in the central eastern state of Bihar. In the last few days, as Britain struggled with yet another winter of flooding, I have been thinking of…
AN exciting star lighting up the UK comedy sky is sparkling new talent Priya Hall. The fabulously talented stand-up comic from Wales is fast making a name for herself on the live circuit with laughter-filled performances. Having also appeared on radio and television, the one-to-watch comic will hit a higher gear this…
MUSIC DIRECTOR Ahmed Kaysher has brought together artists from around the world to create “a new meaning of sensuality” through his show, Songs of Sringar and Seduction – Thumri to Troubadour. Produced by Saudha, the Society of Poetry and Indian Music, the concert features fresh interpretations of erotic and sensual…
INDIA’S coffee exports are likely to rise by as much as 10 per cent in 2024 as a rally in global prices prompts European buyers to pay premiums in order to increase purchases from the country, industry officials told Reuters. The country - famous as a tea producer - is…
INDIA’s defence minister Rajnath Singh arrived in London on Monday (8) for a three-day visit focusing on the India-UK defence partnership as well as security and industrial cooperation. Singh has been accompanied by a Ministry of Defence delegation comprising officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Service Headquarters,…
INDIAN defence minister Rajnath Singh will discuss bilateral issues with his UK counterpart Grant Shapps during his official visit, the ministry of defence said in a statement. Singh arrived in UK on Monday (8) night. Notably, this marks the first visit of a sitting Indian defence minister to the UK…
THE General Election is unlikely to be held until close to the end of this year, with the Prime Minister saying his ‘working assumption’ is the election in the second half of 2024. Despite Labour’s large poll lead, the results will depend on the campaigns to come. One thing we…
Contestants on the popular BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing, who are most likely to be assigned to repeated dance-offs are racial minority celebrities paired with racial minority professional dancers and who achieved high scores from the judges, an academic has said. Professor Keon West from Goldsmiths, University of London, analysed…
UK police have announced they are investigating possible fraud offences committed during Britain's Post Office scandal, described as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history. More than 700 people running small local post offices received criminal convictions between 1999 and 2005 after faulty accounting software made…
BANGLADESH was voting Sunday (7) in an election guaranteed to give a fifth term in office to prime minister Sheikh Hasina, after a boycott led by an opposition party she branded a "terrorist organisation". Hasina has presided over breakneck economic growth in a country once beset by grinding poverty, but…
The 2024 BAFTA Film Awards announced on Friday 24 categories worth of longlists of films that will advance to final round voting. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, and Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon are leading with 15 longlist spots each, while other films appearing in various categories…
LABOUR has raised concerns over the closure of Catamaran Ventures UK, a start-up investment firm owned by Rishi Sunak's wife, reported the BBC. The company was wound up by Akshata Murty in December, prompting questions about its impact on government-backed businesses and other companies it holds stakes in. The establishment…
A sentencing hearing started on Thursday (4) for the man found guilty of using his truck to murder four members of a Muslim family over two years ago in Canada. Nathanial Veltman, a 23-year-old self-proclaimed white supremacist, was found guilty of murder in November. He has denied the claims. On…
RISHI SUNAK fired the starting gun on Britain's next election on Thursday (4), saying his "working assumption" was it would take place in the second half of the year, all but ruling out an earlier vote opposition parties had called for. The prime minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer both…
A female prison worker is under investigation after being accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with Jordan McSweeney, the convicted killer of Zara Aleena, inside the high-security Belmarsh jail, reported The Telegraph. McSweeney, 30, was sentenced to life in December 2022 for stalking, sexually assaulting, and murdering the 35-year-old…
A British Indian man has been sentenced to nine months in prison after being found guilty of masturbating on board a London underground train in front of a lone woman in the carriage. Mukesh Shah, 43, from Wembley in north London, was found guilty of indecent exposure at London inner…
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…
Ahead of the upcoming general election this year, the ruling Conservatives find themselves once again challenged by a fringe right-wing political party, originally founded by the eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage. Reform UK -- formerly called the Brexit Party and whose current leader admires former US president Donald Trump -- rails…
WHETHER it was in cinemas, streaming sites or at festivals around the world, audiences were offered an interesting variety of films from diverse genres and languages. From artistic gems and groundbreaking narratives to huge blockbusters, they entertained film fans from different backgrounds. Eastern Eye revisited 2023 to reveal 21 entertaining…
A COUNCIL housing block in north London has been named after British Indian spy and descendant of Tipu Sultan, Noor Inayat Khan, following a ballot of local residents to choose from a shortlist of the area’s historic inhabitants. Camden Council unveiled the “Noor Inayat Khan House” at a ceremony on…
WITH so many great-looking concerts, theatre productions, films, comebacks of popular stars and more already in the pipeline, 2024 looks set to be a thrilling and action-packed year. There will also be new talent, surprises, horizon-expanding moments, great music, free shows, and events celebrating the best in south Asian popular…
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD British Indian schoolgirl made history after being named the “super talented” best female player at a European chess event. Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in London, won the European Blitz chess championship in Zagreb, Croatia, last month. During the event, she went head-tohead with some of the best players…
AFTER a terrific television career, Jasmine Bhasin made her film debut as a lead in the hit Punjabi comedy, Honeymoon . She is set to follow up her 2022 success with two major Punja - bi movies due to be released in 2024. The first is a sequel to a…
SOME of the great art treasures of India are on display in the Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai. Like the city itself, which was called Bombay until 1996, the museum was renamed something a lot simpler in 1998 in an upsurge of nationalism – it is now called the…
THE parents of a girl killed in an accident in south London last summer have blamed the police for dragging their investigation into the crash which left another student and around 20 other people injured. A gold and black Land Rover crashed through the fence into the playground at The…
INDIA’S most successful English-language standup comedian continues to showcase his unstoppable prowess, evident in his recent triumph at the International Emmy awards. He is also in the middle of another mammoth world tour and recently delivered sold-out shows for UK audiences, including at the iconic Hammersmith Apollo in London. The…
THE glitz and glamour of American dance competitions will hit the Birmingham Rep theatre next month in the form of Bhangra Nation – A New Musical. Director Stafford Arima told Eastern Eye that bhangra groups are “not just in a couple of states, but spread across America”. “The writers felt…
DEMOCRACY is the theme of 2024. Around half of the world’s population has the chance to go to the polls. This weekend’s vote in Bangladesh, boycotted by the opposition to Shekih Hasina, is an inauspicious start. Pakistan in February holds its first elections since 2018. More than 600 million will…
Tories have expressed strong disapproval and concern over allegations that Rishi Sunak offered Dominic Cummings a secret deal to assist him in winning the election. One Tory MP said that Boris Johnson's former chief aide should have no role in the political sphere, following these claims. Within WhatsApp groups, other…
London’s skyline was lit up as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve 2024, with the grandest fireworks, lights, and drone spectacle ever seen over the River Thames. With over 100,000 attendees and millions watching worldwide, London commenced the year with a stunning exhibition of fireworks, lights, and drones,…
According to a UK media report, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak aims to secure a free trade agreement (FTA) with India by Easter, which falls at the end of March 2024. The India-UK FTA talks began in January last year, aimed at significantly enhancing the £36-billion bilateral trading partnership. A new…
Rizwan Javed, a rail worker from east London employed by the MTR Elizabeth line at Ealing Broadway station, has been honoured with an MBE for saving 29 people from taking their own lives, the BBC reported. Since 2015, Javed has intervened to save the lives of these individuals contemplating suicide,…
On Sunday (31), London's Big Ben commemorates the 100th anniversary of its New Year's "bongs" being broadcast worldwide. Ever since New Year's Eve 1923 when BBC engineer A.G. Dryland clambered onto a roof opposite the British parliament to record the strikes, live transmission has become an annual tradition. The unmistakable…
AT LEAST 14 Eurostar trains were cancelled on Saturday (30) after flooding in tunnels in southern England, stranding thousands of passengers just ahead of New Year's Eve. The tunnels near Ebbsfleet International station in Kent were inundated as the Met Office issued weather warnings for rain, snow and ice across…
Former chancellor and home secretary Sajid Javid described his knighthood as a “tremendous honour” after he was recognised for his achievements in the New Year’s Honours List announced last Friday (29). Javid, who represents Bromsgrove, served under three different prime ministers in six different Cabinet posts, including as culture secretary,…
A British Indian doctor with the NHS decided to get musical during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, but what started as a one-man bedroom project has been gaining popularity with booked out shows. Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya, 25, started the indie-rock band named Gulz during his university days as a medical…
SCORES of cow protectors in recent years have been accused of using violence to carry out extra-judicial activities in India, often finding themselves at odds with law enforcement, even as many won acclaim for defending the Hindu faith. Now some of these operatives are transferring their clout into grassroots political…
India will emerge as the largest economic superpower by the end of the century, with gross domestic product (GDP) 90 per cent larger than China’s and 30 per cent larger than the US, a new report has revealed. The World Economic League Table report by London-based Centre for Economics and…
Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of former Congress president, Sonia Gandhi was accused by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday (26), of renovating and staying in a London property that is considered as “proceeds of crime” in a money laundering case involving alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari. Bhandari fled to the UK…
Homelessness in rural England has risen by 40 percent in five years with many sleeping in the open air, tents or makeshift shelters, a British rural charity said on Tuesday. A cost-of-living crisis in the G7 nation and the world's sixth-biggest economy, fuelled by high inflation, has left many Britons…
Power couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt gave a Christmas surprise to their fans by making their first public appearance with their daughter Raha. The star couple, who has been protective of their daughter so far, finally posed with her for the paparazzi. Ranbir was seen carrying his little princess…
After celebrating their son Taimur's 7th birthday at the Pataudi Palace in Haryana, star couple Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan landed in London to ring in Christmas. On Sunday, Kareena shared stunning images of her hubby Saif and son Taimur from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The images show Taimur…
UK foreign secretary David Cameron has branded Iran "a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world" in an interview published Sunday in which he also pledged stepped-up deterrence towards Tehran. The former British prime minister's warning echoes accusations by the United States Friday that Iran is involved…
Romesh Ranganathan, who will be appearing in the upcoming Christmas special episode on The Jonathan Ross Show alongside Willem Dafoe, Ariana Debose, Katherine Jenkins, Kevin Bridges, Boy George, and Claudia Schiffer, opened up about how much weight he has lost. He revealed that he has lost three stone in weight…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been utilised globally to interfere with elections, sparking concerns among senior politicians and security services about potential risks in the UK. Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland is advocating for stronger governmental action against what he perceives as a pressing threat to UK democracy. As chair…
The family of the late Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda has urged the Home Office to appoint a police force for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into his sudden death last June, which took place at the same time as a murder and an attempted murder of Sikh separatists in…
AN eight-year-old British Indian schoolgirl has made history after being named the “super talented” best female player at a European chess championship. Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in north-west London, won the European blitz chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, over the weekend. During the event, she went head-to-head with some of…
THE Metropolitan Police on Thursday (21) appealed for information to piece together the last movements of a missing Indian student whose body was found by divers in a lake in Canary Wharf, east London. The force said Gurashman Singh Bhatia, 23, had been reported missing after a night out with…
TRADING in a career as a corporate salesman for stand-up comedy proved to be a smart decision for Anirban Dasgupta. The Indian funnyman has since headlined comedy clubs and festivals, along with writing for leading streaming sites. After several popular YouTube videos, he released his first stand-up special, Take It…
TWO men have been sentenced to a total of 34 years’ imprisonment after a London trial found them guilty of smuggling drugs hidden among farm produce from Africa and South America. Anand Tripathi, 61, and Varun Bhardwaj, 39, were also convicted of evading import duty payable on cigarettes, hidden alongside…
EASTERN EYE’S colourful “Garden of Unity”, which caught the attention of King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Chelsea Flower Show in May this year, has been donated by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to a multicultural school in a deprived area of south London. Children at the Sacred Heart…
WITH the party season being upon us, it is the perfect time to reflect on the power-packed dance anthems that were released in 2023. Eastern Eye requested DJ Shai Guy from one of the UK’s leading club night promoters, Bombay Funkadelic, to select the most upbeat songs from this year…
JUNIOR doctors in England ramped up their industrial action on Wednesday (20), beginning the first walk-out of their biggest strike yet, which hospitals warn could threaten emergency care provision at one of the busiest times of the year. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, said…
INDIA emerged as a “key market” for technology investments into London this year, according to the city’s business growth agency. In an analysis released last week, London & Partners said among the 100 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects for the year, India leads with a 29 per cent share of…
FIGURES from the 2021 census showed Slough hosted 3.4 per cent of England and Wales’ Sikh population, writes James Moules. Around 11.3 per cent of people in the borough listed Sikhism as their religion, the census report confirmed. It also had the largest proportion of the country’s Sikh population outside…
A THRILLING year for British Asian music saw everything from much-awaited single releases to world-class performances by international artists in sold-out arenas. Newcomers breaking through, the rise of devotional music, established names making headlines, melas, music festivals and an interesting comeback were among the noteworthy events. Eastern Eye decided to…
A NEW £10-million design and manufacturing centre has been created in partnership between Imperial College London and Indian multinational, Tata Steel, as part of efforts to help decarbonise steel production. The Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Design and Manufacturing is expected to enable the development of high-performing and sustainable products…
THE boxer Adam Azim has been praised for drawing attention to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as experts warned about the stigma against the condition in the Asian community. Azim, 21, has spoken of being diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and his father taking him to a boxing…
A NEW round of discussions in the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will begin in the New Year after the 13th round was completed last week, a joint outcome statement issued by the British government said on Monday (18). The Department for Business and Trade…
THE City of London Corporation has honoured eight senior figures from Indian banks based in the Square Mile to mark 75 years of India’s independence. The award recognises the trade relationship between the UK and India’s financial services sectors. The leaders who received the Freedom of the City honours on…
AN ACTION-PACKED year saw everything from stunning live performances to delightful drama serials, marvellous music and fabulous films. There was also perfectly pitched comedy, new talent, path-breaking projects and plenty of entertainment. Eastern Eye celebrated the many creative moments of 2023 with the annual Eye Spy awards which include extra…
A DESIRE to give a “voice to the unheard” led director Sue Buckmaster to create the play, Journey of a Refugee. Inspired by true stories of refugees and displacement, the play explores the journey of a migrant to the UK and the universal theme of people searching for a place…
British authorities announced on Tuesday (19) that an Indian man, arrested in London under a provisional American warrant amid a US-UK coordinated operation targeting terrorism financing, has been extradited to the US after consenting to face trial in America. Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan, 65, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police's National…
THE King's charity, formerly the Prince's Foundation, is under scrutiny as it is compelled to return £110,000 to the Indian government. The funds were earmarked for an NHS alternative medicine clinic championed by Charles, which never materialised. The proposed clinic, aimed at integrating Indian traditional medicine into the UK's healthcare…
The India-Bangladesh link was honoured by the British Bengali diaspora in London with the special screening of a documentary chronicling the history of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The event served as a commemoration of the enduring bonds of friendship between the two countries, dating back to the conflict. ‘Bay…
Fathimath Athif, who worked late-night shifts at Spice E17, an unlicensed takeaway restaurant in east London, has won a discrimination case against her male boss. Despite having worked only four shifts, she was awarded over £15,000, The Times reported. During the employment tribunal, Athif asserted that she should have been…
International students should pay their tuition fees upfront to curb potential misuse of the visa system, former universities minister Lord Johnson of Marylebone has proposed. This suggestion arises as statistics reveal a one in four drop-out rate among students from India and Bangladesh. Lord Johnson emphasised the need for overseas…
TENSIONS among nuclear powers, mainly in Asia, carry the risk of escalating into major conventional wars, a new survey cautioned. Significant Asian conflicts, such as in Kashmir and Afghanistan, have seen reduced violence since a ceasefire began in February 2021, said the Armed Conflict Survey 2023 by the London-based geopolitics…
Bollywood star Ranveer Singh, known for box-office-breaking performances, unapologetic personal style, and magnetic personality, visited the world-famous attraction Madame Tussauds in London to welcome his two new figures. He was accompanied by his mother, who, as a child, first introduced the would-be megastar to the world of Madame Tussauds London…
Foreign minister David Cameron called upon Hong Kong authorities on Sunday (17) to cease the "politically-motivated" prosecution of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who faced trial on Monday (18) on charges of national security crimes. British citizen Lai, 76, is charged with several counts of "colluding with foreign forces", a…
CHD Living, a luxury care group with residences throughout Surrey recently hosted its annual 'Superhero Awards,' an event recognising the exceptional efforts of its staff across various care facilities. Creating Happiness Daily (CHD) Living, a family-owned entity offering care homes, rehabilitation, and home care services in Surrey and South London,…
THE father of a 10-year-old Woking girl whose death sparked an international manhunt pleaded not guilty to her murder in a UK court on Thursday (14), as did two other members of her family. Sara Sharif's body was discovered at her family home on August 10. A post-mortem examination found…
Comedian-actor Vir Das is set to perform at the iconic Apollo Theatre in London on 16th December. The Apollo Theatre is a venue steeped in musical history having witnessed performances from iconic acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Iron Maiden, and contemporary music royalties such as Selena…
A NEW £10-million design and manufacturing centre has been created in partnership between Imperial College London and India’s Tata Steel as part of efforts to develop innovative processes to decarbonise steel production. The Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Design and Manufacturing is expected to enable the development of sustainable products…
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday performed a pooja and sought the blessing of Sai Baba in Shirdi, Maharashtra, along with his daughter Suhana Khan. Ahead of the release of his comedy-drama Dunki, several videos and pictures of the Jawan actor surfaced on social media in which he can be…
A BOAT carrying more than 60 migrants capsized in the Channel off France overnight on Thursday (14) to Friday (15) while attempting to reach Britain, with one person dead and another in critical condition, French maritime authorities said. Among the 66 people recovered, "one unconscious victim, in critical condition, was…
Actress, writer, and producer Mindy Kaling has made it to The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘2023 Women in Entertainment Power 100’ list. Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria also earned a spot on the list. Both women have been picked for 'setting box office records, filling arenas, and putting Hollywood back to…
The festivity of the Christmas season was brought to life at India House, adorned with radiant decorations and trees. The renowned Choir of King's College orchestrated the carol singing, filling Gandhi Hall with the spirit of the season. The celebration at the Indian High Commission on Tuesday (12) evening, which…
Public discontent surged on Saturday (9) night, over the new Tory visa rules and the government's perceived love only toward the rich, which could compel numerous British families to face the tough choice of separation or leaving the country. The announcement by home secretary James Cleverly last week outlined that…
THE year 2022 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Ugandan Asian expulsion which saw the uprooting and resettlement of some 80,000 Ugandan Asians when Idi Amin Dada, the self-styled dictator of Uganda, declared on 4 August 1972 that he had had a dream in which he was enjoined by God…
A PATH-BREAKING journey in live comedy led Vir Das towards winning an International Emmy award in November. That glittering honour for his Netflix special, Vir Das: Landing, added to global acclaim for India’s most popular English-language stand-up star. Instead of basking in that glory, the cool comic has been busy…
THE Financial Times business book of the year for 2023 has gone to Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive by Amy Edmondson, a Harvard professor who has been called “the world’s most influential organisational psychologist”. The prize, worth £30,000, was announced last Tuesday…
A GROUND-BREAKING year in entertainment saw glass ceilings shattered, greater heights conquered, creative horizons expanded, and new paths carved globally. There was also ground-breaking work, international crossovers, and exciting new talent announcing their arrival. Top south Asian talent from diverse fields were at the forefront of the marvellous moves being…
Stand-up comedian Sukh Ojla, who has performed on such TV shows as The Big Asian Stand-Up Show (BBC Two), Comedy Guide to Life (Dave), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), Comedy Central Live, and features in Sky’s Dating No Filter, is gearing up for her next show Hot Aunty Summer. When…
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…
ONE of the top jobs in the arts has gone to Indhu Rubasingham, who has been appointed director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre in London. She will succeed Rufus Norris who will be stepping down from the post in spring 2025, when his second term ends. Rubasingham,…
IN HER book, What’s in a Name? Friendship, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain, the author Sheela Banerjee deals with the question which confronts all British Asian parents. What should they call their newborn? Most want the name to reflect the child’s ethnic and cultural heritage, but at the…
A NETWORK and website have been launched to “deepen public conversation about race in Britain and press for future change”. Dozens of race and equality campaigners, community organisations and politicians gathered in parliament last Thursday (7) at an event to acknowledge the efforts of the 75th Windrush anniversary this year.…
POLITICAL analysts said the impact on Muslim voters of Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict will only become clear over the next decade. Many Labour councillors and MPs have criticised Sir Kier for refusing to call for a ceasefire in the region. Dozens of councillors…
INDIAN comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath has been unstoppable ever since he came to prominence with the hit YouTube series, Pretentious Movie Reviews. Although he has appeared on various streaming site shows in India, the talented stand-up comedian has perhaps been at his best when performing in front of a live…
A SENSATIONAL run over the last two weeks has given wings to Ashwini Ponnappa’s Olympics dreams, and the ace Indian shuttler now wants to continue her fine run in the upcoming bigger tournaments to stay on course for a trip to Paris next year. Ponnappa, 34, and 20-year-old Tanisha Crasto,…
GRADUATE ethnic minority voters are more likely to vote for the Conservative party, a new survey has found. Lead researcher James Kanagasooriam, from FocalData, said the voting intentions of ethnic minority graduates is in contrast to their white counterparts. They are more left-leaning and more likely to vote Labour, although…
The third season of steamy Regency-era romance Bridgerton will be back on Netflix in May 2024. The drama will be split in two parts -- the first part will premiere on May 16 followed by the second part on June 13. The new season will have eight episodes, reported Deadline.…
A leading Asian entrepreneur’s company has secured planning approval for Mercure London’s Paddington hotel in central London. Koolesh Shah’s London Town Group, a hotels and residential property company, said the project would “redefine the concept of hospitality”. The four-star hotel is close to Paddington Station which serves as a hub…
THREE people have been convicted for the brutal murder of 35-year-old Shakira Spencer, who suffered prolonged torment and abuse leading to her death. Ashana Studholme, 38, Shaun Pendlebury, 26, and Lisa Richardson, 44, were found guilty of murder and preventing the lawful burial of Spencer after a 12-week trial at…
TV presenter Nicola Thorp spoke for the first time after saying that the person who stalked her for two years has been jailed for 30 months. The 34-year-old, who played Pat Phelan’s daughter Nicola Rubinstein on the successful ITV soap Coronation Street, revealed that she had been subjected to rape…
RISHI SUNAK did not imagine that his premiership would end up like this. His intention was to lead an economy-first government, rebuild trust in politics and deliver on many fronts. Sunak has become the embattled leader of a single-issue government and mutinous party. Every week seems to be immigration week…
THE UK government's blocking of a controversial Scottish gender recognition law was ruled lawful by Scotland's highest civil court. The legislation, passed by the Scottish parliament in December, would have made it easier and faster for people to officially change their gender, dropping the requirement for a gender dysphoria medical…
The London mayor's office strongly condemned a "grotesquely irresponsible" attack on a camera responsible for enforcing the city's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez). The incident involved damaging the camera with what seemed to be a homemade bomb, posing a risk to lives, The Guardian reported. No immediate response regarding the incident…
Recent findings from the largest UK community research project suggest that eating within a 10-hour window enhances mood, and energy levels, and diminishes hunger. The outcomes of this trial were presented at the European Nutrition Conference by a team of researchers from King's College London. Intermittent fasting (IF), or restricting…
Katy Morgan-Davies, the daughter of a Maoist cult leader who held her captive and kept her as a slave for 30 years, revealed on Thursday (7), that she has forgiven her father despite enduring psychological and physical mistreatment. Morgan-Davies spent years effectively imprisoned in the peculiar cult's residence in Herne…
After a grand India premiere at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Stolen starring Abhishek Banerjee is now gearing up for a special premiere at the upcoming 28th International Film Festival of Kerala. Stolen narrates the tale of a five-month-old baby who has been abducted from her mother. The incident…
Survivors of a sunken ship and their descendants came together for a commemoration at London’s National Maritime Museum in Greenwich last month. It has been 81 years since the passenger-cargo ship, SS Tilawa, sank after it was torpedoed twice by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Indian ocean during the…
THE billionaire Issa brothers blame the surge in remote working for hindering the post-Covid recovery of their fast-food chain, Leon. Zuber Issa cited the combination of hybrid work models and rail strikes as significant factors contributing to Leon's recent struggles, reported The Telegraph. According to the report, Leon faced challenges…
THE UK government’s choice of Samir Shah as the next BBC chairman has brought joy in India, his country of birth. "We are proud of him and this is a well-deserved achievement," his cousin Sujata Kango said in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) in the Maharashtra state where the media veteran…
SIX former London police officers on Thursday (7) were given suspended prison sentences for sharing offensive and racist messages on WhatsApp, including references to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family. In a statement after the sentencing hearing Commander James Harman, who leads the Metropolitan…
During her visit to a refuge, the Queen offered solace to a young victim of domestic violence who had been brought to the UK through a forced marriage. Camilla, 76, listened attentively to the woman in her early 20s, offering comfort by gently reaching out her hand as the woman…
BBC presenter Amol Rajan has revealed that he contemplated suicide after the death of his father, P Varadarajan. Rajan, 40, told the Mid Point podcast that the grief over his father's passing led him to consider the idea of ending his life to be reunited with his dad. The University…
THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday (6) extradited a British hedge fund trader accused of massive fraud and money laundering to Denmark to face charges, the official WAM news agency reported. Sanjay Shah, who was arrested in Dubai in June 2022, is wanted over an alleged £1.44 billion ($1.8…
Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge has been the talk of the town ever since it premiered late last month. The reality show, which is based on the streamer’s globally successful South Korean survival series Squid Game, features 456 contestants playing to win a lump sum cash prize of approximately £3.50…
NEW government figures published last month show that 47,000 Hong Kongers moved to the UK in the year to June 2023. They arrived under the government’s British National (Overseas) visa programme, set up after Hong Kong’s National Security law restricted its citizens’ democratic freedoms. In total, around 120,000 have arrived…
THE fabulous 1950s delivered more Bollywood movie icons than any other decade is why it’s regarded as the golden age of Hindi cinema. When leading ladies from that era are mentioned, names like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madbubala, Waheeda Rehman, Geeta Bali and Vyjayanthimala come to mind, but another who made…
DR HENRY KISSINGER, who died last Wednesday (29), aged 100, was an American diplomat of Jewish-German extraction who served as national security adviser and secretary of state to US presidents Richard Nixon and his successor, Gerald Ford. Kissinger’s long life was proof of the old adage, “You can fool all…
IN INFINITE LIFE, a new play by Annie Baker, five American women find themselves reclining next to each other on chaise lounges at a fasting clinic two hours north of San Francisco. What they have in common is pain. But how do you describe pain? Patients will often try hard…
ONE of the best kept secrets in British music is Third Culture Collective. The orchestra founded by London based composer, singer and producer Kavi Pau brings together Indian and western classical music, with commercial sounds to create a genre that attempts to go beyond fusion. The talented musicians and great…
A STRONG literary year was filled with stunning stories written by skilled south Asian authors from around the world. They explored diverse themes, ideas, emotions, time periods, characters, and journeys in a marvellous melting pot of books that opened windows into new worlds. Eastern Eye decided to celebrate some of…
British artist Jesse Darling was awarded the famous Turner Prize on Tuesday (5) for his impactful sculptures and installations, which evoke themes of societal breakdown. The 41-year-old -- who now lives in Berlin -- pipped Ghislaine Leung, Rory Pilgrim, and Barbara Walker to the £25,000 ($30,000) award. Darling was announced…
ASIAN small business owners have accused council leaders of a lack of support to help them deal with rising costs and bills. Entrepreneurs said energy prices, the cost of goods they sell, and local regeneration projects were among the biggest challenges they have faced in 2023 as Small Business Day…
THE government continues to fail south Asian women, girls and boys who are suffering domestic abuse, and it has not learnt lessons from the pandemic, campaigners have told Eastern Eye. They said they remain concerned that should there be another pandemic, south Asians and minority groups would be in unnecessary…
Rishi Sunak said on Friday (1) that he had conversations with President Paul Kagame concerning plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda as he finalises his response to the block on the policy in the London Supreme Court. Sunak's government has said it is working on a new treaty with…
A 23-year-old Indian student who went missing in the UK last month has been found dead in the River Thames. Mitkumar Patel arrived in the UK for higher studies in September and was reported missing on November 17. The Metropolitan Police discovered his body in the River Thames near the…
