- Wednesday, July 06, 2022
THIRTY million people across the UK will benefit from the biggest personal tax in a decade starting Wednesday (6) - with hard working Brits saving up to £330 per year. The £6 billion tax cut will see the level at which people start paying National Insurance rise to £12,570 –…
A PROMINENT Muslim scholar has voiced concerns about Britons travelling to perform hajj without the supervision of British travel agents. In early June, Saudi Arabia made the decision to make would-be hajj pilgrims from Europe, Australia and the US, apply for visas via a government portal online, a move intended…
Shabana Azmi, one of the finest actresses that Indian cinema has ever produced, is currently vacationing with her husband, noted screenwriter and poet Javed Akhtar, in London. While enjoying her time in the city, she realised that a number of celebrities from the tinsel town of Bollywood are also chilling…
Black, Asian and mixed background tech entrepreneurs from Greater Manchester and London have been invited to register their interest for a four-day transatlantic trade mission to Chicago. The Race, Ethnicity And Cultural Heritage (REACH) mission will be welcoming some of the most innovative B2B tech companies from Greater Manchester and…
THE City of London corporation has donated £25,000 to a fund providing relief to victims of floods in Bangladesh, a statement said. It has donated the money from its International Disasters Fund to the charity Save The Children’s response to the humanitarian crisis in the country. Heavy monsoon rains and floodwater…
The Home Office suggested that a British professor and his sister visit India to take care of their terminally ill mother instead of trying to bring her to the UK.Rohit Rahi, an associate professor at the London School of Economics, and his sister Ana Jackson, an operational commander with the…
THE Conservative Friends of India recently held a farewell reception in honour of the outgoing high commissioner of India, Her Excellency Gaitri Kumar Issar. High commissioner Issar began her service in May 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. She not only represented the high commission at the best…
THE UK government is hosting the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) on July 5 and 6 in London. The conference brings together faith and belief leaders, governments, parliamentarians, and civil society organisations from 100 countries to take global action to promote freedom of religion or…
Harris Bokhari OBE has been appointed as the first Muslim and first British-born Asain Trustee of The Royal Parks. The four-year term starts on 2 July. Harris is a social entrepreneur, public engagement advisor and chartered accountant. His wide range of roles include serving on the Board of the Natural History…
FOUNDED only in 2014, India's southern state of Telangana is increasingly becoming a destination for US tech giants, The Times reported. The information technology minister of the state, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao hopes to transform this agricultural region into a new-age tech mecca. The state administration led by Rao’s father,…
Peter Brook, one of the world's most innovative theatre directors who perfected the art of staging powerful drama in bizarre venues, has died aged 97, his publisher said on Sunday. The British director used the world as his stage mounting productions ranging from challenging versions of Shakespeare through international opera…
London on Saturday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first Pride parade, marking half a century of progress in the fight for equality and tolerance but with warnings that more still needs to be done.Several hundred people took part in the first march on July 1, 1972, walking from Hyde…
The British Parliament has awarded the ‘Indian of the World’ award to Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Amruta’s visit to the UK coincided with the culmination of the political upheaval in Maharashtra – with Eknath Shinde becoming the chief minister and her husband Devendra…
A MAN who was convicted of murdering his wife at their home in East London has been handed life imprisonment. Forty-one-year-old Muhammad Ilyas of Kingston Road, Ilford, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday (1) and will serve a minimum sentence of 18 years, the Metropolitan Police said in…
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has opened up at length about his Indian heritage and growing up in Britain in a hard-working British Indian family at an awards ceremony celebrating Indian diaspora achievements across different fields. The 42-year-old finance minister, born in the UK to National Health Service…
WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange has appealed to the High Court in London to block his extradition to the United States to face criminal charges, his brother said on Friday, the latest step in his legal battle that has dragged on for more than a decade. Assange, 50, is wanted by…
British snack chain Pret will adapt its menu to local tastes when it opens in Indian cities and airports under a partnership with retail giant Reliance to try to satisfy the nation's growing appetite for upmarket refreshment. As part of its broader plan to target the most affluent 50 million…
TWO people have been arrested on suspicion of abducting a child who was snatched from her carer in East London on Thursday (30). Manjinder, 3, was found "safe and well" within an hour of being taken from her legal guardians after an urgent search and appeal was launched, Met Police…
Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra captured a rainbow sky as she shared a picture with her mother on social media from the streets of London. Taking to Instagram, the Hungama 2 actor posted a picture of her mother wearing a printed blue salwar suit and a jacket knotted on her…
DEDICATED mental health staff to help children and young people in GP practices and blood pressure checks in betting shops are among initiatives devised and delivered by new integrated care systems that come fully into force on Friday (1). Boosting health checks in the community to find people with health…
A leaked report has uncovered a culture of systemic racism at the world’s leading sexual healthcare provider, according to a report in The Independent. The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) underwent an external probe that found 'colonial legacies' are rife and an ethnic pay gap has been branded 'apartheid' wages…
The chancellor must do more to help families and business. The call comes from Lord Karan Bilimoria, who is stepping down as the president of the Confederation of British Industry after two years at the helm. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, the peer said the cost of living…
THE UK government has partnered with leading businesses in India to offer 75 fully-funded scholarships for Indian students to study in the UK from September. This is the highest number of fully-funded scholarships given for the one-year master’s programme to date. HSBC, Pearson India, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Sons and Duolingo…
SLEUTHS investing the murder of Karamjeet Singh Reel, a 31-year-old man who was stabbed to death outside a pub in Hounslow, have arrested two men. Both the accused, aged 32 and 23, are from Ealing and they were arrested late on Tuesday (28). They were in custody at a police…
LIVE PERFORMANCE MUMBAI MASALA When: Until Sunday August 28 Where: Proud City, 1 Mark Lane, Opposite Fenchurch Street Station, London EC3R 7AH What: Spicy new immersive Bollywood musical experience, featuring hip shaking dances, heart breaking romance, hilarious comedy, and delectable cuisine. www.proudcabaret.com USTAD SHAHID PARVEZ KHAN When: Friday July 1…
The supremely talented Sunidhi Chauhan is one of the finest live performers in the world and returns to the UK for two hotly anticipated shows this month. She will deliver dynamite concerts with a full live band at Morningside Arena in Leicester on July 9 and Eventim Apollo in London…
A phenomenal 40-year career of managing world-class artists in Europe and organising unforgettable shows led Shireen Isal towards writing her new book Joy, Awe and Tears. The culturally rich collection of chapters sees her document unforgettable moments with musical giants that include Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Smt Lakshmi…
Doctors at the British Medical Association (BMA) annual conference in Brighton called on BMA leaders to “organise opposition” to a new contract – which forces practices to open on Saturdays – “including industrial action if necessary.” While the industrial action clause was supported by 57 percent of the members, 26…
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday confirmed that England Men's white-ball captain Eoin Morgan has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. During his 13-year international career with England, the 35-year-old won the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup as Captain in 2019 at Lord's, the first time…
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans on Tuesday for a second referendum to be held on Scottish independence in October 2023. In a referendum in 2014, Scots voted 55%-45% to remain in the United Kingdom, but both Brexit and the British government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis have bolstered…
Bollywood star Alia Bhatt took the internet by storm on Monday by announcing her pregnancy through an Instagram post when she uploaded a picture of herself with husband Ranbir Kapoor looking at an ultrasound monitor screen. The couple married in April this year. While fans and celebrities have been showering…
A NEW anonymous survey was launched on Tuesday (28) that will help improve the service that crime victims receive from the police. The survey, which has been set up by London’s Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and the Met, will capture the views and experiences of victims of…
HINDUS have urged a British luxury brand to apologise and immediately withdraw 'highly inappropriate' perfume named after Hindu deity Hanuman, a statement said. British brand Boadicea the Victorious launched an £850 Lord Hanuman perfume recently. Hindu statesman and president of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed said that inappropriate usage…
Croydon in south London is the best place in the UK for first-time buyers to look for flats, according to the online property guide Zoopla.Its new research found that flat prices across the UK have risen by 1.2 per year over the last five years compared with 4.2 per cent…
A Tory donor has revealed that he is not taking legal action against former MP for mid-Sussex, Sir Nicholas Soames, grandson of former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, because of his 'close proximity to the Prince of Wales', according to media reports. Mohamed Amersi said that a former Parliamentary colleague…
Detailed draft treaty text for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK has been advanced across the majority of chapters at the conclusion of the fourth round of negotiations in London, the UK government said in a joint outcome statement on Monday. The Department for International…
PATIENTS are being offered faster treatment in different parts of the UK as part of an NHS (National Health Service) ‘final push’ to virtually eliminate the number waiting for two years or more. The NHS Elective Recovery Plan, published earlier this year, set out how the health service would address…
AFTER the recent announcement by the Bank of England to increase the base rate, the State Bank of India (UK) Ltd has hiked interest rates on its range of products. The rate of increase is from 35bps to 100bps. The new rates are effective from June 22, 2022. The new…
Health secretary Sajid Javid has called for treating suicides with the same urgency as “any other major killer” as he set out his “deeply personal” mission to address mental health issues of people. “I am determined to make a difference on this issue,” said Javid whose brother took his own…
British lawyers involved in criminal trials will stage a walkout on Monday in a dispute over government funding, refusing to take on new cases or cover cases for colleagues which have overrun. Barristers voted for action earlier this month with more than 80% of its 2,055 members backing walkouts, the…
Paramount/ Skydance's 'Top Gun: Maverick' has surpassed USD 1 billion worldwide, becoming only the second pandemic-era film to achieve this landmark feat. It took just 31 days for the aviators to get to USD 1B with the total through Sunday at an estimated USD 1.006 billion worldwide, including domestic's estimated…
A UK government bill proposing an overhaul to a post-Brexit deal in Northern Ireland returns to parliament on Monday, despite EU warnings it is illegal and could spark a trade war. Brussels threatened legal action after the UK government earlier this month introduced the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill to unilaterally…
A high-level UK health official asked British citizens to remain vigilant against the symptoms of Monkeypox when getting involved with new or multiple sexual partners amid the rising number of cases. On Friday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published another technical briefing on the Monkeypox as it stated that…
The Metropolitan Police has made eight more voluntary referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct involving strip searches of children.The referrals come as the police watchdog is investigating four Met Police officers over an alleged inappropriate strip search of a black girl, identified as Child Q, at an east…
While the fortunes of world number one Iga Swiatek and home hope Emma Raducanu are set to dominate the early headlines at Wimbledon this year, a quartet of former champions will be eagerly eyeing the wide-open women's draw. French Open champion Swiatek arrives at SW19 in a rich vein of…
Alia Bhatt is one of the finest actresses working in Bollywood today. She has delivered multiple extraordinary performances and has won numerous awards for her exceptional acting chops. In addition to her impeccable acting talent, Bhatt is also known for having an amazingly gorgeous figure, which is, of course, the…
A Nigerian senator and his wife were remanded in custody in London on Thursday charged with plotting to have a 15-year-old boy brought into the United Kingdom to harvest his organs, the BBC and police said. Ike Ekweremadu, 60, and Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55, were both charged with conspiracy to…
Baroness Scotland of Asthal has won a second term as the secretary-general of the Commonwealth despite British prime minister Boris Johnson’s support for her challenger from Jamaica.Her re-election at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda on Friday came amid her allies’ allegation that the UK government was “sowing…
UK HEALTH and social care secretary Sajid Javid on Friday (24) set out actions being taken to prevent suicides and urged men to talk about their mental health in a speech at suicide prevention charity Papyrus’s headquarters in London. In his speech, spurred by his own family’s experience of suicide…
A 31-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his 89-year-old grandmother in south London, Scotland Yard said.Verushan Manoharan, 31, was charged by detectives investigating the murder of Sakunthala Francis in Croydon earlier this week.He was arrested at the scene a short time after Francis was found dead with…
Kareena Kapoor Khan's latest Instagram post is proof of the fact that she is having loads of fun vacationing with her family in the UK. Taking to the social media application, Kareena dropped a picture of her husband Saif Ali Khan from the streets of the UK. In the image,…
Ahead of the 2022 Wimbledon championship, bettingexpert.com has analysed 145 years worth of data to find out which city has produced the most Wimbledon winners since the tournament’s inception in 1877. The places of birth of all the winners in singles, doubles and mixed tournaments were collected and according to…
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday defended his controversial deal to expel migrants to Rwanda, telling critics to "keep an open mind". On the first day of a trip to Kigali -- which is hosting a Commonwealth summit this week -- he also heaped praise on Rwandan President Paul…
Wimbledon is set to kick off without Roger Federer for the first time in over two decades next week and with the clock ticking down on the Swiss maestro's career John McEnroe said he was grateful for being able to watch him play the sport for so long. Federer, who…
British Airways staff at London's Heathrow airport voted on Thursday to strike over pay, threatening disruption at one of Europe's busiest aviation hubs during an already chaotic summer for air travellers. Air passengers across Europe have already faced lengthy delays and cancellations of hundreds of flights in recent weeks as…
Three men have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery more than two months after former world boxing champion Amir Khan was threatened and robbed at gunpoint in east London.On April 18, a few men approached Khan in Leyton and robbed him of his expensive watch after threatening the boxer…
MIKHAIL SEN EXPLAINS THE CHALLENGES OF HIS NEW PLAY AND WHY BEING PRESENT IS IMPORTANT HUGELY popular theatre production The Play That Goes Wrong is the longest running comedy in central London’s West End and is beautifully blundering its way through an eighth year of entertaining enthralled audiences. The laughter-filled…
FILMMAKER IMAN ZAWAHRY AND ACTRESS AIZZAH FATIMA DISCUSS THEIR NEW MOVIE AMERICANISH THIS year’s London Indian Film Festival includes the European premiere of Americanish. The unique romantic comedy with female Muslims at the forefront revolves around a single New York-based first-generation immigrant mother trying to find suitable matches for her…
NEW theatre production Invisible, written and performed by Nikhil Parmar, is a dark comedy about a man’s desperate struggle to be seen as the hero of his own narrative. The challenging one-man play, which runs at Bush Theatre in London, sees the acclaimed actor adds to his already impressive body…
A type of poliovirus derived from vaccines has been detected in London sewage samples, the WHO and British health officials said Wednesday (22), adding that more analysis was underway. No human cases of polio have been found in Britain, where the crippling disease was fully eradicated two decades ago. The…
LIVE PERFORMANCE MUMBAI MASALA When: Until Sunday August 28 Where: Proud City, 1 Mark Lane, Opposite Fenchurch Street Station, London EC3R 7AH What: Spicy new immersive Bollywood musical experience, featuring hip shaking dances, heart breaking romance, hilarious comedy, and delectable cuisine. www.proudcabaret.com JUBIN NAUTIYAL When: Saturday June 25 and Sunday…
NAV BHATIA DISCUSSES HIS FILM, BEING A BASKETBALL SUPERFAN AND MEETING OBAMA THIS year’s London Indian Film Festival closes with Superfan: The Nav Bhatia Story. The inspiring documentary charts the story of Nav Bhatia from being an impoverished Indian immigrant in Canada to becoming first a successful businessman and then…
THE Indian High Commission in London on Tuesday (21) celebrated the eighth International Day of Yoga at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden. Besides Indian high commissioner HE Gaitri Issar Kumar, Lord Rami Ranger and East Harrow member of parliament Bob Blackman addressed the gathering. Yoga enthusiasts from all over London…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday (22) urged the government to provide free NHS care for everyone living in the UK to prevent another potential Windrush scandal. On Windrush Day (June 22), Khan called for an end to the NHS charging regulations for migrants which impacts undocumented Londoners as they…
AS a new national monument was unveiled on Wednesday (22) marking the anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving in Britain, actor Lenny Henry, poet Benjamin Zephaniah, broadcaster Trevor Phillips, London mayor Sadiq Khan and cross-party parliamentarians including Steve Baker, Diane Abbott and Baroness Doreen Lawrence have joined a public call…
Diversity has eluded the UK’s yoga sector despite the practice having its roots in India, even as black and minority ethnic practitioners are challenging racism in yoga organisations. While the British Medical Journal found in 2020 that 91 per cent of British yoga practitioners were white, there are also reports…
ESTABLISHED more than 70 years ago, it has the stated aim of upholding democracy, rule of law and good governance around the world. Here are a few key things to know about it: Key facts Full name: Commonwealth of Nations Member states: 54 Head of the Commonwealth: Queen Elizabeth II…
By using a traditional face mapping method, it is declared that the Hollywood actor Amber Heard and Robert Pattinson have the most beautiful faces in the world. As per a publication, Dr Julian De Silva from the Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in London used an ancient…
A British Indian architect and design advocate has been named as the commissioner of the public body overseeing the UK’s environment and heritage. Nairita Chakraborty has been appointed as the commissioner of Historic England and will start her new role on July 1 for a term of four years until…
London-based model turned actress, Sangeet Samra, known for featuring in music videos with Bollywood singers, Jonita Gandhi and Parichay, recently featured as the lead actress in Punjabi star Gurnam Bhullar’s music video for the song, Jija Sali. This song, with over 37 million views on YouTube, has been a complete…
STUDENTS are set to benefit from a better integration of mental health services to prevent them falling through the gaps at university. The new scheme will bring together university, National Health Service (NHS) and mental health services to create regional partnerships that could include physical hubs that students can visit…
RUSH-HOUR commuters in the UK faced chaos on Tuesday (21) as railway workers began the network's biggest strike action in more than three decades, with a cost-of-living crisis threatening wider industrial action. Last-ditch talks to avert the strike broke down on Monday, meaning more than 50,000 members of rail union…
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson could this week lose two parliamentary seats that once illustrated his broad appeal, showing his declining popularity that could spur his party to try to find a way to oust him.His Conservative Party are contesting two by-elections on Thursday: one in Tiverton and Honiton, a…
Britain faces its biggest rail strike in 30 years this week when tens of thousands of staff walk out in a pay dispute that unions warn could lead to coordinated action across other industries due to the mounting cost of living crisis. British households are already experiencing the biggest economic…
Prince William evoked his late mother Princess Diana's work for charity, as he described as "eye-opening" selling copies on a London street of a magazine that helps to combat homelessness, saying he was committed to highlighting the problem. William, second in line to the British throne, was spotted in early…
THE number of migrants seeking to cross the Channel from France to England rose 68 per cent in the first half of 2022, the French interior ministry said Monday (20). From January 1 to June 13, there were 777 attempted crossings involving 20,132 people, up 68 percent on the same…
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Sunday a new British law to change part of a Brexit deal to try to ease trade with Northern Ireland was "unilateralism of the worst kind" and urged the government to resume talks.The European Commission launched two new legal proceedings against Britain this…
Almost 37 years after its release, Running Up That Hill by enigmatic British songstress Kate Bush finally hit the top of the UK charts on Friday thanks to the Netflix series Stranger Things. The song has enjoyed a renaissance globally after featuring in the hit sci-fi horror series. The hit…
SATYAJIT RAY was one of India’s greatest film directors and also very highly regarded in the history of world cinema – ironically, however, his work is now largely unknown to a new generation of British Asians, some of whom may not even have heard of his name. The British Film…
A former banker in Surrey who faked terminal pancreatic cancer as part of a series of scams worth £1.8 million has been jailed for six years and nine months, the City of London Police said on Friday (17). Rajesh Ghedia, 42, of Parkside, New Haw, Addlestone, defrauded multiple insurance and…
A BIG highlight of this year’s London Indian Film Festival is the world premiere of Little English. The British Asian comedy based on hit play There’s Something About Simmy marks the directorial debut of acclaimed theatre maestro Pravesh Kumar and sees rising star Rameet Rauli take on the challenging lead…
Britain’s rail travel chaos could get worse this summer if workers at Southeastern choose to go ahead with industrial action seeking their employment guarantee and a pay increase adequate to absorb the cost of living shocks. Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has served notice to ballot hundreds of workers at…
MEMBERS of India’s diaspora are being brought together in conversation through a new YouTube series that discusses important issues affecting their lives. Dialogues of Diaspora is a project created by Ramneet Baidwan from Los Angeles and Sanvir Singh Chana from London and it’s named after the company they run. In…
UK authorities issued a health alert after temperatures were forecast to top 30C on Friday (17). Thursday (16) was the hottest day of the year so far, with 29.5C recorded at Northolt in west London. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a level 3 heat-health alert for London…
A “painful” internal review at Macmillan Cancer Support said the workplace culture at the British charity was “systematically racist” where complaints were “brushed under the carpet”, media reports said.The review, conducted by Social Justice Collective, found that bullying and exclusion were widespread at the charity whose approach to diversity was…
THE last few years have been truly incredible for Jubin Nautiyal. The Indian sensation has become one of the most popular south Asian singers globally by mixing up monster solo hits with huge Bollywood numbers and sell-out live performances. This month the popular star embarks on his hotly anticipated debut…
Britain on Friday approved a US government request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face trial over the publication of secret military files, prompting outrage from his supporters.Home Secretary Priti Patel's interior ministry said Assange had 14 days to appeal the decision, which comes after a UK court issued…
The Omicron variant of coronavirus is less likely to cause long COVID than previous variants, according to the first peer-reviewed study of its kind from the United Kingdom.Researchers at King's College London, using data from the ZOE COVID Symptom study app, found the odds of developing long COVID after infection…
Two Britons sentenced to death by a separatist regime in eastern Ukraine will be executed with UK-made a gun and bullets, according to a hardline Russian lawmaker.Aleksey Zhuravlyov, who called the British nationals “b******s”, said the weapons to be used for their execution would be sent to their relatives who…
Zendaya has shut down all rumours that suggested she is pregnant with boyfriend Tom Holland’s first baby. The rumours were rife from the time a fan-created TikTok alleged that the Spider-Man: No Way Home couple was expecting their first baby together. Soon after the TikTok video made rounds on social…
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey on Thursday "strenuously" denied claims that he sexually assaulted three men, as the US star appeared in a London court to face charges. Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram granted him unconditional bail until the next hearing, set for 9:30 am (0830 GMT) on July 14 at…
A training course devised by the UK’s Open University claims “white superiority” has been “embedded” in the English language and white Europeans have most “successfully” imposed racist ideas.According to the programme titled Union Black, which was launched in 2021 with a £500,000 backing from Santander, “white hegemony” is “covertly weaved”…
UK startups raised more cash in early 2022 than counterparts in China, France or India, and were surpassed only by the US, data showed. The figures from data provider Dealroom were published alongside the UK government's new digital strategy on the first day of London Tech Week. UK startups raised…
KATHARINE BIRBALSINGH, the head of Michaela Community School in west London and Boris Johnson’s social mobility chief, made her first major speech last Thursday (9). She said society should stop fixating on getting poor children to university and celebrate “small steps up the ladder” instead of “rags to riches” stories…
BY her own admission, home secretary Priti Patel's hard line on immigration would have stopped her own parents coming to Britain but it has made her a darling of the right. However, she is now in danger of alienating her conservative base after her plan to deter illegal crossings of…
Russia on Tuesday said it was blacklisting 49 UK citizens, including defence officials and prominent reporters and editors from the BBC, The Financial Times and The Guardian. London has been one of the most vocal supporters of Kyiv after President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24. "The…
Britain will soon deliver multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine in response to its request for heavy arms to repel the Russian invasion, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Wednesday. Following in the footsteps of the United States, London had announced on June 6 that it would send Ukraine its Guided…
As Britain's economy grapples with the impact of a record number of job vacancies, a labour market expert has warned that the problem may continue for another three to five years. The impact of Britain's departure from the European Union, and of the COVID-19 pandemic, have sparked one of the…
NETWORK Rail has urged passengers to plan ahead and travel only if necessary as there was 'no real hope' of avoiding the biggest railway strike in 30 years next week, according to a report. Network Rail confirmed that large parts of Great Britain will have no passenger services on strike days.…
A YouTube star said some of the beggars on London’s streets could be “secret millionaires” as they could earn “up to £35,000” a year despite living rough.Tọ́ba Courage, who runs the YouTube channel The Hack with some 854,000 subscribers, said some of the beggars he interacted with earned up to…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday (14) visited Waltham Forest where he unveiled a new plan that emphasises on a public health approach to end violence against women and girls. There, he met a beautician and a dry cleaner and visited a library to see the training and education being…
A police watchdog is investigating four Met Police officers over an alleged inappropriate strip-search of a black girl at an east London school more than a year ago.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the officers were served with gross misconduct notices. The watchdog is also considering whether the…
The European Commission launched new legal action against Britain on Wednesday, accusing London of putting peace in Northern Ireland at risk by trying to overhaul the post-Brexit trade deal."The UK government tabled legislation confirming its intention to unilaterally break international law," EU commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said."More precisely to break…
Shares in Go-Ahead, which operates London's famous red buses on behalf of the capital's transport authority, jumped 14 percent to £15.50 in late morning deals.Go-Ahead revealed Monday that it would recommend a consortium takeover from Australian peer Kinetic and Spanish infrastructure investor Globalvia, who are both backed by a Canadian…
Commonwealth leaders have told Eastern Eye that the UK government is “hell bent on destroying the Commonwealth in pursuit of a colonial agenda”. This newspaper has previously reported on the campaign by Boris Johnson’s administration to oust the current boss of the organisation’s administrative arm, Patricia Scotland. But now her…
Britain is confident it can overcome legal challenges to its bid to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda following a last minute intervention by European judges that grounded the first flight minutes before it was due to depart late on Tuesday.The government had been forced to fight a series of legal…
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey has been formally charged with sexual assault and will appear before a court in London later this week, police said on Monday. The Metropolitan Police said the 62-year-old actor would appear at Westminster Magistrates Court at 0900 GMT on Thursday to face four counts of sexual…
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, plans to move his family into a cottage on his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Windsor Castle estate to be closer to the 96-year-old monarch and royal officials, according to UK media reports on Tuesday. William, the second in line to the British throne who…
INDIAN film director Vivek Agnihotri has urged Hindus to be united and spread the peaceful message of Dharma during his humanity tour in the UK, according to a report. While speaking at the Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park in London, the director of The Kashmir Files said that when Indians found…
The BBC has agreed to pay £30,000 in libel damages to a British Bangladeshi councillor in a case of misidentification which reflected “the notion that all people of colour look the same”.BBC One London News had on 29 October 2020 aired the wrong video of Labour Councillor Liza Begum while…
THE UK government on Tuesday (14) defended its controversial policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, even as the entire senior leadership of the Church of England branded it shameful and immoral. According to Daily Mail, opening Cabinet this morning, prime minister Boris Johnson said, "What is happening with the…
Taking an exam in a foreign language can sometimes be an unsettling experience, which is why Trinity College London has developed a wide range of resources to ensure that everyone who needs it has the help and support they need to book, prepare, and practise for their Secure English language…
SENIOR leaders at the Church of England have called the Home Office's plan to deport migrants to Rwanda 'immoral'. The Most Rev Justin Welby and the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, the senior leaders, alongside 23 bishops criticised the plan. "Whether or not the first deportation flight leaves Britain today for…
WEALTHY British Asians continued to pump money into the Conservative Party with businessman Dr Selva Pankaj making the largest total donation with £78,250 in the first quarter of 2022. Dr Pankaj is the CEO of Regent Group, a London based educational group which has a number of institutes across the…
BRITAIN expects the first flight of asylum seekers to depart for Rwanda on Tuesday (14) and any person who avoids that flight due to legal proceedings will be put on a later one, foreign secretary Liz Truss said. London's High Court is due to hear final legal challenges against the…
MAY 26 marked a special day for Lord Mohamed Sheikh as his book ‘An Indian in the House’ was released in the presence of Lord Meghnad Desai and many other dignitaries at a grand event held at the Nehru Centre in London. The book details the lives and times of…
CHANCELLOR of the exchequer Rishi Sunak on Monday (13) launched the Future of Compute Review during the opening address at London Tech Week, which kicked off the same day, as part of the UK government’s new Digital Strategy which was also unveiled at the event. The review will be led…
Britain will set out plans on Monday to override some of the post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland, changes that will inflame tensions with the European Union but were dubbed mere "bureaucratic simplifications" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.Britain has been threatening for months to rip up the Northern Ireland protocol,…
London's courts will hear two last-minute legal challenges on Monday to block the British government's controversial policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda before the first removal flight scheduled to leave on Tuesday.Britain has agreed a deal with Rwanda to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda in return for an…
A new report has revealed that women struggled to access capital in the early days of their businesses as their stake diluted far more than companies founded by men while raising capital, The Times reported. The report by JP Morgan Private Bank and Beauhurst, its research partner, identified 5,142 companies…
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday praised British leadership and its support for Kyiv's fight against Russia during an unannounced visit from UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace."Words turn into actions. That's the difference between Ukraine's relationship with Great Britain and other countries," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video statement."Weapons,…
Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor are famously known as the powerful sibling duo of the industry. Both sisters are often seen praising each other in public, especially on social media where they both are often seen posting heart-warming, mushy pictures with each other. Rhea is currently in London and the…
Whether you are a sports enthusiast or not, you might very well know Karenjeet Kaur Bains, Britain’s first female Sikh powerlifter. In case you do not know much about her, you have landed at the right place to know a thing or two about her and how she is encouraging…
The British government's controversial plan to send migrants arriving illegally in Britain to Rwanda is unsafe and irrational, lawyers seeking an injunction to stop the first planned deportations told the High Court in London on Friday. The government announced in April it had struck a deal to send potentially tens…
THE annual Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022 bring with them an added fervour since this year also marks the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years in service. To give the 96-year-old monarch a tribute, noted personalities from various walks of the society have been chosen to be awarded for…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged that the government will not simply ‘roll over and surrender' to union demands in the face of threats to bring the railways to a standstill, according to a report. He added that the government will help the industry weather the storm if a deal…
BRITISH Parliamentarians are unhappy over the plan to burn personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gowns worth £4 billion, according to a report. These were bought during the pandemic and will not be used by the NHS. Now, MPs are demanding answers over the financial and environmental cost…
As Britain pushes ahead with plans to send migrants to Rwanda, Hadi, a gay asylum-seeker who fled Iraq, said he would rather be sentenced to death.Under a controversial law passed in April, the UK plans to send asylum-seekers deemed to have arrived illegally on British soil to Rwanda, an East…
THE STRICTEST headteacher in Britain has urged people to reject the “old view” of social mobility in her inaugural speech as the chair of the Social Mobility commission. Katharine Birbalsingh, 48, is the founder and head teacher of Michaela Community school in Wembley, north London. In a speech yesterday (9),…
The UK government on Thursday said it was "deeply concerned" after Russian news agencies reported pro-Moscow separatists had sentenced to death two British fighters captured by Russian troops while fighting for Ukraine. "We are obviously deeply concerned by this. Under the Geneva Convention, prisoners of war are entitled to combatant…
A trainee GP working for the NHS has been fined a total of £200 for driving out less than 10 minutes late after completing his night shifts on two occasions.Having been issued two parking tickets of £100 each for leaving the car park late after his 12.5 hour night shifts,…
LABOUR party's shadow levelling up secretary of Lisa Nandy has caused chaos in the party after she backed June's rail strikes and praised the unions for helping the 'struggling' workers, according to a report. Britain's unions vowed to bring the country to a standstill with railway and Tube workers set…
JOHN Lyon School, Harrow-on-the-Hill, on Wednesday (8) hosted two events supported by the High Commission of India, London. The school welcomed Shitanshu Chaurasiya, first secretary of the Indian High Commission, and Amish Tripathi, author and director of the Nehru Centre -- the cultural wing of the High Commission of India…
THE producer of the movie The Lady Of Heaven has blasted Muslim protesters and accused them of 'poisonous rhetoric, bullying tactics and propaganda', according to a report. Executive producer Malik Shilbak asked his critics to 'take their heads out of the clouds' in a heated discussion with Roshan Salih, editor…
CAMPAIGNERS on Wednesday (8) launched a court bid to block the UK government's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as it attempts to stop migrant boat crossings from France. The government in London said last month that it intends to fly a first planeload of asylum-seekers to Rwanda on…
His cancer came without notice, and for three months Keyur Patel – known as Kiwi – was planning his own funeral. Now, 10 years on, Kiwi is “grateful” that he can tell his story and live the life he thought would end prematurely. The Met police sergeant remembers vividly the…
The UK on Wednesday ruled out suspending the British Virgin Islands' self-government and returning to direct rule, after the former premier Andrew Fahie was arrested for drug trafficking and money laundering.Fahie and the BVI's chief port official were arrested in April at a Miami-area airport after a sting operation by…
A court has heard that a white supremacist described Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Archie as an ‘abomination that should be put down’ in his online podcast, media reports said. Christopher Gibbons, 38, also called for the duke to be ‘prosecuted’ and ‘judicially killed for treason’ in the ‘Black…
Last night Disney+ and Marvel Studios held a special screening of Ms Marvel to celebrate stories and storytellers who reflect the rich diversity of our world. The screening was attended and introduced by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and hosted by Deana Hassanein ahead of its debut on Disney+ from…
WITH great power comes great responsibility,’ are words etched in Marvel folklore, thanks to Spiderman. But now, these words are just as important to Iman Vellani, Marvel’s first-ever Muslim superhero. The 19-year-old plays Kamala Khan, aka Ms Marvel, in the new Disney+ series of the same name. “We’re really shifting…
There are growing calls for prime minister Boris Johnson to cut taxes to ease the cost of living burden after he managed to sail through a confidence vote.A reduction in levies amid historic inflation levels would help reunify his traditionally low-tax Conservative Party, according to his supporters.Health secretary Sajid Javid…
Britain's railway network faces its biggest strike action in more than three decades later this month in a row over pay as inflation erodes earnings, a union has announced. Rail union RMT said more than 50,000 workers will take part in a three-day national strike coinciding with major events including…
VERSATILE ARTIST DISCUSSES HIS FORTHCOMING ROMANCE-FILLED UK TOUR A MARVELLOUS music career has seen Shaan mix up magnificent movie songs with melodious pop hits that have delighted multi-cultural audiences across different generations and languages. Although he is superb in the studio, the versatile singing sensation is at his best performing…
HOW WOMEN ARE CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING A BLEND OF BOTH STYLES HAVE you ever mixed and matched western styles with traditional eastern pieces? If you follow any big influencers on social media, you will have seen it has become a huge trend to restyle items across your wardrobe for different occasions.…
LIVE PERFORMANCE PRIYA PURUSHOTHAMAN – LIVE When: Saturday June 11 Where: Rose House, Barningham Way, off Kingsbury Road, London NW9 8UP What: An Indian classical and semiclassical vocal concert headlined by an upcoming music star, who has received specialised training. www.eventbrite.com BOTOWN: THE SOUL OF BOLLYWOOD When: Saturday June 11…
THE past 12 years has seen the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) become a leading celebration of south Asian cinema globally. Europe’s largest Indian and south Asian festival now spans across multiple cities in the UK. Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE has continually powered the fabulous annual film feast forward, as…
ROADS in the British capital were 85 per cent congested just after 9 am on Tuesday (7) due to the 24-hour Tube strike called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, media reports said. Traffic congestion happened when commuters used their cars or splashed out on taxis to go to…
Police in London on Tuesday said road closures and cordons had been lifted in Westminster, Britain's political district around parliament, after dealing with a suspicious package.Police were called earlier to investigate a suspicious package found at Parliament Street, London's Metropolitan Police said."The item was found to be non-suspicious," City of…
Spiritual guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev whose fondness for motorcycles is well-known recently completed 100 days of solo biking, traversing 27 nations as part of his 'Save Soil' campaign.The 64-year-old is aiming to cover a distance of over 30,000-km in the journey that he began in the United Kingdom. Sadhguru hopped…
Little more than two years after winning a landslide election victory, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a no-confidence vote among Conservative MPs following months of growing pressure. Here are key questions around the crisis confronting the UK leader: Where did it go wrong? Brexit cheerleader Johnson joined other Tory…
The Colombo Commercial High Court considered a motion filed by the Sri Lankan Attorney General and suspended the previous order which had led to the detention of the Aeroflot aircraft, the News First website reported. The motion was considered in the presence of Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Harsha Setunga.…
DANCE is being used to break stigmas and help disabled people to become more active at a studio in London. Dr Rashmi Becker founded Dance Dosti, with Metro Blind Sport and Vision Foundation, during the Covid-19 pandemic, after seeing the disproportionate impact that Covid had on both the south-Asian community…
A Conservative Party confidence vote later Monday (6) in UK prime minister Boris Johnson is a chance "to draw a line and move on", a Downing Street spokesperson said. "The PM welcomes the opportunity to make his case to MPs and will remind them that when they’re united and focused…
While millions watched the Platinum Jubilee festivities to thank Queen Elizabeth and reflect on her 70 years on the British throne, for the monarchy itself, the four-day celebrations have also very much been about looking to the future.From parades in London and a party outside Buckingham Palace to a Service…
Britain’s opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said the jeering faced by prime minister Boris Johnson reflected the public sentiment about the government.Johnson was booed when he arrived at St Paul's Cathedral in London for a Service of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth on Friday. But the prime minister, who was accompanied…
London's transport network operator has urged commuters to avoid travelling on Monday when a 24-hour strike is expected to lead to widespread disruption on underground train services in the British capital.Transport for London (TfL) said that while it expected some train services to run on Monday, a majority of stations…
THE 260-year-old Gold State Coach will lead a procession in London on Sunday (5) for the first time in two decades as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, according to a report. It carried a young Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on her coronation day…
SCOTLAND YARD’S head of counter-terrorism policing, Neil Basu, said he was “disappointed” with the way the process for a new appointment which involved a promotion has been handled, and plans to seek an explanation from the Home Office, a UK media report has claimed. Basu, a Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner…
EXPRESSING concern over soil health deterioration, Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Friday (3) said countries should make long-term policies to deal with the crisis. He said a food crisis is impending and collective efforts are needed to address the situation "The world is moving in the direction of a…
A pop concert, featuring the likes of singers Alicia Keys and Diana Ross, and the Epsom Derby horse race take centre stage on the third day of Britain's nationwide celebrations for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee. However, the 96-year-old monarch, a huge horse-racing fan and owner of many thoroughbreds, will skip…
British pop superstar Ed Sheeran was on Sunday set to bring the curtain down on four days of momentous nationwide celebrations to honour Queen Elizabeth II's historic Platinum Jubilee.The multi-award-winning singer-songwriter will perform at the finale of a day-long pageant lauding the 96-year-old monarch's record seven decades on the throne,…
Horse-loving Queen Elizabeth was thanked for being "in the saddle" for 70 years as head of state at a service on Friday to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, an event she missed due to her "mobility issues". Other senior members of the royal family joined a congregation of politicians, charity figures…
The Hinduja Group is actively planning property development in India including residential and office spaces, its co-chairman Gopichand Hinduja said. Having a presence in places like Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad, the group has a huge land bank in India, he said adding that planning is on either for creating a…
CHEERS greeted Prince Harry and his wife Meghan outside St Paul's Cathedral on Friday (3) as they made their first public appearance in Britain for two years. But opinions were split among the throng of fans waiting at the London landmark to catch a glimpse of the royals, reflecting a…
THE platinum jubilee of the Queen offers a unique and valuable opportunity for us to express our gratitude for her unparalleled service. Throughout her reign, Her Majesty has been the epitome of duty, stability and wisdom, inspiring profound global admiration and affection. The modern, connected Commonwealth of 2022 reflects the…
While former prime ministers received gentle applause as they arrived at the service, Johnson and his wife Carrie were met with boos and jeers from the large crowd of royal fans waiting outside the cathedral. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was met with boos, jeers, and some applause as he…
Despite the recent successes of seeing better representation on the honours list with 15.1% BAME award winners in the 2022 New Year’s Honour List, this special Platinum Jubilee year has sadly seen a significant drop with only 13.3% successful candidates coming from an ethnic minority background. This decline however comes…
The national governing body for aquatics in England has launched a campaign appealing for those from ethnically diverse communities to give their views and experiences – with the aim of helping to make water-based activity more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.Ethnically diverse communities are under-represented across aquatics, with only 3.4%…
AS thousands converged on central London to mark the historic milestone, messages of congratulation poured in for the 96-year-old queen. The US "Jill and I wish Your Majesty a joyful Platinum Jubilee celebration. On behalf of the United States, congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II on an unprecedented 70 years of…
Actress Amber Heard is unable to pay her ex-husband Johnny Depp more than $10 million in damages, her lawyer said Thursday after a US jury took the side of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star in a bitter defamation trial. The high-profile televised court battle ended Wednesday when a seven-person…
Charity supporter and IT chief, Ashok J Rabheru, has been awarded a Knighthood in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. He becomes Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in recognition of his work for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which he has supported in various capacities for over twenty-five…
AT LEAST two people caused a disturbance at a military parade in London which launches celebrations for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee on Thursday (2), running out in front of marching soldiers before being arrested, TV pictures showed. Two men ran out from behind barriers where tens of thousands of people…
SEVEN decades is a long time in history. As Britain pauses for four days to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, the longest reign in British history symbolises how much can change within one lifetime. The Queen spoke of her sense of “extraordinary progress, socially, technologically and culturally that has benefited us…
Longevity Elizabeth has reigned for 70 years and nearly four months -- longer than any other monarch in British history. The previous record was held by her great-great-grandmother queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years, seven months and two days until 1901. At 96, Elizabeth is the oldest current monarch…
LIVE PERFORMANCE KATTAM KATTI When: Friday June 3 Where: Theatre Royal, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR What: The Pagrav Dance Company presents a contemporary Kathak production that taps into the competitive chaos, creativity, and colour of Uttarayan, the world-famous international kite festival of Gujarat. www.theatreroyal.com AIMA BAIG, SAJJAD ALI AND…
MONKEYPOX appears to be spreading from person to person in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. The usually mild viral disease, which is endemic in west and central Africa, is understood to spread through close contact. Until early May, cases rarely cropped up outside Africa and were…
A jubilant Johnny Depp said Wednesday that a US jury “gave me my life back” by overwhelmingly taking his side in a bitter defamation battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard over mutual allegations of domestic abuse. The jury, after a six-week trial, found that Depp and Heard had defamed each…
SIMRAN SIDHU ON THE PUNJABI CLASSIC AND HIS PLANNED SEQUEL PUNJABI cinema has enjoyed an incredible resurgence in recent years with contemporary films clocking up huge box office numbers, but perhaps the most interesting release of 2022 has been a remastered version of all-time classic Chann Pardesi. Widely regarded by…
CARDIFF-BASED singer Atreyee has made a name for herself on the UK live circuit and delivered unforgettable performances powered by her impressive voice. She will next headline the Awaaz Hi Pehchaan concert taking place on June 11 in Penarth. The Arts Council of Wales-backed tribute to Lata Mangeshkar sees her…
Daniel Silverstone, a professor of criminology and an expert in policing studies, attended the Champion’s League final in Paris and witnessed chaotic scenes. Here, he and Jan Ludvigsen examine what the latest research can tell us about how to tackle an issue that continues to bring football – and the…
The two firms have reached agreement over a merger that gives Tullow the upper hand with a 53-percent stake and Capricorn the rest. The merger deal "represents a unique opportunity to create a leading African energy company listed in London", the pair said in a statement. The enlarged group will…
Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday began four days of celebrations to mark her Platinum Jubilee, the first British monarch in history to achieve such a feat. As thousands converged on central London to mark the historic milestone, messages of congratulation poured in for the 96-year-old queen.Most of Britain’s print media…
Britain's communications regulator Ofcom launched a probe on Tuesday into Royal Mail's failure to meet targets in the past year, the latest hurdle for the post and parcel delivery firm as it also grapples with union disputes. Royal Mail said earlier this month it did not meet delivery targets for…
No petrol means no work for Sri Lankan delivery rider Michael Sathis, and getting supplies has become a challenge as fuel stations run dry amid a devastating economic crisis.Sathis sometimes had to queue all night to fill his tank until he found a Facebook group sharing regular updates on fuel…
West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma has been ordered to do 180 hours of community service and banned from keeping cats for five years after pleading guilty to kicking and slapping his pet cat, a London court ruled on Wednesday. Zouma admitted two offences under the Animal Welfare Act at…
Author Sir Salman Rushdie and cricketer Moeen Ali are among a number of British Asians honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List published on Wednesday (1). With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 13.3 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, this list showcases…
HERE is a rundown of the four days of festivities that start Thursday (2) to commemorate the 70-year reign of Britain's longest-ruling monarch: Troops and horses Around 1,500 soldiers, 400 army musicians and 250 horses will take part in the traditional "Trooping the Colour" parade Thursday, which returns after a…
BRITAIN's transport secretary Grant Shapps has told airlines to stop selling tickets for flights they cannot staff after a spate of airline cancellations caused widespread disruption for holidaymakers. Airports across Europe have struggled to cope with the rebound in demand but British airports are facing a particularly difficult week as…
British-Asian political and business leaders have paid tribute to “their inspirational Queen” for her “selfless service” ahead of her platinum jubilee. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, told Eastern Eye that he remembered being a child celebrating her majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, and he was “so excited to get a…
Cancelled flights, long queues and staff shortages have disrupted the travel plans of British holidaymakers during the half-term break, a grim sign of possible summer strife for a global sector battling to rebound from a two-year COVID slump. The next few months will be the first time since 2019 that…
A new research institute was inaugurated on Sunday (29) at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple, a statement said. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj inaugurated the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute via video link from India by lighting a lamp, which was simultaneously lit by members…
There is a gradual build up of members of Parliament from within the UK's ruling Conservative Party who have voiced their concerns over the partygate scandal, calling for party leader Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister. The total number of openly critical MPs has risen to 27 since the…
THE National Theatre’s new play, The Father and the Assassin, examines why Nathuram Godse, initially a supporter of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, turned against the Mahatma and shot him dead at a prayer meeting in New Delhi on January 30, 1948. Eastern Eye readers will appreciate this is a multi-layered play,…
A British Indian actor is all set with a special Bollywood-themed Wedding Party, complete with a six-metre-high four-tiered cake and a specially designed sari, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee outside Buckingham Palace in London. Ajay Chhabra and his Nutkhut performance company have been chosen to represent the Commonwealth…
GRADUATES from the world's top 50 non-UK universities, including Indian students, can now come and work in Britain through a new High Potential Individual (HPI) visa route launched in London on Monday (30). In a joint announcement, Indian-origin UK cabinet ministers Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel said the new "exciting"…
A DISMISSED aide of Labour MP has accused party leader Sir Keir Starmer of ignoring her complaints about the British Asian lawmaker bullying her.Elaina Cohen, who is claiming unfair dismissal by Khalid Mahmood, MP for Perry Barr, said her former boss used vulnerable women for “entertainment” but no action was…
The Arts of India auction at Roseberys on Tuesday June 14th features a wide array of art from the Indian subcontinent and encompass a vast range of artistic output. [caption id="attachment_186136" align="alignright" width="292"] A Gandhara life size standing standing figure of Buddha, 2nd/3rd century[/caption] Alice Bailey, Head of the Islamic & Indian…
Louis Bloomsfield inspects the kegs of beer at his brewery in north London, eagerly awaiting June, when he will get an extra day off every week.The 36-year-old brewer plans to use the time to get involved in charity work, start a long-overdue course in particle physics, and spend more time…
Here is a selection of extracts from speeches, addresses and contributions to documentaries given by the queen: "It's inevitable that I should seem a rather remote figure to many of you, a successor to the kings and queens of history. "I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give…
FASHION retailer Missguided may call in administrators as early as Monday (30) as it is on the brink of collapse after being issued a winding-up petition by creditors, the BBC reported. Missguided, which has about 330 staff, was rescued last autumn by the finance firm Alteri Investors. According to reports,…
UNITED SPIRITS LIMITED (USL), Indian subsidiary of Diageo, has announced the sale and franchising of selected brands to Inbrew Beverages for Rs. 8.2 billion (£83.5 million). The transaction, which follows a strategic review of selected Popular brands of the business, does not include the McDowell’s or Director’s Special brands, which…
THE way things are progressing between the two negotiating teams, a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK could be ready by Diwali without the need for an interim early harvest agreement, said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal during a visit to the UK. The minister arrived…
THE latest play from acclaimed writer Satinder Chohan was supposed to run in May-June 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid pandemic, and finally premiered at Hampstead Theatre in London, where it’s currently being staged. Salon owner Reita has worked hard all her life and dreams of moving away…
A London resident is saddling up for British Heart Foundation’s London to Brighton Bike Ride to help raise money for people with heart and circulatory diseases, just like him. Deepak Kapoor, 42, from Coulsdon, will be taking on the iconic 54-mile ride from Clapham Common to Brighton seafront on Sunday…
The first reactions to Ms Marvel, the upcoming Disney+ series, are in and social media users are over the moon to find out that Marvel Studio's newest superhero is a bona fide fan of Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Critics from select international publications were given access to the first…
Alzheimer’s Research UK has today announced that Biotech clinical development leader and former UK Vaccines Taskforce member Divya Chadha Manek OBE and former BBC executive Amanda Farnsworth have joined its Board of Trustees. In their voluntary roles they will provide strategic leadership, governance, and insight into the charity’s running, and…
Having demonstrated its expertise after redeveloping the iconic Old War Office (OWO) in London, the Hinduja Group has similar projects in the pipeline across the world including India, according to its co-chairman Gopichand Hinduja.He said announcements on redeveloping another heritage structure in the British capital and a similar one in…
INDIAN author Geetanjali Shree and US translator Daisy Rockwell have won the International Booker Prize for Hindi novel "Tomb of Sand", a first for a book in an Indian language. The prestigious £50,000 prize is awarded to fiction from around the world that has been translated into English and is…
AT west London's Hooked Fish and Chips, Bally Singh is struggling to keep the tills ringing for a British tradition, with prices sky-rocketing for fish, potatoes, cooking oil and even the flour used for the batter the dish is cooked in. Cranking up their bubbling oil friers only to see…
MANY reconnecting with art during the pandemic has turned it into a very popular pastime. Apart from being an avenue for creative expression, the colourful hobby has also helped mental wellbeing and been a way to connect with like-minded people. West London-based artist Sangeeta Weatherley has created a space for…
FOUR lawmakers from Britain's governing Conservatives have pulled their support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson over a damning report that detailed a series of alcohol-fuelled parties at 10 Downing Street that broke Covid-19 lockdown rules. A day after the report was published, describing a boozy culture at his Downing Street…
Nobody can deny the fact that several popular actors working today in Bollywood have celebrity lineages. Be it Varun Dhawan, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, or Ananya Panday, they all come from influential showbiz families that have been a part of films for several decades. Having said…
MOST vulnerable households in UK will receive at least £1,200 this year, including a new one-off £650 cost of living payment, as part of targeted government support to help with the rising cost of living crisis, it was announced on Thursday (26). British chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced a 25…
The UK government announced Wednesday (25) it had approved Todd Boehly's £4.25 billion purchase of Chelsea football club from the sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.The Premier League club was put on the market in early March, days before Abramovich was sanctioned by Britain following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.The billionaire, also…
Though a lot still needs to be done, it is no longer a rare sight to see South Asians creating their own space in showbiz. Talking about South Asian actors, in particular, they are getting meatier roles to play in movies as well as TV series and are no longer…
THE British Asian landscape designer Manoj Malde has spoken of “creating connections” as part of his new role as an ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) with a remit for “inclusivity” that was announced at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday (23). That was the day the Queen, who…
Speaking at Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2022 in central London last Tuesday (18), he confirmed that the plan will focus on how new medicines and emerging science and technology can be harnessed to improve outcomes for dementia patients across the UK. Javid said he wanted the initiative, which would be published…
The Mind mental health charity said mainstream services often fail to provide therapies that meet a person’s cultural or language needs and they are not referred to the right support. It comes after a study in May by the Mental Health Foundation found that people from a black, Asian or…
UK prime minister Boris Johnson presided over a culture of lockdown-breaking parties that featured drunken fighting among staff, according to a long-awaited inquiry Wednesday (25) that prompted renewed calls for his resignation. "Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen," the report by senior civil servant Sue…
SOUTH ASIAN men and women owe it to their families to get tested for cancer. That is the stark message from Britain’s top south Asian newsreader, George Alagiah. The BBC journalist, who was born in Sri Lanka, has lived with bowel cancer for nine years, and he told Eastern Eye…
A JUDGE jailed a disgraced MP from UK prime minister Boris Johnson's ruling Conservative party for 18 months on Monday (23) for sexually assaulting a teenage boy.The Tories expelled Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, and he resigned from his seat in parliament in the wake of his conviction after a trial…
INDIA's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (24) questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's meeting with former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. BJP’s Kapil Mishra slammed Gandhi and raised questions over the meaning of the meeting. Earlier, Corbyn was criticised for his ‘anti-semantic’ views and he has been a vocal…
THE ELECTION of Shaima Dallali as the next president of the UK’s National Union of Students (NUS) will depend upon the outcome of an investigation into the allegations of anti-Semitism involving her. Recently, the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi cut off ties with the NUS.Dallali is accused of failing to commit…
The year-long celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan London was heralded on the 21st of May 2022. As the largest institute of Indian Arts and Culture in the UK, The Bhavan has an illustrious history of hosting world renowned artists for performances and workshops, supporting emerging…
The inaugural edition of the Ideas for India conference ended on Friday after three days of rich discussion on public policy. The three-day event on 18-20 May was held to celebrate India’s 75th anniversary of Independence, with speakers providing their vision for where they see India in the coming 25…
NEVILLE LAWRENCE, the father of slain teenager Stephen, criticised England and Wales police forces for their “refusal” to admit to institutional racism and mend their ways.Stephen, a black Briton, had been killed in a racially motivated attack while he was waiting for a bus in south London in April 1993.Six…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said that the Metropolitan Police must “explain” why prime minister Boris Johnson was not fined for attending a party during the Covid lockdown, according to a report. Khan's comments came after Britain's ITV news channel on Monday (23) published new photographs of Johnson drinking at…
In an interview with India Today, the Isha Foundation founder has urged India's Hindu and Muslim communities to sit together work out which two-three sites are iconic and should settle all disputes. "The two communities should sit together and work out which two-three sites are iconic and settle it. Instead of…
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavana will be hosting a wide range of various art-cultural programmes, specially curated events, performances, workshops, and exhibitions to celebrate the milestone throughout the year from May 2022 to April 2023. The Bhavan’s art guru teachers and artists will perform Indian dances, songs, and other arts. The main…
A writer and a former member of faculty at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Dr Marr was known for his academic rigour and encyclopedic knowledge of Indian culture. He was awarded the Padma Shri civilian honour by the Government of India in 2009 for his contributions…
They have revealed the shortage of talent has led to “rampant poaching” and bigger eateries offering salaries of around £85,000 salaries, £5,000 sign-on bonuses and family holidays. On the Indeed job website in May, an Indian restaurant in London was looking for a Sous Chef offering £45,000 annually while another…
Having led his Labour party to victory in the recent local elections, the law graduate from Delhi University took oath as the first citizen of the borough at Southwark Cathedral over the weekend. Under his stewardship, Labour emerged victorious over the Liberal Democrats in London Bridge and West Bermondsey seats.…
A Love Letter to My Home is a multimedia art exhibition from Akshita Gandhi which examines ideas of home and identity. It combines traditional photography, mixed media paintings and audio works. The exhibition is a love letter to Mumbai and Udaipur, where the images were taken. “It’s symbolic, because India completes…
Just like for the past two decades, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stunned everyone with her mesmeric presence and glamorous looks at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The former Miss World debuted at Cannes for the premiere of her film Devdas in 2002. She has been a regular at the…
Well-known Indian playback singer Kanika Kapoor tied the nuptial knot with businessman Gautam Hathiramani in the presence of their family and close friends, in London. The 43-year-old singer, who has a number of chartbuster songs to her credit including “Baby Doll,” “Desi Look,” and “Chittiya Kalaiyan”, wore a pink lehenga…
Auctioneer and valuer Andrew Stowe, who sold a pair of Gandhi’s spectacles for a record £260,000 in 2020, told Eastern Eye that interest among collectors for the Mahatma’s memorabilia, especially in America, remained high. He said: “Gandhi is one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. He’s right…
INDIA's Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi has said that democracy in India is a global public good and a central anchor for the planet. "If that cracks, it is going to cause a problem for the planet," Gandhi said at the 'Ideas for India' conference in London on Friday (20).…
There have been many transfers that have raised eyebrows, caused controversies and changed the footballing landscape. From Luis Figo swapping Barcelona for arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2000, to Sol Campbell moving across London a year later, or the confusion around players such as John Obi Mikel. But one of the…
CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY (CBI) president Lord Karan Bilimoria said the government must act on the cost-of-living crisis and help firms invest in uncertain times.In view of a negative growth in March and forecasts of a weak outlook for the rest of 2022, the government should extend the Recovery Loan…
THE Bollywood Dance Festival takes place at the Great Hall, The People’s Palace in East London from Monday May 23 until Sunday May 29. The festival featuring top dancers, choreographers and social media influencers celebrates the dance magic of Hindi cinema with live performances, classes, and workshops. Eastern Eye decided…
A son of jailed hate preacher Abu Hamza has said that he wants to face terror trial in the UK, according to a media report. Sufyan Mostafa Kamal was stripped of his UK passport after travelling to Syria to fight against President Assad's regime. Currently, he is in a detention…
TAMILS who resettled in Britain after fleeing the Sri Lankan civil war held a vigil in London on Wednesday (18), with some likening the island nation's current economic crisis to the conditions they faced during the decades-long conflict.The gathering of Tamils seeking justice for those from their community who were…
BRITISH chancellor Rishi Sunak has insisted that the state "cannot protect people completely" as he warned the next few months "will be tough"after inflation rate has surged to a 40-year high. Reacting to Wednesday's (18) data, he blamed the situation on "global challenges" and noted Britain was not alone in…
INDIA's Vistara has started daily direct flights from London to New Delhi as part of its plans to focus more on Europe, the company said. The airline celebrated the flight from London Heathrow Airport to New Delhi on Tuesday (17). Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines,…
BRITAIN’S home office has commissioned an independent review of the London mayor’s police powers, according to a media report.Sir Tom Winsor, who recently retired as Her Majesty’s chief inspector of constabulary, will examine whether the mayor should have less influence on the appointment and removal of the capital’s top police…
A Met Police constable has been dismissed for failing to safeguard a woman who was later killed by her partner.Sandeep Khunkhun, attached to London’s North West Command Unit, was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.The Scotland Yard…
A GP in north-east England is facing extradition to India over alleged links to a terrorist group. Dr Mukul Hazarika is a manager at a practice in Billingham, on Teesside, but the Indian government has reportedly laid charges against him accusing him of running a banned unit. He appeared in…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said that he would not allow threats from “terrorists” to change the way he leads his life, according to a report. He was responding to the threats by the alleged Buffalo shooter Payton Gendron, 18, at a supermarket in the US. Khan was reportedly described…
THE cost of living crisis is leading to more British Asians from poorer backgrounds being unable to own a home and living with their parents for longer, say experts. They have also noted many from middle class backgrounds are staying in the family home after marriage to look after their…
AN AFGHAN asylum seeker, now jailed for violent attacks in London, had managed to return to the UK despite being sent back to his country twice.Morteza Ahmadi was on Friday (13) sentenced to 13 years in prison and a further five years on extended licence for sexually assaulting two women…
Once Upon a Time in Calcutta received two awards - best director for Aditya Vikram Sengupta and best actress for Sreelekha Mitra - at the 2022 edition of the New York Indian Film Festival, which also honoured Faraz Ali's Shoebox with the best film trophy. The seven-day film gala, which…
CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak has appointed a Delhi School of Economics alumna as an external member of the monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Bank of England.Swati Dhingra's appointment to the central bank comes amid the UK’s fight to tame the post-pandemic inflation, amplified by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Dhingra,…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan was on the hit list of a teenager who gunned down 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo in the US state of New York on Saturday (14), according to media reports.A 180-page “manifesto” of Payton Gendron, who surrendered after the racist rampage, named Khan as…
An exhibition of paintings in ink titled 'Find Music in Art' by Preeti Rana will be on display from the 17th of May till the 20th of May at the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh, Scotland. An architect and published poet, Preeti Rana, is showcasing her latest art collection…
THE shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and his Labour front-bench colleague, Preet Gill, the shadow international development secretary, have both dismissed Boris Johnson’s recent trip to India as being of little consequence. But Grant Thornton’s report, India meets Britain Tracker: The latest trends in Indian investment in the UK 2022,…
FORMER New Zealand great Brendon McCullum Friday (13) admitted to "bittersweet" emotions when he agreed to take on the role of turning around England's cricket fortunes. The 40-year-old, renowned for a "smash or crash" approach during his 101-Test career, which only ended six years ago, was Thursday (12) named as…
FORMER boxing world champion Amir Khan announced his retirement on Friday (13) from the sport after a 17-year professional career. Khan, 35, is the former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion and won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was beaten by fellow Briton Kell Brook in a sixth-round stoppage…
LADY ARUNA PAUL, who died suddenly at her home in London last Tuesday (3) at the age of 86, was married to the industrialist Lord Swraj Paul for over 65 years. After her passing, Lord Paul, who is 91 and the founder and chairman of the Caparo Group, told Eastern…
WHILE it was disappointing to see the Conservative party lose flagship councils in London and across the country, there was one particular council that bucked the trend and shone a ray of light for the Tories. Harrow – the hometown for both of us – was the only council across…
RISING student debt is severely affecting students across Britain, who are already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. Britons heading to university next year face major changes that critics argue will worsen the financial pain. The pressure is "exhausting, especially for someone in their 20s who has just started thinking about…
NEWLY released album Anomaly is an amazing introduction to awesomely talented British Asian artist Jasdeep Singh Degun. The award-winning sitar virtuoso’s dynamic debut combines classical compositions rooted in Indian tradition with a contemporary flair, which showcase his exceptional musicality and ability to effortlessly connect with cross-generational listeners. The 12-track release…
Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi is returning home immediately ahead of next month's one-day international series against the West Indies, Middlesex County Cricket Club announced on Thursday. Shaheen was due to leave the county side in early June to prepare for his international commitments but the club said they supported…
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s next directorial venture Dobaaraa, which features award-winning actress Taapsee Pannu in the lead role, has locked the date for its theatrical release. The film will hit the marquee on August 19, Kashyap announced on Thursday. Billed as an edgy thriller, the film reunites Taapsee Pannu with…
Actor Riz Ahmed and filmmaker Aneil Karia, who won the 2022 best live-action short film Oscar for The Long Goodbye, have joined forces again to give a modern spin to William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, Hamlet. Deadline reports that Ahmed will star as the titular Prince of Denmark in a script…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday (12) launched a commission to study the effectiveness of the UK’s drugs laws on cannabis, a move which did not find support from his own Labour party and home secretary Priti Patel.Former justice secretary Lord Charlie Falconer QC will be the chair of the…
NEWLY elected Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman should deliver on his promises, his predecessor John Biggs of the Labour party said while expressing concern over “divisive community politics” in the London borough.Rahman was stripped of the mayoral position in 2015 and banned from holding political office for five years after…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said that discussions were held to host the “greenest” Olympics and Paralympics ever in the city, according to a report. Khan said that his team were in discussions with the International Olympic Committee over Britain staging the world’s biggest sporting event for the fourth time,…
THIS year’s annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Portrait Painting, with over 200 works on display, drives home that this is a genre where British Asian artists appear to be missing out. There are a few, to be sure, such as Shanti Panchal, Suman Kaur and Akash Bhatt but…
THE significance of DI Ray on ITV was that such a crime drama, with an Asian actress in the lead role, has been made at all – Parminder Nagra plays Detective Inspector Rachita Ray in the four-episode thriller which ended last week. Parminder – if I can call her by…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan said he endured heightened online racist abuse when Donald Trump was the American president.His comment at Stanford University in California on Tuesday (10) came amid debates over allowing the former president back on Twitter after billionaire Elon Musk struck a deal to take over the social…
HEAD of state Queen Elizabeth II missed Tuesday's (10) ceremonial opening of the UK parliament for the first time in nearly 60 years, handing the duty to her heir Prince Charles in a clear sign of the looming transition of power. The 96-year-old monarch usually presides over the pomp-filled event…
Racist, divisive politics which pit Hindus against Muslims and Indians against Pakistanis must stop, say MPs and the mayor of London. The issue is something Eastern Eye has reported several times. But it has reared its head once again after last week’s local elections (5 May). Sources have told this…
COGNITIVE impairment resulting from severe Covid-19 is similar to that sustained between 50 and 70 years of age, a new study has found.According to a team of scientists from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, this cognitive impairment is equivalent to ageing 20 years or losing 10 IQ…
British star Jodie Comer is onboard to play the lead role in an upcoming thriller movie, titled The End We Start From. The movie will be produced by actor Benedict Cumberbatch's production banner along with SunnyMarch, Hera Pictures, Anton, and BBC Film, reported Deadline. Adapted from the novel of the…
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s upcoming thriller Dobaaraa, which stars Taapsee Pannu in the lead role, was on Tuesday confirmed as the opening night movie at the 2022 London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) on June 23, ahead of its Indian release on July 1. Female filmmakers will be at the forefront of…
A debate started on various social media platforms after US Youtube star Emma Chamberlain made her debut at the Met Gala 2022 wearing an Indian King's diamond necklace. Chamberlain wore a diamond neckpiece last week that once belonged to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, a part of Punjab in North…
AN INDIAN-ORIGIN teenager, specialising in Bharatanatyam, won the title at BBC Young Dancer 2022.Adhya Shastry, from Reading, said her win in the talent show was the beginning of her journey in the creative world where she likes to explore “endless possibilities”.Ten dancers, aged 17-24 years, vied for the title at…
THOUSANDS of people attended Eid celebrations in Trafalgar Square on Saturday (7) which featured live music, children's activities and food stalls. It was the first Eid in the Square since 2019, after the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to Covid. London mayor Sadiq Khan said it was "wonderful"…
QUEEN Elizabeth II will miss Tuesday's (10) ceremonial opening of Britain's parliament, as prime minister Boris Johnson tries to reinvigorate his faltering government by unveiling its plans for the coming year. The 96-year-old monarch, who usually presides over the pomp-filled event and reads out her government's legislative programme from a…
INSYNC BIKES has been ranked seventh among the fastest-growing Indian-owned companies in the UK after registering a 43 per cent growth last year.The Manchester-headquartered company, owned by India’s Hero Cycles, the world’s largest pedal bike manufacturer, received a Tracker Award in London, having appeared in Grant Thornton’s annual India meets…
QUEER BRITAIN, the UK's first LGBTQ+ museum, opened its doors in London this week, promising to bring the history and culture of the community to a wider audience. Housed in a 19th-century building in a redeveloped area behind King's Cross railway station, the museum has been four years in the…
THE party of previously-banned mayor Lutfur Rahman, has taken control of Tower Hamlets in London from Labour, according to reports. The Aspire party had only two seats on the east London council but won 24 of the 45 seats in last week elections. Rahman was also re-elected as the borough's…
SINN FEIN, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), hailed its first victory in a Northern Ireland Assembly election as a "defining moment" for the British-controlled region and called for a debate on a united Ireland. Sinn Fein was ahead of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)…
BRITAIN'S battered pound fell to its lowest level since June 2020 for a third straight day on Monday (9) against a broadly robust dollar. The British currency also depreciated against the Indian rupee from Rs 100 levels about a month ago to Monday’s 95.28. News that Irish nationalist party Sinn…
PHARMACISTS are being forced to offer extra services including botox and skincare in order to survive amid a drop-off in government funding. Chemists are turning to providing ear wax removal, lip fillers and travel vaccination clinics to “make ends meet”, and have urged more financial support as they deal with…
IT WAS another day and another story for me to cover, as a trainee reporter, for a regional television audience hungry for more “news from where you are”. Words that the BBC One news presenters still say before handing viewers to a more local team for stories closer to home.…
OUTSIDE of the UK, there is no country where PG Wodehouse is more popular than India, it has been suggested by Paul Kent, who has just published the final part of a trilogy of books on the great English comic writer. This is possibly because of the “subversive” element in…
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson was on Friday (6) left reflecting on a string of losses at local elections in England, in a mid-term test of his popularity after a string of scandals. Johnson conceded Thursday's (5) vote had produced a "mixed" set of results for his ruling Conservatives, including the…
THE NUMBER of Indian-owned companies operating in the UK grew in the past year, up from 850 to 900, with a corresponding hike in revenues and job creation figures, according to the latest research released in London.The 2022 India Meets Britain Tracker, launched on Thursday (5), revealed these companies employed…
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch says it is important to go beyond the “thrills and spills” of the superhero genre and shine a light on real-life concerns like mental health, something that his upcoming film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness delves into beautifully. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is…
SINN FEIN sought to become the first Irish nationalists party to win the most seats in Northern Ireland at an election on Thursday (5) set to test the stability of the British region's power-sharing governance and talks on post-Brexit trading rules. Victory for a party wanting Northern Ireland to leave…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party lost control of traditional strongholds in London and suffered losses elsewhere in local elections, early results on Friday (6) showed, as voters punished his government over a raft of scandals. Johnson's party was ousted in Wandsworth, a low-tax Conservative stronghold since 1978, part…
PRINCE CHARLES has praised the “dedication and professionalism of pharmacy staff” at an event held in London to celebrate the work of community pharmacists during the Covid-19 pandemic.Some 200 pharmacists, pharmacy staff and other health service representatives were invited to attend a special reception hosted by His Royal Highness at…
A REMARKABLE rise has seen Hussain Manawer impact the British cultural landscape with perfectly written poetry. This has not only drawn attention to the power of words, but broken new ground for creative talent, including him becoming the first poet to open Soccer Aid, the FA Cup and BAFTA awards.…
LEADING industrialist Lord Swraj Paul’s wife Lady Aruna Paul passed away peacefully at her home in London on Tuesday night (3). She was 86. She was full of life and always trying to uplift people around her, said a close family member, confirming the news of her death. Lady Paul…
AN INDEPENDENT investigation into Holland Park School found there was bullying, racism and inequality in the west London school comprehensive, where education secretary Nadhim Zahawi once studied. The board of governors of the school hired an external HR company to look into historic allegations made by students, parents and staff…
Local elections for councils and cities will be held in England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday, and polls for the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast. Here are details about the voting and what's at stake: - When does voting take place? - Polls open at 0600 GMT on Thursday…
SHARES in Boohoo plunged Wednesday (4) after the British online fashion retailer slumped into a loss on soaring inflation. Boohoo posted a net loss of £4 million in the year to the end of February. That compared with a profit after tax of nearly £91m a year earlier. Revenue jumped…
AWARD-WINNING journalist turned playwright Satinder Chohan has an impressive body of theatre work that includes Zameen, Kabaddi-Kabaddi-Kabaddi, Made In India, Half of Me, Gulliver’s Travels and The Girl of Ink and Stars. She has also written acclaimed audio dramas and is currently working on her first novel about the Punjabi…
Polls opened across the UK on Thursday in local and regional elections that could prove historic in Northern Ireland and heap further pressure on embattled prime minister Boris Johnson. The contest for the devolved assembly in Belfast could see a pro-Irish nationalist party win for the first time in the…
THE former mayor of Tower Hamlets, who was convicted for election fraud, is standing in local election. Lutfur Rahman is back on the ballot paper in east London, seven years after he was removed from office after being found guilty of polling offences, reported the MailOnline. A court banned the…
STUDENTS from south Asia who were accused of cheating in an English test have revealed how the ordeal has wrecked their lives and health. More than 2,500 people were deported and at least 7,200 more were forced to leave Britain since 2014 after international testing organisation ETS alleged they had…
INDIAN-ORIGIN rice magnate based in the Middle East has been emerged as a major Tory donor, donating through a foreign-owned company with millions of pounds of debt, according to a report. Karan Chanana, 49, the head of the global rice brand Amira, has donated more than £220,000 to the Conservative…
The world premiere of Satinder Chohan’s new play, Lotus Beauty, directed by Pooja Ghai will stage on 13 May 2022 at Hampstead Downstairs, in association with Tamasha Theatre Company. It will be running until 18 June 2022. Lotus Beauty follows the intertwined lives of five multigenerational women. The cast features Anshula Bain (Tartuffe, Birmingham Rep; (This Isn't) A…
Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, whose filmography includes such memorable films as Masoom (1983), Mr India (1987), Bandit Queen (1997), Elizabeth (1998), and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), on Tuesday said India has to use cinema as a soft power if it has to win the “minds and hearts of the…
A BRITISH-ASIAN entrepreneur and vaccination role-model is running for a seat on the Brent Borough Council. Sapna Chadha will contest the Brondesbury Park ward for the Conservative party in the local elections which take place on Thursday (5). Last year, Chadha was part of the local Conservative party team which…
A record three million people have received vital NHS cancer tests from March 2021 to Feb 2022 compared to 2.4 million people referred before the pandemic, the latest data revealed. Even at the peak of the Omicron wave, referrals for suspected cancer were at 116 per cent of pre-pandemic levels…
CONSERVATIVES chairman Oliver Dowden MP outlined his party’s commitment to “stamp out Islamophobia from society” and his plans to welcome more Muslims into public life.At the first-ever iftar reception hosted by the party at its headquarters in London last week, the lawmaker also thanked the Muslim community for its contributions,…
FORMER Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq has urged everyone to do their bit to end discrimination in the world, according to a report. He made the appeal while taking part in the March of the Living to Auschwitz-Birkenau, an annual walk between the original labour camp at Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site…
A BRITISH high court will hear a continuation appeal in the extradition case of Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond merchant wanted in India to face charges of fraud and money laundering, in London on June 28. Modi is accused defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB), one of the India’s largest banks,…
AUDITOR EY is facing a $2.5 billion (£2 bn) lawsuit in London over alleged negligence in its audits of bankrupt UAE hospital firm NMC Health, founded by Indian-born businessman Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty.NMC's administrator Alvarez & Marsal has launched legal action against EY's UK division regarding audits on NMC accounts between…
BRITISH aid needs to be better targeted towards addressing “controversial” blasphemy laws and militant activities which have a “disproportionate impact” on religious minorities in the south Asian country, a UK parliamentary panel said in a review last Friday (29). The House of Commons International Development Committee unveiled its report, ‘UK…
Benedict Cumberbatch's connection with India goes back to his teenage years and the Doctor Strange star says he hopes to return one day to interact with the country's "first superhero". The British actor, who took a gap year after his school to travel to Darjeeling to teach English at…
EID IN THE SQUARE will return to London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday (7) after two years.The post-Ramadan celebrations, which Mayor Sadiq Khan said signify London’s diversity, feature Islamic inspired art, culture and comedy with contemporary and traditional performances on the main stage alongside food stalls.The event, running from noon until…
BRITISH INDIAN boxer Jordan Flynn-Dhanjal has said that he wants to be the first Sikh world champion. Flynn-Dhanjal, who loves Indian food, has racked up four professional wins, with his fast hands attracting large crowds. He is all set for his fifth fight on Saturday (30) at Bracknell Leisure Centre,…
CHARITIES in the UK have said that many Muslim families struggled to afford food to break their fasts during Ramadan, according to a report. The charity Trussell Trust, which runs more than half of UK food banks, handed out 2.1 million food parcels in 2021-22 - of which more than…
Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi says he will be living a dream when he makes his Middlesex home debut at Lord's on Thursday. The towering left-arm quick has signed to play for the English county club, based at the London ground -- the game's spiritual home. "It's every cricketer's dream…
Power outages compounded the misery of millions of people wilting in a heatwave across India and Pakistan on Friday, with experts blaming climate change for an early onset of roasting summer temperatures. In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh hundreds of forest fires have broken out in recent weeks,…
BRITAIN’S billionaire businessman Simon Arora will step down as the CEO and director of B&M after steering the discount retailer for 17 years. In a filing to the London Stock Exchange, the company announced that Arora will retire in 2023, meaning that B&M has a year to find his successor.…
WE ALL know how our lives can be transformed by an inspirational teacher. Miss Moffat is just such a teacher in The Corn is Green, which is running at London’s National Theatre. She is an Englishwoman who turns up on a bike in Glansarno, a small village in a remote…
APRIL is a time of many religious and cultural celebrations. As many of us come together to celebrate our different faiths, some have questions about how we can see our loved ones, without passing on coronavirus. Riyadul Karim, assistant director of primary care, Enfield, at NHS North Central London CCG,…
MIGRANT women from south Asia are being sexually exploited due to being in legal limbo in the UK over their immigration status, charities have warned. They have supported victims who have been pressured into intimate relationships with an employer or landlord who have threatened with reporting them to the Home…
FORMER tennis star Boris Becker will learn on Friday (29) whether he faces a lengthy jail term after he was found guilty by a British court of charges relating to his 2017 bankruptcy. The six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, was convicted over his transfer of huge amounts of money from…
AN Indo-British bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October, prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi last week, as he concluded his much-delayed visit to India. Britain and India also agreed to step up defence and business cooperation, Johnson said, adding that London would support Delhi’s goal…
THE more things change in Pakistan, the more they remain the same. At the time of writing, reports from Pakistan indicate Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is to be his country’s new foreign minister in Shehbaz Sharif’s government. The 33-year-old is the son of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first and only woman prime minister…
IN 2019, Johnson upended conventional British politics by winning in both the traditional Conservative southern heartlands and more industrial areas in central and northern England. But his support has waned as the government grapples with a cost-of-living crisis and revelations about his conduct. Now many Conservative lawmakers are wondering if…
BEING arguably the greatest and most successful south Asian stand-up comedian of all time hasn’t made Russell Peters rest on his laurels. The Canadian trailblazer continues to power on with sellout shows, including the world tour of his brand-new offering Act Your Age, which stops over in the UK for…
The new ITV detective crime drama DI Ray, which deals with themes of race and identity in British society, stars Parminder Nagra as the title character. There is a scene in the first episode of the show where Nagra’s character suddenly realises the real reason she has been asked to…
A DANCE filled life has gifted Suba Subramaniam many magical moments, from her Bharatanatyam training to creating eye-catching shows and being artistic director of pioneering companies. This has resulted in her being integral in dynamic productions, which have received great acclaim and expanded the horizons of dance. She continued her…
BRITAIN wants to keep growing its ties with India as part of efforts to work more closely with allies to create a so-called Network of Liberty, foreign secretary Liz Truss said.She used her keynote address at the Lord Mayor's Easter banquet in London on Wednesday (27) to issue a stark…
STATE BANK OF INDIA UK has appointed former Bank of Ireland (BoI) executive Iain Smith as its new head of intermediary, a statement said on Thursday (28). In his new role, Smith will be responsible for managing the sales teams dealing with intermediaries placing Buy to Let business with SBI…
THE live south Asian music scene has thrived in recent years with singing superstars filling up major arenas around the UK and London based promoter Vijay Bhola has been at the forefront. His Rock On Music events company has produced huge live shows with the biggest names in music, including…
AN East London solicitor died from a rare blood clot weeks after taking the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, an inquest heard this week. Oli Akram Hoque, 26, from Ilford, received a dose of the vaccine on March 19 last year before suffering increasingly 'excruciating' headaches, reported the MailOnline. After a seizure,…
ALL-ROUNDER Ben Stokes is to succeed Joe Root as England test captain and the appointment will be announced later on Thursday (28), the Guardian said. Rob Key would make the announcement in his first media conference since being appointed managing director of men's cricket by the England and Wales Cricket…
A young accountant has won a disability case against his middle-aged boss, but lost an age discrimination case, it was reported this week. Jay Patel, 26, was sacked by Insurance boss Lucy Raymond-Williams saying that he was"too demanding" and "expected things to be handed to him on a plate", reported…
THE UK government said Wednesday (27) it will clamp down on "no-go" areas in jails carved out by extremist Islamist inmates who have been imposing Sharia law including floggings on other prisoners. Justice secretary Dominic Raab accepted the findings of an official investigation, which said that other prisoners were at…
A north London barber was convicted on Monday (25) for his role in a people-smuggling plot, according to a media report. Gul Wali Jabarkhel, 33, from Cricklewood, had used his Colindale shop as a front for a human-trafficking plot, reported Evening Standard. According to the report, he offered lorry drivers thousands…
BRITISH police on Monday (25) said a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder after three women and a man were found dead at a property in south London.Officers forced entry to a residential address in the Southwark area of the capital after reports of a disturbance at about…
BRITAIN'S billionaire businessman Simon Arora will step down as the CEO and director of B&M after steering the discount retailer for 17 years.In a filing to the London Stock Exchange, the company announced that Arora will retire in 2023, meaning that it has a year’s time to find a successor.B&M…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Gujarat as part of his India tour. He was greeted on Thursday (21) by Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami, International Convenor of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), on behalf of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the inspirer of Swaminarayan Akshardham and spiritual head…
BRITISH researchers believe they have documented the longest-known Covid-19 infection, in a patient who tested positive for a total of 505 days before their death. The previous record for persistent infection -- rather than repeated bouts of Covid -- is thought to be 335 days, the team from King's College…
ONEWEB, the low earth orbit satellite communications company, has collaborated with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to complete its satellite launch programme.The London-based company was forced to look for alternatives after it broke with Russian space agency Roscosmos in March this year as Moscow invaded Ukraine. But it later…
British prime minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that skilled workers from India could plug labour shortages in sectors such as information technology in the UK, even as he reiterated that immigration would continue to be controlled. Britain has made getting a trade deal with India one of its post-Brexit…
A STATUE outside a Buddhist temple in Wolverhampton depicting one of the religion’s most influential social reformers is to be replaced with an updated model of the former activist, reports Joe Sweeney.An application to erect a reconditioned model of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar at the entrance to the Buddha Vihara…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson gave his backing to his under-fire chancellor Rishi Sunak, saying he will remain in his job as the country's second most powerful politician after the next cabinet reshuffle expected later this year. Sunak, once seen as a strong candidate to succeed Johnson, has faced a…
A charity walk has been organised by the combined efforts of the Lotus Trust and ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor to raise funds for needy Ukrainian refugees. The Lotus Trust started this campaign two months ago and has managed to initially serve thousands of warm vegetarian meals to refugees coming out of…
Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson faced stinging criticism on Thursday from his own Conservative MPs and the embarrassing prospect of a probe into whether he lied to parliament over the "Partygate" scandal. Lawmakers agreed to launch an investigation by a parliamentary committee into his past denials to the House of…
POPULAR singer Arijit Singh turns a year older on April 25 and then returns to UK the first week of May for two huge arena concerts, where he will be performing his greatest hits. To celebrate India’s most popular solo star returning for a British tour and his 35th birthday,…
VISITING British prime minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (21) termed Mahatma Gandhi an "extraordinary man" who mobilised the principles of truth and non-violence to change the world for better. Johnson became the first prime minister of the UK to visit the Sabarmati Ashram, the place from where Gandhi led India's…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday (21) touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against Russia. Johnson arrived in Gujarat -- Modi's home state and the ancestral home to half of the United Kingdom's British Indians…
British prime minister Boris Johnson faces calls to apologise for a colonial-era massacre during his visit to Gujarat on Thursday, 100 years after as many as 1,200 people were killed protesting against imperial rule. Last month saw the centenary of the Pal-Dadhvav massacre, when Indian historians say around 2,000 tribal…
THE Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto is likely to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in London on Wednesday (20), a day after he excused himself from taking oath as the foreign minister. The two leaders are expected to "discuss the current political situation" in…
RENOWNED dancer Akram Khan will perform Kaash at the Southbank Centre tomorrow (21) as part of the centenary celebrations of the late Pandit Ravi Shankar. Kaash had its premiere at the Queen Elizabeth Hall venue in 2002 and was the first full length feature of Khan’s dance company. Collaborating with…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson will offer to help India cut reliance on Russian oil and defence equipment when he begins a two-day visit this week that will test his diplomatic skills and provide brief respite from a row raging at home. On his first trip to India as prime…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson on Tuesday (19) apologised to MPs after he became the first British leader fined for breaking the law, but faced opposition calls to quit for the sake of integrity in politics. Addressing parliament for the first time since the April 12 fine, he reiterated that he…
THE co-owner of supermarket chain Asda has said that the value of its investment in the firm has soared by nearly 20 times in just over a year, according to a report. London-based private equity firm TDR Capital and British Indian billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa jointly bought a…
BRITISH police said they had charged a 29-year-old man who was armed with a knife when he confronted two ministry of defence police officers near prime minister Boris Johnson's official residence in central London on Monday (18). Prashanth Kandaiah was charged with attempted grevious bodily harm and possession of a…
A rising teenage boxing star, dubbed the 'next Amir Khan', died in a tragic car accident in Wolverhampton, his promoter confirmed. Midlands-born Ali Tazeem, 18, died in the accident after a car and bus collided at a junction, reports said. Three people are believed to have been left injured, with…
BRITISH MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi met Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh as they discussed policy changes required to bring investment into the north Indian state.They also exchanged their views about enhancing trade and tourism in Punjab through greater connectivity, especially direct flights from London and Birmingham to the…
British boxer Amir Khan said he had been robbed at gunpoint in London but that both he and his wife were unharmed in the incident. "Just had my watch taken off me at gun point in East London, Leyton," Khan wrote on Twitter. "I crossed the road with Faryal (Makhdoom),…
“LOOK at me. Look at me. Look at me!” Katharine Birbalsingh is describing one of the many soft skills taught to students at Michaela, the exemplary community school she set up in Wembley, northwest London, in 2014. Birbalsingh – described by the UK media as Britain’s strictest teacher or headmistress…
MOSCOW on Saturday (16) announced it was banning entry to UK prime minister Boris Johnson and several other top UK officials after London imposed sanctions on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine."This step was taken as a response to London's unbridled information and political campaign aimed at isolating Russia…
A LOT of exciting literary voices have emerged in the past few years and one of the youngest is exciting new author Gurnaik Johal. The 23-year-old Southall born and raised writer has followed up impressive achievements that include having one of his stories shortlisted for the Guardian/Fourth Estate Prize 2018,…
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka's loss-making national carrier revealed plans Thursday to lease up to 21 aircraft, just two days after the government announced a default on its $51 billion foreign debt. The island nation is in the grip of its most painful economic downturn since independence in 1948, with severe shortages…
GRADUATING from top acting school East 15 kick-started an interesting journey for Yanick Ghanty that led him from performing in theatre to exploring diverse mediums of storytelling in all genres. The latest project to feature the British Asian actor is newly released Channel 4 sitcom Hullraisers, which revolves around three…
A SUSHI maker who lost his fingertips while on duty in a food factory accused his employer of being unsupportive to him.The tips of his two fingers came off when Viraj Kakadia was operating an “unsafe and dangerous” vegetable cutting machine at Taiko Foods in Acton, London in January this…
A HOSPITAL nurse killed herself and her two-year-old daughter with drugs that she stole from her workplace, an inquest heard last week. Shiwangi Bagoan, 25, and Ziana Bagoan, two, were found dead at their home in Hounslow, west London, in December 14, 2020. They were found by Ziana’s grandmother, Jassumati…
FORMER head of Crown Prosecution Service has said that judges should be given powers to force guilty offenders to attend court and face victims' families, a media report said. Lord MacDonald has called for 'urgent change' to stop killers from insulting families by not attending court to face their sentencing,…
THE UK on Tuesday (12) started a call for evidence to form a new 10-year mental health plan to level up mental health across the country and put mental and physical health on an equal footing. People with lived experience of mental health conditions and those who support people with…
INDIA and the UK on Tuesday (12) reiterated their commitment to a joint programme of action in implementing the Enhanced Cyber Security Partnership, agreed upon by the prime ministers of the two countries last year.The two countries held their Annual Cyber Dialogue in London on Monday (11) and Tuesday (12),…
PRIME minister Boris Johnson has agreed to a request from the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, for a review to determine whether he stuck to the rules on ministerial declarations.The move caps days of criticism over the financial arrangements of Sunak’s family and the allegation of “political hypocrisy” as questions emerged over…
THE Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) organised an event at Lord’s to celebrate Ramadan for the local community with a specially cooked Iftar on Friday (8). Over 150 people attended the event which included a discussion on ‘Cricket during Ramadan’ held after the first day of the season opener match between Middlesex…
ACCLAIMED Asian director Lolita Chakrabarti and her team were celebrating on Monday (11), after the West End play, Life of Pi, scooped five awards at the prestigious Laurence Olivier awards the previous night (10). The stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s Booker Prize-winning novel has won the Best Actor accolade for…
SABINA NESSA’S sister Jebina Islam has claimed the young primary school teacher’s ethnicity may be why her death did not get the media coverage Sarah Everard did.Everard, 33, a white London resident who worked as a marketing executive, was killed by serving police officer Wayne Couzens on March 3 last…
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has signed on to star in the first feature-length episode of I Am, an award-winning female-led drama anthology series from Channel 4. According to Deadline, the high-profile project also features Winslet’s daughter Mia Threapleton in I Am Ruth. As with both previous series, each…
GLASGOW will send seven ‘stolen’ artefacts back to India as city councillors have backed a proposal in this regard, according to a report. Officials from the High Commission of India lodged a request in January for the return of six artefacts “stolen” from Hindu temples and shrines in the 19th…
SHEHBAZ SHARIF, expected to become Pakistan's new prime minister Monday (11) after leading the opposition alliance that ousted Imran Khan, is a tough administrator with a penchant for quoting revolutionary poetry. Sharif is the younger brother of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was dismissed then jailed on corruption charges…
THE PASSENGER traffic at London's Heathrow Airport in March this year was the highest since the pandemic began, driven by outbound leisure travel and the removal of all Covid restrictions.Heathrow, however, said in a statement on Monday (11) that inbound leisure and business travel had remained weak due to high…
Book: Ammu Publisher: Eburry Press Review by: Mita Mistry COOKING in the confines of your own home became one of the most popular pastimes during the pandemic. For some, self-isolating meant they were unable to fill their bellies with home-cooked food they craved, and others lost elderly loved ones, which…
Akshata Murty, the Indian wife of embattled British chancellor Rishi Sunak, is richer than the queen as the daughter of a self-made tech billionaire and a no-less-formidable engineer and philanthropist mother. Sunak, once seen as a future prime minister, has seen his popularity sink because of surging consumer prices, while…
BRITISH born music producer Judge Singh, known as J9, comes from a musical family. He went from being surrounded by music at the gurdwara, family gatherings and playing bhangra, hip hop and reggae cassettes on his Sony Walkman to co-founding popular band RSVP in the 1990s with his brother. The…
A man was jailed for life on Friday for the brutal murder of a female teacher found dead a short walk from her London home in a killing that fuelled public anger about violence against women in Britain. Sabina Nessa, 28, was attacked and killed after leaving her home in…
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran on Wednesday won his copyright trial at London's High Court, following accusations of plagiarism from a fellow UK artiste. Sami Chokri, who performs as Sami Switch, and music producer Ross O’Donoghue had accused the Grammy award-winning singer of lifting parts of his song for Sheeran’s 2017…
Primary school teacher Sabina Nessa's parents told her killer that 'he had no right to touch her' after he refused to face them in court. Koci Selamaj, 36, beat and strangled Nessa, 28, as she walked through a park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on 17 September. He refused to leave…
BRITAIN’S arm of the charity Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) participated in a tree planting event at Whalebone Park in the London borough of Barnet as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.Green Canopy is a pro-environment initiative undertaken to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee by inviting communities across the UK…
TRIBUTES have been paid to a British lawyer who died in a landslide alongside his nine-year-old son while hiking in Australia’s Blue Mountains. Mehraab Nazir, 49, was on a day out with his family in the Wentworth Pass area of the Blue Mountains, a national park west of Sydney last…
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, known for his unparalleled versatility, is presently waiting for the release of his much-anticipated film Heropanti 2. Also starring Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria in lead roles, the high-profile actioner is set to hit cinemas on 29th April 2022. Ahead of the release, Siddiqui recently talked about his…
PRIVATE equity firm Dbay Advisors has evinced interest in the UK’s largest social care provider CareTech Holdings.It made a non-binding offer of 750p a share to buy out CareTech. The Indicative price is 25p more than the offer made by its co-founders, the Kenyan-born Sheikh siblings - Haroon and Farouq.In…
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he is looking forward to sharing the joy of Ramadan with non-Muslims now that the pandemic restrictions are over. Khan will be taking part in a number of iftar gatherings with interfaith leaders and people from different religious backgrounds with the aim of 'building togetherness'.…
A British lawyer and his nine-year-old son were killed in a landslide while hiking in the Blue Mountains, Australia, media reports said. Mehraab Nazir, 49, and his family were on a trip to Sydney from their home base in Singapore. They moved from London more than 10 years ago, reports…
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL's former India chief said Wednesday (6) he was stopped from flying to the US because of government legal action against the human rights watchdog. Prime minister Narendra Modi's administration has long been accused of trying to silence critics, and activists say they have been targeted for harassment since…
A POLICE officer has admitted to offences including voyeurism after he was caught filming a woman when she was trying on clothes in a London shop.Met Police constable Swaleh Chaudhry, 36, attached to the Met Police Taskforce has been suspended from duty following his arrest at South Side Shopping Centre,…
ONE of the UK’s most successful franchise entrepreneurs has sold the McDonald's franchisee business after two decades. British Indian businessman Atul Pathak OBE sold his business in March 2022, he announced on social media. Pathak has been operating 43 McDonald’s restaurants and employing more than 3,500 staff through his company…
THE latest opportunistic fund by Tristan Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Raag Hotels, which owns Point A Hotel, for £420 million. The European Property Investors Special Opportunities 6 fund by Tristan Capital will own the property along with minority partners Queensway, a company associated with the Jivraj…
INDIA batsman Cheteshwar Pujara's debut for English county Sussex has been delayed by visa problems, it was announced Monday (4). Sussex had hoped to have Pujara available for their opening County Championship match at home to Nottinghamshire starting on Thursday (7). But delays in issuing the 34-year-old a visa mean…
AT 16, Payzee Mahmod was coerced by her Iraqi-Kurdish family in London into marrying a man around twice her age.Two years later her elder sister Banaz, who had left a marriage she was forced into aged 17, was murdered by members of her family in a so-called honour killing.Laws in…
Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli will soon be seen in an upcoming investigative thriller series titled London Files. Directed by Sachin Pathak and produced by Jar Pictures, London Files is a six-episode series. It follows homicide detective Om Singh, played by Arjun Rampal, as he takes on a missing person’s…
Namit Malhotra, the CEO of London-headquartered visual effects (VFX) major DNEG, believes the world of cinema has been divided into before and after Dune, the Hollywood thriller which bagged his company an Oscar. The film, which won DNEG its seventh Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category at last week's…
LEADING Muslim doctors have urged those eligible to have a spring booster jab this Ramadan as it does not break the daylight hours fast, NHS said in a statement. Resident TV doctor Dr Nighat Arif, a GP in Buckinghamshire, and Dr Farzana Hussain, a senior GP in East London and…
RATES of Covid infection have hit a record high in the UK, official data showed, just as free government testing ended for millions in England. Some 4.9 million people in the UK are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week ending March 26, or 600,000 more than the previous…
Banned, Pakistani film, Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story Of A Serial Killer, will receive its World Premiere as the Opening Gala at the 24th, UK Asian Film Festival – the world’s longest-running South Asian film festival outside India. The ‘Dare To Dream’ theme of this year’s festival commemorates 75 years…
KRISHNAN GURU-MURTHY has been promoted as Channel 4 News lead anchor, replacing veteran newsreader Jon Snow, according to media reports. Guru-Murthy, 51, will assume the new role in London having first joined the programme, produced by ITN, in 1998. Snow, 74, retired from Channel 4 News on December 23, after…
AS MANY AS 875 patients with type 1 diabetes in England have been given an ‘artificial pancreas’ by the NHS as part of the first nationwide test into the effectiveness of this technology, according to a statement. The hybrid closed-loop system (HCL) – also known as an ‘artificial pancreas’ –…
STATE BANK OF INDIA’S UK regional head, Sharad Chandak, has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of the bank's historic ties with the financial hub of Britain.Chandak received the honour at a ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor of London, Vincent Keaveny, at the Mansion…
BOTH main parties in the UK have traditionally had loyal supporters from different parts of the Asian diaspora, but there is growing unease that neither can be trusted or represent the values and aspirations of the Asian community. Prime minister Boris Johnson has a long history of making racist and…
Indian mangoes first reached England in 1953, the year of the Queen’s coronation, travelling all the way from Mumbai’s legendary Crawford Market – now on the year of the Queen’s jubilee, Indian mango exports in the UK are worth nearly £7 million. Indian Mango season lasts only 3 months of…
SINGER DISCUSSES HER SONG-FILLED JOURNEY AND SHOW ACCLAIMED singer Kiran Sachdev was first connected to music as an infant sitting in her grandmother’s lap while she recited Gurbani and then as a four-year-old attempting to sing while her father played the harmonium. Not long after she was playing complete compositions…
THE DEBUT novel of Asian author Aamina Ahmad combines crime fiction and 1960s Pakistan to tell a story of murder, corruption and finding long-lost family. The Return of Faraz Ali is available on Amazon from Tuesday (5). Set in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1968, it tells the story of inspector Faraz…
A painting depicting the historic victory of Mysore ruler Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan over the East India Company in 1780 was sold for £630,000 in London. The painting The Battle of Pollilur, which took place on September 10, 1780 as part of the Second Anglo-Mysore war, was…
LIVE PERFORMANCE SEVENS When: Saturday April 2 Where: The Place, 17 Duke’s Road, London WC1H 9PY What: An ensemble cast of UK-based Indian classical dancers and musicians share the stage in this triple bill show conceptualised by award-winning Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer Nina Rajarani MBE, which explores the sacred, and…
BARCLAYS shares continued to slide for a second on Wednesday (30) after one of its top investors offloaded a £900-million chunk of stock in the lender at a discount.The investor on Tuesday (29) sold 599 million shares at 150p apiece against the previous day’s closing price of 160.48p on the…
AN Indian man from Hyderabad has been charged with attempted murder after a female student from Kerala was stabbed inside a restaurant in east London. Sriram Ambarla, 23, was arrested from Hyderabad Wala biryani restaurant in East Ham(London) for stabbing Sona Biju, who worked part-time as a waitress at the…
Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello were among the leading music stars who performed on Tuesday night at a televised concert aiming to raise funds for a Ukrainian humanitarian appeal. Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran joined forces to perform their new collaboration “Bam Bam” live together for the very first time.…
Capitol Records released two volumes of music from season two of Bridgerton on Friday 25th March, coinciding with the return of the Netflix and Shondaland series. Bridgerton 2 incorporates Bollywood hit movie 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' cover song. In keeping with the tradition of Julia Quinn’s novels, season two tells…
LABOUR MP for Brent Central "Dawn Butler" recently had a mastectomy at Royal London Hospital after being diagnosed with breast cancer, reports said. Butler is now taking time off work to recover from surgery. However, the MP said she wants to raise awareness about breast cancer and has urged women…
THE British Kabaddi League has been launched in Wolverhampton to mark the prominent role of the Midlands in British Kabaddi, a statement said. Eight teams including, Birmingham Bulls, Wolverhampton Wolfpack, Walsall Hunters and Leicester Warriors, alongside London Lions, Edinburgh Eagles, Glasgow Unicorns and Manchester Raiders will participate in the league…
THE Queen on Tuesday (29) made her first major public appearance in months, at a thanksgiving service for her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99. The monarch, who turns 96 next month, has not attended a high-profile event outside her homes since she spent a night…
INDIA’S full-service carrier Vistara is considering renting long-haul aircraft to make up for delays in the delivery of Boeing planes, according to a media report.It has placed orders for four Boeing 787s to expand its international operations, but the deliveries are delayed due to quality control concerns. The airline, which…
LONDON’S Met police probing the alleged breaches of coronavirus lockdown laws by prime minister Boris Johnson and his staff in Downing Street said Tuesday (29) that 20 initial fines will be issued."We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations,"…
British Asian star and musician Riz Ahmed stressed the unity of humanity in his acceptance speech as he won his first Oscar for the live-action short film, The Long Goodbye, at the 94th Academy Awards, last Sunday (27). Ahmed and director Aneil Karia were presented the award as the glitzy…
UBER and Bolt are contemplating passing the high fuel costs to customers as the ride-hailing firms seek to help their divers.Uber’s UK arm said last week that it remained focused on offering drivers “the benefits and protections they deserve”.RAC Foundation data showed that the pump prices of unleaded petrol in…
DETECTIVES investigating the death of Yasmin Begum in East London have charged a man with murder.Quyum Miah, 40, of High Street, Homerton, who was arrested on Sunday (27) has also been charged with burglary and two counts of fraud by false representation, Met Police said in a statement on Monday…
UBER TECHNOLOGIES said it has received permission to operate in London under a new 30-month license, ending a years-long battle with the city transport regulator over safety concerns. "Uber has been granted a London private hire vehicle operator's license for a period of two and a half years," a spokesperson for…
THOUSANDS of people rallied in the UK capital in solidarity with Ukraine following Russia's invasion, as London's mayor stepped up criticism of the government's response to the refugee crisis. Following a call from the mayor Sadiq Khan for a demonstration of "solidarity with Ukraine", crowds marched through the city centre…
Tiger Shroff is set to dazzle the silver screen after a long gap of two years. Last seen in Sajid Nadiadwala’s action thriller Baaghi 3 (2020), the actor is now gearing up for the release of Nadiadwala’s next production Heropanti 2. The upcoming film, directed by Ahmed Khan, holds a…
British chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak is being accused of being out of touch with ordinary voters, in a sudden fall from grace just months after he was tipped as the next prime minister. The star of the 41-year-old had been in ascendancy for his handling of public finances…
ONE OF Britain’s leading restaurateurs (Asma Khan) has urged Asian women to consider a career in the industry, saying that the skills needed in a professional kitchen were “intuitive” to south Asian females. Asma Khan runs the popular Darjeeling Express in Covent Garden, having moved to the bigger site in…
THE son of an Asian doctor who died in the pandemic said Covid has united communities as he explained his family was one among many who had suffered the loss of loved ones in the past two years. Dr Yusuf Ismail Patel, founder of Woodgrange Medical Practice in east London,…
Bestway Wholesale has seen a 10 percent growth in revenues during 2021 to £2.66 billion – an increase of £220 million, returning an operating pre-tax profit of £37.2 million. The strong performance has been attributed to the agility of the business in responding fast to changing customer behaviours. Bestway Wholesale…
THE THIRD round of the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations will be hosted by India next month, Britain's Department for International Trade (DIT) said on Thursday (24).A joint “outcome statement” released by the DIT confirmed that a draft treaty text of chapters that will make up the new…
A new exhibition on the role played by migrant entrepreneurs in shaping Britain will start on 9 April at the Migration Museum in Lewisham. The immersive exhibition 'Taking Care of Business' will highlight migrant entrepreneurs past and present across a wide range of sectors, from fashion to tech, finance to…
EDUCATION Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has announced a plan to connect all schools in England with “lightning-fast” broadband by 2025 as part of the UK government’s efforts to “level up education”.The Government also announced a £150-million funding to support schools most in need to upgrade their WiFi connections. In the next…
The world premiere event for Bridgerton Season 2 was held on Tuesday at the Tate Modern in London. The star-studded event saw the presence of the much-anticipated show’s lead stars, including Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran. The duo posed together with Jonathan Bailey on the red carpet. The lead stars…
LIVE PERFORMANCE MID-DAY MANTRA SPRING SERIES FINALE: SWATI NATEKAR When: Saturday March 26 Where: Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall, 8 Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA What: Acclaimed singer Swati Natekar will present a special collection of songs celebrating Holi, ranging from semiclassical to film songs. She will…
BEING blinded as a baby hasn’t stopped the brilliantly talented Baluji Shrivastav OBE from becoming a globally acclaimed musician and one of the very best live performers. The multi-instrumental marvel has had many magical moments and set up Inner Vision, which is a path-breaking orchestra comprising of blind and partially…
A City broker, who lied to his boss on several occasions, has lost a case for race discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissal, a media report said. According to a report in the MailOnline, an employment tribunal hearing held in central London heard that Priyank Thakkar, who earned £60,000-a-year, took a…
THE Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has alleged that Indian agency workers hired to replace P&O Ferries crews in Dover are being paid £1.81 an hour, reported the BBC. Terming the low pay as a 'shocking exploitation', the union added that the firm also betrayed the sacked employees. P&O…
A man with no fixed address has been charged with the murder of teenager Sabita Thanwani, the Metropolitan police said. Maher Maaroufe, 22, has been charged with Thanwani’s murder and also assaulting an emergency worker. Thanwani was found dead at student accommodation in London on Saturday (19). She was studying psychology…
FOOTBALL club Arsenal has said it contacted a fan who was allegedly subjected to racial abuse and physical attack during its Premier League match against Liverpool in London last week.A Sikh fan was reportedly attacked and his turban knocked off in the toilets of the Emirates Stadium during the halftime…
THE FAMILY of student Sabita Thanwani have paid tribute after a man was arrested on suspicion of her murder and assault in her student accommodation in London.Thanwani, a 19-year-old British national, was found with serious injuries to her neck at Arbour House student flats in Clerkenwell, London, last Saturday (19).In…
BRITISH lawmaker David Amess was "assassinated" while meeting constituents last year by a "fanatical, radicalised Islamist terrorist," a court heard as the accused killer went on trial. Veteran Conservative MP Amess was stabbed to death at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea in southeast England in October. Ali Harbi Ali, 26,…
LONDON'S Parliament Square was the flag-off point for Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru's 30,000-km motorbike tour on Monday (21), as he set off on his Save Soil awareness campaign across Europe and the Middle East en route to India.The yoga guru, 64, donned his biking gear for the 100-day tour, which…
Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor on Monday announced that she is expecting her first baby with her husband Anand Ahuja. The actress took to Instagram to break the great news with her fans and well-wishers. The Neerja (2016) star dropped a series of photos of herself with Anand while announcing her…
SCOTLAND YARD have arrested a Tunisian national on suspicion of the murder and assault of a British woman of Indian origin in her student accommodation in London.Sabita Thanwani, 19, was found with serious injuries to her neck at Arbour House student flats in the Clerkenwell area of London on Saturday…
A former London police officer, who was jailed for life last year for a rape and murder that horrified the nation, was charged on Friday (18) with four new counts of indecent assault which took place just weeks earlier. Wayne Couzens, 49, whose job was to guard diplomatic premises, abducted…
NICK BEEVER proudly shows off the pristine spare bedroom at his home in the London suburbs, one of thousands of Britons ready to take part in a government programme to host Ukrainian refugees. "So this is currently our guest room actually, but we hope to have one, maybe two Ukrainian…
THE British Asian co-founder of Eggfree Cake Box is stepping down as the firm's finance chief, The Times reported. Pardip Dass is leaving the firm weeks after admitting that Cake Box's full-year accounts contained a number of 'inconsistencies' and 'transcription errors', the report added. He said that he was leaving at…
THE chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI) has announced plans to use the imminent UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to expand its FinTech and green financing plans, as the bank celebrates the centenary of its operations in the UK. Dinesh Kumar Khara made the comments at the SBI-FICCI…
NEW data has revealed that more than 1,000 police officers accused of domestic abuse are still in service, according to a media report. Eight out of 10 such officers kept their jobs after the allegations, with a small fraction being disciplined or dismissed, the Guardian reported. A series of freedom…
World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen stunned world No. 3 Anders Antonsen of Denmark in straight games to progress to the men's singles quarterfinals of the All England Championships in Birmingham on Thursday. The 20-year-old from Almora, who had claimed his maiden Super 500 title at India Open in January…
BRITAIN is very disappointed with India's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said ahead of the conclusion of the second round of trade talks. India has avoided condemning Russian actions since it invaded Ukraine three weeks ago, to the frustration of allies including the US, and…
US President Joe Biden has confidence in Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and believes that he will be an “excellent representative” of the country in India, the White House has said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki exuded confidence that the Senate would soon confirm Garcetti’s nomination, which has been…
Tiger Shroff is back to wow audiences in his yet another action avatar in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heropanti 2. The makers unveiled the explosive theatrical trailer of the much-anticipated film on Thursday, which garnered a massive response from the audience. Heropanti 2, as the title aptly suggests, is a sequel to…
ONE of the Rochdale sex offenders has protested his deportation to Pakistan by claiming he is barely surviving on benefits and has been treated 'like a political football', reported the MailOnline. Adil Khan, 51, was told he will be sent back to Pakistan for the public good, after he was…
A SCULPTURE in memory of the healthcare workers who lost their lives during the pandemic was unveiled at the British Medical Association (BMA) headquarters in central London on Wednesday (16) ahead of the two-year anniversary of lockdown next week. At least 50 doctors, most of them from black, Asian and…
NEW research published on Thursday (17) revealed that areas of London with black, Asian and minority ethnic populations of more than 50 per cent are more likely to face the highest climate risk including flooding, exposure to toxic air, heat risk and limited access to green space. According to a…
LIVE PERFORMANCE KATTAM KATTI When: Tuesday March 22 – Wednesday March 23 Where: Cambridge Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge CB1 7GX What: The Pagrav Dance Company presents a contemporary Kathak production that taps into the competitive chaos, creativity, and colour of Uttarayan, the world-famous international kite festival of Gujarat. www.junction.co.uk NITIN…
VERSATILE SINGER SPEAKS ABOUT HER BAND KHIYO AND WOMEN IN ARTS PERFORMANCE A BIG highlight of this year’s Women In Arts festival is a performance by British Bengali fusion band Khiyo. The talented collective mix up varied influences, including western classical, rock, jazz, blues, Nazrul Sangeet, Bengali folk and Indian…
SWATI NATEKAR has delivered everything from deeply classical music to huge commercial songs with effortless ease. Although she has released acclaimed albums and collaborated with worldclass artists, the versatile singer is at her best live and delivers concerts globally. The British talent will deliver a free concert as part of…
A FRIEND of mine applied for promotion in the judiciary recently to become a senior judge, and he was not successful. It seems that one of the panellists at the interview stage had disagreed with him in the past about institutional, systemic and structural racism in the profession. You see,…
A SURVEY of judges has revealed bullying, harassment and discrimination in the judiciary. The Justice Office has also admitted it is investigating further the “issues relating to” these claims. This about-face comes two years after the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett, denied bullying existed when asked by a journalist at…
QUEEN Elizabeth II has called on the Commonwealth to show unity in troubled times, as she sat out a major event for the organisation after a period of fragile health. The event on Monday (14) with some 1,500 guests at Westminster Abbey in central London had been due to be…
A website for Britons interested in housing and sponsoring Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion went live on Monday (14) as the government steps up its efforts to deflect anger over its response to the refugee crisis. Prime minister Boris Johnson has sought to portray Britain as helping lead the global…
BRITAIN and the US have committed to coordinating the implementation of their Indo-Pacific strategies, with a focus on enhancing ties with India, Downing Street has said.At “high-level consultations” on the Indo-Pacific held in London last week, officials from both governments resolved to broaden and deepen their alignment and cooperation in…
ELON MUSK, the world's richest man, on Monday (14) challenged Russian president Vladimir Putin to a fight, with nothing less than the fate of Ukraine, scene of Moscow's brutal invasion, at stake.The eccentric billionaire and founder of aerospace company SpaceX took to Twitter, where his messages are notoriously erratic, to…
The Ukraine war has seen a surge in pro-refugee public sentiment. British Future’s six-monthly tracker of migration attitudes, conducted by Ipsos, offers conclusive evidence that this is underpinned by a long-term softening of attitudes to immigration. Most striking of all is the shift in people’s views on overall numbers. In 2016,…
Actress Paige Sandhu, who is known for playing Meena Jutla in the ITV soap Emmerdale, has spoken about being housebound during a battle with anxiety. In a revealing new interview, she said that she developed the mental health problem after leaving London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama. The actress’…
INDIA’S largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) is celebrating the centenary of its presence in the UK and the silver jubilee of its listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).The bank’s chairman Dinesh Khara opened the exchange on Friday (10) as part of the celebrations.Previously known as the Imperial…
Despite the fact that sex is one of the thoughts that men think about the most, it is worth mentioning that when the sexual act arrives, many of them get scared by some factors, which can be physical or mental, where the brain itself plays a bad trick and they…
JOANNA SCANLAN, who won the best actress award at the BAFTAs for her role in After Love, paid tribute to the film director Aleem Khan and his mother. Scanlan, 60, plays a widow who discovers her late husband’s secret family in the drama, which she said was made with “blood,…
BRITAIN will pay people to open their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion as the government moves to deflect anger over its response to the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two. The new scheme called "Homes for Ukraine" will let refugees from the war come to…
A WOULD-BE hitman was jailed for life in Britain after being convicted of plotting to kill a prominent exiled Pakistani blogger, prosecutors said on Friday (11).Muhammed Gohir Khan, 31, was told he would serve at least 13 years in jail for conspiring to murder Ahmad Waqass Goraya last year, the…
Britain has outlined the terms of reference of its planned inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic, looking into the preparedness of the country as well as the public health and economic response to the coronavirus. Meanwhile, England's Covid-19 prevalence rose to 1 in 25 in the week ending March 5, Britain's…
A police watchdog has warned that the rush to recruit 20,000 more police officers increased the risk of introducing misogynist and racist recruits, according to a media report. In his ninth and final annual review, Sir Tom Winsor said that to restore damage to public confidence police must confront a series of…
AUTHOR Geetanjali Shree's novel ‘Tomb of Sand' is among 13 books from across the world longlisted for the International Booker Prize, the first Hindi language work of fiction to make the cut for the prestigious literary prize, unveiled in London on Thursday (10).Shree's book, translated into English by Daisy Rockwell…
LONDON'S Heathrow said concerns from US travellers over the war in Europe, longer flight times to avoid closed airspace, and higher fuel prices had added to lingering worries about Covid-19, creating "huge uncertainty" over the recovery in flying.The UK's largest airport said it had not seen as many passengers return…
BRITAIN said that it was easing customs processes for aid donations being exported to support those affected by the humanitarian crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Local media have reported lorries full of charity donations bound for Ukraine and its neighbours being stuck at British ports because of complex post-Brexit…
THE UK government launched a girls’ education drive aimed at developing countries, including India to mark International Women’s Day. The government will work with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU) to implement the new Girls’ Education Skills Partnership which will be funded by Accenture, Standard Chartered, Unilever, Microsoft, and United Bank for Africa.…
SHREYA GHOSHAL returns to the UK this month with huge concerts at Utilita Arena in Birmingham on March 25 and OVO Arena Wembley in London on March 27. The undisputed queen of Indian film music will also turn a year older on March 12. Eastern Eye decided to look ahead…
ACCLAIMED dance production Sevens has recommenced a UK tour that it began at the end of 2021 with eye-catching performances. The three-part dance and music based on the sacred, sometimes sinful, significance of the number seven features top talents including Abirami Eswar. The Kathak maestro, trained by Padmashri Pratap Pawar…
THE founders of Caretech are planning to make an offer to delist the social care group from the London Stock Exchange, reported Sky News. Farouq and Haroon Sheikh are in talks to secure the financing required to launch a takeover bid for the company, the report added. Started in 1993, Caretech…
A former investment banker's organisation wants to change the low numbers of female business leaders in FTSE-100 firms. Tara Cemlyn-Jones' organisation 25x25 has set itself an ambitious target: to get 25 women at the head of the 100 biggest businesses in the UK by 2025. Currently, there are just nine…
INDIA is the second-largest global venture capital investment hub for digital shopping companies, according to an official analysis released in London on Wednesday (9).Such investments in the south Asian country grew by a whopping 175 per cent from $8 billion (£6.08 bn) in 2020 to $22 bn (£16.71 bn) in…
WOMEN are very much on the move – rising to roles not previously seen before and smashing glass ceilings in the process. The GG2 Power List was unveiled on Tuesday (8) evening at Eastern Eye publisher AMG’s high-profile and glittering GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards, where the role of highflying women…
The Migration Museum in Lewisham on Monday (7) received a donation from an Indian entrepreneur to support its ongoing work and help fund costs for exhibitions, a statement said. Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia donated £25,000 to the facility and urged the Indian diaspora to back the Museum. He has been appointed…
CHAIR of KPMG, Bina Mehta; former president of the Supreme Court, Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE and Aviva Group CEO Amanda Blanc were among influential speakers who took part in an annual International Women’s Day debate in London last Friday (4). Mehta said events like International Women’s Day “are a…
THE most diverse UK study published on Monday (7) revealed that hearing loss and epilepsy are early features of Parkinson’s disease. The research from the Queen Mary University of London, funded by Bart’s Charity, used data from a diverse population and was published on JAMA Neurology, a statement said. Researchers used…
LONDON’S Camden Council in partnership with the Bangladesh High Commission celebrated the 50th year of the south Asian country’s independence.At the event - Bangladesh at 50 - held at the British Museum on Wednesday (2), mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted the contribution Bangladeshi Londoners have been making to the culture and…
AN employment tribunal has heard that a senior NHS consultant was sacked after he ordered a junior doctor to strip naked in front of him in a hotel room as punishment, reported MailOnline. Edwin Chandraharan was sacked from St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in south London in February…
UKRAINIAN president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address British lawmakers via videolink in the House of Commons on Tuesday (8), the first time a president of another country has addressed the main Westminster chamber. Zelenskyy, who has spoken to British prime minister Boris Johnson on several occasions since Russia invaded his country,…
AFTER being out of the spotlight for a large part of the last decade, Bobby Deol has reignited his career with incendiary roles that have burned brightly on diverse streaming platforms. These have included explosive Netflix film Class Of 83 and two seasons of Prakash Jha’s controversial streaming show Aashram…
BRITISH actress Goldy Notay has played diverse roles in film and television, but she is perhaps at her best delivering a power-packed theatre performance. She returns to the stage with a lead role in a new adaptation of acclaimed Mike Leigh theatre play Abigail’s Party. The Pravesh Kumar-directed revival of…
STORYTELLING has existed since the dawn of time and was an early way of documenting history, but over time, it was replaced with things like books, theatre plays, films, art, and technology. Vayu Naidu has kept the ancient art of live storytelling going with magnetic performances for all ages. The…
The 'Music for the Mind & Soul' concert series welcomes back live audiences to The Capstone Theatre in Liverpool on 28th April, brought to you by Milap - the UK's leading Indian arts and culture company. This unique concert series is a flagship of Milap's performance work - an enchanting musical experience providing audiences with…
THE UK government has unilaterally called off a scheduled visit of Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf to London apparently because of Islamabad's policy towards Russia's military offensive against Ukraine, according to a media report.The visit, which was scheduled for next week, was called off on Friday (4) without mentioning…
GLOBAL satellite communications company OneWeb has announced that its board had voted to suspend all launches from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. With this, OneWeb has joined a growing list of companies snapping or suspending ties with Russia. Russia's space agency Roscosmos has sought guarantees from OneWeb and Europe's Arianespace…
LIVE PERFORMANCES BOTOWN - THE SOUL OF BOLLYWOOD When: Saturday March 5 Where: Mystique Banqueting Suite, 928a Melton Rd Brittania Way, Leicester LE4 8GR What: Concert featuring the acclaimed multicultural soul band that reboots Bollywood classics with a unique soul funk twist, which takes you on a musical trip from…
BAPS volunteers in Europe have joined emergency relief efforts on the Polish, Romanian and Hungarian borders with Ukraine as instructed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. Last month, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi had a video conference with Pujya Swami Brahmaviharidas seeking assistance from BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in ensuring the…
THIS year’s Women In The Arts festival opens with a show headlined by acclaimed poet and ghazal singer Mehtab Malhotra at the Tara Theatre in London next Saturday (12). The performance will include works by old and new poets, and popular ghazals originally delivered by greats like Iqbal Bano, Farida…
NHS and social care workers in England will no longer have to have a Covid jab as a condition of employment from later this month, the government said. The UK government announced on January 31 that it intended to revoke the regulations that made vaccination compulsory, subject to the results…
