- Thursday, September 21, 2023
THE lead of an independent review investigating into clashes in Leicester last year has refuted suggestions that the authorities overlooked decades of deepening divides in the city. Dozens of people were arrested after community tensions erupted in August and September 2022 and led incidents of vandalism and attacks on places…
IT IS NO surprise that Sumukhi Suresh delivered one of this year’s best stand-up comedy performances. Her critically acclaimed show Hoemonal at Soho Theatre in central London demonstrated her incredible ability in front of a live audience and immense skills as a writer because it combined magnificent entertainment with meaning.…
A London restaurant is exploring the potential of consuming invasive species like grey squirrels, American Signal crayfish, and Japanese knotweed to combat their proliferation. However, scientists maintain a skeptical stance on this approach. The idea behind several "invasive species supper clubs", the last of which was served on Tuesday (19)…
Rishi Sunak is set to announce the delay of certain government policies aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 in an upcoming speech this week, citing the need for a more "proportionate" response to climate change. In a highly unusual late-night statement after reports that he was planning to row…
A coroner has urged to implement the Martha's Rule following the tragic death of nine-year-old who succumbed to a Strep A infection shortly after being sent home from the hospital with a diagnosis of tonsillitis. Riya Hirani was discharged from Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow with instructions for over-the-counter pain…
THE father of a 10-year-old girl whose death sparked an international manhunt in Pakistan will face trial for her murder next year. Sara Sharif's body was discovered at the family home near Woking on August 10, the day after her father, Urfan Sharif, flew to Islamabad. An early morning emergency…
SS Rajamouli on Tuesday announced that he will be presenting the upcoming feature film Made In India, a biopic on 'Father of Indian Cinema' Dadasaheb Phalke. The RRR filmmaker said the script moved him emotionally when he heard the narration. "When I first heard the narration, it moved me emotionally like…
Tanika Gupta and Anupama Chandrasekhar are among the 60 award-winning playwrights who are donating very special first-edition copies of their plays to raise money for refugees in the UK. The plays are being donated to the Out of the Margins online auction in partnership with Christies Auction House which will…
The High Commission of India in London in association with the London School of Trends and International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), presented a unique showcase titled "Celebrating LiFE Lifestyle for Environment at London Fashion Week" on "INDIA DAY" – Saturday (16). This event was part of London Fashion Week,…
Nero Ughwujabo, a senior strategy adviser at the Prince’s Trust, has received an honorary doctorate in equality, diversity, and inclusion from the University of East London’s Royal Docks School of Business and Law. The award was presented to him during a ceremony held at the University’s Docklands campus. Ughwujabo's distinguished…
SIXTEEN members of a West London crime group involved in international money laundering and people smuggling have been jailed for up to 15 years. National Crime Agency (NCA) officers seized £1.5 million - believed to be proceeds of class A drugs sale and immigration crime - from the organised network…
Former Miss World and Bollywood actress Manushi Chhillar is set to make her debut at London Fashion Week 2023. She will be walking the runway in creations by renowned designer Rocky Star. Excited about her debut at the London Fashion Week, Chhillar said, "I am thrilled about my debut at…
FOUR people have been charged over the collapse of the bakery chain Patisserie Valerie, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said. In January 2019, the company collapsed into administration after a £40-million hole was found in its finances. A month later, Dublin-based Causeway Capital Partners purchased 96 sites of the firm.…
SMALL SHOP owners across the UK are voicing growing concerns over an alarming increase in shoplifting incidents, with many citing a lack of police response and a rising sense of impunity among criminals as the root causes of the issue, reported the BBC. Benedict Selvaratnam, a convenience store owner in…
Pragnesh Modhwadia had been riding high just six weeks ago. The managing partner of what had recently transformed into Axiom Ince threw a lavish party at a Mayfair club in London, far from the usual atmosphere of a City legal practice. At the time, Modhwadia held the position of managing…
A British Sikh crossbow-armed intruder who has admitted to committing treason after telling royal guards at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021 that he was there to kill Queen Elizabeth II has apologised to King Charles III and the royal family, a UK court heard on Friday (15). Jaswant Singh…
Veteran star Anil Kapoor added his special touch to the gala premiere of his son-in-law Karan Boolani's directorial Thank You For Coming at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Thank You For Coming actresses Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Shibani Bedi, Dolly Singh, and Kusha Kapila hit the red carpet of…
THE father, stepmother and uncle of a 10-year-old girl whose death sparked an international manhunt in Pakistan have appeared in court in the UK charged with her murder. The court hearing came after the three were arrested on Wednesday (13) after disembarking a flight from Dubai after spending a month…
RESEARCH by a campaign group has revealed that Susan Hall, the Tory candidate for London mayor, has liked tweets praising controversial figure Enoch Powell and tweets containing Islamophobic abuse directed at her Labour opponent, Sadiq Khan, reported the Guardian. In February 2020, Hall liked a tweet praising Powell, a former…
POLICE investigating the death of a 10-year-old girl said Friday (15) they had charged her father, stepmother and uncle with murder after they returned to Britain from Pakistan. Sara Sharif's body was discovered at the family's home near Woking, southern England, on August 10. A post-mortem examination revealed she had…
THE India Club, a historic London curry house with links to India's freedom struggle, will close its doors for the last time on Sunday (17) after failing to stop a hotel redevelopment plan. With a non-descript entrance up a precipitous stairway on a busy stretch of The Strand in central…
LONDON's police force has apologised and paid "substantial damages" to two women detained at a vigil held in memory of Sarah Everard who was raped and murdered by a serving officer, their lawyers said on Thursday (14). Marketing executive Everard was abducted off a street in London as she walked…
Leander Paes is regarded as one of the best doubles tennis players of all time. The Calcutta-born ace, who retired in 2021, won several doubles tournaments after turning professional in 1991. We look back on Paes’ sensational career. 2023 Grand Slam Season Ends Paes won five US Open titles in…
Actresses Bhumi Pednekar and Shehnaaz Gill are set to present their film Thank You For Coming at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The two along with co-stars Kusha Kapila, Shibani Bedi, and Dolly Singh left for Canada on Wednesday night. They all shared snaps and videos from the…
Stolen, an edge-of-the-seat thriller from India, is set to be screened at the 67th edition of the BFI London Film Festival in October. Directed by Karan Tejpal and produced by Gaurav Dhingra of Jungle Book Studio, the Hindi film recently had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Set…
THERE is no denying that Lucky Ali is one of the finest music talents India has produced, but he is also someone who hasn’t delivered nearly enough songs or live performances in recent years. While on one side, it has left his fans frustrated, but at the same time given…
QUEEN frontman and rockstar Freddie Mercury’s Parsi heritage was celebrated more than 30 years after his death, as Sotheby’s in London conducted the first of six auctions of his belongings last Wednesday (6). A 16th-century Indian miniature depicting A Prince on Horseback With His Entourage sold for £266,700, against an…
“WHO was Churchill?” This was the question debated at the inaugural Chartwell Literary Festival last week at Sir Winston Churchill’s home in Kent. It was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Literature that Britain’s wartime leader was awarded in 1953. Introducing three historians on the…
THE Indian comedian returned to the Soho Theatre in central London after a month long run at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. At the beginning of his show, he made the interesting revelation that it was hard to draw roaring laughter from British audiences, even when they were appreciative of a…
RISING British star Dane Buckley has made good use of the fact that he is (probably) the only half-Indian, half-Irish, gay stand-up comedian in the world. By mining comedy gold from the three identities, the sparkling London-based talent regularly makes cross-cultural audiences of all ages roar with laughter. The award-winning…
THE greatest difficulty in the earliest days of Indian cinema was to get local women to act in films. For India’s first film Raja Harishchandra (1913), producer/director Dada Saheb Phalke had to get a man in a sari (Salunke) to play the leading lady. Although women slowly started to step…
PAKISTAN Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will return to the country from London on October 21 to lead the party's political campaign in the upcoming elections, ending his over four years of self-imposed exile in the UK. "Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan on October 21," his younger brother…
“IT IS not just the responsibility but the right of every poet andwriter to speak freely, challenge the status quo and usher in social change in the world”, proclaimed the Indian poet, lyricist, screenplay writer and activist Javed Akhtar. He was speaking after being honoured for his contribution to the…
HUNDREDS of articles praising Bangladeshi government policies apparently by independent experts have appeared in national and international media but the authors have questionable credentials, fake photos, and may not even exist, an AFP investigation has found. Commentators say it is evidence of a sustained campaign of disinformation by unknown actors…
WITH the provision of a swathe of new oil and gas exploration licences and a crisis in offshore wind energy, clouds are gathering over the UK’s net zero promises. The Conservative government of Rishi Sunak in July promised “hundreds” of new licences for oil and gas exploration and production in…
THE Old War Office (OWO) of Britain's World War II era prime minister Winston Churchill is all set to open its doors to the public this month as a brand-new luxury hotel in the heart of London, after a multi-million-pound makeover in keeping with its historic setting by the Hinduja…
Nandini Das from the UK and Kris Manjapra from the US, both with Indian heritage are among the six global writers announced on Tuesday (12) for the 2023 British Academy Book Prize, for Global Cultural Understanding, a prestigious international non-fiction award valued at GBP 25,000. Nandini Das, originally from India,…
PASSENGERS and crew members of a British Airways flight who were taken hostage in Kuwait in 1990 are intending to take legal action against the British government and the airline, a law firm said Tuesday (12). Passengers on BA flight 149 were taken off the Kuala Lumpur-bound plane when it…
India, one of the largest nations on earth, is a well-known center for the industrial and service industries. People in urban regions work in the IT industry, the food processing industry, the jewellery industry, and many other industries, even though agriculture is the main source of income for those who…
INDIAN Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals is understood to have launched a bid to take over Yorkshire Club as the ECB intends to open up cricket to overseas investment. The winner of the 2008 IPL title offered £25 million to take full control at Headingley, Mail Sports reported. If…
ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor near Watford celebrated the temple’s 50th annual Krishna Janmashtami last week with thousands of pilgrims attending the event over three days.The festival featured live music, performances and a hand-decorated forest depicting scenes from Lord Krishna’s childhood pastimes.The shrine at the spiritual sanctuary was adorned with flowers and…
THE BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple, celebrated Krishna Janmashtami (birth celebrations of Lord Krishna) with a host of devotional festivities on 7 September, a statement said. Devotees and visitors arrived at the temple throughout the day to offer prayers and respects as well as…
Finalists for the 2023 World's Best School Prizes were revealed in London on Tuesday (12), including an independent international school in Gujarat and a charity school in Maharashtra, representing institutions from across the globe. The five World's Best School Prizes, which include categories such as Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation,…
The Canadian man charged with the murder of four members of a Muslim family acted intentionally and with premeditation, the prosecutor said. The man whose trial began on Monday (11) faces accusations of driving his pick-up truck into the family, leading to their tragic deaths in what is being characterised…
India’s yearlong presidency of the G20 came to a climax last weekend as world leaders gathered in Delhi for the annual summit of the world’s leading economies. Against the perceived odds, India was able to forge consensus among a group of nations increasingly divided along geopolitical fault-lines. The official communique,…
A British Indian police officer has been dismissed from Scotland Yard after a misconduct hearing found she had used “unreasonable force” on duty while arresting a man in north London two years ago. Police Constable Mandeep Dharni, attached to the Metropolitan Police’s north west Basic Command Unit (BCU) in London,…
The conclusion of the G20 summit marked important political milestones and offered a plethora of fashion moments for inspiration. Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty’s wardrobe garnered much attention, making her elegant looks the talk of the town. She was seen at various events in India’s capital city showcasing her traditional…
The renowned actor and producer, Anil Kapoor, is confirmed to attend the 46th Toronto International Film Festival 2023 with his presence. The anticipation rises as Anil Kapoor's upcoming film, Thank You For Coming, is set for a glamorous World Gala Premiere at the distinguished and luxurious Roy Thompson Hall in…
Popular Irish music group Westlife is set to enthrall fans in India as the band travels to the country for its much-anticipated "The Wild Dreams" Tour this November. The global bestselling pop band, consisting of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily, will perform live in Mumbai, Bengaluru,…
China has lashed out at media reports alleging a man who was arrested on suspicion of espionage was gathering intelligence for Beijing, labelling the claim a "political farce". UK police said over the weekend that they had arrested a man in his twenties at his home in Edinburgh for spying,…
Former British soldier suspected of terrorism offenses, who had escaped from prison earlier in the week, was arrested in London on Saturday (9), police said. The absconder, 21-year-old Daniel Abed Khalife, had fled from Wandsworth prison in London on Wednesday (6) morning. He managed to slip out of the prison…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murthy, visited BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, on Sunday (10) as part of their official trip to the city for the G20 summit. They were warmly welcomed in a traditional Hindu manner symbolising goodwill and friendship. Sunak was then greeted…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak was greeted with the salutation of "Jai Siyaram" by Indian minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey who received the visiting dignitary upon his arrival in New Delhi on Friday (8) to attend the G20 summit. Choubey informed Sunak that he is an MP from Buxar which, he noted,…
Charles III commemorates his first year as king today (8). Here are five pivotal moments from his first year on the throne. - Inaugural address - Following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022, Charles assumed the throne. During his…
His Holiness Swami Swaroopananda, the esteemed global head of Chinmaya Mission, will lead a series of talks titled "Beyond Moods" from September 9-14 in London at the Sattavis Patidar Centre, Wembley. These enlightening sessions will delve deep into Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita, a revered scripture that explores the…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has said the country is working towards a trade deal with India but cautioned that reaching a final agreement was "not a given", the Daily Mirror reported on Friday (8). Sunak arrived in New Delhi on Friday for the annual gathering of the Group of 20…
Rishi Sunak said on Friday (8) that his trip to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders' Summit is "obviously special". He jokingly mentioned the nickname "son-in-law of India," as the first British prime minister of Indian heritage and being married to Akshata Murty, an Indian. Speaking to reporters in a…
FIVE former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of sharing “grossly offensive racist messages” including mocking prime minister Rishi Sunak and other British Asian politicians. Peter Booth, 66, Robert Lewis, 62, Anthony Elsom, 67, Alan Hall, 65, and Trevor Lewton, 65 retired from the UK’s largest force between 2001…
The Metropolitan Police announced on Friday (8) that the ongoing searches within London's Richmond Park were connected to the pursuit of a former army soldier suspected of terrorism offenses. Daniel Abed Khalife, aged 21, is thought to have escaped London's HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday (6) morning. His escape reportedly involved…
King Charles expressed gratitude to the public for their "love and support" on Friday (8) the first anniversary of his mother Queen Elizabeth's passing and his ascension to the throne. He echoed her sentiments, pledging to be of service to all. Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning sovereign, died aged 96 on September…
Women in England are being encouraged to actively participate in shaping reproductive health policy by sharing their personal experiences related to various issues. The government's initiative to conduct this survey follows a commitment made by ministers over a year ago to seek women's input on matters including periods, contraception, fertility,…
Rishi Sunak finds himself confronted with another challenging vote to fill a vacant parliamentary seat, following an announcement by a lawmaker who had been handed an eight-week suspension for groping two men at a London club last year, revealing his intention to resign. Chris Pincher, who now sits as an…
THE City of London called in a report on Thursday (7) for a new council which would allow Britain's financial sector to drive through "big moves" needed to boost the economy by £225 billion by 2030 and beyond. Britain is implementing a range of financial reforms after its exit from…
BRITISH police said they had issued an urgent appeal to find a former soldier suspected of terrorism offences who went on the run after escaping from a London prison on Wednesday (6). Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, who was being held in prison while he awaited trial, is believed to have…
AFTER the huge critical and commercial success in 2022, hit theatre play The Father and the Assassin returns for another run at the National Theatre in central London from Friday (8) until October 14. The gripping five star rated play based on historical events revolves around the life of Nathuram Godse,…
MOST top stand-up comedians will perform for an hour, including those who have specials on streaming sites. Sumukhi Suresh delivered an effortless 90-minute set at Soho Theatre in central London and could have quite easily carried on for another hour because she was that good. The high-energy Indian stand-up talent…
LABOUR has pledged to clamp down on costly hidden fees associated with international remittances from the UK to countries, such as India, as it makes its pitch to voters in the lead up to a general election, expected next year. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy hosted a special “Connecting Communities”…
AFTER many years in journalism, Suchandrika Chakrabarti found her true calling with comedy in January 2020. Since then, she has beautifully balanced stand-up comedy with writing for popular shows like Radio 4’s The News Quiz and BBC One’s Have I Got News For You. She took her live debut I…
IT IS not often you meet a university dropout who returned to the company he started at as a graduate civil engineer – and is now the group chief executive of one of Britain’s best-known and most successful construction and infrastructure companies. Leo Quinn, who heads Balfour Beatty, is a…
A CANADIAN man accused of slamming his pick-up truck into a Muslim family, killing four people in an alleged terrorist attack, pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday (5). Nathaniel Veltman, 20 at the time of his arrest, appeared in court in Windsor, southern Ontario province, during the opening of…
LONDON’S Barbican Theatre will soon reverberate to the sounds of “operatic telling” and dramatic, ancient Indian dances as it is set to host a fresh two-part adaptation of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, on October 1. Canada-based Why Not Theatre has adapted this ancient work into a “more accessible form…
IN TERMS of ability, longevity, versatility, body of work and global impact, Asha Bhosle is regarded by most as India’s greatest singer of all time. Born on September 8, 1933, the most recorded artist in history changed the face of commercial music in India and entertained countless people across different…
Bridgerton star Simone Ashley recently enjoyed a meal at Darjeeling Express, a restaurant in Covent Garden, London. The wildly popular restaurant is owned by Kolkata-born British chef and restaurateur Asma Khan and is run by nine women. Ashley, who became a household name after playing Kate Sharma in Netflix’s globally…
The Royal Court Theatre today announced Salman Akhtar, Omar Bynon, and Arian Nik as the cast for Mohamed-Zain Dada’s debut play Blue Mist. It is directed by Royal Court Associate Director Milli Bhatia, who has previously directed such successful plays as Baghdaddy, Maryland, Living Newspaper, My White Best Friend (and…
This week marks the first-year milestone of King Charles III's reign, marked by a seamless transition from the late Queen Elizabeth II's rule. The anniversary on Friday (8) is anticipated to be observed privately, considering it coincides with the date of his mother's passing at the age of 96. Charles,…
HOME Secretary Suella Braverman said on Saturday (2) she has ordered a watchdog to review "political activism and impartiality" in the police after an independent review found the force racist, sexist and homophobic. Braverman, who has earned criticism since taking up the post nearly a year ago with her "anti-woke"…
The 67th BFI London Film Festival commences on Wednesday, October 4 with Emerald Fennell’s new thriller Saltburn at the Royal Festival Hall. From there, the prestigious film festival will continue its post-pandemic revival with 11 days and nights of galas, screenings, and events. BFI London Film Festival recently announced its…
The 67th BFI London Film Festival, which is scheduled to be presented over twelve days from 4 to 15 October 2023, has announced the full programme line-up. The London Film Festival will invite audiences to return to its flagship venues in the heart of London – BFI Southbank and the…
The third London Interfaith Fun Run is scheduled to happen on Sunday 3rd September at StoneX Stadium in North London. The Fun Run is more than just a race; it's a day of family fun, connection, and fundraising for London's amazing charities. The London Interfaith Fun Run 2023, hosted by…
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan is set for her next film with Hansal Mehta to be premiered at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival 2023. The film marks the debut of Kareena as a producer. Helmed by Hansal Mehta, the yet-to-be-titled film is co-produced by Ektaa R Kapoor. An announcement made…
A new pilot project supported by the NHS Race and Health Observatory was announced today (31) to increase the number of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority patients taking part in potentially life-enhancing breast cancer clinical trials. The project is in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, Roche Products Ltd, and two…
THE government on Thursday (31) named Claire Coutinho as secretary of state for energy security and net zero, replacing Grant Shapps who was named defence secretary. Coutinho, who is the first member of parliament elected in 2019 to be promoted to the cabinet, was previously a junior minister in the…
FORMER energy minister Grant Shapps replaced Ben Wallace on Thursday (31) as Britain's defence secretary, a promotion for a man relied upon by the government as a good media communicator but lacking in direct experience of the military. An ally of prime minister Rishi Sunak, Shapps takes on the brief…
BRITISH foreign secretary James Cleverly said he had raised human rights concerns at "every single one" of his meetings with top Chinese officials, as he made a state visit to Beijing on Wednesday (30). Cleverly, the first UK foreign minister to visit China in five years, held talks with Chinese…
Deepa Mehta, Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, Lukas Moodysson, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi are among the filmmakers whose titles have made it to the official competition section of the upcoming 67th edition of the British Film Institute’s (BFI) London Film Festival. Eleven films have been selected to screen in the official competition, competing…
QUEEN Camilla has unveiled a new portrait of the Indian-origin spy and descendent of Tipu Sultan, Noor Inayat Khan, at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Club in London to honour her sacrifice as an undercover agent for Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the World War II. Camilla on Tuesday…
SHATTERING glass ceilings, breaking boundaries and deliv - ering path-breaking performances have defined the dance journey of Aditi Mangaldas. Instead of dwelling on past achievements or being satisfied with her incredible body of work, the forward-thinking Indian Kathak maestro is continuing to have a fearless approach. That is why her…
THE prime minister, Rishi Sunak, could face some transparency questions related to wife Akshata Murty’s Infosys shares, which are worth an estimated £500 million, in a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India, according to a media report. The Observer last Sunday (27) claimed that Labour and trade experts were…
A REMARKABLE new book tells the untold story of India’s first female doctors. Lady Doctors by Kavitha Rao combines history with accounts of six incredible pioneers, who battled extreme sexism, caste prejudice and misogyny to realise a seemingly impossible dream, in an unforgiving man’s world. The stories of doctors,…
THE forgotten history of the Indian Army soldiers who camped in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, southwest of London, in the early 20th century is set to be uncovered in a new exhibition opening this month. The Indian Army at the Palace will explore the story of the encampments…
VARIETY is the spice of life, as the saying goes, and the restaurant sector is embracing this with new fusion cuisines and combinations. Palmito, an Ecuadorean-Indian restaurant in Brighton, Sussex, is among the businesses earning rave reviews with dishes such as grilled squid in a Keralan roast style sauce, and…
BRITISH Asian stand-up Ahir Shah won the best show award at the 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his show Ends. Shah, who was previously nominated for the top comedy prize at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2017 and 2018, dedicated the prize to his wife-tobe, and to his late director…
GATE Theatre’s Brassic FM, which opens next Monday (4), will showcase an “unfiltered and unique” take on the working class, as seen through the lens of a pirate radio station. Co-created by poet Zia Ahmed and artistic director Stef O’Driscoll, Brassic FM is described as a love letter to working…
THE UK government was working with airlines on Tuesday (29) to help ensure passengers stranded in airports across Europe, after an air traffic control glitch the previous day caused widespread disruption to flights that is expected to last for days. More than 1,500 flights were cancelled on bank holiday Monday…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) expansion to cover every borough of the city came into force on Tuesday (29). Drivers must pay a charge of £12.50 per day to drive a non-compliant vehicle anywhere in the city now. Those driving in the zone in a high…
ASIA'S richest man Mukesh Ambani has begun executing a succession plan for his $200-billion (£159.08 bn) energy-to-technology conglomerate Reliance Industries. He appointed his three children - Isha, Akash, and Anant - to the board of the company which he will continue to chair for five more years. Till now, the…
A BANGLADESH court ordered the state-run telecoms regulator to delete speeches of an exiled opposition leader from social media as the country readies for general elections, officials said on Monday (28). Tarique Rahman, 55, acting chairm of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is a leading figure and staunch critic of…
A commonly prescribed blood-thinner, clopidogrel (Plavix), may not be effective for individuals of South Asian descent due to a genetic mutation, a study suggests. The research reveals that over half of those with Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage have a genetic mutation that hinders the proper function of clopidogrel, the Daily…
A 16-year-old British Pakistani student, Mahnoor Cheema has set a record in the UK and internationally after passing a total of 34 subjects at the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) level. This accomplishment is the result of Mahnoor passing 17 GCSEs in the previous year, coupled with an additional…
British Asian stand-up Ahir Shah has won the Best Show award at the 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his show Ends. Shah, who had previously been nominated for the top comedy prize at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2017 and 2018, dedicated the prize to his wife-to-be, and to his…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has accused government ministers of “weaponising air pollution and climate change” alleging that they are not endorsing the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), The Guardian reported. As the Ulez expansion is set to encompass all London boroughs, Khan has expressed his dissatisfaction with the…
A LONDON-BASED firm founded by former Reckitt Benckiser CEO Rakesh Kapoor seeks to become a consumer investment platform in India. The 12 Flags Group launched an £80 million fund to support promising, early-growth businesses that it believes can scale up to “deliver superior returns.” According to the firm, the 12…
The annual Vogue 25 list has been a platform to honour remarkable women who are driving British society forward since its establishment in 2018. According to British Vogue, this year's lineup is not only incredibly impressive but also features pioneering individuals achieving success on their own terms, including some renowned…
MORE than 640,000 students received their GCSE results today, while an additional 390,000 pupils got their vocational qualifications. The distribution of top grades (grade 7 and above) and standard passes (grade 4) remains consistent with the figures from 2019, reflecting the return to normal grading standards, the Department for Education…
THE next big Bollywood blockbuster release is action entertainer Jawan. Shah Rukh Khan headlines the unique looking film and will be hoping to carry on the momentum generated by his super hit thriller Pathaan earlier this year. The September 7 release has been shrouded in secrecy since it went into…
LABOUR’S shadow business minister, Seema Malhotra, has backed calls for greater trade links between Britain and India on a visit to Tamil Nadu and Kerala this month. Malhotra, who represents Feltham and Heston in London, visited both states ahead of India hosting the G20 summit in September. In June, party…
INDIA’S High Commissioner to the UK has expressed optimism that British and Indian officials will be “able to get something working” and find a “right fit” towards a mutually beneficial free trade agreement. Vikram Doraiswami said he was positive as both countries seem keen to make necessary adjustments, recognising the…
Bollywood star Alia Bhatt recently opened up about a cherished gift from her husband Ranbir Kapoor that dates back to the time when they were still dating each other. It was during the filming of Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra (2022) in Bulgaria that Ranbir surprised her with a special milk cake…
KRISHNENDU MAJUMDAR has called a wrap after three years as chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), to be succeeded by his deputy, Sara Putt. Majumdar was the first nonwhite person to occupy the post since Bafta was set up 76 years ago on April 16,…
PRAFUL PATEL, who has died in Mumbai, aged 84, made a startling claim about the Ugandan Asian crisis in his last interview with Eastern Eye. He revealed that the British government was aware that Idi Amin was planning to expel Uganda’s entire Asian population before the African dictator made his…
THE India Club, a London landmark with links to VK Krishna Menon, the India League and the fight for Indian independence in the UK, is to close permanently. The historian Kusoom Vadgama, who frequented the India Club on first arriving in London from Kenya in 1953, said: “I went there…
INDIA-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations are now laser-focussed on goods, services and investment, UK officials said on Wednesday (23) ahead of business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch's visit to India. After the G20 trade and investment ministerial meeting in Jaipur, which is scheduled for Thursday (24) and Friday (25),…
CHARLES DICKEN’S classic work, Great Expectations, has been adapted to an Asian setting in a new production to be staged next month at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Pooja Ghai, Tamasha Theatre’s artistic director, will helm a fresh adaptation of playwright Tanika Gupta MBE’s 2011 take on the 19th…
Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Pooja Hirwade performed a Bharatanatyam piece on 'Namo Namo Bharatambe' and Chandrayaan Anthem on Wednesday. According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is all set to create history by landing on the uncharted south pole of the moon today. Sharing her excitement, Pooja Hirwade told…
A STAND-OUT show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe is The Department of Britishness. The latest offering from acclaimed Indian stand-up comedian Anuvab Pal is a laughter-filled look at embracing Britishness and continues his strong run of live UK performances. It also adds to an impressive body of work that has…
A former officer with London's Metropolitan Police was on Tuesday (22) jailed for 16 years for a series of rapes, in the latest scandal to hit the force. Adam Provan, 44, was found guilty in June of raping a 16-year-old girl in 2010 and six counts of rape against a…
Celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur is presently busy with pre-production work of his next directorial venture Masoom: The Next Generation. As the title aptly suggests, the film is a sequel to his 1983 film Masoom, which featured Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in lead roles along with Tanuja, Supriya Pathak, and…
Bollywood star Sunny Deol spoke of his joy over the successful box-office run of his latest release, Gadar 2, as he introduced a special screening of the film in London. Organised by the Indian High Commission in London and its cultural wing, the Nehru Centre, the packed screening at Vue…
AN Ahmedabad-based businessman has embarked on a special journey in a cherished UK-made vintage car to mark 76 years of India's independence as well as a personal family milestone. Daman Thakore, 50, will be accompanied by his 75-year-old father, 21-year-old daughter, and a close-knit group of friends and family as…
The Bhaktivedanta Manor Krishna Temple marked its 50th-anniversary last weekend with a remarkable celebration. The temple, established by the Beatles' George Harrison in 1973 for the Hare Krishna movement, commemorated the occasion with a range of events, including a procession featuring 14 adorned oxen, parading through the temple's expansive 79-acre…
HUNDREDS of cameras installed on London's roads to enforce a clean-air zone that imposes a daily charge on some motorists have been vandalised amid fierce opposition to its upcoming expansion, police said. The Aug. 29 expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) has been championed by mayor Sadiq Khan as…
A one-day strike next month is set to be staged by thousands of train drivers, their trade union announced on Friday (18). This action, which is part of a pay dispute spanning over a year, will have repercussions for passengers across the country during the bustling summer season. Workers in…
Director SS Rajamouli, on Friday, shared several pictures from his vacation to Norway with his wife Rama. He visited the famous tourist spot, Pulpit Rock in Norway and posted photos on Instagram he all smiles with his wife Rama. He thanked his Baahubali team and wrote on Instagram, "Saw the…
INDIA replaced Romania as the most common birth country for non-UK-born mothers in England and Wales in 2022, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed. There were 17,745 live births to women born in India, a 16.3 per cent increase from 15,260 in 2021, the data…
A ‘slum landlord’ in London has been banned from letting houses in England for five years after being found guilty of multiple offences, including squeezing dozens of tenants into a home.Brent Council also barred Jaydipkumar Rameshchandra Valand, 48, from engaging in any sort of property management work in the country…
STUDENTS across the country have been celebrating their A level results announced earlier this morning, with many getting into universities of their choice or taking up apprenticeships or starting work. UCAS said 79 per cent of students secured their first choice, two percentage points down from 2022, when exams were…
The British Museum, a prominent tourist destination in London renowned for its vast collection of valuable artifacts, has taken the decision to expel an employee, pending legal action, following the discovery of theft of several treasures from a storeroom. The famous public museum dedicated to human history, art, and culture,…
THE son-in-law of Lord Patten of Barnes, the former governor of Hong Kong, was convicted for his part in the shooting at the PBK curry house in Greenford, west London, reported The Telegraph. Elton Charles, 51, who is married to Patten's daughter Laura, 48, was convicted of his part in…
WASHING hair to keep it clean, nourished, healthy and shiny may seem like a simple task, but many don’t know how to do it properly. With damage done by styling tools, products, braiding, extensions, sun damage, dirt build-up, uneven pH balance and other factors, it is important to talk about…
MIKE BREARLEY, a very successful England cricket captain from 1977 to 1980, has been a practising psychoanalyst in London for the past 40 years. Brearley very sportingly placed himself on the couch for the benefit of Eastern Eye – and answered questions on the many Indian connections that are mentioned…
SEVERAL British Muslims have raised concerns about debanking making their access to financial services difficult.Debanking became a hotly discussed issue after Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage claimed his account at private bank Coutts had been closed because of his political views.While several people complained about their debits being declined banks,…
STAR Indian doubles player Chirag Shetty wants to retire with a room full of medals from big tournaments and his mantra is to play “best badminton” which would take care of the results. Chirag and his partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who won the Commonwealth Games gold medal last year, have been…
A family in Berkshire ran a decade-long operation to defraud the Royal Mail of £70 million, a court heard. Three men reportedly gained millions of pounds by engaging in a scheme involving the deliberate under-reporting of mail in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, reported The Evening Standard. Parmjeet Sandhu, 56, along with…
WHEN Life Of Pi was first published in 2001, it became a literary phenomenon, selling millions of copies in many different languages and winning multiple awards, including the prestigious Man Booker Prize. The global success of Canadian author Yann Martel’s novel immediately led towards thoughts of a live adaptation. Aside…
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami has said, the Group of 20 (G20) stands as the foremost platform globally for fostering inclusive growth. He remarked that India's current presidency of the G20 has played a pivotal role in amplifying the perspectives of the Global South, contributing to the…
INDIA’S High Commissioner to the UK has expressed optimism that officials of the two countries will be “able to get something working” in their Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Vikram Doraiswami said both countries seem keen to make adjustments, recognising the complexities involved with the different structures of the two similar-sized…
THOSE who pursue romantic love across boundaries of caste, religion or class in India are even today “just asking to be murdered”, says the historian Joya Chatterji, emeritus professor of South Asian History at Cambridge University. She has given several examples of love leading to murder in her new book,…
THE billionaire owners of B&M are believed to be in the running to buy collapsed retail chain Wilko, which announced last week it was closing its doors, putting 400 stores and 12,500 jobs at risk. B&M, which is owned by brothers Simon, Bobby and Robin Arora, has been told by…
GENDER-NEUTRAL or unisex toilets, where men and women mingle sometimes in intimate spaces, are not for British Asians, given they are conservative in such matters. The National Portrait Gallery in London, which had separate toilets, has come back after its £41.3 million renovation with unisex toilets. They have also been…
A CITY which has one of the country’s largest and youngest south Asian communities has become a hotspot for Hollywood producers and music chiefs. Bradford in Yorkshire, famous for its textile mills and the setting for Riz Ahmed film Four Lions, was named the UK’s City of Culture in 2025…
RISHI SUNAK has said his upcoming visit to India for a G20 summit early next month will be “special” as Britain’s first Asian prime minister returns to the homeland of his grandparents. Sunak is scheduled to travel to New Delhi in September – his first as prime minister since taking…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (15) said that he was 'frustrated' over reports of a criminal winning funding to house migrants in Milton Keynes. The BBC on Monday (14) reported that the owner of Harben House Hotel in Newport Pagnell was convicted of offences linked to the operation of houses of…
Being an Indian, Grammy winner Ricky Kej says leading the UK's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) for a rendition of "Jana Gana Mana" was special as the national anthem has been the most "important piece of music" in his life. Kej on Monday shared the video of the national anthem, recorded…
THERE is a "huge" progress in the talks between India and the UK on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) , a top official said in New Delhi. Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal said the 11th round of talks in London was "very intense" and many issues were closed. Out of…
Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a fresh addition of £3 million in funding aimed at supporting grassroots initiatives combatting violence against women and girls in London. This funding boost seeks to bolster projects offering essential services to women and girls dealing with domestic abuse and sexual violence, a press release…
THE number of black and minority ethnic (BME) workers in insecure work has more than doubled over the last decade, a new analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) revealed on Monday (14), calling for government action. The TUC, an umbrella group of 48 unions comprising more than 5.5 million…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak blamed the "criminal gangs" facilitating small boat Channel crossings for the "horrific" deaths last weekend of at least six migrants, his spokesman said on Monday (14). Six Afghan men died and dozens more required rescuing after a small vessel bound for the southeast English coast from…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reacted to three-time Grammy award-winning musician Ricky Kej’s instrumental rendition of the Indian national anthem which he created in collaboration with the 100-member British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Wonderful. It will certainly make every Indian proud.” https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1691101478293786624 Kej…
Aiming to enhance early cancer detection, NHS authorities are set to eliminate approximately two-thirds of their cancer waiting time targets. The intention is to streamline the existing nine targets down to three, with the support of renowned cancer experts and the objective of modernising outdated standards, the BBC reported. However,…
BANGLADESH has sought an extradition treaty with the UK, weeks after a court in the south Asian nation sentenced its exiled opposition leader in a money laundering case. Earlier this month, Tarique Rahman, 55, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was handed a nine-year prison term and his…
To commemorate Indian Independence Day 2023, three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej released a teaser of the instrumental rendition of the Indian national anthem with the 100-member British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Taking to Twitter, Ricky shared the video and captioned it, “A few days ago, I conducted a 100-piece British orchestra,…
Paris prosecutors on Sunday (13), took over the inquiry into the deaths of a minimum of six migrants, whose vessel sank during an attempt to cross the Channel connecting France and England. At the same time, the police initiated a pursuit of the traffickers believed to be accountable for the…
The safety and security of the Indian High Commission in London, as well as its personnel, are being safeguarded through essential measures by the UK, British security minister Tom Tugendhat said. This initiative comes approximately five months subsequent to an attack on the mission by pro-Khalistani groups, which had introduced…
LABOUR has ditched plans to roll out clean air zones across the country aimed at cutting carbon emissions after Uxbridge by-election defeat, reported The Telegraph. A narrow by-election loss last month in outer London has been blamed on London mayor Sadiq Khan's expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez),…
The government said the strike launched by hospital doctors in England on Friday (11) to demand a 35-per cent pay increase served "only to harm patients". The four-day stoppage comes with health chiefs estimating that the repeated industrial action had cost the health service £1 billion. The British Medical Association…
Headlined by Idris Elba and Archie Punjabi, the much-talked-about thriller series Hijack has come to an end on Apple TV+ and the streamer has not announced any plans for a second season of the series. However, Elba has said that he would like to return to Hijack Season 2 as…
Anthony Hopkins-starrer One Life will be screened at the 67th BFI London Film Festival. As per Variety, the film tells the true story of Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to WWII, rescued 669 children from the Nazis. Fifty years later, in 1988,…
During the ceremonial reception extended to India's Army Chief General, Manoj Pande on Thursday (10), the UK said that India holds a vital role as a partner in collectively promoting the rules-based global order. The Guard of Honour at Horse Guards Parade in the heart of the capital marked the…
The outgoing prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has announced that his brother and former premier, Nawaz Sharif, is set to make his return to Pakistan in the upcoming month. Nawaz Sharif's return aims to address his pending court cases and to spearhead the party's efforts for the forthcoming general…
ASIAN entrepreneur Karim Janmohamed has found a place in this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Cleveland list. Janmohamed, 24, is the co-CEO of Karali North America, a franchise of fast-food restaurants in Ohio and Pennsylvania. According to Forbes, the company owns 32 Burger King restaurants and over 700 employees. It is…
SCOTTISH comedian and celebrity chef Hardeep Singh Kohli has been arrested and charged with “non-recent” sexual offences. Police Scotland said in a statement that the 54-year-old man, “arrested and charged in connection with allegations of non-recent sexual offences,” was released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later…
Switching to a vegetarian diet for several months has the potential to decrease the susceptibility to heart attacks and strokes, a study shows. The research involved nearly 2,000 individuals with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, who abstained from consuming meat for an average period of…
A FORMER deputy head teacher at a London primary school who had pleaded guilty to paying and instructing teenagers in India to abuse younger children has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Matthew Smith, 35, from East Dulwich in south London was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA)…
Three-time Grammy-award-winning musician Ricky Kej, who is set to come up with his own interpretation of the Indian National Anthem along with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on the eve of Independence Day, spoke about how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a ‘big influence’ on his music career. Speaking…
AN employment tribunal has ruled that a NatWest analyst who was sacked for advertising sex work online was dismissed unfairly, reported The Telegraph. Karim Ahmed was dismissed in October 2020 after bosses discovered that he offered sexual services from websites linked to his business profile on LinkedIn. According to reports,…
WHEN author Shelina Janmohamed couldn’t find any relevant books on the British empire for her two young daughters, she decided to write her own book, titled Story of Now – Let’s Talk About the British Empire. Her two daughters, aged nine and five at the time, were keen to learn…
Criminal gangs are profiting from aiding motorists in evading speeding fines and penalty points, a Daily Mail investigation has revealed. These gangs are resorting to using fake or stolen information to contest that someone else was driving the vehicle caught speeding on police cameras. The prevalence of such scams has…
HOW do you write about sex? This was the question put to Reshma Ruia, the co-founder of a south Asian women’s writing collective, The Whole Kahani (the complete story), when the group of eight authors launched their third anthology in London last week. Tongues and Bellies, a short story collection,…
THOUSANDS of people will head from the UK to Gujarat this October to enjoy the ICC Cricket World Cup; to celebrate Navratri and Diwali and for business, leisure and family visits. Without a rapid change in the attitude of some of our biggest airlines, for many the journey to and…
FROM fanciful costumes and working drafts of Bohemian Rhapsody to ashtrays and art, hundreds of items Freddie Mercury owned went on show in Britain last Friday (4) before being sold next month. Sotheby’s has transformed its central London gallery to resemble the Queen frontman’s former home in the city for…
Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the public to avoid participating in a TikTok-driven craze on Oxford Street, describing it as "nonsense". He advised individuals who had viewed the videos on the social media platform to refrain from visiting Oxford Street. According to media reports, amid speculation surrounding an event advertised…
INDIA will remain an “active and willing partner” to find a “lasting” solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the country’s national security advisor said, after attending a peace conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last Sunday (6). Ajit Doval told delegates the responsibility to end the war was in the hands…
“RAISE your hand if you are a racist.” This is a question Saira Rao, an Indian American campaigner, poses at the start of the documentary, Deconstructing Karen. It features the work of Race2Dinner, an initiative by co-founders Rao and Regina Jackson, a black American, whose aim is to ultimately dismantle…
MIDDLESEX-BASED referee Surekha Griffiths was recognised as a community champion at the Grassroots Football Awards held at Wembley Stadium last Sunday (6). Griffiths, who has just completed her first season of refereeing for Middlesex Football Association (FA), was the recipient of the match official award. The 45-year-old takes charge of…
A POLICE officer who pleaded guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of a woman in London was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for over four years by a court. Police Constable (PC) Nadeem Patel, 28, was behind the wheel of a marked police patrol…
A VIBRANT personality mixed with a superb selection of songs and an ability to spin multiple genres has enabled DJ Lady G to entertain cross-cultural audiences. Whether it is explosive live sets or getting listeners on Solar radio to choose their favourite song, she beautifully balances DJing and presenting. Next…
THE Labour MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, who is also the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Gujaratis (APPG), joined other parliamentary representatives as they called on airports and airlines for more direct flights to Gujarat from Heathrow. The group met Heathrow airport policy lead Richard…
Like there are multiple colours in a rainbow, India has different cultures, languages, and film industries and it’s time for the world to acknowledge it, says AR Rahman, the artiste whose music covers genres and geographies. Rahman, who has worked in the south, in the Hindi film industry as well…
During the Antiques Roadshow, a guest was left in awe after uncovering the extraordinary value of an ancient Indian painting he had obtained years ago. In a recent episode of the well-known television programme, the individual was taken aback by the staggering appraisal of his item. The painting, a portrait…
BBC journalist and presenter, Samira Ahmed, has revealed that she was motivated to file a sex discrimination lawsuit against the corporation due to Madonna's influence. She won a landmark judgment against the BBC in 2020 after arguing that she was underpaid in comparison to Jeremy Vine. Ahmed said that witnessing…
Oscar-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell's new feature film Saltburn will open the 67th edition of the BFI London Film Festival. Fennell, who won the best original screenplay for her 2020 directorial debut Promising Young Woman, has directed, written, and produced Saltburn, which features Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi in lead roles.…
A police officer who pleaded guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of a woman was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for more than four years by a court. Police Constable (PC) Nadeem Patel, 28, was behind the wheel of a marked police patrol car…
A speeding motorist, Syed Minhaz Ahmed, 32, from Newham in northeast London has been sentenced to four years in prison for causing the death of cyclist Jay Kristiansen, 31, in a hit-and-run incident. Ahmed was driving at over 65mph in a 30mph zone when he collided with Kristiansen, who tragically…
A study has revealed that mothers may experience a minor decrease in wellbeing over a decade if they have three daughters and no sons. Researchers analysed the life satisfaction of parents who already had two children of the same sex and then had a third child. This decline in wellbeing…
THE UK government on Sunday (6) announced increased fines for employers and landlords who allow migrants without papers to work for them or rent their properties, as part of measures to deter migrant arrivals. The Conservative government, languishing in the polls ahead of a general election due next year, wants…
INDIA has kept Britain’s demand on data-related issues and duty concessions on dairy sector out of the ambit of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated between the two countries, sources said. However, India is looking at providing duty concessions on auto and certain confectionery items, they said. The…
A radical Islamist preacher with dual British and Pakistani nationality charged with three terrorism-related offences will face a trial in May next year, a UK court ruled on Friday (4). Anjem Choudary, 56, was arrested at his home in east London by the Metropolitan Police last month and charged with…
SANJAY SHAH, a British hedge fund trader accused of masterminding a $1.8 billion dividend-tax fraud, is attempting to overturn a decision to extradite him from Dubai to face criminal charges in Denmark, a London court heard on Thursday (3). Nigel Jones, a lawyer for Shah and linked defendants in a…
RISING consumer spending is expected to drive card payments in India to Rs 60.2 trillion ($728.2 billion) in 2027, about a threefold jump from Rs 21.7 trillion ($262.1 bn) in 2022, according to GlobalData.The analytics company predicted that the value of card payments, which registered a 26.2 per cent rise…
LONDON's mayor announced increased financial support for owners of more polluting vehicles impacted by his contentious extension of a daily charge when driving them in the British capital. Labour's Sadiq Khan insisted the politically charged expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) would go ahead as planned on August 29,…
Madame Tussauds Dubai unveiled a wax statue of Pakistan's late former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto on Sunday (30), marking her as the first individual from the country to be featured among the famous personalities in the museum's franchise branch. The figure was unveiled at Bluewaters Island by Pakistan's foreign minister,…
BANGLADESH'S exiled opposition leader was sentenced in absentia to nine years jail for corruption on Wednesday (2), lawyers said, triggering protests from hundreds of supporters who called the trial politically motivated. Tarique Rahman, 55, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was handed the nine-year sentence and his wife,…
Three law firms facing accusations of misconduct in handling asylum applications have been closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The affected firms are Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors in Birmingham, and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow. The closure follows an undercover operation carried out by the…
A group of 26 racial justice organisations has expressed disapproval of the Metropolitan police for their refusal to acknowledge the central conclusion of the Casey review, which identifies the force as institutionally racist, reported The Guardian. In an open letter addressed to Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, they criticised the…
FROM being a beauty pageant queen to becoming part of multiple movie industries in India, it has been quite a journey for Pooja Hegde. After making her acting debut in the 2012 Tamil superhero movie Mugamoodi, she has flown to great heights by acting in multiple languages, which have also…
London is a city with a rich culture and history known across the globe for its diverse offerings. It is also a city that caters to distinctive preferences, including the erotic. With erotic massage services being legal in London, there are a plethora of options available for those looking for…
WHETHER it is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan selling out big arenas, iconic festivals like Womad featuring qawwali concerts or compositions from major names like AR Rahman, Sufi music has been red hot in recent years. The next big breakout act in the devotional genre, rooted in over 700 years of…
IF there's one thing that unites the people of Portland, south-west England, it is opposition to the UK government's plan to house 500 asylum seekers on a large barge in its harbour. From a vantage point at the top of this small town of 13,000 inhabitants, the 93-metre- (305-foot-) long…
“WHO was Winston Churchill – the saviour of his nation or a racist imperialist?” This is the rather blunt question that will be examined in the opening session of a debut literary festival next month, to mark the 70th anniversary of Churchill winning the Nobel Prize for literature. It was…
LATA MANGESHKAR, the “Nightingale of India”, died in February last year, aged 92, but her songs definitely live on. This became apparent when a 31-yearold singer from Mumbai, Palak Muchhal, and her brother, Palash Muchhal, three years younger, sang many of her golden oldies at a proms concert at the…
OVERSEAS students who return home after three to five years in the UK should not be included in the migration statistics, Lord Simon McDonald, master of Christ’s, academically one of the strongest colleges in Cambridge, has said. “I think the idea that student numbers can contribute to overall migration numbers…
POPULAR singer Adnan Sami returns for another UK tour in August with big arena shows in Leeds next Friday (11), London next Saturday (12) and Birmingham next Sunday (13). The singer and master musician will be performing his greatest hits, with a full live orchestra and putting a unique live…
DEBUTANT writer Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi said she has tried to “dismantle the idea of great literature” with her first novel, The Centre. The novel’s protagonist, Anissa Elahi, is a Pakistani Muslim woman living in London who dreams of being a translator of great works of literature. When her white boyfriend,…
GROWING UP, Dominique DeLeon spent many hot summers in a built-up neighbourhood in the city of Birmingham, in central England, where she lived through deprivation and had little access to nature or green spaces to help her cool down. Though she has moved to a different part of town, ever…
London-based author Chetna Maroo’s debut novel, Western Lane, is among 13 books to make the cut for the 2023 Booker Prize longlist revealed on Tuesday (1). Kenya-born Maroo’s novel, set within the British Gujarati community, was praised by the Booker judges for its use of the sport of squash as…
MOHAMMAD Kamal Syed has been appointed interim chief executive of NatWest's private banking arm Coutts to succeed Peter Flavel who resigned over the Nigel Farage scandal."Mo has extensive wealth management experience and is the ideal person to lead Coutts through this difficult time…," NatWest's interim CEO Paul Thwaite said on…
BOLLYWOOD firm Eros is under investigation in London and India, and its bonds are trading at an artificially low rate on the London Stock Exchange, according to reports. Hundreds of bondholders have formed an action group against the London-based Lulla family-owned company to fight for their rights, reported This is…
FRASERS GROUP has again raised its stake in Boohoo, saying the Manchester-based online fashion retailer is an “attractive proposition”. A filing to the London Stock Exchange revealed on Monday (31) that Frasers’s shareholding in Boohoo went up by a percentage point from 6.8 per cent to 7.8 per cent. It…
WHO were the first Asian faces that you remember featuring regularly on television? Beyond the specialist Asian community programmes on a Sunday morning, there were pretty slim pickings across the ‘eighties. The Eastenders portrayal of everyday East London life would depict one Asian family at a time in Albert Square,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak’s political adviser at No10, Ameet Jogia, has been selected as the Tory candidate for Hendon constituency. The selection was made after long standing MP Matthew Offord announced that he would step down at the next general election, according to a statement. The final selection was hotly…
AN ELDERLY Asian man, who walked into a London police station earlier this year to inform officers he had killed his wife, has pleaded guilty to murdering her with a hard wooden bat used in the English game of rounders. Tarsame Singh, 79, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday…
WOMEN will bear the brunt of extreme heat as more frequent heatwaves on a warming planet pose a growing threat to their work, earnings and lives, researchers have warned. The impacts of rising heat are disproportionately dangerous and costly to women - be it at home or on the job…
AN INDIAN start-up enjoyed royal support last week as Prince William served up environmentally friendly burgers from a food truck in south London. In a video released last Sunday (31), William handed out “Earthshot Burgers” to highlight the work of last year’s winners of his annual Earthshot Prize, which he…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has backed plans to permit new fossil fuel exploration off Britain's coast, as he pledged to be "pragmatic and proportionate" about achieving net zero in an interview published Saturday (29). The stance is set to intensify criticism from environmental campaigners, who accuse the British leader of…
Indian-British model Neelam Gill has put romance rumours with Leonardo DiCaprio to rest. The model and DiCaprio were photographed boating together in Sardinia on Friday, fuelling rumours that the two were dating. Gill took to Instagram and made an announcement via a post. She wrote, “Just to clear up any…
UBER on Friday (28) won a ruling from London's High Court that other ride-hailing apps should also face a 20 per cent tax charge on their profit margins. The company brought the case following a 2021 decision by the UK's Supreme Court, which ruled that Uber drivers were workers, which…
The climate change mitigation policies in Britain may face challenges due to the intersection of political worries about the cost-of-living crisis, soaring energy prices, and other factors, all while aiming to achieve decarbonization by the middle of the century, say observers. Last week's unexpected by-election outcome has raised concerns that…
INDIA and Britain could sign a free trade agreement (FTA) this year as both countries have reached consensus on the broad contours of the proposed deal aiming to boost economic growth and jobs, a top trade ministry official said. "We want to finalise the deal at the earliest," Sunil Barthwal,…
London's High Court ruled on Friday (28) that the city's plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) are lawful. The Ulez charges a daily fee of £12.50 ($16) to drivers of non-compliant vehicles, aiming to combat pollution and enhance air quality. London mayor Sadiq Khan last year decided…
Cast of 20 has been announced for Mahabharata, a spectacular retelling of the ancient Sanskrit epic, by Canada’s Why Not Theatre, which follows a devastating family feud and explores profound philosophical and spiritual ideas. Its stories are more than four thousand years old and foundational to Indian culture. The new,…
The SRMD London Youth Festival 2023, organised last weekend by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur UK (SRMD UK), the first of its kind in the UK, celebrated unity, positive impact, and collective community energy. The event brought together 350 youth from across the UK and aims to empower them as catalysts…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed that he started 'speaking posh' to fit in when he felt like an outsider in his younger days. Khan told the Big Fish podcast it was like speaking two languages as he would talk so differently at home. The son of a Pakistani bus…
After more than 12 hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted the Oscar-winning US actor Kevin Spacey of nine charges which he was accused of committing between 2004 and 2013 at a time when he was working at London's Old Vic theatre. Spacey, who was also celebrating his 64th birthday on…
LEADERS of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Paris recently to apprise him of the progress made in the construction of a Hindu temple in the French capital. The Sanstha, an India-headquartered socio-spiritual organisation, is constructing what is set to become mainland Europe’s first…
When 22-year-old American student Amelia Dias completed her final year of studying international relations and law at the University of Edinburgh this summer, she received an apology letter instead of a degree certificate. The letter explained that due to Edinburgh's participation in the staff boycott of marking and assessment, some…
Archie Panjabi, who has several critically acclaimed titles to her credit including Bend It Like Beckham, The Good Wife, and Departure, is presently winning raves for her power-packed performance in the recently released Apple TV+ show Hijack, which also features Edris Elba in the lead role. The series stars Panjabi…
The High Commission of India in London has issued an urgent alert following reports of fraudulent calls targeting members of the diaspora and Indian students in the UK, soliciting money. Authorities at India House in London were informed that criminals are duplicating the phone numbers linked to the mission to…
IT WAS fun catching Shomit Dutta’s play, Stumped, at Hampstead Theatre before the run ended. The two-hander involves an entertaining, though not always friendly, conversation between the great Nobel Prize winning playwrights, Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett, played by Andrew Lancel and Stephen Tompkinson respectively, as they wait in a…
THERE is a scene in the second half of Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors when Rabia Yahya is trying to get out of the burning building. She wears a hijab, is pregnant and has three little children with her as thick black smoke is coming up the stairwell and…
THE star of Britain's crown jewels, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, is back on view after a notable absence from King Charles's coronation that highlighted the nation's awkward ties with its colonial past. The massive stone has appeared at formal occasions for more than 150 years, but Charles's wife Camilla opted not…
A LAWYER who was convicted more than a decade ago on fraud and money laundering charges has been ordered by a UK court to pay over £28 million associated with criminal activity. Bhadresh Gohil, 58, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 after being convicted of money laundering,…
COMEDIAN Romesh Ranganathan has urged men to become women’s allies by standing up against misogyny and sexism. Ranganathan has partnered with London mayor Sadiq Khan for a campaign that aims to give men and boys the confidence to challenge sexist behaviour and misogynistic attitudes, in a bid to tackle violence…
COOKING became a calling for Niaz Caan at a young age and led him towards working in professional kitchens as a 14-year-old. Despite taking a break to secure a first-class degree in Economics from the University of Birmingham, the 22-year-old is now the executive chef at City Spice in London’s…
A LAUGHTER-FILLED journey has seen Sapan Verma deliver a special on Amazon Prime, co-found the East India Comedy collective, appear as a judge on web series Comicstaan season one and perform over 2000 live shows, in India, USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Dubai. The stand-up talent will continue that comedy…
SHE may have had a prolific career, but Puneet Bhandal never planned to be a writer. After completing an MSc in Information Technology, she realised it wasn’t the right path and decided to pursue journalism. She landed a job as a production assistant at a leading newspaper and became the…
A LOT of stories with South Asian protagonists will usually tread on tried and tested paths that lead towards story troupes that would have been covered before in some way. But this boundarybreaking book steers away down an unknown road filled with surprises, interesting twists and unexpected pitstops. London-based Anisa…
LABOUR’S failure to take former prime minister Boris Johnson’s old parliamentary seat in the by-election last week shows the party still has a long way to go to win power, leader Sir Keir Starmer said last Saturday (22). The party won in Selby and Ainsty, a once-safe Conservative parliamentary seat…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan intends to expand the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to the whole of the city on August 29 – barring a last-ditch high court bid to stop it. The scheme – first introduced in inner London in 2019 and separate from the two-decades-old congestion charge – requires…
A GROWING number of endangered animals from India – including elephants, lions and tigers – are being saved by zoos in Britain. London Zoo now houses dozens of species from south Asia, such as the gaur, blackbuck, red panda, greater flamingo, greater one-horned rhino and Kerala frog. The site in…
The number of families and individuals confronting homelessness in England has surged to its highest level since 2018 data released on Tuesday (25) showed. This concerning development has prompted appeals for the government to expedite the reform of renting laws and increase the construction of affordable housing. The entire country…
A NATIONAL exhibition celebrating the role of migrants in the NHS opened in Leicester in June and will tour the country later in the year. The Migration Museum’s Heart of the Nation aims to highlight the contribution of those who moved to the UK to work in the NHS, which…
THE family office of Ravi Ruia, a co-owner of the Mumbai-headquartered Essar Group, has acquired a sprawling mansion estimated to be worth around £113 million in the heart of London as an “attractive investment” in the UK property market. Hanover Lodge, originally designed by British architect John Nash around 1827,…
THE Tory candidate for mayor of London Susan Hall said policing and homes will be her main agenda as she prepares to take on Labour mayor Sadiq Khan at the election in May 2024. She told Conservative activists at the Battle of Britain Bunker, in Uxbridge, “We have to show…
An old video of Infosys founder Narayan Murthy criticising Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan for ignoring her fans on a flight is currently surfacing on social media. During a conversation at IIT-Kanpur, he shared an incident and voiced his surprise at the actor not acknowledging her fans on a flight.…
Photographer Sritharan Sayanthan, 42, from Fitzrovia, was sentenced on Friday (21) to 11 years in prison following his conviction on two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape after a seven-day trial at Hendon Crown Court. The victim, a woman in her 30s, visited Sayanthan's photography studio on…
A UK-based women's organisation is planning a unique celebration of Indian weaves in honour of National Handloom Day next month through a 'Saree Walkathon'. The walkathon is scheduled to take place in central London, commencing at Trafalgar Square and culminating at Parliament Square on August 6, a day ahead of…
BBC newsreader and presenter Fiona Bruce has paid tribute to her colleague and friend, George Alagiah, who passed away on Monday (24), aged 67. "He is the man who set the gold standard for how to do this job with integrity, with humour and kindness. I’ll miss his friendship so…
FRESH from winning the Korea Open, India’s top men’s doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy on Tuesday (25) rose to a career-best second spot in the latest BWF rankings. Satwik and Chirag gained a place, displacing the Chinese pair of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang whom they…
BLACK and minority ethnic (BAME) groups relied more on social networks and community support than formal services during the Covid-19 pandemic due to a lack of trust and a fear of racist responses, new research has found. The study, which formed part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s UK…
Celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, whose filmography boasts of such notable titles as Mr India (1987), Bandit Queen (1994), and Elizabeth (1998), will next helm a sequel to his much-loved Bollywood film Masoom (1983). The latest update on the much-talked-about sequel, titled Masoom: The Next Generation, suggests that the filmmaker has…
ONE traditional explanation of rival political philosophies is that progressives tend to be more optimistic and conservatives more pessimistic about human nature. Yet those psychological profiles are sharply reversed when the major parties consider their electoral prospects. The contrast between the Tory Tiggerish tendency and Labour’s Eeyore anxieties was rarely…
A 16-year-old resident of Ealing, west London, named Rohan Godhania tragically died after drinking a protein shake he purchased from a supermarket on August 15, 2020. Rohan fell ill after consuming the protein shake and died three days later, succumbing to irreversible brain damage due to a rare genetic condition…
EARLIER this year, George called me. “Barnie, I need a favour,” he began, “I’m involved with a migration charity, and we’re telling the story of how migrants have helped Britain. “We want an exhibition in Leicester, use my name, I’ll turn up and do what I need to do, can…
Sadiq Khan has vowed to press ahead with his expansion of the Ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) on August 29, despite Labour losing a crucial by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, an area affected by the plan. The mayor said he was “disappointed” by the result – which has been widely…
British radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary, aged 56, was arrested, in London, last week, and today, Monday (24) the police announced that he has been charged with three terrorism offences. The charges against Choudary include membership of a proscribed organisation, directing a terrorist organisation, and addressing meetings to encourage support…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak is set to make a commitment to constructing 1 million homes before the upcoming national election. This plan aims to address the pressing issue of inadequate housing stock, which has resulted in the disillusionment of a significant portion of younger voters. Many of these young voters…
A new photograph of Prince George, second in line to the throne, was released in celebration of his 10th birthday today (22). The picture depicts him seated on a set of steps at Windsor, wearing a smile. This year, the photograph was taken by Millie Pilkington, marking a change in…
Award-winning charity Open Door has announced applications for their Acting and Behind the Scenes programmes are open, with auditions and interviews set to take place in September and October. Boasting 178 offers at leading drama schools so far and with a growing number of Open Door participants securing roles across television, film…
INDIA and the UK are working closely on energy security, a senior British minister said on Friday (21). Britain's energy security and net zero minister Grant Shapps said that it was important for India, with its "tremendous ambition", to have energy security to realise its potential. He was speaking on…
BRITISH ASIAN businessman and philanthropist, Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester for his contribution to the society, a statement said. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of science during the graduation ceremony held at De Montfort Hall on Thursday (20). The…
In the Uxbridge by-election, the Conservative Party narrowly retained Boris Johnson's former constituency, defeating Labour by a mere 495 votes. The expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), proposed by Labour mayor Sadiq Khan, was cited as a contributing factor to the Tory victory, The BBC reported. The Ulez…
THE UK on Thursday (20) announced new vetting standards for police officers, after a string of scandals rocked confidence in British policing. Police chiefs are being given additional tools to "root out officers unfit to serve the public", the Home Office said as it unveiled an update to the College…
The ruling Conservatives on Friday (21) held the former seat of ex-prime minister Boris Johnson but saw hefty majorities in two other seats blown away as scandals and high inflation took their toll. Rishi Sunak was expected to become the first prime minister to lose three parliamentary seats on one…
Susan Hall has been elected as the Conservatives’ candidate to run for mayor of London. It was announced, on Wednesday (19) morning, Hall had defeated her rival Moz Hossain, winning 57 per cent of the vote, against his 43 per cent, reports Noah Vickers. Hall, who will go up against…
HEADLINED by Sumit Antil’s world record show, the Indian team returned home from the Paris World Para Athletics Championships with 10 medals, including three gold, and 17 quota places for the 2024 Paralympics in the French capital. This was India’s best-ever show at a World Para Athletics Championships surpassing the…
A three-storey Islamic centre and prayer space will be built in London’s West End after the project was approved by authorities, reports said. Businessman Asif Aziz will turn the Trocadero, between Piccadilly Circus and Soho in central London, into a place of worship that can accommodate 390 people. The Trocadero…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak faces voters in very different parliamentary seats on Thursday (20) and risks losing all three contests in what would be the worst one-day mid-term result for any British governing party in more than half a century. The votes are one of few remaining opportunities to gauge…
ENGLISH hospitals were braced on Thursday (20) for the latest doctors' strike to hit the state-run health service, with managers warning it will leave "routine care virtually at a standstill". The two-day strike by consultants comes amid record patient waiting times due to a vast pandemic backlog and multiple strikes…
Archie Panjabi has been receiving great response for her performance in the recently released Apple TV+ series Hijack, which also features award-winning actor Idris Elba in the lead role. The series stars Panjabi in the role of a counter-terrorist agent Zarah, who gets a tip that there has been a…
A doctor, Dr Veena Paes, has been ordered to pay a £200,000 court bill after being accused of orchestrating a land grab from her three neighbours in a dispute over a 20 feet strip of land between their properties. In a contentious court battle, Dr Veena Paes was in dispute…
NEWHAM is a London borough renowned for its diversity and rich cultural heritage, home to people from around the world. One of the most significant communities are those from across South Asia and this month brings a chance to celebrate their contribution in Newham. South Asian Heritage Month is an…
THERE had been a set blueprint for Bollywood concerts for decades with singers mixing up their own hits with classic films songs from long ago and taking an interval break. Arijit Singh rewrote the rulebooks by staying on stage for three hours and injecting diverse influences into film songs to…
The Bombay High Court has highlighted the need for India and its Parliament to be aware of international developments, where several countries have reduced the age of consent for adolescents to engage in consensual sexual relationships. A single bench of Justice Bharati Dangre in an order passed on July 10…
THIS is the 15th year that the Westcombe Foundation has been operational as a charity. We are dedicated to helping those in need around the world, giving back with the goal of relieving widespread poverty, distress and suffering. Through our history, we have helped people from Nepal to Nairobi, India…
A UNIQUE journey led Anu Vaidyanathan towards becoming a stand-up comedian. After her success as an athlete, which included becoming the first Indian woman to qualify for the Half Ironman 70.3 Clearwater World Championship in 2008, she wrote a memoir on her life in sport and turned down film studios,…
TALENTED young Indian stand-up comedian Urooj Ashfaq has been entertaining audiences with her unique brand of humour and getting a great reputation on the live circuit. UK audiences will get a chance to experience that stage mastery with her new show Oh No! at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe throughout August,…
AN INDIAN national arrested in the UK on a provisional US warrant as part of a coordinated action targeting terrorism financing will challenge his extradition on human rights and dual criminality grounds, a court in London was told last Wednesday (12). Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan, 65, appeared via videolink from prison…
EDINBURGH has many links with India, but the latest, most significant discovery is the exact location of the grave of Annapurna Turkhud, a Marathi woman who developed an affectionate relationship with the Bengali poet and Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore, when she was 20 and he was 17. Some scholars…
FEW people have done as much to make Indian classical music popular in Britain as the valiant Viram Jasani, whom we know well at Eastern Eye as he has been a judge in our Arts Culture & Theatre Awards (ACTA). Viram deserves congratulations for publishing his very readable memoirs, Independence…
BARONESS Louise Casey was appointed to review the force’s culture and standards after the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens, in 2021. During the course of her review, another Met officer, David Carrick, was convicted of a series of rapes, sexual offences and…
THE Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said he is determined to “cut the cancer” out of the police force as he announced plans to reform the organisation. An independent review in March found the Met Police to be “institutionally racist, misogynistic, homophobic” and unable to police itself. It…
RADICAL preacher Anjem Choudary was arrested at his east London home as part of a police investigation into suspected terrorism offences, reported The Telegraph. The country's most prominent Islamic preacher, Choudary, 56, was arrested in a dawn raid on Monday (17), the report added. Counter terrorism detectives also arrested a…
MAKEUP brand Revolution Beauty has reached a settlement deal with top shareholder Boohoo over board changes, Reuters reported. As part of the deal, Revolution Beauty CEO Bob Holt and chairman Derek Zissman had agreed to step down, the company said on Tuesday (18). Online fashion retailer Boohoo, founded by Mahmud…
Comedian-actor Vir Das is set to embark on a world tour and will perform across 33 countries as well as 35 cities in India. As part of the tour titled 'Mind Fool', Das will take the stage at iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Opera House…
Brown Sauce, the leading London-based monthly comedy club for South Asian comedy, is excited to announce its partnership with Tara Theatre for an exclusive comedy lab and showcase event: The inaugural Comedy Lab will be on Friday 29th September, as part of the brand-new Tara Specials series. This collaboration aims…
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported a rise in measles cases across London, with two-thirds of cases in England occurring in the capital in the last six months. In England, one out of every ten children lack full protection from both doses of the MMR vaccine, and in…
StoneX Stadium in North London will once again host the annual London Interfaith Fun Run, taking place on Sunday 3rd September. Interfaith Fun Run is an event of togetherness, positivity, and fun for all, uniting hundreds of runners and spectators from diverse faith & belief communities. Challenge yourself on our…
Hollywood star Nicolas Cage will not attend Fantasia Film Festival, billed as one of North America's biggest genre festivals, following the strike called by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Cage was due to attend the festival in Montreal, Canada, on July 22 for the…
After completing one of the most unexpected runs to the Wimbledon title, Marketa Vondrousova punched away a volley and fell to the ground, probably leaving her with a whirlwind of thoughts running through her head. On Saturday (15), anticipation had built up for Tunisian sixth seed Ons Jabeur, who was…
INDIA and a four-nation bloc of Europe have agreed on an early conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement, New Delhi said on Wednesday. India and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland - are negotiating the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). Indian…
WORKERS at Britain's Gatwick will strike for eight days at the end of July and in early August, potentially causing cancellations and travel misery for thousands of passengers at the busiest time of year for summer holidays. European travellers are already on high alert over worries about air traffic control…
Neelam Gill flaunted her slender figure as she stepped out in style at the Vogue x Self Portrait party in London on Thursday. Interestingly, Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio was also present in close quarters. However, there is no pictorial proof that the two hung out with each other. For those…
INDIA on Thursday (13) said it brought up with the UK its concerns about the security of its diplomats amidst extremist elements threatening officers of Indian missions in Britain. External affairs minister S Jaishankar raised the issue with the British foreign secretary James Cleverly days after India’s national security advisor…
The world of tennis has produced countless superstars over the years, with the likes of the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic dominating the men’s game in the Open Era. After becoming the record Grand Slam winner, is Djokovic now the best of all time? Can Djokovic…
Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal enjoyed a day out in London as he watched the Wimbledon women's singles semi-final match. The cinema icon dressed in a blue formal suit for his outing and shared pictures from the match on his Twitter page. "Wimbledon," the 63-year-old wrote. Mohanlal was accompanied by Disney…
In a case of "honour-based" abuse, a husband and his four relatives were sentenced to jail for subjecting the man's wife to five years of extreme mistreatment. The victim, who entered an arranged marriage with Mohammed-Shuaib Arshid, 28, in Pakistan, arrived in the UK with her husband. They moved into…
INDIA said it made “considerable” progress on “difficult issues” in its Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the UK this week. An official statement issued in New Delhi on Wednesday (12) said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to London helped in moving forward the discussions during their critical stage.…
INDIA said it is working with the UK and several other countries to modernise its intellectual property (IP) standards. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said the process to harmonise India’s protocols with international standards is “high on our agenda” for the fast-paced growth of the country’s economy. Goyal attended…
Freida Pinto made several heads turn on Day 10 of the 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Championships on Wednesday. The Slumdog Millionaire star opted for a full Ralph Lauren ensemble for the tournament. She teamed a stylish navy button-up Ralph Lauren mini-dress with a cream bag. An off-white top handle bag also…
AN Indian national who was arrested in the UK on a provisional US warrant as part of a coordinated action targeting terrorism financing will challenge his extradition on human rights and dual criminality grounds, a court in London was told on Wednesday (12). Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan, 65, appeared via videolink…
INDIAN commerce and Industry minister, Piyush Goyal, has counterpart in UK, Kemi Badenoch to discuss the progress of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. “ (We) discussed how both sides can add further momentum to the India-UK FTA negotiations for a mutually beneficial deal,” Goyal said in…
A PSYCHOPATHIC racist who has been serving life imprisonment for bludgeoning a British Pakistani teenager to death is set for early release from prison on licence. Robert Stewart showed an inclination to reform and “live a pro-social life,' a Parole Board panel report seen by MailOnline said. In March 2000,…
ONE of Britain's leading television news anchors, Huw Edwards, was identified by his wife as the BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a young person thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos, the broadcaster reported. Edwards announced the death of Queen Elizabeth to the nation in September and has led…
DOCTORS in England on Thursday (13) staged the biggest walkout in the history of the UK's state-funded National Health Service, prompting fears for patient safety. The unprecedented five-day stoppage over pay and staff retention is the latest in eight months of industrial action across the NHS, which is already reeling…
A former MP has called on a British university to investigate claims of racism made by 75 south Asian students. Eastern Eye has seen a letter to the vice-chancellor of Leicester’s De Montfort University which makes serious allegations of discrimination and racism against the Indian learners. The communiqué is from…
SURPRISE sleeper hit Indian Matchmaking has become a cultural phenomenon since it had a Netflix premiere in 2020 and led to a Jewish-inspired spin-off. After largely focusing its efforts on America and India, the reality TV show touched down in UK earlier this year and introduced audiences to a new…
On the NHS's 75th birthday, a major fundraising campaign was launched to improve the maternity building at Northwick Park Hospital, supported by a £500,000 donation from Lord Swraj Paul. Having been introduced to the hospital by local MP Barry Gardiner, the entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Lord Paul, formed a close connection…
FOXCONN said it intends to apply for incentives under India's semiconductor production plan, a day after the Taiwanese firm split with Vedanta on a $19.5 billion chipmaking joint venture. Foxconn withdrew from the JV with the Indian metals-to-oil conglomerate on Monday (10), in a setback to prime minister Narendra Modi's…
WHEN a major Pakistani singer wants a musical explosion on stage, then dynamite drummer Kami Paul is called upon to deliver an incendiary performance filled with fire. Having played live with the biggest names in Pakistani music, he did exactly that with Ali Azmat at a London show in May…
VIRGIN ATLANTIC ended its operations in Pakistan with the British carrier’s last flight taking off from Islamabad to London’s Heathrow Airport last Sunday (9). A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said the final flight left from Islamabad International Airport to Heathrow at 8 am (local time). The British airline…
NEW guidance encouraging GPs to focus on the wellbeing of themselves and their staff will be difficult to follow due to mounting workloads and more needs to be done, according to experts. The British Medical Association union has urged family doctors to rotate workers between high and low stress activities,…
ONE of the key public purposes of the BBC is ‘to reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities’ of the United Kingdom. The broadcaster’s operating licence from Ofcom goes further – ‘the BBC should accurately and authentically represent and portray the lives of the people of the United Kingdom today…
UK court last week began considering contentious plans to extend a scheme obliging the most polluting vehicles to pay for using London’s roads, as opponents engage in protests – and even sabotage. The high court case comes just weeks before London mayor Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt on Monday (10) unveiled plans to channel more of the nation’s pension fund cash into UK companies and boost the inflation-battered economy. Hunt trumpeted a deal with major pension firms to put five per cent of investments – or up to £50 billion by 2030 – into…
THE Labour candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Danny Beales, has caused a stir by going against London mayor Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion plan. The Ulez zone expansion is due to go ahead in August and will see the most polluting vehicles have to pay a £12.50-aday toll. But a…
Netflix’s hit Regency-era drama Bridgerton smashed several viewership records with its two seasons. After the riotous success of the first two seasons, the streaming giant is now set to roll out its much-anticipated third season. Recently, Netflix dropped the first look of the third season at its third Tudum event…
THE LABOUR candidate to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has said the former prime minister played a part in ethnic minorities losing “trust in democracy and public life”. Danny Beales is the Labour candidate for the byelection in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which became…
THE UN Human Rights Council is heading towards a divisive vote on Wednesday (12) on religious hatred following recent Koran burnings, with some Western nations reluctantly feeling the draft resolution encroaches too far on free speech. Pakistan and other Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries secured an urgent debate at the…
Fresh from the success of The Night Manager, actor Aditya Roy Kapur says he will always be proud of the series that helped him showcase a different side of his personality to filmmakers and audiences. Released in two parts, the Disney+ Hotstar series has been adapted from author John Le…
ACTING must put more people of colour in creative boardrooms to stop unconscious bias, colonialism and complacency which exist in the profession. That is the call from one of the industry’s biggest south Asian stars. Meera Syal told the Raminklal Pioneers Project, a partnership of the Asian Media Group [the…
INDIA and the UK have agreed to add momentum to the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. Indian commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal tweeted on Tuesday (11) after meeting UK business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch, saying they had agreed to keep up work towards a mutually beneficial deal.…
Wimbledon is back in London and is witnessing the presence of some of the biggest celebrities who are cheering up tennis stars playing on the court. From James Blake and Jameela Jamil to Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, a number of high-profile celebrities were papped on Sunday catching this year’s…
A special court in Pakistan acquitted Suleman Shahbaz, the son of prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, and all other accused individuals named in the Rs 16 billion (more than £44.5 million) money laundering case initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The order was issued on Monday (10) by the special…
Dance performances by two south Asian companies are among the highlights at east London’s Ensemble Festival next week. Amina Khayyam Dance Company will present You&Me, created from women’s stories, while the Sonia Sabri Company’s Mughal Miniatures - The Awakening is inspired by traditional Indian and Persian miniature paintings. They will…
Deputy High Court Judge Dexter Dias has ruled that a doctor was driving at an ‘excessive and unreasonable speed,’ despite being under the 30mph limit. This decision came after a child collided with the doctor's BMW, prompting the judge to issue a warning about the dangers associated with driving at…
US president Joe Biden will arrive in Britain on Sunday (9) for a brief visit during which he will meet prime minister Rishi Sunak and discuss climate change issues with King Charles ahead of the upcoming NATO summit. The White House said the trip was designed "to further strengthen the…
Ethnic minorities in the UK have experienced disparities in end-of-life care, particularly during the Covid pandemic. Research indicates that existing policies have disproportionately affected individuals from ethnically diverse groups, leading to unfavourable outcomes, Care Home Professional reported. Contributing to these disparities is a lack of understanding among healthcare providers about…
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture in the world, is round the corner. The official dates for Fringe 2023 are Friday, August 4 to Monday, August 28. As you gear up for the festival, here are some must-see comedy shows by British-Asians and…
INDIA on Friday (7) called for strong public action against extremist elements threatening officers of the Indian High Commission in the UK, official sources said. India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval raised the issue during his talks with his British counterpart Sir Tim Barrow, who is on a visit to…
Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor has shared the latest update on her next film Ulajh. She took to Instagram to announce that the first schedule of her upcoming film has been wrapped up in London. Ulajh, which is directed by Sudhanshu Saria, also stars Gulshan Devaiah and Roshan Mathew in important…
INDIA's national security advisor, Ajit Doval, on Friday (7) called upon his British counterpart Sir Tim Barrow to take strong public action such as deportation against extremist elements threatening officers of Indian high commission in the UK, official sources said. Doval raised the issue during his wide-ranging talks with Barrow,…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has received more racial abuse from India in the first six months of 2023 than he did all of last year, new analysis has shown. Khan, who has armed security detail and is among the most heavily guarded politicians in the UK, has been targeted by…
A British female pilot has used her scholarship towards a special flying mission to recreate the deadly mission behind enemy lines undertaken by British Indian spy, Noor Inayat Khan, during the World War II. Fiona Smith, who won the British women pilots’ association scholarship in 2021 inviting an aviation enthusiast…
BRITISH house prices fell last month in annual terms at the fastest rate in 12 years and soaring interest rates are likely to herald more weakness in the housing market, mortgage lender Halifax said on Friday (7). House prices dropped 2.6 per cent year-on-year in June, after a 1.1 per…
It's a nostalgic day for actress Kriti Kharbanda as her film Guest iin London has completed six years since it was released. Helmed by Ashwni Dhir, the film is a family entertainer which plays on the theme of uninvited guests. Kriti and Kartik Aaryan essay the role of a young…
In a historic ceremony held in Edinburgh, Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla were presented with the crown jewels of Scotland on Wednesday (05). The event, commemorating the Coronation of the new monarch, featured blessings from leaders representing various faiths, including a Hindu priest. This multi-faith format was similar…
A 44-foot-long Japanese-style handscroll painted by the renowned Indian blind artist, Benodebehari Mukherjee, has resurfaced after almost a century and is on public display in the Indian city, of Kolkata, his birthplace, the BBC reported. Mukherjee, born in 1904, was blind in one eye and lost his vision completely at…
British foreign minister James Cleverly has issued a warning against any potential attacks targeting the Indian High Commission in London. This caution comes in response to media reports highlighting a poster promoting a rally advocating for a separate state for the Sikh community and its supporters. "Any direct attacks on…
HE MAY be a talented MC, but Beant first got connected to music at a more spiritual place. He learned Sikh music from a young age at the Gurdwara, surrounded by accomplished musicians and vocalists. The 22-year-old, born and raised in Leamington Spa, also grew up listening to eighties songs…
THERE was a time when a Karan Johar directed movie would generate a lot of excitement and guarantee a big opening weekend at the box office. Even though he celebrated 25 years as a filmmaker at a recent London event, the mood for his first directorial outing since 2016 is…
Mozammel Hossain, a self-proclaimed ultimate outsider, is vying for the Tory nomination as London mayor. Conservative campaign strategists, aiming to secure funds for upcoming elections and mayoral races, see a glimmer of hope in Hossain's candidacy. Notably, he has the backing of party donor Nick Candy, who has expressed willingness…
LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan's plans to expand a contentious clean-air zone for motorists has driven a surge in online racist abuse against him, according to an analysis published by his office on Wednesday (5). Khan, who is of Pakistani descent, was elected the first Muslim mayor of London - and…
STANDING in front of the vast painting of the House of Commons in 1833 by Sir George Hayter at the National Portrait Gallery brought home how much Britain has changed. Perhaps someone should execute a similar canvas with Rishi Sunak at the centre of things, with the chamber dotted with…
SOUTH ASIAN cuisine is going more green during the cost of living crisis, with restaurants turning away from charcoal and gas ovens. More eateries are using large combination electric cookers, rather than a tandoor oven, which can cook chicken, lamb and naan together, according to owners. The industry has largely…
BRITAIN last Thursday (29) announced its backing for an expanded UN Security Council, including a permanent spot for India and Africa, to reflect the current and future state of the world. “We want to see permanent African representation and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan,” said foreign secretary…
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON has said it will rename its central library after the Nobel Prize-winning Pakistani scientist, the late Abdus Salam. The university’s decision to recognise the theoretical physicist follows a report last year which focused on “undercelebrated people” from its past. Salam, born in Punjab in present-day Pakistan in…
CITY hopeful Sushil Saluja has called for action to save local shops in a new video launched this week in his campaign to be Alderman for Castle Baynard ward next Thursday (13). There are 25 Aldermen elected in the City of London, who work closely with common councillors, support the…
MET POLICE will reopen an investigation into Covid-19 lockdown breaches at a December 2020 event held in the headquarters of the governing Conservative Party in London following an assessment of new evidence. However, police said other referrals, made to them by the government following an examination of former prime minister…
A SENIOR Conservative MP has accused the governing party’s major donor Mohamed Amersi of trying to suppress truth using legal threats.David Davis told the Commons that sections of a report, which alleged Amersi “mired in an international corruption scandal”, were withdrawn after the telecoms tycoon’s lawyers claimed they were defamatory.The…
Celebrated author Sir Salman Rushdie expressed his support for keeping the arts free from government interference at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards on Sunday (02). The discussion arose amid criticism surrounding the English National Opera's (ENO) relocation away from London. Rushdie echoed comments made by Melvyn Bragg, who highlighted…
THE former chairwoman of the Social Mobility Commission, Katharine Birbalsingh, has accused a Labour MP of 'racist and bullying behaviour', reports said. The head teacher of Michaela Community School in northwest London, Birbalsingh alleged that her race urged Jess Phillips MP to 'whip up a social media mob' against her,…
In a court hearing, it was revealed that a doctor, Dr Veena Paes, who is engaged in a bitter dispute with her neighbours over the ownership of a strip of land near their houses, tore down a trellis “in a fit of rage.” Dr Paes, a specialist in public health…
Ace filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recently revealed the theme for the sequel to his 1983 directorial debut 'Masoom.' The sequel, titled Masoom... The New Generation, is about the "idea of home," Kapur told Variety, a US-based media outlet. The details of how Masoom... The New Generation connects to the 1983 film…
A VETERAN SNP MP has said first minister Humza Yousaf’s plan to secure Scotland’s independence is unlikely to succeed.Yousaf told an SNP conference in Dundee on June 24 that a referendum was the preferred way to break away from the UK. But if it fails, the SNP would ask people…
Moz Hossain, the Tory candidate for the London mayoral election, believes that his experience as a criminal barrister and his humble background is key to defeating Sadiq Khan. Hossain, 48, grew up in a village in Bangladesh, where his parents were farmers. He recalls the smells of the village and…
The defending men's champion, Novak Djokovic, and the top-seeded woman, Iga Swiatek, initiated their Wimbledon campaigns with impressive performances on Monday (03). Despite a temporary pause in play on the outside courts due to rain, the anticipated climate protests failed to materialise. At 36 years old, Djokovic, who has suffered…
WIMBLEDON will celebrate Roger Federer's achievements at the AllEngland Club with a special ceremony on Centre Court on the second day of the championships on Tuesday (4). The Swiss eight-time champion, who announced his retirement last September, will visit the scene of some of his greatest triumphs and be honoured…
Leading industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has revealed a new memorial dedicated to his late wife, Lady Aruna Paul, at London Zoo. Alongside this unveiling, he also made a significant announcement of a GBP 1 million donation to the University of Wolverhampton. The donation will be used for constructing a new…
Five passengers aboard the ill-fated Titan submersible likely experienced their final moments in total darkness, during their expedition to the Titanic wreckage, it has been revealed. The submersible embarked on its final voyage at 8 am on June 18. However, contact with the mothership was lost at 9:45 am, approximately…
THE millionaire boss of a successful egg-free confectionery company has denied being responsible for cutting protected trees in Essex. Sukh Chamdal, the founder of Cake Box, is accused of causing or allowing the felling of at least 132 trees in woodland at Debden Hall for constructing a mansion, according to…
Call it Beyflation. Or maybe Swiftflation. The cost of certain goods is retreating in some places, but that doesn't include live music. Concert tickets have surged in price, to the point where economists are noticing. Fans are shelling out a fortune for tickets to see the world's biggest music acts,…
THE boyfriend of City University student Sabita Thanwani has accepted responsibility for the death of 19-year-old but denied any intent to commit murder, reports said. Maher Maaroufe, 23, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Thanwani at her university accommodation in central London during a hearing at the Old Bailey on…
Actor Kevin Spacey is "a sexual bully" and "a man who sexually assaults other men," a British prosecutor alleged Friday at the start of a sexual assault trial in which he is charged with 12 offenses against four men, CNN reported The two-time Oscar-winning actor entered a not-guilty plea to…
WARM tributes have been paid to Avtar Singh Lit, who challenged the broadcasting rules of his day when he set up Sunrise Radio in 1989 and was unfairly labelled a “pirate” by the authorities. His death on Tuesday (27) in his 70s was announced by the station which described him…
Charithra Chandran, who received glowing reviews for her outstanding performance as Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton, is set to front the upcoming British romantic comedy film How To Date Billy Walsh. Prime Video has unveiled the first-look images and key art for the new Original British high school romantic comedy, premiering…
The King and Queen wore elephant masks designed by the Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee at an event last week to mark the 20th anniversary of a wildlife conservation charity. Elephant Family was set up by late Mark Shand, the Queen’s brother, and works to protect Asia’s wildlife. The royal couple…
The new Apple TV+ series Hijack stars well-known actress Archie Panjabi in the role of counter-terrorist agent Zarah, who gets a tip that there has been a “serious incident” on board a plane bound for London. The much-talked-about series also features Idris Elba who plays Sam Nelson, an accomplished corporate…
FOREIGN SECRETARY James Cleverly has said that India and Japan should be given permanent seats on the UN security council. Cleverly also called for a doubling of the number of countries able to wield a veto on UN resolutions. The UK announced its backing for an expanded council, including a…
RELIANCE CAPTAIL’S lenders have overwhelmingly approved a proposal from Hinduja Group to acquire the bankrupt financial services company once led by Indian tycoon Anil Ambani.IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL), the investment arm of the London-based Hinduja family business empire, offered Rs 96.61 billion (£930 million) for Reliance Capital in the…
A new report published on Friday (30) revealed that black Londoners and immigrant communities are more likely to live in areas with more polluted air in the city. The City Hall commissioned report, which builds on previous research from 2013 through to 2021, said that areas in London with the…
The UK government said it would challenge a court ruling issued on Thursday (29) that blocks its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, a set-back to its controversial bid to cut migrant numbers. Three Court of Appeal judges ruled that Rwanda could not be considered a safe third country,…
In a nationwide study conducted in Denmark, researchers said on Wednesday (28) that the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to alleviate menopause symptoms, even for short durations, was linked to a higher risk of dementia. However, the cognitive declines observed may not be directly attributed to the HRT treatment,…
ONLINE retailer Boohoo has said that the behavior of makeup brand Revolution Beauty's board during the annual meeting has triggered 'significant concerns', reported The Financial Times. On Tuesday (27), three-quarters of investors voted to remove the makeup brand’s chief executive, Bob Holt, chief finance officer, Elizabeth Lake, and its chair,…
London is one of the favourite holiday destinations of several Bollywood celebrities. Currently, the who's who of B-town including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Sonam Kapoor are vacationing in the UK. Kareena and her husband Saif recently joined Sonam's family for a dinner date. Taking to Instagram, Sonam…
BRITAIN and India want to strike a truly “ambitious trade deal” that benefits both the nations, bringing “tremendous opportunities” for businesses and consumers, prime minister Rishi Sunak has said. At a reception on Wednesday (28) to celebrate India Global Forum's UK-India week 2023 in Downing Street, Sunak said the eyes…
BRITAIN'S plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful, London’s Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday (29), in a major setback for prime minister Rishi Sunak who has pledged to stop migrants arriving across the Channel in small boats. Under a deal struck last year, Britain's government planned to send tens of…
LONDON'S Court of Appeal will rule on Thursday (29) if a British plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is lawful, in a verdict that could make or break prime minister Rishi Sunak's pledge to stop migrants from arriving by boat. Under a deal struck last year, Britain's government plans…
MERCENARY hackers increasingly are targeting law firms in a bid to steal data that could tip the balance in legal cases, French and British authorities say. In a pair of reports published over the past week, the cyber watchdog agencies of France and the UK cataloged an array of digital…
WIMBLEDON great Roger Federer hopes his old rival Andy Murray will have great success in what could be his last appearance at the biggest tennis tournament in the world. Two-time winner Murray, 36, continues to play with a metal hip. Though he admitted earlier this week he has a retirement…
INDIA'S antitrust body is scrutinising Air India's planned merger with Vistara and has asked the company why it should not be investigated further over competition concerns, potentially delaying the process, two sources with direct knowledge said. It is a new challenge for formerly government-owned Air India, which Tata Group took…
WHAT does it mean to be English? This is the question that Dear England, a new play at London’s National Theatre, sets out to explore. It has been written by James Graham and directed by Rupert Goold – with the actor Joseph Fiennes playing the lead role of the England…
WITH huge concerts headlined by superb singers like The Nooran Sisters, Gurdas Maan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Ali Azmat and Atif Aslam already staged, it has been an action packed year for live music in the UK. There are a lot more concerts on the way in the remaining six months of…
THE Windrush generation helped build the NHS in the face of prejudice and systemic racism, issues that still exist today, health leaders said, as they called for “robust action” to address inequalities. Senior leaders of the NHS attended an event in London last Thursday (22) to celebrate the 75-year contribution…
A WEEKEND article in the Financial Times set out to explain “How India is slowly moving into the American orbit.” The reality is that India is not moving into the American orbit nor America into India’s, but for some decades now the two countries have been drawing closer together. One…
ENGLAND cricket chiefs have recommended that Yorkshire be fined £500,000 and given hefty points deductions over their handling of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal. Pakistan-born bowler Rafiq, 32, went public with allegations of racism and bullying in September 2020, related to his two spells at the English county. The sanctioning…
The British media revealed fresh evidence on Monday (26) regarding China's spy balloon programme, disclosing instances of balloon flights over Japan and Taiwan. This development comes several months after US-China relations were strained following the shooting down of a similar airship off the US coast. The BBC collaborated with Synthetaic,…
Avtar Lit, the founder of Britain’s first full-time Asian radio station, Sunrise Radio, is no more. He has passed away at the age of 73. His family released a statement announcing the death of Avatar Lit this morning. The statement read: “On behalf of the Lit and Sunrise Radio family,…
The Migration Museum is set to launch "Heart of the Nation: Migration and the Making of the NHS," a national touring exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS). The exhibition will debut at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery on June 30, 2023. It aims to highlight the…
LABOUR MP for Brent North, Barry Gardiner, collected a prestigious honour bestowed on him by the Indian government at a ceremony in London last Friday (23). Gardiner, who founded the Labour Friends of India more than two decades ago, was presented the Padma Shri, a civilian award, at India House…
EID has become such a hectic time for barbers that some are charging people £100 to beat the queue for a haircut, it has emerged. Salons across the UK were set to be open overnight ahead of the Islamic festival which falls on Wednesday (28). And, with thousands of people…
War co-stars Vaani Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan are set to reunite for the UK Tour 'Stars on Fire'. Vaani will be seen performing with Hrithik for her first-ever UK tour 'Stars On Fire' in London & Leeds. It will take place on September 1 at OVO Arena, Wembley, London, and…
BRITAIN'S plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda will cost £169,000 per person, according to the first detailed government assessment of a high-stakes promise to tackle record numbers of people arriving in small boats. Prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative government wants to send thousands of migrants more than 4,000 miles…
Kabir Garg, a 33-year-old junior doctor from Lewisham, south-east London, has been sentenced to six years in jail for his role in operating a chat site on the dark web dedicated to sharing child sexual abuse images. Garg, who worked as a psychiatrist for the South London and Maudsley NHS…
After a long hiatus, Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is now set to enthrall her fans with a new film titled Blind. The film will be out on Jio Cinema on July 7. It will be released two days ahead of her birthday. The particular update has left her fans…
SCOTTISH First Minister Humza Yousaf is set to travel to Brussels on Monday (26) in a bid to bolster ties with the EU, in his first foreign trip since succeeding Nicola Sturgeon in March. Yousaf, who became the leader of Scotland's devolved government following Sturgeon's shock resignation, vowed to set…
LABOUR will appoint an external advisor to encourage women, ethnic minorities and those from a working-class background to stand for office at all levels and parties, The Guardian reported. The diversity tsar will collaborate with deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner, in the Cabinet Office to devise a comprehensive action plan…
BRITISH actor Art Malik has received the Pakistan society’s Jinnah Medal at the 68th annual dinner held last week at the Great Hall, Lincoln’s Inn. Pakistan high commissioner, Moazzam Ahmad Khan and ambassador Leena Salim Moazzam were the guests of honour at the event. Architect Prof Yasmeen Lari, the Sir…
The contribution of migrants from the Caribbean and the rest of the Commonwealth is being celebrated on Thursday (22) as the UK marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship bringing workers from the West Indies. Known as the "Windrush generation", thousands of people came to…
BENGALURU-BASED Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has emerged as the highest-ranked Indian institution in the ‘Times High Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2023' released in London on Thursday (22). While IISc is ranked 48th, the second highest ranked university in India is also is Karnataka – JSS Academy of Higher…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has opened an exhibition of photographs celebrating the lives of refugees to mark refugee week from 19 to 25 June. A Ukrainian doctor, a Kindertransport survivor and a girl who fled the Taliban are among those captured in photographs taken by Philip Coburn, a photographer for…
According to a study led by University College London (UCL) and published in the journal Sleep Health, regular daytime napping may prevent brain shrinkage in later life. The research involved nearly 380,000 participants from the UK Biobank research database. Findings revealed that middle-aged individuals predisposed to napping had larger brains,…
British singer Harry Styles is winning hearts with his super sweet gesture during the "Love on Tour" show at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The 'Watermelon Sugar' hitmaker on Tuesday stopped his concert to let a pregnant woman use the restroom. The heartfelt moment between Harry Styles and the…
SPORTSWEAR group Frasers has bought a five per cent stake in fashion retailer Boohoo for £22 million, seeking “potential synergies” between the two businesses.Frasers announced the deal on Tuesday (20), a day after it disclosed an 8.9 per cent stake in electricals retailer Currys.In a filing to the London Stock…
PRIME minister Narendra Modi gave Joe Biden a special sandalwood box with a carved silver idol of Lord Ganesha as he met the US president on the first day of his state visit in Washington DC yesterday (21). Sourced from Mysuru in the south Indian state of Karnataka, the box…
Croydon has recently announced the spectacular line-up for its Summer Festivals series. Locals, Londoners, and visitors alike will find new reasons to explore the Borough as festival favourites return bigger and better for 2023, as part of ‘This is Croydon’, our year as The Mayor of London’s London Borough of…
A MASSIVE search and rescue effort for a missing submersible near the wreck of the Titanic is in a critical stage, with just hours before its oxygen supply for the five people aboard is expected to run out on Thursday (22). While coast guard officials insisted they remained "hopeful," with…
LABOUR, tipped in the polls to win a general election next year, courted the City of London financial industry on Tuesday (20), telling asset managers to come forward with growthboosting ideas for Labour’s election manifesto. The City – “perhaps Britain’s greatest asset” – would be a partner in delivering investments…
A LOVE for reading and seeing books as a dream-like escape inspired Nazneen Ahmed Pathak to write, but that stopped in her twenties because there wasn’t a story she wanted to tell. Things changed after her son Roshan was born in 2013. She was reading a children’s book to him…
HAVING delivered hit songs like Raataan Lambiyaan and Hui Malang, along with winning multiple awards, Asees Kaur has been unstoppable in the last few years. That incredible momentum has carried the Indian singing talent towards her debut UK tour in July with shows at Morningside Arena in Leicester (8) and…
A FORMER deputy head teacher at a prominent London school previously attended by royals has pleaded guilty to financially rewarding Indian teenagers for sending him indecent images of children. Matthew Smith, 34, from East Dulwich, admitted to 22 charges, including having instructed teenagers in India online to abuse younger children…
NEW DELHI-born DJ JPeezy has been lighting up the London club scene with his marvellous music and masterful mixing. Real name Jagpreet Singh, the dynamic DJ has held high-profile residencies across the capital and will be playing at various events throughout the summer, including the Big Bollywood Boat Party next…
FOR anyone who likes flowers, art and photography, there is the perfect exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in King’s Road, Chelsea, until July 9, which isn’t very long now, so it’s worth catching while you can. Last month, the Royal Horticultural Society partnered with Eastern Eye to produce the Garden…
MAJOR events will be held across Britain this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of Windrush on Thursday (22), a statement said. As part of the celebrations, the Windrush flag is being raised in more than 200 locations across England and Wales, including at the Houses of…
THE magnificence of Mughal-e-Azam has been demonstrated by the many magical moments connected to the movie since it was released in 1960. Whether being named as the greatest Bollywood movie of all time or used to describe excellence, the K Asif-directed epic has been on a majestic 63-year journey. It…
Indian filmmaker Karan Johar was honoured by the British Parliament for his contribution to the "global entertainment industry" as he completes 25 years as a filmmaker in 2023. Johar shared the news on his official Instagram account on Tuesday, the same day his longtime friend and superstar Shah Rukh Khan…
RUFUS NORRIS has announced he will be stepping down in spring 2025 as artistic director and chief executive of the National, “arguably the most influential theatre in the world”. The search for his successor has started with no reason to think that an Asian, possibly an Asian woman, won’t apply…
THE Father and the Assassin, which was staged at the National Theatre in May last year – and won Indhu Rubasingham Eastern Eye’s Art Culture and Theatre Award (ACTA) for best director – is returning later this year. Written by Anupama Chandrasekhar, the play looks at Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on…
IT IS no surprise that Shankar Mahadevan is satisfied with his magnificent journey, and is determined to do a lot more. The master musician and versatile singer has a brilliant body of work, which has encompassed all the major genres, including classical, fusion, folk and big commercial film songs, in…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan announced £135 million funding to help Londoners access learning and get into good jobs, a statement said. The funding will support more than 100,000 Londoners as they retrain, learn or upskill and help them get into work in key sectors, the statement added. The London learner…
YOUNG actress Tanvi Virmani, who will be part of the play, The Crown Jewels, at the Garrick Theatre, believes her taking up a leading role in a restoration period play is a sign of progress for ethnic minority actors in theatre. The play is based on the true story of…
THE debate on the rights and wrongs of empire need not be “toxic”, the Indian author Ramachandra Guha has said, after winning an important history prize. Guha was last week awarded the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography 2023 in its 20th anniversary year for Rebels against the Raj: Western…
THE London mayor Sadiq Khan has floated the idea of having fewer flights into Heathrow as he pushes clean air initiatives across the capital. The airport, which falls within the boundaries of Hillingdon borough, is a major employer in the area. It is thought to support around 114,000 jobs, while…
RISING food prices during the cost of living crisis have had a bigger impact on south Asian families and businesses, according to experts. They have highlighted that the inflation of products – including rice, cooking oil and spices – has disproportionately affected Asian households. The Runnymede Trust think-tank said the…
Netflix has dropped the first look at filmmaker Aditya Thayi’s controversial documentary film King of Clones along with announcing its premiere date for June 23, 2023. The documentary film, which has a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes, is based on the life and works of South Korean scientist…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak’s political adviser at No10, Ameet Jogia, received his MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) from Buckingham Palace, a statement said. He has been honoured for his services to politics and public service. Jogia was one of the last people to receive an honour…
THE Metropolitan Police commissioner has said that badly executed stop-and-search tactic can burn trust in the force. Sir Mark Rowley told the News Agents podcast that stop-and-search is in the police 'armoury' but can burn through trust. Recently, home secretary Suella Braverman urged police leaders to 'ramp up' stop-and-search to…
Are you ready for the Proms tribute to the ‘Queen of Melody’ Lata Mangeshkar, whose voice was the soundtrack for generations of cinema-goers? Proms, the world’s greatest classical music festival, is taking place from July 14 to September 9 at Royal Albert Hall in London, and Prom 18: Lata Mangeshkar:…
The National Investigating Agency (NIA), India's counter-terrorism agency, has taken over control of the investigation into the assaults carried out by Khalistan supporters on Indian Missions in the US and Canada in March, police sources in New Delhi said on Saturday (17). Moreover, the agency has also been assigned the…
Actress Janhvi Kapoor, on Sunday, started shooting for her next film Ulajh in London, United Kingdom. Helmed by National Award winner Sudhanshu Saria, the patriotic thriller film also features Gulshan Devaiah and Roshan Mathew in lead roles. Taking to Instagram, the 'Roohi' actress shared a picture in which half of…
When prime minister Rishi Sunak met US president Joe Biden on June 8, one of the overriding themes of their talks was how the world’s leading governments should guard against risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI). Ultimately, Sunak wants an international organisation established, based in London, to effectively be an…
I was excited about the opportunity to explore a new country and make new friends when I moved to the UK as a boy of nine in 2018. However, when I started school in the new country, I found it very difficult to adapt to the culture and surroundings. I…
PAKISTAN Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged his elder brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief to return from London to lead the party and the country. Addressing a meeting of the central general council meeting of the party on Friday (16) where he was re-elected as the president of…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accompanied UK Home Office enforcement officials on a raid as a part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal migration. The operation resulted in the arrest of 105 foreign nationals representing 20 different nationalities. Donning a bulletproof vest, Sunak, 43 participated in one of the actions that…
Michael Gove, a senior British minister on Sunday (18) expressed his dismay over a video showcasing a party that took place at the headquarters of the ruling Conservative Party during a Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, describing it "terrible." The government continues to grapple with the repercussions of rule-breaking gatherings, as…
The opposition Labour Party is projected to secure more seats in Scotland than the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the next general election according to a recent poll conducted by Panelbase for The Sunday Times. This outcome would significantly enhance Labour's prospects of attaining an outright majority across Britain. The…
Thousands of protesters marched through London, advocating for the decriminalisation of abortion on Saturday (17). The demonstration was sparked by the recent case of Carla Foster, who received a 28-month prison sentence for having a late abortion. The marchers chanted "Free Carla Foster" while displaying signs proclaiming "abortion is healthcare"…
A 50-YEAR-OLD, who used the lure of jobs at his massage parlour to rape young women across London, has been sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment. Wood Green Crown Court unanimously found Raghu Singamaneni guilty of rape and sexual assault involving four women. His sentencing took place on Friday (16).…
AN INDIAN-ORIGIN man has been stabbed to death in London, just two days after incidents of knife attacks in the UK which saw the deaths of a British Indian teen and a student from Hyderabad. Aravind Sasikumar, 38, was found with knife injuries on June 16 after officers were called…
Star couple Virat Kohli and Anushka are spending some quality spiritual time in London. The duo was recently spotted at a Kirtan by Krishna Das, a renowned American vocalist who is known for his popular Hindu devotional songs. Several images and videos from the devotional event went viral in which…
ENGLAND’S world cup winning cricketer Adil Rashid is among the British Asian names recognised in King Charles’s inaugural Birthday Honours List announced today. With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 11 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, the list showcases the immense…
THE SUCCESSOR to Boris Johnson's seat in Britain's parliament will be chosen in a by-election vote on July 20, the local council said on Thursday (15), after the former prime minister quit over an investigation into his conduct. The Conservatives selected Steve Tuckwell to be their candidate for the vote,…
AVTAR SINGH PURBA alias Khanda, a prominent pro-Khalistani activist, died at a hospital in Birmingham on Thursday (15) morning after a prolonged illness, a UK-based Sikh organisation said in a statement. Sikh Federation UK said Avtar Singh was terminally ill with blood cancer. He was on a life support system…
The city of Nottingham in central England is in mourning on Thursday (15) as it prepares for a second vigil in memory of three people killed in a brutal stabbing spree, including British Indian teenage medical student Grace O’Malley Kumar. The University of Nottingham on Wednesday (14) held a campus…
KING CHARLES held a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday (14) to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the start of the arrival of the 'Windrush generation' of post-war migrants to Britain from the Caribbean. The Empire Windrush ship docked in London in June 1948, bringing the first of hundreds of…
HOW do you solve a problem like Boris? Rishi Sunak will hope to have fewer political headaches once the former prime minister leaves parliament, but will know we will all be hearing much more from Johnson. His statement resigning as an MP was one of his more Trumpian moments -…
A 23-YEAR-OLD man was on Thursday charged with the murder of Indian student Tejaswini Kontham and the attempted murder of her friend at a residential address in Wembley, north London. The Metropolitan Police said Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais, previously referred to as a Brazilian national, has been remanded in…
Television personality, actor and much-loved comedian Sunil Grover needs no introduction. He came to prominence with Gutur Gu in 2010, India’s first silent comedy series, before going on to become a huge TV star with shows like Comedy Nights with Kapil and The Kapil Sharma Show, where he wowed audiences…
With the next UK general election looming over the horizon, upwardly-mobile British Indians will be a critical voter constituency in various parts of the country. In recent times, there has been a fraying of relations between the wider British Indian population and the Labour Party. In the 2015 general election,…
Hospital doctors in England have embarked on a new 72-hour strike over pay, commencing on Wednesday (14). This action has raised concerns among health officials, who anticipate significant disruptions to patient care and healthcare services. The strike, led by junior doctors below the consultant level, commenced at 7:00 am (0600…
Sanjoy K Roy has revealed how the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF), which he produces as managing director of an organisation called Teamwork Arts, has become an extraordinarily successful global brand. JLF began in a modest manner in 2006 in the Rajasthan capital of Jaipur which remains its mothership, but in…
If you are fond of books – and Eastern Eye readers seem to love them – then attending an event like the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF) at the British Library is a little like a child being let loose in a chocolate factory. There were a total of 35 sessions…
When British guitarist John McLaughlin and Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain teamed up in the early 1970s, they couldn’t have imagined the path-breaking journey that was ahead of them. They founded the group Shakti, with violinist L Shankar, percussionist TH ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram and mridangam player Ramnad V Raghavan. The musical…
Leading doctors have called for all hospitals to start providing appointment letters in other languages to prevent patients whose first language is not English getting a delayed diagnosis. It comes after a report found that NHS trusts often send letters about radiology appointments only in English and expect a patient’s…
A 27-YEAR-OLD Indian-origin woman has been stabbed to death in north London. Scotland Yard on Wednesday (14) said two men were arrested in connection with the murder. The incident took place at a residential property in Neeld Crescent, Wembley on Tuesday (13). While the murder victim is yet to be…
Newly appointed member of the House of Lords, Kulveer Singh Ranger, told Eastern Eye he will use his position to leverage his expertise in transport and technology and help deliver better public services. Ranger was last Friday (9) rewarded by former prime minister Boris Johnson in his resignation honours list,…
TRIBUTES have been paid to an Asian student who was killed in an incident in Nottingham on Tuesday (13). University of Nottingham student Grace Kumar, 19, was stabbed to death alongside fellow first-year student Barnaby Webber, 19, in an apparently random attack. Another 50-year-old man also found dead with knife…
Former home secretary Priti Patel has been rewarded with a damehood as Boris Johnson awarded his political aides and allies with some of Britain’s highest honours to mark his resignation last year as prime minister. Kulveer Ranger, who served as director of transport when Johnson was the mayor of London,…
The Department of Health and Social Care described inactivity as the ‘silent killer’, and it perhaps worsened after Covid-19 kept everyone locked indoors. This sedentary lifestyle affects the physical and mental health of many, including amplifying mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Exercise is a great remedy for inactivity…
The untimely passing of Ivan Menezes at the age of 63 is a devastating loss not only for his family and friends, but to the United Kingdom as well. He was a natural leader and produced superb results for Diageo, a company he led brilliantly for close to 10 years.…
SOME 200 migrants cast shadows in the faint early sunshine across the dunes of Gravelines beach in northern France, anticipating a police chase as they attempt to cross the waters before them to England. At least 7,610 people have been detected in small boats off Britain's coast so far this…
AN ASIAN peer on Tuesday (13) apologised to an Asian campaigner after a probe concluded he breached the parliamentary Code of Conduct relating to "bullying and harassment". Conservative peer and founder of UK-based FMCG firm Sun Mark Ltd, Lord Rami Ranger, faced a Code of Conduct investigation by the Commissioner…
The Bradford Literature Festival will present a special gathering on Sunday (June 25) of the Tharoor siblings, who will reunite from India, California, and London to engage in a profound conversation about their mother's extraordinary life. This exclusive event, called “Good Innings” will take place at Bradford College between 14:00…
INDIA has released five videos and sought help from the general public in identifying suspects who attempted to vandalise the Indian mission in London in March this year. The nearly two-hour-long footage from CCTVs was posted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on its website and the link shared on…
A restaurant owner in north west London created working conditions that ‘bore all the hallmarks of exploitation and modern slavery’, writes Grant Williams. A search by Home Office officials found five people working there illegally, with one seen sleeping on the kitchen floor as he was homeless. Anil Verma, the…
The inquiry into the UK government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic is set to begin on Tuesday (13), but it has already been marred by controversy even prior to the first witness testimony. Heather Hallett, the retired senior judge appointed as the inquiry chair, has requested the unredacted WhatsApp messages…
A new report has revealed the “shocking” levels of exploitation and abuse suffered by migrant workers in the capital, writes Noah Vickers. Mayor Sadiq Khan, who commissioned the research, said its findings were “consistent with modern slavery”. The report found that migrant Londoners often work unpaid overtime, or are sometimes…
A LONDONER has been jailed for four years for glorifying terrorism on online platforms. Mohammad Zubair Khan pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism offences at the Old Bailey after initially denying any wrongdoing. He came under the lens of Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) officers in June 2021 after a…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday (12) that Britain has the potential to become the global home for artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. During his address to industry leaders, he positioned London as a thriving tech hub and encouraged them to embrace the opportunities and complexities presented by AI. Sunak's…
A curator and London-based writer, Tarini Malik, has been selected as the Shane Akeroyd Associate Curator of the British Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Malik was previously a curator at the Whitechapel Gallery and as well the Hayward Gallery in London. Malik said,…
In a dispute concerning political honours for allies of the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his criticism towards his predecessor on Monday (12). It is customary for outgoing prime ministers to propose honours or appointments to the House of Lords for their aides and…
COMMODITY trading firm, Trafigura, has paid a record $3 billion (£2.4bn) dividend to its 1,200 private shareholders after registering record profits, reported The Times. The Singapore-based company booked a £459 million charge for the first half of this year because of what it said was 'systematic fraud' by a group…
OLD rifts resurfaced in Tory party on Saturday (10) following former prime minister Boris Johnson's abrupt resignation from parliament, while the opposition Labour party sensed opportunity ahead of a general election next year. Johnson quit late on Friday (9) in protest against an investigation by lawmakers into his conduct as…
FORMER home secretary Priti Patel has been rewarded with a damehood as Boris Johnson awarded his political aides and allies with some of Britain's highest honours to mark his resignation last year as prime minister. Kulveer Ranger, who served as director of transport when Johnson was the mayor of London,…
Former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made a sudden decision to resign as a member of parliament on Friday (09). His departure came as a strong and passionate protest against the lawmakers who were conducting an investigation into his conduct, reigniting deep divisions within the ruling Conservative Party just before the…
US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday (08) announced a partnership between their countries focused on advanced technologies, clean energy, and critical minerals, as they aim to strengthen their historical security alliance. The leaders signed the "Atlantic Declaration," which Sunak described as a first-of-its-kind economic…
London-based battery software company, About:Energy, has secured £1.5 million in seed investment from various investors, the company said in a statement. The latest funding will be used for the rapid commercialisation and development of its software platform, the Voltt, which significantly reduces the cost to design new battery products through…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to convey to President Joe Biden the importance of elevating Britain's economic ties with the US to a level on par with their defense and security cooperation. With the UK's departure from the European Union, there is a desire to strengthen alignment with Washington…
West Ham United will take out a victory parade in east London on Thursday (8), a day after they won the Europa Conference League.Forward Jarrod Bowen's dramatic 90th-minute goal secured them their first major European trophy since 1965 with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the final in Prague on…
India may not have won an ICC title for 10 years, but head coach Rahul Dravid insists his team is not feeling any pressure in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, set to begin on Wednesday (7). India lost the inaugural WTC final to New Zealand in 2021…
When Iqra Shazadi found out that no soldier had ever worn the hijab in the British Army, she was shocked, and this motivated her further to achieve her desire to join the army and do something more. She realised it was her chance to create “her story”. “There is a…
A MOTION has been tabled in the House of Commons to convey cross-party condolences to India over the loss of lives as a result of the three-train collision in Odisha last week. The Early Day Motion (EDM), tabled on Monday (5) by the Labour MP for Southall in London, Virendra…
Author Sathnam Sanghera’s new book on the British empire is aimed at younger readers and explains how the empire once made the country the most powerful on earth and how it still affects our lives in many ways. Stolen History: The Truth about the British Empire is set to be…
An amazing all-round ability has seen Ammy Virk balance a music and movie career like a boss. Having started off as a chart-topping singer, the popular star has acted in a string of successful Punjabi films and is also a producer. Entertaining audiences with hit songs, live shows and marvellous…
Laughter is the best medicine, as the old saying goes, and this certainly appeared to be the case with the author Moni Mohsin, whose session was one of the hits of the recently held Khushwant Singh Lit Fest (KSLF) in London. Mohsin, who created a character called “the Social Butterfly”,…
A fearless approach has enabled funny girl Aditi Mittal to make a fantastic impact. The Indian stand-up comedian has had specials on Netflix and Amazon, along with performing internationally. She returns to the UK this week with her spirited new show Unalive at Soho Theatre in London from next Monday…
Author Vaseem Khan has told Eastern Eye of his ambition to attract a more diverse membership as he agreed to take on the chairmanship of the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA). As the first non-white person occupying the top post of the 70-year-old organisation, Vaseem spoke of his hope that taking…
“IT has been an extraordinary journey,” said Alford Gardner, once a 21-year-old former Royal Air Force (RAF) serviceman returning to seek work in Britain and now navigating, in his mid-90s, becoming a crucial living link to an iconic moment in the making of modern Britain. Gardner is one of the…
THE High Commission of India in London on Monday (5) hosted a panel discussion on the topic 'The great disruption: Laws, constitutions and the digital era' at the Inner Temple. Indian chief justice DY Chandrachud, Lord Justice Dingemans, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Sir…
BRITAIN'S main business lobby, the CBI, won a survival vote on Tuesday (6) as members backed a cultural reset under new leadership after allegations of sexual misconduct threw the group into crisis. Ninety-three per cent of voting members backed a resolution to put their confidence in the Confederation of British…
Screenwriters from the UK are set to gather in London’s Leicester Square in support of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and their ongoing strike. The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) is inviting members to join the major June 14 protest for the US writers’ strike. The protest will…
THE BBC has “informally” admitted to having under-reported its income in India and paid less tax than its actual obligation, media reports said on Tuesday (6). Tax authorities had surveyed the corporation’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February, weeks after the broadcaster aired a documentary on Prime Minister…
POLICE said on Monday (5) they had charged a member of parliament (MP) from prime minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Tory party with racially aggravated behaviour. Bob Stewart was charged after police received an online report from a man alleging he had been "verbally racially abused" in December last year. Stewart…
The World Test Championship final between Australia and India at the Oval in London starts on Wednesday (7) against a backdrop of fears for the long format given the growth of Twenty20 franchise leagues. Not that there's anything new about cricket-lovers worrying about the future of their sport. Indeed, it…
Two terrorists, Jawad Akbar from Crawley and Salahuddin Amin, from Luton, have been granted a parole hearing, MailOnline reported. Both terrorists were part of a five-strong gang involved in plotting major attacks in the UK, between January 1, 2003, and March 31, 2004, including targeting popular locations like Bluewater and…
KING CHARLES III on Monday (5) sent a condolence message to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, expressing his shock over Friday’s (3) deadly train accident in the south Asian country. The monarch also recalled his memories of a visit to the Odisha state 43 years ago. The accident, involving three trains,…
PASSENGER and freight trains were running again on Monday (5) at the site of India's deadliest train disaster in decades, which the railway officials blamed on possible "sabotage" and tampering with the electronic system. An investigation has been opened into the three-train crash near Balasore in the eastern state of…
A British teenager who detectives believe may have been just hours away from launching an attack on police or soldiers, was on Friday (2) sentenced to a minimum of six years in jail for terrorism offences. Matthew King, 19, who converted to Islam during the Covid-19 lockdown and then became…
A trove of Freddie Mercury's previously unseen handwritten draft lyrics for some of Queen's biggest hits goes on show Thursday in New York, ahead of their sale in London later this year. The manuscripts include working drafts for "Bohemian Rhapsody" -- which Mercury initially planned to call "Mongolian Rhapsody" --…
Prince Harry will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for 130 years when he testifies next week in his lawsuit against a newspaper group he accuses of unlawful behaviour. Harry, King Charles' younger son, will appear in the witness box at London's High Court as…
Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Anushka Sharma, popularly known as Virushka, are among the most loved celebrity couples. As soon the duo steps outside in the city, their pictures and videos go viral in no time. Recently, Virat and Anushka were spotted enjoying a coffee date in London and…
