- Saturday, July 27, 2024
Iram Parveen Bilal has always had a brave approach and produces her finest work with this wonderful, taboo-busting Pakistani drama, which had its UK premiere at the recent London Indian Film Festival. The fearless filmmaker tells the story of a widowed single mother, a young Pakistani woman from a conservative…
East London residents will benefit as the NHS will be able to carry out 50,000 more tests a year thanks to a new diagnostics centre, a health trust says. The community diagnostic centre (CDC) at Barking Community Hospital was formally opened today (25th July) and will serve patients from Redbridge…
This low-budget British Asian movie had its world premiere at the recent London Indian Film Festival. Two British Pakistanis meet in London to see if they are compatible for marriage. He isn’t interested in settling down, so cuts the date short. However, his travel plans are disrupted when the trains…
British Asian race car driver Arvid Anand Olof Lindblad is only 16, but he has set his sights on the highest echelons of motorsport. With a clear vision and remarkable talent, Lindblad’s journey from karting prodigy to Formula 3 Championship contender is marked by a deep-rooted passion for racing, inspired…
Some Indian athletes will be carrying high expectations, some will look to surprise, and a few will aim for a perfect end to their careers as the 117-strong Indian contingent targets a better performance at the Olympic Games, starting on Friday. India returned from Tokyo with seven medals, and now…
Paris will launch the 2024 Olympics with a unique opening ceremony on the River Seine, featuring a 6 km floating parade. This historic event will take place on Friday (26 July) and will be distinct from traditional stadium-based ceremonies. It will see athletes and performers travel along the Seine, passing…
Brown Sauce, a monthly comedy club for South Asian comedians, is partnering with Tara Theatre to present The Comedy Lab on 18 October. Participants will join a free one-day workshop in London, guided by comedy professionals. The workshop will end with a ticketed showcase event where participants will perform a…
THE man accused of trying to kill the author Salman Rushdie has been charged with terrorism for allegedly acting on behalf of Hezbollah, according to documents unsealed Wednesday (24). This is the first time the US has so clearly singled out Lebanon's powerful Iranian-backed movement over the attack on Rushdie.…
The Labour government will present its green energy infrastructure plan to parliament on Thursday. Alongside this, it will announce a multi-billion-pound energy partnership with the Crown Estate. The legislation will create a publicly owned entity called Great British Energy. Prime minister Keir Starmer aims for this body to fund renewable…
Outfits, musical instruments and other objects on loan from US musician Taylor Swift are going on display at London's V&A in a temporary summer exhibition. Titled Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail, the exhibition is made up of 13 installations dotted across the museum's many galleries. "It's a journey around the…
A 36-year-old man accused of spreading “misinformation” during Hindu-Muslim unrest in Leicester two years ago appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Wednesday (24), charged with unrelated terror offences. Majid Novraska, also known as Freeman, appeared in the dock as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) read out the charges…
Last year’s Edinburgh Fringe became life-changing for naturally gifted stand-up comedian Urooj Ashfaq. She received worldwide attention by becoming the first Indian to win a best newcomer award at the world’s biggest arts festival and has since embarked on a big UK tour. Ashfaq will feature her new work in…
Foreign secretary David Lammy started a two-day visit to India on Wednesday to push forward negotiations for the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and to explore opportunities for cooperation in areas like clean energy, new technologies, and security. This visit marks the first high-level engagement between India and the UK…
A court has found a radical Islamist preacher guilty of directing a banned terrorist organisation and encouraging support for it online. Anjem Choudary was convicted by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London for being the "caretaker" leader of Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), which has been banned in the UK…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has appointed prominent city adviser Varun Chandra as his special adviser on business and investment, reported The Financial Times. Chandra, previously managing partner at the London-based consultancy Hakluyt, will now be the main point of contact between Downing Street and corporate executives as well as international…
Andy Murray, the first male tennis player to win two Olympic singles gold medals, announced on Tuesday that he will play the final event of his career at the Paris Games before retiring. Murray, regarded as one of Britain's greatest sportsmen, won gold in London 2012 by beating Roger Federer…
PRINCE HARRY has praised Birmingham for securing the bid to host the Invictus Games in 2027, marking the first time the event will return to the UK since its inception in London in 2014. Founded by the Duke of Sussex for wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans, the…
Mukesh Ambani’s staff and employees at Reliance Industries are considered as family, of course THE Ambani family threw a special warm reception to thank their staff at Antilia and employees of Reliance Industries who helped make the big occasion a success. The bash, which took place on July 15 at…
A PIONEERING Asian doctor who served in the NHS for nearly four decades is being mourned by the community in the Midlands. Dr Kantibhai B Parmar, a much-loved GP in Rugby, passed away peacefully at his home last Thursday (18). He was 93. Kantibhai grew up in Navsari, Gujarat, where…
THE Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is set to review and potentially revise its monitoring practices for jaundice in newborns from minority ethnic backgrounds. This initiative stems from a broader study by the NHS Race and Health Observatory, which highlighted significant disparities in healthcare assessments for black, Asian, and…
WHAT'S in a name? More to the point, what is the significance of a nickname in multicultural Britain? The England right-arm off-break bowler, Shoaib Bashir, is referred to by his admiring teammates as Bash. Eastern Eye readers need not worry. The use of a nickname in this context is a…
A teenage boy has died after being shot in a park in west London. The boy, believed to be 15, was found injured in a park near Hazlewood Crescent, Ladbroke Grove, and was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police said that officers and paramedics were called to…
The parameters of the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations will be revisited this week with foreign secretary David Lammy's visit to India on Tuesday. FTA talks began in January 2022 under the Conservative government, aiming to significantly enhance the GBP 38.1 billion annual bilateral trade. However, the discussions were…
For entrepreneur Bassim Haidar, living in London has become an expense he can no longer justify. As Keir Starmer takes office, Haidar is looking for homes in Greece and Monaco. He says a proposed inheritance tax change will make Britain undesirable for the wealthy. Starmer argues that the overhaul will…
The British government activated its civil contingencies committee on Friday to address a global IT outage affecting its transport and health services. Cabinet secretary Pat McFadden said that ministers in the impacted sectors were collaborating with business leaders. He mentioned being "in close contact with teams coordinating our response through…
The Conservative Party has announced the appointment of interim opposition front benchers. Party leader Rishi Sunak and interim opposition chief whip Stuart Andrew revealed these appointments on Friday, 19 July. These appointments follow the formation of the interim shadow cabinet last week and aim to prepare the Conservative Party to…
The NHS is reviewing its maternity services in north-east London due to pressure from an increasing birth rate. Women are experiencing more complicated pregnancies and births, driving up the demand for adequate hospital care, according to a report by NHS North-East London (NEL). Concerns have also been raised over neonatal…
The Metropolitan Police have strongly criticised a North London venue's licence application, describing the company as a 'complete mess' and casting doubt on the owners' ability to manage the venue legally. Officers had been called to the premises after a fight broke out at an ‘illegal’ wedding reception, resulting in…
Dr Neeraj Patil, former mayor of the London Borough of Lambeth, has been elected to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the British Labour Party. This was confirmed by David Evans, the General Secretary of the Labour Party, in a letter dated 15 July 2024. Dr Patil, a consultant in…
Police in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka banned all public rallies on Friday following the deadliest day of student protests, during which government buildings were torched, and a nationwide internet blackout was imposed. This week's unrest has resulted in at least 39 deaths, including 32 on Thursday. Clashes have been reported in…
A global technology outage on Friday disrupted operations in various industries. Airlines halted flights, some broadcasters went off-air, and sectors ranging from banking to healthcare faced system problems. The UK's largest rail franchise reported "widespread IT issues" affecting its four train lines, leading to potential cancellations. Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)…
BRITAIN let down its citizens by leaving the nation ill-prepared for the Covid-19 pandemic because of significantly flawed planning and failures by ministers and scientific experts, a public inquiry concluded in a scathing report on Thursday (18). The country recorded more than 230,000 deaths by December 2023, a similar death…
MAYA LAKHANI has quickly gone from creating rock songs in her bedroom to performing on the live circuit and making a dynamic debut at the recent Glastonbury music festival. By lighting up the stage at the mammoth annual music event on the BBC Introducing stage, the British singer, songwriter and…
A nine-year-old who was injured in a shooting by a motorcyclist may never "speak or move properly again," her parents have said. The girl remains in critical but stable condition after she was caught up in a shooting incident outside a Turkish restaurant in Hackney, north-east London on 29 May.…
AN organised crime group involved in money laundering, drug trafficking, and attempted fraud has been dismantled after a two-year investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Rickinder Hare, 36, and Neelen Balarajah, 34, received sentences totalling 14 years and six months for their roles in money laundering and conspiracy to…
SEEING a magician perform seemingly impossible feats on television as a mesmerised six-year-old inspired Suhani Shah to pursue the same profession. Her parents supporting that dream, if she agreed to give it her full commitment and do it on a larger scale, inspired the fearless youngster to deliver grand…
The American drama based on a true life story had its European premiere at the recent London Indian Film Festival. Young Gujarati American Shalin Shah is in a long-term romance with his Chinese American girlfriend Fiona, but reluctant to tell his parents. After they graduate, he decides to do work…
AN ASIAN GP who recently survived a rare cancer has urged members of the community to “listen to their bodies” to detect early signs and improve their chances of beating the disease. Kripa Shortt, a GP in London, told Eastern Eye that her “Indian values” helped her to survive sarcoma, an…
BRITISH Asians are at a greater risk of health problems after government figures showed that they continue to do less exercise than other groups. The percentage of people from a south Asian background doing at least 150 minutes of moderate or intense physical activity a week was 55 per cent,…
AZAN AHMED hopes his leading role in After Sex will help change the perception of characters Muslim actors are willing to play. Described as an erotic two-hander, After Sex opened at north London’s Arcola Theatre on Tuesday (16) and explores the relationship of a couple through a series of post-coital scenes. Writer…
THE CAPTAIN of an oil tanker and his crew have been named winners of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2024 Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for their “extraordinary courage” shown in a Red Sea rescue mission. Avhilash Rawat and his crew were honoured for their “determination and endurance” while…
Shabana Mahmood, the new justice secretary, was sworn in as the new lord chancellor at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday. The former barrister, who is the second woman after Liz Truss to hold these positions, said she will be a champion of the Rule of Law.…
A 34-year-old man appeared in court on Monday (15) charged with murder after the bodies of two men were found dumped in suitcases on a landmark bridge. Yostin Andres Mosquera spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth when he appeared at a London court, assisted by…
Gareth Southgate announced his resignation as England manager on Tuesday, following their loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. "It's time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday's final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager," Southgate said in a statement. Potential successors for…
A new report has said that the police race action plan will only succeed with full support from the new home secretary. Announced by police chiefs in 2020 to tackle racism within the force, the plan has made limited progress, according to the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board (ISOB), which…
A suspect has been charged with murder after the bodies of two men, one from France, were found in suitcases on a bridge in Bristol, police said on Monday. The police stated that the victims had previously been in a relationship but continued to live together in west London. The…
CARLOS ALCARAZ overpowered seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to retain his Wimbledon title on Sunday (14) in a brutal statement that the new era of men's tennis has arrived. The Spanish third seed produced a performance combining awesome power with delicate touch to win 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4),…
THE aunt of Zara Aleena, who was murdered by a man out on early release, has issued a stark warning to Labour as the government prepares to announce plans to release prisoners after they have served just 40 per cent of their sentences. This move, aimed at easing overcrowding in…
POLICE on Saturday (13) arrested a man after two suitcases believed to contain the remains of two men were dumped on a famous bridge. The suitcases were discovered Wednesday (10) after police got a report of a man behaving suspiciously on the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, southwest England. "Detectives…
English pubs, supermarkets, and restaurants are preparing for a busy weekend as fans get ready to watch England play Spain in the final of Euro 2024 in Germany. The weekend also features the Wimbledon tennis men’s singles final in London. These events are expected to boost the hospitality and retail…
FOUR migrants drowned in the Channel overnight off France's northern coast while trying to cross to Britain, French maritime police said Friday (12). A navy patrol boat went to the site off of Boulogne-sur-Mer after being alerted that several migrants had fallen into the sea, said maritime police. Four bodies…
THE suspect in a crossbow attack in which three women were killed is in a serious condition in hospital in London, UK police said. Kyle Clifford, 26, was detained late Wednesday (10) after a day-long manhunt in connection with the deaths of the wife and two daughters of a BBC…
NEWLY elected British Indian MPs to the House of Commons have been pledging their allegiance to the British Crown as a symbol of loyalty to the country, choosing to swear on holy texts or affirm their oath during the first week of a new Parliament. A new copy of the…
Lord Karan Bilimoria has received an honorary fellowship from London Business School (LBS). LBS, recognised for its business education and research, awards honorary fellowships to individuals with notable contributions to global business and society. Past recipients include Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, and Kofi Annan. The award was presented during LBS's…
MARKETS watchdog on Thursday (11) paved the way for the biggest shake-up in three decades of rules for companies listing on the London Stock Exchange as it seeks to catch up with New York and the European Union post-Brexit. The regime, which aims to attract a wider range of listings…
HERTFORDSHIRE police said Wednesday a 26-year-old man was in custody after the wife and two daughters of a radio racing commentator were killed with a crossbow in a suspected "targeted" attack. Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield in north London, was wanted in connection with the deaths of the three women…
NEARLY half of Tory grassroots members support merging with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, according to a poll. Also, Kemi Badenoch has emerged as the favourite for the next party leader. YouGov data collected since the general election indicated that Badenoch, a former business secretary and a notable critic of Rishi…
ACE jewellery designer Anisha Parmar has teamed up with top style and fashion expert Neelam Mistry-Thaker for the Adorned Narratives 2024 event taking placed from next Friday (19) to Sunday (21) at The Lab E20 in east London. The three-day culturally rich event includes yoga, a sharing circle, jewellery…
PEOPLE in Leicester East voted along religious lines which saw the country’s only Conservative gain, sources from several political parties have told Eastern Eye. They have also warned that the city is “sitting on a religious powder keg just waiting to explode” following tensions in August and September 2022. The…
The 2024 UK general election results saw a significant influx of MPs from diverse backgrounds. The new MPs for the House of Commons this year include a good mix of Sikh, Hindu, and independent representatives who have made history with their victories. A record number of around 26 Indian-origin members…
ACCLAIMED singer Swati Natekar will pay a heartfelt tribute to her late mother Dr Sushila Pohankar at the Utsav 2024 concert taking place at Harrow Arts Centre next Sunday (21). The show will see leading artists from different disciplines, including Natekar, Kathak dancer Ashwini Kalsekar and sarod virtuoso Debasmita Bhattacharya,…
POLICE were searching Wednesday for a suspect who may have a crossbow after the wife and two daughters of a BBC radio racing commentator were killed in a suspected "targeted" attack. Kyle Clifford, 26, from north London, is wanted in connection with the deaths of the three women in the…
YOUNG Asian artists have urged established figures from the industry to help support aspiring creatives from minority backgrounds to nurture their talent and have a “network of people from a similar background”. International drama graduates Saadiya Ali and Noel Prasad will feature their double show, Hot Goss, based on the…
COMPARED to the 60 per cent turnout in the British general election last week, it was 66.6 per cent in India, where 642 million people out of the eligible electorate of 968 million cast their ballots. In Britain, polling took place last Thursday (4), whereas in India, voting was held…
RISHI SUNAK should be remembered for bringing back “moral decency” to the position of prime minister despite the Conservative party’s heavy defeat at last week’s general election, a longserving Asian parliamentarian has said. Sunak left Downing Street last Thursday (4), 20 months after he was sworn in amid political turmoil…
THE new government took a first step to boost public and private investment and modernise the economy, placing a National Wealth Fund atop the existing state-owned agencies and freeing up money for immediate use. Prime minister Keir Starmer and his finance minister Rachel Reeves hope to attract tens of billions…
Visitors to Buckingham Palace in London this summer will have the opportunity to stand behind the famous balcony where the British royal family often poses. For the first time, the palace is opening the East Wing, which includes the Centre Room where the iconic balcony is located. "This room was…
A SCULPTOR has made a bronze bust of Rishi Sunak just as he did with the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi three years ago. “I have the Rishi bust at home in London – I haven’t had a chance to offer it to him,” Nadey Hakim told Eastern Eye. The…
PLAYING decidedly dark villains across different decades hasn’t dampened Gulshan Grover’s passion for dastardly roles. The legendary actor adds to his considerable body of work by playing an antagonist in this week’s megamovie release Indian 2. He stars opposite cinema icon Kamal Haasan, who reprises the elderly heroic role he…
Tulip Siddiq has been appointed city minister, the minister responsible for overseeing the financial services sector, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. Labour won a thumping election victory last week, propelling Keir Starmer to power as prime minister. Siddiq, 41, retained her seat at Hampstead and Highgate. She has led Labour's…
“Change”. That was what this election was about. Change, above all, from Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party. Fourteen million voted Conservative last time. Fewer than seven million did this time. The Conservatives lost a quarter of the vote to Reform on the right and another quarter to their left. The losses…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer promised to secure an improved agreement with the European Union on post-Brexit trading rules and revamp the "botched deal" signed by former premier Boris Johnson. Speaking in Belfast after talks with the leaders of Northern Ireland, where post-Brexit trade rules have dominated politics for years, Starmer…
Keir Starmer is traveling to Washington this week for his first international engagement since becoming the UK prime minister. This visit comes shortly after his recent election victory. Starmer, 61, will attend NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington. This is his first foreign trip since assuming office last Friday. He…
In the heart of London, a unique and enchanting service has been gaining popularity among those seeking a deeper connection with themselves and their partners. Tantric massage outcall services are not just about relaxation; they offer a holistic experience that rejuvenates the mind, body, and spirit. If you’re curious about…
"I hope to win," says nine-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, who will soon become the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport. Bodhana is set to join the women's team at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest this September, a milestone she describes as an honour. She is also…
PRIME Minister Keir Starmer vowed to "work constructively" with Scotland's nationalist government as he kicked off a trip aimed at improving ties between London and the UK's devolved nations. Starmer met with Scotland's First Minister and leader of the pro-separatist Scottish National Party (SNP) John Swinney in Edinburgh on Sunday…
France is dealing with a hung parliament and complex negotiations to form a government after a left-wing surge blocked Marine Le Pen's bid for power. The New Popular Front (NFP) became the leading force in the National Assembly after Sunday's election, but no group secured a majority. The possibilities now…
PRIME minister Keir Starmer spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Saturday (6) and said he was keen to conclude a Free Trade Agreement that worked for both sides, Downing Street said. India and the UK have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for over two years with…
NEWLY appointed foreign secretary David Lammy reiterated his support Friday (5) for international efforts to secure an "immediate ceasefire" in the Israel-Hamas war and for the release of remaining hostages. Lammy, 51, said he would "get to work with tireless diplomacy" towards those twin aims, in his first comments after…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer will oversee a parliament more ethnically diverse and more female than ever after securing a landslide victory in the election. Black, Asian and ethnic minority lawmakers will represent around 13 per cent of the House of Commons, up from 10 per cent in 2019, when Britain…
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated Frances Tiafoe in five sets to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Friday, while Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff advanced with ease. Alcaraz won 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, serving 16 aces and hitting 55 winners in a match that lasted nearly four hours.…
US president Joe Biden spoke to new prime minister Keir Starmer on Friday, congratulating him on the Labour Party's landslide general election victory. In a call shortly after taking office, Starmer told Biden that the UK's support for Ukraine was "unwavering." Downing Street's readout of the call noted, "The leaders…
NEWLY elected Labour prime minister Keir Starmer will kickstart his plan to "rebuild Britain" on his first full day in charge on Saturday (6), after his party's landslide election win ended 14 years of Tory rule. Starmer spent his first hours in Downing Street on Friday (5) appointing his ministerial…
SADIQ KHAN has pledged to lobby the incoming Labour government for new powers and billions more in funding for affordable housing in the capital. The mayor said he was looking forward to “constant obstacles not being put in my way” with the Tories ousted from Whitehall. But he also said…
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Air India, India’s leading global airline, has announced an exclusive new partnership with The Bicester Collection, a family of immersive luxury destinations, for the airline’s recently redesigned Flying Returns loyalty programme. The partnership offers Flying Returns reward points on shopping and dining experiences at The Bicester Collection’s nine open-air luxury…
Disney’s Aladdin is launching its first ever ‘Music Play Day’ on 20 August, during the highly anticipated run of the show at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre (14 August – 1 September 2024). This innovative programme is looking for up to 70 young musicians aged between 12-18 from the Yorkshire area who…
A record number of around 26 Indian-origin members of Parliament have been elected to the House of Commons in the UK's general election as results were announced on Friday, with several Conservatives surviving an overall brutal outcome for their party. Outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak leads the Tory charge of…
BREXIT figurehead Nigel Farage claimed to have kickstarted a "revolt against the establishment", as his hard-right party made significant gains in UK election results announced early Friday. Reform UK, a re-brand of the Brexit Party that Farage founded in 2018, had won four seats after around four-fifths of the UK's…
KEIR STARMER on Friday will become Britain's new prime minister, as his centre-left opposition Labour party swept to a landslide general election victory, ending 14 years of right-wing Conservative rule. "The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his…
Veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn won his parliamentary seat, beating the candidate of the Labour Party he used to lead and promising to be a thorn in the side of Keir Starmer's incoming government after an acrimonious falling out with his successor. Corbyn resigned as Labour leader in 2019 after the…
Keir Starmer on Friday said Britain was "ready for change", as his main opposition Labour party looked set to sweep to power in a landslide election win, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. The Labour leader won re-election in his north London constituency with ease, while around the country Labour…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer is a former human rights lawyer turned state prosecutor whose ruthless ambition and formidable work ethic look set to propel him to Britain's highest political office. The 61-year-old, named after Labour's founding father Keir Hardie, is the centre-left opposition party's most working-class leader in decades. "My…
FORMER chancellor Sajid Javid is set to become a partner at London-based investment firm Centricus. The move, effective from Monday (9), follows approval from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which assesses the propriety of former ministers taking roles in the private sector, reported The Guardian. Javid, who previously…
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson tried to rally the Conservative party faithful as UK politicians on Wednesday spent a final day campaigning ahead of the general election. The Brexit stalwart, ousted by his own Conservative lawmakers in 2022 after a string of scandals, made a surprise appearance at a party…
ASIAN households have been urged to take extra precautions when cooking for family gatherings this summer after a spate of fires. Cooking is the number one cause of accidental house fires in the UK. Of the 24,083 accidental dwelling fires in the year ending March 2023, 44 per cent were…
SOCIAL media firms have been urged to do more to tackle conspiracy theories and false information being posted on their platforms. These include messages and videos speculating about tragedies such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1984 and the 2017 Manchester Arena bombings. There are also false allegations about vaccines,…
AT THE time of writing, the result isn’t in from the general election. But it is fair to say that Rishi Sunak had to endure an undercurrent of racism, not only during the election campaign, but even before he became Conservative party leader. Some of it is overt. When Rishi…
PICTURE a wedding cake emerging from an elegant wardrobe with the song Leke Prabhu Ka Naam blaring in the background and a light show. As the wedding season gets underway, this is set to be a trend this year for the big day’s sweet treat, according to experts. A cake…
KAVITA KRISHNAMURTHY has become an integral part of people’s lives with the stunning songs she has delivered across the decades. The timeless tracks like Pyaar Hua Chupke Se, Mera Piya Ghar Aaya, Dola Re Dola, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Hawa Hawai, Tu Hi Re and many more have turned…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to listen to Asian communities, saying he would like its business leaders to play an integral part in the UK’s rejuvenation, should the party win the election on Thursday (4). In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye on the sidelines of a visit to…
THE pressure of being legendary sarod maestro Pandit Debasish Bhattacharya’s daughter did not deter Debasmita Bhattacharya from pursuing the same path. The naturally gifted talent grew up in a musically rich environment, which included her acclaimed vocalist mother Sangita Bhattacharya and used all that learning to become one of the…
IN A first, Eastern Eye marked the outstanding contribution made by the Asian community in the real estate industry at the Eastern Eye Property Awards in London last week. By recognising excellence, best practice and creativity, the awards brought to prominence the impact and vision of this diverse ethnic group.…
LEADING property and real-estate developers have cautioned that the next government faces a battle to fix the country’s housing system. Kamal Pankhania, a property developer and entrepreneur who leads Westcombe Group, said at last week’s inaugural Eastern Eye Property Awards that the lack of houses being built to meet demand…
A MISSION to transform cooking and eating led Dr Chintal Patel towards writing a newly published book with quick, easy, healthy meals for the whole family. With Dr Chintal Patel’s Kitchen, the London-based NHS GP with over 20 years of experience has created a cookbook that aims to empower families…
Bodhana Sivanandan, a nine-year-old chess prodigy from London, will become the youngest player to represent England in any sport. She will join the England women’s team at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest this September. Her father, Sivanandan Velayutham, according to The Times, shared that Bodhana was unaware of the news…
BRITISH ASIAN entrepreneurs were recognised for their contribution in developing the country’s property and real-estate sectors at the inaugural Eastern Eye Property Awards in London last Wednesday (26). With the event’s focus on urban planning, commercial and residential development and regeneration of neighbourhoods, the ceremony showcased the achievements of Asians…
ISLAMIST preacher Anjem Choudary has claimed that the "Kevin Keegan effect" is responsible for people still associating him with a banned group, a court has heard. Choudary, 57, is facing charges of directing the group Al Muhajiroun (ALM), which he said was disbanded in 2004, being a long-time member, and…
A MIGRANT nurse may receive a substantial payout from a UK healthcare firm after an employment judge ruled he was likely to succeed in his unfair dismissal case, a decision that could open the door for numerous similar claims, The Guardian reported. Employment Judge Natasha Joffe ruled that Clinica Private…
A future Labour government would have a greater focus on legal migration while also tackling inactivity among British workers in order to reduce net migration to the UK, the party’s chair, Anneliese Dodds, said at an election debate hosted by Eastern Eye in London on Monday (1). In its election manifesto launched…
Newham is set to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month from 18 July to 17 August with a vibrant and diverse programme under the theme 'Free to be Me.' The month-long celebration aims to raise awareness and honour the rich British South Asian heritage in Newham. It promises a rich cultural…
NEARLY 1.8 million people in the UK now owe at least £50,000 in student debt and 50 people owe more than £200,000 each, the BBC reported. The figures from the Student Loans Company (SLC) revealed that over 61,000 people have debts exceeding £100,000. These statistics were disclosed following a Freedom…
Rishi Sunak, trailing in the election race, started his day early on Tuesday by visiting a retail distribution centre. Before 5 am, he was at an Ocado warehouse in Luton, north of London, observing robots picking items for delivery. Sunak, who has appeared tired during the six-week campaign, spent the…
THE CELEBRATION of India's T20 world championship victory at Queensbury Circle in London on June 29 turned tragic when a man plunged from a towering pole he was trying to climb. The footage shared on various social media platforms showed the incident happened around 7:30 pm. Huge crowds who had…
Director Hansal Mehta's much-awaited film The Buckingham Murders, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, will hit the screens on September 13, the makers said on Monday. Kareena, who most recently appeared in Crew alongside Tabu and Kriti Sanon, is also making her production debut with the murder mystery which she has co-produced…
Rajinder Kalia, a 68-year-old "guru," faces a lawsuit for up to £8 million from former disciples who accuse him of falsely presenting himself as 'God on Earth' to manipulate and sexually assault them. According to the Daily Mail, Kalia allegedly used staged videos of miracles, such as squeezing blood from…
Carlos Alcaraz will be the main attraction on the opening day of Wimbledon as he begins his quest to retain the title. Later in the day, world number one Jannik Sinner will look to make a strong start in his opening match. Alcaraz, 21, who defeated Novak Djokovic to win…
BRITISH house prices showed a small gain in June from May but the impact of higher borrowing costs is still weighing on the property market, mortgage lender Nationwide said on Monday. Prices rose by 0.2 per cent in monthly terms and were 1.5 per cent higher than in June last…
THE Law Society of England and Wales hosted the Bar Council of India at its premises in Chancery Lane in London on Thursday (27). The Bar Council of England and Wales also participated in the discussions, building on a joint Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening legal exchange, transitional legal…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty sought divine blessings on the last weekend ahead of the July 4 general election at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, popularly known as Neasden Temple. The couple were greeted with loud cheers as their convoy drove into the mandir grounds…
Several prominent artists will be performing at Glastonbury 2024 on Saturday, as the second day of music gets underway at the world-famous festival. Coldplay will be taking to the Pyramid Stage from 10pm until 11.45pm on Saturday 29 June, with country pop superstar Shania Twain, Eric Prydz and American singer…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer visited the Sree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kingsbury, London on Friday (28) and interacted with the local British Indian community. In his address, Starmer described the Kingsbury Temple as "a beacon of care and compassion" and lauded the way it treats all people, irrespective of their backgrounds,…
The Eastern Eye Election Debate, organised by the Asian Media Group, will take place on Monday (1), featuring senior leaders from the three main political parties. Watch the live stream on the below link: https://www.youtube.com/live/2XSYHLeCTSU This event underscores the Asian Media Group's commitment to amplifying the political voice of the…
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has appeared on Bangladeshi TV channel after his comments on illegal migrants triggered a backlash, The Telegraph reports. During an interview with The Sun, Starmer said the number of people being returned to the country of their origin had fallen by 44 per cent under…
THE second edition of the Global Chess League will be held in London from October 3 to 12, said the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The 10-day, one-of-a-kind chess league featuring top players, will take place at Friends House in central London. The first edition was held in Dubai in 2023. It…
REFORM UK party leader Nigel Farage has dismissed members of his election campaign after they were filmed making racist and homophobic comments, he said in a statement Thursday. Farage, a former EU parliamentarian who has tried and failed to run for the UK parliament seven times, is seeking a seat…
The number of people sleeping on the streets of London has reached a record high of nearly 12,000, according to figures released on Thursday. This rise is attributed to the UK's cost-of-living crisis. In the year to March, 11,993 people were reported to be rough sleeping in London, an increase…
With the Labour Party widely expected to win next month's UK general election, speculation is growing about who leader Keir Starmer might appoint as senior ministers. Here are the contenders for the most prominent positions: Deputy prime minister: Angela Rayner Angela Rayner, 44, stands out in a political landscape often…
SHARES of UK food delivery company Deliveroo have surged after reports surfaced that US rival Doordash engaged in takeover talks with the firm, with analysts suggesting that other potential bidders might emerge in the coming weeks. Doordash expressed interest in acquiring Deliveroo last month, but negotiations ended as the parties…
UK-BASED human rights group Stop Uyghur Genocide has launched a legal campaign to block Shein's potential London listing over concerns about its labour practices, a law firm representing the campaign group said on Wednesday (26). Human rights law firm Leigh Day has written to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)…
An inquest jury has found that failures across multiple agencies contributed to the death of Zara Aleena, who was raped and murdered in east London in June 2022. Jordan McSweeney, who had been released from prison on licence nine days before the attack, was jailed for life with a minimum…
IN Glasgow, voters at July 4 general election are poised to desert the Scottish National Party and re-establish Labour in its former fiefdom, setting back Scotland's bruised independence movement. Out shopping on Dumbarton Road in the Partick area of Scotland's biggest city, 26-year-old trainee lawyer Suzie Green said she and…
A woman from an aristocratic family is to face a re-trial with her partner for manslaughter after their newborn daughter died while they were living off-grid in freezing temperatures. Constance Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, were arrested after a seven-week police hunt in January and February last…
Banks advising South Korean automaker Hyundai on its India IPO are set to make up to £31.75 million in fees, three sources told Reuters. This is significant in a market where banks often struggle to profit due to cost-conscious clients and fewer large deals. This fee would be the second-highest…
Carlos Alcaraz will defend his Wimbledon men's title starting Monday. His main rival is expected to be world number one Jannik Sinner rather than Novak Djokovic. A win for the 21-year-old Spaniard will give him back-to-back Grand Slam titles after his French Open victory and his fourth major title overall.…
THE prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has told Eastern Eye that his faith and dharma have helped to guide him through difficult times. He also revealed how the “mantle of the office” adds weight to his responsibilities. Sunak spoke exclusively to Eastern Eye during a visit to the Shree Kutch Satsang…
Sanjana Thakur's short story Aishwarya Rai has been declared the overall winner of the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The 26-year-old writer from Mumbai was earlier declared the Asia region winner. The other regional winners included Julie Bouchard from Canada, Pip Robertson from New Zealand, Reena Usha Rungoo from Mauritius,…
AS WITH Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, the National Trust is keen for British Asians to visit Powis Castle in Welshpool in Wales, because it is taking a critical look at how Britain came to establish colonial rule in India. From the Asian point of view, they are perhaps two of…
A MAJOR highlight from this year’s London Indian Film Festival is the world premiere of Tight: The World of Indian Bodybuilding. The uplifting documentary film following a young bodybuilder from South India, as he prepares for a national championship, shines a fascinating light on an increasingly popular sport. It also…
A man has been arrested in connection with an operation that targeted British politicians and journalists working in parliament with unsolicited and flirtatious messages, police said on Wednesday. "A man was arrested on suspicion of harassment and committing offences under the Online Safety Act. He was taken into custody where…
THE enchanting romances of Bollywood director Yash Chopra first connected Iram Parveen Bilal to filmmaking and the power of storytelling. This has led the Pakistani American towards making meaningful movies in the hope of finding answers or perspectives that make sense of the world and people living in it. Her…
THERE will be little difference in public spending whichever party wins the July 4 general election, with the UK's coffers strained largely by huge Covid expenditure. The main opposition Labour party, widely predicted to defeat the ruling Conservatives, has promised investment in key areas such as health and education but…
RENOWNED Indian opera singer Anando Mukerjee has said that Byron Jackson’s diverse production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman will break barriers in opera. The play is the UK’s first ethnically led Wagner production with artistic direction from Jackson and stage direction by Iqbal Khan. Jackson, a dramatic baritone of British…
WHETHER it is soulful ballads, Sufi classics, spiritual songs or big upbeat numbers, Harshdeep Kaur has delighted fans around the world with an in - credible array of hits. These top tracks are all elevated to an even higher level when the superb singer performs them in front of a…
Five more police officers are alleged to have placed bets on the UK general election date, according to a force spokesperson on Tuesday. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has withdrawn support from two Conservative candidates due to the growing scandal. The issue has impacted the final days of campaigning, with Sunak…
AN Asian school teacher from Harrow was honoured at the TES Awards 2024 last week, a statement said. Neetu Sadhwani won the Subject Lead of the Year (secondary) award at the event dubbed the ‘Oscars of Education’ held in London last Friday (21). She is head of faculty of Modern…
TORIES said on Tuesday (25) it had withdrawn support for two parliamentary candidates who are being investigated over alleged bets placed on the timing of next month's national election. A London police officer working in a special protection unit was separately arrested last week over alleged bets made on the…
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to become a "free man," his wife said Tuesday, once a judge approves a plea deal with US authorities, concluding his years-long legal battles. Assange was released Monday from a high-security British prison, where he had been held for five years while fighting extradition…
LONDON has been ranked the most congested in Europe for the third year in a row, according to report by traffic information supplier Inrix. The report stated that drivers in the city spent an average of 99 hours sitting in traffic in 2023, up from 97 hours in 2022. This…
TWO well-known bestselling authors, Lord Jeffrey Archer and Amish Tripathi, have teamed up with UK-headquartered India Global Forum (IGF) to launch a brand-new $25,000 (£19,715) literary award to nurture talent in contemporary Indian fiction and celebrate storytelling. The IGF Archer-Amish Award for Literature was announced on Monday (24), the inaugural…
“Who will speak for Kashmir in parliament? Will it be me, or Labour Party Parliamentary candidate Sonia KUMAR?” That was the question addressed to “Voters of the British Pakistani/Kashmir community in Dudley” by Marco Longhi, their Conservative candidate seeking re-election. Longhi claims to be baffled by criticism. He defends it…
After Hollywood star Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh, Tom Cruise's daughter, Suri Cruise, has reportedly removed her surname. Suri now goes by Suri Noelle, according to her graduation ceremony pamphlet, reported Page Six. Suri recently graduated high school. In photos and video obtained by the publication, Suri could be seen ringing…
A schoolboy from south-west England has become the first person in the world with severe epilepsy to trial a new device fitted in his skull to control seizures. The neurostimulator, which sends electrical signals deep into his brain, has reduced Oran Knowlson's daytime seizures by 80 per cent. The surgery…
LAW firm Ashurst has named two new co-heads for its India market, which is of 'key strategic focus' for the London-headquartered company. The two co-heads, Kalpana Unadkat and Shishir Mehta, will be based in London and work alongside Ashurst's core India team to increase its presence in the country, Economic…
INDIA has said that Canada's act of glorifying militancy was 'deplorable', and no country should overlook the threat of terrorism emanating from its soil for political gains. In a statement on the 39th anniversary of the 1985 Kanishka bombing, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa said that terrorism knows "no…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak visited the Sri Kutchh Satsang Swaminarayan Temple in Kenton, northwest London, on Sunday with former MP Bob Blackman and other leaders. Swami Shri Madhavapriyadas and Santavallabhdas honoured Sunak with garlands, as he accepted an invitation to the 'Vadtal Sri Lakshminarayan Dev Bicentenary Mahotsav.' Sunak received a…
During her recent performance in London, Taylor Swift delighted fans at Wembley Stadium by bringing out a special guest: her boyfriend, Travis Kelce onstage! The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback made a surprise appearance during Swift's rendition of 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,' capturing the crowd's attention with…
An Asian restaurant in London risks losing its licence for employing illegal workers, according to media reports. Gana Restaurant, a Sri Lankan and South Indian restaurant on Ealing Road in Wembley was raided by Home Office personnel last September and five out of six employees were found working illegally, Harrow…
SABIA AKRAM has spent most of her life campaigning for Labour party but she will not celebrate if it wins the July 4 election, having quit over leader Keir Starmer's handling of issues around the war in Gaza and race. The Labour holds a commanding lead in opinion polls after…
Housing minister Michael Gove has compared the recent scandal involving Tory candidates accused of betting on the election date to the Partygate controversy, which involved Covid-era parties that led to Boris Johnson's downfall. In an interview with The Times on Saturday, Gove said the betting allegations are similar to Partygate.…
A significant number of flights at Manchester Airport, the UK's third-busiest, were delayed or cancelled on Sunday due to a major power cut, according to the airport operator. The Manchester Airports Group, which also operates London Stansted and East Midlands airports, reported that Manchester Airport had been "affected by a…
A POLICE officer working in a special protection unit has been arrested over alleged bets made on the timing of Britain's national election next month, London police said. The BBC reported the officer worked as part of prime minister Rishi Sunak's close protection team. The Metropoliton Police said it was…
The government is considering retaliatory action against Russian hackers for stealing confidential data from several London hospitals after a cyber attack on a blood testing lab, The Guardian reports. The Russian cybercriminal group Qilin had on June 3 carried out a cyber attack on Synnovis, a lab company that provides…
NATIONAL Health Service said on Friday it was investigating claims that hackers had published confidential data stolen from several London hospitals in a cyber attack on a blood testing lab. Services at large London hospitals including Guy's, St Thomas' and King's services were still being disrupted following the attack by…
THE CAMPAIGN chief for prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives stepped aside two weeks before an election, the party said on Thursday, after reports he and his candidate wife were being investigated for betting on the election date. The rapidly escalating gambling scandal is the latest misfortune to unfold for Sunak,…
AN ASIAN-ORIGIN woman is facing trial for lying about her educational qualifications and experience to get a top nursing job, according to media reports. Tanya Nasir from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was accused of lying and providing misleading information in her CV to get appointed as a senior nurse to manage the…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced calls on Thursday to launch an inquiry after one of his close protection officers was arrested for allegedly betting on the timing of the UK general election. London's Metropolitan Police said it was told by the Gambling Commission that an officer working for the prime…
Our editor-at-large, Barnie Choudhury, meets Rajesh Agrawal, one of the hopefuls to take a seat usually regarded as a Labour stronghold. Leicester is one of those cities in middle England which gets ignored in general elections. No big-name politicians really grace us with their presence – no Rishi, no Keir,…
SHE may have slowed down dramatically in the past two decades to concentrate on family life, but that doesn’t take away from the remarkable achievements of Karisma Kapoor. From breaking ground for women in her famous family to starring in successful Bollywood films and inspiring her superstar younger sister Kareeena…
THE first south Asian MP elected to parliament in post-war Britain is urging voters to judge him on his record rather than what they may have heard or read about him in the media. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Keith Vaz said he wanted to run so he…
TOP stand-up talent Anuvab Pal is no stranger to dissecting the British empire with cutting edge comedy. Instead of using a scalpel, he wields a giant sword with his latest show and slices through all aspects of Britishness, from the colonisation of India to contemporary nuances of UK culture. With…
WHETHER it has been performing for the first minister of Scotland, in Trafalgar Square or at various concerts around the UK, the Chahat. Mahmood Ali Qawwali Group have been a revelation, ever since they made a stunning debut for the Newham mayor’s South Asian Heritage month event last summer. …
ACCLAIMED Kathak exponent Ashwini Kalsekar is known for her expressive performances and ability to create magic on stage. The London-based dancer, choreographer and teacher is one of three leading female artists headlining the Utsav 2024 show taking place at Harrow Arts Centre in London on July 21. She joins sarod…
LISTENING to Reform leader Nigel Farage and other politicians on the need to cut immigration, the average voter would have no idea of the extent to which the British economy is being propped up by companies from India. This is one reason why Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian high commissioner to…
THIS year’s Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy (RA) has showcased a number of works by British Asian artists but Eastern Eye first spoke to Andrea Tarsia, the RA’s director of exhibitions. “The RA is for everyone,” he said. “It really is. I know that we have rather intimidating buildings.…
A leading disease specialist has questioned whether Britain is ready to tackle the next global pandemic. Kamlesh Khunti, professor of primary care diabetes and vascular medicine at the University of Leicester, was one of several south Asian doctors who alerted the government to the disproportionate deaths among communities of colour…
METROPOLITAN Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has urged closing “outrageous” gaps in hate crime laws, which he claims permit individuals to legally incite racial and religious hatred. Rowley said he found it “startling” that such incitement is possible as long as people avoid being explicitly threatening or abusive. His comments…
EVERY woman will tell you about the importance of having great eyebrows. Nez Hasan recognised this when she quit her 9-5 office job to train in all things connected to beautiful brows. The big-thinking entrepreneur has since then created a brand under her own name, gained a lot of press…
AN INTERESTING highlight from this year’s London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) is the world premiere of Before Nikkah. The romantic comedy set over one day in London, follows two British Pakistanis on a blind date, as they prepare for a prospective arranged marriage. Talented young actors Sasha Vadher…
BRITISH-ASIAN music icon, Kuljit Bhamra, has urged creators to produce music that was capable of “grabbing listeners’ hearts.” Bhamra told Eastern Eye it was crucial to create something that captured attention in the first few seconds, as people had short attention spans nowadays. “I think the way music is consumed has…
A UK woman labelled a Chinese spy and a threat to national security by MI5 claims the "politically-motivated" decision has devastated her life and confined her to her home. In January 2022, MI5 issued an alert notice (IA) about lawyer Christine Lee, alleging she was "involved in political interference activities"…
A young mother was strangled by her husband in front of their children after he discovered her 'affair' with a man her age on TikTok, a court has heard. Aminan Rahman, 47, is charged with murdering 24-year-old Suma Begum in a Docklands flat in east London on April 29 last…
Mood changes, even momentary ones, could profoundly heighten the brain's response to pleasure in people having bipolar disorder, according to a research. People having this mental condition, marked by extreme shifts in moods and energy levels, are more prone to this 'mood bias' - the term researchers used for when…
Actress Simone Ashley, who plays Kate Sharma in Bridgerton, says she hopes she and co-star Jonathan Bailey get an opportunity to return for season four of the popular Netflix series. In the third season of the period drama, Ashley and Bailey reprised their characters Kate and Viscount Anthony Bridgerton. Kate…
Singer Maithili Thakur captivated the audience in her debut performance at the Watford Bhaktivedanta Temple in London. The event on Sunday marked her first visit to the United Kingdom. The temple was filled with a large gathering of devotees and music enthusiasts, all of whom deeply enjoyed the spiritual ambiance…
Many young voters in the UK's upcoming general election have lived under a Conservative government for most of their lives, with the ruling party having been in power since 2010. Gen Z voters - those born after 1997 - only made up nine per cent of the electorate last time…
Starling Bank is moving closer to a London stock market listing after higher interest rates boosted its profits for a third consecutive year. Interim CEO John Mountain said a potential flotation is being "extensively discussed" with shareholders, reported The Times. The bank reported a 55 per cent increase in annual…
PRINCESS KATE announced on Friday (14) she will make her first public appearance in six months this weekend after "making good progress" in treatment for cancer. The 42-year-old future queen will attend King Charles III's annual birthday parade on Saturday (15) with other senior royals, which the British monarch is…
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has made an announcement about the conclusion of her ongoing sixth concert tour. During her 100th show at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, the pop superstar shared with the audience that she is going to wrap up the Eras Tour at the end of the year, reported…
BRITAIN's top police officer has urged to close 'outrageous' gaps in hate crime laws, which he claims permit individuals to legally incite racial and religious hatred. Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley found it 'startling' that such incitement is possible as long as people avoid avoid being explicitly threatening or…
Anjem Choudary, an Islamist cleric, directed an international terrorist group from his home in east London, a court heard. Choudary, 57, reportedly became the "caretaker" leader of Al-Muhajiroun in 2014 while its spiritual leader was imprisoned in Lebanon, reported The Times. He is accused of leading the group under the…
Fast fashion retailer Shein, known for its China-made $5 (£3.91) tops and $10 (£7.82) dresses, has hiked prices by over a third on some core products, in a move likely to boost revenues ahead of its planned IPO, according to an analysis of its pricing strategy. Shein's average price hikes…
THERE are special history-making concerts where everything comes together to create a perfect moment in time. One of those occurrences happened at the Royal Albert Hall in London recently. The UK’s leading live music venue saw a melting pot of contrasting influences come together as a beautiful ball of…
Vinod Thakrar, a distinguished community leader, celebrated his 70th birthday on 31 May 2024, at the Dhamecha Lohana Centre, South Harrow. The event drew an impressive gathering of friends, family, dignitaries, and leaders from various organisations, underscoring Thakrar's extensive influence and network. Thakrar currently serves as a trustee at The…
BRITAIN is on course to have the most diverse parliament in history no matter which party wins the general election, according to research by leading race and diversity thinktank British Future. Analysis of final candidate selections suggests there will be an increase of at least 20, and as many as…
IT HAS been interesting to see how sophisticated the Asian community has become in dealing with real estate over the past five decades. Looking back to the 1970s, when a large influx of Asians came to the UK, mostly from east Africa, after being expelled from Uganda, the community has…
MANY distinguished authors featured at the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF) at the British Library last weekend, but one of the stars was Mishal Husain who was interviewed by fellow BBC journalist, Anita Anand. In Broken Threads: My Family From Empire to Independence, Mishal talked about how her grandparents, born in…
MAHARASHTRA, followed by Karnataka and Delhi, are the top three states of India bringing in foreign direct investment (FDI) into the UK, according to a new joint report produced by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the High Commission of India in the UK. Indian Assets: Charting the Journeys…
OPENING the annual London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) is always a great honour and this year that has been bestowed upon American drama Paper Flowers. The opening night movie of this year’s festival is based on the true story of a Gujarati American in a long-term relationship, who is diagnosed…
NIGEL FARAGE is richly entertaining, but he is getting a little ahead of himself. Before he becomes prime minister, there is the smaller matter of becoming an MP. Can he be certain he will be elected as the Reform MP for Clacton? He appears to have forgotten that he campaigned…
SEVERAL areas across Birmingham and Northamptonshire each have thousands of registered voters with no qualifying ID – potentially denying them a chance to vote in the upcoming general election. New laws requiring voter ID were introduced last year, with the local elections in England on May 4 last year being…
TAN DHESI stressed his support for Slough’s communities and his calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as he launched his campaign to be re-elected MP. His launch last Saturday (8) came just days after seven Slough councillors quit the Labour Party, criticising both him and the party. At the event,…
THERE perhaps isn’t a young Bollywood leading man under 40 with more momentum behind him than Kartik Aaryan. The 33-year-old has gone from being an outsider to becoming red hot property in Hindi cinema, with high-profile producers wanting to sign him for major movies. The self-made star adds to his…
Labour has announced plans to fund councils to repair up to a million potholes a year in England, aiming to provide multi-year funding settlements to local leaders to address broken roads. This initiative seeks to move away from the "sticking plaster approach" to road repairs, as reported by BBC. The…
NARENDRA MODI was sworn in as prime minister of India last Sunday (9) for the third time, but newspapers around the world have all been asking the same set of searching questions. Why did the exit polls get it so wrong in predicting a “super majority” of anything up to…
A former Deutsche Bank trader is suing the bank in a London court for just over £2.6 million after she was not paid an individual bonus nearly a decade ago, though Germany's largest lender says it simply could not afford it. Shikha Gupta worked until 2017 for Deutsche Bank's non-core…
The American owner of Boots has dropped plans for a London float for the chemist and is reportedly scouting for potential buyers, according to media reports. The move has robbed the UK's ailing stock market of an anticipated listing. In recent years there has been a dearth of initial public…
Tata Steel has said that steelmaking in south Wales could be at "significant risk" if a £500 million subsidy is delayed. This follows shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds' call for Tata to engage with a potential Labour government. Tata expressed concern in a statement to the London stock market that…
AN unprecedented number of candidates are running in this year's general election on 4 July. Over 4,500 people are vying for positions across the 650 constituencies in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the BBC reported. This represents a 35.7 per cent increase from the 2019 election. The surge in…
Singapore Airlines has extended compensation offers to passengers aboard a flight from London to Singapore that faced severe turbulence last month. The incident resulted in numerous injuries and a fatality. Passengers with minor injuries have been offered £7,874, while those with serious injuries can discuss offers tailored to their specific…
SMETHWICK was once notorious in British politics, after the 1964 election saw an overtly racist campaign succeed there at the ballot box. Smethwick’s reputation as a hotbed of racism went around the world. Even Malcolm X visited the West Midlands town, just days before his assassination back in America. Yet…
THE inquest into Zara Aleena's death revealed that her killer, Jordan McSweeney, had been accused of multiple offences during his imprisonment the previous year. McSweeney, a sexual predator with 28 prior convictions, murdered the 35-year-old law graduate as she walked home in Ilford, east London, in June 2022. He had…
OXFORD UNIVERSITY will return a 500-year-old bronze statue of the Hindu saint Tirumankai Alvar to India, following a claim by the Indian high commission that the sculpture might have been looted from an Indian temple. This 16th-century artifact, previously displayed at the Ashmolean Museum, depicts the Tamil poet and saint…
Aminan Rahman is on trial for allegedly strangling his wife, Suma Begum, before disposing of her body in a suitcase and throwing it into the River Lea. The body of 24-year-old Suma Begum was found in the River Lea on May 8, 2023. The Old Bailey heard that on the…
Former Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green Faiza Shaheen said she decided to contest as an independent following an outpouring of support from her followers. Faiza announced her new campaign on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday (5) afternoon. She quit the Labour Party the previous day following her deselection…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi’s historic third term in power should be celebrated, analysts told Eastern Eye on Tuesday (4) as the results from the country’s mammoth general election showed his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party, but was denied an outright majority. For the first time…
Air India will start non-stop flights between Bengaluru and London Gatwick from August 18. The airline will operate five weekly flights on this route, except on Tuesdays and Saturdays, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The Dreamliner features 18 business class flat beds and 238 economy class seats. The flight (AI…
THE first post-war south Asian MP to be elected to parliament, Keith Vaz, is to run for his old seat, Leicester East – as an independent. The move will come as a big surprise to many in the world of politics, and it will cause fear among Labour ranks, sources…
Sunil Chhetri's final match for India ended in a 0-0 draw against Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday, as thousands of fans gathered to bid farewell to the football legend. Nearly 59,000 spectators filled the stadium in Kolkata to witness the captain's swan song, a significant turnout in…
Companies based out of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi were the top Indian investors in the UK in 2023, says a joint report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Indian High Commission. In 2023, India was the second largest source market for the UK, bringing in 118 new…
The first Muslim International Film Festival (MIFF), which ran from May 30 to June 2 in London, saw Amjad Al Rasheed’s debut feature Inshallah A Boy taking the best feature award while veteran documentarian Asif Kapadia walked away with the festival’s honorary Trailblazer Award. The festival was launched by producer…
Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma and an untitled English-language feature by Pan Nalin are part of Civic Studios’ slate as the production house continues global expansion from its bases in Mumbai and London. Founded by Anushka Shah and incubated at the MIT Media Lab, Civic Studios works with the mission of…
BOYS from the Blackstuff is a play set in Liverpool in 1982 about five unemployed men who are desperate to find work, but who cannot find any. Directed by Kate Wasserberg, it is an adaptation by James Graham of the 1982 BBC TV drama by Alan Bleasdale, a playwright from…
TENTS made by skilled workers in Rajasthan have been shown at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. They have been imported from India by the Raj Tent Club, a company co-founded in the 1990s by Nicola Marks. One of the company’s employees, Davina, told Eastern Eye: “Nicky adores India. She is…
DOCUMENTATION delays postponed the recall of Zara Aleena's murderer to prison, just days before he fatally attacked her, an inquest disclosed. Jordan McSweeney, who fatally assaulted the 35-year-old law graduate in June 2022, had breached the terms of his release from prison. The paperwork for his recall was initiated on…
INDIA-CHINA relations are expected to remain antagonistic for the foreseeable future, a new report has said, citing a lack of trust as well as engagement. According to the 11th edition of the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment by the London-based thinktank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), New Delhi’s expanding…
The Royal Court and London’s International Festival of Theatre have revealed the first five names to appear in the world premiere of ECHO (Every Cold-Hearted Oxygen). Meera Syal, Toby Jones, Fiona Shaw, Kathryn Hunter, and Rebecca Lucy Taylor are the first five artists who have been confirmed to perform in…
A TEENAGE rickshaw driver from an Indian village expressed her delight after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace last month, when she collected a prestigious women’s empowerment award. Arti, 18, from Bahraich in the country’s northern Uttar Pradesh state, won the Amal Clooney women’s empowerment award, named after the high-profile…
SEVERAL top British universities may become less attractive due to reduced funding and stricter regulations on overseas students, according to the annual QS 2025 university rankings. Despite these challenges, four British universities maintained their positions in the top 10 of over 1,000 institutions ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a key…
THE Labour MP and shadow secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds, has accused the Conservative party of instigating “culture wars” to deflect from their failings as he insisted his party will deliver on its pledges. Ahead of the general election on July 4, Reynolds believes voters will…
THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is expected to scale back its plans to publicly name companies under investigation, following criticism from four lawyers who said that a government and industry backlash has labelled the proposals as misjudged and harmful to London's competitive standing. The anticipated decision by the markets regulator…
Four candidates, all 25, are set to become the youngest Members of Parliament (MPs) after winning in the India elections. Pushpendra Saroj, Priya Saroj, Shambhavi Choudhary, and Sanjana Jatav emerged victorious, representing the Samajwadi Party, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), and Congress, respectively. The Election Commission of India has declared results…
FUSION music perhaps played one of the biggest parts in shaping British Asian culture and one of the early pioneers was Najma Akhtar. Blending south Asian music rooted in centuries of rich culture with modern western contemporary sounds and performing on the biggest global stages enabled the path-breaking singer to…
ONE of Britain’s leading foreign policy experts said he would urge the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to show “magnanimity” in the light of the results of the general election, in which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not done as well as it had expected. Lord Simon McDonald,…
A POLICE officer from Bradford was on Tuesday (4) sentenced to 18 months of community service for sharing messages on WhatsApp supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Mohammed Adil, 26, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Terrorism Act for sending the messages in October and November last year. He…
SOME of the major London hospitals cancelled some operations on Tuesday after a cyber-attack on a key service supplier had a "major impact", particularly on blood transfusions, according to internal memos to NHS staff. The attack on pathology partner Synnovis hit King's College Hospital and Guy's and St Thomas' (including…
As the results of India's mammoth general election trickled in on Tuesday, UK-based strategic experts and poll watchers were all praise for the country's “thriving and flourishing” democratic process. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party is on course for a historic third term, the strong performance of the…
More than 100 British celebrities, including actors Riz Ahmed and Steve Coogan, have urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to “take a stand against the ongoing atrocities committed by Israel” in Gaza, The Guardian reported on Sunday. In a letter coordinated by Artists for Palestine UK, Starmer was urged to “demonstrate…
ZARA ALEENA's family has expressed their anguish over her "preventable" death, as revealed in an ongoing inquest. Aleena, a 35-year-old law graduate, was killed by Jordan McSweeney while walking home in Ilford, east London, in June 2022. McSweeney received a life sentence with a minimum of 38 years in December…
India faced defeats in both men's and women's hockey against Great Britain in the FIH Pro League matches held in London. India's men's hockey team suffered a 1-3 loss against hosts Great Britain in their second match of the FIH Pro League in London on Sunday. Bandurak Nicholas scored two…
Faiza Shaheen, who was disallowed by the Labour party to contest the general election, has accused party activists of knocking at her door while campaigning for the candidate who replaced her. She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Wow, the Labour Party just had the gall to knock on my door.…
THE INTENDED target for the gangland shooting in Hackeny, which left a schoolgirl fighting for her life, wishes the bullet had hit him rather than the innocent child, The Times reports. Beytullah Gunduz (37), who has been linked to the Turkish underworld, was with friends outside a restaurant in Dalston…
Ishana Night Shyamalan, the daughter of acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, is stepping into the spotlight with her debut film, The Watchers. Ahead of its release on June 7, the debutant filmmaker is busy promoting the film on various platforms. She recently spoke to an Indian entertainment portal and said…
FORMER deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg has been providing financial support in his former constituency seat, the Financial Times revealed. He donated tens of thousands of pounds to his former Sheffield Hallam seat to boost its fight against the current Labour MP. Labour's Olivia Blake has…
DIANE ABBOTT, the first black woman to become a British MP and a left-wing figurehead, on Sunday (2) said she would run for Labour in July's election after days of confusion. The internal ruckus over her situation exposed long-standing factional splits within the main opposition party, which is widely expected…
A nine-year-old girl, identified as a schoolgirl from Indian state of Kerala on a day out in London with her Birmingham-based family, remains in critical condition after being shot in a drive-by incident by a motorbike assailant in east London. The city's Malayali community has named the victim as Lissel…
American media personality Paris Hilton has finally announced her new album Infinite Icon, which will be released on September 6, reported People. The album is releasing nearly two decades after her 2006 debut album Paris, which featured the hit single “Stars Are Blind”. The DJ also shared that the first…
ADIL RASHID is optimistic about England's position before their T20 World Cup defence, following a seven-wicket triumph over Pakistan at The Oval on Thursday (30). This win, securing a 2-0 victory in a rain-interrupted four-match Twenty20 series, has bolstered their confidence. Their journey to retain the title starts against Scotland…
THE number of people killed on London’s roads last year was the second lowest on record, according to the latest data. Fatalities fell from 102 last year to 95. The lowest figure was seen in 2021, when 75 deaths were recorded – though that year was affected by the lower…
A 24-YEAR-OLD man of Brazilian heritage, who admitted to the manslaughter of Indian student Tejaswini Kontham and the attempted murder of her friend in London last year, has been sentenced to detention in a mental institution. Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday where he…
Ishana Shyamalan started promoting her directorial debut The Watchers with a press tour in London. She attended a special preview screening of the film on Tuesday at the Ham Yard Hotel in London, England. Joining her were the cast members Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, and Oliver Finnegan and her father,…
THE LABOUR Party has confirmed that Diane Abbott, Britain's first Black woman lawmaker, will be able to run in the July 4 election following confusion over her candidacy. Labour leader Keir Starmer told reporters that Abbott is "free to go forward" to contest her seat in northeast London. Abbott, MP…
INDO-CHINESE relations are expected to remain antagonistic for the foreseeable future, a new report has said, citing a lack of distrust as well as engagement. New Delhi’s expanding defence role and partnerships will likely further contribute to the increasingly competitive nature of India–China relations, according to the 11th edition of…
SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said Diane Abbott should be allowed to contest the election and agrees with Angela Rayner on the issue. His comment came amid a divide among senior Labour leaders over Abbott's candidature and puts pressure on Sir Keir Starmer. Sarwar told BBC that Abbott was…
A nine-year-old girl, believed to be from the southern Indian state of Kerala, is in critical condition in the hospital, 'fighting for her life,' after suffering a gunshot wound in a drive-by shooting from a motorbike in east London. She has yet to be formally identified The Metropolitan Police said…
Comedian Paul Chowdhary will be part of an inter-faith unique special black-tie humanitarian event, Gala for Gaza. Presented by Simple PR & Events in collaboration with Human Appeal, the event will place on Saturday 1st June 2024 at The Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London. The evening will feature a…
FAMILIES across the country are trapped in a state of uncertainty as the Home Office grapples with a massive backlog in handling their requests for visa fee waivers, reported the Guardian. The backlog, the largest ever recorded, has left around 33,000 applications pending, causing distress and instability among vulnerable families,…
A nine-year-old girl was in a critical condition on Thursday (30), police in London said, after a shooting the previous night at a restaurant in the east of the capital. Three men were also shot in the attack, which took place around 9.00 pm (2000 GMT) on Wednesday (29) when…
Extreme temperatures across India are having their worst impact in the country's teeming megacities, experts said Thursday, warning that the heat is fast becoming a public health crisis. India is enduring a crushing heatwave with temperatures in several cities sizzling well above 45 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperature readings…
BLOCKED Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen plans to challenge her deselection in court, saying that the party has “a problem with black and brown people” after a panel prevented her from running in in Chingford and Woodford Green. Shaheen, who has accused the party of racism, Islamophobia, and bullying, claimed she…
The first Muslim International Film Festival kick-started today in London. Actor-producer Sajid Varda, who launched the festival, said that it will “showcase stories we don’t usually see”. Varda told BBC News that too often there is a “negative portrayal” of Muslims in the mainstream media, “so this festival is largely…
PULITZER PRIZE-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has said that people's obsession with origin is a global danger, reported the Guardian. The author frequently encounters inquiries about her true origins, with people often asking her, "Where are you really from?" According to Lahiri, the question arises so regularly that it has become…
In a recent revelation, JK Rowling, the renowned author of the beloved Harry Potter series, has lashed out at the double standards exhibited by colleagues who publicly criticized her views on transgender rights while privately seeking to maintain their friendship. The acclaimed writer shared her sentiments in an extract from…
POLITICAL PARTIES must go after the south Asian vote in this general election or face a backlash in future polls, parliamentarians and experts have told Eastern Eye. They are warning candidates in every party that they ignore brown voters “at their peril”. With Labour currently 20 points ahead in the…
An employment tribunal has reprimanded the Scotland Yard for not allowing an Asian-origin detective to work from home despite his serious heart condition, The Times reports. The detective, Tarik Ahmed (57), told the London employment tribunal that senior officers were aware of his ischaemic heart disease and the multiple heart…
UK BROADCASTERS do not want to make programmes on the Bengal Famine of 1943 for fear it might tarnish Sir Winston Churchill’s reputation, a British Asian museum curator has told Eastern Eye. Sona Datta said that Kavita Puri had made a “remarkable breakthrough” by getting BBC Radio 4 to commission…
PERFORMING live has had a huge impact on Bhavik Haria as an artist and shaped him as a person. Apart from filling him with joy, feeding off the energy of audiences has motivated the British bhajan maestro to create a unique sense of unity through live spiritual music. That special…
BRITISH singer Rekha has consistently shown her brilliant best on stage. The versatile artist with a magnificent voice adds to her many musical projects with new show Bollywood Time Machine, which embarks on a UK tour in June. She performs alongside singing talent Chirag Rao at a concert filled with…
A DYNAMIC approach to fashion design and styling has taken Komal Shahani on a transformative journey filled with magical moments. Having started as a designer for fashion brand Mischief Boutique, the cool creative commenced her celebrity journey by styling Preity Zinta for a leading magazine cover. She has since then…
HIT comedy play Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding 2: Mauritius has been playing to packed houses during another successful UK tour. The current tour will conclude with a historymaking performance in London’s West End with a show at Adelphi Theatre on July 16. With nearly 100,000 tickets sold, it’s a great…
THE National Trust is encouraging British Asian visitors – especially Eastern Eye readers – to engage with their own history at Kedleston Hall, a magnificent estate in Derbyshire. This was once the home of the imperial ruler whose influence on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh lives on to this day. George…
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer denied on Wednesday that his party had barred Diane Abbott, the first black woman to become an MP, from standing as its candidate in the general election. Abbott, MP for a northeast London constituency since 1987, was suspended by Labour in April last year over…
THE Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will be delighted that its Chelsea Flower Show, which has had an exclusively white, middle-class audience since it began in 1913, attracted a much more diverse group of people last week. It is reckoned to be the most prestigious show of its kind in the…
A BRITISH Asian woman, whose balcony and container garden has recreated the lush woods of her parents’ native Kerala in south India, has won a gold medal in her first appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show. Being told she had won gold was an especially emotional moment for Jewlsy Mathews…
The owner of Britain's struggling Royal Mail said Wednesday it had accepted a takeover proposal from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky worth £3.6 billion. It comes after Kretinsky's conglomerate EP Group formalised an improved offer for International Distribution Services. "The IDS board believes that the offer from EP is fair and…
Senior British lawmakers, including the chairs of three parliamentary committees, have questioned fast-fashion giant Shein's suitability for a London stock market listing and called for greater scrutiny of the Chinese-founded firm. Shein is stepping up preparations for a London listing after its attempt to float in New York faced regulatory…
Sadiq Khan sparked a fresh dispute with Keir Starmer on Monday by urging a ban on arms sales to Israel. The mayor of London insisted on halting weapons shipments after Israeli strikes in Rafah, which reportedly caused multiple casualties, as reported by The Telegraph. Khan said, "Devastating and heartbreaking scenes…
A representative from Hackney black Labour socialists has condemned Keir Starmer’s treatment of Diane Abbott after he announced that her reinstatement will be decided by 4 June. “It’s a vicious, fractional act that he [Keir Starmer] thinks he can get away with,” said Lucie Scott, who has been at the…
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has admitted he was wrong in saying his family's business doesn't pay the real living wage. This revelation came after criticism following his interview on BBC's The Sunday Show. The trade union representing workers at United Wholesale confirmed that they are paid above the real…
Rishi Sunak has reaffirmed his commitment to introducing mandatory national service if he is re-elected, despite facing criticism from within his own party. Sunak described the initiative as "bold action" necessary for ensuring a secure future for the country. On the campaign trail on Monday at Chesham Football Club, north…
In what may be a poignant close to one of the most celebrated careers in cinema and theatre, Judi Dench has suggested that her time on film could be over. The 89-year-old Oscar winner, known for her powerful performances and commanding presence, made the revelation during her appearance at the…
Women make up a smaller proportion of top earners in British financial and professional services than before the COVID-19 pandemic, research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) showed on Monday. Women made up 19.4 per cent of the top 1 per cent of earners in the…
Talat Hussain, one of Pakistan's most accomplished and celebrated actors, died on Sunday at a private hospital here following a prolonged illness. He was 83. A radio, TV, theatre, and cinema veteran, Hussain was known for serials such as Bandish, Karwaan, Hawain, and Parchaiyan as well as movies Chiragh Jalta…
Sathasivam Sivagankan, a refugee from Sri Lanka, who was granted asylum in the UK, managed a people-smuggling ring while employed at a chicken shop. The 58-year-old organised illegal Channel crossings from his rented home, reported The Sun quoting the court documents. A judge has now ordered him to be extradited…
A five-year-old boy, Aalim Ahmed, died after falling from a kitchen window on the 15th floor of a tower block in east London, an inquest heard. Aalim, also known locally as Aalim Makail, fell and landed on a railing at the bottom of the residential block in Plaistow on May…
An 18-year-old rickshaw driver from a village in India met King Charles at Buckingham Palace after receiving a prestigious women's empowerment award in London this week. Arti, from Bahraich district in India's Uttar Pradesh state, was awarded the Amal Clooney Women's Empowerment Award at the Prince's Trust Awards in London.…
Twenty-two passengers from a Singapore Airlines flight that was hit by severe turbulence on Tuesday have spinal cord injuries and six others, including a two-year-old child, have brain and skull injuries, according to media reports on Friday. Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old British passenger, died likely due to a heart attack…
The prospect of an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) has been kicked into the long grass after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised many this week with a snap summer poll on July 4, exactly a month after India's election results on June 4. While political analysts and strategic experts…
Reform UK founder and leading Brexit campaigner, Nigel Farage, announced on Thursday that he will not stand in the upcoming UK general election after months of speculation about his potential run. "I will do my bit to help in the campaign, but it is not the right time for me…
ANISA BUTT has shown off her impressive range as a performer across theatre, film, TV and spoken word. The versatile actress is looking forward to taking on the lead role in new theatre play Permission, which premieres at The Space Theatre in London next Tuesday (28). The feminist story…
Criminal charges related to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which killed 72 people, remain years away. British police and prosecutors stated on Wednesday that 58 individuals and 19 firms and organisations are under investigation. The fire, Britain's deadliest in a residential building since World War Two, sparked national…
UK regulators fined Citigroup £61.6 million for controls failings in its trading operations, one of the biggest sanctions for systems breaches, which in one case saw the Wall Street firm cause a sudden fall in European stocks. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the markets watchdog,…
Riz Ahmed, the multi-talented actor and rapper who won an Academy Award for The Long Goodbye, is set to take on one of Shakespeare’s most iconic roles in an upcoming film adaptation of Hamlet. Directed by Aneil Karia, Hamlet promises to bring a fresh and contemporary perspective to the classic…
A woman was killed by her American XL bully dogs at her house in east London. She has been identified as Angeline Mahal, aged around 50. She was attacked by her two dogs at the semi-detached home in Cornwall Close in Hornchurch on Monday aftenoon. Mahal's two sons found her…
Transport for London (TfL) is actively pursuing several foreign embassies, including the High Commission of India in London, for not paying the city's congestion charge spanning two decades. The congestion charge, a daily £15 fee for vehicles within central London, is part of the city's measures to combat pollution. According…
LIFE was going great for Sbba Siddique until her world turned upside down in March 2022. The devoted mother of three, wife, and host of a popular radio show was 53 years old when she received an ovarian cancer diagnosis. After surgeries and chemotherapy, she received an all clear and…
Migrant graduates on the Graduate Route visa in the UK may soon face annual English tests under a new proposal by the government. This scheme permits international students to work in the UK for two years post-graduation. Pending Cabinet approval, this policy aims to bolster the Graduate Route's criteria. Institutions…
THE theatre adaptation of Hanif Kureshi's My Beautiful Launderette has shown that many of the writer’s themes still resonate today. That is perhaps why his acclaimed 1990 debut novel The Buddha of Suburbia has returned for another stage adaptation at Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The…
SOME of the brightest talents from the British Asian community were recognised for their achievements in the arts at the annual Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) at the Mayfair Hotel in central London last Friday (17). One of Britain’s most accomplished and versatile artists, Osman Yousefzada, won…
WHETHER it is tackling taboos, finding new ways of telling stories or breaking existing rules, Amina Khayyam has always found innovative ways to present live dance performances. Her leading dance company will present acclaimed shows You&Me and Bird in a Kathak double bill at The Place in London on June…
TRAILBLAZING playwright Tanika Gupta believes there is an “invisibility cloak around British Asians” on getting community stories commissioned in the arts. In a career spanning more than three decades, Gupta has written award-winning plays such as The Waiting Room and Sanctuary at the National Theatre, The Empress at the Royal…
FORMER Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells, who headed the Post Office from 2012 to 2019, apologised for the wrongful convictions of postmasters on Wednesday (22) during a public inquiry into the Horizon scandal. Hundreds of postmasters, who ran community post offices, were convicted after a faulty IT system from…
PERHAPS the most path-breaking British Asian music act of recent years has been the brilliant Orchestral Qawwali Project. The culturally rich group, combining Sufi poetry with grand orchestral arrangements and a music rooted in centuries old tradition, have drawn in cross-cultural audiences of all ages with their performances. A giant…
AROUND 40 years ago, under the shadow of nuclear war, a Japanese Buddhist order gifted Londoners a Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park to promote world harmony. Built by monks, nuns, and volunteers, this shrine to world peace, overlooking the Thames, became an instant talking point. Britain has been home to…
Rattled travellers and crew landed in Singapore on Wednesday after a terrifying high-altitude plunge on a flight from London during which an elderly British passenger, identified as Geoffrey Kitchen (73), died and more than 80 were injured. Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 hit "sudden extreme turbulence" over Myanmar 10 hours into…
Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his residence to celebrate 100 years of United Kingdom-Nepal's friendship treaty. The Heeramandi star took to her Instagram to share a series of photographs from the celebrations at Sunak's official residence 10 Downing Street in London. "It was an honour…
The Young Vic Theatre has appointed Nadia Fall as its new Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive. She will join the organisation in January 2025, succeeding current artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, who announced in February that he was stepping down. Nadia, who is currently the Artistic Director of Stratford East,…
A 73-year-old British man died and more than 30 others were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence near Thailand on Tuesday. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was diverted to Bangkok, where it made an emergency landing at 15:45 local time. Passengers said…
Sadiq Khan joined Met officers on patrol in Westminster today to see how targeted policing is reducing robbery and theft in the West End. This effort is part of the New Met for London plan to improve frontline policing and rebuild public trust. The London mayor observed officers using data…
Universities and Indian students group have urged prime minister Rishi Sunak to retain the country's post-study visa offer. This visa, primarily utilised by Indian graduates, allows them to gain work experience for about two years after their degree. Reports indicate that Sunak may restrict or end the Graduate Route to…
AS online fashion giant Shein finalises its plans for an initial public offering at London Stock Exchange (LSE), it has approached former chancellor of the exchequer Sajid Javid to take up a role in the company, Sky News reports. Apart from Javid, some other senior city figures have also held…
THE British Asian lawyer and prosecutor who helped end a US policy against the International Criminal Court on Monday (20) requested an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, putting his office back on a collision course with Washington. Karim Khan, who became chief prosecutor of the world's first…
After years of speculation and growing excitement, former One Direction star Zayn Malik finally performed his first concert, marking a significant milestone in his journey as an independent artist. The sold-out concert was held on Friday, May 17, at London’s Shepherd's Bush Empire. It was not only the singer’s first-ever…
Focus Features has bought international rights to Hamlet, a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play of the same name. The film stars Riz Ahmed in the lead role, alongside Morfydd and Joe Alwyn. WME Independent and CAA are co-repping North American rights, while WME handles international sales. Hamlet reunites Ahmed…
A NEW petition has been launched on Change.org calling for stronger legislation on knife crime following the fatal stabbing of Anita Mukhey (66) at a bus stop in London last week. The petition, started by Sanjeev Bhavnani, a member of the Sindhi Association of UK community, also calls for more…
Climate change is likely to negatively affect the health of people suffering from brain conditions such as migraine and Alzheimer's, new research published in The Lancet Neurology journal has found. Extreme temperatures, both low and high, and greater changes over the course of the day -- driven by climate change…
THE Migration Museum’s exhibition which features dozens of personal stories by migrant NHS workers has won the ‘Oscars of the Museum World’ last week, a statement said. The Heart of the Nation: Migration and the Making of the NHS national touring exhibition has won the temporary or touring exhibition of…
India and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to finalising a free trade agreement (FTA) during the annual UK-India Strategic Dialogue. Both sides noted the "good progress" on the 2030 Roadmap since the last review. India's foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra, visiting the UK, held discussions with Sir Philip Barton, permanent…
Producer Anushka Shah, whose production house Civic Studios focuses on creating civic entertainment content for Indian audiences, is next attached as the executive producer to Gurinder Chadha's much-anticipated directorial venture Christmas Karma. She said that being a producer is a big responsibility as each project involves a lot of capital,…
The UK has signed a fast-track returns deal with Bangladesh to streamline the deportation of failed asylum seekers, foreign national offenders, and visa overstayers, The Telegraph reported. The agreement signed by illegal migration minister, Michael Tomlinson, will streamline the returns process by removing a mandatory interview for cases where there…
PARLIAMENT's conduct committee on Friday (17) released its report into the conduct of British Sikh peer Lord Kulveer Ranger and found him in breach of the code of conduct on bullying and harassment following a drunken incident in the House of Lords. The 49-year-old parliamentarian, who has apologised for his…
Sadiq Khan presented Pope Francis with London tea during their meeting at the Vatican on Thursday. The mayor of London visited the Vatican for an audience with Pope Francis on Thursday morning, before delivering a speech on his efforts to position London as a leader in tackling climate change. Khan…
FEES for private schools have gone up by eight per cent this year making it unaffordable for numerous middle-income families, with some schools increasingly depending on China, a new report said. The cost for day-school is around £18,060, and in London, it's about £22,000. Boarding fees have gone up by…
ONE of India’s leading spiritual leaders, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, the international director of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, was the keynote speaker at London’s One Woman Conference last weekend at the Victoria Park Plaza. Sadhviji was in discussion with the founder of the conference, Dr Joanna Martin, as an audience of hundreds…
In an exciting development for Bridgerton fans, British-Indian actress Banita Sandhu has made her debut in the third season of Netflix’s hit period drama. Sandhu portrays Miss Malhotra, a character introduced to the Bridgerton universe in this season, based on Julia Quinn's beloved book series. Banita Sandhu, known for her…
India's technical assistance is critically important to the Commonwealth as it gives hope to many of the developing states, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has said. She said this on Thursday (16) while hosting the two-day 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers meeting in London on the theme of “Driving Resilience, Equity,…
A man has been charged by UK police following a series of anti-Muslim incidents in London. Jonathan Katan, aged 61, from Ealing in west London, faces multiple counts of racially aggravated criminal damage. These incidents took place between October and November last year at various locations, including the office serving…
Taylor Swift's worldwide Eras Tour will boost the UK economy by almost £1 billion as fans splash the cash to see the US music star, Barclays bank estimated Wednesday. A study entitled "Swiftonomics" said almost 1.2 million fans would each shell out about £848 on tickets, travel, accommodation, and merchandise…
Baker and fast food retailer Greggs will deepen ties with its major franchise partners, including those owned by Issa brothers, as it plans to open 150 new outlets in 2024. The London-listed firm said it has already opened 64 new outlets this year, of which around a quarter were with…
A woman bystander was shot in the leg after getting caught in crossfire between cars on a north London street, according to media reports. The woman said to be in her 30s, was hit by a stray bullet after getting caught between two vehicles whose occupants were firing guns at…
CELEBRATED actress Shabana Azmi has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of her prolific contribution to Indian cinema and as a campaigner for women’s rights. The 73-year-old actress, who was in London for a celebration of her 50 years in cinema at the annual UK…
While prime minister Rishi Sunak may be going through a politically turbulent period with the Conservative party facing a defeat in the recent local election and opinion polls favouring Labour in the forthcoming general elections, his wife Akshata Murty appears unperturbed and focused on the smooth running of the house.…
TEACHERS and campaigners have expressed their disappointment at new research showing the lack of south Asian artists mentioned in the school curriculum compared to their white counterparts. Only 2.3 per cent of stand-alone artists referenced in GCSE art and design exam papers are from black or south Asian backgrounds. And…
BALLY GILL has spent the last few years starring in the critically acclaimed shows Sherwood and Slow Horses, as well as the hit movie, Allelujah. Having made his name playing Romeo in The Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) production of Romeo and Juliet in 2018, Gill told Eastern Eye he is…
Actress Florence Hunt, who is known for her role as Hyacinth Bridgerton in the period drama Bridgerton, opened up about the royal connection to one of her looks at the premiere of season 3 of the show, reported People. Bridgerton’s current season's outfit draws inspiration from true royal history. Speaking…
EXHIBITIONS mixing south Asian art from the past and present are like buses, it seems. There are none for ages and then two come along at the same time. At the Royal Academy, there has been Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change, which displayed the work of 34 great…
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has defended the party's decision to select candidates residing in England for upcoming elections in Scotland. Sarwar said that while these candidates are based in London and Kent, their affinity for Scotland is what matters most, reported The Times. The candidates in question include Melanie…
SRI LANKA’S security forces abducted men and women from the ethnic Tamil minority and tortured them in custody long after the end of civil war in the island nation, a human rights group said in a new report. The 26-year civil war between separatist Tamil insurgents and government forces ended…
WHEN he took office as First Minister of Wales in March, Vaughan Gething became the first Black head of government in Europe - yet he believes UK society is more overtly racist than a decade ago. "On virtually every piece of social media that went out for my campaign, there'd…
An obesity drug has been found to decrease the risk of heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure in obese individuals regardless of the amount of weight they lose while on the medication, according to researchers. The study of the drug, Wegovy, revealed that participants maintained significant weight loss over four…
UK mobile phone giant Vodafone reported a drop in annual profit on Tuesday but shares leapt as the group's ongoing overhaul takes shape. Net profit tumbled 90 per cent to € 1.14 billion (£980 million) in the financial year to the end of March, Vodafone said in a results statement.…
SUPERMARKET chain Asda, co-owned by billionaire Issa brothers, has announced plans to develop a 'town centre' in north-west London, which will include 1,500 homes, the Financial Times reported on Monday (13). This move marks Asda's entry into the residential property market, positioning it as the latest retailer to diversify into…
Actor Anshuman Jha bagged the Best Director award for his directorial debut Lord Curzon Ki Haveli at the prestigious UK-Asian Film Festival 2024. Also, Arjun Mathur won the Best Actor award for his performance in the black comedy thriller. The film, which has been having a wonderful festival run over…
THE families of Nottingham attack victims have expressed their 'deep disappointment' following the court’s decision to uphold Valdo Calocane's sentence. Criticising the criminal justice system, they said they now face a lifelong mission to ensure he is never released, media reports said. Three senior judges at the Court of Appeal…
A superhero film at the Cannes Film Festival? It is not what you think. Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, a staunchly feminist playable artwork with a pronounced South Asian accent, is a 30-minute virtual reality (VR) piece. It is in contention for the Best Immersive Work prize in a…
London's Royal Festival Hall was adorned with glamour and excitement on Sunday night as British television’s finest gathered for the prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. The star-studded red carpet was a sight to behold, with renowned artists and emerging talents alike gracing the occasion with…
Recent data from police logs reveals that approximately 70 per cent of individuals stopped at UK ports since 2021 under anti-terrorism laws were from black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Figures show that fewer than one in five individuals stopped during this period were recorded as white, reported The…
With an entry in almost every major section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which kicks off on Tuesday evening with French musician-filmmaker Quentin Dupieux's Le Deuxieme Acte (The Second Act), India will have no dearth of action during the 12-day event. Never before in history have Cannes and its…
Anita Mukhey, a 66-year-old medical secretary in the NHS, was stabbed to death by a man attempting to steal her handbag near a bus stop in Edgware, north London. In a statement released through the Metropolitan Police, her family said: “Anita Mukhey, 66 years old, was a married mother and…
After stealing the spotlight at Met Gala 2024 in Sabyasachi sari, actress Alia Bhatt is now set to catch eyeballs with her presence at the Gucci Cruise show 2025 in London. Before boarding the flight to London, the Gangubai Kathiawadi star happily posed for the shutterbugs at the Mumbai airport…
An Asian-origin man has been convicted for providing a forged document to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigators while they were probing a £1.3-million boiler room fraud. Taheer Sardar (46) was on Friday (10) sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for perverting the course of justice at Southwark Crown Court. He pleaded…
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle visited Nigeria on Friday as part of his promotion of the Invictus Games, the sporting event he founded for wounded military veterans. The couple arrived Friday in the Nigerian capital Abuja and visited a school run by a local non-profit linked to their…
Comedian Anuvab Pal has said he is careful about what he posts on social media for fear of censorship in India. Pal, who is on tour in the UK with his new show this month, conceded that self-expression is “tricky” in an interview with the Telegraph. Referring to India’s prime…
Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, met with King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. He was in the country at the invitation of the King. He also met with the Fijian diaspora community at the Fiji High Commission to the United Kingdom in London. Rabuka acknowledged the historical links between…
An 11-year-old boy from south London has recently joined Mensa, the high-IQ society, after achieving a score of 162. Dhruv, a student at Robin Hood Junior School in Sutton, earned membership in April, reported the BBC. His father, Praveen Kumar, expressed his joy, stating, "As a family, we are very…
HINA BOKHARI is the new leader of Liberal Democrats in the London assembly, it was announced on Thursday (9). She becomes the first ethnic minority woman to lead a group at City Hall since its establishment in 2000, and also the first ethnic minority woman to lead a group in…
Just eight days after announcing he was standing for parliament election, former England cricketer Monty Panesar has withdrawn as a candidate for George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain. The former left-arm spinner had intended to stand in Ealing Southall, held by the main opposition Labour party. Panesar, 42, who played…
JAGDISH SHARMA, the councillor for Hounslow Council, completes a milestone this month as it was 50 years ago in May that he was elected as a councillor for the first time. The veteran has held several responsible positions since then, including cabinet member, chief whip, deputy leader, leader of the…
Filmmaker Mohit Ramchandani, who has worked in films with stars such as Paul Rudd and Anne Hathaway and is known for directing indie feature Dreamer and City of Dreams, has been accused of being an abusive racist in a lawsuit filed by the mother of his child, Mexican citizen Patricia…
NEW theatre play Permission follows a newly arrived Pakistani woman in London as she wrestles the expectations of being ‘respectable’, while being torn between a love for community and rebellion in a foreign land. The fiercely feminist production leaping between different worlds, looks at themes that include freedom and identity.…
FAST-FASHION retailer Boohoo, whose brands include Karen Millen and PrettyLittleThing, reported Wednesday (8) a near-doubling of annual net losses caused by high inflation and weak demand. The online retailer announced a loss after tax of £140.9 million ($176m) in its financial year to the end of February. That compared with…
WITH Narendra Modi tipped to win a third term as India’s prime minister, there will probably be even greater interest in a new book, Hindu Nationalism in the Indian Diaspora: Transnational Politics and British Multiculturalism. This is because the assertive Hindu nationalism – labelled as ‘Hinduvta’ – is associated with…
RESEARCHERS have described the prospect of the UK and India concluding a free trade agreement as “prolonged optimistic caution”, adding that issues the ongoing general election and immigration visas will play a major part in how any deal is concluded. Last month, a delegation led by a senior UK government…
IN HIS decade in power, prime minister Narendra Modi stands accused of eroding Indian democracy down to its bones – suppressing dissent and freedom of expression, taking India into the grip of unbridled authoritarianism, and earning the country the tag of an ‘electoral autocracy’ from Freedom House. [caption id="attachment_294146" align="alignright"…
THE ASIAN founder of a start-up has revealed his ambition to bridge the “global washing divide” as he announced a collaboration with Whirlpool Foundation to help families in low-income and displaced communities. Navjot (also known as Nav) Sawhney is the founder of the Washing Machine Project, which aims to alleviate…
WATER conservation at homes and gardens and tackling the cost of living crisis were key themes at the RHS spring conference in London last week, when speakers discussed adapting to the UK’s wetter winters and drier summers. At a day-long seminar, the Royal Horticultural Society also unveiled its plans for…
RE-ELECTED London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the rest of the country to follow the lead of Londoners and reject the Conservative Party’s “racist” and “fear-mongering” politics at the next general election. Khan, 53, last Saturday (4) secured a historic third term in office, the first London mayor to…
Meera Syal, David Oyelowo, Emma D’Arcy, and Tobias Menzies are among the actors leading a trio of fall productions at the U.K.’s National Theatre in London. At the National Theatre’s Dorfman Theater, Syal will lead the world premiere of Tanika Gupta’s A Tupperware of Ashes, a family drama about life,…
FUGITIVE businessman Nirav Modi, who has been in prison in London for over five years, on Tuesday (7) had his new bail application rejected by a UK judge who ruled that he continued to pose a “substantial risk" of absconding justice. Diamond merchant Modi, 52, lost his extradition battle to…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (7) helped prepare meals in a community kitchen along with volunteers as visited the charity Go Dharmic in London. Sunak helped make vegan kichari, a nutritious and affordable meal that is part of Go Dharmic’s “feed everyone” initiative. The prime minister spoke to Go…
MY DAD still plans to vote for Rishi Sunak at the general election. He mostly feels that somebody should. He sees the prime minister as a decent man, trying his best in difficult times. Because dad arrived in Britain during the week after Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘rivers of blood’ speech,…
A day before I saw the RSC production of The Buddha of Suburbia, a private school principal and I were chatting in his office about some of author Hanif Kureishi’s themes – whether they still resonate with readers and audiences today. Kureishi’s debut and seminal The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) is loosely semi-autobiographical and…
ACADEMICS have warned that cuts to arts and humanities courses in UK universities could lead to a poorer understanding of race and colonialism. Petitions are being circulated to keep anthropology alive at Kent University, where it's at risk of shutting down. Also, Oxford Brookes has already closed its music programme…
British energy giant BP reported a significant downturn in its net profit for the first quarter, attributing the decline to a drop in gas prices compared to the corresponding period last year. According to BP's latest financial statement released on Tuesday, profit after tax plummeted by a staggering 72 per…
England Women's cricket coach Jon Lewis is utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the team's performance, particularly in team selection and match strategy. "I can send multiple different line-ups to the PSi in London and they run, I think, about 250,000 simulations per team that I send, with all different…
While Labour party sounds upbeat about its performance in the just-concluded local elections, its disappointing show in areas with a sizeable Muslim population is worrying its leaders. The latest to express concern is deputy campaign coordinator Ellie Reeves who admitted the party had "a lot of work to do" to…
Casting is announced for this year’s ‘genie-us’ pantomime as Aladdin flies into town to the Beck Theatre Hayes 13 December 2024– 05 January 2025. Cast includes popular TV presenter, theatre performer, and Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual alongside Hayes’ favourite panto comedian Joe Pollard, returning for his third consecutive year. They…
THE West Midlands mayor Andy Street has called on the Conservative Party to come together and back prime minister Rishi Sunak despite admitting the pair previously “fell out”. Sunak’s position has been under scrutiny in recent months, with former home secretary Suella Braverman on Monday (22) refusing to rule out…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday promised to work "as hard as ever" after a disastrous set of election results saw his Conservative Party being unseated across several local authorities. The British Indian leader admitted his disappointment after Andy Street, the party's popular Mayor of West Midlands, narrowly lost to…
LABOUR capped off the local elections on Saturday evening (4) with a narrow win for Richard Parker in the West Midlands mayoral race, defeating Conservative incumbent Andy Street by just 1,508 votes. Earlier this evening, Labour's Sadiq Khan was re-elected as London mayor for the third consecutive term, after he…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has won a third term at City Hall, it was reported on Saturday (4). Khan polled 106,861 votes, while the Conservative candidate, Susan Hall, received 26,347. The son of Pakistani migrants and the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when first elected in 2016, Khan,…
A total of 40.5 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the London mayoral election, it has been revealed. The figure is down slightly from the 42 per cent of Londoners who voted in the last contest in 2021. The counting of how many votes each mayoral candidate…
Labour called for a general election announcement by Rishi Sunak after significant gains in the local elections, and also securing a seat in the parliament in the bypoll. Party leader Keir Starmer said the party's parliament seat win in Blackpool South in northwest England sent a clear message to Sunak.…
Belgium-set Indian immigrant drama Minimum opened the 26th UK Asian Film Festival at the BFI IMAX in London on May 2. The film stars Saba Azad, Naseeruddin Shah, Moushumi Chatterjee, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Namit Das, Tasneem Ali, and Vansh Luthra in lead roles and is directed by Rumana Molla. Indian origin,…
An Indian wildlife biologist has been honoured with a top UK wildlife charity award for her work in conserving the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork and its wetland habitat. Dr Purnima Devi Barman won the GBP 100,000 Whitley Gold Award from the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), which supports grassroots conservation…
Boris Johnson, the former prime minister who implemented a rule requiring voters to show photo ID, was denied entry to a polling station on Thursday because he forgot to bring his own ID. Johnson, who resigned in 2022 amid scandals, was initially turned away from a polling station in Oxfordshire,…
Zayn Malik has announced that he is set to perform at O2 Shepard’s Bush Empire for his first-ever solo London show. Former One Direction member will play his first ever live solo show “ZAYN Room Under The Stairs” after a long gap of eight years. The 31-year-old set the internet…
THE Conservatives lost a parliamentary seat to Labour on Friday (3), as Britain awaited local election results likely to pile more pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak. Labour seized the constituency of Blackpool South, in the northwest of England, in the latest by-election defeat for the Tories as it appears…
Scotland's John Swinney was poised Thursday to take over as first minister and return as leader of the governing Scottish National Party (SNP) after his main rival decided against running for the top job. Swinney, 60, who last led the pro-independence SNP from 2000 to 2004 when they were in…
Eight months on from her divorce, BBC presenter Anita Rani has said that she “loves being a single Asian woman with no children”. The 46-year-old split from Bhupi Rehal, her husband of 14 years, in 2023. The couple first met at a rave in East London before getting hitched in…
HIT theatre comedy Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding 2: Mauritius recently returned for another successful UK tour. The story of a dysfunctional family planning a destination wedding has been delighting audiences nationwide and gearing up for a history-making performance in London’s West End at the Adelphi Theatre on July 16. …
Teamwork Arts has announced an inspirational line-up for JLF London at the British Library, scheduled to be held from 7th to 9th June 2024. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the festival and the programme promises an array of sessions that span diverse genres and themes, including conversations on…
Whether it’s saving up to buy a home, putting money aside for a comfortable retirement or just building a nest egg, the urge to save is strong and universal. People have always saved, even if the growth of the financial services industry means savers now have a bewildering array of…
KHUSHWANT SINGH was my father. One of the best-known writers of the post-Partition generation (Train to Pakistan, A History of the Sikhs, Delhi, a Novel), he was also an editor (Illustrated Weekly of India), and the most widely read Indian columnist. His weekly column, With Malice Towards One and All,…
Donald Trump has said that British “culture” had been eroded by jihadis and pledged not to let that happen in the United States. Speaking at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday (1), the Republican presidential candidate remarked that London has become “unrecognisable” because it has “opened its doors to…
THE Vedanta Group is planning to invest $20 billion (£16bn) across all its businesses in India over the next four years, its chairman Anil Agarwal has said. The group will sell the steel business only at the right price, and is committed to continue running it if it does not…
THE chief pharmaceutical officer for England, David Webb, has welcomed the expansion of clinical services offered by community pharmacies as he addressed the annual Pharmacy Business Conference last weekend. With “pharmacies providing 93,000 consultations in the inaugural month of the groundbreaking launch of the Pharmacy First service,” Webb praised the…
ONE of last year’s British theatre success stories was a winning lead performance from newcomer Tanya Katyal in big budget play, The Empress. The Indian actress overcame nerves of it being her first job after drama school, and working with an experienced creative team on a large-scaled production, to make…
Pro-Palestinian groups are establishing protest camps at universities across Britain, drawing inspiration from similar actions in the United States. As reported by The Times, on Wednesday, students at several Russell Group universities including Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, and Newcastle erected tents and anti-Israel signs. Organisers cited inspiration from US demonstrations…
Harry Potter star Tom Felton has joined the cast of Hansal Mehta's much-anticipated series Gandhi, the filmmaker announced on Thursday. Felton, who became an international star with his performance as Drako Malfoy in eight Harry Potter movies based on author J K Rowling's best-selling book series, joined the show's cast…
MORE needs to be done to tackle barriers stopping south Asians attending eye screenings that prevent diabetic-related blindness, according to researchers. People from south Asian communities are known to be up to six times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than the general population. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication…
Polling stations opened across England early Thursday for a host of crunch local elections likely to increase the pressure on embattled Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The polls - a mix of council, mayoral and other local contests as well as a parliamentary by-election - are the last major electoral…
Police named a 14-year-old boy killed in a sword attack in London this week as Daniel Anjorin and said the suspect will face murder and other charges over the violent rampage. The teenager died on Tuesday morning as he walked to school in Hainault, in the east of London, when…
Tarun Ghulati, an Indian-origin contender for London's mayoral position in the local elections on Thursday, has expressed determination to combat crime in the wake of a recent fatal sword attack on the city's streets. The incident, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old boy, has reinforced Ghulati's belief that London…
One of the arms suppliers in the firing case outside actor Salman Khan's house, Anuj Thapan, died by suicide on Wednesday, while in Mumbai Police custody. As per Mumbai Police, Anuj Thapan allegedly attempted suicide and hung himself inside the lock-up. He was taken to the nearest hospital, where he…
Superstar Salman Khan recently visited London and it seemed he had a lot of fun meeting UK MP from Brent North constituency Barry Gardiner. Several images from his trip are going viral, garnering his fans' attention. Taking to X on Monday, Barry Gardiner treated fans with a series of pictures…
India has a "treasure box" of stories and many Korean companies are looking to back good content, says Dragon Park, the general manager of Korea Creative Content Agency India (KOCCA) ahead of the agency's plan to establish a liaison office in the country. KOCCA, a non-profit organisation working under South…
THE ruling Conservative party is expected to suffer heavy losses in crunch local elections this week that are likely to increase pressure on beleaguered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The polls are the last major electoral test before a general election that Sunak's party, in power since 2010, seems destined to…
BRITAIN has sent its first asylum seeker to Rwanda under a voluntary scheme, The Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday, saying the unnamed migrant was flown out of the country on Monday (29). The voluntary scheme is separate from a forced deportation programme that Britain is about to embark on in…
THE police are losing the trust of their communities because of weak leadership, “wilful blindness”, and politicians “bullying” chief constables, the country’s former top south Asian cop has told Eastern Eye. In a wide-ranging interview for this paper, Neil Basu, former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner and head of counter terrorism,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak received encouraging news ahead of local elections, with polls indicating that Tory mayors in Tees Valley and the West Midlands could cling on in two crucial mayoral contests. According to a YouGov survey, Ben Houchen is currently leading by seven points in his bid for a…
A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday for the first time since he was diagnosed with cancer in February, telling patients at a treatment centre for the disease in London that he was "alright". Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that doctors were sufficiently pleased with…
The Scottish National Party (SNP) opened nominations on Tuesday (30) for a new leader, setting up a fractious fight, after first minister Humza Yousaf said he was quitting. Yousaf, 39, announced on Monday (29) that he would resign once a successor has been chosen to lead the SNP and Scotland.…
Monty Panesar, the former England cricketer, is gearing up for a new challenge, as he prepares to stand as a candidate for the Workers Party of Britain in the upcoming general election. This announcement was made by party leader George Galloway on Tuesday. Galloway, a prominent figure known for his…
Sadler's Wells has unveiled the inaugural shortlist of the Rose International Dance Prize, with seven nominated pieces from Brazil, Israel, Portugal, Greece, France, Taiwan, and the USA. The Rose International Dance Prize is a biennial prize for new dance creations in any style, showcasing some of the most inventive and…
BRITISH PAKISTANI playwright and novelist, Hanif Kureishi, has said that racism was more overt in the past in the UK than it is today. "The racism was definitely more overt than it is today, but there was still a terrific sense of optimism - in fact, it was the last…
INDIA on Tuesday (30) denied a media report which alleged involvement of a spy agency official in the assassination plot of Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US, stating it makes 'unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter'." The Washington Post newspaper on Monday (29) reported that…
POLICE have arrested a man armed with a sword following reports of people having been stabbed during a serious incident in northeast London on Tuesday. The 36-year-old man was arrested after police were called to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the area close to Hainault…
King Charles III on Tuesday makes his first official public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer, after doctors said they were "very encouraged" by the progress of his treatment. The British head of state and his wife, Queen Camilla, were expected to tour a cancer treatment facility to meet medical…
THE local elections were bound to make this a febrile week for political leadership. Mayors and councillors across England will discover their fate at the hands of the voters on Friday (3). Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s team in Downing Street will wait anxiously to find out how his MPs at…
The traditional Indian sitar played by Beatles’ George Harrison on the band's hit song “Norwegian Wood" has recently been sold at auction for a little over £53,000 in the United States. The said sitar, a quintessential instrument in Indian classical music, was crafted in a music shop in Kolkata and…
HUMZA YOUSAF is poised to resign as Scotland's first minister before he faces two confidence votes this week, British media reported on Monday. He is due to address a news conference at noon (1100 GMT). The BBC, The Times and other outlets said the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader was…
Ireland's prime minister Simon Harris has warned that Dublin would take action to stem an influx of asylum seekers from Northern Ireland, the British territory across the border. Ireland would not, he said, let other countries use it as a "loophole" for their own immigration policy. His comments on Sunday…
A 25-year-old Asian-origin man charged with attempted murder of a female student, also an Asian, in an east London restaurant two years ago has been sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment by a court here. Sriram Ambarla, who was arrested at the crime scene, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey court…
King Charles is set to resume his public duties next week after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday. In February, it was disclosed that the 75-year-old monarch had been diagnosed with cancer following a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Despite continuing with official…
PAKISTAN'S three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to retake the helm of the ruling PML-N next month to guide the party as it battles internal strife. Sharif (74) relinquished the post seven years ago after being disqualified by the apex court over corruption allegations. He will be…
THE government hailed its vaccine partnership with India which will help combat malaria as one of the biggest killers of children in sub-Saharan Africa. Collaboration between British scientists and Indian manufacturers has resulted in two essential life-saving malaria vaccines – RTS,S and R21 -- being developed. These have been used…
The home secretary James Cleverly criticised Sadiq Khan on Thursday, stating that the mayor of London prioritises discussions on Gaza over addressing knife crime affecting Black youths in southeast London. However, with just a week remaining until the mayoral election, he refrained from offering praise to Conservative candidate Susan Hall,…
SADIQ KHAN has apologised to the chief rabbi after appearing to imply that his criticism of the mayor’s call for an immediate Gaza ceasefire was motivated by him being Muslim. Chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis had said in a post on X on October 31, that after meeting Khan, he…
Acclaimed director Hansal Mehta met celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur during the filming of his much-anticipated streaming show Gandhi in London. Based on the writings of notable historian and author, Ramachandra Guha, the series is adapted from his two books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi-The Years that Changed the World, 1914-1948.…
A clinical trial testing a novel cancer immunotherapy, which may prevent skin cancer from recurring, is currently on in Britain. The "personalised" mRNA vaccine is being tested against the deadliest form of skin cancer - melanoma. One of the first patients to sign up for the trial is Steve Young,…
British Sikh lawyers have come together to establish a new court aimed at resolving family and civil disputes within the Sikh community in the United Kingdom (UK). The inauguration ceremony for the Sikh court took place last weekend at the Old Hall at Lincoln's Inn in London, accompanied by religious…
Goldman Sachs has recruited two senior bankers in India to capitalise on increasing dealmaking and investor interest in the country, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Sunil Khaitan will serve as Goldman's India head of financing, and Kamna Sahni as India head of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in…
Redbridge resident Manjit Singh (50), showcased his endurance by completing this year's London Marathon on April 21 along with his 24-year-old daughter Gursharan Kaur. This marks Gursharan's first marathon, while Manjit has so far finished seven full marathons. Manjit has participated in numerous half marathons across various countries and even…
A man arrested by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) for illegal acts in connection to the Indian High Commission attack in London in March 2023 was earlier held at the Attari border while crossing from Pakistan into India last year. Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in west London,…
FORMER Post Office executive Angela van den Bogerd has said that she had forgotten about an email from 2010 which mentioned the possibility of remotely accessing cash balances in subpostmasters' branch accounts. Van den Bogerd had previously said during the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry in central London that she…
Sigma Pharmaceuticals plc played a key part in raising over £52,000 for 'Team George' during the London Marathon Charity run. The money raised will support Great Ormond Street Hospital's care for young George Bracey, who has been fighting rhabdomyosarcoma since 3 August 2023. Sigma's financial director, Bhavin Shah, completed the…
Labour has announced its intention to nationalise the country's rail network within five years without compensating private operators, as part of its strategy to address issues within the railway system. Since the privatisation of Britain's train services in the 1990s, several operators have been brought back under public ownership due…
Two of the five military horses that rampaged through central London on Wednesday (24) are reaportedly in serious condition, according to media reports. The horses belong to the Household Cavalry, which acts as the British monarch's official bodyguard and takes part in ceremonial duties. The horses broke loose during a…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak faces heavy losses in a swathe of local votes next week, and one of the best hopes for success for his Tories is a prominent mayor who is loath to even mention his party or its leader in his campaign. Andy Street has been mayor of…
WITH both having consistently crossed new creative frontiers, it was perhaps always going to be inevitable that Indian kathak legend Aditi Mangaldas would team up with world-renowned British dancer Aakash Odedra. That dynamic meeting of minds, phenomenal dance ability, and daring to be different came together for mesmerising new show…
JASLEEN KAUR, a Glasgow-born Asian-origin artist is among the four shortlisted for Britain's prestigious Turner Prize. Her works reflect her life growing up in the Sikh community in Scotland. The 37-year-old has been nominated for her solo exhibition entitled ‘Alter Altar' at Tramway contemporary arts venue in Glasgow. Jasleen uses…
WATCHING films, combined with a deep love for performing from a very young age, first connected Laila Zaidi to acting. She went from performing in front of her family with mini concerts at home to carving out a successful career as an actress, which has seen her combine winning work…
Former Labour minister Frank Field has passed away at the age of 81, confirmed his family on Wednesday. "He will be mourned by admirers across politics but above all he will be greatly missed by those lucky enough to have enjoyed his laughter and friendship," a statement from his family…
THE Hinduja Group and King's College London on Wednesday (24) unveiled a fresh collaboration with the goal of enhancing healthcare results in both India and the UK. This partnership focuses on bolstering training and research capabilities, alongside offering scholarships to Indian students. King's College London, along with Guy's and St.…
WITH overseas conflicts causing divisions between communities, Muslim leaders have urged people to remember Britain’s rich history of allowing the “freedom to practise faith and the appreciation of diversity”. At an event hosted by The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), panellist Taher Jiwanji, a civil engineer…
AUTHOR Shalina Patel said her own experience of not learning about the history she was interested in at school led her to write her new book, The History Lessons. “I was really interested in Indian history. I was really interested in learning about empire, about different groups, women, for example.…
KING CHARLES III on Tuesday (23) unveiled a set of top royal honours, elevating senior medic Lord Ajay Kumar Kakkar and musician Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber as his new Knight Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Lord Kakkar, 59, has been chosen for one of the country's…
PARENTS of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau have expressed frustration over the slow pace of the investigation into their daughters' tragic deaths at The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner cites a lack of forensic officers as the primary reason for the delay, promising improvements. Nuria and…
Suri Cruise, the daughter of Hollywood A-listers Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, is legally an adult now. On Thursday, Suri celebrated her 18th birthday in New York City while her estranged father, Tom Cruise, 61, was busy on a film set in London. Suri was spotted walking around New York…
During World War II, a group of unsung heroes worked tirelessly in complete secrecy to crack Nazi codes, a story that is only now coming to light. At least 77 women from Newnham College, a women-only institution at Cambridge University, were drafted to Bletchley Park, the renowned code-breaking centre north…
BRITISH INDIAN entrepreneur Deep Valecha-owned Regent Group will acquire building services group, TClarke, for £90.56 million, subject to regulatory approvals, a statement said. Regent is currently an existing shareholder in TClarke, holding approximately 21.5 percent of the stake. Established in 1889, TClarke provided electricity to Windsor Castle and lit up…
Longleat is a magnificent stately home that epitomises Elizabethan architecture, set amidst sprawling parkland and woodlands. It's not just a historic residence but also houses a renowned safari park, making it a unique destination that blends history and wildlife. Originally an Augustinian priory, Longleat was rebuilt as a grand residence…
BAFTA award winner Romesh Ranganathan took six and a half hours to finish the 2024 London Marathon after saying his only aim was to complete the course before the roads reopened. Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the event, he said, “My target time is to finish while the roads…
Khushwant Singh Literary Festival (KSLF) is set to return to London in its 6th edition and to Cambridge for the first time. The festival includes 15 sessions of discussions on books that matter and an evening of music. The theme of the festival is Heal the World. “The theme, Heal…
Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani's youngest son, Anant Ambani, is set to wed his childhood friend Radhika Merchant at Stoke Park Estate in London this July, according to sources. The extravagant affair is expected to host Bollywood celebrities, adding to the grandeur of the event. The lavish wedding, organised by…
The review date for the sentence of Valdo Calocane, the perpetrator of the Nottingham attacks, has been scheduled. Emma Webber, the mother of victim Barnaby Webber, disclosed that the families were informed on Friday (19 April) about the hearing set for 8 May, as reported by BBC. The Royal Courts…
Victoria Beckham reunited with her former Spice Girls bandmates Mel B, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm, and Emma Bunton and danced to their hit 'Spice Girls-Stop' at her 50th birthday party on Saturday. Victoria's husband, David Beckham captured the moment and treated fans with the video on his Instagram handle. Sharing…
Taylor Swift is popular amongst all generations of all nations. While, Swift recently dropped her new album, The Tortured Poets Department. Her album's 17th track gives a reference to a pub in London named 'The Black Dog.' The lyrics of the song called 'The Black Dog' are: "I am someone…
The contender challenging Sadiq Khan for London mayor, Tarun Ghulati, aims to lead the city with a business mindset. Ghulati, originally from Delhi, believes his experience as a businessman is what London needs to attract investment and prioritise safety. Standing as an independent candidate among 13 contestants, Ghulati vows to…
Glastonbury’s Shangri-La has announced its 2024 line-ups and unveiled a brand-new stage, Arrivals, due to feature in the South East corner field for the first time this year. The new area will be programmed, designed, and built by an entirely South Asian team, as a collaboration between Dialled In, Going…
Located on the historic Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is a prehistoric marvel that enchants visitors with its towering stones and enigmatic history. The monument, a stunning example of ancient architecture, consists of an outer ring of vertical sarsen standing stones, each around 13 feet high, connected by horizontal…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans for a second Superloop network of express bus services as he prepares for the May 2 mayoral election. If granted a third term at City Hall, Khan proposes to double the number of Superloop services from 10 to 20, The Standard reports. Khan…
INDIA is pressing for an exemption from the UK's proposed carbon tax as negotiations progress towards finalising a free trade agreement, The Guardian reported on Friday (19). A British government official, briefed on the negotiations, revealed that India is seeking exemption from the proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), citing…
Two Indian students studying at a university in the UK tragically lost their lives in a drowning incident at a picturesque waterfall in Scotland. The incident occurred at the Linn of Tummel near Blair Atholl in Perthshire on Wednesday night, when two young men from a group of friends fell…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak wants to eliminate the “sick-note culture” which he claims has become a lifestyle choice for some and was taking a heavy toll on the country's welfare bill. Sunak wants to strip GPs of their power to sign people off work and said that if the Tories…
Taylor Swift has often referenced London in her music, making it clear that the city holds a special place in her life. She has spent significant time in England, recording music and engaging in several romantic relationships based in the city. Here's a timeline of Taylor Swift's relationships in and…
PLANS for a new Asda in Salisbury have been approved by the strategic planning committee in Trowbridge county hall. The proposal was discussed on Wednesday (17) and councillors voted unanimously in favour of the application. The proposal was submitted to Wiltshire council almost two years ago, in June 2022, and…
The heritage of every country is different, sometimes there are multiple heritage sites of different cultures in one country. But these Roman Baths in England have their significance. As one of England's most cherished historical landmarks, the Roman Baths in Bath offer an immersive journey back in time. Visitors to…
Prince Harry has officially declared the United States as his primary residence, marking a significant step in his separation from the British royal family. According to documents obtained by Page Six, the Duke of Sussex listed the US as his "new country/state usually resident," a notable change from his previous…
A ban on lunchtime prayers at Michaela Community School in London, which prompted a legal challenge from a student, received backing from notable Muslim leaders, according to the school's headteacher, Katharine Birbalsingh. This week, the school successfully defended its policy of prohibiting pupils from praying during lunchtime in the playground…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday (18) announced plans to introduce "baby banks" across every borough in the capital for families to access free essentials for children. These facilities, like food banks, would offer essential childcare items such as nappies, toiletries, bedding and feeding equipment to families in need, reported…
EIGHT people from India have been honoured in Time magazine's prestigious list of the 100 most influential people of 2024. World Bank president Ajay Banga, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Olympian wrestler Sakshi Malik and actor-director Dev Patel are among the Indians on the list. It also…
The United Kingdom is set to host its inaugural Muslim Film Festival, a groundbreaking event poised to celebrate the diverse narratives and talents within the Muslim community. Scheduled to take place from May 30th to June 2nd at the prestigious Odeon West End in London, this festival promises to showcase…
Steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta is now facing the heat over the collapse of the supply chain finance firm Greensill Capital, as his GFG Alliance was one of its biggest customers. Greensill's administrators Grant Thronton have warned they could try to seize assets from Gupta to recover £472 million in unpaid…
A LONG list of acclaimed plays has turned Rifco into one of the UK’s most successful touring theatre companies. Led admirably by talented artistic director Pravesh Kumar MBE, the pioneering London-based creative collective adds to its impressive roster with Frankie Goes To Bollywood, which premieres at Watford Palace Theatre next…
HAVING done a lot of musical theatre growing up, it was always going to be inevitable that Aiyana Bartlett would pursue a professional acting career. The young talent has used that natural flair for performance to take on challenges, such as playing two contrasting roles in new theatre production, Testmatch.…
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
HOW do Eastern Eye readers bring a touch of “back home” into their gardens in Southall or Wembley, or indeed, any other part of the UK? Near his home in the village of Brookmans Park in Hertfordshire, landscape designer Manoj Malde talked about his new book, Your Outdoor Garden: How…
COMEDIAN Romesh Ranganathan, who is patron of the suicide prevention charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm), said there have been times in his life where he’s felt suicidal. The 46-year-old revealed he struggled with certain events in his life such as when he did badly in his A-Levels and when…
The BBC’s restructuring of its India operations to comply with the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) rules was completed last Wednesday (10) with the launch of Collective Newsroom, an independent entity with the public broadcaster as its first client. The Indian-owned company replaces BBC World Service India and will continue…
Actors Rasika Dugal and Arjun Mathur’s Lord Curzon Ki Haveli will serve as the closing film at the prestigious UK Asian Film Festival, the makers said on Wednesday. Anshuman Jha, who makes his directorial debut with the movie, and Dugal are expected to walk the festival's red carpet on May…
THE government has said that it continues to work towards striking an “ambitious” trade deal with India as a negotiating team from Delhi resumed talks with their British counterparts in London this week. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reiterated its stance of only signing a free trade agreement…
BRITISH trader Sanjay Shah and his Solo Capital hedge fund orchestrated the bulk of an alleged £1.44 billion fraud against Danish taxpayers, a lawyer for the Copenhagen tax authority told a London court on Monday (15). Laurence Rabinowitz said most of the 17 sets of co-defendants in the complex case…
A Muslim student's legal challenge against a ban on prayer rituals at a leading London school was dismissed by a court on Tuesday. The case, centering on religious freedoms within schools, attracted nationwide interest. The student, whose identity remains confidential, had filed a lawsuit against Michaela Community School in northwest…
Actor Johnny Depp shared his experience of being part of Jeanne du Barry and said he felt "strangely, oddly, perversely lucky" to have been offered the role of French King Louis XV at the U.K. premiere of his film, reported Variety. Jeanne du Barry is a historical drama film written,…
A COMMON type 2 diabetes test may be inaccurate for tens of thousands of south Asians in the UK, a new study has shown, prompting calls for more research. A genetic variant almost exclusive to people with south Asian heritage affects the accuracy of the diabetes haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test,…
In an address to the parliament, prime minister Rishi Sunak strongly criticised Iran for launching an attack that sent 300 missiles and drones towards Israel, describing Iran as a nation "intent on creating disorder" in the Middle East. On Monday, he commended the Royal Air Force pilots who, in collaboration…
DELHI airport has been named among the world's top 10 busiest airports for 2023, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital is ranked tenth while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport tops the list, followed by Dubai and Dallas airports. Among the…
Google recently revealed its top 20 destinations for summer vacations in 2024, showcasing both popular favourites and new additions. Based on flight booking data and search trends from Google Flights for travel between June 1 and August 31, 2024, the list offers insights into the destinations attracting the most interest…
Sadiq Khan has pledged to eliminate rough sleeping in London which is now at the highest level in a decade. Announcing his latest manifesto commitment on Monday ahead of the mayoral election on May 2, Khan said he plans to spend an extra £10 million to tackle the growing humanitarian…
Etel Adnan, a pioneering Lebanese-American poet, essayist, and visual artist, was a creative force whose work transcended cultural and artistic boundaries. Born in 1925 in Beirut, Lebanon, Adnan's diverse heritage influenced her unique artistic style. Adnan's father, Assaf Kadri, was a Sunni Muslim-Turkish high-ranking Ottoman officer of Albanian descent, while…
HEATHROW baggage handler has spared prison after stealing £29,000 worth of jewellery from a misplaced suitcase, reported MyLondon. Priti Sthankiya moved the bag from Terminal 2 and concealed beneath a carousel in January last year, the Old Bailey heard on Thursday (11). Subsequently, she retrieved designer handbags containing £500 in…
The Asian business community has always been a boon to the British economy. Indeed, when you look back over the years, there has long been a strong entrepreneurial spirit within the community. For example, in a 2007 report by the Mayor of London’s office, 13% of all businesses in the…
Young people today are facing a mental health crisis. Across the globe, reports paint a concerning picture of a significant rise in mental health issues among adolescents. While the reasons are complex and multifaceted, social media and smartphones frequently take the brunt of the blame. However, a closer look reveals…
Zayn Malik, who shot to fame when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2010 and became a member of One Direction, was initially driven by a desire to help his family have a better quality of living, but as his ambitions grew, he wanted to be able to see…
A PASSION for highlighting the recipes and food traditions of Bangladesh has led Dina Begum towards becoming an author of two widely acclaimed cookbooks. The British culinary expert has followed up Brick Lane Cookbook with the recently published Made in Bangladesh, which has also received a great response. The new…
Indian B-school IIM-Ahmedabad has secured a spot among the top 25 global institutions for business and management studies, as revealed by the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject. IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Calcutta have also been ranked among the top 50 management institutes worldwide. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been recognised…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has awarded an Asian-origin London resident for promoting cricket and making a positive change within the south Asian community. Himanshu Jain, who co-founded a charity cricket community for south Asian men, got the daily Points of Light award on April 10. The Prime Minister makes daily…
ACTOR Darasing Khurana said the death of his close friend, fellow actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020, led him to become a mental health campaigner. Khurana, 32, has been named the Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion, with his role focusing on mental health initiatives. He founded the Pause. Breathe.Talk…
