- Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Russia has accused the BBC of "waging an information war" on different fronts - not only against Moscow, but also against other global centres of power pursuing an independent policy, days after the British broadcaster released a controversial series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova…
Hundreds representing different Indian diaspora organisations gathered outside the BBC headquarters in central London on Sunday to protest against what they branded as “fake news” behind the broadcaster’s controversial series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The “Chalo BBC” protests were coordinated across BBC studios in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and…
India's rising tide of Hindu nationalism is an affront to the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, his great-grandson says, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the revered independence hero's assassination. Gandhi was shot dead at a multi-faith prayer meeting on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a religious zealot angered by…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday (28) reprimanded foreign newspapers for reserving adjectives like "Hindu nationalist" for the Indian government. "If you read foreign newspapers, they use words like Hindu Nationalist Government. In America or Europe, they won't say Christian Nationalist... these adjectives are reserved for us. They don't…
India's Gautam Adani, the school drop-out turned billionaire who rose to become Asia's richest man, faces possibly the biggest challenge of his career after a U.S. short-seller cast doubts on his business practices, hammering shares in his companies and his reputation. Adani, whose home state is Gujarat in western India,…
A security assessment by Indian police in the Himalayan region of Ladakh says there could be more clashes between Indian and Chinese troops along their contested frontier there as Beijing ramps up military infrastructure in the region. At least 24 soldiers were killed when the armies of the Asian giants…
Shares of India's Adani Enterprises sank nearly 20 per cent on Friday (27) as a scathing report by a US short seller triggered a rout in the conglomerate's listed firms, casting doubts on how investors will respond to the company's record $2.45 billion secondary sale. Seven listed companies of the…
Describing India banning the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a matter of press freedom, the US State Department said that it is high time to highlight the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and make it a point around the world as well as in…
Congress leader Anil K Antony, the son of former Defence Minister A K Anthony on Wednesday (25) announced his resignation from the party, a day after he criticised the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "This is my personal decision and I do think this is the best course…
Indian students said they would show again a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government has dismissed as propaganda after a Tuesday campus screening was disrupted by a power cut and intimidation by rivals. The Students' Federation of India (SFI) plans to show the documentary, "India: The…
India has invited Pakistan's foreign minister to a meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) that it is hosting in May, Indian media reported on Wednesday, signalling a possible thaw in relations between the nuclear-armed rivals. The invitation came days after Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif called for talks with…
The House of Lords member Dolar Amarshi Popat on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Director General of BBC Broadcasting House Tim Davie asking him to stop the screening of the second part of the documentary series to avoid exasperating the already tense situation between British Hindus and Muslims in…
A top Indian university has warned its students' union of strict disciplinary action if it goes ahead with a planned screening of a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, saying it might disturb the peace and harmony of the campus. Modi's government has dismissed the documentary, which…
The US is not familiar with the BBC documentary, but it is familiar with the shared “democratic values” that connect Washington and New Delhi, a US State Department spokesperson has said. The two-part BBC series, titled "India: The Modi Question" claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat…
Hindi film stars Ajay Devgn, Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra have expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for naming 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees. On the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniversary, the PM on Monday virtually unveiled…
Superstar Akshay Kumar on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for asking BJP workers to refrain from making unnecessary remarks on films. In his address to the BJP national executive meeting on Tuesday, PM Modi suggested party workers refrain from making unnecessary remarks on irrelevant issues such as movies, saying…
Even as India and the United Kingdom recently wrapped up round six of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), Britain's High Commissioner Alex Ellis highlighted that after covering a lot of ground now the question is down to not just the technical details but political will on both…
A new online petition has demanded an independent probe into a "serious breach" by the BBC in its duties as a public broadcaster in the UK over the controversial documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ‘Call for an Independent Investigation into the BBC over Modi documentary’ on Change.Org, which…
India has blocked the airing of a BBC documentary which questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying that even sharing of any clips via social media is barred.Directions to block the clips from being shared have been issued using emergency powers available to the government…
In a strong rebuttal to the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 300 eminent Indians including retired judges, retired bureaucrats, and retired armed forces veterans signed a statement slamming the British national broadcaster for showing "unrelenting prejudice" toward India and its leader. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired…
Pakistani minister of state foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday (19) said her country does not see a “partner” in Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for working towards peace between the two countries, but it saw a partner in his predecessors Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Speaking at…
EARLIER in the autumn, briefings from the Home Office appeared to indicate that the UK government was seriously considering limiting the number of international students to help reduce net migration. At that time one of us, along with 13 other vice-chancellors, joined with the former education secretary, Justine Greening, to…
There is a need for someone who can bring Ukraine and Russia to the table for talks and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can play a key role in facilitating the negotiations between the two warring neighbours, a veteran French journalist said. However, at this moment it looks "extremely difficult"…
Lord Rami Ranger, a prominent member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, has lodged a protest with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am appalled by the documentary produced by the BBC implicating the Hon. Prime Minister of…
British-Indian parliamentarian Lord Karan Bilimoria on January 19 referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "one of the most powerful persons on the planet", while underscoring the importance of the UK's ties with the fastest-growing major economy in the world. "To conclude, as a boy, Narendra Modi sold tea at…
The BBC on Friday (20) defended its controversial series on prime minister Narendra Modi as a “rigorously researched” documentary that sought to highlight important issues, a day after the Indian government condemned the programme as a “propaganda piece” lacking objectivity. “The documentary was rigorously researched according to the highest editorial…
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's advice to his party workers to stop commenting on movies comes late as the "mob is out of control now". According to party sources, in his address at the BJP national executive on Monday, PM Modi had suggested party workers…
Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the British Parliament, Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the BBC documentary series, saying he "doesn't agree with the characterization" of his Indian counterpart. Sunak made these remarks on the controversial documentary that was raised in the Parliament by Pakistan-origin MP Imran Hussain. "The UK…
The Congress Thursday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should break his "silence" on the sexual exploitation allegations against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and asked why resignations of those involved have not come in till now. The opposition party's attack came after…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told Bharatiya Janata Party workers and leaders to refrain from making unnecessary comments on movies. His stern message comes amid controversies around Bollywood films that have been facing strong opposition from some BJP leaders for some time for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. The…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought "serious" and "sincere" talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the resolution of the "burning" issues, including on Kashmir, and said the UAE could play an important role in facilitating the resumption of dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Prime Minister Sharif…
High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram K Doraiswami and Matthew Rycroft, the permanent secretary at the Home Office of the UK signed and exchanged letters for formalising the Young Professional Scheme at an event in London on Monday. The event took place at the High Commission of India…
Nepal Army on Monday said they have not rescued anyone alive from the site of the plane crash that occurred on Sunday in the central resort city of Pokhara. "We haven't rescued anyone alive from the crash site," said Nepal Army Spokesperson Krishna Prasad Bhandari. A Yeti Airlines passenger plane…
Opposition Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab on Friday (13) strongly opposed the reported move of induction of helmets for Sikh soldiers in the Army. Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that Sikhs bravely fought the 1962, 1965, 1971 wars and the…
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (13) flagged off the world's longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas, which will cover 3,200 km across 27 river systems in five states in India and Bangladesh in 51 days. MV Ganga Vilas is the first-ever cruise vessel to be made in India and…
A Hindu temple in Australia has been vandalised apparently by Khalistan supporters in a global pattern of targeting the places of worship of the religious group. The walls of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melbourne were on Thursday found defaced with graffiti calling for 'death to India' and comparing Indian…
India celebrated a rare Hollywood award triumph after local film RRR won a Golden Globe for best song on Wednesday, seeing off competition from US superstars Taylor Swift and Rihanna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the "very special accomplishment" after the win by the action movie's barnstorming, high-octane number "Naatu…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the 'RRR' team after the film's track 'Naatu Naatu' made India proud at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards stage. Filmmaker SS Rajamouli's magnum opus 'RRR' bagged the Best Original song trophy for its song 'Naatu Naatu'. Following the historic win, the PM took to…
British King Charles III on Sunday (8) gave a special message to the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) community as it celebrates the birth centenary of His Holiness (HH) Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2916). In his message which was tweeted by UK in India, the King said, "As you commemorate…
British MP Barry Gardiner has said that though it is important to set climate targets, more emphasis should be given to create polices to attain these goals. Gardiner also admitted that the current funding by the UK to other countries to enable them to achieve climate targets is 'critically insufficient',…
British opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer on Friday (6) lauded former BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) guru and president Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016) whose birth centenary celebrations are currently underway in India saying the spiritual leader had built more than 1,200 temples and the effort has been recognised across…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "really going out of his way" to work with the Sikh community, both inside and outside India, Indian-American businessman and philanthropist Darshan Singh Dhaliwal has said. Dhaliwal has been selected as one of the 27 recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman this year. "I think…
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday pitched his state as a safe investment destination and also interacted with prominent Bollywood personalities during his visit to Mumbai, where Maharashtra's Opposition parties targeted him over his roadshow. Adityanath assured industrialists of a strong law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh,…
Prime minister Narendra Modi spoke with King Charles III of UK on the telephone on Tuesday (3) and discussed several subjects including climate change, biodiversity conservation, and solutions for the financing energy transition. As this was PM Modi's first conversation with King Charles III after he assumed the Office of…
US President Joe Biden has sent his deepest condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the loss of his mother Hiraben who passed away in Gujarat at the age of 99. Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Friday. Her mortal remains were consigned…
Cine personalities Rajinikanth, Dharmendra, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn on Friday expressed grief over the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben Modi and wished him the strength to bear the loss. Hiraben, 99, passed away at 3.30 am during treatment at U N Mehta Heart Hospital, in Ahmedabad.…
Several world leaders on Friday condoled the demise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben who passed away in Gujarat at the age of 99. Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Friday. Her mortal remains were consigned to flames by PM Modi and…
In fond tributes to his mother Hiraben following her death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday he always felt in her the presence of a trinity combining an ascetic's journey, a selfless doer and a life committed to values. Modi's mother Hiraben passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad…
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and leaders cutting across the political spectrum on Friday condoled the death of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben, recalling her simple and compassionate life that was an inspiration for all. Hiraben, Hiraba to many, passed away at an Ahmedabad hospital on Friday…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben is "recovering", a hospital in Ahmedabad where she is admitted said on Thursday. Hiraben (99), also called Hiraba, was admitted to the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre on Wednesday morning due to some health issues. PM Modi reached Ahmedabad from Delhi…
As the Indian entertainment industry continues to pay its tributes to late actor Tunisha Sharma, four-time National Film Award-winning actress Kangana Ranaut has taken to Instagram Stories and shared her thoughts on the death of the popular television star. She has also requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement…
A Hindu couple had fled Afghanistan nearly three 30 years ago when the first Taliban regime in that country was ready to take control. Three decades later, the duo have found their fate linked to the religious fundamentalist group again as it has returned to power in Kabul again in…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sought India's help in the implementation of a peace formula with Russia. "I had a phone call with PM Modi & wished him a successful G20 presidency. It was on this platform that I announced…
The Indian American community in Washington has observed the maiden 'Veer Bal Diwas' during which they paid tributes to the unparalleled sacrifices made by 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh's four sons who laid down their lives while defending their faith. The martyrdom day of Guru Gobind Singh's sons - Baba…
The High Commission of India, London on Monday (26) hosted a digital exhibition on two sahibzadas of Guru Govind Singh on the occasion of Veer Baal Diwas. While all four sons of Guru Gobind Singh made their supreme sacrifice, the date is observed as the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas…
England all-rounder Sam Curran became the most expensive player bought by the money-spinning Indian Premier League on Friday when Punjab Kings paid £1.85 million to bring him back to his debut team. The left-arm quick and attacking middle-order batsman was among a selection of the world's top cricketers going under…
The centennial birth anniversary of His Holiness (HH) Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016) was observed at a special commemorative event in the UK parliament on Monday (19). The occasion saw the presence of a number of dignitaries, including the virtual presence of prime minister Rishi Sunak. At the centennial celebration, special…
Four gay couples have asked India's Supreme Court to recognise same-sex marriages, setting the stage for a legal face-off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government which has in the past refused to legalise such marriages. In a historic verdict in 2018, India's top court decriminalised homosexuality by scrapping a colonial-era…
Many events were held during the first week of centennial celebration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The grand centennial celebration was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj on December 14. The celebration will continue through January 15, 2023, and each…
Google CEO Sundar Pichai met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday here and said it is inspiring to see the rapid pace of technological change under his leadership. Pichai, CEO, Google and Alphabet, said he looked forward to continuing strong partnership and supporting India’s G20 presidency to advance open internet…
Leo Varadkar, the Irish leader of Indian heritage, is back for a second term as prime minister. Varadkar's father Ashok Varadkar, a doctor, hailed from Varad, around 500 km from Mumbai. He moved to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. In a historic development, Britain got its first Asian-origin Prime…
Prime minister Narendra Modi's views on the use of nuclear weapons had an impact on the Russians and could well have averted a global disaster in the context of the Ukraine war, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Bill Burns said, according to PBS. "I think it's also been…
The BJP on Friday slammed Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto for his objectionable comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the foreign affairs minister of the neighbouring country represents a “morally, intellectually and financially bankrupt” nation which has no credibility due to its support to terrorism. Union minister Anurag Thakur said Bhutto’s…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (14) hailed BAPS leader Pramukh Swami Maharaj as a reformer who devoted his life to selfless service of others and recalled his long association with the late saint, who he said, treated him like a son. Recalling his conversation with Pramukh Swami Maharaj when…
Indian minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal, held a meeting with UK secretary of state for international trade, Kemi Badenoch in New Delhi on Tuesday (13). Badenoch, who began her official India visit on Monday (12), is scheduled to address both teams of negotiators before the sixth round of…
The UK wants India to be among the new permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, alongside Brazil, Japan, Germany and African representation, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday. In his first major foreign policy speech since taking charge in the Rishi Sunak-led government, Cleverly praised Prime…
On the occasion of World Human Rights Day on Saturday (10), the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) and Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand came together with faith leaders, scholars, academics, and artists from across the society to discuss how gender equality must go hand in…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday admitted that there is a delay in the issuing of foreign visas and said that at the ministerial level he had raised the matter with the Western countries including the US, UK, and Germany. While addressing the Agenda Aaj Tak 2022 in New…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday headed for a record victory in Gujarat as the counting of votes entered the last leg, giving the ruling party a lead in 100 seats and a win in another 57 seats in the 182-member state assembly. The Congress party was…
The popularity of Pandya Store has seen the hit drama serial pull in big audience numbers since it premiered in January 2021. The relatable Star Plus family drama, which is fast approaching 600 episodes, has made a strong connection with cross-generational audiences. The show has also given a great platform…
The five year-long centennial celebrations around the globe will culminate in the final, month-long, grand celebrations in Ahmedabad in the western Indian state of Gujarat between December 15, 2022, and January 15, 2023. The festivity, which is expected to attract several thousands of followers of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan…
The Indian High Commission in London on Monday announced the reinstating of the electronic visa (e-visa) for UK travellers, a move that will be widely welcomed amid a massive rush for visas to India in recent months. The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said the service will…
“India is a part of me and I carry it with me wherever I go," Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said, as he received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award from the Indian envoy to the US. Indian-American Pichai was awarded the Padma Bhushan for 2022 in the Trade and…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat began voting on Thursday with his party expected to win a seventh straight term, but any unexpected slip could herald a tighter contest in national polls due by 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not lost in the western industrial…
A Hindu group close to India's ruling party will on Wednesday march in support of a $900 million port project by the Adani Group which has been stalled by Christian protesters, as tensions rise after clashes in which 80 people were injured. Construction work at the project in Vizhinjam, in…
As India readies to assume the presidency of the "powerful" G20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country should focus on global good during its term and asserted that it has solutions to the challenges related to peace, unity, environment and sustainable development. India will officially assume the…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have made their debut on the Asian Rich List 2022, which profiles the 101 wealthiest Asians in Britain. Sunak and his wife – whose father NR Narayana Murthy co-founded Indian IT major, Infosys – are ranked 17th in the list, with…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated superstar Chiranjeevi on getting the Indian Film Personality of the Year award, saying his diverse roles and wonderful nature have endeared him to film lovers across generations. The 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India in Goa on Sunday honoured Chiranjeevi…
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given the same level of protection from prosecution in the US that was recently accorded to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a US State Department spokesperson said in a briefing on Friday. "This is not the first time that the United States has…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that the UK government remains committed to working “as quickly as possible” towards a successful conclusion to the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) talks with India, as the majority of the substantive negotiation conversations were completed at the end of last month. At a…
Artworks and traditional items representing the rich heritage of India's states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s choice of presents to world leaders during the G-20 summit in Bali. Officials said Modi presented US President Joe Biden with Kangra miniature paintings, which portray ‘Shringar Rasa’, and…
Rishi Sunak on Wednesday highlighted the strong bonds between India and Britain during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the two leaders discussing areas where the UK and India are working increasingly closely including defence and security. In the meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 summit…
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak met at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali on Wednesday (16) and discussed ways to boost trade between the two countries, Modi said. It was the first meeting between Modi and Sunak, who is of Indian origin,…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India's G20 presidency will be " inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented." While giving his address in the closing ceremony of the G20 Summit, PM Modi said, "India's G20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented. In the next year, it will…
Britain to offer 3,000 places annually to 18–30 year-old degree-educated Indians to come to the UK to live and work for up to two years. The reciprocal route will open in early 2023. It is reported that India will be the first visa-national country to benefit from the new visa…
The UK's international reputation has taken "a bit of a knock" this year, Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday, as he vowed to restore economic stability. In an interview with the BBC in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Sunak said tax rises and spending cuts in Thursday's Autumn…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden on Tuesday reviewed the state of India-US strategic partnership including in sectors like critical and emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. It is understood that Modi and Biden also touched upon the Ukraine conflict and its implications in their meeting that took…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (15) met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi after assuming office for the first time on the sidelines of the 17th edition of the G20 Summit in Bali (Indonesia). "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @RishiSunak in conversation during the first day of the @g20org Summit…
Ties between the United Kingdom and India will remain on a “phenomenal upward trajectory” under Indian-origin UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that country’s former premier Boris Johnson said on Saturday. The two countries need each other now more than ever as “we live in dangerous and turbulent times”, he said.…
British officials are likely to visit India in December with the aim of concluding talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries in about four months, two Indian government sources said, after the nations missed their initial timeline. A trade agreement between India and Britain that aims…
Two male cheetahs brought from Namibia to the Kuno National Park in India's central state of Madhya Pradesh have made their first kill within 24 hours of their release from a quarantine area to a larger acclimatisation enclosure, an official said on Monday. The cheetahs hunted down a cheetah (spotted…
Britain's trade negotiations with India should prioritise reducing tariffs on manufactured goods to benefit sectors like the automotive industry, the mayor of England's second biggest metropolitan area told Reuters. Britain and India are seeking to strike a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA), but missed a late October deadline set by…
India on Thursday said it is working “sincerely” with the UK for finalisation of the proposed free trade agreement, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak agreed on the “early conclusion” of the deal. “Both sides are working sincerely on the free trade agreement,” External…
LABOUR does not take the British south Asian vote for granted, party leader Sir Keir Starmer told Eastern Eye. He also revealed his determination to work as “grown up” partners with the communities and his ambition to be the next prime minister. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview prior to…
Intensive negotiations continue towards a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK and new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is committed to achieving a balanced deal, Downing Street said on Wednesday. Sunak, who took charge at 10 Downing Street last week, had a "very warm" introductory call with…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday (2) that he will attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next week, reversing his previous decision to skip the meeting in Sharm El Sheikh to focus on domestic issues and the economic crisis in the UK. Sunak took to Twitter to…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (1) said a "detailed and extensive" inquiry to identify all aspects relating to the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy is the need of the hour, as he chaired a high-level meeting in Gujarat to review the situation. He asserted that key learnings from the inquiry…
As many as 135 people have been killed in the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy and 170 others rescued, Gujarat minister Rajendra Trivedi said on Tuesday. The rescue operation is still on in the Machchhu river by the armed forces, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies, officials said.…
Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday (27) thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for congratulating him on his new role, saying he was "excited" about what the two great democracies can achieve as they deepen their security, defence and economic partnership. His comment came soon after Prime Minister…
King Charles, in a goodwill gesture, offered UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Diwali sweets as he performed his duty as head of state and formally appointed the new Conservative leader, the event which also coincided with the occasion of the most celebrated five-day "Festival of Lights" celebrated this week by…
Rishi Sunak will do his best for Britain when he takes over as prime minister on Tuesday, said his father-in-law, Indian billionaire N R Narayana Murthy, the founder of software giant Infosys. The 42-year-old, a practising Hindu who traces his roots to India, will be Britain's first prime minister of…
Many Indians are delighted at the prospect of Rishi Sunak becoming the first person of Indian origin to become British prime minister, just as Hindus like him celebrated Diwali across the world on Monday. Sunak was set to take the top job after his rivals Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt withdrew…
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday (23) launched 36 satellites of London-based firm, OneWeb, in its heaviest rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. Prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on the successful launch of these satellites. He said that the latest initiative exemplified Atmanirbharta (self-reliance)…
Indian national and ex-COO at Balaji Telefilms, Zulfiqar Admad Khan has been missing in Kenya since July 2022. Balaji Telefilms’ head honcho and producer Ektaa Kapoor recently requested the Indian government and humanitarian organization Kenya Red Cross to help locate Khan. She took to her Instagram handle and shared a…
The free trade agreement (FTA) talks between India and the UK are "progressing well" and a deal that works for both sides is more important than the date when it is signed, Britain’s Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands said with reference to the now abandoned Diwali deadline for a draft…
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said the UK is eager to secure a trade deal with India to boost both economies and that Brexit has meant that Britain no longer has a Eurocentric mindset towards trade or visas. Addressing a Diwali event organised by UK-based India Global Forum (IGF) in…
The Conservatives bagged a decisive victory in a Leicester council by-election on Thursday (13) as they snatched a seat from the Labour, who were pushed to the third spot in a place which was hit by the recent civil unrest. Sanjay Modhwadia won the North Evington seat for the Tories…
A lawmaker in western Indian state of Goa has warned that the tourist hotspot will face a loss of Rs 500 crore (£55m) if visa conditions to UK tourists are not relaxed. Goa Forward Party (GFP) president and legislator Vijai Sardesai has urged the BJP government at the centre and…
Data localisation and UK companies being allowed to bid for Indian government contracts are among the issues causing a possible deadlock in the final stages of the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations towards a Diwali draft completion deadline, according to a UK media report on Sunday (9). 'The Daily…
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Indian leader Narendra Modi in April and set an ambitious target to sign the free trade agreement (FTA) by Diwali later this month. Recently, Braverman said that she had doubts regarding the deal as it would increase immigration to the UK even as Truss…
A trade deal between Britain and India might not contain everything that the services sector wants, UK trade minister Kemi Badenoch said on Tuesday as a deadline to complete the deal approaches. Before stepping down, former prime minister Boris Johnson set a target with Indian leader Narendra Modi to complete…
An Indian state has launched a campaign to Indianise the greeting on the telephone. The Maharashtra government passed a resolution that appealed to its employees to say ‘Vande Mataram’ instead of ‘hello’ while receiving official or personal phone calls.However, the government clarified that it was not mandatory to use the…
Vivek Lall, an Indian-origin General Atomics Global Corporation chief executive, is honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by US President Joe Biden with the citation of 'With Grateful Recognition'. The citation was given to Lall, who has done PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University in Kansas, by the…
IDENTITY politics is infecting our communities in the UK. Last week, some hate preacher decided it would be a good idea to try to organise a demonstration against a Hindu temple in my constituency. I responded immediately, pointing out that their inflammatory post was incitement to religious hatred and was…
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday (local time) emphasized the remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand, and said that he "could not agree more" with PM Modi's advice. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16,…
British member of parliament (MP) Bob Blackman on Thursday (22) came forward in support of the Hindu community after violence between Hindu and Muslim communities have affected areas such as Leicester, saying he condemned "violent attacks on Hindu temples in Leicester and Smethwick" and cautioned that the Hindu festivals of…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a powerful, influential voice on the world stage and the Russian leadership respects India’s position on the global arena, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said, emphasising that London hopes President Vladimir Putin listens to those voices who are calling for peace amid the Ukraine…
Outsiders are coming to Leicester to cause tensions among the city’s south Asian communities, sources have told Eastern Eye. In the past three weeks, police arrested 47 people following violence in the city. Last weekend (16-17), they arrested 18 suspects, and some of those were from outside the city, sources…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was right when he said that the time is not for war, France President Emmanuel Macron said at the ongoing 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. "Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time…
International Gita Mahotsav was celebrated in Canada, during which Member of Parliament House of Commons of Canada Chandra Arya emphasized a bill to celebrate November as Hindu Heritage Month. According to a statement issued by Bharat Sevashram Sangha Canada, the Mahotsav was celebrated from September 16-18 in Canada's Parliament. It…
India on Friday declared one-day mourning on September 11 on the passing away of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, passed away on Thursday. "As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the Government of India has decided that there…
Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and the nation's figurehead for seven decades, has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday. Here is some reaction to the news: U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES "As the United Kingdom's longest-lived and longest-reigning Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her…
Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt along with director Ayan Mukerji on Tuesday faced protests at the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, for the 'Rockstar' actor's comment that he likes beef, in 2011. Ranbir, Alia, and director Ayan recently arrived in Ujjain to take the blessings of Lord Shiva…
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while expressing her love for her mother tongue Bangla, said it was the large-scale language movement that gave Bangladesh its Independence from Pakistan five decades back. "When Pakistan was formed, Urdu language was imposed upon us. A language movement started across our country and we…
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi led initiative towards rescuing students of her country who were stuck in eastern Europe following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a free-wheeling television interaction with ANI, Prime Minister Hasina, who is set to visit India on Monday, also…
On the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, India's external affairs minister Dr S. Jaishankar visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir site in Abu Dhabi. He was accompanied by an esteemed delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, including the Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Ambassador Sanjay Sudhir, Joint…
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar who is on a three-day visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) visited the under-construction Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi said to be the first traditional temple in the Arabian Peninsula and expressed his happiness over its "rapid progress." On Wednesday, Jaishankar visited the site of…
Last month, Indian-origin yoga prodigy Ishwar Sharma was honoured by the government of the southern Indian state of Karnataka at the Yogathon 2022 event held at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, the state capital. He was honoured by the state's sports minister, C Narayanagowda. At 12, Ishwar is already an…
LABOUR’S deputy leader Angela Rayner has defended the party’s decision to raise concerns over alleged human rights breaches in Indian Kashmir, saying, “we stand up for human rights and we will never shirk from that responsibility”. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Rayner said Labour would be respectful in…
EVERYONE now expects Westminster’s Game of Thrones to end with foreign secretary Liz Truss wearing the crown. The former chancellor and her opponent, Rishi Sunak, embraces his underdog status and pledges to fight to the end. The candidates’ fates are now sealed in the returned but unopened ballot papers. Top…
By A fortunate coincidence, India marks its 75th anniversary as a free country at the same time as the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo. Aurobindo (1872-1950) was a poet, revolutionary, philosopher, mystic, and yogi par excellence. He was not interested in huge statues, grandiose projects, or big institutions in…
As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations in the US state of New York, the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) set two Guinness World Records respectively for the most number of different flags flown simultaneously and the largest ensemble of musical instruments Damru. https://twitter.com/PratikMathur1/status/1561531703612555264?s=20&t=Gny2qn_sr0yjK2J8nLlS6A People of the Indian diaspora…
THE 1990s were a time of hope in India. One of my jobs at the Daily Telegraph was to travel regularly to India and do surveys of the Indian economy. While I would do the journalistic interviews, an accompanying colleague from advertising would try to persuade captains of industry to…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will aim to become a developed nation within 25 years as the country marked 75 years of independence on Monday (15), with the leaders of Britain, the US and France sending congratulatory messages. In his traditional address to the nation from Delhi’s historic Red…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday discussed the Ukraine conflict with French President Emmanuel Macron in a telephonic conversation. "The Head of State and the Prime Minister of India exchanged views on the Russian-led war in Ukraine and its destabilising consequences for the rest of the world. The President of…
Prime Minister Boris Johnson led India's 75th Independence Day celebrations in the UK on Monday with a throwback image from Sabarmati Ashram during his visit to Gujarat earlier this year. Congratulations to the people of India on 75 years of independence, he said. "During my recent visit to Gujarat and…
VETERAN stock market investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, often referred to as India's Warren Buffett, died in Mumbai on Sunday (14). He was 62.Jhunjhunwala died early in the morning due to a cardiac arrest, a source in his newly set up airline said.Known as the Big Bull of Indian markets, his net…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called on the people of India to take "panch pran" (five pledges) for a developed nation and aim to fulfil the dreams of the freedom fighters by the year 2047- the 100th year of India's Independence. The Prime Minister while addressing the nation on…
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is planning to submit a written proposal to the UN to create a commission, made up of three world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to promote a world truce for a period of five years, MSN web portal reported. "I will make the…
A COALITION, comprising prime minister Narendra Modi's party has lost power in Bihar, the third most populous state in India after its partner pulled out on Tuesday (9). Bihar sends the fourth most number of elected lawmakers to parliament and is considered politically very important in the Hindi-speaking belt of…
Boycotting films in a free country like India doesn't make sense because cinema as an industry also contributes to nation-building, said Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar on Monday. The actor was speaking at a press conference where he was asked to comment on the boycott calls on social media against his…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday urged Indians home and abroad to join the Har Ghar Tiranga Movement between 13th and 15th August and hoist the Indian Tricolour. "Har Ghar Tiranga" is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture to mark celebrations for India's 75th year of Independence. As…
THE UK and India on Thursday (21) signed an agreement to recognise each other’s higher education qualifications in a move welcomed by British universities. The memorandum of understanding, which is part of the UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) agreed by British prime minister Boris Johnson and his Indian counterpart Narendra…
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on yet another milestone of administering 200 crores (2 billion) vaccinations in India. Taking to Twitter, Bill Gates expressed gratitude for the continued partnership with Indian vaccine manufacturers and the government for mitigating the impact of COVID-19. "Congratulations @narendramodi for yet…
Every day, Indian octogenarian Kaleem Ullah Khan wakes at dawn, prays, then ambles about a mile to his 120-year-old mango tree, which he has coaxed into producing more than 300 varieties of the beloved fruit over the years. His footsteps quicken as he draws nearer and his eyes light up…
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday said that the floods in the state's Godavari region were triggered by the cloudburst which is suspected to be a "foreign conspiracy". Addressing the press at Badrachalam, KCR said, "A new phenomenon Cloud Burst has emerged. There is a conspiracy behind it.…
Indian ace shuttler and Olympic medalist PV Sindhu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his wishes after she clinched her maiden Singapore Open title on Sunday. Indian ace shuttler and Olympic medalist PV Sindhu clinched the Singapore Open 2022 title after defeating China's Wang Zhiyi in the final of the…
The BJP on Saturday alleged that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was the "driving force" behind the "conspiracy" to implicate then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots case in the state. In a press conference, party spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that the late Ahmed Patel, who was Gandhi's…
Four-nation grouping 'I2U2' has established a positive agenda and its framework is a good model for practical cooperation in the face of increasing global uncertainties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday at the first virtual summit of the coalition With US President Joe Biden, Israeli PM Yair Lapid and…
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that about 60 startups have registered with ISRO since the "unlocking" of the Indian Space sector recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and quite a few of them are dealing with projects related to space debris management The other startups' proposals vary from nano-satellite, launch…
Opposition parties slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday over the unveiling of a cast of the national emblem atop the new Parliament building, hurling a slew of accusations ranging from the absence of opposition leaders, conducting a religious ceremony on Parliament premises and "subverting" the principle of constitutional separation…
Prominent South Asian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed shock and anguish over the assassination of Shinzo Abe, hailing the former Japanese prime minister for his contributions towards bolstering bilateral ties and regional economic development. Abe, 67, one of his nation's…
India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been left with no Muslim parliamentarians following the exit of union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. His resignation followed the expiry of his term as a member of the Rajya Sabha or the Upper House of Parliament. Naqvi, who headed…
THE Conservative Friends of India recently held a farewell reception in honour of the outgoing high commissioner of India, Her Excellency Gaitri Kumar Issar. High commissioner Issar began her service in May 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. She not only represented the high commission at the best…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's determination that he would not allow cross-border terrorism to be normalised has helped in shaping India's Pakistan policy since 2014. Speaking at an event at Delhi University, S Jaishankar noted that Prime Minister Modi is perceived abroad…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday unveiled the 30-feet tall bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju at a special program on his 125th birth anniversary celebrations in Andhra Pradesh's Bhimavaram. Born on July 4, 1897, Alluri Sitarama Raju is remembered for his fight against the British, in order to safeguard…
The British Parliament has awarded the ‘Indian of the World’ award to Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Amruta’s visit to the UK coincided with the culmination of the political upheaval in Maharashtra – with Eknath Shinde becoming the chief minister and her husband Devendra…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson has said that he raised the issue of the arrest of Scotsman Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi Johal with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during his visit in April. He added that Johal has been “arbitrarily detained” in a Delhi jail, the Indian Express reported.…
Norway's charge d'affaires, Martine Aamdal Bottheim on Friday welcomed the Centre's decision of 'single-use plastic ban' in India and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the 'important step.' "I would really like to congratulate India and Prime Minister Modi for this important step of banning single-use plastic items. This…
Confirming that both sides are now getting on with the market access aspects of a trade deal, the minister in-charge of the negotiations on the UK government side said that some compromise and cooperation will be required on both sides to get a deal over the line. A free trade…
Pakistan is reaching out to its close allies in the group of twenty - China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to boycott the G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. "Pakistan to ask China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to boycott the G20 meeting in J-K," tweeted WLVN Analysis, geopolitics, defence, and national…
IN a first since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, Raj Aggarwal OBE, India’s honorary consul in Wales, recently led celebrations on the occasion of the International Yoga Day at Cardiff Castle. He was joined by several yoga enthusiasts on the occasion. Aggarwal, who organised the event, said, “It was a…
For foreign dignitaries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often chosen gifts that showcase India's rich cultural and artistic traditions, and it was no different this time as he picked a variety of products for the heads of governments at the G7 Summit. It was distinct artistic products identified with different…
Detailed draft treaty text for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK has been advanced across the majority of chapters at the conclusion of the fourth round of negotiations in London, the UK government said in a joint outcome statement on Monday. The Department for International…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the contributions of the diaspora in promoting India’s growth story and acting as brand ambassadors of the country’s success as he interacted with them in Munich in Germany. Addressing the Indian diaspora during a massive event at the Audi Dome indoor arena, he highlighted India’s…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on Sunday (26) arrived here on a two-day visit to Germany during which he will attend the G7 summit and discuss issues like energy, food security, counter-terrorism, environment and democracy with the leaders of the powerful bloc and its partner countries. “Landed in Munich to participate…
There was no delay on part of the Gujarat government in requisitioning the Army to deal with post-Godhra 2002 Gujarat riots, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said and noted that former Punjab DGP KPS Gill had termed the state government's action as "prompt and neutral". He also attacked Congress over…
Prince Charles told Commonwealth leaders Friday that the choice to become a republic or abandon the queen as head of state was theirs alone, and expressed "personal sorrow" at Britain's legacy of slavery. The British heir to the throne addressed the opening of a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)…
India supports innovation across every sector and its digital sector valuations will cross USD 1 trillion by 2025, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday as he underlined the role of BRICS countries amid the global focus on post covid recovery. The Prime Minister made these remarks at the opening…
ON the occasion of International Day of Yoga, prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (21) said that yoga is becoming a way of life and has become a source of inspiration for health, balance and cooperation. The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when…
ON the 100th birthday of his mother Heeraben Modi, prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (18) penned an emotional blog and recollected some special moments from his childhood that he spent with his mother. He recalled several sacrifices made by his mother as he grew up and mentioned various qualities…
FORMER Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday (17) alleged that prime minister Narendra Modi does not understand what the people of the country want as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his "friends". He said this a day after the government raised the upper age limit to 23…
The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) in Gujarat on Thursday withdrew its announcement about naming a road in the state capital for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother, Hiraba Modi Hiraba, who lives with the prime minister's younger brother Pankaj Modi at Raysan village on the outskirts of Gandhinagar, is set to…
Veteran actor Saira Banu says her late husband actor Dilip Kumar should be honoured with the Bharat Ratna as he is the "Kohinoor" of India. Saira attended the Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award on late Tuesday evening, where union minister Ramdas Athawale presented the honour to Dilip Kumar, who passed…
India will get a full-fledged 5G services by March 2023, said Union Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Viva Technology 2022 event. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Vaishnaw said that the auction of the 5G spectrum will be completed by July end, adding, "Telecom is the primary source of digital…
Buddhist devotees and the people in the Mongolian capital on Monday gave a rousing welcome to an Indian delegation led by Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju as they arrived here with the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha. The four Holy Relics - known as the 'Kapilvastu Relics' were…
India-Russia defence Joint Venture BrahMos Aerospace is capable of making hypersonic missiles and will be able to have its first such missile in five to six years, BrahMos Aerospace informed on Monday."BrahMos Aerospace is capable of making hypersonic missiles. In five to six years, we will be able to have…
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, who is known for his energetic persona and impactful onscreen performances, is all set to go on a wild ride with the king of the Wild - Bear Grylls in India's first interactive adventure special Ranveer VS Wild with Bear Grylls, which will exclusively stream on Netflix…
INDIA's biggest dairy group Amul has written to the government urging it to delay a planned ban on tiny plastic straws, saying the move will have a "negative impact" on farmers and milk consumption in the world's biggest producer of the commodity. Amul made its appeal in a letter, dated…
India is considering restricting imports of refrigerators to promote local manufacturing, two industry sources told Reuters on Thursday, potentially freezing out shipments from Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc in the $5 billion market.The sources, who declined to be named as the talks were private, said the government was…
Iran is satisfied with the efforts made by the Indian government in dealing with those responsible for comments on Prophet Muhammed, the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said.Abdollahian, who is on his first visit to India since he assumed office last year, raised the issue of the controversial…
AMID the growing backlash that India faced from the Gulf countries over the controversial remarks that a leader of its ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegedly made on Prophet Muhammad, #BoycottQatarAirways started trending on Twitter on Monday (6) with many people targeting the Gulf country's carrier. There were also people…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said he favours a strong opposition in the country but slammed dynastic politics, saying it kills talent. He also said his statements on dynastic politics are often misunderstood by people, and added his criticism of "pariwarvad" was not aimed at any party or individual. "I…
INDIA has a difficult relationship with China but it is perfectly capable of managing it, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Friday (3). He rejected the European construct that New Delhi's position on Ukraine could impact global support to it if its problems with Beijing increases. In an interactive…
PRESIDENT Rajapaksa, while speaking with a group of irrigation officials on the next harvesting season's requirements, said prime minister Narendra Modi had assured him of fertiliser supply for the next cultivation season He said the supply to be delivered under the Indian Line of Credit and would be distributed within…
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who attended a special screening of the period action drama Samrat Prithviraj with his cabinet colleagues, on Thursday declared the movie tax-free in the state. The screening of the movie was held at Lok Bhawan here, and Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, female lead Manushi…
ASSERTING that an era of cultural revival began in India in 2014, when prime minister Narendra Modi led the BJP to power, home minister Amit Shah has said this journey will take the country to heights of glory it enjoyed earlier. In a brief speech after watching Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Samrat…
After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued summonses to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for questioning in a money-laundering case, Union minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said government agencies do their job.Responding to a question on allegations by the Congress that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using agencies to…
PRINCE Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, on Tuesday (31) met a delegation of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha as the administration formally granted a piece of land for the construction of a Hindu temple. The gift of land was announced in February in…
British-Asian political and business leaders have paid tribute to “their inspirational Queen” for her “selfless service” ahead of her platinum jubilee. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, told Eastern Eye that he remembered being a child celebrating her majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, and he was “so excited to get a…
Well-known Indian playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, died on Tuesday, May 31. He was in Kolkata for a concert at Gurudas College in the Ultodanga district. He was 53. According to initial reports, Kunnath felt chest congestion after the concert and was rushed to a private hospital…
Kashmiri Pandits, employed under the PM package, on Tuesday threatened to undertake mass migration from the valley if the government did not relocate them to safe places within the next 24 hours as employees from the community hit the streets at various places to protest against the killing of a…
On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, they also asked the Centre to ensure that tobacco control laws and policies are made stronger and implemented effectively. Noted epidemiologist and public health expert Chandrakant Lahariya pointed out that children and non-tobacco users too visit the point of sale (POS) and…
A Hindu temple being built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in Abu Dhabi is expected to be completed within the next two years.The construction of the temple on a piece of land gifted by the UAE administration on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway, began in December 2019, some eight months after…
The Department of Posts has for the first time delivered mail using a drone as part of a pilot project in Gujarat's Kutch district, covering a distance of 46 km in 25 minutes, officials said on Sunday (29).The mail was sent by drone from Habay village in Bhuj taluka to…
THE All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has said that "India belongs to Dravidians and Adivasis", and not to him, or Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP head Sharad Pawar and prime minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a rally in Bhiwandi town here in Maharashtra on Saturday (28) evening, the…
IN his monthly Mann ki Baat radio broadcast, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said that the number of unicorns in India reached 100-mark. Noting that the number of unicorns in India has reached the 100-mark this month, Modi on Sunday (29) said that even in the phase of the Covid…
THE way things are progressing between the two negotiating teams, a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK could be ready by Diwali without the need for an interim early harvest agreement, said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal during a visit to the UK. The minister arrived…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat has become the "gateway of drugs" to the country under his watch, the Congress alleged Friday, questioning the "silence" of the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah and demanding answers from agencies tasked to control narcotics smuggling.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters…
There was an environment of "indifference" towards the use of technology in governance before 2014 due to which the poor and the middle class suffered the most, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today. He asserted the current government has ensured last-mile delivery of services with the help of technology, including…
AN INDIAN court on Wednesday (25) ordered life in jail for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik for funding "terrorist" activities and many other charges, prompting street protests outside his residence and condemnation from Pakistan's prime minister.Malik, head of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), had pleaded guilty to the…
THE QUAD leaders have launched a slew of new initiatives, ranging from maritime security to healthcare, to benefit the alliance partners and the wider Indo-Pacific. During their Tokyo summit of the grouping, the member states - India, the US, Japan and Australia - vowed to deepen their long-term cooperation.The scope…
INDIA's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (24) questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's meeting with former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. BJP’s Kapil Mishra slammed Gandhi and raised questions over the meaning of the meeting. Earlier, Corbyn was criticised for his ‘anti-semantic’ views and he has been a vocal…
Leaders of the Quad alliance said on Tuesday (24) they opposed all attempts to "change the status quo by force, particularly in the Indo-Pacific".The statement, which followed a summit meeting of the four members of the grouping - India, Japan, Australia and the United States in Tokyo - comes with…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and other Quad leaders are set to demonstrate that the grouping is a "force for global good" and has a unifying commitment to a rules-based international order amid China's increasingly intimidatory behaviour.What is QUAD?The loosely organised Quad - comprising India, the United States, Australia and…
The rollout of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) by the US came as part of Washington's efforts to push forward a strong economic policy for the Indo-Pacific to counter China's aggressive strategy on trade in the region."Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in an event in Tokyo today to…
INDIA's Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi has said that democracy in India is a global public good and a central anchor for the planet. "If that cracks, it is going to cause a problem for the planet," Gandhi said at the 'Ideas for India' conference in London on Friday (20).…
Cannes Film Festival has always been the most sought-after platform to launch new projects. Making the most of the opportunity, India and Bangladesh on Thursday jointly launched the trailer of their co-production Mujib – the Making of a Nation on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival in France. Co-produced…
FRESH bouts of legal battles over places of worship in India have raised concerns that they could potentially turn religious flashpoints in the Hindu-majority country.The disputes over the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and another structure in Mathura – both in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh – are decades old.…
INDIA's Supreme Court overturned a local order to ban large Muslim prayer gatherings in a high-profile mosque in north India after a survey team said it found relics of the Hindu god Shiva and other Hindu symbols there. The top court on Tuesday (17) in an interim order stated Muslims'…
INDIAN state-owned insurance giant LIC slumped on its market debut on Tuesday (17) following the country's biggest-ever initial public offering, closing nearly eight per cent below the IPO price.Prime minister Narendra Modi's government raised $2.7 billion (£2.16 bn) by selling 3.5 per cent of Life Insurance Corporation of India as…
Police fired tear gas and used batons Friday in Indian-administered Kashmir to break up a protest against the killing of a minority Hindu by suspected separatist rebels. Clashes are frequent in the divided territory, which is also claimed by Pakistan, but the police operation was the first in the Muslim-majority…
At least 27 people died and dozens more were injured in a massive fire in a building in the Indian capital New Delhi on Friday, emergency services said. "The fire has been put out now. The total number of dead is 27. Search operation is on," a fire department official…
THE shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and his Labour front-bench colleague, Preet Gill, the shadow international development secretary, have both dismissed Boris Johnson’s recent trip to India as being of little consequence. But Grant Thornton’s report, India meets Britain Tracker: The latest trends in Indian investment in the UK 2022,…
Air India has appointed its first foreign chief executive after a previous pick from overseas backed out because of local opposition, new owners Tata Sons said Thursday. The new boss will be New Zealander Campbell Wilson, the former head of Singapore Airlines' low-cost subsidiary Scoot, Tata Sons said in a…
INDIA's Supreme Court on Wednesday (11) suspended a colonial-era sedition law that activists say is often used by prime minister Narendra Modi's government to target free speech and dissent. Modi's critics say that the law, which was once used by Britain to target independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, has been abused…
Racist, divisive politics which pit Hindus against Muslims and Indians against Pakistanis must stop, say MPs and the mayor of London. The issue is something Eastern Eye has reported several times. But it has reared its head once again after last week’s local elections (5 May). Sources have told this…
A UNITED NATIONS working group’s ruling on the “arbitrary detention” of a British Sikh man in India is expected to mount pressure on the UK government to do more to secure his release.Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton in Scotland, was arrested by plain-clothes officers in the north Indian state of…
NARENDRA MODI is this week visiting Germany, Denmark and France, where the Indian prime minister will be pressed about his government’s decision not to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The West appears to have accepted that India has a longstanding relationship with Russia and that its import of Russian…
INDIA and France on Wednesday (4) called for "an immediate cessation of hostilities" in Ukraine, with prime minister Narendra Modi again stopping short of condemning Russia's invasion of its neighbour. India, which imports much of its military hardware from Russia, has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between the West and…
INDIA and Canada on Wednesday (4) discussed expansion of a bilateral air service agreement that will allow more flights between the two countries. Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is on a nine-day visit to the US and Canada, met Canadian transport minister Omar Alghabra on Wednesday. “I personally thanked…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (3) appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, even as his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen hoped New Delhi will use its influence over Russia to end the war. The two leaders discussed the Ukraine crisis and several regional and global issues including increasing…
INDIA’S prime minister promised peace and development for Jammu and Kashmir last Sunday (24), during his first public event in the region since it imposed a sweeping security clampdown nearly three years ago. Narendra Modi’s bharatiya Janata Party-led government has sought to quell a long-running insurgency in Indian Kashmir and…
GERMAN chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged $10.51 billion (£8.4bn) to help India achieve its climate goals after meeting its prime minister Narendra Modi in Berlin on Monday (2), but the leaders remained far apart in their stance on the Ukraine war. In a statement to media, Scholz highlighted the countries' common…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi called for dialogue to end the war in Ukraine at the start of a European tour on Monday (2) but steered clear of condemning Russia over the invasion. India, which imports much of its military hardware from Russia, has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson landed in Gujarat last Thursday (21) as he began his two-day India visit. He said he felt like Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar, as hundreds of people lined the streets and dozens of billboards depicted his image. “I had an amazing reception,” he said. “My face…
THE European Union (EU) and India agreed on Monday (25) to set up a trade and technology council (TTC) to step up cooperation, as the bloc’s chief held talks with officials in New Delhi. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen concluded a two-day trip to India’s capital, part of…
INDIA’S most sought-after election strategist said the Congress - the country’s oldest political party - is “capable of reviving itself” without his help.Prashant Kishor’s comment came in a television interview days after he turned down a “generous offer” to join the party and “take responsibility” for the next parliamentary elections…
ELON MUSK's criticism of Twitter sparked a barrage of abusive tweets against the company's top lawyer, raising questions about his compliance with a non-disparagement agreement and the tone that the social media platform's incoming owner will set for its users. Musk tweeted he disagreed with a decision Twitter made in…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
AN Indo-British bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October, prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi last week, as he concluded his much-delayed visit to India. Britain and India also agreed to step up defence and business cooperation, Johnson said, adding that London would support Delhi’s goal…
New Delhi on Thursday ruled out any formal talks with Pakistan unless India's neighbour stops supporting "cross-border terrorism", as a new government comes to power in Islamabad. The recent appointment of Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan's new prime minister has raised hopes of an easing of tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals,…
INDIA will launch an open network for digital commerce (ONDC) as the government tries to end the dominance of US companies Amazon.com and Walmart in the fast-growing e-commerce market, a government document showed.The launch of the platform comes after India's antitrust body on Thursday (28) raided domestic sellers of Amazon…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi will embark on a three-day visit to Germany, Denmark and France from May 2, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) announced. German chancellor Olaf Scholz will receive Modi in Berlin on May 2, a German government spokesperson said on Wednesday (27). Modi will then visit…
AMID a punishing heatwave building up in large parts of India, Delhi saw a jump of two to three degrees Celsius in the maximum temperature at most places on Wednesday (27).Extreme heat continued to scorch large swathes of south Asia this week, offering no reprieve after the hottest March on…
I HAVE been present in India with every UK prime minister since 2005 – from Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron to Theresa May. Being in India last week with Boris Johnson and with Indian business leaders was a crucial visit. It was the first UK prime ministerial visit…
At least 11 people including three minors were killed on Wednesday after a temple chariot procession came into contact with a high-voltage wire in India, police said. Initial indications suggested that the crowd used water to contain an initial fire after the top of the chariot touched the wire in…
INDIA has slashed the size of an initial public offering (IPO) by insurance giant LIC but the share issue will still be the country's largest to date, with a targeted windfall of $2.7 billion (£2.15 bn), regulatory filings showed on Wednesday (27).Prime minister Narendra Modi's government is desperate for proceeds…
INDIA and the European Union (EU) will formally restart in June the negotiations on the long-pending trade and investment agreements, a decision welcomed by prime minister Narendra Modi and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.The issue came up in wide-ranging talks between Modi and von der Leyen during which…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday (25) announced the setting up of an India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a strategic mechanism to tackle key trade, economic and technological challenges.India is the second country after the US to have such a…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia's “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
RELIGIOUS freedom has deteriorated "significantly" in India under the Hindu nationalist government, a US commission said Monday (25) as it again recommended targeted sanctions over abuses.It was the third straight year that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom asked that India be placed on a list of "countries of…
INDIAN and the European Union (EU) agreed on Monday (25) to set up a trade and technology council to step up cooperation between them, the two sides said in a joint statement as the EU chief met government officials in New Delhi.European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is on…
A state lawmaker in India was arrested for criticising prime minister Narendra Modi in a tweet, officials said Friday, raising concerns over freedom of speech in the world's largest democracy. Jignesh Mevani, a prominent campaigner for India's marginalised low-caste Dalit community, accused Modi of idolising Nathuram Godse, the assassin of…
INDIA's prime minister will on Sunday (24) hold his first public event in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir since New Delhi imposed a sweeping security clampdown there more than two years ago. Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government has sought to quell a long-running insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir and…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson said that his country has already raised the Ukraine issue with prime minister Narendra Modi at a diplomatic level. Johnson added that everybody understands that India and Russia shared “very different relationships historically”. Johnson’s visit to India comes at a time when India has taken…
INDIA’S finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday (21) met CEOs of large American firms like FedEx and Mastercard and discussed various opportunities for investment in the south Asian country.She is in the US to attend International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings 2022.FedEx president and CEO-elect Raj Subramaniam, during the meeting…
British prime minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that skilled workers from India could plug labour shortages in sectors such as information technology in the UK, even as he reiterated that immigration would continue to be controlled. Britain has made getting a trade deal with India one of its post-Brexit…
BRITAIN and India agreed on Friday (22) to step up defence and business cooperation during a visit to New Delhi by Boris Johnson, who said a bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October. On his first visit to the Indian capital as UK prime minister, Johnson discussed with…
Britain and India agreed a "new and expanded" defence and security partnership on Friday, British prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi. Johnson is visiting India just as he faces criticism from his own Conservative MPs and the embarrassing prospect of a probe into whether he lied to parliament…
CONGRESSWOMAN Ilhan Omar made a rare visit by a US lawmaker to the Pakistan-administered part of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir on Thursday (21) and said the issue should get more attention from the United States, prompting an angry response from India.The Muslim-majority Kashmir region has long been the…
A MARVELLOUS musical achievement of 2022 has been Falguni Shah magnificently winning a Grammy award for her second children’s album A Colorful World. It follows on from her debut album Falu’s Bazaar getting a Grammy nomination in 2019 and adds to an impressive song-filled journey that took her from India…
BORIS JOHNSON was accorded a cordial welcome when he landed in Gujarat on Thursday (21) as the British prime minister began his two-day trip to India. But the pomp and publicity that generally marks top world leaders’ visits to the south Asian country was conspicuously missing.Johnson was received at the…
VISITING British prime minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (21) termed Mahatma Gandhi an "extraordinary man" who mobilised the principles of truth and non-violence to change the world for better. Johnson became the first prime minister of the UK to visit the Sabarmati Ashram, the place from where Gandhi led India's…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday (21) touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against Russia. Johnson arrived in Gujarat -- Modi's home state and the ancestral home to half of the United Kingdom's British Indians…
British prime minister Boris Johnson faces calls to apologise for a colonial-era massacre during his visit to Gujarat on Thursday, 100 years after as many as 1,200 people were killed protesting against imperial rule. Last month saw the centenary of the Pal-Dadhvav massacre, when Indian historians say around 2,000 tribal…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson will offer to help India cut reliance on Russian oil and defence equipment when he begins a two-day visit this week that will test his diplomatic skills and provide brief respite from a row raging at home. On his first trip to India as prime…
THE World Health Organization (WHO) launched its global centre for traditional medicine (GCTM) at a site in India, aimed at unlocking its potential by blending ancient practices with modern science. The GCTM knowledge hub is intended to create a body of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and…
TWO spiritual leaders of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) Sanstha met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi recently. The trio prayed for the welfare of Indians worldwide. HH Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami honoured Modi with a garland, while Brahmavihari Swami updated the prime minister on Sanstha’s Covid-19 pandemic…
PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi pitching for "meaningful" engagement between the two countries.Sharif's communication came in response to a letter from Modi congratulating him on becoming the prime minister, people familiar with the development said on Sunday (17).In his letter…
BORIS JOHNSON will become the first British prime minister to visit Gujarat when he lands in Ahmedabad this week for a two-day visit to India for “in-depth” talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.Johnson's visit will begin on Thursday (21) with a trip to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, which is Modi's…
IN A strong message to China, Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh has said that if harmed, his country “will not spare anyone”.He asserted that India under prime minister Narendra Modi has emerged as a powerful country and is headed to be among the top three economies of the world.Singh, in…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to arrive in India next week with a wide-ranging schedule in New Delhi, according to Indian government sources.The visit, which is yet to be formally announced by Downing Street, follows the successful completion of four out of 26 chapters in the ongoing India-UK…
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai met Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday (12) and both agreed the newly relaunched US-India Trade Policy Forum could help boost bilateral trade and reduce barriers, Tai's office said. Tai and one of her deputies, Sarah Bianchi, discussed bilateral trade relations and the…
INDIA's relationship with Russia was developed over decades at a time when the US was not able to be a partner, secretary of state Antony Blinken. Top officials of the Biden administration on Monday (11) showed an understanding of New Delhi's position on Ukraine war. "India's relationship with Russia was…
AMERICAN president Joe Biden and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit on Monday (11), clouded by US frustration over New Delhi's neutral stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.The South Asian nation has tried to walk a tightrope between maintaining relations with the West and avoiding alienating Russia…
AUSTRALIAN prime minister Scott Morrison posted a picture on social media showing him preparing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's favourite dish to celebrate a new trade deal with India.On April 2, India and Australia signed an economic cooperation and trade agreement under which Canberra would provide duty-free access to its…
GLASGOW will send seven ‘stolen’ artefacts back to India as city councillors have backed a proposal in this regard, according to a report. Officials from the High Commission of India lodged a request in January for the return of six artefacts “stolen” from Hindu temples and shrines in the 19th…
INDIA has rejected demands from large global and domestic beverage firms to exempt some plastic straws from a ban that takes effect on July 1, fanning fears of disruption in a multi-billion-dollar industry. The ban on items such as straws packaged with small packs of juices and dairy products that…
INDIA's Kashmir region is attracting record tourists after the easing of pandemic restrictions and some improvement in the security situation, bolstering local businesses. Tourist arrivals are set to touch a ten-year high this year after more than 340,000 tourists have come since January, local tour operators and government officials said,…
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL's former India chief said Wednesday (6) he was stopped from flying to the US because of government legal action against the human rights watchdog. Prime minister Narendra Modi's administration has long been accused of trying to silence critics, and activists say they have been targeted for harassment since…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson is planning to visit India by April end with a focus on strengthening bilateral ties, according to official sources. The visit, which is expected around April 22, is long overdue after Johnson was forced to cancel planned visits to India twice last year due to…
INDIA and Australia inked an interim free trade deal on Saturday (2) that cuts tariffs on billions of dollars of commerce as the two Quad partners bolster their economic ties. Both signatories are members of the Quad alliance with the US and Japan, which is seen as a counterweight to…
STRONGER ties with India are more important than ever before in view of the crisis in Ukraine, British foreign secretary Liz Truss said Thursday (31), but she said the UK would not tell India not to buy discounted Russian oil. Her comments came after talks with India’s external affairs minister…
UKRAINE has sought India’s intervention to stop Russian aggression on the eastern European country as peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv have not made any meaningful headway.Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said India should leverage its friendly ties with Russia and prevail upon its president Vladimir Putin to stop the…
An Indian court granted bail Wednesday to three students jailed for celebrating India's defeat to arch-rival Pakistan in a T20 World Cup cricket match last year, their lawyer said. The students were arrested in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in October and charged with sedition just days after…
US president Joe Biden's deputy national security adviser for economics Daleep Singh will be in New Delhi on March 30 and 31 to meet government officials to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine and develop an economic framework for the Indo-Pacific, the White House said. “Singh will consult closely with counterparts…
BRITISH foreign secretary Elizabeth Truss will visit India on Thursday (31) against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine.India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Monday (28) said Truss will hold consultations with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.Russian foreign minister…
When Covid-19 ripped through India in 2020-21, several million people are thought to have died. Desperate efforts to stem the pandemic hurt the battle against another huge killer: tuberculosis. India is the home to a quarter of the world's TB infections and an estimated half a million people died of…
THE THIRD round of the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations will be hosted by India next month, Britain's Department for International Trade (DIT) said on Thursday (24).A joint “outcome statement” released by the DIT confirmed that a draft treaty text of chapters that will make up the new…
THE UK has called off a high-powered delegation to India over the latter's stand on Ukraine invasion, the BBC reported. The cross-party UK delegation to India led by the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and his deputy was cancelled at the last minute, the report added. It is largely viewed…
WHEN 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a 2020 border clash with China, the military hardware New Delhi sent to bolster its Himalayan frontier was mostly Russian-origin, showing not for the first time its closeness to "longstanding and time-tested friend" Moscow.Facing an increasingly assertive China closer to home, these ties…
CHINA's foreign minister will visit New Delhi for talks on Friday (25), an Indian official said, though neither side has formally announced what would be the purpose of the highest-level visit since border clashes soured relations two years ago. Foreign minister Wang Yi attended a conference of the Organization of…
INDIA’S civil aviation regulator has put the Boeing 737 fleets of the country’s carriers on "enhanced surveillance" after a China Eastern Airlines aircraft of the same make crashed on Monday (21).Three Indian carriers - SpiceJet, Vistara and Air India Express - have Boeing 737 aircraft in their fleets.Directorate General of…
INDIA and Australia have underlined the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison made the assertion during their virtual summit on Monday (21). According to a joint statement, both nations stressed that the contemporary global order has…
US president Joe Biden has said only India among the Quad group of countries was "somewhat shaky" in acting against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, as India tries to balance its ties with Russia and the West. While the other Quad countries - the US, Japan and Australia -…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi has thanked volunteer groups, including BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, who had supported the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine and neighbouring countries.In a video conference last week, Modi hailed the emergency response of the groups to help affected people as the war unfolded in Ukraine.Through its…
JAPANESE prime minister Fumio Kishida has announced an investment target of Rs 3.2 trillion (£31.97 bn) in India over the next five years as the two sides concluded a raft of agreements to expand their special strategic partnership.Following talks between Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Kishida at the 14th…
SUZUKI MOTOR will invest $1.3 billion (£990 million) in electric vehicle and battery production in India, the Japanese carmaker said Sunday (20), as it accelerates long-term plans to achieve carbon neutrality.In a deal signed with the western Indian state of Gujarat in the presence of visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio…
JAPANESE prime minister Fumio Kishida will encourage a unified approach on Ukraine when he meets Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday (19), while aiming to strengthen security ties across the Indo-Pacific region. "Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine coincides with this trip, I'd like to emphasise…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi and other leaders on Friday (18) wished the country on the occasion of Holi. He called on Indians to promote brotherhood as millions celebrated Holi, the festival of colours, amid a sharp dip in Covid-19 cases in the country. The festival saw restricted celebrations last year…
HARDLINE Hindu groups are demanding restrictions on wearing the hijab in classrooms in more Indian states after a court upheld a ban on the traditional Islamic head-scarf in Karnataka state, worrying Muslim students who had protested against the ban. The Karnataka High Court decision on Tuesday (15), backing the southern…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files, a film based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. He said the film is "bringing the truth in its correct form" and history has to be presented in…
AN INDIAN court upheld on Tuesday (15) a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms in the southern state of Karnataka, a ruling that could set a precedent for the rest of the country which has a big Muslim minority.The ban last month by the state sparked protests by some…
INDIA’S opposition Congress has unanimously decided that Sonia Gandhi should continue as its president till organisational polls after she expressed readiness to "make any and every sacrifice" in the party's interest.The Congress suffered heavy losses in the recently held elections in five states, including in Punjab where the party was…
TOP officials of India's ruling Hindu nationalist party and an army of its supporters bombarded voters with disinformation as key states went to the polls, specialists say. The five state votes held over several weeks starting February 10 set the stage for the next general election in 2024, and the…
US lawmakers have questioned India's UN vote on the Ukraine issue during a Congressional hearing on the Indo-Pacific on Wednesday (9). India, a non-permanent member of the powerful United Nations Security Council for a two-year term ending December this year, has repeatedly abstained on resolutions against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.…
EMOTIONS ran high as Indian students, evacuated from the embattled Ukrainian city of Sumy, came out of the Delhi airport on Friday (11) and hugged their waiting parents.Some of the parents distributed sweets and garlanded their children while others welcomed them with bouquets and hugs as they arrived at the…
AN upstart political party that rules India's capital has swept an election in Punjab state, a Thursday (10) vote-count showed, bolstering its hopes of becoming the main challenger to prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, was…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi's party won India's most populous state with a big majority, according to the count on Thursday (10) of a state assembly vote that could offer clues to the national mood before a 2024 general election. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won or was…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party was set for a resounding victory but a reduced majority at elections in the country's most populous state Uttar Pradesh, exit polls forecast Monday. Exit polls are not always reliable in India, but an average of four indicated that the Bharatiya Janata…
SEVERAL Indian students stranded in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy hoped that they would be in a safe zone soon as their evacuation process started on Tuesday (8)."The evacuation from Sumy has started. There was finally some good news. All Indian students will be evacuated from Sumy on Tuesday…
RUSSIAN president Vladimir Putin on Monday (7) assured Indian prime minister Narendra Modi that his forces are “doing everything” to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, according to his office.During a 50-minute telephonic conversation with Putin, Modi conveyed his "deep concern" over the safety…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (7) spoke to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sought his "support' in the evacuation of Indian students stuck in Sumy.Modi is also expected to speak to Russian president Vladimir Putin later in the day, official sources said.Around 700 Indian students are stranded in…
INDIA will raise petrol and diesel prices soon for the first time in more than four months as global crude prices soar after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, three government officials said, amid growing concern about inflation. Asia's third-largest economy, which imports 80 per cent of its oil needs, faces retail…
A regional Indian party has claimed it will unseat Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in provincial elections in Uttar Pradesh state, the most crucial test for Modi before a general election in two years. The Hindu nationalist BJP has maintained it will retain power in the bellwether…
US president Joe Biden on Thursday (3) met virtually with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India over Ukraine, but the "Quad" group failed to agree on condemning Russia's invasion, with New Delhi hesitant to censure Moscow. The impromptu meeting was held shortly after it was announced by Delhi. Washington…
LEADERS of the Quad group of countries - the US, Japan, Australia and India - will hold a previously unannounced online meeting on Thursday (3), India and Australia said. US president Joe Biden, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida will…
INDIA denied on Thursday (3) Russian claims that Ukraine was holding Indian students hostage in Kharkiv, instead of thanking Ukraine for its help in evacuations from the embattled city. "We note that with the cooperation of the Ukrainian authorities, many students have left Kharkiv yesterday," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman…
BAPS volunteers in Europe have joined emergency relief efforts on the Polish, Romanian and Hungarian borders with Ukraine as instructed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. Last month, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi had a video conference with Pujya Swami Brahmaviharidas seeking assistance from BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in ensuring the…
INDIA's opposition on Wednesday (2) stepped up pressure on the government to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a day after an Indian student died during shelling in the eastern city of Kharkiv. India is yet to criticise long-standing arms supplier Russia publicly, instead urging both sides to cease hostilities,…
INDIA has stepped up efforts to evacuate its nationals from Ukraine as new Delhi confirmed on Tuesday (1) that a student had died in shelling in Ukraine.Prime minister Narendra Modi has directed the Indian Air Force to bring back stranded citizens, most of whom are students pursuing medicine in Ukraine’s…
RUSSIA'S invasion of Ukraine has left India's traditional balancing act between Moscow and the West looking wobblier than ever, with experts saying New Delhi has few good diplomatic options.Last week India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution deploring Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, winning praise from Moscow for its "independent…
FOR the second time, India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution to convene a rare emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, even as New Delhi asserted that there is no other choice but to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue…
Prime minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis on Sunday (27) and asserted that ensuring the safety of Indian students and evacuating them is the government's top priority, official sources said. It was also decided at the meeting to further enhance cooperation with the neighbouring countries…
RUSSIA has praised India's "independent and balanced" position after Delhi abstained from a UN Security Council vote that deplored Moscow's "aggression" against Ukraine. India, along with China and the UAE, did not vote on the resolution Friday (25), a move in line with the fine balance Delhi has sought to…
INDIA abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that condemned Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine and demanded "immediate, complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian forces from the neighbouring country. The UN Security Council voted on Friday (25) on the draft resolution sponsored by the US and Albania and supported by…
INDIA on Saturday (26) permitted up to 20 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) under automatic route in the IPO-bound Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to facilitate disinvestment of the country's largest insurer, sources said.The decision was taken by the Cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi.The government has approved the…
UKRAINE’S foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday (25) spoke to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to discuss the situation in Ukraine, ahead of a vote at the UN Security Council on the Russian attack. Jaishankar said he emphasised that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the "way out". "Received call…
INDIAN nationals stuck in Ukraine should stay calm and remain wherever they are residing, Russian diplomatic sources said on Friday (25) amid India's moves to evacuate its citizens from the eastern European nation. The sources said president Vladimir Putin conveyed to India’s prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (24) night…
INDIA is focusing on evacuating its 16,000 nationals still stuck in Ukraine, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, after Russian forces mounted a mass assault by land, air and sea on the former Soviet republic. Teams of Indian foreign ministry officials have been sent to Ukraine's land borders with Hungary,…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden said Washington is in unresolved "consultations" with India over Ukraine. He was asked on Thursday (24) if Washington and Delhi were "fully in sync" over Russia's attack on Ukraine ahead of an expected UN Security Council vote. Biden did not elaborate, but his short response to a question…
UN rights experts have called for an end to "misogynistic and sectarian" online attacks against a female Muslim Indian journalist, asking the authorities to investigate the harassment. Rana Ayyub, a fierce critic of prime minister Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist government of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been…
BILLIONAIRE philanthropist Bill Gates has praised India for its vaccine-manufacturing capabilities and applauded the country's manufacturers for supplying affordable vaccines globally. Addressing a virtual roundtable on the India-US health partnership organised by the Indian embassy on Tuesday (22), Gates noted that India delivered over 150 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines…
MOB violence broke out in a south Indian city, leaving several people injured, following the murder of a Hindu activist over the weekend.Harsha, 26, a member of the hardline outfit Bhajrang Dal, was allegedly stabbed to death by a group in Shivamogga, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) from Bangalore, on…
PAKISTAN’S prime minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday (22) he would like to have a televised debate with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to resolve differences between the two neighbours."I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would…
The United Arab Emirates and India signed a "milestone" economic deal to boost trade and investment Friday, as the countries seek to bolster their economies after the coronavirus pandemic. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE's de facto ruler, and India's prime minister Narendra Modi held a…
AN Indian court sentenced 38 people to death on Friday (18) over a string of bomb blasts in 2008 that killed dozens in the city of Ahmedabad, in one of the country's biggest mass death sentences. Coordinated attacks in western Gujarat state's commercial hub in 2008 killed 56, launching shrapnel…
INDIAN filmmaker Onir wanted to direct a movie inspired by a gay army major who resigned and came out in a blaze of publicity -- but despite the country's democratic status the military stopped it being made. Prime minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist government has been repeatedly accused of ramping up…
SCHOOLS reopened in southern India under tight security on Wednesday (16) with public gatherings banned following protests over Muslim girls wearing the hijab in classrooms. Tensions have been high in Karnataka state since late last year when at least four schoolgirls were prevented from wearing the Muslim headscarf, sparking protests…
A dispute over restrictions on the wearing of the hijab by female students in a southern Indian state has now reached India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, with a group of youngsters asking a college to ban the head covering. Authorities closed colleges in Karnataka in India's south last…
INDIAN businessman Rahul Bajaj, who died in Pune last Saturday (12), aged 83, gave Lakshmi Mittal crucial support in 2006 when Mittal Steel’s takeover bid for Arcelor was almost blocked by the French government of president Jacques Chirac.Bajaj, one of India’s most prominent industrialists, built up the family’s business in…
A state in southern India re-opened some schools on Monday (14) that had been closed following protests last week over female students not being allowed to wear hijabs, or head-to-toe burqas, in class. The issue, widely seen by India's Muslim minority community as a bid to sideline it by authorities…
AUTOMAKERS Ford, Suzuki and Hyundai are among 20 companies that will be eligible for incentives under India's $3.5 billion scheme to boost clean fuel vehicles, the government said. The federal cabinet last year approved a plan under which it will give benefits to the automobile sector over a five-year period to…
VETERAN industrialist Rahul Bajaj, whose name was synonymous with road transport in India, died Saturday (12) aged 83, his company said.He "had not been keeping well", the Bajaj Group said in a statement, adding he would be cremated on Sunday in Pune, western India.Bajaj was born into the Indian elite…
WHEN Lata Mangeshkar passed away aged 92, a tidal wave of sadness swept across the globe in a way never seen before for an Indian music icon. A state funeral for the legendary Indian singer was followed by two days of national mourning. It is no surprise that so many…
Facing a choice between her schooling and her religious beliefs, A.H. Almas says she had no choice at all. The 18-year-old Muslim pupil at the Women's Pre-University College in Udupi in majority-Hindu India has been wearing the Islamic headscarf since she was a child. But in December, authorities banned her…
The Maharashtra government announced on Wednesday that a music academy will be built in Mumbai in memory of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who breathed her last on Sunday at the age of 92. Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant while addressing a press conference at Savitribai Phule Pune University…
Health secretary, Sajid Javid and London mayor, Sadiq Khan, have led tributes to Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on Sunday (6). The Bollywood legend and playback singer died after a long illness caused by contracting Covid. She was afforded the sobriquet of the “Nightingale of India”, and the popularity of…
INDIA's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh began voting on Thursday (10) in the first of a series of local elections that will be a key test of the popularity of prime minister Narendra Modi and his ruling party. With a population almost as big as that of Brazil, keeping…
INDIA convicted 49 people over a 2008 attack in the western city of Ahmedabad that left dozens dead, in what perpetrators said was retaliation for earlier deadly communal violence. The string of bombings killed 56 people and wounded more than 200 others as shrapnel ripped through markets, buses and other…
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE winner Malala Yousafzai has said disallowing the hijab (Islamic headscarf) in schools is “horrifying”, referring to a row over the controversy in a south Indian state. Yousafzai's observation comes amid protests in Karnataka after a college in the temple town of Udupi banned the hijab. Six students…
HINDU hardliner Yogi Adityanath, who is seeking re-election as chief minister of India's most populous state, touted his record on fighting crime and putting law and order above religion and caste in a rare interview with Western media. The 49-year-old monk from prime minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party…
Authorities in southern India ordered schools to shut on Tuesday (8) as protests intensified over a ban on Islamic headscarves that has outraged Muslim students. The stand-off in Karnataka state has galvanised fears among the minority community about what they say is increasing persecution under the Hindu nationalist government of…
South Korea's Hyundai Motor faced calls on Monday (7) for a boycott of its cars from Indians incensed over a tweet from the account of its Pakistan partner that expressed solidarity for the people of Kashmir.The row erupted last Sunday (6), a day after Pakistan marked the annual Kashmir Solidarity…
Veteran singer Asha Bhosle remembered her elder sister and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar who breathed her last on Sunday, 6 February. Sharing a black-and-white childhood picture of the duo on Instagram, hours after the 92-year-old melody queen was cremated with full state honours on Sunday evening, Asha wrote what a…
COMMERCIAL vehicle maker Ashok Leyland said it will supply 200 trucks to Bangladesh as part of a $2-billion (£1.48 bn) line of credit announced by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.As part of the order, 135 trucks have already been delivered to Bangladesh, the Hinduja Group-owned company said in a statement…
By Asjad Nazir How the Indian nightingale went from working to feed her impoverished family as a 13-year-old to becoming a global singing sensation and music icon! When Lata Mangeshkar passed away aged 92, a tidal wave of sadness swept across the globe in a way never seen before for…
MILLIONS of music fans are mourning the loss of Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on Sunday morning (6). The legendary singer was laid to rest at Shivaji Park maidan in Mumbai with full state honours on Sunday evening. Prime minister Narendra Modi flew down from Delhi to pay his respects…
TRIBUTES poured in from all corners of the society after legendary Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away on Sunday (6) at a hospital in the western Indian city of Mumbai. Indian president Ram Nath Kovind and prime minister Narendra Modi mourned the artiste’s death who was put on ventilator support…
BOLLYWOOD superstar singer Lata Mangeshkar, known to millions as the "nightingale of India" and a regular fixture of the country's airwaves for decades, died Sunday (6) at the age of 92.She passed away in a Mumbai hospital after being admitted to its intensive care unit on January 11 with Covid-19…
INDIA's official Covid-19 death toll crossed 500,000 on Friday (4), a level some data analysts said was breached last year but was obscured by inaccurate surveys and unaccounted dead in the hinterlands, where millions remain vulnerable to the disease. The country, which has the fourth-highest tally of deaths globally, recorded…
IN a shocking development, frontline health workers engaged in India’s Covid vaccination drive have said that people are being officially certified as double vaccinated even when they have not completed the course of two jabs in order to meet government targets. According to a report by The Guardian, the workers…
INDIAN officials have held heated discussions with Google, Twitter and Facebook for not proactively removing what they described as fake news on their platforms, sources said, the government's latest altercation with Big Tech. The officials, from the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B), strongly criticised the companies and said their…
SENIOR cabinet members from Boris Johnson’s team, including the prime minister, are expected to travel to India this year as both countries step up their bilateral engagements, India’s high commissioner to the UK has revealed. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Gaitri Issar Kumar also said New Delhi was…
INDIA will introduce a state-backed "digital rupee" and impose a 30 per cent tax on profits from virtual currencies, the government announced on Tuesday (1). The plans are a blow to one of the world's fastest-growing cryptocurrency markets, which has remained unregulated despite burgeoning local trading platforms and glitzy celebrity…
INDIA unveiled a bigger budget of Rs 39.45 trillion($529.7 billion) for the coming fiscal year on Tuesday (1), stepping up investment on highways to affordable housing to put growth on a firmer footing as the economy recovers from the pandemic. The government has projected slower economic growth of 8 to…
The de facto head of India's main opposition party has complained to Twitter about "strange" activity on his account, accusing the US giant of being the "unwitting" ally of the government in curbing free speech. Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party told Twitter's CEO in a letter that growth in…
INDIA'S beleaguered national carrier landed back in the hands of its founders on Thursday (27), decades after it was nationalised and following years as a monumental burden on the public purse.Tata, a sprawling family-owned conglomerate with interests ranging from tea to software, is back in charge of Air India after…
A SELF-TAUGHT portrait artist from Jaipur in India has impressed high profile names and taken social media by storm. [caption id="attachment_173373" align="alignleft" width="257"] Portrait of Shreya Ghoshal[/caption] With 109,000 Instagram followers, Rishika has had her work appreciated by celebrities, including Alia Bhatt, Shreya Ghoshal, Madhuri Dixit, Amitabh Bachchan, Tiger Shroff,…
Lumbering tanks and the deafening roar of fighter planes echoed through New Delhi on Wednesday as India's military showcased its might on Republic Day. The annual January 26 event marks the adoption of India's constitution with missile launchers, jet flyovers, motorcycle stunts and the brass band of the camel-mounted Border…
Angry mobs in eastern India set fire to train carriages on Wednesday in protests over access to railway jobs that have seen police violently disperse crowds with tear gas and baton charges. Bihar state has been on edge since the start of the week over claims by young job applicants…
YOUNGSTERS from Britain and India have achieved a Guinness World Record by creating the “world’s largest bubble wrap painting” in London.The painting, prominently featuring Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, measures 16.01 square metres (172.33 square feet). It aims to inspire the “next generation” to help the Covid-affected families in India…
An "eternal flame" in memory of soldiers killed during the India-Pakistan War of 1971 at one of Delhi's most symbolic landmarks was put out Friday, 50 years after it was first lit. The Amar Jawan Jyoti or flame of the immortal soldier was installed at the India Gate in New…
INDIA has extended the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights till February 28, the country’s aviation regulator said on Wednesday (19).Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020.However, special passenger flights have been operating between India and approximately 40 countries since July 2020 under air…
RICH TRIBUTES have been paid to renowned Indian classical dancer Brijmohan Nath Mishra Maharaj, popularly known as Birju Maharaj, who died late last Sunday (16) night, his family said on Monday (17). In a career spanning nearly six decades, Maharaj performed and taught Kathak, one of India's eight major classical…
A pilot disoriented by a sudden change in weather conditions crashed the helicopter carrying India's defence chief General Bipin Rawat last month, killing all 14 people on board, an official inquiry found Friday. The 63-year-old Rawat was travelling with his wife and other senior officers in the Russian-made Mi-17 chopper,…
INDIAN actor Siddharth on Tuesday (11) issued an apology to ace badminton player Saina Nehwal after being accused of making sexist remarks against the latter in response to her observation on the recent controversy around the alleged compromise of the security of prime minister Narendra Modi in Punjab. Taking to…
OFFICIALLY, India’s coronavirus death tally is told to be less than 500,000 but if a new study by a leading global epidemiologist is to be believed, the country has seen approximately three million deaths due to the pandemic by September last year, making it the worst-hit nation in the world.…
UTTAR PRADESH, India's most populous state and a key battleground for prime minister Narendra Modi and opposition groups, will hold elections in seven phases starting from Feb. 10, chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra said on Saturday (8). The outcome of the election in the northern state, currently ruled by Modi's…
SEVEN decades since they were hunted to extinction by the British colonists, cheetahs are set to return in India, thanks to their reintroduction in the country’s wild from southern Africa. The action plan for the project, which was conceived in 2009, was released last week. According to The Telegraph, the…
INDIA reported 159,632 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday (9), as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in the country, nudging several state governments to impose fresh restrictions. India's richest state, Maharashtra, said on Saturday (8) it would close swimming pools and gyms from Monday (10) while…
BRITAIN'S secretary of state for international trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan will launch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations during a visit to New Delhi starting on Wednesday (12), the UK government has said.The schedule for the two-day visit to India will include bilateral talks between Trevelyan and the south Asian nation’s commerce…
INDIA on Friday (7) raised its growth estimates for this financial year to 9.2 per cent despite a surge in coronavirus infections threatening the country's recovery. The National Statistics Office (NSO) forecast Asia's third-largest economy will bounce back strongly from a 7.3 per cent contraction last year when it saw…
By Amit Roy and Sarwar Alam HAVING achieved Brexit, Boris Johnson’s new year’s resolution is to “Get FTA done” – a reference to the Free Trade Agreement that the British prime minister is pursuing with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. Although no dates have been announced, the international trade secretary…
HAUNTED by the spectre of last year's crisis, India is bracing for a deluge of Covid-19 cases, with authorities of various megacities bringing in restrictions in a bid to keep infections in check. Case numbers have yet to match the enormous figures seen last spring, when thousands died each day…
ELECTION rallies were cancelled in India's heartland Thursday (6) as authorities fret over a sudden Covid surge, driven by the Omicron variant, which has seen confirmed infections nearly triple in two days. Teeming crowds have thronged campaign events for next month's poll in Uttar Pradesh -- the country's most populous…
RENOWNED Indian pianist Neil Nongkynrih, the founder and conductor of the Shillong Chamber Choir, passed away following a surgery in a hospital Mumbai in the western state of Maharashtra on Wednesday (5) after a brief illness. Nongkynrih, who was fondly called 'Uncle Neil', was 51. In a statement condoling Nongkynrih’s…
INDIAN megacities Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata are experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, although without a corresponding rise in hospitalisations, but fears are growing about a spread to rural areas in coming days. India reported 90,928 new daily Covid-19 cases on Thursday (6), up nearly four-fold since the start of…
INDIAN police said on Wednesday (5) they had arrested three people involved in an online app that shared pictures of Muslim women for a virtual "auction" in an apparent case of communal harassment. Pictures of dozens of women had been used without their consent and doctored to create an open…
OXFAM India has said that restrictions on its access to international fund flow will "severely hamper" its humanitarian work and affect provision of much-required medical equipment to fight the current Covid-19 pandemic. The charity group’s arm in the country said the decision made by the home ministry meant that it…
THE parliamentary panel in India which has been assigned to examine the landmark bill, which seeks to increase the legal age of marriage for women to 21 years, has only one woman member of parliament (MP) out of 31 members. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, which will have…
INDIA started vaccinating children aged 15 to 18 against the coronavirus on Monday (3) as it quickly expands its inoculation effort to cover the world's largest adolescent population amid fears the Omicron variant will drive a new surge of infections. Authorities on Monday (3) reported 33,750 new Covid-19 cases and…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi has said that the country needs to accelerate the pace of development in the new year and will not allow the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to dampen the growth process. He stressed that the country will continue to fight the pandemic with “full…
TWELVE people were crushed to death in a stampede at an Indian religious shrine in the early hours of Saturday (1) as tens of thousands of pilgrims massed to offer prayers, officials said. The disaster unfolded in darkness at around 3:00 am (2130 GMT) on the packed route to the…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (2) laid the foundation stone for a sports university in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Major Dhyan Chand Sports University will be established at Salawa and Kaili villages on the outskirts of the Sardhana town of Meerut district at an estimated cost…
BRITISH ministers are eager to ease immigration rules to make it easier for Indians to live and work in the UK as part of trade talks that are due to start between the two nations within weeks. According to a report by The Times, international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan is…
Indian tax officials have seized more than $30 million in cash and gold in raids on suspected tax evaders this week including a record haul of 1.94 billion rupees ($26 million) and 23 kg of gold ahead of assembly elections in five states. The raids triggered a flurry of accusations…
THE Indian government extended on Thursday (30) a special law giving armed forces sweeping powers in the north-eastern state of Nagaland, days after a botched army ambush killed 14 people. The killings triggered protests against the law which gives the armed forces sweeping powers to conduct raids, warrantless searches and…
INDIA has moved to cut off foreign funding to a charity founded by Mother Teresa. The Missionaries of Charity was founded in 1950 by the late Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who devoted most of her life to helping the poor in Kolkata. She won the Nobel Peace Prize and…
THE world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy has boosted its capacity to produce solar power in the past three years and has now also ventured into hydropower, its managing director said. The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) in Kerala won the Champion of Earth Prize by the UN…
INDIAN health ministry has said that Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, will be the only shot available to children aged 15 to 18 when inoculation begins for them from next Monday (3). "This (Covaxin) is the only vaccine with emergency use listing for the age-group 15-18," said the guidelines released by…
HARDLINE Hindu vigilante groups disrupted Christmas mass in parts of India, including in prime minister Narendra Modi's core territory ahead of local elections in the coming months, media reported on Monday (27). The disruption of Christmas celebrations at the weekend and last week included the vandalising of a life-size statue…
INDIA will open its Covid vaccination drive for adolescents and start administering booster doses to its at-risk adult population, prime minister Narendra Modi said. The highly-infectious Omicron variant has gained a foothold in the country, and the health ministry has raised concerns about its onward spread. "Omicron is a matter…
INDIA will start administering Covid-19 booster shots as a precautionary measure to healthcare and frontline workers from January 10, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday (25), as cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant rose across the country. In a national address, Modi also said those aged 15-18 would start…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (23) asked chief minister of states to ramp up oxygen supplies and strengthen health infrastructure to contain a possible surge of Omicron cases ahead of the festive season, as gatherings in public spaces and markets grow in size. India has recorded 236 Omicron…
AN Indian court urged prime minister Narendra Modi's government to suspend political rallies and election campaigns in poll-bound states amid the rising number of Omicron cases, a variant of Covid-19. Judges of the Allahabad High Court in the country's most populous Uttar Pradesh (UP) state said on Thursday (23) the…
AN Indian man went to court to complain about prime minister Narendra Modi promoting himself as the face of the nation's Covid vaccination drive - but walked away on Tuesday (21) with a fine for wasting the judge's time. Modi has been the focus of a massive advertising blitz touting…
Huge crowds paid tribute to Bangladesh's war heroes on Thursday as the country marked 50 years since its triumphant victory in a devastating independence war. December 16 is celebrated each year as Victory Day for the moment Pakistani soldiers surrendered en masse to Indian and Bangladeshi forces, bringing an end…
THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has added Durga Puja, one of India’s major festivals, to its ‘Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in a first of its kind move in Asia. In a tweet, the world body wrote, “Celebrations of city of joy -…
CURRENTLY, an unprecedented, politically driven commitment towards the transformation of the India-UK relationship is taking place. This began with the virtual summit between the two prime ministers Boris Johnson and Narendra Modi on May 4, 2021. The new UK foreign secretary, Liz Truss, visited New Delhi and Mumbai in late…
ERIC GARCETTI, the nominee for US ambassador to India, promised on Tuesday (15) to raise human rights and arms purchases from Russia as lawmakers said the concerns clouded the growing relationship with New Delhi. The Los Angeles mayor told his Senate confirmation hearing that he will "actively raise" human rights…
SUSPECTED rebels ambushed a police bus in Indian-administered Kashmir on Monday (13), leaving two officers dead and a dozen others wounded, officials said -- just hours after government forces killed a pair of militants in a shootout. Shortly after darkness fell, gunmen sprayed the bus -- which was transporting an…
INDIA’S prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (13) inaugurated the renovated Kashi Vishwanath Dham, which has expanded the temple's premises in Varanasi, the constituency he represents. Following his arrival in the holy city from Delhi, Modi paid obeisance at the Kaal Bhairav Temple and then took a dip in the…
INDIA's largest syringe and needle manufacturer has urged prime minister Narendra Modi to revoke an order to suspend production, part of a broader factory shutdown imposed by a state regulator to curb heavy pollution in the region. Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices (HMD) has shuttered its factories on the outskirts…
INDIA's prime minister Narendra Modi's personal Twitter handle was "very briefly compromised," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a tweet early on Sunday (12). The matter was escalated to Twitter and the prime minister's personal twitter handle @narendramodi was immediately secured, PMO India's tweet said, adding any tweet shared…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday (14) described the UK and India as "natural partners" who are working together on many "fantastic projects". He said the partnership between the two countries will transform people's lives and promote the principles of freedom, openness and peace. In his special address to…
TATA Advanced Systems has partnered with Lockheed Martin to manufacture wings for F-21 aircraft in India. The joint venture - Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd (TLMAL) - between the Tata group company and the American aerospace and defence hardware major comes after the Indian firm produced parts for a fighter…
Indian farmers formally ended year-long mass protests on Thursday (9) after prime minister Narendra Modi abandoned his push for agricultural reforms, defusing one of the biggest challenges faced by his government. Thousands of people have been camped on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi since last year to campaign…
THE Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has decided to honour noted Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi with the Royal Gold Medal 2022, one of the world’s most prestigious awards in the field. The medal, which is approved personally by the British queen and is awarded to a person or group…
THE bodies of India's defence chief and 12 others who died in a helicopter crash laid draped in the Indian flag at a defence cantonment on Thursday (9), before being flown to New Delhi, where the general will be laid to rest with full military honours. General Bipin Rawat, his…
India's Bipin Rawat was an outspoken, polarising but hugely popular "soldier's general" who was wounded in a border battle and survived an aircraft crash before dying in a helicopter accident on Wednesday (8). The military in the world's largest democracy has traditionally stayed well clear of political debates, unlike neighbouring…
INDIAN defence chief General Bipin Rawat and 12 other people were killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday (8), with one survivor being treated for his injuries. Rawat was India's first chief of defence staff, a position that the government established in 2019, and was seen as close to prime…
India's protesting farmers have received a proposal from the government addressing some of their demands, including minimum support prices for all produce, not just rice and wheat, farm union leaders said on Tuesday. Tens of thousands of farmers have staged long-running protests to persuade prime minister Narendra Modi to repeal…
Russian president Vladimir Putin lauded India as "a great power" in New Delhi on Monday as the traditional allies bolstered their military and energy ties, despite Washington's increasing courtship of the world's largest democracy. India confirmed that Russia this month began deliveries of its long-range S-400 ground-to-air missile defence system,…
Friday afternoons are a time for communal prayer for Muslims in the northern Indian city of Gurugram, who over the years had negotiated with local authorities to pray in parks and empty plots of land as they outgrew their mosques. But recent protests by Hindu groups, sometimes preventing prayers as…
GITA GOPINATH will take on a larger role in shaping the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from January 21 as its first deputy managing director. Her elevation as the second-ranking official of the global lender is a recognition of her “exceptional intellectual leadership” as its first woman chief…
INDIA expects the Omicron variant of coronavirus to cause less severe disease, the health ministry said on Friday (3). The reasons behind this are vaccinations and high prior exposure to the Delta variant that infected nearly 70 per cent of the population by July. Junior doctors protested to demand that…
DIFFERENCES have cropped within the UK government ahead of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, according to a media report. Britain’s environment secretary George Eustice raised concerns over food safety standards in India, City A.M. reported, citing Whitehall sources. “George is certainly in favour of free trade, but he…
INDIA will make on-arrival Covid-19 testing mandatory for flyers from more than a dozen countries, including South Africa and Britain where the Omicron variant has been detected, the health ministry said. The decision will be effective from Wednesday (1) and comes after a man who recently returned from South Africa…
INDIA'S parliament voted on Monday (29) to scrap agricultural reform laws that sparked a year of huge protests by farmers, after a surprise U-turn by prime minister Narendra Modi. Thousands of farmers have been camped out on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi since last year - one of…
INDIA will make on-arrival Covid-19 testing mandatory for flyers from more than a dozen countries, including South Africa and Britain where the Omicron variant has been detected, the health ministry said on Monday (29). The decision will be effective from Dec. 1 and comes after a man who recently returned…
FORMAL negotiations for an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) are set to begin “imminently”, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) president Lord Karan Bilimoria said. He said the negotiations will be as comprehensive as possible to cover all aspects of the bilateral relationship. Addressing the CBI's annual conference on Wednesday (24),…
The Indian government wants to ban all private cryptocurrencies, with some exceptions, to pave the way for a digital money controlled by the central bank. But this may not be as drastic as it sounds. The details of the planned legislation remain unclear, leaving cryptocurrency investors hoping they will by-and-large…
INDIA's government will introduce a bill to ban private cryptocurrencies and create a framework for a central bank-backed digital money, parliament said in a shock announcement late Tuesday (23). The proposed bill "seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India", the Lok Sabha said, and comes after prime minister Narendra…
Makkal Needhi Maiam president and actor Kamal Haasan on Monday said he has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been admitted to a hospital. “I had mild cough following my return from the USA. When I tested, the coronavirus infection was confirmed. I have isolated myself in hospital. Everyone should…
INDIA will scrap three agricultural reform laws that sparked almost a year of huge protests by farmers, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Friday (19) in a stunning and rare U-turn by his government. Thousands of farmers have been camped out on the borders of the capital New Delhi since…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi urged cooperation between the world's democracies to ensure cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin do not "end up in the wrong hands", delivering the comments while his government drew up new rules for digital currencies. Modi did not elaborate on those fears in his speech delivered virtually to…
INDIAN filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s latest offering, Sooryavanshi (2021), has been a huge hit in the country, but British Asian star Riz Ahmed has expressed his disgust at the ‘Islamophobic’ Bollywood film, which stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles. Journalist Rana Ayyub recently wrote an article in…
HINDU hardliners attacked and set fire to the house of a former Indian overseas minister, police mentioned, within the newest incident of spiritual violence that critics say has been infected beneath prime minister Narendra Modi. Salman Khurshid, a Muslim from the primary opposition Congress party, has written a book in…
THE India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signed a memorandum of understanding at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Friday (12). They agreed to collaborate and support countries in the implementation of ambitious national climate action in line with global efforts.…
A left-wing Indian opposition party has launched a perfume with what it calls the "fragrance of brotherhood, love and socialism" that will "end hatred". The product was unveiled by the Samajwadi Party in the hopes of wooing voters in elections in early 2022 in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.…
US has partnered with the UK and India-led Green Grids Initiative of a global energy grid launched by prime minister Narendra Modi at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. At a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Green Grids Initiative – ‘One Sun One World One Grid' (GGI-OSOWOG) earlier…
FIRE tore through a hospital in western India on Saturday (6) killing at least 11 coronavirus patients, officials said. The blaze was the latest to hit pandemic wards across India. There were about two dozen patients at the intensive care unit in the hospital in Ahmadnagar district, Maharashtra state, when…
THE morning after Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, residents of New Delhi woke up under a blanket of toxic smog and breathed in the most dangerously polluted air of the year so far, after revellers, as usual, defied a fireworks ban. New Delhi has the worst air quality of…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (1) interacted with members of the diaspora in Scotland who gathered in Glasgow to honour him and also unveil a bust of him. Modi, who arrived in the Scottish city last Sunday (31) night to cheers from a group of diaspora delegates, met…
AN INDIAN schoolgirl, whose solar-powered ironing cart project was a finalist of Prince William's inaugural Earthshot Prize, addressed the World Leaders' Summit of the COP26 conference in Glasgow with a clarion call for them to act and save the planet. Vinisha Umashankar, 15, from Tamil Nadu, was part of the…
CLIMATE finance to fund technology innovations will be key to India delivering its goal of ‘net zero’ emissions by 2070, academics, policy experts, business leaders and politicians have said. They were speaking as they welcomed Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s announcement at the COP26 summit in Glasgow this week. India…
BRITAIN and India introduced a plan on Tuesday (2) to improve connections between the world's electricity power grids to accelerate the transition to greener energy. Linking the grids would allow parts of the world with excess renewable power to send it to areas with deficits. For instance, countries where the…
EMPHASISING that everything is created from the sun, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (2) called for ‘One sun, one world, one grid' to improve the viability of solar power. He also announced that India's space agency ISRO will soon provide the world with a calculator that can measure…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi along with 40 world leaders on Tuesday (2) backed UK's 'Glasgow Breakthroughs' international plan to deliver clean and affordable technology everywhere by 2030. India has joined the US, European Union, China, among others representing more than 70 per cent of the world's economy and every…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson has welcomed Narendra Modi's climate commitments to achieve net zero carbon emissions and for half of India's energy to come from renewables by 2030. Delivering India's national statement at the World Leaders' Summit in Glasgow on Monday (1), prime minister Modi for the first time…
INTERMITTENT rain and winds led to a rare drop in pollution in India's capital last month, with residents breathing the cleanest air in at least four years, but authorities warn that air quality is set to drop sharply in November. A delayed end to the monsoon and a sharp pick-up…
INDIA's economy will become carbon neutral by 2070, the country's prime minister announced at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. "By 2070, India will achieve the target of net-zero emissions," Narendra Modi told more than 120 leaders at the critical talks on Monday (1). India is the last of the…
A MUSLIM woman from Kerala in southern India, who paints pictures of Sri Krishna, has said she wants to be a symbol of communal harmony at a time when tensions among religions are rising. Jasna Salim, 28, from Koyilandy near Calicut, has made more than 500 paintings of little Krishna,…
SOUMIK DATTA’S animation film, Songs of the Earth, which he has written and directed, and for which he has also composed the music, is due to premiere at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow and the Royal Albert Hall in London, with a preview for delegates at 10 Downing…
INDIA prime minister will be presenting the formal position on India's climate action agenda and lay out the best practices and achievements in the sector at the COP26 summit in Glasgow on Monday (1). During the high-profile segment of the World Leaders' Summit, Narendra Modi is scheduled to deliver a…
Prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK comes at a time when India-UK bilateral relations are on a positive trajectory and potentially at the threshold of a new era, India’s High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar has said. Modi will attend the World Leaders’ Summit (WLS) of…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi was set to arrive in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday (31) for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). He will also hold bilateral talks with his British counterpart Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the climate summit. Modi will reach the UK from Italy where he…
INDIA’S minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan visited the construction site of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. Muraleedharan, who was greeted by Brahmavihari Swamiji and other swamis, observed the ongoing construction of the temple and witnessed the installation of an intricately carved marble pillar, central to the…
Dozens of people, many from Hindu right-wing groups, were arrested Friday in India for disrupting Muslim prayer gatherings, local media reported, in the latest sign of growing sectarian tensions in the country. Hindu groups have been pressuring authorities for weeks in the northern city of Gurgaon on the outskirts of…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he had a "very warm meeting" with Pope Francis and discussed a wide range of issues and also invited him to visit India at an early date. Modi, who is the first Indian prime minister to meet Francis since he became Pope…
HUMANS live on hope. We begin another march towards the hope of clinching a deal that would save the planet and impending catastrophe of all living beings getting extinct. We are in the midst of a real crisis. Temperatures have already increased by 1.1℃ over the pre-industrial revolution levels. Almost…
KANNADA star Puneeth Rajkumar passed away on Friday (29) afternoon after suffering a heart attack. He was 46. The youngest son of the late super star Rajkumar was taken to Vikram Hospital in Bengaluru this morning in an “unresponsive” condition. Later, in the afternoon, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said…
INDIAN manufacturers are raising prices to pass on to consumers some of the burden of costlier energy and raw materials, which threatens to dent demand as well as a recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, business leaders and economists say. Prices of items from tea, coffee and biscuits to toothpaste and…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will meet Pope Francis in Rome for the first time this weekend when he visits for the G20 summit, officials said Thursday, in what could be a thorny encounter. Activists say that religious minorities in Hindu-majority India have faced increased levels of discrimination and violence…
THE government has extended the term of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das by three years till December 2024. Das was appointed the RBI's 25th governor on December 11, 2018, for three years after the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Urjit Patel. An official order said the government…
INDIA on Wednesday (27) rejected calls to announce a net zero carbon emissions target and said it was more important for the world to lay out a pathway to reduce such emissions and avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures. India, the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China…
Police have launched an investigation after several hundred students in Indian-administered Kashmir celebrated India's recent defeat to Pakistan in the cricket World Cup, officials said on Wednesday. Anti-India sentiment is widespread and deep in the Muslim-majority territory where an armed rebellion has raged for decades by Kashmiris wanting independence or…
Indian security forces guarded mosques in the northeastern state of Tripura on Wednesday (27) after right-wing groups attacked Muslim targets in apparent revenge for deadly violence against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh. Authorities have banned gatherings of more than four people in the most tense northern parts of the state while…
Rajinikanth starrer Annaatthe is undoubtedly one of the most awaited Tamil films of the year. The movie also stars Nayanthara and Keerthy Suresh, and on Wednesday (27), the trailer of the film was released. Sun Pictures tweeted, “Aaravaramai Akroshamai Anandhamai #AnnaattheTrailer: ▶ https://youtu.be/zyVX8g71TGo @rajinikanth @directorsiva #Nayanthara @KeerthyOfficial @immancomposer @prakashraaj @IamJagguBhai…
INDIA’S Supreme Court on Wednesday (27) ordered an independent investigation into the alleged government use of Pegasus spyware on journalists, opposition politicians and activists, with the chief justice calling the implications "Orwellian". India was one of 45 countries where tens of thousands of phone numbers were targeted by the spyware…
VIRENDRA SHARMA and other Asian-origin MPs in Britain have spoken about the threat facing them following the murder last week of Sir David Amess, the Conservative member for Southend West, who was stabbed 17 times in a frenzied attack. British politicians have to decide whether their traditional approach of freely…
Facebook was well aware that hate speech was spreading on its site in India which could exacerbate ethnic violence, and did not deploy resources to curb the phenomenon, US media reported, citing internal documents. The so-called Facebook Papers, leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen, have already revealed the impact of Facebook…
FACEBOOK was well aware that hate speech was spreading on its site in India which could exacerbate ethnic violence, and did not deploy resources to curb the phenomenon, US media reported, citing internal documents. The so-called Facebook Papers, leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen, have already revealed the impact of Facebook…
AN Indian American health expert has warned that the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Glasgow could potentially risk a spike in coronavirus cases. Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at Edinburgh University and member of the Scottish government’s Covid-19 advisory group, said the event where…
IN her current trip to India, the UK's foreign secretary Liz Truss in order to forge stronger security and defence links with India, visited HMS Queen Elizabeth in Mumbai on Saturday (23). The ship is the spearhead of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), and on its visit to Mumbai is…
BRITAIN and India must step up their economic and security ties, foreign secretary Liz Truss said ahead of a visit to Delhi where she will announce a green tech investment and pitch her vision of Britain's new role in the world to senior Indian ministers. Truss, who was appointed as…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi will attend the UN climate summit in Glasgow, the environment minister said on Thursday (21), in a boost for efforts to agree steeper emissions cuts in the fight on global warming. India is the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and Modi's participation in…
INDIA administered its one billionth Covid-19 vaccine dose on Thursday (21) as it fights its way back from a devastating surge in cases that brought the health system close to collapse. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the feat as a "triumph of Indian science", but authorities remain on guard for…
THE India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday (19) sounded an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and other districts for Wednesday (20) in rain-battered Kerala. Other districts that have been issued with an orange alert include Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts. A yellow alert has…
India's main religious festival season is back in full swing with huge noisy crowds thronging markets and fairs for the first time in two years, barely six months after a devastating Covid-19 surge. The coronavirus is still claiming over 200 lives daily in the nation of 1.3 billion people but…
INDIA has asked power producers to import up to 10 per cent of their coal needs amid fuel shortages and warned states that federal companies will curb their power supplies if they are found selling electricity on power exchanges to cash in on surging prices. India is the world's second…
INDIA has allowed power producers to expedite imports of coal to use for up to 10 per cent of blends with the domestic grade to meet increased power demand in a move that could push up already high global prices. Asia's third-largest economy is facing large-scale outages as several power…
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES deputy prime minister and minister of presidential affairs, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, last week visited the BAPS Hindu temple display at the India Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai with consul general Dr Aman Puri. He is the latest dignitary to visit the display after…
INDIA prime minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson on Monday (11) discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and agreed on the need to develop a common international perspective on issues regarding extremism and terrorism as well. Following a telephonic conversation between Modi and Johnson, the UK government,…
BHARTI Enterprises-backed OneWeb on Monday (11) said it has entered an arrangement with Indian space agency ISRO to launch its satellite from the south Asian country from 2022. A statement said the arrangement has been made through a letter of intent (LOI) with ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)…
ASHISH MISHRA, son of junior home minister Ajay Mishra Teni, has been arrested on accusations he ran over and killed four protesting farmers last week, a senior police official said. The farmers, killed on Oct. 3 in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, were part of India's longest-running agricultural protest,…
INDIA’S tea-to-software giant Tata is buying back Air India, 89 years after founding it as Tata Air and half a century following its nationalisation, the government said on Friday (8). The Rs 180-billion (£1.76 bn) deal marks the end of a lengthy effort to privatise the heavily indebted flag carrier that according to…
VETERAN actor Arvind Trivedi, known for his performance as Raavan in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, passed away on Tuesday (5) due to a heart attack. Kaustubh Trivedi, the actor’s nephew, said, "He had a lot of age-related health issues and was not keeping well. He was in the hospital earlier and…
FARMERS in India have vowed to intensify their months-long protest against laws aimed at liberalising agriculture as tension flared a day after eight people were killed in clashes between growers and ruling party supporters. Four of the eight were killed when a car linked to a senior ruling party official…
WENDY Sherman, the US deputy secretary of state, on Tuesday (5) arrived in New Delhi to review her country's bilateral agenda with India and discuss regional and global issues with the Narendra Modi government During her visit till Thursday (7), Sherman will hold talks with India’s external affairs minister Subrahmanyam…
RULING BJP on Tuesday (5) registered a landslide victory in Gujarat's Gandhinagar municipal corporation (GMC) elections by winning 41 seats out of 44. Following the victory of the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude towards the people saying that it has reaffirmed the deep-rooted bond between the people of Gujarat…
Some 200 men armed with rods and sticks stormed a church in northern India during Sunday (3) prayer service, police said, in the latest anti-Christian violence in the officially secular country. At least five people were injured in the attack allegedly carried out by members of hardline Hindu vigilante groups…
INDIA's finance ministry said on Friday (1) reports suggesting the government has picked a winning bid for the debt-laden state-run airline Air India were incorrect. Earlier on Friday, Bloomberg reported that a panel of ministers accepted a proposal from officials recommending salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Sons ahead of an offer from…
INDIA'S prime minister Narendra Modi extended birthday greetings to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on Tuesday (28). He rang Mangeshkar, the iconic singer and inspiration for generations of singers, who turned 92, in the morning to wish her, officials said. On Twitter, the prime minister said, "Birthday greetings to respected Lata…
A SENIOR White House official has said she cannot "predict" when president Joe Biden would make a call to Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan though there have been engagements between the two countries. Khan during recent interviews with the American media has complained that a "busy" president Biden has not…
INDIA will export eight million coronavirus vaccine jabs by the end of October after ending its ban on sending doses abroad, a top foreign ministry official has said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to resume exports at a meeting of leaders from the so-called Quad in Washington as India, Japan,…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on Friday (24) described as "outstanding" his first bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden who said the Indo-US relationship is destined to be "stronger, closer and tighter" as the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including combating Covid-19, climate change, trade and the…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden on Friday (24) would look to deepen his bid to strengthen the American leadership of the Indo-Pacific against a rising China by hosting the maiden in-person summit of the regional Quad summit. Biden will be joined by the prime ministers of India, Japan and Australia for…
US vice president Kamala Harris, during her maiden meeting with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, has "suo motu" referred to Pakistan's role in terrorism, saying terror groups were working in that country. She asked Islamabad to take action so that it does not impact America and India's security. Modi held…
US Vice President Kamala Harris met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (23) and stressed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region at a time when the US is trying to solidify its pivot toward Asia and strengthen ties with allies to take on China's growing influence in…
THE new security treaty, signed last week by the US, the UK and Australia and aimed at confronting the menace of China’s growing naval fleet in the Indo-Pacific region, is a “welcome development” for India, influential political, foreign policy and defence experts have told Eastern Eye. AUKUS, an acronym denoting…
THE UK government has said that COVID-19 vaccine certification from all countries must meet a 'minimum criteria' and that it is working with India on a 'phased approach' to its international travel norms. It follows Covishield, the Serum Institute of India manufactured Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, being added as eligible to an…
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have vowed to "act jointly" in the Indo-Pacific region, as a row intensified with Australia and the US over a ditched submarine contract. Macron's telephone talks with Modi were timed conspicuously as French anger over an Australian cancellation of a…
MAHANT Narendra Giri, president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), the largest grouping of sadhus in India, was found dead on Monday (20) at Baghambari Math in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The police said a seven-page ‘suicide note’ was found in which the…
THE first bilateral meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden on Friday (24) will strengthen the relationship between the two countries and will give momentum to the Quad, a White House official has said. Biden will host Modi at the White House on Friday. Later, the…
Mayor Burnham emphasises need to build trust and people-to-people ties MANCHESTER, which is apparently “the most liveable city in the UK”, is taking the whole business of attracting inward investment from India very seriously. Last Thursday (9), it held an “in person” Manchester India summit which was attended by more…
INDIA on Friday (17) made a record 22 million coronavirus jabs in a day as part of a special vaccination drive for the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Authorities set up special vaccination centres in stadiums, shopping malls, clinics and other venues as it sought to boost the lagging…
IN what seemed to be a reciprocal treatment for citizens of Canada and the UK, the Narendra Modi government has withdrawn the e-visa facility for them, sources said. According to a senior official in the country’s ministry of home affairs, Canada and the UK posed a lot of restrictions over…
