- Saturday, July 27, 2024
A family's joyous occasion turned into a financial and emotional ordeal when a mother suffered a stroke during a visit to the UK for her daughter's graduation. Maleeha Nadeem's mother, Bushra Khalid,66, travelled from Pakistan to Rochdale last September, marking her first trip abroad. However, a week before her scheduled…
As India observes the 25th anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999, here are some Hindi films that celebrate the real heroes behind the war in which over 500 soldiers sacrificed their lives: ■ LOC: Kargil (2003): The war drama, featuring Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn,…
Iram Parveen Bilal has always had a brave approach and produces her finest work with this wonderful, taboo-busting Pakistani drama, which had its UK premiere at the recent London Indian Film Festival. The fearless filmmaker tells the story of a widowed single mother, a young Pakistani woman from a conservative…
This low-budget British Asian movie had its world premiere at the recent London Indian Film Festival. Two British Pakistanis meet in London to see if they are compatible for marriage. He isn’t interested in settling down, so cuts the date short. However, his travel plans are disrupted when the trains…
British Asian race car driver Arvid Anand Olof Lindblad is only 16, but he has set his sights on the highest echelons of motorsport. With a clear vision and remarkable talent, Lindblad’s journey from karting prodigy to Formula 3 Championship contender is marked by a deep-rooted passion for racing, inspired…
The days of China investing heavily in Pakistan are over, a senior US administration official informed lawmakers, emphasising that the United States represents the future. “China is the past in terms of investments in Pakistan, we are the future,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu…
Ali, born and raised in Scotland, one of five siblings moved to Pakistan with his family at the age of six due to his father's new job with a fertiliser company. After Ali’s father retired, the family returned to the UK and Ali joined high school to complete his Scottish…
Bangladesh further eased a nationwide curfew on Thursday as students weighed the future of their protest campaign against civil service hiring rules that sparked days of deadly unrest last week. Last week's violence killed at least 191 people, including several police officers, according to an AFP count of victims reported…
School summer holidays will be extended by two weeks in southern Pakistan because of high temperatures, affecting more than 100,000 schools, an education official said Tuesday (23). Pakistan is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions resulting from climate change, including hotter and more frequent heatwaves and heavier and longer monsoons.…
Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth secretary general, will make her first official visit to Pakistan from July 28 to August 2, 2024, on the invitation of the government of Pakistan. During her five-day visit, Scotland will meet with Pakistan’s leadership, cabinet members, youth leaders, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders. Scotland,…
Imran Khan, former Pakistani prime minister and cricket star, will run for the chancellorship of Oxford University from his prison cell in Pakistan, according to his team. Despite serving a 10-year jail sentence, Khan will participate in an online ballot for the position, reported the Telegraph. The chancellor's seat at…
A 36-year-old man accused of spreading “misinformation” during Hindu-Muslim unrest in Leicester two years ago appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Wednesday (24), charged with unrelated terror offences. Majid Novraska, also known as Freeman, appeared in the dock as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) read out the charges…
A passenger plane crashed on take-off in Kathmandu on Wednesday (24), with the pilot rescued from the flaming wreckage but all 18 others aboard killed, said police in the Nepali capital. The plane, carrying two crew members and 17 technicians, was going for regular maintenance to Nepal's new Pokhara airport,…
THE UK has expressed deep concern over the recent violence in Bangladesh, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. In a statement, Catherine West, the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), condemned the unacceptable loss of life and emphasised the…
WHAT'S in a name? More to the point, what is the significance of a nickname in multicultural Britain? The England right-arm off-break bowler, Shoaib Bashir, is referred to by his admiring teammates as Bash. Eastern Eye readers need not worry. The use of a nickname in this context is a…
BANGLADESH's top court on Sunday (21) pared back contentious civil service hiring rules but failed to mollify university student leaders, whose demonstrations against the scheme sparked nationwide clashes that have killed 151 people. What began as a protest against politicised admission quotas for sought-after government jobs snowballed this week into…
Soldiers patrolled Bangladeshi cities on Saturday to address civil unrest from demonstrations. Riot police fired on protesters defying a government curfew. At least 115 people have been killed this week, according to AFP's count of police and hospital reports. This unrest presents a major challenge to prime minister Sheikh Hasina's…
India ended a 41-year wait for an Olympic men's hockey medal with a bronze in Tokyo three years ago, sparking hopes for a ninth gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Most of India's titles came in a different era when the game was played on grass pitches, often after soccer…
Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as India's T20 captain, the country's cricket board announced Thursday. Rohit Sharma stepped down from the role following last month's World Cup win. Suryakumar, 33, will lead a 15-member T20 squad for a tour of Sri Lanka, with three internationals starting on July 27 in…
Police in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka banned all public rallies on Friday following the deadliest day of student protests, during which government buildings were torched, and a nationwide internet blackout was imposed. This week's unrest has resulted in at least 39 deaths, including 32 on Thursday. Clashes have been reported in…
England recorded the fastest-ever team fifty in Test cricket, reaching the milestone in just 4.2 overs against the West Indies on the first day of the second Test in Nottingham on Thursday. Openers Ben Duckett (33 off 14 balls) and Ollie Pope (16 not out off 9 balls) hit ten…
NOBEL PRIZE winner Malala Yousafzai urgently calls for Pakistan to stop deporting undocumented Afghans, highlighting the “dark future” awaiting women and girls sent back. More than 600,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan since Islamabad ordered undocumented migrants to leave or face arrest last year. “It is deeply concerning that Pakistan is…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to loan Pakistan $7 billion (£5.4bn) to bolster its faltering economy, with Islamabad pledging last Saturday (13) that it would be the last time it relied on relief from the Washington-based lender. The country agreed to the deal – its 24th IMF payout…
BANGLADESH ordered schools and universities across the country to close indefinitely on Tuesday (16) after six students were killed in protests, prompting the mobilisation of paramilitary forces to maintain order. All high schools, universities, and Islamic seminaries were instructed to remain shut until further notice following weeks of escalating demonstrations…
SIX people including four Pakistanis, one Indian were killed and nearly 30 wounded in a shooting near a Shiite mosque in the Omani capital Muscat, officials said Tuesday (16), a rare attack in the otherwise stable Gulf sultanate. Monday's (15) mosque attack, which has yet to be claimed, came as…
Record immigration caused the population of England and Wales to rise by 610,000 to 60.9 million in mid-2023, the largest annual increase in 75 years, official data showed on Monday (15). What statisticians term 'natural' population growth - the difference between births and deaths - fell to just 400, the…
Pakistan plans to ban former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, the country's information minister said on Monday. The decision was based on several factors, including the charge that Khan's PTI had received foreign funds from sources that are illegal in Pakistan and rioting by the party's leadership…
England's James Anderson expressed his pride after ending his Test career with a victory over the West Indies at Lord's. In his final international appearance, the 41-year-old paceman took 3-32 in 16 overs, helping to dismiss the West Indies for 136 on Friday. This gave England a win by an…
GIRLS from a Bradford Islamic school are participating in a new initiative designed to encourage pupils from under-represented backgrounds to apply to the University of Oxford. Feversham Girls' Academy in Undercliffe recently hosted the launch of the BeUNIQ programme, with Oxford's director of undergraduate admissions and outreach, Samina Khan MBE,…
AT LEAST 44,000 Afghans approved for relocation to Western nations following the Taliban's return to power are still waiting in limbo in Pakistan, Islamabad said. In the days after the NATO-backed government collapsed in August 2021, more than 120,000 people, mostly Afghans, were airlifted from Kabul in a chaotic evacuation.…
PAKISTAN’S largest province of Punjab is proposing a ban on all social media platforms for six days due to security concerns during thousands of religious processions starting this week, its information minister Uzma Bukhari said last Friday (5). The proposal relates to Muharram's Ashura processions, 10 days of mourning by…
A KENYAN court on Monday (8) found police acted unlawfully over the 2022 killing of a Pakistani journalist following a complaint by his widow, who welcomed finally getting “justice” in the long-running case. Arshad Sharif, a strident critic of Pakistan’s powerful military establishment and supporter of former prime minister Imran…
PAKISTAN has legally authorised its army-run spy agency to tap telephone calls and messages, further strengthening its key role in the politics of a nation ruled by military regimes for almost half its independent history. The powerful military plays an oversized role in making and breaking governments in Pakistan, where…
PAKISTAN is looking to clinch a staff-level agreement on an International Monetary Fund (IMF)bailout of more than $6 billion (£4.7bn) this month after addressing all of the lender’s requirements in its annual budget, its junior finance minister said. The country has set challenging revenue targets in its budget to help…
TROOPS in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (9) hunted for gunmen who ambushed an army convoy a day earlier, with the defence minister raising the toll of soldiers killed to five. Rajnath Singh said he was "deeply anguished" over the "loss of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers",…
AN ASIAN-ORIGIN lifestyle coach with type 2 diabetes hosts six short films on the illness and how to cope with it. The films are produced by The Adda Club, featuring lifestyle coach Monir Ali, and cover various topics, including diet, exercise, and lifestyle. The films are in English and have…
PAKISTAN is expected to get an investment of $5 billion (£3.9bn) over the next three years from local and international firms for the exploration and development of petroleum and gas reserves. The announcement was made in a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday during a meeting…
England will tour Pakistan for the second time in two years, announcing a three-Test series in Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi in October. England's first Test tour of Pakistan in 17 years took place in 2022, where Ben Stokes’s team won the series 3-0 at the same venues they will visit…
Pakistani star Fawad Khan is expected to return to Indian cinema with a rom-com, which also stars Vaani Kapoor. Aarti Bagdi has come on board to direct the project, which will be shot entirely in the UK. "Fawad Khan has a massive international pull given his popularity amongst South Asians…
PAKISTAN’S defence minister last Wednesday (26) criticised a US House of Representatives resolution calling for a probe of alleged voting irregularities in the country’s general election. The vote, in which no single party won a clear majority, was marred by violence, communication blackouts, and allegations by the party of jailed…
A PANEL of UN experts has determined that the detention of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan was arbitrary and a violation of international law, calling for him to be released “immediately”. In an opinion published on Monday (1), the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention raised concerns about…
Zayn Malik, the former One Direction member and solo artist, has recently opened up about the heartwarming bond he shares with his three-year-old daughter Khai, whom he shares with ex Gigi Hadid. In a recent interview obtained by E! News, Malik revealed the adorable way Khai perceives his music. According…
PAKISTAN’S parliament last Friday (28) passed the government’s tax-heavy finance bill for the coming fiscal year amid an annual inflation projection of up to 13.5 per cent for June. The bill comes ahead of more talks with the IMF for a loan of £4.7 billion to £6.3bn to avert a…
Newham is set to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month from 18 July to 17 August with a vibrant and diverse programme under the theme 'Free to be Me.' The month-long celebration aims to raise awareness and honour the rich British South Asian heritage in Newham. It promises a rich cultural…
British voters rarely choose to change the government at a General Election, doing so only three times in the last half century: in 1979, 1997 and 2010. You need to be older than prime minister Rishi Sunak – born in 1980 – to have an adult memory of the last…
Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan says he jumped at the opportunity to feature in the upcoming drama series Barzakh as he always wanted to attempt something "out of the ordinary". Asim Abbasi, known for Churails and Cake, has directed the show which reunites the actor with his Zindagi Gulzar Hai co-star…
PAKISTAN'S parliament on Friday moved to pass the government's tax-heavy finance bill for the coming fiscal year ahead of more talks on a new IMF bailout as it seeks to avert a debt default for an economy growing at the slowest pace in South Asia. The government presented the tax-loaded…
An Islamabad court has rejected Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi's appeals to suspend their sentences in an illegal marriage case. The decision by additional district and sessions judge Afzal Majoka upholds their convictions based on a complaint from Bushra Bibi's ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka. Maneka alleged that Khan…
UNBEATEN throughout almost a month of cricket across the USA and the Caribbean, India and South Africa will face off at the Kensington Oval on Saturday (29) in the T20 World Cup final both looking to end long waits for glory. A tournament which has been a mixed bag in…
The soulful voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan will be heard once again by his fans all over the world as a new album of unheard recordings by the late Qawwali legend is set to be released in September. Titled 'Chain of Light', the album was discovered in the archives…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday offered to hold talks with political rival Imran Khan if he was facing "troubles" in jail. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder has been in jail since August last year. The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been slapped with nearly 200 cases since his ouster…
AT BESTWAY’S traditional day at Royal Ascot last Friday (21), Sir Anwar Pervez, the group’s founder and chairman, set the standards in sartorial elegance in a top hat and morning suit. His nephew, Lord Zameer Choudrey, the group’s chief executive, also chose similar attire, as did his sons, Haider and…
THE enchanting romances of Bollywood director Yash Chopra first connected Iram Parveen Bilal to filmmaking and the power of storytelling. This has led the Pakistani American towards making meaningful movies in the hope of finding answers or perspectives that make sense of the world and people living in it. Her…
A PAKISTANI man accused of desecrating the Quran was slain and burned last Thursday (20) by a crowd that removed him from a police station where he had been detained for his protection, authorities said. “On the evening of the 20th, locals in the Madian area detained a man,…
RENOWNED Indian opera singer Anando Mukerjee has said that Byron Jackson’s diverse production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman will break barriers in opera. The play is the UK’s first ethnically led Wagner production with artistic direction from Jackson and stage direction by Iqbal Khan. Jackson, a dramatic baritone of British…
THE death toll from this year’s hajj has exceeded 1,000, an AFP tally said last Thursday (20), with more than half being unregistered worshippers who performed the pilgrimage in extreme heat in Saudi Arabia. The new deaths reported last Thursday included 58 from Egypt, according to an Arab diplomat who…
Pakistan's Punjab government said on Tuesday that it will install the restored statue of the first ruler of the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, at Kartarpur Sahib on Wednesday so that visiting Sikhs from India would get to view it too. Kartarpur Sahib is also known as Gurdwara Darbar Sahib…
“Who will speak for Kashmir in parliament? Will it be me, or Labour Party Parliamentary candidate Sonia KUMAR?” That was the question addressed to “Voters of the British Pakistani/Kashmir community in Dudley” by Marco Longhi, their Conservative candidate seeking re-election. Longhi claims to be baffled by criticism. He defends it…
A TORY candidate has been criticised for allegedly sending letters to British Pakistani voters, implying they should support him over his Labour opponent because of her Indian surname. Marco Longhi, seeking re-election in Dudley North against Sonia Kumar, has faced accusations of employing dog-whistle politics and aiming to "marginalise British…
Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar will be serving as a jury member for the shorts category for the 2024 edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). The film gala, which will run from June 27 to 30, will screen 20 films, including seven narrative features, twelve shorts, and one…
PAKISTAN'S jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has hinted to “step back” from his position and engage in discussions with the establishment if convinced that such a move would be in the country's best interest. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder signalled his intention while speaking to reporters on Friday…
PAKISTANI student Aqsa Shabbir is hot, tired and frustrated. A keen field hockey player, she can no longer train during the day because of a brutal heatwave, she can’t sleep at night and she fears that she will not play well in a tournament at the end of the month.…
PAKISTAN cricket is at its lowest point and needs to make radical changes, all-rounder Imad Wasim said after the team failed to get out of the group stage of the T20 World Cup. The 2009 champions, who were beaten finalists two years ago, lost to the USA and India. Their…
WHETHER it has been performing for the first minister of Scotland, in Trafalgar Square or at various concerts around the UK, the Chahat. Mahmood Ali Qawwali Group have been a revelation, ever since they made a stunning debut for the Newham mayor’s South Asian Heritage month event last summer. …
LABOUR party candidate for Dudley Sonia Kumar has expressed shock over the letter sent by her Conservative opponent to British Pakistani voters on the occasion of Eid. The NHS physiotherapist told the BBC she is “disappointed and shocked” by a “divisive” letter sent by Marco Longhi, who is seeking re-election…
THAT pejorative word “supermajority” has cropped up again. First, it was in relation to Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) getting 400 seats in the Indian Lok Sabha [lower house of parliament] of 543. Now, it’s about Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party getting 400 seats in the 650-member Commons. The…
AN INTERESTING highlight from this year’s London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) is the world premiere of Before Nikkah. The romantic comedy set over one day in London, follows two British Pakistanis on a blind date, as they prepare for a prospective arranged marriage. Talented young actors Sasha Vadher…
MILLIONS of people dependent on Himalayan snowmelt for water face a “very serious” risk of shortages this year after one of the lowest rates of snowfall, scientists warned Monday (17). Snowmelt is the source of about a quarter of the total water flow of 12 major river basins that originate…
South Africa will take on the USA in their opening Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday, while hosts West Indies face defending champions England in another crucial encounter. South Africa has remained unbeaten so far, with their bowlers playing a crucial role. However, their batting lineup,…
PAKISTANIS from the minority Ahmadi community said they were under increasing pressure from authorities and Islamist groups ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations on Monday (17). The Ahmadiyya sect, considered heretics by fundamentalist groups, has been persecuted for decades in Pakistan, but threats, violence, and intimidation have risen in recent…
A YEAR after the disappearance of his brother in one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, Suleman Tariq wants answers. But, like other young Pakistanis, he is also determined to make it to Europe. Dozens of families gathered at a wedding hall in the Punjabi town of Lalamusa last…
An Eid message by a Conservative MP addressing the British Pakistani voters to vote for him over an Asian-origin Labour candidate has kicked up a political storm. In his public letter, Marco Longhi, who is seeking re-election in Dudley North, underscored how he has spoken against India's "atrocities" towards the…
PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif has pledged to end Pakistan's dependency on foreign aid and IMF bailouts and surpass neighbouring nations in economic activity, as he outlined a series of reforms to reduce the cash-strapped government's expenses and revive the economy. Sharif addressed the nation on Saturday (15) and expressed hope…
Bangladesh advanced to the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup with a 21-run victory over Nepal, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka both secured wins in their final group matches, but failed to progress further. Bangladesh struggled with the bat on a tricky surface at Arnos Vale, making 106 all…
Barzakh, a series featuring Zindagi Gulzar Hai stars Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, will have its worldwide premiere on Zindagi’s YouTube and ZEE5 Global on July 19. Asim Abbasi, known for Churails and Cake, has directed the much-anticipated show produced by Shailja Kejriwal and Waqas Hassan. The series follows the…
India will play against Canada in their final group match of the T20 World Cup on Saturday. There is concern about Virat Kohli's recent low scores as the team hopes for clear skies despite heavy rain in parts of Florida. India, with three consecutive wins, have already advanced to the…
Suryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten half-century and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh claimed a career-best 4-9 as India defeated the United States by seven wickets to reach the T20 World Cup second round on Wednesday. Chasing 111 to win the Group A clash, India were at 15-2 and then 44-3 before…
Bollywood star Sunny Deol on Thursday announced the sequel to Border on the 27th release anniversary of the 1997 blockbuster film. According to the makers, the upcoming movie is "India's biggest war film" which will be directed by Anurag Singh, known for Kesari and the first two films in the…
MANY distinguished authors featured at the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF) at the British Library last weekend, but one of the stars was Mishal Husain who was interviewed by fellow BBC journalist, Anita Anand. In Broken Threads: My Family From Empire to Independence, Mishal talked about how her grandparents, born in…
BLACK, Asian, and ethnic minority communities are “significantly underrepresented” in precision and genomic medicine research, leading to adverse health outcomes, a study has revealed. Inadequate ethnic representation in datasets also hinders the development of AI-based risk prediction tools used to estimate the likelihood of diseases or conditions, a report by…
A SUSPECTED militant was killed and seven security personnel were wounded in clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said Wednesday (12). The first incident occurred late Tuesday (11) night in Hiranagar, a village near the frontier with Pakistan which, like India, claims the Himalayan region in full. Security forces rushed to…
KHAYAM KHAN’S coming-of-age film allowed him to reconnect with Hyderabad – a city in south India he hadn’t been back to for 25 years, the director told Eastern Eye. A Game of Two Halves follows the journey of Sanjay (Saaj Raja), a young British student who finds himself in India…
Australia advanced to the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup with a decisive victory over Namibia, while Rizwan and Babar kept Pakistan's hopes alive with a crucial win against Canada. Australia advanced to the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup with a dominant nine-wicket win over Namibia at…
PAKISTAN'S jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has given a green signal for talks with the government and is "ready to forgive" what has happened to him, his party's chairman Gohar Khan said on Tuesday. "We told the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder that dialogue is necessary, as the distance is…
India's top batsmen will look to perform more freely against an impressive but inexperienced USA team in their T20 World Cup group game on Wednesday. India, already classified as A1 regardless of points, need one more win to secure their Super Eight spot. They will aim to avoid a repeat…
INDIA will focus on finding solutions to the border issues with China that has long strained ties between the neighbouring countries, Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday (11) after assuming charge for a second straight term. India and China share a 3,800 km (2,400 mile) border - much…
A day after being criticised for making disrespectful comments about India pacer Arshdeep Singh, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal apologised for his remarks. The comments were made while Akmal was analysing the recent T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan in New York. In a viral video, Akmal was…
Pakistanis applying for visas to visit the United Kingdom and Schengen countries have a rejection rate of 40 per cent and 50 per cent respectively, resulting in significant costs for the applicants, Dawn reports citing a research report. A Lago Collective study shows that Pakistanis spent £5.3 million on rejected…
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed Lahore as India's home base for the ICC Champions Trophy next year to ensure optimal security arrangements. A source in the PCB revealed to the PTI that this suggestion was included in the draft schedule sent to the ICC in late April. "Yes,…
PAKISTAN Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday pledged to "relentlessly eliminate terrorism" from the country after seven soldiers, including a Captain, were killed in a terrorist attack in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province a day earlier. The incident occurred when the convoy of security personnel heading towards Kachi Qamar, Sarband…
Jasprit Bumrah played a key role as India defeated Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring T20 World Cup match in New York on Sunday. India were bowled out by Pakistan for 119 in 19 overs. Mohammad Rizwan scored 31 for Pakistan, but Bumrah's 3-14 in four overs proved decisive…
INDIA's prime minister Narendra Modi is set to be sworn in Sunday (9) for a third term after worse than expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern. With Modi yet to announce the makeup of this cabinet, the ceremony at the presidential palace on Sunday evening…
The much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup is set to unfold at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday. While Pakistan are coming from a shock defeat against hosts USA, India will be confident after a thumping eight-wicket win over Ireland.…
Former Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green Faiza Shaheen said she decided to contest as an independent following an outpouring of support from her followers. Faiza announced her new campaign on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday (5) afternoon. She quit the Labour Party the previous day following her deselection…
United States skipper Monank Patel believes their historic T20 World Cup win over Pakistan will open "many doors" for them but stresses the importance of staying focused for their next match against India. The USA, co-hosts of the tournament, defeated former champions Pakistan via a Super Over on Thursday. They…
IT WAS always going to take something big to make Americans pay any attention to cricket and Thursday's (6) stunning victory by the USA over established power Pakistan provided just that moment. The thrilling Super Over triumph in Dallas by the T20 World Cup debutants over the 2022 finalists and…
Sunil Chhetri's final match for India ended in a 0-0 draw against Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday, as thousands of fans gathered to bid farewell to the football legend. Nearly 59,000 spectators filled the stadium in Kolkata to witness the captain's swan song, a significant turnout in…
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has said that Babar Azam has a long way to go before becoming a captain who can handle pressure. Latif believes India will be favourites in their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on Sunday due to having a more balanced squad. The India-Pakistan match,…
PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured to step up security for Chinese personnel working in his country in the wake of recent terrorist attacks targeting them. Sharif (72) is on a five-day visit to China since June 4 and is seeking investments from its 'all weather' friend to shore…
India captain Rohit Sharma eased concerns about an arm injury after scoring 52 and retiring hurt as India defeated Ireland by eight wickets in their T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday. India needed only 97 runs to win following a strong performance by their bowlers. Left-arm quick…
RHYTHMIC drums and spirited dancing are once again bringing life to the shrines of Pakistan’s saints, where festivals were long stifled by jihadist violence. As the harvest season ends and schools finish for the summer, villagers climb atop tractor trolleys, buses, and rickshaws to head to the celebrations at…
INDIA-CHINA relations are expected to remain antagonistic for the foreseeable future, a new report has said, citing a lack of trust as well as engagement. According to the 11th edition of the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment by the London-based thinktank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), New Delhi’s expanding…
FOR the longest time, Indian cinema didn’t do sequels very well or stayed away from them, but all that has now changed. That is perfectly illustrated by this year’s most anticipated films Indian 2 (Tamil), Pushpa 2: The Rule (Telugu), L2: Empuraan (Malayalam), Stree 2 (Hindi) and Singham Again (Hindi)…
COULD what has happened in the Indian general election be repeated in Britain? It was predicted that prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would easily cross 350 in a 543-seat Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) and might even get to 400. Clearly, this hasn’t happened, and the…
The general election arguments may be stilled, at least briefly, this Thursday (6) as the nation pauses to commemorate 80 years since the D-Day landings. This anniversary week has been marked by poignant gatherings of those who were once young soldiers of 19 and 20 when they landed on the…
Rahul Dravid announced on Monday that he will leave his role as India's coach after the T20 World Cup, ending his tenure of almost three years. Dravid's contract expires at the end of the month, and he will not seek to renew it. The BCCI has been advertising the position…
Military veterans, politicians, historians, faith and civil society groups have written a joint letter on Tuesday (June 4) stating that while marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day this week, we should recognise the contributions made by the troops from various Commonwealth countries during the second world war. The D-Day marks…
A NEW air cargo route has been launched between Pakistan and China ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Beijing next week. According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, the new air cargo route inaugurated on May 28 linked Guizhou, China with Karachi, Pakistan. The route…
ADIL RASHID is optimistic about England's position before their T20 World Cup defence, following a seven-wicket triumph over Pakistan at The Oval on Thursday (30). This win, securing a 2-0 victory in a rain-interrupted four-match Twenty20 series, has bolstered their confidence. Their journey to retain the title starts against Scotland…
INDO-CHINESE relations are expected to remain antagonistic for the foreseeable future, a new report has said, citing a lack of distrust as well as engagement. New Delhi’s expanding defence role and partnerships will likely further contribute to the increasingly competitive nature of India–China relations, according to the 11th edition of…
TIME has included Reliance Industries and Tata Group in its list of the 100 World's Most Influential Companies of 2024. Reliance, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, is featured as 'India's Juggernaut,' while Tata Group also made the list, both in the 'Titans' category. This marks the second time Reliance has…
No team has successfully defended the Twenty20 World Cup title. England understand the challenge as they prepare for the tournament in the West Indies and the United States. Seven months ago, Jos Buttler's team aimed to retain the 50-over world title they won on home soil. However, they had a…
The USA will make their debut in the T20 World Cup, having earned a spot as a co-host with the West Indies. They aim to show they can compete with top teams. Cricket in North America has a unique history; the first international match was between the USA and Canada…
The first Muslim International Film Festival kick-started today in London. Actor-producer Sajid Varda, who launched the festival, said that it will “showcase stories we don’t usually see”. Varda told BBC News that too often there is a “negative portrayal” of Muslims in the mainstream media, “so this festival is largely…
New York's Nassau County is preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on June 9 with extensive security measures due to a potential terror threat. Governor Kathy Hochul has assured the public that while there's currently no credible threat, she's directed state police to elevate…
US billionaire Larry Connor is moving ahead with his ambitious plan to venture back to the wreck of the Titanic, despite the tragic incident involving the Titan submersible last year, reported the BBC. Connor, known for his substantial fortune in real estate, is collaborating with Patrick Lahey, the co-founder and…
UK BROADCASTERS do not want to make programmes on the Bengal Famine of 1943 for fear it might tarnish Sir Winston Churchill’s reputation, a British Asian museum curator has told Eastern Eye. Sona Datta said that Kavita Puri had made a “remarkable breakthrough” by getting BBC Radio 4 to commission…
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam hopes his side will be third time lucky at the T20 World Cup, having lost in the semi-finals in 2021 and as runners-up the following year. The team's preparation for the tournament in the West Indies and the USA has been tumultuous, with Azam replacing Shaheen…
THE National Trust is encouraging British Asian visitors – especially Eastern Eye readers – to engage with their own history at Kedleston Hall, a magnificent estate in Derbyshire. This was once the home of the imperial ruler whose influence on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh lives on to this day. George…
Cricket enthusiasts worldwide eagerly anticipate the upcoming T20 World Cup, which marks a significant milestone in the sport's global expansion. For the first time in its history, the tournament will be held across two diverse regions: the United States and the picturesque Caribbean islands. With the International Cricket Council (ICC)…
A 54-YEAR-OLD Nepali climber known as “Everest Man” reached the peak of the world’s highest mountain for a record 30th time last Wednesday (22), three decades after his first summit. Kami Rita Sherpa, who broke his own record after climbing the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak for the 29th time earlier this…
At least 27 people were killed on Wednesday when a bus plunged off the road into a deep ravine in southwestern Pakistan, hospital and government officials said. The crash happened around dawn in Basima town in Balochistan province while the bus was travelling from Turbat city to Quetta. "The driver…
Temperatures in India's capital reached a record high of 52.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, according to figures from the government's weather bureau. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of dangerous heat levels in the city. The IMD reported "severe heat-wave conditions" and posted the temperature automatically on its website after…
Commemorating the 26th anniversary of Pakistan's first successful nuclear tests, its top leadership on Tuesday said the historic move in 1998 has ensured a "credible minimum deterrence” to safeguard the country's territorial integrity. Pakistan conducted six nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, inside a deeply dug tunnel in the remote…
SKIPPER Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will look to end India's global title drought as the star duo step out for what is likely to be their final World Cup appearance. Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 35, have long been the twin torchbearers for the hopes of their cricket-mad nation, which…
Talat Hussain, one of Pakistan's most accomplished and celebrated actors, died on Sunday at a private hospital here following a prolonged illness. He was 83. A radio, TV, theatre, and cinema veteran, Hussain was known for serials such as Bandish, Karwaan, Hawain, and Parchaiyan as well as movies Chiragh Jalta…
PAKISTAN-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of India and "we will take it", Indian home minister Amit Shah asserted on Saturday (25) as he castigated the Congress for trying to "frighten us" by saying that the neighbouring country possesses atom bombs. "The PoK hamara hai, hamara rahega aur hum ise…
AN International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission and Pakistan have made significant progress towards reaching a staff-level agreement for an extended fund facility, the global lender said on Friday. The IMF has opened discussions with Pakistan on a new loan programme after Islamabad last month completed a short-term $3 billion (£2.36bn)…
Trishan Patel, a British Indian, has joined the Pakistan football squad in Islamabad as an assistant coach and performance analyst. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced that Patel, a UEFA A-level coach, had previously provided online coaching to the Pakistan team. "He will be assisting head coach Stephen Constantine in…
Dinesh Karthik's international career was shaped by the emergence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but on Wednesday, he announced his retirement at the end of his team's IPL campaign, leaving a lasting mark over the past 17 years. The Eliminator between his Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals was Karthik's final…
A 35-year-old Asian-origin man died after being 'forced' to drink two bottles of liqour for losing a game of cards, on the eve of his sister's wedding, an inquest at Bradford Coroners' Court heard. The incident happened three years ago in Bradford, Daily Mail reports. Umar Aziz was allegedly made…
ANISA BUTT has shown off her impressive range as a performer across theatre, film, TV and spoken word. The versatile actress is looking forward to taking on the lead role in new theatre play Permission, which premieres at The Space Theatre in London next Tuesday (28). The feminist story…
A VACANT girls’ school in Pakistan was partially damaged in a bomb explosion after militant groups demanded extortion money, officials said last Friday (17). It is the second attack on a girls’ school in just over a week, both located in the former tribal areas close to the border with…
THIS year’s Chelsea Flower Show from May 20-25 had a great deal to interest British Asian visitors, ranging from the WaterAid Garden to a stall dealing for the first time with Indian orchids. King Charles, who toured Chelsea on Monday (20) with Queen Camilla, would have taken note of all…
SOME of the brightest talents from the British Asian community were recognised for their achievements in the arts at the annual Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) at the Mayfair Hotel in central London last Friday (17). One of Britain’s most accomplished and versatile artists, Osman Yousefzada, won…
A GREEK court on Tuesday (21) threw out charges against nine Egyptian men accused of causing a shipwreck that killed hundreds of migrants off Greece last year, ruling it had no jurisdiction over the case as the disaster was in international waters. Up to 700 migrants from Pakistan, Syria and…
THE British Asian lawyer and prosecutor who helped end a US policy against the International Criminal Court on Monday (20) requested an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, putting his office back on a collision course with Washington. Karim Khan, who became chief prosecutor of the world's first…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed shock and sadness at the demise of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi (63), and said his contribution in strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. The charred wreckage of the helicopter which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six…
SUSPECTED rebels shot dead an activist from Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's party in Kashmir, local authorities said Sunday (19) after the latest violent attack in the disputed region. Police named the victim as Aijaz Ahmad, a local leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who was fired upon…
India and Pakistan on Saturday advised their students in Bishkek to remain indoors following reports of clashes between locals and foreigners in the Kyrgyz capital. The Indian embassy in Kyrgyzstan stated it is in contact with Indian students and that the situation is currently "calm." The mission urged Indian students…
With new photographic and video evidence, an Indian court battle over the origins of the world famous butter chicken is set to get spicier. Two Indian restaurant chains have been sparring since January at the Delhi High Court, both claiming credit for inventing the dish in a lawsuit that has…
The UK has signed a fast-track returns deal with Bangladesh to streamline the deportation of failed asylum seekers, foreign national offenders, and visa overstayers, The Telegraph reported. The agreement signed by illegal migration minister, Michael Tomlinson, will streamline the returns process by removing a mandatory interview for cases where there…
Zayn Malik opened up about his current relationship status in a new interview. "I am really content and happy with being single for the first time in my life," he said. The 31-year-old singer continued, "It's not been too successful for me, I'll be honest. Everyone accused me of catfishing.…
CAMPAIGNERS have questioned if the government department supporting victims of forced marriages is “fit for purpose” after official data suggested that there has been a significant drop in cases in the UK in recent years. The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint initiative between the Home Office and the Foreign,…
A day after a miscreant threw an object at her during a public event in Quetta city, Pakistani star Mahira Khan on Thursday condemned the incident saying she felt scared to be caught in a "mob-like" situation. The actress on Wednesday attended an event organised by the Arts Council of…
Usain Bolt, renowned for his speed and eight Olympic gold medals, revealed that T20 cricket is his favourite form of the sport. Growing up in Jamaica, cricket was a significant part of his life, largely due to his father’s passion for the game. Bolt, who once aspired to be a…
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was granted bail in Islamabad on Wednesday on land corruption charges but will have to stay in jail to serve time in two other cases, his lawyer said. The former cricket superstar was indicted last week on charges that he and his wife were…
India granted citizenship on Wednesday to a first batch of 14 people under a controversial law that has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims, midway through general elections in which religious divisions have taken centre stage. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) grants citizenship to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and…
ENGLAND bowler Lauren Bell had no women role models in cricket while growing up, so she gets a kick out of the young female fans she meets who tell her they plan to wear their hair in plaits like she does on game days. Building on the success of last…
THE T20 World Cup will spread cricket awareness in the US, but eventually, it is the lure of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics that will attract local Americans to the game that is mainly played by expats, USA Cricket chairman Venu Pisike said. America is co-hosting the event…
THE powerful theatre production returned for a recently concluded UK tour after previously making an impact. The play adapted from Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories highlights moments from a harrowing event in history that displaced many millions of people. That 1947 Partition, which birthed three…
PUNJABI singer Maninder Buttar has gained popularity with hit songs that have collectively clocked up billions of views on YouTube and been streamed all over the world. He recently added to top tracks like Yaari, Ik Tera, Pani Di Gal, Laare and Sakhiyaan with recently released EP Panchatantra, which has…
EXHIBITIONS mixing south Asian art from the past and present are like buses, it seems. There are none for ages and then two come along at the same time. At the Royal Academy, there has been Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change, which displayed the work of 34 great…
PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a grant of 24 billion rupees ($86 million/ £68m) on Monday (13) for Pakistani Kashmir where there have been several days of violent protests over inflation. A police official was killed and more than 90 people were injured when thousands of people clashed with…
PAKISTAN will privatise all state-owned enterprises, with the exception of strategic entities, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday (14), broadening its initial plans to sell only lossmaking state firms to shore up its shaky finances. The announcement came after Sharif headed a review meeting of the privatisation process of…
WHEN he took office as First Minister of Wales in March, Vaughan Gething became the first Black head of government in Europe - yet he believes UK society is more overtly racist than a decade ago. "On virtually every piece of social media that went out for my campaign, there'd…
Singer Zayn Malik has opened up about his time in One Direction, saying that he regrets his “teen angst” while in the band. In a May 8 interview with Zach Sang, the singer revealed he wished he appreciated that era more. “The main thing that I always feel bad about…
India and Iran sealed a 10-year agreement on Monday, solidifying their partnership in developing and managing the Chabahar port. The port, located in Iran's southeastern region along the Gulf of Oman, has strategic importance for India as it provides a trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asian nations, bypassing Pakistan's…
A British Pakistani girl has achieved four A*s in her ambitious effort to complete 28 A-levels, adding to her impressive record of 36 general certificate of secondary education (GCSEs). Mahnoor Cheema, 17, who has an IQ higher than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, began her A-level journey in September after…
India's foreign minister expressed the country's expectation of securing a "long-term arrangement" with Iran regarding the management of the Iranian port of Chabahar. This announcement coincides with the departure of India's shipping minister for Iran. India has been involved in the development of Chabahar port on Iran's southeastern coast, aiming…
Retired British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan was recently granted the honorary rank of captain by the Pakistan army. The boxer clarified that it had nothing to do with Pakistan's political developments, Dawn reports. Khan thanked the army in a video shared on his Instagram account. The move comes shortly after Khan…
INDIA's six-week election resumed Monday (13) including in Kashmir, where voters are expected to show their discontent with prime minister Narendra Modi's cancellation of their disputed territory's semi-autonomy and the security crackdown that followed. Modi remains popular across much of India and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely…
A British climber and a Nepali guide have broken their own records for most climbs of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, hiking officials said on Sunday (12). Rakesh Gurung, director of Nepal's Department of Tourism, said Britain's Kenton Cool, 50, and Nepali guide Kami Rita Sherpa, 54, climbed the…
The 2024 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) announced its lineup for the 22nd annual edition of the acclaimed film festival. Taking to its official Instagram handle, IFFLA dropped a promo video along with the lineup announcement. The festival will be held between June 27 and 30 at Landmark…
India's cricket board is searching for a new coach for the men's cricket team post the T20 World Cup in June, while also offering Rahul Dravid the chance to reapply. Dravid, who took over as head coach in November 2021, received a short-term extension after his initial two-year contract ended…
The IMF has said that Pakistan faces major debt-repayment challenges and expressed serious doubts over the cash-strapped country's capacity to repay the global lender, according to a media report on Saturday. The Washington-based bank's assessment of Pakistan's economy came as an IMF support team reached the country on Friday to…
The mastermind of a 2005 armed robbery in Bradford, in which a woman police officer was shot dead, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years. Piran Ditta Khan, 75, was last month found guilty of murdering West Yorkshire Police officer Sharon Beshenivsky, who was shot…
THE third phase of India’s elections saw a voter turnout of nearly 62 per cent across 93 constituencies in 11 states and union territories. Assam state recorded the highest turnout at 75.53 per cent, followed by Goa at 74.47 per cent and West Bengal at 73.93 per cent. The lowest…
PAKISTAN'S maiden lunar orbiter sent the first images of the sun and the moon, days after it was launched as part of China's moon mission. The mini satellite ‘iCube-Qamar' was launched as part of China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission on May 3 from the Hainan province. The images were unveiled at…
AN Asian business which employs people who have autism across the business is among 252 companies whose success has been recognised by the King. Chocolate maker Harry Specters from Ely, Cambridgeshire, has received the 2024 King's Award for promoting opportunity. Harry Specters was founded in 2012 by Mona and Shaz…
Former Tory minister Robert Jenrick said that immigration was not making Britain “richer” and called for reducing the number of people coming to the country to make it more cohesive and united. Jenrick had quit as immigration minister in December after prime minister Rishi Sunak defied his calls to go…
Gunmen shot and killed seven workers near southwestern Pakistan's Gwadar port early on Thursday, police said. Police official Mohsin Ali said the gunmen stormed into a house some 25 km (15 miles) east of the port city and shot and killed the workers in their sleep. The official said the…
SAM PITRODA resigned as the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress on Wednesday (8) after his controversial remarks on diversity in India spurred the ruling BJP to label the party "racist". Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on X that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge accepted Pitroda's decision. "Sam Pitroda has…
NEW theatre play Permission follows a newly arrived Pakistani woman in London as she wrestles the expectations of being ‘respectable’, while being torn between a love for community and rebellion in a foreign land. The fiercely feminist production leaping between different worlds, looks at themes that include freedom and identity.…
IRAN and Pakistan are looking at ways to complete a long-delayed gas pipeline project between the two countries, Iran’s consul general to Pakistan, Hassan Nourian, said on Monday (6). “We see political determination from Pakistan to complete the project,” he told reporters in Karachi. Both countries signed an agreement to…
RESEARCHERS have described the prospect of the UK and India concluding a free trade agreement as “prolonged optimistic caution”, adding that issues the ongoing general election and immigration visas will play a major part in how any deal is concluded. Last month, a delegation led by a senior UK government…
DONATIONS to British charities increased during Ramadan this year, with more £100 million estimated to have been raised, sector leaders said, despite the cost of living crisis. British Muslims have been praised for their generosity during the holy month, which came to an end in April, towards good causes in…
A court in Pakistan granted a request on Wednesday by Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, to be moved to jail, her lawyer said, instead of house arrest. In her petition to the Islamabad High Court, Bushra had accused authorities of violating her privacy and serving…
RE-ELECTED London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the rest of the country to follow the lead of Londoners and reject the Conservative Party’s “racist” and “fear-mongering” politics at the next general election. Khan, 53, last Saturday (4) secured a historic third term in office, the first London mayor to…
PAKISTAN is considering raising its retirement age to reduce burgeoning pension payments ahead of the annual budget and International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visit, the country’s finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday (7). An IMF mission is likely to visit Pakistan within the next 10 days to discuss a…
PAKISTAN experienced its “wettest April since 1961”, receiving more than twice as much rain as usual for the month, the country’s weather agency said in a report. April rainfall was recorded at 59.3 millimetres, “excessively above” the normal average of 22.5 millimeters, Pakistan’s metrology department said late last Friday (3)…
A call for evidence has been launched on Tuesday (7) as part of an investigation into the civil unrest in Leicester in 2022. Led by former Labour MP and minister Lord Ian Austin, the independent Leicester review panel seeks to understand the events, their underlying reasons, and explore strategies to…
Ahmedabad-born USA left-arm spinner Nisarg Patel can't wait to pick brains of his much experienced India counterpart Ravindra Jadeja and "run machine" Virat Kohli on the sidelines of their T20 World Cup fixture in New York on June 12. Nisarg, who attended school in India before leaving for the US…
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, who is in jail, has warned that the situation in Balochistan province and on borders with India and Afghanistan was worsening. In a column for The Daily Telegraph newspaper, the 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician wrote, "On Pakistan’s borders, India has already admitted to undertaking assassinations inside…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has won a third term at City Hall, it was reported on Saturday (4). Khan polled 106,861 votes, while the Conservative candidate, Susan Hall, received 26,347. The son of Pakistani migrants and the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when first elected in 2016, Khan,…
In films and television, the quest for authenticity and inclusivity has become paramount. From accurate portrayals of diverse cultures to nuanced depictions of intimacy, filmmakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of consulting with experts to ensure respectful and accurate representation on screen. This trend has given rise to the roles…
The journey of ten cricket pitches from Florida to New York state for the upcoming T20 World Cup is now complete. Australian Damian Hough, curator of the Adelaide Oval, oversaw the development of these "drop-in pitches," which are currently being installed in a new stadium in Long Island. These pitches,…
Two phases of India's elections are over, and the third phase will take place on Tuesday (7 May), but still, we are not even halfway through the world's biggest polls which began on 19 April. Not only has the contest between the prime minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)…
Zayn Malik has announced that he is set to perform at O2 Shepard’s Bush Empire for his first-ever solo London show. Former One Direction member will play his first ever live solo show “ZAYN Room Under The Stairs” after a long gap of eight years. The 31-year-old set the internet…
China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, began its maiden sea trials on Wednesday from Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard. The vessel, hailed as the nation's most advanced homemade warship, sets sail amidst escalating tensions with the US in the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, reported state-run Xinhua news agency. Since…
SKIPPER Babar Azam hit a solid half century while spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed four wickets as Pakistan overcame New Zealand by nine runs in the fifth and final Twenty20I in Lahore last Saturday (27) . Azam’s 44-ball 69 and Fakhar Zaman’s 33-ball 43 took Pakistan to 178-5 in their…
KHUSHWANT SINGH was my father. One of the best-known writers of the post-Partition generation (Train to Pakistan, A History of the Sikhs, Delhi, a Novel), he was also an editor (Illustrated Weekly of India), and the most widely read Indian columnist. His weekly column, With Malice Towards One and All,…
SUCCESS in the fight to wipe out polio is not guaranteed, according to tech billionaire turned philanthropist Bill Gates, whose foundation has poured billions into the effort. Gates warned against complacency in tackling the deadly viral disease as he welcomed a $500 million (£398.6m) pledge from Saudi Arabia last Sunday…
The first look of filmmaker Nikkhil Advani's most-awaited project Freedom at Midnight has been unveiled. The political drama delves into India's independence movement, weaving together untold tales and critical moments from the era when the country's then-British colonial rulers partitioned the country into India and Pakistan. The cast includes Sidhant…
Renowned filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has long been celebrated for his opulent storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and unparalleled attention to detail. With a portfolio that boasts timeless classics like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Padmaavat, and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bhansali has carved a niche for himself in Indian cinema.…
Recently, in an interview with Maryam Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, spoke about her Punjabi identity while advocating better ties with India. While having a meal with 3000 Sikh pilgrims at Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib, Sharif told Indian media: “You are from Punjab [India], I am from Pakistan,…
In the midst of India's election fervour, one name has been making waves across social media platforms: Dhruv Rathee. A YouTuber and social media activist, Rathee has garnered attention for his commentary on political and social issues. With over 21.56 million subscribers (combined) and over 4 billion (combined) views, Rathee's…
Pace bowler Jofra Archer has been brought back into England's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup after being sidelined for a year due to injuries. The 29-year-old, who has faced several setbacks since his breakthrough in 2019, including a right elbow injury, has regained fitness and finds himself in…
MINORITIES and women are less inclined to report workplace bullying than white men, a study revealed on Tuesday (30). Researchers examined survey responses from 3,494 individuals in Britain and determined that white men are the most prone to reporting experiences of humiliation, insults, or being ignored in the workplace compared…
More than a third of foreign students who later sought asylum in the UK were initially sponsored by just six educational institutions, according to leaked figures revealing concerns about potential misuse of higher education as an immigration route. The statistics, covering the 12 months to March 2023, indicate a significant…
BRITISH PAKISTANI playwright and novelist, Hanif Kureishi, has said that racism was more overt in the past in the UK than it is today. "The racism was definitely more overt than it is today, but there was still a terrific sense of optimism - in fact, it was the last…
INDIA on Tuesday (30) denied a media report which alleged involvement of a spy agency official in the assassination plot of Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US, stating it makes 'unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter'." The Washington Post newspaper on Monday (29) reported that…
The disbursement of $1.1 billion (£880 million) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will help Pakistan achieve greater economic stability, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday, amid discussions for a new loan programme. The funding was the second and final tranche of Pakistan's $3bn (£2.39bn) standby arrangement with the…
A CONSERVATIVE party think tank has recommended a series of measures, including radical changes in immigration rules, to reduce net migration to 'sustainable' levels, The Times reports. The think tank, Onward, wants only the best-performing universities to be allowed to issue visas to foreign students, and admit only those migrants…
Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Bill Gates of the nation's unyielding commitment to eradicating polio during a meeting on Monday. "Continuous efforts are needed by all partners to reach the ultimate goal of a polio-free Pakistan," Sharif said. He highlighted ongoing collaborations with the Gates Foundation for immunisation, nutrition,…
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the appointment of Gary Kirsten, a World Cup-winning coach, as the new head coach for ODIs and T20Is, while former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie will take the reins for Test cricket. Azhar Mahmood, a former Pakistan allrounder, has been named as the…
PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has met IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and discussed a new loan programme to revive its economy. In a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting in Riyadh, the premier thanked Georgieva, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, for her…
China has launched the first of the eight Hangor-class submarines to be built for its all-weather ally Pakistan. The launch ceremony, held at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group's (WSIG) Shuangliu Base on Friday, was attended by Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Geo News reported. The development comes as part of…
PAKISTAN'S three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to retake the helm of the ruling PML-N next month to guide the party as it battles internal strife. Sharif (74) relinquished the post seven years ago after being disqualified by the apex court over corruption allegations. He will be…
The medical advancement has reached at peak and is still growing. The proof of this advancement is Ayesha Rashan, a 19-year-old girl from Karachi who aspires to become a fashion designer. Ayesha was admitted to a hospital in 2019 when she suffered a heart attack leading to heart failure. She…
A man arrested by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) for illegal acts in connection to the Indian High Commission attack in London in March 2023 was earlier held at the Attari border while crossing from Pakistan into India last year. Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in west London,…
NOBEL laureate Malala Yousafzai on Thursday (25) condemned Israel and reaffirmed her support for Palestinians in Gaza, after a backlash in her native Pakistan over a Broadway musical she co-produced with former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Yousafzai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, has been…
PAKISTAN'S business leaders in an interactive session with prime minister Shehbaz Sharif called for trade talks with India which they felt would greatly benefit their economy. Posing tough questions during an hour-long meeting at the Sindh CM House in Karachi on Wednesday, the business community appreciated the prime minister's determination…
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are set to make a film Operation Trident under their production banner Excel Entertainment. The announcement of the project was held at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi, in presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, Ritesh Sidhwani (Producer, Excel Entertainment), Kassim Jagmagia and Vishal Ramchandani (Co-Producers,…
IRANIAN President Ebrahim Raisi inaugurated a power and irrigation project in Sri Lanka on Wednesday but arrived in the country without his interior minister, who is wanted over a deadly bombing in Argentina thirty years ago. Raisi flew in after a state visit to Pakistan he made alongside Ahmad Vahidi,…
WATCHING films, combined with a deep love for performing from a very young age, first connected Laila Zaidi to acting. She went from performing in front of her family with mini concerts at home to carving out a successful career as an actress, which has seen her combine winning work…
IRANIAN president Ebrahim Raisi held talks with Pakistani leader Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday (22), in what experts said was a “significant” visit aimed at mending ties after the neighbours traded deadly cross-border strikes earlier this year. Prime minister Sharif’s office said the pair had a “vibrant discussion” on…
NARGIS made a remarkable impact with winning performances in classic films. Her fearless approach introduced girl power into Indian cinema. The superstar actress helped take Bollywood global and was one half of an iconic lead pair with Raj Kapoor. After retiring from acting, the wife of legendary actor Sunil Dutt…
WITH overseas conflicts causing divisions between communities, Muslim leaders have urged people to remember Britain’s rich history of allowing the “freedom to practise faith and the appreciation of diversity”. At an event hosted by The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), panellist Taher Jiwanji, a civil engineer…
ASIA was the world’s most disaster-hit region from climate and weather hazards in 2023, the United Nations (UN) said on Tuesday (23), with floods and storms the chief cause of casualties and economic losses. Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and the UN’s weather and climate agency said Asia…
Russia has set a new schedule to deliver the remaining two regiments of S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India by next year, The delay was due to the conflict in Ukraine, sources told PTI on Tuesday. Under the existing USD 5.5 billion deal, Russia has already provided three units…
AS MANY AS 65,960 Indians officially became US citizens, making India the second-largest source country for new citizens in America after Mexico, according to the latest Congressional report. An estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the US in 2022, approximately 14 per cent of the total US population of…
Khushwant Singh Literary Festival (KSLF) is set to return to London in its 6th edition and to Cambridge for the first time. The festival includes 15 sessions of discussions on books that matter and an evening of music. The theme of the festival is Heal the World. “The theme, Heal…
Brighton council has approved plans for an annual multi-faith event to commemorate the role of Indian soldiers in the two world wars at the town's India Gate memorial from this October. The India Gate was presented to the people of Brighton by the “princes and people of India” as a…
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence have joined forces to produce a new documentary film about the abuse of women in Afghanistan. Lawrence is co-producing a documentary titled Bread & Roses alongside Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. This documentary sheds light on the oppression faced by…
Bollywood veteran Mumtaz appears to be in Pakistan, sharing photos and videos from her time there on social media. Mumtaz, on Friday, took to her Instagram to post pictures from her visit to Pakistan, including snapshots with actor Fawad Khan. In the pictures, Mumtaz is seen wearing a black top…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it is ready to assist Pakistan, a country currently facing financial constraints, by supporting essential reforms to bolster and stabilise its economy. Speaking at the sidelines of the annual Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle…
Filmmaker Wes Anderson’s next film is going to get even more star-studded with the addition of talented actor Riz Ahmed to the cast. Currently in production in Berlin, this film has already garnered significant attention not only for its director but also for its ensemble cast that includes heavyweights like…
Social media platform X said Thursday it would work with Pakistan's government "to understand its concerns" after authorities insisted an ongoing two-month ban was based on security grounds. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has been rarely accessible since February 17, when jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party called…
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has alleged that army chief General Asim Munir was directly responsible for the imprisonment of his wife Bushra Bibi, and the country is being ruled by law of the jungle. Bushra Bibi, 49, was convicted in a corruption case as…
The United Kingdom is set to host its inaugural Muslim Film Festival, a groundbreaking event poised to celebrate the diverse narratives and talents within the Muslim community. Scheduled to take place from May 30th to June 2nd at the prestigious Odeon West End in London, this festival promises to showcase…
SHE may have grown up in Canada, but Nitasha Syed was always proud of her Pakistani heritage. That deep connection to her roots, along with a desire to show the positive side of Pakistan at a time of negative media portrayals led her towards creating Shaam Ki Chai. The fascinating…
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
SHIRIN WHEELER has talked to Eastern Eye about the book she has written about her father, Sir Charles Wheeler, who was once the BBC’s star foreign correspondent. He had served in Delhi, Berlin and Washington, before returning home to report on the multicultural Britain in which he always believed and…
HOW do Eastern Eye readers bring a touch of “back home” into their gardens in Southall or Wembley, or indeed, any other part of the UK? Near his home in the village of Brookmans Park in Hertfordshire, landscape designer Manoj Malde talked about his new book, Your Outdoor Garden: How…
CLASSIC Bollywood films Sangam (1964) and Aradhana (1969) had two things in common. They were the highest grossing films of the respective years, and both had heroes who played Indian Air Force (IAF) officers. The super hit movies were game changers that made a major impact for multiple reasons, but…
Pakistan would need two or three years to implement structural reforms prescribed by the IMF, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said, warning that the country would be looking for another bailout programme if it fails. The finance minister is currently in the US to attend the spring meetings of the…
A COMMON type 2 diabetes test may be inaccurate for tens of thousands of south Asians in the UK, a new study has shown, prompting calls for more research. A genetic variant almost exclusive to people with south Asian heritage affects the accuracy of the diabetes haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test,…
DESPITE economic challenges, Pakistan continued upgrading its nuclear capabilities, driven by its ongoing tensions with India, top US intelligence official told Congress. The remarks by Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency came during a Congressional hearing on China on Monday (15). Kruse told lawmakers that Pakistan…
Amir Sarfaraz Tamba, an accused in the murder of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian death row prisoner in Pakistan, was attacked by unidentified gunmen in Lahore on Sunday. Though some media reports claimed that Tamba was killed in the attack, Pakistan daily Dawn quoting some officials said he was alive but…
Rachel Riley, the host of Countdown, has apologised after her controversial tweet regarding the Sydney mall stabbings, which led to calls for Channel 4 to dismiss her. Riley was accused of promoting Islamophobia when she incorrectly suggested the attack was a Palestinian uprising. The attack in Sydney, which resulted in…
Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has agreed to allow Indian authorities to meet with 17 Indian crew members of a cargo vessel that was seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz. This development was communicated during a telephonic conversation with India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar on…
A 30-year-old Pakistani man was named on Sunday as the security guard killed in a weekend knife attack in a Sydney shopping mall, according to two local community groups. The Australian Pakistani National Association and Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said Faraz Tahir was killed by a knife-wielding man who also killed…
A historic Hindu temple near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been demolished, paving the way for the construction of a commercial complex in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The site had been dormant since 1947, when its original occupants migrated to India. The ‘Khyber Temple’ was situated in the border town of Landi…
As India heads towards another general election, prime minister Narendra Modi is confident of not just winning, but improving his party Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) tally in the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the parliament. While replying to Newsweek's written questions, followed up with a 90-minute conversation at…
MAJORITY of people in India prefer a "strong" leader and express satisfaction with the national government's performance, a recent study spanning 19 countries, including three major democracies, has revealed. The report titled ‘Perceptions of Democracy: A Survey about How People Assess Democracy around the World’ was released by the International…
A LEADING fertility doctor has urged more British Asians to sign-up as sperm and egg donors after a recent report found the birth rates after IVF (vitro fertilisation) were lower among black and Asian patients than their white counterparts. Research found that while the average IVF birth rate per embryo…
As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, it's time to embrace the spirit of celebration, joy, and family gatherings. And what better way to enhance the festive atmosphere than with exquisite mehendi designs? Mehendi, also known as henna, has been a cherished tradition in Indian and Middle Eastern cultures for centuries, adding elegance and…
Pakistan is gearing up to seek a fresh financial boost from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), emphasising on climate finance. According to a report by The News International, the government aims to secure a medium-term Extended Fund Facility (EFF) during the upcoming Annual Spring Meetings of Bretton Woods Institutions next…
An Islamabad-bound PIA flight carrying Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and a high-level delegation returning from Saudi Arabia was diverted to Lahore to offload the VIPs, causing inconvenience to other passengers, according to a media report. Interestingly, the incident came close on the heels of…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the escalating death toll from viral hepatitis, revealing that the disease stands as the second leading infectious cause of death worldwide, claiming 1.3 million lives annually, which is almost the same as tuberculosis-related fatalities. According to the WHO 2024 Global…
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said if anyone wants to see the future they should come to India. Speaking at an event, Garcetti was all praise for India and said that it was a “great privilege” to be the leader of the US mission in the country, reported…
Amid rising tensions over Pakistan's accusations against India, the United States has decided to stay out of it. The US has urged both countries to engage in dialogue instead of escalating the situation. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded to questions about Washington's position on a recent UK media…
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said dialogue was needed to resolve heightened friction between arch-rivals Pakistan and India during a meeting in Riyadh with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif was making his first overseas visit since winning power in elections in February. He met with bin Salman…
In Pakistan, the tradition of adorning intricately decorated bangles has become synonymous with the Islamic Eid-al-Fitr festivities. These exquisite accessories, crafted with meticulous care, are not just ornaments but essential elements of cultural expression and celebration. Each bangle undergoes a journey involving numerous artisans, from the sweltering confines of factories…
Shaharyar Khan, the former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and esteemed diplomat, passed away at the age of 89 on March 23. A pivotal figure in the restoration of cricket ties with India in the early 2000s, Khan, born in Bhopal, was also a cousin of former India captain Mansur Ali…
PAKISTAN has denounced "provocative remarks" made by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh in which he said India would enter Pakistan to kill anyone who escapes over its border after trying to carry out militant attacks. Singh's comments on Friday (5) came after the Guardian newspaper published a report stating the…
Nimra Shahid (26) from Kingston-Upon-Thames, who was diagnosed with cancer six years ago, is sharing her experience to raise awareness of the long-term impact of cancer on young people. As April is Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, she is working with the charity Teenage Cancer Trust to advise…
A 75-year-old man who was extradited from Pakistan was on Thursday (4) convicted of the murder of a police officer nearly 20 years ago. Piran Ditta Khan fled Britain after the shooting of police constable Sharon Beshenivsky who was killed as she tried to foil a robbery at a travel…
India's former prime minister and architect of India's economic reforms Dr Manmohan Singh has exited public life with his retirement from the Rajya Sabha. Soft-spoken, erudite, and modest, Singh (91) exited public life without any fanfare, somewhat akin to how this reluctant politician entered it 33 years ago. The man…
Thousands are lured to Cambodia with promises of data entry jobs, only to find themselves trapped in a nightmarish world of forced labour. These "cyber slaves" are forced to run online scams that target people worldwide. These victims are held captive in high-security complexes, guarded by armed men. Their passports…
Amnesty International has partnered with more than 20 human rights organisations campaigning against enforced disappearance in south Asia and created Footprints - a digital museum recording the stories of the victims. Enforced disappearance is a crime under international law, but is used by states across the world to silence dissent…
EASTER brings the usual debate about whether Britain is a Christian country. I saw one set of statistics from an Islamic organisation that says “more people in Britain attend mosques than the Church of England. It is for the first time that Muslims have overtaken Anglicans. According to figures, 930,000…
THE government’s decision to impose visa restrictions on international students to cut immigration figures is “anti-universities” and “economic illiteracy”, according to a peer and university chancellor. From January, the Home Office stopped postgraduate students from bringing their families with them when studying in the UK. When he announced the restriction,…
WHETHER it’s womenswear, menswear or wedding couture, Mohsin Naveed Ranjha has made a name for himself globally with his chic and stylish creations. The celebrated Pakistani fashion designer recently opened a standalone design studio in the heart of London, next to Regent’s Street. The London studio includes ready-to-wear, luxury capsule…
INDIAN economy is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in 2024, the World Bank has said, revising its earlier projections for the same period by 1.2 per cent. Overall, growth in South Asia is expected to be strong at 6 per cent this year, driven mainly by robust growth…
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has spoken out after being targetted with Islamophobic graffiti near his family home. He emphasised the necessity of a zero-tolerance approach to hatred. Yousaf said the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 will deal with the "rising tide of hatred," reported BBC. Scotland’s…
PAKISTAN is putting on the block a stake ranging from 51 per cent to 100 per cent of lossmaking national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the privatisation panel said on Tuesday (2), as part of reforms urged by the IMF. The disposal of the flag carrier represents a departure from…
PAKISTAN will set up an inquiry commission to investigate accusations by six High Court judges of interference and intimidation by the country’s powerful intelligence agencies in judicial decisions, the law minister said last Thursday (28). Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar made the announcement at a news conference in Islamabad, saying the…
REAPPOINTED captain Babar Azam vowed to transform Pakistan into the best team in the world after replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi as the Twenty20 helm on Sunday (31). Azam stepped down as skipper in all formats only in November after Pakistan crashed out of the 50-over World Cup in the first…
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed hope that ties with India will improve after the general elections in the neighbouring country. Asif's comments came days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Singapore said that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism almost at an "industry level" and the mood in India…
JAILED former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife had their 14-year prison sentences for graft suspended by a Pakistan high court on Monday (1), his party said. Khan has been tangled in more than 200 legal cases since he was ousted in April 2022, in what he said was…
“I want to create an India in the UK,” veteran producer Vashu Bhagnani's words efficiently sum up his dream of leaving a global footprint of the illustrious Indian cinema with his film studio in the UK. Touted as a "one-stop-shop", Bhagnani's Pooja Studios emerged as one of the most film-friendly…
MARKING the first official communication with a Pakistani premier in years, US president Joe Biden has dashed off a letter to prime minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing continuous support and highlighted that the ties between the two nations are critical for bilateral and regional peace and security. President Biden’s letter broke…
THE Indian Navy has freed an Iranian fishing vessel that was hijacked by pirates and rescued its crew of 23 Pakistani nationals, following "intense coercive tactical measures" as part of an anti-piracy operation at sea that lasted for more than 12 hours, officials said. Following Friday's (29) operation, specialist teams…
Pakistan has intensified security measures to protect Chinese engineers engaged in Beijing-backed projects in the nation's northwest following a deadly suicide bombing that claimed the lives of five workers, an official announced on Wednesday (27). China stands as one of Islamabad's closest regional allies, investing billions of dollars in various…
FAST bowler Mohammad Amir announced last Sunday (24) that he was coming out of retirement and making himself available for this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, following changes to Pakistan’s selection process which made him feel “needed”. Amir’s stop-start career was halted in 2010 after he, along with then-Pakistan Test captain…
ENGLAND World Cup winner Liam Plunkett says cricket superstars such as Virat Kohli and Babar Azam can help bolster the game in the United States when it hosts the T20 World Cup. The Twenty20 showpiece, which starts on June 1, is being jointly staged by the United States and the…
A prison officer named Sobia Parveen, a 31-year-old, talks about the observance of the holy month of Ramadan while she is posted in HMP Sudbury, a category D rehabilitation and resettlement prison near Ashbourne in Derbyshire that is home to around 600 prisoners. Parveen, with her experience, also motivates people…
AWARD-WINNING director Iqbal Khan decided to take on the new adaptation of the Partition-based play Silence as he wished to build on the legacy of his late friend, former Tara Arts artistic director Abdul Shayek. Shayek directed the original production at the Donmar Warehouse in 2022 and had developed this…
PAKISTAN’S communications authority has admitted in papers filed in the court that it was ordered by the interior ministry to shut down the social media platform X – now in its fifth week of outages. The newly-elected government has been evasive over the censorship of the micro-blogging site formerly known…
ADEEBA MALIK has been appointed as the first Asian female High Sheriff for West Yorkshire, according to a statement released on Tuesday (26). She took oath at Leeds High Court on Monday (25) in a formal ceremony presided by High Court Judge Sir Nicholas Hilliard, the statement added. Professor Malik’s…
THE Bestway Group has reported a five per cent increase in revenues to £4.74 billion for the year ended June 2023, a statement said. The group, founded by Sir Anwar Pervez, OBE H Pk, reported a pre-tax profit of £420.9 million during the period, Lord Zameer Choudrey CBE, group chief…
PAKISTAN foreign minister Ishaq Dar held telephonic talks with his British counterpart David Cameron on Monday (25) and stressed the need for early resumption of flights of Pakistan's national carrier to the United Kingdom. The UK and several other countries suspended Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flights in 2020 due to…
Militants attacked a Pakistan naval airbase in the turbulent southwest region killing at least one paramilitary soldier while security forces killed all five of the assailants in retaliatory fire, officials said on Tuesday. Monday's attack on the Turbat base was the second assault by ethnic Baloch militants on a military…
Pakistan is preparing to launch the second phase of repatriation of undocumented Afghans, amid tense relations between the two countries, a media report said on Monday. The Interior Ministry had issued directives to district authorities and police to expedite the mapping, and collecting data of the whereabouts of the Afghan…
Pakistan will “seriously” consider restoring trade ties with India that remained suspended since August 2019, Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has said, indicating a potential shift in the country's diplomatic stance. Dar made these remarks during a press conference in London following his participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit in…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed that cash-strapped Pakistan is seeking a 24th medium-term bailout package for a permanent push towards longstanding structural reforms. In its end-of-mission statement on Wednesday (20), the global lender said that Pakistan has “expressed interest in a successor medium-term Fund-supported programme to permanently resolve…
Bradford-born singer Zayn Malik is set to become the face of Bradford’s City of Culture year. The former One Direction star will be the city's ambassador and will attend some of the 1,000 events due to take place. Malik, 31, said, "Bradford is and always will be home to me.…
Heavily-armed Baloch insurgents on Wednesday stormed the Gwadar Port Authority complex in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, but security forces foiled the attack and killed eight militants while losing two soldiers. The attack happened on the same day when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted that his government would not tolerate any…
THERE was a sense of occasion at the Garrick Theatre in London last Sunday (17) when Charithra Chandran made her West End debut in a solo show, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon. You had the feeling many young Asians had been drawn by the show’s lead, billed as “Bridgerton’s Charithra…
PAKISTAN’S central bank, on Monday (18), held its key interest rate at 22 per cent for a sixth straight policy meeting as inflation risks continued to loom. The decision was in line with the expectations of a majority of analysts, although most are also expecting rate cuts from the second…
PAKISTAN’S former prime minister, Imran Khan, has demanded high treason proceedings against officials whom he alleges stole his party’s mandate in the February general elections, enabling the rival Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to form a coalition government. Khan’s remarks came as he addressed…
EIGHT civilians were killed on Monday (18) in “reckless” airstrikes by Pakistan’s military in the border regions of Afghanistan, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate against Pakistani military outposts, Taliban officials said. Border tensions between the two countries have steadily escalated since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad…
Aseefa Bhutto, the youngest daughter of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and slain premier Benazir Bhutto, has filed her candidacy for the by-poll at a National Assembly seat in Sindh Province vacated by her father. Aseefa, 31, has been active in politics for some time but was kept away from…
PAKISTAN remained one of the world's three smoggiest countries in 2023, as Bangladesh and India replaced Chad and Iran, with particulate matter about 15 times the level recommended by the World Health Organization, data published on Tuesday (19) showed. Average concentrations of PM2.5 - small airborne particles that damage the…
Nitin Sawhney and Arooj Aftab are among the leading South Asian talents at this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival. The popular British festival returns to Somerset’s Worthy Farm from June 26-30. Nitin, an award-winning musician, producer, and composer, will be one of the performers for the West Holts Stage. Singer-songwriter, producer,…
VAUGHAN GETHING won the Welsh Labour party leadership contest on Saturday (16), marking a historic moment as he is set to become the first black leader of the country's semi-autonomous government. Gething, 50, will succeed Mark Drakeford, 69, who announced in December that he was stepping down. The new leader…
INDIA has slammed Pakistan after Islamabad's envoy at the United Nations made references to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Citizenship Amendment Act at the general assembly. Pakistan's Ambassador Munir Akram raised these issues during the plenary meeting on Friday while introducing the resolution ‘Measures to combat Islamophobia', in…
A New Delhi-based innovator whose low-cost electric invention helps overcome power cuts, a mental health campaigner from Haryana and a student from Dubai who helps to empower girls across the developing world are the Indian winners of the Diana Legacy Awards this year. Uday Bhatia, founder of Uday Electric, Manasi…
The IMF has expressed its displeasure with Pakistan's claim that it had achieved all the targets even before the global lender could complete its review. A team from the International Monetary Fund has reached Islamabad to hold talks before releasing the much-needed final $1.1 billion tranche of a $3 billion…
INDIA this week implemented the contentious 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), sparking sporadic protests and a war of words between prime minister Narendra Modi's government and opposition groups weeks before national elections are held. Here is a look at the law, its implications and the concerns surrounding it. What is…
LEADING public and private sector organisations need to do more attract ethnic minorities to their boardrooms, Kalpesh Solanki, managing director at Asian Media Group (AMG), told attendees at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards. In December 2023, only 44 per cent of the UK’s top 50 largest private companies had…
BRITISH music hero Channi Singh has been entertaining audiences for nearly 50 years as a singer, songwriter and composer. The frontman of the iconic bhangra group, Alaap, has achieved many milestones in his career, including countless hit songs, game-changing albums and pathbreaking collaborations with legends such as Asha Bhosle. …
JAMMU AND KASHMIR has been transformed and integrated with the rest of India, prime minister Narendra Modi said last Thursday (7), crediting the change to his government’s decision to revoke its special status. Visiting the Kashmir Valley for the first time since 2019 – the year the status was revoked…
INDIA on Tuesday (12) rejected Chinese objections to prime minister Narendra Modi's weekend visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the northeastern border state has always been "an integral and inalienable part of India". The Indian foreign ministry's comments came a day after Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing was…
Sporadic protests have erupted in India against a citizenship law that has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government implemented the legislation just days before a general election is announced. Protests broke out in the eastern state of Assam and the southern state of Tamil…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the key members of his cabinet, tasking them with leading the country out of a crippling economic crisis fuelled by debt, spiralling inflation and a feeble rupee. Pakistan's 19 new ministers took their oath of office Monday, after an election marred by allegations of…
Bangladesh has freed the head of the largest Islamist party, officials said Tuesday, 15 months since counter-terrorism officers arrested him after he vowed to take part in anti-government protests. The release of Jamaat-e-Islami party chief Shafiqur Rahman comes as political tension eases following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's fourth consecutive election…
India's interior ministry said Monday it was enacting a citizenship law that critics say discriminates against Muslims, just weeks before the world's most populous country heads into a general election. While the law was passed in December 2019, its implementation was delayed after widespread protests and deadly violence erupted in…
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner has said integration appears to be failing in Britain following a decade of increased migration, The Telegraph reports. The 68-year-old Baroness of Margravine expressed concern over the “complacency” among politicians regarding increased immigration. The former Liberal Democrat said in the…
Legendary late actor Dilip Kumar's ancestral home in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a national heritage, is almost on the verge of collapse after being severely damaged in the recent rains, an official has said. The torrential rains fully exposed tall claims of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Archive Department about the…
Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday took oath as Pakistan's 14th President, a day after the veteran politician was overwhelmingly elected as the next head of state. Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath to the 68-year-old Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the Presidential Palace. Zardari will replace Dr Arif…
India has climbed to the number one spot in Test cricket rankings following an emphatic 4-1 series victory against England. The Indian team moved past Australia who are now second in the table, according to the rankings released by the International Cricket Council late Saturday. India lost the opening Test…
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, companies are continually seeking innovative ways to foster customer loyalty and satisfaction. Embracing technology has become a cornerstone strategy for achieving these goals. From retail to entertainment industries, businesses are leveraging cutting-edge technology to transform the customer experience and enhance rewards programs. In this…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday it will support formulating a new economic programme for Pakistan if the country's new government seeks one, while encouraging the fair resolution of all electoral disputes. Cash-strapped Pakistan grappled with an uncertain February 8 election that delayed the formation of a coalition…
We are often fascinated when we spot a person of colour in British entertainment, be it cinema, series or any other source of entertainment. On this International Women's Day, we made a list of women who have brought colours to the British entertainment sector and have not only won the…
PAKISTAN's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday (6) that former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged 44 year ago after being convicted of murder, didn't get a fair trial. Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) now run by his grandson and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto…
PAKISTAN’S former captain Inzamamul-Haq on Monday (4) criticised the country’s cricket board for removing Mohammad Hafeez as team director due to recent poor results, asserting that it was unfair to “target” ex-players in administrative roles when officials were refusing to shoulder any responsibility for the side’s performance. The Pakistan Cricket…
THE enduring power of Hanif Kureishi’s writing was showcased by the successful stage adaptation of his brilliantly written 1985 film, My Beautiful Launderette. Staged in 2019 at The Curve in Leicester, the play proved its continued relevance in contemporary times. A new version of the play returned to the same…
EASTERN EYE readers had better hurry if they want to catch Bhangra Nation: A New Musical at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre where it is on only until next Saturday (16). I went last week and I’m glad I did, as the evening turned out to be very enjoyable. The Rep…
INDIA’S basmati rice exports are likely to drop in 2024 after nearing a record high last year, as Pakistan is offering the grain at competitive prices amid a rebound in production, industry officials said. Pakistan and India are the leading exporters of the premium long-grain variety of rice, famous for…
THERE will be another global celebration of girl power on International Women’s Day. The annual day on March 8, aiming to empower women and girls will once again highlight everything from important social causes to human rights, equality and celebrating female heroes. Eastern Eye decided to mark the occasion by…
A senior judge who spared jail terms for three women protesters, accused of displaying pro-Hamas images during a pro-Palestinian march in London, will now be investigated over his alleged bias, The Times reports. Heba Alhayek (29), Pauline Ankunda (26), and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo (27) were found guilty of a terror…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has retained the top spot on the 2024 GG2 Power List for the third year in a row, along with his wife Akshata Murty. The power couple were recognised for their growing influence in the UK, with Sunak in the top job and Murty playing an…
Eternals star Kumail Nanjiani has joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building season four at Hulu. Nanjiani will appear in a recurring role that is mostly being kept under wraps but his character will be integral to the investigation, according to Variety. The new season also features Eugene…
Pakistani actress Sarah Khan, who has a huge fan following in India courtesy her shows Hum Tum, Khirkiyan, and Sabaat, says her dream since the time she began acting has been to star opposite Bollywood star Salman Khan. Sarah, 31, who currently features in Zindagi show Abdullahpur Ka Devdas, a…
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday for his return to the premiership, a rare expression of goodwill between leaders of the two nuclear-armed rivals. Sharif was officially sworn in Monday as prime minister for a second time after a poll marred by claims of…
Hate preachers with extremist Islamist views from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia will be blocked from entering Britain under new plans being drafted by the government, according to a UK media report on Sunday. ‘The Daily Telegraph' reports that the British government is concerned about a “shocking increase”…
More than 100 supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party have been arrested from different parts of Punjab province of Pakistan for staging rallies against alleged vote rigging, police said on Sunday (4). On the call of party founder Imran Khan, supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party…
Pakistan Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi on Monday withdrew his resolution from parliament seeking a ban on all social media platforms after strong opposition, according to media reports. The senator’s resolution to have Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube banned in Pakistan to protect the young generation from their “negative and…
PAKISTAN's newly formed parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday (3) as prime minister for a second time, three weeks after uncertain national elections caused delays in the formation of a coalition government. "Shehbaz Sharif is declared to have been elected the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," National…
In the heart of Greater Manchester, a hidden gem beckons the taste buds of locals and curious visitors alike – the legendary 'Rice and Three' cafes. Nestled in the Northern Quarter, these unassuming eateries offer a uniquely Mancunian twist to south Asian cuisine. In the 1980s, the concept of 'Rice…
Citing "strong evidence" of election rigging in Pakistan, a group of influential lawmakers, including Muslim legislators, belonging to the ruling Democratic Party has urged US President Joe Biden to withhold "recognition" of a new government in Islamabad until a transparent and credible investigation is conducted. The February 8 general election,…
Leading streaming platform Netflix on Thursday unveiled its upcoming slate for India that features over 22 projects, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut streaming show Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila, and Oscar-nominated documentary To Kill A Tiger. The slate, which was announced in Mumbai at a star-studded…
A new research warns that a 3-degree Celsius increase in global warming could plunge 90 per cent of the Himalayan Region into a prolonged drought. The study, led by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, emphasises the severe consequences of climate change, urging the need…
India has refuted Pakistan's allegations of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir in the UN Human Rights Council and countered it by highlighting Islamabad's poor track record in treating its minorities. At the 55th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, India exercised its 'Right of Reply' to…
LEGENDARY concert organiser Jay Visvadeva has been delighting live music fans across generations in the UK since the 1970s, bringing together the biggest artists. His SAMA arts organisation continues to produce exciting concerts, including the South Asian Sounds festival at Southbank Centre in London from next Thursday (7) to next…
INDIAN agencies Wednesday (28) made their highest-ever narcotics bust from the sea as they seized 3,300 kg drugs, which sailed from an Iranian port, off the Gujarat coast and arrested five foreigners from a dhow. The cache could be worth anything between £124 to £191 million in the international market,…
A SELF-CONFESSED Canadian white nationalist who deliberately ran over and killed four members of a Muslim family with his pickup truck in 2021 was given a life sentence last Thursday (22) with no chance of parole for 25 years. Nathaniel Veltman, 23, had been found guilty of first-degree murder last…
BAS JAVID, who has been tasked with policing illegal immigration, has said his immigrant background enables him to bring compassion to the role. Javid was appointed director general for immigration enforcement at the Home Office in November last year. With a budget exceeding £779 million and a staff of more…
ORGANISERS of June’s ICC T20 Cricket World Cup games in the United States say that early ticket sales have shown there is a huge demand for the sport among cricket lovers in the country. The highly anticipated clash in New York between cricket rivals Pakistan and India was over-subscribed by…
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, made history by becoming the first-ever woman chief minister of Pakistan's most populous Punjab province, a development described by her party as a "giant leap" for the country. The 50-year-old senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has issued a warning about the increasing toxicity in political culture, in light of reports that members of Parliament are encountering security threats due to their voting intentions in the House of Commons concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict. He issued a statement on Saturday (24) to condemn…
A young woman went viral for wearing a dress with Arabic script printed but for the wrong reasons. An angry mob charged at the woman who was spotted in Ichra Bazaar of Lahore city in Pakistan. A prompt action was taken by the police to save the woman as the…
A Chinese tech security firm was able to breach foreign governments, including India, infiltrate social media accounts, and hack personal computers, a massive data leak analysed by experts this week revealed. The trove of documents from I-Soon, a private company that competed for Chinese government contracts, shows that its hackers…
The rice preparations, Biryani and Pulao are two delicious dishes loved around the world, each with its special taste. Originating in the Indian subcontinent, these dishes have changed over the years, influenced by various cultures. Even though both are made with rice, the flavours, and their history make them unique…
BAS JAVID, who has been tasked with policing illegal immigration, has said his immigrant background enables him to bring compassion to the role. Javid was appointed director general for immigration enforcement at the Home Office in November last year. With a budget exceeding £779 million and a staff of more…
FORMER chancellor Sajid Javid was honoured with a knighthood by the Prince of Wales for his contribution to politics and public service on Wednesday (21). Javid described his knighthood as a “tremendous honour” after he was recognised for his achievements in the New Year’s Honours List announced in last December,…
A manager of an Indian restaurant and takeaway in eastern England has been handed a seven-year ban as a company director for employing three illegal workers from Bangladesh. Ikbal Hussain, 51, hired the workers at the Taste of Raj in the Stanstead Abbotts area of Hertfordshire before the restaurant was…
DOZENS of migrants reportedly landed by boat in a remote part of Western Australia, igniting a political row over the country’s zero-tolerance border protection regime. About three dozen foreign nationals were found by locals last Friday (16) as they walked in separate groups by the coast in northwestern Australia’s Dampier…
TWO Pakistan parties have reached a power-sharing agreement that will return Shehbaz Sharif to the premiership, leaving out politicians loyal to jailed former leader Imran Khan despite winning the most seats in this month's vote. The army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said they had…
Pakistan's two major parties are set to meet on Monday to try and bridge differences over forming a minority coalition government after an inconclusive election, a top party official said, underscoring its political and economic instability. Analysts say the nuclear-armed nation of 241 million, which has been grappling with an…
SUPPORTERS of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party have clashed with police in various cities across the country as they staged protests against alleged rigging in the general elections held on February 8. In Lahore, supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gathered outside the Lahore Press Club and the…
YASHASVI JAISWAL's unbeaten double century and five wickets by Ravindra Jadeja helped India crush England by a record 434 runs in the third Test Sunday (18) to lead the series 2-1. Chasing 557 for victory, England batting fell like a pack of cards to lose eight wickets in the final…
The most recent TB annual report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), published on Thursday (15), indicates a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases in England. While the figures for 2022 were stable, with 4,380 reported incidents nearly mirroring the 2021 count of 4,411, provisional data for 2023 paints a…
A second round of talks between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party is expected to take place on Friday on the power-sharing formula between them for the formation of a coalition government, according to a media report. The Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led PPP has promised to back PML-N in…
BRITISH Bangladeshis have told Eastern Eye of the “trauma” they face living in cramped housing, as data shows that more people from this community live in social housing compared to other south Asian communities. British Asians were overall least likely to live in social housing, but there were significant variations…
LADY SHREELA FLATHER, who has died, aged 89, came into her own when she entered the House of Lords in 1990, the first ethnic minority woman to be given a peerage. Her passing last week was announced by the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, who said: “My Lords, I…
PAKISTAN’S general election last Thursday (8) produced a surprise result. In the 266 seats contested in the National Assembly, independent candidates linked to Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf have won 101 seats. They are comfortably ahead of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif), which took 75 seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party of…
A British Pakistani girl, studying for 28 A-levels, has credited her mother with instilling in her a 'deep passion' for learning and books. Mahnoor Cheema, 17, from Slough, with an IQ as high as Einstein’s, is currently undertaking 28 A-levels after completing 34 GCSEs. She is studying four A-levels at…
WHO really invented butter chicken? The competing claims of two rival restaurants in Delhi – Moti Mahal and Daryaganj – have now gone global. The dispute has ended up in the courts with the owners of Moti Mahal also demanding £200,000 in damages. Foreign correspondents based in the Indian capital…
The mastermind of an armed robbery that took place in Bradford in 2005 has been captured and extradited from Pakistan, according to media reports. A police officer was killed and another seriously injured when they responded to reports of a robbery at the Universal Express travel agency in Bradford, West…
Pakistan's two main political parties that joined forces to oust Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder Imran Khan as prime minister in 2022 have said they would form a new coalition to rule the country, after an election last week failed to produce a decisive winner. With the army-backed Pakistan Muslim…
Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday withdrew from the race for the prime minister, saying that his party would support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's candidate for the premier's slot without being part of the government. The decision of Bilawal came hours after Pakistan's former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif…
THE UKRAINE war has forced India to focus its military spending more on fostering domestic industry - as Russia, its largest supplier - prioritised its domestic needs, a new report said on Tuesday (13). As a result of the conflict, New Delhi set aside a record 75 per cent of…
Pakistan's political stalemate after inconclusive elections last week showed no signs of ending on Tuesday as major parties struggle to cobble up alliances to pass the floor test. In the latest development, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that independent members of parliament backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)…
A delegation of the IMF may visit cash-strapped Pakistan once a new federal government is formed, negotiations for which are ongoing between major political parties after the general elections threw a hung Parliament, a media report said on Monday. The International Monetary Fund's review mission might visit Islamabad by the…
Pakistani actress Mahira Khan has decided to walk out of two high-profile projects as she is expecting her second child this year, as per reports. Khan first got married in July 2007 to Ali Askari in a traditional Islamic wedding ceremony and the couple welcomed their son Azlan in 2009.…
In England, the NHS's dependence on international staff has hit a record high, with one out of every five workers hailing from outside the UK. This diverse workforce spans 214 nations, including countries as varied as India, Portugal, Ghana, and smaller states like Tonga, Liechtenstein, and the Solomon Islands. Analysis…
Pakistan's two largest political parties are wrangling over who will take the prime minister's job after inconclusive elections last week forced them to join forces to gain a majority in a parliament dominated by independents backed by Imran Khan. The squabbling is likely to deepen concerns about the stability of…
Pakistan's army chief told feuding politicians Saturday to show "maturity and unity" after an election failed to produce a clear winner, leaving the military's favoured party having to cobble together a coalition in order to rule. The country faces days of political horse-trading after a strong performance by independent candidates…
Supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan had the edge on Friday in Pakistan's election results from over 100 seats, after vote counts were hit by unusual delays that the government ascribed to a suspension of mobile phone services. A total of 265 seats were contested in Thursday's election…
THE British Asian community, which has long been supported by King Charles from the days he was a young Prince of Wales, is now rallying round the 75-year old monarch following his cancer diagnosis on Monday (5). Since the King is also head of the Commonwealth, just as Queen Elizabeth…
Mobile services in Pakistan have been suspended due to the "deteriorating security situation", the caretaker government said on Thursday (8) as the people were voting to elect a new administration, a day after twin terror attacks killed at least 30 people. The interior ministry said it has decided to “temporarily…
THE US State Department has approved the potential sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, related missiles and equipment to India for nearly $4 billion (£3.17bn), the Pentagon said last Thursday (1), years after the two countries started discussing a deal. India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed…
THE senior official accused of downplaying allegations of racism made by former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq called for a “line in the sand” to be drawn last Friday (2), after members approved his return as chairman of the financially stricken English county club. Colin Graves, Yorkshire’s chairman from 2012- 2015,…
Jailed former Pakistani premier Imran Khan urged his supporters on Wednesday to wait outside polling booths after casting their votes, as rival political parties held large rallies to mark the end of the election campaign period. Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday (8) with the jailing of popular Khan,…
UGANDA’S president, Yoweri Museveni, has appealed to British Asians expelled by Idi Amin more than half a century ago to “build a living bridge between their newfound homes in the United Kingdom and the cherished homeland of their forefathers”. His emotional message was aimed at some 30,000 refugees – and…
THE late great singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan took qawwali to unimaginable heights before he prematurely passed away aged 48 in 1997. After his death, there was a void that had to be filled. His nephews, Rizwan and Muazzam, headed a qawwali group that should have been the natural…
THIS may seem a little ironic, but the Birmingham Rep’s new bhangra musical is an American import. Bhangra, a joyous harvest festival, first came to Britain from the Punjab with the first generation of Indian immigrants in the 1950s and 1960s, and developed British roots in and around Birmingham. And…
At least 12 people were killed and 25 wounded Wednesday (7) by a blast outside a poll candidate's office in southwestern Pakistan, officials said, on the eve of an election marred by violence and allegations of poll-rigging. The attack occurred near the office of an independent candidate in Pishin district,…
In an innovative approach to adult education, Greater Manchester has rolled out a unique initiative offering budgeting and numeracy classes in Urdu and Punjabi, directly addressing the needs of its diverse community. This initiative is a part of the Multiply programme, introduced by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in…
A 13-year-old British schoolgirl narrowly escaped a forced marriage to her cousin in Pakistan after her mother's desperate plea for help reached authorities back home in the UK, reported MailOnline. The girl's father had arranged the marriage without her consent, leaving her and her mother stranded in Pakistan under the…
As Pakistan goes to the polls on Thursday, concerns are being raised over the safety of the new app promoted by the election commission. The Election Commission of Pakistan’s Election Management System (EMS) app is meant to swiftly transmit and tabulate election results, but some officials feel the software can…
A Lucknow court on Monday (5) sent an Indian embassy staffer arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI to judicial custody till February 7. The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday (4) said it arrested Satendra Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in the…
Dozens of militants launched an hours-long gun attack on a police station in northern Pakistan early Monday (5), resulting in the deaths of at least 10 officers, a senior commander reported. The assault comes just days before Pakistan votes in a general election that has already seen dozens of attacks…
FORMER Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan were sentenced to seven years in prison and fined last Saturday (3) by a court that ruled their 2018 marriage broke the law, his party said. It was the third ruling against Khan this week and comes ahead of…
A new political party named Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, believed to be a new face of the banned groups of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, will participate in the February 8 general elections, according to a media report. A BBC Urdu report said some of the candidates…
The Indian Navy announced on Friday (2) that it had successfully rescued 19 crew members from a fishing vessel that had been hijacked off the coast of Somalia. This rescue operation marks the third of its kind this week, following a series of attacks on shipping in the region. A…
AHEAD of elections next week, Pakistan's caretaker administration is making binding plans for a new government to sell loss-making Pakistan International Airlines, according to the minister in charge of the process and other officials. In the past, elected governments have shied away from undertaking unpopular reforms, including the sale of…
THE senior official accused of downplaying allegations of racism made by former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq is set to return for a second stint as chairman of the financially stricken English county club. Colin Graves, Yorkshire's chairman from 2012-2015 having first saved the club from commercial collapse in 2002, was…
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which is under the leadership of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has allocated 53 seats to women, the highest number of tickets given to female candidates by any major political party in Pakistan for the elections set to take place on February 8, the media reported…
Faaiza Bashir, a 22-year-old student from Barking, has shared her journey of battling cancer at 18 to mark World Cancer Day on February 4. Her collaboration with the Teenage Cancer Trust aims to spotlight the critical signs of cancer in adolescents and young adults, particularly in the south Asian communities…
Rising singing sensation Annural Khalid has been named Pakistan’s first female RADAR musician of 2024 by Spotify, marking a significant career milestone in her career. Khalid has been acknowledged as Artist of the Year for 2024 by the leading audio streaming platform, under its RADAR Pakistan program. RADAR Pakistan, a…
A pigeon, held for eight months in Indian police custody, was finally released after being cleared of suspicions that it was spying for China. The bird was caught at a port in the financial capital Mumbai with "messages written in a Chinese-like script" on its wings, the Times of India…
European police arrested 15 individuals in Cyprus linked to an illegal EU migration ring that facilitated sham marriages between Portuguese and Latvian women and men from India and Pakistan, Europol said. Two of the main ringleaders were arrested in Latvia and Portugal and 13 suspects were arrested in Cyprus, the…
The UK is at 71st position in the global corruption index out of 180 countries. India has slipped to the 93rd position, down from its 85th position last year. The position of UK is at historic low this year. The country also witnessed a significant decline among upper-middle and high-income…
A BOMB disposal squad will sanitise the Islamabad Sports Complex every morning and two escort vehicles will shadow the Indian Davis Cup team as part of security arrangements, usually accorded to a head of state, to ensure the visiting tennis players’ safety and security. The national Indian tennis team has…
BUTTER CHICKEN – one of India’s best-known dishes globally – is delicious and apparently also contentious, with two Indian restaurant chains doing battle in court over claims to its origins. The lawsuit – which has become a hot topic in India – was brought by the family behind Moti Mahal,…
In Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, heavily armed terrorists executed three coordinated attacks, including a strike on a high-security prison. The assaults resulted in the deaths of four law enforcement officers and two civilians. A subsequent gunbattle ensued, leading to the death of nine militants involved in the attacks. The attacks…
FORMER Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan is popular in his constituency and ancestral homeland of Mianwali, but the political posters that line the streets do not bear his face and flags do not fly his colours. A relentless crackdown widely attributed to Pakistan’s powerful military has seen him and his…
PAKISTAN’S rice exports are likely to jump to a record high in the year ending in June as India’s decision to curb its own shipments forces buyers to purchase more from Islamabad. The record exports are helping to alleviate tight supplies following the restrictions imposed last year by India, the…
PAKISTAN’S central bank on Monday (29) held its key rate at 22 per cent for the fifth policy meeting in a row and increased its full-year inflation projections. The governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said the decision was warranted due to “elevated” inflation – which was 29.7…
THREE foreign-born residents of Japan have filed a lawsuit against the government over alleged racial profiling by police, a case that would be the first of its kind, their lawyers said Monday (30). The three men – one born in Pakistan, an African American, and a Pacific Islander – have…
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan received a 14-year jail sentence on a graft charge on Wednesday (31), following a 10-year prison term issued the previous day, in verdicts that were handed down just a week before the country's national elections. Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were found guilty…
MANY British Asian families are badly affected as poverty has increased in the UK to around pre-pandemic levels, a new report said. The UK poverty 2024 report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last Tuesday (23) said Asian households also have higher rates of child poverty, very deep poverty and persistent…
The Indian Navy said on Tuesday (30) that it had successfully freed an Iranian fishing vessel that had been hijacked by Somali pirates. This intervention marks the second such instance within two days, following a recent surge in pirate attacks on shipping in the Indian Ocean. The warship INS Sumitra…
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was handed a 10-year imprisonment sentence this Tuesday (30), a decision coming shortly before the country's forthcoming election, in which his party is notably hindered from competing effectively. Khan's sentence was handed down inside Adiala jail, where he has been confined for much of…
NOBODY expected this first India versus England Test match to turn into an all-time cricket classic. Having not set a 4am alarm on the first day, I woke to hear India already taking their sixth English wicket. That first batting collapse came just after lunch in Hyderabad, but well before…
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan found himself at the centre of a controversy after a video of him allegedly slapping a person went viral on social media on Saturday, following which the renowned Pakistani singer said it was an attempt to tarnish his image. In the purported video, Khan can be…
Pakistan police detained at least two dozen supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan Sunday as they tried to rally in the country's biggest city ahead of elections next month. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been severely hamstrung ahead of the February 8 poll, with rallies banned, its…
Iran's foreign minister visited Pakistan on Monday (29) for discussions, aiming to mitigate tensions following deadly cross-border air strikes that had put a strain on diplomatic relations between the two countries. Pakistan's foreign ministry shared pictures and video of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arriving in Islamabad late Sunday, saying he would hold…
A British Indian chess prodigy faced trial in a Spanish court on Monday (22) for a public disorder offense stemming from a Snapchat message sent in July 2022. University student Aditya Verma, 20, on his way to Menorca with friends, jokingly wrote, "On my way to blow up the plane…
AN EXCITING young generation of south Asian creative talent is continuing to add new elements to popular culture with a cool approach. While some have already made an impressive mark with a brilliant body of work, others are showing real potential to be future gamechangers. They are all making themselves…
CHINA has assured Islamabad of its support in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity even while welcoming on Tuesday (23) the restoration of diplomatic ties between Tehran and Islamabad after their recent air strikes against each other. As China’s foreign minister Sun Weidong visited Pakistan on a mediation mission, a…
According to police reports, a father killed his son in Pakistan, following a dispute over which political party flag to display during the lead-up to the general election. The argument broke out when the son, who recently returned from working in Qatar, hoisted the flag of former prime minister Imran…
Zayn Malik, who keeps a low profile when it comes to public appearances, recently made his first public appearance in years at the Paris Fashion Week. The last time he was photographed in public by photographers was way back in April of 2021 when he went to a food cart…
SANIA MIRZA's family on Sunday (21) confirmed that the Indian tennis icon and Shoaib Malik have separated, a day after Pakistani cricketer announced his second marriage with actor Sana Javed. Their split marks the end of a high-profile union that had generated huge interest among sports lovers from the two…
Amid continued rumours of separation from retired Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik announced on Saturday that he has tied the knot with Pakistani actress Sana Javed. Taking to his Instagram handle, the former Pakistan all-rounder shared several pictures of his nuptials with the divorced Pakistani…
The political party led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan alleged on Friday (19) that Pakistani intelligence agencies are engaging in the overt abduction and harassment of candidates supported by the party in the run-up to the general elections scheduled for February 8. A spokesperson of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf…
The makers of 10 Lives have unveiled the first look at the much-awaited animated feature whose voice cast features Simone Ashley, Zayn Malik, Mo Gilligan, and Sophie Okonedo. The film, bankrolled by UK-based GFM Animation, is set to debut at Sundance Film Festival 2024. It follows Beckett, a pampered cat,…
The prime minister of Pakistan is scheduled to convene an emergency security meeting on Friday (19), bringing together military and intelligence chiefs. This comes in the aftermath of deadly air strikes this week, exchanged between Pakistan and Iran, on militant targets. The rare military actions in the porous border region…
In Iran's southeast border region, a missile attack launched by Pakistan resulted in the death of at least three women and four children on Thursday (18), Iranian state media reported. "Pakistan attacked an Iranian border village with missiles," state television said, quoting Alireza Marhamati, deputy provincial governor of Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan…
THOUSANDS of trucks were stranded at the busiest frontier crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday (15), Afghan officials said, days after border points were closed to trade in the latest row over document rules for commercial vehicle drivers. Crossings between the two countries have been temporarily shut down in…
URGENT action is needed to help the large number of south Asian households living in hidden poverty, anti-poverty campaigners have urged. New research reveals that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by severe hardship in areas not accounted for in government measures targeting antideprivation funding. The study by Queen’s University in…
THE frontrunner party for Pakistan’s delayed elections began campaigning on Monday (15), after a weekend court decision effectively pushed the opposition party of ex-prime minister Imran Khan out of the race. Pakistan’s vote next month has been marred by claims of pre-poll rigging, with analysts saying that the army establishment…
Pakistan said Wednesday (17), that Iran conducted an airs trike on its territory, resulting in the deaths of two children, following Tehran's attacks in Iraq and Syria targeting what it referred to as "anti-Iranian terrorist groups." Pakistan denounced the strike, near the nations' shared border late on Tuesday, as "completely…
INDIA said it had lodged a protest over a senior British diplomat's visit to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, saying the trip last week had infringed on India's "sovereignty and territorial integrity". Kashmir is claimed in full, but controlled only in part, by nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars and…
A recent report has revealed that girls were left vulnerable to paedophile grooming gangs for an extended period due to the failures of senior police and council leaders. Covering the years 2004 to 2013, the review specifically points out numerous failed investigations carried out by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) during…
The political party of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan faced a setback on Saturday (13) when the country's top court ruled against allowing the retention of its cricket bat symbol for the polls next month. The South Asian nation of more than 240 million people votes on February…
Former One Direction member Zayn Malik, who turned a year older on January 12, gave an exciting surprise to his fans on his birthday. The singer has teamed up with the rising Pakistani group AUR to reimagine their 2023 hit single “Tu Hai Kahan.” Malik lends his voice to the…
Veteran lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar says he has to write Hindi dialogues in the Roman script for the new generation of actors today because "they can't read anything else". The 79-year-old poet was speaking at a session titled 'Hindi & Urdu: Siamese Twins', held on Thursday evening at the India International…
Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose party is considered a front-runner to win general elections in February, will kick off his campaign next week, aides said, days after the Supreme Court cleared him to run for a fourth term. The campaign for the Feb 8 poll, delayed since November,…
RIVALS India and Pakistan will play their Twenty20 World Cup group game in New York on June 9 while co-hosts United States will take on Canada in the opening match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said last Friday (5). The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, which will be…
BRITISH Asian entrepreneurs have called for more action to improve diversity in the venture capital investment market after it was branded “unacceptable” and “woeful” by a powerful committee of MPs. The business leaders called for funds dedicated to ethnic minorities or female founders to make the system fairer. Venture capital…
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is not only popular in his home country but also enjoys a massive fan following in India. He has played lead roles in a few notable Bollywood films, including Khoobsurat and Kapoor & Sons. The 42-year-old star recently appeared for an interview on a YouTube channel…
WOLVERHAMPTON will host the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup final, after being awarded £500,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund to help with costs. Originating in India some 5,000 years ago, the contact sport sees teams broken down into raiders and blockers. Points…
A ROADSIDE bomb killed at least five police officers deployed to protect polio vaccination workers in northwestern Pakistan on Monday (8), officials said, in an attack that was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group. The TTP said in a statement it had “successfully detonated a mine on a police”…
Ten members of a family, which included a two-year-old, were killed in a brutal late-night attack in Pakistan's northwest, police said on Wednesday (10). Two brothers, their wives, and six children aged 12 and under were killed along with a guest in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province…
BRITISH Asians have a higher rate of catching the life-threatening condition sepsis compared to other population groups, a study found. The illness, which kills around 48,000 people every year in the UK, occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs. Leading doctors…
DAVID WARNER went out the way he began, with a rumbustious innings to guide Australia to an eightwicket victory and 3-0 Test series sweep over Pakistan in Sydney last Saturday (6). Playing in his 112th and final Test, Warner was dismissed for 57 – just 11 runs from finishing off…
The Agra Summit in 2001 collapsed primarily due to Pervez Musharraf's public airing of hawkish Kashmir views, his insufficient actions against terrorism, and his insistence on linking overall progress to developments in Kashmir, not solely due to LK Advani's firm stance. This is what Ambassador Ajay Bisaria, who served as…
Pakistan's supreme court ruled on Monday (8) that lifetime bans from office are unconstitutional, clearing the final obstacle in former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's path to running for re-election in polls in four weeks. Pakistan will vote in elections on February 8, with rights groups warning the ballot will lack…
RIVALS India and Pakistan will play their Twenty20 World Cup group game in New York on June 9 while co-hosts US will take on Canada in the opening match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said. The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US…
BILLIONS of voters across south Asia, the UK and the US will go to polls in the next 12 months in what will be a test of democracy, analysits have told Eastern Eye. In the UK, prime minister Rishi Sunak has to call a general election by January 28, 2025,…
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has put forward its chairman and former foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as its official prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming general elections on February 8, a media report said on Thursday (4). The PPP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) discussed in detail the party's campaign…
An unexpected turn of events at a wedding celebration in Sheffield, South Yorkshire led to tragic consequences when a Good Samaritan was killed and a teenage groom was stabbed amidst a wedding brawl, last week. Hasan Khan, 19, who was celebrating his marriage to Amani Jhangur, also 19 found himself…
WHETHER it was in cinemas, streaming sites or at festivals around the world, audiences were offered an interesting variety of films from diverse genres and languages. From artistic gems and groundbreaking narratives to huge blockbusters, they entertained film fans from different backgrounds. Eastern Eye revisited 2023 to reveal 21 entertaining…
WITH so many great-looking concerts, theatre productions, films, comebacks of popular stars and more already in the pipeline, 2024 looks set to be a thrilling and action-packed year. There will also be new talent, surprises, horizon-expanding moments, great music, free shows, and events celebrating the best in south Asian popular…
TALENTED authors from varied backgrounds contributed to a rich tapestry of reading material throughout the past year. This trend will continue in 2024, with everything from a treatise on tea to a much-awaited sequel, as well as a fantasy and a memoir recounting a renowned author’s experience of a deadly…
TURNING his star sports power to politics, Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan is all but guaranteed to become a ruling party lawmaker with general elections on Sunday (7) being boycotted by the opposition. Better known as the leading allrounder of his era, the 36-year-old skipper has been on a whirlwind…
CHARITIES have criticised the government for dropping plans to provide further help to modern slavery survivors. The Home Office said a “places of safety” scheme, first announced in 2017, was being axed due to a lack of funding. In addition, a pledge in 2021 offering tailored support for at least…
PAKISTAN’S huge deportation drive has forcibly repatriated scores of Afghans awaiting resettlement in the United States, an advocacy group and Afghan applicants said, adding that Pakistani authorities often ignored the US embassy’s letters of protection given to the repatriates. That complicates the efforts of such Afghans, as the US has…
THE Indian team is likely to get clearance to travel to Pakistan for the Davis Cup tie against their neighbours in February, the country’s national federation said last Saturday (30). The All India Tennis Association (AITA) had written to the sports ministry, asking for permission to send the national team…
Saveera Parkash, the first Hindu candidate vying for the general elections from the Buner constituency in the tumultuous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said she would facilitate diplomatic connections between Pakistan and India if she is elected. A doctor by profession, 25-year-old Saveera last week filed her nomination papers from the Pakistan…
Six barbers from Punjab province, Pakistan were shot and killed by unidentified militants who abducted them from the turbulent northwest region, police said. The incident took place in the Mir Ali area of the North Waziristan district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, ARY News reported on Tuesday (2).…
India and Pakistan on Monday (1) engaged in their annual practice of exchanging a list of their nuclear installations under a bilateral agreement. This pact, initiated in 1992, prohibits either side from targeting the other's atomic facilities. The exchange of the list took place under the provisions of an agreement…
India urged Pakistan on Monday (1) to expedite the release and repatriation of 184 Indian fishermen whose prison sentences have been fulfilled. In addition, Islamabad has also been asked to provide immediate consular access to 12 civilian prisoners in Pakistan's custody, who are believed to be Indian, the Ministry of…
A rights watchdog in Pakistan expressed concerns on Tuesday (2) regarding the fairness of the upcoming elections, pointing to allegations of "systematic dismemberment" and "pre-poll rigging" targeting the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Nomination papers for Khan and the majority of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party candidates…
DEMOCRACY is the theme of 2024. Around half of the world’s population has the chance to go to the polls. This weekend’s vote in Bangladesh, boycotted by the opposition to Shekih Hasina, is an inauspicious start. Pakistan in February holds its first elections since 2018. More than 600 million will…
Long-simmering rivalries on and off the pitch divided India and Pakistan once more at the World Cup 2023, but a cricket show run by Pakistani greats of the game has won fans across the border. The Pavilion, featuring cricketing heroes turned broadcasters including Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Moin…
Faysal Quraishi, one of Pakistan's top actors and producers, has advocated for the release of Indian films in the country to revive the local cinema exhibition sector. Quraishi, who has starred in several hit serials and also produced many blockbuster series, said Pakistan needed to lift the ban on screening…
According to party officials, the jailed former Pakistan prime minister, Imran Khan, and the majority of his supporters, were rejected candidacy for the February 8, 2024, national elections as nominations for the ballot closed on Sunday (31). Khan has been in prison since August, facing trial over a slew of…
CAPTAIN Pat Cummins declared himself delighted at the end of a landmark year for Australian cricket as his 10-wicket haul in the second test win over Pakistan in Melbourne secured his entry into an elite band of bowlers. Cummins led his side on Friday (29) to a fourth consecutive home…
Pakistan has banned New Year's Eve celebrations to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the government said late Thursday, urging people to instead "observe simplicity". In an evening televised address to the nation, prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said because of the situation in the Gaza Strip, the government had "completely…
PAKISTAN's current economic model is not working, a top World Bank official has said, underlining that the cash-strapped nation must change policies that have plagued development and benefited only a few. The remarks by World Bank country director Najy Benhassine came in a Policy Vision article, published in the latest…
INDIA may be forced to forfeit a Davis Cup play-off hosted by rival Pakistan, with the local tennis association saying Thursday (28) that the team was waiting on government approval to travel. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought several wars since winning independence from British rule in 1947, and sporting contests…
India's army has launched an investigation into the alleged deaths of three civilians taken into military custody after a deadly rebel attack on soldiers in Kashmir, police said Tuesday. The three men were among a group of eight detained by the army last week in Poonch, near the frontier that…
FORMER Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was granted bail on Friday (22) in a case alleging he leaked state secrets, lawyers said, but he remained jailed on other charges ahead of an election due in February. Meanwhile his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was barred from using the cricket bat symbol…
A PAKISTANI couple was sentenced to life in prison by an Italian court on Tuesday (19) for the 2021 murder of their daughter after she refused an arranged marriage. Saman Abbas, 18, was living in Novellara near Bologna when she disappeared in May 2021, having rejected the previous year her…
BOLLYWOOD celebrities unveiled various details about themselves this year, ranging from unique personal anecdotes to past experiences. Keeping our ears to the ground, we learned more about the lives of well-known stars than just their on-screen personas. Eastern Eye looks back on the events of the last 12 months to present…
WITH the party season being upon us, it is the perfect time to reflect on the power-packed dance anthems that were released in 2023. Eastern Eye requested DJ Shai Guy from one of the UK’s leading club night promoters, Bombay Funkadelic, to select the most upbeat songs from this year…
ASIANS represent a larger proportion of IVF patients in the UK at 15 per cent, the latest data from the fertility regulator has revealed. Black and Asian patients had lower birth rates from fertility treatment when compared to other ethnic groups, according to analysis from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
THERE was the Bollywood star in skin-tight lycra, the Bangladeshi politician filmed in a bikini and the young Pakistani woman snapped with a man. None was real, but all three images were credible enough to unleash lust, vitriol – and even allegedly a murder – underlining the sophistication of generative…
THE boxer Adam Azim has been praised for drawing attention to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as experts warned about the stigma against the condition in the Asian community. Azim, 21, has spoken of being diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and his father taking him to a boxing…
AN ACTION-PACKED year saw everything from stunning live performances to delightful drama serials, marvellous music and fabulous films. There was also perfectly pitched comedy, new talent, path-breaking projects and plenty of entertainment. Eastern Eye celebrated the many creative moments of 2023 with the annual Eye Spy awards which include extra…
The India-Bangladesh link was honoured by the British Bengali diaspora in London with the special screening of a documentary chronicling the history of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The event served as a commemoration of the enduring bonds of friendship between the two countries, dating back to the conflict. ‘Bay…
TENSIONS among nuclear powers, mainly in Asia, carry the risk of escalating into major conventional wars, a new survey cautioned. Significant Asian conflicts, such as in Kashmir and Afghanistan, have seen reduced violence since a ceasefire began in February 2021, said the Armed Conflict Survey 2023 by the London-based geopolitics…
Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday (17) said that the BNP and its allies cannot secure public support through arson attacks and killings, as the country prepares for the January 7 general elections. The opposition parties are calling for these elections to take place under an interim non-partisan government.…
PAKISTAN'S jailed former prime minister, Imran Khan, used an audio clip generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to address supporters in the first event of its kind in the politics of the south Asian nation, though marred by internet disruptions. The audio, played over a photograph of Khan during an internet…
The provincial government of Lahore on Saturday (16), announced the use of artificial rain for the first time in Pakistan as a measure to tackle the perilous smog levels in the megacity. In the first experiment of its kind in the South Asian country, planes equipped with cloud seeding equipment…
THE father of a 10-year-old Woking girl whose death sparked an international manhunt pleaded not guilty to her murder in a UK court on Thursday (14), as did two other members of her family. Sara Sharif's body was discovered at her family home on August 10. A post-mortem examination found…
PAKISTAN'S Supreme Court on Wednesday (13) provisionally approved military court trials of over 100 supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan on charges of attacking army installations. A six-member panel of the top court overturned an October 23 order by a three-member Supreme Court panel that had declared military trials…
THE year 2022 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Ugandan Asian expulsion which saw the uprooting and resettlement of some 80,000 Ugandan Asians when Idi Amin Dada, the self-styled dictator of Uganda, declared on 4 August 1972 that he had had a dream in which he was enjoined by God…
Shah Rukh Khan has added to a year of stunning achievements by topping the Top 50 Asian Celebrities In The World list for 2023. The Bollywood superstar beat off strong competition from around the world in this year’s edition of the popular list, published annually by UK based Eastern Eye…
IN the packed paediatric emergency room of a Lahore public hospital, parents holding sick children lined up for treatment this month, part of a surge of young patients caused by the air pollution crisis in Pakistan’s second-most populous city. “We are disturbed and tense,” said Mohamad Qadeer, holding a nebulising…
THE Financial Times business book of the year for 2023 has gone to Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive by Amy Edmondson, a Harvard professor who has been called “the world’s most influential organisational psychologist”. The prize, worth £30,000, was announced last Tuesday…
A GROUND-BREAKING year in entertainment saw glass ceilings shattered, greater heights conquered, creative horizons expanded, and new paths carved globally. There was also ground-breaking work, international crossovers, and exciting new talent announcing their arrival. Top south Asian talent from diverse fields were at the forefront of the marvellous moves being…
WHETHER it has been top talents making a mark, path-breaking moments, superb songs, fabulous films, brilliant books, or audience-delighting entertainment, there has been a lot to celebrate in the past 12 months. Next week, there will be a roundup of these magnificent moments in Eastern Eye’s annual review of the…
AROUND a third of individuals from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities broadly have no one earning any income through work, the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed. Almost half of all women in both these ethnic groups are not economically active either – meaning they are…
PAKISTAN’S central bank kept its key rate unchanged at a record 22 per cent on Tuesday (12) as it waits for the effects of previous hikes to filter through the economy and further tame inflation. The State Bank of Pakistan’s monetary policy committee said an increase in gas prices last…
A POLICE watchdog said that forces up and down the country do not have a “full understanding of the nature of scale” of child exploitation, writes Danielle Andrews. A review of 27 cases of child sexual exploitation (CSE) was undertaken by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue…
I FELL in love with Benjamin Zephaniah and performance poetry both at the same time. It was as a young teenager that I first saw and heard him on the 1990’s British Asian television programme Network East. In his Jamaican-inflected Brummie accent, this dreadlocked Rastafarian took viewers on a tour…
HUNGARY plans to turn Hungarian Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil’s Ganga Ram Mansions on The Mall in Lahore into a museum, a top diplomat of the country said. Sher-Gil was born in Hungary and was one of the most distinguished visual artists from the Indian subcontinent. At an event to mark…
GRADUATE ethnic minority voters are more likely to vote for the Conservative party, a new survey has found. Lead researcher James Kanagasooriam, from FocalData, said the voting intentions of ethnic minority graduates is in contrast to their white counterparts. They are more left-leaning and more likely to vote Labour, although…
A MAN jumped into the MPs' area of the lower house of India's parliament on Wednesday (13), in a major security breach on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly attack on the complex. TV channels showed a man wearing a black jacket jump from the visitors' area into the MPs'…
ISLAMIST militants rammed an explosive-laden truck into a police station in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday (12), killing at least 24 people, two security officials said, the latest devastating attack in recent months claimed by a Pakistani Taliban group. The bomb and gun attack occurred in the district of Dera Ismail…
Pakistan’s popular actress Mahira Khan has made a statement on social media expressing her deep sorrow and solidarity with the people of Palestine. Posting on X, she wrote, “Nothing feels good. And I understand life goes on, it has to. We resume work and worry about our child’s exams, our…
