- Saturday, May 04, 2024
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,…
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…
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…
India advised its citizens on Friday against travelling to Iran and Israel until further notice because of the "prevailing situation in the region". The advisory from the foreign ministry came amid Iran's threats to retaliate against a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy in Syria this month. Countries including the…
Al Hilal SFC is one of the most powerful football teams from Saudi Arabia. Currently you can visit 1xbet.ie/en for online sports betting on this and many other football squads too. The team was born back in 1957 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Since then, they've become a force to be reckoned…
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…
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…
Saudi Arabia will participate in the Miss Universe pageant for the first time, making it a historic event for the Islamic country. Rumy Alqahtani, a beauty pageant veteran and an influencer on Monday announced this news on her Instagram handle that she will be representing the kingdom in one of…
Singer Armaan Malik has collaborated with music composer AR Rahman for a soulful track for survival drama movie The Goat Life. The track, titled "Khatti Si Woh Imli", is part of the Hindi version of the Malayalam movie, which is set to be released in theatres on March 28. Penned…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Once again, the UK Rich List has a distinctly Indian feel to it. The Sunday Times newspaper has published their list of the wealthiest people in the UK, with Gopi Hinduja coming out on top with a whopping £35 billion fortune. The 84-year-old oversees the Hinduja Group, an international conglomerate…
British supermodel Naomi Campbell and the former CEO of PrettyLittleThing Umar Kamani are planning on opening a talent management firm in Dubai. Confirming the same, Kamani said, “Myself and Naomi are in the process now of starting a talent management company. We feel there is an opportunity to bridge some…
The sixth episode of Karan Johar’s streaming show Love Storiyaan, titled Love Beyond Labels, has been banned in six countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia, and Egypt. The series, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, focuses on the love story of six…
AN Asian Cup that will be remembered for shocks and dramatic finishes has showcased the region’s strength in depth and raised hopes that its teams could reach new heights at the 2026 World Cup. Eight direct spots and one intercontinental playoff berth are up for grabs for Asian Football Confederation…
India and the UAE have signed 10 agreements for cooperation in crucial areas such as energy, infrastructure, investments, and archives management during prime minister Narendra Modi's visit, aimed at enhancing the bilateral ties, announced foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday (14). Addressing a press conference on the second day…
KING CHARLES’S cancer diagnosis has shocked the whole country, but will be felt especially keenly by the British Asian community, for whom he has cared as long as anyone can remember. He said as much when his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, attended the Hinduja Diwali party in October 2022…
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…
Actor Salman Khan, who recently attended an international award ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, shared a group photo featuring Alia Bhatt, Anthony Hopkins, Zack Snyder, John Cena, and others. Taking to Instagram, Salman took to social media to share the group photo clicked at the award ceremony. Representing…
Alia Bhatt was presented with the honorary entertainment makers award at the Joy Awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the actress dedicated the trophy to the "magic of movies". The National Award winner, whose latest release was Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, received the award at a ceremony held…
INDIA's Akasa Air said on Thursday (18) it has ordered 150 Boeing MAX narrowbody planes, showcasing its confidence in the troubled planemaker as the budget carrier seeks to fly to more destinations at home and abroad. This is the first major order announcement for Boeing's MAX jetliner programme since a…
Though several nations from Asia, Africa, and South America, alongside India, Russia, and China, congratulated Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina on her historic fourth term as prime minister, the United Nations, the US, and the UK voiced their reservations, terming the polls as "not free or fair." Hasina's Awami League (AL) won…
India and Saudi Arabia inked a bilateral agreement on Sunday (7), designating New Delhi a quota of 175,025 pilgrims for the 2024 annual Haj pilgrimage. Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Minister of…
Dear Jassi, a film inspired by a real-life honour killing in Punjab, won the Silver Yusr Award for Best Feature Film at the ongoing Red Sea International Film Festival 2023. Directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, the Punjabi-English romance drama was honoured with the accolade at a ceremony held in Saudi…
Actress Freida Pinto, who rose to fame with her role in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, talked about her future projects and said that she doesn't want to confine herself to Hollywood, reported Variety. "I've always looked at cinema globally," she told Variety. "After Slumdog, I could have easily played all…
The ongoing third edition of the Red Sea Film Festival has turned out to be extra special for actor Ranveer Singh's fans. Not only did the Simmba star receive a special honour at the gala, but also got an opportunity to meet his 'screen idol' and Hollywood actor Johnny Depp…
SAUDI ARABIA's sovereign wealth fund is to buy ten per cent of London's Heathrow airport from Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, whose departure from the hub after almost two decades leaves Qatar as its biggest shareholder. Ferrovial late Tuesday (28) said it was offloading its 25 per cent stake for nearly…
AT LEAST 150,000 metric tons of pigeon peas bound for India are held up at ports in Mozambique awaiting export permission from customs despite multiple requests from sellers over the past few weeks, five industry officials said last Wednesday (8). India, the world’s biggest producer and consumer of pigeon peas,…
WHEN he first went to prison, Shahjahan Bhuiyan was accused of killing only one man. By the time he was released decades later, he had put dozens more to death as Bangladesh’s most prolific hangman ever. Each execution was rewarded with a special meal including beef, chicken and scented pilau…
FOREIGN doctors received lower pay and reduced benefits compared to their UK counterparts under a controversial scheme in English hospital trusts, an investigation has revealed. Doctors from outside the UK arrive at NHS trusts as ‘fellows’ under the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ medical training initiative (MTI) scheme, spending two-years…
PAKISTAN’S 1-0 victory over Cambodia in a World Cup qualifier this week hardly registered on football’s radar yet such was the significance for the national team that manager Stephen Constantine said he had never seen so many grown men cry. A 67th minute goal by Harun Hamid in the second…
AN Indian firm said it will terminate a longstanding contract to make uniforms for the Israeli police, as it made a "moral decision" in light of the war in Gaza. Maryan Apparel in Kerala state said it had supplied around 100,000 uniforms to Israel's police force for every year since…
INDIA’S decision to maintain the current floor price for basmati rice exports will further hamper overseas sales of the premium variety and hit farm income, leaving growers saddled with large stocks of the new-season variety, farmers and millers said. India and Pakistan are the only growers of basmati rice. New…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak plans to visit Israel this week, Sky News reported on Tuesday (17). However, Downing Street representatives did not confirm the report, saying that Sunak's travel plans would be announced in the usual manner. Last week, foreign minister James Cleverly visited Israel to express solidarity with the…
THE UK and Ireland will co-host Euro 2028, while Italy and Turkey will be joint hosts of the 2032 tournament, UEFA announced. Both bids ran unopposed but still needed official approval from European football's governing body, which they received at a meeting in Switzerland. Turkey last week withdrew from the…
INDIAN trailblazer Neeraj Chopra added Asian Games gold to his Olympic and world titles in javelin on Wednesday (4) as his nation celebrated its biggest medal haul at the continental showpiece in Hangzhou. India's first Olympic athletics champion threw 88.88 metres, more than 0.70m further than Budapest where the 25-year-old…
INDIA's Reliance Retail is set to acquire UK-based Superdry's licenses and brand assets in three Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India, for £40 million, media reports said. This move expands Reliance Retail's portfolio of foreign brand partnerships and provides a financial boost to the struggling UK fashion retailer.…
SUICIDE bombings ripped through two mosques in Pakistan on Friday (29), killing at least 57 people, including seven children, as believers marked the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, police and health officials said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, from which the death toll could climb, with many…
PAKISTAN is striving to get donors to release $10 billion (£8.22bn) in pledges to help it recover from devastating floods by launching rebuilding projects that hinge on the funding, care taker prime minister Anwaar-ul-haq Kakar said last Friday (22). Donors from around the world stepped up after Pakistan was hammered…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation on Tuesday (19) that the Indian government was behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada led to an escalating war-of-words and diplomats being ejected from both countries. India described as “absurd” Trudeau’s claims that “credible allegations” linked Indian agents to the June…
FOREIGN SECRETARY James Cleverly said that his government backs a Canadian investigation to determine whether India was involved in the killing of a Sikh leader, in a case that sent ties between Ottawa and New Delhi nosediving. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said Monday (18) that "credible allegations" linked Indian…
INFLATION unexpectedly slowed in August, data showed Wednesday (20), hitting an 18-month low and sparking hope this week's widely-forecast interest rate hike by the Bank of England could be its last for now. The Consumer Prices Index dropped slightly to 6.7 per cent from 6.8 per cent in July, the…
INDIA on Tuesday (19) rejected the "absurd" allegation that its agents were behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada, after prime minister Justin Trudeau's bombshell accusation sent already sour diplomatic relations to a new low. Ottawa also expelled a diplomat it described as the head of India's foreign…
Santiniketan, the renowned location in India’s West Bengal, where poet Rabindranath Tagore established Visva-Bharati more than a century ago, has received UNESCO World Heritage List recognition. The announcement was made by the international organisation via a Twitter post on Sunday (17). "New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Santiniketan, #India.…
THE G20 Summit in New Delhi has positioned India as a key player in the global arena, edging closer to becoming the 'leader of the Global South,' according to analysts. The two-day summit, which concluded on Sunday (10), showcased India's leadership as it championed initiatives aimed at countering the ascendancy…
INDIAN Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals is understood to have launched a bid to take over Yorkshire Club as the ECB intends to open up cricket to overseas investment. The winner of the 2008 IPL title offered £25 million to take full control at Headingley, Mail Sports reported. If…
Narendra Modi concluded the G20 summit on Sunday, which notably downplayed significant disagreements regarding the Ukraine conflict and climate change. Despite the contentious issues, the summit afforded him a diplomatic moment in the spotlight. The ongoing Ukraine conflict has deeply divided G20 nations since Moscow's invasion last year, leading Russian…
GLOBAL leaders announced a multinational rail and ports deal linking the Middle East and South Asia on Saturday (9) on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. The pact comes at a critical time as US president Joe Biden seeks to counter China's Belt and Road push on…
THE Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration at a summit on Saturday (9) that avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory. Prime minister Narendra Modi of host India announced that the…
LEADERS of the world's wealthiest and most influential nations are set to convene at the two-day G20 Summit in India's capital, New Delhi, commencing on Saturday (9). This marks India's inaugural hosting of this prestigious assembly of global leaders. The capital city has been adorned with ornate flowers and fountains…
Among the prominent leaders arriving in India’s capital city on Friday (8) morning for the G20 summit are Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentine president Alberto Fernández, and IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva. The G20 leaders will deliberate on pressing global issues at the grouping's annual summit on September 9 and…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi said Thursday (7) that leaders of the G20 summit he is chairing this weekend must support developing nations to tackle climate change with more cash and by sharing technology. Against a backdrop of record-breaking temperatures and deadly heatwaves across the globe, climate scientists and activists…
SAUDI ARABIA will invest up to $25 billion (£19.9bn) in Pakistan over the next two to five years in various sectors, Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on Monday (4), adding his government would also revive a stalled privatisation process. The country is embarking on a tricky path to…
Fans have been eagerly waiting to get updates on Housefull 5 ever since the makers officially announced the fifth part of the successful Houseful franchise. Starring Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh along with other actors, the film is set to be released during Diwali in 2024. And guess what? It…
The 67th BFI London Film Festival, which is scheduled to be presented over twelve days from 4 to 15 October 2023, has announced the full programme line-up. The London Film Festival will invite audiences to return to its flagship venues in the heart of London – BFI Southbank and the…
INDIA’S Mirabai Chanu will not lift at all at next week’s World Championships, a compulsory qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as she aims for an elusive Asian Games medal. The World Championships are scheduled from next Monday (4) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while the Asian Games is set…
BRICS leaders announced last Thursday (24) the “historic” admission of six countries, as the bloc seeks to reshape the Westerlies global order and expand its influence. BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – agreed at their annual summit to make Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and…
RELIANCE INDUSTRIES on Wednesday (23) announced that Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), through a wholly-owned subsidiary, will invest $1 billion into its retail arm Reliance Retail Ventures Limited. "This investment values Reliance Retail at a pre-money equity value of $100bn," Reliance Industries said in a regulatory filing. Reliance Retail, through its…
THE five BRICS developing nations will admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates, they said on Thursday (24), a move aimed at growing the clout of the bloc as it pushes to rebalance the prevailing world order. The expansion could also pave the way for…
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami has said, the Group of 20 (G20) stands as the foremost platform globally for fostering inclusive growth. He remarked that India's current presidency of the G20 has played a pivotal role in amplifying the perspectives of the Global South, contributing to the…
Pakistan's president Arif Alvi issued an appeal on Monday (14) to political leaders, urging them to set aside their discord and animosity. The plea came as the financially strained nation marked its 76th Independence Day anniversary. Addressing a flag hoisting ceremony held at the Convention Centre, the president also expressed…
A SLOWDOWN in in global consumption and a rise in energy costs following the outbreak of war in Ukraine have compounded problems for Pakistan’s industrial manufacturing sector. The textile sector, which accounts for about 60 per cent of Pakistan’s exports, has been hit by the critical state of the country’s…
INDIA will remain an “active and willing partner” to find a “lasting” solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the country’s national security advisor said, after attending a peace conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last Sunday (6). Ajit Doval told delegates the responsibility to end the war was in the hands…
In anticipation of the forthcoming BRICS summit in South Africa, where discussions will revolve around the potential admission of new members, India refuted on Thursday (03) any validity to the "baseless" reports suggesting its opposition to the expansion of the five-nation alliance. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi addressed this matter…
India will take part in the Ukraine peace talks to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 5 and 6, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, Arindam Bagchi, announced during a news briefing on Thursday (03). The talks have been initiated by Saudi Arabia, which extended invitations to Western…
PAKISTAN is unlikely to meet a target for Russian crude to make up two-thirds of its oil imports, despite attractive prices, hampered by a shortage of foreign currency and limitations at its refineries and ports, officials and analysts say. The cash-strapped country became Russia’s latest customer snapping up discounted crude…
Muhammad Naeem Butt, a Pakistani man, spent several weeks in Libya attempting to reach Europe illegally. However, he decided to turn back, giving up on his perilous journey after witnessing a tragic incident at sea. The overloaded fishing trawler he had hoped to board sank off the coast of Greece,…
INDIA has prohibited the export of non-basmati white rice with immediate effect, according to a government notice on July 20, after a late start to seasonal monsoon rains hurt the crop and raised fears of a production shortfall. Here are some facts explaining why India is crucial to the global…
CHINA has granted Pakistan a two-year rollover on a $2.4 billion loan, Islamabad said Thursday (27), giving the debt-saddled nation breathing space in its balance-of-payments crisis. Soaring inflation, shrinking dollar reserves and crippling foreign debt led Pakistan to the brink of default before a pivotal $3 bn IMF bailout was…
The burning of a Qu’ran outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen by a group known as "Danish Patriots" on Monday (24) has sparked severe condemnation from Iraq and multiple other Muslim-majority nations. The far-right group had also live-streamed a similar act on Facebook on Friday (21), further fuelling tensions. Protesters…
THE Group of 20 (G20) major economies meeting in India failed on Saturday (22) to reach consensus on phasing down fossil fuels following objections by some producer nations. Scientists and campaigners are exasperated by international bodies' foot-dragging on action to curb global warming even as extreme weather from China to…
The cross-border love story between Seema Haider and Sachin Meena, aided by the PUBG mobile game, has taken a new twist as the couple has been reported as 'missing' for the past 24 hours, with no communication to their families. The Indian media extensively covered their unusual love story, which…
PAKISTAN'S central bank has received $1.2 billion from the IMF as the first tranche of a $3 bn bailout to stabilise the economy, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday (13), a day after the global lender's board approved the package. Having teetered on the brink of a sovereign debt…
INDIA’S football captain Sunil Chhetri backed head coach Igor Stimac’s demand for a four-week camp ahead of the Asian Cup early next year, saying the team needs enough preparation time to face the continent’s best teams. Chhetri, who will compete in his final Asian Cup in Doha (from January 12…
PAKISTAN'S desperately low foreign exchange reserves were boosted on Tuesday (11) with a $2 billion deposit from Saudi Arabia, ahead of a key IMF meeting this month to approve a new deal. The economy has been stricken by a balance-of-payments crisis as it attempts to service crippling external debt, while…
THOUSANDS of people rallied in streets across Pakistan on Friday (7) to condemn a Koran burning in Sweden that has outraged Muslims around the world. Last week, Salwan Momika, an Iraqi living in Sweden, stomped on the Muslim holy book and set several pages alight outside a Stockholm mosque. His…
In a much-needed relief for the Pakistani economy, the country successfully obtained a crucial $3 billion short-term financial package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday (30). The agreement between Pakistan and the IMF has been reached, and it is now awaiting approval by the IMF board in July.…
The RRR team, including actors Ram Charan, Jr NTR and composer MM Keeravani, as well as filmmakers Mani Ratnam and Karan Johar are among the 398 artistes and executives who have received invitations to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). RRR lyricist Chandrabose, who along with Keeravani…
India has made significant progress in terms of gender parity, climbing eight places to rank 127 out of 146 countries, according to the World Economic Forum's annual Gender Gap Report for 2023. In the previous edition of the report in 2022, India was ranked at 135. The country has shown…
UNUSUAL weather patterns, including unexpected rainfall, strong winds, hailstorms, and a mild May, have resulted in a bleak outlook for India's mango production, reported The Times. The absence of typical scorching heat in northern India during May has led to approximately 40 per cent of this year's crop being harmed,…
India emerged as the leading supplier of refined fuel to Europe, in April 2023, surpassing other countries in the market. Vortexa, an energy cargo tracking system, reported that India exported approximately 406 thousand barrels per day (kbd) of refined fuel to European nations during that month, The New Indian Express…
Top diplomats representing BRICS countries expressed openness to welcoming new members into the group during discussions held in South Africa on Thursday (01). The bloc aims to strengthen its influence in the international arena and seeks a broader representation to amplify its voice. Foreign ministers from the five-nation grouping of…
Members of a London-based cycling club, who cycled from Makkah to Madinah in February to raise money to provide life-saving surgery for children with congenital heart defects, travelled to Tanzania last week to meet some of the families and children they supported. H&K Cycle Club raised an incredible £128,000 as…
Commencing on Monday (22), a G20 tourism meeting began in Indian-administered Kashmir amidst increased security measures, triggering criticism from China and Pakistan due to the disputed status of the territory. In anticipation of the G20 meeting, which marks the first diplomatic event in the region since New Delhi's revocation of…
Pakistan needs significant additional financing for a successful completion of the long-stalled ninth review of the International Monetary Fund's bailout package, the IMF said on Thursday (11). Obtaining commitments of "significant additional financing" is essential before the IMF approves the release of pending bailout funds that are crucial for Pakistan…
Facing a deep economic crisis, Pakistan has started to buy Russian oil, but the country’s petroleum minister said the future lies in diversified, especially green, energy. Minister Musadik Malik visited the US for talks with corporations as well as with the government, with Washington leading global efforts to choke off…
India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE on Sunday (7) worked towards advancing their shared vision of a ‘more secure, prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world’, according to a readout issued by the White House. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval,…
The owner of an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise has predicted that Test cricket may soon become once-a-year events like the Wimbledon tournament. Lead owner of Rajasthan Royals, Manoj Badale, told the BBC’s Tailenders Podcast that the amount of Test cricket scheduled will be reduced in the future, as fans…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is preparing to discuss Pakistan's budget plans for the coming financial year, as part of a long-awaited financing injection from the lender for the cash-strapped nation, the IMF's country mission chief said on Thursday (4). Negotiations over key budget targets such as the fiscal deficit…
Pakistan's year-on-year inflation hit its highest-ever level of 36.42 per cent in April, after the government introduced new taxes and raised fuel prices to try to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions for a crucial bailout. Government data released Tuesday (2) showed month-on-month inflation was 2.41 per cent, while average…
A US government panel renewed calls on Monday (1) to blacklist India over religious freedom, saying that treatment of minorities has continued to worsen under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom offers recommendations but does not set policy and there is little expectation that the…
In response to the unrest in Sudan, India launched 'Operation Kaveri' on Monday (24) to evacuate its citizens from the region. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that Indian ships and aircraft are ready to transport the stranded individuals back to India. In a tweet, he announced the start of…
France has evacuated five Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from violence-hit Sudan. The French embassy in India said on Monday (24) that 388 people from 28 countries, including India, were evacuated. French diplomatic sources said the evacuation operations launched on Saturday…
Pakistan is set to sign a deal for additional deposits of $2 billion from Saudi Arabia, authorities said on Saturday (22), a move that will help the country secure the much-required bailout from the IMF. In March, Pakistan sought Saudi Arabia's confirmation for funds to secure an IMF deal. Earlier…
Relatives of several Indians stuck in Sudan following the fighting between the Army and paramilitary forces have appealed to the government to evacuate them from the African country as soon as possible. Around 3,000 Indians are estimated to be stranded in Sudan. They include around 100 people from the Hakki-Pikki…
Pakistan has placed its first order for discounted Russian crude oil under a new deal struck between Islamabad and Moscow, the country's petroleum minister said, with one cargo to dock at Karachi port in May. Pakistan's purchase gives Russia a new outlet for its crude, adding to Moscow's growing sales…
It has been quite a turbulent few months for the camp of the former Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua following on from his climatic defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia, with AJ now looking to return to contender status following his recent showing against Jermaine Franklin at…
Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday (8) said he had cancelled his trip to Washington for the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank on the orders of the prime minister due to the political situation in the country. However, Dar said he would attend important…
On Wednesday (29), Janet Yellen, the US Treasury Secretary, stated that she anticipates Ajay Banga, the former CEO of Mastercard, to be elected as the president of the World Bank, which is a multilateral development bank. In prepared testimony for the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programmes subcommittee of the…
FORMER Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, who is the US nominee to lead the World Bank, returned to his homeland, India, on Thursday (23). The visit will conclude his three-week international trip to seek support and discuss development and climate requirements with borrowing and donor countries. According to the US Treasury,…
India remained the world's top arms importer, but its imports declined by 11 per cent between 2013-17 and 2018-22, according to a Stockholm-based defence think tank. The decline was linked to a complex procurement process, efforts to diversify arms suppliers and attempts to replace imports with local designs, a Stockholm…
RUSSIA is working on easing visa procedures for six countries, including India, Syria and Indonesia, the state TASS news agency cited deputy foreign minister Evgeny Ivanov as saying on Sunday (5). "In addition to India (procedures simplification) ... is being worked out with Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria and Philippines," Ivanov…
Kuwait, a Middle Eastern nation with a rich cultural background, has a lot to offer travellers looking for a unique kind of vacation. The country offers something for everyone, from its desert terrain and warm summers to its traditional food and cultural attractions. Go to Kuwait on a Jazeera Flight and…
The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM), which is scheduled to take place in physical format from March 1-2, 2023 in New Delhi under India's Presidency is "one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 Presidency." In a special briefing by Foreign Secretary (FS) Vinay Kwatra on…
THE year-long Russian war in Ukraine took centrestage on the eve of a G20 foreign ministers meeting on Wednesday (1) with the European Union foreign policy chief saying the success of the gathering in New Delhi would be measured by what it could do about the war and its impact.…
FOREIGN ministers from around the world meet in New Delhi this week in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine and spiralling US-China tensions, with host India hoping that issues like climate change and Third World debt are not overlooked. The March 1-2 meeting of the G20 foreign ministers will…
After the earth-shattering success of Brahmastra (2022), Ranbir Kapoor is presently busy promoting his upcoming film Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. Helmed by Luv Ranjan, the film also features Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role. Kapoor was recently in Chandigarh to promote the film. During a press conference, he was asked…
Popular American boy band Backstreet Boys, known for their songs such as "Quit Playing Games", "As Long As You Love Me" and "Shape of My Heart", on Wednesday announced that they set to return to India after 13 years with their DNA World Tour in May. 'The Backstreet Boys: DNA…
PAKISTAN'S parliament has given the go-ahead for the government to raise taxes on a raft of luxury imports and services in a bid to unlock the next tranche of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. Faced with critically low foreign exchange reserves, the government has already halted most imports -…
A LONDON-BASED television station critical of the Iranian government said on Saturday (18) it was moving its live broadcasting studios to the United States following threats it faced in Britain. Iran has accused regional rival Saudi Arabia of funding the Persian-language Iran International channel, which has covered anti-government protests in…
Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday (15) called on Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina during which he reaffirmed India’s support for wider and deeper development and economic partnership with her country. Kwatra arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday (14) evening from Kathmandu, Nepal, on a two-day visit. “Foreign Secretary @AmbVMKwatra paid…
An Indian national, who was earlier denied a visa by a Pakistani court, entered the country on Tuesday to complete his marathon journey on foot to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Shihab Bhai, 29, arrived in Pakistan via the Wagah border and was welcomed by Sarwar Taj, who had filed…
Just like Saudi Arabia, Iran also holds great importance in the Muslim world. Many people are confused about the question that whether Iranians are Arabs or not. You will get different answers to this question. Some people will say No. This answer offends many people. Only 2 to 3% of…
IN HER quest to carve a space for Asians in UK’s art world, photographic artist Arpita Shah hopes to elicit and celebrate the country’s multicultural history, with a focus on south Asian female identity. Commissioned by Birmingham-based arts organisation GRAIN Projects and funded by Arts Council England and Birmingham City…
Protests in Stockholm on Saturday against Turkey and Sweden's bid to join NATO, including the burning of a copy of the Koran, sharply heightened tensions with Turkey at a time when the Nordic country needs Ankara's backing to gain entry to the military alliance."We condemn in the strongest possible terms…
Pakistan on Thursday (19) announced that the UAE has rolled over its deposits of $2 billion, providing critical support to the cash-strapped country’s depleting foreign exchange reserves. The confirmation came days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the oil-rich Gulf country seeking help to improve the balance of payments. Finance…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought "serious" and "sincere" talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the resolution of the "burning" issues, including on Kashmir, and said the UAE could play an important role in facilitating the resumption of dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Prime Minister Sharif…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said it is a matter of shame that a country, which is a nuclear power, has to beg amid its faltering economy, reported The News International.Addressing the passing-out ceremony of probationary officers of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) on Saturday, Shehbaz said it really embarrassed…
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday agreed to extend an existing loan of $2 billion and provide an additional loan of $1 billion to help cash-strapped Pakistan tackle its economic woes, including the fast-depleting foreign exchange reserves. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Office made the announcement after his meeting with…
Pakistan's finance minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday (11) that almost 90 per cent of pledges made by the international community for the flood-hit country were project loans that will be rolled out over the next three years. His remarks came two days after the international community at a donors’…
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Friday slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi over the comments made by him targeting Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah following the announcement of ACC Calendar 2023-24 and the pathway structure.…
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are in the same group for the Asia Cup 2023, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah confirmed on Thursday. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah on Thursday announced the cricket calendar of the…
As clubs across Asia continue to get more established, footballers from around the globe are increasingly calling the continent their new home. With that in mind, here are three world superstars who have made the switch. Oscar (Shanghai Port) Oscar came to prominence following a move from Brazilian side Internacional…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has defended India's move to import crude oil from Russia notwithstanding the growing disquiet over it by Western powers, saying that Europe has imported six times the fossil fuel energy from Russia than India has done since February 2022. Jaishankar, who arrived here from Cyprus…
At least "four or five" suspects and handlers involved in the suicide bombing attack in Islamabad have been detained, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has claimed. A policeman along with two suspected militants was killed and at least six others, including four policemen, injured in the bombing on Friday in…
Pakistan Police on Tuesday announced special security measures, including setting up 25 new check-posts, to tighten security in the federal capital here after several countries, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Australia asked their citizens to restrict their movement, warning of a possible terror threat. According to the security…
Saju Chelavalel, accused of murdering his wife, a National Health Service (NHS) nurse and her two children under seven, reportedly choked them to death, The Sun reported. The accused has appeared in court. Chelavalel has been charged with the killings of Anju Ashok, 35, and the two kids -- Jeeva Saju,…
The family of a 'true gentleman' with a 'heart of gold' who was killed in a road accident in Burnley earlier in December has paid him a moving tribute. The tragedy happened at the junction of Colne Road and Hebrew Road around 12.45 pm on December 6. The man, identified…
Ranbir Kapoor, who recently welcomed his first child with Alia Bhatt, made millions of heads turn with his magnetic appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he also received the Variety International Vanguard Actor Award. During an interactive session at the festival, Kapoor was…
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan offered prayers at the shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra on Sunday night. Under the protection of paramilitary and J&K police personnel, Khan was accompanied by several friends who visited the shrine and offered prayers. The officials said that the superstar reached Jammu…
It seems celebrities from all across the world are headed to the ongoing Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We have seen a number of Bollywood celebrities at the festival over the past few days. Some of them include Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Saif…
Sharon Stone is the latest Hollywood star to be enamoured by the charm and magic of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. In a viral video, Stone can be seen looking at Khan with awe after spotting him right next to her at the Red Sea Fest in Saudi Arabia. As…
One of the sons of slain al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden has claimed that his father was training him to follow in his footsteps, making him fire guns as a child in Afghanistan and using his dogs to test chemical weapons. In an interview with ‘The Sun’ newspaper while on…
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has finished shooting the Saudi Arabia schedule of his film 'Dunki'. On Wednesday, SRK took to Instagram and dropped a video announcing the schedule wrap. In the clip, SRK expressed his gratitude towards the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture. He also thanked the film's team for…
As the FIFA World Cup has started, Nepali workers who were involved in construction work in Qatar have recalled their experience of working in the Middle Eastern nation. Hari Bahadur Shrestha watched the football match between Costa Rica and Japan which was being held in Qatar, a country where he…
As India readies to assume the presidency of the "powerful" G20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country should focus on global good during its term and asserted that it has solutions to the challenges related to peace, unity, environment and sustainable development. India will officially assume the…
London's transport system is not allowing advertising that "portrays Qatar as a desirable destination" or encourages people to attend the World Cup, under a 2019 policy response to LGBTQ laws there. The stance by Transport for London (TfL) has reportedly angered Doha during its hosting of the football tournament, with…
Around 5,000 fans from England and Wales are believed to be travelling to Qatar to attend the group stages of the FIFA World Cup – but this is just a fraction of the 1.2 million supporters who are expected to visit Qatar for the celebrated event. Thus, there is apprehension…
Pakistan on Thursday (24) named Lieutenant-General Asim Munir as chief of its army, an organisation that plays an extraordinarily influential role in the governance of this nuclear-armed nation. Munir, who also headed both of Pakistan's powerful spy agencies, will take over from outgoing General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retires later…
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who recently celebrated his 57th birthday, is presently in Saudi Arabia where he is filming for the next schedule of his much-anticipated film Dunki, helmed by successful filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani. Khan was spotted by his fans at Jeddah Waterfront, and soon after, he was also…
Lionel Messi said Argentina's shock loss to Saudi Arabia was a "very heavy blow" but vowed the South American champions would bounce back from the defeat. "It's a very heavy blow, a defeat that hurts, but we must continue to have confidence in ourselves," Messi said after Argentina crashed to…
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given the same level of protection from prosecution in the US that was recently accorded to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a US State Department spokesperson said in a briefing on Friday. "This is not the first time that the United States has…
Speculations around Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan resuming the shoot of his upcoming film 'Dunki' started spreading on social media after he was spotted at the Mumbai Airport during the early hours of Wednesday by the paps. Videos surfaced on social media in which SRK could be seen donning a…
A Pakistani man has become an overnight sensation on the internet for his uncanny resemblance to Indian superstar Rajinikanth. Rehmat Jashkori, who is a retired government official, has been described as a lookalike of Rajinikanth by many on social media. That he resembles the Tamil actor was first suggested to…
Noted Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur’s cross-cultural romantic comedy What’s Love Got To Do With It? will be the opening film at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF). Set to open theatrically in the UK on January 27, 2022, the film marks Kapur’s return to feature-length directorial after his 2007…
A virtual introductory lecture on Yoga was organised for all Saudi university representatives across the kingdom to spread awareness and motivate its practice as a lifestyle for all segments of society. The lecture, organised on Monday, aimed to introduce both traditional yoga and yogasana sports to Saudi universities and give…
In a first, Saudi Arabia plans to send astronauts, including a woman, into space next year, media reports said. The country on Thursday (22) announced that it has started an astronaut program and aims to send two of its citizens to space, at least one of them a woman, as…
A 63-year-old Saudi man has claimed that he had married 53 women in 43 years to find 'stability and peace of mind', according to a media report. Abu Abdullah, now nicknamed as the 'polygamist of the century', has said that currently married to one woman and has no intention to…
Saudi authorities have arrested a man who claimed to have travelled to the Muslim holy city of Mecca to perform an umrah pilgrimage on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The man, a Yemeni national, on Monday published a video clip of himself on social media at the Grand…
Gulf countries Tuesday threatened Netflix with legal action for broadcasting content that "contradicts" Islam, and Saudi state media indicated that the offending material centred on shows depicting sexual minorities. A statement issued jointly by the Saudi media regulator and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, headquartered in the Saudi capital Riyadh,…
A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a woman to 45 years in prison for social media posts, a rights group said, in the latest example of a crackdown on women activists that followed a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to the kingdom. Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani was convicted "likely…
EXPLORING the struggles of a gay Asian Muslim asylum seeker in modern Britain is the central theme in the Bush Theatre’s new work, The P Word, the playwright has said. It charts the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men – Zafar, who flees homophobic persecution in Pakistan to seek…
After the full brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic started to become more manageable, many countries have opened their borders again, everyone is eager to travel. India, too, has been allowing tourists in again since 15 November 2021. However, to visit this culturally rich and diverse country, you need to have…
A spy, whose undercover operations helped thwart several al-Qaeda terror attacks, has accused a prominent Scottish school of discriminating against his daughter.Aimen Dean, a Saudi Arabia-born British citizen, complained to the Registrar of Independent Schools, saying his five-year-old daughter was singled out at St George’s School in Edinburgh because the…
Britain's Ramla Ali said she sometimes felt she was dreaming after her journey from Somali refugee to trailblazing women's boxer took a big leap forward in Saudi Arabia. Ali, fighting the first women's professional bout in the kingdom, put on a show in Jeddah on Saturday evening, knocking out Crystal…
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, expressed outrage on Friday over a 34-year prison sentence handed down to a Saudi woman charged with aiding dissidents. Salma al-Shehab, 34, was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2021 while on a holiday from the United Kingdom where she is a student. She was…
The researcher jailed in her native Saudi Arabia over her Twitter activities had been denounced to authorities in the Middle-Eastern kingdom via the crime reporting app, known as Kollona Amn. A Saudi appeals court earlier this month sentenced Salma al-Shehab to 34 years in prison for aiding dissidents who sought…
The US and other nations in the world may not appreciate India buying Russian oil, but they have accepted it as New Delhi has not been defensive about its stand but made them realise the obligation the government has to its people amidst "unreasonably high" oil and gas prices, External…
A 34-year-old Saudi PhD student at Leeds University has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for using Twitter, media reports said. Salma al-Shehab, a mother of two young children, was jailed for reportedly following and retweeting dissidents and activists on Twitter, the Guardian reported. She was initially sentenced to…
Fifty years ago, dictator Idi Amin announced his intention to expel Uganda's thriving community of British South Asians. They were given 90 days to leave, or be rounded up in concentration camps. More than 27,000 ethnic Indian and Pakistani holders of UK passports made their way to Britain, which reluctantly…
Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, on Tuesday (2) successfully inaugurated non-stop flights between Mumbai, India, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The inaugural flight departed from Mumbai at 1805 hours (IST) on Tuesday and landed in Jeddah at 2050 hours (AST) the…
Saudi Arabia is an Arab country situated in western Asia, and its area extends from the Red Sea in the west to the Arabian Gulf in the east. The countries bordering it in the north are Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan, while in the south; the countries bordering it are Yemen…
Al Qaeda chief and key plotter of the 9/11 terrorist attack, Ayman al Zawahiri, was killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan on Saturday.US President Joe Biden confirmed it on Monday, saying that "Justice has been served". Zawahiri, who had just turned 71, took over the leadership of Al-Qaeda…
Prince Charles received a £1 million donation from al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden’s wealthy family despite advice from his aides to the contrary, a media report said.Osama’s half-brothers - Bakr bin Laden and Shafiq - made the payment to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF), The Sunday Times reported.The…
A Saudi who allegedly helped a non-Muslim enter the holy city of Mecca has been arrested, police in the kingdom said on Friday (22), after online backlash against an Israeli journalist. The journalist, Gil Tamary of Israel's Channel 13, on Monday (18) posted to Twitter video of himself sneaking into…
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had not released the tranche for the USD 6 billion bailout package under its extended fund facility, even though it had made the country "dance to its tune." Responding to a question about the IMF, Sanaullah…
THE UK Supreme Court has ruled that no diplomatic immunity should be given in modern slavery cases, according to a report. Diplomats are normally protected from both criminal charges and civil cases in the countries where they are posted. The top court held that a Saudi diplomat Khalid Basfar, accused of…
A PROMINENT Muslim scholar has voiced concerns about Britons travelling to perform hajj without the supervision of British travel agents. In early June, Saudi Arabia made the decision to make would-be hajj pilgrims from Europe, Australia and the US, apply for visas via a government portal online, a move intended…
A solicitor has been suspended from practising for a year after a tribunal found that his Lancashire-based firm wrongly allowed its Saudi Arabian client‘s account to be used as a banking facility.Raja Shazad Khan, the owner of Justice Solicitors, also known as Tangent Law, admitted to having failed to supervise…
Young British South Asian midfielder Zidane Iqbal has signed a new long-term contract with Manchester United.The son of a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, made his debut for the club in a Champions League match against the Swiss team Young Boys at Old Trafford in December last year.The new…
Pakistan is reaching out to its close allies in the group of twenty - China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to boycott the G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. "Pakistan to ask China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to boycott the G20 meeting in J-K," tweeted WLVN Analysis, geopolitics, defence, and national…
HINDUS have urged a British luxury brand to apologise and immediately withdraw 'highly inappropriate' perfume named after Hindu deity Hanuman, a statement said. British brand Boadicea the Victorious launched an £850 Lord Hanuman perfume recently. Hindu statesman and president of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed said that inappropriate usage…
BRITISH Muslim travel companies have complained that they are having a tough time after Saudi Arabia launched a new system for applying for the hajj pilgrimage, according to a report. This month the Saudi government announced that pilgrims from Europe, the US and Australia could no longer book through travel agencies…
Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was conferred with the prestigious King Abdulaziz Medal on Sunday for his contributions to defence cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. During his official visit to the kingdom, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conferred General Bajwa with the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent…
Pakistan paper association has warned that due to the paper crisis in the country, books will not be available to students in the new academic year starting August 2022.While the cause of the paper crisis is global inflation, the current paper crisis in Pakistan is also due to the wrong…
The upcoming animated Hollywood flick Lightyear has become the latest Disney movie to be banned in various Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The news has been confirmed by a leading entertainment portal with sources stating that the decision is linked to the inclusion of…
Pakistan said on Monday that it has summoned the Indian charge d'affaires to convey its categorical rejection and condemnation of the controversial remarks by two BJP leaders against Prophet Mohammed.The Indian diplomat was told that these remarks are totally unacceptable and have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif testified on Saturday (28) in a special court hearing in the Pakistan Rupee 16 billion money laundering case against him that he had refused to take any salary when he was the Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, and called himself a "majnoo" for doing…
In an interview with India Today, the Isha Foundation founder has urged India's Hindu and Muslim communities to sit together work out which two-three sites are iconic and should settle all disputes. "The two communities should sit together and work out which two-three sites are iconic and settle it. Instead of…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson will fly to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday (15) to pay his condolences following the death of president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Downing Street said. Johnson's visit will also "reinforce the close bond between the UK and United Arab Emirates," the statement said.…
SAUDI ARAMCO on Wednesday (11) dethroned Apple as the world's most valuable company as surging oil prices drove up shares and tech stocks slumped. The Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company billed as the largest oil-producing company globally was valued at $2.42 trillion based on the price of…
Pakistan's new prime minister Shehbaz Sharif began his maiden foreign trip Thursday, arriving in Saudi Arabia in a bid to enhance financial support from a country where he spent years in exile. The kingdom has long been an intelligence partner for Pakistan as well as a regular source of relief…
THE SCION of Pakistan's most influential political dynasty was appointed foreign minister on Wednesday (27), the latest step up a ladder likely to take Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to the top of the country's leadership.Aged 33, Bhutto becomes one of the world's youngest foreign ministers but inherits a diplomatic bag of…
RELIGIOUS freedom has deteriorated "significantly" in India under the Hindu nationalist government, a US commission said Monday (25) as it again recommended targeted sanctions over abuses.It was the third straight year that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom asked that India be placed on a list of "countries of…
PAKISTAN’S new prime minister Shehbaz Sharif is a ‘hard-core realist’ and has over the years earned the reputation as a matter-of-fact person.Shehbaz, the younger brother of three-time prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, has served as the chief minister of the country's most populous and politically…
RUSSIA was suspended from the UN Human Rights Council after the 193-member General Assembly on Thursday (7) voted to adopt a resolution moved by the US while India abstained.The resolution titled ‘Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council' was adopted with 93…
Actor Riz Ahmed, who won his first Academy Award for live-action short The Long Goodbye at the recently concluded Academy Awards, has congratulated Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist Arooj Aftab for scoring her first Grammy on Sunday. Taking to Instagram stories, the critically acclaimed actor shared a photo of Aftab from the…
Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist Arooj Aftab has won a Grammy Award for her song "Mohabbat" in the best global music performance category at Hollywood's biggest music awards night. According to the Recording Academy, with the feat, the 37-year-old singer-composer has become the "first-ever female Pakistani GRAMMY winner". "And the first-ever…
INDIA's oil imports from the US will rise by 11 per cent this year, officials said on Saturday (19), as the severely energy-deficient country looks to secure supplies from producers around the world, including heavily sanctioned Russia. The surge in oil prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last month threatens…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson began lobbying Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to pump more oil to calm markets roiled by Russia's invasion of Ukraine as he met the Gulf states' leadership on Wednesday (16).Johnson arrived in Abu Dhabi for talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed and…
RUSSIA'S share of arms supply to India fell from 69 per cent in 2012-17 to 46 per cent in 2017-21, according to a report released on Monday (14) by the Stockholm-based defence think-tank SIPRI.Russia started a war against Ukraine on February 24, which led the US and other western countries…
RUSSIA'S invasion of Ukraine has left India's traditional balancing act between Moscow and the West looking wobblier than ever, with experts saying New Delhi has few good diplomatic options.Last week India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution deploring Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, winning praise from Moscow for its "independent…
PAKISTAN has raised a $1 billion (£740 million) loan through the Sukuk bond at a record 7.95 per cent interest rate, media reports said on Tuesday (25).It is the highest cost of borrowing the cash-strapped country has agreed to pay in its history on an Islamic bond. The ministry of…
HOUSEWIFE Maira Tayyab has considered begging for money to feed her family in inflation-hit Pakistan, while shop owner Mohammad Hanif finds his thoughts turning to crime.They're too proud and honest to act on the impulse, but their woes are shared by millions of Pakistanis whose disgruntlement threatens prime minister Imran…
INDIA'S largest insurer, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), could publish key details of its mammoth initial public offering (IPO) this month and begin issuing public shares by mid-March, government and banking officials said on Thursday (13). LIC's listing is set to be India's biggest-ever IPO, with the government aiming to raise…
All you need to know about bequeathing overseas estates or wealth THE past 18 months have brought many things into sharp focus, including the importance of good health and the benefit of having a will in place so your assets are distributed according to your wishes, to your loved ones…
Young starlet Zidane Iqbal made history when he became the first British Asian footballer to represent Manchester United. The 18-year-old came on as a second-half substitute in the Red Devils Champions League match against Swiss side Young Boys on Wednesday (8). Iqbal joined United at nine. Having come through the…
HISTORY was created in English football when Manchester United was playing against Swiss team Young Boys this week. As Zidane Iqbal, 18, took the field as a substitute, he became the first-ever British south Asian to play for the top English club. Iqbal’s feat came weeks after Dilan Markandey, another…
GLOBAL telecoms network operator OneWeb - which is backed by India's Bharti Enterprises - has unveiled plans to start building its satellites in the UK by 2025. It currently has a manufacturing facility in a joint venture with Airbus’ defence and space arm in Florida. OneWeb’s head of government affairs,…
Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with a money laundering case lodged against multimillionaire alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. She recorded her statement as a witness in the case. Her questioning could prove a significant lead in the alleged multi-crore extortion…
PAKISTAN has received $3 billion (£2.2 bn) from Saudi Arabia as part of financial assistance sought from the kingdom to stabilise the country's economy, according to a senior government official. The financial support to Pakistan comes more than a month after prime minister Imran Khan visited Riyadh and held talks…
Actor Ali Fazal, who has previously impressed the international audience with his performance in the British biographical comedy-drama Victoria and Abdul (2017), will shortly be seen as one of the leads in Kenneth Brannagh’s upcoming film Death On The Nile. While the actor awaits the release of Death On The…
BRIGHTSUN TRAVEL has partnered with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) to launch a multi-channel marketing campaign showcasing Saudi Arabia to UK travellers, the company said in a statement. A MoU agreement in this regard was signed at the November 2021 UK World Travel Market by STA CEO Abdullah Ibrahim Alhagbani…
INDIA'S environment and climate minister, Bhupender Yadav, took aim at a draft deal at the United Nations climate summit on Saturday (13), saying he disagreed with the language on fossil fuel subsidies and that the draft lacked balance. In one of the strongest criticisms of the COP26 draft deal, Yadav…
INDIA is among 27 countries to sign up to a sustainable agriculture action agenda as the first week of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow concluded, with the country committing to make farming more sustainable and less polluting. Participating countries said they would invest in the science needed for sustainable…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson on Sunday (31) urged world leaders attending the UN climate change conference in Glasgow to commit to cutting carbon emissions, warning efforts to halt runaway global warming will fail if they do not. "If Glasgow fails, then the whole thing fails," he told a news…
LONGTIME Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin has revealed that she was sexually assaulted by a US senator in her new book, The Guardian reported. Abedin has made the claim in a memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, which will be published next week. However, she does not name the…
SAUDI Arabia has agreed to provide $4.2 billion (£3 bn) worth of assistance to cash-strapped Pakistan to support its economy, it emerged on Wednesday (27) after prime minister Imran Khan held talks with the kingdom’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh this week. Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry took…
INDIA on Wednesday (27) rejected calls to announce a net zero carbon emissions target and said it was more important for the world to lay out a pathway to reduce such emissions and avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures. India, the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China…
SATELLITE communication company OneWeb has partnered with Saudi Arabia to bring high-speed connectivity to the kingdom. OneWeb’s $200 million (£145.6m) joint venture with Neom Tech & Digital Holding Company will enable the London-headquartered firm to deploy its low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation in Saudi Arabia, the wider Middle East…
PAKISTAN’S government has released 350 activists of the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), interior minister Sheikh Rashid has announced, averting another showdown with the radical Islamist party. TLP workers have been holding violent protests across the nation, especially in Lahore, against the government of prime minister Imran Khan for not…
BRITAIN and India must step up their economic and security ties, foreign secretary Liz Truss said ahead of a visit to Delhi where she will announce a green tech investment and pitch her vision of Britain's new role in the world to senior Indian ministers. Truss, who was appointed as…
NEWCASTLE UNITED are investigating an alleged racist gesture made by an individual towards Tottenham Hotspur supporters during their Premier League game at the weekend, the club said on Monday (18). The incident allegedly took place during Tottenham's 3-2 win at St James' Park on Sunday in Newcastle's first game since…
SPORT cannot use the excuse that racism is "a societal issue" when it comes to stars suffering social media abuse, a leading figure at a global strategic consultancy has told AFP. Radha Balani, a director at thinkBeyond, which focuses on utilising sport for social good, said social media companies merely…
CANADA's prime minister Justin Trudeau came under fierce attack from his political rivals in Canada’s final election debate last week, reported The Times. Despite having a lead of five points when he called the snap election last month to regain the majority he lost in 2019, Trudeau's Liberal Party is…
INDIAN commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has been picked as the country’s Sherpa for the G20 group that brings together the planet’s major economies. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Tuesday (7) announced that India will hold the bloc’s presidency starting December 1 next year and will convene…
An Air India flight headed to London from New Delhi on Monday (6) had to abort take-off after a swarm of ants was found in the business-class section, Asian News International reported. The flight, AI-111, had among its passengers Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk, the son and heir apparent of Bhutanese King…
THE trial of five men accused of participating in the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda plot to attack the United States has moved extremely slowly before the military commissions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba since the original charges were announced in February 2008. The case was withdrawn, and then refiled, and the…
AFTER talks with promoter Eddie Hearn, Amir Khan is all set to take on old rival Kell Brook later this year in a bout. Both the boxers had earlier failed to agree terms for a bout but have finally decided to meet in the ring, probably eyeing for a December…
With the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan there are fears they will reimpose their harsh interpretation of sharia law. Most Muslim nations incorporate elements of sharia in their legal systems, particularly in family law. But very few carry out its punishments known as hudud, which even Muslim scholars disagree on. -…
SAUDI ARAMCO is in advanced talks with Reliance Industries Ltd for an all-stock deal to acquire a stake in the Indian conglomerate’s oil refining and chemicals business, news agency Bloomberg reported. The Saudi Arabian oil giant is discussing the purchase of a roughly 20 per cent stake in the Reliance…
Why Ed Husain hopes his new book will help readers understand muslims better AN AUTHOR who visited mosques across Britain for his new book has revealed his concerns for the future of Islam in this country and cautioned against the drawbacks of identity based solely on faith. Ed Husain also…
ENERGY major Saudi Aramco's second quarter profits for 2021 have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, backed by higher oil prices. The company said on Sunday (8) its net profit rose to $25.5 billion (£18.4bn) in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $6.6bn (£4.7bn) in the same quarter last year due…
COUNTRIES with skewed sex ratios such as India could mean the world is set to “lose” 4.7 million girls by 2030, experts have warned. The study, published in the BMJ Global Health journal, suggested the figure could reach 22 million by 2100. Researchers predicted the sex ratio at birth (SRB)…
NEW global modelling of birth sex ratios has found out that the long-term global stability is at risk due to 'cultural preferences for boys in certain countries, The Times reported. The study also revealed that men are set to dramatically outnumber women in the coming decades. The study, published in…
SAUDI Arabia's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud will visit Pakistan on Tuesday (27) amid efforts to repair the relations between the two countries that faced some stress in recent times. The minister will be accompanied by a delegation comprising senior officials of the Saudi government, Pakistan's foreign office…
SAUDI Arabia will reopen the Grand Mosque for overseas Umrah pilgrims after August 10 as the kingdom declared that the just-concluded haj season was ‘successful’ amid restrictions. No worshipper tested positive for the virus during the pilgrimage, according to the country’s health authorities. Some 60,000 Saudi residents were allowed to…
INDIA’s information technology (IT) minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has also been reported to be on Pegasus list as one of the potential targets of Israeli phone hacking software, media reports claimed. More prominent Indian names- including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa, election strategist Prashant Kishor, and Trinamool…
DOHA has taken a lead over Dubai in a battle to become the pre-eminent travel hub in the middle east, travel analytics firm ForwardKeys has found in latest research. Crunching the world’s freshest and most comprehensive flight-booking data, ForwardKeys has said that the Qatar city has gone ahead of its…
TO reduce global oil prices and ease the pressure on economies, oil producing countries have agreed to increase their production. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and partners such as Russia will augment oil supply by two million barrels per day (bpd) from August following a steep rise…
SPYWARE Pegasus, which is sold by the NSO Group of Israel, may have been used to conduct surveillance on about 300 Indians, including 40 journalists, three opposition leaders, two cabinet ministers along with several prominent officials and businessmen, reports claim. As per Paris-based outlet Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International,…
BRITISH online fashion retailer Boohoo has entered a partnership with Kuwait-based Alshaya Group to build its Debenhams brand in the Middle East region. Boohoo bought the Debenhams brand out of administration for £55 million in January. The fashion chain said Alshaya, a franchise operator which runs Debenhams stores in shopping…
PAKISTAN’S remittances from abroad recorded the fastest growth in nearly two decades during the financial year 2020-21, according to latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Remittances totalled $29.4 billion (£21.2bn) for the year ended in June, against $23.13bn (£16.6bn) recorded in the previous fiscal year. The…
MORE than 250 millionaires from India have made use of the so-called “golden visa” to settle down in the UK through a large investment into the country since the route started in 2008, according to a new report brought out by a UK-based anti-corruption charity on Monday (12). Spotlight on…
BANGLADESH was ranked 53rd in a global cyber security list topped by the United States. The Global Cybersecurity Index 2020, maintained by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), released its ranking on Wednesday (29). Bangladesh scored 81.27 in the index for 2020 and was placed 53rd on a list of 194…
HUNDREDS of desperate Pakistanis overwhelmed a government-run coronavirus vaccination centre in the capital of Islamabad on Monday (28) as the nation grappled with a shortage of life-saving shots. Most of those clamouring to be vaccinated were Pakistanis who work overseas - mainly in the Gulf Arab nations such as Saudi…
IT’S coming up to 23 years since a sprightly 22-year-old Warrant Officer (Grade 2) Saheed Khan joined the ranks of the British Army, wide-eyed and eager to see what adventures Army life had in store for him. After holding a variety of different positions, which he describes as “one of…
PAKISTAN emerged as ‘Manpower Export Leader’ by sending around 224,705 workers to various countries for job assignments in 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Bangladesh sent 217,699 workers abroad and India 94,145 for employment purposes during the same period, said the Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OPHRD) Ministry while…
BANGLADESH passed the ‘Hajj and Umrah Management Bill 2021’ on Tuesday (15) as ministers hope to tackle irregularities and mismanagement in the sector. Under the new law, authorities can scrap the registration of any hajj and umrah agency who do not abide by the rules. "This is the very first…
CHINA, Pakistan and India appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals, a study by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has said. China had 350 nuclear warheads as of January last year, Pakistan 165 and India 156, while Russia and the US together possess more than 90 per cent of…
PAKISTAN supports Saudi Arabia’s decision to bar Muslims from other countries to perform hajj for the second consecutive year against Covid. On Saturday (12), Saudi Arabia announced that it will allow 60,000 residents who are vaccinated against Covid to perform this year's hajj. Although Pakistan’s government has supported the decision,…
Saudi Arabia announced Saturday it will allow 60,000 residents vaccinated against Covid to perform this year's hajj, but Muslims from abroad will be barred for a second straight year. The hajj - a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lives - typically packs millions of pilgrims into…
INDIA’S export of agricultural and allied products grew 17.34 per cent in 2020-21 to $41.25 billion (£29.17bn) a top government official said on Thursday (10). Increased overseas shipments of cereals, non-basmati rice, wheat, millets, maize and other coarse grains boosted overall exports this year, said commerce secretary Anup Wadhawan. Exports…
APPLE’S newly introduced privacy protection feature, ‘private relay’ will not be available to users in China due to regulatory reasons. At its annual software developer conference, Apple announced a set of new privacy protections including a function called "private relay", where users' web browsing behaviour can be hidden from Apple,…
SAUDI ARABIA, the world’s largest oil exporter, said it is committed to meeting India’s requirements for petroleum products. The confirmation from the kingdom has come at a time when India is pitching for easing global output cuts to curb a rise in oil prices that has made consumption-led recovery difficult…
VACCINATION-related issues alone will not pose a hindrance for any Pakistani from performing Haj this year provided Saudi Arabia decides to keep its current travel policy during Haj time as well, the country’s top official confirmed on Tuesday (18). Commenting on the reports of vaccine shortage in the country, the…
REMITTANCES from Pakistani workers employed abroad rose to a record monthly high of $2.8 billion in April, 56 per cent higher than a year earlier, the central bank said on Tuesday (18). On a cumulative basis, remittances also surpassed the previous record. Remittances were $2.7bn in March which exceeded $2bn…
SAUDI ARABIA has announced 118 humanitarian projects worth more than $123 million for cash-strapped Pakistan in food security, health, education, and water during prime minister Imran Khan’s two-day visit to the country. Khan arrived in Saudi Arabia last Friday (7) for a visit aimed at enhancing ties after months of…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan has ruled out any negotiations with India until the special status of Jammu and Kashmir which New Delhi scrapped in August 2019 is revoked. “Pakistan will not hold talks with India until it rescinds the illegal steps (abrogation of the special status of Jammu and…
By Pooja Shrivastava Over a series of several agreements signed today, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have vowed to reset ties strained by months of disagreement over policy on the Kashmir dispute. "They affirmed the depth of relations between the two brotherly countries and underscored the importance of expanding and intensifying…
By Chandrashekar Bhat PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan’s “caustic comments” about the functioning of the country’s ambassadorial offices abroad have not gone down well with some current and former diplomats. At a virtual meeting with Pakistan’s envoys on Thursday (6), Khan said officials of its embassies were "indifferent" to the…
BRITAIN and the US rushed ventilators and vaccine materials to India on Monday (26) as the country battles a catastrophic, record-breaking coronavirus wave that has overwhelmed hospitals and set crematoriums working at full capacity. London has sent more than 600 pieces of equipment to New Delhi to support its fight…
India's capital New Delhi on Sunday extended its lockdown as the country's Covid-19 crisis grew with infections and deaths hitting record highs. The announcement came as the healthcare system struggled to cope with the huge surge, with reports of severe oxygen and medicine shortages and patients' families pleading for help…
ACCLAIMED Indo-Canadian singer Shweta Subram has delivered hit songs in diverse genres and languages along with performing globally. The voice behind viral Tik Tok track Jalebi Baby most recently released her own version of the classic Bollywood song Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye from the movie Jurm, in a duet…
REMITTANCES of $2.7 billion in March from Pakistani workers employed abroad exceeded $2bn for the 10th consecutive month, and were up 43 per cent from a year earlier, the central bank said on Monday (12). Proactive policy steps by the government and State Bank to spur inflows through formal channels,…
SPECIAL presidential envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to Abu Dhabi, New Delhi and Dhaka from April 1-9 to discuss the climate crisis. Kerry would travel for consultations on increasing climate ambition ahead of US president Joe Biden's Leaders' Summit on Climate from April 22-23 and the 26th Conference…
It’s fair to say that 2020 was a disaster both for families and the wider economy in Asia. However, the hope is that 2021 will be much better, and already we are seeing signs that conditions are improving for individuals and businesses alike. Big research companies such as PwC are…
By Amit Roy INDIA is one of the unhappiest countries in the world, according to the World Happiness Report 2021, which was compiled by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. Finland is said to be the world’s happiest country, with the…
INDIA reported its most Covid-19 cases and deaths in months on Monday (22), on the first anniversary of the start of a chaotic nationwide lockdown that left many people jobless and shrank the economy. Authorities reintroduced some curbs to slow the spread of the virus, especially in the western state…
by LAUREN CODLING A SOAP star has credited the National Youth Theatre (NYT) for “shaping him as a performer”, as he praised the arts organisation for being accessible to ethnic minorities and those from working-class backgrounds. Shiv Jalota, who plays Vinny Panesar in long-running BBC soap EastEnders, joined the NYT…
By Amit Roy FOR various personal reasons, I have known Prince Charles for a very long time – and there is one thing I can say with absolute confidence. There isn’t a hint of racism in him. To be sure, the interview given by Prince Harry and Meghan to…
A Saudi woman has been convicted of murdering her Bangladeshi maid by a criminal court in Saudi Arabia, in a ruling rights groups in the South Asian nation said was a rare example of an employer being found guilty of abusing a migrant worker. Ayesha Al Jizani was sentenced on…
India's decision to export millions of coronavirus vaccine doses to Saudi Arabia has rankled its vast expat community, locked out by the kingdom's months-long flight ban that sparked tense diplomatic wrangling. The plight of Indian workers, who make up the kingdom's biggest expatriate community, underscores the turmoil caused by tightening…
INDIA's southern state of Andhra Pradesh will use a deepwater port to export rice for the first time in decades amid a global shortage of the grain, according to a government order. The move could raise India's shipments this year by a fifth, reports said. The order, issued late on…
India will supply more locally made coronavirus vaccines to other countries, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, as he hailed the South Asian giant's fight against the pandemic. India -- home to the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute -- has embarked on a form of vaccine diplomacy,…
World leaders said they were looking forward to working with Joe Biden, the Democrat sworn in as US president on Wednesday (20) after four turbulent years under Donald Trump. - Britain - Prime minister Boris Johnson, who has faced criticism over his close relationship with Trump, said he was looking…
THE coronavirus pandemic has slowed global migration by nearly 30 per cent, with around two million fewer people than predicted migrating between 2019 and 2020, according to a UN report. Some 281 million people were living outside their country of origin in 2020. The report, entitled "International Migration 2020," showed…
THE Serum Institute of India (SII) expects WHO emergency use authorization soon for the Oxford University/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, which it is producing for mid and low income countries, its chief executive said. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed Pfizer and BioNTech's Covid-19 shot for emergency use on December 31 as…
Around 50 countries around the world have already started vaccinating their people against Covid-19, barely a year after the first alert by China signalled the start of the epidemic. A snapshot: - China leads the way - China, where the pandemic first emerged, was also the first to start vaccinations…
US Muslim groups pleaded on Thursday for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to speak out on China's mass incarceration of Uighurs, accusing the global body of abetting what some described as genocide. The OIC consists of 57 Muslim-majority nations and frequently takes up cases in which it believes Muslims are…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson has said that India has done 'incredible things' in the solar energy sector. While addressing the climate ambition summit, co-hosted by the UK to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris climate agreement, Johnson warned that the emergency facing the world from climate change will…
THE US health authorities, shipping services and hospitals stood ready to immediately launch a mass-inoculation campaign of unparalleled dimension, as federal regulators granted emergency approval to the first Covid-19 vaccine in the US. Last-minute preparations for the vaccine rollout came as the US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic approached…
Maulana Yousaf Shah cracks a wide smile as he rattles off a list of former students turned Taliban leaders, revelling in their victories over superpowers on Afghanistan's battlefields after graduating from Pakistan's "university of jihad". The Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary has churned out a who's who of Taliban top brass…
ACCLAIMED AUTHOR ON HER NEW NOVEL AND CONNECTION TO WRITING by MITA MISTRY ALL novels have a unique journey, but sometimes stunning stories can get lost and then gain a new lease of life later on. That is exactly what happened to Soniah Kamal’s acclaimed debut novel An Isolated Incident,…
TWO-TIME World champion Amir Khan will spearhead the development of boxing in the Middle East under the World Boxing Council (WBC) Middle East Continental Federation through tailored development projects in affiliated countries. Khan, the current president of the newly formed WBC Middle East Boxing Council and senior vice president Tahir…
High-flying international CEOs do not often come in a more thoughtful and engaging form than Salman Amin, who heads up pladis Global and dominates the biscuit scene in the UK. His vast experience makes Amin a touchstone of wisdom and a clear voice in an uncertain time, especially because he…
PAKISTAN has said that it will 'vehemently' oppose India's application to the EU for sole geographical indication (GI) status for its homegrown long-grain aromatic basmati rice as it will 'adversely affect Pakistani exporters'. GI status is used to mark a product out to consumers as having “qualities, reputation or characteristics…
India has complained to Saudi Arabia over a banknote that shows Kashmir as a separate country, in the latest protest over maps of the disputed region that have also targeted foreign media outlets and a social media giant. The foreign ministry in New Delhi said it expressed "serious concern" over…
Murtuza Iqbal Aditya Chopra’s directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol recently completed 25 years of its release. It is the longest-running Indian film, and it is still being showcased in Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai, India (currently shut due to the pandemic). However, now…
By Pramod Thomas A DOCTOR who helped set up Kerala’s first plasma bank has described how the move helped save the lives of 55 critical Covid-19 patients in the south Indian state. Dr Shinas Babu is a nodal officer of the special Covid treatment centre at the Government Medical College…
INDIA's rice exports may jump to record highs in 2020 as other rival exporters such as Thailand and Vietnam face various setbacks. Industry officials said that India's rice exports this year will rise by nearly 42 per cent from a year ago because of reduced shipments from rival exporters and…
THE company behind a homegrown short-video sharing platform in India, rival to TikTok, said its social app crossed 30 million downloads in just three months. Chingari, which allows people to record and share short video clips, in a statement said it has also added augmented reality (AR) filters on its…
IRAN has branded Bahrain as a partner to the "crimes" of Israel after the two nations announced a peace deal to normalise relations after decades of animosity. "The rulers of Bahrain will from now on be partners to the crimes of the Zionist regime as a constant threat to the…
AROUND 3am each morning this week, Khurshid Alam woke up in his Pakistan home to watch survivors give testimony against the man who shot dead 51 worshippers in New Zealand mosques, including his brother, Naeem, and nephew, Talha. Divided by thousands of miles, a seven-hour time difference and the coronavirus…
By Amit Roy THIS slight to the British Indian army and to Commonwealth soldiers in general might not have been intended, but when the 75th anniversary of the ‘Victory in Europe’ Day (VE Day) was commemorated on May 8 this year, the British Legion and other organisations managed to give…
PAKISTAN's army chief visited the Saudi capital Riyadh, officials said, amid strained relations between the two countries over the disputed region of Kashmir. General Qamer Javed Bajwa's visit on Monday (17) was apparently aimed at easing a rift caused by the Pakistani foreign minister's demand for a firm Saudi response…
UBER has reported a $1.8 billion loss in the recently ended quarter as the Covid-19 pandemic caused its shared-ride business revenue to plunge. Overall revenues skidded 29 per cent from a year ago to $2.2 billion, as gains from delivery failed to offset a massive 75 per cent drop in…
REMARKABLE STORY OF THE MUGHAL-E-AZAM MASTERPIECE AND ITS INCREDIBLE LEGACY by ASJAD NAZIR THIS week marks the 60th anniversary of Bollywood’s greatest film K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam, which smashed box office records and set new benchmarks when it released to great fanfare on August 5, 1960. The K Asif directed epic…
Quran tutor Muhammad Asim should have been packing to leave his Karachi home for Mecca next week to perform one of the most sacred, once-in-a-lifetime obligations for Muslims, the Hajj pilgrimage. But that was before the coronavirus hit. Asim, 30, is one of 2.5 million Muslims globally, almost 180,000 from…
BP has paid Reliance Industries $1 billion (£792 million) to set up a joint network of thousands of petrol stations across India to tap the country’s rapidly growing energy demand. BP will hold 49 per cent and Reliance the remaining 51 per cent in the new company called Jio-bp, which…
Dr Anton Sebastianpillai, Kingston Hospital Dr Anton Sebastianpillai was a “hugely respected” NHS geriatrician and author in his 70s, who died on April 4 at Kingston Hospital, where he served as a consultant. President of the British Geriatrics Society, Professor Tash Masud, said Sebastianpillai’s death was “heartbreaking”, adding that he…
INDIA is one of five nations to have expressed an interest in hosting the 2027 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Wednesday (1). Qatar, the reigning champions and 2022 World Cup hosts, is also interested in hosting the continental championship, as are regional football powerhouses Iran and…
India made significant efforts towards the elimination of human trafficking in 2019, but did not fully meet the minimum standards, according to a US report. As such India remained on Tier 2 of the Congressional-mandated 2020 Trafficking in Persons report of the state department. Pakistan has been downgraded to the…
SAUDI ARABIA has announced that it will bar arrivals from abroad to attend the haj this year due to the coronavirus, allowing only a limited number of Saudi citizens and residents to make the pilgrimage with social distancing measures enforced. The decision came at a time when global coronavirus infections topped nine…
INDIAN tycoon Mukesh Ambani said Friday (19) that his Reliance conglomerate is net debt free after raising more than $22 billion in a rights issue and selling stakes in its e-commerce unit to Facebook, Saudi Arabia's wealth fund and others. Asia's richest man after upending the Indian telecoms market, Ambani…
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will buy a 2.32 per cent stake in Reliance Industries’ digital unit Jio Platforms for 113.67 billion rupees ($1.49 billion), the Indian conglomerate said on Thursday (18). The deal with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund means Reliance has now sold 24.7 per cent of…
THE World Health Organization on Tuesday (16) hailed a UK-led "breakthrough" steroid treatment for the coronavirus, boosting hopes that pandemic deaths can be reduced, but a growing new cluster in China sparked fears of a second wave of infections. Surging death tolls in the Americas and South Asia, Steroids for…
Jio Platforms, the digital and telecommunications subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is likely to be listed in Nasdaq next year. Morgan Stanley may be appointed the lead banker to manage the overseas listing. In the past one month, five global players including Facebook have picked up a 17.12 per cent stake…
Dubbed the Muslim Game of Thrones, a drama about the makings of the Ottoman Empire has sent Pakistan wild this Ramadan, smashing television records but exposing the country's lack of original content. The Turkish-made series has earned praise for its focus on historical figures from the Muslim world who have…
Muslims around the world marked a sombre beginning to Eid al-Fitr on Sunday (24), many under coronavirus lockdown, but lax restrictions offered respite to worshippers in some countries despite fears of skyrocketing infections. The three-day festival, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is traditionally celebrated with…
BOEING has been awarded two contracts worth more than $2 billion for the delivery of more than 1,000 air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said. A first contract, worth $1.97 billion, is for the modernization of SLAM ER cruise missiles as well as delivery of 650 new…
Former world champion Amir Khan has said he won't fight behind closed doors should boxing resume during the coronavirus outbreak. British officials are looking at July as a possible return date for bouts, albeit these would take place in the first instance without spectators at venues. "Even though there is…
THE Oberoi Group is making its debut in Europe with a project offering "exceptional living" in London's Mayfair. As per a deal with Cain International, a real estate investment firm operating in Europe and the US, the group will operate 23 serviced residences at 17-22 South Audley Street, Mayfair. Established…
British prime minister Boris Johnson opened a virtual global conference on COVID-19 on Monday (4) by calling on all countries to step up their efforts and work together on fighting the coronavirus pandemic, the “most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes”. The Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Conference was co-hosted…
THE Indian government has finalised plans to operate 64 flights from May 7 to 13 to bring home nearly 15,000 nationals stranded abroad due to the pandemic. These special flights would be operated by Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express to repatriate Indians from 12 countries -- the…
THE Hinduja Group expects oil prices to bounce back to around $40-$50 a barrel once the COVID-19 crisis is over, though the prices will not pick up in the near term. Gopichand Hinduja, co-chairman of Hinduja Group and one of the richest businessmen in the UK, said that oil prices…
A US government panel on Tuesday (28) called for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist over a "drastic" downturn under prime minister Narendra Modi, triggering a sharp rebuttal from New Delhi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends but does not set policy, and there is…
Hundreds of millions of people around the world will spend the Easter holiday at home as lockdown measures intensify to combat the coronavirus, a pandemic with a global death toll rapidly approaching 100,000. Governments have forced businesses to close and limited the movement of half the world's population, halting economic…
World powers scrambled on Thursday (9) to build a global response to the human tragedy and once-in-a-century economic collapse caused by the coronavirus epidemic, as death tolls in the US and Europe soared higher. In a locked-down New York, the UN Security Council was to meet on the pandemic for…
Former world champion Amir Khan said on Friday (3) that he is eager to end his boxing career with a lucrative bout against ring great Manny Pacquiao or in an all-British contest with Kell Brook. The 33-year-old Khan, who won his last bout with a fourth-round victory over Billy Dib…
More than 3.9 billion people, or half of the world's population, are now being called on to remain in their homes to combat COVID-19, according to an AFP tally on Thursday (2). The measures -- which include compulsory or recommended confinement, curfews and quarantines -- are in place in more…
BANGLADESH has reported two more COVID-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 56. The country has reported six deaths so far from the disease. Meanwhile,a 70-year-old man died while in home quarantine in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila on Wednesday night. He had been put in…
THE number of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has risen to 2,007 with more than 150 confirmed in the last 24 hours, officials said Wednesday (1). The country’s death toll jumped to 26, while 12 patients are in critical condition. According to the Federal Health Ministry, the number of confirmed…
INDIA and Pakistan have sealed off centres belonging to a Muslim missionary group and began investigating how many coronavirus cases were linked to its activities. Tablighi Jamaat is a Deobandi Sunni Muslim missionary movement that preaches worldwide. Every year, tens of thousands attend its congregations in the Pakistani city of…
Worshippers crowded into mosques in Pakistan on Friday (27), defying warnings about the fast-spreading coronavirus and fuelling fears of a public health crisis in the impoverished country. In contrast to many other Muslim countries, Pakistani clerics and government officials have refused to close mosques attended by millions each week, where…
A 63-year-old man died on Tuesday (17) in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital and second larget populous city, due to coronavirus, health ministry said. This is the third death in India due to COVID-19 and the total number of positive cases rose to 137. Many states have reported their first cases…
INDIA plans to take advantage of low prices for oil from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to top up its strategic petroleum reserves (SPR), say sources in the know. Global oil prices have fallen around 40 per cent in March as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has…
INDIA has recorded its first death due to coronavirus in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka. The victim, a 76-year-old man who passed away on Tuesday, was tested positive for the coronavirus, the Karnataka health department confirmed the same on Thursday (12). "The 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who passed away and was…
INDIAN stocks on Monday (9) recorded their worst single-day fall in more than four years, tracking global markets lower, as panic over the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak intensified and oil prices plummeted. The NSE Nifty 50 index closed down 4.90 per cent at 10,451.45, its worst daily decline…
INTERNATIONAL arms exports over the five years from 2015 to 2019, grew by 5.5% from the 2010-2014 period, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). However, arms imports by India and Pakistan decreased by 32% and 39% respectively between 2010-14 and 2015-19. India retained its position…
INDIA'S business tycoon Mukesh Ambani has lost his crown as Asia's richest person to Jack Ma after the latest rout across global markets wiped almost $6 billion (£5bn) off his fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. All told, the world's 500 richest people lost $238.5bn on Monday (9), according…
Saudi Arabia reopened on Saturday (7) the area around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Saudi authorities this week suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage, during which worshippers circle the Kaaba seven times, and…
AN Indian national is among 15 new cases of the deadly coronavirus in the UAE, taking the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 45, health officials said on Saturday (7). The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said in a statement that 13 out of 15 new…
Globally, women-led businesses face a credit gap of $1.5 trillion, estimates the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private-sector lending arm. The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), based at the World Bank, is designed to help address this funding shortage and help remove other barriers women entrepreneurs face,…
Two foreign trawlers packed with over $33 million worth of heroin and crystal methamphetamine were seized in Sri Lanka's biggest-ever drugs bust at sea, a navy spokesman said on Thursday (5). Troops found 400 kilogrammes (about 880 pounds) of heroin and 100 kilogrammes (about 220 pounds) of the drug "ice"…
INDIAN entrepreneur Ritesh Agarwal-led hotel chain is on a global restructuring plan axing thousands of jobs in China. The latest move by the loss-making Oyo has come when coronavirus disruption has hit the tourism industry badly in the world’s most populous country. According to the media reports, in a matter…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it has reached an agreement with the Pakistani authorities "on policies and reforms" needed to complete the second review of the $6 billion loan approved for the cash-strapped country's fragile economy, a media report said on Friday (28). In July last year, the…
By Asjad Nazir THERE are a number of interesting movies from all over the world to cater to diverse audiences. While some will come straight out of places like India and Pakistan, others will be international films featuring South Asian talents. Eastern Eye’s annual preview looks at some of the…
SAUDI ARABIA has barred entry of pilgrims headed to Mecca, taking into view the rapid spread of coronavirus. Though no cases had been reported in the kingdom as yet, authorities announced the extraordinary decision after at least 240 cases of infection were confirmed around the Middle East, mainly in Iran.…
THE United Arab Emirates has issued a licence for a reactor at its Barakah nuclear power plant, the first in the Arab world, hailing it as a "historic moment" on Monday (17). The UAE has substantial energy reserves, but with a power-hungry population of 10 million it has made huge…
India is targeting defence exports worth $5 billion in the next five years in a bid to boost local manufacturing, prime minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday (5). The country is the world's second-largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, but Modi wants to…
Pakistan’s foreign minister said Monday (6) the country would not be dragged into any conflict between the US and Iran as he urged both sides to lower tensions following the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani last week. Pakistan shares a 997-kilometre (620-mile) border with Iran, and for decades has…
The world reacted with alarm on Friday after top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike in Baghdad, with many governments appealing for restraint. The attack was praised by US President Donald Trump's Republicans and close ally Israel, but elsewhere there were sharp warnings it could inflame…
LEADERS from many Muslim nations including Turkey and Iran gathered in Malaysia on Wednesday (18) to tackle issues agitating Muslims globally at a summit that has been snubbed by Saudi Arabia and its close ally Pakistan. At a welcome dinner for the guests, Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said the…
Mumbai City FC head coach Jorge Costa has alleged that the referee, who officiated his side's Indian Super League match against Bengaluru FC, called one of his players a monkey, a charge which the national federation will investigate. Before starting his media conference after Mumbai City FC's 3-2 win over…
CASH-STRAPPED Pakistan received a $1.3-billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday (6) to support the country's public finances and shore up the slowing economy. Pakistan is facing a serious economic crisis with short supplies of foreign currency reserves and stagnating growth in recent years. Since assuming power…
Before he flew to Thailand on a fake Bangladeshi passport and then crossed into Malaysia, Mohammed Imran was one of the most influential Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. He headed an 18,000-strong camp and represented them on the big stage. In late 2017, at the peak of a mass exodus of…
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan on Tuesday (19) in an air ambulance to seek medical treatment in London, his party said, a month after the three-time premier was released on bail from a seven-year prison sentence for corruption. Sharif, 69, was accompanied by his younger brother and personal…
INDIA sent more than 202,000 students to the US in 2018-19, the second largest after China which for the tenth consecutive year remained the largest source of foreign students in America, according to a report released on Monday (18). The '2019 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange' said the…
PAKISTAN'S fiscal deficits are narrowing, the IMF said on Friday (8) as it announced it would release the first tranche of its $6 billion financial assistance programme to the country. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed the three-year rescue package for Pakistan in April - its 13th bailout programme for…
Concerns have been raised after a mother-of-seven from Birmingham disappeared in Mecca while on a pilgrimage. Zahida Begum, 64, left for Saudi Arabia on Sunday, October 27, with her son, and three days later she disappeared from her hotel in Mecca. Her son, Fiaz Rashid, has been searching for Begum…
INDIA'S largest airline, IndiGo, and Qatar Airways will make a strategic business announcement on Thursday (7), which media reports said would involve a codeshare agreement. IndiGo shares, which rose as much as five per cent early in the day, pared those gains to trade up one per cent in the…
Bangladesh called on Sunday (3) for a migrant worker to be repatriated from Saudi Arabia after her tearful video alleging sexual abuse highlighted the exploitation faced by poor Asians working abroad. Since 1991, some 300,000 Bangladeshi women have travelled to the Gulf nation to work, according to the ministry of…
India prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (29) pressed for the reform of the United Nations while expressing regret over some countries using the global body as a "tool" rather than an "institution" to resolve conflicts. During an on-stage discussion with founder, co-chairman and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates,…
INDIA and Saudi Arabia are moving from a purely buyer-seller relationship towards a closer strategic partnership that will include the resource-rich Kingdom's investments in downstream oil and gas projects in the country, prime minister Narendra Modi has said. Saudi Arabia is its second-biggest supplier after Iraq. It sold 40.33 million…
Pakistan on Saturday (26) said it denied India's prime minister Narendra Modi permission to fly through its airspace due to "ongoing grave human rights violations" in Indian-administered Kashmir. The decision came with tensions simmering between the two nuclear-armed arch rivals over the disputed Himalayan region. It is the third time…
INDIA and Saudi Arabia will sign a raft of key pacts to significantly ramp up ties in several sectors including oil and gas, renewable energy, and civil aviation during Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Gulf nation beginning Monday (28). The major pacts to be signed included…
BRITISH boxer Amir Khan is preparing for a blockbuster showdown and believes the time is right for a fight with either Manny Pacquia or Kell Brook. The 32-year-old will take the rest of the year off before resuming training in early 2020. He only fought twice in 2019. Khan was…
INDIA has jumped 14 places to take the 63rd position in the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking released on Thursday (24), figuring among the top 10 performers on the list for the third time in a row mainly due to the successful implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy…
MAHATMA Gandhi's life and legacy were remembered by people across the world on his 150th birth anniversary on Wednesday (2) with several countries, including France and Sri Lanka, releasing commemorative postage stamps and organising events to mark the day. Indian missions across the world held commemorative events where leaders and civil…
DESPITE reeling under the impact of worst ever attacks on its oil installations, Saudi Arabia has said that it is looking at investing $100 billion in India in areas of petrochemicals, infrastructure and mining among others, considering the country's growth potential. Saudi Ambassador Dr Saud bin Mohammed Al Sati has…
AHEAD of the festival season, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed to supply extra cooking gas LPG to India to make up for the shortfall in supplies from its principal supplier Saudi Arabia. While oil supplies from Saudi Arabia have not been impacted in the aftermath of a massive attack…
By Nadeem Badshah PILGRIMS are being urged to take extra precautions while visiting holy sites so that they can handle the scorching temperatures caused by global warming. Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have warned officials in Saudi Arabia over the increasing temperatures due to climate change…
EVERY fourth non-resident foreign national in the US in 2016 was an India, according to a report which states that about 60 per cent of the resident non-immigrants were citizens of Asian countries, with those from China accounting for 15 per cent. In 2016, there were an estimated 2.3 million…
TWO oil refiners in India will collect their full allocated volumes of the commodity from Saudi Arabia despite attacks on the Aramco facilities. Indian state refiners will get full volumes from Saudi Arabia for the next month, Reuters has reported quoting sources. Three other Asian refiners will also get their…
Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in wealthy countries and could become the world's biggest killer within just a few decades if current trends persist, researchers said on Tuesday. Publishing the findings of two large studies in The Lancet medical journal, the scientists said they…
BOOMING hospitality business OYO Hotels & Homes has acquired Danish firm Danamica for an undisclosed sum. The Copenhagen-based data science platform is specialised in dynamic pricing, the Rakesh Agarwal-founded company said on Monday (2). The latest acquisition has come a month after the India-based company announced its commitment to invest…
INDIA-based booming hospitality business group OYO Homes & Hotels has added Sheffield Metropolitan Hotel to its UK portfolio. The 112-guest room Sheffield Metropolitan Hotel is the largest addition to date to the portfolio of OYO. Located on the bank of River Don in Sheffield, the hotel will be operated by…
INDIAN hospitality firm OYO and German company Wirecard have announced that they are exploring collaboration opportunities to provide a suite of financial services to make payments for OYO hotels and home bookings across several regions in the world. Wirecard will explore ways to enable OYO with its digital financial services…
INDIAN hospitality firm OYO Hotels and Homes which has a notable presence in the UK has appointed Mandar Vaidya as the chief executive officer (CEO) for South-East Asia and the Middle East. The latest top-level appointment is effective from August 1, 2019, the company said on Wednesday (7). The latest…
BRITISH PAKISTANI boxer Amir Khan said he was assured that a fight against Manny Pacquiao was fully agreed before he announced it to the world. Last week, Pacquiao's camp denied reports that he would fight Khan in Saudi Arabia in November. Talking to Sky Sports about the misunderstanding, Khan said…
THE Swedish company that owns the UK-flagged oil tanker seized by Iran said today it had finally been able to contact its crew, among them Indians, being held on board and they declared themselves "safe". Stena Bulk said in a statement that the ship's captain "advised that everyone was…
Nearly one year after the election that brought Imran Khan to power in Pakistan, the cricket-hero-turned-prime-minister faces growing anger as he chases an elusive target: how to right the South Asian nation's teetering economy. Pakistan has been staring down the barrel of a balance of payments crisis since before last…
Manny Pacquiao's publicist has denied claims that the boxer will be fighting Amir Khan in Saudi Arabia in November. The British Pakistani boxer on Tuesday said he had signed a deal to fight Pacquiao on November 8, and the deal would happen even if the 40-year-old were to lose to…
British boxer Amir Khan claims he has agreed a deal to fight Manny Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia in November. Khan won the WBC international welterweight title with a fourth round stoppage of Australian Billy Dib in Jeddah on Friday. Now the 32-year-old plans to return to Saudi Arabia on November…
A senior Pakistani judge was sacked on Friday (12) following a scandal over blackmail claims relating to the jailing of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on corruption charges, the law ministry said. The removal of accountability court judge Arshad Malik prompted immediate calls by Sharif's PML-N party for the release…
BRITISH Pakistani boxer Amir Khan has defended pocketing £7 million for his fight in Saudi Arabia against Billy Dib. Khan will fight two-time World Champion Din on Friday in Jeddah, and he said the mega-money offer from Saudi Arabia stopped him from retiring. Khan said: “If I didn’t have this…
FIVE Sri Lankans suspected of having links to Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people were brought home in police custody on Friday (14) after being deported from Saudi Arabia, police said. Police declined to provide details of the arrests beyond saying the five were picked up in…
British boxer Amir Khan insists he doesn't regret agreeing to fight in Saudi Arabia despite concerns over human rights in the country. Khan is due to face India's Neeraj Goyat at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on July 12. Amnesty International have described the Saudi human rights record as…
A GIANT inflatable blimp depicting Donald Trump as a pouting baby in a diaper will fly outside the British parliament in London on Tuesday (4) ahead of what is expected to be one of the city's largest protests against a foreign leader. The six-meter (20 foot) high blimp will fly…
BOXER Amir Khan is set to take on India's Neeraj Goyat in an exhibition bout in Saudi Arabia, earning him a reported £7 million. The bout against the former MMA fighter is set to take place at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 12. "This…
INDIANS have surpassed the British nationals to top the list of top 10 nationalities investing in Dubai’s gold sector, latest report showed. The Indians lead the top 10 nationalities investing in Dubai's gold sector followed by the citizens of Pakistan, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Oman, Jordan, Belgium, Yemen, and Canada.…
Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik received crores of funds in his and his trusts' bank accounts from unidentified "well wishers" over the years for his speeches that spread "hatred and incited Muslim youths" to take up terrorism, an ED probe has found. The Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), Mumbai-based charity trust…
One month after the Sri Lanka suicide attacks that killed more than 250 people, investigators have told AFP the bombers used "Mother of Satan" explosives favoured by the Daesh (Islamic State) group that are a new sign of foreign involvement. Detectives said the back-pack bombs used in the April 21…
INDIA'S Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation's biggest oil firm, has tied up imports from the US and taken additional volumes from Saudi Arabia to make up for the bulk of the volumes lost because of sanctions prohibiting buying oil from Iran, top officials said today (17). Iran supplied more…
by SARWAR ALAM THREE Muslim soldiers who have recently returned from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, have spoken of their appreciation for the British Armed Forces who organised the trip. The trio were a part of a group of 10 military personnel from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force…
PAKISTAN has reached an accord with the International Monetary Fund for a three-year, $6 billion (£4.61bn) bailout package aimed at shoring up fragile public finances and strengthening a slowing economy, officials said on Sunday (12). The deal, which still needs approval by the IMF board in Washington, would be the…
CASH-strapped Pakistan's efforts to secure a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cost the country's finance minister, central bank governor, and top revenue officer their jobs as the global lender pressed Islamabad to take more steps to ensure fiscal discipline. The government on Saturday (4) night appointed…
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Romanian Doru Isac as its new technical director, selecting the 56-year-old from a list of over 60 prospective candidates. Isac, who has nearly three decades of experience in various coaching roles in several countries, last worked as the sporting director of three-times…
The Health Ministry is grappling with paucity of meningitis vaccines for Haj pilgrims as the only firm manufacturing them was asked to stop production last year after contamination was detected in their oral polio vaccines. According to sources in the Health Ministry, the only firm which manufactured the vaccines and…
INDIA will get additional supplies from other major oil producing countries to compensate for the loss of Iranian oil, India's petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today (23). The United States on Monday (22) demanded that buyers of Iranian oil stop purchases by May 1 or face sanctions,…
US president Donald Trump has decided to eliminate all waivers issued to eight economies including India allowing them to buy Iranian oil without facing US sanctions, the White House said today (22), while vowing to ensure global oil market was well supplied. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is expected to…
Pakistan's surging petrol prices have more than halved the income of taxi driver Yasir Sultan, just one of many consumers whose faith in a government elected last year on a pledge to help the poor has been shattered. Inflation at its highest in more than five years has shocked many…
Brunei on Wednesday introduced harsh new sharia laws -- including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex -- despite a storm of global criticism from rights groups. Although most Muslim nations incorporate elements of sharia law in their legal systems, very few carry out the harsher punishments -- known…
THE body of an Indian student killed in the Christchurch mosque attacks was returned Monday (25) to her grieving family in Kochi, where relatives remembered a bright young woman dedicated to her studies. Ansi Alibava, 25, was the first of at least five Indians shot dead by a white supremacist…
A Pakistani court sentenced a Czech national to over eight years in prison, more than a year after being arrested in the eastern city of Lahore for trafficking eight and a half kilograms of heroin. Tereza Hluskova -- a 22-year-old model -- has denied the charges and announced plans to…
INDIA’S budget airline IndiGo said it plans to start a service to the UK by the end of the year. Launching its Delhi-Istanbul flight service, the company added that it has been expanding its fleet of aircraft to connect more countries, among them the UK, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Saudi Arabia. IndiGo…
Iran's president Hassan Rouhani has demanded Pakistan act "decisively against anti-Iranian terrorists" in a phone call with the country's premier, Tehran said, a month after a bloody attack on security forces. Iran says a Pakistani suicide bomber was behind the February 13 attack that killed 27 Revolutionary Guards in its…
Tensions between India and Pakistan raged on Saturday (2) as heavy firing by their armies killed at least seven people on either side of their fiercely disputed Kashmir border. The nuclear-armed rivals fired mortars and artillery at each other despite the release of an Indian pilot who had been shot…
JOHNSON & JOHNSON has resumed production of its baby powder at plants in India after government tests found no asbestos in the product, the company said today (28). "Johnson & Johnson has resumed production of its Johnson's Baby Powder at plants in Baddi and Mulund, India, after government sanctioned testing…
A Pakistani court on Monday (25) rejected a plea by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to be released on bail and have a seven-year prison term over the ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia suspended, court documents showed. Sharif is currently serving a seven-year sentence imposed last year…
SAUDI ARABIA is looking at making India a regional hub for supply of crude oil and will invest billions of dollars in the country to build storage facilities and strengthen refineries, Saudi foreign minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said last week in New Delhi. Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest…
The US and the Taliban are to meet in Qatar for fresh talks Monday seeking an end to 17 years of grinding conflict in Afghanistan, with the stakes ratcheting higher as the spring fighting season approaches. Marathon talks held in Doha last month have stoked hopes of a breakthrough after…
SAUDI ARABIA'S crown prince Mohammed bin Salman said today (20) that he saw investment opportunities of more than $100 billion in India over the next two years as he began his first official visit amid tensions between India and Pakistan. India rolled out the red carpet for the crown prince as…
INDIA’S prime minister Narendra Modi broke with government protocol to personally welcome Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi this evening (19). Ordinarily, the prime minister would not receive a foreign dignitary at the airport, but instead send an official or a junior government minister. "A…
SAUDI Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in New Delhi today (19), with his business mission under threat of being overshadowed by soaring tensions between India and Pakistan. The crown prince, who wants to persuade the world's fastest growing major economy to consume more Saudi oil, was greeted at…
THE European Commission included Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a blacklist of nations that pose a threat because of lax controls on terrorism financing and money laundering, the European Union (EU) executive said today (13). The move has triggered criticism from several EU states worried about their economic relations with the listed states, notably Saudi…
SAUDI Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to announce investments in energy and infrastructure during a visit to India and Pakistan in coming days as part of his efforts to wean the Saudi economy off oil exports. He is also expected to visit China, Malaysia and Indonesia during a tour…
A record investment package being prepared by Saudi Arabia for Pakistan will likely provide welcome relief for its cash-strapped Muslim ally, while also addressing regional geopolitical challenges, analysts say. At the heart of the investment is a reported $10 billion refinery and oil complex in the strategic Gwadar Port on…
International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde used a meeting on Sunday (10) with Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan to reiterate calls for reforms to its struggling economy, but there was no sign of agreement on a bailout package. Pakistan is seeking what would be its 13th IMF bailout since the…
TWO communications satellites for India and a consortium from Saudi Arabia, Greece and Cyprus -- were successfully put into orbit by the European aerospace firm ArianeGroup, the company announced today (6). Competition by commercial operators in the lucrative rocket industry has intensified in the past few years, particularly since the…
The chairwoman of South Africa's state arms firm Denel is accompanying president Cyril Ramaphosa on a state visit to India on Friday (1), hoping to sign deals or agree new joint ventures which would help it emerge from severe financial difficulties. Denel has been plagued by years of mismanagement and…
More than 17 years after the US invasion of Afghanistan, Washington and the Taliban appear closer than ever to some sort of agreement that could bring the insurgents to the table for peace talks. However with the withdrawal of US troops seen as part of the deal, fears are rising…
Pladis, one of the world’s leading snacking companies, has appointed A Salman Amin as global CEO. Salman will be taking over the leadership officially in February. With a strong reputation in the food and drink sector, Salman takes up the role after a highly successful international career spanning three decades and three continents.…
Over 2,300 Muslim women from India will go on Hajj this year without a 'Mehram' or male companion as all those who applied under this category have been exempted from the lottery system, India's minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Wednesday (16). The Modi government had last year…
Saudi Arabia plans to set up a $10 billion oil refinery in Pakistan's deepwater port of Gwadar, the Saudi energy minister said on Saturday (12), speaking at the Indian Ocean port that is being developed with the help of China. Pakistan wants to attract investment and other financial support to…
The red carpet was rolled out for Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Islamabad Sunday, just weeks after his country offered $3 billion to support Pakistan's battered economy. In a rare gesture, prime minister Imran Khan met Al Nahyan at the Pakistan Air Force base and a formation of…
Western nations, including the US and Britain, have cautiously welcomed the results of the Bangladesh election in which prime minister Sheikh Hasina stormed back to power for a third successive term despite opposition allegations of vote rigging and violence. "The United States commends the tens of millions of Bangladeshis who…
Pakistan on Wednesday denounced the United States for placing it on a list of countries violating religious freedoms, calling the designation politically motivated. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Tuesday added mainly Muslim Pakistan to the US list of "countries of particular concern", which have violated religious freedoms or tolerated abuses against…
The United States said on Tuesday (11) it has added Pakistan to its blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom, ramping up pressure over its treatment of minorities. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he had designated Pakistan among "countries of particular concern" in a congressionally mandated annual report, meaning the US government is…
India's prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (30) met Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires and the two leaders discussed ways to boost economic and energy ties. "Had a fruitful interaction with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.…
Pakistan has extended talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the two sides failed to agree on the terms of a bailout package, a finance ministry official said on Tuesday (20), with a final deal now expected by mid-January. Pakistan is negotiating its second IMF bailout since 2013 and…
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, is considering to run for the American presidency in 2020, according to sources close to her. On Friday, at a Medtronic conference in Los Angeles, an eminent Indian-American Dr Sampat Shivangi introduced Gabbard, 37, and said that she could be…
by Amit Roy DAVID CAMERON, who was the UK prime minister for six years from 2010-2016, is still only 52. So what is he to do, considering he might have another 20-25 years of public service left? He could get a job in the private sector with a fat salary,…
Pakistan has removed the acting chief of state-run television after a caption read "Begging" instead "Beijing" during a broadcast of prime minister Imran Khan's visit to China, which has promised economic aid to the impoverished South Asian country. Khan was in Beijing seeking financial aid to help end a spiralling…
China will provide Pakistan with economic aid but more talks are needed on the details, a senior Chinese diplomat said, after new Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday (3). Pakistan's foreign reserves have plunged 42 per cent since the start of the year and…
Shortly after the US president Donald Trump announced in May he would reimpose sanctions on Iran, the State Department began telling countries around the world the clock was ticking for them to cut oil purchases from the Islamic Republic to zero. The strategy is meant to cripple Iran's oil-dependent economy…
Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan still plans to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) despite a Saudi Arabian offer of a $6 billion rescue package, and is in talks with two other "friendly nations" for more loans. Khan secured the Saudi package at a high-profile investment…
by Amit Roy THE utterly disgusting murder of the Saudi Arabian journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, inside his country’s consulate on October 2 has put the kingdom’s closest western allies, especially the UK, in an impossible situation. After initially lying that he walked out of the consulate unharmed and then suggesting he…
Pakistan still plans to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) despite a Saudi Arabian offer of a $6 billion rescue package, Pakistan's finance ministry said on Wednesday (24). "Yes, we are going ahead into programme negotiations with (IMF) in the first week of November," Noor Ahmed, spokesman…
Pakistan is seeking loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and friendly countries to reservice debt and shores up its economy, prime minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday (23). "What we are hoping is that we do a bit of both, get a loan from IMF and other loans from friendly…
Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced Friday that prime minister Imran Khan will attend a Saudi Arabian investment conference, despite a string of cancellations from leading policy-makers and corporate chiefs over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The decision comes a day after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and senior ministers from…
From cutting power subsidies to forcing currency devaluations that stoke inflation, the hard choices facing Pakistan as it seeks a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pose a major headache for populist new prime minister Imran Khan. Pakistani officials met IMF representatives this week in Bali and formally requested…
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude oil exporter, will supply Indian crude oil buyers with an additional four million barrels of crude oil in November, several sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday (10). The extra supply indicates a willingness by Saudi Arabia to increase crude oil supply to…
Senior US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has arrived in Kabul for talks with Afghan leaders, an official said Sunday, in his first trip to the Afghan capital since being appointed to lead peace efforts with the Taliban. The visit by Khalilzad, a former US ambassador to Kabul, Baghdad and the United…
Saudi Arabia has agreed in principle to invest in a new oil refinery in Pakistan's deep-water port of Gwadar, the South Asian nation's petroleum minister said on Thursday (4). State-owned Pakistan State Oil will partner with Saudi state oil giant Aramco on the project, Petroleum minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told…
After lengthy delays, an $8.2 billion revamp of a colonial-era rail line snaking from the Arabian Sea to the foothills of the Hindu Kush has become a test of Pakistan's ability to rethink signature Chinese "Silk Road" projects due to debt concerns. The rail megaproject linking the coastal metropolis of…
In a sparse, wood-floored studio, Saudi women squat, lunge and do headstands. Even a year ago, teaching these yoga postures could have rendered them outlaws in the conservative Islamic kingdom. Widely perceived as a Hindu spiritual practice, yoga was not officially permitted for decades in Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam where…
Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan arrived in Saudi Arabia Tuesday (18) on his first foreign visit since coming to power, with speculation swirling that he may be seeking economic assistance from the oil-rich ally. The two-day trip began exactly one month after Khan assumed office, with Pakistan possibly seeking billions of dollars in assistance from…
by LAUREN CODLING TWO debutantes have praised the tradition for helping to create friendships and global connections, as the latest ball is set to take place on Saturday (8). Debutante balls have been a social tradition since 1780. It symbolised a rite of passage for generations of the British aristocracy…
Following a month-long crackdown, US authorities arrested more than 300 people, including six Indian Americans, for criminal activities and violating the country's immigration laws. The 30-day crackdown by the US Immigration and Customers Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations across the six states of Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin…
MUSLIM pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Monday (20) for the climax of the annual Hajj, which brings together more than two million people from around the world. Worshippers scaled the rocky hill southeast of the holy city of Mecca for a day of prayers and repentance. Arms…
More than two million Muslims from around the globe started the hajj pilgrimage on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest annual gatherings in a country undergoing unprecedented change. The ultra-conservative kingdom -- where religion remains a guiding force amid dramatic social and economic reforms -- has mobilised…
Once Pakistan's election winner Imran Khan forms a government, there will be little time to bask in his triumph: the country's next prime minister will inherit a critical economic situation, and analysts say he must act fast. The new leadership may be forced to seek a bailout from the International Monetary…
The United States of America continues to be the most preferred destination for Indian students, revealed data provided by the Indian government. As many as 752,725 students from India are currently studying abroad, India's minister of state for external affairs Gen. (Retd) VK Singh said. Indian students are currently enrolled…
THE mother of a female student who was gang raped and killed on a Delhi bus more than five years ago supported a poll of experts on Wednesday (27) that ranked India as the world's most dangerous country for women. India topped the survey of 548 experts in women's issues…
Shortly after a Thomson Reuters Foundation poll revealed that India was the most dangerous country for women, India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on prime minister Narendra Modi calling it a shame. "While our PM tiptoes around his garden making yoga videos, India leads Afghanistan, Syria and Saudi…
INDIA is the world's most dangerous country for women due to the high risk of sexual violence and being forced into slave labour, according to a poll of global experts released on Tuesday (26). War-torn Afghanistan and Syria ranked second and third in the Thomson Reuters Foundation survey of about…
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu feels that the victorious campaign at the Intercontinental Cup has helped the team prepare for the AFC Asian Cup. India thrashed Kenya earlier this month to lift the four-nation Intercontinental Cup played here. The event also involved New Zealand and Chinese Taipei. "The team as a…
Japan's SoftBank is planning to invest between $60-100 billion in a solar power project in India, a Japanese report said Friday, as the firm looks to expand its interests into various sectors. The report by public broadcaster NHK comes after SoftBank announced in March it would partner Saudi Arabia on a…
Surprising many, US president Donald Trump hosted his first Iftar dinner at the White House and sought co-operations from Muslims world over. Wednesday's Iftar dinner came as a shock to many considering Trump -- who frequently engages in anti-Muslim rhetoric -- skipped hosting such a party last year. During the…
Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister of India's southern state of Kerala, on Tuesday (5) said that the spread of Nipah, which has so far claimed 16 lives in the state, is under control. But he wants people to be more alert. "There is no alarming situation now. The spread of the…
by NADEEM BADSHAH NEWLYWEDS BELIEVE HOLY TRIP ‘GETS THEIR MARRIAGE OFF TO A GOOD START’ MORE British Muslim newlyweds are swapping a beach honeymoon in Dubai for a pilgrimage to Mecca as they embark on their married lives. Couples are doing the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia for…
India's prime minister Narendra Modi has found a place in Forbes' top 10 most powerful people in the world. Modi is in the ninth position and he is placed behind Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, who rank number one and two respectively. Forbes stated in the…
Saudi Aramco on Wednesday (11) announced a $44-billion deal to build a giant refinery complex in India with three Indian firms that will become a crucial new outlet for the world's biggest supplier. The refinery at Ratnagiri on the west coast will be able to process up to 1.2 million…
Bangladesh has launched a billion-dollar campaign to build hundreds of "model mosques", partly with Saudi funding, to try to counter radical Islam in the Muslim-majority country, officials said on Friday (6). Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who inaugurated work on nine mosques through a video conference on Thursday, is also trying…
Israel's El Al airline said it appealed on Wednesday (28) to the Supreme Court to cancel the authorisation of direct Air India flights between New Delhi and Tel Aviv via Saudi airspace. The Indian carrier began using the new route on March 22, reducing flight times between the two cities…
Air India launched on Thursday (22) the first scheduled service to Israel to be allowed to cross Saudi airspace, a sign of a behind-the-scenes improvement in ties between the Arab kingdom and the Jewish state. Flight AI 139 landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport about 30 minutes after its…
The man convicted in the rape and murder case of minor Zainab is contesting the death sentence given to him by an anti-terrorism court (ATC). In the appeal filed in Lahore High Court, Imran Ali alleges his trial was conducted in haste and therefore the verdict should be declared "null and…
MALDIVES president Abdulla Yameen refused today (8) to meet senior European diplomats who were the first foreign dignitaries to visit the country since his crackdown on the islands' judiciary. Envoys from Britain, the European Union and Germany arrived in the capital, Malé, after top judges and several other dissidents were…
by NADEEM BADSHAH A GROWING number of south Asian doctors are leaving the UK to work in cities like Dubai because of work pressures, according to a group for overseas medics. The United Arab Emirates, Australia and Canada are the three most popular countries for south Asians who worked for…
The brutal rape and murder of seven-year-old Zainab earlier this month had resulted in widespread protests across Pakistan, with various groups blaming law enforcement officials for doing very little for the safety of children in Kasur. There has been a series of similar killings in Kasur over the past couple of…
India's Hindu nationalist government is ending a decades-long policy of offering discounted airfares to Muslims embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage, it announced on Tuesday (16). The right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party has accused its opponents in the Congress party -- who introduced the Hajj assistance scheme in the 1950s -- of…
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif today left for Saudi Arabia amid reports of a "deal" between the embattled Sharif family and the powerful military establishment. Sharif left for Saudi Arabia on a Saudi Airlines flight this evening. On his arrival he is scheduled to meet King Salman and Crown…
by LAUREN CODLING INDIA’S diaspora is the largest in the world, a United Nations (UN) report revealed on Monday (18). It is estimated there are 17 million Indians living abroad, with the report also showing that the umber of migrants from the south Asian country has doubled from 7.98 million…
Prime Minister Modi is set to meet Bharat Petroleum chief executive officer Bob Dudley, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H Naseer, Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Cairn India Chairman Anil Agarwal, among others, for a meeting. He would meeting the chiefs among oil major firms.This meeting…
The UK is the biggest consumer of online Islamist extremist terror content in Europe, a new report by a think tank said today amid a spurt in terror attacks in the country. The Policy Exchange study titled The NewNetwar found that Britain also ranks fifth in terms of world audience…
The concept of Indian-style women- only carriages on UK trains should be adopted to combat sexual offences against women which have nearly doubled recently, a Labour MP has said. Chris Williamson, MP for Derby North, believes it is "worth consulting" on the policy after such crimes nearly doubled in the…
Twenty-nine-year-old Ali, a native of Jharkhand and a relative of a 2007 Glasgow airport attack suspect, was deported from Saudi Arabia in connection with the case. He is also accused of conspiring with other al-Qaeda members of organizing and making provocative speeches to recruit Indian youths and establishing a base for the…
A majority of Indian students who come to the UK for higher education tend to leave at the end of their degree, according to official data released today. Between April 2016 and April 2017, as many as 7,469 Indian students left before the expiry of their student visas with only…
Internet services were disrupted across Pakistan for about 38 hours due to a fault in the India-Middle East-Western Europe submarine cable, affecting flight services and other activities. The Internet services were restored across the country today (6) after the disruption caused by the fault in the undersea internet cable, a…
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan's interim prime minister, is a long-time loyalist of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif and one of the wealthiest parliamentarians in the country. Abbasi, 58, hails from the famous hill resort of Murree in Rawapindi district of Punjab province and was minister for petroleum in the ousted government.…
A cafe in Dhaka named after Donald Trump has been luring Bangladeshis undeterred by his controversial politics and more interested in snapping selfies with a life-size cutout of the US president. The cafe was opened in January by a self-professed Trump fan who rejects the notion that the US president…
EXCLUSIVE by REENA KUMAR LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will prioritise tackling race inequality and injustice in British society if he is elected prime minister. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye in Euston on Tuesday (6), just two days before the public were due to go to…
US HOMELAND security officials met major US airlines and a trade group yesterday (11) to discuss the impact of possibly expanding a ban on large electronic gadgets on planes to flights from some European airports, three sources briefed on the meeting said. The afternoon meeting included executives from Delta Air…
Police said on Friday (24) they had made two further "significant" arrests over the Islamist-inspired terror attack on parliament, as they appealed for information about the homegrown killer who left four people dead. Nine people are now in custody over Wednesday's (22) rampage in Westminster, in which at least 50…
Indians have emerged the top foreign property investors in Dubai, spending over $3.2 billion last year alone, according to the Dubai Land Department. The total real estate investments last year reached Dh91 billion ($2.4bn) from 55,928 investors and Indians were ranked highest in terms of both volume and value among…
Qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup finals is essential for India if football in the country is to continue to develop in the wake of the success of the Indian Super League, according to coach Stephen Constantine. India, currently ranked 132nd in the FIFA world rankings, have never played in…
Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said he would ask the Supreme Court set up an investigation into revelations about his finances made in the leaked Panama Papers, bowing to opposition demands to strengthen the enquiry. Sharif has already set up a commission that he promised will clear him of…
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will appear before parliament to answer questions on the Panama Papers leak that linked his family to offshore wealth, an official said on Tuesday, after lawmakers walked out of the assembly. Leaked documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama last month showed Sharif’s…
India said on Sunday (31) that it would attempt to bring back Indian workers from Saudi Arabia who are struggling to survive as a result of losing their jobs. It said that it would be sending a government minister to the middle eastern country to try to bring back more…
ACTOR ABHISHEK BACHCHAN has fan clubs around the world including a popular one based out of the Middle East, run by Layla from Saudi Arabia along with Tabassum and Mona from United Arab Emirates. The die-hard admirers of Abhishek Bachchan keep everyone updated about him. Eastern Eye caught up with…
An Indian minister visited Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (August 3) to try to bring home thousands of laid-off Indian workers stranded without money for food or plane tickets, while Riyadh said it would swiftly resolve the crisis. Indian officials said more than 6,200 of the stranded workers had been employed…
BRITAIN is the country most worried about immigration and border control, according to a global survey published yesterday (13) as the government vowed to crack down on migration as it prepares to leave the European Union. Forty-two per cent of Britons surveyed said they feared immigration, compared to 41 per…
The Hindu-American community is divided on US president Donald Trump’s new executive orders on immigration with some calling it “fundamentally illegal,” while others asking for including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the list of nations whose citizens have been denied entry in the US. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed…
For the first time, the Trump administration has indicated that Pakistan could be included in a list of Muslim-majority countries from where immigration to the US has been banned by President Donald Trump. “The reason we chose those seven countries was, those were the seven countries that both the Congress…
India was the world’s largest importer of major arms in the last five years and its overseas procurement was far greater than that of China and Pakistan, a Stockholm-based think-tank said on Monday (20). As per latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India accounted for 13…
A US federal judge on Friday (3) ordered a temporary, nationwide halt to President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, in the most severe legal blow to the controversial measure. The restraining order issued by Seattle US District Judge James Robart is valid nationwide pending a full…
The bodies of the two Indian nationals killed in the mass shooting that took place in Istanbul’s Reina nightclub during New Year’s Eve celebrations were brought home on Wednesday morning (4). Indian union minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed via Twitter on Sunday (1) that fashion designer Khushi Shah and filmmaker and…
A US federal judge on Friday (3) ordered a temporary, nationwide halt to President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, in the most severe legal blow to the controversial measure. The restraining order issued by Seattle US District Judge James Robart is valid nationwide pending a full…