- Saturday, July 27, 2024
A GRADUATE from the early days of Warwick Business School has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Warwick. Karamjit Singh CBE, who began his career in 1971 as a research associate in the Industrial Relations Research Unit, now part of Warwick Business School, was named an honorary…
Iram Parveen Bilal has always had a brave approach and produces her finest work with this wonderful, taboo-busting Pakistani drama, which had its UK premiere at the recent London Indian Film Festival. The fearless filmmaker tells the story of a widowed single mother, a young Pakistani woman from a conservative…
Brown Sauce, a monthly comedy club for South Asian comedians, is partnering with Tara Theatre to present The Comedy Lab on 18 October. Participants will join a free one-day workshop in London, guided by comedy professionals. The workshop will end with a ticketed showcase event where participants will perform a…
US vice president Kamala Harris will campaign in the critical battleground state of Wisconsin on Tuesday (23) for the first time as a presidential candidate after enough Democratic delegates pledged to endorse her, clearing her path to the nomination. Harris has become the party's presumed nominee after president Joe Biden…
BRITAIN is not America. They do things differently there. The tale of two elections captures a stark contrast. Britain could hardly have had a smoother or more civil transfer of power, even after a record-breaking landslide. America is having its most tumultuous election since at least 1968, the last time…
Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is dropping out of the US presidential election and endorsing vice president Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's new nominee. Biden, 81, said that stepping down was in the "best interest of my party and the country" after facing pressure following a poor…
Republican US vice-presidential nominee Senator JD Vance on Wednesday highlighted the contributions of South Asian immigrants to America. He praised his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, during his acceptance speech for the Republican Party's nomination for vice president in the upcoming November 5 presidential election. “I am married to the daughter…
SOCIAL media posts of south Asians expressing hatred for their brown skin and parts of their culture have triggered concern among experts. Videos on TikTok include an influencer who said he disliked being brown skinned, growing up as an Asian teenager due to the 9/11 terror attacks and revealed he…
BRITISH Asians are at a greater risk of health problems after government figures showed that they continue to do less exercise than other groups. The percentage of people from a south Asian background doing at least 150 minutes of moderate or intense physical activity a week was 55 per cent,…
AZAN AHMED hopes his leading role in After Sex will help change the perception of characters Muslim actors are willing to play. Described as an erotic two-hander, After Sex opened at north London’s Arcola Theatre on Tuesday (16) and explores the relationship of a couple through a series of post-coital scenes. Writer…
SIX people including four Pakistanis, one Indian were killed and nearly 30 wounded in a shooting near a Shiite mosque in the Omani capital Muscat, officials said Tuesday (16), a rare attack in the otherwise stable Gulf sultanate. Monday's (15) mosque attack, which has yet to be claimed, came as…
GIRLS from a Bradford Islamic school are participating in a new initiative designed to encourage pupils from under-represented backgrounds to apply to the University of Oxford. Feversham Girls' Academy in Undercliffe recently hosted the launch of the BeUNIQ programme, with Oxford's director of undergraduate admissions and outreach, Samina Khan MBE,…
India’s film industry has a crop of leading actresses. They are the epitome of ‘it-girls’ who are also pacesetters in fashion and style. From what they wear on screen to how they look at the biggest Valorant tournaments, everyone wants to get a piece. This publication honours their elegance, skill,…
LOOK closely at last Thursday’s (4) general election results, and you’ll have noticed a political tremor when it came to south Asian voters. A tremor which could become an earthquake at the next general election, and all the mainstream parties should think the unthinkable. These polls have shown that even…
ACE jewellery designer Anisha Parmar has teamed up with top style and fashion expert Neelam Mistry-Thaker for the Adorned Narratives 2024 event taking placed from next Friday (19) to Sunday (21) at The Lab E20 in east London. The three-day culturally rich event includes yoga, a sharing circle, jewellery…
PEOPLE in Leicester East voted along religious lines which saw the country’s only Conservative gain, sources from several political parties have told Eastern Eye. They have also warned that the city is “sitting on a religious powder keg just waiting to explode” following tensions in August and September 2022. The…
YOUNG Asian artists have urged established figures from the industry to help support aspiring creatives from minority backgrounds to nurture their talent and have a “network of people from a similar background”. International drama graduates Saadiya Ali and Noel Prasad will feature their double show, Hot Goss, based on the…
LISA NANDY, the new culture secretary and the only person of Indian origin in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet, is being urged to nurture the British Asian artistic fraternity. Mira Kaushik, artistic director of the dance group Akademi and a judge in Eastern Eye’s Arts, Culture & Theatre Awards (ACTA), said:…
I’VE lived in Bradford all my life. I am so fond of the city, but there’s an invisible threat on our doorstep that’s a constant concern for my family and on a bad day, it can leave us coughing, wheezing and fighting for breath. As someone who has asthma, exposure…
AN ASIAN-ORIGIN lifestyle coach with type 2 diabetes hosts six short films on the illness and how to cope with it. The films are produced by The Adda Club, featuring lifestyle coach Monir Ali, and cover various topics, including diet, exercise, and lifestyle. The films are in English and have…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated Keir Starmer on Friday (5) for his "remarkable victory" in Britain's general election, while praising his outgoing counterpart Rishi Sunak for deepening bilateral ties. "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to @Keir_Starmer on the remarkable victory," Modi wrote on the social media platform X. "Thank…
A festival featuring award-winning magic, comedy, dance and free family activities is set to take place next week to celebrate the start of South Asian Heritage Month. Five events will be held as part of the Sensasian festival, which will be held at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme in…
Pakistani star Fawad Khan is expected to return to Indian cinema with a rom-com, which also stars Vaani Kapoor. Aarti Bagdi has come on board to direct the project, which will be shot entirely in the UK. "Fawad Khan has a massive international pull given his popularity amongst South Asians…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to listen to Asian communities, saying he would like its business leaders to play an integral part in the UK’s rejuvenation, should the party win the election on Thursday (4). In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye on the sidelines of a visit to…
Newham is set to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month from 18 July to 17 August with a vibrant and diverse programme under the theme 'Free to be Me.' The month-long celebration aims to raise awareness and honour the rich British South Asian heritage in Newham. It promises a rich cultural…
New Delhi on Friday rejected the US State Department's 2023 religious freedom report on India, calling it "deeply biased" and one that does not understand the South Asian nation's social fabric. The report, released on Wednesday, noted violent attacks on minority groups, especially Muslims and Christians, including killings, assaults and…
Preparations are in full swing for the wedding of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant. Mumbai is abuzz with excitement as Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are set to tie the knot soon. The Ambanis are planning…
Rishi Sunak expressed his hurt and anger after a supporter of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party was recorded making a racist slur about him. Sunak, Britain’s first ethnic-minority prime minister, was responding to comments aired by Channel 4 News. A man identified as Andrew Parker was recorded calling Sunak a…
ALMOST 50 per cent of adults in India engaged in insufficient levels of physical activity in 2022, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health journal. Far more women in India (57 per cent) were found to be insufficiently physically active, compared with men (42 per cent), in…
THE prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has told Eastern Eye that his faith and dharma have helped to guide him through difficult times. He also revealed how the “mantle of the office” adds weight to his responsibilities. Sunak spoke exclusively to Eastern Eye during a visit to the Shree Kutch Satsang…
AS WITH Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, the National Trust is keen for British Asians to visit Powis Castle in Welshpool in Wales, because it is taking a critical look at how Britain came to establish colonial rule in India. From the Asian point of view, they are perhaps two of…
Influencer pay disparities remain a pressing issue, highlighting how social media stars are compensated differently based on their ethnicity. Jessica Joseph, head of the British influencer agency Season25, noted a marked shift in advertiser engagement during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. "There was a great period when we worked…
Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar will be serving as a jury member for the shorts category for the 2024 edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). The film gala, which will run from June 27 to 30, will screen 20 films, including seven narrative features, twelve shorts, and one…
Our editor-at-large, Barnie Choudhury, meets Rajesh Agrawal, one of the hopefuls to take a seat usually regarded as a Labour stronghold. Leicester is one of those cities in middle England which gets ignored in general elections. No big-name politicians really grace us with their presence – no Rishi, no Keir,…
THE first south Asian MP elected to parliament in post-war Britain is urging voters to judge him on his record rather than what they may have heard or read about him in the media. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Keith Vaz said he wanted to run so he…
WHETHER it has been performing for the first minister of Scotland, in Trafalgar Square or at various concerts around the UK, the Chahat. Mahmood Ali Qawwali Group have been a revelation, ever since they made a stunning debut for the Newham mayor’s South Asian Heritage month event last summer. …
ACCLAIMED Kathak exponent Ashwini Kalsekar is known for her expressive performances and ability to create magic on stage. The London-based dancer, choreographer and teacher is one of three leading female artists headlining the Utsav 2024 show taking place at Harrow Arts Centre in London on July 21. She joins sarod…
A leading disease specialist has questioned whether Britain is ready to tackle the next global pandemic. Kamlesh Khunti, professor of primary care diabetes and vascular medicine at the University of Leicester, was one of several south Asian doctors who alerted the government to the disproportionate deaths among communities of colour…
ASIAN AMERICAN author VV Ganeshanathan has been awarded the 2024 Women’s Prize for fiction for her novel Brotherless Night. This evocative tale, which centres on a family torn apart by the Sri Lankan civil war, earned Ganeshanathan a £30,000 cash prize and a bronze statuette known as the “Bessie.” Monica…
Created and directed by Nida Manzoor, the second season of We Are Lady Parts has turned out to be an instant success on Channel 4 in the UK and Peacock in the U.S. One of the major highlights of the new season was an appearance from the Nobel Peace Prize…
A host of leading figures from the British Asian community have been given awards in the King's Birth Honours List announced on Friday (14). Jasvinder Kaur Sanghera told Eastern Eye she was taken aback when she was awarded Damehood. Sanghera is the founded Karma Nirvana, a charity for south Asian…
THERE are special history-making concerts where everything comes together to create a perfect moment in time. One of those occurrences happened at the Royal Albert Hall in London recently. The UK’s leading live music venue saw a melting pot of contrasting influences come together as a beautiful ball of…
FOR many who grew up in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, particularly in south Asian households, a smack on the bottom was a standard part of childhood discipline. For some, the violence was even worse and left lasting scars. But times change, and what was once considered a harmless correction…
OPENING the annual London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) is always a great honour and this year that has been bestowed upon American drama Paper Flowers. The opening night movie of this year’s festival is based on the true story of a Gujarati American in a long-term relationship, who is diagnosed…
KHAYAM KHAN’S coming-of-age film allowed him to reconnect with Hyderabad – a city in south India he hadn’t been back to for 25 years, the director told Eastern Eye. A Game of Two Halves follows the journey of Sanjay (Saaj Raja), a young British student who finds himself in India…
BANGLADESH has turned into a "one-party" state as the ruling party stamps out political competition, Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, a pioneer of the global microcredit movement, said in an interview. An election in January won prime minister Sheikh Hasina a fourth straight term, but it was boycotted by the…
THE first post-war south Asian MP to be elected to parliament, Keith Vaz, is to run for his old seat, Leicester East – as an independent. The move will come as a big surprise to many in the world of politics, and it will cause fear among Labour ranks, sources…
WITH her deeply meaningful album Qasr, Sheherazaad beautifully explores displacement, the complexities of diaspora, the struggle to reclaim lost cultural roots, human experiences, and deep human emotions. Grammy award winner Arooj Aftab has produced the genre transcending five-track LP that enables American composer and vocalist Sheherazaad to show off her…
FUSION music perhaps played one of the biggest parts in shaping British Asian culture and one of the early pioneers was Najma Akhtar. Blending south Asian music rooted in centuries of rich culture with modern western contemporary sounds and performing on the biggest global stages enabled the path-breaking singer to…
We Are Lady Parts, the critically acclaimed British comedy about an all-girl Muslim punk rock band, is back with season two. The show stars Anjana Vasan and Juliette Motamed in lead roles, along with cameos from Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and BAFTA Award-winning actress Meera Syal. We Are…
Mumbai is abuzz with excitement as Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, prepare to tie the knot. The highly anticipated wedding will take place on July 12 at the prestigious Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla…
POLITICAL PARTIES must go after the south Asian vote in this general election or face a backlash in future polls, parliamentarians and experts have told Eastern Eye. They are warning candidates in every party that they ignore brown voters “at their peril”. With Labour currently 20 points ahead in the…
UK BROADCASTERS do not want to make programmes on the Bengal Famine of 1943 for fear it might tarnish Sir Winston Churchill’s reputation, a British Asian museum curator has told Eastern Eye. Sona Datta said that Kavita Puri had made a “remarkable breakthrough” by getting BBC Radio 4 to commission…
HIT comedy play Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding 2: Mauritius has been playing to packed houses during another successful UK tour. The current tour will conclude with a historymaking performance in London’s West End with a show at Adelphi Theatre on July 16. With nearly 100,000 tickets sold, it’s a great…
THE National Trust is encouraging British Asian visitors – especially Eastern Eye readers – to engage with their own history at Kedleston Hall, a magnificent estate in Derbyshire. This was once the home of the imperial ruler whose influence on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh lives on to this day. George…
REPRESENTATION of minority artists in the UK theatre scene has been increasing, but there is still room for improvement, said British Asian actor Purvi Parmar. Parmar, who has been part of the theatre scene for the past decade, stated that there needs to be greater exposure of theatre in the…
Torrential rains brought by cyclone Remal caused a collapse in a stone quarry in India's state of Mizoram, killing 15 people and trapping seven, while eight more died in landslides and other accidents elsewhere in the remote region, officials said. Weather authorities said the powerful cyclone had weakened into a…
ANISA BUTT has shown off her impressive range as a performer across theatre, film, TV and spoken word. The versatile actress is looking forward to taking on the lead role in new theatre play Permission, which premieres at The Space Theatre in London next Tuesday (28). The feminist story…
MORE than 10,000 more people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity in England, many of them of south Asian heritage, are to be offered the NHS’s “soup and shake” diet plan to help them lose weight. The radical NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is being rolled…
LIFE was going great for Sbba Siddique until her world turned upside down in March 2022. The devoted mother of three, wife, and host of a popular radio show was 53 years old when she received an ovarian cancer diagnosis. After surgeries and chemotherapy, she received an all clear and…
With two in three adults overweight in the UK, there has been a 39 per cent rise in the number of people under 40 being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last six years, according to media reports. The new figures from Diabetes UK show that cases of type…
SOME of the brightest talents from the British Asian community were recognised for their achievements in the arts at the annual Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) at the Mayfair Hotel in central London last Friday (17). One of Britain’s most accomplished and versatile artists, Osman Yousefzada, won…
TRAILBLAZING playwright Tanika Gupta believes there is an “invisibility cloak around British Asians” on getting community stories commissioned in the arts. In a career spanning more than three decades, Gupta has written award-winning plays such as The Waiting Room and Sanctuary at the National Theatre, The Empress at the Royal…
PERHAPS the most path-breaking British Asian music act of recent years has been the brilliant Orchestral Qawwali Project. The culturally rich group, combining Sufi poetry with grand orchestral arrangements and a music rooted in centuries old tradition, have drawn in cross-cultural audiences of all ages with their performances. A giant…
The Young Vic Theatre has appointed Nadia Fall as its new Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive. She will join the organisation in January 2025, succeeding current artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, who announced in February that he was stepping down. Nadia, who is currently the Artistic Director of Stratford East,…
BRIGHTON and Hove has its first South Asian Muslim mayor after councillors unanimously elected councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman to the largely ceremonial role. Traditionally, mayors take up the chains of office after many years of service on Brighton and Hove city council – not least as they are required to chair…
SWINDON has its first mayor of Indian, and Goan, heritage. The Labour member for Eastcott, Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh, who was first elected in 2018, took up the chains of office at the borough council’s formal annual meeting in front of a chamber packed not only with councillors and local and…
Focus Features has bought international rights to Hamlet, a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play of the same name. The film stars Riz Ahmed in the lead role, alongside Morfydd and Joe Alwyn. WME Independent and CAA are co-repping North American rights, while WME handles international sales. Hamlet reunites Ahmed…
The University of Leicester is enhancing its higher education partnership with India, highlighted by a visit from the consul general of India in Birmingham, who met with Indian students and university academics. Consul general Dr Venkatachalam Murugan recently visited the university and met with vice-chancellor and president Professor Nishan Canagarajah;…
In an exciting development for Bridgerton fans, British-Indian actress Banita Sandhu has made her debut in the third season of Netflix’s hit period drama. Sandhu portrays Miss Malhotra, a character introduced to the Bridgerton universe in this season, based on Julia Quinn's beloved book series. Banita Sandhu, known for her…
CAMPAIGNERS have questioned if the government department supporting victims of forced marriages is “fit for purpose” after official data suggested that there has been a significant drop in cases in the UK in recent years. The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint initiative between the Home Office and the Foreign,…
OVER 10,000 more people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity in England, many of whom are of Indian and south Asian heritage, will be offered the NHS's “soup and shake” diet plan to aid weight loss. The radical NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is being expanded…
US vice president Kamala Harris has said that the number of Indian Americans in elected offices does not reflect their growing population. She encouraged members of the minority ethnic community to run for elections more frequently. Harris, 59, who has both Indian and African heritage, spoke at “Desis Decide,” the…
The 2024 edition of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will be held in the city from October 19 to 24, the organisers announced on Wednesday. Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), which organises the festival annually, has invited filmmakers to submit their films for the latest edition. The early bird…
A councillor who has become Solihull’s first Muslim mayor says she is hoping her appointment will spread unity. Shahin Ashraf, the first person from an ethnic minority group to become mayor of the borough, received overwhelming support from councillors as she was appointed to the position on Tuesday (14). “I…
THE T20 World Cup will spread cricket awareness in the US, but eventually, it is the lure of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics that will attract local Americans to the game that is mainly played by expats, USA Cricket chairman Venu Pisike said. America is co-hosting the event…
HAVING studied drama at school and carved out a successful career as a singer/songwriter, acting on stage was always going to be an inevitable next step for Navin Kundra. The popular British music star has combined his acting, dancing and singing skills for brand new musical Frankie Goes To Bollywood.…
TEACHERS and campaigners have expressed their disappointment at new research showing the lack of south Asian artists mentioned in the school curriculum compared to their white counterparts. Only 2.3 per cent of stand-alone artists referenced in GCSE art and design exam papers are from black or south Asian backgrounds. And…
BALLY GILL has spent the last few years starring in the critically acclaimed shows Sherwood and Slow Horses, as well as the hit movie, Allelujah. Having made his name playing Romeo in The Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) production of Romeo and Juliet in 2018, Gill told Eastern Eye he is…
EXHIBITIONS mixing south Asian art from the past and present are like buses, it seems. There are none for ages and then two come along at the same time. At the Royal Academy, there has been Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change, which displayed the work of 34 great…
Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto and her Freebird Films Entertainment label have onboarded the animated kids TV show, Kiranmala & The Kingdom Beyond. The actress is set to lend her voice to the Moon Maiden, the biological mother to the lead character, Kiranmala. Additionally, she will executive-produce the series alongside…
A superhero film at the Cannes Film Festival? It is not what you think. Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, a staunchly feminist playable artwork with a pronounced South Asian accent, is a 30-minute virtual reality (VR) piece. It is in contention for the Best Immersive Work prize in a…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards 2024 witnessed a remarkable celebration of diversity and talent, with some South Asian artists winning top honours and leaving an indelible mark on the prestigious event. Among the winners who stood out were Mawaan Rizwan and Romesh Ranganathan, both claiming…
The 2024 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) announced its lineup for the 22nd annual edition of the acclaimed film festival. Taking to its official Instagram handle, IFFLA dropped a promo video along with the lineup announcement. The festival will be held between June 27 and 30 at Landmark…
NEW theatre play Permission follows a newly arrived Pakistani woman in London as she wrestles the expectations of being ‘respectable’, while being torn between a love for community and rebellion in a foreign land. The fiercely feminist production leaping between different worlds, looks at themes that include freedom and identity.…
WITH Narendra Modi tipped to win a third term as India’s prime minister, there will probably be even greater interest in a new book, Hindu Nationalism in the Indian Diaspora: Transnational Politics and British Multiculturalism. This is because the assertive Hindu nationalism – labelled as ‘Hinduvta’ – is associated with…
IN HIS decade in power, prime minister Narendra Modi stands accused of eroding Indian democracy down to its bones – suppressing dissent and freedom of expression, taking India into the grip of unbridled authoritarianism, and earning the country the tag of an ‘electoral autocracy’ from Freedom House. [caption id="attachment_294146" align="alignright"…
MORE than 30 shows already scheduled of her newly commenced UK tour and many getting sold out well in advance, illustrates just how incredibly popular Sukh Ojla has become. That success is a result of a stunning rise on the stand-up circuit in a relatively short space of time, which…
RE-ELECTED London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the rest of the country to follow the lead of Londoners and reject the Conservative Party’s “racist” and “fear-mongering” politics at the next general election. Khan, 53, last Saturday (4) secured a historic third term in office, the first London mayor to…
The Met Gala has always been a pinnacle of glamour, creativity, and cultural significance in the world of fashion. This year, it was even more dazzling as several South Asian women graced the red carpet, showcasing their unique style and heritage with poise and elegance. Among the divas who stole…
Belgium-set Indian immigrant drama Minimum opened the 26th UK Asian Film Festival at the BFI IMAX in London on May 2. The film stars Saba Azad, Naseeruddin Shah, Moushumi Chatterjee, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Namit Das, Tasneem Ali, and Vansh Luthra in lead roles and is directed by Rumana Molla. Indian origin,…
LABOUR remain the largest party on Bolton Council despite being two councillors down today. They gained a seat in Bradshaw from the Tories and dramatically lost a councillor in Astley Bridge where Conservative candidate Toby Hewitt won by a single vote. Labour also lost to an Independent, Ayyub Chota Patel…
Over 700 guests gathered at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday evening for the celebration of Vaisakhi, a major holiday in Sikhism, as part of the stadium's "Faith & Football" event series. Vaisakhi is celebrated by Sikhs around the world each year to mark the creation of the Khalsa in 1699 by…
THE Sikh festival of Vaisakhi was celebrated at Lord’s last Wednesday (24) for the first time at the hallowed cricket ground. Organisers, the England and Wales Cricket Board, said the event “was a wonderful evening, celebrating Vaisakhi in the Lord’s Long Room for the first time.” Guests from the Sikh…
MORE needs to be done to tackle barriers stopping south Asians attending eye screenings that prevent diabetic-related blindness, according to researchers. People from south Asian communities are known to be up to six times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than the general population. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication…
The weather in the Indian subcontinent is hot and dry, where the countries are facing heatwaves, forecaster recorded the hottest April month in Bangladesh since 1948. "2024 was the hottest April since 1948 in terms of hot days and area coverage in the country," Bangladesh Meteorological Department senior forecaster Muhammad…
THE police are losing the trust of their communities because of weak leadership, “wilful blindness”, and politicians “bullying” chief constables, the country’s former top south Asian cop has told Eastern Eye. In a wide-ranging interview for this paper, Neil Basu, former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner and head of counter terrorism,…
Lila, a newly launched initiative designed to reshape the equities of South Asian participation in the UK music industry and bridge the gap in representation and support, was launched in partnership with the Center for Music Ecosystems, a global research and development organisation. Lila's first venture sees it as a…
The disbursement of $1.1 billion (£880 million) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will help Pakistan achieve greater economic stability, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday, amid discussions for a new loan programme. The funding was the second and final tranche of Pakistan's $3bn (£2.39bn) standby arrangement with the…
BANGLADESH again closed all primary schools across the country and educational institutions in almost half of districts including the capital as a severe heatwave saw temperatures climb above 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) on Monday. Schools across the country that closed last week due to the heatwave reopened on Sunday…
Kaur, an acclaimed short film that debuted last year on British streamers ITVX and BritBox, is set to be remade as a feature-length film. The short film stars Parvinder Shergill in the lead role. It bills itself as “the first film in history” to follow the story of a British…
WATCHING films, combined with a deep love for performing from a very young age, first connected Laila Zaidi to acting. She went from performing in front of her family with mini concerts at home to carving out a successful career as an actress, which has seen her combine winning work…
AUTHOR Shalina Patel said her own experience of not learning about the history she was interested in at school led her to write her new book, The History Lessons. “I was really interested in Indian history. I was really interested in learning about empire, about different groups, women, for example.…
THE second book from the UK’s first independent publisher for British South Asian writers has found talent from around the world for a series of short stories and essays around food. After a great introduction to the central theme of food and cooking being a uniting force, the book offers…
LET'S be clear, Sangita Myska is a star journalist and broadcaster. Like me, but a while later, she was a BBC trainee. Unlike me, she successfully navigated the corporation’s shark-infested waters, becoming an immensely popular correspondent. During my 24-year BBC career, I had the privilege of often sitting in the…
Brighton council has approved plans for an annual multi-faith event to commemorate the role of Indian soldiers in the two world wars at the town's India Gate memorial from this October. The India Gate was presented to the people of Brighton by the “princes and people of India” as a…
TECH billionaire Elon Musk postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing obligations at his Tesla automaker and saying he aimed to reschedule the visit for later this year. "Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed,…
Glastonbury’s Shangri-La has announced its 2024 line-ups and unveiled a brand-new stage, Arrivals, due to feature in the South East corner field for the first time this year. The new area will be programmed, designed, and built by an entirely South Asian team, as a collaboration between Dialled In, Going…
ROSS COUNTY midfielder Yan Dhanda stressed the importance of tackling stigma against south Asians to improve ethnic representation at the highest levels of English football. Dhanda and Birmingham City loanee Brandon Khela made history last Sunday (14) when they helped Ross County beat Scottish football giants Rangers for the first…
An “incompetent” UK Passport Office is letting down Britons stranded in Cyprus, a south Asian father of a new born surrogate baby has told Eastern Eye. Raj Gill, 49, from Essex, has told his MP he is being “held hostage” in Cyprus because the government has spent weeks sitting on a…
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
THE rapid rise of social media influencers has led to a transformative effect on popular culture, and one who puts real meaning behind their work is Diipa Büller-Khosla. The leading lifestyle influencer, model, activist and entrepreneur – with a bachelor’s degree in international human rights law – has parlayed her…
Actors Rasika Dugal and Arjun Mathur’s Lord Curzon Ki Haveli will serve as the closing film at the prestigious UK Asian Film Festival, the makers said on Wednesday. Anshuman Jha, who makes his directorial debut with the movie, and Dugal are expected to walk the festival's red carpet on May…
A COMMON type 2 diabetes test may be inaccurate for tens of thousands of south Asians in the UK, a new study has shown, prompting calls for more research. A genetic variant almost exclusive to people with south Asian heritage affects the accuracy of the diabetes haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test,…
Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives in the US that condemns Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry, hate, and intolerance. The resolution was presented on Wednesday and has since been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The resolution reads that despite their positive…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has awarded an Asian-origin London resident for promoting cricket and making a positive change within the south Asian community. Himanshu Jain, who co-founded a charity cricket community for south Asian men, got the daily Points of Light award on April 10. The Prime Minister makes daily…
STUDENTS from Asian backgrounds are “much more likely” to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help them with their studies than white or black people at university, according to new research. The survey found that the majority of undergraduates used AI in their assignments, but the proportion among those of south…
Driving around with hockey sticks in the boot of the car and stockpiling petrol bombs to defend themselves are among some of the gripping accounts that make up a new UK documentary chronicling racist attacks faced by British Indians in the 1970s and 80s. Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, a…
Thousands are lured to Cambodia with promises of data entry jobs, only to find themselves trapped in a nightmarish world of forced labour. These "cyber slaves" are forced to run online scams that target people worldwide. These victims are held captive in high-security complexes, guarded by armed men. Their passports…
THE government’s decision to impose visa restrictions on international students to cut immigration figures is “anti-universities” and “economic illiteracy”, according to a peer and university chancellor. From January, the Home Office stopped postgraduate students from bringing their families with them when studying in the UK. When he announced the restriction,…
Max has announced the premiere date for Season 2 of its adult animated comedy series, Velma, which stars Mindy Kaling. The second season is set to premiere on April 25, 2025. Max announced on X that “all the new movies, series, and shows coming your way this April,” including Velma…
ACTOR Dee Ahluwalia’s said his desire to play a character that breaks the stereotype of south Asians drew him to the stage adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s iconic novel, The Buddha of Suburbia. Ahluwalia plays Karim Amir, a dreamy teenager desperate to escape suburban south London and experience the “forbidden fruits”…
ARSENAL chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham took the decision to leave the club after feeling a sense of fulfilment as the team returned as one of the top sides in Europe. Venkatesham, 42, has been with the north London club for 14 years, during which it experienced a number of…
WHETHER it’s womenswear, menswear or wedding couture, Mohsin Naveed Ranjha has made a name for himself globally with his chic and stylish creations. The celebrated Pakistani fashion designer recently opened a standalone design studio in the heart of London, next to Regent’s Street. The London studio includes ready-to-wear, luxury capsule…
EASTERN EYE readers who want to discover how British artists have depicted colonialism and slavery over the centuries should visit the Royal Academy’s (RA) latest exhibition. Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change is the RA’s “brave” response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the toppling of slave…
THE multi-billion pound technology industry needs to do far more to tackle the lack of Asian woman in the sector, experts have urged. Some 18 per cent of tech roles are filled by women and only a third of those are of Asian origin, according to research by jobs website…
Pakistan has intensified security measures to protect Chinese engineers engaged in Beijing-backed projects in the nation's northwest following a deadly suicide bombing that claimed the lives of five workers, an official announced on Wednesday (27). China stands as one of Islamabad's closest regional allies, investing billions of dollars in various…
CANCER screening services must be more culturally competent and sensitive to the needs of south Asians - especially women, a leading doctor has told Eastern Eye. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the first person of colour to lead the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association (BMA), said south Asian women were less…
AWARD-WINNING director Iqbal Khan decided to take on the new adaptation of the Partition-based play Silence as he wished to build on the legacy of his late friend, former Tara Arts artistic director Abdul Shayek. Shayek directed the original production at the Donmar Warehouse in 2022 and had developed this…
THE recent South Asian Sounds festival at the Southbank Centre in London included a stunning concert headlined by the superb Indian singer Pratibha Singh Baghel. The sensational talent teamed up with the brilliant British act Chineke! Orchestra and top Indian musicians for a grand, sold-out concert at the Royal Festival…
Actress Sonam Kapoor feels honoured as global art museum Tate Modern inducted her as a member of their South Asia Acquisition Committee. In a statement shared by the actress' team, Sonam said, "I'm deeply honoured to join the prestigious Tate Modern as a member of their South Asia Acquisition Committee.…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed that cash-strapped Pakistan is seeking a 24th medium-term bailout package for a permanent push towards longstanding structural reforms. In its end-of-mission statement on Wednesday (20), the global lender said that Pakistan has “expressed interest in a successor medium-term Fund-supported programme to permanently resolve…
BORN and raised in England, Humera Malik admired the power of words from an early age. The US-based elementary school teacher has turned that love for reading into a writing passion that has led to her writing a newly published children’s book, The Great Henna Party. The beautifully illustrated book,…
THERE was a sense of occasion at the Garrick Theatre in London last Sunday (17) when Charithra Chandran made her West End debut in a solo show, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon. You had the feeling many young Asians had been drawn by the show’s lead, billed as “Bridgerton’s Charithra…
THE TV presenter and journalist, Geeta Pendse, chaired the opening sessions of the London Book Fair (LBF) which analysed the issue of diversity in the publishing world. The LBF – held over three days last week at Kensington Olympia – also looked at what might constitute enjoyable literature for ethnic…
DR CHIRAG BAKHAI is a GP in Luton, as well as a primary care advisor to the NHS Diabetes programme. He says: “If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, it’s important to know what you can do to stay well and avoid potential complications. “The Healthy Living programme offers evidence-based…
Nitin Sawhney and Arooj Aftab are among the leading South Asian talents at this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival. The popular British festival returns to Somerset’s Worthy Farm from June 26-30. Nitin, an award-winning musician, producer, and composer, will be one of the performers for the West Holts Stage. Singer-songwriter, producer,…
Charithra Chandran, who rose to fame with the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, says she is still “really hard” on herself and sees herself “as a failure”. “I feel like I am really hard on myself. I see myself as a failure and I am constantly failing and trying to dig…
A New Delhi-based innovator whose low-cost electric invention helps overcome power cuts, a mental health campaigner from Haryana and a student from Dubai who helps to empower girls across the developing world are the Indian winners of the Diana Legacy Awards this year. Uday Bhatia, founder of Uday Electric, Manasi…
US vice president Kamala Harris toured an abortion clinic Thursday (14), highlighting the key election issue of reproductive rights in what is believed to be the first such visit by a president or vice president. "We have to be a nation that trusts women," the Democrat said as she met…
Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, community, and of course, delicious food! After a day of fasting, families and friends come together to break their fast with a special meal called Iftar. This year, why not embark on a global culinary adventure with these top 5 dishes, all perfect…
THE story of Bengal farmers rising up against British colonial rule in the subcontinent is revisited in a new play, Indigo Giant, currently touring the UK. In the late 19th century, vast swathes of the Bengali countryside were given over to the cultivation of the indigo plant as the…
BRITISH Asian music veteran Atma Ahir has been lighting up the bhangra scene ever since the early 1990s. His interesting career has seen him go from founding the award-winning act Geet The Mega Band to carving out a solo career. The singer recently released his catchy Punjabi track, Morni, written…
A FEARLESS approach to filmmaking has endowed Onir with a remarkable body of work filled with stories from forgotten corners of society. He has overcome the challenges of being an openly gay writer, director and producer in India to deliver award-winning films such as My Brother…Nikhil, and I Am. His…
The 96th annual Academy Awards concluded on March 10, 2024, at Los Angeles’s Dolby Theater, with Oppenheimer dominating the award ceremony with seven wins. On the fashion front, the Oscars 2024 once again served as a platform for South Asian celebrities to showcase their impeccable fashion sense and leave an…
Sporadic protests have erupted in India against a citizenship law that has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government implemented the legislation just days before a general election is announced. Protests broke out in the eastern state of Assam and the southern state of Tamil…
INDIA has begun withdrawing military personnel operating surveillance aircraft in the Maldives after the new pro-China president ordered them to leave, local media reported Tuesday (12). The Mihaaru newspaper reported that 25 Indian troops deployed in the southernmost atoll of Addu had left the archipelago ahead of March 10, the…
SUNNY SINGH GILL was standing at the proverbial career crossroads one year ago. He had the option to continue as a prison officer or concentrate on carrying forward his family’s rich footballing legacy by chasing his refereeing dream. Cut to 2024, the 39-year-old will script history at Selhurst Park on…
The mother-in-law of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was on Friday appointed to serve in India's parliament, capping a career working for the philanthropic arm of her billionaire husband's tech firm. Sudha Murty, 73, is the former chair of the Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the global tech behemoth…
SIX people from Sri Lanka, including a mother and four young children, were knifed to death in the Canadian capital Ottawa late on Wednesday (6), police said on Thursday (7), rocking a country where mass murders are rare. Prime minister Justin Trudeau said he was horrified by what he called…
We are often fascinated when we spot a person of colour in British entertainment, be it cinema, series or any other source of entertainment. On this International Women's Day, we made a list of women who have brought colours to the British entertainment sector and have not only won the…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the “incredible contribution of south Asian people to our economy and our society” as he congratulated winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity awards. Sunak also witnessed the unveiling of the GG2 Power List which profiles the country’s 101 most influential and…
Leeds-born sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun has become the first sitar player to win a Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Award, winning in the Instrumentalist category. The award ceremony took place yesterday evening at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music. Billed as 'the biggest night in UK classical music’, the…
THE strong south Asian contingent at this year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival includes Halfway. Kumar Chheda has delivered an English-language short film about a young queer couple in India going through a turbulent phase in their relationship, who need to make an important decision during a phone conversation.…
EASTERN EYE readers had better hurry if they want to catch Bhangra Nation: A New Musical at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre where it is on only until next Saturday (16). I went last week and I’m glad I did, as the evening turned out to be very enjoyable. The Rep…
Lord Jitesh Gadhia, chairman of the British Asian Trust, was recognised for over three decades of public and community service with the GG2 Hammer Award at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (5). After coming to Britain as a refugee from…
YOUNG Asian girls can be fun, sassy, adventurous and intelligent and should be celebrated, journalist and author Babita Sharma said, ahead of her new children’s book being published next week. Priya Mistry and the Paw Prints Puzzle tells the story of a young girl who loves to solve mysteries, such…
SOUTH Asian women taking centre stage in series such as Bridgerton and One Day was long overdue, Indian American actress Avantika, who plays Karen Shetty in the new iteration of the popular teen comedy, Mean Girls, has said. This is not the first acting gig for the 19-year-old, born to…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has retained the top spot on the 2024 GG2 Power List for the third year in a row, along with his wife Akshata Murty. The power couple were recognised for their growing influence in the UK, with Sunak in the top job and Murty playing an…
In a remarkable annual return on International Women's Day, the Fashion Brunch, curated by Creative Director Anisha Vasani, has once again defied conventional norms, celebrating women with diverse backgrounds and challenges. Departing from traditional fashion shows, this event has become a beacon of empowerment, uniting women from various walks of…
THE British Asian Trust has extended help for acid and burn violence survivors in Bangladesh, addressing a critical shortage of mental health services, the UK-based charity said in a statement. There are around 4,000 acid attack survivors in Bangladesh, nearly two-thirds of them are women. According to the charity, emotional…
In the heart of Greater Manchester, a hidden gem beckons the taste buds of locals and curious visitors alike – the legendary 'Rice and Three' cafes. Nestled in the Northern Quarter, these unassuming eateries offer a uniquely Mancunian twist to south Asian cuisine. In the 1980s, the concept of 'Rice…
LEGENDARY concert organiser Jay Visvadeva has been delighting live music fans across generations in the UK since the 1970s, bringing together the biggest artists. His SAMA arts organisation continues to produce exciting concerts, including the South Asian Sounds festival at Southbank Centre in London from next Thursday (7) to next…
PLAYING Winston Churchill in a play at the National Theatre is another step towards inclusivity in the arts, actor Tony Jayawardena told Eastern Eye. The 45-year-old will be seen playing the iconic former British prime minister in the play, Nye, which is based on the life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan…
MIKE ALLBUT was a broadcasting pioneer who played a major role in the transition of Asian programmes on BBC local radio in England from targeting first generation immigrant communities to reaching out to young British Asians. Born in Scotland and raised in Suffolk, Allbut moved to Leicester in the 1970s…
HARMEET grew up in a vibrant multicultural corner of east London, with her parents, sister and grandparents. And from an early age, she was always encouraged to use her voice to help others. “This ranged from translating information from English to Punjabi for older relatives and supporting my mother to…
One of the world’s richest men, Mukesh Ambani is gearing up for the big fat Indian wedding of his younger son Anant Ambani with Radhika Merchant. The pre-wedding ceremonies are set to start on March 1-3 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the home of Ambani’s massive oil refineries. Several high-profile personalities from…
Filmmaker Onir’s movie Pine Cone is set to be screened at the 38th British Film Institute Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival next month. The director said he is honored to have his movie selected for the festival, which is known as one of the world's most significant queer film events. It…
VICTIMS of racism are being attacked for speaking out and highlighting the problem, former chief crown prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, has told Eastern Eye. His comments come as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has asked Afzal to head a panel to investigate its internal culture. The 61-year-old is no stranger…
RESEARCHERS have called for more equitable access to drug treatment and support for people in minority ethnic groups after a study found they faced barriers such as stigma and lack of culturally competent services or ones they have no faith in them. Funded by the Department of Health and Social…
THE life-saving issue of organ donation, which is rarely discussed, has directly affected many within the south Asian community due to a shortage of donors and subsequent lack of matches. Farhan Sattar was one of those affected, who didn’t get a lifesaving heart donation in time and sadly passed away…
DOZENS of migrants reportedly landed by boat in a remote part of Western Australia, igniting a political row over the country’s zero-tolerance border protection regime. About three dozen foreign nationals were found by locals last Friday (16) as they walked in separate groups by the coast in northwestern Australia’s Dampier…
The Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Oldham is preparing to host a pivotal well-being event aimed at combating mental health stigmas in south Asian communities. Organised by the temple's youth group, Yuvak Mandal, known for their dedication to community service, this event aims to address the importance of mental health awareness…
Sohm Kapila, an internationally renowned actress (Aquaman 2, Never Have I Ever, Greys Anatomy, Small Town Big Story), born in India and raised in Nottingham, is back in the Midlands from her home of Los Angeles and spoke to Eastern Eye about her latest role on stage as Rekha in…
Pakistan's two major parties are set to meet on Monday to try and bridge differences over forming a minority coalition government after an inconclusive election, a top party official said, underscoring its political and economic instability. Analysts say the nuclear-armed nation of 241 million, which has been grappling with an…
DESCRIBING India as its biggest partner in South Asia, the Biden administration has said it is working with New Delhi to deploy a multi-billion-dollar climate infrastructure and a new fund that will include a $500 million investment contribution from its development finance institution. “With India, which of course is our…
BRITISH Bangladeshis have told Eastern Eye of the “trauma” they face living in cramped housing, as data shows that more people from this community live in social housing compared to other south Asian communities. British Asians were overall least likely to live in social housing, but there were significant variations…
BALANCING creativity with his roles as a secondary school science teacher and parent, Alom Shaha was inspired to write his new children’s picture book, How to Find a Rainbow. The Bangladesh-born British Asian writer, who was raised in London, has crafted a captivating tale set in the Himalayan mountains, blending…
CAMBRIDGE does not need to become Britain’s Silicon Valley to be successful – as more talent from south Asia are being attracted to the city, according to experts. They highlighted Indian-origin entrepreneurs – such as Dr Sai Shivareddy, founder of battery firm Nyobolt – who are at the forefront of…
US Vice President Kamala Harris said she was ready to serve as leader, in a Wall Street Journal interview published on Monday (12), as voter concerns mount about president Joe Biden’s age in an election year. Harris, 59, has faced growing scrutiny about her own abilities as the first in…
THE British Asian community, which has long been supported by King Charles from the days he was a young Prince of Wales, is now rallying round the 75-year old monarch following his cancer diagnosis on Monday (5). Since the King is also head of the Commonwealth, just as Queen Elizabeth…
Rapper G-Eazy is super excited to perform in India. In a statement, he said, "I can't wait to come and perform for all my amazing Indian fans and take some time off to explore the sights and sounds of a country I have heard so much about! See you soon…
ENGLISH football clubs have been shown a yellow card by campaigners over a lack of progress after failing to meet their hiring targets for south Asian coaches. Recent data from the Football Association (FA) showed the 53 clubs signed up to the Football Leadership Diversity Code (FLDC) collectively failed to…
WALT WHITMAN wrote “I am large. I contain multitudes,” anticipating a multicultural America at its founding. Two of our politicians speak to the psychology of their multicultural identity in contemporary times. As the race for the 2024 US presidential election heats up, former South Carolina governor Nimarata ‘Nikki’ Randhawa Haley…
PROMINENT British Indian peer Shreela Flather passed away after a short illness in the UK on Tuesday (6), her sons Marcus and Paul Flather said in a statement. She was 89. Known for her elegant sarees in the House of Lords, the teacher and politician was a life peer as…
THIS may seem a little ironic, but the Birmingham Rep’s new bhangra musical is an American import. Bhangra, a joyous harvest festival, first came to Britain from the Punjab with the first generation of Indian immigrants in the 1950s and 1960s, and developed British roots in and around Birmingham. And…
There has been a rash of extortion attempts on businesses run by the south Asian community across Canada and the police suspect the involvement of an organised crime racket located abroad, CTV news reports. The modus operandi of extortionists is as follows: make phone calls or send text messages demanding…
Faaiza Bashir, a 22-year-old student from Barking, has shared her journey of battling cancer at 18 to mark World Cancer Day on February 4. Her collaboration with the Teenage Cancer Trust aims to spotlight the critical signs of cancer in adolescents and young adults, particularly in the south Asian communities…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi's government resisted the temptation of spending trillions of rupees on schemes for the poor in its last budget before an election and instead stuck to the path of fiscal consolidation to attract investors. The lack of social spending largesse is indicative of Modi's confidence in…
Leeds-born sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun has been shortlisted for two prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Awards: The Instrumentalist Award and the Large-Scale Composition Award. The RPS Awards, recognised as a significant event in UK classical music by The Sunday Times, highlight outstanding musical talents and initiatives that inspire…
BRILLIANT British talent Jasdeep Singh Degun has been flying the flag for classical Indian music with world-class live performances, an acclaimed album, and global collaborations. The young sitar maestro has broken down boundaries with his artistry and new approach to composition without losing touch with his cultural roots. His impressive…
Avantika Vandanapu, who plays the role of “bimbo” Karen Shetty in the 2024 revival of the comedy/drama Mean Girls, hopes that her being cast in the role is a chance to shut down prejudices for the South Asian community. In a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, the actress behind…
South Asia's finest musical stars are set to perform at the first South Asian Sounds Festival at London's Southbank Centre. From the 7th to the 10th March, a stunning programme of both classical and contemporary South Asian music features some mega stars of the South Asian music scene such as…
Indo-British actor Saaj Raja best known for his work was recently onstage in a play in the West End in Best of Enemies with David Harewood and Zachary Quinto and has been part of projects such as Marvel's Eternals and BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought series, is set to…
Gareth Thomas MP has urged the government to allocate resources for the development and teaching of south Asian languages, including Gujarati, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil, and Hindi. Thomas pointed out that the lack of widespread understanding of south Asian languages within the UK hampers the full potential of cultural and…
A new NHS England survey has revealed that a significant number of south Asians, 64% to be precise, are experiencing mental health concerns. Among those surveyed, 42% reported experiencing depression, while 29% faced generalised anxiety disorder. The silver lining, however, is that 65% of those who sought professional help for…
NOBODY expected this first India versus England Test match to turn into an all-time cricket classic. Having not set a 4am alarm on the first day, I woke to hear India already taking their sixth English wicket. That first batting collapse came just after lunch in Hyderabad, but well before…
The popular Globe Theater in London is putting on a play called Antony and Cleopatra, with non-white actress Nadia Nadarajah being cast in the leading role. Nadarajah, who has labelled herself as an English South Asian woman with dark skin and uses British Sign Language, has been cast to play…
Opera North has announced the five artists chosen to take part in its Resonance Residencies programme, including two Asian artists. Working in genres from folk, jazz, and soul to electronic club and improvisation, and rooted in traditional music from across Africa and Asia, Balraj Samrai, Satnam Galsian, Rory A Green,…
AN EXCITING young generation of south Asian creative talent is continuing to add new elements to popular culture with a cool approach. While some have already made an impressive mark with a brilliant body of work, others are showing real potential to be future gamechangers. They are all making themselves…
ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content, has announced the exclusive digital premiere of Vicky Kaushal starrer, Sam Bahadur, on January 26th. Directed by Meghna Gulzar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Films, the war biopic chronicles the extraordinary life of Sam Manekshaw, from his early…
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has criticised former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his alleged 'birther' claims against his primary challenger Nikki Haley. Last week, Trump reposted a post from conservative The Gateway Pundit, which claimed that Haley might be ineligible to be the US president…
POLICE in Canada are investigating a series of extortions and related crimes that they believe are orchestrated by a suspect in India and involve criminals in Edmonton, Alberta, targeting the region's affluent South Asian people. In what Edmonton Police described as a new trend in Canada, victims typically receive a…
TAIWAN'S Foxconn will partner with tech firm HCL Group for a semiconductor assembly and testing facility in India, the companies said on Thursday (18). The firms will set up an outsourced assembly and testing (OSAT) unit in the south Asian nation. An OSAT plant packages, assembles and tests foundry-made silicon…
Actress Pranutan Bahl on Thursday said she is set to feature in her maiden Hollywood feature Coco & Nut, opposite American actor-filmmaker Rahsaan Noor. Billed as a "spirit-lifting romance", the love story is directed by Rahsaan, best known for his 2018 critically acclaimed movie Bengali Beauty. It is slated to…
Among the myriad clashes involving this year's US presidential candidates, some of the harshest have featured Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley. Ramaswamy went so far as to hold up a sign at a debate calling Haley, the South Carolina former governor and UN ambassador, corrupt over her corporate work. She…
URGENT action is needed to help the large number of south Asian households living in hidden poverty, anti-poverty campaigners have urged. New research reveals that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by severe hardship in areas not accounted for in government measures targeting antideprivation funding. The study by Queen’s University in…
SEEMA MISRA, who was pregnant when she was maliciously and wrongly jailed for stealing from the Post Office, has told Eastern Eye that more than a decade later she still gets flashbacks about her time in prison and being tagged. The former Surrey sub-postmistress revealed that she was prepared to…
AT THE end of the video for her new song, Gone, British Asian music pioneer Veronica Mehta transforms into a phoenix rising from the ashes – a symbol, she said, of her “second chance at life” after a gruelling battle with cancer. Mehta was riding high in her career after…
The political party of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan faced a setback on Saturday (13) when the country's top court ruled against allowing the retention of its cricket bat symbol for the polls next month. The South Asian nation of more than 240 million people votes on February…
FORMER Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq said he has received racist messages on social media following the club's approval of a loan offer from a consortium headed by ex-chairman Colin Graves. Yorkshire were fined £400,000 ($510,560) and handed a 48-point deduction in the County Championship last year after an investigation into…
Actress Avantika Vandanapu, who is best known for starring in the Disney Channel Original Movie Spin and the comedy film Senior Year, now headlines the reboot of the beloved classic Mean Girls. The musical teen comedy film directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. in their feature film directorial…
All the glitz and glamour from the 25th anniversary of the Asian Business Awards will be aired on Zee TV on Sunday, January 28th, at 7 pm. A total of nine awards were handed out at the glittering ceremony, held at the Park Plaza Hotel in central London and attended…
Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose party is considered a front-runner to win general elections in February, will kick off his campaign next week, aides said, days after the Supreme Court cleared him to run for a fourth term. The campaign for the Feb 8 poll, delayed since November,…
BRITISH Asian entrepreneurs have called for more action to improve diversity in the venture capital investment market after it was branded “unacceptable” and “woeful” by a powerful committee of MPs. The business leaders called for funds dedicated to ethnic minorities or female founders to make the system fairer. Venture capital…
DRUG abuse is fuelling cases of domestic violence in the Asian community in Britain, experts and support services have told Eastern Eye. Recent data showed that 59 per cent of domestic abuse suspects arrested in seven police force areas in the UK tested positive for cocaine or opiates. In one…
In an unusual acknowledgment, the prominent Beijing-based Chinese media outlet, Global Times, has published an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for India's remarkable progress in economic development, social governance, and foreign policy. Penned by Zhang Jiadong, the director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University,…
BRITISH Asians have a higher rate of catching the life-threatening condition sepsis compared to other population groups, a study found. The illness, which kills around 48,000 people every year in the UK, occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs. Leading doctors…
MUSIC DIRECTOR Ahmed Kaysher has brought together artists from around the world to create “a new meaning of sensuality” through his show, Songs of Sringar and Seduction – Thumri to Troubadour. Produced by Saudha, the Society of Poetry and Indian Music, the concert features fresh interpretations of erotic and sensual…
Several renowned personalities, including the Hind movie actors Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, have urged people to discover "Indian islands" and coastal getaways. Their appeal emerged during a controversy sparked by derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers against Narendra Modi following the prime minister’s recent…
BANGLADESH was voting Sunday (7) in an election guaranteed to give a fifth term in office to prime minister Sheikh Hasina, after a boycott led by an opposition party she branded a "terrorist organisation". Hasina has presided over breakneck economic growth in a country once beset by grinding poverty, but…
GUJARAT state on Wednesday (3) said it has signed initial investment agreements worth $86 billion (£68bn) with 58 companies including steelmaker ArcelorMittal's joint venture and others operating in sectors such as energy, oil and gas, and chemicals. Gujarat, the home state of prime minister Narendra Modi, has been signing these…
WHETHER it was in cinemas, streaming sites or at festivals around the world, audiences were offered an interesting variety of films from diverse genres and languages. From artistic gems and groundbreaking narratives to huge blockbusters, they entertained film fans from different backgrounds. Eastern Eye revisited 2023 to reveal 21 entertaining…
WITH so many great-looking concerts, theatre productions, films, comebacks of popular stars and more already in the pipeline, 2024 looks set to be a thrilling and action-packed year. There will also be new talent, surprises, horizon-expanding moments, great music, free shows, and events celebrating the best in south Asian popular…
THE glitz and glamour of American dance competitions will hit the Birmingham Rep theatre next month in the form of Bhangra Nation – A New Musical. Director Stafford Arima told Eastern Eye that bhangra groups are “not just in a couple of states, but spread across America”. “The writers felt…
Richa Moorjani, who shot to fame after playing the role of Kamala in Mindy Kaling’s global hit series Never Have I Ever, surprised audiences with a completely different character in her next project. She essays the role of Indira Olmstead, a cop in the new season of the Golden Globe-winning…
Former chancellor and home secretary Sajid Javid described his knighthood as a “tremendous honour” after he was recognised for his achievements in the New Year’s Honours List announced last Friday (29). Javid, who represents Bromsgrove, served under three different prime ministers in six different Cabinet posts, including as culture secretary,…
A British Asian man has taken legal action against Liverpool FC, accusing the club of racial discrimination in the handling of his job application, The Guardian reported. The lawsuit alleged that Liverpool rejected Asad Farooq's (25) application, favouring a less experienced candidate for the position. According to Farooq, he has…
ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content, today announced the world digital premiere of Tejas, starring actor Kangana Ranaut. Premiering on 5th January, the film showcases Kangana Ranaut in a never-seen-before avatar, portraying the role of a fearless Indian Air Force pilot. Crafted as an action-packed…
ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content, has captured the hearts of viewers across the globe with its latest docuseries Koose Munisamy Veerappan. Within 2 weeks of its release, the six-episode-long series has recorded an impressive 9.1 rating on IMDb. Through an interesting blend of real-life…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
THERE was the Bollywood star in skin-tight lycra, the Bangladeshi politician filmed in a bikini and the young Pakistani woman snapped with a man. None was real, but all three images were credible enough to unleash lust, vitriol – and even allegedly a murder – underlining the sophistication of generative…
A THRILLING year for British Asian music saw everything from much-awaited single releases to world-class performances by international artists in sold-out arenas. Newcomers breaking through, the rise of devotional music, established names making headlines, melas, music festivals and an interesting comeback were among the noteworthy events. Eastern Eye decided to…
THE boxer Adam Azim has been praised for drawing attention to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as experts warned about the stigma against the condition in the Asian community. Azim, 21, has spoken of being diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and his father taking him to a boxing…
AN ACTION-PACKED year saw everything from stunning live performances to delightful drama serials, marvellous music and fabulous films. There was also perfectly pitched comedy, new talent, path-breaking projects and plenty of entertainment. Eastern Eye celebrated the many creative moments of 2023 with the annual Eye Spy awards which include extra…
AN EDUCATION and physical activity programme targeted towards people suffering with type 2 diabetes among south Asians in Leicester has proved to have a “lasting impact” on long-term health of participants. Since the development of the 12-week Healthy Goals programme in 2018, the evidence-based lifestyle initiative has helped 84 individuals…
PAKISTAN'S jailed former prime minister, Imran Khan, used an audio clip generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to address supporters in the first event of its kind in the politics of the south Asian nation, though marred by internet disruptions. The audio, played over a photograph of Khan during an internet…
The provincial government of Lahore on Saturday (16), announced the use of artificial rain for the first time in Pakistan as a measure to tackle the perilous smog levels in the megacity. In the first experiment of its kind in the South Asian country, planes equipped with cloud seeding equipment…
An educational physical activity initiative, Healthy Goals, designed to combat rising type 2 diabetes rates within the South Asian community, has demonstrated enduring positive effects on participants' health. Notably, 100% of those who participated adopted healthier dietary habits after completing the programme, reflecting significant lifestyle changes, a press release by…
Shah Rukh Khan has added to a year of stunning achievements by topping the Top 50 Asian Celebrities In The World list for 2023. The Bollywood superstar beat off strong competition from around the world in this year’s edition of the popular list, published annually by UK based Eastern Eye…
A GROUND-BREAKING year in entertainment saw glass ceilings shattered, greater heights conquered, creative horizons expanded, and new paths carved globally. There was also ground-breaking work, international crossovers, and exciting new talent announcing their arrival. Top south Asian talent from diverse fields were at the forefront of the marvellous moves being…
A LEADING Conservative parliamentarian has warned fellow Tory politicians they face a decision to either “unify or die” as party infighting threatens to derail the leadership of prime minister, Rishi Sunak. On Tuesday (12) Sunak narrowly won in his latest plans to send migrants to Rwanda. The way in which…
HEART ATTACKS account for approximately 80,000 hospital admissions in England each year, and at least seven out of 10 people survive them. This number rises to nearly nine out of 10 (94 per cent) for those who get to the hospital and get the right care. Although chest discomfort is…
SEVERAL cricketers who played for English county side Essex were subject to racist abuse and discriminatory treatment, according to an independent report released on Friday (8). References to players' ethnic, racial and religious origins were "entirely normalised and tolerated behaviour" within the dressing-room culture between the mid-1990s and around 2013,…
During her visit to a refuge, the Queen offered solace to a young victim of domestic violence who had been brought to the UK through a forced marriage. Camilla, 76, listened attentively to the woman in her early 20s, offering comfort by gently reaching out her hand as the woman…
The announcement of a new 12-month hybrid programme and exhibition took place in Leeds, on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, aiming to address the overrepresentation of black and South Asian men detained under the Mental Health Act. The initiative, called Remembering What’s Forgotten is co-founded by Synergi-Leeds, which seeks to redress…
NEW government figures published last month show that 47,000 Hong Kongers moved to the UK in the year to June 2023. They arrived under the government’s British National (Overseas) visa programme, set up after Hong Kong’s National Security law restricted its citizens’ democratic freedoms. In total, around 120,000 have arrived…
KRYSTLE KAUL, an Indian-origin foreign policy and national security expert with roots in Kashmir, has announced that she will run for the US House of Representatives from Virginia with a focus on core issues like public safety, education and healthcare. Kaul, if elected in 2024, would be only the second…
A STRONG literary year was filled with stunning stories written by skilled south Asian authors from around the world. They explored diverse themes, ideas, emotions, time periods, characters, and journeys in a marvellous melting pot of books that opened windows into new worlds. Eastern Eye decided to celebrate some of…
ASIAN small business owners have accused council leaders of a lack of support to help them deal with rising costs and bills. Entrepreneurs said energy prices, the cost of goods they sell, and local regeneration projects were among the biggest challenges they have faced in 2023 as Small Business Day…
THE government continues to fail south Asian women, girls and boys who are suffering domestic abuse, and it has not learnt lessons from the pandemic, campaigners have told Eastern Eye. They said they remain concerned that should there be another pandemic, south Asians and minority groups would be in unnecessary…
YouTuber, television host, comedian, actress, and writer Lilly Singh has joined hands with actress Charithra Chandran, who played one of the leads in Bridgerton 2, for a new series. Singh is developing the series based on the novel Arzu, written by Mumbai-based author Riva Razdan. Writer Geetika Lizardi, whose writing…
PERHAPS the most unique creative partnership of the year has seen Canadian Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta teaming up with India-based transgender woman Sirat Taneja. They have collaborated on I Am Sirat, which has delighted audiences at major film festivals like London and Toronto. The acclaimed documentary film follows Delhi-based Sirat…
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has launched a campaign to help all eligible Londoners access their right to vote, in collaboration with Shout Out UK, London borough electoral services and a coalition of civil society organisations South Asian faith leaders, public figures and community groups are supporting the campaign which…
ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest streaming service for South Asian content, today announced a strategic move to aggregate multiple South Asian streaming platforms within the ZEE5 Global platform with the launch of Add-ons in the US. ZEE5 Global Add-ons will offer subscribers in the US a single window to access…
AN URGENT “education recovery” programme is needed to help pupils from south Asian backgrounds catch up at school due to the impact of the pandemic, experts have urged. They have sought extra funding and resources in order to close the gap after new government figures showed a sharp drop in…
SEEING his father listen to top tunes and sing around the house first connected Abby V to music. That interest turned into a passion after being exposed to its deeper aspects and led the terrific talent towards a singing career. After gaining popularity on social media, he teamed up with…
RAJESH AGRAWAL, the deputy mayor of London for business, is stepping down from the role to focus on Leicester East, where he is the Labour candidate for the next general election. The 46-year-old India-born entrepreneur-politician announced his departure on social media on Monday (27) after serving two terms in mayor…
Phizzical Productions has announced the UK tour of Shahid Iqbal Khan's Olivier-nominated play, 10 Nights! Audiences will get to experience one man's spiritual journey of self-discovery after he decides to participate in Iʿtikāf - the Islamic practice of staying in a mosque and fasting for the last ten nights of…
PAKISTAN'S election commission on Thursday (23) ordered jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party to hold leadership polls to retain its voting symbol in next year's general election. Since being ousted in 2022, Khan has been tangled in a slew of legal cases he says are designed to stop him…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has stated that he will stand with the British Asian community in lobbying the government for more flexible immigration policies. He emphasised that immigrants are not invaders; instead, they are innovators and wealth creators. Speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Asian Business Awards in London…
AN INSPIRATIONAL businessman whose company has donated over a billion pounds to charitable causes was crowned the Business of the Year at the 25th anniversary of the prestigious Asian Business Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Wednesday (22). Nirmal Sethia is an internationally renowned entrepreneur whose business empire…
BRITISH ASIANS are being encouraged to visit National Trust properties as the organisation is striving to improve diversity among its members, volunteers and staff, its director general Hilary McGrady told Eastern Eye in an exclusive interview. As Europe’s premier conservation charity, the trust safeguards more than 500 historic houses, castles,…
BANGLADESHI cricket superstar Shakib Al Hasan has formally entered politics, seeking a nomination from the ruling Bangladesh Awami League to run in the upcoming general election on January 7. Awami League joint secretary general Bahauddin Nasim told AFP that Shakib took nomination forms last Saturday (18) from the party to…
INDIA’S high commissioner to the UK has called on British businesses to make good of the opportunities south Asian economies are presenting. Vikram Doraiswami said India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal were moving forward through regional integration to drive growth which the UK “is poised to benefit from”. “It’s well…
WHETHER it is on stage, television, film or in a popular ASDA commercial, Muzz Khan has consistently shown off his impressive range as an actor and worked with many established names. The versatile British Asian, who is also an accomplished DJ, rcently joined the cast of West End show, The…
UP-AND-COMING actors Rishi Manuel and Zaynah Ahmed make their panto debut with Aladdin, a story they said holds a “special place” in the hearts of south Asian communities. In recent years, Disney has been on a mission to venture into new cultures with films such as Wish, Encanto, Raya and…
SOUTH Asian families have been warned about potential hefty inheritance tax bills over their property portfolios. Ahead of the chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday (22), experts highlighted a lack of awareness among some first-generation British Asians about the tax rules on real estate. The average property wealth of…
A Muslim officer has encouraged individuals from various communities, especially South Asians, to consider pursuing roles as prison officers. Hammad Butt, prison officer at HMP Norwich in Norfolk, has asked people to consider joining the service, as applications for the role of prison officer are currently open. The Lammy Review…
DIWALI celebrations at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard last Thursday (16) were attended by members of the public who got the chance to explore the shared maritime heritage of Indian communities and the Royal Navy. Military personnel, including the Royal Navy Race Diversity Network and the Defence Hindu Network, as well…
LONDON’S deputy mayor for business has been chosen as the Labour candidate for the Leicester East parliamentary constituency which has one of the largest south Asian populations in the UK. Rajesh Agrawal was chosen at a hustings held in Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday (18) to succeed incumbent MP Claudia…
The High Commission of India in collaboration with the Ismaili Centre, and the Nehru Centre, London are jointly hosting an exhibition entitled “Delhi and Hyderabad: A Green Renaissance” from 18 to 25 November 2023. This exhibition will highlight projects in India by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, a press…
The UK's medicines regulator has given approval for a groundbreaking gene therapy, Casgevy, to potentially treat two hereditary blood disorders. This innovative treatment, designed for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, marks a significant milestone as the first licensed therapy using the CRISPR gene-editing tool, pioneered by Nobel Prize-winning inventors…
The prime minister has shown that “he has a backbone” by sacking his controversial home secretary, south Asian Conservative parliamentarians and grassroots members have told Eastern Eye. Rishi Sunak fired Suella Braverman on Monday (13), five days after she wrote a Times newspaper article in which she criticised the Met…
The NHS will visit thousands of people in England’s lung cancer hotspots with giant inflatable lungs this month, to raise awareness of potential cancer symptoms and help catch cancer earlier. The Let’s Talk Lung Cancer roadshow, run between NHS England and Roy Castle Lung Foundation, kicks off as new survey…
In a historic move, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation making Diwali a school holiday for New York City public schools. “New York City is rich in different religions and cultures, and we're taking an important step to recognise and celebrate this diversity in the school calendar,” Hochul…
THE Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has condemned what he says is a smear campaign driven by “powerful quarters”, saying news outlets in Bangladesh have falsely accused him of corruption. Yunus, 83, is credited with lifting millions out of poverty with his pioneering micro-credit bank. However, he has fallen afoul…
CAMPAIGNERS have expressed disappointment over new research showing that one in four women feel they cannot progress in sport due to a lack of role models. The study, by the London Lions basketball team, found that 25 per cent of females believe becoming a professional player or at management level…
TO HER party, Suella Braverman was able to say things which the prime minister thought but could not voice. To his critics, Rishi Sunak was the man who stabbed Boris Johnson in the back and someone whose party did not elect him as its leader. Braverman gave him a shield…
BRITISH audiences are set to witness a unique experience through a never-seen-before amalgamation of Igor Stravinsky’s iconic ballet with Bharatnatyam, created by award-winning dancer and choreographer Seeta Patel. Russian composer Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring is being revisited this week, this time through the lens of an Indian classical dance…
BANGLADESH'S prime minister Sheikh Hasina has rejected any further pay hikes for protesting garment workers demanding a nearly tripled wage increase, after violent clashes with police and factories were ransacked. Bangladesh's 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 per cent of its $55 billion in annual exports, supplying many of…
NOTHING has been done to protect south Asian and black medical staff or patients, despite their disproportionate number of deaths during Covid, doctors have told Eastern Eye. They have warned that if a pandemic were to happen tomorrow, more people of colour would die unnecessarily. Medical experts have previously told…
ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content, announced its next direct-to-digital film, Kadak Singh today. This will mark the second collaboration between national award-winning director, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, and ZEE5 Global after the success of Yami Gautam starrer Lost and the third direct-to-digital collaboration between national…
BANGLADESH police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Thursday (9), officials and witnesses said, as violence broke out at a protest by garment workers who rejected a government-offered pay rise. A government-appointed panel raised wages on Tuesday (7) by 56.25 per cent for the south Asian nation's 4 million…
India-born Canadian poet Rupi Kaur has turned down the White House’s invitation to attend Diwali celebrations in protest of US President Joe Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. She took to X and released a politically charged statement, criticising the United States for supporting Israel in the wake of the…
HAILING from India originally, Joshua Bethania has been making a big impact on the UK stand-up comedy scene in the past few years with winning performances, great acclaim and recognition for his talent. The young London-based funny man is joining an impressive line-up of comedians on The Indians Are Coming…
A HIP HOP revolution in the past decade transformed all areas of commercial Indian music. A new wave of rappers has impacted everything, from single releases and film soundtracks to live shows, with their cutting-edge beats, lyrical flow and intense live performances. One of those leading the way has been…
A landmark study conducted in India has revealed that breathing polluted air elevates the risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers in Delhi and Chennai observed that exposure to high levels of PM2.5 particles in the air is linked to elevated blood sugar levels and a higher incidence of type 2…
“SEE, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken” (Isaiah 28:16). What compels humans to see god in stone and to build majestic stone abodes for the divine? If marble stones could speak, they would…
PLAYING the lead character in Jack in the Beanstalk, actor Nikhil Singh Rai hopes he can “light a spark” in young south Asians to think about acting as a career path. The panto will be staged at the Stratford East Theatre, an area with a large ethnic minority population which…
A WOMAN was shot dead on Wednesday (8) when police in Bangladesh opened fire on protesting garment workers who had returned to the streets after rejecting a new pay increase, authorities and the victim's family said. The south Asian country's 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 per cent of…
The support on offer for patients at their GP practice is expanding, thanks to thousands more healthcare staff working in local communities. NHS England is raising awareness of the support available, following a survey that reveals that almost one third (31%) of South Asian people in England are unaware of…
INDIA is unlikely to sign onto a global pledge to reduce cooling-related emissions at the COP 28 climate meeting, citing the need for the world’s most populous country to have affordable cooling, two government officials told Reuters. The pledge to cut coolingrelated carbon dioxide emissions by at least 68 per…
In a landmark independent review of services provided by NHS Talking Therapies it has been identified that psychotherapy services must be better tailored to meet the specific needs of Black and minoritised ethnic groups. Over a decade of anonymised patient data has revealed historical disparities in access and outcomes for…
PAKISTANI authorities began rounding up undocumented foreigners, most of them Afghans, on Wednesday (1), ahead of a midnight deadline for them to leave or face expulsion. The removal of people to temporary holding centres began a day earlier than previously announced. The interior ministry said 140,322 people had already voluntarily…
WHETHER it is the food, fireworks, fabulous outfits or family gatherings, there is a lot to consider during Diwali. Making the right decisions will usually mean the difference between having a delightful time or something not so memorable. With that in mind, Eastern Eye prepared a quick A to Z…
WITH his award-winning short film Moshari, Nuhash Humayun announced himself as a writer-director from Bangladesh to look out for. That has been confirmed with his feature debut Pett Kata Shaw, which had its UK premiere at the recent Raindance Film Festival in London. Like Moshari, his Bangla feature film too…
THOUSANDS of Bangladeshi garment workers barricaded roads in Dhaka on Wednesday (1) demanding fair wages for clothing they make for major Western brands, with at least two killed during days of protests. Sabina Begum, a 22-year-old seamstress, said she joined the protests because she was "struggling to ensure bread and…
TIKTOK can help make the next generation of British Asian musicians popular and the scene more ethnically diverse, according to leading industry figures. Highlighting the lack of support for south Asian artists, record label bosses believe social media can allow upcoming musicians to gain audiences and therefore become mainstream. New…
DIWALI – the story of good triumphing over evil – shows how multiculturalism is not failing but instead enhancing community relations in today’s Britain, prominent politicians and business leaders have told Eastern Eye. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, added their voices to the…
FORMER Labour MPs, Keith Vaz and Claudia Webbe, may stand as independent candidates in the next general election for the Leicester East constituency, warned the city's mayor. Labour mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said that such a move could split the vote and potentially hand the seat to the Tories, reported…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak’s entrepreneur father-in-law has suggested Indian youngsters should work for 70 hours a week to help the south Asian nation compete with bigger economies.NR Narayana Murthy said India should emulate Japan and Germany which made rapid progress after World War II by “working a certain number of…
BANGLADESHI police clashed on Tuesday (31) with thousands of garment workers demanding fair wages for the clothing they make for major Western brands, a day after similar protests left at least two people dead. Police said tens of thousands of workers at dozens of factories had launched strikes in Ashulia…
Facing a formidable opponent on foreign soil, England's war-weary cricket team gears up for their World Cup challenge against India at a venue historically significant for intense battles, adding to the pressure of the already tense tournament. The past and present cricket powerhouses meet Sunday (29) in Lucknow not far…
ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content, is celebrating the raging success of Gadar 2 as it became the biggest streaming blockbuster on the platform. It was watched in 180+ countries and trended across multiple countries including the US, UK, Australia, UAE, and Canada. The movie…
PAKISTAN on Thursday (26) gave a last warning to all immigrants staying in the country illegally, including hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals, to leave voluntarily before a November 1 deadline. Interim interior minister Sarfraz Bugti told a news conference in Islamabad that Pakistan was determined to go ahead with…
MONTHLY stand-up comedy night Brown Sauce is a spicy mix of tasty new talent, established names and raising money for good causes. The laughter-filled shows in central London, founded, hosted and curated by Sharlin Jahan, regularly light up the Bill Murray comedy club in Angel. The Bangladeshi, Canadian comedian based…
LAST year talented filmmaker Nuhash Humayun made history when his award-winning short film Moshari became the first from Bangladesh to officially qualify for the Oscars. He has followed up the critically acclaimed horror drama with his feature debut Pett Kata Shaw, which has its UK premiere at the Raindance Film…
LEADING lawyers are split on whether Britain should have an extradition treaty with Pakistan so suspects can be questioned by police quicker. The two countries do not currently have any formal agreement, but there have been cases of people being brought back to the UK to be quizzed. Last year,…
MORE students from south Asia are living in overcrowded housing in the UK due to a rising demand for beds, which campaigners criticised as a “shameful indictment of our education system”. In one case, a student from Bangladesh was sharing a two-bedroom flat with 20 other men in London. On…
IN We Could All Be Perfect, actress Anshula Bain has taken on the mammoth task of playing 15 different characters. Based on a book by Hannah Morley, the play explores the experiences of girls through history – from the 1800s to an apocalyptic future – and featuring the likes of…
INDIAN-ORIGIN academics from the University of Oxford and a south Asian historian from King’s College London are among 30 winners of the UK’s £3-million 2023 Leverhulme Trust award, which recognises exceptional research across different fields. Professor Amia Srinivasan from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Oxford has been…
AN International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will visit Pakistan on November 2 to discuss the first review of the country's current $3 billion standby arrangement (SBA), the lender's resident representative said on Tuesday (24). The south Asian nation is trying to navigate a tricky path to economic recovery under the…
NEARLY 275,000 people in Bangladesh fled to shelters on Wednesday (25) as Cyclone Hamoon barrelled into the southeastern coast, killing at least two people, officials said. Hamoon is the latest major storm to batter Bangladesh's coast, with the low-lying south Asian nation witnessing an increasing number of severe weather events…
In an effort to bridge the information gap surrounding menopause experiences for ethnic minority women in the UK, Besins Healthcare has launched new multi-language resources, “Language of Menopause” aimed at fostering better conversations about menopause within diverse communities. Launched on World Menopause Day 2023, (18 October) these digital resources including…
Leicester artist Subhash Viman Gorania, who is also a choreographer and dancer recently unveiled his debut exhibition, 'Marvel at My World', at the Watermans Arts Centre in London. The art exhibition which is open from October 13 to November 8, showcases Gorania’s profound connection to dance and the movement of…
The Great British Bake Off participant Saku Chandrasekara is safe. The 50-year-old intelligence analyst, who works for Herefordshire Council, was in danger of leaving the show after struggling during chocolate week. She survived as judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith decided that no one would face elimination this week because…
Sadiq Khan has announced that the annual Diwali on the Square festivities will be held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, 29 October, offering a plethora of family-friendly entertainment. This celebration of the Festival of Lights will bring together Londoners and individuals from across the globe in the heart of the…
GOOGLE will start manufacturing smartphones in India and its flagship Pixel 8 will be available next year, an executive said on Thursday (19), as the tech giant joins global companies setting up facilities in the South Asian nation. At a Google for India event, Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of…
A HIGHER proportion of British Asian children are classed as overweight compared to other groups, according to government data. Experts have expressed concerns over the disproportionate number of youngsters of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin who are having weight problems when they turn 10 or 11. Some 36.2 per cent…
BRITISH arts organisation the Jaivant Patel Company has consistently broken new ground with dance productions that combine eye-catching performances with thought provoking narratives. One of the UK’s leading voices in the south Asian LGBTQIA+ space commences a tour of their new production Waltzing The Blue Gods, at Arena Theatre in…
AFTER a solid round of acclaimed screenings on the festival circuit, the Hollywood horror film has a UK cinema release on Friday (20). The story revolves around a high school student, Sam, who tries to push away her Indian heritage, including a very traditional mother, to fit in with the…
SRI LANKA last Wednesday (11) welcomed China’s tentative agreement to a debt restructure, as the island nation works to restore its finances after suffering its worst-ever economic crisis. The government defaulted on its $46 billion (£37.7bn) debt last year at a time when months of food and fuel shortages were…
RESEARCHERS have called on the government to prioritise funding towards analysing the impact of racism on mental health, saying countries such as the US were “way further ahead” in this area. A study by the Centre for Mental Health and King’s College London found that both past and present experiences…
Pakistani actor Ahad Raza Mir, who is known for his work in several successful Pakistani shows including Yeh Dil Mera and Hum Tum, is now experimenting with live theatre in Toronto. The actor is presently in the news for his take on William Shakespeare’s classic novel Hamlet. He plays the…
PAKISTAN is looking to tame inflation with fuel price cuts and a price-control mechanism, caretaker prime minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said on Monday (16). The South Asian country is embarking on a tricky path to economic recovery under a caretaker government after a $3 billion loan programme approved by…
The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival (October 27 to November 5) has announced that this year’s Opening Night film will be The Buckingham Murders, directed by Hansal Mehta, produced by Ektaa R Kapoor, and co-produced by Indian actress and star Kareena Kapoor Khan, who will all attend the film’s red-carpet…
INDIA aims to install the first part of an early warning system at some high-risk glacial lakes in the Himalayas next year, a senior official said on Monday (16), as the country responds to deadly floods this month that killed at least 60 people. There are 56 at-risk glacial lakes…
Indi(r)a's Emergency, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, Achal Mishra's third film Ri, and Cannes 2023 winner The Buriti Flower are part of the Dharmashala International Film Festival (DIFF) line-up this year. The festival on Saturday announced the first eleven titles, part of its on-ground special programming, to be screened from November…
Filmmaker Raghuvir Joshi's feature Sahela is set to have its South Asia premiere at the Jio MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival in the Focus South Asia section. An Australian production, the English-Hindi language film is set within the vibrant Indian community of Western Sydney. Shot in Australia, the movie is…
Researchers have discovered that common risk factors for dementia, like high blood pressure and diabetes, have a more significant impact on black and Asian individuals, according to a recent study. This finding has led to calls for increased efforts to address health disparities. The global number of adults affected by…
CRICKET'S more than 100-year Olympic exile moved closer to ending after the sport was approved for inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee's executive board on Friday (13). IOC president Thomas Bach, speaking after the second day of an executive board meeting in Mumbai, said…
The local hospital trust and the University of Leicester have collaborated to create a new pregnancy app tailored for south Asian women in Leicestershire. Named Janam, the app which was launched on Thursday (12) is available for free and offers pregnancy-related information in six languages. It features visual aids such…
BANGLADESH received the first uranium delivery last Thursday (5) for its Russia-backed nuclear plant, a project aimed at bolstering its overstretched energy grid, but complicated by sanctions on Moscow. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has courted Russian ties with renewed vigour amid Western criticism over her government’s rights record. Moscow is…
A WIDE array of songs in different languages and genres has demonstrated that Saloni is an exciting young British Asian music talent. The versatile singer has shown off her impressive range on stunning cover versions, superb solo singles and cool collaborations in a relatively short space of time. With more…
BRITISH Indians are among the happiest people in the country, who feel they have worthwhile lives, according to government research. They scored 7.67 in their average happiness score which was the second highest after the Asian Other category - compared to 7.64 for those of Bangladeshi origin, 7.57 for people…
MEGAN SURI has made an impressive impact in Hollywood with a great variety of roles in projects, including the hit Netflix series Never Have I Ever. The fast-rising star has taken on her most challenging role in the new horror movie It Lives Inside, which will be released in cinemas…
MINISTERS and the media are contributing to hate crime against British Muslims, according to politicians and community leaders. Last week (5) saw a nine per cent year-on-year increase in reported religious hate crime figures. Politicians, religious leaders and campaigning groups are urging them to stop demonising Muslims. Of the almost…
Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair is welcomed to the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival this year to preside over the jury of the South Asian Competition. Anupama Chopra, Festival Director at Jio MAMI, says, “We are thrilled to welcome Mira as the head of our festival jury. We have collaborated with…
Cricket could feature in the Olympics for the first time since 1900 after organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Games on Monday (9) recommended its inclusion. In a statement, LA28 listed the Twenty20 version of cricket as one of the proposed 'new' sports alongside baseball/softball, flag football - a non-contact…
Pakistani film In Flames won the Best Feature award at the International South Asian Film Festival Canada. In partnership with Zarrar Kahn and Mohammad Ali Hashmi, the official Instagram account of the film shared the news with fans. The caption on the post read, “We won Best Feature! Thank you…
CALIFORNIA governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday (7) vetoed a bill passed recently by the state legislature to explicitly ban caste discrimination, citing existing laws that already prohibit ancestry discrimination, which made the bill "unnecessary." Had Newsom signed the bill, officially called Senate Bill 403 or SB 403, California would have…
Blockbuster Bollywood film Gadar 2 is now available on ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content. After a successful theatrical run in India and still counting, the film is set for another successful innings on the digital platform. Produced by Zee Studios and directed by Anil…
INDIA’S largest retailer has formed a joint venture with Superdry to acquire the struggling British clothing company’s intellectual property assets for three south Asian countries. Reliance Retail Ventures, through the UK arm of its subsidiary Reliance Brands, signed the £40 million licensing deal which will see the Indian firm own…
A LEADING Tory parliamentarian has accused home secretary Suella Braverman of “betraying” her own culture and background with her claim that multiculturalism in Britain has “failed”. Braverman, in a speech last week at the American Enterprise Institute, in Washington DC, described multiculturalism as a “misguided dogma” that had allowed people…
Applause Entertainment and Zindagi, which had earlier announced their maiden series Farar with Joyland star Sarwat Gilani, have teamed up for a new project. Titled The Pink Shirt, the eight-episode series stars well-known Pakistani actors Sajal Aly and Wahaj Ali in lead roles. Directed by Kashif Nisar and written by…
ACCLAIMED theatre director Milli Bhatia said the theme of how “empowering” representation is for marginalised groups is what drew her to debutant writer Mohamed-Zain Dada’s play Blue Mist. Set in the shisha lounges of northwest London, Blue Mist follows three south Asian Muslim men navigating a system that “isn’t built…
AT A ROUTINE scan, we found out that Aum was going to be very poorly. They spoke the words, “I’m really sorry, this is not good news”. That moment is forever etched in my innermost parts. Aum had a condition called Fetal Akinesia Syndrome, a life-limiting, rare genetic disorder. We…
AA DHAND is making history as the first British Asian crime writer whose work is being adapted for a six-part BBC TV series. His tales are set in the dark, mean streets of Bradford and his main protagonist is a Sikh police officer, Detective Chief Inspector Hardeep Virdee. He doesn’t…
DIVERSE work across multiple platforms has established Raj Ghatak as one of the best British Asian actors. The versatile performer, with a chameleonlike ability to transform himself, is currently in the cast of The Father and the Assassin, which has returned for another successful run at the National Theatre in…
MARITIME companies in Europe are ditching their old ships for scrap on Bangladeshi beaches in dangerous conditions that have killed those working on them, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said last Thursday (28). Bangladesh’s southeastern Sitakunda beaches have emerged as one of the world’s largest shipbreaking yards. It has fuelled the…
A new original mystery series Mrs Sidhu Investigates, starring multiple award-winning actress and one of the best-known South Asian TV personalities on British TV, Meera Syal, is set to begin on Wednesday 4 October at 8 pm on UKTV Drama. Before the new drama series begins its run, here is…
Actor Chaneil Kular, who rose to fame after playing a gay man named Anwar Bakshi in Netflix’s worldwide hit Sex Education, is excited about his first lead role in a new film, titled Accused. In the pulse-pounding thriller on Netflix, the actor essays the powerful role of a young man…
1497, the nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting South Asian filmmakers, has announced Mira Nair, Geeta Malik, and Minhal Baig as mentors for its third Features Lab. The Lab’s first year was held virtually, while the second year was hybrid, held virtually and in-person. For its third year, 1497…
A Seattle Police officer, who joked about the tragic death of a 23-year-old Indian student earlier this year, has been removed from patrol duty. This action comes weeks following demands from the local south Asian community in Seattle for appropriate measures against the officer. Jaahnavi Kandula was killed by an…
FAST-FASHION brand Boohoo is believed to have evinced an interest in stepping up its investment in Pakistan. Caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met Boohoo Group chairman Mahmud Kamani last week and asked the British entrepreneur to augment his firm’s presence in the south Asian country, according to a Radio Pakistan…
Making waves with her work internationally, Rasika Dugal received a special honour at The Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2023 (CSAFF) for her performance in Lord Curzon Ki Haveli. A global platform promoting South Asian culture, talent and perspectives through films, art and discussions, the CSAFF bestowed Rasika Dugal with…
AN INDEPENDENT regulator and investment in talent pathways for children from disadvantaged backgrounds are among the initiatives that will be implemented by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in its efforts to make cricket more inclusive, after a report found widespread discrimination across the sport. The ECB published its…
AMIR KHAN, the TV doctor, admits that he delved into parts of his own life in writing his first novel, How (Not) To Have An Arranged Marriage. Khan is a familiar figure to audiences, with regular appearances on Lorraine, This Morning and Good Morning Britain. He has also been in…
THE annual BFI London Film Festival celebrates cinema from around the world and like every year there is strong south Asian representation, from diverse backgrounds. Eastern Eye decided to get you ready for the marvellous movie feast, which runs from next Wednesday (4) until October15, with a preview of south…
Members of the Hindu community in Seattle came together to organise a prayer ceremony in memory of Jaahnavi Kandula, the 23-year-old Indian student who tragically lost her life when struck by an overspeeding police car while crossing a street. About 25 people gathered under a cloudy sky at Denny Park…
MIGRANTS from Bangladesh are more likely to report a religious affiliation than any other group living in England and Wales, according official figures. Analysis of the 2021 Census data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 94.9 per cent migrants from the south Asian country reported a…
PAKISTAN has announced a general election for January, almost three months later than scheduled, removing political uncertainty over the timing to help salvage a falling economy. Elections in the politically and economically troubled south Asian nation were due to be held in November but were delayed due to fresh demarcation…
SEEMA MALHOTRA MP and healthcare workers have urged South Asians to sign up to become organ and stem cell donors at an event held in the House of Commons, a statement said. The awards ceremony was hosted by the MP to recognise the work of volunteers for Upahaar, a charity…
A NEW musical production of The Lord of the Rings is “completely opposite” to the otherwise “humongous” adaptations of JRR Tolkien’s classic trilogy, a cast member has said, describing it as a more intimate, yet intense piece of work. Featuring music by India’s Oscar and Bafta award-winner AR Rahman, Värttinä…
I See Her, a powerful short film highlighting the plight of women at risk of abuse is officially selected for a BAFTA qualifying film festival award and is causing excitement following a series of Oscar-winning collaborators. This film was created to raise awareness of the shocking rise of abuse in…
MEMBERS of the south Asian community in Seattle held a rally on the site where Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula was fatally hit by a speeding police patrol car, demanding jail for police officers responsible for her death. Kandula, 23, was struck by a police vehicle driven by Officer Kevin Dave…
THE father, stepmother and uncle of a 10-year-old girl whose death sparked an international manhunt in Pakistan have appeared in court in the UK charged with her murder. The court hearing came after the three were arrested on Wednesday (13) after disembarking a flight from Dubai after spending a month…
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has announced the relaunch of Zee One, a Bollywood-centric channel uniquely tailored for German viewers through a strategic partnership with Samsung TV Plus. India's media conglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises launched Zee One in 2016 and offered movies across all genres such as romance, comedy, and…
After its triumphant world premiere at the esteemed Melbourne Film Festival, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli starring Rasika Dugal is set to captivate audiences at the prestigious Chicago South Asian International Film Festival 2023. Lord Curzon Ki Haveli is a black comedy thriller that has been capturing attention and earning acclaim…
AFTER enjoying massive success in south Indian cinema, ace director Atlee makes his foray into Bollywood with this commercial entertainer, which was also made available in Tamil and Telugu. Although action is very much at the forefront of this big budget film, there are plenty of surprises and unexpected turns…
BANGLADESH authorities sacked a senior prosecutor after he condemned court cases against Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as “judicial harassment”, officials said Friday – prompting him to reportedly seek asylum at the US embassy with his family. Yunus, 83, is credited with lifting millions out of poverty but has fallen out…
AFTER communal clashes in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area last year, police said they used facial recognition technology to identify and arrest dozens of men, the second such instance after a more violent riot in the Indian capital in 2020. In both cases, most of those charged were Muslims, leading human rights…
US CHIP firm Nvidia on Friday (8) announced AI partnerships with Indian conglomerates Reliance Industries and Tata Group to develop cloud infrastructure and language models, as well as generative applications. The deals with two of India’s largest business houses will help the US chip firm deepen inroads to the emerging…
FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron said on Monday (11) that Bangladesh had committed to ordering 10 aircraft from Airbus, marking the south Asian country's first deal with the European planemaker in a shift from its Boeing dominated fleet. French officials said the deal for the A350 widebody airplanes, which is still…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak said he had spoken with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi about the continued detention of a British Sikh human rights campaigner in the south Asian country. Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested in the northern state of Punjab when he was shopping with his wife in November…
FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron was in Bangladesh on Monday (11) in a bid to "consolidate" his country’s Indo-Pacific strategy and counterbalance a "new imperialism" in a region where China's influence is increasingly being extended. "Based on democratic principles and the rule of law, in a region facing new imperialism, we…
Content studio Applause Entertainment and production company Zindagi on Monday said Joyland star Sarwat Gilani will headline their maiden project Farar, a web series directed by Mehreen Jabbar. The show marks the first collaboration under the partnership of Applause Entertainment and Zindagi, which was announced last week. According to the…
PRIME minister Narendra Modi's placard at the opening of the G20 summit on Saturday (9) referred to India as "Bharat", raising speculation of a change of name for the south Asian nation. India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan - its pre-colonial names - in Indian languages and these are…
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…
A new survey published last week by NHS England has revealed a lack of confidence among south Asians in recognising the symptoms of a heart attack, with nearly half (44%) in the community saying they were not confident that they could recognise the signs. Furthermore, almost half (48%) claimed they…
Nawazuddin Siddiqui's much-awaited revenge drama Haddi premiered on Thursday on ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content. Alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the hard-hitting noir revenge drama also features Anurag Kashyap in the lead role along with Ila Arun, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Saurabh Sachdeva, Shridhar Dubey, Rajesh Kumar,…
SRI LANKA’S two largest ethnic groups, the Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan Tamils, are genetically more similar to each other than any other south Asian population group, according to a study. The research, published last Friday (1) in the journal iScience and conducted jointly by Indian and Sri Lankan DNA…
Production companies Applause Entertainment and Zindagi on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with the aim to create a diverse slate of South Asian stories across various genres. Applause Entertainment, owned by the Aditya Birla Group, is led by managing director Sameer Nair. The banner has some of the most critically…
LONDON’S Barbican Theatre will soon reverberate to the sounds of “operatic telling” and dramatic, ancient Indian dances as it is set to host a fresh two-part adaptation of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, on October 1. Canada-based Why Not Theatre has adapted this ancient work into a “more accessible form…
THE union which represents judges has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the way the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) uses taxpayers’ money to fight legal cases. For three months, Eastern Eye has used freedom of information requests to investigate court action against the JAC from unsuccessful candidates. South Asian judges…
The Royal Court Theatre today announced Salman Akhtar, Omar Bynon, and Arian Nik as the cast for Mohamed-Zain Dada’s debut play Blue Mist. It is directed by Royal Court Associate Director Milli Bhatia, who has previously directed such successful plays as Baghdaddy, Maryland, Living Newspaper, My White Best Friend (and…
The 67th BFI London Film Festival commences on Wednesday, October 4 with Emerald Fennell’s new thriller Saltburn at the Royal Festival Hall. From there, the prestigious film festival will continue its post-pandemic revival with 11 days and nights of galas, screenings, and events. BFI London Film Festival recently announced its…
VIRAT KOHLI walked up to Haris Rauf and they hugged each other and exchanged a few words and laughter. Perhaps, they were having a bit of a joke about those two sixes on a starry Melbourne night last year. It wasn't a mere put on. There was a touching genuineness…
THE successful Chandrayaan-3 moon mission last week elevates the country’s status as a space power and has geopolitical implications in the region, science and security experts said, as the country’s space organisation revealed its next project – to study the sun. Days after becoming the first nation to land a…
LUCY FULFORD, a 34-year-old freelance journalist and filmmaker, has written a personal book, The Exiled: Empire, Immigration and the Ugandan Asian Exodus, about the Asian expulsions from Uganda. What is different about her account is how she has woven her own story and that of her family into the larger…
THE forgotten history of the Indian Army soldiers who camped in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, southwest of London, in the early 20th century is set to be uncovered in a new exhibition opening this month. The Indian Army at the Palace will explore the story of the encampments…
VARIETY is the spice of life, as the saying goes, and the restaurant sector is embracing this with new fusion cuisines and combinations. Palmito, an Ecuadorean-Indian restaurant in Brighton, Sussex, is among the businesses earning rave reviews with dishes such as grilled squid in a Keralan roast style sauce, and…
BRITISH Asian stand-up Ahir Shah won the best show award at the 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his show Ends. Shah, who was previously nominated for the top comedy prize at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2017 and 2018, dedicated the prize to his wife-tobe, and to his late director…
GATE Theatre’s Brassic FM, which opens next Monday (4), will showcase an “unfiltered and unique” take on the working class, as seen through the lens of a pirate radio station. Co-created by poet Zia Ahmed and artistic director Stef O’Driscoll, Brassic FM is described as a love letter to working…
Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in south Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report published on Tuesday (29) which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health. The region, which includes the world's most polluted…
A commonly prescribed blood-thinner, clopidogrel (Plavix), may not be effective for individuals of South Asian descent due to a genetic mutation, a study suggests. The research reveals that over half of those with Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage have a genetic mutation that hinders the proper function of clopidogrel, the Daily…
British Asian stand-up Ahir Shah has won the Best Show award at the 2023 Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his show Ends. Shah, who had previously been nominated for the top comedy prize at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2017 and 2018, dedicated the prize to his wife-to-be, and to his…
The Netherlands returned formal ownership to Sri Lanka of six colonial-era treasures on Monday, including a more than 275-year-old cannon inlaid with gold, silver, bronze and rubies. At a ceremony at the cultural ministry in Colombo, Dutch deputy minister for culture, education and science, Gunay Uslu, signed over the ownership…
A LABOUR MP has called for an inquiry into a “horrifying” chapati study using south Asian women in Coventry. Chapatis laced with a radioactive substance were fed to 20 south Asian women in 1969 to study iron absorption. Although the research was aimed at tracking down how iron was absorbed…
AFTER working as a successful songwriter for other artists and clocking up over 20 million Spotify streams, Saphron recently ventured out as a solo artist with her debut single Nice Try. The British Asian talent has followed up the terrific track with her newly released debut EP Identity Crisis, which…
REVERED Indian spiritual leader and preacher Pujya Morari Bapu has told Eastern Eye that Ram Rajya (utopia) can be realised by bringing into practice the essence of truth, love and compassion as envisioned in the the holy scripture, the Ramayana. Ram Rajya is a concept of an ideal state where…
PERIODS are a natural, biological process experienced by billions of women around the world and yet, despite this universality, they remain hidden behind a veil of secrecy, shame, and stigma. This stigma is pervasive and deep-rooted, nowhere more so than within south Asian communities. I draw on my own experience…
ENGLAND’S performance in the just concluded football women’s World Cup final will help create a “really rich pipeline” of future talent, an influential Asian leader said, as others predicted a positive legacy despite the Lionesses’ defeat last Sunday (20). Spain beat European champions England 1-0 in the final match in…
ZEE5 Global, the world's largest streaming platform for South Asian content, just dropped the trailer of its much-awaited direct-to-digital film, Haddi. Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Anurag Kashyap in lead roles along with Ila Arun, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Saurabh Sachdeva, Shridhar Dubey, Rajesh Kumar, Vipin Sharma, and Saharsh Shukla in supporting…
CHARLES DICKEN’S classic work, Great Expectations, has been adapted to an Asian setting in a new production to be staged next month at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Pooja Ghai, Tamasha Theatre’s artistic director, will helm a fresh adaptation of playwright Tanika Gupta MBE’s 2011 take on the 19th…
A STAND-OUT show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe is The Department of Britishness. The latest offering from acclaimed Indian stand-up comedian Anuvab Pal is a laughter-filled look at embracing Britishness and continues his strong run of live UK performances. It also adds to an impressive body of work that has…
RACISM has no place in the National Health Service, the health secretary has told Eastern Eye. His comments come after doctors’ leaders made clear that medics of colour were more likely to face complaints and disciplinary hearings than their white colleagues. Two years ago (August 2021) this newspaper revealed that…
Over a third of south Asian communities in the UK are projected to achieve a comfortable retirement, a Scottish Widows' latest Retirement Report revealed. The report's National Retirement Forecast offers a comprehensive perspective on the nation's retirement landscape, presenting a particularly positive outlook for Indian communities. Released on Monday, August…
CRICKET, tapas and a TV advert featuring footballer Lionel Messi may seem like a strange combination, but it has been a winning one in helping to grow the sport in Spain and across Europe, thanks to the south Asian expatriate community. In Malaga, the Cartama Oval has become the new…
THE big budget thriller, which marks Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt’s entry into Hollywood had a premiere on Netflix recently. The story revolves around a secret agent (Gal Gadot) working for a mysterious organisation designed to keep order globally. She then crosses paths with a young Indian hacker (Alia Bhatt) and…
WHEN Life Of Pi was first published in 2001, it became a literary phenomenon, selling millions of copies in many different languages and winning multiple awards, including the prestigious Man Booker Prize. The global success of Canadian author Yann Martel’s novel immediately led towards thoughts of a live adaptation. Aside…
THOSE who pursue romantic love across boundaries of caste, religion or class in India are even today “just asking to be murdered”, says the historian Joya Chatterji, emeritus professor of South Asian History at Cambridge University. She has given several examples of love leading to murder in her new book,…
A CITY which has one of the country’s largest and youngest south Asian communities has become a hotspot for Hollywood producers and music chiefs. Bradford in Yorkshire, famous for its textile mills and the setting for Riz Ahmed film Four Lions, was named the UK’s City of Culture in 2025…
Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a fresh addition of £3 million in funding aimed at supporting grassroots initiatives combatting violence against women and girls in London. This funding boost seeks to bolster projects offering essential services to women and girls dealing with domestic abuse and sexual violence, a press release…
BANGLADESH has sought an extradition treaty with the UK, weeks after a court in the south Asian nation sentenced its exiled opposition leader in a money laundering case. Earlier this month, Tarique Rahman, 55, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was handed a nine-year prison term and his…
HOW do you write about sex? This was the question put to Reshma Ruia, the co-founder of a south Asian women’s writing collective, The Whole Kahani (the complete story), when the group of eight authors launched their third anthology in London last week. Tongues and Bellies, a short story collection,…
ASIAN businesses in Luton are ready to reap the benefits of the local football club’s first ever season in the Premier League, according to locals. Luton Town’s ground is in The Bury Park area of the town, home to a large south Asian community which moved there in the 1970s…
“RAISE your hand if you are a racist.” This is a question Saira Rao, an Indian American campaigner, poses at the start of the documentary, Deconstructing Karen. It features the work of Race2Dinner, an initiative by co-founders Rao and Regina Jackson, a black American, whose aim is to ultimately dismantle…
MIDDLESEX-BASED referee Surekha Griffiths was recognised as a community champion at the Grassroots Football Awards held at Wembley Stadium last Sunday (6). Griffiths, who has just completed her first season of refereeing for Middlesex Football Association (FA), was the recipient of the match official award. The 45-year-old takes charge of…
INDIA'S clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in this year's ODI World Cup has been brought forward a day to October 14 among eight other fixture changes, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Wednesday (9). The world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad will host the hotly anticipated match, originally set for October…
A VIBRANT personality mixed with a superb selection of songs and an ability to spin multiple genres has enabled DJ Lady G to entertain cross-cultural audiences. Whether it is explosive live sets or getting listeners on Solar radio to choose their favourite song, she beautifully balances DJing and presenting. Next…
SOUTH Asian-origin teachers continue to be under-represented in schools in England, government figures show. People of Indian origin make up 3.6 percent of the working age population, but only two per cent of teachers in state schools. Individuals of Pakistani heritage account for 2.8 per cent of working population compared…
IN FEBRUARY 1999, Sir William Macpherson released a devastating report into the racist murder of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence. The term ‘institutional racism’ started to prick the conscience of our wonderfully tolerant country. I say this without any hint of sarcasm or irony because I can’t imagine living in…
Lorna Nanda Gangotra, an award-winning chef from Woking, embarked on a challenging trek to Mount Kilimanjaro raising over £7,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Her motivation was to express gratitude for the care her mother received during her cancer journey at a Birmingham hospital. Lorna's mother was diagnosed with cancer, and…
RISING consumer spending is expected to drive card payments in India to Rs 60.2 trillion ($728.2 billion) in 2027, about a threefold jump from Rs 21.7 trillion ($262.1 bn) in 2022, according to GlobalData.The analytics company predicted that the value of card payments, which registered a 26.2 per cent rise…
Writer Vinay Patel, theatre director Milli Bhatia, and actress Zainab Hasan expressed their sorrow and paid tribute to Abdul Shayek, the artistic director and joint CEO of Tara Theatre, who passed away unexpectedly of natural causes. He was 39. Vinay took to Twitter and remembered Abdul as a “sharp” and “driven”…
Abdul Shayek, the artistic director and joint CEO of Tara Theatre, has passed away. He was 39. Tara Theatre shared the news of his death on social media. “It is with immense sadness that we are announcing the death of Abdul Shayek, beloved Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Tara…
WHETHER it is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan selling out big arenas, iconic festivals like Womad featuring qawwali concerts or compositions from major names like AR Rahman, Sufi music has been red hot in recent years. The next big breakout act in the devotional genre, rooted in over 700 years of…
THE England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has failed to step up and investigate why Lord Ian Botham trashed an independent report which found cricket to be racist and misogynist, according to those close to the sport. Eastern Eye has spoken to several prominent cricket sources who have accused the…
GROWING UP, Dominique DeLeon spent many hot summers in a built-up neighbourhood in the city of Birmingham, in central England, where she lived through deprivation and had little access to nature or green spaces to help her cool down. Though she has moved to a different part of town, ever…
WHO were the first Asian faces that you remember featuring regularly on television? Beyond the specialist Asian community programmes on a Sunday morning, there were pretty slim pickings across the ‘eighties. The Eastenders portrayal of everyday East London life would depict one Asian family at a time in Albert Square,…
GLOBAL semiconductor majors have committed investments in India as prime minister Narendra Modi offered 50 per cent financial assistance for chip makers setting up plants in the country. It comes after Modi’s ambitions to promote semiconductor manufacturing suffered a setback last month when Taiwanese tech major Foxconn pulled out of…
CHINA will continue to work with its all-weather ally Pakistan to take their strategic ties to new heights, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said as the two countries celebrated the 10th anniversary of the launch of the ambitious CPEC infrastructure projects in the South Asian country for regional connectivity. In…
“IT ALL started with an invite to go and watch the Middlesex over 50s cricket team,” said the former England, Middlesex and Surrey cricketer, Mark Ramprakash. He spoke to Eastern Eye over Zoom and is looking fit and relaxed and unbelievably younger than his 53 years. “I went along and…
INDIAN and South Asian families in various Massachusetts communities have fallen victim to a series of jewelry thefts, according to reports. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are now actively investigating these incidents, CBS News reported. The thieves appear to be deliberately targeting these families, seeking valuable jewelry items often…
Cast of 20 has been announced for Mahabharata, a spectacular retelling of the ancient Sanskrit epic, by Canada’s Why Not Theatre, which follows a devastating family feud and explores profound philosophical and spiritual ideas. Its stories are more than four thousand years old and foundational to Indian culture. The new,…
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday (26) dismissed a plea by former prime minister Imran Khan, in which he sought to halt his trial on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts. Khan had expressed concerns over the merits of the trial and alleged bias from the judge presiding over the case.…
WHEN Rishi Sunak became prime minister, TV and radio programmes asked for my thoughts. In almost every interview, I said this was our Barak Obama moment, but Sunak would be seen through a different lens from any of his prime ministerial predecessors. He was the first person of colour in…
COMEDIAN Romesh Ranganathan has urged men to become women’s allies by standing up against misogyny and sexism. Ranganathan has partnered with London mayor Sadiq Khan for a campaign that aims to give men and boys the confidence to challenge sexist behaviour and misogynistic attitudes, in a bid to tackle violence…
THERE perhaps won’t be a more unique and enlightening South Asian short film than Your Love this year. The powerful romantic drama had its North American premiere at the recent OUTFEST Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Festival and is based on a South Asian woman who came out of the closet in her…
A LOT of stories with South Asian protagonists will usually tread on tried and tested paths that lead towards story troupes that would have been covered before in some way. But this boundarybreaking book steers away down an unknown road filled with surprises, interesting twists and unexpected pitstops. London-based Anisa…
EARLIER this year, George called me. “Barnie, I need a favour,” he began, “I’m involved with a migration charity, and we’re telling the story of how migrants have helped Britain. “We want an exhibition in Leicester, use my name, I’ll turn up and do what I need to do, can…
FIERCE rivals Pakistan and India will meet in Sri Lanka on September 2 for their first one-day international clash in four years, according to the Asia Cup schedule announced Wednesday (19). The six-nation tournament starts on August 30 with four matches in Pakistan and the remaining nine in Sri Lanka…
NEWHAM is a London borough renowned for its diversity and rich cultural heritage, home to people from around the world. One of the most significant communities are those from across South Asia and this month brings a chance to celebrate their contribution in Newham. South Asian Heritage Month is an…
THE annual celebration of South Asian Heritage Month explores the shared cultures and histories of the UK and South Asia, with a range of activities from film screenings and concerts to workshops, discussions and events bringing diverse communities together. To mark the important month, being held in 2023 from Tuesday…
A BEAUTIFUL literary trend in recent years has been the growing number of children’s books with South Asian protagonists. This particular book, first published in hardback last year and recently made available in paperback, covers a unique theme perfectly. The story revolves around a young boy from a humble background,…
THE Indian mixed 4x400m relay quartet won gold in the mixed relay event at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, last Saturday (15). The quartet of Rajesh Ramesh, Aishwarya Mishra, Amoj Jacob and Subha Venkatesan clinched top spot in 3 minutes and 14.70 seconds. Meanwhile, star Indian long jumper…
ISSUES around integration, if left unchallenged, could lead to deepening divide in community relations such as those witnessed in Leicester last year, according to the thinktank British Future. In September last year, places of worship and other properties in Leicester came under attack after community tensions rose between Hindu and…
Brown Sauce, the leading London-based monthly comedy club for South Asian comedy, is excited to announce its partnership with Tara Theatre for an exclusive comedy lab and showcase event: The inaugural Comedy Lab will be on Friday 29th September, as part of the brand-new Tara Specials series. This collaboration aims…
St Mary's Guildhall, a 700-year-old Grade-1 listed heritage venue, has collaborated with leading south Asian artists to celebrate the rich culture intertwined with Britain's history. The Guildhall, which survived World War II Luftwaffe bombing raids and underwent a £5.5m restoration last summer, will mark south Asian Heritage Month by hosting…
INDIA said it made “considerable” progress on “difficult issues” in its Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the UK this week. An official statement issued in New Delhi on Wednesday (12) said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to London helped in moving forward the discussions during their critical stage.…
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…
A former MP has called on a British university to investigate claims of racism made by 75 south Asian students. Eastern Eye has seen a letter to the vice-chancellor of Leicester’s De Montfort University which makes serious allegations of discrimination and racism against the Indian learners. The communiqué is from…
MORE champions are needed to talk about dementia and raise awareness among south Asian communities in the UK, Alzheimer’s Society ambassador, Dr Karan Jutlla, has said. A survey in May to mark Dementia Action Week showed that one in three people (33 per cent) who noticed symptoms of dementia in…
ONE of the key public purposes of the BBC is ‘to reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities’ of the United Kingdom. The broadcaster’s operating licence from Ofcom goes further – ‘the BBC should accurately and authentically represent and portray the lives of the people of the United Kingdom today…
CHARITIES supporting Asian domestic abuse survivors are in a funding crisis with a lack of space in refuges and a shortage of trained frontline workers, experts have cautioned. They said further services are at risk of shrinking or closing due to a dearth of financial support. Research by the Refuge…
RIFCO Theatre’s creative director Pravesh Kumar said his family’s expulsion from Uganda, in 1973, prompted a digital series on south Asians fleeing the dictatorship of Idi Amin. Titled GenerAsians – The Ugandan Expulsion, the production charts the story of seven families who left Uganda 50 years ago under tumultuous circumstances,…
ACTING must put more people of colour in creative boardrooms to stop unconscious bias, colonialism and complacency which exist in the profession. That is the call from one of the industry’s biggest south Asian stars. Meera Syal told the Raminklal Pioneers Project, a partnership of the Asian Media Group [the…
Dance performances by two south Asian companies are among the highlights at east London’s Ensemble Festival next week. Amina Khayyam Dance Company will present You&Me, created from women’s stories, while the Sonia Sabri Company’s Mughal Miniatures - The Awakening is inspired by traditional Indian and Persian miniature paintings. They will…
THE Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague rejected on Thursday (6) India's objections to a Pakistan-initiated procedure over water use in the Indus River basin, reopening a procedure that had been blocked for many years. India called the arbitration proceeding illegal as a neutral expert was also looking…
HE MAY be a talented MC, but Beant first got connected to music at a more spiritual place. He learned Sikh music from a young age at the Gurdwara, surrounded by accomplished musicians and vocalists. The 22-year-old, born and raised in Leamington Spa, also grew up listening to eighties songs…
SPOKEN word poet, author and podcaster Angela Rideau has used the power of words to form different connections with diverse audiences. She continued that creative journey with her debut poetry collection Honey Bee, which is a beautiful book that explores trauma, identity, growing up within the South-Asian diaspora, healing, and…
SOUTH ASIAN cuisine is going more green during the cost of living crisis, with restaurants turning away from charcoal and gas ovens. More eateries are using large combination electric cookers, rather than a tandoor oven, which can cook chicken, lamb and naan together, according to owners. The industry has largely…
MOST of us know someone in our family who has suffered from diabetes, or cancer, or had a heart attack or stroke. Doctors have known for a long time that south Asians are more susceptible to certain diseases. For example, we’re five times more likely than white people to develop…
ACTOR Ace Bhatti said his new film, about unravelling family secrets, reflects the universal appeal of good drama, with audiences drawn to the plotline and not the characters’ ethnicity. In The Effects of Lying, Bhatti plays Naveen, a “dutiful husband and loving father” whose life falls apart over a series…
THE Church of England stands accused of failing survivors of child abuse and punishing whistle blowers who give them a voice, a former independent advocate has told Eastern Eye. The church sacked Jasvinder Sanghera, who founded Karma Nirvana, a charity for mainly south Asian survivors of domestic abuse, forced marriage…
MANY Indian-Americans have voiced their support for the US Supreme Court ruling which struck down race based affirmative action policies in college admissions last week. East and South Asian Americans have been at the forefront of activism against these policies as they see it as creating disadvantages for Asian American…
The Consulate of India in San Francisco experienced an attack perpetrated by Khalistan supporters, who attempted to set ablaze the diplomatic facility. This marked the second occurrence of such violence within a few months, eliciting a firm rebuke from the US government, which categorised it as a "criminal offense." A…
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.…
CANADA'S response to the Khalistan issue appears to be constrained by its electoral considerations, India said and warned it will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security. Khalistan refers to the demand for independent statehood for the Sikh majority areas in north-western India. External affairs minister…
New research commissioned by leading UK health and wellness retailer Holland & Barrett (H&B) with YouGov reveals inequalities in menopause support for women from black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. It was found that a significant proportion (51 per cent) of these women feel that current advice focuses too much…
WITH huge concerts headlined by superb singers like The Nooran Sisters, Gurdas Maan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Ali Azmat and Atif Aslam already staged, it has been an action packed year for live music in the UK. There are a lot more concerts on the way in the remaining six months of…
BELIEVING that open communication is essential for women to take charge of their health and well-being inspired Simran Balar Jain to create content around uncomfortable conversations. Many topics being considered taboo or uncomfortable in Indian society, especially women’s health and sexuality, drove her towards breaking the stigma and creating a…
THE head of English cricket has admitted to Eastern Eye that the game is in an “appalling position” after a damning report found the sport was beset with racism and misogyny. Cricket boards were accused of failing to prevent “structural and institutional racism, sexism and class-based discrimination,” in a report…
The harassment of a US journalist on social media for asking prime minister Narendra Modi a question at his joint press conference in Washington with President Joe Biden has been strongly condemned by the White House, which deemed it "totally unacceptable." During the press conference, Sabrina Siddiqui, a reporter from…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak should leverage his Indian heritage for forging stronger ties between the UK and India in trade and defence, former foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said. “Britain remains uniquely placed to reap the dividends of a deeper friendship with India” with Sunak as the prime minister but…
CRICKET owes Azeem Rafiq and Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford an apology for the way they were treated in exposing and trying to overcome racism in cricket, the chair of an independent inquiry has told Eastern Eye. After a two-and-a-half-year review of the sport, the Independent Commission for Equity in…
PAKISTAN'S parliament on Sunday (25) approved the government's 2023-24 budget which was revised to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions in a last ditch effort to secure the release of more bailout funds. The IMF in mid-June expressed dissatisfaction with the country's initial budget, saying it was a missed opportunity…
BLUE chip companies Google and Amazon have announced major investments in India during prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States. Amazon.com Inc will invest an additional $15 billion in the south Asian country, the company's chief executive Andy Jassy told Modi in his meeting on Friday (23). The…
Alzheimer's Research UK, the leading dementia research charity in the UK, has joined forces with South Asian Health Action, a prominent British Asian health charity, to raise awareness about dementia in the south Asian community in Leicester. They are hosting a free event at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday…
Movies are one of the best ways to spend time with family. Spending quality time over bowls of popcorn and a story that makes everyone across the ages laugh, cry and feel happy can be the key to quality family time. South Asian movies, particularly with their largely family-oriented stories,…
PAKISTAN'S foreign ministry said it is "evaluating all aspects" of the country's participation in this year's 50-overs World Cup in India with bilateral cricket stalled between the south Asian neighbours due to soured political relations. The two countries have played each other only in multi-team events at neutral venues over…
Prominent a cappella group Penn Masala, comprising students of the University of Pennsylvania, on Thursday, performed a rendition of popular Bollywood tracks "Chaiyya Chaiyya" and "Jashn-e-Bahaaraa" at the White House ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival. The group of South Asian students performed for the large crowd, ranging between…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States may encourage more American companies to consider investing in the South Asian country as they look to reduce their reliance on China for manufacturing-related activities. The United States is the third largest source of foreign investment for India, with over…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States has been marked by several key moments that will further strengthen bilateral relations and showcase India’s global influence. Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. Modi’s…
WHITE House social secretary Carlos Elizondo said first lady Jill Biden was involved in every step of planning for the state dinner in honour of India’s prime minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday (22). During a preview of the dinner on Wednesday, Elizondo said every element of…
A LOVE for reading and seeing books as a dream-like escape inspired Nazneen Ahmed Pathak to write, but that stopped in her twenties because there wasn’t a story she wanted to tell. Things changed after her son Roshan was born in 2013. She was reading a children’s book to him…
A Dalit student from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, has launched a crowdfunding initiative to support his MPhil programme in Law at Oxford University. In November 2022, Bhimraj M, a former doctoral student at the South Asian University (SAU) in New Delhi, faced disciplinary action for participating in…
YOUNG actress Tanvi Virmani, who will be part of the play, The Crown Jewels, at the Garrick Theatre, believes her taking up a leading role in a restoration period play is a sign of progress for ethnic minority actors in theatre. The play is based on the true story of…
RISING food prices during the cost of living crisis have had a bigger impact on south Asian families and businesses, according to experts. They have highlighted that the inflation of products – including rice, cooking oil and spices – has disproportionately affected Asian households. The Runnymede Trust think-tank said the…
SERVING and retired judges have told Eastern Eye that the selection process by which they are appointed is “racist and corrupt to the core”. It comes after an Asian solicitor won the unprecedented legal right to see how the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) chooses successful candidates. Ashok Ghosh claims that…
ENGLAND’S world cup winning cricketer Adil Rashid is among the British Asian names recognised in King Charles’s inaugural Birthday Honours List announced today. With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 11 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, the list showcases the immense…
A mural in India’s new parliament building has been a talking point since the inauguration of the structure last month.At the centre of the controversy is a map in the mural depicting ancient India as one geographical entity which also includes today’s Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.While the mural has caught…
If you are fond of books – and Eastern Eye readers seem to love them – then attending an event like the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF) at the British Library is a little like a child being let loose in a chocolate factory. There were a total of 35 sessions…
For motorists wanting to put “Singh” or “Krishna” on a personalised number-plate, the price tag could put the brakes on such ambitions. The most expensive registrations sold at auction were revealed by the government’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). And “51 NGH” made the top 10 after being bought…
PAKISTAN paid for its first government-to-government import of discounted Russian crude oil in Chinese currency, the South Asian country's petroleum minister has said, a significant shift in its US dollar-dominated export payments policy. Discounted crude offers a respite as Pakistan faces an economic crisis with an acute balance of payments…
The Conservative party has attracted more funding from Asian business leaders and companies than Labour, latest data shows, with one prominent industrialist donating £2 million to the ruling party. [caption id="attachment_236898" align="alignright" width="300"] Sanjay (left) and Vipul Vadera[/caption] Amit Lohia, 48, a director at Indorama Ventures, emerged as one of…
India and the US must work on making bilateral ties stronger and focus on collaboration on education and cultural fronts, Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has said. He expressed hope that the two sides will talk about cooperation in the education and business sectors and find ways to strengthen the bilateral…
INDIA'S central bank on Thursday (8) kept interest rates on hold for its second-straight meeting, citing easing inflation pressures, but warned about an uncertain global outlook. The benchmark repurchase rate was left at 6.50 per cent by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), bank governor Shaktikanta Das announced in a…
