- Friday, April 19, 2024
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…
THE former chairman of the Post Office has defended himself against claims of using derogatory language during a board meeting, reported the BBC. An investigation into Henry Staunton and the Post Office's current CEO, Nick Read, revealed that Staunton made inquiries about a potential board member's race and background. During…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak wants to eliminate the “sick-note culture” which he claims has become a lifestyle choice for some and was taking a heavy toll on the country's welfare bill. Sunak wants to strip GPs of their power to sign people off work and said that if the Tories…
Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Kent have voiced their disappointment after not being granted Tier 1 status by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for hosting professional women's cricket teams from 2025. This decision, reported by the BBC, has led to a notable backlash from these counties. While Yorkshire and Glamorgan…
A ban on lunchtime prayers at Michaela Community School in London, which prompted a legal challenge from a student, received backing from notable Muslim leaders, according to the school's headteacher, Katharine Birbalsingh. This week, the school successfully defended its policy of prohibiting pupils from praying during lunchtime in the playground…
In an unprecedented scientific breakthrough, marine biologists have successfully communicated with a humpback whale, demonstrating the potential for cooperation and understanding between humans and these majestic ocean creatures. The groundbreaking encounter took place in Southeast Alaska, where an adult female humpback whale, known as Twain, responded to a recording of…
Billionaire Elon Musk is gearing up for a visit to India, targeting an electric vehicle plant in the country. But that's not the only thing he will be discussing during his India visit. In addition to Tesla, Musk's satellite internet company Starlink is expected to receive preliminary clearances to operate…
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 BBC’s restructuring of its India operations to comply with the country’s foreign direct investment (FDI) rules was completed last Wednesday (10) with the launch of Collective Newsroom, an independent entity with the public broadcaster as its first client. The Indian-owned company replaces BBC World Service India and will continue…
Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf has confirmed that transgender women will be included under new misogyny laws, stating that the legislation will protect "anyone affected" by misogyny, regardless of their biological sex. This development follows recommendations for such legislation from human rights lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, aimed at addressing…
A Muslim student's legal challenge against a ban on prayer rituals at a leading London school was dismissed by a court on Tuesday. The case, centering on religious freedoms within schools, attracted nationwide interest. The student, whose identity remains confidential, had filed a lawsuit against Michaela Community School in northwest…
In an address to the parliament, prime minister Rishi Sunak strongly criticised Iran for launching an attack that sent 300 missiles and drones towards Israel, describing Iran as a nation "intent on creating disorder" in the Middle East. On Monday, he commended the Royal Air Force pilots who, in collaboration…
Sadiq Khan has pledged to eliminate rough sleeping in London which is now at the highest level in a decade. Announcing his latest manifesto commitment on Monday ahead of the mayoral election on May 2, Khan said he plans to spend an extra £10 million to tackle the growing humanitarian…
BRITISH-AMERICAN author Salman Rushdie releases his memoir Knife on Tuesday, recounting the harrowing experience of being stabbed at a public event in 2022 and how he overcame the near-fatal ordeal. Rushdie lost sight in one eye after the attack by a knife-wielding assailant, who jumped on stage at an arts…
A scandal has erupted at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, with allegations of a cover-up involving a group of consultant neurosurgeons accused of suppressing warnings about patient safety, according to reports. According to whistleblower Mansoor Foroughi, who served as a consultant neurosurgeon at the hospital, concerns regarding high death rates…
A former sub-postmistress who was wrongly imprisoned while pregnant has declined to accept an apology from a former Post Office boss who praised the team involved in her wrongful conviction. Seema Misra was eight weeks pregnant with her second child when she was sentenced to 15 months in prison in…
THE husband of Kulsuma Akter, who was stabbed to death in Bradford last Saturday (6), has appeared in court charged with her murder. Akter, 27, was attacked near Westgate in the city centre, while she was pushing her child in a pram. She succumbed to her injuries in hospital. Her…
2022 The Apprentice winner Harpreet Kaur and fellow 2022 candidate Akshay Thakrar are set to tie the knot at the end of next month, reports The Mirror. The couple met on the BBC series and are already engaged. They are planning three days of celebrations, including an English-style white wedding…
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said if anyone wants to see the future they should come to India. Speaking at an event, Garcetti was all praise for India and said that it was a “great privilege” to be the leader of the US mission in the country, reported…
The Imperial College London quiz team, which included computational science graduate from Kolkata Sourajit Debnath, has emerged as the winner of the champion’s trophy of ‘University Challenge’. The win in Monday night’s final aired on BBC makes the London-based university one of the most successful in the show’s history, winning…
Ramsay El-Nakla, the brother-in-law of Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf, has been charged with abduction and extortion following the death of a man who fell from a flat's window. Ryan Munro suffered severe injuries after the fall on Morgan Street in Dundee on January 10, as reported by BBC. He…
FROM one perspective, it could seem difficult to find another major democracy that is quite as relaxed about the role of religious faith in public life as Britain is today. As Eid this week brought the month of Ramadan to a close for several million British Muslims, it will provide…
Private hospital chain Spire Healthcare, which often treats NHS-funded patients, is under scrutiny following the recent deaths of some patients under its watch, reports BBC. In one such case, Nafisa Khan was referred to Spire East London by NHS for a gallbladder operation in September 2021. The morning after her…
Kindness and culture shape all of our lives in ways so profound that we scarcely realise how they impact on our actions, attitudes and overall wellbeing, which is particularly poignant this April, as it’s Stress Awareness Month. Their influence stretches far beyond our own lives, as they are intrinsically intertwined…
A London-based computational science graduate from Kolkata is part of the Imperial College London team that has entered the finals of BBC's 'University Challenge' quiz competition. Sourajit Debnath, 31, will join his four-member team as they go head-to-head with University College London (UCL) in the grand final to be telecast…
Three former Supreme Court justices have joined more than 600 members of the British legal profession in calling for the government to halt arms sales to Israel, saying it could make Britain complicit in genocide in Gaza. Echoing the growing number of opposition politicians who have called for a halt…
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has spoken out after being targetted with Islamophobic graffiti near his family home. He emphasised the necessity of a zero-tolerance approach to hatred. Yousaf said the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 will deal with the "rising tide of hatred," reported BBC. Scotland’s…
An Asian-origin couple from Coventry has launched a fundraiser to donate cold cots to hospitals, after a stillborn baby was born to them, BBC reports. A cold cot is a refrigerated infant bed that allows parents to spend more time with their deceased baby. Satveer Kaur Binning was more than…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has revealed his desire to call a general election when people "feel that things are improving," reiterating his intention to hold the polls in the latter half of the year, reported The Times. During a regional radio appearance on Tuesday (2), Sunak chuckled when faced with…
Women from the Bangladeshi community in the United Kingdom (UK) are facing severe distress due to relentless harassment from a TikTok troll. Despite reaching out to authorities and social media platforms, many feel helpless as the abuse continues unchecked, a BBC investigation has found. The troll, Hasan Syed, inflicts psychological…
Scotland's new hate crime law, which has been criticised by many including the likes of Elon Musk and JK Rowling, came into force on Monday. The new law, called the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, aims to make Scotland safer by strengthening laws against hate crimes. However, its…
King Charles attended the annual Easter church service in Windsor on Sunday, his first appearance at a public royal event since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February. Charles, 75, waved as he and Queen Camilla arrived by car at St George's Chapel, the resting place of his late mother…
COUNTER-TERRORISM detectives are investigating after a journalist working for a Persian language media organisation was stabbed in London on Friday (29) amid fears he had been targeted because of his job, police said. Police said the man, aged in his 30s, was attacked and sustained an injury to his leg…
Former sub-postmasters have called for a police investigation following a BBC report that the Post Office knew about the flaws in Horizon IT system, but continued to argue against sub-postmasters in the court. A draft report accessed by the BBC shows that in 2017 the Post Office was shown evidence…
More than 4,600 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats so far in 2024, a record total for the first three months of the year. This is bound to put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his 'stop the boats' plan. Provisional data from the Home Office,…
THE actress Shelley King, best known for playing Yasmeen Nazir in Coronation Street and Jay Harper in Angels, has talked to Eastern Eye about a children’s street charity in Kolkata which will be marking its 25th anniversary on November 9, 2024. King, who herself lived in Kolkata till the age…
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…
Public satisfaction with the NHS has plunged to a historic low with long waiting periods and staff shortages cited as main concerns, according to the British Social Attitudes survey. Just 24 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the NHS in 2023, and this is five percentage points…
In the vibrant landscape of India’s music industry, a new constellation has emerged, promising to dazzle audiences with their infectious beats and empowering messages. Meet W.i.S.H, the nation’s newest girl-pop group, poised to captivate hearts and minds with their distinctive pop melodies. W.i.S.H, an acronym for “World inka Stage Hai”,…
BBC Asian Network on Friday announced the launch of new chat show in a podcast format, One More Chai, coming to the station on Wednesdays (22:00 – 23:00) from 17 April. One More Chai will be hosted by SMASHBengali and Guranisha Randhawa, who will team up to chat through various…
BBC has bought all nine seasons of the beloved American legal drama Suits after it turned out to be one of the most watched shows on Netflix last year. Featuring Meghan Markle, Gabriel Macht, Patrick J Adams, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, and Rick Hoffman on the ensemble cast, the series…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) unveiled the nominations for their 2024 Television Awards on Wednesday. Leading the pack are The Crown with 8 nominations and Black Mirror with 7 nominations. Both dramas are up for the prestigious "Best Drama Series" award, alongside Happy Valley, Slow Horses,…
This Easter, you might be surprised by the price hike on your favourite chocolate eggs. There's a culprit behind this sugary situation: climate change. The majority of cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate, comes from West Africa. Unfortunately, this region has been ravaged by a brutal heatwave, significantly reducing cocoa…
An expert witness in the Post Office Horizon scandal was asked by the prosecutor to change his testimony, the BBC reports. Former chief IT architect at Fujitsu Gareth Jenkins rephrased parts of a report on the malfunctioning Horizon IT system following suggestions made by barrister Warwick Tatford. The evidence was…
Charles Sobhraj, the cunning criminal dubbed The Real Serpent for his ability to evade capture, has captivated audiences with his chilling story. The BBC drama series reintroduced his case, but tonight Channel 4 offers a new perspective - a documentary featuring Sobhraj himself. Charles Sobhraj, also known as the Bikini Killer,…
WHILE it’s true that stand-up comedy first gained prominence in western culture, India’s comedy scene has emerged as one of the fastest-growing in the past decade. In recent years, there has been an influx of top talents who have presented humour in a unique way and risen to prominence with…
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…
A new mural that mysteriously appeared overnight on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London has sparked speculation that it may be the work of the elusive street artist Banksy. The artwork features a mass of green paint behind a trimmed-back mature tree, creating the illusion of…
THE son of a British Indian Post Office scandal victim has demanded compensation for the impact his father's wrongful convictions and financial ruin had on his life. Varchas Patel's father, Vipin, faced wrongful prosecution for discrepancies exceeding £75,000 at his branch between 2010 and 2011. Now, Varchas, along with other…
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…
The UK government on Thursday unveiled a new definition of extremism, as church leaders warned it risked disproportionately affecting Muslim communities. The new definition comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned earlier this month of a "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality" that risked the country tipping into "mob…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak resisted growing calls Wednesday (13) for his Tory party to return millions of pounds to a major donor accused of making racist comments about a high-profile black lawmaker. Businessman Frank Hester, 57, is alleged to have said that Diane Abbott -- Britain's longest-serving black MP --…
Failed asylum seekers will be offered up to £3,000 to move to Rwanda under a new voluntary scheme, The Times reports. The plan will be open to anyone whose asylum claim has been rejected by the UK. It is different from an existing voluntary returns scheme, where failed asylum seekers…
While political parties are promising to boost the UK's economic growth, the high level of the economic inactivity rate in the country remains a cause for concern, BBC reports. The number of people not employed or actively looking for work has remained high in recent years, ever since it first…
Former prime minister Boris Johnson flew to Venezuela in February for unofficial talks with its President Nicolás Maduro, The Times reports. Johnson spoke to the Venezuelan president about the war in Ukraine, amid concerns that the South American nation could supply weapons or military support to Russia. Venezuela has been…
The UK parliament's Business and Trade Committee has listed a lot of shortcomings in the compensation plan for the postmasters wrongly prosecuted in the infamous Post Office Horizon IT scandal, according to media reports. In its report issued on Thursday (7), the committee said the post office was not fit…
The undersea cable network in the Red Sea is facing disruptions with cables getting cut and this has affected data traffic flow between Asia and Europe, BBC reports. Hong Kong-based HGC Global Communications said four of the 15 cables were recently severed and it has taken measures to reroute the…
A PHOTOGRAPHER has spoken of how she has charted the journey of Rohingya women “reclaiming their lives” in the refugee camps of Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh. Fabeha Monir is among five women whose work will be displayed in an exhibition at the Oxo Tower Wharf gallery in London’s SouthBank. The…
COUNCILLORS in the UK's second-largest city Birmingham on Tuesday (5) approved tax hikes and deep cuts to public services including arts funding and rubbish collection, as the city fights to avoid bankruptcy. The city council, which needs to save £300 million over two years to survive, voted to increase local…
THE BBC has announced a “truly diverse” cast for Virdee, a six-part television series adapted from AA Dhand’s crime novel, City of Sinners. Having a mainly Asian cast playing both heroes and villains is regarded as being a groundbreaking first for British TV. The tale has a characteristically grim opening:…
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…
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…
A BRITISH Indian spy working with the UK's foreign intelligence service said the agency wants to recruit more people from black and Asian backgrounds. In a rare interview to BBC Radio 1Xtra, the MI6 director of global intelligence, identified only as Jay, said the service sought individuals with the right…
Asian-origin executives with years of experience in the field of law and finance have been appointed to the board of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a non-ministerial department responsible for strengthening business competition and curbing anti-competitive practices. Dharmash Mistry, a venture capitalist specialising in technology, new business models,…
The Princess of Wales has recently been spotted for the first time since December, marking her emergence into public view after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. The photos, captured and released by Backgrid, show her riding as a passenger in a vehicle near Windsor Castle, driven by her mother, Carole…
Meera Syal is set to narrate the audiobook of Annabelle Hirsch's popular book A History Of Women In 101 Objects. The BAFTA-winning actress took to her X handle to announce the news. She wrote, “Proud to be one of the audiobook readers for Annabelle Hirsch's brilliant book A History Of…
Britain's Conservative government unveils a pre-election budget Wednesday that could feature voter-friendly measures as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party badly trails main opposition Labour in polls. Huge giveaways are not expected, however, as stubbornly-high inflation hikes repayments on state borrowing, undermining the ability to stimulate the recession-hit UK economy. Finance…
France is poised to make history by becoming the first country to embed the right to abortion in its constitution. The move follows President Emmanuel Macron's commitment to safeguard abortion rights after the US Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn longstanding abortion protections. The constitutional amendment is expected to receive…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt sought to dampen speculation about big pre-election tax cuts in this week's budget, saying there had been a worsening in the economic outlook, but he hinted at some help for voters. The forecasts that underpin the budget "have gone against us," Hunt told the Sunday Telegraph in…
The cast for Virdee, the upcoming BBC crime thriller based on Bradford author AA Dhand’s book series, has been announced. Staz Nair of Game of Thrones will lead the cast as Detective Harry Virdee, replacing Doctor Who’s Sacha Dhawan due to scheduling issues. Aysha Kala joins the cast as Harry’s…
MOHSIN ISSA, the billionaire owner of Asda, has revealed plans to delegate the reins of the UK's third-largest supermarket chain. In an interview with the BBC, Issa disclosed a strategic "reset" for the retailer, anticipating the appointment of a new CEO. Despite Asda's considerable £5 billion debt, Issa affirmed his…
The iconic BBC comedy series The Kumars at No. 42 is set for a return on the small screen. A new iteration called Meet The Kumars has been commissioned by American network Fox. Created by Sanjeev Bhaskar, the series revolves around the Kumar family, who host a fictional talk show,…
A review led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden exposed numerous instances of racist and discriminatory behaviour within Nottingham hospitals' maternity services, the BBC reported. The investigation, prompted by concerns over 1,813 cases involving stillbirths, maternal or infant deaths, or instances of harm, has since expanded to include 70 additional cases.…
The BBC has announced that Saira Choudhry and Jason Manford will join the cast of Waterloo Road when it returns for its next series later this year. Choudhry will play Nisha Chandra, Waterloo Road's newest maths teacher. Manford will play Steve Savage, who has a big impact on the staff…
QUOTES for car insurance were found to be higher in areas in England with large ethnic minority populations, according to an investigation by the BBC. The details of drivers were used to get thousands of quotes in different locations. However, when the driver’s address corresponded with an address with a…
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…
South Korea is grappling with the world's lowest birth rate, a crisis that shows no signs of abating as new data reveals a further 8 per cent decline in 2023 to an alarming 0.72, well below the 2.1 needed for population stability. This relentless decline, now spanning over a decade,…
The government has announced a £31m package to help improve the security measures for MPs who are facing threats or harassment, according to media reports. The measures will include the provision of bodyguards for MPs most at risk and additional police patrols in response to increased community tensions, BBC reports.…
Bangladesh's critically endangered wild elephants have received legal protection from the High Court, which has issued an order banning the adoption of these elephants and safeguarding them from exploitation. The court's decision suspends all licenses, preventing the capture of young Asian elephants for purposes such as begging, circuses, or street…
Conservative party MP Paul Scully's remark that parts of the London borough have become a “no-go” zone has upset the residents and businesses in Tower Hamlets. The former London minister, who represents Sutton and Cheam, on Tuesday said he regrets sparking a controversy by claiming that parts of Tower Hamlets…
Several Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian army were discharged following India's demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. It said India remains committed, as a matter of "top priority", to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals…
A recent findings from the Resolution Foundation highlight a significant shift in the landscape of workforce health in the UK. The report underscores a concerning surge in poor mental health among young people, adversely affecting their educational attainment and employment opportunities. Official figures reveal a notable uptick in mental health…
British prime minister Rishi Sunak denied on Monday that his governing party has Islamophobic tendencies, saying comments by Conservative lawmaker Lee Anderson were unacceptable and that was why he had been suspended. Anderson said on Friday the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was under the control of Islamists in widely…
An Asian-origin Labour party MP has said receiving death threats seems to have become "a norm" for her, reports BBC. While sharing her experience on a BBC programme, Preet Gill, who represents Birmingham Edgbaston, said her job worried her "in a way I've never been worried before". This comes in…
The BBC has confirmed a spin-off series for its hit legal drama, The Split, nearly two years since the series came to a close with its third season in 2022. Starring Nicola Walker, The Split delved into the intricate world of family law, focusing on the lives and relationships of…
A dentist who had tweeted that he would kill his local MP has been detained in hospital, according to media reports. Amit Kerai, 34, had during a four-year campaign of harassment tweeted that Brent North MP Barry Gardiner would be "stabbed, shot, beheaded". Kerai appeared at the Old Bailey court…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman has claimed the UK is losing its identity as a great nation where different faiths and races co-existed peacefully because Islamists and extremists are taking charge in all walks of life. British Indian Braverman, with a Goan-origin father and Tamil-origin mother, writes in The Telegraph…
India-born media executive Dr Samir Shah was on Thursday confirmed as the new BBC chairman after his selection cleared the stages of scrutiny to be approved by King Charles III this week. Shah, who has worked in UK broadcasting for over 40 years, was picked as the government's preferred candidate…
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…
Eight people have been arrested in connection with the murder of an Asian-origin restaurant manager while he was cycling home after work in Reading on February 14. The victim, identified as Vignesh Pattabhiraman (36), was employed at an Indian restaurant Vel in Reading. He was involved in a collision late…
ENGLAND’S hyper-attacking “Bazball” approach is coming under intense scrutiny after a crushing Test defeat in India but captain Ben Stokes appears determined to stick to his guns. The visitors slumped to a humiliating 434-run loss in the third match of the series in Rajkot – England’s biggest defeat in terms…
London’s Overground train lines have never before had the attention of the iconic underground. The tube map was a popular hit straightaway in the 1930s, a design classic copied the world over. The Overground lines have kept a low profile on the map’s periphery, with its 114 stations hiding behind…
While the world remembers the colossal battles and heroes of World War II, another war unfolded far from the spotlight, claiming millions of lives: the Bengal Famine of 1943. In a powerful new documentary series, Three Million, BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service bring to light the devastating…
A battle for justice has unfolded as international students, entangled in allegations of English language test cheating, take legal action against the Home Office. These students, wrongfully accused of fraud while seeking study visa renewals, are now fighting for compensation, claiming unlawful detention and lost wages among their grievances. Despite…
NHS England is set to introduce a groundbreaking treatment for individuals suffering from advanced Parkinson's disease, benefiting up to 1,000 patients. This innovative approach involves a wearable device that administers medication continuously throughout the day and night. The treatment, known as Produodopa, leverages a pump system to deliver a constant…
The Apprentice contestant, Dr Asif Munaf, was booted out from the show on Thursday night after failing to impress industry experts in the virtual escape room challenge. This followed allegations of antisemitism that emerged during the filming of the show. The BBC subsequently refused to allow the contestant to appear…
In the face of two significant defeats that cast a shadow over his leadership before the upcoming general election, prime minister Rishi Sunak pointed to "low voter turnout" on Friday (16) as the reason for the Labour Party's success in overturning substantial Tory majorities to win the by-elections in England.…
An Asian-origin man was convicted for the gruesome murder of a Colombia-born woman almost 30 years after the crime, thanks to advances made in forensic science investigation methods, according to media reports. Interestingly, the crime took place near the fictional home of Sherlock Holmes - Baker Street, and a bloody…
While the UK government has been tightening immigration norms, the number of international students applying to undergraduate courses in British universities has gone up for the second consecutive year, according to media reports. The latest data shows 115,730 students from outside the UK applied to start in September, up from…
A British Pakistani girl, studying for 28 A-levels, has credited her mother with instilling in her a 'deep passion' for learning and books. Mahnoor Cheema, 17, from Slough, with an IQ as high as Einstein’s, is currently undertaking 28 A-levels after completing 34 GCSEs. She is studying four A-levels at…
The mastermind of an armed robbery that took place in Bradford in 2005 has been captured and extradited from Pakistan, according to media reports. A police officer was killed and another seriously injured when they responded to reports of a robbery at the Universal Express travel agency in Bradford, West…
THOUSANDS of international students are campaigning to clear their names over an English-language test scandal after fresh evidence was presented to the Home Office. The issue dates to 2014 when a BBC Panorama investigation revealed cheating on a compulsory language test that was required for a visa at two London…
NHS England's top medical training official has issued a heartfelt apology to the relatives of Dr Vaish Kumar, 35, who took her own life. Dr Kumar faced undue stress after being incorrectly informed that she had to undergo an additional six months of training before she could commence a new…
BBC Asian Network has announced the launch of the first-ever official British Asian Chart Show, coming to the station on Thursdays (9pm-10pm) from 18 April. Hosted by the station’s Jasmine Takhar, the weekly show will celebrate the best of British Asian music, with a one-hour rundown of the top 20…
A week after dropping the first look pictures, Netflix has released the first trailer for Scoop, its film which recreates Prince Andrew’s notorious interview with Emily Maitlis on the BBC’s Newsnight in 2019. The interview saw the Duke talk candidly about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and…
Azhar Ali, previously Labour's choice for the upcoming Rochdale by-election, has seen his candidacy revoked following his controversial remarks concerning Israel and Jewish individuals. Initially, Labour defended Ali after he suggested Israel had intentionally not prevented a Hamas attack on October 7 to justify an invasion of Gaza. However, Labour…
Azhar Ali, Labour's Rochdale by-election candidate, has issued an apology following controversial comments about Israel, which were disclosed in a secret recording published by the Mail on Sunday. In the recording, Ali suggested Israel had intentionally “allowed” a deadly Hamas attack on October 7, remarks he now acknowledges as "deeply…
After winning critics and audiences’ hearts with her breakout performance in the acclaimed BBC miniseries This Is Going to Hurt, actress Ambika Mod is presently in news for her first leading role as Emma Morley in Netflix’s One Day, a TV adaptation of David Nicholls’ bestselling romance novel of the…
An Instagram post by an 18-year-old Indian chess player has sparked a conversation on attitudes towards women in the sport. Divya Deshmukh, who is an International Master (the second-highest title in chess), wrote the post after taking part in the recent Tata Steel Chess tournament held in the Netherlands. She…
THE British Asian community, which has long been supported by King Charles from the days he was a young Prince of Wales, is now rallying round the 75-year old monarch following his cancer diagnosis on Monday (5). Since the King is also head of the Commonwealth, just as Queen Elizabeth…
Mobile services in Pakistan have been suspended due to the "deteriorating security situation", the caretaker government said on Thursday (8) as the people were voting to elect a new administration, a day after twin terror attacks killed at least 30 people. The interior ministry said it has decided to “temporarily…
With a career spanning a remarkable 25 years, Purab Kohli stands as a testament to perseverance, versatility, and undeniable talent. From gripping dramas to rib-tickling comedies, the seasoned actor has graced screens both big and small, leaving an indelible mark on audiences. Eastern Eye recently spoke to Kohli about his…
FORMER US president Donald Trump faced a defeat in court, yet he managed to extract success from the ruling, turning it to his advantage in furthering his political ambitions, according to experts. A US appeals court on Tuesday (6) ruled that Trump does not have immunity from criminal charges accusing…
The new president of the scandal-hit Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Rupert Soames, has admitted that he was trying to salvage the organisation from an existential crisis. He said the Guardian’s revelations about sexual misconduct at the lobbying group were “an appalling shock” that tipped it into a “near-death experience”.…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday (6) that he was “shocked and sad” upon discovering that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, though he found solace in the fact that the condition was detected early. Buckingham Palace revealed on Monday evening that the King had commenced outpatient treatment for…
Ambika Mod will shortly be seen in the lead role of Emma Morley in the Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ novel One Day. The 14-episode series takes the audience on a 20-year journey through the comedic romance of Emma and Dex, played by Leo Woodall. Each episode revisits the couple…
A new political party named Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, believed to be a new face of the banned groups of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, will participate in the February 8 general elections, according to a media report. A BBC Urdu report said some of the candidates…
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton could be about to make a surprise switch to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula One season, according to several reports on Thursday. The Italian team want the 39-year-old Briton to partner current driver Charles Leclerc, according to the BBC, Sky, Autosport, Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello…
Numerous emails connected to the probe into Princess Diana's infamous 1995 Panorama interview with journalist Martin Bashir featuring claims that Bashir deceived the Princess into agreeing to the exclusive interview have been disclosed by the BBC. Responding to a Freedom of Information request, the BBC disclosed about 3,000 emails related…
POPULAR BBC radio host Sangeeta Dewan is making a huge difference beyond broadcasting. The devoted mother of two has turned deep personal pain, including the loss of her husband and self-healing, into an inspiring journey of helping others as an award-winning life coach. She has created the Peaceful Parenting programme…
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…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak is known for his dedication to physical fitness, engaging in intense cycling workouts on his Peloton bike and having a weakness for mint chocolate and Mexican Coca-Cola. However, the Sunday Times (28) revealed that Sunak's self-discipline includes a weekly 36-hour fast, in accordance with his Hindu…
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…
White Lotus star Tom Hollander said that he accidentally received Tom Holland’s seven-figure bonus cheque for an Avengers film. The 56-year-old British actor made the revelation on late-night talk show Late Night With Seth Meyers. When the host asked him if people ever mix him up with Holland, the veteran…
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…
A special review has been ordered to examine the NHS trust that was treating a 32-year-old man diagnosed with schizophrenia and mental illness, who tragically stabbed three individuals to death, including a British-Indian teenager, in Nottingham last year. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said a rapid review of Nottinghamshire Healthcare…
The romantic novel One Day, which turned out to be an instant bestseller in 2009, is set for a small screen adaptation at Netflix, after being adapted as a film in 2011, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess in lead roles. It follows the complicated love affair of the lead…
TRIBUTES have been paid to British Indian medical student, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, who was stabbed to death in Nottingham, in June last year. Her parents and brother said their family's lives had been "shattered in a moment" following the tragic incident. Grace 'heroically and valiantly' fought that attacker while protecting…
Varada Sethu is set to be a part of Doctor Who, a popular British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. She will star in season 15, which is scheduled to hit the airwaves in 2024, alongside Ncuti Gatwa (the Fifteenth Doctor), taking over from Millie Gibson.…
The family of 19-year-old Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who was stabbed to death last June in Nottingham while heroically defending her friend from a knife attack by killer Valdo Calocane heard on Tuesday (23) that the court has accepted Calocane’s pleas of manslaughter based on diminished responsibility. While the court's decision to…
PSYCHIATRISTS have developed a reputation for seeking to blame patients’ mums for psychological problems during therapy. So, what then of the psychiatrist’s own mother? In fact, it was she who encouraged me to consider psychiatry, then a deeply unpopular speciality, while I was at medical school. Our beloved mum, Dr…
THE BBC should not be able to pursue criminal prosecutions against viewers for not paying the TV licence fee, culture secretary Lucy Frazer said, adding that an examination of the broadcaster’s powers would be in its next charter review. Convictions for not paying the licence fee are in the spotlight…
ONLINE retailer Boohoo has named former Betfair and Zoopla finance boss Stephen Morana as its new chief financial officer. Morana, who was a non-executive director of the group between 2014 and 2017, will assume the role on Feb. 19, the company said on Tuesday (23). The Manchester-based business, which owns…
THE UK’s public health protection agency last Friday (19) sounded a “national call to action” for more measles jabs for children because of falling vaccination rates and fears that a current outbreak could spread. Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that measles was spreading among…
In a tragic turn of events in Vadodara city, Gujarat, India, a boat carrying schoolchildren capsized in Harni Lake, leading to the drowning of twelve students aged seven to 12 and two teachers. The incident occurred on Thursday (18), and two individuals have been arrested by the police concerning the…
The Old Vic Theatre in London will present the world premiere of a new adaptation of Sophocles’ Oedipus, adapted by Ella Hickson. The production, which is set to launch in January 2025, will feature Oscar winner Rami Malek and former Game of Thrones star Indira Varma in lead roles. This…
THE elaborate web of lies fabricated by serial fantasist Eleanor Williams, about being groomed by an Asian gang, were revealed in 50 hours of police videos obtained by the BBC. The footage captures the evolution of Williams' deceit over a three-year period, with one video showcasing her feigning drugged behaviour…
A Turkish doctor, Dr Ogün Erşen, who specialises in weight loss "holidays" abroad, advised an undercover BBC reporter to gain weight to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery. Despite the reporter having a BMI within the healthy range of 24.4, Dr Erşen instructed her to "eat some snacks" to increase her…
Facing a crucial vote on the Rwanda bill, Rishi Sunak encounters resistance as two Tory deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide, namely Lee Anderson, Brendan Clarke-Smith, and Jane Stevenson, resigned to rebel against the legislation, seeking amendments for increased stringency. In a setback for the prime minister's authority, 60 Tory…
BRITISH ASIAN presenter, Amol Rajan, has revealed his admiration for "pale, male, and stale" figures, expressing his respect for traditional figures of authority and intellectual weight. “I’m a big fan of pale, male and stale people, figures of white middle-class authority or intellectual heft. I don’t assume those people are…
Complete casting has been announced for the upcoming UK premiere of Bhangra Nation – A New Musical, presented by Birmingham Rep in association with Mara Isaacs, Tom Kirdahy, and Peggy Koenig. Sohm Kapila will take on the role of Rekha. She has joined the previously announced cast members Zaynah Ahmed…
A recent report has revealed that girls were left vulnerable to paedophile grooming gangs for an extended period due to the failures of senior police and council leaders. Covering the years 2004 to 2013, the review specifically points out numerous failed investigations carried out by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) during…
The world’s longest-running children's TV show has today unveiled Shini Muthukrishnan as its newest Blue Peter presenter. Shini will co-host alongside Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney, and Henry the dog on her first live show airing Friday 19th January on CBBC and BBC iPlayer at 5.00 pm. Shini is a content…
2024 is going to be a busy year for Romesh Ranganathan, a stand-up comedian, actor, and radio host. Next week he kick-starts a stand-up tour before taking over from Claudia Winkleman as the host of Radio 2’s Saturday morning show in April. In May, BBC1 drops the second series of…
THE Post Office engaged in a campaign of “deception and threats” against the BBC to suppress crucial evidence related to the Horizon scandal, the broadcaster reported. Hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015, in a scandal described as the greatest miscarriage of justice in the UK. An ITV…
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…
Rishi Sunak faces a brewing rebellion within the Conservative party as over 30 MPs from the party's right-wing bloc rally to change the bill next week regarding the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda. The proposed amendments aim to restrict the avenues for appealing deportation orders, showcasing deep divisions within…
ASIAN parents traditionally want their children to become doctors, lawyers or engineers and, if all else fails, prime ministers and home secretaries. But now there are excellent career opportunities in horticulture, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which is offering free online tips with talks by experts from January…
THE chairman of Natwest was criticised for being out of touch last Friday (5) after he said it was not “that difficult” to be able to afford to buy a house in Britain. According to Office for National Statistics data, full-time employees in England could expect to spend around 8.3…
THE four-part ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, has changed the debate about the scandal resulting from the implementation of the faulty Horizon software by Japan’s Fujitsu company. Following the national outcry triggered by the show, prime minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg last…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday (7) called upon voters and members of his party to "stick to the plan" for achieving "long-term change" ahead of an election he indicated would likely occur in the latter part of this year. After firing the starting gun on election campaigning last week…
Contestants on the popular BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing, who are most likely to be assigned to repeated dance-offs are racial minority celebrities paired with racial minority professional dancers and who achieved high scores from the judges, an academic has said. Professor Keon West from Goldsmiths, University of London, analysed…
India's first solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, on Saturday (6) accomplished its final phase, reaching its designated location in space to continuously observe the Sun. After a four-month journey since its launch on September 2, the spacecraft has successfully positioned itself to keep a constant eye on the Sun. The Indian…
LABOUR has raised concerns over the closure of Catamaran Ventures UK, a start-up investment firm owned by Rishi Sunak's wife, reported the BBC. The company was wound up by Akshata Murty in December, prompting questions about its impact on government-backed businesses and other companies it holds stakes in. The establishment…
Critically acclaimed actress and writer of Indian origin based in the UK, Meera Syal has revealed how a pantomime in Stoke-on-Trent convinced her to become an actress. Syal, who is best known for such successful TV shows as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumar’s at No. 42, told BBC Radio…
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD British Indian schoolgirl made history after being named the “super talented” best female player at a European chess event. Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in London, won the European Blitz chess championship in Zagreb, Croatia, last month. During the event, she went head-tohead with some of the best players…
In the last 12 months, new analysis from NHS England indicates that almost three million individuals underwent urgent cancer checks. This number represents a surge of over a quarter compared to pre-pandemic levels. The government emphasises the critical nature of early disease detection in enhancing survival rates. However, cancer charities…
Junior doctors in England on Wednesday (3) commenced the longest consecutive strike witnessed in the seven-decade history of the NHS. Junior doctors -- those below consultant level -- started a six-day walkout, in a major escalation of their long-running pay dispute with the UK government. The industrial action comes at…
London’s skyline was lit up as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve 2024, with the grandest fireworks, lights, and drone spectacle ever seen over the River Thames. With over 100,000 attendees and millions watching worldwide, London commenced the year with a stunning exhibition of fireworks, lights, and drones,…
Rizwan Javed, a rail worker from east London employed by the MTR Elizabeth line at Ealing Broadway station, has been honoured with an MBE for saving 29 people from taking their own lives, the BBC reported. Since 2015, Javed has intervened to save the lives of these individuals contemplating suicide,…
On Sunday (31), London's Big Ben commemorates the 100th anniversary of its New Year's "bongs" being broadcast worldwide. Ever since New Year's Eve 1923 when BBC engineer A.G. Dryland clambered onto a roof opposite the British parliament to record the strikes, live transmission has become an annual tradition. The unmistakable…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who was under pressure from the Opposition regarding the customary resignation Honours List from his short-lived predecessor Liz Truss, has authorised the controversial peerages. Truss made 11 nominations of some of her close friends and allies, including Conservative Party donor Jon Moynihan and former Brexit Vote…
Meera Syal, who is best known for her work in television shows such as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42, has said the “risk-taking has gone” when TV bosses commission productions. The 62-year-old actress and writer told BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show, “We have been told,…
A British Indian doctor with the NHS decided to get musical during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, but what started as a one-man bedroom project has been gaining popularity with booked out shows. Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya, 25, started the indie-rock band named Gulz during his university days as a medical…
After last week's junior doctor strike, almost 88,000 NHS appointments had to be cancelled, predominantly comprising over 86,300 hospital check-ups and operations. Additionally, around 1,500 community and mental health appointments were affected by the strike, the BBC reported. This strike marks a part of ongoing disruptions, with over 1.2 million…
Romesh Ranganathan, who will be appearing in the upcoming Christmas special episode on The Jonathan Ross Show alongside Willem Dafoe, Ariana Debose, Katherine Jenkins, Kevin Bridges, Boy George, and Claudia Schiffer, opened up about how much weight he has lost. He revealed that he has lost three stone in weight…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been utilised globally to interfere with elections, sparking concerns among senior politicians and security services about potential risks in the UK. Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland is advocating for stronger governmental action against what he perceives as a pressing threat to UK democracy. As chair…
AN eight-year-old British Indian schoolgirl has made history after being named the “super talented” best female player at a European chess championship. Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in north-west London, won the European blitz chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, over the weekend. During the event, she went head-to-head with some of…
The family of Oshada Jayasundera, a 31-year-old postgraduate student at Nottingham Trent University, who died after being hit by a car, said their "hearts are heavy with grief" as they grapple with his loss. Jayasundera was pronounced dead at the scene following a collision on the A60 Huntingdon Street in…
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…
An undercover investigation at a care home conducted by a UK-based reporter from Kerala has revealed concerning levels of staff exploitation at Prestwick Care, in north-east England. The investigation highlighted the exploitation of numerous employees, a significant portion recruited from overseas nations like India. Balakrishnan Balagopal's report for the ‘BBC…
THE government's choice for the next BBC chairman, Samir Shah, faces reservations from MPs who questioned his suitability for the role, reports said. Shah appeared before the House of Commons committee ahead of his formal appointment, where concerns were raised about his ability to challenge BBC executives. While the committee…
INDIAN tycoon Gautam Singhania, chairman and managing director of the Raymond Group, is facing potential financial turmoil amid a bitter divorce settlement with his wife, Nawaz Modi. The high-profile dispute, involving the publicly listed Raymond Group, could result in Singhania forfeiting 75 per cent of his $1.4 billion (£1.1bn) fortune,…
Four members of the BBC staff on Tuesday (12), revealed intentions to leave the organisation and establish a new entity in India called Collective Newsroom. This new entity aims to offer services "as commissioned by the BBC," ensuring compliance with India's foreign direct investment (FDI) rules. According to a statement…
Foreign secretary David Cameron has issued a warning, suggesting a potential withdrawal of cooperation with Scottish ministers following a meeting between Humza Yousaf and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Yousaf, the first minister, met the Turkish president at COP28 without the presence of a UK official, which Lord Cameron said was a…
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…
Stand-up comedian Sukh Ojla, who has performed on such TV shows as The Big Asian Stand-Up Show (BBC Two), Comedy Guide to Life (Dave), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), Comedy Central Live, and features in Sky’s Dating No Filter, is gearing up for her next show Hot Aunty Summer. When…
IN HER book, What’s in a Name? Friendship, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain, the author Sheela Banerjee deals with the question which confronts all British Asian parents. What should they call their newborn? Most want the name to reflect the child’s ethnic and cultural heritage, but at the…
In a big move towards transparency, streaming service Netflix has come out with viewership statistics for over 18 thousand titles for a period of six months with The Night Agent, a spy series, topping the top-20 chart with 812.1 million hours of views. In its first “What We Watched” report,…
Meera Syal was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Women in Film & Television Awards 2023 ceremony held in partnership with Sky on December 1. The 62-year-old actress was handed a Lifetime Achievement Award a few months after being given the same by BAFTA. She joins an impressive…
Harpreet Kaur, who runs her own desert parlour business called Oh So Yum, has spoken about what it is really like working with Lord Sugar once the hit BBC One boardroom series The Apprentice came to an end. For those not in the know, the 31-year-old landed a whopping £250,000…
A judge has criticised the BBC for withholding numerous emails concerning the Martin Bashir scandal surrounding Princess Diana's 1995 Panorama interview. The documents were sought by a journalist probing the corporation's awareness and actions regarding the reporter's conduct. Martin Bashir officially resigned from the BBC in 2021 after revelations that…
Megastar Mammootty needs no introduction. With several blockbuster films to his credit, he is considered one of the most successful actors working in the Malayalam-language film industry in India. The 72-year-old megastar is currently in the news for making what could be called his boldest choice as an actor. In…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak faces the biggest parliamentary test of his premiership on Tuesday (12) when MPs vote on his plan to send asylum seekers to live in Rwanda. The Supreme Court ruled last month that Rwanda was an unsafe place to send those arriving in small boats on England's…
THE UK government’s choice of Samir Shah as the next BBC chairman has brought joy in India, his country of birth. "We are proud of him and this is a well-deserved achievement," his cousin Sujata Kango said in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) in the Maharashtra state where the media veteran…
SIX former London police officers on Thursday (7) were given suspended prison sentences for sharing offensive and racist messages on WhatsApp, including references to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family. In a statement after the sentencing hearing Commander James Harman, who leads the Metropolitan…
Following Claudia Winkleman’s announcement that she has decided to step down from her 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturday show in March 2024, Romesh Ranganathan is set to take over from Winkleman in the coveted Saturday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm slot. The comedian, author, and actor is currently presenting…
BBC presenter Amol Rajan has revealed that he contemplated suicide after the death of his father, P Varadarajan. Rajan, 40, told the Mid Point podcast that the grief over his father's passing led him to consider the idea of ending his life to be reunited with his dad. The University…
FORMER home secretary Suella Braverman said on Thursday (7) the government's proposed Rwanda legislation, part of a scheme to try to send thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country, will not work. Rishi Sunak is facing a revolt from the right-wing of his Tory party over efforts to…
SAMIR SHAH, a media executive with more than 40 years of experience in TV production and journalism, has been named as the government's preferred candidate to take over as the new BBC chairman. He will replace Richard Sharp, who was forced to resign after his communication with former prime minister…
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…
ONE of the best kept secrets in British music is Third Culture Collective. The orchestra founded by London based composer, singer and producer Kavi Pau brings together Indian and western classical music, with commercial sounds to create a genre that attempts to go beyond fusion. The talented musicians and great…
THE author at the centre of renewed racism claims against Britain's royal family has denied naming members alleged to have asked about the skin colour of Prince Harry's son. Copies of the Dutch language version of Omid Scobie's "Endgame" had to be pulped after the names of two senior royals…
BRITISH ASIAN BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake expressed concerns about the overwhelming lack of diversity in the network's newsroom, highlighting its impact on his mental health. Addressing a journalism diversity conference on Wednesday (29) at Media City in Salford, he expressed concern about the absence of Muslim employees in the "senior…
An adviser to former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan revealed that he was subjected to an acid attack near his residence in the UK. Mirza Shahzad Akbar clarified that while the chemical did not affect his eyes, it caused injuries elsewhere on his body. Authorities are currently investigating the incident,…
Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who put on his dancing shoes and impressed everyone with his endearing performances on Strictly Come Dancing, has announced a big career move days after his exit from the popular BBC show. The 53-year-old Channel 4 broadcaster, who was paired with professional dancer Lauren Oakley on Strictly Come…
AN independent tribunal has struck off a former Newport GP and Labour councillor after finding him guilty of sexual misconduct. The tribunal, following a hearing concluded on Wednesday (22), ordered that Dr Ibrahim Hayat's fitness to practice is currently impaired and imposed an immediate suspension, pending a 28-day appeal window.…
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued new draft guidance for the NHS, suggesting that women dealing with problematic menopause symptoms should have the option of receiving talking therapy, specifically cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), in addition to or instead of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This guidance,…
Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special will see six celebrity contestants take to the floor in a bid to be crowned Christmas Champion 2023. BBC has revealed the first three celebs for the Christmas special. History broadcaster Dan Snow, journalist Sally Nugent, and EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick have been confirmed to…
The RSPCA is preparing for a ‘winter crisis,’ due to escalating rates of animal abandonments, revealing a surge in incidents across several regions in England. Figures from Surrey alone show a concerning 27.4% increase in animal abandonments compared to 2020. Among the recent cases, a bearded dragon and two tortoises…
Four Indian women, including Bollywood actress Dia Mirza, made it to the BBC 100 Women List 2023. BBC released the 11th edition of the list on November 21, 2023. In addition to Mirza, captain of India’s national women’s cricket team Harmanpreet Kaur, National Geographic photographer Arati Kumar-Rao, and Tibetan Buddhist…
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…
Are you a fan of card games? Do you find solace in the rhythmic shuffling of cards and the strategic planning of your next move? If so, then you're in for a treat. Solitaire, the timeless classic, isn't just one game. It's a broad spectrum of engaging and challenging variations,…
THE family of a Scottish man who has been detained in India for six years has appealed to the new foreign secretary to intervene and potentially save his life. Jagtar Singh Johal, a 36-year-old Sikh activist, faces terror charges in connection with political violence in India. His family has written…
THE boss of McDonald’s in Britain said last week the US fast-food giant faces “one to two” sexual harassment allegations from workers every week, as he vowed to tackle the issue recently exposed by the BBC. Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, told a watchdog parliamentary committee…
England's chief medical officer, professor Sir Chris Whitty, shared with the Covid inquiry that the initial lockdown in March 2020 was enforced "a bit too late," acknowledging the government faced limited options during that period. He highlighted public health concerns such as loneliness, depression, and the risk of exacerbating poverty,…
Individuals facing mobility and mental health challenges will encounter a new policy requiring them to work from home or risk losing their benefits, a government minister said on Tuesday (21), underlining the concept of fulfilling "their duty." This initiative, to be unveiled during Wednesday's (22) autumn statement, forms part of…
Have you ever had a hunch or a gut feeling about something that turned out to be true? It's a sensation we've all experienced at one point or another. These gut feelings are our intuition at work—a powerful and often inexplicable sense that we just 'know' something without knowing exactly…
Humza Yousaf has refuted any suggestion that he was deceived by Michael Matheson regarding the iPad data billing controversy. Nevertheless, Yousaf acknowledged that Matheson could have handled the situation better. Defending the health secretary, Matheson, the first minister described him as a “man of integrity,” as speculation about a possible…
Channel 4 broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy was the seventh contestant to be eliminated from the Strictly Come Dancing ahead of Blackpool Week. A week after his elimination, the 53-year-old says that the show transformed him from a sober newscaster into what he calls ‘one of those gibbering old men wrecks who…
A recent study indicates a significant decline in the number of individuals within Bradford's Pakistani community marrying cousins over the past decade. Factors such as increased educational achievements, evolving family dynamics, and modifications in immigration regulations are believed to contribute to this decline, the BBC reported. Juwayriya Ahmed, a 52-year-old…
Scottish Labour head Anas Sarwar has refused to be drawn into a clear confrontation with his party leader Sir Keir Starmer over the demand for a ceasefire in Gaza. Sarwar said he supported a ceasefire, but refused to say if he would have supported a Westminster vote on the matter…
Angela Rippon is the latest celebrity to be voted out from the popular dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing. All the celebrities performed at the iconic Blackpool Tower and two of them found themselves in the bottom two. Rippon found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard and in the…
From next month, nearly half a million women in England will gain access to the contraceptive pill directly from pharmacies without requiring a GP appointment. The Pharmacy First scheme will also extend its services to include treatments for urinary infections and various common conditions, the BBC reported. NHS England highlighted…
Sir Keir Starmer is making efforts to subject Labour's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict to a vote, aiming to preserve party unity. The party has introduced a Commons amendment expressing apprehensions about the civilian death toll and advocating for extended pauses in the fighting to aid delivery. However, it aligns…
PAKISTAN captain Babar Azam was described as “depressed” and under pressure to save his job last Sunday (12), after the team crashed out of the Cricket World Cup, failing to make the semi-finals for a second successive tournament. A 93-run loss to England sealed Pakistan’s fate, ending the 1992 champions’…
CORRUPT Asian elites are exploiting Britain’s property market and the City of London to launder the proceeds of drugs smuggling, a new report warned. The report published last Friday (10) by the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) underscored the UK’s failure to prosecute money laundering crimes and emphasised its involvement in…
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…
HOSPITAL administrators are warning about plans to curtail additional bed openings due to a lack of funds, particularly during the winter months. NHS Providers, which represents managers, conveyed this message following the Treasury’s rejection of a plea for an additional £1 billion to cover strike-related costs. The group also mentioned…
Hospital administrators are issuing warnings about the necessity to curtail plans for additional bed openings due to a lack of funds, particularly for winter preparedness. NHS Providers, representing managers, conveyed this cautionary message following the Treasury's rejection of a plea for an additional £1 billion to cover strike-related costs. The…
A team of surgeons in New York has achieved a groundbreaking medical milestone by conducting the world's first transplant of an entire eye. The procedure has been widely called a medical breakthrough. However, it remains uncertain whether the recipient will eventually see through the donated eye. The groundbreaking surgery involved…
In a recent Met Police operation, homeless people's tents in central London were destroyed on Huntley Street, Camden on Friday (10). Refuse workers, reportedly working with the police, threw the tents into a lorry. Elodie Berland, a volunteer with the outreach organisation Streets Kitchen, recorded the scene after being called…
Krishan Guru-Murthy became the seventh celebrity to be eliminated from the popular celebrity dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing 2023. The Channel 4 broadcaster lost out to Angela Rippon. After finishing at the foot of the leaderboard on Saturday evening with a score of 25 out of a possible 40…
King Charles will grace the cover of the Big Issue, a magazine sold by homeless and vulnerable individuals, to mark his 75th birthday on November 14. His appearance on the cover aims to draw attention to the pressing issues of food insecurity and wastage. Charles has also authored an article…
During the Covid inquiry, Priti Patel, the former home secretary said that the £10,000 fines for violating Covid laws on large gatherings were excessively high. She said that the penalty, introduced before the August bank holiday in 2020, was not proportionate. Patel, along with her officials at the Home Office,…
CORRUPT Asian elites are exploiting Britain's property market and the City of London to launder the proceeds of drugs smuggling, a new report warned. The report published on Friday (10) by the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) underscored the UK's failure to prosecute money laundering crimes and emphasised its involvement in…
Rishi Sunak is facing mounting pressure to dismiss Suella Braverman over her comments about the Metropolitan Police which were made without the approval of the prime minister. Opposition parties are demanding removal of the home secretary as investigations are launched into her article on the pro-Palestine march. Braverman had suggested…
A former firearms officer who was stripped down to her underwear during a training exercise has been awarded £30,000 by an employment tribunal. Rebecca Kalam said she felt "vindicated" by the decision, which found she had been subjected to sexist and derogatory language and harassment, sex discrimination, and victimisation at…
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has sparked controversy with accusations that the Metropolitan Police are "playing favourites" in their handling of pro-Palestinian protests. In an article published in The Times, Braverman alleged that while right-wing protests that turned aggressive were often stopped, "pro-Palestinian mobs" were allowed to continue. The Met Police…
A VETERAN Asian presenter said she was being “vastly” underpaid compared to her colleagues at the BBC, and it was a key reason for her departure from the broadcaster. Ritula Shah quit the BBC earlier this year, ending her 35-year association with the corporation where she presented popular shows such…
Adam Thomas is the latest celebrity to face elimination from Strictly Come Dancing. The 35-year-old actor, who is best known for his roles on Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, lost to broadcaster Angela Rippon. He has become the sixth celebrity to leave the series on Sunday. He and his dance partner…
The Beatles are set to add one more feather to their cap as their latest track is hours away from becoming the No. 1 single on the UK chart. “Now and Then” is set to be their 18th No. 1 single after their last recorded song outsold the rest of…
A council leader and ten councillors have announced their resignation from the Labour Party, citing dissatisfaction with Sir Keir Starmer's decision not to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. Among those to leave the party is Afrasiab Anwar, the leader of Burnley Council, who had previously called for Starmer's resignation…
AROUND 100 British nationals have left Gaza for Egypt via the Rafah border crossing and 14 UK citizens have died in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a minister said on Monday (6). There were also "three British nationals who are unaccounted for", said energy security secretary Claire Coutinho, adding…
Humza Yousaf's in-laws, Elizabeth El-Nakla and her husband Maged, have returned to Scotland after being stranded in Gaza for four weeks. The family of Scotland's first minister was reunited when they successfully crossed into Egypt on Friday (3) via the Rafah crossing. Yousaf shared the news on social media, confirming…
ZARA ALEENA's aunt is advocating for legal reform following her niece's killer succeeding in his appeal to decrease the minimum term of his life sentence. Farah Naz said that the court order conveys a signal to women that 'their pain will not be considered'. Jordan McSweeney, the man who stalked…
“Now and Then,” the final song by the popular English rock band The Beatles, released today at 2 pm GMT. The fans of the music band all across the world had been waiting for the moment for some time now. The last song by The Beatles is actually a demo…
AN INCREDIBLE career has seen Apache Indian become a great British music icon. Whether it has been creating a new musical genre, monster hits like Boom Shak-A-Lak, world-class collaborations, trailblazing moments or setting up an academy for new talent, he has had three decades of brilliance. The singer, songwriter and…
Nandini Das has won the 11th British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding with for her debut work "Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire." The award was presented by professor Charles Tripp FBA, the Chair of the jury, during a celebratory event at the British…
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…
The latest celebrity who has been voted out from the popular celebrity dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed. It was former Love Island star Zara McDermott and her professional partner Graziano Di Prima who bid adieu to the show. This comes after a week when Amanda Abbington…
The first look of Dev Patel from his upcoming film Rabbit Trap is out. The film also stars Rosy McEwen in the lead role. Set in 1973, the film follows a married couple who are both musicians, Daphne and Darcy Davenport. The duo has decided to move from London to…
Jasbir Pahal, a 44-year-old teaching assistant, and a mother of four, tragically died in November 2022, after experiencing a severe stroke during the weekend, an inquest has heard. Jasbir’s husband, Satinder Pahal accused the hospital of not promptly transferring her to a facility equipped with 24-hour treatments to remove blood…
Scotland's first minister, Humza Yousaf, has finally established contact with his family in Gaza after a period of communication blackout. His in-laws have been stranded in the region since the attacks by Hamas in Israel. He said they managed to get in touch after two days without communication, reporting a…
In Quetta, an undercover BBC journalist recently encountered a people smuggler named Azam, orchestrating illicit passages out of Pakistan. Azam explained his business model, asserting that individuals aged between 12 and 18 were also viable clients. For a sum of 2.5 million Pakistani rupees ($9000; £7,500), a young man could,…
Newcastle-under-Lyme has clinched the RHS gold award and the title of Overall Winner in the UK finals of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition 2023 which stands as the largest community gardening competition in the UK. Out of 44 community gardening groups nominated to represent their region…
A record number of teenagers from the UK's most economically challenged regions have sought admission to most exclusive university programmes in the country, according to latest data. These students have applied to Oxford and Cambridge, and for degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. For the first time in history,…
OPPOSITION leader Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war, testing the leadership mettle of the favourite to become Britain's next prime minister. The 61-year-old is battling to dampen tensions within Labour's ranks over remarks he made about the Israeli response to Hamas's October 7…
Strictly Come Dancing star Krishnan Guru-Murthy has amassed a new fanbase ever since he started delighting viewers with his endearing dance performances on the popular celebrity dance reality show. And his latest fan is a Hollywood star-turned-politician. Yes, you read that right! Arnold Schwarzenegger, known for his several action films…
WARIS HUSSEIN has invited his friends to a cocktail party on November 19 to mark the 60th anniversary of the inaugural transmission of Dr Who. The story goes that back in 1963 – when the BBC devised Dr Who as a new science fiction series – no established director would…
PAKISTAN’S 1-0 victory over Cambodia in a World Cup qualifier this week hardly registered on football’s radar yet such was the significance for the national team that manager Stephen Constantine said he had never seen so many grown men cry. A 67th minute goal by Harun Hamid in the second…
An MP was prevented from boarding a flight to Canada along with fellow parliamentarians due to his name being Mohammad, the Commons heard on Monday (23). Labour MP for Bedford, Mohammad Yasin, faced “humiliating” treatment while attempting to board a flight to Canada as part of a parliamentary delegation, the…
After the departure of Jody Cundy and Jowita Przystal last week, the fourth celebrity to exit Strictly Come Dancing 2023 has been revealed. After the votes of the four judges - Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Shirley Ballas – were combined with the audience votes, comedian…
The Conservative Party lost two parliamentary seats to Labour on Friday (20), marking another ominous setback for prime minister Rishi Sunak and his party in the lead-up to the expected general election next year. The by-election results -- the latest in a string of traditionally safe Tory seats lost to…
The BBC has announced that it will stop production of the daytime medical drama Doctors. The medical soap opera, about the doctors and staff at a busy Midlands GP practice, is coming to an end after 23 long years. It was launched in 2000. After running for 23 years, the…
Nitin Ganatra became a household name after he played postman Masood Ahmed on EastEnders. After essaying the role for 12 years, he quit the popular BBC One soap opera in 2019. The 56-year-old actor revealed a few months ago how he returned to his first love art and also helps…
BBC broadcaster Naga Munchetty has told MPs her diagnosis of adenomyosis - where the womb's lining grows into its muscular walls - came decades after doctors dismissed her symptoms and told her to “suck it up” despite suffering from heavy periods, repeated vomiting and incapacitating pain. In her testimony before…
The heads of domestic intelligence and security service, MI5, and the FBI have jointly warned of an increased threat of domestic terrorist attacks due to the crisis in the Middle East. According to the counter-terror chiefs, Jewish communities, along with other groups, might face elevated risks from lone actors, Hamas…
THE Bank of England’s (BoE) actions to tame inflation have just begun to impact households and the effects will be felt to a greater extent next year, a policymaker said on Tuesday (17). Last month, the central bank froze interest rates at 5.25 per cent following a surprise slowdown in…
THE government is pressuring the BBC to refer to Hamas as “terrorists” instead of “militants” or “fighters” in its news reports. But ministers should reflect on the consequences of taking such a stance. The BBC is part of British soft power precisely because it is independent of government. Take, for…
AMARJIT SINGH GUDAIL, who is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), agrees there is now a shortage of allotments in the country. Last Sunday (15), he showed Eastern Eye around the Bixley Fields Allotments in Southall in west London, from where it is possible to see “up to…
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…
British actress and comedian Nina Wadia has teased a possible return as Zainab Masood on the popular BBC One soap opera EastEnders. The said character was last seen on the show in 2013 when she left Walford with her young son Kamil, who she shares with ex-husband Masood Ahmed, played…
Around 250 protesters gathered outside the BBC's main headquarters in London on Monday (16) to express their dissatisfaction with the British broadcaster's refusal to label Hamas as terrorists. Demonstrators at the event, organised by Jewish groups, chanted "Hamas, terrorists" and "Shame on You" at the broadcaster for making the editorial…
TENS of thousands of people rallied on Saturday (14) in London and other UK cities at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, amid police warnings that anyone showing support for the militant group Hamas could face arrest. Protesters marching through the heart of the British capital were shadowed by a heavy police presence of…
SCOTLAND's first minister Humza Yousaf posted a video online Friday (13) showing his British mother-in-law in Gaza tearfully deploring Israel's order to evacuate more than one million people from the north of the Palestinian enclave. "This will be my last video", Elizabeth al-Nakla, a UK citizen who was visiting relatives…
POLICE have arrested a 22-year-old woman in England suspected of having made a speech backing Hamas, despite laws forbidding explicit support for banned organisations, the local force said Friday (13). The woman was detained under the terrorism act Thursday (12) following an investigation into a speech given at a protest…
The new season of Strictly Come Dancing has been delighting audiences for more than three weeks now. Channel 4 broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy is one of the most popular contestants on the show this year. He was recently surprised to know that his new fanbase also includes high-profile names like Bono…
THE Bank of England’s actions to tame inflation have just begun to impact households and the effects will be felt to a greater extent next year, a policymaker has said. Last month, the central bank froze interest rates at 5.25 per cent following a surprise slowdown in inflation. Its decision…
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…
MASTER percussionist Gubzy Singh Lackhanpal has had a magnificent career filled with magical moments. The dynamite dhol player and tabla maestro has performed in over 46 countries, with leading artists that include Malkit Singh, DCS, Apache Indian, Beverly Knight, AS Kang, Sukshinder Shinda, Hans Raj Hans, Surinder Shinda, Balwinder Safri,…
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…
The new series Mrs. Sidhu Investigates has turned out to be a success on Acorn TV. The four-episode series, which features Award-winning actress Meera Syal in the title role of a widow with a teenage son, concluded its first season on Monday, October 9. Suk Pannu is credited as the…
Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kanda has opened up about her exit from the popular dance reality show. The radio presenter, who was paired with professional choreographer Gorka Márquez, became the second contestant to be eliminated in the 21st series as they lost out to Zara McDermott and Graziano Di…
Amit Sharma has been confirmed as the new Artistic Director and CEO of the Kiln Theatre. Sharma, who is currently Associate Director at Kiln Theatre, and also works as a freelance director, will take up his new role on 1 December 2023. Sharing his excitement, Sharma said today, “Over the…
SCOTLAND'S leader Humza Yousaf said on Monday (9) that his wife's parents were "trapped" in Gaza, leaving him worried if they will survive an attack by Israel The parents of Yousaf’s wife were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend. "They're trapped…
Three men have been jailed for kidnapping a woman who got into their car after a night out, believing it was a taxi. Ajay Doppalapudi, Vahar Manchala, and Rana Yallambai coerced their victim into their Audi in Leicester in the early hours of Sunday 16 January last year. They then…
The recently appointed free speech chief, professor Arif Ahmed at the Office for Students (OfS), which regulates the higher education system in England, has expressed “serious” concerns about the stifling of free speech in English universities. He emphasised his commitment to defending all views and addressing the issue of academic…
BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast Show host Nikita Kanda was the second celebrity to face elimination from the popular celebrity dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday. The 28-year-old left the show with her professional partner Gorka Márquez after their performance on Saturday’s Movie Night theme. Nikita and Gorka landed…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer said on Sunday (8) his party's "single defining mission" if elected to govern would be to spur economic growth, expressing confidence he could partner with business to achieve that "very quickly". At the beginning of his opposition party's annual conference in Liverpool, probably the last before…
BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is heading into Week 3, better known as Movie Night, and all contestants have been assigned a theme from a classic film. Last weekend saw the elimination of Les Dennis and his professional dance partner Nancy Xu after his Samba to “Rock the Boat” by Hues…
LABOUR hailed a "seismic" victory in an election for a UK parliamentary seat in Scotland, beating the Scottish National Party (SNP) in a sign of its recovery in the country before a national election expected next year. Labour is leading prime minister Rishi Sunak's Tories in the opinion polls, but…
Selma Taha, the director of Southall Black Sisters, a women's organisation, found herself in the midst of a racially-motivated attack in an incident that took place on Friday (29) in the London Underground. The altercation unfolded when Taha and her two friends were on a Northern line train and despite…
RISING comedy star Mawaan Rizwan turned his acclaimed stage show into the recently premiered six-part sitcom Juice, which is available in full on BBC iPlayer. He portrays a gay British Asian man named Jamma, who works in a marketing agency and doesn’t know anything about real responsibility. The ‘man baby’…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has scrapped the HS2 high-speed rail line from the West Midlands to Manchester during his Conservative Party conference speech on Wednesday (4). The cancellation includes everything beyond the London-Birmingham route, with the £36 billion saved set to be reinvested in transport initiatives across the North, Midlands,…
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…
A PROMINENT Conservative party commentator believes the Tories have become “complacent” in reaching out to ethnic minority politicians and voters. With Rishi Sunak as prime minister and ministers such as Suella Braverman, Kemi Badonech and James Cleverly, the Tory administration has one of the most diverse cabinets in history. However,…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak is set to fire the starting gun Wednesday (4) on Britain's next general election campaign, with a much-anticipated keynote speech closing his ruling Tories' annual conference. He faces a daunting challenge rallying his beleaguered Tories to win the election -- due some time in 2024 --…
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…
CONSERVATIVES opened their annual conference on Sunday (1), with the party's chairman conceding they were "the underdogs" heading into a general election expected next year amid widespread economic woes. The gathering in Manchester will be prime minister Rishi Sunak's first since he became Tory leader last October, and likely the…
Les Dennis and his dance partner Nancy Xu have become the first couple to be eliminated from BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing 2023 on Sunday night. When last week’s and this week’s scores and votes were combined, Les and Nancy were placed in the dance-off against presenter Nikita Kanda and…
TORIES started its annual conference Sunday (1), bidding to kickstart a resurgence before a general election expected next year that it is currently on track to lose. The four-day gathering in Manchester, northwest England, will be prime minister Rishi Sunak's first since he became Tory leader last October, and likely…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has expressed his admiration for the country's 'fantastic multicultural democracy', directly contrasting the recent comments made by home secretary Suella Braverman, who claimed that multiculturalism had failed. Braverman faced criticism from fellow Tory MPs after she asserted during a speech to a right-wing US thinktank that…
Radio host and TV presenter Nikita Kanda is one among the 15 celebrity contestants who are leaving no stone unturned to become ruler of the ballroom on the latest edition of Strictly Come Dancing. During Wednesday’s episode, Kanda opened up about her upcoming Week 2 performance to Beyoncé’s song “Single…
The hotly anticipated 2023 edition of Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens on Saturday with a bang and saw 15 celebrities perform for the first time in their couples. Everyone performed to their full potential, but it was well-known journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy who left judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood,…
There is growing concern among the Conservative party regarding Rishi Sunak's recent policy surge amid ongoing political challenges. Many within the party wonder if the sudden flurry of initiatives constitutes a coherent strategy or is a sign of panic. As world leaders convened at the UN climate summit in New…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation on Tuesday (19) that the Indian government was behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada led to an escalating war-of-words and diplomats being ejected from both countries. India described as “absurd” Trudeau’s claims that “credible allegations” linked Indian agents to the June…
Actress Anya Chalotra, who shot to fame with her role in the successful Netflix fantasy series The Witcher, has signed on to headline an exciting project. She is set to play one of the leads in the new musical Cold War, which will open at the Almeida this autumn. Joining…
FROM tapping out rhythms as a baby to pursuing a professional career as a composer, sound artist, producer, performer, and educator, Jason Singh has had a lifelong connection to music. By using drums, percussion, voice, nature, electronics, DJ culture and technology across all art forms, he has used his obsession…
Suella Braverman ceased the yearly inspections of immigration detention facilities like Brook House last year, shortly after government ministers were directly alerted about the lack of protection for vulnerable individuals, including torture victims, the immigration watchdog has revealed. The disclosure was made by David Neal, the independent chief inspector of…
Rishi Sunak is set to announce the delay of certain government policies aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 in an upcoming speech this week, citing the need for a more "proportionate" response to climate change. In a highly unusual late-night statement after reports that he was planning to row…
An Antiques Roadshow guest wiped away tears when he learned that the war medal, his father received during World War II holds an astonishing value of £250,000. The man, whose father, Sikh soldier Naik Gian Singh, was honoured for his actions in Burma (now Myanmar) during the Second World War,…
SMALL SHOP owners across the UK are voicing growing concerns over an alarming increase in shoplifting incidents, with many citing a lack of police response and a rising sense of impunity among criminals as the root causes of the issue, reported the BBC. Benedict Selvaratnam, a convenience store owner in…
In the southern Indian state of Karnataka, police arrested a 78-year-old man, Ganapati Vitthal Wagore, who had been accused of stealing two buffaloes and a calf back in 1965 when he was 20 years old, the BBC reported. At the time, he was initially arrested for the alleged theft alongside…
THE G20 Summit in New Delhi has positioned India as a key player in the global arena, edging closer to becoming the 'leader of the Global South,' according to analysts. The two-day summit, which concluded on Sunday (10), showcased India's leadership as it championed initiatives aimed at countering the ascendancy…
A judge in Pakistan has issued a ruling to transfer five children who were taken to Pakistan with a fugitive couple wanted over the death of a 10-year-old girl in Britain to a government-run childcare facility, reported the BBC. The children were discovered at Sara's grandfather's residence, where he wished…
After nearly six decades in operation, a family-owned business specialising in traditional Asian dresses is set to close its doors as the owner, Kishor Chauhan, plans to retire. Milans, originally established in Leicester's Highfields area in 1964 to cater to the needs of newcomers from India and Pakistan, later relocated…
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…
Former British soldier suspected of terrorism offenses, who had escaped from prison earlier in the week, was arrested in London on Saturday (9), police said. The absconder, 21-year-old Daniel Abed Khalife, had fled from Wandsworth prison in London on Wednesday (6) morning. He managed to slip out of the prison…
Over the past year, India has been buzzing with anticipation as the country prepares to host the G20 summit, an event that is being touted as one of the most high-profile in recent memory. With a budget exceeding $100 million, India has spared no expense in organising this prestigious gathering.…
BRITISH police said they had issued an urgent appeal to find a former soldier suspected of terrorism offences who went on the run after escaping from a London prison on Wednesday (6). Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, who was being held in prison while he awaited trial, is believed to have…
AFTER many years in journalism, Suchandrika Chakrabarti found her true calling with comedy in January 2020. Since then, she has beautifully balanced stand-up comedy with writing for popular shows like Radio 4’s The News Quiz and BBC One’s Have I Got News For You. She took her live debut I…
IN TERMS of ability, longevity, versatility, body of work and global impact, Asha Bhosle is regarded by most as India’s greatest singer of all time. Born on September 8, 1933, the most recorded artist in history changed the face of commercial music in India and entertained countless people across different…
THE death of the 10-year-old Woking girl Sara Sharif was an “accident”, her grandfather claimed. Sara was found dead in her family home in the early hours of August 10 and a post-mortem examination could not establish how she died. But it revealed she had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries”…
Actor Sacha Dhawan, who is known for Doctor Who and The Great, Wolf, has been roped in to play the title role in a new BBC detective series Virdee. The six-part series is the screen adaptation of pharmacist A.A. Dhand’s bestselling Harry Virdee crime novels that follow an enigmatic detective.…
Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who is best known as the lead anchor of Channel 4 News, has revealed what led him to finally sign up to compete on the popular dance reality show Strictly Come Dancing. Produced by BBC Studios, the popular show will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this…
A social media influencer and her mother were sentenced to jail last Friday (1), after being convicted of the "callous and cold-blooded" murder of two men, whose car was forced off a dual carriageway in a high-speed chase and caught fire. Leicester crown court judge Timothy Spencer KC sentenced Mahek…
Stephanie Williams, the mother of a 12-year-old daughter named Sunnah Khan, who tragically drowned off Bournemouth beach, shared how the devastating loss has profoundly affected her family. Sunnah is believed to have been caught in a rip current near the town's main pier, leading to her unfortunate demise, the BBC…
THE government on Thursday (31) named Claire Coutinho as secretary of state for energy security and net zero, replacing Grant Shapps who was named defence secretary. Coutinho, who is the first member of parliament elected in 2019 to be promoted to the cabinet, was previously a junior minister in the…
India has conveyed a strong protest to China regarding an unveiled map that asserts ownership over Indian territory. The map, made public by China's ministry of natural resources on Monday (28), shows the disputed Aksai Chin plateau and the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of China's territory, the…
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…
THE air traffic control glitch which caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays into and out of Britain on Monday (28) has been fixed and there will be no repeat of the issue, said the head of the country's air traffic control provider, NATS. Thousands of passengers are stranded abroad…
TRANSPORT secretary Mark Harper said it would take days to resolve the widespread disruption to flights into and out of the country after air traffic control systems were hit by a technical problem. Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed on Monday (28) - one of the UK's busiest travel…
Authorities in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have taken the step of closing a private school following an incident where a teacher instructed her students to slap a Muslim classmate. Neha Public School in Khubbapur village was subjected to closure by officials who cited its failure to meet the…
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 annual Vogue 25 list has been a platform to honour remarkable women who are driving British society forward since its establishment in 2018. According to British Vogue, this year's lineup is not only incredibly impressive but also features pioneering individuals achieving success on their own terms, including some renowned…
SARA SHARIF, found murdered in a Woking home earlier this month, had been seen with “cuts and bruises” to her face at her Byfleet school during spring, media reports said.Surrey Police who discovered the 10-year-old girl’s body in the early hours of August 10, believe her father Urfan Sharif, his…
PRAFUL PATEL, who has died in Mumbai, aged 84, made a startling claim about the Ugandan Asian crisis in his last interview with Eastern Eye. He revealed that the British government was aware that Idi Amin was planning to expel Uganda’s entire Asian population before the African dictator made his…
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…
NEW figures have revealed that Slough in Berkshire is among the worst offenders for having the largest budget shortfall of any local authority in the country, writes James Moules. Data from the BBC’s Shared Data Unit compared local authority areas as the collective black hole in council finances has ballooned…
THE search is on to locate the father of a 10-year-old girl who was found dead in a house in Woking, Surrey, reported the BBC. Surrey Police on Friday (18) confirmed that they want to speak to Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and Urfan’s brother,…
The decision to review the sentence of a speeding driver who caused the death of a pregnant woman has been welcomed by the family. Frankie Jules-Hough, aged 38, lost her life when Adil Iqbal crashed into her car at a speed of 123mph while recording himself driving. Jules-Hough was in…
Actress Nina Wadia, who has several successful titles to her credit including the very popular EastEnders and Goodness Gracious Me, will play Fairy Sugarsnap in York Theatre Royal’s family pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk from 8 December 2023 to 7 January 2024. Tickets are already on sale, and start from…
THE cause of death of a 10-year-old Woking girl is “still to be established” as the outcome of a post-mortem examination remained inclusive.Police said further tests were required to establish how she died. The girl is not formally identified, although she is locally named Sara, daughter of taxi driver Urfan…
PREPARATIONS are in full swing for the installation of a new public artwork in Belgrave, Leicester, to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Ugandan Asians to the city, a statement said. Midlands-based Ugandan Asian artist of Gujarati origin, Anuradha Patel, was selected to create the sculpture, which will…
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…
AUTHOR Zanib Mian said she wanted to give readers “a window into the lives of everyday Muslims” with her new children’s book, Meet the Maliks – Twin Detectives. Aimed at primary school children, the story revolves around twins Maysa and Musa Malik who set out to solve the mystery of…
THE government’s recent anti-lawyer rhetoric is not new. It has used this in the past, unfairly describing lawyers as “lefty” and “activist.” This loose language is damaging to the vast majority of lawyers who work hard to uphold the rule of law and act in the best interests of their…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (15) said that he was 'frustrated' over reports of a criminal winning funding to house migrants in Milton Keynes. The BBC on Monday (14) reported that the owner of Harben House Hotel in Newport Pagnell was convicted of offences linked to the operation of houses of…
AN international manhunt has continued over the murder of a 10-year-old Woking girl, locally identified as Sara. The daughter of Pakistan-origin taxi driver Urfan Sharif was found dead in her family house in Horsell in the early hours of Thursday (10) after police officers received a “call for concern”. The…
Aiming to enhance early cancer detection, NHS authorities are set to eliminate approximately two-thirds of their cancer waiting time targets. The intention is to streamline the existing nine targets down to three, with the support of renowned cancer experts and the objective of modernising outdated standards, the BBC reported. However,…
Just days after he was announced as the eighth contestant of the much-anticipated Strictly Come Dancing, Adam Thomas has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a long-term health condition. The Waterloo actor, who has already begun his training as he joins Les Dennis, Bobby Brazier, Angela Rippon, and many…
Ministers are confronting renewed demands to address the escalating boat crossings in the Channel, prompted by the tragic sinking of the vessel off the French coast on Saturday (12) that resulted in the loss of six migrant lives. The Labour Party has accused the government of being outmaneuvered by people…
The government said the strike launched by hospital doctors in England on Friday (11) to demand a 35-per cent pay increase served "only to harm patients". The four-day stoppage comes with health chiefs estimating that the repeated industrial action had cost the health service £1 billion. The British Medical Association…
SCOTTISH comedian and celebrity chef Hardeep Singh Kohli has been arrested and charged with “non-recent” sexual offences. Police Scotland said in a statement that the 54-year-old man, “arrested and charged in connection with allegations of non-recent sexual offences,” was released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later…
WHEN author Shelina Janmohamed couldn’t find any relevant books on the British empire for her two young daughters, she decided to write her own book, titled Story of Now – Let’s Talk About the British Empire. Her two daughters, aged nine and five at the time, were keen to learn…
CHANNEL 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy has been announced as a celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing’s 21st series. Produced by BBC Studios, the popular show will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn. The news was revealed on Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman’s show on BBC Radio 2 last…
BBC journalist and presenter, Samira Ahmed, has revealed that she was motivated to file a sex discrimination lawsuit against the corporation due to Madonna's influence. She won a landmark judgment against the BBC in 2020 after arguing that she was underpaid in comparison to Jeremy Vine. Ahmed said that witnessing…
Radio host and TV presenter Nikita Kanda and actor and TV presenter Adam Thomas have been confirmed as celebrity participants in the much-anticipated 21st season of Strictly Come Dancing. The critically acclaimed entertainment show, created by BBC Studios, is scheduled to return in the autumn on both BBC One and…
Former EastEnders star Nina Wadia has revealed that she was asked for a selfie while she was in labour. The actress, who impressed critics and audiences with her performance as Zainab Masood on the BBC soap EastEnders for six years, has said that she was shocked to be stopped by…
THE Apprentice star Lord Sugar has parted ways with two entrepreneurs, including the reality show winner Harpreet Kaur, in quick succession.While Kaur bought back shares in her desserts firm Oh So Yum! from Lord Sugar, it is also revealed that his investment in young entrepreneur Amani Zubair’s online jewellery business…
Strictly Come Dancing has announced Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy as the fourth celebrity contestant for its much-awaited 21st series. Produced by BBC Studios, the popular dance show will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn. The news was revealed on Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman’s show on…
A social media influencer, Mahek Bukhari, 24, and her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, 46, from Tunstall in Stoke-on-Trent have been found guilty of the murder of two men, Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin, both 21, who died when their car was deliberately rammed off the road near Leicester in February 2022.…
A group of 20 injured Indian crew members successfully returned to India after being rescued from a significant fire outbreak on a cargo vessel transporting approximately 3,800 cars off the coast of the Netherlands. One crew member was tragically killed in the incident, and the sailor’s mortal remains are currently…
A video of a comment made by Sudha Murty, a well-known author, philanthropist, and educator, regarding her food habits has sparked a debate about vegetarianism on social media, the BBC reported. Murty 72, made a remark about her food habits on a popular food show called "Khaane Mein Kya Hai?"…
LATA MANGESHKAR, the “Nightingale of India”, died in February last year, aged 92, but her songs definitely live on. This became apparent when a 31-yearold singer from Mumbai, Palak Muchhal, and her brother, Palash Muchhal, three years younger, sang many of her golden oldies at a proms concert at the…
THE CNN show of Indian American author and political commentator Fareed Zakaria and a programme by BBC’S south Asia and Afghanistan correspondent Yogita Limaye is among those nominated for the 44th Annual News and Documentary Emmy awards. Zakaria’s show Fareed Zakaria GPS got the nod in the outstanding news discussion…
MOHAMMAD Kamal Syed has been appointed interim chief executive of NatWest's private banking arm Coutts to succeed Peter Flavel who resigned over the Nigel Farage scandal."Mo has extensive wealth management experience and is the ideal person to lead Coutts through this difficult time…," NatWest's interim CEO Paul Thwaite said on…
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,…
In a court hearing, it was revealed that a 21-year-old man named Jaswant Singh Chail, who was armed with a crossbow and who had entered the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day with the intention of "killing" the late Queen had also planned to kill guards at the castle. However,…
The Metropolitan Police has rebailed a 46-year-old woman who was arrested in connection with a car crash at a Wimbledon school on July 6, the BBC reported. The crash resulted in the tragic deaths of two eight-year-old girls, Selena Lau, and Nuria Sajjad after a Land Rover Defender crashed into…
In a tragic incident on a train travelling from Jaipur to Mumbai, a constable with India's Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been arrested for shooting dead four people the BBC reported. The accused, identified as Chetan Kumar Choudhary, first targeted Tikaram Meena, an assistant sub-inspector with the RPF, and then…
BUSINESSWOMAN and anti-Brexit campaigner, Gina Miller, has said that access to banking for new parties needed in ‘functioning democracy’. Her comments came after Monzo informed Miller that a bank account for her political party, True and Fair party, would be closed in September. The bank initially refused to tell the…
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) on Friday announced its nominees for the 44th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. CNN led the nominees with 47 nods, while Vice News followed with 30. ABC and PBS tied with 26 nominations each, CBS earned 20 nods, while NBC…
THE UK government is planning to house migrants in tents to help deal with any surge in small boats crossing the Channel in the coming months, British media reported Friday (28). Tents able to house up to 2,000 migrants have been purchased by the Home Office, which plans to erect…
First minister Humza Yousaf of Scotland has unveiled a plan for citizenship and passports in the event of an independent Scotland. The proposal, titled "Citizenship in an independent Scotland," outlines the rights and entitlements of citizens, migrants, and British nationals following the country's potential departure from the union. The prospectus…
England is expected to witness a surge in the number of people living with major health conditions, which will rise nine times faster than the healthy working-age population, according to projections by the Health Foundation. The analysis reveals that by 2040 nearly one in five people will have health conditions…
Sometimes Americans forget that what they consider "normal” is not usual outside their borders. This doesn't mean American habits are wrong; we're just saying that they attract attention from the rest of the world. We tell you about the most surprising practices they consider normal and that surprise the rest…
THERE is a scene in the second half of Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors when Rabia Yahya is trying to get out of the burning building. She wears a hijab, is pregnant and has three little children with her as thick black smoke is coming up the stairwell and…
The chief executive of NatWest Bank Alison Rose, announced her resignation on Wednesday (26), acknowledging a "serious error of judgment" in speaking to a reporter regarding the banking matters of Nigel Farage, a prominent advocate for Brexit. Farage, known for his leadership of the Brexit Party and UKIP, raised concerns…
An Indian man named Abraham A, a former paramilitary soldier from Kerala made a remarkable discovery in 2020. While taking a bath, he noticed a peculiar “red thread in the bucket.” To his surprise, the thread was moving, prompting him to investigate further. He placed the mysterious creature, later identified…
LABOUR’S failure to take former prime minister Boris Johnson’s old parliamentary seat in the by-election last week shows the party still has a long way to go to win power, leader Sir Keir Starmer said last Saturday (22). The party won in Selby and Ainsty, a once-safe Conservative parliamentary seat…
INDIA’S Tata Group confirmed it will build an electric vehicle battery plant in Britain to supply its Jaguar Land Rover factories, delivering a major boost for a UK car industry in need of domestic battery production to help secure its future. The announcement marks Britain’s biggest move in the car…
The burning of a Qu’ran outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen by a group known as "Danish Patriots" on Monday (24) has sparked severe condemnation from Iraq and multiple other Muslim-majority nations. The far-right group had also live-streamed a similar act on Facebook on Friday (21), further fuelling tensions. Protesters…
BBC newsreader and presenter Fiona Bruce has paid tribute to her colleague and friend, George Alagiah, who passed away on Monday (24), aged 67. "He is the man who set the gold standard for how to do this job with integrity, with humour and kindness. I’ll miss his friendship so…
Actor Sacha Dhawan has impressed audiences with an array of characters in his acting career, and now he is set to woo them with yet another powerful role in the much-anticipated BBC show Wolf, bankrolled via Hartswood Films, the production company behind Sherlock and Inside Man. Wolf features him in…
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…
THE BBC’s Sri Lanka-born journalist and presenter George Alagiah died on Monday (24), aged 67, the broadcaster announced. His career with the corporation spanned more than three decades, during which he had won several awards. Alagiah was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014 and went through “challenging treatment”. However, he…
Sadiq Khan has vowed to press ahead with his expansion of the Ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) on August 29, despite Labour losing a crucial by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, an area affected by the plan. The mayor said he was “disappointed” by the result – which has been widely…
THE government on Saturday (22) announced a significant package of new measures to boost the health and wellbeing of women and girls, a statement said. To mark the first anniversary of Women’s Health Strategy, a raft of actions are also being taken to support women and their families who are…
A new photograph of Prince George, second in line to the throne, was released in celebration of his 10th birthday today (22). The picture depicts him seated on a set of steps at Windsor, wearing a smile. This year, the photograph was taken by Millie Pilkington, marking a change in…
In the Uxbridge by-election, the Conservative Party narrowly retained Boris Johnson's former constituency, defeating Labour by a mere 495 votes. The expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), proposed by Labour mayor Sadiq Khan, was cited as a contributing factor to the Tory victory, The BBC reported. The Ulez…
Prime Video and British company BBC Studios on Thursday announced that BBC Player and BBC Kids will be available as a value-added channel on the streamer's platform. Prime Video subscribers will be able to access a curated line-up of popular British content spanning original British dramas, comedy, documentaries, factual shows,…
A new drug called donanemab has emerged as a potential breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's, following a global trial that confirms its ability to slow cognitive decline, the BBC reported. This antibody medicine targets a specific protein that accumulates in the brains of those with Alzheimer's during the early…
THE hotel porter who raped X Factor star, Lucy Spraggan, was deported to India in 2017 after serving four years behind bars, the MailOnline has revealed. The singer-songwriter was raped by Soby John after a night celebrating fellow contestant Rylan Clark's 25th birthday at the Mayfair nightclub Mahiki in 2012.…
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…
AN internal BBC investigation following allegations that a star news anchor paid a young person for sex pictures could take months, the corporation's director general Tim Davie has said. Answering questions from a parliamentary committee, Davie said it has been a "difficult affair" and the British broadcaster has "tried to…
WRITER Rabiah Hussain said the idea of her second production, Word-Play, came from listening to the controversial rhetoric of some politicians and seeing the “trickle down effect” it had on society. Word-Play is centred on a loose-cannon prime minister whose Islamophobic comments go viral and cause uproar in the country.…
Eastern Eye can reveal that the Indian High Commission has written to a UK university urging it to investigate claims of racism and discrimination made by students from its country. It follows complaints from more than 80 learners from India at Leicester’s De Montfort University (DMU). The High Commission sent…
A review conducted by the NHS Race and Health Observatory has raised concerns about the focus on skin colour in routine health checks for newborns. The Apgar score, traditionally used to assess a baby's health immediately after birth, includes checking whether the baby is "pink all over," but the report…
Following the tragic deaths of students Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber in Nottingham last month, their families have taken steps to establish foundations in their memory to ensure a lasting legacy. The two 19-year-olds were fatally stabbed on June 13. Both families have initiated online appeals to support causes that…
Mohammed Miah, a former police community support officer (PCSO), was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Leicester Crown Court for sending a threatening letter containing a sexual threat to a woman. The letter was hand-delivered to the woman's address on April 9, 2022, while Miah, 27, of Clover Way,…
It has been almost 10 months since the COVID-19 pandemic started, and millions of people around the world have been living in quarantine over the same period. This new lifestyle has changed a lot of things, and how we work is one of them: suddenly, many of us started working…
Author Salman Rushdie has for the first time revealed his personal experiences in relation to the knife attack on him in New York, which resulted in the loss of vision in one eye. Rushdie has shared that he has been having "crazy dreams" about the incident and has sought assistance…
THE most ambitious attempt yet to establish professional cricket in the US started on Wednesday (12) when wickets will be pitched for the start of the inaugural season of Major League Cricket. With backing from four franchises in the Indian Premier League, including the league's most successful teams the Mumbai…
ONE of Britain's leading television news anchors, Huw Edwards, was identified by his wife as the BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a young person thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos, the broadcaster reported. Edwards announced the death of Queen Elizabeth to the nation in September and has led…
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…
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…
Opera North is seeking applications from music creators of colour for its next Resonance residency programme. Resonance was launched in 2017 to offer funding, space, time, and technical support to professional musicians and composers in any genre who are based in the North of England and the Midlands, as part…
Oxford City Council has granted approval for the plans to convert the changing rooms of a derelict sports pavilion into Oxford's first Hindu temple. The project, known as the Oxford Hindu Temple Project, will transform the football changing rooms located at Court Place Farm in Marston, the BBC reported. The…
THE chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, John Robins, has called for a change in the law, allowing police forces to engage in positive discrimination to increase the number of ethnic minority officers, reported The Telegraph. Robins has become the first in England and Wales to address this issue. He…
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture in the world, is round the corner. The official dates for Fringe 2023 are Friday, August 4 to Monday, August 28. As you gear up for the festival, here are some must-see comedy shows by British-Asians and…
IN a largest ever crackdown on organised crime, police confiscated cannabis plants worth around £130 million and arrested nearly 1,000 people across the country, the BBC reported. As many as 182,422 plants worth around £115m-£130m were seized in raids across England and Wales in June. According to the report, officers…
A 44-foot-long Japanese-style handscroll painted by the renowned Indian blind artist, Benodebehari Mukherjee, has resurfaced after almost a century and is on public display in the Indian city, of Kolkata, his birthplace, the BBC reported. Mukherjee, born in 1904, was blind in one eye and lost his vision completely at…
Comedian, broadcaster, and chef Hardeep Singh Kohli might find himself in hot water once again after more women have come forward to accuse him of sexual harassment. A Labour Party official and the chief executive of an addiction charity have accused him of further predatory behaviour. Laura McConnell alleged Kohli…
I LEARNT about the really hot Naga chillis, which have their origins in Bangladesh, at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival from Joy Michaud of Sea Spring Seeds in Dorchester. Chillis apparently have their hotness measured by the Scoville scale, abbreviated to SHU. By this measure of heat…
INDIAN Police on Wednesday (5) arrested a man accused of urinating on a tribal youth in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district, an official said. On Tuesday (4), an official from the state chief minister’s Office said a case was registered against the accused, identified as Pravesh Shukla, under Indian Penal Code…
A group of Conservative MPs called on prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (3) to do more to cut immigration, saying he risked further eroding the trust of voters who lent the party their vote in 2019 if he failed to take action. The group of MPs, many elected for…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak has acknowledged having experienced racism while growing up in Southampton. Reacting to last week’s damning report that claimed discrimination in English cricket, he said racism “stings” and “hurts”. Sunak, son of an Indian-origin couple who migrated to the UK from east Africa, told the BBC: "Of…
The globally acclaimed singer, composer and actor Shankar Mahadevan has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU) in recognition of his outstanding services to music and the arts. Mahadevan, who has been described as one of the greatest ever Bollywood vocalists, was given the award at a…
Netflix, the largest streaming platform in the world, is expanding its horizons by launching its very own restaurant called Netflix Bites. Yes, you read that absolutely right! The restaurant, which opened on Friday, June 30 in Los Angeles, features chefs including Curtis Stone, Rodney Scott, and British-Bangladeshi Nadiya Hussain. Hussain…
WARM tributes have been paid to Avtar Singh Lit, who challenged the broadcasting rules of his day when he set up Sunrise Radio in 1989 and was unfairly labelled a “pirate” by the authorities. His death on Tuesday (27) in his 70s was announced by the station which described him…
THE National Health Service (NHS) in England will get more than 300,000 staff under a new plan announced by the government on Friday (30) to deal with a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses. The publicly funded NHS, which marks its 75th birthday on Wednesday (5), is facing an estimated…
AUSTRALIA's Steve Smith showed again why he is one of the finest batters of his generation before England fought back on day two of the second Ashes test at Lord's on Thursday (29). Resuming on 85 runs, Smith wasted no time in racking up his 12th Ashes century, making him…
South Korea has implemented a new law that brings the nation's age-counting methods in line with international standards, resulting in South Koreans becoming younger by one or two years. The law addresses two traditional age-counting systems that had been in practice. The first system considered individuals one-year-old at birth, including…
THE Post Office said it is open to revisiting the compensation claims of Horizon accounting scandal victims, “if there is any error” in the scheme.The promise follows the claims that the payouts offered by the company are inadequate considering the trauma the victims have gone through.Hundreds of sub-postmasters had been…
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…
BRITISH Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman who both perished in the submersible Tatan in the Atlantic Ocean had long cherished a dream of viewing the wreck of the Titanic.Christine - Dawood’s wife and Suleman’s mother - said she had previously planned to go with her husband…
The British media revealed fresh evidence on Monday (26) regarding China's spy balloon programme, disclosing instances of balloon flights over Japan and Taiwan. This development comes several months after US-China relations were strained following the shooting down of a similar airship off the US coast. The BBC collaborated with Synthetaic,…
EID has become such a hectic time for barbers that some are charging people £100 to beat the queue for a haircut, it has emerged. Salons across the UK were set to be open overnight ahead of the Islamic festival which falls on Wednesday (28). And, with thousands of people…
Kabir Garg, a 33-year-old junior doctor from Lewisham, south-east London, has been sentenced to six years in jail for his role in operating a chat site on the dark web dedicated to sharing child sexual abuse images. Garg, who worked as a psychiatrist for the South London and Maudsley NHS…
LABOUR will appoint an external advisor to encourage women, ethnic minorities and those from a working-class background to stand for office at all levels and parties, The Guardian reported. The diversity tsar will collaborate with deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner, in the Cabinet Office to devise a comprehensive action plan…
THE Scottish National Party (SNP) will fight the next UK general election with independence "front and centre" of its campaign, first minister Humza Yousaf said on Saturday (24). At a party conference in Dundee, Yousaf vowed he would seek fresh negotiations with the government about independence if the SNP wins…
THE mother of a woman pushed to death by her controlling husband in Edinburgh said her daughter’s last words expressing fear of death continued to haunt her.Fawziyah Javed, 31, an employment lawyer from Leeds, died after falling off a rocky cliff at Arthur’s Seat in the Scottish capital on September…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in the US for a three-day visit. While he has visited the US several times as PM before, this is his first state visit to the United States of America and will include a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and…
BRITISH home secretary, Suella Braverman, said the Home Office was unlikely to achieve prime minister Rishi Sunak’s objective of resolving a backlog of 92,000 asylum claims by the end of the year. But she added there should be a significant improvement in the speed at which claims are processed. Braverman…
THE London mayor Sadiq Khan has floated the idea of having fewer flights into Heathrow as he pushes clean air initiatives across the capital. The airport, which falls within the boundaries of Hillingdon borough, is a major employer in the area. It is thought to support around 114,000 jobs, while…
Wednesday star Emma Myers will feature opposite newcomer Zain Iqbal in A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, BBC's upcoming series adaptation of author Holly Jackson's novel trilogy. The series, backed by BBC and Moonage Pictures, is being developed by writer Poppy Cogan, the British broadcaster said in a statement. Dracula star…
NOBODY would today tell the story of post-war migration to Britain without reference to the Windrush. The scale of attention to this week’s 75th anniversary of the boat’s arrival, at Tilbury Dock in 1948, speaks of its importance as a historic moment. It has become a symbolic ‘origins story’ of…
When prime minister Rishi Sunak met US president Joe Biden on June 8, one of the overriding themes of their talks was how the world’s leading governments should guard against risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI). Ultimately, Sunak wants an international organisation established, based in London, to effectively be an…
BRITISH MPs vote on Monday (19) on a damning report that found former prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately lied to parliament about lockdown-breaking parties, in what the government hopes will be the final chapter in the damaging "Partygate" scandal. The parliamentary vote is being held on Johnson's 59th birthday as…
HOME SECRETARY Suella Braverman has said that the Home Office is unlikely to achieve prime minister Rishi Sunak's objective of resolving a backlog of 92,000 asylum claims by the end of the year. She added that there should be a significant improvement in the speed at which claims are processed.…
Tata Steel UK chairman, Henrik Adam, has urged the UK government to provide subsidies to decarbonise the Port Talbot steelworks of the company. He said that European competitors were receiving huge amounts from governments to transition to greener operations. According to reports, ministers offered Tata £300 million for decarbonisation. Port…
Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf said on Monday (12) he will not suspend the party membership of his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, following her arrest as part of a police probe into the ruling party's finances. Sturgeon, who was on Sunday (11) arrested in connection with the investigation and then released without…
Two human rights groups have invited policy makers, journalists and analysts to a screening in Washington of a BBC documentary on Narendra Modi that questioned the Indian prime minister's leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, ahead of his state visit to the White House. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International…
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has said his Scottish National Party (SNP) would be willing to do a deal with the Labour Party if a British national election expected next year resulted in a hung parliament. The top ask on the SNP's list would be a second Scottish independence referendum,…
THREE people, including two students, were found dead and a van tried to mow down three others in Nottingham, central England, on Tuesday (13), in incidents the authorities believe are linked. Nottingham's centre was cordoned off, with a heavy police presence, including armed officers following the events that left residents…
OLD rifts resurfaced in Tory party on Saturday (10) following former prime minister Boris Johnson's abrupt resignation from parliament, while the opposition Labour party sensed opportunity ahead of a general election next year. Johnson quit late on Friday (9) in protest against an investigation by lawmakers into his conduct as…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to convey to President Joe Biden the importance of elevating Britain's economic ties with the US to a level on par with their defense and security cooperation. With the UK's departure from the European Union, there is a desire to strengthen alignment with Washington…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday (07) that Britain will be hosting the world's first summit on artificial intelligence later this year. The summit aims to facilitate the establishment of a unified approach among nations to mitigate the potentially catastrophic risks associated with the technology, while also harnessing its…
Manpreet Bambra stars in the new ITVX comedy series Count Abdulla, which revolves around a young Muslim doctor whose life is turned upside down after he is bitten by a vampire. The versatile actress plays a key role in the sitcom available from next Thursday (15). It adds to an…
Author Sathnam Sanghera’s new book on the British empire is aimed at younger readers and explains how the empire once made the country the most powerful on earth and how it still affects our lives in many ways. Stolen History: The Truth about the British Empire is set to be…
A fearless approach has enabled funny girl Aditi Mittal to make a fantastic impact. The Indian stand-up comedian has had specials on Netflix and Amazon, along with performing internationally. She returns to the UK this week with her spirited new show Unalive at Soho Theatre in London from next Monday…
The grieving mother of a 12-year-old girl who died in Bournemouth Beach last Wednesday (31) has pleaded with authorities to provide some clarity on the circumstances surrounding her death. Sunnah Khan from Buckinghamshire, and Joe Abbess, 17, from Southampton were rescued from the sea on Wednesday (31) but both of…
IMMIGRATION can help reduce Britain's high inflation rate, the deputy head of the International Monetary Fund has told the BBC as the UK restricts the net amount of legal migrants. UK inflation is cooling slower than expected, in part owing to sectors including hospitality and farming paying higher wages to…
THE BBC has “informally” admitted to having under-reported its income in India and paid less tax than its actual obligation, media reports said on Tuesday (6). Tax authorities had surveyed the corporation’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February, weeks after the broadcaster aired a documentary on Prime Minister…
A major NHS trial has shown promising results for a blood test that can detect over 50 types of cancer, researchers from Oxford University said. According to media reports, the test accurately identified two-thirds of cancers among 5,000 individuals who had visited their GP with suspected symptoms in England or…
Allegations of racism have emerged within an initiative aimed at combating racism in policing in England and Wales, with some ethnic minority staff involved raising concerns, according to a report. Former members of staff at the Police Race Action Plan told the BBC that their perspectives were ignored. The Action…
THE British government said on Tuesday (30) it would close a loophole that lets retailers give free samples of vapes to children in a clampdown on e-cigarettes, whose colourful designs and fruity flavours make them stand out on grocery store shelves. "I am deeply concerned about the sharp rise in…
The former residence of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, an influential suffragette Indian princess, has been commemorated with the unveiling of a blue plaque in south-west London, the BBC reported. Princess Sophia, a prominent member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) led by Emmeline Pankhurst, held a significant role…
Investigators probing alleged ‘false accounting’ in Post Office were asked to categorise suspects according to their racial backgrounds, a media report said. Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly subjected to investigation for ‘fraud’ based on information from the Horizon computer system which was later found to be faulty. More than 700…
The animated short film American Sikh, which chronicles the life of a ‘Sikh Captain America’ in the aftermath of 9/11, will world premiere at the OSCAR-qualifying Tribeca Film Festival this June. The film was created in partnership with Singh Vishavjit as the producer and Los Angeles-based director Ryan Westra. It…
Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma has signed on to star in the new series of Doctor Who. The series features Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor and Millie Gibson as the new companion Ruby Sunday. Not much is known about Varma’s character at the moment but is reported that she…
A host of comedians gathered at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on May 5 to present London’s hottest new comedy show to a packed audience. The inaugural comedy show featured the headline act from critically acclaimed comedian and star of Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, and Netflix’s feature film Matilda, Sindhu Vee.…
Tata Motors, the Indian owner of carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, is set to select Britain over Spain to for a giant battery plant employing up to 9,000 people, the BBC reported Wednesday (24). The broadcaster, citing sources familiar with the matter, added that the boss of Tata Motors was expected…
NHS doctors and nurses, who are not getting the salary rises they think they deserve – and I am, like most of the public, sympathetic to their cause – are threatening to quit Britain for the sunny beach life of Australia where their wages will apparently double overnight. There are…
An Indian court issued a summons to British broadcaster BBC on Monday (22) in a defamation case over its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi that questioned his leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, according to reports in local media. The defamation suit states the documentary "India: the Modi question"…
Major Tory donor and Indian rice magnate, Karan Chanana, is being investigated over allegations of fraud and money laundering, reported The Guardian. He faces probe in India over claims that tens of millions of pounds of bank loans were unlawfully diverted into shell entities. However, the tycoon has not responded…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has said his government is weighing “a range of options” to reduce legal migration into the UK, which is “too high”. "The numbers are too high, and we want to bring them down,” told the BBC but refused to “speculate” on the new border control plans…
American singer Nick Jonas has acknowledged that a lot of people in India call him 'Jiju' post his marriage to Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra. Nick, 30, recently made an appearance on a BBC chat show, where the host asked him about being called 'jiju', the Hindi term for brother-in-law. "A…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is “committed” to reducing legal migration into the UK although he did not set any target for his government. The annual net migration into Britain was 226,000 in 2019 which Sunak’s predecessor Boris Johnson pledged to reduce. But the figure is expected to…
Ever since streaming platforms emerged in India and became a large part of Indian audiences’ lives, several British TV shows have received a Bollywood makeover. Right from The Night Manager to Criminal Justice, Hindi adaptations of British shows have received the same amount of love from Indian audiences as they…
Britain's departure from the European Union has not been a failure, prime minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said on Tuesday (16), rebuffing criticism from prominent eurosceptic politicians about how Brexit had been implemented. Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who helped force a Brexit referendum in 2016 and successfully campaigned to leave…
American singer-songwriter Nick Jonas recently made headlines when he collaborated with Indian artiste King for the rendition of the popular Bollywood song, “Maan Meri Jaan,” which was originally featured in the 2005 Hindi film, King’s Song. Jonas spoke to BBC Asian Network Breakfast host Nikita Kanda after the release of…
Popular actor Adeel Akhtar has added one more prestigious award to his string of accolades. The 42-year-old on Sunday won Best Supporting Actor at the Bafta TV Awards 2023. This is not the first time Akhtar has taken home a Bafta trophy. In 2017, he became the first non-white male…
Sussex Police have said they will “re-examine” the case of the schoolboy Vishal Mehrotra who was found dead months after his mysterious disappearance from London more than 40 years ago. Vishal, aged 8 at the time, disappeared as he walked home from shops in Putney after watching the royal wedding…
BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake was racially abused, twice, following an encounter outside a pub in Altrincham, Greater Manchester last month. Arthanayake, who hosts an afternoon talk show on BBC Radio Five Live, visited Stretford police station in Manchester to provide a statement recounting how he was subjected to racial slurs,…
The Conservatives suffered big losses last Friday (5) in the local election results, undermining prime minister Rishi Sunak’s attempts to revive the party’s fortunes - while Labour said it was on course to win the next national election, expected in 2024. The Tories’ worst fears were confirmed as results came…
Actress Harvey Virdi, known for her role as Dr Misbah Maalik on Hollyoaks, said she relished the chance to write about “strong Asian women” in the play Happy Birthday Sunita, despite her packed schedule. Having first played at The Rifco in 2014, Happy Birthday Sunita has been revived at the same…
The second season of the fantasy comedy series Good Omens will arrive on Prime Video on July 28. The British series is originally based on Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's international bestselling novel Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. The new season, consisting of six…
The coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday (7) featured the Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor, the Punjabi poet Daljit Nagra and several Asian women in bright pink outfits from the Bradford-based SongGeet choir. The “wonderful Sonam Kapoor”, described as “one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars”, introduced a virtual choir from…
The world waits for the new James Bond as actor Daniel Craig concluded his Bond journey with the movie No Time to Die in 2021. Actor Tom Hanks has given his input for the new James Bond and it is none other than Idris Elba. According to Deadline, Hanks said…
The Conservatives suffered high-profile losses as results poured in Friday (6) in what is seen as prime Minister Rishi Sunak's first major electoral test since he took office last year. Local council elections held across swathes of England on Thursday (4) with Britons experiencing the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. …
The owner of an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise has predicted that Test cricket may soon become once-a-year events like the Wimbledon tournament. Lead owner of Rajasthan Royals, Manoj Badale, told the BBC’s Tailenders Podcast that the amount of Test cricket scheduled will be reduced in the future, as fans…
Actor Patrick Baladi, who is best known for playing Neil Godwin in the BBC sitcom The Office, Michael Jackson in the Sky 1 drama Stella and Stephen Holmes in the ITV thriller Marcella, has joined Parminder Nagra on the cast of the second season of her hit crime drama, DI…
King Charles has been urged by prominent community and business leaders to use his reign to tackle inequalities within British society. More than 2,200 people will attend the coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (6), among them international representatives from 203 countries as well as community and charity workers. The…
Indian actress Sonam Kapoor will share the stage with Lionel Richie and Katy Perry at the coronation concert, where she will deliver an exclusive spoken word piece. Kapoor, who lives in London with her husband, will introduce Steve Winwood and the Commonwealth virtual choir on May 7 at Windsor Castle,…
Muslim dating app Muzz has lost its appeal against a court ruling which mandated the British startup to change its name over “trademark infringement”.American internet and technology company Match Group had sued Muzz - previously known as muzmatch.com - accusing it of using the word “match” in its metadata to…
Well-known Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is a popular name in India. He has been a part of some commercially and critically successful Bollywood films in the past, including Khoobsurat, Kapoor & Sons, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Khan, who can be currently seen in his latest outing Money Back Guarantee…
Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is likely to attend King Charles III's coronation concert. According to Variety, the stars whose presence are to be confirmed at the coronation concert on the grounds of Windsor Castle, the day after the historic ceremony, are Top Gun actor Tom Cruise, Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole…
The upcoming Firsts Rare Book Fair in London is set to showcase a rare first-edition book on cricket, previously owned by renowned cricket commentator and collector, John Arlott. “Cricket. A Collection of All the Grand Matches of Cricket played in England within Twenty Years, viz. from 1771 to 1791" by…
Ahead of BAFTA Television Awards 2023, it has been announced that Meera Syal will be presented with the Bafta Fellowship at the annual ceremony next month. The 61-year-old comedian, actor and novelist will be recognised with the honour - the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition…
Republic, the largest anti-monarchist group in the UK that advocates for an elected head of state, proposed on Monday (24) that India could take a leading role in the Commonwealth to demonstrate that the organisation is not inextricably linked with the British royal family. Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, pointed…
SINCE July 2020, Eastern Eye has proudly gone to battle for south Asian and black judges. Over the course of more than a dozen articles, we have exposed institutional, systemic and structural racism, bullying and misogyny. Other mainstream newspapers have followed in our footsteps. Unlike some nationals, we don’t think…
Relatives of several Indians stuck in Sudan following the fighting between the Army and paramilitary forces have appealed to the government to evacuate them from the African country as soon as possible. Around 3,000 Indians are estimated to be stranded in Sudan. They include around 100 people from the Hakki-Pikki…
One of the victims of Rotherham child sex abuse said that she had no idea about how to describe her story to her son. Sammy Woodhouse, 37, became pregnant at the age of 15 after being raped by abuser Arshid Hussain, who was 25 at the time. "I didn't know…
As the UK government prepares to make significant changes to the gambling legislation, young online gamblers under the age of 25 may soon face strict limits on the amount they can bet. Ministers are said to be considering caps on online slot game bets, ranging from £2 to £15, with…
NURSES in Britain are prepared to strike until Christmas if they cannot reach a deal with the government on pay, the leader of the country's main nursing union said on Sunday (16). Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) would strike at the end of April and the beginning…
Mayor Sadiq Khan announces Trafalgar Square as the venue for London's Vaisakhi celebrations on April 22. The festival is the largest in the Sikh calendar and marks the birth of Khalsa. The event, which will run from noon to 6 pm, will showcase Sikh and Punjabi traditions, culture, and heritage,…
Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection observed by millions of Muslims around the world. It is a time for spiritual growth and self-discipline and is one of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan is a month-long observance in Islam whereby Muslims fast from dawn until sunset.…
The BBC is giving aspiring actors unique insight into the world of professional television drama, with expert tuition and money-can’t-buy access. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be seen by some of the UK’s leading casting directors and talent agents. The very best candidate will get the chance of representation…
BRITISH Sri Lankan broadcaster and author Nihal Arthanayake has spoken of his desire to spend more time in the country of his origin where he sees people “who look like me” and connects “instantly”. The BBC Radio 5 Live presenter also revealed why it was “unsettling to be a minority”…
India's financial crime-fighting agency has opened an investigation into alleged violations of foreign exchange rules by the BBC, a source said on Thursday (13), months after tax officials searched the broadcaster's Mumbai and Delhi offices. The tax raids in February had come close on the heels of the release of…
A new BBC Studios nine-part podcast series explores the disappearance of eight-year-old Vishal Mehrotra, who was taken from the streets of London on the day of the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana. The investigation tracks down a convicted paedophile who had been on the run from British police for…
TRIBUTES have been paid to an Asian entrepreneur whose snack products are enjoyed by millions of consumers. Dineshbhai Patel, 81, was the founder of Cofresh, whose sweet and savoury ethnic foods are stocked in supermarkets across Britain. He passed away peacefully at home, family sources said. Dineshbhai launched Cofresh in…
This year, Asda Tickled Pink has teamed up with Asda's 'Together for Ramadan' campaign to raise awareness about the importance of regular breast, pec, or chest checks for customers and colleagues who are observing Ramadan and celebrating Eid. As part of this partnership, customers who want to make charitable donations…
Junior doctors in Britain began a four-day strike on Tuesday (11) over pay that is likely to cause unprecedented disruption to the health service, prompting the government to warn of a risk to patient safety. Tens of thousands of junior doctors — qualified physicians who make up nearly half of…
The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama apologised on Monday after a video which showed him asking a boy to suck his tongue triggered a backlash on social media. The video, which has gone viral, shows the Dalai Lama, 87, planting a kiss on the boy's lips as he leaned…
