- Saturday, March 25, 2023
Sri Lanka's president on Wednesday (22) cautioned that the country would face further economic challenges and that strict austerity measures would be necessary to repair its damaged finances following an IMF bailout agreement. The International Monetary Fund granted approval for the delayed rescue package on Monday, with China - Sri…
US vice president Kamala Harris will embark on a tour of three African countries -Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, this weekend. During the visit, she will promote the White House's positive view of Africa as the "future of the world." The tour is a part of the Biden administration's efforts to…
Aircraft manufacturing majors, Airbus and Boeing, are under increasing pressure to establish plane assembly plants in India. India's civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has said that it is time for the companies to meet the rising demand for aircraft by assembling them within the country. According to Scindia, the conditions…
China has overtaken India as the most common country of birth for non-UK-born short-term (under 12 months) residents in England and Wales, according to the latest data released on Wednesday (22). The changing picture of short-term international migration, England and Wales, report from the Office for National Statistics has said…
According to an opinion piece in the highly-regarded Wall Street Journal, India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the most critical foreign political party for American national interests and the "linchpin" of the US strategy in the Indo-Pacific, given China's escalating assertiveness in the region. The article, written by prominent American…
Tanzania is a country that offers a natural adventure. Its landscapes and the greatness of its fauna make it a haven for adventurers who want to discover this wonderful pearl in Africa. Tanzania is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa, with an amazing landscape and wildlife. It has…
Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida on Monday (20) called India vital to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific after talks with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi touching on shared concerns about China. Speaking in New Delhi after meeting the Indian leader, Kishida laid out plans for billions of dollars in investments…
On Wednesday (22), authorities reported that a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake, originating from Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region, shook Pakistan and resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuries to over 160 others. The quake also caused three fatalities in Afghanistan, as per the Khaama Press, an online…
The US state department in its yearly report on human rights practices stated that India had "significant human rights issues" and instances of abuse, which included the targeting of dissidents, journalists, and religious minorities. This report was released almost a year following secretary of state Antony Blinken's statement that the…
During a daily news conference on Monday (20) John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House declined to confirm a news report that claimed the US provided real-time intelligence to the Indian military, which was instrumental in repelling Chinese "incursions" in the Himalayas last year.…
Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar expressed concerns on Saturday (18) that the situation in the western Himalayan region of Ladakh between India and China is fragile and dangerous, with military forces situated in close proximity in certain areas. In mid-2020, there were clashes in the region that led to the…
The UK government declared a security ban on the Chinese-owned video platform TikTok for official devices, following similar measures taken by the European Union and the US. Cabinet office minister Oliver Dowden on Thursday (16) announced that this ban would be implemented immediately. Concerns have been raised by western countries…
Russia is not reaping the benefits of higher costs of some recent cargoes of crude oil bought by refiners in India priced above the price cap set by countries in the West and Australia, a US official said on Thursday (16). Some cargoes of low sulphur, or sweet, crude oil…
FOXCONN, a contract manufacturer in Taiwan and the largest electronics maker globally, has been awarded a contract by Apple Inc to produce AirPods and intends to construct a factory in India for this purpose, according to two individuals who have direct knowledge of the matter. This agreement will make Foxconn…
India's PV Sindhu crashed out of the first round of the All England Championships after losing to Zhang Yi Man of China in straight games in Birmingham on Wednesday (15). Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist and ranked world number nine, lost 17-21 11-21 in the 39-minute women's singles contest. This…
The US has formally recognised the McMahon Line as the international boundary between India's Arunachal Pradesh and China, rejecting Beijing's claim that the northeastern state is Chinese territory. The McMahon Line, which separates India and China, has been rejected by the latter. A bipartisan resolution, which was first introduced in…
The US senate on Wednesday (15) the confirmed Eric Garcetti as the new ambassador to India, nominated by president Joe Biden. The confirmation came after almost two years of opposition due to accusations of Garcetti mishandling workplace harassment complaints when he was the mayor of Los Angeles. The vote was…
India has invited Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif to attend the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be held in New Delhi in April, according to a media report. India currently holds the presidency of the SCO, which comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.…
India remained the world's top arms importer, but its imports declined by 11 per cent between 2013-17 and 2018-22, according to a Stockholm-based defence think tank. The decline was linked to a complex procurement process, efforts to diversify arms suppliers and attempts to replace imports with local designs, a Stockholm…
The UK government made its first major commitment to support UN security council reforms and India’s permanent membership in the council as part of a refreshed defence and foreign policy review tabled in Parliament on Monday (13). As part of the 'Integrated review refresh 2023: responding to a more contested…
NEW figures have revealed that around 50 per cent of British-based diplomatic jobs in countries like India, Pakistan and China have been cut in recent years, the Guardian reported. The numbers working for embassies and consulates in these key Indo-Pacific countries have all been diminishing over the last seven years.…
Xi Jinping has made history by securing a third term as China's president, cementing his status as the longest-serving head of state in the communist nation's history. The 69-year-old leader was the sole contender for the post and was unanimously re-elected by the 3000-member parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC)…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese pledged greater defence ties on Friday (10) after a diplomatic tour where the leaders bonded over their countries' shared love of cricket. The countries, with Japan and the United States, make up the Quad alliance that is seen as…
The US intel community suggests Russia is unlikely to seek direct military conflict with US and NATO, but the potential exists. This was stated in the Annual Threat Assessment report of the intelligence community issued on Wednesday, (08). The report states Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is reshaping its…
During a Congressional hearing in the US on Wednesday (08), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence submitted its annual threat assessment report, stating that the American intelligence community anticipates heightened tensions and potential conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as India and China. The report highlights that…
FORMER Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's nomination to become the US ambassador to India has cleared a major hurdle after a key senate committee voted to send his name to the senate floor for a full vote. Garcetti's nomination has been pending before the US Congress since July 2021, when…
AJAY BANGA, the United States' candidate to head the World Bank, has called for a revamp of the development model to better meet the challenge of climate change. Banga, who is on trip to Kenya, said the world cannot continue to "pursue the prior model of (an) emission heavy growth…
Due to the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal, Hilsa fish virtually disappeared from the dining tables of Prayagraj and other Uttar Pradesh cities. But now, there is a possibility that fish connoisseurs could enjoy fresh Hilsa once again. About 30,000 rare Hilsa fish, collected from the lower portion of the…
HOURS after Pakistan's media regulator banned broadcasts of ousted prime minister Imran Khan's speeches, the private ARY TV news channel was taken off air on Monday (6) for airing his address a day earlier. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Sunday (5) night banned satellite television channels from…
Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential aspirant, recently delivered a speech (03) at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) where he claimed that the US is being held hostage by three secular religions: race, sex, and climate. He believes that these ideologies have created a culture of fear and have led…
REPUBLICAN presidential aspirant Nikki Haley has hit out at two former US presidents from her party - George W Bush and Donald Trump - for adding $10 trillion to America's national debt. She also slammed president Joe Biden, a Democrat, for his record-breaking spending, which she said would add $20…
CHINESE foreign minister Qin Gang on Tuesday (7) slammed the US' Indo-Pacific policy, saying that it tries to 'encircle' China with a regional version of NATO by building 'exclusive blocs' and is certain to fail. China has been criticising the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US since its start as well…
INDIA’S Congress MP Rahul Gandhi told British parliamentarians that functioning microphones in his country’s Parliament are often “silenced” to quieten the opposition. During an event organised by veteran Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room within the House of Commons complex in London on Monday (6), Gandhi…
SRI LANKA'S president said Tuesday (7) that China had agreed to restructure its loans to the bankrupt island nation, clearing the final obstacle to a long-awaited International Monetary Fund bailout. An unprecedented economic crisis has seen Sri Lanka's 22 million people suffer acute food, fuel and medicine shortages, along with…
RUSSIA is working on easing visa procedures for six countries, including India, Syria and Indonesia, the state TASS news agency cited deputy foreign minister Evgeny Ivanov as saying on Sunday (5). "In addition to India (procedures simplification) ... is being worked out with Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria and Philippines," Ivanov…
In 2022, lockdowns in China due to the Covid pandemic severely disrupted the global flow of crucial pharmaceutical products, prompting a reassessment of the structure of international supply networks. The resulting events have led to considerations of geopolitical competitiveness and macroeconomic pressures. According to the Hinrich Foundation, India could emerge as…
RAHUL GANDHI, the former president of India’s opposition Congress, said he is not afraid of criticism and asserted the fight in his country is between “courage and cowardice”.During his interaction with the Indian diaspora, organised by the Indian Overseas Congress in London on Sunday (6), he said of the governing…
A SUICIDE bomber killed nine police officers and wounded 16 others on Monday (6) in an attack on their truck in southwestern Pakistan, officials said. Security forces have been battling a years-long insurgency by militants in Balochistan demanding a bigger share of the province's wealth, as well as attacks by…
INDIA'S opposition Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has alleged the structures of the country’s democracy are under "brutal attack" and there is a full-scale assault on its institutions. Gandhi, who is in London as part of a UK tour, told reporters on Saturday (4) that there are conversations ongoing within the…
On Friday, (03) the Quad group, consisting of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, raised concerns regarding the militarisation of waters in Asia. This was understood to be a reference to China's increasing presence in disputed seas. The foreign ministers of the four nations, including US Secretary of State…
On Friday (03), the foreign ministers of Quad countries reiterated their dedication to a free and unimpeded Indo-Pacific, emphasising the importance of upholding the principles of rule of law, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful conflict resolution. At a meeting chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and attended by…
In a much anticipated development, India's external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday (2) met his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi. This was the first such bilateral meeting between the two diplomats. Jaishankar and Qin, who took charge from…
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi focussed his lecture at the prestigious University of Cambridge on the "art of listening" and called for new thinking to promote a democratic environment globally, as opposed to a coercive one. Referencing a decline in manufacturing in democratic countries such as India and the US…
The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM), which is scheduled to take place in physical format from March 1-2, 2023 in New Delhi under India's Presidency is "one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 Presidency." In a special briefing by Foreign Secretary (FS) Vinay Kwatra on…
SRI LANKAN workers went on strike Wednesday (1) in defiance of a government ban to protest a rescue plan for the bankrupt island nation, forcing the closure of hospitals, banks and ports. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is facing a public backlash over steep tax hikes and spending cuts imposed to secure…
THE year-long Russian war in Ukraine took centrestage on the eve of a G20 foreign ministers meeting on Wednesday (1) with the European Union foreign policy chief saying the success of the gathering in New Delhi would be measured by what it could do about the war and its impact.…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (01) held a bilateral meeting with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, holding discussions on the commencement of the Young Professional Scheme. He also exchanged views on the global situation as well as the G20 agenda. "Began the morning with a bilateral meeting with…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday (28) made it clear that if she is voted to power in 2024, the US will not be the "world's ATM" and pay "bad guys" like Pakistan hundreds of millions of dollars. In the op-ed in the New York Post, Haley wrote…
RAHUL GANDHI, the former president of India’s opposition Congress, arrived in the UK on Tuesday (28) to kick off his week-long tour with an address at the University of Cambridge. He will also hold discussions with Indian diaspora groups in London. The MP, who is a visiting fellow of the…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint two Indian Americans to his Export Council which is the principal national advisory committee on international trade. On Tuesday (28), he announced a list of members he intends to appoint to the the Council, according to a White House press…
FOREIGN ministers from around the world meet in New Delhi this week in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine and spiralling US-China tensions, with host India hoping that issues like climate change and Third World debt are not overlooked. The March 1-2 meeting of the G20 foreign ministers will…
SRI LANKA's government said Tuesday (28) it was banning strikes in several key sectors, a day ahead of a planned one-day national stoppage called by unions to protest against painfully high taxes and utility bills. Anger towards president Ranil Wickremesinghe is growing as his government slashes spending and hikes taxes…
New intelligence has prompted the Energy Department to conclude that an accidental laboratory leak in China most likely caused the novel coronavirus pandemic, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The shift by the Energy Department, which previously was undecided on how the virus emerged, is noted in an update to…
UNCERTAINTY has gripped the UK’s steel industry amid job cuts and investment-intensive decarbonisation requirements. Traditional steel production, relying on coal to produce iron, is regarded as incompatible with the UK’s legally binding climate action commitment to reduce carbon emissions in the coming decades. The government is reported to be willing…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has vowed to cut foreign aid for countries like China, Pakistan and Iraq which “hate” America, if she is voted to power. The 51-year-old two-term governor of South Carolina and the former US ambassador to the United Nations formally launched her 2024 presidential bid…
GERMAN chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday (25) that he and India's prime minister Narendra Modi were committed to sealing a free trade deal between India and the European Union (EU). "It's an important topic and I'll get personally involved," Scholz said after his meeting with Modi in New Delhi.…
INDIA'S G20 presidency comes at an “incredibly important time” when the world confronts challenges like the Ukraine conflict, global food supply disruptions and China's increasingly assertive actions on the world stage, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said. He also announced that he will travel to New Delhi next week…
GERMAN Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday (25) said he wanted to deepen his nation's relationship with India ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. "India and Germany have very good relations and want to deepen them. That will be the topic of our talks…
GERMANY will pursue a $5.2 billion (£4.26 bn) deal with India to jointly build six conventional submarines in the country during Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s February 25-26 visit, two Indian and two German sources said. The naval project is the latest attempt by a Western military manufacturing power to wean New…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi added his voice Friday (24) to calls for the reform of global lenders such as the World Bank, as G20 finance ministers and central bank heads met. The talks in Bengaluru were expected to focus on the continuing damaging effects of the Covid pandemic and…
India and China on Wednesday (22) held diplomatic conversations over disengagement in remaining friction points along their Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. While the two nuclear-armed neighbours spoke over proposals in an "open and constructive manner", there was no indication of a breakthrough, as per reports. One…
US TREASURY secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday (23) sought more financial support to Ukraine to fight invasion by Russian troops which started a year ago as the US gears up for an additional $10 billion in economic aid in the coming weeks. However, her words on the conflict uttered in…
CASH-STRAPPED Sri Lanka announced its first major foreign investment since it declared bankruptcy, approving a $442 million (£368m) wind power project by India's Adani group. Sri Lanka's Board of Investment said Adani Green Energy, part of the business empire of controversial Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, will set up two wind…
INDIAN-AMERICAN tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has launched his 2024 presidential bid, becoming the second community member to enter the Republican Party's presidential primary after Nikki Haley. Ramaswamy, 37, whose parents migrated to the US from Kerala and worked at a General Electric plant in Ohio, announced his presidential bid on…
PAKISTAN'S parliament has given the go-ahead for the government to raise taxes on a raft of luxury imports and services in a bid to unlock the next tranche of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. Faced with critically low foreign exchange reserves, the government has already halted most imports -…
Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan has created history by becoming the first Hindi movie to cross the coveted £100 million mark at the worldwide box office in phase one of its release, Yash Raj Films (YRF) said on Tuesday. YRF claimed that Pathaan has become the highest-grossing Hindi film worldwide in…
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (21) said Russia is developing a North-South Transport Corridor, which will open up new routes for business cooperation with India, Iran and Pakistan, as well as west Asian countries. Putin also said Russia will expand its international economic connections, as well as build new supply…
INDIA'S foreign minister called for a debate on democracy as he slammed billionaire investor George Soros as “old, rich, opinionated and dangerous” for his comments on India. In a speech ahead of the Munich Security Conference, the billionaire investor Soros on Thursday (16) criticised India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and…
BRITISH Asian stand-up comedy is thriving with multiple shows happening on a weekly basis, but it all started with pioneers like Jeff Mirza. The legendary funny man laid the foundation for many fabulous talents, and today he balances making audiences laugh on the live circuit with a thriving acting career.…
Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday (15) called on Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina during which he reaffirmed India’s support for wider and deeper development and economic partnership with her country. Kwatra arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday (14) evening from Kathmandu, Nepal, on a two-day visit. “Foreign Secretary @AmbVMKwatra paid…
Apple Inc is facing challenges as it tries to increase production in India, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday (14), citing people familiar with the iPhone maker's operations. The Cupertino, California-based company has been shifting production away from China after the country's strict Covid-related restrictions dented supply chains across industries…
Former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley on Tuesday (14) kicked off her campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, a tough challenge as her former boss Donald Trump holds a strong lead in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. "I'm Nikki Haley and I'm running for president," Haley said in…
Any media organisation functioning in India will have to follow the rules and regulations of the country, the BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Tuesday, amid the ongoing 'survey' operations on BBC offices by the IT department. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Bhatia said, "Income Tax department lawfully…
Rishi Sunak on Monday vowed to do “whatever it takes” to keep his country safe, amid mounting fears that suspected Chinese spy balloons could also target the UK, a day after the US military shot down a fourth flying object over the American airspace. During a hospital visit in northern…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday set out ambitions to more than triple annual defence exports to $5 billion over the next two years, as arms firms flocked to a major air show for a slice of the nation's massive import budget. The country is looking to sign defence…
The country’s first lithium reserve, found in Jammu and Kashmir, is of the best quality, a senior government official said here on Saturday, as upbeat villagers expressed hope the discovery will bring them a bright future. The 5.9-million ton reserve of lithium, a crucial mineral for the manufacturing of electric…
India has overtaken France to become the UK’s largest market of Scotch whisky in terms of volume with a 60 per cent hike in imports in 2022 over the previous year, according to the latest figures released by Scotland’s leading industry body. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) revealed on Friday…
Long-term exposure to air pollution raises the risk of depression, according to a pair of new studies published in the JAMA network of scientific journals. A study published on Friday in JAMA Network Open found that long-term exposure to elevated levels of air pollution increases the risk of late-onset depression…
The Nepali government has banned the import of fresh roses from countries like India and China ahead of Valentine's Day, according to a media report on Friday (10). The Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre under the Ministry of Agriculture in a notification on Thursday (9) directed the subordinate border…
The US is planning to resume the process of domestic visa revalidation in certain categories, like H-1B and L1 visas, on a pilot basis later this year, a move that will benefit tens of thousands of foreign tech workers, particularly from India. Until 2004, certain categories of non-immigrant visas, particularly…
Indian American Congressman Ami Bera has been elected as Ranking Member of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee that handles the Indo-Pacific region. After being elected by his colleagues to serve in the position, Ami Bera in a statement said, "I am proud to continue my leadership on the House…
The market rout suffered by Indian tycoon Gautam Adani is the latest corporate scandal to plague one of the world's largest economies despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to root out corruption.Properly investigating the claims of fraud that triggered the sell-off in Adani's companies will be a key test for…
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism of the Endocrine Society, patients who underwent an intermittent fasting diet intervention achieved complete diabetes remission, which is defined as a HbA1c (average blood sugar) level of less than 6.5% at least one year after stopping…
The Biden administration is in talks with Indian officials over a possible White House visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year, according to a U.S. official aware of the discussions and another person briefed on the matter. U.S. President Joe Biden is eager to deepen ties with the…
Beleaguered Indian tycoon Gautam Adani denied Friday that his rise to become Asia's richest man -- a title he has lost in a phenomenal stock rout -- was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as shares in his conglomerate slumped again. His listed units' combined market capitalisation has collapsed by…
The low annual limit of 85,000 registrations for H-1B petitions is the main problem facing US employers trying to secure foreign talent, according to a new report about the skilled workers' visas, the most sought-after by Indian IT professionals. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies…
Four prominent Indian-American lawmakers - Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ro Khanna-- have been appointed members of three key House panels, reflecting the growing influence of the community in US politics. Congresswoman Jayapal has been named Ranking Member of the powerful House Judiciary Committee’s panel on Immigration, making…
Indian-American Congressman Dr Ami Bera has been appointed as a member of a powerful US House committee handling intelligence-related matters. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is charged with providing oversight of the country’s intelligence activities, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Office of the Director of National Intelligence…
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has been made Ranking Member of a newly created House committee on China that will look into various aspects of Chinese behaviour, its threat being posed to the US and the world. US House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Wednesday (1) announced the appointment…
The US is keen to see the ongoing talks between the Sri Lankan government and the minority Tamil leaders produce "real results", a top official from the Biden administration said here on Wednesday. US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who arrived on a one-day visit to Sri Lanka last…
Humans need a sufficient amount of high-quality sleep to maintain their physical and mental health. For instance, getting enough quality sleep can help treat a number of conditions, such as dementia, mental illness, and metabolic, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders. On the other hand, sleep disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, and excessive…
Premium outdoor oven brand Gozney has announced the appointment of former Dickies global brand president Denny Bruce as its new chief executive officer. Bruce will lead the business alongside the company's founder and former CEO, Tom Gozney. The new CEO is expected to reinforce Gozney's senior leadership team at a…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday (28) reprimanded foreign newspapers for reserving adjectives like "Hindu nationalist" for the Indian government. "If you read foreign newspapers, they use words like Hindu Nationalist Government. In America or Europe, they won't say Christian Nationalist... these adjectives are reserved for us. They don't…
The shoot of the much-awaited and anticipated film The Vaccine War by Vivek Agnihotri has finally come to an end and now is time he reveals the leads of the film. While the makers were keeping the cast of the film a secret, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri recently revealed that Sapthami…
A security assessment by Indian police in the Himalayan region of Ladakh says there could be more clashes between Indian and Chinese troops along their contested frontier there as Beijing ramps up military infrastructure in the region. At least 24 soldiers were killed when the armies of the Asian giants…
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that India, which has charted an independent course on foreign policy, was forced to change its strategic posture and join the four-nation Quad grouping due to China’s aggressive actions. India and China are locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern…
India has invited Pakistan's foreign minister to a meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) that it is hosting in May, Indian media reported on Wednesday, signalling a possible thaw in relations between the nuclear-armed rivals. The invitation came days after Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif called for talks with…
DOWNING STREET had a make-over last week. There were hanging lanterns in the staircases alongside the portraits of former prime ministers. Cherry blossom and auspicious orchids decorated the reception rooms. Rishi Sunak was celebrating Lunar New Year, noting that the year of the rabbit’s traditional association with peace and prosperity…
Instead of using the money for subsidizing education or developing Afghanistan, it seems that the Taliban "will use its limited cash" to buy or acquire Blowfish drones from China, 19FortyFive reported. The blowfish drone is a mini helicopter that can fire machine guns, launch mortars and throw grenades. Artificial intelligence…
Even as India and the United Kingdom recently wrapped up round six of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), Britain's High Commissioner Alex Ellis highlighted that after covering a lot of ground now the question is down to not just the technical details but political will on both…
Thousands of Indian IT professionals in the US, who have lost their jobs due to the series of recent layoffs at companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon, are now struggling to find new employment within the stipulated period under their work visas following the termination of their employment to stay…
Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi says as a storyteller he would never cash in on the trending genres and would rather go by his instincts.The director, whose filmography features beloved movies such as "Andaz Apna Apna”, “Ghayal” and “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani”, said he believes in trying his hand at something…
Pakistani minister of state foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday (19) said her country does not see a “partner” in Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for working towards peace between the two countries, but it saw a partner in his predecessors Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Speaking at…
EARLIER in the autumn, briefings from the Home Office appeared to indicate that the UK government was seriously considering limiting the number of international students to help reduce net migration. At that time one of us, along with 13 other vice-chancellors, joined with the former education secretary, Justine Greening, to…
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday called for reconciliation and coexistence in the island nation, saying his government has initiated the process by talking to Sri Lankan Tamils and understanding their problems. President Wickremesinghe's statement at the 100th anniversary of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama came ahead of his…
India's foreign minister arrives in Colombo on Thursday following his country's backing of Sri Lanka for a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, leaving China as the island's last remaining major creditor which has yet to agree to the debt restructuring plan. India has told global lender IMF that…
India is set to overtake China as the world's most populous country this year, but a small state in the South Asian nation's mountainous northeast is worried about its shrinking indigenous communities and urging them to have more babies. Sikkim, a state with fewer than 700,000 people, has India's lowest…
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday informed the parliament that talks with India and China on debt restructuring are successful. "We are continuing discussions in that regard and I am pleased to announce to this House that the discussions are currently successful," read Sri Lankan President Media Division press…
India is expected to overtake China as the world's most populous country this year even though its population growth has been slowing down, United Nations says. Following are some key points about India's demography, according to government data: - India estimates its population at 1.38 billion, compared to China's 1.4…
In a major diplomatic victory for India, Abdul Rehman Makki was designated a global terrorist by the UN after China lifted its hold on a joint India-US proposal to blacklist the deputy chief of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The UN Security Council’s 1267 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee…
The ongoing negotiations of India for the proposed comprehensive free trade agreements with the UK and European Union (EU) are on track and the next round of talks with both regions will happen soon, a top government official said on Monday. India has recently concluded the sixth round of talks…
The central government should reconsider a proposal by the Indian Army to purchase helmets for Sikh soldiers, according to former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa who pointed out that turbans have been protecting Sikhs so far from "every trouble." "Sikhs posted in the army in England, America,…
The trade between India and China has touched an all-time high of $135.98 billion in 2022 while New Delhi's trade deficit with Beijing crossed for the first time a $100 billion mark despite frosty bilateral relations, according to data released by Chinese customs on Friday. The total India-China trade for…
Nine-year-old NRI girl Tanvee Vallem has been invited to participate in the World Women’s 9-Ball Championship, making her the youngest person to get an invite for the pool tournament, according to a media release. The 2023 Kamui World Women’s 9-Ball Championship is slated to be held in Atlantic City from…
The British government said on Thursday that a small number of people who were granted so-called "golden visas" for millionaire investors might have obtained their wealth through corruption or organised crime. The government last year scrapped the visas, which offered a route to residency for those investing at least 2…
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday agreed to extend an existing loan of $2 billion and provide an additional loan of $1 billion to help cash-strapped Pakistan tackle its economic woes, including the fast-depleting foreign exchange reserves. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Office made the announcement after his meeting with…
A five-member Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) panel did not find any conclusive evidence to suggest that the dismal performance of its national team in the T20 World Cup in Australia had to do with the selection process being hugely influenced by the cult group 'Born Again'. In its ruling, the…
Pakistan's finance minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday (11) that almost 90 per cent of pledges made by the international community for the flood-hit country were project loans that will be rolled out over the next three years. His remarks came two days after the international community at a donors’…
Makers of the upcoming action thriller film 'Pathaan' starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham unveiled the trailer on Tuesday. King Khan thanked actor Ram Charan for his shoutout to the movie in his trademark style. The 'RRR' star who is in Los Angeles for the Golden Globe…
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan has asked the powerful establishment to refrain from "political engineering" in the general elections later this year as he asserted that his party is the only party that can pull the cash-strapped country out of the current economic quagmire. Addressing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)…
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Friday slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi over the comments made by him targeting Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah following the announcement of ACC Calendar 2023-24 and the pathway structure.…
The Biden administration has proposed a massive hike in immigration fees, including the much sought-after H-1B visas for high-skilled foreign workers which is very popular among Indian tech professionals. Under the proposed rule, published by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Wednesday (4), the application for the H-1B…
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are in the same group for the Asia Cup 2023, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah confirmed on Thursday. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah on Thursday announced the cricket calendar of the…
In a fresh attack on Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan has alleged that the former army chief wanted to have him murdered and impose a state of emergency in the country. Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, made the startling allegation during…
As clubs across Asia continue to get more established, footballers from around the globe are increasingly calling the continent their new home. With that in mind, here are three world superstars who have made the switch. Oscar (Shanghai Port) Oscar came to prominence following a move from Brazilian side Internacional…
Piqued by several countries, including India, clamping curbs on Chinese travellers amid the massive surge of Covid in the country, China on Tuesday (3) said the restrictions are discriminatory and warned of reciprocal countermeasures. The US, Australia, Canada, India, Israel, Malaysia, Morocco, Qatar, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and several EU…
Veteran actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi recently sat down for a candid conversation. Kamal Haasan, who on December 24 joined Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra as the foot march entered Delhi, discussed politics, India-China, Mahatma Gandhi, and cinema during their one-on-one when the MNM leader opened up…
Public service in Sri Lanka is not an eight-hour job, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday, as he urged public servants to work overtime to make the cash-strapped island a prosperous nation this year. Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis last year due to a severe paucity…
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said China is adopting the same principle with India as Russia is with Ukraine, as it is threatening to alter India's boundaries. He also claimed that the Sino-Indian border conflict has a link with a weak economy, a confused nation without any vision, hatred…
The latest data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that the Covid cased caused by the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 have doubled in the past week. Now, more than 40 per cent of the Covid cases in the US are caused by this sub-variant which…
The UK has joined a growing list of countries, including India, to introduce curbs on travellers from China amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the country after Chinese authorities relaxed the strict "zero-COVID" rules. Passengers arriving from China to England from January 5, 2023, will need to show a…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is said to be considering imposing some travel restrictions on China amid soaring Covid-19 infections in the country and a clampdown by other countries such as India and the US, according to UK media reports on Friday (30). Officially ministers have said that adopting tighter…
The Office for National Statistics recently published figures which showed for the first time that fewer than half of people in England and Wales describe themselves as Christian. The usual extremists used this as a way to try to divide our communities however the New Year Honours have highlighted again…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his government has “no other option” but to implement the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme to revive the cash-starved economy. He regretted that if the government wanted to give any subsidy in any sector, it had to go to the IMF "which…
Heart diseases are among the most fatal causes of threat to life in the world today. With healthier diets, more than two-thirds of heart disease-related fatalities may be avoided globally, that was the conclusion of a study published in the journals 'European Society of Cardiology's journal' and European Heart Journal…
Several attempts of Chinese intrusion into Indian territory were to collect Cordyceps, also known as caterpillar fungus or the Himalayan Gold, an expensive herbal drug in China, according to the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC). Chinese soldiers have been accused of illegally entering Arunachal Pradesh in search of the…
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the United States is willing to provide funds to Islamabad to enhance border security for preventing cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, according to a media report on Sunday.Bhutto, who was in Washington from December 14 to 21 where he met various top…
Pakistan's former Army chief Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa has a lot to tell about ousted prime minister Imran Khan, his rise in politics, and how he ran his government, a media report said on Monday. Khan, 70, has been targeting Gen Bajwa ever since his ouster from power in…
Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan said on Friday that he was "completely helpless" as the premier the "real man in power" was former army chief Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa, who called all the shots. Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, has been targeting Gen Bajwa and…
A top court in Pakistan will take up a petition on December 20 seeking the disqualification of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for "concealing" his alleged daughter's name in the nomination papers. The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will hear the petition on December 20 filed by a…
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Wednesday slammed China for its latest aggression against India and highlighted the need for the United States to continue to work with India. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had in a statement to Parliament recently said Chinese troops tried to "unilaterally" change the status quo…
In yet another low point in UK-China relations, China has removed six officials from Britain - including one of its most senior diplomats - two months after the violence at its Manchester consulate, reported Politico. Six Chinese diplomats based in Manchester, including Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan, are returning to China in…
The United States Department of Defence said that it continues to closely watch developments along the Line of Actual Control at the India-China border and noted that China "continues to amass forces and build military infrastructure along the so-called LAC." Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder in…
Sri Lanka's much-anticipated IMF bailout of an assistance package of USD 2.9 billion will have to wait till early next year as the country pursues talks with creditors to meet the global lender's condition for the facility. Sri Lanka and the IMF agreed on a staff-level agreement to release USD…
The Indian Air Force scrambled fighter jets last week following China's increasing air activities on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday (13). The deployment of some aerial platforms including drones by China…
The UK wants India to be among the new permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, alongside Brazil, Japan, Germany and African representation, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday. In his first major foreign policy speech since taking charge in the Rishi Sunak-led government, Cleverly praised Prime…
China on Tuesday said the situation was "generally stable" along its border with India, days after the troops of the two countries clashed in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in minor injuries to some soldiers on both sides. At a media briefing here, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang…
The US has slapped sanctions on two individuals, including an Indian national, and seven entities for providing material support to, acting on behalf of, or being owned by North Korea’s government-run animation studio, which utilised its workers to provide low-cost labour. The US took this action on Friday on the…
India, which has a unique strategic character, will not be an ally of the US, but another great power, a top White House official has said, asserting there is no other bilateral relationship that is being "deepened and strengthened" more rapidly than between the two countries over the last 20…
Scientists have found that the fat around the liver, intestines and other organs, or visceral fat, contributes more towards severe COVID-19 than does subcutaneous fat, or fat under the skin as in "love handles", according to a study. Visceral fat is usually considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes…
India, the world's largest democracy, is home to a great diversity of faiths, the United States said Tuesday noting that it will continue to encourage New Delhi to uphold its commitments to protect religious freedom for all. The United States has designated 12 countries, including China, Pakistan and Myanmar, as…
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has acknowledged that there was no point in economic reforms in Sri Lanka because the cash-starved island nation didn't have an economy, as he made a strong pitch for a new economic model. Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948,…
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan has accused former army chief Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa of playing "double game" against his government and said that he committed a "big mistake" by extending the tenure of a then military chief in 2019. Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party,…
Sri Lankan MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has warned that he will lead a "ChinaGoHome" campaign if the Chinese Embassy and its government do not work for the benefit of his countrymen and fail to restructure debts, according to local media. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Rasamanickam has raised questions over the…
Brightsun Travel has launched this year's digital advent calendar contest to celebrate travel partnerships. The travel-themed competition offers a chance to win a different prize every day from the 1 December to Christmas Eve. There are fun quizzes or videos so participants can brush up on their airline knowledge and…
Nowadays, plenty of men worldwide dream about getting a Japanese bride. Nowadays, lots of websites help with it. Still, choosing the right platform may be pretty difficult, so we recommend taking a look at some reviews before choosing a platform. For example, at 99brides.com, you can take a look at…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday that the so-called "golden era" of relations with China was over, saying Beijing's systemic challenge to Britain's interests and values was growing more acute. In his first major foreign policy speech, Sunak said Britain's approach to China needed to evolve and Beijing…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reiterated the UK’s commitment to a free trade agreement (FTA) with India as part of the country’s wider focus on enhancing ties with the Indo-Pacific region and standing up to competitors with “robust pragmatism”. Delivering his first major foreign policy speech since taking charge…
The ruling Nepali Congress led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday maintained its lead as the single largest party by winning 53 seats in the parliamentary polls held to end the prolonged political instability that has plagued the Himalayan nation. Elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and…
A day ahead of his retirement, Pakistan's Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that his decision to keep the military establishment "apolitical" will protect it "from the vagaries of politics" in the coup-prone country. Gen Bajwa, 61, will retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. Pakistan has…
China will be sending a three-person crew to its under-construction space station on Tuesday, and also announced plans for a manned mission to the Moon amid intensifying competition with the US. The Shenzhou-15 crewed spaceship will be launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, the China Manned…
As India readies to assume the presidency of the "powerful" G20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country should focus on global good during its term and asserted that it has solutions to the challenges related to peace, unity, environment and sustainable development. India will officially assume the…
South actor Prakash Raj, on Friday, confronted actor Akshay Kumar for calling out Richa Chadha over her comment about the 2020 Galwan clash, in which several Indian Army soldiers died. Taking to Twitter, Prakash Raj reacted to Akshay's tweet and wrote, "Didn't expect this from you @akshaykumar..having said that @RichaChadha…
India’s Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover will cut the production of lower-end vehicles in its UK facilities early next year as the carmaker prioritises high-margin products amid the global shortage of semiconductors. Parts of its Solihull factory where lower-price Range Rover Velar and the Jaguar F-Pace are produced will move…
Actors Anupam Kher, Kay Kay Menon and Ranvir Shorey are the latest cine personalities to criticise Richa Chadha over her comment on the 2020 deadly Galwan Valley clash. Chadha, in her now deleted tweet, had written "Galwan says hi" in response to the Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi’s…
China has recruited more than 30 former British military pilots including those who have flown sophisticated fighter jets. UK's Defence Ministry said that they are being recruited to train pilots of the Chinese Army. Chinese plans to counter the West and in the worst-case scenario, of a conflict, say over…
The British government on Thursday told its departments to stop installing Chinese-linked surveillance cameras at sensitive buildings, citing security risks. The decision comes after a review of "current and future possible security risks associated with the installation of visual surveillance systems on the government estate," cabinet office minister Oliver Dowden…
Pakistan on Thursday (24) named Lieutenant-General Asim Munir as chief of its army, an organisation that plays an extraordinarily influential role in the governance of this nuclear-armed nation. Munir, who also headed both of Pakistan's powerful spy agencies, will take over from outgoing General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retires later…
Bollywood actor Richa Chadha has issued an apology statement through a tweet after being slammed on social media for posting a tweet on the 2020 Galwan clash, in which several Indian Army soldiers died. Taking to Twitter, Richa wrote, "Even though it can never be my intention in the least,…
Just days before his retirement, Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday (23) warned that the army's patience to the ongoing smear campaign against it may not be unlimited and asked all political leaders to set aside their ego, learn from past mistakes and move forward. He also…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have made their debut on the Asian Rich List 2022, which profiles the 101 wealthiest Asians in Britain. Sunak and his wife – whose father NR Narayana Murthy co-founded Indian IT major, Infosys – are ranked 17th in the list, with…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday unveiled a new scheme for the world’s 100 most talented young professionals in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of his vision to make the UK a "beacon" to attract the “brightest and best” from around the world. Addressing the Confederation…
There is a possibility of another assassination attempt on Imran Khan, the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court said on Friday and asserted that it was the government’s responsibility to take cognisance of the looming threat on the former prime minister. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq’s remarks came while hearing a…
The US has once again categorically dismissed former Pakistan premier Imran Khan's allegations that Washington orchestrated a conspiracy to oust him from power and reiterated its resolve not to let "propaganda, misinformation and disinformation" affect the bilateral ties. The sharp response from the US came on Wednesday, days after Khan…
It is time to confirm a US Ambassador to India, a top Indian-American Congressman said noting that for nearly two years now there has been no American envoy in New Delhi. "The US needs a strong defense and strategic partnership with India, especially in the face of escalating aggression from…
The global population reaching eight billion should be seen as an opportunity with people as creators of resources, experts said on Tuesday (15) but stressed that focus should be on equity and equality as well as caring for the aging populace. The world population touched eight billion on Tuesday and…
Imran Khan has said he wants to mend relations with the US if re-elected and no longer blames it for his removal as Pakistan's prime minister, apparently taking a U-turn after accusing Washington of engineering his ouster by supporting the then Opposition’s no-confidence motion. Khan, 70, who was ousted in…
The US Department of Treasury on Friday (11) removed India along with Italy, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam from its Currency Monitoring List of major trading partners that merit close attention to their currency practices and macroeconomic policies. India had been on the list for the last two years. The move…
Ties between the United Kingdom and India will remain on a “phenomenal upward trajectory” under Indian-origin UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that country’s former premier Boris Johnson said on Saturday. The two countries need each other now more than ever as “we live in dangerous and turbulent times”, he said.…
In his debut novel The People We Know, London-based author Farrokh Suntook has told a compelling story of a Sikh woman who finds her life transformed after a shocking discovery about her Parsi husband and a chance encounter with an English couple. Building on the author’s love for literature, the…
After becoming an everyday essential during the Covid-19 pandemic, several sanitizer brands have been recalled in the US when it was discovered that they contain a cancer-causing chemical called benzene, a carcinogen at the very top of the Government's most dangerous solvent list. Subsequently, thousands of sprays and gels made…
India is expected to surpass China in getting the number of US visas by 2023 and will be ranked two in the issuance of visas after Mexico, a Senior US Embassy official said. "We expect that India will surpass China in getting the number of US visas by next year's…
Highly polluting emerging economies including China and India should pay into a climate compensation fund to help countries rebuild after climate change-driven disasters, the prime minister of island nation Antigua and Barbuda said on Tuesday. The comments marked the first time the two nations have been lumped into the list…
Bollywood movie Disco Dancer was a big blockbuster success when it released in 1982 and has become a cult classic largely thanks to the winning soundtrack. The story of a slum dweller dreaming of a better life for himself and hoping to dance his way to success while battling dark…
Bappi Lahiri's hit song 'Jimmy, Jimmy' from Mithun Chakraborty-starrer 'Disco Dancer' has become a new anthem for people in China to protest Covid lockdowns. https://twitter.com/durgeshdwivedi/status/1587071512116617216?s=20&t=q8R4NHu8IzpfNBF64sH1-Q Several videos went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms in which Chinese facing the lockdowns are seen using Bappi Da's track to express…
Gareth Thomas MP has called for investment in teaching South Asian languages in the UK to strengthen the country's ties with the Indian subcontinent. The Labour-Cooperative Party parliamentarian for the Greater London constituency of Harrow West said south Asian languages should receive the same state financial support as given to…
India's Ministry of Defence is the world's biggest employer with 2.92 million people, which includes combined active service personnel, reservists and civilian staff, according to a report in 'Statista'. A close second to the Indian Defence Ministry is the US Department of Defense which employs 2.91 million people, according to…
There is an outpouring of wishes on social media for Rishi Sunak as soon as he was appointed as the Prime Minister of Britain. A number of Bollywood celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor, have also wished him on becoming the 57th Prime Minister of Britain on the auspicious…
Bingo has a special place in the hearts of many people. It’s great fun to play, whether you’re an experienced player or someone who is just trying it for the first time. People of all ages can enjoy playing bingo and find it challenging, fun and rewarding. Here we look…
China on Thursday said India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue and consultations and avoid taking “unilateral actions” that could further complicate the situation. Replying to a question on the Kashmir issue raised by a Pakistani journalist, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a media briefing…
Actress Kubbra Sait has been roped in to play the character of Kalinda Sharma in the Indian adaptation of the successful American legal drama series The Good Wife starring Julianna Margulies in the lead role. Archie Panjabi played the same character in the original. While Kubbra is set to reprise…
Eminent Indian-American entrepreneur and activist Swadesh Chatterjee, who is known for his immense contribution to strengthening the US-India relationship over the past three decades, has been presented with the highest award by the US state of North Carolina. North Carolina’s Governor Ray Cooper presented the Order of the Long Leaf…
A number of South Asian languages, including Gujarati, have seen a steady decline in their appeal in the UK as students entering the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) levels in languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Persian, Punjabi, and Urdu have gone down drastically between 2015 and 2021. A press…
The organisers of the Booker prize have funded this year's winner Shehan Karunatilaka's flight to the UK to pick up the coveted prize, according to a media report. The Booker Prize Foundation extended financial support to the Sri Lankan writer to travel to Britain for the ceremony, The Times reported.…
British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis on Tuesday said that they are on track to get back to processing India to UK visa applications within our standard of 15 days. https://twitter.com/AlexWEllis/status/1582414674280460288?s=20&t=TpC6vGnwP-zYE_NXJOKBcQ "We are on track to get back to processing India to Great Britain #visa applications within our standard…
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Wednesday the treatment of a protester seen being pulled into the grounds of a Chinese consulate and beaten was "unacceptable", and the government was considering further action. The altercation occurred on Sunday during a demonstration against Chinese President Xi Jinping in Manchester, northern…
The UK government said on Tuesday (18) that it is taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former British military pilots to train the People’s Liberation Army personnel in China. According to reports, around 30 former UK military pilots are thought to have gone…
Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka has been named the winner of the 2022 Booker Prize for his second novel ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida', described by judges as a whodunnit and a race against time, full of ghosts, gags and deep humanity. Karunatilaka, 47, became only the second Sri…
Police in the British city of Manchester are investigating an incident involving a protester who appeared to have been pulled inside the grounds of the Chinese consulate and beaten, after a demonstration against Chinese President Xi Jinping. In video footage posted online, a man was seen to be pulled by…
In perhaps the most candid statement made against it, US President Joe Biden described Pakistan as "one of the most dangerous nations" in the world which holds "nuclear weapons without any cohesion." The US President made these remarks at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Reception in Los Angeles (California), during…
As part of its plans to tackle 'bad migration', the UK is reportedly planning to restrict the number of children foreign students can bring to the country. Ministers alleged that some international students bring as many as six dependents and use the route as a 'back door' to settle in…
That fear combined with China's strength was driving it "into actions that could represent a huge threat to us all," he will say. China is using its financial and scientific muscle to manipulate technologies in a manner that risks global security, Britain's top cyber spy will say on Tuesday, warning…
India has a substantial inventory of Soviet and Russian-origin weapons because the Western countries opted for a military dictatorship in the region as its preferred partner and did not supply weapons to New Delhi for decades, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.…
Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has cast doubts over a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India over the issue of migration and branded Indians as the “largest group of people who overstay” their visas in the UK. Expressing concerns over what she feared would be an “open borders”…
Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Tuesday accused her Conservative Party colleagues of plotting a “coup” against Prime Minister Liz Truss, forcing the party leader into a U-turn over plans to abolish the top rate of income tax for the country's highest earners. On the sidelines of the governing party's…
Accusing the West of provoking colour revolution in any country for geopolitical gains, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that the West has "plundered" countries like India in contradiction to the values of "truth, freedom and justice," according to Reuters translation of Putin's speech. "The West ... began its…
Top Five World Ranked Sports Sport is one of the most popular pastimes for people around the world, both for playing and watching. Most people first get excited about a particular sport when they play it at a young age, while they eventually become even more interested when watching…
Indian billionaire and Asia’s richest Gautam Adani has said that China could become increasingly isolated from the rest of the world and the country would find it hard to bounce back from a period of economic weakness. He added that increasing nationalism, supply chain risk mitigation, and technology restrictions will…
Aakash Odedra Company’s epic new dance work 'Samsara' was recently premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival to a host of 5-star reviews and now the work, which speaks a powerful story of cultural exchange and shared philosophy, is set to have its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on October…
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Thursday said that he would prefer to breathe his last surrounded by the genuine and loving people of India, a free and open democracy, rather than among "artificial" Chinese officials. He made these remarks during a two-day dialogue with youth leaders at his residence…
Apple Inc may make one out of four iPhones in India by 2025, J.P.Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, as the tech giant moves some production away from China, amid mounting geopolitical tensions and strict COVID-19 lockdowns in the country. The brokerage expects Apple to move about 5% of iPhone 14…
The UK is in the grip of an “obesity emergency” that threatens to bankrupt the NHS and cut lives short, a report warns. According to experts, more than eight in ten Britons will be overweight or obese by 2060 – costing the economy £142 billion a year, the Daily Mail…
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has said that Pakistan's spy agency ISI considers him an "enemy" because of his stand against the radicals in the South Asian country. The Democratic Party lawmaker from Illinois said this while addressing community members during a fundraiser hosted by him in Boston at the residence…
Scientists have developed a face mask that can detect the coronavirus in just 10 minutes. The mask is supposedly highly sensitive and is able to identify common respiratory viruses such as Covid-19 and influenza by the droplets or aerosols that are present in the air. The mask wearers are alerted…
A group of cross-party British lawmakers is in talks with Taiwan to provide Chinese-language teachers to the United Kingdon as the government seeks to phase out Confucius Institutes, according to media reports. Chinese state-linked Confucius language learning and teaching project has been under heavy scrutiny as the bilateral relations between…
Beijing on Monday (19) said president Joe Biden's latest comments that the United States would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion "severely violate" Washington's policy towards the island. "The US remarks... severely violate the important commitment the US made not to support Taiwan independence, and send a seriously erroneous signal…
The Chinese delegation visiting London to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral on Monday (19) will not be allowed to view her coffin at the lying-in-state vigil inside parliament, the BBC reported on Friday (16). Some parliamentarians had raised concerns about inviting representatives from China after several British lawmakers were sanctioned by…
A Washington-based environmental advocacy group has apologised for its seven-year-old report which claimed five Asian countries were primarily responsible for polluting the ocean with plastic waste. In its now-retracted report, titled Stemming the Tide, Ocean Conservancy had blamed China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand for the bulk of ocean…
The Rocky-esque fact-based women's soccer film has been abruptly scrapped six weeks from the start of production by Skydance, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The feature project, set in 1984, was to tell the true story of a Dallas girls' soccer team that travelled to China and, against the odds, defeated…
Senior leaders of UK's ruling party have raised concerns about inviting Chinese leaders to the Queen's funeral on Monday (19) over genocide of Uyghur minority. A group of MPs and peers, including former Tory leader leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, have urged the government to withdraw the invitation to the…
One of the most interesting cover versions of the year has seen Canadian-south Asian rock artist MR.Slade reinterpret Blondie song Call Me. The singer, determined to break down doors across the globe relating to culture rights through to LGBT+ issues, put his own edgy spin on a much-loved classic, which…
Some common risk factors for cancer include smoking too much, sun exposure and poor diet. But there's also one common cause of cancer that is often forgotten about, and that's the consumption of alcohol. According to a new study from the University of Reading, all types of alcohol can significantly…
Campaign groups come together to urge the Metropolitan Police to do away with the “privacy-eroding” facial recognition technology. In an open letter to Sir Mark Rowley, the new commission of the force, 14 charities including Big Brother Watch, Liberty and Black Lives Matter UK, claimed that the technology was “inaccurate…
Britain's new prime minister Liz Truss convenes her senior ministers for an inaugural cabinet meeting on Wednesday on her first full day in office, before she faces a barrage of questions in parliament. Truss, who officially became leader Tuesday at an audience with the head of state Queen Elizabeth II…
US on Friday (local time) announced the sale of approximately USD 1.1 billion in military equipment including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles to Taiwan. Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) confirmed in a series of statements that Washington has approved the sale of military equipment to Taiwan. The US State Department approved…
A report published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday stated that China has committed "serious human rights violations" against the Uyghur and "other predominantly Muslim communities" in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The long-awaited report by OHCHR comes in the wake of…
US Senator, Marsha Blackburn is the latest US lawmaker to visit the self-governed island of Taiwan on Thursday after a series of visits by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other US officials that has heightened tensions with China. Applauding US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taiwan alongside 25 other…
EVERYONE now expects Westminster’s Game of Thrones to end with foreign secretary Liz Truss wearing the crown. The former chancellor and her opponent, Rishi Sunak, embraces his underdog status and pledges to fight to the end. The candidates’ fates are now sealed in the returned but unopened ballot papers. Top…
After the full brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic started to become more manageable, many countries have opened their borders again, everyone is eager to travel. India, too, has been allowing tourists in again since 15 November 2021. However, to visit this culturally rich and diverse country, you need to have…
Minions: The Rise of Gru, which recently hit theatres after facing a series of setbacks for two years due to Covid-19, is running with an altered ending in China. Reuters reports that Chinese national censors seem displeased with the original ending of Minions: The Rise of Gru. Social media users…
Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak has said he wants to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India. Addressing a gathering of British Indian Conservative Party members who are voting in the election to…
With his home production Laal Singh Chaddha, Aamir Khan returned to theatres after a long period of four years. The film, which is the official remake of the cult Hollywood film Forrest Gump, also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh, and Naga Chaitanya on the primary cast. Laal Singh Chaddha…
According to Variety, helmed by Joseph Kosinski, 'Top Gun: Maverick' has collected over $679 million in North America, overtaking 'Infinity War' which collected $678 million at the domestic box office. Internationally, 'Top Gun: Maverick' has generated more than $700 million -- and that's without playing in China or Russia, two…
THE 1990s were a time of hope in India. One of my jobs at the Daily Telegraph was to travel regularly to India and do surveys of the Indian economy. While I would do the journalistic interviews, an accompanying colleague from advertising would try to persuade captains of industry to…
The UK’s Royal Air Force resorted to “positive discrimination” in its recruitment process to meet the diversity targets set by the government, a media report said.Sources told Sky News that recruitment officers were directed to prioritise the placement of women and ethnic minority candidates on training courses in the year…
I AM old enough to remember the day of independence in 1947. I was young and excited, though barely able to understand what it meant. On the night of August 14, in the words of India’s first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (‘as the world slept’), I failed to stay…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will aim to become a developed nation within 25 years as the country marked 75 years of independence on Monday (15), with the leaders of Britain, the US and France sending congratulatory messages. In his traditional address to the nation from Delhi’s historic Red…
The UK government has blocked Hong Kong-based firm Super Orange from purchasing British electronic-design company Pulsic, citing security risks posed by China. A statement Wednesday said Britain's Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng "considers that the final order is necessary and proportionate to mitigate the risk to national security". Pulsic, a small-sized…
The US and other nations in the world may not appreciate India buying Russian oil, but they have accepted it as New Delhi has not been defensive about its stand but made them realise the obligation the government has to its people amidst "unreasonably high" oil and gas prices, External…
The recruitment head of the Royal Air Force (RAF) has stepped down amid concerns that the pursuit of diversity efforts led to an “effective pause” on hiring white men, according to media reports. The Group Captain is believed to have handed in her notice recently in the wake of the…
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is planning to submit a written proposal to the UN to create a commission, made up of three world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to promote a world truce for a period of five years, MSN web portal reported. "I will make the…
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) benefitted from and contributed to British colonialism in a variety of ways between 1899 and 1960, according to a report on its history. It is largely to its role in British colonialism that the LSHTM owes its current power and position…
New research has revealed that replacing regular salt with a salt substitute lowers blood pressure and protects against heart attack and stroke. It is a known fact that high consumption of salt composed of sodium chloride will drive blood pressure up and will result in cardiovascular ailments. But, the latest…
The recent India-specific CAATSA sanctions waiver by the U.S. House of Representatives is the most consequential vote since the civilian nuclear deal, an influential Indian-American Democratic Congressman has said, asserting that U.S. President Joe Biden will expedite the waiver because he has the “political mileage” and the backing of 300…
TRAFFICKERS are offering a TikTok 'summer sale' for a journey across the English Channel for migrants as the rate has been reduced to £3,500 per person from £5,000 earlier, it has emerged. This has resulted in an increase in channel crossings in recent weeks as another estimated 300 migrants reached…
Veteran actor Annu Kapoor, who has played a range of characters in his storied acting career, next stars in Kamal Chandra’s upcoming directorial venture Hum Do Hamare Baarah. The team officially announced the film on August 5 along with unveiling the first-look poster. The poster shows Kapoor as the head…
Seventy-five years of the independent polity have been tumultuous and turbulent for the state of Pakistan. Oscillating between military rule and civilian governments, the country to date has failed to witness even one complete five-year tenure of any of its Prime Ministers. This offbeat political tug of war has raised…
Tom Cruise’s latest action flick Top Gun: Maverick has been smashing one record after another ever since hitting the marquee. The film has now overtaken an iconic film in the list of the highest-grossing Hollywood films of all time. The film, which released in May, has now claimed the 7th…
China has decided to sanction U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her immediate family in response to her "vicious" and "provocative" actions, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday. "Despite China's serious concerns and firm opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan, seriously interfering in China's internal affairs, undermining…
The ASEAN Gaming Summit will be held in the Philippines in March 2023. The event in Manila will give attendees the opportunity to gain industry insights at an exhibition featuring 11 iGaming companies. The event will be live-streamed, creating a greater level of accessibility to interested parties. The decision consolidates…
Concerned over the recent threats issued by China, the Group of Seven (G7) nations on Wednesday said that there's "no justification" for Beijing to use Pelosi's visit "as a pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait." "We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the…
The UK parliament on Wednesday (3) closed its TikTok account after MPs expressed concern over the social media app's ownership by Chinese parent firm ByteDance. "Based on Member (of Parliament) feedback, we are closing the pilot UK Parliament TikTok account earlier than we had planned," said a parliament spokesman. "The…
Irked by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China on Wednesday halted trade with Taiwan and said it is suspending imports of citrus fruits and fish products from Taipei. Taking to Twitter, Li Bijian, China's Consul General in Karachi said, "Chinese mainland suspends imports of citrus fruits, chilled…
Hours ahead of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan, China upped the ante and threatened Washington with "very grave" consequences if the high-level visit takes place. Pelosi is likely to visit Taiwan Tuesday evening, as per reports. She is going to Taiwan for meetings scheduled with top government…
According to new research, napping frequently is linked to increased risks for high blood pressure and stroke. The findings of the study were published in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers in China examined whether frequent naps could be a potential causal risk factor for high blood…
Amid a supply chain crisis, millions of Brits may be left without important medications, as the NHS is reported to face a shortage of medicines, reports The Sun. Experts have warned that these medications include even antibiotics and painkillers. Also, the conditions which are expected to be impacted by the…
China on Thursday defended its massive infrastructure ventures and investments in crisis-hit Sri Lanka and said that they have "boosted" its economic development, amid criticism from the US of Beijing's unproductive projects and opaque loan deals among the reasons for the country's bankruptcy. The China-Sri Lanka practical cooperation has always…
British Conservatives Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss Thursday underwent their first grilling in front of party members as they wage a bitter duel to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The hustings in Leeds, northern England, were the opening bout of 12 nationwide events as the grassroots members elect a new…
There was no clear winner between former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Tuesday after the UK's prime ministerial candidates went head-to-head in their first television debate as finalists and clashed fiercely on their economic policies and tax plans. A snap Opinium poll of who performed best…
Britain's two prime ministerial contenders clashed fiercely over tax, China and character on Monday night in their first head-to-head televised debate, as Rishi Sunak seeks to peg back the frontrunner Liz Truss.The primetime debate kicked off a crucial 12-day period featuring three such live TV duels and four husting events…
It has been dubbed a bruising blue on blue battle, a reference to attacks within different factions of the governing Conservative Party as they turn on each other in the leadership contest to replace Boris Johnson as Tory leader and British Prime Minister.Ahead of a key head-on televised BBC debate…
Rishi Sunak on Sunday promised to get tough on China if he becomes Britain's next prime minister, calling the Asian superpower the "number one threat" to domestic and global security.The former finance minister's pledge comes after his rival in the final two of the race to lead the ruling Conservative…
If it's not the pictures of her standing atop a tank in a nod to Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher, it's the meme-defining moment when she vented her anger over cheese imports into Britain that made Liz Truss something of a household name.For many, she was a figure of fun, but…
Indian ace shuttler and Olympic medalist PV Sindhu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his wishes after she clinched her maiden Singapore Open title on Sunday. Indian ace shuttler and Olympic medalist PV Sindhu clinched the Singapore Open 2022 title after defeating China's Wang Zhiyi in the final of the…
The race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and Britain's prime minister is down to five candidates after the second round of voting among Tory MPs on Thursday.While former finance minister Rishi Sunak is leading the way with his MP colleagues, second-placed Penny Mordaunt is polling out front with…
A British parliamentary committee has said that domestic security agency MI5 needs more funds to tackle the increasing threat of extreme-right terrorism, according to a report. The intelligence and security committee has said that the agency could not expand other activities since it is more focused on dealing with Islamist…
THE race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and Britain's prime minister is heating up, with eight candidates facing a first vote among Tory MPs on Wednesday (13). While several possible successors are seen as frontrunners, there is no clear favourite -- and such contests are notoriously volatile. Rishi…
Cash-starved Pakistan could face a serious economic problem as its foreign exchange reserves are depleting fast amid rising external debt servicing, according to a media report on Wednesday. The country's external debt servicing rose to USD 10.886 billion in the first three quarters of 2021-22 compared to USD 13.38 billion…
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had not released the tranche for the USD 6 billion bailout package under its extended fund facility, even though it had made the country "dance to its tune." Responding to a question about the IMF, Sanaullah…
While several possible successors are seen as frontrunners, there is no clear favourite -- and such contests are notoriously volatile. Rishi Sunak The UK's first Hindu finance minister, Sunak quit on Tuesday and declared he was standing three days later. Long seen as Johnson's most likely successor, his prospects were…
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has introduced a legislative amendment in the US House of Representatives seeking a waiver to India against the punitive CAATSA sanctions for its purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, underlining that this will strengthen US-India defence ties and deter “aggressors.” CAATSA is a…
BRITAIN's Boris Johnson will reportedly announce his resignation as Conservative leader, paving the way for an internal party contest to replace him and become prime minister. While several possible successors have been suggested, there is no clear favourite. Rishi Sunak The UK's first Hindu chancellor of the exchequer, who quit…
The heads of MI5 and the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned Wednesday about China's commercial espionage thrust in the West, in a rare joint address at the British intelligence service's London headquarters. Speaking to an audience of officials and business executives in Thames House, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum and…
Islamabad's plan to seek PKR 7.9 billion from China for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects is now likely to hinge upon the IMF recommendations. Driving Pakistan's economy with the help of external doles is unsustainable and Pakistan desperately needs structural reforms. The IMF has raised objections to Pakistan's loans…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's determination that he would not allow cross-border terrorism to be normalised has helped in shaping India's Pakistan policy since 2014. Speaking at an event at Delhi University, S Jaishankar noted that Prime Minister Modi is perceived abroad…
Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said that the island country is participating in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a bankrupt country. In his speech in Parliament today regarding the economic recovery plan, the Prime Minister of the crisis-ridden country noted that a round of…
Richard IIIRSC, Stratford-Upon-Avon Directed by Gregory Doran Some key features of many popular Bollywood films are family feuds, deception and lies, and ruthless ambition, occasionally sprinkled with dark humour. Coupled with abject violence, burning desire, and moral bankruptcy, it creates a (seemingly) malign universe that’s robbed of hope and justice.…
Pakistan is reaching out to its close allies in the group of twenty - China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to boycott the G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. "Pakistan to ask China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to boycott the G20 meeting in J-K," tweeted WLVN Analysis, geopolitics, defence, and national…
In response to cash-strapped Pakistan's request for fresh loans, the UAE has offered to buy minority shares in publicly-listed government-owned companies at a negotiated price and a seat on each of the firm's boards, according to a media report on Tuesday. The development comes amid China's decision to roll over…
US President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders have unveiled ambitious plans to mobilise USD 600 billion in funding by 2027 to deliver transparent and game-changing infrastructure projects in developing countries like India, in a move seen as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative. The Partnership for Global…
Pakistan paper association has warned that due to the paper crisis in the country, books will not be available to students in the new academic year starting August 2022.While the cause of the paper crisis is global inflation, the current paper crisis in Pakistan is also due to the wrong…
Sri Lanka's economy has "completely collapsed" and it is facing a far more serious situation beyond the mere shortages of fuel, gas, electricity and food, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned on Wednesday, underscoring the urgency of arriving at an early agreement with the IMF to obtain an additional credit facility.…
India supports innovation across every sector and its digital sector valuations will cross USD 1 trillion by 2025, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday as he underlined the role of BRICS countries amid the global focus on post covid recovery. The Prime Minister made these remarks at the opening…
Amid the unprecedented fuel crisis in the country, former Lankan cricketer Roshan Mahanama was spotted serving tea and buns to people waiting in lines outside the stores to buy fuel and cooking gas. "We served tea and buns with the team from Community Meal Share this evening for the people…
There cannot be 'double standards' on 'relegiophobia' and combating the issue should not be a "selective exercise" involving only one or two religions but apply equally to phobias against non-Abrahamic religions, India said at the United Nations.Addressing the UN, Ambassador TS Tirumurti said, "As we have emphasized, combating religiophobia should…
UK startups raised more cash in early 2022 than counterparts in China, France or India, and were surpassed only by the US, data showed. The figures from data provider Dealroom were published alongside the UK government's new digital strategy on the first day of London Tech Week. UK startups raised…
Commonwealth leaders have told Eastern Eye that the UK government is “hell bent on destroying the Commonwealth in pursuit of a colonial agenda”. This newspaper has previously reported on the campaign by Boris Johnson’s administration to oust the current boss of the organisation’s administrative arm, Patricia Scotland. But now her…
SINGER Justin Bieber and model Bella Hadid are some of the few celebrities who have spoken publicly about their battle with Lyme disease. However, new estimates suggest that up to one in seven people in the world may have had the illness. The new findings could open up avenues to tackle…
China on Monday waded into the furore over the controversial remarks by two now-suspended BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad, expressing the hope that the incident can be properly managed. China, which faces serious allegations of a mass crackdown on Uygur Muslims in the volatile Xinjiang province, said it believes that…
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's anti-American rhetoric and his accusations against the US for conspiring to oust him from power is damaging the country's relations with the west, according to an analysis.Pakistan's economy is already facing a huge challenge and the country often turns to Western-led multilateral financial institutions…
THE Russia-Ukraine war has adversely affected the livelihood of thousands of workers in the diamond industry in Gujarat, especially in rural parts of Saurashtra region where many units import small-size diamonds from Russia for processing and polishing, according to industry representatives. The state's diamond industry employs nearly 1.5 million workers,…
According to recent studies published in the 'eLife' journal, consuming a moderate quantity of eggs might be beneficial for increasing the number of metabolities in the blood, which are good for the heart. Eggs are a rich source of dietary cholesterol, but they also contain a variety of essential nutrients.…
A former top military commander has warned that Britain's armed forces are too weak to prevent war or protect the nation during conflict due to 'chronic underfunding', according to a report. Labour peer Lord West of Spithead, who served as First Sea Lord from 2002-06, has said that there may…
INDIA's biggest dairy group Amul has written to the government urging it to delay a planned ban on tiny plastic straws, saying the move will have a "negative impact" on farmers and milk consumption in the world's biggest producer of the commodity. Amul made its appeal in a letter, dated…
India's surprise decision to ban wheat exports has raised concerns about potential curbs on rice exports as well, prompting rice traders to step up purchases and place atypical orders for longer-dated deliveries. Government and trade officials have said India, the world's biggest exporter of rice, does not plan to curb…
The United Nations on Thursday said foreign direct investment (FDI) in India declined by $19 billion to $45 billion in 2021. However, despite this, the country remains in the top 10 global economies in terms of FDI. According to the World Investment Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade…
China is eyeing high-speed rail network projects in Bangladesh following Bangladesh Railway (BR) feasibility study for constructing the railway network between Dhaka and Chattogram.In a recent development, China has proposed carrying out the project under the government-to-government-Public Private Partnership (G2G-PPP) framework, reported The Daily Star. Moreover, Dhaka has also selected…
On the occasion of World Environment Day, India on Tuesday asserted that developing countries need to be given an additional time frame beyond 2050 to reach net-zero emissions and for this developed nations should do a net-negative by the middle of the century and vacate the carbon space for developing…
THE destabilising and corrosive behaviour of the Chinese Community Party (CCP) in the Indo-Pacific region is simply not helpful and some of the defence infrastructure that is being set up by China near its border with India is alarming, US Army’s Pacific commanding general Charles A Flynn said on Wednesday…
SRI LANKA will need $5 billion over the next six months to ensure basic living standards, and is renegotiating the terms of a yuan-denominated swap worth $1.5bn with China so as to fund essential imports, the prime minister said on Tuesday (7). The island nation's worst economic crisis in seven…
Although Asians only represent a small percentage of past and present NBA players, those that have made it to the league have had a significant impact. Predicting who will win a game and betting on their favorite teams is one way in which fans participate in this sport. Sportsbooks like…
The Hinduja Group is actively planning property development in India including residential and office spaces, its co-chairman Gopichand Hinduja said. Having a presence in places like Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad, the group has a huge land bank in India, he said adding that planning is on either for creating a…
INDIA has a difficult relationship with China but it is perfectly capable of managing it, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Friday (3). He rejected the European construct that New Delhi's position on Ukraine could impact global support to it if its problems with Beijing increases. In an interactive…
CHINA has told Bangladesh to stay independent and reject bloc politics, a year after publicly asking Dhaka not to join the Quad alliance comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia. "China believes that countries in the region, including Bangladesh, will bear in mind the fundamental interests of their own countries…
Britain's Queen Elizabeth, known for her love of horses, will receive one of French President Emmanuel Macron's prize thoroughbreds as a gift to mark her 70 years on the throne, Macron's office and the British Embassy in Paris said on Thursday. The 7-year-old horse, called Fabuleu de Maucour, escorted Macron…
IN an unusual attack on Pakistan's powerful military, ousted prime minister Imran Khan has admitted that his government was a "weak one" which was "blackmailed from everywhere" as the power was not with him and "everyone knows where that is" Khan was ousted from power in April after losing a…
Longevity Elizabeth has reigned for 70 years and nearly four months -- longer than any other monarch in British history. The previous record was held by her great-great-grandmother queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years, seven months and two days until 1901. At 96, Elizabeth is the oldest current monarch…
India did not succeed in banning cryptocurrency trading in 2018, but the government has imposed new legislation aiming to limit its use in transactions. The nation has one of the fastest-growing markets for cryptocurrency trading. The volume and scale of crypto trading in the country are high. However, the government…
SOUTH KOREAN K-pop band BTS didn't sing a word but in a White House visit Tuesday (31) to meet president Joe Biden the supergroup's message against anti-Asian racism came loud and clear. The seven stars, dressed in matching dark suits and ties, with white shirts, joined White House press secretary…
India has cautioned over the “heightened” threat of misuse of biological agents and chemicals as weapons against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and called on the international community to address the rapid evolution of proliferation risks. It said new and emerging technologies may increase the risk of Weapons of…
PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Turkish businesses to invest in his country, saying Islamabad “sincerely” seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with Ankara.Promising that his government would provide “all facilities” to investors, he said alternative energy, automobile industry and agriculture sectors of Pakistan offered ample business opportunities.Sharif told the…
China on Tuesday (31) insisted that it is still India's biggest trade partner in 2021-22 as per its figures and attributed the "disparity" to different methods of calculating the trade volume by New Delhi and Beijing while referring to reports that the US has unseated it to take the top…
GRADUATES from the world's top 50 non-UK universities, including Indian students, can now come and work in Britain through a new High Potential Individual (HPI) visa route launched in London on Monday (30). In a joint announcement, Indian-origin UK cabinet ministers Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel said the new "exciting"…
Food waste is a huge problem for the environment. Making and getting rid of excess food accounts for around 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, if global food waste were a country, it would rank third in the world for greenhouse gas emissions after China and the US. Globally,…
BRITAIN has opened its borders for “brightest and best” young graduates from top-notch foreign institutions to work in the UK for at least two years.Under the “High Potential Individual” visa scheme launched on Monday (30), applicants with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the top 50 non-UK universities can seek…
American electric carmaker Tesla, which has been seeking reduction in import duties to sell its vehicles in India, will not manufacture its products locally unless it is allowed to first sell and service its cars in the country, company founder and chief executive Elon Musk has said.In a tweet responding…
Having demonstrated its expertise after redeveloping the iconic Old War Office (OWO) in London, the Hinduja Group has similar projects in the pipeline across the world including India, according to its co-chairman Gopichand Hinduja.He said announcements on redeveloping another heritage structure in the British capital and a similar one in…
India was and is an important stakeholder in Afghanistan, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said today and called for enhancing the capability of the war-torn country to counter-terrorism and terrorist groups which pose a threat regional peace and security. Speaking at the 4th Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Tajikistan's…
ICONIC Bollywood film Mr India marks its 35th anniversary this month. Originally released on May 29, 1987, the story about a kind-hearted man balancing looking after orphans with becoming the invisible man and battling a fearsome villain was a runaway success when it released. It also gifted audiences many memorable…
THE QUAD leaders have launched a slew of new initiatives, ranging from maritime security to healthcare, to benefit the alliance partners and the wider Indo-Pacific. During their Tokyo summit of the grouping, the member states - India, the US, Japan and Australia - vowed to deepen their long-term cooperation.The scope…
INDIA's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (24) questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's meeting with former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. BJP’s Kapil Mishra slammed Gandhi and raised questions over the meaning of the meeting. Earlier, Corbyn was criticised for his ‘anti-semantic’ views and he has been a vocal…
Leaders of the Quad alliance said on Tuesday (24) they opposed all attempts to "change the status quo by force, particularly in the Indo-Pacific".The statement, which followed a summit meeting of the four members of the grouping - India, Japan, Australia and the United States in Tokyo - comes with…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and other Quad leaders are set to demonstrate that the grouping is a "force for global good" and has a unifying commitment to a rules-based international order amid China's increasingly intimidatory behaviour.What is QUAD?The loosely organised Quad - comprising India, the United States, Australia and…
Recently after JD.com announced it would donate millions of Yuan worth of Covid 19 relief supplies, it's now carrying the first batch of supplies to Hong Kong. The company has ensured the availability of various vital resources that have been important in addressing the Covid 19 pandemic. These have included masks,…
The rollout of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) by the US came as part of Washington's efforts to push forward a strong economic policy for the Indo-Pacific to counter China's aggressive strategy on trade in the region."Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in an event in Tokyo today to…
INDIA's Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi has said that democracy in India is a global public good and a central anchor for the planet. "If that cracks, it is going to cause a problem for the planet," Gandhi said at the 'Ideas for India' conference in London on Friday (20).…
At the Cannes Film Market on Wednesday, Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur revealed a 30% reimbursement scheme for international production shooting in India. The Indian government will reimburse up to 30% of qualifying production expenditure to a maximum of INR20 million ($260,000). An additional 5% to a maximum…
BRITAIN'S worst cost of living crisis in three decades won't peak until the tail end of this year but the Bank of England will be more aggressive in raising interest rates than was thought as it battles soaring inflation, a Reuters poll found.Renewed coronavirus lockdowns in China and Russia's invasion…
INDIAN state-owned insurance giant LIC slumped on its market debut on Tuesday (17) following the country's biggest-ever initial public offering, closing nearly eight per cent below the IPO price.Prime minister Narendra Modi's government raised $2.7 billion (£2.16 bn) by selling 3.5 per cent of Life Insurance Corporation of India as…
Sri Lanka's new prime minister struggled Friday to forge a united government and forestall an imminent economic collapse as opposition lawmakers refused to join his cabinet and demanded fresh elections. Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in late Thursday to navigate his country through the worst downturn in its history as an…
H.S. Prannoy overcame an injury scare to secure the vital point as India shocked Denmark in Thailand early Saturday to reach the finals of the Thomas and Uber Cup men's badminton tournament for the first time. Danish world champion Viktor Axelsen had provided some early inspiration in the semi-finals for…
Improved demand helped India's Tata Motors narrow losses, the carmaker reported Thursday, even as chip shortages continued to hurt sales at British subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover. The Mumbai-headquartered automaker reported its fifth straight quarter of losses for the three months ended March 31, but said it was able to manage…
SAUDI ARAMCO on Wednesday (11) dethroned Apple as the world's most valuable company as surging oil prices drove up shares and tech stocks slumped. The Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company billed as the largest oil-producing company globally was valued at $2.42 trillion based on the price of…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson said he had agreed new deals with Sweden and Finland to bolster European security, pledging to support both countries' armed forces should they come under attack. Johnson on Wednesday (11) signed the new declarations, described by Britain as "a step-change in defence and security cooperation",…
Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, whose filmography includes such memorable films as Masoom (1983), Mr India (1987), Bandit Queen (1997), Elizabeth (1998), and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), on Tuesday said India has to use cinema as a soft power if it has to win the “minds and hearts of the…
GERMAN chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged $10.51 billion (£8.4bn) to help India achieve its climate goals after meeting its prime minister Narendra Modi in Berlin on Monday (2), but the leaders remained far apart in their stance on the Ukraine war. In a statement to media, Scholz highlighted the countries' common…
THE International Monetary Fund said last Saturday (23) it held “fruitful technical discussions” with Sri Lanka on its loan request, while the World Bank said it was preparing an emergency-aid package for the crisis-stricken country. Sri Lanka is struggling to pay for imports amid a crushing debt crisis and sharp…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
UNILEVER announced a jump in revenue after the British consumer goods giant passed on higher costs to customers. The maker of a vast amount of products including Magnum ice cream, Cif surface cleaner and Dove soap said revenue increased nearly 12 per cent to £11.5 billion in the first quarter…
AN Indo-British bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October, prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi last week, as he concluded his much-delayed visit to India. Britain and India also agreed to step up defence and business cooperation, Johnson said, adding that London would support Delhi’s goal…
BRITAIN wants to keep growing its ties with India as part of efforts to work more closely with allies to create a so-called Network of Liberty, foreign secretary Liz Truss said.She used her keynote address at the Lord Mayor's Easter banquet in London on Wednesday (27) to issue a stark…
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and multilingual film actor Kichcha Sudeep engaged in a 'brotherly argument' on Twitter on the topic of whether Hindi is a national language or not. However, Sudeep clarified that the context in which he made the statement was different from the way it was perceived and…
I HAVE been present in India with every UK prime minister since 2005 – from Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron to Theresa May. Being in India last week with Boris Johnson and with Indian business leaders was a crucial visit. It was the first UK prime ministerial visit…
INDIAN tycoon Mukesh Ambani is betting a shopping palace within a $1 billion Mumbai business showcase will tap into surging demand for Western luxury goods, installing his Reliance empire as a portal through which most of the biggest brands must pass. Though still small for a country of its size,…
A WOMAN suicide bomber who killed three Chinese teachers in Pakistan was a teacher who had enrolled for a master's degree months before her attack, carried out on behalf of separatist insurgents, a Pakistani official said on Wednesday (27).The blast detonated by the 30-year-old woman on Tuesday (26) blew up…
A female suicide bomber from a Pakistan separatist group killed four people, including three Chinese nationals, in an attack on a vehicle carrying staff from the Confucious Institute affiliated with the Karachi University. The "Baloch Liberation Army accepts responsibility of today's self-sacrificing attack on Chinese in Karachi", the group's spokesman…
THE top 5 military spenders in 2021 were the US, China, India, the UK and Russia, which together accounted for almost 62 per cent of the world military expenditure, data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) showed on Monday (25). India's military spending was recorded to be…
A WOMAN suicide bomber from a Pakistan separatist group killed four people, including three Chinese nationals, in an attack on a minibus carrying staff from the Confucius Institute at Karachi University on Tuesday (26).The Baloch Liberation Army - one of several groups fighting for independence in Pakistan's biggest province -…
PAKISTAN'S new prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian president Vladimir Putin have quietly exchanged letters to strengthen bilateral relations, a media report has said. The letters were exchanged after the election of Shehbaz as the prime minister but both the sides kept development away from the media glare in what seemed to be a move aimed at…
The BBC’s looking for a new diversity boss because June Sarpong is leaving the corporation. In his third and final essay, one of its former correspondents, Barnie Choudhury, suggests ways to tackle the antipathy, apparent apathy and accelerate a win in the diversity war in the corporation. One of my…
Sri Lanka's stock market halted trading after a nearly 13 per cent plunge Monday as the island nation's beleaguered government faces new pressure to resign from influential Buddhist leaders over a crippling economic crisis. The country's worst downturn since independence in 1948 has brought widespread hardships to its 22 million…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia's “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
RELIGIOUS freedom has deteriorated "significantly" in India under the Hindu nationalist government, a US commission said Monday (25) as it again recommended targeted sanctions over abuses.It was the third straight year that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom asked that India be placed on a list of "countries of…
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND said on Saturday (23) it held "fruitful technical discussions" with Sri Lanka on its loan request, while the World Bank said it was preparing an emergency aid package for the crisis-stricken country.Sri Lanka, an island country of 22 million people, is struggling to pay for imports…
BRITAIN and India agreed on Friday (22) to step up defence and business cooperation during a visit to New Delhi by Boris Johnson, who said a bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October. On his first visit to the Indian capital as UK prime minister, Johnson discussed with…
Britain and India agreed a "new and expanded" defence and security partnership on Friday, British prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi. Johnson is visiting India just as he faces criticism from his own Conservative MPs and the embarrassing prospect of a probe into whether he lied to parliament…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday (21) touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against Russia. Johnson arrived in Gujarat -- Modi's home state and the ancestral home to half of the United Kingdom's British Indians…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson will offer to help India cut reliance on Russian oil and defence equipment when he begins a two-day visit this week that will test his diplomatic skills and provide brief respite from a row raging at home. On his first trip to India as prime…
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND will consider providing quick financial assistance to debt-burdened Sri Lanka following representations by India, the island nation’s finance ministry said on Tuesday (19).A delegation headed by Sri Lanka's finance minister Ali Sabry kicked off formal talks with the IMF in Washington on Monday (18) for a…
THE BILATERAL trade between India and China increased 15.3 per cent to more than $31 billion (£23.82 bn) in the first quarter of this year, despite strained relations.During the three months from January to March, China's exports to India zoomed to $27.1 bn (£20.82 bn), while its imports from India…
IN A strong message to China, Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh has said that if harmed, his country “will not spare anyone”.He asserted that India under prime minister Narendra Modi has emerged as a powerful country and is headed to be among the top three economies of the world.Singh, in…
Pakistan's new prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said Thursday the country's economy had stagnated under his predecessor Imran Khan, setting the tone for possibly months of bitterness before an election that must be held by October next year. Sharif, sworn in Monday after Khan was ousted by a no-confidence vote in…
THE UNITED STATES on Wednesday (13) congratulated Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, newly elected following the weekend ouster of Imran Khan, who accused Washington of involvement in a conspiracy to force him from power.Khan was dismissed on Sunday (10) after losing a no-confidence vote, and Sharif elected by Pakistan lawmakers…
INDIA is willing to commit up to another $2 billion (£1.54 bn) in financial assistance to Sri Lanka while also supporting the island nation with food and fuel, five sources said, as New Delhi tries to regain ground lost to China in recent years.Sri Lanka, hit by its worst economic…
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai met Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday (12) and both agreed the newly relaunched US-India Trade Policy Forum could help boost bilateral trade and reduce barriers, Tai's office said. Tai and one of her deputies, Sarah Bianchi, discussed bilateral trade relations and the…
Leading film studio Warner Bros says it has “complied” with Chinese censors to edit out specific references to a gay relationship in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, its latest theatrical release in the country. According to an Australian, the Chinese version has chopped six seconds from the film's final…
SRI LANKA defaulted on its $51 billion (£39.23 bn) foreign debt on Tuesday (12) as the island nation grapples with its worst economic crisis in memory and widespread protests demanding the government's resignation.Acute food and fuel shortages, alongside long daily electricity blackouts, have brought widespread suffering to the country's 22…
AMERICAN president Joe Biden and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit on Monday (11), clouded by US frustration over New Delhi's neutral stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.The South Asian nation has tried to walk a tightrope between maintaining relations with the West and avoiding alienating Russia…
INDIA'S dependence on Russia for major defence equipment and other items like fertiliser is immense, a top American diplomat said.US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman, during her testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, dwelt on India's position on Russia and its repeated abstention from the United Nations on…
INDIA has rejected demands from large global and domestic beverage firms to exempt some plastic straws from a ban that takes effect on July 1, fanning fears of disruption in a multi-billion-dollar industry. The ban on items such as straws packaged with small packs of juices and dairy products that…
PAKISTAN'S Supreme Court ruled on Thursday (7) that the National Assembly had been illegally dissolved, and ordered parliament to reconvene to hold a no-confidence vote that will likely see prime minister Imran Khan booted from office.Khan asked the president to dissolve the assembly after the deputy speaker refused to allow…
INDIA's foreign minister said he was "deeply disturbed" by civilian deaths in the Ukrainian city of Bucha but stopped short of blaming Russia, calling for an independent probe. New Delhi has historically close ties with Moscow and has refrained from condemning its invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour, abstaining in several…
Pakistan president Arif Alvi told the election commission on Wednesday to fix a date for a new national ballot, as the supreme court sat to decide the legality of political manoeuvres that led to parliament being dissolved. The court must rule if the deputy speaker of the national assembly violated…
INDIAN traders are exporting 40,000 tons of rice to Sri Lanka in the first major food aid since Colombo secured a credit line from New Delhi.The Indian Ocean island nation of 22 million people is struggling to pay for essential imports after a 70 per cent drop in foreign exchange…
Bollywood star John Abraham, who can be currently seen in his home production Attack (2022), has said that he will begin filming his next Tehran in June in Iran. The actor describes the upcoming venture as a relevant geopolitical film. “I begin shooting the film in June in Iran. We…
POLITICAL turmoil intensified in Pakistan after the country’s supreme court adjourned on Tuesday (5) without ruling on the legality of political manoeuvres that led prime minister Imran Khan to dissolve the national assembly and call fresh elections.Former cricket star Khan lost his parliamentary majority last week and faced a no-confidence…
REGARDED as a wily cricket captain during his playing days, Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan appeared on Sunday (3) to have stumped his political opposition as well.The country's president dissolved the national assembly just hours after the deputy speaker declined to accept a no-confidence motion that would likely have seen…
Namit Malhotra, the CEO of London-headquartered visual effects (VFX) major DNEG, believes the world of cinema has been divided into before and after Dune, the Hollywood thriller which bagged his company an Oscar. The film, which won DNEG its seventh Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category at last week's…
INDIA and Australia inked an interim free trade deal on Saturday (2) that cuts tariffs on billions of dollars of commerce as the two Quad partners bolster their economic ties. Both signatories are members of the Quad alliance with the US and Japan, which is seen as a counterweight to…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan called on Sunday (3) for the president to dissolve parliament and hold a fresh election, minutes after the National Assembly deputy speaker declined to hear a no-confidence motion into his rule. In an address on state TV, Khan said there had been unacceptable interference in…
People with the "hybrid immunity" of having been both fully vaccinated and previously infected with Covid-19 have the strongest protection against the virus, two new studies said on Friday. After two years of a pandemic that has seen nearly 500 million people infected and billions vaccinated, the studies highlighted the…
THE US will not set any "red line" for India on its energy imports from Russia but does not want to see a "rapid acceleration" in purchases, a top US official said during a visit to New Delhi. However, Daleep Singh, Washington's chief sanctions strategist, was quoted by local media…
RUSSIA will increase its use of non-Western currencies for trade with countries such as India, its foreign minister said on Friday (1), as he hailed India as a friend that was not taking a "one-sided view" on the Ukraine war.Sergei Lavrov visited India on a mission to shore up support…
SRI LANKA is turning off street lights to save electricity, a minister said on Thursday (31), as its worst economic crisis in decades brought more power cuts and halted trading on its main stock market.The island of 22 million people is struggling with rolling blackouts for up to 13 hours…
Britain's foreign secretary was in India on Thursday (31) to press for tougher action on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, ahead of a visit by Moscow's top diplomat likely aimed at urging Delhi to do the opposite. India has abstained from UN resolutions censuring Russia, calling only for a cessation of…
Sri Lanka announced nationwide 13-hour daily power cuts from Thursday and more hospitals suspended routine surgeries after running out of life-saving medicines, as the cash-strapped island's economic crisis deepened. The South Asian nation of 22 million people is in its worst economic spiral since independence in 1948, sparked by an…
RUSSIA'S foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will visit India for a two-day visit beginning on Thursday (31), officials said.He is likely to press New Delhi to resist Western pressure to condemn the Ukraine invasion.India has abstained from UN resolutions censuring Russia and continues to buy Russian oil and other goods. Lavrov's…
RUSSIAN foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is set to fly to India this week, sources said, finding time to visit one of the biggest buyers of Russian commodities since the international community began isolating Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.There is little sign that buying will slow down any time soon,…
US president Joe Biden on Monday (28) proposed $1.8 billion to support his Indo- Pacific Strategy along with another $400 million to counter Chinese influence in the region. Both are part of the $773bn annual defence budget of the US for 2023, which was submitted by the White House to…
A SENIOR White House (USA) official said on Friday (25) India's position at the United Nations over the crisis in Ukraine has been "unsatisfactory" but was also unsurprising given its historical relationship with Russia.Mira Rapp-Hooper, director for the Indo-Pacific on the White House National Security Council, told an online forum…
A former Maldives president jailed on corruption charges has returned to politics with a campaign against Indian influence in the country, worrying New Delhi, which is battling China for supremacy in its own back yard. Abdulla Yameen wants to cancel defence deals signed with India, with which Maldives shares decades…
INDIA said on Friday (25) ties with China could not be normal until their troops pulled back from each other on the disputed border, but Beijing struck a conciliatory note during a meeting of their foreign ministers in New Delhi. Both nations have deployed thousands of troops on the high-altitude…
INDIA on Thursday (24) abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution by Ukraine and its allies on the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn eastern European country.India said the focus should be on cessation of hostilities and on urgent humanitarian assistance and the draft did not fully reflect New…
TWO major Sri Lanka newspapers are suspending their print editions because of a lack of paper, their owner said Friday (25), the latest casualties in the island's economic crisis. The South Asian nation of 22 million people is facing its worst economic meltdown since independence from Britain in 1948 after…
THE UK has called off a high-powered delegation to India over the latter's stand on Ukraine invasion, the BBC reported. The cross-party UK delegation to India led by the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and his deputy was cancelled at the last minute, the report added. It is largely viewed…
WHEN 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a 2020 border clash with China, the military hardware New Delhi sent to bolster its Himalayan frontier was mostly Russian-origin, showing not for the first time its closeness to "longstanding and time-tested friend" Moscow.Facing an increasingly assertive China closer to home, these ties…
CHINA's foreign minister Wang Yi drew a rebuke from the Indian government ahead of his expected but unconfirmed visit to New Delhi on Friday (25), upsetting his hosts with remarks made in Pakistan this week concerning the disputed Kashmir region. Relations between the two nuclear-armed Asian powers turned chilly two…
CHINA's foreign minister will visit New Delhi for talks on Friday (25), an Indian official said, though neither side has formally announced what would be the purpose of the highest-level visit since border clashes soured relations two years ago. Foreign minister Wang Yi attended a conference of the Organization of…
INDIA’S civil aviation regulator has put the Boeing 737 fleets of the country’s carriers on "enhanced surveillance" after a China Eastern Airlines aircraft of the same make crashed on Monday (21).Three Indian carriers - SpiceJet, Vistara and Air India Express - have Boeing 737 aircraft in their fleets.Directorate General of…
FOREIGN ministers of Muslim nations began meeting in Pakistan on Tuesday (22) as the country's leader trumpets his Islamic credentials while at the same time battling the most serious challenge to his rule in four years.The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is meeting in Islamabad with an ambitious agenda that…
US president Joe Biden has said only India among the Quad group of countries was "somewhat shaky" in acting against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, as India tries to balance its ties with Russia and the West. While the other Quad countries - the US, Japan and Australia -…
JAPANESE prime minister Fumio Kishida has announced an investment target of Rs 3.2 trillion (£31.97 bn) in India over the next five years as the two sides concluded a raft of agreements to expand their special strategic partnership.Following talks between Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Kishida at the 14th…
World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen stunned world No. 3 Anders Antonsen of Denmark in straight games to progress to the men's singles quarterfinals of the All England Championships in Birmingham on Thursday. The 20-year-old from Almora, who had claimed his maiden Super 500 title at India Open in January…
RELIANCE INDUSTRIES and Softbank Group-backed Ola Electric will receive incentives under India's $2.4 billion (£1.83 bn) programme to boost local battery cell production after winning a tender, four sources said.The winning bidders also include Hyundai Global Motors Company and Indian jewellery maker Rajesh Exports, the sources said on condition of…
THE EUROPEAN UNION will increase tariffs on stainless steel products from India and Indonesia after determining they benefited from unfair subsidies, including some from China under its Belt and Road investment programme.The European Commission, which conducted the investigation, has set the anti-subsidy duties on stainless steel cold-rolled flat products at…
THE US, European Union, India and South Africa have reached a consensus on key elements of a long-sought intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines, according to a proposed text. Sources familiar with the talks described the text as a tentative agreement among the four World Trade Organization members that still…
INDIA is reviewing its standard operating procedures for weapons systems and will immediately fix any shortcomings after accidentally launching a missile into Pakistan last week, its defence minister said on Tuesday (15).Pakistan said it was not satisfied and reiterated a demand for a joint investigation into the incident by the…
SRI LANKA'S ongoing forex crisis may further hit its tourism industry as the UK and Canada have warned their travellers to be aware of the current economic situation in the island nation.According to the latest advisory issued by the British government, the economic situation is deteriorating in Sri Lanka with…
RUSSIA'S share of arms supply to India fell from 69 per cent in 2012-17 to 46 per cent in 2017-21, according to a report released on Monday (14) by the Stockholm-based defence think-tank SIPRI.Russia started a war against Ukraine on February 24, which led the US and other western countries…
BRITAIN and the US have committed to coordinating the implementation of their Indo-Pacific strategies, with a focus on enhancing ties with India, Downing Street has said.At “high-level consultations” on the Indo-Pacific held in London last week, officials from both governments resolved to broaden and deepen their alignment and cooperation in…
THE US will continue to support India with the equipment it needs along its border with China, a top American admiral has told lawmakers, asserting that Washington and New Delhi share a "tremendous partnership."Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on ‘Military Posture in the Indo-Pacific Region' this week, Admiral…
TRANSFORMATIVE turns in SS Rajamouli’s epic action franchise Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) gained Prabhas worldwide recognition. The game-changing performances not only elevated the actor as the biggest Indian movie star but it also changed the face of cinema in the country. That is why there…
US lawmakers have questioned India's UN vote on the Ukraine issue during a Congressional hearing on the Indo-Pacific on Wednesday (9). India, a non-permanent member of the powerful United Nations Security Council for a two-year term ending December this year, has repeatedly abstained on resolutions against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.…
TENSIONS between India and China along the Line of Actual Control are the "worst" in more than four decades, a top American admiral has told lawmakers.The statement of Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino in Washington on Wednesday (9) came ahead of the 15th round of high-level military…
INDIA is the second-largest global venture capital investment hub for digital shopping companies, according to an official analysis released in London on Wednesday (9).Such investments in the south Asian country grew by a whopping 175 per cent from $8 billion (£6.08 bn) in 2020 to $22 bn (£16.71 bn) in…
INDIAN pharmaceutical major Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd said on Wednesday (9) it was focused on employee safety and business continuity in and around Russia, despite many Western companies pulling out from Russia in recent days.No Indian company has publicly withdrawn from Russia and New Delhi has declined to condemn Moscow's…
SEVEN paramilitary troops were killed in a blast as they guarded the venue of a presidential visit in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday (8), officials said.The attack took place in Balochistan - Pakistan's largest and most sparsely populated province that harbours a separatist movement engaged in a low-level insurgency for decades.In…
PAKISTAN’S prime minister Imran Khan has hit out at Islamabad-based Western envoys who last week urged the south Asian country to condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine, asking them if they thought Pakistan was their "slave".The heads of 22 diplomatic missions, including those of European Union member states, released a joint…
GLOBAL money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog FATF has retained Pakistan on its terrorism financing “grey list” and asked Islamabad to address deficiencies in its financial system, a media report said on Saturday (5). Pakistan has been on the grey list of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) since…
'NEED a cab for four people in Kyiv.’ ‘Do we know someone in Poland who can drop food packets at the border?’ ‘A group is starting from Kharkiv, any updates on trains?’Thousands of such messages keep pouring in WhatsApp, Telegram and social media groups created by Indian medical students abroad…
RUSSIA has informed the UN security council that buses are ready at crossing points to go to Kharkiv and Sumy in Ukraine to evacuate Indian students and other foreign nationals stranded there. An emergency UN session was held on Friday (4) following Russia's attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant,…
THE UK government has unilaterally called off a scheduled visit of Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf to London apparently because of Islamabad's policy towards Russia's military offensive against Ukraine, according to a media report.The visit, which was scheduled for next week, was called off on Friday (4) without mentioning…
THE New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS bloc has put all new transactions in Russia on hold citing the "unfolding uncertainties and restrictions", amidst the Ukraine crisis.The NDB's move came a day after the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) put on hold all its projects in Russia and its…
AT LEAST three people were killed and 18 others injured in a bomb blast on Wednesday (2) in Pakistan’s troubled southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders on Afghanistan and Iran, officials said. The roadside explosion occurred as a police van travelled through the provincial capital of Quetta, which is home…
US president Joe Biden on Thursday (3) met virtually with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India over Ukraine, but the "Quad" group failed to agree on condemning Russia's invasion, with New Delhi hesitant to censure Moscow. The impromptu meeting was held shortly after it was announced by Delhi. Washington…
LEADERS of the Quad group of countries - the US, Japan, Australia and India - will hold a previously unannounced online meeting on Thursday (3), India and Australia said. US president Joe Biden, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida will…
INDIA’s abstention on the UN Security Council Resolution over Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is a significant yet surprising decision. Given that India has moved so much closer to the US by joining the Quad, is actively negotiating the EU India Trade Treaty and that Indian stock markets are receiving lot…
INDIA's opposition on Wednesday (2) stepped up pressure on the government to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a day after an Indian student died during shelling in the eastern city of Kharkiv. India is yet to criticise long-standing arms supplier Russia publicly, instead urging both sides to cease hostilities,…
INDIA has stepped up efforts to evacuate its nationals from Ukraine as new Delhi confirmed on Tuesday (1) that a student had died in shelling in Ukraine.Prime minister Narendra Modi has directed the Indian Air Force to bring back stranded citizens, most of whom are students pursuing medicine in Ukraine’s…
THE number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals in India, who have net assets of $30 million (£22.38m) or more increased 11 per cent last year on the back of buoyant equity markets and digital revolution, according to Knight Frank. India also ranked third, behind the US and China, in having the most…
RUSSIA'S invasion of Ukraine has left India's traditional balancing act between Moscow and the West looking wobblier than ever, with experts saying New Delhi has few good diplomatic options.Last week India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution deploring Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, winning praise from Moscow for its "independent…
FOR the second time, India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution to convene a rare emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, even as New Delhi asserted that there is no other choice but to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue…
Legendary Indian singer, musician, and composer Bappi Lahiri passed away aged 69 after battling against various illnesses. Although tributes poured in from all over the world for him, it is difficult to know where to start when reflecting on his extraordinary life because he was a man of many contradictions.…
RUSSIA has praised India's "independent and balanced" position after Delhi abstained from a UN Security Council vote that deplored Moscow's "aggression" against Ukraine. India, along with China and the UAE, did not vote on the resolution Friday (25), a move in line with the fine balance Delhi has sought to…
ONE of Sri Lanka's biggest fuel suppliers put up its prices by as much as 12 per cent on Saturday (26), as the cash-strapped island's energy crisis worsened.Lanka IOC, a fuel retailer which accounts for a third of the market, said it was increasing prices for diesel - commonly used…
INDIA abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that condemned Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine and demanded "immediate, complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian forces from the neighbouring country. The UN Security Council voted on Friday (25) on the draft resolution sponsored by the US and Albania and supported by…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden said Washington is in unresolved "consultations" with India over Ukraine. He was asked on Thursday (24) if Washington and Delhi were "fully in sync" over Russia's attack on Ukraine ahead of an expected UN Security Council vote. Biden did not elaborate, but his short response to a question…
RUSSIA'S president Vladimir Putin met Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan in Moscow on Thursday (24) in his first face-to-face talks since the start of a special military operation in eastern Ukraine. During their meeting in the Kremlin, the leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and current regional topics, including developments in south…
Are you looking for a cute phone makeover? Are you dissatisfied with your phone’s appearance and not in the mood to get a new one? Try accessorizing your phone with a Phone Charm. Phone Charms are a great way to personalize your phone and add a little fun. If you…
PAKISTAN’S prime minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday (22) he would like to have a televised debate with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to resolve differences between the two neighbours."I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would…
PRIME minister Imran Khan will travel to Russia on Wednesday (23) on a two-day visit - the first by a Pakistan premier in more than two decades.Khan will hold talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin and review the bilateral ties including energy cooperation besides exchanging views on major regional and…
Sri Lanka's state-run petroleum company has run out of cash to buy oil, and fuel shortages across the country could get worse, the energy minister said Friday. Udaya Gammanpila said the loss-making Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) continued to haemorrhage cash and could no longer afford to procure supplies from abroad.…
The United Arab Emirates and India signed a "milestone" economic deal to boost trade and investment Friday, as the countries seek to bolster their economies after the coronavirus pandemic. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE's de facto ruler, and India's prime minister Narendra Modi held a…
RECKITT’S net revenue rose 3.5 per cent to £13.23 billion in 2021, driven mainly by its hygiene products. The consumer goods company expects a "mid-single" growth in its net revenue during the current year on a like-for-like basis.Its chief executive officer Laxman Narasimhan said it targeted growth in 2022, “despite…
BRITAIN has scrapped its so-called "golden visas" for wealthy investors amid concerns about the inflow of illicit Russian money at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.Hundreds of billions of dollars have flowed into London and Britain's overseas territories from Russia since the fall of…
THE US has expressed its hope that India will stand by it in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in Washington on Wednesday (16) that there was a discussion on Russia and Ukraine during the recently concluded Quad ministerial in Melbourne that included…
INDIAN tax officials on Wednesday (16) conducted searches at the offices of Chinese tech giant Huawei, the firm said, days after New Delhi banned a host of Chinese apps over national security concerns.Tensions between New Delhi and Beijing have been running high since a deadly 2020 clash involving their militaries…
LEADING Indian universities are in discussions to open campuses in Britain, it has emerged as a Conservative peer and former education minister called on the UK to “roll out the red carpet” for India’s top institutes. The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) should be allowed to can open their…
From Russia to North Korea to Zimbabwe, the impact of diplomatic sanctions has long been questioned. But Bangladeshi activists have no doubts: extrajudicial killings have suddenly stopped since punitive US measures were imposed two months ago, they say. Around 2,500 Bangladeshis have allegedly been killed by security forces since prime…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan said the US has always used his country to meet its strategic goals and when the purpose was served, it abandoned and slapped sanctions on Islamabad.China, on the contrary, stood the test of time as a "friend", he said.Khan made the remarks during a recent…
THE United States, Australia, Japan and India on Friday pledged to deepen cooperation to ensure the Indo-Pacific region was free from "coercion", a thinly-veiled swipe at China's growing economic and military expansion, as their top diplomats convened to also tackle climate change, Covid and other threats. Foreign ministers of the…
RESEARCHERS in Nepal warned that the highest glacier on the top of Mount Everest could disappear by the middle of this century as the 2,000-year-old ice cap is thinning at an alarming rate. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said that Everest has been losing ice significantly since the…
INDIA has made it clear that relaxations will not be provided to US-based electric vehicles major Tesla unless it participates in manufacturing activities in the south Asian country.Heavy industries minister Krishan Pal Gurjar on Tuesday (8) said there cannot be a situation where the market is India but jobs are…
AT LEAST five Pakistan soldiers were killed due to firing from neighbouring Afghanistan, Islamabad said on Sunday (6), in an attack claimed by the Pakistan Taliban.It comes just days after Baloch separatists in the southwest killed nine Pakistan troops in a series of brazen attacks that officials said involved planners…
TOP leaders of south Asian countries paid their tribute to veteran Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar who passed away in Mumbai on Sunday (6).Mangeshkar is counted as one of India's greats with an estimated 25,000 songs in an almost eight-decade career.In a message of condolence, Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina said…
AN Indian teenager detained for more than a week by Chinese troops along the nations' disputed Himalayan frontier was tortured while in captivity, his family said. Miram Teron was on a hunting trip in northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state when he was taken into custody by soldiers from the People's Liberation…
COAL INDIA LTD, the world's largest coal miner, plans to directly export output to neighbouring countries after decades of exclusively supplying domestic consumers, according to sources and documents. The state-run company plans to export to Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, according to a draft policy sent to the secretary of India's…
Pakistan troops battled separatists in Balochistan province for a third day Friday, with a security official saying militants timed their assaults to derail prime minister Imran Khan's visit to China. Islamabad and Beijing have forged strong ties in recent years, centred on infrastructure projects along an economic corridor linking China's…
SRI LANKA was handed temporary relief from energy shortages and rolling blackouts with a $500 million loan from India to finance urgent oil purchases for the cash-strapped nation. The island's economic woes have left thermal power generators unable to keep the lights on and disrupted transport networks, as traders run…
SENIOR cabinet members from Boris Johnson’s team, including the prime minister, are expected to travel to India this year as both countries step up their bilateral engagements, India’s high commissioner to the UK has revealed. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Gaitri Issar Kumar also said New Delhi was…
A US Congressman has urged president Joe Biden to reject Pakistan’s ambassador-designate Masood Khan’s diplomatic credentials and termed him a “bona fide terrorist sympathiser” working to undermine America’s interests in the region. Republican Congressman Scott Perry also alleged that Khan had encouraged young men to emulate jihadists and praised foreign…
INDIA will introduce a state-backed "digital rupee" and impose a 30 per cent tax on profits from virtual currencies, the government announced on Tuesday (1). The plans are a blow to one of the world's fastest-growing cryptocurrency markets, which has remained unregulated despite burgeoning local trading platforms and glitzy celebrity…
At least 17 people, including two policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in Jaffarabad district in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, police said.Senior police officials said unidentified motorcyclists hurled a hand-grenade near a shop in a busy market in Dera Allahyar town of Jaffarabad district on Sunday (30) night. No…
PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan has said all "outstanding issues" like the Kashmir dispute should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.It is essential that a "strategic balance" is maintained in the region for "enduring peace" in south Asia, he said.In an article published in China's state-run Global Times on Friday…
CHINA has returned an Indian citizen who "illegally" entered into Chinese territory at the disputed border between the two Asian giants, a military official said. The announcement from China on Thursday (27) came after India's defence ministry said last week it had contacted China to request that it locate and…
TEN Pakistan troops were killed in a checkpoint firefight earlier this week, an army statement said Thursday (27), in an attack claimed by separatists in the country's southern province of Balochistan.The army said the soldiers were slain "during intense exchange of fire" while defending against a raid on a post…
The de facto head of India's main opposition party has complained to Twitter about "strange" activity on his account, accusing the US giant of being the "unwitting" ally of the government in curbing free speech. Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party told Twitter's CEO in a letter that growth in…
ACTRESS Urmila Matondkar turns a year older and celebrates her 48th birthday on February 4. The popular leading lady began her film journey as a child star and has delivered many memorable moments. Eastern Eye decided to celebrate that cinematic journey by delivering an all you need to know A…
As party faces Islamophobia allegations, Sunak touted as next leader THE Conservative party has a problem with black and Asian ministers, an influential Tory politician has said, after MP Nusrat Ghani’s claimed last week she was sacked in a reshuffle because of her ‘Muslimness’. Former junior transport minister Ghani, who…
One of the richest south Asian industrialists in the UK has told Eastern Eye that at least 30 companies have approached him for financial investment. They did so after Lord Swraj Paul revealed exclusively to the Asian Rich List, published by this paper’s parent company, Asian Media Group, that at…
FULLY vaccinated travellers arriving in Britain will no longer have to take a Covid-19 test, transport secretary Grant Shapps said on Monday (24), as the government sets out plans to move beyond restrictions and live with the virus. Currently, vaccinated people arriving in Britain are required to take a lateral…
HOUSEWIFE Maira Tayyab has considered begging for money to feed her family in inflation-hit Pakistan, while shop owner Mohammad Hanif finds his thoughts turning to crime.They're too proud and honest to act on the impulse, but their woes are shared by millions of Pakistanis whose disgruntlement threatens prime minister Imran…
THE NBA's Golden State Warriors have distanced themselves from executive board member Chamath Palihapitiya, after he repeatedly said he did not care "about what's happening to the Uyghurs" on a podcast. "As a limited investor who has no day-to-day operating functions with the Warriors, Mr Palihapitiya does not speak on…
A PUNISHING mix of heat and humidity that makes outdoor labour difficult and dangerous is causing around 677 billion lost working hours a year around the world, according to a new study last Thursday (13) that warns climate change is making it worse.India currently loses around 259 billion hours annually…
The Philippines has agreed to buy an anti-ship missile system from India, the defence minister said Friday, shoring up its security in the face of growing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Manila's military was one of the most poorly equipped in Asia when President Rodrigo Duterte's predecessor, Benigno…
VENTURE capital (VC) investments in the technology sector soared to record in India in 2021 as the country’s ranking jumped a notch to the third spot, according to new research.The analysis conducted jointly by London & Partners and Dealroom.Co found that Bangalore continued to lead India's tech charge, attracting $18.6…
Aaqil Ahmed should not have succeeded. Working class. A northerner. Brown. A Muslim. Definitely an outsider. Definitely a maverick. When you look at his 30-year career, which he celebrates this year, you know that sheer hard work, determination and bloody-mindedness – the south Asian way – were just some of…
SRI LANKA ruled out an IMF bailout on Wednesday (12) and said it plans to seek another loan from China to address an economic crisis that has led to food and fuel shortages.The island nation's tourism-dependent economy has been battered by the pandemic, with supermarkets rationing goods and rolling blackouts…
URJIT Patel, the former governor of India’s central bank – the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – has been appointed as a vice president of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral funding institution based in Beijing, China, sources in the bank said on Sunday (9). India is a founding…
CHINESE foreign minister Wang Yi said no "third country" should "interfere" in Sino-Sri Lankan ties.His statement is an apparent reference to India's concerns over Beijing's big-ticket strategic projects in Sri Lanka.Wang, who travelled to Colombo from the Maldives on a two-day visit during the weekend, said the friendly relationship between…
INDIA'S first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant started another set of sea trials on Sunday (9) to carry out complex manoeuvres in high seas ahead of its induction scheduled in August. The 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier, the largest and most complex warship to be manufactured in India, successfully completed a five-day…
By Amit Roy and Sarwar Alam HAVING achieved Brexit, Boris Johnson’s new year’s resolution is to “Get FTA done” – a reference to the Free Trade Agreement that the British prime minister is pursuing with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. Although no dates have been announced, the international trade secretary…
Sri Lanka and India launched a joint venture on Thursday to revive a strategic British colonial-era oil storage facility and strengthen energy security in the region, a senior minister said. The deal is seen as countering China's rising influence in the region and comes two days ahead of a visit…
BRITISH ministers are eager to ease immigration rules to make it easier for Indians to live and work in the UK as part of trade talks that are due to start between the two nations within weeks. According to a report by The Times, international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan is…
INDIA hit out at China for giving "invented" names to several places in a disputed Himalayan region on their border as Beijing looks to assert sovereignty over the territory. Several stretches of the lengthy frontier are disputed and relations have soured dramatically since 20 Indian soldiers died in a brawl…
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday condemned last week's massacre in Myanmar of more than 30 people, including two Save the Children staff, that was blamed on junta troops. The killings took place on Christmas Eve in eastern Kayah state, where pro-democracy rebels have been fighting the military, which…
APPLE said Wednesday (29) it has put the Indian plant of its main supplier "on probation" after a mass food poisoning and protests over workers’ living conditions. Some 250 women working at Foxconn's iPhone factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu were treated for food poisoning this month,…
BRITISH entrepreneur Jodi Vernon never intended to become a toy maker. But after her daughter Clarke was born, she struggled to find Black dolls that represented her family in toy shops packed with white-skinned, blue-eyed figures. The last straw came when she went into a second-hand shop in London and…
THE US has designated Indian-origin diplomat Uzra Zeya as its Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues and she has been tasked with promoting "substantive dialogue" between China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives in support of a negotiated agreement on Tibet. Zeya, who was once posted in New Delhi during…
FRENCH defence minister Florence Parly on Friday (17) said her country is willing to give more Rafale fighter planes to India. Responding to a query in New Delhi, she said, “France is ready to answer any additional needs or request that can be made by India….we are open and ready…
CURRENTLY, an unprecedented, politically driven commitment towards the transformation of the India-UK relationship is taking place. This began with the virtual summit between the two prime ministers Boris Johnson and Narendra Modi on May 4, 2021. The new UK foreign secretary, Liz Truss, visited New Delhi and Mumbai in late…
ERIC GARCETTI, the nominee for US ambassador to India, promised on Tuesday (15) to raise human rights and arms purchases from Russia as lawmakers said the concerns clouded the growing relationship with New Delhi. The Los Angeles mayor told his Senate confirmation hearing that he will "actively raise" human rights…
AT LEAST one person has died in the UK after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, prime minister Boris Johnson said. The death on Monday (13) is the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain. Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in Britain, Johnson…
THE BRITISH government should make a comprehensive knowledge partnership with India one of the main goals of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, according to a new UK study released this week. ‘Natural partners: Building a comprehensive UK-India knowledge partnership', led by former UK universities minister…
INDIA has extended restrictions on international flights till January 31, 2022, amid concerns over the Omicron variant of the deadly coronavirus, according to a circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country’s civil aviation regulator. International all-cargo operations and flights “specifically approved” by the DGCA have…
INDIAN officials are looking into an incident involving a Boeing 737 Max in which the aircraft had to be turned back to the western city of Mumbai soon after it took off for the eastern city of Kolkata, located more than 1,000 miles away, and the pilots shut down an…
BRITAIN's new head of the armed forces has said that the military must embrace the country’s racial, gender and religious diversity, The Guardian reported. In his first speech, Adm Tony Radakin declared that the armed forces had to “strive to do better” in every “aspect of our leadership”. “That includes…
India's Bipin Rawat was an outspoken, polarising but hugely popular "soldier's general" who was wounded in a border battle and survived an aircraft crash before dying in a helicopter accident on Wednesday (8). The military in the world's largest democracy has traditionally stayed well clear of political debates, unlike neighbouring…
Britain on Wednesday (8) joined Australia and the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics in February, prompted by what the Western allies argue are widespread rights abuses by China. The UK will not send ministers to the Winter Games in the Chinese capital Beijing, prime minister…
INDIAN defence chief General Bipin Rawat and 12 other people were killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday (8), with one survivor being treated for his injuries. Rawat was India's first chief of defence staff, a position that the government established in 2019, and was seen as close to prime…
