- Saturday, July 27, 2024
A squad full of debutants aims to excel as the shooting competition of the Paris Olympics begins in Chateauroux, France, on Friday. India has won four Olympic medals in shooting out of its overall tally of 35, but none in the last two editions of the Summer Games. This places…
Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday in Laos, where they agreed to resolve border issues as soon as possible. The two countries share a long Himalayan border, much of which is poorly demarcated. Relations have been strained since a military clash in July…
Sri Lanka's election commission announced on Friday (26) that the presidential election will take place on September 21. This will be the first election since the unprecedented economic crisis and widespread unrest of 2022, which led to severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, who assumed…
The days of China investing heavily in Pakistan are over, a senior US administration official informed lawmakers, emphasising that the United States represents the future. “China is the past in terms of investments in Pakistan, we are the future,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu…
South Korea has led the archery medals table at every Olympics since 1988, but signs suggest their dominance may be waning. Other nations, notably India, are closing the gap. Since their Olympic debut in 1984, South Korea has won 43 medals in archery—27 gold, nine silver, and seven bronze. They…
The government's initiatives, such as implementing mandatory quality standards and raising customs duties, have significantly aided domestic toy manufacturers in boosting exports and reducing reliance on Chinese imports, according to the Economic Survey released on Monday (22). The Survey also highlighted that India's rise as a toy-exporting nation is linked…
ADAM PEATY and other British swimmers said there needs to be a level playing field after 23 Chinese swimmers escaped punishment after testing positive for a banned drug. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed reports in April that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for TMZ (trimetazidine) -- a medication that…
INDIA's population will peak at about 1.7 billion in the early 2060s before declining by 12 per cent, according to the UN. Despite this reduction, India is expected to remain the world's most populous country throughout the century, The World Population Prospects 2024 report, released on Thursday (11), said the…
THE UK has surpassed India to claim the title of the world’s third largest venture capital market. This development comes amid a global industry downturn marked by a significant drop in both investment levels and deal numbers over the past year, reported the Times. The British Business Bank, the UK’s…
After a report that India plans to spend £781 million to expedite the construction of 12 hydropower stations in the northeastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, China has asserted that India has no right to carry out development in the area China calls South Tibet. This statement from China’s foreign…
SRI LANKA will wrap up talks with international bondholders on restructuring £9.7 billion in debt within a few weeks, foreign minister Ali Sabry said on Tuesday (9). This will mark a major step for the island nation to emerge from its worst financial crisis in the past decades. Sri…
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi told Russian president Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (9) that the death of innocent children was very painful, a day after a lethal strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv. The Indian leader made the televised remarks at a meeting with Putin in the Kremlin. [caption…
Keir Starmer is traveling to Washington this week for his first international engagement since becoming the UK prime minister. This visit comes shortly after his recent election victory. Starmer, 61, will attend NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington. This is his first foreign trip since assuming office last Friday. He…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi arrived in Russia on Monday (8), as he treaded a fine line between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and courting closer Western security ties. The visit is Modi's first since Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine and since he was returned to power last…
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated Frances Tiafoe in five sets to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Friday, while Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff advanced with ease. Alcaraz won 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, serving 16 aces and hitting 55 winners in a match that lasted nearly four hours.…
US president Joe Biden spoke to new prime minister Keir Starmer on Friday, congratulating him on the Labour Party's landslide general election victory. In a call shortly after taking office, Starmer told Biden that the UK's support for Ukraine was "unwavering." Downing Street's readout of the call noted, "The leaders…
India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday in Kazakhstan. The two agreed to increase talks to resolve border issues, according to a statement from New Delhi. India and China share a long Himalayan border that is poorly marked. Relations have been strained since a…
KAVITA KRISHNAMURTHY has become an integral part of people’s lives with the stunning songs she has delivered across the decades. The timeless tracks like Pyaar Hua Chupke Se, Mera Piya Ghar Aaya, Dola Re Dola, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Hawa Hawai, Tu Hi Re and many more have turned…
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner progressed to the Wimbledon second round on Monday. However, Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka withdrew due to injury. Alcaraz defeated 269th-ranked qualifier Mark Lajal of Estonia 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-2, recovering from breaks in the first two sets. The 21-year-old…
New Delhi on Friday rejected the US State Department's 2023 religious freedom report on India, calling it "deeply biased" and one that does not understand the South Asian nation's social fabric. The report, released on Wednesday, noted violent attacks on minority groups, especially Muslims and Christians, including killings, assaults and…
THE British Medical Association (BMA) is facing fresh sexism allegations after conference chair accused members of 'condescending' and 'belittling' behaviour towards women, the MailOnline reported. Dr Latifa Patel, who chaired this week’s BMA annual conference in Belfast, said that she had been disrespected and subjected to 'poor behaviours'. Addressing delegates,…
The US State Department's 2023 religious freedom report on India noted violent attacks on minority groups, particularly Muslims and Christians, including incidents of killings, assaults, and vandalism of houses of worship. The report, released on Wednesday, stated that in 2023, senior US officials continued to "raise concerns about religious freedom…
Banks advising South Korean automaker Hyundai on its India IPO are set to make up to £31.75 million in fees, three sources told Reuters. This is significant in a market where banks often struggle to profit due to cost-conscious clients and fewer large deals. This fee would be the second-highest…
TIBET’S spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in New York last Sunday (23) to undergo knee treatment, drawing a warm and festive welcome from thousands of followers. His office in the Indian hill town of Dharamsala, his adopted home, announced earlier this month that the 88-year-old Buddhist spiritual leader would…
If you lead a sedentary life, drinking coffee may shield you from many of the mortality risks. Non-coffee drinkers who sit for six or more hours a day are 58 per cent more likely to die of all causes, when compared with coffee drinkers, according to a research published in…
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 12th Fail has been receiving much appreciation from the audience and the critics. Since its release, the movie has garnered attention not only in the country but also on an international platform. Recently, the film was screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival. The film starred…
INDIA'S domestic airline market has registered robust growth in the last decade, and it is now the third-largest in the world, up from the fifth position a decade ago, according to global travel data provider OAG. In its 2014 survey of large domestic aviation markets, India figured fifth on the…
Thousands of yoga enthusiasts worldwide gathered to celebrate the 10th International Day of Yoga on Friday. Recognising its universal appeal, the UN proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in December 2014, following a proposal by India endorsed by 175 member states. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi highlighted…
FORMER president Donald Trump said he wants to grant green cards to foreign graduates from US colleges, in an apparent softening of his typically hard-line view on immigration, a key election issue. The Republican candidate made the remarks in a podcast published Thursday (20), days after president Joe Biden announced…
A group of senior US lawmakers including former House speaker Nancy Pelosi met Wednesday (19) with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile in India, sparking heavy criticism from China. The bipartisan group of US lawmakers, led by Congressman Michael McCaul and Pelosi, visited the 88-year-old Buddhist spiritual leader at…
LISTENING to Reform leader Nigel Farage and other politicians on the need to cut immigration, the average voter would have no idea of the extent to which the British economy is being propped up by companies from India. This is one reason why Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian high commissioner to…
METROPOLITAN Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has urged closing “outrageous” gaps in hate crime laws, which he claims permit individuals to legally incite racial and religious hatred. Rowley said he found it “startling” that such incitement is possible as long as people avoid being explicitly threatening or abusive. His comments…
MILLIONS of people dependent on Himalayan snowmelt for water face a “very serious” risk of shortages this year after one of the lowest rates of snowfall, scientists warned Monday (17). Snowmelt is the source of about a quarter of the total water flow of 12 major river basins that originate…
A group of US lawmakers arrived in India on Tuesday (18) to meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, with the head of the delegation saying president Joe Biden would soon sign a bill that aims to press China to resolve the Tibet dispute. The bill seeks to push Beijing…
A UK woman labelled a Chinese spy and a threat to national security by MI5 claims the "politically-motivated" decision has devastated her life and confined her to her home. In January 2022, MI5 issued an alert notice (IA) about lawyer Christine Lee, alleging she was "involved in political interference activities"…
INDIA and the US on Monday (17) committed to action to address barriers to bilateral strategic trade, technology and industrial cooperation. The commitment was made at a meeting between the national security advisers of the two countries, Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan, during Sullivan's two-day visit to New Delhi. The…
An Indian man suspected by the US of involvement in a failed plot, allegedly backed by the Indian government, to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder-for-hire conspiracy charges in federal court in Manhattan. Nikhil Gupta is accused by US federal prosecutors of…
An Indian man suspected of involvement in an unsuccessful plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil has been extradited to the United States from the Czech Republic, according to the US Federal Bureau of Prisons website. Nikhil Gupta has been accused by US federal prosecutors of plotting with…
The UK general election is being watched closely after stark warnings that rapid advancements in cyber-tech, particularly AI, and increasing friction between major nations threaten the integrity of 2024's landmark votes. "These rogue and unregulated technological advances pose an enormous threat to us all. They can be weaponised to discriminate,…
BRITAIN's top police officer has urged to close 'outrageous' gaps in hate crime laws, which he claims permit individuals to legally incite racial and religious hatred. Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley found it 'startling' that such incitement is possible as long as people avoid avoid being explicitly threatening or…
Fast fashion retailer Shein, known for its China-made $5 (£3.91) tops and $10 (£7.82) dresses, has hiked prices by over a third on some core products, in a move likely to boost revenues ahead of its planned IPO, according to an analysis of its pricing strategy. Shein's average price hikes…
A jury found Hunter Biden guilty on Tuesday (11) of federal gun charges in a historic first criminal prosecution of the child of a sitting US president. The 54-year-old son of president Joe Biden was convicted on all three of the felony counts stemming from his 2018 purchase of a…
NARENDRA MODI was sworn in as prime minister of India last Sunday (9) for the third time, but newspapers around the world have all been asking the same set of searching questions. Why did the exit polls get it so wrong in predicting a “super majority” of anything up to…
INDIA will focus on finding solutions to the border issues with China that has long strained ties between the neighbouring countries, Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday (11) after assuming charge for a second straight term. India and China share a 3,800 km (2,400 mile) border - much…
INDIA's prime minister Narendra Modi is set to be sworn in Sunday (9) for a third term after worse than expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern. With Modi yet to announce the makeup of this cabinet, the ceremony at the presidential palace on Sunday evening…
The herbal remedy Pei Pa Koa has witnessed an unprecedented surge in popularity following a surprising mention from former One Direction member and pop sensation, Zayn Malik. For those not in the know, Pei Pa Koa, also known as Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, is a traditional Chinese herbal syrup…
PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured to step up security for Chinese personnel working in his country in the wake of recent terrorist attacks targeting them. Sharif (72) is on a five-day visit to China since June 4 and is seeking investments from its 'all weather' friend to shore…
A DAY after the humbling election outcome for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following a strong performance by the opposition 'INDIA' bloc, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's 15 alliance partners met at his New Delhi residence and named him as their leader. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293…
ABOUT 2,500 workers at Tata Steel’s operations, which are in a transition phase, will lose their jobs, the company’s CEO, TV Narendran, has said. India-based Tata Steel owns the UK’s largest steelworks of three million tonne per annum (MTPA) at Port Talbot in South Wales and employs around 8,000 people…
INDIA-CHINA relations are expected to remain antagonistic for the foreseeable future, a new report has said, citing a lack of trust as well as engagement. According to the 11th edition of the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment by the London-based thinktank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), New Delhi’s expanding…
INDIAN stocks tanked the most in four years on Tuesday (4), as vote counting suggested prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance is unlikely to win an overwhelming majority as predicted by exit polls. Modi's bloc looked set to secure a majority in early vote counting in the…
A NEW air cargo route has been launched between Pakistan and China ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Beijing next week. According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, the new air cargo route inaugurated on May 28 linked Guizhou, China with Karachi, Pakistan. The route…
INDO-CHINESE relations are expected to remain antagonistic for the foreseeable future, a new report has said, citing a lack of distrust as well as engagement. New Delhi’s expanding defence role and partnerships will likely further contribute to the increasingly competitive nature of India–China relations, according to the 11th edition of…
China has taken a significant step towards reinforcing its semiconductor industry by closing a third state-backed investment fund, aiming to reduce its dependency on foreign nations for both the use and manufacturing of wafers. This initiative, part of China’s strategic push for chip sovereignty, comes as the global chip war…
FAMILIES across the country are trapped in a state of uncertainty as the Home Office grapples with a massive backlog in handling their requests for visa fee waivers, reported the Guardian. The backlog, the largest ever recorded, has left around 33,000 applications pending, causing distress and instability among vulnerable families,…
INDIAN grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa crushed world number one Magnus Carlsen for the first time in Classical format to emerge as the sole leader in a chess tournament in Stavanger, Norway. Having beating him a few times in online and faster versions of the game and after losing to him in…
A 54-YEAR-OLD Nepali climber known as “Everest Man” reached the peak of the world’s highest mountain for a record 30th time last Wednesday (22), three decades after his first summit. Kami Rita Sherpa, who broke his own record after climbing the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak for the 29th time earlier this…
Senior British lawmakers, including the chairs of three parliamentary committees, have questioned fast-fashion giant Shein's suitability for a London stock market listing and called for greater scrutiny of the Chinese-founded firm. Shein is stepping up preparations for a London listing after its attempt to float in New York faced regulatory…
Google is planning to manufacture its Pixel smartphones in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu through a collaboration with Taiwan's Foxconn, as revealed by two sources with direct knowledge of the matter to Reuters on Thursday. "It will be producing the latest models of its smartphones in the state...…
INFOSYS co-founder N R Narayana Murthy feels India has the potential to catch up and even surpass China’s economy in the future if it follows a three-point growth formula. In an interview with Economic Times, Murthy said India should focus on creating a favourable business environment for entrepreneurs, increasing the…
Indian-American former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has said that she will vote for her ex-opponent and boss Donald Trump in the November US election, breaking her silence on the matter since exiting the Republican presidential primary more than two months ago. Haley, 52, however, stopped short of an official endorsement.…
STAR India players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty last Sunday (19) won the Thailand Open Super 500 badminton tournament with a straight-game win over Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi of China. Rankireddy and Shetty, the world No. 3 pair, prevailed 21-15, 21-15 over Yang and Yi, ranked 29th, for…
SOME of the brightest talents from the British Asian community were recognised for their achievements in the arts at the annual Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) at the Mayfair Hotel in central London last Friday (17). One of Britain’s most accomplished and versatile artists, Osman Yousefzada, won…
DEFENCE secretary Grant Shapps said on Sunday (19) he was very concerned about a recent strengthening of diplomatic relations between China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying it posed a threat to democracy. "I'm extremely concerned about this because, remember, these are two countries that do not believe in…
China emerged as India's largest trading partner in 2023-24, with £93.2 billion in two-way trade, slightly surpassing the US, according to data from the economic think tank GTRI. Bilateral trade between India and the US was £93.1 billion in the same period. Previously, the US was India's top trading partner…
FEES for private schools have gone up by eight per cent this year making it unaffordable for numerous middle-income families, with some schools increasingly depending on China, a new report said. The cost for day-school is around £18,060, and in London, it's about £22,000. Boarding fees have gone up by…
India's Supreme Court has ordered the release of the founder-editor of a news portal accused by police of receiving illegal funding from China, saying his arrest was invalid more than seven months afterwards, his lawyers said on Wednesday. Police arrested Prabir Purkayastha early in October and raided the New Delhi…
A fourth Indian was charged by Canadian authorities Saturday (11) in the 2023 killing of a separatist Sikh leader in Vancouver. Amandeep Singh, 22, was already being held for unrelated gun charges before being charged with "first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder" in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.…
PAKISTAN'S maiden lunar orbiter sent the first images of the sun and the moon, days after it was launched as part of China's moon mission. The mini satellite ‘iCube-Qamar' was launched as part of China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission on May 3 from the Hainan province. The images were unveiled at…
Gunmen shot and killed seven workers near southwestern Pakistan's Gwadar port early on Thursday, police said. Police official Mohsin Ali said the gunmen stormed into a house some 25 km (15 miles) east of the port city and shot and killed the workers in their sleep. The official said the…
Filmmaker Mohit Ramchandani, who has worked in films with stars such as Paul Rudd and Anne Hathaway and is known for directing indie feature Dreamer and City of Dreams, has been accused of being an abusive racist in a lawsuit filed by the mother of his child, Mexican citizen Patricia…
STRATEGICALLY placed Sri Lanka’s economic recovery was essential for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan’s foreign minister said last Saturday (4), urging Colombo to swiftly restructure its foreign debt. Yoko Kamikawa said Colombo should secure agreements with bilateral lenders and international sovereign bondholders to unlock suspended foreign funding for the…
MAJORITY of Indian Americans favour a third term for prime minister Narendra Modi as his government’s policies are transforming India, an influential community leader has said. Indians are part of the deep economic growth of the US and they’ve been working hard to contribute to the economic growth, Indian American…
RESEARCHERS have described the prospect of the UK and India concluding a free trade agreement as “prolonged optimistic caution”, adding that issues the ongoing general election and immigration visas will play a major part in how any deal is concluded. Last month, a delegation led by a senior UK government…
INTERNATIONAL remittances have surpassed foreign direct investment in many low- and middle-income countries, a new report revealed. The World Migration Report 2024 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) released on Tuesday (7) showed significant shifts in global migration patterns, including a record number of displaced people and a major…
The UK's defence ministry has been hit by a significant cyberattack, confirmed by a government minister on Monday. Mel Stride, the work and pensions minister, described the attack as targeting a system managed by an external firm and stated that it was still a "very significant matter". According to Tobias…
The chief executive of Tata Steel, TV Narendran, is proving to be a tough negotiator for union leaders at the Port Talbot plant. The India-headquartered steelmaker is adamant about closing down two blast furnaces at Britain’s biggest steel plant and converting to environment-friendly electric arc furnace (EAF) production. The move…
Starbucks posted lower profits on decreased sales, attributing the decline to weakening consumer sentiment and challenging conditions in China. CEO Laxman Narasimhan expressed disappointment, citing adverse weather in the US as an additional factor. "Our performance fell short of expectations," Narasimhan said, acknowledging the impact of cautious consumers and economic…
India ranked among the top five developing countries for aviation carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2019, according to a recent study. Research analysing global flight data revealed that the United States, China, and Great Britain were the primary contributors, with shares of 22 percent, 14 per cent, and approximately four…
China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, began its maiden sea trials on Wednesday from Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard. The vessel, hailed as the nation's most advanced homemade warship, sets sail amidst escalating tensions with the US in the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, reported state-run Xinhua news agency. Since…
US president Joe Biden said that "xenophobia" from China to Japan and India is hobbling their growth, as he argued that migration has been good for the country's economy. "One of the reasons why our economy's growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden…
BRITISH INDIAN leaders have welcomed a glowing report which recommends India as the ideal country for foreign investment. Ian Cowie, in his “Personal Account” column in the Sunday Times (28), wrote: “The country is bidding to become the world’s third-biggest economy and I think it’s a great time to join…
FOR those whose idyllic view of Britain was shaped by poems like William Wordsworth’s I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, Corinne Fowler’s new book will come as a shock. Generations of children who went to English medium schools in India and similar educational institutions throughout Britain’s former colonies, had to…
India's food safety regulator said on Thursday it had ordered testing and inspections at all companies making spice mixes, widening an investigation into the sector as global regulators look into suspected contamination in two popular local brands. Hong Kong last month suspended sales of three spice blends made by India's…
As rare as it sounds, this prisoner who received a sentence for jail by the Seattle court is the founder and chief executive of Binaca company, a cryptocurrency firm. He was sentenced after pleading guilty to violations of US anti-money laundering and sanctions last year. A US judge had given…
Choreographer Sahil Kumar found fame showcasing folk dances on TikTok, but his profile has been dormant since the video he posted four years ago supporting India's decision to ban the platform. The world's most populous country offers a glimpse of what the social media landscape could look like in the…
INDIA on Tuesday (30) denied a media report which alleged involvement of a spy agency official in the assassination plot of Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US, stating it makes 'unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter'." The Washington Post newspaper on Monday (29) reported that…
GLOBAL gold demand went up marginally by three per cent in January-March period to 1,238 tonne, strongest quarter since 2016, despite high prices, according to World Gold Council (WGC). In its 'first quarter 2024 gold demand' trends report, the WGC highlighted that the total global gold demand (inclusive of over…
China has launched the first of the eight Hangor-class submarines to be built for its all-weather ally Pakistan. The launch ceremony, held at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group's (WSIG) Shuangliu Base on Friday, was attended by Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Geo News reported. The development comes as part of…
PAKISTAN'S three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to retake the helm of the ruling PML-N next month to guide the party as it battles internal strife. Sharif (74) relinquished the post seven years ago after being disqualified by the apex court over corruption allegations. He will be…
In the highly technological era we live in, the shift towards digital banking feels like a natural progression. This evolution from physical branches to digital platforms is not merely a change in how we perform transactions but a complete overhaul of the banking experience. With Black Banx at the forefront,…
INDIA'S Partition clearly left an indelible mark on the psyche of both Hindus and Muslims. Today, that has filtered down to four generations, but the verbal accounts concerning one of the most tumultuous events in history is fading away. Although historians have recorded, documented and published the political machinations of…
Goldman Sachs has recruited two senior bankers in India to capitalise on increasing dealmaking and investor interest in the country, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Sunil Khaitan will serve as Goldman's India head of financing, and Kamna Sahni as India head of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in…
Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know, a short film by four students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has been selected for La Cinef Competitive section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film, directed by Chidanand S Naik, will compete with 17 other shorts for…
Russia has set a new schedule to deliver the remaining two regiments of S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India by next year, The delay was due to the conflict in Ukraine, sources told PTI on Tuesday. Under the existing USD 5.5 billion deal, Russia has already provided three units…
AS MANY AS 65,960 Indians officially became US citizens, making India the second-largest source country for new citizens in America after Mexico, according to the latest Congressional report. An estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the US in 2022, approximately 14 per cent of the total US population of…
INDIA's 17-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh scripted history by winning the Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto to become the youngest ever challenger to the world title, bettering a record created by the legendary Garry Kasparov 40 years ago. Gukesh played out an easy draw with American Hikaru Nakamura in the 14th…
G7 foreign ministers have reiterated their commitment to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region, stressing the importance of constructive engagement with China within the framework of international norms. At the conclusion of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Capri, Italy, the ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the…
THE first of India's almost one billion voters cast ballots on Friday (19) in the country's multi-day election, as prime minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term on the back of issues such as growth, welfare and Hindu nationalism. Friday's vote covered 166 million voters in 102 constituencies across…
INDIAN IT services major Infosys has said its consolidated profit jumped 30 per cent to Rs 79.69 billion (£770 million) in the March 2024 quarter, up from Rs 61.28 bn (£590mn) in the year-ago period. The consolidated revenue of Infosys during the quarter increased 1.3 per cent to Rs 379.23…
India's polling stations opened on Friday as prime minister Narendra Modi seeks a third term, riding on his track record of growth, welfare policies, and Hindu nationalism. Today marks the biggest phase of the election, with 166 million voters across 102 constituencies in 21 states and territories heading to the…
Billionaire Elon Musk is gearing up for a visit to India, targeting an electric vehicle plant in the country. But that's not the only thing he will be discussing during his India visit. In addition to Tesla, Musk's satellite internet company Starlink is expected to receive preliminary clearances to operate…
The annual Stanford AI Index Report 2024 highlights several concerning trends surrounding the advancement of artificial intelligence and its impact on society. While AI has made significant strides in various benchmarks such as visual reasoning and image classification, surpassing human performance in many areas, these achievements have raised alarm among…
BANKRUPT Sri Lanka said on Tuesday (16) it had failed after three weeks of talks to reach an agreement with its sovereign bondholders, a key condition for maintaining an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. The talks with a majority of sovereign bondholders ended inconclusively, the finance ministry said, ahead of…
WEALTHY Indian business families have appointed their young sons and daughters to run their multibillion pound enterprises and top 10 are collectively worth $382 billion (£306.8bn), according to a Bloomberg analysis. A report last week mentioned Akash, Isha and Anant Ambani, and Ananya and Aryaman Vikram of the Birla family…
India's population has reached an estimated 1.44 billion, with 24 per cent of individuals under the age of 14, according to the latest UNFPA report. The United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) 2024 State of World Population report, titled "Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday (16) raised India’s growth projection to 6.8 per cent from its January forecast of 6.5 per cent citing bullish domestic demand conditions and a rising working-age population. With this, India continues to be the fastest growing economy of the world, ahead of China’s…
DESPITE economic challenges, Pakistan continued upgrading its nuclear capabilities, driven by its ongoing tensions with India, top US intelligence official told Congress. The remarks by Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency came during a Congressional hearing on China on Monday (15). Kruse told lawmakers that Pakistan…
Ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Elon Musk's Tesla has struck a deal with Tata Electronics to acquire semiconductor chips for its global operations. The Economic Times newspaper, citing sources, reported that the strategic deal between Tesla and Tata Electronics was executed discreetly a few months ago.…
In response to the worsening security conditions in Myanmar, India has shifted its consulate staff from Sittwe to Yangon. India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, on Friday said that India is closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar, and the consulate in Mandalay remains functional. During a media briefing, Jaiswal…
External affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Friday that there was a significant increase in the budget for infrastructure along the India-China border after Narendra Modi took office as prime minister in 2014. He pointed out that prior efforts to improve border infrastructure had been stagnant since the 1962 war.…
As India heads towards another general election, prime minister Narendra Modi is confident of not just winning, but improving his party Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) tally in the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the parliament. While replying to Newsweek's written questions, followed up with a 90-minute conversation at…
India has been placed 10th in the world for cybercrime activities, with advance fee fraud being the most prevalent type, a new study involving cybercrime experts globally has revealed. The study, leading to the creation of the 'World Cybercrime Index,' ranks about 100 countries based on their involvement in various…
THE Science Museum has inaugurated an “Adani Green Energy Gallery” that was funded by an Indian business house. The gallery, which has been three years in the making, explores how mankind could combat the effects of climate change. One exhibit from India shows how water funnelled through terracotta pots can…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is expected to retain power in the multi-phase general elections starting this month, but the question is how far he will succeed in wooing the wealthier and better-educated south. After a decade in power, Modi hopes to significantly increase his Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 55…
Less than a week after reports saying Tesla will send a team from the United States to India to study sites for an electric car plant in India, company CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that he is coming to the country. "Looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the escalating death toll from viral hepatitis, revealing that the disease stands as the second leading infectious cause of death worldwide, claiming 1.3 million lives annually, which is almost the same as tuberculosis-related fatalities. According to the WHO 2024 Global…
TATA MOTORS-owned Jaguar Land Rover on Monday (8) reported a 22 per cent year-on-year increase in its retail sales at 431,733 units for fiscal ended March 31, 2024. During the last fiscal, the company's wholesales rose 25 per cent to 401,303 units against 2022-23 financial year, Tata Motors said in…
INDIAN defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (9) rejected China’s attempts’ to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh and wondered if provinces in that country would become part of India if it changes their names. In an address at a public rally, Singh also asserted that if someone tries to hurt…
A study has revealed a list of dangerous chemicals that have been found in surface and groundwater worldwide, according to a study released Tuesday that showed Australia, the United States, and Europe as hotspots for these chemicals. A paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience analysed data from 45,000 water…
Pegatron is in advanced talks to hand over control of its only iPhone manufacturing facility in India to the Tata Group, said two sources with direct knowledge, marking the Taiwanese firm's latest scaleback of its Apple partnership. Under the deal, which has received the backing of Apple, Tata plans to…
Microsoft has raised concerns about China potentially exploiting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to influence elections in countries like India, South Korea, and the US. "With major elections taking place around the world this year, particularly in India, South Korea, and the United States, we assess that China will, at a minimum,…
The UN Human Rights Council made a significant stride on Thursday (4) by passing a resolution aimed at addressing discrimination against intersex people, despite encountering opposition from certain nations regarding the terminology used. The resolution received approval from 24 out of 47 council members, with none voting against it and…
Academic freedom is on the decline globally, according to a recent index released in Paris, France. The Academic Freedom Index -- based on input from more than 2,300 experts in 179 countries, was published last month as part of a report on democracy by the V-Dem Institute at Sweden's University…
Tesla will send a team from the United States to India by late April to study sites for a proposed $2 billion to $3 billion (£2.4bn) electric car plant in the country. The Financial Times reported that Tesla would send a team to study sites for the plant, focusing on…
SRI LANKA is optimistic about reaching an agreement soon with bondholders to restructure about $12 billion (£9.54bn) in debt, a top official said on Monday (1), a big step that will help the island nation emerge from its worst financial crisis in decades. China, the world’s and Sri Lanka’s…
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed hope that ties with India will improve after the general elections in the neighbouring country. Asif's comments came days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Singapore said that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism almost at an "industry level" and the mood in India…
INDIA rejected China's renaming of about 30 places in its northeastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday (2), calling the move "senseless" and reaffirming that the border province is an "integral" part of India. Beijing says Arunachal Pradesh, which its calls Zangnan, is a part of South Tibet -…
Elites may usually dislike populist leaders globally, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeing increasing support among educated voters, The Economist has said. In an article titled 'Why India's elites back Narendra Modi', the publication said, "Three factors - class politics, economics, and elite admiration for strongman rule - help…
Pakistan has intensified security measures to protect Chinese engineers engaged in Beijing-backed projects in the nation's northwest following a deadly suicide bombing that claimed the lives of five workers, an official announced on Wednesday (27). China stands as one of Islamabad's closest regional allies, investing billions of dollars in various…
INDIA extended its ban on exports indefinitely – a surprise move ahead of a general election and is set to exacerbate high prices in some overseas markets. India is the world’s biggest exporter of the vegetable and the country imposed the ban in December. It was due to expire…
ENTEPRENEUR Dinesh Dhamija has told Eastern Eye he wrote The Indian Century because he wants the 30 million-strong Indian diaspora across the world, but especially in the UK, to invest back in the mother country. The interview about his new book, in which he gives an upbeat assessment of the…
India on Wednesday summoned a top United States diplomat after Washington said it was "closely watching" events following the jailing of a senior opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal weeks ahead of parliamentary elections. The US State Department had urged India to ensure a "fair, transparent, and timely legal process" for Kejriwal,…
THE actress Shelley King, best known for playing Yasmeen Nazir in Coronation Street and Jay Harper in Angels, has talked to Eastern Eye about a children’s street charity in Kolkata which will be marking its 25th anniversary on November 9, 2024. King, who herself lived in Kolkata till the age…
PRIME MINISTER of Sri Lanka on Wednesday (27) announced that China has committed to enhancing the strategic deep-sea port and the capital's airport of the island nation following discussions with his counterpart in Beijing. Prime minister Dinesh Gunawardena said China -- the island's biggest bilateral creditor -- would "assist" Sri…
Britain on Monday accused Chinese hackers of trying to break into email accounts of British lawmakers who were critical of China and said a separate Chinese entity was behind a hack of its electoral watchdog that compromised millions of people's data. In response to the attempted hack in 2021 of…
Militants attacked a Pakistan naval airbase in the turbulent southwest region killing at least one paramilitary soldier while security forces killed all five of the assailants in retaliatory fire, officials said on Tuesday. Monday's attack on the Turbat base was the second assault by ethnic Baloch militants on a military…
After Canada and the UK, Australia will enforce tougher visa rules for foreign students as official data showed migration hit another record high, which is likely to further exacerbate an already tight rental market. From Saturday, English language requirements for student and graduate visas will be increased, while the government…
THE UN general assembly on Thursday (21) unanimously passed the inaugural worldwide resolution on artificial intelligence, urging nations to uphold human rights, safeguard personal data, and oversee AI for potential hazards. The nonbinding resolution, proposed by the US and co-sponsored by China and over 120 other nations, also advocates the…
A new study published in The Lancet reveals a significant decline in India's fertility rate. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR), which represents the average number of births per woman, has dropped from a staggering 6.2 in 1950 to just under 2 in 2021. This trend is expected to continue, with…
Heavily-armed Baloch insurgents on Wednesday stormed the Gwadar Port Authority complex in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, but security forces foiled the attack and killed eight militants while losing two soldiers. The attack happened on the same day when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted that his government would not tolerate any…
India's main reservoirs have hit their lowest March levels in five years, government data showed, indicating a possible squeeze on drinking water and power availability this summer in most parts of the country. In major centres such as India's 'Silicon Valley' Bengaluru, home to IT majors like Google, Infosys, and…
WHILE it’s true that stand-up comedy first gained prominence in western culture, India’s comedy scene has emerged as one of the fastest-growing in the past decade. In recent years, there has been an influx of top talents who have presented humour in a unique way and risen to prominence with…
PAKISTAN remained one of the world's three smoggiest countries in 2023, as Bangladesh and India replaced Chad and Iran, with particulate matter about 15 times the level recommended by the World Health Organization, data published on Tuesday (19) showed. Average concentrations of PM2.5 - small airborne particles that damage the…
THE US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill on Wednesday (13) that would give TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to divest the US assets of the short-video app, or face a ban, in the greatest threat to the app since the Trump administration. The bill passed 352-65…
Surfers and kayakers eagerly anticipate an extraordinary natural spectacle known as the Severn Bore, transforming the typically serene Severn Estuary into a surfer's paradise. Contrary to its name, this event is anything but boring, captivating water enthusiasts from around the world. What is the Severn Bore? The Severn Bore is…
INDIA on Tuesday (12) rejected Chinese objections to prime minister Narendra Modi's weekend visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the northeastern border state has always been "an integral and inalienable part of India". The Indian foreign ministry's comments came a day after Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing was…
INDIA has begun withdrawing military personnel operating surveillance aircraft in the Maldives after the new pro-China president ordered them to leave, local media reported Tuesday (12). The Mihaaru newspaper reported that 25 Indian troops deployed in the southernmost atoll of Addu had left the archipelago ahead of March 10, the…
India's interior ministry said Monday it was enacting a citizenship law that critics say discriminates against Muslims, just weeks before the world's most populous country heads into a general election. While the law was passed in December 2019, its implementation was delayed after widespread protests and deadly violence erupted in…
Ten years have passed since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished from radar screens, creating one of the greatest aviation mysteries in history. Despite extensive search efforts and investigations, the fate of the Boeing 777, carrying 239 people from 15 countries, remains unknown. Theories abound, but conclusive answers elude authorities and…
THE Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is keen to have cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, and is exploring the idea of converting a baseball stadium in Nagoya for this purpose, officials said. Administrators perceive multi-sport events like the Asian Games as an opportunity to boost cricket, which…
The undersea cable network in the Red Sea is facing disruptions with cables getting cut and this has affected data traffic flow between Asia and Europe, BBC reports. Hong Kong-based HGC Global Communications said four of the 15 cables were recently severed and it has taken measures to reroute the…
Taiwan's labour minister Hsu Ming-chun has apologised for her comments on Indian migrant workers after they drew sharp criticism of being racist. The island nation bordering China plans to recruit Indian workers and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian government on February 16 to help alleviate labour…
FORMER US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley will suspend her presidential campaign on Wednesday (6), according to a source familiar with her plans, ensuring that Donald Trump will win the Republican nomination and once again face Democratic president Joe Biden in November's election. Haley will give a speech at…
Sri Lanka on Friday awarded the construction of three solar and wind hybrid power generation facilities to an Indian company after scrapping a tender won by a Chinese firm. New Delhi has long been concerned about growing Chinese influence in the island nation, which sits near key global shipping lanes…
PAKISTAN's newly formed parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday (3) as prime minister for a second time, three weeks after uncertain national elections caused delays in the formation of a coalition government. "Shehbaz Sharif is declared to have been elected the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," National…
World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiators extended talks again in Abu Dhabi on Friday as they struggled to break a political deadlock after five days of high-level negotiations. It was far from clear whether a consensus could be reached among the WTO's 164 members before a new deadline of 10 p.m.…
THE US immigration agency has announced the launch of a system that will allow multiple people within an organisation, as well as their legal representatives, to collaborate on and prepare H-1B registrations, and H-1B petitions. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a statement announced the launch of myUSCIS…
A new research warns that a 3-degree Celsius increase in global warming could plunge 90 per cent of the Himalayan Region into a prolonged drought. The study, led by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, emphasises the severe consequences of climate change, urging the need…
A STUDY of frozen blood samples has turned up a trove of proteins that may predict several forms of dementia more than 10 years before the disease is diagnosed, researchers from the UK and China reported last month. The study, published in the journal Nature Aging, is part of ongoing…
INDIA on Tuesday (27) introduced four crew members for its maiden 'Gaganyaan' space voyage, as it aims to become the world's fourth country to send a crewed mission into space just months after a historic landing on the south pole of the moon. Gaganyaan, or "sky craft" in Hindi, is…
A company registered in India along with 26 others will face export restrictions under new European Union (EU) sanctions for their involvement in Russia's war efforts. The names of these companies have not yet been made public and will be later published in the EU's official journal. The other companies…
A global consortium of semiconductor industry groups has asked India to reconsider its plan to push for duties on cross-border digital e-commerce and data transfers at an upcoming global trade meeting, warning that India's stance will stifle its own chip design industry. Ministers from across the globe are convening for…
A Chinese tech security firm was able to breach foreign governments, including India, infiltrate social media accounts, and hack personal computers, a massive data leak analysed by experts this week revealed. The trove of documents from I-Soon, a private company that competed for Chinese government contracts, shows that its hackers…
HSBC on Wednesday posted soaring annual profits, largely thanks to ballooning interest rates, but its shares tanked after the banking giant revealed a massive impairment linked to property-sector woes in China. Net profit surged 56 per cent last year to $22.4 billion, the London-headquartered group said in a statement. Pre-tax…
ANMOL KHARB yet again performed when it mattered, winning the decisive fifth rubber to lead Indian women to a historic Badminton Asia Team Championships title with a tight 3-2 victory over a depleted Thailand in Malaysia on Sunday (18). The young sprightly group of Indian women’s team, led by seasoned…
INDIAN AMERICAN Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley has said that if voted to power, her administration will not only strengthen the alliance with NATO but also with several other countries including India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. Haley, 52, the former US ambassador to the UN, said that…
The US on Tuesday (13), urged Sri Lanka president Ranil Wickremesinghe to address the issues raised by a new, strict internet censorship law, which has caused concern and alarmed tech companies. Samantha Power, head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), raised the issue during a virtual meeting with…
AN Asian Cup that will be remembered for shocks and dramatic finishes has showcased the region’s strength in depth and raised hopes that its teams could reach new heights at the 2026 World Cup. Eight direct spots and one intercontinental playoff berth are up for grabs for Asian Football Confederation…
THOMAS CUP champions India will look to recreate magic when they chase the elusive crown at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, which will mark the return of double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu from injury. The Indian men’s team, which lifted the Thomas Cup in 2022 and secured a first-ever silver…
THE Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is envisioned as a Spiritual Oasis for Global Harmony. Rooted in the aspiration to promote love, harmony, and tolerance, the fundamental ethos of the mandir transcends borders. Each carving within the mandir tells compelling stories of…
IN the heart of Abu Dhabi, amid the modern skyline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stands the BAPS Hindu Mandir, a remarkable testament to the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures in a globalised world. Beyond its architectural grandeur and spiritual significance, this temple holds a unique place in history,…
India and the UAE have signed 10 agreements for cooperation in crucial areas such as energy, infrastructure, investments, and archives management during prime minister Narendra Modi's visit, aimed at enhancing the bilateral ties, announced foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday (14). Addressing a press conference on the second day…
NIKKI HALEY finished a disappointing third in the Iowa Republican nominating contest and a distant second in New Hampshire, while in Nevada – where she was the only candidate in last week’s primary – she finished behind ballots marked “none of these candidates.” And if opinion polls are correct, the…
BANGLADESH said last Wednesday (7) it will not allow any more Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to enter the country because supporting the huge numbers already there threatens its own security. Muslim Rohingya have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for decades and nearly a million of them live in crammed, bamboo-and…
THE UKRAINE war has forced India to focus its military spending more on fostering domestic industry - as Russia, its largest supplier - prioritised its domestic needs, a new report said on Tuesday (13). As a result of the conflict, New Delhi set aside a record 75 per cent of…
THE US State Department has approved the potential sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, related missiles and equipment to India for nearly $4 billion (£3.17bn), the Pentagon said last Thursday (1), years after the two countries started discussing a deal. India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed…
GOLD demand will win a “pronounced” boost from geopolitical uncertainty this year, an industry report predicted last Wednesday (31), after the precious metal and haven investment hit a record-high price in 2023. The World Gold Council said the commodity would in 2024 continue to benefit from strong buying by central…
A LACK of drag flickers is hampering the Indian women’s hockey team’s penalty corner conversion rate, chief coach Janneke Schopman has said. The inability to convert was one of the reasons the side struggled during the Olympic qualifiers in January, costing them a spot at the Paris Games. “We need…
INDIA’s ace doubles shuttler, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, is confident he and his partner Chirag Shetty have enough in the tank to fire during the Paris Olympics later this year. Satwik, who regained the world no 1 doubles ranking following back-toback runners-up finishes in the Malaysia Open and the India Open, indicated…
INDIA’S government will maintain increased funding to build roads near its China border after spending 30 per cent more on them this fiscal year than planned, it said last Thursday (1), citing tension between the neighbours. Both countries have been in a military standoff since July 2020 when at least…
CAPTAIN Harmanpreet Singh spoke of his wish for India’s hockey team to seal a direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a title-winning run in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The men’s team arrived on Monday (5) to participate in the FIH Pro League scheduled at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium from Saturday…
THIS was a tale of two anniversaries. As Big Ben chimed 11pm on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom had formally left the European Union. Yet the fourth anniversary of that moment passed without a great deal of fanfare last week. The media sparring between the remnants of the referendum…
RUSSIA has begun buying bananas from India and will boost such imports, its food safety watchdog said, after a spat with its biggest supplier Ecuador over the latter's decision to swap Russian-made military hardware with the US. The first batch of bananas from India was shipped to Russia in January…
Makers of the upcoming drama film Bastar- The Naxal Story, starring Adah Sharma, unveiled the film's official teaser on Tuesday. Taking to Instagram, Adah shared the teaser which she captioned, "A story coloured red with the blood of innocent people! Capture the untold story... Bastar - The Naxal Story. Teaser…
At least two people were killed in Bangladesh Monday after mortar shells fired from Myanmar during clashes there landed across the border, as terrified residents reported heavy fighting and medics treated several with gunshot wounds. Parts of Myanmar near the 270-kilometre (167-mile) border with Bangladesh have seen frequent clashes since…
In a huge relief for H-1B visa holders, many of whom are Indian technology professionals, the new White House-backed immigration bill will grant automatic work authorisation to about 100,000 H-4 visa holders, who are their spouses and children. The National Security Agreement that was announced on Sunday (4) after long…
TATA GROUP is in advanced talks with Taiwan's Pegatron to form a partnership to run an iPhone assembly plant the Indian company is building in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Tata is building the iPhone assembly plant in Hosur city,…
A pigeon, held for eight months in Indian police custody, was finally released after being cleared of suspicions that it was spying for China. The bird was caught at a port in the financial capital Mumbai with "messages written in a Chinese-like script" on its wings, the Times of India…
The UK is at 71st position in the global corruption index out of 180 countries. India has slipped to the 93rd position, down from its 85th position last year. The position of UK is at historic low this year. The country also witnessed a significant decline among upper-middle and high-income…
The US has revealed plans for a significant revamp of its annual H-1B speciality occupation visa lottery, widely utilised by Indian IT professionals. This overhaul aims to reduce the likelihood of fraud and enhance the efficiency of the registration process. Separately, the US on January 29 has formally launched a…
THE IMF announced on Tuesday (30) it has raised its 2024 global growth forecast to 3.1 per cent, citing unexpected resilience in major advanced and emerging market economies around the world, including the United States and China. The updated figure, released in the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, is…
Immigration is expected to add 6.1 million people to the UK population by mid-2036, official projections that will add to pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak to reduce it in the run-up to an election. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday (30) the UK's population is projected…
INDIA is cooperating with Canada and bilateral ties are improving after tensions spiked over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia, a top Canadian official told CTV in an interview published on Friday (26). Diplomatic relations soured after prime minister Justin Trudeau last year said Canada was…
CAMBRIDGE, the English city renowned for its university, scientific breakthroughs and status as a technology hub, has its sights on becoming the next Silicon Valley. The British government is providing funds for new infrastructure projects such as housing and transport that it says will help Cambridge, north of London, become…
PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron arrives as the guest of honour in India on Thursday (25) with a sumptuous palace feast and colourful military parade, as France eyes lucrative deals with the world's fifth-biggest economy. Macron will be offered a red carpet welcome by prime minister Narendra Modi with dinner in a…
Thanks to a breakthrough gene therapy, an 11-year-old boy is experiencing the world of sound for the first time. He can now hear his father's voice, the noise of cars passing by, and the snipping of scissors as they cut his hair – all new auditory experiences for him. The…
THOUSANDS of men queued in India’s northern state of Haryana during a recruitment drive to send workers to Israel, where the offensive in Gaza, now in its fourth month, has caused a shortage of labour. Masons, painters, electricians, plumbers and some farmers said they were looking for jobs in Israel.…
CHINA has assured Islamabad of its support in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity even while welcoming on Tuesday (23) the restoration of diplomatic ties between Tehran and Islamabad after their recent air strikes against each other. As China’s foreign minister Sun Weidong visited Pakistan on a mediation mission, a…
INDIA's stock market has edged out Hong Kong to become the world's fourth-largest, a milestone that underscores growing global investor optimism about New Delhi's economic prospects, Bloomberg said Tuesday (23). The total value of shares listed on Indian exchanges hit $4.3 trillion on Monday (22), slightly higher than Hong Kong's…
The prime minister of Pakistan is scheduled to convene an emergency security meeting on Friday (19), bringing together military and intelligence chiefs. This comes in the aftermath of deadly air strikes this week, exchanged between Pakistan and Iran, on militant targets. The rare military actions in the porous border region…
INDIAN and Chinese soldiers clashed at least two times in 2022 along their Himalayan frontier where they have been involved in a bitter standoff since 2020, according to new details that have emerged from the Indian Army's gallantry award citations. The incidents involved hand-to-hand combat and came as New Delhi…
INDIAN purchases of Russian crude in defiance of Western pressure over the Ukraine war have fallen to an 11-month low as the price tag on the discounted oil rises, figures show. Since the invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, India has bought hundreds of millions of barrels of cut-price…
Pakistan said Wednesday (17), that Iran conducted an airs trike on its territory, resulting in the deaths of two children, following Tehran's attacks in Iraq and Syria targeting what it referred to as "anti-Iranian terrorist groups." Pakistan denounced the strike, near the nations' shared border late on Tuesday, as "completely…
THE Maldivian president told India last Sunday (14) to withdraw its nearly 100 troops by March 15, a day after returning from China where he signed a raft of deals. New Delhi considers the Indian Ocean archipelago to be within its sphere of influence, but the Maldives has shifted into…
In its first overseas deal, India has acquired exploration and production rights for lithium blocks in Argentina, marking a strategic move to diminish reliance on China for the essential green technology metal. Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said the "historic" $24 million deal will ensure a "resilient and diversified…
Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu faced a setback on the domestic front as the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the pro-India opposition, achieved a clear victory in the mayoral election of the capital Male on Saturday (13), PTI reports said. Adam Azim, the MDP candidate, emerged victorious, succeeding Muizzu, who recently resigned…
After returning from China, Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu asserted that despite its small size, the Maldives would not tolerate bullying. The statement came following the signing of several deals in China as tensions with New Delhi intensified. New Delhi considers the Indian Ocean archipelago to be within its sphere of…
THE US and Britain defended to the UN Security Council the legality of strikes they launched against Yemen's Houthis for attacking Red Sea shipping while Russia and China accused the Western allies of raising regional tensions. Russia called the US and British operation disproportionate and illegal. Other countries expressed concerns…
INDIAN Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his visit to the UK on Thursday (11) after a “warm meeting” with prime minister Rishi Sunak and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora at a community reception. Singh called on Sunak at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday (10) evening for discussions on…
A GREAT documentary film will narrate an astonishing story in such detail that it makes you think it can’t possibly be true even though you know it is. This film, now streaming on Netflix, belongs to that category. This true crime story is set in a sleepy village in Kerala,…
In an unusual acknowledgment, the prominent Beijing-based Chinese media outlet, Global Times, has published an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for India's remarkable progress in economic development, social governance, and foreign policy. Penned by Zhang Jiadong, the director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University,…
INDIA's prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (10) made a strong pitch to woo global investors to the world's fastest growing large economy, saying there are new opportunities across sectors and regions for mutual prosperity. His pitch at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit comes months before he seeks a third…
Though several nations from Asia, Africa, and South America, alongside India, Russia, and China, congratulated Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina on her historic fourth term as prime minister, the United Nations, the US, and the UK voiced their reservations, terming the polls as "not free or fair." Hasina's Awami League (AL) won…
Several renowned personalities, including the Hind movie actors Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, have urged people to discover "Indian islands" and coastal getaways. Their appeal emerged during a controversy sparked by derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers against Narendra Modi following the prime minister’s recent…
BILLIONS of voters across south Asia, the UK and the US will go to polls in the next 12 months in what will be a test of democracy, analysits have told Eastern Eye. In the UK, prime minister Rishi Sunak has to call a general election by January 28, 2025,…
India expressed deep concern on Thursday (4) over reports indicating that certain members of the Indian community in the Canadian province of British Columbia received “extortion calls.” The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came in response to a question at a media briefing. "It is a matter…
RUSSIA redirected its oil exports from Europe to China and India, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said last Wednesday (27), almost two years after Moscow was hit by sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. After president Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries hit Russia with a…
INDIA’S prime minister, Narendra Modi, does not give press interviews, so why did he choose to give one just before Christmas to the Financial Times, of all papers? The FT, a respected newspaper with digital subscribers all over the world, has been sustained in its relentless attacks on the ruling…
BANGLADESH garment factories have fired hundreds of workers since protests in October demanding higher wages, three labour unions representing half a million workers said last week. Clashes during the protests, which ran alongside wider antigovernment demonstrations by the opposition ahead of Sunday’s (7) general election, killed four workers and injured…
A sense of expectation, hope, and occasionally anxiety accompany the start of a new year. Some people have professed to be able to predict the future throughout history; Nostradamus is one well-known example. Their predictions have generated conversations and arguments as 2024 approaches, particularly in relation to world events like…
ISRAEL plans to bring in around 70,000 foreign workers from China, India and elsewhere to boost its construction sector, which has been largely frozen since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, a newspaper reported on Monday (1), citing a government official. Yehuda Morgenstern, director general of the construction and housing ministry,…
India will emerge as the largest economic superpower by the end of the century, with gross domestic product (GDP) 90 per cent larger than China’s and 30 per cent larger than the US, a new report has revealed. The World Economic League Table report by London-based Centre for Economics and…
In a study involving 3,239 women in the US, researchers have found that for every additional centimetre gained around a woman's waistline, the risk of infertility increases by 3 per cent. The research highlights the significance of maintaining a slim waistline to enhance the prospects of conception. It also indicates…
ALMOST all of Russia's oil exports this year have been shipped to China and India, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday (27), after Moscow responded to Western economic sanctions by quickly rerouting supplies away from Europe. Russia has successfully circumvented sanctions on its oil and diverted flows from…
FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron will be the guest of honour at India's Republic Day parade in January, New Delhi announced Friday (22), days after US president Joe Biden backed out. Macron "will be visiting India as the chief guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations" on prime minister Narendra Modi's…
The family of the late Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda has urged the Home Office to appoint a police force for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into his sudden death last June, which took place at the same time as a murder and an attempted murder of Sikh separatists in…
THE second review of Sri Lanka’s $2.9 billion (£2.29bn) bailout with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be completed as early as the first half of 2024, provided it managed to meet the debt restructuring and revenue targets set under the programmed, an official said last Wednesday (13). The IMF…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
THERE was the Bollywood star in skin-tight lycra, the Bangladeshi politician filmed in a bikini and the young Pakistani woman snapped with a man. None was real, but all three images were credible enough to unleash lust, vitriol – and even allegedly a murder – underlining the sophistication of generative…
International students should pay their tuition fees upfront to curb potential misuse of the visa system, former universities minister Lord Johnson of Marylebone has proposed. This suggestion arises as statistics reveal a one in four drop-out rate among students from India and Bangladesh. Lord Johnson emphasised the need for overseas…
TENSIONS among nuclear powers, mainly in Asia, carry the risk of escalating into major conventional wars, a new survey cautioned. Significant Asian conflicts, such as in Kashmir and Afghanistan, have seen reduced violence since a ceasefire began in February 2021, said the Armed Conflict Survey 2023 by the London-based geopolitics…
Foreign minister David Cameron called upon Hong Kong authorities on Sunday (17) to cease the "politically-motivated" prosecution of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who faced trial on Monday (18) on charges of national security crimes. British citizen Lai, 76, is charged with several counts of "colluding with foreign forces", a…
The provincial government of Lahore on Saturday (16), announced the use of artificial rain for the first time in Pakistan as a measure to tackle the perilous smog levels in the megacity. In the first experiment of its kind in the South Asian country, planes equipped with cloud seeding equipment…
INDIA's top court has directed the family of the man accused of plotting to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to seek relief in a Czech court regarding allegations of religious and human rights violations. Nikhil Gupta, 52, was arrested in Prague in June and is currently in Czech custody,…
THE Financial Times business book of the year for 2023 has gone to Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive by Amy Edmondson, a Harvard professor who has been called “the world’s most influential organisational psychologist”. The prize, worth £30,000, was announced last Tuesday…
THE European Commission published its first list of critical medicines, as part of a wider overhaul of laws governing the €136 billion (£117bn) pharmaceuticals industry aimed at avoiding shortages of drugs. It is the biggest change to existing medical laws in two decades. The law is aimed at ensuring all…
A LEADING Conservative parliamentarian has warned fellow Tory politicians they face a decision to either “unify or die” as party infighting threatens to derail the leadership of prime minister, Rishi Sunak. On Tuesday (12) Sunak narrowly won in his latest plans to send migrants to Rwanda. The way in which…
A growing number of US business leaders are rallying behind former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley as the Republican Party's presidential hopeful, seeing her as more stable than rival Donald Trump, and more favorable to business interests than incumbent Joe Biden. "Even if you're a very liberal Democrat, I urge…
INDIA's environment minister, Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday (9) demanded "equity and justice" in UN climate negotiations, holding that rich countries should be leading global climate action. The comments underlined India's long-held position that, as a developing country, it should not be a forced to cut its energy-related emissions - even…
INDIA'S Supreme Court upheld on Monday (11) a 2019 decision by the government of prime minister Narendra Modi to revoke special status for the state of Jammu and Kashmir and set a deadline of September 30 next year for state polls to be held. India's only Muslim-majority region, Jammu and…
REPUBLICAN presidential hopefuls sought to halt surging Nikki Haley's momentum in an acrimonious fourth primary debate Wednesday (6), as they made their pitches to be considered the most viable alternative to runaway frontrunner Donald Trump. The former president -- who is seeking to retake the White House despite facing 91…
DR HENRY KISSINGER, who died last Wednesday (29), aged 100, was an American diplomat of Jewish-German extraction who served as national security adviser and secretary of state to US presidents Richard Nixon and his successor, Gerald Ford. Kissinger’s long life was proof of the old adage, “You can fool all…
THE Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt, is the sole Indian to be selected by the Financial Times (FT) among its “25 most influential women of 2023” chosen from across the world. The paper’s selection is a little like Eastern Eye’s Power List (the next one will be published on March 5,…
WALMART is importing more goods to the United States from India and reducing its reliance on China as it looks to cut costs and diversify its supply chain, data seen by Reuters shows. The world’s largest retailer shipped one quarter of its US imports from India between January and August…
SRI LANKA’S pact with creditor nations to restructure its debt prepares the way for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to consider clearing the first review of a bailout next month, the global lender said last Thursday (30). Last Wednesday’s (29) in-principle deal comes about a month after Sri Lanka’s pact…
A US delegation, headed by White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, visited New Delhi on Monday (4). During the visit, Finer acknowledged India's establishment of an investigative panel to examine an unsuccessful plot involving the assassination of a Sikh separatist in the US. "Mr. Finer acknowledged India's establishment…
Three influential Congressmen have introduced bipartisan legislation in the US House of Representatives to reduce the Green Card backlog and end country-based discrimination for employment-based visas, a bill, if passed, would benefit thousands of Indian Americans. Indian Americans, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal and Congressman Rich McCormick introduced the bill…
Diets prevalent in countries like China, Japan, and India, which include plant-based and traditional foods, might lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease compared to the Western diet, a study suggests. Researchers from the Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Centre, US, found that Alzheimer's disease rates rise in these countries as…
INDIA and China both on Saturday (2) refrained from signing the pledge at the COP28 climate summit to triple the world's renewable energy capacity by 2030 even though New Delhi already committed to it as part of its G20 presidency. During the UN's climate talks in Dubai, 118 countries committed…
HENRY KISSINGER, known for his disdain for India's leadership in the 1970s, has been advocating stronger US-India ties in the past decade under prime minister Narendra Modi. After Modi came to power in 2014, Kissinger, also the former US National Security Advisor, has been advocating strong ties with India. When…
NASA will train an Indian astronaut for a voyage to the International Space Station as early as next year, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on Wednesday (29), amid deepening space ties between India and the US. "There is an opportunity to share science," Nelson said, speaking at an event in…
The head of a potentially pioneering private company has revealed that, more than 50 years after the final Apollo mission, the United States will endeavour to land a spacecraft on the Moon again on January 25. The lander, named Peregrine, will have no one on board. It was developed by…
INDIA paid tribute Wednesday (29) to the hundreds of US servicemen killed during World War II with the opening of a museum near its strategic border with China honouring the dramatic Himalayan airlift dubbed "The Hump". Telling the story of how Allied pilots flew the perilous route to supply Chinese…
According to scientists screen time leads to physical and functional changes in the brains of children under 12 years of age, impacting their development. This was discovered after reviewing 33 brain imaging studies spanning 23 years and involving 30,000 participants. Screen time, referring to the time children spend watching television…
SAUDI ARABIA's sovereign wealth fund is to buy ten per cent of London's Heathrow airport from Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, whose departure from the hub after almost two decades leaves Qatar as its biggest shareholder. Ferrovial late Tuesday (28) said it was offloading its 25 per cent stake for nearly…
INDIA will formally investigate security concerns aired by the United States in a warning to New Delhi about its links to a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday (29). The issue comes at a delicate time for both India and the Biden…
AFGHANISTAN'S embassy in India announced its "permanent closure" on Friday (24), more than two years after the Taliban returned to power in Kabul following the collapse of the Western-backed government. Most foreign nations - including India - do not officially recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government, but acknowledge them as the de…
The WHO said on Thursday (23), that the Chinese health authorities have not identified any unusual or new pathogens, and they have provided the requested data regarding a surge in respiratory illnesses and documented pneumonia clusters in children. The WHO had asked China for more information on Wednesday after groups…
US authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the country and issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved, a senior Biden administration official said. The US is treating the plot with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the…
THE president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, formally requested last Saturday (18) that India withdraw its troops from his strategically located archipelago, fulfilling an election pledge on his first day in office. In a conversation with a visiting Indian minister, Muizzu asked New Delhi to recall personnel deployed to operate…
England's chief medical officer, professor Sir Chris Whitty, shared with the Covid inquiry that the initial lockdown in March 2020 was enforced "a bit too late," acknowledging the government faced limited options during that period. He highlighted public health concerns such as loneliness, depression, and the risk of exacerbating poverty,…
Scottish Labour head Anas Sarwar has refused to be drawn into a clear confrontation with his party leader Sir Keir Starmer over the demand for a ceasefire in Gaza. Sarwar said he supported a ceasefire, but refused to say if he would have supported a Westminster vote on the matter…
The official inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic is anticipated to disclose compelling evidence this week, regarding the tensions and disputes among the then prime minister Boris Johnson, his ministers, and the country's top scientific advisors. Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's former chief scientific adviser, is set to provide evidence during…
According to a study published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine journal, over 1.3 million lives are lost annually due to tobacco-induced cancers across seven countries, including India. The researchers observed that the collective contribution of India, China, the UK, Brazil, Russia, the US, and South Africa accounted for over half of…
INDIAN external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said that India is not ruling out an investigation into Canada’s allegations about the involvement of the government’s agents in the killing of a Khalistani separatist in that country but wants it to provide evidence to back its claims. Jaishankar made the comments…
The prime minister has shown that “he has a backbone” by sacking his controversial home secretary, south Asian Conservative parliamentarians and grassroots members have told Eastern Eye. Rishi Sunak fired Suella Braverman on Monday (13), five days after she wrote a Times newspaper article in which she criticised the Met…
INDIAN external affairs minister S Jaishankar has raised the country's long-standing concerns about pro-Khalistan extremism in the UK during his meetings with the country's leaders. He stressed that they should be on guard against the misuse of freedom of expression and speech. Jaishankar concluded his five-day visit to the UK…
US president Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping engaged in a four-hour meeting on Wednesday (15), addressing topics spanning military tensions to drug trafficking. Biden welcomed the Chinese leader at the Filoli estate, a country house and gardens about 30 miles (48 km) south of San Francisco, ahead of a…
THERE is enough compelling evidence to suggest that V Shantaram was perhaps the most important Indian filmmaker of the 20th century. Whether it was technical innovations, pathbreaking work, expanding the horizons of Indian cinema or an incredibly fearless approach, he left behind an impressive body of work and countless magic…
THE Chinese and Pakistani navies are holding weeklong drills in the Arabian Sea days after the Russian Pacific Fleet and Myanmar practised repelling attacks in their first maritime exercise, while India and the United States pledged security cooperation. At a naval base in Karachi on Saturday (11), the Chinese and…
Rescue teams in northern India announced on Monday (13) that they were able to establish contact with 40 workers who had been trapped for more than 24 hours following the collapse of the road tunnel they were constructing. "All the 40 workers trapped inside the tunnel are safe," Karamveer Singh…
AT LEAST 40 construction workers were trapped Sunday (12) after the road tunnel they were building collapsed in northern India, with rescuers scrambling to reach them beneath piles of debris. The collapse occurred early Sunday morning in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand when a group of workers were moving out…
In an effort to combat air pollution in New Delhi, the Delhi government intends to artificially induce rainfall through cloud seeding this month, Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Wednesday (8). Rai held a meeting with scientists from IIT-Kanpur who explained that cloud seeding can only be attempted when there…
US SECRETARY of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin will hold talks with India this week that officials say will focus on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and concerns over China, rather than the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The talks in New Delhi on Friday (10) with…
BRITISH STEEL is in talks with the government about funding for a shift to cleaner manufacturing, which would include shutting blast furnaces and probable job losses. Owned by China's Jingye Group, Britain's second-biggest steelmaker on Monday (6) outlined a £1.25 billion ($1.55bn) plan to make steel in a less carbon…
PEOPLE in New Delhi woke up to a thick layer of toxic haze on Friday (3), and some schools were ordered to be shut for two days as the air quality index (AQI) entered the "severe" category in several parts of the Indian capital. A filthy smog forms over Delhi…
INDIA is unlikely to sign onto a global pledge to reduce cooling-related emissions at the COP 28 climate meeting, citing the need for the world’s most populous country to have affordable cooling, two government officials told Reuters. The pledge to cut coolingrelated carbon dioxide emissions by at least 68 per…
Nandini Das has won the 11th British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding with for her debut work "Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire." The award was presented by professor Charles Tripp FBA, the Chair of the jury, during a celebratory event at the British…
Countries including the UK, United States and China on Wednesday agreed the "need for international action" as political and tech leaders gathered for the world's first summit on artificial intelligence (AI) safety. The UK government kicked off the two-day event at Bletchley Park, north of London, by publishing the "Bletchley…
SCIENTISTS from China and Sri Lanka are conducting joint “marine scientific” activities on board a Chinese research vessel, a senior official said on Tuesday (31), amid concerns voiced by India and the US. Scientists from the National Aquatic Research Agency (NARA), personnel from the Navy and the University of Ruhuna…
THE UK government will welcome foreign political leaders, tech industry figures, academics and others this week for a two-day summit billed as the first of its kind on artificial intelligence (AI). The gathering, set to be attended by prime minister Rishi Sunak, US vice-president Kamala Harris, EU chief Ursula von…
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia has found that drugs used to treat common infections in children and babies have lost their effectiveness in numerous regions, including India, due to soaring rates of antibiotic resistance. The research highlighted that several antibiotics recommended by the…
WE DON’T hear very much these days about Boris Johnson making a comeback to 10, Downing Street. He has decided making money is the better option. Boris earned £4.8 million in five months after leaving office as prime minister, mostly for speaking at events and for securing a deal to…
FRASERS GROUP has divested the Missguided brand to the fast fashion giant Shein more than a year after it rescued the business founded by a British Asian entrepreneur.Shein will acquire the intellectual property rights and trademarks of Missguided, while Frasers will retain its real estate and employees that have now…
BILLIONAIRE venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has warned that the current rush of investment in overvalued artificial intelligence start-ups risks potential losses. But the early backer of the ChatGPT chatbot creator OpenAI predicted that AI would revolutionise the world soon and there would be “a billion bipedal robots in 20 years”.…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley has said former president Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election would result in "four years of chaos, vendettas and drama" that would be dangerous for the US, which needs a captain who will steady the ship, not capsize it. Haley, 51, launched her…
THE global diamond sector is scrambling to get ahead of an upcoming G7 ban on Russian gems, with consumers and producers battling to manage ever more complex supply chains against a backdrop of sluggish demand. Direct sales of Russian gems have already been crushed by US sanctions on Russia's state…
A record number of teenagers from the UK's most economically challenged regions have sought admission to most exclusive university programmes in the country, according to latest data. These students have applied to Oxford and Cambridge, and for degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. For the first time in history,…
FEARS are growing that disagreements between rich and poor nations over how to manage a new fund to tackle the “loss and damage” caused by changing weather could throw the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai into disarray. A “transitional committee” working out the details of the fund – which…
CHINA increased the deployment of forces and continued infrastructure build-up along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2022 amid border tensions with India, a Pentagon report has said. For more than three years, Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in confrontation in certain points along eastern Ladakh; both…
MORE students from south Asia are living in overcrowded housing in the UK due to a rising demand for beds, which campaigners criticised as a “shameful indictment of our education system”. In one case, a student from Bangladesh was sharing a two-bedroom flat with 20 other men in London. On…
PAKISTAN and China have signed 20 deals during the maiden visit of interim prime minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar to enhance cooperation under the Beijing-backed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to a joint statement last Friday (20). Kakar visited China from last Monday (16) to Friday (20) and attended the Third…
FORMER prime minister David Cameron has drawn criticism for participating in events linked to investment in the Chinese-backed Colombo Port City, media reports said. The main developer behind the Sri Lankan port project is CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd, which is ultimately controlled by the Beijing-based state-owned company China Communications…
THE US and Britain urged New Delhi not to insist Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the June murder in a Vancouver suburb of…
INDIA on Saturday (21) successfully launched the first unmanned trial run of its upcoming crewed orbital mission, in the latest milestone for its spacefaring ambitions. The Gaganyaan ("Skycraft") mission is slated to send three astronauts into Earth's orbit in 2025, an important yardstick of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO)…
ROCKING revolutionary Shammi Kapoor introduced the kind of swagger into Bollywood that enabled the Hindi film hero to connect with a more globalised audience. From his cool style and good looks to high energy performances, he became a magnificent movie icon and delivered marvellous musicals filled with magical moments. Then…
SRI LANKA last Wednesday (11) welcomed China’s tentative agreement to a debt restructure, as the island nation works to restore its finances after suffering its worst-ever economic crisis. The government defaulted on its $46 billion (£37.7bn) debt last year at a time when months of food and fuel shortages were…
INDIA wants to push developed nations to become carbon negative rather than carbon neutral by 2050, arguing it would allow emerging market economies more time to use fossil fuels for development needs, two official Indian sources said. The country, which is resisting calls to commit to a deadline for phasing…
The UK automakers industry on Wednesday (18) warned that they would soon face a detrimental 10-per cent increase in customs duties on electric cars crossing the Channel. Britain left the European Union in early 2021 after clinching a last-gasp free trade agreement that removed tariffs on cars. But under the…
INDIA aims to install the first part of an early warning system at some high-risk glacial lakes in the Himalayas next year, a senior official said on Monday (16), as the country responds to deadly floods this month that killed at least 60 people. There are 56 at-risk glacial lakes…
SINGAPORE celebrated its first athletic gold win in 49 years at the Asian Games with its Indianorigin sprinter Shanti Pereira winning the women’s 200m final in Hangzhou. Pereira clocked 23.03 seconds to finish the race last Monday (2) at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. It was the first athletics…
Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia and Southeast University in China have found that consuming black tea daily can significantly decrease the risk and progression of type 2 diabetes in individuals by enhancing blood sugar control. Their study revealed that regular black tea drinkers experienced a 53% lower…
PAKISTAN and China have agreed to invite third parties to participate in the $60 billion (£48.86bn) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, a top Pakistani diplomat has said. The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the country’s ambassador to China, Moinul Haque,…
THE police in India have formally accused Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi Corp and Vivo Mobile of helping transfer funds illegally to a news portal under investigation on charges of spreading Chinese propaganda, documents showed last Friday (6). A Xiaomi India spokesperson strongly denied the accusation. A spokesperson from Vivo did…
GLOBAL contraceptive makers are betting on condom-shy India becoming their biggest growth market, following the blockbuster IPO of a domestic prophylactic maker just weeks after the UN said the country would become the most populous by mid-year. With population decline and ageing societies in major markets such as Europe, Japan…
INDIA's financial crime agency on Tuesday (10) arrested four industry executives including one Chinese national working for smartphone maker Vivo in India in a case of alleged money laundering, according to legal papers and lawyers working on the case. The arrest adds to the legal troubles of the Chinese phone…
THE president-elect of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, has marked his victory with a pledge to end the foreign military presence in his small but strategically placed atoll nation. Muizzu, 45, addressing his first public rally after winning the runoff election on September 30, stopped short of naming India, the only…
THE death toll from flash floods unleashed by a glacial lake bursting its banks in India's Himalayas climbed to 74 on Monday (9) with 101 people still missing days after the calamity struck, according to provincial officials. Following days of torrential rain in the northeastern state of Sikkim, torrents of…
The Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey was inaugurated on Sunday, October 8, 2023, marking a remarkable achievement by over 12,500 volunteers across the US who dedicated millions of hours to build the temple. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Akshardham stands as the largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern…
Ace designer Rahul Mishra is putting Indian textiles and craftsmanship on the global map through his designs. International artistes such as Zendaya and Gigi Hadid have worn his ensembles on several occasions. And now singer-actor Selena Gomez has turned his muse. Selena recently attended the Rare Impact Fund Gala wearing…
AT LEAST 14 people were killed and 102 are missing after heavy rains caused a Himalayan glacial lake in northeast India to burst its banks, and rescuers were being hampered by washed out bridges and fast flowing rivers, said officials on Thursday (5). The Lhonak lake in Sikkim state burst…
Leading Indian production houses Reliance Entertainment and Jio Studios have teamed up with filmmakers Mrighdeep Lamba, Gurmmeet Singh, and Shilpi Dasgupta for Paan Parda Zarda, an epic gangster series set against the world of illegal opium smuggling in central India. Paan Parda Zarda went on floors on Tuesday. It stars…
INDIAN trailblazer Neeraj Chopra added Asian Games gold to his Olympic and world titles in javelin on Wednesday (4) as his nation celebrated its biggest medal haul at the continental showpiece in Hangzhou. India's first Olympic athletics champion threw 88.88 metres, more than 0.70m further than Budapest where the 25-year-old…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) did not reach a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka in its first review under a $2.9 billion (£2.39bn) bailout package, due to a potential shortfall in government revenue generation, the fund said last Wednesday (27). The IMF delegation head, Peter Breuer, said a second tranche…
THE Indian army said Wednesday (4) that 23 soldiers were missing after a powerful flash flood caused by intense rainfall tore through a remote valley in the mountainous northeast Sikkim state. A video released by an Indian army spokesman showed a thick torrent of raging brown water sweeping down a…
INDIA target a third World Cup when cricket's global showpiece gets underway on Thursday (5) with the country buoyed by a growing, international self-confidence and with a sport which unites and divides the sub-continent like no other on the verge of joining the Olympic elite. The epic tournament features 10…
INDIA's Swapna Barman on Monday (2) sparked a controversy with sensational allegations that she lost out on a bronze medal in the women's heptathlon competition of the ongoing Asian Games to a "transgender" athlete. Swapna, who had won the gold medal in the 2018 edition of the Asian Games in…
INDIA’S telecoms major Bharti Enterprises will have a 21.1 per cent stake in Eutelsat Group, formed by the merger of the European satellite operator Eutelsat and the UK’s OneWeb.Eutelsat Group, which will remain headquartered in Paris, has named Sunil Bharti Mittal as its co-chair.OneWeb will be a subsidiary operating commercially…
During the second 2024 presidential primary debate on Wednesday (27) for the Republican party, the seven participating candidates sought to persuade voters that they could serve as a credible alternative to the frontrunner, Donald Trump, who opted not to attend the event. Here are some key takeaways from the sometimes-disorderly…
India-China relations have remained in an "abnormal state" since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which external affairs minister S. Jaishankar has described as a "possibly longer than medium-term issue". He has also emphasised that none of Beijing's explanations for the buildup of its forces along the LAC are truly justifiable.…
PAKISTAN is striving to get donors to release $10 billion (£8.22bn) in pledges to help it recover from devastating floods by launching rebuilding projects that hinge on the funding, care taker prime minister Anwaar-ul-haq Kakar said last Friday (22). Donors from around the world stepped up after Pakistan was hammered…
FRINGED by forested mountains in eastern China, the Zhejiang University of Technology might seem an unlikely battleground for cricketing powers with Olympic ambitions. But on Monday (25), it was the focus of much of south Asia as India’s women beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the Asian Games final,…
Charge d'Affaires at the Chinese embassy Ma Jia has expressed China's desire to expedite the resumption of practical cooperation with India and highlighted the shared "ability" to establish friendly coexistence and collaboratively shape the 'Asian century'. At an event hosted by the embassy on Monday (25) to mark the 74th…
ASIAN visitors to the Royal Academy may be baffled, possibly even a little scandalised, by Marina Abramovic’s solo exhibition. Born in 1946 in then Yugoslavia, she is credited with bringing performance art into the mainstream. In a career lasting 55 years, she has pushed her own body to the extremes…
CANADA’S Sikh community is hoping Ottawa’s accusations against India – that New Delhi may have been involved in the assassination of one of their leaders on Canadian soil – will be just the first dramatic step taken against alleged “Indian interference.” Prime minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion last Monday (18) that…
ARMY chiefs and senior officers from 30 countries, including the US, met in India on Tuesday (26) to discuss threats facing the Asia-Pacific region, in the face of concern at an increasingly assertive China. US Army chief Randy George said the region was "critically important", speaking to reporters alongside his…
America has expressed concern to Sri Lanka about the likely visit of a Chinese research ship in October that could also cause worries in India, which previously raised security concerns over docking by China's spy vessels, according to a media report. US under-secretary Victoria Nuland, who met Sri Lankan foreign…
China has refused to further expand cooperation in the areas of energy, water management, and climate change under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it emerged on Tuesday (26) signalling a strain in the 'ironclad' friendship between the allies. Cash-strapped Pakistan also gave up its opposition to setting up a…
In a historic achievement, India's dressage team clinched its first-ever Asian Games gold medal, marking only the second victory in this discipline's history. The quartet of Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Vipul Hriday Chheda, and Anush Agarwalla successfully lived up to the high expectations on Tuesday (26) in Hangzhou. The Indian…
INDIA target a third World Cup triumph when the country hosts cricket's seven-week global showpiece, buoyed by an economic boom and growing, international self-confidence. India shared hosting with Pakistan in 1987, then Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1996 before another three-way split with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011. This…
Indian shooters made a significant impact at the Asian Games, securing three medals, including a team gold. They showcased their excellence with a total of five podium finishes in just two days of competition in Hangzhou, firmly establishing their prowess in marksmanship. A confident Indian 10m air rifle team led…
THE US made clear that it expected the Indian government to work with Canada on efforts to investigate the possible involvement of New Delhi agents in the murder of a Canadian citizen in June. Prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday (18) that Ottawa had credible intelligence linking Indian agents…
THREE Indian martial arts athletes from a region claimed by China have been forced to pull out of the Asian Games in Hangzhou after not receiving clearance from the host country, reports said Friday (22). The three women wushu fighters are from the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, a…
GLOBAL contraceptive makers are betting on condom-shy India becoming their biggest growth market, following the blockbuster IPO of a domestic prophylactic maker just weeks after the UN said the country would become the most populous by mid-year. With population decline and aging societies in major markets such as Europe, Japan…
CANADA this week divulged it had intelligence possibly linking Indian government agents to the murder of a separatist Sikh leader, the kind of news that usually sparks uproar among democratic allies. Not this time. India is being courted by the United States and others as a counterweight to China, and…
The leading figures in Italian fashion are presenting their creations at Milan Fashion Week, starting Wednesday (20) with anticipation soaring for the debut Gucci collection under its newly appointed creative director. Almost 70 catwalk shows are scheduled over six days in the northern Italian city, with Fendi, Prada, Versace, Dolce…
ESPORTS’ debut as a medal event at the Asian Games starting this week will change attitudes and be a major step towards Olympic recognition at last, gamers and experts say. Gaming was a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games but gold medals will be up for grabs this time…
According to a study published in The Obesity Society's (TOS) flagship journal, the optimal time to enhance the connection between daily moderate to vigorous physical activity and obesity seems to be from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., despite contradictory epidemiological discoveries regarding the most effective exercise timing for weight control.…
A SHOPKEEPER from Peckham, south London, has gone into hiding after protests erupted over a video surfaced of him “choking” a female customer when an argument broke out over a refund. Sohail Sindho said he was “forced” to pull his three sons out of school following growing protests at his…
INDIA head coach Igor Stimac said his second-string men's team "ran out of gas" in the second half against China but hailed the players as "heroes" despite a 5-1 drubbing in their Asian Games opener on Tuesday (19). With most local clubs refusing to release key players, citing domestic and…
CANADA'S Sikh community is hoping Ottawa's shock accusations against India - that New Delhi may have been involved in the assassination of one of their leaders on Canadian soil - will be just the first dramatic step taken against alleged "Indian interference." Prime minister Justin Trudeau's assertion on Monday (18)…
CALLING the H-1B visa programme "indentured servitude", Indian-American Republican presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to "gut" the lottery-based system and replace it with meritocratic admission if he wins the race to the White House in 2024. The H-1B visa, the much-sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa…
GUCCI, Cartier and Louis Vuitton are among brands to sign leases for stores in Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani's new Mumbai mall, as luxury firms and Reliance Industries seek to profit from strong economic growth and a rapid rise in the number of millionaires. The Jio World Plaza, which an industry…
THE G20 Summit in New Delhi has positioned India as a key player in the global arena, edging closer to becoming the 'leader of the Global South,' according to analysts. The two-day summit, which concluded on Sunday (10), showcased India's leadership as it championed initiatives aimed at countering the ascendancy…
CRISIS-HIT Sri Lanka must convince IMF officials that it has met key goals under a $2.9 billion bailout to push forward debt restructuring efforts crucial to a recovery for its battered economy. The officials, set to arrive in Colombo on Thursday (14), will assess the island's performance under a four-year…
A minister disclosed on Wednesday (13) that the MI5 security service of Britain had issued a warning to the governing Conservative party about the potential spying activities of two prospective MPs with alleged ties to China. Information regarding the counsel, provided in both 2021 and 2022, has surfaced recently. This…
HOPES of a return to democracy in juntaruled Myanmar are being crushed by “systematic repression”, United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said last Thursday (7) at a summit in Indonesia with the United States, China and regional leaders. Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a 2021 military coup ousted…
The Rig Veda inscriptions and Panini's grammar treatise 'Ashtadhyayi,' which were India's contributions to the G20 'Culture Corridor' exhibition held at the summit venue, have been exhibited under the name of 'Bharat.' The Rig Veda, an ancient Indian text representing the country's contribution to the international project in the 'symbols…
INDIA’S road transport minister on Tuesday (12) said he will propose an additional 10 per cent tax on diesel vehicles and warned automakers of even higher levies to come to force them away from diesel-burners and cut fuel emissions and pollution. Nitin Gadkari made the comments at the Society of…
HUNDREDS of articles praising Bangladeshi government policies apparently by independent experts have appeared in national and international media but the authors have questionable credentials, fake photos, and may not even exist, an AFP investigation has found. Commentators say it is evidence of a sustained campaign of disinformation by unknown actors…
AFTER communal clashes in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area last year, police said they used facial recognition technology to identify and arrest dozens of men, the second such instance after a more violent riot in the Indian capital in 2020. In both cases, most of those charged were Muslims, leading human rights…
US CHIP firm Nvidia on Friday (8) announced AI partnerships with Indian conglomerates Reliance Industries and Tata Group to develop cloud infrastructure and language models, as well as generative applications. The deals with two of India’s largest business houses will help the US chip firm deepen inroads to the emerging…
A MAN reported to be a UK parliamentary researcher who was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing on Monday (11) said he was “completely innocent” and not a “Chinese spy”. The man, whose identity has not been released by UK authorities but is said to be in his 20s,…
Nandini Das from the UK and Kris Manjapra from the US, both with Indian heritage are among the six global writers announced on Tuesday (12) for the 2023 British Academy Book Prize, for Global Cultural Understanding, a prestigious international non-fiction award valued at GBP 25,000. Nandini Das, originally from India,…
INDIA's road transport minister on Tuesday (12) said he will propose an additional 10 per cent tax on diesel vehicles and warned automakers of even higher levies to come to force them away from diesel-burners and cut fuel emissions and pollution. Nitin Gadkari made the comments at the Society of…
HEADING to New Delhi for the G20 summit might have felt like a great escape for Rishi Sunak, leaving behind crumbling concrete in classrooms and damning opinion polls for his first visit to India as Prime Minister. The Sunaks were greeted enthusiastically by the Indian media. A British Prime Minister…
During his G20 presidency, Narendra Modi strategically enhanced his domestic and international reputation as a guardian of national influence and well-being, emphasising India's global standing in anticipation of the upcoming general elections next year. Over several months, the 72-year-old leader's presence has been pervasive throughout Delhi, as his image adorned…
Popular Irish music group Westlife is set to enthrall fans in India as the band travels to the country for its much-anticipated "The Wild Dreams" Tour this November. The global bestselling pop band, consisting of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily, will perform live in Mumbai, Bengaluru,…
French president Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday (10) that the G20 leaders' declaration "confirms" Russia's isolation regarding the Ukraine crisis. He also noted that India's presidency of the bloc made significant efforts to convey a message of unity and peace to the world. At a media briefing, he also said…
Narendra Modi concluded the G20 summit on Sunday, which notably downplayed significant disagreements regarding the Ukraine conflict and climate change. Despite the contentious issues, the summit afforded him a diplomatic moment in the spotlight. The ongoing Ukraine conflict has deeply divided G20 nations since Moscow's invasion last year, leading Russian…
I landed in Delhi on the 24th of August, the day after India successfully landed a spacecraft on the south pole of the moon, making it 1 of only 4 countries in the world to have landed on the moon. In his excellent speech at the B20, prime minister Narendra…
FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron was in Bangladesh on Monday (11) in a bid to "consolidate" his country’s Indo-Pacific strategy and counterbalance a "new imperialism" in a region where China's influence is increasingly being extended. "Based on democratic principles and the rule of law, in a region facing new imperialism, we…
China has lashed out at media reports alleging a man who was arrested on suspicion of espionage was gathering intelligence for Beijing, labelling the claim a "political farce". UK police said over the weekend that they had arrested a man in his twenties at his home in Edinburgh for spying,…
GLOBAL leaders announced a multinational rail and ports deal linking the Middle East and South Asia on Saturday (9) on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. The pact comes at a critical time as US president Joe Biden seeks to counter China's Belt and Road push on…
THE Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration at a summit on Saturday (9) that avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory. Prime minister Narendra Modi of host India announced that the…
LEADERS of the world's wealthiest and most influential nations are set to convene at the two-day G20 Summit in India's capital, New Delhi, commencing on Saturday (9). This marks India's inaugural hosting of this prestigious assembly of global leaders. The capital city has been adorned with ornate flowers and fountains…
Among the prominent leaders arriving in India’s capital city on Friday (8) morning for the G20 summit are Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentine president Alberto Fernández, and IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva. The G20 leaders will deliberate on pressing global issues at the grouping's annual summit on September 9 and…
US president Joe Biden headed for the G20 in India on Thursday (7) promising that the summit would "deliver" despite the absence of the Chinese and Russian leaders. Biden is hoping to seize on the no-shows by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to boost US influence, and show that the…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi said Thursday (7) that leaders of the G20 summit he is chairing this weekend must support developing nations to tackle climate change with more cash and by sharing technology. Against a backdrop of record-breaking temperatures and deadly heatwaves across the globe, climate scientists and activists…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the significance of India's diversity and its remarkable achievements, asserting that it is the opportune moment for the nation to assume the G20 presidency. He praised prime minister Narendra Modi's leadership over the past year and highlighted that India's leadership in the G20 comes at…
HUNDREDS of articles praising Bangladeshi government policies apparently by independent experts have appeared in national and international media but the authors have questionable credentials, fake photos, and may not even exist, an investigation has found. Commentators say it is evidence of a sustained campaign of disinformation by unknown actors ahead…
CHINA'S president Xi Jinping skipping this week's G20 summit in New Delhi was not unusual and will not affect negotiations to produce a consensus communique at the meeting, Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said. The September 9-10 summit of leaders of the world's richest countries is being held in the…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak's family will prepare a banquet in New Delhi this week in his honour as the leader will be in India to attend the G20 summit. The family will host a feast with flower bouquets and "non-stop dancing" to Punjabi music in the Indian capital on Thursday…
Karan Johar's directorial Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani will be screened at the 2023 edition of the Busan International Film Festival, the organisers announced Tuesday. The romance drama, which released in India in July and amassed over £30 million at the box office, will be showcased under the 'Open…
PRIME minister Narendra Modi has said the perception of India has changed as the country prepares to host world leaders at the G20 summit this weekend. In an interview with the Press Trust of India news agency, Modi also called on the United Nations to reform in line with 21st…
INDIA launched major military drills on Monday (4), including along contested border areas with China, which will continue during the G20 summit in New Delhi that president Xi Jinping will skip. The 11 days of drills named "Trishul", or trident, were "an annual training exercise" in northern zones bordering Pakistan…
US president Joe Biden will travel to India next week to participate in the G20 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi on September 8, the White House has announced. India, president of the G20, will host global leaders for the summit scheduled to take…
FOLLOWING quickly on the success of India's moon landing, the country's space agency launched a rocket on Saturday (2) to study the sun in its first solar mission. The rocket left a trail of smoke and fire as scientists clapped, a live broadcast on the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO)…
The 67th BFI London Film Festival, which is scheduled to be presented over twelve days from 4 to 15 October 2023, has announced the full programme line-up. The London Film Festival will invite audiences to return to its flagship venues in the heart of London – BFI Southbank and the…
CHINA has ramped up the construction of military facilities along its de facto border with India, which experts regard as Beijing’s preparations for an “eventuality of hostilities”. Satellite imagery from the American firm Maxar has shown Chinese infrastructure including bunkers and tunnels being built into the hillside in Aksai Chin,…
Singaporean citizens participated in the nation's first contested presidential election on Friday (1), in over a decade. This three-way race features former minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who aspires to become the next Singaporean-born Indian-origin head of the state. Eligible voters started casting their ballots at 8 a.m. when polling stations opened.…
ABOUT 80 per cent of Indians have a favourable view of prime minister Narendra Modi and around seven in 10 Indians believe their country has recently become more influential, according to a survey by the PEW Research Center. The survey, released ahead of the G20 Summit, also noted that public…
THE successful Chandrayaan-3 moon mission last week elevates the country’s status as a space power and has geopolitical implications in the region, science and security experts said, as the country’s space organisation revealed its next project – to study the sun. Days after becoming the first nation to land a…
BRITISH foreign secretary James Cleverly said he had raised human rights concerns at "every single one" of his meetings with top Chinese officials, as he made a state visit to Beijing on Wednesday (30). Cleverly, the first UK foreign minister to visit China in five years, held talks with Chinese…
Deepa Mehta, Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, Lukas Moodysson, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi are among the filmmakers whose titles have made it to the official competition section of the upcoming 67th edition of the British Film Institute’s (BFI) London Film Festival. Eleven films have been selected to screen in the official competition, competing…
THE European Union last Saturday (26) voiced concerns over a “rapid” rise in refined petroleum products made from Russian crude oil in India finding their way to the European market. Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU executive vice-president and commissioner for trade, said oil products processed from Russian crude oil were arriving…
India has conveyed a strong protest to China regarding an unveiled map that asserts ownership over Indian territory. The map, made public by China's ministry of natural resources on Monday (28), shows the disputed Aksai Chin plateau and the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of China's territory, the…
INDIA’S Mirabai Chanu will not lift at all at next week’s World Championships, a compulsory qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as she aims for an elusive Asian Games medal. The World Championships are scheduled from next Monday (4) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while the Asian Games is set…
VARIETY is the spice of life, as the saying goes, and the restaurant sector is embracing this with new fusion cuisines and combinations. Palmito, an Ecuadorean-Indian restaurant in Brighton, Sussex, is among the businesses earning rave reviews with dishes such as grilled squid in a Keralan roast style sauce, and…
BRICS leaders announced last Thursday (24) the “historic” admission of six countries, as the bloc seeks to reshape the Westerlies global order and expand its influence. BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – agreed at their annual summit to make Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and…
Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in south Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report published on Tuesday (29) which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health. The region, which includes the world's most polluted…
RUSSIA will be represented by its foreign minister at the G20 summit in New Delhi, president Vladimir Putin told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in a phone call on Monday (28) where the two leaders also discussed bilateral ties. The two leaders also spoke about the planned expansion of the…
Days after becoming the first nation to land a craft near the Moon's largely unexplored south pole, India's space agency said on Monday it will launch a satellite to survey the Sun. "The launch of Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, is scheduled for September 2,"…
INDIA'S budget Moon landing is a model for other countries aspiring to develop their own space programmes, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday (26) while praising the scientists behind the successful mission. Chandrayaan-3 - mooncraft in Sanskrit - touched down on the lunar surface on Wednesday (23), making India…
INDIAN prodigy R Praggnanandhaa could not pull off a repeat of his giant-killing acts of the last few days as fancied Magnus Carlsen beat him 1.5-0.5 in the tie-break to win the FIDE World Cup in Baki on Thursday (24). Praggnanandhaa's dream run in the tournament ended at the hands…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi spoke to China's president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg and highlighted concerns India has about border issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India's foreign secretary said. Modi and Xi agreed "to direct their relevant officials to intensify…
INDIAN-AMERICAN US presidential aspirants Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy clashed during the Republican Party’s maiden presidential primary debate over foreign policy issues, with the former South Carolina governor criticising her rival and entrepreneur for lacking foreign policy experience and supporting Russia. Haley, 51, and Ramaswamy, 38, have been clashing over…
THE five BRICS developing nations will admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates, they said on Thursday (24), a move aimed at growing the clout of the bloc as it pushes to rebalance the prevailing world order. The expansion could also pave the way for…
INDIA began exploring the Moon's surface with a rover on Thursday (24), a day after it became the first nation to land a craft near the largely unexplored lunar south pole. Pragyan -- "Wisdom" in Sanskrit -- rolled out of the lander hours after the latest milestone in India's ambitious…
It was a proud moment for India as on Wednesday it scripted history with the successful soft landing of its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole region of the moon. Wishes for this historic feat have been pouring in from all around the world. Social media is flooded with…
LEADERS of the BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – were due to open a summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday (22) where they will weigh expanding membership as some members push to forge the bloc into a counterweight to the West. Heightened global tensions provoked by…
AN Indian spacecraft landed on the rugged, unexplored south pole of the moon on Wednesday (23) in a mission seen as crucial to lunar exploration and India's standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed. "This moment is unforgettable. It is phenomenal. This is a…
Shah Rukh Khan, Allu Arjun, SS Rajamouli, and Kareena Kapoor Khan were among several cinema personalities who were “over the moon” after India’s third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole on Wednesday after a 41-day voyage. Congratulatory messages started flooding social media in the praise of…
Cinema personalities, including Akshay Kumar, Chiranjeevi, Jr NTR, and Sunny Deol, on Wednesday congratulated the country and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the historic achievement of Chandrayaan-3's landing on the moon. India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, launching…
THE Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) is closing in on an attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon's south pole. Here are key facts about the Chandrayaan-3 mission. WHAT IS INDIA'S CHANDRAYAAN-3 MISSION? The Chandrayaan-3 is aimed at the lunar south pole, a region with water ice, or frozen…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden will urge reforms to the IMF and World Bank that will better serve developing country needs at the G20 summit in New Delhi next month, the White House said on Tuesday (22). White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the two institutions need to offer…
Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Pooja Hirwade performed a Bharatanatyam piece on 'Namo Namo Bharatambe' and Chandrayaan Anthem on Wednesday. According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is all set to create history by landing on the uncharted south pole of the moon today. Sharing her excitement, Pooja Hirwade told…
THE space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon’s south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money. If India’s Chandrayaan-3 succeeds in landing on the lunar south pole on Wednesday (23), analysts and executives expect an immediate…
INDIA readied Wednesday (23) to become the first nation to land a spacecraft on the Moon's south pole, days after a Russian probe crashed in the same region. The latest attempted Moon landing is a historic moment for the world's most populous nation, as it rapidly closes in on milestones…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden will urge reforms to the IMF and World Bank that will better serve developing country needs at the G20 summit in New Delhi next month, the White House said on Tuesday (22). White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the two institutions need to offer…
Leaders of the BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – were due to open a summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday (22) where they will weigh expanding membership as some members push to forge the bloc into a counterweight to the West. Heightened global tensions provoked by…
The space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon's south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money. If India's Chandrayaan-3 succeeds in landing on the lunar south pole on Wednesday (23), analysts and executives expect an immediate…
Colombo announced on Tuesday (22), that China has sought approval for a research ship to anchor in Sri Lanka. This request comes after the visit of a spacecraft-tracking vessel last year, which had raised security apprehensions from India. Sri Lankan foreign ministry spokeswoman Priyanga Wickramasinghe said Beijing had sought permission…
India's space agency on Monday (21) released images its spacecraft took of the far side of the moon as it headed for an attempted landing on the lunar south pole, just days after the failure of a Russian lander. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro) Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft had been in…
INDIA will impose with immediate effect a 40 per cent export duty on onions up to December 31 in an attempt to improve domestic availability of the vegetable, the ministry of finance said in a notification on Saturday (19). The duty imposed by the world's biggest exporter of onions will…
The first summit on traditional medicine was initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday (17) with the objective to gather evidence and data that would facilitate the secure utilisation of such treatments. Traditional medicines are a "first port of call for millions of people worldwide", the UN health…
THE son-in-law of Lord Patten of Barnes, the former governor of Hong Kong, was convicted for his part in the shooting at the PBK curry house in Greenford, west London, reported The Telegraph. Elton Charles, 51, who is married to Patten's daughter Laura, 48, was convicted of his part in…
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami has said, the Group of 20 (G20) stands as the foremost platform globally for fostering inclusive growth. He remarked that India's current presidency of the G20 has played a pivotal role in amplifying the perspectives of the Global South, contributing to the…
CASH-STRAPPED Sri Lanka announced on Tuesday (15) that it was scrapping a $3.85 billion (£3.03bn) deal to build an oil refinery that was set to become the island nation’s largest foreign investment. Energy minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the cabinet terminated the agreement on Monday (14) because Singapore-registered Silver Park International…
INDIAN wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who helped lead protests demanding the sport's national chief step down over sexual harassment allegations, has pulled out of next month's Asian Games with a knee injury. Phogat, who won gold in the women's 50kg freestyle in the last edition of the Asian Games, injured herself…
TAIWANESE tech giant and key Apple supplier Foxconn said on Monday (14) it sees the potential to invest “several billion dollars” in India, with the firm looking to diversify its manufacturing away from China. Foxconn – also known by its official name Hon Hai Precision Industry – is the world’s…
Pakistan's president Arif Alvi issued an appeal on Monday (14) to political leaders, urging them to set aside their discord and animosity. The plea came as the financially strained nation marked its 76th Independence Day anniversary. Addressing a flag hoisting ceremony held at the Convention Centre, the president also expressed…
A Chinese Navy warship with surveillance capabilities has recently arrived at the Colombo port, marking its presence almost a year after a different spy vessel caused concerns in India by berthing at a strategic port in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy reported that the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy…
INDIA, Japan, the United States and Australia will hold the Malabar navy exercise off the coast of Sydney on Friday (11), the first time the war games previously held in the Indian Ocean have taken place in Australia. Japanese and Indian navy vessels stopped in Pacific Island countries Solomon Islands…
A SLOWDOWN in in global consumption and a rise in energy costs following the outbreak of war in Ukraine have compounded problems for Pakistan’s industrial manufacturing sector. The textile sector, which accounts for about 60 per cent of Pakistan’s exports, has been hit by the critical state of the country’s…
INDIA will remain an “active and willing partner” to find a “lasting” solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the country’s national security advisor said, after attending a peace conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last Sunday (6). Ajit Doval told delegates the responsibility to end the war was in the hands…
New research published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal suggests that the mitigation of air pollution could potentially contribute to the reduction of antibiotic resistance. The study indicates that addressing air pollution may play a role in countering the phenomenon where disease-causing microorganisms develop resistance to antibiotics, rendering these drugs…
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers will travel to India to take part in the Red Fort address of prime minister Narendra Modi on the country’s Independence Day on August 15, according to an official statement. The bipartisan Congressional delegation is led by Indian-American congressman Ro Khanna and congressman Michael…
INDIA in recent months has barred domestic manufacturers of military drones from using components made in China over concerns about security vulnerabilities, according to four defence and industry officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. The measure comes amid tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours and as New Delhi pursues a military…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi will attend the next BRICS summit to be held Johannesburg in-person from August 22, the South African government has said. It dismissed some media reports as "rumours" that the Indian leader will not take part in the meeting of the five-nation grouping. The BRICS bloc…
INVESTIGATORS scoured the wreckage on Monday (7) of a weekend train derailment that killed at least 34 people, the latest deadly crash to hit Pakistan's antiquated railway network. More than 1,000 passengers were aboard the Hazara Express when it came off the tracks in a flat, rural part of Sindh…
INDIA'S latest space mission entered the Moon's orbit on Saturday (5) ahead of the country's second attempted lunar landing, as its cut-price space programme seeks to reach new heights. The world's most populous nation has a comparatively low-budget aerospace programme that is rapidly closing in on the milestones set by…
In anticipation of the forthcoming BRICS summit in South Africa, where discussions will revolve around the potential admission of new members, India refuted on Thursday (03) any validity to the "baseless" reports suggesting its opposition to the expansion of the five-nation alliance. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi addressed this matter…
India will take part in the Ukraine peace talks to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 5 and 6, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, Arindam Bagchi, announced during a news briefing on Thursday (03). The talks have been initiated by Saudi Arabia, which extended invitations to Western…
INDIA on Thursday (3) said it will impose a licensing requirement for imports of laptops, tablets and personal computers with immediate effect, a move that could hit hard the likes of Apple, Dell and Samsung and force them to boost local manufacturing. Current regulations in India allow companies to import…
PAKISTAN has quietly approved the signing of a new security pact with the US, a move that indicates a fresh start in defence cooperation between the two nations, a media report said. The federal cabinet gave its seal of approval to sign the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement,…
INDIAN football’s “rapid strides in recent past” and an upsurge in public interest in the sport presented a “compelling case” for the inclusion of the men’s and women’s teams for the upcoming Asian Games, national federation president Kalyan Chaubey said. The participation of the Indian men’s and women’s football sides…
PAKISTAN is unlikely to meet a target for Russian crude to make up two-thirds of its oil imports, despite attractive prices, hampered by a shortage of foreign currency and limitations at its refineries and ports, officials and analysts say. The cash-strapped country became Russia’s latest customer snapping up discounted crude…
GREEN finance is growing fast in Bangladesh, official data shows, with the central bank and private banks boosting efforts to encourage companies from brick-makers to textile mills to invest in technology and solutions that tackle climate change. Considered one of the most climatevulnerable countries – due to impacts like worsening…
China should encourage its citizens to join counter-espionage work, including creating channels for individuals to report suspicious activity as well as commending and rewarding them, the state security ministry said on Tuesday. A system that makes it "normal" for the masses to participate in counter-espionage must be established, wrote the…
“WHO was Winston Churchill – the saviour of his nation or a racist imperialist?” This is the rather blunt question that will be examined in the opening session of a debut literary festival next month, to mark the 70th anniversary of Churchill winning the Nobel Prize for literature. It was…
JAPAN pressed bankrupt Sri Lanka last Saturday (29) to expedite its debt restructuring, including with its biggest creditor China, to stabilise the island nation’s economy after an unprecedented financial crisis. Tokyo’s foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi welcomed economic reforms under the auspices of an International Monetary Fund bailout, but said Sri…
CHINESE vice-premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad last Sunday (30) to mark the 10th anniversary of a massive economic plan that is the cornerstone of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Since its initiation in 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has seen tens of billions of dollars funnelled into huge…
BANGLADESH remains a major hub for the poaching of endangered tigers despite government claims of a successful crackdown on pirate groups involved in the trade, according to research published last Friday (28). The vast Sundarbans mangrove forest straddling India and Bangladesh hosts one of the world’s largest populations of Bengal…
CHINA will continue to work with its all-weather ally Pakistan to take their strategic ties to new heights, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said as the two countries celebrated the 10th anniversary of the launch of the ambitious CPEC infrastructure projects in the South Asian country for regional connectivity. In…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi laid bare his blueprint for a third term of his government, saying India will become the third largest economy in the world with a faster growth rate than now. Modi government will complete 10 years in office next May and he is seeking a third…
STEELMAKER ArcelorMittal said on Thursday (27) its net profit sank in the first half of the year, as prices for the metal fell from the peaks reached at the start of the Ukraine war. Higher interest rates, which were raised by central banks to combat inflation, also weighed on demand…
INDIA's decision to ban rice exports and the looming El Niño have resulted in panic buying in the west and price increase may push poorer countries towards hunger, reports said. Buyers from Africa to Asia are likely to scramble for rice shipments as supplies tighten in coming months following India's…
CHINA has granted Pakistan a two-year rollover on a $2.4 billion loan, Islamabad said Thursday (27), giving the debt-saddled nation breathing space in its balance-of-payments crisis. Soaring inflation, shrinking dollar reserves and crippling foreign debt led Pakistan to the brink of default before a pivotal $3 bn IMF bailout was…
INDIA'S pharmaceutical exports this fiscal year are set to grow nearly twice as fast as last year to hit sales of $27 billion, driven by strong US buying, a government-backed trade body said, despite deaths linked to Indian-made cough syrups. The robust forecast comes against the backdrop of earlier concerns…
An Indian man named Abraham A, a former paramilitary soldier from Kerala made a remarkable discovery in 2020. While taking a bath, he noticed a peculiar “red thread in the bucket.” To his surprise, the thread was moving, prompting him to investigate further. He placed the mysterious creature, later identified…
A new survey has revealed that 33 per cent of Indian-Americans are willing to return to their country of origin. The survey by Pew Research Center thinktank published on Wednesday (19) added that 76 per cent of Indian -Americans hold a favorable opinion of India, with 51 per cent of…
CHINA has agreed to reschedule more than $2 billion debt of Pakistan for two years, providing a major relief to the cash-starved government, which is in the process of rebuilding foreign exchange reserves through fresh loans. Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), chaired by finance minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday (20),…
THE Group of 20 (G20) major economies meeting in India failed on Saturday (22) to reach consensus on phasing down fossil fuels following objections by some producer nations. Scientists and campaigners are exasperated by international bodies' foot-dragging on action to curb global warming even as extreme weather from China to…
INDIA's Reliance Industries reported weaker-than-expected quarterly profits Friday (21), weighed down by its oil-to-chemicals arm even as its consumer-facing divisions posted healthy profits. Reliance, owned by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, reported a 10.8 per cent fall in net profit to Rs 160.1 billion (£1.5bn) in the three months to…
The governments of India and Sri Lanka on Friday (21) revealed their plans to enhance economic relations through increased cooperation in renewable energy and the exploration of a potential oil pipeline and land bridge connecting the two countries. Additionally, India will provide support in developing a port and economic hub…
INDIA on Thursday (20) ordered a halt to its largest rice export category in a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world's largest exporter of the grain. New Delhi’s move triggers fears of further inflation on global food markets. The government said it was imposing a ban on…
HEADING into the supermarket for the weekly shop, we are greeted by a life-size cardboard cut-out of four of England's women footballers. They are there because the women’s World Cup is about to kick off and to promote the official FIFA tournament beer too. (6am and 9am kick-offs broadcast from…
ACE Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen fought hard before going down in three games against the eventual winner Li Shi Feng of China in the men’s singles semi-finals of the US Open badminton tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Sen, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and seeded third, lost 17-21, 24-22, 17-21…
THE Indian mixed 4x400m relay quartet won gold in the mixed relay event at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, last Saturday (15). The quartet of Rajesh Ramesh, Aishwarya Mishra, Amoj Jacob and Subha Venkatesan clinched top spot in 3 minutes and 14.70 seconds. Meanwhile, star Indian long jumper…
Sri Lanka's president is scheduled to arrive in India on Thursday (20) for his first visit to the country, with concerns mounting in New Delhi over China's increasing influence in the strategically placed but financially bankrupt island. New Sri Lankan leaders usually travel to India within a few weeks of…
The new head of the World Bank said Tuesday (18) that growing divides between rich and poor nations risked deepening poverty in the developing world. Ajay Banga said he feared a lack of progress was in danger of splitting the global economy. "The thing that keeps me up at night…
TWO days of talks between economic and finance policymakers from the Group of 20 nations will wrap up on Tuesday without a joint statement due to differences between major powers over the war in Ukraine, according to Indian officials hosting the meeting. During its presidency of the G20, India is…
THE proportion of British Asian and other ethnic minority candidates applying for UK universities has increased this year while interest from white Britons has declined. There were 52,460 applicants of British Asian background, up four per cent over the previous year and the number of white Britons applying for degree…
CHINA'S top diplomat Wang Yi told the Indian foreign minister bilateral ties need to be stabilised, as the neighbours searched for ways to ease simmering military tensions along their vast border. On the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Wang told India’s external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam…
Actor R Madhavan, who attended the banquet dinner held by French President Emmanuel Macron for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Louvre Museum, on Sunday said he was in awe of the two leaders who "passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations" at the…
G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs opened talks on Monday (17) on debt restructuring deals, multilateral bank reform and finance to tackle climate change. Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, chair and host of the summit in Gandhinagar, began by telling finance leaders of "the responsibility we have... to steer…
INDIA launched a rocket on Friday (14) carrying an unmanned spacecraft to land on the Moon, its second attempt to do so as its cut-price space programme seeks to reach new heights. "Chandrayaan-3 scripts a new chapter in India's space odyssey," prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted from France, where he…
CHINA's BYD has submitted a $1 billion (£760 million) investment proposal to build electric cars and batteries in India in partnership with a local company, said three people with direct knowledge of the plan. BYD and privately held Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures have submitted a proposal to Indian regulators…
INDIA’S multi-billion-dollar purchases of US arms are less about shifting its reliance on Russian defence equipment and moving towards the West - it’s more about developing its own domestic weapons industry, security officials and analysts say. India is the world’s biggest arms importer, but almost all of its major weapons…
PAKISTANI mountaineer Shehroze Kashif faces sub-zero temperatures and biting winds in his race to scale the world’s highest peaks, but his biggest challenge is finding the money. Kashif, 21, aims this year to become the youngest person to climb every peak above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet), all of which are…
SRI LANKA is likely to discuss energy, power and port projects during a presidential visit to New Delhi next week, the foreign minister said on Monday (10), as India tries to push forward stalled initiatives with Colombo. India’s support was critical for Sri Lanka last year after it almost ran…
THE UN Human Rights Council voted on Wednesday (12) to condemn recent Koran burning incidents, but many countries declined to back the measure, fearing it encroached too much on free speech. Despite overwhelming condemnation of the Muslim holy book being desecrated, the vote brought more division than unity as Western…
INDIA on Friday (14) launches its latest attempt at an unmanned moon landing, the next frontier of a burgeoning, cut-price aerospace programme rapidly closing in on the milestones set by global superpowers. If successful, the mission would make the world's most populous nation only the fourth country after Russia, the…
The guest of honour for the Bastille Day celebrations in France on Friday (14) is Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the ongoing efforts of Western powers to engage with India, the world's largest democracy and a rapidly growing economy. President Emmanuel Macron extended a warm reception to Modi, following…
THE man charged with clawing Sri Lanka out of bankruptcy said he had warned about economic calamity years before it hit - and was pressed into retirement for his troubles. Central bank chief Nandalal Weerasinghe was asked to return to the island nation last year to help steer it through…
A SENIOR US diplomat will travel to India in the coming days and engage with its civil society over free speech and marginalisation of minorities. It comes after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's recent US visit when he denied that abuse of religious minorities existed in his country. Uzra Zeya,…
Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated movie Barbie has sparked controversy due to a specific scene that recognizes an Asian political conflict. The film stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the lead roles. As per Variety, the film contains a scene that depicts a map with the "nine dash line," a…
In a statement indirectly criticising China, India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar emphasised that India does not operate as an "extractive economy" and does not engage in "narrow economic activities" in Africa, despite the continent's abundant resources. These comments were made by Jaishankar during his visit to Zanzibar and subsequent…
Wimbledon faced challenges on Wednesday (05), from both climate change protesters and persistent rainfall, causing additional difficulties for the organisers. But despite the mounting security and scheduling concerns, the reigning men's champion, Novak Djokovic, advanced smoothly to the third round of the tournament. Djokovic secured his 350th Grand Slam victory…
INDIA'S Nifty 50 index was likely to gain almost seven per cent in the next twelve months and hit a high of 20,700 by June 2024 on the back of strong corporate earnings, analysts at Goldman Sachs said on Wednesday (5). "We think India is the best structural growth story…
The court in California has received a strong plea from the Biden administration, urging the denial of the writ of habeas corpus submitted by Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman. The administration reiterated its stance that Rana should be extradited to India, where he is wanted for his alleged involvement…
FASHION brands are a key driver of demand for green shipping fuels, according to shipping group Maersk, as the sector faces pressure from consumers and regulators to reduce their climate footprint. Retailers ship huge volumes of clothes from production centres in countries such as Bangladesh, China and Vietnam to consumers…
BRITAIN last Thursday (29) announced its backing for an expanded UN Security Council, including a permanent spot for India and Africa, to reflect the current and future state of the world. “We want to see permanent African representation and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan,” said foreign secretary…
INDIA's HDFC Bank on Wednesday (5) said its merged loan book with Housing Development Finance Corporation stood at about Rs 22.45 trillion (£216 billion) as at the end of the June quarter. HDFC Bank merged with HDFC on July 1 in a £31.5bn merger, the largest in India's corporate history,…
The defending men's champion, Novak Djokovic, and the top-seeded woman, Iga Swiatek, initiated their Wimbledon campaigns with impressive performances on Monday (03). Despite a temporary pause in play on the outside courts due to rain, the anticipated climate protests failed to materialise. At 36 years old, Djokovic, who has suffered…
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, who reached the Wimbledon final last year, announced on Sunday (02) that he would be withdrawing from this year's tournament due to a wrist injury. Kyrgios shared the news just before the start of the grass-court grand slam, scheduled to begin on Monday (03). "I'm…
Novak Djokovic starts the Wimbledon tournament on Monday (03), initiating his quest for an eighth title and a record-tying 24th Grand Slam victory. The 36-year-old Serbian, who has emerged victorious in the past four editions at the All England Club, begins his campaign on Centre Court, a venue where he…
A group of Conservative MPs called on prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (3) to do more to cut immigration, saying he risked further eroding the trust of voters who lent the party their vote in 2019 if he failed to take action. The group of MPs, many elected for…
In a much-needed relief for the Pakistani economy, the country successfully obtained a crucial $3 billion short-term financial package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday (30). The agreement between Pakistan and the IMF has been reached, and it is now awaiting approval by the IMF board in July.…
FOREIGN SECRETARY James Cleverly has said that India and Japan should be given permanent seats on the UN security council. Cleverly also called for a doubling of the number of countries able to wield a veto on UN resolutions. The UK announced its backing for an expanded council, including a…
THE state of border will determine the state of relationship between India and China, Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said, amid an over three-year military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. “The state of the border today is still abnormal,” Jaishankar said in an interactive session…
SRI LANKA is asking international bond holders to take a 30 per cent haircut and is seeking similar concessions from investors in its domestic dollar-denominated notes as it seeks to overhaul its massive debt, its central bank governor said on Thursday (29). Unveiling details of the long-awaited plan, governor Nandalal…
BANKRUPT Sri Lanka’s government on Monday (26) said it was scrapping plans to export around 100,000 endangered monkeys to China following an outcry and a court case by animal lovers. The toque macaque is endemic to Sri Lanka and common on the island of 22 million people but is classed…
GLACIERS in Asia’s Hindu Kush Himalaya could lose up to 75 per cent of their volume by century’s end due to global warming, causing both dangerous flooding and water shortages for the 240 million people who live in the mountainous region, a new report said. A team of international scientists…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo last Sunday (25) on a rare visit during which both sides pledged to deepen their strategic ties. They agreed to boost investment by India, the world’s most populous nation, in Egypt, which has the Arab world’s largest…
A WEEKEND article in the Financial Times set out to explain “How India is slowly moving into the American orbit.” The reality is that India is not moving into the American orbit nor America into India’s, but for some decades now the two countries have been drawing closer together. One…
The British media revealed fresh evidence on Monday (26) regarding China's spy balloon programme, disclosing instances of balloon flights over Japan and Taiwan. This development comes several months after US-China relations were strained following the shooting down of a similar airship off the US coast. The BBC collaborated with Synthetaic,…
SRI LANKAN authorities have declared a five-day closure of financial markets from Thursday (29) ahead of a controversial move to restructure the government's domestic debt amounting to more than $51 billion. The restructuring affects government bonds in line with an IMF bailout agreed in March, after Sri Lanka defaulted on…
