- Wednesday, June 07, 2023
STARBUCKS is revamping its strategy to lure Indians, including children, with smaller, cheaper beverages as it looks to expand in small towns amid a fierce challenge from domestic startups in one of its fastest-growing markets. Among the first foreign coffee brands to enter tea-loving India, the US giant has taken…
PRESIDENT Joe Biden's top official for the Indo-Pacific region said on Tuesday (6) he hoped a visit this month by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "consecrates" the relationship with India as the most important for the US in the world. The official, Kurt Campbell, told the Hudson Institute think tank…
GERMANY's Thyssenkrupp AG is likely to bid for a project to supply six submarines for the Indian Navy, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday (6), during a visit to New Delhi. Earlier, Pistorius met his counterpart Rajnath Singh, at a time when the south Asian nation is looking…
THE BBC has “informally” admitted to having under-reported its income in India and paid less tax than its actual obligation, media reports said on Tuesday (6). Tax authorities had surveyed the corporation’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February, weeks after the broadcaster aired a documentary on Prime Minister…
India and the United States have concluded a roadmap for defence industry cooperation for the next few years, the two countries said on Monday (5), a landmark move expected to bolster New Delhi's defence manufacturing ambitions. Washington is working to deepen ties with India and sees stronger military-to-military and technology…
Veteran theatre director-actor Aamir Raza Husain, known for his larger-than-life outdoor stage productions, died in New Delhi at the age of 66. Husain was suffering from a heart-related ailment and passed away on Saturday, his son said. "He was hospitalised for two days and had undergone heart surgery, but wasn't…
India’s sports minister has urged wrestling champions who have staged protests accusing their federation chief of sexual harassment to await the outcome of investigations into the allegations before deciding their next course of action. Minister Anurag Thakur said the national capital's police is investigating the case, following directions from the…
THE Biden administration is poised to sign off on a deal that would allow General Electric (GE) to produce jet engines powering Indian military aircraft in that country, according to three people briefed on the decision. A deal finalising the joint production of the engines is expected to be inked…
The European Union has assured New Delhi that it will hold two-way talks to tackle its concerns over tariffs proposed on imports of high carbon goods such as steel and iron ore from India, the bloc’s climate policy chief said last Friday (26). Last month, the 27-nation EU approved the…
I was born in South London, but like millions of British people, my family’s story embodies the “living bridge” that connects the UK and India. My father moved to Glasgow with only £5 to his name. He worked hard, initially on the railways, studied hard to become an accountant and…
India's top anti-terrorism investigation agency last Friday (26) again sought the death sentence for a leading Kashmiri independence figure and former rebel leader after he was given life in prison, official sources said. Muhammad Yasin Malik, 57, chief of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), pleaded guilty last year to funding…
THE ongoing wrestlers' protest in New Delhi has taken a new turn as India's star grapplers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat have declared to throw their medals in River Ganga in Haridwar on Tuesday (30) evening. The wrestlers took to Twitter and shared a post about the chain…
INDIAN police dragged away and detained on Sunday (28) two Olympic wrestlers and dozens of others as they tried to march to parliament demanding the arrest of the sport's federation chief over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation. In an escalation of the month-old standoff, police also cleared the site…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's new parliament building on Sunday (28), a modern complex which is part of his Hindu nationalist government's grand plan to give a makeover to the British colonial-era architecture in the nation's capital. The inauguration, and the ongoing revamp of the heart of New Delhi…
Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma on Friday made her red carpet debut at the 76th Cannes Film Festival and truly made heads turn with her stunning look. She wore an off-shoulder ivory Richard Quinn Couture gown which has hand-crafted embroidery from the in-house atelier and ivory silk taffeta roses. The actor…
The European Union has assured New Delhi it will hold two-way talks to tackle its concerns over tariffs proposed on imports of high-carbon goods such as steel and iron ore from India, the bloc's climate policy chief said on Friday (26). Last month, the 27-nation EU approved the world's first…
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese revealed on Wednesday (24) that Australia will establish a new Consul-General in Bengaluru this month. This announcement follows Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's statement that India will open a consulate in Brisbane, demonstrating the efforts of both countries to strengthen their bilateral relations. After discussions…
The Group of Twenty (G20) is now “the premier forum for international economic cooperation.” The G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union. Founded in 1999 and upgraded after the 2007-08 financial crisis, “it plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international…
India is "abusing" its presidency of the G20 by holding a tourism conference in the portion of Kashmir it controls, Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said. "I wish I could say I was surprised, but I think that this is a continuation in what is becoming a norm now,…
Hundreds of people rallied in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Monday (22) to protest arch rival India's decision to host a G20 tourism meeting in its part of the disputed Himalayan region, said a government official. New Delhi is hosting the key conference in Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar from Monday to Wednesday,…
Commencing on Monday (22), a G20 tourism meeting began in Indian-administered Kashmir amidst increased security measures, triggering criticism from China and Pakistan due to the disputed status of the territory. In anticipation of the G20 meeting, which marks the first diplomatic event in the region since New Delhi's revocation of…
An Indian court issued a summons to British broadcaster BBC on Monday (22) in a defamation case over its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi that questioned his leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, according to reports in local media. The defamation suit states the documentary "India: the Modi question"…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new parliament building in New Delhi this month, parliament said on Thursday, as his government seeks to shed India's colonial past in a move that has irked conservationists. India's current parliament building was built under British rule in 1927 and has grown…
India and Britain are struggling to make progress in free trade talks due to differences on some key tariff lines and investment protection rules, making a deal unlikely during prime minister Narendra Modi's second term ending next year, Indian sources said. The two nations are unable to agree on concessions…
The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) on Thursday (18) revealed an architectural model of its upcoming building in Delhi, India. Anticipated to be the country's largest cultural centre, the new structure is set to open in 2026. Designed in collaboration between the renowned Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye and S…
Security measures in the Jammu and Kashmir region have been heightened by Indian authorities due to a surge in militant attacks leading up to a G20 meeting focusing on tourism in the Himalayan territory. Officials confirmed the increased security measures on Wednesday (17), as the city of Srinagar, the summer…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, broadcaster CNN-News 18 reported on Friday (19), their first meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. News of the meeting came hours after Modi left New Delhi for Hiroshima,…
Amazon's cloud computing unit will invest $13 billion (£10.5bn) in India by the end of this decade, doubling down on its past investments to cater to the growing demand for such services in one of Asia's fastest-growing economies. This comes on top of its $6.5bn (£5.2bn) investment in e-commerce in…
Actress Esha Gupta on Tuesday walked the red carpet of the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival. She is attending the film festival as part of the Indian government delegation and participated in the opening ceremony and the premiere of the opening film - Jeanne Du Barry, which is…
Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan is super excited about her Cannes debut. The Kedarnath star is currently in Cannes to attend the 76th edition of the prestigious film festival. On Tuesday evening, she shared a scenic picture from Cannes. In the image, she is seen holding up a cup of…
Actress Mrunal Thakur is set to attend Cannes Film Festival for the first time. She will be in the French Rivera from May 17 to May 19. Excited about her Cannes debut, Mrunal said, "I am thrilled to be attending the Cannes Film Festival for the first time. It is…
If reports are to be believed, Bollywood actresses Sara Ali Khan and Manushi Chhillar are to make their mark on the red carpets of the Cannes Festival, 2023 alongside Anushka Sharma. The two beauties of the tinsel town are spotted at Mumbai airports on Monday night. They are reportedly flying…
A senior Indian government official said discussions for the proposed free trade agreement between India and the UK are scheduled for June in New Delhi. The objective of both parties is to finalise the negotiations as soon as possible. Santosh Kumar Saranagi, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), emphasised…
The United States wants India to condemn persistent religious violence, a senior official said on Monday (15), one month before a state visit by prime minister Narendra Modi. The State Department on Monday released an annual report on religious freedom which listed attacks against religious minorities including Muslims and Christians…
THE RELATIONSHIP between India and the United States is based on a common desire to have a strong and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on Monday (15). He asserted that the two countries are an important part of a mutual strategy to protect the Indo-Pacific…
India is planning a repatriation campaign for artefacts dating back to the colonial era, including the controversial Kohinoor diamond, a British media report has said. The Daily Telegraph newspaper claims the issue is among the priorities of the Indian government of prime minister Narendra Modi, with it likely to spill…
The love story might have blossomed in the soil of London, but they are desi at hearts! Parineeti Chopra got engaged to her 'Ishaqzaade' Raghav Chadha in an intimate ceremony on Saturday. The ceremony was observed following Sikh rituals. After months of speculations, the duo put an end to it…
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (13) thanked the people of Karnataka on party’s expected victory and said that “market of hate has been shut and shops of love have opened”. He also said that the power of crony capitalism has been defeated by the power of poor people. Speaking…
Bollywood actress Parineeeti Chopra and AAP leader Raghav Chadha are all set to get engaged after being rumoured about dating for a long time. Here is everything you need to know about the event. When and Where? The engagement vows will be taking place at the Kapurthala House in New…
The UK High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, voices strong disapproval over damage to Indian High Commission in London, stating it as unacceptable and stressing the importance of mutual respect for diplomatic missions. “I completely understand the anger here about what happened... that was a completely unforewarned small group of people…
The "Jewish Trail" in Mumbai, India will be officially launched by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen during his visit to New Delhi from May 9 to 11. This trail aims to highlight significant Jewish landmarks in Mumbai and Maharashtra, which will be accessible to tourists worldwide. Maharashtra has been home…
Thousands of people who fled deadly rioting and ethnic clashes in northeast India last week were returning home, escorted by security personnel, officials said on Monday (8). Fierce fighting broke out in the state of Manipur bordering Myanmar when members of about 30 tribal groups clashed with a non-tribal group, the ethnic majority Meitei, over the…
India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE on Sunday (7) worked towards advancing their shared vision of a ‘more secure, prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world’, according to a readout issued by the White House. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval,…
Three people on the ground died in India on Monday (8) when a Russian-made MiG-21 military aircraft suffered an "onboard emergency" and obliterated a house, authorities said. India's air force has seen a string of crashes in recent years, many of them linked to decades-old planes supplied by the former…
Indian vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasised that democratic values in India are not being restricted and are actually thriving more than ever. During an interaction, he urged Indian students in UK to counter false narratives about the country. Before returning to New Delhi, Dhankhar engaged with students at an event…
India gave a frosty reception Friday (5) to Pakistan's foreign minister during the first official visit by a senior official from its arch-rival neighbour since 2016. Relations between the countries have remained tense in recent years with both sides trading barbs over the disputed territory of Kashmir, with Friday no…
Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma is set to mark her Cannes Film Festival debut alongside Titanic actress Kate Winslet. As per a source, Anushka will be present at Cannes Film Festival 2023 to honour women in cinema. She will be joined by popular actress Kate Winslet. Anushka on Thursday also met…
Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang assured his Russian and Indian counterparts of deepening bilateral ties, promising that "coordination and cooperation" will only grow stronger, in a show of solidarity with two of China's biggest neighbours. Qin met in India on Thursday (4) with other foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation…
Pakistan's foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, arrived in India Thursday (4) to take part in an international conference, the first official visit by a senior Pakistani official to India since 2016. Bhutto Zardari is in Goa for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of foreign ministers, along with counterparts from…
The world's tallest railway bridge is now in India, standing at 359 metres (around 1,180 feet) above the Chenab River in the Jammu and Kashmir region. At 29 metres (over 95 feet) taller than the Eiffel Tower, the Chenab Bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering. The construction of the…
Ahead of their show in Mumbai, the members of the famous band Backstreet Boys arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday. They were photographed by the paps. Apart from getting papped, the enthusiastic band members were also seen with cameras clicking pictures of their welcome in Mumbai. Celebrating the thirty glorious years…
The Met Gala 2023 is one of the highlights of fashion calendar and this year's event was held in tribute to Karl Lagerfeld. Asian designer Prabal Gurung was among those who dressed a few high profile guests at the exclusive gathering. He is the creative mind behind the outfits of…
A US government panel renewed calls on Monday (1) to blacklist India over religious freedom, saying that treatment of minorities has continued to worsen under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom offers recommendations but does not set policy and there is little expectation that the…
Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh has told his Chinese counterpart that the military forces present on their disputed Himalayan border are harming their relationship and that withdrawal of troops is necessary to maintain 'peace and tranquility'. Tensions between the two nations have been high since a violent conflict at a…
According to Indian National Congress advocate BM Mangukia, Indian politician Rahul Gandhi has submitted an application to the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday (25), challenging the Surat sessions court's order that refused to suspend his conviction in a criminal defamation case last week, related to his "Modi surname" comment. The…
The UK's minister for Investment, Lord Dominic Johnson, on Wednesday (26) embarked on a visit to India to strengthen the bilateral investment partnership across technology and life sciences sectors. He also seeks to build momentum behind ongoing trade talks between the two countries. After arriving in Bengaluru, Johnson is set…
France has evacuated five Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from violence-hit Sudan. The French embassy in India said on Monday (24) that 388 people from 28 countries, including India, were evacuated. French diplomatic sources said the evacuation operations launched on Saturday…
India and China on Sunday (23) held a fresh round of talks to resolve issues at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh. The 18th round of military talks between the two two countries took place at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side of the Line of…
A cross-party Parliament committee has criticised the lack of information on Britain's ongoing negotiations with India for a free trade agreement (FTA). The House of Commons International Trade Committee said on Friday (21) that in many cases, it gleaned more detail on the talks from reports in the Indian media…
Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu are expected to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be hosted by India next week. There is no confirmation yet on in-person participation of Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif in the SCO defence ministerial…
INDIAN police on Sunday (23) arrested firebrand Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh after a manhunt that lasted more than a month. Singh rose to fame calling for the creation of a separate Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, the struggle for which sparked deadly violence in India in the 1980s and 1990s.…
Five soldiers were killed on Thursday (20) in disputed Indian-administered Kashmir after suspected insurgents opened fire and dropped explosives at an army convoy, according to a military statement. According to the report, the car caught fire "due to likely use of grenades" thrown by the unidentified attackers in the southern…
India's top investigating agency has started an inquiry into Oxfam India after the government said the charity had violated the country's foreign funding regulations. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a first information report (FIR) against the charity and its office-bearers for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation…
Apple Inc chief executive officer Tim Cook has committed to growth and investment across India in meeting with the country's prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Cook is on a visit to India this week and inaugurated the iPhone maker's first retail store in the country on Tuesday (18)…
India and Russia on Tuesday (18) agreed to address trade deficit and market access issues, the Indian foreign ministry said, as New Delhi seeks to narrow trade imbalance after a more than four-fold rise in imports from Russia since the war in Ukraine. The two nations are discussing a free…
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) will investigate the incident involving protests and attempted vandalism of the Indian High Commission in London from last month, officials said on Tuesday (18). The case was previously registered by the special cell of the Delhi Police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the…
A World Trade Organization panel said that India had violated global trading rules in a dispute with the European Union, Japan and Taiwan over import duties on IT products. "We recommend that India bring such measures into conformity with its obligations," the WTO panel's report said on Monday (17). In…
Britain on Monday (17) described India as a "valued defence partner" as the Chief of the UK Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, arrived in New Delhi at the start of a three-day visit. Defence secretary Ben Wallace made the statement to coincide with Admiral Radakin’s visit to India for…
Ministers from India and Russia on Monday (17) announced that they are engaged in discussions for a free trade agreement that would strengthen their economic relationship. The two countries have experienced strong commercial ties since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar disclosed at a New…
Tata Steel is still pursuing its request for the financial package with the UK government, the company's CEO TV Narendran said. Narendran who is also the managing director of Tata Steel made the remarks in reply to a question on stance on exiting the UK business. "Tata Steel is still…
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reported that the G20 bloc has actively engaged with and provided strong support for many of India's proposals, following a series of meetings with her counterparts from the influential grouping. As the current presidency of the G20, India intends to host a leaders' summit…
Britain should take action over a violent incident during protests outside India's embassy in London last month, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Thursday (13). New Delhi has been upset about protests and vandalism by Sikh separatists - who seek an independent Sikh homeland…
India asked Britain for increased monitoring of UK-based supporters of a Sikh separatist movement following a "breach of security" at its High Commission in London, an incident that has raised tension between the two countries. At a meeting in New Delhi between senior British and Indian home ministry officials, the…
India's financial crime-fighting agency has opened an investigation into alleged violations of foreign exchange rules by the BBC, a source said on Thursday (13), months after tax officials searched the broadcaster's Mumbai and Delhi offices. The tax raids in February had come close on the heels of the release of…
The California State Assembly has approved a resolution that calls on the United States Congress to formally acknowledge and denounce the 1984 anti-Sikh violence in India as genocide. Introduced by the first-ever elected Sikh member of the State Assembly, Jasmeet Kaur Bains, the resolution was passed unanimously by the California…
The US Ambassador-designate, Eric Garcetti arrived in India on Tuesday (11) evening, more than two years after the departure of the previous US envoy Kenneth Juster when Joe Biden became president. As a close associate of Biden, Garcetti was confirmed for the position by the US Senate about a month…
Pakistan criticised India's announcement to conduct G20 meetings in the disputed Kashmir region next month and described it as an "unwise" decision. Kashmir is claimed by both countries but governed partially. The two nations, which have fought three wars, including two over Kashmir, are armed with nuclear weapons. India currently…
According to the police, a threat of bombs on the premises of a school located in South Delhi's Defence Colony was received via email on Wednesday (12) morning, resulting in the evacuation of the school. As a precautionary measure, the bomb squad and other relevant agencies are currently conducting a…
India's home minister Amit Shah on Monday (10) visited Arunachal Pradesh, a state located on the Himalayan frontier, which China claims as its own territory. He launched a development scheme worth (£471 million ($585m) that he claimed would enhance the security of the unmarked border. Shah stated that the initiative…
Rishi Sunak, UK's first Indian-origin Prime Minister, and his wife Akshata Murty have expressed pride over Sudha Murty's Padma Bhushan recognition, which is the third-highest civilian award in India. Akshata, who is also the First Lady at 10 Downing Street, attended the ceremony in New Delhi and shared her emotions…
India is likely to get "below normal" monsoon rains in 2023 with an increasing likelihood of El-Nino, which typically brings dry weather to Asia, private weather forecasting agency Skymet said on Monday (10). "Likelihood of El Nino is increasing and its probability to become a dominant category during the monsoon…
Trade talks between India and Britain have not been suspended and will continue this year, three officials said on Monday (10). They responded to a British newspaper report that said India had "disengaged" from the talks after London failed to condemn Sikh separatists. An official in India's foreign ministry said…
A BRITISH parliamentary delegation will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday (9) for a four-city tour to explore two-way trade and research and development collaborations. The cross-party delegation, being led by Indian-origin peer Baroness Sandy Verma, is scheduled to hold meetings with senior ministers and business leaders with the backing…
A Ukrainian minister will visit India from Sunday (9) in the first face-to-face talks between the two countries since Russia's invasion of its European neighbour last year. India imports much of its military hardware from Russia, and is walking a delicate balancing act between its increased security cooperation with Western…
Pakistan minister for climate change has stated that the request from India to begin talks about reviewing the Indus Water Treaty, which is over 60 years old, was not clear. As a result, Islamabad has asked New Delhi for further clarification in their response. India had issued a notice earlier…
Five men were arrested by the Indian police for allegedly performing a human sacrifice, almost four years after a headless body was discovered at a Hindu temple, which had left the authorities confused. Shanti Shaw, a 64-year-old woman, was murdered and beheaded using a machete in 2019 when she visited…
The White House has announced that Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, will be spearheading an ambitious effort to enhance collaboration between the US and India, particularly in the areas of defense and economy. Garcetti, who previously served as the mayor of Los Angeles, was sworn in as Ambassador…
Following Russia’s military deployment to Ukraine in February last year, the nation’s share of the European market plummeted when it came to oil supplies, resulting in sanctions on the country's oil sector by Kyiv’s allies. But, India is snapping up discounted crude from Russia, refining it and selling it. The…
A fugitive Sikh separatist known for his radical views has posted a video mocking Indian authorities after a futile two-week-long manhunt involving thousands of police and internet shutdowns. Amritpal Singh, who has gained popularity in recent months for his demand for a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan, has been evading…
A timely intervention by US secret service and local police has prevented violence in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington after a group of Khalistan supporters and many of their speakers tried to incite disorder on Saturday (25). According to reports, Khalistan supporters heralded abusive language and openly threatened…
INDIAN officials on Sunday (26) summoned Canada's highest-ranking diplomat in New Delhi after a group of Sikh protesters had assembled outside India's diplomatic mission in Canada. As per Canadian media, around hundreds of individuals had gathered outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver on Saturday (25) to protest against India's pursuit…
A Singaporean Indian restaurateur has predicted that Indian restaurants around the world will increasingly offer dishes made with millet flour due to its health benefits and appeal to busy urbanites. The UN has declared 2023 as "The Millet Year," and the restaurateur, who has 40 years of experience in the…
The security measures outside the British high commission and the high commissioner's residence in New Delhi have been relaxed, as the typical yellow metal barriers have been removed. This move is seen by political analysts as a response to the UK police's failure to prevent a violent protest by Khalistanis…
Charity supporter and hotelier Vinu Bhattessa has received the OBE from King Charles III at Windsor Castle last month. He was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for 2022. A longstanding trustee of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in the UK, Bhattessa OBE has been serving BAPS for almost…
FORMER Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, who is the US nominee to lead the World Bank, returned to his homeland, India, on Thursday (23). The visit will conclude his three-week international trip to seek support and discuss development and climate requirements with borrowing and donor countries. According to the US Treasury,…
On Wednesday (22) James Cleverly, the UK foreign minister, announced that the security at the Indian High Commission in London will be reviewed in response to the "unacceptable acts of violence" that were committed against the mission's staff. Reports have emerged that protesters, holding "Khalistan" banners, removed the Indian flag…
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has stated that the UK government takes the "unacceptable" acts of violence by pro-Khalistan protesters at the Indian High Commission seriously and will conduct a review of the security. He assured that the government will respond "robustly" to such incidents. On Wednesday (22), around 2,000 protesters…
Tensions rose in the aviation industry over plans to transform Air India into a global airline with hundreds of new jets, as foreign carriers called for greater access to India's rapidly growing economy. The sale of India's flag carrier to Tata conglomerate has led to increasing demands for the government…
Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida on Monday (20) called India vital to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific after talks with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi touching on shared concerns about China. Speaking in New Delhi after meeting the Indian leader, Kishida laid out plans for billions of dollars in investments…
The police in northern India extended a mobile internet blackout across a state with a population of around 30 million on Monday (20), as they continued their search for a radical Sikh preacher, Amritpal Singh. The extension followed reports of Singh's supporters vandalising India's consulate in San Francisco and a…
On Monday (20) increased security measures were implemented around the Indian High Commission following an act of vandalism committed by Khalistan supporters on Sunday (19). Scotland Yard detained one person in relation to the incident. India has requested that the UK take swift action to arrest and prosecute all individuals…
British officials have denounced the recent vandalism at the Indian High Commission by pro-Khalistani protesters, calling it "disgraceful" and "completely unacceptable". They have also stated that the UK government will prioritise the security of the mission going forward. The incident, which took place on Sunday (19) involved protesters waving separatist…
Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar expressed concerns on Saturday (18) that the situation in the western Himalayan region of Ladakh between India and China is fragile and dangerous, with military forces situated in close proximity in certain areas. In mid-2020, there were clashes in the region that led to the…
Britain's aid to India has failed to achieve the desired objectives of poverty reduction and inclusive growth due to a “lack of coherence”, a review has found. The aid programme also did little to support Indian democracy and human rights despite “negative trends in these areas”, the Independent Commission for…
The US senate on Wednesday (15) the confirmed Eric Garcetti as the new ambassador to India, nominated by president Joe Biden. The confirmation came after almost two years of opposition due to accusations of Garcetti mishandling workplace harassment complaints when he was the mayor of Los Angeles. The vote was…
India has invited Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif to attend the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be held in New Delhi in April, according to a media report. India currently holds the presidency of the SCO, which comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.…
NIKHAT ZAREEN and Lovlina Borgohain will be in the spotlight as India looks to put on a show worthy of their growing stature in women's boxing when the World Championship, which has been marred by controversy, kicks off in New Delhi on Thursday (16). In the absence of six-time champion…
LONDON deputy mayor for business Rajesh Agrawal will lead a trade mission to promote stronger trade and investment links with India next week, a statement said on Friday (10). Agrawal will be joined by 10 London businesses for the four-day mission which will visit New Delhi and Bengaluru from March…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese pledged greater defence ties on Friday (10) after a diplomatic tour where the leaders bonded over their countries' shared love of cricket. The countries, with Japan and the United States, make up the Quad alliance that is seen as…
BOEING CO said on Friday (10) it would set up a facility in India to convert 737 passenger planes into dedicated freighters to tap into regional and global demand for the service. The investment, which adds to the US manufacturer's expansion into India on top of a record plane order…
During a Congressional hearing in the US on Wednesday (08), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence submitted its annual threat assessment report, stating that the American intelligence community anticipates heightened tensions and potential conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as India and China. The report highlights that…
FORMER Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's nomination to become the US ambassador to India has cleared a major hurdle after a key senate committee voted to send his name to the senate floor for a full vote. Garcetti's nomination has been pending before the US Congress since July 2021, when…
INDIA'S DLF sold a $1 billion (£830 million) upmarket residential project in 72 hours while rival Godrej Properties is offering $3m (£2.5m) apartments to clients selected by invitation, two off-plan sales that are signalling a revival in luxury housing. Property developers say spacey high-price apartments that come with add-ons like…
STEVE SMITH will captain Australia in the fourth and final test against India starting on Thursday (9) as regular captain Pat Cummins remains in Sydney with his family, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Monday (6). Cummins returned home after the second test in New Delhi to be with his ailing…
RUSSIA has claimed it is trying to stop the ongoing war waged against it using the Ukrainian people.“The war, which we are trying to stop, which was launched against us using Ukrainian people, of course, influenced the policy of Russia, including energy policy,” Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said at…
THE FOURTH World Cultural Festival will be held in Washington DC this fall, organiser Art of Living has announced. Several world leaders and hundreds and thousands of people from across the globe are expected to attend the three-day event from September 29 to October 1 at the historic National Mall.…
INDIA'S opposition Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has alleged the structures of the country’s democracy are under "brutal attack" and there is a full-scale assault on its institutions. Gandhi, who is in London as part of a UK tour, told reporters on Saturday (4) that there are conversations ongoing within the…
THE head of Abu Dhabi's BAPS Hindu Mandir, Swami Brahmaviharidas, has visited Narendra Modi in New Delhi to express gratitude on behalf of HH Mahant Swami Maharaj and BAPS worldwide for inaugurating the centenary celebrations of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The celebrations were attended by over 12.1 million people from across…
On Friday, (03) the Quad group, consisting of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, raised concerns regarding the militarisation of waters in Asia. This was understood to be a reference to China's increasing presence in disputed seas. The foreign ministers of the four nations, including US Secretary of State…
In a much anticipated development, India's external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday (2) met his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi. This was the first such bilateral meeting between the two diplomats. Jaishankar and Qin, who took charge from…
Referring to the extradition of fugitive economic offenders Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Wednesday (01) said that the British Judicial system is independent of the government and it is them to decide. Without mentioning the names of fugitive economic offenders, Cleverly, who is currently…
BRITAIN is pursuing a “great” trade deal with India to cut tariffs and open up opportunities for the country's services sector, UK trade and industry secretary Kemi Badenoch has said. Highlighting her priorities since taking charge of the newly merged department for business and trade, Badenoch said her ministry is…
Foreign secretary James Cleverly on Wednesday (1) met his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi where he has reached to attend the G20 foreign ministers' meeting. The duo spoke on a range of issues, including the commencement of the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS). They also spoke over the India-UK…
The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM), which is scheduled to take place in physical format from March 1-2, 2023 in New Delhi under India's Presidency is "one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 Presidency." In a special briefing by Foreign Secretary (FS) Vinay Kwatra on…
THE year-long Russian war in Ukraine took centrestage on the eve of a G20 foreign ministers meeting on Wednesday (1) with the European Union foreign policy chief saying the success of the gathering in New Delhi would be measured by what it could do about the war and its impact.…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (01) held a bilateral meeting with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, holding discussions on the commencement of the Young Professional Scheme. He also exchanged views on the global situation as well as the G20 agenda. "Began the morning with a bilateral meeting with…
FOREIGN ministers from around the world meet in New Delhi this week in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine and spiralling US-China tensions, with host India hoping that issues like climate change and Third World debt are not overlooked. The March 1-2 meeting of the G20 foreign ministers will…
Cosmetics retailer Lush and luxury knitwear brand John Smedley are among top UK fashion and beauty brands that have embarked on a first-of-its-kind trade mission to India to tap into a growing demand for high-end products in the country. Business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch said she was eager to…
Starting Tuesday (28), young professionals from the UK and India will be able to live, study, travel and work in each other's country for up to two years under the Young Professionals Scheme (YPS), the UK government announced. Under the scheme, the UK will offer up to 3,000 places annually…
A depleted Australia will look to stand-in captain Steve Smith for inspiration after two demoralising Test defeats in India as they try to salvage the series when the third match begins in Indore Wednesday (1). Captain Pat Cummins flew home to be with his seriously ill mother after Australia's second…
THE BBC is not driven by an “agenda” but by purpose and will not be put off reporting impartially and without fear or favour, the UK-headquartered media organisation’s chief has said days after the income tax department survey operation at its New Delhi and Mumbai offices. In an email to…
GERMAN chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday (25) that he and India's prime minister Narendra Modi were committed to sealing a free trade deal between India and the European Union (EU). "It's an important topic and I'll get personally involved," Scholz said after his meeting with Modi in New Delhi.…
INDIA and the UK have agreed to make further progress on the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) and also to swiftly organise the next bilateral Economic and Financial Dialogue soon, the British government has said. At the conclusion of UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt's India visit last week,…
Actor Anupam Kher recently attended the 'Global Kashmiri Pandit Conclave' in New Delhi where he spoke at length about the ordeals of Kashmiri Pandits and how his film The Kashmir Files highlighted them. He cited the atrocities that were meted out to the Kashmiri Pandits and urged the audience to…
INDIA'S G20 presidency comes at an “incredibly important time” when the world confronts challenges like the Ukraine conflict, global food supply disruptions and China's increasingly assertive actions on the world stage, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said. He also announced that he will travel to New Delhi next week…
GERMAN Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday (25) said he wanted to deepen his nation's relationship with India ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. "India and Germany have very good relations and want to deepen them. That will be the topic of our talks…
GERMANY will pursue a $5.2 billion (£4.26 bn) deal with India to jointly build six conventional submarines in the country during Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s February 25-26 visit, two Indian and two German sources said. The naval project is the latest attempt by a Western military manufacturing power to wean New…
India on Thursday (23) abstained in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on a resolution that underscored the need to secure “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in war-ravaged Ukraine, as it questioned whether the world was “anywhere near a possible solution” acceptable to both Moscow and Kyiv a year into…
INDIAN finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US treasury secretary Janet Yellen discussed strengthening multilateral development banks, global debt vulnerabilities and crypto assets on the sidelines of the G20 finance chiefs meeting on Thursday (23), the finance ministry said. Yellen is expected to brief reporters later in the day and take…
Harri, whose real name is Harikrishnan Keezhathil Surendran Pillai, is the designer whose striking oufit Sam Smith wore to the 2023 Brit Awards. The renowned British singer donned a bespoke, all-black latex ensemble featuring billowing shoulders and trousers, along with a pair of matching high-heeled boots. Taking to his Instagram…
CASH-STRAPPED Sri Lanka announced its first major foreign investment since it declared bankruptcy, approving a $442 million (£368m) wind power project by India's Adani group. Sri Lanka's Board of Investment said Adani Green Energy, part of the business empire of controversial Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, will set up two wind…
BRITAIN has strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament after a survey by Indian tax authorities on the media corporation's New Delhi and Mumbai offices last week. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister responded to an urgent question raised in the House of Commons…
Popular American boy band Backstreet Boys, known for their songs such as "Quit Playing Games", "As Long As You Love Me" and "Shape of My Heart", on Wednesday announced that they set to return to India after 13 years with their DNA World Tour in May. 'The Backstreet Boys: DNA…
INDIA does not want the Group of 20 nations to discuss additional sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine during New Delhi's one-year presidency of the bloc, six senior Indian government officials said. On the sidelines of a key G20 gathering in India, financial leaders of the Group of…
THERE are 2,400 visas available for eligible Indians under the UK-India Young Professional Scheme in the first ballot to open at the end of this month, the UK government announced on Tuesday (21). The scheme, formally launched last month, allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live…
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (21) said Russia is developing a North-South Transport Corridor, which will open up new routes for business cooperation with India, Iran and Pakistan, as well as west Asian countries. Putin also said Russia will expand its international economic connections, as well as build new supply…
BOTH India and the UK are showing “encouraging signs of appetite” for a free trade agreement (FTA), a senior industry expert said.Syma Cullasy-Aldridge who is the chief campaigns director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has just returned after leading the group's first-ever business delegation to New Delhi and…
INDIA spinner Ravindra Jadeja returned his career-best figures of 7-42 to lead Australia's hammering by six wickets inside three days on Sunday (19) to bring the hosts to a 2-0 Test series lead. Jadeja, a left-arm orthodox, teamed up with fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to dismiss Australia for 113 in…
INDIA'S foreign minister called for a debate on democracy as he slammed billionaire investor George Soros as “old, rich, opinionated and dangerous” for his comments on India. In a speech ahead of the Munich Security Conference, the billionaire investor Soros on Thursday (16) criticised India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and…
Neal Mohan, a longtime Indian American YouTube executive, will be the new CEO of the Google-owned video sharing platform. Mohan, a Stanford graduate and a senior advertising and product executive who joined Google in 2008, will join the elite club of global tech chiefs of Indian origin such as Google…
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur here on Friday met Netflix Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos and discussed the expanding creative economy of the country. During their meeting, Thakur highlighted how India had emerged as a content and post-production hub, backed by the talent of Indians. "Pleasure meeting you…
Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday (15) called on Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina during which he reaffirmed India’s support for wider and deeper development and economic partnership with her country. Kwatra arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday (14) evening from Kathmandu, Nepal, on a two-day visit. “Foreign Secretary @AmbVMKwatra paid…
India is looking into the BBC's tax structure, the British news organisation said in an internal memo on Wednesday (15), as officials searched its premises in New Delhi and Mumbai for a second day, weeks after India banned a BBC documentary as propaganda. A senior Indian government official said the…
The UK is “closely monitoring” the situation following the Income Tax surveys at the BBC offices in India, British government sources said. The Income Tax department conducted survey operations at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday with the officials describing the action as part of an investigation…
Global media watchdogs and human rights bodies on Tuesday criticised the Indian government's income tax survey operations at the BBC's offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, saying the action "smacks of intimidation" and was a "blatant affront" to freedom of expression. The Income Tax officials described the action as part…
Any media organisation functioning in India will have to follow the rules and regulations of the country, the BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on Tuesday, amid the ongoing 'survey' operations on BBC offices by the IT department. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Bhatia said, "Income Tax department lawfully…
Indian tax officers searched the BBC's bureaus in New Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday, the British broadcaster said, weeks after the government came down hard against a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The documentary focused on the Hindu nationalist politician's leadership…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday set out ambitions to more than triple annual defence exports to $5 billion over the next two years, as arms firms flocked to a major air show for a slice of the nation's massive import budget. The country is looking to sign defence…
Ravindra Jadeja was fined 25% of his match fee on Saturday for breaching the ICC's code of conduct in India's first test win over Australia after he was seen applying a soothing cream to his finger without seeking permission from the on-field umpires. The ICC said in a statement that…
Indian regulators are aware of concerns regarding the Adani Group conglomerate, the finance minister said on Saturday, responding to comments by the Supreme Court regarding the need for investor protection. The regulators were experienced and seized of the matter, Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters after meeting the central bank's directors in…
India's market regulator is investigating Adani Group's links to some of the investors in the conglomerate's aborted $2.5 billion share sale, two sources said, amid growing concern in New Delhi about a U.S. short-sellers allegations against one of the country's top industrial groups. The Securities and Exchange Board of India…
The seventh round of India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations is edging towards its final stages here and is expected to conclude on a positive note, according to officials close to the discussions on Thursday (9). The information emerged during an India investors Showcase organised by the Indian High Commission…
India's Adani Group is considering an independent evaluation of issues relating to legal compliance, related party transactions and internal controls following a U.S. short-sellers critical report on its businesses, disclosures showed on Tuesday. The group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, has been roiled by days of market turmoil after Hindenburg…
Shares in India's Adani Group rallied on Tuesday a day after it prepaid some loans, bringing relief to investors that have seen $113.6 billion wiped off the conglomerate's market value since a U.S. short-seller published a critical report two weeks ago. The group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, has been…
The US Embassy in India has said that Indians who are travelling abroad can get a visa appointment at the US Embassy or consulate of their destination. It cited the example of Thailand, saying that the country has opened appointment capacity for B1 and B2 visas (business and travel) for…
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has sent its first-ever business delegation to India on Monday aimed at unlocking opportunities from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated between London and New Delhi. The industry body, which speaks on behalf of 190,000 UK businesses of all sizes and sectors, began…
A number of Indian medical experts on Monday supported calls from an eminent British Indian cardiologist for a full safety review into the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, administered in India as Covishield, over feared serious side effects such as heart attack and stroke. Dr Aseem Malhotra, a National…
Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the architect of the Kargil War in 1999, loved his cricket. Musharraf, who passed away in a Dubai hospital on Sunday, used cricket as a strong diplomatic tool to improve relations between the two countries when he led Pakistan first as Chief Executive and…
The special flight to repatriate the mortal remains of Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was delayed, media reports said on Monday. Musharraf, the architect of the Kargil War in 1999, died on Sunday in Dubai after a prolonged illness. The 79-year-old former military ruler, who had been in the…
The crisis engulfing the Adani group intensified on Monday as dozens of members of India's main opposition party were detained by police during protests, and parliament was suspended again due to disruptions over the saga. Adani shares continued their freefall, with the conglomerate's cumulative market value loss topping $110 billion.…
India's ministry of corporate affairs has started a preliminary review of Adani Group's financial statements and other regulatory submissions made over the years, two senior government officials told Reuters on Friday (3). Adani Group has denied allegations by U.S.-based short-seller Hindenburg Research of improper use of offshore tax havens and…
The Biden administration is in talks with Indian officials over a possible White House visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year, according to a U.S. official aware of the discussions and another person briefed on the matter. U.S. President Joe Biden is eager to deepen ties with the…
Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's most popular star and at 57 still its biggest sex symbol, whose silver-screen repertoire of dance, romance and shoot-em-up heroics made him the cinematic avatar of a changing India. "King Khan" -- whose moniker reflects decades of box office dominance -- is a rare unifying…
The pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in daily activities. They provide support to the bladder, urethra, rectum, anus, prostate, uterus, cervix, vagina, and intestines. Experts inform that these muscles also affect sexual health, including sexual arousal and orgasm. Additionally, they aid in stabilising the hips and trunk during…
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's plan to fully implement India-backed 13th Amendment to grant political autonomy to the minority Tamils received a blow on Thursday as the powerful Buddhist clergy expressed strong opposition to the move, claiming it challenges the unitary nature of the country. The four chief prelates of…
India's Adani group shares sank on Thursday (2) after it abandoned its flagship company's $2.5 billion stock offering, swelling the conglomerate's market losses to more than $100bn and sparking worries about the potential systemic impact. The withdrawal of Adani Enterprises' share sale caps a dramatic setback for Gautam Adani, the…
Since taking office in 2014, Modi has ramped up capital spending including on roads and energy, while wooing investors through lower tax rates and labour reforms, and offering subsidies to poor households to clinch their political support. Here's what experts said about the budget: B GOPKUMAR, MD AND CEO, AXIS…
A prominent Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada has been targeted with anti-India graffiti, causing outrage among the Indian community. Condemning the act of vandalism at Gauri Shankar Mandir, the Indian Consulate General in Toronto said the defacing of the temple has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in…
Rajinikanth, one of the biggest superstars that Indian cinema has ever produced, has entertained the audience for over five decades. He is known worldwide for his charismatic personality, superstardom, and unmatched onscreen aura. Though fans love him to the moon and back, his over-the-top style in films has been fodder…
Ajay Piramal, chairman of the Piramal Group and Pratham Education Foundation, on January 18 released the 17th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 in New Delhi, India. ASER is an annual survey which aims to give reliable estimates of children’s enrolment and basic learning levels for each district and…
India's rising tide of Hindu nationalism is an affront to the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, his great-grandson says, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the revered independence hero's assassination. Gandhi was shot dead at a multi-faith prayer meeting on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a religious zealot angered by…
India's Gautam Adani, the school drop-out turned billionaire who rose to become Asia's richest man, faces possibly the biggest challenge of his career after a U.S. short-seller cast doubts on his business practices, hammering shares in his companies and his reputation. Adani, whose home state is Gujarat in western India,…
India has asked Pakistan to change a decades-old water-sharing agreement by barring third parties from intervening in disputes, an Indian government source said, a suggestion likely to rile Islamabad. The nuclear-armed neighbours and foes have been arguing over hydroelectric projects on the shared Indus river and its tributaries for many…
The Indian High Commission in London hosted its annual Republic Day celebrations at the historic Guildhall with music, dance and glimpses from the Kartavya Path parade in New Delhi. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami addressed the gathering of British parliamentarians, community leaders, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and members of…
Shares of India's Adani Enterprises sank nearly 20 per cent on Friday (27) as a scathing report by a US short seller triggered a rout in the conglomerate's listed firms, casting doubts on how investors will respond to the company's record $2.45 billion secondary sale. Seven listed companies of the…
Describing India banning the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a matter of press freedom, the US State Department said that it is high time to highlight the importance of democratic principles like freedom of expression and make it a point around the world as well as in…
India on Thursday strongly condemned the recent vandalisation of three Hindu temples here and the graffiti on them which included the glorification of anti-India terrorists in Australia. Earlier, this month, the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne, the historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria and the ISKCON temple in…
Britain's trade minister in charge of negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with India says clinching a high-quality deal is among her top priorities for the year, while admitting the talks had hit a "bit of an impasse” which she broke by flying to New Delhi last month. In a…
Indian students said they would show again a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government has dismissed as propaganda after a Tuesday campus screening was disrupted by a power cut and intimidation by rivals. The Students' Federation of India (SFI) plans to show the documentary, "India: The…
India has invited Pakistan's foreign minister to a meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) that it is hosting in May, Indian media reported on Wednesday, signalling a possible thaw in relations between the nuclear-armed rivals. The invitation came days after Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif called for talks with…
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that he was awakened to speak to his then-Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj who told him that Pakistan was preparing for a nuclear attack in the wake of the Balakot surgical strike in February 2019 and India is preparing its own escalatory…
A top Indian university has warned its students' union of strict disciplinary action if it goes ahead with a planned screening of a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, saying it might disturb the peace and harmony of the campus. Modi's government has dismissed the documentary, which…
The US is not familiar with the BBC documentary, but it is familiar with the shared “democratic values” that connect Washington and New Delhi, a US State Department spokesperson has said. The two-part BBC series, titled "India: The Modi Question" claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is travelling to different countries around the world with a "begging bowl" but none of them is giving him a penny, ousted premier Imran Khan said on Sunday. "See what this imported government has done to Pakistan," Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chairman, said in…
The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) is expected to be clinched this year but it won't involve any boost of free movement visa offers for Indians, British trade minister in charge of the negotiations has said. Kemi Badenoch, who was in New Delhi last month to kick off the sixth…
In a strong rebuttal to the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 300 eminent Indians including retired judges, retired bureaucrats, and retired armed forces veterans signed a statement slamming the British national broadcaster for showing "unrelenting prejudice" toward India and its leader. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired…
The BBC on Friday (20) defended its controversial series on prime minister Narendra Modi as a “rigorously researched” documentary that sought to highlight important issues, a day after the Indian government condemned the programme as a “propaganda piece” lacking objectivity. “The documentary was rigorously researched according to the highest editorial…
Australia's High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell AO on Friday said that Australia is shocked at the vandalism of two Hindu temples in Melbourne, and authorities are investigating the same. India on Thursday condemned the vandalization of Hindu temples in Australia and said that the matter has been raised with…
India considers the full implementation of the 13th Amendment in Sri Lanka “critical” for achieving reconciliation with the minority Tamil community, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday, underlining that New Delhi has always supported both the political and economic stability in the island nation. India has been pressing…
India's foreign minister arrives in Colombo on Thursday following his country's backing of Sri Lanka for a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, leaving China as the island's last remaining major creditor which has yet to agree to the debt restructuring plan. India has told global lender IMF that…
Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the British Parliament, Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the BBC documentary series, saying he "doesn't agree with the characterization" of his Indian counterpart. Sunak made these remarks on the controversial documentary that was raised in the Parliament by Pakistan-origin MP Imran Hussain. "The UK…
India condemned the vandalization of Hindu temples in Australia and said that the matter has been raised with the Australian government in Canberra and asked for expeditious investigation against the perpetrators. Responding to a media query regarding the vandalization and graffiti being written on Hindu temples, Ministry of External Affairs…
British Home Secretary Suella Braverman has ordered the extradition of Sanjay Bhandari, an accused middleman and consultant in arms deals, to India to face charges of tax evasion and money laundering. According to Home Office sources, the extradition was ordered last week and Bhandari now has 14 days until the…
In a major diplomatic victory for India, Abdul Rehman Makki was designated a global terrorist by the UN after China lifted its hold on a joint India-US proposal to blacklist the deputy chief of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The UN Security Council’s 1267 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought "serious" and "sincere" talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for the resolution of the "burning" issues, including on Kashmir, and said the UAE could play an important role in facilitating the resumption of dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Prime Minister Sharif…
Shankar Mishra, accused of urinating on a woman on board an Air India Flight from New York to New Delhi flight on Friday )13) told a Delhi Court that he did not commit the offence and submitted that the complainant herself could have peed on her own seat. The accused…
The trade between India and China has touched an all-time high of $135.98 billion in 2022 while New Delhi's trade deficit with Beijing crossed for the first time a $100 billion mark despite frosty bilateral relations, according to data released by Chinese customs on Friday. The total India-China trade for…
While expressing "zero tolerance" for misbehaviour at its foreign missions, Pakistan said on Thursday that it was looking into the case of a woman visitor who has alleged indecent behaviour by some senior staff members of the country's high commission in New Delhi. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Spokesperson of the Ministry…
As we begin to age, the foods we consume on a regular basis can greatly affect our overall fitness, appearance, quality of life, and risk of contracting diseases. Various nutrients help to support the natural ageing process and according to some experts, certain nutrients may even help to slow down…
The Imperial College London on Tuesday (10) welcomed the Indian high commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami, to discuss deepening ties between the UK and India. The College has been growing research connections with the South Asian nation in fields such as sustainability, public health, and water management.…
The lawmakers from the US State of Washington have urged the Biden administration to help remove or reduce the tariffs on American apples imported to India as the country's fruit industry has incurred significant losses due to New Delhi's retaliatory measures. In a letter to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai…
It was triggering to hear the father of an inebriated man who urinated on a female passenger in an Air India flight claim that the incident did not happen, a co-passenger has said, as he noted that the accused was incoherent and blamed the pilot for the inaction in dealing…
The two had taken the internet by storm with their grand Hindu marriage held in New Jersey, US, in 2019. And now, the couple -- Amit Shah and Aditya Madiraju, are set to welcome their first baby in May. The partners also had a paternity shoot and its photographs were…
The pilot of the November 26 Air India flight from New York to Delhi that witnessed the unsavoury event of an inebriated man urinating on an elderly female co-passenger, made the traumatised flyer wait for nearly two hours before allotting her a fresh seat, a co-flyer has said in his…
Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may negatively impact semen quality, according to a study on 30 males conducted by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The team led by researchers at AIIMS Patna, Bihar noted that COVID-19 can lead to multiorgan damage through the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor…
LAST year may have been a bad one for Bollywood, but that didn’t stop it from being an interesting 12 months for films with a strong south Asian connection. There were marvellous movies made across different languages and genres, which delighted audiences on multiple platforms, from streaming sites to cinemas…
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into an incident aboard an Air India flight in which a co-passenger urinated over a senior citizen travelling in business class and exposed his private parts to her on a flight from New York to Delhi. The incident reportedly…
Prime minister Narendra Modi spoke with King Charles III of UK on the telephone on Tuesday (3) and discussed several subjects including climate change, biodiversity conservation, and solutions for the financing energy transition. As this was PM Modi's first conversation with King Charles III after he assumed the Office of…
An eyewitness of the gruesome incident in India's capital New Delhi where a 20-year-old woman was killed after her scooty was allegedly hit by a car and dragged for a few kilometres on Sunday, narrated the horrific ordeal. Deepak Dahiya runs a confectionery shop on Kanjhawala Road in Ladpur village.…
A Hindu couple had fled Afghanistan nearly three 30 years ago when the first Taliban regime in that country was ready to take control. Three decades later, the duo have found their fate linked to the religious fundamentalist group again as it has returned to power in Kabul again in…
Cricket bat and pad exports from the UK to India could be in line for a big boost if a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries gets finalised, the UK government has said. The Department for International Trade (DIT) issued the update on Saturday following the sixth round…
The sixth round of negotiations between India and the UK to finalise a free trade agreement (FTA) concluded last week with detailed draft treaty discussions across 11 policy areas over 28 separate sessions, the British government said on Thursday. The UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) issued a joint outcome…
The post-pandemic travel demand spike resulting in long delays for travellers seeking Indian visas has considerably eased in time for the busy Christmas travel period, visa facilitation service VFS Global said here this week. The restoration of the electronic visa (e-visa) facility for UK travellers earlier this month is expected…
Indian author Sudeep Sen has won the Rabindranath Tagore literary award 2021-22 along with Shobhana Kumar and Sanjoy K Roy. Sen's book Anthropocene: Climate Change, Contagion, Consolation, was published by Pippa Rann Books, UK, has been selected for the award. The winners were selected from a shortlist of 11 authors.…
Industrialist Subhrakant Panda on Saturday formally took over as President of the leading industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). In a Tweet on Saturday, Panda said, “Humbled to take charge of FICCI at a crucial juncture; it was made more special by the presence of…
“MY FATHER died on Sunday, November 20, at 5:55 pm at home, in his own bed, in New Delhi. “At the end, death came to him like a mother and lifted him up gently, tenderly, to carry him through the exit to the other side. It was sandhya, dusk, when…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (14) hailed BAPS leader Pramukh Swami Maharaj as a reformer who devoted his life to selfless service of others and recalled his long association with the late saint, who he said, treated him like a son. Recalling his conversation with Pramukh Swami Maharaj when…
Influential American Senator Chuck Grassley has opposed the nomination of Eric Garcetti as the US envoy to India because of "serious allegations" of sexual harassment by one of his staffers and urged his senatorial colleagues to do the same. Grassley’s remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday come amidst the…
Indian minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal, held a meeting with UK secretary of state for international trade, Kemi Badenoch in New Delhi on Tuesday (13). Badenoch, who began her official India visit on Monday (12), is scheduled to address both teams of negotiators before the sixth round of…
The UK wants India to be among the new permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, alongside Brazil, Japan, Germany and African representation, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday. In his first major foreign policy speech since taking charge in the Rishi Sunak-led government, Cleverly praised Prime…
China on Tuesday said the situation was "generally stable" along its border with India, days after the troops of the two countries clashed in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in minor injuries to some soldiers on both sides. At a media briefing here, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang…
UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch arrives in New Delhi on Monday to “kickstart” the sixth round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and hold bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal. The new round marks the first formal meeting between the India-UK negotiating teams since July and the first…
Widely conceived to occur in 'obese' and 'high-on-cholesterol' people, recent instances of young people 'collapsing' from heart attacks may tell a different, alarming story. Many videos have emerged showing people doing everyday activities such as walking on the street, working out at gyms and dancing at weddings before seemingly 'dropping'…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday admitted that there is a delay in the issuing of foreign visas and said that at the ministerial level he had raised the matter with the Western countries including the US, UK, and Germany. While addressing the Agenda Aaj Tak 2022 in New…
Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami presented his credentials to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday (8), marking the formal start of his UK posting. Doraiswami is the first Indian envoy to be received at the palace by the King since the death of…
It’s important to pay attention to the kind of products you apply on your skin, especially those with sensitive skin, need to be more cautious as any product that doesn’t suit the skin could lead to itchiness, redness, inflammation, acne, and so on. You’ve probably heard that those with sensitive…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday headed for a record victory in Gujarat as the counting of votes entered the last leg, giving the ruling party a lead in 100 seats and a win in another 57 seats in the 182-member state assembly. The Congress party was…
Great music continues to be produced by talented independent artists like Akhil Sahni. The singer, songwriter, and musician based between London and New Delhi recently released his fabulous fourth single Let Us Be Apart. The soulful song about trying to stay away from someone that isn’t good for you mixes…
Severe heat waves, responsible for thousands of deaths across India over the last few decades, are increasing with alarming frequency and soon the country could become one of the first places in the world to experience heat waves that break the human survivability limit, according to a new report. The…
India, the world's largest democracy, is home to a great diversity of faiths, the United States said Tuesday noting that it will continue to encourage New Delhi to uphold its commitments to protect religious freedom for all. The United States has designated 12 countries, including China, Pakistan and Myanmar, as…
Twenty-six-year-old Hailey Baldwin Bieber, model and wife of singer Justin Bieber recently revealed on her Instagram account that she has a large ovarian cyst. Posting a picture of herself with her shirt pulled up to reveal her stomach, the model wrote, "I have a cyst on my ovary, the size…
The Taliban dispensation in Afghanistan has said that India will resume work on at least 20 stalled projects in several provinces across the war-torn country. In June, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital. India withdrew its officials…
South actor Prakash Raj, on Friday, confronted actor Akshay Kumar for calling out Richa Chadha over her comment about the 2020 Galwan clash, in which several Indian Army soldiers died. Taking to Twitter, Prakash Raj reacted to Akshay's tweet and wrote, "Didn't expect this from you @akshaykumar..having said that @RichaChadha…
The Delhi Police on Friday arrested a person accused of killing an Australian woman in Queensland in 2018. The Australian Police had offered 1 million Australian dollars to exchange information about the accused Rajwinder Singh who killed Toyah Cordingley in 2018. Accused Rajwinder Singh was arrested after a joint operation…
Bollywood actor Richa Chadha has issued an apology statement through a tweet after being slammed on social media for posting a tweet on the 2020 Galwan clash, in which several Indian Army soldiers died. Taking to Twitter, Richa wrote, "Even though it can never be my intention in the least,…
LAST week, I had the privilege of visiting India on behalf of the British Council, an experience which has prompted much reflection on the changing relationship between India and the UK. India, the world’s fifth biggest economy, is destined to be its most populous country – with a median age…
Diamantaire Jatin Mehta and his family continue to feel the heat of financial squeeze as the High Court in London has refused to discharge them from the Worldwide Freezing Order (WFO) for $932.5 million for now.Mehta, his wife Sonia and sons Vishal and Suraj have been accused of defrauding banks…
World-renowned speaker and author Dr Deepak Chopra has joined Vikas Khanna's award-winning short documentary 'Barefoot Empress' as the executive producer. Directed by Khanna, a Michelin-starred chef and social impact filmmaker, and produced by Academy Award-nominated Doug Roland, the film talks about 96-year-old Karthyayani Amma as she realises her life-long dream…
The proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK is a high priority for both countries and the next round of negotiations is slated to happen next month, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. He said that things are progressing well and it will yield…
Britain to offer 3,000 places annually to 18–30 year-old degree-educated Indians to come to the UK to live and work for up to two years. The reciprocal route will open in early 2023. It is reported that India will be the first visa-national country to benefit from the new visa…
It is time to confirm a US Ambassador to India, a top Indian-American Congressman said noting that for nearly two years now there has been no American envoy in New Delhi. "The US needs a strong defense and strategic partnership with India, especially in the face of escalating aggression from…
The US Department of Treasury on Friday (11) removed India along with Italy, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam from its Currency Monitoring List of major trading partners that merit close attention to their currency practices and macroeconomic policies. India had been on the list for the last two years. The move…
Ties between the United Kingdom and India will remain on a “phenomenal upward trajectory” under Indian-origin UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that country’s former premier Boris Johnson said on Saturday. The two countries need each other now more than ever as “we live in dangerous and turbulent times”, he said.…
India is expected to surpass China in getting the number of US visas by 2023 and will be ranked two in the issuance of visas after Mexico, a Senior US Embassy official said. "We expect that India will surpass China in getting the number of US visas by next year's…
A London court on Monday ruled that Sanjay Bhandari, an accused middleman and consultant in arms deals, can be extradited to India to face charges of tax evasion and money laundering. The 60-year-old faced two extradition requests from the Indian authorities, the first related to money laundering and the second…
India on Thursday said it is working “sincerely” with the UK for finalisation of the proposed free trade agreement, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak agreed on the “early conclusion” of the deal. “Both sides are working sincerely on the free trade agreement,” External…
India on Thursday reiterated its concern over certain forces planning a so-called referendum in Canada on their demand for Khalistan and called upon that country to prevent anti-India activities by individuals and groups based there. It also urged Canada to designate as terrorists under its laws those individuals and entities…
LABOUR does not take the British south Asian vote for granted, party leader Sir Keir Starmer told Eastern Eye. He also revealed his determination to work as “grown up” partners with the communities and his ambition to be the next prime minister. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview prior to…
Britain is prioritising reaching a free-trade agreement with India, its foreign minister told Reuters on Saturday in his first visit to the country, but declined to give a new deadline after missing one this month.James Cleverly said after a meeting with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in New Delhi that…
Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday (27) thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for congratulating him on his new role, saying he was "excited" about what the two great democracies can achieve as they deepen their security, defence and economic partnership. His comment came soon after Prime Minister…
China on Thursday said India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue and consultations and avoid taking “unilateral actions” that could further complicate the situation. Replying to a question on the Kashmir issue raised by a Pakistani journalist, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a media briefing…
"All faiths are welcome in Canada", said Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay on Thursday in response to how Canada was dealing with increasing anti-India elements in his country. "In Canada, we love people of all faiths," he responded to a question by ANI. The envoy who was visiting…
The director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said earlier this month that ingredients in four cough syrups manufactured in India may have been linked to acute kidney injuries and deaths of 66 kids in the west African country of The Gambia and that the products might have also been…
The free trade agreement (FTA) talks between India and the UK are "progressing well" and a deal that works for both sides is more important than the date when it is signed, Britain’s Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands said with reference to the now abandoned Diwali deadline for a draft…
The Indian mission in Australia is providing consular assistance to a 28-year-old student from the north-western city of Agra who was stabbed multiple times in Sydney and is under "serious but stable" condition after undergoing surgery at a local hospital. "The Indian Consulate in Sydney has provided consular assistance to…
The UK is set to honour 75 Indian students and alumni for excellence in fields such as education, professional achievement, and making contributions to society, on the occasion of India's 75 years of Independence. On Wednesday (12), the nomination process for India's 75 achievers -- the Achievers Honours was declared…
The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) is reportedly on the verge of collapse after the Indian government was angered by comments made by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman questioning action over visa overstayers from the country, a UK media report claimed on Wednesday. The Times' newspaper quoted government sources to…
India has a substantial inventory of Soviet and Russian-origin weapons because the Western countries opted for a military dictatorship in the region as its preferred partner and did not supply weapons to New Delhi for decades, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.…
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn on Friday was conferred with the National Award for Best Actor and Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior' at the 68th National Film Awards. For the award ceremony, the actor donned a black suit as he received the award from President…
Actor Suriya won the National Award for Best Actor for 'Soorarai Pottru' on Friday. President Draupadi Murmu presented him with the award in New Delhi. Upon receiving the honour, Suriya, while speaking to ANI, expressed his elation and said, "Huge honour. Truly grateful to the National Film Award jury and…
The UK is "working intensely" with India to achieve the Free Trade Agreements soon, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. This comes after Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had said the UK is keen to stick to the Diwali deadline for free trade agreements. "We have signed Free Trade Agreements…
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Thursday said that he would prefer to breathe his last surrounded by the genuine and loving people of India, a free and open democracy, rather than among "artificial" Chinese officials. He made these remarks during a two-day dialogue with youth leaders at his residence…
Terming the so-called Khalistan referendum conducted by separatist groups as a "farcical exercise", India on Thursday said it had conveyed concerns to Canada about the use of its territory by politically motivated "extremist elements". Some Canadian groups had participated in the separatist event in Brampton city of Canada on September…
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the UK is keen to stick to the Diwali deadline for India-UK free trade agreement and both countries are working towards it. He referred to the passing away of Queen Elizabeth II and said "as we are expanding our engagements, the UK…
India will overtake the United Kingdom to become the third largest economy by the end of the decade and thus New Delhi and London need to work together, British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis said on Tuesday. "For two economies roughly the same size, India will grow fast overtaking…
President Droupadi Murmu arrived in London on Saturday (17) evening to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and to offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government. Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at her summer residence of Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, is lying-in-state…
It was my great privilege be appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to serve as her representative in South Glamorgan as Deputy Lord Lieutenant and also as Honorary Captain in the Royal Navy. During that time I was incredibly lucky to have met her on a number of occasions,…
Singer Justin Bieber, who was supposed to perform in India in October 2022, has called off his concert due to his health issues. BookMyShow, on Thursday, confirmed the update by issuing an official statement. "We are extremely disappointed to share that the 'Justin Bieber Justice World Tour - India' scheduled…
HOW do you begin to write about someone so deeply loved and to whom you owe your very existence? It is impossible to sum up in words what my mother meant to us as a family, but the extraordinary story of her life needs to be told, however inadequate mere…
With Charles succeeding his mother Queen Elizabeth II as the British monarch, his wife Camilla is set to get the crown which holds the famous Indian-origin Kohinoor diamond.The Queen Concert will receive the crown when the formal coronation of the new king takes place after the mourning of Elizabeth who…
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while expressing her love for her mother tongue Bangla, said it was the large-scale language movement that gave Bangladesh its Independence from Pakistan five decades back. "When Pakistan was formed, Urdu language was imposed upon us. A language movement started across our country and we…
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) – an international socio-spiritual organisation affiliated to the UN and with major centres in London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Delhi, Nairobi, Abu Dhabi and Sydney – is beginning work on its next major project, in Paris. The foundation stone-laying ceremony for what has been…
Vikram Doraiswami, presently Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the UK, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday. "Shri Vikram K. Doraiswami (IFS: 1992), presently High Commissioner of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, has been appointed…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will aim to become a developed nation within 25 years as the country marked 75 years of independence on Monday (15), with the leaders of Britain, the US and France sending congratulatory messages. In his traditional address to the nation from Delhi’s historic Red…
Bollywood actor and comedian Rajpal Yadav has sent his best wishes to Raju Srivastava, who is admitted to the intensive care unit at AIIMS, New Delhi. Rajpal took to his Instagram handle and posted a video in which he was heard saying that he is eagerly waiting for him to…
The US and other nations in the world may not appreciate India buying Russian oil, but they have accepted it as New Delhi has not been defensive about its stand but made them realise the obligation the government has to its people amidst "unreasonably high" oil and gas prices, External…
NIMISHA MADHVANI, whose appointment as Uganda’s high commissioner in London was reported in Eastern Eye last December, took up her post last week. She does so at an important phase in Uganda-UK relations. First, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Idi Amin’s expulsion of 90,000 Uganda Asians, nearly 30,000 of…
Prime Minister Boris Johnson led India's 75th Independence Day celebrations in the UK on Monday with a throwback image from Sabarmati Ashram during his visit to Gujarat earlier this year. Congratulations to the people of India on 75 years of independence, he said. "During my recent visit to Gujarat and…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called on the people of India to take "panch pran" (five pledges) for a developed nation and aim to fulfil the dreams of the freedom fighters by the year 2047- the 100th year of India's Independence. The Prime Minister while addressing the nation on…
Anshu Jain, Deutsche Bank's former India-born co-CEO, who played a crucial role in the development of the German bank, has died after a nearly five-year battle with cancer.Deutsche Bank said in a statement Saturday that it "mourns the death of its former Co-CEO Anshu Jain, who passed away in the…
India and the United Kingdom concluded the fifth round of talks for an India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) last month, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Thursday. The ministry said that negotiation officials undertook these technical talks in a hybrid fashion - with some of the teams meeting…
High energy stage play Speed Dial has been delighting audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. The 1970s-set physical comedy thriller, filled with puzzles, a mystery and funny moments, has a talented cast that includes Genevieve Sabherwal. The talented British actress is enjoying being on stage with fellow cast members and…
Seventy-five years of the independent polity have been tumultuous and turbulent for the state of Pakistan. Oscillating between military rule and civilian governments, the country to date has failed to witness even one complete five-year tenure of any of its Prime Ministers. This offbeat political tug of war has raised…
Justin Beiber is known to be very kind to his friends and fans and has on numerous occasions won the hearts of many with his generosity. On Sunday, the pop star took to his Instagram to apologise for "inappropriate comments" on a user's post. Justin mentioned that he had earlier…
Justin Beiber and Hailey Beiber are undoubtedly one of the most adorable couples in the showbiz industry. The couple often makes sure to keep their fans happy by sharing cute, intimate pictures of themselves on social media. Justin and Hailey are currently in Norway where Justin performed on Sunday night.…
An Indian drummer’s performance at a ‘jagrata’ has caught the attention of international pop singer Justin Bieber, who is all set to perform in the national capital this October. The music sensation shared on his Instagram account a video of the drummer in action while tagging friend and drummer Devon…
China on Thursday defended its massive infrastructure ventures and investments in crisis-hit Sri Lanka and said that they have "boosted" its economic development, amid criticism from the US of Beijing's unproductive projects and opaque loan deals among the reasons for the country's bankruptcy. The China-Sri Lanka practical cooperation has always…
The winners of India’s 68th National Film Awards were announced on July 22, 2022, in New Delhi. Established in 1954, the prestigious National Film Awards are administered by the Government of India’s Directorate of Film Festivals. What made the 68th National Film Awards special was the fact that the ceremony…
Rejoice all Justin Beiber fans! Justi is back on his 'Justice' world tour and will soon be performing in India. Justin had earlier cancelled a lot of his shows in North America after being diagnosed with partial face paralysis, leaving millions of fans concerned. Now, as a part of the…
CONSIGNMENTS of Indian tea are being sent back because of the presence of excessive chemicals, amidst fears they are unfit for human consumption.Media reports last month said Taiwan and Iran sent back three containers of Indian tea, clouding New Delhi’s efforts to fill up the gap caused by the short…
The Indian High Commission in Canada on Monday urged the Canadian authorities to withdraw the ‘disrespectful depiction of Hindu Gods’ in the poster of Kaali, a film showcased as part of the 'Under the Tent' project at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. The poster that was tweeted last Saturday…
VIKRAM DORAISWAMI, the current Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh, will become the Indian envoy to the UK. A 1992 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Doraiswami is a Chinese speaker who has served as Indian ambassador to Uzbekistan, South Korea and served in US as well as private secretary to prime minister.…
Confirming that both sides are now getting on with the market access aspects of a trade deal, the minister in-charge of the negotiations on the UK government side said that some compromise and cooperation will be required on both sides to get a deal over the line. A free trade…
Detailed draft treaty text for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK has been advanced across the majority of chapters at the conclusion of the fourth round of negotiations in London, the UK government said in a joint outcome statement on Monday. The Department for International…
HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati has met Indian vice president Venkaiah Naidu at his residence in New Delhi. Pujya Swamiji invited him to the Ganga Aarti and presented him with a Rudraksha plant and angavastram, a statement said. He also shared details about the recent International Yoga Day celebrations held at…
INDIA's Tata Group-owned Air India may order as many as 300 narrowbody jets in one of the largest orders in commercial aviation history as the airline plans to overhaul its fleet, the Bloomberg reported. The carrier may order Airbus SE’s A320neo family jets or Boeing Co.’s 737 Max models, or…
Shah Rukh Khan, the king of hearts for many due to his ability to make feel special, has smitten actor R Madhavan too who is completely awed by the superstar's humility. While promoting his upcoming film 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' in New Delhi on Monday, Madhavan revealed that SRK did…
PAKISTAN's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday (16) made a strong pitch for re-engaging with India, saying cutting ties with New Delhi would not serve the country's interests as Islamabad was already internationally isolated and disengaged. Addressing the Founding Day ceremony at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Bilawal…
Several incidents of violence were reported from different parts of the country over the controversial remarks of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Wading into the ongoing controversy, renowned Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen tweeted if "Prophet Muhammad was alive today, he would have been shocked to see the…
Iran is satisfied with the efforts made by the Indian government in dealing with those responsible for comments on Prophet Muhammed, the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said.Abdollahian, who is on his first visit to India since he assumed office last year, raised the issue of the controversial…
A NUMBER of distinguished guests came together at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh in the northern Indian state if Uttarakhand on Tuesday (7) – the fifth day of the week-long celebrations that are underway in the honour of the 70th birth anniversary of His Holiness (HH) Pujya Swami Chidanand…
Pakistan said on Monday that it has summoned the Indian charge d'affaires to convey its categorical rejection and condemnation of the controversial remarks by two BJP leaders against Prophet Mohammed.The Indian diplomat was told that these remarks are totally unacceptable and have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the…
India on Monday hit out at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its criticism of the country in the wake of the alleged derogatory remarks made against Prophet Mohammed by two BJP functionaries.External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India categorically rejects the OIC Secretariat's "unwarranted and narrow-minded comments"…
INDIA has a difficult relationship with China but it is perfectly capable of managing it, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Friday (3). He rejected the European construct that New Delhi's position on Ukraine could impact global support to it if its problems with Beijing increases. In an interactive…
For the first time since the Taliban's capture of power in Kabul, India has sent a team led by a senior diplomat to Afghanistan to oversee the delivery of its humanitarian aid and meet with senior members of the Taliban. The team, led by JP Singh, the external affairs ministry's…
The treatyUnder the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi -- amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use.The waters of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum,…
British-Asian political and business leaders have paid tribute to “their inspirational Queen” for her “selfless service” ahead of her platinum jubilee. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, told Eastern Eye that he remembered being a child celebrating her majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, and he was “so excited to get a…
China on Tuesday (31) insisted that it is still India's biggest trade partner in 2021-22 as per its figures and attributed the "disparity" to different methods of calculating the trade volume by New Delhi and Beijing while referring to reports that the US has unseated it to take the top…
On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, they also asked the Centre to ensure that tobacco control laws and policies are made stronger and implemented effectively. Noted epidemiologist and public health expert Chandrakant Lahariya pointed out that children and non-tobacco users too visit the point of sale (POS) and…
THE National Theatre’s new play, The Father and the Assassin, examines why Nathuram Godse, initially a supporter of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, turned against the Mahatma and shot him dead at a prayer meeting in New Delhi on January 30, 1948. Eastern Eye readers will appreciate this is a multi-layered play,…
India on Friday described as "unacceptable" the comments made by OIC-IPHRC (Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission) criticising New Delhi for the court ruling against Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik.External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the world seeks "zero tolerance" against terrorism and urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)…
Since winning a gold medal in flyweight division at the Women's Junior and Youth World Boxing Championship in Turkey in 2011, it has been a difficult journey for Zareen. Fresh from her exploits at the World Boxing Championship, Nikhat Zareen has now firmly set her sights on being the first…
Pakistan on Thursday (26) announced it would hike fuel prices so that it could resume receiving aid from a $6 billion (£4.75 bn) package signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2019.Fuel prices rose by 20 per cent from Friday (27) - petrol now costs Rs 179.86 (72p) per…
India was and is an important stakeholder in Afghanistan, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said today and called for enhancing the capability of the war-torn country to counter-terrorism and terrorist groups which pose a threat regional peace and security. Speaking at the 4th Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Tajikistan's…
INDIAN author Geetanjali Shree and US translator Daisy Rockwell have won the International Booker Prize for Hindi novel "Tomb of Sand", a first for a book in an Indian language. The prestigious £50,000 prize is awarded to fiction from around the world that has been translated into English and is…
AN INDIAN court on Wednesday (25) ordered life in jail for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik for funding "terrorist" activities and many other charges, prompting street protests outside his residence and condemnation from Pakistan's prime minister.Malik, head of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), had pleaded guilty to the…
THE World Bank said it is not planning to provide any new financing to cash-strapped Sri Lanka until an adequate economic policy framework has been put in place. In a statement, the multilateral development bank said it was repurposing resources from previously approved projects to help the Sri Lankan government…
Canadian pop star Justin Bieber is set to bring his World Tour to India after a long gap of 5 years. The singer, known for such globally popular tracks as ‘Baby’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Lonely’, and ‘Sorry’, will perform in the national capital, New Delhi, in the month of October. Bieber, whose…
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva has exhorted India to consider reversing its ban on the exports of wheat, even as New Delhi capped sugar shipments in its latest bid to tame domestic inflation.As the Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted the food supply chain, Georgieva said in…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and other Quad leaders are set to demonstrate that the grouping is a "force for global good" and has a unifying commitment to a rules-based international order amid China's increasingly intimidatory behaviour.What is QUAD?The loosely organised Quad - comprising India, the United States, Australia and…
WHEN India refused to succumb to the Western pressure to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, the praise for New Delhi’s diplomatic tightrope walk came from unexpected quarters.Pakistan’s then prime minister Imran Khan found merit in India’s “independent foreign policy” and even said his government was also…
INDIA'S huge diamond-polishing industry has furloughed around 250,000 of its roughly two million workers because of sanctions on Russia hitting supplies, a trade union said Thursday (19).The South Asian nation cuts and polishes 90 per cent of the world's diamonds, with Russian diamond miners such as Alrosa traditionally accounting for…
INDIA's Vistara has started daily direct flights from London to New Delhi as part of its plans to focus more on Europe, the company said. The airline celebrated the flight from London Heathrow Airport to New Delhi on Tuesday (17). Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines,…
HUNDREDS of thousands of tonnes of wheat were stranded at a major port in India on Tuesday (17) after New Delhi's surprise ban on exports over inflation and food security worries. India, the world's second-largest grower of wheat, last week ordered that traders could not enter into new export deals…
At least 27 people died and dozens more were injured in a massive fire in a building in the Indian capital New Delhi on Friday, emergency services said. "The fire has been put out now. The total number of dead is 27. Search operation is on," a fire department official…
INDIA banned wheat exports on Saturday (14), just days after saying it was targeting record shipments this year, as a scorching heat wave curtailed output and domestic prices soared to an all-time high.The government said it would still allow exports backed by already issued letters of credit and to countries…
INDIA's Supreme Court on Wednesday (11) suspended a colonial-era sedition law that activists say is often used by prime minister Narendra Modi's government to target free speech and dissent. Modi's critics say that the law, which was once used by Britain to target independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, has been abused…
A NEW UK-India Industry Task Force, a joint commission to increase cross-industry collaboration and push the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) over the line, was launched on Monday (9).The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have created the new task force as part of…
AN Indian police officer has been arrested after being accused of raping a 13-year-old girl who went to his station to report she had been gang-raped. The alleged incident is the latest to spotlight the high levels of sexual violence in the world's largest democracy, where a woman is raped…
INDIA and Canada on Wednesday (4) discussed expansion of a bilateral air service agreement that will allow more flights between the two countries. Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is on a nine-day visit to the US and Canada, met Canadian transport minister Omar Alghabra on Wednesday. “I personally thanked…
INDIA registered about 475,000 more total deaths in 2020 than the previous year, government data released months ahead of schedule on Tuesday (3) showed, as the World Health Organization readies its estimates of excess Covid-19 deaths whose methodology New Delhi has opposed. Some experts estimate India's actual Covid death toll…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (3) appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, even as his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen hoped New Delhi will use its influence over Russia to end the war. The two leaders discussed the Ukraine crisis and several regional and global issues including increasing…
INDIA’S prime minister promised peace and development for Jammu and Kashmir last Sunday (24), during his first public event in the region since it imposed a sweeping security clampdown nearly three years ago. Narendra Modi’s bharatiya Janata Party-led government has sought to quell a long-running insurgency in Indian Kashmir and…
INDIA's former prime minister Indira Gandhi valued Rahul Gandhi’s “grit and determination”, according to a new book. It added that she often considered him mature enough to be taken into confidence on subjects she avoided discussing even with his parents when he was barely 14. The book Leaders, Politicians, Citizens…
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson landed in Gujarat last Thursday (21) as he began his two-day India visit. He said he felt like Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar, as hundreds of people lined the streets and dozens of billboards depicted his image. “I had an amazing reception,” he said. “My face…
Power outages compounded the misery of millions of people wilting in a heatwave across India and Pakistan on Friday, with experts blaming climate change for an early onset of roasting summer temperatures. In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh hundreds of forest fires have broken out in recent weeks,…
THE European Union (EU) and India agreed on Monday (25) to set up a trade and technology council (TTC) to step up cooperation, as the bloc’s chief held talks with officials in New Delhi. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen concluded a two-day trip to India’s capital, part of…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
AN Indo-British bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October, prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi last week, as he concluded his much-delayed visit to India. Britain and India also agreed to step up defence and business cooperation, Johnson said, adding that London would support Delhi’s goal…
New Delhi on Thursday ruled out any formal talks with Pakistan unless India's neighbour stops supporting "cross-border terrorism", as a new government comes to power in Islamabad. The recent appointment of Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan's new prime minister has raised hopes of an easing of tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals,…
INDIA said the best solution to the Ukraine conflict is to “stop the fighting” and get the warring sides to the negotiation table.“The best way forward is to focus on stopping the fighting, getting the talking and finding ways of moving forward. We think our choices, our positions are best…
BRITAIN wants to keep growing its ties with India as part of efforts to work more closely with allies to create a so-called Network of Liberty, foreign secretary Liz Truss said.She used her keynote address at the Lord Mayor's Easter banquet in London on Wednesday (27) to issue a stark…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday (25) announced the setting up of an India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a strategic mechanism to tackle key trade, economic and technological challenges.India is the second country after the US to have such a…
EUROPE will make sure that Russia's “unprovoked and unjustified” aggression against Ukraine will be a “strategic failure”, though the Indo-Pacific region has started feeling the impact of the crisis, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (25). She also said energising the partnership with New Delhi is…
RELIGIOUS freedom has deteriorated "significantly" in India under the Hindu nationalist government, a US commission said Monday (25) as it again recommended targeted sanctions over abuses.It was the third straight year that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom asked that India be placed on a list of "countries of…
INDIAN and the European Union (EU) agreed on Monday (25) to set up a trade and technology council to step up cooperation between them, the two sides said in a joint statement as the EU chief met government officials in New Delhi.European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is on…
INDIA's prime minister will on Sunday (24) hold his first public event in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir since New Delhi imposed a sweeping security clampdown there more than two years ago. Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government has sought to quell a long-running insurgency in Indian-administered Kashmir and…
British prime minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that skilled workers from India could plug labour shortages in sectors such as information technology in the UK, even as he reiterated that immigration would continue to be controlled. Britain has made getting a trade deal with India one of its post-Brexit…
BRITAIN and India agreed on Friday (22) to step up defence and business cooperation during a visit to New Delhi by Boris Johnson, who said a bilateral free-trade deal could be wrapped up by October. On his first visit to the Indian capital as UK prime minister, Johnson discussed with…
Britain and India agreed a "new and expanded" defence and security partnership on Friday, British prime minister Boris Johnson said in New Delhi. Johnson is visiting India just as he faces criticism from his own Conservative MPs and the embarrassing prospect of a probe into whether he lied to parliament…
CONGRESSWOMAN Ilhan Omar made a rare visit by a US lawmaker to the Pakistan-administered part of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir on Thursday (21) and said the issue should get more attention from the United States, prompting an angry response from India.The Muslim-majority Kashmir region has long been the…
BORIS JOHNSON was accorded a cordial welcome when he landed in Gujarat on Thursday (21) as the British prime minister began his two-day trip to India. But the pomp and publicity that generally marks top world leaders’ visits to the south Asian country was conspicuously missing.Johnson was received at the…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday (21) touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against Russia. Johnson arrived in Gujarat -- Modi's home state and the ancestral home to half of the United Kingdom's British Indians…
British prime minister Boris Johnson faces calls to apologise for a colonial-era massacre during his visit to Gujarat on Thursday, 100 years after as many as 1,200 people were killed protesting against imperial rule. Last month saw the centenary of the Pal-Dadhvav massacre, when Indian historians say around 2,000 tribal…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson will offer to help India cut reliance on Russian oil and defence equipment when he begins a two-day visit this week that will test his diplomatic skills and provide brief respite from a row raging at home. On his first trip to India as prime…
India has sharply criticised a forthcoming World Health Organization study which reportedly claims coronavirus killed four million people nationally, the latest analysis suggesting a significant undercount of the pandemic's death toll. The New York Times reported last week that New Delhi had stalled the study's release after disputing that India's…
TWO spiritual leaders of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) Sanstha met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi recently. The trio prayed for the welfare of Indians worldwide. HH Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami honoured Modi with a garland, while Brahmavihari Swami updated the prime minister on Sanstha’s Covid-19 pandemic…
BORIS JOHNSON will become the first British prime minister to visit Gujarat when he lands in Ahmedabad this week for a two-day visit to India for “in-depth” talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.Johnson's visit will begin on Thursday (21) with a trip to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, which is Modi's…
IN A strong message to China, Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh has said that if harmed, his country “will not spare anyone”.He asserted that India under prime minister Narendra Modi has emerged as a powerful country and is headed to be among the top three economies of the world.Singh, in…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to arrive in India next week with a wide-ranging schedule in New Delhi, according to Indian government sources.The visit, which is yet to be formally announced by Downing Street, follows the successful completion of four out of 26 chapters in the ongoing India-UK…
INDIA is likely to receive normal monsoon rains this year, the state-run weather office said on Thursday (14), raising prospects of higher farm and general growth in Asia's third-biggest economy. The rains, which usually lash the southern tip of Kerala state around June 1 and retreat by September, are expected…
INDIA is willing to commit up to another $2 billion (£1.54 bn) in financial assistance to Sri Lanka while also supporting the island nation with food and fuel, five sources said, as New Delhi tries to regain ground lost to China in recent years.Sri Lanka, hit by its worst economic…
INDIA and the UK on Tuesday (12) reiterated their commitment to a joint programme of action in implementing the Enhanced Cyber Security Partnership, agreed upon by the prime ministers of the two countries last year.The two countries held their Annual Cyber Dialogue in London on Monday (11) and Tuesday (12),…
INDIA's relationship with Russia was developed over decades at a time when the US was not able to be a partner, secretary of state Antony Blinken. Top officials of the Biden administration on Monday (11) showed an understanding of New Delhi's position on Ukraine war. "India's relationship with Russia was…
AMERICAN president Joe Biden and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit on Monday (11), clouded by US frustration over New Delhi's neutral stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.The South Asian nation has tried to walk a tightrope between maintaining relations with the West and avoiding alienating Russia…
AUSTRALIAN prime minister Scott Morrison posted a picture on social media showing him preparing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi's favourite dish to celebrate a new trade deal with India.On April 2, India and Australia signed an economic cooperation and trade agreement under which Canberra would provide duty-free access to its…
INDIA has rejected demands from large global and domestic beverage firms to exempt some plastic straws from a ban that takes effect on July 1, fanning fears of disruption in a multi-billion-dollar industry. The ban on items such as straws packaged with small packs of juices and dairy products that…
INDIA has said it will “soon” begin the delivery of more medicines requested by Ukraine, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said as the situation in the war-torn country calls for urgent humanitarian relief.He also asserted that Russia remains “an important partner” for India, amid calls from Western countries to scale…
INDIA's Kashmir region is attracting record tourists after the easing of pandemic restrictions and some improvement in the security situation, bolstering local businesses. Tourist arrivals are set to touch a ten-year high this year after more than 340,000 tourists have come since January, local tour operators and government officials said,…
INDIA's foreign minister said he was "deeply disturbed" by civilian deaths in the Ukrainian city of Bucha but stopped short of blaming Russia, calling for an independent probe. New Delhi has historically close ties with Moscow and has refrained from condemning its invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour, abstaining in several…
INDIA'S foreign minister said on Wednesday (6) the government is working to stabilise economic transactions with Russia, a day after New Delhi condemned the killings of civilians in Ukraine and called for an independent probe.S Jaishankar told lawmakers in Parliament that Russia continues to be a critical economic partner and…
India on Tuesday condemned the killings of civilians in Ukraine's Bucha and called for an independent investigation, having earlier declined to explicitly criticise the invasion of Ukraine by its long-time partner Russia. A Ukrainian human rights ombudswoman said on Tuesday that between 150 and 300 bodies may be in a…
INDIAN traders are exporting 40,000 tons of rice to Sri Lanka in the first major food aid since Colombo secured a credit line from New Delhi.The Indian Ocean island nation of 22 million people is struggling to pay for essential imports after a 70 per cent drop in foreign exchange…
INDIA and Australia inked an interim free trade deal on Saturday (2) that cuts tariffs on billions of dollars of commerce as the two Quad partners bolster their economic ties. Both signatories are members of the Quad alliance with the US and Japan, which is seen as a counterweight to…
THE US will not set any "red line" for India on its energy imports from Russia but does not want to see a "rapid acceleration" in purchases, a top US official said during a visit to New Delhi. However, Daleep Singh, Washington's chief sanctions strategist, was quoted by local media…
RUSSIA will increase its use of non-Western currencies for trade with countries such as India, its foreign minister said on Friday (1), as he hailed India as a friend that was not taking a "one-sided view" on the Ukraine war.Sergei Lavrov visited India on a mission to shore up support…
UKRAINE has sought India’s intervention to stop Russian aggression on the eastern European country as peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv have not made any meaningful headway.Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said India should leverage its friendly ties with Russia and prevail upon its president Vladimir Putin to stop the…
Britain's foreign secretary was in India on Thursday (31) to press for tougher action on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, ahead of a visit by Moscow's top diplomat likely aimed at urging Delhi to do the opposite. India has abstained from UN resolutions censuring Russia, calling only for a cessation of…
US president Joe Biden's deputy national security adviser for economics Daleep Singh will be in New Delhi on March 30 and 31 to meet government officials to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine and develop an economic framework for the Indo-Pacific, the White House said. “Singh will consult closely with counterparts…
RUSSIA'S foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will visit India for a two-day visit beginning on Thursday (31), officials said.He is likely to press New Delhi to resist Western pressure to condemn the Ukraine invasion.India has abstained from UN resolutions censuring Russia and continues to buy Russian oil and other goods. Lavrov's…
INDIA's digital inclusion might get momentum due to recent policy moves including easier approvals for satellite broadband network rollouts, and the imminent launch of satellite broadband from India's Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms, Elon Musk's Starlink, and others. There are currently more than 800 million internet subscribers in the nation…
RUSSIAN foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is set to fly to India this week, sources said, finding time to visit one of the biggest buyers of Russian commodities since the international community began isolating Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.There is little sign that buying will slow down any time soon,…
BRITISH foreign secretary Elizabeth Truss will visit India on Thursday (31) against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine.India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Monday (28) said Truss will hold consultations with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.Russian foreign minister…
INDIA's Infosys played down its business ties in Russia after British chancellor Rishi Sunak came under fire over his wife's stake in the IT giant. Infosys, with a market value of some $100 billion, was co-founded by Sunak's father-in-law NR Narayana Murthy. His daughter Akshata Murty, Sunak's wife, owns a…
A former Maldives president jailed on corruption charges has returned to politics with a campaign against Indian influence in the country, worrying New Delhi, which is battling China for supremacy in its own back yard. Abdulla Yameen wants to cancel defence deals signed with India, with which Maldives shares decades…
INDIA said on Friday (25) ties with China could not be normal until their troops pulled back from each other on the disputed border, but Beijing struck a conciliatory note during a meeting of their foreign ministers in New Delhi. Both nations have deployed thousands of troops on the high-altitude…
Actor Suraj Sharma, who exploded onto the scene with the Oscar-winning film Life of Pi (2012), has bagged an exciting Bollywood project. The actor has signed on to star alongside veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee, and Kaveri Seth in an upcoming film, titled Gulmohar. Filming for the upcoming family…
INDIA on Thursday (24) abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution by Ukraine and its allies on the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn eastern European country.India said the focus should be on cessation of hostilities and on urgent humanitarian assistance and the draft did not fully reflect New…
THE THIRD round of the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations will be hosted by India next month, Britain's Department for International Trade (DIT) said on Thursday (24).A joint “outcome statement” released by the DIT confirmed that a draft treaty text of chapters that will make up the new…
THE Indian Premier League (IPL) returns for its biggest season on Saturday (26), with a galaxy of top names and two new franchises expanding the world's richest cricket competition to 10 teams for its 15th edition. But crowds in the cricket-mad nation will, initially at least, be limited to 25…
WHEN 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a 2020 border clash with China, the military hardware New Delhi sent to bolster its Himalayan frontier was mostly Russian-origin, showing not for the first time its closeness to "longstanding and time-tested friend" Moscow.Facing an increasingly assertive China closer to home, these ties…
CHINA's foreign minister Wang Yi drew a rebuke from the Indian government ahead of his expected but unconfirmed visit to New Delhi on Friday (25), upsetting his hosts with remarks made in Pakistan this week concerning the disputed Kashmir region. Relations between the two nuclear-armed Asian powers turned chilly two…
CHINA's foreign minister will visit New Delhi for talks on Friday (25), an Indian official said, though neither side has formally announced what would be the purpose of the highest-level visit since border clashes soured relations two years ago. Foreign minister Wang Yi attended a conference of the Organization of…
THE PARENTS of Reuters photographer Danish Siddiqui, who was killed in a Taliban attack in Afghanistan last year, have begun legal action at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Islamist group, a lawyer for the family said on Tuesday (22).Siddiqui, a Pulitzer Prize winner, was embedded with Afghan special…
LONDON'S Parliament Square was the flag-off point for Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru's 30,000-km motorbike tour on Monday (21), as he set off on his Save Soil awareness campaign across Europe and the Middle East en route to India.The yoga guru, 64, donned his biking gear for the 100-day tour, which…
JAPANESE prime minister Fumio Kishida will encourage a unified approach on Ukraine when he meets Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday (19), while aiming to strengthen security ties across the Indo-Pacific region. "Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine coincides with this trip, I'd like to emphasise…
INDIA's oil imports from the US will rise by 11 per cent this year, officials said on Saturday (19), as the severely energy-deficient country looks to secure supplies from producers around the world, including heavily sanctioned Russia. The surge in oil prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last month threatens…
THE US, European Union, India and South Africa have reached a consensus on key elements of a long-sought intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines, according to a proposed text. Sources familiar with the talks described the text as a tentative agreement among the four World Trade Organization members that still…
INDIA is reviewing its standard operating procedures for weapons systems and will immediately fix any shortcomings after accidentally launching a missile into Pakistan last week, its defence minister said on Tuesday (15).Pakistan said it was not satisfied and reiterated a demand for a joint investigation into the incident by the…
SRI LANKA'S ongoing forex crisis may further hit its tourism industry as the UK and Canada have warned their travellers to be aware of the current economic situation in the island nation.According to the latest advisory issued by the British government, the economic situation is deteriorating in Sri Lanka with…
Paytm shares nosedived 13 per cent Monday after Indian regulators banned the beleaguered payments platform from enrolling new customers and reports its founder was arrested for crashing into a police car. The firm enjoyed India's biggest-ever initial public offering four months ago, with the backing of Chinese tycoon Jack Ma's…
INDIA is considering taking up a Russian offer to buy its crude oil and other commodities at discounted prices with payment via a rupee-rouble transaction, two Indian officials said, amid tough Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.India, which imports 80 per cent of its oil needs, usually…
THE US will continue to support India with the equipment it needs along its border with China, a top American admiral has told lawmakers, asserting that Washington and New Delhi share a "tremendous partnership."Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on ‘Military Posture in the Indo-Pacific Region' this week, Admiral…
INDIA has said it had accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan this week because of a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance, giving its version of events after Pakistan summoned India's envoy to protest.Military experts have in the past warned of the risk of accidents or miscalculations by the nuclear-armed neighbours,…
AUTHOR Geetanjali Shree's novel ‘Tomb of Sand' is among 13 books from across the world longlisted for the International Booker Prize, the first Hindi language work of fiction to make the cut for the prestigious literary prize, unveiled in London on Thursday (10).Shree's book, translated into English by Daisy Rockwell…
PAKISTAN on Friday (11) warned New Delhi of "unpleasant consequences" over what it said was an Indian-originated, but unidentified high-altitude supersonic object that crashed in Pakistani territory.Pakistan foreign office said in a statement it summoned India's charge d'affaires in Islamabad to lodge a protest over what it said was the…
EMOTIONS ran high as Indian students, evacuated from the embattled Ukrainian city of Sumy, came out of the Delhi airport on Friday (11) and hugged their waiting parents.Some of the parents distributed sweets and garlanded their children while others welcomed them with bouquets and hugs as they arrived at the…
INDIAN pharmaceutical major Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd said on Wednesday (9) it was focused on employee safety and business continuity in and around Russia, despite many Western companies pulling out from Russia in recent days.No Indian company has publicly withdrawn from Russia and New Delhi has declined to condemn Moscow's…
AT a large Future Retail supermarket in Mumbai last week, workers were unloading hundreds of bright blue grocery crates belonging to India's biggest retailer Reliance. Prospective customers were turned back by security, disappointed at the closed state of the store that still carries the signage of Future's biggest brand, Big…
SEVERAL Indian students stranded in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy hoped that they would be in a safe zone soon as their evacuation process started on Tuesday (8)."The evacuation from Sumy has started. There was finally some good news. All Indian students will be evacuated from Sumy on Tuesday…
RUSSIAN president Vladimir Putin on Monday (7) assured Indian prime minister Narendra Modi that his forces are “doing everything” to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, according to his office.During a 50-minute telephonic conversation with Putin, Modi conveyed his "deep concern" over the safety…
US president Joe Biden on Thursday (3) met virtually with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India over Ukraine, but the "Quad" group failed to agree on condemning Russia's invasion, with New Delhi hesitant to censure Moscow. The impromptu meeting was held shortly after it was announced by Delhi. Washington…
Salman Khan on Friday announced that his much-awaited film Tiger 3 will release in cinemas on April 21, 2023, on the auspicious occasion of Eid. The superstar also shared the first teaser for the upcoming film, which also stars Katrina Kaif in the lead role. Tiger 3 is the third…
INDIA denied on Thursday (3) Russian claims that Ukraine was holding Indian students hostage in Kharkiv, instead of thanking Ukraine for its help in evacuations from the embattled city. "We note that with the cooperation of the Ukrainian authorities, many students have left Kharkiv yesterday," said Indian foreign ministry spokesman…
JAGUAR LAND ROVER has said it is pausing deliveries of its cars to Russia due to “trading challenges”, while leading steelmaker ArcelorMittal announced a reduction in its production in Ukraine.A statement from Britain-based JLR, owned by India's Tata Motors said on Tuesday (1), “the current global context... presents us with…
INDIA's opposition on Wednesday (2) stepped up pressure on the government to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a day after an Indian student died during shelling in the eastern city of Kharkiv. India is yet to criticise long-standing arms supplier Russia publicly, instead urging both sides to cease hostilities,…
INDIA has stepped up efforts to evacuate its nationals from Ukraine as new Delhi confirmed on Tuesday (1) that a student had died in shelling in Ukraine.Prime minister Narendra Modi has directed the Indian Air Force to bring back stranded citizens, most of whom are students pursuing medicine in Ukraine’s…
AN INDIAN student was killed on Tuesday (1) in shelling in Ukraine, New Delhi said as it urged Moscow and Kyiv to secure safe passage for around 12,000 of its stranded nationals."With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning," Indian…
TURKEY's Ilker Ayci said on Tuesday (1) he will not take on the role of chief executive of Tata Group's Air India, days after the announcement of his appointment led to opposition in India over his previous political links. Tata last month announced Ayci's appointment as CEO of previously state-run…
RUSSIA'S invasion of Ukraine has left India's traditional balancing act between Moscow and the West looking wobblier than ever, with experts saying New Delhi has few good diplomatic options.Last week India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution deploring Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, winning praise from Moscow for its "independent…
FOR the second time, India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution to convene a rare emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, even as New Delhi asserted that there is no other choice but to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue…
THE Indian embassy in Ukraine on Monday (28) advised all Indian students stranded in Kyiv to reach the railway station in the Ukrainian capital for their onward journey to the western parts of the war-torn country. It said the weekend curfew in Kyiv has been lifted and they can go…
RUSSIA has praised India's "independent and balanced" position after Delhi abstained from a UN Security Council vote that deplored Moscow's "aggression" against Ukraine. India, along with China and the UAE, did not vote on the resolution Friday (25), a move in line with the fine balance Delhi has sought to…
A GROUP of students stuck in Ukraine has made a desperate appeal to the Indian government to evacuate them from the eastern European country “as fast as possible”. The students have been stranded in Ukraine as the nation closed its airspace because of the ongoing military action by Russia on…
INDIA abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that condemned Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine and demanded "immediate, complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian forces from the neighbouring country. The UN Security Council voted on Friday (25) on the draft resolution sponsored by the US and Albania and supported by…
INDIAN students in Ukraine have spoken of their despair as they hope to make their way out of the country following the military attack by Russia. It is estimated that some 16,000 Indians are currently stuck in Ukraine; New Delhi is making arrangements to evacuate them from the border regions…
UKRAINE’S foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday (25) spoke to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to discuss the situation in Ukraine, ahead of a vote at the UN Security Council on the Russian attack. Jaishankar said he emphasised that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the "way out". "Received call…
RUSSIA'S president Vladimir Putin met Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan in Moscow on Thursday (24) in his first face-to-face talks since the start of a special military operation in eastern Ukraine. During their meeting in the Kremlin, the leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and current regional topics, including developments in south…
INDIA on Thursday (24) called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine as president Vladimir Putin launched a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine. India also warned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis. Russian forces fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine…
SOCIAL media went abuzz following the wedding of a British diplomat with an Indian filmmaker last week.As Rhiannon Harries, the UK’s deputy trade commissioner for South Asia, posted a photo of her wedding with “the love of my life”, congratulatory messages flooded on Twitter. As a smiling Harries is seen…
PROSPECTIVE investors in Life Insurance Corp of India's (LIC) $8 billion IPO are seeking assurances from company management that it will not sacrifice their interests to meet the goals set out by the government, its controlling shareholder, sources said. In virtual roadshows for India's biggest-ever public listing, LIC management and…
AN Indian court sentenced 38 people to death on Friday (18) over a string of bomb blasts in 2008 that killed dozens in the city of Ahmedabad, in one of the country's biggest mass death sentences. Coordinated attacks in western Gujarat state's commercial hub in 2008 killed 56, launching shrapnel…
INDIAN tax officials on Wednesday (16) conducted searches at the offices of Chinese tech giant Huawei, the firm said, days after New Delhi banned a host of Chinese apps over national security concerns.Tensions between New Delhi and Beijing have been running high since a deadly 2020 clash involving their militaries…
NORWEGIAN GRAMMY NOMINATED VIOLINIST DISCUSSES HER LATEST CLASSICAL ALBUM EARLY indications are that the newly released Parvat will be one of the most unique albums of the year. Virtuoso violinist Harpreet Bansal has created an epic three-piece movement that cleverly combines an array of world music influences, including classical Indian,…
A dispute over restrictions on the wearing of the hijab by female students in a southern Indian state has now reached India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, with a group of youngsters asking a college to ban the head covering. Authorities closed colleges in Karnataka in India's south last…
THE Indian consulate in Milan received a Buddha statue that was looted from the Devisthan Kundalpur Temple in Bihar, India in early 2000. The stone sculpture, a nearly 1,200-year-old relic, was voluntarily surrendered by an Italian collector to the Consulate General of India in Milan on Thursday (10), The New…
Starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in their popular roles as Avinash Singh ‘Tiger’ Rathore and Zoya Rathore, Tiger 3 is one of the most-awaited films of 2022. It also stars Emraan Hashmi in the lead role. The Murder (2004) actor will be seen playing the lead antagonist in the…
VETERAN industrialist Rahul Bajaj, whose name was synonymous with road transport in India, died Saturday (12) aged 83, his company said.He "had not been keeping well", the Bajaj Group said in a statement, adding he would be cremated on Sunday in Pune, western India.Bajaj was born into the Indian elite…
GLOBAL automaker Toyota Motor and fast food chain Domino's Pizza are among half a dozen companies that have apologised to India for social media posts from their Pakistani partners expressing support for disputed Kashmir, as more companies got caught up in the diplomatic fracas. The apology comes after a rare…
INDIA's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh began voting on Thursday (10) in the first of a series of local elections that will be a key test of the popularity of prime minister Narendra Modi and his ruling party. With a population almost as big as that of Brazil, keeping…
INDIA convicted 49 people over a 2008 attack in the western city of Ahmedabad that left dozens dead, in what perpetrators said was retaliation for earlier deadly communal violence. The string of bombings killed 56 people and wounded more than 200 others as shrapnel ripped through markets, buses and other…
INDIA said on Tuesday (8) it had summoned South Korea's ambassador to express displeasure over a social media post by a Pakistan partner of Hyundai Motor over disputed Kashmir.The foreign ministers of India and South Korea also spoke over the telephone as the car company faced a backlash in India…
INDIA will settle almost all the retrospective tax cases this month, closing a chapter that plagued India's reputation as an investment-friendly destination, a top official said on Friday (4).A 2012 amendment gave taxmen powers to go back 50 years and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas…
COAL INDIA LTD, the world's largest coal miner, plans to directly export output to neighbouring countries after decades of exclusively supplying domestic consumers, according to sources and documents. The state-run company plans to export to Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, according to a draft policy sent to the secretary of India's…
SENIOR cabinet members from Boris Johnson’s team, including the prime minister, are expected to travel to India this year as both countries step up their bilateral engagements, India’s high commissioner to the UK has revealed. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Gaitri Issar Kumar also said New Delhi was…
A Rome judge on Monday (31) dismissed a murder investigation into two Italian marines who killed two fishermen in Kerala in 2012, months after the case was dropped by India's top court. In a statement, Italian defence minister Lorenzo Guerini welcomed the "positive outcome" for Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre.…
ELEVEN people including several women have been arrested after a young mother was allegedly abducted, gang-raped and then paraded through the lanes of Delhi in broad daylight, Indian police said. The incident, the latest to spotlight sexual violence in India, drew widespread condemnation including from the Delhi Commission for Women…
RUSSIA selling S-400 air defence missile system to India puts spotlight on the "destabilising role" that Moscow is playing in the region and potentially beyond as well, the United States has said. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the…
CHINA has returned an Indian citizen who "illegally" entered into Chinese territory at the disputed border between the two Asian giants, a military official said. The announcement from China on Thursday (27) came after India's defence ministry said last week it had contacted China to request that it locate and…
INDIAN police have detained six people in a crackdown on illegal immigration after four Indians were found frozen to death near the border between the US and Canada last week, officials said on Thursday (27). Hundreds of Indians, mostly from the western states of Punjab and Gujarat, attempt to cross…
INDIA'S beleaguered national carrier landed back in the hands of its founders on Thursday (27), decades after it was nationalised and following years as a monumental burden on the public purse.Tata, a sprawling family-owned conglomerate with interests ranging from tea to software, is back in charge of Air India after…
INDIA'S government has notified the agreement between Air India and the special purpose vehicle AIAHL for the transfer of non-core assets, ahead of the national airline's takeover by the Tata Group.The government had in October last year, inked an agreement with the Tata Group for the sale of national carrier…
Lumbering tanks and the deafening roar of fighter planes echoed through New Delhi on Wednesday as India's military showcased its might on Republic Day. The annual January 26 event marks the adoption of India's constitution with missile launchers, jet flyovers, motorcycle stunts and the brass band of the camel-mounted Border…
INDIAN grocery startups are luring tech-savvy customers with the promise of deliveries within 10 minutes, sparking a boom in "quick commerce", but heating up concerns about road safety as bike riders scramble to meet tight deadlines. Competition is already intense in India's $600-billion grocery retailing industry, populated by the likes…
INDIA's capital Delhi will remain under curfew over the weekend and overnight to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the city's disaster management authority said, rejecting calls from businesses to ease restrictions. The authorities, however, said private offices will be allowed to be partially staffed but…
An "eternal flame" in memory of soldiers killed during the India-Pakistan War of 1971 at one of Delhi's most symbolic landmarks was put out Friday, 50 years after it was first lit. The Amar Jawan Jyoti or flame of the immortal soldier was installed at the India Gate in New…
THE NEGOTIATIONS between India and the UK to strike a free trade agreement (FTA) will conclude quickly due to an "absolute agreement” at the senior political level, England’s West Midlands mayor has said.Andy Street, who is in charge of the West Midlands Combined Authority that covers some of England's major…
TRAVEL plans for thousands of passengers, including those heading to India, were disrupted after airlines cancelled or curtailed some flights to and from the US over deployment of the new 5G service, which began on Wednesday (19). Air India was among several international airlines which cancelled flights to the US,…
INDIA’s Omicron-driven third wave has become a huge blow to the country's traditional wedding season, which runs from November to March, reported the Guardian. Recently, the New Delhi government, along with other restrictions, limited wedding guests to 20. According to the report, thousands of families are in the same agony of…
AN Indian idol dating to the 10th century, which was illegally removed from a village temple in Uttar Pradesh more than 40 years ago and which was recently found in a garden in England, was returned to India on the occasion of Makar Sankranti (14). India’s High Commissioner to the…
Actors-political personalities Kamal Haasan and Hema Malini, as well as Hindi film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Madhuri Dixit-Nene on Monday mourned the loss of legendary Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj, calling his passing away the “end of an era” for Indian classical dance. Maharajji, as he was popularly known, died…
Bollywood actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who is a die-hard fan of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, admits that Khan’s struggle to reach the top of the Bollywood ladder has been a source of inspiration and courage for him. Bhasin, like SRK, hails from New Delhi and he credits the talismanic superstar…
RICH TRIBUTES have been paid to renowned Indian classical dancer Brijmohan Nath Mishra Maharaj, popularly known as Birju Maharaj, who died late last Sunday (16) night, his family said on Monday (17). In a career spanning nearly six decades, Maharaj performed and taught Kathak, one of India's eight major classical…
LAKSHYA SEN beat reigning men's world champion Loh Kean Yew to salvage some home side glory at the India Open after a tournament plagued by a Covid outbreak. Third seed Sen triumphed 24-22, 21-17 in less than an hour after breaking ahead of the Singaporean early in the second game,…
INDIA'S capital Delhi and financial hub Mumbai have reported a big fall in Covid-19 infections in the past two days and most of those who contracted the virus have recovered at home, authorities said on Monday (17). Mumbai's daily new infections fell below 10,000 on Sunday (16) for the first…
A pilot disoriented by a sudden change in weather conditions crashed the helicopter carrying India's defence chief General Bipin Rawat last month, killing all 14 people on board, an official inquiry found Friday. The 63-year-old Rawat was travelling with his wife and other senior officers in the Russian-made Mi-17 chopper,…
TOP SEED Kidambi Srikanth and six other players have withdrawn from the India Open badminton championship in New Delhi after testing positive for Covid-19, organisers said on Thursday (13). The event was originally meant to feature more than 200 players from 19 countries but is being held behind closed doors…
NEW Covid-19 infections in Indian cities such as capital New Delhi and Mumbai could peak next week after rising rapidly, experts said on Thursday (13), as the country reported the highest number of daily cases since late May. The 247,417 new infections were more than 30 times higher daily cases…
BRITAIN on Thursday (13) announced the launch of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, describing it as a "golden opportunity" to put the UK’s businesses at the "front of the queue" of the Indian economy.Prime minister Boris Johnson said an FTA would take the country's historic partnership with India…
INDIAN actor Siddharth on Tuesday (11) issued an apology to ace badminton player Saina Nehwal after being accused of making sexist remarks against the latter in response to her observation on the recent controversy around the alleged compromise of the security of prime minister Narendra Modi in Punjab. Taking to…
BRITISH trade minister arrived in India on Wednesday (12) to begin talks as part of its efforts to sign its own trade deals following its departure from the European Union.Anne-Marie Trevelyan is due to meet officials in New Delhi before formally launching negotiations with her counterpart Piyush Goyal on Thursday…
THE US has announced that India would allow imports of US pork and pork products for the first time, welcoming the removal of an old block on US farm trade.US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack and trade representative Katherine Tai made the announcement on Monday (10)."This new opportunity marks the culmination…
India began a Covid-19 booster shot campaign for frontline workers and vulnerable people aged 60 and above on Monday as authorities grapple with a rapidly escalating outbreak driven by the Omicron variant. Daily case numbers are approaching the enormous figures seen last year, when thousands died each day and workers…
THE Indian diaspora acts as a living bridge connecting the country and the world, India’s junior minister for external affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday (9) said on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) or Non-Resident Indian Day. The day is observed to mark the contribution made by the overseas…
INDIA'S first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant started another set of sea trials on Sunday (9) to carry out complex manoeuvres in high seas ahead of its induction scheduled in August. The 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier, the largest and most complex warship to be manufactured in India, successfully completed a five-day…
BRITAIN'S secretary of state for international trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan will launch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations during a visit to New Delhi starting on Wednesday (12), the UK government has said.The schedule for the two-day visit to India will include bilateral talks between Trevelyan and the south Asian nation’s commerce…
ELECTION rallies were cancelled in India's heartland Thursday (6) as authorities fret over a sudden Covid surge, driven by the Omicron variant, which has seen confirmed infections nearly triple in two days. Teeming crowds have thronged campaign events for next month's poll in Uttar Pradesh -- the country's most populous…
SRI LANKA has decided to procure 750 jeeps and 500 buses from India under the credit line it received from New Delhi, the island nation's government announced in Colombo on Tuesday (4). The decision to purchase the 750 jeeps from Indian auto manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra was taken during a…
MORE THAN 2,000 people travelling on a cruise ship in Indian waters have been prevented from disembarking after a Covid outbreak on board, authorities said. The Empress set sail from Mumbai to the former Portuguese colony of Goa but was stopped by port authorities near its destination at the city…
TWELVE people were crushed to death in a stampede at an Indian religious shrine in the early hours of Saturday (1) as tens of thousands of pilgrims massed to offer prayers, officials said. The disaster unfolded in darkness at around 3:00 am (2130 GMT) on the packed route to the…
BRITISH ministers are eager to ease immigration rules to make it easier for Indians to live and work in the UK as part of trade talks that are due to start between the two nations within weeks. According to a report by The Times, international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan is…
INDIA on Saturday (1) reported 22,775 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours, health ministry data shows, adding to concerns for authorities around the country about the rising number of cases. The data indicates that thickly populated metros, such as the national capital New Delhi, financial centre Mumbai and…
A destitute Indian woman who claims she is heir to the dynasty that built the Taj Mahal has demanded ownership of an imposing palace once home to the Mughal emperors. Sultana Begum lives in a cramped two-room hut nestled within a slum on the outskirts of Kolkata, surviving on a…
SIX suspected rebels and a soldier were killed during two separate clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir overnight, police said Thursday (30), rounding off another bloody year in the disputed territory. Indian police said the six killed in two villages belonged to the Pakistan-based Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammad, claiming two of them were…
INDIA will open its Covid vaccination drive for adolescents and start administering booster doses to its at-risk adult population, prime minister Narendra Modi said. The highly-infectious Omicron variant has gained a foothold in the country, and the health ministry has raised concerns about its onward spread. "Omicron is a matter…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (23) asked chief minister of states to ramp up oxygen supplies and strengthen health infrastructure to contain a possible surge of Omicron cases ahead of the festive season, as gatherings in public spaces and markets grow in size. India has recorded 236 Omicron…
Two people were killed and two others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through an Indian court building on Thursday, police said. Footage showed police officers carrying the injured out of the building and asking others to leave the premises after the explosion near a restroom of the judicial complex…
THE US has designated Indian-origin diplomat Uzra Zeya as its Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues and she has been tasked with promoting "substantive dialogue" between China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives in support of a negotiated agreement on Tibet. Zeya, who was once posted in New Delhi during…
INDIA has recorded 200 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant across 12 states, mostly in the western state of Maharashtra and New Delhi, the health ministry said on Tuesday (21). The country's tally of Omicron cases has nearly doubled within a week, but there have been no deaths reported so…
A man was beaten to death in India for allegedly trying to commit an act of sacrilege at the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith. Local media reported that the unidentified man jumped over a railing into the temple's inner sanctum during Saturday (18) evening prayers in…
