- Saturday, July 27, 2024
The Olympics officially kick off on Friday with an opening ceremony in the heart of Paris. However, an attack by vandals targeting France's high-speed TGV rail network has exposed security risks at a time when all eyes are on the country. The coordinated actions by saboteurs disrupted some of France's…
Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds are among seven banks sharing customer data with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to combat criminal gangs, money laundering, and "dirty money" in the UK. This initiative is the largest project of its kind worldwide. Reuters revealed a year ago that more than six banks, including…
Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is dropping out of the US presidential election and endorsing vice president Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's new nominee. Biden, 81, said that stepping down was in the "best interest of my party and the country" after facing pressure following a poor…
For entrepreneur Bassim Haidar, living in London has become an expense he can no longer justify. As Keir Starmer takes office, Haidar is looking for homes in Greece and Monaco. He says a proposed inheritance tax change will make Britain undesirable for the wealthy. Starmer argues that the overhaul will…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer called on Thursday (18) for closer cooperation in Europe to advance support for Ukraine and tackle the continent's most pressing problems: illegal migration, climate change and energy security. Opening a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) of more than 40 nations at Blenheim Palace, the…
A CONFIDENT Nishant Dev has set his sights on bettering the shade of India’s boxing medals from bronze to gold at this month’s Paris Olympics. Three Indian boxers – Vijender Singh (2008), MC Mary Kom (2012) and Lovlina Borgohain (2021) – have stood on the podium at the Olympics, all…
THE UK's inflation rate remained steady in June after meeting the Bank of England's target in May, official data showed on Wednesday. This defied expectations for a slight decrease. The Consumer Prices Index stayed at 2.0 per cent in June, the same level as in May, according to the Office…
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer -- just back from a NATO summit -- launched on Tuesday (16) a review of Britain's armed forces to set out a path to increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. The ministry of defence said the "Strategic Defence Review" would begin work "immediately…
Barbora Krejcikova, the 31st seed from the Czech Republic, captured her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon on Saturday, defeating Italy's seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the final. The victory marked a significant milestone in Krejcikova's career, adding to her 2021 French Open triumph. Krejcikova dominated the…
IN A highly anticipated 'super Sunday' match in Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic is set to make history as he bids for his 25th Grand Slam title, aiming to surpass Margaret Court's record for the most Grand Slam singles titles. A victory on Sunday (14) would not only secure Djokovic this prestigious…
INDIA's population will peak at about 1.7 billion in the early 2060s before declining by 12 per cent, according to the UN. Despite this reduction, India is expected to remain the world's most populous country throughout the century, The World Population Prospects 2024 report, released on Thursday (11), said the…
Britain's new government has inherited an economy that is gaining momentum. However, the recent stronger-than-expected growth figures do not indicate that prime minister Keir Starmer and his team have resolved their issues with public spending. Over the three months to May, economic growth was the strongest in more than two…
Prime minister Keir Starmer met US President Joe Biden at the White House for the first time on Wednesday. The US leader described Britain as a key ally on global issues, including the war in Ukraine. "We're the best of allies in the whole world," said Biden, 81, during their…
INDIAN AMERICAN astronaut Sunita Williams on Wednesday (10) expressed confidence that the Boeing Starliner will bring her home. "I have a real good feeling in my heart that this spacecraft will bring us home, no problem," NASA astronaut Williams said during the test crew's first news conference since docking to…
Ollie Watkins scored a crucial injury-time goal as England defeated the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday, securing a spot in the Euro 2024 final against Spain in Berlin. The match started poorly for England when Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands an early lead in Dortmund. England equalised with a Harry Kane…
INDIA will continue to be a strategic partner for the US despite concerns over its ties with Russia, the Biden Administration has said. Prime minister Narendra Modi was in Russia for two days for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit that has been watched closely by the West amidst the raging…
BRITAIN is likely to lose nearly one in six of its US dollar millionaires by 2028, but their number is set to grow in other countries including the US and surge in Taiwan, according to a report published on Wednesday (10). The UBS Global Wealth Report for 2024 forecast the…
Daniil Medvedev finally ended his five-match losing streak against Jannik Sinner as he defeated the world number one in a gripping five-set match on Tuesday, securing his place in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the second consecutive year. Medvedev's perseverance and strategic play led him to a 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-6…
DONALD TRUMP, the former US president and presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party, has attacked vice president Kamala Harris, raising questions on her competence and describing her as an “insurance policy” for incumbent president Joe Biden. His attack against Harris, who is of Indian and African heritage, came amid…
Keir Starmer on Tuesday pledged to increase UK defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, stating this would occur when the country could afford it and following a review of defence strategy. "I am committed to that 2.5 per cent within our fiscal rules, but that strategic review needs…
Former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf has said that people who condemn Russia but not Israel are hypocrites. The SNP leader made this remark to attack prime minister Keir Starmer who criticised Putin after a Russian missile barrage destroyed Kyiv’s main children’s hospital, killing 22 people. In his post on…
Russia has broadly heeded India's call to end the recruitment of Indians as support staff to the Russian military and ensure the repatriation of those still working in the force, top sources told PTI on Tuesday (9). It is learnt that Moscow agreed to release the Indians after the issue…
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi told Russian president Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (9) that the death of innocent children was very painful, a day after a lethal strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv. The Indian leader made the televised remarks at a meeting with Putin in the Kremlin. [caption…
Keir Starmer is traveling to Washington this week for his first international engagement since becoming the UK prime minister. This visit comes shortly after his recent election victory. Starmer, 61, will attend NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington. This is his first foreign trip since assuming office last Friday. He…
India's relationship with Russia is based on mutual trust and respect, Narendra Modi said on Tuesday while addressing the Indian diaspora in Moscow. This visit marks Indian prime minister Modi's first trip to Russia in five years and comes amid ongoing tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir…
Sochi, a picturesque city on the Black Sea coast of Russia, is renowned for its beautiful beaches, subtropical climate, and as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics. However, beyond its stunning landscapes and sports legacy, there exists a less-discussed but equally important facet of its urban life—prostitution. This blog…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi arrived in Russia on Monday (8), as he treaded a fine line between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and courting closer Western security ties. The visit is Modi's first since Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine and since he was returned to power last…
World number two Coco Gauff was eliminated from Wimbledon by her American compatriot Emma Navarro on Sunday. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on course for a semi-final clash at the All England Club. Gauff's 6-4, 6-3 fourth-round loss leaves only two of the top 10 women's seeds in…
US president Joe Biden spoke to new prime minister Keir Starmer on Friday, congratulating him on the Labour Party's landslide general election victory. In a call shortly after taking office, Starmer told Biden that the UK's support for Ukraine was "unwavering." Downing Street's readout of the call noted, "The leaders…
PRIME minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia and Austria from July 8 to 10, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. He will visit Moscow to attend the 22nd India-Russia annual summit to review bilateral ties. This will be Modi's first trip to Russia since it invaded Ukraine…
WITH Why We Travel, award-winning journalist, author and keynote speaker, Ash Bhardwaj shatters the glossy veneer of travel brochures by delving into the human desire to explore. The captivating blend of memoir and travelogue tackles big questions: What drives us to venture beyond the familiar? How can travel enrich our…
Aleksandr Katsuba, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, emphasizes the attraction of foreign investments in IT, agriculture, renewable energy, and infrastructure despite the challenging economic situation. The government is improving the investment climate. Katsuba believes these investments drive economic growth and strengthen Ukraine as a resilient European state. Aleksandr Katsuba is a Ukrainian…
Marketa Vondrousova, last year's Wimbledon women's champion, faced a surprising first-round exit on Tuesday, losing to Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2. Vondrousova, the Czech sixth seed, became the first defending women's champion in 30 years to be eliminated in the first round. "Today I was really nervous since the…
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner progressed to the Wimbledon second round on Monday. However, Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka withdrew due to injury. Alcaraz defeated 269th-ranked qualifier Mark Lajal of Estonia 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-2, recovering from breaks in the first two sets. The 21-year-old…
REFORM UK party leader Nigel Farage said his party was doing better than expected after a "tough" few days, as he addressed supporters at a rally with days to go before the country votes on July 4. Farage, one of the country's most recognisable and divisive politicians, has been a…
Carlos Alcaraz will be the main attraction on the opening day of Wimbledon as he begins his quest to retain the title. Later in the day, world number one Jannik Sinner will look to make a strong start in his opening match. Alcaraz, 21, who defeated Novak Djokovic to win…
Euro 2024 hosts Germany face Denmark in the last 16 in Dortmund on Saturday, following a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their final group stage match. Germany had a strong start to the Euros with wins over Scotland and Hungary but were challenged by Switzerland, only securing a draw with…
Former champions Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have overcome injury concerns to participate in the Wimbledon draw. Murray, the 2013 and 2016 champion, was expected to miss his farewell appearance at the All England Club after a back operation last weekend. Djokovic, a seven-time champion, also underwent surgery earlier this…
BRITAIN'S economy pulled out of recession at a faster pace than previously thought in the first three months of this year, revised official data showed on Friday, but the broader economic backdrop remains fragile ahead of next week's election. The country's gross domestic product expanded by 0.7 per cent from…
SUPPORT for Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK party has fallen ahead of a July 4 election, a poll showed on Thursday (27), after he said the West had provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The BMG Research opinion poll for the i newspaper, carried out June 24-26, put…
Iga Swiatek aims to make a significant impact at Wimbledon, her weakest surface, following a strong clay court season that highlighted her dominance in women's tennis. The Polish world number one will face strong competition on the grass courts of the All England Club from players like Coco Gauff, Aryna…
BOEING's Starliner spacecraft, carrying US astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, remains stuck in space as engineers grapple with technical issues. What began as an eight-day mission has now extended to nearly a month, with the spacecraft attached to the International Space Station (ISS) while problems are being…
FROM Algeria, Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan, citizens of distant, Muslim countries wait for US asylum at a shelter in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, more used to seeing migrants from Latin America than the Middle East. At the Assabil Inn, Mexico’s first shelter catering for US-bound Muslim migrants, the…
THE Daily Telegraph has been giving excessive amounts of space to Nigel Farage, but the leader of the Reform party has now embarrassed the paper by saying the west is to blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin agrees completely with Farage but the opinion of the Telegraph is that…
LABOUR PARTY has criticised the Tories, led by prime minister Rishi Sunak, for failing to meet their promises on India relations. Speaking at the India Global Forum (IGF) last week, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said that if Labour wins the July 4 general election, they are prepared to swiftly…
The government is considering retaliatory action against Russian hackers for stealing confidential data from several London hospitals after a cyber attack on a blood testing lab, The Guardian reports. The Russian cybercriminal group Qilin had on June 3 carried out a cyber attack on Synnovis, a lab company that provides…
NATIONAL Health Service said on Friday it was investigating claims that hackers had published confidential data stolen from several London hospitals in a cyber attack on a blood testing lab. Services at large London hospitals including Guy's, St Thomas' and King's services were still being disrupted following the attack by…
METROPOLITAN Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has urged closing “outrageous” gaps in hate crime laws, which he claims permit individuals to legally incite racial and religious hatred. Rowley said he found it “startling” that such incitement is possible as long as people avoid being explicitly threatening or abusive. His comments…
WHEN Sri Lanka’s economy crashed in 2022, people sought work abroad wherever they could, including ex-soldiers who joined forces fighting in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. Now the veterans, some of whom swapped their life savings for what they thought would be lucrative, non-combat jobs, are desperate to come back home.…
INDIA and the US on Monday (17) committed to action to address barriers to bilateral strategic trade, technology and industrial cooperation. The commitment was made at a meeting between the national security advisers of the two countries, Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan, during Sullivan's two-day visit to New Delhi. The…
The UK general election is being watched closely after stark warnings that rapid advancements in cyber-tech, particularly AI, and increasing friction between major nations threaten the integrity of 2024's landmark votes. "These rogue and unregulated technological advances pose an enormous threat to us all. They can be weaponised to discriminate,…
BRITAIN's top police officer has urged to close 'outrageous' gaps in hate crime laws, which he claims permit individuals to legally incite racial and religious hatred. Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley found it 'startling' that such incitement is possible as long as people avoid avoid being explicitly threatening or…
India's foreign secretary, Vinay Kwatra, said on Wednesday that they have been pressing Russia to ensure the safety and repatriation of its nationals employed by the Russian Army. This announcement came a day after India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported that two more Indians serving with the Russian military…
Two Indian nationals recruited by the Russian army were killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Indian foreign ministry said on Tuesday. The Indian embassy in Moscow has contacted Russian authorities, including the ministry of defence, to ensure the prompt repatriation of the remains, according to a statement from the…
A jury found Hunter Biden guilty on Tuesday (11) of federal gun charges in a historic first criminal prosecution of the child of a sitting US president. The 54-year-old son of president Joe Biden was convicted on all three of the felony counts stemming from his 2018 purchase of a…
THE SEVEN-PARTY BBC election debate saw a fierce clash between Tory minister Penny Mordaunt and Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner over taxes and defence policy Mordaunt repeated the controversial claim that Labour would raise taxes by £2,000 per household, which Rayner termed as "a lie". The UK statistics watchdog has…
Four Indian medical students drowned in a river near St Petersburg in Russia. The Indian missions in the country are coordinating with Russian authorities to return their bodies to their families as soon as possible. The students, two boys and two girls aged 18-20, were studying at Novgorod State University…
A DAY after the humbling election outcome for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following a strong performance by the opposition 'INDIA' bloc, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's 15 alliance partners met at his New Delhi residence and named him as their leader. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293…
The indie studio Neon, which secured the North American rights to Sean Baker's acclaimed film Anora, winner of the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, has set the stage for a fall theatrical release, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. Anora, a screwball comedy featuring the talented…
Real Madrid withstood a barrage from Borussia Dortmund to win the Champions League for the 15th time. Late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior secured a 2-0 victory at Wembley on Saturday. Carvajal headed in from Toni Kroos' corner in the 74th minute, followed by Vinicius scoring to cement…
FORMER US Republican presidential candidate has urged for BuzzFeed to overhaul its staff, concentrate on video content, and bring in new voices like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson after increasing his stake in the company to 8.3 per cent, reported Financial Times. New York-based BuzzFeed is an internet media,…
Payal Kapadia has scripted history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival for her film "All We Imagine as Light". The film bagged the award, the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palme d'Or, which went to American…
WORLD BANK president Ajay Banga said that he is "absolutely" open to the idea of managing aG7 loan fund for Ukraine backed by the earnings from frozen Russian sovereign assets - at least for non-military purposes. Banga, attending a meeting of G7 finance ministers who are hashing out the concept…
Indian-American former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has said that she will vote for her ex-opponent and boss Donald Trump in the November US election, breaking her silence on the matter since exiting the Republican presidential primary more than two months ago. Haley, 52, however, stopped short of an official endorsement.…
TRAILBLAZING playwright Tanika Gupta believes there is an “invisibility cloak around British Asians” on getting community stories commissioned in the arts. In a career spanning more than three decades, Gupta has written award-winning plays such as The Waiting Room and Sanctuary at the National Theatre, The Empress at the Royal…
FORMER Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells, who headed the Post Office from 2012 to 2019, apologised for the wrongful convictions of postmasters on Wednesday (22) during a public inquiry into the Horizon scandal. Hundreds of postmasters, who ran community post offices, were convicted after a faulty IT system from…
AT LEAST 16 Sri Lankan mercenaries have been killed fighting in the war between Russia and Ukraine, the island’s deputy defence minister said last Wednesday (15). Thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began more than two years ago, and Moscow has been on a…
BRITAIN'S annual inflation rate dropped to a near three-year low in April as energy prices cooled further, official data showed Wednesday, easing a cost-of-living crunch and stoking rate cut expectations. The Consumer Prices Index slowed to 2.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent in March, the Office for National Statistics…
THE British Asian lawyer and prosecutor who helped end a US policy against the International Criminal Court on Monday (20) requested an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, putting his office back on a collision course with Washington. Karim Khan, who became chief prosecutor of the world's first…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed shock and sadness at the demise of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi (63), and said his contribution in strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. The charred wreckage of the helicopter which crashed on Sunday carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six…
DEFENCE secretary Grant Shapps said on Sunday (19) he was very concerned about a recent strengthening of diplomatic relations between China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying it posed a threat to democracy. "I'm extremely concerned about this because, remember, these are two countries that do not believe in…
China emerged as India's largest trading partner in 2023-24, with £93.2 billion in two-way trade, slightly surpassing the US, according to data from the economic think tank GTRI. Bilateral trade between India and the US was £93.1 billion in the same period. Previously, the US was India's top trading partner…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak will set out his plans on Tuesday (14) to improve food security and to cut reliance on imports from other countries. The government will also publish a new annual UK Food Security Index to track the impacts of external factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine war or…
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards 2024 witnessed a remarkable celebration of diversity and talent, with some South Asian artists winning top honours and leaving an indelible mark on the prestigious event. Among the winners who stood out were Mawaan Rizwan and Romesh Ranganathan, both claiming…
The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, were visible across the UK, delighting observers nationwide. Excited onlookers shared images of the lights from various areas including Liverpool, Kent, Norfolk, Sussex, and parts of Scotland, reported the BBC. This impressive phenomenon is typically only seen from northern regions of the…
Real Madrid orchestrated an remarkable turnaround against Bayern Munich, securing a berth in the Champions League final with a thrilling 2-1 victory. Joselu emerged as the unlikely hero, delivering two crucial goals in the 88th and 91st minutes to propel Madrid to a 4-3 aggregate win. Coach Carlo Ancelotti couldn't…
IRAN and Pakistan are looking at ways to complete a long-delayed gas pipeline project between the two countries, Iran’s consul general to Pakistan, Hassan Nourian, said on Monday (6). “We see political determination from Pakistan to complete the project,” he told reporters in Karachi. Both countries signed an agreement to…
IN HIS decade in power, prime minister Narendra Modi stands accused of eroding Indian democracy down to its bones – suppressing dissent and freedom of expression, taking India into the grip of unbridled authoritarianism, and earning the country the tag of an ‘electoral autocracy’ from Freedom House. [caption id="attachment_294146" align="alignright"…
Indian authorities have arrested four people accused of "trafficking" citizens of the country to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine. They have been accused of luring young men to Russia with the promise of lucrative jobs or university admissions only to force them to fight in the war in…
RE-ELECTED London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the rest of the country to follow the lead of Londoners and reject the Conservative Party’s “racist” and “fear-mongering” politics at the next general election. Khan, 53, last Saturday (4) secured a historic third term in office, the first London mayor to…
INTERNATIONAL remittances have surpassed foreign direct investment in many low- and middle-income countries, a new report revealed. The World Migration Report 2024 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) released on Tuesday (7) showed significant shifts in global migration patterns, including a record number of displaced people and a major…
British energy giant BP reported a significant downturn in its net profit for the first quarter, attributing the decline to a drop in gas prices compared to the corresponding period last year. According to BP's latest financial statement released on Tuesday, profit after tax plummeted by a staggering 72 per…
THE long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical glitch with the Atlas V rocket that was being readied to launch the new astronaut capsule to orbit on Monday (6) night. The CST-100 Starliner's inaugural voyage carrying astronauts…
India ranked among the top five developing countries for aviation carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2019, according to a recent study. Research analysing global flight data revealed that the United States, China, and Great Britain were the primary contributors, with shares of 22 percent, 14 per cent, and approximately four…
US president Joe Biden said that "xenophobia" from China to Japan and India is hobbling their growth, as he argued that migration has been good for the country's economy. "One of the reasons why our economy's growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden…
BRITISH INDIAN leaders have welcomed a glowing report which recommends India as the ideal country for foreign investment. Ian Cowie, in his “Personal Account” column in the Sunday Times (28), wrote: “The country is bidding to become the world’s third-biggest economy and I think it’s a great time to join…
Borussia Dortmund secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final encounter, with Niclas Fuellkrug emerging as the hero of the night. Fuellkrug's decisive strike, executed in the 36th minute, came off a pinpoint pass from centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck. This triumph marked…
A NEW adaptation of the satirical Russian play, The Government Minister, puts a mirror on the “farcical nature” of British politics in recent times, actress Chaya Gupta told Eastern Eye. Originally written by dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol in 1836, the play was first performed in the presence of the…
DOZENS of schools in India's national capital region were evacuated on Wednesday after they received a bomb threat by email, police said, adding that "nothing objectionable" was found during searches of the schools. More than 50 schools in Delhi and the adjoining suburb of Noida received the threatening email, officials…
NARGIS made a remarkable impact with winning performances in classic films. Her fearless approach introduced girl power into Indian cinema. The superstar actress helped take Bollywood global and was one half of an iconic lead pair with Raj Kapoor. After retiring from acting, the wife of legendary actor Sunil Dutt…
ALTHOUGH almost everyone says prime minister Narendra Modi will be elected for a third term with a huge majority in India’s general election, currently in full swing, it’s wiser to wait until the results are officially declared on June 4. There are so many differences between the north and the…
Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know, a short film by four students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has been selected for La Cinef Competitive section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film, directed by Chidanand S Naik, will compete with 17 other shorts for…
Russia has set a new schedule to deliver the remaining two regiments of S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India by next year, The delay was due to the conflict in Ukraine, sources told PTI on Tuesday. Under the existing USD 5.5 billion deal, Russia has already provided three units…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday (23) he would lift defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP a year by 2030, saying the British arms industry must be on a "war footing" when the world is at its most dangerous since the Cold War. Standing alongside NATO leader…
AS MANY AS 65,960 Indians officially became US citizens, making India the second-largest source country for new citizens in America after Mexico, according to the latest Congressional report. An estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the US in 2022, approximately 14 per cent of the total US population of…
INDIA's 17-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh scripted history by winning the Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto to become the youngest ever challenger to the world title, bettering a record created by the legendary Garry Kasparov 40 years ago. Gukesh played out an easy draw with American Hikaru Nakamura in the 14th…
Indian wrestler and Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik has been named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2024. Sakshi Malik, India's only female Olympic medalist in wrestling, has been acknowledged for her role in combating alleged sexual harassment within the sport. Alongside wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia,…
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday (16) raised India’s growth projection to 6.8 per cent from its January forecast of 6.5 per cent citing bullish domestic demand conditions and a rising working-age population. With this, India continues to be the fastest growing economy of the world, ahead of China’s…
The Olympic torch for the Paris 2024 Games was officially lit in ancient Olympia on Tuesday, initiating the final phase of the seven-year preparations for the Games, set to begin on July 26. Due to overcast weather, Greek actress Mary Mina, portraying the role of a high priestess, used a…
Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has agreed to allow Indian authorities to meet with 17 Indian crew members of a cargo vessel that was seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz. This development was communicated during a telephonic conversation with India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar on…
INDIA said that it remains open to all ideas that could help achieve early restoration of peace in Ukraine. This week, the Switzerland government announced plans to host a high-level summit on Ukraine. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has been consistently pressing for resolution of the Russia-Ukraine…
India advised its citizens on Friday against travelling to Iran and Israel until further notice because of the "prevailing situation in the region". The advisory from the foreign ministry came amid Iran's threats to retaliate against a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy in Syria this month. Countries including the…
India has been placed 10th in the world for cybercrime activities, with advance fee fraud being the most prevalent type, a new study involving cybercrime experts globally has revealed. The study, leading to the creation of the 'World Cybercrime Index,' ranks about 100 countries based on their involvement in various…
OFFICIALS in Kyiv have announced that Ukraine and Britain have entered into a framework agreement aimed at collaborating in the defence and arms manufacturing sector. This agreement is seen as a crucial component of Ukraine's efforts during wartime to enhance its domestic weapons industry by partnering with allies. The document…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the escalating death toll from viral hepatitis, revealing that the disease stands as the second leading infectious cause of death worldwide, claiming 1.3 million lives annually, which is almost the same as tuberculosis-related fatalities. According to the WHO 2024 Global…
Academic freedom is on the decline globally, according to a recent index released in Paris, France. The Academic Freedom Index -- based on input from more than 2,300 experts in 179 countries, was published last month as part of a report on democracy by the V-Dem Institute at Sweden's University…
THE G7 price cap on Russian oil shipments is cutting the revenue that Moscow has available to support its invasion of Ukraine, and the mechanism's effectiveness is helped by the recent actions of Indian refiners, US officials will say in New Delhi on Thursday (4), according to prepared remarks. The…
THE Indian government has taken up the issue of ban on imports of Russian-origin unpolished diamonds by the 27-member European Union (EU) and G7 nations as the measure will end up hurting the domestic diamond polishing industry, foreign minister S Jaishankar has said. The initial stage of an EU and…
UKRAINE'S Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba will arrive in New Delhi on his maiden visit to India amid the festering Russia-Ukraine conflict. His visit on Thursday (28) comes at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. During his…
THE Bestway Group has reported a five per cent increase in revenues to £4.74 billion for the year ended June 2023, a statement said. The group, founded by Sir Anwar Pervez, OBE H Pk, reported a pre-tax profit of £420.9 million during the period, Lord Zameer Choudrey CBE, group chief…
Britain on Monday accused Chinese hackers of trying to break into email accounts of British lawmakers who were critical of China and said a separate Chinese entity was behind a hack of its electoral watchdog that compromised millions of people's data. In response to the attempted hack in 2021 of…
AN unprecedented rise in child poverty happened across the UK, government figures released Thursday (21) revealed. Previous research indicated that escalating social disparities within the G7 country are negatively impacting children's well-being, leading to an increased reliance on food banks. An estimated 4.33 million children were living in low-income households…
THE UN general assembly on Thursday (21) unanimously passed the inaugural worldwide resolution on artificial intelligence, urging nations to uphold human rights, safeguard personal data, and oversee AI for potential hazards. The nonbinding resolution, proposed by the US and co-sponsored by China and over 120 other nations, also advocates the…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi held separate phone calls on Wednesday (20) with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy and discussed strengthening ties with both, ahead of a visit by the Ukrainian foreign minister to New Delhi. India has traditionally had close economic and defence ties with Moscow…
Acclaimed Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, whose latest documentary I Am Sirat is doing the rounds at various international film festivals across the world, has begun scripting her next film Burnt Sugar. The film is a silver-screen adaptation of Avni Doshi’s bestselling novel of the same name. Talking about the film,…
THE world needs books from India because they reflect the spiritual values of Indian culture and civilisation. “Books are important for mental health,” said Yuvraj Malik, director of the National Book Trust (NBT) of India, which took a pavilion for the first time at the 2024 London Book Fair.…
The advent of new age technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, coupled with drones and sensors are rapidly transforming the agriculture sector in India and around the world. Farmers and agri-business companies using these technologies have a much greater insight and control over their yields and profitability, and…
THE week-long International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India, concluded on Friday (15). As many as 1,500 international guests, including saints, spiritual masters, yogacharyas, artists, and musicians from over 75 countries have participated in the event. The festival, under the guidance of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president…
Britain's economy returned to growth in January after entering a shallow recession in the second half of 2023, offering some relief to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of an election expected this year, official data showed. Gross domestic product grew by 0.2 per cent month-on-month - boosted by a rebound…
Former prime minister Boris Johnson flew to Venezuela in February for unofficial talks with its President Nicolás Maduro, The Times reports. Johnson spoke to the Venezuelan president about the war in Ukraine, amid concerns that the South American nation could supply weapons or military support to Russia. Venezuela has been…
Indian authorities said they had detained members of a "trafficking" network sending citizens of the country to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine after raiding several travel agents. Two years since Russia's invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine and Moscow is on…
THE Indian army is using kites, a bird of prey from eagle family, to fight drones and carry out surveillance missions, according to Tribune newspaper. During a joint India-Japan army exercise 'Dharma Guardian' in the Rajasthan state, a kite flew overhead providing real-time imagery and situational awareness to ground troops.…
India's embassy in Moscow has confirmed the death of a citizen recruited by the Russian army, days after a relative told AFP he had been sent to fight in Ukraine. Two years after Russia's invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine and Moscow is…
THE BBC has announced a “truly diverse” cast for Virdee, a six-part television series adapted from AA Dhand’s crime novel, City of Sinners. Having a mainly Asian cast playing both heroes and villains is regarded as being a groundbreaking first for British TV. The tale has a characteristically grim opening:…
FORMER US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley will suspend her presidential campaign on Wednesday (6), according to a source familiar with her plans, ensuring that Donald Trump will win the Republican nomination and once again face Democratic president Joe Biden in November's election. Haley will give a speech at…
With the general elections around the corner, there is now speculation that energy secretary Claire Coutinho could get yet another plum posting. Quoting Whitehall sources, Politico has said the Asian-origin politician, whose career trajectory witnessed a rapid rise under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, could be his chancellor in waiting. During…
Renowned for her eclectic style and infectious personality, Iris Apfel, the fashion maven, has passed away at the age of 102 in her Palm Beach home in Florida. The news was confirmed by Stu Loeser, a spokesperson for her estate, marking the end of a remarkable life that spanned fashion,…
INDIA will allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment in the manufacture of satellite systems without official approval and eased the rules for launch vehicles, a government statement said, aiming for a greater share of the global space market. India’s space ambitions got a boost when it became the first…
Sri Lanka has told Russians and Ukrainians staying in the country to leave in two weeks, according to media reports. The immigration controller of the island nation has issued a notice to the tourism ministry asking Russian and Ukrainian people staying on extended tourist visas to leave Sri Lanka within…
LEGENDARY filmmaker Manmohan Desai was at the forefront of popularising the masala entertainer in Bollywood, which is a genre that incorporates everything from comedy to romance, drama, deep emotion and action, all in one film. He was, at one time, the undisputed king of the box office and had a…
INDIA on Tuesday (27) introduced four crew members for its maiden 'Gaganyaan' space voyage, as it aims to become the world's fourth country to send a crewed mission into space just months after a historic landing on the south pole of the moon. Gaganyaan, or "sky craft" in Hindi, is…
Several Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian army were discharged following India's demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. It said India remains committed, as a matter of "top priority", to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said that Western nations should take a more assertive stance on confiscating Russian assets, which were frozen following the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Sunak, in an article in an early edition of the Sunday Times to mark two years since the start of…
A company registered in India along with 26 others will face export restrictions under new European Union (EU) sanctions for their involvement in Russia's war efforts. The names of these companies have not yet been made public and will be later published in the EU's official journal. The other companies…
Most British household energy bills will fall from April after regulator Ofgem cut its domestic price cap by 12.3 per cent to its lowest level in more than two years. The drop, prompted by lower wholesale energy prices, will provide some respite for households struggling to contend with a cost…
INDIAN AMERICAN Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley has said that if voted to power, her administration will not only strengthen the alliance with NATO but also with several other countries including India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. Haley, 52, the former US ambassador to the UN, said that…
IN the dynamic landscape of international relations, the influence of non-state actors, including transnational religious organisations, plays a crucial role in shaping a nation’s global standing. India, with its rich tapestry of religious diversity, has witnessed the emergence and growth of various such organisations that contribute significantly to the country’s…
US Vice President Kamala Harris said she was ready to serve as leader, in a Wall Street Journal interview published on Monday (12), as voter concerns mount about president Joe Biden’s age in an election year. Harris, 59, has faced growing scrutiny about her own abilities as the first in…
THE UKRAINE war has forced India to focus its military spending more on fostering domestic industry - as Russia, its largest supplier - prioritised its domestic needs, a new report said on Tuesday (13). As a result of the conflict, New Delhi set aside a record 75 per cent of…
THE US State Department has approved the potential sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, related missiles and equipment to India for nearly $4 billion (£3.17bn), the Pentagon said last Thursday (1), years after the two countries started discussing a deal. India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed…
RUSSIA has begun buying bananas from India and will boost such imports, its food safety watchdog said, after a spat with its biggest supplier Ecuador over the latter's decision to swap Russian-made military hardware with the US. The first batch of bananas from India was shipped to Russia in January…
PROMINENT British Indian peer Shreela Flather passed away after a short illness in the UK on Tuesday (6), her sons Marcus and Paul Flather said in a statement. She was 89. Known for her elegant sarees in the House of Lords, the teacher and politician was a life peer as…
Discover insightful strategies for forex trading in 2024. Explore how geopolitical shifts, technology, and economic trends impact forex risk management and platform choices. Welcome to the world of forex and CFD trading online. This digital arena has evolved dramatically since the late 1990s with the advent of sophisticated trading platforms.…
LABOUR will cap corporation tax at 25 per cent if it wins the next election and will look to cut that rate if needed, the party's finance policy chief Rachel Reeves told business leaders on Thursday (1). Businesses have long complained about a lack of visibility on everything from tax…
AIRBUS will build a helicopter assembly line in India with Indian conglomerate Tata, the European aircraft manufacturer said last Friday (26). The deal was announced during a two-day visit to India by French president, Emmanuel Macron. Airbus said the facility – which will take two years to set up –…
Even as some artists have started using Artificial Intelligence to push their music amid the debate over the challenges and opportunities it offers, legendary singer Kavita Krishnamurthy has said that there can be a lot of misuse of AI and she feels scared. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Krishnamurthy…
Music legend Sting wowed audience members across ages and genders with his electrifying performance at the finale of the two-day Lollapalooza India festival on Sunday in Mumbai. Held at the open area of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in the heart of South Mumbai, the show was a treat for music aficionados,…
INDIA and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of defence equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries, New Delhi said. The deal was reached during a visit by French president Emmanuel Macron, who met prime minister Narendra Modi…
A Spanish judge on Thursday (25) cleared a 19-year-old Briton of all charges in a trial over a Taliban bomb hoax he shared with five friends before boarding a 2022 flight that prompted the scrambling of a fighter jet to escort the plane. Aditya Verma, who was 18 at the…
A British Indian chess prodigy faced trial in a Spanish court on Monday (22) for a public disorder offense stemming from a Snapchat message sent in July 2022. University student Aditya Verma, 20, on his way to Menorca with friends, jokingly wrote, "On my way to blow up the plane…
HAVING more than four decades of incredible cinema achievements hasn’t lessened Anil Kapoor’s desire to take on more challenges. Instead of basking in the glory of a glittering film career, one of the greatest Indian movie stars of all time is hungrier than ever, and continues to push the creative…
INDIAN-owned Tata Steel is to cut about 3,000 jobs at a plant in Wales, a source said Thursday (18), as the industry struggles to finance greener production of the metal. The company will on Friday (19) confirm the closure of two blast furnaces at the Port Talbot steelworks, resulting in…
INDIAN purchases of Russian crude in defiance of Western pressure over the Ukraine war have fallen to an 11-month low as the price tag on the discounted oil rises, figures show. Since the invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, India has bought hundreds of millions of barrels of cut-price…
VIVEK RAMASWAMY, a multi-millionaire former biotech executive, ended his White House bid and endorsed Donald Trump after his longshot bid caught attention but failed to catapult him high enough in the Republican Party's first nominating contest in Iowa. Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old born in Ohio to immigrant parents from southern India,…
Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu faced a setback on the domestic front as the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the pro-India opposition, achieved a clear victory in the mayoral election of the capital Male on Saturday (13), PTI reports said. Adam Azim, the MDP candidate, emerged victorious, succeeding Muizzu, who recently resigned…
THE US and Britain defended to the UN Security Council the legality of strikes they launched against Yemen's Houthis for attacking Red Sea shipping while Russia and China accused the Western allies of raising regional tensions. Russia called the US and British operation disproportionate and illegal. Other countries expressed concerns…
INFOSYS co-founder NR Narayana Murthy was not in favour of his wife Sudha joining the company because he did not want the then start-up to be perceived as nepotistic, a new book has claimed. Murthy, whose daughter Akshata is married to prime minister Rishi Sunak, set up the company along…
In an unusual acknowledgment, the prominent Beijing-based Chinese media outlet, Global Times, has published an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for India's remarkable progress in economic development, social governance, and foreign policy. Penned by Zhang Jiadong, the director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University,…
Though several nations from Asia, Africa, and South America, alongside India, Russia, and China, congratulated Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina on her historic fourth term as prime minister, the United Nations, the US, and the UK voiced their reservations, terming the polls as "not free or fair." Hasina's Awami League (AL) won…
Several renowned personalities, including the Hind movie actors Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, have urged people to discover "Indian islands" and coastal getaways. Their appeal emerged during a controversy sparked by derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers against Narendra Modi following the prime minister’s recent…
Bangladesh, prime minister Sheikh Hasina clinched her fourth consecutive term, securing an absolute majority for her party. The election witnessed a low turnout and was boycotted by the main opposition, the country's poll body on Monday (8). Her Awami League party has 165 seats out of 224 seats in Sunday’s…
BRITAIN intends to become the first European country to produce an advanced uranium fuel that is currently commercially available only from Russia, the government announced Sunday (7). The UK government said it would invest £300 million building a high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) programme that would help "displace" Moscow from global…
Bangladesh is set to hold general elections on Sunday (7), with prime minister Sheikh Hasina anticipated to secure a fourth consecutive term. The main Opposition BNP, which initiated a 48-hour nationwide strike on Saturday against the "illegal government," is absent from the electoral scene. Sporadic violence has been reported amidst…
For many investors and financial advisors, fusing the stock market with the bond market is a wise choice to optimize their risk-reward management. They have been the most popular and favored investment option in the financial market. Prices and yields are observed and forecasted with high precision due to their…
India expressed deep concern on Thursday (4) over reports indicating that certain members of the Indian community in the Canadian province of British Columbia received “extortion calls.” The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came in response to a question at a media briefing. "It is a matter…
Parasite star Song Kang-ho is set to lead Uncle Samsik, an ambitious period drama series from the streaming platform Disney+. The show is written and directed by Shin Yeon-shick, known for Korean films such as The Russian Novel and Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet. According to The Hollywood Reporter,…
RUSSIA redirected its oil exports from Europe to China and India, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said last Wednesday (27), almost two years after Moscow was hit by sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. After president Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries hit Russia with a…
INDIA’S prime minister, Narendra Modi, does not give press interviews, so why did he choose to give one just before Christmas to the Financial Times, of all papers? The FT, a respected newspaper with digital subscribers all over the world, has been sustained in its relentless attacks on the ruling…
DEMOCRACY is the theme of 2024. Around half of the world’s population has the chance to go to the polls. This weekend’s vote in Bangladesh, boycotted by the opposition to Shekih Hasina, is an inauspicious start. Pakistan in February holds its first elections since 2018. More than 600 million will…
Fireworks illuminated skies worldwide to usher in 2024, yet airstrikes marred the year's earliest hours in Gaza, Israel, and Ukraine. Additionally, a significant earthquake struck Japan, prompting tsunami warnings. Many around the world may wish to shake off high living costs, global tumult and extreme weather in 2024, which heralds…
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (27) invited prime minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year as external affairs minister S Jaishankar called on the Russian leader at the Kremlin. "We will be glad to see our friend, prime minister Modi in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar. Jaishankar, who is in…
ALMOST all of Russia's oil exports this year have been shipped to China and India, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday (27), after Moscow responded to Western economic sanctions by quickly rerouting supplies away from Europe. Russia has successfully circumvented sanctions on its oil and diverted flows from…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been utilised globally to interfere with elections, sparking concerns among senior politicians and security services about potential risks in the UK. Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland is advocating for stronger governmental action against what he perceives as a pressing threat to UK democracy. As chair…
INFLATION has slowed sharply to the lowest level in more than two years on falling petrol prices, official data showed Wednesday (20), easing a cost-of-living crisis after aggressive interest-rate hikes. The Consumer Prices Index hit 3.9 per cent in November from 4.6 per cent in the previous month, attaining the…
THE Financial Times business book of the year for 2023 has gone to Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive by Amy Edmondson, a Harvard professor who has been called “the world’s most influential organisational psychologist”. The prize, worth £30,000, was announced last Tuesday…
INDIA, home to 90 per cent of the world’s diamond cutting and polishing industry, and De Beers, the top global rough diamonds producer by value, are seeking clarity and flexibility from G7 countries in implementing a ban on the import of Russian gems. The G7 countries last Wednesday (6) announced…
INDIA, home to 90 per cent of the world's diamond cutting and polishing industry, and De Beers, the top global rough diamonds producer by value, are seeking clarity and flexibility from G7 countries in implementing a ban on imports of Russian gems. The Group of Seven countries on Wednesday (6)…
REPUBLICAN presidential hopefuls sought to halt surging Nikki Haley's momentum in an acrimonious fourth primary debate Wednesday (6), as they made their pitches to be considered the most viable alternative to runaway frontrunner Donald Trump. The former president -- who is seeking to retake the White House despite facing 91…
DR HENRY KISSINGER, who died last Wednesday (29), aged 100, was an American diplomat of Jewish-German extraction who served as national security adviser and secretary of state to US presidents Richard Nixon and his successor, Gerald Ford. Kissinger’s long life was proof of the old adage, “You can fool all…
THE Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt, is the sole Indian to be selected by the Financial Times (FT) among its “25 most influential women of 2023” chosen from across the world. The paper’s selection is a little like Eastern Eye’s Power List (the next one will be published on March 5,…
NASA will train an Indian astronaut for a voyage to the International Space Station as early as next year, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on Wednesday (29), amid deepening space ties between India and the US. "There is an opportunity to share science," Nelson said, speaking at an event in…
The head of a potentially pioneering private company has revealed that, more than 50 years after the final Apollo mission, the United States will endeavour to land a spacecraft on the Moon again on January 25. The lander, named Peregrine, will have no one on board. It was developed by…
AFGHANISTAN'S embassy in India announced its "permanent closure" on Friday (24), more than two years after the Taliban returned to power in Kabul following the collapse of the Western-backed government. Most foreign nations - including India - do not officially recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government, but acknowledge them as the de…
AN INSPIRATIONAL businessman whose company has donated over a billion pounds to charitable causes was crowned the Business of the Year at the 25th anniversary of the prestigious Asian Business Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Wednesday (22). Nirmal Sethia is an internationally renowned entrepreneur whose business empire…
INDIA’S purchase policies “softened” the oil and gas markets by its decision to continue transactions with Russia, and New Dehi should be “thanked for managing global inflation” as a consequence, the country’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar said last week. His remarks came in response to a question of India…
Rishi Sunak pledged on Monday (20) his readiness to "responsibly" reduce taxes after achieving his goal of halving inflation by year-end. However, he tempered expectations for the upcoming Autumn Statement budget scheduled this week, indicating that the government would not execute “everything at once.” Amid mounting pressure from sections of…
According to a study published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine journal, over 1.3 million lives are lost annually due to tobacco-induced cancers across seven countries, including India. The researchers observed that the collective contribution of India, China, the UK, Brazil, Russia, the US, and South Africa accounted for over half of…
INDIAN external affairs minister S Jaishankar has raised the country's long-standing concerns about pro-Khalistan extremism in the UK during his meetings with the country's leaders. He stressed that they should be on guard against the misuse of freedom of expression and speech. Jaishankar concluded his five-day visit to the UK…
FOREIGN SECRETARY David Cameron vowed to keep up military support for Ukraine during a surprise visit to Kyiv announced on Thursday (16), with the West's attention focused on the Middle East. Former prime minister Cameron was in Kyiv on his first visit abroad as foreign minister of the UK, which…
CORRUPT Asian elites are exploiting Britain’s property market and the City of London to launder the proceeds of drugs smuggling, a new report warned. The report published last Friday (10) by the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) underscored the UK’s failure to prosecute money laundering crimes and emphasised its involvement in…
RUSSIA has signed a contract to supply IglaS hand-held anti-aircraft missiles to India and allow production of the Igla there under licence, the Russian state news agency TASS quoted a top arms export official as saying on Tuesday (14). The Igla-S is a manportable air defence system (MANPADS) that can…
THE early 1990s set Indian spy thriller had its European premiere at the recent London Indian Film Festival. A sign language expert is brought into interview a deaf man, who is accused of spying, under the watchful gaze of competing Indian security factions, ahead of the Russian president’s visit. All…
BRITISH audiences are set to witness a unique experience through a never-seen-before amalgamation of Igor Stravinsky’s iconic ballet with Bharatnatyam, created by award-winning dancer and choreographer Seeta Patel. Russian composer Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring is being revisited this week, this time through the lens of an Indian classical dance…
THE Chinese and Pakistani navies are holding weeklong drills in the Arabian Sea days after the Russian Pacific Fleet and Myanmar practised repelling attacks in their first maritime exercise, while India and the United States pledged security cooperation. At a naval base in Karachi on Saturday (11), the Chinese and…
CORRUPT Asian elites are exploiting Britain's property market and the City of London to launder the proceeds of drugs smuggling, a new report warned. The report published on Friday (10) by the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) underscored the UK's failure to prosecute money laundering crimes and emphasised its involvement in…
INDIA and the US announced progress on key defence deals and said they would expand their growing partnership in the face of geopolitical challenges as their top diplomats and senior ministers met on Friday (10). US secretary of state Antony Blinken and defense secretary Lloyd Austin met Indian foreign minister…
US SECRETARY of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin will hold talks with India this week that officials say will focus on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and concerns over China, rather than the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The talks in New Delhi on Friday (10) with…
Ten leading figures from the world of cinema from five continents are expected to participate in Marrakech International Film Festival’s In Conversation With... series. In front of festival audiences, actors, directors, screenwriters, and producers are invited to share their vision and professional practice, all mixed in with tasty anecdotes and…
WE DON’T hear very much these days about Boris Johnson making a comeback to 10, Downing Street. He has decided making money is the better option. Boris earned £4.8 million in five months after leaving office as prime minister, mostly for speaking at events and for securing a deal to…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley has said former president Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election would result in "four years of chaos, vendettas and drama" that would be dangerous for the US, which needs a captain who will steady the ship, not capsize it. Haley, 51, launched her…
THE global diamond sector is scrambling to get ahead of an upcoming G7 ban on Russian gems, with consumers and producers battling to manage ever more complex supply chains against a backdrop of sluggish demand. Direct sales of Russian gems have already been crushed by US sanctions on Russia's state…
In the heart of Tashkent, a city known for its rich history, stands an Indian restaurant celebrating the legacy of legendary Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor and the love of the Uzbeks for him even 35 years after his death. Styled on the Bollywood theme, the 'Raaj Kapur' restaurant which is…
Filmmaker Veena Sud has joined Amazon MGM Studios' series The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo as showrunner. The series is based on the Steig Larsson books and revolves around the Lisbeth Salander character. According to entertainment news outlet Deadline, the show is a co-production between Amazon MGM Studios and Left…
A PAKISTANI court indicted former prime minister Imran Khan and his deputy in an Official Secrets Acts case on Monday (23), his party said, in another blow for the jailed former cricket star ahead of a general election expected in January. The charge is related to a classified cable sent…
INDIA on Saturday (21) successfully launched the first unmanned trial run of its upcoming crewed orbital mission, in the latest milestone for its spacefaring ambitions. The Gaganyaan ("Skycraft") mission is slated to send three astronauts into Earth's orbit in 2025, an important yardstick of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO)…
PAKISTAN is looking to tame inflation with fuel price cuts and a price-control mechanism, caretaker prime minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said on Monday (16). The South Asian country is embarking on a tricky path to economic recovery under a caretaker government after a $3 billion loan programme approved by…
INDIAN space startup Agnikul Cosmos said on Tuesday (17) it had raised $26.7 million (£22m) in additional funds ahead of its first rocket launch, as private space firms benefit from the successful landing of an Indian spacecraft on the moon. Chennai-based Agnikul, whose name is derived from the Hindi and…
CRICKET'S more than 100-year Olympic exile moved closer to ending after the sport was approved for inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee's executive board on Friday (13). IOC president Thomas Bach, speaking after the second day of an executive board meeting in Mumbai, said…
POPULAR actor Sunny Deol has scored one of this year’s biggest Bollywood successes with Gadar 2. The Hindi cinema hardman also made it 40 years in Bollywood recently and will celebrate his 67th birthday on October 19. Eastern Eye decided to mark all the occasions by putting together a watchlist…
THE UK and Ireland will co-host Euro 2028, while Italy and Turkey will be joint hosts of the 2032 tournament, UEFA announced. Both bids ran unopposed but still needed official approval from European football's governing body, which they received at a meeting in Switzerland. Turkey last week withdrew from the…
BANGLADESH received the first uranium delivery last Thursday (5) for its Russia-backed nuclear plant, a project aimed at bolstering its overstretched energy grid, but complicated by sanctions on Moscow. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has courted Russian ties with renewed vigour amid Western criticism over her government’s rights record. Moscow is…
During the second 2024 presidential primary debate on Wednesday (27) for the Republican party, the seven participating candidates sought to persuade voters that they could serve as a credible alternative to the frontrunner, Donald Trump, who opted not to attend the event. Here are some key takeaways from the sometimes-disorderly…
IT IS HARD to escape the brown, female faces dominating our screens. Isn’t it the most wonderful thing ever? Those who are older rarely saw brown faces on TV growing up and those who did pop up were in smaller stereotypical roles, like shopkeepers. Things have majorly changed in recent…
PAKISTAN has received its first shipment of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia, Moscow's embassy in Islamabad said on Tuesday (26), marking Islamabad's second major Russian energy purchase. The shipment, which the embassy said was delivered with Iranian help, comes after Pakistan received its first-ever delivery of Russian crude under…
ARMY chiefs and senior officers from 30 countries, including the US, met in India on Tuesday (26) to discuss threats facing the Asia-Pacific region, in the face of concern at an increasingly assertive China. US Army chief Randy George said the region was "critically important", speaking to reporters alongside his…
Indian shooters made a significant impact at the Asian Games, securing three medals, including a team gold. They showcased their excellence with a total of five podium finishes in just two days of competition in Hangzhou, firmly establishing their prowess in marksmanship. A confident Indian 10m air rifle team led…
THE European Union and the G7 countries will face opposition from India and South African company De Beers over rival schemes for a ban on Russian diamonds, reported The Times. The EU and the G7 countries are expected to announce an import ban on Russian diamonds in the next 2-3…
CANADA this week divulged it had intelligence possibly linking Indian government agents to the murder of a separatist Sikh leader, the kind of news that usually sparks uproar among democratic allies. Not this time. India is being courted by the United States and others as a counterweight to China, and…
INDIA's state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp wants to eventually receive a share of crude from a Russian project it partly owns, but is willing to wait because Russian oil is hard to ship right now, said the head of ONGC's overseas investment arm, ONGC Videsh. Russian president Vladimir Putin…
INFLATION unexpectedly slowed in August, data showed Wednesday (20), hitting an 18-month low and sparking hope this week's widely-forecast interest rate hike by the Bank of England could be its last for now. The Consumer Prices Index dropped slightly to 6.7 per cent from 6.8 per cent in July, the…
INDIAN oil companies are exploring the possibility of using close to $600 million (£484.73m) of their dividend income stranded in Russia to buy oil from that country, officials have said. India's top four oil companies - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Oil India Ltd and ONGC…
THE G20 Summit in New Delhi has positioned India as a key player in the global arena, edging closer to becoming the 'leader of the Global South,' according to analysts. The two-day summit, which concluded on Sunday (10), showcased India's leadership as it championed initiatives aimed at countering the ascendancy…
The Rig Veda inscriptions and Panini's grammar treatise 'Ashtadhyayi,' which were India's contributions to the G20 'Culture Corridor' exhibition held at the summit venue, have been exhibited under the name of 'Bharat.' The Rig Veda, an ancient Indian text representing the country's contribution to the international project in the 'symbols…
THE prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (11) told British lawmakers that he had “warm and productive” discussions with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi towards a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, as he updated parliament on his recent visit to New Delhi for the Indialed G20 summit. Addressing the…
WITH the provision of a swathe of new oil and gas exploration licences and a crisis in offshore wind energy, clouds are gathering over the UK’s net zero promises. The Conservative government of Rishi Sunak in July promised “hundreds” of new licences for oil and gas exploration and production in…
GERMAN imports of refined oil products from India soared in the first seven months of the year, official data showed Tuesday (12), much of which was likely made using crude oil from sanctions-hit Russia. Germany bought €451 million (£387m) worth of Indian petroleum products between January and July. That was…
During his G20 presidency, Narendra Modi strategically enhanced his domestic and international reputation as a guardian of national influence and well-being, emphasising India's global standing in anticipation of the upcoming general elections next year. Over several months, the 72-year-old leader's presence has been pervasive throughout Delhi, as his image adorned…
French president Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday (10) that the G20 leaders' declaration "confirms" Russia's isolation regarding the Ukraine crisis. He also noted that India's presidency of the bloc made significant efforts to convey a message of unity and peace to the world. At a media briefing, he also said…
Narendra Modi concluded the G20 summit on Sunday, which notably downplayed significant disagreements regarding the Ukraine conflict and climate change. Despite the contentious issues, the summit afforded him a diplomatic moment in the spotlight. The ongoing Ukraine conflict has deeply divided G20 nations since Moscow's invasion last year, leading Russian…
Novak Djokovic secured his fourth US Open title on Sunday (10) by defeating Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, simultaneously clinching his 24th Grand Slam singles title, an achievement that solidifies his status as the greatest tennis player in history. The 36-year-old Djokovic won 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to become the…
INDIA's strong leadership made it possible for G20 leaders to reach consensus in intense discussions on a summit message urging nations to shun use of force in territorial disputes, a senior European Union official said on Sunday (10). For weeks before the New Delhi meeting, the bloc struggled to agree…
THE Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration at a summit on Saturday (9) that avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory. Prime minister Narendra Modi of host India announced that the…
THE G20 has adopted a consensus declaration on issues facing the bloc, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday (9) during a summit, signalling that negotiators had resolved deep differences over the wording on the war in Ukraine. He gave no details on the compromise wording. "On the back…
Charles III commemorates his first year as king today (8). Here are five pivotal moments from his first year on the throne. - Inaugural address - Following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022, Charles assumed the throne. During his…
LEADERS of the world's wealthiest and most influential nations are set to convene at the two-day G20 Summit in India's capital, New Delhi, commencing on Saturday (9). This marks India's inaugural hosting of this prestigious assembly of global leaders. The capital city has been adorned with ornate flowers and fountains…
Rishi Sunak said on Friday (8) that his trip to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders' Summit is "obviously special". He jokingly mentioned the nickname "son-in-law of India," as the first British prime minister of Indian heritage and being married to Akshata Murty, an Indian. Speaking to reporters in a…
Among the prominent leaders arriving in India’s capital city on Friday (8) morning for the G20 summit are Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentine president Alberto Fernández, and IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva. The G20 leaders will deliberate on pressing global issues at the grouping's annual summit on September 9 and…
US president Joe Biden headed for the G20 in India on Thursday (7) promising that the summit would "deliver" despite the absence of the Chinese and Russian leaders. Biden is hoping to seize on the no-shows by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to boost US influence, and show that the…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi said Thursday (7) that leaders of the G20 summit he is chairing this weekend must support developing nations to tackle climate change with more cash and by sharing technology. Against a backdrop of record-breaking temperatures and deadly heatwaves across the globe, climate scientists and activists…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the significance of India's diversity and its remarkable achievements, asserting that it is the opportune moment for the nation to assume the G20 presidency. He praised prime minister Narendra Modi's leadership over the past year and highlighted that India's leadership in the G20 comes at…
CHINA'S president Xi Jinping skipping this week's G20 summit in New Delhi was not unusual and will not affect negotiations to produce a consensus communique at the meeting, Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said. The September 9-10 summit of leaders of the world's richest countries is being held in the…
Migrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan are among those seeking protection in Europe, official figures released on Tuesday (5) showed. Syrians and Afghans account for nearly a quarter of asylum applications received so far this year, followed by those from Venezuela, Turkey, and Colombia. Between January and the end of June…
Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni lost their respective opening-round matches in the men's doubles event at the US Open with veteran Rohan Bopanna being the only Indian to remain in the fray. Bhambri and Myneni lost in their individual opening-round matches in the men's doubles competition at the US Open.…
Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today launched the trailer of its upcoming fiction crime thriller Amazon Original series Bambai Meri Jaan. Produced by Excel Media and Entertainment’s Ritesh Sidhwani, Kassim Jagmagia, and Farhan Akhtar, with the story by S. Hussain Zaidi, Bambai Meri Jaan is created by Rensil…
US president Joe Biden will travel to India next week to participate in the G20 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi on September 8, the White House has announced. India, president of the G20, will host global leaders for the summit scheduled to take…
FOLLOWING quickly on the success of India's moon landing, the country's space agency launched a rocket on Saturday (2) to study the sun in its first solar mission. The rocket left a trail of smoke and fire as scientists clapped, a live broadcast on the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO)…
INDIA has asked the US to allow the release of $26 million belonging to at least two Indian diamond firms that was frozen due to their alleged trade links with sanctioned Russian diamond major Alrosa, three Indian sources said. The funds were frozen earlier this year due to US sanctions…
ABOUT 80 per cent of Indians have a favourable view of prime minister Narendra Modi and around seven in 10 Indians believe their country has recently become more influential, according to a survey by the PEW Research Center. The survey, released ahead of the G20 Summit, also noted that public…
INDIA's Rohan Bopanna and his Australian men's doubles partner Matthew Ebden advanced to the second round of the US Open with a straight-set win over Christopher O’Connell and Aleksandar Vukic. Bopanna and Ebden, who are seeded sixth, brushed aside the Australian duo 6-4 6-2 in less than an hour (55…
FORMER energy minister Grant Shapps replaced Ben Wallace on Thursday (31) as Britain's defence secretary, a promotion for a man relied upon by the government as a good media communicator but lacking in direct experience of the military. An ally of prime minister Rishi Sunak, Shapps takes on the brief…
THE successful Chandrayaan-3 moon mission last week elevates the country’s status as a space power and has geopolitical implications in the region, science and security experts said, as the country’s space organisation revealed its next project – to study the sun. Days after becoming the first nation to land a…
THE European Union last Saturday (26) voiced concerns over a “rapid” rise in refined petroleum products made from Russian crude oil in India finding their way to the European market. Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU executive vice-president and commissioner for trade, said oil products processed from Russian crude oil were arriving…
BRICS leaders announced last Thursday (24) the “historic” admission of six countries, as the bloc seeks to reshape the Westerlies global order and expand its influence. BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – agreed at their annual summit to make Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and…
India's Moon rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur on the lunar south pole, the country's space agency said. Last week, India became the first country to land a craft near the largely unexplored south pole, and just the fourth nation to land on the Moon. "The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy…
RUSSIA will be represented by its foreign minister at the G20 summit in New Delhi, president Vladimir Putin told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in a phone call on Monday (28) where the two leaders also discussed bilateral ties. The two leaders also spoke about the planned expansion of the…
Ukrainian Day will be celebrated on September 6 at the Venice Film Festival 2023. The organisers will host a series of panels and meetings to support war-torn Ukraine and its film industry, Variety reported. With this event, which follows an analogous initiative on the Lido last year, the fest’s parent…
Days after becoming the first nation to land a craft near the Moon's largely unexplored south pole, India's space agency said on Monday it will launch a satellite to survey the Sun. "The launch of Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, is scheduled for September 2,"…
JAILED former prime minister Imran Khan admitted “misplacing” a confidential diplomatic cable as he was interrogated by Pakistan's top investigative agency. Khan, 70, sentenced to a three-year jail term earlier this month in a corruption case, was grilled at the Attock prison for wrongful use of the classified document, according…
INDIA'S budget Moon landing is a model for other countries aspiring to develop their own space programmes, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday (26) while praising the scientists behind the successful mission. Chandrayaan-3 - mooncraft in Sanskrit - touched down on the lunar surface on Wednesday (23), making India…
The G20 summit negotiator for India Amitabh Kant expressed the nation's intention to diplomatically persuade G20 member countries towards resolving geopolitical challenges. In response to a question concerning the Russia-Ukraine war, Kant said on Friday (25) that India seeks amicable solutions. The ongoing conflict, which began in February last year,…
THE moon rover of India's Chandrayaan-3 exited the spacecraft on Thursday (24) to begin exploring the surface of the lunar south pole and conducting experiments, and was braced for new challenges, the space agency chief said. The spacecraft landed on the unexplored south pole of the moon on Wednesday, making…
INDIAN-AMERICAN US presidential aspirants Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy clashed during the Republican Party’s maiden presidential primary debate over foreign policy issues, with the former South Carolina governor criticising her rival and entrepreneur for lacking foreign policy experience and supporting Russia. Haley, 51, and Ramaswamy, 38, have been clashing over…
THE five BRICS developing nations will admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates, they said on Thursday (24), a move aimed at growing the clout of the bloc as it pushes to rebalance the prevailing world order. The expansion could also pave the way for…
INDIA began exploring the Moon's surface with a rover on Thursday (24), a day after it became the first nation to land a craft near the largely unexplored lunar south pole. Pragyan -- "Wisdom" in Sanskrit -- rolled out of the lander hours after the latest milestone in India's ambitious…
It was a proud moment for India as on Wednesday it scripted history with the successful soft landing of its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole region of the moon. Wishes for this historic feat have been pouring in from all around the world. Social media is flooded with…
LEADERS of the BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – were due to open a summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday (22) where they will weigh expanding membership as some members push to forge the bloc into a counterweight to the West. Heightened global tensions provoked by…
AN Indian spacecraft landed on the rugged, unexplored south pole of the moon on Wednesday (23) in a mission seen as crucial to lunar exploration and India's standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed. "This moment is unforgettable. It is phenomenal. This is a…
THE Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) is closing in on an attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon's south pole. Here are key facts about the Chandrayaan-3 mission. WHAT IS INDIA'S CHANDRAYAAN-3 MISSION? The Chandrayaan-3 is aimed at the lunar south pole, a region with water ice, or frozen…
AN Indian spacecraft landed on the moon on Wednesday (23), the space agency said, in a mission seen as crucial to lunar exploration and India's standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed. For India, the successful landing marks its emergence as a space power…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden will urge reforms to the IMF and World Bank that will better serve developing country needs at the G20 summit in New Delhi next month, the White House said on Tuesday (22). White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the two institutions need to offer…
Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Pooja Hirwade performed a Bharatanatyam piece on 'Namo Namo Bharatambe' and Chandrayaan Anthem on Wednesday. According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is all set to create history by landing on the uncharted south pole of the moon today. Sharing her excitement, Pooja Hirwade told…
THE space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon’s south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money. If India’s Chandrayaan-3 succeeds in landing on the lunar south pole on Wednesday (23), analysts and executives expect an immediate…
EXCITEMENT rose in India on Tuesday (22) on the eve of a much-anticipated moon landing, with prayers held for its success, schools marshalling students to watch a live telecast of the event and space enthusiasts organising parties to celebrate. The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was scheduled to…
INDIA readied Wednesday (23) to become the first nation to land a spacecraft on the Moon's south pole, days after a Russian probe crashed in the same region. The latest attempted Moon landing is a historic moment for the world's most populous nation, as it rapidly closes in on milestones…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden will urge reforms to the IMF and World Bank that will better serve developing country needs at the G20 summit in New Delhi next month, the White House said on Tuesday (22). White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the two institutions need to offer…
Leaders of the BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – were due to open a summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday (22) where they will weigh expanding membership as some members push to forge the bloc into a counterweight to the West. Heightened global tensions provoked by…
The space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon's south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money. If India's Chandrayaan-3 succeeds in landing on the lunar south pole on Wednesday (23), analysts and executives expect an immediate…
Excitement rose in India on Tuesday (22) on the eve of a much-anticipated moon landing, with prayers held for its success, schools marshalling students to watch a live telecast of the event and space enthusiasts organising parties to celebrate. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is scheduled to…
India's space agency on Monday (21) released images its spacecraft took of the far side of the moon as it headed for an attempted landing on the lunar south pole, just days after the failure of a Russian lander. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro) Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft had been in…
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami has said, the Group of 20 (G20) stands as the foremost platform globally for fostering inclusive growth. He remarked that India's current presidency of the G20 has played a pivotal role in amplifying the perspectives of the Global South, contributing to the…
INDIA’S central bank left interest rates unchanged last Thursday (10) but warned that higher food prices, caused in part by the extreme weather conditions, had impacted household budgets and halted a downward inflation trend. The benchmark repurchase rate has been kept at 6.50 per cent since the last hike by…
Russia is set to meet its commitment to deliver S-400 anti-aircraft systems to India within the established timeframe, a senior Russian defence export official said on Monday (14). Being the largest arms importer globally, India relies predominantly on Russian technology for traditional weaponry. However, authorities in New Delhi have expressed…
INDIA will remain an “active and willing partner” to find a “lasting” solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the country’s national security advisor said, after attending a peace conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last Sunday (6). Ajit Doval told delegates the responsibility to end the war was in the hands…
EVERYONE knows that the easiest way to win an election is to “encourage” the opposition candidate to stand down. In Pakistan, Imran Khan has been cancelled by the army. He should have known those who live by the army die by the army. He has been given a three-year jail…
LONG-TERM allies India and Russia are in a race to the moon, it emerged last week. India’s space agency said last weekend it successfully carried out an orbit reduction manoeuvre of the country’s third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, days after Russia said last Friday (4) it will launch its first lunar…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi will attend the next BRICS summit to be held Johannesburg in-person from August 22, the South African government has said. It dismissed some media reports as "rumours" that the Indian leader will not take part in the meeting of the five-nation grouping. The BRICS bloc…
Neuroscientists have recently concluded that a direct correlation between pre-action brain activity and the intention to execute an action might not exist. They argue that the well-known Libet paradigm from the 1970s and 1980s, often used to investigate the presence of free will in decision-making, may not be entirely suitable…
Actor Ishaan Khatter says he had a great experience filming his Hollywood debut series The Perfect Couple, headlined by global star Nicole Kidman. Khatter said he has finished shooting for a major portion of the Netflix series, based on American author Elin Hilderbrand's novel of the same name. It is…
INDIA'S latest space mission entered the Moon's orbit on Saturday (5) ahead of the country's second attempted lunar landing, as its cut-price space programme seeks to reach new heights. The world's most populous nation has a comparatively low-budget aerospace programme that is rapidly closing in on the milestones set by…
In anticipation of the forthcoming BRICS summit in South Africa, where discussions will revolve around the potential admission of new members, India refuted on Thursday (03) any validity to the "baseless" reports suggesting its opposition to the expansion of the five-nation alliance. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi addressed this matter…
India will take part in the Ukraine peace talks to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 5 and 6, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, Arindam Bagchi, announced during a news briefing on Thursday (03). The talks have been initiated by Saudi Arabia, which extended invitations to Western…
RICE exporters of Pakistan are having a field day due to the Indian government's ban on the export of non-basmati white rice to the international market. On July 20, the Indian government banned exports of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply and keep retail prices under check during the…
INDIA's Ankita Raina made the most of her lucky loser place to reach the last 16 of the Prague Open on Wednesday (2), securing her first win on the main WTA Tour in 2023. The 30-year-old, who had been defeated in qualifying before winning a reprieve in the main draw,…
The ninth cheetah died at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India on Wednesday (02), a statement from the state forest department said. The recent death marks another loss for the feline population since March. "We are examining the death...the cause of death will be known after the post-mortem,"…
THE Bank of England on Thursday (3) hiked its key interest rate for a 14th time in a row, by a quarter-point to 5.25 percent as UK inflation stays high, prolonging a cost-of-living crisis. Policymakers "will continue to monitor closely indications of persistent inflationary pressures", the BoE said in a…
GREENPEACE protesters draped the private home of prime minister Rishi Sunak in black fabric on Thursday (3), stepping up their campaign against his government's policy on drilling for oil. Sunak's record on environmental issues has come under scrutiny in recent months after he said he would take a "proportionate approach"…
THE Bank of England is set to raise its key interest rate for a 14th time in a row Thursday (3) as UK inflation stays high, adding to a cost-of-living crisis. The BoE is seen hiking borrowing costs by at least a quarter-point to 5.25 per cent, which would be…
PAKISTAN is unlikely to meet a target for Russian crude to make up two-thirds of its oil imports, despite attractive prices, hampered by a shortage of foreign currency and limitations at its refineries and ports, officials and analysts say. The cash-strapped country became Russia’s latest customer snapping up discounted crude…
DEBUTANT writer Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi said she has tried to “dismantle the idea of great literature” with her first novel, The Centre. The novel’s protagonist, Anissa Elahi, is a Pakistani Muslim woman living in London who dreams of being a translator of great works of literature. When her white boyfriend,…
FRANCE said last Wednesday (26) that its arms exports hit a record last year, helped by Rafale aircraft (above) sales. French weapons exports totalled €27 billion ($30bn/ £23.2bn) in 2022, up from €11.7bn the previous year, the ministry said in its annual report to parliament, seen by AFP. France is…
UK's major retailers reported the first monthly decline in shop prices in two years in July, as they offered significant discounts to attract customers during the unseasonably wet weather. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed that shop prices dropped by 0.1% compared to June. Additionally, the annual shop price inflation…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak has backed plans to permit new fossil fuel exploration off Britain's coast, as he pledged to be "pragmatic and proportionate" about achieving net zero in an interview published Saturday (29). The stance is set to intensify criticism from environmental campaigners, who accuse the British leader of…
STEELMAKER ArcelorMittal said on Thursday (27) its net profit sank in the first half of the year, as prices for the metal fell from the peaks reached at the start of the Ukraine war. Higher interest rates, which were raised by central banks to combat inflation, also weighed on demand…
INDIA'S pharmaceutical exports this fiscal year are set to grow nearly twice as fast as last year to hit sales of $27 billion, driven by strong US buying, a government-backed trade body said, despite deaths linked to Indian-made cough syrups. The robust forecast comes against the backdrop of earlier concerns…
THE family office of Ravi Ruia, a co-owner of the Mumbai-headquartered Essar Group, has acquired a sprawling mansion estimated to be worth around £113 million in the heart of London as an “attractive investment” in the UK property market. Hanover Lodge, originally designed by British architect John Nash around 1827,…
Pakistan's election commission issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for former prime minister Imran Khan, Geo news reported on Monday (24), the latest in a series of legal hurdles facing the cricketer-turned-politician. Khan was arrested in May by Pakistani authorities in connection with a corruption case, which sparked deadly unrest across…
THE Group of 20 (G20) major economies meeting in India failed on Saturday (22) to reach consensus on phasing down fossil fuels following objections by some producer nations. Scientists and campaigners are exasperated by international bodies' foot-dragging on action to curb global warming even as extreme weather from China to…
INDIA on Thursday (20) ordered a halt to its largest rice export category in a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world's largest exporter of the grain. New Delhi’s move triggers fears of further inflation on global food markets. The government said it was imposing a ban on…
PAKISTAN will open criminal proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan on charges of exposing official secrets, interior minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday (19), the latest in a string of cases the former cricketer has been facing. The case is related to diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad, which…
TWO days of talks between economic and finance policymakers from the Group of 20 nations will wrap up on Tuesday without a joint statement due to differences between major powers over the war in Ukraine, according to Indian officials hosting the meeting. During its presidency of the G20, India is…
G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs opened talks on Monday (17) on debt restructuring deals, multilateral bank reform and finance to tackle climate change. Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, chair and host of the summit in Gandhinagar, began by telling finance leaders of "the responsibility we have... to steer…
The world of tennis has produced countless superstars over the years, with the likes of the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic dominating the men’s game in the Open Era. After becoming the record Grand Slam winner, is Djokovic now the best of all time? Can Djokovic…
INDIA launched a rocket on Friday (14) carrying an unmanned spacecraft to land on the Moon, its second attempt to do so as its cut-price space programme seeks to reach new heights. "Chandrayaan-3 scripts a new chapter in India's space odyssey," prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted from France, where he…
Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic made history on Thursday by becoming the first unseeded player in 60 years to reach the Wimbledon women's final. She dashed the title dreams of Ukraine's Elina Svitolina with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory. Vondrousova, currently ranked 42nd in the world, will now face…
INDIA'S defence ministry has given initial approval to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets for its navy and three Scorpene class submarines, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday (13), ahead of prime minister Narendra Modi's arrival in France. Modi is on his way to deepen ties with New…
Carlos Alcaraz displayed his exceptional skills as he defeated childhood friend Holger Rune in straight sets to secure a spot in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time. The top seed showcased his composure and quality shot-making to claim a 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-4 victory on Wednesday. Alcaraz's solid performance sets…
In a thrilling quarter-final match at Wimbledon, third seed Daniil Medvedev fought off a spirited challenge from American debutant Christopher Eubanks to secure a hard-fought victory. After a grueling five-set battle on Wednesday, Medvedev emerged victorious with a 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 triumph. Despite losing his way in the…
INDIA’S multi-billion-dollar purchases of US arms are less about shifting its reliance on Russian defence equipment and moving towards the West - it’s more about developing its own domestic weapons industry, security officials and analysts say. India is the world’s biggest arms importer, but almost all of its major weapons…
INDIA on Friday (14) launches its latest attempt at an unmanned moon landing, the next frontier of a burgeoning, cut-price aerospace programme rapidly closing in on the milestones set by global superpowers. If successful, the mission would make the world's most populous nation only the fourth country after Russia, the…
The guest of honour for the Bastille Day celebrations in France on Friday (14) is Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the ongoing efforts of Western powers to engage with India, the world's largest democracy and a rapidly growing economy. President Emmanuel Macron extended a warm reception to Modi, following…
The excitement at Wimbledon continues to build as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz maintain their course for a potential dream final, while defending women's champion Elena Rybakina comfortably secures a spot in the quarter-finals. In a stunning display of dominance, last year's runner-up Ons Jabeur decimated two-time champion Petra Kvitova…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden was in Britain on Monday (10) for a brief visit to his key ally during which he will meet King Charles III and prime minister Rishi Sunak before going on to a Nato summit in Lithuania. Ahead of the visit, the White House said Biden would…
CARLOS ALCARAZ reached the last 16 at Wimbledon on Saturday (8) after a tough battle against Nicolas Jarry as defending women's champion Elena Rybakina snuffed out the hopes of Britain's final hope Katie Boulter. Rain returned to the All England Club, meaning play on Centre Court started under the roof…
Wimbledon faced challenges on Wednesday (05), from both climate change protesters and persistent rainfall, causing additional difficulties for the organisers. But despite the mounting security and scheduling concerns, the reigning men's champion, Novak Djokovic, advanced smoothly to the third round of the tournament. Djokovic secured his 350th Grand Slam victory…
BRITAIN last Thursday (29) announced its backing for an expanded UN Security Council, including a permanent spot for India and Africa, to reflect the current and future state of the world. “We want to see permanent African representation and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan,” said foreign secretary…
World number one Carlos Alcaraz and defending women's champion Elena Rybakina both began their Wimbledon campaigns with victorious performances on Tuesday (04). However, torrential rain wreaked havoc on the All England Club schedule, resulting in only one hour of play being possible on the outside courts. As a result, 69…
The defending men's champion, Novak Djokovic, and the top-seeded woman, Iga Swiatek, initiated their Wimbledon campaigns with impressive performances on Monday (03). Despite a temporary pause in play on the outside courts due to rain, the anticipated climate protests failed to materialise. At 36 years old, Djokovic, who has suffered…
Novak Djokovic starts the Wimbledon tournament on Monday (03), initiating his quest for an eighth title and a record-tying 24th Grand Slam victory. The 36-year-old Serbian, who has emerged victorious in the past four editions at the All England Club, begins his campaign on Centre Court, a venue where he…
A group of Conservative MPs called on prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (3) to do more to cut immigration, saying he risked further eroding the trust of voters who lent the party their vote in 2019 if he failed to take action. The group of MPs, many elected for…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC has Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles and a 24th major in his sights as he closes in on a first calendar Grand Slam in 54 years. Fresh from breaking out of a tie with Rafael Nadal for 23 Slams at the French Open, the 36-year-old Djokovic…
RUSSIAN president Vladimir Putin discussed the situation around Ukraine and how Moscow had resolved an armed mercenary mutiny in a telephone call with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (30), the Kremlin said. It said that Modi had expressed support for what the Kremlin called the Russian leadership's decisive…
FOREIGN SECRETARY James Cleverly has said that India and Japan should be given permanent seats on the UN security council. Cleverly also called for a doubling of the number of countries able to wield a veto on UN resolutions. The UK announced its backing for an expanded council, including a…
AN INDIAN court on Friday fined Twitter $61,000 after dismissing its plea challenging orders to remove tweets and accounts critical of prime minister Narendra Modi's government. The world's biggest democracy petitions Twitter for content removals more than almost any other country, and the platform regularly takes down or blocks content…
THE state of border will determine the state of relationship between India and China, Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said, amid an over three-year military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. “The state of the border today is still abnormal,” Jaishankar said in an interactive session…
THREE Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force will take part in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 14, people familiar with the matter said. Prime minister Narendra Modi will attend this year’s Bastille Day Parade as the guest of honour. A tri-services…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo last Sunday (25) on a rare visit during which both sides pledged to deepen their strategic ties. They agreed to boost investment by India, the world’s most populous nation, in Egypt, which has the Arab world’s largest…
WHAT does it mean to be English? This is the question that Dear England, a new play at London’s National Theatre, sets out to explore. It has been written by James Graham and directed by Rupert Goold – with the actor Joseph Fiennes playing the lead role of the England…
A WEEKEND article in the Financial Times set out to explain “How India is slowly moving into the American orbit.” The reality is that India is not moving into the American orbit nor America into India’s, but for some decades now the two countries have been drawing closer together. One…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met with US and Indian technology executives in Washington on Friday (23), the final day of a state visit where he agreed new defence and technology cooperation and addressed challenges posed by China. US president Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet for Modi on…
DIAMONDS are a girl’s best friend, it is said, and prime minister Narendra Modi swerved clear of any controversy by gifting an eco-friendly lab-grown 7.5 carat diamond to US first lady Jill Biden. President Joe Biden and his wife hosted Modi for an intimate dinner at the White House on…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (21) opened a state visit to Washington as the United States steps up its wooing of India. President Joe Biden is putting on the full pomp for only the third state visitor of his administration, with the billion-plus country seen as a pivotal…
US president Joe Biden welcomes India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, on Wednesday (21) for two days of talks that the White House sees as bolstering "one of the defining partnerships of our age," despite ongoing concerns about human rights. Washington wants India to be a strategic counterweight to China while…
THE UN human rights chief called on Monday (19) for greater support for his office as he seeks to expand its work by establishing a first-time presence in the world’s two most populous countries, India and China. Established after the second world war, the UN human rights office is present…
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a state visit to the United States of America on Tuesday (20) upon the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The visit will last until June 24. During his visit, Modi plans to meet with…
AIRBUS announced a record 500-plane deal with Indian airline IndiGo on day one of the Paris Airshow on Monday (19), as strong demand for jets and missiles vied for attention with the industry's supply chain problems. The multibillion-dollar deal for single-aisle planes - the largest ever by number of aircraft…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has revealed how he shared barfi (Indian sweets) made by his mother with Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Ukrainian president's recent visit to Downing Street. Sunak, 43, posted a reel last weekend on his official Instagram account of an interview during which he shared the moment his…
INDIA's defence ministry has approved the procurement of US-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, sources said. India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth slightly over $3 billion, one of the sources said. India’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The defence ministry's initial clearance…
Britain's National Grid, on Thursday (15), expressed confidence in having sufficient capacity to meet the electricity demand during the upcoming winter. Amid the ongoing supply risks resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the National Grid remains committed to exploring additional options. Despite the disruptions in gas flows from Russia due…
Russia is keen to expand bilateral ties with Pakistan as the first shipment carrying discounted Russian oil reached Karachi Port last weekend, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said. Lavrov made these remarks in a video message on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Islamabad,…
The world’s nuclear powers, including India and China, increased investment in their arsenals for a third consecutive year in 2022 amid swelling geopolitical tensions, two re - ports showed on Monday (12). The world’s nine nuclear-armed states jointly spent $82.9 billion (£65.7bn) on their arsenals last year, with the United…
PAKISTAN paid for its first government-to-government import of discounted Russian crude oil in Chinese currency, the South Asian country's petroleum minister has said, a significant shift in its US dollar-dominated export payments policy. Discounted crude offers a respite as Pakistan faces an economic crisis with an acute balance of payments…
Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington, the Biden administration is pushing New Delhi to cut through its own red tape and advance a deal for dozens of US-made armed drones, two people familiar with the matter said. India has long expressed interest in buying large…
THE FIRST shipment of Russian oil to energy-starved and dollar-strapped Pakistan has arrived at Karachi port, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last year, economic sanctions have seen a significant cut in its oil and gas exports to the European Union and United States.…
US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday (08) announced a partnership between their countries focused on advanced technologies, clean energy, and critical minerals, as they aim to strengthen their historical security alliance. The leaders signed the "Atlantic Declaration," which Sunak described as a first-of-its-kind economic…
The US and Britain unveiled a fresh strategic pact on Thursday (08), reaffirming their commitment to the "special relationship" in order to counter the challenges posed by Russia, China, and economic instability. During a summit held at the White House, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak…
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's blockbuster spy thriller Pathaan will be released on 3000 plus screens across Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) The film, which hit Indian theatres on January 25, is directed by Siddharth Anand and also stars John Abraham and Deepika Padukone. It has earned…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to convey to President Joe Biden the importance of elevating Britain's economic ties with the US to a level on par with their defense and security cooperation. With the UK's departure from the European Union, there is a desire to strengthen alignment with Washington…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday (07) that Britain will be hosting the world's first summit on artificial intelligence later this year. The summit aims to facilitate the establishment of a unified approach among nations to mitigate the potentially catastrophic risks associated with the technology, while also harnessing its…
INDIA'S central bank on Thursday (8) kept interest rates on hold for its second-straight meeting, citing easing inflation pressures, but warned about an uncertain global outlook. The benchmark repurchase rate was left at 6.50 per cent by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), bank governor Shaktikanta Das announced in a…
AIR INDIA said on Thursday (8) that its replacement flight has taken off from Russia's Magadan for San Francisco, carrying all passengers and crew. The airline has mobilised additional support at San Francisco airport to carry out clearance formalities for passengers upon arrival, it said in a tweet. Air India…
Pakistan has passed a special order to allow barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia for certain goods, including petroleum and gas, the Ministry of Commerce said last Friday (2). With barely enough foreign exchange reserves to cover one month’s imports, Islamabad is desperately trying to manage a balance of…
India's GDP grew by 7.2 per cent in the year to March, official figures showed last Wednesday (31), boosted by services and consumption, putting it among the world’s fastest-expanding major economies. The country is the world’s fifth-largest economy, and recently surpassed China to become the most populous country. Its growth…
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…
AN Air India plane flying from Delhi to San Francisco was forced to divert and land at an airfield in Russia's Far East after it developed a technical issue with one of its engines, the airline said on Tuesday (6). The 216 passengers onboard are being offered support on the…
IMMIGRATION can help reduce Britain's high inflation rate, the deputy head of the International Monetary Fund has told the BBC as the UK restricts the net amount of legal migrants. UK inflation is cooling slower than expected, in part owing to sectors including hospitality and farming paying higher wages to…
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…
India emerged as the leading supplier of refined fuel to Europe, in April 2023, surpassing other countries in the market. Vortexa, an energy cargo tracking system, reported that India exported approximately 406 thousand barrels per day (kbd) of refined fuel to European nations during that month, The New Indian Express…
Top diplomats representing BRICS countries expressed openness to welcoming new members into the group during discussions held in South Africa on Thursday (01). The bloc aims to strengthen its influence in the international arena and seeks a broader representation to amplify its voice. Foreign ministers from the five-nation grouping of…
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…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is scheduled to engage in discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden, next week, focusing on enhancing economic relations and exploring avenues to provide ongoing military assistance to Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia. During his visit to Washington on Wednesday and Thursday, Sunak will hold meetings…
Boris Johnson has been referred to police over further potential breaches of lockdown rules during the Covid-19 pandemic, a charge the former prime minister's office portrayed as "yet another politically motivated stitch up". The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for overseeing the operation of government, said it had made a…
Bangladesh is struggling to pay for imported fuel because of a dollar shortage, letters from the state petroleum firm show, with it warning of an “alarming decrease” in fuel reserves. It owes more than $300 million to six overseas companies, some of which have either sent fewer cargoes than scheduled…
When Srichand Hinduja first told me that the Indian filmmaker and star, Raj Kapoor, had been a special friend, I was initially a little dubious, but I should have known better, writes Amit Roy. SP’s staff in Bombay (now Mumbai) dug up a black and white photograph of the legendary…
UK regulators took action to reduce the cap on domestic energy bills on Thursday (25), aiming to alleviate the cost-of-living challenges faced by consumers. This decision came shortly after data revealed a slowdown in heightened inflation. Ofgem, the regulatory body, announced that starting from July, the maximum amount suppliers can…
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,…
Rishi Sunak stressed that China presents the foremost challenge to worldwide security and prosperity, but has cautioned against complete disengagement from the leading economy. Sunak made these remarks on Sunday (21) following a summit of the Group of Seven (G7) nations in Hiroshima, Japan. "China poses the biggest challenge of…
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (20) met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak, Indonesian president Joko Widodo and UN chief Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Modi and Sunak shared a warm hug and the British prime minister shared the picture on his Twitter…
US President Joe Biden aims to speak this weekend with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Ukraine and the "sacrosanct" issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday (20). Lula and Modi are attending a…
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,…
Britain unveiled new sanctions against Russia on Friday (19), targeting imports of diamonds and other minerals in a bid to choke Moscow's ability to fund the war in Ukraine. Before a G7 summit in Japan began, London said it would introduce "a ban on Russian diamonds", copper, aluminium and nickel,…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to sign a historic "Hiroshima Accord" on Thursday (18) when he meets with Japan's prime minister Fumio Kishida ahead of a G7 meeting, to step up defence cooperation with Japan, according to a statement from the UK government. As part of the accord, the…
Sundaram Tagore, one of America’s most important art dealers, last week opened a new gallery in London to add to the ones he already owns in New York and Singapore. The “Sundaram Tagore Gallery” in Cromwell Place in South Kensington attracted hundreds of art lovers and collectors at its formal…
India and the EU vowed on Tuesday (16) to boost trade ties and tackle thorny issues through dialogue, after they risked overshadowing a significant meeting between the two sides in Brussels. The European Union held its first-ever trade and technology council with Indian foreign, trade and communications ministers as they…
Britain's departure from the European Union has not been a failure, prime minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said on Tuesday (16), rebuffing criticism from prominent eurosceptic politicians about how Brexit had been implemented. Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who helped force a Brexit referendum in 2016 and successfully campaigned to leave…
Sweden has won the 67th Eurovision song contest. The Swedish singer-songwriter Loreen was named the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 for her pop ballad “Tattoo,” She beat out 25 other nations at the event’s final on Saturday night and created Eurovision history by becoming the second person in…
India's growth path lies in building on its culture of tolerance and respect for all, former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said on Friday (12). He said India has the potential to take a leadership role in the services industry and strengthening the country's liberal democratic values was…
Facing a deep economic crisis, Pakistan has started to buy Russian oil, but the country’s petroleum minister said the future lies in diversified, especially green, energy. Minister Musadik Malik visited the US for talks with corporations as well as with the government, with Washington leading global efforts to choke off…
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…
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…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for France's Bastille Day military parade on July 14, the two countries said in a joint statement Friday (5). Following in the footsteps of other world leaders wooed by Macron such as former US president Donald Trump, the…
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…
To say that Zanjeer is one of the most important Hindi films in history is a major understatement. Apart from introducing a new style of filmmaking, and giving rise to the angry young man, the crime drama started Amitabh Bachchan’s remarkable rise towards becoming the greatest Indian cinema hero in…
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…
Pakistan's ruling coalition has dismissed former prime minister Imran Khan’s demand to dissolve the National Assembly by May 14 as "impracticable". Ahead of the third round of talks between the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N)-led federal coalition and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party scheduled for Tuesday (2), the government told…
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…
Popstar Mae Muller, who is representing the UK in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, recently met UK Junior Eurovision star Freya Skye. Skye visited Muller to interview her and get some exclusive updates on her show. Muller said she wanted her performance to “feel like a party”. She, however, chose…
Mohammed Shahabuddin, a former judge and a ruling party official, was sworn in as the president of Bangladesh on Monday (24), just months before a general election. Shahabuddin, 73, was an anti-corruption commissioner and fought in the country's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan, the presidential palace said. "He was…
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…
Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will participate in the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) meeting in India next month. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch said in Islamabad on Thursday (20): “…Zardari will be leading the Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) being held on May…
Pakistan has placed its first order for discounted Russian crude oil under a new deal struck between Islamabad and Moscow, the country's petroleum minister said, with one cargo to dock at Karachi port in May. Pakistan's purchase gives Russia a new outlet for its crude, adding to Moscow's growing sales…
Chelsea's American owners witnessed their first season's last hope for any success crumble as their club, which they had acquired in a deal worth £4.25 billion ($5.28bn) last year, was eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid. Chelsea is currently struggling in the unfamiliar lower half of the Premier…
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…
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…
Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been granted interim bail until May 4 by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore. The bail is related to three cases involving violent clashes between Khan's supporters and the police during an operation to arrest the former prime minister in the…
IN THE first half of the 20th century, Indian immigrants to Africa were often locked into a rigid racial hierarchy. They were conferred benefits not available to local black Africans but held back by their own colours from enjoying the wealth of opportunities enjoyed by the white population. With her…
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…
Britain is spending almost a third of its overseas aid budget on supporting refugees and asylum seekers inside the UK, according to official figures published on Wednesday (5). The new figures provoked dismay from charities and the country's independent aid watchdog. Nearly £3.7 billion was spent internally on supporting refugees…
British boxers will not participate in the men's amateur world championships in Tashkent, the country also boycotted the women's event in India last month. There are growing concerns about the sport's future in the Olympics. The men's tournament, which is scheduled to take place from April 30 to May 14…
According to a senior official from the Wildlife department, the wetlands of Kashmir were visited by a record-breaking 13 to 14 lakh birds from Eastern Europe and Central Asia this winter. The wildlife department conducted a census, which revealed the notable rise in bird arrivals, attributed to the efforts made…
The Kochi Muziris Biennale 2022-2023, a renowned biennial international contemporary art exhibition, spans four months on Fort Kochi Island in Kerala, India. This is the country's largest contemporary art exhibition, occurring biennially in Fort Kochi. The fifth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale which started from December 12, 2022 will run…
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…
Air India chief Campbell Wilson has defended paying Kremlin millions as overflight charges to keep flying over Russia, the Telegraph reported. He added that the airline was open to flying over Russia to UK and US destinations as it was 'economical'. Prior to the pandemic, Russia generated £1.3 billion from…
On Wednesday (29), Russian energy corporation Rosneft declared a new agreement to increase oil sales to India, as the country seeks alternative buyers amidst tensions with the West over the Ukraine conflict. Following Russia's military deployment to Ukraine in February of last year, the nation's share of the European market…
India displayed its indigenous helicopters, drones, and artillery to army chiefs and officials from 31 African nations in a bid to become a significant arms exporter. Being the largest arms importer globally, India has invested significantly into its defense sector to reduce its reliance on imports, especially from Russia, as…
Russia and India are looking at expanding the use of the Northern Sea shipping route that passes through the Artic and which could include the building of processing facilities, Russia's Interfax agency reported on Wednesday (29). Alexei Chekunkov, Russia's minister for the development of the Far East and the Arctic,…
Sales of Russian oil to India increased by more than twenty times last year, Russian deputy prime minister said on Tuesday (28). This growth in sales occurred because European buyers looked for other markets following the conflict in Ukraine and Russia redirected its oil exports to India and China, Alexander…
On Sunday (26), Narendra Modi praised the successful launch of 36 internet satellites owned by UK-based OneWeb Group into their intended orbits by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO's) Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), the heaviest rocket. Modi highlighted that this accomplishment further solidifies India's position as a leading global commercial launch…
A prominent Indian metals company's containers bound for Russia have been stuck at the port of Antwerp for more than a year. Jindal Stainless Ltd said its five containers carrying about 100 tonnes of stainless steel have been unable to enter the European Union because of sanctions imposed on Russia.…
US vice president Kamala Harris will embark on a tour of three African countries -Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, this weekend. During the visit, she will promote the White House's positive view of Africa as the "future of the world." The tour is a part of the Biden administration's efforts to…
The Bank of England joined Norway and Switzerland in hiking interest rates on Thursday (23) as inflation remains elevated, though banking-sector turmoil could soon lead to a pause in US tightening as hinted by the Federal Reserve. A day after the Fed lifted US borrowing costs by 25 basis points,…
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…
Bharti Enterprise-backed OneWeb is one step away from completing its constellation of 600 low earth orbit satellites, paving the way for the provision of broadband internet services from space to every corner of the world, the company said. OneWeb, in collaboration with the UK government, Bharti Enterprises, Eutelsat, SoftBank, Hughes…
The Booker Prize Foundation on Tuesday (21) announced that Indian author Perumal Murugan’s Tamil novel Pyre is among 13 books from across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America to make it to the longlist of the International Booker Prize 2023. Murugan’s Pyre was published in 2016 and translated into English…
Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar expressed concerns on Saturday (18) that the situation in the western Himalayan region of Ladakh between India and China is fragile and dangerous, with military forces situated in close proximity in certain areas. In mid-2020, there were clashes in the region that led to the…
The International Criminal Court on Friday announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. Moscow dismissed the orders as "void." Russia is not a party to the ICC so it was unclear if or how Putin could ever end…
Flour millers' industry body has suggested that India extend a ban on wheat exports that has been in place since last year to help ensure lower domestic prices and adequate stocks for consumers. Exports of the grain from India, the world's second largest producer, increased after Russia's invasion of Ukraine…
Russia is not reaping the benefits of higher costs of some recent cargoes of crude oil bought by refiners in India priced above the price cap set by countries in the West and Australia, a US official said on Thursday (16). Some cargoes of low sulphur, or sweet, crude oil…
Oneweb has largely given up on trying to retrieve satellites worth $50 million in a dispute related to the Ukraine conflict, the Bharti Enterprises-backed satellite operator's chief executive said. The company will launch from India the final batch of satellites needed to complete its global network on March 26 and…
The women's world boxing championship commenced in India on Thursday (16), but the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their respective flags led to the boycott by several nations. Following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year, many international sports federations have banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing. Some…
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…
The chancellor of exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, announced on Wednesday (15) a plan that he hopes will speed up the UK’s stagnating economy, including childcare and pension reforms to get more people into work and corporate tax breaks to boost weak business investment. Saying the world's sixth-biggest economy was now set…
Britain's economy is set to avoid a recession in 2023, chancellor of exchequer Jeremy Hunt said on Wednesday (15) as he began a budget speech that was expected to include measures to speed up economic growth. Britain's economy had previously been seen contracting by 1.4 per cent this year under…
INDIA has shown the world there is “something special” about its films, acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur told Eastern Eye, as the country celebrated a rare and historic double triumph at the Academy Awards last Sunday (12). Foot-tapping Telugu chart-buster Naatu Naatu beat the likes of superstars Rihanna and Lady Gaga…
A former Home Office adviser has branded home secretary Suella Braverman's migration policy as 'racist', adding that it will make the Tories seem 'cruel and heartless'. Nimco Ali, a one-time campaigner for the Tories who left her job as a government adviser in December last year, told the Guardian that…
India remained the world's top arms importer, but its imports declined by 11 per cent between 2013-17 and 2018-22, according to a Stockholm-based defence think tank. The decline was linked to a complex procurement process, efforts to diversify arms suppliers and attempts to replace imports with local designs, a Stockholm…
Muslim judges are more likely to give lenient decisions while fasting during Ramadan, a study has said, contrasting to previous research suggesting that judges who have not eaten give harsher rulings. In what has been dubbed "the hungry judge effect", a 2011 study found that judges in Israel were more…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and French president Emmanuel Macron on Friday (10) agreed a new pact to stop illegal cross-Channel migration after a summit in Paris aimed at overcoming years of Brexit tensions. Both leaders hailed a new start in relations between the two neighbours, after intense talks in Paris…
Xi Jinping has made history by securing a third term as China's president, cementing his status as the longest-serving head of state in the communist nation's history. The 69-year-old leader was the sole contender for the post and was unanimously re-elected by the 3000-member parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC)…
The US intel community suggests Russia is unlikely to seek direct military conflict with US and NATO, but the potential exists. This was stated in the Annual Threat Assessment report of the intelligence community issued on Wednesday, (08). The report states Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is reshaping its…
THE British debate on refugees is leading a strange double life. The government’s policy on asylum is getting ever tougher after a year when more people played an active part in welcoming refugees to Britain than ever before. It sounds like Groundhog Day in parliament when it comes to asylum. “Anyone…
On Sunday (05), the Indian Navy accomplished a prosperous trial launch of the ship-based model of the BrahMos supersonic missile in the Arabian Sea, as per authorities. They further stated that the missile utilised in the experiment featured an indigenous "seeker and booster". "The Indian Navy carried out a successful…
HOURS after Pakistan's media regulator banned broadcasts of ousted prime minister Imran Khan's speeches, the private ARY TV news channel was taken off air on Monday (6) for airing his address a day earlier. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Sunday (5) night banned satellite television channels from…
CHINESE foreign minister Qin Gang on Tuesday (7) slammed the US' Indo-Pacific policy, saying that it tries to 'encircle' China with a regional version of NATO by building 'exclusive blocs' and is certain to fail. China has been criticising the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US since its start as well…
RUSSIA is working on easing visa procedures for six countries, including India, Syria and Indonesia, the state TASS news agency cited deputy foreign minister Evgeny Ivanov as saying on Sunday (5). "In addition to India (procedures simplification) ... is being worked out with Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria and Philippines," Ivanov…
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…
On Friday (03), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that permitting Russia to continue its actions in Ukraine would send a message to aggressors worldwide. "If we allow Russia to do what it is doing in Ukraine then that's a message to the aggressors everywhere that they may be…
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (01) held wide-ranging discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on bilateral cooperation, the Ukraine conflict and issues relating to G-20. The Russian Foreign Minister landed in the national capital on Tuesday night to attend a two-day meeting of the G20 foreign ministers…
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…
INDIA imposed by far the highest number of internet shutdowns in the world in 2022, internet advocacy watchdog Access Now has said, as the country topped the list for the fifth successive year. Out of 187 internet shutdowns globally recorded by Access Now, 84 took place in India, including 49…
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…
INDIA's economic growth slowed further in the December quarter as pent up demand eased and weakness in the manufacturing sector continued. Asia's third largest economy recorded year-on-year growth of 4.4 per cent in October-December, down from 6.3 per cent in July-September, data released by the government on Tuesday (28) showed.…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has vowed to cut foreign aid for countries like China, Pakistan and Iraq which “hate” America, if she is voted to power. The 51-year-old two-term governor of South Carolina and the former US ambassador to the United Nations formally launched her 2024 presidential bid…
GERMAN chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday (25) that he and India's prime minister Narendra Modi were committed to sealing a free trade deal between India and the European Union (EU). "It's an important topic and I'll get personally involved," Scholz said after his meeting with Modi in New Delhi.…
INDIA 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,…
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…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Friday (24) announced funding for up to 600 new homes in London for people from Ukraine and Afghanistan who have fled conflicts in their respective countries and are either homeless, at risk of being homeless or living in temporary and unsuitable accommodation, a press release…
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…
AN Indian boy, Milan Paul Kumar, has embarked on a journey to Krakow, Poland, to support Ukrainian children who have been affected by the war. Milan, 10, who is a recipient of the Diana Award 2022 and 2022 #iwill Ambassador for social and humanitarian action, previously raised funds for the…
CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt on Thursday (23) reached Bengaluru in India at take part in the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting scheduled for Friday (24) and Saturday (25) and bilateral talks with the host nation to enhance the UK-India economic partnership. In what is his first foreign visit…
US TREASURY secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday (23) sought more financial support to Ukraine to fight invasion by Russian troops which started a year ago as the US gears up for an additional $10 billion in economic aid in the coming weeks. However, her words on the conflict uttered in…
INDIAN-AMERICAN tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has launched his 2024 presidential bid, becoming the second community member to enter the Republican Party's presidential primary after Nikki Haley. Ramaswamy, 37, whose parents migrated to the US from Kerala and worked at a General Electric plant in Ohio, announced his presidential bid on…
Pope Francis, speaking two days before the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on Wednesday (22) called for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, saying no victory could be "built on ruins". Francis, who has appealed for an end to violence in Ukraine at nearly every public appearance since Russia's…
ASYLUM applications in the EU jumped last year after Covid travel curbs were lifted, surging 50 percent over 2021 to the highest level since a 2016 influx of refugees. The preliminary data, from the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), showed there were nearly one million asylum claims lodged in 2022…
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…
INDIA'S imports of Russian steel rose to an eight-year high during the first 10 months of the financial year that began in April 2022, government data showed. India, the world's second-largest crude steel producer, imported 281,000 tonnes of steel from Russia between April and January, nearly five times higher than…
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…
German chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to pay a state visit to India on February 25 and 26, his first trip to the country more than a year after he took charge of the top post in December 2021. Announcing the German chancellor's visit, the Indian ministry of external affairs…
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has said General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had asked him to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine soon after his return from Moscow, Geo News reported. Khan was quoted in the report as saying, "I talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin about procurement of…
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…
Actor Saif Ali Khan will star in the Hindi adaptation of Danish/Swedish drama "Bron/Broen" (The Bridge), which he will jointly produce with Endemol Shine India via his Black Knight Films banner. It would be the eighth adaptation for the show after its success in the US/Mexico, the UK/France, Germany/Austria, Singapore/Malaysia…
Former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley on Tuesday (14) kicked off her campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, a tough challenge as her former boss Donald Trump holds a strong lead in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. "I'm Nikki Haley and I'm running for president," Haley said in…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has thanked councils and housing associations of the capital for delivering an increase in affordable housing starts, an unprecedented range of economic challenges notwithstanding. According to new figures from City Hall released on Monday (13), 3,698 homes funded through the mayor’s Affordable Homes Programme were started…
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…
Britain's economy avoided recession after flatlining in the last three months of 2022, but finance minister Jeremy Hunt warned Friday it was "not out of the woods yet" over surging inflation. Gross domestic product registered zero growth in the fourth quarter, in line with expectations after shrinking 0.3 percent in…
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday expressed concern over persistent high inflation even if the rate of price increases shows signs of cooling. The remarks to a cross-party committee of MPs boosted the pound on raised expectations of more hikes to British interest rates, analysts said. Bailey spoke…
US First lady Jill Biden kissed Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff 'on the lips' ahead of the State of the Union Address on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Fox News reported. On Tuesday night at the national Capitol, President Biden delivered his second State of the Union address, the…
Indian American Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna and his Republican House colleague Mike Waltz have been chosen as co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans in the 118th Congress. India Caucus is the largest country-specific bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in the House of Representatives that is committed to…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep anguish at the deaths and devastation caused by the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. The most powerful earthquake in nearly a century struck Turkey and Syria early Monday, killing over 1,400 people in their sleep, levelling buildings and causing tremors felt…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pegged as the world's most popular leader with an approval rating of 78 per cent as per a survey by a US-based consulting firm 'Morning Consult.'As per the rating PM Modi's ratings trump those of other leaders including US President Joe Biden, French President…
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…
Rishi Sunak marked his 100th day in office as the first non-white British Prime Minister on Thursday with a slick new video for social media pledging to deliver change, amidst multiple challenges, including spiralling inflation. The UK's first Indian-origin Prime Minister took charge at 10 Downing Street a day after…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved loans of $4.7 billion to Bangladesh for disbursal starting immediately, making it the first to secure such funds out of three South Asian countries that applied last year amid economic trouble. The loans are a win for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of…
A Sri Lankan migrant worker who learned how to coach soccer in Qatar is planning to return to his country to teach the sport at grassroots level as part of the country’s World Cup legacy. Inamul Hasan Najeem, 31, left his family seven years ago to work as a catering…
Russia has accused the BBC of "waging an information war" on different fronts - not only against Moscow, but also against other global centres of power pursuing an independent policy, days after the British broadcaster released a controversial series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova…
The Kremlin on Monday dismissed as a "lie" accusations from former British prime minister Boris Johnson that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally threatened him with a missile attack. "What Mr Johnson said is not true. More precisely it's a lie," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Moreover, this is either…
India has invited Pakistan's foreign minister to a meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) that it is hosting in May, Indian media reported on Wednesday, signalling a possible thaw in relations between the nuclear-armed rivals. The invitation came days after Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif called for talks with…
DOWNING STREET had a make-over last week. There were hanging lanterns in the staircases alongside the portraits of former prime ministers. Cherry blossom and auspicious orchids decorated the reception rooms. Rishi Sunak was celebrating Lunar New Year, noting that the year of the rabbit’s traditional association with peace and prosperity…
Protests in Stockholm on Saturday against Turkey and Sweden's bid to join NATO, including the burning of a copy of the Koran, sharply heightened tensions with Turkey at a time when the Nordic country needs Ankara's backing to gain entry to the military alliance."We condemn in the strongest possible terms…
There is a need for someone who can bring Ukraine and Russia to the table for talks and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can play a key role in facilitating the negotiations between the two warring neighbours, a veteran French journalist said. However, at this moment it looks "extremely difficult"…