HOME SECRETARY Amber Rudd has sought to reassure faith communities
in Britain following last week’s terror attack in London by insisting the government will continue to monitor hate crimes against minorities.
Writing exclusively in Eastern Eye, Rudd, who last week returned from a visit to Pakistan, addressed the fact that Muslims may be feeling vulnerable to reprisal attacks following the terrorist incident.
She said: “This atrocity has united communities and faiths across the UK, and while I recognise that faith communities might feel vulnerable at this time,
we will not be complacent and will continue to monitor hate crime and ensure
anyone affected has the support and protection they need.”
Attacker Khalid Masood used his rented vehicle to mow down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge last Wednesday (22), before stabbing a police officer to death outside parliament.
Masood, who was shot dead, killed four and left 29 injured; seven are said to be in a critical condition. Rudd joined religious leaders condemning the attack at a meeting at New Scotland Yard last Thursday (23).
She added that powerful shows of solidarity, including the line of Muslim women holding hands across Westminster Bridge last Sunday (26), were ensuring the lone attacker had failed in his mission to spread hate.
During her visit to Pakistan, the home secretary met prime minister Nawaz
Sharif and the interior minister Chaudhry Nisar and discussed how both countries could work together to tackle the shared challenges of security, extremism and illegal migration.
Rudd explained that it was crucial for the UK and Pakistan to cooperate, adding that tackling common threats also involved working with communities and organisations.
Paying tribute to Londoners who continued with their lives after the attack last week, Rudd said it showed terrorists that they would never win.
“We will not allow the detestable actions of one individual to divide us. And we should not allow those actions to change our country’s shared values. It is vital we come together at this difficult time and unite even more strongly,” she added.
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi spoke to British prime minister Theresa May last week as he expressed solidarity and conveyed condolences for victims of the terror attack.
Modi also said that India stood with the UK in the fight against terrorism.
In a tweet, the Indian leader said: “Deeply saddened by the terror attack in London. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
“At this difficult moment, India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism. @theresa_may @Number10Gov (sic),” he added.
In New Delhi, Britain’s high commissioner to India, Dominic Asquith, said counter-terrorism measures were an important part of Britain’s engagement
with India.
“It covers a variety of strands of activity-sharing analysis, policy, intelligence about what’s happening and sharing capability to respond to incidents when they do happen,” Sir Dominic noted.
Police investigating the attack made a new arrest last Sunday (26) as authorities try to piece together the assailant’s motive.
A 30-year-old man was arrested in Birmingham on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, London’s Metropolitan Police said.
A dozen people were arrested since last Wednesday’s attack. Nine people have been released without charge, while a 58-year-old man remains in custody and a 32-year-old woman has been released on bail.
Senior national coordinator for UK counter terrorism policing and deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said Masood’s attack method appeared to be based on low sophistication, low tech and low cost techniques copied from other attacks.
Basu added it echoed the rhetoric of Daesh (Islamic State) leaders in terms of methodology and attacking police and civilians, but at this stage there was no evidence that Masood had discussed this with others.
Daesh issued a brief statement calling Masood one of its soldiers, but offered no details to suggest that their leadership knew of his plans in advance. Masood was born Adrian Russell Ajao in Kent, but changed his name to several aliases.
DAC Basu added that there was no evidence that Masood was radicalised in prison in 2003, as had been suggested.
“Whilst I have found no evidence of an association with IS or Al Qaeda, there is clearly an interest in Jihad. His last criminal offence was in 2003 and he was not a current subject of interest or part of the current domestic or international threat picture for either the security service or counter terrorism policing,” he added.
Basu appealed to the public to come forward with information which may shed light on the motive of Masood, a convert to Islam with a violent criminal past.
A European government source familiar with the investigation said Masood’s name had cropped up about five years ago on the margins of an MI5 counter-terrorism investigation but interest in him had swiftly dissipated.
At the time of the attack, British authorities had “no intelligence about how he got to this point,” the source said, adding that investigators were now rushing to piece together his background and contacts.
Police, meanwhile, erected new barriers around Windsor Castle on Tuesday (28), following a review of security. The new barriers were put in place ahead of the regular “Changing the Guard” ceremony on Wednesday (29), which is popular with tourists, with more than 1.3 million people visiting the castle every year.
Police said the new barriers in Windsor would be in addition to usual road closures. “While there is no intelligence to indicate a specific threat to Windsor, recent events in Westminster clearly highlight the need for extra security measures to be introduced,” said assistant chief constable Dave Hardcastle of Thames Valley Police.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House on Wednesday, a rare meeting that appeared to deepen disagreement with India over Trump’s recent remarks about mediating the India-Pakistan conflict.
This was the first time a US president hosted Pakistan’s army chief at the White House without senior Pakistani civilian officials. Munir is widely regarded as the most influential figure in Pakistan.
Trump said he was honoured to meet Munir and that they discussed Iran, noting that Pakistan had deep knowledge of the country. He also said he had thanked Munir for helping stop the recent conflict with India. Trump said he had praised prime minister Narendra Modi, with whom he had spoken the night before.
“Two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war; that could have been a nuclear war,” Trump told reporters.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s military, the two discussed trade, economic development, and cryptocurrency. They also exchanged views on the situation between Israel and Iran.
“President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests,” the army said.
Pakistani officials and analysts had expected Munir to urge Trump not to engage in Israel’s war with Iran and to seek a ceasefire. A section of Pakistan’s embassy in Washington represents Iran’s interests, as Iran and the US do not have diplomatic ties.
Pakistan has criticised Israeli airstrikes against Iran, calling them a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.
The meeting marked a significant development in US-Pakistan ties, which had seen limited engagement during the administrations of Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden, as both focused on strengthening relations with India.
When asked earlier what he hoped to achieve by meeting Munir, Trump said: “Well, I stopped a war... I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India.
“But I stopped the war between Pakistan and India. This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side, Modi from the India side and others,” Trump added. “They were going at it – and they’re both nuclear countries. I got it stopped.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump hosted Munir after the army chief called for Trump to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in preventing a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan.
Disagreement over mediation
Trump had said last month that India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following US-led talks, claiming the US urged both sides to focus on trade rather than conflict.
However, Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said prime minister Modi told Trump during their recent call that the ceasefire was the result of direct talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries, not US mediation.
Pakistan has thanked the US for a mediating role, while India has repeatedly rejected any third-party involvement. The call between Modi and Trump on Tuesday was their first since the 7–10 May conflict.
“PM Modi told president Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan,” Misri said.
“Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. prime minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do.”
Misri added that Modi and Trump had planned to meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, but Trump left early due to developments in the Middle East.
Trump had asked Modi to visit the US on his return from Canada, Misri said, but the Indian leader declined due to a prior schedule.
Tensions over Kashmir
The conflict was triggered by a 22 April attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people. India blamed terrorists backed by Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies.
Pakistan has said the ceasefire followed a call initiated by the Indian military, which its army returned.
On 7 May, Indian jets targeted what New Delhi described as terrorist infrastructure across the border. This led to four days of strikes involving jets, drones, artillery, and missiles on both sides.
Michael Kugelman of the Asia Pacific Foundation said Trump’s remarks about US involvement in the ceasefire and possible mediation in Kashmir could affect India-US ties.
“For Delhi, it all boils down to an age-old question: How much can it tolerate US-Pakistan cooperation without having it spoil US-India relations — a partnership that’s thrived in recent years despite continued US-Pakistan links,” he said.
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Piyush Goyal (C) and Jonathan Reynolds discuss the UK-India FTA and the bilateral investment treaty in London. (Photo: X/ @INSIGHTUK2)
THE India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) brings "stability and predictability" for businesses in both countries, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday (18).
During a session at the India Global Forum (IGF) UK-India Week titled 'Agreement to Action in the UK-India FTA', the minister shared his optimism around the "good marriage" agreed between both countries, which will lead to doubling bilateral trade in five years.
"A free trade agreement brings stability and predictability to the relationship between two countries," said Goyal.
"That gives confidence to business to start investing in each other's economy and I think this will also pave the way for greater investments in the two economies, add to our trade in goods and services... India and UK can partner in innovation to work together to bring more resilient supply chains, working with each other, complementing each other and adding value and profits to both countries."
Earlier in the day, the minister arrived in London on a two-day visit to discuss with his UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds the next steps towards implementation of the FTA, and explore ways to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
In their first joint public interaction since the FTA negotiations concluded last month, Reynolds said he was "genuinely excited" about the prospects opened up with the FTA.
Reynolds had told the House of Commons last week that the trade deal is estimated to increase bilateral trade in the long run by £20 billion ($25.5bn) every year – from the current annual estimate of £32.3bn ($41bn) – as tariffs are slashed across key sectors on both sides.
"This trade agreement is a huge economic win for the UK — the biggest trade deal since Brexit and the best deal that India has ever offered," Reynolds told Parliament.
On the Indian side, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry highlighted significant positive gains for employment in the country, offering a substantial improvement in competitiveness of Indian goods in the UK vis-à-vis other countries as well as easing mobility for professionals.
The FTA, announced on May 6 with a target to double trade between the two economies to £94.5bn ($120bn) by 2030, is now undergoing a process of legal text formalisation before it can come into force.
"Both leaders will review the progress made in the ongoing FTA negotiations and chart out a clear, time-bound roadmap for its finalisation and implementation," the commerce ministry said in a statement.
During his two-day UK visit, Goyal is also set to hold talks with chancellor Rachel Reeves to discuss macroeconomic priorities, financial cooperation, and investment facilitation between the two countries.
Besides, the minister is scheduled to meet secretary of state for culture, media and sport Lisa Nandy to explore avenues of collaboration in creative industries and innovation-driven sectors.
"These engagements will bring together global business leaders, investors, and policy experts to deliberate on the strategic contours of the India-UK economic corridor and the transformative impact of the proposed FTA," the statement said.
Also, Goyal is expected to interact with leading CEOs and industry stakeholders from key sectors, including shipping, fintech, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, with a view to deepening commercial linkages and promoting cross-border investments.
He is also set to address a session on 'UK-India Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration' at IGF London on Thursday (19).
The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to £16.8bn in 2023-24 from £16.1bn in 2022-23.
(PTI)
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Rabies causes a serious infection of the brain and nervous system in humans
A woman from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has died after contracting rabies following contact with a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.
The agency stated that the woman became infected during her trip to the North African country. There is no documented evidence of rabies spreading between humans, so the wider public is not considered at risk.
Precautionary measures for close contacts
A UKHSA spokesperson said close contacts of the woman, including healthcare professionals involved in her care, are being assessed. Vaccinations are being offered where necessary as a precautionary measure.
Rabies: rare but deadly
Rabies causes a serious infection of the brain and nervous system in humans. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but the UKHSA emphasised that prompt post-exposure treatment is “very effective” in preventing the disease.
The virus is usually transmitted through bites, scratches, or saliva from an infected animal. Dr Katherine Russell from the UKHSA advised: “Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK. If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice without delay.”
Six UK-linked cases since 2000
According to the UKHSA, there have been six cases of human rabies in the UK linked to animal exposure abroad between 2000 and 2024. Rabies is most common in parts of Asia and Africa.
Travellers are advised to avoid contact with animals in affected countries and to consider vaccination before travel, especially when visiting areas where rabies is prevalent.
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Mourners at the funeral of BJP leader Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the Air India crash, in Ahmedabad
AROUND 200 passengers on the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick have been identified, authorities in the Indian state of Gujarat said, as grieving families held the last rites of their loved ones following the crash last Thursday (12).
Hundreds of lives were changed in an instant when the London-bound plane slammed into a residential area of Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board and at least 38 on the ground.
There was one survivor – British national Viswashkumar Ramesh, from Leicester – and he walked out of the aircraft as it burst into flames.
Community members pay their respects outside the home of the sole survivor of the crash
Medical officials at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital said they were working round the clock to identify victims through DNA testing. Rajnish Patel, a doctor at the hospital, said: “This is a meticulous and slow process, so it has to be done meticulously only.”
Dr Rakesh Joshi, the hospital’s medical superintendent, said 163 DNA samples had been matched so far, with 124 bodies handed over to family members from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan and Diu.
Air India’s Catherine West with Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami at India House
One victim’s relative, who did not want to be identified, said they had been instructed not to open the coffin when they receive it.
Authorities ordered inspections of Air India’s entire Dreamliner fleet, while investigators recovered both black boxes from the wreckage – the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said decoding these devices would provide “indepth insight” into what caused the tragedy.
Family members pray beside the bodies of Dilip Patel and his wife Meena Patel, who died in the crash
His comments came as India’s aviation watchdog launched a comprehensive investigation into the crash; the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has asked Air India to provide training records for the pilots and the flight dispatcher.
The regulator has also asked flying schools nationwide to conduct strict compliance checks on training procedures, maintenance protocols and pilot licensing requirements.
A separate memo instructed governmentmanaged airports to carry out full-scale emergency training exercises on June 30.
On Monday (16), an Air India Dreamliner returned to Hong Kong airport “shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue” and underwent safety checks.
In Ahmedabad, families continued their anguished wait for news of their loved ones. The passenger manifest showed 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 12 crew members aboard the illfated flight.
Rinal Christian, whose elder brother was aboard the aircraft, expressed frustration at the delays. “They said it would take 48 hours. But it’s been four days, and we haven’t received any response,” the 23-year-old said. “My brother was the sole breadwinner of the family. So, what happens next?”
Among those identified was Vijay Rupani, a senior member of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former chief minister of Gujarat. His flag-draped coffin was carried by soldiers in Ahmedabad, accompanied by a portrait draped in flower garlands.
Another victim, 24-year-old Kinal Mistry, had postponed her original flight. Crowds gathered for her funeral procession in Anand district, two hours from Ahmedabad. Dozens of workers in yellow hard hats sifted through the wreckage and as debris clearance continued at the scorched crash site, families demanded explanations. Imtiyaz Ali, still awaiting DNA confirmation of his brother’s identity, voiced the feelings of many relatives: “Next step is to find out the reason for this accident. We need to know.”
Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran told staff on Monday (16) the incident should serve as “a catalyst to build a safer airline.” During a staff meeting, Chandrasekaran, 62, said, “I’ve seen a reasonable number of crises in my career, but this is the most heartbreaking one.
A police officer stands before the wreckage of the Air India aircraft
“We need to use this incident as an act of force to build a safer airline.
“We need to wait for the investigation. It’s a complex machine, so a lot of redundancies, checks and balances, certifications, which have been perfected over years and years. Yet this happens, so we will figure out why it happens after the investigation.” India’s prime minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy as “heartbreaking beyond words”, while UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer called the scenes from the crash “devastating”.
King Charles and Queen Camilla said they were “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad.”
Both Air India and Boeing face fresh challenges following the crash. The Tata Group, which purchased the airline in 2022, has been working to overhaul its operations and safety standards.
Boeing faces renewed scrutiny following a series of safety and production crises. Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, visited Air India’s headquarters near New Delhi to discuss the incident with airline officials.
Across Britain, local communities came together in mourning as vigils and prayers were held in places of worship and town halls. At a Hindu temple in Harrow last Saturday (14), dozens of community members gathered for prayers, with leaders from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Zoroastrian and other faiths offering tributes.
Many attendees had personal connections to victims aboard the Londonbound flight. The head of the Siddhashram Hindu temple, Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who is from Gujarat, likened families’ grief to “waiting and waiting” for loved ones who “are not going to come back again.”
“Some of the members... I have spoken to them, and they don’t have the words,” Guruji said. “They are in shock.”
Among those mourning was Jyotsna Shukla, 66, whose son’s childhood friend died alongside his wife and three children. “I feel very bad because he was so young,” she said before breaking into tears.
Harrow mayor Anjana Patel, who lost a family member in the disaster, reflected on the tragedy’s impact.
“We believe that everyone who is born has to go one day. But I hope nobody goes the way these passengers, as well as the medical students, have gone,” she said, announcing grief counselling services for affected families.
On Monday evening, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner joined a multifaith memorial service at the High Commission of India in central London, stressing the bonds between Britain and India during times of crisis.
“What struck me over the last few days is that the UK and India may be two countries separated by a vast distance, but in the ways that really count we are so very, very close,” Rayner told the gathering. “We mark our bond today in a simple and profound way. We grieve together.” India’s High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, expressed gratitude for British support during this period of “profound grief and abiding shock.”
He noted how the tragedy demonstrated “the suddenness with which life could be extinguished,” affecting not just the 271 victims, but also families and friends.
Monday’s commemorative event coincided with a House of Commons debate on the crash, where foreign office minister Hamish Falconer updated Parliament on assistance efforts for affected British nationals. “With an Indian diaspora about two million strong here in Britain, and with a particularly prominent Gujarati community, we feel the pain of this tragedy together,” Falconer said, acknowledging the “pain and frustration” of families unable to lay loved ones to rest due to ongoing identification processes.
Conservative MP and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel called it “a dark, sad and traumatic day for India, the UK and all those affected.” British investigators have joined the accident investigation team in India, with Falconer confirming that UK consular staff and family liaison officers are supporting British nationals through the traumatic identification process in Gujarat hospitals.
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Security personnel stand beside a poster of Pakistani Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, during a rally to express solidarity with Pakistan's armed forces, in Islamabad on May 14, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump will host Pakistan army chief Asim Munir for lunch at the White House on Wednesday.
“The president has lunch with the chief of army staff of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” an advisory issued by the White House said.
The lunch is scheduled for 1 pm (local time) in the Cabinet Room of the White House.
Trump had returned to Washington on Tuesday morning, cutting short his visit to Kananaskis, Canada, where the G7 leaders' summit is being held, due to growing tensions in the Middle East following the latest Israel-Iran conflict.
Officials in Islamabad are projecting the White House invitation to Munir as a major diplomatic success, according to Dawn.
Munir's remarks on India, Pahalgam attack
Field Marshal Munir, who was promoted to Pakistan's rare five-star rank last month — the first such promotion since Ayub Khan in 1959 — urged India to engage with Pakistan “as a civilised nation” instead of “attempting to impose regional hegemony”, Dawn reported.
Addressing members of the Pakistani American community on Monday evening, Munir rejected claims that Pakistan was behind the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
He accused India of trying to establish a dangerous “new normal” of "violating international borders", which he said Pakistan had “forcefully rejected”, according to the newspaper.
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam attack, following which India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7.
The four-day-long military actions from both sides ended after talks between the directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan on May 10, during which both agreed to halt further escalation.
Engagement with Pakistani American community
Munir’s interaction with the Pakistani American community was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington’s Georgetown area. The event reportedly drew a large gathering.
Protesters affiliated with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former prime minister Imran Khan, demonstrated outside the venue, demanding democratic reforms and the release of jailed PTI leaders.
Remarks on Israel-Iran war and US counterterrorism partnership
Speaking on the broader regional situation, Munir expressed Pakistan’s “clear and strong” support for Iran in its conflict with Israel, while also backing US efforts to de-escalate the crisis.
“We want this war to end immediately,” he said.
A key development during Munir's visit has been the strengthening of Pakistan's counterterrorism partnership with the US, particularly in operations targeting the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group, Dawn reported.
Praise from US Central Command
Gen Michael Kurilla, chief of US Central Command, recently called Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in the fight against IS-K, highlighting operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Kurilla told the House Armed Services Committee that Pakistani operations, aided by US intelligence, had resulted in the deaths of dozens of IS-K militants and the capture of several high-value individuals, including Mohammad Sharifullah, who was one of the masterminds of the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul that killed 13 American soldiers.
“The first person Munir called was me,” Gen Kurilla said. “He said, ‘I've caught him — ready to extradite him back to the US. Please tell the secretary of defence and the president’.” Sharifullah was quickly extradited.
In a separate statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kurilla said Pakistan had carried out “dozens of operations” against IS-K and continued to play an important role in combating terrorism in Central and South Asia.