YOUNG Asian children who face family pressure and subsequently are forced to marry strangers from the subcontinent could be vulnerable to committing suicide, charities have warned.
Findings by the NSPCC have shown a 12 per cent rise in calls concerning forced marriage, compared to last year.
Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom Charity, which aims to prevent forced marriage and dishonour against young people, said it was vital to help those who are pressured into marrying because of parental compulsion.
“Young Asian girls are three times more likely than any other group to commit suicide between the age of 16 and 24,” Prem told Eastern Eye on Tuesday (1).
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) reported that girls as young as 13 have been using their counselling services to report incidents of being forced into marriage.
There were 205 calls to the Childline helpline for counselling services regarding forced marriage in 2016/17, whereas in 2011/12, only 55 calls were recorded. In 2016/17, there were 6,099 visits to the online Childline forced marriage page.
NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: “No child should be forced into marriage and we must be clear that, regardless of cultural expectations, this is a crime and an abuse of human rights.
“Forcing a child to marry shows a complete lack of regard for their feelings, thoughts or ambitions.”
One 17-year-old girl described her ordeal of being forced to marry to counsellors at the NSPCC, saying “[she] never wanted any of this.”
“My friends are being supportive, but I can’t talk to my mum about it as she thinks he’s the best thing for me and told me that if I end the marriage she won’t speak to me ever again. I’ve never even met him.”
Another girl, aged 18, told Childline that her parents got violent with her when she doesn’t do what they want her to do. “My parents are talking about taking me back to my home country to get married, but I don’t want to. I want to leave home but they’d never agree to it. I just want to live a normal teenage life, but they won’t let me,” the teenager said.
Other young victims reportedly told counsellors that their families pressured them into marriage, as it would bring “shame and dishonour” on them if they did not comply with their wishes. Some also had concerns that relatives would be punished if they reached out for support.
It is this sort of pressure from families that can lead to depression and risk of suicide, charities and campaigners have cautioned.
With the school holidays underway, there is additional concern that children are more likely to be at risk of forced marriage, as families plan vacations in south Asia – some with the intention of getting the children married.
“In some instances children may have been told that they are going on a normal holiday and do not realise that they are heading to their wedding day with a complete stranger. Once they are abroad they may find themselves isolated and find it difficult to raise the alarm and halt the marriage,” the NSPCC reported.
Freedom Charity founder Prem said “I think the key thing is knowing that if someone has gone missing this summer, then you have to say something because the likelihood of them not coming back is extreme. If they haven’t consented to it, then you’re subjecting a young person to a life of abuse.”
Children who have been forced into marriage could experience trauma because they are trapped in a loveless marriage, having lost their childhood and also being exposed to physical and sexual abuse.
The rise in calls to the confidential helpline may be due to potential victims becoming more aware of the practice and what kind of help is available to them.
Organisations such as Freedom Charity work with a large number of young people within schools, colleges and university to raise awareness of the dangers concerning the issue.
Freedom Charity have also launched the Freedom Charity App, which can aid users in finding ways to speak to counsellors who can give them advice and offer help.
Prem, who also works as an author, said that part of the reason why she set up the charity was due to a young Asian girl that she knew who committed suicide after being forced into marriage.
“That was one of things when I was setting up the charity - I hadn’t really put into my consciousness why, but it had obviously affected me.”
The campaigner has urged anyone who is worried about a friend or relative who is potentially being forced into marriage to speak up. She also warned that if someone has discussed being depressed or wanting to kill themselves, this is a key warning sign and should be taken seriously.
“You have to do something because you can’t wait – someone could do this at any time. It isn’t a cry for help, it is a cry of someone who is absolutely terrified of being forced into a marriage,” she added.
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act made it a criminal offence to force someone to marry in 2014. Since 31 December 2016, figures show that only one conviction has been carried out regarding forced marriage.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said: “Forced marriage is an abhorrent practice that this Government is determined to tackle. We know this is a hidden crime and we are encouraged that more victims are coming forward.
“We made forced marriage a criminal offence in 2014 and are encouraged by the first conviction, but we know there is much more to do. We will continue to work with the police, Crown Prosecution Service and others to drive progress.”
In 2016, the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) reported that they gave advice and support in 1,428 cases that were linked to a possible forced marriage. Of these, 26 per cent of the victims were below 18 years of age, whilst 34 per cent involved victims aged between 18-25.
Earlier this year, lifelong anonymity was introduced to victims to help encourage more to come forward and report this type of crime.
Anyone who is worried about a child who could be a potential victim of forced marriage can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
For more information about the Freedom Charity, access their website at https://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/
Demonstrators gather at the entrance of the parliament during a protest against corruption and government’s decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal September 8, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
Thousands of young Nepalis march in Kathmandu against social media ban and corruption
Government blocks 26 unregistered platforms, citing fake news and fraud concerns
Police use tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse protesters
Critics accuse government of authoritarianism and failure to deliver on promises
THOUSANDS of young Nepalis marched in Kathmandu on Monday demanding that the government lift its ban on social media platforms and address corruption.
Nepal blocked access to 26 unregistered platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X, on Friday. Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in the country who rely on them for entertainment, news, and business. Authorities said the shutdown followed a Supreme Court order from September last year, which required companies to register in Nepal, appoint grievance officers, and establish local compliance.
The government said social media users with fake IDs had been spreading hate speech, fake news, and committing fraud. In a statement on Sunday, it said it respected freedom of thought and expression and was committed to "creating an environment for their protection and unfettered use".
Many demonstrators carried national flags and placards reading "Shut down corruption and not social media", "Unban social media", and "Youths against corruption". They began their rally with the national anthem before marching through the city.
"We were triggered by the social media ban but that is not the only reason we are gathered here," said student Yujan Rajbhandari, 24. "We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalised in Nepal."
Another student, Ikshama Tumrok, 20, said she opposed the "authoritarian attitude" of the government. "We want to see change. Others have endured this, but it has to end with our generation," she said.
Protester Bhumika Bharati added: "There have been movements abroad against corruption and they (the government) are afraid that might happen here as well."
Since the ban, TikTok — still operational in Nepal — has carried viral videos comparing the lives of ordinary citizens with those of politicians’ children showing off luxury goods and vacations.
On Monday, thousands of youths, including students in school uniforms, tried to march to parliament but were stopped by police who had set up barbed wire barricades. Authorities said demonstrators attempted to break into parliament by pushing through police lines.
Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons and batons to disperse the crowds, officials said. "We have imposed a curfew which will remain in force until 10 pm local time (1615 GMT) to bring the situation under control after protesters began to turn violent," said Muktiram Rijal, spokesperson for the Kathmandu district office.
Nepal has restricted social media platforms before. The Telegram messaging app was blocked in July over fraud and money laundering concerns, and TikTok was banned for nine months before being restored in August last year when it complied with local rules.
Many Nepalis believe corruption is widespread, and prime minister KP Sharma Oli’s government has been criticised by opponents for failing to deliver on its promises. About 90 per cent of Nepal’s 30 million people use the internet.
The protests come as governments worldwide, including the US, EU, Brazil, India, China and Australia, have been tightening oversight of social media and Big Tech, citing concerns over misinformation, privacy, online harm and security. Critics warn that such measures risk limiting free expression, while regulators argue that stricter controls are needed.
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People try to board a migrant dinghy into the English Channel on August 25, 2025 in Gravelines, France. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE UK government said on Sunday it is examining the use of military sites to house migrants, amid growing criticism over the practice of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military use sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats," defence secretary John Healey told Sky News.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement that migrants using boats to cross the Channel from France was "utterly unacceptable".
According to figures published Sunday by the Home Office, more than 30,000 people have arrived in Britain by boat since the start of the year.
Mahmood also said a new deal with France, which came into effect in early August, would allow Britain to detain those arriving by boat and return them to France.
The arrangement requires Britain to accept an equal number of eligible migrants from France.
Some hotels currently used to house migrants have seen protests, and the government is also facing legal challenges. By law, asylum seekers must be provided with accommodation and access to health care.
Prime minister Keir Starmer has pledged to end the use of hotels within four years. The government has already reduced the number of hotel places by half compared to a year ago.
The previous Conservative government had already prepared two disused military bases to house several hundred asylum seekers, a measure criticised by migrant-aid groups.
(With inputs from agencies)
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London Underground services will not resume before 8am on Friday September 12. (Photo: Getty Images)
First London Underground strike since March 2023 begins
RMT members stage five-day walkout after pay talks collapse
Union demands 32-hour week; TfL offers 3.4 per cent rise
Elizabeth line and Overground to run but face heavy demand
THE FIRST London Underground strike since March 2023 has begun, with a five-day walkout over pay and conditions.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are staging rolling strikes after nine months of negotiations failed.
The union has demanded a 32-hour week, while Transport for London (TfL) has offered a 3.4 per cent pay rise.
TfL said the offer was “fair” but added that a reduction from the contractual 35-hour week “is neither practical nor affordable,” BBC reported.
The strike runs from midnight on Sunday 7 September until 11.59pm on Thursday 11 September. London Underground services will not resume before 8am on Friday 12 September.
Nick Dent, director of customer operations at London Underground, said it was not too late to call off the strikes before disruption.
The Elizabeth line and London Overground will run as normal but are expected to be much busier. Buses and roads are also likely to see heavier demand.
A separate dispute will shut the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 September.
Service plans include: limited Tube operations ending early on Sunday 7 September; little or no service on the Underground from Monday to Thursday; and full resumption by late morning on Friday 12 September. The Elizabeth line will not stop at Liverpool Street, Farringdon and Tottenham Court Road stations at certain times on 8–11 September, Sky News reported.
The last full Tube strike took place in March 2023.
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Mumbai Local has been stripped of its licence by Harrow council. (Photo: LDRS/Google Maps)
AN INDIAN restaurant in north London has lost its licence after it was found to have repeatedly employed illegal workers.
Harrow council determined that the evidence suggested that using illegal workers was a “systemic approach” to running the premises and it had a “lack of trust” in the business to comply with the law.
Harrow council’s Licensing Panel chose to strip Mumbai Local, an Indian restaurant on Streatfield Road, of its licence at a meeting on August 20, the outcome of which has now been made public.
The review came after Immigration Officers found people working there illegally on three separate visits dating back to 2023.
The panel found that the restaurant owner had “disregarded the law” on employing illegal workers on a number of occasions and it “had no trust” in them to remedy the situation.
An option to simply suspend the licence was considered but the panel concluded that it had “no confidence” in the licence holder’s ability to comply with their legal obligations and had “no choice” but to revoke it entirely.
The Home Office had called on Harrow council to review Mumbai Local’s licence due to a “continual pattern” of hiring illegal workers.
Immigration Officers told the panel that six illegal workers had been found at the restaurant following a visit on November 16, 2023, with a further two found during a follow up visit on July 4, 2024.
A compliance check was carried out on July 17, 2025, where a man who had previously been arrested was present on the premises, as well as another lady who told officers she would get the manager before disappearing.
On August 15, 2024, the company running the restaurant was given a £120,000 civil penalty for employing two people who did not have the right to work. This was reduced to £60,000 for employing one illegal worker following an appeal. A further appeal has been lodged but this remains ongoing.
The premises licence holder (PLH) “held their hands up” to the illegal workers being on the premises in November 2023, according to the meeting minutes, but claimed that the July 2024 incident “had more to it”. The PLH claims this worker came to the country having been sponsored by an IT company that went bust so he was out of work. They suggested the man is “like a son” to them and provided free food to him as he had nowhere to go and believes he “has a duty towards him”.
The PLH tried to suggest that the panel suspend the licence for just one month, claiming this would already “be crippling” to the business but the panel would “never see him again” as they had no other sanctions against them. However, under questioning the PLH admitted that there had been issues at another premises they own and they were forced to pay a £30,000 fine.
Ultimately, the panel didn’t feel the option of a suspension and additional conditions imposed on the licence “would be an appropriate remedy”. It determined that it “did not have the confidence in the PLH’s ability to comply with his legal obligations and had no option but to use their powers to revoke the licence.”
(Local Democracy Reporting Service)
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FILE PHOTO: US president Donald Trump meets with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said India and Russia seem to have been "lost" to China after their leaders met with Chinese president Xi Jinping this week, expressing his annoyance at New Delhi and Moscow as Beijing pushes a new world order.
"Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!" Trump wrote in a social media post accompanying a photo of the three leaders together at Xi's summit in China.
"I don't think we have," he said. "I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil, as you know, from Russia. And I let them know that."
Asked about Trump's social media post, India's foreign ministry told reporters in New Delhi that it had no comment. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment and representatives for the Kremlin could not be immediately reached.
Xi hosted more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Chinese port city of Tianjin, including Russian president Vladimir Putin and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
Putin and Modi were seen holding hands at the summit as they walked toward Xi before all three men stood side by side.
"I'll always be friends with Modi," Trump told reporters. "He's a great prime minister. He's great. I'll always be friends, but I just don't like what he's doing at this particular moment. But India and the US have a special relationship. There's nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion."
"Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate president Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our ties," the Indian prime minister said in an X post early on Saturday (6).
India and the US have a "very positive ... forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership," Modi said.
Trump has chilled US-India ties amid trade tensions and other disputes. Trump this week said he was "very disappointed" in Putin but not worried about growing Russia-China ties.
Trump has been frustrated at his inability to convince Russia and Ukraine to reach an end to their war, more than three years after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
He told reporters on Thursday (4) night at the White House that he planned to talk to Putin soon.