THE title of Dinesh Dhamija’s very entertaining memoir, which is due to be released formally by his publishers, Austin Macauley, on November 30, sums up how he worked his way to fame and fortune – Book It! How Dinesh Dhamija
sold travel agency ebookers for £247m.
As the author, he has been given a few advance copies, one of which he passed on to Eastern Eye when he attended the Asian Business Awards at The Londoner last Friday (19).
Dhamija is keeping two copies for his mother for when he visits her shortly in Delhi to celebrate her 94th birthday. To be sure, Dhamija is himself on the Asian Rich List – he is ranked 76th with his net wealth valued at £140 million, up £15m from 2020.
Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru at his parents’ wedding.
Readers are given a mini-biography of the author at the start of the book: “Entrepreneur, politician and philanthropist Dinesh Dhamija created and built the pioneering online travel agency ebookers during the 1990s internet boom.
“Selling the company for $471 million in 2004, he founded two major Indian charities and supported the Liberal Democrat Party’s anti-Brexit campaign, becoming an MEP in 2019.
“Today Dinesh Dhamija is developing a major solar energy project in Romania, along with several property investments. He lives on the Wentworth golf course in Surrey with his wife Tani, close to their two sons and one granddaughter.”
Dhamija, who is a great admirer of Indian entrepreneurship, says in the book: “If you look at a list of the world’s largest and wealthiest companies, an incredible number of them now have CEOs of Indian heritage. Google, Microsoft, Pepsi, Mastercard, Diageo, Nokia, Adobe… the list goes on. It’s a 21st century phenomenon, and it’s symptomatic of a global rise in the status of Indian technocrats.”
He has listed his “top 10 Indian business leaders”, who include: NR Narayana Murthy (Infosys); Lakshmi Mittal (ArcelorMittal); Ratan Tata (Tata Group); Surinder Arora (Arora Group); Arjun Waney (Restaurateur); Nat Puri (Purico); Yusuf Hamied (Cipla); Anshu Jain (Cantor Fitzgerald); Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries); and Anil Agarwal (Vedanta Resources).
Dinesh Dhamija with his family in 2015.
Dhamija used the pandemic to write his book. Ahead of its publication, he chatted to Eastern Eye at his club, 10 Trinity Square, located in the Four Seasons Hotel near Tower Hill tube station. “I am a member of about 10 clubs,” he revealed.
Hamija also belongs to the Arts Club, the RAC, Mosimann’s, and a couple of golf clubs, Wentworth and Queenwood. He had one meeting with the author and boss of Condé Nast, Nicholas Coleridge, at the Oxford and Cambridge Club
in Pall Mall – “which has surprisingly nice food”. He was inspired by Coleridge’s memoirs, The Glossy Years, and got the author to sign a copy Dhamija had brought along.
It seems Dhamija has been used to the good life from the moment he was born on March 28, 1950, in Australia, where his father, Jagan Nath Dhamija, was a senior diplomat in the Indian mission. His father, who had read law at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, was posted to many countries. Dinesh and his younger brother, Sumant, went with their father when he served as Indian high commissioner in Mauritius, and as ambassador in Afghanistan, Czechoslovakia, and Holland.
At Cambridge, “my father was a tennis blue,” said his son. In fact, his father got into Wimbledon in 1939, where he was knocked out in the first round, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, by the American, Bobby Briggs. That year Briggs went on to win the men’s singles, the men’s doubles and the mixed doubles without dropping a set, a feat which has never been repeated.
Initially, Dinesh went to two schools in India – Mayo College in Ajmer, Rajasthan, once meant for princes, followed by St Xavier’s School in Delhi.
He writes: “During the holidays at Mayo College, I’d travel to Kabul in Afghanistan where my father was the Indian ambassador.
He became close to the king at the time, Mohammed Zahir Shah. During one of my trips to Kabul, I actually met the Afghan king. He was a very tall man. He had been in power since 1933 and in the early 1960s, around the time of my visits, he introduced a new constitution, with free elections, a parliament, civil rights, women’s rights and voting for all.” But the king was deposed in 1973 after ruling for 40 years and went into exile in Italy.
“I always felt it was a sad story, with two of his cousins usurping power and then allowing the country to fall into ruin.”
His book has a vivid description of the country in pre-Taliban days: “I have such great memories of Afghanistan: going to see the 6th century Bamiyan Buddha statues; driving everywhere in a big car with an Indian flag on the bonnet; all the lavish entertainment at our house, with servants and cooks and chauffeurs. Once we saw a game of buzkashi played in Mazar-i-Sharif, where a goat carcass is pulled along by horsemen who try to throw it into a central spot. It’s a wild, chaotic sport with dozens of players all charging around in the dust.”
Dinesh Dhamija with his tennis team at King’s School, Canterbury, in 1968.
He finished with his schooling with a couple of years at the King’s School, Canterbury, as a preparation for Cambridge.
“During the holidays from King’s, I’d go to Prague where my father was the Indian ambassador and vividly remember the day in August 1968, when Soviet troops invaded the Czech capital to depose the government of Alexander Dubcek.”
He won a place at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he read Oriental Studies in Part 1, followed by Law in Part II. Sumant, meanwhile, read economics at Emmanuel.
As he started at Cambridge, his father told his elder boy to get his priorities right and not let studies get in the way of his tennis: “You must win Wimbledon.”
Dhamija did play tennis and golf at Cambridge, but didn’t get a Blue. In recent years, he has raised money for his old college. “I was on the fundraising board for Fitzwilliam when (former chancellor) Norman Lamont was the chairman. Vince Cable was at Fitzwilliam, too. We raised £20m.”
Having sold ebookers, “I went into the charity sector in the UK and in India.” In India, he started a charity called Chikitsa that gives 120,000 people free medicine through 15 clinics a year. Another Indian charity, Shikha, gives free education to 1,100 street children. In the UK, he was until recently a trustee of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (now renamed the Churchill Fellowship).
He summed up: “I am certainly not one who believes in making money for money’s sake.”
Book It! How Dinesh Dhamija sold travel agency ebookers for £247m is published by Austin Macauley. £9.99
Iga Swiatek storms into her first Wimbledon final with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Belinda Bencic
Swiatek will face Amanda Anisimova, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka
Anisimova reaches her first Wimbledon final and will break into the top 10 rankings
Sabalenka exits in the semi-final for the second time, despite a strong 2024 season
IGA SWIATEK reached her first Wimbledon final on Thursday with a dominant 6-2, 6-0 win over Belinda Bencic in just 71 minutes on Centre Court. The 24-year-old, seeded eighth, will face Amanda Anisimova in the final after the American defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set semi-final.
“Honestly, I never even dreamed that it's going to be possible for me to play in the final,” said Swiatek. “So I'm just super-excited and proud of myself and, I don't know, tennis keeps surprising me. I thought I had experienced everything on the court but I didn't experience playing well on grass, so that's the first time. I'm super excited and just enjoying it.”
Swiatek broke early in the match, racing to a 3-0 lead and never allowed the 35th-ranked Bencic to settle. The Swiss player, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, managed to win two games in the first set but was unable to respond as Swiatek took full control in the second.
“Today was just a different level from Iga. She played amazing and I didn't feel like she let me in the match for one second,” said Bencic. “There's nothing I really regret. In the end, she was just too good, and I was a step too short.”
Swiatek has now dropped just one set in the tournament. Although four of her five Grand Slam titles have come at the French Open, she made her first grass-court final at Bad Homburg two weeks ago and has now reached her second on the surface.
Swiatek, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, has won all five of her previous Grand Slam finals. She will face Anisimova in their first professional meeting.
Anisimova, seeded 13th, advanced to her first Wimbledon final after beating Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a match lasting just over two and a half hours.
“This doesn't feel real right now, honestly,” said Anisimova. “Aryna is such a tough competitor and I was absolutely dying out there. I don't know how I pulled it out. We've had so many tough battles and to come out on top and be in the final of Wimbledon is incredible.”
The 23-year-old, who now holds a 6-3 head-to-head record over Sabalenka, won the first set before the Belarusian levelled the match in the second. Anisimova closed out the final set to complete a notable victory.
Anisimova made headlines in 2019 when she reached the semi-finals of the French Open at the age of 17. In 2023, she took an eight-month break from tennis for mental health reasons and dropped out of the top 400. At Wimbledon last year, she failed to qualify for the main draw.
On Thursday, she became only the second player in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam final after losing in qualifying at the same event the previous year. She is now guaranteed to enter the top 10 of the rankings on Monday.
“If you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon, I would not believe you. It's indescribable to be honest,” she said.
For Sabalenka, it was another disappointment at Wimbledon. The 27-year-old has now failed to progress past the semi-finals at the tournament. She won the US Open last year and reached the finals of both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this season.
“Losing sucks,” Sabalenka said. “You feel like you are getting close to your dream and then this is the end. You always feel like you want to die and not exist any more. But then you sit there a little bit and think about what you could have done differently.”
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The Gold and Black Limited Edition bundles draw inspiration from two iconic Japanese art
Sony reveals Ghost of Yōtei Limited Edition PS5 consoles during State of Play.
Two designs announced: Gold (global) and Black (PlayStation Direct exclusive).
Consoles and controllers inspired by Japanese art styles kintsugi and sumi-e.
Both bundles launch on 2 October alongside the game’s release.
Sony unveils striking Ghost of Yōtei Limited Edition PS5 consoles
PlayStation has officially revealed the Ghost of Yōtei Limited Edition PS5 Console Bundles, featuring unique designs that pay tribute to Japanese visual art and the world of Sucker Punch’s upcoming game. The announcement was made during the recent State of Play event, which also showcased an in-depth look at gameplay.
Launching on 2 October 2025, the limited edition bundles will coincide with the release of Ghost of Yōtei, an action-adventure game set in a fictional version of Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido). The bundles include either a gold or black PS5 console, each with its own matching DualSense Wireless Controller and digital copy of the game.
Honouring Japanese artistry
The Gold and Black Limited Edition bundles draw inspiration from two iconic Japanese art forms:
Ghost of Yōtei Gold Limited Edition
Available globally, the gold edition is inspired by kintsugi, the traditional Japanese method of repairing ceramics with lacquer and gold. This design symbolises beauty in imperfection and reflects the emotional journey of the game’s protagonist, Atsu, as she faces adversity and seeks healing.
Ghost of Yōtei Black Limited Edition
This version will be exclusive to direct.playstation.com and also available at selected retailers in Japan. It draws on the monochromatic art style of sumi-e, using black ink brushstrokes to evoke the mystery and natural beauty of Ezo, while also representing Atsu’s internal struggle and pursuit of redemption.
Both designs feature an engraved maker’s seal with the iconic PlayStation shapes, located on the back of the console’s top cover and on the controller. The matching controllers also include a silhouette of Atsu printed on the touchpad.
The controller and cover designs have been developed in close collaboration with the PlayStation design teamPlayStation
Design inspiration from the game
According to Sucker Punch’s Creative Director Jason Connell, the console and controller designs were developed to reflect key themes in Ghost of Yōtei:
“Our inspiration for this design came straight from one of the core aspects within the game: a deep focus on exploration. This includes the hand-drawn icons Atsu marks on her map, a kintsugi-style effect pulled from her Ghost mask, and brushstrokes reminiscent of her Sumi-e paintings,” he said. “The towering Mount Yōtei is included at the centre of the console design to pull it all together.”
What’s included in the bundles?
Each Ghost of Yōtei Limited Edition PS5 Console Bundle includes:
A limited edition PlayStation 5 console with disc drive (model group – slim)
A matching DualSense Wireless Controller
A digital copy of Ghost of Yōtei – Standard Edition
Pre-order content: an exclusive in-game mask and a set of seven PSN avatars featuring concept art of Atsu and the Yōtei Six
The controller and cover designs have been developed in close collaboration with the PlayStation design team and are only available in limited quantities.
Console covers and standalone accessories
Sony has also confirmed that for those who already own a PS5 or PS5 Pro, the Ghost of Yōtei Gold Limited Edition console covers will be sold separately. These feature the same gold kintsugi design as the bundle version and will be available at:
Participating online retailers in other territories
Both the Gold and Black DualSense Wireless Controllers will also be available as standalone purchases, with the black controller being limited to PlayStation Direct and select retailers in Japan.
Release date and availability
The Ghost of Yōtei Limited Edition consoles and accessories will release on 2 October 2025, the same day as the game. Quantities will be limited, and pre-order details will be announced soon.
For more updates, visitdirect.playstation.com or follow PlayStation’s official channels.
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Chandran wore lambskin shorts and a green cashmere sweater for her Wimbledon appearance
Charithra Chandran attended Wimbledon as a Ralph Lauren ambassador, turning heads in a vintage-inspired ensemble.
Her look echoed Bridgerton character Edwina Sharma, with soft curls and a classic summer palette.
Fans online praised her poise and outfit, with many saying she outshone stars like Andrew Garfield.
The actress wore a green cashmere sweater, tailored lambskin shorts and white Nappa pumps.
Charithra Chandran’s Wimbledon appearance might have been behind Hollywood stars Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro, but her crisp summer ensemble made sure all eyes found her. Dressed head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren, the British-Indian actress brought understated elegance and old-school charm to Centre Court, and social media took notice.
Charithra Chandran styled her hair in soft curls for the Ralph Lauren outfitInstagram/charithra17/
A Ralph Lauren moment with a Bridgerton nod
Charithra arrived at Wimbledon 2025 in a look that paid homage to her Bridgerton roots while firmly placing her among fashion’s rising stars. Wearing a sleeveless green cashmere sweater layered over a crisp white shirt, she paired the look with tan lambskin shorts and sleek white Nappa pumps, giving preppy summer chic a polished, modern upgrade.
She styled her hair in soft vintage curls, writing on TikTok that her look was “Edwina inspired,” referencing her breakout role in the hit Netflix period drama. She later posted the outfit on Instagram, captioning it, “Repping @wimbledon green with @ralphlauren. Wouldn’t be summer without it.” The post quickly gained traction, with fans and fashion watchers alike praising her effortless charm.
— (@)
Fans say she 'stole the spotlight' from Hollywood A-listers
While Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro were seated directly in front of her, and even made headlines for their courtside chemistry, many online noted that Chandran quietly stole the moment. One user tweeted, “Charithra Chandran is so beautiful, I didn’t even notice Andrew Garfield.” Another added, “Serving face, grace and Wimbledon-worthy class.”
Reddit threads lit up with praise for her presence and look, with several fans highlighting how refreshing it was to see a dark-skinned South Asian woman at the centre of attention at such a high-profile event. The comments ranged from “She should be a Disney princess” to “That’s the definition of quiet luxury.”
Style with substance: why Chandran’s fashion matters
Chandran’s choice to embrace a look so rooted in vintage elegance and British tailoring also mirrors her own journey. She is an Oxford graduate who brings intelligence, poise, and presence both on-screen and off. As a brand ambassador for Ralph Lauren, she has consistently delivered looks that nod to heritage while adding her own contemporary vibe to it.
In a media landscape that still underrepresents South Asian women in luxury fashion spaces, Chandran’s presence at Wimbledon in a leading designer’s box, and in their outfit, felt quietly radical. She wasn’t just there; she belonged there.
Charithra’s look was inspired by her character Edwina Sharma from BridgertonInstagram/charithra17/
From Bridgerton to fashion’s front row
While Charithra Chandran is best known for playing Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton Season 2, she’s no stranger to reinvention. Recent credits include Dune: Prophecy and the upcoming season of One Piece, where she plays Nefertari Vivi. Off-screen, she’s rapidly becoming a name to watch in the fashion world, with red carpet looks that bring together tradition and trend with striking ease.
Whether she’s portraying a royal on screen or sitting in the royal box in real life, Chandran’s presence is part of a larger shift towards a more diverse, intelligent, and graceful representation in both fashion and film.
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Running from 8–11 July, the sale is exclusively available to Prime members
Amazon Prime Day runs until 11 July, with major savings on electronics
Apple AirPods Pro 2, iPad 11th-gen, and MacBook Air M4 hit all-time low prices
Samsung Galaxy phones, Sony headphones and Fire TV devices also see deep cuts
Prime Day is exclusive to Amazon Prime members, but free trial users can also access deals
Biggest electronics sale of the year
Amazon’s four-day Prime Day 2025 event has delivered a flood of deals on popular electronics, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, headphones and more. Running from 8–11 July, the sale is exclusively available to Prime members, though new users can sign up for a 30-day free trial to access the discounts.
As part of this year’s event, several top-rated products from Apple, Samsung, Sony and Amazon itself have seen some of their lowest-ever prices. According to The Independent’s senior tech critic Alex Lee, “Apple discounts are notoriously rare — but this Prime Day is a clear exception.”
Apple’s best Prime Day deals
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Was £229, now £179 – Amazon.co.uk These premium earbuds feature upgraded audio quality and adaptive noise cancellation. Tech reviewer David Phelan described them as “the best AirPods yet”, noting their impressive environmental awareness features.
Was £329, now £284 – Amazon.co.uk Launched in March 2025, this model comes with an A16 Bionic chip, USB-C charging, and 128GB of storage. It’s considered the best-value iPad currently on the market.
Was £999, now £849 – Amazon.co.uk This slimline laptop is praised for its fast performance, long battery life and sleek design. Phelan called it “Apple’s best MacBook Air yet”.
Ultra 2: Was £799, now £659 Both watches include health tracking features like sleep monitoring, ECG, and fitness metrics. The Ultra 2 also includes a double-tap gesture and two-day battery life.
Was £99, now £55 – Amazon.co.uk Praised by reviewers for sound quality and noise cancellation at a budget price. Which? rated them one of the best mid-range earbuds.
Was £289, now £179 – Amazon.co.uk These over-ear headphones offer top-tier noise cancellation and comfort. Suitable for frequent travellers or remote workers.
Was £79, now £53 – Amazon.co.uk A favourite alternative to AirPods, with long battery life and reliable ANC.
Tips for tech shoppers
Check price history – Use tools like CamelCamelCamel to confirm whether a deal is genuinely at its lowest price.
Compare with high street retailers – Currys, Argos and John Lewis may match or beat Prime Day prices.
Watch out for Lightning Deals – Some electronics deals are time-limited or quantity-restricted.
Sign up for alerts – Use the Amazon app or wishlists to get notified as soon as your favourite products drop in price.
Read expert reviews – Publications like The Independent, TechRadar, and Wired offer trusted opinions.
Prime Day 2025 has proven to be a massive event for electronics, with major savings on Apple, Samsung, Sony and more. From flagship phones and MacBooks to OLED TVs and noise-cancelling earbuds, this year’s sale includes some of the best prices seen in months. With the sale ending at 11:59 pm on 11 July, time is running out to make the most of these deals.
Whether you're after new headphones, a smartwatch, or a tablet for work or leisure, the Prime Day sale offers plenty of compelling options — but only while stocks last.
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UK-based Nanak Hotels acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel in Warwickshire for £2.75 million. (Photo: Colliers International UK)
UK-BASED Nanak Hotels recently acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel, a 17th-century property in Warwickshire, England, for £2.75 million. This is the first regional acquisition by the privately held firm led by British Indians Harpreet Singh Saluja and Karamvir Singh.
Nanak Hotels, which operates a UK property portfolio, plans to invest in the property's refurbishment and repositioning, according to a statement from Colliers International UK, which brokered the transaction.
“We’re excited to bring Kings Court Hotel into our portfolio as our first Warwickshire acquisition,” said Saluja. “It has a solid foundation and loyal customer base. We see potential to develop the hotel while preserving its heritage.”
The West Midlands hotel, on a 4.2-acre site between Alcester and Redditch, began as a 17th-century farmhouse and now operates as a hospitality business with public areas, event and conference facilities and wedding capacity for up to 130 guests.
The hotel’s previous owner said Kings Court had been central to their work for over 30 years.
“It’s been a privilege to grow it into what it is today,” the owner said. “As we retire, we’re pleased to see it pass to a new owner who shares our commitment to hospitality and has a vision for its future.”
“The sale of Kings Court Hotel drew strong interest due to its size, location and trading performance,” said Josh Sullivan and Peter Brunt of Colliers International UK. “We’re pleased to have completed the transaction with Nanak Hotels and look forward to seeing how they develop the asset.”
In February, UK-based Shiva Hotels, led by founder and CEO Rishi Sachdev, secured $372m (£289m) to renovate The BoTree in Marylebone, London. Separately, Indian tech firm Oyo announced a $62m (£48m), three-year plan to expand its UK hotel portfolio by acquiring inventory and securing leasehold and management contracts, supporting 1,000 jobs.