Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Indian visas in focus as Jenrick, Badenoch vie for Tory leadership

Candidates Robert Jenrick (L) and Kemi Badenoch are running to replace Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader. (Photo: Getty Images)
Candidates Robert Jenrick (L) and Kemi Badenoch are running to replace Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader. (Photo: Getty Images)

THE TWO leading candidates in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader and become the opposition leader in parliament have focused their campaigns on cutting immigration, with particular attention on Indian visas.

As the Conservative Party conference kicked off in Birmingham on Sunday, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick called for tougher visa restrictions on India unless the country takes back its nationals who have entered the UK illegally.


His closest rival, shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch, also emphasised immigration, condemning new migrants for bringing conflicts from India that have caused unrest on British streets.

“There are many people who have recently come to this country who have brought views from their countries of origin that have no place here,” Badenoch said in an interview with the BBC.

“As equalities minister, I saw people bringing cultural disputes from India to the streets of Leicester. We need to make sure that when people come to this country, they leave their previous differences behind. This is not a controversial thing to say,” she added.

Badenoch’s comments appeared to refer to the clashes that erupted in Leicester in September 2022 following an India-Pakistan cricket match.

Meanwhile, Jenrick, who has taken an early lead in the contest, highlighted in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that while 250,000 visas were issued to Indians in the past year, approximately 100,000 Indian nationals are estimated to be living illegally in the UK.

Jenrick also criticised the low number of deportations to India, despite an existing India-UK Migration and Mobility Partnership designed to facilitate the return of illegal migrants.

“The government must stop other countries from exploiting our generosity by imposing severe visa restrictions and cutting foreign aid to those who do not take back their nationals,” he said.

During the four-day Tory conference, Jenrick and Badenoch will compete against former Cabinet ministers James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat. The final two candidates will be decided by MPs in the next voting round, after which Conservative Party members will cast an online ballot to choose the winner. The result will be announced on 2 November.

The leadership election follows Sunak’s resignation as Conservative leader after the party’s defeat in the general election in July. He continues to serve as interim leader until his successor is elected.

(With inputs from agencies)

More For You

Dhanush & young son Linga
Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch

Highlights:

  • Actor-director Dhanush performed live with composer GV Prakash at Chennai event.
  • Youngest son Linga joined his father on stage, dancing alongside him.
  • Dhanush recounted childhood memories that inspired the story of Idli Kadai.
  • The film, featuring a star-studded cast, is set to release on 1 October.

Dhanush delighted fans at the Idli Kadai audio launch in Chennai with a touching father-son moment, performing the film’s hit song Enjami Thandhaane alongside music composer GV Prakash. The actor’s youngest son, Linga, joined him on stage, creating a heartfelt moment that resonated with audiences. Dhanush also shared personal childhood memories, revealing how his love for idlis inspired the upcoming film.

Dhanush & young son Linga Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less
AI art

Two leading AI tools shaping digital art

Seedream 4.0 / Nano Banana

Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana fuel AI art craze themed around Bollywood

Highlights

  • Two leading AI tools shaping digital art, Seedream 4.0 and Google’s Gemini Nano Banana
  • Seedream 4.0 generates high-resolution imaginative visuals in multiple styles
  • Nano Banana transforms selfies into retro Bollywood-inspired portraits
  • Viral on Instagram, TikTok, and X, with global audiences engaging
  • Experts highlight data privacy, authenticity, and ethical concerns

AI-powered creativity is sweeping social media, with Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana AI capturing the imagination of users worldwide. Seedream 4.0 is designed for digital artists and hobbyists who want to create detailed, high-quality visuals in a wide range of styles, from realistic landscapes to abstract scenes. Nano Banana, on the other hand, allows users to turn selfies into 1990s Bollywood-inspired portraits, often featuring traditional South Asian attire and nostalgic retro backdrops.

A global viral phenomenon


Both tools have seen rapid adoption in 2025. Seedream 4.0 attracts those seeking versatile, high-resolution creative outputs. Nano Banana has gone viral for its playful, culturally resonant edits. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X are flooded with creations from influencers, celebrities, and everyday users, showing the broad appeal of AI-driven art.

Keep ReadingShow less
James Bourne quits McFly tour

James Bourne confirms his exit from the McFly and Busted joint tour hours before opening night

Getty Images/Instagram/busted

James Bourne quits McFly tour just hours before launch sparking shock over mystery health battle

Highlights:

  • James Bourne announces exit from the joint tour just hours before its launch
  • The Busted star says he is not well enough to perform
  • McFly and Busted will continue the tour as planned without him
  • Fellow bandmates and fans send messages of support and encouragement

In an unexpected turn, James Bourne has pulled out of the much-anticipated McFly tour, just hours before the opening show in Birmingham. The Busted star shared that ongoing health issues have forced him to withdraw from the joint run, which was due to see both bands performing their greatest hits on the same stage. His decision comes as a major blow to fans who had been awaiting this collaboration.

James Bourne quits McFly tour James Bourne confirms his exit from the McFly and Busted joint tour hours before opening night Getty Images/Instagram/busted

Keep ReadingShow less
Street Fighter

Street Fighter is now in production

Vidyut Jammwal steps into 'Street Fighter' arena as Dhalsim to face Hollywood heavyweights in brutal 1993 tournament

Highlights:

  • The live-action Street Fighter film will release in October 2026 via Paramount Pictures
  • Indian star Vidyut Jammwal plays Dhalsim in the multicultural ensemble cast
  • The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai and shot for IMAX
  • Set in 1993, the story follows Ryu and Ken returning for a high-stakes World Warrior Tournament

The upcoming Street Fighter movie is gearing up for a worldwide release in October 2026 under Paramount Pictures, and the buzz around Vidyut Jammwal in Street Fighter is already hyping fans. Bringing together a diverse international line-up, this live-action adaptation aims to reintroduce the beloved gaming saga to a new generation while tapping into the nostalgia of its 1990s arcade roots.

Street Fighter Street Fighter is now in production Instagram/streetfightermovie

Keep ReadingShow less