Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Modi letter pays tribute to AMG founder

INDIA’S prime minister Narendra Modi has expressed his deep, personal sadness as he paid tribute to Asian Media Group (AMG) founder and editor-in-chief Ramniklal Solan­ki CBE, who passed away after a short illness on March 1.

In a letter to Kalpesh Solanki, Mr Solanki’s elder son and AMG group managing editor, the prime minister said, “Gujarati diaspora journalism will always remember him for his fearless and courageous journalism.”


Modi added: “He served the world of Guja­rati literature, culture and society with great distinction and also kept the community informed with news from around the globe.

“He was an inherently humble, mild mannered and noble person.”

Mr Solanki had interviewed Modi several times when the latter was the chief minister of the state, in both Gandhinagar, the state capi­tal, and London.

They last met when the Indian prime min­ister visited London in November 2015. Modi addressed a huge gathering of the Indian diaspora at Wembley Stadium after which Mr Solanki met him backstage.

Mr Solanki, who lived in London, was in Ahmedabad to spend the winter when he fell ill and passed away earlier this month.

He founded AMG, which is Britain’s largest Asian publishing house, and publishes the Garavi Gujarat newsweekly, Eastern Eye, Asian Trader and Pharmacy Business, among other titles.

Garavi Gujarat, which is published in the UK and the US, marked 50 years since its launch in April 2018.

Several prominent people have also paid tribute to Mr Solanki, describing him as a “gi­ant of Gujarati journalism”.

More For You

Investigating the Connection Between UK Drug Arrests Abroad

The arrests come amid heightened international scrutiny of cannabis trafficking involving young travellers

Metro

Sri Lanka drug arrest of British woman sparks investigation into links with the Culley case

A 21-year-old British woman has been arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly attempting to smuggle synthetic cannabis worth £1.2 million into the country, amid growing concerns of young travellers being targeted by organised drug trafficking networks.

Charlotte May Lee, from south London, was detained last Monday after arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. Sri Lankan customs officials allege she was found carrying large vacuum-packed bags of a synthetic cannabis strain known as kush in her luggage. Lee had flown to Sri Lanka from Bangkok, Thailand, echoing the travel route of another British national, 18-year-old Bella May Culley, who was arrested just one day earlier in Georgia on similar charges.

Keep ReadingShow less
India-Pakistan-border-Reuters

Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force soldiers lower their national flags at the India-Pakistan joint check post at Wagah border. (Photo: Reuters)

India to raise concerns over Pakistan funding at FATF, World Bank: Report

INDIA will urge the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to put Pakistan back on its “grey list” and will oppose upcoming World Bank funding to Islamabad, a senior government official in New Delhi told Reuters on Friday.

The move is part of India’s response to what it alleges are Pakistan-backed terrorist attacks, including one last month in Kashmir that killed 26 Hindu pilgrims. India has also decided to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.

Keep ReadingShow less
iPhone-reuters

Apple iPhones are seen inside India's first Apple retail store in Mumbai, India, April 17, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Trump threatens 25 per cent tariff on Apple over overseas iPhone production

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Friday said Apple could face a 25 per cent tariff if iPhones sold in the United States were not manufactured domestically, a move that impacted the company’s stock price.

Trump has frequently criticised companies for producing goods outside the US, and his direct mention of Apple for potential tariffs was unusual.

Keep ReadingShow less
Public inquiry to probe missing drug tests after Nottingham killings

Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar

Public inquiry to probe missing drug tests after Nottingham killings

A MAJOR public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will investigate why police failed to conduct drug tests on killer Valdo Calocane following his deadly rampage, the government has confirmed.

The 33-year-old fatally stabbed university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, along with school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to murder three others in June 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heathrow Faces Potential Summer Disruptions Amid Ongoing Pay Dispute

The industrial action began with around 500 workers on April 9

Kingston Nub News

Heathrow workers' strike over pay dispute may escalate, says union

Hundreds of Heathrow workers assisting passengers with restricted mobility will intensify their strike, if the unequal pay issue remains unresolved, warns a union.

The members of Unite are paid 10% less than the Wilson James staff at the Gatwick Airport. Employees who manage between 4,000 and 6,000 passengers each day are upset regarding this bias.

Keep ReadingShow less