Prime minister Rishi Sunak has awarded an Asian-origin London resident for promoting cricket and making a positive change within the south Asian community.
Himanshu Jain, who co-founded a charity cricket community for south Asian men, got the daily Points of Light award on April 10.
The Prime Minister makes daily announcements of the winners to recognise outstanding individual volunteers.
Jain created the club to provide opportunities for over 1,000 South Asian men from Barking, Sutton, Kent and South-end communities with opportunities to engage in cricket, from beginner sessions to playing in professional leagues.
Since its formal launch in 2021, the club also trains women and children, and hosts the ‘Bharat Premier League’ and mini-tournaments every weekend.
The club encourages its members to contribute back, with many volunteering in sports events like the London Marathon.
Members also support Himanshu in raising awareness and funds for his ‘Leprosy Control Programme’, a programme meant to address the disease in South Asia.
Jain said he was "deeply honoured and humbled" to receive the award.
"This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of the Bharat Cricket Community, my fellow trustee and co-founder Prasanth, and the numerous community and humanitarian initiatives I've been privileged to be part of, both locally and globally," he said.
Himanshu is the 2312th recipient of the Points of Light award, which was first launched in April 2014.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)