Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Queen Roots for UK-India ties

The Queen slipped in a doosra by questioning Joe Root’s dismissal in the second England-India ODI in Nagpur in January when she accepted the new Indian high commissioner’s letter of commission at Buckingham Palace last Wednesday (15).

Over her 60-year reign, the Queen, now 90, has acquired a lot of knowledge about a great many things, but it was not known that she follows cricket – it has generally been assumed that horse racing is her thing.


It could be that Prince Philip, who does enjoy watching cricket, tipped her off about Root’s dismissal.

Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, who is India’s 26th high commissioner in London, and his wife Girija were ferried to and from the palace from his residence in Kensington Palace Gardens in a four-horse drawn landau. They were escorted by William Alistair Harrison, Her

Majesty’s marshal of the Diplomatic Corps.

“She asked me about Joe Root’s dismissal,” said Sinha, who has been moved from Colombo in Sri Lanka to London to be high commissioner, while his predecessor, Navtej Sarna, has gone to Washington DC to be Indian ambassador after only seven months in the UK.

The Queen was referring to Root’s controversial dismissal for 38, when he was given out lbw to Jasprit Bumrah by umpire C Shamshuddin.

After England lost the match by five runs, the skipper Eoin Morgan expressed his “extreme frustration” with the umpiring decisions he believed had tipped the game in India’s favour. In Root’s case, he probably had a point because replays appeared to suggest the player had touched the ball before it hit his pad.

Root, 26, who was last week named England Test captain in succession to Alastair Cook who has stepped down after England’s 4-0 series defeat, will be as surprised as anyone that the Queen took up his case.

Root and his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli, 28, are rivals for the position of “best batsman in the world”.

Future contested decisions may not have to be referred to the regal umpire at Buckingham Palace, however. Sinha told the Queen that DRS (Decision Review System), which was not in operation during the ODIs, might have solved the problem.

The Queen, who was said to be in “good spirits”, said she was looking forward to the UK-India “year of culture” in the 70th year of Indian independence. She is due to give a reception for Indians at the Palace to which 200 big names, such as Sachin Tendulkar, will be flown in.

“There will also be a cricket exhibition at Lord’s,” disclosed Sinha at the Vin d’honneur (reception) he hosted at his residence after the Palace ceremony.

Guests at the reception included the high commissioners of Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the ambassador of Nepal.

A note from India House said: “The high commissioner conveyed greetings from the president and prime minister of India to Her Majesty the Queen and reiterated the commitment of the government of India to work towards implementation

of the roadmap agreed between the two countries during the visit of the UK prime minister to India in November 2016.

“Her Majesty the Queen expressed happiness at the various initiatives being taken by both countries to further enhance the bilateral relations.”

More For You

Andrew Tate Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Brianna Stern Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Tate’s attorney, Joseph McBride, has dismissed the lawsuit

Getty

Andrew Tate faces sexual assault lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern

Social media personality Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, who has accused him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details allegations of abuse and an incident that allegedly took place at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 11 March 2025.

Allegations in the lawsuit

According to the legal complaint, Stern claims that Tate initially appeared as a "dream come true" but later became emotionally and physically abusive. The lawsuit describes a violent encounter at the hotel, where she alleges Tate physically assaulted and threatened her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Soumik Datta (R) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt

Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Mahesh Liloriya

The inaugural edition of Voices of Faith commenced on Friday at the iconic Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, marking the beginning of an extraordinary three-day festival exploring theological philosophies, interfaith dialogues, and the deeper essence of spirituality through conversations, music, and healing vibes.

Organised by Teamwork Arts, the creators of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London, Voices of Faith is presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners of this landmark event. This unique festival seeks to offer insights into navigating the complexities of modern life through the timeless wisdom enshrined in global religious traditions. It focuses on the universal ideals of compassion and interconnectedness that underpin the world’s faiths, fostering dialogue that transcends barriers and deepens mutual understanding.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain (Photo for representation: iStock)

Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

A PAKISTANI man convicted of sexually assaulting a child under 13 will face a fresh deportation hearing after the Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain, reported The Times.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially won his case to stay in the UK after claiming he would face "inhuman or degrading treatment" if sent back to Pakistan due to his alcoholism.

Keep ReadingShow less
India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

Rescue teams work to save residents trapped under the rubble of the destroyed Sky Villa Condominium development in Mandalay on March 29, 2025. (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

INDIA has swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar by launching Operation Brahma, sending emergency relief and rescue teams to the disaster-stricken nation.

A C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force landed in Yangon on Saturday (29), carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies including hygiene kits, blankets and food parcels. The aid mission comes after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday (28), killing more than 1,000 people and injuring nearly 2,400 others.

Keep ReadingShow less
Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

Pakistan stands at 109th place out of 147 countries

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

THE UK has experienced a significant blow to its national morale, plummeting to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report for 2025 – its lowest ranking ever – despite being the world’s sixth richest nation.

Released to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness last Thursday (20), the report provided a nuanced exploration of national contentment that extends far beyond economic measurements.

Keep ReadingShow less