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Soap star Bhasker Patel supports stroke campaign

A new campaign fronted by Emmerdale actor Bhasker Patel hopes to raise awareness among south Asians of the common signs of stroke.

Stroke is the fourth largest cause of death in the UK and south Asians are at a higher risk of having a stroke than their white counterparts due to diabetes and high blood pressure being significant factors causing the condition.


Public Health England’s national Act FAST campaign draws attention to key symptoms:

• Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?

• Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?

• Speech – is it slurred?

• Act FAST - call 999

Patel said: “Stroke is a serious medical emergency which can cause disability and ultimately kill. I urge you to save your life, or somebody you love; think and Act FAST, call 999 if you notice any single one of the three key signs of a stroke. The speed in which you react can make the difference between life and death.”

New statistics reveal that stroke kills over 40,000 people a year and almost two-thirds leave hospital with a disability. People are most likely to have a stroke when they are 55 years of age or older, but south Asians are at a greater risk of experiencing a stroke at a younger age.

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British Indians hold vigil for Air India crash victims

The mayor of Harrow Anjana Patel lits a candle during a vigil at the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre in memory of those who have lost their lives in the Air India crash, in London, Britain, June 14, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

British Indians hold vigil for Air India crash victims

DOZENS of members from Britain’s Indian community gathered at a Hindu temple in London on Saturday (14) to mourn the victims of last week’s Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Many of those attending the vigil at the Siddhashram Hindu temple in Harrow had personal connections to the victims.

Leaders from different faiths — including Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, and Zoroastrian communities — joined hands in prayer, as chants filled the temple hall. A representative of King Charles also attended, reading a message from the monarch and offering Christian prayers for the victims and their families.

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Yunus’ talks with Tarique Rahman anger key Bangladesh allies

Chief adviser to the Government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammed Yunus speaks during an live interview at Chatham House on June 11, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Yunus’ talks with Tarique Rahman anger key Bangladesh allies

BANGLADESH's interim leader Muhammad Yunus has drawn criticism from two of his government’s major allies after holding a meeting with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman in London.

The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami have both accused Yunus of favouring a particular party, raising concerns over the neutrality of the upcoming elections.

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Helicopter crash in Himalayas kills seven, including toddler

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Helicopter crash in Himalayas kills seven, including toddler

SEVEN people including a toddler were killed on Sunday (15) in India when a helicopter ferrying Hindu pilgrims from a shrine crashed in the Himalayas, officials said.

The fatal accident comes as relatives mourn at least 279 people killed when a passenger plane slammed into a residential area in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday (12).

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Starmer orders national inquiry into child sexual abuse

Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (Photo by JORDAN PETTITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer orders national inquiry into child sexual abuse

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has announced a full statutory national inquiry into child sexual abuse, reversing his earlier position following months of mounting pressure, including criticism from US billionaire Elon Musk.

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King Charles

King Charles, wearing a black armband to pay respects to the victims of Air India plane crash, attends the Trooping the Colour parade on his official birthday in London. (Photo: Reuters)

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Air India crash: Victims remembered during King Charles's birthday parade

A MINUTE's silence for the victims of the Air India plane crash was observed on Saturday during the Trooping the Colour parade in London marking King Charles's official birthday. Some members of the royal family wore black armbands during the ceremony.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles, 76, had requested changes to the parade “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy”.

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