Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Top India envoy hails Indo-UK ties

CONSULAR facilities such as passport and visa services will be taken to the Indian diaspora across the UK, the new Indian high commissioner announced at an event on Monday evening (28).

Ruchi Ghanashyam, who took up her position in November, said the move was part of an extensive range of initiatives being undertaken to reach out to the community.


“The High Commission of India will continue its work to further consolidate and deepen India-UK hugely beneficial ties as well as serve Indian citizens and people of Indian origin

in the most efficient and friendly manner,” said Ghanashyam, during her address at a Republic Day reception in London’s Guildhall.

She added: “The High Commission is bringing its consular services to the doorstep of the Indian diaspora.”

The consulate has been organising regular surgeries in different parts of the country during which a team of Indian mission officials assist people with their paperwork related to applications for passport renewal, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards, as well as other certificate and attestation requirements.

Ghanashyam also referred to the values shared by India and the UK, as well as a commitment to a rulesbased international system. She noted the visits by Indian prime

minister Narendra Modi to the UK in 2015 and 2018, and Theresa May’s trip to India in November 2016.

There have been numerous ministerial and official level exchanges, she said, after both leaders had endorsed a vision statement setting out the fundamental principles of the UK-India partnership.

“India and the UK have several bilateral institutional mechanisms in place to promote co-operation in a wide spectrum of areas, including political, trade, education, science and

technology and defence among others,” Ghanashyam said.

During 2019, the Indian consulate in London is preparing for events to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru, and the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Jeremy Wright, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport and chief guest at the event, mentioned the excitement of welcoming the Indian cricket team to the

UK for the cricket World Cup this summer.

“It is a wonderful event and I hope that we will have a lot of visitors from India, joining over half a million tourists who come here from India every year,” Wright said.

He added “The economic relationship between our countries is a thriving one. I understand the issue of visas is certainly an important one. Last year, we saw a 33 per cent increase in

student visas issued alongside a 10 per cent increase in visitor visas. The UK issued more Tier 2 skilled work visas to India than all the other countries in the world combined.”

The annual event was attended by hundreds of guests from the Indian diaspora as well as senior political figures. It also included a number of Indian cultural performances.

More For You

Norman Tebbit
Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less