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Cllr Marilyn Ashton was honoured by the World Book of Records in recognition of her 25 years of public service, while Padma Shri Bob Blackman CBE MP was recognised by International Siddhashram Shakti Centre UK for his longstanding service to the community. The honours were presented during the historic Sant Sansad at Harrow Leisure Centre, in the presence of more than 25 revered saints and spiritual leaders from India and around the world, as Siddhashram marked its Silver Jubilee 25 years of Sa

Highlights Prithviraj Sukumaran brings plenty of style and screen presence to the gold-smuggling thriller. Mohanlals appearance provides one of the films strongest moments. Despite its lavish treatment and action set pieces, the story follows a familiar and predictable path. Khalifa arrives with the kind of ingredients that usually make a Malayalam mass entertainer hard to resist: Prithviraj Sukumaran in a larger-than-life role, Vysakh behind the camera, a gold-smuggling backdrop and the added p

PEOPLE in England and Wales significantly overestimate the proportion of killers from minority ethnic backgrounds, while also overstating the number of foreign nationals in the prison population, a study by Kings College London has found. A YouGov survey of 1,800 people found that respondents believed 55 per cent of convicted killers were from minority ethnic groups. The actual figure is 35 per cent. Respondents also underestimated the proportion of homicides involving white offenders. They esti

Jo Boydell is stepping down after 13 years with Travelodge. The hotel chain is overhauling room-access procedures following a 2022 sexual assault. More than 600 hotels have introduced new room-access security measures. Travelodges chief executive Jo Boydell is stepping down as the hotel chain continues to face scrutiny over its guest safety procedures following a sexual assault at one of its hotels. Boydell, who joined Travelodge 13 years ago and became chief executive in May 2022, will leave th

Highlights Jason Stathams Mutiny was briefly available to watch in full on Amazon Prime Video in the US. The accidental streaming appearance came two days before its planned theatrical release. The 95-minute Lionsgate action thriller was quickly removed after users discovered the listing. Jason Stathams latest action film was supposed to have its big-screen moment this week. Instead, some Amazon Prime Video users got the chance to watch the entire film before it had even opened in cinemas. Mutin

Highlights Will Smith is reportedly in talks to make his Indian film debut in Atlees Raaka . The Hollywood star could play the primary antagonist opposite Allu Arjun, according to reports. The reported 65 million sci-fi film also stars Deepika Padukone, but Smiths involvement has not been officially confirmed. Will Smith could be heading into unfamiliar territory. The Hollywood star is reportedly being considered for a major role in Atlees upcoming sci-fi film Raaka , potentially putting him opp

PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham has unveiled a plan to help people sleeping rough move off the streets by Christmas, saying his government will put emergency accommodation and long-term housing support in place across England this winter. No one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we've seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it, Burnham said in a statement, referring to the UK parliament. The announcement came a month after Burnham replace

A FIRE at a hotel in Kolkata killed nine people, including a child, on Wednesday, marking another deadly hotel blaze in India within days as authorities investigated possible safety failures. Nine people were killed, including a child, in the fire that broke out early on Wednesday, Anuj Sharma, the fire services director of West Bengal state, told AFP. Thick smoke enveloped the hotel. Some victims were found in the bathrooms. Delhi hotel fire kills at least 21 people Preliminary information sugg

RISHABH PANT reached a new Test cricket milestone as India set Sri Lanka 372 to win the first Test in Galle on Tuesday. Pant became the fastest player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket, reaching the mark in 89 innings and surpassing Australia's Adam Gilchrist, who took 130 innings. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 66 off 69 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, as India were bowled out for 193 late in the second session. Asitha Fernando took 4-31 for Sri Lanka. Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 167 in

CHEF Nand Kishor Yadavs journey from Motihari in Bihar to the Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh has marked a milestone in his 25-year culinary career. The Indian chef was invited to join King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the event, which is held during Holyrood Week, or Royal Week, when the monarch traditionally spends a week in Scotland during the summer. Being invited to the Palace of Holyroodhouse was an incredibly proud and humbling experience, said Chef Nand

Sazerac has agreed to buy Swansea-based Au Vodka in a deal reportedly worth about 500m. Founders Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn could each receive more than 100m. Au Vodka recorded 82.8m in turnover and 5m in pre-tax profit in the year to April 2025. A Welsh vodka brand that began with two friends in Swansea is heading for a reported 500m takeover by US drinks giant Sazerac, more than a decade after one of its founders became famous for an entirely different reason. Sazerac, the company behind

Highlights Former women Maoists from Bastar walked the ramp at a National Handloom Day event in Raipur The women showcased Kosa silk and other handwoven Chhattisgarhi garments Their appearance highlighted rehabilitation, empowerment and reintegration into civilian life Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai interacted with the participants at the event For years, the word Maoist has been associated with armed insurgency in the forests of Chhattisgarh. But at a National Handloom Day event in

A White House teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid leave over alleged insider betting. Regulators are investigating claims he made more than 75,000 (about $100,000) by betting on Donald Trump's speeches. Kalshi froze the account before the alleged winnings could be withdrawn and alerted federal regulators. A long-serving White House teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after allegedly using advance knowledge of President Donald Trump's speeches to place

UK GDP grew 0.1 per cent in May after shrinking 0.1 per cent in April. Services kept the economy in positive territory, while manufacturing and construction weakened. Economists say the recovery remains fragile as the Iran conflict continues to push up energy costs. The UK economy returned to growth in May, offering a modest boost after April's contraction. But the latest UK GDP figures also point to an economy still struggling with rising energy costs, weaker industrial activity and growing unc

INDIAN sailors who spent months trapped in the Gulf during the Middle East war are wary of returning to the region, even as an interim ceasefire has allowed commercial traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz. India sends out hundreds of thousands of seafarers each year and is one of the largest contributors of crew to global merchant shipping. More than 320,000 Indians (nearly 12 per cent of the global workforce) were working in the sector in 2025, according to the shipping ministry. War

THIS is a bit of a generalisation, but British Asians tend not to queue up for tickets to the opera. But perhaps they ought to make an exception for the Grange Park Opera, which is a couple of miles from Horsley station in Surrey (just under an hour by train from Waterloo). Last week, there were quite a few Asians in the audience for the final performance of Krishna, an opera composed by the late Sir John Tavener, who was greatly drawn to Hinduism. Nazan Fikret as Rukmini and Julia Sitkovetsky a

Britain is experiencing its third heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to stay above 34C in several areas. The prolonged heat is straining hospitals, schools, water supplies and food retailers across the UK. Scientists say rising temperatures are making extreme heatwaves more frequent and intense across Europe. The UK's latest heatwave is no longer just about soaring temperatures. As the country enters the peak of its third spell of extreme heat this year, the impact is spreading wel

Highlights Karolina Muchova saved a match point to defeat Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) and reach her first Wimbledon final. The Czech overcame years of injuries and a grass allergy to book only her second Grand Slam final. Muchova will face either Linda Noskova or Marta Kostyuk in Saturday's championship match. Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova saved a match point to reach her first Wimbledon final with a pulsating three-set win against Coco Gauff on Thursday. Muchova held her nerve in a grip

EasyJet has backed Apollo's 5.7 billion takeover proposal over Castlelake's lower bid. The airline says Apollo's offer delivers a better outcome for shareholders. Both bidders still face regulatory hurdles and final takeover deadlines in August. EasyJet's takeover battle has taken another turn after the airline agreed in principle to a 5.7 billion offer from Apollo Global Management, abandoning its support for a lower proposal from rival investor Castlelake just days after backing it. The no-fri

Norways talismanic striker Erling Haaland has rejected assertions that historical narrative or stadium demographics will dictate the outcome of his sides highly anticipated FIFA World Cup quarter-final showdown against England in Miami this Saturday. The pre-match discourse has been heavily dominated by historical metaphors, with commentators drawing tongue-in-cheek parallels between the ancient Stamford Bridge conflict of 1066where 300 Norsemen famously fought an overwhelming army of 60,000 Eng

Highlights Designer makes his official Paris Haute Couture Week debut with Fall/Winter 2026 collection Maa . Collection pays tribute to his late mother, Sudarshan Malhotra, through Indian craftsmanship and personal memories. Malhotra becomes the fourth Indian designer on the official Paris Haute Couture calendar this season. Manish Malhotra reached a new milestone in his four-decade career by making his official debut at Paris Haute Couture Week, presenting his Fall/Winter 2026 collection, Maa ,

MEMBERS of the British Asian communities have been urged to share their memories of the late Queen as part of the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial project led by the Cabinet Office. The online archive reached a new milestone last month with the publication of public recollections, new historical material, and a fully searchable record of her official engagements, an official statement said. Available at www.queenelizabeth.com, the project included a first selection of memories submitted by peopl

INDIA filed charges on Monday (6) against the founder of a Pakistan-based militant group in connection with a deadly attack on tourists in India Kashmir last year. The April 2025 attack near the tourist resort of Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, sparking an intense four-day conflict between the countries. New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing the attack, claims Islamabad has repeatedly denied. Indias National Investigation Agency said it had charged Hafiz Saeed in his individual

Highlights Lionsgate launches a worldwide casting search for Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. Destin Daniel Cretton is writing and directing the live-action adaptation. Creator Masashi Kishimoto says he is eager to meet the actors who will bring his characters to life. For fans who have dreamed of stepping into the world of Naruto , that opportunity may now be within reach. Lionsgate has launched a global casting search for the lead roles in its live-action adaptation of the iconic manga, opening the

Linda Noskova defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam final. The 21-year-old has won 11 of her 12 grass-court matches this season, including the Berlin title. Noskova will face fellow Czech Karolina Muchova in Saturday's Wimbledon final. Wimbledon finalist Linda Noskova said her strong run of grass-court form has come out of nowhere after she beat Marta Kostyuk in the biggest match of her career on Thursday. The 21-year-old will face fellow Czech Karolina Muchova in Saturda

UK wildcard Arthur Fery will face French Open champion Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon semi-finals after both players won their quarter-final matches on Wednesday. World number 114 Fery beat Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to become the first Wimbledon wildcard to reach the men's last four since Goran Ivanisevic won the title in 2001. The 23-year-old is now two wins away from becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2016. It gets better an

Peter Kyle says pension funds should invest more in British businesses and infrastructure. Government could make UK investment mandatory if voluntary commitments fall short. Ministers want pension savings to play a bigger role in boosting economic growth. The UK government has stepped up pressure on UK pension funds, warning they could be legally required to invest more in British businesses if voluntary commitments fail to deliver. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said pension providers have a res

Denza's Bao 5 will go on sale in the UK from 69,500 later this year. The plug-in hybrid SUV offers up to 56 miles of electric-only driving and a combined range of 537 miles. The model enters one of Britain's most competitive premium SUV segments, led by the Land Rover Defender. Chinese carmaker Denza has unveiled the Bao 5, its first SUV developed for the European market, setting its sights on one of the UK's most competitive premium vehicle segments. Backed by BYD, the brand is positioning the

Highlights Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75 after an illness, her family announced. The Welsh singer enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades with chart-topping hits across the UK and beyond. From Total Eclipse of the Heart to Eurovision, here are the defining moments of her career. Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer whose powerful, husky vocals became synonymous with 1980s pop, has died aged 75 following an illness, according to a statement shared by her family. While she leaves behind a catal

Airbus expects India's air travel demand to grow sixfold by 2045. Rising migration and family visits are emerging as major drivers of international flights. The aircraft maker forecasts demand for more than 42,000 new planes over the next 20 years. India's aviation sector is expected to become one of the world's biggest drivers of global air travel growth, with demand for flights projected to increase sixfold by 2045, according to Airbus' latest Global Market Forecast. The aircraft manufacturer

Highlights Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt married in an intimate ceremony at the actor's Mumbai home on July 5 From an unexpected silver anklet to bespoke ruby rings, several details have sparked conversation online Here's a look at the wedding moments that have continued to make headlines Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt chose a private ceremony with close family and friends to mark their wedding on July 5. Despite the low-key celebration, details from the couple's special day have continued to emerge,

Air India deploys its first Boeing 787-9 on the Mumbai-London Heathrow route. New aircraft introduces Premium Economy alongside upgraded Business and Economy cabins. The move forms part of the airline's ongoing fleet and passenger experience upgrade. Air India has introduced its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Mumbai-London Heathrow route, bringing upgraded cabins and a new Premium Economy offering to one of the airline's flagship international services. The new aircraft is now operating flig

SOME political analysts believe Reform party leader Nigel Farage might have passed his sell by date. Does that mean Farage is finished? I would have thought not, but former Spectator editor Fraser Nelson wrote a piece in the Times, headlined: Is Nigel Farage becoming a liability for Reform? Leader is increasingly tetchy when asked about source of his money and unhappy with the partys move further right. The Sunday Times (5) front page story published the very next day would have brought down mos