easterneye

E-boarding passes displayed on smartphones will be accepted for immigration clearance. Boarding passes will no longer be stamped during immigration clearance. FTI-TTP enrolled travellers can use e-boarding passes at e-gates. Physical boarding passes will continue to be accepted. INTERNATIONAL travellers flying from Indian airports will be able to use e-boarding passes on their smartphones for immigration clearance from September 1, the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) said on Monday. The change will

Highlights: Tropical Sun launched in 1996 to improve supply and quality. The brand now spans around 700 SKUs. Wanis remains behind the UKs biggest world food brand. Its range covers flavours from across the globe. Tropical Sun has grown alongside Britains changing food habits. When Tropical Sun was launched by Wanis in 1996, it was created to solve a practical problem: inconsistent availability and quality in the world food supply chain. Thirty years later, the brand has grown into the UKs bigge

UK ENERGY bills are set to rise in October, the sector regulator Ofgem announced on Wednesday, as the Middle East war drives up wholesale gas prices. Higher energy costs have raised concerns about a fresh spike in inflation, piling pressure on the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has made lowering the cost of living a priority. Ofgem, which sets every quarter the price cap that suppliers can charge customers, said the cap would increase four per cent from October, adding around 5 ($7) per mo

THE TREASURY has launched a review of business rates valuations for pubs and hotels in England and Wales. Business rates expert Jerry Schurder will lead the review and report in March 2027, with his findings feeding into the next rates revaluation in 2029. The review comes after concerns from the hospitality sector over business rates. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said 161 pubs closed in the first three months of this year across England, Scotland and Wales, with around 2,400 jobs

TWELVE people have died in less than a week in England and Ireland in crashes involving vehicles travelling the wrong way on major roads, as authorities warn about a social media-driven trend linked to such driving. Seven people, including two serving police officers, died early Saturday in a collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough in northeastern England. Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash, which followed a pursuit of a suspicious vehicle. Authorities said the vehicle was d

Highlights Jeremy Vine will no longer host the 2026 Carers UK Awards Campaigners criticised his appointment over his coverage of disability and welfare issues Carers UK said it wanted the ceremony to remain focused on celebrating carers Jeremy Vine has been dropped as host of the 2026 Carers UK Awards following a furious backlash over his appointment. The Channel 5 presenter had been announced as host of the ceremony earlier this week, with the event set to celebrate the contribution of unpaid c

Plug-in solar kits will become legal in Britain on August 27. UKSOL's first kits will start at 849 including VAT and delivery. The panels could appeal to renters, flat-dwellers and households with unsuitable roofs. Going solar in Britain may soon no longer mean putting panels on your roof. From August 27, plug-in solar kits will become legal in Britain, giving households another way to generate some of their own electricity without committing to a full rooftop installation. UKSOL says it is the

Highlights David Harbour has sparked a major Avengers: Doomsday theory with one unexpected line The actor appeared to reveal a line from the film involving Tony Stark Fans are now questioning whether Robert Downey Jrs Doctor Doom connection to Stark is more complicated than Marvel has revealed Marvel fans thought they had a fairly clear idea of Robert Downey Jrs return to the MCU. Then David Harbour seemingly threw the entire theory into chaos with four words. Harbour, who reprises his role as R

TikTok and ByteDance will pay $400 million to settle the US case. The lawsuit alleged that data from millions of children under 13 was collected without parental consent. The settlement is one of the largest ever reached under the US childrens privacy law. TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million (293 million) to the US government to settle a case over how it handled the personal data of children. The lawsuit, brought by the US Department of Justice in 2024, alleged that TikTok and its parent compa

First-class next-day deliveries rose to 85 per cent, but remain below Ofcom's 90 per cent target. Second-class deliveries reached 91.4 per cent within three working days, against a 95 per cent target. Royal Mail is investing 500 million over five years to improve its service. Royal Mail is delivering more letters on time than it was a year ago, but it still cannot meet the standards set by the postal regulator. The company delivered 85 per cent of first-class mail the next working day between Ap

Highlights Sowcar Janaki built a career spanning more than seven decades and 400 films. She successfully moved from leading roles to character-driven performances. Her work across cinema, theater, and television kept her connected with audiences across generations. Sowcar Janaki 's career was extraordinary not simply because of its length, but because of how often she reinvented herself. After making her debut in the early 1950s, she remained part of Indian cinema through several generations of

Highlights Pranay Reddy Vanga has made fresh claims about Deepika Padukone's exit from Spirit . He alleged that remuneration, scheduling and other disagreements were behind the casting change. The producer also alleged that details discussed privately about the film were leaked. Deepika Padukone 's exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit has taken a fresh turn after producer Pranay Reddy Vanga made new claims about the circumstances surrounding her departure. The actress had originally been linke

Arsenal's Friday night win over newly-promoted Coventry City opened the richest football league on earth for another season. Millions watched. Billions will follow across the campaign. And for the first time in recent memory, not one of them will be watching a British south Asian player turn out in the Premier League itself. It isn't for lack of names. Four years ago, English football had what looked like a genuine breakthrough group: Hamza Choudhury at Leicester, Zidane Iqbal at Manchester Unit

IF 2026 has taught us anything so far, it is that resilience in the third sector is no longer optional. Charities are navigating one of the most demanding landscapes we have seen in years. Global needs are growing and we are feeling increasing pressure on our limited resources. In times like these, hope becomes more than an idea it becomes a driving force. A reason to keep building, supporting and showing up, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL speaks about his chari

Highlights Kangana Ranaut has responded to Sharmila Tagore's comments on Vande Mataram . Tagore said some sections of the song may not align with the beliefs of people who believe in one God. Kangana defended the song's imagery as poetry and urged people to move beyond a Hindu-Muslim mindset. Kangana Ranaut has reacted to Sharmila Tagore' s comments on Vande Mataram , pushing back against the veteran actor's concerns about the religious references in the National Song. Tagore recently spoke abou

The treatment could reduce insulin injections from 365 a year to just 52. NICE has recommended the weekly treatment, but it still needs MHRA approval. People who rely on carers or struggle with daily injections could benefit most. For some people with type 2 diabetes, managing their condition could soon involve one insulin injection a week instead of one every day. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended insulin efsitora alfa, also known as Onswik and made by

Spiritual leader Morari Bapu has begun a nine-day Ram Katha at Harvard University, bringing the teachings of the Ramayan to one of the worlds most renowned academic institutions. Nearly 1,000 people filled the historic Memorial Hall for the opening of the Katha, being held from 15 to 23 August 2026. The gathering marks Morari Bapus 982nd Ram Katha and has attracted devotees, storytellers and scholars from around the world. The setting carries particular symbolism. Harvards motto, Veritas Truth,

HOME SECRETARY Shabana Mahmood has said the government wants to create a fairer spread of asylum accommodation across the UK, with more asylum seekers expected to be housed in wealthier areas. In an interview with The Times , Mahmood said the government was preparing a mixed model of asylum accommodation that would include large military sites, medium-sized buildings such as former student apartments, and dispersal housing such as bedsits and homes of multiple occupancy. She said the change woul

The CMA has cleared Danones 864 million acquisition of Huel. The watchdog had examined whether the deal could weaken competition in the UK. The takeover will give Danone a fast-growing British nutrition brand with an expanding international presence. Danone is now one step closer to taking control of Huel, after Britain's competition watchdog cleared its proposed 864 million acquisition of the British nutrition brand. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched its initial merger inquir

Highlights: Changing interests are not automatically a problem. Stillness can replace the need for constant stimulation. Deeper purpose can make empty noise feel less important. Growth may change how we connect with others. True fulfilment can create space for what really matters. Have you noticed yourself quietly losing interest in things that once lit you up? The conversations, the gossip, the parties, the entertainment that used to feel so important, somehow just dont engage or interest you t

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

Highlights Unverified GTA 6 gameplay footage and an image claiming to show the full map have appeared online. The material has reportedly been linked to a group calling itself CyberLeek, which has issued demands aimed at Rockstar and other publishers. The group is reportedly protesting the gaming industry's shift towards digital-only releases and has warned that other publishers could be targeted. Grand Theft Auto 6 appears to be facing another major leak, but the latest incident goes beyond foo

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

AT LEAST 30 children, most of them British, are feared to have been conceived through IVF in northern Cyprus using sperm or egg donors different from those selected by their parents. The parents say they carefully chose anonymous donors based on medical history, appearance, personality, education and hobbies, but later became concerned that the requested donors had not been used, reported BBC. One mother, Rachel, recently learned that the Danish sperm donor she selected for her treatment at Dogu

The full new state pension could rise by more than 500 a year. A 4.1 per cent increase would take the annual payment above 13,000. The final rise will depend on wage growth and inflation figures still to come. Could the full state pension cross 13,000 a year next April? The latest wage figures suggest it could. Average total pay rose by 4.1 per cent in the three months to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). If the wage figure used for the state pension calculation remain

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

Asda sales fell 0.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to August 9. Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons all recorded sales growth over the same period. Asdas market share has edged up, but it remains well behind Tesco and Sainsburys. Britains supermarkets have had plenty to cheer about this summer. Shoppers spent more as warm weather boosted demand for ice cream, sun cream and other seasonal products, while the wider grocery market continued to grow. Asda, however, is still going backwards. Sales at the super

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

Highlights Christopher Schwarzenegger has spoken candidly about his weight-loss journey after appearing in new family holiday photos. The 28-year-old said he has lost 30 pounds and built muscle, but does not consider himself an after yet. Schwarzenegger has described the transformation as a long process involving trial and error rather than a quick change. Christopher Schwarzeneggers recent appearance in family holiday photos has drawn attention to his dramatic physical transformation, but his o

EY and KPMG could receive up to 456 million for civil service training. KPMG will receive up to 319 million, while EY will get up to 137 million. The contracts come as Labour works to rebuild the National School of Government. Why is the government paying private accountancy firms hundreds of millions of pounds to train its own civil servants? That is the question raised by a new 456 million government contract awarded to EY and KPMG, less than two years after Labour pledged to halve spending on

The Vishv Umiya Foundation (VUF) has strengthened its presence in the United Kingdom with the formation of a new UK Core Committee, alongside the appointment of regional leaders and the expansion of its womens empowerment initiative. The announcements were made during the 2026 UK visit of Shri R.P. Patel, Patron and President of Vishv Umiya Foundation, who met community representatives as part of efforts to broaden the organisations network and activities across Britain. A special VUF UK Core Co

Wetherspoon has introduced the ban across all 792 of its pubs. Customers are being asked to keep phones on silent or use earphones. The move comes amid a wider backlash against people playing audio aloud in public. Ever been sitting in a pub trying to have a conversation, only to hear someone elses phone call booming across the room? Wetherspoon appears to have had enough. The pub chain has introduced a ban on customers playing music, videos or taking calls on speaker across its 792 pubs, saying

DISABLED people in England will be able to use their bus passes for free at any time of day from April 1, the government has announced. Currently, disabled bus passes can be used between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays, while there are no time restrictions at weekends and on bank holidays. The change is expected to benefit about one million people. The disability charity Scope said the move would emove barriers to everyday life. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was simply not right that many dis

WHAT started as a movement to encourage south Asian women to become more active has grown into a community built around friendship, confidence, wellbeing and belonging. To mark its first anniversary and as part of South Asian Heritage Month, Asian Women Run (AWR) brought its biggest event yet to Osterley Park, opening its doors to the wider community for a family fun day featuring 5K and 10K walk, run and jog routes. Hundreds turned up on Sunday, July 26, with children and families choosing to w

Narpinder Kaur Mann BEM was recognised at a special ceremony at Khalsa Primary School in Slough on August 7, during the schools annual Sikh Camp. Hundreds of children attended alongside representatives of Sloughs Gurdwaras and Gurdwaras Committee, with organisers saying Manns work offered young people a powerful example of seva selfless service in practice. Mann is director of Global UNITED SIKHS and United Humanitarian Sikh Aid, as well as founder and CEO of the Immigration Surgery/Helpdesk.

LONDON witnessed an extraordinary coming together of Dharma Satta and Raj Satta as more than 25 revered saints and spiritual leaders joined parliamentarians, civic representatives and community leaders for a landmark series of events promoting world peace, harmony, Sanatan values and unity in diversity. The historic engagements, held across the UK from 7 to 15 August, culminated in three major London events Santon Ke Sang Sunderkand aboard a special cruise on the River Thames on August 11; the

Highlights Cruz Beckham shared a childhood photo featuring his brothers Brooklyn and Romeo. The 21-year-old captioned the picture Brothers with a blue heart emoji. The post comes amid Brooklyn Beckhams ongoing estrangement from the Beckham family. Cruz Beckham may have offered a quiet sign that he has not given up on his relationship with his older brother Brooklyn Beckham. The musician, 21, included a childhood photo of himself with Brooklyn, 27, and Romeo Beckham in a series of holiday snaps s

Job vacancies have fallen to 707,000, their lowest level in more than five years. Small businesses say rising labour and operating costs are making recruitment harder. Private sector pay growth has slowed to its weakest level in almost six years. Finding a new job in Britain could be getting harder as employers become more cautious about hiring and the number of available vacancies falls to its lowest level in more than five years. The UK recorded 707,000 job vacancies between May and July, acco

ANGER over the treatment of black academic Jason Arday grew on Monday as thousands gathered in central London for a vigil, with his family saying the public cruelty he faced was too much for any man to bear. The vigil in Trafalgar Square came as Cambridge university chancellor Chris Smith condemned what he called a racist feeding frenzy over plagiarism claims against Arday, while a petition calling for an immediate public inquiry into the media coverage had gathered more than 90,000 signatures.

Two people were killed and 13 injured after the strike on the plant. Energy and blast furnace facilities were damaged in the attack. The steelworks was previously hit by a Russian missile strike in 2022. Russias missile war has hit one of Ukraines biggest industrial businesses, with ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, the steel plant owned by Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, partially halting production after an overnight strike. Two people were killed and 13 employees and contractors were injured after

Highlights Fresh social media reports claim Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran could marry in Greece later this year Some posts have circulated November 10 as the wedding date, while others mention November 11 Neither Anirudh, Kavya nor their families has officially confirmed a wedding or the reported Greece plans The latest speculation follows earlier comments from Anirudhs uncle Y G Mahendran, who described the proposed marriage as a sure thing Wedding speculation surrounding music composer A

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

INDIA's 80th Independence Day was marked with a flag-raising ceremony at Cardiff Castle, attended by political leaders, community representatives and members of the Indian community. Organised by Indian Honorary Consul General Raj Aggarwal, the event featured traditional music and cultural performances, while Cardiff Castle was lit up in the Indian tricolour. Guests included Rt Hon Lord Mayor Michael Michael, Minister of State AI, Kanishka Narayan MP, Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies MS Cabinet Minister

Highlights Kalyani Priyadarshan has joined Ranveer Singh in Pralay , which has begun filming in Mumbai The post-apocalyptic zombie thriller is being directed by Jai Mehta and is planned on a large scale Producer Hansal Mehta says the film is an original story developed around Jai Mehtas vision Kalyani Priyadarshan is moving from the fantasy world of Lokah into a very different kind of cinematic universe. The actor has joined Ranveer Singh in Pralay , an ambitious post-apocalyptic zombie thriller

A BRITISH-INDIAN family is seeking support to help their 18-month-old son, Eliyas, access an investigational treatment in the United States for an ultra-rare genetic condition. Eliyas has TUBB4A-related leukodystrophy, a neurological disorder that affects the development of myelin, which helps the brain communicate with the rest of the body. Genetic testing confirmed that he carries a disease-causing variant in the TUBB4A gene. He undergoes physiotherapy to work on movement and developmental mil

RELIANCE Industries and Rolls-Royce have announced plans to jointly design and manufacture engines for India's multirole indigenous fighter jet programme. Reliance Industries Limited, India's largest private sector company, has been expanding into defence production in military aerospace and advanced munitions to support prime minister Narendra Modi's Make in India initiative. New Delhi, one of the world's largest arms importers, has made the modernisation of its defence forces a priority, with

Virgin Trains has secured regulatory approval for up to 20 daily return services through the Channel Tunnel. The proposed routes would connect London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from October 2030. The company plans to invest 700m and create about 400 UK jobs. Virgin Trains has taken a significant step towards challenging Eurostars long-standing grip on cross-Channel passenger rail, securing track access approval for new services between London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030. The

Highlights Maharashtras Food and Drug Administration has issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over Vimal Elaichi advertisements The regulator says the campaigns may indirectly promote a pan masala product associated with the Vimal brand The actors have been asked to remove the advertisements from social media and explain their endorsements within 15 days Indias pan masala market was estimated at around 3.7 billion last year, based on the reported $5 billion va