7 h. ago How releasing his father's soul left British journalist high as a kite: ROLAND WHITE reviews Amol Rajan Goes To The Ganges

In part to heal his grief, but mainly because the BBC suggested it, Amol flew to India to attend the Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela, a huge gathering of pilgrims on the banks of the Ganges.

Events

10 h. ago Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges review – ‘I miss his love. Oh god, I loved him so much’

In this deeply moving and cathartic film, the presenter confronts his father’s death by going on a holy pilgrimage and ends up releasing his soul in the sacred river. BeautifulThree years ago Amol Rajan’s father died unexpectedly of pneumonia. Ever since, as the BBC journalist and broadcaster puts it at the start of Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges, “I’ve been in a bit of a funk.” I get it. As a fellow second-generation kid of Indian immigrants (and journalist from southwest London to boot) I, too, have been in a funk since my mother died (two years before Rajan’s father, at the same age, 76, as him). In Rajan’s case, his grief plunges him into a search for belonging and an attempt to reconnect with his Hindu roots. Where might such a quest take him? To the largest gathering of humanity on earth. The Kumbh Mela, where over 45 days at the start of this year half a billion Hindus gathered on the sacred banks of the Ganges. The question Rajan poses, and it’s a pertinent one for many, is w...

Events

6 d. ago Airdrie friends spread love of football and God to the Vatican in Rome with The Caritas Cup

Cup was founded five years ago by school pals Adam Costello, Aiden Paterson, Bailey Gallagher and Daniel Timoney, who all attended St Margaret’s High.

Politics

8 d. ago Kemi Badenoch insists she is ‘not doing politics’ on grooming gangs after Baroness Casey criticism

Baroness Louise Casey told the BBC she was ‘disappointed’ by the Opposition’s response to her review of the grooming gangs scandal

Politics

8 d. ago Badenoch ‘not doing politics’ on grooming gangs as report author urges ‘calm’

Baroness Louise Casey told the BBC she was ‘disappointed’ by the Opposition’s response to her review of the grooming gangs scandal.

Politics

9 d. ago Louise Casey to appear before MPs after major review of child grooming failures

Baroness Casey’s review into the grooming gangs scandal was published on Monday, and criticised the lack of data on the ethnicity of offenders.

Events

9 d. ago BBC University Challenge's Amol Rajan 'ashamed' for avoiding family death for three years

BBC University Challenge host Amol Rajan has spoken out about his grief of three years and why he'd facing it head on

Events

9 d. ago Victims at front of my mind while carrying out grooming gangs review: Casey

Victims told her they are unable to live the lives they wanted and continued to see their abusers walk free.

Events

9 d. ago Police to collect ethnicity data for all cases of child sexual abuse

Requirement made as review finds ‘over-representation’ of Asian men among grooming gang suspectsYvette Cooper has condemned damning failures by the authorities to protect children from grooming gangs as she announced there would be a formal requirement on police for the first time to collect ethnicity and nationality data for all cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation.The home secretary confirmed the government would accept all 12 recommendations of Louise Casey’s rapid review, including setting up a statutory inquiry into institutional failures, marking a significant reversal after months of pressure on Labour to act. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago What is the new grooming gangs inquiry going to do after the Casey report?

A full statutory inquiry into UK grooming gangs will soon begin work

Events

9 d. ago Grooming gangs: Children in London being sexually and criminally exploited, damning Casey review reveals

Baroness Casey found ‘deep-rooted failures’ to protect children from rape, exploitation, and violence, with continued fragmentation in the authorities' response

Events

9 d. ago Grooming gangs scandal: Damning key findings from the Casey review

The Government has now ordered a new national inquiry into grooming gangs after the shocking findings

Events

9 d. ago Authorities were in denial over Asian grooming gangs for fear of appearing racist, damning report finds as Yvette Coper apologises to victims... and FINALLY orders national inquiry

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that those who had suffered 'despicable crimes' had been 'let down' by the authorities.

Events

9 d. ago Grooming gang review finds ‘overrepresentation’ of Asian male suspects – Cooper

The Home Secretary said ‘we cannot shy away’ from findings which let the criminality of a minority of men to be used to marginalise whole communities.

Events

9 d. ago Grooming gangs inquiry LIVE as 'damning' review to be published

The Home Secretary will make an announcement this afternoon

Events

9 d. ago Grooming gangs review to be unveiled as PM’s inquiry plan gets mixed reaction

The Home Secretary is set to address Parliament over the review as the Prime Minister has committed to a national inquiry.

Events

9 d. ago Grooming gangs: 'No hiding' for police, councils and social services who failed 100s of young girls, says No10

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a new inquiry into the scandal after a U-turn

Events

1 week ago Grooming gangs: Nationwide police operation announced as Baroness Casey’s review findings to be published

Earlier this year, the Government dismissed calls for a public inquiry

Events

1 week ago Grooming gangs: Baroness Casey’s review findings to be published after Keir Starmer U

Earlier this year, the Government dismissed calls for a public inquiry.

Events

2 w. ago CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution on Ch4: All fired up like an angry Aga, chef Jamie gave the minister a roasting

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Has Radio 4's Amol Rajan been coaching Jamie Oliver on how to grill politicians? When he confronted the Education Secretary, she could barely finish a sentence.

Politics