Setback For Netanyahu: Israeli Govt Loses Support From Crucial Ally, But Collapse Averted
President Donald Trump is considering 'taking away' the U.S. citizenship of Rosie O'Donnell. POTUS termed the comedian a 'mess' and said it 'is a good thing' she left the U.S. Trump's statement comes a day after he wrote about the same. Truth Social. The 79-year-old suggested in his post that Rosie should stay in Ireland 'if they want her'. O'Donnell then slammed Trump in response, and wrote on Instagram- 'I'm not yours to silence'. Watch-
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First Post
28 minutes ago
- First Post
'From one chaiwala to another': Who is Akhil Patel, the Indian-origin man who served masala tea to Modi in London?
PM Narendra Modi and British PM Keir Starmer marked the signing of a Free Trade Agreement over a cup of masala tea served by Akhil Patel, founder of Amala Chai. The London-based tea brand has been gaining popularity for its fresh and flavourful Indian-style tea read more Akhil Patel, the founder of London-based Amala Chai, served up freshly brewed Indian-style tea to both PM Modi and British PM Starmer. Image courtesy: Instagram/@NarendraModi The UK has always had a soft spot for tea. So when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose early days as a tea seller are widely known, visited the country, it was only fitting that 'chai pe charcha' made its way to the agenda. The moment took place at Chequers, the official country home of British PM Keir Starmer, where the two leaders marked the signing of a major Free Trade Agreement (FTA) over a shared cup of masala chai. But what drew even more attention than the tea itself was the man serving it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dressed in a simple kurta and wearing an easy smile, Akhil Patel, the founder of London-based Amala Chai, served up freshly brewed Indian-style tea to both leaders. As he handed over the cups, he looked at PM Modi and said, 'From one chaiwala to another.' The sweet moment quickly went viral on social media, shining a spotlight on the story of Akhil Patel and his homegrown chai label that's been quietly carving out its space in the UK. Here's what we know about the 'London Chaiwala'. Who is Akhil Patel? Akhil Patel is the founder of Amala Chai, a London-based brand dedicated to bringing real, flavourful Indian masala chai to the UK. His family's roots in Britain run deep. His grandmother moved there over five decades ago in search of better opportunities. Patel studied management at the London School of Economics and began his career as a data analyst. But in 2019, he decided to take a different path, fuelled by the memories of drinking chai with his grandmother. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sharing those memories in a LinkedIn post, Patel wrote: 'I grew up with masala chai — my dad brewed it every morning, and every time I arrived at my grandma's, she would offer to put some chai on.' Over time, he noticed that the chai served in most British cafés didn't taste quite right. It lacked the depth and familiarity of the chai he knew from home. That led him to start Amala Chai, using his grandmother's original recipe, made with single-origin tea from his family-run farms in Assam and spices sourced from Kerala. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking in an interview shared by the British Museum earlier this year, Patel said he was struck by how chai was often misrepresented in the UK. 'It was often overly milky, too sugary, and lacked the complexity of real masala chai,' he said. In another LinkedIn post, he added, 'She's still wondering why I'm in the tea business, but I'm proud to say her chai masala recipe is now loved by thousands.' The story of Amala chai Amala Chai started out in 2019 as a small stall on Brick Lane, one of London's most vibrant food streets. Each cup was brewed fresh on the stove, the traditional way, just like it's made in Indian homes. It didn't take long for the stall to draw attention. People were clearly looking for something more authentic than the overly sweet 'chai lattes' served in most cafes. The name Amala comes from Sanskrit, meaning 'pure.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Today, Amala Chai offers loose-leaf tea blends, spice mixes, and even chai-making tools like milk pans and strainer mugs. According to their social media page, the brand has served over 400,000 cups so far. Their work hasn't gone unnoticed. In May, the British Museum featured Amala Chai in a short video, showcasing its commitment to sourcing directly from farms and preserving Indian chai traditions in the UK. While Akhil Patel himself didn't post anything about the recent event with PM Modi, the official Amala Chai Instagram shared a behind-the-scenes video from the big day. The caption read: 'Just a casual Thursday serving chai for @narendramodi @keirstarmer What a crazy day! Beyond honoured. We'll be sharing the full story with you next week so keep your eyes peeled!' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With input from agencies
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
Sourced From India, Brewed In London: PM Modis Chai Pe Charcha Moment In UK Goes Viral
New Delhi: In a symbolic and heartwarming gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer celebrated the signing of the much-anticipated India-UK Free Trade Agreement by sharing a cup of freshly brewed masala chai at Chequers, the UK Prime Minister's official countryside residence. A modest yet evocative tea stall was set up on the lush lawns of Chequers, featuring a banner that read, "Freshly brewed masala chai. Sourced from India, brewed in London." Behind the stall stood Akhil Patel, a UK-based entrepreneur and founder of Amala Chai, proudly pouring steaming cups of spiced tea for the two leaders. PM Modi later posted a photo of the moment on Instagram, captioned: 'Chai Pe Charcha with PM Keir Starmer at Chequers... brewing stronger India-UK ties!' The photo quickly went viral, not just for the high-level diplomacy, but also for the presence of Patel, dubbed by social media as the 'London Chaiwala'. In a clip shared by Amala Chai's Instagram handle, PM Modi can be seen smiling as he waits for his tea. 'You can have a taste of India,' he says. Patel, dressed in a traditional Indian kurta, carefully describes the rich spice blend: 'It's got cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper…' Then, handing a cup to Modi, he adds with a grin: 'From one chaiwala to another.' Modi nods in appreciation, clearly moved. UK Prime Minister Starmer took a sip and responded warmly: 'Oh, lovely. Yeah, really lovely, nice.' Amala Chai captioned their Instagram post, 'Just a casual Thursday serving chai for @narendramodi @keirstarmer. What a crazy day! Beyond honoured. We'll be sharing the full story with you next week, so keep your eyes peeled!' Who Is Akhil Patel: The 'London Chaiwala'? Akhil Patel is the founder of Amala Chai, a small-batch chai brand based in London known for its clean sourcing, cultural authenticity, and respect for traditional chai brewing. Patel's family has deep roots in the UK; his grandmother migrated over 50 years ago seeking a better life. He studied management at the London School of Economics and initially worked as a data analyst before following a more personal calling. In 2019, driven by nostalgia and the memory of chai shared with his grandmother, Patel made a bold career switch. On LinkedIn, he once reflected: 'I grew up with masala chai, my dad brewed it every morning, and every time I arrived at my grandma's, she would offer to put some chai on.' Frustrated by the lack of authentic chai in cafés across the UK, Patel launched Amala Chai using his grandmother's treasured recipe. The blend uses single-origin tea leaves and spices sourced from family-run farms in Assam and Kerala, bringing a genuine taste of India to teacups in London and beyond. A Tasteful Gesture, A Brewing Partnership Beyond the photo-op, the moment captured at Chequers speaks volumes about the evolving India-UK relationship, grounded not just in policy but in shared experiences and cultural connection. And for Akhil Patel, a young entrepreneur with roots in both nations, it marked a dream fulfilled, serving chai to a leader who once sold tea on railway platforms, now sharing a symbolic cup on a global stage. As trade deals are inked and political ties deepen, perhaps it's chai, steeped in tradition, memory, and warmth, that offers the most comforting sign of all: that the bond between India and the UK is not only strategic but also deeply human.
Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Iran Meets UK, France and Germany for Nuclear Talks
(Bloomberg) -- Iranian and European officials held nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday as tensions simmer over Tehran's nuclear program after it was targeted by a US military strike last month. Diplomats from the Islamic Republic met with counterparts from the UK, France and Germany — the so-called E3 bloc of top European economies — at around 10:30 a.m. local time to try and ease a standoff over Iran's atomic activities. The talks come about a month after the US bombed three key nuclear sites in Iran, triggering a break in international inspections of its atomic activities and raising questions over the whereabouts of its stockpile of enriched uranium. The strike also derailed separate nuclear negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the Trump administration. The E3 helped broker a 2015 nuclear deal — known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — with Iran that imposed strict limits on Tehran's atomic work in exchange for sanctions relief. Friday's talks are important because they could delay any effort by the Europeans to 'snap back' broad United Nations sanctions that were lifted as part of that accord. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot last week announced the possibility of reimposing the sanctions by the end of August if Iran fails to reach a deal limiting its nuclear program. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that the E3 has lost any right to invoke the JCPOA's snapback mechanism, which expires in October, because it failed to meet its own obligations under the agreement after US President Donald Trump withdrew from it seven years ago. On Wednesday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said Tehran has 'not ruled out' withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons if the UN were to reimpose sanctions. 'That's still on the table,' Kazem Gharibabadi, who's attending the Istanbul talks, told reporters. 'I'm quite confident that if the snapback is triggered, Iran will not show more restraint in this regard,' he said. --With assistance from Patrick Sykes. (Updates lead to reflect talks have started.) More stories like this are available on
